So in my eyes Spring Training means one thing....BASEBALL SEASON IS NEAR!!!!
I of course can't wait for the new season to come, I already have tickets for the game against the Boston Red Soxs at the coliseum...plus opening day tickets!!! But for now I just have to wait!! Check out some of the pictures from Spring Training in Florida!!!
VERO BEACH, Fla. -- With Mark Sweeney in camp, it had to happen.
Sweeney planted the seed, and this week the Dodgers will hold their version of American Idol, popularized the last two springs by Sweeney's former team, the San Francisco Giants, who held a two-day competition of mostly rookies to benefit charity and bolster camaraderie.
Among the Giants' highlights was Barry Bonds in drag portraying Idol judge Paula Abdul. That visual sets the bar mighty high for the Dodgers, who will conduct the shows behind closed clubhouse doors and out of media view. Sweeney first cleared the idea with veteran leaders Nomar Garciaparra and Jeff Kent, among others, and manager Joe Torre issued his approval.
Sweeney promised some singing, most of it off-key, and laughing so hard you could pull a ribcage muscle.
"It brings everyone together," said Sweeney, a 38-year-old, 10-year veteran. "It'll be fun."
Sweeney said a special invitation was extended to and accepted by starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda, technically a rookie in the Major Leagues, but a 10-year veteran of Japanese baseball. Kuroda was aware that fellow Japanese import Takashi Saito won over his teammates two springs ago with a Karaoke version of the Beatles' "Hey Jude" in a similar hazing stunt.
"This time Sammy gets to sit back and watch," said Sweeney.
SO i JUST READ THAT KENT HAS TOLD THE DODGERS HE WILL COME BACK NEXT YEAR!!
At the end of last season Kent was really dissappointed in the way the Dodgers went out, well he wasn't the only one! But hey that's the game right, you win some and you lose some!!! You know as much as I love Kent and I'm happy that he is coming back, I can't forget the stuff he said during the season about other players on the team. Basically pointing fingers on why they weren't winning and sort of blaming the new guys...GUYS like Martin, Loney, Either...I mean this is baseball it is a team sport but they are the ones really doing there thing out there and doing a great job!!! I honestly thing its an age thing, the young guys view the game differently then the old guys! And that's ok, but no need to point fingers Kent! I love ya man, but lets remember you win games as a team...not alone!!!! A little more than Three months till the big game at the Coliesum!!! I'm counting down the days till Opening Day!!!
Our boys are hanging in there and doing a damn good job at it! Friday's game went over very well against the Dbacks, a team we really need to beat! Gonzo would agree with me. Nomar Garciaparra tied the game with a home run, and Matt Kemp ripped a go-ahead RBI triple as the Dodgers defeated the D-backs with a four-run fifth inning. James Loney continued his hot hitting with an RBI double as Los Angeles remained 1 1/2 games behind the Padres in the Wild Card race.
Saturday's day game was a continue of Fridays, the boys pulled out a 6-2 victory! Luis Gonzalez hit a three-run homer vs. his ex-club, Rafael Furcal stole four bases and Derek Lowe returned from injury to throttle the D-backs as L.A. moved within 3 1/2 games of first.
Dodgers play today at 1pm against the Dbacks again, lets hope the boys can keep up the hard work and pull out another win that we need to stay in this race and hopefully make it to playoffs.
I'm going to the game on the 25th and I'm so excited, I haven't gone to as many games as I would have liked but hey parking is expensive!!!! But I will always love my boys in blue!!!
So before I waste away my Labor day...(I've been working since 4am) I'd like to quickly mention that ANDY LAROCHE has come back home to the Dodgers!!! After being sent back down to the minors (Las Vegas 51s) earlier this year!
I'm so excited! I know last season he didnt do too well, but we all learn from our mistakes and I think he has the ability to do big things! Anything to help our boys in this race to the playoffs. I'll be back to give an update on the boys (life gets crazy) Till next time.
