Why are the Dodgers winning now ?

Absolutely giddy this morning as the Dodgers are streaking, the Diamondbacks are slumping and the Giants are helping the Dodgers. The Dodgers have won 10 of 11. This comes on the heels of an eight game losing streak that seemingly buried Los Angeles….then something funny happened.

The Dodger winning streak has coincided with the departure of Jeff Kent from the LA lineup. The cantankerous one is a good second baseman and a certain Hall of Famer. But, a little of Kent goes a long way. He once told a Houston reporter, “my goal is to leave this game with no friends.” To which team-mate Jeff Bagwell responded, “he is well on his way.”

Ken’t abrasive style has rubbed the Dodgers the wrong way and alienated the younger Dodger players. With the addition of Manny Ramirez, who relates more with the youngsters rather than the BMX riding hunter, the Dodgers have taken off. Since Kent left the team with a balky knee the Dodger clubhouse has gone from mausoleum to Mardi Gras. Music blares after victories as frivolity reigns. This team no longer belongs to the Kent’s, Nomar’s and Penny’s it is the Loney’s, Martin’s and Kemp’s who rule this ship now. And, with Manny bridging the gap with his child-like fun demeanor the team has taken off.

The big question that remains. When Kent sets foot in that locker room, will the winning ways continue ? When you win 10 of 11 WITHOUT a player like Kent it begs the question. Has Jeff Kent been the problem all along ?

Aaron impressive…

He waited three years for his shot. And, after waiting so long Chico’s own Aaron Rodgers did not disappoint. Rodgers was the efficient quarterback the Packers will need as they beat the Minnesota Vikings 24-19 on Monday night.

Those of us that have seen Rodgers play throughout high school and college know he has the smarts to excel at this highest level of football. One of the big question marks coming into his first start was how he would react to the pressures of being the starting quarterback for one of the NFL’s signature franchises. Well, question posed….and question answered.. Aaron kept telling us he was ready, and all he needed was a chance. Last night he proved it.

Now, it is only one game. But, there were so many positives to his game last night that you can’t help but come away from the game thinking the Packers will be just fine with Chico’s favorite son running the show. Packer fans will always love Brett Favre, but at least on mild Monday night from Lambeau it was an Aaron who led them with poise and confidence.

It was only one game, but what a game it was for so many reasons.

Dutrow is a jerk….

In the wake of Big Brown’s collapse and last place finish at the Belmont Stakes the horse’s trainer is now blaming……the jockey.

Rick Dutrow was at a loss for words after his unbeaten horse came galloping home several dozen lengths behind with the winner.

This is the same Dutrow who said Big Brown winning the Belmont and the Triple Crown was a “forgone conclusion.”

This is same trainer of utmost pomposity that strutted around Belmont park proclaiming his horse to be the second coming of Affirmed.

This is also the same trainer that fed Big Brown the steroid Winstrol for six months…but decided to quit giving the horse the drug three weeks before the Kentucky Derby because the horse was running so well. Now, we all know that steroids help performance, the big question is how quickly do the benefits of roids’ wear-off. It is clear a case can be made that Big Brown was riding high in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness primarily because he was all jacked up on Winstrol. Honestly, the horse looked like Barry Bonds circa 2001.

In the Belmont, Big Brown looked like Mark McGwire after he quit taking Andro……

Dutrow has been sanctioned by horse racing’s governing board for giving his horses illegal drugs for the past seven years. That is seven straight years Dutrow has given his horses illegal drugs…..and we aren’t even talking about allowable steroids.

So now, this buffoon of a trainer is throwing Big Brown’s jockey, Kent Desormeaux under the proverbial bus. He says, “As long as the horse stays the way that I see him right now, then things are just going to keep building up for me to know that it was the ride that did him in.”

Huh ?

Desormeaux is the only party in this drama that had the best interests of the horse in mind. Desormeaux told the media after the race that when he called for Big Brown to make his move, he just had no horse underneath him. In essence, Big Brown had nothing left.  So, instead of pushing the horse when he didn’t know whether horse might be injured…….Desormeaux did the humane thing he pulled him up….KNOWING he had no chance of winning the race.

Cheers for Desormeaux………

Dutrow has no credibility. He is a loud-mouth, egotistical blow-hard and his 15 minutes are thankfully almost up.

The Thrill of victory and the agony of….

Last night was about as enjoyable a trip home as I have had this season. The Chico State baseball team had just clinched a berth in the post-season for an incredible 13th straight year. There was much joy for a team that has had to fight for a lot of their success this season. Part of the allure of this team is that they are not the perfect team. They have their issues, yet this club managed to scratch and claw their way to a spot in the post-season and top 15 ranking in the country.

While the Wildcats struggled against some of the top teams in the conference, they have decimated the also-rans in the CCAA. Chico State went an amazing 19-1 against San Bernardino, Pomona, Dominguez Hills, San Francisco State and Monterey Bay this year.

So, there was happiness, joy and a lot of pride for the Cats’ and it was well deserved. About half-way home from Southern California word trickled throughout the plane that the San Jose Sharks were playing an epic Game 6 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Dallas Stars. We were all trying to get any tidbit of info on the game. We heard about incredible saves by Evgeni Nabokov in the first OT, we heard about the incredible pressure the Sharks put on Marty Turco in the 2nd OT. And, we heard about how tired the players were in the third extra session.

By the time our bus pulled up to Nettleton Stadium just before midnight, we all realized that the Sharks were in the middle of the 4th Overtime in one of the greatest games in NHL history. So, as we hurriedly pulled our bags from the charter bus, you saw fatigued and tired athletes jogging or briskly walking to their cars to try and race home and catch the hockey game.

Sadly, the game ended before we could all arrive home. As our bus was pulling up to Nettleton Stadium, Brendan Morrow was beating Nabokov on a power play goal and the Sharks season was over.

That is sports for you. And, that is why we love it so……A day that started from the Clarion Hotel at 9:45am in San Bernardino with Chico State’s baseball life on the line…..ends just before midnight at Nettleton Stadium as we hear through text messages and phone calls about a San Jose Sharks playoff game.

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose and sometimes you miss a sporting event that you will STILL never forget.

Tempered Enthusiasm…..

Don’t get me wrong, the Chico State baseball team had a great Sunday in sweeping the Sonoma State Seawolves in dealing them their first home and conferences losses of the season. But as we revel in victory, there are some causes for concern.

First, Mike Robbins and Andrew Pluta both pitched complete games for the Wildcats.  Robbins threw 172 pitches in his complete game win. No, this is not a typo. That is ONE-HUNDRED-and-SEVENTY-TWO pitches. How this effects Robbins is yet to be known, but if I were a betting man (insert laugh here) I would venture to say it will take some time before he is ready to be leaned on again.

With Robbins throwing so many pitches it only highlights the fact that the coaching staff doesn’t have confidence in the bullpen.  This doesn’t bode well for going deep into the post-season. The Wildcats MUST find some answers down there. Every Wildcat team that has gone deep in the post-season and has challenged for a West Region Championship had a strong bullpen.

Right now there are only two pitchers that Chico State uses in big spots out of the pen Junior Garcia and Joel Garcia. Kyle Woodruff has struggled as a starter and was moved to the pen with bad results as he gave up four ninth inning runs on Saturday in an 8-5 loss. By moving Woodruff, the Cats had to further weaken their pen by moving Kyle Gibson into the rotation.

I was as excited as anyone to see what the Wildcats did over the weekend, but my joy was  tempered in knowing that until the Wildcats find that reliable arm in the pen…….I will keep my  Maalox bottle handy.

I have no time….

A pretty cush job huh ? Well, I have to admit I am pretty lucky. I get to report on sports, actively cheer for teams and be immersed in sports ALL THE TIME. But, its not all fun and games. Take today for instance. In small markets you don’t just get to be a sports broadcaster. When someone is sick, has a doctor’s appointment or has to pick up the kids guess who gets the job of filling in…..yep…..you guessed it.

So, as Sonoma State comes to town for a big four game series tonight and I try to prep for this huge four game series….. I am hammering out news stories, doing newscasts, answering phones, dealing with  loud voices that reverberate through the hallways.

I have a great job. I really have nothing to complain about. But, as evidenced by today. Its not all pom-poms and cheerleaders.

*7 minutes until my replacement comes in allowing prep time for baseball* Woo Hoo !

Hello you wonderful people….

 

It seems everyone has one of these things, so I thought why not, let’s talk a little sports. Please feel free to shoot me comments, emails, complaints, jokes, the only thing I ask is for you to keep it clean.

As many of you listeners know my favorite teams are the Los Angeles Dodgers, Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Browns. I am an unabashed baseball enthusiast. My passion for the Dodgers really knows no bounds. I was elated when they won championships in 1981 and 1988….devastated when Joe Morgan blasted a three run shot off of Terry Forster in 82′ and crumpled to the ground in a fetal position in 85′ when Jack Clark took Tom Niedenfeuer deep.

By being a Cleveland Browns fan I have learned how to deal with disappointment. From Elway’s drive in 86′ to Byner’s fumble in 87′ and another AFC Championship loss to the Broncos in 89′………I can deal with crushing defeats. What I can not deal with is an owner who leaves town after a city has given their heart and soul to a franchise. “The devil has called Mr. Art Modell, your room is ready.”

By being a Warriors fan I have learned patience. My first vivid sports memory was of the Warriors winning the NBA title in 1974-75…….Yeah, quit laughing ! I know its been awhile but the Warriors are back and this time it looks like they may be able to sustain greatness. Not many sports fans can say that their team pulled off one of the worst trades in NBA history, but my team can. Back in 1980 the Warriors traded Robert Parish and the draft rights to Kevin McHale for Joe Barry Carroll and the rest they say is history. The Celtics won three titles while the Warriors were perrenial losers.

Now, Golden State has finally recovered after the Chris Webber debacle of the early 90’s and it appears we are on the rise again. Right now the Oracle is a great place to watch a game.

And, finally my alma mater Chico State. I love calling their games. It is truly a joy to call the games for a team that you love. I feel blessed every time I get to welcome the fans court-side, or get to welcome fans to Nettleton Stadium.

Now, you will not agree with all of the opinions I share here……that is OK. I am an opinionated @#$%#@$%#@ and many of the things I believe and espouse are not that popular. What I hope to do is spur discussion and comment. I hope you enjoy and participate in this here ole’ blog yall…..

As Hans and Franz would say, “Let Games Begin !”

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