IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY 06.16.08 DODGERS PLIGHT AND SUGGESTED TRADE WITH THE INDIANS

On this day off for the Dodgers (and let’s face it, this team deserves a day off after playing such inspired baseball for the last two weeks), let’s reminisce about the past few series, and see if we can fix things.

The Dodgers have not won a series since sweeping the Reds on 05/21. Since that day when they were a phenomenal (for the Dodgers) 35-31, they have since gone 6-17, and have reminded more and more people of the 2005 team that had one of the worst records of all time for a Los Angeles Dodger team. There is one big difference from the 2008 and the 2005 time, however. The 2005 team SUCKED. On paper, on the field this team was simply awful. Hell, they even lost games in your wildest dreams. We had to convince ourselves that Milton Bradley would not try to kill fans and reporters, we had to dream that JD Drew wouldn’t be the underachiever that we all knew he was (not to mention an ass), we had to dream that Jose Valantine would be the 3rd Baseman that we had hoped for since Adrian Beltre left. And then there was Jason Phillips. Sweet weasel faced Jason Phillips. The less I say about Hee Sop Choi the better.  All in all, this was a crap team, but I started the season convincing myself that this would not be the case. The Dodgers would storm their way to the World Series this year! There always was hope.

This year was no different. There was hope, there were dreams, there was the realization that this team was AWESOME on paper. Easily one of the best teams in baseball. The pitching would be awesome, the hitting an afterthought and the bullpen would be lockdown. In the matter of weeks we realized that such a reality had more of a chance of happening as I had to get drafted to the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

The starting pitching is relatively non-existent. Brad Penny’s next contract is in his name. Derek Lowe while durable at the time is a mystery. Chad Billingsley is good, and will get better. Hiroki Koruda is an enigma, much like Lowe. Kershaw is pitching great for a 20 year old but can’t get past the 5th inning, much like every other starter so I can’t really hold that against him.

The hitting, and I use that term in it’s most ironic sense when describing the Dodgers, is atrocious. James Loney was supposed to be our batting title hitter. He’s finally hitting above .270. Andre Either has been his usual, somewhat dependable, somewhat disappointing self. Russell Martin is awesome as usual. Jeff Kent is hitting like a 36 year old instead of a 40 year old. Furcal is basically dead. DeWitt has been a surprise but when you call up a AA third baseman, you really aren’t expecting much. That leaves us with the biggest disappointment this season: one Matt Kemp. While not looking terrible, he sure as hell doesn’t look great. Striking out once every 4 at bats is dangerously close to Andrew Jones territory (and let’s not get started on that one). There is constant talk about potential and while he still is young, the Dodgers seem to be only talk potential, and the “maybe next year” talk is already starting. They are only one game ahead of the Padres and the Giants who were both written off weeks ago.

My solution is to either hold off until next year and not makes moves, or do what Colletti will do and that is fire off some trades! He showed patience this last off season, but he will likely be under the gun this year, he is probably going to try and throw anything against Broxtan’s fat back and see what sticks. So if he is going to do this, I recommend a move I just made in my baseball videogame, and hell if it is good for a videogame, it’s good for me. Here it is: trade Matt Kemp, Kershaw or Billingsley or Penny and DeWitt and Delwyn Young for C.C. Sabathia, Grady Sizemore and a mid level prospect.

Think about the move. With Kemp the Indians get a coveted 5 tool hitter to play in a more hitters friendly park. With Penny the Indians get a decent mid level pitcher to throw behind Cliff Lee who is also under contract for 2009 for a reasonable $9.25 million. With Billingsley or Kershaw the Indians get a future possible #1. Young and/or DeWitt are throwaways if needed.

The Dodgers get a guaranteed #1 that they can sign to an extension immediately, and have the money to do it, and he is only 28. In Sizemore they get a speedy, powerful middle to top of the order bat that can cause havoc for opposing pitchers.

I think this is win/win for both teams as the Indians can’t or won’t pay CC what he wants. It fills needs for both teams and all the players involved can immediately help both of their respective clubs.

That is all I can think about to really help the Dodgers and to at least slow their perpetual fall to the middle of the standings. Any agreement? Disagreement? Am I a moron? Let me know.