I've been on the wrong side of some arguments here and on Dodger Thoughts over the past few years but nothing has been as embarrassing for me as a writer for a blog about the Dodgers then my complete support for the signing of Andruw Jones in 2008, and my unflagging opinion that he was not done as a ballplayer while he struggled all year.

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More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP

Andruw Jones matched his 2008 HR total by hitting three jacks Wednesday night

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I noticed last night that Old Friend Andruw Jones hit three home runs last night in Anaheim to help defeat the Angels 8-1.  The initial reaction from Dodger fans could understandably be disgust; after all Jones hit as many homers last night as he did all of 2008 with the Dodgers.

However, here is why you should be happy about this turn of events:

• We already knew Andruw Jones came into last season out of shape.  Nothing he does now will change that fact.  The fact that he did that alone is enough for scorn; anything he does now will not make 2008 Andruw a fit, or productive player.  I'm sure you are familiar with the idea of a sunk cost -- like the Blue Jays were in cutting B.J. Ryan -- so think of Andruw's 2008 as a sunk emotion.  That train has already left the station, and nothing we will ever do can bring it back.
• If Andruw Jones wasn't the worst free agent signing ever, the Dodgers never would have acquired Manny Ramirez.
• If Andruw Jones wasn't a horrible player with the Dodgers, it is very likely that the second-best defensive centerfielder in all of baseball, Matt Kemp, wouldn't even be roaming the middle.  By the way, there's still time to VOTE FOR MATT!!!
  
• The better Andruw does, the more he will play, and the more likely he will be to pick up the Comeback Player of the Year award.  Anything Jones earns with Texas, the Dodgers get half, so if he gets his $200,000 for winning the comeback award, that's another $100,000 pocketed by the Dodgers.  There are also a number of plate appearance based incentives that Jones could attain as well, so we should root for him to play everyday.
• There are too many positives that come with rooting for a team with the best record in baseball to waste time or negative energy on someone like Jones

As long as Andruw keeps his mouth shut, I have no beef with him.

More photos » by Chris Carlson - AP

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Matt Kemp needs your help to get to the All-Star game in St. Louis. 

Click here to pick Kemp in the MLB Final Vote

Voting runs through Thursday at 1pm, and you can vote as often as you like.  I'll keep this link at the top of the page all week, so be sure to vote early and often, to see The Bison in St. Louis.

UPDATE:  You can also vote via text message.  In the U.S., voting is open to Sprint, Nextel, and Boost mobile customers.  Simply text "N2" to 1122 to vote for Kemp. In Canada, you can text "N2" to 88555.

The Dodgers are launching a full court marketing press for Kemp, including this:

The club already launched a "Meet Matt" contest on dodgers.com where fans who vote up to 25 times are entered into a sweepstakes to meet the outfielder before a game.

Thanks to Fangraphs, we can take a look at the leaders in Wins Above Replacement (WAR) among these Final Vote contestants:

• Matt Kemp - 3.6 WAR (5th in all of MLB)
• Pablo Sandoval - 2.7 WAR
• Mark Reynolds - 2.4 WAR
  
• Shane Victorino - 1.6 WAR
  
• Cristian Guzman - 0.7 WAR
  

More photos » by Denis Poroy - AP

6 days ago: Los Angeles Dodgers' Manny Ramirez tosses his bat after walking during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Friday, July 3, 2009 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

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Back in the offseason, I issued a challenge to the Dodgers to have eight different players with 50 walks this season.  If that happens, I will donate $100 to Think Cure, a charity organization started by the McCourts and the Dodgers, dedicated to finding a cure for cancer.

Here's a look at where we are at right now, through 82 team games, essentially the halfway point, along with the pace of each member of the regular lineup:

*For Ramirez, the pace is for a 112-game schedule rather than 162

So far, we are right on track for the Dodgers to meet my challenge.  The Dodgers as a whole haven't been walking as much of late --2.97 walks per game since June 1, compared to 4.44 per game in the first two months-- but they still rank third in the NL with 320 walks.  Perhaps the return of Manny Ramirez to the lineup will cause a spike in walks.

Only two National League teams have ever had eight players with 50+ walks, the most recent being the 2000 Giants.  There have been six American League teams to accomplish the feat before the designated hitter, as well as the amazing 1939 Yankees, the only team ever with nine 50-walk players.

To find out more about Think Cure, go here, and if you would like to donate, click here.

More photos » by Reed Saxon - AP

Manny's long wait ends tonight, as he returns to the Dodger lineup.

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Its been 58 days since Manny Ramirez has played in a game -- it was Blogger Night at Dodger Stadium -- and tonight marks his return in front of a Dodger-heavy crowd at Petco Park.  Here's a look at some news around the web regarding Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers:

Manny's return expected to be a spectacle - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
Bernie Wilson forecasts Friday night in San Diego, which might include more Dodger fans than Padre fans:

"I wouldn’t be lying to say that when he steps to the plate here he’s going to probably feel like he’s at home," said Padres reliever Cla Meredith, who’s been disappointed with the dwindling crowds during San Diego’s dismal season. "There’s no doubt about it."

Dodgers eagerly await Manny's return | dodgers.com: News
Ken Gurnick chronicles the Dodgers' reaction to Manny's return, and provides this classic quote from Rockies' manager Jim Tracy:

"Let's face it, it's like acquiring a player in a trade that you haven't had for the past 50 days."

Thanks, Jim!

When it comes to Manny, what would Nietzsche do? - Los Angeles Times
I had the pleasure of meeting Kurt Streeter covering Sunday's Dodger game, and here he has a unique way of looking at the Manny Ramirez situation: by incorporating the works of Socrates, Plato, and other famous philosophers.

"Gentlemen, this is simply a matter of what I long ago called the categorical imperative," chimed Immanuel Kant (Manny-applicable quote: "By a lie, a man annihilates his dignity as a man.").

Glenn Dickey: Ramirez’s return tonight will be greeted with forgiveness by Dodger faithful | San Francisco Examiner
A look at the difference between sportswriters' outrage and fans' acceptance regarding performance enhancing drugs.

There’s a serious disconnect between fans at games and most baseball writers, as well as mostly older fans who watch on TV and revile the "cheaters." The stay-at-home fans revere the records, which I don’t because they’re affected by the vast changes in the game. Pitching records were mostly set in the early part of the 20th century, the "dead ball" era. The hitting records are mostly being set in this era because of steroids, overexpansion, a livelier ball and more hitter-friendly parks, not necessarily in that order

Anyone Think It's Time to Add A Hall of Fame Bat? - Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness
MSTI points out the reasons why the Dodgers desperately need Manny's bat back into the lineup

Optimist Bell ready for Manny
Chris Jenkins of the San Diego Union-Tribune tells us that Padres' closer and quote machine Heath Bell sees opportunity for the Padres with Manny Ramirez in town:

"I think it's a good thing for San Diego because it'll mean sellouts," Bell said. "We'll be on national television (Saturday), be on the ESPN highlights. San Diego and L.A. are rivals, so everybody gets amped up for this anyway.

ESPN - The B.S. Report
Keith Law joined Bill Simmons to discuss all things baseball, and they both had nice things to say about the Dodgers.  Law stated the Dodgers were the best team in the National League, one that could hang with any team in American League, and Simmons, the well-known Red Sox fan, mentioned he would pick the Dodgers if he were forced to pick a new team to root for.  Also, Simmons called Jonathan Broxton "terrifying."

It's back to the bench for Dodgers' Juan Pierre - Los Angeles Times
Dylan Hernandez reports on perhaps the one Dodger not enthused to see Manny back.

Inside the Shell -- Manny being Manny, being cheap | The Hive
There are reports that Manny Ramirez bucked tradition by not paying for the postgame spread at both of his minor league rehab stops - in Albuquerque or with Inland Empire. If true, that's pretty weak.

Sons of Steve Garvey: Ethier Muscles In On Martin's Yoga Mat Turf
Steve Sax of SOSG details the latest promotion by the Dodgers.

I will be in San Diego tonight in a group of 20 True Blue LA faithful Dodger fans, as we try to bankrupt the Padres in the AM/PM all-you-can-eat section.  If you are there, stop by section 227, rows 10-14, to say hello.

More photos » by Reed Saxon - AP

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Friday is the day we have all circled on our calendars for months, the return of Manny Ramirez from his 50-game suspension.  The entire baseball world will descend upon San Diego to view Manny's first game back.  Many Dodger fans will make the two-hour trip south to Petco Park, to root for their favorite team.  In fact, True Blue LA will roll 20 deep in the AM/PM All You Can Eat Section in right field (section 227, rows 10-14 if you want to say hello).

We will all be there to cheer for our favorite team.  And we will be there to cheer for Manny Ramirez.

Cheering for Manny doesn't condone steroid use.  We just want the Dodgers to do well, and Manny Ramirez will help them in that regard.  Its as simple as that.  Manny, and the Dodgers, paid a price for his transgressions.  Manny lost about $6.8 million in salary, and he probably won't be elected to the Hall of Fame for quite a long time, if ever.  The Dodgers lost their best player for nearly a third of the season (and did amazingly well, thank you very much).  But, for now, the price has been paid.  Its time to move on.

I'm conflicted about this.  I have enjoyed Manny Ramirez for years, even before he came to the Dodgers, because he always seemed to be having fun on the baseball field, and he just seemed like a quirky guy.  He elevated the Dodgers last year to the precipice of the World Series, and I loved him for it.  On the other hand, he screwed up.  On some level, we all want our favorite players, on our team to be clean.  I want to be able to stand up and cheer for a player that I believe is a good guy.

In the end, however, the bottom line is what happens on the field, not off.  None of us know these players personally, and I'm sure despite any type of boyhood dream, none of us would want to.  Rafael Furcal has two DUIs on his record.  Yet I cheer for him all the time.  Is that wrong?  I don't know, but it seems to me Furcal already paid his price for those transgressions.

Manny has paid his freight, and now is ready to come back.  How do we handle this, as fans?  I suggest we give him the "Major League" treatment.  Allow me to set the scene:

We are Roger Dorn.  For years, we took our relationship with baseball for granted.  We saw all these inflated home runs totals, and turned a blind eye toward the burgeoning steroid problem in the game.  By neglecting the problem, we helped baseball, our love, get hurt.  As a result, baseball got back at us by getting one of our own...

Manny Ramirez is Rick Vaughn.  He is the one all the fans stand up and shout for, the guy I can't really imagine being dressed in a suit.  He was doing something he shouldn't have, and got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.  He was unaware of the potential problems it would cause for us, Roger Dorn the fans.

The role of Duke Temple will be played by Steve Yeager.

Manny has been off hiding in the bullpen for seven weeks, avoiding us every chance he gets.  His appearance is about to happen, and somewhere off in the distance we can hear Journey singing "Don't Stop Believin'."

99% of the Dodger blogosphere will play the role of owner Rachel Phelps, as they chime in with, "I hate that fucking song."

Just before our reunion with Manny tomorrow, we call time out.  We walk over to him, and utter these words:  "I only got one thing to say to you, Manny.  Hit this [ball] out!"  Then we walk away as Manny gets a relieved, yet knowing smirk on his face.

Manny crushes the ball, well over the fence at Petco, and perhaps even takes his bat with him around the bases.  I wouldn't put it past him.

That's about as far as I would go.  I don't suggest punching Manny in the face as we are celebrating afterwards before picking him back up.   Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go find 1989 Rene Russo.  Hopefully, she will tell me to root for Manny Ramirez because he will help the Dodgers win.

Major League photo courtesy of The Juice blog on the old Baseball Toaster

More photos » by Reed Saxon - AP

How sweet are those Lake Elsinore uniforms?

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When Manny Ramirez was suspended on May 7, the Dodgers had the best record in baseball, at 21-8. How would this club respond to 50 games without their best player?  Back on that day, I wrote:

Lest we forget the rest of the club is still a damn good team.  The suspension of Manny Ramirez runs through July 2, for a total of 50 games.  There are four other clubs that think they are going to gain on the Dodgers during Manny's absence, so here's a goal for the Dodgers:  "win" the division over this 50-game stretch.  Widen your 6 game lead.

The Dodgers did just that.

Without Manny Ramirez, the Dodgers had to settle for simply the best record in the National League.  Here is a look at the top records in the National League since May 7:

Despite a furious rally from Colorado, and improved play from the Giants, the Dodgers did not give up any ground without their superstar.  Let's take a look at how the Dodgers did it:

Dodger Batter of the Manny-Free Zone:  Juan Pierre did more than we could have reasonably asked for in Manny's absence (.318/.381/.411, 21/28 SB), and for the first three weeks Pierre was producing at a level damn near Ramirez.  However, the main cog in the Dodger offensive wheel was The Beard, Casey Blake.  Blake migrated from the 8th spot in the order all the way up to cleanup, and that he did.  Don't let the seemingly low total of six homers fool you.  Blake added 15 doubles, and hit .319/.371/.530, easily the best OPS on the club, while driving in 33 runs.

Dodger Pitcher of the Manny-Free Zone:  Clayton Kershaw was very good (2.63 ERA over 10 starts) but also wild, keeping him from going deep into games.  I'm giving this award to Ronald Belisario, who logged over 30 innings (as did Ramon Troncoso) and put up a stellar 1.19.  That wickedly moving fastball has served him and the Dodgers well this season.

Pre-Suspension Record:  21-8 (.724)
161 runs scored (5.55 per game)
106 runs allowed (3.66 per game)
.698 pythagorean winning percentage

Manny-Less Record:  29-21 (.580)
220 runs scored (4.40 per game)
191 runs allowed (3.82 per game)
.570 pythagorean winning percentage

Thanks For The Chance:  It could be argued that without the Ramirez suspension, the Dodgers wouldn't have had the need to call up outfielders Xavier Paul, Jamie Hoffmann, or Mitch Jones, each of whom made their major league debut during the suspension.  The three combined to hit .224/.273/.429, and quite frankly the .701 OPS isn't out the range of expected production of 4th outfielder Juan Pierre (2009 PECOTA prediction: .293/.334/.356)

What Is This Bench You Speak Of?:  Juan Pierre not only took over for Manny during the suspension, but he played every second of every game, appearing in 462.2 defensive innings without a rest.  His workload is about to become dramatically different, as he will move to the bench and give the club a viable left-handed batter Joe Torre can use in the late innings, and getting a spot start once or twice a week as needed.

What's Next?:  Mannywood invades San Diego, and True Blue LA will be there!

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More photos » by Gus Ruelas - AP

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Back in 1999, a 21-year old (he was reported to be 20 years old at the time) shortstop playing for Class A in the Atlanta Braves system stole 96 bases, to go along with his .392 on-base percentage, and burst onto the baseball scene.  By 2000, he was a regular with the Braves, bringing his speed and a cannon arm to the big leagues.  Rafael Furcal stole 40 bases that season, and would never steal fewer than 25 bases in a full season with the Braves.

Furcal was Ned Colletti's first player acquisition, when he signed a three-year deal with the Dodgers in December 2005.  Furcal was probably the Dodgers' MVP in 2006, batting .300/.369/.445 with 37 steals.  Even in fighting through an injury in 2007, Furcal stole 25 bases.

Through his first eight seasons, Furcal averaged 31 steals per year, with a 77.7% success rate.  Last year, as Furcal was tearing up the National League before his back injury.  Through 32 games, Furcal stole 8 more bases, on pace for 40 over a full season.  However, since coming back from his back injury, Furcal simply has stopped running.  I suppose it could be argued that Furcal hasn't stolen bases because he hasn't been on base (.315 OBP since coming back last September), but I don't think that's the case.

This season, Furcal has four steals in 65 games.  The same as Andre Ethier.  Fewer than James Loney, Russell Martin, and Orlando Hudson.  Furcal has been caught four times too, so his success rate is the worst among all Dodger regulars.  Even Casey Blake (two for three) has been better in this regard!

I understand the stolen base attempt isn't always the wisest choice, given how precious outs are, but I find them aesthetically pleasing.  The stolen base is a huge part of Furcal's game, and as of now it is essentially absent.  I miss the old Furcal (or, perhaps I miss the "young" Furcal).  If asked to choose the priority of Furcal improvements, I would choose for Raffy to start hitting better, but the wheels have been missed too.

Maybe if we notice an increase in Furcal stolen bases, it is a sign of returned health and could lead to a turnaround at the plate.  Maybe its a chicken/egg thing, but either way, I'm ready for Furcal to be a speed demon once again.