Dodgers at Blue Jays, 4:07 p.m.
Dodger Thoughts, December 10, 2011:
Major League Baseball doesn’t rewrite history, so there’s no changing the fact that Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun is the 2011 National League Most Valuable Player and not Matt Kemp. However, Braun’s trophy might be getting a little less gleamy.
Braun is currently challenging a positive test for a performance-enhancing drug, report Mark Fainaru-Wada and T.J. Quinn of ESPN.com.
If the finding is upheld, Braun won’t have to give back his trophy, but he will have to give away 50 games of the 2012 baseball season to a suspension.
My opinion: A positive drug test doesn’t make Braun’s 2011 season less valuable. He still did what he did. It does call into question how he achieved that value and open the door for you and me to judge him how we will. But my view of history is that it chronicles what happened, for better or worse. History isn’t what we’d like things to be – it’s what was, like it or not.
Whenever I consider baseball’s long, plentiful history of misbehavior, I’ve never been in favor of bringing an eraser to the record books, and I’m not going to start now. If Braun is guilty, his punishment will be his suspension and his tainted reputation. I’m not excusing his behavior. I’m just not pretending that he didn’t deliver on the field, illicitly or not.
The fact that my MVP vote would have been for Kemp regardless is a separate issue.
Anonymous
I am glad that Braun is finally being held accountable for his actions. I also do not think the MVP trophy should be returned. Kemp knows he was the real MVP and so do we.
KT
Go Blue!!!!
Anonymous
Have the Dodgers formally thanked the Yankees for removing Luis Cruz from the system?
Anonymous
Shame that Kemp’s incredible 2011 season didn’t earn him that MVP. With his body now in full break down mode, he won’t even sniff that kind of season ever again. At least he’d have some awards to look back to. Oh well.
Anonymous
He’ll always have $200 mil to look back on…
Anonymous
Gold hand?
Anonymous
Knowing what he knew, I think that Braun would have been wiser not to say anything all along. Simply refused comment. He is now a liar in addition to being a cheater.
Anonymous
Totally agree, scooplew. I can understand using peds. They could mean the difference between tons of money and adulation or a failed career. Hell, guys Braun’s age who work out at my gym use HGH just to pull chicks. I just wish once a player is caught, he would just admit it. Earn a lot more respect that way than vehemently denying it until it’s irrefutable.
Anonymous
I suppose he felt he was going to get away with it. Forever. And he likely knows others who used PEDs and haven’t been detected.
KT
Let’s go Hanley
KT
DRE!!
KT
AJ!!!!
Anonymous
Go AJ! I am crazy about that guy.
Anonymous
Nice Jack, AJ!
KT
Way to get on Juanito
KT
MEllis!
KT
CC!!
Jon Weisman
I’m just now noticing Crawford’s neck tattoo.
KT
you been really busy the past year we forgive you Jon
KT
PUIG!
Jon Weisman
Puig hits a humble RBI single :)
Anonymous
Take it after his last few games!
KT
we’ll take it
KT
way to get on Gonzo!
Anonymous
I like owning the second inning.
KT
it’s becoming a habit
Anonymous
C’mon, Hanley — reruns are good!
KT
Not again Hanley
Anonymous
No eyes right now. What is the injury?
KT
foul ball off the back of the knee then a foul ball off the same leg but lower
KT
DP Time
Anonymous
I have an avatar! (Me and my Casey Blake bobble head…) Meanwhile, the Boys in Blue put up some runs. Go Dodgers.
Anonymous
Shake ‘n Blake!
KT
good to see you’ve come over to the dark side and finally got an avatar…and a good one at that
Anonymous
Took me a while to work up the courage. Thanks. I feel less anonymous, for sure!
Jon Weisman
Sweet backhand by Hanley to end the inning.
Anonymous
He has really improved defensively. Nice to see.
KT
DRE!!
KT
AJ!!
Anonymous
Wow. After a slow first inning, we be on fire!
KT
way to “steal” second AJ
Linkmeister
My goodness, what a nice surprise to find after getting home from the bookstore run. 5-0 so far.
KT
Nice catchers interference
Linkmeister
As well as he hits, I wonder what Ryu thinks of the DH rule. For that matter, I imagine neither Kershaw nor Greinke like it much either.
Anonymous
B-Jays announcers are all I can get. They aren’t that bad homers, but I had to laugh as they tried to line up Dodgers for shots and each hit it down their throat before the set-up was complete.
Anonymous
Ethier and CC specifically!
KT
I’m listening to them and charlie and rick
Anonymous
By the -jays announcers critical comments–one would assume the Jays had the lead.
KT
CC!
Linkmeister
If Gameday’s right that was three straight changeups to Puig and he swung and missed at all three. Son, a little time and patience is a good thing.
Jon Weisman
He looked better in his previous at-bat. In this one, he swung wildly at three balls.
KT
yes his at bat was terrible
KT
CC!!
Jon Weisman
Crawford hit the wall hard on that catch but seems ok.
Anonymous
Woah, I think someone is going to have to help Puig adjust to ML pitching. But I fully believe his defense and other attributes is going to justify keeping him here.
Jon Weisman
Almost, Hanley.
KT
exactly what I just typed
Jon Weisman
Maybe Puig just throws so hard that the catcher is his cutoff man.
Linkmeister
C’mon, Ryu, settle down and throw strikes. So saith Honeycutt.
KT
inning over
Linkmeister
See? Go back to the fastball.
Anonymous
I’m not quite sure why a team with the Dodger’s payroll has to have a guy like Schu—who can maybe play both infield and outfield
Jon Weisman
I don’t understand the comment.
KT
i missed it also
Anonymous
imo, maybe=’t, both=either, and and=or in the post that started this. Hope this is clear.
Jon Weisman
Having the highest-paid team in baseball doesn’t mean you won’t have role players. The ’98 Yankees for example, who won 114 games and had a payroll to match, gave their third-most at-bats off the bench to utility man Luis Sojo and his .515 OPS.
Anonymous
It’s a good thing, no? Being able to play in various positions.
KT
Time to get those runs back
KT
HANLEY!!
Linkmeister
A-Gon went from 1st to 3rd on a single to left? Will wonders never cease?
Jon Weisman
It was a hit off the wall. Should have been a double but Hanley hit it too hard.
Linkmeister
Ah. Thanks, I was puzzled.
KT
Hanley turn that long single into a double
KT
AJ!
Anonymous
Oui! do we really want an almost perfect test of the Dodger’s Bull-pen—–Well here it comes!!!
But I am wrong if Ryu stays in.
KT
Nice DP
Anonymous
Great, I say!
Anonymous
Great DP!
Linkmeister
One more inning for the win, Ryu.
KT
MELLIS!
KT
Nice we’ll take it
Jon Weisman
As one-sided as this game has been, it doesn’t really feel in hand. We’re due for a road bullpen meltdown. I’m being partly paranoid, but law of averages …
KT
agree got the same feelings…need more runs
foul tip
You guys who see games regularly….is this typical of Ryu’s starts lately? IIRC, he hasn’t exactly dominated in a while.
KT
I think he’s been hit or miss…he has been good lately
Anonymous
I guess it feels fairly typical of Ryu. I guess he doesn’t always seem to dominate. But he is solid. If he is a bit better than the opposing pitcher, it seems like he will be better for 9 innings, or even twelve!
KT
Dre!! Hanley’s grimacing while running
foul tip
What’s the blue tube-looking thing on Hanley’s right arm? Noticed it one of the few other times I’ve seen the team.
Linkmeister
One of these?
KT
no
KT
It covers his hand and wrist extending past his fingers
KT
to protect his hand when sliding
KT
Shoe!
KT
Juanito
KT
Mellis!
KT
CC!!
KT
Hitting is contagious…get infected Puig
Linkmeister
Okay, how about this to protect the hands.
KT
a lot like that but I think it’s special made because it extends a good 5-6 inches past the finger tips and the thumb is enclosed inside
Linkmeister
You mean it flops loosely? Huh. Okay, I give up. ;)
KT
no tightly wrapped but like he stuck his hand in a tube
foul tip
or kind of a plastic removable cast?
KT
I’ll try to get you a screen capture of it
Linkmeister
Plug the pic into here: http://www.google.com/imghp
KT
after the game I’ll have to go back and see if I can find a pic
Jon Weisman
There was the four-run outburst that could have tied the game – good thing it was for the Dodgers!
Anonymous
Just tuned in. Wow, if this is a dream, I hope it never ends!
KT
sweep the Jays
KT
Nice Ryu
KT
why didn’t he go to third on that one
KT
Nice play Juan
KT
AJ!!
KT
Domiguez is walking gingerly
Anonymous
At least he is walking. With our injuries, I think just owning the edges is winning us the lead!!!
KT
Hanley!!
KT
AJ!!
KT
SHOE!!!!
Linkmeister
Okay, this is getting to be unbelievable.
KT
sweep the Jays
Anonymous
That is the exact word that came to mind.
KT
now two of our pitchers have HR’s
Anonymous
These annoucers (whoever they are for) seem like they are the reason it is 14-4. Please—it is only the seventh inning. Do something different. These guys could make this feel like forever.
Jon Weisman
Let Schumaker close this! Three-run HR and three-inning save!
Anonymous
This game is free at mlb.com if that info helps any of you.
Linkmeister
Not if you’re subject to blackout restrictions for every West Coast team including the Dodgers. But thanks for trying.
foul tip
Makes absolutely perfect sense for someone in Hawaii not to be able to see an away game in Toronto, Canada, doesn’t it? The system is what should be blacked out.
Linkmeister
Couldn’t see yesterday’s game on TBS either. It’s infuriating but it’s pretty hopeless to get MLB to rethink its policy. Look how much trouble the As are having getting a stadium in San Jose.
Anonymous
Delabar won the AL vote to be the last player on ASG roster.
KT
Eric Stephen @truebluela6m
To be fair, given the exchange rate, this is only like 9 runs tonight
KT
Eric Stephen @truebluela1m
Nice pull RT @JALaymance: The #dodgers have 14 runs tonight, or, more than they’ve totaled in 22 series
Linkmeister
Jeepers. Look at the line score. Three 4-run innings!
KT
Puig gets on again
Jon Weisman
Last time #dodgers allowed at least 10 hits and won by at least 10 runs was 9/19/09 baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN2… Has happened 4 times since ’95.
KT
Hanley drills the ball but caught
KT
PUIG!!!!
Linkmeister
Great catch, or ??
KT
long running catch as he crashes into the RCF wall
KT
ran about 140 ft and jumped at the last minute
Linkmeister
Stay offa the walls, kid!
Anonymous
Bounces off and tries to double the guy off first!
foul tip
That shot of Puig reveals his secret. He munches on gold necklaces while in the outfield…
Linkmeister
And his recent slump was because somebody turned that gold into Kryptonite!
Linkmeister
Puig’s catch and throw is on Gameday’s video. Wow.
KT
did we describe it right?
Linkmeister
Yep. Y’all done good.
Anonymous
He came out of nowhere. It was a crazy play.
Anonymous
A League lead, but he must be tuckered out.
Anonymous
and on that one he bounces of Skippy.
foul tip
If Puig had just a few more steps momentum there, however much was left of Schu would be yet another Dodger on the DL.
KT
BALL GAME!!!!!
4 games over .500
21-5 since Puig signed my jersey
tied for 1st
4 game winning streak!!!!
Anonymous
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leaWJm-ZLr0
Jon Weisman
NPUT