Dear Future Mr. (Misters) Dodger Owner,

Welcome to the fold. Can I speak candidly for a second?

Please don’t mess this up. You have been given a gift. Albeit a very expensive gift, but a gift nonetheless.

As a Dodger fan, I know that my fellow fans are rooting for you. We’re wishin’, hopin’ and prayin’ that you do good by us. We’ve suffered through plenty, and we’ve waited long enough. Lead us back into the glory days. We’re ready.

I’ve compiled a quick laundry list of things that will quickly get you on the right track:

1. Preserve Dodger Stadium. Bring Chavez Ravine to its modern potential. I don’t want a new stadium. I don’t want anything fancy. Just a beautifully restored ballpark where a game can truly be enjoyed.

2. Embrace the fans. We’re a good bunch, and if you truly love and embrace us, we’ll adore you and keep your pockets full.

3. Make Dodger Stadium a safe place again.

4. Cherish our history. The Dodgers have a long and storied history. Embrace it. Don’t try to weave your way into it. Let’s make our own history together as owner, team and fans.

5. Keep Clayton Kershaw for years to come. Enough said.

6. Commit to winning. I don’t expect you to be an outrageous spender. I do expect you, however, to be a smart spender who knows the value of a good player and the value of a winning franchise.

And that’s it. Not too tough, right?

We’re counting on you, sir. Please don’t let us down.

Thanks in advance,
A True Blue Fan

Last night’s 11-2 massacre by the Cardinals was a harsh reminder that this Dodgers team has a lot of work to do.

The 2011 season hasn’t started off exactly as planned. The Dodgers strength — their pitching staff — has underperformed. Their offense has almost completely disappeared. Oh and by the way… what’s a bullpen supposed to do again?

Let me tell you… it could be worse:

1. The Dodgers could be without Clayton Kershaw.
2. Matt Kemp could still be 2010 Matt Kemp.
3. Andre Ethier’s pinky could still be broken.
4. They could be the Pittsburgh Pirates.
5. They could be the 2-10 Red Sox.

There. Now, don’t you feel better already?

It’s not going to be easy, but it’s still early in the season. This Dodgers team has potential.

A blank canvas

The Doyer Dog and Doyer Fries have taken Dodger Stadium by storm this season. A nod to the spanish-language pronunciation of the word Dodgers, the beloved beef Doyer Dog is smothered in nacho cheese, onions, chopped tomatoes and jalapeños.

Seeing as how that cheesy, spicy dog of deliciousness has eluded me thus far this season, I began to daydream. My mouth salivating over the endless possibilities to expand upon the traditional Dodger Dog — Bacon wrapped? Chili Cheese? Sauerkraut? Dessert dog? Ok maybe that last one was a bit much. But truly this could be a fantastic idea for Dodger fans. Everyone has their own special way of preparing a ballpark dog, so why not expand the options at Dodger Stadium.

Here are a few of my ideas to bring the Dodger Dog to new heights. I think I really hit it out of the park:

1. The Sonoran Dodger Dog. My college experience in Tucson, Arizona wasn’t exactly brimming with exquisite culinary experiences. I frequented the local Chipotle, and became an expert quesadilla-maker on my George Foreman Fat-Grilling Machine. But my one cherished foodie memory is the Sonoran Hot Dog. Truly one of the yummiest things I’ve ever tasted. Let me paint you a little picture: A bacon wrapped hot dog fried on the griddle, placed in a steamed bolillo roll, add some mayo, mustard and ketchup, and top it off with some pinto beans, chopped onion, tomatoes and jalapeños. Voila! This thing would fly off the racks at Dodger Stadium.
2. The 5 Freeway Dog. Just picture it: You’re stuck in horrible traffic on the way into Chavez Ravine, jammed between a big rig and somebody with a tiny little dog sitting on their lap. The minutes are ticking by and it’s getting closer and closer to first pitch. But you are unusually calm. Why? Because you are envisioning the dog you’re going to consume when you finally make your way into the stadium. This 5 Freeway is no ordinary dog, but a culinary masterpiece dedicated to your borderline-unbearable commute. Grilled onions. Grilled mushrooms. Bacon. Your choice of cheese. Bon appetit.
3. Double Play Dog. Sometimes, one little hot dog isn’t enough. When your stomach is rumbling and one will simply not do, go for two. The Double Play Dog can be done any way — Sonoran, 5 Freeway, Doyer, even plain-old original — but with two dogs. Doesn’t that sound delicious?

Imagine the possibilities. The history, beauty and deliciousness of the Dodger Dog, with a twist.

Are you a purist when it comes to your ballpark franks? Do you follow the school of ‘the more the merrier’ when it comes to toppings? What’s your perfect Dodger Dog?

Three out of four ain’t bad! In what is being called a surprising outcome, the Dodgers won their first series of the season against the World Champion San Francisco Giants, three games to one.

It was an interesting series, to say the least, and there are definitely some fairly large kinks that need to be worked out for this Dodger team. That said, however, I am beyond thrilled with the way things have gone thus far. And I think as Dodger fans, we all need to thank Aubrey Huff of the Giants for his defensive “skills” in right field.

Here’s a brief series overview before we look forward to the Rockies and the road trip ahead:

Lookin’ Good:

• Clayton Kershaw. Are we now comfortable enough to dub him our ace? Kershaw’s stellar performance on Opening Day set the minds of many a Dodger fan at ease. The highlight? His one walk. A great sign for a young pitcher who has struggled mightily with the number of walks allowed.
• Matt Kemp. The polarizing center fielder is looking like he is developing quite nicely into the superstar everyone thought he could be. He’s exhibited patience at the plate, great instincts on the basepaths, and some pop from the batters box.
• Davey Lopes. I know we can’t credit Lopes with all the good things happening for the Dodgers, but he has definitely done something special. It sure seems like his return has brought with it a new sense of urgency and aggressiveness that last year was pretty foreign to the Boys in Blue.
• Don Mattingly. The first-year manager is off to a great start. He seems to have made baseball fun again at Chavez Ravine.

Lookin’ not so good:

• Bullpen. Last season, the strength of the Dodgers was their relief pitching. If a starting pitcher could make it through 6-7 innings and keep the them in the game, the relievers would come in and (most of the time) shut the game down. This is not the case so far this season. Kuo, Guerrier and Broxton have all been shaky at best. These three have got to step up and regain some confidence from their starting pitchers, and their manager.

Jury’s still out:

• Jonathan Broxton. I know a majority of Dodger fans are already over Broxton. He struggled mightily the second half of last season, and has seemed to pick right back up where he left off. I’m reserving judgement until after the long road trip. He is under a huge amount of pressure to bounce back to his 2009 form at Dodger Stadium and an eight game road trip away from the ballpark breathing down his neck might do him some good. But if he still seems to struggle into the end of April, he’s gotta go.
• Offense. A breakout fourth game of the season where the offense notched 7 runs was big for the Dodgers. They were able to string together hits and provide a win for a deserving Hiroki Kuroda. The combined 6 runs in three games before that, however, has me more than a bit worried. Can the offense be productive enough to support the pitching staff?

Tune in tomorrow for a brief preview of the two game series with the Rockies. Should be a good one… and thankfully, they don’t have to face Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez.

Rivalry, in the modern sense, is a tough concept. It tends to invoke a bitterness, hatred and contempt buried somewhere deeply in even the best of us. Ask any Dodgers fan what they think of the San Francisco Giants and you will likely get an expletive-laden rant, starting and ending with the word hate. And if you were to travel a few hours up the coast to the San Francisco Bay area, you would likely get the exact same response about their Southern California rivals.

So last night when three Giants fans were stalked out of the stadium and brutally attacked by two Dodger fans, many chalked it up to rivalry. I don’t really care what term you label it with — beating someone up over a baseball team is an inexcusable, inhuman and disgusting act. As a loyal Dodgers fan, I am embarrassed and ashamed.

Dodger Stadium is a beautiful place — one of the last ballparks to retain the feeling of classic baseball. No slides, fun zones or neon signs. It should also be a safe place, where everyone (even fans from the rival Giants) feel safe to enjoy a game. I want to be able to take my little sister to a game and not worry about her safety. I want Giants fans to come to Dodger Stadium and acknowledge the beauty of Chavez Ravine, instead of worrying about rushing to their cars for fear of bodily harm.

I love a heated rivalry, as long as it doesn’t cross the line. But this type of behavior is so far beyond the line you can’t even see it anymore. The acts of two angry individuals cast a dark shadow on what was a beautiful, celebratory Opening Day at Dodger Stadium.

Please, Dodger fans, don’t let this be the norm. I urge you to not let the fact that someone is wearing the wrong jersey or hat blind you from the fact that they are fans watching a ballgame. Whether they are for the Giants, the Phillies or our beloved Dodgers, all are people who deserve the right to enjoy a game without fearing for their safety. Stop the violence. After all, its just a game.

Now that’s how you kick off a season! Nothing like a pitchers duel to get you riled up for baseball. Luckily for Dodger fans, ace-in-the-making Clayton Kershaw proved that the opening day jitters had nothing on him, looking calm and powerful in the face of the daunting Giants starter, Tim Lincecum.

Lookin’ good:

• Clayton Kershaw. The Dodgers young ace proved that he has what it takes to go head to head with the best, and win. Nine strikeouts, four hits, and most importantly one walk.
• Matt Kemp. The Dodgers center fielder was a huge factor in the win, not because of his swing, but with his patience and smarts on the basepaths. A career-high three walks (plus a single) allowed Kemp to score the Dodgers only two runs.
• Don Mattingly. Well, so far, Donnie Baseball has never lost as a major league manager. Way to go, Donnie! But in all seriousness, Mattingly made the right choices, kept his cool, and exuded a team-first mentality that was missed during the Torre Era.

Lookin’ not so good:

• I’ll get back to you after tomorrow’s game… still on too much of a high from all the good things that contributed to tonight’s win.

Jury’s still out:

• Jonathan Broxton. The big closer was a huge question mark coming into 2011 after losing his job as closer at the end of last season. Broxton got the save tonight, but not before giving up a solo shot to Pat Burrell in the ninth. Can he regain his dominant form and serve as the anchor the bullpen needs?
• Offense. Will tonights game be a preview of the season to come — solid pitching with little to no run support? Let’s hope not. It’s assumed that offensively, Gwynn, Barajas and Carroll will not be off-the-charts. But it remains to be seen if Kemp, Ethier and Loney have what it takes to rebound from their slumping 2010 seasons and carry this team with their bats.

Tomorrow’s game features Chad Billingsley going up against left-hander Jonathan Sanchez. I’ll be curious to see who gets the start in left field (possibly Marcus Thames), and also to see how Ethier and Loney do against a powerful lefty.

So tomorrow is kind of a big day. OK, it’s pretty big. OK, it’s huge for baseball fans everywhere. It’s Opening Day and Dodger fans will be watching the game with bated breath. Will Kershaw be the ace we know he is capable of being? Will they get any hitting whatsoever out of their lineup? Can the vintage infielders prove that they are still capable of being productive defensively? Will Frank McCourt still own the team come seasons end?

But even with so many question marks, I have a bold prediction for the season:

The Dodgers are going to win 87 games.

I said it. I know it’s a lot of games to win. And I know we only managed to win 80 games last season, but it is definitely possible… and going to happen.

Think about it. The starting rotation is much stronger and deeper than last season. Uribe provides an instant upgrade at 2nd base. And it is highly unlikely that Ethier, Kemp and Loney will all continue their downward trends.

Here is the formula (as I see it) for a successful season. Healthy starting pitching + healthy Rafael Furcal + the return of Matt Kemp’s and Andre Ethier’s bats = 87 wins.

Now I know that injuries happen, players slump, and certain role players don’t exactly perform as hoped. It’s the same every year. But this team and this season have the potential to leave last season in the dust. Beat the Giants!

What are your predictions?

It is nearly impossible to forget the horrific events that took place in Tucson, Arizona on January 8th. The lives of six people were cut short, including that of nine year-old Christina Taylor-Green, daughter of Dodgers scout John Green. She was a lover of politics, and a lover of baseball.

The game was in her blood.

It is only fitting that a memorial game was played in hers and the rest of the victims honor, in the city where their lives were taken.

Yesterday, the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks held a benefit game in Tucson, with all proceeds benefitting the victims of the January 8th shooting. The Tucson community, as well as the baseball community came together to honor and remember those who were lost, and to bring a sense of hope to their family and friends left behind. They raised one hundred thousand dollars.

Bill Shaikin of the LA Times has an incredible report of the story, and of the baseball community’s ability to come together and be a “force for good.” I urge you to read and remember.

Here we go again. Dodgers backup catcher, Dioner Navarro, who left yesterday with pain in his side, got the results of his MRI back today. He has a strained oblique which apparently means he will spend opening day on the disabled list.

Go ahead and add him to the growing list of injured players who will probably be out for the beginning of the season. The list includes third basemen Casey Blake, and pitchers Vicente Padilla and Jon Garland.

On the flip side of this not-so-great news is the fact that this gives Hector Gimenez a shot at making the opening day roster. Navarro was slated to be Rod Barajas’ backup behind the plate, but now the contest is wide open between Hector Gimenez and AJ Ellis.

My money is on Gimenez getting the call when the season starts. Since he is out of options, the Dodgers risk losing him to another team if they send him back to the minors.

They have been looking for a way to fit his hot-hitting bat into the lineup. Barajas is no spring chicken, and the 28 year-old Gimenez could be just what the Dodgers need to provide a little spark from behind the plate (he has already hit 3 home runs in spring training).

Here’s to hoping Gimenez — a career minor leaguer — is just what the doctor (or Donnie Baseball) ordered.

Dear Chad,

I know you’re really busy with spring training and all, so I’ll be brief with my message:

We need you to step up this season.

I’m well aware that Clayton Kershaw has been (deservedly) dubbed the ace of our staff, but I cannot emphasize enough how important you are to our success in the 2011 season. Your confidence over the last few years has been shaky at best, but I’m here to tell you that you are better than you think. When you are on, you have a potent arsenal of pitches that can tie up even the best of hitters.

Allow me to dream for a second… I’m envisioning the one-two punch of Kershaw and yourself in a championship series, and it is a thing of beauty. You both dominate hitters and allow the Dodgers to take a 2-0 lead in the series. Who can beat us after that? Nobody.

The thing is, Chad, our pitching staff depends on you. Kershaw is still a youngster. Kuroda is great but has never been the dominant pitcher you are capable of being. And Garland and Lilly are solid starters but will never be the leaders of a staff.

You’re much more important than people give you credit for, and in a season of uncertainty, we need you to step up in a big way. Do it for your teammates, do it for the fans, and do it for yourself.

Thanks in advance.

Clare