The Home Stretch Part 2: The Dodgers

I have been a Dodger fan as long as I can remember. Garvey-Lopes-Russell-Cey are four words I remember from my childhood. Hershiser, Gibson, Piazza and now Loney, Kemp and Martin.
But, it has been 20 years since they won a world series (notice I don't say since "we won", as soon as the give me a uniform and put my name in the lineup I earn the right to say "we").
This year does not look any different. They stayed close, got Manny Ramirez from Boston and were looking poised to make a run in a division where nobody seems to want to get too far over .500.
Then, an eight game losing streak. Now, when you are trying to win a division, I do not recommend losing eight in a row in late August!
What happened? Well, I would love to blame it on Andruw Jones, the $18 million dollar a year buck fifty hitting centerfielder who has been a flop of Ishtar proportions, but he is playing first base at Triple A Las Vegas (another long story). I would love to blame it on the $16 million dollar ace of the staff Jason Schmidt, but he has not pitched since before the McCain's campaign collapse of 2007 (like how I can tie the posts together? Politics and baseball).
Can I blame it on the manager? Well, he did win a World Series or four in his prior job, so he probably knows what he is doing.
How about the owner? He does charge too much for parking, but I cannot really connect that to the performance on the field.
Maybe it is just another one of those years: they come close enough to keep me interested, but disappoint in the end. The problem is the Dodgers do not have the lovableness of the Cubs. They are expected to win, they should win and yet, year after year they do not.
What is missing is a heart and soul. That one guy that everyone looks to. The guy that everyone wants to get behind. In 1988 it was Kirk Gibson.
Now? Maybe Russell Martin, but it does not seem that way. Until the Dodgers find real leadership, it seems they will be stuck in this pattern of 86 wins, 3rd place and "wait til next year". I'm still waiting.

The Home Stretch

The pennant race and the election are both entering the home stretch. My Republicans seem to be doing better than my Dodgers. I am surprised by the former, but not so surprised by the latter.
First the Republicans: wow, how can this be happening? Let's face it, 8 years in the White House, an unpopular President and yet John McCain is even in the polls. He just pulled off a stunner with his VP choice. There is no way he should be where he is.
I will be honest, I have not been a big McCain fan. I thought he often tried to get his name in the paper and his face on TV at the expensive of his party and the President. His flirtation with being John Kerry's running mate and/or switching parties bothered me. I was also amongst those who left him for dead politically in 2007. I hopped on the Rudy bandwagon. My bruises from that crash are healed now, thank you.
As McCain secured the nomination I found myself more concerned that Obama not be elected. While I do not necessarily buy the lack of qualifications argument against Obama (he was born here and is over 35 years old), I do believe he lacks any relevant experience. I am not looking for 20 years in Washington, but I am looking for someone who has done something with their life other than seek office. He has not.
Then, two days ago, McCain won me over with his pick for VP: Sarah Palin. I loved that he went outside of the box for a running mate (I thought surely it would be another middle age white guy...sorry Mitt). In picking a woman, which was long overdue in the Republican party, he changed the equation and sent Obama-Biden reeling. Furthermore, she is articulate, like-able and has a life story that involves things other than running for office (did I mention that Biden has been a Senator since he was 30?) To me, there are so many things to like about this pick. I am now excited about the prospect of the Republicans making history.
So we enter the homestretch of a campaign different than any other we have seen. Obama's lofty speeches against McCain's direct answers. Biden's arrogance against Palin's genuineness. I am getting a box seat for this one.

Politics and Baseball

As the title suggests, I want to talk about two topics: politics and baseball. Fortunately, the beginning of September means pennant races and it is an election year.
We'll talk baseball at all levels: from Little League to the bigs.
Politics: I am a Republican, but I will try to analyze things as objectively as I can.
So welcome. I am new to this, but I hope I can provide some interesting discussion and commentary.