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Despite the struggles of the Los Angeles Dodgers throughout the 2010 season, two teams in their farm system, the Ogden Raptors and the Great Lakes Loons, recently completed record-breaking years and continue to battle in the playoffs in their respective leagues.

In Game 1 of the first round in the Pioneer League Playoffs on Friday night, the Raptors found themselves trailing the Orem Owlz 1-0 in the top of the ninth inning. With one out and runners on second and third base, the Dodgers‘ 2010 third-round draft pick, outfielder Leon Landry, delivered a two-run single to center which put Ogden ahead to stay and take the early lead in the series.

Under the guidance of first-year manager Damon Berryhill, the Raptors finished their regular season at 44-31, setting a team record for wins in the process.

Just one step below Single-A, the Pioneer League is a Rookie League in the Rocky Mountain region, and is made up of eight teams with predominately first-year players who compete in a shortened season of usually 75 games.

In the regular season, the Raptors were led offensively by shortstop Jake Lemmerman, who was drafted by the Dodgers in the fifth round of this year’s amateur draft. Lemmerman’s season numbers were phenomenal—he posted a batting average of.363, and contributed 69 runs scored, 12 home runs, 24 doubles and 47 RBI with an OPS of 1.044 in only 66 games.

The Raptors’ pitching staff was led by Red Patterson, who was drafted by Los Angeles in the 29th round in this year’s draft out of Oklahoma State University. In 14 starts, Patterson went 6-1 with an ERA of 3.33. He yielded only 17 walks and struck out 66 batters in just over 67 innings pitched.

The Raptors fell to Orem in a slugfest 17-10 on Saturday night, tying the series at one game apiece. Ogden heads home to Lindquist Field for the series finale on Sunday. 

Meanwhile, moving eastward, the Great Lakes Loons, the Dodgers’ low Single-A affiliate, defeated the Fort Wayne TinCaps 6-4 in the final game of the first round of the Midwest League playoffs on Friday evening on their home field in Midland, Michigan.

The Midwest League consists of 16 teams in Class A—eight each in both Eastern and Western divisions. The league plays a 140-game schedule that begins on the first Thursday in April and ends in early September.

Loons’ manager Juan Bustabad directed Great Lakes to a franchise-record 90 wins in 2010, breaking the previous record of 81 victories which was achieved in 2009. Coincidentally, in his nine-year minor league career, Bustabad played three years in the Dodgers’ organization—two with the Double-A San Antonio Missions in 1986-1987, and one with Triple-A Albuquerque in 1988.

In the early part of the regular season, first baseman Jerry Sands had a tremendous year with his bat before being moved to Double-A Chattanooga. Sands, who was selected in the 25th round of the 2008 draft, hit .332 with 16 doubles, 18 home runs, 46 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 69 games while with the Loons.

Outfielder Brian Cavazos-Galvez was also a key contributor to the Loons’ offense in 2010. In 121 games, he hit .318, while adding 43 doubles, 16 home runs, 77 RBI and 43 stolen bases. Cavazos-Galvez was selected by the Dodgers in the 12th round of the 2009 draft out of the University of New Mexico.

Allen Webster was the ace of the Great Lakes’ pitching staff for most of the 2010 season. In 23 starts, Webster went 12-9 with a 2.88 ERA. The tall, lanky righty struck out 114 hitters while walking 53 in just over 131 innings of work.

The Loons were set to start the Eastern Division Championship Series against the Lake County Captains on Saturday, however rain forced the postponement of the first game. The series now will begin Sunday at Classic Park in Eastlake, Ohio.

Fans everywhere will be keeping a close eye on both of the series, as several stars from Ogden and Great Lakes may have the opportunity to appear in Dodger Blue as early as the 2012 or 2013 season.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

What a difference a year makes.

After two consecutive trips to the NLCS in 2008 and 2009, Dodgers fans had even higher hopes for the 2010 season.

Folks in Dodgertown knew that the divorce between Frank and Jamie McCourt would have some type of effect on the organization, but nobody guessed the 2010 campaign would turn into a struggle on the field.

For the first two months of the season, the experts were concluding the Dodgers easily had the best offense in the NL West, and they presumed starting pitching would be the downfall for the Boys in Blue. However, those experts were way off the mark with their analysis—the starting pitchers were steady, and the offense was scarce.

Some critics say it was the overwhelming number of injuries that prevented a successful year, while others insist it was the lack of funds to sign a big market player to put the team over the top. Some even blame the coaches and managers for ineffective guidance and poor decision-making.

After Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat to the San Diego Padres, the Dodgers found themselves under the .500 mark for the first time since May 11. Trailing the division-leading Padres and the Wild Card leaders by 10 games in both categories with only 23 contests remaining, the Dodgers are hoping to close out the year on a high note and build momentum heading into 2011.

Still, with future management and ownership uncertain, many questions remain to be answered in the off-season, and depending on the outcome of the divorce trial, it may be difficult for the Dodgers to get a fresh start heading into next year.

The following slides show eight primary reasons why the Los Angeles Dodgers fell from contention 2010. Everyone in Dodgertown hopes to put these horrors and nightmares in the past and start with a new sense of enthusiasm, and a fresh appetite in 2011.

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The reinforcements have finally arrived for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Although September 1 was the official day that all Major League teams were permitted to expand their rosters up to 40 players, the Dodgers finally made a series of call-ups on September 5.

Initially it was thought that Los Angeles would pass on giving the fans a sneak peek at the stars of the farm system; however, after the Albuquerque Isotopes, the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate, were eliminated from playoff contention, a handful of moves were indeed made.

All indications are pointing to a turbulent signing cycle this winter, and depending on which potential free agents are offered arbitration, Dodgers’ fans may be in for a preview of what’s to come in 2011.

While Los Angeles continues to barely grasp at the possibility of a playoff berth, it’s probable that most of the minor leaguers won’t see any significant amount of playing time—at least until the Dodgers are mathematically eliminated from postseason contention.

For some players, this may be the final opportunity to prove whether or not they have any value whatsoever at the big league level.

For others, having the chance to at least taste the big league atmosphere is invaluable. Taking batting practice, shagging flies, traveling with the squad, and just spending time with the veterans are very precious stepping stones in a farm hand’s career.

The following frames display the six players that have been activated, show statistical analysis for each, and offer commentary on how they may contribute to the Dodgers’ franchise moving forward.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers‘ fan faithful is represented very well by people of different ages, races, lifestyles, and personal beliefs.

And among all the fans, there are various levels of allegiance and devotion—some folks have the ability to recall any imaginable statistic in the history of the franchise, while others may simply enjoy a gorgeous day at the Ravine with friends and family.

Yet one thing that all Dodgers supporters have in common is a similar perception towards current owner and chairman Frank McCourt.

After taking into account that virtually every single business transaction Frank made over the last several years has negatively affected the health and welfare of the organization, it’s agreeable among all fans that the Dodgers require new ownership—and it needs to come immediately.

At this stage of the divorce trial, it’s difficult to render which party has the upper hand, but if Frank emerges as the victor, he has absolutely every intention of moving forward as owner and chairman.

Clearly, Frank has no respect for the hopes and desires of the fans, and it’s tough to imagine how he has the will to continue his involvement with the club considering the disdain and disgust of the Dodger community.

If there was indeed a simple method to ostracize or blackball Jamie and Frank McCourt from the Los Angeles Dodgers franchise, it probably would have happened already. Perhaps the only options are to be patient, have faith in the court, and hope that justice prevails in the end.

However, after the McCourt divorce became a matter of public record last fall, there are quite a few Dodgers fans who decided to boycott the 2010 season entirely.

Thinking along those same lines, what if most, if not all of the Dodgers’ fan base withheld their patronage from all Dodgers home games? Is this sensible or even logical? Would it work?

From a logistics or theoretical standpoint, it would shut down a good portion of the cash flow. Outside of television, radio, and revenue sharing from Major League Baseball, there would be very little money generated, and some type of intervention by the higher powers of MLB would be imminent.

Nevertheless, any rational mind would realize that the idea of  “the fans going on strike” would create repercussions that aren’t easily visible. The Dodgers are a huge part of the economy of the City of Los Angeles, and the effect would be huge.

Several hundred jobs would somehow be affected right off the top. Stadium security, ushers, food vendors, ticket-takers, and maintenance workers would need to be scaled back.

Considering the current state of the job market, the ramifications of a fan boycott would be ugly.

Then there are the season ticket-holders. They’ve already spent the money. Although a non-renewal for 2011 could be an option, it only makes sense that they attend games down the stretch of the 2010 campaign.

It’s also worth mentioning the number of groups and organizations that travel to Dodger Stadium annually.

For some church groups, Little League teams, and Boy Scout troops, a trip to watch the Boys in Blue compete creates memories that last lifetimes.

Many families plan yearly vacations around a visit to the ballpark. Sure, San Bernardino is only about an hour to the east, but it’s just not the same experience.

The charities that benefit from direct tickets sales would also be affected negatively.

Pre-existing deals with food suppliers and apparel/clothing makers would crumble.

Although most of the players on the club won’t admit it, the divorce has had a detrimental effect in regards to their performances on the diamond. Imagine if the stands were completely empty—there would be no motivation to compete at all.

So what can the fan do to help the cause?

Write comments about the articles that appear in the LA Times. Share remarks and sentiments in Dodger forums. Sign up for Bleacher Report and write articles or post comments.

Join the protest groups in front of the court house; or if lucky enough to get inside the courtroom, wear a Vladimir Shpunt T-shirt in objection to ownership. The possibilities are endless.

Nonetheless, every individual has his own freedom to choose. And if that individual is happy and content that his hard-earned money isn’t contributing to Frank McCourt’s evil empire, then by all means, go on strike.

After all, the fan’s peace of mind is the second most important issue here.

What’s the first?

Getting the McCourts the heck out of Dodge.    

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Although September 1 marks the day that all MLB teams may expand their rosters up to 40 players, the Los Angeles Dodgers are passing on the opportunity—at least temporarily.

According to the team’s website, Los Angeles isn’t expected to call up any top prospects for the remainder of the season, however they will recall catcher A.J. Ellis and one unnamed infielder on Friday. The Dodgers may also opt to call in one arm for the bullpen at some juncture, but they plan to leave the normal starting rotation intact down the final stretch of the season.

“At this point it doesn’t look like we’re going to bring up a starter,” manager Joe Torre said on Wednesday.

If not offered arbitration by the Dodgers this winter, Vicente Padilla, Hiroki Kuroda, and Ted Lilly, all members of the current rotation, may be lost to free agency.

With ownership of the team in question, it’s difficult to speculate the budget parameters for 2011. And with the possibility of this year’s rotation being dismantled, now would be the perfect time to see if John Ely really has what it takes to pitch in the bigs, or if Charlie Haeger has finally rediscovered his knuckle ball.

The Dodgers infield could also use a taste of youth for the sake of looking toward the future. The current infield of James Loney (26-years-old), Ryan Theriot (31), Jamey Carroll (36), Casey Blake (37), and Rod Barajas (35) isn’t getting any younger, yet there are several players on the Dodgers’ farm who seem to be ready to make an immediate impact. 

Russ Mitchell, who was the Albuquerque Isotopes’ (Triple-A) 2010 Player of the Year, is having the most productive campaign of his career. In 122 games this season, Mitchell has a .322 average, 23 home runs, 86 RBI, 37 doubles, and 95 runs scored. At only 25 years of age Mitchell’s primary spot is third base, but he also has the ability to cover at second base and first base if needed.

Shortstop Chin-lung Hu, second baseman Ivan De Jesus, and first baseman John Lindsey round out the list of infielders on the Isotopes’ squad who may be key contributors to the Dodgers in the future.

Shortstop Dee Gordon and first baseman Jerry Sands, both members of the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts, could possibly benefit from a few games of Major League service as well.

In the outfield, Albuquerque’s Xavier Paul and Jamie Hoffmann are very much Major League ready, and Chattanooga center fielder Trayvon Robinson is easily the most gifted pure athlete in the Dodgers’ entire farm system.

Seemingly the most troubling dilemma for Los Angeles in calling up any of these players is meeting the salary requirements. Depending on when the player is activated, each player’s salary is calculated at the League minimum, but it’s also prorated based on the number of games while actually on the Dodgers’ roster.

With the budget cuts in regards to payroll, a very expensive 2010 draft, and the questionable money managing of owner Frank McCourt, it’s difficult to imagine there’s much left to spend on player development for the remainder of the season. 

Most of the players named above will play for the Phoenix Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League in October, yet there’s no comparable or more beneficial experience parallel to Major League service.

Coincidentally, the Desert Dogs will be managed by current Dodgers batting coach Don Mattingly.

Nevertheless, considering the number of players that seem able to perform at the big league level, the Dodgers may be shooting themselves in the foot by not providing these future stars the opportunities to develop their skills.

Depending on what transpires in the courtroom over the next month between owner Frank McCourt and his wife, Jamie, the top names in the farm system may be a large part of the roster in 2011.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

It’s been a very, very long season for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

With everything that’s been happening in Dodgertown recently, most Dodger fans are at the point of exhaustion that they’re ready to throw in the white towel. Yet there’s still 31 games to be played in the 2010 campaign, and more drama continues to build.

The divorce proceedings between Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and his wife Jamie have seemingly taken a backseat to several other storylines over the course of the season, but the inevitable day has finally arrived.

Monday marks the beginning of the divorce trial between the McCourts in Los Angeles Superior Court, and for Los Angeles Dodgers fans at least, hopes are that the process is swift and judicious.

Whether the trial lasts three days or two months, there are several possibilities as to how Judge Scott Gordon may resolve the case. But for all parties involved, including the Dodger faithful, there’s one resolution that benefits everyone—a court-ordered sale of the franchise.

For the players, coaches, and fans of the Dodgers, this would be the best possible verdict. California Family Law is a bit different than most states, as the judge exclusively sets the stage and makes the decisions. Although counsels for both sides potentially have the right to appeal the verdict, these cases are seldom overturned. 

Gordon has recommended previously to the McCourts to sell the organization to reconcile their differences, but both sides have decided to take their chances and press on. Clearly pride is a factor here, and neither Frank or Jamie’s ego is prepared for any type of humility.

Nevertheless, the quicker that Judge Gordon orders the sale, the sooner the Dodger franchise can begin to move in a new direction and once again strive to become among the elite organizations in Major League Baseball.

For Jamie, a court-ordered sale would be joyous. The marital property agreement is the core piece of evidence at the trial, and despite the legality and the authenticity of the documents, Judge Gordon’s main task will be to determine if Jamie was indeed duped by Frank, or if the agreement was drafted to protect Jamie all along.

With half of the proceeds from the sale of the Dodgers, Jamie could begin to comfortably move forward into a new era of her life, and have more than enough funds and assets to undertake many possible future paths.

In Frank’s eyes, to witness Judge Gordon force the sale of the team is the last thing he wants to happen. Frank’s primary goal is to hold on to the franchise until 2014 when Dodgers’ ownership assumes television broadcast rights for the club, which seemingly would exponentially increase revenue.

However, despite his lavish spending and affluent lifestyle, Frank must be absolutely miserable.

Almost everyone in Dodgertown wants him out as owner, and he’s become almost an evil name in the City of Los Angeles. Many fault the current standing of the organization to Frank’s business decisions alone, and it’s almost getting to the point where he’s not even welcomed in his own stadium.

Perhaps this could be an opportunity for Frank to rediscover himself and start a new life, to cleanse his soul, so to speak. By getting half of the assets from the sale, there would be more than enough funds for Frank to possibly undertake new business opportunities, but at the same time, it would also allow him to take some time off, to look at life from the outside-in for a change.

Maybe he could take some emphasis off of himself and do some volunteer work, or perhaps donate a sizable sum of money to the Dodgers team charity once new ownership is in place—something to shift his attention to the needs of other people.

As Frank sees it as the worst possible scenario, it could be a blessing in disguise—for the good of all parties involved.

The fans, players, coaches, and the Dodger legacy deserve much better.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Folks across Dodgertown who don’t quite understand the waiver wire process were buzzing with concern on Wednesday after learning that the Dodgers were gearing up for a potential fire sale by placing a total of five players on waivers.

In addition to workhorse pitcher Hiroki Kuroda, outfielder Manny Ramirez finally hit waivers as expected, and veterans Scott Podsednik, Casey Blake, and Jay Gibbons were also waived later in the afternoon, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times.

For non-playoff contending squads, many players are waived the week before rosters expand on September 1, as teams look to possibly cut salary, gain prospects, and prepare to build their rosters and budgets heading into next season.

However, at the beginning of the day on Thursday, the Dodgers find themselves trailing only 5.5 games in the National League Wild Card race, and with 35 games still remaining to be played, the front office in Los Angeles is left wondering whether a playoff shot is realistic.

Teams around the league have until the end of the week to make potential claims, after which deals would need to be agreed upon by Tuesday afternoon to complete any transaction.

If by some chance Los Angeles climbs even further into contention by the beginning of next week, the Dodgers have the right to rescind the waivers, and retain all the players mentioned above, even if they are already claimed by another team.

Los Angeles has been busy talking to the Chicago White Sox about possible trade scenarios, and according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Ramirez has already told friends that he would waive his no-trade clause and approve a deal sending him to Chicago.

Nevertheless, since Manny’s return from the disabled list last Saturday, the Dodgers have seen a spark in their offense, which has been almost dormant since the All-Star break.

In the three games that Ramirez has been in the lineup since being recalled, Los Angeles has scored 18 runs, including seven home runs—a resurgence of power that has been lacking since the first month of the season.

Kuroda is in the final season of a three-year deal worth over $35 million, while Blake still has one additional year remaining on his three-year, $17 million contract with a club option for 2012.

Podsednik’s contract is valued at $1.75 million this year with an option for 2011, while Gibbons’ contract is setup only for the remainder of this season after being bought from Triple-A Albuquerque.

After finishing a series with the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday afternoon, the Dodgers will travel to Coors Field for a three-game set with the Colorado Rockies beginning Friday, then return to Dodger Stadium for a series with the defending National League champion Philadelphia Phillies on Monday.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

With less than 40 games remaining in the 2010 season, there are still many questions looming for the Los Angeles Dodgers from an organizational standpoint.

The divorce trial between owner Frank McCourt and his wife Jamie is set to begin on August 30, and depending on what exactly transpires in the courtroom, future ownership may take a new direction.

The decision as to whether Joe Torre will return as Dodgers’ manager will be made once Los Angeles “officially” falls from contention, while controversies as to whom will be at the helm next year are already taking shape. If Torre decides to move on and continue managing, an entirely new team of coaches may need to be assembled, as part of the staff may follow in Joe’s path.

If indeed a new owner is introduced in Los Angeles, many managerial changes are anticipated. The current managers and coaching staff have been on the hot seat for most of the season, as coaching techniques, personnel decisions, and roster management were constantly criticized across Dodgertown.

And with more than a handful of players’ contracts expiring at the end of the year, roster changes may be imminent heading into 2011 as well. Frank McCourt’s notorious deferred money contracts have scarred the Dodgers’ budget for the past several seasons, and the possibilities of several players not returning or a number of contracts being restructured loom large.

Yet with the many questions and hurdles that lie ahead, the Dodger legacy will be forever intact, and the Dodger faithful will continue to show its relentless support.

The following slides show eight areas of coaching and management that may be addressed heading into the off-season, as well as offer recommendations of filling any vacated positions. The names shown are by no means based on any fact or inside information, but simply illustrate the many possibilities that exist if the Dodgers decide to make changes moving forward.

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(Michelle Mitchell also contributed to this article)

With the much publicized divorce proceedings between Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and his wife, Jamie, set to begin in less than two weeks, fans across Dodgertown are primarily concerned about one thing—who will control the franchise heading into the 2011 season?

Basically, there’s three possible outcomes in terms of what may happen with the Dodgers organization.

First, in some shape or form, Jamie McCourt could be awarded ownership of the team. This seems the most unlikely of the three, despite the nearly $10 million dollars Jamie is expected to pay out to her defense brigade. Frank’s name alone is all over the franchise, and the marital assets are in a complete state of disarray. Although Jamie may come out on top in overall wealth, chances of her being awarded sole possession of the club are next to none.

Next, Frank could maintain his position as primary owner and chairman, and continue to oversee daily operations of the Dodgers for years into the future. There’s a reasonable chance of this being the outcome, yet it’s the last thing the Dodger faithful desires to occur. Based on the immoral and unethical business practices that have already been revealed before the divorce proceedings have even begun, Frank McCourt has no real passion for the Dodger legacy or devotion to the state of baseball in general. It’s obvious that his interests lie primarily in generating as much revenue from the organization as possible.

Last, as a result of several different scenarios, the franchise could be placed on the market to be sold. The problem with this, however, is if the initial rulings are appealed, Frank could conceivably maintain ownership for a number of years as things get sorted out in appellate court. If Frank sees the writing on the wall that he must sell, but maintains control of the franchise for any extended period of time, chances are that he will milk every possible dime from the Dodgers before he ultimately relinquishes control.

As it stands right now, there are more than enough reasons for Commissioner Bud Selig to intervene even before some type of ruling is imposed in court. Quite possibly, Selig may have already made contact with Frank to convince him to sell before things become dire and Frank is stripped of ownership.

Frank McCourt can argue until he’s Dodger Blue in the face, but it’s too late now to convince anyone otherwise that he can change his practices and conduct business based on the best interests of the Los Angeles Dodgers as a whole.

During his tenure as owner it was obvious that many needed improvements needed to be made to better the organization, yet Frank decided to spend sums of money surpassing six figures to hire a Russian wizard to send energy waves from over 2,000 miles away to help the team win.

Also, according to court documents, the club is paying the annual salaries of the couple’s sons, Drew and Travis. The combined salaries of the two total $600,000, while neither is said to have any responsibility with the Dodgers. At the time the documents were submitted, Drew was attending business school at Stanford and Travis worked at Goldman Sachs in New York.

Consequently, it is alleged by Jamie’s lawyers that the Los Angeles Dodgers have paid nearly $4 million over the past 18 months to the John McCourt Company, an entity which does virtually nothing for the team. Jamie’s attorneys are describing this entity as a “slush fund,” implying it is nothing more than a piggy bank of cash to be used at Frank’s leisure.

Additional documents also state that both Frank and Jamie jointly pocketed income totaling $108 million from 2004 through 2009. On that sum, they paid zero federal and state income tax. Because other companies or assets controlled by the McCourts were losing money, loopholes and careful maneuvering allowed the pocketed sum to become tax-free.

In another unorthodox scheme to generate revenue, it was revealed in past weeks that the Los Angeles Dodgers organization has been charging itself rent for Dodger Stadium and the surrounding properties. Although many teams in MLB pay rent for their stadiums, the annual sum of $14 million being paid by the Dodgers has been described as “ludicrous” by financial experts affiliated with the League.

In July, it was disclosed that the Dodgers’ charity, the Dodgers Dream Foundation, had paid Howard Sunkin in excess of $400,000 in 2007, which was more than a quarter of the charity’s budget. Sunkin, one of the club’s highest ranking executives, was also compensated by the Dodgers for other work outside the charity as well. Authorities on charities, especially involved in Major League Baseball, have described the sum of money as preposterous.

As there’s more than enough evidence for Bud Selig to intercede and force Frank McCourt out as owner, he’s more than likely to weigh the initial ruling from the courts before he takes any type of action.

Most fans in Dodgertown are hoping for the fastest possible resolution, and Bud Selig could certainly make that happen.

The divorce proceedings begin on Monday, August 30. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

At the beginning of the 2010 season, hopes and dreams in Dodgertown were filled with very high expectations.

Not only did the Los Angeles Dodgers expect to return to the playoffs, but many thought that this could also be the year that the Blue Crew would return to the World Series for the first time in over 20 years.

However, with just over one-quarter of the season remaining, Los Angeles has been on a turbulent roller coaster ride and finds itself in an almost impossible position to even make a run at the wild card spot in the playoffs.

Critics around baseball seem to argue that the dozens of injuries throughout the course of the season were keys to the demise of the Dodgers in 2010. However, one of the crucial ingredients to a triumphant squad is the team’s ability to overcome injuries. Looking back at past World Series champions, roster depth was among the critical elements of success.

Besides the speculation as to whether manager Joe Torre will return for yet another season, the torrid divorce proceedings between team owner Frank McCourt and his wife Jamie have also been credited for the poor play of the Boys in Blue. Yet logically these factors should by no means have an effect on the way the players perform on the field.

Some players just have substandard seasons—plain and simple. But it’s more than coincidental that at least a half-dozen Dodgers players have seen a downward spiral during the 2010 campaign.

One area that has slipped under the radar of being blamed for the lackluster play of Los Angeles is the coaching—most specifically the pitching and the batting coaching specialists.

The following frames show six Dodgers who have been negatively affected by their own management, as well as offer commentary on how each player’s season has been damaged.

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