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Imagine spending 20 years of your life working for one of the most storied franchises in Major League Baseball history, then showing up for work on a Sunday morning only to be told by your boss that you no longer have a job.

On Sunday, August 8, this was the case for one such person, as well as nine other workers who walked away from Dodger Stadium unemployed.

The former employee, who requested to be referred to as “Antonio” to protect his identity, willingly spent several hours exchanging emails and messages to put this article together, despite his unfortunate distress and mental anguish.

Although team owner and chairman Frank McCourt has been under fire by most of the Dodger community for his sometimes questionable business practices, Antonio still showed compassion and respect towards the owner—his own termination notwithstanding.

“I know that Mr. McCourt is going through a difficult divorce and that the team is having a tough time economically, so I’m not letting myself get very upset because I know that God has something much better planned for me,” Antonio stated.

Antonio was also quick to point out that the game attendance is not even close to what it was in years past.

“The last few home stands, operations sent workers home because not that many people are coming to games anymore,” he added.

Despite no longer being employed by the organization, Antonio has been a Dodger fan since early childhood, and still cares deeply about the club—so much so that he didn’t hesitate to mention a handful of issues that he thought need to be addressed immediately.

Most specifically, Antonio said he has personally witnessed at least four assistant managers letting family and friends through the turnstiles without tickets more than once. He has also seen with his own eyes several ushers engaging in the use of illegal substances while on the clock.

Antonio said that his main objective for being interviewed was to spread the word that a big part of management was dysfunctional and ineffective.

“I just want to let Mr. McCourt know about certain areas of his staff that need to be addressed—assistant managers, security officers, and security leads who I think do a terrible job. Many of them talk and treat people with disrespect.”

“Frank McCourt needs to replace these individuals and hire people who care about Dodger Stadium and the future of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization like I do,” Antonio added.

Antonio also stated that, when possible, he still plans on attending Dodger games as a fan to cheer on his favorite ball club.

Although the brutal economy and the McCourt divorce have had large impacts on the daily operations of the Dodger organization, they are hardly suitable excuses for not applying sensible management practices.

And it’s not just in one area—operations workers, fans, and players alike have been affected by the lack of respectable management skills.

James McDonald, a former Dodger pitcher, and now a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates, endured a disheartening experience when being traded by the Dodgers on July 31.

According to the Pittsburgh Pirates‘ television broadcasters, McDonald was seen in the Dodger clubhouse changing back into his street clothes immediately before the beginning of the game against the San Francisco Giants that Saturday. When approached by several Dodger players and asked as to what was happening, McDonald said that he had been watching an ESPN crawler report and saw that he was traded.

McDonald was already packed up and ready to go, even before being informed by any of his managers or coaches.

It’s difficult to imagine finding out one’s forthcoming job details and possible future residence location by watching a sports channel in a locker room.

Just like the situation with Antonio, there’s no question at all that this scenario should have been handled much differently by management.

Operating a baseball organization during times of trials and tribulations isn’t an easy task, especially with the state of today’s economy and the current ownership situation in Los Angeles. But in times like these, managers throughout the organization need to step up their games.

It’s not always about how the team performs on the field; although in the most successful organizations, the clubs who manage all aspects of the business properly usually are the most flourishing on the diamond.

There’s a lot of stress in Dodgertown, and by opening up the newspaper everyday or just by browsing the Internet for a few moments, it’s not difficult to see why.

For a baseball team who is going out every night and putting forth their best efforts to climb back into a pennant race, management certainly isn’t doing them any favors.

And for a person like Antonio who has given 20 years of service to an organization, some type of recognition, appreciation, or honor is to be expected—not a termination. 

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Quite a few folks in Dodgertown went to sleep confused last night.

Why would the Los Angeles Dodgers claim Adam Dunn off waivers from the Washington Nationals?

Hank Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle was the first to speculate the rumor; and Hank has been around the business long enough to be considered a very reliable source.

If it was indeed Los Angeles who made the claim, in a nutshell, the motive for the Dodgers was to prevent any other team in the NL West or the National League wild card race from having a chance at claiming Dunn and adding instant offense.

For those who are unfamiliar with the waiver wire, here’s how it works:

If a player is waived, any team may claim him. If more than one team claims the player from waivers, the team with the weakest record in the player’s league gets preference. If no team in the player’s league claims him, the claiming team with the weakest record in the other league gets preference.

So basically, unless there’s another club in the NL with a weaker record than Los Angeles that put a claim on Dunn, the Dodgers and the Nationals will at least sit down and talk.

While negotiating with Los Angeles, the Nationals have three options from which to take action.

First, Washington could arrange a trade with the Dodgers for Dunn. Although it’s a possibility, it’s highly unlikely, because the MLB rule states that the deal must be completed within two business days from when the claim was made. That would give both clubs until Tuesday morning at the latest to agree on a trade.

And although it’s highly improbable that the Dodgers are legitimate playoff contenders, the Dodgers still have faith in their mathematical chances, and they still aren’t selling. The chances of them giving up anyone except minor league prospects are slim.

Second, the Nationals could simply rescind the waiver and keep Dunn on their roster. This option is probably the likely result of the entire situation.

Last, the Nationals could do nothing at all. If this happens, the Dodgers would have to assume the balance of Dunn’s 2010 contract (approximately $4 million), pay the Nationals a waiver fee, then add Dunn to their 25-man active roster.

This final option is almost impossible, because the Nationals would want to get at least some type of asset in return for Dunn.

Anything could happen however; and yet perhaps it wasn’t even the Dodgers who made the claim.

Nevertheless, if it was an attempt of strategy or trickery by Los Angeles, they could be stuck with $4 million in added payroll that they may not have if the plan backfires.

Still, many Dodger fans are curious as to how Adam Dunn would fit in as a first baseman?

If, by some crazy turn of events, Los Angeles acquired Dunn, chances are he would be used as a left fielder. In 2009, Dunn played 84 games in the outfield for the Nationals; and the year before that he played a total of 141 games in left field for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Cincinnati Reds combined.

Regardless, if Friday night was an audition for Dunn, he certainly impressed everyone in Los Angeles.

Dunn went two for three at the plate, with two homeruns and six RBI along with two walks, as the Nationals dimmed the Dodgers playoff hopes just a little bit more by putting them away, 6-3.

Dunn and the Nationals have two games remaining in the weekend series at Dodger Stadium.

Many media outlets are keeping these rumors under tight wraps as all of the above-mentioned is heresay and pure speculation; still, the stories should begin to surface as soon as Monday once the Nationals take a course of action.

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Los Angeles Dodgers fans have been taking nothing short of a mental beating over the last week.

Heading into Wednesday evening’s contest against the division-leading San Diego Padres, the Dodgers were informed that they would be without All-Star shortstop Rafael Furcal probably until the beginning of their East Coast road trip early next week.

And just moments before the game began, the team learned that everyday catcher Russell Martin was headed to the disabled list with a labrum tear in his right hip.

To make matters worse, Wednesday was a scheduled night off for regular first baseman James Loney.

So as Los Angeles trotted onto the field at the beginning of the game, the fans saw pretty much only three very familiar faces—Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, and Casey Blake.

Critics around Major League Baseball must have been certain that Wednesday’s contest would be the nail in the coffin for the Dodgers.

But in the end, the naysayers were forced to put such thoughts on hold—at least for now.

Behind a two-hit, complete game shutout by red hot righty Vicente Padilla, the Dodger bats finally came alive as they defeated the Padres 9-0.

With the win, Los Angeles moved back within seven games of the Padres for the division lead, and inched within six games of the San Francisco Giants for the wild card spot in the National League.

Now, the question is, what lies ahead in the Dodgers’ near future?

The two consecutive wins against San Diego hardly afford the Dodgers any breathing room. In reality, the chances of the Dodgers making the playoffs continue to remain a longshot.

Although it’s mandatory that Los Angeles focus on only one game at a time, one can’t help but peek at the impending road trip next week, which consists of three games against the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies, and four games opposing the NL East leading Atlanta Braves.

Thinking about those seven games would make any team in the National League cringe.

But first the Dodgers (56-52) need to maintain momentum and try to close within six games of the Padres (62-44) as they square off in the final contest of a four-game series on Thursday night. A loss would drop Los Angeles back to eight games out of first place.

Chad Billingsley will take the mound for the Dodgers, and he will oppose righty Kevin Correia of San Diego, who looks to improve upon his 7-7 record and 5.06 ERA.

The series finale is certainly winnable for Los Angeles. Slugger Andre Ethier, who went 3-for-5 Wednesday night with a home run, two doubles, and two RBI, hopes to maintain his hot hand; while Billingsley, having thrown shutout ball in his last three starts, looks to add to his 21-plus inning scoreless streak.

Without Martin, Furcal, Blake DeWitt, Manny Ramirez, Ronald Belisario, and even Xavier Paul (optioned to Albuquerque to make room for AJ Ellis), the Dodgers will also look for big contributions from Scott Podsednik, Ryan Theriot, Jamey Carroll, and Brad Ausmus—the not-so-usual suspects.

The Padres however will do all they can to not only defeat the Dodgers, but also try to distance themselves from the San Francisco Giants, who are hot on the heels of the division lead.

Sandwiched between the series finale Thursday and the East Coast road trip next week, is a three game set against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium.

The Nationals series will also be a difficult hurdle for the Boys in Blue. Earlier in the season, the Nationals won two of three games against the Dodgers on their own turf.

Washington will send left handed pitcher Josh Lannan (2-5, 5.63 ERA), righty Livan Hernandez (8-7, 3.12 ERA), and left-hander Scott Olsen (3-3, 4.12 ERA) to the hill in the weekend series.

Clayton Kershaw, Hiroki Kuroda, and Ted Lilly are scheduled to start for the Dodgers.

Looking even further down the road, Los Angeles manager Joe Torre is expected to announce a decision in regards to his own future managing the team by the end of August.

And at just about the same time, the divorce trial between team owner Frank McCourt and his wife Jamie is set to begin.

Regardless of what happens with the Dodgers in pursuit of a playoff spot, the organization will continue to be under the scrutiny of the media well into the fall months.

Nevertheless, right now the team is focusing on just one game at a time. With every game they promise to lay it all on the line and try their best to play beyond their potential.

With 54 games still remaining on the schedule, there’s still plenty of hope; and with each win the Dodgers inch closer to a playoff spot.

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The fans who have not yet lost hope with their beloved Los Angeles Dodgers are pulling out their hair, racking their brains, and seeing their stress levels reach dangerous peaks.

If it was a simple task to isolate one problem area that is causing the Dodgers’ horrible play, the coaching staff would have taken care of it already. After all, that’s what they get paid to do.

But perhaps the one thing that has plagued the Boys in Blue the most this season is drama—2010 hasn’t seen a moment without it.

On top of the McCourt divorce and the potential sale of the club, a supposition the team was controlled by a wizard in years past, a constantly shrinking payroll, and an overpopulated disabled list, the story that is beginning to take center stage now is whether or not Joe Torre will return as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ manager.

And if Torre decides to walk away from Los Angeles, more drama surfaces—who becomes the heir to Torre’s throne?

Well, that’s entirely a whole other can of worms that will be front page news in every paper on the west coast about three weeks from now.

But one of the candidates certainly in front of the pack is current batting coach Don Mattingly. As a matter of fact, Mattingly has been picked apart with endless criticism about his managerial skills—so much so that the organization has assigned him the task of managing the Phoenix Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League once the Dodgers’ season ends.

So is it possible that amidst all of these theatrics that Mattingly is slacking with his coaching duties?

Since the All-Star break, the Dodgers have been hitting .199 as a team; and on paper the additions of Scott Podsednik and Ryan Theriot will not help the squad’s collective slugging percentage of .297.

The normally hot sticks of James Loney, Casey Blake and Andre Ethier have been silent since the mid-season intermission. Loney is batting .183 with a .317 slugging percentage, Blake is hitting .172 while slugging .293, and Andre Ethier is at a dreadful .135 average with a .269 slugging percentage.

Just looking at those numbers makes Dodger fans want to praise Garret Anderson for his contributions this season.

And up until Monday night, Matt Kemp’s bat looked like a fishing pole being cast into the trees. There were no logical mechanics in his swing whatsoever. Somebody must have been giving him somekind of instruction.

Yet through all of this, the Dodgers may have just one small glimmer of hope.

That being in the form of one Manny Ramirez.

Say what you will about Manny’s actions off the field; but scores of players around the League will tell you that there are few players who step onto the field more prepared than Ramirez.

Manny probably knows the tendencies of opposing pitchers better than several batting coaches around the Majors.

Ramirez never stops watching film. Most players around the League won’t change a thing when they’re in the middle of a hot streak, but that’s when Manny experiments. He actually plays games with the pitchers within the actual game itself—battles, if you will.

He changes the mood of the team; he reduces the stress level. He may even tell a funny joke at an appropriate time. He informs his teammates what to expect from opposing pitchers. The bottom line is that he creates positive chemistry—he creates an entirely new outlook to the game. All the things that a batting coach is paid to do.

It’s tough to even remember looking into the dugout and seeing one of those Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier trademark smiles—or even that shifty little grin from James Loney that Dodger fans all know and love. It’s been a long time.

Time and time again, players on championship squads echo the secret to their success, “We just go out there and have fun every night.”

The Dodgers’ players aren’t having fun at all.

Many folks around Dodgertown feel let down by Manny Ramirez. With three trips to the disabled list, they feel he’s not contributing to the squad at all. They believe he’s old, that his bat has slowed down, and that there’s nothing left in the tank.

Still, he’s still putting up strong numbers when he’s healthy—a .317 average, eight homeruns and 39 RBI. With runners in scoring position he’s batting .352 with 29 RBI.

But yet he offers so much more than statistics.

Okay, so maybe he’s not going to be the real hitting coach when he returns sometime next week.

But just ask Matt Kemp, Rafael Furcal, Ronnie Belliard, James Loney or Andre Ethier if they would mind having Manny as their hitting instructor. The answer would be unanimous.

The notion of being in the same lineup as one of the greatest hitters in the history of the game will elevate a player’s performance in a hurry.

And watch each one of those five guys erupt with a smile when Manny walks back onto the field again.

Sometimes it just takes the littlest of things…

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Entering another critical intra-division series against the San Francisco Giants over the weekend, the Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves continuing to fade in the standings while their offense remains dormant. 

The entire squad is struggling at the dish, especially in terms of power, which is reflected in the team ranking 25th among the 30 teams in Major League Baseball in the homerun department.

From the National League perspective, the Dodgers stand in 14th position out of all 16 teams in long balls. Even the San Diego Padres, not known for their power capability, have gone yard 79 times compared to the Dodgers 77 round-trippers.

And the Padres, hoping to bolster their slugging capabilities, added to their potential pop by acquiring sluggers Ryan Ludwick and Miguel Tejada.

Yet, it seems that the Dodgers prefer speed over power as they made deals to bring second baseman Ryan Theriot and utility outfielder Scott Podsednik to Los Angeles.

Theriot was acquired with starting pitcher Ted Lilly from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Dodgers’ second baseman Blake DeWitt and pitching prospects Kyle Smit and Brett Wallach.

In another move made in the waning minutes of the deadline, the Dodgers acquired 36-year-old reliever Octavio Dotel from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for James McDonald and minor league outfielder Andrew Lambo.

Swapping DeWitt and Theriot is a virtual wash, as their statistics, both offensively and defensively, are nearly identical. Dewitt is batting .270 with one homerun, 15 doubles, four triples, 30 RBI and a .352 on-base percentage; while Theriot comes in with a .284 average, one homerun, 10 doubles, two triples, 21 RBI and a .320 OBP. The only difference between the two is that Theriot is a much higher threat on the base paths.

The Dodgers didn’t show interest in Ludwick or Tejada, both whom unquestionably bring power potential to the finesse style offense of the San Diego Padres.

Ludwick’s signature year came in 2008 with the St. Louis Cardinals, when he hit .299 with 37 HR, 40 doubles, 104 runs scored and 113 RBI.

Although Tejada is in his twilight years, it was only in 2004 when he hit .311 with 203 hits, 107 runs scored, 40 doubles, 34 HR and 150 RBI for the Baltimore Orioles.

In their last 10 games, Los Angeles has only scored a total of 12 runs, five of which came in the 6-5 loss to the Giants on Friday night.

The Dodgers hope that the return of left fielder Manny Ramirez will provide a spark to their sluggish offense, but according to the team’s website, Ramirez is still more than a week away from running full speed, and will likely require a rehab assignment before returning to the Los Angeles batting order.

Even with Manny in the regular lineup, the Dodger bench still lacks any type of power boost off the pine.

Podsednik (5 HR), Reed Johnson (0 HR), Jamey Carroll (0 HR), Brad Ausmus (0 HR), Garret Anderson (2 HR), and even Ronnie Belliard (2 HR) pose the least bit of threat to knock the ball out of the yard if used in pinch hitting roles.

Matt Kemp (17 HR, .262 avg.), Andre Ethier (16 HR, .294 avg.), Casey Blake (11 HR, .246 avg.) and Russell Martin (5 HR, .245 avg.), who are normally huge power threats, continue to struggle and produce beneath their potential.

With the additions of Podsednik and Theriot however, perhaps the Dodgers can begin to manufacture much needed run production by utilizing finesse and speed.

Regardless, Los Angeles hopes to find some type of offensive spark as they close out the series with the Giants on Sunday, and begin a crucial four game set against the Padres at home on Monday. 

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With only one full day remaining before the non-waiver trade deadline, and 60 games left to be played on their schedule, the Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves trailing the division leading San Diego Padres by a full seven games, and are seeing their chances of returning to the playoffs gradually disappear.

Even the line for the lone wild card spot is becoming quite crowded, and yet the Dodgers continue to push on and hope that solid play down the stretch will elevate them in the standings.

All of Dodgertown is hoping that the offense finds a spark, and General Manager Ned Colletti has already stated that he will do his best to find help for the Los Angeles pitching staff.

Although the Dodgers starting pitchers have fared quite well over the last several weeks, the fifth spot in the rotation still seems to be an area of concern for Los Angeles.

The following slides break down six possible pitchers, in order, of who could most benefit the Dodgers down the home stretch of the season, and provide a statistical commentary of why they are a good fit for Los Angeles.

Begin Slideshow

According to Los Angeles Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti, he’s only just begun.

Just moments after finalizing the deal for Kansas City Royals outfielder Scott Podsednik, Colletti said to the media, “As of right now, it’s all pitching between now and the 31st.”

But clearly, with just a little over two days remaining before Saturday’s 4:00 pm trade deadline, the Dodgers have some sorting out to do with their roster.

By adding Podsednik, Los Angeles gets a player who is almost a mirror image of current Dodgers outfielder Xavier Paul.

Both are left-handed hitters, the only differences between the two are Podsednik is a bit quicker on the basepaths and offers a ton more experience, while Paul has a much stronger arm defensively.

So it’s safe to suppose that if Manny Ramirez returns in the coming weeks that Paul is either included in another trade package which will take place before Saturday, or he will be optioned back to Triple-A Albuquerque to create roster space.

For now, Paul is safe as Colletti emphasized that the biggest reason for acquiring Podsednik was to use him as a safeguard in case Ramirez and injured Reed Johnson remain sidelined longer than expected.

Assuming that the starting outfield for the most part will consist of Ramirez, Matt Kemp, and Andre Ethier down the stretch of the season, 16-year veteran Garret Anderson will likely be pushed aside, clearing space for Podsednik and a healthy Reed Johnson as reserves.

While the Dodgers’ most recent struggles have obviously been caused by a lack of offense, especially in the power department, Jay Gibbons, John Lindsey, and Russ Mitchell continue to tear the hide off the ball in Albuquerque.

Yet, instead of giving an opportunity to one of these farm players, Los Angeles has decided to play with a total of four outfielders and 13 pitchers over the recent weeks. Among the four outfielders, Garret Anderson maintains a roster spot, despite batting .182 and having only two home runs, 12 RBI, and a .277 slugging percentage in 148 at-bats this season.

And among the 13 pitchers on the squad, James McDonald (11.12 ERA), Travis Schlichting (3.00 ERA), Jack Taschner (27.00 ERA as a Dodger), Jeff Weaver (4.09 ERA), and George Sherrill (6.94 ERA), have all been used as middle relievers in tight contests over the last few weeks, and have been nothing short of eaten alive by opposing hitters.

To add insult to injury, Sherrill has been occupying a very valuable roster spot despite being placed on waivers by the club on July 14.

As lefty ace Clayton Kershaw continues to serve his five-game suspension for plunking a San Francisco Giants outfielder last week, John Ely is expected to get at least a spot start this weekend, which will require an additional vacant roster spot. Also, yet another opening on the squad will be needed to make room for Podsednik on Thursday. 

All that being said, both Ned Colletti and manager Joe Torre will be busy over the next 24 hours playing musical chairs with personnel.

As Colletti says he’s finished with making moves for position players before the trade deadline, the Dodgers bench still lacks any kind of pop whatsoever in the power department.

Podsednik (5 HR), Reed Johnson (0 HR), Jamey Carroll (0 HR), Brad Ausmus (0 HR), Garret Anderson (2 HR), and even Ronnie Belliard (.213 avg., 2 HR) pose the least bit of threat to knock the ball out of the yard if used in pinch hitting roles. Overall, Los Angeles ranks 25th in the Major League in home runs as a team.

As of Thursday evening, the Dodgers have won five of their last seven games, yet they still remain six games back of the division leading San Diego Padres. Their weaknesses are clear—lack of offense and ineffective middle relief in the bullpen.

Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, Russell Martin, and Casey Blake have all been playing below their potential, and need to find their grooves in a big kind of way if Los Angeles is going to have success.

In terms of making trades, perhaps Ned Colletti needs to prioritize middle relief pitchers over the starting rotation, because the starters have been throwing just fine.

And get the roster back in working order, too.

With only 61 games remaining on the schedule, and the Dodgers hoping to close out in strong fashion, there’s absolutely no room for error—and certainly little room for players batting less than .200, or pitchers with more than a 6.00 ERA.

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Sometimes the good news arrives just in the nick of time.

After what can be only be described as a massive struggle, the Los Angeles Dodgers are finally getting some much needed relief in their fragile bullpen.

Rookie Kenley Jansen was called up from Double-A Chattanooga on Friday, and all the hype leading up to his debut was by no means exaggerated.

Jansen was impressive in his first inning of relief in the Majors on Friday night. He retired the heart of the New York Mets’ lineup in order, and blew 98 mph fastballs past Angel Pagan and David Wright to record the first two strikeouts of his career.

Then, in a cameo performance on Sunday afternoon, Jansen recorded his first Major League save, and he once again set down three consecutive Mets’ batters, striking out two.

There’s no doubt he has created a buzz around Dodgertown.

“That felt awesome, amazing,” Jansen said. “Just having fun out there. It’s just like a dream come true.”

Jansen’s appearance couldn’t have arrived at a better time. Jonathan Broxton, one of the game’s premiere closers, has been struggling recently. Since the All-Star break, he has allowed five earned runs and a total of six walks in only three appearances—very untypical numbers for Broxton. In two of those three appearances, games which the Dodgers could have easily won against the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants, he registered the losses.

Due to Hong-Chih Kuo’s injury history and questionable durability, his use is still being limited by manager Joe Torre. But with the arrival of Jansen, he may provide relief in setting up Broxton and Kuo, or he may even assume the closer role completely.

Regardless, the Dodgers now hope to feature higher quality pitching in the later innings of games.

The middle of the bullpen has been experiencing their share of hardship as well, and relief may be on the way soon in the form of one Ronald Belisario.

Belisario, who was reportedly participating in a substance abuse program, worked out at Dodger Stadium on Monday for the first time in 19 days.

Good news, as the trio of James McDonald, Travis Schlichting and Jack Taschner have not been getting the job done when called upon.

Belisario remains on the restricted list, and there’s no timetable for his return. However, many expect him to take on a pitching rehab assignment in the coming days or weeks.

Dodger fans were hoping for some improvement from middle men Ramon Troncoso and Cory Wade, but Troncoso has compiled a 5.23 ERA since being demoted to Albuquerque, and Wade’s ERA is 6.35 with the Isotopes after returning from almost a year long injury.

Still, if Belisario returns to the pen strong and healthy, it will provide the boost that the Dodgers need in middle of the bullpen.

General Manager Ned Colletti has been pursuing relief help for the Dodgers in the past few weeks, but with the latest developments with Jansen and Belisario, he may be able to shift his efforts back to the starting rotation.

The Dodgers have a day off on Monday, and resume play on Tuesday by opening up a three-game series against the division leading San Diego Padres at Petco Park. 

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Even before the 2010 MLB season began, almost every team in baseball was in awe of the offensive potential of the Los Angeles Dodgers powerhouse outfield.

With 2009 Silver Slugger Award winners Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp, along with a rejuvenated Manny Ramirez, the Los Angeles outfield was sure to wreak havoc on the best pitching staffs around the league in 2010.

Now, with nine days remaining before the non-waiver trade deadline, reports around the Majors indicate that the Dodgers have shown interest in Cody Ross of the Florida Marlins and Jeff Francoeur of the New York Mets. They have also been involved in talks to possibly bring B.J. Upton of the Tampa Bay Rays to Los Angeles.

What a difference four months make.

After a torrid start, then returning from a broken finger, Ethier never regained his power stroke. Ramirez has already made his third trip to the disabled list just after the All-Star break. Kemp, who has recently shown sparks of productivity, hasn’t been the same high-impact player he was in 2009.

Still, with Xavier Paul settling into the Major League roster, one would think the Dodgers should be fine until both Reed Johnson and Ramirez regain a full bill of health.

Perhaps it’s like when somebody heads out to the store and says they’re going to walk in, buy one item, check out, and leave. Then they are walking down an aisle and see all kinds of things they fancy, and ultimately check out with a cart full of goodies. In an effort to fill their shopping basket with several pitchers, the Dodgers may just walk away with an outfielder as well.

The insanity of the trade deadline and the pressure on a general manager to improve his roster could have that effect.

However, with a seemingly empty pocketbook, Los Angeles would be foolish to make such a move.

One could argue that the Dodgers need more pinch-hitting pop off the bench, but they have several players on the farm who could fill that role, most specifically Jay Gibbons, John Lindsey or Kyle Russell.

Maybe the Dodgers are looking past the 2010 season when they will no longer have the services of Manny. Perhaps they see an opportunity now to assemble a formidable outfield now moving forward into 2011.

Finally, maybe general manager Ned Colletti is moving in a completely different direction, and is forming a multi-player deal involving several players on the Dodgers’ current big league roster and is merely replenishing the stock.

The possibilities are endless.

Regardless, citizens of Dodgertown are itching and praying Colletti doesn’t lose focus of acquiring a high-caliber starting pitcher and at least one dependable reliever.

It was reported yesterday by ESPN that Dodgers’ owner Frank McCourt has approved added payroll in the $3 million range; and although it was an unexpected move, it isn’t nearly enough cash to make a legitimate run at Roy Oswalt or Dan Haren.

Nevertheless, Colletti is very capable of putting together a series of moves that could push the Dodgers to the top of the contenders list.

Many Dodger fans just hope he doesn’t give away the farm for a three-month rental or someone who can’t contribute. Although the Dodger faithful would like nothing more than a deep run into the 2010 playoffs, they still want security moving into the future.

Only nine days remain—let the speculation flow, the tension mount, and the craziness begin.

(Michelle Mitchell also contributed to this article)

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Sunday will mark the 81st year that inductions were held for the Baseball Hall of Fame, and 2010 will see Andre Dawson, manager Whitey Herzog, and umpire Doug Harvey eternally enshrined in Cooperstown.

Andre Dawson, nicknamed “The Hawk,” was known for his meticulous work ethic, positive attitude, and strong personal character both on and off the diamond.

His 1987 NL MVP Award, eight All-Star selections, eight Gold Glove Awards, and four Silver Slugger Awards are just several examples of his legendary accomplishments, which solidified him a spot in Cooperstown in his ninth year of eligibility.

Former teammate Ryne Sandberg described Dawson best during his own induction speech in 2005: “No player in baseball history worked harder, suffered more or did it better than Andre Dawson. He’s the best I’ve ever seen. I watched him win an MVP for a last-place team in 1987 [with the Cubs], and it was the most unbelievable thing I’ve ever seen in baseball. He did it the right way, the natural way, and he did it in the field and on the bases and in every way, and I hope he will stand up here someday.”

The following slides illustrate ten rarely known truths about The Hawk that the average baseball fan may be surprised to read.

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