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Few teams in MLB history have come back from a 2-0 deficit in the World Series. But maybe the Rangers have what it takes to continue their ride through new club precedents.

For a team running through new experiences with each pitch, spotting the opposition a two-game lead must seem like climbing a mountain made of wet soap bars. A serious strategy seems like the remedy, but how do you stop superb pitching and clutch hitting?

Where does a team turn after its ace implodes in Game 1 and its offense turns comatose for Game 2? 

Here are five aspects the Rangers must address to avoid embarrassment in the 2010 World Series.

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Is anyone else a little skeptical of one of the latest releases on the Dodgers’ website? According to General Manager Ned Colletti, the Dodgers are actually planning on increasing the $93 million payroll from 2010.

The Dodgers still have seven players eligible for free agency (not counting the recently signed Lilly or retiring Ausmus). While it is understandable the Dodgers would like to bring back players like Vicente Padilla, Rod Barajas and Scott Podsednik, the looming ownership divorce is the Debbie Downer in the organization.

The article, written by MLB.com writer Ken Gurnick, outlines the Dodgers’ needs based on observations from Colletti, and it is a pretty tall order.

Starting pitching is obviously tops on the GM’s list. He plans to resign at least one of the two remaining starters from 2010, either Vicente Padilla or the more expensive Hiroki Kuroda. Those two pitchers combined for over $20M last season, a very large portion of the payroll.

A power bat, some solid infield defense or position players, and a relief pitcher have also been mentioned. 

If Frank McCourt were to settle and hand Jamie a very large compensatory check, where would this money come from? Frank has said repeatedly he plans to keep the team, and the Dodgers are not for sale.

Something just isn’t adding up here. The Dodgers were largely silent at the trade deadline this year, acquiring a solid pitcher and second baseman that fit into 2011 rather than a playoff run. Other than that, the Dodgers were bystanders, and there seems to be no significant changes to justify change. 

With the revelations of botched documents and secrets, one can only imagine what Ned Colletti is talking about.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers couldn’t have summarized their disappointing season any better than manager Joe Torre’s farewell speech Sunday, following a Dodgers win that allowed the team to finish a game under .500 for a fourth-place finish in the National League West.

Torre’s speech seemed to stumble along in pleasantry, rambling while he searched for words to describe his tenure as Dodgers manager.

It was clear one of the winningest managers in the history of baseball was exhausted, disappointed, and bewildered in front of a less-than-capacity crowd in Chavez Ravine.

The skipper’s words were hollow, as it was clear he was ready to move on, and wanted to get off the field and out of the uniform as fast as humanly possible. 

The Dodgers were certainly hampered by injuries all season long, and a full head of steam wouldn’t hold up as the team started to fall apart.

Long before September rolled around, it was clear the Boys in Blue were fading, and when rumors of Torre leaving the team at the end of the season began to surface, it was the final straw in a string of disappointments for the Dodgers and their fans.

Torre didn’t close the door on the idea of managing a new team next season, saying “I hope you welcome me whenever I come back to this city.”

Perhaps he was referring to each time his new National League team comes to the Ravine. Torre has been linked to the idea of managing the New York Mets, taking on a new challenge to turn a team around in his old stomping grounds.

His speech was more a window into things to come than a reflection on what has transpired in the 2010 season.

As Torre searched for words, it was clear his heart may have never really been in it, and Los Angeles served as a change of scenery; the polar opposite of life in New York. 

Joe traded cold September nights and historic sights for palm trees and bright Hollywood lights. This was a three-year vacation for him, and it’s clear this was never the new page in a new era of the same dynasty, but rather a segue into the twilight.

A short speech was the climax and epitome of the Dodgers 2010 season, and Torre’s time in Los Angeles will likely be short-lived as well.

Dodgers fans should have expected more, and they deserve more, having endured a constant distraction of a divorce in ownership, and a lack of effort towards a playoff run while funds were limited.

Los Angeles deserves a champion, and just maybe Don Mattingly will succeed where Torre failed, and all he has to do is win.

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What could be more frightening than the fake, plastic smile Jamie McCourt puts on every time there’s a camera on her? How about the likely source of this whole catastrophe?

It is possible somewhere long ago, before reports of a bitter divorce began to surface, before the future of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization came into question, and before Dodgers fans realized their team may be in a struggle for the long haul, Frank McCourt had the chance to say two simple words: “I’m sorry.”

It’s anyone’s guess as to what events led up to the McCourt’s marriage falling apart. Perhaps it was the grueling schedule a team goes through during the course of a season. Maybe it was a mistake for Frank to employ his wife, mixing an intimate relationship of love with a business relationship of greed.

While playing the “blame game,” fans can blame the mistakes in the contract between Frank and Jamie long before Frank’s attorney erred in his revision: The decision to involve Jamie with the organization.

Here’s an example to illustrate: An heiress of a multi-billion dollar hotel chain records a home movie of intimate moments with her boyfriend, then dumps the boyfriend while he is in possession of the video. Angered, the boyfriend sees an opportunity to be financially set for quite some time. In spite, the video is posted to the internet and the rights sold for a large sum of money.

The topics may or may not be related on practicality, but certainly the emotions and events are similar. It is clear Jamie doesn’t have interest in Major League Baseball, but it is glaringly obvious she wants money she probably didn’t earn, and most definitely wants it to come at her husband’s expense.

Why should all this matter to Dodger fans? Because Frank McCourt is now in the process of settling with Jamie, which would pay his ex-wife an estimated seven figure settlement. The Dodgers would be crippled for several seasons while their now solo owner pays out the settlement. Frank has been quoted several times as having the intentions to keep the team.

The trouble in the organization is deeper than just the divorce. If one were to ask employees of their treatment over the years, complaints would mount to the roof. However, the current plight of team and the disappointments throughout the season can be reduced to those simple words and the opportunity missed to make amends. 

Don’t ever underestimate the power of the spoken word, for hell hath no furry like a woman scorned, and the Dodgers simply couldn’t get out of the way.

Dear Jamie,

Think of the fans!!!

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Most fans in Los Angeles knew Brad Ausmus was going to retire before he did.

The 41-year-old catcher has missed a large part of the 2010 season with back problems and appeared more comfortable providing quiet advice to teammates than squatting behind the plate for nine grueling innings on aging knees.

Ausmus will get the opportunity to take the reins for the Dodgers in one their few remaining games.

He has already experienced the game from the position of manager, having coached the Dodgers in their final regular season game in 2009, manager Joe Torre appointing him for the day.

If anyone reading this has been to a game in the last two years, they have noticed the leadership qualities instilled in the catching sage.

He has served as a mentor for Russell Martin, providing insight from years past. He has tweaked the fundamentals of young pitchers such as Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw. Finally, Ausmus took young fireballer Kenley Jansen under his wing when Jansen was called up midseason.

In his 18-year career, Ausmus has played in just about every stadium in Major League Baseball, having played in the National League and American League. Brad will finish his respectable big league career just shy of 2,000 games played. To have played that many games as a catcher is like doubling the number of games played for a starting pitcher.

Not only do catchers participate in the game, they also have a vital part in the outcome of their team’s defense. For Ausmus, when he catches, he also calls the game for his pitcher. Catchers sometimes act as assistant coaches, calling the game for pitchers, shifting the defense in any given situation, directing traffic on relays from the outfield, and saving wild pitches from giving away bases.

Brad Ausmus will make a name for himself off the field the same way he did on it: with dignity, respect, and knowledge. Expect Ausmus to take several teams to success in years to come.

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The Los Angeles Times broke the story Friday, announcing Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre will resign at the end of the season, giving way to his understudy apprentice, Don Mattingly. 

Mattingly has been Torre’s right-hand man since 2004, following Torre from the New York Yankees to Los Angeles. 

Since mid-June, rumors have heated up regarding the status of Torre and his intentions for 2011—while many insiders felt he was leaning towards leaving Hollywood.

Rumors turned into foreshadowing when it was announced Mattingly would coach in the Dodger’s minor league system over the winter, perhaps a preseason of sorts for the soon-to-be rookie manager.

Torre is certainly a legendary manager in the game of baseball. Successful in his playing days, and even more successful as a manager, Torre couldn’t continue building his legacy in Los Angeles.

Perhaps he was the victim of turmoil and uncertainty in the organization, stemming from the current divorce process in ownership.

There are approximately six months until next spring, and changes are coming in that duration. Here are five reasons why these changes will benefit Mattingly, and why his tenure as Dodgers skipper will be more fruitful than Joe Torre’s short stint in Los Angeles.

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It’s that time of year when it becomes apparent certain teams have players remaining on their rosters that don’t really belong.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are no exception, and they have several pitchers that should be on their own, or at the very least in the minor league system. 

Here are five pitchers the Dodgers could do without, and why.

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Recently called up by the Los Angeles Dodgers to fill the vacated 40-man roster spot left behind by Ronnie Belliard, Trent Carl Wayne Oeltjen is an Australian-born outfielder with great speed and a high Triple-A batting average.

Oeltjen was born in Sydney on February 28, 1983 and began playing baseball when he was very young. Growing up he played on several All-Star NSW teams, the equivalent of Little League All-Stars. The teams are denoted with the letter “U” and their age. According to baseball.com/au, Oeltjen played on the 14-year-old, 16-year-old, and 18-year-old squads. 

When Oeltjen was 18, he was drafted by the Minnesota Twins after being heavily scouted by Major League teams and other Australian professional teams. The outfielder immediately began his professional career with the Twins’ rookie league team, the GCL Twins. 

While in the rookie league and attending Gilroy College in his native Sydney, Oeltjen batted .321 and before season’s end was promoted to the next level with the Elizabethton Twins, located in Tennessee. 

In 2003, Oeltjen was promoted to the Single-A Quad City River Bandits. He played 123 games for the Bandits before joining the Fort Myers Miracle in 2004. However, then 21-year-old Oeltjen didn’t play in too many matchups for the the Miracle due to his participation in the 2004 Athens Olympics for the Australia national baseball team. The team earned a silver medal and Oeltjen was an instrumental piece to their success.

While continuing his career, the 6’1″, 190 lb lefty represented the 2005 Australian World Cup team. In he following year, he played for Australia in the World Baseball Classic. His batting average was over .500 during the Classic, and Oeltjen began receiving increased attention. However, by 2007 the Twins no longer saw the participation necessary for a player to mature to the Major League level, and released Oeltjen.

In 2008, the Arizona Diamondbacks signed him as a free agent and assigned him to the Tucson Sidewinders. Trent would participate in the 2009 World Baseball Classic before moving on to the D’back’s Triple-A Reno Aces of the Pacific Coast League. There Oeltjen would post a .505 slugging percentage, impressive enough to get a call-up for the injured Justin Upton. 

On August 6, 2009, Trent Oeltjen made his major league debut. He hit a home run, stole two bases, and finished 2-for-6 on the day against the Pittsburgh Pirates. According to several sources, Oeltjen collected 12 hits in his first five ML games. 

The young outfielder was sent down to vacate a roster spot for Chris Young, but was called up for roster expansion in September. In 24 games for Arizona, Oeltjen batted .243 with three home runs and three stolen bases.

However, following the season the Diamondbacks released him, and Oeltjen was a free agent. The Milwaukee Brewers signed the speedy slugger and invited him to spring training. Things never really materialized in Wisconsin, and the outfielder never saw a Major League game for the Brewers. In July 2010 Oeltjen was granted his release.

The Dodgers saw something in Trent that apparently others had missed, and signed him to a minor league deal. He was assigned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes and batted .347 in just under 50 games. When September 1 rolls around, ML teams are allowed to expand their rosters, and the Dodgers called up Oeltjen to replace Ronnie Belliard on the 40-man roster. 

The future looks bright for the Australian, and this month may be an open audition for Oeltjen. There may even be a small chance he will make the Opening Day roster next season. Fans will await spring training to find out where he will play and if the Dodgers can rebound from a disappointing 2010 campaign.

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Amidst a failing 2010 campaign, a messy divorce between owners, and uncertainty regarding funds for next season, the Los Angeles Dodgers have several key players that will be eligible for free agency next season.

Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti has said that, given a likely lack of funds stemming from the McCourt divorce, he is uncertain regarding the approaching free agency period.

Given the circumstances, here are possible outcomes for all of the possible 2011 Dodgers free agents.

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Losing two out of three in Denver after winning four in a row has left the Los Angeles Dodgers in disbelief and dismay. Starting pitcher Ted Lilly appeared to have been shaken by recently being placed on waivers, and Sunday’s game may have been a clear foreshadowing for upcoming events.

Virtually all players on the Dodgers‘ roster set to be free agents next season have been placed on waivers. The benefit to the process for a team on the bubble is flexibility as it pertains to the remainder of this season and the upcoming offseason. 

Los Angeles can sit on the fence with their soon-to-be free agents, feeling out the rest of the league to discover interest in their players. The Dodgers will enter the offseason in uncertainty over a possible lack of funds. 

Had the current team been able to gain significant ground on Wild Card teams ahead of them, the Dodgers may have elected to hold onto their key players down the stretch. However, the Dodgers have fallen further down in the standings since losing back-to-back games against the team directly in front of them, the Colorado Rockies.

As of Sunday, the Dodgers are six and a half games behind the Wild Card leading Philadelphia Phillies. While L.A. continues to struggle, they have already begun to cut their losses. Manny Ramirez is officially on his way to the Chicago White Sox, and the Dodgers didn’t receive a player in return. Following the White Sox claiming him on Friday, the Dodgers shipped him to Chicago on Sunday. The White Sox will assume the remainder of Manny’s contract, something to the tune of $4.5 million.

With Ramirez officially off the roster, the remainder of Dodgers’ outfielders have become slightly more stable on the roster but could still be moved.

Scott Podsednik‘s future may also be determined in the next few days. His contract has an option for next season, valued a little over $1 million. His recent increase in quality of play may be attractive for playoff teams looking for base-runners at the top of the line-up.

In just about a month with the Dodgers, Ted Lilly has gone 5-1 with a stingy ERA, but he may be the next one out. Several teams have inquired about his services, and Los Angeles appears to be giving up on this season and looking forward to next year.

If a team claims Lilly, a deal may be in place, pending the results of the Dodgers’ upcoming series against the Phillies at Chavez Ravine.

By Wednesday or Thursday, fans should have a better look at the near future. Monday will mark the beginning of a very short trial period for the Dodgers, and the outcome will not only determine where the Dodgers finish the 2010 season but likely who the Dodgers will finish the 2010 season with. The “Boys in Blue” will have their hands full with the Phillies, as they will have to tango with Roy Halladay on Monday and Roy Oswalt on Wednesday.

The series begins Monday at 7 pm PST, with Hiroki Kuroda, also placed on waivers, squaring off against Roy Halladay.

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