Category — Dodgers

Did we mention Carlos Beltran leads the NL in homers with 13? Didn’t think so.
Despite the Braves sweeping them this weekend, Beltran and the Cards have been among the best teams in the National League so far. But like they say in Anaheim, it’s still early.

People are talking, particularly Dodger fans, about Tim Welke blew an easy call at 1st today in the Rockies win over the Dodgers.
Yahoo Sports

A comparison of Matt Kemp’s number in April to other players who had hot starts.
ESPN.com

No MLB player is hotter than Matt Kemp. The centefielder delivered again tonight, busting Tom Gorzelanny for his game-winning homer, in the 10th inning of the Dodgers 4-3 win over the Nats. Kemp’s 11th homer this month upstaged the debut of Bryce Harper.
AP

Our daily thread.
The Dodgers lost their 2nd in a row to the Braves, but Matt Kemp homered for the 10th time this month, tying Gary Sheffield (remember him?) for the most home runs in April. Kemp leads the major in homers and has 23 RBI.
Tough night for Dodgers reliever Javy Guerra, who took 1 in the face and might be knocked out of the closer role.
AP
They’re just funking with us, no?: The Rays handed the Angels their 3rd straight setback. We suspect they’re trying to find out who their real fans are before they go on a roll and blow everyone away. No?
Albert Pujols is 0 for 19 and still looking for his 1st homer as an Angel. This wouldn’t be happening if he was in St. Louis.
O.C. Register
Star of Texas: The Rangers pounded the Yankees again to take 2 of 3 in their series. Bob Nightengale, 1 of the best writers in baseball, tweeted that the Rangers are the greatest of all time. Some of us Cardinal fans are a little offended. Didn’t we beat that ass last October?
Oh, and did we mention that the Angels are 8 1/2 games back of the Rangers? Didn’t think so.
Star-Telegram
Mr. 400: Tip of the cap to Paul Konerko, who slugged, and we mean slugged, his 400th homer Wednesday in a 14-inning loss to the A’s. Konerko hit a bomb to force extra innings in the 9th.
Did we mention the A’s are playing better ball than the Angels? Didn’t think so.
Sun-Times
There is no crying is hockey: This bud’s for you my man Timothy Schnupp. Caps 2, Bruins 1. Series over.
Boston Herald
Riding off into the Sun set: So where does Steve Nash play next year?
Pro Basketball Talk

Our daily thread of the events of the day.
Art of perfection: Who dat? Philip Humber, that’s who. He became the 21st pitcher today to throw a perfect game as the White Sox dropped the Mariners 4-0.
Chicago Tribune
When you’re hot, you’re hot: Matt Kemp continued to sizzle, hitting his MLB-leading 9th homer today as the Dodgers beat the Astros. We applaud the Dodgers hot start, but you do realize much of it has been against the Pirates, Padres and Astros?
ESPN LA
Look who’s won 2 in a row: The Angels, with Jered Weaver leading the way, rallied to beat the O’s again.
O.C. Register
UFC 145: Jon Jones scored a unanimous decision over old friend Rashad Evans.
MMA Fighting.com
No contest: Abner Mares dominated an old-looking Eric Morel in their bantamweight showdown tonight in El Paso.
Boxing Scene
A bit sensitive, no?: Now the Clippers are saying their prepared to “protect” Blake Griffin from the hard fouls he’s suffered all season. Where have these guys been all season? Are they watching the same games we are? Seriously, it’s too late to do anything now, particularly with the playoffs coming up, and the club is reacting to criticism it has received by not responding.
ESPN LA

Best team in baseball? As much as we like Matt Kemp, who hit 2 homers tonight in a 6-1 Dodger win over the Triple-A Padres, he and his boys have been feasting on weak-ass competition. At least as far as the Padres go. But we’ll give them their due.
ESPN LA

With yesterday’s committment by Shabazz Muhammad and the recent one by Kyle Anderson, UCLA and its fans have high hopes of returning to the high life in college basketball. As much as we’d like to share in their enthusiasm, and we do to a certain extent, we’re still bummed Ben Howland is the Bruins coach. But blame Dan Guerrero for that 1 since both should have been shown the door after this past season’s fiasco and the circus-like atmosphere surrounding the program.
The good news, though, is the pressure is on Howland to produce next season despite the pass he has received from the L.A. media. Obviously, if he doesn’t, you can bet the farm he’s history and maybe someone at UCLA will have the balls to boot Guerrero, too. Howland, who apparently went to the same school for offensive strategy as Mike Brown, has even promised to open up the offense. We’ll believe it when we see it. But for the players sake, let’s hope the Bruins are as fun to watch as the talent they have stockpiled. Maybe even Howland can’t screw that up.
College Basketball Talk
Jackie Robinson Day: Major League Baseball will celebrate the icon on Sunday.
MLB.com
The day after: Fans (writers and broadcasters, too) are still stunned by the way the Lakers hammered the Spurs Wednesday night without Kobe.
ESPN LA
Money in the bank: With a big assist from David Stern, the Clippers deal for Chris Paul is paying off as well as any investment. Ask the Thunder.
NBA.com
Will the NFL ever return to L.A.?: As fans, we could care less.
O.C. Register

The Clippers trail the Lakers by just 1 1/2 games for the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference as they try to win on the road tonight at OKC. Fat chance. They are an 8 1/2-point dog and we’re betting they lose by more than that. Anyway, the rest of the stories…
Thug? Oh no, not Blake: Since we brought up his dirty play a week or so ago, much talk has shifted to whether Blake Griffin is a villain or not. Chris Paul plays defense attorney.
NewsOK.com
Kobe to miss 3rd consecutive game: The Lakers, who are 9 1/2-point underdogs, will be without the NBA’s leading scorer when they face the hot Spurs tonight in San Antonio.
ESPN LA
Freedom of speech: Despite being 1 of the clueless folks in Major League Baseball, columnist Rob Neyer believes nitwit Marlins Manager Ozzie Guillen should not have been suspended for speaking his mind.
SB Nation
More Lamar Odom stink: Now if the producers of the Kardashians show wanted to hit the roof with the ratings, they would air an episode with Odom and his less than professional attitude in Dallas immediately. But of course it ain’t about him. It’s all about the fame whores. Mark Cuban, though, speaks his mind about how the Mavs tried to make it work with Odom, who couldn’t even make it to practice on time despite living across the street.
ESPN Dallas
Big man on campus: Folks are singing the praises of Arkansas AD Jeff Long for showing some balls and canning Bobby Petrino.
Sporting News
Fox, MLB object to Dodgers sale: It appears to be just a bump in the road.
USA Today
Typical Vegas visitor?: The snapshot here says he’s white (big surprise there), 49-years-old and from Southern California.
Las Vegas Sun

Bouncing around the sports world as we play a little hard ball.
Police State: Opening Day at Dodger Stadium is usually a thing of beauty. It will be again today, but the festivities will be a bit tamer this year. Unfortunately, a heavy presence by the popo, much of it in response to the tragic beating of Giants’ fan Bryan Stow last year, will take some of the fun out of going to the old ballpark. Still, fans will be able to enjoy the beauty of Clayton Kershaw, who will receive his Cy Young award on Wednesday, opens on the mound for the Dodgers against the Pirates.
L.A. Times
Vin Scully to miss Opening Day: Even worst, the Dodger legend and Hall of Fame broadcaster won’t be in the lineup today because he’s home nursing a severe cold. Get well soon, Vinny.
ESPN LA
“Pop” goes the Spurs’ run: Are you reading this Mike Brown? Maybe 1 day you could take another page out your daddy Gregg Popovich’s playbook. The San Antonio coach gave Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker the night off as the Jazz ended the club’s 11-game winning streak in Utah last night. The Spurs dropped a game back of the Thunder, who hammered the Bucks. The Lakers visit the well-rested Spurs in the season’s 1st meeting between the 2 club on Wednesday.
San Antonio Express-News
Sorry doesn’t cut it: The Marlins show a little backbone by suspending Manager Ozzie Guillen for 5 games.
Miami Herald

Football players smoking weed and engaging in bad behavior at Florida under Urban Meyer?: This is news? Last time we checked, Florida, Miami and Florida State (see a pattern here?) have all been among the country’s top renegade programs. When Randy Shannon tried to clean up Miami, he got fired. So…
Sporting News
Can Derrick Rose stay healthy?: Word out of Chicago is the Bulls point guard tweaked an ankle in Sunday’s loss to the Knicks and will be a game-time decision when the 2 clubs meet again tonight.
Chicago Tribune
What do the Cards need with Albert Pujols when they have Mr. Freese?: The St. Louis third baseman and World Series hero continues to rake it as the club is off to a strong start.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Speaking of the real deal…: Oakland’s Yoenis Cespedes appears to be all of that.
San Jose Mercury News
It’s still Tiger’s world: Bubba Watson won the Masters, but the neighbors are still talking about the temper tantrums of Tiger Woods.
N.Y. Daily News