http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/teams/los_angeles_dodgers/15 Recent articles about Los Angeles Dodgers en-us Yesterday, Don Mattingly had what I call a “Wu-Tang moment”, inspired by the “When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong” skit on Chappelle’s Show. Humorous? Yes, but what it mean to me is that Mattingly basically dropped all the fronts and simply went in on the Dodgers players and front office in surprisingly pointed comments. “We’re in last place in the National League West,” the skipper said. “Last year at this point, we played a lineup with nobody in it, but they fought, they competed and battled every inch. I felt like we got more out of our ability. I don’t know if that team was tougher. I don’t know why and it was only for a short period of time. “Part of it is the mixture of competitiveness. It’s not just putting an All-Star team out there and the All-Star team wins. You try to find that balance of a team that’s got a little grit and fight, and has enough talent to get there also. It’s not all grit and not talent that gets there, and it’s not all talent and no grit. It’s a mixt Thu, 23 May 2013 11:07:01 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/don_mattingly_has_his_wu_tang_moment_keeps_it_real_well_see_if_it_goes_wrong/13678769 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/don_mattingly_has_his_wu_tang_moment_keeps_it_real_well_see_if_it_goes_wrong/13678769 Don Mattingly has his ‘Wu-Tang moment’, keeps it real, we’ll see if it goes wrong http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/don_mattingly_has_his_wu_tang_moment_keeps_it_real_well_see_if_it_goes_wrong/13678769 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/c/dc82d1dd37e4fab300e46ba326862fef76e27767/mini/6196198.jpg Finally Don Mattingly said what everyone with any logic has known all along: the players are the problem for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Well, the players and injuries. Since the end of his time with the Dodgers seems to be near, Donnie Baseball isn't holding back with his critiques of the team. He told the public what's at the heart of the team's problem, saying: "We got to find a team with talent that will fight and compete like a club that doesn't have talent. I felt we got more out of our ability [last season]. I don't know about being tougher, but I felt we got more out of our ability.' It's not, 'Let's put an All-Star team together and the All-Star team wins.' It's finding that balance of a team that has a little bit of grit and will fight you. And also having the talent to go with it. All grit and no talent isn't going to make you successful. But all talent and no grit isn't going to get you there either. ... Wed, 22 May 2013 22:01:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/don_mattingly_speaks_the_truth_about_the_los_angeles_dodgers_problem/13676138 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/don_mattingly_speaks_the_truth_about_the_los_angeles_dodgers_problem/13676138 Don Mattingly Speaks The Truth About The Los Angeles Dodgers Problem http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/don_mattingly_speaks_the_truth_about_the_los_angeles_dodgers_problem/13676138 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/e/fec373ed70e00847f0c86a59c511696fae64c195/mini/los-angeles-dodgers-louis.jpg Don Mattingly continued to show his disappointment with Andre Ethier by benching the Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder for the team’s 9-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday. The benching marked the third time in six games Ethier did not start, though Ethier did appear late in the other two games, unlike Wednesday. Mattingly is specifically taking issue with Ethier’s effort. When asked to explain why Ethier was not starting again, Mattingly told reporters he was “putting out my lineup that I feel is going to be the most competitive and going to compete the hardest.â€* Though Mattingly seems to believe Ethier is giving effort, he says the outfielder is not playing hard enough. “There’s a touch difference between, ‘I’m giving you my best effort’ and being willing to fight you for that prize, to do whatever it takes to win,â€* Mattingly said, via the OC Register’s Bill Plunkett. “It’s almost something inside you that says you’re not beating me today, youâ€... Wed, 22 May 2013 21:14:50 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/don_mattingly_benches_andre_ethier_again_says_hes_not_playing_hard_enough/13675265 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/don_mattingly_benches_andre_ethier_again_says_hes_not_playing_hard_enough/13675265 Don Mattingly benches Andre Ethier again, says he’s not playing hard enough http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/don_mattingly_benches_andre_ethier_again_says_hes_not_playing_hard_enough/13675265 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/e/fec373ed70e00847f0c86a59c511696fae64c195/mini/los-angeles-dodgers-louis.jpg Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly has been sharply critical of his slumping team. For at least one day, everything was all right with the embattled Dodgers. Carl Crawford and Scott Van Slyke drove in two runs each and Ramon Hernandez hit his first home run in the Dodgers' 9-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday. Even after the win, the Dodgers are last in the NL West at 19-26. Rookie Hyun-Jin Ryu (5-2), given a 7-0 lead, allowed two runs and six hits in a season-high 7 1-3 innings. Ryu has allowed two earned runs or fewer in seven of his 10 appearances. ''The team gave me that lead, so I was really comfortable,'' Ryu said through an interpreter. Before the game, Mattingly expressed his unhappiness with the team and benched All-Star right fielder Andre Ethier. Mattingly, in the third and final year of his contract, discussed his club's lack of mental toughness and said he wanted a balanced team that has grit and fight. He benched Ethier for the third time in six games an Wed, 22 May 2013 20:43:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/dodgers_beat_brewers_ethier_benched/13675469 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/dodgers_beat_brewers_ethier_benched/13675469 Dodgers beat Brewers; Ethier benched http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/dodgers_beat_brewers_ethier_benched/13675469 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/5/45bdc49d34c2d324a3557567a2de9bf58955500b/mini/7f.jpg Firings in Los Angeles have become as common as Jack Nicholson at a Lakers game. Both Dodger GM Ned Colletti (left) and manager Don Mattingly are on the hot seat as long as the Dodgers struggle in last place.  (AP) Tuesday, the NBA Clippers canned coach Vinnie Del Negro in spite of him having won the Pacific Division title. The UCLA Bruins basketball team kicked out coach Ben Howland after he won the Pac-12 title.  The Lakers fired their head coach a whole five games into the 2012-2013 season.  And the firing of Angels manager Mike Scioscia has been the sports topic de’ jour.  That talk was recently silenced when Angels owner Arte Moreno made a public statement claiming Scioscia’s job was safe…for now.   Too bad the same hasn’t happened for Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. Mattingly’s firing has been the main topic of Dodger discussions ever since the team fell into the NL West cellar more than two weeks ago. The difference between he and Scioscia is that current Dodgers ownership has... Wed, 22 May 2013 17:32:59 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/los_angeles_dodgers_ready_to_add_to_the_recently_departed/13674016 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/los_angeles_dodgers_ready_to_add_to_the_recently_departed/13674016 Los Angeles Dodgers ready to add to the recently departed(?) http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/los_angeles_dodgers_ready_to_add_to_the_recently_departed/13674016 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Shocker: The Los Angeles Dodgers are disintegrating into a dysfunctional mess. Manager Don Mattingly benched right fielder Andre Ethier, lashed out at his players' lack of mental toughness and questioned upper management's roster construction in comments to reporters before Wednesday's game in Milwaukee. Either Mattingly spoke with the blessing of general manager Ned Colletti, team president Stan Kasten and the club's new ownership, or his words amounted to an angry, desperate stand from a man who knows he soon might lose his job. One rival GM said it had to be the latter, finding it difficult to believe that upper management would endorse criticism of its own strategies. "He's trying to get himself fired," the GM said upon learning of Mattingly's comments. Mattingly rarely is as candid or expansive as he was during his pregame session with reporters Wednesday. His remarks offered a glimpse of his frustration with a team that is failing to meet high expectations. Still, Wed, 22 May 2013 16:08:51 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/don_mattingly_vents_about_dodgers/13673332 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/don_mattingly_vents_about_dodgers/13673332 Don Mattingly vents about Dodgers http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/don_mattingly_vents_about_dodgers/13673332 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/1/91ca02918a30de834e284d595fc077d1eb50f855/mini/mlb-don-mattingly-press.jpg Shocker: The Los Angeles Dodgers are disintegrating into a dysfunctional mess. Manager Don Mattingly benched right fielder Andre Ethier, lashed out at his players' lack of mental toughness and questioned upper management's roster construction in comments to reporters before Wednesday's game in Milwaukee. Either Mattingly spoke with the blessing of general manager Ned Colletti, team president Stan Kasten and the club's new ownership, or his words amounted to an angry, desperate stand from a man who knows he soon might lose his job. One rival GM said it had to be the latter, finding it difficult to believe that upper management would endorse criticism of its own strategies. "He's trying to get himself fired," the GM said upon learning of Mattingly's comments. Mattingly rarely is as candid or expansive as he was during his pregame session with reporters Wednesday. His remarks offered a glimpse of his frustration with a team that is failing to meet high expectations. Still, Wed, 22 May 2013 14:57:16 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/mattingly_vents_his_frustration/13672750 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/mattingly_vents_his_frustration/13672750 Mattingly vents his frustration http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/mattingly_vents_his_frustration/13672750 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/1/91ca02918a30de834e284d595fc077d1eb50f855/mini/mlb-don-mattingly-press.jpg All winter, there were rumors that the Dodgers were open to trading Andre Ethier. All winter, the Dodgers declared that there was nothing to those rumors, and that they weren’t having second thoughts about the five year, $85 million contract they gave him last June. When spring training rolled around and Cuban import Yasiel Puig became The Hot New Thing, those rumors picked up again, since the Dodgers will need to open up a corner outfield spot for Puig at some point in the not too distant future. But, LA remained patient and optioned the 22-year-old Puig to Double-A, giving him some experience against professional pitchers without throwing him immediately into the fire. They also gave Ethier a chance to play most everyday, and while they were unlikely to admit it publicly, they likely hoped that he could get off to a strong enough start to re-establish some trade value after his power fell off in the second half last year. Today, though, manager-of-the-moment Don Mattingly sen... Wed, 22 May 2013 14:33:41 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/andre_ethier_is_now_eminently_available/13672576 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/andre_ethier_is_now_eminently_available/13672576 Andre Ethier is Now Eminently Available http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/andre_ethier_is_now_eminently_available/13672576 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/3/135cefff6d2357debe1db3141ac99ac1985114de/mini/6591520.jpg Don Mattingly is probably going to get fired. Columnists both national and local are calling for his head as the uber-expensive LA Dodgers continue to struggle, currently residing at 18-26. The thrust behind Mattingly getting the axe isn't so much his lack of managerial ability, though a case can certainly be made, so much as there is a need for everyone to find a $216 million scapegoat. Ever the competitor, Donnie Baseball isn't going to let himself get done like that, so it appears that he has decided to jump into the scapegoating business himself and the target he selected is none other than starting right fielder Andre Ethier. Or should we call him former starting right fielder Andre Ethier because Ethier is not in today's lineup and Mattingly's reasoning behind his benching sure make it sound like a long-term arrangement: Mattingly on sitting Ethier: "I’m putting out my lineup that I feel is going to be the most competitive and going to compete the h... Wed, 22 May 2013 14:00:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/embattled_manager_don_mattingly_throws_andre_ethier_under_the_bus/13672276 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/embattled_manager_don_mattingly_throws_andre_ethier_under_the_bus/13672276 Mattingly throws Ethier under bus? http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/embattled_manager_don_mattingly_throws_andre_ethier_under_the_bus/13672276 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/d/1d58af243b43c835a32a52f68f25724dea22e80e/mini/dodgers.jpg Just two days ago, I wrote on Yahoo! Sports that Don Mattingly shouldn't yet be fired. Today, I may have changed my tune. Just in front of Wednesday's matinee series finale with the Brewers, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register brought us these comments from the soon-to-be-former Dodger manager. "Must-read strong comments from #Dodgers mgr Don Mattingly pregame seemed to point finger at not only lack of "mental toughness" from his players but also at poor construction of the team. We gotta find a team with talent that will fight and compete like a club that doesn't have that talent,' he said, pointing to last year's team which led the NL West by 5 1/2 games at the end of May despite a far less-talented lineup. I felt we got more out of our ability (last year). I don't know about being tougher but I felt we got more out of our ability.  There has to be a mixture of competitiveness. It's not 'Let's put... Wed, 22 May 2013 13:37:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/don_mattingly_and_ned_collettis_severe_disconnect_hurting_dodgers/13672114 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/don_mattingly_and_ned_collettis_severe_disconnect_hurting_dodgers/13672114 Don Mattingly and Ned Colletti's severe disconnect hurting Dodgers http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/don_mattingly_and_ned_collettis_severe_disconnect_hurting_dodgers/13672114 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/d/c/dc82d1dd37e4fab300e46ba326862fef76e27767/mini/6196198.jpg Don Mattingly may well be in his final days as Dodgers manager, but hes apparently not going to protect his players any longer. Mattingly held Andre Ethier out of his starting lineup Wednesday in Milwaukee, saying, Im putting out my lineup that I feel is going to be the most competitive and going to compete the hardest. But it wasnt only Ethier who seemed to draw Mattinglys wrath and it shouldnt be. In a 5-2 loss to the Brewers on Monday night, the Dodgers offensive struggles continued. They were 3 for 14 with runners in scoring position and left 14 runners stranded. Clearly, Mattingly is frustrated that a team with so many talented players has yet to play and win consistently. The last-place Dodgers rank second to last in the National League in runs scored and began the day hitting .222 with runners in scoring position. Weve got to find a team with talent that will fight and compete like a club that doesn't have that talent, he told reporters before the game. Then, referring to last years team that Wed, 22 May 2013 13:16:31 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/mattingly_expresses_frustrations_with_dodgers/13672309 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/mattingly_expresses_frustrations_with_dodgers/13672309 Mattingly expresses frustrations with Dodgers http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/mattingly_expresses_frustrations_with_dodgers/13672309 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/e/fec373ed70e00847f0c86a59c511696fae64c195/mini/los-angeles-dodgers-louis.jpg The Dodgers signed former Giants and Royals lefty Jonathan Sanchez to a minor-league deal, sending him to the Albuquerque Isotopes. 2:17pm: The Dodgers will sign Jonathan Sanchez to a minor league deal, according to Pedro Gomez of ESPN (on Twitter). The contract is pending a physical, and Sanchez is likely to report to Triple-A Albquerque. Sanchez is represented by the McNamara Baseball Group. 4:00pm: Sanchez has a July 1 opt-out date if he’s not on the Major League roster, according to Chris Cotillo of CLNS Radio (on Twitter). Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles confirms the report (Twitter link). Eric Stephen has more. On the surface, this seems like a lottery ticket move by the Dodgers, looking to recapture some of the magic of the pitcher who threw a no-hitter and struck out over a batter per inning in six years with the Giants. Sanchez has been an absolute mess the past two seasons, as he is 0-12 in his last 18 starts with a 9.13 ERA, 58 walks, and 52 strikeouts in 71 innings. Sanch... Wed, 22 May 2013 07:56:30 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/making_moves_the_sanchez_era_begins_two_loaned_one_released_in_minors/13669288 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/making_moves_the_sanchez_era_begins_two_loaned_one_released_in_minors/13669288 Making Moves: The Sanchez era begins + two loaned, one released in minors http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/making_moves_the_sanchez_era_begins_two_loaned_one_released_in_minors/13669288 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png   The ugly side of twitter reared its head in light of Matt Kemp’s pledge to donate $1,000 to his hometown of Oklahoma City for every homerun he hits now until All-Star break. Firstly, far be it for anyone to knock someone who donates any of their hard earned money to a greater cause. Was Kemp’s approach flawed? Yes, when you take into account his massive contract and the fact that the tornado struck regions need money right now, him turning the donation into somewhat of an incentive gimmick comes off poorly. But does that give anyone the right to threaten him? Absolutely not, and Busted Coverage gathered some of the more ‘despicable’ tweets aimed at Kemp. Why people feel the need to resort to twitter thugs in any and every situation is beyond me, there’s other ways of getting your thoughts out without stooping this low. Tue, 21 May 2013 21:57:53 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/matt_kemp_sent_racist_and_threatening_tweets_over_his_cheap_donation_to_okc_photos/13667338 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/matt_kemp_sent_racist_and_threatening_tweets_over_his_cheap_donation_to_okc_photos/13667338 Matt Kemp Sent Racist And Threatening Tweets Over His ‘Cheap’ Donation To OKC (Photos) http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/matt_kemp_sent_racist_and_threatening_tweets_over_his_cheap_donation_to_okc_photos/13667338 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Andre Ethier was ejected in the eighth inning of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 3-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night for apparently arguing balls and strikes. He also may have been upset over Brewers pitcher Michael Gonzalez throwing a pitch over his head on an 0-2 count and not being warned, but none of that really matters. The real takeaway here is the death stare Ethier shot at home plate umpire Dan Bellino on his way from the dugout to the clubhouse. If you want to look at it as a staring contest, it’s probably safe to say Bellino one if only because manager Don Mattingly and bench coach Trey Hillman dragged Ethier away before he got himself into more trouble. And you thought this death stare was the most intense one we were going to see on the baseball diamond this season? Think again. H/T Reddit Tue, 21 May 2013 16:27:52 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/andre_ethier_gives_umpire_death_stare_after_being_ejected_gif/13665382 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/andre_ethier_gives_umpire_death_stare_after_being_ejected_gif/13665382 Andre Ethier gives umpire death stare after being ejected (GIF) http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/andre_ethier_gives_umpire_death_stare_after_being_ejected_gif/13665382 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/a/7a90bf4a0f1cdec7deb567592d13345ad82dad15/mini/MLB_Pittsburgh_Pirates_84d9.jpg So you’ve heard a lot about Don Mattingly and his job security recently — hell, I just wrote about it — but this article from Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports spread around yesterday, and it touched on all the common refrains you’ve been hearing, including harping on the team’s hitting with RISP. They wonder why the players don’t spend more time with hitting coach Mark McGwire, why they don’t play as hard as their opponents, why they continue to lose games in the little gray areas where good teams thrive. That is, why they don’t catch the ball as well as others, why they don’t toughen and produce with runners in scoring position, why they don’t finish hitters from the mound. These are supposed to be good players, right? Is it Mattingly? Has this group of players gone soft under Mattingly, whose leadership method allows men to be men, and perhaps thins when the men refuse to live to that minimum standard? So basically a compilation of complaints that I assume were gathered from the fan ran... Tue, 21 May 2013 11:44:53 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/dodgers_have_recently_become_one_of_the_most_clutch_teams_in_the_mlb_all_for_don_mattingly/13662979 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/dodgers_have_recently_become_one_of_the_most_clutch_teams_in_the_mlb_all_for_don_mattingly/13662979 Dodgers have recently become one of the most clutch teams in the MLB, all for Don Mattingly http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/dodgers_have_recently_become_one_of_the_most_clutch_teams_in_the_mlb_all_for_don_mattingly/13662979 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/1/91ca02918a30de834e284d595fc077d1eb50f855/mini/mlb-don-mattingly-press.jpg In the wake of the tragic events where a mile-wide tornado hit an Oklahoma suburb damaging neighborhoods, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder and Oklahoma native Matt Kemp is doing his part to help out the victims. Following the 3-1 Dodgers win over the Brewers on Monday, Kemp tweeted that he will donate 1000 to the victims for every home run he hit from now until the All-Star break. I'm giving 1000 for tonight's HR and every HR until the All-Star break for the victims of my hometown in OKC. PrayforOklahoma Matt Kemp (@TheRealMattKemp) May 21, 2013 Kemp recently made headlines for his generous gesture after giving a sick fan his used cleats, jersey and more. Tue, 21 May 2013 01:04:47 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/kemp_to_donate_1000_to_tornado_relief_for_every_hr/13660573 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/kemp_to_donate_1000_to_tornado_relief_for_every_hr/13660573 Kemp to donate 1000 to tornado relief for every HR http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/kemp_to_donate_1000_to_tornado_relief_for_every_hr/13660573 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/a/6/a6ab39533dbc0de7e6dd405a0c3759569a05208b/mini/6921980.jpg John Ely burst onto the scene with the Dodgers in 2010. The team had acquired him and Jon Link from the White Sox for Juan Pierre. Elymania spawned and lasted for longer than anyone could have expected. But it ended seemingly as quickly as it began. Fast forward nearly three years. Ely was coming off of a masterful performance in the Pacific Coast League in 2012. He was named the Dodgers’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year, an honor I never would have thought would go to a guy pitching half his games in Albuquerque. His performance, while great, wasn’t enough to keep him around. The Dodgers traded him to the Houston Astros for left-handed pitcher and Southern California native and former Dodger draftee Rob Rasmussen. Rasmussen, 24, is making a mark of his own, as he’s been the Chattanooga Lookouts’ second-best pitcher (behind Zach Lee) this season. Not a physically imposing pitcher, Rasmussen has a 3.12 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 3.27 FIP, 7.1 H/9, 0.6 HR/9, 2.... Mon, 20 May 2013 16:25:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/dodgers_rob_rasmussen_establishes_himself_as_legitimate_pitching_prospect/13657741 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/dodgers_rob_rasmussen_establishes_himself_as_legitimate_pitching_prospect/13657741 Dodgers' Rob Rasmussen establishes himself as legitimate pitching prospect http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/dodgers_rob_rasmussen_establishes_himself_as_legitimate_pitching_prospect/13657741 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The discontent with the Dodgers was loud and clear after yesterday’s loss, and for good reason. The team is last in the NL West, have the sixth-worst record in the MLB, and are tied for the fourth-worst run differential in baseball. It’s a horrible time to be the manager of the Dodgers right now, and we all know it, including Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, Mike Petriello at Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness, Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts, and even I’ve previously given my thoughts on Don Mattingly. However, the negativity certainly seems to have peaked after getting recently swept by the Braves in excruciating fashion, so the managerial issues merited a deeper look. —– On Don Mattingly’s Assumed Firing For all the articles being written about Don Mattingly’s imminent demise, I haven’t actually seen anything of substance from the people that matter. Yes, he’s gotten variations of the dreaded vote of confidence, but all the talk has either been from people asking the upper management abo... Mon, 20 May 2013 11:07:11 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/on_don_mattinglys_hot_seat_the_need_for_a_manager_with_fire_and_potential_replacements/13654837 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/on_don_mattinglys_hot_seat_the_need_for_a_manager_with_fire_and_potential_replacements/13654837 On Don Mattingly’s hot seat, the need for a manager with “fire”, and potential replacements http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/on_don_mattinglys_hot_seat_the_need_for_a_manager_with_fire_and_potential_replacements/13654837 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/f/e/fec373ed70e00847f0c86a59c511696fae64c195/mini/los-angeles-dodgers-louis.jpg Seemingly out of nowhere, Dodgers third baseman/shortstop Luis Cruz has bone spurs in his throwing elbow. Dodgers infielder Luis Cruz said he was available to play Sunday after being unavailable Saturday night because of a bone spur flare-up in his right elbow. Cruz said he has three spurs in his throwing elbow, and they occasionally pinch a nerve. “Since I was 11, I can’t straighten my arm, and once in a while, this happens, and I just have to let it rest,” said Cruz. “My brother has it and my father has it. But it’s good today. I took swings, it’s fine.” Convenient timing since Cruz has literally been the worst hitter in the MLB in 2013, and because there’s about to be a roster crunch as veteran players return from the DL. No conspiracy theory to see here, though, say the Dodgers: Manager Don Mattingly assured reporters that Cruz’s injury had nothing to do with the need to clear a roster spot for the activation of infielder Mark Ellis. “This is real,” Mattingly insisted, moments b... Mon, 20 May 2013 09:29:51 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/dodgers_setup_luis_cruz_for_a_phantom_dl_stint_because_they_cant_risk_losing_him_or_something/13653946 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/dodgers_setup_luis_cruz_for_a_phantom_dl_stint_because_they_cant_risk_losing_him_or_something/13653946 Dodgers setup Luis Cruz for a phantom DL stint because they can’t risk losing him or something http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/dodgers_setup_luis_cruz_for_a_phantom_dl_stint_because_they_cant_risk_losing_him_or_something/13653946 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/0/90a03e3cb7793fe05784ee2a8adb987797d08dca/mini/6583104.jpg The Los Angeles Dodgers have a $217 million payroll and currently sit at 17-25 and occupy last place in the National League West. They are seven games behind the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks and according to several reports, it will be a miracle if manager Don Mattingly lasts the week. The Dodgers were swept over the weekend in Atlanta, and were outscored 16-8 by the Braves in the process. The team’s bullpen allowed 12 of those 16 runs. On Sunday night Los Angeles suffered a 5-2 loss in which Atlanta scored four times in the eighth inning off of relievers Kenley Jansen and Brandon League. In short, the Dodgers are an absolute mess, and with a ton of bad contracts on the docket, the front office can’t just dump players. The only move the team can make is to fire Mattingly. Mattingly has a laid-back personality and the Dodgers are a laid-back, veteran team. That can be an awful combination. The team has a ton of high-priced egos, with guys like Adrian Gonzalez, Matt Kemp, Carl Cr... Mon, 20 May 2013 08:49:04 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/don_mattingly_los_angeles_dodgers_to_fire_manager_soon/13653619 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/don_mattingly_los_angeles_dodgers_to_fire_manager_soon/13653619 Is Don Mattingly on his way out? http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/don_mattingly_los_angeles_dodgers_to_fire_manager_soon/13653619 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/7/87a73f52efb5a1b10beab7f8ab2d61b4fb599003/mini/mattingly.jpg