The Philadelphia Phillies continue to look like a team on a mission to win back-to-back World Series championships. After splitting the two games in Los Angeles, the Phillies blasted the Dodgers in front of their home fans.
Ryan Howard started the momentum for Philadelphia. His two-run triple in the bottom of the first inning opened the gates. When it was all said and done, the Phillies had handed the Dodgers an 11-0 thrashing.
Howard and Shane Victorino finished with three RBIs, while Jayson Werth had two. Every starter for the Phillies scored — including pitcher Cliff Lee.
Speaking of Lee, he was tremendous. …read more

Thanks to three-run homers by both Raul Ibanez and Carlos Ruiz, the Philadelphia Phillies have taken a 1-0 lead in the NLCS. The Los Angeles Dodgers appeared to be rallying toward a win but they fell short and lost by a final count of 8-6.
After James Loney hit a solo shot in the second inning, the Phillies responded by putting up five runs in the fifth. Three of the runs came on the Ruiz homer, while Ryan Howard added a two-run double. The Dodgers were able to close the gap to 5-4 but then Ibanez authored his three-run blast in …read more

With the ALDS and the NLDS in the books, it’s time to preview both the ALCS and the NLCS. In the ALCS, the New York Yankees take on the Los Angeles Angels. In the NLCS, the Los Angeles Dodgers will battle with the defending World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies.
The ALCS should be extremely exciting. Both teams have very powerful lineups with a lot of star power. In fact, the Yankees and Angels ranked one and two in all of Major League Baseball in runs scored.
What will decide the ALCS? It will most likely come down to starting pitching. And though …read more

The Los Angeles Dodgers limped to the end of the 2009 baseball regular season. However, in their first game of the postseason, the Dodgers looked like the team that dominated the National League for much of the season.
After Ryan Ludwick hit a single to put the St. Louis Cardinals up 1-0, the Dodgers got a two-run blast from Matt Kemp — and never trailed again. Los Angeles ended up winning the ballgame 5-3.
Chris Carpenter, who is likely to win the 2009 NL Cy Young Award, didn’t fair well. In five innings, he gave up nine hits, four walks and four …read more

As we head into the stretch run of the 2009 MLB season, it’s time to take a look at the power ranking and separate the best from the rest.
1. New York Yankees
After a rough start to their 2009 campaign, the Yankees have easily been the best team in baseball. As of late, they look like the clear cut World Series favorite.
2. St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals have been good for most of the season but right now they are playing especially well. If they can keep getting good pitching, Albert Pujols could supply enough runs by himself.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers …read more

John Smoltz, the legendary pitcher who was recently designated for assignment by the Boston Red Sox, has possible destinations in the coming days and weeks. Rumors are pointing a number of different ways, so it’s difficult to figure out where Smoltz will end up. Here are the most likely John Smoltz destinations:
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers make a lot of sense. They could use help in the starting rotation and they offer Smoltz a chance to play for a legitimate World Series contender.
Texas Rangers
If Smoltz wants to stay in the American League, the Rangers appear to be the team most interested. …read more

We are late enough in the 2009 baseball season that teams are starting to look toward the postseason. Which MLB teams are the cream of the crop? Here’s a look at the best teams atop the baseball power rankings:
1) Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers have been the best team virtually all season. We’ll they have cooled off a bit as of late, they have a relatively safe lead in the National League.
2) Los Angeles Angels
After a tragedy filled beginning to the 2009 baseball season, the Angels are now clicking on all cylinders. They’ve won eight games in a row and should …read more

The 2009 baseball season is headed towards the All-Star break. Although there are a ton of teams in the playoff race, here are the teams that are ahead of the pack.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers held on with Manny Ramirez out of the lineup. Now that he’s returned from his suspension, the Dodgers will be difficult to stop.
2. Boston Red Sox
Although they’ve cooled off as late, the Red Sox are the one team no one in the American League wants to see in the playoffs. With their pitching improving, they’ll be a tough out in the postseason.
3. New York Yankees
All …read more

Manny Ramirez’s 50-game suspension is coming to an end. On Friday, he will suit up for the Los Angeles Dodgers as they play the Padres in San Diego. It will be the first time he plays since May 6th.
Prior to being suspended due to testing positive for performance enhancing drugs, Ramirez was off to a fast start. In 27 games, Ramirez had six homers, 20 RBIs, 22 runs, nine doubles, a batting average of .348 and an on-base percentage of .492.
The 37-year-old outfielder will return to the team with the best record in all of baseball. At 50-29, the Dodgers …read more

A new website was launched that is asking baseball fans to “Vote for Manny” for the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. The website, which is available at VoteForManny.blogspot.com, is referencing Manny Ramirez, the suspended outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Despite the name of the website, Jason Rosenberg (the site’s founder), is adamant that he doesn’t want Manny Ramirez to actually play in the All-Star game. Instead, he started the website to “illustrate the joke that the voting, World Series home field advantage rule, the mandatory representation, the still-soft PED rules…has become”.
Currently, Ramirez is the fourth leading vote-getter in the …read more