MLB 2012 All Star Break

The All Star break couldn't have come at a better time for my beloved LA Dodgers. They have limped through the last month and cling to a 1/2 game lead over the Giants in the NL West. They were really rolling along with the best record in the major league and appeared poised to run away with the Division until they were blindsided by injuries to the core of the team - Kemp, Ethier, Mark Ellis, Lilly & Javy Guerra and now Dee Gordon. That represents almost 1/2 the opening day lineup, the #3 starter and the closer entering the season. Couple this with the underperformance of Loney & Rivera and the nonperformance of Uribe we are left with A.J. Ellis being the only reliable day to day player to contribute the entire season so far. The pitching has been good. Yet Kershaw has been better, Billingsley has faded & Eovaldi was winless until this past week. Thank goodness for Capuano and the consistency of Harang. The Pen is starting to gel with Bellasario almost unhittable and Jansen becoming a premier closer after some initial missteps. In summary: we are fortunate to be in 1st place after the disaster of the last month or so but our guys will be back after the Break so here's hoping we return to the form that led us to the best record in baseball through the end of May.

Stanley Cup Playoffs

What a great playoff season thus far. It has been a real bonus for an ex-pat Canadian like me to have access to NBC Sports Channel and the NHL Network as they have broadcast every NHL playoff game. I think I have been able to watch 90% of the playoff hockey to this point. It has been wonderful - access to the NHL as if I were in Canada while at the same time looking outside & enjoying the beauty of Southern California.

 In the Western Conference the LA Kings have secured a spot in the finals by dispatching the #1 seeded Vancouver Canucks in 5 games and then the #2 seeded St. Louis Blues in a 4 game sweep. This has been by far the most impressive performance of any team to this point of the playoffs. I am ashamed to say that prior to the playoffs I may have watched less than a period of King's hockey during the regular season. This is a group of honest, hard working grinders that score just enough and rely heavily on the excellent goaltending of Jonathan Quick. I have paid special attention to London native Drew Daughty and observed that he together with team captain Dustin Brown are the team leaders.

 The second half of the Western Conference bracket looks like it will be filled by the league owned Phoenix Coyotes as they are up 3 games to 1 over the Nashville Predators. Wouldn't that be something to have two teams from the beach & the desert squaring off for a spot in the Stanley Cup finals!

 In the Eastern Conference the games right from the beginning in every series have been hard fought. At this point the Washington Capitals coached by recent London Knights coach/owner Dale Hunter and the New York Rangers are knotted at 2 games each with the pivotal Game #5 tonight. The other series has been equally entertaining with the New Jersey Devils up 3 games to 1 over the Philadelphia Flyers. Based on the performances of the 1st Round I would have predicted that the Flyers were a sure thing for the Finals after they convincingly dispatched of the Pittsburgh Penguins. I must admit that my sentimental favorite in this series is the Devils in the hopes that Martin Brodeur at age 40 can have one more dance in the Finals

 I am off to watch Game #5 in the Senators/ Rangers Series followed by what could be the clinching game of the Coyotes/Predators series. I have taken to Tweeting during the games in case anyone is interested.

 Oh, by the way, Go Dodgers! Beat the hated Giants tonight.

Spring 2012

A new season of Dodger baseball is upon us; the Boys in Blue have acquitted themselves well this Spring at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, AZ and next week will be here in Southern California.

The highlight of the Spring to this point has been the appearance of Vin Scully to announce 2 games last weekend. Both were featured on the MLB Network although the second game was cut short due to the inclement weather.

Our Hall of Fame announcer did provide some news as he advised that his 2012 schedule will not include trips to Colorado. We still have this treasure for all home games as well as the trips to the Angels, DBacks and Padres. The 84 year old Scully will still broadcast over 100 Dodger games this year his 62nd consecutive season with the franchise.

Staff Ace Clayton Kershaw has been impressive and Don Mattingley has tabbed him as the Opening Day Starter against the Padres. Matt Kemp appears poised for an incredible year and has boldly set goals of 50 HR's and 50 stolen bases. I am hoping for a continuation of the performance of the end of last season for James Loney and a healthy productive year from Andre Ethier. Should Dee Gordon become the next rising star this team has a chance to make something special happen in 2012.

January 1 2012

The 1st day of January 2012 - new beginnings & new hopes. The sun is shining with temperatures in the mid 70's on this final day of the NFL season. The Chargers are out of playoff contention as they try to derail their archival Raiders in Oakland. Our NHL teams are each struggling with the Ducks last in their division and the Kings trying to climb into playoff contention. The NBA squads returned from the lock out with diametrically different outlooks. The Lakers are 3-2 after dropping their first two games; the only significant roster change is the loss of Lamar Odom after a botched trade for Chris Paul. We are going to be relying on Kobe big time this season. Here's hoping Pau Gasol maintains his level of play and that Andrew Bynum becomes the star everyone has predicted. The Clippers are on an upward trajectory with Blake Griffin and now the aforesaid Paul. Neither, however, look like contenders for the title.

At the college level we can expect nothing from UCLA or USC basketball teams and maybe a tournament appearance by SDSU. None of these teams will be threats this season. USC football had a good season and the prospects for next year brightened considerably with the recent decision by Matt Barkley to return for his senior season. UCLA has replaced their coach again after another disappointing season.

The real excitement around our sports scene is major league baseball. The Dodgers locked Matt Kemp up through a long term contract and the Angels landed future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols. The Padres are still in a re-building mode and let their sole legitimate star, Heath Bell, escape to Florida.

Nevertheless with weather like this on New Year's Day sports tends to take a back seat. So I am sitting back enjoying an Oliva Connecticut wrapped cigar sipping a Jack Daniels with mellow tunes on the XM in my gazebo watching the sun set over the Pacific. Tomorrow a drive down the coast with the top down on the Mustang, another cigar, another bourbon and the same sun sinking into the ocean.