Okay, so we got the living tar kicked out of us on Monday. The good news we have 161 more..No need to panic..We are now sending our Ace, Clayton Kershaw. I have faith that he has matured and will trust his stuff and repeat his delivery and become more efficient. As for Monday’s game..Monasteros was good and Dewitt and lets move on. It hurt not having Bellarsarios or Troncoso to relieve Padilla. That put Ramon Ortiz in a bad spot, but he is a big boy and will bounce back.

I look for the Dodgers to bounce back in a good way and get us in the win column.

Well, my buddy Busty the manager of the Loons has gotten his roster. It is not quite loaded as last years team was, but he has a solid roster. He has 6 of the top 30 prospects in the Dodgers organization.

The one that I hope develops is the 1st baseman..Chris Jacobs. He was drafted out of HS in the 17th round and I saw him in Vero that year taking batting practice. He puts on a show. He hits moon shots. He is 6 ft 5 and an easy 260. He spent 2 years in extended ST and last year at Ogden. He will strike out alot but he had a .371 OBP last year, so he has a decent eye. Busty, also has Jeremy Wise, 5th rd pick out of Oklahoma and he adjusted very well to wooden bats in Ogden last year. Also he has Brian Galvez (his dad pitched for the Dodgers) and he was the MVP of the Rookie league last year. He will be sharing the outfield with Angelo Songco and Jerry Sands. Both players showed great promise and power with Ogden last year. Blake Smith, a second round pick who could have also been a pitcher according to draft reports, but the Dodgers love his lefty swing and power potential. Hopefully, he will adjust and show the big upside that Logan White envisioned.

On the infield it will probably be Sands and Jacobs sharing 1b and it will have 3b Brian Ruggiano. He also tore it up for Ogden last year. I do not know much about the middle infielders…The Loons also have Austin Yount, nephew of Robin Yount. Hopefully he got some of his uncles skills…It looks as if the loons may not have alot of speed but the power potential looks promising.

As for the pitching staff. it should be led by Justin Miller, returning to the Loons for the 3rd time. This kid can pitch, but is inconsistent. He throws a low 90s fastball with sink. If he will believe in himself and repeat his mechanics he will not be in Great Lakes long. The Loons also have Brett Wallach, brother of Matt who played last year in Great Lakes and the son of Tim, long time ML player and current Manager of the AAA Isotopes. He was the 3rd round pick of the Dodgers last year. Hopefully Josh Wall, second rd pick in 05 will finally develop. Another intriguing prospect is Allen Webster, an 18th round pick who has cracked the top 10 prospects for the Dodgers.

If the veteran kids pitch to their capabilities and the young arms respond well to their first shot at a full season league, the staff will be an asset. I assume Garrett Gould, the 2nd rounder last year, who got a 1st round bonus and has a power arm is still in extended ST. If he develops to the Dodgers liking he should make his debut with the Loons this year.

I know Busty will have his troops ready, but this team has alot to follow after the great effort the Loons gave their fans last year. Good luck to the Loons and Busty, take them to a cahmpionship, while showing them what it takes to be a ML player. It has to be tough at that level where you want to win, but ultimately it is more about development…

This is the best time of the year, opening day in baseball..Too bad it is the Yankees and the Red Sox and not the Dodgers, but I am excited about this year. I know our achilles heel is potentially our pitching, but I may be an eternal optimist, it will be one of our strengths. If everyone stays healthy, I really believe that it has the opportunity to be the deepest staff in the NL West. Giants and Dbacks have better top 2s, but with Kershaw, Billz, Kuroda, Padilla and our wildcard Haeger, we have a very balanced top 5. Kershaw will continue to develop into the top lefty in the league…Hopefully he and Billz will pitch to contact and become more efficient with their pitch count. This will help to save the BP and not have to overwork them..Kuroda, again this year if healthy will be a stabilizing force. Padilla, has outstanding stuff..can hit the mid 90s with sinking action. His talent has never been questioned, but his and work ethic has been questiond, but the work that he put in when he was signed last year and the fact that he is pitching for a contract can only be a positive in my mind.

Now the wildcard in the rotation is Haeger. . I liked how he pitched last year and he may be our best number 5 in years. I have always been intrigued by the knuckleball pitcher and I have always wondered why more pitchers have not tried to throw it. I remember the Neikro brothers and Charlie Hough. The Dodgers gave up on Hough too soon and he went on to a stellar career. Now in todays game Tim Wakefield has made a great career out of throwing it and will go down in Red Sox history as one of their top pitchers. I am not saying Haeger will match the great accomplishments that the others have, but I am saying that is in the realm of possibility. In the 5th spot of the rotation you need someone to give you the oppotunity to compete and eat up innings and I think Haeger will. I anticipate him pitching 170  to 180 innings and ERA in the mid 4′s..winning 10 plus. If we get this we will rule the division again.

I am penciling in our rotation to win 70 plus games. Here is the breakdown:

Kerhsaw 16, Billz 17 (big comeback with new mechanics and better efficiency), Kuroda 15 and Padilla 15 and Haeger will win 10..73.

Now, my question is the BP. I hope that the drop in velocity by Broxton is not a warning sign. I had his back last year and he turned in a great year. I realize that he had the big blown save in the Phillies series, but he was dominant from day one last year and without the big guy we would not have been where we were. If he stays healthy I expect another dominant performance. My biggest concern is Sherrill and the lack of another lefty on the staff. Hopefully, his spring troubles are all mechanical and have been fixed and not physical. He was great last year and without him and Kuo we will be in trouble. Kuo, I admire his tenacity and heart and hope he is able to get his arm right. He is so nasty when he is healthy.

As for the Ortiz boys. I am more excited about Ramon than Russ. I have seen Russ take too many whackings over the last 3 years. Ramon in a middle relief and possibly developing into the 8th inning guy I can see. Hopefully Bellasario will get into shape and reclaim his spot on the staff and be as effective as he was last year. I am also intrigued by Monsterios. Hopefully he will be eased into the league as a mop up guy and become a ML pitcher by June/July. I remember Fernando, Welch, and Hershiser starting in the BP and they went on to pretty good careers. Weaver, if he can match last year, that will be acceptable and a valuable member of the staff. As for Russ hopefully will only be on the staff until Bellasario or Kuo gets healthy.

As for the lineup, it is the best in the NL West.The key will be Furcal and Manny. They both need to have big years. Raffy finaly looked comfortable last September. I know I was disappointed with him, but he was coming off major surgery to his back and realistically it takes a year to get your timing back and your confidence. So I am hoping he starts to show the pop and the spring in his step that he had when we first signed him. As for Manny I think last year was such a wear on him that he lost his confidence. He started to overcompensate on the inside fastball. I think he will have a big year. Look for 25 hrs and 100 RBI. He is going to have so many runners on base in front of him he will get a 100 by accident. As for Kemp and Ethier they will continue to develop and become superstar. Kemp will go 30-30 this year and play GG defense again, Ethier will hit .280 with 30 hrs and 100 RBI and be the leader on the team and in the community, The wildcards are going to be Loney and Martin. We know what Blake brings, Loney will hit .300 and develop more gap power and go for 35 plus doubles and 15 plus hrs and 100 RBI…Martin, will have a bounce back year, I have no great predictions for him, but he will bounce back.

Now Dewitt is one of my favorites. I love the way he plays and I believe he will be a great asset at 2b. He has a great work ethic and knows how to play the game. If Joe is patient we will have a potential all star. He has gap power and will develop into an a bove average defender. We need complimentary players like Dewitt. think he will eventually become a great 2 hitter, next year when Kemp takes over the 4th spot for Manny,

 I know the sexy pick by all the experts is the Rockies, but do not believe the hype. They have a good lineup but I think Street being out is going to really handcuff them. This is the way I see the division breaking down.

Dodgers 95 wins

Rockies 92

Giants 90

Padres 77

We play the Phillies for the Championship again and we beat them….Then we play the hated Yankees and beat them in Game 7…Can the dream begin!!!

I remember when I was 9 years old and the night before opening day of LL baseball, I slept in my uniform. I was so excited to play baseball that I could not wait…This day is so special because it brings back such good memories. I was fortunate because I had my father coach me from when I was 9 until I was 18 years old. So when opening day with the Dodgers comes I think of my father and the great times.

I really feel that this year is the year that we can break the 20 year curse of not winning the WS. It is hard to believe that Gibby hit the HR 20 plus  years ago and a team that had Jeff Hamilton, Alfredo Griffin, T bone Shelby, Rick Dempsey, and the rest of the misfits on that team won the WS. They did what no one gave them a chance to do and that was win it…

This year the Dodgers are expected to win their division by most of the so called experts, and I believe they will. The achilles heel if we have one is the BP and lack of starting depth that they have. I think Bills will win 18 plus games and be in the top 10 in the Cy Young. Kuroda is going to be a stabilizing force as the number one and will win, 15-17 games. Wolf is good for 14-16 and will win 1-2 games with his bat…Kershaw, I feel, will prove to be the prodigy and win 14 plus games…In 2010 we will have have 2 number ones…Kershaw and Bills…As for McDonald, we are asking alot for him to step in to the 5th spot immediately. I liked the plan to ease him into it, but he was the best alternative that we had…If we sustain an injury we do not have anyone to replace either of these guys….Milton, Weaver, Estes and Schmidt are not the answers. Lindblom,  I am real excited about and hope he will be this years Bob Welch. Welch came up in 77 after a short time in the minors and worked out of the BP and spot started and was very impressive. Lindblom has all of Dodger land talking and it is very exciting.

The BP, where do we start. Broxton is asked to be the man and hopefully he will respond. He did not have a good spring, but as long as he is healthy I think he will save 35 out of 40 save opportunities and be dominant… Joe please do not overuse the big fella. The bad part we do not have another closer type. Hong Chi Kuo, has the best stuff on the staff but is he healthy? Cory Wade was real good last year but again is he past the shoulder issues that plagued him this spring. I think Joe overused him in September last year..Mota, I know will not be the Mota of 5-6 years ago but I hope he is consistent in the 7th inning…Kuo or Wade will handle the 8th and Kuo will  hopefully step up in the 9th when Brox is unable to go.  Ohman is being rushed to the roster so hopefully he will be ready and will it be Bellasario and Troncoso filling out the BP or will Mazone be the other lefty..Bellasario has been a welcome surprise, his ball seems to have natural movement and has swing and miss capabilities. I really like Troncoso but he has been very shaky this spring, but he has the hard sinker that can entice ground balls. I really hope he can get it together…

The lineup should be the best we have ever had…It has power in Manny, Ethier, Kemp, Marty, Blake…Speed in Furcal, Martin, and Kemp…and the defense is so much better with Hudson at 2B…The pitchers will benefit from the DP combo this year…it could be one of the best defenses LA has ever had.

My Predictions

1. Dodgers..the only ? is pitching

2. Arizona..pitching is tough if the hitters develop they will be tough.

3. Giants..good pitching but not enough offense

4. Rockies..will be improved but not enough

5. Padres could be the worst team in the NL..Peavy will be gone at the trade deadline if not sooner.

Loney will bat .300 plus with 35 doubles and win his 1st gold glove

Martin will rebound and hit .285 plus with 15 plus HRs and 80 RBI

Kemp will hit .285 with 22 HRs and 80 RBI and steal 30 Bases and his baserunning will be improved…

Ethier will hit .290 with 22 hrs and 100 RBI will prove to be the 2nd best hitter on the team

Manny will hit .315 with 30/35 Hrs and 115 RBI and will win the MVP (Ok I am a Homer)

The Dodgers will pick up Halladay at the trade deadline and he will be the key to the WS run and Dodgers defeat the Red Sox and Brad Penny in the WS…

Go Dodgers and I love Opening Day!!!! Is it game time yet!!!!

This may not be of concern to some, but I love MInor League ball…Low A team of the Dodgers..my recap of the roster…

I am excited about the Great Lake Loons people…I will not deny that I am biased because I am friends with Busty the manager, but they have given him a great roster….It is lead by powers arms and they are experienced at the plate…The Loons were so young last year and they did not perform up to expectations….If anyone has a chance to visit Midland Michigan, that community is crazy for the Loons…The ballpark is one of if not the best Minor League facilities…

The pitching staff is led by Justin Miller (a young sinkerballer who came within an out of a no hitter last year)..If he continues to mature and begins to believe in himself, he could be special…Robert Blevins is a bulldog with strikeout capability…The staff has the number one pick Ehtan Martin making his pro debut, a power arm in the low 90s…Nathan Eovaldi who is out of HS but throws in the mid 90s…Jon Michael Redding is also a power arm…The BP is led by Javy Guerra who in the HBL this winter was throwing in the mid to upper 90s…also a blogger…gotta root for him.

MOst exciting is the fact that the offense should be much improved…It should be led by Tony Delmonico, he tore the cover off the ball last year in Ogden and is converting to catcher. They also have speed led by Devaris Gordon and Elian Herrerra the 2b/ss combo…Austin Gallagher is assigned there and he is very  highly rated, he played in hig A last year. One of my favorites to watch play, (I saw 3 games last year, not alot but enough to know a player) Parker Dalton…He may not be the most talented but he has the biggest heart on the field..He respects the game and plays hard every game…He beat cancer I believe his senior year at Texas A@m…I hope he has a big year, probably not a starter, but a good utilityman.

In the outfield will be Eric Kannaby back again he has very good speed, Alfredo Silverio, repeating Low A, still only 21 and when he was in the GCL league 2 years ago was the best hitter on a team that featured Lambo…This should be a big year for him. Also, Kyle Russell, a masher out of Univ of Texas…The other outfileder is Travis Vetters all he did was hit over .400 in Ogden..He is an older prospect, but he should add good experience…

Sorry for the long post but I love the Minor Leaguers because they are our future and if you have seen them up close and personal it is not alll fame and glory as we all see it in the Majors…These kids work their tales off for 1200-1500 a month and like 15 per diem for food…they travel crazy hours on a bus and hang out at the malls until it is time to go to the park…

Well that is enough, this should be an exciting team, it is loaded with 11 of the top 30 prospects in the organization. I did not even mention Jordan Pratt the no 30 prospect..who may be the hardest thrower of them of all…He throws in the upper 90s, but his issue is command. I cannot imagine what the Midwest league is in for with the cold April weather and facing the heat this staff will bring…If they get jammed OUch!!!!!

Ok back to the big team…Thanks

There once was time when working for the Dodgers, if you were a loyal employee you were treated with respect. Now it seems that it does not matter how long or how good you are at your job, you are only a statistic. The Dodgers announced today that they have let Stan Johnston go. Stan had been with the Dodgers organization for 23 years as a trainer, 6 of the last 7 as head trainer. He was demoted last year as Colletti brought in Stan Conte with whom he had worked with it the Giants. It pains me to think that we have 2 major parts of our organization with ties to that team. Anyway, if anyone has ever been around major/minor league trainers you would have the understanding what it takes to persevere in such a demanding and under appreciated job. These guys give their hearts and souls to the job. They do not make a ton of money and work tireless hours. They usually arrive 6 -7 hours before a game and leave 2-3 hours after. They are there for the players for everything, to heal, treat their injuries and their egos. I have only met Stan a couple of times in passing, but have gotten to know several people that know him and some ex-ballplayers that all raved about him.

I can only imagine that his popularity with the players probably got to Conte, because I cannot imagine he was let go because of incompetence. It is a choice that the Dodgers made last October in turning over the medical/training program to Conte. It was also with the strong blessings that Conte gave Schmidt and how familiar he was with his history and mechanics that the Dodgers made a great informed choice to sign a 34 year old, 47 million dollar, pitcher with a history of shoulder injuries. It has to make you wonder why the Giants, after all Schmidt did for them, did not try to resign him for the 3 years but rather give Zito 80 mil more. Maybe I am off base, but if it smells like s___ it probably is.  Conte was brought in to revamp the Dodgers conditioning program and if this year is any indication, he may want to rethink his program.

That is all the bashing of Conte that I will do, other than I hope he leaves his personal knowledge of anyones medical history to himself. This is really about Stan Johnston "Cowboy" as he is known amongst his ballplayer. To have 23 years of loyal service down the drain because of whatever reason they would like to spin is unfathomable. From what I understand each team has 3 trainers and only 2 can have service time accrue towards retirement. Stan from what I have been told just completed his 8th year, only 2 years from being fully vested. Why the big deal? At 10 years you get a pension of 10k per month. For a team just to kick you to the curb, unless you have done something illegal or immoral (did he take care of Bonds), really makes me want to consider who I root for. Yes I know it is a business, but there had to be way to make this work for everyone. Thats right if they knew how to communicate as an organization they probably would have headed off the explosion between the young and old players. I hope that Stan is able to hook up with another team to get his service time in, but this really s—ks!

I only feel that if Mr O’malley was still in charge this organiztion would not treat people like this. I am done ranting and really ahve a bad taste for Colletti, McCourt, Little, Conte and whoever else is making these decisions.

JONSIE

The ship is sinking, fingers are being pointed and the manager is being criticized for his lineups. Wow I never thought this is how the season would end, but it has. The clubhouse meeting that was held last night is probably 1-2 weeks late. I equate this to your relationship, when you get the call "we need to talk", you know it was coming and could of and should have been more proactive. These frustrations have been building for the last 2-3 weeks and Grady, Jeff Kent and the veterans should have had the foresight to communicate and to head this off. Losing brings out the worst in everyone. Leadership is daily and ongoing not when it is convenient to blast your teammates.

There has been numerous issues, playing Gonzo everyday, yes he hit 2 home runs in the last week, but i have not seen so many weak groundballs to the pitcher and second baseman. Now that he has his 2500 hits, BENCH him. Who cares if he whines. Play Ethier and Kemp, Laroche, Hu, and Young. Kemp, yes he does lack some baseball instincts, but you cannot teach the explosiveness in his bat and on the bases.

Ned, please get a vision and stay with it. Last year when you brought Lofton and Nomar in for 1 year it made sense. I feel that you panicked with Pierre, I love his heart and desire but 4 more years of weak grond balls and bunts will drive me nuts. Not to mention a single to either to the left or right of him is an automatic double. The other teams salivate when a ball is hit to him. The smarter move would to have sign lofton one more year and wait for Andruw Jones or Torii Hunter. Nine million for Pierre and Loaiza, that is one of those other guys salary.

Speaking of Loaiza, 6 years of era over 5.00…is this a trend or an aberration. I say a trend. An 85-87 fastball. He is not Greg Maddux. Speaking of Maddux, 2 years at 20 mil or Schmidt at 52 mil? This is not hindsight, I felt this way when the Pierre/Schmidt signings happened, I just did not blog then. In my job making these type of crucial signings and decisions and not panning out, my owner would question my ability to make decisions. I would say I would not have a job. A rotation of Penny, Lowe, Billingsley, Loaiza, and Schmidt, Scary. Billingsley I hope becomes our Ace. Penny is solid but his pitch count and the way he falters in the second half year after year is a number 2-3 starter. Lowe is the same. Loiaza I am going on record if he makes 25 starts he will be 6-13 with a 4.75 or worse. Tomko was the same, why do we continue to run these guys out there. I would rather have Stults or Houlton. Young arms that have upside as oppose to vets that have continually shown they cannot do the job. I just hope Elberts and Kershaw develop and are ready by June 2008.

I loved the update on dodgers.com that Broxtons arm was tender and Grady made reference that it happens this time of year. Yes it does when you run a guy out there 10 out of 14 days. Seanez, Broxton and Proctor is that all he knows. Meloan did not pitch in 2 weeks, Stults, Hull, run them out there and let them figure it out everyone once in a while. Broxton ran out of gas and it is Gradys fault. Why have him pitch down by 3 for the third day in a row.

As for next year what do we do at third base. Nomar, if his bat speed does not come back, cannot be run out there everyday, 10 mil or not. Laroche is he the next Paul Konerko. A couple of brief tries and ship him to Cincy for Jeff Shaw. How did that work out Tommy? No I am not bitter. Put Laroche out there and let him play, it worked with the Padres with Kouz. He hit .107 as late as the 1st week of May, but a patient manager never lost faith and he has hit .300 since with power. Kent does he come back, he is old faithful and his passion is unquestioned, but take the young guys and teach them how to play the game.

Where do we find the power bat. Martin will continue to develop 15-20 homers, Loney has shown that he can hit for power. I feel that he will hit 20-25, Kemp if he continues to develop and is allowed to play is 25 plus. I feel the Dodgers may use Ethier as trade bait, but he can hit. He uses the whole field, and will be a .300 hitter 17-22 homers and 80-100 rbi if he plays everyday. It will be interesting to see who is available on the trade market and free agency. Unless the Dodgers move Pierre to left and sign Hunter (chrismas wish) or if they bite the bullet pay most of Pierre’s salary and ship him off (christmas wish), I am at a loss as to where they will improve. It has to be the kids. It worked out well in Arizona.

Ned you have to produce and now.

I am writing this blog today in honor of Juan Bustabad, minor league coach for the Dodgers. I have gotten to know Busty over the past 3 years at Dodgers Fantasy camp. Yes we pay alot of money to live a dream of a lifetime, to put on a Dodger uniform that we all dreamed about as kids. Busty has been at all 3 camps that I been to and he is first of all a class human being and secondly a **** of a coach/instructor. I have had the opportunity to observe him coach his Gulf Coast League team and he works the **** out of these kids. He enforces fundamentals and is like a surrogate father to these 18-21 year kids, especially the latin ballplayers. The Dodgers are lucky to have him in their organization. I just hope he gets the accolades that he deserves.

Busty was selected twice in the first round, first by the Oakland in 1979 5th overall and then again in 1980 by the Red Sox. Unfortunately the closest Busty got to the bigs was Triple A. He retired in 1989 and began coaching in the Dodgers organization and left to go to the Marlins organization 94-99. All Busty has done is win at every level that he has managed. At the Rookie level and class A level he has won at least 5 division titles, including the last 2 GCL Division titles. To be able to do this consistently at this level is unbelivable. He is taking 18-21 year olds who have never met one another and with different cultures and getting them to perform as a team is remarkable.

On September 18, 2007, Busty got his call to the Show. Hats off to you Busty, you get to spend the next 2 weeks with the major league team. Enjoy, you deserve itand make sure you bring pictures to Fantasy camp with you. No one is more deserving and hopefully one day you will get the opportunity to stay full time. By the way you looked 5 years younger on TV.

Jonsie

I know it is easy to sit here today and say what could have been, but I do not understand why managers do not bunt more often. Case in point, I believe it was the 5th inning yesterday and the Dodgers have 2 on no out and Lieberthal up and he swings away…Well we know the outcome, dp and momentum over. It was never to be regained. I wish managers would bunt him over and hopefully we get one maybe 2 runs and we are tied. Oh well that is the breaks.

Can Grady quit running Broxton out to the mound when we are down by 3…the poor kid is going to be ruined at this pace. Give one of the young guys the opportunity to pitch…Stults, Meloan, we may need these kids his week with the double header and they have not pitched in 10 plus days.

Loaiza is Loaiza, he throws bp and if he is not hitting his spots he is in trouble…8 million just does not go very far any more.

The Giants absolutely laid down this weekend after Fridays game. I hate them even more now. Go Pirates, how can the Padres be playing the Pirates at crunch time. The schedule maker *****!!!! Maybe Tracy will rally his troops and help the Dodgers out. We need the Giants to man up and take the Diamondsbacks down.

Lets go Big Blue sweep the Rockies!!!!!

I dispise the Giants and now they are toying with my emotions. First of all they take 2 dramatic wins from the Dodgers last weekend and now they blow a 2 run lead in the bottom of the ninth against the Friars. Come on Giants grag your kahaunas and man up and beat the Padres.

Now on last nights game. Penny battled and gave the Dodgers 5 innings but he needs to be more efficient. Great job getting out that painful first inning but 35 or so pitches makes it  a long night for the bullpen. An ace has to go 6 to 7 innings at crunch time. Rudy Seanez, this guy just will not die. Grady keeps putting him out there and he does the job. Thanks Rudy it seems like you have been around the majors since the beginning. James loney, I love you man, keep hitting the ball hard and prove all the naysayers wrong. Lack of power, how does 53 rbi in 81 games played and 500 plus slugging percentage look. I just wish we could have seen him from day one but maybe going down was his motivation to make sure when he did come back that it would be for good.

Nomar what did you take over the last 3 days, he looked completely different last night. He swung with authority and he looked fresh. Hopefully the Nomar of old is back with us.

As for todays game, Mr Lowe please pitch deep and keep the ball down. We need this game (I know we need them all) this is what we signed you for, to pitch in the big games. I have said it before but watching the young guys Loney, Martin, Kemp, and Ethier it is exciting. If the Dodgers came keep them together we are in for another run like the 70′s and 80′s.

As for all the Grady bashers and Ned bashers, we may not like all their moves, but this team has hung in there and for the most part Grady has been patient with the youngsters. I know keep Gonzo on the bench and play Ethier everyday but with the injuries this team could ahve tanked and except for a 3 week period they have not. Go Grady and Ned!!! Skin the Dianmondbacks. Good day.