Results tagged “mannyramirez”

Diamond Leung still loves baseball and journalism. But you'd understand if he didn't. After five years at the Riverside-Press Enterprise, two of those as the Dodgers beat writer, Leung, 27, was laid off from his post after the paper eliminated most of its baseball coverage. The San Francisco native and UCLA grad, at right, moved back to his hometown and did what any young, self respecting unemployed baseball lover would do: start a blog. The aptly named Diamond Notes is a baseball news source that aggregates some of the more interesting finds others may miss. We caught up with him yesterday, touching on the Dodgers diminishing World Series hopes, life after journalism and why he doesn't watch baseball on T.V.

Dodgers manager Joe Torre made sure that his team would not suffer a letdown after their miraculous 3-2 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals in game two of the National League Divisional Series.

For the second consecutive season the Dodgers sweep an NL Central team in the National League Divisional Series - this season the Cardinals played the role of the victim losing 5-1 in game three. Although Matt Kemp had a golden sombrero (four strikeouts), Manny Ramirez and Andre Ethier went 3-for-5 each. Manny knocked in two RBI while Ethier was a single short of the cycle, hitting a two-run homer in the second inning. Dodgers starter Vicente Padilla threw a gem of a game shutting out the Cardinals for seven innings giving up only four hits and a walk while striking out four. The Dodgers now face the winner of the Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies series.

The speculation of postseason rosters, pitching rotation and all that rot is over. October baseball has finally arrived for your Los Angeles Dodgers. The club is feeling confident but ready for a good fight. “I obviously know that it’s a tough task obviously going against a guy who probably was the frontrunner for the Cy Young,” game one starter Randy Wolf said Tuesday about going against St. Louis Cardinal’s ace Chris Carpenter.

Seven of eight ESPN "experts" are picking the St. Louis Cardinals to beat the Dodgers. "Baseball Tonight" anchor Karl Ravech is even picking the Cardinals to sweep. The lone dissenter is Eric Neel who is picking the Dodgers in five. I don't get it. Starting Wednesday a new season will begin. What happened in the regular season is irrelevant. So while most people are picking the Cardinals to win because they won the season series 5-2, it means nothing. Just because Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright looked indomitable, it's just hogwash.

Usually weekday afternoon games are sparsely attended. But the Dodgers made a brilliant marketing decision to give away Manny Ramirez bobbleheads at the game leading to an explosion of humanity. In fact 53,193 people showed up to witness the Dodgers sweep the three-game series from the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1, the seventh sell out of the season for the Dodgers. It’s the largest weekday non-Opening Day day game in Dodger history.

It was supposed to be an easy week at Chavez-Ravine. The NL West’s two cellar-dwells were coming to face the Dodgers for seven games.

Last night after the game, I was listening to Dodger Talk with co-hosts Ken Levine and Josh Suchon. I was trying to get any added insight to the retaliation pitch Dodger reliever Guillermo Mota bounced off of Milwaukee Brewer Prince Fielder’s sizable gut. During the broadcast, a caller shifted gears and asked the hosts, “Why doesn’t Manny wear his custom mouthguard anymore?” I knew the answer and decided I’d call in.

The Dodgers have added a fourth bobblehead giveaway on their 12:10 pm game on September 16 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. As a tribute to Manny Ramirez hitting a pinch-hit grand slam on on July 22 on his bobblehead night that gave the Dodgers a 6-2 lead over the Cincinnati Reds, the Dodgers will be giving away a bobblehead of Manny tipping his cap to the fans.

The story is as old as baseball itself -- Dreadlocked Slugger moves to Hollywood... Dreadlocked Slugger earns suspension for female fertility drug use... Dreadlocked Slugger returns. And...

“I can’t wait to get to the field,” Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez said of his 50-game suspension. “I miss the game the game that I love.”

LA Dodgers defeat Chicago White Sox 5-2. This was Hiroki Kuroda at his best. Kuroda gave up a solo shot to former Dodger prospect Paul Konerko in the second inning and an RBI single to Jermaine Dye in the ninth as the only blemishes in his 8 2/3 inning performance. After Dye's single Jonathan Broxton came in and Jim Thome to strike out to end the game. Meanwhile the offense was buoyed by James Loney's two-run dinger in the second and Casey Blake's two-run single in the eighth inning. The Dodgers are now 23 games over .500 the most since the end of 2004.

With the recent megasuspension of Dodgers superslugger Manny Ramirez, every American has been wondering: "is Manny Ramirez a murdering rapist?" Speaking publicly yesterday, for the first time in over a month, Ramirez put that to bed, reports MLB.com. "I didn't kill nobody, I didn't rape nobody," said the man with the surprise vacation. "That's it." That really must be it, as Ramirez didn't address his 50 game suspension in a way that got anyone too excited. "Whatever happened, that's in the past. I'm coming to play my game and move on." So long as the 37-year-old doesn't further violate MLB's Only Dopes Use Dope policy, he'll return to the big leagues next month. See Manny neither murder nor rape July 3 in San Diego for an Independence Weekend comeback against the Padres. He returns to Dodgertown 90090 on July 16 against the formidable-enough Houston Astros.

Bill Plaschke is mad and Kurt Streeter is wondering where the outrage is. While there are some people who are hurt and betrayed by Manny Ramirez testing positive for hCG, are any of us really that surprised?

So Manny Ramirez got a 50 game suspension for violating the Joint Drug Agreement still hasn't sunk in. Ramirez will not appeal the suspension and will be eligible to come back on July 3, the start of a weekend series at the San Diego Padres. He will lose in excess of $7 million in salary due to the suspension.

Too bad Manny is suspended. Blogdowntown reports that despite a moratorium on supergraphics, new "Mannywood" advertisements have appeared on the sides of buildings on Flower and Figueroa in the past two weeks. Funny thing is, the billboard moratorium was just extended yesterday until June 24th. (Photo: Eric Richardson)

"Recently I saw a physician for a personal health issue. He gave me a medication, not a steroid, which he thought was okay to give me. Unfortunately, the medication was banned under our drug policy. Under the policy that mistake is now my responsibility. I have been advised not to say anything more for now. I do want to say one other thing; I've taken and passed about 15 drug tests over the past five seasons."

Everyone's jaw is dropping here in Los Angeles (holy shit!) while Cubs fans are screaming "suck it, Dodgers!" Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez has tested positive for performance-enhancing drug and will be suspended for 50 games, according to the Los Angeles Times. His first game back will be July 3rd--in the meantime, outfielder Xavier Paul will apparently be promoted to Manny's position. The official announcement by Major League Baseball is expected later today.

LA has a diverse cast of characters. Whether it's the characters with stirring stories or interesting occupations or the people who are just simply characters, this town has them all. In an effort to get to know some of those characters a little better, we've created "Seven Questions with..." If you have a suggestion for a future Seven Questions subject send us an email.

LA Dodgers defeat LA Dodgers 5-2. Chad Billingsley had a rough fifth inning walking the first three batters and somehow getting out with only two runs. But Bills came back in the sixth inning getting the meat of the Padres order, Brian Giles, Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Kouzmanoff, out in order. Manny Ramirez went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double and three RBIs, and Casey Blake got his first hit of the season - a solo home run in the second inning to left field. After that fifth inning, the Dodgers took the lead after the Manny double bringing Rafael Furcal and Orlando Hudson home. Manny would score when James Loney singled to right. A note: the Dodger bullpen has not given up a run so far this season.

Anaheim Ducks defeat Nashville Predators 4-3 (OT). While it's a good thing the Ducks won the game, they gave the Predators a point by allowing the game to go to overtime. With the season ending the Ducks can't afford to give away points. Teemu Selanne hit the game winning goal on an assist by Chris Pronger after only 34 seconds had elapsed in overtime in a power play situation. The Ducks are only three points out of a playoff spot and have a favorable schedule down the stretch.

Nashville Predators defeat LA Kings 4-3. The Kings fell late in the third period when the Predators Ryan Jones scored a goal with 2:18 remaining. With a power play and the goalie pulled, the Kings could not pull out a goal. With 13 games left, the Kings are now six points away from a playoff spot. The chances are now very slim, but the Kings cannot afford another regulation loss if they want to make it to the postseason.

Isn't this a great Christmas card? Ned Colletti, Frank McCourt, Manny Ramirez and Scott Boras. Aaaah. AP Photo/Morry Gash.

It's actually true. Manny Ramirez is a Dodger.

LA Lakers defeat Memphis Grizzlies 99-89. The Grizzlies had won five of their last seven games against the Lakers in Staples Center, but after losing their last two games the Lakers were determined not to let that happen. They forced the Grizzlies to just 41% shooting which gave the Lakers faithful their tacos. While this wasn't a great game by any stretch of the imagination for the Lakers, a win is a win. Lakers fans: you can breathe.

Am I the only Dodger fan who wants to see Frank McCourt and Scott Boras bound and gagged Pulp Fiction style and fisted until they can come to terms in the Manny Ramirez negotiations?

Agent Scott Boras sent a letter to the Dodgers this morning on behalf of Manny Ramirez rejecting the Dodgers' latest two-year offer. Resigned to starting over from scratch, Dodgers owner Frank McCourt said, "When [Manny's] agent finds those 'serious offers' from other clubs, we'll be happy to restart the negotiations."

LA Clippers defeat Boston Celtics 93-91. OM-fucking-G indeed. Eric Gordon left the game with a shoulder injury and Baron Davis fouled out for the Clips, but they managed to stun the basketball world and defeat the reigning champs. The Clippers turned the ball over eight less time than the Celtics and they outscored the Celtics by a huge margin in the paint. Zach Randolph led all scorers with 30 points with four other Clips scoring in double figures.

With Spring Training underway, the Dodgers have made Manny Ramirez another offer to return for the 2009 baseball season, reports the Los Angeles Times. The latest offer is $25 million dollars for one year with a player option for a second year for $20 million dollars.

LA Clippers defeat Golden State Warriors 118-105. With Zach Randolph and Marcus Camby back in the line up, the Clippers finally got some size back into their team. And the size did help them win against the fast paced Warriors. There was also a Baron Davis sighting who nearly had a triple-double with 25 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. Zach Randolph and Eric Gordon each scored 27 points for the Clips.