Los Angeles Dodgers

I do not like Manny Ramirez.

I think he’s lazy. I don’t like his persona while playing the game. He’s greedy in my opinion. And now, he’s a cheater.

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Say it ain’t so Manny! Say it was a mistake by the doctor. Say I didn’t mean to take it. Say it wasn’t my fault.

Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez was suspended 50 games Thursday after he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Ramirez issued a statement saying that did not use steroids or a traditional performance-enhancing drug; rather, a physician prescribed medication banned under Major League Baseball’s drug policy “for a personal health issue.”

Yesterday, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced that Jeff Weaver would be replacing James McDonald in the starting rotation Tuesday versus the Arizona Diamondbacks. 

Considering McDonald's struggles so far this season, the decision is a smart one.

However, the decision did not go far enough.  James McDonald needs to be sent to Albuquerque. 

This one ought to be special, especially the pitching staff.

Face of the Franchise: Sandy Koufax

Manager: Walter Alston

No Manny.  No Furcal.  No Blake.  No Martin.  All of them were missing from the starting lineup.

No problem!

Who needs stars at the plate when you have a star on the mound!  Chad Billingsley pitched solidly, and the offense scored big in two separate innings as the Dodgers defeat the Padres 7-3 at Dodger Stadium.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (17-8, Last Week: No. 2)

The Dodgers are the hottest team in the league right now. Hands down. I had a hard time picking between them and the Blue Jays for the top spot. Having a 17-8 record (tied for best in the majors), and winning seven of their last ten games. How can you not put them at No. 1? Oh! and they got Manny!

2. Toronto Blue Jays (17-9, Last Week: No. 4)

I know, I know—I'm a tad late with this one. Not only have the San Francisco Giants already started their next series against the Colorado Rockies, but the first pitch for the second game is only minutes away.

And it's all the more inexcusable because the series I've been dragging on was a fantastic offering that saw our good guys slay the evil Los Angeles Dodgers twice in three chances.

Some people—many people—will see that I have selected Roy Campanella as the second subject of my series and object that his story is far from “forgotten.”

I would reply that they are wrong.

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated their neighbors from San Diego on Thursday 8-5, in a game which could be described as a knife fight—only both sides were using butter knives.

Each side tried to give away the game. The Dodgers,with yet another ineffective start from James McDonald; and the Padres, with a shaky bullpen and a magic bullet of a throw from rightfielder Brian Giles that eluded every glove in it's path to allow Casey Blake to bring in the eventual winning run.