Dodgers...rollin!

I'm going to have to give some props to my hometown, favorite team, the LA DODGERS. Four wins in the past five games...it's looking promising for the Dodgers as the hunt for October is approaching.

Andre Ethier's walk-off homerun on Sunday gave the Dodgers that extra confidence they need as they battle with the Diamondbacks for a first-place spot.

The Dodgers are definitely in a good position in a horrible NL West division. The addition of Manny Ramirez and Casey Blake have proved to be favorable for the Dodgers. Ramirez is batting .424 in 16 games. He adds intensity and makes everyone around him better. Blake adds the defense that is needed at the corner spot.

The Dodgers just need to keep playing a hard nine-innings and success will follow. Their bats are on fire and everyone seems to be making a contribution. Let's hope that is continues.

Deja vu?

It seemed like deja vu after the Yankees blew a 6-3 lead going into the eighth. In fact, it seemed like deja vu during the eighth inning of the Yankees-Twins game on Tuesday night.

Again, Damaso Marte came in as a reliever to pitch the eighth. The first batter batter, catcher Mike Redmond, doubled. Hello, Girardi...that's a sign to take the guy out!

But again he didnt, and after Justin Morneau flied out, the third batter, Randy Ruiz, singled, putting runners on the corners.

So once again, Marte allowed two runners to reach base, and finally Girardi came to his senses and put in Mariano Rivera.

However, it apparently wasn't Rivera's night. Delmon Young hit a 3-run homerun, giving Rivera his first blown save of the season. He was 28-28 in save opportunities leading up to this point. After getting out the inning you could tell Rivera was very pissed and disappointed in his performance.

Luckily, things ended up working out for the Yankees, but not until the 12th inning. A-Rod and Xavier Nady came in clutch, each homering and giving the Yankees a 9-6 lead and win. The win ended New York's four-game skid, the longest this season.

It would have been more disaster for the Yankee ballclub had they lost this game. They just got lucky. In an eighth inning situation like this game, Girardi needs to know when to take out his pitchers.

The Yankees are playing tight. They need to relax but they have so much pressure on them to win. And it doesn't really help either when your owner says, "We're going to win it next year." What do you think that says? Come on, are you already giving up on this year?

Yankees...playoff worthy?

After watching the Yankees get swept by the Angels this weekend, I asked myself whether they can come together and push their way to the playoffs. Or will they collapse and fail to reach the playoffs for the 14th consecutive year? I have to wonder if they are still adjusting under new head-coach, Joe Girardi. Or is it him that is making the wrong decisions in crucial game-time moments? The last two games of this series, the Yankees blew the lead.

Saturday's game was tied going into the eighth inning. But, the Yankees gave up eight runs in the eighth. Reliever, Edwar Ramirez gave up five of those runs. I think Girardi needs to make smarter, better decisions on when to take out a pitcher.

On Sunday the game was tied as well going into the ninth. Girardi should have taken out Damaso Marte after the first batter reached base. Instead, Girardi left him in and Marte walked the next batter. It was then that Girardi decided to put Mariano Rivera in. And sure enough, Chone Figgins hit a dinky bouncer past second-baseman Robinson Cano that gave the Angels a walk-off victory. Marte is 0-2 with a 4.19 ERA. And you know, if Girardi never moved Joba Chamberlain to the starting rotation it would be Chamberlain coming out and pitching the 7th and 8th innings of relief.

Not to mention the Yankees got rid of Kyle Farnsworth thinking that they would be okay without the right-hander. NOT! Since the trade happened the Yankees bullpen has a combined 8.16 ERA in nine games.

The Yankees keep slipping. Boston and Tampa Bay, especially, keep soaring. It's just a matter of how long it will take for the Yankees to hit the bottom. But there is a part of me that thinks they will somehow rise to the occasion. They have to, right? They're the New York Yankees.