Today's a New Game

Okay, okay. I misspoke last night when I tried to describe what the Earned Run Average meant. I should have said the Dodger bullpen's ERA of almost 5.5 means the relief pitchers have allowed nearly five-and-a-half runs for every nine innings worked.

That's not nearly as bad as five-and-a-half runs for every inning worked, but it's still the worst record in baseball this season.

Dodgers gotta get some relief!

Remember Eric Gagne and Game Over? Man, those days were amazing! And yes, maybe Eric had a little chemical assistance, but in those steroid days so did many of the batters he faced. The chemicals might have made him stronger, but they didn't help him hit the corners more sharply, any more than they helped the batters see his pitches any better.

Dodgers need some fresh relief!

They might need some fresh ownership, too. Dodgers haven't been to the World Series since 1988, when they won it. Back then the O'Malley family owned the team – Peter and his sister, Susan Seidler, who had taken over management of the team when their father Walter O'Malley died in 1979. Walter had owned the team since 1950.

Peter and Susan sold the team to Fox (yeah, Rupert Murdoch) in 1998. In 2004, Fox sold the team to Frank McCourt, loaning him a big chunk of money so he could make the purchase. When Frank didn't repay the loan, Fox foreclosed on the Boston parking lots Frank had put up as collateral.

Now Frank and his estranged wife Jamie are embroiled in a very messy and very public divorce (you can google it; I'm not going there) and Frank had to borrow money to make the Dodgers' April payroll – $30 million. Who did he borrow it from? Fox, with whom he is hoping to sign a $3 billion broadcasting contract.

Now the word is that Frank won't be able to make the third payroll in May. (Players, coaches and team workers get paid every two weeks. May has three paydays.)

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig has held up the $3 billion Fox contract pending his office's investigation of the Dodgers' finances. If Frank can't meet his payroll and other financial obligations, MLB will assume financial management of the team.

Meanwhile, this morning the Dodgers announced that Broxton has pain in his elbow.

Dodgers need some relief.

Just getting ready for the new game today. One thing I love about baseball: every game is a new one. Every day is new.

But there are some clouds hanging overhead.

It's been a year to the day since I had my heart attack. June 5, 2009. They kept me in the hospital overnight and the next day (the anniversary of D-Day) The Pros from Dover put a stent in one of my coronary arteries; my doctor prescribed a bunch of medicines that lowered my risks; I changed my diet and added exercise to my daily routine.

I am still in the process of rethinking my life. I am working with an old friend to start a new business; I am working with God to update my spiritual activities.

But the Dodgers. The Dodgers. They still don't have enough pitching.

I suppose no team ever has enough pitching, especially in these days of three divisions in each league and twelve pitchers (twelve pitchers?) on each team. Really; each team can have twenty-five players. Do you really want twelve of them to be pitchers?

I don't think the number of pitchers matters. What matters is the quality, the ability of the pitchers you have.

My team is the Dodgers. I won't apologize for that.

But I have to say I am not overly impressed by the effectiveness of the pitchers on the Dodgers roster at the moment.

More to come.