The Ugly Truth, The Dodgers are Old School

This is a new era in sports, and it’s up to the Dodgers to catch the last train (actually, it’s already left the station). The Post-Steroid Era is upon us, and it is characterized by smarter: play, training regimes, and tactical acumen. Now I know we haven’t seen “small ball” or smart play since the early 80s. What we’ve grown accustomed to are brute strength, unnatural healing times, and severely diminished strategy—across all elements of the game.

Ned Colletti talked highly of Juan Uribe at Blogger Night. Photo: Stacie Wheeler

Steroids had turned baseball into CliffsNotes—a cheap facsimile of the real thing. And while the Dodgers may know basic truths—we need a power hitter in the clean up spot—like CliffsNotes, The Dodgers will not test well in the end. The smarter, shrewder, more disciplined student of Baseball will make the Dodgers look cavalier, arrogant, and reductionist. It comes from the top down and we can only look at Ned Colletti and think that he might not be the sharpest tool in the shed—let’s say least modern tool, as well.

Why am I so enraged? Because Ned Colletti is ruining careers. Careers! Matt Kemp has been rushed back too many times, let alone never really had a good talking-to about his hot dog play leading to injuries. Poor Rod Stripling is out for a year-and-a-half at least. Carl Crawford was asked to gun the engines too soon—no 33-year-old should ever be asked to run from 1st to 3rd in February!!!! Yasiel Puig showed up to camp 20 pounds overweight and people are actually wondering why he’s injured? Take a wild guess. He’s out of shape.

This is not the way to take care of your players. You ease the vets in. Peterson will definitely get a chance this year, because blowing out stars is something we shine at. Firing our head trainer is not the solution. It’s systemic. We have to start looking to other ball clubs. This is the Post-Steroid Era! Stretching. Yoga. Pilates. Health food is not some far-flung idea. It’s the only way! Sorry, guys weaned on the 80’s and 90’s, I know it’s not sexy, but do you want to win or just look like a dinosaur who thinks the sun will always shine on him? The Dodgers look more than beatable this year. Their attitude being behind the times, it’s only a matter of time–unless they get hip