JUST AN AVERAGE JOE

Before anything, I’d like to take a moment to recognize everyone lost on September 11th and those who continue to fight for our freedom and safety in the succeeding years. It was amazing how we came together as a country on that day eight years ago and sad to see how we’ve been divided in the years since. Regardless of your politics, it was a horrible, frightening day that brought out the strength of this nation. We can’t ever forget.)

Ever since the All-Star Break, I’ve sat and watched the Dodgers play Blue Diamond baseball (A win a week, that’s all we ask) and what was once threatening to be a pleasant walk through September is turning into a bona fide race for the postseason.

And I’m fed up enough to say it.

Joe Torre’s just not that good.

He arrived in Los Angeles as the conquering hero who got the fantastic, sepia-toned sendoff from his hometown of New York to try and work his magic on the West Coast.

It worked for a bit. He took young talent, molded it with a superstar or two, handled a couple of small ego issues and made an entire city believe all the way to an admittedly pretty rough landing in the NLCS.

But it was fun getting there.

This year started off that way. The quick, dazzling start. Even handling the suspension of the team’s bona fide superstar and dashing off with the best record in the majors. Watching the likes of Billingsley, Kershaw, Kemp and Ethier grow up in blue right before our eyes. Seeing Juan Pierre dash around in left field and on the base paths with visions of slap hitting Willie Davis running through our heads.

Then came the All-Star Break.

Manny not really getting on track. James Loney and his stroke flirting like teenagers who are too fickle to go steady. Russell Martin seemingly swinging a toothpick all year long. Chad Billingsley hitting his ceiling. Clayton Kershaw looking all of 21 years old.

And Joe, sitting statue-like, watching a 15 ½ game lead shrivel up like so many veteran Venice sunbathers.

Home runs and big scoring totals make for smart managers and the 2008 edition of Joe Torre was a genius. Same for the first half of 2009. High scoring lineups erase a lot of mistakes.

The real measure is how to handle the prolonged slumps. Part of it is undoubtedly playing psychologist to a group of guys lost in a fog. But just as much (if not more) has to do with making tangible change on the field.

Less than an hour to the south, Mike Scioscia has succeeded by moving runners around and bringing a “National League” style of baseball to the American League. Meanwhile his SoCal counterpart continues to preside over an offense staler than a 3-day old bagel.

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