South Florida Dodger News & Views
Fall 2010 Season
Dodgers crush Metz.....

Congratulations to all the Dodgers on a huge Divisional Victory over the Kendall Metz.  Carlos Pandolfo pitched a gem of a game in allowing only 2 earned runs and walking 2 over a very solid 5 innings.  Marc Encin game in and pitched 2 solid innings as well.  The two pitchers combined to give the Dodgers the strongest Pitching Performance of the season.  I feel the best is yet to come, so Master’s Division lookout here come the Dodgers!  On the catching end, a tip of the hat goes out to both Vince Gonzalez and Ray Romero, they both combined for a great game behind the plate. 

As for the bats, WOW!  They most definitely awoke in a big way!!  Ray (3-4, 3 RBI’s, 2 RS, 2 SB) started the game with a loud base hit, stole second and came around to score on Alex Baste’s Double to left center, this gave us a quick 1-0 lead!  The Dodgers scored 1 more in the 1st inning to take a 2-0 lead after one.  The second inning started with Carlos Ramirez taking a BB and stealing second, Pedro and Orlando followed with BB’s and the bases were loaded due to patient at bats.  After a couple of outs, Ray Romero came up to bat and hit a fly to right that looked to end the inning, the right fielder misplayed the ball and heads-up running sent two more runs home!  After two innings the Dodgers had a 5-0 lead and looking good.

The 3rd inning started with shoddy defense and after two unearned runs the Dodgers were back to playing clean, Alex Baste had 3 straight 6-3 outs and the inning was over.  The Dodgers continued to add to the lead with 2 more runs in the third, 1 in the fourth and 4 in the fifth inning.  At the end of five the score stood at 12-4.  Marc Encin took the hill in the 6th and the Metz went quietly.  The Dodgers weren’t done yet, in the 6th inning the Dodgers rallied for 5 more runs behind the hitting of Cesar Carrillo (4-4, 2B, 3 RBI’s and 2 RS), Pedro Nunez (1-2, 3B, 2BB, 2 RBI’s, SB) and Carlos Delgado (2-2, RS) who went 2 for 2.  At the end of the 6th inning, the Dodgers were ahead 17-4 and there was no looking back.  The Metz scrapped out a late run in the 7th but the last out Cesar Carrillo got under it and made the third and final out of the game sending the Dodgers to a 2-3 Divisional record and ½ behind the Kendall Metz (2-2-1) for second place in the division.

Carlos Ramirez had 3 BB’s, scored 3 runs and had 2-SB’s, Orlando Diaz went 2-3, BB, 4 RBI’s, and 2 RS.  This was a great victory for the Dodgers team and all in all the best game pitching, defensive and offensive game of the season!!  There were more heroes yesterday, everyone deserves a big congratulations guys!  Let’s keep it up!!

 
Generous Dodgers, drop another close one 12 -11 to Kendall Metz
The South Florida Dodgers are fighting hard and keeping games close. Unfortunately, we ended up on the short end, once again. The Kendall Metz (2-0-1) took advantage of several fielding errors and second chances to win their second divisional game against the resurging South Florida Dodgers (1-3-0, 1-2-0).  The Dodgers are now 1 1/2 games behind in the Masters Division.  Dodgers got out to a fast 4-0 lead, give up 2 unearned runs in the first, 4-2, should have been 4-0 after 1 inning. Again, in the second inning, we scored 4 more times to increase the lead to 8-2.only to give up 2 more runs, 1 unearned in the 2nd inning allowing them to stay close at 8-4. Our bats went cold for the next 3 innings, meanwhile we kept letting them get closer by making fielding and throwing mistakes, they scored 5 more runs, 4 unearned, in the next 3 innings and took a 9-8 lead. We fought back in the 6th inning with patient at-bats and a few timely hits and took an 11-9 lead.  However, in the next inning our “giving ways” killed us again, we handed out 5 more BB’s and allowed the Metz to regain the lead 12-11, the last 3 runs were all earned, but through 5 BB’s and 1 single. 12/5/2010 South Miami, FL.
Classic Dodgers/Giants Game by South Florida Dodgers (Masters Division) 11/21/10 Hollywood, FL.

This was one tough game where the Dodgers and Giants fought it out every inning to the end. Kevin Diaz was 2 for 4 with an RBI, Javi Suarez 2 for 4, Hugo Alpizar 2 for 3, JD 2 for 4 and pitched a solid 3 innings also Carlos Ramirez (a.k.a. Bobby Abreu) was 2 for 4 with 2 stolen bases. The rest of the team also contributed to bring the total number of hits in this game to 15! I also wanted to Thank the Giants for the great comments and game.

 

HOWBOUT THAT!....Vets, Rookie & Free Agents help Dodgers beat Twins 9-7 for first win....

This New SFDodgers team, led by some crusty old vets, a rookie sensation and the best Free agent class in quite a while help SFDodgers to first win of the season. SFDodgers took control thanks to another bulldog performance on the mound by Carlos Pandolfo, backed by a barrage of timely hitting and defense, even up SFDodgers to a 1 -1 record, ready to add on. GREAT WIN GUYS!!!!!!

 

NEW Look South Florida Dodgers Drop Opener.

Carlos Pandolfo pitched a great game!!….Zero (0) walks and only 3 earned runs through 5 innings!! He pitched a total of 6 innings!!

To which Carlos  added: (" THE SUCCESS OF THE PITCHING HAS TO GO IN PART TO RAY ROMERO. HE IS NOT THE REGULAR CATCHER BUT HE SURE SET UP BATTERS LIKE ONE. HE KEPT THE BALL IN AND OUT AND UP. RAY HAD THE HITTERS COMPLETELY FOOLED AND OFF BALANCE. HE EVEN CALLED FOR THE DREADED SPLIT FINGER TO THEIR # 5 HITTER WHICH PROMPTLY POPPED IT UP TO SECOND.")

The combination of playing a very good non-divisional opponent (Southern Yankees) and not having practiced together prevented us from keeping the game close.  The final score was 15-2, however, we did cut the lead in the top of the fourth inning from 6-0 to 6-2 and things were still within reach.  It seemed the Yankees just keep scrapping for runs mostly capitalizing from our miscues here and there.  We will do better, we played like the team temperature, cold!!! That is OK, it is bound to warm up this season, it’s just a matter of when and how soon!!!

The Yankees pitcher was the best I have seen in this league, he kept us at bay with the bats. By the end of the 5th inning, Carlos Pandolfo had only given up 3 earned runs and yet we were down on the score board 11-2!!!......Amazing to think if our defense would have been solid the score should have been 3-2 at that point! 

I saw some good promise and like I said, the bats looked good.  We need to be a little more patient and I want everyone on the team to go up to the plate thinking of the situation at hand and have a plan set in your mind of how you are going to approach the at bat!  I don’t think we attempting a bunt either. That is something I would like to see every now and then during the games.  It breaks the rhythm of the pitcher and you throw a kink into the mix, it’s good sound baseball!!

We had to many at bats, especially leading off an inning, of folks swinging at the first pitch….I can’t remember having one case of success in doing so as well.  We need a few games under our belt, I think we will come around in a very good way!  In general and most important of all, I liked the positive attitude of the team, we have a great group of guys and we show lot’s of promise this season!!!

 
Spring 2010 Season of Horrors!!!
August 16, 2010: Alex Leon, Founder and longtime Lauderdale Dodger Manager and GM has resigned effective immediately.  With the Team 0-10 following another disappointing loss, (13 in a row going back to last season),  Alex wants to dedicate more time to his family and other business matters and also feels the Team may need a change of leadership to change their fortunes.  Joey Ruiz has been named interim Manager for the remaining 2 games to finish out the season. 3B Hugo Alpizar is currently negotiating with Team Reps, and it looks like he will be named manager of the team next season (Winter 2010).

On behalf of all the LA_Dodgers players, we THANK YOU! for Everything you have done for us individually and as a team. We wish you the best and hope to see you in Dodger Blue once again!

YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!

 

August 10, 2010:  The Dodgers placed several players on the inactive and disabled list.  On the DL We have: Todd Smith (released) and Anthony Tattersfield, both out for the season. Sent down to the farm system we have: CF Harold Sandoval, 3B Carlos Gonzalez, P Frankie Echevarria, and 1B Gregg Pandolfo.  Their return this season is questionable.  Lost to FA we have: P Alex Pereira (Cubs) & C/P/3B Cesar Carrillo (Tigers).  This should help secure spots for the Dodgers’ latest acquisitions.  Also, and as long as it’s ok with him, we have decided to re-name recently acquired 2B/CF Carlos Ramirez, to Bobby Abreu.  Simply because HE LOOKS SO MUCH LIKE HIM, and because we have 3 Carlos's on the Team!  Of course all in good FUN!  
August 6, 2010: Looking to the future and to back-up aging 2B Ray Romero, the Dodgers signed free agent Carlos Ramirez.  Carlos, aside from being the 3rd Carlos on the Team, brings solid skills at 2B and can also play CF, where the Dodgers have started 6 different players in this forgetful season.
August 4, 2010: The Dodgers Lee Gonzalez was able to acquire a field in Plantation for a practice game this Thursday (8/5/10).  However with only 5 Dodger players able to make it and no confirmation from either the Braves or Cubs, the practice game will be postponed for another week.  We will discuss it further before or after this Sunday’s game.  Also Jeff Cohen has been officially signed and will be joining his former Bombers teammate, Mario Solis for this Sunday’s game.

August 2, 2010: The Dodgers announced the release of young pitching prospect Frankie Echevarria.  Frankie wants to spend some time improving his game, so that he can feel better about contributing to the Team.  Good Luck Frankie.
August 1, 2010: The Dodgers picked up Mario C. Solis from the now defunct Bombers in time for Sunday’s game against the Brew Crew/Braves.  Mario is an excellent all-around player and can play just about every position well.  Also, according to his stats with the Bombers, and from what we saw Today, he brings a very good stick to the plate.  His contributions should definitely make the Dodgers more competitive.  The Dodgers also beat the trade deadline this weekend by acquiring Mario’s teammate on the Bombers, Jeff Cohen.  Contract negotiations with Jeff are going well and he should be signed up and ready for Sunday’s game against the Broward Mets.

July 23, 2010:  Due to weather and field availability, the Dodgers were unable to schedule a desired practice this week.  However there are plans in the works for a practice game involving the Hollywood Cubs and the Broward Braves for next Friday (July 30, 2010).  The game will be at Sunset Park (in Plantation) under the lights.  There will be at least one umpire and we’re working on another.  

The cost will be $10.00 per player, which covers the field (7:00 PM – 10:00 PM) and the umpires.  The game will last 6 –to- 7 innings as we’ll have to use some of the three hours available for pre-game practice and warm-ups.  Pitchers will be allowed to throw for only 2 or 3 innings, depending on how fast the innings go in an effort to not over exert them for Sunday’s game.

July 19, 2010:  Due to the Dodgers recent struggles, and because it’s just a good idea anyway, the Dodgers will be holding practice once a week at either Central or Sunset Park in Plantation.  The day of the week to hold practice will be subject to field availability.  Manager/GM Alex Leon will text or call players with as much advance notice as possible to advise what day we will be practicing. The times will be from: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (under the lights).  The cost is $8.00 per session for those who attend.  If you live in Dade County or work late, your absence will be understandable.  However, ATTENDANCE IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!  Lord knows we need it.
July 18, 2010:   The Dodgers released 1B Todd Smith to allow him to pursue his options with another team.  Todd came over to the Dodgers from the Hollywood Cubs earlier in the season when the Dodgers suffered retirement and injury at the position.  Since then, the Dodgers have developed 2 other players at 1B and Todd has missed the last 2 games. We thank Todd for having been part of our Team and wish him the best of luck
July 16, 2010:   Pitcher/OF Alex Pereira has been called up from the farm and will be suited up for Sunday’s game against the Miami Orioles at Gables High.  Alex brings a good stick, is an excellent outfielder, and won the Cy Young award as well as the first Dodger MVP during the Dodgers inaugural play-off season. Welcome back Alex!
June 25, 2010: The Dodgers released Newcomer Rick Cabello who was quickly picked up by his old team, the Coral Springs Tigers.  Also time for Sunday’s (June 27, 2010) game time has been changed  to 9:00 A.M.
June 16, 2010:  The Dodgers picked up Rick Cabello from the Coral Springs Tigers this week.  Rick has been playing in the Senior Division with the Tigers for several seasons with the exception of a brief stint with the Masters Division’s Broward Mets.  Rick up-grades the Dodgers pitching staff significantly and is an excellent corner infielder.
June 15, 2010: In keeping with the spirit of making the SFBL a fun League, the Dodgers will once again field a father/son combination in the way of Carlos and Gregg Pandolfo.  Three seasons ago this worked really well, with Steve and Anthony Terazzi. Gregg is an excellent outfielder, but his primary position is pitcher.  Gregg will be allowed to pitch when the Dodgers face younger teams as they did on Sunday against the Black Bats, and as they will this Sunday against the Braves.
June 11, 2010:  With the recent loss of both 1B men, Anthony Tattersfield [injury] & Steve Terazzi [retirement], the Dodgers came to terms with Cubs reserve 1B Todd Smith who will be suited-up as a Dodger for Sunday’s (6/13/10) Noon game against the Black Bats.  Todd brings a strong bat and is regarded as an excellent corner infielder. Mr. Smith is moving up (Masters lead series 87-61)  from the Senior Division to the Masters Division, for the first time in his SFBL career.
June 10, 2010:  Pitcher/Outfielder Frankie Echevarria agreed to terms with the Dodgers after 9 weeks of contract negotiations. The young pheonom will be ready for game 3 of the season when the Dodgers face an opponent yet to be determined.  Frankie is a great prospect with a solid future, and infuses much needed youth in the Dodgers’ “over the hill gang!”