END of AUGUST

It seems to me that the Dodgers have always had a tough time in August. I'm not prepared to offer statistics on that assumption, at this moment, but the feeling goes well back into my childhood days.

I suppose I could Google the situation and find out their exact record for each month of the season.

But this August is a prime example of the feeling...and yet if they win tonight they will be 15-14.

In the dog days of summer that's not such a bad record and they've managed to hold on to a six game lead over the Giants and the Rockies.

A WEEK AGO THEY WERE ON THE VERGE OF HAVING THE ROCKIES TIE THEM FOR THE DIVISION LEAD.

It didn't look good and then they won four out of five and now have a chance to end August with a winning record.

September the first is the beginning of The RBS

REAL BASEBALL SEASON

The RBS normally lasts for a little less than two months and only involves teams that have a chance of playing in the World Series.

Out of the 30 Major League teams there are 12 that have a chance....maybe 13 or 14 if you still think the Cubs and Brewers have a shot.

12 TEAMS ARE INVOLVED IN

the

RBS

18 teams are trying to figure out where to go on vacation, who might be their future stars and maybe act as spoilers to those other 12 bad boys.

Every win and every loss matters more and every injury becomes more important and every tired arm becomes bigger news and every batting slump becomes intense fuel for the sportswriters.

BUT DURING THE RBS....LEGENDARY STATUS CAN BE ACHIEVED.

PLAYERS THAT HAVE HAD A MEDIOCRE SEASON CAN SUDDENLY MAKE ALL NEGATIVE MEMORIES JUST FLAT OUT....DISAPPEAR.

The Dodgers have a few candidates in that category.

Rafael Furcal, Russell Martin and Doug Mientkiewicz

Doug has been hurt all year but I have a feeling that his pinch hitting role will prove extremely important to the Dodgers during The RBS

Furcal and Martin have had extremely sub-par years for them but none of us will remember that...if they catch fire during The RBS

The 2009 Dodger baseball season has been very interesting because they have led the division since April and generally have displayed a cohesive team attitude throughout all the trials and tribulations that occurred during the regular part of the season. New stars have emerged and solid veterans have shown their metal and the pitching staff, without a true ace, has done a remarkable job.

BUT ALL THAT GETS TOSSED OUT THE WINDOW

BECAUSE TOMORROW STARTS

THE

RBS

A good way to start THE RBS would be to finish off August with a winning record.

GO DODGERS!

Michael Timothy McAlevey