Those Who Played for Both the Giants and Dodgers

Some may not recall that it was Los Angeles where Juan Marichal (the Dominican Dandy) ended his Hall of Fame career. Ole #27 wore #46 in his short stint for the dreaded Dodgers in 1975. (He wore #21 for the Red Sox in 1974, his won/loss record for the Bosox was 5-1.)

Immediately you think of Brett Butler or Jeff Kent. KNBR host F.P. Santangelo is another. Jeff Leonard, Candy Maldonado, Von Joshua, Len Gabrielson, Jim Gott, Ricky Ledee, Jose Viscaino to name a few. Current Giant Cody Ross began his career with the Dodgers. (Note: Ledee is Le Douche. He was a horrible Giant but a Giant killer as a Dodger. Worst Giant ever? Yes, to me that's exactly what LeDouche had been.)

No Alou played for the Dodgers though they all played for the Athletics and Giants.

I don't know where I am going with this other than to say, nobody other than Jeff Kent was a great ballplayer. Kent, will one day enter the hallowed halls of Cooperstown and he will enter wearing a Giants' ball cap. He has said as much in recent interviews.

Years ago, Jackie Robinson turned down a trade that would have sent him from the Dodgers to the Giants. You have to respect that. He just couldn't see himself playing for a team he hated. While others choose to prolong their careers he decided there was more to life than playing for the Giants.

This Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (9/14, 9/15 and 9/16) the Dodgers will have Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley and Ted Lilly throwing against the Giants who will counter with Barry Finito Zito, Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez.

We Giant fans saw how the Dodgers rolled over for the Padres after the Pads had lost 10 in-a-row. But they're going to do everything in their power to destroy the Giant season, since, well, their season isn't going anywhere but home for the fall.

But keep the Giants from going anywhere and your season isn't a total bust, right? The Giants have been there before and Joe Morgan hit a memorable home run much to Manager Tom Lasorda's dismay.

The Giants have to be better. Like the Dodgers were more times than not. The Giants didn't always destroy the Dodgers' post-season plans. That's what this 2010 team has to accomplish this week. It's the first line of business this week.

Nobody is thinking about the weekend series vs. the Milwaukee Brewers.

Not yet.

Go Giants!

Kevin Marquez