Something the Dodgers haven't had since Adrian Beltre in 2004, and something they haven't had on a consistence basis since Mike Piazza's run of dominance from 1993 to 1997 is a legit Most Valuable Player candidate.

Piazza hit no lower than .318 in that stretch and batted as high as .362 in '97. He only hit less than 30 homers in the strike-shortened 1994 season.

In 2004, Beltre hit 48 home runs and batting .334, finishing second to Barry Bonds in the MVP race, but Beltre's season was a flash in the pan.

Now Dodger fans have another serious candidate.

This website's very good friend, known as Lasorda for President, was fortunate enough to be in Arizona for Spring Training recently, paying a visit to Camelback Ranch and getting a firsthand look at the 2009 version of the Dodgers.

He has some very good information, some fantastic insight and some fun facts. It's really cool to get a fans perspective, so check out what he had to say.

When everybody in the competition is horrible, what do you do?

You open up the competition to more people.

My 21st birthday wasn't nearly as sweet as Clayton Kershaw's.

Unlike the Dodgers prize left-hander, I found myself waking up wishing I had never celebrated. This likely won't be the case for Mr. Kershaw.

If Dodger fans would have been told at the beginning of last May that the team would open up the 2009 season with Rafael Furcal returning to play shortstop and that Orlando Hudson would be joining him at second base, they would have been downright giddy.

They might not have even believed it.

Alas, it is true, but when this finally became a reality, it didn't call for the same excitement it would have a little less than a year ago.

Just 10 months ago, Furcal was batting .366, playing pepper with the gaps and getting on base all over the place.

Around that same time, Hudson was batting around .300 for the Diamondbacks and playing his usual gold glove defense.

One is official, one is not. But for all intents and purposes, two more potential fifth starters bowed out of the Los Angeles competition.

A day after Eric Milton and Claudio Vargas were horrendous, Jason Schmidt can be crossed off the list and you can probably take Jeff Weaver off of it as well.

Time to take a look at things that have happened in the couple of days that I have left you guys hanging.

I'll just touch base on them and let you guys chime in.

Two pieces of news out of Los Angeles Dodgers Spring Training camp today; one interesting and the other not so good.

They both have to do with two of the most flamboyant and outspoken players of our generation; Manny Ramirez and Pedro Martinez.

I just got done speaking with Dylan Hernandez, who covers the Dodgers for the Los Angeles Times.

We talked mostly about pitching. Here is what he had to say.

The Fifth Starter Report is back for a second installment, and it's much less optimistic than the first one.

Things aren't looking good for the Los Angeles Dodgers possibilities for that final spot in the rotation.

Let's take a look.

I'm not even going to argue about it. The guy went to Harvard, I went to San Francisco State.

However, with my knowledge of baseball and my experience of covering it at all levels, I'm not exactly chopped liver.

So far, the Dodgers pitching staff is looking good; very good.

Immediately after Hiroki Kuroda pitched three scoreless frames, Randy Wolf and Chad Billingsley followed suit.

For all intents and purposes, Hiroki Kuroda was a rookie last year. Sure the 34-year old pitched 11 years in the Japanese Professional League, but anyone in the Major Leagues will tell you there is no comparison.

And therefore, Kuroda had his growing pains last year, and still came out of it with a 9-10 record and a very good 3.73 ERA. He was also very sharp in the playoffs.

Now, a lot is expected of the Dodgers $35.3 million dollar man.

The quicker this deal gets done the better. It would be preferable if it could get done before the regular season starts.

That way you can break camp with the 25 guys you want, giving Xavier Paul (or someone else) that final bench spot. You also keep a disgruntled player out of the Los Angles locker room.

Here is a look at some teams that could be mentioned suitors or lack a leadoff hitter.

It didn't take very long for Juan Pierre to voice his displeasure.

Anybody could have seen this coming, considering Pierre had already alluded to being traded even before Manny had returned, but it took him just 24 hours after the signing to say he wants out immediately.

Now the hard part is finding him a home.

The dance is over.

Ongoing negotiations that started in November have finally come to fruition; Los Angeles has Manny Ramirez back.

The Dodgers were able to get their man, and get him at their price. Eventually the front office won out with everything, including deferred money with no interest.

Now we can forget all that. It's time to focus on what Ramirez brings to the offense and we already know that it's quite a lot.

How about a guy that hit 17 home runs and batted .396 in 53 games with the Dodgers last year?

I'll take it.

A full season of Manny should equal an average over .300, more than 30 home runs and well over 100 RBI.

So we don't have a deal tonight. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe...

How many times have we heard that? I don't know.

It was a tease. That's the second time in a week that's been done to us.

The headline is now removed from ESPN.com. MLBTR is keeping us updated with up to the minute information.

This report just came through, saying the Dodgers and Manny Ramirez have agreed to terms. Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves, and wait until it's confirmed to throw a party.

I just got done writing a long piece about how they are jeopardizing the prospect of him returning, but now that goes by the wayside if this is true.

More to follow. Stay tuned.

It's currently the bottom of the fifth inning during Tuesday's Spring Training game with the San Diego Padres, but I had to mention something about Chad Billingsley.

I think concerns over his leg and his conditioning should now be forgotten. He has pitched twice, looking good both times. He looked particularly good today, striking out three in two scoreless innings. He allowed no hits and walked one batter.

We have the ace of our staff, and he's healthy.

Also, Mitch Jones hit another home run. Guy's got big time power.

Nothing new to report on the Manny Ramirez front and the longer this goes on, the worse off it gets. I'll have a longer article about this situation tonight. I am also hoping to get in touch with Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times soon for a Q&A.

I was having a discussion with a friend of mine, a Giants fan (don't ask me why I am still friends with him) and he was trying to tell me the Dodgers pitching staff was bad and had no ace.

I mentioned Chad Billingsley. The first thing he mentions is how he is hurt. Apparently he hasn't been keeping up with anything.

Not only is Billingsley healthy, but I think he is a lot farther along than anybody expected. He is right on track with his throwing program, and he made a start in Friday's Spring Training Game against Seattle.

He gave up a run and three hits in two innings, but looked sharp for this time of year.

Here are some other things that are going on.