This is done. What's next?

Part 1: This is done.

With only twelve days until the trade deadline, the Dodgers are removing all doubt.  They will not compete this year despite the PR assertions from the front office.  The team is done.  Period.  Double period.

Before this year started, Colletti assembled a team that would compete only if everything went right.  Matt Kemp had to bounce back and he has, remarkably.  Ethier, who performed terribly down the stretch in 2010 looks resurgent.  To win, the Dodger starters would have to carry the load almost every night.  That's also been the case.  End of list.  Through the first four months of the season the Dodgers have underperformed (or performed exactly as expected) in every other way.  The relievers, the catchers, the offseason additions - even Donnie Baseball has managed the club out of a couple tight games (see the Navarro Pinch Hitting Phenomenon).  In a way, this hasn't only been the season many of us expected but also one we have been awaiting.

The Dodgers' failures are contributing to the ownership debacle and are supporting Selig's bid to oust McCourt.  With the team out of contentions, they could pick up prospects to restock the farm and begin the youth movement.  We all benefit and get to watch Gordon, Robinson, and co. for the rest of the season.  Hooray!

....

The problem?  It is not as satisfying as it should be.  McCourt hasn't been vanquished yet and his scorched earth tactics are ruining the schadenfreude we should all be experiencing.  The great Dodger firesale of 2011 looks like it might not happen at all due to injuries and a lack of competent, tradeable talent.  The few trades that might happen could be salary dumps, much to our chagrin.  With a full roster, the kids won't have a chance to play.

These Dodgers guarantee that fans will be either disgruntled or bored.

Part 2: coming soon