Yesterday was definitely a good day to be Andre Ethier. He started the day signing a monstrous contract. The two-time All Star was locked in for a five year deal reportedly for $85 million. Why didn’t the superstar test the free agent market to see if he could do better at the end of the season? Well, it’s actually a very good reason. Ethier received word from the Dodgers’ front office that the club would remain competitive in the standings and would never go through a ‘rebuilding’ phase. Wow, as a Mets fan can someone give David Wright that reassurance? I digress. “This is the best group of guys we have had in my seven years here,” said Ethier, who was the Dodgers’ first trade acquisition (from the Oakland Athletics) after Colletti was named GM in November 2005. “I would like to give a lot of credit to them for the start I have had this year. … You don’t realize how much that plays a role on you every day. This game is tough enough to show up 162 games a year. If things aren’t going well at home or aren’t going well in the clubhouse, it makes it even tougher. So how does Ethier show his appreciation for his team and his management? Ethier came up to bat in the eighth inning with his team down a run against their cross-town rivals, the Los Angeles Angels. He smacks a single to right and ties up the game. It was also a personal milestone for the outfielder. The RBI was his 500th in his career. Just when you thought you were having a good day, a guy like Andre Ethier has to make it look like nothing.
