Early returns on investment...

The bad.

Matt Proctor joined Los Angeles during the El Paso series and to say he got off to a slow start would be a giant understatement. Sources around the Bruins team, and teams around the league for that matter expected Proctor's production to drop off some -- but to the extent it has already, is a tad odd.

After all,...

Matt Proctor hasn't had that much of that home cookin' yet.

Something's to be said for a player joining a team mid-season. Having to join a team mid-season, going from a team that's struggled the last few years to a winner in Los Angeles is different for every player.

" Well, it's not something I'm used too " echoed Bruins OF Matt Proctor, " I've been hitting 3rd or 4th for years. I come into Los Angeles and that's where David (Pena) and Julio (Ortega) hit. Hitting second, fifth, leadoff, sixth, or ninth. I don't care. Whatever it takes to win. This is all new for me. "

On the rumored 9yrs,152 million dollars he's currently seeking to resign:

" Well, when your a valuable commodity you have to market yourself as such. " indicated Matt, " That's exactly what I'm doing. If they offered me arbitration I'd definately except. Why wouldn't I want to spend another year in Los Angeles. "

The seventeen plus million arby number has tons to do with it. Los Angeles would be putting themselves right back where they started from, and that's nothing something the clubs looking to do sources say.

With the contracts of a few key players coming up Los Angeles has some decisions to make and it all starts with Proctor.

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The Good.

Jerry Paige left Jersey for Baffin Island where he made his first start with Los Angeles, getting the no-decision against a red hot Baffin Island team whose playing the best baseball of anyone currenty.

7.1IP
3H
1R/1ER
2BB
7K

Jerry Pagie has never reached his potential and sits on a 4.88 ERA this year, but rumors are swirling out of Los Angeles that the team without even seeing him pitched offered him a contract - buying out his cheap/arby years cementing him in the back of the teams rotation for years to come.

Brad Anderson is said to love his make-up, and getting him from Jersey "we had no issues about his desire to compete". Pagie is the polar opposite to Proctor as he comes from a winning organization with a culture of doing things "the right way" His transition should be, "MUCH EASIER" his new teammate Ricky Bolden idicated, vowing to take Pagie, "Under his wing" like he did for fellow Bruins Jesus (Moran) and Warren (Piniella). He's mentored Jose (Salazar) this year and so far so good.

Ricky won't take all the credit though, "Decs had tons to do with thier development. Really sad to see him go." But Paige is my project. He's a leader and that's what this team leads. Never can have enough of those.

Back to the program.

Jerry went blow for blow with Takai (8-1, 1.82) and would have seen the Bruins win his first start if not for the error by Matt Roberts. His third in 64 games.

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So.

With two trades, likely to be the end of the Bruins deals (unless and injury occurs, or the team starts playing awful and falls way back in the division race or wild card standings within the next month) the team will stand pat and ride the arms that seemingly get the team wherever their going.

The team is currently second, slated to finish second in pitching for the first time (after holding the number one spot for the first four seasons). Overall, it's going to be an interesting to see how things play out for the next few weeks.

To live and die in L.A.