First off let me state that it should be obvious to everyone at this point that Hanley has serious attitude problems. That being said I was talking with a friend about Hanley's hot start as a Dodger, and I got to thinking maybe the reason he has struggled so mightily the last couple of seasons is because he felt like he had to carry the team on his back. I say this because after Uggla was traded Hanley declared in spring training that he would carry the team on his back all the way to the playoffs. He has really struggled ever since that point. I think all of the "it's Hanley's team talk" this past offseason didn't help either. Now that he is in LA I think all of that pressure is off him because he is new to the organization and feels like it's Kemp's and Ethier's team, and he can just do his thing. That seems to be the most reasonable explanation to me given his immediate success as a Dodger. Your thoughts?

i think it might be the opposite. he wasn't 'the man' anymore with stanton around. he has a hot start because he realized he has to put up or shut up.

I think his success is partly due to the new environment - you'll see this with other head cases like Terrell Owens. When they first join a new team, everything is wonderful then the little things pile up and pretty soon they're a mess again. I see that in regular workplaces - new employees are happy at first and then sometimes things go bad and the problems they have in this workplace are the same problems they had in previous workplaces.

So Hanley goes to LA and everybody and everything is great and the people are all very knowledgable. For now. Wait until he gets comfortable and then he'll turn into the moody, sulking player that he was here.

If it doesn't affect his play then him being moody and sulking doesn't matter - as long as he hits people will ignore his moods and it really doesn't carry to the rest of the team. Somebody like Uggla can b#tch all he wants about how much he hated Hanley but Hanley didn't affect Uggla's play - Uggla was a better hitter with the Marlins and Hanley than he is on the Braves without Hanley. Not that Hanley's moods helped Uggla's hitting but they certainly didn't hinder it.

Or it's possible that Hanley knows his attitude here was bad and has vowed to be different in the new job. He's young enough that that may stick but usually it doesn't.

Everybody knows Hanley has the talent to be a great player (well, everybody except Pauly). If the Dodgers can keep him motivated and coachable then they've made a great trade.

The other reason that Hanley may be hitting is that it's been all of 4 games and 19 PAs. Anything can happen in 16 ABs - the worst player in baseball can get hot for 19 PAs.

BTW - Bryan Burwell of the Sports Reporters (Burwell is one of the best, most level-headed ones on the show IMHO) made the same point that you did: that on the Dodgers, Hanley doesn't have to be "the man" and he can just go out and play.

The organization still treated him like the man, and I think he still felt that pressure. I doubt he looked at Stanton as an equal or somebody he could depend on to pick up his slack because Stanton is still so young.

Never seen the show, but i'll take your word for it. You could be right about the new environment factor. I know people just like that. Everything always starts off really well for them, but after a short period of time they alienate people and turn the whole thing into a pile of sh!t.

Stanton, Reyes, JJ all got more love from the fans. The organization maybe tried to make him the man. But let's think about this. Do you think Hanley's ego would have allowed anything else in Miami?

I think that Hanley is playing good as a Dodger well like most of us agree it might be the change that was good for him,I think he thought in Miami he was untouchable cause he was beinfeist boy,like he said,he thought he was gonna be always a marlins...Now as a Dodger he needs to put up or shut up,but most of us that knows Hanley he will do great this season is L.A after that once he gets comfortable we all know the lazy Hanley will show up eventually.....Now my other opinion is that in Miami they promess a contender team and I think he got tired of it waiting and waiting for the championship and got frustrated...Still that is not a reason to quit on the fans and on your team.....

i THINK HANLEY WAS DOGGIN IT JUST LIKE THAT OTHER SHMUCK NAMED RAMIREZ.....MANNY

GREAT POINT 305.....WHICH MEANS THAT HANLEY IS NOT......NOT.....A TEAM PLAYER

TO SEE A TEAM PLAYER PLEASE REFER TO 'DEREK JETER' FOR THAT MODEL....OR CHIPPER JONES FOR EXAMPLE.......NORMAL GUYS.

It won't take long for the other players and the fans to know what Hanley is made of. He will probably fake some injury before the 2012 season ends so he can go on the DL.

Once a loser, always a loser.

It's still a small sample size, but Hanley is actually hitting a little worse with LA than he did with us, which should make corvette, pauly, and fshfanatic absolutely giddy.

He's hitting .226 with the Dodgers. His OBP is a little higher in LA. His OPS with LA is .753 while it was .749 with us, no significant difference.

Think this way: he could be the best baseball player ever, but as far as I'm concern, he was not performing for us at all.....

HANLEY IS YESTERDAYS NEWS. WHO CARES ?

Sometimes a change in scenery (teams) really helps a player and with Hanley he is playing with some very good players, Kemp, Ethier, Kershaw and the Dodgers are in the middle of an exciting playoff picture. Miami is completely out of it. Everything Miami did in the offseason did not help at all. Now ownership is backpedalling and breaking the team up. Miami has a worse record this year to date than they did last year at this time.

Thank you, Captain Obvious.

As an update, Hanley has been red hot lately. He's 9 for his last 18, 15 for his last 34. His average is up to .322 with LA, with a .388 OBP, a .483 SLG, and a .871 OPS. Not as good as he was from 2007-2009 but still really good.

It's probably coincidence, but the surge lines up with his move back to SS. As a shortstop this year, his OPS is .906. As a 3B, his OPS is .766.

Now Hanley is up to .330/.392/.549/.942. Those numbers are right in line with Hanley's big seasons from 2007-2009.

No matter how good or bad Hanley becomes ....its still great that he is GONE from the FISH......as a team fan I couldnt stand him.....he could NEVER convince me that he REALLY TRIED TO PLAY HIS BEST. Unlike a Dan Uggla, who gave it 200% every time...hanley always appeared like a prima donna........a team does not need that type of player...no matter how good they may be.

Arrividerci Hanley......sorry it took so long.

Screw Hanley.............hes a POS and he'll wear out his welcome in L.A. too very soon.

Most likely the least mature of any MLBer Ive ever seen.....and that includes that other Ramirez nut named Manny!