MLB

It doesn't matter if they played like crap last night (and lost to the sorry ass Marlins), the Dodgers can GO CLUBBIN' all they want, as long as they stay in first place ... so says Magic Johnson.

The Dodgers played like crap last night -- with Yasiel Puig (0-for-5) and Carl Crawford (1-for-4) looking especially bad ... no surprise considering they hit the Miami nightclubs HARD just hours before the game.

But Dodgers co-owner Magic Johnson doesn't seem to mind an off night every now and then ... as long as the team keeps destroying the majority of their opponents.

"We just gotta come back and win tomorrow," Johnson said ... "They're grown men. They can hang out. They can party. I mean ... they're grown."

He added, "We're having a great season ... so, one game is not gonna hurt us."

Johnson said there will absolutely be NO disciplinary action taken against the players -- who dropped more than $20k at LIV nightclub early Monday morning while partying with LeBron James.

An official high up in the Dodgers organization tells TMZ ... "They party all the time. It's no big deal."

Didn't take long for the L.A. Dodgers to shake off the sting of defeat after finally losing a game in Philly yesterday ... 'cause hours later, the biggest stars on the team flew into Miami AND WENT CLUBBIN' with LeBron James, TMZ has learned.

Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford all rolled into LIV Nightclub in Miami around 1AM Monday morning ... where they were greeted by LBJ ... and proceeded to party their faces off.

Sources inside the club tell TMZ ... the 4-some dropped more than $20,000 on Ciroc, Moet, Patron, Belvedere, and fancy champagne.

FYI -- The Dodgers (which had won 10 games in a row before losing to the Phillies) are in Miami to play the Marlins.

We're told Kemp was partying particularly hard ... but it's not like he's gotta work today anyway (injury) so, good for him.

It's good to be a pro athlete.

Alex Rodriguez not only feels the MLB is singling him out ... he feels "persecuted" in the PED scandal -- and plans to SUE if the league doesn't COMPLETELY recant ... TMZ has learned.

Sources directly connected to A-Rod tell us he's prepared to march into Federal court next month ... unless the 211-game suspension the MLB slapped him with last week isn't entirely lifted.

The reason for A-Rod's bold demand -- A-Rod sources familiar with the investigation tell us Alex hasn't tested positive and never "knowingly" used PEDs since 2003 ... the last season he admitted using 'roids. Our sources say A-Rod has been drug tested 11 times between 2011 and the present ... and all of the results were negative.

Our sources fume it's "absurd" Ryan Braun -- who reportedly tested positive in 2011 and then lied about it -- was only benched for the duration of this season. They say it proves MLB's investigation of A-Rod and the Biogenesis Clinic has been "abusive and borderline illegal."

As for rumors A-Rod impeded baseball's PED investigation -- our sources say the league has "no proof" the Yankees slugger did any such thing, and further claim MLB is the one that has harassed and intimidated witnesses.

According to our sources, Alex will sue for various things, including a violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the players' union and the league.

So, from 211 games to nothing ... or else.

Pretty big cojones for a guy accused of using steroids.

More problems for Doc Gooden -- the troubled ex-MLB star has just been evicted from the NJ mansion he was renting after allegedly stiffing his landlord for months ... TMZ has learned.

What makes the situation even sadder ... Dwight's estranged wife was living in the home with their 2 young kids -- who were all forced to leave in July, when officials enforced the eviction.

According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, Dwight and his family moved in to the home back in September 2011 ... and agreed to pay $4,500 per month in rent.

But things went south in March -- when Dwight's wife got a restraining order against the former NY Mets pitcher following a domestic dispute, forcing Doc to move out.

The homeowners claim Doc's family stayed in the home all of March, April, May and June -- but they never got a check from the Goodens for any of those months ... and that adds up to some serious debt.

The homeowners filed legal docs against Gooden -- demanding the back rent plus penalties, totaling more than $18,984 ... AND they also want legal fees.

The court also granted the landlord's permission to evict the Goodens -- and on July 11, Docs family was forced out of the home. It's unclear where they're living now.

Major League Baseball put roughly 2,000 people to work during All-Star weekend in NYC last month and illegally paid them with giveaway items like shirts and hats INSTEAD of cash, so says a new lawsuit.

One of the "volunteers" who worked the event has filed the suit against MLB -- claiming the organization broke the law by failing to pay the "volunteers" actual wages for doing real jobs.

In the suit, John Chen says he worked 17 hours in 4 days at the All-Star Weekend festival -- doing everything from stamping wrists to stuffing flyers into bags and even filing paperwork ... all assignments that would otherwise have to be done by paid employees.

Chen says at the end of the event, he was compensated with a shirt, cap, cinch drawstring backpack, free admission to the FanFest for himself and a guest, a water bottle and a baseball.

Basically, Chen believes the concept of a "volunteer" workforce violates federal and state labor laws -- and the "volunteers" should be paid at least minimum wage ... which, in NY, is $7.25 per hour.

Furthermore, Chen points out that MLB made a killing during the event -- charging $35 per adult ticket, $5 for a bag of chips and $7.50 for lemonade.

Chen is seeking a judgement forcing MLB to end the volunteer work program ASAP -- and pay volunteers who worked at FanFest events dating back to the 2007 All-Star Weekend.

Chen released a statement saying, "I very much enjoyed working at FanFest, but the minimum wage laws are important. People who cannot afford to work for free should be able to have the same experience I had."

A rep for MLB tells us, “We don’t comment on pending litigations."

Alex Rodriguez's new hip must be fully healed -- because he did some serious bobbing and weaving from reporters' questions about the 211 game suspension MLB slapped him with for alleged steroid use.

In a strange pre-game news conference, A-Rod disappointed again by refusing to directly respond to questions about the suspension (which he plans to appeal). The closest he came to discussing it was when he said, "I'm sure there's been mistakes along the way. I'm a human being."

A-Rod will be back on the field when the New York Yankees play the Chicago White Sox tonight -- and repeatedly said he was only focused on the game.

"I feel like I was 18-years-old back in Fenway in 1994 when I faced the Red Sox for the first time."

Disgraced Milwaukee Brewers left fielder and admitted steroid user Ryan Braun has just been dropped by his biggest sponsor ... Nike.

A rep for Nike confirmed the athletic company no longer has a relationship with Braun, who has been suspended for the rest of the 2013 season over his admitted steroid use. The Nike rep wouldn't comment any further.

It's unclear how much Braun's Nike deal was worth exactly, but safe bet ... it's a lot.

Former FHM model Anna Benson -- who has just been charged with armed robbery and all sorts of other crimes -- is no stranger to the law. She was once charged with murder.

A judge has denied Benson bail in her current legal predicament -- for allegedly barging into the home of ex hubby former Mets pitcher Kris Benson with a handgun and a metal baton and threatened to harm him if he didn't hand over some loot.

As for why she was denied bail -- turns out back in '96 Anna was charged with murdering a man in Tennessee and she went on the lam for 5 months. Although the charges were ultimately dropped, the judge in the current case felt because of her conduct in '96 Anna is a flight risk.

Alex Rodriguez will never play baseball again ... is what some people think -- just because he scarfed down 20 wings at a Hooters, just as he's supposed to be getting in game shape.

Before you dismiss the theory, please note -- A-Rod also had CURLY FRIES!! Boom.

With his career in jeopardy and cheating allegations swirling ... Alex Rodriguez found comfort at a Hooters in Florida this weekend ... TMZ has learned.

We've confirmed ... A-Rod and a lady friend walked in to the chicken joint in Sarasota, Florida this weekend and went to town on chicken wings.

Hooters sources ... yeah, we got those ... tell us A-Rod and his woman woofed down a total of 20 wings (medium sauce) along with an order of curly fries ... and washed it down with a soda and an unsweetened tea.

We're told A-rod left a pretty great tip and was super nice to everyone in the restaurant.

Unclear if either Alex or the chickens tested positive for growth hormones.

Pro fireballer Brian Wilson says it's "f**king exciting" to bring his talents -- and his tremendous facial hair -- to L.A., telling TMZ he's pumped to play for the Dodgers.

A mohawked Wilson was leaving Equinox gym in L.A. yesterday -- right after signing a 1-year, $1 million deal with the Dodgers -- and expressed his excitement as only Brian Wilson can.

"Well, I'm a pretty big America fan ... red, white and Dodger blue, I guess."

The 31-year-old ex-San Francisco Giants pitcher says he's grateful to get another shot in the bigs after undergoing Tommy John surgery last April ... but insists he harbors no ill will toward his former team.

"I got much love for San Francisco. We had a good time. But there's nothing I can do ... they don't want me back."

When asked about the storied rivalry between the squads, Wilson explained, "I don't worry about rivalry, bro ... I just play baseball, you know."

Welcome to L.A..

L.A. Dodgers sensation Yasiel Puig went back to Cuba last night -- or as close as he's gonna get to it in Hollywood ... and a TMZ camera guy was there to roll out the bad Spanglish welcome mat.

Puig hit up El Floridita restaurant in Hollywood last night for some of L.A.'s most authentic Cuban food and music -- and on the way out our guy hit him up about ... "los playoffs."

Gotta give our guy credit ... Puig's English ain't so good yet, so we gave it the old high school Spanish try. Shout out to Google Translate too.

NY Yankees superstar CC Sabathia's cure for getting shelled for 7 runs in NYC on Friday night is hitting the club in L.A. on Sunday night!!

We spotted the Yankees ace pitcher cruising out of Greystone Manor -- just 2 nights after he suffered his third straight loss ... and just a few hours after Derek Jeter heroically led the Yanks to a win in the Bronx.

Why wasn't CC -- in the middle of his worst slump of the season -- with his teammates back east?

Well, the Bombers are playing the Dodgers in L.A. this week ... though CC isn't scheduled to pitch.

So, we're guessing he flew ahead of the Yanks to get in some practice -- or to scout a hot nightclub for his teammates.

Suicidal Yankee fans (they're not so good this year) are hoping it's practice.

Aaron Rodgers -- GB Packers quarterback and chronic bet reneger -- is blaming disgraced MLB player Ryan Braun for letting his mouth write a check his ass couldn't cash.

As you know by now ... back in February, Rodgers aggressively defended his friend Ryan Braun against allegations the Milwaukee Brewers outfielder was using PEDS ... and was so confident, he "bet" his 2013 NFL salary with a random person on Twitter.

Obviously, Rodgers was wrong and lost the bet (he'll never pay up, BTW) -- and now he's throwing Braun under the bus ... telling reporters he was merely "backing up a friend."

Rodgers says he was "shocked" when Braun admitted to cheating -- saying, "[Braun] looked me in the eye ... it didn't feel great being lied to like that."

Ryan Braun -- the 2011 National League MVP -- has been suspended without pay for the rest of the season amid allegations he was using performance enhancing drugs.

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig made the announcement ... saying the Milwaukee Brewers outfielder violated the league's policy on substance abuse.

FYI -- the allegations came to light after authorities raided the Biogenesis clinic in Florida and discovered records linking Braun -- and a host of other MLB stars -- to PED purchases.

Braun's suspension will go into effect immediately and last the remaining 65 games of the season.

Braun released a statement saying ... "As I have acknowledged in the past, I am not perfect. I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions. This situation has taken a toll on me and my entire family, and it has been a distraction to my teammates and the Brewers organization."

The statement continues, "I wish to apologize to anyone I may have disappointed -- all of the baseball fans especially those in Milwaukee, the great Brewers organization, and my teammates. I am glad to have this matter behind me once and for all, and I cannot wait to get back to the game I love."

Braun allegedly failed a MLB-administered urine test back in 2011 ... and was facing a 50 game suspension. But MLB's case fell apart thanks to a courier who allegedly mishandled the samples before they were tested.

Posing with porn star Andy San Dimas -- while wearing a UNICORN HEAD -- has a Pittsburgh cop in huge trouble, but San Dimas claims the whole booty-shaking mess is a giant misunderstanding.

This all went down last weekend during a Pirates game at PNC Park, where Andy says she was doing her best to get on the jumbotron ... by shaking her ass in cut-off shorts, while wearing a unicorn head mask!

Awesome, right? Wrong ... because Andy says when an usher asked her to sit down, she tried to rile up the crowd by shouting back, "Oh, I'm sorry I was trying to have a good time at the f**king Pirates game!"

Not smart ... Andy was hauled off to the Pittsburgh PD station at the ballpark.

Andy says the cops were very friendly, and told her they had to boot her from the park -- but not before one officer asked to try on the mask.

Not smart again. That "unicorn cop" is now reportedly under investigation. It's unclear if it's the unicorn mask, the porn star -- or both -- that got him in trouble.