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| Posted by: Ref
- [121135289] Sun, May 26, 2002, 10:57
I hate to start another Dodgers thread as others seem to think they predicted the breakout of Green, but we know better.
azd, your hitters sure didn't outhit us last night ;) Your hitters aren't bad, but our pitching is the tie that binds us. Kim has surprised me thus far and I know you've got Mantei coming back soon, but again w/o your top two the D-backs pitching is not very good at all. And I bet your hitters wouldn't be so good if they played half their games in the LA night air and the Dodgers played half their games at the BOB. It's all relative ;)
Green with another 2 homers. Incredible. Another homer today ties a MLB record for most homers in 4 games. He already set a record for most homers in a week last night. |
| | | 1 | jedman
Sustainer
ID: 40746414
Sun, May 26, 2002, 11:21
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The record for homers in a calendar week is 10, set by big Frank Howard of the Washington Senators in 1968. Green can match or break that record today, depending on what he does against RJ. The way he is going, who knows what will happen. Just an incredible run for him and he deserves all the credit he gets, even if he is a Dodger:)
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| | | 2 | Ref
ID: 121135289
Sun, May 26, 2002, 13:06
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Shawn Green hit two more home runs Saturday night, giving him nine homers in five games and carving another niche for himself in baseball's record book, and the Dodger right fielder admitted after a 10-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks that this whole power trip is beginning to seem a bit surreal.
Even more remarkable: Green's last homer, a 387-foot screaming line drive into the left-field seats that was his 12th of the season, was a broken-bat hit. Green hit all nine of his homers during the streak with the bat, a Rawlings 456 B model, 34 inches, 32 ounces, but the wounded lumber is now headed to Baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
"It died here," Green said. "I'm gonna miss that bat. I got a lot of mileage out of it. Hopefully, it wasn't just the bat."
Complete Story (Note: You may have to register first but it's worth it!)
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| | | 3 | Razor
Donor
ID: 305102622
Tue, May 28, 2002, 02:54
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Nomo pulled an Ishii today by putting man after man on base and weaseling out of it. Good start though, but he has to pitch better against a much better Arizona offense next time out if we are going to win.
Looks like the injury bug is starting to take its toll on our team. Brown, Mulholland, and Orosco being down really thins out the staff. If anybody can tell me why Bryan Corey got the call when Brown went down, please tell me. On paper, it looks like one of the worst call-ups I've ever seen.
Now that Green has come around, our massive offensive problems are gone. We're now in the middle of the pack in HR's and runs. Grudzielanek needs to step up and reassert himself as a quality #2 hitter, since neither Beltre or Izturis has been up to the task. Other than that, just a little more power from Lo Duca, Beltre and Karros is all we need to keep us in the middle of the pack for the rest of the year.
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| | | 4 | biliruben
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ID: 3502218
Tue, May 28, 2002, 11:31
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When your best player breaking HR records is the only thing keeping your offense out of the cellar, saying "...our massive offensive problems are gone" is to assume he will continue to hit a homer a day. He won't. We need another bat.
Grudz was never a quality #2 hitter, other than maybe briefly 4 years ago.
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| | | 5 | Razor
Donor
ID: 305102622
Tue, May 28, 2002, 14:08
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Grudzielanek at .290 would be a welcome sight. He hits the ball to all fields and can hit behind runners well. Beltre and Izturis have yet to show that ability.
As for the offense, even if Green doesn't hit a HR every game, the threat of him hitting a HR every game is enough to make our offense better. Too bad he's batting 3rd instead of 4th. I can't help but wonder why. I'm still hopeful Beltre, Lo Duca and Karros will each hit 20 HR's, which would be a big boost to the offense at this point. Dave Roberts has been the man out of the leadoff spot. I don't care what his slugging % is, .420 OBP is awesome. Also, with Brown out again, our Cy Young calibre insurance policy is even more valuable to us. How Brown holds up through June and July will tell us if we can use Daal as trade bait or not. Outside of Grudzielanek, nobody is hitting bad enough to make a trade in which we would have to give up a lot worthwhile.
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| | | 6 | Ref
ID: 28045169
Tue, May 28, 2002, 14:45
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Daal should be starting anyhow. Just who is he going to replace when Brownie is healthy? Ashby has pitched well recently too. Is Dreifort going to be back at all this year?
Izturis is fast but hasn't figured out how to steal bases well--being thrown out most of the times he actually gets on base to afford that opportunity. Roberts hasn't been able to hit well but manages to get on base by working the count and drawing a lot of walks and getting a chance to see some fastballs he can hit because of his ability to foul off pitches and work the count. I like him. Grissom has actually been impressive in his limited playing time this year. Hopefully Jordan will come around better. His hitting and running ability is very good historically.
I agree with Razor's assessment that the simple fact that Green may hit a homer is intimidating enough to get better pitches to the guy in front of Green. LoDuca could be a key if he goes back to 3rd and Green to 4th, but you need Jordan, Karros and Beltre to step up so they can't afford to pitch around any of them consistantly.
Beltre has shown flashes of potential but not consistant.
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| | | 7 | biliruben
Sustainer
ID: 3502218
Tue, May 28, 2002, 14:46
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I agree with you on roberts, razor, he's been a pleasant surprise. I also agree with your general philosophy of "get a middle of the pack offense and let pitching do the rest." It is a proven strategy, and one the dodgers are suited to. I just disagree with your belief that we currently have a middle of the pack offense. All the shutouts should tell you we don't have an offense that is capable of providing the necessary 3-4 runs/game to allow our pitchers to win. A couple blowouts against inferior teams/pitchers inflating our stats doesn't change that.
I also disagree that we would have to give up too much to get a decent bat. Look at what philly did. A bat like Jeremy Giambi instead of Karros would go along way towards bringing the consistency to our offense we so desperately need.
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| | | 8 | Razor
Donor
ID: 305102622
Tue, May 28, 2002, 18:28
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Ref - Daal is getting his chance to start now that Brown is out. Nomo has proven to be our worst starter so far but he's pitched effectively most of the time. With a little better run support, he could be 7-3 instead of 5-5. He's getting the worst run support on the staff. In my opinion, he's a great #5 starter. As the season progresses, I expect him to continue to be moderately effective. Of course, it's hard to ignore Daal's otherwordly 0.88 ERA. He'll get his chance to prove his worth once again. Incredible to think that the 3 pitchers that were fighting for the 5th spot in the rotation at the end of spring training (Daal, Odalis and Gagne)have turned out to be our best 3 pitchers to date.
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| | | 9 | Razor
Donor
ID: 305102622
Thu, May 30, 2002, 13:21
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Daal vs. Unit tonight. Two best lefties in the league. Actually, Glavine and Daal are probably the two best lefties in the league.... Stay tuned.
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| | | 10 | Ref
ID: 28045169
Thu, May 30, 2002, 14:00
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I really enjoy conversing with people who truly know what they're talking about.
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| | | 11 | biliruben
Sustainer
ID: 3502218
Thu, May 30, 2002, 14:12
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You fellers crack me up! Your Dodger-Blue-colored glasses have obscured Randy from your field of vision. I love it!
Here's to hoping the optimism is warranted!
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| | | 12 | Ref
ID: 28045169
Thu, May 30, 2002, 14:15
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Rj hasn't exactly been tearing it up lately--but neither hs the Dodgers offense.
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| | | 13 | Mattinglyinthehall
ID: 1832399
Thu, May 30, 2002, 14:22
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I think RJ's chances for success against LA (or for this thread, the Dodgers' chances for success against RJ) depend mostly on the health and relative soreness of RJ's back.
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| | | 14 | Razor
Donor
ID: 305102622
Thu, May 30, 2002, 18:43
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Whoops, Daal and Unit TOMORROW night. We face lefties twice in this series. So far, we are the best team in the majors against lefty starters, sporting a 10-2 record with one of those losses coming when we handed Unit 7 ER but lost 10-9 in extras.
Anyway, what happened in the SF-AZ series? Each team with a 7-3 win, each team with a 1-0 win. Eerie. Looks like we're going into this series in 2nd place, 2 games out.
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| | | 15 | Razor
Donor
ID: 48540116
Sat, Jun 01, 2002, 22:56
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One more game with Arizona. Ishii goes. Hopefully he'll leave his control problems at home or it might be a long day. This is his first real test.
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| | | 16 | Ref
ID: 121135289
Sun, Jun 02, 2002, 15:03
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Ashby was brilliant yesterday. We still have little offense. Thanks Jordan!
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| | | 17 | azdbacker
Donor
ID: 1832261
Sun, Jun 02, 2002, 19:08
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We've seen 6 good games between the Dodgers and DBacks in the last week. You guys are playing well.
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| | | 18 | Ref
ID: 28045169
Mon, Jun 03, 2002, 10:44
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Now one game out!
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| | | 19 | Razor
Donor
ID: 149181618
Tue, Jun 04, 2002, 09:45
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Brown is getting hospitalized for back pain today. A report came out recently that he would not be activated when he came off the DL anyway so it appears that Brown is out for a while.
With interleague play starting, we have a soft part of the schedule coming up. After Colorado, the Dodgers go on the road to face Baltimore and Tampa Bay. They should come back with a winning road trip.
I speculated earlier that our interleague schedule was easier than our division mates because we get to play the Angels instead of the Bombers but with Anaheim playing good baseball, that advantage is mostly moot now. SF gets to swap out Boston with Oakland. San Diego and Colorado got played for suckers as they have to play The Bombers, the Red Sox, and Seattle. Go figure.
LA has clubbed homeruns in 11 straight games now. If they hit 2 today, they'll have hit exactly one for every game they've played in this season. I really like seeing Lo Duca in the two hole. He doesn't have cleanup hitter power, he hits to all fields, rarely strikes out and hits for a good average - perfect for moving along runners and getting on for Green. Also, with Jordan stepping up, the move could be made easily. Essentially, we're just moving our best hitters up in the lineup and giving away more outs at the bottom of the order. With Green and Jordan coming up with more runners on now, I think that's a good tradeoff.
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| | | 20 | Ref
ID: 28045169
Tue, Jun 04, 2002, 11:17
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Agreed.
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| | | 21 | biliruben
Sustainer
ID: 3502218
Tue, Jun 04, 2002, 11:51
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Uh-huh.
The Brown news is scary. Hug Daal close and make him feel loved.
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| | | 22 | Ref
ID: 28045169
Tue, Jun 04, 2002, 13:17
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I watched the end of the game last night. What I don't nec. agree with is qhy they pinch hit for Quantrill in the 9th after Beltre's 3 run shot to make it 11-5. Quantrill pitched well and was in line to get the save. Gagne was not in a save situation and the bases were clear. Bat quantrill!
Lo Duca got hit with a pitch and was sore, but why take a save away from your pen? Why throw Gagne when you may need him the next several days? It's pouring rain--why risk injury to your #1 man?
Orosco didn't look good and Walker hit won 483' or so, 9th longest in Coors Field History in the downpour. He then walked Helton before Quantrill got the DP.
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| | | 23 | biliruben
Sustainer
ID: 3502218
Tue, Jun 04, 2002, 13:31
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I asked he same thing in last night's action thread, Ref. Bizarro move bringing in Canuck Cannon.
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| | | 24 | Razor
Donor
ID: 149181618
Tue, Jun 04, 2002, 14:29
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Eric Gagne became the fastest pitcher in NL history to reach 20 saves in a season. He did it in 56 games, three fewer than Philadelphia's Heathcliff Slocumb needed in 1995.
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| | | 25 | Razor
Donor
ID: 149181618
Wed, Jun 05, 2002, 13:07
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From the South Bay to the Valley
From the West Side to the East Side
Everybody's very happy
Cause the sun is shining all the time
Looks like another perfect day
The Brown situation gets worse as an MRI revealed a protrusion. No word yet on how long he'll be out.
In other news, our long history of owning the Rockies continues. The Dodgers have simply embarrased the Rockies bullpen the last two games. Karros is a Rockie killer, always has been. Good to see Beltre swinging the bat better, even if it is at Coors. The confidence is important. Well, we're tied for first and getting contributions from more people now. Best record in the NL, too.
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| | | 26 | Ref
ID: 28045169
Wed, Jun 05, 2002, 14:48
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First place baby! Now we just got to keep winning!
Karros would be in the Hall of Fame if he played all his games at Coors. Incredible isn't it.
The Coors crown knows Nomo well. They constantly talk about the man who threw a No-No there a few years ago. Then he does it again at Boston and almost does it again in the same year last year.
I don't have much hope for Brown this year, but we can always cross our fingers.
I didn't see the game lat night but I did see that Orosco got the win.
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| | | 27 | biliruben
Sustainer
ID: 3502218
Fri, Jun 07, 2002, 19:29
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"I was all set to rip the Royals for yet another terrible draft ... but then reader Josh Thomas alerted me to the Dodgers' early picks.
They hit the quinella, the Dodgers did. With their first five picks, they drafted four high-school pitchers and a high-school catcher. If you wanted to design a recipe for failure in the amateur draft, you couldn't do any better (or is that worse?) than Dodgers GM Dan Evans did yesterday. I've met Evans, always considered him a pretty sharp guy. And if he can make a silk purse out of this sow's ear, I'll have to consider him a genius."
- Rob Neyer
Here's hoping Rob's wrong.
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| | | 28 | ShortTandemRepeat
ID: 1222164
Sun, Jun 09, 2002, 00:26
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5 high-schoolers?
Better everybody will call Mr. Evans a genius 5 years later.
Or our beloved Dodgers will be in big trouble.
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| | | 29 | biliruben
Sustainer
ID: 3502218
Mon, Jun 10, 2002, 14:59
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More Neyer, this time on the division possibilities:
"...It was reasonable to think that Randy Johnson or Curt Schilling, and perhaps both of them, would suffer at least something of a decline this season. But instead, they're as good as ever, combining for 21 victories and two losses. But Arizona's rotation is essentially a two-trick pony, just as last year. So the D-Backs will go as far as their Dynamic Duo can take them.
But as long as those two are healthy, the Diamondbacks are the best in the West. Right now the Dodgers are in second place, but I trust their record only slightly more than I trust Cincinnati's. Brian Jordan's not really this good, nobody's as good as Eric Gagne has pitched, and the Dodgers are going to be without the services of their $16 million starter for at least a few more weeks, and quite possibly longer.
So while the Giants are currently in third place, they're the best bet to give the Diamondbacks a fight, if anybody does."
He doesn't seem to give much credit to the healthy portion our starting rotation, but I agree that Gagne will probably come back to earth, at least a bit. I still think we need another bat, a healthy Brown or a good amount of luck to take the division. Preferably all 3.
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| | | 30 | Ref
ID: 28045169
Tue, Jun 18, 2002, 12:29
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Rotoworld is reporting that the Dodgers think Dreifort can be back in time to help them in September...but even if he's back will he be good enough to actually help us?
Story:
The Dodgers think it may be possible that Darren Dreifort could be healthy enough to contribute by September.
This news is more important now with Kevin Brown on the shelf than it was a few weeks ago, but Dreifort's value would still probably be in depth for the Dodger's playoff push than it would be in any fantasy league. Source: Los Angeles Daily News
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| | | 31 | Razor
Donor
ID: 305102622
Wed, Jun 19, 2002, 03:21
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I had hoped Dreifort would be back sooner than December. Our once deep rotation now looks very vulnerable as Brown is out indefinitely and Daal has shoulder problems. Something has to be done about 2nd base. Beltre I can stomach but Grudzielanek I cannot. We can't afford to get nothing out of 3 infield positions.
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| | | 32 | Razor
Donor
ID: 51051231
Sun, Jun 23, 2002, 16:17
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LA is looking to take over sole possesion of first place and sweep the best road team in the bigs. LA has won their last 8 series. Go Dodgers.
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| | | 33 | Ref
ID: 28045169
Mon, Jun 24, 2002, 11:27
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Yeah, LA looked great against Boston!
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| | | 34 | biliruben
Sustainer
ID: 59434124
Mon, Jun 24, 2002, 11:32
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Nice series! Some unlikely heros.
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| | | 35 | Gman15
Leader
ID: 44961510
Mon, Jun 24, 2002, 11:53
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Congrats to the Dodgers for their sweep of the BoSox and taking over 1st! Thank you from us Yankee fans for helping us back into 1st place as well.
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| | | 36 | biliruben
Sustainer
ID: 3502218
Mon, Jun 24, 2002, 18:02
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Yeah. That whole Yankee boost was an unfortunate side-effect. ;)
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| | | 37 | Ref
ID: 28045169
Mon, Jun 24, 2002, 18:13
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ROFL bili!!!!!
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| | | 38 | Ref
ID: 28045169
Mon, Jul 08, 2002, 15:56
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Ran across this article today. Instead of posting the link (you need to register to read it now) I thought I'd copy it for you. Look at all the Dodgers listed!!!
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
National League--1. Eric Gagne, Dodgers; 2. Barry Bonds, San Francisco; 3. Shawn Green, Dodgers. American League--1. Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle; 2. Alfonso Soriano, New York; 3. Torii Hunter, Minnesota.
Comment: It could just as easily be Green over Gagne, or 1-2 in either order. Then again, if both are so deserving, if both have contributed equally to the Dodgers' surprising emergence in the NL West lead, it can be argued that maybe Bonds or Vladimir Guerrero or Sammy Sosa or Lance Berkman, who is on pace to hit 55 home runs and drive in 154 runs, has been more valuable to his team.
At the break, however, the opinion here is that no one has had a more dramatic impact on a playoff-caliber team than Gagne, who came out of blue heaven to turn the Dodgers into a contender and a team that could win the close games long before Green joined the party in late May.
MVP contention in the AL also runs deep, but Suzuki again has the Mariners on a pace for more than 100 wins, even though the hitters behind him aren't doing what they did last year, when the Mariners won 116.
Soriano is on pace for 40 homers and 40 steals, and although he is far from the only valuable player in the Yankee lineup, there was a temptation to select the 24-year-old Dominican second baseman ahead of Suzuki strictly because he conducts every interview in English, which is something neither Suzuki, with all of his exposure, nor most of his countrymen, including the experienced Hideo Nomo, have tried.
CY YOUNG AWARD
National--1. Gagne; 2. Tom Glavine, Atlanta; 3. Randy Johnson, Arizona.
American--1. Derek Lowe, Boston; 2. Pedro Martinez, Boston; 3. Freddy Garcia, Seattle.
Comment: The opinion here is that it's possible for a pitcher, particularly a relief pitcher, to be recognized as the most valuable player in the league while not necessarily being the league's best overall pitcher statistically, which is basically what the Cy Young represents.
However, taking into consideration Gagne's value to the Dodgers, his statistical and artistic dominance out of the bullpen and the fact he is on pace to break Bobby Thigpen's single-season save record of 57, we'll double up on his awards, giving him a slight nod over the resolute Glavine and his glossy 11-4 record and 2.27 earned-run average.
In the AL, Lowe has come out of the Red Sox bullpen to shake off the boos of last year and compile a 12-4 record that could be even better with more support. He also has the league's best ERA, 2.36, among starters while holding opposing hitters to a .199 batting average.
The right-hander probably will start Tuesday's All-Star game for the AL, although the Red Sox would rather see him join Martinez on a three-day vacation. Lowe hasn't pitched more than 123 innings in a big league season and is already up to 118.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
National--Kazuhisa Ishii, Dodgers.
American--Eric Hinske, Toronto.
Comment: I have trouble giving another Japanese player a rookie award considering their wealth of experience at the highest level of baseball in their own country.
However, the precedent was established with Nomo and Suzuki, and they are rookies in the U.S., adjusting to a new culture and game. Ishii, who carries the added pressure of the Dodgers' significant investment, hasn't been as good lately as he was earlier, but he is still 11-5 with a 3.58 ERA, one of the NL's several impressive rookie pitchers, including Jason Simontacchi, Jason Jennings, Damian Moss and Josh Fogg.
Third baseman Hinske, who went to the Blue Jays in the trade that sent closer Billy Koch to Oakland, has 14 homers and 46 RBIs, the best of a comparatively thin AL rookie crop.
MANAGER OF THE YEAR
National--tie between Frank Robinson, Montreal, and Jim Tracy, Dodgers.
American--Grady Little, Boston.
Comment: Thirteen years after he won this award at the helm of the Baltimore Orioles, Frank Robinson is a candidate again at 66, helping bring playoff possibilities to Montreal's uncertain future. Tracy, of course, has the Dodgers in first place despite a myriad of spring questions, and he has to receive considerable credit for that and the improved chemistry.
Similarly, Little has helped rid the Boston clubhouse of 2001's toxic fumes and is proving that the several clubs that passed on him over the years, either seeking a higher profile or a manager with big league experience, made a mistake.
In the context of a "name" manager, in other words, Little is big enough.
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
National--Dan Evans, Dodgers.
American--Brian Cashman, New York.
Comment: Confounding the skeptics, Evans hit the first-half jackpot. How sure he could have been about off-season acquisitions such as Dave Roberts, Cesar Izturis, Omar Daal and Nomo filling the critical roles they have, or Gagne emerging as a premier and pivotal closer after he failed to trade for one, is an interesting question, but the Dodgers are where they are because Evans did what he did.
Cashman, of course, deals from strength--financial and otherwise--but the Yankee general manager has proved adept at keeping George Steinbrenner mollified and aggressively building on that strength. Whether it's making in-season moves, such as last week's acquisitions of Raul Mondesi and Jeff Weaver, or the quick, off-season strikes that netted, among others, Jason Giambi, Robin Ventura, Steve Karsay and Rondell White, Cashman/Steinbrenner seldom sit long on their laurels--or payroll ledger.
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| | | 39 | biliruben
Sustainer
ID: 3502218
Mon, Jul 08, 2002, 16:31
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ExW-L W-L +/- Team
53-34 49-38 -4 San Francisco
51-37 54-34 +3 Los Angeles
49-38 51-36 +2 Arizona
40-48 42-46 +2 Colorado
33-55 35-53 +2 San Diego
Green and Gagne have been nothing more than spectacular. I still think we need to add some punch to our lineup. The pythagorean standings above suggest we have been a bit lucky and the gints have been unlucky.
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| | | 40 | Ref
ID: 28045169
Mon, Jul 08, 2002, 16:55
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bili, how did you get those numbers above? Very interesting how those are determined.
Beltre and Grudz have been very bad. Iz cant hit against lefties (.199) although his .300 avg against righties helps. Unfortunately, LA isn't asking him to quit hitting right handed. Cora will get a lot more starts and could possibly win back his starting spot--perhaps some games at 2nd too. Roberts has been good against righties--that platoon with Grissom seems to work as he's good against lefties. Karros has done better--but where is the power? You'd expect power from the corner infielders--esp. 1B. I'd love to get my hands on a Cliff Floyd and put him at first--remember he played there for awhile. He could also play OF and throw Jordan or Green to center.
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| | | 41 | biliruben
Sustainer
ID: 3502218
Mon, Jul 08, 2002, 18:00
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I agree, Ref. Plug Floyd in at 1st, and that would likely be enough. The platoons do seem to be working. Roberts has continued to amaze me.
I got the standings from Neyer. He just looks at runs scored for and against to come up with them.
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| | | 42 | Ref
ID: 28045169
Tue, Jul 09, 2002, 13:46
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I got Izturis backwards. He's over .300 from the right side and .199 from the left. Sorry.
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| | | 43 | biliruben
Sustainer
ID: 3502218
Tue, Jul 09, 2002, 14:10
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Conveniently, Neyer decided to discuss the Dodger's chances, and expound a bit on the "standings" I posted above:
So who's going to win the West? At this moment, the first-place Dodgers own a two-and-a-half game lead over the Diamondbacks and a four-and-a-half game lead over the Giants. Do the standings indicate the true quality of those three clubs? One way to look at that question is to check each team's run differential, and the records that typically result from those differentials....
...These new "standings" don't really tell us anything we don't already know. Over the course of half a baseball season, four games one way or the other don't say much that's particularly meaningful about the quality of the teams involved. All we really know about the Giants, Dodgers and Diamondbacks is that they've all got a legitimate shot at winning.
My money's on the Giants because 1) they've got the best run differential, and 2) they were my preseason pick.
But it's more likely that the Giants will finish second or third than first. Who wins the West will depend on some things that we can't predict, things like injuries, trades ... and, yes, plain old luck. That's the thing about baseball that players understand but few others do; who wins the West could hinge on nothing more than a couple of groundballs that sneak (or don't) through the infield, a few bloopers that parachute (or don't) to the grass, just beyond a pair of desperate defenders. We like to think that the best teams always win, but it's a basic fact of life that they don't.
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| | | 44 | Razor
Donor
ID: 48540116
Wed, Jul 10, 2002, 22:53
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What do you guys think of all the trade rumors? I've heard Todd Jones, The Little Cat Frank Catallanato and Robbie Alomar. LA could definitely use some help at 2nd base but I hear Little Cat is a poor defender, not something LA needs. As for Alomar, we'd have to give up a lot to get him and he hasn't hit particularly well. And for a HOFer, he sure has been traded a lot of times, leaving me pondering if his clubhouse attitude is less than perfect. LA doesn't need something to wreck clubhouse chemistry but Alomar can flat rake if he's on. After Trombley last year, I'm extremely skeptical about trading for former closers who've lost their gas but appear to be getting the job done in middle relief. God, I hope we don't trade Beltre.
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| | | 45 | Razor
Donor
ID: 17511523
Thu, Jul 11, 2002, 16:42
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Throw Alfonzo into the names being mentioned. Now that's one guy I'd like to have. He's young, he hits, he plays D, he walks and, given Karros' turnaround, maybe we can set him up with Karros' back therapist and get his power numbers back up.
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| | | 46 | Ref
ID: 28045169
Fri, Jul 12, 2002, 14:39
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I hear LA wants to trade one of their AAA all stars for Little Cat and that little cat would play 2nd and 3rd base.
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| | | 47 | biliruben
Sustainer
ID: 3502218
Fri, Jul 12, 2002, 14:41
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Who? Not Thurston or Chen, I hope. Just bring of Thurston, forchrissakes.
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| | | 48 | Razor
Donor
ID: 17511523
Fri, Jul 12, 2002, 15:19
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Given Thurston's #'s in AAA, I'd say he has about as much strike zone judgement as Grudzielanek. He's hitting .330, but also in a hitters league. And yes, the name being batted around is Joe Thurston.
In other news:
RHP Kevin Brown, who's recovering from back surgery, has been cleared to start a "light tossing program," the Los Angeles Daily News reported July 12. "We will not entertain the thought of him going to the mound for at least another two weeks," manager Jim Tracy told the newspaper.
Back for September? Who needs to trade for a starting pitcher when you've got an ace possibly returning.
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| | | 49 | azdbacker
Donor
ID: 1832261
Sat, Jul 13, 2002, 02:34
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RE: Post 38. I haven't checked into this thread in awhile. Ref, you didn't post who wrote the article, but I have to immediately disregard any article that doean't have Schilling in the top 3 for NL Cy Young. There is no doubt Schill would win the award if it was voted for right now. Whoever wrote this is either an incredible idiot, or its Pedro Gomez of the AZ Republic. Which means its an incredible idiot either way.
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| | | 50 | Chris
ID: 235563022
Sat, Jul 13, 2002, 03:33
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It was Ross Newhan, who is an idiot, I completely agree.
Last year, he thought Jimmy Rollins(he of the .320 OBP with no power) should have won the ROY over Pujols and Oswalt.
Not sure why you think Schilling deserves the award over RJ or Glavine, but I guess 15 wins matters to most people(I agree he would win it if it was voted for now, though I don't necessarily agree).
If Maddux would friggin stay healthy...
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| | | 51 | Ref
ID: 121135289
Sat, Jul 13, 2002, 12:35
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azdbacker,
schilling and rj are both great (not just good--great) pitchers. They deserve all the props they get. But it's hard for me to take you seriously sometimes when everything you talk about is so biased to the dbacks. I know you are a huge fan and I commend and respect that--as I am with the Dodgers. Obviously sometimes are judgment and impartiality can be skewed--and I also understand that, but it seems you go over the top time and time again.
FWIW, I'd have Gagne in the top 3 regardless and I think he's done more for his team single-handedly as Schill and RJ both do an equal amount for their team. But you can't simply discount RJ and Schil because of that. I think with the rough starts that rj and schil had there for awhile would hurt their chances if the award was given at the half-way mark. But it's not the award is given at the end of the year.
Smoltz has come on and also deserves some consideration. Hell Gagne may not be able to keep up that pace--but if he does and gets 60 Saves, he'll be worthy of the Cy Young. Schil may get 25 wins. He may not. It's just too early to tell but these awards are one opinion.
I think Green has been the first half MVP because of what he did the last 5 or 6 weeks. But the way he started would probably take all that away. Let's see if he can keep it up. Berkman has been great as well and don't look now but Sheff is coming on--though probably too late to be worth of serious consideration.
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| | | 52 | biliruben
Sustainer
ID: 59434124
Sat, Jul 13, 2002, 15:00
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Cat coming soon to an infield near you...
Waiting for Catalanotto: The players involved in the deal to bring Texas utility player Frank Catalanotto to the Dodgers are agreed upon, but the Dodgers are doing their due-diligence by scouting Catalanotto this weekend, sources said.
The Dodgers' top major-league scout, senior scouting adviser Don Welke, is in Minnesota to watch the Rangers this weekend. If all goes as planned, the Dodgers will send minor-league second baseman Joe Thurston, who is playing at Triple-A Las Vegas, to the Rangers for Catalanotto.
The deal could be completed in the next 24 to 48 hours, sources said. Catalanotto can play first base, second base, third base, left field and right field. Though not a great defensive player, he's the type of feisty offensive player the Dodgers have sought for their bench.
Catalanotto is batting .262 with two homers and 14 RBI but missed nearly two months with a groin and back injury. He has a .366 on-base percentage and is batting .272 against right-handers.
If we are giving up Thurston, they better dang well be ready to play Cat at 2nd every day, bat him leadoff, and move grudz to a utility infield position. You don't give up a top prospect for a utility guy.
I like him, but Tracy better use him.
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| | | 53 | Razor
Donor
ID: 51051231
Sat, Jul 13, 2002, 17:50
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Agreed. You don't trade top prospects for utility guys, especially utility guys that can't field. I'm worried that Little Cat will not get enough playing time or have a tough transition to the senior circuit or worse yet, both. Let's hope this isn't another Delino Deshields.
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| | | 54 | azdbacker
Donor
ID: 1832261
Sat, Jul 13, 2002, 22:35
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Ref, I would have Gagne in the top 3 also. I don't really know where you're going with your comments based on my remark. Schilling has to be in the top 3 at the ASB, just like Gagne does. Schilling's 15 walks to 191 K is about the most ridiculous stat I've seen a pitcher put up. RJ is not even close to Schill this season, and I base that on having seen each game that they both have pitched. And I agree with you on Green as well, especially considering where he plays his home games.
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| | | 55 | ShortTandemRepeat
ID: 40454296
Sat, Jul 13, 2002, 23:10
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Pretty hard time these days.
You got the longest losing streak of this season.
You handed out the division crown you'd been sitting for a month or so.
And the worse part is yet to come......
You are going to lose one of your top prospects in exchange for.....what? A cat?
Boston (Pedro) & Chicago (Konerko) keep calling to express their appreciation.
Seems Texas will soon be busy dialing this "your ex-players, my all-stars" hotline----exclusively in Dodgers' front office only.
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| | | 56 | ShortTandemRepeat
ID: 40454296
Sat, Jul 13, 2002, 23:12
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Why not just bench Gruz and play Cora there?
Perhaps Gruz will be a better "utility" than Cat.
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| | | 57 | steve houpt
ID: 32428300
Sun, Jul 14, 2002, 01:13
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biliruben - on Neyer's column. On the date that was written, I would have still given the nod to the Dodgers. Maybe why he gets paid to write and I just goof off.
Why. I don't necessarily believe you give up want you already gained (LA/SF +/-) based on past RS/RA. Do think (no proof) if you believe those ratios of RS/RA should continue, future WON-LOST record may more closely track the projected percent.
I track during the year by using current record and then project the remaining games based on RS/RS ^ 1.88 (or 2.00) formula.
At the break it projected out that Dodgers were 54-34 and based on RS/RA ratio you would project them to be winning at a .572 pace. .572 over final 74 games would project them 96 to 97 wins.
Giants at 49-38 and based on RS/RA ratio you would project them to be winning at a .605 pace. .605 over final 75 games would project them at 94 to 95 wins.
D'backs were at 93.
How fast can projections change? Lose 3 straight after All Star Break. Have opponents win 3 straight.
Now I have:
SF 96.6
Arizona 94.4
LA 94.1
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| | | 58 | Mike D
Donor
ID: 40420258
Sun, Jul 14, 2002, 20:07
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Sorry to intrude, but good article about Gagne, and a classic quote in it:
"It's been all about my mental approach," said Gagne, who is tied with John Smoltz for the major-league lead in saves with 32 while also having a minuscule 1.39 ERA. "I feel more comfortable in my surroundings (as a closer). I get the ball with the game on the line and just want to grip it and rip it. It's a real rush getting the ball with the game in your hands."
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| | | 59 | Ref
ID: 121135289
Sun, Jul 14, 2002, 23:22
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NIce one Mike D. I like that.
Well Gagne is the leader again, now 33 and LA is back in first.
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| | | 60 | Razor
Donor
ID: 51051231
Mon, Jul 15, 2002, 17:23
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From the OC Register:
For four days, the Dodgers had a chance to finalize a trade with the Texas Rangers for infielder/outfielder Frank Catalanotto.
But time might have run out, costing them an opportunity to add a versatile and potentially valuable player to their bench for the final three months of the season.
The availability of the left-handed hitting Catalanotto changed when Rangers' outfielder Rusty Greer was scratched from a start Saturday at Minnesota and is now likely headed back to the 15-day disabled list with a nagging back injury.
"If we did something with (Catalanotto), and I've talked to three or four clubs that have shown an interest, it was all with the idea of getting Rusty back healthy,'' Texas general manager John Hart said. "It doesn't look like that's going to happen now.''
Maybe we won't give up our top infield prospect afterall. Or maybe we'll give up him and more. I say if you're going to give up an arm and a leg for somebody, it should be Alfonzo or someone of that calibre. With reports saying that the Giants are talking about Rolen and the D-backs mentioning Leiter, LA has to have something in their back pocket in case either of those happen. Ideally, it'd be a last minute deal in which the other clubs couldn't react.
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| | | 61 | Ref
ID: 28045169
Mon, Jul 15, 2002, 18:29
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This is what LA Times had to say about it--adding Escobar to the list of potential trade candidates:
A trade for Texas utility player Frank Catalanotto seems less likely after Ranger left fielder Rusty Greer hurt his back again Sunday, an injury that sparked a chain reaction that will result in Catalanotto getting more playing time as designated hitter. Texas General Manager John Hart said he is "less enthusiastic" about trading Catalanotto, whom the Dodgers believe can bolster their bench.
The Dodgers have apparently added Toronto right-hander Kelvim Escobar to the long list of relief pitchers they are pursuing in potential deals. The hard-throwing Escobar is 4-4 with a 4.85 earned-run average and 14 saves in 38 games for the Blue Jays. He makes $2.3 million and is eligible for arbitration at the end of the season.
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| | | 62 | Ref
ID: 28045169
Tue, Jul 16, 2002, 10:58
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Update from The Sporting News Fantasy Source: Jul 15 10:57am
The Daily Southtown reports that Durham will be traded within the next 10 days. "There's at least four-to-five teams ready and willing to make a deal for him," a source inside the organization said. "It's now a matter of what we see as the best deal and when is the best time."
Fantasy Spin: Boston, Oakland and Los Angeles are probably three of the teams. Non-mixed league owners will be interested if the Dodgers win the Durham sweepstakes.
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| | | 63 | Razor
Donor
ID: 51051231
Fri, Jul 19, 2002, 13:01
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You know what the worst part of this losing streak is? It's during an 11 game homestand. We went through a spell like this earlier this season but managed to win some of the ball games do to outstanding pitching. That hasn't happened this time. I predict the Dodgers will snap out of it once they hit the road after this Giants series. LA will lose 2 of 3 or get swept by the Giants but will return the favor when they go to Pac Bell in a week. I hope.
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| | | 64 | biliruben
Sustainer
ID: 3502218
Fri, Jul 19, 2002, 13:14
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Need. More. Bats.
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| | | 65 | Razor
Donor
ID: 51051231
Fri, Jul 19, 2002, 13:24
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Think the Mets would take prospects for Alfonzo? I could live with giving away prospects like Thurston for a young star like Alfonzo.
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| | | 66 | biliruben
Sustainer
ID: 3502218
Fri, Jul 19, 2002, 13:35
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I'd take him in a heartbeat. I;d give up Thurston and a single A arm... and grudz, if they would take him.
They would probably would bring up Reyes and/or move Rey over instead of taking grudz, unfortunately.
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| | | 67 | Ref
ID: 28045169
Mon, Jul 22, 2002, 17:59
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Wll we got Jolbert Cabrerra today for minor league left-hander Lance Caraccioli.
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| | | 68 | biliruben
Sustainer
ID: 3502218
Mon, Jul 22, 2002, 18:22
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The dude that got shot in the arse?
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| | | 69 | steve houpt
ID: 32428300
Mon, Jul 22, 2002, 20:11
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bili - Dodgers don't need more bats. Need better eyes, more discipline at plate.
(stats over a week old - 7/13).
LA batters were slightly above average in NL in BA, SLG, TB, HR and below average in K's per 9 innings.
But below average (.319) to (.331) in OBP.
LA was getting one non intentional walk every 15.93 Plate Appearances (PA-IBB)/(BB-IBB). NL average: (was) 12.38
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| | | 70 | biliruben
Sustainer
ID: 3502218
Mon, Jul 22, 2002, 20:26
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Agreed, Steve. I guess it depends on whether you think you can "teach" a batting eye, or whether it is a skill which you either have or you don't. I think am leaning towards the later belief. I don't think you can significantly improve a batter's "eye", but you can talk him into being more patient at the plate so that the pitchers have to throw him better pitches.
The Dodgers have two or three guys with good eyes (Green, LoDuca and maybe Roberts), but that doesn't mean Tracy couldn't help the club by preaching patience. I have no idea if he is or not. The unfortunate thing is that we had one of the best eyes in baseball, and traded him away last season.
Being patient at the plate is hard to get a player to do. It is extremely unselfish act - a quintesential team-player move. You are giving up your chance at glory by taking a walk, with the idea that a teammate will hit you in (or take a walk as well behind you). It is against a player's short-term best interest but in his team's short and long-term best interest, (and I would argue the player's long-term best interest as well, because he will see better pitches, as well as there being a minority of managers that are starting to look for guys with high OBP's).
This is part of the reason I dislike Karros. He has been quoted as saying taking a walk isn't in his job description. He's out there only to hit folks in. Nonesense. You can do both, and they are synergistic - each part of your game helps the other.
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| | | 71 | Razor
Donor
ID: 305102622
Mon, Jul 22, 2002, 23:34
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I agree, we have way too many guys unwilling to take pitches. Lo Duca has a very low walk total but he's in the Vlad/Nomar mold - hits everything but seldom walks. You take the good with the bad. While Roberts'walk total isn't fantastic, he takes a lot of pitches and understands his role thoroughly. Green's eye is pretty good, much better against righties I've noticed. Jordan, Karros, Izturis, and Beltre all have bad batting eyes. Grudzielanek is even worse. Amazingly, we don't have guys anybody that strikes out a lot, save Green and his 120 K's.
One or two patient guys would really turn things around. Doesn't have to be a couple of 100 walk guys, maybe just a pair of guys that can walk 70+ times to replace the 30 walk guys. The Dodgers probably need to buy them or trade for them as the top prospects don't draw a lot of walks either, especially Thurston. Chen draws a solid amount of walks but strikes out a boatload.
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| | | 72 | Razor
Donor
ID: 305102622
Tue, Jul 23, 2002, 01:16
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5-2 loss tonight, one of the worst of the streak. 13 hits, all singles, 11 men left on base. With some decent situational hitting, LA would have a 4 game winning streak. LA is a terrible offensive team when Green doesn't hit. Get a load of this: In the 12 games since the All-Star break, Jordan, Green, Lo Duca and Karros have a COMBINED 6 RBI. "Atrocious" seems like too nice of a word for that kind of performace. We're 2-10 since the break. Frankly, with that kind of performance from our stars, I'm surprised we're not 0-12. Now I know what it's like to be a Devil Rays fan. Give it two more days. If they lose both of them, demote all of them and have massive call-ups, Vegas has won 8 straight.
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| | | 73 | biliruben
Sustainer
ID: 59434124
Tue, Jul 23, 2002, 10:59
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Nothing inherently wrong with stikeouts, imho, Ref. Green's a great example.
I also neglected to mention the other benefit of patience. You get to the bullpen faster. With only a handful of bullpens of quality in the mlb, this increases your chance of scoring runs if you start seeing these guys in the 6th rather than the 8th. In a 3 game series, it also means you will have a poorly rested bullpen for tomorrow, which increases your chances of scoring runs even more.
So even if you don't manage to get the walk, if you make the guy throw you 5 or 10 pitches instead of 1 or 2, you are benefiting the team.
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| | | 74 | Ref
ID: 121135289
Tue, Jul 23, 2002, 23:53
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Well we went and traded two more prospects to get Tyler Houston. Left handed stick and a utility player--wonder how long it will take for him to start playing 3rd...2nd...
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| | | 75 | biliruben
Sustainer
ID: 59434124
Wed, Jul 24, 2002, 00:46
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I liked diggins. Not a fan of tyler. At first blush, I don't like this trade.
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| | | 76 | Jello Biafra
ID: 12392015
Wed, Jul 24, 2002, 01:02
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Hey - not meaning to flame at all here, but I was wondering how do you guys feel about the Sheffield trade at this point in the season? I was a little disappointed (though not surprised) when Perez started out the way he did for LA because it seemed like the Dodgers really got the best of that deal...especially with Sheff missing a lot of PT early. Perez is still a great young pitcher, but I'm feeling better about the trade these days. Sheffield got hot about 2 weeks before the ASB and he hasn't cooled off.
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| | | 77 | Rogue's Strikers
ID: 40619245
Wed, Jul 24, 2002, 08:07
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At first glance I'd say the trade worked against LA. What they really need right now is another big stick, not another pretty good SP. (They have a bunch of those, and will have even more next season when Brown and Dreifort are healthy.)
Will depend on how many years Sheffield produces big in Atlanta, and if Perez can keep up his level of play for the next 10 years for the Dodgers. (If they traded for a perrenial Cy Young candidate, they win the trade hands down.)
Atlanta has the best record in the league right now, thanks in part to Sheff. Can't argue with that...
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| | | 78 | Mattinglyinthehall
ID: 1832399
Wed, Jul 24, 2002, 11:56
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You guys expect Roberts to start hitting against leftys regularly? I keep hearing it discussed and it would seem to make sense. He's 6 for 15 against them with a 2b, 4bbs and 3ks against them. I have no idea who those ABs came against, but it is kind of funny that those 16 at bats actually raise his season BA from .287 to .294.
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| | | 79 | Ref
ID: 28045169
Wed, Jul 24, 2002, 13:42
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Biggest help for LA was getting the negative attitude out of the clubhouse. Jordan is under-rated--though he is not proving that right now and Odalis was a huge bonus. The trade is starting to even out a little now that sheff is on fire. I hated the trade at first-but not so much now and LA saved money on the deal.
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| | | 80 | biliruben
Sustainer
ID: 3502218
Wed, Jul 24, 2002, 14:34
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Jello - I hated it then, felt a little better when odalis was pitching over his head and sheff was hurt. Back to hating it now.
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| | | 81 | Razor
Donor
ID: 305102622
Wed, Jul 24, 2002, 16:05
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If you view it strictly on tangibles, it looks like a tossup, depending how long each team can hold on to these players. When you account for the fact that LA ditched their one and only clubhouse disturbance, one of the worst in the game, and added a guy who is reknowned for his intensity and energy he brings to a club, I'd say LA did ok, even without Odalis. How can you measure that? LA is leading the wild card race and it took a horrible losing streak to unseat them from first place. We also got a 21 year old Single A pitcher who may or may not contribute.
So what if we have a bunch of pitchers? Having a guy who had a Cy Young calibre half of a season is always a good thing, no matter how many pitchers you have. LA started the season with 6 quality starters and it appears that Dan Evans was wise to have hoarded pitchers. LA has 6 starters (KB, Ishii, Nomo, Dreifort, Odalis, Ashby) under contract for next season, with Daal being a free agent. I wonder who will be the odd man out. Given the age, injury and workload considerations, LA might be wise to consider a 6 man rotation. Brown and Ashby aren't the horses they used to be. DD is coming off injury. Ishii and Odalis have yet to log big innings in their career and may not hold up.
I don't like this Tyler Houston deal much either. We traded two guys that are probably going to see major league time at some point in their career for a utility bat. Diggins, while he has struggled, is still a #1 draft pick. Evans, hopefully, knows something we don't. Diggins is not particularly young anymore and hasn't made a big splash in Single A so I wouldn't say it was a totally foolish decision. We do get a player to be named later, so hopefully it'll be a mid level prospect that could help us out some day. Overall, a minor upgrade on offense and flexibility. Hopefully, Tracy can make it work.
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| | | 82 | Ref
ID: 121135289
Thu, Jul 25, 2002, 00:24
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I'd love to get durham.
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| | | 83 | Razor
Donor
ID: 305102622
Thu, Jul 25, 2002, 02:22
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Grudzielanek has actually been really hot lately. His numbers are still terrible but 4 multihit games in the last week is great. Durham is a good player but I fear he'd have a tough transition to the NL. Alomar and Vaughn, All-Star hitters, are just now beginning to come around 4 months into the season. Green actually hit very well his first 2 months in the NL, despite common perception. Much like what happened the first 6 weeks of this year and the last 3 weeks, Green developed bad tendencies in his swing and subsequently hit like a SS (shortstop, not schutzstaffel) the rest of the year. If his swing stays long, all the Tyler Houston's in the world won't fix this offense.
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| | | 84 | huskerdodger
ID: 386242617
Fri, Jul 26, 2002, 17:57
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We have got to get another bat at either 2b or 3b.
Ihate the thought of losing Beltre in the long term but right now one more bat would do us wonders. The other option would be a big time pitcher for 2 of our good ones.
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| | | 85 | Razor
Donor
ID: 305102622
Fri, Jul 26, 2002, 23:45
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Houston - 2 for 2 with 3 RBI's in his first two AB's. Trade of the century!
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| | | 86 | Ref
ID: 121135289
Fri, Jul 26, 2002, 23:57
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Make that 3-3 and Beltre gets another single as well and is also perfect on the night. Maybe Karros was the one holding Beltre back ;)
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| | | 87 | Ref
ID: 121135289
Sat, Jul 27, 2002, 00:03
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we'll probably score 15 runs tonight and not score more than 4 runs for another couple weeks
:(
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| | | 88 | Ref
ID: 121135289
Sat, Jul 27, 2002, 09:54
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You know I think it is ironic that the two people in the most trouble of losing their jobs, grudz and beltre were both in the lineup with Houston and they all had 4 hits each last night--including Houston!
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| | | 89 | biliruben
Sustainer
ID: 59434124
Sun, Jul 28, 2002, 13:17
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Shuey's a Dodger, and Mulholland and prospect(s?) leave for some lovely property on lake Erie.
Anyone hear who the prospects are?
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| | | 90 | Ref
ID: 121135289
Sun, Jul 28, 2002, 13:23
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mulholland is gone?!?!? Hallelluyah or however the hellyou spell it.
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| | | 91 | Perm Dude
Leader
ID: 2065918
Sun, Jul 28, 2002, 14:44
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Shuey for Mullholland and minor league pitchers Ricardo Rodriguez and Francisco Cruceta.
Looks like a good deal for both teams, but the Dodgers have a reputation for grooming good minor league pitchers, trading them, and having them not be as good.
Rest of the season looks like a good deal for both teams, with the Dodgers having the slight edge.
pd
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| | | 92 | Razor
Donor
ID: 12644285
Sun, Jul 28, 2002, 14:45
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Bad news guys. We gave up our best pitching prospect. Rodriguez had just been promoted from Double A and had a good outing his last time out. I have a feeling, this one will come back to bite us very soon and in a very big way. I guess that's what we had to give up to get them to take Mulholland and get a top setup guy. In the here and now, our bullpen becomes vastly improved. We now have a formidable power setup guy in Shuey and a good finesee setup man in Quantrill. They are both under contract until 2004 I believe. In my opinion, LA should have gotten a lot more for Rodriguez.
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| | | 93 | biliruben
Sustainer
ID: 3502218
Mon, Jul 29, 2002, 15:29
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I agree that it sucks to give up your best pitching prospect. However, you need to put that in the context of sad state of the Dodger's farm system in general - particularly in the "will help soon" section. Add to that Ricardo was 24 (at least. You never now with a name like Rodriguez, could be 27.) and still having some control problems, and I was not all that high on him.
Cruceta - I pretty much consider any single A pitcher as guilty until proven innocent. So few of them make the leap from single A to even double A while continuing to get dudes out and staying healthy, that I am more than willing to trade them for a proven arm.
Plus, Shuey's a dang good pitcher!
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| | | 97 | Razor
Donor
ID: 12644285
Wed, Jul 31, 2002, 15:25
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The LA Daily News reports Brown will pitch a rehab game on August 3 for Las Vegas. Barring setbacks, Brown could be back as soon as August 13. Good news for a reeling team.
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| | | 98 | Razor
Donor
ID: 12644285
Wed, Jul 31, 2002, 23:16
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A very good game for LA coming off of a very bad game yesterday. LA looked horrible in the first two innings, with Nomo allowing 7 runners to reach base but kept the scoring in check with a bases loaded GIDP from Griffey to get out of the 2nd unscathed. After 2 innings of poor defense and mental lapses, most notably Beltre allowing a runner from first to tag up after an easy foul out behind 3rd base, it looked like LA was in store for yet another bad loss. Following the inning, Jordan got all over Beltre in the dugout. LA and Beltre looked completely different after that point and that is why I'm happy to have Brian Jordan instead of Sheffield. Shuey was bad once again but all the other signs were positive. Green hit his first HR in ages, Beltre hit 2, Lo Duca had 3 hits and an all around team effort to pound out 11 runs. Hopefully it will carry over to tomorrow. It'll be a very good sign if LA can beat the crafty and surprisingly effective Elmer Dessens.
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| | | 99 | Ref
ID: 28045169
Thu, Aug 01, 2002, 14:24
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I took in the game on Tuesday. Had front row seats behind the Dodgers dugout. Some quick takes:
We looked pathetic. BUt imparticular...LoDuca was awful all night behind the plate. His passed ball that bounced 10 feet away would have been fine with even a catchable ball as the runner trying to score wasn't even 3/4 down the baseline when he was getting ready to pitch it to the covering ishii to gun him out. Instead he put it over his head and cost another run. That would have been the thir out. Instead the next batter (boone) deposited the ball in the construction zone out in left field. 4 runs. He had an earlier error on a throw to 2nd that should have been an out but sent the runner to 3rd as well. At the plate he was equally bad and ended several innings--including rallies.
I was able to talk briefly to Green and Tracy. Most of the Dodgers were very anti-fan or not fan-friendly I guess is a better word. Tracy was the only one who would sign anything or even shake anyone's hand. 3 or 4 times Karros or Roberts or even Izturis would give a ball to one of the 3 dozen kids that kept coming to the front row to get one.
Ishii was so bad it wasn't even funny. even the strikeouts he did get seemed to be Mercy calls.
There were very few fans at the game. They said paid attendance was like 23000, but looked more like maybe 15000 at the game. They did get loud though.
Paul Shuey was horrible. His strikeouts--esp. that last one--also seemed to be merciful. Gagne's strikeout was an obvious call though, even from my horrible angle on the 3rd base dugout.
Reggie Taylor has a gun and I saw the best play in the field I've ever seen live when he took a base hit and gunned out Roberts trying to go 1st to 3rd. It had to be a prefect throw to get him and it was. What a play. I was kinda miffed that it was on Web Gems. He came in that inning to replace Griffey.
Aaron Boone was great offensively and defensively. The Reds as a unit made some great plays.
Tyler Houston hit the top of the newly created wall that would have easily been a homer in anytime in the stadium's history had they not raised the wall about 40 feet and moved it in 10 feet because of the construction.
I heard a "rendition" of the National Anthem that was on par with Roseanne Barr and Aerosmith. It was so bad you wanted to Boo and many did. What's worse it was a teenager or young 20's aged girld that they announced as a "National Recording Artist."
Orosco pitched to 3 hitters and I believe it was the only time that we went 3 up and 3 down all night.
Dave Roberts husstles like no one's business. I really like the way he plays.
I questioned many of Tracy's moves or nonmoves on the night. Many of the things he did made absolutely no sense. The lineup was stupid IMO. Yeah LoDuca's a cleanup hitter alright. The way he let Ishii bat (which was basically go stand up there for 3 pitches) and then left him in so long when he walked several batters on 4 pitches, his reasoning for making other moves which I won't even elaborate on was very suspect.
All in all it was a bad night to be a Dodgers fan. The Reds played well but we helped them immensely. Dempster wasn't all that great--but we helped him too. Looks like I picked the wrong night to go to the game--but since LA only comes to some of these cities once per year now--you gotta go when they come if you want to see them. Just so happens I went while they were in the middle of a huge slump. Hope last night's game starts to pull them out. I got some pictures while I was talking with Green and Tracy and I'll post them when I finally get them developed. Also got some pictures of the players as they were coming off the field and I hope they turn out as well as I think they might.
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| | | 100 | Razor
Donor
ID: 12644285
Thu, Aug 01, 2002, 14:33
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I heard Dodger hitters were complaining about the strike zone being way too being. Maybe that would explain some of the mercy calls.
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| | | 101 | Ref
ID: 121135289
Sat, Aug 03, 2002, 12:23
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If Gagne gets suspended--all hell will break loose. Because the ump erred so bad, at most there will be a fine for his inappropriate conduct--that given the situation I don't think it was inapporpriate. I wish MLB would come out with a statement saying they appreicate lasagne trying to follow our mandate but we feel he did it too close to the letter of the law and failed to apply the spirit in which we wrote it. I dunno. Something needs to be done about the AAA ump that has no clue/experience about situational he was in.
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| | | 102 | Ref
ID: 121135289
Sat, Aug 03, 2002, 12:57
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PHILADELPHIA -- Dodger All-Star closer Eric Gagne should not be disciplined for hitting a batter with a pitch Thursday in a loss to the Cincinnati Reds, but the umpire who ejected Gagne could face repercussions for his questionable judgment, a high-ranking Major League Baseball official said Friday.
Although Ralph Nelson, vice president of umpiring, had only begun reviewing the events that preceded the ninth-inning ejections of Gagne and Manager Jim Tracy in the Reds' 6-4, 13-inning victory, he quickly determined that umpire Dan Iassogna erred in ruling Adam Dunn was intentionally hit after a two-run homer by Aaron Boone had cut the Dodgers' lead to 4-2. Nelson agreed with the Dodgers, saying a pitcher in that situation would not intentionally hit a batter, bringing the potential tying run to the plate.
Nelson and Jim McKean, supervisor of umpires, had a 45-minute closed-door meeting with Tracy, General Manager Dan Evans and Dave Wallace, senior vice president, at Veterans Stadium before Friday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Nelson hopes to complete his report on the incident next week, and Bob Watson, baseball's dean of on-field discipline, would officially hand out a fine or suspension against Gagne.
However, although Gagne made contact with Iassogna, Nelson, who has an influential voice in disciplinary matters, believes no further action is warranted against Gagne or Tracy. He was not as certain about what awaits Iassogna.
Baseball has cracked down on pitchers throwing at batters, and the current system forces umpires to use their judgment, but Nelson believes a mistake was made.
"I've already recommended to Bob that he not do anything to Gagne," Nelson said. "Bob and I talk a lot in these kind of situations, and that's my recommendation. I would say I feel strongly about that. As far as [Iassogna] ... well, I'm not there yet. It's too early."
Watson said he would "follow Ralph's lead," adding that Gagne and the Dodgers have already been punished. The team had a two-run lead and its closer on the mound when Iassogna made his stunning call. The Dodgers used four more pitchers, including starter Omar Daal, after Gagne was ejected for the first time in his three-year career, prompting Tracy to shuffle the rotation for the series against Philadelphia.
"Obviously, it cost them a game, it cost them a starting pitcher, and there were a lot of other problems because of what happened," said Watson, who has reviewed tapes of the incident. "We can't give them back the game. We can't give them back the extra innings of pitching they had to use. They had to call up another pitcher, and that creates a domino effect.
"The bottom line is that they were put in a very difficult situation, and it's not good for the game for us not to be our best in all situations. That's why we're going to have to talk a lot about what happened. My personal feelings are not going to enter into it, but I've been in this game for about 38 years now, and I think we're talking about a young umpire who didn't have the right instincts in that situation."
Gagne was encouraged by Watson's comments.
"Everybody makes mistakes," Gagne said. "If they're going to [admit it] and just try make the best out of it, I'm happy about it."
Evans, who said a "high school" umpire would recognize the error, was pleased with the direction of the investigation.
"I'm satisfied with the professionalism that they showed, being here and openly discussing the situation with Jim, Dave Wallace and myself," said Evans, who flew Friday from Los Angeles to attend the meeting after contacting Nelson and Watson the moment Gagne was ejected. "They needed to hear from us."
Nelson spoke with umpire Gerry Davis, the crew chief Thursday, after the game and again Friday. He interviewed Iassogna, a reserve umpire from triple-A with extensive service in the majors, on the phone, and plans to speak with him in person next week. Umpires have been fined and suspended for their actions, but "this kid [Iassogna] just genuinely, thoroughly, believed he did the right thing at the time," Nelson said.
In deciding whether to discipline Iassogna, Nelson said he must consider the difficult task umpires face in trying to enforce baseball's mandate to crack down on on-field incidents. Moreover, the rules permitted Iassogna to either eject Gagne or issue a warning.
"The problem with the rule is that it involves umpire judgment," he said. "It does put the umpire in a difficult situation, where he has to put himself inside the brain of the pitcher, and that's a difficult thing. In this particular case, you have a young umpire, who both Jim Tracy and Dan Evans said is an excellent young umpire, a good balls-and-strikes guy.
"His instincts were that this was an intentional pitch, but I think that Dan should have, in my opinion, had a little better sense of this situation in the game. Obviously, had that been intentional, the pitcher would have been bringing the tying run to the plate, and that probably was not his intent."
Iassogna has been in the rotation the last three seasons, and Nelson said he has "400 or more major league games under his belt." But he is not on the full-time staff, and was reprimanded for not doing enough in a May 5 game between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Devil Rays in which three players were hit with pitches.
"As much as anything else, we hope that the [Gagne] incident becomes a source of instruction for the future," said Sandy Alderson, executive vice president of baseball operations. "Each of these incidents, whether they turn out perfectly or not, help us make the right decisions in the future."
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| | | 103 | biliruben
Sustainer
ID: 59434124
Sat, Aug 03, 2002, 13:36
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I don't know. No reason to give the ump too much flack, I don't think. He has been behind the plate over 100 times over the last 4 years, he is one of the few umps who have been calling the bigger strike zone and, in the absence of any willfull and consistent poor judgement, they should just let it drop with an apology.
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| | | 104 | Ref
ID: 121135289
Tue, Aug 06, 2002, 21:00
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It's official, MLB will not sanction Gagne or the Dodgers. They will be sanctioning the ump apparently--even if it's a slap on the wrist. The article in LA Times also said the same thing but basically don't see them doing a whole lot to the ump because in his mind he thought he was doing the right thing.
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| | | 105 | Fletch
ID: 246452812
Tue, Aug 06, 2002, 22:12
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Very poor judgment and over reaction by this fellow, however, he was on the rebound from a reprimand for "not doing enough" in a May 5 game when 3 batters were tagged?
Apparently he was not properly instructed after the reprimand and he felt like he had to over react in the Gagne incident.
The pressure has to be tremendous for player or an on field official when you make it to the AAA level as a player or as a substitute ump in the Big Leagues.
I feel for the guy.
These minor league umpires really pay their dues.
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| | | 106 | Ref
ID: 121135289
Wed, Aug 07, 2002, 00:20
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Amen!
Minor league officials in the MLB and NBA programs go all over the country at times--get paid very poorly and give it everything they have only to have most of them never make it. The thing that is troublesome is that many of them that don't make it have more potential and even better than some of the vets already in the league. And I'm saying that from direct knowledge of some situations.
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| | | 107 | Razor
Donor
ID: 12644285
Sat, Aug 10, 2002, 01:12
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As if the Dodgers needed anymore good news after Grudzielanek's dramatic HR tonight, here is how our Triple A starter fared tonight.
6 innings
5 hits(2 infield hits)
1 earned run
1 walk
3 k's
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| | | 108 | biliruben
ID: 16105237
Wed, Jun 09, 2010, 09:22
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The cream of the division finally rises to the top.
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| | | 109 | Razor
ID: 57854118
Wed, Jun 09, 2010, 09:33
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Boo yah! I hope we can make our 3rd straight playoff appearance and not have to face the Phillies this time. Whatever mojo STL used to have over us is completely gone, so I think we can take them if we were to meet up and we own everyone in the West. Just need to beat that East team finally...
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| | | 110 | biliruben
ID: 358252515
Wed, Jun 09, 2010, 10:16
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Does that mean I should start kershaw vs Stl?
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| | | 111 | biliruben
ID: 34435239
Wed, Jun 09, 2010, 10:26
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Does Ely really have that good a control, or is this a "first time through the league" situation?
I'm still worried about Billingsley. His confidence seems to wane, and I'm not sure if that's because he's lost a few mph, or it's all mental.
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| | | 112 | biliruben
ID: 34435239
Wed, Jun 09, 2010, 10:27
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I think we need to go grab Oswalt, just to fill out the rotation and have some insurance for playoff time.
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| | | 113 | Ref
Donor
ID: 539581218
Wed, Jun 09, 2010, 11:17
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They have been unable to spend money due to the McCourts. SO not sure they would even be able to add an Oswalt-type. It's been great what Torre and the Dodgers have been able to do thus far. Been a really nice run.
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| | | 114 | biliruben
ID: 16105237
Thu, Jun 10, 2010, 01:18
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Yeah. The pitching finally is starting to look like they aren't deer in the headlights.
Kershaw looked really good out there. One mistake, and it's was salvageable.
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| | | 115 | Razor
ID: 57854118
Thu, Jun 10, 2010, 09:23
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Yes, we do need Oswalt, but Ref is right that McCourt is too broke to pay for him. This team cannot expect to win big in the playoffs with Kershaw/Bills/Kuroda as our top 3. Oswalt slides everyone back a slot and makes for a pretty solid playoff rotation. Other than that, I like our team so far. After a lousy start, we now have the NL's best record. I'd like to see us get to 20 games over .500 and then coast until the end of the year. The trade deadline is going to be key. The Phillies' acquisition of Lee last year was the difference between the Dodgers going to the World Series and watching it on TV.
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| | | 116 | Seattle Zen
Leader
ID: 055343019
Fri, Aug 13, 2010, 01:14
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Bump so y'all can continue your discussion of how great the Dodgers are.
Time to make Dotel the closer.
then coast until the end of the year.
Looks like you got that much right, Razor.
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| | | 117 | Ref
Donor
ID: 539581218
Fri, Aug 13, 2010, 10:15
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Not sure how many times LA has lost games like last night but it is getting ridiculous. Maybe Cuban can take a run at buying the Dodgers.
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| | | 119 | loki
ID: 37337299
Mon, Jun 27, 2011, 11:49
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Link
link
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| | | 120 | biliruben
ID: 59551120
Wed, Jun 29, 2011, 02:27
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Gawd. They should never have let him buy the team with that much leverage.
Wake me when it's over.
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| | | 121 | Perm Dude
ID: 5510572522
Tue, Jul 05, 2011, 15:35
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You'd think Manny would have lost that money ($20 million!) when he suddenly retired as a result of his drug test.
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| | | 122 | mjd
Leader
ID: 501381415
Tue, Jul 05, 2011, 16:23
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I think it's $25 mil, PD.
I read $8.3 mil x 3 years.
No wonder he didn't hesitate to retire. Guess there's no PED clause, at least in his contract.
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| | | 123 | biliruben
ID: 59551120
Wed, Oct 03, 2012, 00:58
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What in living f was Mark Ellis thinking?
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| | | 124 | Razor
ID: 177192916
Wed, Oct 03, 2012, 09:25
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He was thinking that we'd be better off giving it a shot next year. This team was as big of a tale of two teams as I can remember - a injury-riddled surprising club where no-names (kinda since many were the sons of former Major Leaguers) kept winning and a high priced team of stars that was awful down the stretch. I am hoping they just need time to gel because we're stuck with this club for the foreseeable future.
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| | | 125 | Ref
ID: 34731299
Wed, Oct 03, 2012, 10:20
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123: That's exactly what I was thinking!
124: Forget gelling. They had time. problem is they can't hit. Some changes need to be made. They have to have people get on base and score some runs. With all that talent, you'd think that would be a possibility. Either can't hit lefties and making big bank. 2B issues. 3B questions. Outfield might be a lot better once Crawford is able to play. AGonz was having some issues all season long. Hanley played much better when he came to LA and I saw him hustle down the line every time, but he still didn't hit like he used to. We shall see.
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| | | 126 | Razor
ID: 177192916
Wed, Oct 03, 2012, 11:07
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They can hit, just not at the same time. We did not have any gaping holes in the lineup most trade but still performed horribly. Are you telling me the team with the best hitter in the NL, the Marlins' best hitter, the Red Sox best hitter, plus Ethier, a serviceable, LF, C, 3B and 2B should be the worst offense in the NL?
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| | | 127 | biliruben
ID: 21841115
Wed, Oct 03, 2012, 11:32
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I think a lot of our problem second half was kemp's shoulder, and a back-loaded schedule with a lot of quality arms to face after the ASB.
I'm concerned Adrian has turned into a doubles machine at Dodger stadium.
I'm concerned Ethier has regressed against lefties.
I'm concerned we have only one solid starter.
I'm concerned we are tapped out, with the 250M in contracts we took on.
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| | | 128 | loki
ID: 7116710
Sat, Oct 19, 2013, 12:57
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Living in NJ,not having a friend or family member who is a Dodger fan and with local sports talk stations that could care less about the Dodgers, I need a place to rant about Mattingly.
I never realized how poor a manager he is until I watched him in the postseason. He had a HOF worthy career with the Yankees, but his skill as a player did translate to managerial acumen.
How could he walk Reed to pitch to Jason Heywood? Where is his bench coach to help him when his brain freezes? The lefty-lefty matchup made no sense. Heywood's OPS was actually better against lefties, and even if it was not a player like Reed is never walked for a player like Heywood. He brought in Paco Rodriguez who was pitching poorly in September with a 5.56 ERA, and had him do what a RP should never do, intentionally walk the 1st batter he faces. Furthermore, Widrow was pitching well. What followed next had to be
expected.
Again where was a bench coach? Pinch running for Gonzalez? Pinch running for your best (or 2nd best) hitter; what was he thinking? Speaking of being hoisted by his own petard: Not only did Gonzalez's spot come up twice, but St.L. was able to IW walk Ramirez to get to Young who hit into 2 DPs.
Letting Ramirez play with a fractured rib after it was obvious that he could not hit or field due to pain. It did not matter that it was Hanley Ramirez. Mattingly had to be the parent (aka manager) in that situation.
Letting Kershaw pitch after it was obvious that he did not have it that night. Yes Kershaw is the probable CYA winner, but even Koufax had off games. Mattingly had to be the parent again in the close-out game of the series. Of all of these, Mattingly could possibly be given a pass on this one, were it not for all his other errors.
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| | | 129 | filthy
ID: 4157202
Sat, Oct 19, 2013, 22:19
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Really gets magnified against a strong fundamental team like the Cardinals. Mike Matheny can't get enough credit on the other hand. I don't think Yadier Molina becomes the player he is today without Matheny around. And it spreads to how the rest of their team gets built. While the Dodgers are on the absolute other end of the spectrum. It's hard to totally fault Mattingly when his team isn't exactly built with fundamental players. Trying to find an offensive spark backfires with defensive mishaps all over the place, and putting in the defensive lineup still gets errors and nothing but goose eggs on offense. The team could use a little bit of a facelift too. Mattingly definitely wasn't good either, one million percent outmatched by Matheny of course, a first baseman against a catcher. Pulling Puig in that last game might have lit a spark, or even keeping him as a reserve for the series, he was totally exposed by the Cards. Even in Kershaw's first start against the Cards, pulling him early was kinda dumb, but there was no offense to be found anyway, so it's hard when there isn't much to work with. Mattingly easily could've stole a couple games if he made some better decisions, but the team could all have made a couple differences with some better at bats and defensive play. They were all so majorly exposed against a team like the Cards, that don't even miss a beat without an MVP caliber player in Allen Craig. The Dodgers can at least take some solace in the fact that the Cards should roll whoever they face in the World Series. Great pitching, catching, defense, baserunning, and battling every at bat, just waiting to pounce and expose every little mistake.
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| | | 130 | Ref
ID: 34731299
Sun, Oct 20, 2013, 01:31
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Agree with most everything. But it comes down to Dodgers inability to hit. Before Hanley and Puig were added to the active roster in June, Gonzo was the only one hitting. When HR and YP were added and went nuts, the Dodgers went nuts. But mainly it was those two with a clutch hit by one of the other players form time to time. When you combine that with the outstanding pitching, you had a recipe for success. But hanley gets hurt again and Puig gets too complacent and looks at so many strikes it wasn't funny. Gonzo again was trying to carry the load. The game was over when it was 4-0. Wacha pitched well, but it did not matter. The Dodgers can't hit.
Mattingly is not a good manager. It is largely his fault the roster and lineup was how it was earlier in the year. But if Manager gets the negative when they lose, you have to give him credit when they win--regardless if it is in spite of him or not. Injuries were key this year but even with all those injuries you ahve bad play from guys like Kemp and Ethier. Crawford was inconsistent. Mark Ellis played a little better in the playoffs. Uribe didin't do anything in NLCS outside of that 2 run single in Game 1. Any hitting at all and the Dodgers win the first two games instead of wasting outstanding performances by a couple of the best pitchers in baseball. That's the series right there.
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| | | 131 | loki
ID: 7116710
Mon, Oct 21, 2013, 10:55
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" Puig gets too complacent and looks at so many strikes it wasn't funny."
There was a different feel to Puig during the playoffs. Did they coach his aggressiveness, especially at bat, out of him? The only time he looked like the Puig who batted during the regular season was when he missed the HR and had the standup triple. When he was aggressive, it was with errant throws from the outfield. I saw Puig when the Dodgers played the Phillies in Philadelphia, and the difference between that game and Puig in the playoffs was marked. His aggressive, albeit sometimes overly aggressive play is what made him a great player for a few months and is what ignited (along with Ramirez's hitting of course) the Dodger's run. Can Mattingly be blamed for this also?
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| | | 132 | Seattle Zen
ID: 3310162612
Mon, Oct 21, 2013, 13:35
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Can Mattingly be blamed for this also?
He was a great manager until his back problems robbed him of his power/snark.
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| | | 133 | Ref
ID: 34731299
Wed, Oct 23, 2013, 19:16
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Mattingly is arguably great for the clubhouse, but his in-game decisions were head-scratchers. Looks like the Dodgers agree as they just fired the bench manager--Mattingly's best friend in the world. I still say the Dodgers won in spite of Mattingly.
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| | | 134 | loki
ID: 1959513
Thu, Jun 05, 2014, 14:09
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The Dodgers should bring up Joc Pederson. He is not Puig, but it is conceivable that he would supply the same spark as Puig did last year.
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| | | 135 | biliruben
ID: 41431323
Fri, Jun 06, 2014, 06:03
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Except they already are over-crowded in the outfield. When you have Matt Kemp platooning, the one thing you don't need is a 6th outfielder.
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| | | 136 | loki
ID: 1959513
Sat, Jun 07, 2014, 23:14
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Then trade the overpaid underperforming OFs for someone useful. If the Dodgers can afford a $250K (or whatever) payroll, they can afford to eat the salaries of Kemp or Crawford or Ethier.
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| | | 137 | biliruben
ID: 28420307
Tue, Jun 10, 2014, 07:04
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The Trouts and Puigs of the world are the exception, not the rule.
For every impact rookie, you see 10 struggle.
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| | | 138 | Ref
ID: 55156513
Tue, Jun 10, 2014, 11:23
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The Dodgers would rather have Ethier, Kemp and Crawford on their bench or occasional starter and pay them, then give them to their opponents and pay them. I have become friends with one of the beat writers for the Dodgers and he gives me some interesting tidbits now and then. I am going to see them in Cincy Wed and Thurs and I hope to meet up with him.
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| | | 139 | biliruben
ID: 28420307
Tue, Jun 10, 2014, 11:41
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Sweet. Pass along the dirt.
The outfielders really aren't the problem. Kemp's really the only one under performing, and he's started seeing the ball better the last few games as well.
We really need help at 3rd, Adrian to snap out of his slump, and Hanley to start hitting like Hanley can.
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| | | 140 | loki
ID: 1959513
Mon, Jun 16, 2014, 12:48
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Trout and Puig were more than impact rookies; they were game changers. The Dodgers need to make a change, and that should involve Kemp, Ethier, Crawford and possibly Ramirez (if Gonalez's ear heals enough for him to play this season and regain the form he had before the fight). I do not think that Pederson will perform like Puig did last year, but if he is promoted and plays even as well as any of the aforementioned OFs, LA can trade to improve the team.
And perhaps Pederson will play as well as Puig did last season and spark the team. As far as eating large parts of salaries, the Dodgers and their $239,000,000 payroll should only be concerned about fielding a winning team.
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| | | 141 | biliruben
ID: 41431323
Thu, Jun 19, 2014, 02:01
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Wow.
Hanley must feel a bit bad.
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| | | 142 | Ref
ID: 55156513
Thu, Jun 19, 2014, 09:11
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I am hurting right now because I stayed up watching the entire game. Kershaw was dominant. The error was a really easy play but Hanley hurt that right index finger yesterday and was surprised he even played. He can hardly grip the ball or bat apparently. Still the very next hitter was thrown out on a remarkable play by Rojas at 3B. The rest of the game, the outs were fairly routine by MLB standards. Read this: http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/48722/kershaws-no-hitter-most-dominant-ever
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| | | 143 | filthy
ID: 4157202
Fri, Jun 20, 2014, 04:09
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Hanley still feels a little good that he doesn't have to bat against that curve!
My new cable package doesn't have any US sports channels so I miss the Dodgers' games this year, and to make it worse, none of my current sports channels even cut to the 9th inning for the no-no. At least they had it in the late night highlight packs right away. I'm missin' out though. Kershaw's a wizard of sorts.
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| | | 144 | Ref
ID: 55156513
Fri, Jun 20, 2014, 14:25
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Send me a note. I have a friend who has hooked me up with any MLB game I want for free over the internet.
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| | | 145 | filthy
ID: 4157202
Mon, Jun 23, 2014, 01:44
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i don't keep an address book and can't find your email (my search was given up on easily, i admit). more baseball sounds sweet to me. i generally get a game a night if i'm home, 2 sometimes if jays are playing in the east and mariners are playing in the west. but i used to get a dodgers, cubs, white sox, and mets feed too, so i'm definitely missing the variety. kershaw was getting gems foiled by errors/passed balls/wild pitches down the stretch last year. i'm sure the no hitter is great consolation and i bet he can even laugh at the fact it was an error that ruined the perfecto. would love to watch every kershaw start again if i could.
left my email to avoid semi-hijacking this dodgers talk thread.
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| | | 146 | Loki
ID: 5938423
Sun, Oct 05, 2014, 01:00
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As Yogi Berra would have said, "It is déjà vu all over again.
I posted the following on 10/19/2013:
Sat, Oct 19, 2013, 12:57 Living in NJ,not having a friend or family member who is a Dodger fan and with local sports talk stations that could care less about the Dodgers, I need a place to rant about Mattingly.
I never realized how poor a manager he is until I watched him in the postseason. He had a HOF worthy career with the Yankees, but his skill as a player did translate to managerial acumen.
How could he walk Reed to pitch to Jason Heywood? Where is his bench coach to help him when his brain freezes? The lefty-lefty matchup made no sense. Heywood's OPS was actually better against lefties, and even if it was not a player like Reed is never walked for a player like Heywood. He brought in Paco Rodriguez who was pitching poorly in September with a 5.56 ERA, and had him do what a RP should never do, intentionally walk the 1st batter he faces. Furthermore, Widrow was pitching well. What followed next had to be
expected.
Well Mattingly obviously cannot learn from his own history. Last night he repeated history by leaving Kershaw in way after he should have been replaced. Tonight he took Greinke out after only 104 pitches, 2 hits and 2 BBs. HE DOES NOT THINK!!!!
Kemp just hit a HR and I hope this will negate Mattingly's incompetence tonight.
I never get to watch my Dodgers during the regular season, and it is frustrating to watch Mattingly mismanage.
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| | | 147 | Loki
ID: 5938423
Sun, Oct 05, 2014, 01:16
|
As Yogi Berra would have said, "It is déjà vu all over again.
I posted the following on 10/19/2013:
Living in NJ,not having a friend or family member who is a Dodger fan and with local sports talk stations that could care less about the Dodgers, I need a place to rant about Mattingly.
I never realized how poor a manager he is until I watched him in the postseason. He had a HOF worthy career with the Yankees, but his skill as a player did translate to managerial acumen.
How could he walk Reed to pitch to Jason Heywood? Where is his bench coach to help him when his brain freezes? The lefty-lefty matchup made no sense. Heywood's OPS was actually better against lefties, and even if it was not a player like Reed is never walked for a player like Heywood. He brought in Paco Rodriguez who was pitching poorly in September with a 5.56 ERA, and had him do what a RP should never do, intentionally walk the 1st batter he faces. Furthermore, Widrow was pitching well. What followed next had to be
expected.
Again where was a bench coach? Pinch running for Gonzalez? Pinch running for your best (or 2nd best) hitter; what was he thinking? Speaking of being hoisted by his own petard: Not only did Gonzalez's spot come up twice, but St.L. was able to IW walk Ramirez to get to Young who hit into 2 DPs.
Letting Ramirez play with a fractured rib after it was obvious that he could not hit or field due to pain. It did not matter that it was Hanley Ramirez. Mattingly had to be the parent (aka manager) in that situation.
Letting Kershaw pitch after it was obvious that he did not have it that night. Yes Kershaw is the probable CYA winner, but even Koufax had off games. Mattingly had to be the parent again in the close-out game of the series. Of all of these, Mattingly could possibly be given a pass on this one, were it not for all his other errors.
Well Mattingly obviously cannot learn from his own history. Last night he repeated history by leaving Kershaw in way after he should have been replaced. Tonight he took Greinke out after only 104 pitches, 2 hits and 2 BBs. HE DOES NOT THINK!!!!
Kemp just hit a HR and I hope this will negate Mattingly's incompetence tonight.
I never get to watch my Dodgers during the regular season, and it is frustrating to watch Mattingly mismanage.
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| | | 148 | weykool
ID: 586491619
Sun, Oct 05, 2014, 03:12
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I never get to watch my Dodgers during the regular season, and it is frustrating to watch Mattingly mismanage.
Heh.
Most fans in So Cal didnt get to watch the Dodgers either.
The TV deal they made with the cable company was a disaster for Dodger fans.
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| | | 149 | Ref
ID: 55156513
Wed, Dec 03, 2014, 14:54
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Sorry I didn't notice this thread again filthy.
I went to several Dodgers games on the road this year. Most ever--including the playoffs again in StL.
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| | | 150 | loki
SuperDude
ID: 4211201420
Sun, Oct 18, 2015, 16:13
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Time for my annual October rant on Don Mattingly. I was out of the country, and could only see game 5 of the series. In this game I only caught 2 mistakes, and they certainly were not of the magnitude of those from 2014. (See post147.) The glaring one was batting Grandiel 6th when he had been 4 for his last 100 at bats. Of course it could be argued that he should not have played Grandiel at all while Mattingly had Ellis on the bench. How much defense, if any at all, would have the team lost with Ellis playing? Allowing Pederson to swing at 3 and 0 was a minor error in judgement. Murphy's steal of 3B after Duda's walk essentially lost the game for the Dodgers. I cannot blame this one on Mattingly. However the buck does stop with the manager, and the Dodgers should have been better coached.
The silver lining of this cloud is that it may get Mattingly fired.
As they used to say in Brooklyn prior to 1955, Wait 'til next year."
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| | | 151 | biliruben
ID: 28420307
Thu, Apr 07, 2016, 00:21
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Man they look good.
Of course San Diego will do that for you.
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| | | 152 | loki
ID: 15046816
Fri, Oct 20, 2017, 11:08
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YES!!!!
I did not win the lottery for WS tickets and would have flown from NJ if I had. Cannot pay scalper's prices.
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| | | 153 | Seattle Zen
ID: 499182319
Mon, Oct 23, 2017, 20:19
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The average person in India, in Mexico, on the entire continent of Africa were not born when the Dodgers were last in the World Series.
They are not used to this. They are accustomed to them losing in the playoffs BEFORE the Series. They have only heard stories of fans leaving Chavez Ravine in the seventh inning in early October, not this late.
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| | | 154 | Seattle Zen
ID: 59929269
Thu, Oct 26, 2017, 10:30
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The least noticed but most important move in last night's amazing game was the replacement of Dave Roberts with Don Mattingly in the seventh.
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| | | 155 | loki
ID: 15046816
Thu, Oct 26, 2017, 20:47
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Really, I thought that it was Mattingly who took out Hill after the 4th.
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| | | 156 | Loki
ID: 27522417
Sun, Jun 24, 2018, 18:02
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Went to Dodgers METS game today.
7 solo HRs!!
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| | | 157 | Ref
ID: 5857210
Sun, Sep 02, 2018, 11:57
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You brought this from way back lol.
I am heading to Cincy and StL next week.
I have a Dodgers facebook group called Dodgers United that I just started if any Dodger fans want to come and join.
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| | | 158 | Ref
ID: 19592411
Wed, Oct 24, 2018, 13:00
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Underdogs, but World Series again. Who wouldda thunk it back to when we were 16-26 in Mid May?
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| | | 159 | loki
ID: 453362410
Sun, Oct 28, 2018, 00:21
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Now instead of my October rant against Mattingly, I can have one against Roberts. Yes the bull pen lost the game, but if Roberts would think instead of solely relying on "analytics," it never would have gotten that far. Taking out Hill for a "matchup" was downright stupid. He had a one hitter, struck out the last batter he faced, and even though he had about 92 pitches, he did not seem to be tiring. At least wait until that occurred. UGH!!!!
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| | | 160 | Khahan
ID: 367431722
Sun, Oct 28, 2018, 10:32
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I was cheering when he took Hill out. Hill was dominating that game. And then I was cheering even more when he brought in Madsen.
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| | | 161 | Species
SuperDude
ID: 07724916
Sun, Oct 28, 2018, 11:54
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159: in Roberts' defense - look at Hill's game log for the year. Very rarely did he go over 95-ish pitches. Roberts probably understands Hill's general limitations....
That said, when you WATCHED how he was pitching, it is hard not to second guess.
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| | | 162 | loki
ID: 453362410
Sun, Oct 28, 2018, 17:50
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As a fan who stayed up to 3:40 AM and watched all 18 innings the night before, I deserved better.
BTW I have been following and posting on Facebook Dodger United.
It is really nice to be around all these Dodger fans, even if they are virtual Facebook fans.
There are not many LAD fans in Central NJ.
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