Extra! Extra! (5.4)
Dodgers fans should start immediately petitioning for baseball games to end after six innings. Sure, it would rob folks of "Take me out the Ballgame," but anything to remove L.A.'s bullpen from the equation. Last night's 11-5 loss to San Diego (against almost-Dodger Brian Giles) began well enough, knotted at one apiece for a half dozen innings, courtesy of some strong hurling from starter Jae Seo and a solo shot from Dioner Navarro. And given the Pads' offensive woes, this would theoretically be the ideal scenario to simply grab a few late game runs and go home a winner. Unfortunately, the pen took over in the 7th and things got a little nutty after that. It began in the 7th when Tim Hamulack gave up a three run homer to Mark Bellhorn (although Olmedo Saenz's subsequent pinch hit shot softened the blow a bit). But then came the eighth and Franquelis Osoria's five earned runs and zero earned outs. Needles to say, he didn't walk off the mound hearing a lot of "Frankie!" chants. The final two runs allowed by Danys Baez were, for all intents and purposes, meaningless, but given the fragile state of the relief arms, it's hard to simply shrug off. Immediately after the game, Grady Little called a pow-wow to put some baseball capped heads together. Hopefully, the regrouping will help avoid a fifth straight loss this evening (and no more box scores like these).
Grady Little acknowledged that Odalis Perez, who's been getting rocked more than a punished criminal during Elizabethan times, may find himself out of the rotation. Perez says he's cool with whatever helps the squad, and unfortunately, he has much bigger things on his mind at the moment. He's currently tending to his sick mother in the Dominican Republic. Whether her condition is related to a previously removed stomach tumor isn't certain, but her discomfort remains irrefutable. The Dodgers and fans wish Perez the best as he deals with this difficult situation.
Tonight's pitching matchup features former Pad Brett Tomko vs. Clay Hensley, 1-2 with a 5.48 ERA. Hensley's previous effort against L.A.this season was reasonably solid. Tomko was just flat out good.
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AK/BK
I can't get over the ugly loss from last night. To top it off ya' wouldn't make the little sacrifice at winking at Mike Piazza for me, I mean come on!, I was you first blogger! Can't I get anything, anything at all in return? ugh!
Perez out of the line up sounds like a good idea to me. Its early enough in the year that Little should tinker, not only with the lineup, but with the roster as well.
Let's hope Tomko gets a win tonight. I'm assuming ya' wont be at the game tonight. You'll most likely be at the Laker game, watching history. I hope K8 shows Phx how arrogant and pompous he can really be!!!
Anyways
hope your day is as busy as mine. Enjoy the games tonight.
Welcome to all the bloggers!!
Go Dodgers!! Go Lakers!! Go L.A.!!
--MrsBlue
Posted by: MrsThinkBlue | May 04, 2006 at 10:50 AM
this is painful to watch.... can we stop the 7, 8, 9 bleeding?
Posted by: tom | May 04, 2006 at 01:04 PM
Seems like it's getting harder and harder for the the Dodgers "braintrust" (is that applicable?) to judge talent each year.
If they had this year's hitting with last years pitching, we might have something decent. Or at least competitive. Even if Kent and Furcal pick things up, the pitching is looking pretty dismal.
If things don't shape up soon, give the triple
A kids the experience up here. I know they worry about the tender psyches of these young stars, but if the season tanks, where is the pressure?
Give them a year head start for next year.
I know it's too soon to give up on this year, but there will be a point when they should think about it.
Posted by: Andy B | May 04, 2006 at 01:30 PM
MrsThinkBlue-
Considering all the hubub surrounding Piazza over the last few years, I'm not sure I want to be the guy winking at him, even if it is on behalf of a valued reader (hahahahaha).
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | May 04, 2006 at 02:26 PM