And Now For Something Completely Different
Grady Little has been in baseball a long time. A very long time. So to hear him say as he did this morning that he's never gone through a stretch quite like the one the Dodgers are currently experiencing is a little unnerving, unprecedented losing spells not being an area in which teams hope to forge new ground. I asked him how he's managed to keep a positive public face while the team heads southward, when other managers might blow up publicly and/or call out players.
"I keep things in the right perspective. I've got a job to do and I know that I'm doing it the very best I can. There's not much more I can ask of myself. Things happen a lot of times that are out of our control, so there's not much you can do about it. You do as much as you can to make it better, but then you've got to wait for the results," Little said. "If I the manager or my coaches start to lose it, it's going to trickle down. And that's not going to happen here. We're going to continue working and doing our jobs as we expect our players to do, and we'll all get through this together."
You know things are bad when the manager is giving the media pep talks, but that's exactly what happened.
"This is not an easy time for us as a ballclub, and the end result is it's not an easy time for you. God dang, you get tired of asking the same questions, and take my word we're trying to get you some variety," he said. "We have a lot of respect for what you guys have to do, so just hang in there. Things have to change. Nobody likes to keep writing about losing games every day, and we don't like to play them either. Hang in there."
He's right. We could use some variety.
Hoping to change things up, the Dodgers had players stay out of uniform until 11:10 a.m. They literally insisted on it. On the board in the clubhouse was written: "Everyone Dressed 11:10 a.m. (NOT BEFORE). No B.P." At this point, any attempt to adjust the karma can't hurt.
In other news, the Dodgers will activate Brett Tomko before the game, but are waiting to resolve some "health issues" before figuring out what roster move will accompany it. It didn't sound like they're planning on DLing Nomar, but one candidate might be Danys Baez, who has been fighting the flu for a while. Apparently, they're waiting on some blood tests to see if there's a larger problem. The announcement will come sometime before the game. When we know, we'll pass it along. Shorthanded already, I think they're hoping to avoid releasing a player to accommodate Tomko.
It'll be Brad Penny vs. Jake Peavy this afternoon. If ever the Dodgers needed an All-Star starting effort, it's today. Historically, Penny hasn't exactly dominated the Padres, with a 3-4 record and a 4.99 ERA over 10 starts, but he's the stopper, and things need a stoppin'. Mike Piazza, who has smoked Penny over his career (.394, three homers in 33 ABs) isn't in the lineup today, so that's a break.
Jake Peavy hasn't been the dominating pitcher of last year, but he's still got nasty stuff. And by this point, I think it's pretty clear that nasty stuff isn't even a requirement for beating the Dodgers, so he has to be feeling alright.
LINEUPS
Dodgers
Furcal ss
Lofton cf
Drew rf
Saenz 1b
Ethier lf
Martin c
Aybar 2b
Izturis 3b
Penny p
Padres
Roberts lf
Cameron cf
Giles rf
Bard c
Gonzalez 1b
Bellhorn 3b
Blum ss
Barfield 2b
Peavy p
BK
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Blood tests for a flu? HAHA! Now that is seriously reaching for an excuse to put Baez on the DL.
Posted by: LoLo | July 26, 2006 at 11:44 AM
On second thought, didn't Jim Henson have a cold that didn't go away until he was dead 2 weeks later?
Posted by: LoLo | July 26, 2006 at 11:47 AM
Jake Peavy hasn't won since May 28. We could be in trouble.
Posted by: Dodgerdog | July 26, 2006 at 12:08 PM
Of course JD Drew strikes out in the first . . . what a rally killer piece of trash that guy is. At least Olmedo saved him by doubling Lofton in the next at bat . . . LETS TRADE DREW FOR SOME PITCHING
Posted by: Dodger Fan | July 26, 2006 at 12:28 PM
I'm not so sure Little is "the very best" he can when he has repeatedly let Cruz hit left-handed, even though it's clear the guy can't hit from that side of the plate unless the pitcher makes a gross error.
Penny is a passionate guy. If he can't get a fire started today, either by pitching well (the good option) or by getting ejected (not an unheard of strategy), then the rest of the season might as well be a wash.
I'd like to see a little more excitement out of Little. His "I'm just a country farm boy" routine, as well as his inability to pull pitchers when they start collapsing, hasn't done anything for me this season. At least Tracy would go argue with the umpires now and then.
Posted by: Andrew the Great | July 26, 2006 at 12:33 PM
Ahh yes, time for us to fall apart again. Geez, at least we usually make it to the 5th, now we can only get through 2 innings. Why not just forfeit now and save us all the misery?
Posted by: Jen | July 26, 2006 at 12:59 PM
How lucky can those Padres get? Six straight line drive hits, including 3 doubles.
Andrew the Great suggested that if Penny can't get going, the season may well be a wash. Who has the soap?
Posted by: Dodgerdog | July 26, 2006 at 01:03 PM
Great. Penny is screaming at Lofton (my favorite, overrated Dodger). Tell me again why Repko hasn't played since he left the game in the 7th 2 nights ago?
Today's a day game after a night game and Lofton starts. Isn't that when older players, like Lofton, usually rest? Did I miss some announcement about Repko?
Posted by: Dodgerdog | July 26, 2006 at 01:06 PM
I completely disagree with Little's excuse of having no control or no ability to do something about the losing streak. Its a very simple rule in any sport, specially professional sports. A professional athlete is supposed to be out there to do his job day in and day out. However, its a managers responsiblity to make sure that the BEST PLAYERS are out there busting their ba%%$. Yesterday while addressing the media, he suggested that players should look in the mirror and figure it out for themselves..........has he done the same for himself? I don't think so, the guy does not show passion/emotions/fire/urgency, etc....I believe that if the manager filters some of these intangibles to its players, the team will perform much much better out there, even make losing much competitive. Just look at the kind of job that a Leyland, Guillen, LaRusa, do for their organizations. Grady has to figure out a way to get his players ready to start playing and losing 14 games or so since the All Star break, definetely indicates something terribly wrong about the team. Although, I believe that the appropriate resources are not currently in that dugout, but it is HIS job to scream and yell in Collettis ear to get players regardless of their age in that dugout available to play everyday. Sick and tired of Little's excuses for losing........
Posted by: JC Blue | July 26, 2006 at 01:10 PM
Think the Padres would be willing to trade Peavy? They'd get him out of their rotation, and we could get his bat as our new right fielder or something. He's certainly swinging a bigger bat than Drew. Yeesh...
Posted by: Eric B. | July 26, 2006 at 01:18 PM
The Padres just stand there and tee off on Penny's pitches (witness Peavy's home run) with no fear of being moved off of the plate.
I hope the Nationals trade Soriano in the next day and a half so we don't have to face him. That could be another ugly series.
Posted by: Dodgerdog | July 26, 2006 at 01:20 PM
Losing 6 - 1 in the fourth !!
I am not watching the game, thankfully I am at work. Is Grady sitting on the pine or is he by the rail with his usual "Sleepy Look"?
Posted by: JC Blue | July 26, 2006 at 01:23 PM
It'll be interesting to see how Little/Honeycutt handle the rest of the game. This is turning into what would normally constitute "Odalis Country." haha
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | July 26, 2006 at 01:23 PM
JC,
Grady looks more like Dopey than Sleepy.
Posted by: Dodgerdog | July 26, 2006 at 01:28 PM
I just thought of something. About my favorite topic of course, the free lip gloss we're getting this Saturday.
Don't the McCourts realize their brand new seats will be ruined? 45,000 drunk cholos are going to be tagging up those things like the side of a liquor store.
At this point, I don't even want to talk about what the Dodgers do on the field. It's like they're Magic Johnson and the All-Star Game was HIV. Sure, the Dodgers are still standing, but they got fat and are pretty content in just making money selling food and movie tickets(with all those damn trailers on the Dodger Vision after each inning).
Posted by: Pablo in Silver Lake | July 26, 2006 at 01:28 PM
WHY DOES THIS TEAM EVEN BOTHER TO SHOW UP IF THEYRE NOT GOING TOP PLAY BASEBALL. THEY SHOULD JUST MAIL IN THEIR FORFEIT NOTICE.
I MEAN ITS JUST TOO MUCH TROUBLE TO SHOW UP
FOR THESE GAMES ANYWAY- RIGHT? ANYONE BUYING
TICKETS FOR THESE GAMES SHOULD GET REFUNDS.
HOW CAN PLAYERS ACCEPT PAYCHECKS FOR THESE GAMES. IF WE'RE REAL LUCKY SOMEONE WILL BUY
THIS TEAM AND MOVE THEM AWAY. I'VE BEEN A FAN
FOR 40 YEARS, THIS IS THE SADDEST TEAM I'VE
EVER SEEN. HAS ANYONE EVEN BOTHERED TO KICK THEIR BUTTS ( LIKE A REAL MANAGER) OR ARE
THEY TOO BUSY FEELING SORRY FOR THEMSELVES.\
THEY HAD A COUPLE OF GAMES WHEN THEY DIDN'T
HIT AFTER THE ALLSTAR GAME AND THEN EVERYONE STARTED PRESSING( READ THAT CHOKING).SOMEONE
NEEDS TO STEP UP ON THIS TEAM (READ THAT A
TEAM LEADER?)AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND TELL THESE GUYS TO GET OFF THEIR BUTTS AND
EARN A PAY CHECK.
Posted by: stargazin | July 26, 2006 at 01:42 PM
thanks for the 411 dodgerdog, then we should just get ready for another dopey excuse to the loss.....
Posted by: JC Blue | July 26, 2006 at 01:48 PM
Meanwhile, the Angels scrore 15 runs today.
Wasn't it THEM that couldn't hit??
Posted by: LoLo | July 26, 2006 at 02:11 PM
I'm soooooo glad I'm at work and can't listen or watch this garbage.
Posted by: LoLo | July 26, 2006 at 02:12 PM
We've officially seen our first long comment written entirely in caps. It could get ugly from here on out.
Seriously, though, I just want everyone to know that while the team may not be doing much right now, I still feel pretty good about myself thanks to Grady's pep talk this morning.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | July 26, 2006 at 02:27 PM
You know you're in trouble when a pitcher gets 4 RBI off you're "ace". This season is done.
Posted by: Andrew | July 26, 2006 at 02:40 PM
UGLY IS CORRECT AND IT IS SPELLED DODGERS.
3RD BASEMAN HAS 0 HOMERS. CENTERFIELDER HAS
ONE HOMER. NO HOMERS FOR 7 STRAIGHT GAMES.
THIS TEAM IS PUNCHLESS AND GUTLESS. BUT
I STILL SEE SMILES IN THE DUGOUT?
Posted by: stargazin | July 26, 2006 at 02:49 PM
We're at a point now where you can hear individual members of the crowd boo. Not a lot of folks sticking this one out.
Not that I blame them.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | July 26, 2006 at 02:54 PM
YES I AM POSTING IN ALL CAPS. IS ANYONE TALKING TO THE DODGER PLAYERS IN ALL CAPS?
SOMEONE SHOULD BE DOING JUST THAT. THAT NEED
A MAJOR KICK IN THE REAR END. THEY ARE GUTLESS AND PUNCHLESS. WHY NOT JUST WAVE A WHITE FLAG FROM THE DUGOUT AND GO HOME.IT WOULD BE BETTER
THAN HAVING TO WATCH THEM PLAY LIKE A BUNCH
OF LITTLE LEAGUERS. DO ME A FAVOR BK AND PASS
THAT ON TO THE PLAYERS.THX
Posted by: stargazin | July 26, 2006 at 02:57 PM
Rally caps!
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | July 26, 2006 at 03:04 PM