Hopefully Tomorrow Grady Little Will Open Up the Passing Game
When the Rockies rocked Brad Penny for three runs in the bottom of the first during L.A's eventual 19-11 win, it looked really, really ugly for the Blue. Chad Billingsley was warm and ready to go before the Dodgers finished the inning. Once it was done, so was Penny, yanked ostensibly because of his sore back (though his performance couldn't have helped).
That all happened before James Loney had a chance to bat. His second inning grand slam off Byung-Hyung Kim gave the Dodgers a brief 4-3 lead. They hung another four on Colorado in the third, two on a Loney double. The Rockies roared back into the lead in fourth, with a touchdown and extra point (that's seven runs for you non-footballers). That was before Loney tied the game with a single in the fifth. And just in case the Rockies had any crazy comeback ideas, Loney hit a two run jack in the sixth as L.A. lit Colorado for seven of their own. Should you have been keeping score at home (and seriously, if you were, why?), that's nine RBI (tying a Dodgers record) for the young first baseman, only playing because Nomar Garciaparra is currently being held together by chewing gum and high grade twine.
So it's on to San Francisco with no less than a one game lead over Philly, and no more than a one game deficit to San Diego. Time for a little scoreboard watching, Dodger fans!
More on the game tomorrow.
BK
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ONLY GUY I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS THE KICKER.LOL
CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP MISSING THOSE EXTRA POINTS.LOL.
WHAT'S THE LASTEST ON THAT DEFENSIVE LINEMAN THAT
HURT HIS BACK EARLY IN THE GAME?????????
I HEARD HE WAS OUT FOR THE SEASON??
Posted by: stargazin | September 28, 2006 at 04:17 PM
I HEARD LONEY MIGHT BE THE STARTING LINEBACKER NEXT YEAR. ANY TRUTH TO THAT RUMOR????
Posted by: stargazin | September 28, 2006 at 04:21 PM
WHO KNEW FOOTBALL COULD BE SO FUN?????
Posted by: stargazin | September 28, 2006 at 04:22 PM
"OPEN UP THE PASSING GAME" -EXACTLY.
MAYBE 19 POINTS BEATS THE ROCKIES. BUT WHO KNOWS ABOUT FRISCO. THE GRIND IT OUT ON THE GROUND
IS OK AGAINST SOME TEAMS BUT THE GIANTS, I DON'T KNOW. AND AGAIN THE KICKING GAME. LOL.
Posted by: stargazin | September 28, 2006 at 04:25 PM
OREL - SORRY YOU MISSED THE GAME. WOW.
BUT LIVING IN CHICAGO YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN A FEW LIKE IT????
Posted by: stargazin | September 28, 2006 at 04:27 PM
COULD WE PLAY ANOTHER. PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEE??
Posted by: stargazin | September 28, 2006 at 04:28 PM
C'MON D-BACKS. RUN IT UP THE MIDDLE. I HEARD THE
PADRES WERE SOFT UP THE MIDDLE.
Posted by: stargazin | September 28, 2006 at 04:32 PM
Next years infield:
1B Loney
2B Kent
SS Furcal
3B Nomar
Utility - Betemit
MAGIC # =3!!!!!!!
Posted by: Tom Daniels | September 28, 2006 at 04:40 PM
TOM - THATS INTERESTING. I WONDER IF NOMAR WOULD GO FOR IT. HECK OF AN OFFENSINE INFIELD. NOT BAD DEFENSIVELY EITHER.
Posted by: stargazin | September 28, 2006 at 04:46 PM
TOM D.- WHO DO YOU LIKE AT QB??
Posted by: stargazin | September 28, 2006 at 04:50 PM
I would love to see Nomar at 3B.
Posted by: LoLo | September 28, 2006 at 05:01 PM
To add on to my Nomar at 3B comment, the reason I say that is because I would love to keep Nomar in Dodger Blue, but there is NO WAY Mr. Loney does not deserve to be our starting 1B next year. Youth will be served, my friends.
We have a slight hole at 3B (I'm not convinved that Betemit is starting 3B material because of his inconsistancy). If there is a spot Nomar can be fit into it's 3B. Betemit would make an excellent back-up for spot starts and insurance just in case Nomar gets hurt.
Posted by: LoLo | September 28, 2006 at 05:04 PM
C'MON DODGERS 7 IN A ROW AND A WESTERN DIVISION TITLE.
C'MON.
BUT YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Posted by: stargazin | September 28, 2006 at 05:06 PM
LOLO- I REALLY LIKE IT. WONDER IF NOMAR WOULD DO IT????? WHAT A GREAT INFIELD THAT WOULD BE AND
HEY I THINK WE'LL BE OK IN THE OUTFIELD TOO.
NO WAY TO KEEP LONEY DOWN ON THE FARM.
Posted by: stargazin | September 28, 2006 at 05:09 PM
All,
It's still raining here in DC and it doesn't look like it's letting up. We are under a severe storm warning and the forecast calls for continuing thunderstorms until 3AM.
Making the Phillies play 4 games in 3 days can definately play to our advantage.
Posted by: LoLo | September 28, 2006 at 05:11 PM
BETEMIT- SEEMS LIKE ONE OF THOSE PLAYERS THAT IS MORE EFFECTIVE OFF THE BENCH LIKE HE WAS IN ATLANTA. HE HIT .305 LAST YEAR. SEEMS WHEN HE PLAYS EVERYDAY THE PITCHERS KINDA FIGURE HIM OUT???or he wears down a little??
Posted by: stargazin | September 28, 2006 at 05:11 PM
ak/bk - could you check with nomar on that and get back to us????
Posted by: stargazin | September 28, 2006 at 05:23 PM
Stargazin,
Betemit has pop; there's no doubt about that. And he does seem to hit in the clutch. But I think he's too inconsistent to be a starter (as in we can find more consistent options). Aybar was pegged as a utility guy, so there's no harm in having a better version of him as our utility guy of the future.
I think Nomar would go for it. I think he likes LA, and so long as he finds the contract fair he'll play wherever we ask him to. Now, is that wise to put a fragile guy at 3B? In my opinion, Nomar has not done anything to disprove he still an injury liability (which makes his contract situation even more “touchy”). The outfield, or any other position where he has to maneuver, for that matter, increases the chance of injury. Ideally, 1B is the safest position for him to play at, but that wouldn't be fair to Loney who has done nothing to disprove that he doesn't deserve to be the starting 1B for the Dodgers. We have some tough decisions to make.
Posted by: LoLo | September 28, 2006 at 05:25 PM
so strange penny didn't say anything about his
back before the game. so strange. he coulda said something but
noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Posted by: stargazin | September 28, 2006 at 05:26 PM
WHEN HE (Betemit) PLAYS EVERYDAY THE PITCHERS KINDA FIGURE HIM OUT???
Gee, I wonder what is going to happen to Loney? I'm happy for Loney and the Dodgers but if Nomar is healthy...I go with Nomar. Even with injuries the guy still drove in over 90 RBI's from the number 3 and 5 spot in the line-up. You can't say that is going to happen with Loney. Just like Kemp (whom I love as a ballplayer) Loney has things to learn. Like hitting a curve ball. We don't know if he can hit the curve ball yet. Annointing him the 1st baseman for next year is premature. The guy had 93 at bats before today's game. He was hitting like 258 with 1 home run, 8 RBI's and 24 hits. Now today he goes 4 for 5 and his batting average goes to 286. It's way too soon to say he's the 1st baseman for the Dodgers next year over Nomar.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | September 28, 2006 at 05:33 PM
I have nothing against Loney but it was a Colorado day. That means it was in COLORADO!
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | September 28, 2006 at 05:35 PM
Loney has been pegged for many years as our starting 1B of the future. Of course he's going to struggle, even the best hitters struggle. But the kid has done nothing to disprove that he doesn't deserve a shot a starting. I am champing at the bit to see our young core possibly grow into the core that the Yankees had in the 90s. In my opinion, Loney can be our Bernie Williams and Nomar can be our Wade Boggs. I believe we can do that and still give Loney the shot he deserves.
Posted by: LoLo | September 28, 2006 at 05:43 PM
Also, those numbers on Loney are skewed because they include his first stint in the Majors where he clearly was not ready but was called up because of an injury to Nomar. He went back down to AAA, worked on his swing, and came back an improved player. Look at his stats since he was called up in August. He's been solid. His defense is also outstanding. The kid is a player. And what better way to mature in the majors than to play alongside vets like Nomar and Kent.
Posted by: LoLo | September 28, 2006 at 05:47 PM
MIKEY-BLAH.BLAH.BLAH. I WAS MISS QUOTED AND IT WAS TAKEN OUT CONTEXT. PLUS I'M RIGHT AND YOU'RE WRONG.
SO THERE.I WIN.
Posted by: stargazin | September 28, 2006 at 05:49 PM
LONEY WILL PROVE HIMSELF IF GIVEN A CHANCE. WHICH I HAVE CALLED FOR ALL YEAR. HE WILL BE GIVEN A CHANCE IN SPRING TRAINING AGAIN. HE WILL PROVE HIMSELF AGAIN.
BUT IN THE END HE CAN ONLY PROVE HIMSELF BY PLAYING EVERYDAY. HE DESERVES THE CHANCE.
HE'S AT THE POINT WHERE YOU CANT KEEP HIM IN MINORS.
SO WHAT R U GONNA DO. TRADE HIM AND REGRET IT??
NOT REALLY ROOM FOR TWO REGULAR FIRST BASEMEN ON THE
ROSTER.
HOW DOES HE PROVE HIMSELF WITHOUT PROVING HIMSELF??
Posted by: stargazin | September 28, 2006 at 05:55 PM