News Infused Question of the Day

I'm interested in Matt Kemp's development & where if anywhere may he fit in?

What am I looking for? The games! I'm chomping at the bit to see them, but with only limited telecasts and no radio coverage, I'm jonesin' for my Dodgers fix. I know they're only meaningless spring training games, but it's been a long winter!

One question about Betemit: Has anyone ever mentioned the possibility of him becoming exclusively a left-handed batter? Are his struggles a result of the pitchers he faces, or the way he sees the ball? I understand that a right handed batter is supposed to have an advantage against lefty pitching, but if Betemit can't hit from the right side, why not let him take some hacks from his 'better' side?

Loney needs to be on the big league roster, no matter how he performs in Florida. The guy has absolutely nothing more to prove in the minor leagues, and the Dodgers would be wasting a whole lot of talent (and his entire career) by burying him in Las Vegas for even a part of this season.

I'm looking for some solid pitching, great defense, and old-school offense. This dodger team has enough role players, young players, all-stars to do all that and more!.... I think Kuo is a good possibility for the 5th spot, but I've read Tomko has been working on a 2 seam fastball that Martin/Lowe seem to like. Tomko is the pitcher that LOST that starter spot, is it a possibility that he will get it back? It's really nice to be sitting here pre-season with the problem of having a few choices for the 5th starter spot.
Not having a power hitter doesn't worry me at all. My biggest concern right now is that tickets are not on sale yet and I ABSOLUTELY NEED the reassurance of having tickets....

Some of my biggest question/potential surprises are: How well Tomko pitches- maybe well enough to get the 5spot back,eventhough i dont think anyone else really wants him to. How well Kemp does during spring? How Billz and Kuo do during spring. Repko could also cause a lot of noise if he has a great spring and april.

We've heard so much about Kent's off season workout, how Penny and Lowe look slimmer, how everybody is healthy. We've heard how bitter a taste it left in the player's mouths to go 3 and out. I want to see how that impacts their passion when they play.

I love the Dodgers. Always have. I want them to play with more passion. I want to see Kirk Gibson type emotion when they play. I want to see them hate to lose more. I want them to play all the teams in the West with a passion to dominate.

It's not much but that's all I want.

oh yeah, "Play ball" that's what I want to hear!

Butch

looking forward to a solid 1-2-3 punch of schmidt, lowe, and penny ..... hope that penny stays in shape. But my biggest question is can luis and pierre stay healthy? and if they can't who do we get ?

For me, the real qustion I'm left wondering about is how many more advertisements the marketing team will be able to cram into Dodger Stadium? ;-)

For example, after all of the obvious locations were taken, they started putting ads in such innovative locations as on the small framing-rails on the bullpen gates, and even on the dirt rakes used by the grounds crew.

Where next, Dodger fans? I think ads above the urinals can't be too far off...

Len

I'm always interested in seeing if a non roster invitee or minor league player comes out of the woodwork and has a fantastic spring. Fans are always looking for the next rookie/unknown sensation to blossom into a possible star.
And with all the competition in the outfield, it will interesting to see who comes out ahead in that.
The biggest thing is how will the Dodgers start out of the gate once the season starts.

I think the Dodgers should consider moving Nomar at times to 3rd base so to make a space for Loney. It is time to let some kids make the big club. Also, Loney could play the outfield when Gonzo is rested. Maybe, Nomar could play 2nd when Kent is rested and of course Loney would fill in for Nomar when he is rested. Nomar is the key!! I don't know if Betemit will pan out. Kemp might make the team if something like injury or some other reason a place can be made. Betimet has never sparkled.

Len-

They've actually put ads on our computers.

BK

Given that position battles aren't the centerpiece of camp this year, what are you looking for?

Whaddaya mean no battle? I'm looking forward to LaRouche (or however you spell it) challenging Betimit (or however you spell it). Maybe Kemp can send Gonzalez into tradesville.

Jim-

La Roche pushing Betemit could happen, theoretically (though he'll have to destroy the ball and Betemit will have to totally suck for it to happen), but Kemp sticking? I'll be dollars to donuts- or dollars and donuts even- that it won't happen. They want him to get more time in the minors, and plan on doing everything they can to make sure it happens.

Hope that doesn't disappoint.

BK

hey guys! long time no blog.
BK - happy new year!
i have to say the most intriguing question for spring training 07 is what the heck we're going to do with all those starting pitchers.
... larry bigbie?

The only question for me is will the pavillion area have enough Dodger Dogs and nachos for the all-you-can-eat tickets. Can I ask them to drop the buns, which are meaningless calories? Will I be able to bring in outside condiments, like say, some homemade vidalia onion relish? A gallon would do. Will they just set up the nacho cheese in a cascading fountain and allow us to just dip trays in and be on our way? Maybe once in a while will they throw in some orange chicken from Panda Express? Are helmet sundaes included? Can I just bring a fullsize helmet from home instead?

BK,

Sorry to hear about your computer. LOL. :-)

I also am excited to see how much improvement Loney makes from last season, along with Andy La Roach (I hope the space between the a and R is big enough).

Len

i think we'll have a solid battle for the last two spots. i don't think wolf is a shoo in after recovering from his injury. i think it should be wolf, billingsley, kuo fighting for two spots, but if tomko, hendrickson, houlton compete, it could be very interesting.

i think loney should be given a chance to compete with gonzo for an outfield spot. loney could be a twenty home run plus guy this year and he may very well be the power bat we're looking for.

I don't know how the Dodgers plan on handling both Kuo and Billingsley. I don't see how they can put Billingsley in the bullpen without possibly retarding his progress. You can't do that to a potential Cy Young candidate. Kuo also has too much potential to discount. I think one of them has to make the #5 starter position, leaving Hendrickson and Tomko both in the bullpen.

Hey, MrsThinkBlue is back!

Fred-

I think one of those two will end up starting, but Tomko provides an interesting problem. If he pitches really well in the spring, the fact he's a vet and fairly expensive an arm to use in middle relief could get him the fifth starter job. On the other hand, the guy is Brett Tomko, and it's hard to believe he'll suddenly morph into Cy Young. Predictable as he is, over the long haul I'd say Bills and Kuo are far more likely to outperform him.

Like I said, I think one of the two young pitchers will be the fifth starter, but since we have a lot of time to figure this out, we might as well indulge in some speculation, right?

BK

things never work out the way they are planned out, lets just see what happends!!!! i liked the nomar at third base idea we should have done that last year

I just cannot agree that Nomahhh at 3rd makes any sort of sense. Sure he would try but his legs are gone...I would bet he would not last 20 games playing every day at 3rd before he pulls a hammy or worse...