2007's First Extra! Extra! (2.21)

Just popping my head in to take a look around. Hey, could it be? I'm officially the 1st one in for the season? 1st because of the extra, extra thing. LOL!

mike

FINALLY!!!!

It's good to be back. I'm excited, not excited enough to buy season tickets; nonetheless, excited. Actually, I can't afford season tickets, but I will hit a couple of the games.

Bring on the NL West, the Blue Crew is ready! I can't wait for the victory parade.

Furcal-Pierre, Pierre-Furcal, Schmidt-Lowe, Lowe Schmidt???? Why is this such a big deal on Feb 20? Shouldn't we wait to see what happens in Spring training? If Lowe gives up 50 runs in the spring and schmidt 40 and Penny zero doesn't that make a difference? likewise, lets see which hitting combo works best. Why even talk about the final decision now. If Ethier bats .500, I don't want to see him batting number 7 on opening day.
David

hey MT & sok!! good to read ya again!

sok:

I am gonna do something different this year for my BD. I have not decided I am either gonna spend the week in Fresno watching the 51s and the Grizzles or go to LV and watch a series there. Have friends in Fresno and well, they have buffets in LV....hehehehe...either way it will be fun to see the youngsters in May before the call-ups start.

BK:

what got me in that article on the Dodger's site was that Saenz is now the Dodgers elder statesman...how in the world did THAT happen? I mean there is nobody on the team that was there just three years ago.

WOW...

Hello Dodger fans.

I have a question for you all. There's been a bit of fanfare about LA's openness to moving Penny. What, in terms of position (not talent), would they be wanting in return? Bullpen aid? Or would it be an issue of future shock prospect talent? Thanks a lot for the opinions...

Lister

Furcal-1, Pierre-2.. Clearly Grady has a great handle on the situation...

Go Dodger!!

Good Morning Dodger Fans,
I've been reading your blog for over a year now and decided to add my two cents worth. I love the look of the batting order. Except for Ethier in the 8th spot. If he hits like last year, I would think he belongs in the 6th spot at least. I would probably but Martin back in the 8th spot to start the season. Oh what a joy. Baseball (especially the Dodgers) is back.

Ain't spring wonderful? I have read that JD Princess feels great, as does Jayson Werth and Eric "I Don't Owe LA Anything" Gagne.

As Michael Wilbon of PTI and the Washington Post said recently about his beloved Cubs, "We're always great in March". We know how that has worked out.

I hope the Dodgers' most significant acquisition of the off-season, Stan Conte, pays dividends. He may have his hands full. I hope he is as good as advertised.

Lister -

At this point, I would want Penny moved for a little bullpen aid and a prospect. After seeing the new and improved(by that I mean in shape) Penny, however, I wanna see him in LA wearing blue. If we really need bullpen help, Tomko/Hendrickson to NY for Heilman and get Duaner back. They need starters (especially now that El Duque's neck problem came up) and we could use some more bullpen.

espn picks the dodgers to win the west, its nice to get some credit for once!!!!! The dodgers have bulit themselves a good all around team thank u Ned!!! I love that guy!!!!

Lister,

Earlier in the offseason the push was for an impact power bat in return for Penny.

Now, though, I don't think the Dodgers are looking too hard for takers in Penny. The market for power bats is pretty thin, and with the signings of Pierre and Gonzo, the OF is set. I suppose the team could use an upgrade at 3B if Betemit doesn't impress, but I don't think Penny alone will bring enough talent to make a deal worthwhile.

To answer your question, the Dodgers would be looking for a power bat at a corner OF position or 3B. If the Dodgers want bullpen help or a re-stock of young talent, Hendrickson and/or Tomko would be a more economical move.

Evan, I agree with Little's decision in batting order as well, but I don't understand why he's in such a rush to make a decision.

Grady keeps saying that he wants stability early, but why set something in stone before a single Grapefruit League game is played? Set roles and patterns do help players, but early spring training games are more of a showcase for guys that have to fight for spots, so there isn't a whole lot of stability anyways. The starters don't really begin seriously playing until late March, why not use the next couple of weeks to evaluate Furcal and Pierre in both lineup spots?

I don't know what goes on in the Dodgers' coaching think-tank, but this seems awfully similar to the inexplicable Sandy Alomar/Odalis Perez partnership that Grady couldn't let go of for such a long time early last season.

David, your point is well-taken. For example, all one has to do is look at the Dodger bullpen at the start of last season and then compare it to what it looked like at the end of the year.

But it's still fun to talk about the what-ifs... After all, that's why we have a blog! :-)

Len

Makoto
I think Little is just giving an answer to give an answer. I think Furcal and Pierre will be evaluated but why create ongoing questions? I think middle relief is more pressing. What starters can conform to middle relief and who cannot. I do have a question for you and anyone else. Does anyone feel that Little pulled the plug early on starters last year?

Mak,

Great point about Grady making a decision so early. I agree with having Furcal lead off too but like you said nothing is set in stone... it may turn out that Pierre batting first may be better.

That's my displeasure with Grady. He is always making questionable decision or is indecisive. I think because the batting order was an issue, (IT SHOULDN'T BE ONE THIS EARLY) Grady felt he had to look like he could be decisive and made quick decision. Grady needs to stop letting other people influence him into making decision on issues that don't need to be addressed right now. He should of just said, Furcal was my lead off hitter last year and we go into Spring with Furcal as our leadoff hitter. If things change in Spring, I'll let you know. PERIOD! Be a little more in control Grady... it would definitely help your credibility as a manager and a leader of men.

Both of these guys are going to have to learn how this thing will work. That's why I think Grady decided so early. With this setup, it is of the utmost importance that those two learn to communicate and work as a team within a team.

Package,

I would be inclined to agree with you, but Grady Little has a history of making a seemingly arbitrary decision and stubbornly sticking to it.

I'm just a little worried that Little is up to his old tricks so early.

I seem to recall reading that Little was going to talk to Furcal before deciding. I say this decision indicates that first and foremost Furcal is for Furcal and not the team.

I would like to think that Furcal just said to Little that he truly did not care and would do whatever asked to help the team win. Sadly I just don't think that is the case. Furcal and his agent are already thinking about 2yrs from now when Furcal is again a FA. Sooooo, start padding those numbers. Giving yourself up to move runners is not something that gets a guy the next big contract.

Call me a cynic but I think it is a case where Furcal the FA is leaving in 2yrs, period. He will not stay mark that down. Pierre on the other hand is on the team for the next 5 years and can live with being selfless.

I feel if it was a case of Furcal not caring then Little would not have announced the decision already. He could have affored to wait and see how everything unfolds. Since, there is no other option, to keep a happy family then why not just say it now and get it over with...

Kinda of puts a damper on the season in a way but in another way I am gonna believe that it is still the best way to setup the order and Furcal is the best man for the job. I really do think it's the best option to have it Furcal-Pierre but the cynic in me just has a hard time thinking the best of most players today...I do believe that even if put in the 2-hole Furcal is not the kinda guy who would pout he would play hard either way. It's just a matter of keeping Furcal positive vs. unhappy but doing his job.

So what happens when Furcal gets hurt this season and Pierre, batting lead-off, gets the offense running on all nine-cylinders this season? What do they do with Furcal then? Trade time?

Man it is tooooo early in the season for me to already be this cynical...and I LIKE Furcal...really it is fun to watch the guy play...must be because I haven't had my coffee this morning... ;)

Hey hey, great to be here. Great to be a Dodger fan. I agree that it is way to early to lock in a batting order, too many variables.
...does Pierre or Furcal look better with RISP or runner at first. Historically Furcal's numbers are better...but this may be the best offense Pierre has ever been a part of....
....how will Either hit? LAst year he was on fire for four months....can't bury him in the 7 or 8 hole hitting like that...is Kent back? When he is raking the ball like he did two years ago its not going to matter very much which order the players in front of him hit...
...I have to admit I really like the Pierre signing (OK, OK stop the boos and hear me out)...
With Furcal (solid line drive hitter) and Pierre (hits all fields, bunts like a pro, fast as a rabbit) at the top and Nomar (2nd toughest strikeout in baseball last year) there are numerous ways to get Kent to the plate with RISP..and this is when he really rakes. If this goes as planned I look for both Pierre and Furcal to score a 100 and Kent and Nomar to bat in a 100. With the dodgers starting pitching staff as strong as it is and Broxton/Saito at the end of the pen I'm going say the Dodgers will be 80-30 when scoring 4 or more runs. If this is the case they could run away with the division. Some may call this wishful thinking, I just see it as the best possible outcome...and not that terribly unlikely to happen....as long as we stay healthy.

GO BIG BLUE...WE'RE WITH YOU