Ah, memories
Anyone who forgot the little boost Greg Maddux gave the Dodgers pitching staff last year had a chance to reminisce Saturday night. Not just because Maddux pitched well (7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER) in San Diego's 3-2 win over the Blue at PETCO, but because between the always efficient righty and a generally sharp Brett Tomko, the game was finished in barely over two hours. Would have been shorter, too, if Maddux hadn't attempted about seventy-eight pickoff attempts on Juan Pierre at second base in the first and third innings. For Tomko, everything went swimmingly before and after the fourth inning. Just not in the fourth inning itself. Tomko lost the no-hitter, shutout, and potential win in a span of four straight hits and three San Diego runs, all with two outs. So the pitchers were stingy, save an inning. And offensively, the Dodgers didn't really spread the wealth, either. Six hits total, five between Juan Pierre and Jeff Kent, accounting for both Dodger runs. 5-8 for that tandem, 1-23 for everyone else. Yeeps.
Perhaps Saturday's oh-fer for Rafael Furcal can be blamed on his still tender ankle (he won't say that), or his injury plagued spring (a more likely culprit). At least Furcal's stomach isn't acting up. The same can't be said for Wilson Betemit, who had to be scratched from the lineup last night with flu-like symptoms that included some vomiting. We'll let you guys make the next joke. Not to kick a guy while he's sick, but it'll refuel the positional controversy, for sure. The Dodgers are still trying to settle the third base question, which has been an issue since the end of the Ron Cey era. They're also trying to settle the Chad Billingsley question. As in, getting the kid adjusted to life in the pen.
Brad Penny is no longer in love with the K.
Should the Dodgers have seen the writing on the wall with Jason Schmidt? It's all about the gun, people. And it's all about the ball, too. As in, where's the sphere Kirk Gibson deposited over the wall in '88?
Looking to save a little cash at the ol' ballgame? Here are some suggestions.
TODAY'S GAME- The Dodgers will try to take the rubber match in their San Diego series this afternoon, sending Derek Lowe (2-3, 4.40) out against David Wells (1-1, 6.00). Try not to jinx Lowe by mentioning how good he's been in his career against the Padres.
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Nomar is still a terrific hitter, but only one homer so far?
I don't know if he can play 3rd or not now, but to this fan, seems to me we should have as starters Kemp, Pierre, Ethier, Nomar, Furcal, Kent, Loney, Martin and our starting rotation Lowe, Penny, Wolff, Billigsley, and Hendrickson.
We'd have a better 'attitude' and not have to rely so much on 'mercenaries'. Gonzalez made a comment how young players are out to establish themselves and not so much focused on winning. Maybe true, but it's also true that older players like himself, even if they know how to 'win', are really into it so they can squeeze the last millions out of some GM. Can't blame him, but we don't need that.
Posted by: DODGER 1955 | April 29, 2007 at 10:35 AM
Still think the key to last nights game was the inability to throw to the proper base in the fourth inning. When Raffy received the cut-off throw in short left field they had Greene halfway between 2nd and third dead to rights for the third out and a 2-2 ballgame
Posted by: K T USN | April 29, 2007 at 03:01 PM
Ball Game...2 out of 3...way to go Dodgers
Posted by: K T USN | April 29, 2007 at 06:04 PM
Here are my thoughts on the Dodgers at the end of April on my blog at http://www.narnia3.com/index.html any comments would be appreciated.
Posted by: Dennis Swanson | April 29, 2007 at 10:33 PM