You're with Andre, Leather
There were a lot of fun things to take away from Friday night's 6-5 win over the Padres at PETCO. Yes, there was the whole four-run-rally-off-perhaps-the-greatest-closer-of-all-time-on-the-night-he's-being-honored thing as the Dodgers blew up on Trevor Hoffman in the ninth, ruining Trevor Hoffman Night. Though really, if it's not done with a bunch of consecutive homers, is it worth talking about? Then there's the ascension of Russell Martin, whose two-run double off Hells Bells put the Blue ahead, Nomar's four hit night (and the fact he's hitting around a billion with runners in scoring position), and a box score that shows another solid outing from Mark Hendrickson (five IP, 1 ER, 4 Ks)... though not such a hot night from Chad Billingsley. But what put the Dodgers in a position to make their miracle comeback was some excellent glove work, particularly from Andre Ethier, whose two diving catches (including one with the bases loaded in the eighth) saved at least three or four runs. Rafael Furcal, Garciaparra, and Jeff Kent flashed some leather as well. And while chicks may dig the long ball, on this squad, it's all about the cowhide.
Furcal had a hit and two runs scored, and seems primed to break out after being slowed in spring training with shoulder and ankle issues. Also primed to bust loose would be Matt Kemp, who has fully healed from his very minor shoulder separation. Unfortunately for the kid, for the time being, he'll be doing whatever damage he does in Vegas. Kemp was activated from the DL on Friday, and optioned to Sin City. With Ethier, Luis Gonzalez, and Juan Pierre in the lineup everyday, there aren't a lot of ABs to go around. So he'll have to bide his time.
Having too many players is always a nice problem to have. Wondering when your theoretical ace is going to return from a shoulder problem (and if his velocity will return when he does) is not. But that's where the Blue are with Jason Schmidt.
TODAY'S GAME- The Dodgers will look to ensure themselves a series win tonight, with Brett Tomko (0-1, 2.65) facing Greg Maddux (1-2, 4.24). It'll be Maddux's first start against his former (though fairly brief in tenure) teammates.
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Schmidt is eligible to come off of the DL on Monday, but I doubt we'll see him on the mound before June. Had he only been honest about his injury, he would have already returned by now.
In the meantime, Timberrrr has done an excellent job, far exceeding expectations.
Anyone else get Grady's foreshadowing of Betemit's future with his comments about not continuing with things that aren't working? Although I've not been a proponent of Nomar moving to 3rd, I am beginning to question how much more stressful it is as opposed to 1st base. At 1st, Nomar has to be involved with every ground ball. Sure, 3rd isn't named the "hot corner" for nothing, but wouldn't Loney's bat and glove look good right about now?
Of course, if Nomar did move to 3rd, he'd probably get injured running out to his position during his first game there.
Posted by: Chunkdog32 | April 28, 2007 at 01:31 PM
i hope the dodgers listen to the fans here, nomar at third is what people are calling for!!! he has played 3rd with the cubs so its not like he has never done it before. Loney is the extra young bat that the dodgers are missing.I hope little has the brass to move pierre to right he would have so much less pressure and we wouldnt have to worry about his weak arm so much. Either could play center and blossom into the the next great centerfielder!!!! The only reason he didnt win the R.O.Y was because he was slowed down by his shoulder. Bills is really stuggling he doesnt look right in the bullpen, lets see how Bomko does and if he doesnt fair well switch them!! The team is hurt without there healthy ace but there are options within house.
Posted by: bigtaxdizzle | April 28, 2007 at 05:14 PM
Traditionally, you put your best outfield arm in right field, because the throws to second and third base from the outfield are longest from right field.
Also, you generally put your fastest outfielder in center field.
So putting Pierre in LF makes no sense. Putting him on the bench and starting Matt Kemp might make sense if it wasn't for the whole 5-year $45 million thing.
But, I digress...
Posted by: Dante Padre | April 28, 2007 at 05:36 PM
PIERRE IN LEFT. BILLZ SHOULD BE IN THE ROTATION AND LONEY SHOULD BE AT FIRST. NOMAR CAN PLAY THIRD. THIS OFFENSE IS ABYSSMAL.
Posted by: Jim | April 28, 2007 at 09:47 PM
Tough Game tonight...An mental error in the fourth by Furcal allowed the go ahead run to third instead of the third out, they had the runner dead to rights and instead tried to get the tying run at the plate when there was really no chance.
JP was robbed in the eigth he was safe at second...it could have started the rally we needed.
heads up play by Tomko starting the double play by Martin...The Pods baserunners looked like the Keystone cops out there.
Tomko had a perfect game going into the 4th and the 4 hits that followed were all clean.
The crowd at the litter box was about 60/40 pods fans.
Well get them tomorrow. Go Blue
Posted by: K T USN | April 28, 2007 at 10:36 PM
Of course, the fact that Baseball Prospectus (using the best player forecasting system in the business) projects Matt Kemp to be a better player than Gonzalez, Pierre and Ethier THIS YEAR, is completely immaterial. It is much more important that Ned Coletti and the Dodgers' brontosaurus braintrust painfully justify the recent kneejerk flushing down the drain of large-market riches that was the signing of Old Man From Desert Who Once Hit Many Dingers.
It just wouldn't have been fair to the small market teams to simply plug Kemp in in LF (better than Gonzo*, sorry but it's true), and spend that $7 million on a CF who could manage more than a 622 OPS. (Pierre would make a nice late-inning pinch runner to have around, yes.) That would have added too many runs to the Dodgers' side of the equation, with the danger of it resulting in 5 or 10 more wins. So he handicapped the franchise in the name of divisional parity. He's a good guy, that Ned.
"But what about Pierre's speed? Doesn't that make up for the fact that his average base hit travels 17.35 feet???" cry the purists. "And what about the little things? It's the LITTLE things, you know."
In today's offense environment, a player has to steal at a success rate of better than 75% for it to be worth anything at all (less, and it's actually a detriment to their run-scoring chances). Pierre is a good basestealer, so he does (barely) break even. It's exciting to watch, but worth only a handful of extra runs per year. Having someone in center who could muster even a 750 OPS would do far more for the team in the win column. And as for the little things, well, they're... little. That's why they're called that. They're littler than the big things. (See how that works?)
Could Kim Ng have done worse in her sleep? I think not. That was evident by April 2006. Coletti's batting average fetish put a lead weight around the team's neck from the get-go. But that's a rant for another time.
* PECOTA OPS projections for 2007 season:
Kemp 853
Ethier 818
Gonzalez 795
Pierre 708
(Hey, they're just numbers. And as the old schoolers will be quick to tell you, numbers aren't real. They bring back all kinds of bad memories from grade school, so they can't be.)
Posted by: Mark Willis | May 01, 2007 at 02:39 PM