This one's on me
Why? Because after seven weeks or so of mixed-but-generally-bad performances by Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano, I stuck him on the bench of my fantasy team this week. And, obviously sensitive to the fact he's pitching for a spot in my rotation (and a fat new contract, though realtively speaking I imagine that's more of a back burner issue) Zambrano came out chucking Saturday afternoon against the Blue, allowing only two runs over 7 2/3 innings in Chicago's 4-2 win. Clearly I awoke the sleeping giant. Lou Piniella ought to send me a muffin basket. Aside from a little hiccup in the fourth- a pair of singles from Juan Pierre and Tony Abreu opened the inning but no runs were scored- Zambrano was basically untouchable until the seventh, when Wilson Betemit cracked an 0-2 offering over the wall in right for his fifth homer of the year.
The Dodgers got their rally on in the eighth, sending six men to the plate and chasing Zambrano, but Cubs reliever Will Ohman struck out the seventh- pinch hitter Jeff Kent- to end the threat. Had his teammates on the bench molded their caps into the always successful "inside out shark bill" formation, I suspect things would have turned out better. In the ninth, the Dodgers put the tying run on first, but Cubs closer Ryan Dempster coaxed Olmedo Saenz into a double play to end the game. I'd say the crowd was disappointed, but given the roar that went up at the final out, I figure at least half the crowd were Cubs faithful. Probably more than half, by the end of the game. It was like Wrigley without the ivy or nearby watering holes. At least somebody went home happy.
Grady Little said before the game that Zambrano had looked good to them on film. Really, the only thing that seemed different from this year to seasons past were his numbers. At least for today, he was right. "He pitched better than a .500 pitcher with a five-something ERA," Little said. "He's always pitched well against this club, and we didn't expect anything different today. He was strong." As for Mark Hendrickson, he matched Zambrano in every way, except for the part about dominating the opposing lineup. Five innings, four earned, nine hits. "A couple balls left the park, but outside of that he was alright," Little said. Those homers, back-to-back in the second from Aramis Ramirez and Mark DeRosa, were both hit the other way. "My initial reaction to Aramis' was it wasn't hit as well as the result appeared," Hendrickson said. "Those were pitches that were probably just a little bit up. They were outside, and they hit them out. Tip your hat to them, and try to move on from there."
Download mark_hendrickson_5.26 on Cubs.mp3
Download grady_little_5.26 on Zambrano, Hendrickson.mp3
Download mark_hendrickson_5.26 on his performance.mp3
It's worth noting the performance of Chad Billingsley in relief of Hendrickson. Not only because he John Deered his way through the Cubs lineup for three innings, recording a trio of K's and only allowing one hit, but because Little would have sent him out for a fourth frame had he not needed to pinch hit for him. With Hendrickson having officially become the tallest mayor in the history of Shakyville and Little making no secret of his willingness to start stretching Billingsley out for a potential return to the rotation, Little's willingness to use Bills for a four inning stint could be significant. Granted, Billingsley had thrown only 40 pitches at that point, but I don't know if Little would have considered trotting him back out if there wasn't a rotation spot in the mix. As Hendrickson said, you have to "move on from there," but if he's not careful, it might be to the bullpen.
As for Rafael Furcal, he told Little he woke up this morning with a bruised knee, and it was too stiff to play. The hope is he'll be ready for Sunday's series finale.
More on the game tomorrow. And good news, Cubs starter Rich Hill is not riding pine on my fantasy bench, so if he pitches well, blame someone else. Maybe AK.
BK
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You knew the Cubs would get this one with Henderson struggling. Too bad it was on national TV (airing dirty laundry, lol?) I guess it evens out after that gift last night. You don't see comebacks like that very often.
It's back to the bullpen for Mark, and Betemit needs to just pinch hit. He looks terrible in the field. Is he psyched out or something? I don't remember him being this bad last year.
MOVE THE RUNNERS!!! It's getting ridiculous.
Now make me happy and win Sunday. Like the Loreal commercial, I'm worth it...
Posted by: Andy B | May 26, 2007 at 05:08 PM
Well, another amazing line-up by Grady. He knew Furcal had a brusied knee and decided that Kent also needed rest on the same day after already being off on Thursday. The Guy is a genius!! Having Martinez, Arabu, and the amazing Betemit in the line-up at the same time sure put fear in my heart. I wonder who will be in need of rest on Sunday. We cannot rest them one at the time as we might win!! It must have something to do with day games as this is when Grady gets brilliant.
Posted by: Package | May 26, 2007 at 05:31 PM
Yeah, you can't win them all. But why does Grady decide to sit his 2 most productive offensive players in the same game?
Posted by: Dodgerdog | May 26, 2007 at 05:42 PM
Is Ethier in Little's doghouuse? Is he being punished because he is young and good? Is that why he is batting eight while Bet I Can't Get A Hit, bats in front of him?
Posted by: DODGER 1955 | May 26, 2007 at 06:12 PM
I was just thinking, perhaps Grady should consider these things.
1. Never rest more than 1 starter at a time.
2. Never play Pierre and Gonzo at the same time.
3. Bring up Kemp and Loney immediately.
4. Put Nomar at 3rd at least sometimes to get Loney in the game, and maybe let Nomar stay there.
5. Let starting pitchers stay in the game if they are pitching well and not take them out just because its the 6th inning.
6. When Pierre plays, move him down to perhaps 7th or 8th in the line-up as he is not performing. (Sorry about his money). Perhaps. someone in baseball needs a lead-off hitter, he is not helping much.
7. Remove Betemit permanently. Keep Abreu. Betemits definitely had his chance or do you think he still needs more time? Remember if you have a decent lineup you might not have to pinch hit as much.
8. Perhaps start a lineup like:
Furcal SS
Kemp CF
Nomar 3rd
Kent 2nd
Martin C
Loney 1st
Either RF
Pierre LF
OR
Furcal SS
Either RF
Nomar 1st
Kent 2nd
Martin C
Kemp CF
Gonzo LF
Abreu 3rd
9. Its time to put Billz in the rotation.
10. Teach the coaching staff how to take an extra base.
I might be wrong about some of this, but I can't be wrong about all of it.
What do ya'all think? I am tired of hearing "Everyone will get plenty of playing time" by Grady Little 07.
Posted by: Package | May 26, 2007 at 07:09 PM
the dodgers are frustrating because they have a better than this. little is dumb and isnt playing the team to its top talent. Better players in the minors and always putting together crazy lineups. Billz needs to start ...awe forget it doesnt matter anyways they will find a way to lose at least they are good at losing!!!
Posted by: bigtaxdizzle | May 26, 2007 at 08:38 PM
the dodgers are frustrating because they have a better than this. little is dumb and isnt playing the team to its top talent. Better players in the minors and always putting together crazy lineups. Billz needs to start ...awe forget it doesnt matter anyways they will find a way to lose at least they are good at losing!!!
Posted by: bigtaxdizzle | May 26, 2007 at 08:38 PM
Grady Little takes out Furcal, Kent, and puts in Betimont and Martinez......Can somebody explain to me how he expected the Dodgers to score runs tonight? I mean I understand you have to rest guys, but when the lineup is weak as it is, why does he rest more then once guy at the same time?.....Well I guess the alternative is to rest one at a time , which also could backfire because then you dont have a whole lineup all the time.......Well this shows that either way the Dodgers need to improve there lineup......And there are ways to do that:
Take out Pierre and/or Gonzalez.....The Dodges dont have the kind of lineup where they can keep both these guys and still score consistently......Play James Loney!....I mean geez this guy played fine last year and deserves a chance already!......And when Kemp comes back they better play him instead of PIerre
Posted by: Aryan Sood | May 26, 2007 at 09:18 PM
Why take Gonzo out of the game with his success against Ohman and bring in Kent who has had no success at pinch hitting or hitting with bases loaded..another great move by Little
Package,
I agree with your sentiments 100% about resting players...Why such a weak lineup?
Posted by: K T USN | May 26, 2007 at 10:33 PM
Package,
I couldn't agree more with your #10. It pains me to watch the Dodgers go 90 feet at a time, instead of from 1st to 3rd or 2nd to home. I'm not advocating recklessness, but good, aggressive baserunning (like we saw from the Angels last weekend)may help to offset the Dodgers terrible hitting with men on.
Posted by: Dodgerdog | May 26, 2007 at 10:35 PM
And I won't even begin to talk about Little pulling Gonzo for Jeff Kent with the bases loaded in the 8th. Yeah, I know lefty-lefty, but Luis is 4 for 6 against Ohman in the past. Maybe Grady figured he was due to make an out, rather than being impressed with how well Gonzo had done previously.
Posted by: Dodgerdog | May 26, 2007 at 10:52 PM
I think Pierre should bat 9th!...And Dumbko should only come in to pitch in 10th inning after game is finished in 9 innings, maybe as something like an extra added attraction for fans, as they are leaving the park.
We should also have a lottery, 'Who Is Next Giant That Coletti Will Sign To Long Term Contract".
Posted by: DODGER 1955 | May 26, 2007 at 10:55 PM
Hey everyone!!
My comments are just some of what I think or have heard from ya'all over the past few weeks. Perhaps, you have some other suggestions to add. I am sure they are just as good as what Grady has been doing.
Posted by: Package | May 27, 2007 at 07:43 AM
whenever i look at this message board people have thrown out ideas that make sense for the most part, if all of us can see it watching the games i dont understand how the manager and GM dont see the same thing!!!!!!!!
Posted by: bigtaxdizzle | May 27, 2007 at 11:03 AM
I have to be honest, in this case, at least with the PH of Kent, I'm with Grady. He's arguably their best hitter right now (certainly one of their two best), and is the best chance to drive the ball far enough to give the Dodgers a lead in that situation with one swing. I don't see how you can let that game go by without giving him an AB, especially in a situation like that.
I don't consider Little to be a top flight in-game manager, but in this case, I think he made the right call. On the other hand, if they knew walking in that Furcal wouldn't play- he was a very late scratch- Kent probably should have been in the lineup initially and had the day off today.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | May 27, 2007 at 12:22 PM