If you've always dreamed of Roberto Hernandez in Dodger Blue

AK, what kind of man are you? I hunt souped-up Camaros with my bare hands and make rivers bend to my will.

Billz not looking like he is going to make life any better for the Pen.
I guess I know why Martinez is starting over Abreu now that I read he was sent back to LV.
I would have released Martinez and kept Abreu.
Who did they bump from the 40 man roster?

AK,
I always knew BK was the masculine brother. Comes out in his writing. We are who we are. I'm sure your mom still loves you the same.
BK,
Going back to Grady's game plan yesterday and your response to CAM's post. I completely disagree on throwing in the game down 7-1 in the 5th? I think it was. Bases loaded w/ 1 out. A base hit gets you right back in the game... remember SF game that made me blow my top? Tsao ring a bell. It's more than possible to return from 5 or so down w/ over half the game to play. That's where I think I differ than you and Grady. You guys place a lot more emphasis on tomorrow, and for the rest of the season. My thinking tends to be more think now while keeping an eye in the future. What good is tomorrow if you can't take care of today.... what good is worrying about innings pitch and injuries tomorrow when today is at hand. Injuries will happen and innings need to be pitched.

And even if your logic is right and Grady needs to conserve arms and innings and hit Stults... why in God's name is he pulling him later when he is getting shackled??!! Just let the guy pitch the rest of the game. If you have already conceded the game and you're down 10-1 then shouldn't you just let Stults eat up the innings and try to let him at that point work his way out of it?

I heard an interview Hendrickson gave on the radio and he states, " I didn't have it today but I tried to tough it out" If you know you don't have it, then tell the manager and don't try to tough it out... you're not doing anyone any favors by trying to eat innings when you know you're gonna suck. Which leads me to remark about what I believed from the start that Hendrickson is a better reliever than starter and Tomko is a better starter than reliever. Hendrickson wasn't pulled early yesterday eventhough he knew he sucked and Grady likely knew he sucked. He stayed in to try fight it. Had he been relieving, he would have been instantly pulled because there's no need to try and work through any problems and eat innings as a reliever.

3 innings, Billingsley has already thrown 71 pitches. Roberto, get ready.

Rob,

Did I mention that when I'm in my Camaro, I'm always cranking Metallica? haha

AK

With Ethier's homer---NOW ALL 4 KIDS BATTING OVER .300
where would we be if Graddy and Ned had listened to us and played these guys from day 1???
David

Bills,
Same old problem. Bad control too many pitches-not enough strikes.
David

Wow, Ethier certainly did turn 'it' on in the past couple of weeks. If Mueller and Mota really are key to his success, that alone may justify the Eddie Murray firing. If Andre can keep this up, and reverse the late season downturn he took last season, he's going to be tough to keep out of the lineup, no matter how well Kemp is doing.

In the recent past, many armchair GMs have thrown around Ethier's name as a definite 'expendable' commodity as opposed to Kemp or Loney (myself included), but Ethier is exactly the kind of player good baseball clubs need to have. A .280-.290 hitter with decent power, and the ability to hit the ball all over the field. He may never be the intimidating middle-of-the-order guy, but he'll always be the dangerous bat in the back of the lineup that can make a good team great. Plus, he's a good fielder with a strong arm.

Makato,
I also like Ethier. I feel last years poor second half was due to his bad shoulder, not a slump. Someday I'd like to see him bat 1 or 2.
David

Tim,

Good of you to show up! Several us were looking for you last week. I think these pitiful Dodgers completed a sweep of your AARP crew! Bonds? Did he play? I don't remember seeing anything from him. How many consecutive games have the Dodgers won in SFO? I hear that McCourt is considering buying that park as a home away from home for the Blue Crew.

We love for you to stop by but don't only come by after the Dodgers lose and the Giants win. If you keep doing that we most likely won't get to see much of you.

Late breaking news.....Cubs 12 Giants 1 I guess this means my post above will not be seen by Tim. He never shows up when the gnats lose.

Anyone besides me think that we should have sent Ramon packing and kept Abreu?

I don't want to get ahead of myself before the 9th, but this is the bullpen work we got use to seeing. Very refreshing to see (especially after last night) for the bullpen to pick up a starter who kept us in the game (even if he barely kept us in the game). Let's just hope these 4 innings of work don't backfire in the upcoming series and long stretch of games.

Also, it might just be me, but it seems like a lot of Etheir's HR's have been big ones -- either tying the game or giving the Blue the lead. He's been fairly impressive.

Lex,

Actually, I think they made the right move keeping Martinez. If they put Martinez on waivers, he'll get claimed by another team. I'd be very surprised if he didn't. So unless they're comfortable with losing him outright, they're better off sending down Abreu (who's definitely the upgrade in terms of pure talent, but has options remaining and isn't playing everyday, anyway) and bringing him back up again at some point. Plus, it gives Abreu more time on the field in Vegas.

AK

Rob-

Hey, I get what you're saying. I think we just approach it from a different angle. As for pulling Stults, as a reliever he's not really set up to throw 90 pitches no matter what. At some point, they had to take him out. Plus, there is a point where if a guy is so bad and essentially throwing BP (which he was) you just have to take him out. It's almost cruel to do otherwise.

But I do think you have a point that there are times when you can't manage for tomorrow, and it'll be interesting to see how Grady does when that time comes in the season.

It's a really fun discussion, I think.

BK

By the way, if anyone needed a sign that (at least sometimes) the Gods of Baseball watch out for the Blue, that pitchout that hit the home plate ump is evidence. If that goes through the wickets, the runner is on third and it's a totally different game.

BK

Let's hear it for Rudy Seanez, truly one of those unsung guys who certainly has come through this year. Pitches constantly and effectively, even at 38.

So, by not overusing him last night, the Dodgers ended up winning 2 out of 3. Considering Timberrr's fine work on Tuesday, that's the best we could have hoped for.

And no question as to Andre Ethier's value. Prior to getting injured last year, he was an excellent hitter. More of the same now this year. How ironic that he would hit a 3-run homer the same day he talks about the help he has gotten from Mueller and Mota.

AK, I agree with you about Martinez-Abreu. Tony probably has more talent, but a nice blend of vets and young players is necessary. Martinez is a pro and very smooth in the field. A very good complementary player.

Did anyone think Kent should have batted for Ramon with the bases loaded in the 8th? I did. Grady must really beleive that his vets need a complete day of rest.
Rob, I agree with you, Should have left Stults in. The game was over.

AK
What's up with letting Tomko pinch run for Tomato? He can't run well enough to do that job.

Lex

re the decision on sending down Abreu, I believe the Dodgers had no real choice in the matter, and it has nothing to do with Ramon's being an experienced vet, and Abreu being a rookie.

the plain fact of the matter is that Abreu is a second baseman, when he got time at third he was playing out of position. if something were to happen to Furcal (again my Key to the Second Half Player) and we need someone to play SS, Abreu would be REALLY playing out of position if he were to be used their. Absent Abreu, the Dodgers would only have Betemit as a stop-gap to play shortstop, in what also would be a less than ideal circumstance. So, they had to keep Ramon as the only true backup to Raffy to play SS.

While I am not a big fan of Ramon's, they made the correct and ONLY choice in keeping him over Abreu.

CTF.

Martines was the right choice. Now if only Loney would compact his swing a tad...I know I'm messing with something that ain't broke, but he is being pitched inside and seems every game grounding out to first.

Also if Either compacts his a tad, he'll be a 20-25 homer man.

Roberto Hernandez? Ha ha.

Package-

I thought about that, too. Had Abreu been available, Kent would have hit. But if Kent was starting, Martinez very likely would have entered the game as a defensive replacement. So in that case, I think he was choosing D over O. Remember, Kent has a 70%+ chance of failure, but is a significantly weaker defender.

BK

Hold the current line,
I am new at this. The Dodgers are a good team not a great one. However they could be really good next year.
SOOO I would do nothing between now and trading deadline. Keep all that young talent and mix/match --more the younger then the older for the rest of the year. Pitching may be a problem at the end of season however the young guys are a better future then a trade.
Deal with final decisions on Nomar, Kent, Gonz, Pierre, and Betemit during the summer. Eat the salary if they do not fit. Hendrickson maybe and Tomko gone. Hopeful Jason is back to form. Hopefully with the extra money find A good starter.
As I said, keep the young guys and run the National league for the next 5 years. Do not trade them for a 3 month fix.

Wow, winning with the long ball sure seems a lot easier. At this rate Grady may have to consider going to the 4-outfielder formation to keep the bats in the line-up. Kemp could rotate down to cover 3rd with 2 men on. :p

I listen to Metallica in my Prius.

Tim,

I understand your laughing about Roberto Hernandez, but he's heading to the postseason with the Dodgers, while your great Matt Cain just got bombed, again.

Guess Barroid is still tired from hosting that all star game party (ask Vizquel). What a team player, what a guy!

We're in trouble!!!! The guys on Baseball Tonight said that the Dodgers have enough offense and that we shouldn't trade any of our young players for an impact hitter. You know what that means? That means that Ned will do just the opposite!!

Tim,
Is that the best you can come up with? What a funny guy. You don't want to talk about Matt Cain? Just to quote the line: "Matt Cain gave up his first hit with two outs in the fourth, and he recorded only one more out after that, seeing six runs score before his ledger was closed. He was hurt by five walks, two passed balls and a wild pitch." OUCH

things looking up. roberto hernandez is an interesting addition. we have some solid depth now with betemit in the infield and ethier in the outfield. we need to fill our fifth slot with someone, assuming either wolf, kuo, or hendrickson is able to hold down the fourth slot.