It's not how you start, it's how you finish... unless how you start basically screws everything up
For innings three, four, five, and six, Brett Tomko was The Man. No runs allowed, pitching his way out of trouble with timely tosses and even timelier strikeouts (take the fifth for example, when after a one out triple Tomko stranded Garrett Atkins at third with K's of Brad Hawpe and Yorvit Torrealba). Call it a moral victory- and one for the bullpen- because in Tomko's first two friends and he was decidedly not The Man. Two runs in the first on a Matt Holliday homer, three runs in the second on a Troy Tulowitzki bomb and a two run single from Ryan Spilborghs. That set the Blue on the road to what would become a 6-2 loss to the Rockies Saturday night at Coors. Offensively, the Dodgers lineup (sans the rest-needing Russell Martin and at-least-for-him-slightly-slumping James Loney) did little off of Rockies lefty Jeff Francis, dinking him for a couple runs over 7.2. They had some chances to get back in it, but L.A. couldn't get it done. As a result, they now are in a virtual tie for first in the NL West with the Diamondbacks, who having won eight straight are most decidedly getting it done these days.
BK
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Tomko did ok....It's Saenz batting 3rd, obviously as a showcase to trade him to the Marlins even up for Willis, that screwed us.
Posted by: DODGER 1955 | July 28, 2007 at 09:56 PM
I won't repeat my entire post from the "Bellyachin' over a win" thread but I will give you the gist of my GLL criticism de jour:
why in the world did Little League start Bombko, when Bilz was available on his normal 4 days' rest, especially given Bombko's tendency to give up, uh, . . . . , well, BOMBS?!?!?
Sure enough, true to form (and his name) that's just what BB (aka Bret Bombko) did!!
Cam.
Posted by: CamTheFan | July 28, 2007 at 10:08 PM
Wow, where do I start. Unfortunately the game was over as soon as Tomko took the mound.
I'm happy for Grady that he was able to get Saenz his precious at bats. I guess he might be needed someday, to what? Win a game, maybe?
Too bad it wasn't a spring training game, because that's the way Little manages this club. There are 58 games left. He might think about managing to win some of them. Each year many of us are left to wonder how many extra loses is this guy is costing us.
Aryan
Again, that is why Kemp does not start every game. He strikes out. He strikes out looking. And he strikes out with runners in scoring position.
And I loved hearing Lowe confess he could be stretching more. How many tens of millions of dollars are these guys making and we find out there is some doubt that conditioning is a priority? I am truly amazed he could admit that.
The only good thing I can say is at least the Dodgers are holding things together reasonably well. No long win streaks but no big losing streaks either.
Ultimately they are playing no worse than most clubs out there. There are still a lot of teams that would like to be 10 games over right now.
Can they hold it down the stretch is the question.
Posted by: Andy B | July 28, 2007 at 10:33 PM
ALSO.... (I decided I'm not finished yet)
How long is Grady going to trot in Rudy Seanez after this game. It's obvious he is having some problems right now. I didn't mind Little putting him in for this one. The game was already over. I do have a problem with Rudy being quoted he isn't worried about it and then comes in and continues to give up a HR every time. Maybe he should be concerned now.
And Martin. Grady should have sat him down more a while back. You can SEE he is having a hard time at the plate right now. Have the guts to deal with a player who won't stop for anything despite himself. Martin will never quit or give up. He IS the guy we will need down the stretch. Let some one else we paid a million dollars to help take up the slack.
I hope Little is replaced after this season.
Posted by: Andy B | July 28, 2007 at 10:54 PM
little and honeycutt need to end the love affair with bombko and possibly even hendrickson. let's roll the dice with either hull or houlton after wolf gets back. maybe kuo can be back for the postseason. little is however doing a good job of managing the lineup.
Posted by: luke | July 29, 2007 at 05:08 AM
Bombko and Bombko II (Saenz)
I don't want to sound negative since we are still in first place,....but if Penny and Lowe are to be added to the list of injured, I don't think it will help to add another pithcer. Adding another stater to Tomko, Bills, Hendrickson isn't going to get it done.
David
Posted by: David | July 29, 2007 at 06:39 AM
Well, its Sunday, I wonder how many regulars will ride the pine today. Today's unlucky pitcher is Bills who could possibly not get enough run support if Grady continues to rest the regulars at a high pace. More than 1.
Hey Aryan
Bet your 3 main guys are not in there today. You know a funny thing is that all the Dodgers need rest except Pierre. What's up with that?? Maybe Grady could tell us if he wasn't so stubborn and bullheaded.
AK/BK
Can you tell us what the thought process is by not ever resting Pierre but needing to rest everyone else??????????
Posted by: Package | July 29, 2007 at 08:59 AM
One other thing. Tomato and Lieberthal went together for a smooth 0-8. The tired players could have done that good!!!
Posted by: Package | July 29, 2007 at 09:11 AM
I agree about Saenz, he is not good defensively, and offensively he hasn't done much beyond the one granny way back in the beginning of the season. I can see giving Loney a rest - I think it's hard for the rookies to play this much, and a day of rest might give him a boost for today. I honestly can't watch when Bombko pitches. I had the TV on another channel and would check back occasionally to see if we were at bat or not. It's just too painful to watch him give up a walk followed by a home run. Even his "good" innings are too painful because it always seems like he has to work himself out of a jam.
I know Jeff Francis is the Rockies Ace, but honestly, we could have done much better off him. Yet another time when we make a mediocre pitcher look like Cy Young.
Offensively, maybe we could dump Saenz and re-claim Brady Clark. I'm not sure we gave him enough of a chance to perform, and at least he's younger and faster than Tomato.
Defensively, I'm not sure much is going to stop the train wreck. Of course we need to dump Bombko and Timber, but are we willing to trade away the kids for arms? I hope not.
Posted by: Jen | July 29, 2007 at 09:43 AM
I'm not sure why he picked the day after a rain out to get everyone a day off.
Posted by: Mr. Politics | July 29, 2007 at 09:46 AM