Lowe and behold! Payback!
You know that expression "can't buy a win"? Well, for Derek Lowe this season, if he had literally shown up at the park with a check made out to Bud Selig, the umps and the opposing manager, it probably would have applied. Lot of hard losses attached to good performances. Thus, nobody will begrudge his name attached to a 5-4 win where he didn't quite put his best foot forward. One where he got away with serving up three -- count 'em, three -- homers. Down by two runs, the Blue eventually converted themselves into Teflon via a strong sixth inning filled with fortuitous base hits and continuous productivity. Consecutive singles from Jeff Kent, Andre Ethier, Russell Martin and James Loney opened the frame and accounted for two ribbies. From there, Ramon Martinez took himself out and took Martin across the plate.
With usual set-up man Joe Beimel in need of a breather, Grady Little put the one-run lead's preservation in the hands of Mark Hendrickson and Scott Proctor. Nothing but zeroes for the bad guys. In the ninth, Takashi Saito did his usual thing in the ring and you're checking out a happy box score. A huge win for the rather exhausted Blue, who must have taken a toughness lesson from Jeff Kent, who knows a thing or two about going head-first into the thick of things.
Gonzo's acting the good egg when it comes to his reduced playing time, even if it proves the difference between him coming or going next season.
MLB.com's Ken Gurnick is your Dodger answer guru.
Three in a row? Well, talk to Chad Billingsley, who's taking the ball in a duel against Jason Bergmann. Bills is coming off a great performance in Philly and sports a 1.50 ERA in his lone start vs. the Nats. Bergmann ain't started a match since late July.
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According to the Times, it looks like Luis Gonzalez' time with the Dodgers is over.
GOOD RIDDANCE! We don't need old, weak-armed people on this team.
I say also get rid of Hillenbrand, Nomar, Seanz, Seanez, Hendrickson, Martinez, Hernandez, Pierre, Kent, Colleti, and Little after the season.
For now, don't use the old folks aside from Kent (no choice but he's washed up) and Wells and Martinez when needed until Sept 1. Then just Wells.
Posted by: Keven Nocab | August 28, 2007 at 09:26 AM
Gonzo's "acting the good egg when it comes to his reduced playing time, even if it proves the difference between him coming or going next season."
Let's hope it proves the differenec, because re-signing Gonzalez would be a huge mistake. I didn't care for the signing last year, because it stood in the way of younger players getting playing time. And the Dodgers are finally rounding into shape now that Kemp and Ethier are both in there every day.
To be fair, Gonzalez has been exactly as advertised: a .280 hitter with 15 home run power and 80 RBIs (averaged over a full season). But Kemp or Ethier is already capable of doing that, and will only get better. Gonzo at another year older will be less than he was this year. So Thanks, Luis, and goodspeed, but a mutual breakup is fine by us.
Now if we can only persuade Juan Pierre to demand a trade and sign Torii Hunter.
Posted by: SaMo | August 28, 2007 at 09:32 AM
What's the world coming to???
Aryan happy
Grady sticking with a lineup
Martinez coming thru and NOT being benched.
Tomko gone.
Hendrickson in long relief.
Wells lasts 5 innings
Well this is as good as its going to get. Now lets see if its good enough.
David
Posted by: David | August 28, 2007 at 10:25 AM
Gonzalez is complaining about playing time? What is is he NUTS? He's lucky he got to play as much as he did. The old man (no offense to anyone) cannot play on an everyday basis, FLATOUT SIMPLE !!! Our good ol' Gumpy gave him PLENTY of chances to prove he deserves to play everyday in front of KEMP or EITHER, but amazingly after the all the complaining that from ALL OF US...........our wish has come true........NO MORE PLATOONING !!!! OH YEAH !!!!!!!
How 'bout platooning PIERRE and GONZO from now on; hey the old man thinks he can still reach 3,000 hits.............GONZO's GONE CRAZY !!!!!
Gumpy, keep it that way !!!!!!
Posted by: JC Blue | August 28, 2007 at 10:26 AM
JC,
I don't think Gonzo is complaining. Actually unlike some other veterens who hang on forever to draw their inflated salaries, he says he will only play if he is an everyday player. He recognizes that the Dodgers want to use Ethier and Kemp and his future is not here. But lets see what he decides when no one gives him that option.
As for Pierre--Why would you want to bench him now? He has just hit in 15 straight and is batting about .380 lately.
David
Posted by: David | August 28, 2007 at 11:17 AM
david -gald to see someone defending Pierre--was about to get on here and do the same
Pierre's been pretty dang good lately - I've had many complaints over the season like everyone else - but for the last couple weeks Juan's been a lot steadier than a lot of the guys. Even getting a couple RBIs
I'm not saying we're getting our moneys worth for an entire season but you gotta give the guy a bit of credit--at least hes playing hard
Posted by: jukuren | August 28, 2007 at 12:40 PM
I didn't see what Gonzo said as complaining about PT, just an honest answer to a question about him sitting more (or what I assume was a question about it- I wasn't at the game yesterday). If he had said he should be playing over Kemp and Ethier, that would be different. All guys want to play, most think they should (in Gonzo's case, he'd be wrong if he thought he should be in the lineup everyday over those two).
But if he wants to be an everyday OF, there's no earthly way he'll be a Dodger next year. Even as a PT guy, he likelyl wouldn't be around (they have younger, cheaper options available).
As for the continued calls to sit Pierre, it's probably become habit for some.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | August 28, 2007 at 12:41 PM
Aryan,
You only have 25 shopping days left until your boy, Matt Kemp, has his 23rd birthday on September 23. With that in mind, I thought I would help you at with a few links to some gift ideas you might want to consider getting him:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9781585182480&itm=6
http://www.amazon.com/Talking-Base-Running-Maury-Wills/dp/B000J3ZMTM/ref=sr_1_13/105-7405428-9466831?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188330504&sr=1-13
http://www.amazon.com/Youth-Baseball-Skills-Drills-Fundamentals/dp/B00077BP96/ref=sr_1_16/105-7405428-9466831?ie=UTF8&s=video&qid=1188330616&sr=8-16
http://www.tom-emanski-baseball-videos.com/baseball_videos/tom_emanski_baserunning_video.html
Good luck & cheers!!!
D.B.B.
Posted by: DodgerBlueBalls | August 28, 2007 at 12:51 PM
BK
any indications from inside as to who's gonna be joining us when rosters expand?
Posted by: Jukuren | August 28, 2007 at 12:52 PM
I think BK is correct in stating that Gonzo ain't complaining, just sharing what people would expect him to say. I imagine y'all wouldn't be wild about a statement along the lines of "Grady can play me or not. Either way, the checks clear." Any player with an ounce of pride will want to be on the field as much as possible.
In any event, what I wouldn't worry about is Gonzo creating an issue out of it or becoming a clubhouse distraction. That doesn't strike me as his nature and he's always had a rep as a pro's pro. If he's growing unhappy with his role (which I'm pretty sure he is), he'll simply move on and call it a day in Blue.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | August 28, 2007 at 01:05 PM
Jukuren-
Hey. I haven't been at the stadium since the last road trip started, but everything I've heard indicates the following guys will be there- one of the backup catchers (I forget which one is healthy- Huckaby maybe), Young, Meloan could very well come up. Abreu, LaRoche, Houlton will probably be back. Hull, probably. Hu had been the talk of a potential callup because of his great recent play.
Lil' help folks, am I missing anyone?
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | August 28, 2007 at 01:23 PM
BK,
Any talk about Mitch Jones or John Lindsay getting called into the 40-man fold come Sept 1? Those guys might be able to hit for some pop. . .
Posted by: DodgerBlueBalls | August 28, 2007 at 02:01 PM
Sounds to me that Gonzo was just being honest, not complaining. I'm not sure he couldn't play everyday for some team, providing that they are in the American League and he's OK with being a DH. Playing the field everyday is probably a bit too much for him at this stage of his career.
As for replacing Pierre. I'm all for it, but not this year. The only way I see that being done this year would be to move Kemp to center and play Delwyn Young in left. If I thought Young was going to be a long term solution in the Dodger outfield, I might say OK. But I'm not convinced that's the case. Besides, he's played most of the year in Las Vegas, and it might be a bit much to expect very much of him in the heat of a tight pennant race.
I would like to see the Dodgers make a run at either Torii Hunter or Andruw Jones over the winter. I'm not convinced that they are willing to spend what it takes, but one never knows. Also, the Dodgers should have some payroll flexibility assuming they will be shed of the following contracts: Kent, Gonzo, Tomko, Mueller and Wolf. They will probably also remove some other minor contracts, while also being required to pay more for the younger players that remain (Kemp, Ethier, Martin, Bills, etc.). Since, any free agent contract will likely be long term, they can also factor in that Nomar has only one more year left on his contract (unless he can be traded).
If the Dodgers acquire Hunter or Jones that will make Pierre expendable. He's had a good enough year that I think he would be attractive to another team in a trade, especially if the Dodgers were willing to pick up a small part of his contract. Perhaps Colletti could send him off to his friends in SF, who pursued Pierre last year before acquiring Roberts. In any case, I do believe that he could be moved somewhere. And of course, the added benefit would be additional payroll flexibility.
Posted by: Brooklyn Dodger | August 28, 2007 at 02:05 PM
Maybe Valdez for PR duties?
I also hear rumors of a 30 yr old 1B named John Lindsay getting the call. The guy has been setting Cashman Field on fire with his bat: .317 BA, 1.029 OPS in 265 ABs.
Posted by: Makoto Ueno | August 28, 2007 at 02:06 PM
the dodgers dont need outfielders. pierre, kemp, eithier, repko, and young is good enough. what they really need is infield power, ie: a 3b power hitter. thats all besides more pitching.
Posted by: the WOLF | August 28, 2007 at 02:22 PM
Garrett Atkins always seems to be on the cusp of the trading block whenever the Rockies are mentioned. Since they're division rivals, I doubt that the Dodgers would be able to swing a trade, but I'd give up LaRoche, Abreu, and any minor league pitching prospects not named Kershaw or Meloan to get a deal done.
Posted by: Makoto Ueno | August 28, 2007 at 02:42 PM
Like I said, Pierre is the least of our problems...
I was just thinking how great Lowe was looking this game and last and then BOOM, HR derby.
Still, a good win (they HAD to win). But the Dodgers almost beat themselves again. They have GOT to figure out how to get the man in from third with no outs. It happens too much.
Posted by: Andy B | August 28, 2007 at 02:48 PM
Mak
Atkins would be real good. I like Brad Hawpe as well (he seems like Either with a bit more power).
I REALLY hope the Dodgers go out and get a proven RBI guy next season. I don't expect Kent back so we will need a clean up hitter badly. I think it is the most important spot in the offense we will need.
Pay the money and get it done!
Posted by: Andy B | August 28, 2007 at 02:56 PM
BK
I just love it when you stand up and call them as you see them. Who would have thought that you feel that Gonzo should remain benched. I agree with you that Gonzo is a standup guy and he would not do anything to disrupt team chemistry. Good job on the thought that some would still want to sit Pierre. I was one that called to sit him earlier but he has done a much better job lately and as I've said about others, he should be able to ride this high as long as possible.
Mak
Good thought but remember that you are dealing with Ned and I don't think he can be that creative.
Posted by: Package | August 28, 2007 at 03:15 PM
Much as I'd like to add a third baseman with pop, it looks like we're stuck with Nomar at third. Much as I'd like to add a centerfielder with pop(Torii Hunter), it looks like we're stuck with Pierre. I don't really see upgrades available at second if Kent retires, and honestly, he hasn't done such a bad job. He has more power than the averge second baseman, even though his glove is weak.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers are still in it this year, because the NL is so bad. But they must win their games. Pierre is finally contributing, which they will need down the stretch. As for third string catchers, why do we need one? Our second string catcher doesn't even play more than once a week.
Posted by: SaMo | August 28, 2007 at 03:28 PM
Interesting posts today.............all I care about is a win tonight.....now would be a nice time for a long winning streak......as long as Andre Eitheir is starting each and every night, this team will be fine. Ramon Martinez has really hit well the past 7-10 days.
I don't care about new players for 2008, i still want to get to the playoffs with the guys we have now. Is Nomar back soon and does he have anything left?
Posted by: Ruben | August 28, 2007 at 04:16 PM
SaMo,
The idea behind calling up a 3rd catcher is that it will enable Grady to use Mike Lieberthal more as a pinch hitter, and then still have a back up catcher ready to play in case (god forbid) anything to Russell late in a game.
Posted by: DodgerBlueBalls | August 28, 2007 at 04:52 PM
DodgerBlueBalls-
Yeah, I've heard both of those names tossed around, but honestly, I don't really know for sure. They didn't elaborate today at the park, other than to say they'll likely have more bats than arms, and acknowledge that guys like Abreu and LaRoche are, without explicitly saying, locks to come up.
Package-
I've talked about Gonzo in that context for a while now (I mentioned it on the radio last week when I did a quick spot, and had talked about it before then). It's not that I'll freak out if Gonzo is in the lineup between now and October 1, just that it shouldn't be everyday. Or even every other day. It looks like he'll be in there with semi-regularity (two out of five nights, or something similar), but if Kemp and Ethier continue to produce that could shrink more. Or you could see him getting pulled earlier in games as part of double switches, etc. to get other guys in. But he should not be the "regular" left fielder while the other two cycle in with spot starts. The Dodgers are a more dynamic offensive team with Kemp and Ethier in the lineup. That's pretty clear.
I'm actually really interested to see what they do when Nomar comes back. If LaRoche gets a chance at some ABs and swings well, will Nomar get more days off?
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | August 28, 2007 at 11:33 PM