Safe to say the Rockies have taken all the suspense out of this matchup
Not that I predicted the exact score of tonight's 10-4 loss to Colorado before the first pitch was tossed. I'm not that dude Matthew McConaughey played in "Two for the Money," nor do I claim to be the second coming of Kreskin. I mean, the final could have easily been 11-5, Rockies. Or 3-0. 4-1. 21-1. The particulars themselves were definitely something of a surprise for me. But the outcome in broad strokes? Not so much. I'm not trying to be cynical, but let's be honest. Tonight's reverse-brooming box score was the Rockies' seventh straight win over this club. They've won eight of the last 10, boast a 12-6 record against the Blue in 2007 and a trip back to early April is required to relive the last time the Dodgers won consecutive contests against this NL West rival. Combine the visitors' 11-game winning streak with the Dodgers dropping nine of their last 10, and it ain't a shock this marks the first season the Rockies will finish ahead of the Ravine Crew in the standings.
Instead of dredging through the details of this loss -- in short, Esteban Loaiza struggled again and the cats who followed didn't do much better -- I thought it would be more pleasant to shift focus. Depending on how you look at it, the thorough arse-whupping Colorado's put on the Dodgers over the last couple weeks can serve as a silver lining of sorts. It's important to keep in mind, these Rockies were created via a process the Dodgers are about to embark upon. A team of young guys that is now coming into its own, but not before a healthy dose of patience was endured, which often leads to growing pains before dividends. But with the right players, a little luck and a lot of perseverance, a pot of gold may very well be waiting at the end of the rainbow. "The Rockies are a good example of that," said Little of the successful waiting game. "And at this point, it's paying off for them."
Unfortunately, as Little noted, demographics often play a role in how one can go about nurturing a squad wet behind the ears. "I think that L.A. may be a little bit different than Denver, Colorado, in that respect." And when the future is perpetually now in your city, the course can be stayed, just as long as the goal doesn't seem to include saving your wins for a rainy day in the distance. "We don't want to accuse anybody of looking at the bigger picture around here."
Might as well. The small one ain't all that pleasant to gaze at either.
-- AK
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If the Dodger pitching staff was a horse, they would shoot it.
Posted by: Andy B | September 28, 2007 at 12:08 AM
Anyone check out that Vin Scully article?
I understand what Vin was saying and how he felt it better to distance himself and not critiuqe the manager..........Beleive me I get it.........but I was kinda surprised because he didnt really sound like he thought Grady Little was to blame............yes i know if he thought Grady Little was to blame he doesnt want to come out and say it.............buuuuuuuut.............he kind of made it seem like all managers get critisized when a team loses.............which is true.........but in this case.......Grady LIttle has put out wayyyyyyy to many ridiculous lineups...........so isnt it more then just a manager taking the blame because a team is losing?
anyway im always amazed when someone gets him on the record......cuz he doesnt seem to do that alot...........so that means either most people dont try to get him (which makes me wonder why).........or..........people try and he declines (which makes me wonder about the times he says yes)...........
anyway its interesting to know what he thinks
By the way on a totally different topic........Matt Kemp might not come back?
Posted by: Aryan | September 28, 2007 at 12:22 AM
BRAVO ROSS NEWHAN!
Times' readers have been given a special treat this week in having two Ross Newhan articles published in the Times. The first, on Tuesday, dealt with how the Angels turned their organization around under the direction of Stoneham and Scioscia.
And today we have a short commentary piece brimming with Newhan's common-sense wisdom gleaned from decades of covering baseball. In contrast to the Times' current duo of hack columnists, Simers and Plaschke, Newhan welcomes the new crop of Dodger rookies and urges the Dodger FO to "go full throttle into a youth movement, not the half-hearted variety that was the 2007 season."
As it goes with the Dodgers, so it should go with the Times. Bring back Newhan as General Manager of the Sportsroom and trade Simers and Plaschke for prospects. Comb the journalism schools, scout the small-town papers, and raid the big city competitors. The Times must restock its fallow farm system if it is ever to regain its prominence as a national newspaper. Only after it has developed a nucleus of dangerous young beat writers and a cadre of experienced, but still youthful veteran columnists will the Times again contend on the national stage.
Posted by: Dodgers '81 | September 28, 2007 at 03:03 AM
Well,
Being in the Eastern time zone, I get to wake up and read the box score.
Ugh! I also have to eat some crow over Meloan.
I had been fussing on this blog to bring up Meloan.
He has not had a good September.
I have not seen any of his games on TV. How does he look?
I was thinking that he would be ready for the bigs next year but it looks like he could use some more time in Vegas based upon his September performance.
I don't know about anyone else, but this Dodger fan is rooting for Kent to retire or be traded.
I also think that Ned needs to work another year deal with Wolf. Esteban looks like he needs a back up plan.
Posted by: Lex | September 28, 2007 at 04:39 AM
I hate to see my dodger lose...especially 7 straight to the rockies...it would be nice to see our new blue crew win a few before the end of the year....But in the long run after the Rocks knocked us out of the race, I've been pulling for them to over take the Pods...God how I hate the Pods even more than the gnats...at least we play the gnats next, maybe our youngsters can pull off a sweep...Here's to hoping
Posted by: K T USN | September 28, 2007 at 08:22 AM
Vinny transcends any one season...there are plenty of others out there who can and do mix it up with current controversies. The only controversy I remember hearing him get sucked into was when Mike Marshall, the asinine one (...oh, wait, they both qualified--the pitching one), claimed Vinny's comments were making the fans boo him. I chose to chalk that up to paranoia rather than subscribe to the Evil Vinny Theory.
I loved the interview, too. Anytime you can get his thoughts it's a good thing. He's a solid 90% of the Dodger mystique that keeps you going in times like these.
Posted by: Ichabod | September 28, 2007 at 08:28 AM
Have you ever seen Matt Damon do his Matthew McConaghy impression, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuYD2cwMbpw.
Funnier than watching Matt Kemp run the bases, or a Jeff Kent triple.
But now that watch it again, I'm thinking that Grady Little may be channeling Matthew McCanaghy.
We are marshall, or at least a close resemblence.
Posted by: Ben Jones | September 28, 2007 at 08:52 AM
Ichabod,
Vin always gets a pass in my book. And, if we're talking about Mike "The Whole World is Against Me Because I'm So Smart" Marshall, it is a foregone conclusion.
Posted by: Chunkdog32 | September 28, 2007 at 09:18 AM
Lex,
I think it's a little early to eat crow over Meloan. He's clearly having command problems. But that may well be the result of sporadic use. Let's not be too quick to judge based on a few outings. If memory serves me correct, Orel Hershiser was horrible in his early outings during his rookie year.
I think the Dodger bullpen is adequately deep to work him in slowly at the beginning of next year. Saito should be back, Broxton is solid, Beimel is OK as a situational lefty, and despite some poor outings (and good ones also), Proctor looks like he could be solid also, assuming he's not overworked like he has been the last two years. Another lefthander to go along with Beimel (maybe Kuo--and yes, I know he has health issues, and has had problems with his control out of the pen in the past. Hence, the "maybe") would also be welcome.
As for Hernandez and Seanez, hopefully it's goodbye.
Of course, moves could be made over the winter. But that's another story, and I wouldn't even begin to speculate what they might be.
Posted by: Brooklyn Dodger | September 28, 2007 at 09:23 AM
I just read Ross Newhan's column, and it says everything I've been thinking, just better (a lot better).
http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-newhan28sep28,1,5060391.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-mlb-dodger
His final sentence says it in a nutshell: "...forget this semi-youth movement and officially make it full-fledged."
Posted by: Brooklyn Dodger | September 28, 2007 at 09:34 AM
How can anyone hate the Pads more than the Giants ??? (K T USN)
I 've tried to build up some animosity toward the Pads, but I have yet to succeed.
Posted by: ALS | September 28, 2007 at 11:53 AM