On a roll ... of sorts
Give the Dodgers a little credit. Last night's 10-4 loss to the Rockies, their third straight and ninth of their last 10 games, serves as proof positive that they're more or less unstoppable in this regard. More decidedly "stoppable," however, would be Esteban Loaiza. The waiver-wire-claimed righty continued to struggle in Blue, lasting just 3.2 innings on the mound before reinforcement was required. As has been the case this season, Loaiza thinks the performance would have been different had the home runs (in this particular game, a pair) not occurred. So what's causing the rash of long balls? Depends on who you ask. But whether you agree with Loaiza (it's a leg thing) or his Skip (it's an arm thing), the bottom line is that the team is very much looking forward to seeing what the guy can contribute to a box score at (hopefully) 100% next season.
For that matter, there's a lot of "down the road" happening these days, who can look to the Rockies as an example of how a youth movement -- a strategy the Dodgers are steadfastly utilizing -- can, with patience, eventually gel toward great things. It could make the bumps in the road worth enduring. Not that the kids won't need a couple of elderly statesman on hand to take their hands, of course. But all in all, the kids are all right and are worth committing toward in wholehearted fashion.
Even without a playoff spot to play for (or Barry Bonds in uni to boo), a series against the Giants always means something to the average Dodger fan. And it hopefully means something to the average Dodger player not to fall below .500, so there is indeed a little to motivate a victory. David Wells kicks off the festivities, pitting his skills against Kevin Correia's.
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Bonds is actually intending to sit out the whole series? What an ass. As much as I'm happy to see him go (I just wish it was into retirement, which is still possible, I suppose), one would hope he'd at least care enough to play out the season. But more importantly, he should give the Dodger fans the chance to say goodbye, the best way we know how. If anyone in baseball is going to miss him besides the Giants fans, it's the Dodgers fans. Those two fanbases each have a special relationship with him that other just don't.
Posted by: Eric B. | September 28, 2007 at 10:28 AM
Eric B,
I think Bonds is injured and is likely why he won't be playing. No need to play in his mind, since he plans on playing again next year and doesn't want to further injure himself.
Posted by: Rob | September 28, 2007 at 11:37 AM
ive been a dodger fan for as long as i can remember and im very dissappointed in them i mean how do go and claim a pitcher like esteban loiaza who is owed 7 mil next yr i think grady little and ned colleti should be fred after the seasoi think ned colleti is a joke of a general manager i think since he came from sf i think hes just trying to screw us over how is it the angels can contend for the playoffs it like every year but the dodgers always seem to struggle whats the difference between the angels and the dodgers i think is they make good decisions and know who to sign and who to pick up and the dodgers dont i dont think the angels would even consider getting esteban loiza because they know hes washed up but the dodgers oh know lets get him and let him get lit up like a christmas tree
Posted by: greg | September 28, 2007 at 12:12 PM
Come on, Barroid, one more time, for old tymes' sake. We want to shout, "Barry Sucks". You know you love it, deep inside.
Posted by: Chunkdog32 | September 28, 2007 at 12:27 PM
There is so much focus on the youth in talk and articles and not much mention of how bad the pitching has been. I think if the pitching had been better we could have weathered the hitting and "youth" problems and made the playoffs.
The Giants are our last chance to finsh over .500.
On the other hand, who cares...
Posted by: Andy B | September 28, 2007 at 12:47 PM
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dodgers27sep27,1,3459574.story?coll=la-headlines-sports
Kemp says he wants to stay. Hopefully, this is the last word on this issue.
Posted by: Steve M. | September 28, 2007 at 12:51 PM
Colletti's track record: Players who were either over the hill, injury prone, or guys that were good 5 years ago.Though hindsight is 20/20, these moves were questioned when they occurred.
2006
BAEZ
LANCE CARTER
SELE
LUGO
MUELLER
JAE SEO(GOT BY TRADING DUANER SANCHEZ)
TOMKO
RAMON MARTINEZ
SANDY ALOMAR
HENDRICKSON
HIRING GRADY
2007
PIERRE
RESIGNING NOMAR
GONZO
HERNANDEZ
DFAing Marlon Anderson(Keeping Saenz, Martinez)
SCHMIDT
LOAIZA
WOLF
HILLENBRAND
BRADY CLARK
LEAVING LONEY IN THE MINORS
If a CEO made this many bad acquisitions the board would fire him.
Posted by: bt1 | September 28, 2007 at 01:59 PM
NOMAR'S RESIGNING?
HOT DAMN!
Who knows, maybe it'll start a trend. First Nomar, then Kent, then Grady, then Ned. Frank McCourt won't have to fire or trade anybody. The Dodgers can throw a big party with cake and champagne. They can give everybody a gold watch and a Dodger tie clip.
Alas, If only it were true.
Posted by: Dodgers '81 | September 28, 2007 at 04:01 PM
Uh oh... Now Plaschke is in Mitch Kupchek's corner.
I'd be worried if I were Mitch...
Posted by: Andy B | September 28, 2007 at 04:07 PM
Now I see why Grady has not been fire, looks like both Ned & Chicken Little have a man crush on each other. Per Dodger Report:
There may be a split in the clubhouse but during his pregame meeting with reporters, Little suggested he and General Manager Ned Colletti are unusually close.
"Ever since Ned and I came to this ballclub, we do everything together," Little said. "When decisions are made that work out OK, we celebrate together. When decisions are made that don't work out too good, we cry together. We don't sleep at night together."
If your going to run a franchise base on friendship, then no wonder Grady doesn't feel any heat and he goes about his business without any sense of urgency. I'm more than convinced now more than ever that Frank McCourt has to step in and analyzed this situation. This can no longer continue Ned Colleti running the Dodgers base on friendship and not for the good of the club.
Posted by: dcerros | September 28, 2007 at 06:52 PM
When they ask the Rockies why they fell just short in their late-season drive for the playoffs, they'll have to say, "We just ran out of games with the Dodgers."
Any connection between the Mets El Foldo Supremo and the fact they have so many former Dodgers?
I know Loney couldn't hit this well every month but you have to wonder what he could have done in a full season at first. I'm just surprised Grady hasn't decided to rest him. If Drew doesn't leave they don't resign Nomar and Loney probably makes the team out of camp. Blame it all on Boras.
After rolling over and playing dead for the better part of two weeks, the Dodgers have announced they won't even try to win Sunday's game. They've pulled Brad Penny, I guess so he can get an extra day's rest for spring training. Some teams go out like mighty oaks, the Dodgers go out like little beeches.
Posted by: uclart47 | September 28, 2007 at 10:28 PM