A game! A real (well, sort of) game!
Okay, it's not really Opening Day, per se, but the Blue will take the field against representatives from an entirely different organization today against the Braves, 10:05 a.m. local start. Already, Joe Torre is cautioning against reading too much into the lineup- get used to that- that features Juan Pierre on top followed by Raffy Furcal, and the Dodgers are handling a pitcher with caution. Chad Billingsley was to start, but will be replaced with Jason Johnson because of a tight groin muscle. That's a part of the body that should be loosey-goosey, for sure, so as a precautionary measure he'll pitch a Minor League simulated game instead. Better safe than sorry when handling a kid well on his way to establishing himself as an artist on the mound.
Looking ahead to actual Opening Day, just in case there was any confusion over who should start, Derek Lowe says it's Brad Penny. Joe Torre seems to agree. That's one less question for Dylan Hernandez to answer, as he breaks down some of the outstanding issues still surrounding the Blue, which include left field, Andruw Jones's weight, third base, Jason Schmidt, and Hiroki Kuroda.
In a couple years, the Dodgers hope James McDonald and Clayton Kershaw are in L.A. helping to anchor the staff. The future looks bright for both, but for McDonald, the path to the bigs hasn't been nearly as linear.
Kuroda is the a big story in camp, and certainly owner of the biggest buzz among Japanese pitchers. But that doesn't mean Takashi Saito should be ignored- not that he really wants the spotlight.
The Blue got rolling yesterday on the process of prepping the Coliseum for what should be a wildly fun March 29 exhibition contest against the Sox. The response to the game has been so strong, more tickets (many of a standing room variety) will be released for public consumption. I'm sure if you ask nicely, someone will let you sit in his or her seat for a minute or two.
The Rockies have signed closer Manny Corpas to a four year, $8 million deal. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks look good, Fantasy and otherwise.
The Cardinals have released Scott Spiezio, who has a place in the heart of many SoCal baseball fans, in the wake of a six-count arrest warrent being issued against him.
The Clemens/McNamee hullabaloo doesn't look like it'll be ending anytime soon.
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Hey guys,
Your opinion please:
After Kemp mashes the ball over the place today, he makes a base running mistake, too. (And it was undeniably a mistake, no doubt about it, but in a spring game, and he talked with Bowa about it.) So the article in the Times focuses on that, the headline focuses on that mistake. No mention of Kemp's hitting, or anything. I actually won a bet with a colleague that this would be the focus of the article, and hoped I was wrong. Why does everyone keep harping on this? He's clearly learning, he'll clearly get better at baserunning, there are good coaches with the team working with him on that, and meanwhile he does everything else incredibly well.
So why does the focus have to be "young guys bad baserunning/annoyed veterans" - AGAIN. Can't we just move past this stuff already?
Seemed like a fun game overall, otherwise, for a first exhibition game that means nothing that is. Looking forward to seeing them on ESPN tomorrow.
best,
craig
Posted by: Craig P | February 28, 2008 at 02:17 PM
Craig -
I agree with you. The bigger story to me would be the fact that Kemp went 2-3 with a double, Ethier went 1-2 with 1 BB and 2 Runs scored... yet Juan Pierre went 0-3. A few more games like this, and they should solve the outfield problem real quick.
The fact that the team also left so many men on base reminded me too much of last year... but I know, I know... it's only Spring.
Posted by: Higgins | February 28, 2008 at 05:02 PM
Craig,
I agree w you fully..It seems that our boy kemp is either an easy target or he has made some "collumnist's" envious! I mean really, I know that this was a problem last year, & believe me I also cant stand watching waisted outs, but the kid is still learning & its only the 1st freakin' game of the spring!..Yet these professional 'discord sowers' are already @ it!!! The times make me sick, I usually dont have the stomach to put up w they're obviously slanted articles, especially after the end of last yr. w Kent; but lately Mr. Hernandez had gained an ounce of respect & my attention because of what it seemed he chose to focus on- The possitives & building together of a unit under Torre rather than the 'cheap' negatives & plain low blows (Attn: Plascke & Simers who are cross-dressing Anaheim Angel/San Diego Padre fans posing as LA reporters), until now, when rather than just letting a meaningless out go, he instead is starting to turn this issue back into the drama they had & already dealt w back in 07'! Or at the very least it seems as if he's possibly attempting to re-kindle it! As if they didn't get enough 'say-so' or gossip-trash before!..Times: The Dodgers are over this, We the reader are over this; So can you please just get in line, grow up, move on, & get over this too before young Mr. Kemp himself mature's & passes you by!
Posted by: jrob | February 28, 2008 at 10:54 PM