Movement afoot
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Opening Day is a' comin' fast, and the Dodgers still have some things to figure out. Tuesday's 3-3 tie against the Brewers, complete with yet another tantalizingly strong game from Clayton Kershaw, who is still likely to start the season in the Minor Leagues but is certainly fast tracking himself these days, put a cap on Cactus League play- short as it was- and the Dodgers now head home with a few decisions to make on what had looked like a reasonably cut and dried Spring Training a few weeks ago. There is still the lingering outfield question, but it isn't the only one. There are bullpen issues, starting with Takashi Saito's availability for Opening Day in question due to injuries that have kept him from piling up enough innings, including the left buttocks strain that caused him to be scratched from Tuesday's game.
The rest of the pen is taking shape, but is still a work in progress. The Blue released vet reliever Rudy Seanez, a bit of a surprise given his performance last season, which could make some space for Mike Myers or Ramon Troncoso. Of course, the pitcher-to-position-player ratio also depends on the health of guys like Jeff Kent (who's running again), who's on third (could be Hu, as in Chin-Lung, though his skills make him the potential SS of the future), and who's in the outfield and on the bench (wither Jason Repko?).
Jon Weisman of DodgerThoughts fame chips in with a Q and A for The Hardball Times.
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I kinda liked Rudy.
Posted by: benzo jones | March 26, 2008 at 09:25 AM
I have this suspicious feeling that the left-field problem will be solved by platooning Pierre with Kemp and Ethier, effectively taking away at-bats from Kemp in the overall scenario of things to keep everyone happy.
Posted by: M. Tenenbaum | March 26, 2008 at 11:38 AM
I really, really think Brandon Inge is overrated by Detroit fans, and I hope to never see him wearing Dodger Blue. BUT, with Curtis Granderson going down with a broken thumb to start the season, can anyone else here forsee perhaps a Juan Pierre for Brandon Inge trade possibly gaining some steam???
Posted by: DodgerBlueBalls | March 26, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Anyone else worried about this coming season?
I know preseason games are meaningless but I don't remember losing this many before. Usually they are about even.
I just have this feeling it might be another tough year and we'll be scratching and clawing to finish a couple of games over .500.
But what do I know... maybe they'll tear it up.
Posted by: Andy B | March 26, 2008 at 01:42 PM
So the pride of Brawley is on his way ... I'll miss the old guy. Sorry to get off topic, but the number to take note of is 237, as in how many times Rick Monday will tell us about his saving the flag this year. I love Old Glory, but Monday sucks. I wish he would go away. If he were gone, a .500 team would be much easier to listen to.
Posted by: P | March 26, 2008 at 02:21 PM
Andy B,
I am a bit worried as well. Not just because of their poor win/loss record, but because of the WAY they are losing games. Our bullpen has been awful this spring, often coughing up leads. Andruw Jones still looks like the Jones of last season. And we are making way to many errors and/or mental errors.
On the other hand, I remember that they had a terrible Spring in 2004, and that year turned out to be pretty good. So I guess I don't really have a clue either.
Tenenbaum -
I get that feeling as well. It has been assumed that Kemp and Jones are locks, but I think we will have the same problem with Pierre this year that we had with Gonzo last year - they will have some sort of strange three-way platoon between Pierre, Ethier, & Kemp. And judging by the failure of that strategy last season, we could be in for another long year. But I'm a pessimist, so...
Posted by: Higgins | March 26, 2008 at 02:43 PM
DBB - I was just thinking that exact same thing.
Andy - I just read a thing on that the other day and I believe it was in 2004 that the Dodgers actually lost 9 more ST games than they won. It was sometime in the last decade when we made the playoffs. So, I wouldn't worry too much. If our record looks like that 25 games into the regular season, then I'll worry.
Posted by: Nils | March 26, 2008 at 02:53 PM
I would not be surprised to see Seanez back at some point. He seems like the new Giovanni Carrera - someone that is always waiting for the phone to ring to come back.
Posted by: Aaron | March 26, 2008 at 03:05 PM
I'm hoping for a bit of a surprise with Kershaw taking a role like Billingsley did at the start of last season. That partially explains the move with Rudy.
As for losing in Spring Training, I'm not too worried. A lot of the late leads have been blown by guys that won't be around when April gets here.
Either, Jones, & Kemp! Pierre gets dealt (with the Dodgers swallowing a big piece of salary) by the end of the week.
Posted by: dalegribel | March 27, 2008 at 06:31 AM