You just can't keep Blake DeWitt out of the Major Leagues
I mean, for cryin' out loud, the mayor of Sikeston, Missouri dedicated the entire month of April to the guy. You don't do that for AAA talent. Thus, barely a day after he was sent down to Vegas, he's back in the bigs. Kid's just that good. "I feel like I played a good game yesterday," he laughed. "I was 1-2 with three walks." An .800 OBP? You don't just waste that in the bushes.
I jest, of course, because we know that DeWitt was recalled to replace Nomar Garciaparra, who went back on the DL after suffering another injury to his left calf in last night's 8-7 win. So one night at the Sahara later, DeWitt is back in LA. He didn't even unpack. How long he'll stick around this time is an open question, but it won't be any shorter than a couple weeks. In other news, the other guy who left Friday night's game early, Andruw Jones, is good to go and in the lineup tonight. I present this neither as good news nor bad, but leave it open for you to interpret. (Seriously, though, assuming the injury doesn't throw off his mechanics- more, at least- it's a good thing he can play. Jones isn't going to de-slump himself on the bench.)
As for the rest of the lineup, it's about what you'd expect, with the exception of Juan Pierre in for Andre Ethier. Not really a big deal, as Ethier has played in 22 of LA's 23 games this season. For what it's worth, Pierre is 3-6 lifetime against Colorado starter Mark Redman (and I'd say six ABs isn't worth all that much, but it certainly can't hurt). On the other hand...
...Ethier is a rather scintillating 11 for his last 28. That's a .392 clip to you and me. I realize it's just a day off for a guy who has played a lot so far, but given all the trouble the Blue have had scoring runs, it's probably a good idea to put the best offensive team on the field. Just one man's opinion.
Russell Martin is one hot bat that is in the lineup, despite playing all 13 innings on Friday. Of course, only eight plus were behind the dish. Martin has reached base in 18 of his last 25 trips to the plate- a kinda stupid .720 mark- including nine hits in 15 ABs. Toss in eight walks, an HBP, and a game winning sac fly, and you get the rest of it. Fair to say his slump seems to be over. James Loney is five for his last 14, pushing his average back to .300 after a mini-slump.
LINEUPS:
COLORADO
Willy Taveras: CF
Todd Helton: 1B
Matt Holliday: LF
Garrett Atkins: 3B
Brad Hawpe: RF
Troy Tulowitzki: SS
Chris Iannetta: C
Clint Barmes: 2B
Mark Redman: P
DODGERS
Rafael Furcal: SS
Juan Pierre: LF
Matt Kemp: RF
Jeff Kent: 2B
Russell Martin: C
James Loney: 1B
Andruw Jones: CF
Blake DeWitt: 3B
Brad Penny: P
AUDIO:
DeWitt: Download blake_dewitt_4.26.mp3
BK
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Hopefully this 10-spot will allow Penny pitch relaxed, and be lights out tonight. Great to see the Blue put up 9 of those first inning runs with 2 outs too...
Posted by: Brian | April 26, 2008 at 08:00 PM
As a viewer, the most relaxed innings 2 through 9 I've seen in a long time.
So now what do you do with LaRoche when he is ready?
Two games under .500. Keep it going boys.
Posted by: Andy B | April 26, 2008 at 11:02 PM
Did anyone see the Ump take a Penny fastball right to the neck?...He was down for the count...Has anyone heard if he was ok?...by the way sorry for the duplicate post...I accidently posted it to the wrong thread
Posted by: K T USN (feeling retired) | April 27, 2008 at 03:51 AM
No one ever talks about DeWitt's glove. There's no way Nomar even comes close to making that diving play last night. -- How much better do the Dodgers think LaRoche is? He's been up twice now and hasn't shown better offense or defense than BD. As a matter of fact, he looked very shaky to me in the field the few times I saw him.
Time for the idiot Colletti to quit jacking DeWitt around. Release Sweeney and go with DeWitt. It's obvious that PeeWee Young is a much better hitter than Sweeney anyway and a swith-hitter to boot.
Posted by: Dick M. | April 27, 2008 at 12:31 PM
good point dick
Posted by: K T USN (feeling retired) | April 27, 2008 at 04:11 PM