Can't win 'em all
Though the Blue have certainly tested the theory over the last couple of weeks...
Wednesday, however, had fans been given a penny for their thoughts, they would have sounded something like, "I skipped work for this?" Had Brad Penny been given one for his, it would have sounded something like, "I showed up to work for this?" The Dodger righty was beaten around the Ravine like a leftover Cinco de Mayo pinata to the tune of a career high 10 earned runs in only 4.2 innings as LA dropped the finale of their three game set with the Mets, 12-1. The damage pushed Penny's ERA from 3.19 to 4.79, and was another in a series of short outings from LA's starters, who are averaging only 5.1 innings, second worst in the Majors. While things are going fine now, down the road, this is the sort of thing that can cook a bullpen.
For the Mets, on a day when 11 of their 12 runs came with two down, it was one of those refreshing days of clutch hitting and outstanding work from their starter, as John Maine went 8.1, allowing only one run. Bully for them.
In health related news, the Dodgers placed Esteban Loaiza on the 15 day DL with shoulder tightness, and recalled Yhency Brazoban. The intriguing part of the move, though, is that it might- might- leave the door open for Clayton Kershaw to make his Big League debut the next time LA needs a fifth starter, which would be a week from Saturday in Anaheim. Loaiza didn't necessarily think he needed a trip to the DL, but given all his health issues from last season, understands why the Dodgers are being cautious.
The Sons of Steve Garvey are questioning their mechanic (funny and worth the read).
The Blue are off today, and will open a weekender against the Astros tomorrow night at the Ravine.
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That link to the Sons of Steve Garvey was hilarious. Made my day.
Posted by: MBS | May 08, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Just a little gem from Keith Law's chat today:
Rob, Baltiimore: Do you see anything wrong with Andruw Jones?
Keith Law: (2:18 PM ET ) He's out of shape, his bat is slow, and he plays like he's on quaaludes. Other than that, he's fine.
-couldn't have said it better
Posted by: JUKUREN | May 08, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Is anyone else worried that because of the hype we might be setting ourselves up for a moment of premature kershaw-lation?
Posted by: benzo jones | May 08, 2008 at 01:02 PM
I had the misfortune of being at the game yesterday, but the fortune of seats right next to the Mets bullpen. Talked to billy Wagner, even.
Here's what I noticed from a very long way away from home plate:
1) in the second inning, with runners on second and third with one out, why not walk the catcher Casanova to load up the bases for the pitcher? In all likelihood, he’s going to hit into a groundout, and possibly e ven a double play, ending the inning with minimal damage. By pitching to Casanova, you give a hitter a chance to drive in runs, and then gave Maine the perfect opportunity to sacrifice.
They did exactly this in the fifth inning, when the score was 5-0, and the game was already over. Maine got a bloop single, putting the contest truly out of reach, but the strategy was still right.
Here’s a case where statistics lie. The Dodgers’ record when Andruw Jones sits is now one game worse than it was on Tuesday (I’m too fat and lazy to look up the totals, but I’m not being paid $19 million a year; I do this on spec). Some fool might try to use the overall record as an indicator that Jones is a catalyst, that the team wins when he plays, or other such nonsense. But does anyone truly believe that he would have made a bit of difference in this game? Of course not. In a 2-1 game? Probably not then either.
Posted by: SaMo | May 08, 2008 at 02:44 PM
I was thinking about the "they lose when Jones sits" issue as well SaMo.
It could be that with AJ in the lineup and everybody knowing how horrendously craptastic he is, the opposition could be hypnotized into a false sense of security.
It's addition by subtraction. Torre is a friggin genious!
Posted by: benzo jones | May 08, 2008 at 08:00 PM