It was cloudy tonight, but I'm guessing there was a full moon
Weird, weird Tuesday at the Ravine. Those who walked through the turnstiles or turned on the telly saw the following unusual events:
- An inside the park homer.
- A double steal of second and home.
- A 1-2-3 double play.
- A guy record six straight outs via the K and eight overall, tying a career high in only 3.2 innings.
- Another guy throw 71 pitches through three innings, but only give up two earned runs.
- Four+ innings without a recorded out at first base.
- A guy steal second, then get called out when he thought the ball went into center... but it didn't.
- An Andruw Jones hit. (Zing!)
But at the end of what was truely a Ripley's evening, the Dodgers walked away with what mattered most- the win. 5-4 over the Mets, pushing their record to 19-14, a season high five games over .500. They've won 10 of 11, are now 11-5 at home, and will look for the sweep against New York tomorrow afternoon. If the season ended today (which would totally screw a ton of season ticket holders), the Dodgers would be tied for the wild card!
Click below for the breakdown.
The Good:
- Blake DeWitt: In the first, he singled and scored. His clutch, two out knock in the second cut the New York lead to 4-3. So through the first three innings, he played a role in all three Dodger runs. It's hard to argue with that sort of production at the plate. (Yeah, he made an error, but I'll say he made up for it.) Then in the fifth, he again came through with two down, again in grand fashion, ripping a Figueroa offering off the top of the wall in right, just out of the reach of Ryan Church's outstretched arm. Well, like Forrest Gump, DeWitt just kept running and running, through second, through third, past Larry Bowa (waving so hard it seemed his arm would come out of its socket), all the way home. Inside the park home run! The last time he had one of those? "Tee ball," he laughed. "I was about five, probably." If DeWitt keeps this up, Sikeston, Missouri might just have to dedicate another month to him. "I knew I had to get to third, and that's when I saw Bowa waving me around. I was pretty shocked. I was trying to get there. It took everything I had to get from third to home."
- Hong-Chi Kuo: He joined the fray in relief of a mightily struggling Hiroki Kuroda with one out in the fourth and quickly restored some order. His first six outs came via the strikeout, and he finished with eight Ks in 3.2 innings, tying a career high met four times before, all as a starter. He was completely unhittable. No hits, one walk, one hit batter (the only moment that seemed to rattle him). The guy was video game sick, registering about as solid a middle relief stint as is humanly possible. 51 pitches, 37 strikes. Best of all, he got the game back on the rails. Between the struggles of Kuroda and Figueroa, through three it looked like we all might be here until four or five in the morning, assuming no extra frames. Not surprisingly, he said after the game that he felt great, but the big thing for the Dodgers is that he's becoming comfortable with the routine of relief work. Joe Torre and Rick Honeycutt both said that the amount of restrictions on him are dropping my the day. He's warming up faster, bouncing back faster, etc. Knock on wood- literally, that's what Torre did when I asked him about it- they're very pleased with his progress.
- Jonathan Broxton, Takashi Saito: Two innings, no runs, one hold, one save. That's what the line is supposed to look like for those guys. Fortunately for Dodger fans, they're getting to do their thing a lot more often these days.
- Matt Kemp: 1-3 with two stolen bases and a walk. He extended his hitting streak to 11 games, and is playing like a guy whose confidence is growing by the minute. Sort of like watching Andrew Bynum through the first 40 games of this season for the Lakers. Every day, something else seems to click for him, and the light bulb over Kemp's head glows with a little more wattage. He's still pretty raw, has room to grow, and will hit periods of struggle, but man alive, he's fun to watch.
The Bad
- Dodger Defense: A second inning muff from Kuroda, who threw wide of DeWitt in the second on a Nelson Figueroa sac attempt to help sustain a two-run inning for the Mets. DeWitt misplayed a Moises Alou chopper, which eventually turned into an unearned run for New York when Alou scored on a double steal, an event you can stick in this category as well. That certainly shouldn't happen. Jones couldn't reach a sinking liner that he'd have caught 4/15 (years and pounds) ago. Contrast the early gaffes with the play of David Wright at third for New York, who saved at least two or three runs with two outstanding plays before the end of the third inning. In the fifth, Wright would airmail a throw to first into the Mets dugout, but you get my point. The Blue have been pretty good with the leather this year, but tonight they got themselves in some trouble.
- Kuroda: He didn't get much help defensively (see above) and the Mets weren't exactly beating him around the grounds, but Kuroda wasn't sharp by any stretch. 3.1 IP, eight hits, four runs (two earned), three walks, one K. 80 pitches, including 71 through three. He was laboring like a pregnant woman. (Everyone try the veal!) The root of his problem was, Torre said, "location. His stuff is quality. When you look up there, his velocity is good, it's just that he hasn't had the command that we saw in the first game he pitched, and that we certainly know he's capable of."
- Jones: Not to keep beating the dead horse, here, but once again it was a struggle for LA's CF. He had the aforementioned single, but also struck out twice. It's too the point that watching him fly out and single to center- two balls hit reasonably well up the middle- it's seen as an encouraging sign. The boo birds were out tonight, and I have a feeling they'll be back tomorrow.
I asked DeWitt if he's thought at all about what's in store for him down the road. He's playing well enough to stick around, but might not anyway once Nomar and LaRoche are ready. No surprise, he didn't say anything controversial. "It's something I can't worry about, and that's out of control. All that matters is that right now I'm here, and I've got to do everything I can to help this team win."
Straight out of the rookie handbook, that response was.
Joe Torre ducked it, too, when I asked him if it's possible for DeWitt to play his way onto the roster. "I think it's much too early to even talk about it, because Nomar's not near coming back. There's no decision that needs to be made right now," he said. "The way this kid came on the scene, two guys had to get hurt, and they got hurt within 10 minutes of each other. That's the only reason we see this kid here now. Things happen for a reason, and certainly it's been a benefit for us and a great experience for him."
AUDIO
Remember, it's an early start tomorrow. 12:10. Try to skip work. You've earned it.
BK
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Andy LaRoache = Dioner Navarro
Blake DeWitt = Russell Martin
I remember when Navarro was our catcher of the future. We as fans had no idea Martin existed until Gagne mentioned him. Navarro's injury led to Martin's shot. LaRoache's injury has led to us finding out about and seeing DeWitt. We would never have known he even existed and we were told like the Navarro situation that this was the best we had. What gives down there? Is anyone in charge? It seems like the Gods of Baseball are doing our work for us. Andruw Jones must be given the Frank Thomas treatment - the sooner the better "Free Andre Eithier".
Posted by: Hollywood Dodger Mark | May 07, 2008 at 01:54 AM
Wow! Kuo was smokin', 96-98 on the gun. Since it was a creapy night, look at this, KUO and KOUfax start out with the same three letters, coincidence, I think not. Sandy had a face lift, fixed the wing, changed the number, and the Dodgers win the WS.
At his 1 for 4 pace, AJ will get up to his 2007 average(.226) by mid August and justify Joe staying with him and leaving Either to rot on the bench.
Great comment about Jacques Jones, I agree that we not mention it to Colletti or Kemp will be sitting down too.
Posted by: Jack | May 07, 2008 at 06:29 AM
Again Dewitt showed his power and clutch hitting, and management is saying once Nomar DL'iaparra is healed he is taking over 3B... I don't like how the kids are being rewarded with "filling in" for disabled vets by being benched when the vets return and stink. When I see this years team, i see the young kids banding together and really being the core that is winning games. I think we need to cut our loses on Abreu now, I don't think that kid is ever going to be healthy if we can't find out what is wrong with him.
Props to the bullpen, they have been outstanding the last 11 games. Kuo is downright filthy!
Posted by: poppinfresh | May 07, 2008 at 07:36 AM
I think Blake DeWitt should continue as the 3rd baseman of the Dodgers. He has done a great job and we all know that Nomar and Andy get hurt too much. I agree with the folks who say that Nomar should play a utility role on Dodgers now. Besides, I see where Andy is complaining about the Dodgers have cost him money. He needs to be packaged with some others and traded!!
Package
Posted by: Package | May 07, 2008 at 07:40 AM
I'm from Blake's hometown and I believe his eventual major league position will be 2nd base. I've watched him develop since he was about 8. Of course he was a power hitter in h.s. and played ss/pitcher. He's a gap hitter but could always yank one out when he tried to pull it. Right now he's trying to make contact and be selective. He's a tough kid (quarterback) and comes from a great family and has always had his head on straight. We're all very proud of him and from the reaction of his teammates after his first homer testifies to him popularity in the dugout.
Posted by: BillC | May 07, 2008 at 07:59 AM
DeWitt deserves to hold onto the starting job as long as he continues to produce. I don't care when nomar comes back. I don't care when Andy LaRoche comes back. Just because a guy isn't supposed to be the best choice doesn't mean he isn't.
Remember that Russell Martin wasn’t supposed to be the starting catcher, but when Dioner Navarro got hurt, Russell made like Lou Gehrig and Pipped him. Same with Dewitt. I still say Nomar can be the utility guy/pinch hitter that the Dodgers have been looking for since they fell in love with Juan Castro. And LaRoche can wait his turn until Dewitt falters.
Here’s the case for Nomar on the pine:
1) He’s a right-handed hitter, so he can spell Loney at first (unlike Sweeney, who is a lefty).
2) He can play third base (unlike Hu, hu can only play second or short, or Sweeney, who’s a DH in the NL).
3) He’s fast, so he can pinch run, steal a base, beat out a bunt, and go first-to-third, something Sweeney can’t do.
4) He’s injury-prone, so playing only occasionally will keep him healthy.
In short, Nomar takes the place of two players on the roster: Sweeney and a utility infielder. That gives them more flexibility in terms of pitchers and other bench playerrs.
Vote for Andre! Keep Dewitt.
Posted by: SaMo | May 07, 2008 at 08:18 AM
Well said SaMo...my sentiments exactly...Keep Nomore as a utility player and The Roach down on the farm.
Also use Young as the pinch hit specialist and lose or trade Sweeney ( along with a minor leaguer to get a fifth starter) only because of lack of maneuverability of the roster.
Posted by: K T USN (feeling retired) | May 07, 2008 at 09:41 AM
La Roche should be trade bait by now.
Package him with Jones, and maybe we can get a Yugo.
Posted by: benzo jones | May 07, 2008 at 10:05 AM
This is the worst thing that can happen by leaving DeWitt at third most of the time, even when Nomar can play everyday: sometime this summer, DeWitt starts hitting like Andrew Jones and starts fielding and throwing like Juan Pierre. Torre gives more starts to Nomar. So now it's August and Nomar is well-rested, relatively fresh and not fighting off a full season's worth of Nomar injuries. He's now able to contribute at a high level during the stretch run. That's a pretty good scenario if you ask me.
BUT... if you immediately put Nomar in while DeWitt is putting up solid numbers, DeWitt, the rookie, gets rusty, doesn't see as much major league pitching, might lose confidence. Later in the summer, Nomar pulls a hammy in the on deck circle (it's only a matter of WHEN, folks), he's out for the year and now you have to throw DeWitt back in to the mix.
Under no circumstances should any conversation about third base include LaRoche or Abreu. As long as DeWitt and Nomar are healthy and productive... the only question is how to divvy up the playing time between them and I say error on the side of giving the rookie more AB's as long as he's producing.
BTW... everytime I think of Abreu, I think of the time Homer Simpson "stabbed" himself in the eye with a hotdog at the dinner table... then implored somebody in the family to call in sick for him at work.
Posted by: Stinger | May 07, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Keep riding DeWitt until the rest of the league figures him out.
And, if Fatso gets his average up to ,226, imagine how hot he'd have gotten to get it there.
Posted by: Chunkdog | May 07, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Excellent take by Hollywood Mark on the Navarro-LaRoche scenario. The best thing to do right now is excercise patience. Let's see if DeWitt can keep it up (I personally believe he can). If he does, this will allow LaRoche and Abreu to be trade options come July and August. If the doesn't, LaRoche can be recalled and filled in. Moving anyone right now (except for Jones) would be jumping the gun and risking exposure of possible holes. Better too much talent than not enough.
Posted by: dalegribel | May 07, 2008 at 11:40 AM
I agree with you guys about the Navarro/Martin experience. I think this is similar with Dewitt. Sweeny needs to be dropped to clear room for another pitcher/infielder because Nomar can be a great sub in all of the infield. Let the kids play! Glad to see wednesday's game with AJ on the bench.
Posted by: poppinfresh | May 07, 2008 at 12:24 PM