Dodger fans, Ethan Martin. Ethan Martin, Dodger fans.
Typically, there's a certain rhythm to the in-dugout pregame media pow wows with the manager. A story of immediate relevance, like a lineup change (tonight, for example, Andruw Jones is getting a scheduled day off to help protect his knee- as Joe Torre pointed out, he came back without the typical rehab, so they don't want to push too much) gets discussed first, along with other items of daily import. Roster moves would qualify. Big questions of health, like how a rehabbing pitcher threw the day before, who had what procedure done or saw what doctor, took BP, or threw on the side. Then, issues less of the micro, more of the macro. Talk of, and these are hypotheticals, "the bullpen," or "can you carry an extra pitcher after the break," or a particular favorite this season, "approach at the plate." The kind of thing perhaps one or two writers want to know for a particular item they're working on, or give a little scratch to the itch of curiosity.
As things are winding down, someone will always toss out the "Injury Roundup Question," wherein every dinged player on a roster is discussed, primarily for the purposes of filling a notebook, since it's likely said players were discussed the day before and their status hasn't changed all that much. You can often judge the amount of news on any given day by how long it takes to reach the IRQ.
Today, it took less than a minute and a half. Yes, folks, it was a slow news day, at least inside the dugout. Outside, though, there is some action. The Dodgers will formally sign their first round pick, righthanded pitcher Ethan Martin, this evening. He'll get a bonus of about $1.73 million, and report to Vero next week. The goal is to have him throw about 35-40 more innings this year. Like most high schoolers, he's not exactly a great quote, but I'll have a little from him, and a lot more about Martin from Logan White, either later tonight or (more likely) tomorrow.
So that's the big news. Among the smaller stories:
- Jones will have a night off tonight, then should be good to go for the final three games of the series. Torre doesn't anticipate having to place any restrictions on Jones once the games start again.
- Gary Bennett is feeling better, and believes the most recent cortisone shot he had in his foot has helped. He isn't running yet, though, and likely is a long way from being in a position to return.
- Brad Penny is tentatively scheduled to play some catch before the break, not today, but perhaps tomorrow or Saturday. At this point, he'll need "probably a couple of rehab starts before he's able to pitch for us," Torre said, "so we're probably going to be looking at towards the end of the month. That's just a ballpark figure I'm throwing out there."
- Jason Schmidt, when he's ready to return, will do so as a starter. Coming off his injury and the rehab work he's done, to stick him in the pen would be tough, not just on him physically, but also on Torre, because Schmidt wouldn't be able to be used like a conventional reliever. It would hamstring the pen more than help it.
- Torre said Eric Stults, throwing tomorrow, "needs to get a little better feel for his changeup. That's what makes his pitching successful in the first couple starts. The last couple times out he hasn't located it as well. I think basically it's just basically a mechanical thing, where he needs to reach a little bit farther. But he feels good, and doesn't seem to be rattled by it. He throws a lot of strikes."
Encouraging tidbits from the pregame notes: The Dodgers are 14-8 since June 17, tied with Milwaukee for the best record in the National League over that span. They've won a season high four straight series (the second time that's happened this year), and swept the Marlins during their season high eight game win streak between April 25th and May 3rd.
Since the 17th, the Dodgers sport a Major League best 2.69 ERA over that stretch, which helps explain the 14-8 record (the PR staff provides no such glowing information about the offense...).
If the Dodgers can win tonight, they'll be back at the .500 mark for the first time since they were 27-27 after a May 30th win over the Mets. So it's been a while.
LINEUPS:
Marlins:
Ramirez. SS
Hermida. RF
Cantu.
3B
Willingham. LF
Uggla. 2B
Jacobs.
1B
Ross. CF
Baker. C
Johnson.
RHP
Dodgers:
Kemp. CF
Ethier. RF
Martin.
C
Kent. 2B
Loney. 1B
Young. LF
DeWitt.
3B
Berroa. SS
Park. RHP
BK
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KBros,
I think you jinxed us. with "fading Marlins". They just took 2 of 3 and lead the league in homers. Uggla and Johnson off the disabled list. Watch out.
David
Posted by: David S | July 10, 2008 at 07:43 PM
Why Bench Jones when he's getting hot?
Can we just avoid the whole Schmidt experiment? It just seems like "Loaiza Part Deux - The Giant Revenge" Starring Michael Caine.
Ick.
Posted by: benzojones | July 10, 2008 at 08:22 PM
Without his reputation and accomplishments, if Joe Torre was just a generic rookie or retread manager, has he shown anything in Dodger blue to indicate he is going to be successful here?
Just call Matt Kemp The Chauffer, he's going to drive so many Dodger fans crazy.
Other than the WBC, what has Andy Laroche done since leaving Jacksonville?
Posted by: uclart47uclart47 | July 10, 2008 at 10:59 PM
"Fading Marlins" knock blue out of first place
Posted by: david | July 10, 2008 at 11:01 PM
What has LaRoche had a chance to do? He had one AB Tuesday, one AB today. That's gotta be hard, especially when you're a young hitter, having had only one AB in the previous series, and not being used to the regular pinch-hitter role. Then he gets put in a tight spot late in the game. I really think Torre needs to do a little more platooning of the two dudes at third to keep them both fresh.
Also, Dodger fans, please, how bout some sympathy for the kid off the bench? I was taken aback by the vehemence of the LaRoche-haters.
Posted by: VA Bloodblood | July 11, 2008 at 01:26 AM