Splitsville
When the Dodgers kicked off their four game set against the Diamondbacks on Thursday down one in the NL West, the greedy among us hoped for a sweep, or perhaps a trio of wins. Losing Thursday and Friday
made that impossible, so the goal shifted, and the need to achieve it grew more acute. A split. The Dodgers had to have a split to maintain the status quo after it was over. Saturday they got it done, and Sunday the Blue did it again, riding four hits and another homer from Manny Ramirez en route to a 9-3 win. They said the Ramirez deal would make everyone around him better, and that was certainly the case on Sunday. A quick look at the box score shows 16 Dodger hits, including three for Matt Kemp (with two RBIs), and a pair each for James Loney and the quietly hot-hitting Casey Blake.
But the story, as the Dodgers hope it will be for the rest of the year, was Manny, who was a triple short of a cycle and continued to energize the home crowd. His first inning RBI single off Arizona's Doug Davis helped get the Dodgers off to a good start, and they just kept rolling from there, touching Davis for five earned before the end of the second inning.
While they're in the exact same place they were on Thursday morning, the Dodgers feel a whole lot better about themselves. Manny's aboard, Brad Penny is set to return this week. This baseball thing? It's fun again.
Except, maybe, for Juan Pierre. While JP applauds the Ramirez deal- he's not insane- he noted yesterday that on a personal level his addition makes life difficult. Lots of moving around, lots of uncertainty as to whether or not he'll be in the lineup. All he's been is be himself, Pierre said (and here he's actually mistaken, since Pierre's 2008 hasn't met his career standards) and he feels people are piling on.
Bummer. Of course, if Pierre thinks his position is tough, try being Andre Ethier, who should be playing in front of him, but isn't.
TJ Simers hopes Ramirez gets to keep his hair.
The Dodgers are off Monday, heading to St. Louis to start a series tomorrow.
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I just lost a lot of respect for Pierre. Sure he's a sub par player, especially in relation to his salary, but he does work hard. But to complain NOW?
Yes, think of Ethier, who actually has a reason to complain and maybe ask to be traded. How about Nomar, who has been moved from SS to 3rd to 1st. I heard a lot of "me" in his comments. Idiot! Is he dillusional? I think someone told him he's Ricky Henderson and I think that someone is Ned.
go blue
Posted by: jq | August 04, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Gee Manny, funny how that knee is suddenly perfectly fine. No more complaints about needing to go on the DL huh? As a long time Sox fan, I can't tell you how happy I am you are gone. You are exactly what's wrong with baseball and sports in general - overpaid, selfish, and self-centered. You were paid $160 million and that wasn't good enough. I am completely disgusted.......
Posted by: goodriddance | August 04, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Juan Pierre should keep his pie-hole shut. All he’s done is “be Juan Pierre?” Being Juan Pierre isn’t good enough for the major leagues. Note how many teams wanted Juan Pierre at the deadline? He’s a one-tool player who has bamboozled Dodger management into thinking that one tool is valuable enough to keep him in the linuep.
Pierre can barely hit .280, doesn’t hit for power, fields no better than an average outfielder, and can’t throw. What he can do is run, and he doesn’t get on base enough for that to matter. Andre Ethier does four things better than him, but because Ned wasted $45 million on Pierre, Ethier sits while Pierre plays. AND HAS THE TEMERITY TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT!!!!!!
A benefit of the Ramirez trade that I didn’t realize until reading the posts here is that it finally gets Jeff Kent and his .250 average out of the cleanup spot. Before Manny arrived, there were plenty of players on the team with the stats to merit the four-hole, but nobody with the HOF stature of our light-hitting second baseman. With Manny in the lineup, there’s no question who should be batting fourth. And the lefty-righty thing pushes Kent down to the six hole so that Loney can hit between them. That’s a great move irrespective of who the four-hitter is. The fact that it’s a first-ballot hall of famer makes it even better.
I don’t expect Manny to be all cupcakes and strawberries for the rest of the year. But having him in the cleanup spot makes everybody better. Kemp and Martin are seeing better pitches now, Loney is coming up with men on base (and hopefully not hitting into double plays), and Kemp is bating lower in the order. Put Nomar back in this lineup and it’s truly formidable. Actually, I’d wait until September 30 to bring Nomar back—that way, the three weeks he’s healthy will coincide with the playoffs. The Dodgers can win this division without him, but they can’t win in the playoffs with Angel Berroa.
I also think the Red Sox did fine by getting Jason Bay for Manny and a couple of minor leaguers. The team that truly got fleeced—over and over again this season, as it turns out—was the Pirates. They gave up Xavier Nady, Jason Bay, Damaso Marte, and got basically nothing back. How do people in Pittsburgh continue to support that team? They have the same payroll as the A’s and Rays, but they’re out of it before Memorial Day every year. They’re truly a disgrace. Whenever I hear fans complain that the Dodgers haven’t won anything since 1988,I just look at that management team that hasn’t won more than 80 games in Clayton Kershaw’s lifetime and thank our lucky stars.
Posted by: SaMo | August 04, 2008 at 10:30 AM
jq,
I have to agree. I very much respect Juan Pierre's work ethic, which is among the best I've ever seen in an athlete. He takes his job and the responsibilities that come with it quite seriously.
But frankly, Pierre should be happy just to be an everyday player, regardless of where in the outfield that is. Especially when you take into account that Andre Ethier brings more to the table to begin with (especially defensively) and the only reason that Andruw Jones is even around to move him into left field (at the start of the season) is because it became apparent very quickly that his arm in center was often killing the Dodgers. To complain about this situation is fairly petty.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | August 04, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Anyone else finding it humorous that the Boston fans are seeking out this blog to get their last digs at Manny in...
I got one word for y'all.... Naneenanee-nah-nah (the "h" is so they'll understand it).
Posted by: benzojones | August 04, 2008 at 10:41 AM
This series with the Cardinals scares me. The Dodgers do not play well there. It will be interesting...
...as for the Pierre comments, it is COMICAL that the little fella doesn't realize how fortunate he is to be living under that lucky star known as The Late Joe Torre, who is apparently in a delusion that we are living in 1968. The Late Joe apparently believes that the one run that Pierre might create with his legs every 5 games is worth the other 4 games of pure nothing.
The Late Joe never glances at statistics either, because the so-called "professional at-bats" that he believes Pierre gives him are an illusion. He actually sees fewer pitches per at bat than "free swinging" Matt Kemp, albeit without the same power or productivity payoff.
So, if I were Juan Pierre, I would keep my mouth shut and thank the Good Lord every day that he is blessed with an out-of-touch manager whose daydreams are filled with thoughts of Matty Alou, Tito Fuentes, and Larvell (Sugar Bear) Blanks.
Posted by: twerp1 | August 04, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Gotta say so far i', lovein the Manny trade!!
So i was wondering if someone could explain how the waiver thing works and what clearing it or not means?
Posted by: Gillbert | August 04, 2008 at 10:48 AM
Nice Larvell Blanks reference, twerp1. how about some Ralph Garr, Jerry Mumphrey, and Omar Moreno to go along with it?
Posted by: SaMo | August 04, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Hey Goodriddance,
Remind me again how many rings the sox have without Manny. Most post season home runs doesnt mean anything to you? You're just mad cuz the Rays are beating that ass this year. You guys might not even make the playoffs. Manny looks like a bargin at 160 million with the like of Jones and Zito. Its the not the players that are ruining baseball, its the agents you idiot. Open your eyes. Dont you have a million other blogs about the red sox you can go to and complain. Oh yeah, its just like Manny said, you guys just like to bother people. I wouldnt be able to stay in a city where people are constantly bothering me. What? Never seen a famous person before.
Posted by: Brian | August 04, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Benzo let me say it again since you obviously don't get it - we Sox fans are GLAD MANNY IS GONE! The team is glad he's gone. The owners are glad he's gone. They even paid him to go away. Although I guess you need something to feel good about after the Lakers were shown to be a fraud. Enjoy the 2-month rental, I mean honeymoon...
Posted by: goodriddance | August 04, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Well, now that Pierre has moved to CF, there are actually two centerfielders in MLB who are worse: Michael Bourn of Houston and Willy Tavares of Colorado. Pierre had been the worst LF in MLB, so I'm sure he's relieved. But seriously, how can this guy have a reputation of an unselfish player? He's playing instead of a vastly superior Andre Ethier. Combine his low OBP, low slugging average, and weak arm, and he could easily be considered to be the worst outfielder in the major leagues, even worse than the fourth or fifth outfielders on every team. It's a joke that he's even in the major leagues at all, let alone starting on a contending team.
Posted by: The Dude Abides | August 04, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Manny is doing work. Blake is doing work in the shadows. Martin, Kemp, and Loney are making us grown folks proud. Ethier is getting screwed. Pierre is running his mouth. Kent is out of the four hole. Jones may be packing his bags. Coletti is buying Lotto tickets. McCourt is counting money. Joe is smiling.
Good Times. I love Hollywood. Geaux Blue!
Posted by: gus2327 | August 04, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Question of the day? Will Manny's bobblehead have dreads or not?
Package
Posted by: Package | August 04, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Gilbert:
Waivers lets other teams claim players before they're traded. For example, if the Dodgers wanted to trade Juan Pierre to the Yankees for Alex Rodriguez, both players would have to clear waivers--i.e. every other team with a worse record would have a chance to claim either player and his contract. That ends the trade right there, because they player doesn't "clear" waivers.
If a team puts in a claim, however, they have to take the player--and his salary-- if he's released from his existing team. Juan Pierre will probably clear waivers because no team wants his ridiculous salary. A-Rod too, for that matter. Sometimes, teams put in waiver claims to stop other teams from getting a player. For example, the Yankees put a claim on Jose Canseco a few years ago just to stop the Red Sox from getting him. He stunk for them, but George didn't want him to stink for the Sox, I guess.
If more than one team puts in a claim, the team with the worst record gets first crack.
Teams put players on waivers all the time, just to see who might be interested in trading for their players. Most waivers can be revoked, except for irrevocable waivvers, which is like designating somebody for assignment. If another team claims a player off irreovcable waivers, it Esteban Loaiza and out of here for him, and he must go to the new team. There's no pulling a player back off waivers in that specific case.
I'm sure the Dodgers have already put waivers on Jones, Pierre, Sweeney, and maybe even Schmidt, but I'm also sure there have been zero takers.
Speaking of Weeney, Can somebody please tell me how he's still on the roster after the addition and subtraction of nearly a dozen players in the last three weeks? The guy's hittitng .116 for goodness sake. Does he have naked photos of Joe Torre and ned Colletti? (Not together, of course. Those would get you a spot in the everyday lineup).
Posted by: SaMo | August 04, 2008 at 11:58 AM
goodriddance,
I got 1 question for you,
what happened to the PATRIOTS????
Biggest upset in the history of sport..LMAO, go away troll !!!
Posted by: LA > BOSTON | August 04, 2008 at 01:27 PM
I must have to agree with all pasionate BLUE bloggers regarding Juan "Always Whinning" Pierre and my Man MAN RAM......Damn, Juanito just does not get it, does he? "" They're just sticking in to me"" What ????? Who is sticking to you Juan? Who??? I am sure your atttitude is completely different everytime you make that trip to the bank, isn't it? A TRUE professional does not complain !!! Wait, is Either complaining?? NOOO!!! b/c he realizes that at this point the only reason why he is not playing is b/c of MAN RAM'S presence, otherwise, the Stud should be playing and to be honest, I am petrified about management's decision to play Juan over EITHER !!!!! Talk about creating meaningless distraction !!!!!
BTW, if Juanito's concern is FATSO Jones, there should be no concern there AT ALL!!!! The guy is done..........Zippo.
GO BLUE
Posted by: JC Blue | August 04, 2008 at 01:32 PM
The path forward for Juan Pierre is simple: he should renegotiate with the Dodgers so that the final three years of his contract are torn up and he can be a free agent at the end of this year. He can sign with a team that shares his opinion regarding his talent level, and the Dodgers can avoid spending $30 million on the final three years of his contract. Time to put his money where his mouth is.
Posted by: KLV | August 04, 2008 at 01:42 PM
goodriddance - exactly.
Posted by: benzojones | August 04, 2008 at 01:47 PM
To say Eithier is clearly better than Pierre is just silly.
Are 37 stolen bases more important or 11 home runs? The 1st half of the season with Dodger hitting you might say the 11 home runs were more important, but now with Manny batting cleanup those 37 steals look pretty good. Its about fitting together different pieces of the puzzle and maximizing strengths and weaknesses. The Dodgers need Pierre for his speed and contact hitting because that helps throw the pitcher off his game.
The fact that Pierre is not the perfect player doesn't take away his strengths like the lack of arm strength doesn't mean that he doesn't have an increased range in center field. Pierre plays solid baseball. A slapped ball and beating the throw is just as effective as a solid base hit to right field. If he could learn to take a walk and bunt and get his on base % up., he would be the clear choice. Right now with Eithier and Pierre 50/50, Pierre is the better choice because he rounds out the team.
You all should just be thankful that both Eithier and Pierre are on the team so you never have to see Jones strike out again.
Posted by: Dodger Dog | August 04, 2008 at 02:13 PM
Goodriddance:
Besides having the screen name of a crappy punk band and an even crappier Green Day song, you had to go and bring the Lakers into this? Seriously? Is that how you defend your comments? Lets face facts here,
You and most of RedSux nation are just bitter that Manny is gone. I'm sure you were one of the ones that was calling into radio shows, posting on blogs, and preaching your message about getting Manny out of town to anyone that would listen. And I can all but guarantee that you were spreading your nonsense all the while thinking..er strike that....KNOWING in the back of your mind that the Red Sox could never be stupid enough to trade Manny. He'd made a stink and asked to be traded numerous times since the 03 season. It hadn't happened the previous the 4 years, so why would this year be any different? So it was easy to jump on the bandwagon (much like most of Sox nation is accustomed to doing) and bash Manny and say "get em outta here, the bum!" all the while knowing he wasn't going anywhere. Well be careful what you wish for. Manny's gone the Sox are not noticeably weaker but SIGNIFICANTLY weaker! If you wanna be mad at someone or spout your rhetoric, why not direct it at the Boston front office who did everything within their power to trade away one of the greatest hitters of his generation thereby hampering YOUR team's chances at even making the playoffs. So you acquired Jason Bay, a nice player and a "star" in Pittsburgh. But just so we're clear, I'm fairly sure all you have to do to be a "star" in Pittsburgh is show up and put your uniform on! Good luck loserface, your team is gonna need it.
Posted by: Karl Hungus | August 04, 2008 at 02:13 PM
Dodger Dog:
Ordinarily I'd ignore your post, but in the interest of persuading Dodger management as well, let me refute your argument.
Which is more important, 37 SBs or 11 home runs? 11 home runs, easily. Home runs are like stealing four bases, not to mention the number of runners they drive in. When was the last time somebody besides Juan Pierre scored because Pierre stole a base? Maybe on a double steal. But Ethier is responsible for 44 "stolen" bases with his homers. Pierre has also been caught 7 times, which means he has only benefited the club 30 additional bases.
Ethier has also benefited the club by saving countless runs with his arm, preventing runners from going firstt to third on grounders through the infield. Pierre can't throw a runner out at third, much less home. As for his increased range, I don't know how you'd measure that, but it's not quite the huge variation you see in arm strength.
Finally, a slap hit and barely beating the throw to first is NOT as good as a solid line drive to right. The line drive moves a runner from first to third, or scores a runner from second. A slap hit does not.
Ethier creates more runs with his bat and saves more runs with his glove than Pierre, and therefore should be starting the majority of the games. In roughly equivalent numbers of at-bats (Pierre has 307, Ethier 351), Ethier has nearly twice as many RBIs, 50 percent more runs scored, and twice as many walks. If Pierre is such a good lead-off man, how come he has just 36 runs to his credit? You can't blame it entirely on the offense sucking. The reason is HE's NOT ON BASE ENOUGH. And because he has no other tools than speed, he should be the Herb Washington of this team. A pinch--runner and an occasional pinch-bunter.
Posted by: SaMo | August 04, 2008 at 02:47 PM
Incredibly great post, SaMo. 'Nuff said...
Posted by: twerp1 | August 04, 2008 at 03:02 PM
SaMo, after reading it a second time, II don't believe Dodger Dog's post was serious. I think we've become so disgusted with Pierre's continued ineptitude that we don't recognize humor and sarcasm when we see it.
Posted by: The Dude Abides | August 04, 2008 at 04:00 PM
Wow,
You are so wacky with your hatred of Pierre you are tweaking statistics like mad and putting way to much importance on a subpar arm. You have to judge on how effective each player is by what they have been bringing to the team and not on your personal feelings are for a player for the good of the team. In baseballs "feelings" are lame, and statistics are king. The statistics say Pierre has better base running and Either has more power. I don't see the statistics bearing out that Either is way better defensively.
To say Pierre lacks RBIs when he hits at the top of the order is kooky. How many times has someone been on base at the top of the inning or after Jones and the pitcher has hit? If runs scored were indicative of anything of anything other than how someone hits behind you, you'de have a point, but then of coarse Stults should then be our center fielder. Yes Pierre needs to increase his on base %, that is a no brainer, but to complain about Pierre routinely making contact and making it to base a third of the time, and when he's there stealing half of the time, instead of Andrew Jones getting whiffed by every pitcher in the national league is crazy. If we had a better leadoff option that would be one thing. We don't, so we still need Pierre, who really doesn't deserve your vitriol because he is playing hard and his arm is never going to get any better than it is. He should develop himself by doing a better job taking a walk and bunting to increase his on base %, and if he did that it would be no contest.
It comes down to assessing what you have and then putting out what you need.
I'm glad Joe Torre is doing exactly that.
Posted by: Dodger Dog | August 05, 2008 at 05:31 PM