Nomar in...
After Friday's Game 2 loss, I mentioned the Dodgers might look to shake things up a touch for Sunday evening's Game 3. With that in mind, Nomar Garciaparra, who has a history of success against scheduled Philadelphia starter Jamie Moyer (by the way, if you're looking for a fun way to kill a few minutes, click on this link and peruse the list of hitters Moyer has faced since 1987... one year after his rookie season, but as far back as the stats offered go) will be in the lineup Sunday. Early indications are he'll play first, but it's possible Nomar could replace Casey Blake at third.
Offensively, it would make more sense to leave James Loney, 3-7 with two walks in the first two games, at first and have Nomar replace Casey Blake at the hot corner. Blake has a terrible career line vs. the ancient lefty and is one for his last 1-10 (though that figure includes a couple of well hit balls). The problem is with defense and health. Physically, Joe Torre said Saturday, it's easier for Nomar to play first. I'd take the chance. If the goal is to add offense, to pull Loney for Nomar helps cancel out the hoped for "Nomar Boost." I realize it plays more neatly into the lefty/righty thing, but what's more important, that or who's swinging well right now?
However Torre decides to do things, look for a more aggressive Dodgers squad come game time. I like the idea in theory, but the Blue should proceed with caution. Too much aggressiveness can actually play into the hands of a control freak like Moyer. If he's pitching well, he gets guys out in much the same way as Greg Maddux- making hitters commit to pitches that look good, but are an inch or two outside that comfort zone.
BK
Subscribe to this Blog | What is RSS?
After watching Ethier and Kemp fish the whole game, a MORE aggressive squad seems like a very bad idea.
Posted by: DBrim | October 12, 2008 at 01:22 AM
Matt Kemp who isn't really hitting should also be replaced by Juan Pierre who has had experience in the playoffs and World Series.
Posted by: Rene A. | October 12, 2008 at 03:07 AM
As posted earlier, Torre will not allow veterans with rings and post season experience sit on the bench while Rome burns to the ground. Nomar will go to first, Kent to second and watch for Pierre coming off the bench although he should probabaly start and bat in the two hole. Maddux will relieve tomorrow night. All veteran affair.
Posted by: Hollywood Dodger Mark | October 12, 2008 at 03:18 AM
Against Moyer my plan---Look for the slow breaking stuff. Sounds easy but is always a problem. With 2 strikes Ethier strikes out EVERY time with a breaking ball in the dirt. Nomar swung at 3 sliders in the dirt from Lidge. The last one looked like it bounced 5 feet in front of the plate. If Nomar has reached the stage where his only worry is catching u[ to the fastball then he shouldn't be playing. Especially against Moyer. We'll see Last chance today.
David
Posted by: David s | October 12, 2008 at 06:41 AM
BK,
I'm with you on this one. I don't have a problem with giving Nomar a shot here especially against a "crafty lefty" like Moyer, but I think I'd put him at 3rd in place of Casey Blake. Loney has come up with big hits this post season and even did the other night in the 8-5 loss.
Torre needs to be careful not to give up too much defensively - we've seen what the Phillies do with extra outs - and I think they actually give up less at 3rd than they do at first. It's also the reason I'd leave DeWitt at 2nd instead of Kent.
By the way, I wonder JP's stats are against Moyer ? Don't get me wrong - I am NOT arguing they should play him - but this is the kind of guy (Moyer) he seems to be able to hit - good control and lots of off speed stuff. Just curious - but again, another case where they would give him too much potential power and defense to play him.
Posted by: OhioVic | October 12, 2008 at 08:15 AM
Rene A. -
I don't think you can bench Kemp against a lefty. I think he hit something like .357 against them during the regular season.
Posted by: OhioVic | October 12, 2008 at 08:17 AM
Ohio-
I can see the defensive thing going both ways. On the one, first basemen can save bad plays from all over the infield, which is huge. On the other, it's less moving, generally requires less agility, etc., which Nomar is lacking in. At third, I worry they'll spend all day dropping bunts down the third base line. Everyone from Victorino to Burrell.
Of course, they could do that at first, too. Either way, you give up defense to make the move, so in my mind, if the goal is to create offense, I'd put out the best offensive lineup. If Nomar is in, the way things are currently going, that would mean sitting Blake.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | October 12, 2008 at 08:31 AM
Yeah! All veterans.
Pierre in Center.
Kent at 2B
Nomar at 1B
Sweeney at C
What terrific defense!
We had a veteran lineup for the first half of the year, and it was terrible. The kids got us this far. You can't give up on them because they lost two games on the road.
Torre is quite familiar with rebounding from 2-0 deficits. I look for the usual lineup to right the ship tonight. But I'd move Ethier to the 3-hole with Manny hitting fourth. Then Loney, Kemp, Nomar, Dewitt in whatever order you like, depending mostly on how they hit 46-year-olds.
But the key will still be the pitching. If Kuroda keeps them in the game by throwing zeroes, the Dodgers will win. If he puts on a Bills performance, the hitters won't have a chance.
As for good pitching beating good hitting, the maxim still holds true. Philly didn't have great starting pitching, but their bullpen was the best in the NL Relief pitching is just as important as sttarting pitching. The Dodgers should know. Their bullpen was the second best in baseball.
The Dodgers lost both games because they couldn't get a run off the Phils bullpen. Good pitching DID beat good hitting.
Posted by: SaMo | October 12, 2008 at 10:30 AM
BK,
Good point - if we are going to give up defense for offense, let's make sure it's the least offensive guy coming out - which again, I think, is Blake. Torre may be looking at the righty/lefty thing here, but given Blake's career stats vs Moyer, it's not as much of an arguement as it might be in other situations.
Posted by: OhioVic | October 12, 2008 at 10:36 AM
Can we stop with "the kids win it/the kids lose it" argument? "The Kids" and "the vets" all contributed to the losses in Philly. Yes, Matt Kemp had bad ABs, but Furcal and Blake haven't done much, either. Billingsley sucked, but Loney has played well. People are mad at Kemp for his AB against Lidge in the ninth the other night, but Nomar went down just as easily on the same pitches.
I feel at this point of the season, we ought to be beyond this sort of storyline. They're a team, at this point, I'd say.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | October 12, 2008 at 11:18 AM
BK,
I agree with you. Lets put the best team on the field. That's why Joe has been playing Dewitt. Lets hope he continues. Blake has been flat so lets try Nomar at third, not first. Now lets see if Kids and Vets can sit on the breaking ball and not swing like every pitch is a fastball.
David
Posted by: David s | October 12, 2008 at 11:59 AM