Today's lineup
We get the first of two Cy Young Award winners today and the sixth since April 17. Let’s see if we can make Santana more like Pedro and not like Maddux, Glavine and Zito.
Furcal, SS
Lofton, CF
Kemp, RF
Kent, 2B
Saenz, 1B
Alomar, C
Cruz, LF
Izzy, 3B
Martin, DH
Perez, P
Inside the Dodgers 
Perez. Just great. With him on the mound, the only question is how many runs will we lose by.
will Perez suprise us today?
Hey, the last five innings Perez has thrown to Alomar have been scoreless. And Odalis is so used to pitching without run support, I’d expect him to at least be back to 2003 form. He might even have a confrontation with Paul LoDuca.
Look at this lineup! We have Kemp batting third!
Believe in the shocking shelling of Santana and the appearance of the Minnesota mop-up man!
Let’s let the past be the past and deal with today !! Perez has a great opportunity today to turn it around and if he can do it we can keep pace in the division.
Go Dodgers !!
might as well not even watch the game, with mr. soul glow pitching, it looks like a sweep… the dodger brass needs to show some guts and release him already.. i dont care if he throws a perfect game, hes a cancer on this ballclub and has to be cut loose… and i am tired of the dodgers lacksidasicle attitude, it seems like they have trouble getting into the game, the dodgers need a spark really bad, but i seriously doubt that mr. soul glow will come through… well at least we got good news that andy laroche will not need surgery, and we finally got big man down low for the dodgers basketball team, instead of a relible pitcher.. but at least seo is gone, and we can finnally close the book on one of the worst trades in dodger history ( shawn green for dioner navarro, danny muegge, william juarez, and beltran perez, oh and 10 million dollars), was depodesta high or something?.. well hopefully the dodgers can salvage the series…
BELIEVE IN A WIN!
I know Santana is a great lefthander, with awesome stuff. However, how long is Grady going to make us watch Cruz slide close to the .220 mark and keep Ethier on the bench. Ethier has hit lefties in A,AA, AAA, and in the Pac 10. Put him in there.
I am wondering what the roster move will be on Friday when the new catcher shows up, who’s going to Vegas??
Ray – With hendrickson at Center and Lowe (6’6) playing the 2, and Kenny Lofton (Arizona basketball allumn) running the point we definitely be the favorites in the Manhattan Beach YMCA rec league in the offseason!!!
We need to get after Johan early. Perez is capable of keeping the Twins bats silent (capable…but not likely the way he’s been throwing and the way they’ve been hitting). Santana gives up his runs early, when he does, so we need to get out there and get after it if we’re goign to have a shot.
Im not a big Lineup Monday morning QB guy, but does anyone know why (it sure looks like) we have stocked the lineup with right handed hitters? Santana is one of the nastiest lefties around, but he actaully is better VS right handed hitters (RH= 0.207 avg, LH= 0.280 avg, same trend last year…. ) ??? This is going to be a tough game in any case.
“we can finnally close the book on one of the worst trades in dodger history ( shawn green for dioner navarro, danny muegge, william juarez, and beltran perez, oh and 10 million dollars), was depodesta high or something?”
– If I remember correctly, Green was going into his contract year and the Dodgers weren’t going to sign him to the 30 million dollar extension he was demanding (a wise decision), so as an alternative they traded him to free up the 7-8 million dollars in budget space that the team needed to sign another starting pitcher during that off-season. (That pitcher turned out to be Odalis Perez…whoops)
in answer to who is going down, Tomko is going on the disabled list so we will be down one pitcher and with Perez going into the rotation hopefully temporarily, he must get a lot of innings as the bullpen is really short now. (biemel, saito, broxton, baez and god help us kuo).
No more Soul Glo, Odalis cut his hair. Maybe that was his problem, he look’s sharp early as does Johan. Kemp is batting 3rd even though he doesn’t have a hit this series, let’s hope he can turn it around.
ok i know its a tough lefty but ethier needs to be in there. Cruz was in there yesterday and he didnt even produce {exept for that catch}.and ethiers been a hit machine lately.
And the Odalis saga continues. Grand slam Twins !!
Come on Dodgers !!
thats a grammy. dodgers 0 twins 4
Game over. Going ot be a looooong year guys…..
Grand Slam by Hunter,5 hits in a row mostly on 2 strike pitches. We can’t even keep it close against these guys, Johan with a 4 run lead, ladies and gentleman this one is over in the 2nd inning. When do we play Pittsburgh again??!!
Hey Coletti – Wise up and get a REAL PITCHER!!!!!
O-D-A-L-I-S = GONE… He paroves that age old theory: Any lefty with a heartbeat can intrigue a manager for at least 2 years. Please end the misedry Mr. Colletti.
Let’s give Odalis a hand, at least he’s getting it over the plate, right over the plate.
Please get rid of him, he’s not even safe out of the bullpen. Eat the money, get him completely off the team, not even on the 40-man roster.
O MY GOSH THEY GOT MAUR OUT!!
STEINER IS A HACK !!! I just can’t listen to him. I have a great TV and sound system and I’d rather listen to Monday and Reuss on my walkman. Here comes hunter again with a man on @#&%$%*
Keep it in the park Odalis !!
Maur came in batting .375 or so, he’ll leave near .400 I’m sure the Dodgers won’t miss the Metrodome, or playing the AL. Here’s a little tidbit, Maur not in the field, but still DH. Nomar not on the field, Russell is DH. Hmm. So now we go 2 games over .500, if b4 the season someone whould have said LA will be .500 in late June, I woulda gave them a drug test. Dodgers are flat lining right now, someone need’s to breathe some life into this club. C’mon Dodgers show something, once again this laid back attitude is getting old quickly.
WHY go to the pen??????? this game is OVER. This is where Odalis takes one for the team and hopefully we do better back in LA. This is bad bad management. As is Having a guy like Kemp hitting 3rd vs a Cy Young winner. He should be hitting 3rd, but in AA or AAA.
drj884, he’s a number 3 against someone who’s not a power pitcher.
Anyone notice how Odalis was fine when he pitched to the righthanded side of the plate, but when he threw to the lefty side bad things happened? I think it’s time to move Kent so we have someone with range on the right side of the middle infield.
move Kent where though?
I was initially holding out hope that Perez would decide to become a pitcher again. Guess not.
Have we not seen enough?
has anyone noticed that kemp is 0-10 with 6 ks in his last 10 at bats
So put him at # 3 vs the best pitcher in baseball? Honestly, how do you get to that type of decision?
yes, I picked him up for my fantasy team when Dave Roberts hit the wall
LIFE!
Release Odalis!!!!!!!!!! I’m sure glad were going to Anaheim to beat up on the Halos I’ll be there Friday representing The Blue!!!!!!
Is it just me or does the bullpen pitch lights out when we’re out of the game & blow up when we’re in it!
If it wasn’t so sad, it would really be laughable – this half-hearted effort against the Twins, or any other American League team, except for hopefully the Angels. If we make the playoffs, it’ll only be because of the pathetic Western Division, and in the playoffs we would have to play some halfway decent team. I think there is good hope for a couple of our young players, and I’m singling out Martin and Ethier. They should only get better throughout the second half of this season. I think that Kemp and Billingsley are still overmatched in the big league. The rest of the league has discovered what Kemp cannot hit, and that’s what he will be getting until we send him back to AAA to learn how to do that. It’s unfortunate, but the big hype and USA Today headlines probably jinxed him and made it sound too easy. I’m sure he will be back stronger than ever, but I don’t look for that this year and at this level. If Billingley is the best young pitcher that we’ve developed, then I’m sorry for the state of our minor league pitchers. There used to be a time when we could bring a real power pitcher to the majors from within our own system and enjoy his success for years to come. Billingsley just cannot finish off a hitter – they keep fouling him off until he walks them or much of the time gives in to them. Maybe some additional maturity and working with his pitches at the AAA level will help, but he’s no immediate answer for this season.
I really can’t be enchanted with some of our veterans either. While Nomar is putting on a great performance, most of our other highly paid talent is performing well past its prime. Kent is definitely on the down-slide when you look at his average and diminished power. I believe we’ll come to regret that generous one year contract extension. JD for the money he is paid is a disappointment, and will no doubt keep his contract with us rather than opting for that free agency where he’d have to rely on his record. I’m glad that we have two pitchers that keep the team in contention when they go out there, and Saito was a great find with what has happened to our closer situation. I wonder if Broxton could be converted into a starter – just a thought for somebody.
I’ll keep following the team, as I have now for over 50 years, and I feel with each of our players, even when I don’t see much inspiration on the team. I don’t envy the job that Colletti and Little have ahead of them – neither of them and what they’ve done so far really excites me. I just hope they don’t give away our future with some more desperation trades. In the meantime, let’s try to turn the page against the Angels. Love the Dodger Blue.
Pitching, pitching…pitching.
I think overmatched is the wrong term. Uncomfortable is more like it.
Billingsley for some reason thought he was Jae Seo and that he had to locate stuff on corners, even though his fastball was hitting 98. He’s got to do what works for him.
Kemp is trying to come up big each time, and needs to lay back. Putting him down in the lineup would be a good idea, as he’s not a 3-hole guy right now.
Finally, if Grady is going to play the percentages, he could at least look at the numbers. Ethier hits lefties, Kemp hits righties.
I don’t know why Colletti took Hall unlss he’s thinking of moving him in an upcoming deal for more pitching.
Maybe the Angels are just what the doctor ordered for winning again.
messagebear said it best – martin and either are major leaguers, though kemp and billingsly are overmatched at this time.
yes, we all got caught up in the kemp hype, but remember cody ross had a career week and he has only hit one homer since leaving LA.
shouldn’t have given kent the one year extension. what was the rush, esp at age 39, though i would look at doing something with nomar. he could play 1b, 3b or even try the outfield.
i too have been following the club for almost 50 years, and it still comes down to pitching – and we just ain’t got it right now. we might have enough to eek out the west, but then what? another one and done to st. louis or the mets?
about today’s game, why rest nomar and bat martin dh? and if you want martin to hit, why not try him in the three hole instead of kemp? martin could use a little
reward for all his clutch hits in the eight hole…but kemp is trying way too hard.
and what is going on with (nancy) drew? he gets more rest days than any 11 mil player in history. i wonder what nomar and kent really think of all that?!?
messagebear said it best – martin and either are major leaguers, though kemp and billingsly are overmatched at this time.
yes, we all got caught up in the kemp hype, but remember cody ross had a career week and he has only hit one homer since leaving LA.
shouldn’t have given kent the one year extension. what was the rush, esp at age 39, though i would look at doing something with nomar. he could play 1b, 3b or even try the outfield.
i too have been following the club for almost 50 years, and it still comes down to pitching – and we just ain’t got it right now. we might have enough to eek out the west, but then what? another one and done to st. louis or the mets?
about today’s game, why rest nomar and bat martin dh? and if you want martin to hit, why not try him in the three hole instead of kemp? martin could use a little
reward for all his clutch hits in the eight hole…but kemp is trying way too hard.
and what is going on with (nancy) drew? he gets more rest days than any 11 mil player in history. i wonder what nomar and kent really think of all that?!?
I love all the discussion keep it up Dodger fans!!!! Hopefully the team plays with as much enthusiasm. Resting Nomar is a good call- we need him healthy. DHing isnt rest- his injuries lately have actaully been hitting related-his swing is violent and enplosive- give him 2 days off the rest up. Drew is soft. Period. I hope that doesnt spread to the rest of the team.
I guess I’m the third old guy in the posts today. Started following the Dodgers in the early 50’s. Captured at that time by Vin Scully and Duke Snider. I agree that we have been expecting too much from the kids. Initially the vets protected them by hitting well but are not able to protect as well now. I hope we can keep the kids and be patient and bring them along when they are really ready. Billingsley threw too many pitches at AAA and most likely needs more time at that level. He definitely has potiential but we have to be patient. At least three of us will remember Sandy Koufax sitting on the bench for a few years because he couldn’t throw strikes and as a bonus baby couldn’t be sent down. That was certainly worth the wait. I love Yogi’s quote the year Sandy was 25-5. “I can see how he won 25 games. I don’t understand how he lost 5.” Billingsley is no doubt not a Koufax but someone’s comparison to Bonderman might be very apt. Be patient guys. Go Dodgers. Wait until Friday.
The Princess (Drew) is an overpaid average player. Nothing more , nothng less. Maybe Ned can off him in some sort of deal. I don’t envy Ned , he has his work cut out for him. Fans don’t want the kids traded , yet they want to win. Nobody is going to take the guys we don’t want, yet to trade the kids will **** people off. I repeat , I don’t envy Ned he has some tough decisions to make.
Why are Dodger fans surprised about Drew being soft? First he is a Boras guy, and that means the agent is in his ear every week, and the only thing that counts is getting paid and you can’t get paid if you get a boo boo. Drew was soft as a Cardinal, read LaRussa’s book. The Cardinal skipper always questioned JD’s willingness to play when he was not 100%. Boras will not let Drew play hurt, it could impact his numbers and effect his next contract. Play Ethier, Martin, and spot Kemp with Lofton. Package Ledee, Repko, Alomar, Odalis for a solid number 3 pitcher. Pray that Lowe and Penney hold up. We can win the West!!!
JD Drew isn’t soft, he’s fragile.
The guy is known for being injury-prone; a 5 year $55 million contract isn’t all he has in common with Dreifort. The rest factor is Grady Little’s doings; he wants to keep the guy healthy, and about the only way to do that is to rest him often. Bobby Cox, who got Russ Ortiz to look like a good pitcher, discovered a method of preserving Drew through rest that he passed on to Grady Little.
But as for guys not coming back until they’re 100%, not only does that hamper your performance, but injured players often tend to favor the injured parts of their bodies and injure something else. Or they may be reinjured.
The most intelligent comment here, and not to say that all the others have no merrit, but the most intelligent was from “jesuispret” and it’s a comment that I wholeheartedly agree with:
Russ Martin deserves a shot at a lower spot in the lineup. He’s been delivering clutch hits and the PITCHER!!! bats behind him! Imagine if he actually had someone else protecting him. I want to see Russ get better pitches and who knows what that might do for the middle of the order. Good call jesu…
KSS, I have to say it’s most important to keep pressure off the rookies for the most part. The problem today was that Grady should have put Cruz at #9, if at all in the lineup (Ethier should have started today).
Furcal, Lofton, Kent, Saenz, Kemp, Martin, Sandy, Izzy, Cruz
would have been better.
As for Friday, I’d like to see
Furcal, Izzy, Nomar, Kent, Drew, Kemp, Saenz*, Martin, Ethier.
*-DH
That’s probably the best lineup to put forward, offensively and defensively.
I don’t get all the Drew bashing. Is he playing up to the 11 mill a year salary?….not right now, but on the other hand, he hasn’t been that bad either. Only Abreu and Hawpe have been more productive right fielders in the NL this season. I think his numbers will improve as the season goes on.
When Grady gives guys like Drew a rest every 4-5 games, its a very smart move on his part. One of the things I like about Grady so far is that he’s looking at the big picture and not burning guys out quickly for short term gains. The team will be better off for it in the long run.
As far as Drew not wanting to play hurt…..I want players to be smart about their injuries. If they can’t go or might make an injury worse by playing, then speak up and don’t try to be a hero. Eric Gagne tried to be a “gamer” by pitching through pain, and he ended up hurting himself even more, missing all of last season and most of this season because of it…and in turn really hurting the team.
I’d rather see guys take off a day or two every now and then as opposed to trying to play every single day, getting hurt and missing a huge chunk of time on the DL.
hey, LA’s the only team that hasn’t won in extras all year. I hope that just means we’re due for one
I know its very easy for us to say “eat the money on odalis’ contract”…and I realize its not so easy to do.
But please please please please, mr.Colleti, please, please trade him or RELEASE HIM. Thats what the fans what (which isn’t always the right thing to do, I understand)…. but more importantly, he doesn’t do a good job representing the Dodgers.
I BELIEVE IN THE RELEASE.
i think the majority of us fans hate Odalis. We just don’t like him on our team. He isnt that good, he’s a cancer, the fans dont like him, he eats up money with his contract, and he has some kind of personality glitch. there is just nothing going for him and this situation we are in with him…
please release. Can we start a petition or something signed by as many Dodger fans as possible asking for the release or trade of Odalis PErez? What do you guys think?
News Flash: The Dodgers won’t win the division this year.
Im just hoping that Ned makes the right decisons and keeps all the young guys + Nomar,Kent, and maybe Drew.
We will have some room to spend money on a QUALITY pitcher or 2 and an OF this offseason.
If we sneak into the playoffs this year, great. But the starting and relief pitching is just not enough to go anywhere.
I say Don’t Panic Ned. You got a good thing going.
I think Grady looked at that MN pitching staff and decided that it was time to give guys a rest and try new stuff. Except for the scouting report none of these guys had ever seen the top two pitchers in the AL. I’d rather lose in Interleague play then in our division and I think Grady was playing the percentages. Ethier for Cruz would have been inexperience vs experience. I think Kemp is soon to go down, probably when Repko or someone else comes off the DL or another trade happens. Ned and Grady have their work in front of them and I’m sure it involves getting rid of Odalis !!
Go Dodgers !!
Considering our pitching situation and suggestions for Odalis in particular, has anybody considered that maybe Honeycutt should be the one GOING DOWN?
Honeycut down and Oral Hershiser in, that’s a pretty good trade !!
Go Dodgers !!
Hey Gary,
If only Oral was available, that would be a tremendous idea.
I had a dream last night that we got Zito for Perez…
1) Mr. Hershiser’s first name is spelled with an e.
2) Odalis wouldn’t listen if it was Koufax.
3) We had the misfortune of playing one of the hottest teams in baseball, that’s what Sportscenter was talking about.
4) The Angels are not in that grouping. Bartolo Colon doesn’t have a win all year, and his ERA is 5.74. Some Cy Young.
5) Jeff Kent and Olmedo Saenz should never play the same side of the infield, since neither has any range. If that is ever necessary, Olmedo plays third, Kent plays first, and Furcal and Izturis are up the middle.
Sorry Patriots425, I’ll double check my spelling in the future !! HA HA HA. Your right about Odalis, he wouldn’t know a good thing if it hit him in the face !! And having Kent and Saenz on the same side is giving up some range, but the prospect of them in the batting order sure looks good !! Fact is having Izzy, Furcal, Kent and Nomar makes for a pretty good infield and Batting order !! Let’s face it the Dodger weaknesses are not on the field, they’re on the mound and experience at the plate with some of these kids !! I still think with another top starter we can win our division !!
Be Smart and Go Get’em Ned !!