Gagne is here
As I was typing the lineup here in Grady’s office, Eric Gagne just walked in to say hello. It’s really good to see him moving well, even if he is a bit sunburned. And, even if he can’t pitch for us this season, with all he’s meant to the organization, it’s truly great to know that he’s feeling well and on the road to recovery.
On that note, so is Cesar’s wife, Liliana, who gave birth to the couple’s second child a few hours ago. Daniella was born earlier today and they’re all doing very well.
Today is Charley Steiner’s birthday, so last night a group of us went out to dinner to celebrate. Several of our TV and radio production crew, along with Charley, Mariano Duncan, A Martinez, myself and team photographer Jon SooHoo. This morning was some very early morning golf (7 a.m. tee time) with SooHoo and Dan Warthen and then over to the ballpark, where we had a brief press conference for J.D. Drew and his brother, Stephen, who just got called up to the D-backs.
Just about every radio station in town wants to talk to Andre Ethier, who grew up here and was just telling me about his memories sitting in the upper deck here for Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. It’s got to be pretty cool to go from that to starting in left field where his favorite player, Luis Gonzalez, patrolled that game.
For those who haven’t taken part in a WIN (Women’s Initiative & Network) event, gather up your mothers, daughters, wives, sisters and girlfriends for this Saturday’s clinic. Jeff Kent and Brad Penny will be there to instruct the group.
Here’s today’s lineup:
Furcal, SS
Lofton, CF
Nomar, 1B
Drew, RF
Kent, 2B
Saenz, 3B
Ethier, LF
Martin, C
Sele, P
Inside the Dodgers 
I am looking for a big series from Ethier. Sleeping in his own bed, home cooking, and a huge fan base.
say “hi” to the big fella and wish him well. Im hanging on to my #38 home jersey untill next year, hopefully….
Hey Josh, When will the Dodgers address Gagne’s contract ?? Soon I hope, maybe renegoticate the $12 Million down to something resonable and offer an incentive laden extension for a year and see what happens !! This way if he does come back he’ll be a Dodger and for his sake, he’ll be in a much better position for the big bucks !!
Lets kick start this team and the second half !!
Go Dodgers !!!
PS. Dinner with Steiner doesn’t sound like fun to me !! He’s a bum that should crawl back to NY !!
Martin needs to be Paul LoDuca!!! (batting 2nd)
Hey Josh, When will the Dodgers address Gagne’s contract ?? Soon I hope, maybe renegoticate the $12 Million down to something resonable and offer an incentive laden extension for a year and see what happens !!
Gary, gotta agree with that.
My hopes are that Gagne will manage Boras and not the other way around. It seems that Gagne will do what is needed for his family and I would agree, after all this is a business. But if the Dodgers can dream up enough incentive to make next year his qualifier for comeback player of the year he then stands to make mega bucks !! I fear that Boras will polute the waters with his all or nothing tactics !! I don’t think Ned would be inclined to chance big bucks without a good season to justify it.
Good lineup if Drew and Kent can get on track.
Go Dodgers !!
Martin needs to be Pauly??
I love Eric Gagne, and he has the type of character that might just agree to an incentive-based, renegotiated deal to keep him pitching at Dodger Stadium throughout his recovery.
As for the Dodgers and losing to the Cards: remember back in ’88 how the Mets had the Dodgers number throughout the regular season? Look it up. The Mets, who racked up their second straight 100-win season, beat us 10 of 11 games in that regular season. I also remember Dodger Stadium sounding like “Shea Stadium West” with all the Mets fans in attendance during the games at home. But then Orel Hershiser got hot at the end of the season, the Dodgers started hitting again, and the rest is now long-past history.
The point here is that it’s STILL too early to panic. Yes, there are areas that need addressing on the team, and I’m certain that Colletti will do his best in addressing those needs. The Dodgers as a team, and individually, need to execute when asked to do the job, keep the goal in sight and make it to the post-season. Once there, all bets are off. The ’88 Dodgers were one of the most unlikely champions in baseball history and who’s to say that it won’t happen again.
“Tried and True, I Still Bleed Dodger Blue!”
…and yes, I’m forever the optimist!
Oh, and “interpol2424”, Russell Martin just needs to be himself. He’s doing just fine thank you.
That a boy GRADY!!! at a boy Duncan!!!! fire up guys!!!!
What did Mariano Duncan do to get ejected? Or was it just Angel Hernandez having a mood swing?
Blown out by the D-Backs? ! This team is absolutly pathetic. It may, in the end, be the one of the worst in all of baseball. Ill check in again next April, but Ive had it with this squad. Pathetic. And expensive. A fans worst nightmare.
I, of course, wish the game over man good luck.
But, sorry to say my thoughts are on what the Dodgers are doing today. A little background…I grew up in Springfield, MO. My father began routing for the Dodgers in 1947 when they signed big man #42, the late great Jackie Robinson. You had to work at being a Dodger fan in Missouri. No box scores the next day….to late to make the papers. Sometimes seeing the blue on Saturday game of the week and listening to late night CBS radio games if the Dodgers were in LA. Not trying to one-up, just trying to prove to you LA’ers that I’m devoted and proven.
I live in St. Louis now and went to all four of the Dodgers/Cards games. All of you have said it all, but the Dodgers look Bush league. Sure it was hot, but the Cards played in the same conditions. Blue looked tired, apathetic, lazy….not carrying really. I routed, but was embarrassed.
Watching the game tonight I see things I don’t see on my kids little league team. In the fifth, one run down at the time (believe it or not), and the one/two hitters (Furcal and Loften) swing at and ground and fly out on the first pitch. Then…Beimel…wow.
A team that likes to harp on it’s great heritage should be ashamed to mention what the don’t seemingly intend to live up to. All if you that say be patient…well, we have. Approximately 20 years since the last World Series win AND twice that since a truely dominant Dodger team. The only fans that have been more patient are the Cubs and Red Sox.
Signed a very frustrated fan. Go Los Angeles Cubs…uhmm Dodgers.
I have to agree with drj884@yaho.com, except that I will keep following them ( on and off, maybe ). A pathetic, listless, expensive squad getting beat up by a squad that is, on paper, worse than them. Find the problem on this club that turns most things it touches listless, and throw that out, then maybe this team can start rebuilding.
Be patient? People are patient. And still streaming in through McCourt’s gates. But that too, will end if this team continues being this bad.
I don’t know what it is to win?? can somebody tell me??
One thing about LA fans, they never hold performance as a condition to attend games, the Dodgers already have sold 3 million tickets and that was back in June.
Someone earlier compared this current Dodgers team to the ’88 team. Please, I don’t want to question your loyalty as a Dodger fan, but do not committ a disservice and compare this pack of underachieving, overpaid, and seemingly unmotivated and passionless ballplayers to that ’88 team. Those guys hustled every play of every game, and showed massive heart. Have any of you stopped to think of how pathetic our situation is. We have the 2nd largest market in the country and we haven’t been to a World Series in almost 20 yrs…. Soon they’ll be remembering the aniversary of the ’88 team, much like this year with ’81. It’s not easy bleeding blue…. but how bout them BUMS.
1) drj – goodbye.
2) The Dodgers making a big move would be rather costly. Greg Maddux, Alfonso Soriano, and Barry Zito would cost prospects for a rental. Bobby Abreu’s lacking power makes him a less attractive option than JD Drew, and Tom Gordon is old and would command a high price as well (I think he’ll go to the Braves). I don’t have that much confidence that it would happen, but I’d rather see nothing happen before the trade deadline. Give the prospects time to develop, and try again in the offseason when there’s enough time to think.
3) Martinez might be better suited to play third in Olmedo’s stead. Saenz, after all, is useful as a pinch hitter so Jose Cruz doesn’t have to pinch hit.
4) This picture of Mariano Duncan from today’s game, while being held (back, from the umpire) by Grady Little, is priceless. http://tinyurl.com/l4evv
5) Murphy’s law as enforced on the Dodgers:
* Odalis Perez is in an even year, and was supposed to pitch well this year.
* Jae Seo looked promising after last year and his dominance in the WBC.
* Danys Baez was supposed to be a good closer.
* Eric Gagne and Yhency Brazoban were supposed to be healthy.
* Bill Mueller was supposed to be healthy and hit well.
* Jeff Kent and JD Drew were supposed to have 15 homers apiece by now.
* Dioner Navarro was supposed to be the second coming of Pudge Rodriguez.
* Jose Cruz was supposed to be on track for 15 or 20 homers.
* Rafael Furcal had seemingly improved defensively.
* We all hoped Kenny Lofton would play better defense.
The Dodgers have been lucky as well. Aaron Sele, Takashi Saito, Joe Beimel, and Ramon Martinez were unexpected non-roster invites that have performed. The rookies have been outstanding, especially Russell Martin and Andre Ethier. Brad Penny finally emerged as the ace everyone though he could be. Cesar Izturis can learn a new position in two days and play it better than anyone has in years for the Dodgers. The Dodgers are still weighed down by things that have hurt them this year, but overcoming these obstacles is not completely impossible.
2) The Dodgers making a big move would be rather costly. Greg Maddux, Alfonso Soriano, and Barry Zito would cost prospects for a rental. Bobby Abreu’s lacking power makes him a less attractive option than JD Drew, and Tom Gordon is old and would command a high price as well (I think he’ll go to the Braves). I don’t have that much confidence that it would happen, but I’d rather see nothing happen before the trade deadline. Give the prospects time to develop, and try again in the offseason when there’s enough time to think.
agreed.
Those three words in this blog title were music to my ears, Josh, thanks. I’ve been worried about our boy. Give the Big Guy a kiss and tell him we all say hi right back.
MAGIC WAND TIME
Trade Kent to the A’s for Zito. (Oakland’s 2b is batting around .220 and Thomas, their DH can hit but can’t move)Plus who wouldn’t love a Bradley – Kent reunion!?!
Trade prospects for Soriano. He can play second or the outfield.
Swap Furcal to the Orioles for Tejeda. (Hey, I can dream can’t I).
Trade O. Perez to the Red Sox for anything they offer + the Dodgers will eat part/half his salary.
…and was it only me, but when Kent struck out in the first with two men, didn’t you just know the game was over?
this is my take, Kent to DL, meaning a call up from Vegas. Which I believe will be LaRoche to play 3B and Izzy moves to 2B.
Secondly why in the world do they still insist on playing Olmedo on defense, his only worth is as pinch hitter. I believe Steve Lyons said the other day when he played 1st. base against the Cardinals “his range is about that of a safety cone”.
Last thing on my mind, I really think Kenny Lofton is becoming a defensive liabilty. He is just not the same out there like he use to be.
It’s too bad that nothing related to how the Dodgers are performing on the field has been included in any of Josh’s recent posts. I don’t blame Josh; I think he does a great job, and his efforts are much-appreciated. Unfortunately, the team’s performance has given him nothing to work with recently.
I try to be level-headed in my assessments of the team, trying not to become too optimistic when times are good and not too dour when the Dodgers hit the skids. However, I don’t think I’m being a doomsayer when I say that the Dodgers’ record reflects exactly what they are: a mediocre team. We had a decent May (18-10). But that was the exception. In April, the Dodgers were 12-13; June, 11-15; and July (so far), 5-9.
It’s not a mystery why the Dodgers are mediocre. They have two reliable starters (and even they’re struggling of late). And the bullpen is subpar at best, especially as a result of Gagne’s devastating injury; only Saito provides some sort of reliability.
The first-half offense was solid. But now the bats are struggling as well. If the Dodgers can’t duplicate their first-half production at the plate, then it will be a long summer indeed.
The problem is, the Dodgers have meager options for improving themselves. The pitching market is awfully thin, and the price the team would have to pay in prospects in order to land a marginal starter or bullpen performer would be far too steep. Thus, the so-so squad we have now is likely the one we’ll have for the rest of the season.
I still remain bullish about the Dodgers’ future. The youngsters have been great this season, and they’re only going to get better. However, I’m afraid all we can expect from the current squad is to hover around the .500 mark (and we’ve even dipped below that now).
The NL West is so poor that even the Dodgers’ mediocrity won’t completely push them out of the play-off picture. It’s not going to take much to win the division. But it’s hard to get too excited about remaining in a division race when the reason for remaining in that race is that every other team in the division is about as middling as we are.
Another indicator of the Dodgers’ shabby bullpen performance is the fact that L.A. is the only team in the Majors that hasn’t yet won an extra-inning game. They’re 0-5 so far.
It would be nice if we could unload Drew in a trade for Soriano. Drew and Guzman for Soriano.
how about jane drew to the cubbies for
juan pierre.
or drew to the mariners for a. beltre
or the angels for any body…
drew is the softest, most fragle 11 mil player in history…
It’s interesting to see all the various responses when we lose vs when we win.
That game was simply put, BAD !! Lofton isn’t playing CF well, Kent needs to heal and Drew needs instruction on how to hit !! The entire team needs to get a B12 shot and come out of their funk !!! Almost looks like everyone played too hard during the All Star break and now they need time off to recoup !!
If there were one or two players out there that Ned could trade for that would turn all of this around I could support it. But this team has far to many holes and the available pool doesn’t offer up what we need, a starting pitcher with more then 3 months in him, a solid reliever and a HR hitter that doesn’t cost a fortune. I hope we unload Perez for what ever we can get, find some team that needs a catcher so we can get something for Hall, retire Alomar and Lofton and hire them as a coaches, sign Nomar to a three year deal and then generally stay with the balance of what we have. We can just enjoy the kids, hope for the best and see what Ned can do with a complete off season at his disposal. The kids are the future, they have the energy, the desire and the tools to make it work !! They haven’t lost the fight in their heart and grit in their step. That’s what will makes this organization a winner again !!
In closing, the worst individual on this team isn’t a player, a coach or management !! The worst individual on this team is Steiner. He’s the reason so many Dodger fans will be turning off the game and walking away frustrated. Fans hate hearing this guy and McCourt you need to realize it !! He’s a cancer and draging this team in the dirt. Worst yet, he enjoys doing it. Get him out of here !!!
Go Dodgers !!
As for a JD Drew trade, Drew for Beltre would be probably the most viable for each party (Drew’s OBP makes him a better #2 guy than Beltre). The downside is you would then have to ship off Laroche and Aybar, since they would be blocked for three years.
* Such a move wouldn’t really abandon the idea of having a team of players that came up through the Dodger system, as Beltre came up through Campa de las Palmas, I believe.
* Laroche and Aybar would be able to help secure a capable starting pitcher, and would allow for the great supply of outfield talent in the Dodgers’ system to come in.
* If made immediately, that would leave the infield congested, and I don’t know who’s looking for Izturis right now.
* If made in the the offseason, Nomar would go (which would be kind of a drag), Kent would move to first (which would put less wear and tear on him), and Furcal and Izturis up the middle would give great range up the middle.
I will repeat my point (2), that it is best not to be rash by making a deal in the next two weeks, where everyone gets more expensive because the deal has to be made right then.
As a sidenote, I see Young coming up as Kent takes a 2-week vacation to the DL.
jhall1218@yahoo.com
I really doubt the nationals can afford a guy like Drew.
just read on foxsports.com that Jeff Kent was placed on 15 day dl.
and Willie Aybar was called up.