Today's lineup
Furcal, SS
Lofton, CF
Lugo, 2B
Kent, 1B
Drew, RF
Betemit, 3B
Ethier, LF
Martin, C
Lowe, P
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Furcal, SS
Lofton, CF
Lugo, 2B
Kent, 1B
Drew, RF
Betemit, 3B
Ethier, LF
Martin, C
Lowe, P
Inside the Dodgers 
Grady obviously wants Drew and Kent batting 4 and 5, and none of the others are ready to bat third. One possibility would be Furcal, but he’s to valuable where he is. That leaves Lugo. Not an ideal lineup, but one that can win.
Like I said previously, time for Lowe to earn a couple of hundred thousand.
Good try yesterday 53. We all have to work together today. Think maybe we left you alone yesterday. Gary will be there today. Great rotation you mapped out in your last post. Billingsly is not recovered from his injury. I am not sure I would send Kuo on four days unless we are still in a life and death struggle. If we had some breathing room I would give someone else a spot start. What went on with Hendrickson yesterday? 8 K’s. You guys give it your best shot today.
Hey Ksspark,,
Just saw the two replys you had for me. Lugo did have a good game the other day and I was thinking how great it would be if he would have alot more of those games. I wish he would step up and prove me wrong.
As far as Nomar, sure he carried us in the first half and is a very good hitter, but lets not fool ourselves. If this is his “comeback” year with two stints on the DL and maybe a third I dont want to see him return to the Dodgers and sit on the bnech due to injuries while being paid handsomely, espeacially if we trade away Loney in the offseason..
(Note: I apologize for the redundancy, but I’m really hoping that Grady or Honeycutt sees [or hears about] this).
IT’S TIME GRADY!
It’s time to go to a four-man rotation for the final 14 games (starting today): Lowe, Penny, Kuo, and Maddux. If any of the four give up three runs in an inning and put another one or two on base, bring in Hendrickson (there I go again) or Stults as long relievers. (I’m thinking that Billingsley is still hurt and out for the duration).
With 9/25 being a day off, all four would get one extra day off and Maddux would still get five days between two of his three remaining starts. Here’s what I’m talking about:
Sun, 9/17 – SD – Lowe
Mon, 9/18 – SD – Penny
Tue, 9/19 – Pit – Kuo
Wed, 9/20 – Pit – Maddux (he’s already had 5 days because of Billingsley’s disaster)
Thu, 9/21 – Pit – Lowe
Fri, 9/22 – Ari – Penny
Sat, 9/23 – Ari – Kuo
Sun, 9/24 – Ari – Maddux (the final home game of the season – a deserving start for him)
Mon, 9/25 – Off Day
Tue, 9/26 – Col – Lowe
Wed, 9/27 – Col – Penny
Thu, 9/28 – Col – Kuo
Fri, 9/29 – SF – Maddux
Sat, 9/30 – SF – Lowe
Sun, 10/1 – SF – Penny
It’s Do or Die time Grady. WE NEED TO GO AFTER THE TITLE! Nobody is going to roll over and hand it to us.
GO DODGERS!
PS: Today is Game-3 of the four game Playoffs – It is a MUST WIN game!
Just a thought I felt might be worth trying. Instead of batting Martin No. 8 constantly, why not try and put him in the No. 3 slot. He has good speed for a catcher, and he has shown the consistency in his batting average. Batting third could give him an additional time at bat per game, and that could really contribute something.
As for Nomar, yes he did made a great contribution to us the first half of the season, even after starting on the disabled list. He is probably under the “just right” kind of a contract for his type of performance balanced with a lot of expected down time. He’ll probably net about $9 million this year, which isn’t bad for the amount of down time. I would strictly sign him to a similar one year deal for ’07. If he or Boros expect anything more than that, I’d let him walk. We need to give Loney his chance next year, and I would not count on Nomar being able to play the entire season.
message bear, scott boras is not nomars agen, his agent is arn tellem… i have been saying for a long time that nomar cant stay healthy, and shouldnt be given a big contract, and i think my kids should start next year, that is if they prove in spring training that they can do the job.. as for today, we need a clutch performance by lowe, hopefully he comes up big..
BELIEVE IN BLUE!
I’d put Andre at #3, even struggling he’s having better ABs now and he’s just the kind of hitter (high obp, solid slugging) you want in that hole, and his ABs can only get better with Drew/Kent behind him to ensure he gets good pitches. I’d like him and Drew in a row, two guys who walk well, even if they don’t drive in guys on base, by the time Kent’s up, they’ve got even more for him to knock in if nothing else.
Then I’d hit Martin 6 and Wilson 7 with Loney 8th.
1) Honestly, the Dodgers need to beat the Padres is largely psychological. The schedule is unbalanced in LA’s favor, as the remaining series for each team are as follows:
Both play: D-backs, Pirates
Dodgers Play: Rockies, Giants
Padres Play: Cardinals, D-backs
The Dodgers have a schedule advantage in Rockies over Cardinals. The Dodgers have another advantage in that Brandon Webb is scheduled to go Thursday against the Padres, meaning he won’t start against LA this coming weekend.
2) In the best case scenario for the Dodgers, Lowe will tie for the team lead in wins only for Penny to take it for himself the next day.
3) I would put Drew in either cleanup or #3, because he’s just hitting well this month. With a line of .268/.444/.537, I don’t think you can complain. I would also give Loney playing time in favor of Lugo, with Kent playing second. Note this month that Lugo is hitting .229/.229/.257 while Loney is hitting .286/.286/.643, having tripled and homered this month. If Kent is hurt too much to play 2nd, then try Ramon Martinez, Marlon Anderson, or even Delwyn Young (the guy has only had 3 AB!) at 2nd. Lugo had a 3 hit game, but he’s a weak hitter and should not be batting third in this lineup.
4) Martin has not really hit the ball hard this month, but on the other hand he has only one strikeout in September, and he’s still hitting for a respectable .279 average for the month. Aparently Grady is impressed enough with his mental makeup that he’s still going to get plenty of playing time down the stretch.
5) If the Dodgers get hot enough and win enough, they could potentially get home field advantage against the Cardinals. Of course, this would require the Cardinals losing a lot to the Brewers, but it would still be really helpful.
While Nomar is out i think Drew should bat 3rd and Kent 4th…Bobby Cox once called JD Drew the “perfect 3 spot hitter”. Hopefully Lugo can get some hits like the first game of the Series.
is anyone else having trouble with their cable?.. i’m pissed, its stuck on the royals mariners game..
I’m having the same cable issue with Time Warner—totally unacceptable!!!
i hate time warner, first they take nfl network away, and now i cant see the biggest game of the season! W.T.F.!
BELIEVE IN BLUE!
it’s on now fsnprime
1-0 ‘pads, you get the feeling this one is over. Dominated by a guy named Chris
It’s hard to win a game when nobody is hitting. Just one hit through 6?
Please stop the choking VS SD. This is sooooo old.
should have pinch hit for Lugo 😦
as sure as death and taxes….
Lugo is not a ballplayer!!!!
BTW, does Russell have clutch power or what?????????
Lets go Blue and win this!!
Proves the point – Lugo should not be batting third, if he needs to be in the lineup at all. Tomorrow I’d like to see Martinez get the chance; also maybe Kemp in place of Ethier, who right now is the easiest out along with Lugo and Betemit.
Either completely over matched by big league pitching. 88 mph grooved right down the middle has Kd him twice. He needs to be shut down for the year.
Martinez and Anderson have to be in the lineup. Ethier, Betemit, Lugo not pulling their weight. Also Saenz should get in. Now’s the time for experience.
I think Broxton isnt up to the pressure of this series.
Little is an idiot. this will be second loss in past week that he should have used Saito and did not. Remember using hamulauck instead of Saito in chicago because it was not a save situation. Now today he doesn’t use Saito for 9th and dodgers getting burned.
Another note-Lugo is not a #3 hitter.
Ethier looks really confused at the plate lately.
Broxton looks so amped up hes overthrowing.
If nomar can’t play tomorow,I’d lean towards Anderson at 2nd instead of Lugo
why is grady so stupid?
NOMAR IS UP! and hes hurt…hmmm
Why was Saito not pitching the 9th? Why? I guarantee if game was tied, Hoffman would have been pitching the 9th.
We just can’t get through the game. Big trouble brewing. SF scores another run.
Shades of 96 when the Padres swept the dodgers in LA
Guys, were not only loosing the west- id say wild card is a looooong shot at this point. Im not watching tomorrows game, thats for SURE. Dodgers wilt. Again.
Kent should play 2nd tomorrow, Loney first, Anderson in left, Saenz or Martinez third.
Why not Saito in the 9th with the game tied? Because Little can’t think out of the box like some of you guys are suggesting.
i dont even know what to say, the season is slipping away, and grady is letting it happen.. i have been saying it since july 31st, julio lugo s.u.c.k.s!
BELIEVE IN MR. MILANO!
we have the talent and the money to become a powerhouse for a long time! The one thing we dont need is Grady Little…I’m sorry but if we are gonna win a World Series Grady needs to go.
Grittle was run out of Boston because he stunk, I hope he gets run out of LA also. Batting Lugo 3rd is bad enough , but when you have 2 men in scoring position and you let him hit in the late innings is a crime. Grittle should know Lugo stinks, everybody else does. Also everyones right , wht wasn’t Sammy brought in when Brox got in trouble. What’s he saving him for, to watch the playoffs on TV? Here on the East coast all the sports talk shows have commented on Grittles strange moves. He may be good in the clubhouse , but his on field moves are terrible!
I’ve contended most of this season that Little is misplaced. He should have been left in retirement where Boston put him for good reason. The current series is tough to take, especially losing a game like today’s. If we’re to lose it all, and we should still be able to pull it out, remember the two unnecessary losses in Chicago and several others during the season – lost because Little can’t pull the trigger on a pitcher when he doesn’t have the stuff, or putting a guy on the line who can’t contribute. He seems more concerned about players’ feelings than results. Little doesn’t deserve a championship team! Whatever the outcome the rest of the way, I hope that Little and several on his staff, like Honeycutt in particular, are gone next year.
One thing that completely befuddles my mind is why Grady keeps batting Lugo in the third spot of the lineup. Isn’t that a spot for someone with power? Yes Lugo’s hit some homers this year… but absolutely none of them have been with the Dodgers. It would seem that Grady little is hoping that power will come with his prolonged attempts at forcing Lugo into this power slot. What would make more sense is to have Betemit bat third and Lugo seventh in the order. It would take a lot of pressure off of Julio to have to perform, and, he might just get on base for Russell Martin to drive in. Julio’s a fast runner, but he’s not your typical RBI man, which is why I’m so perplexed with Grady’s decision making regarding him. Betemit has eight homers with the Dodgers already and would most certainly see better pitches with the likes of Kent and Drew behind him. I just hope that Little is finished with Drew batting cleanup. He doesn’t swing at those called third strikes… something that an RBI man needs to do.
Don’t give up hope until the season or magic number is over. The Dodgers will find a way to pull this off… stay optimistic guys!
Tomorrow we’re back in first place on the resurgent arm of Brad Penny. He was great last time out… remember? Go Big Blue!!
Broxton wasn’t a bad option, as I’d feel more comfortable with him going 2 innings, and he’s also 14 years younger than Saito. Saito’s given up a few too. At least he didn’t send Gio out there or something.
I’m a little less optimistic now, because I looked at Philly’s schedule too, and this is who they play over the stretch:
Cubs
Marlins
Astros (1 game)
Nationals (away)
Marlins (away)
After watching the Marlins give up 5 runs in the 9th due to awful defense, Philadelphia could go 11-2 over the stretch, which would probably clinch the wild card for them. Someone tell Grady to trash the idea of 85 wins getting the wild card (although I still think 87 for the division is reasonable).
Needless to say, I won’t feel comfortable unless the Dodgers win their next 4 games, which shouldn’t be that hard considering 3 of them are against Pittsburgh, but then again Pittsburgh just swept the Mets.
“Next time, he’ll be better. He’ll go back to baby steps. He has to get his confidence back in his stuff.”
– Grady Little, on why Chad Billingsley will pitch Thursday against the Pirates.
Good call. Now if he would only put Kent in at 2nd and Loney at first until Nomar’s better . . .
“Now if he would only put Kent in at 2nd and Loney at first until Nomar’s better.”
Patriotacts… that would be ideal at this point, but you know, for whatever reason other than rookie or no rookie, Grady is going to keep peddling Lugo out there every chance he can get. I don’t get it, but it appears that Little has lost whatever confidence he’s had in his rookie first-baseman. Why Loney’s not playing more is beyond me… but Lugo’s what we got. We need to pull for Lugo until Grady pulls his head out.
Just got home from the Ravine. What a disappointment to witness Lowe pitch an absolute gem, only to have the bullpen give it away. Leaving 10 men on base when your pitcher is tossing a great game is a crime.
I’m sorry for all of you Andre Ethier fans, but he needs to sit for the remainder of the season. The kid is DONE. He guy struck out TWICE with runners in scoring position. I know he will become a great player and I really like the kid, but now is not the time to work on his development.
And Luggie-o? Jesus H., the guy STINKS! He, too, struck out with runners in scoring position. He also made an error that the official scorer ruled a hit.
When Broxton walked Blum in the top of the 9th with one out (following Josh Bard’s single), I knew we were toast. I was screaming at Grady to get Broxton out of there and bring in Saito. And then Broxton wild pitches them over to second and third. Uggh!
Again, it was sad to see Lowe’s great performance given away by Ethier, Lugo, and Broxton. On a positive note, Joe Beimel looked great out there today. If we make it to the post season, this kid could be our best kept secret.
While some may disagree, I think that we need to put Marlon Anderson back in LF. I also believe that we need to keep Betemit at third. Even though his bat has been somewhat cold of late, he is still the Dodgers’ leading homerun hitter and is a stud with the leather. With Nomar coming back tomorrow (which puts Kent back to second base), Luggie-o needs to be given a one-way ticket out of town, along with Tim Homerwhack!
To whoever said it, I really like the idea of batting Russell Martin in the number 3 hole. Problem is it makes WAAAAY too much sense, so Grady will never do it.
With Penny on the hill tomorrow, we will be back in first place when the Pads leave town. (Hey Brad, Don’t forget – Jake Pevy can HIT!). I’ll be back out there rootin’ ’em on tomorrow night! (I’ll try a different shirt).
GO DODGERS!
This punk aint over yet. A good game from Penny and we’re back on top. Peavy’s good, but he can be beaten.
53 you are 100 percent right! Anderson/Repko/Kemp should platoon in LF and if Betemit needs a day off id rather see Olmedo the Killer Tomato then Lugo…James Loney should be playing first!
How come everyone knows that Loney should be at first and Betemit at third, that is everyone but Grittle? Hay Grady how about changing the lineup around and try to get the offense going? Also Anderson should be in left for the rest of the year. Batting Martin third might make sense, that’s why Grittle will never do it!
I didn’t post anything because im trying (hard) not to be too negative, but middle of last week when grittle started talking about being ok with the wild card I wanted to puke. You just cant do that. He doesn’t get it.
I, like you drj884, have held back from commenting of late because it’s been hard to swallow the losses. Having traveled a lot throughout the country, and especially the South, it takes a lot to get used to a southern way of doing things. And I don’t agree with a number of things Grady does, but I have the luxury of seeing the results first. Grady on the other hand has to make decisions before it happens and I for one have to trust his judgement. This team lost 91 games last year, didn’t make a single trade until after the GM meetings last winter because of all the management changes. Has had to deal with the complete revamp of the roster by opening day and then a complete house cleaning of the bullpen during the season. On top of that we’ve had to deal with the loss our closer Gagne, a power hitting 3B in Mueller, our setup guy in Brazoban, a number of DL players throughout the season and more !!! Yet with a roster full of Kids, over the hill veterns, a closer from Japan and a weggie board Grady has this team near the post season. I for one think this guy deserves the Manager of the Year !!! Not our ridicule. I completely understand the armchair coaching but you guys are putting the complete failure of this team on his shoulders and he’s not between the lines !!! At some point the responsibity has to fall on the players shoulders and we have to accept the fact that these guys are human and aren’t perfect !! What you saw yesterday was a great game where guys like Lugo made a fantistic DP and then boots one on the very next play. THAT’S BASEBALL !! Like 53, I was there for the first and last pitch yesterday and although they lost I sure saw a good game by two very good teams !!!
Now let’s kick some Padres butt today !!
Go Dodgers !!!
Great post Gary! Your points are very well taken. Like many, I allowed my frustrations to get the better of me after such a difficult loss.
Its funny how I readily recalled Lugo booting the DP, but completely forgot about the “web gem” tag-out DP that he made earlier. Wow, talk about tunnel vision. Thanks for reminding me of that. I’m normally not one to jump on a “I hate (fill in the blank)” bandwagon, although I am certainly not a big Julio Lugo fan.
If you recall a post that I made several weeks ago, I indicated that I actually thought highly of Grady Little (and not just because some say that we resemble each other), but for many of the reasons that you clearly identified. That being said, I do believe that he has made some poor decisions of late; such as leaving Derek Lowe in the Chicago game after allowing five consecutive hits. Although I agree with you on just about everything that you mentioned, I have to hang that loss on Grady. If we fail to make it into the post season by one game, that blown 7-0 game will haunt us forever.
I will try to refrain from venting my frustrations and will try to follow your lead – allow a day to cool off before posting.
Thanks for the reality check.
Now, let’s get back into first place tonight!
GO DODGERS!