Touchdown in Atlanta
We arrived about an hour ago in Atlanta after a very productive flight. Not sure about you guys, but I get some of my best work done while in the air. We arrived at the hotel and saw a couple fans, including one wearing a Dodger jersey, so apparently they know we’ve gotten here safely.
Not too much to report today. Just your typical cross-country jaunt. I missed the first-place ice cream in the front office, which has been a tradition for years. Thanks for all the Saito music ideas. I’ll make sure your game entertainment department sees them, and don’t forget to vote for Russell’s walk-up music at the Fan Forum.
Until tomorrow…
Inside the Dodgers 
Russ Ortiz has been DL’d by the Giants which is the initial step to bringing up the Giants phenom pitcher Tim Lincecum. This guy has the potential to be a thorn in our sides for as many years as Russell Martin is behind the plate for us. While Lincecum may not be called up this time around, he will be up soon enough, so just remember that name, cause we’ll learn to hate it for years to come.
Go Dodgers!
Russell should keep Touch The Sky by Kanye West as his walk-up song. Fits him perfectly.
I agree with alex, Lincecum definitely looks like a great pitcher. His delivery is crazy, and from what I remember, he has some speed, too. Not looking forward to him.
What does everyone think about Dayn Perry’s article on Fox Sports re: the Dodgers’ dearth of power? Could a touch of Loney and Kemp turn the tide mid-season or will Colletti have to pull the trigger on acquiring a big bat?
I think we’d all like to see Loney and Kemp succeed in LA, however I’m not sure that Ned is patient with the idea of those two in the same lineup at this point in their careers… not to mention the surplus of money spent on outfield help this year.
Okay, I’m going to play devil’s advocate here and simply remind everyone here… myself included… just where the Dodgers would be RIGHT NOW if not for the services of both Brad Penny and Mark Hendrickson… each of whom had to endure the wrath of this forum throughout most of the off-season? Think about it: we’d be in a world of hurt right now if we’d traded Penny like most of us wanted… or should I say, demanded?
And put me in the category of wanting to send Hendrickson out of town on a rail along with everyone else. What a one-eighty this guy’s done! It’s not logical to see in today’s notes that with one more out recorded, Mark Hendrickson would be leading the NL in ERA… absolutely nuts! Which I guess is why his shrink was called into play…
And YES… I really think Wilson Betemit should see Hendrickson’s shrink… but pronto!
Granted I’m bias to the Dodgers But I really don’t feel that the research was properly done and his conclusions are wrong.With the exception that sooner or later we will have help in the order be it by Betemit getting it going or by call up or trade the latter being least likely.
He concluded that our run production last year was a fluke and he is basing this on a resent scoring slump.Our Pitching is Vastly better and I think Hendrickson will keep it going, Maybe not as hot as he has but I think he and Penny are both in better mindsets this year Lowe will come around and if Tomko or Wolf can’t keep pace Bill’s Kuo May or a couple Kids will.Our Bullpen is the Best I’ve ever seen the Dodgers field and it has depth in AAA as well.WE might not score as many runs as last year but we don’t have as big a need to either.When Furcal heats up and 3rd base starts producing this is gonna be the team to beat.I think we will see Loney or Abreu before June and watch AZ fade away in the rearview mirror.
Not I Kevin….
Honestly the stuff Dayn said is true to an extent. We do need a power bat to become a great team. Right now we are a good team. We are an 80-86 win team right now which could win the division. If we had that power bat without giving up half of our farm system and rotation it could make us world series contender easily.
The only guy id break the bank for is Miguel Cabrera. He’s young and could be an all-time great before its all said and done.
If Penny stays healthy Dayn will eat his words. Im still kinda skeptical about Hendrickson. I think he’s earned a bad start but if he has two bad starts in a row i’d sit him in favor of Billingsley or Miller.
Really? Miller?He walking alot of guys down there still.His avg against is great but at 22-22 BB/K it doesn’t look like hes really challenging the tougher hitters although he did have a 10 or 12 K game didn’t he?
I forgot all about Kemp…Duh he is lighting it up .400+ ob slugging over .600 couple steals hr’s triples…we need a bigger roster….
Miller might walk some guys but they haven’t been scoring. Plus he has been completely lights out his last 3 or 4 starts. Houlton has been great too.
With Kuo and Brazoban both throwing again I think they would be the next 2 pitchers in line to come back up. I can’t understand How the 51’s are getting beat sooo bad for the last week with so many good arms down there although Mays is the only starter getting in 6inns. a start Dj around 5 and Miller 4+. Alot of unearned runs are scoring.
Just noticed Kuo Pitched Weds 2.1 inn 7 K’s…..
After reading Perry’s article about the Dodgers , I’m sorry to say I agree with him. With our acquisitions of Pierre and Gonzo ,coupled with our loss of Drew and his 100 RBIs, throw in Betemits inability to hit anything, and I think this team as it’s built now will be in trouble as soon as Tomko is Tomko and Penny and Hendy regress. You have to score to win and that’s something the Dodgers will have trouble doing. There are no RBI guys on this team. This is not to say it can’t be fixed, but how long will Ned wait to do so? The time to improve is now, while our pitching is doing the job.
fisher928 – “Just noticed Kuo Pitched Weds 2.1 inn 7 K’s…..”
Holy Schnitzel! 2.1 innings is seven outs and he K’d them ALL? That’s insane!
They better get him back up here AND FAST! (Adios Seanez).
GO DODGERS!
The lack of power is a little worrisome. We practically need three to four hits in a row to score a run … I would happily flip Pierre for a power bat ( I don’t think we’ll be able to flip Gonzo, and I guess he’s all right for a short term ) and I don’t think Betemit will right things, especially if you take into consideration that he may actually be older than he is, with all the things written about his birth date. What kind of power bat will we be able to get at third, though? ( No, A-Rod is not leaving the Yankees and the AL )
I’m sure that Ned is not just sitting back and thinking his work is done. It is not that easy to find a good fit for a trade – you need somebody who has available what you want AND who kinda wants what you want to give up, and then you have to start tuning the deal. As long as Ned doesn’t import another Pierre ( 5 years! That is what really gets me about his contract – FIVE years ) we should be all right. And we have Kemp to call upon, though I think he’s still a bit undeveloped for the Majors. Loney doesn’t have a lot of power yet, except for his 9-RBI game ( which was in Coors Field, remember ) he haven’t really exploded it in the Majors.
I must agree with tim all the way up top there Touch the Sky by Kanye is a perfect song for Russell! I dont know about the rest of you but the shortage of run support scares the heck out of me! I dont know that we have a clear solution for the problem yet? (in my opinion anyways) i’ve read different things from different people but there is always a downside to all of them i guess thats baseball though. But if anyone can come up with something that would really benefit the team then please let me know. As far as i am concerned we have a great ball team and a great front office and i think they have set us up for a great season.
after readng Perry’s article on Fox Sports it occurred to me just how many of today’s fans and baseball execs are only concerned with the stats, Moneyball if you will. I ask all of the oldtimers like me out there how many World Series winners do you remember that should not have even been in the playoff if that was the criteria by which they were chosen? Heart, hustle, blood, sweat and tears, build championship teams, not batting averages and on base percentages. things like,”another great start from Hendrickson, how does he keep doing it?” or that kid that comes up for an ememgency start in a clutch situation, pitches a shutout, packs his bags and goes back to AAA. Those are the type of thing that forge a championship team. I have loved “dem Bums” since the 50’s, they’ve never fit the model,I hope they never will, that would make them and us just another franchise and it’s fans, not THE FRANCHISE and it’s fan. Read all you like, criticise all you like, but at the end of the day believe and bleed BLUE. GO DODGERS!!
Sabre bravo! BRAVO! well said i am not a oldtimer but i agree with be a fan and worry less about little things. Besides we some times forget its just a game (me included) i love the game and i love the dodgers! Go BIG BLUE!
I wish the dodgers would play the best lineup they have. I think thats a simple solution for now. Just try it. Is Nomar’s fragility that big of an issue? And if yes then thats a bad signing considered we had loney. I am not as unhappy about Pierre as others, for me the issue is Gonzo. He is old, cant field that well, cant hit that well anymore. I am ok with vets vs rookies, just be vets in their prime, not 39 going on 40.
I just feel this lineup is our best on offense and defense. Loneys range along with Nomars range will aloow furcal to help Kent’s range and thats a good infield. In OF I dont think we can have two minus defenders out there. If Kemp aint ready then I’d rather have Clark out there than Gonzo.
furcal
martin
nomar (3b)
kent
Ethier
Kemp
Loney
Pierre
I wonder if the Dodgers have ever considered Loney at 3B. I mean if he has to learn a new position, OF, to get called up, why not learn a position where we need someone. Just a thought !!!
Go Dodgers !!!
gary you now i have thought about that lately too! the only thing that i could think of is it wouldnt go well with LaRouche trying to make the club at the same time at the same position also if they try and switch him over that would take time away from laRouche at the position while down in triple A!
I don’t know why they’re teaching Loney and LaRoche to play OF. It’s crowded out there already.
We can say it time and time again. Pierre batting 8th, Loney in LA at first, Nomar at 3rd.
Not to many lefthanded 3b guys out there! LOL. Yeah I am against trying to find spots for guys. I’d rather see Loney, LaRoach, Billingsley all play in triple A at their natrual spots, or pull them up in their natrual spots..I feel it hurts their hitting..
or pitching
gary and dahustlasbac,
Loney can’t play third because he’s left-handed. There is no way for someone on the infield to be left-handed–you can’t range to your right, then pivot, then make the throw to first (or second, or turn the double-play).
Nomar, of course, can and should play third.
Teaching Loney and LaRoche to play OF makes sense, long-term and short-term. Short-term, we are more likely to need help out there, and it creates more opportunities for them. Long term–I hope that Ethier is the player we saw last year (and have been seeing of late this year); I hope that Matt Kemp is every bit as good as it seems he can be, or even half as good. But exactly how all the young players will shake out (except Martin and Broxton) are still unknowns, or at least in doubt. Remember, the Dodger Infield of the 70’s was supposed to be Buckner, Lopes, Valentine, and Garvey. But Garvey’s throwing made Steve Sax look like Greg Maddux, and Valentine got hurt and some of the management liked Russell better. And the rest was history.
You know it didnt even occur to me that Loney was left handed i totally over looked that lol! Sorry for the blonde moment (no offense anyone)
im nervous about Tomko starting tonight. Each appearance he’s gotten worse and worse.
Right. Tomko and Smoltz isn’t the greatest match-up in the world. Even so, I’m stoked. I get to see all three games on TBS this weekend.
Maybe Brett will step up.
Thanks knouf for the heads up on TBS showing the games. KCAL is cable only (not on DirectTV or DISH) in Santa Barbara.
Tomko v. Atlanta offense might not be pretty, but its better to see how he’ll do against better teams now so we know if and when he’ll need to be replaced by someone else in the rotation.
I think the organization’s patience with betemit is absurd…if any of OUR kids were playing at level they would have been back at LV weeks ago. I know the options at 3b are limited but still… I understand why they are playing Loney and LaRoche in the outfield but it still doesn’t make sense—especially for LaRoche, they ought to be preparing him strictly at 3b. For Loney, how will there be room for him the outfield if there isn’t room for Kemp? If Nomar stays healthy all year there will be nowhere else for him to play…At the same time lots of organizations do this with young players…hard to know whether it helps or hurts them in the long run.
Would someone please bump the needle on that Wilson Betemit broken record? I’m getting tired of hearing it skip, over and over and over and over and over…
Well… you get the idea. For the time being he’s OUR third-baseman! Until someone else comes along and does a better job, pipe it! It’s a tired subject already! We’re in first place for cryin’ out loud… that ain’t so bad now is it?
If Betemit is still struggles and is in the Lineup after the 10th then id really start to question Grady’s level of patience. He is very much a players manager and he shows too much faith in players. IMO Betemit should have been out of the lineup last week.
Tony Abreu and La Roche should be given a chance. It’s not gonna be hard for them to out produce Betemit right now.
Why do people even like LaRoche?? I dont get it.. he is not good and the first player id trade.
You know Ewk216 you’re right about La Roche. I don’t get it either. He is awful i mean look at his average when he played in the majors! .000??!?! *** whats worse is that he had no hits in 0 plate apperences i mean i could do better then that. And all those Errors he made when he was on the big league club. How the heck did this kid hit more home runs the past three years then all of our last three third basemen combined! And how in the world did he hit .315 last year with 19 home runs with a bum shoulder and missing most of the year. Yeah seriously why is he considered our top prospect by all the expects. They must be on crack.
Well I’m sure glade most of you are paying attention, because putting Loney at 3B is just as bad as Nomar at 3B or JP in the #8 hole or playing all rookies. We have a team in first place and you guys act like it’s broken. We’re playing 600+ ball, 2 games in first place in the toughest division in baseball. Come on !!! get behind this team and cheer them on or get off the bus !!! This is a fun team to watch !!! Enjoy the game everyone !! We’re going to win some and lose some. At the end of the day it’s still all about “the Love of the Game” !!!
Go Dodgers !!!
toughest division in baseball is a stretch.