Thoughts from Dodger Thoughts…
For those who missed last night’s Dodger Thoughts outing, Jon Weisman posted a recap here. I’m glad so many people seemed to enjoy themselves and we look forward to next year’s outing.
Quick turnaround after the night game, but when you’re 9-0 at home, no one seems to care much. Here are some interesting tidbits along those lines…
Not only would a win today establish a franchise record for most consecutive wins to start a season at home with 10, it would also tie the modern-day National League record held by Atlanta’s 10-0 start in 1983 at Fulton County Stadium, the Cubs’ 10-0 mark at Wrigley Field in 1970, and the New York Giants’ 10-0 start at the Polo Grounds in 1918 (thanks to ELIAS’ John Labombarda). Do note, Joe Torre was the manager of that 1983 Braves squad, which finished 88-74 and in second place in the National League West behind the Dodgers (91-71).
– The Major League record for consecutive wins at home to start a season is 12 by Detroit at Bennett Park in 1911, the year before Tiger Stadium opened.
– The Dodgers’ 9-0 start at home is the best in the Majors since the 2003 Royals won their first 11 games at Kauffman Stadium. Bob Schaefer served as the bench coach on that squad, which finished 83-79.
– The Dodgers are the only undefeated team at home in the Majors.
Here’s the lineup for today…
Pierre, LF
Hudson, 2B
Ethier, RF
Loney, 1B
Kemp, CF
Loretta, 3B
Ausmus, C
Castro, SS
Billingsley, P
Inside the Dodgers 
Sigh I thought I would had never seen this lineup but not surprise would had Pierre batting 9th. Nice Eric you said this was going to happen but it was so easy to figure what was going to happen?
Well you did have Loney and Kemp but the other way around damn I thought for sure Kemp was going to bat cleanup.
Looking on the bright side, this lineup frees up Pierre and Odog to run. They don’t have to worry about their steals making Manny be walked. This one might be a little small ball but if Billz is dealing we should be fine.
GO BLUE!!!!
Poor Bills – wonder how he felt when he saw this lineup; never mind how any of us feel. It must be nice to be so far ahead in our division that Torre can do pretty much anything he wants, and it doesn’t matter.
Its obvious we need to fire the conditioning coach Bear. Our guys are so out of shape that 4 starters have to rest the same day.
Joe may get away with it against the Puds, but try it against the Cubs, Phils, Mets… Any way you slice it though, its friggin moronic.
And thats three starts in five games for the most pathetic ballplayer on the team.
Also, terrific idea to rest guys like Marty and Ferk who both had a multiple hit game last night when they’ve been struggling with the bat all year. Great way to keep their momentum going.
Its obvious we need to fire the conditioning coach Bear. Our guys are so out of shape that 4 starters have to rest the same day.
Joe may get away with it against the Puds, but try it against the Cubs, Phils, Mets… Any way you slice it though, its friggin moronic.
And thats three starts in five games for the most pathetic ballplayer on the team.
Also, terrific idea to rest guys like Marty and Ferk who both had a multiple hit game last night when they’ve been struggling with the bat all year. Great way to keep their momentum going.
Sorry for the double post – this blog is as messed up as Joe. Be nice if they’d totally fix it someday.
Thanks a lot Joe! We ave an undefeated pitcher and a home winning streak that you don’t seem to care anything about! SHAME ON YOU!!!
Man, this lineup looks like what you’d see the final game of the season after you’ve already clinched the division title. You’re right, enchanted, they would never get away with it against top teams. I can understand Manny needing a rest here and there at his age, but guys in their twenties and early thirties should rarely need a rest. Russell didn’t get enough time off for a catcher in recent years, but Joe is going overboard with it now, especially when he seemed to be getting in a groove and getting his confidence back at the plate.
isn’t it too early to be forfeiting wins? with chad dealing, and the padres being so terrible, it’s very possible for us to still take this game.. but come on, how about putting less pressure on chad?? he’s going to have to pitch a shutout so we might win another 1-0 game..
joe, i definitely don’t have the confidence in pierre that you do.. are you going to start him three times every week from now on?? because all of our other outfielders can’t possibly play 7 games in a week.. pro ball players in the mid-twenties are SO out of shape =P
kemp and ethier don’t need rest
At first glance I agreed with all the coometns, but one could argue that when they’ve played Ausmus has been as good or better than Russell and Loretta has been solid. Not having Raffy and Manny will always hurt.
Nice thing is the Pads haven’t shown the ability to run away with a game, and with Bills you have to think worst case scenario Manny pinch hits late with a chance to tie or win.
Jungar – Joe took your dare with Manny sitting today. I think we are going to have a Dodger Stadium full of mad as hell fans, especially the Mannywood section. We also could use Dodgereric’s song “I’ve Got You Babe”, which if he is around, will show up sometime today just for old times sakes. I hope Billz is on today…………..poor guy. The only plus side, is we have one heck of a bench today.
bluecrewgirl – thank you soooo much.for the video link. He did a great job, and he’s got my vote for his own Food Network show when he’s done with baseball. Heck, he can do that in the off-season. He was just delightful and funny, just like how he writes out his reviews. Thanks again.
GO DODGERS!!!!
loretta, ausmus, castro, billingsley, and pierre batting consecutively?……..ouch! maybe joe is running this lineup out there because he senses we’re getting spoiled watching the regulars play. i really hope this trend of pierre spelling one of the starters every other game doesn’t last. our outfield has been EXTREMELY productive this year with minimal contributions from juanito (only 24 at-bats). his OPS will inevitably decline from the current .840 mark to his usual sub .700 line. mr. torre, please don’t let this become a habit. go blue!
Would like to hear from some of the paying fans about how they feel paying top dollar for the privilege of seeing this lineup at Dodger Stadium. Maybe they’ll create a section called “Suckerwood” where you can all sit together and get a jersey with Pierre’s number on it.
If Joe keeps on doing this craziness with the line-ups, nobody is going to go to the Sunday games. Nellyjune, how do you think your sister feels being there today?
No problem, Nelly. He did do a great job and it sounds like they’ll be filming some more episodes, so that will be cool.
Hey, Bear, we had the same thoughts! My daughter drove down to see this game and I’ll bet she won’t be happy with this line-up! Driving 6 hours to see this is UNACCEPTABLE!!!
I thought Spring Training was over???
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I wonder if they will be selling the Juanwood seats for this game.
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2 seats & 2 shirts to the Juanwood section for $9.00?
Juanwood, good one, dcollins. Trublu, I would not be happy at all if I were your daughter. Who would ever expect to see a lineup like that so early in the season?
My guess is all those fans in left field will give JP an earful today and then some. It happened once when I was there,and he was just playing instead of Andre. I mean I was paying in hopes to see Andre play there, but these fans today are paying to see Manny there.
Juanwood – well, that’s supposed to be the bench, so yes, I’d gladly pay $9.00 to be able to sit there. I’d pay more if HE sat there, not me.
Nah too high I’d pay 3.50.
Manny[‘s hamstring is bothering him. That is not why he is playing. Charlie and Rick just mentioned it on the radio.
Charlie just said that Manny isn’t playing because of a slightly sore hammy. Nothing major, just want to be cautious.
Hope it won’t keep him out too long.
Well look at the bright side with Manny, Blake, Martin and Furcal we can increase our #1 batting average off the bench lol.
You all realize that this **** will keep happening as long as Juan’s on the team and Torre’s manager.
UN-FREAKIN’-ACCEPTIBLE℗©™
Like I said you can have Blake in RF to prevent Pierre for even playing but Blake hasn’t played RF in 2 years.
Ø Juan
Ø Joe
FDG — Agreed that the subs are good this year. Just all at the same time with Juan leading them off. Also after Martin & Ferk seemed as if they were starting to get on a little roll is the problem.
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It will be a small ball game but we have shown we can win that way as well so Play Ball!!!!!!
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Go Blue!!
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Bring the Ring to LA in 2009!!!
Enchanted ~ I have the feeling you are in the same mood as I am……….and, beleieve me it is not very pleasant!
I get the feeling enchanted is not happy.
e’s pissed.
…..just a little 🙂
Tru’s pissed too!
Hopefully Manny’s hammy won’t go from no big deal to day to day to the 15 day DL to the 60 day DL, etc…
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Anyone notice that is what is taking place with HK? Not a surprise there.
OK, if Joe really wants to rest MannyHammy, why still rest the other three? Without Many’s firepower in there, Ferk/Blake or Ferk/Marty ought to be in there to make up for it. If Ferk’s so damn fragile he can’t play a day game after a night game once in awhile, then why did we resign him???
Since it’s a hammy I understand why we are playing who we are playing.
I feel for Billz the most…..poor guy must be saying what the hell is going on here!
Might as well phone in Pierre’s ABs:
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1. After a fake bunt attempt on the first pitch, he dribbles a grounder to second.
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2. JP takes strike one, ball one, waves at the third pitch and pops to left.
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3. Swings at the first pitch and loops a single to center just out of reach of the SS. Promnptly gets thrown out trying to steal.
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4. Pulls back the bat and takes strike one, foul, foul, pulls a dribbler to the secondbaseman (again.)
Enchanted ~ Your typical lead-off man! lol
LOL!!!! You have his routine down pretty well. So, in any order, or are you thinking that exact order?
That’s my call Nells.
Notice he won’t get a fifth AB because this line-up isn’t capable of going a 5th round.
Well, he’s got his single.
…and we got our first run………..yeah O-Dog!!!
are single to center lol
Alright Andre!!!!!!
Then he’ll score on a double by Hudson…
Who?!!!
funny enchanted 🙂
Dang Gaudin need to shave his beard. Did anyone see that pitcher on yahoo?
That’s 24 RBI’s for Andre if anybody else is counting 🙂
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7199
Wifey says that we need to give props when props are due!
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Way to start it off Pierre!!!
Just 5 rbi behind Pujols and that game is rained out.
pitcher=picture
Sweet swing James.
Shad, I noticed on the picture on the Dodger’s front page it looked like he had a small animal hanging from his chin, lol.
Nice inning boys!!!!! Your turn Billz!!!!
lol this lineup putting 3 runs nice inning there
There are your runs Chad – make ’em stand up.
Goudin played for the A’s, and I don’t remember him looking like that.
Sigh Giles with his 3rd assists. He had that all of last year.
Was it the same picture on yahoo?
It must be a chin-chilla BCG!!!
He had a beard, but it didn’t look like that. I even had an A’s calendar, and he didn’t look like that.
I saw Goudin in AAA Sacto a few years ago. He picked 2 or 3 off of 1st base in that game. One of them was our Every Day Dre! Bills was pitching for Vegas that day.
It looks like the same picture as the Yahoo one. LMAO, enchanted!
When he got traded to the Cubs last year he didn’t look like that either.
LOL Enchanted…
He remind me of Spiezo when he played for the Cards.
I see another caption contest coming soon.
🙂
Adrian little brother is killing us.
I enjoyed watching him pitch for the A’s, but now it’s about the Dodgers winning.
LMAO!!!! enchanted – you are funny today, but then that is most days really 🙂
OK Boyz let’s get that run back.
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Oh what am I saying, I could pitch to Castro, Billz and Pierre.
They are proving you wrong today enchanted. Castro got a hit too 🙂
Oh my Castro.
(Just shakes head and reaches for the Cuervo…)
nice jp 🙂
Enchanted didn’t get the dp by pierre.
Nice try #9!!!
Arizona just lost…
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Giants & Rockies are scoreless in the bottom of the 4th.
Damn that Zito come on Rockies lol
With Ned’s incredible 13-man pitching staff, the only position players left on the bench today are Martin, Furcal, Manny and Blake. You know, I’ll bet those guys could start for any other team in baseball!
It wasn’t a chin-chilla it was a raccoon!!!!!
What do you think? I think so.
New theory Kahli – with only 4 reserves, doesn’t that mean we’re going to be using them too often and thus we need to play the starters all the time?
Hey, it would make sense to Joe.
Did you guys hear Vin about Gaudin? He actually ate a raccoon!!!
Another walk by Ethier.
Thought Kemp was supposed to cut down on his strikeouts.
Sigh Kemp is still struggling no we need Young.
Guess he forgot to swallow the tail.
oops I mean Paul and send Pierre down.
Vin was saying that Gaudin ate a raccoon he had shot & killed when he was in High School. He was hunting with his pitching coach who told him if he shot anything he had to eat it.
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He shot a coon and ate it. So I guess that must be his HS photo with a coon tail hanging out of his mouth.
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Vinny said while laughing, “Just the thought, well maybe it’s okay…I don’t know”.
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LMTO!!!
I heard that, dcollins. Yuck.
Maybe that was the reason why Martin batting ahead of Kemp because of that. Since Kemp moved up in the batting order for the past few days that he’s been k’s more lately but than again that was by the Padres 2 best pitchers.
Maybe Dre will have that be part of his next segment.
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Coons a new Cajun restaurant owned & run by San Diego’s own Chad Gaudin.
Nice Bills.
Ducks hanging tough in Detroit. 3-3 going into 2nd OT.
Kemp’s new contacts sure haven’t helped him much.
Damn can’t walk a pitchers Bills nice inning.
Hold crap did Ausmus really steal a base?
I’m having a bad feeling he’s not using those contract lol.
How embarassing letting a 39 years old backup catcher stealing a base. Wow Brad has 102 SB’s in his career.
hold=holy
Just before Loney’s drive, I wondered who would go yard first…Martin or Loney. About time for both, I would think…
WTG Bills!! Helping yourself with an RBI!
Billz gets my vote for a PH over JP.
Crap. JP just assured himself of starting 3 of the NEXT 5 games.
Yeah JP!!!!!
Whouda thunk this line-up could score 7 runs??
Just because I am cheering for him, doesn’t mean I think he should be playing over the starting outfielders.
I was thinking the same thing, Enchanted. To me, this game for him is a fluke!
Oh my a Triple OT 3-3 Go Red Wings
damn fk
Damn Bills you couldn’t get that last out before that homerun by Giles.
No problemo with Giles dinger. Those extra insurance runs were nice to get. Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in a while.
Nice pitching Billz!!! Solo homerun with this score no big deal 🙂
That would mean all of his game were fluke since he became a dodgers lol.
Damn Cooper never ever wish a sweep in the 2nd round against the Rockets.
Perdomo weird he have a Giants cap and must had pitches in there system last year. I just wish yahoo would updated their team with there uniform and cap.
Hi Everybody
Just got in and happy to see the score.
At least Kemp didn’t strike out this time.
Shad ~ Yes. Every game he played in since becoming a Dodger is a fluke! That we even have him on the team is a fluking shame!
DOH OHMAN!!!
Crap!
At least Torre had a quick hook this time.
Let’s Go Ramon!!!!
OH MAN not today.
Vin was just saying how every Sunday home game they will have a link to a broadcast called junior dodgers, which gives kids with aspirations of becoming broadcasters a chance to call the game. Very cool.
Damn I think we need Beimel back. At least Beimel doesn’t give up homerun. Wow Ohman has given up 3 homeruns this year and he had 3 all of last year in 58.1 inning.
Shad ~ I’d rather have a solo homerun than walks and then the blast!
RAMONE
Agreed tru! Solo dingers are much less painfull.
Troncoso’s becoming quite the fireman out of the pen.
Good Job!!!
I’m a big kid, can I announce the games?
Make that RAMON
gnats won in 10, 1-0
Yea – it would have been great to be kid at DS today. Some are announcers and my niece got a Andre practice jersey. No fair!!!!! Aren’t we all just big kids too 🙂
Yes we are Nelly
Com ON Ramon
Undefeated at home!!! Fabulous!!!!
Great job by Troncoso. That would be great if the Dodgers break the major league record of 12 in a row to start at home.
FRANCHISE RECORD 10 WINS IN A ROW AT HOME TO START THE YEAR. BATMAN HUDSON with 3 BIG RBI!!! JUAN PIERRE WITH A BIG TWO HITS AND TWO RUNS SCORED. Chad Billingsley goes to 5-0!!! BENCH BEASTS LORETTA, and CASTRO TAKE IT TO THE PADRES. Ramon TRONCOSO comes to the Rescue!!! 2009 – THE YEAR OF THE DODGERS!!!
LOL!! for sure oldbrooklynfan 🙂
You are doing good enchanted!!! Keep up the good work 🙂
Tomorrow we tie the Major League Record
i hope
Sorry I misread that the record is 12
Hello ITD
Haven’t posted in a while. Guess I’ve just been busy going to the games.
Messagebear, I have season tickets and really didn’t get upset at the lineup and neither did any of the fans at the game. There were about 51,000 there which is good for a hot day game. It helped that the Dodgers scored 3 runs almost right away and stayed ahead. Bills pitched another superb game as did Ramon Troncoso.
I have been able to go to all the home games so far and there is such excitement. The team is pretty awesome especially with the defense of Matt Kemp. He is everywhere. It seems that every game has been exciting to the last minute. I am definitely getting my moneys worth. I have no complaint except that I am going to visit my son this weekend and had to give my tickets away to a friend.
The Dodgers have swept the Padres for the first time at Dodger stadium ever. They are 4 1/2 games out, better than any other division leader. They have broken more records, Andre has been National League player of the week. Bills has a stellar record. Come on guys, what is the complaint?? Obviously what Joe is doing is working, at least at home. I am going to start saving for the World Series tickets now.
http://catlovesthedodgers.mlblogs.com
I have read other team blogs and they have stated that the Dodgers have the best defense of any other team. That says a lot.
http://catlovesthedodgers.mlblogs.com
Look, heartruss, let’s not get carried away by our record so far. Yes, all we can do is beat the teams on our schedule, and we’re doing it. BUT……….
Who have we played? Nothing but the NL West (who EVERYONE has said – and correctly – is weak), plus the Houston Astros – the weakest team in the NL Central. Every team other than the Giants is under .500, and the Giants just crept over .500 by winning today. The winning % of our opponents so far is a stellar .446.
Go ahead and start saving for the Series – we might just get there if we stay relatively healthy. Personally, I’m withholding judgement of our chances until we play the Cards and Phils and Cubs and the other strong teams.
Sorry if I’m not a Kool-Aid drinker. I love our offense. I love our defense. I love our bench (what there is of it – there’s no power, but that’s OK). It’s light-years better than last year. But we have only one dependable arm in the ‘pen (although Troncoso and Wade have looked good lately) and that’s going to cost us against the better teams. Not everyone has a lineup full of .228 hitters like most every team we have faced.
Which brings me to Torre. I don’t think I’ve disagreed with a Dodger manager more often than Torre, and I’ve been following them since ’59. He never seems to run at the right times. He might be the worst manager of a pitching staff ever, and does anyone in baseball have a 13-man staff? We have one reserve outfielder that is horrible defensively, but he’s in love with him for some unknown reason. When we start getting into extra-inning games, he’s going to be out of moves by the tenth or eleventh.
Fire him.
There are some good points being brought up about our early season success, our offense and defense is stellar right now and I beleive they will be among the league leaders all season (which should make the series against the rangers in June a high scoring affair to say the least). Our pitching does worry me especially our bullpen, Ohman needs to figure out what he’s doing if that was a 1 run game today then we’d be in trouble, he allowed a home run and single to 2 lefties, isn’t he supposed to be a left hand specialist?
Even though our division is weak all these wins will increase our confidence when we play tougher teams, so lets enjoy it now and concentrate on not relinquishing this lead at all this season. As we saw from last year, it all starts over in the playoffs. The cubs were supposed to crush us and look what we did to them. All we have to do is get there and the rest will work itself out.
I havent been to a game yet this year because unlike the past 2 years when I lived in Vegas, I am now stationed in new mexico, but i’ll be at all 4 of the Dodgers vs phillies series in june and then the 3 games vs the rangers in texas. The next games i’ll attend will be around the middle of October because, as I have said before this team is special and the best fans in the world are in for some great times this year. GO DODGERS!!
Hi Dodgereric
I know what you are saying. I am a “kool aid drinker” I suppose but so what. The team looks great. The important thing is to win the division as the Dodgers did last year They are my team and I will support them through thick and thin. I get the feeling that the team will pick up another pitcher and probably inexpensively. I think it’s a good thing that Sabathia wasn’t signed by the Dodgers. I still wish we would have kept D Lowe. Kuroda being on DL hasn’t helped and Kuo having the sore elbow is going to change the picture.
The Dodger players have said that the enthusiasm that the fans have shown at the games keeps them playing hard to protect their home turf. I have been to every home game so far and the excitement is phenomenal. I know you have been to one. There are no fans like Dodger fans. Ask Vinny.
http://catlovesthedodgers.mlblogs.com
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AkcE4UPrmlCydgqywD01MHsd0bYF?slug=teamreports-2009-mlb-lad&prov=sportsxchange&type=team_report
Even as the Dodgers got off to a sizzling start in their effort to defend their National League West division title, they are not without their problems, especially when it comes to pitching.
First, rookie right-hander James McDonald finally has been dropped from the rotation because he failed to complete five innings in three of his four starts. He will be replaced by veteran right-hander Jeff Weaver, who was promoted to the majors for the first time since September 2007 and pitched four shutout innings that night in relief of McDonald, who failed to get out of the second inning.
Although McDonald will remain in the majors and will pitch out of the bullpen, where he was successful following a late-season call-up last year, he was sent to Class A Inland Empire (Calif.) for a two-day visit with his mentor, 66ers pitching coach Charlie Hough
• LHP Brent Leach, who posted a 0.69 ERA in 13 appearances for Class AA Chattanooga (Tenn.) while striking out 17 batters in 13 innings, received his first major-league call-up on Saturday. He was recalled to take the roster spot of Hong-Chih Kuo, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left elbow. Leach, the Dodgers’ sixth-round pick in the 2005 amateur draft out as a college senior, was added to the 40-man roster this past winter.
• OF Matt Kemp is hitting just .154 (6-for-39) over his past 11 games through Sunday, during which time he had struck out 15 times. That skid coincided with the end of his season-opening, 14-game hitting streak. He went 0-for-4 on Sunday, striking out in each of his first three plate appearances.
By The Numbers: 10—Consecutive home wins to begin the season for the Dodgers, the most in franchise history. The 1946 Brooklyn Dodgers won their first nine games at Ebbets Field. The start also ties the modern-day National League record held by the 1983 Atlanta Braves (also managed by Joe Torre), the 1970 Chicago Cubs and the 1918 New York Giants. The major-league record for consecutive home wins to start a season is 12 by the 1911 Detroit Tigers
Look like Torre made history. Ouch Kemp that is going to hurt.
Good morning ITDland ~ I was reading what Dodgereric and Heartruss were saying last night and I love Heart’s enthusiasm but, i have to agree with Eric. We are beating the teams right now that we are supposed to be winning against. Our offense is pretty exciting to watch and our defense has gotten much better than last year. However, the pitching, except for Billz, is questionable and, Joe’s love affair with Juan bothers me a lot. Will he still give the youngsters a day of “rest” when we play the Cubs, Phillies or Cards? I worry too that we don’t have a power hitter on the bench. As Eric said, what happens if we get into a long extra inning game? Maybe one of our 13 pitchers can be used as a pinch hitter. With all that being said, I do love the chemistry of the starting players and I am a Dodger fan through and through.
I know Andre could care less about this stat seeing how he is a team player and all, but as an Ethieraholic, it’s my job to keep track of his numbers. If Joe continues to trot out noodle arm every other game for our outfielders, he would take away 27.2 games away from Andre and Matt (assuming one sit per week for each of them) for the season, that’s about 108 PAs (assuming 4 PAs per game). That is a lot of PAs missing from two players who can potential hit it out of the park every time they come up to bat. …………and once again, we are just talking offense, not the defense that will be extremely missed. Sorry, I know we are winning, but we have two (three if you count Manny) potential award winners in the outfield, but this love affair with JP is certainly going to get in the way of this goal.
NL West is somewhat hard to judge our team by. On the one hand, facing starters like Lincecum, Sanchez, Cain, Johnson (who’s pitching well right now), Haren, Peavy, and Young, that’s better pitching than you’ll see in most other divisions. The NL West bullys are generally pathetic (as are most teams.) My conclusion is that the hitting against the rest of the league will stay just about where it is.
Good defense is good defense.
Pitching though is going to make or break this team. If Troncoso and Wade can bridge the gap to Brox, we’re in decent shape in the pen. The starters however… on a good day, Billz goes 7. On a good day, Wolf and Kersh go 6. That leaves the other two, who on a good day go 5. That’s a buttload of innings for the pen to shoulder. I called it back in December that the pen will burn out by the end of July. That might be the end of June now.
And a 13 man staff is assinine. The bench totally lacks any power since Meintkiewicz went down. Ausmus/Pierre/Loretta/Castro I doubt will hit a HR between them.
The way Ned has currently put together this team, it lives and dies by the starting 8. We all knew the state of our pitching when it was Milton, Estes, Schmidt and Stults (call it a MESS for short) vying for #5.
Good morning ITD and Dodger Faithful, Shad I hope your day is all good. Tru yours too. I enjoy everyone’s comments here on this blog. It is funny, informative and unique all at the same time. I think we have good discussion from many different aspects, even if we don’t always agree. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and this blog is a great place to show it.
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As for today we are 18 ~ 8, on a 10 game win streak at home. Noone and nothing can change that fact, I love this organization, always have and always will. This year’s team is unique in itself, . They are having fun, doing the little things and finding ways to win. That is good, is it not??
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There is always room for concern, and the Boy’s don’t have a championship ring on their finger yet. They are putting up a good solid fight night in and night out. I am enjoying every minute of it. Glass half empty….Glass half full take your pick. I am having fun regardless.
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Great game last night Boy’s!!!!
Life Is Good Today!!!!!
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Keep on fighting and having fun and the rest will follow.
I BELIEVE!!!!
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GO DODGERS!!!!!
BRING THE RING TO L.A. IN 2009!!!!
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Enjoy your Monday All!!! I am going to have me some Ice Cream and look forward to the game tonight.
I’m crossing my hand that he used Stults to get some PH AB’s heck even Mota can hit but I really doubt he would used him.
I do realize that the ultimate goal is to bring home a ring, and that will be reward enough for a job well done 🙂 It’s just I was doing my Sunday stats like I always do, and our starting outfielders are doing a fabulous job against our entire NL right now (top 10-15 in every category). Just stating facts that our outfield is one awesome outfield, and that it shouldn’t be jeopardized three times a week.) Also, most of the categories, Manny and Andre are either tied or one behind the other. It’s very impressive, and that duo needs to stay intact as often as possible. Andre has seen 499 balls pitched to him (#1 in the NL) where the next batter in the NL (Cory Hart) has seen 477, and Matt Kemp (#2 on the team) has seen 439. Like I have said many, many times, even his outs are productive. He had one of his best at bats for the series the night we played Peavy because even though Andre’s PH at bat resulted in an out, he put Peavy’s pitch count into the realm of not being able to pitch the 9th.
ALL I HAVE TO SAY….WOOOW THIS WEEKEND GAMES WERE FANTASTIC! Martin got lucky on Friday…(I know he has not being playing the way he should). Then Ethier well earned win. MY BOYS ETHIER & MARTIN! Then yesterday’S GAME…the bench warmers were awsome. I am proud of my BOYS IN BLUE. I have faith that they will bring that ring home!.. GO DODGERS!
hello ITD! I had 2 threads to read to get caught up here and I just barely updated my blog since last Wednesday. Wow! I feel like I just came back from a road trip but it is all the home games, work and other commitments. We capped yesterday’s game with the Carne Asada with Andre. His wife, brother and the baby were also there. there were mariachis there. We had Carne asada tacos, rice , beans, condiments and cheese quesadillas served with crema & queso fresco. Yum!
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Scott Akasaki: Nice tribute to Tony. I missed not clicking on the list of links in my blog. I gave him a hug on Friday and I saw him at the stadium on Sunday. We got reports from him that is not supplied here. I love the Montgomery Inn barbeque sauce! I used to have a boyfriend that used to be sent on business trips to Cincinnati and he used to bring that sauce.
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Sad News: Saturday night I found out we lost one of our “Top Deck family.” Wesley was only 36. I did not know he had a rare desease. I remember one time when they showed highlights of Kirk Gibson’s Homerun, he said “I still get goose bumps watching it!” Then he pointed where he and his dad sat that day. My deepest condolences to his parents James & Uni who are also part of the “Top Deck Family.” R.I.P. Wesley.
Emma
http://crzblue.mlblogs.com/
huh?
“Bullpen shapes up nicely for Dodgers”
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090503&content_id=4541424&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la
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Odd article? By my count, we have two to three good relievers. Broxton has been unstoppable, especially when he uses his slider as a great contrast to the 100 mph heat. Belisario has been a nice surprise. Troncoso has been a definite plus. However, Wade is still a bit of a question mark coming off his injury, although he has shown good work in his last two appearances. Oh-man is hit and miss. Mota is worse. Leach is unknown. Kuo has broken down. McDonald is, for now, a head case, but I certainly hope he can pull it together.
So where’s the problem crash??? LMAO
i was surprised to read that we have the second best bullpen era in the majors right now.i think once all the guys are healthy and know their role,they’ll be a lot more comfortable and in the end we’ll get better results.no question broxton and troncoso have been great.wade seems to be improving,belisarios been decent.hopefully kuo can come back healthy to be our lefty set up man.than the rest can be used for garbage time.
Another test for the bully tonight, since the last time Stults finished the sixth inning was July 11, 2008.
Then we had better score a lot of runs, Crash.
Tru – Then we need a lineup like this:
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Furcal
ODog
Manny
Ethier
Kemp
Loney
Blake
Martin
Stults
“Second best bullpen era in the majors”
Pretty cool. Cherry-picking stats again, I’m sure. Pull Brox’ ERA out of there and now what?
ERA is one stat to gauge pitching. I’ve been over at baseball_reference.com. Let’s look at some more stats. Pitching stats don’t compare really well between leagues with the DH, so let’s keep it to the NL stats only:
Save Opportunities (saves + blown saves) – 14 (tied w/Cards for first in NL
Saves – 8 (tied w/SD for 2nd behind Cards w/9)
Blown Saves – 6 (tied w/WASH for 2nd behind MIL w/7)
Save % – 57 (tied for 10th) – Reds are #1 @ 100% (7 for 7)
Holds – 10 (tied for 9th) – Cards are #1 w/18
Inherited Runners Score % – 31 (tied for 7th) – Phil is #1 w/7%
Looking pretty good in the Saves catagory, but we should since we have more wins than anyone else. Not so shiny any more. Sorry. Look for yourself if you like.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/2009-reliever-pitching.shtml
I’m guessing that I can forget working for Frank.
Was that our pen they were talking about?