Lineup, Updated Balloting

i'm glad to see that nomar is over the flu but how can you not have loney in the lineup. this is a big series and we need our best playing right now.

interesting news huh? trade in the works?

What's the news??? Don't leave us hanging!!

-luxx80

Awww yes back to the line-up that has shown us how old we really are! hahaha not to bad of a line-up, we have seen this many times before, it will be interesting to see how Nomar bounces back from his sick feeling tummy. I hope we get the production we know we have in these guys!

GO DODGERS!!!!!

GO BRAD!!!!!!

VOTE 4 MARTIN!!!!

Hey Josh,

i am confused!?!? by my calculations (i have always wanted to say that!) Russell has LoDuca by like 215,000 votes and in the article it says he only has him by like 125,000 (i know 200,000 is not much more but it makes a difference) do you have any clue which one is correct, the tallied numbers at the bottom of the article or the number qouted by the author of the article?

I really think it has something to do with Wolf!!!! Like i said he should be the Thursday probable starter but there was a TBA in that spot so i think a trade may be possible graffiti but with who and for what in return?! I just realized this trade could make or break our season!

Were we able to trade JP for Holliday? or a Ken Griffey JR upper deck rookie card? could we just give Juan-for-5 away to the Royals and pay his salary?

If the "interesting news" involves Loney or Kemp being traded for anyone, it may be a long time before I return here since I'll be hospitalized with a stomach disorder. Other than that, I'm copacetic about anything.

this better not be interesting like kemp or loney on another team... send wolfie somewhere else by all means.

Same here underdog - as long as it's not Loney or Kemp getting traded, I'll be fine.

-luxx80

PLEASE don't do anything stupid.

HA, everyone is going crazy about the interesting piece of news. Relax, it's probably nothing, at most it's a minor trade. If it was something more we'd know already.

if we traded wolf...who would fill in the fifth spot in the rotation?

Hopefully not Loney or Kemp traded. Unless one of the two got traded 1-1 for A-Rod or something.

More probably something minor. Check the 40-man roster, everybody! ;-)

As far as Wolf goes - I think that may just be a function of Little trying to seperate the two lefties in the rotation, though I do not see a straightforward right-handed starter to slot in there.

OMG people chill out we haven't traded Wolf, Loney, Kemp etc... it's NOTHING!

maybe wolf and some prospects for glaus? just checked the 40 man...everyone is still accounted for, including wolf.

Right, if this news has anything to do with Kemp and Loney I will start a revolution to throw Colleti out of office.

maybe its nomar is FINALLY moving to 3rd base. ok, i can dream.

This has happened before Josh says he has a piece of news. We all go crazy and it ends up being nothing.

Maybe the Dodgers are going to turn the left field pavillion into "all you can eat garlic fries." Or maybe the names will be coming off the jersey's again next year. I don't have much faith in anything really good coming out of "interesting news."

Might just be a call-up or something. It'd make my day to see Meloan on the team tomorrow. :-) I wouldn't worry too much about it (yet), yeah.

If Saito doesn't make the team, something is seriously wrong with someone. I listened to Marc Grace talk about how Valverde should make the team along with Corderro, because of how great they were doing. Not once was Saito mentioned. I looked at the stats for the top 5 save leaders in the NL and Saito, is arguably the best. His numbers are nearly perfect.

hahaha man Josh started a consperacy!!!! Well the 40 man roster wouldnt change until after the official annoucement has been made right? if something has changed..... i dont know what to think!?

IM GOING CRAZY!!!!!!!!

hahahahah come on Alex join in on the fun. You have to admit it is kind of intriging!

I'm hoping that by "interesting news" you mean that Grady has realized Pierre would better serve us on the bench (the farthest end), Kemp is our starting centerfielder, Nomar looks great as a platooned 3rd baseman with Abreu, and Loney has won his job at first. That would be very interesting, indeed. In other news, Kemp and Loney are hitting over .400 since their call up and neither are in the line-up tonight...

lath19 lol. all you can eat garlic fries. that is really funny imagining that.

hopefully the piece of interesting news is that this is a fake lineup.

Maybe they've figured out a way to get rid of Pierre and Nomar. In all seriousness it's probably Houlton getting called up. Our manager doesn't have a clue. Biggest series to date and he sits his 2 best players Loney and Kemp, so he can play Nomore. (that's not a typo)

I don't think it's the end of the world that Kemp and Loney aren't in the line-up tonight. If they're not in the line-ups at all this series, then that will be the end of the world. ;-) But no reason to panic here. Those guys are all gonna get some playing time, and I'm sure fliegel has it right, it's a pitcher call up and DFA...

kemp and loney have already broken like down like three differant doors, and now they have just busted in the steel vault. its pathetic seeing two future stars blocked by egotistical old one trick pony vets. all juan can do is run, all nomar can do is single , we get it. players that can do that have succesful carrers coming off the bench. in nomars case he may not need to hang em up, but the bench is his new home. pierre too. hes our lefty off the bench. if they continue to trot out nomar and pierre we deserve third place.

oh god. I just realized that there is a report that Jaque Jones could get traded today. If this is it Josh don't even both posting it. That would truly be a huge buzzkill and it will just be one step closer to me not watching any more games.

Just got back from Tampa. What a disappointing series. It was good to see Kemp and Loney do pretty good. That dome is awful though. Nice to see free parking at the stadium too, that was a shock.

i really hope the Dodgers left there weirdo uncluchness in Tampa, this series is HUGE!.

LOL at Max, I concur but really who thought Loney would actually start tonight if Nomar was healthy. It is what it is, if they win, fine. Everybody and their mothers know who should be playing. YOU KNOW IT, I KNOW IT, THEY EVEN KNOW IT. But, this is the way it's going to be till Nomar is no longer a Dodger or till they move him to third.

i expected to see this lineup. its typical grady. benching the hottest hitters. makes perfect sense.

max lol with the fake lineup too. if we get jaque jones also which makes less than zero sense, it actually makes negative sense, we would have the three worst throing arms in the game.

graffiti, it makes so little sense that i wouldn't be shocked if it happened. Seriously i doubt thats the big news but if it is Ned better start diggin his careers grave.

Funny comments today! The garlic fries and the fake lineup, made me laugh...

What is not funny is Grady Small's lineup!

Five of the Nine starters in the lineup have absolutely NO POWER...

Penny should bat 6th in this lineup.

Furcal, Pierre, Nomar, Abreu, and Penny have TWO HRs between them.

I wonder if the Dodgers have the fewest HRs in their starting lineup of any team in the modern history of baseball who has played this many games in the season?

The entire lineup is on pace for about 75 or 80 Homeruns. A-Rod alone will finish a close second to our entire starting lineup.

Betemit has not been great his last three starts, but was showing a nice power stroke prior to his banishment back to the bench.

At least with Loney, Kemp, Betemit in the lineup we have some threat of a HR.

ive finally figured out after my year trial was over that nothing grady does makes sense. but its becoming predictable. this organization favors veterans plain and simple.
if asked ned/ grady would most likely make a remark that implied they only did good in tampa because tampa *****.

no, no one will take Jones. I bet they end up releasing him.

LaRoche update from senor jackson.

Minor matters: Third-base prospect Andy LaRoche is on the seven-day disabled list at Triple-A Las Vegas because of recurring soreness in his right shoulder, where he had a torn labrum surgically repaired last October. LaRoche recently hurt himself making a diving catch, the same way he suffered the initial injury last June, but he isn't expected to miss much more than a week this time.

Just curious, did Grady look at the pitching LHB/RHB splits? Just based on that, playing Loney over Nomar would have made sense.

But no! The veterans must play. Doesn't matter if you increase the odds of losing games, the vets must play.

Le sigh.

Well, at least I'm getting a few laughs from the comments:
Max - interesting news = "fake lineup"; fliegel - play "Nomore". That's really good. Otherwise, I'm just sick with the usual lineup and Loney/Kemp in reserve, but what would you expect from management. That's why I am putting the burden on them: You do whatever you think is right, but if you don't bring this team at least to the second step in the playoffs, both Colletti and Little should be long GONE and their staffs with them.

probably b/c starting loney 4 days in a row would raise some eyebrows...heaven forbid.

I think one of the things Grady Colletti and Ned Little do not realize is the fact that the fans who buy the tickets want to see the young players who have the upside and part of the future, not the washed up vets...

LONEY LONEY LONEY

I don't understand why everyone is so down on Nomar.. He is our top hitter with runners in scoring position. Do you forget that over the weekend when he didn't play we left tons of runners on base without cashing them in. If Nomar was in the lineup, we probably win at least one of those two games. So his power numbers are down, but he still produces clutch hits and RBIS and Pierre also has been hitting fairly well.. It's insane to bench them and play the kids all the time.. With the kids in the lineup we lost two of three to the Devil Rays!!! We need Nomar in the lineup as often as possible.

that would be cool if today was like japanese april fools day and the lineup was fake. with the news being dodgers trade juan pierre for ichiro straight up in a perceived cost cutiing move.

dont ask me which side is cutting costs.

I wish we could have Nomar and Loney in there at once. I don't trust Nomar at 3rd or Loney in RF though!

Nomar had half his RBIs and extra base hits in April when he was decent.

Nomar has the worst Slugging Pecentage of any regular 1B or 3rd place hitter in baseball.

Since he never gets on base he is on pace to score about 50 runs in 550 AB full season.

These just are not acceptable numbers from any everyday 1B batting third on a contending club.

Nomar should play at the most 4 or 5 times a week splitting his time at 1B and 3B.

after reading these boards, I don't understand why any player would want to play for the Dodgers. The fans complain about every little thing man. I live in Pittsburgh.....Pirates fans actually have a legitimate gripe.

I think you guys are being a little harsh on Grady! Loney and Kemp will see a lot of playing time from now untill the break and even after the break.... the reason you wont see them out there everyday is because of the salaries of the vets that are with the club. I think its fine to have them in the line-up today especially with Brad on the hill..... who knows maybe they will have one of those nights were our 2345 hitters go 8-8!

Another thing, there is all the talk about Pierre being this and that.....ummm are you guys forgetting about our slumping for the last month or two shortstop! If you guys have anything to complain about Grady its why in the heck are we still starting a less the 80% shortstop.... i think he should really be put on the DL before the break to give him some extra time and use that break to get back to 100% so we can have the Furcal of last year!!! (BOY I MISS HIM!!!!)

Furcal's last 10 games:

10-86, .116, 7 runs scored, 4 K's (31 for the season, kind of high i thought!), and only 4 RBI's

are you mroe concerned with these stats or Pierre's bad arm or less then stellar bat, the guy has been producing alot in the last 10 games:

12-43, .279, 6 runs scored, 2RBI's, 3SB, 2BB and only 1K

and you guys were worried about Pierre getting to many AB look at the comparison!

All in All i love the Dodgers and all the players.

GO DODGERS!!!!!!

GO BRAD!!!!!

spanner, you imply we would have done better with nomar rather unconvincingly. james loney got more extra base hits this last weekend , than nomar has in months. do not doubt james loney. go ahead but he will probably just knock another down in front of you next time and get like 12 rbis next game.

Nomar is hitting .281 which is a decent average... I don't think you can say he "never gets on base." The facts don't back up your "half of his RBIS in April" statement either. Maybe he could move down in the batting order, but his stats are still good enough for him to be starting. He has the 2nd most RBIS on the team after all. Now moving him to 3rd I could get behind.. since Abreu is terrible... but I certainly would NOT bench him.

I'm not going to bash Nomar but it does make sense for Loney to play tonight agains Owings who is tough against right handed batters. Grady should play all the lefties tonight and bring in righties (if necessary) once we chase Owings.

simbajazz thats why they have pirates blogs,(or do they)for folks like you.

Ok, but we still lost 2-3 and left about 25 runners on base in 2 games, so....

I'm a Dodgers fan, I'm just trying to put things in perspective here, that's all.

Believe me simba-- there is very little perspective on this blog...

Maybe the news is that we signed K. Blair....

I think Simba provides a good perspective check, actually. (Though it's been an awful long time since LA's had a WS appearance, but not as long as it's been for Pittsburgh.) People do get a little crazed with the negativity here.

Ground Hog Day

i was 3 the last time the Pirates were above .500 record. That's my positive perspective.

Nomar's OBP is .321 which is well below most other 1B or third place hitters in MLB.

So as far as getting on base, he gets on at a well below average rate.

Nomar should not be banished to the bench, but should play 4 or 5 times a week, mostly at 3B. If his defense turns out to be too bad at 3B to play there and Loney is hitting well, than you will have a problem!

Hey Pirate fan.... the Pirates have more playoff game wins since 1990 than the dodgers do.

Wow!

We should be happy because we are less pathetic than the Pirates!

The dodgers have won 1 playoff game in the last 19 years and each of those 19 years we were in the top 10 in overall payroll.

I really dont understand why people use pay roll as any kind of barometer. Its not, not has it really ever been. We are in a huge market so we have a big payroll, simple as that. Spending a lot of money never has, and never will guarantee winning. Its not like you are paying more so who cares that we spend a lot of money on players... We have shown perseverance in the face of failure and continued to try and get the right players... Big deal?

I remember there was a little story a couple days ago that we were talking to the White Sox about Buerhle--- news???

i guess we should all get down on our knees and thank god for jose lima.

no, because it means we have more resources at our disposal, IF SPENT WISELY, that should make us more successful.

Does it really even matter how many playoff wins we have.... All that matters is how deep you go, and a win or two doesnt mean jack...

You certainly have to agree with the comments and concerns about Furcal. If his ankle is troubling him, as is being reported, he should be DL'd to get a full recovery, because we need Raffy in his 100% form.

I was at the Pirates/Dodgers game on June 3rd, and if I remember correctly, Furcal rolled up his ankle again.

"...with an interesting piece of news coming shortly. Hate to leave you hanging like that, but stay tuned."

Now that's just wrong Josh.

I know - They're dropping the price for parking back down to $10. Hahahahaha! Ya right.

Ok but who is to say what is WISE?? you?? The Dodgers are doing what they think is wise, just bc you dont agree is something else entirely. All im saying is that you bring up payroll like its means something, or it should somehow equate to winning, but it doesnt and it never has...

ewk there is tons of perspective here. but for the most part if you want some perspective on why ned signed pierre you might be able to find a few left over here. i think people are giving the negativity thing a little to much light. i think some accountability would work wondrs for the so called negativity you cite here.

Id like Jose Lima's wife to drop down on her knees.

scurtis this is a baseball blog but im a girl and dont appreciate that nonsense.

Payroll is used because it shapes the choices on the roster.

Our GM spent 31 million in this years payroll on Hendu, Tomko, Wolf and Schmidt. All ERA's over 5.00

He spent 22 million on slap hitters (furcal and Pierre)

He spend 26 million on 3-4-5 hitters with avg ages over 36.

And here we are again "hoping" to make the playoffs. If we spent money right we should be blowing the division away. That's all I am saying our GM has created a crappy team and we cant use money or lack of as an excuse like the Pirates can.

Thank god for the kids to hide mistakes our management have made. Thank god for penny/lowe and saito or we would be in last place.

Geez, this is 2007 hun. You should be used to that by now. But I apologize if that offended you cienne!

Now back to the big blue. Penny should dominate tonight. I just tossed down $128 on the moneyline.

I look for us to take 3 out of 4.

Since you bring up accountability-- who is accountable for getting us to the playoffs last year and for turning us around by 17 games? Who is accountable for us being contention for the best record in the NL?

If you want some perspective on the Pierre signing there will be none found here, bc all everyone talks about is his crappy low obp and hardly anything else. There is zero perspective on this blog, and no one even said anything about negativity...

Since you crave accountability, when was the last time you admitted something you said was really stupid or just flat out wrong? I know you bash the lineup and Grady like EVERY DAY....

By the way. If the Dodgers go back to Tampa for interleague play or if you are staying in Tampa I highly recommend going to the Whiskey club and hitting Channelside by the hockey arena.

HOW CAN YOU CALL THIS TEAM CRAPPY?>??? YOU ARE CRAZY..

The only reason we are 'hoping' to make the playoffs, which we arent even doing yet, becaus the season isnt half over yet!!! is bc we are in the best division in baseball...

And just to be fair, he is spending like 23 million on Schmidt and Wolf, and 8 on hendy and Tomko or so, but nice job trying to spin numbers... Also, Wolf has pitched well for us and im sorry, BUT YOU CANT BLAME COLLETTI FOR INJURY

perhaps nomah is taking grounders at third...

ahh the 2007 argument. i didnt know girls had to get used to being told to get down. that might be some 2007 internet blog thing but i last i checked we have a female running for president this year. guess its time to get used to it.????????

Not all of those contracts were signed this year.. some of those players were still under contract from last year.

Hendrickson and Wolf do not have ERA over 5... and Wolf does have 8 wins.. he has had a few bad starts lately but he's still a decent 4-5 starter...

Pierre may be overpaid but he is one of the top steals guys in the league.. With him and Furcal we have two guys that can swipe bases at will and create some excitement at the top of the order...

I don't think anyone could have predicted Schmidt's collapse..

With the guys who were available this offseason, how would you have better used our money?

Penny & Lowe combined have won 17 games.. the team has won many more than that so I wouldn't say they alone are keeping us out of last place.

The Dodgers are only 1 1/2 games behind Arizona, who has the best record in the N.L... I'd say its not as bleak as some would say.

Just see above Graffiti for the lack of perspective...

Because they are crappy. What are you watching? And I dare you not to call me a dodger fan.

The best division in basbeabll is in the AL. The NL west is the most competitive in the NL.

Of course I can blame Coletti on Schmidt. It's his job. Everyone knew Schmidt was an injury risk with declining velocity and age 35.

Schmidt 12.5 million

Wolf 8 million

Tomko 5 million

Henu 3 million

My bad: 28 million.

and not a very attractive woman or whatever it is that is running for President.

ugh is tomko realy getting paid 8 million?

ok scurtis, i'm not really appreciating your comments either.

Tomko and Lurch are stealing some cash I do believe.

its not that i crave it ewk. i guess i was just aiming at the blind love for the guy. you cant make chicken soup out of chicken **** ewk. this team has flaws and sometimes people address them. we get everyone would rather shut up and act like juan pierre is going for a no hitter or something, but some of us just arent into that. i dont care if juan pierre finishes with a 450 obp, it is still the worst signing of the entire offseason in pretty much every baseball writers book. if ned can be the hero for turning us around last year, cant ned also be the bad guy for sputtering our offense with a player we had no need for, that is blocking a player 3 times better than him? i think so. and yes payroll matters also. we could have got any number of guys to do what JP is doing for 4 years less.....so in other words yes ned can go from hero to zero pretty fast cant he. although i think he is actually half way between hero and zero, but he is tipping more to the zero side.

I think this is good news - thanks Josh. Especially since the news was indeed interesting, and not scary (of the "We traded the farm for Troy Glaus" variety) I'm glad they're trying this out - though, yeah, I too wonder how Nomar's arm is these days. Guess we'll find out! Anything that gets Loney more playing time makes me happy.

Now then, if the powers that be are reading this, can we also have Meloan, and when he's healthy, Tsao (and/or Houlton) replace Tomrickson in the bullpen?

I think we've probably gotten better stats from Wolf than most predicted going into the season.. and about what was expected of Hendrickson.

And for Schmidt.. at the time he was the best available pitcher on the market.. his exams didnt show the injury.. a disapointment yes.. but what would your option be?

Tough. I don't really care what you think dude.

This sounds like a great plan. Nomar and Abreu can split up duties at 3rd. Laroche can continue to take his time in AAA. Betemit becomes tradeable which I heard Steiner mention on Saturday that Coletti is getting a good number of calls about him. Package him up with Tomko/Hendrickson for some good prospects

8.7 million for 2 years. 4.1 million this season for Tomko. Has a 4.5 million dollar option with a 1 million dollar buyout for 2008.

Wolf has been lucky with the run support he has had this year because with that ERA of his, his record should actually be reversed.

I wouldn't mind them going after Dontrell next year. He is JP's best friend.

who cares? dontrelle is overrated. he's going to want a big fat contract. i don't think we should be giving out any more of those to anyone anytime soon.

Last time I looked LA shouldn't be worried about fat contracts. This is LA not Milwaukee or KC.

Im sure we will have some expiring contracts this season. I would rather see a big hitter come in though, rather then a pitcher.

Wolf's ERA is only 4.32.. again not terrible for a 4 or 5 starter in the league these days..

True about Wolf's era, but he has had some good run support, unlike D Lowe!

Actually that's not true at all Scurtis, every game Wolf has won this season he hasn't given up any more than 4 runs. And his record should actually be better than it is, two games he pitched gems he received zero run support in one game and the bullpen blew the other. So one could argue he should be 10-6, much like Lowe should be 11-3 and not 8-6.

scurtis with your dontrelle comments it shows you have not really been following baseball this year, on top of posting outlandish comments about jose lima's wife. DOO$h!!

scurtis with your dontrelle comments it shows you have not really been following baseball this year, on top of posting outlandish comments about jose lima's wife. DOO$h!!

The reason Arizona has the best record in the NL is probably because they have a young hungry team, and they got rid of the vets who cost a lot and weren't worth it. No disrespect to Gonzo because so far I was wrong about him and he's been pulling his weight. I only wish Ned, and Grady would take notice .

Wolf and Gonzo has proven to be good deals to this point in time.

Most fans and media members loved the Schmidt deal.

Most fans hated the Pierre deal.

I did not read nor have a seen one member of the media support the Pierre deal.

Pierre is a below average MLB player. His deal is and will continue to be a terrible deal.

The Dreifort deal was terrible, but at least he was nice enough to go on the DL so we could cash in his insurance policy.

Unfortunately Pierre plays everyday!

Good news about Nomar, Josh! That does show that he's willing to work to really help the team. Whether he'll be played at third or not is up in the air, of course, but he could help out a lot more at 3B right now than he does at 1B.

Easy Lebleu. It isn't worth it and it doesn't even need to be said.

NOW THERE'S GOOD NEWS! It's time to make "The Move"! I have all the respect in the world for Nomar and him moving over to third is in the best interest of this team! Cannot argue with this move at all and it's probably the best move this team could make. It will probably take a few days maybe a week to fully make the transition. Now the question becomes how often will he play third? But, it's definitely a step in the right direction for sure!

nomar is making the move..cool

we'll finally get some production at both corners

I was wrong about Wolf. I just though he had more bad starts then I realized.

Come on now, when Lima's name is mentioned, you just don't think about him pitching that one playoff game that we won in the last 19 years. His wife is very attractive and if you don't think of her when his name is mentioned, then you must switch hit or were raised in San Francisco.

great news, i hope it works out for us! nomar and loney in the lineup together is a good thing. i still think somethings up with wolf, as the starter for thurs. is still TBA.

Good move by Nomar. Id rather have him at 3rd and get hurt then have Loney on the bench. I dont want Nomar hurt, but Id rather have Loney playing everyday.

Bye Bye WILSON BETEMIT!

if anything it shows management will be going with the youth movement, i'm really glad they have an opened mind & aren't stubborn.

Im assuming that move will happen in a few days?

Grady totally reads the blog comments.

oh i'm sure he bases his decisions on the thoughts of no-names...still, i'm glad he made the switch

SCURTIS. It might be 2007, but most of us have a little bit of class. Thats more
than I can say about you. Keep your off-color comments to yourself, and grow up and respect other people.

GO BLUE

****, I apologize, but ****, relax and take a joke sometimes. I'd hate to have some of you people in a comedy crowd.

mm...yes...well this is not a comedy crowd and you should show a little more discretion and recognize the environment you are in...there may even be little kids on here

Rules in here:
1. Serious baseball talk only

2. No joking

3. No crying about the lineup

If we give up loney, broxton, kemp, or the bills and get, a albeit good, rent-a-player like Dunn or Taxeria (sp?)...I may go on suicide watch.
Maybe they'll wow us with a betemit, tompko, and hendrickson trade.

By the way, if any of you dodger fans root against Barry because he used roids, you are a hypocrite. I can take us rooting against him because he's a Giant. I have no problem with him juicing up. Everyone else did it, and I know that doesnt make it right, but he got paid and he's gonna break a record. I guarantee there are and were a lot of Dodger players on it too, including one who saved a ton of games. Heck, they need to get on it now, the way the power in this lineup is now!

It's interesting that Nomar would get a few days to work on it, when he played for the Cubs he jumped in there and did it on the fly, but I guess this is a different situation seeing as how its june, not august.

Good point SIMBA!