The Dodgers have some speed to burn this year.  Kemp is 20 pounds lighter and can really fly (now if he could just really “see”), Pierre of course, Furcal is at 100% and Russell (My Favorite) Martin.  Of course, you can also run yourself out of innings.  If all 4 of the abovementioned players play regularly, they will steal a combined 150 bases!  Yesterday, however was not a testament to their baserunning prowess.  According to Diamond Leung, Joe Torre and Larry Bowa had somewhat different reactions to the Dodgers four baserunning errors yesterday. 

“We have to find a way to manufacture runs,” said Joe Torre, who spoke calmly with Kemp after the gaffe. “The way to do that is by running aggressively.”

“If this happens after the 10th game, the meetings won’t be calm and cool,” third base coach Larry Bowa said.

“If this happens about three or four times, we’ll have a meeting. It’ll be a one-way meeting.”

Ken Gurnick had this quote by Bowa:

“Right now, there’s uncontrolled aggressiveness,” said third-base coach Larry Bowa. “I like to give them 10 games. If it doesn’t improve after that, the meetings won’t be as calm or cool. Coming in, we knew it was an area we needed to work on.”

If I catch their drift, expect the Dodgers to run a lot this year, but they had better pay attention as Bowa is going to get in their grills if they don’t.  OK, it’s spring training, we’d better not see this in the regular season!  I can tell you what I learned:  Kemp has to hit BEFORE Loney!  Loney will slow him down way too much.  I still like the lineup better with Kemp at #4 and Loney at #4.    Kemp is earning that spot back.

BTW, Bowa says he’s not wearing a helmet and as hard-headed as he is I can see why!

Gurnick also reported that Bowa said he’s been impressed with the play at second base of Delwyn Young, who is working again in the infield after being moved to the outfield two years ago. Young is out of options, and the club likes his bat so much, it seems intent on making him too useful to lose.

“Everybody says he can’t play there, but I like the way he approaches the game,” Bowa said.

I am on record as calling Young a “butcher” at 2B - maybe Larry can work a miracle…

Wouldn’t it be a great story if John Lindsay made the team?  It’s highly unlikely, especially with Mark Sweeney blocking him, but he has shown an uncanny knack of getting the big hit early here in Spring Training.

11 More Days Until I Get To Vero And Get This All Straightened Out With Joe and Ned!  They’ll come around to my way of thinking.

Diamond Leung posted this as the Dodgers Starting Lineup today:

1. Rafael FurcalSS
2. Andre Ethier, LF
3. Matt Kemp, RF
4. James Loney, 1B
5. Andy LaRoche
6. 3B Jason Repko, CF
7. Gary Bennett, C
8. Ramon Martinez, 2B
9. Hiroki Kuroda, P

He also had some commentary about the players, including the fact that Bowa really likes Repko.

Diamond Leung also wrote this interesting article on the Dodgers baserunning errors.

BTW, the photo is of two great catchers - Martin for his prowess at catching baseballs and Tommy for catching Linguini!

Go figure - many fans are up in arms that Juan Pierre was leading off and groaning “here we go again.”  The reality of the situation may be that Ned and Joe are “showcasing” him to teams that need a leadoff hitter.  I’ll leave the rest up to you to figure out!

The “over-the-top” delivery, the movement on the pitches, the way the ball simply “explodes” as it approaches the plate and even the way he moves, almost fluidly.  While he doesn’t have quite the bend in his right knee as Koufax did, the resemblence is obvious.  All of that leads me to comparisons with Sandy Koufax when I watch Clayton Kershaw.  Of course, Sandy Koufax had no where near this good of control when he was just 19 or 20!   Not that Kershaw is a control freak - he walks more than his share, but he has a good idea of where his pitches are going.  At that age, Koufax had no clue.  Clayton Kershaw is a freak and I believe there is a very good chance he will be in the rotation by Summer!  According to Ken Gurnick of Dodgers.com, “The most impressive of all the pitchers at Holman Stadium on Wednesday was 19-year-old left-hander Clayton Kershaw, who struck out two in one dazzling inning.”   I am not surprised - I have seen Clayton Kershaw and he is special!  There was no need to trade for Johann Santana when we may already have him (or better).  I am so glad that deal didn’t go down.

 “When people ask what it is about him that makes him special, all you can say is, ‘Wait ’till you see him,’” said pitching coach Rick Honeycutt. “It’s an explosion coming out of that arm. Some guys just set themselves apart. Some people are from this planet, and some are from another planet.”

Watch this guy.  It’s going to be a lot of fun seeing him become major league ready.  He’ll be our Ace as soon as nexy year!  Torre, Colletti and White have all said they won’t hesitate to call upon him.  He’ll start at AA (possibly AAA, but I doubt it) and move quickly to AAA if he can repeat last season’s success.  Being in major league camp this year will only accelerate his maturity.   Enjoy this “once-in-a-lifetime” player - they only come along “once-in-a-lifetime” … Twice if you are lucky - I have seen Koufax and now it’s Kershaw!

Joe Torre’s Lineup Today Against the Braves:

1. Pierre, LF
2. Furcal, SS
3. Martin, C
4. Kent, 2B
5. Jones, CF
6. Loney, 1B
7. Nomar, 3B
8. Kemp, RF
9. J. Johnson, P

It’s obvious that Joe ignores my advice as to the batting order.  (Wink!)

Dodger Notes:

1. Set your TIVO’s to record the Game verses the Braves on ESPN HD Friday.
2. While I think Chad Billingsley is a very good pitcher, I am somewhat concerned about injuries with him, due to his body type and sheer mass.  It may not bode well for hos career.
3. Everyone thinks Nomar has the inside track at 3B.  It could be and if he wins it, it simply means that we will be stronger.  Just don’t count out Andy LaRovche yet.  Whichever player has the best spring should get the job.
4. Derek Lowe thinks Brad Penny should be the opening day starter - he will!
5. Juan Piwerre is hitting leadoff today.  I can see merits to having him hit #1 and Furcal #2.  I can also see merits to having Furcal #1, Martin #2 and Either hitting #6 or #7 instead of Juan Pierre - There is no RIGHT answer!
6. TONY JACKSON ON JASON SCHMIDT AND 3B
7. Dylan Hernandez of the Times discuss 5 Questions we all want answers for.
8. Eric Karabel of ESPN.com give his Fantasy take on the Dodgers, for what it’s worth.

PLAY BALL - 10 AM LEFT COAST TIME or  1 PM RIGHT COAST TIME

How many reasons do you want?  I’ll give you three, but #3 is the key! 

1. Juan Pierre has a weak arm;
2. Juan Pierre has no power; and
3. Andre Ethier has 30 HR Potential.

It really breaks down like this:  We have one LH power bat in our lineup (Loney) and we need better balance.  Andre Ethier has 25-30 HR potential and can hit close to .300.  He has a better eye than Pierre and better OB% to go with the fact that he has a much better arm.  With an outfield of Kemp, Jones and Ethier runners will not be taking many liberties.   Andre is also 5 years younger and makes less.  We can afford to dump Pierre’s contract and we will.  Andre Ethier has to stay.   Pierre fans - Now Hear This - Your Boy is About to be Traded!  We could wait until mid-season, but that could create a bad situation.  I look for a trade to come WHAM! out of nowhere about March 26th! 

There you have it!

Required Reading for Today (There will be a Test)

Tony Jackson of The Daily News writes:

The Dodgers’ most compelling drama of this spring training - and possibly of the season to follow - featured a thunderous opening act Tuesday.

In the top of the fifth inning of the team’s second intrasquad game, Matt Kemp stepped into the batter’s box against James McDonald and swatted a ball far over the center-field wall. It landed at the top of a grass embankment fronting the Dodgers’ executive offices and rolled back down to the base of the fence.

In the bottom of the inning, Andre Ethier slammed a pitch from Cory Wade even farther, off the second-floor balcony of those offices beyond right-center field.

With that, the two players who are expected to fight each other all season for playing time in right field landed their first punches. But, as Ethier so eloquently put it afterward, “I could care less. It’s practice.”

Personally, I think Tony has it wrong.  Kemp has RF - Period.  Ethier needs to win the LF job.

Josh Rawitch has been promoted to vice president for public relations and broadcasting.  It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy!

Seanez & Schmidt Update

Diamond Leung in the PE on McDonald & Kershaw

Diamond Leung on Repko, Kuo, Abreu

Laurel Scheffel from the TC Palm on Juan Pierre adjusting to LF

Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times on Penny’s Tale of Two Seasons - He also says that Schmidt’s arm is “tired”, not sore, which is to be expected.  Ken Gurnick of Dodgers.com has more…

Ken Gurnick of Dodgers.com on the Outfield Abundance.  I smell a trade!