It Is What It Is!
… and it is bad!
C-Bill has struggled mightly this Spring and is now struggling at the start of the season. Ken Gurnick writes that Torre blames it on the missed start and the way Chad has been moved around, but the fact is, it is what it is: C-Bill is pitching as bad as he possibly can right now. Just like in Spring Training, he’s giving up a lot of gopher balls and that simply won’t work! “I had nothing,” Billingsley said. It is what it is. How does he fix it? Kuo is quietly moving back into consideration for a rotation spot with last night’s performance as he pitched 3-2/3 scoreless innings! It is what it is! Out #3 and #5 pitchers are not pitching well. Now in all fairness, Loaiza looked pretty good after his 1st inning debable and was evidently a little miffed that Torre took him out for a pinch hitter. It is what it is - he’d better pitch well in his next start or you could see Kuo take his spot.
Then again, maybe the Dodgers want Loaiza to pitch (and do well) the same as they would like to “showcase” Pierre, so that they can be traded. Loaiza may need showcased, but with Pierre, I doubt that it is necessary. He’s 30, hits .300, steals 60 bases and is one of the Top 10 Bunters of all time (OK, so he has a horrid bunting % - he just does it more than anyone else!). It is what it is! Somebody needs a #5 starter and someone needs a leadoff hitter who is what he is.
Joe Torre said it: “It was just a horrible night basically when we need to establish what our strength is. It’s one we need to get out of our system quick” - Ken Gurnick OK, Joe. Show us your stuff. This is why Frank and Ned hired you.
Jones continues to struggle mightly and I think he needs to sit for a game or two. I look at him and I don’t think he’s THAT fat! Play Pierre there for a while or play Young in LF, Kemp in CF and Ethier in RF. Make AJ mad! Who cares? It is what it is! Kemp responded to his benching by going 3-5 with a double and a triple. If you don’t like sitting, then do something! It is what it is! I have a sign on my office door that says “This is no whining zone!” It is what it is!
The sky is not falling - we are 4-4, back were we started. We have the talent. Do we have the character. How you respond to adversity reveals your character and your character in turn will dictate your destiny! It is what it is!
DODGER NEWS:
Here’s a bunch of news from Dylan Hernandez of the LA TIMES:
Nomar Garciaparra took batting practice for the second day in a row and Torre said he could be on a rehabilitation assignment when the Dodgers begin their three-game series at Dodger Stadium against the San Diego Padres on Friday.Because Torre wants Garciaparra to face relatively polished pitching, he said the third baseman probably would be sent to triple-A Las Vegas, which will be in Sacramento on Friday. How long the assignment lasts, Torre said, would be left up to Garciaparra. Torre pointed to how second baseman Jeff Kent, who was sidelined for more than three weeks during spring training because of a hamstring injury, got himself ready for opening day by playing in the last three games of the exhibition season.
Garciaparra said that he still felt pain in his right wrist, which has a microfracture.
Third baseman Andy LaRoche, not yet a month removed from thumb surgery, has started hitting off a tee. LaRoche said that he could hit light toss today. . . . Esteban Loaiza, who gave up four runs in four innings of Monday’s loss to Arizona, will remain the fifth starter, Torre said. . . . Right-hander Eric Hull, who was designated for assignment by the Dodgers last week to clear room on the 40-man roster, was traded to the Boston Red Sox for infield prospect Christian Lara and cash considerations. Lara was sent to class-A Inland Empire. . . . Minor league outfielder Nook Logan, who was among the players named in the Mitchell Report, was released by the Dodgers. Also released were outfielder Wilkin Ruan and pitchers Brian Shackelford and Alfredo Simon.
Tony Jackson wrote this:
I talked to DeJon Watson, who lives here in PHX and was at the ballpark. He said Yhency Brazoban has already lost between five and 10 pounds and that his fastball is routinely hitting the 89-93 mph range. He also said Brazo has had a good attitude despite being sent to Double-A Jacksonville to start the season when he came to camp believing he would be in the majors.
“He hasn’t pitched in about a year, so he is just really getting his overall strength back,” Watson said. “He has had no setbacks whatsoever, and he has been diligent about getting to the ballpark early and getting his work in. He hasn’t slacked off at all.”
MINOR LEAGUE REPORT:
LAS VEGAS won 6-5.
Highlights:
- Even though he gave up 4 runs in 5 innings, Miguel Pinango struck out 10!
- Terry Tiffee was 3-3 with a HR and is now hitting .560
- Mike Myers got his 1st save and after a rough first outing, now has a 1.93 ERA
- BOXSCORE
The Jacksonville Suns did not play.
The Inland Empire 66′ers won 3-1.
Highlights:
- Eduardo Perez was 2-4
- Cody White pitched 6 innings, giving up 1 run and striking out 9
- BOXSCORE
The Great Lakes Loons won 5-1
Highlights:
- Andrew Lambo was 3-3 and is hitting .417 - WOW! This kid is just 19!
- Justin Miller pitched 5 inings and allowed just 1 unearned run
- Robert Blevins pitched 4 innings, allowing just 1 hit and had 4 K’s in getting the save
- BOXSCORE
