Are Dodger Fans brain-dead? I mean, what is the deal? We lose a couple of games and it’s the end of the world and our players are bums. Wow! I have checked out other message boards (not just this one) and it seems that everyone thinks the season is over. This is baseball – anything can happen and usually does! Remember August 31, 2008? We were dead in the water, gone and buried – and look what happened! Therefore, I MUST address a few issues:
1. Russ Martin will probably be the All-Star Catcher. Yes, he’s off to a poor start, but he’ll be fine. Say what you want about him. I’ll take him over any catcher in baseball. Get back with me in a month or two.
2. It’s easy to second-guess. People who say “See, I told you so” have probably never ran anything!
3. Kemp was our most consistent hitter last year (for any player that was on the team all year. What I mean by that is that every month, he was the closest to his season average. Day-in-and-day-out, he was there most of the time. He hit 1st or 2nd more than half his at-bats, and still drove in 76 runs. He is currently hitting .400 with a .436 OB%. So far, he is the least of our problems. I see progress in his game and that is all I can ask. His defense has improved and his approach at the plate is better.
4. Cory Wade was overused? On what Planet? Not this one. Last year he pitched 55 games with 71 IP. For the past two years Cla Meridith has pitched that same amount of innings. No, there may be something wrong with Cory, or maybe yesterday was just “one of those games.” If you want to rag on a manager who “overused” his pitchers try the great Walter Alston. Now he would “pitch” them everyday if he could. As an example, one poster said Torre was a bad manager because he should have left Belisario in another inning yesterday, but then if he has an arm problem, another will blame it on Torre. Second guessing is wonderful, isn’t it? You can never be wrong!
5. Joe Torre a bad manager? I’m not even going to get into that. Opinions are like…. well you know, and everyone has one. It sure is easy to second-guess “after-the-fact.” Very subjective issue, but I have to look at his record in its totality.
6. You don’t make “knee-jerk” reactions in baseball unless you want to lose the confidence of your team! We have played 4 games – give it time. Rest Martin Friday and keep on keepin’ on.
7. Last year, Ryan Howard was hitting under .200 at the end of May with 77 strikeouts. The Phils just kept running him out there and it eventually worked. You know the rest. Please, calm down!
8. The reason we lost Thursday was failure to capitalize on opportunities to score. PERIOD! Russ Martin was the biggest culprit with 7 runners stranded. That’s easy to see. The season has barely started.
9. Kershaw pitched well – he just needs to harness his control better… and he will.
10. I still believe that Martin, Ethier, Kemp and Loney will have outstanding years. We could have 7 starters hit .300. That is certainly possible.
11. James McDonald gets his first start today. Let’s hope he can go 7!
12. Blake DeWitt at least looked sound, if not spectacular at SS yesterday!
13.Don’t Worry. Be Happy!
Thursday’s Boxscore
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| IBB: Ramirez, M (by Moreno, E), Furcal (by Meredith). HBP: Ethier (by Moreno, E). Pitches-strikes: Kershaw 105-65, Belisario 32-22, Ohman 10-8, Wade 13-8, Mota 0-0, Correia 98-59, Moreno, E 29-14, Meredith 19-9. Groundouts-flyouts: Kershaw 4-5, Belisario 1-1, Ohman 1-0, Wade 0-1, Mota 0-0, Correia 10-3, Moreno, E 1-1, Meredith 3-0. Batters faced: Kershaw 21, Belisario 8, Ohman 2, Wade 4, Mota 0, Correia 26, Moreno, E 6, Meredith 5. Inherited runners-scored: Mota 1-0. Umpires: HP: Andy Fletcher. 1B: Tim McClelland. 2B: Ted Barrett. 3B: Greg Gibson. Weather: 68 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 9 mph, L to R. April 9, 2009Box score official statistics approved by Major League Baseball Office of the Commissioner |
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Minor League Report
- The Great Lakes Loons won 14-3 - Kyle Russell and Tony Delmonico both made big splashes into A-Ball. Russell was 2-5 with a walk and 3 runs scored to go with a Triple and a 3-run Home Run! Delmonico was 3-4 with 3 runs scored and 3 RBI while also hitting two HR’s and a Triple. Matt Wallach played 1B and was 2-5 & Alfredo Silverio was 3-5 in his 2nd year at Great Lakes and Austin Gallagher was also 2-5. Jon Redding got the win. Boxscore
- The Inland Empire 66′ers lost 3-0 – Move along, nothing to see here, folks. Boxscore
- The Chattnooga Lookouts lost 5-4 in extra innings. Andrew Lambo was 2-6 in his debut. Boxscore
- The Albuquerque Isotopes won 14-8 in a slugfest. Hu was 3-5 and Repko hit a HR. Boxscore
Mark isn’t “second guessing” what makes sights like this interesting?If people didn’t 2nd guess or have an opinion then we might as all just read the newspaper!
Hey, If it floats your boat, do it. I am just giving my opinion, and I just believe that we have very little to base an opinion on at this time. Did Joe Torre suddenly change his managing style on September 1st, and then reverted back to his old style when we played the Phils in the playoffs?
You see, the players have to play – the manager has something to do with it, but a player can make a manager look really smart or really bad. I would prefer Ethier hitting ahead of Manny, but I really can’t argue with the logic and there is a HUGE (I MEAN HUGE) study that shows it doesn’t really matter where a player hits. Good players will hit good wherever they hit and average players will hit average wherever they hit. Now maybe in a small sampling the numbers will be skewed, but the rule usually applies.
Belisario was light out (I always liked that guy)
Someone may may say that Joe shoudld have left him in, but if he left him in and he got bombed, you might say that he left him in too long. A second-guesser is never wrong, and that irks me to no end.
Second-guessers just fool themselves, but if you like fooling yourself, by all means do it!
By the way, so far Belisario has been better than advertised and so far I was wrong. But that’s not second-guessing. I had an opinion which so far has been unfounded!
Write it down, this is the FIRST time I was wrong!
Ken Rosehthal reports this:
Concerns raised by insurance companies over Brandon Webb’s arm caused the Diamondbacks to withdraw their offer of a three-year, $54 million contract extension to the right-hander last June, according to major-league sources.
Webb passed a team physical, sources say, but insurance companies use a higher standard when assessing risk. Multiple companies raised concerns, creating a “red flag” for the Diamondbacks, sources say. The contract was contingent on the club securing an appropriate insurance policy for the pitcher.
Not good news for the D-Backs
I agree with Mark on this one. 4 away games to start the season doesn’t make the season. I don’t know what Torre was thinking yesterday, especially leading off DeWitt, but, he is the manager. Wade blew up or we win that one.
BTW, first time you were wrong? We can start the rebuttal for that argument with “Destiny’s Dodgers”.
I still say this offense will be fine. As for who hits where, the middle of this order looks good no matter how you stack it up. Manny 3rd or 4th, surrounded by Ethier, Kemp, Loney, throw darts at names and that lineup will score. Not sure about the pitching, but that has always been what the Dodgers do well. Who am I do believe that by years end, it will be any different?
Kershaw 105 pitches to get 15 outs is nuts. I didn’t see the game so I don’t know what happened but he either isn’t trusting his stuff, or he isn’t controlling it.
I wonder if the Dodgers used the same insurance company to assess Schmidt? Doubt it.
If Webb isn’t right, we just blew past the Dbacks. They won’t win the West without him.
Anybody seen Juan Pierre? Anybody out there want him?
This is pretty funny coming from you Mark, maybe you should reread a numerous of your posts. You are the one that labeled Ethier as “soft” based on his good batting average and yet as you described his inability to hit in the crucial situations. That description fits Kemp to a T, yet you think he is great apparently, I could cite many more examples of your second guessing and complaining, but what’s the point. People have opinions, that’s what it is all about, so stop with the “straw man” set-ups to your arguments, instead let others have some fun and give their opinions. How many seasons have I heard you proclaim that “this year, this is Destiny’s Dodgers”, where’s my calculator and a fresh set of batteries?
I didn’t understand where the rap on Kemp was coming from, so I looked up his stats.
Here are his three year splits:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?playerId=28476&type=batting3
And, considering he is only 24 years old, I still don’t know from where this critique comes. Haze, maybe you can explain why you have put the soft label on this kid.
These ARE Destiny’s Dodgers!
I label a guy “soft” when he Totally Disappears, which is what Ethier did in September of his first two seasons. Last year, he totally got that tag removed by being just “sick” in September (.480 or something).
Now, I will be the first to say that you can’t totally rely on stats. In fact, figures do lie, but a comparison of Kemp’s and Ethier’s stats reveals similar efficiencies.
Runners on Base – Kemp .310/Ethier .294
RISP – Kemp .288/Ethier .304
RISP/2 Out – Kemp .268/Ethier .250
RISP/Basaes Loaded – Kemp .161/Ethier .233
Now, you have to realize that this is a small sampling – for example, with the bases loaded Kemp is 6 for 31, and Ethier is 7 for 30, so their stats are pretty comparable and rither one could get a couple of hits can change the whole skew. Kemp was much better than Ethier in 2007, but in 2008, Ethier’s amazing September really shot him up.
Let’s also not forget that they both have about the same number of AB’s, but that Kemp is 3 years younger.
Mark
Great minor league analysis. Please keep adding the links on a daily basis. The minor league teams should do very well this year. They have some very good coaches. The brass did well signing all of those AAAA emergency players to Albuquerque and loading up the future Dodgers in AA and both A leagues. (Maybe so that they will overperform and be trade bait in July)
Expressio Unius Est Exclusion Alterius
This year Belisario should not go more than 2 innings or more than 1 inning on back to back days. He is too valuable to be used like Proctor especially considering his previous injury.
Martin should bat 8th like Beltre did several years ago until he stops flying open and trying to pull every pitch. I am ok if he grounds out to 2nd every at bat. It is when he and so many other Dodgers try to pull the outside pitch EVERY plate appearance the we all get upset. I am waiting for the time that Martin tries to pull a pitch that is meant for an intentional walk. Only Joe Ferguson can hit a home run when he is being intentionally walked. Martin should be told that his role is to set an example, start not kill rallys, and steal bases from the 8th spot in the order. Let Blake bat 7th and kill rallys. Martin obviously has some insecurity issues that subconsiously make him have to be the hero. Get over your childhood and be a man and do not NEED to pull the ball.
Wade’s fastball is really straight and slow as if he is still injured. He should be medically evaluated.
His 71 innings equate to 90 innings if you count the time that he was on the DL and that he was not called up until 4/24/08.
I am not second guessing. I have been saying these things for weeks.
Lets hope McDonald can go at least 5!!
If Torre does not have confidence in Troncoso then bring up one of the AAAA pitchers instead. If Troncoso is not the first reliever out of the bullpen tonight I will say what I really think about Torre.
It is early and I know we have some growning pains to go through at the begining of he season, but we should not be happy with losing in the fashion we did yesterday.
But to Mark’s point: I do agree it is not time to panic, Torre is still a good manager, & Martin is not suddenly terrible.
I will be happy if we just win the series. That is all that should matter. We let the Padre series slip away ..but we spilt. If we can get 2 of 3 in AZ we are back on track.
“don’t worry be happy”
Happy Good Friday all,
Peace!
Here’s the deal, Martin didn’t suddenly get terrible, it has been a steady decline since mid-season last year. In fact, I never said he was terrible, I said I am getting less impressed the more I see of him (those two things are miles apart).
I don’t think the sky is falling, I think and have stated that we have some major issues that are going to keep us from being good run producing team, too many spotty and streaky players in the lineup (won’t change until the whole line-up gets some more consistency).
Straw Man strategy is always a joke to me, I very undermining to a relevant and honest discussion, not to mention totally getting the discussion off track and wasting time making a poster basically refute the “straw man”, thus making posts redundant and boring. So let’s get a little reading comprehension going in here and quit doing the thing that I hate most about our politicians, which is totally mis-representing and restating what the original message is.
That’s all, behave and have a good Easter Weekend.
So you have no problem that Joe Torre is batting Russel Martin 5th? I mean is he a power hitter? IS he our only option in that spot? And let me also explain to you that last year this overated manager tried using Martin between 2-6, and he did not do well their. And last but not least Martin isnt doing good their now, so why does he keep using him in the 5th spot?
And you had no problem that Joe Torre is using Casey Blake Eighth? Eigth? Eighth? I mean this is one of our best power hitters. Why is he down their? If nothing else when you bat higher in the lineup you come up to at bat more times then compared to batting lower then!
ANd you had no problem that Joe Torre is batting Blake Dewitt leadoff? I mean do I have even have to explain why this one is stupid here?
And you had no problem that he is abusing COrey Wade? It’s so early in the year and he has used him 3 out of 4 times. That’s ok to you?
ALot of people are complaining cus Joe Torre is doing stupid thing after stupid thing after stupid thing just like he did last year!
Martin’s Career Batting Averages by position:
#1 – .219
#2 – .270
#3 – .285
#4 – .320
#5 – .293
#6 – .294
#7 – .293
#8 – .290
Judging by that, Martin should be hitting cleanup.
Aryan,
On Blake at #8 – someone has to hit there. I have no problem with it.
On DeWitt leading off – I think Torre didn’t want to alter his lineup AND wanted to get DeWitt as many at bats as possible. Just his opinion – I have no problem with it. DeWitt could just as easily gotten 3 hits and then Torre looks like a genius.
… oh, and on Wade:
Four other teams have used a pitcher 3 times. Cory Wade says he can pitch 5 times a week. Maybe he can, maybe he can’t! I doubt he will use him that much for a while.
See, there are just so many opinions as to how to use a player. Most of which are subjective. It’s not all black and white.
A required book for people who site statistics in their posts and for those who read posts that include statistics
http://www.amazon.com/How-Lie-Statistics-Darrell-Huff/dp/0393310728
DeWitt would have been inserted at the end of the line up by almost any other manager to keep the pressure off a part time player who is used to hitting every day.
I would agree that Belisario could easily be subjected to overuse–but we’re damn lucky to have him! Yesterday was the first day I’ve seen him pitch and I swear on all that’s holy, he’s got the meanest stuff I’ve ever seen when it comes to velocity, movement and command. All is pitches were between 90 and 97 with most being at the jupper end and they all moved more than the best splitters I’ve ever seen. And he could put each one in the proverbial dixie cup from 60’6″. He was just getting loose after 2 innings. Pitch him 3 more batters and we’ gert to the 8th and Mota, we’ve pushed him no further than we pushed the oft surgically repaired Kuo. And we win the game. I agree with Ken we shouldn’t risk injuring a golden arm like his, but he’da gotten the job done without working up the sweat m ost relievers get throwing their third pitch. He was that “light’s out” yesterday.
But if Torre is going to go to someone else in the 7th, why in the world do you choose the one guy who had no spring training at all and was signed at the very last second before the season started after sitting on his but all spring?
It’s that kind of move that Torre does often that puzzles me. He must be a good manager. Everybody says so and he gets paid the big bucks. But sometimes his management of the bullpen as well as the starting lineup reminds me more of Jim Tracy than Walter Alston.
What torques me off is that game yesterday is one that we should have won, and yet we found a way to lose it. Every season has games like that, but you can only give so many games away in a season and contwend.
Belisario should be closing.
Belisario looks like a different pitcher than the one I saw pitch a B-Squad game.
Ken Gurnick:
“Wade and Torre insisted there was no problem with his right shoulder.
“Just one of those days,” Wade said. “It happens. You don’t want it to happen, but it’s part of the game. It was just location. I was leaving pitches up. I felt OK. I was missing spots and you can’t make mistakes or they’ll get you.”
Said Torre: “He didn’t look as sharp as last night, but he said he felt fine. I don’t anticipate he can’t be used back-to-back as long as we don’t overdo it. He’ll be fine. It just wasn’t coming out as well as last night.”
Statistics don’t lie. But liars use statistics!
Mark you said:See, there are just so many opinions as to how to use a player. Most of which are subjective. It’s not all black and white.
So why refute or argue someone’s opinion on this board?
I am the one that made the correlation between Wade and Proctor…My opinion….what’s wrong with that? Why all of a sudden am I a 2nd guesser?
I’ve been a Dodger fan since 1959…don’t I have the right especially on a Dodger fan sight?
Now if some Angel fan or Giant fan wants to talk crap about the Dodger’s then those are fighting words. We are all Dodger fan’s and as fans we have the right to voice our opinions or 2nd guess..
Slo Dawg,
You absolutely have the right to your opinion, and I respect it. I may disagree (or not), but I just dislike 2nd guessing – the guy who says “He left him in there too long” or “he put the wrong guy in.”
Now, you may or may not be right about Proctor and Wade. I don’t have too much of an opinion as yet, but I may be presuaded.
Your opinion about Proctor and Wade is not second-guessing.
Ken is saying that figures don’t lie, but liars figure!
Stats can be used to prove about anything.
In baseball and other sports, stats matter, but they only tell part of the story. I am totally in agreement with that!
Put one foot in boiling water and the other in ice water and see if you are comfortable on average.
Averages are well, like…. nevermind.