Comments on: Opening Day Roster Initial Prediction for 2010

By: Scoop

Scoop — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:44:43 +0000

“but can you honestly say those stats are unrealistic?”

Yes.

As I have stated, I want my #2 hitter to have great bat control, be able to hit behind the runner, bunt, run, and be able to drive a fastball to the gap, possibly scoring a runner from first. Take a look around the league at the prototypical #2 hitter – and it ain’t a guy 6’2″, 230 pounds, with 450′ power and a nickname like “The Bison”.

But, you guys have this thing figured out. The Dodgers win 100+ and cruise to the World Series.

By: Roger Dodger

Roger Dodger — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:21:43 +0000

Steeve 17 so you basically agree with my #2 hitter . . . Belly would do fine there. I want a runner on 2nd or 3rd with the 3/4/5 hitters coming up.

Dodgers win more games that way.

I do not want the end of the order with DeWitt, Belly, Ellis, & the pitcher. That could be 4 weak outs in a row.

QUESTION: are any of the games from the Far East that the Dodgers are playing going to be on TV ????

By: steevo17

steevo17 — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:30:12 +0000

I agree with you Brooklyn about the “everything 1st theory”…McCarver annoys me, but I have to agree completely there.

My thinking is the 2 most important areas in your lineup are the top and the middle.

The top of the lineup (first 2) has a responsibility to 1. Get on base, and 2. score as many runs as possible…1st inning preferable.

Furcal, when healthy, is one of the best leadoff hitters in the business…the definition of a sparkplug. I think Belliard is well suited to #2, he has good bat control and usually makes contact (average of only 62 K per year in career). Plus he has a little pop in his bat.

The middle has one…and only one task, in my opinion. DRIVE IN RUNS. Period.

With Kemp, Ethier, Manny & Loney as the 3/4/5/6 hitters in that order, there is one huge advantage…the lefty/righty combo. How are you going to use your bullpen in late inning situations to pitch to these 4 run producers in this order? Kemp and Ethier are peaking. Manny, and I appreciate his ability, is not peaking. Loney just consistently drives in runs.

Following up with Blake, Martin (who is more important to me defensively), DeWitt and whoever else bats 8th this year is all gravy to me.

And yes Scoop I’m an optimist…but can you honestly say those stats are unrealistic? I look forward to a huge year and the offense will be the catalyst to our success. Not overlooking the importance of pitching…just seeing, understanding and appreciating our strengths.

Keep up the great posts guys.

By: Brooklyn Dodger

Brooklyn Dodger — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:28:03 +0000

That’s what we need, a team that plays small ball with a stacked lineup. Kemp by the way, hits the ball to all fields and is perfectly capable of hitting behind the runner. If that’s what I want. But if I have the hitters, I would rather take my chances by having them swing the bat. Chances are a hitter like Kemp is not going to hit into too many double plays. And if Kemp makes out without advancing the runner, I’ll take my chances with Ethier and Manny following. And as I pointed out before, Kemp hitting in front of Ethier, Manny and Loney is likely to see an awful lot of fat pitches. Sorry, this is not a team that’s built of play for a run at a time. Occasionally, yes, as a rule, no.

Also, as the lineup turns over, how many times is Furcal going to lead off an inning? And how often will Furcal get good pitches to hit because he has Kemp behind him? Besides, the more chances Kemp gets to hit, the better I like it. And what’s so bad about having the pitcher sacrifice a runner to second or third and have him followed by Furcal and Kemp?

Small ball has its place, but not when you have the guns to create big innings.