Don’t Think Outside The Box - Forget There Is A Box!
You can’t accuse me of thinking outside the box on this one. I am so far from the box, you can’t even see a box! First of all, let me say that Gary Bennett sucks. I noticed it in Spring Training when he was lobbing “lollipops” back to the pitcher, moonballs that came down wet! It took forever for a throw back to the pitcher to come done, which in my opinion really disrupts the pitcher. Well, last night he did the same thing all game and then throws a lob about 20 feet over Loney’s head on Aybar who had just been struck out by Kuroda, which cost us the run! Why does he do that? He can really fire the ball - he has a good arm. Why? Anyway, I disgress. I don’t like Bennett. Period! Yes, I know he hit a 3-run HR - his 15 seconds… I want Lucas May!
Yeah I know he’s green and this is only his 2nd full year as a catcher, but he’s an athlete, just like Martin. He played SS 3 years in the minors, 2 years in the OF and now is a cather. He is tearing up the Southern League - OPS’ing over 1.00 and I think he needs a shot! It’s like when my oldest son wa about 13 and we started playing ping-pong. I used to beat him badly and my wife used to say “Just let him win once in a while.” But, I’d pour it on and pretty soon he could hold his own. He rose to the level of his competition and now we are both extremely good ping-pong players. The point is, if a young guy has the talent and character he will adjust his game to whatever level he is playing. Case-in-point: Blake “Rake’ DeWitt!
Here’s the thing that is WAY out of the box (well there are LOTS of things):
- Trade Jeff Kent, Juan Pierre, Derek Lowe, Nomar, and Raffy Furcal (prospects are as important as anything) for prospects and a starter;
- Move Russ Martin to 2B (what? Does anyone think he can’t excell at that position?);
- Call up LaRoche and May;
- Play Martin at 2B - He might steal 30 if we save his legs and he’d have a .400 OB% - Think about it!
- Run with this lineup:
- Martin 2B
- Ethier LF
- Kemp RF
- Loney 1B
- Jones CF
- LaRoche/DeWitt (Platoon) 3B
- May C
- Hu SS
DeWitt is hitting .320, why would you want to platoon him?
That is just ridiculous. We have an all star catcher, arguably one of the best currently playing baseball, and you want to play him at second base. I am a huge Russell Martin fan. As a matter of fact he is my favorite current Dodger and has been since shortly after he came up, but he is not a lead off hitter. We have two other players capable of filling that role much better than Martin, and you want to trade them both away. I’m sorry Mark I’m not with you on this one. I agree with trying to obtain young prospects, but at the same time you need veteran players on the team. You need guys that have been to at least the playoffs before if not the series. And Hu is just not capable of filling the role of SS. His defense is so so, but his bat is weak. Blake DeWitt is well on his way to becoming ROY and you want to platoon him? It just doesn’t make sense, let alone win ball games. We need some good starting pitchers, not another catcher and third baseman.
I do agree with you on Bennett though. I hate the way he returns the ball to the pitcher. And what is up with that pink bat he trys to hit with? Didn’t anyone tell him that the Dodgers color is blue?
Robert,
I try and seek out ideas that can improve the team. You don’t have to apologize to me. When I have an idea, it doesn’t mean that I want to do that. It is just presented as an option. “Brainstorming” is what it’s called. Pile on!
I didn’t have my blog then, but when Russ Martin was in AA ball the first year (long before he came to the majors), I posted that he would be everything that he is and he is my favorite player too. Maybe Badger or Lawdog will back me up on that since they were there then.
I am telling you that Lucas May is going to be a very good catcher as well. I am not sure May can play elsewhere, but Russ sure can. May also has 30 HR power! Can you imagine what an advantage we would have if we didn’t have to carry 2 Catchers? Russ could catch 40-50 games a year, while being the starting 2B as well. People forget how hard catching is on the body and Russ could be a guy who accumulates 3,000 hits if he didn’t have to catch everyday. His bat is that good!
Blake DeWitt has been awesome - I hope he keeps it up, bit I am not convinced he will. Andy LaRoche is a guy I have been saying for years is a 30 HR guy, so at some point he has to play.
Where?
When?
MM, please fed-ex me whatever you are smoking.
My first reaction, was just like Mario, “why would you platoon one of our best hitters on the team (MM, are you really Joe Torre, since you also are platooning Ethier in and out of the lineup). Also laughed at Martin as lead-off and 2B (Biggio he is not, so don’t try and put that square peg in that round hole).
Don’t panic anyone, MM comes up with many scenarios, some right on, some left on. At least he is trying.
MM is correct, he did have wood for Martin for a few years now and his wood has been proven true. However, he has been pronouncing each year that the team is “Destiny’s Dodgers” and as of yet, well you know the rest.
Two run homer by Blake DeWitt and another RBI for Ethier. And now Martin. All we need is a solid starting pitcher. Ditch Lowe and Nomar or, and I know I’m going to get flak for this, but LaRoche,for a solid veteran starter and for goodness sakes get rid of Honeycut.
I’m OK with that - no flak - LaRoche should get us that.
It’s hard to argue with DeWitt’s success!
Mark - you are an idea guy. I too like Lucas May but think he will go in a trade. Russell is our catcher. Second base would be more difficult for him because of turning the double play. I know he is athletic, is my favorite Dodger too, but if he isn’t catching, third base with mostly straight on throws to first is in my opinion more appropriate. Now having said that, Jeff Kent has made a career at 2B and is not as athletic as Russell and certainly didn’t have the range Russell would.
Blake Dewitt - this is a great story. Who knows how it will end. Maybe the pitchers will catch up to him. Maybe he is truly a legitimate first round pick. Right now, enjoy the moment. The job is Blake’s until he loses it. His power is emerging and he plays as if it is the same game he played in the minors. He might be a better choice for 2B than Russell but would probably be a Jeff Kent kind of defender. All Andy can do is play well and hope to get the bigs as a Dodger or on another team.
The Bellhorn acquisition is interesting. I guess you can never have too many catchers. However, it makes you wonder if something is up with Lucas May.
Martin @ 2nd? How much did you have to drink last night. I would like to see LaRoche get some looks at 2nd in Vegas. I believe he used to be a SS. Either way, does anyone know how we get pitching this year? Who would bring the most pitching?
I just had a flashback to Grady Little as our manager. I know for a fact that he would sit DeWitt down every few days “to give him a rest”. Ah Grady, sit the hot guys and play the cold guys, you got to love it.
I didn’t check, but is DeWitt our leading HR hitter?
Back from Monument Valley and Arches. Beautiful this time of year.
Interesting talks going on here.
Yep, mover has always been on the Martin wagon, and sitting right next to Russell is Adrian Beltre. So, at least half the time he has been right. The other 2/3 of the time he is throwing up spit balls just to see if they will stick. Sometimes I think he just busting our balls on this stuff. If you think he’s nuts, just tell him so, he has heard it before and has thick skin.
Looks like Romo and I think alike on several subjects. I like this guy.
I just don’t see how we can have DeWitt, LaRoche, Hu, Nomar, Furcal and Kent on the same team. Sumbuddy got to go.
It’s me. I have been sittin’ in the car all day and I gotta see a man about a horse.
Anybody see that home run Dunn hit last night?
Looking at the box from the Dodger Angel game, without looking at the score first, I would have said we lost. Park and Kuo each with 4 IP and the team with only 8 hits, 2 for extra bases, against a team with a better record than ours - we must have done it with mirrors.
Pierre with no hits, no walks, but a stolen base and 2 runs scored.
I keep waiting for ML pitchers to find the hole in DeWitt’s swing and so far, there hasn’t been one. Go Blake. If he is the real deal, that makes LaRoche expendable.
I doubt we can trade Furcal. Not without an extension. Whoever he goes to will only have him for half a year. Kent and Nomar aren’t worth as much as they are being paid. We have a few of those - always have.
If May is as good as Mover thinks he is, then moving Martin to 2b isn’t as bad an idea as one would initially think. I am not saying that is what we should do, especially now with Bennett as our only back-up, but if May can hit, we just might be better offensively. Not sure about the defensive ramifications, would need more info on that. But I too think Martin could play there. Worked just fine for Biggio’s career.