03-13-08 - Ethier vs. Pierre - There is No RIGHT Answer!

Yesterdays game was a classic display of what is the difference between Andre Ethier and Juan Pierre.   Pierre walked 3 times and stole 2 bases, but only scored 1 run as nobody behind him drove him in, except for Ethier who hit to the right side to score Pierre once and then hit a solo HR in the 7th to break up the no-hitter.  Pierre leads the team in Stolen Bases but Ethier has a much higher OB% and leads the team in runs scored and home runs.  Thus, the dilemma - Pierre or Ethier?  I have been back and forth on this one - I can argue both sides, but I would lean towards a lineup like this:

1. SS - Furcal - B
2. C - Martin -R
3. RF - Kemp - R
4. 1B - Loney - L
5. CF - Jones -R
6. 2B - Kent - R
7. LF - Ethier - L
8. 3B - Nomar/DeWitt  R/L

In my mind, we gain more by having the 20 HR LH bat of Andre Ethier in LF and moving Martin to #2, than we do by having Pierre and Furcal #1 and #2.  I think we need the LH power and if DeWitt can play well the rest of the way, he will make the team, but he has to hit in order for that to happen.  This means that we have to trade Juan Pierre.  Juan is a good guy, a hustler and a hard worker - he deserves a starting job.  I wonder if the Reds or the White Sox or even Oakland would be interested?  It could be that we have to work with the Ethier/Pierre tandem until May or June when/if Jason Schmidt comes back and we could package him with Park or Loaiza to a team who needs another starter.  There’s a lot to be decided.

The buzz around Dodger Camp is that Tony Abreu’s toughness is being quietly questioned, especially in light of the fact he has left camp to be examined by a doctor.  Kevin Baxter of the LA TIMES has a piece about it today in which Jeff Kent is quoted as saying:  “Abreu seems to be more hurt than I am. I’ve never seen this before.   He’s missing a grand opportunity to show his wares.”

Tony Jackson of THE DAILY NEWS writes:  “Before leaving for China, Dodgers manager Joe Torre talked ad nauseum this spring about the need for the club to force the action, taking chances on the basepaths and manufacturing runs.”  which would appear to be an endorsement of Juan Pierre, but can you keep your heading HR hitter on the bench?

Jamie Hoffman hit a nice HR yesterday which was the Dodgers only other hit.  He’ll probably start this season in Jacksonville.

I have a better arm than Gary Barnett and I can’t break a pane of glass!  After each pitch, Barnett throws a “rainbow lollipop” back to the pitcher, which the pitcher has to wait on forever to get back and it’s apt to be anywhere - no accuracy.  If I had a catcher do that to that to me, I’d quietly explain that I would hit him in the mouth the next time he did that!  That is annoying!  What’s up with that?  Is his arm that weak or is he just sloppy?   Whatever the case, he couldn’t play for me.  If you can’t tell, a catcher who doesn’t make a crisp throw back to the pitcher is my pet peeve - it drives me crazy (maybe it’s not a “drive” - just a short putt).

Tommy Lasorda in his blog on his return to managing.

Here’s my opinion of what the roster looks like right now:

Other Notes:

“Bump” Holman, son of Bud Holman (in the yellow shirt on the right) was honored before the game yesterday.  He used to fly the Dodger plan and of course “Holman Stadium” was named after him. 

Here’s how the locals feel about the Dodgers leaving:

Sorry, but Mr. O’Malley isn’t saving you anytime soon…

Last night, I met up with a couple of long-time Dodger fans from NY and we had dinner at Bobby’s (the steaks were great!) and had a couple of drinks at the Ocean Grill.  I recommend both places.

Today, I go to Osceola County Stadium to see the Dodgers play the Astros.  Kuroda and Keshaw are set to pitch.  I hope I have a good seat - yesterday I sat in the front row, just to the 1B side behind the plate.  I got my Dodger Media Guide yesterday - WOW!  what a book!  More photos to follow.  By the way, you can click on all the photos to enlarge them.