Jason Schmidt leaving town - www.LaDodgerTalk.com - 2009
After last night’s debacle of the pen, the Yankees led by a walk off home run by A-Rod, claimed the best record in baseball from Joe Torre and the Dodgers. That says it all.
I felt early in the game that Billingsley was still favoring his hamstring and did not have his normal “follow-through” during his pitching motion. When Chad came out of the last game, it was incorrectly assumed by those who want to demonize Billingsley that he hadn’t taken in enough fluids. You know what happens when you assume. There are 4 or 5 things that can cause hamstring pulls, which include lack of hydration, mineral imbalances, improper biomechanics, poor diet and repetative stress. To assume it was hydration, well the first 3 letters of the word “assume” tell the story. I look for Billingsley to go on the DL for 15 days, complicating our pitching situation, but problems are sometimes opportunities in drag, and who knows who might step up.
Of greater concern to me is our closer, or lack thereof. Maybe you know why the Dodgers acquired Sherrill now. Chew on this for a while: In the modern game, the closer has become a key component of a championship team. He’s the guy who NEVER gives the lead back. He closes (SLAMS) the door on the competition. In his 14 years in the league, Mariano Rivera has been the epitome of that guy – 513 saves verses 27 blown saves. As belittled as Brad Lidge has been, in his 7 years in the league, he has 185 saves and 33 blown saves, but what is most important is that he had 41 saves verses ZERO blown saves for the Phillie’s last year in their Championship run. Closers make a huge difference.
Which brings me to to Jon Broxton. In his 4 years in the league, he has 43 saves and has blown 23 saves, including his 4th blown save of the year. THINK ABOUT IT – In his career, Broxton blows a save for about every 2 saves he gets. That is totally unacceptable, and something that will lead to an early demise in the playoffs if it continues, which is why we may see more of Sherrill in that role. Those 4 games that Broxton has blown are 4 games where were were ahead, had taken the lead and had defeat snatched from the jaws of victory. It’s demoralizing, is what it is!
- I failed to see the logic of bringing in Kuo when Bills left the game. James McDonald would have been a much better choice, if only for the reason that Kuo shouldn’t pitch in back-to-back games.
- Yes, Kuo gave up 2 runs and Tronscoso and Elbert got torched, but make no mistake – Jon Broxton blew this game for us. Yes, a fan ran onto the field and may have distracted him. Maybe the fan distracted the hitters too. NO EXCUSES! A closer has to be tough and Broxton ain’t! Bills and Broxton both have to get tougher if we are to win this thing. We need them both to step it up in the clutch. Change your thinking, change your life. Andre did!
- Have we seen the last of Jason Schmidt? It seems like he may have had enough. He can=me back. He gave it his best. Now he rides off into the sunset. His locker was cleaned out, indicating that he wants to quit or was forced out by the Dodgers.
- Casey Blake continues to roll.. Mighty Casey stuck to the script, Broxton blew his lines!
- I think James Loney should sit today and let Abreu play 3B with Blake going to 1B, even though there is a RH going today. James is pressing.
- The pen needs a long outing by Clayton today. Our ace needs to step up.
- Don’t look now, but Martin is up to .271!
- Charlie Haeger left the ALBQ game after 4 excellent innings… what do you make of that?
- First-round pick Aaron Miller allowed three hits and struck out six over five innings Friday as the Great Lakes Loons blanked West Michigan, 3-0. The 36th overall selection in this year’s Draft is 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA in two Midwest League starts.
- Kyle Russell has 24 HR at Great Lakes but also has 143 K’s, which means he strikes out once every 2.7 AB’s!
- Elbert can probably still start Sunday if Joe wants because he only threw 13 pitches in the game. It’s like a bullpen session, but who knows? Stults or Haegar or Weaver may get the call…
P.S. I predicted the Tony Abreu callup two days before it happened. Get it here first, Folks. Extra, Extra, Read all abaout it! We make up the news before it happens!
REMINDER:
This website is for died-in-the-wool Dodger fans who realize that while statistics are important, they are just another tool and know that humans, not numbers, play the game of baseball. To that end, we do not live and die by sabermetrics or statistical analysis.
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I confess – I posted a couple of times under the name Orel Sax. Anyone want that name?
SUSPECTS! However, the Dodgers Organization is not nearly as bereft of prospects as some think. We don’t have a bunch that are major-league ready, but DeJesus, Lindblom, Elbert, Haeger, Schlichting and Leach are all close to ready and while I don’t see any as “superstars” I believe that some of them will be very good players. However, we are in a position where we don’t need a bunch of young players RIGHT NOW.
If you have a home which is worth $400,000 or $400,000,000 and you are served divorce papers by your spouse, what do you do? It’s obvious that a great part of the parties’ net worth is that asset. Some people are idiots about this – some have even burned-down the house rather than split the proceeds. Are the McCourts that stupid? I doubt it. Both appear to be greedy, self-absorbed, high-achievement people whom I think want to maximize their investments. What should they do? The biggest asset I think is the Dodgers. They have to keep that asset shiny and new – to make money now and to make the asset continue to appreciate. That’s why I think they will “Paint the House, not Blow-Up the House! We might not have a $120 million payroll, but it won’t be $75 million either!
