Two For The Price of...Well, Two
by Eric Stephen on Mar 16, 2009 8:00 AM PDT
in Game Threads
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Dodgers (10-7) @ Mariners (7-9-1), 1:05pm
Dodgers (10-7) @ Athletics (11-6), 1:05pm
The unfortunate passing of actor Ron Silver brings to mind the movie Timecop, a Jean-Claude Van Damme vehicle. Silver played a corrupt Senator in a world in which time travel exists, and the main rule of time travel was that two pieces of matter couldn't occupy the same space at the same time. Silver's character, Senator Aaron McComb, met his demise when future McComb was pushed by Max Walker (Van Damme) into present McComb, and imploded in upon himself. How this movie didn't win an Oscar in 1995 is beyond me.
The Dodgers split their squad today, and apply the lessons of Timecop by playing two games at once. Just to be safe, the Dodgers are playing in two separate stadiums lest a player or two implodes in on himself.
In Peoria, the Dodgers take on the Mariners, who are also attempting to bend the laws of time and space by playing two games at once as well. According to Ken Gurnick, the Dodgers will send Hiroki Kuroda -- probably the front runner for the opening day starter spot right now -- to the mound, followed by Jeff Weaver, Guillermo Mota, and Cory Wade.
Erik Bedard will test his sore buttocks by starting for the Mariners and pitching one inning, per Jim Street of MLB.com.
In Phoenix, the Dodgers will face the A's, who have a little more respect for quantum physics by only scheduling a single game. Joe Torre will be on hand to observe starter Jason Schmidt and highly improbable 5th-starter candidate Shawn Estes.
Toeing the rubber for Oakland will be Trevor Cahill -- the 21-year old rated as the 2nd best prospect in the A's organization by Baseball America -- to start, followed by Michael Weurtz, Henry Rodriguez -- he can hit 100 MPH says Lyle Spencer of MLB.com -- Kevin Cameron and Jerry Blevins.
Manny Ramirez (hamstring) will be a gametime decision, and if he plays he will be in Seattle. Nomar Garciaparra is expected to play 3B (or DH) for the Athletics.
Also, be sure to get your votes in for the 2009 True Blue LA Dodger Prediction Bracket. First round voting runs through Friday evening.
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Cahill will be tough
He’s going to be a great real soon. Our lineup, depending on who’s in it, may have trouble with him.
I didn't realize how young he was
He’s only 2.5 months older than Kershaw.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 16, 2009 9:54 AM PDT up reply actions
For Bob Hendley
I’m not sure how I missed this from a month ago. You posted in the Loney thread (in response to my prediction):
Not saying I don’t think he’ll do better, just sayin that not sure he would be one of the top five-seven critical performers for us
The reason I think Loney’s 2009 is critical is because he has the most room to improve (outside of Kershaw, but that is more due to a playing time increase) and that’s why he’s important.
Cuts Tuesday
It looks like today is a day to impress, especially against Oakland (where Joe Torre will be), since the next round of roster cuts will happen Tuesday.
From Gurnick yesterday:
Torre said the next round of cuts are likely to be made Tuesday, following the Monday split-squad games, which makes these next three games something of an elimination round for the fifth-starter candidates. It’s unlikely the Dodgers will be able to continue providing innings for more than two of them
For whom the bell doesn't Towle
J.R. sits now?
by Eric Stephen on Mar 16, 2009 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions
From today's Joe Sheehan chat
on Baseball Prospectus:
benpav1 (Chicago): We all know Hanson, Snider, Wieters and Price should have some immediate 2009 impact, but who else has a chance at winning the ROY awards?
Joe Sheehan: I’ll throw out James McDonald in LA, Jason Motte in St. Louis and Taylor Teagarden in Texas. Daniel Murphy had one too many ABs last year
Emphasis mine. That would be obviously great, but I don’t see McDonald playing enough to garner any attention. I hope he does though.
More Dodger chat stew
forgot the link in the last comment…
Silv (NY, NY): To Derek Lowe’s chagrin, is there any reason the Dodgers wont have the best up the middle infield defense in baseball this year? Martin is more than solid, Hudson, though overrated, is still a top line 2b and Furcal is near gold glove level. How much of a help will they be to the kiddie corps?
Joe Sheehan: Keep in mind that much of Hudson’s good defensive stats are generated by his work on balls in the air. Like Derek Jeter, he has very good range going back on balls. He’s a good infielder otherwise, but the numbers would lead you to believe he’s Frank White. He’s not.
With that said, this team had Angel Berroa and Jeff Kent up the middle at times last year. This is much better. A good defense helps you develop pitching by encouraging early-count outs, reducing pitches out of the stretch and getting guys off the field quickly. The Dodgers have helped themselves in more ways than one.
Chat is going on right now.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 16, 2009 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions
Per Bill James Online
the last 3 years of +/- for Hudson:
2008: +3 in the air, -7 on the gound; -4 total
2007: +9 air, +11 ground, +20 total
2006: +5 air, +8 ground, +13 total
by Eric Stephen on Mar 16, 2009 11:14 AM PDT up reply actions
re:
Add in how bad Jeff Kent was in going back on balls because of his foot speed and it should make a solid difference. Does Ethier play deeper with Hudson at 2nd instead of Kent or is that a non-factor when it comes to positioning?
by meercatjohn on Mar 16, 2009 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions
re:
I guess I should ask what Jeff Kent’s numbers were per Bill James on ball in the air? DeWitt?
I also will hope that Loney’s defensive metrics improve with Kent gone and Hudson helping to show that defensive metrics can’t be used in a tunnel. Were Hudson’s numbers on ball in the air so good because his right fielder was terrible at coming in, or played to deep, or strictly a result of him being able to chase down fly balls better then the average 2nd baseman. I’m not sure how the right fielder/center fielder can not be a part of that equation.
by meercatjohn on Mar 16, 2009 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions
That's an interesting question
It would seem Ethier could play deeper with Hudson at 2B. Maybe that is one of the multiplier effects of combining two good defensive players. Hudson’s good D allows Ethier to be in a better position to provide better D. I hope it plays out like that.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 16, 2009 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Cahill
humbled by the bottom of the Dodger lineup. Valentino continues to impress, see you later Mitch Jones.
re:
He hasn’t been stretched out enough to get a start. He hasn’t been in the starting rotation, did Jackson mention Weaver?
One thing I did notice
In the Gurnick link above about the Seattle game today was that he mentioned all 4 Dodgers pitching against the Mariners, including Weaver, were all expected to be on the opening day roster.
I don’t think it would take long to get Weaver ready to pitch 5 innings on April 10, especially since none of our starters have yet pitched 4 innings yet in a spring game.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 16, 2009 2:08 PM PDT up reply actions
re:
I think he will have to get more then no outs per appearance if he plans on being stretched to get 15 outs.
O-Dawg is heating up
Has two hits today and is now over .300.
Meanwhile, Furcal is stinking up the joint this spring. Ethier, too.
Kerry Wood
I just saw him on MLB Network (Indians “30 in 30”) and he looked like Charles Manson with his goatee. Here is a picture from a month ago that doesn’t do justice to the scruffiness that Wood has now:
The resemblance came through
on MLB Network. Watch it…if you dare!
by Eric Stephen on Mar 16, 2009 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Pitching Debacle
Weaver, Randolf, and Estes all showing that they can’t pitch any better in spring training then they can in real games. This comes as a big surprise to nobody but the Dodger front office.
JCVD
you can’t mention Timecop and “split squad” without using this pic from the film:
by soundchaser on Mar 17, 2009 6:13 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
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