The 50-Walk Challenge - Halfway There!

by Eric Stephen on Jul 5, 2009 11:47 PM PDT in News Comment 9 comments

Back in the offseason, I issued a challenge to the Dodgers to have eight different players with 50 walks this season. If that happens, I will donate $100 to Think Cure, a charity organization started by the McCourts and the Dodgers, dedicated to finding a cure for cancer.

Here's a look at where we are at right now, through 82 team games, essentially the halfway point, along with the pace of each member of the regular lineup:

Batter	BB	Pace
Manny Ramirez	27	95*
Russell Martin	44	87
Andre Ethier	36	71
Orlando Hudson	35	69
James Loney	33	65
Matt Kemp	31	61
Rafael Furcal	30	59
Casey Blake	30	59

*For Ramirez, the pace is for a 112-game schedule rather than 162

So far, we are right on track for the Dodgers to meet my challenge. The Dodgers as a whole haven't been walking as much of late --2.97 walks per game since June 1, compared to 4.44 per game in the first two months-- but they still rank third in the NL with 320 walks. Perhaps the return of Manny Ramirez to the lineup will cause a spike in walks.

Only two National League teams have ever had eight players with 50+ walks, the most recent being the 2000 Giants. There have been six American League teams to accomplish the feat before the designated hitter, as well as the amazing 1939 Yankees, the only team ever with nine 50-walk players.

To find out more about Think Cure, go here, and if you would like to donate, click here.

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Ethier and Casey Blake get a lot of 3-2 counts.

But they rather swing the bat then walk.

by Tripon on Jul 5, 2009 11:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Not quite

Dodger regulars with a 3-2 count
Manny – 29 PA, 13 BB (44.8%)
Martin – 46 PA, 16 BB (34.8%)
Kemp – 53 PA, 18 BB (34.0%)
Pierre – 22 PA, 7 BB (31.8%)
Furcal – 46 PA, 14 BB (30.4%)
Loney – 41 PA, 12 BB (29.3%)
Ethier – 52 PA, 13 BB (25.0%)
Hudson – 61 PA, 15 BB (24.59%)
Blake – 57 PA, 14 BB (24.56%)

by Eric Stephen on Jul 6, 2009 12:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I totally misread your comment. How ironic. :)

by Eric Stephen on Jul 6, 2009 12:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Before then he had 27 walks in 198 PA, one every 7.33 PA.

by Eric Stephen on Jul 6, 2009 12:20 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

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2010 Dodger Payroll

Pos	No	Player	2010 Salary
C	55	Martin	$5,050,000
1B	7	Loney	$3,100,000
2B	33	DeWitt	$410,000*
3B	23	Blake	$6,000,000
SS	15	Furcal	$8,500,000
LF	99	Manny	$7,267,760
CF	27	Kemp	$4,000,000
RF	16	Ethier	$6,000,000

2B/3B	14	Carroll	$1,350,000
2B/3B/1B	3	Belliard	$825,000
C	12	Ausmus	$850,000
OF	5	Johnson	$800,000
SS	60	Hu	$405,000*

SP	22	Kershaw	$425,000*
SP	58	Billingsley	$3,850,000
SP	18	Kuroda	$14,100,000
SP	44	Padilla	$4,025,000
SP	50	Stults	$405,000*

CL	51	Broxton	$4,000,000
LHP	52	Sherrill	$4,500,000
LHP	56	Kuo	$950,000
RHP	67	Troncoso	$425,000*
RHP	54	Belisario	$425,000*
RHP	31	McDonald	$425,000*
RHP	68	Monasterios	$460,000*

		Pierre	$4,000,000
		Andruw	$3,600,000
		Schmidt	$2,000,000
		Wolf	$2,000,000
		Hudson	$1,440,000
		Nomar	$1,250,000
		Ohman	$200,000
		Zerpa	$35,000
		Hoffmann	($50,000)

Others on 40-man roster (total: 39)
RHP	37	Haeger
RHP	73	Link
RHP	47	Wade
C	9	Ellis
C	71	May
SS	87	DeJesus
OF	75	Paul
OF	17	Repko	$500,000
RHP	64	Guerra**
RHP	74	Jansen**
LHP	59	Leach**
RHP	49	Schlichting**
LHP	57	Elbert**
OF	62	Robinson**

Totals			$93,522,760
Red = arbitration Asterisk () = estimated * = currently in minor league camp
For more detailed information, click here.

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