Torre's Poor Planning Ruins Ethier's Birthday Party
by Eric Stephen on Apr 10, 2010 8:10 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Recaps
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Andre Ethier was held out of the lineup on his birthday Saturday night with a sprained left ankle for the third straight game, but he still found a way to deliver, with a two-run pinch single in the eighth inning. But even though Ethier supplied the cake, the birthday party was ruined by poor planning from Joe Torre. The Dodgers held a 6-4 lead entering the ninth inning, but with closer Jonathan Broxton unavailable, George Sherrill coughed up the lead, giving the Marlins a 7-6 comeback victory. How did we get to this point, you ask? Let's go back in time to Wednesday night in Pittsburgh...
- Wednesday: Tied 3-3 entering the 10th inning, Torre saves Broxton for a save situation that never comes, rather than use him to help keep the game tied. Ramon Ortiz gives up a run in the 10th, giving the Pirates the win
- Thursday: Now that Broxton hasn't pitched for six days, he "needs work" and is inserted into the finale in Pittsburgh with the Dodgers leading 10-2.
- Friday: Russ Ortiz began the ninth inning in Pittsburgh leading 7-1, but was pulled with one out and the bases loaded. In comes Jonathan Broxton to get two outs, entering a game in which the Dodger win expectancy was already 98%.
- Tonight: Now that Broxton has pitched in two straight games, he is unavailable tonight to protect a 6-4 lead
That, my friends, is the vicious cycle of incorrect bullpen usage. Over the last four games, Broxton was unavailable in the two games he was needed most, both which ended as Dodger losses. Both losses may have ended differently with a few bounces going the Dodgers' way, but it would be nice if our chances of winning would have been maximized. With Hong-Chih Kuo on the disabled list, Sherrill struggling, and Ronald Belisario still a couple weeks away from returning, the bullpen is really thin right now. It would be nice to use out best reliever when he is needed most.
Padilla Better, Still Bad
Vicente Padilla was better tonight than he was on opening day, but still couldn't escape the fifth inning. Padilla lasted just 4 1/3 innings for the second straight start, making him the only opening day starter in Los Angeles Dodger history to fail to pitch five innings in each of his first two starts. Don Drysdale (3 2/3 and 5 IP in 1958) and Tim Belcher (2 1/3 and 5 IP in 1989) came the closest to joining Padilla in infamy.
Padilla had allowed one run through his first three innings, but then with one out and a man on first base in the fourth inning, the game was delayed for several minutes when the padding on the right field wall came detached. After the delay, Padilla allowed a single Cody Ross, followed by a three-run home run crushed to left center field by Gaby Sanchez, turning a 3-1 lead into a 4-3 deficit.
Furcal Running Wild
Rafael Furcal scored a run tonight, the fifth straight game he has done so. Here are the best run-scoring streaks to start the season in LA Dodger history:
| Most Consecutive Games w/ Run to Start Season | ||
| Player | Year | Streak |
| Steve Sax | 1988 | 6 |
| Reggie Smith | 1977 | 5 |
| Bill Russell | 1982 | 5 |
| Raul Mondesi | 1995 | 5 |
| Rafael Furcal | 2010 | 5 |
Chad Kreuter (6 games) and Kevin Elster (5 games) had longer streaks in 2000, but they involved several days off as well.
Other Notes
- Manny Ramirez hit a 40-foot dribbler up the third base line in the fifth inning that Josh Johnson fielded in what he thought was foul territory. However, it was fair, and Manny got his 2,500th career hit, good for 91st place on the all-time list. It was the 131st infield hit of Manny's career
- Furcal's first inning double was the 1,500th hit of his career. Furcal leads the major leagues in both doubles (four) and stolen bases (three).
- Ramon Ortiz, after a pair of shaky outings to start the season, reverted to the form he showed in spring training, retiring all six batters he faced, including three by strikeout. Ortiz froze Hanley Ramirez with an 85-mph slider that darted back over the plate for a called strikeout in the seventh inning.
- Matt Kemp had two more hits and two more runs batted in, giving him a club-leading seven RBI. The final hit and RBI came on a massive home run to left field in the ninth that gave the Dodgers what was thought at the time to be a much needed insurance run.
- Russell Martin had two hits and a walk, and now has a .588 on-base percentage on the young season.
- Charlie Haeger will pitch to A.J. Ellis on Sunday, against Anibal Sanchez of the Marlins, in a 10:10am start on KCAL
WP - Jose Veras (1-0): 1 IP, 1 massive HR, 2 strikeouts
LP - George Sherrill (0-1): 0.1 IP, 1 hit, 2 runs, 2 walks
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Ethan Martin
After four innings…
2 H’s, 1 HBP, 0 R’s, 0 BB’s, 8 K’s
And Preston Mattingly has hit a 3-run homer.
I know the bullpen is missing Kuo and Belisario, but the Dodgers also made the conscious decision to not put McDonald, Elbert, and Lindblom on the roster, and keeping the Ortiz’s.
Also, why is Weaver being treated like he can’t throw multiple innings?
I think Ramon Ortiz can be pretty useful
Russ needs to be DFA though
by SeanMillerSavior on Apr 10, 2010 8:23 PM PDT up reply actions
So this week, we couldn’t won 2 games because of a fucking bullpen management by Torre… It could be 4-1 instead of 2-3…
Torre sucks…
"I love the Tour de Pise", "I love La Joconde", "I love French Culture", "I love Gastronomie Francaise", "Hey, Obama I wanna to kick your ass", "OMG, they are a lot of Viets, everybody get down", "I do my Yoga" and "I love la France"... and she spits... By Louise Bourgoin (my avatar) in Sarah Palin :D
We still had a good chance of losing Wednesday (tied in extra innings and all), but Broxton would have given us a better chance to win.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 10, 2010 8:26 PM PDT up reply actions
Of course we have a better chance...
And I think if our bullpen will overused all year it could be really bad for us…
"I love the Tour de Pise", "I love La Joconde", "I love French Culture", "I love Gastronomie Francaise", "Hey, Obama I wanna to kick your ass", "OMG, they are a lot of Viets, everybody get down", "I do my Yoga" and "I love la France"... and she spits... By Louise Bourgoin (my avatar) in Sarah Palin :D
So if Broxton isnt used tomorrow along with the off day on monday
will he “need work” on tuesday’s blowout
by SeanMillerSavior on Apr 10, 2010 8:28 PM PDT reply actions
I would imagine he will pitch tomorrow. In a save situation for sure, but I’m almost tempted to say no matter what, given the off day Monday.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 10, 2010 8:29 PM PDT up reply actions
4.5 Millions for Sherrill would be a big mistake... We overpay him a lot...
"I love the Tour de Pise", "I love La Joconde", "I love French Culture", "I love Gastronomie Francaise", "Hey, Obama I wanna to kick your ass", "OMG, they are a lot of Viets, everybody get down", "I do my Yoga" and "I love la France"... and she spits... By Louise Bourgoin (my avatar) in Sarah Palin :D
When Kuo and Belisario are back... Who will demoted or DFA??
Je t'aime Louise Bourgoin... I Love you Louise Bourgoin... <3
Candidates are…
1) Russ Ortiz
2) George Sherrill to the DL
3) Carlos Monasterios
4) Ramon Ortiz
by Eric Stephen on Apr 10, 2010 8:34 PM PDT up reply actions
I will take Russ Ortiz and George Sherill
Je t'aime Louise Bourgoin... I Love you Louise Bourgoin... <3
Well sure
but they are just as likely to be DFA’d, unlike Sherrill, despite many of the comments tonight.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 10, 2010 8:36 PM PDT up reply actions
While I am still upset about Sherrill
I do not want him DFA. Id prefer either a DL trip or using him as a LOOGY
by SeanMillerSavior on Apr 10, 2010 8:40 PM PDT up reply actions
I know it’s early and all, but these really are games that hurt you in the end. Losing a game unnecessarily because your manager cant manage a bullpen in the first week of the season is just something that shouldnt happen. With how close the division race figures to be this year, giving away a game because of a series of bad decisions just cant happen. It is one thing if you put the players in the right spots and they fail- that stuff happens. But to make such shortsighted and ill-planned tactical errors that lead to putting players in spots to fail, well, i just cant accept that from a major league manager (especially one who has been around the game as long as Torre has).
I will this game to a soccer game
I explain, you are FC Barcelona, you are fighting for the championship with Real Madrid, so if you want to be a champion you must be win against the weakest team in the league like Xerez… So if you don’t win these games, it will cost a lot of points and that’s make the difference at the end…
Conclusion: Every game is important because you are facing a weak team like Pirates, Nationals, Padres, Reds, Astros… And you should win these to secure your 1st place…
I hope you can understand my feelings about that…
Je t'aime Louise Bourgoin... I Love you Louise Bourgoin... <3
Very true. It’s just that the season is so long in baseball that some people say “Oh well, it’s early, we can get this one back”. In some sense it is true because the season is so long, but an unnecessary loss early in the season counts the same as a loss at the end of the year. There is just no reason this game should have ended with a clearly hindered Sherrill on the mound at the expense of Tron or Broxton. Even without using Broxton, Troncoso needed to be out there instead of a struggling sherrill.
by UCLADodger32 on Apr 10, 2010 8:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Heyward
opposite field HR ties the game at 1 in S.F.
This guy can easily 20 HR this year :o
Je t'aime Louise Bourgoin... I Love you Louise Bourgoin... <3
Looks like 8, but Phil is in charge of that.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 10, 2010 8:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Ok Guys I will sleep, it's 5.45 AM in Paris...
Bonne nuit and see you tomorrow…
Je t'aime Louise Bourgoin... I Love you Louise Bourgoin... <3
Torre's postgame
On Sherrill:
We can’t see the whole thing [from the dugout], but some pitches from the side looked like they were close, but his command is an issue right now.
On Troncoso:
Troncoso’s is basically a one-inning guy anyway, but we sent him out [in the ninth inning] strategy wise and the fact he only threw 11 pitches the inning before
They brought in Lamb as PH, but burned him for Helms after Sherrill was brought in
On Ethier, does he have the green light 3-0?
Not always, but I guess when you send him up there to pinch hit he does [laughs]
points are well taken, Eric, but
it seems more like a string of bad coincidences than poor planning. People were mad that Broxton wasn’t brought into a tie extra inning game in Pittsburgh, but managers rarely do that. Maybe that’s right, maybe not, but I GUARANTEE that had Broxton come in and pitched well, but the game ends up going 13, more than a few, if not most, would have been SCREAMING that Broxton was “wasted” in the 10th.
And as for this:
Friday: Russ Ortiz began the ninth inning in Pittsburgh leading 7-1, but was pulled with one out and the bases loaded. In comes Jonathan Broxton to get two outs, entering a game in which the Dodger win expectancy was already 98%.
I don’t think anything could have been taken for granted at that point. The real sin, as we keep saying, is Russ Ortiz’s presence on the roster. And it wasn’t like Broxton was so efficient when he DID come in. Perhaps he COULD have pitched today if he had been. I understand people getting mad, and the Dodgers certainly would’ve had a better shot at winning this game with Broxton being available. But a lot of these comments are acting like a win would’ve been a forgone conclusion had he been, which is far from certain- especially with that strikezone.
I don’t think the Wednesday game would have necessarily been a win had Broxton pitched, but the Dodgers certainly would have had a better chance to extend the game past 10 innings.
but I GUARANTEE that had Broxton come in and pitched well, but the game ends up going 13, more than a few, if not most, would have been SCREAMING that Broxton was "wasted" in the 10th
This is the crux of the whole argument, and frankly it’s stupid. In extra innings on the road, the only thing you can do in the bottom of the inning is to prevent the other team from scoring or the game is over. You have to bring in your best reliever in a tie game, save situations be damned. I know nobody does it, but it takes time for baseball orthodoxy to change. Just because everybody does it doesn’t mean it’s right.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 10, 2010 8:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Think of it this way
when is worse for a reliever to give up a run?
a) Up one run, meaning the game would be tied
b) Tied, meaning you lose the game
When you have a clear ace reliever, and there is a disparity between your two choices (i.e. Broxton vs Ramon Ortiz), you are compelled to choose your best reliever. If you want to win, that is.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 10, 2010 9:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Also
Up 7-1 with the bases loaded and one out, almost anyone in the majors or AAA could hold that lead.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 10, 2010 8:54 PM PDT up reply actions
And it wasn’t like Broxton was so efficient when he DID come in
Broxton has faced 7 batters this season, and retired five of them, including 3 by strikeout.
He also allowed a double and a walk.
.167/.286/.333
by Eric Stephen on Apr 10, 2010 8:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Thing is...
It could have been ANYBODY, but why not take out Sherrill after he looks like straight trash?
by Chad Moriyama on Apr 10, 2010 8:59 PM PDT up reply actions
He didn’t think they were a problem, though, at least not as much. He showed improvement from game one to game two.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 10, 2010 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Obviously torre think Sherrill, even with his flaws, is better than anyone in the pen other than Brox. It is completely illogical thinking, especially against righties, but thats obviously what he believes.
by UCLADodger32 on Apr 10, 2010 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Kyle Russell just hit a 3-run jack
Ethan Martin: 5 IP 3 H 0 ER 0 BB 9 k’s
by SeanMillerSavior on Apr 10, 2010 9:02 PM PDT reply actions
Uh, what makes you think the current Dodgers management would allow so many young starters in the rotation? No way the Dodgers have a rotation of Billingsley, Kershaw, Withrow, Lindblom/Elbert/McDonald/Martin/Miller.
Somebody will blow out their arm or fail
Just realistically speaking. :o
by Chad Moriyama on Apr 10, 2010 9:08 PM PDT up reply actions
not only has it just been a week
its only been 1 start for each
by SeanMillerSavior on Apr 10, 2010 9:16 PM PDT up reply actions
The Angels Cal League Team Is Not Good, So Don't Judge By That
And a league lower our Great Lakes team has been playing the Diamondbacks’ low A team. Looking at the roster, I saw that that Diamondback’s team is VERY young for the Midwest League. Just wait till the Loons run into a team with more college vets, 22 to 24 years old.
by CanuckDodger on Apr 10, 2010 9:23 PM PDT up reply actions
should we really be surprised by kyle russell destroying high-A?
he already destroyed low-A
pointless for me :o
by Chad Moriyama on Apr 10, 2010 9:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Can anyone explain to me how the 9th went down
From how I saw it on fox sports it looked like Sherrill pitched the entire 9th.
Can anyone do a batter by batter explanation and who was in pitching for each batter?
Troncoso started the inning
1) broken bat single to Gaby Sanchez
2) LHB Mike Lamb announced as PH
in comes Sherrill
2) RHB Wes Helms announced as PH; gets hit on the back foot
3) Chris Coghlan walks, loading the bases
4) PH Ronny Paulino hits a bomb to CF, off the wall just were it gets deeper (Kemp had some trouble near that part of the wall)
Game now tied 6-6, runners on 2nd & 3rd
5) IBB to Hanley, loading the bases
6) Jorge Cantu hits a sac fly to CF; Kemp, playing shallow, back tracks, but makes a bad throw to the plate (well, just off line)…game over
Only out was the sac fly
by Eric Stephen on Apr 10, 2010 9:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Started out with me wondering where Broxton was
In the middle I was screaming at the television.
At the end I had a blank stare and contemplated voodoo dolls for Torre.
by Chad Moriyama on Apr 10, 2010 9:09 PM PDT up reply actions
Sherrill has faced 14 batter so far this season
April 5
1) flyout to CF
2) groundout to SS
3) double (the bomb to McCutchen off the CF wall)
4) walk + wild pitch
5) 3-run HR
April 7
6) strikeout swinging
7) walk
8) foul popout to 3B
9) strikeout swinging
Tonight
10) HBP
11) walk (5 of 6 pitches appeared to be in strike zone on Gameday, but shitty zone all night)
12) double (bomb to CF by Paulino)
13) intentional walk
14) walk-off sac fly
14 batters, six outs
58 pitches: 30 strikes, 28 balls (7 strikes / 12 balls tonight)
Opposing batters hitting .375/.571/1.000
Ouch
?
This is not to lay the blame of the stunning 7-6 loss to the Florida Marlins at Kemp’s feet.
After a terrific night by the bullpen, reliever George Sherrill came in the ninth and could not get a single batter out.
I know Dilbeck had that sentence but the whole article ran contrary:
No one promised a Gold Glove meant a sterling defensive performance every night.
Matt Kemp didn’t exactly mess up, he just didn’t make the plays. Didn’t step up when the Dodgers needed it most Saturday night.
And he might have gotten out of it with a win, if Kemp — who hit a towering home run in the top of the inning — had been able to make a couple plays
It’s like saying, I don’t mean to be rude, followed by something completely rude.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 10, 2010 9:45 PM PDT up reply actions
maybe to an extent
but to say he blames Kemp for the loss is too much. It seems like those statements he makes are factually true, which is NOT to say this loss is Matt Kemp’s fault. Not by a longshot. (pardon the pun) No question that Sherrill gets, and deserves, far more blame than Kemp. But nevertheless, at least part of the reason why it seems Sherrill is being put through the meat grinder while Kemp is left virtually unscathed is based on how everyone already felt about them ahead of time.
And of course, I’m FAR more worried about Sherrill’s pitching now than I am Kemp’s fielding. But Kemp’s uncharacteristically poor play on that fly ball, and his even worse throw on the next play, did at least make some difference, and I really don’t have a problem with anyone pointing that out, no matter how much of a Kemp fan I may be.
Just my opinion, anyway. g’night….
The one thing I will say is that, after watching the throw over and over again, Kemp’s throw home on the final play could/should have been better.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 10, 2010 9:55 PM PDT up reply actions
That throw was a lot harder than it seemed. Its one thing to come in on a ball, where your natural momentum is coming forward. On that play, he had to backpedal, attempt to create his own forward momentum, and then uncork a throw to beat a fast runner. The throw was offline, but even a perfect throw only got Coghlan by half a step at best. He could have made a better throw, but it was really really hard.
As for the fly ball, thats where the park differences come into play. Its a deep field, with a weird wall configuration. He seemed a little uncomfortable at the wall, but almost made the play anyways. My guess is that only 5-7 visiting centerfielders in baseball could have made that play.
by UCLADodger32 on Apr 10, 2010 10:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, I had no issue with the play on Paulino’s double.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 10, 2010 10:13 PM PDT up reply actions
At that point
I had issue with Torre leaving Sherril in and the ball that Sherril threw to get pounded.
by robotmadeofnails on Apr 10, 2010 11:28 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah
Maybe bring in Monasterios and try to get a grounder
by Eric Stephen on Apr 10, 2010 11:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Better than blaming Broxton
as Tony Jackson implied…sort of:
The Dodgers will eventually get Belisario and Kuo back. Sherrill will eventually find himself. And presumably, Broxton will eventually be conditioned to the point he can be used up to three days in a row. But that was of little comfort to the Dodgers on Saturday night, when the Marlins were running around their field celebrating as if they had just won the World Series. For now, these are the rough seas the Dodgers must tread.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 10, 2010 10:00 PM PDT up reply actions
The Most Unforgivable Part of That Quote From Jackson
…is the stuff about treading seas. One treads ground , Tony. Seas are sailed.
by CanuckDodger on Apr 10, 2010 10:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Perhaps he expects them to walk on water :)
by Eric Stephen on Apr 10, 2010 10:26 PM PDT up reply actions
Bryce Harper update
2010 #1 pick, as a 17-year-old in junior college:
.422/.516/.891
15 HRs
That’s just sick, dude.
He’s also in a wood bat league. The competition isnt great, but the numbers are pretty silly.
by UCLADodger32 on Apr 10, 2010 10:12 PM PDT up reply actions
The last Dodger catcher to wear 17 was Rick Dempsey, who caught the last out of the 1988 World Series.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 10, 2010 10:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Madison Bumgarner
Got TORPEDOED last night:
3 IP, 11 hits, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
There is something seriously, seriously wrong with him now.
He dont throw hard no mo. Its hard to be successful in the high 80s with a pretty straight fastall, even from the left side.
by UCLADodger32 on Apr 10, 2010 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Batters Faced
by the Dodger bullpen. I present this without comment:
Ra. Ortiz 15
Ru. Ortiz 14
Sherrill 14
Troncoso 11
Monasterios 9
Weaver 8
Broxton 7
I have no problems with that usage
A ROOGY is Weaver’s best role. Look at his splits from last season:
vs RHB: .286/.377/.511, 3.15 BB/9, 7.88 K/9, 0.59 HR/9, 43% GB%, 5.02 FIP, 5.26 x-FIP
vs LHB: .277/.342/.390, 4.59 BB/9, 6.48 K/9, 1.08 HR/9, 38.5% GB%, 3.38 FIP, 3.81 x-FIP
by Eric Stephen on Apr 10, 2010 10:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Jacob Turner
It’s usually a dumb idea to give ML contracts to draftees, especially to a high schooler, but Detroit is looking pretty astute right now with Turner. This 18-year-old had a near flawless performance in Low A yesterday:
5 IP, 2 hits, 0 BB, 7 K
I hear he throws 97-98, too. Wow.
Up on melancholy hill
There’s a plastic tree
Are you here with me
Just looking out on the day
Of another dream
In Torree’s dream world Sherrill “finds himself”
by 68elcamino427 on Apr 10, 2010 11:02 PM PDT up reply actions
In Game #5
Vicente Padilla (two strikeouts batting) tonight became the first Dodger pitcher to strike out at the plate this season.
More Padilla fun
the botched squeeze play in the 2nd inning resulted in a caught stealing at home plate for Casey Blake.
That was the first caught stealing for the Dodgers this season. They have seven SB.
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