Dodgers Playing Like Shadows of Themselves
by Eric Stephen on Apr 28, 2010 8:52 AM PDT
in Dodgers Game Previews
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The Dodgers have played five series on the road this season, and have lost them all. They lost their last two road series last year, and have now lost 15 of their last 20 road games (18 of 24 if you count the playoffs). Manny Ramirez is on the disabled list. So is Vicente Padilla, and he can't even throw for the next seven to 10 days. Now Rafael Furcal is hurt, with a tight hamstring per Tony Jackson of ESPN LA. They have allowed 19 unearned runs in 20 games, five more than any other team in baseball. We have a guy making his major league debut starting on the mound today, and our best choices to start on Saturday are a guy who before this season threw only 7 1/3 innings above Class A and a guy who has allowed nearly two baserunners per inning this season.
In other words, there aren't many things going the Dodgers' way right now. However...
- John Ely has history on his side, given the remarkable record of Dodgers' starters making their major league debuts
- Jonathan Broxton, Hong-Chih Kuo and Ronald Belisario haven't pitched since Saturday, so bet on them pitching today
- John Maine, starting for the Mets today, has allowed at least four runs in five of his six career starts against the Dodgers, and the Dodgers have won five of the six games
Here are the lineups:
| Dodgers | Mets | |||
| C | Martin | CF | Pagan | |
| CF | Kemp | 2B | Cora | |
| RF | Ethier | SS | Reyes | |
| 1B | Loney | LF | Bay | |
| 3B | Blake | 3B | Wright | |
| 2B | Belliard |
1B | Davis | |
| LF | Paul |
RF | Francoeur |
|
| SS | Carroll | C | Barajas | |
| P | Ely | P | Maine | |
Win or lose today, at least this awful road trip will be over.
Game Time: 10:10am
TV: Prime Ticket
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Maybe Charley Steiner and Eric Collins rely on Andre Ethier for their information
from Gurnick:
“Who?” said right fielder Andre Ethier, when told by reporters. “I don’t even know who’s starting for us. I don’t even know who that is. I don’t want to sound like a jerk, but I don’t know him.”
“I don’t want to sound like a jerk”
Too late. Sorry Andre, love ya, but that comment is kinda harsh.
Agree
He sounded like a dick.
All this after yesterday we referred to him as Andre “I just want to help the team win” Etheir
by Michael White on Apr 28, 2010 9:09 AM PDT up reply actions
I just said goodbye to Hoffman. Had no idea how bad he was doing this year
by robotmadeofnails on Apr 28, 2010 8:56 AM PDT reply actions
Boo! for thinking about this already
mlbtraderumors
If The Dodgers Become Sellers http://bit.ly/bkOAvw #mlb
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Depressing yes, but if we’re out of it in July dealing Hiro and Manny are probably prudent moves since I doubt McCourt will spend any money next year either
by oshea2002 on Apr 28, 2010 9:43 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
That would win me one hell of a steak from Eric
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Frank McCourt is expendable, and can be sent with cash to the Clippers for Donald Sterling, as unattractive as that sounds it may be an upgrade.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Hilarious
but I think my McCourt Ire ends at that thought. I’ll take the Divorcing Dodos over Sterling. ;-)
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Starting to look like
the DeWitt at 2B experiment is coming to an end, and at least at the major league level, it probably should. I just wonder what his upside is there defensively, but right now its looking like he doesn’t have the bat for the corners, nor the glove for the middle.
Might make a pretty decent bench guy though.
I was all for giving him a shot, but I would be fine with Belliard there now.
by robotmadeofnails on Apr 28, 2010 9:21 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I like free swinging Belliard
I really can’t evalutate their defensive skills, but I like to see players swing with confidence and Belliard looks like he’s always up there to get revenge or something.
Perhaps DeWitt should be given more than 17 games at second base we consider the experiment over. It’s not as though Carroll or Belliard have rocked my world defensively at second base either.
by Michael White on Apr 28, 2010 9:22 AM PDT up reply actions
I'm not saying its permanently over
Just that of the things that can be easily done to improve the team right now (short of short-sighted trades), that this seems the most obvious thing to do. Moving Kemp from CF isn’t an option even if it weren’t too early (unlike DeWitt @ 2B, he’s got past performance to suggest this is just a slump). There really aren’t any obvious options for the rotation, and the bullpen should improve as Pumpkinhead and Kuo start getting regular use, so Troncoso doesn’t have to pitch every day until his shoulder implodes.
I hear your point
Interestingly, if we are considering what is best to help the team “now”, I submit that it would make sense to continue to keep DeWitt on the 25 man roster as a utility infielder (as you mentioned.) Frankly, I still believe that DeWitt is the best third baseman on the 40 man roster, and games when Blake is out of the lineup or a late game defensive replacement with DeWitt makes the most sense.
Of course, that would jeopardize DeWitt’s long term prospect for being able to play 2nd base (as it would be better for him to get every day reps even if in ABQ.)
It’s a tough call.
by Michael White on Apr 28, 2010 9:36 AM PDT up reply actions
and Angry Loney.
You don’t want to mess with Angry Loney
by Eric Stephen on Apr 28, 2010 9:27 AM PDT up reply actions
I kind of liked it.
I would have had the same reaction. That call was garbage and it was a HUGE call. Loney did his job and got screwed.
by Michael White on Apr 28, 2010 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions
I guess it depends if he can manage the anger
Just from personal knowledge, some guys handle anger a lot better than others.
I liked it too. I have never seen Loney like that…it was almost like angry Loney surprised himself.
by robotmadeofnails on Apr 28, 2010 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions
I have watched
Ange Campos more than usual because of MLB.tv. He has one of the worst strike zones I have seen.
by robotmadeofnails on Apr 28, 2010 9:43 AM PDT up reply actions
He’s an AAA fill-in ump…maybe he needs more seasoning :)
by Eric Stephen on Apr 28, 2010 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions
I had no idea…he has been around for awhile. I forget what book I read about umpires and the system, but man, he needs to be reprimanded for his strike zone.
by robotmadeofnails on Apr 28, 2010 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions
I thought Bowa was going to go ballistic.
Bowa looks like the kind of guy that has yelled at umps once or twice.
I always wonder
what a tossed player does in that situation. Does he shower and head back to the hotel, or does he stick around in the locker room and stew about it?
by robotmadeofnails on Apr 28, 2010 9:53 AM PDT up reply actions
Acting bullpen coach Jim Slaton (Triple A pitching coach, here with Ken Howell out as he had another toe amputated) sounds like the most boring guy ever (pregame show guest)
Seriously, another toe?
does he have any left, lucky for him by the time they get to the leg the prosthetic field is growing by leaps and bounds. It came as a complete surprise to me when a friend of mine who was in the field told me the largest % of prosthetic legs are for diabetics.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
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