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Subject: Dodger Talk XI Posted by: Razor - [36241218] Tue, May 30, 2006, 10:44 New thread time... After finally cooling off against red hot Washington, the Dodgers picked up where they left off by thrashing Atlanta 12-5. In a surprise move, the Dodgers called up OF Matt Kemp straight from Double A Jax. This is especially surprising considering Delwyn Young and Jöel Guzman are both outfielders in Vegas who were thought to be on the verge of the big leagues. Kemp's had some "interesting" moments so far at the plate and in the field, but he's also flashed some excellent athleticism and potential. The other important call-up happening this week will be that of Eric Gagne. He has looke fairly strong in his rehab stints in Vegas. I wouldn't expect him to start closing right away, but should everything go as planned, he could be the closer again within a few weeks. Adding that caliber of arm to the pen is a huge boost to the Dodgers. Baez, Saito and Broxton should split the 7th and 8th inning duties if and when Gagne becomes the closer again. | |||||||
[Lengthy or complex threads may require a slight delay before updating.] | ||||||||
| 191 | Razor ID: 12152319 Sun, Mar 30, 2008, 13:34 | Hu hit .329 in Jacksonville last year. The Southern League is an extreme pitcher's league. It was his second time through, but that is pretty dang good for a 23 year old Gold Glove caliber SS. He'll probably end up like Izturis, who was actually solid with the bat for a year or two. | ||||||
| 192 | Ref Donor ID: 539581218 Sun, Mar 30, 2008, 16:48 | Ethier has beaten out Pierre for the LF job. | ||||||
| 193 | Ref Donor ID: 539581218 Sun, Mar 30, 2008, 17:02 |
According to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal, the Royals demanded Chin-Lung Hu for Esteban German, an exchange the Dodgers were unwilling to make. There was mention in the Kansas City Star about German going to Los Angeles for right-handers Jonathan Meloan and Miguel Pinango, but it seems the Royals again held out for Hu. They also wanted the shortstop last year in trade talks involving Octavio Dotel. Source: FOXSports.com | ||||||
| 194 | GoatLocker Leader ID: 060151121 Sun, Mar 30, 2008, 18:31 |
Re#192 Probably doesn't mean too much based on the quote in the local paper from Torres. Too lazy to go find the sports page and quote it, but to paraphrase, he said the 4 OF would basically all get the same number of ABs over the duration of the season. Cliff | ||||||
| 195 | Ref Donor ID: 539581218 Sun, Mar 30, 2008, 19:13 |
The Dodgers set their 25-man roster Sunday without placing either Jeff Kent (hamstring) or Tony Abreu (groin) on the disabled list. Abreu is expected to go on the DL on Monday, at which time Blake DeWitt's contract figures to be purchased. Kent has a pretty good chance of avoiding the DL, but that still hasn't been decided. Working under the assumption that the Abreu-DeWitt move is a definite and Kent avoids the DL, the Dodgers would enter the season with DeWitt at third base and a six-man bench of Juan Pierre, Delwyn Young, Chin-Lung Hu, Jason Repko, Mark Sweeney and Gary Bennett. However, the Dodgers are working to acquire an infielder. Repko might lose his spot if they get one. Source: Dodgers.mlb.com | ||||||
| 196 | Razor ID: 12152319 Sun, Mar 30, 2008, 22:29 |
he said the 4 OF would basically all get the same number of ABs over the duration of the season. I highly doubt that. Jones is going to play more than all the others. Kemp and Ethier will play as long as they hit. If they don't, Pierre will see lots of action. | ||||||
| 197 | biliruben ID: 33258140 Mon, Mar 31, 2008, 14:03 | Well, if Andrew's hitting .190 in June... | ||||||
| 198 | Razor ID: 12152319 Tue, Apr 01, 2008, 22:04 | Pierre's in there tonight, but batting 7th. Kemp's out. I am encouraged that Torre not only used his first game as manager to break Pierre's precious consecutive games streak, but that he used his second game to get Pierre used to batting down in the order. If we are going to play the guy, at least it's going to be down in the order. For now. He apparently really likes Ethier since he's batting 3rd with perennial All-Star Andruw Jones batting down 5th and stud youngsters Kemp and Loney batting below Andruw. I love Martin in the 2 spot. With so many good but not great power bats, we need to use the 3rd - 6th spots for guys who actually have power potential and leave Martin in the 2 hole to work on being a doubles hitter. | ||||||
| 199 | Ref Donor ID: 539581218 Wed, Apr 02, 2008, 00:07 | I think Torre is going to use the righty-lefty matchup thing. With Pierre and Ethier both being lefty it stands to reason that when he plays vs. a righty that Kemp will be sitting. I just think they need to move him for an IF/3B. I don't know much about Blake DeWitt though so who knows? | ||||||
| 200 | Razor ID: 4532926 Wed, Apr 02, 2008, 08:32 |
DeWitt was a very high draft pick and was thought to be a replacement for Kent when he was drafted. His minor league career has not been spectacular but perhaps he can fill in for Kent for a year or two until we find a long term solution there. Either way, he is invaluable at the moment. I am worried that despite being 2-0, we are not dominating the Giants. They are starting Rich Aurillia at 1B for chrissake. | ||||||
| 201 | Ref Donor ID: 539581218 Wed, Apr 02, 2008, 12:49 |
Andre Ethier will practice fielding ground balls at first base. It will give manager Joe Torre another lineup option when James Loney gets his occasional day off. If Ethier can fill in at first base, Juan Pierre could join the outfield without sending Ethier or Matt Kemp to the bench. Torre would have Ethier play ahead of Mark Sweeney, who he prefers to use as a pinch hitter. | ||||||
| 202 | Razor ID: 4532926 Wed, Apr 02, 2008, 13:05 | Smart move by Torre, though Loney shouldn't need too many days off. This might just be a ploy to get Pierre thinking that he might play more than he will. | ||||||
| 203 | blue hen Leader ID: 710321114 Wed, Apr 02, 2008, 14:25 | At least you hope it's a ploy... | ||||||
| 204 | biliruben ID: 33258140 Wed, Apr 02, 2008, 15:25 | Also, it's hard to shop a 44 million dollar bench-warmer. His trade value can't be helped if he isn't playing. | ||||||
| 205 | blue hen Leader ID: 710321114 Wed, Apr 02, 2008, 15:33 | Well, some team gave 44 million to a guy with an OPS about where Seattle Zen would be if he played in the Majors. So surely some other team has to be as stupid. How about Houston? | ||||||
| 206 | Ref Donor ID: 539581218 Wed, Apr 02, 2008, 15:39 | I don't think it's a ploy. Right now if Loney goes down it's Sweeney backing him up. Ethier makes more sense. Ethier has made the Dodgers find a way to get him in the lineup with his bat. Pierre has forced the Dodgers to sit him down at times because of his. Speed is Pierre's key and I don't know of anyone I've seen faster right now than Bourn, so I seriously doubt Houston wants him. | ||||||
| 207 | biliruben ID: 4911361723 Sat, May 03, 2008, 21:21 | Arg. Now Ethier's getting the bench in deference to the frenchman. Ethier and Kemp seem to have earned an everyday job. Platoon Jones and Pierre, if you have to play him. | ||||||
| 208 | Razor ID: 29439417 Sun, May 04, 2008, 18:54 |
I've got no complaints about Pierre's play thus far. He is a serious weapon with a .390 OBP, even if he doesn't hit for any power at all. With Jones not hitting for any power so far, getting guys on base, especially fast guys, is key to scoring runs. That's how we've been winning ball games so far. I like where we're at right now. We didn't let a bad start cripple us and now we're playing better baseball. If we can get Jones hitting, we'll have the deep lineup that we all envisioned before the season. With Kuroda not disappointing, we also have a deep rotation. We need Billingsley to round into form and, eventually, some more arms in the pen. Kershaw is our Kazmir. Kershaw is dominating AA as a 20 year old and was reported as being MLB-ready out of Spring Training, but we really need to monitor his workload. | ||||||
| 209 | biliruben ID: 33258140 Mon, May 05, 2008, 01:09 |
I have a lot of complaints about Pierre playing at the expense of PT for Ethier and especially Kemp. Kemp is everything Pierre is, plus he's got power and immense upside. Let the two over-paid Coletti brain-farts share time. What an ultra-moroon. | ||||||
| 210 | Seattle Zen ID: 29241823 Mon, May 05, 2008, 01:55 |
I've got no complaints about Pierre's play thus far. Quit your Pierre hating, Bili, and listen to the man. Pierre is better than Either. Your ire needs to be directed at one source only, the Michelin Man from Curacao. You know how certain Mexican gangs have adopted the Dodgers' "LA" logo into their brand. Shouldn't they be up in arms about the pathetic performance the fat man has mailed in so far? Surely a cap or two in his ass is called for, no? | ||||||
| 211 | biliruben ID: 33258140 Mon, May 05, 2008, 14:05 |
There is simply no place in a major league outfield for a slap-hitter these days, unless you annually hit .350 with a .400 OBP and can hit the catcher on the fly with a gun. And if you think Pierre will end the season with a .390 OBP ... or even .370 ... or even .350, I got a bridge to sell ya between Hunt's Point and the Arboretum. | ||||||
| 212 | barilko6 ID: 3732117 Wed, May 07, 2008, 18:44 |
Sometimes Jim Rome cracks me up... He had Matt Kemp on today, and Kemp was talking about how good the team is, blah, blah blah. Then he mentioned how its tough for Joe T because the Dodgers have 4 good outfielders to plug in. Then when Kemp was gone, Rome read a letter..."Four good outfielders? Kemp, um, Ethier, Pierre." Who's the fourth one? Then Rome goes on to smack on Andruw Jones being in a spelling bee and not spelling Andrew right... It was good stuff, maybe you had to be there... | ||||||
| 213 | J Leader ID: 049346417 Mon, May 12, 2008, 17:17 |
I have a new favorite writer! Andruw Tubbo Jones this stuff was crackin me up!!!! | ||||||
| 214 | biliruben ID: 33258140 Mon, May 12, 2008, 17:23 |
That's Tubbo to you, bud. Not tubby. He isn't purple or pink with antennae. He's fat, over-paid and sucky. Got it? | ||||||
| 215 | J Leader ID: 049346417 Mon, May 12, 2008, 17:26 | fixed! | ||||||
| 216 | Razor ID: 4532926 Mon, May 12, 2008, 17:40 | Between Plaschke and Simers, I am pretty sure LA has the worst, most annoying pair of sportswriters in the country. The story is always about them - the idiotic nicknames they come up with, their expectations, their memories. It's never about the sports or the team or the fans. | ||||||
| 217 | Razor ID: 4532926 Wed, May 28, 2008, 10:53 | The Dodgers have an All-Star team sitting out these days - Furcal, Kent, Andruw, Nomar and Schmidt. The only reason we have not collapsed completely as we did in 2005 is because of the quality of the farm system. The young kids by themselves form the core of a .500 team, but they need Lowe, Penny, Schmidt, Kent, Andruw and Furcal to be a World Series contender. I think the Dodgers have a really strong club this year when they are all on the field and healthy. Who knows if that will ever happen. Schmidt and Andruw won't be back until late June. | ||||||
| 218 | biliruben ID: 4911361723 Wed, May 28, 2008, 11:41 | Andruw is addition by subtraction. | ||||||
| 219 | loki SuperDude ID: 4211201420 Fri, May 30, 2008, 21:11 | I have been watching (in N.J.) the Dodgers play the Mets tonight primarily to see Kershaw. His curve ball thrown at 74 mph, 22 mph slower than his fast ball really has 12 to 6 movement. He bent Carlos Delgado back off the plate, and the ball curved over the plate. It was reminiscent of when Koufax would cause a lefty to hit the ground as the ball then curved over home plate. I am not really comparing him to Koufax, but the kid has some curve ball. However his 94-96 mph fast ball was very hitable. This may have been a function of Kershaw falling behind in the count. He is the real deal, but I have a feeling that this 20 year old needs a little more minor league playing time. By the way who is inhabiting Chan Ho Park's body? He looked very strong in relief. | ||||||
| 220 | Razor ID: 504132820 Sat, May 31, 2008, 01:01 | Pulling up Kid K this early was a mistake. It may hinder his development. I worry mostly about the workload though, which he is nowhere near ready for. He has something like 160 IP CAREER innings in the pros coming into this season. And now we're expecting him to throw 6 IP for the next 20 starts? | ||||||
| 221 | biliruben ID: 33258140 Thu, Jun 05, 2008, 15:08 |
Kemp suspended for 4 games. Anybody see the fight? Does he hit like a girl? Is he appealing? | ||||||
| 222 | biliruben ID: 52561217 Mon, Jun 30, 2008, 18:13 |
And if you think Pierre will end the season with a .390 OBP ... or even .370 ... or even .350... Pierre down with a sprained MCL. I hate to kick a guy when he's down, but... Ouch -  And for those interested, his OBP sits at .327. Now maybe the Dodgers can get back to doing some winning. Unless they play too much Tubbo and not enough Andre. | ||||||
| 223 | biliruben ID: 52561217 Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 12:55 | How about Kuroda last night! | ||||||
| 224 | Razor ID: 545172413 Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 13:23 |
He was dealing. Didn't hurt that the Braves were coming off a 17 inning game followed by a rain delay that prevented them from flying out on time. It just makes wonder what that idiot Colletti was thinking trying to get involved in the Sabathia sweepstakes. We've got Penny, Lowe, Kuroda and Billingsley as reliable starters with Park, Kuo, Stults and Kershaw to rotate in and out of 5th starter/spot starter duties. The Dodgers have done exactly what they needed to do which was tread water until they got healthy and reinforcements arrived. Andruw and Nomar are huge upgrades over what we were trotting out there. You just can't win starting guys out of position or minor leaguers at key defensive positions. Pierre being out for 4-6 weeks is a huge blessing. All we need is for Andruw to start swinging the back and the offense will take off. | ||||||
| 225 | biliruben ID: 52561217 Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 13:38 | I agree on the pitching and Nomar. If they stay healthy, they will be a boon. If Andrew has Andre or Matt riding the pine for any substantial amount of ABs, he's a negative. | ||||||
| 226 | Razor ID: 545172413 Tue, Jul 08, 2008, 14:03 | If Andruw can hit .250 and slug .500 the rest of the way he's as valuable as any OF we have simply because he can play an above average CF. After seeing Pierre out there last year and Kemp and Berroa up the middle this year, I will never again discount the importance of being strong up the middle defensively. | ||||||
| 227 | biliruben Leader ID: 589301110 Fri, Aug 01, 2008, 08:38 |
Anybody see the play at the plate on Ethier in the 8th? We needed to get Manny on a corporate jet to fly out for a dramatic pinch-hit walk-off dinger in the 9th last night. | ||||||
| 228 | Razor ID: 545172413 Fri, Aug 01, 2008, 08:57 | If Torre can figure out that our three best outfielders are Manny, Kemp and Ethier, we'll win the division. | ||||||
| 229 | biliruben Leader ID: 589301110 Fri, Aug 01, 2008, 10:45 | Agreed. I think he's figure out that Andruw ain't a hitter any more. Now he just has to make the frenchman a benchman. | ||||||
| 230 | biliruben Leader ID: 589301110 Sat, Aug 02, 2008, 00:45 |
Grrr... Rotowire: Andruw Jones got the start against lefthander Randy Johnson Friday night. However Torre said that Manny Ramirez will be the starting left fielder, Matt Kemp the starting right fielder and Juan Pierre will see most of the playing time in center field. Pierre's speed seems to be the determining factor. "To me, Juan certainly deserves the right to play..... At this point in time, his experience, his consistency, the way he goes about his business. When [Rafael] Furcal went down, he's meant so much to the club. He brings another dimension, his basestealing ability. He gives a professional at-bat on a regular basis. He's done it [leading off] longer than Matt. He's willing to take pitches." Andre Ethier will suffer the most. Jones will probably get the occasional start against a tough lefthander. | ||||||
| 231 | Razor ID: 545172413 Tue, Aug 05, 2008, 08:29 |
Joe Torre is either senile, mentally handicapped or refuses to throw a veteran under the bus publicly. Matt Kemp was a vastly better leadoff hitter than Pierre, and yet all Torre can do is praise Pierre on things that are simply not true. As for the trade, Manny is 8 for 13 so far with 5 RBI. That's just Manny being Manny. I wouldn't be surprised if he has a huge last two months of the season now that he is happy. | ||||||
| 232 | Razor ID: 545172413 Thu, Aug 07, 2008, 15:02 | 13 for 21 with 4 HR's and 9 RBI so far. Ya, Manny's past his prime. LOL. | ||||||
| 233 | Ref Donor ID: 539581218 Thu, Aug 07, 2008, 15:04 | Manny another homer on his first pitch in the 3rd inning. | ||||||
| 234 | biliruben Leader ID: 589301110 Fri, Aug 08, 2008, 00:20 |
Monster | ||||||
| 235 | Ref Donor ID: 539581218 Wed, Oct 01, 2008, 15:19 |
Where is all the Dodgers love? Two LA (area) teams. Two Chicago teams. No NY teams. I love it! | ||||||
| 236 | Razor ID: 545172413 Wed, Oct 01, 2008, 15:37 |
There is only one team from LA playing, though I understand Anaheim also made the playoffs. Furcal is back and leading off. Could be a huge liability, but if he is anything close to the force he was in April, we'll have a very formidable offense. | ||||||
| 237 | Seattle Zen ID: 358591721 Thu, Oct 02, 2008, 23:37 |
Where is all the Dodgers love? Well, the Dodgers are kind of in the middle of a history I'm sure you would all like to forget. It's been twenty years since the franchise has done squat. Twenty years is a long time, but not long enough to get the "lovable losers" tag like the Cubs/Red Sox/White Sox were/are so proud of. Just how long is twenty years? Well, look at this list: LA Dodgers Nationals/Expos KC Royals Texas Rangers Pittsburg Pirates Milwaukee Brewers That's the list of teams who have not won a post season series in the last twenty years. Not a very prestigious group. Hell, every NL West team has won a NL pennant since then. And when the Dodgers did sneak into the playoffs, it's been ugly: 1-12 since the Bulldog and Kirk Gibson were famous. Maybe the Dodgers get no love is because they usually get destroyed when the air turns crisp and the leaves change colors. Now, if they hold on tonight, this will be an upset of monumental proportions and another sad chapter for the Cubs. Beat by the Dodgers? You must be kidding! | ||||||
| 238 | Razor ID: 418502723 Fri, Oct 03, 2008, 00:25 |
Don't let his comments fool you. Seattle Zen loves the Dodgers. Dodgers look tremendously focused. No pitcher or batter has ceded one inch. Even in garbage time, the Dodgers continue to battle. It's going to be difficult for the Cubbies to even get this back to Chicago. If the Dodgers can sweep this thing, it would allow Torre to reset the rotation and have Lowe back on full rest. Harden's a tough customer, but we'll be playing at home. | ||||||
| 239 | Seward Norse ID: 297412913 Fri, Oct 03, 2008, 10:31 |
I miss the expos. :( Free Youppi! | ||||||
| 240 | Seattle Zen ID: 358591721 Fri, Oct 10, 2008, 20:29 | Stick a fork in 'em... | ||||||
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