Dodgers coming down to the end of their season. They've had a surfeit of outfielders all season, but I can't see that it's helped them.
"We'll go with the hot hand," manager Don Mattingly said, but that hasn't really been true. They've gone with Puig, who sells tickets because of his hot beginning, and Kemp, because yes, he has come alive at the plate, and whoever Mattingly decides to throw in there. Crawford, Van Slyke, Ethier and, of late, Pederson. Choose one.
Mattingly doesn't choose Ethier very often, and I have to wonder why.
Ethier was the regular right fielder for the last few seasons and the starting center fielder this season when Kemp was still hurt. When Kemp healed, Mattingly moved Puig to center, put Kemp in right, and Ethier was the odd man out. He has been relegated to the role of pinch hitter of late, and he's done ok at that, getting on base by hit or walk more often than not.
But I want to see him play.
Hot hand? Ethier, despite very limited playing time, is batting .250. Pederson hits .163. Van Slyke is about .260 and Crawford is .280. Puig is batting .154 in September, and has been ever since he got snookered in the Home Run Derby at the All-Star break.
About Puig: when he first came up, last season, we all saw his strength, his speed, his arm, and his go-all-out style of play. We also saw that he didn't know what a cutoff man was and that he didn't know much about strategy. In short, he played like the best kid on your youth baseball team. But he learned; we saw that too. And during the first part of this season, he looked like he was gonna be ok.
Then he got invited to the Home Run Derby. And failed, completely. And most of us shrugged and said Ok, he's just a kid. (He's just 23.) But I think it shook his confidence, the way it might shake the confidence of the best kid on your youth baseball team if he experienced a failure like that. Since then, his performance at the plate has plummeted and his fielding has reverted to the enthusiastic but untrained style he came in with last season.
He isn't helping the team at this point. Meanwhile, Ethier, who knows all about how to play the outfield and who has a reliable if not super-hot bat sits on the bench.
I really wonder why. He should be out there everyday.
Showing posts with label Dodgers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dodgers. Show all posts
Friday, September 12, 2014
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Puzzle Dodgers
On paper, the Dodgers have a terrific team this season.
"We're gonna pour money into this team," Magic declared when the new ownership took over. "We're gonna pour money into the fan experience."
And they did. The team looks great, on paper at least, and the 50+ year old Dodger Stadium gleams.
In reality, though, the Dodgers are last in the National League West.
They don't hit, especially with runners in scoring position. The starting pitchers do fine but the relief pitchers can't get the outs they need to get. The defense has committed more errors than any other team in the major leagues.
I was taught that pitching and defense were the two basic building blocks on which you built a team. The hitting would come around. Pitching and defense would keep you in there until it did. Hitters were always slow starters, but once they found their grooves you were fine, as long as you had good pitching and defense.
Dodgers have good starting pitching, but these days that just means six or seven innings. The game lasts nine, so that means going to the bullpen for the last two or three innings.
For the record, I don't agree with that, but that's the way it is these days. The manager tells the starting pitcher "You give me seven innings, and then I'm gonna go batter by batter."
That kind of micromanagement only works if you have good pitchers in your bullpen. The Dodgers don't seem to have that.
Good players, on paper at least, but ineffective pitching and poor defense.
So what's missing?
Good coaching. I've said that before. But in fairness to the coaches, they don't play the game; the players do. And when they play it badly we fans don't enjoy the experience.
Leadership. By a player on the team. Someone who steps up and says "Hey, guys" and the other players look up and listen.
Dodgers don't have anyone they would call Captain.
That might just be what they need.
"We're gonna pour money into this team," Magic declared when the new ownership took over. "We're gonna pour money into the fan experience."
And they did. The team looks great, on paper at least, and the 50+ year old Dodger Stadium gleams.
In reality, though, the Dodgers are last in the National League West.
They don't hit, especially with runners in scoring position. The starting pitchers do fine but the relief pitchers can't get the outs they need to get. The defense has committed more errors than any other team in the major leagues.
I was taught that pitching and defense were the two basic building blocks on which you built a team. The hitting would come around. Pitching and defense would keep you in there until it did. Hitters were always slow starters, but once they found their grooves you were fine, as long as you had good pitching and defense.
Dodgers have good starting pitching, but these days that just means six or seven innings. The game lasts nine, so that means going to the bullpen for the last two or three innings.
For the record, I don't agree with that, but that's the way it is these days. The manager tells the starting pitcher "You give me seven innings, and then I'm gonna go batter by batter."
That kind of micromanagement only works if you have good pitchers in your bullpen. The Dodgers don't seem to have that.
Good players, on paper at least, but ineffective pitching and poor defense.
So what's missing?
Good coaching. I've said that before. But in fairness to the coaches, they don't play the game; the players do. And when they play it badly we fans don't enjoy the experience.
Leadership. By a player on the team. Someone who steps up and says "Hey, guys" and the other players look up and listen.
Dodgers don't have anyone they would call Captain.
That might just be what they need.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Dodgers Have the Players They Need; Do They Have the Coaches?
The new Dodgers management has built a team that can win. But have they built a coaching staff that can help the players win?
I went to the game last night, April 16. Windy night, wind blowing left to right. And cold. Nothing's going out tonight. But the Dodgers swing for the fences. Ten high fly balls to the outfield, only one with a chance to go out. It was caught, just like all the others. Not one line drive up the middle. Just four hits in all: a bouncer up the third base line, a bouncer between second and shortstop, a blooper into shallow left-center and a low line drive up the first base line.
Good hits, those four, but not enough to win ballgames.
Dodgers' primary hitting coach is Mark McGwire. Yes, the Mark McGwire who intentionally swung for the fences and surpassed Roger Maris' record of 61 homeruns in a single season.
Steroid Mark McGwire.
Steroids weren't illegal when he set his record, so his record stands. But they are now. So maybe hitters should go back to the tried and true way to hit: line drives up the middle. But is McGwire telling them that? He relied on performance enhancing drugs. Can he coach in an era that doesn't allow their use?
And the Dodgers had to go to the bullpen early when starter Chris Capuano injured his leg covering first base. And the Dodger relief pitchers don't seem to know how to take charge of the game.
Dodger pitching coach Rick Honeycutt didn't always seem to know that either. He nibbled around the strike zone, throwing balls, until he had to throw a strike and then the batter hit it.
Same thing last night.
Padres received one walk, one hit-by-pitch and got ten hits off the Dodger relief corps.
Can Honeycutt really coach in the modern era?
Just wondering....
I went to the game last night, April 16. Windy night, wind blowing left to right. And cold. Nothing's going out tonight. But the Dodgers swing for the fences. Ten high fly balls to the outfield, only one with a chance to go out. It was caught, just like all the others. Not one line drive up the middle. Just four hits in all: a bouncer up the third base line, a bouncer between second and shortstop, a blooper into shallow left-center and a low line drive up the first base line.
Good hits, those four, but not enough to win ballgames.
Dodgers' primary hitting coach is Mark McGwire. Yes, the Mark McGwire who intentionally swung for the fences and surpassed Roger Maris' record of 61 homeruns in a single season.
Steroid Mark McGwire.
Steroids weren't illegal when he set his record, so his record stands. But they are now. So maybe hitters should go back to the tried and true way to hit: line drives up the middle. But is McGwire telling them that? He relied on performance enhancing drugs. Can he coach in an era that doesn't allow their use?
And the Dodgers had to go to the bullpen early when starter Chris Capuano injured his leg covering first base. And the Dodger relief pitchers don't seem to know how to take charge of the game.
Dodger pitching coach Rick Honeycutt didn't always seem to know that either. He nibbled around the strike zone, throwing balls, until he had to throw a strike and then the batter hit it.
Same thing last night.
Padres received one walk, one hit-by-pitch and got ten hits off the Dodger relief corps.
Can Honeycutt really coach in the modern era?
Just wondering....
Monday, June 20, 2011
Kershaw's Game
The Dodgers, with Clayton Kershaw pitching, defeated the Tigers 4 - 0 tonight.
Kershaw struck out 12, batted in two runs and pitched a complete game.
This is what the Dodgers needed, and what Kershaw needed.
Wow!
News today: MLB rejected Frank McCourt's bid for a deal with Fox TV to broadcast Dodger games into the foreseeable future for $3 billion, and McCourt probably won't be able to meet the team payroll June 30, resulting in MLB taking over the team and looking for a new owner. The Dodgers need to respond to that news by just playing good baseball, and tonight they did.
Wow, he looked sharp tonight!
Kershaw is very young, and a lot could happen. But he sure looked like a star tonight!
Kershaw struck out 12, batted in two runs and pitched a complete game.
This is what the Dodgers needed, and what Kershaw needed.
Wow!
News today: MLB rejected Frank McCourt's bid for a deal with Fox TV to broadcast Dodger games into the foreseeable future for $3 billion, and McCourt probably won't be able to meet the team payroll June 30, resulting in MLB taking over the team and looking for a new owner. The Dodgers need to respond to that news by just playing good baseball, and tonight they did.
Wow, he looked sharp tonight!
Kershaw is very young, and a lot could happen. But he sure looked like a star tonight!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Today's a New Game
Okay, okay. I misspoke last night when I tried to describe what the Earned Run Average meant. I should have said the Dodger bullpen's ERA of almost 5.5 means the relief pitchers have allowed nearly five-and-a-half runs for every nine innings worked.
That's not nearly as bad as five-and-a-half runs for every inning worked, but it's still the worst record in baseball this season.
Dodgers gotta get some relief!
Remember Eric Gagne and Game Over? Man, those days were amazing! And yes, maybe Eric had a little chemical assistance, but in those steroid days so did many of the batters he faced. The chemicals might have made him stronger, but they didn't help him hit the corners more sharply, any more than they helped the batters see his pitches any better.
Dodgers need some fresh relief!
They might need some fresh ownership, too. Dodgers haven't been to the World Series since 1988, when they won it. Back then the O'Malley family owned the team – Peter and his sister, Susan Seidler, who had taken over management of the team when their father Walter O'Malley died in 1979. Walter had owned the team since 1950.
Peter and Susan sold the team to Fox (yeah, Rupert Murdoch) in 1998. In 2004, Fox sold the team to Frank McCourt, loaning him a big chunk of money so he could make the purchase. When Frank didn't repay the loan, Fox foreclosed on the Boston parking lots Frank had put up as collateral.
Now Frank and his estranged wife Jamie are embroiled in a very messy and very public divorce (you can google it; I'm not going there) and Frank had to borrow money to make the Dodgers' April payroll – $30 million. Who did he borrow it from? Fox, with whom he is hoping to sign a $3 billion broadcasting contract.
Now the word is that Frank won't be able to make the third payroll in May. (Players, coaches and team workers get paid every two weeks. May has three paydays.)
Baseball commissioner Bud Selig has held up the $3 billion Fox contract pending his office's investigation of the Dodgers' finances. If Frank can't meet his payroll and other financial obligations, MLB will assume financial management of the team.
Meanwhile, this morning the Dodgers announced that Broxton has pain in his elbow.
Dodgers need some relief.
Just getting ready for the new game today. One thing I love about baseball: every game is a new one. Every day is new.
But there are some clouds hanging overhead.
That's not nearly as bad as five-and-a-half runs for every inning worked, but it's still the worst record in baseball this season.
Dodgers gotta get some relief!
Remember Eric Gagne and Game Over? Man, those days were amazing! And yes, maybe Eric had a little chemical assistance, but in those steroid days so did many of the batters he faced. The chemicals might have made him stronger, but they didn't help him hit the corners more sharply, any more than they helped the batters see his pitches any better.
Dodgers need some fresh relief!
They might need some fresh ownership, too. Dodgers haven't been to the World Series since 1988, when they won it. Back then the O'Malley family owned the team – Peter and his sister, Susan Seidler, who had taken over management of the team when their father Walter O'Malley died in 1979. Walter had owned the team since 1950.
Peter and Susan sold the team to Fox (yeah, Rupert Murdoch) in 1998. In 2004, Fox sold the team to Frank McCourt, loaning him a big chunk of money so he could make the purchase. When Frank didn't repay the loan, Fox foreclosed on the Boston parking lots Frank had put up as collateral.
Now Frank and his estranged wife Jamie are embroiled in a very messy and very public divorce (you can google it; I'm not going there) and Frank had to borrow money to make the Dodgers' April payroll – $30 million. Who did he borrow it from? Fox, with whom he is hoping to sign a $3 billion broadcasting contract.
Now the word is that Frank won't be able to make the third payroll in May. (Players, coaches and team workers get paid every two weeks. May has three paydays.)
Baseball commissioner Bud Selig has held up the $3 billion Fox contract pending his office's investigation of the Dodgers' finances. If Frank can't meet his payroll and other financial obligations, MLB will assume financial management of the team.
Meanwhile, this morning the Dodgers announced that Broxton has pain in his elbow.
Dodgers need some relief.
Just getting ready for the new game today. One thing I love about baseball: every game is a new one. Every day is new.
But there are some clouds hanging overhead.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Slow Start
The Dodgers are off to a slow start this season. I know the off-season commentators had them picked to finish out of the running, but I had higher hopes.
I'm a Dodger fan, I admit, and I know that colors my thinking.
But I thought they would hit and pitch better than they are right now.
Ethier has hit in 29 straight games right now, and that's wonderful. And Kemp has hit in six straight. But not too many of those hits have resulted in runs. Some of the other guys are doing okay, but nobody's tearing it up.
Fielding has been pretty good. Some nice catches in the outfield (Ethier, Kemp, Gwynn, especially), good infield play by Carroll and Uribe....
But the pitching, frankly, has not been of the quality that we fans were promised before the season.
Starting pitching has been okay. Not stellar, but okay. Kershaw might become the next Koufax, but he's not there yet. And Billingsley is working his way to becoming a good reliable starter. It would be nice to think of them as a latter-day duo similar to Koufax and Drysdale.
But that's just my fan-self talking.
The big problem the Dodgers have right now is the bullpen.
Nominal closer Jonathan Broxton misses the plate too often, walking too many and thereby allowing opponent runs.
And the Dodgers don't have anyone in their bullpen who's any better. Dodger bullpen Earned Run Average is around 5.5! Five-and-a-half runs for every inning pitched!
Dodgers lost 4 - 1 tonight to the Cubs, giving up three runs in the 9th; Broxton walked two and they both scored.
He got the save last night, but tonight he couldn't find the strike zone. He got the loss. I feel bad for him, but at this level, getting as much money as he makes, he needs to do better. I'm sure he feels the same way.
And I wonder what the Dodgers are going to do?
hahahahahahahahaha! The real grinding season sets in!
I'm a Dodger fan, I admit, and I know that colors my thinking.
But I thought they would hit and pitch better than they are right now.
Ethier has hit in 29 straight games right now, and that's wonderful. And Kemp has hit in six straight. But not too many of those hits have resulted in runs. Some of the other guys are doing okay, but nobody's tearing it up.
Fielding has been pretty good. Some nice catches in the outfield (Ethier, Kemp, Gwynn, especially), good infield play by Carroll and Uribe....
But the pitching, frankly, has not been of the quality that we fans were promised before the season.
Starting pitching has been okay. Not stellar, but okay. Kershaw might become the next Koufax, but he's not there yet. And Billingsley is working his way to becoming a good reliable starter. It would be nice to think of them as a latter-day duo similar to Koufax and Drysdale.
But that's just my fan-self talking.
The big problem the Dodgers have right now is the bullpen.
Nominal closer Jonathan Broxton misses the plate too often, walking too many and thereby allowing opponent runs.
And the Dodgers don't have anyone in their bullpen who's any better. Dodger bullpen Earned Run Average is around 5.5! Five-and-a-half runs for every inning pitched!
Dodgers lost 4 - 1 tonight to the Cubs, giving up three runs in the 9th; Broxton walked two and they both scored.
He got the save last night, but tonight he couldn't find the strike zone. He got the loss. I feel bad for him, but at this level, getting as much money as he makes, he needs to do better. I'm sure he feels the same way.
And I wonder what the Dodgers are going to do?
hahahahahahahahaha! The real grinding season sets in!
Friday, April 1, 2011
2011 Season Game 2
Ha! Dodgers defeat the Giants again!
Terrific start to the season!
And what a wonderfully entertaining game!
Dodgers up, Giants take a lead, Dodgers come back thanks to Kemp's much improved baserunning....Dodgers take back the lead and the relief pitchers Guerrier (hope I spelled that right) and Broxton bring it home!
No team goes undefeated, and most teams win 50 games and lose 50 games and it's the other 64 that determine where they finish. And the Dodgers aren't expected to finish above 2nd place this season... New manager, new coaching staff, questions about ownership....
But the first two games have been very entertaining and had, from my point of view, wonderful results. What more could I want? Go Dodgers! Win every one! Hahahahahahahaha!
Terrific start to the season!
And what a wonderfully entertaining game!
Dodgers up, Giants take a lead, Dodgers come back thanks to Kemp's much improved baserunning....Dodgers take back the lead and the relief pitchers Guerrier (hope I spelled that right) and Broxton bring it home!
No team goes undefeated, and most teams win 50 games and lose 50 games and it's the other 64 that determine where they finish. And the Dodgers aren't expected to finish above 2nd place this season... New manager, new coaching staff, questions about ownership....
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
New Season
Give the outfield grass a final trim, the infield a last and very careful manicure. Play Springsteen on the sound system, followed by Bach. (We need good music to work to.) Hose off the bleachers.
Check the snack bar inventory one more time: hot dogs? buns? chips and cheese for nachos? candy? popcorn? soda? paper goods to hold everything? napkins? straws?
Opening day tomorrow! Lots to do, but I can't wait!
It's been a long winter, and a long (though quick) spring. And tomorrow the new season begins. New life for every team!
I can start in the morning and enjoy a full day of baseball, and finish with Dodgers v. Giants (last year's World Series winners) tomorrow at 5:00. Ain't life grand?
I love the idea that tonight, every team is tied for first place!
Check the snack bar inventory one more time: hot dogs? buns? chips and cheese for nachos? candy? popcorn? soda? paper goods to hold everything? napkins? straws?
Opening day tomorrow! Lots to do, but I can't wait!
It's been a long winter, and a long (though quick) spring. And tomorrow the new season begins. New life for every team!
I can start in the morning and enjoy a full day of baseball, and finish with Dodgers v. Giants (last year's World Series winners) tomorrow at 5:00. Ain't life grand?
I love the idea that tonight, every team is tied for first place!
Friday, August 6, 2010
Too Young to Win?
The Dodgers have sputtered since the All-Star break. Starting pitching has been great, but relief pitching has not, and the offense has totally fizzled.
Two runs or less in 2/3 of the games played? You can't win like that.
Joe Torre is a great manager, but this is a new situation for him. He's used to veteran players who know what to do and do it. Ned Colletti is also used to veteran players, I think. (I don't know Ned, so I won't speak for him, but I think he's more familiar with putting together teams that include proven veterans than he is with assembling teams with mostly young guys.)
But the team is what it is, and the players are what they are. And if the Dodgers want to get into the post-season this year, they better start playing some baseball. The players better step up. They need to hit the ball, catch the ball, pitch the ball. Mr. Kershaw needs to learn how to get out of the first inning. Mr. Kemp needs to run the bases correctly. Mr. Broxton needs to close games.
53 games left. Still time, men, if you do what you get paid to do.
Two runs or less in 2/3 of the games played? You can't win like that.
Joe Torre is a great manager, but this is a new situation for him. He's used to veteran players who know what to do and do it. Ned Colletti is also used to veteran players, I think. (I don't know Ned, so I won't speak for him, but I think he's more familiar with putting together teams that include proven veterans than he is with assembling teams with mostly young guys.)
But the team is what it is, and the players are what they are. And if the Dodgers want to get into the post-season this year, they better start playing some baseball. The players better step up. They need to hit the ball, catch the ball, pitch the ball. Mr. Kershaw needs to learn how to get out of the first inning. Mr. Kemp needs to run the bases correctly. Mr. Broxton needs to close games.
53 games left. Still time, men, if you do what you get paid to do.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
It's been a year to the day since I had my heart attack. June 5, 2009. They kept me in the hospital overnight and the next day (the anniversary of D-Day) The Pros from Dover put a stent in one of my coronary arteries; my doctor prescribed a bunch of medicines that lowered my risks; I changed my diet and added exercise to my daily routine.
I am still in the process of rethinking my life. I am working with an old friend to start a new business; I am working with God to update my spiritual activities.
But the Dodgers. The Dodgers. They still don't have enough pitching.
I suppose no team ever has enough pitching, especially in these days of three divisions in each league and twelve pitchers (twelve pitchers?) on each team. Really; each team can have twenty-five players. Do you really want twelve of them to be pitchers?
I don't think the number of pitchers matters. What matters is the quality, the ability of the pitchers you have.
My team is the Dodgers. I won't apologize for that.
But I have to say I am not overly impressed by the effectiveness of the pitchers on the Dodgers roster at the moment.
More to come.
I am still in the process of rethinking my life. I am working with an old friend to start a new business; I am working with God to update my spiritual activities.
But the Dodgers. The Dodgers. They still don't have enough pitching.
I suppose no team ever has enough pitching, especially in these days of three divisions in each league and twelve pitchers (twelve pitchers?) on each team. Really; each team can have twenty-five players. Do you really want twelve of them to be pitchers?
I don't think the number of pitchers matters. What matters is the quality, the ability of the pitchers you have.
My team is the Dodgers. I won't apologize for that.
But I have to say I am not overly impressed by the effectiveness of the pitchers on the Dodgers roster at the moment.
More to come.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Pitching and defense win championships, the old saying goes. But you also have to score some runs, and that means that as a team you have to get on base and move around to score. Which means you have to hit, or at least bat effectively.
The Dodgers play very good defense. They play the field aggressively, they turn the important plays, they make very few errors.
They pitch well enough, although I don't think their pitching intimidates anyone. Billingsley has come apart some, Kershaw has never quite come together this season. Both pitchers are young, I know, and probably have long careers ahead of them. But neither one has his head together yet. Kuroda may not quite have his head back together yet after being hit there by a line drive earlier this season; he couldn't finish the second inning yesterday. Randy Wolf had a pretty good season; Vicente Padilla has proven to be a valuable late-season pickup. The bullpen has been reliable, the best in the National League this season, so if the Dodgers can get the game to the seventh inning with a lead or down by just a run or two, they're in pretty good shape.
It's the hitting, the effective batting, that seems to be a problem now. In three games in the National League Championship Series they've scored just eight runs – and six of those were in a losing effort in game one. In those three games, they've left 27 runners on base. And although the Dodgers swept the Cardinals in the Division Series, they left 31 runners on base in those three games.
That's 58 runners left on base in six games. Their opponents left 39.
I am not an insider; I don't have access to the Dodgers clubhouse. But I know the Dodgers coaches, pitching coach Rick Honeycutt and batting coach Don Mattingly in particular, know their craft, and I'm sure they tell their young players what those players need to be told: trust your fastball, Mr. Kershaw, and remember you have a whole team on defense behind you; be patient, Mr. Kemp, and make sure it's in your zone before you swing....
One of the criticisms of the team last year was that the younger players didn't listen to the coaches or the older players. Some of the younger players came back saying We don't need to listen to them. To me, that seemed like the wrong attitude to have. I hope that as October and postseason play continue, that attitude hasn't snuck back in under the Dodgers' caps.
The Dodgers play very good defense. They play the field aggressively, they turn the important plays, they make very few errors.
They pitch well enough, although I don't think their pitching intimidates anyone. Billingsley has come apart some, Kershaw has never quite come together this season. Both pitchers are young, I know, and probably have long careers ahead of them. But neither one has his head together yet. Kuroda may not quite have his head back together yet after being hit there by a line drive earlier this season; he couldn't finish the second inning yesterday. Randy Wolf had a pretty good season; Vicente Padilla has proven to be a valuable late-season pickup. The bullpen has been reliable, the best in the National League this season, so if the Dodgers can get the game to the seventh inning with a lead or down by just a run or two, they're in pretty good shape.
It's the hitting, the effective batting, that seems to be a problem now. In three games in the National League Championship Series they've scored just eight runs – and six of those were in a losing effort in game one. In those three games, they've left 27 runners on base. And although the Dodgers swept the Cardinals in the Division Series, they left 31 runners on base in those three games.
That's 58 runners left on base in six games. Their opponents left 39.
I am not an insider; I don't have access to the Dodgers clubhouse. But I know the Dodgers coaches, pitching coach Rick Honeycutt and batting coach Don Mattingly in particular, know their craft, and I'm sure they tell their young players what those players need to be told: trust your fastball, Mr. Kershaw, and remember you have a whole team on defense behind you; be patient, Mr. Kemp, and make sure it's in your zone before you swing....
One of the criticisms of the team last year was that the younger players didn't listen to the coaches or the older players. Some of the younger players came back saying We don't need to listen to them. To me, that seemed like the wrong attitude to have. I hope that as October and postseason play continue, that attitude hasn't snuck back in under the Dodgers' caps.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Hey, Dodgers.
Did you think it was just gonna come back to you? That you didn't have to (ohmigod) try a little? Exert some effort?
Hit the ball once in awhile?
Stop reading the crap in the Times about how wonderful you are and start doing the job, guys.
Maybe you need your butts kicked from inside the clubhouse, the way Jeff Kent did last year. Stop loafing and play your hearts out!
That's all any of us fans really want. You've played the last week or ten days like you don't even have hearts.
And Joe Torre and the coaches can't do it for you. You're the ones who have to go out there and see the ball, hit the ball, catch the ball.
You still don't have enough pitching, but that doesn't matter right now. You could overcome that. But right now, you don't look like you have enough anything!
Come on, boys, play the game like you want to be there, like you want to win!
Did you think it was just gonna come back to you? That you didn't have to (ohmigod) try a little? Exert some effort?
Hit the ball once in awhile?
Stop reading the crap in the Times about how wonderful you are and start doing the job, guys.
Maybe you need your butts kicked from inside the clubhouse, the way Jeff Kent did last year. Stop loafing and play your hearts out!
That's all any of us fans really want. You've played the last week or ten days like you don't even have hearts.
And Joe Torre and the coaches can't do it for you. You're the ones who have to go out there and see the ball, hit the ball, catch the ball.
You still don't have enough pitching, but that doesn't matter right now. You could overcome that. But right now, you don't look like you have enough anything!
Come on, boys, play the game like you want to be there, like you want to win!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
People tend to lie to themselves. They tend to tell themselves that things are better than they really are, that those things they fear aren't really there, that everything is gonna be okay.
Most of the time, it isn't true.
And for the Dodgers, it's time to wake up. Guys, you don't have enough pitching!
It's a truism in baseball that you can never have enough pitching. But the Dodgers have only two pitchers who are really capable of starting games and pitching enough innings to be meaningful: Chad Billingsley and Randy Wolf. Kuroda is still on the DL (ribcage strain), and Kershaw, Stults and McDonald are, at best, erratic. Kershaw struggled – no, let's say disappointed – in his last two starts. The boy is only 21, I know, but he's pitched a lot of ball games in his 21 years. If he doesn't know he has to throw strikes, and good ones that don't get hit out of the park, then he doesn't belong in the starting rotation of a major league team.
The Dodgers lead the National League West right now. But if the pitchers don't step up and do the job, they won't lead it for long. And if the current roster of pitchers can't do the job, well...
Don't lie to yourselves, Dodgers. And don't lie to us fans. You have a problem. Fix it!
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