|
Bad Arguments for a Good Idea
2003-03-26 09:00
In the Times today, Bill Plaschke writes: Is the Dodgers' need to promote the future larger than their need to win today? His answer is yes. My answer is also yes. But he then uses this as an argument to send Joe Thurston to the minor leagues, while I, as you saw Tuesday, use it as an argument to keep him in the majors. Here are the reasons Plaschke thinks sending Joe down is a long-term solution: Bill says: "...if Thurston stays, then the confidence of this 23-year-old kid could be permanently damaged." Bill says: "...if Thurston stays, then Shumpert would be lost to another team, because he will not agree to be sent to the minors. And that could be a mistake because, despite his age, he is the sort of solid-hitting veteran that would fit in well here." Bill says: "...demoting a guy because of a poor spring can be as unfair as promoting a guy because of a great spring. But when a player is trying to make the full-time jump from triple A to the major leagues Ñ the biggest leap in baseball Ñ the rules are different. BIll says: "Spring training is his final tryout. Spring training is his most important stage." Bill says: "If a player can't at least modestly succeed in front of an overweight pitcher and vacationing umpire and a couple of thousand dozing fans in Kissimmee, how is he going to fare in April at Dodger Stadium?" Plaschke then wraps things up with the story of how a young Roberto Alomar was sent down, but recovered and came back up to be an All-Star. I guess if it's just that simple, let's send everyone down. Okay - I'm starting to get a little hyperbolic myself, so I'll dial it back some. I don't think sending Thurston down would be a horrible thing. If he's good enough to play at this level, he'll probably be back later this spring. And again, with the Guillermo Mota situation, you could even just say to Thurston that you're sending him down for the four games that Mota is out, and then you're bringing him back. I've really got no problem with that. What I can't understand is how you can talk sending to the minors a young guy who has a rough five weeks while advocating that the team build for the future. If you really believe in constructing your team for the long term, you keep Joe Thurston on the roster. And if he starts the season hitting .189 and Bill Plaschke comes around to say that you've made a mistake - you're ruining this guy's confidence and you've lost solid-hitting veteran Terry Shumpert to boot - then you tell Plaschke, "Thank you kindly for your thoughts." And then you say emphatically that you believe in Joe Thurston, and that you have your best people working with him, and that you're gonna give him a real chance, not one that expires in March.
|
Jon Weisman's outlet
for dealing psychologically with the Los Angeles Dodgers and baseball. Hot from the Toaster
BlogAds
Search
Archives
2008 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 2007 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 2006 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 2005 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 2004 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 2003 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 2002 09 08 07 About Jon
Jon's other site: Support Dodger Thoughts
Dodger Thoughts T-Shirts * * *
The Best of Dodger Thoughts Click here for more information.
"Dodger Thoughts, like TiVo, is one of those things you can completely do without until you start using it." - Fanerman Dodger Sites
Dodger Resources
Non-Partisan Baseball Sites
Partisan Baseball Sites
Baseball, Among Other Things
Invaluable Resources
Less Dodgers, More L.A.
All in the Family
Other Writing by Jon on the Web
SI.com Variety Also ... More Shameless Self-Promotion
2008 Season
Dodger home record: 22-20 (.524) 1991-2007
Dodgers at home: 745-600 (.554) 2008 Payroll Worksheet
Current Roster with Estimated 2008 Salaries Most figures are estimates (some are wild estimates) but will be updated as information comes in. Corrections welcome. More contract details here. Starting Pitchers (5) Bullpen (6) Starting Lineup (8) Bench (6) Disabled List Also Paying ... Working total: *$113,268,725 *Rough salary estimate The 2008 Dodgers
ESPN BR
BP
Cube Alvarez Selected Recent Ex-Dodgers
ESPN BR BP Cube Alomar Dodger Thoughts Land
Thank You For Not ...
1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity Syndication
 
About the Toaster
Baseball Toaster runs on some experimental software called Fairpole. It's still under development. For more information, please visit the Fairpole blog, or read the FAQ. |
Comment status: comments have been closed.