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It Was Never a One-Year Vision - Don't Make It So
2005-09-23 09:39
* * * Dioner Navarro might be a beacon as the 2005 Dodger season fades into night, and here's why. Navarro's VORP rate, which Baseball Prospectus defines as the "runs/game contributed beyond what a replacement level player would produce," is .246. Paul Lo Duca's is .197. Jason Phillips' is .008. Navarro has performed better than we had a right to imagine based on his 2004-05 minor league numbers. One calendar year after Lo Duca was traded, the Dodgers may have a better catcher at about 5 percent of the cost. It can get tiresome to hear about cost savings when you aren't always sure where those savings are being allocated, but it's safe to say that saving money on a better player is a universal good thing. And Navarro, who has been away from the team this week to be with his ailing newborn son, may prove to have some heart and soul to boot. (And you can still be a fan of Lo Duca's and say that.) But this brings us to a larger point worth addressing about Dodger general manager Paul DePodesta. The Dodgers are careening toward last place and are pretty much hoping the season's clock runs out before they get there, a condition that to me is as surprising as it is disappointing. Some want to make Dodger manager Jim Tracy the scapegoat, if not the fall guy, for this, others want it to be DePodesta with a sprinkle of owner Frank McCourt. But the performance of Navarro serves as a reminder (not that it's the only one) of the fact that DePodesta has made his moves with much more than 2005 in mind. I've been saying this a lot to people offsite this week, but I need to say it here as well: You don't trade Shawn Green for four prospects and $6 million if your chief focus is 2005. And the news on those prospects, in case you missed it in Monday's minor league escapade: I certainly don't think it was DePodesta's goal to out-and-out sacrifice 2005 for the future. But the disappointment of 2005 does not imply that DePodesta's vision for the future is off base. Of course, as has been discussed on 6-4-2 recently, the Dodgers have been incoherent as an organization. There's almost complete agreement that DePodesta and Tracy are not on the same page, with utter mystery as to what page the itchy, inscrutable and Sitrick-encased McCourt is going to turn to. DePodesta has politely preached the virtues of healthy disagreement with Tracy this season. That implies that Tracy has not been executing DePodesta's plan, but that DePodesta has tolerated it (as opposed to this deifying of Mike Edwards and Jason Repko being DePodesta's plan all along). DePodesta scores points in the "works well with others" category, but the time has come for him to become the heavy. In my freelance career, I sometimes find myself working for my brother, who has tremendous personal and professional esteem for me. He didn't hire me until I had proven myself elsewhere, and he is way too concerned about the quality of his work to carry me if I didn't produce to the level he wanted. Fortunately, we do find ourselves on the same page almost all the time, but there are times when we disagree. And when we do, it doesn't matter that we've been writing with each other for nearly 10 years or brothers for nearly 40. He's the boss. His way goes. And if he has to be blunt about it, he will be. It doesn't make me happy, but it's what professionals do. I don't want to hear any more about "healthy disagreement." Brainstorming is one thing - I don't ever want to think that the Dodgers censor ideas within the organization, because as Lucy Ricardo as my witness, you never know what crackpot scheme just might make sense. But the chain of command needs to be enforced. A manager can listen to all the arguments a player might have about whether he should bunt or not, but the manager ultimately makes that decision unless he has complete confidence in letting the player improvise. Either way, there's 100 percent support for the decision. A general manager can listen to all the arguments a manager might have about whether he should start Smith or Jones, but the general manager ultimately makes that decision unless he has complete confidence in letting the manager improvise. Either way, there's 100 percent support for the decision. Tracy has an out clause, but I'm increasingly unsure he will use it. Not because he wouldn't find another job - at a greater salary and with greater say in personnel matters - but because he has a vertiable cocoon of support among the Los Angeles print and broadcast media and perhaps even the McCourts. That is managerial gold, folks. Tracy is guiding a fourth-place team without a scratch on him. That is practically Walter Alston/Tommy Lasorda-level job security. It's hard to imagine Tracy not thinking that the burden of proof has been placed on DePodesta, and that a year from now, Tracy could be the last man standing. The only reason I can see Tracy leaving the Dodgers next month is if DePodesta (with the necessary support of McCourt) asserts his authority over Tracy. Then, Tracy becomes vulnerable, and has to face the idea that he might be looking for a job at the end of 2006, with no assurance that there will be as many openings then. But whether Tracy stays or Tracy goes, the next two years are about DePodesta. Not this year, which was clearly defined last offseason by the Green trade, the resistance to Adrian Beltre's charms, and the retention of prospects as a win-if-we-can, build-for-the-future campaign, a year in which the idea of letting Tracy have his way was still not only romantic, but plausible, a year in which the glow of the 2004 division championship wafted in the air before fading. This is a message for the fans, for the media, and for that matter, everyone in the Dodger organization. DePodesta should not be judged on this year alone. No general manager worth his cilantro works on a one-year program. And frankly, two years is too soon to judge as well, unless the general manager has Maloned the team into long-term contracts it will take half a decade to bail out of. J.D. Drew, Derek Lowe, Odalis Perez and Brad Penny - that's next to nothing compared to what Sheriff Kevin saddled the Dodgers with. But beginning this offseason, this has to become DePodesta's team. For real. If everyone is going to hold him under the microscope, he must make sure it's his cells they're actually scoping. It's my feeling that we will all be rewarded if this happens.
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Jason Repko: "But Mr. Tracy, can't I be in the show tonight?"
Jim Tracy: "Sometimes, Jason, you get me so .... [incoherent Spanish]"
Jason Repko: "Waaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh"
Or in an appendix.
At this point, I'm getting even more frustated with Perez not playing than Choi. Robles is slumping, and has got to tired at this point. Why not give him a couple nights off? We know what we're going to get from him already.
P.S. I still miss Dukie.
A young actress -- Taryn Manning -- who was on the Jet Blue landing gear flight was quoted on cnn.com: "When the plane finally touched down safely amid a shower of sparks and smoke as its front tire disintegrated, Manning said passengers burst into a deafening round of cheers and applause. 'It sounded like Dodger Stadium in there,' she said."
Well, in theory anyhow . . .
What a heck of a player! I hope the Dodgers bring him back next year to back up Navarro.
I love the Green-esque double play groundouts.
Lets not forget about the rainbow throws to second.
And last but not least, the blazing speed he displays running to first.
Here's a suggestion Phillip's, lean forward a little when you run.
10 Agreed. I would compare DePo's position to a college football coach who is just completing his first season. He's still dealing with recruits from the previous regime, and he hasn't remade the team in his own image quite yet. Once he's done so, then it's fair to pass a definitive judgment on him. But not before.
Regarding "building the team in his own image": which inherited players has Depo yet to get rid of? Correct me if I'm wrong, but the only players Depo didn't acquire or resign are Weaver and Cararra. Seems to me like the team is pretty much all Depo at this point.
In fact, didn't Beane implode a team that was doing decently but had a low ceiling? I remember them having some mild success with guys like Bordick, Matt Stairs and Geronimo Berroa, then Beane rejiggered the whole team.
I had them on the list originally, but didn't Depo resign each of them? I was counting "resignings" as "Depo's guys."
My guess is that DePo has both a short term and long term plan. Some of the players he has brought in now would be part of his short term plan and others part of his long term plan. In a couple of years we will be dealing fully with the long term plan.
You look at the team, even without injuries, and you ask yourself, "at what positions do we need to improve?" You then answer...
..left field..
..center field..
..third base..
..first base..
..third starter..
..fourth starter..
..fifth starter..
..infield bench..
..long relief..
..middle relief..
..setup man..
That is a ton of holes to patch. Even if we had Superman for our GM, we wouldn't be able to improve all of these positions in the offseason. It just isn't possible. Let's take the top five needs for next year:
- Third starter
- Fourth starter
- Third base
- First base
- Left field
Let's assume the DePodesta is able to improve at all five of those spots. So, assuming that, what's our record next year? .500? Maybe 85 wins? Let's face it, the Padres have a lot fewer holes to fill than we do, and there's no way the NL West wins the wildcard next year either.
Maybe DePodesta has a five-year plan of greatness, I don't know. What I do know is that neither he, nor McCourt, have been very forthcoming with what their plans are. "We want to field the best team we can", wow, that's a newsflash right there! Throw us a bone, guys. The season is done anyways.
i don't think you can call some re-signings and trades as "depo guys", phillips,izturis,odalis perez are examples.
i think 24 put it in a good way, a short term plan and a long term plan.
Maybe we can distinguish between "Depo's Short-term Guys" and "Depo's Long-term guys." As far as I'm concerned, if Depo signs a player, that player then becomes part of the team that Depo has built. I don't see how you can assign the responsibility to anyone other than Depo, unless you happen to know (for example) that McCourt forced Depo to sign a player against his (Depo's) will.
Great post, Jon. You make it seem so easy and enjoyable to be reasonable that I can't help but wonder why it's not more fashionable.
"We would like to improve our defense."
or "We would like to add some big name players to the roster."
or "We are looking to our kids coming up in 07 and blowing everyone away, so hold tight and be a little patient."
or "We are trying not to be the Pasadena 51s"
I understand that if DePodesta comes out and says "We would like to get a new left fielder", yeah, that makes his bargaining weak, but here's the thing: he is already bargaining from a weakened position, because the team sucks so much.
I think a bullpen with Gagne closing and Sanchez, Brazoban, Broxton, and Kuo as options for either middle relief or setup, is pretty solid.
#1 - does any team not want to do this?
#2 - they did this a year ago with Kent, Drew and Lowe - any reason to think they won't continue to do so?
#3 - obviously true based on the protection of the prosects
#4 - take on faith, since they'd never say the opposite. Again, they didn't set out to be the 51s this year - injuries, forseeable or not, put them in that position. Signing Drew, Kent and Lowe is not an indication that their goal is to be the 51s.
If you think DePodesta stinks, nothing he says is going to comfort you.
On the other hand, I wouldn't mind seeing Jim Tracy admit one mistake he has made since leaving Quantrill in that game too long two years ago. Unlike DePodesta, who has admitted to mistakes, I believe Tracy has justified every move he has made the past two seasons.
"We are looking to our kids coming up in 07 and blowing everyone away, so hold tight and be a little patient."
Are you sure you're just unhappy with the results and decisions made so far, rather than unhappy with not being let in more on the details of the plan?
25 The Padres have 12 FAs. 10 of them have been a signifcant part of the team this year. If they lose half of them, they could be in trouble. Plus they have other holes that need to be filled. Their FA list is: Joe Randa, Ramon Hernandez, Mark Sweeney, Damian Jackson, Eric Young (Team Option), Brian Giles, Trevor Hoffman, Pedro Astacio, Robert Fick, Andy Ashby, Chris Hammond, Rudy Seanez. Ashby and Astacio were the 2 guys that haven't done anything
I still think that this was an 85-win team with only a normal dose of injuries. Not a great team, but better than .500.
I think Randa will go. I can't imagine that they are going to give up on Sean Burroughs just yet.
Bochy seems to love Damian Jackson. Ramon Hernandez was probably on his way out as Miguel Olivo played well when he first got there, but Olivo has turned psycho and makes weird mistakes.
Brian Giles (aka the Padres offense) will get a lot of calls this offseason.
Exactly. It seems, this year, if Depodesta gave Tracy some eggs to make omelettes, tracy hardboils the eggs and wonders why the omelette did not turn out right.
I agree with that reasoning, although I suspect that if Tracy's crappy lineups had been successful, at least some folks around here would have given more credit to Depo for acquiring the players than to Tracy for using them. But we'll never know.
But what if Tracy tried to make egg salad and instead cooked the eggs over easy?
37 Jon, I guess I'm spoiled-- I absolutely love transparency in an organization. To me, there's a difference between implying that we want to improve the infield defense (like every team does) and coming out and saying it to the press. To me, the latter implies serious commitment whereas the former doesn't necessarily. LA is a market, for better or worse, where if you aren't out rallying the troops in the press every day, you're viewed as apathetic.
And I don't think DePodesta sucks -- actually scratch that, I do think he is in over his head and could use a bit of help, but I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt as long as he's a little bit more vocal than he has been. That makes me unhappy with the results of the 2005 season, who isn't?, but I'm concerned that even with all of our guys healthy next year we won't be a real contender.
I happen to think that Yhency can still pitch (crossing fingers and toes), but if Yhency can't pitch, then this is a key point.
The only thing is, why sign Lowe, Odalis and to a much lesser extend Drew if we werent playing for 05?
You can add Kent to that list.
Those guys (minus the Kent amendment in 57) are on 3, 4, and 5-year deals. They're clearny built into the long-term plans.
If anything, the past offseason and this upcoming offseason illustrate that what you can't always get everything you need. As a result, you have to 'stock up' on players when they are available, instead of finding a dearth of them available at any one time and being totaly screwed.
My only question is: How much evidence do we really have that DePodesta and Tracy aren't on the same page?
That may seem like a dumb question to take to this crowd, but it seems like the primary disagreement comes down to the usage of one player. (I'm somewhat dubious that DePo really sees AP as a starter.) And even then, who knows how strongly DePo really feels in opposition to Choi's benching? Saenz has had a better year than was expected. Phillips at first might have been merely an experiment; perhaps DePo said 'okay' to it, and maybe, for all we know, it was his idea. Tracy has been completely obedient to DePo's interest in seeing substantial playing time given to other projects like Navarro, Aybar, Brazoban, Broxton and Houlton. Since Aybar arrived, for example, how many games has Edwards played at third base? How many games has Phillips caught that Navarro could have caught? You can't just blame Tracy for his use of Erickson and Valentin--DePo brought them here.
I know the Times had a mention or two of "creative disagreements" and "brainstorming" about Perez and Choi. Is it possible we at DT have turned these shreds of cabbage into a tub of sauerkraut?
My point in raising this is-- it's at least arguable that everything you say DePo is trying to do to build the team is completely supported by Tracy in principle, as well as in fact, with the exception of one player. Tracy might have Alston/Lasorda-like job security as the team sinks in the west because stability is something DePo values over lock-step comformity; and because DePo knows as well as anyone that 2005's Dodgers were a flawed and unlucky team.
This is not a defense of Tracy--just an alternate hypothesis of the internal Dodger dynamics.
I'm more inclined to believe that McCourt really has left the choice up to DePodesta, and that DePo now is deciding whether or not he can live with one more year of JT's "old school" lunacy, since the target is probably 2007 anyway. In a sense, it'd be easier to hang JT if he were to fail with a healthy team, and when it would mean not re-signing him, as opposed to actually firing him mid-contract.
Monterey Chris made the point more subtly when he spoke of the long-term plan v. the short-term plan. Clearly, we are treading water until the Jacksonville Kids are ready, and we can't judge the wisdom of doing so until they've made it all the way to LA.
Not a dumb question at all. In fact, it's the $64,000 Question.
If we're right about what we believe to be DePodesta's vision, then we're right that Tracy either doesn't understand it as well as we do (we're geniuses, after all), OR we're right that Tracy is insubordinate, OR we're right that DePodesta hasn't 'splained it well enough (to return to Jon's Lucy/Ricky metaphor).
If we're incorrect about DePodesta's view of the world (or that he even has a coherent one), then dzzrtRatt is right to be skeptical that the problem is a GM/Manager mismatch.
7, plus 6 in LF. Aybar has started at 3B in 12 games
Perhaps DePo & Tracy thought Phillips would hit better if he didn't have to play catcher. Tried & failed. You've got Tracy's stupid comment about Phillips and RISP, but he might've gotten that stat from DePo's computer.
When Aybar came up, he was first used as a pinch hitter and 2B late inning replacement. It wasn't until Dodgers lost a crucial game to Padres did Tracy show any sign that he knows Aybar can even play 3B. When Navarro was first called up earlier in the season, he didn't play at all.
Broxton got sent down after his best outing in the Florida game; Kuo pitched to what, 4 hitters? in the first 2 weeks he's up. They were not used as DePodesta suggested they would.
All of these decisions are defendable, but looking at all of them does suggest Tracy hasn't been "completely obedient".
69 When Henson said Tracy didn't like Phillips, I had a feeling it was compared to Bako. There were rumors that Bako was going to get more playing time before he got hurt.
So Bako > Phillips > Choi. Not a contradiction at all. Phillips didn't start at 1B regularly until after Tracy "vouched" he wouldn't start Saenz on consecutive days. So in fact, it was anyone > Choi in Tracy's mind.
Ding ding ding!
Also, the whole don't-call-it-a-one-year-plan thing, while understandable, ignores DePo's (and McCourt's) oft-professed sentiments -- that they want to win now, WHILE rebuilding the farm system and setting up for the future. DePo has stressed previously that profound system change can only be purchased with the currency of wins. He fell far short this year.
Also, his five-year plan is rapidly filling up, with overpriced question marks like Lowe and Drew. I still like him, but the most important point is Jon's -- the GM & manager need to be on the same page in terms of player development & deployment, or else this organization will become a joke.
77 Navarro wasn't called up the first time to play. He was on the roster, and DePo needed to delay bringing up Rose for some reason (I can't rememebr exactly). When Navarro was called up to actually play, he did play regularly.
Navarro and Repko seem to be the only rookies that had a considerable amount of playing time after he was called up, although with all the rookies, I could be forgetting someone
The theory was that Phillips would play most of the time and Navarro wouldn't gain any experience sitting on the bench.
Let's just say this. I don't know if it's the case or not. I understand the possibility (or the fear). But I don't think that argument is any more plausible than the argument that DePodesta has simply decided to be deferential to Tracy for the first year - out of respect, insecurity or what have you.
I also believe that starting in 2006, the question becomes as irrelevant for all of us as it has already become for Steve. This will be the second year in a row in which DePo and McCourt have the opportunity to weigh in on Tracy, after a year in which his warts have been more clearly exposed than ever before. If Tracy comes back, we have to consider everything he does endorsed by top management.
I don't think we can know yet what really happened in 2005. But the question becomes irrelevant in about 10-20 days.
Postscript: the question extends beyond starting lineups. It also concerns the whole aspect of J.D. Drew bunting, false platooning (i.e., Saenz pinch-hitting for Choi when a lefty enters the game, but not vice versa), etc.
Believe it or not, I actually thought about ending this post after the initial "Yup." HA!
The near-universality of dumb managerial decisions that appear obviously wrong to us mere fans also makes me think there is something inherently confusing about being a baseball manager that leads to regular cerebral breakdowns. I just don't remember ever following a team, even a very successful team, where the manager didn't make bafflingly stupid decisions frequently enough to notice. Tracy's made his share, but can DePo replace him with any confidence that he's getting something better? Unless you watch a manager day to day, how could a GM even know what he's getting?
Isn't it possible, though, that a manager might manage differently in the first year of a deal than he did in the last year of a deal? Especially if he feels the winds shifting against his boss?
If it can happen to players, why can't it happen to managers?
Again, that's why I think it's very plausible that DePodesta didn't originally see a problem with giving Tracy a lot of rope.
AAAAAAYYYYIIEEEEEEE!!!!
If the Giants and Padres tie, the tiebreaker will be played in San Diego.
The Phillies would host Atlanta in a tiebreaker and the Red Sox would host Cleveland.
Tracy will have to toe the line and do things DePo's way, with DePo asserting his authority....
or, Tracy will do whatever he wants, fly in the face of DePo, and get away with it, thus inferring McCourt's support for him over DePo...in which case, we should be looking for a new GM (in this case, DePo should resign if he has the backbone to stand up for his principles & beliefs)...
then again, Tracy may opt out now for Pitt or Cincy...
http://presspass.mlb.com/pp_viewer.asp?d=26039
Sniff, if only my parents were around to see that.... I wish I could hang around tonight for the game, but the allure of $60 to be made while watching two mediocre football teams duke it out in the wilds of Tujunga is too much to pass up.
Random Dodger Game Callback
September 23, 1927
Rookie pitcher Ray Moss, in just his second major league game, had a triple and a sacrifice fly to help Brooklyn earn a split in a doubleheader against Cincinnati at Redland Field. Cincinnati won the opener 6-3 and Brooklyn won the nightcap 4-3. With the season nearly over, Brooklyn was stuck in sixth place with a 62-86 record, 28 games behind first place Pittsburgh.
Former Giants star George Kelly was the hero for Cincinnati in the opener. Kelly hit a bases-loaded single to score three runs off of Brooklyn starter Jumbo Elliott, and later came around to score after an error. Kelly would single again in the seventh, steal second and come around to score again. Brooklyn first baseman Babe Herman had two triples in a losing cause.
In the second game, Brooklyn manager Wilbert Robinson turned to Moss, who had pitched one game before in the majors back in 1926. Brooklyn scored three times in the fourth inning. Herman singled and two batters later third baseman Johnny Butler walked. Catcher Hank DeBerry tripled in two runs and Moss followed with another triple to score DeBerry. It would be the only triple Moss would hit in 149 major league at bats. In the sixth, Butler tripled and Moss scored him on a sacrifice fly. The Dodgers hit seven triples in the doubleheader, three by Herman.
The Reds scored a run in the seventh and two more in the ninth. So Robinson turned to Watty Clark to get the last two outs of the game, retiring Kelly as a pinch hitter to end the game.
Brooklyn would finish the 1927 season with a 65-88 record, 28 ½ games behind the first place Pirates.
The 1927 squad was not very distinguished. Herman led the team with 14 home runs, but it hit only 39 overall. Herman batted .272, second best on the team. Center fielder Jigger Statz led the team at .274. Statz would achieve more fame as a player for the PCL Los Angeles Angels. Harvey Hendrick batted .310 coming in off the bench frequently.
Hall of Famer Dazzy Vance was the pitching star, as expected. Vance went 16-15 with a 2.70 ERA and led the NL with 184 strikeouts. Rookie Moss would get a regular job with the Dodgers in 1928 and would pitch in the majors until 1931. He passed away in 1998 at the age of 96.
Thanks to the New York Times and Retrosheet.
Cubs, if the Cardinals win
Dodgers, if the they lose and San Diego wins
The Brewers and Mets will be alive until Saturday at least because the Astros already lost today.
Here's where I give DePo the benefit of the doubt, and where I think most of us did, in that we didn't think that re-signing Tracy was a bad idea at the time (well, 'cept for Steve). The story then was that JT "got the most out of his players" by "putting them in a position to succeed" or some similar blather. JT's style/philosophy worked with the type of team that he had. What we didn't know was whether or not he could adapt to a different kind of team. There was every reason to give him a shot to do so (unless he had vowed to have JD Drew bunt), and we only know now that JT is not adaptable to his personnel, but has a single style that doesn't fit the team as currently constructed. So now we know. Now the question is whether DePo can (1) convince the leopard to change his spots, (2) put up with the mismatch for another year, sacrificing Kent's usefulness, but otherwise just holding on for the kids, or (3) replace him with a manager who either IS more adaptable or is already, somehow, similarly enlightened.
Thus, I don't think giving JT a shot was a bad idea - we really didn't know he'd get the least possible out of this sort of team. But if he's rehired, and doesn't change his ways, then it's an admission that 2006 will look a lot like 2005 (only healthier, one hopes).
Royals got a leadoff homer from Chip Ambres and lead Cleveland 1-0. But it's Lima Time tonight in KC.
No score between Minnesota and Chicago yet.
Cleveland fans were puzzled that Hernandez got the start against a righthander.
Danny Ardoin hit a 2-run homer and the Rockies lead the Giants 3-0.
I took exception to that. Giants fans have an odd way of viewing the quality of their team.
No radio for me tonight for those who were eagerly awaiting another appearance!
If McCourt inherits Tracy and hires DePodesta, how does Tracy become McCourt's guy?
Exactly what has to happen before you can blame your performance on injuries? A team plane crash?
The Dodgers organization had transparency during the O'Malley years? The only guy Walter O'Malley was transparent to was Superman.
Looking on the bright side, you probably don't have to worry about J.D. Drew taking that second year out clause . . .
3B Aybar
SS (if I say his name, I'm afraid it won't come true)
2B Kent
1B Saenz (Maholm is a lefty)
RF Cruz
C Navarro
LF Edwards
CF Werth
P Houlton
finally
in case any of you are wondering, robles has been hitting .242/.278/.333, which is an OPS of .611, for the past 30 days.
I don't know what that means, but that's how I feel.
How many announcers are worse than Duane Kuiper
(HE HITS IT HIGH, DEEEEEEP.....GONE!)
Nice piece of hitting by Aybar.
vr, Xei
Phillips has a sprained right wrist
That play drew a veritable Greek chorus from DT last night.
Jon, as bad as Malone was, can you back this up with a comparable 140 million spent by Malone? Right off the bat Kevin Brown was one of the top pitchers in the league for us. Drew did what some of us here thought he would do (and were lambasted by the bulk of posters here) , Lowe was a #4 starter when it counted, Penny was fine (a debacle if he is hurt again) and Odalis might prove to be the equal of his cousin.
Drew: Driefort
Odalis: Carlos Perez
Lowe+Penny: Brown and Ashby
The Giants pulled out a win, and the Padres are holding onto a 3-2 lead in the 7th to keep the Giants 5 back
While most on this site continue to hose Tracy for playing people like Edwards and Robles, I understand the feelings about Perez and Choi and I agree with most of you on those two not playing enough. However, with the injuries in the DOdger outfield, Edwards has become the most viable candidate. Remember Ledee has been almost day to day for the past month. As an added point Werth has now struck out for the 100th time in a little over 300 at bats. Once Drew went down it was clear the Dodger outfield was not a big hitting outfield and when Bradley went down shortly after, any chance the Dodgers had even in a bad division was based on picking up a good bat. Cruz was a good pick-up, but the Dodgers really needed a bat one month earlier. They also need one with a larger impact.
The Dodgers couldn't get anyone or didn't want to and when that happened Tracy's position in the organization increased.
At some point McCourt has to decide how much he wants to spend DePodesta has to have more power and Tracy has to decide if he can work within the DePodesta plan and the three need to figure out real quickly after the season ends.
My prediction is we have another year of the same. The reason being is McCourt is cheap.
Has the world gone mad?
Is there any baseball team I can still root for, that will play the game the right way?
I'm losing hope.
how do you "fight through" a broken wrist? if you can't swing the bat, you're useless to the team.
It was a random event. The "injury-prone" argument has traction if the guy went out for bad knees or somethign like that. Fact is, he didn't. He's out because he tried to hit a fastball with his wrist.
Jason Kendall in the 3 hole? Why?
Hatteburg sac bunts in front of Swisher who has like 3 hits in september.
Mark Ellis swings at ball 4 that would have loaded the bases.
Kotsay does the same things...
What team can I root for that does things the right way? Do the Indians bunt? I think they have almost 7 or 8 guys in their lineup that all OPS over .800 May have to switch allegiance to them.
Is there, like, a macro for that so I only have to type one button rather than repeat it over and over again?
I guess it was declared unfit for the Internet.
He's killing LHP in only 20 at bats.
To make up for that light workload, Perez plans to pitch extensively in winter ball.
"I want to go there and pitch at least 60 to 70 innings to go and reestablish," Perez said, later adding, "If I do the right things, I know I can be better."
Tracy said the Dodgers will monitor Perez over the winter, but aren't opposed to him pitching winter ball. Perez said he usually gives himself at least one month off during the winter.
And more importantly...
"The situation with his little boy, it seems as if the kidney situation -- which seemed like it was the most serious situation -- is kind of stabilizing itself, and they're trying to get him on a regular feeding pattern," Tracy said.
Stan from Tacoma
We may offer arbitration to Saenz, who knows?
That Trojan one on the left looks pretty good, (very nasty looking in a good way) although as a group, I think UCLA's win hands down.
If your still up, really good read above. Yes, I like Navarro being a LoDuca of Earl fan. I think he does have a lot of heart & soul. A lot of these young guys seem to have that.
Way to go Shmoll!
And Schmoll made the SS position in general useless in that inning anyways
When the A's start sac bunting, they deserve to lose.