Then just play out the rest of the year.
Reap the benefits in the following seasons.

I am surprised they cut Brady Clark. But that must mean that they believe Kemp can play CF everyday. Its really too bad Pierre has his horrid contract, since Brady Clark is most likely the better player both offensive/defensively.

Now, either the team will be good enough to win, or wont be. I suspect that Ned's going to let these rookies play the next month. If they say in contention, there wont be a big trade at the deadline.

However, if Kemp/Loney/Abreu fall flat on their faces-- and the team falls back in the standings-could be the makings of a big trade since I suspect lots of major league clubs would want to see these guys for a while at the MLB level awhile before they'd trade for them.

And you are right, calling them up is one thing, and playing them is quite another. Let's just hope these kids hit when given a chance and take off from there!

There's no reason to play Nomar and Pierre anyway, so it shouldn't take much!

When they figure that out, and they should have by now anyway, what's the point in getting rid of your future and keeping those guys?

There's no way I'd deal them unless it was for another young player in his prime (Cabrera, Texiera, etc...).

But I don't agree with just trading or DFAing LuGo, because based on performance, he has been a better bat than Nomar or Pierre.

If it's to get Cabrera, and by most accounts, he isn't available, then yeah, I can see it. But, other then him, who is likely to be available that would be worth trading any youngster for?

If it's someone like Betemit and Houlton for Glaus then yeah, that's something that could be stomached! But ANY youngster of value only amplifies the problems already created. (See Pierre and Nomar acquisitions).

I would caution to jump on the whole "managment is to stupid/arrogant/egotistic" to give the young players playing time argument. They wouldn't have called up LaRoche, then Abreu, now Kemp and Loney if that were true. There is also considerations made to the players (and the impact a rash decision could make on future free agents) and the fans at large who are very familiar with Pierre and especially Nomar, but less so with Loney and Kemp. Really, considering it's only two+ months into the season, you're really just complaining about how quickly managment is making these moves rather than whether they're willing to make them.

Garciapierra...?

Just means all our righties are on the bench if we need them.

vs LH: .281/.306/.375/.681, 1 HR in 128 ABs
vs RH: .288/.308/.460/.769, 5 HR in 139 ABs

I'm so glad about the Loney call-up. Though I do feel bad for Clark, who I know is better than he's really shown, or had time to show. But I'd rather have Kemp and Loney at this point. What I would read into this is what I'd suggested or hoped for, that they're going to give Nomar much more rest since they saw - as we've seen - that he's obviously sluggish and tired right now. Maybe a break, or giving him more breaks each week, is what he needs to pick it up again. I just hope they give Loney 2-3 chances per week. At least.

I'm really happy they're on the right path here.

and what happened with uci??? i go there..did they get screwed with a baseball call?

My baseball life be very, very rich.

C'mon, sample size. Career:
vs LHB .263/.314/.385
vs RHB .250/.293/.671

Martin C 5 games
Lieberthal C 1
Garciaparra 1B 4
Loney 1B 2 / RF 2
Kent 2B 5
Abreu 3B 4 / 2B 1
Betemit 3B 2
Furcal SS 6
Gonzalez LF 4
Pierre CF 4
Ethier RF 4
Kemp LF 2 / CF 2

I think all the math adds up there.

Betemit would certainly be pinch hit for if a lefty was brought in in a key situation. Maybe a couple of the others would be too. In fact, this lineup might be a good recipe for suckering an opposing manager into bringing in a lefty, only to have to face Saenz with the game on the line.

What's more interesting to me is that Loney is now apparently our fifth outfielder. Did he do all right in the OF in Vegas?

UCI wins anyways.

UCI (my alma mater!) ends up winning in the bottom of the 9th. On to Omaha!

She got me one, you know. And if you don't know, it's only because you missed one of my forty-two posts talking about how my mom got me a Nomar jersey. I was of two minds about it when I got it and I'm of two minds about it now. On the one hand, Nomar is quality people, an Angeleno, a Mexican-American, married to one of the more popular female sports heroes and the father of twins. His he was the +1 in the 4+1 and my mom was there. Nomar is her favorite Dodger. Of course, I'll take the jersey.

On the other hand... well, you know the other hand, right? There's not a tangible reason I can think of why Nomar is worth paying mucho dolares when James Loney could do the same thing--perhaps a little better, perhaps a little worse--for a fraction of the cost.

When I wear the number 5 jersey with the name Garciaparra on the back, it's a reminder of the conflict I still have between the tangible and the intangible. One of the smartest writers I've ever had the pleasure of meeting told me at a Dodger game that Juan Pierre has the potential to be the uniter between the two warring factions of baseball analysis. I've been reflecting on that comment ever since he said it and I'd like to add an addendum if not a correction: the uniter is the name on the back of my christmas present. Nomar should be at the center of the discussion because he's right in the middle.

I'm liking my jersey more and more each day.

Karros, Choi and Nomar.

Pierre is coming on strong, from what I hear.

Are we really that afraid of Scott Downs and Brian Tallet?

Congrats to UCI. I love it when the west coast schools win the whole thing.

i took a picture of Sal Fassano on friday when i went to Dodger Stadium.

Is your camera OK...?

you should ahve went to the bars with him.

It's not a question of fear, it's a question of maximizing your resources. And it's not just that the southpaws will face southpaws, it's also that Furcal-Abreu-Martin will NOT face southpaws.

Beyond that, you also have a pitcher's spot right in the middle, so you're kind of forced to bring up a RHB to PH in the 9-hole, which then lets the Jays counter with an RHP who can stay in for the three RHB in a row.

The point is, this lineup systemically negates the possibility of a platoon advantage, and it only creates platoon advantages in places where it could have been created anyway.

a better CF'er would have caught it imo.

Nope, the second & 3rd time around always gives you a better picture.

Willy Mays would have caught it. Willy Mays Hays, not so much.

yes sir!

Yeah, I know, I'm sweating for stuff that might never be. I want Schmidt to throw the hard stuff he had before.

whats your point? thats not where wells was standing.

Or tap back to the pitcher.

jeez Louise, I miss one inning and all heck breaks loose.

He's not gangly anymore.

That strategy would probably put a serious dent in his trade value, though.

Sal Fasano!

Lord.

Our best hope is Ichiro leaves and we can take advantage of Bill Bavasi.

Granted, I'd like to see Kemp in center or left in lieu of Pierre or Gonzales, but since I doubt that will happen, what's everyone think?

shot shoulder?

{violate first rule of DT}

He's not gangly anymore.

He clearly does not have it today.

He's not gangly anymore.

his change up is the 81-83 pitch. his fastball has mostly been 86-87.

third times a charm. yes.

I'll take what I can get and direct my comments to my overly opinionated father-in-law who watches 3 dodgers games a year (all at my house) and insists he knows everything there is to know about how to fix the team.

Let's see if Schmidt can add a little velocity here each inning. I have a feeling we'll be seeing Chad B today.

Gangly, that's what James Loney is.

And THAT was weak, too. Was that Abreu? Sheesh. C'mon.

Defense aside, this on Schmidt here for the most part, though that first ball really should have been caught. He's just not on today at all. I guess Hendy is next in line though I'd prefer Bills come in early.

I wish 5 runs (or 3-4 more runs) didn't seem like climbing K2 with this team but it does.

a ton of things go threw my mind when professions athletes do there job half way.

should be professional athletes. sorry.

it's an easy one (i think i know the answer) did he also play with the A's??

Oops, they just announced the answer. Just take my word for it, I guessed it!

Schmidt didn't look at all done last week. So I don't know.

Okay, I'm a jinx for the Dodgers offense. I missed the first inning. I watched all of yesterday's game. I should skip the rest of the game and maybe they'll have more luck. At the worst, I'll be less frustrated.

I'm gonna take a break to register fireeddiemurray.typepad.com; be back later. ;-)

Sigh. I'm gonna go shoot some hoops or something. This is yukky. Someone page me when their offense wakes up.

I'm hopping, too. Hopping mad. Or something.

At least Pierre's out of centerfield. Clearly his defense on Glaus's homer to center was lacking.

the dodgers lose!!! thhhhhhhheeeeeee dodgers lose!!!!

find some velocity and some offense or this is going to be a long year...

Nomo got 18 starts in 04 before management accepted that he was done. O/U on starts for Schmidt?

Too bad it's happening in such an ugly game.

They cant go back to Hendrickson as a starter can they?

i'm hoping there's an insurance thing with Schmidt.

Boy, Hendrickson looks really... not good.

since you know what Little's philosophy is. When he moves pierre to the 8th spot because he wasnt taking enough pitches and not getting on base, that should tell you littles philopshy. of course you dont care, you just have to meet your quota of 50 smart alec comments per day.

Hasta luego.

just frustrated like everyone else :(

I dont think Little put Pierre in the 8th spot bc he wasnt walking enough. He put him down there because Pierre isnt hitting his normal .300BA, with .330 OBP (which still isnt good anyways to be leadoff batter anyways).

This stretch is reminding me of the Dodgers' post-All Star break swoon last season.

What is it about losses that bring out the cranky in everyone, anyway?

i dont understand why you guys are trying to insinuate why you think little moved pierre down to fit your view of how the dodgers think when there are quotes by little on why specifically was moved down.

These are good signs people.

Because losing sucks. It's normal for things to get a little trenchant during a brutal game like this.

that's a good point.

259.Good idea

whatever, the dodgers are crapping out this guy and its time to complain. ill just let it happen and go finish my draft summary for jon.

Honestly, I still had some hope they could come back when it was 5 or 6 to 2 but then it just imploded.

Okay, I smell as bad as the Dodgers' defense lately so I'm sending myself to the showers. No, really, this time I mean it, I'm leaving. Here's hoping for a 7+1 miracle.

Apr .249/.319/.367
May .256/.314/.372
Jun .227/.283/.334
Jul .227/.273/.353
Aug .245/.318/.371
Sep .254/.307/.409

August and September/October were good, but not appreciably better than their levels established in the first months of the year. I really don't believe in hitting coaches as causing good hitting.

Good news: the Halos' bullpen is depleted and their starting rotation is starting to look iffy. Jered Weaver got yanked after three with back tightness, and Bartolo Colon may not make his next start, either.

Everyone else: on a rocket ship to the cold outer reaches of space.

I'm sure I've forgotten someone deserving, but I can't think who - maybe Billingsly.

Jon, is your car still running smoothly? Had to ask.

It may be still too early, but I've got to say I'm happy that Ned is showing some flexible thinking by bringing up the kids. Maybe he's just showcasing for a big trade, but right now I like him much better than I used to.

Perspective check for y'all: The Giants haven't scored a run in 20 straight innings now.

the NL West is going thru a collective slump

it's still all tide up in Zona

woo!!

Their bullpen taking all 3 losses likely.

But then I realize we can afford it much more than the middle and small market clubs, so it probably works to our benefit.
We wrote off things like Drieffort and Perez and go right on giving players huge contracts. Go figure.

344 He does, or like one of the Darryl brothers from Newhart.

Pretty bad weekend for the NL West.

with any luck yesterdays game could have been had.

(Hint: http://tinyurl.com/2swm5p)