Let me be second to say:

Go Sue!

test

Grandma Sue's looking sharp at the plate. The Giant's need a power hitter is she willing to relocate?

D4P, I agree celebs don't get to behave badly or take policital positions and then retreat. I just think Moore took advantage of Heston's infirmaties. It would be like going after Dick Clark today. (BTW, I had no problem with Moore going after Clark at the time.)

4
Except, the infirmities kind of lost their infirmitiness when Heston showed that he could travel around to make speeches. If you can travel around, you can talk to a camera at your house.

According to BP's postseason odds, the Dodgers currently have a 27.6% chance of making the playoffs, and 21.6% chance of winning the division. We trail the Padres and Dbacks in each category.

Go Sue!

For everyone out there who still have some of their grand parents living, go see them. When I was younger, I was too caught up in my own world to want to spend much time with my grand parents. Now, I regret the wasted opportunities.

Go Grandma Sue!

Cool post.

7 I've got a great grandma. Out in good old Goldfield, NV. She still plays the slots like she's 21.

Grandma Sue should be your DT Shirt model!

Go Grandma Sue!

7

I'm going to South Carolina to see mine next week, followed by a drive down to Jacksonville, where I'm hoping for a Minotaur sighting.

11
Swing up to Durham you might get a D4P sighting

12

I already know he exists.

Grannies really are the best. Happy birthday Sue:)

I lost mine this past September. She was a huge Dodger fan, there's no one else who will ever be as fun to watch a game with. She swore to me that when Gibson hit the home run that she jumped so high she touched the ceiling.

Thanks again Jon, for topics that open things up for all of us.

14 That story about touching the ceiling made me laugh so hard my dog ran away.

Anyone seen a starting outfield for today's game yet?

I would echo Marty's comment about grandparents. I grew up with my maternal grandmother and it was great. I learned a lot from her.

My 2 remaining grandparents constantly send me stuff to read, from such sources as "Focus on the Family", Pat Robertson, etc.

You do the math.

wooooahhh so my DT shirt got here on Jon's grandfather's birthday, and I'll be wearing it all weekend until Jon's grandmother's birthday?? CooL!! Happy bday Grandma Sue!

It's a privilege to have a grandparent, or grandparents who are there for you. They can be objective when parents can't, and are often the best listeners. I coulnd't begin to encompass what my grandmother gave to my life. It's a trip now that I am a dad and don't have her around to educate my child the way she educated me. It's now up to dad, which makes me appreciate her even more.

Betemit started at first base for the Yankees today.

I find it ironic that Ned paid $18 million a year for a centerfielder who would do well to put up the same kinda numbers Betemit put up for us last year for a mere pittance.

Is Grandma Sue available to pinch hit today?

Have we properly busted Molly's chops yet for citing Derek Jeter as a reason it's good to be alive?

Great pictures of your grandparents. My grandmother Harriet has been gone almost thirty years, but I still remember the twinkle in her eye as she got into the car to go to a Dodger game.

22 I don't think that what Ned signed Andruw for. Andruw has a track record of hitting 30+, and playing top notch defense at an important position. Jones may end up putting up Betimit numbers, but it remains to be seen.

24
I'm still wondering why she was so disappointed and felt compelled to post Gin Blossom lyrics that address infidelity.

24 Derek Jeter is a reason it's good to be alive.

Having something to hate makes one more fully appreciate having something to love

Happy B-Day to Grandma Sue. A southpaw, eh?

16 - Yes, please post the line-up asap so we can start overreacting.

Tony Jackson on Peavy:

Not to shoot all of you down, but I'm thinking this whole mysterious substance on Jake Peavy's hand thing is a whole lot of nothing ... and even if it is a little bit of something, it's probably the same little bit of something that almost every pitcher in baseball is guilty of

Happy birthday grandmother Sue and hooray for you and all the other ones mentioned here.

My maternal grandmother lived with us for the last 20 years or so of her life (which I wrote about here on the anniversary of her 100th):
http://www.linkmeister.com/blog/archives/000218.html. She was a joy.

My paternal grandmother lived and died in Phoenix. She was a hard-core Dodgers fan from the moment they got to Los Angeles. She always listened to the game on the radio. I hadn't quite realized how much she loved the game and the Dodgers till I spent a summer there while in college.

I miss 'em both. I never knew either grandfather, but I was blessed to have both my grandmothers until I was well into adulthood.

I echo Marty above. Go visit 'em.

Happy Birthday, Sue!

Hey, check this out: http://tinyurl.com/5g635t

Golfer's talking smack. Big name golfers. With a mild rule 1 violation, to boot.

Your grandmother and I share birthdays (though 6 decades apart).

Happy birthday to her tomorrow.

Is your grandmother left handed too, or is that baseball card of her more or less for show?

Lots in common with Gramma Weisman!

Happy Birthday to Grandma Sue.

Only my mother's father is still alive of my grandparents. I'd like to say I knew the rest well, but the truth is: I lost one very early (maybe age 10); and, the other two while in college (one who I was fairly close to, the other who I never really knew).

Not to take a shot at all the Bruins around here (I tend to root for UCLA, even though the closest I got to attending was going to a career fair there once) but their loss at least got Plaschke off the Dodgers for a little while.

Of course it means he has to question whether Howland is capable of winning a championship... yes, the only team to make the last three Final Fours.

Apparently, Bill forgot the old adage that defense wins championships. Strange, because you'd think Bill would be one who was all over that kind of cliche without understanding what it actually means.

I find it ironic that Ned paid $18 million a year for a centerfielder who would do well to put up the same kinda numbers Betemit put up for us last year for a mere pittance.

Betemit can't play centerfield.

38
I understand that, but Ned turned around and paid big bucks for the kinda offensive numbers that disappointed him from Betemit, i.e. low BA, high SLG, high Ks.

39

Defense plays into the equation.

40
Is centerfield defense worth $18 million a year...?

41 - if Jones wins three more Gold Gloves and hits somewhere around his typical 30 home runs, yes, yes it is.

41

http://dodgersims.blogspot.com/2008/02/dodgers-war.html

using 2008 ZIPS projections, Jones is worth close to 18 mil..

42
Ugh. That's probably what Ned was thinking.

Anyone have any thoughts on who wins tomorrow night, Kansas or Memphis? Both looked great yesterday.

I'm rooting for Kansas, but I have a feeling Memphis will win.

42 - As much as the Gold Glove isn't always the most accurate award, if Jones wins 3 over a two year contract, then that's amazing. :)

43
Hilarious.

Bennett: $2.49M
Pierre: $2.47M

46 - D'oh, I was thinking it was a three year deal.

Though I suppose if he plays enough games next to Pierre, the voters may feel he deserves two in one year, one for center field, one for left field.

Just saw Gabriela Sabatini in the crowd at the tennis tourney. Haven't seen her in a long time.

44 - yes, because heaven forbid we take into consideration just a bit of conventional baseball wisdom that says you need to be good defensively up the middle and have the ability to hit the occasional home run.

47

Those are based on playing time estimates.

Doesn't look like Juan Pierre is going to play 60% of the time.

41 - Based on Jon's numbers on the side, the annual costs of centerfield would be around $22 million(Druw plus JP). And another $4 million to have a manager with the gumption to keep JP out of leftfield (well, at least 60-70% of the time).

D4P,

we know you hate Andruw Jones and we know you despise Ned Colletti, and we know at every chance you get, you are going to be a broken record about it.

Just let me know in advance so I can skip those posts.

50
But that's kinda my point: Betemit's defense was generally considered decent, and he had plenty of power. He also made almost no money. But Ned thought he sucked.

Per ItD:

Pierre, LF

Furcal, SS

Loney, 1B

Jones, CF

Ethier, RF

Martin, C

DeWitt, 3B

Hu, 2B

Lowe, P

Hmmm.

53
All I'm trying to say is that I find it ironic that Ned paid big bucks for a player who's really not THAT different from a player who made almost nothing that Ned gave up on.

55 - Figured that JP would get the start, based on the speed on the pathpaths argument (yeah, I know, you can't steal first), but I thought that Ethier would sit in favor of Kemp, based on the same reasoning.

I have no issues with that lineup. If there was ever a game where Pierre should play, it's today's. If Pierre was going to sit, it should have been yesterday.

50 Nonsense. "Ned" (he's a friend of yours?) liked Betemit enough to keep trying him over and over again, though he kept failing to meet expectations. Colletti was desperate for a relief pitcher after many of the others hit the floor, and had to provide somobe of substande, or at least potential, to get a decent one. Proctor has not let us down, has been consistent, and for several stretched was the only decent middle relief pitcher around.

57 Ethier DESTROYS Chris Young.

I suppose Pierre's 0-3 in the oppurtunity he had yesterday earned him another start.

May this game resemble last year's Jackie Robinson Day. Remember that one?

"Ned" (he's a friend of yours?) liked Betemit enough to keep trying him over and over again, though he kept failing to meet expectations

2007
Betemit (as a Dodger): .241/.306/.437/.742
Jones (as a Brave): .222/.311/.413/.724

With Young starting, it makes sense for Pierre to play and bat lead-off. If he gets on, he can steal lots of bases.

I also don't think another day-off will hurt Kemp. He need to relax and stop pressing.

Torre said yesterday Kemp will play most of the time.

60 - Good. Thanks.

Lifetime vs Young:
Ethier: .308/.438/.846 (16 PA, 2 HR)
Jones: .300/.300/1.200 (10 PA, 3 HR)
Kemp: .200/.200/.200 (5 PA, 0 HR)
Pierre: .250/.294/.250 (17 PA, 0 HR)

63

What about Jone's previous 8 seasons or whatever?

63 67

Career

Betemit: .260/.332/.439
Jones: .262/.341/.496

59 If Betemit failed to meet expectations, which I doubt, it was only because expectations were unrealistic. At the time he was traded in '07, his stats indicated that he was among the two or three best hitters on the team. And the notion that the Dodgers gave him chance after chance is patently false. The entire time he was on the team, they were looking for excuses to play/acquire somebody else.

We needed a relief pitcher. Presumably the Yankees didn't want any of our other bench infielders. We didn't have an extra outfielder, we didn't have Jones, they didn't want another outfielder. They wanted a decent infielder, we had a spare, so that's what we had to send them to get Proctor. If Tsao had held up, we'd still have both him and Betemit. We needed Proctor, and he proved to be worth it. It has nothing whatsoever to do with Jones. Jones was worth a two-year contract on the reasonable chance that he would revert to 2006-season style. He still may. Even if he doesn't, he's still better than Pierre.

Speaking of doing well against the Padres, Bills didn't get in on this series (except as a reliever) and it doesn't look like he will pitch against them next week.

71 He'll get the Pirates a week from Monday.

I thought the point of sitting Kemp yesterday was to calm him down at the plate?

Dont understand sitting Kemp again!

Well, Kemp is GUARANTEED to play on Tuesday vs. Doug Davis (.375/.444/.625/1.069)

72 - Lowe seems to do pretty well against them in any event. Nice to have a little bit of depth in starting pitching, which we will need in the NL West.

75 - Well, at PETCO. Just gotta score some runs.

No. No. No. No.

This Pierre situation will be the team's undoing. Seriously, does he have compromising pictures of Torre? This is unbelievable.

69 The mistaken calculation was that the great veteran Garciaparra would be our 3rd baseman, now that Loney was at first, and that with LaRoche waiting in the wings, Betemit was just a bench player and pinch hitter, a luxury we had to give up to get a relief pitcher. Nomar really is awfully young to be a completely spent force. If he'd been seen as the bench player he will be this year, and Betemit as the only 3rd baseman worth hanging on to, and the 2007 season already as a lost cause, yes, they could have held on to Betemit, had no middle relief, maybe played Beimel and Broxton far too much, and given up on the season. But at that point, it looked like we might still win the West division if we could restock relief pitching. It still seems like the best risk/choice at the time, although it was a shame to lose Betemit.

(Betemit just ground out vs. Rays. 0 for 2 and a hit by pitch/run out trying to get to 3rd in the Yankees game on now.)

78 You pull middle relievers off waivers or develop them in your system. There's almost nothing that separates Scott Proctor from Eric Hull. Betemit would have been great in a super utility role for us.

I wonder if Jones will ever get a "day off".

D4P has made a larger point about weaknesses in evaluating players be it JP, Betemit or Jones. Obviously the buck stops at Mr. Colletti's desk, but I normally see a lot of praise from commenters on Logan White. What is his role in all of this?

80 I'm sure he will. So what?

80 . Irony police (Jones averages about 158 starts a year).

That picture of DJ was the only baseball pic I had on my computer. I just meant it's good to be alive for BASEBALL.

I had a rough week, but I'm ok now. It had nothing to do with infidelity, actually. Someone I know got drunk and got behind the wheel and drove into a tree and died. It wasn't his style, but he hadn't been making good decisions lately, I guess. I was just really disappointed, and anyway that Gin Blossoms song reminded me of him from when we were in junior high.

81 I haven't heard from Logan White in a while. Usually, it's DeJon Watson or Kim Ng as the visible assistants.

82
I'm getting the impression that Torre is only considering Kemp, Ethier, and Pierre to be in the "platoon", with Jones starting every day. But if Kemp supposedly needs to sit when he's slumping, why doesn't Jones?

Happy bday, gramma sue! I agree about visiting g'parents. I saw my granddad when he was 99 and amazingly well. Then again right b4 he passed last nov., and not well. Despite the schlep to florida, twice, it was worth it. He wasn't a big sports fan, but great in other ways. Anyway, no pressure dodgers, but a win for sue would be nice today.

86

Ethier does not appear to be in a platoon, at least not until he goes without a hit for 3 games. Also I get the feeling that we are not supposed to notice that Kemp is in a platoon.

Happy birthday Grandma

Also! It's my grandfather's 80'th birthday today. I'm going to call him now.

Are we the only team in baseball that plays our best hitter only 50% of the time? If I knew it would get this ridiculous, I would have been in favor of Pierre playing over Ethier or Ethier getting traded. I can't think of another team in MLB that wouldn't start Matt Kemp.

Collision in the Toronto and Red Sox game between McDonald (SS) and V. Wells after McDonald makes Top Ten play. After a long time out, both stay in the game.

84 - Very sorry to hear that.

Those of you wondering why Pierre is starting today obviously missed Chris Young games last season!

Im not too worried about Kemp sitting. The lineup today is all about stolen bases. Im sure thats the reason Hu is starting as well. Granted Kemp can steal too, but Ethiers bat is hot while his is cold.

86 - because Jones has a track record that stretches over a decade. Kemp does not. Whether we all like it or not, veterans get much more leeway than younger players.

93 Matt Kemp can't steal bases? I beg to differ.

94 - I had the same feeling as regards the SBs, but it appears that Ethier starts because he hits Young very well (granted the Bison's sample is small).

93 And despite doing that he still managed to be a very effective pitcher. Maybe it's not that important.

98
I was trying to find 2007 game logs for TCY that showed SBs allowed, but couldn't. I was guessing that his SBs allowed didn't matter much.

90 - over the first five games of this season, Kemp is not the best hitter on the team. Being the best hitter on the team requires actually hitting the ball.

Yes, I know, small sample size.

With all these games against teams within what will be a tough division, the Dodgers need to win every game they can. If that means sitting Kemp, so be it.

And yes, I would much prefer to see Kemp in the line up, but if he's going to be hitting below the Mendoza line, we might as well showcase Pierre for a possible trade, until Kemp gets his swing back.

99 Runners were something like 44 for 44 against him last year.

We may as well give the Padres 4 or 5 outs, we don't need em.

How is Kemp to get his swing back, by facing tommy lasorda behind the screen?

101
Can we look at how many runs he gave up on a game by game basis in relation to SBs allowed, when controlling for the number of base runners allowed?

100 Should we bench Russ too?

Pierre can only steal if he's on base. He'd have a better chance in the number 8 slot after his failed sac bunts land him on 1st.

100
With all these games against teams within what will be a tough division, the Dodgers need to win every game they can. If that means sitting Kemp, so be it.

This is part of your reasoning for for sitting Kemp? Pierre gives us a better chance to win? I suppose Hu gives us a better chance to win than Kent also.

104 Baseball Reference has the numbers if you want to do it. Just by glancing, there doesn't seem to be much correlation between Young's success and stolen bases allowed.

92- Thanks. It's just a weird thing to have a friend die and to get really angry about it, and really disappointed. It's never happened to me before. And for some reason it compelled me to completely embarrass myself by posting Gin Blossoms lyrics on my blog, which is funny given that I have, never, ever blogged about current boyfriends or ex-boyfriends or anything. I just don't go there.

ANYWAY, Juan Pierre huh?

I would argue that Pierre actually matters much LESS against Young than he does against other pitchers. Anybody can steal effectively against Young. Pierre's speed, for the little that its worth, is actually more valuable against pitchers that are hard to steal on.

105 - of course not. And as I said, I would prefer to see Kemp in the line up.

101 - 18 stolen bases against him in games that he started and the Padres lost. (assuming my math is correct)

http://tinyurl.com/5d3wvc

Looking at the raw numbers, can't say how important the stolen bases actually were. Also, the numbers don't show how many times the opposition used the hit and run as part of the offensive strategy.

"Granted Kemp can steal too, but Ethiers bat is hot while his is cold."

Yes, the three games Kemp has played this season have really demonstrated his ice-cold bat--might as well sit him the rest of the month. (Snark directed toward Dodger management, not against 94.

Hi Neal (from Robert)

107 - I did not say Pierre gives the Dodgers a better chance to win. The way Kemp is playing right now, he is simply not contributing to the offense. So, in that regard it would make sense to sit Kemp. However, I said nothing about who starts in his stead. I'd play Young over Pierre, heck, I'd play Repko and George Lombard (and his Fabulous Orchestra) over Pierre.

For the record, today's lineup was basically predicted in post #43 of the previous thread. It's all about matchups.

108
I ran a quick regression predicting the number of earned runs Young gave up per game in 2007, using IP, H, BB, SO, HR, and SB as predictors.

Significant predictors:
H
BB
HR

Non-significant:
IP
SO
SB

On the bright side, Edmonds is in center field today, so the Dodgers should get plenty of extra base hits if they can hit it to the gaps.

115 - Can you do that for PETCO only?

Wow, Pierre taking all the way 2-0, impressive

The prototypical Pierre out

113
Really? It would really make sense to sit the guy on your team, who is not already your best hitter, definitely has more upside than anyone on your team? It also makes sense to sit him not one day, but 50% of the time because he had a three game slump? You would play Young instead? The same Young who has struggled all spring and has one ground ball infield hit all year? Wouldn't starting Young also hurt this great plan we have to steal more bases against Young? It doesn't matter how you look at the situation, its a bad idea to sit Matt Kemp.

120 - Agreed.

Haven't read the whole thread, so, sorry if this is a repeat, but: I don't like Juan Pierre very much.

Am i the only one who doesnt understand how Young has had so much success? He has a really straight fastball usually up in the zone that tops out at around 90. He doesnt use his offspeed all that often, either. I guess he really is a product of Petco.

122 I've been trying to cover that, but thanks for the help.

I would also like to say I do like Matt Kemp.

113

Wouldn't that statement be true if you replaced Kemp's name with Martin's?

And, if Kemp does not play today, or fails to get a hit in his one at bat, won't your statement still be true tommorrow?

122 - I can safely say that that sentiment has been at the bottom of just about every comment today.

123 - he's 6'10", he's throwing down to almost every batter he faces, this is something that works very well in favor of the pitcher.

120 - again, I said nothing about how often Kemp should sit. Only that it makes some sense to sit him while he is slumping. And again, I would much prefer to see Kemp in the line up, but there is a logic to sitting Kemp, that is the entirety of my point.

124- You're doing the Ch-i's work, brother; may His countenance smile upon you.

I thought the logic of playing Pierre was to steal bases, yet Furcal made no attempt to run. I figured every time JP or Raffy got on today they'd be off to the races.

Can you do that for PETCO only?

Technically yes, but the sample size would probably be too small to detect any "significant" relationships.

There's no doubt in my mind that I would have sat Martin today before I sat Kemp. Others I would have sat before Kemp include Kent, Furcal, Dewitt, Ethier, Jones and Loney, not necessarily in that order.

Curses! Second day in a row I don't get the Dodgers on my MLB Extra Innings package. Why does this happen? Is this some sort of Fox game of the week or something?

Nooooooo!!!

132 - it's on

132 - channel 737

125 - to answer your first question, no. When considering a catcher, you must consider defense as a catcher's role is much more important than a right fielder in that regard. To answer your second question, no. The evidence presented so far is that Kemp's slump is psychological in it's origins. Kemp has recognized that he needs to get his head right, I am confident that he will, it's only a matter of time.

The plan here is to sit Kemp on the bench until he breaks out of his slump. Its genius really.

132 I get it on 737 in English and on 737-1 in HD, but its in Spanish.

This may have more to do with the Dodgers' pathological need to justify Pierre's ludicrous contract than about trying to fix a slumping player. There is really no excuse for this.

138 - also not a bad point.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I tend to suspect that being benched off and on when you're struggling encourages a more aggressive (and less patient) approach at the plate when you finally do get back in the lineup. The fewer your opportunities to impress, the more anxious you are to do something really notable (e.g. hit homeruns). Drawing walks probably doesn't feel notable enough.

I'm not liking this first inning.

Iguchi could not have more clearly been running inside the baseline there. The Pads' announcers are right, the Dodgers should have argued that.

Happy Birthday Sue!

My Grandmother taught me so much.
She shared 2 season seats on the club level with some friends.
She lived to be 86 years of age and was very active until the end.
Of course, she would invite me to attend some games with her.
She loved to belt out, "Take Me Out To The Ballgame".

140 - there may be some truth in that.

Also, I suspect that Kemp and Ethier will start all three games in Arizona.

141 I'm not liking this first week of the season with Grady Torre.

That was a huge K there, DLowe.

Is there evidence that Kemp's slump is psychological other than a throw away line in an interview that every slumping hitter in the history of the game has learned to say when asked about his slump?

Nice play, DeRoche! Er, LaWitt! Er, The Solution.

Huh, don't see that everyday.

What is it with these catastrophic 1st innings these past two days??? And as I speak, the Dodgers wiggle out of it. Nice.

WHEW.

Wow, nice tightrope walk there, Derek.

That K of Adrian Gonzalez was massive

130 - Bring in more years?

145

Unghh... I was just thinking that.

I'm also not sure a four game slump is worthy of being called a slump.

I have this cool new feature. I've now set my browser to automatically skip any post debating Juan Pierre and Matt Kemp's slump. It's neat, saves me the trouble.

147 - besides the statements made by Kemp and Torre, I'd point out the fact that Kemp has pretty much swung for the fences with every swing (at least that I've seen). He's not shortening up his swing in bad counts. He's swing at stuff that is obviously out of the strike zone.

So, I guess I'm hoping it's psychological.

DRE!!!!!!

So the Padres had men on 2nd and 3rd with no outs and failed to score?

Not that I'm complaining, but dang.

Go Ethier! Wow. A Dodger HR at Petco.

Andre says, "THAT'S why I'm in the line up today."

Ethier FEASTS on Chris Young again!

Sweet.

I'd point out the fact that Kemp has pretty much swung for the fences with every swing (at least that I've seen). He's not shortening up his swing in bad counts. He's swing at stuff that is obviously out of the strike zone

I haven't watched the games, but I'd be surprised if this didn't also apply to Jones.

I guess Ethier doesn't want to be benched.

157 - yeah, I'm done with the discussion, nobody is going to change anybody's mind on this stuff.

Jeez, Martin is single-handedly killing my fantasy league team.

166 Yah, that's basically what I was hinting at. ;-) More fun to debate why it's awesome that Andre Ethier is a starter.

Vasgersian just said DeWitt lined that out "to central."

ok guys, if you are going to hit it to center (a good idea), let's try not hitting it directly at Edmonds, mmmkay?

That we are leading at this point in the game 1-0 instead of losing 3-0 is a sign that Ch-i is smiling on the Dodgers. So far.

157 Is that on Firefox? Because I could really use that plugin.

167 He'll be fine this season. But he does appear to be pressing big time. It would also be nice if the Dodgers could face pitchers from another division.

I have a feeling he sits tomorrow, since they're pitching Loiaza vs Haren, so what's the difference anyway?

171 I'd love that, too, but I think it's an underdog specific plug-in.

167 - my buddy just sent me an email complaining about the same thing.

171 yes, it's a special plug-in for Mac. Go to enoughalready.plugins.com

Last year Greene is on 2B with a stand up double.

Wow, that was beautiful

Atta boy Druw!

Sweet dive to rob Spicoli/Owen Wilson of a hit.

You know, I always love hearing the Dodger fans at Petco. It puts a smile on my face.

158 Agreed, he does these things all the time. Sometimes he looks horrible he chases such bad pitches. He's still very raw and need s a lot of work. These faults all hurt him at the plate too, that's why he was only able to hit .342 and OPS .894 last year. It will be hard, but I think we should let him on the field and maybe he can work on some of this.

Andrew Jones earns his rep there.

Now thats a belly flop!

Wow, those were 2 amazing plays

Atta boy DeWitt! Nice.

I decided during spring training that I would give Torre a month to deal with all of this lineup rigmarole. He's obviously been given a contract to be a "difference making" manager, whatever that means, so I'm willing to give him some time to tinker. Just so long as he ends up with the right answer.

Right now it's annoying, but it's to be expected.

The Solution flashing some leather.

I like Blake DeFault pretty well, though. When LaRoche comes back, the spot should be his. But it's nice, not having to watch Olmedo Saenz at 3B.

The Padres are here in SF tomorrow for a day game. Gosh, am I actually going to root for the Giants for once?

Nicer inning there for DLowe, with some help from the D.

187 - is there a time line yet for LaRoche's return?

185 That sums up how I feel to a tee. You must have also downloaded my special Torre Lineup plugin for Firefox, too.

DeWitt is actually a very good fielder. He must've improved rapidly because I read somewhere that he was "below average."

I don't know of any update on it. Plus, he's a Dodger, so we should expect that he'll come back a week earlier than projected, get hurt within three games, and be out a month past whatever the timeline was supposed to be.

190 well, I do have a Mac. Macs can do anything.

Last I heard on LaRoche was that he was a bit ahead of schedule, but they'll be cautious with him. Or, not - what Andrew said. In the LA Times yesterday:
>>Andy LaRoche traveled with the team to San Diego, in part to remain with the team and in part to be with trainer Stan Conte to rehabilitate his surgically repaired right thumb. Tony Abreu worked out in Vero Beach, where he was sent for extended spring training.<<

But his cast had come off I believe and he was catching flies in the outfield this past week...

Looks like Easler's getting Pierre to take some pitches for a change.

The Padres always honor the military by giving them the worst seats in the house.

Pierre hit that well, but to no avail. He came so close to a walk, too, but just couldn't let that happen.

195 - that was a good AB for Pierre. He's seen 12 pitches in 2 AB's I believe.

178 184 I am also very interested in this new defensive metric called the "underdog atta boy metric." I think it has some legs

FERKEL!!!

Just in case anybody was wondering, the D'backs are playing their fifth game of the year--Upton, Young, and Byrnes have started all five. They have a funny way of doing things out there, but it's got a beat and you can dance to it.

I love the healthy Furcal. I'd hazard to say he's the MVP for the Dodgers on offense.

Edmonds doesn't quite look like the Gold Glover he once was out there. Not having much success in the PetCo outfield so far.

I wonder how many times Pierre gets three balls on him -- and makes out. It's got to be one of the highest percentages in the game. It's as if he doesn't want to walk.

And here comes Furcal, second at-bat in a row he performs the leadoff role flawlessly, but wiht an extra out in front of him to diminish the chances it will matter. Welcome to 2007.

I like Edmonds, always kind of wished the Dodgers would have got him when the Angels traded him to St Louis, but still, it's going to be an adventure in center this year for San Diego.

Son of a motherless goat.

199 Att boy.

201 UNSUBSCRIBE to DBacks Newsletter.

The good news is Pierre's kicking the door down on himself.

Oops, I can't even spell "atta boy" correctly after all that.

Curse you, Spicoli!

You know, Vasgersian may be annoying, but the fact that he's the only big league announcer willing to take potshots at Derek Jeter makes him considerably less so.

204- Pierre's career line with three balls: .345/.643/.435

Obviously, it doesn't address what that is relative to other players, but it doesn't look obviously bad.

204 - Pierre career with 3 balls - .345/.643/.435, 645 PAs, 291 BB, 119 H

157 - So basically all you are seeing is happy birthday to Grandma Sue?

211 How in the name of all that is holy did you find that out that fast? I'm impressed.

210 - totally agree. That was a classless slap at Jeter - and I loved it.

185 That's right. Give him a few weeks to work it out. It's only April 6.

And now 212 has got it. Maybe I'm the only one that doesn't know.

213 Heh. Basically.

Hm, the DBacks lineup has produced 2 hits in Colorado today.

that's a UAB for Hu, I'd imagine.

Love that.

the windmill just gave us an out!

Hah Hah! Hu has GREAT self-awareness.

Nailed Giles at third.

DEE-FENSE! DEE-FENSE!

214 Baseball-Reference.com rules all

217 - baseball-reference.com

More fun facts about Pierre - his line with 2 strikes: .266/.313/.318, 1956 PAs, 483 H, 92 BB, 27 Ks

Meanwhile, great play by Hu and DeWitt to take out the lead runner.

212 I'm having a senior moment. That array of figures is BA/SLG/OBP?

Maybe one obvious but possibly overlooked reason Derek Lowe was a tough luck pitcher last year besides not getting much offensive support, and might be less so this year - the Dodgers have a much better defense this year than last.

Lowe seems to be falling behind to a lot of hitters.

Ah well, no such luck that time. He's not really fooling many batters today, either.

226 BA/OBP/SLG

Good news--the play by Hu clearly saved a run.

Bad news--Lowe is clearly getting rocked.

226 - that is correct, sir

Career split with three balls:

Andruw Jones .235/.589/.473 (~21% of his PAs)
Furry .303/.600/.433 (~20%)
Torri Hunter .309/.591/.530 (~16%)
Pierre .345/.643/.435 (~12%)

232 He mixed-up SLG and OBP

Furcal with 3 balls:
.303/.600/.433

It's too bad we're gonna probably have to dip into the bullpen today since we're probably going to need them tomorrow, too.

233 - you'd think that a lead off hitter would want his 3 ball PAs to be a bit higher than 12%

230 , 232 need to caucus.

230 is what I thought it was, but Pierre having a .643 OBP even with three balls seemed beyond his capabilities.

234 - it's Sunday, my reading skills have taken the day off.

So my son had his first experience with tie-dying t-shirts a little while back. It was a mess but it was his first time and I told him that it could be worse, he could've dyed his hair that way and he cracked up.

I mention this because I think somebody needs to talk to Brian Giles.

Andruw looks like a replacement level hitter at the moment.

233 explains my anecdotal impression. Pierre doesn't get all the way to three balls very often. He's usually slapped the ball to the shortstop before the count can get that far.

Pardon my ignorance, but what does "hit safely" mean?

214 - 224 had it right. I'm not Bob, I just know where to look.

241 That was a wicked pitch from Young at the end though, don't know what he could've done. He looked a bit better at the plate yesterday.

I noticed in his first start that, even though the Giants didn't do much, Lowe didn't miss many bats. The lack of K's concerns me a bit this year. He's going to rely on below-average lineups or BABIP luck to get through this year.

Scully's anecdote about John O'Hara, stemming from information about Chris Young's salad days at Princeton, is what separates him from every announcer I've ever heard.

Wonderful.

hmmm, that's not exactly the way I figured that AB would play out, but still, nice AB by Ethier

Ethier ALMOST owned Tall Chris Young again.

Whoa, Dre almost took Young deep again. Darn, just missed it.

243 Using your open hand to smack somebody is much safer than the closed fist; less chance of breaking the knuckles.

Or were we talking about something else?

If Andruw Jones looks like a replacement level hitter, what does Martin look like?

243 It means a batter wears a flourescent orange vest and a face mask.

Or it also means, got at least one hit in each of those games.

243 - it means he got a hit, ie - DiMaggio once hit safely in 56 consecutive games.

Atta boy, Russ! Take a walk. Anything to bust the slump.

196 Thats not always as bad of a deal as it seems. In Cincinnati, they give free upper deck tickets to military members every game. They are bad seats, but you can't beat free. In Cincinnati, with the small attendance, upgrades are everywhere.

hmmm, DeWitt was 27-1 as a high school pitcher, maybe he can be our 5th starter when LaRoche comes back

so, if it came right down to it, who would you want pitching? Loney or DeWitt?

Larry Bowa thinks hitting safely is a womanly act. He'd hit without a &^%$# bat and he don't need a &%$#@ helmet when he's up there with his hard && hand where he's hitting just fine, thank you very &%$@# much!

251 253 Heh.

The "safely" part seems a bit extraneous.

Sorry for the careless bolding of letters.

260 - it's like saying he reached base safely, just an old baseball expression.

259 - heh.

Jones had a -1 VORP, coming into today, the fifth game of the year. Martin and Kemp were -2.4. Pierre, -.7. Furry and Loney were +3.5.

Best college prospect I saw pitching in the Alaska League when I was there (early 90's?): Ben McDonald.

Second best prospect: John Olerud.

I liked Olerud better.

This team can't hit at the moment.

265 - luckily, it appears that the Padres can't hit at the moment either, as Lowe strikes out the first two of the 4th

3K!

3K!

AKA KKK

I step out for laundry duty and damn if Lowe doesn't strike out the side.

Nice, Derek.

268 It's like the Padres were trying to hit with white sheets over their heads!

Wait a minute... scratch that... seriously.

I'm coming in a little late on the John O'Hara anecdote, but can you imagine any announcer on earth referencing ANY writer other than Jose Canseco? Dennis Miller used to do it on MNF, but he doesn't really count.

That aside, John O'Hara? Amazing.

268 One of the fraternities at my alma mater was called KKK. Aside from the African American houses, it also had the highest number of minorities.

Slappy goes long, here. Book it.

this lineup bores me.

That was the wind.

Vin on Pierre: "Not exactly a productive day."

273 - if by "long" you mean 185 feet directly to Jim Edmonds, then yes, yes he does.

He'd have better luck with one of his bunt doubles.

Vasgersian: "Pierre slaps a little pop-up into centerfield..."

Slappy McPopup lives.

272 Tri-Kaps...almost as big as SAE or Sigma Chi, or even Sig Ep.

Heh. The Padres' announcer inadvertently almost said our nickname for Pierre: "Slaps a little pop-up" is very close to "Slappy McPopup," and now they see why.

Kemp is now easily out OPSing Pierre, .286 to .200. Kemp also leads in runs, RBIs and fewest times caught stealing. He's a better defender too.

Even Vin is tired of Pierre

271 Ernie Harwell would do it every now and again but, yeah, your point is well taken--it's what makes Scully so fabulous.

I lost a friendship one time because a fellow baseball fan--east coast guy--thought Scully was a droning windbag who talked too much.

It's not that I didn't like the guy but, seriously, can you really hang out with someone like that? I can't.

Darnit! DL's server is faster than mine! Or his fingers are.

276 When is it ever?

hard for pierre to steal any bases off tall chris young if he never makes it to first.

Hey, what did Vasgerian (sp?) say about Jeter? There was something about it upthread.

JP hit 12 HRs in his carrer. Have you ever watched one? I really wanted to see at least one.

82 pitches for Young through 5, hopefully he's chased in the 6th

271 I think Steiner once expressed admiration for John Grisham, but he was disappointed that Andromeda Strain didn't have more dinosaurs.

JP hit 12 HRs in his carrer

How many were bunt HRs...?

285 Funny that I wasn't the only one who made that connection.

In muted defense of our anemic hitting thus far this young season, we have faced Cain, Lincecum, Peavy and Young.

Someone needs to get Lowe a dry shirt. Or actually, after his 6th strikeout, maybe he should keep wearing it.

His last HR was 09/18/2006 off of Jon Lieber. MLB.tv should have that. . .

Loney vacuum. Heh.

294 Exactly, I've been saying that for awhile. It would be nice to see more offense. But I wasn't expecting much for the first week to ten days of the season.

Joe Buck is a big fan of The Turner Diaries.

296 Hey, 4+1 day! Coincidence?

What are the most Gold Gloves won by a single team?

Because honestly, I see 4 legit Gold Glovers on this team (Jones, Furcal, Martin, and Loney).

292. I´m still laughing, I really wante to see how JP celebrates a homer.It must be a surprise to everyone, even him. And I do remember a bunt double against the Braves last year.

The Dodgers featured in KCAL's new ad: Loney, Martin, Kemp, a dancing Lasorda, and Nomar. Dancing Lasorda is most prominent

301 Not sure Furcal can win one, especially with Tulowitzki around now.

301 And Pierre has been flawless in LF so far this season.

291 Rick Monday was talking about a Tom Clancy novel once which reminded him of the power in so many of the military machines not unlike the power you see in some of baseball's heavy hitters which is probably why we say "bomb" when a long homerun is hit because it reminds one of the power expressed... well, you know what I mean and how about this Rafael Furcal has hit the ball to the wall and is on his way to... second standing! No, he slides at the last second and the ball gets away but not nearly far enough for Furcal to advance and here's Ethier.

Talk about power, Ethier showed some power earlier today...

Pujols is pretty much guaranteed to repeat at first. If not him, then Teixeria.

Ethier has a chance...right here...right now...

Is anyone else here getting nervous about Jones?

No? It's just me then? Good.

Mike Easler needs to chat with Druw.

307 You're not suggesting offensive numbers have any influence over a defensive award. Because that's just cynical thinking... :)

Tall Chris Young has decided he does not like guys stealing bases against him.

Loney looked out on the first attempt and safe on the second.

309 I'm writing it off to a small sample size, it's a long season, he's contributing in other ways... glass half-full.

Do you think even Padres fans enjoy Vasgersian's ecstatic yelps?

311 I'm just glad Pujols actually deserves it.

Getting picked off by Chris Young is pretty embarrassing.

300

Not from the 4+1 thread but the one before that:

"96. Bob Timmermann 2006-09-18 16:38:21
Juan Pierre for president!

97. overkill94 2006-09-18 16:38:50
Muscle man Juan Pierre just knocked one out of the park to make it 4-0."

Well, that sucks. Was Loney really out on that pickoff? He didn't argue, but it still looked like his hand was there first. Guess it's one of those if it's tied, goes to the pitcher. Either way, excellent pick off move by Young, and not good, Crazy Eyes.

309 - yeah. It's almost a guarantee Martin and Kemp will get going, when you factor in Jones' 2007 and what appears to me to be some weight gain, then yeah, there's got to be some cause for concern.

313 TiVo slow motion says he beat it just barely and I mean just barely.

309 - Yeah, but since Dec 12.

315 I sure don't.

316 Embarrassing, yes, but it was a good move, you have to admit. Not as embarrassing as giving up a home run to Juan Pierre.

Loney's really not getting that gold glove now.

He pulled it, about three or four rows deep in the LF pavilion. No special dance, or any indication that it was a momentous event. Same with the home run he his 8/28/2006 (also pulled a couple of rows back in the pavilion). That Pierre is the consummate professional.

James Loney would like a do-over, please.

DL, I´m worried. Even LuGo was a tougher out.

309 Yes. You are not alone.

322 Don't confuse the game threads :).

Sigh, James must have let all our gold glove talk go to his head. He should've picked that one out.

328 I'm just bringing all the topics together for one grand finale.

This would qualify and nervous time.

sub "as"

313 I thought so too. Why our they pushing a guy like Loney to steal anyway?

I think its going to take a while fo get an offense going this year, and not at a park like this. But look at the bright side.
The Padres offense will probably never get going.

Lowe went from being real efficient to, well, not. Fat pitch to Gonzalez. Gotta have action in the 'pen right quick.

329 - I blame myself.

Meanwhile, wrong pitcher is getting chased in the 6th inning.

Also, I do hate the Beat LA chant. Though it'd be fun to hear at a Lakers-Clippers game or at a Dodgers-Angels World Series Game

We really gotta get Lowe some run support

Lowe getting squeezed here.

I think Black may need to do us a favor and bring in some of those vaunted lefty relievers from the other night.

What is it about Petco that makes it so difficult for balls to get out of the yard? Is it just because it's so close to sea level, and the sea that there's too much moisture in the air?

Will Kent or Kemp pinch hit today, ya think?

339 Yes to both.

The power alleys are also ridiculously deep.

We need The Bison.

Jones made a superb catch a few innings ago.

And see 342 as well.

Jones made a superb catch a few innings ago

Give that man $18 million! Stat!

335 I take the Beat LA chant personally.

347 lol!

Wouldn´t it be frustrating if Sweeney PHs in favor of Kent or Kemp?

342 - what do you consider the power alleys? Dodger Stadium is 385 to left center and right center. Petco is 367 (left center) and 378 (right center). Doesn't seem that bad. It's just center field that seems wildly big.

Where's Broxton? The Bull is getting cold.

Superb at-bat by Dre.

Great AB by Ethier. Now someone else has to have a good one

347 That was funny.

88 pitches for Lowe, with the last three outs on flies. Is he done for today?

350 - or are you looking at the 402 and 411 numbers as power alleys?

pierre-like speed there.

TCY, by comparison, was at 90 pitches to start the inning.

GOLDEN GOD

Aw yeah!

356 That's what i'm looking at.

GOLDEN GOD!

attaboy Golden God

YAY

Put the bat on the ball and something might happen!

Finally

Yay! Golden God with the Slumpbuster Special, and an RBI.

That'll help my fantasy team.

A glimmer of light from the Golden God!

how was that a base hit?

Golden Gods dont know what are those things called slumps

Russell Martin is a lot like what chicken fried bacon would be, if it also cured cancer.

DeWitt with a lousy AB.

361 - I wonder what the square footage of the outfield is in Petco, relative to other stadiums.

Come on, Blake - Joyce DeWitt could've done that!

terrible ab from DeRoche

Eh, I think Dewitt might be wearing out his welcome.

That´s the Martin we all know!

Should DeWitt have bunted there?

Maybe people will stop dreaming that he's better than LaRoche.

That was a pitch for Dewitt to crush, he just got under it, it happens.

381 Amen.

A little surprised Sweeney not hitting here for Hu. Maybe we will never see Young at 2B again. (If Angel Chavez were still here...)

Well, I think we were all a little hard on DeWitt. One bad at bat, and he hasn't had many, which is amazing for a guy who never played past AA. Still, that was disappointing.

Sweeney over Kent and Kemp? Come on!

Ouch, that was not Hu's greatest moment, either.

... or Young and Sweeney back-to-back.

Grady Torre

There's still two more innings, in a game that could go extras. He's a great pinch hitter. Matt Kemp is not a great pinch hitter. What's the problem?

I'd pitch around Sweeney if I were Young.

I might've batted Kent here, though.

385 I am assuming Torre subscribes to the lefty-righty thing.

I'm not knocking this decision. Sweeney is left-handed, he's used to pinch-hitting... I'd use Sweeney over Kemp here.

388 That's getting old...

390 I think he did just that.

392 I'll accept that.

Especially because it didn't fail.

390 Looks like Young agrees with you.

NOO

Are you serioius Torre?

i dont thnk Torre has done anything that wrong this inning.

Young was gonna walk whoever it was - he can just get Pierre out.

Now here's where I'd pinch hit Kent. Or Grandma Sue.

Ah, there's the Bison, into pinch run.

Alright. Now is the time. The wind won't be able to contain him, here. Book it. . .

This is JP's last moment in the game. New pitcher will be in this spot.

and now Kemp is just a pinch runner, not worthy of hitting over Mark Sweeney. Why couldn't we have hired Joe Girardi?

now Kemp's burned.

Kemp pinch running for Sweeney? How about having him hit for Pierre, Torre!

Unbelievable.

Stupid wind.

400

I agree with Sweeney, but in no way should Pierre have hit. And then to waste Kemp as a pinch runner? Thats silly.

"So Pierre hits four fly balls ..." -Vin Scully

Why is Kemp running for Sweeney instead of batting for Pierre?

Btw, does anyone know if Delwyn Young is back available again? I know he was sick or something a day or so ago... I assume he's available, too.

Three of Pierre's outs were line drives in the box score.

Kemp should have been the PH there.

Think Kemp stays in the game?

409 that's really the best response. chuckle

400 Pinch running with Kemp and then letting Pierre hit is not wrong?

Kemp should´ve PH for Pierre.

414- And at least a couple of them were within 80-120 feet of being gone.

I agree with that, should've pinch hit for Pierre. But again, Kemp, as good as he will be, has been mostly an awful pinch hitter. But even then, I still would've brought him in to hit there for Slappy.

Rule 1 violations abound at chez sporky.

Those CarMax text voters are stupid.

I'm not sure how sending Kemp up there to hit instead of Sweeney is the wrong move.

Pierre almost has no chance at the plate. Scouting has him played perfectly now - any line drive that a normal player hits that drops in front of an OF is an out for him due to how well they play him.

Holiday ties it up at Coors, with a solo HR. He gets all the luck.

Kemp will be the 8th batter due up over the next two innings. If the Dodgers get some baserunners on, he may be up in a big situation.

okay, deep breath. positive thinking.

This Carmax poll is not at all biased. nope.

We can only hope that Pierre has now made sure he doesn't start again until June.

EDSP in to pitch, Kemp in right, Ethier in left.

Young pitched around Sweeney just so he could pitch to Pierre--glad JP is in the line-up!

419 - I agree with that one - I still think hitting Sweeney over Kemp was the right move. But anyone over Pierre was the right move.

I hope Torre has seen enough of Pierre to realize he isn't any better than a "slumping" Kemp.

418 Seriously, it was a mistake, but you're harping on Torre like he's a terrible manager. He's made mostly all the right moves since arriving in Dodgertown. I'd decided to cut him a little slack to learn the team, too, before donning the hyper-critical gloves.

what's so hard about this line up thing... Proctor takes Pierre's spot in the line up and Kemp stays in the ninth spot.

Kemp now in right, Ethier in left, Pierre on the bench. Everyone happy?

Have come late to the party today but have been watching and has this been Joe's worst game. Not starting Kemp on a day when you rest Kent, and now we ad Kemp has a pinch runner and let JP hit, assuming Kemp stays in and bats in the pitcher's spot, if lucky he gets one at bat today!

TCY's left/right splits for career are pretty small differences.

vs. RH .214 .287 .370
vs. LH .225 .298 .362

Whatever you think of Pierre, the platoon situation is hurting him as well. He is not a bench player, and this absurd situation is going to wind up hurting Kemp and Pierre, as each will press whenever they get a chance to play, fearing that a bad game could mean they sit for three days.

433

Like starting Juan Pierre half of the time?

Free baseball in Denver.

435 happy enough. Still tied up. I wonder if Kent didn't get the call over Hu because Hu is the natural defensive replacement in the late innings, so sticking Kent in would be counterintuitive.

like I said- deep breath, happy thoughts, young season.

433 Which right moves has he made? We still haven't seen his decision at 3B with all the injuries. He's platooning Kemp and Pierre. The Billingsley move the other night was crazy. Are you talking about picking Loiaza over Park for the 5th starter job? Is that his good move?

{BROWSER CRASH}

Torre already started Pierre over Kemp vs. Young. In his mind, how would PHing Kemp for Pierre made sense there?

I was having a "discussion" with my son during Pierre's at-bat. Did he take any pitches before that lame fly to left?

Colletti needs to tell his assistant to tell Pierre's agent his client should count his money and shut up. No more pity starts.

For Juan's sake, I hope he gets traded to a team where he can roam freely in the outfield on a daily basis.

444 good point

443 Mine just did, actually.

J.D. Drew's slug of a brother puts the D'backs back ahead, soulessly, with a solo HR.

Letting Pierre hit is inexcusable. Especially after the pitcher had issues a 4-pitch walk to Sweeney. Pierre is just a little cap-under-the-helmet hacker that doesn't know how to work the count. That would have been the spot for Kent, or Kemp, or anyone besides Pierre.

Unbelievable. What a friggin waste. Even beyond not pinch hitting for Pierre, what good does pinching him as the TRAILING runner do? We only need the run on second. SAVE HIS BAT!

garciapierra.blogspot.com

The espn dodger board is getting real ugly re: Juan Pierre.

The pen hasn't let in a run yet this season (I am not counting Esteban or Bills).

I don't really feel like arguing much about this but:

a) What third base decision? They have three injured 3bmen on the DL. He's stuck with DeWitt, who never played above AA ball and praised his play.

b) The Bills move the other night ended up being a mistake but they misjudged the wonky weather reports. I did think they made the right move not starting him.

c) You're judging the Pierre-Kemp thing as a platoon based on 7 days. He's already said Ethier and Kemp are the starters. Pierre could go another 6 days without playing.

Loiaza over Park, is that a bad move? What choice does he have - does anyone think Park is a good long term choice for a 5th starter I think we all feel, and Torre probably hopes for this too, that Kershaw could very well be the 5th starter by mid-Summer.

His in-game moves for the most part to start the season have been otherwise fun, other than the one move today and Billingsley coming in for a 1/3 of an inning the other day.

As I said, I also don't feel it's fair to get inflamed based on a manager's first week with his new team, especially after such a weird spring training.

That's just my opinion. You're entitled to yours, of course. But I'd hope for some patience. The season, as we all know, is a marathon.

Why isn't Jim Leyland fired after the Tigers first week? (Don't answer, it's a rhetorical question. ;-)

Now, let's see if the Dodgers can refrain from choking this one away here.

450 Kent maybe, but let's face it, Matt Kemp is also a hacker who doesn't know how to work the count.

However, he's also just a better hitter than Juan Pierre, so he should've been pinch-hitting there. And also starting in the outfield, but that's another story.

Fine, not fun. Fun makes no sense. :-)

I'm off to go watch and enjoy the rest of this game. Ciao all.

442

... The Billingsley move didn't beat him, the lack of offense did. And Kemp played in that game and went 0-4, leaving five men on base.

He's platooning Kemp/Pierre NOW, but we haven't even played 10 games yet.

454 I back, endorse and otherwise completely support your post.

The Pierre situation could be the downfall of the Dodgers in 2008. Pierre (a Ned acquisition) is competing for playing time with Ethier (a Ned acquisition that could turn out to be his best) and Kemp (not a Nedder). I hope politics don't come into play here.

445 It was a 1-1 pitch to JP for the out.

440 What does "free baseball in (wherever)" mean?

461- Extra innings.

461 extra innings

I am a bit concerned that Torre had something of a reputation of evaluating players entirely based on his first 15 at bats in New York. It might end up turning out poorly for Kemp if he doesn't get it going soon.

457 - it was not the lack of offense. It all comes back to Pierre. Remember he couldn't bunt the runner to second with none out and he ended up being thrown out to end the game.

My opinion of Torre is not based on this week alone. In the past few years he has had some very good teams that he did little with.

464 - if that's the case then we're safe with Pierre too.

What do you guys think about going through 3 pitchers in 1 inning?

465 That was the ninth inning. The Dodgers wasted plenty of other opportunities earlier in the game (when Pierre wasn't in the game.)

Nice fielding play by Kemp in the stupid exposed bullpen.

468 How do you like Girardi?

469 Yeah, but didn't you feel that the Dodgers would find a way to tie it and eventually win it? I just knew they would. Until Juanito showed up.

465 Like the nick.

468 Doesn't that happen all the time in the AL when you don't have to worry about PHing for the pitcher? :)

454 - Everything is magnified because of the small sample and he is the manager and I am sitting at home, but these come to mind, starting JP at all; the second Bills appearance for two innings; batting JP here; and the double steal (which actually worked). I forgive the first Bills as I assume he was operating with inaccurate weather information.

How long untill Torre starts to platoon Jones?

465

... Pierre had one at-bat in that game. The rest of the Dodgers went six for 30, with Furcal, Kent, Ethier, and Kemp going hitless. Those guys are far more responsible than Pierre for the lack of hitting in that loss.

470 Stupid exposed bullpens is right. How can you build a brand spanking new stadium and still have exposed bullpens. That's just idiotic.

Folks...

If you PH Pierre with a right-handed batter to face a right-handed pitcher, you are showing up Pierre--humiliating him.

I don't mind Pierre hitting in that situation in this game because I think Torre is going to see that Pierre is the fourth best outfielder on the team and doesn't belong in the starting lineup. But to make that decision while showing up the player for all to see... I don't think it's a good idea.

472 No, I was hoping they'd succeed, but I felt like they would flail just like earlier in the game.

470 You bring up a good question. Should teams be allowed to have exposed bullpen for visiting teams only? The Padre bullpen is nicely confined beneath the fence while the visitors are all exposed out there. I think that it is an obvious advantage for the Padres that MLB shouldn't allow.

Happy birthday to Grandma Sue, I wonder if she was a Ty Cobb fan, she seems to be holding the bat like he did.

478 Right. If the Dodgers had been down a run or two, however, Kent or Kemp - a bat with power - would have probably been sent up, knowing JP can't tie/go-haed with one swing.

Obviously he's not going to pinch hit for the guy he started with the guy he benched, but why use him at all in that situation? Don't you think we should save him for the moment we want him, not hope we get enough baserunners at the right time for Kemp to come to bat in a situation where he could actually make a difference? It's just horrible mismanagement. All I can gather is that Torre, after 15 at bats, just doesn't respect Kemp as a hitter. Pinch-running him as the trailing runnner at 1st base with two outs in the 7th inning of a tie game. It makes no sense at all.

I like the Furcal with the healthy wheel.

480 - I think it hurts them more then anyone. It's their RF exposed to it for 81 games.

478. Suffering, I have to disagree. Pinch hitting Pierre is not humiliating him, is doing the best to win the game.And Torre and Pierre are very well paid to do that.

478 When you sign a .220-hitting CF a year after signing Juan Pierre, then bench him for a couple of guys making near the league minimum, you are showing up and humiliating Juan Pierre.

That ship sailed a while ago.

Healthy Furcal, how I have missed thee.

Why is the umpire saying "book" instead of "strike"? I've noticed that umpires hardly ever say " strike".

Now there's a leadoff hitter. Go Raffy!

I think that it is an obvious advantage for the Padres that MLB shouldn't allow.

dude, those types of bullpens should not be allowed, PERIOD.

Great job James.

The world-famous productive out.

Alright. Furcal at 2nd. None out. No Pierre. Saito in the exposed bullpen. This game's a lock.

483 OR...

Torre could be using the whole lineup, giving players a chance to show what they can do (and what they can't do) while making sure everyone plays.

Kemp is in the game. It's way, way too early to say that Torre has given up on Kemp any more than to say he's committed to Pierre.

Let's give this a little time.

471 So far so good...He hasn't really had to make any difficult decisions yet. I was very happy to see him bring in Joba in the 7th inning today with runners on 1st and 3rd and no outs, and leaving him in for 2 innings.

We'll see what transpires from now on, obviously small sample sizes, etc etc.

Come on Jones...

"boop" not "book".

ouch

... Andruw doesn't agree with that call, but I do.

Might have been a shade outside, but too close to take.

Is it me, or have a lot of Dodgers struck out looking on pitches down the middle so far this season?

It was a strike Andruw, your just so pull happy...

the mrs. has officially "turned" on Andruw Jones. Wasted opportunity there.

Heath Bell is the Broxton of the Padre bullpen.

This game makes me want to punch a clown.

2 YEAR DEAL FOR JONES???

Ethier's fly only slightly deeper than JP's. Also a 1-1 pitch.

508 stupid wind

Ugh we really need to get the offense going. Terrible that we didn't get the go ahead run right there. Torre will look stupid if we end up going to free baseball with using 3 pitchers in the 7th.

We should've signed Fukudome

509 Nice.

boop

anDRUW, why dont you stop giving up on every pitch outer half and try to go the other way. every pitch isnt going to be middle in for you to yank into left field.

Due up in the 9th for the Dodgers: Martin, DeWitt, Hu, Kemp.

boop again

This is falling into the pattern of the Dodgers just figuring out some way to lose...Almost as if it is predetermined.

510 - Isn't this Bills' throwing day ;)

517 ? Aren't the Dodgers 3-2 prior to today?

Right after I posted 506 , Vasgersian says "If you're just a clown like me off the street..."

I smiled.

A case of first-ball swinging working out for the hitter.

I've got a bad feeling about this one ( I know, I'm always the pessimest), but It could have gone either way a few times, and this is how the Padres have to win and the Dodgers by the end of the season will be such a well rounded team that there will be little comparison.

San Diego's gotten the leadoff man on in each of the last three innings without a hit -- error, walk, hit batter.

6-4-3 would be real nice right here

Middle infielders are back.

Broxton/Saito is our Yin-Yang

ok, that works too

Broxton dominating!

boop three and you're out

thatta baby, Ox.

Has it been said yet during today's game that SD's unis are tremendously ugly? This should be said at least once every time they break these things out.

Nasty pitch from the Blue Ox.

463
My opinion of Torre is not based on this week alone. In the past few years he has had some very good teams that he did little with.

Other than winning the division or wild card in each of those years. Each of the past 12 years, I believe. And the "very good" teams of the late Yankee period, 2004-7, had some major pitching issues, the whole Giambi situation, other injuries. They were beaten in the playoffs by some other very good teams, which happens.

I'm not saying Torre is infallible. But I discount a lot of the buzz against him. Yankee fans are ridiculously spoiled. It's amazing to me that the fans in New York have adopted Steinbrenner's attitudes about baseball, as if that's an intelligent way to evaluate a baseball team. The AL is tougher than the NL largely because teams like Anaheim, Boston, Cleveland, Chicago and Detroit made a concerted effort to catch up with the Yankees.

Lazy, non-hustling Stephen Drew makes a leaping stab to end the game in Colorado.

The Rockies' bullpen might be a source of some consternation for their fans, this year.

517 I was referring to past seasons. Playing in San Diego seems to be particularly frustrating over the last few years.

517 This is falling into the pattern of the Dodgers just figuring out some way to lose...Almost as if it is predetermined.

The Dodgers have lost twice all year to this point. The sky isn't quite falling yet.

531 I thought about it, but I felt that I would be beating a dead, camouflaged horse. I'm glad someone brought it up.

boop

RAFFY!

FURCAL!!

FURCAL PLAY OF THE YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ATTA BOY, RAFFY!

... Rafael with a BIG play!!

RAFFY!

(INHALES SHARPLY TO THE POINT OF PAIN)

Whoah!

I guess Torre did some great managing there to induce Raffy to fly up in the air like a magician.

{heart in throat}

Wow, thank you Raffy, for saving the Bull's hide there.

OK, if we see Kemp up this inning, it will be with runner(s) on.

That was a breaking pitch that was up.

Thank you Raffy. Seriously, thank you.

Below average offensive teams like LA and SD need to convert those kind of situations. No excuse for not getting to Trevor here - start it off Russ!

546 if you'll notice, I awarded him an atta boy assuming your absence. I hope I wasn't presumptuous.

533 So the Diamondbacks have won another game by playing their best lineup?

shouldn't Hoffman be collecting social security by now?

Young or Kent to hit for Hu?

Hoffman is not Hoffman anymore. This should be the inning the Dodgers erase all the bad karma of today.

is it just me, or has the strike zone gotten a bit bigger with 2 strikes today?

boop

OT but Grandma Sue looks like she's swinging a small tree. That bat must weigh five pounds.

Leadoff walk.

Does Gameday not offer the opportunity to see highlights anymore? I remember last year there'd be a list of a few at the bottom of the screen or somewhere that you could click and see a video. Sounds like Furcal's play would be a candidate.

555 - i meant, with 3 balls, not 2 strikes

Get the Golden God home boys!

No Kent???

557 She's no punch-and-judy type.

HU DAT???

HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!

HUUUUUUUUU

HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!

Hu dat?

I stand corrected - go Hu!

Hoffman hung one high and Hu hit it hard! Hooray!

Hu needs Kent!?

564 -567 is too funny.

550 I wonder if AT&T is going to start sponsoring "today's _att_a-boy" for baseball broadcasts.

If anyone's listening, just send the check to my home address.

562 - No Kent, no problem.

also, why hit and run with DeWitt on the first pitch?

Man, I really expected a PH for Hu. Guess Torre may know more than I do.

and still, Kemp can't keep his pocket tucked in.

Kent in for Ox. I like this. Go Torre.

Not that K, though.

7 K's in 16AB?

Ouch.

... THAT's why Pierre hit instead of Kemp. I love Kemp as a player, but he's definitely slumping to start the season.

Kemp with maybe the team's worst AB of the season.

Sigh. Bison... I need a drink.

575 It worked so I'm fine with it.

Jeez, Matt looks hideous up there. His first swing was so weak, nothing like a Matt Kemp swing.

Will Kemp be playing the slots soon?

The video of Raffy's catch is up on Gameday now.

577 Thought that was a running glove sticking out?

It seems like Hoffman gives up runs every time I pay attention to him (which isn't all that often).

Kemp had a stretch like this last year, and finished strong. I hope Torre leaves him in for good.

As I said earlier, the Pierre/Kemp platoon is going to bring out the worst in both players.

535 You are right.

582 - just a strange spot to hit and run. I can see doing it 2-0 or 3-1, but first pitch? I just wonder if DeWitt wouldn't have gotten a better pitch to hit

still, got the run across, that's all that really matters

589 And as I and others said earlier, it's way too early to call this a platoon.

Seriously, if it's a platoon, I'll join you in your criticism. I don't think it is yet.

... Takashi Time(TM)!

586 I don't think so. It's ALWAYS out. Batting or playing the field. It's bugged me for the last year +. If I'm wrong, well, it still bugs me.

589 - good point. There's no chance of Pierre turning into an effective offensive player, so Kemp just needs to play his way through this.

One pitch, one out.

565 -567 Three chants of HUUUU all posted by different people on the same second. Amazing!

I can imagine Logan White frothing at the mouth at the thought of a Pierre-Kemp platoon.

579 - You did notice that Pierre went 0-for-4 and is hitting under .100, right? You sit a guy for two days and expect him to come up in the 9th and suddenly have his rhythm? How is a guy supposed to break out of a slump when he never plays? Sadly, this strikeout probably added weeks to this platoon situation.

585 Where do you find the link on the main Gameday page?

The defense has been amazing.

591 Well, it takes pressure off a young hitter. Hit and run means you're swinging regardless, and DeWitt took a cut on the first swing his last time up.

(minus the errors, of course)

Vin's line about three statues of Gwynn reminds me of the new Barkley-Wade commercial where Wade wants to know why Barkley doesn't have any statues in Philly yet, he says something like, "they've got one of Rocky, and he's not even real."

591 My guess: Trevor Hoffman, veteran and not exactly a wild man, just walked the leadoff hitter on 4 pitches. Torre might have been guessing Hoffman would try and get a quick strike and DeWitt might not see a better pitch.

great game, Torre.

YES YES YES YES YES!

... Ballgame!!

600 - In the 8th inning, there's a button next to the play.

Hu da man?

Hu da man!

602 - ok, that makes sense, I suppose, got the runner over, so I won't complain too much (really, I just wanted to see the Solution go yard)

...and the gods looked down and said WOOT.

WWL WLW.
On to Phoenix.

We win!

2 out of 3 from the Padres at PetCo, the Sammy Smile™ at the end, no Bowa meltdown, and for whatever worrisome things there are to think about, I'm pretty happy with dat.

Cheers, all.

Furcal made that look much too easy. Great pitch by Sammy to end it, really jammed it in on Giles. Sammy's save: six pitches.

Great game, great win, great chatting with all of you.

I will work on my negative attitude...Now it's time to mow the lawn.

Has there ever been a study done on whether players play better when they're playing consistently?

609 Hmm. I go to the 8th, click the button at the left and get the entire pitch sequence, but I don't see anything which shows me the play itself.

Ah well, maybe SportsCenter will have it.

Who cares that the Dodgers won. We just found out that Takashi wears toe socks. How funny is that!!!

YES!

Rotation for the AZ series: Loaiza, Billz, Kuroda?

They didn't play very well, but won. Something to remember when luck goes against us.

614 Zito, Cain, Lincecum (sort of), Germano, Peavy, TCY. 4-2 is not too bad.

I still want to see CajunDodger post "Hu dat?"

Alright! Bring on Shimmin and the D-Backs!

619

It's there if you are using the MLB Gameday, not the Dodgerthoughts Gameday.

if anyone missed it, the Virginia/ North Carolina lacrosse game is being replayed right now on ESPNU. No, just me? okay. Hopkins/ Duke after? Hello? crickets...

618 Almost all players that are played consistently are good to begin with. There are some obvious exceptions.
.
.
.
Nick Punto, I mean.

612 and said BOOP.

619 - Are you on the 2008 Gameday?

625- And I'm not even going to get to watch the first one! Or the game to decide whether I get Bob's old clothes! Very, very sad.

Gammons is talking about the Solution on Baseball Tonight. Basically saying the Dodgers plan is to use DeWitt until LaRoche and/or Nomar get back. And that the Dodgers weren't willing to trade pitching to get a stop gap from another team.

Boomer was asking if the Dodger could go the season with DeWitt at third.

1. Get Jon Weisman a press credential.
2. Let him join the post-game Joe Torre interview scrum.
3. Encourage him to ask, politely, as only Jon Weisman can, "What does Pierre have to do to convince you he doesn't belong in the starting lineup?"

I love today's win. It's a classic NL West game, the likes of which we'll agonize through all season. All the more reason the Dodgers can't keep hurting themselves by putting an inferior lineup out there just to appease a depressed player and his anxious agent.

I realize Kemp is struggling, but his at-bats are an investment that is almost certain to pay off rapidly. Pierre's at-bats are just throwing good money after bad.

Happy Birthday to Grandma Sue. Anyone who receive positive life influence from wise and wonderful grandparents is fortunate indeed. I am please that my daughter was fortunate to have good relationships with three of hers (my mother-in-law passed when my daughter was six) and that she realizes what a gift she has in them.

I wonder where Grandma Sue's baseball card photo was taken.

631 Will you be chatting on Dodger Thoughts or Diamondback Thoughts tomorrow night? Hope the former!

The San Diego announcers said earlier that the coaches have been working with Chris Young on a new pick off move. Previously his move was so bad that he didn't even bother with the runner. So we was a new Young today. Even Pierre might not have been able to steal. Unfortunately for Juan, you cannot steal if you don't reach 1st base. :-)

Did I miss DT's discussion of Jake Peavey's suspicious black substance?

From the Times article on the just-concluded game:

There was plenty of pregame chatter about still images of Padres ace Jake Peavy that surfaced on the message board of a Dodgers fan site the previous night. The still picture was taken from Fox's national broadcast of the Padres' 4-1 victory over the Dodgers on Saturday, when Peavy held them to two hits in a complete game.

The images show a black substance on the thumb, forefinger, and middle finger of the San Diego Padres ace's right hand and didn't appear to be doctored, as it was part of a sequence that was included in a highlight video posted on mlb.com. The black substance was also visible on the video.

Peavy denied that he cheated.

"It's just dirt," Peavy said. "I pick up dirt. I mean, c'mon. I mean, seriously. That's funny to me, seriously."

Pitching matchups in Arizona:

E. Loaiza vs. D. Haren
C. Billingsley vs. D. Davis
H. Kuroda vs. M. Owings

Those last two should provide quite a contrast at the plate.

Suddenly today the sidebar is overlapping the right portion of the Dodger Thoughts comments. Is anyone else experiencing this problem?

Would Dan Haren be considered a tough RHP? We've got Peavy/Young on tap next week as well. Then maybe Snell, Smoltz, Hudson, Harang. Pierre's agent must be very happy.

637 If it was dirt, then why was it only on his "grip" fingers and not his whole hand?

4 and 2 when the team can't hit, I'll take.

you know some mgr is gonna ask an ump to have Peavy's glove in the near future.

640 JP's agent's current happiness level is noise compared to the day he got that five-year contract done.

that should be, have Peavy's glove CHECKED.

643 Tony Jackson had this in his blog:
The most cryptic thing Torre did say, though, was this: "We were the visiting team yesterday. We'll be the home team on Friday [when Peavy should face the Dodgers again], so the balls that get thrown out of the game will come over to our dugout [instead of the Padres']."

took the kids to the La Grange rodeo today, so missed the game. nice to come home and see a victory. seriously, with pitching we have faced so far, 4-2 is not shabby at all. I have a really good feeling about this team.

635- I don't think I could get away with bringing my laptop into the theater. Even if I could, I think it might not be interpreted graciously by my companion, who doesn't seem to give a fig for any sports. I tried explaining the importance of my winning the Griddle bracket challenge, and she thought i was telling a joke.

Philistine.

I just heard from a cousin I rarely hear from, and had to give my full attention. When I turned my attention back to DTV the game was long over and I was most uneasy, because the Pads had the last at bat and I hadn't heard many perturbations in the background. I was most pleasantly surprised, but not because Furcal and Hu have apparently done important things. If we can do OK until the offense heats up a bit--look out.

Oh dear; I just noticed that Tiger Woods eyes look like James Loney's.

isn't it fairly typical for the offense to struggle to start the season. so once our hitters start hitting their stride, everybody else as well?

651 That's true to some extent. But different teams have different offenses hitting their stride, and I like ours to be in the upper half of these, while some, like the Pads, don't figure to be in that sector.

Great win for the Dodgers today.
Hu takes advantage of his opportunity and comes through big time for his team.
Kemp is back in for at least five games now, I hope it's thirty--consecutive--and he never looks back.
Pierre had his chance to produce today. Hu did, Pierre didn't.
Loney and Ethier continue to look excellent at the plate and in the field.
The Solution! Give Dewitt his due without qualification, he's doing it the hard way, he's earning it.
Re-sign Furcal now.
It will be years before Loney is picked off first again.

Martin is doing a fantastic job of handling the pitchers and running the defense.
He had much better at bats today too.
I will predict his days off until the All-Star break.
Thu - 4/10 - No Game
Thu - 4/17 - No Game
Mon - 4/28 - No Game
Thu - 5/8 - No Game
Mon - 5/12 - No Game
Thu - 5/22 - No Game
Thu - 5/29 - Road Game, first game vs. Mets
Wed - 6/4 - Day game at home vs. Rockies
Mon - 6/4 - No Game
Mon - 6/16 - No Game
Thu - 6/23 - No Game
Thu - 7/3 - Day game on the road vs. Astros
Sun - 7/13 - Day game vs. Marlins
Tue - 7/15 - Starts in the All - Star Game

After sleeping on the discussion of yesterday:
Kemp should start, give him 100 at bats to work it out--regardless of who the opposing pitcher is--.

Pierre is a bench player for this team.

Oh my god Nick Swisher is sporting the worst goatee I have ever seen in my life. Even worse facial hair than Spezios terrible red soul patch.

654
I agree. He must be really bored going from A's clubhouse to White Sox.

I'm scheduled for another radio interview on the same topic as the other day, with Ken Levine on Dodgertalk, 790 AM, around 8:30 p.m.

656 today?

656
I will dialed in.
If that's not 8:30 p.m. tonight, I will be dialed in at 8:30 p.m. each evening until you are on.

That was a tough game today, but our defense flashed some good leather. Hu, DeWitt, Jones, and Furcal all made great plays! Though I'm no fan of Pierre, I felt that Torre was right to sit Kemp & Kent in favor of him and Hu today. And though Pierre wasn't a factor, Hu was arguably the difference in the game.

657 - Yes

uh-oh

"Despite Juan Pierre going 0 for 4 with four flyouts, Joe Torre liked the plate appearances and will start Pierre against Dan Haren tomorrow in the Diamondbacks' home opener. "He had pretty good at-bats," Torre said. "He hit them at people." Torre didn't pinch hit for Pierre in a tie game in the seventh, choosing to use Matt Kemp as a pinch runner even though Kemp played the field in the bottom of the inning, sending Pierre to the bench anyway. Pierre is now batting .091, and Kemp is bating .125."

http://tinyurl.com/45zsva

630 Sorry for the delay. I got sidetracked folding laundry.

I'm using whatever Gameday it is that Jon links to up there in the main post.

Let's just hope it's less windy tomorrow, is all. I'm sure it'll be fine.

661 Ugh.

It's going to be sweet when BB-ref updates the Dodgers' page to show Pierre as the LF, and Ethier as the RF.

Plaschke.

Stanford 10- Arizona State 2 in PAC 10 baseball.

Virginia just beat North Carolina (12-11 OT) in the scintillating replay of a lacrosse game from yesterday. I stand by my stance that Virginia is overrated. One nice thing about following lacrosse at your own pace is that you don't run the risk of learning the result offhanded. Not like the stupid Final Four.

661
Fashion Alert!
It looks like Torre has found some of Grady's old windbreakers.
Joe was wearing one today.
He should get rid of those, it's not a good look for Joe.

656

Thanks for the heads up Jon.

661 So our fourth outfielder will have played 4 out of 7 games.

It's just more of the same. I thought I was going to be able to relax and enjoy the season, trusting in Colletti and Torre to make the right decisions.

646 *Tony Jackson had this in his blog:
The most cryptic thing Torre did say, though, was this: "We were the visiting team yesterday. We'll be the home team on Friday [when Peavy should face the Dodgers again], so the balls that get thrown out of the game will come over to our dugout [instead of the Padres']."*

How is that "cryptic?"

I guess the Daily News must've laid off their thesaurus, too.

661
This better be them trying to shop him.

You know, it also doesn't help that Kemp hasn't looked good at the plate but I really think (like others) that Kemp needs to play everyday to showcase what he can do, I'm sure every time he gets an at bat he feels pressured to show the skip what kind of game he brings to the table, it's gonna be interesting how this whole Pierre drama unfolds, if Kemp gets hot HE TRULY IS A DIFFERENCE MAKER/IMPACT PLAYER, on the flip side if Pierre gets hot he'll slap a few singles here & there & steal a few bags, MAH!!!

672
Thanks, I was going to mention that.
I wonder what Ned and Pierre's agent really talked about?

Happy Birthday Grandma Sue for 98 big ones. Hope she sees the big 100.

661
I refuse to let this decision chap my hide -- yet. I'll chalk this one up to "Torre is still learning the team, etc". Come May 1, hopefully this situation will have sorted itself out.

It never actually entered my mind that Ethier would be the lock everyday outfielder instead of Kemp. This feels like a sick, twisted joke where we clamor all winter for Ethier to play everyday, and when we finally get what we want, it's at more of an expense to Kemp than Pierre.

666
Andrew, did you just type Plaschke in that post to ensure he is (again) associated with the mark of the beast?

676 please see 185 that is my opinion, and the opinion of several others. I'm glad that you agree with this mantra.

This thought is my calming moment. Ommmmmm

That is a pretty awesome grandma there. I can't wait for "son of Jon" little league stories someday.
We are not hitting. However, we are working the count deep, as a team, well except for Kemp. He is swinging at balls and looking at strikes, that's how far off he is. For the hitters I know, the sure sign of breaking out of a slump is when they start drawing walks. Then they are forcing the pitcher to throw strikes, and getting good pitches to hit. They become correctly selective. Kemp, being a "talent" may have the hardest time adjusting to Easler's approach. Usually, that is something kids start learning at the age of 10.

661 Yeah, now I'm concerned.

During today's game, I was defending Torre against what seemed like an ocean of attackers (really just a couple of guys but it's more fun to choose an epic simile to describe an action that entails sitting on a coach, typing, while watching a baseball game).

I said that the platoon of Kemp and Pierre was no such thing, yet. I said that Torre will realize that this team is better with Kemp in the lineup.

I now realize I could be wrong.

Throughout the Spring, we thought it was Ethier vs. Pierre in LF. It was a given that Kemp would be the RF. Little did we know.

I'm done with Torre.

665
It's going to be sweet when BB-ref updates the Dodgers' page to show Pierre as the LF, and Ethier as the RF

That could take a few days.

Total Defensive Innings:

Left Field
Ethier 33
Pierre 20

Right Field
Kemp 33
Ethier 20

Also, here is the PA distribution among the 4 OFers so far:

Ethier 25
Jones 24
Kemp 16
Pierre 11

678
I can be in the Ommmmmm mode for a short time.

Really, for me it's more like, SERENITY NOW!

Looks like Tony Jackson gets the last laugh with his infamous "RF battle" post.

677- Sometimes I run shtick of my own, sometimes I borrow.

https://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/444891.html

676 The Padres' starters had 3 quality starts against the Dodgers (20 IP, 3 ER) but only 1 win because the Dodgers beat their bullpen (5 IP, 7 ER) and the Dodgers only gave up 7 runs all weekend.

What kind of pitching have the Dodgers faced this week. After scoring 4 runs in 5 innings against Zito, the Dodgers have scored 3 earned runs in 29.2 IP against the next 5 starters. What they have done is take charge against bullpens, even with the 7 inning bullpen effort by the Giants where where Lincecum was a reliever, still the Dodgers have done well against pens scoring with 12 ER in 18 IP.

The Dodger pitching staff has matched those good starts so far, starters with a 2.11 ERA (and aside from the rain delay game, each pitching 6 or more innings) and the pen with an ERA of about 1 (2 ER in 18.1 IP)

It's obvious that the more Kemp sits, the worse he looks when he does get a PA.

I think tomorrow's outfield will be JP, Kemp and Ethier.

Andruw needs a day off.

I give up.

Just play Pierre every day for the rest of the season, and then wonder at the end why the Dodgers missed the playoffs by 2 games and couldn't get enough offense to compete in the NL.

Torre mentioned good at bats? What in the world does Pierre have to do to convince everyone he's a terrible hitter? Hit .000?

The silver lining is that Pierre isn't at the top of the lineup. Let's not be so quick to bash Torre. However, unless this kid gets traded, we might as well let the Plaschke's win and then prepare an "I Told You So" in September.

686 And the bullpen regulars (Proctor, Beimel, Broxton, Troncoso, Kuo and Saito) have not allowed any runs yet, though Beimel did allow 2 inherited runners score. The runs allowed by the pen were by Billingsley and Loiaza.

688
The silver lining is that Pierre isn't at the top of the lineup

Except for today.

685
Was that -- July 26, 2006 -- Steve's final post? If so, what a way to go out.

690

I tuned in late and assumed he hit 8th. He was at the top! Now I really give up.

"Pierre will be a regular bench player, pinch hitting, etc."

Ahh the good old days... last weekend.

Coach Lou Brown wouldn't agree with Torre.

692
I didn't tune in until midway through the game, and heard one of Hu's ABs. Then Steiner said Hu-Lowe-Pierre were due up that inning -- looking up, it was the 5th -- and a familiar feeling of dread washed over me.

At least we won!

694
Torre: "We got a few potential all-stars here."

Colletti: "You really believe that, don't you?"

:)

I am trying so hard to avoid the path of Mr Shimmin, but its like every time I think the organization takes a step forward, it takes two steps back.

Good win for the Dbacks, by the way.

Well, Pierre did say that you need to be a baseball traditionalist to recognize what he brings to the game.

Who's more traditional than Torre? Perhaps he is a member secret society that uses completely different criteria for judging players. A scale by which 0 for 4 is irrelevant compared to cabalistic measurements, akin to astrology.

The worst part is that Kemp will continue to pinch-hit and continue to stink doing so, which will probably lead to more stars for JP. Last year when he pinch-hit and had his struggles i pointed out that his swing doesnt really go well with seeing one AB a day, and it seems like that is what is going on now. And really, its not like he started out unbelieveably bad. First game he had a hit, was called out on strikes on a pitch 5" outside, and had a hit taken away from him. Now he's just pressing and his AB today included the 2 worst swings I've ever seen him take. The whole thing just doesnt make any sense on any level, and its getting really annoying.

By the way, the Greatest Offense of All Time is about to go 0-6.

Do you think Curtis Granderson makes that much of a difference?

Nobody agreed with me when I posted the outfield was becoming a 4 person competition because Jones was forcing his way into the competition. If Pierre and Kemp start hitting and Jones doesn't....

Or, maybe Young or Repko will find a way into the lineup. If Repko were playing instead of Jones when Ethier and Jones let a ball drop in the rain, would there have been a collision?

I see this Kemp/Pierre situation being battled on two different fronts. First, I still believe that they know what they have in Kemp.

But in the at bats that I have seen, he's pretty much a sure bet to swing at the first pitch, pitchers know the book on him is to just throw around the plate and then work the outside of the plate trying to get him to either take a third strike or roll over his wrists and hit ground balls to the left side, of his at bats, he has one fly ball to center, 2 singles, 6 ground outs (5 to the left side, 1 comebacker) and 7 strikeouts.

And he probably has averaged less than 4 pitches a plate appearance.

None of this means that Pierre should start ahead of Kemp. But he does need to have better at bats and not be in a such a rush to hit the ball 500 feet.

For Pierre, he is not showing anyone why he should be playing, at least Kemp hit in ST while Pierre has been cold since this whole outfield situation has been going on. At first I thought what Joe wanted to find out is will Juan Pierre be able to adapt to being a part-time player because if not, then he has to probably be moved.

I think, far as Pierre, what bothers me the most isn't so much that Pierre is playing; it's that the Dodgers are stunting the growth of Matt Kemp. I think it's so unfair to not give the poor kid a fair shake. My goodness, he's so young, I can only imagine how good he'd be with just ONE full season of at bats.

i think the dodger stadium crowd needs to introduce a "HU'S YOUR DADDY" chant. i'm sure joe torre would appreciate it.

Kemp needs to play everyday no matter where he is playing. I'd rather they platoon Repko and Pierre versus platooning ethier/kemp/pierre (which sorry optimists, that's what they are doing) and have Kemp play daily in triple A as oppossed to this.

So far it seems like everytime Kemp starts to struggle he goes on a hitting rampage.

Jones will play because he is the best CF the Dodgers have.

Jones really is a feast and famine hitter, he never has been a BA guy but he will hit homers so you just have to wait on that part of his game to start.

I think we are doing quite well at this point, because I think both our starting pitching and relief are pretty good and our offense will pick up as the season goes on.

Although I am a bit suspicious of Joe for using JP almost as much as Kemp, I know that the more Joe uses JP, particularly in the middle of the line up, the more horrified he will become.

The only thing that scares me is that if the Dodgers offense is perceived as weak because Jones and Kent don't perform well, this somehow falls onto Loney and Kemp's reputation. After all how many 10's of millions are Jones, Kent and even Furcal being paid to carry our offense this year. And how hard will other teams be trying to devalue Loney and Kemp so they can try to get them and pay them 500,000 a year.

698 - I'll cop to being a bit more of an old school/traditional baseball type around here than most... and let me just say, Pierre doesn't do much of anything that is helpful to a team scoring runs. He can't get on base, he can't hit the ball with anything that resembles power (he doesn't need to hit home runs, but the outfielders should not be sitting down when he comes to the plate).

That said, I'll make this meager defense of Pierre's 0 for 4 day... he managed to work the count a couple of times, and he managed to put the ball in play with runners on base. Unfortunately, everytime he put the ball in play, he hit it right at a fielder.

I would really like to see Kemp get a start tomorrow or Tuesday and hit for the cycle, drive in 7 runs, and score three more. Just so we can get back to having a real outfield.

NPOUT

691- No, he hung around till just before the 2007 season started. I think. It would take a while to figure that out.

For me, it's not that JP makes outs (yes it is) but how he makes outs. I have never seen a speed game type player, lack the skills to utilize his game. 4 fly balls is unacceptable. It's like dude learn how to hit high choppers, legit drag and slap bunts and ground balls between 3b/ss and then at least i could stomach it. A little.