Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
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4) arguing for the sake of arguing
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7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
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We're a long way from Pedro Guerrero at the hot corner, aren't we?
Over the past two seasons, the Dodgers have given significant third base time to Oscar Robles and Cesar Izturis. Today, Ramon Martinez will play there with Wilson Valdez getting a second start at shortstop.
In the absence of good offense at third base, it makes sense to go for the best defense. But is Martinez any more a natural third baseman than Wilson Betemit, who beautifully charged a bunt with a barehand grab-and-throw Saturday and also recently made a nifty backhanded stop in a crucial situation? Though he has only one hit (with four walks) this season, Betemit has not let that undermine his fielding.
I'm fine with rewarding players for great games, and Martinez and Valdez have certainly had those this weekend in San Francisco. With tough lefthander Barry Zito on the mound for the Giants, it's of little moment to me that Betemit rests this one day.
But if Rafael Furcal needs more time to recuperate from his ankle injury - and a thousand bravos to the Dodgers for making sure he gets that time - I'm wary of the Dodgers giving up on Betemit for Valdez. Three hits in a Russ Ortiz-started game does not a hitter make.
At some point, Furcal and Andy LaRoche should render all this moot. (Others muse about Nomar Garciaparra moving to third base, but that seems like a fantasy.) In any case, once Furcal returns, carrying someone like Valdez or Martinez at the bottom of the lineup would be easier to tolerate if, in fact, they help absolutely seal the left side of the infield defensively.
But even with the holes in Betemit's offensive game, I find it very difficult to believe that the slap-hitting Valdez and Martinez can be more productive all-around players. And I'm thinking/hoping Betemit is a home run away from reminding people of this.
Dodger manager Grady Little has indicated up to now that Betemit, who has notoriously struggled against lefties, will get a chance to prove himself as a full-time player. But if Martinez and Valdez so much as do anything positive today, a platoon may be inevitable.
* * *
With Betemit sitting today, it seems only natural that Luis Gonzalez should do so too. For this, the second of three consecutive day games, coming off a one-hit, no bungle game in the outfield that would enable him to rest with dignity, when there are no plans for him to play 162 games to begin with, I'm surprised a day off for Gonzalez isn't automatic. And it's not as if Andre Ethier is still worrying about when his first hit will come - Ethier doubled Saturday.
This week, I've been inundated with so many quotes about how great a human being Gonzalez is that I'm a bit cowed to say anything too harshly against him. So I may have to ask some for forgiveness for speculating that the reason Ethier and Matt Kemp wouldn't start today in the outfield is because of a feeling that Gonzalez will sulk. I remember reading last year that Gonzalez was none too thrilled about having the kids in Arizona reduce his playing time. Maybe that was apochryphal - we know how that can happen, after all - but I simply can't understand why Ethier should have to be benched three times in a week while Gonzalez plays every day.
Last season, Gonzalez OPSed .740 against lefties. The year before, .748. That's not good enough for a left fielder who rationalizes his poor defensive play with something along the lines of "I'm 39 - what do you expect." Frankly, that's not good enough even if, as Gonzalez suggested to Steve Henson of the Times, that his poor defense is merely a slump.
In his past three games, after starting the season 0 for 7, Gonzalez is 5 for 11 with a walk. That's outstanding. But given that Ethier is a better fielder than Gonzalez and was a better hitter last season (including a small sample size .846 OPS against lefties), shouldn't Ethier get a chance for a similar rebound?
* * *
Today's game:
The veteran will always get the benefit of the doubt. When the next day-game-after-a-night-game opportunity comes around, maybe Gonzo will be coming off a hitless streak or something, and it'll be easier for Grady to get him out of the lineup. Then the pattern that Jon outlined a few posts ago will start to take shape: A slumping veteran with clubhouse cachet gets rested a day to get his head together. Then, if he continues to slump, another day. Then maybe a couple of days. Then, even if the young replacement hits, the vet gets put back in the lineup to see if he can rejuvenate himself. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Betemit is struggling right now, but at least he's being selective at the plate. He'll start connecting with the bat pretty soon.
Gonzalez is a tougher problem because of his contract, and his veteran status. He should be sat down every few days to protect his health...especially vs. leftys.
Eithier has proven he can hit leftys better than rightys anyway, so playing Eithier & Kemp together vs. leftys is justifiable.
Pierre, CF
Martin, C
Nomar, 1B
Kent, 2B
Gonzalez, LF
Kemp, RF
Valdez, SS
Martinez, 3B
Wolf, P
Pierre CF
Martin C
Garciaparra 1B
Kent 2B
Gonzalez LF
Kemp RF
Valdez SS
Martinez 3B
Wolf P
"They're not booing you, they're saying 'Boo-is'"
Went to a Nationals game last week. Transportaion was fantastic, the stadium was terribly old, and in poor condition. Was able to walk up and get great seats right before game time. That team is pretty bad. Although I thought Church's bat had pretty good pop.
Cabrerra is a huge man, can't belive he is only 22.
"I was saying Boo-is"
Dodger fans in the stadium are getting increasingly intolerant and boo more, but it's only because:
1) a poor play on offense or defense
2) booing a former player, whether or not it's justified.
In my opinion, which counts for little, booing Green or Finley is pointless. I wonder if Maddux will be booed when he starts at Dodger Stadium.
I'm trying to think of a Dodger who was booed because of continued poor onfield performance, Philadelphia style.
Dave Roberts and Paul LoDuca are two guys that get treated well most of the time they have been back.
Luis Gonzalez 2007 range factor: 1.00
League range factor for left fielders: 1.56
Juan Pierre's OPS+ is currently at -12
http://tinyurl.com/2lq3t3
>>> "There was a little stiffness, but it felt good the first time throwing back to back in two years," Gagne said. <<<
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2829686
Albert Pujols is 1 for 17 so far (double), with 3 walks.
It's still early.
I predict that most players who are doing worse than their average will get better, while most players who are doing better than their average will get worse.
The Pads, Giants, and D-backs are probably training hitters to aim for left and center, even with runners on the right side. ;)
I think Pierre will be roundly booed for his first defensive gaffe at home, but Gonzo will be given a pass, at least for the first one or so.
you really went out on a limb there.
Are the throwing arms really that poor?
Compared to what other teams/player positions?
Hey could have Barry "Clear and Cream" out there. Anyone catch that hustle on the ball hit to the corner....NOT.
I believe in 2003 when Albert Pujols mainly played left field, he had a bad elbow and he could barely get the ball to the cutoff man. The Cardinals shortstop would go way, way out to left to handle relays.
Of course, Albert Pujols' bat was worth that sacrifice.
Deep Center to Home plate? I don't know of anyone who makes that one. Maybe deep center to second would be "good".
Anyone got a pointer to stats on the question.
How bad are they?
...that they need a cutoff man just to throw the ball all the way to the ground.
Note: the preceding hyperbole was intended for entertainment purposes only, and in no way reflects the official position of Jon Weisman, DodgerThoughts, or Baseball Toaster, yada yada yada.
Unless his BA really plummets and he actually starts dropping balls that he gets to (unlikely - he's just fine with the glove), he doesn't have anything to worry about, no matter how much we geniuses shake our heads in disdain.
.219/.264/.331
Betemit vs RHP (515 Abs)
.282/.351/.456
Looks like he should be platooned. Whether Valdez/Martinez can do better against LHP--who knows. But its not like the team is losing much by benching a career .595 OPS'er vs LHP.
Saenz should play vs LHP.
If the team isnt going to bring up LaRoche, and Nomar wont move off 1st-- then platoon Betemit/Saenz at 3rd.
So as long as Juan Pierre isn't on the Braves, it's not a problem. He's the only guy who wears a cap under his helmet, although it used to be not all that uncommon in the 60s and 70s.
Some guys would also keep caps in their back pockets and then switch if they reached base.
For example, I have a good friend who strongly endorsed the JP signing. Led the league in hits, good speed, lots of stolen bases yada, yada, yada. Armed with the arguments advanced by the good folks here at DT, we often clashed. After one week of JP he has conceeded that the signing may not have been as good as he thought.
Attempting to bunt.
'the Dodger outfield has really been a nightmare to Dodgers pitchers...'
Pierre tried to bare hand the ball and it went past him.
With Matt Kemp playing the role of Andre Ethier.
And I think that took the rythm out of our Pitcher.
Goosen +2
Appleby +3
Johnson +3
Sabbatini +3
Woods +4
Pierre just overran the ball a bit, then slipped. He didn't touch it. I don't see how it could be a S+E8.
And Bonds was up next. He tends to disrupt rhythm just a wee bit.
I find the "Juan Pierre and Juan Gonzalez as the Prime Movers for Evil" Theory a bit sketchy.
Almost every time when an outfielder lets a fly ball drop untouched, the play is ruled a hit. Infielders might get errors.
But a Single+E8 would be very hard to explain.
The Nationals could be your next 100 loss team.
Get that man a Newcastle!
I am going with Keystone.
Against the Yankees.
And his team won.
And he's afraid of being a Dodger?
Can't he just not be playing well for some prosaic reason, like, well, he's just not playing well?
I highly doubt that is the case.
But Keystone is worse.
What really bothers me is the other roster mismanagement. The fact that we will lose Valdez because Martinez is Colletti's pet. That Gonzalez will continue to start until the entirety of the media gets behind him being benched.
Also, looks like Billingsley and Tomko will be getting some work in today.
I'd like to second the nomination for Milwaukee's Best
Because he gave us a Hometown Discount for a mere $8 million
No one would do such a terrible thing.
147 - Sure - I meant to open up a thread to night - I'll just do it now.
Yeah and they were really boring.
Zach Johnson +1
Goosen +3
Sabbatini +3
Rose +4
Kelly +4
Appleby +5
Woods +5
Drat.
It doesn't matter if the pitch hits you.
Zach Johnson +1
Woods +3
Harrington +3
Goosen +3
Rose +4
Sabbatini +4
The ball hitting you afterwards doesn't matter.
April 8th, 1974-
Hank Aaron hit 714 off of Al Downing.
I think you should reread that one.
check that.
April 8th, 1974-
Hank Aaron hit 715 off of Al Downing.
Thanks for the correction.
I wasn't at home when that happened, Look at Valdez!
It stopped about five feet from the hole
Three shot lead over the petulant one.
It's green.
You have to get -1 to get the red numbers.
Oh Damn! What do we do with Valdez, another Cory whats his name! The best thing is trade high and hope he doesn't keep producing more than Furcal. If Furcal's legs did give up we have Abrue and Hu and DeJesus for eventual depth. It does make me sick to get rid of a guy like this and get almost nothing. What did we get for Cory?
I didn't have a TV my freshman year in college.
When I wanted to watch TV shows, I would just wait until the newspaper ran courtroom artist sketches of the shows.
That was a great way to enjoy "The Cosby Show."
Zach Johnson E
Woods +3
Sabbatini +3
Goosen +3
Harrington +4
Rose +4
By the way... Wolf is now cruising
'Ramon Martinez has been flashing a golden glove all weekend...'
You can call the Cory Hotline to find out. It's a 900 number.
I still really doubt any team actually wants Wilson Valdez, despite what he's done in the last two days.
Doesn't really change my mind that he should sit though, since I'm less worried about his bat than I am his glove and arm, and his age. I still would have sat him today, but... what do I know?
Go Wilson Valdez! Sheesh, that ball was smoked. The Giants announcers were saying Zito had a little disadvantage because he knows nothing about Valdez and how to pitch to him, but that while Valdez did a nice bit of hitting the ball he hit a lot of batters would have smoked.
Wolf's looked good in the 3 innings I've seen. Sounds like he was a little shakier to start. The Giants aren't hitting well at all but I'm still happy with the Dodgers' starting pitching this series.
CD players and computers were also hit and miss for people freshman year.
I'll walk 100 feet with my hands if we get Miguel Cabrera
Too bad I did come to our soccer game today, however.
Weisman is a typical house man.
Mike Krukow: "Dodgers have come into this series and pitched beautifully and played tremendous defense."
The Germans call that Nantzenfreude.
Then again, it wouldn't surprise me if Sabean traded Lincecum for half a season of Jermaine Dye.
It does have a "perplexed" setting.
And it's in your shoes.
Yes , Cody Ross is who I meant. Its sad that you don't get much for these sudden flamers. But it is true we haven't heard much from Ross since.
Wolf last three innings very different from first. Appears to be mainly confidence.
I'm more and more convinced that challenging the hitters and trying to nibble usually get the same results in the end, although if you are afraid to put it over the ending will be much slower and more painful.
Okay, he can now safely be sat for a defensive sub right?
Natty Ice, by far.
169- I don't think Pierre will continue to play horrible defense. While his arm is below average, he's actually a decent defender.
On that note, what a horrible mistake on the bases by Pierre.
Sigh….looks like Gonzalez won't be sitting for some time.
6 innings 8 ER's 9 H's
'...so that's what you get for 126 million?'
Seems eminently fair. I just never thought about it before.
That was a very American Idol like rendition of God Bless America. Breathy and overly focused on demonstrating that you can sing.
http://tinyurl.com/yo2r6o
Or these guys:
http://tinyurl.com/yp69qh
Zach Johnson +1 (F)
Rose +2
Woods +3
Goosen +3
Sabbatini +3
I feel the same way, If anything we get to watch him pitch.
Zach Johnson
Height: 5-11
Weight: 160
Birthdate: February 24, 1976
Birthplace: Iowa City, IA
College: Drake Univ (1998, Bus Mgt/Mktg)
Turned PGA Pro: 1998
When I say that I mean watch his mechanics & everything that goes with that.
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