"Were talking about James Loney standing on 2nd base, what kind of a series has James had, he is now 8 for 11 with 7 rbi. James Loney, he was the fella who had a GREAT last year in the minors, had a GREAT spring training, after hitting .380 the year before in Vegas and they STILL decided to send him back and when they FINALLY decided to bring him up, he has been and INCREDIBLE contributor. Don't forget he is now hitting .322...."

Loney peaked at .330 last night, but ended up at .329.

Don't forget Daniel, the Dodgers had high hopes for Betemit but it just didn't pan out, I remember listening to a Ned Colletti interview were he said Betemit was his biggest disappointment.

"In four career starts against the Dodgers, Davis is 3-1 with a 0.00 ERA. He has not allowed an earned run against L.A. in 30 innings pitched, while striking out 22."

I guess you could say (and I will) that the Dodgers are due.

SP:
Brad Penny
Derek Lowe
Chad Billingsley
Esteban Loaiza
Jason Schmidt

RP:
Takashi Saito
Jonathan Broxton
Scott Proctor
Joe Beimel
Mark Hendrickson
Eric Hull

C:
Russ Martin
Mike Leiberthal/Equivalent

IF:
James Loney
Rafael Furcal
Tony Abreu
Andy Laroche
Nomar Garciaparra
Jeff Kent
Mark Sweeney

OF:
Andre Ethier
Juan Pierre
Matt Kemp
Delwyn Young
Jason Repko/Equivalent

Batting order:

1) Furcal
2) Martin
3) Loney
4) Kemp
5) Kent
6) Ethier
7) Garciaparra
8) Pierre
9) SP

Minor Leaguers ready to help when/if needed:

Jonathan Meloan
Hung-Chi Kuo
James McDonald
Clayton Kershaw
Chin Lung Hu
Wilson Valdez
Xavier Paul

I don't see how that's possible. Nomar is still under contract for a ton of money and Loney sure isn't losing his starting spot. How exactly would Mike Lowell fit in?

On the back exercise thing, well, let's just say doing that stuff everyday sometimes gets very old. I suspect that it was something different than "laying around". The two absolute worst for me are sitting at a computer and reading 400+ comments, or playing video games. I had't put it together before, but my wife noticed that after every gaming session I would end up worse the next day. For me personally the disc stuff is maddening in part because it is so un-predictable, I have lost 20 lbs and can walk and do the exercises and I still might get a gallon of milk out of the fridge wrong.

I was a big Betemit believer, too, but I think part of the blame falls on him not just Nomar. (oh, and Repko)

We have won all the games started by Abreu in the past week.

Therefore, Nomar will start tonight against Doug Davis. I would hope that Abreu would be seen as part of the little momentum we have built the last two nights, but I think Grady will start Nomar.

If he does, I hope he is due. The whole team is due to hit Davis. We'll likely load up the right handed hitters so that means Nomar or Shea or LaRoche. They seem to favor Abreu from the left side.

Will be interesting to see if Loney settles into the 3 slot in the future. I predict he will with Kemp our future #4 hitter.

My ideal top five in 2009 would be Furcal, Martin, Loney, Kemp, Ethier. This is assuming we keep Furcal and Kent retires. And that Pierre hits 8th where I think he fits in best.

LaRoche may be claimed to "not have worked out his back injury"

Nomar could be traded, not likely, but possible

What if Kent retires anyway? Again very unlikely, but they might consider Nomar at 2B.

-- and Lowell's numbers have been good: He's OPS'd over .800 for 5 of the last 6 years

I still would prefer to see LaRoche, assuming he's healthy.

Actually, I could see Kuo getting waived because he's not going to start and he's terrible out of the bullpen.

...that SHOULD be the roster next year, but I fear that it won't.

Well after compiling some numbers I predicted the following:

first what I think he should do (if he has to do anything):

3b: get Alex Rodrigues
OF: Get Adam Dunn, Torii Hunter, or (my favorite bang for the buck candidate) Aaron Rowand as a Pierre Replacement/4th OF

Pitchers: Pick up SP's Shawn Chacon, Kyle Lohse or Paul Byrd.

Now here's what I think NedCo will actually do:

3B: Get Branyan or Corey Koskie
OF: Pick up Moises Alou (!), Reggie Sanders, or perhaps Torii Hunter
SPs: Take a chance on Kenny Rogers, Pick up Livan Hernandez, or perhaps Julian Tavarez and Brian Lawrence

Now prior to this season, he did not have a lot pinch hitting opportunites, this season represents almost half of those appearances, so for this year he his .214/.371/.357 with 1 HR, 6 BB, and 12 K.

Branyan may be a lot of things but a pinch hitter he is not.

Hey do you want to win or do you want to play nice? ;)

As far as moves in the off season, I think it all depends on what Kent and Nomar decide about their futures. If they both decide to retire, then I expect a lot of movement. If not, I don't see the Dodgers doing too much with the starting line up.

I would hope that they make a run for A-Rod, regardless of what happens. I would also hope that they look at packaging Pierre with some second tier prospects to get a new centerfielder.

http://www.nysun.com/article/62362

Apparently that includes not feeling motivated. I mean, he can count on 3 hours of rest every game. He's not exactly being overworked right now. Does he want this job or what?

On a more somber note, a third and fourth pilot
were killed today at the Reno Air Races after one plane flew up the tail of the other.

Sounds like the kid is lazy. Since the Dodgers are paying his salary they should mandate he show up and stretch with a trainer every day.

I can see Ned trying to package Ethier for a starter (or more likely a reliever), allowing him the opportunity to bring in a big name for the outfield. He's been one of the rotating starters all year, yet only has 11 homers. I think Ned thinks he can get more production from that spot, and it's arguably the only place that is open for a change, even if it doesn't end up being an upgrade.

But, he's gritty and hard-nosed, so a 5 yr/$65M offer from Ned wouldn't be out of the question to replace Ethier. I don't see how Rowand goes for only $5-7M though.

"Batting seventh, in left field, number sixteen, Darrrrrrrin Errrrrrrstaaaaaaaad!"

A-Rod: 7/200
Jones: 7/90
Dunn (if available): 6/80
Hunter: 5/70
Rowand: 5/65

Did you know he played football too?

At this point I hope we at least showcase him for other clubs, maybe nag our selves a quality arm or bat.

Just because he skipped the exercises does NOT mean skipping exercises caused the flare up. Yes, it may seem stupid to skip given the possible outcome. However, I've done the exercises religiously and still had what I call the "100,000 volts of searing pain". And it's not like he's gone all soft like I have.

It is just as likely that he bent over wrong brushing his teeth or picking up something he dropped.

In a city where few bother to read the news, he exacerbates the downward spiral of a dying industry.

And in a world where talent and creativity have taken a backseat to fawning compliance, he has risen pointless drivel to an art form.

Sorry, I couldn't resist. I guess that's my parody for the day. Wow, I realize that criticizing Plascke's columns is old, old news around here, but today's column stunk up the place more than usual. Really, what are the requirements for sportswriters these days? I think once they get entrenched, they would have to call a player a racial slur or grab the secretary's butt to actually get fired.

On another newspaper note, did anyone see the USA Today full page article on Saito a few days ago? I ran it across it this morning in a waiting room. Vizquel made some mildly disparaging remarks about Saito's success even though he is 0-7 against him. How dare a Giant question the devastating force of Saito? It sounds like it's time for Omar to get plunked! Of course, Saito's control is far too pinpoint for that to happen, so I guess we will just have to settle for an ordinary strikeout.

I don't disagree with 49, though.

that being said, i don't think keeping laroche on the bench helps us or him very much. i expect him to begin 2008 in AAA.

as for the bullpen & bench, we know there are extra players ned will bring in [he always does]. i don't see any way hendrickson is back, and hull has to be considered a true longshot. i'm basically inking abreu in for a roster spot--it's a perfect situation for him to get some experience before taking over for kent in 2009. (i haven't seen enough of sweeney to consider bringing him back.)

I'm sorry but I would not give a pass to a ten-time All-Star for that type of attitude and I certainly don't think Andy LaRoche, who has already missed time this year due to these flare ups, needs to be promised anything to be ready to play.

Is the way the Dodgers limit the playing time of their young players at the outset of their careers an actual contributor to their ultimate success? Or are the Dodgers just missing out on opportunities to cash in on their prospect fortune?

I like your style Snydes, not to dimer the mood on the La Roche family any further but I remember the Braves had some issues with his older brother as well, I think there was ESPN highlights on how casual La Roche (elder) would walk/run to the bag to barely get the hustling runners out.

Well, Geoff Blum is probably Plan B. But LaRoche will definitely be in the first few letters of the alphabet.

Didn't help Tomko though.

Yep, stupidly enough, Erstad is available too.

Here's a review of the "bottom 5" FA OF's (Min 50 games played):

Name/Avg/OBP/SLG/HR/OPS+

Andruw Jones, .222/.315/.416/24/90
Rob Mackowiak, .265/.339/.388/6/90
Corey Patterson, .269/.304/.386/8/81
Darin Erstad, .256/.318/.342/3/72
Orlando Palmiero, .240/.342/.271/0/61

The Dodgers can't just let Kent go, though. He has an option for next year as long as he gets about 20 more PA.

Charlie (Pasadena CA): Kent - pick up his option? $8 mill I believe...

SportsNation Keith Law: No. He's a 1b now, and that job should be Loney's for the next 5-6 years.

Gonzo, Hendy, Saenz, Seanez, Sweeney and Moeller are FA's at the end of the season. They made $17,675,000 in '07.

Wolf, Lieberthal, Hernandez, Hillenbrand and Martinez have '08 contracts totaling $21,600,000 that can be bought out for $1,350,000.

I hope I got those numbers right. Feel free to audit and correct as needed.

Dodgers have a lot of decisions to make. I think the Wolf decision is the toughest. If we are convinced he is healthy and it was my call I would exercise the option.

I think the Mueller and Perez obligations will be finished this year saving an additional $12,000,000.

With barely two weeks left in the season, his team is in a race despite fielding a lineup sometimes containing five guys who have never played a full major league season.

Despite?

Despite?!?

BECAUSE!

You can examine lots of sample sizes on this issue, the D-Back kids are a mixed lot, Young and Drew have played the entire year and while Chris Young has done very well at some aspects of his game, Drew really hasn't progressed that much at all aside of getting a few more walks. He has not approached his OPS from last year at any point this season.

And the Diamondbacks still have issues, Chad Tracy is signed for 3 more years though now they have Reynolds at 3B (a youngster brought in due to injury not due to his prospect status), Byrnes' extension has been discussed and where does that leave the two Carlos, Quentin and Gonzalez.

The Rockies handed shortstop to Troy Tulowizski and that has paid off well for them.

Going back to the Dodgers, should Chad had started the season as a starter, again, after he got adjusted, he was very good in his role in the bullpen and once he started again, it appears that he really getting a handle on it and certainly become one of the guys I look forward to watching every 5th day.

So to answer Jon's question, I don't know, but then I don't think there really is a right answer, in the end, I think the Dodgers would rather have it work out this way, where even if the kids could have been doing this a little earlier, they would rather have them succeed and stay than have some of the years some of their comtemporaries are having around the league.

But yeah, I fully expect Kent to be back, I doubt the Player's Association would go for the old moves of benching a player as he gets close to an incentive trigger.

I thought they already said they weren't picking up Wolf's option?

I thought someone told me that the Dodgers said they weren't going to pick it up, but I can't find anything like that.

There was an article in the Times two days ago where Wolf said he doesn't expect the Dodgers to pick up his option, but that he'd still like to return to them.

I'd like to see him back.

I don't know if you & me are on the minority on this, but I have agree with your sentiment, I'd ink him for another year with an option.

That's low enough that I think you have to gamble. Even if you have no plans to put him in the starting rotation, that's a hell of a trading chit.

Penny, Lowe, Billingsly, Kou, Schimdt, Loaiza, and Wolf. Assuming Schimdt is able to go at the beginning of the season, someone is the odd man out. Especially when Kershaw goes crazy in Jacksonville and/or Las Vegas.

Somebody will go to the pen, and I don't think it'll be one of the millionaires. At least not at first.

If Kemp/Loney/Billingsley were better than their major league counterparts at the beginning of the season, then they should have been playing from the beginning of the year in LA.

Billingsley was one of the top 5 Dodger starters at the beginning of the year. He should have been starting.

Was Loney better than Betemit/Nomar at the beginning of the year? I dont think it could have been argued he'd be worse.

Kemp has to have a place in an Of has enough room for Pierre/Gonzo to start.

There's really no defending the Dodgers on this one. They didnt play the best players available at the beginning of the year, and it might have cost them a playoff spot and quite of bit of money in wasted veteran salaries.

Billingsley is an above average pitcher with even more potential who is very cheap. Finding a pitcher like that is like hitting the lottery.

Although for some it's not like hitting the Hughes/Chamberlain/Kennedy trifecta. Or even coming up with the better Buchholz.

Such things only happen because other teams are so incredibly awesome that the rest of us who root for the other teams should give up hope.

Anyway, I'm not thinking much about next year right now; I'm on the one day at a time, there's still a chance this year plan. Plenty of time to muse about next season in the long off season.

At the start of this season, Braun, Pence and Loney were at AAA, while the other two have been with their MLB club all year. Pence had a pretty good April and was called up but Braun had a monster April and early May and really just hit his way into Milwaukee and has kept on hitting. James didn't hit as well but he did plugging away but it wasn't as if he forced his way back here. But to his credit, he has done well since and is now among the Rookie leaders.

Matt Kemp did go back down and handled himself quite nicely, .914 OPS and only 26 strikeouts in 171 PA. And since he came up in June, he has done well too.

Did they need that time to be better players when they came up this year, I don't know but Matt Kemp certainly became better at strike recognition during his time in AAA. Loney is harder to read since he probably was very disappointed not to make the club out of spring but again to his credit, he has made the most of this opportunity.

That all said, what Martin, Loney, Kemp, Billingsley and Broxton have done in their time up with the club is pretty remarkable.

An All-Star catcher, two very good young players that may be among the best in the league down the road in Loney and Kemp, a top starter and set-up/closer. If not unprecedented, certainly beyond anyone's reasonable expectations.

I omit Ethier only because he was developed in the A's system and while his playing time is sometimes jerked around, he has stayed with the big club since his call up last May.

In the end, the make up of the roster before the season started pretty much set in motion what happened (though had Kemp not gotten hurt, it would have been interesting to see if he would have started the 3 for 2 rotation much earlier (more likely it would have been a strange non-platoon of Ethier and Kemp.)

Signing Nomar for 2007 probably cost us the pennant.

Not only has Nomar stunk, and personally probably lost at least 4 or 5 games this season for us, but he blocked Loney for 2 months.

Plus, we're stuck with him for next year too.

I don't know if I agree with that. Martin is beyond anyone's wildest expectations, and has outperformed his projection significantly. The other four have performed exactly as one would have expected them to. The biggest thing to be pleasantly surprised about is that none of them have had (serious) injury concerns yet.

As young as Billingsley is, you can make the argument that they were protecting his future by limiting his innings (a point I know has been made here before). If he were near 200 innings now, would he still be this effective? We'll never know, but the Dodgers aren't the only team taking this approach with their young starters.

As for Loney, he didn't show this kind of power in an extreme AAA hitter's environment. So it wasn't unreasonable, given Nomar's heroics last year, to see if he had anything left in the tank. But two awful months were enough to give us that answer.

As for the outfield, I've got nothing. Ethier and Kemp should have been regulars all along. If Kemp hadn't gotten hurt, maybe he never would have lost the job.

Also, I don't know how much working out of the pen helped Chad work on some things, he certainly became more agressive in terms of going after hitters, he never had a better K/BB ratio and now he is certainly not tired heading down the stretch.

I wish I could predict the future, I wish I knew how things would turn out but I don't. There is no question that the ceiling was high with the Dodger youngsters but the question remains what gives them the most optimal chance to begin to reach it. Some might say roll them out and let's see how it plays out. But as I said earlier this week, that is not how it has been done with the Dodgers going back in the last ten years and certainly not unless there is no other option.

This year the Dodgers at options, whether or not you liked them is another issue, but they had options, and they took them.

Every interview I have read with Wolf seems like he will be willing to come back for less money, knowing he did not "earn" his salary this year. I like that kind of character.

I really like Ethier's glove and hitting, and I wish he could be given a chance to play a full year. I think we would see closer to 20-25 homers from him, but I will not be surprised to see him traded for a pitcher and then another OF signed in his place. I won't be surprised, but I will be mildly disappointed.

101 - The latest discussion of Schmidt, in today's papers, once more contradicts this statement. Everyone expects him to be pitching by Spring Training (with questionable effectiveness). He may not be what he was, but I don't know how you can say there's no way he'll be in the rotation.

Really? I can't see them passing up the chance to have three very effective starters in Lowe, Penny and Bills, with the possibility of Schmidt as a complement.

Did you mean Loaiza? That seems more likely to me.

If he does come back that soon, it seems to me, that will be because he's rushing things and will likely break down all over again. But I wouldn't count on him being ready for Opening Day. And I hope the Dodgers don't count on it either.

http://tinyurl.com/228666

However, someone earlier thought that Billingsley would go to the bullpen before a veteran starter would. I responded by saying that if it came to that, I could see Lowe going before Billingsley. Lowe, remember, was once a great reliever. And next year, he figures to be a less effective starter than Billingsley. That's all.

I think everybody agrees, Bills has earned his spot on the rotation for '08 management would look foolish if they didn't start him.

Sorry, Bob, I don't get it.

http://tinyurl.com/ywqvem

Doesn't Nomar have a full no trade clause? Or was it only for this year? Or are you expecting him to waive it?