Baseball Toaster Dodger Thoughts
Help
Jon Weisman's outlet
for dealing psychologically
with the Los Angeles Dodgers
and baseball.
Frozen Toast
Search
Google Search
Web
Toaster
Dodger Thoughts
Archives

2009
02  01 

2008
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2007
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2006
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2005
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2004
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2003
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2002
09  08  07 
About Jon
Thank You For Not ...

1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
9) typing "no-hitter" or "perfect game" to describe either in progress
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with

Young and Restless?
2007-11-05 21:21
by Jon Weisman

Brian Kamenetsky from Blue Notes kindly passed along these quotes from Ned Colletti today.

On the young guys in the lineup:

"We know where Russell Martin is, obviously. (Andre) Ethier is a guy who's played almost two years in the big leagues. So we're pretty sure where they're at. They're starting to get a dynamic with who they are going forward. I think (James) Loney's last month was really impressive. There's a lot of impatience with a guy like Matt Kemp because of his skills, but when you think about how short his baseball playing career has really been, he did hit .340 in the big leagues over two plus months. There's not a lot of people doing that. So I think as time goes on here, they have a chance to be major players on this club ...

"Where they're at, we're fine with. They have to continue to do it. They're not complete. They can't just come in here and think that they're not going to have to continue to work and continue to grow and continue to understand the game better. And forget a little about personal accomplishment and more about figuring out how to win the game ...

It almost seems like the praise for Kemp is backhanded or reluctant, but maybe I'm misinterpreting. I mean, I don't know how you get impatient about a player who OPSes around .900 at age 23. Of course, if Colletti were planning to trade Kemp, the last thing he should be doing is putting him down. So maybe this is just part of the program to keep Kemp humble and hard-working for next year. Honestly, I don't know.

Kamenetsky asked whether there was less need for one-year filler types like Luis Gonzalez in the outfield.

"I think less. I can't predict who's going to be available or who we're going to bring in here, but I think as time has gone on, the younger players have more and more established themselves, and I think there's less need to continue to support them in the same manner. You still need players, you still need good players, but I sense that the younger players are starting to gain on it."

You can hear more audio from Colletti and Joe Torre at the Kamenetsky brothers' blog.

Comments
2007-11-05 21:37:41
1.   LogikReader
ugh?

It's a very PC response, so I'll give him credit for giving the "right" response.

What's the term for getting the first post? "Logikreader'd?"

2007-11-05 21:40:16
2.   Greg Brock
May all our raw, inexperienced prospects hit .340 and mash a 900 OPS.

Still, this gives me hope. The less he does, the better.

2007-11-05 21:45:29
3.   natepurcell
I hope Colletti prepared a glossy notebook with all of Juan Pierre's accomplishments and bring personally to each GM at the meetings this week.
2007-11-05 21:51:30
4.   Jon Weisman
Sorry - got caught off guard with the timing. Another new post up top, pointing to my new SI.com column.
2007-11-05 22:00:47
5.   Icaros
I don't understand how Colletti can't predict who's going to be available or who we're going to bring in here.
2007-11-05 22:13:50
6.   dzzrtRatt
It's going to be all about who plays third base. The entire off-season will pivot around that issue. A-Rod, Cabrera, Lowell, Crede, Garciaparra, LaRoche. Which one will it be? And will we have to give up anyone good to address it?
2007-11-06 09:00:29
7.   scareduck
5 - I think he means in trade.

This paragraph worries me:

"Where they're at, we're fine with. They have to continue to do it. They're not complete. They can't just come in here and think that they're not going to have to continue to work and continue to grow and continue to understand the game better. And forget a little about personal accomplishment and more about figuring out how to win the game ...

You assume this will happen. Why wouldn't you? And why would a GM say something like this? It sounds like a veiled accusation that the kids have been slacking.

Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.