MLB '07 (Go Dodgers!)

[Ghoulish Delight]

The teams are in camp, and spring training games start in 1 week! Hooray! Time for my amateur rundown of the Dodgers as they arrive in Vero Beach (for the last time?).

It's been another crazy spring for the Dodgers. They made the business decision to not pursue Gagne. I totally understand why. The last thing the Dodgers need is Darren Dreifort Part 2, the Tommy John Boogaloo. But it still sucks. Gagne fit the classic Dodger star mold, coming from within the system and winning the fans' favor by winning games. But both he and the team made the only logical choice given the uncertainty of his future. It's a shame.

For the most part, I'd call the new look for the Dodgers promising with some hesitation. While they've revived the, "If an opposing team's player is wearing to Dodgers out season after season, just trade for him," philosophy of the 80s and 90s, I'm a little nervous that they keep picking up these players in or near their golden years (Schmidt - 34, Gonzo - pushing 39). That, and the seemingly inevitable corollary to the "trade for them" rule being, "Once the Dodgers trade for them they start to suck."

My other concern is they didn't pick up any power hitting. All the analysts kept saying that they were loading up on pitchers to have some trading chips for a bat, but they never pulled the trigger. But I'm not worried too much about that as that kind of deal can be done mid season when there's a clearer view of who's worth it. Definitely better that than to cannibalize the best collection of prospects in baseball to make some desperation deal just because.

But in the end, with the usual caveat of health, I like the lineup. This is what it looks like right now:

Furcal
Pierre
Nomar
Kent
Gonzo
Martin
Betemit
Ethier

The last 3 are iffier than the top 5, but it's a pretty likely scenario. If Martin can avoid the sophomore slump, that's a damned imposing middle 4, even without an obvious ball-crusher. And if Betemit and Ethier manage to be consistent, even if they don't match their peak performances of the past, they can make even the bottom of the lineup a challenge for the opposition.

And then there's pitching. It certainly feels like they'll have more depth than they've had for a few years. While it would be near impossible to recapture the brilliance of the bullpen with a healthy Gagne, I think cutting him lose will allow them to be more confident and feel less like they're waiting for pieces to fall into place and more like they're building on something solid. Saito proved he's got the stuff last season, and with an abundance of starters (Schmidt, Penny, Tomko, Wolf, [god knows who #5 will be] looks damn good on paper), long relief shouldn't be an issue. Of course, the real challenge is to reduce the need for long relief. With only 1 complete game all of last season and with the vast majoirty starts lasting 6 innings or fewer, even the strongest bullpen's going to get worn out. That needs to change.

I think it's going to be between the Dodgers and San Diego for the west this season. I'm just glad the Dodgers don't have to face Schmidt or Gonzo any more! San Fran seems like it's floundering. Bonds will continue to be exciting to watch, but a hindrance to winning. And the loss of Schmidt will hurt them. Arizona and Colorado...actually I haven't paid attention to what they've been up to, but they both seemed like they're years away from being winning teams.

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict the Dodgers make the playoffs and win at least 2 games. We'll see if I eat my words.

[CoasterMatt]

I can't wait for yet another spectacular late season/early playoff collapse... ;)

[Alex]

While I love baseball, the gap between the last game of the World Series and the first official game of the next season is pretty much dead to me as far as baseball goes.

So beyond knowing that the A's have a new manager (but I can't remember his name) and that Zito went to SF, I haven't a clue what is in store for us this year.

But I expect a strong performance with the good push to the playoffs followed by excitement but ultimately disappointment if they make it.

[Kevy Baby]

Hopefully this is the year I finally make it to a game at the Big A. Haven't been since I was five (I understand they've made a couple of changes since then).

[Ghoulish Delight]

While I love baseball, the gap between the last game of the World Series and the first official game of the next season is pretty much dead to me as far as baseball goes.

I've got a list of bookmarks that I neurotically and obsessively check daily. The Dodgers' site is on that list and while it's eminently more interesting during the season, they do keep posting stuff (mostly about minor leaguers playing winter ball in other counties, enthralling) during the off season. So that keeps me semi informed.

and that Zito went to SF Oh yeah, forgot about that. That might make up for losing Schmidt. But they've still got the Bonds dead weight.

[mousepod]

Funny aside: when I moved to SF from NYC almost 11 years ago, my SIL, a die-hard Giants fan, convinced me to root for the Giants because "they're the home team", even though I've always considered myself a supporter of the Mets. Since I knew I'd be seeing the Giants play more games than any other team (on TV and in person), I went along with her - I was never a huge sports guy anyway, and I recognized that it's more fun to watch a game when you have a little stake (even just emotional) in who wins.

Fast forward to the last couple of months - using her own logic, I told her that I was looking forward to moving to LA and going to a bunch of Dodgers games. Somehow I have become a traitor.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Gooooooooo, Blue! Can't wait!

[Strangler Lewis]

Fast forward to the last couple of months - using her own logic, I told her that I was looking forward to moving to LA and going to a bunch of Dodgers games. Somehow I have become a traitor.

For the first thing, the second thing or both?

Team loyalties are a funny thing. I grew up in Queens and you could be for the Mets or the Yankees, but not both. Since the Mets had just won the World Series in '69, most of us were for the Mets.

When I moved to Orange County as a kid, I was ticked. I sort of rooted for the Yankees in the '77 and '78 World Series because I hated having moved, and I could not stand Tommy Lasorda.

Flash forward to 2001. Post-9/11, wouldn't it have been great for the Yankees to win the World Series? Try as I might, I found myself rooting for Arizona (of all non-NY places) and cheering their comeback. Maybe if the Yankees had been playing the Taliban, I could have rooted for them. Maybe.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Oh man. I just got super excited because it occurred to me that I happen to be taking opening day off since Passover starts at sundown. And a quick glance at the schedule shows the Dodgers play at 11AM. We don't have any afternoon plans, we just have to be in LA for dinner. For the first time in the history of Greg, I had visions of being at opening day!

Until I realized that it's an away game and the Dodgers' home opener isn't until the next Monday. :(

[CoasterMatt]

Somebody puked in Tommy Lasorda's handprints on Friday (in front of the Dodger's Clubhouse store on CityWalk) - wonder if it's a sign?

[Alex]

While I was up in Seattle last week I did the stadium tour at Safeco Field.

If it it wasn't the home team stadium I found it surprisingly interesting (though only as a baseball fan; it would have been pretty boring if I weren't). So if you've ever considered one, I'd recommend it.

(Seattle was particularly friendly with two tours a day, Tuesday through Sunday at $7.00; Oakland is, I think, two Thursday's per month during the season, as long as it isn't a day game so we've never done it.)

[Ghoulish Delight]

I've only seen Safeco from the outside, but even that was pretty spiffy. It's a good looking field, perhaps next time I'm up there I'll have the chance to tour it and/or catch a game from the inside.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Gack! They're messing with the parking at Dodger stadium. No longer will you have the freedom to park wherever you want/can find a space. They'll be directing you to specific spots (a-la Mickey and Friends I would presume). Grrr. Hopefully it won't be so controlled that I can't opt out and park in my usual spot.

[Ghoulish Delight]

sigh

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Oh, that sucks. SUCKS!

[Ghoulish Delight]

Update on the parking thing, my sister and bro-in-law went to one of the freeway series games and said that they didn't notice the new parking system making a huge difference. But they had special reserved parking passes, so they didn't really get to experience it first hand.

Quotes like this one from Gonzo don't instill much confidence for this season: "I just couldn't get to it," said Gonzalez. "It's no secret, I've been playing 17 years. What you see is what you get. I'm not 21."

[Snowflake]

As I passed by AT&T Park last night just as the throngs were bailing in the
8th inning, I thought I should stop by the Giants shop and get GD a Giant's shirt, then I thought better of it. It amused me for a minute, but really, the shirts are attractive.

[Babette]

The news announced this morning that the Dodgers won their first game of the season yesterday and the Angels hae gone undefeated all season. Didn't the season just officially start this week? I swear the media has to have some sort of comparison/tagline/record for everything. Whatever! Go Red! Go Blue!

[Ghoulish Delight]

It's getting a lot of attention because the latest issue of Sport Illustrated predicts a Freeway World Series.

It was an ugly win, but a win's a win.

[Kevy Baby]

I watched about the last 3 or 4 innings during dinner last night (of the Dodgers/Brewers game). It was really stressing me out.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I watched about the last 3 or 4 innings during dinner last night (of the Dodgers/Brewers game). It was really stressing me out.
I was at a dive playing pool. They had the game on and I was watching it. It was the top of the 8th, Dodgers up 2-1, 2 on, nobody out, with a 3-2 count on Betemit...then someone decides to change the channel to the stupid Lakers/Clippers game (which hadn't even started yet)! :mad:

Of course, knowing the outcome now, I suppose anxiety involved in watching the end of that game probably wouldn't have done much good for my pool playing. But it's the principle, damnit.

[mousepod]

I don't have a job yet... don't have a new place to live... but considering the way the Giants are playing out of the box... Go Dodgers. (I have to start somewhere)

[Ghoulish Delight]

So far they've mirrored the Dodgers. If the trend continues, they should win a nail biter tonight.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Ahem...

3 Game Sweep of the Giants!

That is all.

[Alex]

Then all is right in the world.

A week into the season and Seattle and Cleveland have still only played three games.

They are going to have some incredibly screwed up pitching rotations at some point in the season trying to make up those games.

[Kevy Baby]

Then all is right in the world.

A week into the season and Seattle and Cleveland have still only played three games.

They are going to have some incredibly screwed up pitching rotations at some point in the season trying to make up those games.Yeah, but it is Cleveland and Seattle, so it doesn't really matter all that much :evil:

[Alex]

That's true but it still sucks for them. Their pitchers are out of the groove now and then will be again later in the season. On the bright side Seattle carries a winning record into the second week of the season, a surprise to most observers.

[Ghoulish Delight]

There's a good reason the Dodgers, Angels, and Padres have historically ended up with a lot of top notch players from other teams in the golden years of their career. Must be nice to know with certainty that well over half of your games will be played in weather between 65 and 90 degrees (and little humidity).

[lizziebith]

Wooo! Going to the Dodgers/Padres game on Friday, and we get to sit in my company's suite (next to the broadcaster's area). I love it when I get those occasional corporate breadcrumbs!

[Ghoulish Delight]

What a wonderful day for the Dodgers. A loss and 2 injuries. At least it was no one important, just their most expensive free agent signee and they're top young prospect player. :rolleyes:

[BDBopper]

I'm a Braves' fan. Is that allowed here? LOL

[Kevy Baby]

What a wonderful day for the Dodgers. A loss and 2 injuries. At least it was no one important, just their most expensive free agent signee and they're top young prospect player. :rolleyes:Yea, um... damn.

I'm a Braves' fan. Is that allowed here? LOL No

:D

[Ghoulish Delight]

Gotta be happy with 2 out of 3 from the Padres.

Watched the whole game yesterday. It was the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's first game with the Brooklyn Dodgers. There was a ceremony before the game that I missed, and the Dodgers all wore #42 for the game. Vin Scully told the story of a game in Cincinnati at which Robinson had received a death threat letter at the stadium. In the clubhouse, everyone was obviously in an uneasy mood because of it, unsure what to do, when the left fielder came up with a great solution. "Why don't we all wear #42, then whoever it is won't know which one's Jackie." That broke the ice (think about it for a second) and that's why the team yesterday all wore #42.

Meanwhile, during the game the ESPN broadcasters had a continual stream of people in the booth to interview. Jackie's widow Rachel Robinson, Hank Aaron, etc. In theory it was great, but it was nearly the whole game and after a while the interviews just became a drone of talking, hearing the same stories over and over, listening to Joe Morgan kiss everyone's ass and pretend that he's a personal good friend of everyone who came in. Ugh, it would have been much better if they kept it a little shorter and spread the talking out.

[thecorndogwalker]

If anyone is ever in SF and wants to see the Giants play let me know.. One of my best friends is a season ticket holder (4 seats) on third base side, but he lives in L.A. so he ends up selling most of the season....

[Ghoulish Delight]

The key to last night's Dodger win, imo? 7th inning.

Even though they were already leading 4-1 going in, that Dodgers half of the 7th was huge. Penny looked tired in the 6th. He wasn't throwing strikes and when he was, they were getting hit hard. He got out of it cheaply enough, but gave up that first run.

So I was pretty surprised to see him at the plate to lead off the 7th. You could see him talking to someone in the dugout (Honeycut, I would guess) as he walked off the field. I guess he won the argument because there he was. And then he got a hit. And then he was forced out at second.

And that's when the inning got good. The Dodgers knew Penny was tired. He was tired coming off the mound after the 6th, and he had just run from home to second, including a take-out slide a second. So the Dodgers slowed the game down. You could see it. They were taking more pitches, getting deeper into at bats. The D-Backs obliged by changing pitchers twice. And Penny got himself a good 30 minute rest, which allowed him to come out and get one more quality inning. The insurance run didn't hurt either. It doesn't seem like much, but over the course of the season, a 7 inning starts vs. 6 inning starts make a difference, physically and psychologically, for a bullpen.

That's the kind of subtle team play that a lot of people miss if they don't know the game. And that's the kind of team play that's sorely lacking in the American League with the DH.

[SacTown Chronic]

How are you liking the Penny trade these days, GD? Still p*ssed about it?

[lizziebith]

It's a strange world when I find myself checking the LoT for Dodger scores...well? Last I saw was 3-1??? Don't make me go to...a sports site. Please!

[Ghoulish Delight]

D-Backs rallied to tie it at 4 (thanks in part to some piss poor outfield play by Juan Pierre), but JP made up for it with a triple. Dodgers went on to win 6-4, no decission for starter Lowe (who was slightly better than mediocre, which is about what you want out of a #5 starter).

To answer Sac's questions...I'm liking it slightly better But only because they got lucky that Russel Martin turned out productive ahead of schedule. And yes I'm still pissed.

I'm nervous about the Dodger's outfield. Juan Pierre and Gonzalez are looking like they're gonna be giving up a run or two about every other game. It's entirely possible that the Dodger's pitching and offense can be good enough to overcome it...but I'm still nervous. It reminds me too much of the Jose Offerman days (shudder).

[Ghoulish Delight]

I'm nervous about the Dodger's outfield. Juan Pierre and Gonzalez are looking like they're gonna be giving up a run or two about every other game. Jeebus, it looks like I might have to up that estimate :rolleyes:.

You know, when they picked up Juan Pierre, I was unaware what kind of fielder he was. All I knew was that he was fast and could steal a base from the Dodgers in his sleep. I figured that would translate into being a good center fielder. I was thinking a younger, faster Grissom.

But holy crap does he suck. I mean, this is his 8th season and he looks as lost on some fly balls as the little leaguers shagging balls during the home run derby. You'd think he'd have learned how to get a jump on a ball by now. And he's so damned fast it's not even like he needs to get a good jump, just any jump. But he looks clueless out there, complete liability.

[Kevy Baby]

So, I am pulling out of the parking structure this evening to hear that the Dodgers have a 5-1 lead over San Diego going into the bottom of the ninth down at Petco Park. Cool - sounds like they are going to avoid a sweep.

By the time I hit Ball and Harbor, I decide to stop in the Chevron station for a snack since I am a little peckish. As I going in, the Padres have a runner on first. No biggie; they only need to get three outs and I am a happy camper.

By the time I get out (I was stuck behind a flat-bed hauler driver who is carrying a brand spanking new Maserati and the guy doesn't have enough money to buy a pack of cigarettes - I just loved the irony), the bases are loaded and there are no outs. OK - not a great situation, but they have a four run lead - they can afford to give up a run or two.

So, I have a painful ride home listening to the Dodgers give up one run, then two more on a ground-rule double and then another to give up the lead (the score is now tied). I listened as Jonathan Broxton pitched to a full count to Russell Branyan.

And then I heard Charlie Steiner announce the pitch and then simply, "the game is over."

Sonofabitch.

[Ghoulish Delight]

That's about as painful as Russel Martin taking a spill rounding second in Tuesday's game.

I try not to let losing to the Padres, no matter how tragically, get to me. IT happens every year, no matter how well the Dodgers are playing or how poorly the Padres are, they Dodgers lose to them. So I try to brush it off.

Still pisses me off, though.

With Saito out, the bullpen's kinda in disarray. It's an amazing bullpen, but it's definitely full of specialists. They all have kind of a hard time pitching outside of their usual role (whether it's closer, long relief, setup, etc.). Hopefully Saito will be back tonight and they can get back to their normal routines.

[Kevy Baby]

I think the fact that I don't get to hear/watch games as much as I would like and that I thought I was going to hear the last three outs of a Dodger win (I mean, c'mon; three outs to go with a four run lead!) just made that whole experience painful.

I think timing had a little bit to do with it too; walking in to the store with just a man on first and coming back to bases loaded and no outs stung just a bit.

And the bonehead play on the short chopper that Broxton screwed up was just annoying (at least it sounded boneheaded the way it was described on the radio).

They'll recover, I know. I just hate that they always lose to SD.

[Ghoulish Delight]

They'll recover, I know. I just hate that they always lose to SD.

Believe me, I know. Notice I said I "try" to not let it get to me.

Meanwhile, how about Russel Martin?! What a superstar he's turning into, hopefully the organization will be smart enough to hold onto him and build a team around him for the long term.

[Moonliner]

Oh no you don't, not here.....

[Ghoulish Delight]

Huh?

[Moonliner]

Huh?

That would be a reference to tonight's game at Dodger Stadium.

[Alex]

Well, at least he is playing. I was afraid he'd just sit until he was back in San Francisco so that he could tie and pass in front of a friendly crowd.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Something tells me he'd relish doing it at Dodger Stadium. I'm going to be at Thursday night's game. I sincerely hope he doesn't do it then because I'd like to make it out of there with my life.

[Alex]

Here's a question, how big of a homer do you have to be to catch number 755 or 756 and throw it back?

[Kevy Baby]

I have no problem with pitching around him every single at bat.

[Moonliner]

I have no problem with pitching around him every single at bat.

You know, if one pitcher, just one pitcher does it they may think he's really sick. And if two pitchers, two pitchers do it, in harmony, they may think they're both scared. And if three pitchers do it, three, can you imagine, three pitchers walking bonds. They may think it's an organization. And can you, can you imagine fifty pitcher's I said fifty pitchers walking bonds. Friends they may think it's a movement........







and as always, my apologies to Mr. Guthrie.

[Moonliner]

Here's a question, how big of a homer do you have to be to catch number 755 or 756 and throw it back?

Morally I'd like to think I am that Homer. Partially to protest steroid use not just by Bonds but the league as a whole, and partially because I relish the thought of making millions of people go "WTF???"




However I expect were I faced with the actual ball in my hand, I'd pull a Tidwell and cry "Show me the money!"

[Alex]

Yeah, considering that every game is now a situation where an outfield seat is a lottery ticket I wonder how that is affecting ticking prices among scalpers.

[Kevy Baby]

I would wish that I had the wherewithal to bring a ball with me to the game in the off chance I was even near the person who caught it so that I could have something to throw back on the field.

It can be fun to mess with people.

[Kevy Baby]

Dear Dodgers;

This is home plate. You need to run across it once in a while after rounding the bases.

Just a friendly reminder.

Kevin

[Ghoulish Delight]

I am too depressed to go look up how many runners they've left on base in the last two weeks. I've never seen anything like this.

[scaeagles]

Go D'backs!

[Ghoulish Delight]

Mark Sweeney, eh? Not exactly the every day impact player or star pitcher one might hope for out of a trade, but with Olmedo sucking beyond belief this year, it'll be good to have someone who might actually do something useful as a pinch hitter.

[Morrigoon]

Ummm.... go Angels?

*ducks*

[Ghoulish Delight]

Ummm.... go Angels?

*ducks*Sigh, yet another Angels fan that seems to think Dodger fans care enough to start a rivalry. :p I've got no issue with the Angels

[mousepod]

While I'm sad to see Sweeney depart from my current home team (he's not only an excellent pinch hitter, but apparently a helluva guy), I'm delighted to see him traded to my new home team.