Dodgers Notes From Sunday's Game 4/25/2010

Washington 1, Dodgers 0

Box Score.

• Chad Billingsley was very, very good over 6 innings (1 ER, 4 Hits, 5 K, 2 BB [1 IBB], 86 pitches - 55 for strikes).
• Bullpen: 2 IP, O Runs, O Hits, 2 K, 1 BB.
• Casey Blake (Double, Single) and James Loney (2 Singles) reached base twice.
• Garret Anderson: 0-4, 3 K. -- FREE XAVIER PAUL --
• Andre Ethier and Blake DeWitt, with the Nats throwing a lefty, got the day off.
• The Dodgers loaded the bases on 3 consecutive singles with one out in the 1st inning, then followed that with a K and flyout.
• The offense drew 1 walk while striking out 9 times.
• With the players he decided to suit up today, I thought Joe Torre put together a good lineup, keeping the low-OBP guys down at the bottom of the order. Russell Martin in the 2-hole was nice, though in reality I'd like to see him leading off with a hot Rafael Furcal second, and a stumbling Furcal in the 8-hole.
  

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Some site changes, look-wise, the next day or so. At least that's the plan.

"Lineup Interchangeable", According To Torre

Joe Torre says he has no idea what his lineup will look like for Game 2, let alone on a consistent basis.

"I don't know what I'm doing tomorrow," Torre said during the Dodgers' workout at PNC Park on Tuesday morning. "Our parts are interchangeable."

Let's hope "interchangeable" doesn't mean Matt Kemp bats any lower than 5th, and Rafael Furcal doesn't get locked in to the lead-off spot no matter what (that 8th spot is just calling his name).

Ah, Joe Torre and the batting order. Over-thinking at its finest.

Lineup Fun

A lineup mix-up with Don Mattingly managing yielded positive results for the Dodgers, according to this article I read less than half of.

Does that look like the mustache of a man who would make a mistake? I think not.

Kemp To Bat 2nd?

According to old Joe, that's where he'll slot the Bison, at least to start the season.

I, on the other hand, would put Ethier in front of Manny, a spot which Andre has occupied before. He's also proceeded to mash the ball while batting in front of ManRam. My lineup would look something like this:

Martin-Ethier-Manny-Kemp-Loney-DeWitt-Blake-Furcal-Pitcher

At least Kemp understands what is needed of him from the second spot in the order:

“Man, I hit one through nine since I’ve been in the big leagues and I can hit anywhere,” Kemp said. “If that’s where Joe wants me to hit, that’s where I’m going to hit. I’ll just do the best I can to get on base for the big boys.”

I guess I should accept the 2nd spot as progress from Torre, though I still fear he'll slide Mattycakes back to the 8th spot at some point. You just gots to have that second cleanup hitter!

Notes From Wednesday's Game

Finally!

1. Randy Wolf was very good once again (7.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 5 K, 2 BB, 1 HR Allowed, 109 pitches - 75 for strikes). I would have let him finish the 8th though.
   
2. Was there really a need for either Sherrill or Broxton to pitch? I realize both had gone 3 days without pitching, but with Broxton having pitched so much recently and having dealt with the toe injury, and Sherrill feeling pain in his side yesterday, another day of rest would not only have been beneficial, but was clearly available with the situation that presented itself.
3. James Loney was pitiful again homered (!) for the first time since July 10th, his 8th of the season. All have come on the road.
4. Andre Ethier went deep twice, numbers 26 and 27.
5. Ethier (2 HR, Single) and Manny (Single, BB, HBP) reached base 3 times each, while Loney (HR, Single) and Orlando Hudson (Single, BB) each reached base twice.
6. Rafael Furcal was shitty shitastic more of the same, which can kindly be characterized as shitastically shitty. Move him to the 8th spot Joe.
7. The Dodgers grounded into 3 double plays.
8. Vicente Padilla takes the mound tomorrow.

Notes From Sunday's Game

A Michael Jackson Tribute?

1. Manny's defense was atrocious today. He was only charged with 1 error, but he probably committed 5 minimum. How that Aramis Ramirez single was ruled a triple is beyond me, even taking into account the game was in LA. Manny really did a dis-service today to Chad Billingsley. Manny, you know you gotta help your pitcher out when you're in the field, right? At least he didn't cut any throws off today.
2. Billingsley, while a little wild today, was also squeezed numerous times in the first few innings. He pitched well enough to lead us to victory (6 IP, 9 Hits, 3 ER, 5 K, 1 BB, 1 HR Allowed, 94 pitches - 60 for strikes).
3. The offense was once again non-existent.
4. Tony Abreu drove in the lone Dodger run. He was the only Dodger to reach base more than once (Single, BB).
5. Orlando Hudson and James Loney had the day off. Hudson pinch-hit and grounded into a double play, while Loney apparently had the flu, though his play for much of the season certainly warranted a spot on the bench. Though I never want to see Mark Loretta playing instead of Loney, no matter how poorly Loney is hitting.
   
6. Please Joe Torre, remove Casey Blake from the cleanup spot, and while you're at it, from the first 5 spots in the lineup.
7. Did Hong-Chih Kuo really need to come in for one out, especially considering it was just Mike Fontenot? I think James McDonald could have handled that difficult task.
   

Notes From Sunday's Game

1. Randy Wolf was outstanding over 7.2 IP (5 Hits, 3 ER, O BB, 10 K, 1 HR allowed, 100 pitches - 71 for strikes). He was also dynamite at the plate, going 3-4 with a HR, double, 3 RBI, and 2 Runs Scored.
2. Wolf retired 20 straight at one point, including 5 via strikeout.
   
3. The bullpen got a much needed rest today.
   
4. Rafael Furcal had the day off.
5. With Furcal resting, Matt Kemp stepped into the leadoff spot. It'll be interesting to see what Joe Torre does with the order tomorrow when Furcal returns, especially after such an offensive outburst. Knowing Joe, not only will Furcal be back atop the order (which I don't really mind) but Kemp will probably be slotted 7th or 8th again (which of course I do have a major problem with).
6. Along with Wolf, Andre Ethier and Orlando Hudson homered.
7. Kemp and Hudson reached base twice.
8. Ethier went 4-5 with his 24th HR and a double. He drove in 4.
9. Guillermo Mota looked much better today than he has in a few weeks, though it was in mop-up duty.
10. Hiroki Kuroda was released from the hospital.

Notes From Tuesday's Game

The force is strong with this one.

1. Matt Kemp launched a monster 3-run bomb to center field. Joe Torre batted him 7th. Torre = not a very good manager (to put it lightly).
2. The bullpen wasn't destroyed tonight. Party time everyone!
3. Randy Wolf was very good in most respects (8 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BB, 3 K, 103 Pitches - 70 for strikes) but also benefited from the Giants big ballpark (6 groundball outs - 14 flyball outs).
4. Manny reached base 4 times (HR, Double, 2 IBB) and drove in 3.
5. Andre Ethier (2 Doubles) and James Loney each reached base 3 times.
6. Kemp and Ethier each have 75 RBI to lead the team (Kemp's total is clearly more impressive - more on that to come as soon as I get around to writing it up. I'm lazy, what can I say.)
   

Notes From Monday's Game

1. Matt Kemp was batting 7th tonight, behind offensive luminaries like Casey Blake and Orlando Hudson. Torre really couldn't put a lineup together if his life depended on it. Your best hitters should be in a position to get the most at-bats possible.
2. A consistent batting order constructed to give the team the most run potential would help bring needed consistency to the Dodgers' offense. Something along the lines of: Furcal-Ethier-Manny-Kemp-Martin-Loney-Blake-Hudson-Pitcher or Martin-Furcal-Kemp-Manny-Ethier-Loney-Blake-Hudson-Pitcher.
3. James Loney had the night off for the second straight game.
   
4. Hiroki Kuroda was pretty good tonight (6.1 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BB, 2 K, 93 pitches - 64 strikes, 12 groundball outs - 5 flyball outs).
5. Torre continued his mission to burn through the bullpen before September arrives. Kuo could have recorded the last out in the 7th, and two relievers were not needed to finish off the 8th and 9th innings. With a 3-run cushion (my reasoning here), one reliever would have been enough. I just hope Joe doesn't trot Kuo out again tomorrow.
   

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Your best offensive players and players with the highest OBPs should be in the top half of the lineup, somewhere between the 1-5 spots. For the Dodgers, it's simple: Kemp, Manny, Ethier, Martin, Furcal. Those 5 guys in some order (preferably Martin and Furcal in the top 2 spots), every game. Wise up Joe!

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Chad Billingsley will not pitch Wednesday's game. Smart decision by the Dodgers, no need to risk further injury. Though that Lincecum vs. Billingsley matchup would have been a treat to watch.

The Bison Strikes Again

Matt Kemp went 4-5 with a homerun, double, 5 RBIs, and 3 runs scored last night to help lead the Dodgers to a 17-4 win over the Brewers. It was Kemp's second 5 RBI game in the first week of August, and while that's obviously an amazing accomplishment, it clearly does not impress all. Joe Torre batted Kemp 5th on Sunday, and he proceeded to put up a 3-5 night with a HR and 5 RBIs. Torre left him in the five-hole for Monday night's game, and Kemp responded by going 2-4 with 2 doubles and 2 runs scored. That kind of production would indicate that Kemp can clearly handle batting 5th in the Dodgers order, if not higher. But old Joe thought differently, and actually dropped Kemp down a spot for Tuesday's game, behind the offensive juggernauts that are Casey Blake and James Loney.

Kemp has had four 5-RBI games this season: August 4th, August 2nd, May 7th, and April 19th. In those four games, he batted 6th, 5th, 6th, and 7th, respectively. Maybe old Joe should consider moving his best overall player and second best offensive player (yes, I'm one of those who believes Manny is just slumping, not suffering from a lack of PEDs or a lack of proper prenatal care) up a few spots, what with getting your best players the most at-bats possible being a pretty important thing and all.

Judging from his track-record, I expect Torre to bat Kemp 9th tonight, with Jason Schmidt manning the cleanup spot.

Also of note, apart from his dynamite night at the plate, Kemp had an interesting night in the field.*




*Photo via Yahoo!