The Dodgers' sole trade deadline move was an intriguing swap of utility infielder Wilson Betemit to the Yankees for reliever Scott Proctor. My initial reaction to the move was that the Dodgers had given up too early on the switch-hitting Betemit, whose on-base and slugging numbers weren't enough to make up for an early season slump that doomed his batting average.
To make matters worse, Proctor is generally considered to be overworked, a trait that has plagued the Dodgers' bullpen since the All-Star break.
However, after some thought, I believe the move could be beneficial under some circumstances. With Nomar blocking Betemit's way at third (and Andy LaRoche, for that matter), Ned Colletti wisely got something he could use for a piece that didn't seem to fit.
First of all, it opens up a spot that could be filled by LaRoche, who looks ready for another shot. The Dodgers called up Delwyn Young to fill the spot until Proctor arrives, and will likely keep Young once they get Proctor, but it will be hard to ignore LaRoche much longer.
The second thing is that Proctor may be really good for the bullpen. His 3.81 ERA will be welcomed by a group that has struggled to get to Broxton and Saito. Plus, he won't have to be (over)used like Joe Torre has used him the past season and a half.
Second Thoughts
I wonder why/if Colletti didn't try to deal LaRoche, who has always been highly regarded and whose stock has risen even more with his recent power surge, for a more significant pitcher than Proctor. Clearly there weren't starters to be had.
I seem to be the only one who thinks this, but I would have been a big fan of a deal for Matt Morris, as long as it didn't cost a first-tier prospect and the Giants paid some of his salary. From what I have read, the Giants were basically begging teams to take him, and the Dodgers have a bunch of desirable young players, some of whom appear to be blocked by veterans and/or other, better young players already in LA or in the team's plans in the near future.
Especially in light of the news that Randy Wolf may miss the rest of the season, Morris could really help as a fourth or fifth starter. He's really struggling this year, but he is durable, experienced, and could provide a veteran boost to the rotation.
I also wonder if Colletti is done dealing. The starting rotation is seriously lacking if Mark Hendrickson and Brett Tomko take the mound two out of every five days, and with the health of Wolf and D. Lowe in question, I find it hard to believe that Colletti won't try to find some established pitcher to help down the stretch.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
What happens in Los Angeles, should stay in Vegas
Brad Penny's batting average: .293
Nomar Garciaparra's batting average: .282
Brad Penny's slugging percentage: .390
Nomar Garciaparra's slugging percentage: .353
Brad Penny's on-base percentage: .326
Nomar Garciaparra's on-base percentage: .327
I think we know what this means. Now starting at first base for YOUR Las Vegas 51's...
Nomar Garciaparra's batting average: .282
Brad Penny's slugging percentage: .390
Nomar Garciaparra's slugging percentage: .353
Brad Penny's on-base percentage: .326
Nomar Garciaparra's on-base percentage: .327
I think we know what this means. Now starting at first base for YOUR Las Vegas 51's...
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Texas Two-Step
The Dodgers' first two games against the Astros continued to illuminate key themes as the trading deadline nears. First of all, Chad Billingsley gave more indication that the youth movement is in full effect and the best thing that Ned Colletti and Grady Little can do is stay out of the way and let the kids continue to amaze.
Billingsley has been pegged for years as a future ace, and while he has been at times unspectacular since getting to the majors last year, he has a career ERA of 3.61 and is only getting better. His complete game, 5-hit win on Monday was his longest, most efficient outing yet, and there is no reason to believe he won't continue to be a strong fourth option (if Randy Wolf returns to pre-injury form), if not assuming the third starter's role behind Penny and Lowe.
Billingsley's complete game provided the Dodgers with a win, but also gave the bullpen a rest. On Tuesday, however, it became painfully obvious, again, that starters won't be able to throw complete games every night, and as solid as he's been, Rudy Seanez is not a dependable late inning guy for a World Series contender.
Bullpen Issues
It seems as though Grady Little's expectations for any "starter" not named Penny, Lowe, or Billingsley (or Wolf when/if he's healthy) are five innings and three or fewer runs allowed. Hendrickson gave the team that on Tuesday, but Seanez continued his recent struggles by allowing two inherited runners to score and giving up a grand slam to Craig Biggio on the night he announced he will retire after the season.
The solution to the pitching issues may not be as simple as getting healthy, unfortunately. I have already voiced my support for Octavio Dotel for a mid-level prospect or two, but there may be support within the organization.
Eric Hull, who made his MLB debut and pitched two hitless innings, seems like he might be a viable bullpen option for the near future. He had a 3.18 ERA in 51 innings playing in Las Vegas, the most hitter-friendly park in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, so it's not unreasonable to hope he could help the Dodgers' bullpen that could be classified as anything from weary to simply not that good aside from Beimel, Broxton and a healthy Saito.
Another option that I'm sure Colletti and Little have in their thoughts is Jonathan Meloan, as evidenced by his recent promotion to Triple-A. He has been on the Dodgers' radar ever since a strong showing in the 2006 Arizona Fall League, and his ascension has continued to this point. His stats at Double-A Jacksonville certainly merited a promotion to Las Vegas -- 2.18 ERA, 19 saves, 70 strikeouts in 45.1 innings pitched -- and could soon make him a legitimate option for Little late in games. According to Baseball Prospectus' Kevin Goldstein, Meloan's fastball touches 97 mph and he has a plus-plus curve. At the very least, he could get a call-up to gain some experience and eat some innings to give the geezers like Tomko, Seanez and Saito more rest.
Red Flag for Russ?
In Ken Gurnick's game story on Tuesday, he attributed Russell Martin's departure from the game after the eighth inning to "tightness in his buttocks." Martin wouldn't call it an injury, but it raises a larger question about whether or not Little is making enough use of Mike Lieberthal as a way to give Russ rest. Just a thought...
Billingsley has been pegged for years as a future ace, and while he has been at times unspectacular since getting to the majors last year, he has a career ERA of 3.61 and is only getting better. His complete game, 5-hit win on Monday was his longest, most efficient outing yet, and there is no reason to believe he won't continue to be a strong fourth option (if Randy Wolf returns to pre-injury form), if not assuming the third starter's role behind Penny and Lowe.
Billingsley's complete game provided the Dodgers with a win, but also gave the bullpen a rest. On Tuesday, however, it became painfully obvious, again, that starters won't be able to throw complete games every night, and as solid as he's been, Rudy Seanez is not a dependable late inning guy for a World Series contender.
Bullpen Issues
It seems as though Grady Little's expectations for any "starter" not named Penny, Lowe, or Billingsley (or Wolf when/if he's healthy) are five innings and three or fewer runs allowed. Hendrickson gave the team that on Tuesday, but Seanez continued his recent struggles by allowing two inherited runners to score and giving up a grand slam to Craig Biggio on the night he announced he will retire after the season.
The solution to the pitching issues may not be as simple as getting healthy, unfortunately. I have already voiced my support for Octavio Dotel for a mid-level prospect or two, but there may be support within the organization.
Eric Hull, who made his MLB debut and pitched two hitless innings, seems like he might be a viable bullpen option for the near future. He had a 3.18 ERA in 51 innings playing in Las Vegas, the most hitter-friendly park in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, so it's not unreasonable to hope he could help the Dodgers' bullpen that could be classified as anything from weary to simply not that good aside from Beimel, Broxton and a healthy Saito.
Another option that I'm sure Colletti and Little have in their thoughts is Jonathan Meloan, as evidenced by his recent promotion to Triple-A. He has been on the Dodgers' radar ever since a strong showing in the 2006 Arizona Fall League, and his ascension has continued to this point. His stats at Double-A Jacksonville certainly merited a promotion to Las Vegas -- 2.18 ERA, 19 saves, 70 strikeouts in 45.1 innings pitched -- and could soon make him a legitimate option for Little late in games. According to Baseball Prospectus' Kevin Goldstein, Meloan's fastball touches 97 mph and he has a plus-plus curve. At the very least, he could get a call-up to gain some experience and eat some innings to give the geezers like Tomko, Seanez and Saito more rest.
Red Flag for Russ?
In Ken Gurnick's game story on Tuesday, he attributed Russell Martin's departure from the game after the eighth inning to "tightness in his buttocks." Martin wouldn't call it an injury, but it raises a larger question about whether or not Little is making enough use of Mike Lieberthal as a way to give Russ rest. Just a thought...
Monday, July 23, 2007
Mets Series Notes
Due to popular demand, Blue Notes is back in effect. Here are thoughts on the Dodgers-Mets series and various other issues as the trading deadline approaches and Los Doyers embark on what appears to be an exciting stretch run.
But before I get into some points, I believe that the Las Vegas 51's may be looking for a utility infielder, someone who could play all four spots adequately, but none particularly well, and I think Nomar Garciaparra may be their guy. Just kidding, but seriously. All that crap he does with his batting gloves gets old if it only leads to weak groundouts. He really needs to start hitting some line drives.
Mets Reflections
For the most part, Dodgers fans can feel very good about the Mets series. The Dodgers' best hitter, Russell Martin, went 2-for-19 in the series and the team was still a Matt Kemp routine fly ball away from splitting the series. Considering the state of their pitching staff (the line between bullpen and rotation is practically dissolved), a split with the first-place Mets would have been more than welcome. Nonetheless, the defense, particularly in the outfield, needs to get better.
For the series, the Dodgers' offense, once considered the team's biggest weakness, looked very good. 22 runs in the series -- including nine against Tom Glavine on Thursday -- against a fine pitching staff and a good bullpen bodes well for an offense full of young players going into August.
Rafael Furcal (8-for-20 against the Mets, .362 over last 10 games) seems to be getting it going, and if you will remember back to last year, that means very good things for the Dodgers as a team.
In terms of pitching, there were many encouraging signs for the Dodgers. D-Lowe was bad on Thursday, obviously, but it's going to take a few more bad starts for me to say a bad word about him. Everyone who knows anything knows that wins for a pitcher mean nothing, but it is really a shame that he has pitched as well as anybody in the National League and somehow finds himself with a losing record (8-9).
Other than Lowe, Dodgers starters all pitched well enough to win. In his second consecutive good start, Brett Tomko went six innings without an earned run, Brad Penny "struggled" through 6.1 innings and three earned runs, and fill-in Eric Stults fulfilled his annual requirement of one productive start against the Mets with 5.1 innings and two earned runs. Pretty good for two long relievers and a "bad" outing from an ace.
Speaking of Tomko
Sometimes I wonder if athletes get so caught up in the life they live (making lots of money, playing sports for a living), that they lose touch with reality. The most recent case of this is Tomko. Before his start in San Francisco on July 14, he had this to say:
"I might have lost confidence. To go from a starter to mop-up guy, it doesn't feel great. Nobody wants to be a long guy in the bullpen. It takes a toll. It's not that I feel I can't get people out. I like starting. It's what I want to do next year. I have thought about next year. Being a long guy is not what I want to do."
Call me crazy, but doesn't this quote insinuate that Tomko believes he has pitched well enough to be in the rotation rather than the bullpen? Let's look at his stats: 5.42 ERA. The only Dodgers with worse ERAs are Jason Schmidt and Hong-Chih Kuo, both of whom are on the disabled list with significant arm injuries.
No one wants to be the mop up guy, Brett, but if you are the worst pitcher on the team, your options are pretty much: 1) mop-up guy or 2) in Triple-A waiting for Nomar.
It seems to me that if you accept your job as a 6th starter/long reliever and do it well, you will get ample opportunities to start. When you start, you can showcase your skills for teams like Kansas City so you can decide to go play there next year if you really want. Or you could whine about being the mop-up guy on a good team and Ned Colletti could trade you there next week as a throw-in for Octavio Dotel and you could start your offseason early. I suggest you ask Odalis Perez how Option Two works out in the long run.
Dotel and Teixeira Rumors
As previously mentioned, the Dodgers are reportedly interested in Octavio Dotel, a notion of which I am in full support. He was once a dominant closer for the Astros and he looks like he is throwing great again. If the Dodgers could get him for, say, Delwyn Young (.346 and 16 homers in Triple-A) and maybe a throw-in like Tomko, I think that would be great.
As for Mark Teixeira, I'm not so sure what I think about getting him. Sure, he's batting .301 with 13 homers and allegedly plays great defense, but he only plays 1st base, and to the best of my knowledge, the Dodgers have recently seen that they have a stud first baseman of the future playing for them right now. I won't react to any rumored moves until they are made, but I don't really see the point in going after Teixeira. Back for more on the Astros later.
But before I get into some points, I believe that the Las Vegas 51's may be looking for a utility infielder, someone who could play all four spots adequately, but none particularly well, and I think Nomar Garciaparra may be their guy. Just kidding, but seriously. All that crap he does with his batting gloves gets old if it only leads to weak groundouts. He really needs to start hitting some line drives.
Mets Reflections
For the most part, Dodgers fans can feel very good about the Mets series. The Dodgers' best hitter, Russell Martin, went 2-for-19 in the series and the team was still a Matt Kemp routine fly ball away from splitting the series. Considering the state of their pitching staff (the line between bullpen and rotation is practically dissolved), a split with the first-place Mets would have been more than welcome. Nonetheless, the defense, particularly in the outfield, needs to get better.
For the series, the Dodgers' offense, once considered the team's biggest weakness, looked very good. 22 runs in the series -- including nine against Tom Glavine on Thursday -- against a fine pitching staff and a good bullpen bodes well for an offense full of young players going into August.
Rafael Furcal (8-for-20 against the Mets, .362 over last 10 games) seems to be getting it going, and if you will remember back to last year, that means very good things for the Dodgers as a team.
In terms of pitching, there were many encouraging signs for the Dodgers. D-Lowe was bad on Thursday, obviously, but it's going to take a few more bad starts for me to say a bad word about him. Everyone who knows anything knows that wins for a pitcher mean nothing, but it is really a shame that he has pitched as well as anybody in the National League and somehow finds himself with a losing record (8-9).
Other than Lowe, Dodgers starters all pitched well enough to win. In his second consecutive good start, Brett Tomko went six innings without an earned run, Brad Penny "struggled" through 6.1 innings and three earned runs, and fill-in Eric Stults fulfilled his annual requirement of one productive start against the Mets with 5.1 innings and two earned runs. Pretty good for two long relievers and a "bad" outing from an ace.
Speaking of Tomko
Sometimes I wonder if athletes get so caught up in the life they live (making lots of money, playing sports for a living), that they lose touch with reality. The most recent case of this is Tomko. Before his start in San Francisco on July 14, he had this to say:
"I might have lost confidence. To go from a starter to mop-up guy, it doesn't feel great. Nobody wants to be a long guy in the bullpen. It takes a toll. It's not that I feel I can't get people out. I like starting. It's what I want to do next year. I have thought about next year. Being a long guy is not what I want to do."
Call me crazy, but doesn't this quote insinuate that Tomko believes he has pitched well enough to be in the rotation rather than the bullpen? Let's look at his stats: 5.42 ERA. The only Dodgers with worse ERAs are Jason Schmidt and Hong-Chih Kuo, both of whom are on the disabled list with significant arm injuries.
No one wants to be the mop up guy, Brett, but if you are the worst pitcher on the team, your options are pretty much: 1) mop-up guy or 2) in Triple-A waiting for Nomar.
It seems to me that if you accept your job as a 6th starter/long reliever and do it well, you will get ample opportunities to start. When you start, you can showcase your skills for teams like Kansas City so you can decide to go play there next year if you really want. Or you could whine about being the mop-up guy on a good team and Ned Colletti could trade you there next week as a throw-in for Octavio Dotel and you could start your offseason early. I suggest you ask Odalis Perez how Option Two works out in the long run.
Dotel and Teixeira Rumors
As previously mentioned, the Dodgers are reportedly interested in Octavio Dotel, a notion of which I am in full support. He was once a dominant closer for the Astros and he looks like he is throwing great again. If the Dodgers could get him for, say, Delwyn Young (.346 and 16 homers in Triple-A) and maybe a throw-in like Tomko, I think that would be great.
As for Mark Teixeira, I'm not so sure what I think about getting him. Sure, he's batting .301 with 13 homers and allegedly plays great defense, but he only plays 1st base, and to the best of my knowledge, the Dodgers have recently seen that they have a stud first baseman of the future playing for them right now. I won't react to any rumored moves until they are made, but I don't really see the point in going after Teixeira. Back for more on the Astros later.
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