Ethier needs to be hitting in front of these guys, not behind. I'm a firm believer Ethier excels when he's protected in the batting order. He was dominate when he had Manny hitting behind him. I would switch him and Ellis in the order, but that's just my opinion.
Andre and his 4-4 last night respectfully disagree.
Hope this means a position change for Gordon. I'd move him to 2nd next year if he can adjust to that side of the diamond. That assumes Hanley prefers SS over 3B.
My proposed lineup:
Victorino - S
Ellis - R
Gonzalez - L
Kemp - R
Ethier - L
Ramirez - R
Cruz/Uribe
Ellis
P
Crazy year for LA sports. Richards, Carter, Gagne, Cup, Paul, Howard, Nash, Jamison, Pujols, Wilson, Grienke, plus the Galaxy, now this trade. Notice how the Ducks are absent from the trend. Just need a football team now...
I have been thinking the same thing! Gotta mention Hanley too if Jamison is getting a mention.
- Curt Schilling says the Dodgers are the odds on favorites to win the WS. I don't know about that. I think Schilling might be remembering the Josh Beckett he pitched with 5 years ago, rather than the current Josh Beckett.
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Beckett had a 2.89 ERA last year and was in the running for the cy young 3/4 of the way through the season. The guy was and still might be in the wrong place mentally, but the scenery change could only help. Dodger Stadium will certainly help.
Beckett had a 2.89 ERA last year and was in the running for the cy young 3/4 of the way through the season. The guy was and still might be in the wrong place mentally, but the scenery change could only help. Dodger Stadium will certainly help.
I think the drop in a velocity is a concern but I am with you thinking he was just sick of pitching in Boston. I was in Beantown last year when the meltdown happened and its pretty crazy how engulfed the city becomes in the Sox. The clubhouse incident was the lead story on the local news.
That Boston Herald front page is disgraceful. No wonder they hated playing there.
I thought by "Bums Away", they meant the Dodgers. You know, the Dodgers' nickname. But since they were referring to the four guys they traded, it was very unprofessional of Boston Herald.
I think the drop in a velocity is a concern but I am with you thinking he was just sick of pitching in Boston. I was in Beantown last year when the meltdown happened and its pretty crazy how engulfed the city becomes in the Sox. The clubhouse incident was the lead story on the local news.
I'm not concerned about the velocity. Fangraphs has his average fastball at 92 MPH. Sure, it's not the 94 it was 5 years ago he has not lost it.
Great! Kemp leaves the gane after colliding with the wall.
Also, I don't know why Donnie keeps putting Kennedy in the lineup. There's no reason to "rest" Luis Cruz.
Mattingly was Joe Torre's choice as successor and the Dodgers stupidly agreed, when it was clear to anyone paying attention that Tim Wallach was the better fit.
We are paying the price now. His lineup patterns leave much to be desired.
Mattingly was Joe Torre's choice as successor and the Dodgers stupidly agreed, when it was clear to anyone paying attention that Tim Wallach was the better fit.
We are paying the price now. His lineup patterns leave much to be desired.
Seriously...I mean, why would you actually want to put guys at the top of the order who get on base. Getting on base isn't important, being a gritty veteran is!
One of the best guys at getting on base hits 8th, and two of the worst hit 1st and 2nd. Just sheer stupidity.
Seriously...I mean, why would you actually want to put guys at the top of the order who get on base. Getting on base isn't important, being a gritty veteran is!
One of the best guys at getting on base hits 8th, and two of the worst hit 1st and 2nd. Just sheer stupidity.
Mark Ellis leading off and Juan Rivera hitting ahead of Adrian, Hanley, and Either is definitely puzzling. I mean I could be wrong I haven't watched a Dodger game since the Giants series.
Juan wasn't the same player on the Angels after he broke his leg, but I'd sure take him over Vernon Wells.
Mark Ellis leading off and Juan Rivera hitting ahead of Adrian, Hanley, and Either is definitely puzzling. I mean I could be wrong I haven't watched a Dodger game since the Giants series.
Juan wasn't the same player on the Angels after he broke his leg, but I'd sure take him over Vernon Wells.
Rivera came in because Kemp got hurt. I dont see why Cruz wasnt playing tonight and why he doesnt bat second when he does.
Mark Ellis leading off and Juan Rivera hitting ahead of Adrian, Hanley, and Either is definitely puzzling. I mean I could be wrong I haven't watched a Dodger game since the Giants series.
Juan wasn't the same player on the Angels after he broke his leg, but I'd sure take him over Vernon Wells.
Well, to be fair, Rivera was only in because Kemp is so reckless in the outfield (2 nights in a row!). Kemp left the game in the first inning so Rivera went into his spot, but I'm referring to Ellis and Victorino. Neither one gets on base at an acceptable clip for a legitimate offense to run efficiently (and neither one hits righties well at all).
With Mattingly, if you're fast and "good at advancing runners," you're going to be at the top of the lineup -- getting on base be damned! A.J. Ellis hits 8th EVERY SINGLE NIGHT because he's a catcher and the book says that catchers automatically hit 8th, even though he gets on base far more often than players such as Mark Ellis, Shane Victorino, Hanley Ramirez, and Andre Ethier. But, I mean, who wants guys on base in front of your best hitters anyway?
It's mind boggling how many times Kemp will come up with no one on base in his at bats (not that he's been doing much recently anyway, but that's beside the point). Mattingly completely reminds me of Terry Murray. Decent coach. Good people's skills. Just doesn't quite get as much out of his team as you know is there. His lineup construction neuters offense more often than not.
EDIT: Dodgers 1 & 2 hitters this season: .238/.307/.315. That does include Dee Gordon's numbers, but it definitely supports the notion that the best hitters are coming up with no one on base more than regularly. What's the definition of insanity again...?
Last edited by Chazz Reinhold: 08-28-2012 at 11:07 PM.
