The Dodge leave the Mile High city in the same spot as before (the dumper), with not much positive realized. Yasiel Puig comes up today to start a homestand (the timing is no mistake) with some minor league changes.
Matt Magill is sent back to Albuquerque...had a rough go of the games he started (way too many spot starts, Ned), and getting shelled on Sunday didn't help his cause. No hard feelings...so it goes...
Chris Capuano, who should be in Albuquerque, is not pitching for now. Good news! Stephen Fife returns...which we really hope is good news, too.
But will these moves make a difference? It's the sum of the parts we're talking about here...and each game this weekend showed the problems.
Problem 1: Brandon League is garbage.
Friday night's game was in the can...up by 2 going to the bottom of the ninth. No Donny - don't call--NO!
Shit. Well, let's recant Brandon's bottom of the 9th performance with some music. Take it away "Slim" Jim Koehler!
League strikes out Arenado. (Holy shit!)
LeMahieu gets a single. (Uh oh...here comes Todd Helton)
Wild pitch, LeMahieu to 2nd. (Of course)
TODD HELTON 2-RUN HOME RUN. Brandon, you are incapable of doing your job.
Young grounds out. (Too late)
Fowler lines out. (Doesn't matter)
I can't think of more fitting music for such a typical performance. But even more fitting is this headline from cbssports.com:
"Dodgers still confident in Brandon League."
WHY?
Problem 2: I don't know what happened to Zack Grienke post-injury.
I wouldn't be surprised if he too is still injured, but he looks god-awful. Lucky for him he didn't get the loss, but it's 4+ runs on each of his last 3 starts. I'd scratch Zack from his next start if we had anyone healthy...he tends to pitch better at home, but if the choice is "good" or "shit" I don't like that coin flip.
Problem 3: The Dodgers released a guy from Albuquerque who was hitting .339.
Don't know him...don't know the situation. But read that sentence again. Makes sense, doesn't it?
Just spinning the tires in the mud...wake me when it's over.
Showing posts with label Albuquerque this time of year is quite a sight. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Albuquerque this time of year is quite a sight. Show all posts
Monday, June 3, 2013
Monday, May 13, 2013
Mild recovery
The Dodgers' bleeding finally ended in playing the Marlins (as is the case for most teams) but all is not well. Sunday's game proved all you need to know.
Cap started, and while he kept that explosive Marlins offense in check, he couldn't even make it to 80 pitches. Ugh.
Feeling comfortable with a 4 run lead, Donny Yankees puts in (sigh) Brandon League.
Check out this line
1 IP
2 R
3 H
ERA now 6.28
Brandon League sucks.
I am at a loss of words for why he is playing so bad, why he's allowed to play, and why he isn't in Albuquerque right now.
Years ago, when the Dodgers bullpen was truly horrible, Donovan Brandt and I used to say there had to be at least a 5 run lead for us to accept the bullpen's fate to end the game. Was the "5 run cushion" reached? If so, there are no worries. Apparently, this rule will have to be extended to League.
When Drew Boatman was writing on the blog he once said moments like this shouldn't be considered "saves" but more "thank Christ it's over." League wasn't awarded a "save" but he did his best to turn a 4 run lead into just that.
I have to end with this quote from CBS Sports on League, because it explains so much:
"(In his last 3 appearances) he is 0-2 with a 13.64 ERA over that span, but manager Don Mattingly said earlier this week that he will remain the team's closer."
Cap started, and while he kept that explosive Marlins offense in check, he couldn't even make it to 80 pitches. Ugh.
Feeling comfortable with a 4 run lead, Donny Yankees puts in (sigh) Brandon League.
Check out this line
1 IP
2 R
3 H
ERA now 6.28
Brandon League sucks.
I am at a loss of words for why he is playing so bad, why he's allowed to play, and why he isn't in Albuquerque right now.
Years ago, when the Dodgers bullpen was truly horrible, Donovan Brandt and I used to say there had to be at least a 5 run lead for us to accept the bullpen's fate to end the game. Was the "5 run cushion" reached? If so, there are no worries. Apparently, this rule will have to be extended to League.
When Drew Boatman was writing on the blog he once said moments like this shouldn't be considered "saves" but more "thank Christ it's over." League wasn't awarded a "save" but he did his best to turn a 4 run lead into just that.
I have to end with this quote from CBS Sports on League, because it explains so much:
"(In his last 3 appearances) he is 0-2 with a 13.64 ERA over that span, but manager Don Mattingly said earlier this week that he will remain the team's closer."
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Helpful Information for Brandon League
We're averaging a different person in the office each day. Sit down, Brandon.
OK, first off, you're the team's closer and we're doing the talking here, so "mouth closed" is an important policy you will follow...understand? Secondly, and I don't know if you talked to Chris on the way out--you didn't? Nobody talked to you?! That's our mistake. Well, just to give you a review: our manager Donny Yankees is interested in sending the team into the toilet rather than win--you don't think so?
How about we review your stats? Donny considers you a "closer." As a rule, you pitch 1 inning, maybe 2 at the most. The other rule is you are to "close" the game, preventing a loss. This has been difficult for you, huh?
Stats are one thing, you say? Well, your ERA is 5.40. So if you are pitching 1 inning, shouldn't--OK, I'll stop with the stats. Here are some recent headlines:
"Brandon League keeping Kenley Jansen in the picture"
"Brandon League escapes with save No. 7"
"Brandon League serves up walk-off homer"
"Brandon League delivers second straight loss"
Look, I'm through giving you evidence. We're wasting time. You'll take Southwest Airlines, and...are you familiar with Albuquerque at all? You've seen the facilities. It's a fine town - it's got everything you'd want and more. The clubhouse manager has taken the liberty of packing your items for the trip. This voucher is good all day, but if you hustle you can make the 12:30PM flight...that's nonstop. When you get there, look for a kid in an Isotopes jacket. He'll take you to the Hawthorn Suites. The gal at the check-in desk already has your information.
I'm looking online here and it says the BioPark Zoo just welcomed a baby giraffe. See, you'll have fun there, and get back your "command." Thanks, Brandon.
OK, first off, you're the team's closer and we're doing the talking here, so "mouth closed" is an important policy you will follow...understand? Secondly, and I don't know if you talked to Chris on the way out--you didn't? Nobody talked to you?! That's our mistake. Well, just to give you a review: our manager Donny Yankees is interested in sending the team into the toilet rather than win--you don't think so?
How about we review your stats? Donny considers you a "closer." As a rule, you pitch 1 inning, maybe 2 at the most. The other rule is you are to "close" the game, preventing a loss. This has been difficult for you, huh?
Stats are one thing, you say? Well, your ERA is 5.40. So if you are pitching 1 inning, shouldn't--OK, I'll stop with the stats. Here are some recent headlines:
"Brandon League keeping Kenley Jansen in the picture"
"Brandon League escapes with save No. 7"
"Brandon League serves up walk-off homer"
"Brandon League delivers second straight loss"
Look, I'm through giving you evidence. We're wasting time. You'll take Southwest Airlines, and...are you familiar with Albuquerque at all? You've seen the facilities. It's a fine town - it's got everything you'd want and more. The clubhouse manager has taken the liberty of packing your items for the trip. This voucher is good all day, but if you hustle you can make the 12:30PM flight...that's nonstop. When you get there, look for a kid in an Isotopes jacket. He'll take you to the Hawthorn Suites. The gal at the check-in desk already has your information.
I'm looking online here and it says the BioPark Zoo just welcomed a baby giraffe. See, you'll have fun there, and get back your "command." Thanks, Brandon.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Helpful Information for Chris Capuano
Well, someone is all smiles!
That's good. I know the Dodgers will be talking to you about this in the very near future but I thought I could help with some transportation information.
American, Southwest, and United all have non-stop flights to Albuquerque. Of those three, you might want to choose Southwest since they don't charge a baggage fee. That 10.38 ERA is likely heavy, so do the smart thing and have it weighed at the desk before you go through security. You'll want to leave early for your flight as well, considering the pain of flying out of LAX.
Don't worry about that so much - you'll enjoy your new home a lot. It will "help" your career to "get back on track" from your injury. It's actually a very nice area. Don't bring up Lobos basketball, though...kind of a sore spot right now.
Yeah, I don't know about how seating works on Southwest...it's kind of like a bus. I haven't flown them enough to know. Again, get there early. Thanks a lot.
Wait - that bag is team property. You don't have your own? OK, I think we have an old storage bag around here somewhere. Remember, in AAA you have to bring your own bag. Thanks again.
That's good. I know the Dodgers will be talking to you about this in the very near future but I thought I could help with some transportation information.
American, Southwest, and United all have non-stop flights to Albuquerque. Of those three, you might want to choose Southwest since they don't charge a baggage fee. That 10.38 ERA is likely heavy, so do the smart thing and have it weighed at the desk before you go through security. You'll want to leave early for your flight as well, considering the pain of flying out of LAX.
Don't worry about that so much - you'll enjoy your new home a lot. It will "help" your career to "get back on track" from your injury. It's actually a very nice area. Don't bring up Lobos basketball, though...kind of a sore spot right now.
Yeah, I don't know about how seating works on Southwest...it's kind of like a bus. I haven't flown them enough to know. Again, get there early. Thanks a lot.
Wait - that bag is team property. You don't have your own? OK, I think we have an old storage bag around here somewhere. Remember, in AAA you have to bring your own bag. Thanks again.
Friday, May 3, 2013
The Los Angeles Intensive Care Units
Yowzer...one month in, and whatever the stakes and predictions were for the Dodgers this season, the results are below...and getting worse.
The Dodge began the season with and overabundance of starters, and refused to commit to the 5. The season started with this group:
Kershaw
Ryu
Beckett
Greinke
Billingsley
Ted Lilly, who shouldn't be on the team, was eventually forced down to Albuquerque. This left two other starters...Aaron Harang and Chris Capuano. What happened, and what did Ned do to adjust?
1. Harang was sent to Colorado for catcher Ramon Hernandez. Oh good, we now employ a catcher who has 1 hit in 18 at bats. The Rockies end up trading Harang to Seattle. How's he doing? Currently 1-3 with an 8.68 ERA. A push if there ever was one.
2. Billingsley thought he was healthy. He was not. By the 2nd start we found that arm to need the ol TJ surgery. That opens up a spot for minor leaguer (who was called up last year) Stephen Fife. Fife has pitched 1 game (literally called up the night before) and couldn't even go 5 innings. Naturally, Fife is now injured as well.
3. Capuano was sent by Mattingly to the bullpen. Cap didn't like this. He didn't look good out of the bullpen, and thanks to injuries in the rotation, was made a starter again. Didn't look too good, either. Naturally, he is now injured.
4. Greinke was injured in a brawl by a filthy San Diego Padre...who wisely avoided playing in LA the following week. Out through May at least. I guess that means Ted Lilly.
5. Lilly has 2 starts, currently 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA. Not horrible enough to be sent down but guess who else is injured. Ted just got a cortisone shot in a rib.
This leaves the Dodgers with 4 healthy starters in the rotation. Two are good (Billingsley and Ryu). One is average to bad (Beckett). One is a minor leaguer who looked all right in his one start (Matt Magill). That's it. That's your starting group. And as much as I'd want to normally cut and adjust the pitching, there aren't enough bodies to do so. The rest in Albuquerque aren't worth the call.
In terms of bats, thank goodness Hanley has returned. He did so hitting a home run Vin labeled "Sky High." This solves some of the problems. Luis Cruz, the man who was to be the 3rd baseman this year based on his excellent 2012 campaign, is batting a scant .088. Bye.
Donny Yankees continues to keep Skip Schumaker around. He's in the infield, outfield, and pitching. In sum, it's a .128 average that isn't helping at all except pitching the 9th of a blowout loss because Donny, using his Torre method, has used everyone in the bullpen. Bye.
Hernandez...mentioned him above, but it's worth saying again. I'd like to be a back-up catcher who can just watch called strike 3's sail by me. I can turn and yell at no one in particular and wander back to the dugout. Bye.
Hitting coach Mark McSteroid hasn't exactly been a good luck charm. Guys like Ethier and Kemp used to be great hitters. Now, the team has to count on Gonzalez and Crawford to be the sole providers of runs, as the Dodgers have one of the highest left on base totals in the National League. How does someone like Matt Kemp become a guy who's "pressing" in at-bats? I really hope Mark isn't changing what wasn't broken. Though I suppose if you get a shot in the rump each morning, no matter your swing, it will be a home run. Right, Bud?
Albuquerque has two guys worth bringing up: catcher Tim Ferdowicz who's batting an insane .514 with 4 home runs. Sounds good. A back-up outfielder, Matt Angle, is currently .312...also worth a go. But whether either guy gets called up, the question remains: why is the front office so passive? Why do they react instead of act?
Knowing them, I'm sure Magic, Peter and the gang want to open up the checkbook and get someone else...but if you're truly going to solve the shitstains from McCourt, scouting and talent evaluation has to be improved. If you don't have any rising stars in the minors worth using, what good is it to sit in your own shit? A change like that can't occur overnight, but you'd be hard pressed to find it happening 1 month into the season.
The Dodge began the season with and overabundance of starters, and refused to commit to the 5. The season started with this group:
Kershaw
Ryu
Beckett
Greinke
Billingsley
Ted Lilly, who shouldn't be on the team, was eventually forced down to Albuquerque. This left two other starters...Aaron Harang and Chris Capuano. What happened, and what did Ned do to adjust?
1. Harang was sent to Colorado for catcher Ramon Hernandez. Oh good, we now employ a catcher who has 1 hit in 18 at bats. The Rockies end up trading Harang to Seattle. How's he doing? Currently 1-3 with an 8.68 ERA. A push if there ever was one.
2. Billingsley thought he was healthy. He was not. By the 2nd start we found that arm to need the ol TJ surgery. That opens up a spot for minor leaguer (who was called up last year) Stephen Fife. Fife has pitched 1 game (literally called up the night before) and couldn't even go 5 innings. Naturally, Fife is now injured as well.
3. Capuano was sent by Mattingly to the bullpen. Cap didn't like this. He didn't look good out of the bullpen, and thanks to injuries in the rotation, was made a starter again. Didn't look too good, either. Naturally, he is now injured.
4. Greinke was injured in a brawl by a filthy San Diego Padre...who wisely avoided playing in LA the following week. Out through May at least. I guess that means Ted Lilly.
5. Lilly has 2 starts, currently 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA. Not horrible enough to be sent down but guess who else is injured. Ted just got a cortisone shot in a rib.
This leaves the Dodgers with 4 healthy starters in the rotation. Two are good (Billingsley and Ryu). One is average to bad (Beckett). One is a minor leaguer who looked all right in his one start (Matt Magill). That's it. That's your starting group. And as much as I'd want to normally cut and adjust the pitching, there aren't enough bodies to do so. The rest in Albuquerque aren't worth the call.
In terms of bats, thank goodness Hanley has returned. He did so hitting a home run Vin labeled "Sky High." This solves some of the problems. Luis Cruz, the man who was to be the 3rd baseman this year based on his excellent 2012 campaign, is batting a scant .088. Bye.
Donny Yankees continues to keep Skip Schumaker around. He's in the infield, outfield, and pitching. In sum, it's a .128 average that isn't helping at all except pitching the 9th of a blowout loss because Donny, using his Torre method, has used everyone in the bullpen. Bye.
Hernandez...mentioned him above, but it's worth saying again. I'd like to be a back-up catcher who can just watch called strike 3's sail by me. I can turn and yell at no one in particular and wander back to the dugout. Bye.
Hitting coach Mark McSteroid hasn't exactly been a good luck charm. Guys like Ethier and Kemp used to be great hitters. Now, the team has to count on Gonzalez and Crawford to be the sole providers of runs, as the Dodgers have one of the highest left on base totals in the National League. How does someone like Matt Kemp become a guy who's "pressing" in at-bats? I really hope Mark isn't changing what wasn't broken. Though I suppose if you get a shot in the rump each morning, no matter your swing, it will be a home run. Right, Bud?
Albuquerque has two guys worth bringing up: catcher Tim Ferdowicz who's batting an insane .514 with 4 home runs. Sounds good. A back-up outfielder, Matt Angle, is currently .312...also worth a go. But whether either guy gets called up, the question remains: why is the front office so passive? Why do they react instead of act?
Knowing them, I'm sure Magic, Peter and the gang want to open up the checkbook and get someone else...but if you're truly going to solve the shitstains from McCourt, scouting and talent evaluation has to be improved. If you don't have any rising stars in the minors worth using, what good is it to sit in your own shit? A change like that can't occur overnight, but you'd be hard pressed to find it happening 1 month into the season.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
This...this is not good
So Hanley Ramirez is out for in the least the month of April for the Dodgers. That is just a putter to the junk. There's no other way to say it...because here are the options
1. Move Luis Cruz to SS, which Donny Yankees may do, but only shifts the problem to 3B (where Cruz usually plays)
2. Use the SS back-ups, which include the following gems:
Juan Uribe
Tommy will have to do more than the usual motivation...and even that might not be enough...
1. Move Luis Cruz to SS, which Donny Yankees may do, but only shifts the problem to 3B (where Cruz usually plays)
2. Use the SS back-ups, which include the following gems:
Juan Uribe
- 2012 season .191 in 47 games
- Played only 4 of those at SS
- Lead team in donut consumption
- 2012 season .228
- When returning from injury was replaced with better player
- Currently injured "day to day"
- Will attempt to not swing at every first pitch in 2013 season
- Will attempt to not throw each time to the 5th row
- No description needed.
Tommy will have to do more than the usual motivation...and even that might not be enough...
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Joe Blanton belongs in Albuquerque
Google,
Did you get that subject line? I sure hope you did, because I know it's on the mind of LA baseball fans. Just to make sure, I'll say it again.
Joe Blanton belongs in Albuquerque.
In the Dodgers wheelin' and dealin' to help "position the team for the postseason," we received Joe Blanton from the Phillies because (it was guessed) they no longer wanted him. It wasn't his record that worried me (Nathan Eovaldi, now with Miami, was particularly unlucky in his starts), it was the over 4 ERA.
Since coming to the Dodgers? Well, it's in every recap of last night's game, but it doesn't hurt to write it here, too:
GS: 4
W-L: 0-3
ERA: 7.71
Sorry, I thought you were someone who wanted to help the team. As with last year, the Dodge found minor leaguers to stop the bleeding in the rotation. They had that this season with Stephen Fife. Here's his numbers:
GS: 3
W-L: 0-1
ERA: 2.16
Nearly the same sample size, and again: I'm more concerned with the ERA. Pitchers can only do so much in creating a win. If the bats aren't there and they lose 1-0, it's not their fault. But when you can't even last 5 innings without giving up 4+ runs, you need time for seasoning...IN THE MINOR LEAGUES. And Joe, I want the team to win. To ensure this, go online and get three tickets (Ronald Belisario and Juan Uribe can sit next to you) and enjoy your time in Isotopeland! We'll be in touch.
Did you get that subject line? I sure hope you did, because I know it's on the mind of LA baseball fans. Just to make sure, I'll say it again.
Joe Blanton belongs in Albuquerque.
In the Dodgers wheelin' and dealin' to help "position the team for the postseason," we received Joe Blanton from the Phillies because (it was guessed) they no longer wanted him. It wasn't his record that worried me (Nathan Eovaldi, now with Miami, was particularly unlucky in his starts), it was the over 4 ERA.
Since coming to the Dodgers? Well, it's in every recap of last night's game, but it doesn't hurt to write it here, too:
GS: 4
W-L: 0-3
ERA: 7.71
Sorry, I thought you were someone who wanted to help the team. As with last year, the Dodge found minor leaguers to stop the bleeding in the rotation. They had that this season with Stephen Fife. Here's his numbers:
GS: 3
W-L: 0-1
ERA: 2.16
Nearly the same sample size, and again: I'm more concerned with the ERA. Pitchers can only do so much in creating a win. If the bats aren't there and they lose 1-0, it's not their fault. But when you can't even last 5 innings without giving up 4+ runs, you need time for seasoning...IN THE MINOR LEAGUES. And Joe, I want the team to win. To ensure this, go online and get three tickets (Ronald Belisario and Juan Uribe can sit next to you) and enjoy your time in Isotopeland! We'll be in touch.
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