Game 3: Dodgers vs Atlanta Braves 8:9
Hmm, quite a lot of "half-full or half-empty" thoughts on my mind as tonight's game winds up to its close. Let me state the obvious: the hitting and relief pitching are apparently there (we are well capable of coming back on any given day) while the starting pitching has gone south (we _have to_ come back, because starters did not keep us in the game long enough). Especially tonight when Odalis Perez was stacked with a 5-run lead before he took the mound in the third...
I tend to sway towards the half-full, part of the reason being it's still early in the season, lots of bad weather (rain, cold) and Grady Little's assumption that he would accept a 7-7 start through the first 14 games due to injuries.
Well, let's see what more is on my mind:
(1) Who was it that first told me about Odalis Perez conditioning problems here? Todd Cooper? (remember I lost my inbox, so cannot double check easily) You were right, sir... Just as I thought the Dodgers got to Horacio Ramirez, but then Perez melted down. Could it be as much a fitness problem as a psychological issue? Pitchers tend to unconsciously get more comfortable when their team has a lead. Odalis seems like one guy with such mindset...
(2) Fingers crossed for Jeff Kent (hit by pitch, triceps) and Olmedo Saenz (strained back). Whatever way you look at it, they represent 150% backup policy at first for us :). I hope they were taken out for precautionary reasons and will come back next game (Kent smiled and joked around as he sat in the dugout)
(3) It feels so good to have James Loney and Bill Mueller hit for average back to back in the lineup. It's game 3 only, but I already feel comfortable having them hit with anybody on base and that with Loney's BA very low right now (.167?). He just seems to be able to move the runners over even if he makes an out. His BA will climb, no worries.
And wow: Sandy Alomar just tied the game at 8 with his third hit tonight!
(4) Following up on the events of the day: maybe pulling a Chone Figgins on Cesar Izturis is not that bad? It certainly gives both him and the manager more options to play on regular basis, after he's back from his injury. He sure is a Gold Glover at short, but if they had enough confidence in him staying healthy and keeping it up, Coletti wouldn't have signed Furcal to play SS, right? I still think a Mueller-Furcal(Izturis)-Izturis(Kent)-Kent(Loney) infield is the most probable option in the long run.
(5) So, after all, it was a high-scoring affair, just as we predicted here ;). Tomorrow the Dodgers have a day off and travel to take on the Phillies on Friday 7:05 ET. Brett Tomko would help the tired bullpen by going at least 6-7 innings. He goes against Gavin Floyd - any scouting report on Gavin? Anyone's seen him pitch?
I tend to sway towards the half-full, part of the reason being it's still early in the season, lots of bad weather (rain, cold) and Grady Little's assumption that he would accept a 7-7 start through the first 14 games due to injuries.
Well, let's see what more is on my mind:
(1) Who was it that first told me about Odalis Perez conditioning problems here? Todd Cooper? (remember I lost my inbox, so cannot double check easily) You were right, sir... Just as I thought the Dodgers got to Horacio Ramirez, but then Perez melted down. Could it be as much a fitness problem as a psychological issue? Pitchers tend to unconsciously get more comfortable when their team has a lead. Odalis seems like one guy with such mindset...
(2) Fingers crossed for Jeff Kent (hit by pitch, triceps) and Olmedo Saenz (strained back). Whatever way you look at it, they represent 150% backup policy at first for us :). I hope they were taken out for precautionary reasons and will come back next game (Kent smiled and joked around as he sat in the dugout)
(3) It feels so good to have James Loney and Bill Mueller hit for average back to back in the lineup. It's game 3 only, but I already feel comfortable having them hit with anybody on base and that with Loney's BA very low right now (.167?). He just seems to be able to move the runners over even if he makes an out. His BA will climb, no worries.
And wow: Sandy Alomar just tied the game at 8 with his third hit tonight!
(4) Following up on the events of the day: maybe pulling a Chone Figgins on Cesar Izturis is not that bad? It certainly gives both him and the manager more options to play on regular basis, after he's back from his injury. He sure is a Gold Glover at short, but if they had enough confidence in him staying healthy and keeping it up, Coletti wouldn't have signed Furcal to play SS, right? I still think a Mueller-Furcal(Izturis)-Izturis(Kent)-Kent(Loney) infield is the most probable option in the long run.
(5) So, after all, it was a high-scoring affair, just as we predicted here ;). Tomorrow the Dodgers have a day off and travel to take on the Phillies on Friday 7:05 ET. Brett Tomko would help the tired bullpen by going at least 6-7 innings. He goes against Gavin Floyd - any scouting report on Gavin? Anyone's seen him pitch?
posted by Harry | 9:28 AM
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