Weighty News & Notes
March 13, 2010 at 10:06 am | Posted in Carlos Monasterios, Hong-Chih Kuo, James McDonald, Ramon Ortiz, Ronnie Belliard, Russ Ortiz | 7 CommentsThere’s a lot of small pitching items going on in the worldwide camp that is Dodgers spring training right now, so to recap quickly…
- Hong-Chih Kuo was scratched from his Taiwain appearance with a sore left elbow (uh-oh).
- Rule 5 pick Carlos Monasterios is impressing, having thrown 5 shutout innings… despite not knowing what the Rule 5 draft is.
- James McDonald is getting beat up, having allowed 6 runs in 8 hits over just 4 innings. More disturbingly, he’s walked 3 while striking out just 1. I’m fine with all the standard “spring training stats don’t count, and either way it’s still early” disclaimers… except that it’s one thing to give up a spring training homer, and it’s another to allow a dinger to Scott Podsednik. McDonald may be pitching himself right out of the 5th starter job, though he’d almost certainly end up in the ‘pen.
- Both of the undead Ortiz’ (Russ and Ramon) are making cases for jobs, as they’ve put up identical lines of allowing 3 hits over 5 scoreless innings.
Yet despite all that pitching staff minutiae, one story that seems to be a little forgotten is Ronnie Belliard’s battle with weight. As you might remember, his contract only becomes guaranteed if he gets down to 209 pounds at some point during the spring. Since he claimed he was at 210 when he reported, it seemed to be a foregone conclusion, but according to Dylan Hernandez on Twitter, it still hasn’t happened yet:
Still hasn’t made weight, from what I understand. @MikeSciosciasTI Any news on Ronnie Belliard’s weigh-in/guaranteed contract?
Part of me wonders: do we even want him to? Blake DeWitt seems all but certain to win the second base job. Belliard’s presence (combined with Jamey Carroll) was mostly to have two options in case DeWitt flopped – but if he doesn’t, Belliard could be a little redundant, as I said when he was signed:
Except… isn’t this exactly what Jamey Carroll was for? You know, a mediocre veteran who can play some 2nd and 3rd as needed? Because Belliard can’t play shortstop any more than Carroll can, and it was that “lack of a shortstop” issue that led to Nick Green getting a spring training invite.
So if this isn’t to fill that backup shortstop hole (since Belliard can’t do it) and it isn’t to be the 2B/3B backup bat off the bench (since that’s ostensibly what Carroll’s here for), what the hell is Belliard’s role?
With the roster crunch the Dodgers are facing in terms of difficulties with having a lefty bat and a backup shortstop, having two guys who do basically the same thing seems like it may be a luxury they can’t afford.
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Isn’t Belliard a little more of a pinch hitting option than Carroll?
Comment by dsheridan88 — March 13, 2010 #
probably, but i think Carroll has a 4 mil 2 year contract.. Way to go Ned
Comment by bluetrain — March 13, 2010 #
oh yeah, that backup SS, he should be Hu,the guy who got two ribbies and is GG at SS..And for all this, signing Carroll,Green and Belly Ned gets a raise and a five yr contract. yikes
Comment by bluetrain — March 13, 2010 #
Joe Torre was quoted as saying he wouldn’t gain any weight eating the food in Taiwan. Damn, they should have sent Belliard on the trip.
Comment by SamAdams — March 14, 2010 #
Speaking of McDonald, Elbert is not helping his cause either. We best pray that Haeger’s hip gets better or we could be looking at Ramon or Russ (eeeeekkkkk!) Ortiz as our number five. Any word on Belisario or is he is a mortal lock for the suspended list?
I am happy that the starting lineup for Chattanooga managed to not get destroyed by the Snakes, yesterday. Kudos, Donny Ballgame.
Comment by grabarkewitz — March 14, 2010 #
[...] March 14, 2010 at 11:32 am | In Jon Link, Josh Lindblom, Josh Towers, Vero Beach | Leave a Comment Yesterday, I shared some pitching news and notes. The constant flux in the pitching staff seems to be the [...]
Pingback by At the Very Least, ABQ Should Have Some Pitching Talent « Mike Scioscia’s tragic illness — March 14, 2010 #
Haven’t heard anyone say it yet…
The Twins paid Hudson far less than he would have received in arbitration with us. Perhaps not offering was more market based than lack of money based.
Comment by dsheridan88 — March 14, 2010 #