That’s How Many Homers It Takes To Overcome An Ortiz
April 13, 2010 at 9:09 pm | Posted in Andre Ethier, Blake DeWitt, Matt Kemp, Ramon Ortiz | 20 CommentsThere was pretty much no chance in hell that this year’s home opener was going to top last year’s…
Wow. Just, wow. Where do you even start? I’m not kidding when I say the fact that Chad Billingsley’s fantastic eleven strikeout performance (including six of his last seven betters) may only be about the fifth best thing that happened today. Seriously, things just do not come together better than this. How about the fact that any Opening Day under blue skies at Dodger Stadium is pretty much the best day of anyone’s life? The record-setting 57,000+ crowd? Vin Scully’s moving first pitch and commentary? The offensive explosion against the hated Giants, including Orlando Hudson’s cycle - a Dodger Stadium first? And Andre Ethier’s two homers?
…but this came pretty close. Okay, no one hit for the cycle, but the four-homer outburst (as Vin noted, the Dodgers hit three homers on the six-game road trip and four in the first six innings today) against another division rival sure got the crowd going. And if you had to ask the crowd, “which Dodgers would you want to see hit homers?”, wouldn’t Manny, Kemp, and Ethier almost certainly be the top 3? Talk about crowd pleasing – no offense to Casey Blake, of course.
Can we also mention Blake DeWitt for a second? If you’ve been reading this blog at all, you’ve heard me rail on how pointless wins are time and time again. Well, batting average isn’t quite as bad as wins, but it’s up there… and DeWitt is proving why. Thanks to three walks today, DeWitt had a tidy 0-0 afternoon. He may only be hitting .267, but his OBP is up to .522. Dig that again: .522.
Unfortunately, it’s not all good news, because something simply must be done about the bullpen. Clayton Kershaw was effective if not efficient in allowing 2 ER over 5.1 innings, and Jeff Weaver finished up the 6th for him. When Ethier homered in the bottom of the 6th, we were looking at a 9-2 laugher. Yet Ramon Ortiz came in and was predictably horrible, allowing three runs on three hits (including a Mark Reynolds blast) and a walk. As you can see, this has spawned the birth of the “Ortiz DFA-O-Meter” to the top right, as they battle to see which one gets dumped first. So what was once a blowout became a situation in which the top two relievers (Ramon Troncoso and Jonathan Broxton) had to contribute 2.1 innings.
That may not seem like a big deal today, but we saw this exact thing happen last week. Just wait until one of the next two games when it’s a tight situation, and now one might not be available, simply because Ramon Ortiz can’t hold a 7-run lead. So then you’re left with counting on George Sherrill again, and we’ve seen how that turns out. I know Ronald Belisario and Hong-Chih Kuo are due back any day now but… we just can’t put up with these two much longer.
Besides, as Chad from MOKM rightfully asked, where was Carlos Monasterios? He hasn’t pitched in nearly a week – since April 8. I can’t think of any better situation for a Rule 5 pick than with a 7-run lead, and it’s not like the Ortizes are doing any better.
Finally, behold the magic of Twitter. Eagle-eyed fan ED_in_DE pointed out to me that during Ethier’s 6th inning home run… he was using Matt Kemp’s bat. I went back and looked at the tape, and I’ll be damned: he’s absolutely right.
What gives with that? I wonder if it’s the same bat that Kemp used to hit his own homer earlier in the game.
20 Comments »
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
Leave a Reply
How Many McCourt Sins?
MSTI on the web
MSTI Library
Blog at WordPress.com. | Theme: Pool by Borja Fernandez.
Entries and comments feeds.
About the time Ortiz came intot he game, I got really worried. My fears were confirmed. I’m pretty sure that Torre is putting Russ Ortiz out there so he gets experience, etc. etc. But at the same time it’s got to be rubbing the guys on the team the wrong way to see a guy getting put out there and pretty much handing the opposition a win.
Comment by Omer Carrothers— April 13, 2010 #
This time Ramon O. was the culprit. He actually looked like he might back into a decent inning, after getting the first two outs, but then a base on balls started the three run rally. Glad that one inning pitcher, Troncoso, was good for a little more today.
Comment by SamAdams— April 13, 2010 #
Yeah, the whole “Troncoso can only go one inning” thing is bizarre to me. Wasn’t it just last year he was potentially a starter?
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— April 14, 2010 #
A few thoughts on the game:
Kershaw did not look like he had his best stuff today. That said, he did a great job getting out of that jam in the 5th inning. The walks are still a major problem and 11 in two games — well, that can’t get much worse. I know we don’t think too highly of the “W” stat around here, but ESPN just said today was his first win since LAST JULY. Hopefully, he’ll continue to get some early-inning run support.
The defense was a lot better today. If Kemp would’ve made that (extremely difficult) catch on the deep fly early on that he couldn’t quite track down — it would’ve been an A+ effort. Considering they made 8 errors in 6 games during the road trip — it’s a huge improvement. Gotta keep that up.
Cannot say anything about the offense that hasn’t already been said. (I think the Dodgers Live crew literally over-used the term “Power Surge” about fifty times in 10 minutes.) Fantastic day.
The bullpen — Ugh. I felt like I was waiting for the dam to burst until Troncoso got out of the 7th. Until Kuo & Belisario get back, middle relief is going to be an adventure.
Comment by Vegas Blue— April 13, 2010 #
My prediction regardless of stats that when the law firm of Ortiz and Ortiz breaks up the first to go will be Ramon. Remember Russ probably has some of the pictures of Ned in funny poses circulating among such former Giants as Mike Sweeney, and Bill Mueller.
Any dates yet for Kuo heading for his minor league rehab
Comment by louisinsf— April 13, 2010 #
A quick note about Ethier using Kemp’s bat. I seem to remember them commenting last year about that, and Dre said he almost never uses his own bats. I think he may have even said he doesn’t even have any, not sure though. Great game today, but I think the Ortizi are gone when Kuo and Belisario get back.
Comment by Tommy Blackjack— April 14, 2010 #
Is that true? I don’t remember seeing that. Interesting if so, can you link me?
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— April 14, 2010 #
It’s simple. Dre is just as much of a Bison fan as the rest of us. Can’t really blame him.
Comment by EephusBlue— April 14, 2010 #
Simers article in LA Times last year: http://articles.latimes.com/2009/sep/27/sports/sp-simers27
“They are inseparable, all right — they use the same bat.
“His is the same weight as mine, but longer and different wood. Ash,” says Ethier, who has asked the team’s equipment manager to order some more — with Kemp’s name on them again.
What about his own bats? “Burned them,” Ethier says.
And when did Ethier make this switch to Kemp’s bat? “When he started hitting those bombs,” Kemp says, the two combining for 57 home runs and 204 RBIs this season, and if only Manny Ramirez would pick up a Kemp bat once in awhile and give it a try.
Comment by freezingblue— April 14, 2010 #
Absolutely love Blake DeWitt!! I see this guy being a solid .850 OPS guy (.390 OBP/.460 SLG) in the near future. All that’s missing is a bit more power. But his eye and patience are already the best on the team…and that’s saying something on this fairly patient group of hitters.
Comment by Doug Harris— April 14, 2010 #
About Dre. Using Kemp’s bat. I saw a picture someone took on opening day in Pittsburg it was a picture of the bats of the starting lineup. Dre Kemp and even Martin had the same make and model bat a Louisville C271 So same bat just different name on it.
Comment by Eddie— April 14, 2010 #
I actually posted that picture: http://mikesciosciastragicillness.com/2010/04/04/lets-get-matt-kemp-fewer-at-bats/
So it may be the same, but it’s still Kemp’s.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— April 14, 2010 #
I think it’s a leftover Kevin Brown bat. Other than smashing toilets in Vero Beach, it’s hardly been used.
Comment by Terry— April 14, 2010 #
I’m starting to wonder why they kept Monasterios on the team. I don’t think Torre has much confidence in him. Here’s my reasoning.
The final game in Pittsburgh, the Dodgers had a healthy lead when Monasterios was brought into the game. If I’m remembering correctly, he got an out than gave up back to back hits resulting in a run. Despite the large lead, Torre had Sherrill get loosened up in a hurry.
Monasterios essentailly got 4 outs that inning. The pop up Belliard farked on, I consider an out. He finished the inning strong.
Comment by troyfromwv— April 14, 2010 #
Great game to watch. Any idea on why they keep pulling Deweit half way through the game? I could be wrong but that is the second time they have done that, and both times hasn’t been one where by putting the pitcher in Dewits spot means he can pitch two innings
Comment by Gillbert— April 14, 2010 #
I don’t remember the exact situation offhand, but they do like to put Carroll or Belliard in against lefties.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— April 14, 2010 #
It’s generally been the last 3rd of the game with a lead. And it’s been Carroll as a defensive replacement for DeWitt.
Yesterday, Carroll started a 3-run 6th which gave the Dodgers a 9-2 lead. I’m assuming Torre went ahead and kept Carroll, the pinch hitter, in the game for defense. I don’t think Torre forsaw an Ortiz implosion which Troncoso had to finish up. I figured he was looking at Ortiz to finish the 7th. Pinch hit for him in the bottom of the inning. Instead, Troncoso batted with the 4 run lead cause Torre felt more comfortable with Tron out there over Ru. Ortiz/Monasterios/Sherrill in the 8th.
Comment by troyfromwv— April 14, 2010 #
It is oddly pleasing to have consistent hitting & scoring on offense and be worried about erros and the bullpen. It’s like the Twilight Zone Dodgers or something…
Comment by Chappy— April 14, 2010 #
Is that also how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?
Comment by TJ— April 14, 2010 #
[...] April 13, the home opener: When Ethier homered in the bottom of the 6th, we were looking at a 9-2 laugher. Yet Ramon Ortiz came in and was predictably horrible, allowing three runs on three hits (including a Mark Reynolds blast) and a walk. As you can see, this has spawned the birth of the “Ortiz DFA-O-Meter” to the top right, as they battle to see which one gets dumped first. So what was once a blowout became a situation in which the top two relievers (Ramon Troncoso and Jonathan Broxton) had to contribute 2.1 innings. That may not seem like a big deal today, but we saw this exact thing happen last week. Just wait until one of the next two games when it’s a tight situation, and now one might not be available, simply because Ramon Ortiz can’t hold a 7-run lead. [...]
Pingback by MSTI’s 2010 in Review: Starting Pitchers, Part 3 « Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— November 5, 2010 #