In Defense of Blake DeWitt
May 23, 2010 at 1:02 pm | Posted in Blake DeWitt, Jamey Carroll, Jose Lima, Nick Green, NO | 14 CommentsI don’t really believe this is going to happen, but…
To create room on the roster for Furcal, an infielder will have to go. The obvious move is to designate Nick Green for assignment, but Torre noted the club has two choices: Green, or optioning Blake DeWitt. When asked if it would be tough to send down the club’s opening day second baseman, Torre said, “It’s always tough to be sent down,” but also said a decision has not yet been made. (via TBLA)
Again: I don’t really think they’d actually do something that stupid, so this is probably a bit premature. Still, you’d have to think the fact that Torre even acknowledged there’s a possibility it could be DeWitt got back to Blake eventually, which is exactly what he doesn’t need.
I’m not even going to bother explaining why Nick Green is useless. I’ve done so many, many times, and while I won’t pretend that nine plate appearances is a substantial sample size, it’s also not like he’s done anything to distinguish himself with the one single he’s accumulated. If this happens, the issue here wouldn’t even be “DeWitt or Green”, as they’re making it sound.
No, the issue would be “Blake DeWitt vs. overvaluing Jamey Carroll“. As you probably remember, I wasn’t a huge fan of the Carroll signing this offseason. Yet, even I’ll admit that Carroll’s been a nice surprise, playing nearly every single inning at shortstop since Furcal went down in the first place. As expected, he’s provided little range and zero power, but he’s been solid on the balls he can get to, and his .377 OBP overall is nice. Besides that, he’s really stepped it up since he took over the job, with a .396 OBP in the 25 games that Furcal has missed.
Coming from an emergency backup, Carroll’s been all you could expect, and considering what a disaster shortstop was in 2008 when Furcal was down, he’s really done nicely. I approve. Yet, let’s not confuse this with Carroll being a plus player, or someone who ought to be a starter, because he’s not. If DeWitt did go down, the team would essentially be saying that they prefer Carroll in the lineup everyday rather than DeWitt, since Carroll would presumably slide over to be the starting 2B.
DeWitt may still be waiting for his first home run, but that’s really the only blemish on his season so far. His 106 OPS+ means he’s been an above-average hitter this year, as compared to Carroll’s below-average 88 OPS+, and DeWitt has also really started to heat up. Since the calendar turned to May, he’s got a .288/.333/.492 line, with nine extra-base hits (as compared to Carroll’s three in the entire season). That’s an .825 OPS, which is fine by me.
On defense, he’s clearly been a work in progress, but he’s improving there too. Obviously, defensive stats are more prone to small sample size worries than anything else, but even all of the accepted metrics have him at near average or just slightly below it, which is also better than Carroll’s marks.
Again, I don’t think this will happen, and I’m fine with Carroll’s play thus far. But if the unthinkable occurs – if DeWitt is sent down just as he’s heating up, in order to play Carroll more and hold onto Green – it would be a massive mistake. Personally, I’m fine with just DFA’ing Green when Furcal returns, because I consider him to be of no value whatsoever, but knowing how the Dodgers roll, it’ll probably be a Haeger-esque phantom DL stint. As if anyone would really claim him on waivers, anyway.
******
In far sadder news, Jose Lima has apparently died of a heart attack today in Los Angeles. Lima was a Dodger for only one of his thirteen seasons, but that didn’t stop him from earning a place in team history. After a 13-5 2004 season which he described as “Lima Time” and had his wife become a minor internet 
celebrity thanks to her infamous picture while he sang the national anthem, he tossed a complete game shutout at the Cardinals in the NLDS – the first playoff game the Dodgers had won since 1988, and the only won they’d win until 2008. After his one season in LA, he had a horrible 2005 in Kansas City, a short stint with the Mets in 2006, and that was the end of his career. He played in Korea and independent ball in Canada and California trying to get back – that is, when he wasn’t popping up in bizarre Deadspin stories about his ex-wife trying to track him down.
An email from the Dodgers included the news that he’d actually been at the game on Friday night, and received a standing ovation from the crowd when introduced (the picture at right). RIP, Lima Time.
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Why is there even any debate between Green and DeWitt? Hu should have been brought up instead of Green in the first place.
I’m stunned by the death of Jose Lima. I’ll never forget when he showed up for spring training in Vero Beach. They were having pitchers’ fielding practice at Holman Stadium and when Lima’s turn came up, I shouted “Lima Time.” This huge smile came across his face and spotted us in the “crowd” of 100 or so and said, “Believe It, Baby!” He went on to a great season and won the hearts of a lot of Dodger fans East and West with his effusive personality. I lived in Texas during Lima’s (Prime) Time, and he was a great pitcher in the Astrodome. Minute Maid (nee Enron) Field was his Achilles, and punched his ticket to Dodgertown.
Comment by SamAdams— May 23, 2010 #
SamAdams, Lima called that stadium, 10-run Field.
Comment by Emma— May 24, 2010 #
The fact that Torre even uttered those words and is considering sending down DeWitt is enough to make my blood boil. Christ they better not keep Green.
R.I.P. #LimaTime
Comment by KempKershaw— May 23, 2010 #
Torre just called Jose Lima a hot dog. Can you wait until after the funeral, Joe, Oh Clueless and Classless One!?
Comment by SamAdams— May 23, 2010 #
It’s hard to imagine that Torre would even utter the possibility of sending DeWitt down in order to keep from losing Green. What could possibly be going through Torre’s mind? Green is worthless to the Dodgers under any circumstances and DeWitt is playing good ball at second and getting better every day. Why Torre holds retards like Green, Anderson and Ortiz (and Hager based on recent outings) in higher regard than solid young players like DeWitt and Paul says something about the guy. Either he has this fantasy about being loyal to old washed up losers at the expense of forfeiting games or he is completely stupid, or maybe both.
Comment by Joel Goldman— May 23, 2010 #
Haeger had good value though, being able to relieve or start, pitch on more manager-friendly schedules, and throw a pitch that when on fools most hitters. I actually hope Haeger returns and proves his value.
Anderson, Ortiz and Green need to go, like 2 days before yesterday.
Comment by KempKershaw— May 24, 2010 #
Y’know I too hope Charlie can make it back and be effective. I still think he can. Maybe time with Charlie Hough will help him get his control back. But I gotta wonder if pitching outta the pen and then starting a game on 3 days rest took its toll on him. I know that knuckleballers are supposed to have rubber arms because they don’t throw hard, but it always seemed like Torre would throw Haeger out there for a couple of innings and then the next start he got shelled. He kept getting worse and worse. SOmething to it? In any case I hope when Haeger is eligible to be activated, he becomes the long man outta the pen and Ortiz gets hucked.
Comment by EephusBlue— May 24, 2010 #
Am I the only one who’s starting to hope that Joe Torre doesn’t stay another season. I never thought I’d say that but Joe’s just made too many of these dumb decisions since he’s been here…and this would be one of the worst! I can’t imagine how this would affect DeWitt’s confidence. Say it ain’t so Joe!!
Comment by Doug Harris— May 24, 2010 #
And lest I forget, RIP Lima Time. You sure were a blast while you were here…
Comment by Doug Harris— May 24, 2010 #
I have to think Torre said those things because Ned (and the rest of the FO) is contemplating this move. So I wouldn’t place ALL the blame on Torre.
Comment by Throwdeuce— May 24, 2010 #
My Wet Dream
Furcal recalled, Green sent down
Ethier recalled, Anderson sent down
Padilla recalled, Ortiz sent down
While this obviously makes the most sense, Torre will probably prevent this from happening…
Comment by Joder Tio!— May 24, 2010 #
[...] you’ll see Rafael Furcal is back, and Blake DeWitt is starting. So our fears that DeWitt may be getting shipped out from earlier this week can be [...]
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[...] this sounds odd to you, it’s because when I wrote a post defending DeWitt a few weeks ago, when there were rumors he may get sent down rather than Nick Green, I said this: [...]
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