Funny How A Sweep Makes Everything Better
June 30, 2010 at 7:24 pm | Posted in Charlie Haeger, Garret Anderson, George Sherrill, Joe Torre, Matt Kemp, Vicente Padilla | 16 Comments
We all know where today’s focus is going to be, right? After the much-publicized benching, alleviated only by Manny’s hamstring injury, Matt Kemp came back today to get three hits, including a homer (plus a walk), drive in three, and make a few running catches in center field.
Clearly, Joe Torre’s benching/punishment/time out worked wonders, right?
That’s what the stories will say, anyway. As for me, I think it’s BS. Remember, Kemp got on base three times in his previous start, on June 26th against the Yankees. To act as though he was on an 0-40 streak headed into the benching, and that somehow Torre’s action snapped him into shape, just ignores the facts. Which is exactly why that’s how you’ll read it in Bill Plaschke’s column tomorrow.
But let’s not let this whole unfortunate situation overpower two performances which were just as important today. Vicente Padilla showed just how effective he can be when he’s right, allowing just three hits and a run over seven innings. Remember, his ERA has been misleading all season. After his first two lousy outings, in which he allowed eleven earned runs while not making it out of the fifth inning either time, Padilla’s allowed three, two, (DL stint), four, two, and one earned runs in the five starts since. It’s not ace-quality, but it is more than acceptable from your #4/5 starter, and better than what the majority of MLB teams are getting from that spot.
Suddenly, the Dodgers have five reliable starters again, and no wondering about which Haeger/Monasterios/Ortiz is going to have to be stuffed into a spot start. (Speaking of which, via Dodger Thoughts, Haeger will be joining the Isotopes. Glad he’s staying in the organization; I don’t think we’ve seen the last of him.) It’s a nice feeling to have.
Secondly, Rafael Furcal put up four more hits today. In his last five games, he’s got fourteen hits (and three walks), and he’s got his season average up to .333/.382/.488. He’s really playing some of the best baseball of his career, and the Dodger lineup just looks markedly different when he’s playing well and getting on base so often for the big guys.
******
Still, as if this hasn’t been a bad enough week for Torre, only he could spoil an 8-2 sweep-capping victory over your biggest rivals. Kemp situation aside, you almost think this team is winning in spite of Torre sometimes. First, he hits Jamey Carroll (.397 OBP) 8th, while putting Garret Anderson (.197 OBP, and more on that in a second) 6th, above Reed Johnson and Carroll – both superior players.
However, that’s nothing compared to the bullpen usage. After Padilla went seven effective innings – and he’d thrown just 98 pitches, so I have no idea why he couldn’t have just stayed in – Ramon Troncoso came in for the 8th. I’m seeing others complain about that, but Troncoso hadn’t pitched since the Yankee disaster on Sunday, and it’s not the worst idea to let him go in a low-pressure situation, so fine.
Here’s what killed me, though. In the 9th, George Sherrill came in. He got Aubrey Huff to ground out, and then allowed singles to Pat Burrell and Pablo Sandoval (on a side note, note that this means he got the lefty out and let two righties reach base. Why does that sound familiar?) Remember, this is a seven-run lead. Rather than, you know, letting your struggling reliever try to work out of the situation against the likes of Juan Uribe and Eli Whiteside, here comes Torre with the hook, to bring in Justin Miller. I know there’s a day off tomorrow, but I also know that with a lead like that, you can give Sherrill the tiniest bit of rope. Or, as Chad from MOKM perfectly noted:
It’s like Joe Torre reads everybody’s blog and Twitter and just starts wasting the bullpen to troll us.
Still, none of that is the best part. When Miller entered the game, none other than Hong-Chih Kuo started warming. Yes, in the 9th inning of a seven-run game, by all means get your fragile superstar lefty up. Why not?
******
Finally, Anderson went hitless in five at-bats today, striking out four times and popping out to first. I’m just completely out of things to add to this situation. I hate to bag on a guy on his birthday (he’s 38 now), but to say that he’s a waste of a roster spot is about the kindest way I can think of to describe it. He’s now hitting .180/.197/.287. What do we have to do to finally end this already?
Xavier Paul’s hitting .345/.402/.633 with 12 HR in AAA, by the way, and three of those homers have come in his last ten games. But no, I’m sure he’s not a better fit for this defensively-challenged, injury-prone outfield, right?
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One thing Joe always says when some ‘kid’ is sent down to keep the ‘quality’ crappy veteren around–He’s better off playing everyday down there. Well first Paul is no longer a kid and what more is he going to learn down there. 2nd-When did he ever care about some kid. And third wouldn’t the team be better off with him sitting on the bench even if it would ‘ruin’ him? OH what’s the use!!
Comment by Davids— June 30, 2010 #
Loved the Torre/troll observation . . . I’ve had the same creepy feeling for awhile now, like Joe’s just doing it for spite.
Perhaps we should turn this on its head, let’s start clamoring for more GA . . .
Free GA!
Start him in center!
Drop him in the three hole!
Leave him there, no matter what!
Let him work this “aging thing” out!
Comment by Wes Parker— June 30, 2010 #
I’d hardly call a single, two walks and 2 K’s in 5 PA’s (Kemp’s line from Saturday’s game) the start of a hot streak. It’s not a bad game, but he has had some other not so bad games during June. His hot streak started yesterday. I don’t often side with Torre, but it seems the whole Dodger blogosphere refuses to accept the possibility that Kemp’s benching may actually have played a part in his past two games. I do accept the possibility that it might not have, but it’s pretty hard to totally dismiss either argument.
Comment by willie— June 30, 2010 #
Better keep quiet about Furcal, MSTI. The last time you praised him for having such a wonderful offensive season he leaped into the air out of joy and back exploded into a zillion pieces.
Comment by Bobby Long— June 30, 2010 #
Exactly, perfect time to let Sherrill run out there and let him rot, lets see how many runs he gives up before ending the game or just leave Coso out there or run Miller to the ground. Kuo warming up? At least Brox didn’t come in for a 2 inning closeout.
Comment by DodgersKings323— June 30, 2010 #
As I’ve been saying for the past couple days, whenever Garret Anderson has an especially bad game, it’s Ned Colletti’s job to give Xavier Paul another call and tell him again how to act like a big leaguer.
Comment by The Dude Abides— July 1, 2010 #
Well, Padilla showed great stuff, speed, the eephus, curve, he kept them out of balance. When you got that performance, and the ribbies keep coming nothin could go wrong. The bullpen is funny though, it was a 7 run ball game, with no presure at all, and what happend?
Man if this game would been a 2-1…
Comment by d— July 1, 2010 #
Thanks for the update on Haeger…glad he cleared waivers and hope he can get the knuckler going again.
Every season we have a Andruw, Sweeney, Saenz, or some washed up veteran taking up a roster spot. I could kind of understand trying to get Jones through it, due to the huge over investment. But, it’s time to cut bait with Mr. Golden Sombrero, aka Garrett Atkins. As far as Sherrill, I’d say he’s a four and a quarter million dollar LOOGY at this point.
Comment by SamAdams— July 1, 2010 #
Welcome to Chavez Ravine: Where Old Bats Come To Die.
Comment by Maury Wills— July 2, 2010 #
I could not agree more when you talk about Torre pulling pitchers too soon. He is clued into a paradigm that requires even his best pitchers to go no more than 7 innings. Then you bring on the set-up man for the 8th, followed by the closer in the 9th. We lost the last game of the series with the Yankees primarily because he would not let an effective Kershaw go beyond the 7th.
Comment by Harry— July 1, 2010 #
You’re right, we have given Garrett Anderson enough rope to hang himself, it’s time to cut him down from the tree before he hurts himself. Nice experiment. nice guy, but it’s over, he’s done all he can but he’s toast, bring up Paul for Gaia’s sake and leave him there, already. Are the Dodgers afraid they might hurt GA’s feelings??
If Coletti can’t pull the most obvious of triggers, Garrett, please, do everyone a favor including yourself and announce your retirement.
Comment by Native Angeleno— July 2, 2010 #
The problem is – this Torre/Garret McNugget love affair harkens back to the days when garret’s angels would knock the stuffing out of Joe’s high-priced yanks (back when steinbrenner’s millions could only buy him more disappointment) and he never forgot how “skeart” he was eying the once sorta mighty garret anderson in the opposing dugout.
Trouble is, that was a long time ago.
But, Hey! Like Mr Adams said above, maybe he’ll work this “aging thing” out!
Comment by BotFot— July 2, 2010 #
Watching Torre in the dugout when the camera pans his way makes me think he’s sometimes either sleeping or brain dead. The guy gives every appearance of wanting to be someplace else. His love affair with Anderson is beyond comprehension. How many times does this guy have to swing at and miss balls in the dirt in front of him on his way to strikeout after strikeout before Torre wakes up and makes the move to replace him with Paul. Paul can hit and letting him rot away with the Isotopes when there should be a spot for him on the Dodger roster, taken by a guy who is obviously finished as a major league ballplayer, is beyond comprehension. Joe – wake up and do the right thing!!
Comment by Joel Goldman— July 2, 2010 #
[...] up on what I mentioned last time regarding Padilla: Vicente Padilla showed just how effective he can be when he’s right, allowing just three hits [...]
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[...] later in June… Finally, Anderson went hitless in five at-bats today, striking out four times and popping [...]
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[...] June 30: When Miller entered the game, none other than Hong-Chih Kuo started warming. Yes, in the 9th inning of a seven-run game, by all means get your fragile superstar lefty up. Why not? [...]
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