Manny’s Hurt, Ely Rules, & Sherrill Gets the MSTI Bump
June 30, 2010 at 9:40 am | Posted in George Sherrill, Joe Torre, John Ely, Manny Ramirez, Matt Kemp | 14 CommentsSo you might think the big news coming out of last night’s 4-2 win over the Giants was that Manny Ramirez, the hottest Dodger hitter in June (1.028 OPS), strained his right hamstring in the first inning, requiring him to leave the game and putting his status in doubt.
Or perhaps it was another fine start by John Ely, who has rebounded from a tough start to June to be effective once again - exactly as I said he would. Ely’s made 12 starts this year; he’s completed five innings in 11 of them, and allowed two earned runs or fewer in 8 of them. He’s basically been a gift from the heavens.
But neither of those things qualify as the “big news” from last night. No, that would be that that George Sherrill, just hours after I pointed out that he hadn’t struck a single man out in six weeks, struck out the first (and only) batter he faced last night, Aubrey Huff in the 8th inning.
I’ll try to continue to use my power for good, and not evil. Maybe.
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I can’t really let this Matt Kemp situation pass without commenting. Wasn’t the entire point of Joe Torre the fact that while he may be a terrible in-game strategist, he was supposed to be outstanding at avoiding clubhouse issues? Benching Kemp for one game was the right thing to do for a struggling hitter. The second game seemed odd, but more rest couldn’t hurt. But the third game in a row, well, that really set off the alarm bells.
Jon Weisman ran down the chronology of what happened here, and it’s #5 – emphasis Jon’s, because clearly I’m not the only one horrified by it – that really blows my mind.
1) Torre and Kemp talked.
2) Torre told Kemp he would start Wednesday.
3) Torre said Kemp is struggling and has been frustrated.
4) Kemp came to see Torre; Torre did not approach Kemp.
5) Torre said he didn’t know if Kemp would be starting Wednesday if Kemp hadn’t come to him.
6) Torre said if the coaching staff has something to say a player, they tell him. (I guess Torre had nothing left to tell Kemp without Kemp coming to Torre?)
The idea that Torre just tossed Kemp into the “time-out corner”, waiting for Kemp to come to him with his tail between the legs, is exactly the kind of manager I don’t want. You’ve got to either be able to manage the clubhouse, or do a good job on the field – preferably both. Right now, Torre’s not doing a great job at either one. But hey, at least he didn’t also use Ronald Belisario for the fourth time in five games as well. Oh, wait…
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Prepare yourself for what may be a hilarious outfield in this afternoon’s series finale: Manny is certainly out thanks to his hamstring pull, and Andre Ethier was scheduled to get the day off as well. No word yet on whether Manny’s absence will change Ethier’s day off, but you could be looking at a lineup that features both Garret Anderson and Reed Johnson.
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“…that George Sherrill, just hours after I pointed out that he hadn’t struck a single man out in six weeks, struck out the first (and only) batter he faced last night…”
You’re like a fucking Genie! Do Matt Kemp next!
Comment by Gibby's Limp— June 30, 2010 #
Congratulations George Sherrill!
The way Ned Colletti and Joe Torre have dealt with Matt Kemp this year sickens me. I have never seen anything like this. Instead of someone mentoring this kid, and showing him how to be a professional, it seems like he has two grown-ups grounding him and making him feel bad about himself.
Is this how the Dodgers groom a young player who is struggling?
Comment by dodgerbobble— June 30, 2010 #
Blalock just got DFA’d by Tampa. Use your powers to have the Dodgers acquire him. Right after you follow up with Gibby’s suggestion. After that, I have an entire list, most of which you’ve already gone over insome fashion here.
Comment by Travis— June 30, 2010 #
MSTI Not all Powerful!!!!
You still have not been able to turn Garrett into a young man again. But perhaps you can write something about Martin’s failures that will result in a boost in HIS performance.
Comment by Davids— June 30, 2010 #
John Ely is a keeper. A pitcher that uses his head, in addition to his arm. Maybe he can serve as pitching coach also….
And a shout-out to James “Lone Dog” Loney, who may not hit for much power, but sure knows how to come through with runners in scoring position.
Comment by Wes Parker— June 30, 2010 #
Sad to see Manny out again. He and Loney now are mirror images of each other. Two guys getting a lot of hits, walks, clutch at bats, and not too much power. If only the other guys (Kemp, Blake and Slumping Ethier) could adopt that strategy!!
Comment by Davids— June 30, 2010 #
Here’s a question — Why is Matt Kemp the only player on the roster who is not permitted to slump?
This has been going on ever since he came into the league. Whenever he struggles it’s viewed as some sort of attitude problem. Nobody else gets this treatment. Its truly fucked up and will likely result in Kemp having his best years in another uniform.
Comment by The Cannon— June 30, 2010 #
I have come to be seen as a full throated Kemp detractor, and I have to wear that hat, but for the Kemp apologists I offer:
1) Signed BIG $$ 2 year extension
2) Dating a mega star
3) Suppressed/tried to suppress details of previous domestic abuse accusations
4) Is a strikeout ARTIST.
Why is it the responsibility of management to coddle a mega millionaire baseball player? Where is MAtt Kemp’s responsibility in all this? Is Don Mattingly telling him to swing at the 0-1 pitch 2 feet wide and 2 feet low…seemingly every at bat?
All players are allowed to slump. I include Kemp in “all”;however, all managers are allowed to bench slumping players. I include Torre in “all”.
I am not a Torre apologist as I think MSTI is spot on with the entire “how to manage a pitching staff” logic….but when a young (GOLD GLOVER) player, who is clearly distracted by his new fame, starts committing errors while hitting well (see April), then descends into a self imposed “I must swing at every pitch I see” stupor….I don’t just want him on the bench, I want him laying in the leather chair…..and chatting with a stranger.
Comment by John Young— June 30, 2010 #
Has anyone thought that maybe, just maybe, Kemp’s being a prick at times with the rest of the team? None of us are in the clubhouse, none of us know what’s going on 24-7 in his head, but has anyone thought that he might’ve gone into F-U mode after Colletti jumped his shit on the radio?
Maybe one of the coaches might have called him on his shit and that’s what prompted him being benched.
Comment by Omer— June 30, 2010 #
Don’t you love those patch job lineups by Joe Torre where GA is in the middle of the order.
Comment by DodgersKings323— June 30, 2010 #
See that GA has struck out four times today. I’m convinced now that Torre took this job figuring he could check out mentally and do his “I’m so there” LA schtick. Is there a manager today who looks less engaged?
Comment by dutchbubba— June 30, 2010 #
It looks like, in addition to the infamous “Mendoza Line” we may be adding the “Anderson Line”, signifying an OBP under .200. George Sherrill pulled after three batters with an 8-1 lead in the 9th against a lineup like the Giants? Let him try and work it out! Not that long ago that he was lights out.
Comment by Luke— June 30, 2010 #
I’ve never been a huge Torre fan and after the bullpen debacle a few days ago I’m ready to send him back to NY on his shield. BUT, I don’t think he was wrong benching Kemp. This tactic has been used many times by managers with mixed results. You can TALK to a player and you can TELL a player but sometimes the player himself just has to REALIZE things for himself. Sometimes a player thinks he is such an important part of the team that the team can’t perform without him. (I’m not accusing Kemp or suggesting this is the case.) When he suddenly finds himself on the bench and no one is telling him why it’s a wake up call he can’t ignore. If it motivates Kemp (and judging from today’s game, it didn’t hurt) then it’s the right thing. Like I said, I dislike Torre, but I can see logic in the tactic.
Comment by carolinabluedodger— June 30, 2010 #
[...] wasn’t one game, it was three games – and Joe Torre said that it would have been longer if Kemp hadn’t come to him to talk, as though that makes any [...]
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