Oh Right, There’s Bigger Issues Than Matt Kemp & Jonathan Broxton
August 14, 2010 at 11:11 am | Posted in Hiroki Kuroda | 28 Comments
Like the fact that even though Hiroki Kuroda was excellent, the offense let him down, and why does that sound familiar? Clearly, this has been a week filled with drama, between Broxton’s debacle, Kemp’s benching, and it’s only going to get worse in a few days when Zach Lee doesn’t sign and the true nature of that draft pick is revealed.
Yet for all the words dropped on those situations, they’re not what’s holding the 2010 Dodgers back. It’s a team that always had its flaws, but seemingly had the talent to get past them. But without Manny, without Russell Martin, and without Rafael Furcal (who isn’t close to returning), and with performances like that of Casey Blake (.213/.283/.337 since the All-Star break), it’s important to remember that the poorly-timed slump they’re in is a pretty team-wide effort, starting pitchers aside.
So that’s 10 games out of the NL West, and 6.5 back in the Wild Card, behind four teams. I don’t like saying it, because as Jon states, there’s no fun in not looking forward to the next game. But why exactly shouldn’t we be hoping that veteran pieces like Ted Lilly, Casey Blake, & Octavio Dotel get moved this month?
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If any of those guys can get moved, Ned needs to jump on it. The problem is, I don’t think Ned is that smart. He probably still feels the Dodgers are in the playoff hunt.
Comment by dodgerbobble— August 14, 2010 #
Having been out for a while… why did the Dodgers even bother getting Lilly in the first place?
Comment by Rob McMillin— August 14, 2010 #
Ned did some window dressing to try and pacify the fans. Didn’t work and now we are really out of the race and Ned’s too stubborn to be a seller. Oh and to be a seller devalues the team which we can’t have during a divorce proceeding with creditors breathing down the McCourt’s necks.
Comment by Jeff— August 14, 2010 #
We would probably get allot more for them if only they were offered arbitration.
Comment by Table— August 14, 2010 #
If the Dodgers are truly too poor to offer arbitration, then they would also be too poor to fill the team’s wholes for next year. It makes the trades seem even more mindless. McDonald and Dewitt would have filled holes at 5th starter and 3rd base next year.
Comment by Table— August 14, 2010 #
He’s old, usless, not interested in every game and doesn’t move very well anymore but do you really think teams would claim Torre right now for a player to be named later? I am so done with his style of “leadership.”
OK. Blake gone. He had a decent run lets get anything for him. I would offer Dotel and Lilly for a catching prospet. Martin’s Juan Pierre like arm was not talked about alot over the last few years because his hitting sucked so much. Buster Posey comes in not only hitting for the Giants but almost making it impossible to steal. I’d like a catcher that is very tough to steal on.
This team came out of Spring Trainning playing like dodoo and kept up the inconsistency the entire year. The injury bug didn’t help.
Should they sell? Yes. Would Ned admit he failed? No.
Jeff I agree with your post but wouldn’t McCourt want his team de-valued so his wife would get half/a portion of a lower amount?
Comment by Adonis— August 14, 2010 #
Martin has his shortcomings, but his arm is not one of them – he has a high percentage of base stealers caught, and quite a few pickoffs.
Comment by WBB— August 14, 2010 #
A high percentage of base stealers caught?
2006 31%
2007 33%
2008 25%
2009 31%
2010 39%
In five seasons he has thrown out 31% of runners stealing. He’s not Piazza bad but he’s certainly not a catcher teams fear stealing off of.
Comment by Adonis— August 14, 2010 #
39 percent is quite high by MLB standards.
Comment by WBB— August 14, 2010 #
Its also hard to use that stat to judge catchers alone; so much of it depends on the pitcher.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— August 14, 2010 #
I agree, it’s the only thing, but I think it is noteworthy.
Comment by WBB— August 14, 2010 #
I meant, NOT the only thing.
Comment by WBB— August 14, 2010 #
Granted, this is all information from 2009, I still find it relevant. Just throwing it out there…
Memories of Kevin Malone (www.memoriesofkevinmalone.com) did a complete breakdown of Martin’s throwing ability on 5/16/09. Yes, it was a year ago, but the information provided therein is still valuable. Here is the link, http://www.memoriesofkevinmalone.com/2009/05/russell-martin-throwing-ability_16.html which proves that caught stealing % is NOT all on the catcher. It uses terms such as “Pop Times” and “Break Times” so if these advanced metrics are too much for you Adonis, I suggest not even bothering to check them out.
Additionally, from 10/25/09, in the 2009 Season in Review: Catchers (http://www.memoriesofkevinmalone.com/2009/10/2009-season-in-review-catchers.html) Kensai says, “Defensively, he was about as good as last year. Martin’s caught stealing percentage was better, but that’s not really that important, because it doesn’t reflect how horrid the Dodgers pitchers were at holding runners. Similarly, the passed balls and wild pitches allowed look bad, but the Dodgers staff is extremely wild. In previous catcher defense studies that I believe are the best we’re going to see in a while, Martin has proven to be one of the better defenders in the league, and I didn’t see much this year that dissuades me from continuing to go with that evaluation.”
Comment by Gibby's Limp— August 14, 2010 #
Fair enough if you think he has been better this year which the stats prove but for five years he has been IMHO been a liabilty and weakness not only at the plate.
Martin played everyday and provided a toughness to the Dodgers but I will not miss his (post steroids?) consistent lack of production while many talked about his potential.
Comment by Adonis— August 14, 2010 #
So the stats prove that he’s been a very good defensive catcher, but in your humble opinion he’s been a liability and a weakness on the defensive end? Oohkayy.
Comment by The Dude Abides— August 14, 2010 #
The stats don’t prove that. 31% over five years with a low of 25% in 2008. Even if you called him an average catcher, which he is not, he still sucks at the plate. Martin was Over-rated and thus given a fair chance and he failed.
Name some catchers who he is better than in the National League. I can name many who he is not better than.
Oohkayyyyy.
Comment by Adonis— August 15, 2010 #
I thought he sucked too, but in reality he is a decent player, there are plenty of other “holes to fill” way before C. Even the Yankees don’t have an All-Star at every position. People also had high expectations because of his first 2 years.
Comment by DodgersKings323— August 15, 2010 #
You rightfully point out Blake’s (.213/.283/.337 since the All-Star break), but it seems Loney is always allowed to suck “under the radar”. How about him? (.210/.269/.330 since the All-Star break)
A more important hitter in the lineup that’s performing worse than Blake.
Loney is a major problem on this team, yet very few of us say anything.
Comment by LAFord— August 14, 2010 #
Really? I feel like quite a few people have been talking about Loney’s lack of power from a traditional power position.
Comment by Jeff— August 14, 2010 #
If everybody sucked as much as Loney, the starting lineup would have driven in 560 runs.
Comment by WBB— August 14, 2010 #
So…Hack Wilson had the best season ever and Tony Gynn and Wade boggs kinda blew? I get it.
Comment by LAFord— August 14, 2010 #
guys,
lets not forget the tootblan from Podsednik in the 9th inning!
TOOTBLAN ALERT!
Scott Podsednik (1)-9th inning
POD representing the tying run singled to lead off the 9th inning, then was promptly picked off of first base by braves clser billy wagner. POD was picked off without the pitch being thrown, and was out by a distance of me to you.
the tootblan race is heating up, who will win? keep watching to find out. remember anytime you watch the dodgers, you just never know, you just MIGHT see a tootblan.
Comment by format— August 14, 2010 #
He was picked off long after many pitches were thrown. Theriot had already made out and Ethier had been there awhile.
Comment by LAFord— August 14, 2010 #
he was picked off before wagner went into his stretch, tying run in the 9th, just stupid, definatly tootblan worthy IMO.
Comment by format— August 14, 2010 #
Agreed. That was a TOOTBLAN. Remember it has to be capitalized, because it’s an acronym.
Comment by The Dude Abides— August 14, 2010 #
you are right Dude, my mistake. TOOTBLAN!
Comment by format— August 14, 2010 #
BTW, MSTI…that has to be the single most awesome random search term to bring somebody to a baseball blog ever. Ever ever ever.
Comment by The Dude Abides— August 14, 2010 #
I agree!
Comment by format— August 14, 2010 #