Joe Torre Finally Presses the Right Buttons
August 25, 2010 at 11:21 pm | Posted in Joe Torre, Manny Ramirez | 35 Comments
As Jonathan Broxton closed out a scoreless 8th inning, I looked ahead to the 9th and wondered what the plan would be:
Pick from 3 terrible options: Broxton trying for a 2-inning save, Kuo on back-to-back nights, or Dotel in the 9th.
As it turns out, it wasn’t quite any of those. With Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, and Casey McGehee entering, Torre decided to go with a three-headed closer monster. Ronald Belisario, despite getting five out last night and supposedly being unavailable today, came in to retire Braun. George Sherrill (don’t complain about seeing him in the 9th, I’ve pointed out how tough he is on lefties dozens of times) took Fielder to a full count, but set him down. Finally, Octavio Dotel – who’s basically the reverse Sherrill – got McGehee to fly out to center to end the game.
Taking three flawed players, and maximizing the opportunity to play to their strengths? Boy, it’s almost like that’s how it’s supposed to work.
******
Manny Ramirez got on base all four times, including two doubles. Gee, you think calling him dead after just two games, coming off a two-month hiatus, was a bit premature? If anything, it was about time someone supported Hiroki Kuroda, who has suffered through some criminally unfair losses this year.
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in the three games manny has been back in the lineup, the dodgers have scored 18 runs, and hit 7 homeruns…..hmmmmmm no suprise there. when manny is in the lineup he makes everyone better and the dodgers hit and score runs.
MSTI-question. what if the dodgers actually do put together a few wins and climb within a few games of the wildcard before the august 31st deadline, do you think they will keep manny?
Comment by format— August 25, 2010 #
I think they probably would. Not the same as “should”, though.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— August 25, 2010 #
I enjoy watching the Dodgers when Manny plays. I hate it when I understand that we should simply get rid of him to for the future.
In fairness to Ned. He can’t do whatever he wants. How many of you can do that with your own boss? He has to try to make make moves to win, both now and for the future, while following directives from McDivorce. He’s in a tough spot. I would like to think that Neddy is given the power to do what is right for the team but sometimes I am not sure.
Comment by Adonis— August 26, 2010 #
If Neddy had been spending your money instead of McCourts, tell me one large dollar contract that proves he know what he is doing. His best moves have been taking low dollar risks on veterans. I think that Neddy’s real rep amoung other GMs is that he can be taken advantage of in trades.
Comment by west coast ram— August 26, 2010 #
I agree with you intellectually that they should get what they can for Manny (or Kuroda or Blake or whoever), but — in spite of everything — they seem like such a different team when he plays that I want them to hang on just to see.
And, even if they do sell/trade him, what will they get? Some second-level minor leaguers and/or some dough that will, likely as not, Frank to use to pay off Jamie. Is there any indication they’ll get someone who can make an impact in the next couple of years? (I’m asking seriously, not rhetorically.)
Comment by Bill Grabarkewitz— August 26, 2010 #
Billy G
I have been on this bandwagon for the past week. Trading Manny now for a low level prospect is not going to do the Dodgers good on any front. I am thrilled that Manny and Boras are asking for a contract extension to waive his no trade clause
Comment by Louis— August 26, 2010 #
Wait a second, what? This is the first that I’ve heard that Manny and Boras are asking for a contract extension. Where did you hear this from?
Comment by Jorge— August 26, 2010 #
It was on MLBTR today.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— August 26, 2010 #
TOOTLBAN ALERT!!!
Larry Bowa-sending Manny in the third inning when he had no chance of scoring on a blake sinlge, and almost getting run over in the process
I hate to bring up something negative on a night when the dodgers win, but im giving Bowa himself a TOOTBLAN for stupidly sending Manny in the third and then almost wandering right into his path between third and home. maybe if Manny had accidentally ran him over it would have knocked some sense into him.
LARRY BOWA (1)-third inning
Lsrry Bowa has joined the tootlban race!
keep watching everyone, because when the dodgers are playing you just never know, you just MIGHT see a tootblan, from the coaches too!
Comment by format— August 25, 2010 #
I’m giving that TOOTBLAN to Manny, but it’s a special kind of TOOTBLAN that Reed Johnson got a few weeks ago: TOOTBLANCBB.
Comment by The Dude Abides— August 26, 2010 #
I thought Theriot was going to get two more TOOTBLANs, one on each of his doubles trying to stretch into triples. He came close to one tagging up on Kemp’s fly to right center to Cain, who has a cannon.
Did anyone feel confident with Joe’s ninth inning plan? Given the options, I would have allowed Broxton to go for the save. Unfortunately, Joe pulled a reverse double switch, by having the pitcher leading off the top of the ninth. He inserted Podsednik to pinch hit in the number 9 slot, and then inserted Pods in left field, which left the pitcher in the third spot to lead off the next inning.
Comment by SamAdams— August 26, 2010 #
Bowa should have 2 with the RJ one a while back
Comment by DodgersKings323— August 26, 2010 #
Yes I mentioned that above. CBB = Caused By Bowa
Comment by The Dude Abides— August 26, 2010 #
dude, I agree! yes im going to have to update and give bowa another one for the megatootblan last week!
Comment by format— August 26, 2010 #
Sell high…manny to the ChiSox!!! Think of next year because we got a LOT of teams ahead of us in the wild card race. You know you’re in a huge hole when scoreboard watching means looking at 6 different games!!! Yikes!
Comment by Jeff— August 26, 2010 #
this team without manny is pretty much unwatchable at this point….i say that’s enough reason for the team to keep him rather than just dumping him for next to nothing
Comment by brett bulter— August 26, 2010 #
I’m with you. They’re so lethargic without the dreaded one, that I’d rather they just keep him for the rest of the season, than get a really green prospect.
Comment by Jeff— August 28, 2010 #
Hey Chad, sorry about this but I assume you visit this site often enough to notice this comment. Are you going to be doing a player profile on Zach Lee soon or is that going to wait until next season when he’s pitched in the minors? Is there not enough information on him now to even give us a rough idea of what we got? Thanks.
Comment by Jorge— August 26, 2010 #
I’ll do a profile of him this off-season, yes.
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By the way, why not contact me at my site…in my comments…on Twitter…on Facebook…in e-mail…etc? :o
Comment by Chad Moriyama— August 26, 2010 #
he knows you’re a lurker
Comment by Gary— August 26, 2010 #
lol I would agree with Gary only so I don’t seem quite so stupid. Sorry Chad, I don’t have a Twitter, facebook, I’m not signed up to post comments on your site, but I just completely forgot about email. My mistake.
Comment by Jorge— August 26, 2010 #
If we can’t get anything for Manny then hope Furky returns, rest Blake and maybe we have a shot.
Comment by DodgersKings323— August 26, 2010 #
We know that Kuo shouldn’t pitch two nites in a row. And Manny needs to rest on days after nite games. I wonder if maybe Torre will be out of the lineup today,after all that thinking he did in the ninth inning.
Comment by David S— August 26, 2010 #
was at the games back to back while visiting Millwakee and must say that one of the highlights besides seeing the the Blue Crew beat up the Brew Crew was a dude dressed as Manny holding the This is My Town blanket over the Bull Pen…was expecting to get pelted with food then i remembered i wasnt at Dodger Stadium so i was good wearing my Dodger gear
Comment by Chan Ho Karate Institute— August 26, 2010 #
I kinda want manny to stay, atleast that way he makes dodger baseball exciting the rest of the season. Seeing that dumb ass neddy is getting rid of all our good young players in stoopid tradesfor overpaid vets. We might not see good dodgers baseball for a while.
I dont know bout you guys but im still not over the j-mac trade
Comment by thats MR. potato head to you!— August 26, 2010 #
I find peoples hard on for marginal youngsters like J-Mac and DeWitt funny. I could understand if we traded Lindblom, Withrow, Martin or Dee and people got made. I’m not surprised that they are doing fairly well, considering their teams have nothing on the line. I never saw those two as big contributors to a winning baseball. Nice young players, but frankly I was tired of waiting. Time will tell if the guys ever pan out into something. I’m still on the fence on these trades.
As far as the Dodgers, it’s funny I looked at the standings and the Dodgers are only 5.5 out of the wild card, with a whole crap load of games left against teams ahead of us. It sounds crazy, but man this team is overdue to get hot. It’s not likely, but why not the Dodgers? Crazier things have happened.
Comment by Juan Pierre— August 26, 2010 #
The season and a half that DeWitt played made you tired of waiting? JMac’s one season made you tired of waiting?
I hate it when 24 year olds aren’t superstars! Where are their manners!
Comment by Gary— August 26, 2010 #
25 and 26 years old actually. I liked them too, but I’m not losing sleep because they aren’t here. But thats just me. Hopefully they prove me wrong.
Comment by Juan Pierre— August 26, 2010 #
I’m not so much upset that we traded them, neither of them will be more than good major leaguers at best. I, like most I think, are upset about what we got for them.
Comment by Gary— August 26, 2010 #
Heres the thing, if you gave me the choice between an older guy who is affective against righties and a younger guy who is ok against both (and I think hes better than ok) imgonna pick the yonger guy
Comment by That's MR. potato head to you!— August 26, 2010 #
Hi, WBB. How’s fourth place treating you. Revert to form much?
Comment by freshtodef80— August 26, 2010 #
Our glorious D*dgers will get infinitely better as soon as we remove 12 pounds of matted, filthy dreadlocks from the roster. Unfortunately, there’s a good chance that our Clomid supplier will be gone, too. We could fall even further in the standings after Manny joins the White Sox.
Comment by jonnysanchez— August 26, 2010 #
MSTI will probably have a lot of new people posting here over the next few hours. There is a person who posts on lots of Giants sites as barryforever strictly to antagonize Giants fans because he’s got nothing better to do.
He posts here as “WBB”. Unfortunately for you guys, he’s unleashed a bunch of Giants fans on the Illness because he got a little too talkative. If it weren’t for him, we would absolutely leave this site alone. You may want to police that guy.
Truth be told, I think your site is pretty cool…
Comment by freddysanchez— August 26, 2010 #
Ha, wait, what? Link me please.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— August 26, 2010 #
Here’s a sample:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/giants/detail?entry_id=70729
You’ll see his name (barryforever) all over the board. The guy posts more on Giants sites than on Dodger sites. It’s kind of a sad existence and “WBB” here should be shamed for spending so much time obsessing over the Giants.
Anyway, I really have no intention of behaving like a troll, so I’ll leave this place alone. I pop over here on occasion because I dig your writing and it’s always good to follow baseball from a different perspective. I guess I just wanted you guys to know you have a retard in your midst.
Comment by freddysanchez— August 26, 2010 #