So That’s How You Stop a 10-Game Losing Streak
September 7, 2010 at 1:15 am | Posted in Trent Oeltjen, Xavier Paul | 20 Comments
…you play the Dodgers. Vicente Padilla was allowed to go just 59 pitches deep, allowing three runs in four innings, before Joe Torre decided to empty the bullpen. Ronald Belisario, George Sherrill, Octavio Dotel, Jonathan Broxton, & Kenley Jansen all paraded in in hopes of keeping the game close; other than Broxton, all did, particularly Jansen, who struck out the side. Broxton’s velocity was there tonight, but his control was once again off, unless he really meant to park meatballs down the middle. At least we don’t have to hear people say “it’s the pressure of the 9th inning” tonight, right?
As for the offense? Well, nine hits is nice enough, but once again they didn’t do anything with them. One of the two runs came off of a Scott Podsednik homer, which would have been impressive if it weren’t so terrifying that it increases his chances of being retained to lead off every day in 2011. Besides that, John Lindsey didn’t get to bat off the bench, but Ronnie Belliard, Jamey Carroll, Jay Gibbons, & Reed Johnson all did, and not a single one got on base.
Really, it’s the same old same old. The pitching was acceptable, and the offense was useless. There really can’t be any argument that this lineup is not the same without Manny; now, since I said it was time to let him go I can’t complain about that too much, but it’s time to admit that it’s not happening this year, and to start playing some of the new guys. (Well, it was time for that a month ago, but still).
Considering that (other than the sweep of the woeful Brewers) the Dodgers have lost two of three in each of the last four series against NL contenders (CIN, COL, PHI, SFG), we can at least hope they’ll split the next two.
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Tony Jackson reports that Australian outfielder Trent Oeltjen will be called up from ABQ on Tuesday. He will be, I believe, the third fourth Australian to play for the Dodgers, after Luke Prokopec and Jeff Williams (and Craig Shipley, who I initially omitted). Williams somehow managed to play in parts of four seasons for LA (1999-02) without my having any recollection of him at all, though that’s probably because he pitched in just 37 games in that time, and it overlapped with my college career, in which I paid little attention to the FOX-led Dodgers.
As for Oeltjen, he was signed by the Dodgers in July after being released from Milwaukee’s AAA club. Oeltjen’s had his share of success at the plate, putting up OPS of .823, .862, and .906 in AAA the last three seasons, spent with farm clubs of Arizona, Milwaukee and LA. Judging by the quotes from Brewers exec Gord Ash that I linked when he was signed, he’s a pretty lousy defensive outfielder, which is what’s holding him back from the majors. (Though it didn’t stop him from starting four games in CF for the DBacks last year). The outfield is pretty crowded right now, so I doubt he sees much of a chance, but he’s auditioning for a bench job in 2011, just like everyone else.
The 40-man roster is full, so unless there’s an unexpected DFA in store, I’d think that Xavier Paul is called up and placed on the 60-day DL, as he’s out for the season with a neck injury.
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So, Mr. MSTI, here’s a multiple choice quiz: when Ausmus came up with two outs in the 6th, runners at 2nd and 3rd, and the Dodgers behind 3-1, and Joe didn’t pinch hit for him, do you think:
(1) Joe didn’t want to have Lindsey get his first major league AB in a pressure situation
(2) Joe believes Ausmus is a good enough hitter to let him bat in that situation
(3) Joe was taking a cat nap in the dugout
(4) Joe and Ned were having a post-coital cigarette in the clubhouse after Theriot’s gritty groundout moved both runners up one base
Comment by The Dude Abides— September 7, 2010 #
Ill take numbers 2 and 3. he is delusional enough for 2 and 3 is just a given.
Torres terible in game decisions have reached a new low even for him, as they involve absolutly no thought process or strategy.
Comment by format— September 7, 2010 #
I’m going to go with 5) Normally you wouldn’t hit for your catcher that early in case the game goes extras or your backup gets hurt, and with Joe’s recent comments about how he hates the extra roster space in Sept he’s choosing to ignore that he has a third catcher.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— September 7, 2010 #
I believe the original Australian player, Craig Shipley, started his career with the Dodgers.
Comment by Jeff J. Snider— September 7, 2010 #
i remember craig with the dodgers
Comment by Louis— September 7, 2010 #
Good call. I remembered him with the Padres, but didn’t recalled he started out with LA.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— September 7, 2010 #
Remember: John Lindsey with an E is the newly promoted player on the Dodgers. John Lindsay with an A was the mayor of New York City.
Comment by nsxtasy— September 7, 2010 #
I have made that mistake more times than I can count, but I usually always catch it before I hit publish. I’m afraid it’s going to be one of those things I just never get right.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— September 7, 2010 #
He’s not even the most commonly misspelled Dodger name of the past couple of years, an honor that goes to Jamie Hoffmann.
Comment by nsxtasy— September 7, 2010 #
Him too. I prided myself on being able to spell Mientkiewicz without looking it up, though.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— September 7, 2010 #
I am surprised that Ned actually added Oeltjen. If the choice were mine, I would rather have Oeltjen leading off than Scotty Pods. Both are adventures in the outfield, but Oeltjen has some real pop and if I remember correctly actually has an idea when he is at the plate.
I wish I understood why Torre continues to run Belliard out to pinch hit. He is Mark Sweeney bad at the job. I mean, with Manny gone, who’s bags will Belliard carry? Furcal’s? Joe’s? Otherwise, I can’t see any rational reason he is still taking up a roster spot. Then again, said the same thing about Garret Anderson and it took nearly five months for Ned to figure out he was useless.
Comment by Grabarkewitz— September 7, 2010 #
Will Xavier Paul ever have a full season where he can stay healthy?
Comment by c.lo— September 7, 2010 #
It’s as if he’s become our new Tony Abreu; although, I never had the same high hopes many others did on Abreu. (I think X-man is a better player.)
Comment by Gibby's Limp— September 7, 2010 #
Hate to say it, folks, but with the Dodgers down the dumper, I’m almost rooting for the Padres to right themselves and sweep the series. In case you hadn’t noticed, the Giants are playing well—they won again last night—and a division win for them would only compound the angst I feel about the Dodgers’ lost season. I mean, it’s not as if a winning percentage of .510 will mean more than one of .490.
-
Clean house.
Comment by SC Dodger— September 7, 2010 #
I hate to agree, but I have to. If the Dodgers aren’t going to win it (which has been apparent for a couple of months), I sure as hell don’t want the Jints to do it.
Comment by Bill Grabarkewitz— September 7, 2010 #
From SI.com
As hard as it may be to believe, the Dodgers are a better club with Scott Podsednik in the lineup than Ramirez — this version of Ramirez, not the enhanced 2008 Mannywood model. That’s because Ramirez, at 38, cannot play everyday in the National League. His defense is poor, his legs are breaking down, he can’t play day games after night games, and he has opted out of lineup
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/tom_verducci/09/03/races.ramirez.strasburg/index.html?xid=cbssports#ixzz0yss1HvMB
Comment by David S— September 7, 2010 #
From SI.Com.
As hard as it may be to believe, the Dodgers are a better club with Scott Podsednik in the lineup than Ramirez — this version of Ramirez, not the enhanced 2008 Mannywood model. That’s because Ramirez, at 38, cannot play everyday in the National League. His defense is poor, his legs are breaking down, he can’t play day games after night games, and he has opted out of lineup
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/tom_verducci/09/03/races.ramirez.strasburg/index.html?xid=cbssports#ixzz0yss1HvMB
Comment by David S— September 7, 2010 #
Whatever Manny’s shortcomings, this is nonsense.
Comment by WBB— September 7, 2010 #
Nothing unusual, one media guy spewing out the same thing everyone else does, most of those guys don’t think for themselves is my guess. Put me in the “Torre asleep” group and “he hates September call-ups so he probably has something against Lindsey to let him play even though he was mashing in AAA”
Comment by DodgersKings323— September 7, 2010 #
[...] raked in ABQ, as everyone does, with an environment-fueled .979 OPS. That earned him a call-up in September, where he didn’t do all that much in his limited chances, but he did get four starts in [...]
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