Dodger Thoughts

Thursday, August 15, 2002

 
The Times reported today that the Dodgers are thinking of pitching Kevin Brown out of the bullpen. I have thought for weeks that this was the logical place for him to go - even before the bullpen became so unreliable. Brown's question right now is not his talent, but his endurance. Even if he can't pitch on back-to-back days, he can be a reliable force in the bullpen and give the others some clearly needed rest.
The proposed alternatives aren't as good. Moving Daal to the bullpen takes away one of the rotation's more consistent starters, and Ishii always has trouble in his first inning of work - it seems like a recipe for disaster to move him to the bullpen, unless in a mop-up role. I'd like to know why Ishii always walks people in the first inning, but no one seems to know.
While I think the Dodgers should be conservative in trades with other organizations, they need to be dynamic within the organization. Be willing to change peoples' roles. Let Brown ease back into the majors; make the best use of his current abilities. Then, if it appears he has the strength, move him into the rotation. By then, perhaps, we'll have a clearer idea of whom Brown would replace as a starter.
Jon Weisman (link)

Monday, August 12, 2002

 
Just some footnotes and minor corrections on Thursday's entry.
On July 29, the Dodgers were 10.5 games behind Atlanta.
On July 30, the Dodgers swept a doubleheader from the Braves, rallying from a 6-1 deficit to win the first game 10-9. The Dodgers ended up sweeping the four-game series with the Braves to pull within 6.5 games, then lost to Cincinnati to fall 7.5 games back.
Two victories over the Reds brought the Dodgers within 5.5 games. Then, with an extra-inning victory on August 5, the Dodgers won another four straight over the Braves - three in extra innings - to pull with 1.5.
Two more victories over the Reds gave the Dodgers eight wins in a row and 12 out of 13, and put them ahead of the Braves on August 10.

Jon Weisman (link)

 
Sorry for the posting problem below. I'm trying to get it fixed...
Jon Weisman (link)

 
Just some footnotes and minor corrections on the last entry.

On July 29, the Dodgers were 10.5 games behind Atlanta.
On July 30, the Dodgers swept a doubleheader from the Braves, rallying from a 6-1 deficit to win the first game 10-9. The Dodgers ended up sweeping the four-game series with the Braves to pull within 6.5 games, then lost to Cincinnati to fall 7.5 games back.
Two victories over the Reds brought the Dodgers within 5.5 games. Then, with an extra-inning victory on August 5, the Dodgers won another four straight over the Braves - three in extra innings - to pull with 1.5.
Two more victories over the Reds gave the Dodgers eight wins in a row and 12 out of 13, and put them ahead of the Braves on Jon Weisman (link)

 
Just some footnotes and minor corrections on the last entry.

On July 29, the Dodgers were 10.5 games behind Atlanta.
On July 30, the Dodgers swept a doubleheader from the Braves, rallying from a 6-1 deficit to win the first game 10-9. The Dodgers ended up sweeping the four-game series with the Braves to pull within 6.5 games, then lost to Cincinnati to fall 7.5 games back.
Two victories over the Reds brought the Dodgers within 5.5 games. Then, with an on August 5, the Dodgers won another four straight over the Braves - three in extra innings - to pull with 1.5.
Two more victories over the Reds gave the Dodgers eight wins in a row and 12 out of 13, and put them ahead of the Braves on Jon Weisman (link)