Monday, May 12, 2008

Five Things That Are Pissing Me Off

One seriously pissed-off frog.


1. Timing is everything. Good news: The Diamondbacks just got swept by the Cubs! Bad news: The Dodgers just got swept by the Astros! Wins and losses balance out in the end, but the Dodgers haven't been within sniffing distance of first place since early April. A team with division-winning talent shouldn't get too comfortable playing for the wild card, because before you know it you've lost 11 of your last 14 and you've finished in fourth place.

2. Who is our stopper? Hiroki Kuroda's tragic loss to the Astros yesterday was preceded by losses by Chad Billingsley, Derek Lowe and Brad Penny. This is the Dodgers' second four-game losing streak of the season; hopefully, Penny in his next turn will make sure it doesn't become their longest. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks will try to stop their losing streak by starting Randy Johnson, Micah Owings and Brandon Webb. Combined record: 14-2. If the Dodgers' pitching staff can't work a similar magic, will it accelerate the promotion of Clayton Kershaw?

3. Enough with the lineup juggling. Blake DeWitt batting second? Juan Pierre yo-yo-ing up and down in the batting order? Joe Torre has started 18 different lineups over 36 games. While Rafael Furcal's injury has accounted for some of it, this managerial experimentation is wearing thin. Your homework is done, Joe. Although some studies have suggested lineup order is overrated, you can bet it matters to the players—especially the kids—as they check the lineup card every day.

4. Forgetting Andruw Jones. Yesterday, Andre Ethier went 3-for-5 in his only start of the Houston series. I don't know how he does it, producing despite inconsistent playing time. And I don't know how Andruw Jones doesn't do it, with all the starts he's been given. True, Jones had a sacrifice fly in the Dodgers' usual too-little-too-late comeback attempt yesterday, while Ethier popped out to end the game. But six weeks of Jones hitting .170 is enough. We need to start playing the strongest lineup on a regular basis, and that doesn't include Andruw Jones.

5. The Utah Jazz. Thanks, dickheads, for your role in holding Los Angeles sports teams completely winless this weekend. Hell, even the Angels got swept by the Rays. Guess I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good gravy... youre right on target with EVERYTHING! A perfect start to my F*****g week. Dodgers blow a chance to gain ground, Lakers jump shoot (jump miss?) their way into a tie in their series. And Andruw Jones still has the Dodgers fooled. Not the fans though. Thanks for the recap tho... I will now go next door and kick the neighbors annoying dog.

QuadSevens said...

I'm right there with you Orel. Jones just isn't doing the job and Either can. The only thing Jones has going for him is his 16 runs. But that just shows how much better everyone around him is hitting. Jones's 5 RBIs (which is tied with Nomar who has only played in 9 games) also shows how bad he is playing. Would it be wrong to hope Jones gets hurt so Torre can't start him?

Alex@DodgerFan said...

Let's see

1. AGREE
2. TOTALLY AGREE
3. AGREE
4. YUP (AGREE)
5. Worst L.A. Sports weekend in a loooong time.

Where is USC football when I need it most to console me?

P.S. - Love the Fletch reference!

Orel said...

Don't kick that dog, Manny! Just force it to watch one of Andruw Jones' at-bats.

Steve Sax said...

Orel, great summary, great pictures. You didn't mention #6, the fact that your dog-walking threw off the Dodgers' karma yesterday. Maybe Andruw can walk your dog for you (he needs the exercise)?

Orel said...

Didn't you hear, Sax? Karina claimed full responsibility for yesterday's game. I'm scot-free!

Steve Sax said...

Okay, karina did jinx Kuroda, true. But I can't kick karina!

Seriously, I can't kick your dog, either.

PS Terminal 5 at Heathrow is pretty damn nice.

karina said...

Orel, Manny can't force the neighbor's dog to watch Andruw Jones at bats. before you know it, PETA supporters will be protesting in his neighborhood.
Dogs are loving and loyal creatures undeserving of such cruelty (from dog lover to dog lover). Maybe we are sadists just because we're putting up with those K's and groundouts.

I still feel bad about Sunday, i think i should limit myself to fashion police, i'm afraid i could be jinxing the team.

Sax, i'm glad you can't kick me...i didn't mean it...

karina said...

Thanks God i had a painful breakup with the Lakers and basketball a few years ago...