- The Dodgers drop from 11th to 16th in ESPN's Power Rankings, coinciding with their sweep at the hands of St. Louis, their second memorable Jonathan Broxton meltdown in the last 23 days, and their dropping from a tie for second place into sole possession of fourth place in the NL West. Well, when you put it that way, 16th seems kind of generous.
- The Dodgers' odds for making the playoffs this season, according to Baseball Prospectus, just shrunk to 18.8% from 32.6%, the fourth-worst net percentage point loss of any team. Oh, and the Giants rose to 20.3% over the same time period. (link is insider only)
- On the flipside, Padres fans had better hope this first-place position isn't a one-time fluke, as Padres Manager Bud Black gets a three-year contract extension through 2013. Stay classy, San Diego. (espn.com)
36 comments:
The panic button is like an elevator button - pressing it repeatedly or really hard may not make the elevator come any faster, but it feels like it helps.
If everyone remembers the early season was off to a rocky start and we had a kickass May. I'm optimistic that despite the recent poor showing we can pull it together. Even train wrecks can turn around.
From "Major League;"
"They're shitty."
Dodger minor leaguer suspended for violation of MiLB drug policy: Wilmer Colmenarez, RHP. . .gone.
Things just keep getting rosier and rosier. Remember about 2 weeks ago when we mocked the MCC for their unbridled pessimism?
Me neither.
Not to sound like those whiner Dodger bloggers on Twitter, but on the way to work I was listening to MLB in XM and they had Manny Acta on talking about how great Carlos Santana was and how he's going to be part of the next great generation of hitters, and how teams are already putting the shift on when he comes to the plate....*cries*
Thanks DB. That kind of uplifting post is exactly what I needed. Excuse me while I go jump off the roof of my building =/.
@db
I hear ya. I really try not to be a Monday-morning-GM, because when you're in contention, you inevitably end up giving away a future star for a few years of a veteran. Shit happens, but that doesn't mean that I have to be thrilled about it when it does.
I like being a Saturday night GM.
Meh. Ask the average person about Carlos Santana and they'll think you mean the guitar player.
Also, I'm pretty sure not too many people (especially the most vocal) gave a crap about him before he was traded.
You don't have to follow every player in the minor league system to know when trading a top prospect for mid-season help (however awesome Casey Blake is) is a bad idea.
But Josh, we're above-average.
OK, so I'll take a stab at the Tuesday morning GM'ing.
2-3 needs:
1. A Starter. Roy Oswalt? Great. Ted Lilly? Maybe. Another Ortiz? Hell-to-the-no.
2. 7th or 8th inning guy. Breezy ain't coming around anytime soon, and HLACK can't be overused with a paper-thin tendon in that left elbow.
3. A bat, preferably an outfield bat. I fear Manny will be sporadic through the end of the season. Bottom line is the Dodgers are better with him than without because pitchers change their whole approach with him in the line-up.
The Dodgers may need to find someone who can come close to inspiring that type of fear, and XPaul is not the guy. I could see getting a power guy at third, and The Beard spending some time in left, but it's a reach.
poop
Hey, I reference HLACK and he shows up.
Scary.
rbn: please reference Ethier's ability to hit
Paul Maholm appears to be the Dodgers' starter target, per MLBTR.
You know how shower heads are great places for bacteria to grow and lead to getting sick? How do you like... clean them?
If all Ned does before the deadline is trade for Maholm, I will be very upset.
@MR. F
Soak'em overnight in vinegar. Good as new.
I totally believe the Maholm rumor. Quintessential Flanders move. No big risk, no big reward.
Stupid sexy quintessential Flanders.
Manny for Oswalt!
oh wait, this isn't the NBA
Thanks Mr. C. Maybe that's all I need to do.
@MC:
I tried that with my armpit. Woke up with a burning rash.
@Neeebs
It's probably just chafing. Armpits have been seeing a whole lot of action recently.
For EK:
Ethier began the season as a Triple-Crown winning, MVP candidate and has somehow found his way to the mediocrity that currently plagues Los Azules.
He can hit. Very well. Well indeed.
So can Kemp. And Blake. And Loney; yeah, Loney.
Martin used to hit, and that DeWitt character was good for a useless single every once in a while.
I am going to get melodramatic because it is all I have left to ward off baseball depression.
This homestand is it boys and girls. We turn it around and make a run here all will be fine. We tank against the Giants Mets and Padres we will be toast.
Just like the in young guns we are just testing ourselves. Now who is going into the spirit world with me?
@Paul
Spirit world... Is that kinda like Bevmo?
That is why I keep a couple of jars of vinegar with me at allllll times!
I wish Casey would have hit a grandslam I was going to honor him with the right to the middle name of my soon to be first born.
@Mr. C
Indeed we use product from Bev Mo to find the way to the spirit world.
That would be an awesome name for a liquor store. I am sure someone has that.
Will Johnny Cash be our spirit guide?
Buster Olney just said:
"Heard this: The Dodgers are looking for a starter AND a reliever. They presumably will need $ relief, like they got in Casey Blake deal."
Otherwise, however will we bring our payroll down to be commensurate with the Royals and Pirates?
@Paul
"I'm sure someone has that"
If I am ever presented with the responsibility of naming a bar, I've got dibs on "The Happy Medium".
Someone's gotta pay for Vladimir Shpunt.
Unlike the end of each Wonder Pets episode, where they get celery relief.
Anyone? Parents out there?
I think we all have to breathe and calm down. Whatever the McCourts tenure have been, it's the most successful run the franchise has since I'm a fan. These Dodgers core is the most exciting ever,in my case I hadn't ever came up with nicknames for players, let alone things like "king" or "son"
We're just halfway the season and there's no possibility of mathematical elimination yet. I think we should be more positive and remember worse times. They are way better than this and I'm confident they'll play to their potential.
@Paul I know what you mean with choosing names for Dodgers players. When Coper arrived, I wanted him to be "Lasorda" or "Koufax" but this family is composed by Braves, Mets, Yankees and Dodgers fans so there were synchronized "NOs".
Go for it, the Beard has been more awesome than anything else :)
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