Friday, May 24, 2013

Dilbeck: Blame Ned Colletti

Look, it's a thin bench!

Trying to weave the narrative around the Dodgers' imploding 2013 season, Steve Dilbeck of the LA Times cites the thin bench strength as a primary liability:

General Manager Ned Colletti loves those scrappy, versatile types, which would explain a roster that was set up to have Nick Punto, Skip Schumaker, Juan Uribe and Jerry Hairston Jr. as its primary backups.

Except that with injured shortstop Hanley Ramirez missing most of the season so far and Luis Cruz proving worthless offensively, bench guys and players who were supposed to be in the minors are having to start.

Neither Dee Gordon (.167) nor Justin Sellers (.191) have hit a lick trying to replace Ramirez. Gordon is currently in an 0-for-22 slump. If he’s going to hit worse than Sellers (now hitting .314 at triple-A Albuquerque), they might as well send Gordon back down and return to Sellers, who at least has the superior glove.

Mattingly has been forced to play Punto almost every day, and fortunately for him, he’s responded better (.330, .418 on-base percentage) than they had right to hope. After a slow start, Schumaker has hit .357 in his last 12 games.

But when Punto and/or Schumaker are in the game, that leaves Cruz (.096), Uribe (.229) and/or Gordon the bench. There’s nothing there to pick from. And then there’s catcher Ramon Hernandez, who snapped an 0-for-17 skid with two hits Wednesday (including a homer).

Scott Van Slyke now at least gives them a hint of power on the bench, but that’s it. Impressive it ain’t.

Cruz, Gordon and Hernandez shouldn’t be on a team with championship aspirations, but that is your last-place Dodgers bench.

I'd agree, arguing that Gordon, Sellers, Cruz, Uribe, and Hernandez don't have any place on a major league roster, not with the way they've been playing this year. We can be patient for the subset of those that might still be maturing. But that maturing time shouldn't be done on my major-league-priced ticket.

8 comments:

Dusty Baker's Toothpick said...

Scrap Ned

Dusty Baker's Toothpick said...

How many days until the trade deadline, until Ned pulls another of his bonehead trades?

Orel said...

"Friday is the first of 20 games in 20 days for the Dodgers, their longest stretch of the season without a day off and the longest streak allowed by the collective bargaining agreement. Their previous longest run of the season was nine games in nine days, done twice in 2013." —TBLA

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Dilbeck is plagarizing me. Check the archives. I need an attorney.

Steve Sax said...

Neeebs is actually Ned Colletti! Wow!

Orel said...

"by Steeeve Dilbeck"

Paul said...

I'm here to represent you Neeebs but I'll have to have you sign this 200 page waiver first..

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Let Spanky read it. If he oks it I'll sign it.