Sunday, October 06, 2013

Time To Step Up, Skip

Skip Schumaker has been pretty solid for us all year replacing a litany of Dodgers who hit the DL at one time, or another, or even another. And with Matt Kemp out for the playoffs, and Andre Ethier unable to run, Schumaker has been forced into a starting role for this NLDS.

So far, Schumaker is 1-for-6 with 1 RBI (sac fly which started the scoring in Game 1) and a key GIDP early in Game 2. But, as ESPN's Jim Bowden points out, we need a lot more from Skip if we're going to advance in these playoffs (link insider only):

This October, most of the ink will be used on the likes of Clayton Kershaw, Miguel Cabrera and Dustin Pedroia, but it's nondescript, under-the-radar players who write history in the postseason. Winning championships isn’t about stars; it’s about players who step up at a critical time. [...]

This type of player or pitcher can play a key role in any team’s postseason success. So here is one player from each LDS club who might not be his team’s best player but will prove crucial to his team’s aspirations to advance deep into the postseason.

2. Skip Schumaker | OF | Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers hoped Matt Kemp would bounce back and be the player he was in 2011, when he finished second in the league in MVP voting. Unfortunately, he played just 73 games in 2013, sitting on the DL with hamstring, shoulder and ankle injuries. Andre Ethier took over center field, but with Ethier now hampered by an ankle injury and Kemp out for the entire postseason, the Dodgers must instead turn to utility man Schumaker.

A lifetime .284 hitter, he has hit two or fewer home runs and stolen two or fewer two bases in each of the past three seasons. He’s not a good defensive center fielder but does make the plays he gets to. He does have three years of postseason experience, including 2011, when he went 6-for-10 in the NLDS for the Cardinals, scoring a run and driving in three. The Dodgers hope he can simply hold his own; anything more is gravy.

I want gravy. Bring it, Skipster!

2 comments:

Dusty Baker said...

Here's how we line up today (to be re-posted in the GT later):

Crawford 7
MEllis 4
Ramirez 6
Gonzalez 3
Puig 9
Uribe 5
Schumaker 8
AJEllis 2
Ryu 1

Cliff Beefpile said...

Pirates fans make it difficult to root for the Pirates. What the fuck is wrong with people in Pennsylvania?