Dodgers in need of more offense
Posted: Friday, April 18, 2008 7:00 PM
What to make of the Dodgers and their 7-8 start:
They are healthier with the return of Nomar Garciaparra two days ago and the lineup looked stronger. Even though they had two good scoring games against Pittsburgh after watching Takashi Saito surrender a ninth-inning homer in Monday’s opener of the series against the Pirates, the Dodgers still need to establish an ability to score on a consistent basis.
Striving towards that goal the team is aided by Rafael Furcal’s raging start. Hampered by a bum ankle last year, Furcal is fine and playing like a catalyst (here is where the cynic would insert, “also playing like a man in the final year of his contract.”). This gives the Dodgers a force at the top of the order.
Furcal being a force in the leadoff spot is especially important since Juan Pierre’s playing time is about to diminish. Pierre started slowly at the plate (although he had two RBI-hits on Wednesday while batting eighth) while Andre Ethier didn’t struggle out of the gate. Manager Joe Torre’s spring summary on Ethier, “He can really hit.” So Ethier and Matt Kemp are poised to be everyday corner outfielders. That makes Pierre a very expensive reserve.
Pierre’s status could eventually change if Andruw Jones can’t subscribe to NutriSystem. I mean, if it worked for Mike Ditka, then surely it can melt some of the 248 pounds from Jones’ frame. Now here is what makes life fun: the premier defensive centerfielder of this era enters free agency last winter and can’t get the long-term deal he seeks. So he “settles” for big dollars over a two-year contract, and spends the offseason eating in a super-size mode. Brilliant play, wouldn’t you agree?
Remarkably, Jones stepped on a scale this week for a L.A. Times writer. The verdict: 248 pounds. I am unaware of any center fielder who has ever played in the majors at that weight though I will gladly acknowledge anyone who has information to the contrary.
But the Dodgers have reason for optimism. Their pitching has been strong, issuing only 37 walks in their first 15 games. The NL West is the strongest of the three divisions and it is ruled by pitching. Only Arizona looks to be a “strong” team at this early juncture. That may be true for the entire NL, which is either -- depending on one’s ability to look at the bright side of things -- balanced or mediocre.
Torre is better equipped to mold Dodgers young and old into one. No matter how many denials you read, the team’s clubhouse schism last summer was real. But Torre is a master inside those walls although watch carefully the number of appearances by L.A. relievers. In the team’s first 15 games, lefty Joe Beimel worked in nine games and Scott Proctor, a veteran of similar heavy-workload treatment while playing for Torre in the Bronx, appeared in eight games. By last July, the Yankees pen was burned out (including Proctor) and underwent an overhaul. If something similar is needed this year, do the Dodgers have a Joba Chamberlain?
FIVE MORE SWINGS
1. “You give up two runs in 22 innings and you should win.” Those the words of Josh Bard, Padres catcher after San Diego’s 22-inning loss to Colorado. Legitimate question concerning the Padres: do they have enough stick in their lineup?
2. Please tell me we haven’t set the bar this low. A San Jose newspaper account of Wednesday’s Arizona-Giants game stated that Barry Zito “pitched well enough to win, allowing three earned runs in six innings.” So a 4.50 ERA is what $126 million buys?
3. All pro teams and leagues always contest Forbes magazine numbers. Still it was noticeable that in this year’s baseball valuations the bottom three teams were between $250-300 million, all on the watch of Bud Selig. Pointing this out just in case you had any questions about the strength of the commissioner within the game.
4. Also noticed these estimates from Forbes: Florida had an operating profit of $35.6 million, Tampa Bay $29.7 million and Pittsburgh $17.6 million. I acknowledge that those teams will challenge those numbers but do you think the Yankees, Red Sox, Mets and other major donors into revenue sharing just happened to catch a glimpse of that story?
5. Speaking of weight issues, they are not limited to Andruw Jones. A great job done by ESPN showing the weight gain of Dontrelle Willis in the last two years and its effect on his unorthodox delivery. After Kerry Wood’s renaissance last year was fueled in part by a significant weight loss, I thought others would follow suit.
