Rockies @ Dodgers August 7, 2012: White vs Harang

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Jerry Sands will spend his second game back up on the bench, and while that’s not totally surprising, I really hope it’s not just because Alex White is a right-handed pitcher, because Sands has actually had something of a reverse split in the minors. (White, for the record, can’t get anyone out. In 108 big league innings, he’s been hit by righties at a .319/.374/.592 clip and lefties at .284/.381/.527, and while there’s definitely some “yeah but Coors,” yikes.) James Loney is beyond repair at this point, and the only thing saving him from our outright rebellion is just that Juan Rivera isn’t really any better. If Sands is up, you’d like him to be playing.

Speaking of guys who aren’t playing and never will be again, Juan Uribe sits for the 403rd day in a row. I know there’s some thought that Sands goes down if Adam Kennedy is activated for Friday’s game, but I just can’t see it happening; Don Mattingly, rightfully, seems determined to never play Uribe again. Mark Ellis also sits against the righty, though I must admit I’m not entirely sure why Luis Cruz is playing second and Jerry Hairston third, rather than vice-versa.

Rockies
Dodgers
RF
 Young
LF
Victorino
SS
 Rutledge
3B
Hairston
CF
 Fowler
CF
Kemp
LF
 Gonzalez
RF
Ethier
3B
Pacheco
SS
Ramirez
C
 Hernandez
1B
Loney
1B
 Colvin
2B
Cruz
2B
 Herrera
C
A.Ellis
P
White
P
Harang

 

1118 comments
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Deuce
Deuce like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

If you're not going to play Sands against a LHer, why is he here?   Why DFA Gwynn?  Why not let him rake in NM?  He much crappy play do you need to see from Rivera/Loney?  Too many questions.

TheConman
TheConman like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @Deuce there is no logical answer. It just doesn't make any sense, whatsoever. It's mind-bottling

WestonTaylor (Sarcasm abounds)
WestonTaylor (Sarcasm abounds) like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

"Juan Uribe's time with the Dodgers could be nearing an end, writes Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times, as the team will need to open a roster spot with Adam Kennedy due back from the DL this week.  Uribe has just a .553 OPS in 459 plate appearances since signing a three-year, $21MM free agent contract before the 2011 season.  The Dodgers would have to eat the approximately $10.3MM left on Uribe's deal but Hernandez notes this would hardly be a burden to the club's free-spending new owners."

 

Apparently LA Times has been reading MSTI for about a week now. 

Deuce
Deuce like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

 @WestonTaylor   I realize that there are guys that are terrible and need to go, but the phrase "need to open a roster spot with Adam Kennedy due back from the DL" just hits me the wrong way.  Need???  

WestonTaylor (Sarcasm abounds)
WestonTaylor (Sarcasm abounds)

Though player salaries matter to any GM, they are not the most important variable in Los Angeles. "We're back to thinking about players in a baseball context," Colletti said."Salary is part of the checklist. But it's not necessarily an obstacle."

 

Back to thinking about players in a baseball context. So what kind of context were they thinking about before?

JohnM (MSTI Elitist/Hipster)
JohnM (MSTI Elitist/Hipster) like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

This is how I've felt about the dodgers the past couple days.

 

http://media.photobucket.com/image/omg%20oh%20noes/krispos42/Animated/oh-noes-everybody-panic.gif?o=5

TheConman
TheConman like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

 @JohnM Seeing Rivera in the lineup over Sands, once again

 

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lj998o16Cg1qixleeo1_500.gif

JoeyE
JoeyE like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

i just think it's dumb to not give Sands a shot. loney and rivera suck. they dont even have "professional at-bats". they just suck. live and die with the guy who might suck too, but at least has upside

TheConman
TheConman like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @JoeyE frustrating, isn't it? There's literally nothing to lose by giving Sands a chance and yet once again Rivoney gets to start. 

JoeyE
JoeyE like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @TheConman seriously. bat AJ 6th since Donnie wont ever use him above Mellis, then bat Hairston or Cruz 7th and Sands 8th if they're so afraid of him putting too much pressure on himself. Sands has a decent eye at the plate, he could work some walks like they want AJ too and AJ gets to bat higher in the order

 

but no. lets use Rivera

Goooog
Goooog

@JoeyE @TheConman I wanna chant Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! He's gotta be Bette defensively than Rivera, right? I used to justify Loney because I though he was a great defender but lately not so much

Hoagiebum
Hoagiebum

Since Hanley is playing shortstop it seems  just like it was before  he arrived. No production from the corners. Hairston and Rivera. Enough already. 

JoeyE
JoeyE

 @hoagiebum and if he was playing 3rd, we'd be getting no production from short or 1st. we will have holes no matter what. i guess cruz has been doing ok overall with his XBHs, but i'd rather have Hairston play over him

Disgruntled Goat
Disgruntled Goat moderator like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @JoeyE  @hoagiebum yep, although it's nice to have production from traditional positions, what matters is the lineup, not the positions themselves. still holes in that lineup and hairston would be nice as a bench player and spot starter rather than every day. 

KirkDavenport
KirkDavenport like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @el serracho  @JoeyE  @hoagiebum Does it really matter which position as long as there are enough people in the line up producing. Unfortunately. Kemp is in a big power slump and mostly hitting warning track flies, Ethier has had a power outage for months, Victorino has not yet produced, M.Ellis has weakened and Mattingly still insists on playing negative WAR players like Loney and Rivera.

The team will go nowhere unless a large group of the above show a turn around. Might as well give Sands a big chance - and Castellanos and IDJ and Puig and any other minor leaguer not holding a limp bat

JohnM (MSTI Elitist/Hipster)
JohnM (MSTI Elitist/Hipster) like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

By this time Friday, Uribe could be gone. Now if that doesn't put 2012 in the positive I don't know what will.

homerfan
homerfan like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

 @JohnM I wouldn't hold my breath about Uribe, Sands will probably be sent back down. After all he hasn't done anything since he was called up.

Disgruntled Goat
Disgruntled Goat moderator

 @JohnM of course they'll wait til 5 minutes before first pitch to announce. :-) 

Goooog
Goooog like.author.displayName 1 Like

I have to believe things will pick up soon. There are too many good players on this team for it to whither away. It is extremely frustrating to watch them get shutout by terrible Rockies pitching, but if watching the Olympics has taught me anything, the dude that finishes the long distance race is rarely in first for most of the race. I'm hoping this lull eventually turns into a beast mode tear that carries them into the post season. That being said, why the shit isn't Sands starting?

Gilbert (Vengeance)
Gilbert (Vengeance)

 @Goooog Donnie has a man crush on Rivera

Dang88
Dang88

I like watching road Grienke because he isn't on my team and he sucks

JohnM (MSTI Elitist/Hipster)
JohnM (MSTI Elitist/Hipster) like.author.displayName 1 Like

Victorino LF Ellis 2B Kemp CF Ramirez SS Ethier RF Rivera 1B Hairston Jr. 3B Treanor C (Billingsley P) 

 

Still no fatty

 

Disgruntled Goat
Disgruntled Goat moderator like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @JohnM as much as i was, and remain, opposed to having the gnome on this team, i am amazed at how bad he has been. i fully expected to be won over to some (however small) degree. 

 

add that to the surprisingly punchless 3-4-5  and i'm speechless. 

JoeyE
JoeyE like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

why did they call up sands anyways? not in the lineup. doesnt even get a chance with this struggling offense. why not try SOMETHING different?

PuroPincheMongolianVodka!
PuroPincheMongolianVodka!

 @JoeyE I was excited to see the Sandblaster once again, looks like it takes another offensive meltdown to get him in the damn game.