Dodgers @ Marlins August 11, 2012: Blanton vs Nolasco

Other than the ongoing first base platoon of James Loney & Juan Rivera (problematic since neither can hit even against opposite-handed pitchers) and Andre Ethier & Hanley Ramirez being flipped since a righty is on the mound, Don Mattingly’s lineup tonight is the same as it was yesterday, and we shouldn’t expect that to change any time soon. We’ll see occasional starts for Matt Treanor & Adam Kennedy, but otherwise this is the group we’re going to see, and this is the order we’re going to see them in. Juan Uribe is never going to exist. A.J. Ellis is never going to bump Mark Ellis out of the #2 hole. Ethier is almost never going to sit against lefties. You can argue about whether this is good or bad, but it’s the truth, and figures to stay that way into September, when we get to figure out what to do with Dee Gordon.

Dodgers
Marlins
LF
Victorino
CF
Hernandez
2B
M.Ellis
LF
Ruggiano
CF
Kemp
SS
Reyes
RF
Ethier
1B
Lee
SS
Ramirez
RF
Stanton
1B
Loney
3B
Dobbs
3B
Hairston
2B
Green
C
A.Ellis
C
Buck
P
Blanton
P
Nolasco

 

472 comments
WBBsAs
WBBsAs like.author.displayName 1 Like

I've been giving Mattingly the benefit of the doubt, but that's changing as he simply refuses to make anything happen, apparently convinced that, if he waits patiently enough, the entire lineup will explode with three-run HRs. I'm frustrated with the bunts, but even more frustrated that he won't send runners and open up holes on the infield - Loney, for all his shortcomings, usually makes contact and would be the logical candidate for a hit-and-run.

Rhys
Rhys

I don't know, he did just hit and run with Kershaw and A.J.

WBBsAs
WBBsAs

Not that I could tell. Kershaw was swinging, but I didn't see AJ running. Even if it was, it's a far rarer occurrence that waiting for the GIDP.

WestonTaylor (Sarcasm abounds)
WestonTaylor (Sarcasm abounds)

Still trying to figure out how we let two bases-loaded innings go by without a single run scored against Ricky Nolaso. Jeez.

(VND)
(VND)

Don continues his decent.

Deuce
Deuce like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @VietnamDodger   I think you meant descent.  Because you don't think he's decent.

Guitar
Guitar like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @VietnamDodger Decent what?

But seriously, do you remember the incident weeks ago when Jansen blew the game by kicking dirt around the mound as the guy who was on third stole home? Don's reaction was basically, "yawn.... happens sometimes."

 

I like Don, but that reaction alarmed me. I didn't like it whatsoever. It was the first time I felt concerned about his management, and I think that the team is playing on that nonchalant feeling.

JohnM (MSTI Elitist/Hipster)
JohnM (MSTI Elitist/Hipster)

 @Guitar  @VietnamDodger I disagree. I think it's a sign that Don handles things internally and doesn't trash players in the press like our old manager.

WestonTaylor (Sarcasm abounds)
WestonTaylor (Sarcasm abounds) like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @JohnM  @Guitar  @VietnamDodger Also I think it's a sign that Donnie also realizes that, yeah, sometimes these fuck-ups do happen. One game shouldn't elicit an overreaction, although that's usually what everyone (including myself) is overly prone to from time-to-time. 

KirkDavenport
KirkDavenport like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

The Dodgers had a chance to significantly relieve their first base conundrum in June with Derrek Lee and passed  - this is criminal to maintain the current combo/thrombo Loney/Rivera mess when they had easy-peasy options and did not take them

 

http://mlbbuzz.yardbarker.com/blog/mlbbuzz/article/could_derrek_lee_help_dodgers/11119457?new_post=true

PuroPincheMongolianVodka!
PuroPincheMongolianVodka! like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @KirkDavenport Too busy trying to land Dempster, plus Rivera hits the occasional HR so he aint going anywhere.

KirkDavenport
KirkDavenport

 @DodgersKingsoftheGalaxy Together  the dynamic Dodger duo at 1st have hit 8 HR's and an OPS of .640 along with a litany of atrocious stats

Last year Derrek Lee hit 19 HR's in many fewer at bats than the duo and had an OPS of .771

Lee would not have been a long term solution, but could have manned the bag better while the Dodgers found or developed the right answer

Dang88
Dang88

I feel like this team doesn't look like 135 mill I hope we don't turn out to be the Red Sox

Deuce
Deuce like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @Dang88    $35 million of that is Loney, Rivera, Uribe, Lilly, and Guerrier.

Dang88
Dang88

@Deuce That pisses me off more thanks haha

Deuce
Deuce like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @Dang88  @Deuce   Sorry, I thought it would make you feel better.  Like we are only a $100 million team.  Haha!

efb
efb

Woot 2nd place!

Frank J Lapidus
Frank J Lapidus like.author.displayName 1 Like

Sands hit another hr tonight...too bad he isn't worth a look at 1B...

Frank J Lapidus
Frank J Lapidus

Puig not in the lineup tonight so lets get his promotion rumours started!

Frank J Lapidus
Frank J Lapidus like.author.displayName 1 Like

Pizza's out of the oven...time to feast and contemplate this latest loss, another game we should have won but didn't.  So many of them now, and that's just since the ASG

wilhud
wilhud like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 3 Like

Runs Created/27 innings by Dodgers in 2012...

 

Kemp 9.54

AJ Ellis 6.05

Ethier 5.74

M Ellis 4.96

Victorino 4.84

Hanley 4.68

Hairston 4.53

Abreu 4.10 

Cruz 3.95

Kennedy 3.92

Sellers 3.86

DeJesus 3.71

Herrera 3.70

Treanor 3.05 

Rivera 2.85 

Gordon 2.78 

Loney 2.69

Gwynn 2.45

Uribe 1.79

 

Why exactly are the Dodgers not interested in having Derrek Lee start to work into playing shape or grabbing Overbay or anybody with a pulse for that matter? This team needs offense, offense and more offense.

KirkDavenport
KirkDavenport like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @wilhud Hairston is just about at league average - you could start at the bottom of the list and get rid of each player (who has not already been moved) up to Hairaton and replace them with league average players and watch the offense improve. As we already know, that would be a task beyond the reach of Colletti, but you would think that a team with the resources now available could find some more available "average" players.

Frank J Lapidus
Frank J Lapidus

 @KirkDavenport  @wilhud primary damage is being done by the 1B position.  Maybe we shouldn't have been so happy to not get Carlos Lee

KirkDavenport
KirkDavenport

 @Frank J Lapidus  @wilhud Carlos would have been an improvement even with his missing power. His.382 OBP  and only 2 DIDP's  (with Miami) would have extended a few rallies instead of killing them as the current platoon now does.

MLB reports that the Yankees also tried to get him through a waiver trade, but he turned down that move - I guess there may be more to some players than a chance for the playoffs

Frank J Lapidus
Frank J Lapidus

 @wilhud anyone still use RC27?

wilhud
wilhud

 @Frank J Lapidus What would be a better stat for individual offensive run production? I'd be happy to look it up, I just don't know what the best/current metrics are. Can't imaging it would show much different a result in terms of Loney, Rivera, Uribe being some of the biggest offensive detriments to the team though.

Deuce
Deuce

 @KirkDavenport  @Mike Petriello  @wilhud  @Frank J Lapidus So basically the good offensive players are counterbalanced by many AB's from guys who are beyond horrible.  To make it worse, three of the four guys in the bottom 10 are making good money.  And worse yet, we are getting bottom 10 production from the easiest position in baseball to find offense.

KirkDavenport
KirkDavenport like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @Mike Petriello  @wilhud  @Frank J Lapidus Whatever series of stats anyone wants to use, Fangraps, WAR, RC, Bill James and any perrmutation thereof, Uribe, Loney, Rivera and Gordon come in at the bottom 10 or so  of all  the players in both leagues. .

The Dodgers give away any chance to succeed by playing them. Obviously, the decision was taken away from them with Gordon and they are sticking their heads in the sand with Uribe . Has it all come down to just sitting on their butts until they can call up a bunch of minor leaguers in Sept., Playing minor leaguers should be the means to help determine their future value, but for the Dodgers playing the minor leaguers may be their only chance to make it to the playoffs

wilhud
wilhud

meant to type /27 ABs...my bad

Guitar
Guitar like.author.displayName 1 Like

Loney now stands only with J.D. Martinez for the NL lead for GIDP's....

Martinez has almost 60 more AB's, though.

God almighty....

wilhud
wilhud

lmao, what was that?

Guitar
Guitar

yet another s----ty day to be a Dodger fan