Cardinals 2, Dodgers 1
This is one that may haunt the Dodgers for a long time. Before this season, it would have seemed preposterous to pitch around Delwyn Young to get to Andruw Jones with the game on the line in the bottom of the ninth. But now, the only thing preposterous was the fact Joe Torre sent Jones to the plate with the game on the line, whereupon Jones surprised absolutely no one (except maybe Torre) by striking out to end the game with the tying run on third base. This was Jones' first plate appearance since Sunday, when he struck out three times in four at-bats against the Angels, and he has been utterly lost at the plate all season. He is now hitless in his past eight at-bats, with five strikeouts. ... Anyhoo, that was one of nine hitless at-bats w/RISP for the boys tonight in what became a one-run loss. Sounds a little glaring, don't you think? ... Dodgers fall to 25-22 and drop 3 1/2 behind the Snakes.
Tony, I absolutely agree with you. Luis Maza would have been a better choice to hit in that situation. At least he wouldn't have had any illusions about hitting the long ball, and likely would have at least made contact.
Jones seemed absolutely clueless. Hasn't he been playing long enough to know that all that was required in that situation was a base hit? Instead of trying to make contact and hit the ball up to the middle or to right field, the mentally challenged Jones was trying to hit the ball out of the park. Either Torre was hoping to give Jones a confidence builder (didn't work), or he too is mentally challenged. Was anyone surprised that the last pitch was a breaking ball low and away?
Jones is 1 for 33 with RISP this season... one hit all season with RISP, and Ned Colletti still has a job. Disgraceful!
Schmidt $15 mm, Jones $18mm andnow will probably eat Loaiza $9mm that is a lot of non-productive renue=$42mm