Dodgers 4, Cardinals 1
The Dodgers don't win here very often, but Clayton Kershaw was too good not to win. He finally gave up a run in the fifth, snapping a string of 16 consecutive scoreless innings. But other than that and the four harmless walks he issued to three very dangerous hitters -- Pujols, Ludwick and Glaus -- Kershaw dominated, holding the Cardinals to three hits over seven innings. Hong-Chih Kuo retired the Cardinals in order in the eighth, and Jonathan Broxton got through a shaky ninth that could mostly be chalked up to inactivity -- it was his first appearance in six days. ... It was a bad day for ManRam. For the first time since the trade, he failed to get at least two hits. All he did was hit a measly little home run, his fourth for the Dodgers, a no-doubter in the third inning that put the Dodgers up 3-0. ... Jeff Kent was 3 for 4 with a double and two runs scored hitting in front of Manny. Look for him there again tomorrow night. Torre said he is moving Russell Martin to a different spot in the order, but he hasn't made up his mind which one. ... Dodgers go to 57-57. Snakes play late.
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About Inside the Dodgers
Tony Jackson has covered the Dodgers for
the Daily News since 2004 and has covered Major League Baseball on a
regular basis since 1995. He previously covered the Colorado Rockies
and Cincinnati Reds. He is a native of Springdale, Ark., and a graduate
of the University of Arkansas.
Kent should always bat in front of Manny...he needs the protection. Russell can bat 2nd when JP isn't playing or 6th when he is.
Once Nomar is back this will be a very solid lineup offensively. When we have the lead we can bring in Ozuna and Berroa to shore up the defense in the middle.
Any further rumors about Maddox? What about AJ going to minors?
curious that jones came in CF and kent was replaced at 2b, but manny was still out there in left field. is his defense at least average, or did torre not want to disrespect him?
http://tinyurl.com/6k62me
From Jeff Kent:
"You look at Matt [Kemp], he's swinging the bat well after being an easy out at the beginning of the year.
OBP thru 4/30:
Kemp: .348
Kent: .318
OBP in May:
Kemp: .360
Kent: .247
So when was Matt an easy out Jeff? And if he was an easy out, what did that make you?
Oh, and this one:
"And Russell [Martin] is holding his own and done a good job. Everybody has gained some experience and that's what you hope will happen as you get close to the end of the season."
I think Martin has more than held his own and done more than a "good" job.
Any news on ethier being sold to the Nippon Ham Fighters?
Manny now has more home runs for the Dodgers than Andruw Jones.
But Andruw still leads Manny in knee surgeries.
We are witnessing the emergence of a new superstar named Kershaw. He's added another pitch to the overhand fastball and curveball that marked him for greatness. This new pitch will make him a superstar if he can command all three. The new 87-90 mph pitch that Kershaw was sporting the other day is being called his change up on another board by one who has watched Clayton pitch throughout his minor league career.. If that’s Clayton’s changeup, it’s certainly a dandy. It almost looks like a Fernando Valunzuela screwball, but it comes in too fast for that.
I thought it was a cutter because of the speed and late break. But it almost has too much break to be a cutter if you know what I mean. This pitch looks like a fastball and then snaps down and in to a left hander. Ther\fe's no roll or bend to it--just a true 24 inch snap down and in.
Bills throws exactly the same pitch and Vin called it a cutter. But then Vin isn’t always right up to snuff on each pitch like he used to be. Old age catches up with us all.
The homers that do our away games (who are those guys anyway? They make the Frisco sportscasters sound good) said the pitch was a cutter he’d apparently just developed to add to his arsenal. He did throw one other pitch that was straight as an arrow right down the heart of the plate and registered 84 on the gun that had Kershaw shaking his head and brought a look of complete frustration to the hitter who “missed it.”
I assumed that horrible pitch was his change up because I’ve seen it before in other games of his–but never more than once per game and Clayton himself said he only threw the change up about once a game a week or so ago. The main reason he was sent back to the minors the last time was to work on that changeup--coordinating his arm speed with the proper release point and grip. That might be the hardest thing for a pitcher to do.
In any event, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, right? Whether you call it a cutter with screwball like movement or one of Gagne’s old fabulous 90 mph changeups–it’s a great pitch, has great late change up type movement (maybe better) and is 4-8 mph slower than his four seamer which has late movement the other direction if only a little 4 inch “hop”.
Kershaw’s 4 seamer hops and can rise like a Koufax fastball. That 87-90 mph pitch is unhittable when mixed with the overhand curve and the 4 seam express. By any other name, it’s the same pitch that made Bills an Ace this last year.
"Kent should always bat in front of Manny...he needs the protection."
I never understood why convention is that protection works. Yes, batting in front of Manny reduces the number of times a hitter is "pitched around", but if a pitcher doesn't want a batter on in front of Manny, doesn't the pitcher tried to get the guy out the same way he would in any other situation? In other words, if you're the guy in front of Manny, I'm throwing you some tough stuff to try and get you out, not grooving fastballs into the zone hoping you'll hit yourself into an out.
Not that I know anything.
Here's what the line-up should be without Nomar:
Ethier RF
Martin C
Kemp CF
Kent 2B
ManRam LF
Loney 1B
Blake 3B
Berroa SS
With Nomar:
Ethier RF
Martin C
Kemp CF
Ramirez LF
Loney 1B
Garciaparra SS
Blake 3B
Kent 2B
It's all about setting the table...Martin & Ethier are proven contact hitters and Kemp should be the worthy recipient of the benefits of hitting in front of Manny...Kent can bat "double clean up" in this, his last campaign with the Blue...how's Tony Abreu doing?
Protection has more to do with the protector than the protectee. Of course you always want to get someone out but if the guy hitting behind you sucks...you're less likely to get good pitches to hit since he can "pitch around" you. Intentional walks happen often.
Since Manny can hit anything, Kent or the person if front will always get good pitches to hit, usually fastballs. That's why it was a bit shocking that Russell did not do better.
Ethier leading off? I think he's a little too slow.
Furcal/Pierre/Kemp/Martin - lead off hitters.
I personally would like to see Jones batting in front of Manny, just for the series against the Giants. This would give Jones some protection and a chance to get some good pitches, once he gets his stride back we can put him right behind Manny.
ManRam - see, I don't agree that your second paragraph follows from the first. If Manny is hitting behind you, I (the pitcher) am doing my darndest TO GET YOU OUT, and that is definitely NOT by throwing you "good pitches to hit". I'm throwing you my nastiest stuff.
Mario DiLeo - batting Manny FIFTH is insane. IMO, the far and way #1 qualification is high OBP - so I like Martin best there, Kemp as the #2 choice. The most important thing though is that you have chosen the right eight starters - Torre can't even manage to do that.