Nomar to DL
But let's get this out of the way first: the free cookie gag is over. Jeff Kent approached me during batting practice and extended the olive branch. It was a classy move on his part. I appreciated it and thanked him for it. So from now on, I will eat my free cookies in silence (last reference, I promise). ... Nomar apparently has been battling a left calf injury, which they are calling a strain, for several days. It wasn't getting any better, so they shelved him and brought up Eric Hull to be their 12th pitcher, although the guess here is that Hull will go back on Friday to make room for Stults so he can pitch that night. ... I haven't fact-checked this, but Grady said the Dodgers are now 4 for their last 27 w/RISP. He moved Pierre back to the two hole tonight and pushed Martin back to sixth. Oh, and Hillenbrand will get most of the snaps at third while Nomar is out.
SS Furcal
CF Pierre
RF Kemp
2B Kent
1B Loney
C Martin
LF Ethier
3B Hillenbrand
RH Tomko
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.
Comments
Another lineup which will send fear into the pitchers eyes...the Dodgers pitchers eyes.
Posted by: BaseballSavvy.com
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August 14, 2007 5:31 PM
It wasn't long ago some of us would have killed for lineup with Kemp, Kent, Loney, Martin, Ethier all in a row. This lineup is not that bad, notwithstanding the usual suspect and the nearly worthless Hillenbrand.
The other day Brooklyn Dodger said Shea was a good hitter - Shea's career numbers (and he's below them the last two seasons):
.285, .322, .441, 97 OPS+.
That's below average in everything except BA.
2006: .277 .313 .451 93
2007: .251 .272 .322 60
His career high in walks is 26 (26!)
Posted by: El Lay Dave
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August 14, 2007 5:38 PM
Tony, just how long is "several days" for Nomar's strained calf? Josh Rawitch wrote "for a while". Does this go back to before the 7/31 trading deadline?
Posted by: El Lay Dave
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August 14, 2007 5:43 PM
Dig this. Byung-Hyun Kim gave up four runs in his 1/3 inning start for Arizona tonight. You could see this one coming, couldn't you. Now the DBacks have their own version of Mark Hendrickson, only they did it intentionally. Wow.
Posted by: BaseballSavvy.com
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August 14, 2007 5:50 PM
would they have brought up Laroche had he not been injured? he certainly deserves it.
Posted by: rayg
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August 14, 2007 6:23 PM
EL Lay Dave,
Now what did I really say?
I said Hillendbrand has been a good hitter, but never suggested that he was anything more than a "spare part". I see him as a viable replacement for the withering Olmedo (five years Hillenbrand's senior), not as a lynchpin of the Dodger lineup. I also said "I'm willing to wait and see." Not a ringing endorsement, nor a condemnation.
A .285 lifetime hitter, with legitimately reasonable power, can be a valuable member of any teams bench. Sure, a .322 OBP isn't all that impressive. But then again, in the last three years Nomar has had OBP's of .320 (2005), .367 (2006), and .326 (2007). And the .367 is probably an aberration, given the fall-off since his hot first half of last year. As for Nomar's career stats, they are irrelevant, since he is no longer that player.
Bench players, spare parts, whatever you want to call them, are generally not stars. That's why they're on the bench.
If a better alternative is available, I'm all for it. That being said, Shea Hillenbrand is good enough to be considered in the mix.
Posted by: Brooklyn Dodger
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August 14, 2007 6:29 PM
Interestingly, Matt Kemp, career:
.281 .320 .464 99
Of course his potential is a little high than Hillenbrand's.
Point taken, Brooklyn Dodger. I think Shea Hillenbrand garners my negative reaction partly for what he symbolizes - straw grasping in desparation - and partly for the negative publicity from his seemingly childish behavior in fairly well-publicized incidents. (Besides, Angel castoffs, yuck!)
Let's face it, if LaRoche were healthy, he'd be up instead; Ned even said LaRoche had nearly broken the door down.
Posted by: El Lay Dave
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August 14, 2007 6:38 PM
Another great outing for James McDonald tonight: 6 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 9 Ks
He now has 48 Ks in 38 2/3 IP, with a 1.40 ERA. Now that's impressive.
Posted by: Marcel
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August 14, 2007 7:41 PM
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