Ask and you shall receive
Tonight's lineups, for those who asked
Boston
Lugo SS
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Lowell 3B
Youkilis 1B
Crisp CF
Ellsbury RF
Kielty LF
Cash C
Dodgers
Furcal SS
Martin C
Ethier LF
Kent 2B
Jones CF
Loney 1B
Kemp RF
Pierre DH
DeWitt 3B
Interesting they DH Pierre in a ballpark where he might actually be able to throw the ball from LF to home plate. As for Kershaw, I didn't get your request until after I was done downstairs, and I can't find any documentation stating that he IS going to pitch behind Loaiza tomorrow, but I do think it's a safe bet. He hasn't pitched since Tuesday, and he needs at least a couple of innings because J-ville doesn't open its season until Thursday against West Tennessee. ... By the way, it LOOKS like Ramon Troncoso is going to get the last spot in the bullpen. He is having a GREAT spring. He also already has a 40-man spot, and those are in short supply right now. It's a wing and a prayer given that his 35 appearances at J-ville are his ONLY experience at anything higher than Single-A. But he's a sinkerball, groundball pitcher who gave up seven home runs in 215 1/3 minor-league innings. ... Speaking of guys with very little experience above Single-A, Torre also but said in his pregame media session today that Blake DeWitt will be the opening-day 3B. He is waiting until the moment rosters have to be set (noon tomorrow) to make it official just in case something unforeseen (trade for a 3B) happens. But for now, that's the way they plan to go. ... Jill Painter will be blogging in-game tonight. That's all for me until later.
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
Thanks, Tony.
Posted by: the captain | March 29, 2008 5:39 PM
ok Tony. If you think its a safe bet Kershaw pitches sunday then I am buying tickets for the game right now. You can't be wrong on all your bets. ; )
Posted by: brendan | March 29, 2008 5:51 PM
I sure hope Kershaw pitches tomorrow. I will be about 10 rows back right behind home plate!!
Posted by: trapper9 | March 29, 2008 6:13 PM
Thanks Tony. I think it's interesting that Pierre is the DH, period. lol
Posted by: chuck | March 29, 2008 6:26 PM
If Troncoso were to get a spot in the Dodger bullpen, it would indicate to me that the Dodgers were going to carry 12 pitchers. Given the number of days off early in the season, that's not something I would expect. As I see it, the Dodgers pitching staff shapes up as follows:
Starters - Penny, Lowe, Billingsley, Kuroda, Loaiza
Bullpen - Saito, Broxton, Proctor, Beimel, Kuo (second lefthander and out of options), and Park.
That's 5 starters and 6 relievers. Adding Troncoso to the bullpen w/o subtracting anyone else, makes for 12 pitchers.
Am I missing something?
I see Troncoso as being in the mix to replace someone later in the season due to injury, poor performance, a trade, etc., much like Kershaw, McDonald and others are in that mix.
Posted by: Brooklyn Dodger | March 29, 2008 6:29 PM
Batting Pierre 8th doesn't make a lot of sense to me(of course batting him at all doesn't either)...but doesn't it make more sense to hit him last...and use his speed, if he happens to get on??
Posted by: chuck | March 29, 2008 7:21 PM