Dodgers 7, Orioles 4
Andruw Jones broke a 4-4 tie with a two-run homer in the eighth inning off Jon Leicester. Chan Ho Park pitched three perfect innings for the Dodgers and now has seven shutout innings for the spring, during which he has allowed a total of two hits. That would seem to put Park smack in the middle of the race for the fifth starter's spot. Eric Stults, a fringe candidate for the role, struggled, allowing two runs on a hit and four walks over 1 2/3 in relief of Park. Both pitchers will go to China, but Esteban Loaiza remains the odds-on favorite to win the job. George Lombard, a non-roster outfielder with little chance of making the club, had an RBI triple in his only at-bat and now is hitting .615 (8 for 13) for the spring with a triple, 2 HRs and four RBI. Dodgers go to 6-6-1 for the spring. Versus the Marlins tomorrow.
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
Tony, how would you rank the 5th starter job at this point? Is Kuo viable?
Posted by: EastCoastBlue | March 10, 2008 1:52 PM
Another game for Pierre to write home about. So, tell me, Tony, what is it about Pierre that has you and Plaschke all giddy?
At what point does Colletti's pride take a big hit and he realizes that Pierre was the biggest mistake he ever made? April? June? Ever?
Even closet fools like Jon Heyman can see that Ethier is the better player, why not you, Plaschke and Colletti?
Posted by: chris torgrimsson | March 10, 2008 4:10 PM
Tony-love the blog and all, but I have to agree with Chris on Pierre. Ethier is a better hitter, a better fielder, and a much stronger arm. His outfield defense, instead of Pierre's mediocre OF defense, could result in a few more wins for the boys this season....maybe just enough to win the division.
Pierre's only asset is his speed....and we have enough speed with Furcal, Kemp and Martin.
Ethier is having a good spring, while Pierre must be feeling the pressure as he only has had one good game this spring, with a horrendous OPS.
I drank the Pierre koolaid last year, and watched him hit weak one hoppers to end threats, and watched baserunner after baserunner take an extra base on his weak arm.
It's time for Ned to swallow the pride, and make a smart move. Two wrongs do not make a right. He was wrong for signing Pierre, and he is wrong for starting him over Ethier.
Let's hope Joe has seen enough of Pierre. McCourt wants to win. This is the first step.
Posted by: rayg | March 10, 2008 6:40 PM