Marlins 7, Dodgers 6
Crazy day here, sorry it took me so long to post. Other than Tommy's return to managing -- which didn't make it past the second inning before he came out to argue a call, eliciting the biggest cheer of the day from the crowd -- the biggest thing that happened today was that Rafael Furcal went 3 for 4 with two singles, a triple, two runs scored and two RBI. But the second biggest thing that happened was that Blake DeWitt, who was promoted to big-league camp after LaRoche and Nomar got hurt, went 2 for 3 with a double, a HR and a walk. He is now 3 for 10 in the Grapefruit League. Hong-Chih Kuo pitched a perfect inning, striking out two. Dodgers blew a 5-3 lead in a four-run Marlins seventh in which a key play was an infield single by Hanley Ramirez. The ball was a little tapper to the right of the mound, but when the ever-expanding Yhency Brazoban went to get it, he couldn't bend over to pick it up, and it trickled past him. Honeycutt said after the game that Brazo is working hard to get his weight down, doing a lot of cardio and stuff like that. But it's conceivable that an inability to field his position could cost him a spot on the team. ... Dodgers fall to 6-7-1. Home against the Nats 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
I just returned home from spring training. But while in Vero I took note that Brazoban still had his considerable paunch. He's been rehabbing for a year since his surgery. Forget, Brazoban himself, but didn't anyone else consider a training regimen that took into account his total physical condition. Now is not the time for him to begin thinking about getting his weight down. That should have been addressed months ago. As far as I'm concerned, the blame belongs to the Dodgers' training staff which should have designed the aforementioned training regimen. It's inexcusable.
This also brings to mind Tony Abreu's abdominal discomfort this spring. He had surgery last October, and unless his current symptons are the result of something that was missed during the surgery, I would think that the surgery would no longer be an issue, unless his post surgical rehab program was less than adequate.
Posted by: Brooklyn Dodger | March 11, 2008 5:02 PM
6700+ at the game every Marlin signed autographs going to club house .Not one dodger stopped to sign ..might be the last year but a minute or so wouldn't have hurt
Posted by: joanrich | March 11, 2008 6:56 PM
Joan, weren't a lot of people leaving after the game to go to China? Maybe they were a little distracted and rushed today. Too bad - I heard better things about their approachability at other games this spring...
Posted by: Craig Phillips
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March 11, 2008 7:57 PM
Tommy wouldn't be Tommy without drawing attention to himself.
I hope Benoit Brazoban starts taking conditioning seriously so he can maximize his potential.
It's early in ST and you have to give veterans not fighting for a job the benefit of the doubt, but concerns about off-season training (or the lack thereof) may be more of a reason than the big salary that there's a (really) big spotlight on Andruw Jones. I hope he realizes that for the gifted players there comes a time, usually in the early 30s, where he can't get by on sheer talent alone and hard work - year round - is also required.
Posted by: El Lay Dave
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March 11, 2008 8:22 PM
Joan, just to clarify, a lot of the Dodgers will take their equipment back to the clubhouse, THEN go back to the field and sign for the fans along the RF line. That way, they don't have to keep track of their bats and gloves while they're signing. I think a lot of fans give up after watching them run off the field the first time and don't realize they're coming back
Posted by: tony jackson | March 12, 2008 6:47 AM