Tommy's first pep talk
A source just came out of the clubhouse and said Tommy just gave one of his Patton-esque pregame speeches to the team about what it takes to win. Thankfully, I'm told it WASN'T in response to yesterday's loss, although Tommy has made it very clear in his media sessions thus far that it's important to actually win these monotonous, interminable Grapefruit League games.
``I stress it a great deal, because they better start preparing themselves to win,'' Lasorda said. ``They have to start getting that winning attitude now.''
He said that yesterday, before the loss. That winning attitude had better start soon, because this team is a game below .500 (6-7-1) for the spring. Or is that TWO games below .500, because there are two more games that weren't wins than games that were wins? I have never figured out how ties play into that equation.
In fairness to Tommy, though, Joe Torre also said a few days ago that it's important to win, especially when you have as many young players as the Dodgers have, because it's a confidence builder. ... Gotta run. Almost time for Tommy's pregame presser.
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
LaSorda, Grits, Torre.....meh!
All managers suck. One day they'll get rid of them all together.
Posted by: joeyp of dodgerthoughts | March 12, 2008 8:03 AM
Tommy -- my man!
Love that .... BIG GUY!
Posted by: Sobrino Favorito
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March 12, 2008 10:07 AM
Greg Jones ruined Billingsley's good start.
Posted by: silverwidow | March 12, 2008 11:34 AM
Gosh, yet another fence-clearing drive from our fourth-outfielder. Is there nothing that man can't do? Besides, y'know, bunt for a very occasional base hit and fail to take a walk...
Posted by: John Shade | March 12, 2008 12:40 PM
John, Pierre's speed is more important to this team than Ethier's power. Or so I've heard.
Posted by: silverwidow | March 12, 2008 12:43 PM
Ethier's arm will save more runs than Pierre's feet will help score for the Dodgers.
Posted by: Michael in Sactown | March 12, 2008 1:01 PM
I wish someone would just plain admit that Pierre will start over Ethier BECAUSE OF HIS CONTRACT. Because there is precisely zero comparison with regard to their skill sets.
Posted by: silverwidow | March 12, 2008 1:11 PM
You're close, Silverwidow. It is Colletti's pride that will keep Ethier on the bench and Pierre in the lineup. He already has a huge dose of egg on his face for the Schmidt signing (his Darren Dreifort) and doesn't need to have Pierre go the way of Devon White. To that end, Slappy will play and disappoint, while a better player will be wasted on the bench. Looks like that is the Dodger Way during the McCourt Era.
The only good thing about this is that if the Blue do struggle, Logan White can get ready to occupy Colletti's office in short order. So, playing Slappy might work out in the long run.
Posted by: chris torgrimsson | March 12, 2008 1:51 PM
Pierre's contract plays a part of this but I seriously think old school mentality and Pierre's personality plays a large part in this.
After all, many beat writers (including our host, Mr. Jackson) refuse to admit, despite clear hard evidence, that Ethier is the right choice between the two. Writers don't pay Pierre's salary. They stick up for Pierre the same as old school baseball managers, coaches, and Mr. Colletti because Pierre is a hustler, a nice guy, the first to the club house, and has a skill set that for years was written as the prime attributes for a top of the order hitter.
Maybe Pierre compliments the writer's awful ties (do they even wear ties these days?). Maybe he's like the guy in every office who is the first one to work and starts the coffee pot. Everyone else arrives and there is fresh coffee so they all view that guy as irreplaceable even though he isn’t really all that good at his actual job.
Posted by: ThurmanMunsonFlightSchool | March 12, 2008 2:24 PM
This is what is really confusing me about the Slappy love of some of the local writers - it appears that Ethier worked on his game, his throws are better, his reads and routes are better and he is driving the ball better than last spring. On the other hand, Slappy's game hasn't improved in five years and it doesn't even look like he has ever tried to improve his routes, reads or throwing arm.
It is one thing to work hard and be the first in the weight room, but if the basics of your game stay stagnant, wouldn't working on the aspects of your game that need improvement make more sense than pounding the weights?
It worked for Brad Hawpe and it is obviously working for Andre Ethier, so is Slappy above improving his game or just oblivious to his shortcomings?
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