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May 30, 2006
Best for all parties
So the deadline for signing Luke Hochevar passed at midnight last night, while barely anyone noticed. The Dodgers are holding several pre-draft meetings this week with their scouting staff, and from what I have been told, Hochevar isn't even a topic of discussion anymore.
My opinion, this parting of the ways is best for both parties. Dodgers officials were questioning the kid's makeup and his character after he did a 180 on his agents last Labor Day weekend, agreed to a $2.98 million signing bonus, then made that 180 a 360, went back to Scott Boras and reneged on the deal without signing it. And from all indications, Hochevar will get the $4 million he is seeking in this year's draft from some team.
This is the end of a sad saga, but the biggest fear anyone had was that this kid was going to be the next Matt Harrington, a player whose greed ultimately would prevent his professional baseball career from ever happening. But now, it doesn't look like that's going to happen.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers get to roll a large chunk of that $2.98 million Hochevar didn't take into this year's draft, when they'll definitely need it. They have three of the first 31 picks.
The draft begins next Tuesday.
Posted by Tony Jackson at 06:01 PM | Comments (416)
May 29, 2006
HOT-lanta
Not terribly surprising that the Dodgers busted out for seven runs in the first two innings today.
Even though they got pounded 10-4 two different times in Washington, what I found encouraging was that for the most part, they continued to take good at-bats even late in those games when it was clear the outcome was no longer in doubt.
Granted, today's explosion wasn't as much about offense as it was about luck -- the Dodgers got a lot of fortunate bounces and took advantage of three Braves erors in the first inning -- but lucky things tend to happen to good teams.
Penny has the advantage now of just throwing strikes with a seven-run lead. But he's a big guy, and it's a suffocatingly hot, humid day here, and this game is moving along at an agonizing pace, so don't be surprised of Grady gets him out of there after six innings or so.
Posted by Tony Jackson at 11:08 AM | Comments (0)
May 26, 2006
This is one bad yard
One of my favorite things about covering baseball is seeing all the different ballparks. Or at least that was one of my favorite things until I came here to RFK Stadium for the first time last year ...
And I use the word "ballpark" very loosely. This place needs to be replaced, and it will be, as ground was recently broken for a new park next to the nearby Anacostia River. They say it will open by 2008, but a Nationals source told me today that in reality, their best hope is probably that year's All-Star break.
This place, besides being really old, is also really ugly, really ugly and really outdated. And the press box is so bad that you can't really see the game from the second row (where the visiting writers sit), so I find myself watching most of it on the numerous television monitors that hang from the ceiling.
There also is a veritable cornucopia of smells, depending on what part of the park you're in.
Sportswriters are notorious complainers, and I realize that's probably what I sound like with this particular blog. But in all honesty, the place just reeks. Until I came here, the worst major-league park I had ever been in was old County Stadium in Milwaukee, which no longer exists. But this one is far, far worse.
Posted by Tony Jackson at 05:07 PM | Comments (3)
May 23, 2006
team is for real
So, the Dodgers just won their season-high sixth in a row, 8-1 over the vastly improved Rockies, and have taken four of five thus far in the season series from what I believe are the two best teams in the NL West (even though they both still trail Arizona in the standings).
I must admit, this team looks pretty strong right now. The scariest part is they are doing it with SIX rookies playing a prominent role, including three relievers and three everyday players. Andre Ethier is hitting .450 (9 for 20) on the homestand, Willy Aybar entered the night with a .514 on-base percentage (it dropped to .487), and Russell Martin went 2 for 4 to push his average to .309.
While in a selfish way, I'm not terribly thrilled that all this is coinciding with the Clippers being eliminated and the fact the press box is going to get a lot more crowded in the weeks to come, I will say that even though we beat writers are supposed to stay impartial, it's sure a lot more fun covering a good team than a bad one. And last year was no fun at all.
The starting rotation has been awesome of late, even fifth man Jae Seo, who has given up two runs (one earned) over 13 innings in his past two starts. And don't forget Nomar Garciaparra, who went 2 for 5 with a double and an RBI, raising his average to .370.
How about this statistic: Over the past 11 games, Garciaparra is batting .833 (10 for 12) from the seventh inning on.
Enjoy it for as long as it lasts. It might last all season.
Tony
Posted by Tony Jackson at 10:48 PM | Comments (2)
May 15, 2006
coors light
This place isn't nearly as crazy as it was when I was working here from 1995-2000. I think it's because the Rockies pitchers have learned to stay focused and not let the craziness affect them as much. Thus, they have pitched better, which in turn has cut down on the beer-league softball scores. But there is one thing that hasn't changed.
Games played in early twilight here (and for some reason, they are starting at 6:35 local time this year) create havoc for the first baseman taking throws from third and short. The middle and upper decks extend only to deep left field, leaving nothing behind the lower concourse in the leftfield corner except the setting sun. That's what appeared to happen on Olmedo Saenz's throwing error in the first inning. Although the throw was wide, I believe Nomar could have reached and snared it had the sun not gotten in his eyes. At any rate, it cost the Dodgers an unearned run.
Posted by Tony Jackson at 06:43 PM | Comments (2)
May 10, 2006
five-game winning streak ...
... on the heels of a five-game losing streak, getting the Dodgers back to the .500 mark for the first time in 11 days. For now, everything seems to be looking up. Well, everything except this very shaky bullpen.
Tomko has now thrown 14 consecutive scoreless innings, including shutting out the Astros on one hit over six tonight. The one hit intially was ruled an error before Don Hartack, one of the best official scorers in the business, changed his mind on a call that could have gone either way.
Nomar continues to sizzle, going 2 for 2 with a double and a home run, and is now 10 for his past 21, with five of those hits for extra bases, and Kent finally is getting on track. In five games since Grady gave him the day off, he is 8 for 15 with two doubles, two homers and nine RBI.
But something has to be done about this bullpen. Tomko was lifted after six innings and 104 pitches, after which Tim Hamulack and Franquelis Osoria combined to turn a 9-0 lead into 9-6 before Danys Baez came on to convert a save opportunity that never should have arisen.
Chance to complete a second series sweep in a row tomorrow, in what figures to be a great pitching matchup between Derek Lowe and Wandy Rodriguez.
Posted by Tony Jackson at 10:12 PM | Comments (3)
May 05, 2006
Doug Padilla: Finally seeing double
It took 115 at-bats this season for Vladimir Guerrero to finally connect on his first double of the season, a rather curious statistical anomaly. Guerrero had an RBI double to right field off Blue Jays starter Gustavo Chacin in the sixth inning Friday. It isn't like Guerrero has suffered from a lack of power. He has a team-leading eight home runs, including a ball he absolutely crushed over the wall Thursday at Detroit. After the Detroit home run, manager Mike Scioscia was asked about Guerrero's double drought. "He could have chopped that home run into four doubles," Scioscia said.
Posted by Doug Padilla at 06:56 PM | Comments (1)