There is always next year....

The ship is sinking, fingers are being pointed and the manager is being criticized for his lineups. Wow I never thought this is how the season would end, but it has. The clubhouse meeting that was held last night is probably 1-2 weeks late. I equate this to your relationship, when you get the call "we need to talk", you know it was coming and could of and should have been more proactive. These frustrations have been building for the last 2-3 weeks and Grady, Jeff Kent and the veterans should have had the foresight to communicate and to head this off. Losing brings out the worst in everyone. Leadership is daily and ongoing not when it is convenient to blast your teammates.

There has been numerous issues, playing Gonzo everyday, yes he hit 2 home runs in the last week, but i have not seen so many weak groundballs to the pitcher and second baseman. Now that he has his 2500 hits, BENCH him. Who cares if he whines. Play Ethier and Kemp, Laroche, Hu, and Young. Kemp, yes he does lack some baseball instincts, but you cannot teach the explosiveness in his bat and on the bases.

Ned, please get a vision and stay with it. Last year when you brought Lofton and Nomar in for 1 year it made sense. I feel that you panicked with Pierre, I love his heart and desire but 4 more years of weak grond balls and bunts will drive me nuts. Not to mention a single to either to the left or right of him is an automatic double. The other teams salivate when a ball is hit to him. The smarter move would to have sign lofton one more year and wait for Andruw Jones or Torii Hunter. Nine million for Pierre and Loaiza, that is one of those other guys salary.

Speaking of Loaiza, 6 years of era over 5.00...is this a trend or an aberration. I say a trend. An 85-87 fastball. He is not Greg Maddux. Speaking of Maddux, 2 years at 20 mil or Schmidt at 52 mil? This is not hindsight, I felt this way when the Pierre/Schmidt signings happened, I just did not blog then. In my job making these type of crucial signings and decisions and not panning out, my owner would question my ability to make decisions. I would say I would not have a job. A rotation of Penny, Lowe, Billingsley, Loaiza, and Schmidt, Scary. Billingsley I hope becomes our Ace. Penny is solid but his pitch count and the way he falters in the second half year after year is a number 2-3 starter. Lowe is the same. Loiaza I am going on record if he makes 25 starts he will be 6-13 with a 4.75 or worse. Tomko was the same, why do we continue to run these guys out there. I would rather have Stults or Houlton. Young arms that have upside as oppose to vets that have continually shown they cannot do the job. I just hope Elberts and Kershaw develop and are ready by June 2008.

I loved the update on dodgers.com that Broxtons arm was tender and Grady made reference that it happens this time of year. Yes it does when you run a guy out there 10 out of 14 days. Seanez, Broxton and Proctor is that all he knows. Meloan did not pitch in 2 weeks, Stults, Hull, run them out there and let them figure it out everyone once in a while. Broxton ran out of gas and it is Gradys fault. Why have him pitch down by 3 for the third day in a row.

As for next year what do we do at third base. Nomar, if his bat speed does not come back, cannot be run out there everyday, 10 mil or not. Laroche is he the next Paul Konerko. A couple of brief tries and ship him to Cincy for Jeff Shaw. How did that work out Tommy? No I am not bitter. Put Laroche out there and let him play, it worked with the Padres with Kouz. He hit .107 as late as the 1st week of May, but a patient manager never lost faith and he has hit .300 since with power. Kent does he come back, he is old faithful and his passion is unquestioned, but take the young guys and teach them how to play the game.

Where do we find the power bat. Martin will continue to develop 15-20 homers, Loney has shown that he can hit for power. I feel that he will hit 20-25, Kemp if he continues to develop and is allowed to play is 25 plus. I feel the Dodgers may use Ethier as trade bait, but he can hit. He uses the whole field, and will be a .300 hitter 17-22 homers and 80-100 rbi if he plays everyday. It will be interesting to see who is available on the trade market and free agency. Unless the Dodgers move Pierre to left and sign Hunter (chrismas wish) or if they bite the bullet pay most of Pierre's salary and ship him off (christmas wish), I am at a loss as to where they will improve. It has to be the kids. It worked out well in Arizona.

Ned you have to produce and now.