September 29th, 2007 by Top Dawg
Much like the Dodgers, I’ve taken a few days away from the team. It really disgust me the way they are playing with no heart, desire, and passion. I plan on later posts I plan on breaking the team down position by position, looking at the playoff contenders and what they have that the Dodgers don’t, upcoming free agents, trades, etc…
September 27th, 2007 by Top Dawg
With the Dodger clubhouse in chaos it’s the manager who needs too smooth out the edges. Grady has obviously failed at this job. The lack of chemistry really showed in the second half of the season with the Dodgers going 31-38 over that span. With the Dodgers strong 1-9 showing during their last 10 games it shows a lack of respect for the manager, the game and themseleves. Can the Dodgers come back in 2008 with the same clubhouse? No. Jeff Kent will have to be moved and Grady Little needs to be let go.
September 23rd, 2007 by Top Dawg
Dodgers GM Ned Colletti has hit an incredibly bad streak. I like Ned because he’s aggressive and doesn’t believe in standing pat, but WOW. Last years FA signings were among the worst in baseball: Luis Gonzalez (1 year 7mil), Juan Pierre (5 yr 44mil, 5 freaking years!), Jason Schmidt (3 yr 47 mil), and Mike Lieberthal (1 yr + option). Last years crop of FA’s wasn’t great and Colletti did potentially fill the holes that the Dodgers had until the wheels fell off in spring training with the injury to Schmidt. Juan Pierre didn’t live up to expectations, he’s not good defensively and is a slap hitter that can’t get on base. Luis Gonzalez he’s 40 and it shows. Team Gonzalez’s arm with Pierre’s and any ball hit in there vicinity is extra bases or 1st to 3rd. That is incredibly frustrating to me and I’m sure to the pitchers. Lieberthal was called upon very little, but did fine during his limited play.
Colletti’s in-season moves weren’t any better: Scott Procter, Roberto Hernandez, Esteban Loiaza and David Wells. Proctor has been unreliable with questions over “a tired arm.” Roberto Hernandez shouldn’t be in baseball. Loaiza see post below, terrible. David Wells has been good for his age.
He’s 2 for his last 8 signings. Not good by anyone’s standard, but I believe he’s safe; he had a great year in 2006. 2008 must be better. With the team missing expecatations he will open next season on the hot seat.
September 22nd, 2007 by Top Dawg
Soon to be followed by Wild Card over with another performance like tonight vs. the D-backs. It’s really disappointing the lack of heart displayed on the 07′ Dodgers. The are as talented as any team in the west, but unfortunately will be watching the post season. Is this a shot at the manager? When the manager is in the hot seat, most teams would rally around that with a strong showing. Not the Dodgers. It sounds like Grady is being tuned out and that means it’s time to ship him out…
September 21st, 2007 by Top Dawg
A’s GM Billy Beane isn’t stupid. At the waiver trade deadline he got his chump, Dodgers GM Ned Colletti. His project is Esteban Loaiza and his $9 million salary. The Dodgers traded nothing for him…nothing. That’s unheard of. Loaiza’s an oft-injured control pitcher living off of his 2003 season where he was 2nd in the Cy Young voting. If you look back at his stats he’s a .532 pitcher with a 4.62 era, wait it just went up again…bye bye baseball. He’s in the midst of being destroyed by the d-backs, but i’m sure I’ll wake up tomorrow and find that he is going in for an MRI or that pitching coach Rick Honeycutt found something wrong in his delivery. Just think Dodger fans we got him locked up for 2008. Oh goody! I like Ned, but isn’t there a saying out there that if something is too good to be true then it probably is?
September 21st, 2007 by Top Dawg
Frustration in the Dodger dugout finally came out in the media Thursday after a 9-4 loss and sweep by the Rockies. You knew it was going to happen sooner or later, the manager is going to take some heat following a season of high expectations unmet. I have always been a supporter of Grady Little, he can’t predict injuries, until the last month or so when his ever changing lineup did me in. The series against Arizona pushed me over the top and now I support the removal of Grady as manager of the Dodgers. During that crucial series as the Dodgers are beating up on the D-Backs, Grady decides on the last game of the series to remove 3 “normal” (no lineup is normal for Grady and the Dodgers) starters. Earlier in the year I could get behind this because he would be resting the guys for later in the year when it really counts. Well where the heck are we now and he’s still resting guys! His lineups and batting order change daily, so players can’t get comfortable in a spot. One day your batting 3rd the next day your 8th, it’s mind blowing. I don’t believe a manager makes a big difference in a game, the decisions a manager makes can’t win a game, but the decisions they make can lose a game. No Grady didn’t sign the players and didn’t swing the bat, but he does “Manage” the team and his managing skills have cost the Dodgers several games this year.