Wednesday, July 13, 2005 |
Pickoff Moves
Dodger Thoughts Ménage À Trois
I see that FJT has already deconstructed Jon's excellent interview with Steve Henson of the Times and Bill Plunkett of the Register. While I'm not obsessed with the Tracy issues (as FJT obviously would be), this one Henson comment really caught my eye:JW: Steve, when you say that DePodesta came up one strong hitter short, is it because he was out-maneuvered or because he fell short despite a good effort? And do you either of you see things going positively for him between now and July 31?Well, if he didn't get outmaneuvered for pitching, how is it that he didn't get the pitching he wanted? You could certainly make the case that in the case of Clement, he wasn't going to get him no matter what thanks to the issue of family, but what about Radke? I recognize that, as a GM, there are practical upper limits to what DePodesta can reasonably spend -- and even if there weren't, down that path lie dangers as well -- but I still find the case that DePodesta's learning on the job fairly strong, something Plunkett noted when he wrote that "[DePodesta] rose to GM pretty quickly and has only had his hands on a team for, what, 17 months? There is really not much of a track record there." Lowe was an emergency cord to pull after Clement and Radke left the room, just as J.D. Drew became a necessity after Beltre grabbed the Mariners' brass ring. People treat DePodesta as though his last name were Schuerholtz, and it just isn't. The Moneyball bowing and scraping needs to come to an end until the Dodgers actually win something besides a division title, if that.SH: He wasn't out-maneuvered. He had a budget and chose to spend most of it on pitching. He didn't get the pitchers he really wanted - Radke and Clement - and found himself in a position where he had to overpay for Perez and Lowe. But he ended up with the hitters he wanted. If the budget was more, and he could have re-signed Beltre and done everything else the same, it would have been a banner off-season. Plug Beltre into a healthy Dodger lineup and it is transformed into something special: Izturis, Drew, Beltre, Kent, Bradley, Werth, Choi, Phillips. Or even flip-flop Izturis and Drew, who would made a top-flight leadoff hitter so long as there was ample power behind him. So much for that flight of fancy, though.
Angels, Dodgers Allegedly In Burnett Race
The Angels and Dodgers, as well as the Orioles, Chisox, Blue Jays, and Padres, are all in the race to acquire Marlins starter A.J. Burnett, according to the Baltimore Sun. The Dodgers I can believe, but ... the Angels?Jered Weaver News
Yesterday's Register had a nice little article about Jered Weaver's transition to pitching professionally:He hasn't been flashy with his money. He bought a one-bedroom condo in Rancho Cucamonga, splurged on a digital camera and other electronic gadgetry, and left the bulk of his $4million to collect interest.Weaver's still getting strong enough to be effective:The shiny, black, late-model 3-series BMW that stood out among the older SUVs and dusty sedans in the Quakes parking lot wasn't his, though players had whispered it might be. (The car belonged to a Los Angeles newspaper columnist.)
His first career victory came Tuesday at the Epicenter, 7-6, over Bakersfield. He threw 85 pitches in five innings, struck out seven, walked none and limited the Blaze to two runs on two hits.Weaver picked up another victory Monday as Rancho beat High Desert 5-4; Weaver struck out eight over 5.2 IP, walked one, and surrendered a home run for three earned runs."I finally started to feel strong," Weaver said about the victory. "My brother told me that he didn't start to feel comfortable until his fourth or fifth start. We talk all the time about the adjustment."
Pitching coach Erik Bennett works closely with Weaver, who also gets feedback, but no timeline, from the Angels' management.
"I haven't mastered this level," he said. "I don't know how long I'll be here."
I don't think you can blame DePo for that.
: 7/13/2005 08:49:00 AM
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