Thursday, April 19, 2007 |
Pickoff Moves
Jose Cruz LAN b. 1974, played 2005
Brent Mayne LAN b. 1968, played 2004. Maybe it's just me, but it seems like the Dodgers have been accumulating catching depth by acquiring at least one over-the-hill receiver every year. Last year it was Sandy Alomar, Jr.; this year it's Kelly Stinnett; and two years ago it was Brent Mayne. In 2004, you got the feeling it was a move DePodesta made as a result of desperation to paste over the immediate hole left by Paul LoDuca; but since then, it's become a habit.
Rick Miller CAL b. 1948, played 1978-1980
Spike Owen CAL b. 1961, played 1994-1995
Babe Phelps BRO b. 1908, played 1935-1941, All-Star: 1938-1940, d. 1992-12-10
Dennys Reyes LAN b. 1977, played 1997-1998
R.J. Reynolds LAN b. 1959, played 1983-1985. Squeeze!
Mark Hendrickson, Anti-Intellectual Success
So, why is he more successful in a relief role than as a starter with the Dodgers?"Sometimes as a starter, you can outthink yourself and try to execute from a game plan," Hendrickson said. "Coming out of the bullpen is more reaction, trusting what you see. You don't have a lot of time to put thought into the scouting reports or certain hitters."Hendrickson will stay in the rotation while Jason Schmidt cools his shoulder on the DL.
An Oscar, But Not Robles
In that same article: Wilson Valdez, thespian:It turns out Dodgers infielder Wilson Valdez was faking when he lay on the ground for several minutes after being grazed across the tips of three fingers by a pitch with the score tied in the seventh inning on Tuesday night. When a thoroughly deked Arizona pitcher Tony Peña threw his next two pitches to Rafael Furcal without bothering to check Valdez at first, Valdez stole second on the second pitch.Valdez said he had never tried to pull off such a move before.
"It was a good time to try it," he said. "(Peña) is kind of slow to the plate, and I felt like I could steal on him. I took off and got a stolen base."
The Kamenetzky Brothers Interview Chad Billingsley
Interesting stuff from a kid who takes a surprisingly long view of things:BK: I know the organization down the road still thinks of you as a starter. I assume you do--CB: --Oh yeah. I love starting. I said during spring training when I first knew I was moving to the bullpen, that a lot of great pitchers started their careers out for the first couple years out of the bullpen. It's also helping me learn, getting experience, knowing a new role coming out of the bullpen. And maybe towards the end of my career, I'm going to be forty or so years old, and won't be able to throw that 95 mile-an-hour fastball, and won't be able to start, and might have to move to the bullpen. So it's a learning experience, and not a negative at all. I would love to start. That's what I've always loved to do, but it's something new, and is going to be good for my development.
Mickey Hatcher Is Hoping You Won't Read The Play-By-Play
Because johnnyangel101 did, and Hatcher's interview comments look awfully mendacious:Asked if he's stressing working counts and being more selective, Hatcher said, "More selective? You see how many pitches we take for strikes? Everybody says we're too aggressive. We take a lot of strikes. We're 0-2 a lot of times. That's the frustrating part. That's why Mike [Scioscia] is saying we're giving too many at-bats away. We've got to be ready to compete, and when you get your pitch, be ready to hit it."Johnny then points out that the Angels were only 0-2 on a taken pitch twice in the Oakland series; the rest of the time, the Halos were hacking, as usual. I'm going to have a followup post on this topic later in the day.
Scott Ave. Gate Exit-Only, For Now
The Scott Ave. Gate will only be used as an exit, and only for night games (i.e., most of them) with 40,000 or more attendance, during a trial period set to last through the All-Star break in July. Neighborhood opponents have already swung into action, getting a non-binding resolution condemning the change through a neighborhood commission.Roster Notes
- Howie Kendrick will miss a month to six weeks recuperating his broken hand. Here's a hint for Felix Hernandez: hit Hillenbrand square on the hands. Thanks.
- Kelvim Escobar threw 40 pitches off a mound with no trouble. His likely return date is Wednesday against the Devil Rays. Can he swing a bat?
- Esteban Loaiza will start rehab with no timetable for his return.
- Milton Bradley won't be on the DL with his hamstring problems.
- Jose Guillen is day-to-day with a bruised right hand.
Labels: angels, athletics, dodgers, injuries, mariners
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