In-Game Discussion: Padres @ Dodgers (28 Jun 2005)

first pitch: 7:10 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Brian Lawrence (4-6, 4.42 ERA) vs Elmer Dessens (0-0, 3.32 ERA)
previews: ESPN | CBS | Padres.com

You are trying to establish yourself as a credible playoff contender. Which of the following do you do?

  1. Lose twice in the same month to a Rule V draftee.
  2. Go 2-4 while establishing leads of 2-0 or greater in six straight games.
  3. Start a third baseman whose ISO is lower than those of Cesar Izturis, David Eckstein, Luis Castillo, and 164 other big-league hitters with the requisite number of plate appearances.
  4. Bat said third baseman ahead of your best power source to date again despite homers in four consecutive games from the latter.
  5. All of the above.

Smitty says, 'Beat LA!'

195 Responses »

  1. I think DJ’s sort of a rich man’s Pokey Reese.
    He sure is fun to watch.

  2. Who’s a better 2B–Loretta or DJ?

  3. Is Pokey even in the majors this year? Just wundrin’.

  4. Loretta turns the DP better, which is a HUGE skill at 2B. But based on all the other requisite talents, I’d say they’re about even. DJ would be significantly better than Loretta if he played everyday, but it would never make up for the offensive difference.

  5. I wouldn’t give Nady the everyday 3b job either..but I would give him some starts. It would seem that as long as he’s hitting the ball well, there should be a spot in the lineup just about every day at some position

  6. the smoothness of Scully’s commentary still amazes me. I just had to comment.

  7. I’m hoping Greene is heating up.

  8. Eric LOOOOOVES Vin Scully! He wants to KIIIIS him!!!
    Agreed, Eric.

  9. How old is Scully now? Shouldn’t he be losing his mind by now, sorta like Coleman???

  10. DJ. GREATEST HITTER WHO EVER LIVED>

  11. A startling contrast to Jerry Coleman, no?

  12. Eric-and-Vin-ny sitting under a tree?

  13. There’s an image I didn’t really need at this point.. :-)

  14. B-Law is having a lot of good 1-K games this year.

  15. K-I-S-S-I-N-G!!!

    Jerry Coleman, senile as he may be, has become a sort of sage-savant. Wiser than Yoda, he is.

  16. Do or do not…there is no try… wisdom from master yoda.

  17. Coleman is talking about his days as Padre manager in 1980. Or he would be, if Leitner would shut the hell up.

  18. On DJ being better than Loretta defensively: Loretta wasn’t just the best offensive second baseman in the league last year, he was the best defensive second bagger, too.

  19. Gee, umm… thanks , Mark.
    You’re actually QUOTING Yoda. I guess it was a rough childhood, huh?

  20. 8-pitch inning, shutout intact. Remember when we were all concerned about Lawrence back in May?

  21. Nope. I don’t recall being especially worried about B-Law…

  22. I watched A LOT of tv as a kid…possibly too much..

  23. I don’t recall being worried about him either..

  24. I’m holding fast to that stance with Nevin as well.

  25. Maybe it was just non-AOL message board people?

  26. I’d like to make it known (like it isn’t already) that I don’t believe Nevin will be any good this year.

  27. What are you saying, Richard?
    You don’t think there’s lots of weak-hitting scrubs who can out-perform star players defensively? You know it to be so (call it the “Doug Flynn Syndrome.”), but even the dolts who run baseball teams know that you have to eventually score some runs to win.

  28. Richard-do you mean to say that Loretta’s defensive stats were the best?

  29. B-Law really likes pitching against the Dodgers…

  30. Based on Fielding Runs, Eric.

  31. Ryno with a big RBI double…

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  32. I personally don’t think any defensive stats are comprehensive enough to make any ‘he was the best’ conclusions from them. I’d only go as far as to say “Loretta was tops in Fielding Runs.”

  33. This is what I like to see. Keep piling it on.

    I continue to be aboard the Scully bandwagon. Only thing I like about the Dodgers.

  34. Lead 3-0 we do, every game, and little does it mean(ode to Yoda). 4-0 makes better feel me (another tip-o-the hat to the master.)

  35. Let’s build an unblowable lead

  36. I don’t know Lance..read that again and take out the numbers and it takes on a whole new meaning…

  37. as of today, “unblowable” is a word.

  38. I TOTALLY agree with that, Eric. It seems any bastard with a blog thinks he knows everything!!! :-)
    Still, I agree with Eric.

  39. rbi for Robert F*ck

  40. And, Eric, that was regarding Loretta’s defense, not the word “unblowable.”

  41. It’s reasonable to assert that a given player is the best given the context of measuring the best by fielding runs.

  42. Think Phil Nevin took note of how to get a guy home from 3B with less than two out?

  43. He was probably in the can.

  44. And Burroughs hits another weakass ball right at somebody to end the inning. I’m really going to have to stop watching his at-bats. In all seriousness, I’d rather see Deivi Cruz at the plate.

  45. Lance, don’t you have a blog?

  46. How many innings has Burroughs ended now?

  47. I demand that Richard explain how such a measurement is acertained.