Arizona D-Bags (51-51) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (56-47) : Game Thread

Wow, seriously? That's totally unacceptable...

 

I'm fine with Hanley being an average player as long as he's our SS and the organization recognizes that he isn't a main piece to the middle of the order puzzle this off season. If he's gonna be a .250 hitter with some pop at shortstop, so be it. We got him for a great price and it is a great move. But like SDP said yesterday, it could be 'flash in the pan'. VRP even has similar feelings about Hanley. Not in those exact terms, but noted.

Hanley is a flashy name but how effective is he going to actually be? Great trade regardless, but not great for our chances of winning a title this year. That's my opinion on it.

Ethier isn't earning his paycheck. Plain and simple. Still love him being penciled in on the lineup card but he's not erning anywhere near 85M dollars I will say that much.

 

Stuff like this should ignite the team.

Victorino gave a great post game interview. Seems like a real leader.

 

What did Victorino say in the post game interview?

 

I think we all can agree that Ethier will never be worth his contract.

 

I said I love having him penciled in the lineup (do I have to say that much more?) but 85M dollars doesn't reflect his worth to me. Now we are creating the fake debate about WHO to be mad at? I'm not mad at anyone. We need Ethier, he needs us. We came to an agreement, and I'm content with it.

Problem is, there are players on other teams putting up close to better numbers, at least at face value (just looking at what the telecasts show on the opposition), and sure as hell aren't getting paid like a star. And it is hard not to notice. Has nothing to do with being mad at Dre, being who he is, with more Ks and less longballs. It's more like, "Wait a minute...Kubel, Greene, Freese, Craig, Hill, Godshmidt...would they be hitting 4th for us or making 85M because look at their basic line".

The question becomes more of maybe he is worth 85M to us. And that could be true. I think we have all overrated Ethier, but he is possibly more valuable to us than he would be to another team.

I read fangraphs too. I see his graphs and charts as well. I'm not oblivious to his performance. It seems you are assuming I am mad at Dre and don't really know how he's performing. Far from the truth. If I had the power to revoke Ethier's deal, I wouldn't. Still fair discussion about whether or not he's close to 85M dollar material.

 

He has a nonstop jaw. Words and words and words. I don't remember but he sounded astute, knowledgeable of where the Dodgers are at, what they need to do, and what he can do to help. He made some observations about what he's seen like, "a low energy day, we need to pick it up. And we will do that".

 

Not to say I don't expect more from Dre, because I do. But I'm not saying he's a dud who needs to do a LOT better. He needs to do a little better though. Because he's capable of doing better. We've seen it. Pick the team up once in a while and put them on your back. You're captain clutch, remember?

 

Embarrassed is not even the word to describe this series. Zero runs and two hits in a game we needed to win. Just flat out unacceptable.

 

Mets helped us out tonight.

Bottom line is we need to take care of our own business. We've let the D-Bags gain FIVE games on us the last two times they've played us alone. That's unacceptable. A testament to how good the D-Bags are or not taking care of business?

 

You have to know Andre by now. He was that guy (captain clutch, carry the team on his back) earlier in the year when Kemp went down and was doing better than normal. That was a long time ago, but we all know he's streaky. When that good streak happens again, and I admit it's taking way too long to, he will be the guy we love again. Write it down, HE WILL RETURN!

His thing with lefties is bothersome though and is why I do not like or want any LH power hitters anymore...ever again. Give me righties or switchers only from now on! Just say NO to Hamilton!

 

The D-Backs are good and that's an understatement
.266 team BA is pretty high up there in the NL, they hit a lot of HR, their starting ERA is getting to a good level, their BP ERA is 3.37 or something like that. All around, they are a good team.

Same time, you cannot let them gain 5 games on you in 2 series if you expect to be better than them. Some teams have a certain team's number every year. But come on Dodgers. Pick it up against these guys for real.

 

Looking at it your way is valid, I do agree. This is the ultimately super important "glass half full" view, which makes everything wonderful. I admit.
But in the slimy, stark reality of it all, having an avaerage SS who has power from time to time, is NOT what they got him for... let's call a spade a spade.
They weren't looking for average when they signed him, whether we are sated by that fact or not. Of course, it's better than what we had, only because Uribe/Dee as the two players immediately affected by it, were huge disapponitments. And I guess Eovaldi was chopped liver in most minds, so it was a "good" move. looking at harang and Cap lately makes me wish we had picked up pitching...besides League, of course.
But I think we only kid ourselves if we are left with a resigned acceptance (if that's the way it turns out) of Ramirez...there's no way, IMO anyway, that is what they want from this guy. Not in a million years.
Can't help being wary of any "blockbuster" type acquisitons that Ned makes...sorry, just way too much baggage on Ned. Hope this is different.
Hope Hanley gets back to previous beast mode. Hope Maui Wowie can do more than "hit the ball hard"...although with the offense playing the way it is all of a sudden, that's like a grand slam on the Dodgers.
In spite of the glorious drubbing of the Giants this past weekend, the tremendous collapse of the team continues, it seems, unavoidably.With that one brief respite from it. No consistency; that's what wins pennants.It's good that it's still only August. Time to fix it all.
If they want to get dressed and show up that is. Maybe Jeff Kent's way wasn't so bad. Maybe we need a little of that shit.
Very troubling.

 

I was counting down the days to the trade deadline so the horrible offense would see some positive additions. We all were. HanRam becomes a Dodger. This was a reward for us because we watched the most boring lineup game after game. Victorino joins the Dodgers. I was feeling good about the team now. Victorino's first start is not a good one and they only manage 2 hits and are shutout for about the 100th time this season. I'm back to being frustrated again. I know it was only one series but the Dodgers weren't in any of those 3 games against the DBags. An absolute shelling. I think the newly revamped offense is going to click and be fun to watch eventually but until that happens it's going to be more of the same snoozefest.