On this day, Joe Torre makes all the right moves
Even though he's fifth on the all-time win list for managers, Joe Torre has come under his share of criticism for the Dodgers’ less-than-spectacular start.
Too in love with his bench. Can’t figure out his bullpen. An out-of-whack lineup. Misused his closer. Drinks the wrong kind of tea.
But he deserves a tip of the cap for the way he managed Sunday’s 2-1 victory over the Giants.
Going again with three reserves in the lineup, his first decision almost backfired.
Clayton Kershaw, the ace in training, was allowed to pitch into the eighth. This despite a 26-pitch seventh inning when he surrendered his only run on a homer to Juan Uribe.
Kershaw, 22, has been handled with kid gloves, Torre careful not to extend him at young age.
But Torre allowed him to start the eighth. When he quickly walked leadoff hitter Eugenio Velez, Torre went to the bullpen.
Now came a series of moves. Jeff Weaver played the smallest of roles. Edgar Renteria’s bunt sacrificed Velez to second, which immediately took the bat away from San Francisco’s best hitter, Pablo Sandoval.
Weaver intentionally walked Sandoval. Struggling left-hander George Sherrill (12.46 ERA) was summoned to face left-handed-hitting Aubrey Huff. Sherrill fell behind 3-0, but got Huff to pop up.
"He’s going to be all right," Torre said. "But that was certainly a big step for him, especially in the situation he was in. Bases loaded right there, that’s not a comfort spot for us."
Next Torre called on Ramon Troncoso, who promptly hit Bengie Molina with a pitch to load the bases. Troncoso induced Uribe to hit into a fielder’s choice, and the Dodgers had escaped.
"You get to that point of the game and you have to start matching up," Torre said.
Then with one out in the bottom of the eighth, Torre made what appeared to be an odd decision. He called on left-hitting Garret Anderson to pinch hit against left-hander Barry Zito.
Only Torre knew Anderson’s numbers. For a left-handed hitter, he hits left-handers very well (.290). And he hits Zito particularly well (.328).
"Garret has had some success against Zito, and keeps his poise up there," Torre said.
Anderson worked the count full and then walked.
Torre had Manny Ramirez pinch hit, and Giants manager Bruce Bochy summoned right-hander Sergio Romo.
Ramirez deposited a 1-2 Romo slider into the left-field pavilion, and the Dodgers had a 2-1 victory.
Torre was relieved about the home run for more than one reason.
"I was pretty happy because I was trying to figure out what I would do if (Ramirez) got on first base," he said. "That was the trick because you’d have to run for him, and I was trying to get volunteers. I didn’t want to necessarily use (James) Loney. I’m glad I didn’t have to make that decision."
On this afternoon, the decisions were all working, even those he didn’t have to make.
-- Steve Dilbeck
Too in love with his bench. Can’t figure out his bullpen. An out-of-whack lineup. Misused his closer. Drinks the wrong kind of tea.
But he deserves a tip of the cap for the way he managed Sunday’s 2-1 victory over the Giants.
Going again with three reserves in the lineup, his first decision almost backfired.
Clayton Kershaw, the ace in training, was allowed to pitch into the eighth. This despite a 26-pitch seventh inning when he surrendered his only run on a homer to Juan Uribe.
Kershaw, 22, has been handled with kid gloves, Torre careful not to extend him at young age.
But Torre allowed him to start the eighth. When he quickly walked leadoff hitter Eugenio Velez, Torre went to the bullpen.
Now came a series of moves. Jeff Weaver played the smallest of roles. Edgar Renteria’s bunt sacrificed Velez to second, which immediately took the bat away from San Francisco’s best hitter, Pablo Sandoval.
Weaver intentionally walked Sandoval. Struggling left-hander George Sherrill (12.46 ERA) was summoned to face left-handed-hitting Aubrey Huff. Sherrill fell behind 3-0, but got Huff to pop up.
"He’s going to be all right," Torre said. "But that was certainly a big step for him, especially in the situation he was in. Bases loaded right there, that’s not a comfort spot for us."
Next Torre called on Ramon Troncoso, who promptly hit Bengie Molina with a pitch to load the bases. Troncoso induced Uribe to hit into a fielder’s choice, and the Dodgers had escaped.
"You get to that point of the game and you have to start matching up," Torre said.
Then with one out in the bottom of the eighth, Torre made what appeared to be an odd decision. He called on left-hitting Garret Anderson to pinch hit against left-hander Barry Zito.
Only Torre knew Anderson’s numbers. For a left-handed hitter, he hits left-handers very well (.290). And he hits Zito particularly well (.328).
"Garret has had some success against Zito, and keeps his poise up there," Torre said.
Anderson worked the count full and then walked.
Torre had Manny Ramirez pinch hit, and Giants manager Bruce Bochy summoned right-hander Sergio Romo.
Ramirez deposited a 1-2 Romo slider into the left-field pavilion, and the Dodgers had a 2-1 victory.
Torre was relieved about the home run for more than one reason.
"I was pretty happy because I was trying to figure out what I would do if (Ramirez) got on first base," he said. "That was the trick because you’d have to run for him, and I was trying to get volunteers. I didn’t want to necessarily use (James) Loney. I’m glad I didn’t have to make that decision."
On this afternoon, the decisions were all working, even those he didn’t have to make.
-- Steve Dilbeck
Laughing at LA
Laughing at LA
Giants fans laugh at LA
But I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE Frank McCourt!
Posted by: Tim McCuddahy | 04/18/2010 at 12:13 PM
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Who's laughing now? Whatever happened to McCuddahy??? He didnt jump off the golden gate bridge did he?
Posted by: mti312 | 04/18/2010 at 09:21 PM
Shucks, I missed it! When Kershaw walked Velez, I took the Dobie out for a 90 minute walk!
Posted by: Doc Häagen-Dazs | 04/18/2010 at 09:48 PM
Yes, Torre made the right moves today...all but one, that is. I wouldn't have let Kershaw go out there for the eighth...he already threw enough pitches (107) after working very hard in the seventh.
Posted by: bob cuomo | 04/18/2010 at 11:39 PM
By the way, Eithier is .238 lifetime versus Barry Zito and as we know - Anderson is .328 lifetime. Why does the Torre rationale hold water the day before regarding the benching of half the starters because of low lifetime numbers versus Lincicum, but not the very next day versus Zito? Why? Because its BS that's why. He plays who he wants, when he wants based on hunches. That's why the Torre Dodgers have more different lineups than any other manager managing a team in the history of baseball. Look it up! He does it because he can. There is no one looking over his shoulder like in NY. He says stuff and then says the opposite the next day. You sports beat guys know its true. Just check his comments a few weeks ago where he said Kemp would always be somewhere in the 3,4 or 5 position in the line up all year. Kemp was moved to the 2 hole and never really left. No one ever calls Torre on anything. When he is approached after the game he is spoken to in hushed tones like a religious leader. This is silly. Stop being intimidated. Ask him why he didn't argue the Mark Wegner bad call on DeWitt's foot being off the bag when he doubled up Lincicum Saturday? (Wegner admitted today he blew the call). I wish the sports writers in this town were more aggressive. Where the hell is Ned Colletti by the way?
Posted by: Hollywood Dodger Mark | 04/19/2010 at 02:58 AM
Yo Dil-Head...Let's not pay so much attention to Manny winning another game...Let's not forget the REALY important thing...He's still not talking to you ALL-IMPORTANT
sportswriters. Damn that Manny. Can't wait til next year...
we won't have to put up with his non-verbal late inning heroics. Keep up the good work.
Posted by: murph | 04/19/2010 at 08:41 AM
At least the Dodgers finally got rid of Russ Ortiz. I could not understand why Torre kept using this guy. Any pitcher who walks hitters with a six-run lead ought to be removed immediately.
Posted by: Terry Crow | 04/19/2010 at 10:14 AM
Hollywood Dodger Mark: There are some gut decisions, for sure, and as Ive stated, Im not on board with all this early rest hes dishing out the first couple of weeks in the season. But he did not say Kemp would bat in the middle of the order, which to be would be better, but would bat second a lot, particularly with the regular lineup going against a right-hander.
Posted by: Steve Dilbeck | 04/19/2010 at 10:21 AM
This could be the true start of the season. That 8th inning top and bottom was absolutely magnificent. Big Jon spoke for himself after that.
Posted by: oldbrooklynfan | 04/19/2010 at 04:13 PM
LETS TRY THIS AGAIN STEVE:
Sorry Steve Dilbeck:
On April 5th 2010 this is what Torre said and what I thought I heard (and was reported by Tony Jackson):
"Matt Kemp ... is one of our production guys,'' Torre said. "In the National League, you pretty much have to hit a guy in the middle of the lineup if he can knock in runs. I'm not saying he won't hit second at some point to make sure he gets good pitches to hit.''
Big fan of this blog - keep up the good work. I agree with almost everything you write, especially the tone. Kemp is hitting second so he can see fastballs. I get it. It works. What I am referring to is Torre and his contradictory statements plus the fact that he is not called on them by the sports media.
Posted by: Hollywood Dodger Mark | 04/20/2010 at 03:58 PM
Hollywood Dodger Mark: I didn't hear Torre give that quote, but did hear him say Kemp would bat second against right-handers:Matt Kemp is very important for us,’’ Torre said. He has some electrifying speed up top. He’s going to be protected from behind and ahead of him. [Leadoff] hitter Rafael Furcal is going to be important. We’d like to get pitches for him to hit.
Posted by: Steve Dilbeck | 04/20/2010 at 04:07 PM
Steve: I happen to agree that the 2-hole is the best place for Kemp. Its actually the only Torre line up move that ever made sense to me. Furcal gets on - Kemp sees fastballs. Ipso facto - when he doesn't - he sees curves. If Furcal falters, Joe will probably move him down and Martin up. Seems to be working.
Posted by: Hollywood Dodger Mark | 04/20/2010 at 10:27 PM