Colletti rules out Damon, says Loney needs to hit for power
With the Dodgers one month from opening training camp, General Manager Ned Colletti said Thursday that he has not necessarily finished acquiring new players.
Colletti specifically ruled out signing outfielder Johnny Damon. And, by saying he would look into a right-handed bat to platoon with Jay Gibbons in left field, Colletti essentially ruled out re-signing Scott Podsednik.
"The bullpen is always something I'm intrigued to add to if we can," Colletti said at the baseball owners' meetings. "If we can find a right-handed bat to platoon (in left field), we'd pursue that.
"If we can't solve it by the time we open camp, we've got options in-house. We're always open to shuffling the deck at any point in time."
Colletti, asked whether the Dodgers needed big seasons from Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier to return to the playoffs, said, "I think you have to add (James) Loney."
Loney, the Dodgers' first baseman, hit .267 last season with 10 home runs. He also had 41 doubles, which ranked fifth in the National League.
He never has hit more than 15 home runs, but Colletti said the 26-year-old Loney still could grow into a power hitter. Colletti said Loney worked with hitting instructor Jeff Pentland this winter on pulling the ball with power.
"I'd watch him at 5:15 (during batting practice), and he'd hit some of the longest balls of the day," Colletti said. "Then the game starts, and his approach changes. It's a matter of transferring it from practice to the actual game."
-- Bill Shaikin in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Interesting Excerpt from Baseball America Transactions Page---Remember Pat Borders! He's been on the Dodgers Restricted list for 5 yrs!! See below:
Los Angeles Dodgers
Signed: RHP Roman Colon (Kia (Korea)), C Orlando Mercado
Released: C Pat Borders
Reinstated from inactive list: C Pat Borders
Yes, that Pat Borders, the MVP of the ’92 World Series and a gold medalist for Team USA in the 2000 Olympics. Incredibly, Borders played professionally for a quarter century—every season from 1982, when he was a sixth-round pick by the Blue Jays, through May 26, 2006, when the Dodgers placed him on the restricted list. There he stayed until this month. Borders played catcher right up until the end, getting behind the plate 23 times in the minors in ’06 at age 43. His 1,015 games caught in the big leagues ranks just outside the top 100 all time.
Posted by: MP | 01/13/2011 at 02:10 PM
Loney needs to hit for power ...
Kershaw need to win more games ...
Broxton needs to lose some weight and get his head out ...
Kemp needs to think more about baseball ...
yeah, yeah, yeah ... we know that you have a long Wish List Ned. ... and dont we all?
too bad, but Christmas just came and went!
Posted by: These Dodgers Suck!! | 01/13/2011 at 02:15 PM
I remember reading a story here in October that Mattingly will keep Broxton as his closer ...
so I guess he's already given up on this season.
The place is a dump anyway, so I guess I shouldn't complain huh?
Posted by: Guess Again | 01/13/2011 at 02:54 PM
I wonder how many times (in desperation) other MLB GM's (days numbered) have stated the following about (countless) players, theirs:
"during batting practice he'd hit some of the longest balls of the day, then the game starts & his approach changes. It's a matter transferring it from practice to the actual game."
- what does that suggest/tell you Ned? Mattingly, Mota and Pentland - all the resources and instructors stern to stem, could not turn James into Kluzewski, THE END. Maybe Hansen addendum provides magic touch... right, sure.
Sounds like the antithesis of what the Dodgers desired of Willie Davis. Took about a decade before said happened...alas, likely easier to scale back batter's swing Three Dog's case than to ramp a Loney's up - least if success is the goal.
Trying to turn a 10 home run hitter into (purposes any significant return) a 20, 30 or a 40+ guy seems wishful thinking, sans medicinal assist...possible, just unlikely.
Sounds like more of the same, as in fanciful dudger thinking built on wing & a prayer, constructed with chewing gum & spit. For all the hope a staff kershaw & billingsley et al may portend, not on par Koufax & Drysdale et al. Smoke & mirror hitting got them to the finale twice in the mid-60's, but even 'The Left Arm of God' & 'Big D' could not deny a punch & judy fate successfully, twice.
While the hitting 2011 may - emphasis 'may' - prove better than Alston's crew vs BALT '66, only way current 25 get to the World Series is if they're as lucky as the miracle of '88 blessed were. Aft 22 years & counting, merely competing & being also-ran is both less filling & distasteful... alas, I preach to the choir.
While the rai$on$ their desperateness be evident, upshot remains that they are left to try fit square pegs into round holes... all/most of their off-season budget now spoken for, the flavor is of a recipe for another 4th place finish.
Wait till next . . . ?
Posted by: 16blows | 01/13/2011 at 03:35 PM
Usual pathetic No Head Ned. Platoon in left with Gibbons, this is what this pile of crap organization has come to. Didn't Gibbons just leave winter ball because of blurred vision? Should be a great platoon situation--the blind leading the blind.
Posted by: KoufaxFan | 01/13/2011 at 03:36 PM
Oh no!! Maybe this will turn into another Kemp-type situation when Coletti called him out at the beginning of last season. Kemp was never the same player the rest of the way. Leave Loney be!!! He's good at what he does. Hits for doubles, drives in runs, gives you good at-bats, and above avg with the leather. Leave our "black Mark Grace" alone for chrissake!!!
Posted by: Sangroazul | 01/13/2011 at 03:44 PM
If Jeff Pentland can get Loney to pull the ball with power that would be an enormous improvement to the offense and to the team. Even if his BA suffers a little he'll be more of a threat to hit one out over the fence when he comes to bat.
Posted by: OldBrooklynFan | 01/13/2011 at 04:01 PM
This is a pathetic team. Tony Gwynn in center????!?!?!?!!? How about bringing back Chris Gwynn while they're at it. Coletti's like a guy who buys a bunch of crap furniture and then boasts about how much stuff he has. It's about QUALITY.
Posted by: HB | 01/13/2011 at 04:11 PM
Loney needs to hit for more power... This just in: Colletti says earth NOT flat. Perhaps ponders Ned, "if the opposing pitcher would've just tossed batting practice during the game Loney's power wouldn't have disappeared." Trying to prove his theory without tipping his hand, he talked to Broxton just after the all-star break...
The L.A. Times would like to issue this correction to the above artile: Ned Colletti said Thursday that he has not necessarily finished acquiring new players.
.
What he meant to say was: that he has not necessarily finished acquiring OLD players.
Posted by: Labeldude | 01/13/2011 at 04:11 PM
hits long balls in BP and changes approach at game time.
hmmm.....hitting instructor is now our manager
this doesn't sound good, other than our hitting instructor is no longer our hitting instructor.
Posted by: alanw19 | 01/13/2011 at 04:13 PM
Great, now we have Colletti saying that he wants more power out of Loney. Sure, it would be nice if Loney hits 20 or so homers, but if he hits, say, 15, and drives in at least 90-95 runs he will have done his share. Heck, he drove in 88 last season (second on the club behind Kemp's 89) despite tailing off the last couple of months.
Posted by: bob cuomo | 01/13/2011 at 04:41 PM
The guys on the Gnat forums call him "Loneykawa" and they're right. The guy is essentially the same player the Gnats use as a late-inning defensive replacement and now Ned wants him to be the big power contributor? Tough to see how the Dodgers keep pace this year.
Posted by: WBB | 01/13/2011 at 04:46 PM
Ned sed:
"I'd watch him at 5:15 (during batting practice), and he'd hit some of the longest balls of the day," Colletti said. "Then the game starts, and his approach changes. It's a matter of transferring it from practice to the actual game."
Did Ned not learn ANYTHING hangin' with Bonds all those years? Awwwwwcomeonnnn Nedarooski, Loney has to be screwing up when to use "The Cream" and when to use "The Clear"...get him the good stuff already your pal Bonds can get you a hook-up!
Posted by: grumpy3b | 01/13/2011 at 10:25 PM
Yep.. hitting coach couldn't get Loney to hit for power but this clown has it figured out??? great... where's Mike Marshall when you need a HR or two from that position?
Posted by: BMeador | 01/13/2011 at 10:58 PM
DODGERS BLOG
1/13/11
11:26
LONEY RULES OUT POWER, SAYS COLLETTI NEEDS TO SIGN FOR WINNING
Posted by: Blue Sangre | 01/13/2011 at 11:22 PM
This is not fair. Loney is fine; he will hit for good average and on-base, is amazing defensivly, and will knock in 90-100. He is a big guy and will hit around 10-15 HR, which isnt that bad, but I'm telling you, the second we trade him, he will hit 25+ HR. The problem is ADDING offense which Uribe is not the answer. Bottom line: McCourt needs to go!
Posted by: Darren | 01/13/2011 at 11:44 PM
The worst thing that the Dodgers can do is ruin Loney's swing. He is never going to be a Pujols-type power hitter. Its his approach that needs work. He too often swings defensively, knowing he can make contact and forgetting to drive the ball hard somewhere.
Loney's value is as a run-producer. His power should be with 2B's, using the spacious gaps in Dodger Stadium. No doubt a SL% under .400 is unacceptable, but to think he is going to "mature" into 25-30 HR's a year is adding a noticeable burden to him and truly not realistic. If he improves his BA to .300, his SL% will also improve, not to mention increasing his RBI total. I would hope that 40 2B's and 10-15 HR's will be considered a good season from him because I don't see, nor will I expect, anymore...as long as the RBI keep coming at a 90-95+ pace.
Loney should be producing .300/.350/.450 slash lines every year (along with 15 HR, 40 2B & 90 RBI) but, like Keith Hernandez, HR's aren't necessary to be productive.
Posted by: steevo17 | 01/14/2011 at 05:33 AM
Loney: batting practice pitches are one thing, game pitching ( heaters
cutters, et al are another) maybe 20 hr's, ave 275, 100 rbi, same ol
same ol
Posted by: cover2 | 01/14/2011 at 08:21 AM
Loney won't do this because he has Chumpy Kemp disease. He doesn't know how to hustle and doesn't care to.
Posted by: Chumpy Kemp | 01/14/2011 at 08:37 AM
Leave Loney's swing alone. Over the last 3 years, here's the total RBI leaders for the Dodgers #1 Loney-(88,90,90)268, Kemp-(89,101,76)266, Either-(82,106,77)265, next highest totals (regardless of player) for 3 years-(64,79,69)212. He's the leading RBI man and people are complaining? Get real people. Talk about consistency...let him do what he does best, hit .300 and drive in 90 RBI's. We need a 30+HR hitter in the line up to PROTECT Loney, Kemp & Either. Time to stop trying to develop one and go out and GET one!
Posted by: Rich | 01/14/2011 at 09:22 AM
I'm not really a Bill Parcells guy, but I do subscribe to the now-famous Parcells theory: Once a player shows you who he is, believe him.
James Loney has had plenty of time to show us that he is (a) not a power hitter, and (b) not a .300 hitter, no matter how much Colletti wants him to be the former, and no matter how much his swing may convince us he should be the latter. Numbers don't lie. But he can drive in runs. He's not Mark Grace, he's James Loney. And we'll just have to believe that.
Posted by: BlueinAZ | 01/14/2011 at 10:06 AM
So, if I were to guess, Loney moves power from BP to actual games. Then, in September, just for making an adjustment, he hits 38 big fly's, and WHAMMO---'Roid allegations. He can't win for losing!
Posted by: DG | 01/14/2011 at 02:25 PM
IF Loney can hit for power
yeah and IF i grow another 1 foot I could play center for the lakers
Posted by: greg | 01/14/2011 at 03:14 PM
Why is Colletti saying that Loney needs to hit more power? Loney is what he is so people (especially supposedly smart front office people) need to stop trying to get players do what they just can't do. Loney might hit 20 bombs one season but I'd be shocked if he wasn't a 10-12 HR type of player for most of his career.
Maybe Colletti should have went after a bat with more power than hope that Loney can do something that isn't in him.
Posted by: Ty | 01/15/2011 at 11:29 AM
"I'd watch him at 5:15 (during batting practice), and he'd hit some of the longest balls of the day," Colletti said. "Then the game starts, and his approach changes. It's a matter of transferring it from practice to the actual game."
Brilliant observation Colletti! Ever been to a driving range? At the range we ALL hit the ball like Tiger Woods, then we go to the first tee, and like Loney, quickly hit a weak dribbler out of bounds.
Here’s an idea. During batting practice, put a couple 50 gallon drums in the power alleys, and have Loney take dead aim at them. It will force him to be patient and wait for a pitch he can handle.
Posted by: Harvey Penick | 01/17/2011 at 01:07 PM