What if James Loney did go out for a lengthy period?

So the news was good on Sunday for James Loney, his left knee only swollen. No structural damage. He’s expected back by Wednesday.

But the mini-scare at least has to make the Dodgers more carefully consider their backup plan at first base should Loney actually go down for a lengthy period of time.

Don Mattingly’s solution for the last two days has been to start rookie Russ Mitchell at first, though Mitchell doesn’t figure to make the final 25-man roster.

Asked Sunday who would spell Loney during the regular season, Mattingly mentioned Jay Gibbons, Marcus Thames or Casey Blake.

Unless Gibbons and/or Thames get off to a hellacious start, however, his current best long-term solution is probably Blake.

That works for a couple of reasons. Blake at first would mean moving Juan Uribe to third, which is his better defensive position, and starting Jamey Carroll at second.

Starting Carroll would allow him to bat second in the order, helping to better solve the No. 2-hole problem currently scheduled to be filled by Blake, who could move down the lineup where he’s a more natural fit.

The other more dreamy possibility is current phenom Jerry Sands, their minor league player of the year, who has been impressive in the early going this spring. Sands, however, split time last season between single A and double A, needs more experience and is currently ticketed to start the season at triple-A Albuquerque.

The other scenario with Loney is simply sitting him more frequently during the regular season, healthy or not. Loney struggled so miserably in the second half last season (batting .211 with a .616 OPS) that the Dodgers can’t afford to be overly patient with his return to form.

They would at least have to consider giving him some more regular time off against left-handers (.222, 575).

Mattingly, however, has said he prefers a set lineup and is already planning on platooning Gibbons and Thames in left.

There could be a decent amount of playing time being switched at catcher too, so Mattingly’s preference for a set lineup could begin to feel uncomfortable if Loney continues to struggle against left-handers.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Comments

[KoufaxFan]

What's the problem here? With the pile of tripe McCrap & No Head Ned has assembled just put Gibbons or some other bum @ first. It doesn't make any difference.

[Labeldude]

"Loney struggled so miserably in the second half last season (batting .211 with a .616 OPS) that the Dodgers can’t afford to be overly patient with his return to form."
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With the rest of the crap they have on this team - Thames/Gibbons, Blake, Juan Maybe-I'll-Get-A-Hit-This Spring Uribe, Barajas-Navarro... I'd say being overly patient waiting for Loney to return to form is the least of their problems. Hell, they can afford to give him 162 games to see if he snaps out of it.
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C'mon, Carroll? Really?? How old do you want this team to be out on the field?
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Let's face it, Ned's put together another pile of smelly refuse. Why they can't let the youngsters play is beyond me. This team goes nowhere anyway, let them have a chance to see if they're worth keeping or not. Trotting out hasbeens and never weres is nothing more than PR to look like you're doing something. If that's not the case and Ned actually thinks these guys are better than their younger counterparts, Ned's rectal-cranial inversion has reached critical mass to the point where the next time he flatulates he'll blow his brains out.

[Dodger Tony]

Loney's health is paramount to this team, particularly the success of the Matt Kemp four hole plan, as Mattingly would have it. If Loney is healthy and locked in, particularly against lefties, then Matt Kemp could have an absolute monster season due to Loney's superior protection in the five hole. If Loney could increase his power numbers, which he should be doing by now and MUST do as a corner infielder at some point or else, the team's chances of scoring runs also increases. This is not even mentioning his captain's place in an elderly and fragile infield of broken down nags in which he saves Furcal bacon for at least 62 games a year. He needn't worry as much about the other half, as Furcal will be resting comfortably at home.

[Jim McVeigh]

Loney could havw career year and thy would still not play in the world series. He is a punch and (mark grace) Judy hitter . his bat is made out of balsa wood.. That give him mark grace (warning track) power. good luck

[Jim McVeigh]

ps. Should Hve said or read have and thy should have been the. sorry

[Striker]

That's the problem: NONE of the position players will be missed.

Boycott.

[alanw19]

Reality making folks holler more? I'm cautious enough with my optimism, but looks like some folks are already on the ledge and perhaps already hanging by a fingernail. I am not with those people.

Don't think we really carried a backup 1B last year, and Loney has been good for 160 a year, including 150-plus in the field. Had a tweak, might just be minor, no need to panic. The position being without a legit Plan B is no different than many other spots over the years, even before Flanders arrived.

To wit, this year, Mattingly isn't insistent on a lefty other than Kuo - or probably even Kuo - because he's not getting one and doesn't have one. If Kuo goes out, we have no lefty. Case closed. And in the bullpen, other than Kuo facing lefties in the crucial time of the game, we have no solid Plan A much less Plan B for relief innings 5 through 8. Trust me, those innings are more hope than a plan at this point. As in, hope the starters go 7 plus.

The closer is Broxton, but if he stumbles or fails, there's no sure Plan B because they've got Kuo on a limit string and they're not sure of anybody else to do it. If Brox is out, its by committee with Kuo first, anyone who's hot and throws hard next.

The extra starter just in case plan has already been blown up. Padilla won't be a serious help until after Memorial Day at best.

This is not given as a negative, though it certainly can be. Its just that with teams carrying 11 or 12 pitchers, not every position is going to have a definitive backup. And the Dodgers - and they are not the only MLB team that does it - have not always had sure-fire, this is the guy backups for all 8 positions anyway. And many of the ones they have had didn't excite us then either.

All the best to the Dodgers who play for my team.

And Frank, go away. Just go away. Take Flanders with you when go.

[bob cuomo]

To answer your question, Steve, I'll just say that if Loney is sidelined for a long period of time, the Dodgers are in deep trouble. Heck, they're in trouble even if he plays 150-155 games. As we all know, there are several other areas of concern. Again, I don't care if Loney doesn't hit more than 14 or 15 homers. As long as he bats .285-.290 and drives in 90-95 runs he'll have done his job. And let's not forget about his great defense...that would be a huge loss.

[OldBrooklyn Fan]

I would prefer Loney at first base providing his hitting improves against left handers and he shows some power that is usually generated by a first baseman. If this doesn't happen then I'd say his days as a Dodger are numbered. IMO he might have to sacrifice some batting average and go for the fences by trying to pull the ball more often.
That said I wouldn't want to see him replaced by another guy with the same problems.

[16blows]

"The other more dreamy possibility is current phenom Jerry Sands"

- 'phenom'?

From dictionary.reference.com - "a phenomenon, especially a young prodigy: (example) a twelve-year-old tennis phenom."

Sands turns 24 this season, not especially young and more telling the fact he has yet to play above AA ball. So far in 2011, in 11 at bats he has hit 1 hr and has 2 rbis.

For comparison sake another 'phenom' based upon his prodigiousness is Juan Castro - in 11 at bats, he too has 1 hr & 7 rbis...he's also out-slugging the other phenom .727 to .636 - that JC turns 39 this season is but the flip side the shoe being upon the other achilles heel (his relative fossil & experience) vs a Sands (relative juvenescence & inexperience.) That old folks have the tendency wilt with the passage time & youth become schooled same, I look for neither these guys to be on the final 25, but hey, I'm willing to be astonished.

I've heard Dee Gordon referred to as a phenom too, yet even he turns 23 in 2011 and he too has yet to play above AA. Ditto for Trayvon Robinson who turns 24 and Rubby De La Rosa who is already 22... they're not old/more so young each of them, I just don't see any 'phenom' here as I interpret said.

Days of yore, Joe Moeller was a 'phenom' for the Dodgers pitching almost 100 innings back in 1962 as an 19 year old. Willie Crawford was only 17 when (due to MLB bonus baby rules then in effect and forced to be carried on the roster) he played for the'64 Dodgers. Young, but neither ever became 'phenomenal' as it were, career.

True phenoms are far and few between, especially LA history.

Bill Russell was only 20 back in 1969 when he was starting in the OF for the Dodgers (and going 3 for 5 with a hr and a triple among his 3 hits in his first ever start the third game of that season.) Willie Davis too, who was starting for the Dodgers in CF when he was still just 20 (P Fernando Valenzuela was [supposedly/wink-wink] only 20 when he became a starter back in 1981.)

When I think of a baseball phenom, one who was young AND prodigious for more than a brief period, a Cesar Cedeno comes to mind... by age 24 he had already completed his 6th MLB season - all of them as a starter.

LA 2011?

Obviously with so many greybeards on the team, management's idea (prayer) is the dudgers will contend in the NL West (hold the guffaws) while attracting paying cu$tomer$.

Personally, I don't see a Cedeno or Davis or Russell when I look at the current crop of so-called dudger 'phenoms'. Then again, when I look at the dudgers in 2011 I tend to just look away quickly...

[boo boo]

"So the news was good on Sunday for James Loney, his left knee only swollen. No structural damage. He’s expected back by Wednesday."

Oh really... And what if he Hyperextended the knee, fat chance he'll be back any time soon.

At least now Loney has a reason to stink-up Chavez Ravine.

[teams a mess]

Bet Mattingly is really twisting right about now after not being able to sign Eric Chavez.

[Tede51]

We wish.

[alanw19]

Good points about age and descriptive terms regarding players by 16blows. Poses the good question as to what point a player is really one to watch for the future or languishing in the minors.

Sands turns 24 this year, Robinson 24, Gordon 23? If they're all that and a big of chips, I'd think we might have seen them a bit more. That they've not been above AA yet is a valid point.

[SendMiceToDisneyland]

Sands is a man, while Loney is a mouse

[waldobinney]

Labeldude, most of the players on this team are 'youngsters', a lot younger than most Angelenos.
The team needs talent, and James Loney to live up to all the hype about him.
If he or Kemp don't start producing soon, I say let the team unload both of them.