Can you trust any national baseball writer?

National baseball columnists offer opinions on the Dodgers that you might or might not agree with. That's just the way it is.

Too often, however, their opinions are based on factual errors that, while not intentional, clearly reflect a lack of familiarity with the team. And as much as it happens when people write about the Dodgers -- just today, I saw someone I respect write about Hong-Chih Kuo's ability to pitch multiple innings, when he hasn't done so once this season -- it's logical to assume that it happens with every other team.

It's no easy task tracking 30 major league teams, so I understand the challenge -- although they'll get no sympathy from me as I watch from 10 feet away as Michael Schneider operates as Variety's only full-time TV reporter (the only one who isn't juggling editing duties). Things are tough all over.

While degree of difficulty might put you in a forgiving mood, it doesn't change the fact that these national baseball writers have become inherently unreliable. It's hard enough finding scribes whose logic and style are top-notch, but when they don't have the facts in place to begin with, readers are really left in a position where they can't trust assessments of other teams from afar. (And don't get me started on network radio and TV announcers.)

National baseball writers today carry influence beyond their worth. I don't mean this in an unkind way, but they can't be trusted. If a writer clearly isn't up to speed on the Dodgers, why would one expect that writer to be up on any other squad?

If you really want to know the scoop on opposing teams, I'm not sure there are any shortcuts. You have to seek out the local writers -- whether they're newspaper beat writers or bloggers -- with the best understanding of each franchise and stick with them. 

* * *

Orlando Hudson and Casey Blake are available tonight and candidates to start Friday in Pittsburgh, Dodger manager Joe Torre told KABC's Charley Steiner.

Torre also said to reporters that the pitchers for the Pittsburgh series will be Jon Garland, Randy Wolf, Clayton Kershaw and Hiroki Kuroda, as the Dodgers go with a six-man rotation for the time being.

Dodgers at Nationals,
4:05 p.m.
Today's lineup

Rafael Furcal, SS Andre Ethier, RF Manny Ramirez, LF Matt Kemp, CF James Loney, 1B Ronnie Belliard, 2B Blake DeWitt, 3B Russell Martin, C Vicente Padilla, P

Padres at Rockies, 5:40 p.m.

Cubs at Giants, 7:15 p.m.

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Comments

[Jon Weisman]

For Eric Enders:

Jon Hamm.

[Eric Enders]

National baseball columnists offer opinions on the Dodgers that you might or might not agree with. That's just the way it is.

Too often, however, their opinions are based on factual errors that, while not intentional, clearly reflect a lack of familiarity with the team.

Yes. And the same goes for national baseball broadcasters, only moreso.

[Alex41592]

I think it's Billy Bob Thornton.

Also, Karros grew a goatee.

[underdog]

Been reflecting on this same issue when it comes to covering the NFL (so I'm sure it applies to all sports of course). Noticeable to me personally when it comes to my Broncos. It's one thing to have an opinion that I either agree or disagree with, but it's more enervating when same writer makes factual errors about said team that make you then doubt anything else they have to say about them. Saw this time and time again in the football off-season. Again, not just talking about predictive opinions, but making statements without doing the research about players on a team, etc. Tres frustrating.

Then they rip bloggers who, of course, have maybe more time to focus on that specific team than they do but also provide a fact-checking service that spotlights some lazy writing at times.

[Eric Enders]

Alex wins.

[regfairfield]

I'm just glad my life doesn't have a Retrosheet attached to it.

[alex]

I just opened Gameday and saw that J. Martin is pitching. I briefly wondered if the Dodgers had given up on Russell as a hitter..briefly

[Jon Weisman]

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/R/regfairfield001.htm

[underdog]

Man, did Raffy get red hot or what? Couldn't have picked a better time of year for it, too.

[Eric Enders]

This problem is bad in baseball, but it's much, much worse in the other sport I follow avidly, college basketball. It's all about the number of teams. If following 30 teams competently is too difficult, what about following 330?

Red Smith had it much easier.

[Alex41592]

Raffy continues his hot hitting to start the game.

[underdog]

Martin looks eminently hittable so far.

[underdog]

Wonder what Ethier and Zimmerman are chatting about over at third?

Restaurants in DC?

[Alex41592]

Manny at his best there. Great swing to plate Raffy.

[El Lay Dave]

Yes. And the same goes for national baseball broadcasters, only moreso.

Posted by: Eric Enders | September 24, 2009 at 03:59 PM

Eric, you're not supposed to get Jon started on that!

[underdog]

As I was saying, Martin looks eminently hittable. Like batting practice.

And BisonPower gives SamDC something to cheer about!

[Alex41592]

BISON POWER!

4 batters and 4 runs!

[alex]

Second game in a row with a home run on the first pitch after a visit to the mound.

[Alex41592]

100 RBI's for Kemp.

[GScott]

Dead On, Jon! Even the most reputable guys like Buster Olney and Ken Rosenthal have on many occasions appeared to have just slapped together a team report based on career or recent notes. The best at national knowledge may be Peter Gammons, but how can we rely on just one source?

BTW: Matt Kemp is a STUD. Can we please use some of the 50+ million dollars we'll have freed up after this year to offer each of Kemp/Loney/Martin/Broxton/Billingsley/Kershaw/Ethier contract extensions until they are 36 years old?

[GScott]

Alex, that happens a lot. Anytime the pitching coach goes out to the mound the hitter loves it because the message is usually something like "go after this guy" or "this is how we want to pitch him". In either case, the next pitch is usually a strike and rarely a good one.

[Eric Enders]

Eric, you're not supposed to get Jon started on that!

I know, I just wanted to emphasize the point. It boggles the mind how clueless -- often willfully clueless -- those guys are.

[Craig88USC]

The worse ever LAT'd : ) ---

Manny!

1-0 LA!

Posted by: Craig88USC | September 24, 2009 at 04:11 PM

Matty!

3-0 LA!!!

Posted by: Craig88USC | September 24, 2009 at 04:12 PM

[Gen3Blue]

I didn't realize Belliard was so rotund. I couldn't imagine who was at bat.

[Jon Weisman]

Matt Kemp hit a big home run in the first inning against a Washington pitcher with first initial J. in the Suspension Day loss.

See, I can be the voice of doom, too :)

[underdog]

Craig, naw, not the worst, but definitely one of the Later LAT'ds. ;-)

[Alex41592]

I'd say Ethier, Manny and Kemp turned that 0 for 12 from last night around real quick.

3 for 3 with 3 runs scored, a HR and 4 RBI's.

[Hugh]

It kind of validates Jon's point when someone like Rosenthal is described as reputable.

[Alex41592]

That's it. Get the list ready!

[JoeKings]

I feel for Billingsley, 12 runs the first game, 4 in the first today, and he gets to pitch in the game where we scratch for only 3 while he's on the mound.

[Alex41592]

Um, not enough of a strike there ump?

[Craig88USC]

Raffy hot when it's hot!!!

[WBB]

Starting to look like the real Furcal!

[WBB]

Kemp appears to be the only Dodger likely to score 100 runs (currently 95), though a hot Furcal has an outside chance (he presently has 90).

[GoDodgers]

Safe to say furcal is done heating up. He's just on fire now. I think the recent stolen bases kind of jump started it. Helped him psychologically.

Bison, good chance to go 30-30?

I liked his article in ESPN mag. Love this kid now.

[underdog]

tight strike zone today. Luckily Dodgers are up 4-0.

[scooplew]

Raffy is 12-f0r-21, including tonight, in his last six games.

[OhioVic]

I just turned it on and see I managed to miss Kemp's 100th RBI :(....but what a year, huh ?

[twerp]

"... Anytime the pitching coach goes out to the mound the hitter loves it because the message is usually something like "go after this guy" or "this is how we want to pitch him". In either case, the next pitch is usually a strike and rarely a good one."

Right before Bills hung that curve last night, wasn't there a visit to the mound because he had just walked two?

I've wondered if mound visits might make things worse for many pitchers. The pitcher already knows he's messing up, doesn't need a reminder. (He's not likely to see the pitching coach or manager if things are going well.)

So, after the friendly visit, now the pitcher knows he's on thin ice. Often his next pitch is steered or aimed or otherwise not well-executed--which can bring on pitch execution of a different kind.

[underdog]

Padilla suddenly looks like JD Martin. Or Padilla.

[Craig88USC]

Bills is better than Padilla, Sorry, Vicente fans. I'll get you Garland guys later ... ; )

[GoDodgers]

Looks like Padilla should stick to his 2 seamer. His 2 seamer has a lot of run.

[underdog]

Lessee... will this be a Haeger game or a Weaver game?

[El Lay Dave]

Starting to look like the real Padilla.

[Apologies to WBB.]

[jim hitchcock]

I hope to be able to lay a `O ye of little faith' on underdog in the next few minutes.

[Phenomenal Smith]

Jamie Burke, here's your chance for a home run.

[WBB]

Looks like the Dodgers will have to do some more scoring. Padilla's not fooling anybody.

[WBB]

Couldn't even fool Jamie Burke, a .119 hitter.

[scooplew]

Washington has beaten us twice in the four games played between the two teams this year. On May 7, the first game of Manny's suspension, we blew a 6-0 lead and lost 11-9. Last night, we gave up a 3-0 lead. and lost 5-4. We will need plenty more runs tonight, I fear.

[jim hitchcock]

Alas, I cannot.

[Phenomenal Smith]

If Gonzalez is caught stealing or picked off, the Nats will bat 1.000 this inning.

[OhioVic]

twerp,

Don't know if you noticed, but right before Honeycutt came out last night, Torre made a call on the bullpen phone to get someone warming up. The point is - this is another reason pitching coaches come out sometimes - to buy some time for the bullpen. I think that may have been what happened last night. One thing is for sure - Honeycutt's advice didn't do any good.

[underdog]

Oh I have plenty of faith in Charlie Haeger, Jim. ;-)

To be fair to Padilla, he's been hit hard but the strike zone is reeeally tight, he had some good breaking pitches that I've seen call strikes more often than not. But he can't get too flustered by it.

[Phenomenal Smith]

In fairness to Burke, he hasn't had many ABs in the majors this year. His lifetime BA was .281

[Craig88USC]

Veeecentay!

[Remember Gil Hodges]

BTW: Matt Kemp is a STUD. Can we please use some of the 50+ million dollars we'll have freed up after this year to offer each of Kemp/Loney/Martin/Broxton/Billingsley/Kershaw/Ethier contract extensions until they are 36 years old?

Posted by: GScott | September 24, 2009 at 04:13 PM

G Scott -- right on!!

[WBB]

Sometimes there's a tendency to let up when you get a lead - last night we fell behind 8-1 in my slow pitch league, but the other team went flat and we ended up winning easily.

In any event, I don't think Padilla's long for this game, but I hope I'm wrong. Let's see another big inning.

[kempfly]

Vicente Padilla LAD
1~4 game : 22 1/3 ip 19 h 5 er 7 bb 17 k 2.01 ERA
5~6 game : 7 ip 11 h 7 er 2 bb 5k 7.00 ERA

[underdog]

Whew. I'm glad that hit Manny on the elbow pad. That's gotta smart.

[Craig88USC]

The Mannypad worked.

[Craig88USC]

All Right, Jimmy ...

How 'bout a 3 run shot!

[underdog]

Bison continues to stampede through the league.

[underdog]

Oh good, speaking of which, here's another McCatty pep talk on the mound. That always works out well. For the Dodgers.

[OhioVic]

You're really sticking with this "Jimmy" thing, huh Craig ? :)

[Craig88USC]

What we need now is more CowBelly ...

[OhioVic]

Striking out with the bases loaded and nobody out is not a desirable thing.

[jim hitchcock]

Man, I just love Blake DeWitt. He fills the hole Matt Luke left behind.

[Craig88USC]

Tryin' to get Jimbo to 100. Whatever works. ; )

[DL]

national baseball writers have become inherently unreliable.

That's not always true. I've found that national baseball writers are eminently knowledgeable about the Red Sox and the Yankees.

[kid4lif]

I was reading in Tommy Davis' book recently and noted that Stan Williams, a pitcher had a clause in his contract about to many walks. So, when he fell behind 3-0 he would just hit the batter instead of walking him. Classic. I'm thinking to heck with the IBB, just hit throw inside and hit the guy.

[scooplew]

Kemp's three-run homer in the first inning gave him 100 RBI, making him and Ethier the first pair of Dodgers to have 100 or more RBI in the same year since Shawn Green (125) and Gary Sheffield (100) in 2001. Loney (90) has an outside shot. The Dodgers have never had three players reach that level since they moved to L.A. in 1958. The last time it was done by the Dodgers was in Brooklyn in the World Championship season of 1955 by Duke Snider (136), Roy Campanella (107) and Gil Hodges (102). Carl Furillo was next with 95.

[GoDodgers]

Man Belliard needs to learn a 2 strike approach. Those swings were 2-0 swings. Haha. Oh well we scored one. Don't know whether to cheer or boo. Of course there was a pitchers AB thrown in too

[regfairfield]

And that, kids, is why performance based clauses aren't allowed any more.

[Craig88USC]

5's good, thought DeWitt's RBI was our 4th run.

I blame the Ol'Miss/SCarolina distraction game.

[Alex41592]

This umpire must be driving Padilla mad. Can't get any corner.

[DL]

Big University of South Carolina fan, Craig?

[underdog]

Seriously Alex. That ball 3 on Zimmerman was ultra-close. Again, he's consistently micro so the Nats pitcher has had the same issue, and he's got to work through it, but still...

[GoDodgers]

Ethier needs to do something about that hair.

[scooplew]

Craig: How badly will USC, where my late father taught, beat WSU, where my wife went to college, this weekend?

[Michael]

Unless I'm mistaken, this is the first time that the Dodgers have had multiple 100 RBI men in the same season since 2001 when Shawn Green and Gary Sheffield did it.

[Craig88USC]

"I'm thinking to heck with the IBB, just hit throw inside and hit the guy."

Posted by: kid4lif |

What if he misses and the ball goes to the backstop? Oops. ; )

[michaelpop]

GoDodgers, I think I heard somewhere that said Andre doesn't cut his hair during the season.

[Alex41592]

Now he's missing for sure. The ump isn't helping but Padilla won't last much longer.

[WBB]

I have a bad feeling about back-to-back two-out walks.

[GoDodgers]

Man that 2 seamer is filthy but a little low.

And Ethier not cutting his hair - gross

[underdog]

Michael, Scooplew would agree with you. ;-)

Well, at this rate, I'm gonna leave for my soccer game in an hour and it'll only be the 5th inning.

[Michael]

Phew.

[msarg29]

Finally got a call on the corner.

[underdog]

Hmm, was that swinging strike or a called strike? Either way, may have caught a break but seems fair to me.

[WBB]

I, for one, am glad that Joe Torre has not taken the Yankees' militaristic grooming standards west with him.

[underdog]

So Jon, should I be Tivo-ing Flash Forward?

My poor DVR is gonna be working overtime tonight!

[scooplew]

Well, Padilla is on a pace to throw 204 pitches, strike out 12 and walk nine. If this game were being played about a century ago, he might have that opportunity.

[JK]

FYI: Matt Kemp had a feature article in ESPN the magazine that I recieved today, and in it he is referred to as "The Bison" .

Nice.

[Jon Weisman]

I actually haven't seen FlashForward yet. ABC doesn't send screeners, and watching that one online didn't appeal.

[Jon Weisman]

Tonight I'm going to an "Up in the Air" screening and then watching Office and next Sunday's Mad Men when I get home.

[underdog]

Tim Goodman in the Chron raved about FF today, for what it's worth. Guess I'll check out the first one.

Wow, impressive inning for Estrada. He made CHiPS out of the Dodger lineup.

[underdog]

Fun watching George Washington tackle Abe Lincoln, much as I usually loathe those big-headed people races at ballparks. Better dead presidents than Giants' announcers.

[GoDodgers]

I read the article too. I got my mag a few days ago. Good article.

[JoeKings]

I'd hate to see what people would be posting if this was Billingsley pitching.

[WBB]

I've seen just about enough Padilla for tonight. I'd like to see his spot in the order come up next inning.