TDA Bullpen - Our Writers' Blog

Monday, August 02, 2004

In La-La land, Dodger players are a) coming from under the rubble thanks to a Paul Depodesta wrecking ball and b) thanking the organization for keep the names of the back of there jerseys. The Dodgers added to their 25 man roster via trade Brad Penny, Hee Soep Choi, Steve Finley and Brett Mayne while losing Paul LoDuca, Guierrmo Mota, Dave Roberts, Todd Martin, and Juan Encarnacion. This trade will certainly attempt to answer the age old question: How important is team chemistry to winning ball games? And if it is important, can manger Jim Tracy keep the Dodgers on the same page for the next two months? Vin Scully had remarked in a telecast before the trades occurred that he had not seen a Dodger Ball club with this kind of camaraderie since 1988. The Dodgers have also have 34 comeback victories which many attribute to their "team chemistry". The team was shaken up by the departure of the aforementioned players so far as having Jose Lima and Darren Dreifort write the numbers of the players dealt on their caps.
How will the Dodgers perform now? We'll, they were off to a good start by taking 2 of 3 games in San Diego, putting the Padres 3.5 games back. At 26 years of age, Brad Penny has overcome a frayed rotator cuff in 2002 and is pitching well as he enters the prime of his career. Penny posted a 3.18 ERA for Florida while averaging a little over 6 innings per start. Penny will likely improve his marks in Dodger Stadium, which has always been kind to power pitchers. Becoming the number one starter by default, Penny is backed up by Odalis Perez, Jeff Weaver, the erratic Kaz Ishii and ecstatic Jose Lima. Hiedo Nomo not yet lost for the season, and would take Lima's spot in the rotation if completely healthy. Hee Sop Choi will still likely platoon with Jason Werth (with Green playing OF when Choi plays and 1B with Werth in the lineup). Choi, 25, is a big man (6'5" 240lbs) with bigger potential and solid numbers (.495 Slg, .388 OBP) and will bat sixth in the order. However, the loss of LoDuca introduces David Ross behind the plate, who is batting .169, but features a little pop and a good arm behind the plate.Finley is a question mark. The 39 year old center fielder hit .183 in July and goes from hitter friendly Arizona to Los Angeles. He supplants Milton Bradley in center, which, at least now, does not seem to be a problem for the fiery Bradley. If Finley can maintain numbers similar to what he's put season long, then the Dodgers have certainly made an upgrade offensively. The bullpen shifts around a bit with the loss of Mota. Driefort appears to be the primary set-up man for Gagne, and in spite of his loss Saturday night, he has put up good number in the past month (1.54 ERA, 7 Holds) Giovanni Carrara looks to take Driefort's role as the set-up man to Mota (Tracy seems to like specialization) and has pitched well in his return. Duaner Sanchez and Yhency Brazoban look to be featured in important situations as well.

posted by Robert 7:45 PM