Nomar has been activated and is in the lineup. Joe Torre has yet to announce the corresponding move, but expects to announce it after batting practice.
Furcal, SS
Martin, C
Kemp, RF
Kent, 2B
Loney, 1B
Jones, CF
Nomar, 3B
Pierre, LF
Penny, P
Torre said he was giving Ethier a day off because he's played every game this year..so I'm cool with that..tomorrow's a cross country travel day..Martin batting second...I hope he continues his improved hitting... Interesting to see how Nomar does... might be Troncoso who gets sent down, maybe Delwyn gets traded, I don't think they're ready to send DeWitt down..they can't call him up for ten days if they do...my first guess would be Troncoso goes and they stick with 11 pitchers.
Sounds good. Almost game time. DeWitt could also use a day off. They should platoon Nomar till Nomar proves that he is playing better. Plus Nomar makes a good pinch-hitter.
Just when you get excited about the line-up, you see Juan Pierre down at the bottom. How can we sit Andre Ethier when he is one of the 3 guys performing. Pierre is costing us every time he plays.
Sorry DPWTV but with a day off tomorrow I can't justify starting Pierre over Either. He is one of our best hitters and is not some aging veteran that needs time off. Right now with Kemp heating up as well...there is no reason for Pierre to be playing this game or ever for that fact. Between Either, Kemp, and Loney we have three guys that can easily hit over .300 and hit around 15-25 homeruns a year...plus we need Kemp to reach his potential as a 30-40 homerun guy.
I just want to note that Kuo looked sensational outside of The first inning, but if wasn't on a strict pitch count would easily have gone 5 for the win. He has always had great stuff....how many guys on our current staff can K five batters in a row? I just hope he stays healthy because it is great to have a lefty in the lineup.
Well go blue...win this series...Too bad Saito blew the first game. We should be going for a sweep..oh well, nobody is perfect and Saito has always been a stud to ever give him crap for losing one.
Torre gave Ethier tonite off, because tomorrow IS a travel day. Really, not much of a day off; traveling is working. Looks like Troncoso will go down, since they've already announced adjusting for Nomar by dropping a pitcher.
I think Torre is doing a great job with this team, and the team will respond. Backing Kuo with Loaiza was a great option; we're fortunate to have a couple pitchers in Esteban and Chan Ho Park who can come in and go 5 innings and save the bullpen.
Extra base hit? I was at the game tonight. That ball that Juan Pierre hit bounced 6 times before it dribbled past the first baseman. It should have been an out. Everything was really clicking for the Boys in Blue tonight. The could truely do no wrong. But we will all take it. Re: Andrew Jones...its really annoying to see the guy come up to the plate with his feel good reggae song ang a smile on his face. Then strike out looking twice and go back to the dugout with his smile. Its like Cerrano from the "Major League 2" movie when he had become a pacifist at the plate. This guy needs a "pipe hitting thug" song as his intro and he needs to come up to the plate pissed off at the world. He has 3 hits the last 2 nights, and that's a start, but we really need this guy to start driveing the ball. It doesn't matter if he bats under .250. That's a dream at this point. We need him to hit 3 run homers. At least we were able to win the series after blowing it on Friday night. And here is to a good road trip. Go Blue!
I don't give a crap if Andruw Jones is smiling, smirking, screaming, mute, dumbfounded or any emotion when he comes up to the plate...he just needs to start hitting. I have no doubt he cares about the team and he wants to win, he's struggling right now and he'll turn it around..regardless of what everyone thinks the look on his face means.
Sorry guys, the computer freaked out. I was trying to agree with eddonald about Kuo getting backed by Loaiza. As a former starter Loaiza can eat innings. But he's had problems in the first inning (that's why he's not starting anymore). Getting through that with Kuo seems to let Loaiza get into his groove, at least for one night.
I'm also really pleased with the hitting. Furcal and Loney, in particular, have been awesome. Keep it up once the Pirates leave town.
More than anything, I'm glad to see Kemp unleash terrific throws from right field. We haven't had an arm like that since Mondesi. Now, somebody make sure Matt doesn't get a cannon tattooed on his bicep.
In any event, I'm hoping that it's all 5-tool stuff from Kemp from now on. Ethier has proven himself, Loney is hitting, and Martin is next to break out. This is a good team; Furcal needs to be signed before the All-Star Break, IMO.
Incidentally, I don't care if JP's hits are dribblers, or misplayed, or hit pebbles, or make an infielder trip over his own shoelaces. We get enough of those worm-killers and tricklers used against us; if JP is in the lineup, I don't care HOW he gets on base if he puts the ball in play and uses his speed. I think he can drive the opposing pitchers nuts from the 8-spot; I'm not suggesting he's an everyday starter . . . but I think he's more than a (sigh) detriment.
