Dodgers won Rookie Day yesterday! Three rookies in the starting line-up and two were making their first MLB starts. All-around good stuff.
Dee Gordon - best-case-scenario day for him: no errors (they haunt him) and he scrapped three singles, including one of the infield variety. He was also a terror on the basepaths with a stolen base and scoring on an error. That kid has a motor!
Rubby De La Rosa - poor guy couldn't find the strikezone (especially against lefties) but his stuff got him out of a lot of trouble. He lit up the gun at 98mph and managed to throw 5 innings with only one run given up (96 pitches).
Jerry Sands - he really can't catch a break. He's got a great approach at the plate (sees about 7.7 pitches per at-bat) and seems to make strong contact. For some reason the ball just finds gloves or grass. Maybe he just needs a swing-tweak, because he's got the potential to produce in a big way.
It's good to have players back from the DL, but it's been a revolving door - Uribe, Thames, and Blake came back just in time for Furcal and Garland to go back down.
If the ownership situation works itself out by the end of June or early July, the Dodgers could be expected to make a move for a power bat (of the LF/1B variety - most likely a lefty... I haven't looked up the options yet) if the team is still in contention. James Loney is pretty much a lock to be non-tendered this winter so there will be a hole to fill. Sands can play first or LF so we could pick up a player from either position and just slot Sands into the other one.
The Dodgers look to take 2 out of 3 in their fourth consecutive series tonight - Kuroda versus Hamels. Rubber match for sure. I hope Kuroda throws at Victorino's head again because that was amazing last time. I've grown to like having the Dodgers face lefties now because it usually means no Loney in the lineup - hopefully Mattingly will have an aggressive team on the field today.
UPDATE: I just did some web perusing and found that my instincts were correct - Loney and Sands will both be benched. I love this lineup: Gordon (SS), Blake (1B instead of 3B), Ethier, Kemp, Uribe (3B instead of 2B), Thames (LF), Barajas (C), Carroll (2B instead of SS), Pitcher.
If I had it my way it'd be slightly different: Gordon, Carroll, Ethier, Kemp, Uribe, Thames, Blake, Barajas, Pitcher. I can't get over it that I simply do not see Blake as a number 2 hitter, and Carroll's OBP is far too outstanding to leave at the bottom of the order. Either way, I still like it because Sands is getting deserved rest in a game against a tough Lefty and Loney is right where he oughta be (on the bench). Ideally, if Sands weren't struggling, I'd like him at first with Casey Blake coming in as a pinch hitter.
If any doubts my prediction of a rubber match, I give you this nugget of information:
Hiroki Kuroda has made four starts against the Phillies, and is 2-0. He has allowed two runs total in those four starts, and hasn't allowed more than two hits in any game. His ERA is 0.68, with seven walks and 24 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings.
Cole Hamels has made four regular season starts against the Dodgers, and is also 2-0. His ERA is 1.50, with three walks and 26 strikeouts in 30 innings.
*Those are regular season statistics.
