Game Thoughts

Big win tonight. I can feel the near-beer breath of the Rockies on our necks and the... well, that joke is too obvious... breath of Giants right there as well. It was good to see the team relaxed a little bit though because it looked like they've been pressing a lot lately. A lot of swings early in the count. A lot of tense faces.

The slam by Martin has to make you smile as he's had an absolutely shitty year. I don't know if the extra letter on his uniform is weighing him down or the model girlfriend is making him do too much yoga or what but he's had a horrible year so any signs of life from him makes me happy right now.

Glad Broxton gets a night off. I'm worried about him.

Keep your fingers crossed that Padilla works out because we need a boost in the rotation. Weaver's been busting ass though - I'll give him that.

It's nervous time because not only are the Rockies and Giants right behind us but every other potential playoff team has seemingly gotten rock solid lately. The Phillies look lights out. The Cards looked great as well and are adding Smoltz to the mix now.

Keep your eyes on the prize, boys.

Broxton Blows Another One

It's hard to give the team much shit for losing a game where they had to watch a teammate be carted off the field on a stretcher after taking a line drive in the head...

BUT!

SON. OF. A. BITCH!!!!!

This team is falling apart before our very eyes and taking this awesome season with them. They've got the Giants AND the Rockies nipping at their heels now with just a handful of games back and the Dodgers are looking the worst they have all season.

The starting pitching is spotty with Bills injured, Kuroda potentially out for no telling how long, and STILL no answer for the #5 slot which is a revolving door of mediocrity.

The bullpen is scary. Just scary. Broxton's been a completely different pitcher since his toe injury and I have less and less confidence with him every time he goes out there. He needs to be shut down to get healthy and let Sherrill close until then. It's not the ideal situation but neither is THIS Broxton in October.

The offense is eh. One day it's amazing, the next they can't produce for shit.

So, what's next?

I predict a desperation trade for a starting pitcher depending on the Kuroda diagnosis in the next week. But I don't know if that salvages anything.

Every team has a losing streak or six and theirs has arrived. Unfortunately, it's also arrived right when the teams chasing them have gotten hot. They need to get their shit together and make things happen.

And yeah, it's a hell of a lot easier said than done but it's the time of year where you've got to man up if you're going to win.

So, man up, damn it. My blood pressure can't handle shit like this.

Fucking Torre!

The Title of this post were my exact words after reading the results of tonight's game.

Okay, I need a Yankee fan to be reading this post and let me know if Torre is known for this and somehow I just missed it last year. Is he really this bad at handling his bullpen? I know he has a reputation for riding a pitcher to total fatigue but... mercy Jesus, how many fucking times can you go for a five out save in the first month of the season?

So, they summoned Broxton from the 'pen in the 8th again. And he blew the save. Then they take him out.

I just don't get it.

How many five out saves?! HOW MANY?!

Can someone tell him I'd prefer to have a closer with A LIVE FUCKING ARM after April?

Sweet Jesus.

I'm sooooo frustrated with the bullpen and Torre's handling of it so far this season.

Can someone get Grady Little on the phone?

...

Well, let's not be rash.

A Bullpen, A Bullpen - My Kingdom For A Bullpen

I'll ignore the fact that the Lakers just lost and focus on the Dodgers very quickly.

Yes, they won.

But it wasn't for lack of effort!

For the second time in two weeks, Joe Torre has summoned Jonathan Broxton from the bullpen to pitch a five out save.

Now listen here, Joe... I don't know how they do things back in NYC but out here, that's a recipe for disaster.

A two inning save in 2009 should be saved for the most desperate of situations. I'm talking a huge game in September or October with playoff implications. Not twice in the first three weeks of the season!

It worries me. The 'pen is likely going to be a rough spot all season and right now, Broxton's the only thing going well in it. So, if you abuse him [as Torre is infamous for doing] then there's nothing left. For Christ's sake, they're already talking about bringing up Weaver to pitch out of the bullpen.

You've got Bellasario who is basically an unknown. Kuo who is injury-prone and apparently has confidence issues now after his royal fuckups last week. Cory Wade is injured because Torre ran him into the ground last week. They're hesitant to use McDonald much since he'll probably need to start until Kuroda comes back at least.

It's getting ugly out there. In the past, I was perfectly confidence (most of the time) when the 'pen took over the game. Now, I'm nervous as soon as it happens. And no, calling Broxton in early doesn't soothe my fears.

"It's still early" - I know.

But this wound needs to be treated before it gets worse.

Oh, and in a parting shot, I figured the Lakers would lose one in Utah. It's not like they could play any worse than they did tonight, right?