Thread: Los Angeles Dodgers--Official July Thread

Originally Posted by FlyBoeingJets

**** bonds.

I'll be at the games tonight and tomorrow. Try and carry on here without me.

Only if you make a promise to give us an "Orenko Chinko Swe" upon your return. Otherwise, you can't leave.

Originally Posted by The Natural

Only if you make a promise to give us an "Orenko Chinko Swe" upon your return. Otherwise, you can't leave.

If the situation calls for it, then it shall be.

Originally Posted by jbruin152

Tell me honestly that you'd rather see him in the lineup than Kemp or Ethier. Really.

It's not a matter of seeing him in the lineup rather than one of those guys. I'd like to see him in the lineup WITH those guys. I don't like our lineup as much without Furcal AND Pierre at the top. Gonzo has been a good player for us this year, and he's bridged the gap to the younger guys. I like the lineup the way it is right now, with everyone getting some time.

Originally Posted by jbruin152

So basically... he sucks, but if we get good players to make him look like sucks less, we can stop worrying about his sucking?

I didn't say he sucks, I said he has a below average arm. I think that weakness is amplified because Gonzo has a weak arm AND little range. Better arm and range in left takes some of the pressure off Pierre. But he certainly doesn't suck.

Originally Posted by jbruin152

I guarantee you Juan Pierre will never look like a bargain at $9mil/year.

I'm not so sure. With Ichio's extension and the money guys like Hunter, Jones, Rowand, etc. are sure to command this off season, $9 million for a CF will look pretty good. Especally on a 3-4 year deal if the Dodgers look to move him in the future. Heck, even a speedy leadoff guy like Furcal is going to get more than the $13 million or so next season that he's making now.

Check these numbers out...

Player 1
.281 AVG
.330 OBP
.331 SLG
178 HITS
89 RUNS
15 DOUBLES
6 TRIPLES
2 HOME RUNS
38 RBI
49 STEALS
17 CAUGHT
46 WALKS
57 STRIKEOUTS

Player 2
.301 AVG
.348 OBP
.374 SLG
200 HITS
98 RUNS
24 DOUBLES
10 TRIPLES
2 HOME RUNS
46 RBI
53 STEALS
18 CAUGHT
40 WALKS
40 STRIKE OUTS

Those are career 162-game averages for two different players. Pretty similar, huh? One of those players is a DODGER LEGEND. An Icon. A Hero! The other, Juan Pierre.

I think Juan has a bum rap because he's not a stat machine. He changes the game in a different way and contributes more than most fans give him credit for.

Originally Posted by EncinoDodgerFan

It's not a matter of seeing him in the lineup rather than one of those guys. I'd like to see him in the lineup WITH those guys. I don't like our lineup as much without Furcal AND Pierre at the top. Gonzo has been a good player for us this year, and he's bridged the gap to the younger guys. I like the lineup the way it is right now, with everyone getting some time.



I didn't say he sucks, I said he has a below average arm. I think that weakness is amplified because Gonzo has a weak arm AND little range. Better arm and range in left takes some of the pressure off Pierre. But he certainly doesn't suck.



I'm not so sure. With Ichio's extension and the money guys like Hunter, Jones, Rowand, etc. are sure to command this off season, $9 million for a CF will look pretty good. Especally on a 3-4 year deal if the Dodgers look to move him in the future. Heck, even a speedy leadoff guy like Furcal is going to get more than the $13 million or so next season that he's making now.

Check these numbers out...



Those are career 162-game averages for two different players. Pretty similar, huh? One of those players is a DODGER LEGEND. An Icon. A Hero! The other, Juan Pierre.

I think Juan has a bum rap because he's not a stat machine. He changes the game in a different way and contributes more than most fans give him credit for.

Is player 1 Brett Butler?

Originally Posted by EncinoDodgerFan

It's not a matter of seeing him in the lineup rather than one of those guys. I'd like to see him in the lineup WITH those guys. I don't like our lineup as much without Furcal AND Pierre at the top. Gonzo has been a good player for us this year, and he's bridged the gap to the younger guys. I like the lineup the way it is right now, with everyone getting some time.

It absolutely IS him instead of those guys! He plays every single day (ugh) and takes a starting spot away from one of the two kids almost every game.

There are three outfield spots. Pick your 3 out of Gonzo, Ethier, Kemp, and Pierre. There is no possible way you can tell me Pierre makes this team better than the other three.

Originally Posted by EncinoDodgerFan

I didn't say he sucks, I said he has a below average arm. I think that weakness is amplified because Gonzo has a weak arm AND little range. Better arm and range in left takes some of the pressure off Pierre. But he certainly doesn't suck.

I can put up with a weak arm in LF because you're almost never making a long range throw. 2nd base and 3rd base are within much shorter reach. And Gonzo makes up for it with his bat, and is on a one year deal.

Pierre has decent range (but Kemp is faster and has a better arm), but his noodle arm is a joke.

Originally Posted by EncinoDodgerFan

I think Juan has a bum rap because he's not a stat machine. He changes the game in a different way and contributes more than most fans give him credit for.

Yes, he's fast. We get it. For a guy who's so renowned for his speed, he really doesn't get to utilize it very much. His OBP is pathetic, he only hits singles (ok, only 85% of the time), and he gets thrown out on the basepaths far too much.

Again I ask, who of Gonzo, Ethier, and Kemp would you take out of the lineup? The correct answer is none of them.

Originally Posted by Die Radio Die

Is player 1 Brett Butler?

No, it's Maury Wills. Another incredibly overrated baseball player.

His 104 SB year was amazing, yes, but he had very few actual productive years.

Originally Posted by jbruin152

No, it's Maury Wills. Another incredibly overrated baseball player.

jbruin...this is the first thing you've ever said that actually made me sad.

Oh...and of those four outfielders, I'll take Pierre, Kemp, and Ethier. In my ideal world, I'd use Gonzo as the veteran guy who needs to step back in a carry the load come playoff time if Kemp can't continue to close the hole in his strike zone.

Originally Posted by EncinoDodgerFan

jbruin...this is the first thing you've ever said that actually made me sad.

The truth hurts. He had an amazing 1962. But an icon? Please.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/willsma01.shtml

Originally Posted by EncinoDodgerFan

Oh...and of those four outfielders, I'll take Pierre, Kemp, and Ethier. In my ideal world, I'd use Gonzo as the veteran guy who needs to step back in a carry the load come playoff time if Kemp can't continue to close the hole in his strike zone.

This is the first thing you've said that made me sad.

Gonzo has been so much better than Pierre this year--it's not even a comparison. Also, as noted, he's on a one-year deal, not a five-year deal where he continues to age and take the spot from a capable baseball player.

Meloan promoted to AAA. Would be nice if he could be MLB ready for the postseason.

Originally Posted by EncinoDodgerFan

Oh...and of those four outfielders, I'll take Pierre, Kemp, and Ethier. In my ideal world, I'd use Gonzo as the veteran guy who needs to step back in a carry the load come playoff time if Kemp can't continue to close the hole in his strike zone.

How can you possibly justify taking Pierre over Gonzo? The levels of offensive production aren't even close and they are both liabilities in the outfield. This is just crazy talk.