| |
R |
BA |
OBP |
SLG |
H |
2B |
3B |
HR |
| Dodgers |
288 |
.261 |
.329 |
.383 |
581 |
121 |
10 |
44 |
| NL Rank |
7 |
6 |
6 |
15 |
7 |
9 |
11 |
14 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| White Sox |
239 |
.232 |
.304 |
.365 |
474 |
82 |
2 |
62 |
| AL Rank |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
8 |
Why are the Dodgers' numbers listed above? Because even though they're atop the NL West with a 38-28 record, GM Ned Coletti still felt it was necessary
to fire their hitting coach today. Eddie Murray once again finds himself out of a job.
As I noted last month, the Cleveland Indians haven't stopped hitting since dismissing Murray from the same position, so get ready for an offensive explosion in Los Angeles.
The funny thing is that the Dodgers' rate stats -- and every other category besides home runs -- are superior despite playing in the league that forces pitchers to hit. OK, that's more sad than funny.
*********************
I'm of the opinion that there isn't anything Ozzie Guillen can do to right this ship. He's praised the other team, he's defended his players, he's thrown a few under the bus, he's tried different lineups, he has used different relievers in different situation -- the fact of the matter is, everybody is failing, and the guys who stand between the lines are the only people who can improve this situation.
However, it will be interesting to monitor Guillen through his first arduous season as a coach on any level since 2001, when the Montreal Expos went 68-94 with Guillen serving as the third-base coach. It already appears that he's
not looking forward to watching young players work through growing pains:
'Fields is going to give me an opportunity to see him a little bit
better,'' Guillen said. ''We've seen Sweeney struggle, and that's the
reason we sent him down. Brian's still in Triple-A. Having one year of experience, hopefully that helps them. But right now, American League, our division, you have to be a little bit better than they show.''
[...]
''I keep saying about winter ball, I'm not going to put my nose there anymore,'' Guillen said. ''They get more at-bats; they get better playing winter ball.''
Sweeney is the only one who has truly been rushed, and the only one without a full season of Triple-A under his belt. He's getting that education this year. Anderson hit well in Triple-A in 2005, and while he could use retooling, it's hard to see it happening with the current state of Sox hitting instruction. Josh Fields, meanwhile, had a great year in Charlotte last year, and continued to do so before his call-up.
At this point, Ozzie's going to have to bite the bullet while the Sox rebuild -- hopefully with some new offensive philosophies. But I'm pretty sure that he's gunning for a turnaround this year. He may soften his stance a little after Kenny Williams finds the best deal for Jermaine Dye (
Arizona?) and the Sox truly start playing for 2008.
*********************
Minor league round-up:- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 9, Charlotte 3
- Mike MacDougal gave up his first run of his Triple-A stint, though it was unearned. He retired the first two men he faced before giving up a single. That runner advanced to second base on a passed ball, then scored on a single to the right side. At least he didn't walk anybody.
- Ryan Sweeney went 1-for-4 with his second triple and an RBI; Scott Podsednik went 2-for-5 with three strikeouts.
- Kenny Kelly went 1-for-3 with a solo shot, and has homered three times over the last two games.
- Winston-Salem 7, Potomac 6 (10 innings)
- The 2-3-4 combination of Aaron Cunningham, Micah Schurstein and David Cook scored all seven runs. Cunningham went 2-for-5 with his 21st steal, Schnurstein went 2-for-4 with a double and a homer, and Cook went 3-for-3 with a double and two walks.
- Ryan Rodriguez was hit hard over his five innings, but John Lujan, pitching in a non-save situation, allowed only one run over three innings of relief. John Wesley finished with two scoreless for the win.
- Greensboro 11, Kannapolis 0
- Maurice Gartrell continued his hot hitting with a 2-for-4 night, amounting for 40 percent of Kanny's hits.
- Jose Zazueta struggled once again, and Carlos Perez and Steven Spurgeon failed to fare better.