SHELBURNE: Dodgers' Hudson disappointed in how season ended

[California Sun]

THE TRUTH HURTS wrote:

THESE DODGERS SUCK!!
crappy team, crappy fans & crappy owners

Those crappy Dodgers won two division titles in a row. Their fans have been the most consistent supporters of baseball in America. The owners? Well, you got that one right.

[Casey]

It was everyone's loss? What about Belly's two-out, game-tying hit off of Franklin in the STL series? Going with the hot hand worked okay in that case, didn't it? Starting Hudson wasn't going to get the anemic Dodgers past the Phillies, who had more pitching and hitting.

[THE TRUTH HURTS]

California Sun wrote:

<quoted text>
Those crappy Dodgers won two division titles in a row...

thanks, I forgot that one - they play in the crappy NL West -

[Oldcat]

I hope they keep O-Dog because he is such a solid player. He did look a little rundown at the end of the season. As well as Belliard played, he is a veteran role player, not a starter. As for Manny, I suspect we'll eventually learn that his left hand was damaged when he got hit by that pitch shortly after coming off suspension, and that the injury contributed to his sudden inability to hit an inside fastball. Kind of reminded me of the first year Dusty Baker was here when he didn't hit his weight; we only learned later that he had torn his acl jogging with his dog.

[California Sun]

O-Dog is a Gold Glove second-baseman with a on-base-percentage of .357, despite a late season slump. For a table setter, that's not too bad. He's injury prone, but he's a gamer. When Furcal and O-Dog get on base the whole Dodger line-up seems to light up like a match on a Christmas tree. It's too bad O-Dog peaked early. With the Dodgers getting cheap because of the economy and divorce, they probably won't resign him.

[Here We Go]

THE TRUTH HURTS wrote:

<quoted text>
thanks, I forgot that one - they play in the crappy NL West -

you mean the division that had the best winning percentage in the NL, and the division that sent 2 teams to the playoffs?

[Scott H]

As a lifelong Dodger fan living in Arizona, I have had the pleasure to watch O-Dawg for many years now. He is a really solid player who quietly works hard at his craft. And he does it very well. He had a great year for LA and I'm sorry to see him leave. I hope he has a long prosperous career in the AL, because if he stays in the NL he will surely come back to haunt LA. Thanks O-Dawg!!!

[Tom Ingalls]

Hindsight's 20/20, but I thought it was kind of strange that Torre didn't try to platoon Blake and Belliard at 3rd base to keep Hudson in the lineup. I like Blake's tenacity, but in reality, his bat cooled off in the NLCS. To keep Hudson out almost the entire time was a mistake.

[Here We Go]

Tom Ingalls wrote:

Hindsight's 20/20, but I thought it was kind of strange that Torre didn't try to platoon Blake and Belliard at 3rd base to keep Hudson in the lineup. I like Blake's tenacity, but in reality, his bat cooled off in the NLCS. To keep Hudson out almost the entire time was a mistake.

Yes, hindsight is 20/20.

Belliard was hitting liker a monster, and so was Blake, leading into the playoffs. Hudson was hitting in the .220's the last month.

You go with your hot players.

The same people questioning Torre's decisions are the ones that bashed the Dodgers after Pierre's first year in LA, only to make him out out be a folk hero this year. Look what he did his first year here:

He played in every game, got 196 hits, hit .293, scored 96 runs (without a "Manny" hitting behind him), and stole 64 bases. This year he hit .308, not much different than 2007.

In the off season, people were ready to disown the dodgers if they didn't resign Manny. Now they are calling it a mistake.

Yes, hindsight is 20/20.

[Tom Ingalls]

Here We Go wrote:

<quoted text>
Yes, hindsight is 20/20.
Belliard was hitting liker a monster, and so was Blake, leading into the playoffs. Hudson was hitting in the .220's the last month.
You go with your hot players.
The same people questioning Torre's decisions are the ones that bashed the Dodgers after Pierre's first year in LA, only to make him out out be a folk hero this year. Look what he did his first year here:
He played in every game, got 196 hits, hit .293, scored 96 runs (without a "Manny" hitting behind him), and stole 64 bases. This year he hit .308, not much different than 2007.
In the off season, people were ready to disown the dodgers if they didn't resign Manny. Now they are calling it a mistake.
Yes, hindsight is 20/20.

Juan Pierre is a class act. Hard working even if not in the line up from what I've heard. Without Pierre's offensive contributions in Mannys absence, there may very well have been no Dodger postseason.

The only thing I wish could've happened was sitting Blake and replacing w/Belliard keeping Hudson and his GLOVE @ 2nd especially when they're backs were against the wall. No doubt it was Belliard, Ethier, Loney, and Furcal that carried LA over the Cards. After that, bats tapered off vs. Phil. That included Blake as well with Hudson on the bench.
Out of desperation, sometimes a shake up is needed. We'll never know. Torre made the decisions and he's the one who has to live with them. That's also why he's paid to manage the club and we are relegated to blogging about it. Other than the issue of whether or not Hudson could've/should've seen more playing time is really the only question of how the club was managed from my standpoint.
Have been a Dodger fan for over 30 years and will be for hopefully another 30. Just won't be the same without Vinny behind the mic.

[Cal McInville]

Well said! I could not believe Torre benched him but now to hear that he did not even talk to him at all, that is really crazy and it really says a lot about Torre! Maybe Torre should go ahead and retire! I was so glad to see the O-Dog hit a Home run in his final at bat of the playoffs! something his replacement did not do in the playoffs! You bench your all star,switch hitting,gold glove winning second baseman?? Torre must have wanted to lose? Teams should be lined up to get Hudson!!!!

[critical12]

truly a shame that the gold gloved all-star, cycle hitting second baseman didn't even get to chat about the lineup changes with ol' skipper, especially into the playoffs. yes, a platoon at 2nd AND 3rd could've worked with Belliard. while stats reveal that O-Dog slumped in September, he also hit .284 after the all-star break (.283 first half) and had an OBP of .363 (compared to .353 in the first half). loved O-Dog's HR in the final game of the blue crew's season. best of luck where ever you may be next February Hudson!:)

[Here We Go]

The object is to win, right?

I loved the way Hudson played in the first 2 months, but he was pretty inconsistent offensively after that. He swung and missed a lot, as evidenced by his career high 99 strikeouts.

Torre made the call to replace him with Belliard and I couldn't argue with it. Belliard was on fire!

Torre also chose not to pitch Billingsley, the team leader in wins, and replaced him with Padilla, another late season pick up. Again, he did what he thought would give the Dodgers the best chance to win.

We all watch games and think we have things figured out, but nobody knows his team better than the manager. He has spent everyday from February-October with them.

So if Torre, a multiple World Series winning manager thinks it is time to make a change, I'm not to disagree with him.

I want to see the TEAM win, regardless of who starts.

[California Sun]

Here We Go,

Nobody knows the team better than the manager? I disagree. Torre started Andrew Jones for a month. Torre started Manny (Fanny) despite the team's better record without him. Torre didn't win the N.L. series, let alone the World Series. The Dodgers should have kept the Manager of the Year when they had him.

[jays fan]

Reunite with Butter, O Dog! He appreciates you and you could help them at ss....and win a gold glove there!

[Here We Go]

California Sun wrote:

Here We Go,
Nobody knows the team better than the manager? I disagree. Torre started Andrew Jones for a month. Torre started Manny (Fanny) despite the team's better record without him. Torre didn't win the N.L. series, let alone the World Series. The Dodgers should have kept the Manager of the Year when they had him.

Sure, you know the Dodgers better than Torre. And Jim Tracy? Are you kidding?

I think you have been in Utah breathing the thin air too long!

[Here We Go]

Sorry, I read "Upland" as "Utah".

Still doesn't explain how you would think Jim " everything by the book" Tracy is a better manager than Joe Torre.

[Paul]

Go with The hot players. Too bad the pitchers, bull-pen, catcher and left fielder stunk, Oh I am sorry, the stench stared at the TOP!!!!!!!!

[Here We Go]

Paul wrote:

Go with The hot players. Too bad the pitchers, bull-pen, catcher and left fielder stunk, Oh I am sorry, the stench stared at the TOP!!!!!!!!

Let's remember that a team that had won a total of ONE playoff game from 1989-2006 has gone to the NLCS two years in a row.

The bullpen was great all year and in the first round, but had trouble against the Phillies.

Martin had a down year, but played well defensively and handled the pitchers well.

The Dodgers will be fine next year, but if they can use Martin and/or Loney to get a power hitter at 1B and/or another SP, I'd roll the dice.

[Tom Ingalls]

Here We Go wrote:

<quoted text>
Let's remember that a team that had won a total of ONE playoff game from 1989-2006 has gone to the NLCS two years in a row.
The bullpen was great all year and in the first round, but had trouble against the Phillies.
Martin had a down year, but played well defensively and handled the pitchers well.
The Dodgers will be fine next year, but if they can use Martin and/or Loney to get a power hitter at 1B and/or another SP, I'd roll the dice.

Yep..this coming off season will be pretty interesting.
But you have to admit Billinglsy struggled the better part of the latter 1/2 of the season. I'd have zero confidence in him myself but admit he stood on his head in his relief appearence. Padilla was a dark horse. He just didn't have good stuff in gm6. I'm no Manny fan, but in Torre's defense of playing him consistently after he returned could of been pressure to do so to put butts in the seats. Yeah, politics. Gotta keep 'Mannywood' happy.

I'd be patient and not rid Loney nor Martin too hastally. Both are young and Martin oughta come out of the shute on fire next year offensively. They are also considered as part of the core for this club for many years to come. But with the quagmire going on in the front office, perhaps no ones really all that safe.