Grady Obliges

June 4, 2007

It's nice when the skipper listens to the faithful.

And when I say faithful, I mean the staff of BaseballSavvy.com primarily. It’s gratifying to see Grady Little act swiftly when me make a suggestion (OK, a plea). The day after we requested Brett Tomko’s removal from the Dodgers starting rotation, it was a done deal. To the bullpen Tomko went.

The similar demoting of Mark Hendrickson was a bit tardy, but we’re stoked, and appreciate our instructions being followed so closely. Obviously Hendrickson needs continued therapy, or a shrink with more letters after his name (Ph.D., for example), but the guy does a reasonably good job pitching out of the pen, so there’s no need for institutionalization. It can wait till October, anyway.

Now, if we can just get Little to ease up on poor Russell Martin, we might just rest on our laurels. “Rest” is the operative word, of course, because Grady just won’t give any to his star catcher. I’m sorry, but this “he’s young, he doesn’t need rest” line of thinking is just complete crap. Catchers need rest. All catchers need rest.

And catchers who hit should be treated especially carefully, with kid catcher’s gloves, if you will.

I don’t know what it is with Dodger managers the last decade or so. Both Mike Piazza and Paul Lo Duca were worked into the ground by their respective skippers, and now Martin is by his. It’s as if the blueprint to handling catchers is passed from man to man, from deep within the catacombs of Dodger Stadium, like the missile launch codes transfer between presidents. “Just point the catcher in the direction you want him to go, and fire!”

Whatever. Vote Martin into the All-Star Game at your own peril. Or his. Because you just know that given half a chance, Tony La Russa will leave Martin out there until Bud Selig ends the game tied after sixteen. But if Martin loses the popular vote to say, injured and pedestrian Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, La Russa can replace him with his newly acquired backup, Kelly Stinnett, allowing Martin at least a few innings on the sidelines…

Talkback: Your comments are always encouraged…

Investors Wanted: Yes, really. We’re looking. Invest a thimble full of venture capital today, make major league minimum tomorrow. Inquire…

Media Savvy: Interesting piece on George Mitchell by Ken Davidoff in Newsday Sunday. Davidoff’s right about Mitchell being the wrong choice to lead the steroid investigation, but Mitchell’s being a Red Sox fan is beside the point. Look, the guy was a prominent politician, a statesman, who worked among leaders of the free world. But a match for baseball? Please.

Check out last week’s cover story in LA Weekly. It’s a considerably more objective take on Scott Boras than we would ever run, but other than that, a great piece by Jeffrey Anderson.

And this look at old L.A. Angels bonus baby, Rick Reichardt, by Los Angeles Times columnist Jerry Crowe. I remember liking Reichardt when I was too young to know any better, and this is the first I’ve read about him in decades.

Ducks? It’s Anaheim. Couldn’t care less…

Kobe’s Right: Kobe just wants to win, so any and all methods are to be forgiven. He’s especially right about Jerry West, who is the man most singularly responsible for the Lakers success, over a nearly half-century period of time. Mitch Kupchak is the Bill Stoneman of basketball. Enough said…

Cox Sucks: Excuse the choice of word plays, but can we stop the talk about Bobby Cox breaking John McGraw’s record for getting tossed, please. Nothing could possibly matter less.

The only Cox number that’s even remotely relevant is the number of wives he’s beaten, one, which not coincidentally is the same number of his highly-favored clubs which has managed a World Championship. Cox is to be remembered for those two things, and those two things only…

Statue for Sandy: The Koufax in bronze campaign continues. Please Vote “Yes on 32.” And tell a friend…

Remember, glove conquers all….

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