Dodgers @ Astros - 3/13/08

[remy]

Chacon looking sharp through 2.  Another bad error by Tejada in the top of the first, but Chacon didn't let it affect him.

0-0 going to the bottom of the 2nd.

[Gizzmonic]

Milo is absolutely killing Tejada on the radio feed.  Went off on a long schpiel about how Tejada has misplayed countless balls in the Spring, then the next inning complained about his bad baserunning because he didn't score on a misplayed double by the Dodgers left fielder.

[remy]

Bottom 2nd-

Lee long fly ball to LF warning track.

Tejada bloop double down RF line.

Blum double over CF's head, Tejada doesn't score because it looked like it was going to be a catch(?).

Loretta single up the middle brings 'em both home.  2-0 Astros.

Loretta steals 2nd on a 3-1 pitch to Cruz.

Cruz draws the walk.

2 on, 1 out for Q.

[remy]

Quintero blasts a double off the wall in right-center field.  Loretta and Cruz score, 4-0 Astros.

Q is making things very interesting this spring...

[homer]

Milo is absolutely killing Tejada on the radio feed.  Went off on a long schpiel about how Tejada has misplayed countless balls in the Spring, then the next inning complained about his bad baserunning because he didn't score on a misplayed double by the Dodgers left fielder.

JD also thought Tejada should have scored.

1 out, Tejada on second and sharply hit fly to right center. Ball ends up being just out of reach of the right fielder and gets behind him. Tejada, however, went back to tag up and couldn't score on the misplay. JD questioned the benefit of advancing to third base on the second out, thinking that Tejada should have been more aggressive.

[remy]

Bourn with a slow chopper up the middle, throw to first is errant (he would have been safe anyway) allowing Q to score.  5-0 Astros, still just 1 out.

[homer]

Bourn just motored down the line on a high chop to second, forced a hurried throw that led to an error.

He is very fast.

[MusicMan]

Every Tejada error leads me closer to thinking that Loretta will be an Oriole and Manzella will be in Houston.

[remy]

Spaz with a sharp single up the middle.  Runners on 1st and 2nd, still just one out.

[homer]

Every Tejada error leads me closer to thinking that Loretta will be an Oriole and Manzella will be in Houston.

Where will Tejada play?

[MusicMan]

Where will Tejada play?

He could stay at SS, but Manzella becomes a regular defensive replacement.

Or, if they fill they're scoring plenty of runs, Wigginton becomes the Mike Lamb of 2008 and Tejada moves to 3b.

[Jacksonian]

Where will Tejada play?

If Manzella is the heir apparent he won't be promoted to sit the bench.

[remy]

Berkman with a very sharp grounder up the middle that is snagged by the pitcher.  Bourn is forced at second, but the ball is bobbled so no DP.  Runners on the corners and 2 outs for Lee.

Kuroda makes Lee look silly, strike out swinging

5-0 Astros after 2.

[homer]

Just rewound to have a look at the error. Sharply hit grounder to second, Blum feeds Tejada to start the double play, but Tejada couldn't get the handle on the throw. JD commented that some ST errors can be blamed on the fields, but not that one.

[remy]

Top 3rd:

Young fly to left, 1 out.

Chacon walks Ethier then gives up a single to Russel Martin.  2 out, 1 out for Loney.

Dewey visits the mound after Chacon falls behind Loney 2-0.

[remy]

Loney rips a hard single on a 3-2 pitch to RF, scoring Ethier.  5-1 Astros. Runners on the corners, 1 out.

Sweeney with a solid single to RF, scoring Martin.  5-2 Astros.  Runners on the corners, still just 1 out.

3 straight hits off Chacon.

[remy]

Repko doubles over Cruz's head off the LF wall.  1 run scores, 5-3 Astros.  Runners at 2nd and 3rd, still just 1 out.  Chacon laboring like hell out there.

Dewitt tripes off the top of the RF wall as Pence crashes into it.  2 runs score.  Game tied 5-5.  Still just 1 out, Chacon still pitching.

Lasorda (yes, Lasorda) puts the squeeze on but the hitter Dejesus botches it.  2 outs.

Dejesus walks (I think, stepped out of the room).  Next batter Logan grounds into a FC.

After 2 1/2 its tied up at 5 apiece.  Pretty sure that's the end of the day for Mr Chacon.

[remy]

Bottom of the 3rd:

Tejada leads off and reaches on an error by 2B Young.  Advances to 2nd as the throw gets past the first baseman.

Tejada advances to 3rd on a long sac fly to CF by Blum.  1 out, runner on 3rd for Loretta.

Sharp groundball to short by Lo', Tejada coming home all the way.  Slides in behind the catcher and touches the plate safely just as the throw arrives. 6-5 Astros.

Cruz grounds into a FC.  Runner on 1st, 2 outs.

Quintero hits a bullet but right at the secondbaseman Young.

6-5 Astros after 3.

[Taras Bulba]

He could stay at SS, but Manzella becomes a regular defensive replacement.

Or, if they fill they're scoring plenty of runs, Wigginton becomes the Mike Lamb of 2008 and Tejada moves to 3b.

If they are even thinking of Tejada going to third, wouldn't he be getting reps/games there? 

[remy]

Top 4th:

Randolph in to pitch for Houston.  Walks the leadoff hitter Young on a 3-2 pitch.

Young picked off first trying to steal.  Ethier flies out.  Martin flies out.

Finally, an easy inning.  6-5 Astros through 3 1/2.

[MusicMan]

If they are even thinking of Tejada going to third, wouldn't he be getting reps/games there? 

Fair point.  I'm just saying it's an option if he butchers SS.

[remy]

Bottom 4th:

Proctor in to pitch for LA.

Bourn's speed once again buys him first base.  Grounder to the right side, pitcher covering, drops the ball as he and Bourn reach the base at the same time.  Not sure how they ruled it, but I think it was a hit.

Bourn steals 2nd on strike 3 to Spaz.  Safe by a mile, ball trickles into CF.  Bourn takes third base.  1 out for Berkman.

Berkman sac fly to right-center field.  7-5 Astros.  2 outs.

Lee easy grounder to 3B.  7-5 Astros after 4.

[remy]

Top 5th:

Randolph still in there.

Loney grounds out to third.

Sweeney strikes out swinging on a 3-2 changeup.

Repko strikes out on a check swing.

7-5 Astros through 4 1/2.

[pravata]

Fair point.  I'm just saying it's an option if he butchers SS.

Ortiz had asked the Torpedo questions submitted by fans

Chronicle: Some have wondered if you’ll move to third base? Shortstop or third base, have you thought about those two positions?

Tejada: No. I will play shortstop, but if they decide to put me at third base, well, I’ll be prepared to do what they want. The only thing I like is to play baseball. I don’t care where.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5472249.html

(7/29/2006) "I don't want to go anywhere to play third if they have nobody else to play third base because it's a position that I've never played," he said. "I want to play shortstop because that's the position that I've always played. I don't want to be [at shortstop] all year and then play third base. It's not an easy position. I don't want to disappoint myself. If I go play for somewhere else, I'll try. . . . If I need to make the move I'll make it [but] I can still play short."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/29/AR2006072900938.html

[remy]

Bottom 5th:

(Had a phone call, not sure who's pitching for LA at this point. Some lanky southpaw.)

Tejada leads off with a double in the gap.

Blum pops up to 2b.

Loretta walks.  Runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out for Cheito.

[MusicMan]

Bottom 5th:

(Had a phone call, not sure who's pitching for LA at this point. Some lanky southpaw.)

Kershaw - #1 Dodger prospect.

[Jacksonian]

Ortiz had asked the Torpedo questions submitted by fans

Chronicle: Some have wondered if you’ll move to third base? Shortstop or third base, have you thought about those two positions?

Tejada: No. I will play shortstop, but if they decide to put me at third base, well, I’ll be prepared to do what they want. The only thing I like is to play baseball. I don’t care where.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5472249.html

(7/29/2006) "I don't want to go anywhere to play third if they have nobody else to play third base because it's a position that I've never played," he said. "I want to play shortstop because that's the position that I've always played. I don't want to be [at shortstop] all year and then play third base. It's not an easy position. I don't want to disappoint myself. If I go play for somewhere else, I'll try. . . . If I need to make the move I'll make it [but] I can still play short."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/29/AR2006072900938.html

I'm in the "wait and see what he does in the regular season" crowd.

[remy]

Cruz grounder up the middle, bobbled by the second baseman.

Bases loaded for Quintero, 1 out.

Q lines into a double play.

7-5 Astros after 5.

I've gotta run some errands. If anyone else wants to take over please feel free.

[Reuben]

I'm in the "wait and see what he does in the regular season" crowd.

Looking at Tejada's career fielding %s, he's always remarkably close to the league average (.971 career). So, I don't think he's a guy you worry too much about making errors. From what I've read he's fairly sure-handed and has a good arm. It's a question of range. (and turning the DP, quickness, etc.). I'm sure he'll spend at least the majority of the season at SS.