Also, a lot of fans are saying that Donnie is saying the same thing that we're saying. That couldn't be further from the case. None of us are dumb enough to think the reason we're losing is because we have TOO MANY good players. We're losing because we have too many bad ones. If Donnie said "The problem with this team is there are a handful of guys on the roster that have no place being on an MLB roster", then I'd be first in line supporting him. But he called out the superstars, then proceeded to bench the wrong one! Absolutely ridiculous.
Bill Shaikin @BillShaikin 15m Mattingly still will manage #Dodgers when team opens homestand Friday, reports @dylanohernandez: http://lat.ms/11ZOHfH
Ethier was calm when asked about Mattingly’s indirect criticism, but said he was taken aback. "I take offense to that," Ethier said. Ethier said he was bothered that Mattingly made the comments to reporters without addressing with him first.
the real world comparison was only made to illustrate intent. not draw a parallel. i would have thought that was obvious. he was shaking it up and trying to get the teams attention. never mind.
You have to believe it because I saw his shoulder incased in ice on TV and I'm a DSP Legend am not allowed to make shit up or lie to you. And BTW Don't give up.
One rival general manager told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that it seems like Mattingly is trying to get himself fired. Don Mattingly vents about DodgersKen Rosenthal | FOX Sports15 Minutes agoManager Don Mattingly benched right fielder Andre Ethier, lashed out at his players’ lack of mental toughness and questioned upper management’s roster construction in comments to reporters before Wednesday’s game in Milwaukee.Either Mattingly spoke with the blessing of general manager Ned Colletti, team president Stan Kasten and the club’s new ownership, or his words amounted to an angry, desperate stand from a man who knows he soon might lose his job.One rival GM said it had to be the latter, finding it difficult to believe that upper management would endorse criticism of its own strategies.“He’s trying to get himself fired,” the GM said upon learning of Mattingly’s comments.Mattingly rarely is as candid or expansive as he was during his session with reporters before Wednesday's 9-2 win. His remarks offered a glimpse of his frustration with a team that is failing to meet high expectations.Still, even if the Dodgers dismiss Mattingly, the issues that he raised with his remarks are not going away.Ethier, 31, is in the first year of a five-year, $85 million extension. But Mattingly benched Ethier on Wednesday in favor of Scott Van Slyke, saying he wanted to put out his “most competitive lineup” and one that would “fight the hardest.”Even more damning, Mattingly echoed what many other observers have said about not only about the Dodgers, but also other teams that essentially try to buy a World Series title.It’s difficult to do.“We gotta find a team with talent that will fight and compete like a club that doesn’t have talent,” Mattingly said. “I felt we got more out of our ability last year. I don’t know about being tougher, but I felt we got more out of our ability.“There has to be a mixture of competitiveness. It’s not, ‘Let’s put an All-Star team together and the All-Star team wins.’ It’s finding that balance of a team that has a little bit of grit and will fight you. And also having talent to go with it.“All grit and no talent isn’t going to make you successful. But all talent and no grit is not going to get you there, either.”The Dodgers have increased their payroll to $217 million with a series of blockbuster moves under their new ownership. But they entered Wednesday in last place in the National League West, seven games out of first place with an 18-26 record.Ethier, batting .264 with four homers and a .758 OPS, isn’t the team’s only problem. But he was the subject of persistent trade rumors last offseason — rumors denied by Colletti — and the Dodgers have a potentially exciting alternative at Double-A, outfielder Yasiel Puig.Will Mattingly ever manage Puig, the Cuban defector who caused a sensation with his performance in spring training? The question remains open. Colletti and Kasten have declined to address Mattingly’s future in recent days.The Dodgers are off Thursday and then begin a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium on Friday.One thing is clear: The tension surrounding this team isn’t going away. __
Just a heads up, I don't think most of us agree with you. I think it's more of a bunch of good players playing like shit. The fact Dee Gordon or Uribe are starting games isn't as big of cause to losing as Kemp and Ethier sucking balls. AGon not hitting HRs. They are considered superstars. Now that I think about it, I totally do not understand why you are sticking up for Ethier.
Maybe he thinks sending a message will pay off in the long run. Nothing the superstar team does works regardless, so maybe if we sacrifice a little today, it will pay off tomorrow and beyond. Not saying I totally agree with it, but I think it's clear that's what he was doing. He's tried patience and leaving everyone in. And nothing Ethier has done is overwhelming enough to not give it a try. A corner infield position was the easiest place to bench someone. And if Ethier is in his doghouse, there is no way we know the reason. It probably happened behind the scenes. You're making the assumption Don is thinking, "Andre sucks. Let's bench him even though others are sucking more." I doubt that's it. I'm pretty sure Andre did something to piss him off, so to say it's the wrong player to take a stand against isn't necessarily right, because it's likely not based all on performance. Ethier probably pissed him off, like I said....behind the scenes. We have no idea.
I don't fully agree or disagree with anyone's opinion on this. There isn't a right or wrong answer for this one. (Although I'm sure VRP disagrees )
Ethier is a career .289/.362/.473. He's hitting .264/.353/.405. He's not playing that badly. And we'll have to agree to disagree then, if you think Ethier is the 2nd reason we're sucking, because I don't think he's in the top 10 reasons.
People that I think are "more to blame" for us being 7 games under .500 than Ethier are Kemp, Ned, Donnie, League, Hanley, Bills (with Hanley and Bills it's not necessarily their faults, but they're easily more the reason we're losing then Ethier) Luis Cruz, Skip Schumaker, Josh Beckett, Dee, then maybe Ethier. So I'd put him 11th. Ethier is only .50 points off his expected OPS. Everyone else there is like .200+ points off, hurt, or just terrible.
Well, Ethier is only .50 points of after his big day(2 days ago)...before then when we were losing alot, he was far worse, that is why I put more blame on him. Funny he has done a bit better the last series and then gets into "trouble" or benched. Over the last 14 days his OPS has been over .940...the last 28 games .748, and the last 365 days .752 -OR- April/March=.733 but May=.796 I don't want Ethier to be traded or benched or platooned. Like you(and unlike many Dodger fans)I believe he is our best option for the longterm. I'm not on the Puig bandwagon yet, and I do not think anyone they get from elsewhere is a better option than Ethier. I've stated early this season that i don't like the "lameduck" feeling that's been placed on Ethier because of the ST Puig had. I'm certain Ethier may see that too. All he can do is play well like he has been very recently and he will start everyday in RF for the Dodgers. No way Don doesn't play him. If I'm guessing wrong, I will be the first to hate Don over it. This is a one day benching in my opinion. We'll know this weekend.
