Dodgers manager Torre defends lineup shuffle

truebluefan · Apr 18, 2010

http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_14907884

Dodgers manager Joe Torre defended his decision to use a watered-down lineup Saturday against San Francisco Giants ace Tim Lincecum.

Russell Martin, Casey Blake, Rafael Furcal and Manny Ramirez all were on the bench against the two-time Cy Young Award winner and the results were predictable.

The Dodgers, who had scored less than five runs just once this season entering Saturday's game, were shut out for the first time.

Torre insisted that nobody was raising the white flag against a challenging opponent. Instead, he was looking to the future when he committed the lineup to ink, putting Jamey Carroll (shortstop) in the leadoff spot.

Garret Anderson (left field) batted fifth, Ronnie Belliard (third base) batted sixth and A.J. Ellis (catcher) was eighth.

"I have to do what is best for us over the long haul," Torre said. "I can't concern myself with who is pitching against us. If it's somebody who had outstanding numbers and I'm sitting him down, you don't do that. But there aren't too many guys who have outstanding numbers against Lincecum."

By that logic, maybe Torre should have rested Matt Kemp, too. Kemp entered 1 for 12 in his career against Lincecum with six strikeouts. He added to that total when he struck out in his first two at-bats against the right-hander.

Kemp saw his streak of four consecutive home games with a home run come to an end. He did contribute a single in the sixth inning against Lincecum.
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Dodgers manager Torre defends lineup shuffle

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