Jason Schmidt will once again try to salvage his once great career by being activated from the 60-day DL and making the start Monday against the Reds. It'll be his first start since June 16, 2007.
This saga just seems to never end. He's been rehabbing in the minors all season. In Class A Inland Empire, he's 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA in two starts. In Triple-A Albuquerque, he's 2-0 with a 4.18 ERA in five starts with six overall appearances. So, not too shabby.
Potentially, he can get up to three starts before the July 31 trade deadline. It's no secret that the Dodgers are looking for pitching help in both the rotation and bullpen. Could he possibly be trade bait with some strong performances? Who knows.
For a look back on his spectacular Dodgers history (yes, sarcasm), click on the link to the article. It's pretty amazing reading all of the injuries he's been through. So much for being the ace of the staff after signing a three-year, $47 million deal before the 2007 season.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Dodgers rebound on Kershaw's strong effort
The Dodgers started Saturday night's game by doing something they really needed to do: hold the Astros scoreless and put a couple runs on the board themselves. They never looked back, as Kershaw went seven strong for the win, 5-2.
After getting slapped around by the Astros for the first two games after the All-Star break, the Dodgers needed someone to step up and end the slide. As they've done all year after losing two straight, they turned things around for a win. Still, the Dodgers are the only team in baseball to not lose three straight games.
Rafael Furcal opened the bottom of the first with a single. Orlando Hudson then ripped one to left that just bounced in front of a sliding Carlos Lee, rolling all the way to the wall for an RBI triple. Matt Kemp's RBI single to left an out later made it 2-0.
That's how the score would stay until the sixth, when things got crazy for a moment. O-Dog singled and Manny doubled with one out for two runners on. Casey Blake was given the intentional pass to load the bases with one down. Kemp hit a soft grounder that scored Hudson for the 3-0 lead.
Mark Loretta started at first for James Loney and came through with an RBI single, and it was 4-0. On the play, Kemp went to third, and Loretta was on first. Mike Hampton, apparently mad that he gave up a couple runs, took the ball from the catcher and tried to fire it into his glove.
Well... he missed, and it rolled to the wall near the Astros dugout. Kemp was paying attention and easily trotted home. Since time was never called, the run counted, and that was it for Hampton.
Up 5-0 in the eighth, Kershaw was pulled after giving up only two hits, one walk, and five strikeouts. James McDonald came on with a chance to get some outs... and proceeded to give up two straight hits for a run. He got yanked by an angry Joe Torre.
Brent Leach and Ramon Troncoso were able to hold the Astros to a couple of runs. Jonathan Broxton came in to close, and again found himself in trouble by walking Miguel Tejada leading off. A hit and a walk later, and the bases were loaded. Thankfully in between all of that, he managed to strike out the side, getting his 21st save.
As for Kershaw, he's clearly taking over the team ace roll as Chad Billingsley continues to struggle. He's 5-0 with an incredible 0.75 ERA in his last seven starts. Whoa. Those stats are just stunning. I'd say he's more than meeting his potential at this point.
The Dodgers will look to split the series today by sending Hiroki Kuroda to the mound. He hasn't done much of anything lately, so he's another guy trying to figure things out. Today would be a good day for that.
After getting slapped around by the Astros for the first two games after the All-Star break, the Dodgers needed someone to step up and end the slide. As they've done all year after losing two straight, they turned things around for a win. Still, the Dodgers are the only team in baseball to not lose three straight games.
Rafael Furcal opened the bottom of the first with a single. Orlando Hudson then ripped one to left that just bounced in front of a sliding Carlos Lee, rolling all the way to the wall for an RBI triple. Matt Kemp's RBI single to left an out later made it 2-0.
That's how the score would stay until the sixth, when things got crazy for a moment. O-Dog singled and Manny doubled with one out for two runners on. Casey Blake was given the intentional pass to load the bases with one down. Kemp hit a soft grounder that scored Hudson for the 3-0 lead.
Mark Loretta started at first for James Loney and came through with an RBI single, and it was 4-0. On the play, Kemp went to third, and Loretta was on first. Mike Hampton, apparently mad that he gave up a couple runs, took the ball from the catcher and tried to fire it into his glove.
Well... he missed, and it rolled to the wall near the Astros dugout. Kemp was paying attention and easily trotted home. Since time was never called, the run counted, and that was it for Hampton.
Up 5-0 in the eighth, Kershaw was pulled after giving up only two hits, one walk, and five strikeouts. James McDonald came on with a chance to get some outs... and proceeded to give up two straight hits for a run. He got yanked by an angry Joe Torre.
Brent Leach and Ramon Troncoso were able to hold the Astros to a couple of runs. Jonathan Broxton came in to close, and again found himself in trouble by walking Miguel Tejada leading off. A hit and a walk later, and the bases were loaded. Thankfully in between all of that, he managed to strike out the side, getting his 21st save.
As for Kershaw, he's clearly taking over the team ace roll as Chad Billingsley continues to struggle. He's 5-0 with an incredible 0.75 ERA in his last seven starts. Whoa. Those stats are just stunning. I'd say he's more than meeting his potential at this point.
The Dodgers will look to split the series today by sending Hiroki Kuroda to the mound. He hasn't done much of anything lately, so he's another guy trying to figure things out. Today would be a good day for that.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Billingsley rocked as Astros pound Dodgers
Chad Billingsley would sure love to forget about his last month of pitching.
For the sixth straight time, Billingsley was unable to get that elusive 10th win. Not only did he not accomplish this, but he lasted only 1 and 2/3 innings, getting drilled for six runs, as the Astros easily won, 8-1. It was not pretty to say the least.
The Astros hit around in the first inning. Bills actually got Michael Bourn and Kaz Matsui out to start the game. Then, the next six hitters reached with two down. The big blows were a solo homer by Miguel Tejada and a two-run double by Hunter Pence.
After the Dodgers went down weakly in the bottom half, the Astros again went to work in the second. A big two-run double by Geoff Blum chased Bills with two outs in the second. Jeff Weaver had to come in way earlier than anyone would have expected.
The only run the Dodgers got was an RBI groundout by Russell Martin to score Orlando Hudson in the third. That, my friends, was it.
As bad as Billingsley was, Roy Oswalt was just the opposite. He went the complete game, giving up only one run on four hits. Throw in no walks and five strikeouts, and that was the Oswalt of old. After a rough first couple of months, he's turned it around to become the ace of their staff again.
For Billingsley, it's hard to figure out exactly what's wrong. Perhaps he had a bit of a dead arm last night after pitching in the All-Star game on Tuesday. Maybe the Astros just took good swings. From what I could tell, his location wasn't sharp at all. His breaking stuff either barely made it to the plate or was right in the middle.
I'll hope it's something as simple as fixing his location and not something worse. From what the Astros players said, they knew his breaking stuff was bad, so they just sat on his fastball. His next start will come at home on Wednesday against the Reds, who aren't a good hitting team. Hopefully that'll be the game to get him turned around.
Clayton Kershaw will take the mound today, looking to stop the Dodgers from getting their first three-game losing streak of the year. It won't be easy, as the Astros have completely outplayed them in every aspect of the game so far. But, Mike Hampton is going for the Astros, who isn't exactly a stud pitcher anymore.
For the sixth straight time, Billingsley was unable to get that elusive 10th win. Not only did he not accomplish this, but he lasted only 1 and 2/3 innings, getting drilled for six runs, as the Astros easily won, 8-1. It was not pretty to say the least.
The Astros hit around in the first inning. Bills actually got Michael Bourn and Kaz Matsui out to start the game. Then, the next six hitters reached with two down. The big blows were a solo homer by Miguel Tejada and a two-run double by Hunter Pence.
After the Dodgers went down weakly in the bottom half, the Astros again went to work in the second. A big two-run double by Geoff Blum chased Bills with two outs in the second. Jeff Weaver had to come in way earlier than anyone would have expected.
The only run the Dodgers got was an RBI groundout by Russell Martin to score Orlando Hudson in the third. That, my friends, was it.
As bad as Billingsley was, Roy Oswalt was just the opposite. He went the complete game, giving up only one run on four hits. Throw in no walks and five strikeouts, and that was the Oswalt of old. After a rough first couple of months, he's turned it around to become the ace of their staff again.
For Billingsley, it's hard to figure out exactly what's wrong. Perhaps he had a bit of a dead arm last night after pitching in the All-Star game on Tuesday. Maybe the Astros just took good swings. From what I could tell, his location wasn't sharp at all. His breaking stuff either barely made it to the plate or was right in the middle.
I'll hope it's something as simple as fixing his location and not something worse. From what the Astros players said, they knew his breaking stuff was bad, so they just sat on his fastball. His next start will come at home on Wednesday against the Reds, who aren't a good hitting team. Hopefully that'll be the game to get him turned around.
Clayton Kershaw will take the mound today, looking to stop the Dodgers from getting their first three-game losing streak of the year. It won't be easy, as the Astros have completely outplayed them in every aspect of the game so far. But, Mike Hampton is going for the Astros, who isn't exactly a stud pitcher anymore.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Astros' pitching stifles Dodgers
Manny Ramirez made his long-awaited return to Los Angeles on Thursday night. He hadn't played there since a May 6 win against the Nationals. Yes indeed, "Mannywood" is back.
But somebody forgot to wake up the offense, as the Astros had their way in a 3-0 win. The Dodgers had a handful of chances, but nine men left on base and two double plays were too much to overcome.
The start of the game was a nice pitcher's duel between Randy Wolf and Wandy Rodriguez. Neither team could push a run across through four.
In the fifth, the Astros broke the ice with a solo homer from Humberto Quintero. He's now up to a whopping... one for the season. Figures.
Down by one, the Dodgers had a golden opportunity to get on the board. James Loney singled to lead off, and Orlando Hudson doubled into left for two runners in scoring position. Randy Wolf hit a soft grounder to second, but it wasn't good enough to score a run. With one down, Rafael Furcal walked.
So now the bases were loaded with one down, and Andre Ethier stepped up to the plate. It seems like every time he gets in one of these situations, it's either a huge hit or a double play. What happened here? A soft grounder to short for the 6-3 DP. Ouch.
The Dodgers never really had a big threat after that, as Rodriguez and the bullpen didn't give much to them. The Astros tacked on two more in seventh, as Wolf gave up three straight hits to start the inning and load the bases. Guillermo Mota came in and did a pretty good job, only allowing a couple runs to score.
In the bottom of the seventh, Loney and Hudson again reached to start, but two strikeouts and a groundout washed away any scoring chance. Jose Velverde came on and got his ninth save to close it out.
Wolf was pretty good for most of the game. He finished with six innings, five hits, three runs, one walk, and six strikeouts. Unfortunately for him, a bad seventh inning really made his final line look ordinary. But with no run support, there's not much he could do.
As for Manny, he ended up going 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. He singled in the eighth, but Casey Blake grounded into a double play. The only one who really did well was O-Dog, who was 3-for-4.
Chad Billingsley will, once again, look for his 10th win tonight. He's been a little off lately, including giving up the tying run in the All-Star game. In fact, if not for Albert Pujols' two diving plays, who knows how many runs would've scored. He'll go against the always dangerous Roy Oswalt.
But somebody forgot to wake up the offense, as the Astros had their way in a 3-0 win. The Dodgers had a handful of chances, but nine men left on base and two double plays were too much to overcome.
The start of the game was a nice pitcher's duel between Randy Wolf and Wandy Rodriguez. Neither team could push a run across through four.
In the fifth, the Astros broke the ice with a solo homer from Humberto Quintero. He's now up to a whopping... one for the season. Figures.
Down by one, the Dodgers had a golden opportunity to get on the board. James Loney singled to lead off, and Orlando Hudson doubled into left for two runners in scoring position. Randy Wolf hit a soft grounder to second, but it wasn't good enough to score a run. With one down, Rafael Furcal walked.
So now the bases were loaded with one down, and Andre Ethier stepped up to the plate. It seems like every time he gets in one of these situations, it's either a huge hit or a double play. What happened here? A soft grounder to short for the 6-3 DP. Ouch.
The Dodgers never really had a big threat after that, as Rodriguez and the bullpen didn't give much to them. The Astros tacked on two more in seventh, as Wolf gave up three straight hits to start the inning and load the bases. Guillermo Mota came in and did a pretty good job, only allowing a couple runs to score.
In the bottom of the seventh, Loney and Hudson again reached to start, but two strikeouts and a groundout washed away any scoring chance. Jose Velverde came on and got his ninth save to close it out.
Wolf was pretty good for most of the game. He finished with six innings, five hits, three runs, one walk, and six strikeouts. Unfortunately for him, a bad seventh inning really made his final line look ordinary. But with no run support, there's not much he could do.
As for Manny, he ended up going 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. He singled in the eighth, but Casey Blake grounded into a double play. The only one who really did well was O-Dog, who was 3-for-4.
Chad Billingsley will, once again, look for his 10th win tonight. He's been a little off lately, including giving up the tying run in the All-Star game. In fact, if not for Albert Pujols' two diving plays, who knows how many runs would've scored. He'll go against the always dangerous Roy Oswalt.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Looking back at the first half
With baseball's best record at 56-32, the Dodgers have had a historic first half of the season. Clutch hitting, comeback wins, and that guy getting suspended 50 games have been the major highlights. Let's take a look at the highs and lows thus far:
The Good
Best record in baseball. That's really all I have to say about that. By winning nearly 64% of their games, the Dodgers hold a lead over the Red Sox by two games.
Comeback victories. Countless times the Dodgers have won it the dramatic way with big hits coming late. From the seventh inning on, they're hitting a whopping .296, by far the best in baseball. There's really no counting this team out.
Pitching. Their team ERA is 3.58, second only to the Giants. As usual, the pitching has been stellar. Even with the subtractions of Brad Penny, Greg Maddux, Derek Lowe, Takashi Saito, and Joe Beimel, the staff has continued to step up and lead the way. Also, they lead the league in ERA with runners in scoring position.
Dominance on the road. They have the most wins on the road with 28. Plus, they've already played six more games on the road than at home, so they'll be closer to home in the second half.
Bench leadership. Mark Loretta, Juan Castro, and Brad Ausmus have been awesome off the bench. Every situation they're put into, from spot starts to late-inning replacements, they've excelled. Most importantly, the Dodgers haven't skipped a beat with them in there.
Juan Pierre. I don't think many people would have envisioned this, but he was an All-Star while filling in for Manny Ramirez. He has a .328 AVG, .387 OBP, and 23 steals. An argument can easily be made that he's the most valuable player of the first half.
Manny Ramirez (on the field). Before and after his suspension, there's no denying that he's still one of the top hitters in baseball. In only 36 games, he's hitting .355 with an incredible .487 OBP, 9 homers, and 29 RBIs.
Casey Blake. I still think he should have gotten way more All-Star consideration. But, at .285 with 12 homers and 55 RBIs, I'll be more than happy to take that. Most importantly, his glove has been great.
Orlando Hudson. His cycle in the home opener was a sign of things to come. While an ice cold June made his average go down to .283, he still has 24 doubles, seven home runs, and 44 RBIs. Plus, his Gold Glove caliber defense is on display every night.
Matt Kemp. Quietly, he's put together some great numbers. He's at a .320 AVG, .384 OBP, six triples, 11 homers, 50 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases. And, as I've said about the previous two guys, his defense has been terrific as well.
Andre Ethier. His average is only .250, but 18 homers and 56 RBIs are legit. He's been the key figure in late-inning heroics.
Chad Billingsley. He was absolutely red hot to start the year, but has cooled off recently. Still, there's no denying he's earned his All-Star berth with a 9-4 record, 3.38 ERA, and 119 strikeouts. He's the team ace.
Randy Wolf. If only the Dodgers could give him more run support, he'd be in St. Louis right now. His record is a mere 4-3, but his 3.45 ERA and 1.17 WHIP show how great he's been.
Clayton Kershaw. The current run he's been on for the last six games have been incredible. When he's on, he's practically unhittable. He still walks too many, but with a 3.16 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 99.2 innings, he's doing something right.
Ramon Troncoso and Ronald Belisario. I'll group these two together because there's so many similarities. They've both come out of nowhere, and both have been huge in late innings. Combined, they've thrown 105 innings, giving up 88 hits, striking out 80, and giving up only four homers. Both have sub-2.50 ERAs. Just a fantastic job by these two.
Jonathan Broxton. With 20 saves and 65 strikeouts in 40.2 innings, he's one of the top closers in the game.
The Bad.
Manny's 50-game suspension. Even if the Dodgers played great ball with him out, it's a shame the whole thing ever had to go down. It was pretty embarrassing to say the least. Thankfully, it's over.
Russell Martin. It's hard to believe how lost he's been at the plate most of this year. He's had a couple of really bad months during April and June which has caused him to be at .258 right now. And, he only has two homers. Hopefully that turns around soon.
Rafael Furcal. He was in the mid to low .200's through the first three months. A hot July has raised his average to .256. It seems like he's finally starting to settle in.
Hong-Chih Kuo. Whoa, has he struggled. He's been shelved for awhile with elbow problems, which most likely explain his 6.75 ERA. He was a top reliever last year, and hasn't even come close to that this season. Anything they get out of him the rest of this season would be a bonus.
James McDonald. Perhaps a little unfair to put the kid on this list. But, he was the fifth starter coming out of spring training, and pretty much pitched his way out of that. With a 4.70 ERA and 1.50 WHIP, he's now back in the bullpen.
The Good
Best record in baseball. That's really all I have to say about that. By winning nearly 64% of their games, the Dodgers hold a lead over the Red Sox by two games.
Comeback victories. Countless times the Dodgers have won it the dramatic way with big hits coming late. From the seventh inning on, they're hitting a whopping .296, by far the best in baseball. There's really no counting this team out.
Pitching. Their team ERA is 3.58, second only to the Giants. As usual, the pitching has been stellar. Even with the subtractions of Brad Penny, Greg Maddux, Derek Lowe, Takashi Saito, and Joe Beimel, the staff has continued to step up and lead the way. Also, they lead the league in ERA with runners in scoring position.
Dominance on the road. They have the most wins on the road with 28. Plus, they've already played six more games on the road than at home, so they'll be closer to home in the second half.
Bench leadership. Mark Loretta, Juan Castro, and Brad Ausmus have been awesome off the bench. Every situation they're put into, from spot starts to late-inning replacements, they've excelled. Most importantly, the Dodgers haven't skipped a beat with them in there.
Juan Pierre. I don't think many people would have envisioned this, but he was an All-Star while filling in for Manny Ramirez. He has a .328 AVG, .387 OBP, and 23 steals. An argument can easily be made that he's the most valuable player of the first half.
Manny Ramirez (on the field). Before and after his suspension, there's no denying that he's still one of the top hitters in baseball. In only 36 games, he's hitting .355 with an incredible .487 OBP, 9 homers, and 29 RBIs.
Casey Blake. I still think he should have gotten way more All-Star consideration. But, at .285 with 12 homers and 55 RBIs, I'll be more than happy to take that. Most importantly, his glove has been great.
Orlando Hudson. His cycle in the home opener was a sign of things to come. While an ice cold June made his average go down to .283, he still has 24 doubles, seven home runs, and 44 RBIs. Plus, his Gold Glove caliber defense is on display every night.
Matt Kemp. Quietly, he's put together some great numbers. He's at a .320 AVG, .384 OBP, six triples, 11 homers, 50 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases. And, as I've said about the previous two guys, his defense has been terrific as well.
Andre Ethier. His average is only .250, but 18 homers and 56 RBIs are legit. He's been the key figure in late-inning heroics.
Chad Billingsley. He was absolutely red hot to start the year, but has cooled off recently. Still, there's no denying he's earned his All-Star berth with a 9-4 record, 3.38 ERA, and 119 strikeouts. He's the team ace.
Randy Wolf. If only the Dodgers could give him more run support, he'd be in St. Louis right now. His record is a mere 4-3, but his 3.45 ERA and 1.17 WHIP show how great he's been.
Clayton Kershaw. The current run he's been on for the last six games have been incredible. When he's on, he's practically unhittable. He still walks too many, but with a 3.16 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 99.2 innings, he's doing something right.
Ramon Troncoso and Ronald Belisario. I'll group these two together because there's so many similarities. They've both come out of nowhere, and both have been huge in late innings. Combined, they've thrown 105 innings, giving up 88 hits, striking out 80, and giving up only four homers. Both have sub-2.50 ERAs. Just a fantastic job by these two.
Jonathan Broxton. With 20 saves and 65 strikeouts in 40.2 innings, he's one of the top closers in the game.
The Bad.
Manny's 50-game suspension. Even if the Dodgers played great ball with him out, it's a shame the whole thing ever had to go down. It was pretty embarrassing to say the least. Thankfully, it's over.
Russell Martin. It's hard to believe how lost he's been at the plate most of this year. He's had a couple of really bad months during April and June which has caused him to be at .258 right now. And, he only has two homers. Hopefully that turns around soon.
Rafael Furcal. He was in the mid to low .200's through the first three months. A hot July has raised his average to .256. It seems like he's finally starting to settle in.
Hong-Chih Kuo. Whoa, has he struggled. He's been shelved for awhile with elbow problems, which most likely explain his 6.75 ERA. He was a top reliever last year, and hasn't even come close to that this season. Anything they get out of him the rest of this season would be a bonus.
James McDonald. Perhaps a little unfair to put the kid on this list. But, he was the fifth starter coming out of spring training, and pretty much pitched his way out of that. With a 4.70 ERA and 1.50 WHIP, he's now back in the bullpen.
Baseball's best ends 1st half on high note
The Dodgers went out on Sunday and did what they've done better than any other team so far this season: take care of business on the field. A 6-0 let them cruise to a 7-4 win, their 56th of the season.
There's a lot to like about the way the Dodgers won this game. First of all, they were far away from Los Angeles, and could have easily packed it in and called it a break. Instead, they were the ones who looked like they still had something to prove, starting the game with a quick 2-0 advantage.
Rafael Furcal started things with a walk. After Andre Ethier struck out, Manny Ramirez lifted a long fly ball to right. Corey Hart must have lost it in the sun, or never thought he'd catch it to begin with, because he let it drop near the wall, putting runners on first and second.
Casey Blake then walked as well, loading the bases, something that happens a lot to this team. James Loney didn't exactly crush the ball, but he placed it perfectly into center to score Furcal. An error by Mike Cameron on the play let Manny score as well.
Both teams didn't make any noise until the Dodgers struck again in the fourth. And wouldn't you know it, Brad Ausmus of all people hit a solo home run for the 3-0 lead.
In the fifth, Ethier singled and Manny walked with one down, and both advanced on a wild pitch from Yovani Gallardo. Blake hit an RBI groundout, followed by another single from Loney for the 5-0 lead.
After that, it became the Orlando Hudson Show. He hit home runs from both sides of the plate for the first time in his career. The one from the left side came in the sixth, and the right side in the eighth. The All-Star ended his first half with a bang.
Hiroki Kuroda was given some relief time to get in some work, and was hit around. Clayton Kershaw's last batter was a double to Cameron to start the seventh, and Kuroda was summoned. Four runs total were scored off of him in 1 and 1/3 innings. James McDonald had to get the last two outs to get out of the eighth.
Ramon Troncoso was given the save opportunity, and it got somewhat interesting. Two runners reached for Ryan Braun, who was the tying run. But, Braun popped up to Raffy, and that was it. It was the fifth save for Troncoso.
The win gave the Dodgers two of three in Milwaukee, making this the fourth straight series they've won. A rare loss by the Giants will give the Dodgers a comfortable seven game lead in the NL West.
Kershaw deserves a ton of credit for this one. He started the game with the bases loaded thanks to a double and two walks. On a full count, he struck out Cameron. From there, he was just awesome. He finished with six innings pitched, two hits, one run, five walks, and four strikeouts. That's now six straight great starts, gathering four wins in the process.
The All-Star break is now here, where Chad Billingsley and Hudson will be in St. Louis. Jonathan Broxton will be there, but won't participate with a toe injury. Once games resume, the Dodgers will open a nine-game homestand, starting with the Astros for four.
There's a lot to like about the way the Dodgers won this game. First of all, they were far away from Los Angeles, and could have easily packed it in and called it a break. Instead, they were the ones who looked like they still had something to prove, starting the game with a quick 2-0 advantage.
Rafael Furcal started things with a walk. After Andre Ethier struck out, Manny Ramirez lifted a long fly ball to right. Corey Hart must have lost it in the sun, or never thought he'd catch it to begin with, because he let it drop near the wall, putting runners on first and second.
Casey Blake then walked as well, loading the bases, something that happens a lot to this team. James Loney didn't exactly crush the ball, but he placed it perfectly into center to score Furcal. An error by Mike Cameron on the play let Manny score as well.
Both teams didn't make any noise until the Dodgers struck again in the fourth. And wouldn't you know it, Brad Ausmus of all people hit a solo home run for the 3-0 lead.
In the fifth, Ethier singled and Manny walked with one down, and both advanced on a wild pitch from Yovani Gallardo. Blake hit an RBI groundout, followed by another single from Loney for the 5-0 lead.
After that, it became the Orlando Hudson Show. He hit home runs from both sides of the plate for the first time in his career. The one from the left side came in the sixth, and the right side in the eighth. The All-Star ended his first half with a bang.
Hiroki Kuroda was given some relief time to get in some work, and was hit around. Clayton Kershaw's last batter was a double to Cameron to start the seventh, and Kuroda was summoned. Four runs total were scored off of him in 1 and 1/3 innings. James McDonald had to get the last two outs to get out of the eighth.
Ramon Troncoso was given the save opportunity, and it got somewhat interesting. Two runners reached for Ryan Braun, who was the tying run. But, Braun popped up to Raffy, and that was it. It was the fifth save for Troncoso.
The win gave the Dodgers two of three in Milwaukee, making this the fourth straight series they've won. A rare loss by the Giants will give the Dodgers a comfortable seven game lead in the NL West.
Kershaw deserves a ton of credit for this one. He started the game with the bases loaded thanks to a double and two walks. On a full count, he struck out Cameron. From there, he was just awesome. He finished with six innings pitched, two hits, one run, five walks, and four strikeouts. That's now six straight great starts, gathering four wins in the process.
The All-Star break is now here, where Chad Billingsley and Hudson will be in St. Louis. Jonathan Broxton will be there, but won't participate with a toe injury. Once games resume, the Dodgers will open a nine-game homestand, starting with the Astros for four.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Weaver's rough start dooms Dodgers
Jeff Weaver was given a spot start a couple of days before the All-Star break. Coming into the game, he had a 3.32 ERA, and has definitely given a nice lift when needed.
Saturday night was not one of those nights.
Weaver didn't have much control from the beginning, and was pretty much smacked around at will. He didn't get out of the fourth inning, and the Brewers got the win, 6-3. Combine that with another win by the Giants, and the lead in the NL West is down to six games.
Just as Chad Billingsley experienced the night before, Weaver gave up a couple of runs in the first inning. Craig Counsell tripled with one down. Ryan Braun then hit a hard grounder to short, and Rafael Furcal fired it home in an attempt to get Counsell in a rundown. But, the throw was low and skipped by Russell Martin, scoring an unearned run.
Prince Fielder then singled to right to score another, and Weaver was quickly in an early hole. The Dodgers' bats got things going in a big way the night before, but that wouldn't be the case tonight.
The Brewers tacked on two more in the fourth, when Weaver was run. Frank Catalanotto homered to lead off, which is a bit embarrassing. Anyway, J.J. Hardy tripled, and scored on an RBI single by pitcher Mike Burns. Again, embarrassing. Two of the least likely guys doing damage.
Down 4-0, the Dodgers used the longball to get back into it. With two outs, Matt Kemp was on first with a single. Rafael Furcal then smacked a two-run shot to slice the deficit in half. Andre Ethier followed with one of his own, and it was now 4-3.
That's as close as the Dodgers would get, as the Brewers added two more off of Brent Leach and Guillermo Mota on a two-run double by Hardy in the eighth. Trevor Hoffman got three straight groundouts to end the game, avenging his blown save on Friday.
As shaky as Weaver was, the bats only had one good inning, so it's not like they really backed him up much. They got eight hits, but didn't take a walk all night. The Brewers bullpen shut them down for the last four innings, which was a big difference for them.
The first half of the MLB season will end after Sunday's game, as the Dodgers will own the best record regardless of the outcome. Clayton Kershaw will take the mound. His last five games have been awesome, lowering his ERA from 4.18 to 3.27. He'll look to keep the ball rolling.
Saturday night was not one of those nights.
Weaver didn't have much control from the beginning, and was pretty much smacked around at will. He didn't get out of the fourth inning, and the Brewers got the win, 6-3. Combine that with another win by the Giants, and the lead in the NL West is down to six games.
Just as Chad Billingsley experienced the night before, Weaver gave up a couple of runs in the first inning. Craig Counsell tripled with one down. Ryan Braun then hit a hard grounder to short, and Rafael Furcal fired it home in an attempt to get Counsell in a rundown. But, the throw was low and skipped by Russell Martin, scoring an unearned run.
Prince Fielder then singled to right to score another, and Weaver was quickly in an early hole. The Dodgers' bats got things going in a big way the night before, but that wouldn't be the case tonight.
The Brewers tacked on two more in the fourth, when Weaver was run. Frank Catalanotto homered to lead off, which is a bit embarrassing. Anyway, J.J. Hardy tripled, and scored on an RBI single by pitcher Mike Burns. Again, embarrassing. Two of the least likely guys doing damage.
Down 4-0, the Dodgers used the longball to get back into it. With two outs, Matt Kemp was on first with a single. Rafael Furcal then smacked a two-run shot to slice the deficit in half. Andre Ethier followed with one of his own, and it was now 4-3.
That's as close as the Dodgers would get, as the Brewers added two more off of Brent Leach and Guillermo Mota on a two-run double by Hardy in the eighth. Trevor Hoffman got three straight groundouts to end the game, avenging his blown save on Friday.
As shaky as Weaver was, the bats only had one good inning, so it's not like they really backed him up much. They got eight hits, but didn't take a walk all night. The Brewers bullpen shut them down for the last four innings, which was a big difference for them.
The first half of the MLB season will end after Sunday's game, as the Dodgers will own the best record regardless of the outcome. Clayton Kershaw will take the mound. His last five games have been awesome, lowering his ERA from 4.18 to 3.27. He'll look to keep the ball rolling.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Broxton out for now with toe injury
Jonathan Broxton has not been himself his last two appearances, giving up five runs, five hits, and four walks in two innings. Now, we may understand why.
Broxton will be out the last two games before the All-Star break and possibly more with a sore right big toe. Most likely, you can forget about seeing him on Tuesday in St. Louis, which is a shame.
The good news is that he can get some good rest, so if he's going to get hurt, at least he did it while there's some days off. With something like a toe injury, I can imagine that no matter what type of treatment you have, the best remedy is solid rest.
In the meantime, Guillermo Mota will fill in the closer's role. That speaks volumes for how well he's turned his season around lately. He hasn't given up a run since June 19. His ERA at the end of May was 7.71, and now it's 3.57. Combine that with his past experience at closing, and it's an easy call.
To fill Broxton's spot in the bullpen, Scott Elbert was recalled from Triple-A. That means that our favorite "he's up, he's down" player, Blake DeWitt, has once again been sent back down.
Broxton will be out the last two games before the All-Star break and possibly more with a sore right big toe. Most likely, you can forget about seeing him on Tuesday in St. Louis, which is a shame.
The good news is that he can get some good rest, so if he's going to get hurt, at least he did it while there's some days off. With something like a toe injury, I can imagine that no matter what type of treatment you have, the best remedy is solid rest.
In the meantime, Guillermo Mota will fill in the closer's role. That speaks volumes for how well he's turned his season around lately. He hasn't given up a run since June 19. His ERA at the end of May was 7.71, and now it's 3.57. Combine that with his past experience at closing, and it's an easy call.
To fill Broxton's spot in the bullpen, Scott Elbert was recalled from Triple-A. That means that our favorite "he's up, he's down" player, Blake DeWitt, has once again been sent back down.
Friday, July 10, 2009
A 12-8 win... in 10 innings!
The Dodgers broke out their big sticks on Friday night, clubbing five home runs. It almost wasn't enough, as the Brewers hit a couple themselves, and the game was tied at six after regulation.
Then the 12th inning came, and the Dodgers busted loose. It all started with a walk to Manny Ramirez, and the rout was on. A grand slam by Matt Kemp was the big highlight, as the Dodgers scored six and went on to win, 12-8.
This was a classic back-and-forth game between two of the National League's better teams, who also made the playoffs last season. Every time one team would grab a lead, the other would fight right back. For a baseball fan, it was fun to watch. (Just slightly more fun if you like the Dodgers).
Andre Ethier got things started in the first by creaming a solo shot to right for the 1-0 lead. The Brewers would get a couple runs off a shaky Chad Billingsley to grab the lead at 2-1.
A solo home run by James Loney was the Dodgers' next run, as they tied the game at two. But, like the first inning, the Brewers came right back. This time, it was a J.J. Hardy homer that made it 3-2 Brewers.
Things looked to be in the Dodgers' favor in the sixth, as they put up three runs. After an Ethier single, Manny cranked a two-run shot to center. Russell Martin then hit one of his own. Yes, I did just say that. It was now 5-3 Dodgers.
However, as has been the case way too often lately, Billingsley could not hold a lead in the middle of the game. I'm not sure why, but he again came unraveled. RBIs by Frank Catalanotto and Hardy tied the game at five, and it was obvious both teams were not going to give in.
Move to the bottom of the eighth, and Mike Cameron hit a homer off of Brent Leach, and the Brewers had reason to believe this would be their night. Entering the ninth, they had a 6-5 lead and Trevor Hoffman coming into the game.
The Dodgers, on the other hand, went right to work. Martin started it with a single. Orlando Hudson sacrificed him over to second. In a surprising move, Kemp then reached on a bunt. Had that not worked, he would have been second guessed for quite some time. But, it did, so he won't. An RBI single by pinch-hitting Mark Loretta sent the game to extras.
The Brewers sent in Carlos Villanueva, and boy was he just awful. The Dodgers absolutely lit him up for six runs. He got the first out, then walked Manny. As I said before, it was all over after that. The big blows were an RBI triple by Casey Blake, an RBI infield single by Martin, and a towering grand slam by Kemp.
Now, the Brewers certainly didn't roll over and die, as they made life for Jonathan Broxton pretty hard. The first three guys reached on two singles and a walk. With two runs in, two on, and two outs, Jason Kendall hit a long fly ball to center. Kemp raced back and made a Willie Mays style catch to emphatically end the game.
The offense was obviously the highlight, as they are adjusting quite nicely to Manny's return. Billingsley and Broxton were again a concern, as they just didn't seem to have much control. Bills gave up five runs in five innings, walking four. Broxon gave up two runs in an inning. Not exactly the numbers you'd want to see from your All-Stars.
Nonetheless, it was another dramatic win in a long list of them this season. When the Dodgers needed to step up, they did. Manny did his part, but everyone up and down the lineup contributed. And that's why they have the best record in baseball.
Jeff Weaver will get a spot start on Saturday. He's been great this season, taking the ball whenever needed and giving the Dodgers a chance to win. That's all they can ask for.
Then the 12th inning came, and the Dodgers busted loose. It all started with a walk to Manny Ramirez, and the rout was on. A grand slam by Matt Kemp was the big highlight, as the Dodgers scored six and went on to win, 12-8.
This was a classic back-and-forth game between two of the National League's better teams, who also made the playoffs last season. Every time one team would grab a lead, the other would fight right back. For a baseball fan, it was fun to watch. (Just slightly more fun if you like the Dodgers).
Andre Ethier got things started in the first by creaming a solo shot to right for the 1-0 lead. The Brewers would get a couple runs off a shaky Chad Billingsley to grab the lead at 2-1.
A solo home run by James Loney was the Dodgers' next run, as they tied the game at two. But, like the first inning, the Brewers came right back. This time, it was a J.J. Hardy homer that made it 3-2 Brewers.
Things looked to be in the Dodgers' favor in the sixth, as they put up three runs. After an Ethier single, Manny cranked a two-run shot to center. Russell Martin then hit one of his own. Yes, I did just say that. It was now 5-3 Dodgers.
However, as has been the case way too often lately, Billingsley could not hold a lead in the middle of the game. I'm not sure why, but he again came unraveled. RBIs by Frank Catalanotto and Hardy tied the game at five, and it was obvious both teams were not going to give in.
Move to the bottom of the eighth, and Mike Cameron hit a homer off of Brent Leach, and the Brewers had reason to believe this would be their night. Entering the ninth, they had a 6-5 lead and Trevor Hoffman coming into the game.
The Dodgers, on the other hand, went right to work. Martin started it with a single. Orlando Hudson sacrificed him over to second. In a surprising move, Kemp then reached on a bunt. Had that not worked, he would have been second guessed for quite some time. But, it did, so he won't. An RBI single by pinch-hitting Mark Loretta sent the game to extras.
The Brewers sent in Carlos Villanueva, and boy was he just awful. The Dodgers absolutely lit him up for six runs. He got the first out, then walked Manny. As I said before, it was all over after that. The big blows were an RBI triple by Casey Blake, an RBI infield single by Martin, and a towering grand slam by Kemp.
Now, the Brewers certainly didn't roll over and die, as they made life for Jonathan Broxton pretty hard. The first three guys reached on two singles and a walk. With two runs in, two on, and two outs, Jason Kendall hit a long fly ball to center. Kemp raced back and made a Willie Mays style catch to emphatically end the game.
The offense was obviously the highlight, as they are adjusting quite nicely to Manny's return. Billingsley and Broxton were again a concern, as they just didn't seem to have much control. Bills gave up five runs in five innings, walking four. Broxon gave up two runs in an inning. Not exactly the numbers you'd want to see from your All-Stars.
Nonetheless, it was another dramatic win in a long list of them this season. When the Dodgers needed to step up, they did. Manny did his part, but everyone up and down the lineup contributed. And that's why they have the best record in baseball.
Jeff Weaver will get a spot start on Saturday. He's been great this season, taking the ball whenever needed and giving the Dodgers a chance to win. That's all they can ask for.
Belisario lands on DL with sore elbow
A sore elbow has landed Ronald Belisario on the 15-day DL. The good news is that doctors have found no structural damage, so it looks like it'll be rest and relaxation for him.
Belisario was among the league's leaders in appearances at 43. He's literally been one of the biggest surprises this season for the Dodgers, as he's pretty much come out of nowhere to be a leader in the bullpen. He had previously missed both the 2005 and 2006 seasons with Tommy John surgery.
So I think this will lead to a simple questions - Has Joe Torre overused him? If you've followed Torre his whole career, you'll know that he has a hard time trusting certain relievers in big spots. Hence, he tends to rely too much on the same guys.
It's obvious that when it comes to bridging the gap to Jonathan Broxton, Torre only trusts Belisario and Ramon Troncoso, who's at 39 appearances himself. With an elbow injury, the overuse question is a valid one.
I think only time will tell if Belisario has been called upon too much. If he comes back and has lost velocity on his nasty fastball, then it would appear he had too much, too soon.
Hopefully, with the emergence of Guillermo Mota, plus Cory Wade and James McDonald being recalled, Belisario won't be used as much in the second half.
Belisario was among the league's leaders in appearances at 43. He's literally been one of the biggest surprises this season for the Dodgers, as he's pretty much come out of nowhere to be a leader in the bullpen. He had previously missed both the 2005 and 2006 seasons with Tommy John surgery.
So I think this will lead to a simple questions - Has Joe Torre overused him? If you've followed Torre his whole career, you'll know that he has a hard time trusting certain relievers in big spots. Hence, he tends to rely too much on the same guys.
It's obvious that when it comes to bridging the gap to Jonathan Broxton, Torre only trusts Belisario and Ramon Troncoso, who's at 39 appearances himself. With an elbow injury, the overuse question is a valid one.
I think only time will tell if Belisario has been called upon too much. If he comes back and has lost velocity on his nasty fastball, then it would appear he had too much, too soon.
Hopefully, with the emergence of Guillermo Mota, plus Cory Wade and James McDonald being recalled, Belisario won't be used as much in the second half.
Big start leads to trouncing of Mets
The Dodgers abused Mets pitching for 17 hits and nine walks, and won easily in Citi Field, 11-2. A four-run first inning was more than enough to claim this one.
Mets starter Livan Hernandez was just awful, and certainly did nothing to build on the slight momentum they had from winning the night before. The first hitter of the game, Rafael Furcal, hit a ground rule double that was a sign of things to come.
Andre Ethier followed with a single for two on. Manny Ramirez then singled to score Furcal, and the rout was on. A walk to James Loney an out later put the bases loaded. Orlando Hudson, hitting seventh in the order because of a huge slump, cleared the bases with a double, and it was 4-0.
Gary Sheffield gave the Mets some hope with an RBI single in the bottom of the first, but that was it. Consecutive RBI singles by Manny and Blake in the second pushed it to 6-1, and already the game was out of reach.
Randy Wolf did something interesting before the game - he switched his number from 21 to 43, his old Phillies number. Coming into the game with a whopping 12 no-decisions, his strategy certainly worked.
On the night, Wolf went 6 and 1/3 innings pitched, seven hits, two runs, two walks, and three strikeouts. More importantly, for the first time since May 28 in Chicago against the Cubs, he earned a win.
After the Mets cut it to 6-2 in the third, the Dodgers got two more back in the fourth. This time, it was Russell Martin who had a big hit with two outs. His single scored two, and it was 8-2.
Three more runs were tacked on in the eighth, which came from a two-run single by Juan Castro and an RBI single by Matt Kemp. That came off the lethal Tim Redding. Seriously, why is still pitching in the majors? It's hard to watch.
The funny thing about this game is that the Dodgers left even more men on this game compared to last (13 to 12). But, when you have 27 men reach base, you're bound to leave some on. It was a complete onslaught, and all without the benefit of the home run.
It's a good thing the Dodgers keep winning series, because the Giants and Rockies certainly aren't making winning the NL West a cakewalk like it once was. To still have a seven game lead on the Giants and eight on the Rockies is a big accomplishment considering how well those teams have been performing.
The Dodgers are now off to Milwaukee for three. Chad Billingsley had a five-run lead in the ninth inning against the Padres last outing... and then somehow came out of it with a no-decision. So, once again, he'll be looking for his 10th win.
Mets starter Livan Hernandez was just awful, and certainly did nothing to build on the slight momentum they had from winning the night before. The first hitter of the game, Rafael Furcal, hit a ground rule double that was a sign of things to come.
Andre Ethier followed with a single for two on. Manny Ramirez then singled to score Furcal, and the rout was on. A walk to James Loney an out later put the bases loaded. Orlando Hudson, hitting seventh in the order because of a huge slump, cleared the bases with a double, and it was 4-0.
Gary Sheffield gave the Mets some hope with an RBI single in the bottom of the first, but that was it. Consecutive RBI singles by Manny and Blake in the second pushed it to 6-1, and already the game was out of reach.
Randy Wolf did something interesting before the game - he switched his number from 21 to 43, his old Phillies number. Coming into the game with a whopping 12 no-decisions, his strategy certainly worked.
On the night, Wolf went 6 and 1/3 innings pitched, seven hits, two runs, two walks, and three strikeouts. More importantly, for the first time since May 28 in Chicago against the Cubs, he earned a win.
After the Mets cut it to 6-2 in the third, the Dodgers got two more back in the fourth. This time, it was Russell Martin who had a big hit with two outs. His single scored two, and it was 8-2.
Three more runs were tacked on in the eighth, which came from a two-run single by Juan Castro and an RBI single by Matt Kemp. That came off the lethal Tim Redding. Seriously, why is still pitching in the majors? It's hard to watch.
The funny thing about this game is that the Dodgers left even more men on this game compared to last (13 to 12). But, when you have 27 men reach base, you're bound to leave some on. It was a complete onslaught, and all without the benefit of the home run.
It's a good thing the Dodgers keep winning series, because the Giants and Rockies certainly aren't making winning the NL West a cakewalk like it once was. To still have a seven game lead on the Giants and eight on the Rockies is a big accomplishment considering how well those teams have been performing.
The Dodgers are now off to Milwaukee for three. Chad Billingsley had a five-run lead in the ninth inning against the Padres last outing... and then somehow came out of it with a no-decision. So, once again, he'll be looking for his 10th win.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Dodgers can't cash in on Perez's wildness
Oliver Perez made his return to the Mets rotation, and proceeded to walk seven men in five innings. Throw in four hits, and the Dodgers averaged just over a couple runners on per inning. Plenty of chances to score, right?
Well, right... but it didn't happen. A total of 12 men were left on the night, and the Mets finally showed some offensive life to taking the win, 5-4.
The Dodgers did get the first run to start the game. Rafael Furcal walked on four pitches to lead off. He was forced out by Orlando Hudson's fielder's choice. Casey Blake also walked for two on, and Mark Loretta, playing first for James Loney against the lefty, singled for the 1-0 lead.
The Mets battled back to score their first run since Saturday. Jeremy Reed doubled with one down, and Luis Castillo's infield single tied the game at one.
In the third, the Mets would have a long inning that pretty much wore out Hiroki Kuroda. David Wright snapped an 0-for-17 slump with an RBI single for the 2-1 lead. An error by Casey Blake, something you rarely see, allowed another run to score, and Reed's RBI single made it 4-1.
The next inning, the Dodgers got a run back, but they also blew more chances for more. Raffy's RBI single to score Matt Kemp made it 4-2. But, Hudson grounded into a double play, and that was that.
A big insurance run was added by the Mets in the fifth, which chased Kuroda. Brian Schneider hit an RBI single with the bases loaded for the 5-2 advantage. Cory Wade came in and put out the flames with a groundout and strikeout, so the game was still in striking distance.
Raffy added an RBI groundout in the eighth to make it 5-3. In the ninth, it was time for Francisco Rodriguez, who immediately was greeted by a solo homer from Manny Ramirez. Blake walked, and it looked like the Dodgers had something going.
But going along with their theme from the rest of the night, they just couldn't get that one more bit hit. Loretta struck out, but Russell Martin singled. Andre Ethier had a chance to avenge and 0-for-4 night... and then promptly grounded into a DP to end the game. Ouch.
Ethier has had a great season, with plenty of walk-off hits already. But Wednesday night is one he'd love to forget. He struck out to lead off the second, lined out with the bases loaded to end the third, flied out to leave two on to end the fifth, flied out to leave one on to end the seventh, and grounded into a double play to end the game. I hope he doesn't watch a replay of this game.
As wild as Perez was, he got the big outs when he needed. Kuroda, on the other hand, never looked comfortable. He lasted 4 and 1/3 innings, eight hits, five runs (four earned), two walks, and one strikeout. The bullpen of Wade, Guillermo Mota, Brent Leach, and Ramon Troncoso kept the game close, but the offense couldn't come through.
The final game of this series is tonight, as the veterans of Randy Wolf and Livan Hernandez take the mound. Wolf pitched great last outing against the Padres but received a (wait for it, wait for it...........) no-decision. But you never would have guessed that would happen!
Well, right... but it didn't happen. A total of 12 men were left on the night, and the Mets finally showed some offensive life to taking the win, 5-4.
The Dodgers did get the first run to start the game. Rafael Furcal walked on four pitches to lead off. He was forced out by Orlando Hudson's fielder's choice. Casey Blake also walked for two on, and Mark Loretta, playing first for James Loney against the lefty, singled for the 1-0 lead.
The Mets battled back to score their first run since Saturday. Jeremy Reed doubled with one down, and Luis Castillo's infield single tied the game at one.
In the third, the Mets would have a long inning that pretty much wore out Hiroki Kuroda. David Wright snapped an 0-for-17 slump with an RBI single for the 2-1 lead. An error by Casey Blake, something you rarely see, allowed another run to score, and Reed's RBI single made it 4-1.
The next inning, the Dodgers got a run back, but they also blew more chances for more. Raffy's RBI single to score Matt Kemp made it 4-2. But, Hudson grounded into a double play, and that was that.
A big insurance run was added by the Mets in the fifth, which chased Kuroda. Brian Schneider hit an RBI single with the bases loaded for the 5-2 advantage. Cory Wade came in and put out the flames with a groundout and strikeout, so the game was still in striking distance.
Raffy added an RBI groundout in the eighth to make it 5-3. In the ninth, it was time for Francisco Rodriguez, who immediately was greeted by a solo homer from Manny Ramirez. Blake walked, and it looked like the Dodgers had something going.
But going along with their theme from the rest of the night, they just couldn't get that one more bit hit. Loretta struck out, but Russell Martin singled. Andre Ethier had a chance to avenge and 0-for-4 night... and then promptly grounded into a DP to end the game. Ouch.
Ethier has had a great season, with plenty of walk-off hits already. But Wednesday night is one he'd love to forget. He struck out to lead off the second, lined out with the bases loaded to end the third, flied out to leave two on to end the fifth, flied out to leave one on to end the seventh, and grounded into a double play to end the game. I hope he doesn't watch a replay of this game.
As wild as Perez was, he got the big outs when he needed. Kuroda, on the other hand, never looked comfortable. He lasted 4 and 1/3 innings, eight hits, five runs (four earned), two walks, and one strikeout. The bullpen of Wade, Guillermo Mota, Brent Leach, and Ramon Troncoso kept the game close, but the offense couldn't come through.
The final game of this series is tonight, as the veterans of Randy Wolf and Livan Hernandez take the mound. Wolf pitched great last outing against the Padres but received a (wait for it, wait for it...........) no-decision. But you never would have guessed that would happen!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Manny drives in 3, then gets the boot
It was all Dodgers for their debut in new Citi Field on Tuesday night, as the Mets put up practically no resistance in an 8-0 thrashing. Quite simply, the Dodgers put men on base, drove them in, and were much better pitching. It's pretty much your formula for success.
But the real story of the night was... you guessed it, Manny Ramirez. He stole the show not only for his bat, but for his arguing as well.
Manny finished the night 2-for-4 with three RBIs. The two outs he recorded were via strikeout - and he was not happy about it. So unhappy he was that after K'ing the second time, he flipped his elbow pad in the direction of home plate umpire John Hirschbeck and got tossed.
Of course, the called third strike on Manny was way outside, so it's pretty much a natural reaction to get mad. But I'm sure Manny just wanted some time off anyway to rest. So hey, it all worked out in the end!
That was about the only highlight of the night for the Mets, who are just getting lousier and lousier. Granted, injuries have really depleted them, but they're just hard to watch these days.
The Dodgers got on the board in the second, and never looked back. Russell Martin singled to start, and Matt Kemp did the same one out later. Clayton Kershaw laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt for runners in scoring position with two down.
Mike Pelfrey was his own worst enemy after that. He walked Rafael Furcal to load the bases, then walked Orlando Hudson to force the first run in. Manny then stepped up and dropped a broken-bat single into center that drove in two for the 3-0 lead.
In the fourth, Raffy reached on an error by Luis Castillo. O-Dog broke out of his long slump by doubling home Furcal, and it was 4-0. It was increased by a run the next at-bat as Manny singled into right, and the blowout was on.
More runs were chipped on later, not that it mattered as the Mets never put up a fight. Blake DeWitt, recalled for the fourth time already this season, crushed a long homer to right for his first of the year in the seventh. A sac-fly RBI by Casey Blake and a bases loaded walk to Kemp in the eighth closed out the scoring.
Lost in all the Manny drama was the great start by Kershaw. He pitched six strong innings, giving up three hits, no runs, and striking out seven. Most importantly, he only walked two. In his last five starts, he only given up two runs. I didn't even realize how impressive he's been until now. Those are just fantastic numbers.
The best part about Kershaw's last five starts? They've all been wins for the Dodgers. Can't do much better than that.
Hiroki Kuroda takes the mound tonight against the returning Oliver Perez. Perez has an ERA of 9.97, so it's hard to imagine he'd get any worse. Then again, with the way the Mets looked last night, maybe it is possible...
But the real story of the night was... you guessed it, Manny Ramirez. He stole the show not only for his bat, but for his arguing as well.
Manny finished the night 2-for-4 with three RBIs. The two outs he recorded were via strikeout - and he was not happy about it. So unhappy he was that after K'ing the second time, he flipped his elbow pad in the direction of home plate umpire John Hirschbeck and got tossed.
Of course, the called third strike on Manny was way outside, so it's pretty much a natural reaction to get mad. But I'm sure Manny just wanted some time off anyway to rest. So hey, it all worked out in the end!
That was about the only highlight of the night for the Mets, who are just getting lousier and lousier. Granted, injuries have really depleted them, but they're just hard to watch these days.
The Dodgers got on the board in the second, and never looked back. Russell Martin singled to start, and Matt Kemp did the same one out later. Clayton Kershaw laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt for runners in scoring position with two down.
Mike Pelfrey was his own worst enemy after that. He walked Rafael Furcal to load the bases, then walked Orlando Hudson to force the first run in. Manny then stepped up and dropped a broken-bat single into center that drove in two for the 3-0 lead.
In the fourth, Raffy reached on an error by Luis Castillo. O-Dog broke out of his long slump by doubling home Furcal, and it was 4-0. It was increased by a run the next at-bat as Manny singled into right, and the blowout was on.
More runs were chipped on later, not that it mattered as the Mets never put up a fight. Blake DeWitt, recalled for the fourth time already this season, crushed a long homer to right for his first of the year in the seventh. A sac-fly RBI by Casey Blake and a bases loaded walk to Kemp in the eighth closed out the scoring.
Lost in all the Manny drama was the great start by Kershaw. He pitched six strong innings, giving up three hits, no runs, and striking out seven. Most importantly, he only walked two. In his last five starts, he only given up two runs. I didn't even realize how impressive he's been until now. Those are just fantastic numbers.
The best part about Kershaw's last five starts? They've all been wins for the Dodgers. Can't do much better than that.
Hiroki Kuroda takes the mound tonight against the returning Oliver Perez. Perez has an ERA of 9.97, so it's hard to imagine he'd get any worse. Then again, with the way the Mets looked last night, maybe it is possible...
Sunday, July 5, 2009
An absolutely crazy win for the Dodgers
I'm not even sure where to begin with this.
This was supposed to be a feel-good recap about how Chad Billingsley did it with his arm and his bat in leading the Dodgers to an easy win. You see, they were up 6-1 going into the ninth against the lowly Padres, and Bills was looking to get a complete game.
Then Chase Headley lead off with a solo homer.
Then the other Tony Gwynn doubled, and that was it for Bills. No problem, as Jonathan Broxton was called upon. Even though it wasn't a save situation, Joe Torre wanted to put out this flame quickly.
Instead, those flames turned into an all out wildfire.
Broxton was completely lost, walking three guys, and let the Padres score four more runs to tie the game at six and head into extra innings. It just kept going from bad to worse. Who knows - if it wasn't for Eliezer Alfonso sliding past third base for the final out, the Padres could have won it there.
So the laugher turned into an extra inning battle, and both teams went scoreless in innings 10 through 12. Both teams had runners on in the 10th, but nothing happened.
Leading off the 13th, James Loney cranked a solo shot to right, and the Dodgers were once again up, 7-6. Jeff Weaver, pitching his third inning, made that hold up in the bottom half, and the game was mercifully over after four hours and 33 minutes.
Ugh... what a mess this turned out to be. The bottom line is that the Dodgers won. The path they took to get there was crazy, but hey, a win's a win. They can be proud that they suffered such a heartbreaking collapse, only to hold steady and get a win in the end. And for that I'm thankful.
I just feel bad for Billingsley, who deserved his 10th win. Not only did he last eight innings, giving up three runs and striking out five, but he went 2-for-4 at the plate. The two hits? Try a solo homer and a double. Wow.
The only solution I could come up with for Broxton's wildness was that he didn't think there was any chance he'd be pitching today with a 6-1 lead in the ninth. Maybe he had mentally checked out, which I couldn't blame him for. I didn't think the home plate umpire did him any favors, as he had some very close pitches called balls. But, that's the way it goes.
I think it's a good thing the Dodgers have Monday off, if only to unwind from this one. They will travel to New York for three with the Mets, who are terrible now. Injuries have just crippled them. Clayton Kershaw goes in the first game.
This was supposed to be a feel-good recap about how Chad Billingsley did it with his arm and his bat in leading the Dodgers to an easy win. You see, they were up 6-1 going into the ninth against the lowly Padres, and Bills was looking to get a complete game.
Then Chase Headley lead off with a solo homer.
Then the other Tony Gwynn doubled, and that was it for Bills. No problem, as Jonathan Broxton was called upon. Even though it wasn't a save situation, Joe Torre wanted to put out this flame quickly.
Instead, those flames turned into an all out wildfire.
Broxton was completely lost, walking three guys, and let the Padres score four more runs to tie the game at six and head into extra innings. It just kept going from bad to worse. Who knows - if it wasn't for Eliezer Alfonso sliding past third base for the final out, the Padres could have won it there.
So the laugher turned into an extra inning battle, and both teams went scoreless in innings 10 through 12. Both teams had runners on in the 10th, but nothing happened.
Leading off the 13th, James Loney cranked a solo shot to right, and the Dodgers were once again up, 7-6. Jeff Weaver, pitching his third inning, made that hold up in the bottom half, and the game was mercifully over after four hours and 33 minutes.
Ugh... what a mess this turned out to be. The bottom line is that the Dodgers won. The path they took to get there was crazy, but hey, a win's a win. They can be proud that they suffered such a heartbreaking collapse, only to hold steady and get a win in the end. And for that I'm thankful.
I just feel bad for Billingsley, who deserved his 10th win. Not only did he last eight innings, giving up three runs and striking out five, but he went 2-for-4 at the plate. The two hits? Try a solo homer and a double. Wow.
The only solution I could come up with for Broxton's wildness was that he didn't think there was any chance he'd be pitching today with a 6-1 lead in the ninth. Maybe he had mentally checked out, which I couldn't blame him for. I didn't think the home plate umpire did him any favors, as he had some very close pitches called balls. But, that's the way it goes.
I think it's a good thing the Dodgers have Monday off, if only to unwind from this one. They will travel to New York for three with the Mets, who are terrible now. Injuries have just crippled them. Clayton Kershaw goes in the first game.
Kemp still has a shot at the All-Star Game
Matt Kemp still has a chance to get to St. Louis on July 14, as he is one of the Final Vote candidates in the National League.
The other choices are Christian Guzman of the Nationals, Mark Reynolds of the Diamondbacks, Pablo Sandoval of the Giants, and Shane Victorino of the Phillies.
I was a little surprised that it's Kemp getting the chance, but his numbers speak for itself: .303 AVG, 10 HR, 44 RBIs, 19 SB. So, there's an opportunity for a 20-40 season.
What surprised me the most was that it wasn't Casey Blake. His numbers aren't as exciting with a .287 AVG, 11 HR, 48 RBIs. But, I think his glove and steady leadership has been a huge reason why the Dodgers have maintained a big lead in the NL West.
Either way, I can't complain. Let's all make a push to get Kemp to the All-Star Game by voting HERE.
The other choices are Christian Guzman of the Nationals, Mark Reynolds of the Diamondbacks, Pablo Sandoval of the Giants, and Shane Victorino of the Phillies.
I was a little surprised that it's Kemp getting the chance, but his numbers speak for itself: .303 AVG, 10 HR, 44 RBIs, 19 SB. So, there's an opportunity for a 20-40 season.
What surprised me the most was that it wasn't Casey Blake. His numbers aren't as exciting with a .287 AVG, 11 HR, 48 RBIs. But, I think his glove and steady leadership has been a huge reason why the Dodgers have maintained a big lead in the NL West.
Either way, I can't complain. Let's all make a push to get Kemp to the All-Star Game by voting HERE.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
