Dodgers Race To Save Face, Put Their Ace On The Case

by Eric Stephen on Jun 25, 2009 8:00 AM PDT in Game Previews Comment 13 comments

We were one day away from having an epic Clayton-on-Clayton showdown today, but our Clayton won't pitch until Friday at home. The Dodgers instead will have to settle for handing the ball to their ace, Chad Billingsley, to face off against 25-year old White Sox lefty Clayton Richard.

Billingsley, who walked five batters in a no-decision Friday in Anaheim, has his second chance to tie Roy Halladay and Kevin Slowey for the major league lead with 10 wins. Billingsley is also just three strikeouts away from 500 in his career. He will become just the 12th Dodger with at least 500 strikeouts before his age 25 season (13th if you count Adrian Beltre's 503 batting strikeouts through age 24).

The Dodgers are 13-6 (.684) in day games this season. Then again, they are 34-19 (.642) in night games, so maybe they're just good. The Dodgers are 7-3 in "rubber games" this season, including winning their last four such games.

The Dodgers will give James Loney a day off today, as Mark Loretta will start at first base against the LHP Richard, says Bill Shaikin of the LA Times. Brad Ausmus will catch, and Russell Martin will be the designated hitter.

Here's a stat that should have been expected, but was still shocking to me when I saw it: Russell Martin has started 23 of the last 26 games, and over that span he has one RBI. That RBI came Saturday night in Anaheim when he knocked in himself. He has come to bat with 55 men on base (25 at first, 22 at second, 8 at third) in his last 92 plate appearances, and none have scored during Martin's time at the plate. The last time Martin drove in a teammate was on Memorial Day in Colorado, when he knocked in Dos Juans (Pierre and Castro) with a pair of singles.

Josh Fields, who hit two home runs while playing first base for Chicago Wednesday night, will start at third base today in place of rookie Gordon Beckham, says Adam Jahns of the Chicago Tribune.

Get your guesses in for "She Is Gone" here.

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Comments

Joe Torre is about to be a guest on the Dan Patrick Show

by Eric Stephen on Jun 25, 2009 8:05 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The Martin stat is just amazing

and yet he’s our DH today. I guess when your only skill is a walk it is hard to drive in a run unless the bases are loaded.

by meercatjohn on Jun 25, 2009 8:12 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

J Mart

Missing the old Russell Martin with no J. Hopefully he can pick it up sometime this season, maybe since he wont be going to the all-star game this season, he can go home, refresh and start over. It’s been a long season of watching him replace Juan Pierre as the automatic out in the lineup.

by Alex Serena on Jun 25, 2009 8:21 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Martin DH

Don’t like it really. Just give him a day off. He’s not hitting very well anyway, so it’s not like we’ll desperately miss his bat. Should have left Loney in at first base (better defensively than Loretta) and let Loretta DH. At least Torre abandoned the idea of giving Martin a “day off” by playing him at 3rd.

by Michael White on Jun 25, 2009 8:24 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah that 3rd base experiment is over. Remember when they were discussing making Martin the permanent 3rd basement and signing a varitek like catcher in the offseason? it was just a rumor but just imagine what a nightmare that would’ve become.

by Alex Serena on Jun 25, 2009 8:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know. Considering if you wanted to make Martin a full time catcher you shouldn’t have given Navarro or Santana away for nothing.

/beats dead horse

by Michael White on Jun 25, 2009 9:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Narvarro's stats this season

.216/.240/.317 for a OPS+ of 44

by Tripon on Jun 25, 2009 9:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

mitch jones should start today…. we facing a left hander, which he kills, who throws mostly fastball, which he kills, and his off speed isnt that good which is good for mitch jones

by matthewmafa on Jun 25, 2009 9:40 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Hu

I’m wondering if he has any value left at all. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s shipped out but at this point he’s a throw in.

by silverwidow on Jun 25, 2009 9:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

House Money lineup (courtesy of DT)

Juan Pierre, LF
Russell Martin, DH
Orlando Hudson, 2B
Casey Blake, 3B
Matt Kemp, CF
Mark Loretta, 1b
Mitch Jones, RF
Brad Ausmus, C
Juan Castro, SS

by silverwidow on Jun 25, 2009 10:08 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

That is the worst lineup of the year. Going to have to change my “she is gone” pick.

Only 4 of today’s starters will be starting on June 3rd.

by Michael White on Jun 25, 2009 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mitch Jones gets his first HR today.

by Alex Serena on Jun 25, 2009 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yesterda I said the Sox lineup

was the weakest of the year and they bombarded us. I’m also going to change my She is Gone pick, Jones is going yard today but Kemp will beat him to it. I think this lineup will score some runs today.

by meercatjohn on Jun 25, 2009 10:25 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs