Dodgers, Kershaw Look To Start July On The Left Foot
by Eric Stephen on Jul 1, 2009 9:00 AM PDT
in Dodgers Game Previews
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PrintAfter a complete domination by Jason Marquis Tuesday night, perhaps its best that today's game is an early one -- a 12:10 start -- so the Dodgers can knock that bad taste from their mouths. Today's antiseptic mouthwash comes in the form of Clayton Kershaw, the 21-year old with the 2.48 ERA since the start of May.
Jason Hammel, who was stellar with a 4-0 record and a 3.41 ERA in June, gets the start for the Rockies. Colorado has won each of his last seven starts.
Jim Peltz of the LA Times tells us that Russell Martin will sit again today, providing three full days off (yes, he did pinch-hit last night) to unwind:
"He's just fighting so bad right now" with his hitting, Torre said, adding that he didn't want the problem affecting Martin's catching ability.
Martin was hitting .247 with one home run and 21 RBIs as of Tuesday, and "he just needs a couple of mental days off," Torre said. "Physically, I don't think he's tired."
We have a new July contest. Check it out, and help us pick out a name. Choose from the choices below, or submit your entries in the comments below.
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Some images from last night
Shake & Blake!
Remember When Arsenio Was Big?
I Would Have Preferred Ali Larter in a whip cream bikini, or…
I don’t wanna wait (for a night game today)
All photos courtesy of Juan Ocampo / Dodgers
Arsenio
When I see him, the first thing that comes to my mind is “Coming to America.” Hilarious film.
by Michael White on Jul 1, 2009 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions
They showed Reilly and Van Der Beek on the big screen during the game, as well as some guy I didn’t know but was apparently in The Fast and the Furious or something. I don’t remember seeing Arsenio up there.
I remember seeing Arsenio at the Comedy Store in Hollywood before he was famous. He did semi-standup; sat on a barstool.
I also got pics of Paul Walker, and the dude from Linkin Park, but eff those guys :)
by Eric Stephen on Jul 1, 2009 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions
He’s also number 2 on the team in OBP. I’m not sure how strike outs is worse than any other outs from a number 2 hitter. Sure there are no “productive outs” when he advances a runner, but he’s also less likely to GIDP. To that end, I’d much rather have Kemp at 2 than Loney.
by Michael White on Jul 1, 2009 11:14 AM PDT up reply actions
I thought he was just making a joke. USC guys are hilarious, you know :)
by Eric Stephen on Jul 1, 2009 11:15 AM PDT up reply actions
If so
My apologies Craig.
Even though I write a few dozen purely sarcastic posts a day, I’m not as skilled picking up on the sarcasm it seems. My bad.
by Michael White on Jul 1, 2009 11:17 AM PDT up reply actions
No worries…sometimes sarcasm is hard to detect when written…happens to me all the time
by Eric Stephen on Jul 1, 2009 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions
No problem. I would put put Manny batting 2nd if I could, Matty lead off.
The opposing pitcher WOULD FAINT.
good thing i checked here before guessing...
I was going to put Blake scoring the first run :)
by bucknellbruin on Jul 1, 2009 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions
Missed that…I had pinwheel eyes thanks to Jason Marquis. :)
by Eric Stephen on Jul 1, 2009 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions
broken bats
this is gonna end badly. Everyone knows it. Why doesn’t MLB do something?
From Buster Olney of ESPN:
The Dodgers lost, but Chad Billingsley did something no pitcher had done before this season: He recorded 23 swings-and-misses, the highest total of the season
Sun., Aug 2 @ Atl
I don’t see any broadcast TV listed. It’s a 10:30 AM Los Angeles start, which leads me to believe TBS will carry it. But it’s not on the schedule.
Hmmm
could be…TBS hasn’t released its schedule past July yet.
The game is on Fox Sports South, which would make it available on EI, but for those of us without Extra Innings this could be a problem.
Other early games on 8/2:
Rockies/Reds
Tigers/Indians
D-Backs/Mets
Red Sox/Orioles
Nats/Pirates
Royals/Rays
Yanks/White Sox
Astros/Cards
Angels/Twins
by Eric Stephen on Jul 1, 2009 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions
I don’t think it will be blacked out if its not available locally. The Thursday game in Houston on MLB Network was similar earlier in the year
by Eric Stephen on Jul 1, 2009 11:27 AM PDT up reply actions
It still would be
Unless the rules have changed. This has happened in prior years (in fact the example I’m thinking of was also against the Braves.) I had EI and the Dodgers were playing in Atlanta. Not only did neither KCAL nor PT pick up the game, but this was back when the Braves used to have most of their games air nationally on TBS. Not only was in blacked out on EI, but it was also blacked out on TBS! Makes no sense.
by Michael White on Jul 1, 2009 11:27 AM PDT up reply actions
I think Eric's theory would happen
If it’s not broadcast locally, then TBS would act as the national broadcaster (ala FOX on Saturday and ESPN on Sunday nights).
When TBS used to broadcast Braves games, it was still considered regional.
I still think it will be on (if on TBS), but the one difference is that TBS doesn’t have exclusive broadcast rights like Fox & ESPN.
by Eric Stephen on Jul 1, 2009 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions
KKKershaw
Hes given up only 1 Home run in his last 11 starts. And that home run was given up in coors field so it really doesnt count
It’s up to you…I should have Bluetopia by the weekend.
by Eric Stephen on Jul 1, 2009 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions
I haven't read Jon's book
but I’d imagine that would easily be the better choice.
Bluetopia was too concentrated on the fans’ perspective than on the actual team.
Only 69 HR's given up at Coors all season so far
That’s the 10th fewest in the majors. It’s a hitter’s park, but with the humidor, it’s no longer a HR park.
Colorado park factors
ESPN Park Factors
Yes, I know it’s ESPN park factors plus small sample size warnings apply since we are only half way through one season and for PF you really want to look at atleast a three year track record where safe to do so. But…
2009 PF
Runs: 1.305
HR: 1.043
Hits: 1.180
2B: 1.189
3B: 2.063
BB: 1.029
2008 HR PF: 1.229
2007 HR PF: 1.218
2006 HR PF: 1.167
2005 HR PF: 1.097
2004 HR PF: 1.235
2003 HR PF: 1.369
2002 HR PF: 1.600
2001 HR PF: 1.457
My question is, what year did the humidor come into effect? Looks like a steady trend down since 2002 (steroids era). And I wonder if this humidor is a work in progress, where they are tinkering around with different humidity storage parameters, or have they been consistent. I would like some transparency on this.
vr, Xei
There's no tinkering. MLB monitors it.
2003 was the year the humidor went on. The fluctuations since then have been in a pretty standard range with that year the high, and this year (so far) the low.
Also, I should point out that more HR's tend to get hit later in the summer/fall
I think if you did these by half season you’d see a pretty regular jump midseason.
Rox Lineup
CF Fowler
2B Barmes
RF Hawpe
1B Atkins
SS Tulowitzki
LF Spilborghs
3B Stewart
C Phillips
RHP Hammel
Looks like Helton is sitting against the lefty Kershaw. You can only hope to contain Jim Tracy!
vr, Xei
Day game after a night game - Helton's no spring chicken any more; he's almost 36.
I can’t think of any other reason to start Stewart instead of Helton.
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