Kuroda, Dodgers Look To Rebound Against Marlins
by Eric Stephen on Jul 25, 2009 3:33 PM PDT
in Game Previews
26 comments
Hiroki Kuroda has struggled over his last seven starts, with a 2-4 record and a 5.49 ERA. However, I believe most of that struggling has been superficial. Kuroda has still had excellent control, walking 1.32 batters per nine innings over that span, and his FIP is 4.19. Opposing batters are hitting .269/.294/.444, perhaps a bit more slugging than one would like, but still relatively solid overall. One thing to be concerned about is that Kuroda has struck out only four batters total over his last three starts. As David Ely of MLB.com reported, it might be nothing more than a mechanical flaw:
When at his best, he gets ahead in counts and makes defensive hitters chase splitters in the dirt, but it hasn't been happening a lot lately. Manager Joe Torre believes Kuroda overthrows, causing a mechanical flaw that results in pulling his pitches as they are delivered.
Dutchman Rick VandenHurk is starting for the Marlins, making just his second start of the season after being recalled from New Orleans on Monday. Perhaps you've heard of the "Three True Outcomes." They are a walk, strikeout, or home run, the three outcomes that take the defense out of the equation and depend entirely on the pitcher/batter matchup. Adam Dunn or Jack Cust are examples of 3TO players, but if there was ever an example of a three true outcomes pitcher, Rick VandenHurk is it.
In his brief career, all of 101.2 innings, VandenHurk has allowed 5.31 walks, 1.59 home runs, and has struck out 9.38 batters per nine innings. An astonishing 38.57% of plate appearances against VandenHurk end in one of the three true outcomes. Among starting pitchers, only Rich Harden has had a higher such percentage from 2007-2009, at 41.32%. The MLB three true outcome percentage from 2007-2009 is 28.73%.
For the record, I believe Rick VandenHurk would perform much better if he went by his given first name, Henricus.
Craig over at Fish Stripes takes a look at the types of pitches VandenHurk threw in his last start, and came to this amusing conclusion:
The interesting thing is when I looked on fangraphs, they had no idea what he was throwing. Believe it or not, this is a good thing. Neither Pitch F/X nor fangraphs has any clue as to what Nolasco is throwing when he is throwing those hard breaking pitches of his. And believe me if the super duper technology can't identify it on the way to the plate, the hitter sure can't in less than half of a second.
The Dodger outfield starters are on fire in July:
| Outfielder | PA | Runs | RBI | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Manny | 61 | 10 | 17 | .327 | .426 | .712 | 1.138 |
| Kemp | 71 | 13 | 14 | .367 | .465 | .583 | 1.048 |
| Ethier | 78 | 14 | 9 | .274 | .321 | .548 | .868 |
| Totals | 210 | 37 | 40 | .319 | .400 | .605 | 1.005 |
Get your guesses in for today's "Clogging The Bases" here.
Game Time: 7:10pm
TV: Prime Ticket
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Marlins lineup
per Clark Spencer:
Coghlan lf
Bonifacio 3b
Ramirez ss
Cantu 1b
Hermida rf
Uggla 2b
Ross cf
Baker c
VandenHurk p
by Eric Stephen on Jul 25, 2009 3:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Blue Jays beat writer Jeff Blair offers this Halladay opinion via Twitter:
Not sure Doc wants the west coast. Spring training in Arizona/ Don’t think so
Is that Blair with inside information, or Blair projecting his own views on AZ to Halladay?
by Eric Stephen on Jul 25, 2009 3:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Happy 36th birthday, Guillermo Mota.
by Eric Stephen on Jul 25, 2009 3:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Dodger lineup
per Josh Rawitch:
Furcal, SS
Hudson, 2B
Manny, LF
Ethier, RF
Blake, 3B
Loney, 1B
Martin, C
Kemp, CF
Kuroda, P
by Eric Stephen on Jul 25, 2009 3:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Scott Kazmir
Dodgers might make a run at him (per Gordon Edes, who was reliable last year during the Manny trade).
I would be SHOCKED if that happens.
by silverwidow on Jul 25, 2009 4:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Jonthan Niese, aka the “other” MLB player from Defiance HS in Ohio, is starting for the Mets tonight.
by Eric Stephen on Jul 25, 2009 4:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m listening to the Brewers/Braves game on radio, and Bob Uecker just noted the size of pants worn by some of the players tonight. He said Nate McLouth looks to be wearing pants the size of Prince Fielder. :)
by Eric Stephen on Jul 25, 2009 4:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
From today’s Dodger game notes:
The Dodgers are the only team in the Majors that has yet to lose three games in a row. Los Angeles has lost back-to-back games 10 times. By going 96 games into the season without losing three straight, the Dodgers have established a modern-day franchise record. The previous high was the 1965 squad, which finally lost three in a row in games 72-74 (June 26-28). That team went on to win the World Series.
by Eric Stephen on Jul 25, 2009 4:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Uecker just reported that Braves’ reliever Mike Gonzalez is OK after getting hit on his arm by a batted ball the other night. He will miss the remainder of this series with Milwaukee, but will be ready to go for the Braves’ next series. Gonzalez has a bruised left forearm.
by Eric Stephen on Jul 25, 2009 4:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Eric -
heyman said last week Doc has told people he doesn’t want a team that doesn’t train in florida. Not sure if it’s a deal breaker. We aren’t getting him anyways – but it could hurt the Angels.
Speaking of Anaheim – if the rumors of them offering Weaver, Wood, and 2 top prospects are true, they are nuts.
by oshea2002 on Jul 25, 2009 4:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I’d be surprised if the Angels offered that.
I always marvel at the not wanting to train in Arizona stuff. Its only for one spring training anyway, but I respect his decision if he wants to be closer to his kids for 6 weeks or so, too.
by Eric Stephen on Jul 25, 2009 4:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kazmir wouldn't be a terrible gamble
they are trying to shed payroll – we’d be buying low I’m sure.
by oshea2002 on Jul 25, 2009 4:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
mccourt would want tampa to pay the rest of his salary
which we know is not going to happen and mccourt wont pay for it either so i doubt that it will ever happen
by matthewmafa on Jul 25, 2009 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sadly probably true
I keep thinking of us when Riccardi said some teams are serious and others “delusional” – “ok J.P. – we’ll give you our JP, 2 prospects, and you pick up the tab on Doc’s deal.”
by oshea2002 on Jul 25, 2009 5:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
There needs to be video of Kaz Matsui singing Ice Ice Baby!
by Eric Stephen on Jul 25, 2009 5:02 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Interesting piece on Halladay
in the LA Times…I thought this nugget was interesting about Schmidt:
The Dodgers have received $11.1 million from the insurance company already, with another $9.3 million under dispute, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court.
by Eric Stephen on Jul 25, 2009 5:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I knew about the $9.3 million under dispute, but didn’t know the club already received $11.1 million from the insurance company.
by Eric Stephen on Jul 25, 2009 5:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can't figure out which rumors are garbage
because if this is true, the Dodgers can easily beat it without giving up everything.
7:36pm: Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com report that the Jays countered the Angels offer by asking for a four player package that included Joe Saunders, Brandon Wood, Erick Aybar, and one prospect from the group of Trevor Reckling, Peter Bourjos, and Sean O’Sullivan. They also mention that as many as five teams are talking with Toronto about Halladay.
by kensai on Jul 25, 2009 5:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
elbert, mcdonald, lindblom, dejusus and bell
by matthewmafa on Jul 25, 2009 6:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That might not be giving up everything
but that sure is a lot.
by mwhite06 on Jul 25, 2009 6:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
its all of our near major ready talent
and thats exactly what toronto wants
by matthewmafa on Jul 25, 2009 7:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Joe Saunders is a medicore starter.
Erick Aybar is a marginal shortstop with above average ceiling.
Brandon Wood is a top prospect.
The 3 mentioned are middling prospects.
The Dodgers have all those pieces if they want it. But they are asking the Dodgers for more. That package is an absolute joke for Halladay. If all they really wanted were 3 average players and 1 high ceiling guy, it’s not very hard to match.
by kensai on Jul 25, 2009 8:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
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