Relief Is The Dodger Theme Of The Day
by Eric Stephen on Jul 30, 2009 10:09 PM PDT
in Game Recaps
44 comments
The overriding theme of the day for the Dodgers on Thursday was relief. The day concluded with a 5-3 win -- finally -- over the Cardinals, a relief for the club, who had lost 17 of their previous 20 games in Mound City. But before that result, the day was so filled with relief that it should have been sponsored by Rolaids®.
Earlier in the day, the Dodgers picked up talented lefty reliever George Sherrill, for third baseman Josh Bell and pitcher Steve Johnson, providing the Dodger bullpen with some extra depth in the back end. Sherrill will join the club Friday in Atlanta.
Hiroki Kuroda had his second good outing in a row, allowing only two runs in his six innings of work. It seemed like Kuroda could have pitched much longer, having thrown only 72 pitches, but the struggling Dodger offense needed all the help it could get, so Joe Torre sent Juan Pierre to pinch-hit in the seventh inning. The move paid off, as Pierre singled and later scored on Rafael Furcal's two-run double.
In a tie game in the eighth inning, Dodger fans breathed a sigh of relief at the return of Hong-Chih Kuo. Kuo entered the game after a Nick Stavinoha's leadoff double. After a sacrifice to advance the runner, Kuo blew away pinch-hitter Ryan Ludwick, setting up a potential showdown with Albert Pujols with two outs. However, rather than summon a righthander to face Pujols, Kuo had his Rick Vaughn "I want Parkman" moment, intentionally walking both Pujols and Matt Holliday to face lefty Rick Ankiel, who had homered in his last at-bat, with the bases loaded. Three electrifying fastballs later, and Kuo got out of the jam with a clutch strikeout. Since his return this week, Kuo has faced ten batters. Outside of the two intentional walks, Kuo has retired all eight batters, three by strikeout.
Matt Kemp had three hits and three RBI, including both a run-scoring single in the second inning and an eventual game-winning two-run single in the 10th, giving the Dodgers some much-needed success with runners in scoring position.
Casey Blake had four hits, giving him seven hits over the last two games.
The four game losing streak is over, and the Dodgers are leaving St. Louis. For that, we breathe a sigh of relief.
Jason Schmidt faces Tommy Hanson Friday in Atlanta.
WP - James McDonald (3-2): 1 perfect IP
LP - Dennys Reyes (0-2): 0.1 IP, 1 hit, 2 runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
Sv - Jonathan Broxton (24): 1 IP, 1 walk
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woooooooooooooo
we WIN!!
but schmidtty pitches tomorrow :(
by shaqfor3 on Jul 30, 2009 10:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Elbert pitches 9 innings for the 9 inning save.
by Tripon on Jul 30, 2009 10:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe the game will get snowed out.
vr, Xei
by Xeifrank on Jul 30, 2009 10:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
breaking news!!
chuck norris canceled tomorrows game!!
by shaqfor3 on Jul 30, 2009 10:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I saw the end of the game late on tape and
am thrilled they won. I was so nervous about the sweep, and given the matchup tomorrow even more so. Bless you Kemp, and Kuo and Jimmy Mac and bless you Tiny Tim.
Great move walking Pujols and Holliday, loved it.
Now only 14 hours to go before you know what is over and we can all breathe a little easier…
by underdog on Jul 30, 2009 10:59 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
You mean17 more hours to a Jason Schmidt start.
by Tripon on Jul 30, 2009 11:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
17.5 hours til
Jason Schmidt is back in the dugout.
by underdog on Jul 30, 2009 11:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
joe torre should never use hong chi kuo on back to back days
save this man for the playoffs. When he is healthy, he is nearly unhittable. We should do whatever we can do just save his innings for the playoffs. Besides Broxton, there is no pitcher on the dodgers roster better then hong chi and you dont want to waste his arm by pitching him too much in the regular season.
by matthewmafa on Jul 30, 2009 11:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm very sad now.
From Rosenthal.
A rival GM who recently saw Bell at Class AA said, "He’s got physical skills and talent, but he plays very lethargic. He’s not a high-energy guy at all. He’s very nonchalant in how he plays.
The profile says that Bell earned the nickname “Baby Kemp” for his resemblance to the Dodgers’ Matt Kemp.
Dude? ‘Baby Kemp’? We traded a guy whose nickname was “baby Kemp”? HOW COULD WE? :(
by Tripon on Jul 30, 2009 11:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Take solace:
Harold Miner = “Baby Jordan”
by Eric Stephen on Jul 30, 2009 11:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
What's a baby bison called?
calf? minnow?
vr, Xei
by Xeifrank on Jul 30, 2009 11:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
bell screams out James loney
matt kemp is anything but lethargic and nonchalant. Loney fits that description a little better.
by matthewmafa on Jul 30, 2009 11:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Resting Broxton?
I saw Broxton’s meltdown in SD in the flesh. I really wonder if we shouldn’t rest him for at least a few weeks, if not until the Giants series in mid-September. He really seems like the kind of guy who would play through pain despite mediocre results.
As for the Cards, the pecota computer thinks they’re 70% likely to be in the playoffs (that might be a hair lower tomorrow). I think that’s optimistic, but hope that we don’t face them. Ideally, we face the Cubs then the Rockies.
by stillnotah8er on Jul 30, 2009 11:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I think any form of rest is a good idea, I just wish that J Martin would realize that a 100+ fastball is not going to hit as a sider up and around the plate.
Paul D. Kelley
BN is a myopic site
by so.cal.native1952 on Jul 31, 2009 2:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
About the money George Sherrill will make in arbitration.
What makes people think he’s going to be a Dodger though 2011?
This whole thing screams to me a trade in the off season for a usual piece in the offseason.
by Tripon on Jul 30, 2009 11:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Maybe…might depend on the health of Kuo, a possible non-tender candidate
by Eric Stephen on Jul 30, 2009 11:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
if we non tender kuo the redsox would snatch him up in a heartbeat
guys like kuo dont come around often.
by matthewmafa on Jul 30, 2009 11:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think we'll get Kuo to sign a contract for next year.
This isn’t a Saito situation.
by Tripon on Jul 30, 2009 11:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
as long as he doesnt ask for like 5 mill in his first year of Arb
we will sign him
by matthewmafa on Jul 30, 2009 11:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
if he asks for $5 million, he will lose.
He’s likely to make about $1 million to $1.5m next year via arbitration, but if there are any health concerns, it is likely the Dodgers will simply non-tender him.
by Eric Stephen on Jul 30, 2009 11:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also, for everyone claiming that the Blue Jays treated the Dodgers shabbily.
They asked the Rangers for Holland, Smoak, and two more top prospects.
by Tripon on Jul 30, 2009 11:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
it looks like matt kemp has found a new best friend
him and sherril wear their hat bream in the same way… its straight not bent
by matthewmafa on Jul 30, 2009 11:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Hah. Bedtime reading
The Viva El Birdos extra innings thread tonight is priceless. It’s mostly about Wellemeyer, and not in a good way. But genuinely funny. If repetitive.
by underdog on Jul 30, 2009 11:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Even the beat writers on Twitter wanted him DFA’d…it was sad/funny
by Eric Stephen on Jul 30, 2009 11:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wellemeyer is apparently the Colonel
and they’re not fans of Joey Thurston either. Pretty funny.
They have little to complain about after this series though.
by underdog on Jul 30, 2009 11:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
They also want to trade for Kershaw and Kemp.
They claim that Torre must hate Kemp or something, and they’ll give up their entire Triple-A team for Kershaw.
by Tripon on Jul 30, 2009 11:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I didn't say they were smart
just that they were amusing. ;-)
by underdog on Jul 31, 2009 12:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
What are the odds we get Halladay by the deadline?
We picked up a guy (Sherrill) who excels against left-handed hitters (a Philly specialty – not unlike cheesesteak and a genetic disposition towards Santa). Now we need something positively Manny-like in that it would scare the s&^%t out of everyone in the NL. NED…GO GET’EM!!!
by Wile E. on Jul 31, 2009 12:07 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
i think we need an upgrade offensivly in the infield...
the outfield is pretty much set this year and next so its infield that needs a change
o dog and furcal got to stay…. so i think we need to trade either blake, loney or martin and get a offensive upgrade at that position. It’ll make our lineup as terrifying as the phillies lineup.
anyone got any suggestions of who we can maybe acquire… cause im way too tired to think of one
by matthewmafa on Jul 31, 2009 12:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Let's get Adrian Gonzalez!
Damn you Madres.
by sumo390 on Jul 31, 2009 1:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah get Gonzo
Gonzo for Sexton, Robinson, DeWitt, Garate, Russell, Redding, Van Slyke ans Guerra…
by Johnxon on Jul 31, 2009 4:32 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Kuo is back
That appearance last night was flat out awesome. Just felt like I needed to say that :)
by mwhite06 on Jul 31, 2009 7:35 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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