Dodgers Look To Take Series From Mets
by Eric Stephen on Jul 9, 2009 1:13 PM PDT
in Game Previews
26 comments
It wouldn't be a three-game Dodger series without a rubber game. This is the ninth consecutive three-game series involving the Dodgers that is 1-1 going into the final game. The Dodgers are 6-2 in the previous eight such games.
Tonight, Randy Wolf will face Livan Hernandez. In Wolf's last two starts he has pitched six innings each time and given up two runs and one run, respectively. Continuing the trend, I expect Wolf to pitch six shutout innings against the Mets tonight. Last time the Dodgers faced Livan, I pointed out how hittable he was and the Dodgers went out and scored only once in seven innings off the ageless wonder.
Wolf has changed his number from 21 to 43, the number he used to wear with the Phillies.
Manny Ramirez played in his first complete game last night, so perhaps he is getting his legs under him now. Through five games of his comeback, Ramirez has played 22 innings in left field while Juan Pierre has played 25.
James Loney sat for the entire game last night (I was a little surprised he didn't pinch-hit for the right-handed Mark Loretta in the ninth inning), meaning no Dodger has appeared in all 84 games this season. Loney and Matt Kemp lead the club with 83 games played, while Orlando Hudson and Andre Ethier have each played 82.
Get your guesses in for "Clogging The Bases" here.
Today is the last game to get your guesses in for the Manny Ramirez T-shirt contest.
Game time: 4:10pm
TV: Prime Ticket (Eric Collins & Steve Lyons), MLB Network (Bob Costas & Jim Kaat)
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Mets lineup
from the NY Daily News:
Castillo, 2b
Evans, lf
Wright, 3b
Sheffield, rf
Tatis, 1b
Church, cf
Santos, c
Cora, ss
Hernandez, rhp
by Eric Stephen on Jul 9, 2009 1:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
More Mets news
Fernando Martinez has been placed on the DL, and Argenis Reyes has been called back up (he was optioned to make room for Oliver Perez yesterday)…per Newsday.
by Eric Stephen on Jul 9, 2009 1:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Another trend
“Continuing the trend, I expect Wolf to pitch six shutout innings against the Mets tonight.”
And for him to get a no-decision of course.
by underdog on Jul 9, 2009 1:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Hudson/Ethier switched
Furcal, SS
Ethier, RF
Manny, LF
Blake, 3B
Loney, 1B
Martin, C
Hudson, 2B
Kemp, CF
Wolf, P
by Eric Stephen on Jul 9, 2009 1:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Evidently it is very important that Kemp not ever come up with runners on base
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Jul 9, 2009 2:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Can't say I've noticed
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Jul 9, 2009 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fun with arbitrary endpoints
since June 18 (18 games), Martin is hitting .333/.472/.404
by Eric Stephen on Jul 9, 2009 2:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep.
Its the return of Billy Butler. Now in catcher’s form!
Its also why I’d be happy with a Martin long term contract, even if Martin never regains his power stroke.
by Tripon on Jul 9, 2009 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
do they factor in a reduced rate since his performance has dropped off? That’s the only way I do that, and even then I doubt Martin is anxious to sign either. He’ll (in his mind) wait until he has a good season and regains the negotiating hammer.
by Eric Stephen on Jul 9, 2009 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It might be an offensive year that that never happens.
Also, his defense seemed to have improve this year, based on the positive quotes from Torre, Ausmus, etc.
A catcher who can get on base and can run is still pretty valuable, even if he can’t hit homers anymore. Dodgers might want to ask what Martin’s thinks his value is in order to see if its worth it.
by Tripon on Jul 9, 2009 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think with his performance drop there is too much risk for Colletti. In the spring he said he would only do long-term deals for young guys if it bought out a year or two of free agency. Factor in that nobody knows what the economy will bring, and its hard to want to commit $15-$17m those first few years of free agency, especially when the economy might not warrant that type of a salary.
That said, I’m sure there are feelers put out by both sides, just with varying degrees of urgency.
by Eric Stephen on Jul 9, 2009 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not so sure
I looked at Fangraphs the other day and Martin has the 3rd worst OPS amongst catchers with at least 200AB’s leading only Navarro and Kendall. I realize people say it’s hard to pick up catchers, but Gerald Laird is absolutely outperforming Martin, and he was traded in the offseason for a PTBNL. And this is not like Loney not being able to produce what is expected of him, as Martin is making over $3MM this year and it will only go up.
Colletti wanted to lock up Martin to a long term deal, now I think Martin was foolish for not taking it.
by Michael White on Jul 9, 2009 2:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree
I have little interest in signing Martin long term. I don’t think I could stand watching Jason Kendall for the next four years at 5-8 Million a year. As they all start getting expensive the production has to improve. Loney, Martin, and Andre have to prove they are worth the arbitration awards. The Brian McCann/Martin debates seem so long ago now.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Jul 9, 2009 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Brian McCann/Martin debates seem so long ago now.
Ain’t that the truth. And I won’t even bring up the Mauer vs. Martin thoughts that were in my head as well.
by Eric Stephen on Jul 9, 2009 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lets just do the smart thing, and trade Martin for Mauer.
by Tripon on Jul 9, 2009 2:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Straight up! I like that. Funny, I hadn’t noticed that Kevin Malone had taken over as GM in Minnesota. Good for him, dontcha know!
by KellyStephen on Jul 9, 2009 3:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t want Kemp batting 8th either, but…
Kemp is 14th in MLB (and 4th on the club) in runners on base while batting:
1) Ethier 275
3) Loney 270
9) Hudson 245
14) Kemp 240
22) Martin 224
25) Blake 223
73) Furcal 175
by Eric Stephen on Jul 9, 2009 2:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Victorino & Inge won the Final Vote
I just hope Kemp can make it as an injury replacement.
Oh, and MLB: “Bran-Torino”??? Really?
by Eric Stephen on Jul 9, 2009 2:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Bummer about Kemp, but I am pleasanlty surprised about Inge. Felt he deserved it in the AL.
by Michael White on Jul 9, 2009 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like puns as much as anyone
but “Bran-Torino” angers me for some reason.
by Eric Stephen on Jul 9, 2009 2:58 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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