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Around SBN: NFL Week One: Previews and Predictions for all 15 games

Dodgers Full Deck Good Enough To Beat Cards

Chad Billingsley made a triumphant return from his left hamstring injury to pitch six solid innings, and with the backing of a balanced offensive attack, the Dodgers were able to beat the Cardinals 7-3, in front of 45,085 at Dodger Stadium.

Billingsley was again dominant through five innings, allowing only one hit, a second-inning single to Rick Ankiel.  In three of his last four starts, Billingsley has allowed zero runs on two hits or less in the first five innings.  However, Billingsley ran into some trouble in the sixth, but finished the inning allowing only two runs.  Tonight was the eighth start of Billingsley's career in which he lasted at least five innings and didn't walk a batter.

Those two Cardinal runs in the sixth inning were bearable because the Dodgers already had a 5-0 lead.  The Dodger offense, minus Matt Kemp -- who sat with flu-like symptoms -- came to play, collecting 14 hits and scoring seven runs on the night.  Every starter, including Chad Billingsley, had at least one hit and either a run scored or batted in.  The offensive stars:

  • Andre Ethier had three hits, including a double, a triple, a walk, a runs scored, and an RBI
  • Orlando Hudson had three hits, and is now hitting .327/.386/.462 in August
  • Russell Martin had two doubles, a run, and an RBI
  • James Loney looked to be out by a mile at home plate in the seventh inning, but a wonderful slide on a bang-bang, both players sliding play at the plate allowed Loney to score the Dodgers sixth run of the night
  • Loney also had two walks, making him the fourth member of the 50-walk club.  Four down, four to go.

James McDonald allowed a run in a brief relief appearance, but George Sherrill and Jonathan Broxton each got four outs to close out the game, including Broxton retiring Albert Pujols with a man on base to end the eighth inning.  Pujols, who struck out as the first out recorded in Broxton's career, back in 2005, now has just one single and a walk career against Broxton in 11 plate appearances.

Clayton Kershaw, hopefully recovered from the flu bug that also felled Kemp tonight, will face Adam Wainwright in a great pitching matchup to end the (regular) season series.

WP - Chad Billingsley (12-6):  6 IP, 5 hits, 2 runs, 1 strikeout

LP - Mitchell Boggs (1-2):  4 IP, 9 hits, 5 runs, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts

Sv - Jonathan Broxton (26):  1.1 IP, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts

Box Score

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Great to see Bills pitching well

Broxton too.

Gerard: Newman, what are you doing?
Newman: I'm thinking.
Gerard: Well, think me up a cup of coffee and a chocolate doughnut with some of those little sprinkles on top, while you're thinking.

by Mr. LA Sports Fan on Aug 18, 2009 10:52 PM PDT reply actions  

great game by bills!

good to see the dodgers score 5+ runs
now they need to provide some run support for tomorrows game
 kershaw FTW

by shaqfor3 on Aug 18, 2009 10:55 PM PDT reply actions  

Okay, here's why Troncoso was warming up in the bottom of the 7th but didn't come into the game.

Torre is intentionally trying to get Troncoso’s arm to get tired so his pitches get more sink.

by Tripon on Aug 18, 2009 10:56 PM PDT reply actions  

you are right

the more tired he is, the better he is. less MPH but more sink…

good point

by matthewmafa on Aug 18, 2009 10:58 PM PDT up reply actions  

For the bullpen tomorrow

Belisario, Kuo, Troncoso, McDonald, and Mota.

by Tripon on Aug 18, 2009 11:05 PM PDT reply actions  

mcdonald

save him for thursday in case you need a long man for Weaver

by matthewmafa on Aug 18, 2009 11:24 PM PDT up reply actions  

John Sickles is going to review the Dodgers top prospects list he made in the off season for 2009 soon.

Here’s the 2008 prospects review. Several players like Withrow, Elbert, and Lambo got C+’s. They will probably will be ranked higher this year.

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2008/7/22/576581/los-angeles-dodgers-top-20

by Tripon on Aug 18, 2009 11:07 PM PDT reply actions  

I would like Withrow to get a Sept call-up

a) He doesn’t burn ANY options
b) His fastball would probably spike big time in the pen
c) He won’t accrue ANY service time (if I read the rule correctly)

Withrow will still start next year in the minors but when he comes up for good he might be more prepared.

by silverwidow on Aug 18, 2009 11:08 PM PDT reply actions  

Its going to be Lindblom over Withrow.

He’s older, been pitching in Triple-A, and is used to relieving.

Not sure why Withrow needs to be called up this year. No reason to screw around with his development this year. It is his first year of pro ball.

by Tripon on Aug 18, 2009 11:11 PM PDT up reply actions  

He would accrue service time, but I don’t think that’s a concern.

The Dodgers are five times more likely to trade for Andruw Jones than they are to call up Withrow this season.

by Eric Stephen on Aug 18, 2009 11:11 PM PDT up reply actions  

He's the best pitcher not on the 40-man roster

My rationale is that he’ll be up next year anyway, so why not get the experience now? It’ll only be a few low leverage innings anyway.

by silverwidow on Aug 18, 2009 11:15 PM PDT up reply actions  

He's having issues with Double-A.

Well, maybe not struggling, but I’d like to see him dominate that level first before any talk of promotion.

by Tripon on Aug 18, 2009 11:16 PM PDT up reply actions  

1 run in last 10 IP

with only 3 walks. How are those issues?

by silverwidow on Aug 18, 2009 11:17 PM PDT up reply actions  

10 IP is way too small of a sample size.

Not everyone is a Kershaw.

You’re much more likely to get a Edwin Jackson situation.

Withrow doesn’t need to be added to the 40 man roster until 2011. He can get called up next Sept.

by Tripon on Aug 18, 2009 11:20 PM PDT up reply actions  

I don’t know how sure it is that he will be up next year anyway. It seems pointless to bring him up now.

by Eric Stephen on Aug 18, 2009 11:18 PM PDT up reply actions  

Gotta take risks sometimes

I would like our own version of Feliz. It’s worked beautifully for Texas so far.

by silverwidow on Aug 18, 2009 11:19 PM PDT up reply actions  

Withrow isn’t even close to Feliz, either right now or in prospect status/rating

by Eric Stephen on Aug 18, 2009 11:21 PM PDT up reply actions  

I don't mind the prospect rankings too much

And Withrow’s fastball isn’t too far removed from Feliz (maybe a 3 mph difference).

by silverwidow on Aug 18, 2009 11:23 PM PDT up reply actions  

But he doesn’t have nearly the command.

And besides, you’re wanting to take up a roster spot for a guy who will not even be added until next September at the earliest (mark it down), to be, what, 10th on the bullpen depth chart? It just doesn’t make sense.

by Eric Stephen on Aug 18, 2009 11:25 PM PDT up reply actions  

Agreed on command

But the roster spot should not be an issue (just move Schmidt to the 60-day).

by silverwidow on Aug 18, 2009 11:26 PM PDT up reply actions  

Its not just this September…its all of next year. There’s no way the Dodgers will use a roster spot on him if they don’t have to.

by Eric Stephen on Aug 18, 2009 11:27 PM PDT up reply actions  

Who do the Dodgers have to add for the Rule 5?

I can’t think of anyone significant other than DeJesus. We just traded away two guys (Bell and Johnson).

by silverwidow on Aug 18, 2009 11:29 PM PDT up reply actions  

DeJesus and Trayvon Robinson

I’d be shocked if there many more than that.

by silverwidow on Aug 18, 2009 11:42 PM PDT up reply actions  

and maybe Aguasviva? He was signed in 2005, but I’m a bit murky on the international rules.

I was thinking Josh Wall too, but I doubt he gets protected.

by Eric Stephen on Aug 18, 2009 11:44 PM PDT up reply actions  

Regardless of whom they protect in the Rule 5, it is extremely likely that the operating 40-man roster will be at 39 or 40 almost all year.

Withrow simply isn’t going to be called up to the majors next year until maybe September, so I don’t see how or why they would add him now to get in some meaningless games, before he is ready, and use that roster spot on someone they don’t plan on using next year anyway.

by Eric Stephen on Aug 18, 2009 11:48 PM PDT up reply actions  

I think this is too pessimistic

Unless Ned or the acting GM plans on spending big this offseason, we will be using our minor league depth before September. Sure, McDonald and Elbert are ahead of Withrow on the depth chart; but again, I think he’s in the same ballpark, ability wise, as Kershaw. That’s why a mid-season call-up at age 21 (depending on his performance at AA) is not outrageous.

Now that I think about it, a Sept call-up this year might be the wrong move. But this guy is NOT far away – and that’s where the heart of our disagreement is at.

by silverwidow on Aug 18, 2009 11:58 PM PDT up reply actions  

Yes, I am high on Lindblom

I just think Withrow is every bit as talented as Kershaw, contrary to most opinions. He has the makeup to do just fine right now in the pen.

by silverwidow on Aug 18, 2009 11:27 PM PDT up reply actions  

withrow

if hes as good as kershaw, you let him develop in the minors into a dominate starter kershaw is now… you dont bring him up and stunt his development. I think withrow will be in the minors for next season too and come up in 2011 as a full time starter

by matthewmafa on Aug 18, 2009 11:33 PM PDT up reply actions  

If he's not traded next year for a reliever.

ohohohohohohohohoho.

But seriously, Ned will do it, especially if he’s on another one year deal.

by Tripon on Aug 18, 2009 11:34 PM PDT up reply actions  

I trust Lindblom and Choi, to name two, to get major league hitters out right now, more than I trust Withrow.

by Eric Stephen on Aug 18, 2009 11:20 PM PDT up reply actions  

choi

do you know what his fastball velocity is

by matthewmafa on Aug 18, 2009 11:26 PM PDT up reply actions  

Tomorrow up in the air, depending on Kershaw and his flu, per LA Times.

Elbert scratched tonight, so he can go Thursday if Weaver is needed tomorrow in place of Kershaw.

by Eric Stephen on Aug 18, 2009 11:19 PM PDT reply actions  

The Nationals had started out the day at $12.5 million, and listened to a Boras proposal that would have landed Strasburg seven years and $25 million. In the end, right before midnight, the two sides agreed on the deal that some calculate at less than $16 million for four years and others would figure at $19.1 million for four.

7 years, 25 million? Something that would have bought out the Arbitration years? Why didn’t the Nats jump on that!?

by Tripon on Aug 18, 2009 11:23 PM PDT reply actions  

There might have been kickers such that if Strasburg qualified for arbitration at a certain point, he could simply void those years. Just a guess, which would place most/all the risk on the Nats.

by Eric Stephen on Aug 18, 2009 11:27 PM PDT up reply actions  

From ESPN:

Cardinals at Dodgers, 10 p.m. ET

The Dan Haren-Cliff Lee matchup isn’t the only one pitting two pitchers with ERAs below 3.00. Adam Wainwright (2.62 ERA) hasn’t allowed more than two runs in an outing since June 26. Clayton Kershaw’s ERA has dropped from 2.95 to 2.91 over his past five starts, yet he’s 0-2 during that span.

by Tripon on Aug 18, 2009 11:36 PM PDT reply actions  

sorry for all the random formatting questions

but can you pot pictures that arent off the internet, like pictures just saved on your desktop or what not?

William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.

by Ollie on Aug 18, 2009 11:51 PM PDT up reply actions  

have to upload the pic somewhere, then post the link.

by Eric Stephen on Aug 18, 2009 11:56 PM PDT up reply actions  

ah ok, so like only through photo bucket

sorry for all the random questions, for a 20 year im terrible with computer tech stuff

William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.

by Ollie on Aug 18, 2009 11:58 PM PDT up reply actions  

you can use photobucket or tinypic.com

by shoothoop on Aug 19, 2009 1:51 AM PDT up reply actions  

From the AP report.
Los Angeles clearly needs Billingsley (12-6), who missed his previous scheduled start after straining his left hamstring Aug. 7, to shore up a rotation already missing Hiroki Kuroda and Jason Schmidt. The All-Star right-hander has yielded just three earned runs and nine hits in his last three starts, though he doesn’t see himself as a stopper just yet.

“I’m just trying to get back in it, and I’m happy with how it went,” Billingsley said. “I just have to pitch my game, and I can win any time.”

Somebody is getting a shot in.

http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=290818119

by Tripon on Aug 18, 2009 11:39 PM PDT reply actions  

ya losing Schmidty to the DL again was a huge blow

William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.

by Ollie on Aug 18, 2009 11:41 PM PDT up reply actions  

Why Billingsley came out after the 6th inning.
That was the final pitch Billingsley threw Tuesday as Torre turned to the bullpen to close out the game. Billingsley threw 77 pitches total, and Torre said that the club was looking for him to throw between 80-90 pitches.

“He hadn’t been out there in a little bit,” Torre said.

http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090818&content_id=6486590&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=la

by Tripon on Aug 18, 2009 11:56 PM PDT reply actions  

never thought i'd say this, but thank God its x games re-runs

I’d rather watch hours of rally car racing than any more Favre coverage..

William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.

by Ollie on Aug 19, 2009 12:01 AM PDT reply actions  

Odds Kemp will START tomorrow?

I say 70%

100% that he will at least pinch hit

by PHAT JULIO on Aug 19, 2009 12:05 AM PDT reply actions  

Per the pregame show

He tried to talk his way into the lineup tonight, but he didn’t win his argument with Torre because Kemp was laying down while he was pleading his case. I think Kemp plays tomorrow (well, now tonight I guess).

by Eric Stephen on Aug 19, 2009 12:10 AM PDT up reply actions  

Goodnight TBLA...

Excited for the potential post season matchup tonight. As the great Vin Scully would say, “Should be a dandy.”

Tah..

by PHAT JULIO on Aug 19, 2009 12:14 AM PDT reply actions  

Based on his experience with the title-winning Cardinals in 2006, Weaver said the recent downturn in the Dodgers’ form was no cause for alarm.

Weaver pointed out that the Cardinals had three losing streaks of at least seven games, the last of which came in late September.

“You never know how it’s going to add up,” he said.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dodgers-fyi19-2009aug19,0,6466208.story

by Tripon on Aug 19, 2009 12:25 AM PDT reply actions  

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NL West Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
San Diego 79 59 .572 0 Won 3
San Francisco 78 62 .557 2 Lost 1
Colorado 75 64 .539 4.5 Won 6
Los Angeles 69 71 .492 11 Lost 5
Arizona 57 83 .407 23 Won 1

(updated 9.8.2010 at 10:10 PM PDT)

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2010 Dodger Payroll

Pos No Player 2010 Salary
C 28 Barajas $117,486
1B 7 Loney $3,100,000
2B  13 Theriot $909,290
3B 23 Blake $6,000,000
SS 15 Furcal $8,500,000
LF  21 Podsednik $640,710
CF 27 Kemp $4,000,000
RF 16 Ethier $6,000,000

SS/2B/3B 14 Carroll $1,475,000
OF 5 Johnson $850,000
OF/1B 31 Gibbons $155,738
C 12 Ausmus $850,000
C 17 Ellis $332,241
IF 60 Hu $74,350
PH/1B 35 Lindsey $61,202
1B/3B 9 Mitchell $61,202
OF 49 Oeltjen $59,016

SP 22 Kershaw $440,000
SP 58 Billingsley $3,850,000
SP 18 Kuroda $14,100,000
SP  29 Lilly $1,696,721
SP 44 Padilla $4,025,000

CL 56 Kuo $950,000
RHP 51 Broxton $4,000,000
RHP  26 Dotel $636,612
RHP 74
Jansen $159,563
RHP 54 Belisario $297,541
RHP 38 Troncoso $297,792
RHP 36 Weaver $800,000
LHP 52 Sherrill $4,500,000
RHP 37 Monasterios $460,000
RHP  48 Ely $222,951
RHP 50 Link $109,649

DL 59 Schlichting $185,792
60DL 55 Martin $5,050,000

Manny $7,267,760


Pierre $4,000,000


Andruw $3,600,000


Schmidt $2,000,000


Wolf $2,000,000


Hudson $1,440,000


Nomar $1,250,000
Belliard $825,000
Anderson $409,699
Ra.Ortiz $349,727
AAA 45 Miller $292,623
DeWitt $266,612


Ohman $200,000
AAA 49 Haeger $195,393
AAA 47 Wade $194,514
AAA 30 Paul $131,147


Repko $122,951
Green $96,175
Ru.Ortiz $63,934
 
Taschner $39,344


Zerpa $35,000
Castro $32,787
McDonald $28,771
AAA 57 Elbert $6,557
AAA
Hoffmann ($25,000)


Stults ($400,000)

Totals
$99,389,730
 
For more detailed information, click here.

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