Dodgers Look To End Road Trip On A High Note
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2009 12:58 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Previews
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PrintThe Dodgers close out a rough road trip tonight as they face the Braves on ESPN. With a win, the road trip could become a much more palatable 3-4, especially since it started with three straight losses.
The Dodger starters have a string of four straight quality starts:
| Date |
Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| 7/29 | Kershaw | 8.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| 7/30 | Kuroda | 6.0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 7/31 | Schmidt | 6.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| 8/1 | Wolf | 6.0 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
Will Chad Billingsley continue that streak today? I sure hope so. Let's hope he can pitch more like the first five innings last Tuesday in St. Louis than he did during the sixth.
Pitching for the Braves will be 23-year old Jair Jurrjens, who is coming off an excellent July (4-1, 2.09 ERA).
Manny Ramirez is in a post-Bobbleslam funk, hitting .152/.263/.212 (5 for 33) in the eight games since his electrifying pinch-hit.
The last time the Dodgers were on the ESPN Sunday night game (June 21 in Anaheim), Steve Phillips -- who has been in the Dodger clubhouse less than Phil or I have this year -- speculated that the Dodger players wouldn't stand for Juan Pierre being benched, once Manny returned, in favor of Andre Ethier. Here are the numbers for those two players since that day:
| Player |
BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Ethier | .273 | .353 | .591 | .944 |
| Pierre | .253 | .309 | .293 | .602 |
I can't wait to hear what "insight" spews out of Steve Phillips tonight.
Ethier has homered in each of the last two games. He had the last Dodger streak of three straight games with a home run, in July 2008.
Get your guesses in for "Just A Bit Outside" here.
Game Time: 5:15pm
TV: ESPN
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He does have a gun
Coming into today, he was leading the NL in caught stealing , at 47 (threw out 16 of 34).
Only Kenji Johjima (57%, 20 of 35) and Francisco Cervelli (48%, 10 of 21) have been better in MLB.
Hanigan was really memorable in that series last week. I remember reading some of the Reds’ blogs saying that Ramon Hernandez having surgery was great because it meant Hanigan got to catch now.
Angels offense is on fire without Hunter and Vlady
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I like him to, entertaining writer, one of the few these days.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Braves Lineup
per MLB.com beat writer Mark Bowman:
McClouth CF
Prado 2B
Jones 3B
McCann C
Anderson LF
LaRoche 1B
Diaz RF
Hernandez SS
Jurrjens P
Line keeps on moving
Atlanta opened as 53% favorites, then 55% early this AM and now up over 57%.
vr, Xei
I actually had a dream about that. That would have to be the best performance ever on an ESPN Sunday night game ever. If only Carl Everett (I think?) didn’t break up Mike Mussina’s perfect game at Fenway in the 9th inning…
Rain, rain go away?
Michael Becker of the Press-Enterprise:
The tarp is off the field here in Atlanta after an afternoon shower. Cloudy skies but nothing looks ominous
Becker is a good dude, so we can overlook this small typo:
A few notes before the Angels wrap up their seven-game road trip…
Red Sox rotation is toarched.
Its Beckett, Lester, Wakefield, and then pray for snowstorms in the middle of Aug.
Yankees prospect Jesus Montero will miss the rest of the year with a fractured middle finger on his left hand.
http://blogs.nypost.com/sports/yankees/archives/2009/08/yankees_prospec.html
Stephen A. Smith…the best part about this is he might actually be serious (sorry in advance, Phil, for posting this):
I wouldn’t hesitate to cover the NBA for ESPN or TNT again. But for those who ask if I’d coach, the answer is NO! I know talent. Pres or GM
That is funnier if screamed out loud, or followed with a reference to cheesy doodles :)
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2009 3:05 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Dodger Lineup - Blake gets a day off
Furcal SS
Ethier RF
Manny LF
Loney 1B
Kemp CF
Martin C
Loretta 3B
Hudson 2B
Billingsley P
This lineup . . .
. . . is not all that bad!
It would be nice
if the Dodgers would stop having the guy with the worst OBP (amongst starters) leading off games.
by Michael White on Aug 2, 2009 3:37 PM PDT up reply actions
I hope Loretta has a big game
Since June 1, Loretta is 10 for 67 (.149/.219/.179).
He is also 3 for his last 32 (all singles).
Per Michael Becker of the Press-Enterprise:
Blake was scratched due to a hand injury he suffered while working out after Saturday’s game. Dodgers think it’s minor, but he’ll have X-Rays tonight.
Steve Phillips' comment, ugh...
I just love how SP and Kruky have the angriest, most impassioned and STUPID ideas about baseball. My favorite was a few weeks ago, Manny was coming back and Kruk got all lathered up about how Manny “needs to give the Dodgers and identity … and get the offense going!” 1 guy out of 25 has to do it. I loved it. It was personally up to him or something. Kruk was flop-sweating and melting under the BBTN lights like crazy – it was a true sight to behold. And by sight to behold I mean turn your head if you’re squeamish.
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