Dodgers Unload On Brewers, 17-4
by Eric Stephen on Aug 5, 2009 12:10 AM PDT
in Game Recaps
124 comments
The Dodgers simply unloaded on the Brewers tonight, scoring their most runs at home in over 30 years. A mix of clutch hitting, hard hit balls, and helpful Brewer defense all contributed to a 17-4 Dodger win over Milwaukee. With so many highlights from this game, its best to cover them in list form:
- Manny Ramirez broke out of his slump, hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning and adding a two-run double one inning later
- Matt Kemp had four hits -- including a can of corn flyball that somehow landed in between Mike Cameron and
Hernan IribarrenRyan Braun in left center field -- and five more runs batted in, including a towering homer to center in the eighth. It was the second five-RBI game in the last three days for Kemp, and the fifth of his career. Kemp on the season is hitting .323/.385/.508. That feels good just typing it. - Andre Ethier added three hits and drove in two, to match the surging Kemp for the club lead with 69 RBI. Ethier is now hitting .275/.363/.510. It feels good just typing that as well.
- Mark Loretta, 0 for his last 15 at-bats as a pinch hitter, delivered with a two-run pinch single that helped break open the game during the seven-run sixth inning
- Hiroki Kuroda delivered a quality start, giving up three runs in six innings while striking out seven, for his first win in a month.
- Hong-Chih Kuo pitched another perfect inning tonight, striking out two in the process. Since being activated last week, Kuo memorably intentionally walked two batters and has retired the other 14 batters, including six by strikeout
- Russell Martin had three hits and two walks, and was on base all five times tonight, raising his OBP to .376
The Dodger offense of the last nine days or so reminds me of Barry Sanders. Sanders was an all-time great, but would occasionally be tackled for a loss. Still, at any given point, he was a threat to break loose for a long touchdown run. The first three games in St. Louis last week were the Dodgers dancing behind the line of scrimmage. They made some nice moves, getting a lot of hits, but were never able to put them together to score enough runs. The series in Atlanta represented a couple of sprints to the sideline, something like an 8-10 yard gain for a first down. Monday night against the Brewers, the Dodger offense was caught behind the line by Manny Parra, but was able to reverse field and nearly broke free until ultimately getting tripped up.
Well, tonight represented that one awesome long run that could break out at any time. Now, the Dodgers have scored 47 runs over their last nine games, a 5.22 per game average that belies their struggles early last week. The 17 runs scored by the Dodgers, nine against Brewer ace Yovani Gallardo, were the most scored by the Dodgers at home since May 1979. The opposing starter 30 years ago was Tom Seaver of the Reds, who was done after giving up seven runs in two innings.
Perhaps the only negative from tonight's game was the ugliness of beanbrawl in the ninth. Manny Ramirez was grazed by a pitch in the seventh by Chris Smith, and appeared to take offense. In the ninth inning, with Ramon Troncoso warming up in the bullpen with a 13-run lead, Guillermo Mota hit Prince Fielder in the thigh with a pitch. It was a clear purpose pitch, and everyone in the ballpark knew it, including home plate umpire Lance Barksdale, who immediately and rightfully ejected Mota.
Fielder was incensed after the game, and had to be restrained by teammates and security trying to enter the Dodger clubhouse, according to Brewer beat writer Adam McCalvy. My only advice to Fielder is to solve your issues on the field. You're better than that. If you have a problem, talk to your pitchers.
I would never be so bold as to assume baseball, or real life, worked this way, but I wonder if the Dodgers might have been better off saving some runs for tomorrow. Jason Schmidt faces Braden Looper in the series finale.
WP - Hiroki Kuroda (4-5): 6 IP, 9 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts
LP - Yovani Gallardo (10-8): 5.1 IP, 10 hits, 9 runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts
0 recs |
124 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
nice win
glad to see the dodger offense rolling like that
theyll need to give some run support for schmidt tomorrow
i dont understand the prince fielder/mota incident
i know manny and JP got hit but it was very late in the game
and the pitches that em seemed accidental
well maybe torre was trying to make a point i guess
unfortunately bernie brewer was very upset about the game
by shaqfor3 on Aug 5, 2009 12:24 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think the Pierre HBP was thought of as anything, but they objected to the pitch up and in to Manny when the Dodgers were up 9 runs in the 7th. It barely grazed Manny, but the intent seemed there.
Mota hit Prince exactly the way you’re supposed to, either in the thigh or butt, and had no attempt to injure. All Fielder should have done was go to 1B, because everyone else in the ballpark knew that was coming. Mota was ejected, and rightfully so, but Fielder then made things worse by trying to get into the Dodger clubhouse.
If Fielder just sucks it up, the issue is dead.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 5, 2009 12:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't know, man
If you can’t intentionally hit Manny, get the hell out of baseball.
Retaliation when you’re nearly up two digits is questionable, though, and apparently Mota and Fielder used to be friends when they played together. That probably made the situation worse.
"The conflict is representative of the Darwinian struggle between avians and mammals for dominance."
"Based on Bugs giving Daffy Duck a cigar made out of dynamite?"
by kishi on Aug 5, 2009 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Brewers blog is up in arms about the Mota beaning of Cecil Fielder.
vr, Xei
by Xeifrank on Aug 5, 2009 12:29 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m normally not a fan of beanbrawl, and some of the unwritten rules can be annoying, but in this case I don’t really have a problem with Mota’s HBP. He wasn’t headhunting or anything, and he was rightfully ejected. I think Prince just overreacted.
It will be interesting to see if any of this carries over to tomorrow. Hopefully cooler heads will prevail.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 5, 2009 12:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Brewcrew ball seems to think Joe Torre ordered the hit.
vr, Xei
by Xeifrank on Aug 5, 2009 12:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think there was any question that was the case, especially since Troncoso was warming up ready to enter with a 13-run lead and two outs in the 9th.
Then again, Torre has had everyone guessing about his bullpen moves all season :)
by Eric Stephen on Aug 5, 2009 12:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Beaning = hit by pitch in the head
Someone should familiarize the Brew Crew with the proper definition of “beaning.” Hitting a giant panda first baseman in the place Fielder got hit isn’t a beaning. It’s really a “keistering,” although the Urban Dictionary has a different definition.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=keistering
by The Dude Abides on Aug 5, 2009 2:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Inferiority complex
A lot of the members of Brew Crew Ball, as well as a couple of the moderators, have a tremendous insecure feeling about the Brewers. Its a “we made the playoffs last year for the first time in 26 years and we demand respect now”, type of attitude.
Personally I didnt think the Fielder plunking was called for, nor was the over reaction by Fielder, but the Manny one was. (He had been killing them all day).
Its going to be an ugly end to the season in Milwaukee. Frustration already setting in deeply.
by backtocali on Aug 5, 2009 7:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Personally I didnt think the Fielder plunking was called for, nor was the over reaction by Fielder, but the Manny one was. (He had been killing them all day).
Not sure I get your logic here. Manny has been playing well, so the Brewers are allowed to throw at him, but the Dodgers aren’t allowed to retaliate to (what you’re clearing implying is) an intentional plunking of their best hitter. I’m with most of the people on this board and I’m not really a fan of beanball nonsense (mostly because I’m worried our team with the best record in baseball will suffer an injury in an ensuing brawl) but if a team intentionally throws at Manny their’s really no other recourse than to retaliate.
by Michael White on Aug 5, 2009 7:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If youre
going to play bean ball. I guess I would say, if you hit a HR and murder the pitching staff, youre probably going to get hit. Following this logic, if it werent for the huge lead in hand, Braun would have been due at some point last night.
I am not a fan of bean ball, but I do condone it, as old school and the way to protect your teammates. But the Fielder thing could have come today if they wanted to retaliate.
There isnt any logic to it realy, just that it happened in game, while having a 14 run lead. Just seemed a little puzzling to me.
If it were Jackie Robinson, he would have just come out today and turned a stand up double into a head first tackle of the third baseman, instigating a bench clearing brawl (and not getting suspended for it).
by backtocali on Aug 5, 2009 8:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree about the no logic part…once we try to justify one action, it leads to another justification, and circular reasoning.
However, I think it was better to take care of it last night, in that the Dodgers weren’t going to lose that game, and if they tried something today it might affect their chances negatively for today’s game.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 5, 2009 8:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
what I thought was funny was
…when I watched the replay on MLB.com, the Brewer announcers were implying that Joe Torre was appalled. Based on everyone’s speculation about Troncoso warming up, it’s looking more and more like he may have approved/ordered it. (Rick Monday seemed to imply that yesterday, as he said with purpose in his voice something like, “Troncoso won’t NEED more time to warm up. He was already up in the bullpen.”) LOL I think Joe Torre has developed this “elder statesmen” persona, which masks the truly hard-nosed individual that he really is- kind of like Joe Paterno.
by sarcastro9 on Aug 5, 2009 4:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would be angry too if I were from theee……8th coolest city in the midwest
I'm nobody's fool, least of all yours
by BoulderDodger on Aug 5, 2009 8:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
My hometown
I love it here, but Milwaukee is kind of a dump. If it werent for the lake it would be Detroit II.
If I were going to rank I would say: Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Detroit and then a bunch of smaller, yet nice college type towns like Madison, WI, Iowa City,
by backtocali on Aug 5, 2009 8:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Really?
I heard it was rather nice. In fact during the series Brewers/Dodgers series in Milwaukee earlier this year Lyons and Collins (our road TV duo) was raving about Milwaukee for seemingly the whole series. Though I have never been there myself.
I too like Chicago and Minneapolis. Don’t care for St. Louis much at all. I actually liked Detroit more than one would imagine, though I spent most of my time in places like Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti which are west of Detroit. I’m also quite found of Columbus, OH (though I’m not sure if that count’s as Midwest or is the Northeast.)
by Michael White on Aug 5, 2009 9:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Very good food
It depends on when the Dodgers were here, I think it was just after the 4th if I remember. We have had a pretty temperate summer so far, so its been nice.
The lake is very nice and there are some very nice neighborhoods here in town.
But Milwaukee is one of the most segregated cities in the country. The downtown here is quite awful as well. And large parts of the culture revolve around drinking.
If you like German food, this is the place for you then. Your announcers were probably quite impressed with all of the restaurants that serve the heavy German food.
Never been to Columbus, but I hear its a lot like Madison. Id like to see Cleveland and Cincy, but have not.
by backtocali on Aug 5, 2009 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
haha
i agree i was just unnecessarily going for more bantering from brewers fans. It’s no Chicago, but it’s a hell of a lot better than Detroit and Indianapolis.
I'm nobody's fool, least of all yours
by BoulderDodger on Aug 5, 2009 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Get real
If Don Drisdale were still here, he would be talking about protecting Dodger batters as if it was WWII. Fat boy got hit once and got wet. Two Dodgers got hit and its OK? NO!!!
Think Blue
by boxhead on Aug 5, 2009 1:46 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
It was funny watching
Venus De Milo out there in left field on Kemp’s “hit”.
by kensai on Aug 5, 2009 2:27 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
hilarious
I'm nobody's fool, least of all yours
by BoulderDodger on Aug 5, 2009 8:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I actually heard the real reason Prince was mad was because he heard the Dodgers post-game spread was far superior to the the Brewers and that just infuriated him.
by UCLAClass82 on Aug 5, 2009 4:52 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
+1
Nice. The Dodgers had Toppers Pizza!
by Seanny Rotten on Aug 5, 2009 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm normally not one to want to get into plunking wars with other teams
especially when people want a revenge bean in a close game…basically though, imo this needed to be done. kinda as a reminder to the rest of baseball that they cant keep hitting our guys, i.e. pitching dangerously close to Manny frequently and hitting him on the hands, and high fiving in the dugout after they nail us.
IIRC manny was up with 2nd and 3rd with 1st open and they basically intentionally walked him by pitching him so far inside that they were assuming he’d be hit, therefore putting the DP in play.
I just think once in a while we do have to send a message, and we did, and we chose a good time to do it with nothing on the line
William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.
by Ollie on Aug 5, 2009 5:09 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I think what other teams need to realize is that this is largely the exact same team as last year that came so close to the World Series together. These guys know each other, like each other, and sure as hell are going to protect each other.
by UCLAClass82 on Aug 5, 2009 6:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
HBP statistical fun
Manny’s been HBP 3 times in the month he’s been back. That doesn’t seem like a ton to me, but I think it was more the Dodgers getting hit in general, the last 2 days especially, that they took offense to. But there may still be a general build-up of anger and a perception of being targeted that added to it.
Anyway, I was curious so I looked it up— the Dodgers are 5th in the league in HBP this season, with 42. That is 4 behind the 4th place team — the Brewers.
by underdog on Aug 5, 2009 7:05 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I agree. If anything, maybe Fielder paid a slightly higher price for the Marlins high-fiving Badenhop two Sundays ago.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 5, 2009 8:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
it doesn't seem like a ton to you?!
It’s actually been 3 times in a little over 2 weeks. That’s a pace of roughly 25 to 30 for the YEAR! And let’s not forget about Juan Pierre- he’s been beaned a few times, too. (remember the White Sox?) Something about our left fielders that other times just don’t like, I guess…
by sarcastro9 on Aug 5, 2009 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
For those of us who didn't get to watch
Junior Seau was apparently a Dodger’s batboy, wearing number 55. What number did Martin wear then?
by ladodgers2716 on Aug 5, 2009 7:20 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I would have used a photo of Seau if it was available in our queue of photos. I think the tsars of baseball look the other way for something like that. Its like all the batboys having 09 or something.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 5, 2009 8:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't ever recall a celebrity being a ball boy
who knew Junior was such a fan.
by meercatjohn on Aug 5, 2009 9:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jeff Passan of Yahoo has a nice homage to Fangraphs today.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 5, 2009 8:16 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Nice
Now he’s only a year and a half or so behind the rest of the internet.
"The conflict is representative of the Darwinian struggle between avians and mammals for dominance."
"Based on Bugs giving Daffy Duck a cigar made out of dynamite?"
by kishi on Aug 5, 2009 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Braunschweiger
Prince Fielder has a thigh the size of Sheboygan County! How was Mota not supposed to hit Prince and still find the strike zone???
2009-10 LA Kings Hockey: Where Smyt Happens!!
by DodgerBlueBalls on Aug 5, 2009 9:11 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Eric
I love the clever Barry Sanders analogy.
by ishXdavid on Aug 5, 2009 9:32 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Thanks! I couldn’t get that out of my head as I was driving home last night. I was trying to find a clip of Barry making that one guy spin around a bunch of times on Thanksgiving. :)
by Eric Stephen on Aug 5, 2009 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If anyone cares...
here’s a short clip of Fielder trying to get in
http://cbs2.com/video/?id=110706@kcbs.dayport.com
I'm nobody's fool, least of all yours
by BoulderDodger on Aug 5, 2009 9:45 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I almost want to create a Testimonials page here, just so I can post this beauty from Dodger Thoughts:
Eric Stephen suggests that attacking Fielder was because other teams hit the Dodgers. He’s also okay with injuring players as long as it isn’t in the head. The blog he runs openly allows calls for violence and maintains a general level of infantilism. The inevitable result of actions like the Dodgers will be escalation. If it isn’t the Brewers it will be another team. It doesn’t help that the team openly accepts cheating and takes someone like Manny Ramirez as a hero.
Posted by: cali hal | August 05, 2009 at 09:43 AM
Emphasis mine. :)
by Eric Stephen on Aug 5, 2009 10:01 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
What the hell?
As a member of TBLA, that pisses me off.
by Michael White on Aug 5, 2009 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree. We are at least adolescent or pre-teen in maturity level!
If you’ll excuse me, I need to go pound someone’s face in :)
by Eric Stephen on Aug 5, 2009 10:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
True Blue LA: Favorite baseball blog of Sir William Gerald Golding!
It’s funny that comments over at DT are making jokes about “when the pitcher was doing a number 2,” but here at TBLA, we’re the ones showing infantilism???
Riiiiiiiiiiiiight…
2009-10 LA Kings Hockey: Where Smyt Happens!!
by DodgerBlueBalls on Aug 5, 2009 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
First of all, Cali Hal in no way reflects Dodger Thoughts as a whole, which is a wonderful site. It was just the comment of one person.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 5, 2009 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
True
but I’m a bit tired of the same song and dance about modern day baseball and where throwing at hitters fits into the scheme. Probably as much as everyone here and there is tired of my Carlos Santana comments. Same people say the same thing whenever this happens. The story was not Prince but scoring 17 runs and how on fire Kemp is.
And with Andre going off again it is time again to compare his non-Manny numbers against his Manny numbers. It is starting to get ridiculous.
by meercatjohn on Aug 5, 2009 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Manny versus Non-Manny
I’m afraid you’d fall into an “assuming the cause” fallacy on that one. We know Ethier is streaky, but I don’t necessarily believe that Manny’s presence is the driving factor. You even mentioned the other day that with August here, Ethier was due to get hot. I believe this would have happened with or without Manny…
by Michael White on Aug 5, 2009 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sure
but I mentioned that because Ethier caught fire last August and we know what was different about the team on Aug 1st, 2008 from July 31st, 2008. There may be no cause and effect but the fact is after one full year of playing baseball, Andre’s numbers when Manny is in the lineup are elite and when he is not, they are not.
by meercatjohn on Aug 5, 2009 11:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The numbers realy are stagerring
Since the beginning of 2008…
1) w/o Manny (pre 8/1/08, plus the 50-game suspension this year)
2) w/Manny (post Aug 1 last year, through May 6 this year, and July 3 to present)
Either w/Manny:
102 games, 30 2B, 22 HR, 84 runs, 75 RBI, .340/.430/.604
Either w/o Manny:
144 games, 33 2B, 20 HR, 71 runs, 71 RBI, .256/.323/.440
I don’t know how much Manny is responsible, since as mwhite06 noted, Ethier is a streaky hitter. But, damn, those numbers are crazy!!!
by Eric Stephen on Aug 5, 2009 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
sure, but...
with without Manny includes that batting-pitcher-like May he had. Note that he also got most of those game winners without Manny. Just a coincidence, I think.
The real question is why is Loney so good on the road, so so-so at home?!
by sarcastro9 on Aug 5, 2009 4:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh absolutely. I enjoy reading Dodger Thoughts and am grateful for how prolific a writer Jon is on behalf of Dodger Fans and now the LA Times. I certainly understand that Cali Hal is an exception and not the norm over there. I guess my attempt at making a joke here was misunderstood.
Mea culpa…
2009-10 LA Kings Hockey: Where Smyt Happens!!
by DodgerBlueBalls on Aug 5, 2009 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
My humor meter is on the fritz today :)
by Eric Stephen on Aug 5, 2009 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not only the exception
but literally someone I’ve never seen post over there before. I could be mistaken but…
by underdog on Aug 5, 2009 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Eric deserves some major credit to his priceless response: “Thanks for reading!” I thought that was handled perfectly!
2009-10 LA Kings Hockey: Where Smyt Happens!!
by DodgerBlueBalls on Aug 5, 2009 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mota played for the Brewers in 2008.
They still employ Mike Cameron.
by Tripon on Aug 5, 2009 10:09 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
That still
is making me laugh out loud.
Eric Stephen, Openly Calling for Violence Since 2007. ©
by underdog on Aug 5, 2009 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
i think this should be the new tagline of the site :)
Openly Calling for Violence Since 2007
So instead of “True Blue LA – Where the Dodger Dogs are always grilled” it’s “True Blue LA – Openly Calling for Violence since 2007”
by bucknellbruin on Aug 5, 2009 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Knowing how you were raised, I’m not surprised that you are now openly advocating violence.
by KellyStephen on Aug 5, 2009 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Infantilism-gotta love that
It would have been more interesting if the poster had been someone we were familiar with.
by meercatjohn on Aug 5, 2009 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
infantilism!
I played baseball growing up, and while we weren’t allowed to overtly throw at the other team in retribution, we did our best to knock a middle infielder into centerfield when breaking up a double-play. It’s part of the game even though there’s a strident segment of fans who are too sophisticated to acknowledge it. Baseball players are not robots, and when they see a teammate punked by the other team it him to know that the team has his back. It works wonders for team morale, and I subscribe to the belief that a team performs better when they’re pulling together as a unit (70s A’s and Bronx Zoo are the exceptions).
I also find it ironic that fans love to perpetuate the idea of baseball as “the thinking man’s game” when it’s played by the most infantile athletes in all of professional sports.
by ishXdavid on Aug 5, 2009 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know everytime I read this blog I want to start a fight.
by kensai on Aug 5, 2009 5:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
When we do an Anchorman-style blog fight in some back alley somewhere, you can hold the chains. I call the trident.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 5, 2009 5:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
bahahaha
hahahahaha… GET OVER IT CALI HAL
by PHAT JULIO on Aug 5, 2009 10:21 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
FYI
Hey TBLA, read this interesting article on Yahoo. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Arho05BMy0GAWYuiMqb8LWE5nYcB?slug=jp-fangraphs080509&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
It’s about fangraphs, I’ve been on the site a couple of times. I’ve never really got into it, but last night I was on it for awhile. Really interesting. Nerd baseball stuff.
Kershaw throws the 2nd best fastball
by PHAT JULIO on Aug 5, 2009 10:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm not sure that Brendan has ever written a column that did not incorporate
fangraphs in some fashion.
by meercatjohn on Aug 5, 2009 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It also says...
Casey Blake can’t hit the slider if his life depended on it
by PHAT JULIO on Aug 5, 2009 10:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kemp is our best fastball hitter, Loney is our best slider hitter (though still low) and curve ball hitter, casey is our best change-up hitter
by PHAT JULIO on Aug 5, 2009 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
actually
Manny is our best slider hitter
by PHAT JULIO on Aug 5, 2009 10:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Kuo's "hop"
Am I the only one who think it’s freaking awesome? He should do it after EVERY strikeout.
by silverwidow on Aug 5, 2009 10:38 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Yes. I think Fielder was a little pissed off about it when Guo blew him away last night. He kind of stared at Guo as he did his little hop on the follow through and pranced off the field. I am still waiting for another Guo bat flip tho.
vr, Xei
by Xeifrank on Aug 5, 2009 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bat flip was just so freaking awesome.
But seriously, why get angry at Kuo? Joba Chamberlain acts like a horse’s ass whenever he strikes somebody out; but nobody ever says anything. Even after Kuo’s insane “walk the bases loaded then demolish rick ankiel” inning he didn’t do anything nearly as flamboyant as some of the arrogant closers in baseball.
by Michael White on Aug 5, 2009 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
He was angry because he was embarrassed. Embarrassed at being overpowered. Guo should stay in the game and play first base, then pitch to Fielder every time he comes up to bat. Unless that’s against the rules.
vr, Xei
by Xeifrank on Aug 5, 2009 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Does this make Fielder the second biggest baby after Brian Wilson?
"I don't know the meaning of the word 'surrender'!... I mean, I know it, I'm not dumb... Just - not in this context."
by Sordid on Aug 5, 2009 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You can only move a pitcher off the mound and put him back on the mound once per inning
by Tripon on Aug 5, 2009 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
No kidding
I did not know that. I’m surprised there would be a rule like that. You could move a first baseman to third base every other play if you wanted to. Considering there is no subsitution, i figure that would be fair game as well….
by Michael White on Aug 5, 2009 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think you want to do it with a guy like Kuo anway.
Dude does not have a rubber arm.
by Tripon on Aug 5, 2009 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
He just pitches to Fielder only. What’s that, maybe four or five batters. And I would imagine he would give Loney a run for his money on the offensive side. And we’d eventually get another bat flip out of it.
vr, Xei
by Xeifrank on Aug 5, 2009 11:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sherrill vs Fielder
COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
by PHAT JULIO on Aug 5, 2009 11:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Sherrill can learn the Guo Hop and the bat flip, then sure.
vr, Xei
by Xeifrank on Aug 5, 2009 11:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Odds Kuo pitches again tonight against Fielder…
by PHAT JULIO on Aug 5, 2009 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Low, just for the fact that Sherrill is rested and Kuo might not pitch back-to-back (then again, he might)
by Eric Stephen on Aug 5, 2009 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Billz vs Timmy
Next Wednesday, mark your calendars
by PHAT JULIO on Aug 5, 2009 11:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Speaking of...
Horse’s ass… Jonathon Papelbon can go die in a fire.
by ishXdavid on Aug 5, 2009 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This little leg whip seems new?
Is it, he now does it after every pitch.
by meercatjohn on Aug 5, 2009 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Matt Kemp
Matt Kemp is the best hitter on the Dodgers not trying to get pregnant.
Nice to see Torre finally hitting him before the pitcher.
by The R on Aug 5, 2009 10:40 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
You mean somewhere else than
before the pitcher. Well, I think he’s always batted before the pitcher ;-) but I know what you mean. Out of the 8th spot, basically.
by underdog on Aug 5, 2009 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, mostly Torre has had Kemp batting 7 or 8. But he has had him bat 9th this year, behind the pitcher. More than once.
It’s basically the equivalent of batting Ryan Braun or Chase Utley 8th. I have no idea why Torre does it. Actually, I do, and I think the reason is stupid. But the bigger question is why no one in the media seems to care. And that includes Scully. I find it interesting that Hudson, Pierre, Ethier, Loney, and of course Manny all seem to get loads of attention and praise while the best hitter, Kemp, seems to get nothing.
It’s like there is some concerted effort to ignore him and his stats. That will change when he hits arbitration.
by The R on Aug 5, 2009 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
don't think that's true
Kemp’s started 3 games in the 9th spot this year. I’m not completely positive about this, but I remember all 3 of those games being in AL parks when the DH was in effect. So Kemp has batted 9th this year, but not behind the pitcher
by bucknellbruin on Aug 5, 2009 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You might be right. I don’t feel like going through lineup cards to check. But I do know that Torre has batted the pitcher 8th a few times. I just don’t know for sure if Kemp was in that 9 hole. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen Pierre and maybe Hudson there, behind the pitcher.
by The R on Aug 5, 2009 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah i think it's just been Pierre behind the pitcher
but obviously your point about Kemp being too low is true
by bucknellbruin on Aug 5, 2009 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't recall Kemp batting 9th once this season
but again your overall point is understandable. (I couldn’t find evidence of it in lineups this year anyway.) Pierre definitely has batted 9th in several games, which Joe Morgan defended as evidence that Torre wanted two leadoff guys in a row while I saw it more as evidence that Torre realized Pierre kind of sucks.
by underdog on Aug 5, 2009 2:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kemp has started in the 9 spot three times this year...pretty sure all were in AL parks
by bucknellbruin on Aug 5, 2009 5:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Batting a leadoff style guy in the 9th spot is fairly common in the AL. They are usually light-hitting, so you aren’t wasting power. And it basically gives you an extra leadoff/speed guy when you turn the lineup over. Thing is, that guy batting 9th would be batting 1st if he could actually hit. Think Carlos Gomez.
by The R on Aug 7, 2009 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kind of reminds me of...
Remember how Kobe was handled when he was first drafted? It was like the team was afraid of his prodigious talent and didn’t know what to do with themselves. Taking into account his late focus on baseball, Bison is a prodigy.
by ishXdavid on Aug 5, 2009 2:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, the Dodgers are going to have to move him up in the order after salary arbitration/contract negotiations. His salary is going to make a huge jump. You don’t bat a 8 mil/year guy in the 8 hole. Unless he is Juan Pierre.
Maybe that’s why they have him batting down low. Maybe they don’t actually want him to put up huge numbers for money reasons. It would explain the ho-hum attitude about him from the Dodgers PR. Anywhere else, he’d be hyped as the next Mays.
by The R on Aug 7, 2009 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who's going to get hit today?
My feeling…Kemp…
by PHAT JULIO on Aug 5, 2009 10:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Who’s going to get a hit today?
Yes, Kemp to be sure. Probably a few. :)
by Eric Stephen on Aug 5, 2009 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
uhh...
Head, chest, thight, foot….hm…
by PHAT JULIO on Aug 5, 2009 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
My feeling is Schmidt. Probably 2 or 3 dingers.
vr, Xei
by Xeifrank on Aug 5, 2009 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Fielder Mad, Fielder Smash"
Apparently Prince Fielder is a pretty mild mannered person which makes the situation even odder.
"I don't know the meaning of the word 'surrender'!... I mean, I know it, I'm not dumb... Just - not in this context."
by Sordid on Aug 5, 2009 10:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I think it all started when he went vegan a few years ago. Must be a chemical inbalance. He seems such a good guy, with such a strong relationship with his father.
On a side note, how in the hell does a man eating only fruitsm vegetables, nutc, etc. manage to stay north of 285??? I’d like to be part owner of the produce store in his neighborhood, or the trucking company delivering to his house!
by KellyStephen on Aug 5, 2009 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The good relationship with his father note is sarcastic right?
I remembering hearing that Prince hated his father as a result of his parent’s divorce, money issues, stuff like that.
by Michael White on Aug 5, 2009 12:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Personally
I’ve always suspected that Fielder isn’t really a vegetarian, but that he eats vegetarians.
"The conflict is representative of the Darwinian struggle between avians and mammals for dominance."
"Based on Bugs giving Daffy Duck a cigar made out of dynamite?"
by kishi on Aug 5, 2009 3:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Next Wednesday is going to be great.
I’m too excited, too too too excited! Eric and John, tell me you’re too excited too!
by PHAT JULIO on Aug 5, 2009 11:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Man, I just love saying, "Kemp is our best hitter . . . who is not Manny Ramirez".
I mean, I would be just fine with just the first part, but then being add the second is just the icing on the cake. Awesome.
Why do I feel like ripping someone’s head off and projecting spitwads today?
Well anyway if anyone wants to rush DT today with an extremely violent blog rumbIe I am openly advocating it.
by Dodger Dude on Aug 5, 2009 12:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
TBLA bloggers vs. random DT "level of infantilism" commentor...
BLOG RUMBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2009-10 LA Kings Hockey: Where Smyt Happens!!
by DodgerBlueBalls on Aug 5, 2009 1:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
Related FanPosts on True Blue LA
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
