Padilla takes his turn against No Hit boy Jonathan Sanchez
In game one of the series the Dodgers took care of business on the mound, and at the plate but the Rockies staged another comeback win, and this time even the Rockies Bloggers didn't believe in miracles. So we head into game two of this series still only two games a head of the Rockies.
Taking the mound for the Dodgers will be Vincente Padilla who in three starts for the Dodgers has been surprisingly effective for a guy cast off by a team in desperate need of pitching. Did the Rangers cut off their nose to spite their face when they ejected Padilla? His teammates were happy to see him leave, and they have put on a nice run for the postseason since he left but one wonders if they couldn't have used his arm instead of the likes of Dustin Nippert.
Padilla's opponent will be Jonathan Sanchez who came out of the bullpen to throw a no-hitter on July 10th, and has been very effective since. He's a bit of a strikeout machine and has K'd 86 in only 68 innings in 11 starts since the no-hitter, with an ERA of 2.75. Andre will be neutralized in this game (3/19) so Kemp/Manny/Road Loney will need to step up. Furcal is 0/9 but Hudson has done a little damage against him.
Amid all the talk about Loney's road home runs last night the first inning double he hit about as far as you can hit a ball into right center and not get a home run. James now has a .982 OPS in Sept and history has shown that he loves Sept so maybe more good things are about to happen. His career OPS in Sept is .915 a good 150 points higher then his career Aug OPS.
The Isotopes season is over as they got swept in three games by the minor league affiliate for the Cardinals, the Memphis Redbirds. Let us hope that is not an omen for our postseason. We do not know yet if any of the Isotopes on the forty man roster will get promoted such as Abreu, DeWitt, Paul, Wade, Ohman, Leach, Stults, or Hu. Or maybe the Silverwidow suprise Josh Lindblom who has been the most effective Isotope pitcher.
The Loons however advanced to the 2nd round with a stirring extra inning victory. Odgen now starts their playoffs with Galvez/Ruggiano/Webster trying to win a Pioneer League Championship.
One-Two-Three-youre-out-contest
Dodger Notes:
►The Dodgers are 26 games above .500, and a win tonight would put the club a season-high 27 games above the break-even point for the third time. Los Angeles was also 27 up at 61-34 on July 22 and at 62-35 on July 25.
►The Dodgers are off to their best 142-game start since 1985, when they were an identical 84-58. The 1985 team lost its 143rd game, so a win tonight would give Los Angeles its best start since 1978, when it was 85-58.
TURNING IT ON – The Dodgers have scored five or more runs in four of their last six games beginning September 5 (35 total) after failing to score at least five runs in each of their previous six games from August 30-September 4 (15 total). Los Angeles is 4-2 in its last six games.
►The Dodgers are 58-10 when scoring five or more runs, including 10 such wins in a row.
►The Dodgers are batting .300 (42-for-140) with six homers and 25 runs scored in four games on the road trip thus far.
►The Dodgers have hit 23 home runs in their last 17 games beginning August 25, tied for the most in the National League with Philadelphia in that time.
KEEPING THEM IN IT – Dodger pitchers have given up five runs or less in 30 consecutive games beginning August 10, posting a Major League-best 2.68 ERA (81 ER/272.1 IP) overall in that span. In 28 of those 30 games, Dodger pitchers have allowed four runs or less, including 10 contests in a row. Los Angeles last gave up more than five runs in a game on August 9 vs. Atlanta , an 8-2 setback. Despite the sterling ERA, the Dodgers are just 17-13 in their last 30 games.
BEING BULLISH – The Dodgers’ bullpen has allowed only four runs (two earned) in its last nine games (23.1 innings) for a 0.77 ERA in that time. Dodger relievers have a 1.17 ERA (10 ER/76.2 IP) in their last 25 games beginning August 16. The Dodgers have a Major League-best 3.11 bullpen ERA (168 ER/486.0 IP). The next-closest team is San Francisco and its 3.61 bullpen ERA (158 ER/393.2 IP).
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Matt Kemp disagrees with you :)
Amid all the talk about Loney’s road home runs last night the first inning double he hit about as far as you can hit a ball into right center and not get a home run.
Has there ever been a player better than Detlef Schrempf?
I wouldn't be surprised
if Paul, Lindblom or Ohman is called up despite the fact that all three will require moves to be put on the 40 man roster. Ohman is probably the most likely since I don’t imagine Torre really wants to use Elbert as a LOOGY (even though he was contemplating having Elbert face Montero the other night.) If the Dodgers feel Paul is ready to contribute, Repko can and would be DFA’d. Lindblom or Ohman would probably result in a Stults DFA. Neither Repko or Stults has a future with the Dodgers…
I don't see what Paul can offer that Repko can't
Torre would still use Paul for everything he has Repko do now: pinch-run and come in for a defensive switch.
"You'll have plenty of time to live in a van down by the river when...you're livin' in a VAN down by the RIVER!"
by Mr. LA Sports Fan on Sep 12, 2009 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Paul is better than Repko
and younger. Paul figures to be a part of the Dodgers plans as the 4th outfielder hopefully as soon as next year. Experience he gets now is valuable and you’ve already burned an option year on him anyway, so why not use him. Repko will be gone as soon as the season is over.
by Michael White on Sep 12, 2009 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions
It doesn't matter whether or not he's better
Paul’s not gonna get much experience in the three weeks left in the season. He will run the bases if Thome gets a hit, and he will replace Manny in the eighth inning. Besides, he won’t be the fourth outfielder unless Pierre is traded during the offseason.
"You'll have plenty of time to live in a van down by the river when...you're livin' in a VAN down by the RIVER!"
by Mr. LA Sports Fan on Sep 12, 2009 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions
Why doesn't it matter who's better?
Paul is a better defensive player than Pierre, Repko, Manny and Ethier. Paul is a better hitter than Pierre and Repko. It’s not like a week ago where you could say, at least Paul’s getting regular work with AAA team. If somebody can do things better than guys on the current roster, I wouldn’t mind letting him play from time to time— especially considering the Dodgers haven’t locked up the division yet.
And yes, Pierre would likely need to be traded for Paul to be the 4th outfielder. Or a new GM is in place (Ng or White) who doesn’t care how much money was given to Pierre and figures out a way to have the depth chart reflect guys ability and not the sunken costs of their salary.
by Michael White on Sep 12, 2009 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Let me explain why I disagree with your argument
1. Neither Repko or Paul will ever see an at-bat unless a game has entered the 17th inning.
2. The team cannot carry two bench outfielders. Either Pierre goes or Paul stays in the minors. There is no way both can stay on the big-league roster, and Pierre cannot be sent to the minors.
3. I have not seen any solid evidence to determine that Paul is a better defensive outfielder than Repko. Repko’s career UZR is 7.2, and that’s pretty good for a guy that has bounced between the majors and the minors a lot
4. As much as I know people hate hearing this, Repko has experience at the big-league level. Paul spent less than a month with the club.
"You'll have plenty of time to live in a van down by the river when...you're livin' in a VAN down by the RIVER!"
by Mr. LA Sports Fan on Sep 12, 2009 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Point 4 is contradictory. You initially said that neither player is going to play; if that’s the case what difference does it make who has more ML experience? And one of my first points was that it would be good to get Paul experience because he actually has a future with this team while Repko doesn’t. It seems like this would be a good time for Paul to get some “no pressure” experience with the big league club— I’m sure you agree since you clearly value players who have big league experience.
I’ve heard Paul is a better defensive player than Repko, but I’ll concede I really have no idea.
by Michael White on Sep 12, 2009 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions
I do want Paul to get experience
I just don’t feel he can get any by pinch-running for Thome and replacing Manny in left.
"You'll have plenty of time to live in a van down by the river when...you're livin' in a VAN down by the RIVER!"
by Mr. LA Sports Fan on Sep 12, 2009 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions
That’s more experience then he’ll get eating sushi and hanging out at his apartment.
by Michael White on Sep 12, 2009 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions
The team can carry as many players as they want, up to 40 this month.
The issue with Paul is that a spot on the 40-man roster will have to be cleared to bring him up, and that’s the likely reason he won’t be brought up this season.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 12, 2009 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions
I was referring to next season
in my second argument.
"You'll have plenty of time to live in a van down by the river when...you're livin' in a VAN down by the RIVER!"
by Mr. LA Sports Fan on Sep 12, 2009 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions
But if the organization views Paul (now) as better than Repko (now) then that shouldn’t be an issue.
I don’t know if they do or not, but it seems the decision to bring up Paul would be simple enough.
by Michael White on Sep 12, 2009 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions
I don’t think they necessarily do, at least there’s not a big enough gap between them to justify making a change, in the club’s eyes.
They would have called up Repko in May when Manny was suspended, but he was hurt. That’s why Paul got the call.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 12, 2009 1:38 PM PDT up reply actions
I recommend every reader
to check out the link http://www.truebluela.com/2009/9/12/1026977/dewey-defeats-truman-on-purple-row
If you ever get the chance to be a female that loves your team enough to be blogging about it alone in a parked car at a freeway rest stop with Wi-Fi at 1:30 a.m. because you are on vacation and the place you’re staying in the Vermont mountains doesn’t have Internet access, and if you can do that without making any errors in your editing when your team makes a thrilling ninth inning comeback, then I salute you. Until then, however, maybe stone casting isn’t the best idea.
just made me LOL. Rox Girl rocks
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Giants lineup tonight.
Freddy Sanchez off. Neither of the trade additions have made much difference, have they?
Bowker in there after a triple off the bench last night.
2B Velez
SS Renteria
1B Sandoval
C Molina
3B Uribe
LF Bowker
RF Winn
CF Rowand
P J. Sanchez

















