Dodgers Return Home To Face Pirates
by Eric Stephen on Sep 14, 2009 2:30 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Previews
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The Dodgers return home tonight to face the Pirates, on free Dodger Dog night at Dodger Stadium. All fans at the game tonight will receive a voucher for a free Dodger Dog as they enter the stadium. Tonight is also USC Night at Dodger Stadium.
Somewhat shockingly, this the first time the Dodgers have seen the Pirates this season. The Pirates are spiraling downward, and have lost 33 of their last 45 games, having been outscored by 98 runs -- over two per game!! -- during that stretch. 2009 is the 17th consecutive losing season for Pittsburgh, a record for the four major professional sports. The Dodgers have only won one of their last seven home series, so the Pirates just might be what the doctor ordered.
The Pirates tonight will feature the only two McCutchens in MLB history, as Andrew McCutchen mans centerfield behind his non-related pitching teammate, Daniel McCutchen. James McCutchen "Doc" McJames, who played for the Dodgers in 1899 and 1901, doesn't count as McCutchen was only his middle name. Who the heck names their son James McJames, anyway? I hope James McDonald doesn't have a brother named Donald.
Andrew McCutchen has had a nice debut with the Pirates this season, helping soothe the fans still steaming over the loss of Nate McLouth. The 22-year old McCutchen is hitting .270/.347/.459 with 11 home runs in 88 games, with a .353 wOBA that ranks seventh among all MLB centerfielders. Andrew hit three home runs in one game earlier this season; Daniel has allowed three home runs in his first two major league starts. The 26-year old pitcher has walked just 1.9 batters per nine innings in four minor league seasons.
Jon Garland takes the hill for the Dodgers, his second home start with the club. Garland has pitched six innings or longer in 18 of his last 19 starts, with a 3.55 ERA during that span. As a Dodger, Garland is 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA.
In the month of September, James Loney leads the club in hits (16), runs (7), home runs (3), RBI (10), and walks (6).
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Top 2009 draft pitck Aaron Miller gets the start for the Great Lakes Loons tonight in the third and deciding game of the Midwest League semifinals against the Fort Wayne TinCaps. Game time is 4:05pm, and you can listen online by clicking here or here. You can also follow the box score here.
In other minor league news, the Dodgers have named Scott Elbert and Dee Gordon as the Branch Rickey Minor League Pitcher and Player of the Year, respectively. Elbert, who was 4-4 with a 3.84 ERA between Double A and Triple A this season, was the top-ranked Dodger prospect by both Phil Gurnee and Canuck Dodger in our midseason prospect report. Kensai rated the 24-year old Elbert as his third-best prospect. Gordon, who led the Midwest League with 73 steals and 12 triples, was ranked sixth, eighth, and 10th by Phil, Kensai, and Canuck, respectively. Gordon, 21, shared league MVP honors with teammate Kyle Russell.
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Check out Xeifrank's simulation of today's game here.
Don't forget to RSVP for True Blue LA Day at Dodger Stadium, on the next-to-last day of the regular season, October 3 against the Rockies.
Get your guesses in for our today's "One, Two, Three Strikes, You're Out," here.
Game Time: 7:10pm
TV: Prime Ticket
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Delwyn Young update
DY is in an 0-for-24 slump (with 6 walks). He is also…
2 for his last 41
4 for his last 54
DY is down to .268/.329/.381 with a .317 wOBA.
(yes, still better than Mark Loretta)
You expect the Dodgers to re-sign Kuroda?
by Michael White on Sep 14, 2009 3:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Becomes the new Eric Stults!
Seriously, he’s in the bullpen or traded. Torre doesn’t seem to like him much.
Torre says he wants a front office job with the Dodgers after he retires from managing.
I’d be surprised if Elbert makes it past the off season.
Between this and the Dodger dogs
you’re making me consider going down to the cafeteria for a mid-afternoon snack.
by Michael White on Sep 14, 2009 3:04 PM PDT up reply actions
This is from last year
but might help:
http://www.baseball-intellect.com/Articles/jose-tabata-pirates-trade.html
Scroll down for the McCutchen stuff:
Basically, decent fastball and curve, good command of both. FB sits at 90-91, but can reach 93.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 14, 2009 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions
thanks
Good thing you quit joking around about that because you were setting up a jinx for them to be Leblanc’d.
The jinx wore off with Penny yesterday. :)
by Eric Stephen on Sep 14, 2009 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions
They had won 7 straight road Sundays before yesterday.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 14, 2009 3:14 PM PDT up reply actions
NL leaders in defensive innings in OF:
1) Matt Kemp 1256.2
2) Andre Ethier 1225.2
In MLB, only Nick Markakis of the Orioles (1239.2) prevents them from having the top two in baseball
Outfield starts
outside of Manny suspension (94 games):
Ethier – 89 starts
Kemp – 88 starts
Manny – 85 starts
Pierre – 20 starts
The 3 starters have started 93% of games.
Over a 162-game pace:
Ethier – 153 starts
Kemp – 152 starts
Manny – 146 starts
Pierre – 35 starts
by Eric Stephen on Sep 14, 2009 3:27 PM PDT up reply actions
+ 0.5
2009-10 LA Kings Hockey: Where Smyt Happens!!
by DodgerBlueBalls on Sep 14, 2009 4:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Tickets for tonight's game
on StubHub are going for as little as 75 cents. Is this for real? I couldn’t believe it.
Why even bother selling them for $0.75?
by Michael White on Sep 14, 2009 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions
the lowest on stubhub ive seen is 1.50
but 0.75 cents??? shit
i want to go!
"That is not how you play the game!!!" -Jack in the Box
compare that to how much parking costs...haha
"That is not how you play the game!!!" -Jack in the Box
6 bits for a ticket and a Dodger Dog? A deal too good to be true!
by Eric Stephen on Sep 14, 2009 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions
I’m really hoping they play that as his AB music.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 14, 2009 3:32 PM PDT up reply actions
http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=l119&t=t_ros&cid=490
…and I see BHSportsGuy has provided the list, but I’ll continue typing out the names.
Javy Guerra P
Eric Krebs P
Aaron Miller P
Travis Schlichting P
Lucas May C
Russell Mitchell 1B
Justin Sellers SS
Andrew Lambo OF
Trayvon Robinson OF
by Eric Stephen on Sep 14, 2009 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions
aaron miller
i live about 5 mins walking from the Giants complex in Scottsdale so you guys need to let me know when an AZL game is there anddd if Miller’s pitching. then i can go, and report back!
First time those eight have started together since September 1 (11 games in between)
by Eric Stephen on Sep 14, 2009 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions
Call me crazy but I think Hudson will hold it against L.A. for not paying his full incentives when he was capable of playing.
He’s going to get all those incentives. He’s only 49 PA away.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 14, 2009 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions
In case anyone needed a reminder:
http://www.truebluela.com/2009/1/14/720656/dodger-payroll#hudson
Hudson is at 583 PA, and gets $10,000 for each PA up to 632
by Eric Stephen on Sep 14, 2009 4:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Hudson has averaged 4.45 PA per start on the season, but 4.00 PA per start since moving down in the order on July 31. So, basically, Hudson needs to start 12 (maybe 11) out of the final 18 to hit those incentives.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 14, 2009 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh, and since you said it, you’re crazy :)
by Eric Stephen on Sep 14, 2009 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions
Will we hold it against him
that he has been less then stellar since May
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
June 1 – present
Loney: .278/.362/.427
Blake: .265/.350/.416
Furcal: .262/.328/.376
Hudson: .254/.315/.376
Martin: .250/.340/.340
Pierre: .276/.333/.322
by Eric Stephen on Sep 14, 2009 4:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Thanks for backing up my point
Four keys guys with an OPS < .704 since June 1st and we wonder why we can’t score runs on a consistent basis. Also doens’t help that the highest OPS between your 1st/3rd is .809.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Of course we don't wonder why
True Blue and friends tell us why.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Slightly worrisome note regarding The Bison.
These are selective endpoints so take with a grain of salt, but from August 5 to present, Matt Kemp has a .289 OBP with 8 walks in 152 PA.
Kemp does have 8 home runs, but is hitting .254/.289/.476 during that span.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 14, 2009 4:40 PM PDT up reply actions
Damn
I always thought Andrew was related to my favorite Rams running back but it turns out Andrew is an O short. USC fans should remember Daylon McCutcheon as an excellent corner back.
Favorite Super Bowl play of all time for me was Lawrence McCutcheon’s halfback pass for a touchdown to give Ram fans hope that they could beat the mighty Steelers with trickery.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Of all the teams and all the games I have watched over the years
I think if the Rams had won that game, it would top everything.
+1
I was a big Dodger/Laker fan but back then the Rams were everything to me. If you think a Dodger loss puts these guys in a bad mood, the losses in the postseason to the Vikings and Cowboys put me in a foul mood for six months.
When they left LA I died a little, when they left California I stopped caring about NFL football. Probably healthier for me.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Yesterday was kind of relaxing not being very wrapped up in the NFL (outside of tweeting once about Mark Sanchez’s first NFL TD)
by Eric Stephen on Sep 14, 2009 4:35 PM PDT up reply actions
How did they get a Monday Night Game?
Are they even supposed to win a game this year? Is this a concession game to Leno?
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I will not see any of the Raider game except maybe by accident.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 14, 2009 4:40 PM PDT up reply actions
I’m as close to NFL free agency as I’ve ever been.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 14, 2009 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions
I will never, ever, ever jump to another AFC West team. Too much bad blood. If LA were to get an expansion team, I would likely adopt them. If not, I will take pleasure rooting for NFL Trojans.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 14, 2009 4:46 PM PDT up reply actions
agreed, minus taking pleasure in rooting for SC of course : )
William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.
I can't believe Elbert won Pitcher of the Year
It should have gone to Eovaldi. Having an age 19 season like that is more impressive than repeating Double-A for the umpteenth time and putting up good numbers like Elbert did. Mind you, I’m still a big Elbert fan.
I would have given it to Withrow, but can understand that a 4.51 ERA probably wouldn’t get much support.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 14, 2009 4:50 PM PDT up reply actions
When they trade Elbert this winter
making him the Pitcher of the Year will help:)
Eovaldi was nothing special. Sure he’s 19 but he’s pitching in one of the best pitching parks in baseball and they never let him go more then three innings. One thing is for sure we are a long way away from the days of Alexander winning pitcher of the year. I’d have gone with Withrow, don’t see how Eovaldi is even in the discussion.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
For pitcher of the year
I still love the upside of Eovaldi as a prospect.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Federer
in midst of 4th set tie-breaker, up 2 sets to 1. Down 2-4 in the tie breaker though.
vr, Xei
I hate watching Vlady get old
hope he has a killer October. Been one of my favorite players since the day he showed up in Montreal. I’ll never forget we signed the wrong Guerrero. That scout should be forced to toil in Florida in August the rest of his career.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
not to mention the signing of Vlad as a FA that was squashed due to the sale to McCourt.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 14, 2009 5:23 PM PDT up reply actions
On the pregame show, Joe Torre said the plan is for Clayton Kershaw to hopefully throw a simulated game by the end of this homestand.
They may do this
Go with 4 man rotation of Garland, Wolf, Kuroda and Padilla until September 26th and then you only need either Bills or Kershaw to make one start, those same 4 guys could close out the season.
I don’t know if they would skip Billingsley more than once.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 14, 2009 6:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Its top 7th, BTW
Aaron Miller has allowed 1 hit, 3 walks, and 1 run in 6 IP
by Eric Stephen on Sep 14, 2009 5:59 PM PDT up reply actions
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