Dodgers Slug Their Way to Home Opening Win
by Eric Stephen on Apr 13, 2010 4:55 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Recaps
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It turns out a little home cooking is all the Dodgers needed. After hitting three home runs on their six-game season opening road trip, the Dodgers slammed four home runs at Dodger Stadium today in a rousing 9-5 win over the Diamondbacks. Manny Ramirez, Casey Blake, Matt Kemp, and Andre Ethier, the Dodgers top four home run hitters last season, all went deep this afternoon. Today marked the third straight home opener win for the Dodgers, and the 13th straight for Joe Torre, dating back to 1998.
That's not to say the offense didn't show up during the road trip; the Dodgers did average six runs per game in Pittsburgh and Miami. But the long ball made an prominent appearance today for the Dodgers, and they needed all the offense they could get.
Clayton Kershaw got his first win since last July 18, a span of 12 regular season starts, but it wasn't pretty. Kershaw allowed just two runs, but he walked a tightrope in his 5 1/3 innings, walking five hitters while striking out seven. Before this season, Kershaw had not walked more than eight hitters in any two consecutive starts. However, in his first two starts this season, Kershaw has walked 11 batters in just 10 innings.
After Jeff Weaver made his sixth appearance in seven games, limiting the Diamondbacks to one run in the sixth inning, Ramon Ortiz entered and took the lead in the race to be designated for assignment once Hong-Chih Kuo and/or Ronald Belisario get activated. Ortiz the elder allowed three runs in his 2/3 of an inning, including a two-run home run to Mark Reynolds. Ramon Troncoso, labeled a "one inning guy" by Joe Torre over the weekend, was asked to get four outs today. The bullpen has so few reliable options right now that Troncoso was sent to the plate to bat in the top of the seventh, just so they didn't have to take him out.
Jonathan Broxton was used to get the final three outs with a four-run lead. If very recent history has shown us anything, Broxton probably won't be available on Wednesday in an actual save opportunity or close game.
Blake DeWitt walked in all three of his plate appearances, bringing home a run with a bases loaded walk in the fifth. DeWitt became the first Dodger to walk three times in a home opener since Pedro Guerrero in 1984.
Chad Billingsley faces Rodrigo Lopez in the second game of the series tomorrow night.
WP - Clayton Kershaw (1-0): 5 1/3 IP, 3 hits, 2 runs, 5 walks, 7 strikeouts
LP - Ian Kennedy (0-1): 4 1/3 IP, 6 hits, 6 runs, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts
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it's ok we had
CASEY BLAKE, THE GREATEST DODGER 3B OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m going to start this meme if it kills me . . .
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 13, 2010 5:05 PM PDT up reply actions
I have seen enough of Ortiz, the elder
and i was sitting at work, without any access to the video, after the 5th inning.
Bills needs to have a quality start tomorrow
by Skunkburner on Apr 13, 2010 5:11 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Very nice to see another home-opener in the win column (obviously), but...
Jonathan Broxton was used to get the final three outs with a four-run lead.
Assuming that this is implying that Broxton was brought in with too “comfortable” a lead (and even if that comment wasn’t, there have already been a other few comments saying as much), is really fair to give Torre criticism for using Broxton this time? The real problem is that the rest of the bullpen has been pretty lousy so far, and it seems almost a given at this point that any of the non-Broxton relievers are going to put 2 or 3 guys on. Why run the risk of sending yet ANOTHER relief pitcher to do the same thing, in which case Broxton would basically have to come in and be perfect? This way, you give Broxton a little bit of margin of error of his own. Seems reasonable to not take any chances, the way things have gone.
Besides, even if you don’t agree with that assessment, the fact is we wouldn’t even be HAVING this discussion if the rest of the bullpen would just get their act together. (For those that are even capable of it. For the rest of ‘em, let’s hope Kuo, Belli & possibly link will be good to go soon enough.)
Part of it is making situational choices
Last Wednesday, they could have used Broxton in a tie game, they still could have lost but than you don’ t need him to work on Thursday. So even if he has to pitch Friday, he could have pitched on Saturday. So maybe you come home at least 3-3.
+1
I have no problem pitching Broxton today, especially with how terrible the pen has been recently
by SeanMillerSavior on Apr 13, 2010 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Considering it was less than a week ago that Broxton was unavailable to come in late in the game after having pitched in a game that was all but won a day earlier, only to have another member of the bullpen blow the game, I don’t agree.
You pitch the bad pitchers in the games with the 4 run leads, and you save the elite pitchers for games that are in jeopardy.
by Michael White on Apr 13, 2010 5:21 PM PDT up reply actions
With how bad the pen has been i dont think a 4 run lead is safe anymore
I dont think anyone has confidence in Sherrill to get those late outs
by SeanMillerSavior on Apr 13, 2010 5:23 PM PDT up reply actions
Well, considering that Broxton obviously can’t pitch every game, you have to take reasonable chances.
by Michael White on Apr 13, 2010 5:24 PM PDT up reply actions
And, I trust almost every pitcher in baseball to get 3 outs before surrending 4 runs while entering with nobody on base.
by Michael White on Apr 13, 2010 5:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Ask the guy who pitched for the Yankees in the 9th inning with a 6 run lead
He gave up a grand slam after 5 batters came up. Rivera had to come in to get the save.
Me too
Looking at Fangraphs, the Dodgers were at 98.8% win probability entering the bottom of the 9th.
The 9th screamed for Monasterios.
Normally I’d be OK with Broxton pitching today with a 4-run lead, but it just seems like we have been playing catch up for a week, and I’d like to break that cycle.
For instance, if the Dodgers have a save situation Wednesday against Haren and the D-Backs, and Broxton isn’t used because he worked two straight days prior, I will likely write the most angry post I have ever written.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 13, 2010 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Where did Hyang-Nam Choi go?
hes not listed on the AAA roster .. . . ):
by SeanMillerSavior on Apr 13, 2010 5:20 PM PDT reply actions
We need Josh Lindbloom in the pen ASAP
by SeanMillerSavior on Apr 13, 2010 5:21 PM PDT reply actions
lindblom hasnt impressed me
his AAA start didnt go too well either and his last appearance he was sitting high 80s
Hasn’t he looked less impressive since he’s been starting? His appearances in ST looked good for a while when he was coming out of the pen. Too soon to tell, but since we’ve got him pegged as a reliever….
by Michael White on Apr 13, 2010 5:40 PM PDT up reply actions
Just saying
Kershaw would have had 3 walks if Torre hadnt made him go back out for one more out… would have looked a lot better
by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Apr 13, 2010 5:25 PM PDT reply actions
jillpainter
Asked if he was engaged to #Rhianna, #MattKemp said: ``No, we’re not engaged.‘’ Of reports, he said: ``That’s just tabloids.’’
On the video screen today they were asking Bison some questions. Like “USC or UCLA?” His answer was “Oklahoma” (I respect that; he grew up there). One of the last questions was “Beyonce or Rhianna?”. He just laughed and then said ‘Rhianna". Pretty funny. He’s certainly comfortable with all of this.
by KellyStephen on Apr 13, 2010 9:21 PM PDT up reply actions
time to jinx Ricky Romero
got a no-hitter going
6 IP 0 H 0 R 1 BB 12 K’s
by SeanMillerSavior on Apr 13, 2010 5:40 PM PDT reply actions
You know all this talk about Kuo and Beli coming back soon doesn’t guarntee that they won’t have issues of their own. They might get in and keep the bullpen woes going. I hope they come on without missing a step. But who knows what will happen. I’m going to savor today’s win and roll with the punches.
by Skunkburner on Apr 13, 2010 5:41 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Option
D.paying back the Dodgers!! And then sucking it!
by Skunkburner on Apr 13, 2010 5:45 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
I know that Honeycutt
came out once and Kershaw got a strikeout. Did he make any other visits? If so, do you know the outcome. Kind of addicted to it now! :)
I believe he came inbetween the two walks in his last inning
but he missed with 4 straight. On another one earlier in the game, he came out and walked the next guy also…
In his last inning though, Kershaw looked really tired
by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Apr 13, 2010 7:38 PM PDT up reply actions
Ricky Romero
just allowed a 2-run HR to Rios, halving his lead. 4-2.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
By April 25, both should be gone.
Kuo should get back first, and the decision date on Belisario is April 25….they need to add him to the roster on that day (next Sunday)
by Eric Stephen on Apr 13, 2010 6:14 PM PDT up reply actions
An effective Kuo and Belisariio would be quite the birthday present….for someone. Mine is in January! :)
Ken Gurnick
reporting that Belisario threw 15 pitches on Monday and is scheduled to pitch again tomorrow. Honeycutt said if that goes well, he will throw a 2 inning outing on Saturday and throw back to back days next week. If he passes all of these, he could be back with LA by next weekend. Kuo has a bullpen session scheduled for Wednesday or Thursday. If it goes to plan, he might need only 1 more bullpen session and then out on a minor league rehab assignment. That could have Kuo back in LA by the end of the month. Man I hope all of this is dead on and it works out for us. We need these 2 horses back in our stable…..God that was corny.
A.J = biggest pu$$y
Wow, anyone who watched that game, that pitch DID NOT hit him AT ALL. Flopping piece of shit if you ask me, in fact, when he was shaking his leg acting that pitch hit him, HE WASN’T EVEN SHAKIN THE RIGHT ONE WTF. (Pitch that was close to hitting him was left foot, but he started shaking right foot) this pisses me off so much, because this is not the only time he has done this type of shit. FAIL.
Anyway, back to dodgers, you know, I’m startin to really like Dewitt, 8 walks and 1 strikeout, that is pretty impressive. If he hits little bit more, damn, it’s going to be good :)
if dewitt didnt have that 8 to 1 walk to K ratio
i would be screaming for him to be benched… i dont think he has hit an Extra base hit yet.. all singles and walks…
and i hate aj pierzinski.
Four HRs in this game
The last time the Dodgers had more than that in a game was July 10th last year, the game where Kemp hit a GS in the 10th and ended the game with the over-the-shoulder/head Mayesque catch. They hit five HR that day – one for each OF plus Loney and Martin.
The last time the Dodgers had more than four in a game at DS was the 4+1 game.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
I remember that game
I was driving in the mountains of Ramona near San Diego and had no radio reception, and had to rely on MLB At Bat (or maybe it was just called Gameday last year). I think I heard Kemp’s grand slam, but only heard intermittent parts of the last few innings.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 13, 2010 6:23 PM PDT up reply actions
That game was probably my favorite regular season game last season that I didn’t attend in person.
by Michael White on Apr 13, 2010 7:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Dodgers Win!
Just got back in from work here in the Norcal.
Had tickets for the game today and gave them to my kids, first opener I’ve missed in a few years.
Great day for the Dodgers, Kershaw, Manny, Blake, Bison, Ethier, Weaver, Troncoso, and Broxton.
Obviously, Torre was in no mood to take any chances on closing out this win today.
13 wins in row for Torre on opening day. Congrats.
Go Dodgers!
McDonald So Far Tonight
3.0 IP, 3 H’s, 1 ER, 3 BB’s, 7 K’s
McDonald or an Ortizi? Seems like a no brainer.
by 68elcamino427 on Apr 13, 2010 6:39 PM PDT up reply actions
LA and AZ combined for 14 runs, 14 BBs, 14 Ks
and 18 hits.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Just got back
fun game at the Ravine. The crowd was fairly mellow except for the fights in the reserve section. I was trying to figure out why it was slightly more subdued then the last couple of years and then was reminded that the last two opening days have been against the Giants.
Fights
Are they a regular thing at Dodger stadium? Idiots, why do same team fans fight with each other? Bastards can’t handle their a a a a alcohol. (sorry about that)
the fights aren’t gang related are they? Cause that would be absolutly stoopid!!!!
by Skunkburner on Apr 13, 2010 9:13 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Haeger
Anyone know why he was suspended in I think 2003?
I want to make sure my new favorite Dodger is worthy of my love.
I think he just walked away from the game and went to college
He asked the Chi Sox a couple of years later to retake him, and they did..
I could be wrong though
by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Apr 13, 2010 8:56 PM PDT up reply actions
He quit baseball, went to play college golf for a year, then came back to baseball one year later in 2004.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 13, 2010 9:32 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Andy LaRoche
just CRUSHED a home run to dead center field. Another old friend of ours, Ryan Church, just tripled. Pirates 5, Giants 3.
Nice to read
Come on Dotel
Ryan Church – Old Friend???
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
eh, sort of
He did us a huge favor with his less than stellar baserunning as a Met last year. Once he joined the Braves, he wasn’t nearly as friendly.
Goodness gracious
make for a nice contrast. Well done.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Apr 13, 2010 11:40 PM PDT up reply actions
Per Rotowire:
Brad Ausmus © LA 4/13/2010
Ausmus admitted to being a little worried about his back injury, the Dodgers’ official site reports. He received an epidural on Monday, but he said he still felt the pain on Tuesday. Surgery would probably be the next option after more epidurals, and it’s not certain if he would return after that.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Poor Guy
Time to try a good chiropractor. It works great for me.
by 68elcamino427 on Apr 13, 2010 10:42 PM PDT up reply actions
Brett Anderson is super great
I’m afraid he has passed Kershaw as the best young lefty in the majors.
Yeah, 2 starts in 2010 after not having close to the season Kershaw did last year and he’s already better.
And come on, it was 6 innings 2 walks 6 strikeouts 6 hits. Ricky Romero had twice as good of a night. I’m not saying Kershaw was better tonight, but jeez man.
You really need to watch him pitch and not just look at the stat line. He throws 96 with one of the nastiest sliders I’ve seen.
by silverwidow on Apr 14, 2010 12:17 AM PDT up reply actions
thats not it though
he has unbelievably amazing control for a 22 year old lefty with his stuff
by matthewmafa on Apr 14, 2010 12:25 AM PDT up reply actions
I don’t doubt that he’s good, but I can’t help but say something after you jumping from one young stud to another. And would you honestly say he was better than Kershaw last year? Hopefully you wouldn’t, because he wasn’t. So that would mean you were basing it off of 2 games pitched this year, which we should all know is just wrong.
look at the last 115 innings pitched for brett anderson
he has a WHIP of around 1.00 and a K9 of 9…. he is past kershaws level now when you factor in control and command
by matthewmafa on Apr 14, 2010 12:26 AM PDT up reply actions
Brett Anderson was kind of awesome in the 2nd half of 2010. Until Kershaw gets his command under control this seems like a very defensible position.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Dave Cameron [I know I know] recently posted that if he were starting a team with any one pitcher, he’d consider BA along with Lincecum, Felix, and Granick.
Casey Blake
I really like Casey Blake. Too bad he’ll be forever linked to He-Whose-Name-Elicits-Great-Angst. In our offense, he’s the perfect fit as a veteran grinder with power who just sits in that #6 hole waiting for the opposing pitcher to be tired out from facing the middle of our lineup. It seems like every good offense has that one guy (Scott Brosius, for example) who exists just for hitting you with that final punch when you’re already woozy. To me, Blake is that guy. I think he’s a huge part of our team this year, and even though his importance was clearly exaggerated by writers looking for an angle in 2008, he is an integral part of the last two years’ success. Razor shines.
I keep waiting for him to show his age and finally justify my bitter opposition to that trade. But so far he keeps defying me (thank goodness).
by Little Blue Bicycle on Apr 14, 2010 9:41 AM PDT up reply actions
You can oppose the trade and still appeciate Casey Blake
He was signed as a free agent and that contract is looking to be one of Ned’s best. That could quickly change as 3rd baseman in general do not age well but Blake is looking very strong. Maybe the fact he played so much outfield is making a difference for him. I like Casey and appreciate everything he brings to the team.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
You're forgetting that
CASEY BLAKE IS THE GREATEST DODGER 3B OF ALL TIME!!!!!!
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 14, 2010 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions
Awesome…another example of how I chose the wrong BA degree
by robotmadeofnails on Apr 14, 2010 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions
Continuation threads request for mobiles
I hope you can tolerate another request:
In game threads, could you please go back to posting them as regular threads on the main page, or otherwise set up so that a mobile version is available? When they are just inserted as links, both in a comment and as a “Part 2” hyperlink at the top, they go only to a full version, with no way of getting to a mobile version that I can find.
At least on an iPhone there is no way to replace the “www” at the beginning of the URL with “mobile”, as Eric suggested to me previously. You can’t get to the beginning of the URL in the address bar – the cursor is always at the end of the URL, which is about 100 characters long. You can’t select just part of the URL, like the beginning “www”, only the whole thing, which doesn’t help. Going back to the main TBLA page doesn’t help either, even though it is the mobile version, because there’s no separate post for the continuation threads, just the “Part 2”, “Part 3” hyperlinks which go to full version.
Perhaps there’s some way I’m just not seeing? If so, a hint will be gratefully received. Has anyone managed to get to a mobile version continuation thread that didn’t have its own main-page post on an iPhone?
Why don't you take your god blessed iPhone
and shove it somewhere warm, dark and moist, eh? I don’t know about you, but I’m content viewing TBLA at home, on my 14.4 baud rate modem on my Amiga. At times I use BASIC or even FORTRAN for my computing needs and it is sufficient*.
We’re quite happy with the level of technology on this page and would rather not have to cater to your god blessed Apple contraption.
*This makes next to no sense. I don’t care, I’m laughing at it.
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 14, 2010 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions
14.4?
What sort of fancy pants are you? I’m still on here with my 2400 baud… takes me a good four hours just to download a typical game thread.
Game threads are on the main page, but not in the archives.
On the iPhone, if you hold your finger down you will be able to move the cursor to wherever you want to be able to replace www with mobile. And you should only have to do it once, then bookmark it.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 14, 2010 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions
Ah, archiving must initiate very quickly. You’re right – I was at work yesterday and couldn’t watch the game (on DVR) until late in the evening. So, yes, it mist have archoved by the time I got to it. OK, I get it.
While that’s in general true, in most text boxes, about iPhones and fingers, I have not been able to get that to work in URL address bars. Believe me, I tried to do it about 100 times before giving up. Have you actually been able to do this?
Bookmarking would be pointless for a particular game thread – I’m not going to want to come back to it in the future. I do now have the main TBLA page bookmarked, and that’s very helpful. But not at all when trying to get to an archived continuation thread. As I (almost) said, getting to the main mobile page doesn’t help when trying to get to an – archived – continuation thread.
But this is fine. When I’m following along a recorded DVR’d game, I never need to refresh the page. That won’t tax the iPhone battery much. So I can manage fine with the full version. I’m glad to know that when following live games with lots and lots of refreshing, I’ll be able to get to the mobile continuation threads. This works. Thanks for the explanation, Eric.
I misunderstood your question I think
for the continuation game threads, they are on the main page if they are the current game thread, but I remove them from the front page once we start a new thread. These continuation threads do show up in the archives, which is a link at the top of the TBLA mobile site.
For actual “game threads,” meaning the first thread of the night, because of the SB Nation software (and it has to do with how it links to the game stories and links) these initial game threads do show up on the front page (I don’t remove them), but do not show up in the archives.
Regarding moving the cursor on the iPhone, I think it just takes practice. I do it all the time. The only time I have had problems is if the entire system is running slow, but that usually resolves itself if I do a software update.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 14, 2010 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions
OK, that sounds very workable. Once a live game has finished and you have put up a new thread, if I’m following along while watching delayed DVR (and this happens a lot), I can find the mobile version of the continuation threads in the mobile archives. Basically, if they’re no longer on the main page as a separate post, they’re in the mobile archives. Great. I’ll do that. Thanks again.
From time to time, I’ll keep trying selecting www. We’ll see…
Ok, check this out......
iPhone is the only way I can post due to my desktop at home is nowhere near the tv. When you’re on a thread and a new one pops up, just go to the TBLA mobile home page, and the new thread will be right there. This is the only way you stay on the mobile page and keep up with all these yahoos. Granted, it’s not as fast as using a CPU, but it works just fine. I’m only a few comments behind unless I hit the reply.
by Skunkburner on Apr 14, 2010 11:41 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
There's no need to bookmark
Just add the site to your springboard. Your icon should be a red star on white background. All of SB Nation links are like that.
by Skunkburner on Apr 14, 2010 11:54 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
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