Dodgers Look to Win Third Straight Series
by Eric Stephen on Apr 22, 2010 12:59 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Previews
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PrintThe Dodgers head into the finale in Cincinnati looking to win their third straight series, and all eyes are on the scoreboard. The Dodgers have had more total runs -- scored and allowed -- in their games than any other team in baseball this season, and the Reds aren't far behind:
| Team | G | RS | RA | Tot | Tot R/Gm |
| Dodgers | 14 | 93 | 87 | 180 | 12.86 |
| Nationals |
15 | 75 | 93 | 168 | 11.20 |
| D-Backs | 15 | 81 | 83 | 164 | 10.933 |
| Brewers | 14 | 77 | 76 | 153 | 10.929 |
| Reds | 15 | 70 | 92 | 162 | 10.80 |
Vicente Padilla, fresh off a quality start against the Diamondbacks, takes to the hill for the Dodgers. Given his lopsided career splits, I always like to check the opposing lineup for left-handed batters. The Reds have three regular or semi-regular lefties in Joey Votto (who has homered in each of the first two games of the series), Jay Bruce, and Chris Dickerson, but Padilla has never faced them.
The Dodger offense, now atop the majors with 93 runs scored, gets to face Mike Leake, making his third major league start. Leake has a 2.63 ERA in two starts so far, but he has also walked 12 batters in 13 2/3 innings. Perhaps the best thing Leake has going for him as that he mixes his pitches, mixing in a slider, cutter, curve and change with his fastball. The Dodgers have been the best in the majors at hitting fastballs, sliders, and cutters, but have had trouble with curves and changeups, so maybe Leake can keep them off balance.
However, I wouldn't bet against this offense right now.
Fun Fact: Rafael Furcal is tied with Matt Kemp for the club lead with six extra-base hits in eight road games this season.
Here are the lineups:
| Dodgers | Reds | |||
| SS | Furcal | LF | Dickerson | |
| CF | Kemp |
SS | Cabrera | |
| RF | Ethier | 1B | Votto |
|
| LF | Ramirez | 2B | Phillips | |
| 1B | Loney | 3B | Rolen | |
| 3B | Blake | RF | Bruce | |
| 2B | DeWitt | CF | Stubbs | |
| C | Martin | C | Hanigan |
|
| P | Padilla |
P | Harang | |
Xeifrank's simulation of today's game is here.
Game Time: 4:10pm
TV: Prime Ticket
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Brewers beat Pirates 20-0
“Worst loss in Pirates’ history”. I guess they can still measure that. Now Pirates get to play the Astros. Someone has to win.
Francisco Cabrera laughs at that title :)
by Eric Stephen on Apr 22, 2010 1:44 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
So Brewers now up to 97?
Shove Dodgers into second place? At least for a few hours…
Who else wants to see an all Dodgers OF in the All Star Game?
Rudimentary creatures of flesh and blood, you touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding.
I'd settle for Braun in LF, Kemp in CF, Ethier in RF
Manny COULD make it, but only as a reserve IMO.
Braun has to be on the starting team
but those pesky Cardinal fans will try to get Holliday in.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Damn, you’re right. But as a LF he will only start in LF or backup in LF, so it won’t hurt Kemp or Ethier’s chances as starters (though hurt’s Ethier’s chance as a backup because the spot could be taken).
The voting is just for 3 outfielders, not by position. You could end up with 3 CFs, for example, if they get the most votes. Then the manager will add a couple, possibly with a view to making sure all 3 positions are covered but it would be just as likely to keep selecting for offense and then just make do on the field, with some of them playing out of position.
I don't see that happening as starters
The suspension last year will hurt Manny in the fan voting.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
I'm guessing only Kemp makes it as a starter
Ethier is added later as a reserve
by Michael White on Apr 22, 2010 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions
really?
Fans have short term memories. If he’s raking, he’ll get voted. Especially by the Dodger fans.
Dodger fans aren't known for stuffing the ballot
Kemp will get national attention due to his skills and celebrity. I think he’s a no brainer. No way Manny ends up in the top 10. JMO
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
We'll see :)
IF, Manny keeps it up. He’ll be top 10 in voting. He’s too much of a polarizing figure not to get any attention.
Just got done watching MLB network show about 84 Padres
Quite interesting if not for just the footage of the fight against the Braves and the whole exchange between Gossage and Williams deciding to pitch to Gibson in the WS. Ned must have loved this team. A whole lot of PVL.
I loved that doc
Lots of cool footage. I watched it a couple of times.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 22, 2010 1:42 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
The team we see next is the Nationals. Another team that can’t pitch but can hit. Should be alot more runs being added to the scoreboard this weekend.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Will you be predicting a sweep? :)
by Eric Stephen on Apr 22, 2010 1:50 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
The staff is a mess
right now MLB shows a Luis Alitano getting his debut against us on Friday, and no one scheduled yet for Sunday. Alitano was not even one of their top 15 prospects.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Not with Billingsley
pitching – Ouch that hurt to even write that
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Do you really have more faith in Haeger than Billingsley?
My faith in Billingsley (I’m sad to admit) has completely bottomed out, but I still trust him more than the knuckleballer.
by Michael White on Apr 22, 2010 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Aggregate stats for Brewers-Pirates 3-game series
Runs scored
Brewers: 36
Pirates: 1
Hits
Brewers: 46
Pirates: 18
Homeruns
Brewers: 8
Pirates: 0
Walks
Brewers: 18
Pirates: 12
At bats
Brewers: 125
Pirates: 95
Leake
Should we just start making jokes about his name now or wait until the game starts? I’m having trouble holding it in.
by kinbote on Apr 22, 2010 1:48 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
If Kemp takes Leake deep, they could drop a deuce on him in the first.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 22, 2010 1:52 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
Been meaning to tell you
but Eric, Dave, and myself were all very impressed with your well worded diatribe directed at D4P the other day.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
That wasn't easy but we try to please
I’m not sure what you mean
D4P seems to spend his life looking for every opportunity to slate Ned Colletti, which I personally am heartily sick of (D4P’s obsession, that is). It’s tedious, boring, and simple-minded. (Readers of Dodger Thoughts will know there’s a long history here. Readers only of this blog may think I’m exaggerating, since D4P has only recently appeared here; but I’m not.) At least this time, if it’s a genuine quote, as it apparently is, he’s welcome to the tenuous hold on reality that gives him. I don’t expect that any comments of others here will affect D4P’s mannerisms, nor would I ever attempt to modify someone’s behavior: it won’t work, and it’s not my place. Only blog managers can do that, if they deem it necessary. I can’t imagine we’re at that point (yet). Thus I am not focusing on the last sentence, but was (until now) ignoring it.
by berkowit28 on Apr 15, 2010 6:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I don't think he wishes the Dodgers ill
he’d just be better off at a site that hates Ned as much as he does. Kensai’s original site was probably more his taste.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I like him
But then he often comes back with an I-don’t-watch-the-games comment that makes you question his very intent.
Oh, thanks. I just got back here, wasn’t ignoring this unexpected reception.
I saw you (Phil) holding it in a couple of times, responding to D4P. Honestly, I would have preferred to let it out some time when it was really deserved. On this occasion, it turned out that Colletti really did say “I’m not interested in statistics” so D4Ps’ criticism was justified. D4P could be reading this now, so I feel a little funny us all ganging up on him. He had been having particular trouble refreshing and reading DT for a few weeks, so that may be why he had started coming here. Jon got the DT problems fixed last week, so, what with one thing and another, D4P might not be dropping in here so much now.
I think what annoyed me the most – and it’s something that I should say directly to D4P some day at DT when he annoys me again – was about a year ago, after two years or more of all the knee-jerk (and plain jerk) anti-Ned spewings, was when he admitted that he no longer watched or enjoyed baseball, didn’t have a TV nor watch games online, just liked coming to DT for “entertainment”. I repressed my reaction at the time, which was a mistake. So it came out here. I guess I’m not the only one, so thanks for the mention.
He seems to have found
McCovey’s Cove to his liking where they can all make fun of Sabean.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
D4P is usually right
but he’s right about the same story over and over. We get it as Dodger fans that Ned is lacking in certain things we’d like our GM to be. I’ll take issue with those concerns when he does them, but I don’t see the point of putting the needle in every day.
Kind of like some posters and James Loney. I get James Loney does not have the power we want. Do I need to hear it every day in every game thread after he grounds out to 2nd. No.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Sorry if this was already discussed, but what’s up with Tony Jackson’s latest article about this next Billingsley start being “make or break”? He starts naming a bunch of minor league replacements and speculates that he could also move to the pen. At least Jackson points out that there aren’t any viable options Bills could trade places with in the pen. But still, this panicking is tiresome. He’s earned a modicum of patience with his excellent 2007-first half of ’09.
I like Billingsley
over any current minor league options. TJ is smoking crack. He doesn’t even like the Dodgers.
Jackson is a hack
No point in getting worked up over it?
Who is he mentioning from the minor leagues as a replacement? Towers? I can’t imagine TJ is lobbying for Elbert or McDonald.
by Michael White on Apr 22, 2010 1:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Correct me if i'm wrong I'm still a little new to some of these stats, and Fan Graphs
The Dodgers pitching has a BABIP against of 3.13 that’s the sixth highest in MLB. And a line drive rate of 16% third lowest in MLB. The Cardinals have a LD% of 15.9 and a BABIP of .278, The Braves have a LD% of 16.1 and a BABIP of .274 both teams also have a higher ground ball rate than L.A. 51.2 and 47.4 L.A. is at 44.4. So it looks like the Dodger pitchers have been a little unlucky to me. They’re third in MLB second in NL in K/9 at 8.09. But they are dead last in MLB in BB/9 4.94. I think the defense will improve. They were one of the best defensive teams last year. The luck of the pitchers should also even out. So If they could just get that damn walk rate down…BTW the Dodgers offense is tops in Baseball with a 23.8 LD%
Ha Ha
has he even hit a line drive yet?
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
We have six players who have yet to hit a line drive
only one is a non pitcher
should be an easy guess
his replacement is leading the team with a line drive rate of 33%
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
The same non-pitcher
Who is the only non-pitcher who has been on the 25-man roster not to have at least 1 extra-base hit.
it is
but I screwed up Ellis’s line drive rate. It is only 25%.
Okay, what pitcher is tied with Loney for best LD% of 33?
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I just looked it up to see if I was right about Ausmus, so I won’t guess as I know the correct answer.
by Michael White on Apr 22, 2010 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions
If only that pitcher’s LD-allowed percentage wasn’t also 33. (It isn’t really, just feels that way.)
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
One thing that is killing DeWitt is a 61.8% ground ball rate, by far the highest on the team for a position player. Do not let this man face Derek Lowe.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
I could be off here. But it seemed like DeWitt was afraid to strike out so he just made sure he made contact if he was swinging. And hit a lot of weak ground balls, some hard ones too. He seems to have started hitting the ball a little harder of late.
That does seem to be the approach
I’ve seen.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
He also has to get back to being patient
not happy at all about the 3% walk rate
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Losing that opening series to the Pirates really sucked
They got one run against the freakin Brewers? C’MON!
You know what Manny does better then just about any LF
is get the throw in fast. I bet if you timed LF, that from the time Manny catches the ball and throws it, he’s one of the fastest when someone is running.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Dylan Hernandez just tweeted that Kuo has been activated and Weaver placed on the DL.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
for some reason
as just strictly an NFL player, i like claussen better than bradford…but i heard he’s a dickhead.
He’s a grade A douche from what I’ve heard. He showed up to announce what college he was going to in a stretch hummer…that sounds really douchey to me. He’s also from Oaks Christian High School, and never lost a game in his life until college, so he most likely has that feeling of entitlement.
Bob's hatred doesn't count
he hates anything to do with ND. I’ve always wondered if he was beat up Catholic Kids.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
his Mom is one too. They had a game at Venice a few years ago, and I happened to be at Tito’s tacos that same night after the game let out, and she cut the line by announcing she was Clausen’s Mom. Lucky for her I was already ath the counter ahead of where she cut.
When somebody objected to the line cut, did she responding by asking, “do you know who I am?”
by Michael White on Apr 22, 2010 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions
Maybe people are easily punked.
Or maybe people do an instant calculation and decide that a loud, confrontational argument with a woman ballsy enough to cut in line by announcing they’re somebody’s mom will not go well. End result: your anger will increase and she’ll still get her tacos before you do. If it were me, I’d have (a) made the calculation to let it go, and (b) not really let it go, but repeated the story to as many people as I could.
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on Apr 22, 2010 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions
I thought your last name was Gurnee
not Bobbitt.
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on Apr 22, 2010 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Humma
we have four tickets left for TBLA night, you should bring the spawn and family.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
It's May 1?
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on Apr 22, 2010 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, I think so.
I’ll email you now to confirm and get details.
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on Apr 22, 2010 2:51 PM PDT up reply actions
I've emailed Phil, but for the benefit of the others
I’m in. See you guys there. Spawn will join me. I’ll give Bride the night off.
She deserves it: she is currently with child, carrying a little bundle of joy that I have not yet nicknamed.
Spawn II seems cheap.
Son of Kavula won’t work, as it’s another girl.
I will admit that I am leaning toward Electric Boogaloo.
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on Apr 22, 2010 3:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Now
I am tempted to come and bring my son.
by robotmadeofnails on Apr 22, 2010 3:16 PM PDT up reply actions
I got two
left right in front of the spawn.
Plus I’m leaving some open so people can sit next to Eric and bother him. Or we can just leave those seats empty and give him the silent treatment.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Sadly
With our endless car repairs, $14 is too much for me right now.
by robotmadeofnails on Apr 22, 2010 3:28 PM PDT up reply actions
Congratulations!
Spawn Again?
Sain? (As in Spawn and Sain …)
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Apr 22, 2010 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Insane?
Spawn and insane and pray for vasectomy.
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on Apr 22, 2010 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions
One just struck me.
I’ve been thinking lately that, oh boy, i might have bitten off more than I can chew with a second child.
Perhaps the second child is Kavula’s Folly.
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on Apr 22, 2010 3:32 PM PDT up reply actions
chuckles
Russ Ortiz has elected to become a free agent.
The veteran right-hander was designated for assignment by the Dodgers over the weekend after allowing eight runs in seven innings. He will try to latch on with a major league team desperate for bullpen depth.
Source: Dylan Hernandez on Twitter
Ya, some team would have to be really despearate for bullpen depth.
by Michael White on Apr 22, 2010 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Why would any of those teams sign an over the hill, useless pitcher? If you aren’t going to compete (and save the Diamondbacks none of them are) at least use the oppurtunity to get some of your minor leaguers the work….
by Michael White on Apr 22, 2010 2:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Hopefully they won't and he'll be retired soon
to live off the Diamondbacks.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I don’t believe the D-Backs are still paying him…Dodgers will pay him ~$646k unless someone else signs him (they would be on the hook for the pro-rated minimum).
by Eric Stephen on Apr 22, 2010 3:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Livan Hernandez has gone more than 5 innings today
Let’s see if the Nats streak of not losing when their starter goes 5 or more continues, currently down 1-0 to Rockies and Jiminez.
Livan
is doing what we want Chad to do. This bizarro baseball world just leaves me flummoxed sometimes.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
If I’m still blogging in 2012, you will see it.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 22, 2010 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions
A's win
Nick Johnson and Teixeira are hitting a combined .250 (two .125 batting averages) after 15 games.
Yet Nick Johnson who had a .136 average going into the game had a .406 OBP. That is unbelievable.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I guaranteed
a good start from Braden by putting him on my bench.
by robotmadeofnails on Apr 22, 2010 3:16 PM PDT up reply actions
I remembered the question
and laughed when I saw the start. I did not weigh in on the question so you can’t blame me.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Always a risk vs Sabathia
A’s benefited heavily from the one hit early in the game which gave them 3 runs on one hit.
They do have close to the same slug%
but Nick has the one home run to spoil it. His slug% is 150 points lower then OB. This is a strange set of numbers for fifty at bats.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Padilla looks real good, despite the HR
Padilla had been looking real good,even though he left that last slow curve a little tooooo easy over the plate for Bruce.
Regardless, I’m happy with what Padilla’s done so far.
Eight strikes out for Padilla
Man, I don’t understand it. I think Padilla is pitching great, is hitting the corners with 95 mph fastballs, and he’s down 4-3. In addition, when he gets two strikes, he’s hitting high and inside with the fastball for his third strikeout that way. Impressive, but losing.
Kuo losening up.
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