Dodgers Careful What They Wish For
by Eric Stephen on Apr 22, 2010 7:06 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Recaps
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PrintOver time, the additions of Hong-Chih Kuo and Ronald Belisario to the bullpen will make the Dodgers a stronger team. But tonight, they were as ineffective as most of the rest of the sorry lot, as the Dodgers dropped the series finale to the Reds, 8-5.
Vicente Padilla pitched well, but thanks to two bad defensive plays on his part and one eephus pitch hit roughly three miles, he left trailing after six innings. However, Garret Anderson parlayed his 25% line drive rate into a two-run line drive home run to give the Dodgers a 5-4 lead in the top of the seventh.
Enter Kuo, who was making his season debut. He allowed a single and a walk to three batters, although it appeared on Gameday he was squeezed by home plate umpire Tim McLelland. Joe Torre decided to pull Kuo after just three batters, giving the ball to Belisario, working his second game in a row. The move appeared to work, as Brandon Phillips lined to second in what might have been an inning ending double play, but Blake DeWitt's throw to first base was wide and the inning continued.
A double, a walk, and two singles later, and the bullpen saviors Kuo and Belisario got charged with four runs. The double was hit by Scott Rolen, and was hit deep to left center field. Matt Kemp and Reed Johnson both converged on the ball, but Johnson was called off by Kemp, who appeared to mistime his jump, as the ball dropped in between Kemp and the wall. It would have been a very good catch by Kemp had he made it, but it was not the most aesthetically pleasing play.
Manny Ramirez left the game after hitting a single in the sixth inning, with a strained right calf, the same injury that caused him to miss the bulk of the series with the Giants last weekend.
Over his last 17 1/3 innings, Padilla has just three walks against 21 strikeouts.
The Dodgers travel to Washington DC to begin a three-game series tomorrow. In the opener, Charlie Haeger faces off against Luis Atilano, a right-hander who will be making his major league debut.
WP - Mike Leake (1-0): 7 IP, 8 hits, 5 runs, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts (Leake has pitched 6 2/3 innings or longer in all three major league starts so far)
LP - Hong-Chih Kuo (0-1): 1/3 IP, 1 hit, 2 runs, 1 walk
Sv - Francisco Cordero (6): 1 IP, 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
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Just saw a replay of the HR hit off Padilla
Eephus-curve that ended up down and in to a LH hitter. That can’t be the intended location for that.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
It really was a great job of waiting by Bruce, too.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 22, 2010 7:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Dylan Hernandez tweets:
Ramon Troncoso is on pace to make 108 appearances this season. #DrNealElAttrache
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Tell some of the starters to be more effective
It bugs me when people bring this up, what is he supposed to do, have position players pitch.
The last one was Weaver but he is on the DL...
Maybe Heager but we cannot burn him as reliever and starter…
Amanda Righetti <3
What about the Dodgers blow out games?
The Dodgers lead the first Giants-Dodgers game 9-2 and the final score was 10-8. Largely because of ineffective relievers.
If you look at the games
You will see that they are not many opportunities like that, the Dodgers have been in nearly every game thus you end up using your better relievers.
When you are in close games, the manager is not going to bring in your 11th and 12th guys that often.
For better or worst
You have your 5 guys in the pen:
Kuo, Beilsario, Sherrill, Troncoso and Broxton.
Monk and Ramon Ortiz will not see action unless it’s before the 6th or after the 10th in most cases.
The Dodgers needed six outs to get to Broxton today, they couldn’t get it done.
Kuo and Belisario just got here
Broxton has been just about perfect, Troncoso has been solid. Really only Sherrill has not put it together.
I don't like the idea of a contending team trying to carry a rule five they are afraid of using
so when you say what can they do? They can
1. Let Monk go, and replace him with someone they will use
2. Use him in leveraged situations
3. Make a trade, send him to minors and use someone they will use
They have choices, they just aren’t making them.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Yes but your question
was what are you going to do instead of using Troncoso so much. When you have 12 guys you use them or you kill the good guys because you over use them. They have choices.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Again w/ the worse/worst misspellings ...
where’s meercatjon when you need him to tell you that tonights episode of How I Met Your Mother was the worse one of all time. . . ?
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 22, 2010 8:15 PM PDT up reply actions
You can assign some losses but
To me long relief is guys pitching 2 or more innings. That is not what is happening this year. And again, there were times early in the year when a few hits could have won a game or two.
The pitching and defense are obvious issues but this is not a simple case of just replacing one or two players. Everyone is going to have play better.
You can basically blame all of the pitchers except Broxton.
by Michael White on Apr 22, 2010 7:55 PM PDT up reply actions
It really is astounding to me how this pitching, that is largely intact from last year, can go from tops in the league to right at the bottom.
The bullpen was tops
because of Broxton, Kuo, Sherrill, and Belisario. Two of the four just returned. Sherrill has been awful. I’m not why anyone is surprised about the bullpen. Last year they did not have the Oritzes and a Rule five. This year they did, going forward they now have the staff they finished the year with and things should be better.
Kuo looked nasty as usual but did not get any calls against Votto. Belisario I’m holding my breath on.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
FWIW
Monday was not impressed by Belisario’s stuff during today’s broadcast. Made it sound like it was up there on a tee for the Reds. However, this could have been hindsight 20/20 commenting — things are going fine, until they don’t, in which case, I knew it all along.
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on Apr 22, 2010 8:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Where does the blame game get us
we had a fun series, we lost two games, we move on. 7-8 is not a big deal when you are chasing the Padres
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
For sure...
Next series against D.C. will be easier than the Red series… We crushed them last September… The only threat will be Zimmerman, Willingham and Dunn… Maybe Morgan too…
Amanda Righetti <3
They have a nice offense right now
but the pitching is awful. I’ll have the preview ready in a little bit. I won’t be predicting a sweep.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
He was put on the DL
Friday – debut of Luis Atilano
Saturday – Stammen
Sunday – TBD
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Does anyone know
How often a relief pitcher gets credited with a hold and a loss in the same game? That just seems like a rare feat for Kuo.
Jake Peavy by the way is missing Petco
here is a guy who has sucked in every big game he has been in, yet does he get anything near the criticism that Chad got for one bad game in the playoffs? No
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I read your post
in Frank Calliendo’s Madden voice because you started it with “Here is a guy…” like FC always begins his Madden. You made me laugh with that, thanks.
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 22, 2010 8:17 PM PDT up reply actions
If Taylor Mays does not get picked by the Saints
This might be the first draft in many many years without a USC player being drafted in the first round.
Is he in the Cal League or is he repeating in the MWL?
by Michael White on Apr 22, 2010 8:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Cal Leagu
1st start, just got put back on the roster after extended spring training. This is a big step for someone his age.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
It really is. I haven’t been as high on Eovaldi as others since even though he has the velocity, he hasn’t been able to rack up K rates in the MWL. If he can perform in the Cal League though, it will definitely turn some heads.
by Michael White on Apr 22, 2010 8:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Maybe he'll be our
Rick Porcello and Withrow will be our Verlander:)
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Hey watch it
if that happens I’ll need a cold shower when that does happen… like a season long cold shower!
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 22, 2010 8:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Hey gang, Reds fan here
I know you guys came out on the short end of things, but that was an entertaining series all the way around. We saw that you were predicting big things before this series so I know it stoked our competitive fires over at Red Reporter. Your offense is truly awesome, and I wouldn’t worry about your pitching. I’m sure it will round into form.
Also, though I may be a Reds fan, I live in DC and just found out I have tickets for the game on Saturday. I’ll see your boys in blue there!
TY
It’s nice comment… You have a great 1B, he killed us… I will trade Loney and a several prospect for Votto… (Keep my dreamin’)
Amanda Righetti <3
Votto is one of the most beloved Reds of the last decade
It would crush us to see him moved. We’re just hopeful that Jay Bruce and Drew Stubbs will start to hit too.
by Brendanukkah on Apr 22, 2010 8:21 PM PDT up reply actions
And I hope you can keep him for many years
I have no doubt about Bruce… I’m still waiting for Stubbs…
Amanda Righetti <3
One of our top prospects is Yonder Alonso, a power hitting first baseman
They actually dropped him back down to AA this year so he can try and learn LF, just because Votto’s blocking him at 1B. It would be great if he can learn it, but really he just seems like a nice trading chip.
by Brendanukkah on Apr 22, 2010 8:26 PM PDT up reply actions
what ...
what IS it with you midwesterners!? So nice!
btw, thanks for the kind words and very respectful commenting here.
by Seanny Rotten on Apr 22, 2010 8:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Thanks for the kind words
It was an exciting series for sure.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 22, 2010 8:30 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Leake was more impressive then I expected
it was a great series.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Have a link
I couldn’t find it on the mobile site.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 22, 2010 8:31 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Where there's Smoak, there's fire
Rangers called him up, optioned Chris Davis
by Eric Stephen on Apr 22, 2010 8:22 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
All-Time Lakers Postseason Points Leader:
Kobe Bryant 4,459 points. Just broke Jerry West’s record.
NPUT
http://www.truebluela.com/2010/4/22/1437300/team-preview-washington-nationals
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
My take on 2010 so far...
“Whatevs.”
I can’t recall ever seeing a Dodger team both suck so much and rule so much at the same time. At least it’s fun to watch. Better to see a top-notch offense losing games than to see a team struggling heavily at the plate with decent pitching losing the same games. More frustrating, perhaps.
Sure, they’ll pick it up, but so far things look kind of awful. The offense is bound to regress just as much as the pitching is bound to improve. I’m not sure if that’s bad or good.
The elephant in the room
I’m hoping that come the trading deadline, we boost our starting pitching. There is no way we can salvage the long relief pitching corps, and even if we did, that is not the solution, so the next best thing is to use them sparingly.
After 15 games, I was hoping to have four good starters. Bills is done as far as I’m concerned and Haegar is no starter. Kershaw, Kuroda and Padilla are doing just okay, but there is no ace or near ace on the team right now.
You would have given up on a lot of good pitchers if you gave up on them after a half season plus three starts of struggling, such as Billingsley has had.
Have you seen the speculation about starting pitching that might be realistically available at the deadline? It looks pretty bleak. How did Aaron Harang grab you the other night?
According to Cot’s Baseball Contracts, this is the next FA class for starters: (* means there’s a 2011 option in the contract)
Bronson Arroyo CIN *The guys that will have a season and one half remaining on their contracts at the deadline isn’t much better:
Josh Beckett BOS
Jeremy Bonderman DET
David Bush MIL
Daniel Cabrera CWS
Matt Cain SF *
Jorge De La Rosa COL
Jeff Francis COL *
Jon Garland SD *
Aaron Harang CIN *
Tim Hudson ATL
Cliff Lee SEA
Ted Lilly CHC
Braden Looper MIL
Noah Lowry SF
Kevin Millwood BAL
Jamie Moyer PHI
Vicente Padilla LAD
Nate Robertson DET
Ian Snell SEA *
Jeff Suppan MIL *
Javier Vazquez NYY
Brandon Webb ARI
Jake Westbrook CLE
Dontrelle Willis DET
Chris Young SD *
Mark Buehrle CWS
Chris Carpenter STL *
Aaron Cook COL *
Kyle Davis KC
Zach Duke PIT
Chad Gaudin OAK
Edwin Jackson ARZ
Scott Kazmir LAA *
Brandon McCarthy TEX
John Maine NYM
Paul Maholm PIT
Jason Marquis WAS
Gil Meche KC
Scott Olsen WAS
Roy Oswalt HOU *
Oliver Perez NYM
Joel Pineiro LAA
Wandy Rodriguez HOU
Brian Tallet TOR
Tim Wakefield BOS
Chien-Ming Wang WAS
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Apr 23, 2010 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions
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