Game 2: Good Things Come to Those Who Wait
by Eric Stephen on Apr 7, 2010 1:30 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Previews
Email
PrintThat is the last time Clayton Kershaw picked up a win. Including the playoffs, Kershaw made 15 appearances, including 13 starts, since his win over the Astros last July. In those games, Kershaw had a 3.13 ERA and struck out 91 batters (and walked 38) in 77 2/3 innings, but never picked up a W. What better time for him to pick up a win than today against the Pirates?
Manager Joe Torre has said Kershaw is a special pitcher, but he doesn't think it's fair to put extra pressure on the 22-year old. Tempering expectations is fine, but forgive me if I get excited when thinking of what Kershaw is capable of. Here's a look at the best age 22 seasons in Dodger history (minimum 100 innings):
| Pitcher | Year | IP | ERA | ERA+ |
| Billy Loes | 1952 | 187.1 | 2.69 | 136 |
| Chad Billingsley | 2007 | 147.0 | 3.31 | 135 |
| Ramon Martinez | 1990 | 234.1 | 2.92 | 126 |
| Don Drysdale | 1959 | 270.2 | 3.46 | 122 |
| Van Lingle Mungo | 1933 | 248.0 | 2.72 | 118 |
| Ismael Valdes | 1996 | 225.0 | 3.32 | 117 |
| Erv Palica | 1950 | 201.1 | 3.58 | 115 |
| Ralph Branca | 1948 | 215.2 | 3.51 | 114 |
| Nap Rucker | 1907 | 275.1 | 2.06 | 114 |
| Vic Lombardi | 1945 | 203.2 | 3.31 | 114 |
Would anyone really be surprised to see Kershaw atop this list?
**********
After giving up just two runs in his two months as a Dodger, putting up a Dodger record 0.65 ERA in his 27 2/3 innings, reliever George Sherrill gave up three runs in his first game of 2010. From MLB.com Gameday, here are each of Sherrill's 24 pitches:
| Pitch | Batter | MPH | Break | PFx | Type | Result | FanGraphs |
| 1 | Cedeno | 86 | 7" | 7" | Change | Foul | Fastball |
| 2 | Cedeno | 87 | 6" | 7" | Fastball | Foul | Fastball |
| 3 | Cedeno | 87 | 7" | 7" | Fastball | Flyout CF | Fastball |
| 4 | Iwamura | 87 | 6" | 6" | Fastball | Ball | Fastball |
| 5 | Iwamura | 88 | 5" | 7" | Fastball | Swinging Strike | Fastball |
| 6 | Iwamura | 88 | 7" | 7" | Fastball | Ball | Fastball |
| 7 | Iwamura | 87 | 7" | 8" | Fastball | Groundout 6-3 | Fastball |
| 8 | McCutchen | 88 | 10" | 12" | Change | Ball | Fastball |
| 9 | McCutchen | 87 | 7" | 3" | Slider | Ball | Fastball |
| 10 | McCutchen | 87 | 6" | 4" | Slider | Double | Fastball |
| 11 | Jones | 86 | 7" | 7" | Change | Foul | Fastball |
| 12 | Jones | 75 | 14" | 8" | Slider | Ball in dirt | Slider |
| 13 | Jones | 88 | 6" | 5" | Slider | Ball | Fastball |
| 14 | Jones | 87 | 7" | 5" | Fastball | Foul | Fastball |
| 15 | Jones | 75 | 13" | 9" | Curve | Foul | Slider |
| 16 | Jones | 77 | 12" | 5" | Slider | Ball in dirt | Slider |
| 17 | Jones | 88 | 6" | 6" | Fastball | Ball (wild pitch) | Fastball |
| 18 | Doumit | 75 | 14" | 9" | Curve | Foul | Slider |
| 19 | Doumit | 88 | 7" | 4" | Slider | Ball | Fastball |
| 20 | Doumit | 74 | 13" | 7" | Curve | Foul | Slider |
| 21 | Doumit | 89 | 6" | 4" | Fastball | Ball | Fastball |
| 22 | Doumit | 75 | 13" | 8" | Curve | Foul | Slider |
| 23 | Doumit | 88 | 7" | 3" | Slider | Foul | Fastball |
| 24 | Doumit | 75 | 12" | 8" | Slider | Home Run | Slider |
It seems like a few pitches were mislabeled in Gameday, given the speed and the break. FanGraphs shows that Sherrill threw 17 fastballs and seven sliders, which seems to matchup with the speeds in the table above. After the game Sherrill spent 15 minutes with pitching coach Rick Honeycutt looking at video, per Tony Jackson of ESPN LA:
"It's just a hair off,'' Sherrill said. "It's just a matter of getting it ironed out and getting my consistency back."
The point is that Sherrill's fastball averaged just 87.4 miles per hour, after hovering right at 90 for almost all of his career. Sure, this is a small sample size, but that's what Sherrill is working on. That, and better control, as Sherrill threw 10 of his 24 pitches outside the strike zone, and nine more were fouled off.
Notes:
- In other bullpen news, Ramon Troncoso is back with the team after the birth of his daughter, and is available to pitch tonight.
- Normally the first former Princeton pitcher the Dodgers face each year is Chris Young of the Padres, but tonight that distinction goes to Ross Ohlendorf, who was 11-10 with a 3.92 ERA, and a 4.72 FIP for the Pirates last season. Ohlendorf has faced the Dodgers just once in his career, last September 15. He took the loss after allowing three runs and nine baserunners in three innings, throwing 70 pitches.
- The Dodgers have four non-roster invitees that made the club: Garret Anderson, Jeff Weaver, Ramon Ortiz, and Russ Ortiz. The last time that happened was 2005, when Buddy Carlyle, Scott Erickson, Kelly Wunsch, and Steve Schmoll made the club.
- In case you missed it yesterday, long-time Dodger Jason Repko has signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins, per Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Repko will play center field for the Twins' Triple A affiliate in Rochester.
- On Monday, Garrett Jones became the first Pirate in the 124-year history of the franchise to hit home runs in his first two at-bats of the season.
- Former Dodger Fernando Valenzuela will be honored tomorrow, along with former Laker James Worthy, at the Central City Association (CCA) of Los Angeles’ 16th Annual “Treasures of Los Angeles” luncheon. Past Dodgers honored at this event include Tommy Lasorda and Don Newcombe.
Here are the lineups, per Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:
| Dodgers | Pirates | |||
| SS | Furcal | 2B | Iwamura | |
| CF | Kemp | CF | McCutchen | |
| RF | Ethier | RF | Jones | |
| LF | Manny | C | Doumit | |
| 1B | Loney | LF | Milledge | |
| 3B | Blake | 1B | Clement | |
| 2B | DeWitt | 3B | LaRoche | |
| C | Martin | P | Ohlendorf | |
| P | Kershaw | SS | Cedeño | |
**********
Xeifrank's simulation of today's game is here.
Time: 4:05pm
TV: Prime Ticket
100 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
#
# Normally the first former Princeton pitcher the Dodgers face each year is Chris Young of the Padres, but tonight that distinction goes to Ross Ohlendorf, who was 11-10 with a 3.92 ERA, and a … FIP for the Pirates last season. Ohlendorf has faced the Dodgers just once in his career, last September 15. He took the loss after allowing three runs and nine baserunners in three innings, throwing 70 pitches.
what FIP does Ohlendorf has?
I know it’s only 3 games, but Houston is really bad. Would not want to be a fan of that team for the next 5 years.
Not that it matters, but doesn’t Houston always start off slowly?
That team seems to start cruising later in the year in a mad dash to win the division (might have happened in 2008 if it wasn’t for a hurricane.)
by Michael White on Apr 7, 2010 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions
So true
always written off, then followed by a crazy run. I wonder if that perception is true?
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
It’s up to 9 runs and 22 batters reaching base for SF today; they’ll probably get shut out in their next game.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Giants best start since 2003
when they started the season 7-0 and were 13-1 at one point. The Giants went on to win 100 games that year.
vr, Xei
The 2003 Giants opened on the road also, 3 in SD (a 98-loss team), 3 in Milwaukee (a 94-loss team), then opened at home with SD again. The first 9 starting pitchers they faced:
Brian Lawrence, Adam Eaton, Oliver Perez
Todd Ritchie, Ben Sheets, Wayne Franklin
Oliver Perez, Jake Peavy (who won), Dennis Tankersley
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Nice research
I’d say they probably had around a 4-5% chance of winning the first seven games in a row, so still a nice little run they had, even though it was against some bad teams.
vr, Xei
Dylan Hernandez tweets:
Charlie Haeger will start Sunday in Miami.Therefore Padilla must be starting Saturday.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
If Torre pushes the fifth starter back as often as possible, Haegar’s second start will be next Saturday against SF, with Kershaw closing the homestand on Sunday.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
The real extra hand is Pat Venditte
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Apr 7, 2010 2:16 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
So instead of seeing Haeger on the 16th I now get to see Padilla go up against Lincecum. Too bad I was looking forward to the contrast between Timmy and Charlie. Got front row of LR section 8 off of stubhub.
by MammothDodger on Apr 7, 2010 3:50 PM PDT up reply actions
I’m glad to see that Sat’s game is at 7. Last year they played it at 6 pm for no apparent reason, meaning it was blacked out on Extra Innings due to that ridiculous Sat / Fox rule.
It wasn't just blaked out on EI
It was tape delayed here locallly. Which wouldn’t have been so bad, except that the morons at KCAL showed the final score on the bottom line during the broadcast!
I believe the reason had to do with a concert.
by Michael White on Apr 7, 2010 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions
A classic Padilla vs. Lincecum matchup on the first game against the Giants
Haegar will try to repeat his Saturday Fox TV magic against Zito while the premier matchup will be Kershaw against Matt Cain.
Yes, assuming the Giants also push back the 5th starter as much as possible
SF off-days in April are every Thursday. With fifth starters pushed back, the pitching for SF/LA looks like:
Padilla vs. Lincecum, Haeger vs. Zito, Kershaw vs. Cain.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Also from Dylan H.
Manny will get a day off tomorrow. Torre also thinking of resting Casey BlakeTomorrow’s game is 9:35 A.M. Pacific Time.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Exactly… he will go 6, give up 1ER, Dodgers do not hit, and Chad is to blame. Sounds like last year all over again.
I do not hope this happens
I would think that they would want to leave Blake DeMVP at 2nd. Give him as many opportunities to succeed there first. I think I remember Torre saying something about DeWitt making the team as a 2nd baseman, not a utility guy. That might have been a comment by a poster on here, but I thought it was Joe.
Torre said that. He said he wouldn’t be bouncing DeWitt around if he made the team. If Casey Blake rests, it will either be Carroll or Belliard at 3rd.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
I understand that in theory
But it seems silly to weaken 2 positions (if you believe Belliard is the better second baseman anyway) as opposed to 0.
Assuming defensively:
Dewitt > Blake (which I believe)
Belliard > Dewitt (which seems tougher to believe)
Perhaps in a long term injury to C Blake, DeWitt would shift at that point but not before.
by Michael White on Apr 7, 2010 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions
I agree with that
Belliard vs Paul Maholm career wise : 5-17 .294 with 2HR’s and 2RBI. 3BB for a .400 OBP
Carroll vs Paul Maholm: 3-6
I wouldn’t be surprised to see both Belliard (3B) and Carroll (2B) starting tomorrow, with the lefty Maholm pitching.
No more Jackie Johnson promos during Laker and Dodger games
She is moving the Channel 2 (with Pat Harvey) in restructuring.
Sharon Tay will be the main anchor of the KCAL evening news.
From
Torre also told reporters that Matt Kemp will generally bat second against right-handed pitchers, that Blake DeWitt would continue to start against some lefties (depending on their type), that Ronald Belisario will practice game pitching on back-to-back days next week, and that Hong-Chih Kuo is on track to go out on a rehab assignment “soon.”
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Kuo could be pitching
for the 66er’s on opening day:)
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
You planning on going to all 81 games this year?
by Michael White on Apr 7, 2010 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Ha. I know I asked you but I couldn’t remember your answer.
by Michael White on Apr 7, 2010 3:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Man remember when a radio in the office was a big deal
no email, no internet. I listened to the radio for both Magic’s HIV announcement and the slow chase of OJ on the 405.
I remember those days
I actually read a whole newspaper every day, instead of looking online for different news articles from anywhere.
I did see Magic’s announcement on the tv though…still stunning
"We have to win eight. I'll be crushed if we don't win eight." CRN...Eat it BN, lol
My mom was a hairstylst, and her shop was in the mall across the street from my high school. I used to walk over after school to ask for money before hanging out with my friends.
On November 7, 1991, she broke the news to me at that shop, starting with “you’re going to be sick when you hear this….”
I remember being white as a sheet when I told my friends, and for some reason walking back to school to get something or other. I saw John Carlos (did I mention he was the in school suspension guy at my high school?) and was the first person to break the Magic news to him.
Worst sports day of my life, by far.
I was too young to really grasp the announcement and I didn’t exactly understand what HIV was.
by Michael White on Apr 7, 2010 3:40 PM PDT up reply actions
For all we knew, HIV meant Magic would be dead very soon. Amazing that it has been 18.5 years and he’s still around, and healthy as ever.
Biggest gut shot in my sports life
probably 2nd was learning that Don Drysdale had died
3rd was Lyman Bostock
Given the information at the time, no one would have predicted Magic would still be alive today.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Not as dramatic as Magic, of course
On October 16, 1985 I was sitting in my cubicle, working on our IBM mini-computer via a green-screen terminal. We had a rudimentary messaging system on it, so you could “text” other users on the same computer, even a list. One of my co-workers in a cube a few rows away was on the phone (land-line) while his roommate held up his phone (land-line) to TV (or radio – don’t remember which). Just after Tom Niedenfuer threw a pitch to Jack Clark we heard a loud, painful noise erupt from his area of the cube farm, then the fateful words appeared in green on my black screen:
Fuck me, he hit it out.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Someone at my brother's work
put an acrylic picture frame on his desk sometime in early 1986 with 3 baseball cards in it:
I’ll take work over school any day. As long as you like your work and don’t have a pissy boss.
vr, Xei
Money is nice and all
But college was just awesome.
by Michael White on Apr 7, 2010 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
i miss
going out on a weekday and getting sloshed, missing the next day class and not caring because i’ll still get an A on the midterm.
I don't miss
watching the sun rise in the computer lab at UCSB because the only time I could get on a computer for more than an hour was after midnight.
vr, Xei
The last three months of college were insane for me because I already had a job offer. It was like having senioritis in high school except being over the drinking age.
by Michael White on Apr 7, 2010 3:42 PM PDT up reply actions
i typically
like my work. My day’s stress free and I’m usually left alone for the most part. But the past two weeks I’ve been so slow and just going crazy. There is only so much internets I can surf.
Hey Nate
Not that this happened to me, say you live out of state and you get one of those speeding tickets via AZ camera, is it true, a lot of people just ignore those things.
yes!
those photo radar traps are retarded. After you get a letter in the mail, they have at 120days to serve you. If they do not serve you within that timeframe, the ticket is dropped as if nothing ever happened.
If you are out of state, 99.99% of the time you will not get served. My registration is still at my parents house in CA and I’ve gotten two of those and neither one was served to their address. Tickets expired after 4 months. So you’re good.
Watching a baseball game whilst at work is generally frowned upon
by Michael White on Apr 7, 2010 3:31 PM PDT up reply actions
my work
i work for kinda a big corp and streaming media is blocked…along with social media sites like facebook and etc.
but not truebluela!..suckers.
i had a slingbox set up on my blackberry but something funky happened with it and it stopped working. im probably going to fix that and just watch the games that way.
Belliard will play tomorrow
likely at 3B, but if Torre decides to play Casey Blake, Belliard will play 1B for Loney
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on True Blue LA
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- College player makes impossible over the fence catch to save tournament game (Video)
- Security!: Camden Yards guard collides with Royals’ Mike Moustakas
- The Juice: Nelson Cruz matches career high eight RBIs, Pujols stays hot in Seattle
- Benches clear at Fenway as Red Sox-Rays rivalry heats up
- Keeping good company: Albert Pujols becomes fourth-youngest player to hit 450 home runs
