Dodgers Could Use Some Relief From Starters
by Eric Stephen on Apr 8, 2010 6:30 AM PDT
in Dodgers Game Previews
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PrintAfter getting poor starts out of Vicente Padilla and Clayton Kershaw in the first two games of the season, the Dodgers turn to Chad Billingsley today, as they try to salvage one game in Pittsburgh, a place they suddenly can't win. After winning 23 of their first 30 games at PNC Park, the Dodgers have lost five out of their last six, including their last four. Vicente Padilla (4 1/3 innings) and Clayton Kershaw (4 2/3 innings) each failed to go five innings, only the fourth time since moving to Los Angeles that a Dodger starter failed to pitch five innings in each of the first two games of the season:
| Rough Starts To The Season |
|
| Year | Starting Pitchers (Innings) |
| 1967 | Bob Miller (4.0), Claude Osteen (2.2), Don Sutton (4.1) |
| 1998 | Ramon Martinez (4.2), Chan Ho Park (4.2), Hideo Nomo (4.0) |
| 2002 | Kevin Brown (4.0), Hideo Nomo (3.0) |
| 2010 | Padilla (4.1), Kershaw (4.2) |
Billingsley had a solid spring, or at least he did before his final exhibition start against the Angels on Saturday. Billingsley, who allowed six runs in 3 2/3 innings, told Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times he learned from the experience:
"Pitchers, we have the tendency to give hitters too much credit," Billingsley said. "There are times I try to be perfect when I don't have to be."
His habit of nibbling instead of trusting his stuff cost him against the Angels.
Today's pitching matchup is a battle of 2003 first-round draft picks, as the 24th pick (Billingsley) faces off against the eighth pick, Paul Maholm. Maholm has made six career starts against the Dodgers, and has given up at least three runs in each game, five of which were won by the Dodgers. In those six starts, Maholm has a 5.59 ERA in 37 innings, with 18 walks against just 15 strikeouts.
Other Notes
- Manager Joe Torre said Manny Ramirez would sit today, getting the day game after a night game off. In addition, Ronnie Belliard will start, either for Casey Blake at third base or James Loney at first base.
- The Dodgers gave up just 11 three-run home runs in 2009, but have already given up two this season: one to Ryan Doumit on Monday, and one to Garrett Jones last night.
- The Dodgers have four hits in 28 at-bats with runners in scoring position in the first two games of the series.
- Dodger pinch hitters have two hits in five at-bats so far this season.
- Rafael Furcal stole two bases last night for the 12th time as a Dodger. The Dodgers are 9-3 in those games, including last night's loss.
- If all goes well back-to-back rehabilitation games next week, Ronald Belisario could be activated in less than two weeks, reported Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.
UPDATE: Andre Ethier is out with a swollen ankle, says Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times, who also reports that x-rays were negative.
Xeifrank's simulation of today's game is here.
Time: 9:35am
TV: Prime Ticket
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RT @RoccoDeMaro: #Pirates lineup 4.8.10: Aki (4), Cutch (8) GFJ (3), Doumit (2), Church (7), DY (9), Andy L (5), Maholm, Crosby (6)
by Eric Stephen on Apr 8, 2010 7:00 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Reed Johnson has a blog
“Reed Between the Lines”
by Eric Stephen on Apr 8, 2010 7:01 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
5 Guys sitting in the burgh
RT @DodgertownUSA: #Dodgers lineup: Furcal SS, Johnson LF, Kemp CF, Loney 1B, Belliard 3B, Anderson RF, Carroll 2B, Ausmus C, Billingsley P
by Eric Stephen on Apr 8, 2010 7:27 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Why aren’t Anderson and Johnson switched in the OF?
Have we just decided to give up on trying to salvage something of this series or is it a total loss?
Why are so many of our starters tired after playing two games in three days?
Why did I bother asking these questions?
Manny and Blake were a given, day game after a night game. Ethier has the foot thing, I can see them being cautious. DeWitt sitting against a LHP. Martin has still basically only played for two weeks, so I can see them easing him back. With Martin, we’ll find out if that’s the case if he’s not playing Sunday.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 8, 2010 7:37 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Not ideal
But I can see some of the reasoning.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 8, 2010 7:38 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
OK, but why not at least position the players in their best defensive positions? Anderson should be in LF with Johnson in RF, and you could probably argue that Belliard should be at 2B with Carroll at 3B.
Good point
Hopefully this situation won’t happen too often this season.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 8, 2010 7:46 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Uhhh… at least the bench is stacked today?
by delias man on Apr 8, 2010 7:37 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
House money
Only applies if we’re up in the series. If anything, we took out a marker for this game. :)
by Eric Stephen on Apr 8, 2010 7:40 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
This is the
“why don’t you just give me half your money and we’ll go out back and I’ll kick you in the balls and call it a day” lineup.
by Michael White on Apr 8, 2010 7:47 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Clark should have stuck with “Pick a Number” :)
by Eric Stephen on Apr 8, 2010 7:50 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Just think
If we would have had 11 pitchers, we might have six reserves starting today. :)
by Eric Stephen on Apr 8, 2010 7:55 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
I'd work
this is like watching the sixth inning of a spring training game. With no day off between series I understand it, and given how our starting lineup has surprised us with failure maybe the reserves will surprise us with success but I wouldn’t give up a work day to find out.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I guess I didn’t think of it that way. I have plenty of PTO time built up so I could have stayed home and watch and I didn’t elect to do so. So in that sense, I wouldnt give up an off day to watch this game either.
by Michael White on Apr 8, 2010 8:12 AM PDT up reply actions
Line moving
down a little from the open. The Dodgers opened last night with at 59+% win probability now it is just over 57%. I was expecting it to move even a little further south.
Once the lineup posted I’m sure. When 2 of the 3 best hitters for the Dodgers are out of the lineup, and Maholm is a pretty solid pitcher anyway (as you have pointed out) the money should be going towards PIT.
by Michael White on Apr 8, 2010 8:09 AM PDT up reply actions
Hate seeing Manny sitting against a pitcher like Maholm
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Exactly what I am thinking. We are going to end up winning this game by 10 and that is baseball.
by robotmadeofnails on Apr 8, 2010 8:41 AM PDT up reply actions
I understand resting to old guys,
but it’s only the third game in 4 days. Let them play. And it’s the start of the season. Whatever, let’s just come up with a win today, and not dig a hole too deep too early in the season.
Not so much 3rd game in 4 days
but the fact the have to play Fri- Sun.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
He probably rolled it when he jumped back on the base last night.
The camera zoomed in and he definitely landed on it very awkwardly.
Smashed Sausage!
This was over on the right side under Yahoo Sports. Seemed appropriate for this mornings discussion. Watch the video and let me know if you’re not just cheared up a bit that you aren’t wearing a sausage suit today. Or, if you are, please stay off the road.
Yikes
Intel is working on:
_Cell phone technology that would use motion, GPS and audio data gathered through users’ cell phones to track what they’re doing and who they’re with. The technology can distinguish activities such as walking, giving a business presentation and driving. It also compares audio readings from different cell phones to determine who is in the same room.
This would allow users to share their activity information with their close friends and watch avatar versions of their friends throughout the day. It would also let users track and analyze data about how they spend their time.
Big brother indeed.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I want technology where my phone can read the IP address of a nearby phone, and I can text them. That way I can make crude comments to women and call out jerks i see every day.
by delias man on Apr 8, 2010 9:13 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Future World Series opponents
Rockies and Mariners are both 1 – 2.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Per ITD
Furcal, SS
Johnson, LF
Kemp, CF
Loney, 1B
Belliard, 3B
Anderson, RF
Carroll, 2B
Ausmus, C
Billingsley, P
Loney hitting cleanup against a lefty makes me a sad panda
Does Loney still have a donut in the hit column?
Or did he squeeze out a hit in the later innings last night?
by Michael White on Apr 8, 2010 9:01 AM PDT up reply actions
I know Eric posted that earlier
But I just wanted to repost in the one name in a row format.
by StolenMonkey86 on Apr 8, 2010 9:01 AM PDT up reply actions
This lineup is very saddening.
If the Dodgers were 2-0, or at least 1-1, I wouldn’t be so pessimistic, but the Dodgers haven’t proved they can beat this team yet, so weaking it to this point is either giving up or going Pirates on the Pirates and are going to beat them at their own game of a weak ass lineup.
The average age of the starting position players today is about 33, isn't it?
Kemp/Ausmus average to 33, GA/Loney average to 32, and everyone else is over 30, some by a bit.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
It's still...
the Pirates on the other side. Dodgers could start all the reserves and still have the better lineup.
But the batting order makes little sense, especially Loney hitting 4th. If I had these 8 guys to work with, I’d probably go Furcal, Carroll, Belliard, Kemp, Loney, Johnson, Anderson, Ausmus. Would prefer Loney 6th, but wouldn’t want 2 lefties together, especially with 2 dead bats following that.
Also would have Belliard at 2B and Anderson in LF, of course.
Anyone listening to pregame
Audio is not yet up via Gameday…just wondering if the weather is cooperating.
Weather.com says thunderstorms and wind, with an 80% chance of rain
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