Ely, Dodgers Primed to Face Punchless Astros
by Eric Stephen on May 17, 2010 3:00 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Previews
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PrintThe Dodgers go for their eighth straight win tonight, and just might have the perfect pitcher to face the struggling Astros. However, without Andre Ethier and Rafael Furcal, the question just might be whether or not the Dodgers can score enough runs to beat the worst offensive team in baseball.
In his major league debut in New York, John Ely gave up four runs in the second inning, and one more in the third inning. In the third inning, Ely intentionally walked the number eight hitter, Rod Barajas, to get to pitcher John Maine. Ely struck out Maine, and retired 10 of his last 11 batters faced, and he hasn't looked back since. Since walking Barrajas, Ely hasn't issued another free pass. In fact, over those last 59 batters faced, he hasn't even allowed an extra-base hit, and opposing hitters are only hitting .186/.186/.186.
| John Ely Since Last Walk | ||
| Batters Faced |
59 | |
| Strikeouts | 16 | 27.1% |
| Line Drives | 8 (5 hits) |
13.6% |
| Grounders | 20 (6 hits) |
33.9% |
| OF Flyballs | 9 | 15.3% |
| IF Popups | 6 | 10.2% |
Ely has made three major league starts, has two of the five no-walk starts by the Dodgers this season, and faces a team in Houston that just doesn't walk. The entire National League walks in 9.2% of its plate appearances. The team in 15th place is the Giants, a long-standing punchline for offensive impatience, and even they walk in 8.1% of their plate appearances.
The Astros? They have walked in an anemic 5.6% of their plate appearances, far and away the worst in the league. The Astros have walked just 74 times all season, slightly over half as many walks as the Dodgers (141).
Other Notes
- Wandy Rodriguez, starting tonight for Houston, allowed one run over 12 innings in two starts last year facing the Dodgers, and has allowed more than two earned runs only once in six career starts against Los Angeles.
- Garret Anderson is hitless in 17 at-bats against left-handers this season. He has two walks and a sacrifice fly in his 20 plate appearances, and is hitting .000/.100/.000 against southpaws
- Jamey Carroll has now passed Rafael Furcal in defensive innings at shortstop on the season
- Kazuo Matsui, he of the epic 15-pitch at-bat to end Saturday's game with the Giants, has followed up his five-for-34, .147/.216/.147 April with a five-for-33, .152/.200/.182 May
- Blake DeWitt, at .314, has the worst wOBA among regulars on the Dodgers; the Astros only have three non-pitchers with a wOBA that good: Lance Berkman (.357), Michael Bourn (.343), and Geoff Blum (.326). Houston's team wOBA is an MLB-worst .268
- The Astros have scored two runs or less 19 times in 27 games, and are 0-19 in those games
Xeifrank's simulation of today's game is here.
Game Time: 7:10pm
TV: Prime Ticket
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Dodger lineup
From Jon Weisman:
Martin C
Johnson RF
Ramirez LF
Kemp CF
Loney 1B
Blake 3B
DeWitt 2B
Carroll SS
Ely P
Astros lineup
from Alex41592:
Bourn CF
Keppinger 2B
Berkman 1B
Lee LF
Pence RF
Blum SS
Feliz 3B
Quintero C
Rodriguez P
On Blum at SS
Since beginning of 2009, Blum has only started one other game at SS, July 29, 2009
by Eric Stephen on May 17, 2010 4:53 PM PDT up reply actions
In that game
Blum played the rare combo of shortstop and first base, or as we like to call it, pulling a Carlos Guillen (who has done so 26 times in his career)
by Eric Stephen on May 17, 2010 4:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Ronnie Belliard also pulled off the SS-1B combo, in August 2008
by Eric Stephen on May 17, 2010 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Carlos Guillen was one of the worst defensive SS's I have ever watched
But man, could the dude hit.
by Michael White on May 17, 2010 5:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Hey you
Get offa my cloud.
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on May 17, 2010 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions
If you didn't do it
I was gonna
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on May 17, 2010 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions
I was gonna make another "get off" reference
but it’s a family website
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on May 17, 2010 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions
He probably meant to say All-Star, something Manuel has control over :)
(nicely played Fan Post, BTW)
by Eric Stephen on May 17, 2010 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions
.239/.300/.283
OPS of 583 in 12 starts / 50 PA
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on May 17, 2010 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions
For his career batting cleanup, he’s a little better.
.244 .294 .445 for an OPS of 739.
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on May 17, 2010 3:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Should be a low scoring game by all rights
Which means a 12-10 final.
Not really.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Along those lines
With Ely and Kuroda, our two least walkingest pitchers, facing a bunch of hackers, you would expect the Astros to hardly walk at all these two games. So watch them get 10 free passes.
They did walk 5 times against Lincecum Saturday…
by Eric Stephen on May 17, 2010 3:52 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
lincecum didnt have much control on saturday tho. alot of balls didnt even cross the plate let alone get near the strike zone.
by hee came hee seop'd he choi'd on May 17, 2010 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions
When Ely finally underwhelms – and he will – please don’t bring out the Kleenex and start crying for another pitcher. Relax and have some patience.
(This is not directed at anyone here. Just a general thought).
by silverwidow on May 17, 2010 3:54 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
This is
notdirected atanyone hereTony Jackson.
fixed.
and on the 93rd postseason of the National Hockey League, the Slovakian-hockeygod Zeus commanded from high atop Mount Figueroa..."RELEASE THE MEAT TRAIN!" And it was good.
by DodgerBlueBalls on May 17, 2010 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Yep
as far as Ortiz, our best friend right now just might be the off day Monday…it gives Torre the option to skip Ortiz, then hope one of the AAA guys (really only J-Mac and Lindblom have a realistic shot to get called up so soon) step up before May 29.
by Eric Stephen on May 17, 2010 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions
I expect some team to put a beatdown on him at some points but I dont think this Houston team will be the one.. Does he pitch against Detroit?
by hee came hee seop'd he choi'd on May 17, 2010 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions
That's a likely candidate for his worst game so far
But at least it’s in Dodger Stadium. And as said above, hopefully people will be patient.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
I’d say even though he ended his debut on a high note, 5 runs in 6 innings wasn’t so hot.
by Eric Stephen on May 17, 2010 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Yah, wasn't a good start but he settled down
Actually I wouldn’t imagine the Tigers game will go any worse than that one so I withdraw my prediction. ;-) One game at a time, though, hope he continues to show good control tonight.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
agreed
I am quick to jump on guys and quick to get proven wrong. It is a character flaw. Sorry dude. I expect pretty big things from Ely, but will try and temper my reaction and remember how old he is and how long he has been throwing in the MLB. At least I can admit I have a problem. Recovery, here I come! :-)
Looking at the rotation
We know Ortiz is pitching Wednesday; that’s already done. If Torre uses his off days accordingly, he can skip the Ortiz spot twice in the next month or so, and still have the other four pitchers start on regular rest (inlcuding even once on 5 days rest).
If properly maneuvered, the Dodgers should only need a 5th starter on the following dates:
May 19 – Ortiz is starting Wednesday vs SD
May 29: @ Coors (!!!)
June 3: vs Atlanta
June 8: vs Cards
The next spot would be June 19, which is as good a date as any to think Padilla would be available. Padilla probably needs 3 rehab starts to get ready, so he would need to start his rehab by June 4 to be ready for the Dodgers by the 19th. I think that’s doable.
Showing my work
Mon 17-May Ely
Tue 18-May Kuroda
Wed 19-May Ortiz
Thu 20-May Kershaw
Fri 21-May Billingsley
Sat 22-May Ely
Sun 23-May Kuroda
Mon 24-May OFF
Tue 25-May Kershaw
Wed 26-May Billingsley
Thu 27-May Ely
Fri 28-May Kuroda
Sat 29-May 5th starter
Sun 30-May Kershaw
Mon 31-May Billingsley
Tue 1-Jun Ely
Wed 2-Jun Kuroda
Thu 3-Jun 5th starter
Fri 4-Jun Kershaw
Sat 5-Jun Billingsley
Sun 6-Jun Ely
Mon 7-Jun Kuroda
Tue 8-Jun 5th starter
Wed 9-Jun Kershaw
Thu 10-Jun OFF
Fri 11-Jun Billingsley (5 days rest)
Sat 12-Jun Ely (5 days rest)
Sun 13-Jun Kuroda (5 days rest)
Mon 14-Jun OFF
Tue 15-Jun Kershaw (5 days rest)
Wed 16-Jun Billingsley
Thu 17-Jun Ely
Fri 18-Jun Kuroda
by Eric Stephen on May 17, 2010 4:26 PM PDT up reply actions
Then again
Trying to project a rotation out a month ahead can be a fool’s errand.
One month ago today, Padilla was healthy and coming off a good start, and Haeger has a 3.86 ERA heading into his 2nd start.
by Eric Stephen on May 17, 2010 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Forgot to add this
The Dodger game notes also mentioned Ely’s 59-batter walkless run, and noted he has the third longest active streak in MLB:
Ryan Franklin – 62 batters
Luke Gregerson – 62 batters
Ely – 59 batters
Mat Latos – 58 batters
I am destined never to see Ely start
Something came up today. Some other sports event in Los Angeles.
robotmadeofnails'
mens’ recreational baseball league?
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on May 17, 2010 4:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Everyone knows it’s recreations softball!
by Eric Stephen on May 17, 2010 4:56 PM PDT up reply actions
And it is looking like the rain will start right in the middle of the 1st game :(
by robotmadeofnails on May 17, 2010 4:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh, I did see John C. Reilly this weekend at a little league game
by robotmadeofnails on May 17, 2010 4:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Uncle Google
What is the Dodger record on nights the Lakers are playing in the postseason since they moved to Staples:)
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Holy Jesus
This might take a while. Be home in a few minutes.
by Eric Stephen on May 17, 2010 5:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Great question to keep E busy for awhile. Dude’s server is going to be working overtime
by KellyStephen on May 17, 2010 5:19 PM PDT up reply actions
From 2000-2010
Dodgers are 16-19 in home games on the same night at Laker playoff games at Staples:
2000: 2-3
2001: 3-3
2002: 0-4
2003: 0-1
2004: 3-1
2005: never overestimate the heart of Rudy T
2006: 0-1
2007: 0-1
2008: 2-2
2009: 4-2
2010: 2-1 so far
by Eric Stephen on May 17, 2010 5:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Or the power of the fists of Kermit Washington
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Lakers are 31-4 in those 35 home games. The Dodgers and Lakers have lost at home on the same day twice in this set of games:
May 30, 2000
Lakers lost their chance to close out Portland in 5
Eric Gagne started, Jeff Shaw entered the 9th with a 5-4 lead…Dodgers lost to the Mets 10-5
May 4, 2006
The fucking Tim Thomas Game
Khalil Greene hit a 3-run HR off Saito in the 8th for the only runs of the game
by Eric Stephen on May 17, 2010 5:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Flew to Detroit this morning...
…from LAX. At the airport I saw Mr. Tommy Lasorda walking around but I was on the phone and then lost him. I boarded and a few minutes later none other than #2 boarded and took his seat in 1st class. (I, alas, was in coach.)
He was with a guy, who put his bag in the overhead and then went back to his seat in coach, so after we landed Lasorda was standing in the terminal waiting for the guy and I went up and shook his hand. I asked him if he was scouting (kidding, knowing the Dodgers are playing the Tigers this weekend), and he said yes, he was scouting some minor leaguers.
He is getting old, but he actually looked pretty good. And no, I didn’t ask him to show me the proper technique for rotating one’s hips.
Not sure…I just know it’s not the Erik Byrnes rec softball league.
by KellyStephen on May 17, 2010 5:30 PM PDT up reply actions
So does TBLA have a resident medical expert
who might know how long Ethier could be out, since we aren’t hearing anything from the Dodgers yet?
According to Wikipedia, it could take a few months to heal properly.
I asked Tim Stauffer to check his iPhone, but haven’t yet heard back.
by Eric Stephen on May 17, 2010 5:35 PM PDT up reply actions
"Punchless Astros"
Do you believe in Karma?
by kimo from kauai on May 17, 2010 5:45 PM PDT reply actions
Karma has nothing to do with being able to hit
by Eric Stephen on May 17, 2010 5:48 PM PDT up reply actions
For anyone bothered by yet another ESPN national game spent on Yanks/Red Sox
don’t worry, tomorrow night, the MLB Network says “screw that! This one goes to fans of the other 28 teams” by showing a different game. Boston vs New York. :-/
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
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