Dodgers Turn to Kershaw to Start New Streak
by Eric Stephen on May 20, 2010 3:56 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Previews
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The Dodgers try to start a another winning streak tonight, in the final game of the two-game series with the Padres. In a rematch of Saturday's outing in San Diego, Clayton Kershaw faces off with Kevin Correia.
Kershaw has pitched seven or more innings and allowed three hits or less in each of his last two starts. The only LA Dodger to have a longer streak was Sandy Koufax, who threw three straight three-hit shutouts in 1963. Kershaw has five quality starts, second to Hiroki Kuroda (with six) for the club lead, and he has allowed two runs or less in six of eight starts this season.
Not at Full Strength
The Dodgers have two starters on the disabled list, in Andre Ethier and Rafael Furcal, and last night Dodger fans held their breath when it was announced that Manny Ramirez was a late scratch, just four days after Ethier's late scratch led to his DL trip. Manny hurt his toe, and is expected to return to the lineup tonight, but if you want to point to a difference between being 27-13 in 2009 and 22-18 in 2010, health would be one.
| Starts by Opening Day Lineup, 1st 40 Games | |||
| Pos | Player | 2009 | 2010 |
| C | Martin | 34 | 35 |
| 1B | Loney | 37 | 39 |
| 2B | Hudson/DeWitt |
40 | 31 |
| 3B | Blake | 34 | 33 |
| SS | Furcal | 34 | 18 |
| LF | Manny | 27 | 20 |
| CF | Kemp | 38 | 40 |
| RF | Ethier | 38 | 30 |
| Totals | 282 (88.1%) | 246 (76.9%) | |
That's 36 fewer starts by regulars in the first 40 games compared to last season, almost like playing a man down every game, on average. Even factoring in Manny's suspension and the late benching of Orlando Hudson last season, the eight Dodger regulars started 1,099 games, 84.8% of the total possible. Among National League teams, only the Phillies got more starts out of their regulars (1,139) than the Dodgers.
Notes
- Through April 22, Blake DeWitt was hitting .268/.412/.268 with no extra-base hits, 10 walks, and four strikeouts in 51 PA.
- Since then, DeWitt was hitting .275/.315/.435 with nine extra-base hits (seven doubles, two triples), four walks, and 14 strikeouts in 73 PA
- With Furcal out, Jamey Carroll has started 22 straight games before tonight. It is the second longest streak of his career, behind only a stretch of 28 straight starts with the Rockies in 2006
- Matt Kemp is tied with Ryan Braun for the major league lead in runs scored, with 34
- The Padres have placed outfielder Kyle Blanks on the disabled list, and called up pitcher Adam Russell to take his roster spot, per Dan Hayes of the North County Times.
Xeifrank's simulation of today's game is here.
Game Time: 7:10pm
TV: Prime Ticket
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Padres lineup
per Marty Caswell of 1090 AM:
Venable RF
Eckstein 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Torrealba C
Salazar LF
J.Hairston 3B
Denorfia CF
Cabrera SS
Correia P
Marty Caswell checks in again:
Sounds as though there’s nothing wrong with Chase Headley- just getting the standard day off.
by Eric Stephen on May 20, 2010 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions
He sucks against LHP
he’s only a switch hitter in principle not in reality.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I forgot to save my Excel spreadsheet from this morning, but even with the reduction in walks and rise in strikeouts, DeWitt’s average pitches per PA was the same (I think 4.04) in each stretch.
by Eric Stephen on May 20, 2010 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Perhaps pitchers just decided to start throwing him strikes.
Rudimentary creatures of flesh and blood, you touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding.
Tends to happen once scouting reports get around that the batter has no power at all.
by Michael White on May 20, 2010 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Very small difference
found the Excel file.
in those first 51 PA: 1.55 balls per PA, 13 3-ball counts (6.31%)
in the other 73 PA: 1.45 balls per PA, 15 3-ball counts (5.08%)
by Eric Stephen on May 20, 2010 4:16 PM PDT up reply actions
No Manny tonight
Jon Weisman (5/20/2010 at 4:09 PM)
Tonight’s Dodger lineup: Martin, Paul, Kemp, Loney, Blake, Anderson, DeWitt, Carroll, Kershaw
seriously
the difference between GA and manny is HUGE
Dodger lineup - no Manny
per Jon Weisman:
Martin C
Paul RF
Kemp CF
Loney 1B
Blake 3B
Anderson LF
DeWitt 2B
Carroll SS
Kershaw P
Thankfully, that lineup is not nearly as punchless as the one being thrown out there by the Padres tonight.
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 20, 2010 4:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Lol. I didn't realize Scot Podsednik was a Rocky last year
The Rockies received a lot of attention before the start of the regular season, but there is no reason besides Ubaldo Jimenez that provides merit for all the hype.
One pitcher won’t change the outcome of the season. With the departures of Yorvit Torrealba and Scott Podsednik (currently hitting .365) a big hole is created in the Colorado offense.
Pitching will have to remain stellar for the Rockies all season or it just won’t come together.
I believe this is from something like 3 weeks ago, but I was just browsing over it. For one thing, Podsednik is no big loss anyway. For another, he was a Rocky in 2008, not 2009.
Yet another terrible article from Bleacher Report...
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
And I'm sure the Rockies offense would be upgraded by Torrealba
Seeing as their current catcher is only hitting .284/.348/.549 and on a 40 HR pace.
With no offense intended towards lvdown, I would sincerely like to propose a moratorium on references to the Bleacher Report here at TBLA.
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 20, 2010 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Given the quality of late
They kinda bring it on themselves.
LA Dodger catchers to bat leadoff
Russell Martin – 34 starts (including tonight)
Paul LoDuca – 33 starts
everybody else – 0
We had a really fast catcher in little league
but the coach would never bat him leadoff— it took too long for him to put his equipment on.
The last 20 years, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, nine catchers have hit leadoff in a major league game: Kendall, Rodriguez, Craig Biggio, Ausmus, Michael Barrett, Don Slaught, Jason Varitek, Paul Lo Duca and Scott Hemond.
from 2007: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=kurkjian_tim&id=2848298
when I think of leadoff hitters
I think of Rickey and Vince Coleman and Don Slaught. Lol
by keithc13 on May 20, 2010 5:26 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Ha!
Remember, you can’t spell slaughter without “laughter.”
by Eric Stephen on May 20, 2010 5:27 PM PDT up reply actions
As a kid, I thought the dudes name was
Don Squat. Just seemed to fit for a catcher in my mind.
Mets pitcher, John Maine hurt and leaves game after only facing one batter. The Mets are now down to 2/5ths of a starting rotation.
I would love to see...
a complete game by one of our starters soon. Kershaw, how ’bout tonight?
by Tommy Told Me To Bleed Blue on May 20, 2010 5:05 PM PDT reply actions
psh
Torre will never let that happen
Rudimentary creatures of flesh and blood, you touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding.
haha
So true it’s not even funny.
by Tommy Told Me To Bleed Blue on May 20, 2010 5:06 PM PDT up reply actions
No-hitter
Torre will let it happen only if and when a starting pitcher finishes the eighth inning with no hits against.
I think he would still bring in Broxton.
No-hitters are for all the other teams these days.
by Tommy Told Me To Bleed Blue on May 20, 2010 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes, all the other teams are just racking up no-hitters, and complete games.
by Eric Stephen on May 20, 2010 6:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Correct – but only because no Dodger pitcher has finished the 8th with no hits. Stults did so last year and was allowed to go on and complete the no-hitter.
Sarcasm doesn't work out so well...
when I type it. I must learn.
by Tommy Told Me To Bleed Blue on May 20, 2010 6:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Mizuno is awesome
Apparently they like to give their clients real samurai swords. One for Braden for his Perfect game, and one for Grienke for winning the Cy Young.
Rudimentary creatures of flesh and blood, you touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding.
alarming thought
none of our young guys have Boras as an agent right?
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
I would think
it would be a real confidence boost for any pitcher. Especially a young pitcher that is only allowing a few hits per game.
by Tommy Told Me To Bleed Blue on May 20, 2010 5:10 PM PDT reply actions
Hitting home runs wasn't the norm
in 1916 but I expect people were still fascinated by the concept. Luke Hochevar went nine today, if Luke can do it, Clayton can do it. In order of appreciation:
1. Complete game, less then four runs
2. Eight innings, Broxton closing
3. Seven Innings, Kuo, Broxton
4. Six Innings, Belisario, Kuo, Broxton
Not real keen on anything else by Kersahw or Billingsley or Kuroda.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
phew
none of the guys I actually care about. I knew about Ramirez (there was an article on ESPN a while back about how a columnist thinks Boras is to blame for the fallout between Manny and Boston), but it amuses me that Weaver has Boras as an agent.
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
He got Jeff some money
But Weaver might have been better off i St. Louis.
Boras does represent Strasburg and “advises” Harper.
yeah, but my perception has always been
that Boras is kind of a big name guy. Maybe Jared made him take his brother, too. This is a funnier story in my head.
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
Not all of his big time number one picks turn out to be very good
but he still has to rep them, so he has some glue work in his stable.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Halladay
just makes it look so cool! haha
by Tommy Told Me To Bleed Blue on May 20, 2010 5:16 PM PDT reply actions
Is it wrong
that I am super amused that I make more money than Jon Link? I mean, not much money. But still.
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
Per the CBA, the minor league portion of his salary has to be at least $65,000 this season. :)
by Eric Stephen on May 20, 2010 5:26 PM PDT up reply actions
Next week's opposing pitchers
Tom Gorzelanny LHP
Ryan Dempster RHP
Ted Lilly LHP
Jeff Francis LHP
Jhoulys Chacin RHP
Aaron Cook RHP
I would like to get off the Chacin schneid
by Eric Stephen on May 20, 2010 5:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Per Jon at DT
Joe said Manny hit BP but the toe hurts when he put pressure on it, he is available to pinch hit.
He also said that the candidates for the 5th spot will be Ortiz and Monasterios, no one else in the minors is being considered at this time.
Regular day off for Headley
per the Padres:
Chase Headley not in the #Padres lineup Thursday. Started all 40 games and has played 364 of team’s 367.1 innings
i guess he is preparing for the
End of the NASCAR season with Fox. Myers is a dork.
by keithc13 on May 20, 2010 6:43 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Game Thread Is Up
http://www.truebluela.com/2010/5/20/1481084/martin-sets-club-record-for
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
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