Dodgers Look To Continue Sweeping Success
by Eric Stephen on Jun 17, 2010 6:00 AM PDT
in Dodgers Game Previews
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PrintAfter the Dodgers have won the first two games of this series in Cincinnati, one can't help but sense a pattern. Here are the results of the last four Dodger series against primarily red teams:
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| May 10-12 | @Arizona | Dodgers swept |
| May 31-Jun 2 |
Arizona | Dodgers swept |
| Jun 7-9 | St. Louis | Dodgers swept |
| June 11-13 | Anaheim | Dodgers got swept |
I submit that there is no team as primarily red as the Reds, so perhaps another sweep is in order. I wonder how the next two series -- against the Red Sox and Angels, two more red foes -- will play out.
But, first things first. We still have a game left in Cincinnati. The Dodgers have had five opportunities to sweep a three-game series, and are 4-1 in those games, including 2-0 on the road.
John Ely gets the call today, trying to turn things around after the first slump of his brief career. He has allowed four runs in five innings in each of his last two starts. After allowing no home runs over 46 innings with eight walks and 37 strikeouts in his first seven starts, Ely has allowed three homers in his last 10 innings, with five walks and four strikeouts.
Bronson Arroyo has seen a sharp decline in his strikeout rate:
| Arroyo w/Reds | G | IP | IP/start | W-L | BB/9 | K/9 | ERA | ERA+ | WHIP |
| 2006-2008 | 103 | 651.1 | 6.32 | 38-37 | 2.69 | 6.95 | 4.05 | 113 | 1.333 |
| 2009-2010 | 46 | 306.2 | 6.67 | 20-16 | 2.82 | 5.11 | 4.11 | 104 | 1.278 |
Over his last eight starts, Arroyo has just 24 strikeouts. Of course, he has averaged just over seven innings per start during that time, and is 4-1 with a 3.97 ERA.
Rolen With The Flow
Scott Rolen had a humorous take on his ejection last night, per Mark Sheldon of MLB.com:
"You guys missed it. He was saying 'are you tired? Did you sleep well last night after a long night?' I said 'no, how about you?' He said 'why don't you go in and sit in the cold tub and get ready for tomorrow's day game.' I said 'that'd be great.' That was it. I'm not sure what it looked like."
Notes
- Just two of Ely's 13 walks on the season have come around to score.
- Rafael Furcal has the most career plate appearances against Arroyo, with seven singles and a walk in 29 PA, hitting .250/.276/.250. Andre Ethier (.368/.429/.684, three doubles and a homer in 21 PA) and James Loney (.471/.500/.882, two doubles, a triple, and a homer in 18 PA) have enjoyed success off Arroyo.
- James Loney leads the club with 22 multi-hit games this season, including each of the last three
- The Dodgers are 11-8 in day games this season
Game Time: 9:35 a.m
TV: Prime Ticket
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Great Day Today...
…except for that work thing.
US Open starts this morning at one of my favorite venues. Dodger game starting at 9:35; let’s go for a sweep. Lakers at 6:00, going for 2 in a row and revenge for 2008 and all of those past game 7 losses to the Celtics.
How in the hell am I going to get anything done today in the office?
You're not!
I love the Open at Pebble Beach. I have to leave for work about the time it comes on. It is an awesome sports day.
I can't
bring myself to watch a golf tournament until the last day. And even then its generally limited to the Big 3 (U.S Open, British Open, Masters.)
by Michael White on Jun 17, 2010 7:31 AM PDT up reply actions
Reds lineup
Cabrera SS
Phillips 2B
Votto 1B
Rolen 3B
Gomes LF
Bruce RF
Stubbs CF
Miller C
Arroyo P
by Eric Stephen on Jun 17, 2010 7:04 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
If you ever wondered what happened to Jason Phillips (He of the 05 season and JIM TRACY)
He became the bullpen catcher for the Mariners… and found love doing so.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/jerrybrewer/2012136666_brewer17.html
Furcal on bereavement list; Hu called up
dodgerthoughts: Rafael Furcal placed on bereavement list,. Chin-Lung Hu recalled http://es.pn/aO5o3O #Dodgers
In case anyone's wondering (I was). here's the rule on Bereavement List
Major League players may be placed on the bereavement list due to severe illness or death of that player’s or his spouse’s immediate family. Minimum period is 3 days, maximum 7 days. Players on this list are counted towards the Reserve List Limit but not the Active List Limit.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
LOL at Rolen's comment.
Maybe this is how Dusty and the ump’s conversation went:
“You know, you got another potential young stud on the mound tonight.”
“Yeah, so?”
“So, he’s already thrown over 100 pitches, it’s time to get him outta here.”
“Listen, YOU DON’T TELL ME HOW TO MANAGE MY PLAYERS, OK! I’VE HAD PLENTY O’ SUCCESS HERE IN THE MAJORS DOING WHAT I DO, SO BACK OFF!”
“That’s it, I’m throwing you outta here to save that kid’s arm.”
Umpire then ejects Dusty.
The lesson: take a shower, miss news
Jon also has the lineup:
DeWitt 2B
Kemp CF
Ethier RF
Loney 1B
Blake 3B
Anderson LF
Ellis C
Carroll SS
Ely P
by Eric Stephen on Jun 17, 2010 7:59 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
That IS the defensive team
Manny and GA are kinda washes with the glove (at least right now, wit Manny hobbled by the toe), and DeWitt has rounded into form at 2B. As for Carroll… Furcal is out either way, so theres little choice until Hu arrives.
The only thing I could think of, is if you are interested in the best defensive team possible, you would play Johnson instead of GA.
by Michael White on Jun 17, 2010 8:05 AM PDT up reply actions
Rounded into form
might be gracious but that is probably because I still have visions of how he took that simple ground ball yesterday and pounded it into submission.
Yes they don’t have a choice but I still think that is a terrible defensive team without Rafy cementing the middle infield. We are last in defense for a reason. We suck at it.
I'd be interested to see
How the team ranks on defense once the first three weeks of the season are removed from the equation. No argument, this team was complete shit that first month, but its been much improved since then. I just wonder how badly those first weeks are dragging the overall down.
Yeah, we were rediculously bad those first few weeks but it does seem like this team has settled in defensively to where we are not making multiple errors every night.
Totally correct, but at least it’s not below average range along with Kemp and DeWitt being human blooper reels.
by regfairfield on Jun 17, 2010 9:17 AM PDT up reply actions
Kershaw after May 4th
where he had the shittiest outing of his career:
8GS 53.1IP 36H 1HR 21BB 61K 1.86 ERA
God, this kid is good.
They had that stat on Quick Pitch this morning along with 5 other elite pitchers since that date.
Ivdown might be right. Kershaw could sneak onto the all-star squad. Two more solid outings and wins would give him a 9-3 record with an ERA around 2.50.
by Michael White on Jun 17, 2010 8:06 AM PDT up reply actions
Damn right I might be right :)
"You're the only woman to ever love me." "I never loved you." "I meant physically!"
Jon Heyman on May 4th
kershaw may be regressing faster than billingsley. not sure. close competition. #howcanbradpennybebetterthanboth?
by regfairfield on Jun 17, 2010 8:26 AM PDT up reply actions
I like to think he’ll be remembered for hitting a grand slam in his final AB
by Eric Stephen on Jun 17, 2010 8:31 AM PDT up reply actions
I believe during the doubleheader with the Mets, when trash blew onto the field I tweeted something like this:
That’s not garbage blowing onto Citi Field, that’s the Dodgers
by Eric Stephen on Jun 17, 2010 8:28 AM PDT up reply actions
That is the problem with twitter
flip comments like that come back to haunt you. It would be like holding people accountable for the stupid things we say on game threads.
Going into the game Kershaw had a 3.07 ERA. It’s a bad comment on so many levels.
by regfairfield on Jun 17, 2010 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions
Did I miss this discussion?
Green has opted out of his minor league contract and is now a free agent, DodgerThoughts.com reports.
I guess when they chose Hu over Green he said good bye or did he make this decision the day before Rafy took leave?
So
bad timing on his part or did they let him know that Hu would get the call the next time they needed an infielder?
No idea, but he hadn’t played since Monday. My guess is that was a timing issue, that he had to opt out by a certain date
by Eric Stephen on Jun 17, 2010 8:39 AM PDT up reply actions
Maybe Green got some wind from the Angels
MLBTR says they might need a shortstop after what happened to Aybar.
by Tommy Blackjack on Jun 17, 2010 8:52 AM PDT up reply actions
I think it would benefit the Dodgers more if he were to go there.
by robotmadeofnails on Jun 17, 2010 8:55 AM PDT up reply actions
Possible
they brought up Brandon Woods and moved him back to his original position for last nights game.
I thought it was curious
the last time they took Green over Hu it was worth a bazillion comments about how stupid Ned is, but when he does choose Hu over Green not one comment.
So here is that comment.
Good decision Ned.
Update at DT
Furcal went to the Dominican Republic to see an ailing family member.
by Tommy Blackjack on Jun 17, 2010 8:43 AM PDT reply actions
Anyone surprised
the Giants are the best defensive team in the league considering they start the likes of Huff, Pablo, Renteria? Just seemed like to old a team to dominate the UZR like they have.
Things I did not know
Miguel Cairo has started seven games at 1B this season for the Reds.
In spring training, I asked Joe Torre about Ronnie Belliard playing first base, and it got him to talking about middle infielders playing first base. He said that, outside of the top 1B like Keith Hernandez and a few others, Miguel Cairo was the best defensive first basemen he had ever seen.
Rubber chicken...
Scott Rolen’s comments about yesterday’s ejection are the funniest offering by a Reds 3rd baseman since Chris Sabo and his wonder-goggles!
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 Jun 17, 2010 9:03 AM PDT reply actions
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