Dodgers welcome Braves to town for opening game of 4 game series
by Michael White on Jun 3, 2010 3:42 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Previews
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The Dodgers and Braves kick off a 4 game set today at 7 p.m at Dodger Stadium. As pointed out in the series preview, the former division rivals have had a remarkably similar season so far, and both are the hottest teams in the National League. The Braves have won their last 8 games coming into tonight where Hiroki Kuroda squares off against Kris Medlen. Medlen, who as Vin would say is a local boy as he attended Gahr High School in Cerritos, started out the year in the bullpen but has been pushed into the rotation as of late. In his 4 starts as a starter, his ERA has been solid enough at 3.22 and is 1-0, but his peripherals have suffered a bit. His FIP is 4.42, his K/BB ratio dropped to 2.50 from 5.67 and his OPS against is .917 compared to .566. He's averaging just under 6 innings per start out of the bullpen.
Hiroki Kuroda on the other hand is coming off his worst start of the year. Last week in Colorado, Kuroda surrendered 7 runs (5 earned) in only 4 innings of work. The Game Score of 18 was tied for the second worst of his career. Hopefully a return home to Los Angeles will result in a better performance today from Kuroda, but he's unfortunate to not get to pitch in the last 3 days as the Braves don't figure to get shut down like the Diamondbacks did.
Notes:
- Vicente Padilla is scheduled to throw a rehab start tonight with Inland Empire. Padilla is scheduled to throw around 45-50 pitches.
- The two managers facing each other this series in Bobby Cox and Joe Torre have combined for 4,721 wins. Cox and Torre rank 4th and 5th in all time wins respectively.
- The Dodgers and the Braves have played each other plenty throughout baseball history, as both were in the NL West until the 1990's. The Dodgers lead the all time series 1,154 to 1,006.
- The Dodgers have not won a season series against Atlanta since 2002. The Dodgers were 3-4 against the Braves last season.
- And it's that time of the year. The time of year where our game threads are populated with folks who have no rooting interest in a certain basketball game going on tonight. As a representative of the strong Clipper fan contingent of TBLA, there's always next year.
Get your guess in for todays simulation game here.
Game Time: 7:10 p.m
TV: KCAL
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Medlen has one of the best 5 changeups in baseball. It’s filthy. He does struggle with command and gets in trouble with high pitch counts at times though.
Braves lineup for you fine folks:
Prado
Infante (no Chipper)
Heyward
McCann
Glaus
Hinske
Escobar
McLouth
Medlen
"(Jason Heyward) is like the Grim Reaper -- You know he's gonna get you, you just never know when or where."
by Scott Coleman on Jun 3, 2010 3:48 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Medlen is a real solid pitcher
I remember him doing work on us last year I cant wait to see Heyward play, this will be the 1st game of his I will see this year from front to start
by SeanMillerSavior on Jun 3, 2010 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Young pitcher, struggling with command, high pitch counts
we are unfamiliar with that scenario
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
we are?
Perhaps you should check out this pitcher the dodgers have, lots of potential, goes by the name of Kershaw/Billingsley/Elbert/every pitcher we have not named ely/kuroda?
Rudimentary creatures of flesh and blood, you touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding.
Too Incredibly Crafty?
"You're the only woman to ever love me." "I never loved you." "I meant physically!"
Tongue Planted Firmly in Cheek
to which i must say so was my comment. So there.
Rudimentary creatures of flesh and blood, you touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding.
Jon Weisman has the Dodger lineup:
Furcal SS
Kemp CF
Ethier RF
Ramirez LF
Loney 1B
Blake 3B
Martin C
DeWitt 2B
Kuroda P
Heres hoping Ethier hits 4 home runs
that should put him back atop the triple crown board
Rudimentary creatures of flesh and blood, you touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding.
My nephew's going to the game wearing a Jackie Robinson jersey
if you see him, say hi…tks
You all occupy a world dominated by Kobe Bryant, consider yourself fortunate.
Tell him good luck getting to the game
I imagine downtown would be in a fever pitch right now…
Everyone needs to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer.
No doubt
and right now they are at the Staples Center to view the scene before the game…my brother better attach a chopper to his trailblazer to make it to Chavez Ravine.
You all occupy a world dominated by Kobe Bryant, consider yourself fortunate.
Tell him to not take the 10
Unless he likes going 3 miles in an entire hour. Fuck the 10.
"You're the only woman to ever love me." "I never loved you." "I meant physically!"
Take surface streets, go through Chinatown.
Or, drive to Union Station and take the shuttle, let someone else navigate.
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Jun 3, 2010 4:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Thanks for the tips
Go Dodgers & Lakers woohooo!!!
You all occupy a world dominated by Kobe Bryant, consider yourself fortunate.
JW shines
http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/dodger-thoughts/post/_/id/5436/resurgent
I’ll remember this month the next time panic grips Dodger fans in late April.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
He's so good.
And he’s absolutely correct.
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
Jeff Shaw is throwing out the first pitch tonight
I remember him saving like 40 games for us one year then I don’t ever remember seeing him again. Did he retire right after, thus making it a tremendous trade of Paul Konerko for Jeff Shaw?
"You're the only woman to ever love me." "I never loved you." "I meant physically!"
Tripon and I will dance on your graves
when Haeger knuckles his way to Dodger history
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Welcome back Charlie
hopefully you will not be needed over the next four games.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
aw man
I knew it was coming but kinda a bummer. Schlichting was good. Charlie not so much. I have hope though.
Probably depends on (a) the blisters on the right hand of Carlos Monasterios; (b) the workload by Haeger, if any, over this four-game series. Mostly (a) though IMO, at least for Monday’s start.
I had never seen ze German before last night....meaning I didin't remember what he looked like
from last year. He looked good. I was impressed with him. Hope he gets another look, sooner than later.
Ah, maybe that's who I was thinking of.
And, man, you’re fast.
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Jun 3, 2010 4:57 PM PDT up reply actions
How soon can Schlichting be recalled?
Rudimentary creatures of flesh and blood, you touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding.
Haeger was seen limping Sunday Morning by Eric Stephen in the dugout
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I was messing around on fangraphs.com and using the new WAR graph tool
http://www.fangraphs.com/graphsw.aspx?playerid2=432&playerid3=1177&playerid4=210&playerid5=455
I chose Pujols, Walker, Helton, and Manny.
Besides Pujols, Walker, Helton, and Manny’s 7th best seasons are all worth almost exactly the same WAR. Thought that was kinda cool.
"You're the only woman to ever love me." "I never loved you." "I meant physically!"
Vinny will be sad
I’d love for him to recite the Swen Nater poem in his memory.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Right, still hope there...I hope
Coach will be missed though, very sad he’s lived a great life though.
You all occupy a world dominated by Kobe Bryant, consider yourself fortunate.
Where are you getting that from
all I see is hospitalized in grave condition
Look at that, he hit the f*cking bull! Guy gets a free steak!
Thought he was going to live forever
Swen Nater
Yonder
Once I was afraid of dying,
Terrified of ever-lying,
Petrified of leaving family, home and friends.
Thoughts of absence from my dear ones,
Drew a melancholy tear once,
And a lonely, dreadful fear of when life ends.
But those days are long behind me;
Fear of leaving does not bind me,
And departure does not host a single care.
Peace does comfort as I ponder,
A reunion in the Yonder,
With my dearest who are waiting over there.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
FYI
George Sherrill is eligible to come off the DL on June 8, which is next Tuesday. In addition to pitching in San Bernardino tonght, he will likely throw another rehab game this weekend as well.
I have to say
the way this whole Jim Joyce / Armando Galarraga thing has played out has been really wonderful. Pretty much every party involved has handled themselves with tremendous class. There has been quite a bit of faith restored in humanity with this episode.
Except the guy who twittered that Joyce had a Japanese car
Classless…
Everyone needs to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer.
Roger that
Armando Galarraga is a good guy. That should be remembered.
Have to feel bad for JJ. I know he is disgusted.
Good call, Eric
Agreed
It is really sad to hear that Joyce’s family has been harassed over it. People are stupid.
by robotmadeofnails on Jun 3, 2010 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions
While Eric had his faith in humanity restored by two individuals
the whole of humanity sucked with how serious they took this. People are stupid seems to be such an understatement.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Some were taking it a little too far
I understand being disappointed, but some were on here calling for the guy to be fired. It was a little over the top.
It was more than two individuals
Galarraga was great; Joyce was great; Leyland was great. Even Cabrera patted Joyce on his was to first base today. The vast majority of fans in the stands in Detroit cheered for Joyce (a few booed)
Yup when they had a day to sleep on it
They all realized how over the top their reactions were… Good to see…
Everyone needs to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer.
This whole thing is playing out
like one of those “Kindness: pass it on” commercials.
“I touched the ball before it went out, coach.”
…
“It’s the championship GAME!”
I for one was tired
of the perfect games. When I got my wife to watch Braden’s game, I explained how special it was. By the third time she was asking if it is so special why is this future fungible pitcher doing it and I had no answer.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
that should have given you the opportunity to bring up Len Barker and/or Mike Witt. And if talking about Len Barker doesn’t turn a woman on, I don’t know what does!
Yeah
but that leaves the whole who cares if fungible bob throws a perfect game. If Don Dumwiddy can do it, then maybe we should quit making out like it is a big deal.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Agreed
It was understated. The blog post I saw referenced by BT about this was great
http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2010/06/03/127404090/another-not-so-perfect-game
I loved this paragraph:
“Mostly, I’m sympathetic to Galarraga — more so because he reacted so beautifully. The little smile is utterly charming. (And, of course, to Jim Joyce, who is currently being subjected to the kind of preposterous scrutiny that can only be applied by people who know they’ll never experience it.)”
by robotmadeofnails on Jun 3, 2010 4:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Kind of OT:
What’s up with right handed junkballers being successful this year. Between Ely, Mike Leake, Livan, Shawn Marcum, and Doug Fister we’re seeing a class of pitcher that never works actually get results. Small sample, or something else?
steroids are completely gone
year of the pitcher…
someone wrote a fanpost to something similar to this on minorleagueball.com
Yeah because steroids
really helped hitters smack around the soft tossers.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Who is to say for sure?
"You're the only woman to ever love me." "I never loved you." "I meant physically!"
I almost expect a big game from him tonight
To send a message… Kind of like Game 1 last year…
Everyone needs to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer.
Your Southern friendliness are table setters
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Pizza Hut
cuts me a deal, because I buy about 40 per month. I buy the employees pizza 2x per month. I get it for about 5 bucks delivered.
I would rather have sandwiches
But they would revolt!
I cooked them hamburgers and hot dogs on Monday afternoon. They devour food by the truck load!
I prefer none of them!
Well, I haven’t been to dominoes in a while.Theres just no flavor to those places.
Rudimentary creatures of flesh and blood, you touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding.
heck
Even pizza from most non chain pizza stores is better then Pizza Hut or Dominoes. As for from a proper restaurant, there is a place in long beach called Dominicoes that has the best ground pepperoni pizza. mmmmmmmmmm
Rudimentary creatures of flesh and blood, you touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding.
If you’re ever in San Gabriel, I would soooo recommend a place called Petrillo’s. They cut their slices in squares and they’re incredible!
I love pizza in squares
Rudimentary creatures of flesh and blood, you touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding.
I've been going there since I was a wee little tyke
my mom grew up in Long Beach and she has been going there since she was a tyke.
Rudimentary creatures of flesh and blood, you touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding.
You prefer Dominos?
Do you also happen to hate freedom?
Actually, I don’t mind the thin crust from Dominos. But I’d rather eat something else…if I’m eating pizza.
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
If given the choice between that or Pizza Hut, then yes, I prefer that. My last PH experience, was, shall we say, disappointing.
I think they single-handedly contributed to my amazing weight gain.
Stuffed crust pizza is evil. Yet strangely delicious.
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
Yeah.
I just happen to love cheese. So it’s a problem now that a good friend of mine works at the Artisan Cheese Gallry in Studio City. I have to force myself not to visit.
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
It's evil in the sense that it entices you until you get it and it fattens you up
but heavenly because of the taste.
"You're the only woman to ever love me." "I never loved you." "I meant physically!"
I'll be here...
by the 3rd inning. I have kickboxing until 7:15.
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
I had to become less of a fat kid somehow
as it turns out, hitting things was a natural solution.
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
I recommend it.
Boxing is insane.
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
Absolutely not.
Then I wouldn’t be able to have Triple C. My life would have no meaning.
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
What kind of green sludge are we talking here?
Superfood smoothies?
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
The Ultimate Meal. Supposedly you could eat nothing but that the rest of your life and be the healthiest human alive.
I’m not sure how I feel about that. You’ll have to send me a list of ingredients.
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
It shouldn't matter
Sometimes one just needs to eat a slab of steak. Millions of years of evolution later and we still have canine teeth for ripping animal flesh. I like to keep mine in practice now and then.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
I'd make some comment about loving meat
but I’m not Chan Ho-ing another pitch for Reg here.
I agree. I love steak. And chicken. And fish. Mmmm. Animals.
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
Don’t get me wrong so do I. I’ve seen all the benefits from switching over but it all comes back to the meat is good problem.
Fortunately, I like plants too
I don’t eat meat every day (but when I do, I prefer steak), and usually only at dinner. The key is balance and proportion, like it is with so many other things.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
I can say expensive
Rudimentary creatures of flesh and blood, you touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding.
Crazy expensive
The only thing I thought was worth the cost was the dessert .. .which is downright delicious, but the other parts of the meal .. . meh
by SeanMillerSavior on Jun 3, 2010 5:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Question (if anyone even checks this after yesterday)
About how expensive is it and how soon in advance do you have to get reservations?
"You're the only woman to ever love me." "I never loved you." "I meant physically!"
Very easy to go $50/person
I imagine reservations lead time depends on the location and the size of your group.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Jon Weisman dodgerthoughts
Casey Blake scratched with back spasms. Jamey Carroll playing third base for Dodgers tonight, batting eighth.
Please have
Mr. Blake leave beard trimming in the dug out.
I am working for 3 more hours and 26 minutes.
I have to work 9 hours on Sunday and I am on vacation until June 16th
I am keyed!!!!!!!!!!!
what do you do?
especially since you pay your people in pizza?
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
I do non-profit fundraising
for Special Olympics and MADD
by keithc13 on Jun 3, 2010 5:41 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
That's really cool!!
Awesome.
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
Every Sunday for the last 13 years.
With the occasional day off on Sunday for football.
Also, if a holiday falls on a Monday (Memorial Day, Labor Day), we take off on Sunday’s and work the actual holiday.
It isn’t one of the perks.
I don't work Sundays now
but I definitely did in high school. Friday night, Saturday morning, Sunday morning. Brutal.
They say to never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious.
Coach Wooden would not approve of our comments section on at least two counts
Wooden was acclaimed for the values he espoused. He had three rules for his players — don’t use profanity, be on time and never criticize a teammate.
The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Jun 3, 2010 5:50 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
It's like a ghost town around here all of the sudden
You would think something big was happening in LA right now…. :-)
Sherrill
Is going to also rehab this weekend in ABQ.
Oh yeah, fuck Boston
by Eric Stephen on Jun 3, 2010 6:15 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Especially if the Lakers win this series but at least if they continue to play physically
I hope we will hear less and less of that nonsense about “East Coast basketball” being the more physical and yadda yadda. Western conference was brutal anyway and the Lakers are definitely less soft than they were 2 years ago (when they had no Bynum or Artest).
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Artest vs. Pierce
is going to be a fantastic matchup.
Yeah I haven't seen that kind of floppy dive (from Pierce)
since the last Italian soccer game I watched.
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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