Dodgers Having Problems When Staying Regular
by Eric Stephen on Sep 21, 2010 3:00 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Previews
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PrintThe Dodgers look to postpone their elimination for one more night tonight as they face the Padres. It may be out of their hands however, as they will be eliminated with either a loss, or a win by either the Giants or Rockies.
When the bulk of minor league call-ups happened on September 6, it was understood that, because the Dodgers still had several games against teams still in the playoff chase, manager Joe Torre would not make wholesale changes to the lineup, and field a competitive team. It's a fine thought, in theory. But, when your regulars are stinking up the joint, it becomes a problem. The Dodgers have played nine games against NL West contenders since September 6, and are 2-7 during that span.
Here are some stats for the starters in those nine games:
| Player |
PA |
HR |
R |
RBI |
BA/OBP/SLG |
OPS |
| Ethier |
31 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
.250/.419/.500 |
.919 |
| Kemp |
37 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
.257/.297/.457 |
.754 |
| Furcal |
36 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
.242/.306/.333 |
.639 |
| Gibbons |
24 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
.217/.250/.261 |
.511 |
| Loney |
30 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
.167/.167/.200 |
.367 |
| Theriot |
34 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
.133/.212/.133 |
.345 |
| Blake |
33 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
.094/.121/.094 |
.215 |
That's not a lot of production from the regulars. Then again, Russ Mitchell, John Lindsey, and Trent Oeltjen are a combined 5-for-40, so perhaps it doesn't matter which players start.
Chad Billingsley has made four starts this season against the Padres. In his first two starts, he didn't give up any runs, and picked up the win each time. In his last two, the Dodgers didn't score any runs, and he was hung with the loss each time. Billingsley has a 2.55 ERA in those four starts against San Diego, but his 2-2 record has been fueled in part by the fact that the Dodgers have scored a total of three runs in those four games.
In his career, Billingsley is 9-6 with a 2.70 ERA in 18 starts against the Padres. Adrian Gonzalez is 11-for-45 in his career against Billingsley, hitting .245/.364/.311. Yorvit Torrealba is 8-for-22 with a home run off Billingsley, hitting .364/.440/.500.
Clayton Richard has faced the Dodgers twice this season, and won both games. He allowed one run in six innings in San Diego on July 28, then got the win allowing four runs in 5 1/3 innings at Dodger Stadium five days later.
Get your guesses in for Xeifrank's simulation contest here.
Game Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV: KCAL
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It’s so awesome.
I remember a picture years ago of Braun trying to catch a fly ball. The picture showed the ball going past his glove with his eyes closed. It was glorious.
by Michael White on Sep 21, 2010 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions
After the first inning bad play (ruled a hit) by Gibbons, I tweeted that Jay Gibbons was probably the worst fielder I have ever seen.
Then one inning later, this play happened, and Poseidon’s Fist retweeted with “are you an inning ahead of me?” I thought that was funny.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 21, 2010 3:14 PM PDT up reply actions
looks like Spring Training. Must’ve forgotten to put his shades on, got blinded by the Arizona or Florida sun
by Josie Becker on Sep 21, 2010 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions
nope
listened to it on radio while watching…no that was Sunday… what on earth did I do Saturday?
by Josie Becker on Sep 21, 2010 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions
I turned it on
saw it was 6 – 0, checked TBLA and saw I was about to watch another six run inning. Once I found out it was Weaver who got whacked, I lost interest, though I would have liked to have seen Russ Mitchell’s first hit.
Padres lineup
Venable CF
Eckstein 2B
Tejada SS
Gonzalez 1B
Ludwick RF
Torrealba C
Headley 3B
Denorfia LF
Richard P
Has anyone seen the show
“Behind the Seams” or “Beyond the Seams” on MLB Network?
It is an hour long show about the change in ideals as it pertains to the pitching staff and bullpen.
Very good show.
I think I forgot to record it the other day
by Eric Stephen on Sep 21, 2010 3:46 PM PDT up reply actions
It was all of the older players saying that they had it harder (Goose Gossage, Rollie FIngers etc). It talked about pitch counts and the effect they have on players, both good and bad. The development of the bullpen in that if your best pitcher is in the pen (Eckersley was the best example), would you want him to pitch 2 or 3 innings at a time 2x per week? Or have him get 3 outs 3-5 times per week?
Good show.
Wait wait wait talk about pitch counts that’s not just today’s pitchers are pussies?
Is this…good sports journalism?
by regfairfield on Sep 21, 2010 3:58 PM PDT up reply actions
all of the guys made it clear that guys don’t get hurt or don’t throw 30 CG’s per year because they are pussies. It is a culture thing and an investment principle that leads to this.
Shocker, I know.
Right, but they had counter points to old guys talking about how they were real men since they could get Bump Willis out four times a game, right?
by regfairfield on Sep 21, 2010 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions
“I’d have to come in sometimes in the 5th inning and get us out of a bases loaded situation and be expected to pitch the 6-9th innings.”
A lot of that talk
True
check out the innings that Goose threw as a closer. Check out Mike Marshall. Eck was the beginning of the pussy brigade of closers.
Dodgers Lineup
Furcal SS
Carroll 2B
Ethier RF
Kemp CF
Blake 3B
Loney 1B
Johnson LF
Ellis C
Billingsley P
Never saw him play. The year I found basketball he retired early in the season and that team caught fire the rest of the way.
by KellyStephen on Sep 21, 2010 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions
That would have been special. I love watching some of the old footage of him.
So does Sterling, I presume.
by KellyStephen on Sep 21, 2010 4:09 PM PDT up reply actions
Ditto
exact same year. I knew the Lakers before that but that was the first season I was able to watch them play. West, Goodrich, McMillan, Hairston, Wilt, starting five ingrained in my brain since I pretended to be all of them at one point of my basketball games with myself on my neighbors eight foot basket. I may have missed plenty of shots but dammit I got every fucking rebound:)
I may have missed plenty of shots but dammit I got every fucking rebound:)
So you were mostly Wilt then?
"Remember, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Except for herpes. That shit'll come back with you."
Wilt shot an NBA-best 64.9% in 1971-1972, and he set an NBA record by shooting 72.7% one year later :)
by Eric Stephen on Sep 21, 2010 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions
When you play by yourself (on a basketball court)
you are everyone. I’d make sure Happy got his share. That was the only thing he did. Someone had to go to the board while Wilt was making time with the skirts.
I hear ya. Man it sucked when he was our best player.
by KellyStephen on Sep 21, 2010 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions
I loved Butler. I’m always willing to accept former Giants, who have come to the conclusion that they should be on the right side of the fence.
But, if you leave the Dodgers for the Giants, fuck you. I’m looking at you, Duke Snider.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 21, 2010 4:09 PM PDT up reply actions
But, if you leave the Dodgers for the Giants, fuck you.
This, above ALL else, is why I love Jackie Robinson.
"Remember, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Except for herpes. That shit'll come back with you."
I always felt the same way. I can’t remember where I read this earlier in the year, but supposedly Jackie had already decided to retire because he was hurt. The Dodgers traded them and that just sealed the deal.
But I’ll go w/the urban legend (if it’s not true) anyway; I love that story.
by KellyStephen on Sep 21, 2010 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Jon Weisman’s book “100 Things…” has the full story.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 21, 2010 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Maybe that’s where I read it. Some dude gave that to me last year.
by KellyStephen on Sep 21, 2010 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh yeah, I remember back then when he had so many options as a free agent and went with the Giants.
Duke gets a pass from me. He had no options at a time when players still got side jobs in the winter.
Orel, however? Fuck him. Fuck him. I do it myself.
by KellyStephen on Sep 21, 2010 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Agreed on Orel, and Duke was technically sold, so I’ll go easy on him.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 21, 2010 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions
My uncles tell me that when the 3 were in NY, there were many who felt Duke was better than either Mays or Mantle. Amazing, given what Mays did in his career and the raw talent of Mantle.
by KellyStephen on Sep 21, 2010 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah. If you pin my Dad down, he will concede that Duke wasn’t as good as Mays. But he thinks he was every bit as good as Mantle.
I doubt it, but whatever. I don’t want to get slapped in the back of the head for arguing with him.
For some reason
I think Mantle gets slighted in that argument, I think Bill James did a comparison where at their peak, Mantle was better than Mays but Mays had the better career (mainly because Mantle was hurt and he drank).
The Duke was great but does not compare with those 2
That’s pretty much the concensus that I always hear. That must have been a wonderful time to be a baseball fan in New York.
by KellyStephen on Sep 21, 2010 4:19 PM PDT up reply actions
I have a friend that just turned 30. His Dad is, no shit, 85. He lived in PA and WV for the first 40 years of his life. He tells me stories about Mantle all the time. He saw him play live like 235 times. He has every ticket stub from every game he has ever been to.
Neat ass old man. Good Gosh does he know a lot about the Yankees.
Yeah, Mantle, despite being drunk most of the time is at worst one of the 15 best players ever and depending on how you want to rank these things is in the top three. Snider was great, but no where near Mantle.
by regfairfield on Sep 21, 2010 4:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Crazy talk
Mantle and Mays have a case for being the best ever. Funny thing about Mantle is that as good as he was, Stengel was never satisfied with what he got. And he may have been right based on what we know about how Mantle took care of himself during the season.
I would loved to have seen the physical specimen of Mickey Mantle before he hurt his legs. Word was he was the fastest runner in baseball. Oklahoma strong.
Whitey Ford and Billy Martin and him out every night. 2 of the 3 HOF’ers. Amazing.
by KellyStephen on Sep 21, 2010 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions
and the other one being perhaps the craziest and/or toughest SOB of all-time.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 21, 2010 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions
I said Martin, not Bowa.
And Ty Cobb scoffs at “toughest” and “SOB”.
by KellyStephen on Sep 21, 2010 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions
And it's not the way I want to do it
but I love the way Martin went out. Drunk, in a ditch.
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man
Probably better than the old rock star staple, choking on your own vomit.
by KellyStephen on Sep 21, 2010 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions
The old joke
When I go I want to go in my sleep like my father. Not screaming in terror like his passengers.
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man
by mleadman on Sep 21, 2010 4:32 PM PDT up reply actions 4 recs
To last as long as he did putting his liver through that much makes him the toughest
by Eric Stephen on Sep 21, 2010 4:30 PM PDT up reply actions
A man that drinks like that and don’t eat is going to die!
by KellyStephen on Sep 21, 2010 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions
If he was really tough
he would have just died and not taken a good liver from someone else who might have lived with it. JMO but people who have destroyed their liver on their own should really be behind the people who simply need a new liver because God made them incomplete and it is our duty to make them whole again to cover up his mistakes. The dude is old and we have to help out.
I’m talking about Billy Martin, not Mickey Mantle BTW
by Eric Stephen on Sep 21, 2010 4:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh
My point still stands. Then I disagree with Marty, he was probably one of the toughest dudes to ever play the game after integration.
Billy Martin
would be very interesting in 2011 playing baseball. He’d be pretty bored with how they go about things these days.
I wore mine out this year. Need a couple more t’s and it might be time for a new lid. May go for the mock turtle tshirt w/the interlocking LA in white on the collar.
by KellyStephen on Sep 21, 2010 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Might get a Kemp tshirt too. (My oldest daughter has one.)
Let me know when you wear it around here so we can watch each others’ back. No telling what may happen to us given how the torches-and-pitchforks crowd gets some games.
by KellyStephen on Sep 21, 2010 4:16 PM PDT up reply actions
So Dan Beebe said they’d land $30 to $40 mil from Nebraska and CU leaving.
They just ended up on $6.8 mil for CU to leave this year, and $9.25 from NU to leave this year.
12 games left
Chad 2 or 3 (I wonder if Chad will get pushed back to start one of games next week against Colorado)
Kershaw 2,
Chad
Lilly
Kuroda
Kershaw – Friday (move up)
Ely
Somebody else (bullpen day)
Chad
Lilly
Kershaw
Kuroda (start at home)
Chad Start Saturday game
Lilly start finale
#
# JIM BOWDEN JimBowdenXMFOX
Reliable Source: Kevin Towers to be offered GM position of Diamondbacks & could be announced as early as tomorrow:trying to get confirmation
Outside of I think Seattle maybe asking for permission to interview him
and San Diego refused, he has not been considered for any other top jobs.
BH, are you at the trial?
and if so, do you have a work angle, or just going on your own?
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man
Nope
just reading tweets plus using my own experience of working cases in that courthouse. I did go for half a day, that was enough
Which building is it in?
Not the OJ trial building I’m guessing
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man
dodger thoughts
All the “I told you so”-ing from the people who KNEW “Lone Star” would flop is nauseating. Saw almost no doomsday predictions before Monday. 15 minutes ago via HootSuite
anyone see Lone Star? How bad was it? I watched Chuck instead since I love goofy spy shows.
Sepinwall talked about it on the Simmons podcast
Said the pilot was probably the best network pilot of any new show, but that there’s no chance they can sustain a whole season on their current premise.
Jamie or Frank?
"Remember, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Except for herpes. That shit'll come back with you."
Has anyone seen King of Kong?
if so: http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlesports/archives/222122.asp
if not: you really should.
Red Man > Copenhagen
"Remember, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Except for herpes. That shit'll come back with you."
I only knew a couple guys who did that
and they carried a cup around with them constantly. One guy used to spit into it in a data center where I worked. I wanted to get him fired.
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man
Although it’s hard finding Copenhagen films.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 21, 2010 4:47 PM PDT up reply actions
OT, but always On Topic
Anna Kournikova
http://sports.yahoo.com/tennis/blog/busted_racquet/post/Seven-years-after-retirement-Anna-Kournikova-st?urn=ten-271288
"Remember, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Except for herpes. That shit'll come back with you."
Since she never won anything
it would be appropriate for this team
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man
Quick TV question
I noticed the new season started last night but Big Bang was on on the Monday night schedule. Has it been moved or is it just starting late?
Really
I got two words for you: Learn to Fucking Record
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man
Ah
never saw it.
Was Buscemi’s show any good on Sunday Night? Can’t imagine his agent said, cash cow when he walked into his office, but what a career he’s had.
Are you gonna bite little doggie?
Or are you gonna just bark?
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man
it was a very promising debut in my opinion. I rarely watch TV besides sports, but I’ll stick with this one.
If you get a chance check out the movie he directed, Trees Lounge. Definitely not for everyone but it’s worth checking out.
It’s okay. I saw it when it first came out and don’t really remember it. I do remember what his deal was and it is certainly not for everyone.
We can come full circle
Buscemi had a very small but important role in Miller’s Crossing
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man
One of my favorite books
But Robert Urich sort of ruined it for me. He’s like a poor man’s Nicholas Cage to me.
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man
Torre: “I had no intention of making people believe I wanted to manage the #Mets.”
Torre: “I’m closing the door on managing the #Mets — and probably everybody else.”
Torre: “I would doubt very seriously if there would be anything that would entice me to manage again.”
he should leave the Dodgers and not manage anymore
he could easily blame the McCourts and the internal problems for this lackluster season (rather than his managing)
I think this year
was a joint effort between all involved, similarly when they win, its a joint effort.
I’m hearing Pat Gillick might want to GM again. Would anyone fire Ned for him? It’s probably not ideal b/c of his age.
I can’t really think of anything good he did with the Phils except win with players that were there when he got there.
Then again he realized Jayson Werth was good and we didn’t, so why not?
by regfairfield on Sep 21, 2010 6:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Again largely work that was done by other people/luck. The most significant pieces he added were Cameron (by being forced to trade Griffey) Ichiro (who got handed to him) and Boone who “somehow” had a 9 WAR jump after he acquired him. (That’s got to be the biggest single season improvement ever, right?)
I’m not saying he’d be worse than Ned, but he’s certainly not a miracle worker.
by regfairfield on Sep 21, 2010 6:44 PM PDT up reply actions
So
Found even more pictures on phones today at work while fixing them…be careful with what you have on your phones, lol.
I skimmed through this and the last thread and didn’t see any references to me or jokes at my expense…I was a little hurt :( lol
I can’t wait for Friday, thank goodness it’s…Tuesday? Shit.
"If we hit that bull's eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate"
Pictures like
Dirty pictures they take of themselves. I’ve seen a few phones where people have pictures of models and stuff like that, but that’s nowhere near as bad as having the other kind on there, lol.
"If we hit that bull's eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate"
You could not be a dick and look at not look at peoples photos. Also an option.
by regfairfield on Sep 21, 2010 6:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Duke Snider should have thought of that :)
by Eric Stephen on Sep 21, 2010 6:30 PM PDT up reply actions
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