Broxton, Carroll Fail To Reel In Dead Marlins
by Eric Stephen on Apr 25, 2011 7:59 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Recaps
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PrintThe Marlins scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning off Jonathan Broxton, delivering the Dodgers a crushing 5-4 loss in the opener of the three-game series in Miami. Broxton gets the loss, and he earned it, but the worst part about the loss was that the Marlins were just trying to give this game away. However, keeping with the fishing theme, the Dodgers gave it back.
Broxton retired the first two batters of the ninth inning with a 4-3 lead, and rather than use their best player, Hanley Ramirez, to pinch hit, manager Edwin Rodriguez chose to let Emilio Bonifacio bat. Ramirez is in a 2-for-27 slump and didn't start tonight, but when given the choice to face Bonifacio or Ramirez to try to end the game, every pitcher in baseball would choose Bonifacio. Rodriguez made that choice, and Broxton rendered it moot by walking Bonifacio. That gave Ramirez a chance to bat, and he singled, putting runners on first and third base with two outs.
Then, Broxton lived up to his modus operandi by being shaky yet getting the job done, as Scott Cousins grounded to shortstop to end the game...only this time the game didn't end. The ball off the bat of Cousins went right under the glove of Jamey Carroll, which allowed the tying run to score and the winning run to advance to third base.
After the error by Carroll and an intentional walk to Chris Coghlan, who homered twice tonight, Broxton gave up a line drive off the bat of Omar Infante that sailed over the head of Jerry Sands in left. It was a bit of sweet redemption for Infante, who could have been the goat.
Broxton might not have had a save situation at all if it weren't for Infante, who had an eighth inning to forget for Florida. After Scott Cousins and Coghlan greeted Vicente Padilla with a walk and single, respectively, Infante tried to sacrifice both runners up on base. His bunt was poor, a grounder right to Padilla, who retired the lead runner at third base. Then, Gaby Sanchez hit a single to center to score Coghlan to cut the lead to 4-3, a single that likely would have tied the score had Infante's bunt been a good one. Then, with one out and Infante on second base, Mike Stanton flied out to centerfielder Matt Kemp, who fired a perfect strike to Aaron Miles to nab Infante, who was trying to tag on the play.
The bad ending for the Dodgers marred another terrific start by Jon Garland. Garland allowed just two runs on four hits in seven strong innings, and left with a 4-2 lead. The only two runs allowed by Garland came off the bat of Coghlan, who hit solo home runs in the third and sixth inning.
Barajas OK
Rod Barajas appeared to injure his leg running to first base in the seventh inning after striking out on a wild pitch by Ricky Nolasco. Barajas was removed for pinch runner Tony Gwynn Jr. with a 2-1 count on the next batter, Ivan DeJesus Jr., a rare occurrence of a pinch runner coming in mid-batter. The good news is that before the bottom of the eighth inning, Barajas came out to catch Padilla's warm up pitches (per Tony Jackson of ESPN LA), while Dioner Navarro was busy putting on his catching gear (after grounding into a double play). Then, after the game, Don Mattingly told reporters that the decision to pinch run was for strategic purposes only.
The Streak Continues
Andre Ethier wasted no time extending his hitting streak, singling with two outs in the first inning to extend his streak to 22 games. He tied Joe Torre (1972) for the longest-ever hitting streak in April in MLB history, and has the longest hitting streak at any point in the season by a Dodger since Nomar Garciparra in 2006. The next longest hitting streak by a Dodger was Brett Butler, who hit in 23 straight in 1991.
Notes
- Sands had three hits, including his third double, and drove in the first Dodger run. Judging from Charley Steiner's call of Sands' double, in the top of the sixth inning, it appeared close to being Sands' first home run, but alas, that was not the case.
- Speaking of near home runs, Kemp hit a rocket off the left field wall in the eighth inning for a leadoff double. Two batters later, Kemp scored on a ground ball single through the drawn-in infield off the bat of James Loney
- Carroll did have a solid game at the plate, collecting two hits, including the go-ahead RBI single in the top of the seventh.
- DeJesus, off the back of a milk carton into your box score, made his first start since April 2, and collected two hits, scoring once.
- Hong-Chih Kuo is pitching tonight, and tomorrow, for Class A Rancho Cucamonga. You can listen to the game, currently playing, here.
- Clayton Kershaw faces Chris Volstad in tomorrow night's game
WP - Brian Sanches (3-0): 3 up, 3 down
LP - Jonathan Broxton (1-1): 2/3 IP, 2 hits, 2 unearned runs, 2 walks, 1 strikeout
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Dead Marlins?
Pullin’ no punches there, are ya? Heheh
They were dead
just like the Dodgers were dead as James Loney’s fly ball was heading toward Matt Holliday in LF.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 25, 2011 8:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Dodgers can still take this series
with that said, they still need to address the closer situation once and for all. That’s really that’s holding them back in the division right now.
With a one run lead
He walked a guy who was trying to walk, has no power, great speed, then made a bad pitch to a horribly struggling hanley
you can certainly put this one partially on him. Sure, the error wasnt his but when you constantly put runners on and rely on getting lucky because you have no command and can’t miss bats, you have to live with the bad luck too.
If the guys fastball is going to top out at a completely straight 94, you’d like to at least see him be able to throw a gimme strike to emilio fucking bonifacio
Try padilla or macdougal. Commence with the rofl’s.
by lchristmas on Apr 25, 2011 8:40 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Sure, he could have done better, just like any other pitcher who has runs score as a result of defensive failure.
The blown save is not on him, he did his job in that sense.
In a larger sense, statistically, he’s pitching terribly, so yes he should be replaced, but unfortunately, the options of MacDougal and Padilla are LOL.
by Chad Moriyama on Apr 25, 2011 8:41 PM PDT up reply actions
He's not just pitching poorly "statistically"
Unless youre talking about the statistic of velocity, and his command is also history. The only thing he can throw for a consistent strike is a hanging slider.
Lets limit the discussion to padilla. Once he rounds into shape you don’t think there’s a decent chance he could be better than what we’re seeing now (don’t think “jonathan broxton” because to me that conjures up images of what he WAS – think “closer x who is completely ineffective”) which is, to be charitable, complete shit.
by lchristmas on Apr 25, 2011 8:50 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Fuck it, run Guerrier out there.
@andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Apr 25, 2011 8:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Fuck it part deux
Call up Pedro Baez and make him the closer. I bet his psyche is intact.
Im not spouting the stuff about his psyche
His inability to get anyone out concerns me greatly
Which in turn must affect his psyche, true. But I think his psyche would be fine with the 8 mph that he’s lost.
by lchristmas on Apr 25, 2011 8:59 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I wouldn't object
Im not enamored with these other guys. I just wonder how many awful outings we’ll have to see before people come to the conclusion that broxton simply cannot be put out there in the 9th. Guerrier is a solid mlb reliever. Broxton is replacement fodder.
by lchristmas on Apr 25, 2011 8:56 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
They’re all relievers. The winner will be the guy who happens to get lucky when his turn comes up.
@andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Apr 25, 2011 8:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Please stoop to my level and explain what was so lol worthy there
by lchristmas on Apr 25, 2011 9:00 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Replacement level for relievers is like mid-5 ERA, I think.
I know average is like 4.2 or something.
Don’t think his true talent is that bad yet.
by Chad Moriyama on Apr 25, 2011 9:09 PM PDT up reply actions
Okay
I was looking at his WAR which is negative this year (which you could dismiss as SSS if his stuff didn’t look so bad) and id be scared to see what it was the second half of last year
Interestingly his babip is very low this year in contrast to last year’s incredibly high .366.
by lchristmas on Apr 25, 2011 9:36 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Statistically is what matters.
If he was throwing 93 and had a 14 K/9 and a 2 BB/9, I wouldn’t give a fuck.
by Chad Moriyama on Apr 25, 2011 8:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Sure. But he isn't so that isn't a valid argument
Your post implied that he’s been bad “statistically” as though you can look at something else to see promise
If that wasnt your intention accept my apologies for the misinterpretation.
by lchristmas on Apr 25, 2011 9:04 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Statistically is all I care about, so no, I’m obviously aware his velocity is down since I looked into his mechanics in the off-season and found nothing wrong except velocity/command issues.
by Chad Moriyama on Apr 25, 2011 9:08 PM PDT up reply actions
"other than that, mrs. lincoln, how was the play?"
by lchristmas on Apr 25, 2011 9:16 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Important distinction that it wasn’t really easily correctable through work.
He just hit the wall after throwing 500 pitches in one game.
by Chad Moriyama on Apr 25, 2011 9:17 PM PDT up reply actions
I got you
I just thought “nothing wrong except velocity/command issues” was about as discouraging as it gets
by lchristmas on Apr 25, 2011 9:29 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
padilla over broxton ??
padilla put himself in a worst situation he just was more LUCKY than broxton.
Broxton got his 3 outs with no runs, but an error got the marlins an extra live. Padilla put runners on 1 and 2, got lucky with the bunt, allowed a run(should have been 2 if bunt done properly) and then got lucky on a mistake by infante. Broxton got his outs without allowing a run, it was an error that cost us the game.
He is having a bad season but you can’t put this one on Broxton.
This team has way bigger problems
then Broxton. It doesn’t look it right now because the offense is clicking, but much like it wasn’t as horrid as it looked to start the year, its not as good as it looks right now. The bullpen as a whole is a weakness, Broxton is just one part of that.
+1
the only two pitchers I feel confident in are Guerrier and Hawksworth and even then I’m not especially overjoyed.
"The Dodgers are such a .500 team that if there was a way to split a three-game series, they'd find it." - Vin Scully
Kershaw?
Billingsley?
Kuroda?
Garland?
Kuo?
are these guys not pitchers?
0oo0oo0000oo0o00ooo0oo0o0ooo0o0o0. . .. . . . . .
by Ghost_of_K3vo on Apr 25, 2011 8:43 PM PDT up reply actions
I meant out of the bullpen, and Kuo doesn’t count, he’s on the DL.
smartass. :)
"The Dodgers are such a .500 team that if there was a way to split a three-game series, they'd find it." - Vin Scully
the only two pitchers I feel confident in
Don’t you just hate it when women expect men to read their minds? :P
0oo0oo0000oo0o00ooo0oo0o0ooo0o0o0. . .. . . . . .
by Ghost_of_K3vo on Apr 25, 2011 8:46 PM PDT up reply actions
You really have confidence in Hawksworth?
Over even Padilla?
"Champions last year," he said. "Not this year." - Rubby De La Rosa after shaming the Giants in ST
When you’re being compared to Vicente Padilla and Mike MacDougal it’s easy to look good.
@andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Apr 25, 2011 10:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Why again with 2 outs no one on, lol. Great to see sands kick ass like he did. Also a hit from kemp and ethier as well. Awesome to see garland pitching this well. The rotation looks great now minus Lilly, who has been doing better
"If we hit that bull's eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate"
by Ivdown on Apr 25, 2011 8:21 PM PDT reply actions 3 recs
I'm rec'ing this
because it it 100% positive after a tough loss. Good show sir.
0oo0oo0000oo0o00ooo0oo0o0ooo0o0o0. . .. . . . . .
by Ghost_of_K3vo on Apr 25, 2011 8:34 PM PDT up reply actions
Goodness gracious, of all the dramatic things!
Glad I didn’t get to watch or listen to THIS game tonight. I guess tomorrow is time for one of those “statement games”. Truth be told, with Kershaw & Bills up next, the Garland game was the one I was quasi-accepting of a loss ahead of time…until I saw HOW it all went down(hill).
As for Scott Cousins…there’s a name I don’t need to hear associated with any dramatics again- got that, overly excited Marlins announcer?! Sorry, J-Mac. :/
It's been broken for quite a while now
I’m sure he can still be an effective reliever, but I feel his days as a top-flight closer are all but numbered.
If your psyche wasn’t broken, you would eat full size people.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 25, 2011 8:36 PM PDT up reply actions 4 recs
rec’d
0oo0oo0000oo0o00ooo0oo0o0ooo0o0o0. . .. . . . . .
by Ghost_of_K3vo on Apr 25, 2011 8:36 PM PDT up reply actions
I could see it in Jacksonville
in fact, I could see it before I ever saw him
Do the chair know we gonna look like some punk-ass bitches out there?
dude – you should get on Oprah with that skill
by Hollywood Joe on Apr 25, 2011 9:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Bills for Fielder straight up would totally work.
Loney and Broxton might hurt that plan.
@andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Apr 25, 2011 8:28 PM PDT up reply actions
I am not down to trade Billz.
who goes into the starting rotation?
"The Dodgers are such a .500 team that if there was a way to split a three-game series, they'd find it." - Vin Scully
Such a trade is completely pointless unless the Dodgers can extend Fielder.
by Chad Moriyama on Apr 25, 2011 8:31 PM PDT up reply actions
+1
Gotta keep Billingsley, he’s a rock-solid No. 2 in that rotation. Not like the Dodgers have an immediate guy to plug-in should he be served up in a deal.
I’m not saying do it, I’m just saying it could happen.
@andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Apr 25, 2011 8:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Why in the hell would anyone want to trade bills
my head just hurts thinking about it
"If we hit that bull's eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate"
Yeah:
We should totally sell high on Loney and Brox right now. I can hear the suitors banging down Ned’s door.
if we’re talking about easing a guy back into the lineup, why was eephus seen in the 8th and not guerrier. donnie said “he’s my 8th inning guy”
Because Guerrier was awesome last time out?
by Chad Moriyama on Apr 25, 2011 8:31 PM PDT up reply actions
True, Broxton hasn’t given up like twenty consecutive baserunners to lose a game yet.
by Chad Moriyama on Apr 25, 2011 9:10 PM PDT up reply actions
and he doesn’t look scared
his name sounds like warrior
by Hollywood Joe on Apr 25, 2011 9:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Dude, you’re totally pronouncing Guerrier wrong.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 25, 2011 9:22 PM PDT up reply actions
I wasn't watching the game as I was in class (well, I watched the half-inning where Sands got his double)
but I heard that the game was botched on defensive plays and not necessarily on pitching?
"The Dodgers are such a .500 team that if there was a way to split a three-game series, they'd find it." - Vin Scully
Nope, it was 100% Broxton’s fault. The defense behind him is prone to errors because Broxton is so fat he obstructs their view of the ball coming off the bat. #truefacts
0oo0oo0000oo0o00ooo0oo0o0ooo0o0o0. . .. . . . . .
by Ghost_of_K3vo on Apr 25, 2011 8:33 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
I see your sense of humor has not been lost in light of this loss. Makes me smile a humble smile.
:-)
my sense of humor is impervious to blown saves.
0oo0oo0000oo0o00ooo0oo0o0ooo0o0o0. . .. . . . . .
by Ghost_of_K3vo on Apr 25, 2011 8:36 PM PDT up reply actions
No loss can’t be cured by hops and barley
by Eric Stephen on Apr 25, 2011 8:37 PM PDT up reply actions
No it was billingsleys fault
he was turning red just thinking about pitching and it distracted Carroll!
"If we hit that bull's eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate"
LOL
come to think of it, he does turn the rosiest colors when he’s on the mound at times…
that is only because a certain TBLA commentress is yelling lewd things at him through the t.v
0oo0oo0000oo0o00ooo0oo0o0ooo0o0o0. . .. . . . . .
by Ghost_of_K3vo on Apr 25, 2011 8:38 PM PDT up reply actions
He can’t watch with a lead
Do the chair know we gonna look like some punk-ass bitches out there?
by mleadman on Apr 25, 2011 8:38 PM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
Oh, cheer up Dodger faithful!
Kershaw will come out tomorrow and not only get the VERY last out of a complete game he should’ve had his last time out, he will flirt with a no-hitter through 8 while doing so. And everything will be made all right again.
:-)
I just hope he doesnt throw another 1500 pitches doing so
by Hollywood Joe on Apr 25, 2011 9:09 PM PDT up reply actions
I gave a presentation on the Selig takeover today
and found out that Selig is retiring next year to be a professor. Apparently a full article about it in the NYT came out last week. I didn’t know that. Surprise!
"The Dodgers are such a .500 team that if there was a way to split a three-game series, they'd find it." - Vin Scully
I'd schedule an office hours appt. with him
just to teach him how to say “Los Angeles”
Overqualified in an underqualified world since 2008.
by Pure Azure on Apr 25, 2011 9:03 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Selig has "planned to retire" before
I’ll believe he is retiring when he, in fact, retires.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Apr 25, 2011 10:34 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
He's playing the lead role
in the Stephen Hawking story
Overqualified in an underqualified world since 2008.
He's the Brett Favre of baseball commissioners
"Champions last year," he said. "Not this year." - Rubby De La Rosa after shaming the Giants in ST
He texts dick pix?
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Apr 25, 2011 10:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Now is there anything more gnarly
than a pic txt of Bud Selig’s penis? Is it like the Ring? Do you die 7 days later after viewing it?
"Champions last year," he said. "Not this year." - Rubby De La Rosa after shaming the Giants in ST
by EephusBlue on Apr 25, 2011 10:50 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Not that anyone will ever know of
That strikes me as a text that would kill the viewer in seconds.
7 days
"Champions last year," he said. "Not this year." - Rubby De La Rosa after shaming the Giants in ST
by EephusBlue on Apr 25, 2011 10:51 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I've come to the conclusion
that other than NYY fans most baseball fans worry about or outright dislike their team’s closer. With few better options. St Louis? San Francisco? Arizona? I do think the best potential in-house options for Dodgers are down the road in the minors. Rubby should be a starter but I could see him coming up as a reliever and maybe closing. They have other guys in A and AA who could have potential. But as far as our pen currently, the options are really limited.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Mariano Rivera is the only reliable closer in baseball.
@andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Apr 25, 2011 8:49 PM PDT up reply actions
and he just recently blew back to back saves I do believe, and has some pretty major choke moments in his career as well, especially ones “when it counts.”
When Arizona won that WS yup, but Mariano is the greatest closer ever, how many WSs he saved? and I still do think that he is probably not the ONLY, but probably one of most reliable closer in baseball still.
My point wasn't that he wasn't great
but that everyone has their bad stretches, even a guy that arguably is the best reliever (not simply closer) in baseball history.
Fact is we as Dodger fans are just spoiled. Yea, Brox is pretty bad right now, but just because a guy is a closer doesn’t make him immune to the problems all relievers have, which is they tend to have short careers that explode gloriously at some point. Even the objects of our spoiled status – Gagne and Saito, and Broxton himself before the last two seasons – were dominant, but for very short periods.
That’s true. Even Gagne was only good for 3 years.
by Chad Moriyama on Apr 25, 2011 9:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Yah true, and the short shelf life is especially important.
It’s been mentioned here and on DT before. The sad fact is, though, that even when Broxton was terrific Dodger fans sometimes whined about how worried they were or how much he sweats, etc. The fact is just as you said, even the guys who spoiled us were not around for all that long.
Again, Rivera is amazing and utterly unique. Maybe Trevor Hoffman was another one who had a relatively long run as relievers go, but he had his bad moments too.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Gotta go, folks.
Even if Kershaw doesn’t completely shut down the Marlins, Dodgers should have no problems taking out our collective anger on Volstad tomorrow. Later everyone!
When Carroll booted that grounder, it made me feel like a Dbacks fan must have felt lsst year when Steven Drew chucked that ball into the seats
by Tim Crews' Dastardly Mustache on Apr 25, 2011 8:58 PM PDT reply actions
I won't be checking out the lowlights of this one
after being out all day. Yikes.
Overqualified in an underqualified world since 2008.
Ok, how about Albert?
NYY has Texeria
Boston has Gonzalez
So where will the big bucks for the new contract come from?
A new LA Dodgers Owner with lots of money?
They also have the designated hitter position.
(I think the Yankees will be in play more than Boston though in that regard)
by Eric Stephen on Apr 25, 2011 9:23 PM PDT up reply actions
you think NYY get pujols ??
that would just be sick, they need pitching.
I think Pujols will ultimately re-sign with St. Louis.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 25, 2011 9:28 PM PDT up reply actions
I agree – he smells like Jeter, franchise lifer
by Hollywood Joe on Apr 25, 2011 9:28 PM PDT up reply actions
Which comes first?
Pujols signing his next contract or the Dodgers having a new owner? I think most folks would pick the former.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Apr 25, 2011 10:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Brox gets 4 outs in that inning and the loss is about him
Guy has been a nightmare since middle of last year, the walk was a travesty, but the dude still got 4 outs – he might not be beautiful, but he’s the prettiest one we got
K
ground ball to loney
ground ball to SS
line drive to left
by Hollywood Joe on Apr 25, 2011 9:15 PM PDT up reply actions
heh
from Sands reaction at first I thought he was playing in
by 68elcamino427 on Apr 25, 2011 9:22 PM PDT up reply actions
oh sands :(
quick question can baseball players use both hand to try and catch the ball??, because i have always assumed they can and if you are going to jump for the ball why not try with both like a soccer keeper.
you get more reach with one arm
0oo0oo0000oo0o00ooo0oo0o0ooo0o0o0. . .. . . . . .
by Ghost_of_K3vo on Apr 25, 2011 9:32 PM PDT up reply actions
and the glove technology has gotten so good that the ball hits it and the glove does the rest
by Hollywood Joe on Apr 25, 2011 9:33 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
line drive straight at him
and over his head
by 68elcamino427 on Apr 25, 2011 9:14 PM PDT up reply actions
he is a professional, he shouldn’t charge that ball
it happens, he is not damned for it, but lets not forgive him his sins by pretending they didn’t happen – Sands blew the 4th out
by Hollywood Joe on Apr 25, 2011 9:15 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
at least the ball didn’t strike him in the groin
by 68elcamino427 on Apr 25, 2011 9:16 PM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
I cant remember who told the story on the air or who it was about, but it was an outfielder who judged balls by ifbthey were hit above or below his cap bill in his line of sight
by Tim Crews' Dastardly Mustache on Apr 25, 2011 9:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah and the only reason I would rather crap on Sands about that than Broxton
is I’m sick of people losing their shit about Broxton even beyond fairness or rationality. I love Sands’ potential and Dodger fans in general seem to love him right now, too, so he can afford to be the day’s scapegoat since Broxton has no bare skin left that hasn’t already been tarred and feathered.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Well not saying you were, just saying blame can be spread around for losing it in the
9th, and Sands can take a hit for the team. ;-) I blame Brox for the walk, I blame Sands for misjudging that ball and blame Carroll for not making the play on that grounder. Of course sometimes it feels better not to blame or scapegoat anyone and I think I can try that too.
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
the defense will be like this for the season?
by 68elcamino427 on Apr 25, 2011 9:36 PM PDT up reply actions
if there's one scapegoat
it’s Carroll. But this loss exposed a lot of the Dodgers’ weaknesses. Their OF defense has been bad for a few years, and now their IF is filled with aging, unathletic starters and subs. Not good.
Overqualified in an underqualified world since 2008.
I think what it boils down to is that it sucks balls to lose in the 9th inning.
by Jesse S. on Apr 25, 2011 9:55 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I was expecting gifs from Chad from the 9th inning
Are we allowed to LOL at our own players?
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Apr 25, 2011 10:38 PM PDT up reply actions
A second after I threw on my Gretz jersey (bought in 1988) the Kings tied it at 2.
Great game going on right now. Maybe tomorrow when Broxton takes the mound i’ll roll out my Jay Howell throwback
and now for something completely different
who’s a good salary comp for Matt Kemp? BP has comps of Hunter Pence and Holliday but Holliday isn’t that close to Kemp and Pence isn’t signed to a multiyear contract yet. Also, the community projection doesn’t have an extension type dealie that I seem to remember from Kershaw’s (but I could be making that up).
since he’s making close to 7 mil this year, I would expect Kemp to get 10 – 11 mil next year, but I’m not sure who is compares to in this regard.
"The Dodgers are such a .500 team that if there was a way to split a three-game series, they'd find it." - Vin Scully
does your prof know that you have a pool of baseball monkees at your disposal?
by Hollywood Joe on Apr 25, 2011 9:19 PM PDT up reply actions
she's aware i'm part of the online community
but honestly, she is asking for so much that if I don’t get help somewhere, the 20+ page papers for my ACTUAL classes are going to be fucked
"The Dodgers are such a .500 team that if there was a way to split a three-game series, they'd find it." - Vin Scully
This research is no joke
Ill look at some guys right now
by SeanMillerSavior on Apr 25, 2011 9:23 PM PDT up reply actions
A lot will depend on Kemp’s year. If he ends up with another 2010, that’s a lot different than if he ends like 2009.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 25, 2011 9:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Holliday is probably a fair comp
or at least, Holliday before he hit FA.
If Kemp maintains anything even remotely similar to what he’s doing now (I’m not talking .400, more like .310/.380/.560, which is certainly possible given how he’s played so far) then yea theres no way he goes for less than 10-11. He’s still got one year of arb after this season does he not?
I shared on DT that this is the first time the Dodgers made me angry this year, like stomping around angry…good sign, I am officially in love with this team
by Hollywood Joe on Apr 25, 2011 9:17 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Remember when Purple Row compared Matzek to Kershaw
That really isn’t working out for them LOL
2IP 4H 6ER 8BB 2K
by SeanMillerSavior on Apr 25, 2011 9:20 PM PDT reply actions
Matzek isn’t seeing his ball reach upper 90s anymore and I read his velocity is way down. Bad bad bad news.
by Julio Nievas on Apr 25, 2011 9:42 PM PDT up reply actions
He also
threw 2 wild pitches, hit a batter on one of them. Eek.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Wow
That must have been really brutal to watch. Ouch. I feel bad for PR.
by Julio Nievas on Apr 25, 2011 9:37 PM PDT up reply actions
he is ready to compete as closer today then?
by 68elcamino427 on Apr 25, 2011 9:43 PM PDT up reply actions
He is
(a) not eligible to come off the DL until Friday; and
(b) pitching tomorrow on back-to-back days for the first time in forever
by Eric Stephen on Apr 25, 2011 9:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Will Boras
Do an extension for Jered Weaver or will he go for 10-11M in 2012 and then go on the open market.
Boras client
is there really a question? He’ll hit the open market and get every last dime he can get.
unless he wants to re-sign with the Angels, like CarGo with the Rockies
by Eric Stephen on Apr 25, 2011 9:55 PM PDT up reply actions
I would guess Navarro starts Wednesday morning, giving Barajas two days off.
Uribe is a crap shoot.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 25, 2011 9:57 PM PDT up reply actions
nearly impossible to win a playoff series when you lose 3 home games.
by Eric Stephen on Apr 25, 2011 10:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Is Kapler still in the minors?
Or was he released?
"Champions last year," he said. "Not this year." - Rubby De La Rosa after shaming the Giants in ST
Guess what was the only part of the game I saw on television?
Yup, the 9th inning. Jinxed it, should have just left the TV off.
- Yes, Broxton shouldn’t have walked Bonifacio, but pitchers aren’t perfect
- Did Jamey Carroll get a little anxious on that play? He simply lifted the glove early while charging.
- Matt Kemp would have been crucified (a little tardy for Good Friday) had he made the play on that last ball that Sands made. Sands broke in and to the left, what, three or four steps before he realized that ball was a sailing liner. If he breaks back by the second step, he may still make that catch. Well, maybe Kemp wouldn’t have caught too much flak if he made that play in his second week in the majors. Sands is still in that honeymoon period.
- Donnie Two Times really PR for his starting C in the 7th inning with a short bench (Blake, Uribe out)? That’s a little novel.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
I guess its the week for
closers blowing it. Brian Wilson blew it yesterday. Brox (sorta) today. The great Mariano blew two
"Champions last year," he said. "Not this year." - Rubby De La Rosa after shaming the Giants in ST
With the above said, there is still the question of Broxton
Today he seemed to throw more off-speed stuff than usual and there was at least one unusual looking pitch. I noticed it immediately and Steve Lyons commented on it as well. It was 88 mph and seemed to break to the right. The off speed stuff tonight did not seem to include the sharp, hard slider the good Broxton brings to the hill.
The Marlins got too many chances, but Hanley Ramirez single was a clean liner and the last “hit” was a sharply stuck line-drive. Broxton’s velocity is definitely down. His walk rate is up, his K rate is down. I think the reality is that when Broxton was sitting 96/98 and breaking off the sharp slider, he could be, and was, elite. But sitting 94 with the fastball, and w/out the hard breaking slider, he is more of an ordinary reliever.
Last season’s decline was pretty clearly on the heels of the gross overuse (and neglect) in the Yankee series, so I could write that off, but Broxton is still not close to what he once was. Was the damage that Torre inflicted on him more permanent than we thought?
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Hard to know
Few really get to see how much work players are doing in areas where even the press isn’t permitted access. No idea how much time he spend on the stationary bike, elliptical or whatever.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
by David Young on Apr 25, 2011 11:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Good assessment
Wish i had the answers.
"Champions last year," he said. "Not this year." - Rubby De La Rosa after shaming the Giants in ST
I actually LOVE the fact that he’s (perceivably) throwing a lot more breaking balls than past years. Reminds me that Russell Martin was just a nightmare. Seriously, the dude’s slider is legit and I think he threw either a change or a splitter tonight that was absolutely devastating. My hopes are high for young Jon B. All the signs are there that he’s getting closer to coming back. Even if he’s half as good as he was from 2007-2008.5, that’s still better than 90% of MLB closers.
No Rafael Furcals were hurt in the making of this video.
Why I hate steroids in baseball.
Now every time a player has a sudden drop off from greatness to average, I can’t get out of my head the thought, “I wonder if he was on ’roids before?”
Before he made any real money, no less.
by Chad Moriyama on Apr 26, 2011 12:55 AM PDT up reply actions
Dodger bullpen dead last in the NL in tERA at 5.01. Dead last, the great rotation is going to be wasted unless this gets straightened out. Padilla will help, until we see Kuo we won’t know, other than that, the current group is what we have.
Then again maybe tERA is BS, I’ve stopped keeping track of the latest metric flavor of the month but dead last in any metric is not a place you want to be.
Yes I would take Broxton out of the closer role and replace with Padilla. He walked a guy who has walked 72 times in 976 plate appearances, a guy with one home run in his career and that was probably an inside the park job. My expectations are not that high, saves are not the end game, effectiveness is, we have seen plenty of crappy closers get saves, but this team is going to be in for some close games, and we can’t always give big Jon two runs to work with. This isn’t piling on Big Jon, by any metric he’s not a very effective relief pitcher at the moment. Bad luck was his undoing in the end but putting two runners on gives you no wriggle room.
I have no idea if Padilla would be any better but I don’t see what we have to lose to find out.
I guess now we understand a little why the non – Dodger scouts have questioned Sands defense in the outfield. I like his arm, I’ve yet to be impressed with his routes or jumps. I’d start him at 1st tomorrow and for the next two weeks. Loney needs to sit and now would be a good time.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Apr 25, 2011 11:04 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I know is not suppose to be a 1 game sample
But Padilla wasn’t exactly better today, he could have easily be the one with the BSV and even the loss if not for mistakes by the marlins.
Seems fair. I think Dave's comments on Broxton above are pretty spot on, too.
While I still think there’s no one in the pen who would clearly fare better than Broxton, some of them might be able to handle the ups and downs a little better, or maybe be a bit more consistent with getting outs and keeping runners on base (though I’m not convinced that Padilla can do that either, and certainly not Jansen, not Kuo at the moment (maybe later), not Hawksworth, and clearly not MacDougal. Maybe someone in the minors later this season can emerge. But on the current staff, I don’t see anyone who is clearly better, sad to say.
But I feel about Broxton now the way I felt about Broncos’ coach Josh McDaniels last year. Whatever the flaws and the legit criticism, I mostly started to wanted him gone because I was sick of the way he became a lightning rod and the source of everyone’s anger. After he was gone there was a calm. If Broxton was demoted, fans would eventually find a new target for their wrath, most likely the new closer. But at least maybe this would buy us some peace and quiet for awhile.
Either that or bring Rubby up to close. :-)
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Tim Brown exclusive new piece with/about Schieffer
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
He said he intended to meet with McCourt and his lieutenants, to listen and learn about the organization.
Awkward.
Yes, love to be a fly on the wall in that meeting.
"Oh, I’ve had some pretty difficult jobs before. Dealing with the North Koreans is generally a pretty tough day."
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Apr 25, 2011 11:14 PM PDT up reply actions
I know many long time posters are tired of the bashing of Loney and Broxton and some have said that they are hardly the biggest problems on this team but is this true? If I had a top ten list of problems, Loney would be one and not having an effective closer would be two.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I don't think Broxton is the biggest problem
simply because the bullpen as a whole is just not very good ATM, and aside from Jansen/healthy Kuo, there isn’t really that much hope for improvement either, so short of a trade I don’t see how replacing Brox with someone else in the pen will do much more then have leads blown in the 7th or 8th instead of the 9th (after all, unless Brox is simply removed from the pen entire, he’ll still be pitching, likely in a setup role).
Loney, OTOH, is the biggest, and perhaps most fixable problem. Gwynn may not be a great hitter, but he’s definitely better then Loney has been so far, and given James’ complete lack of power, even his upside isn’t that much higher then Anthony, so simply moving Sands to 1B and sticking Gwynn in LF at this point is becoming an obvious in-house fix.
I like Loney and its the last thing I’d want to do, but we’re quickly reaching a point where it (or something like it) needs to be done, if only for a while.
Defense – The Bad – No SS with Furcal down, Uribe is now MIA, Blake has been in and out, LF (Sands roookie in progress), Carroll and Miles forced into starting roles., 2B (who is the everyday 2B?), Releif Pitching.
Defense- the good – Kemp CF, Loney 1B, Starting pitching this last time through the rotation.
Defense – The middlin’ – C (Barajas, Navarro), RF Ethier
Other than that, no problems
by 68elcamino427 on Apr 25, 2011 11:25 PM PDT up reply actions
1) Our third best offensive player missing the entire month
2) Our first baseman hitting like a HiA relief pitcher
3) Getting to watch Lilly throw 84 mph for the next 3 years at 11mil a pop
4) Kuo’s health
5) Bullpen depth behind Broxton and Kuo
6) With Furcal out, infield depth means Ivan De Jesus Jr.
7) Jansen inconsistency
8) Blake’s health forcing more Miles/IDJ at bats
9) How long of a leash Sands has
10) The number of games 35 year old Rod Barajas is going to catch
Replacing Broxton or the thought that we somehow could be better with a mythical someone else doesn’t crack my top 10. I understand frustrations, but he still has top reliever stuff and is getting there.
No Rafael Furcals were hurt in the making of this video.
Hmmm.
So you think that the state of the sixth infielder situation and the inconsistency of the sixth righthander out of the pen are bigger concerns than the closer who no longer misses bats and can’t throw strikes when he has to?
I heartily disagree with that assessment as with the opinion that he has “top reliever stuff.” Not in the games ive been watching.
by lchristmas on Apr 26, 2011 9:02 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Teams with closer issues
Phillies — injuries and age
Nationals — still a semi closer-by-committee bullpen
Brewers — Axford’s been up and down
Cardinals — bye bye Franklin
Giants — definitely a rough start for Wilson though i doubt it will last
White Sox — definitely turning things around for the past week or so
Twins — will Nathan ever recover?
Angels — Rodney definitely wasn’t a long term solution
Athletics — injuries and Fuentes
Mariners — injury to main man
Rangers — injuries
by Jesse S. on Apr 25, 2011 11:19 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
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