Flailing Dodgers Fail In Philly Finale
by Eric Stephen on Jun 8, 2011 7:09 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Recaps
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Cole Hamels was his usual brilliant self against the Dodgers, out-pitching Hiroki Kuroda as the Phillies took the finale 2-0 on Wednesday night. Hamels allowed just six hits in eight scoreless innings, striking out nine. It was a close game, and there were a few pivotal moments that nearly all were bad news for the Dodgers.
After a 29-pitch bottom of the fifth, complete with a walk of the pitcher and a wild pitch that somehow didn't score Michael Martinez from third even though the throw by Rod Barajas happened to hit two people, Kuroda had no time to rest as the Dodgers had a 10-pitch top of the sixth, which featured a five-pitch at-bat by Kuroda (a strikeout). Then, after striking out Placido Polanco to begin the inning, Kuroda allowed a line drive home run to Ryan Howard and a double to Raul Ibanez, and all of a sudden Kuroda's night was done, out after 5 1/3 innings down just 1-0.
In the top of the seventh inning, Andre Ethier led off with a double and Matt Kemp followed with a single to right field, putting runners at first and third with nobody out, the Dodgers' best scoring opportunity of the night. Unfortunately, Juan Uribe popped out to second base on the first pitch, and was followed by a Marcus Thames strikeout and Rod Barajas pop out.
After a leadoff triple by Shane Victorino in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Dodgers brought the infield in and got what they wanted, a sharp ground ball off the bat of Domonic Brown to Jamey Carroll at second base. Unfortunately, Carroll's throw to home plate was wide to the first base side, allowing The Slidin' Hawaiian to score.
James Loney was sent to pinch hit off Hamels with one out and a runner on first base in the top of the eighth, and drew a 3-0 count. Loney, hitting .242/.292/.312 on the season and just .176/.232/.196 against left-handers, swung 3-0 and popped out weakly to left field. Keep in mind, the one thing Jerry Sands has done consistently well this season is hit left-handers, to the tune of .294/.400/.588, yet he sat on the bench against the southpaw Hamels.
Hamels is 3-0 in five regular season starts against the Dodgers with a 1.18 ERA. Counting the playoffs, Hamels is 6-0 in nine starts with a 2.19 ERA against the Dodgers.
Kemp and Ethier were each 2-for-4 on the night, but the rest of the team was just 3-for-25. In the Dodgers' last 13 games, their offense has been Jekyll & Hyde, scoring six or more runs six times, and scoring one run or less six times (they scored three runs in the other game).
Speaking of offense, it's off to Colorado for four games beginning Thursday night. Clayton Kershaw faces Juan Nicasio in the opener.
WP - Cole Hamels (8-2): 8 IP, 6 hits, 9 strikeouts
LP - Hiroki Kuroda (5-7): 5 1/3 IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts
Sv - Ryan Madson (14): 1 IP, 1 hit
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Batting Loney instead of Sands
was the bit WTF moment for me
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
I seem to remember
Loney hitting a HR off Hamels, back when the Dodgers were good. Probably what Donnie was looking at.
Overqualified in an underqualified world since 2008.
and James Loney hit 9 home runs in September 2007.
He’s fucking terrible now, and a non-entity against LHP
lol
reminds me of when we had Andruw Jones and he’d come up to bat.. Broadcasters would rattle of his great ABs against whatever pitcher was out there.. Except it was all moot because he was a washed out piece of garbage..
by hee came hee seop'd he choi'd on Jun 8, 2011 7:25 PM PDT up reply actions
There's a difference here
I don’t think anyone has ever said that Loney has dogged it, gotten out of shape, not been cooperative to the press, etc. Certainly he still does the job defensively.
not saying hes completely useless..
just riffing off of eric’s comment..
by hee came hee seop'd he choi'd on Jun 8, 2011 7:30 PM PDT up reply actions
so stats never count
or just your last SSS. I mean I get it but then I don’t get it. You want to throw out Jerry Sands who has hit left handers but that too is a pretty small SSS. I get it, he fucked up and everyone is pissed and most people want him off the team but I certainly understand why he put him up there in that spot.
but why give him the green light?
Hamels looked gassed and wasnt around the plate..
by hee came hee seop'd he choi'd on Jun 8, 2011 7:26 PM PDT up reply actions
i don't want him off the team
but going by what’s happening now, just not the right move IMO.
if it had worked, Donnie would have been a genius
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Jun 8, 2011 7:26 PM PDT up reply actions
i dont want him off the team either
He’s a sunk cost…so it makes no sense to release him.
But he should definitely be a bench player the rest of the year.
Pinch hitter, late inning defensive, etc…
He’d be fine in that role.
Loney didn't execute
bottom line…but a lot of guys didn’t execute tonight. Once he actually gets a hitter’s count like that, Loney just cannot let Hamels off the hook. Mattingly’s hands are tied…not that he hasn’t made mistakes either.
Overqualified in an underqualified world since 2008.
3-0 takes should be mandatory
for everyone not named Kemp.
Even Ethier…with little HR power…shouldnt be hacking 3-0.
I'd say
only in your wheelhouse should you swing, but every situation is different. I wasn’t watching, so if Hamels was really laboring you should generally take, but if you are looking for a pitch and you get it in your spot where you can drive it, you do it. Didn’t seem from Gameday that’s what Loney swung at.
Overqualified in an underqualified world since 2008.
Loney has a much larger sample size of sucking..
vs left handers.
Pretty much his entire career.
Now Sands isnt going to OPS 1.000+ his entire career vs lefties….as I always.
Always go with the guy that might not suck.
We know Loney will.
We’re not sure yet if Sands will.
Was looking back at that 2007 season...
David Wells retired in a Dodger uniform.
That blows my mind.
I cant even remember him being on the team.
Yeah, I have vague memories of that too. IIRC Wells got a hit, possibly an infield hit in that game.
It was a fucking awesome drag bunt single
dribbled up the 3B line. I can still see it.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
And then there was Wilson Betemit, who walked and hit the ball hard, but didn’t have a pretty batting average so he was benched until he got shipped to NY for Proctor.
And Matt Kemp moved a trash can.
And Mark Hendrickson and Brett Tomko still each started 15 games.
Fuck 2007.
by StolenMonkey86 on Jun 8, 2011 7:41 PM PDT up reply actions
2 games stick out from that 2007 season
Broxton giving up i think a 5 run lead in San Diego sometime in June i think.
Then the Helton homer off Saito in september.
No, he’s right 2007.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore;_ylt=Asiuf3knoKl6xyhwugqOM4eFCLcF?gid=270607125
My favorite memory of that game was Eric Enders saying on Dodger Thoughts something like “I want Nomar’s head on a plate.”
I had high hopes for him. Pretty decent fourth outfielder who could play all three positions. Then again, I thought Reed Johnson would do better than he did, too.
Don’t forget Betemit, Kemp, and Kuo going back to back to back against the Mets.
Kuo gave up 1 ER in 7 IP for the win in that game.
Nothing is ever easy.
by drulenarendes on Jun 8, 2011 7:56 PM PDT up reply actions
the bat flip
shall never be forgotten
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Jun 8, 2011 7:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Jason A. Churchill of ESPN
• I like the Dodgers 18th-round pick of Chris O’Brien from Wichita State. He’s a switch-hitter with a solid hit tool and a little power. He’s adequate behind the plate despite slow feet and his arm is fringe-average at best. But the bat may turn him into Josh Bard, who has had a long career.
I thought Josh Bard sucked.
And on that note Keith Law
Los Angeles Dodgers
The picks: Chris Reed (16)
Summary: I actually don’t mind the Chris Reed pick as much as some of my sources — it’s a reach, but put him back in the rotation and it could look very shrewd in a year or so. I’m more concerned about what it means for the club, as my pre-draft report that the Dodgers couldn’t go over slot looks like it’s probably accurate. That’s too bad, especially in a year in which it looks like two dozen clubs might throw the commissioner’s slot recommendations out the window.
We will also see if in fact
there are a lot of over slot usage. My hunch based on the results of day 2 and 3 is maybe not.
Summary
Here’s what you now, you have two players entering the prime of their careers that are fairly consistent and productive. You have some gamers who do some things that you need to win but they are not going break out and put up huge numbers. And now, you have some young fresh players that will surprise you but for the most part will have more days like today then banner days. Finally, you have some guys, older ones who maybe just when they get going get hurt or you might get a big hit now and then but will also disappoint.
James Loney really doesn’t fit any of those categories, he should be entering his prime, he isn’t hurt as far as we know, but he has played enough where he should have seen everything there is to see. He doesn’t do anything outside the field to annoy you, he’s good with fans and the media from what little I know. So really, the only thing that you can get on him is day to day performance. And if you already are tired of him, there is pretty much nothing he can do to change your mind.
It bothers me when I feel there is almost a glee when he fails like you want to be right about him because maybe some feel it is unfair that Kemp or Ethier have gotten criticized too much and Loney has escaped it, Heck even Russell got heat more than James. In a sense, I get almost a Juan Pierre like aura around when James is playing. It is like damm he makes too much money for this production and we should have a big bopper, etc.
Anyway, this is how I see it, I certainly respect everyone’s thoughts on the matter but I hope you can understand where I see it from.
bloody well right
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Jun 8, 2011 7:53 PM PDT up reply actions
I don’t have many standards, but “don’t cock up and lose the game” is one of them. But bugger all, you criticize the moment not the man.
this bird
has some nifty ideas lads
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Jun 8, 2011 7:58 PM PDT up reply actions
All I care about with any of these guys is day to day performance.
So if you:
#1. Arent good
#2. Are old enough where its reasonable to expect you arent going to improve
Then yeah, get off my favorite team.
i though you meant day to day
as you mean just his overall performance on the field.
I dont care how good he is with the fans, or if he can dig out ground balls.
He’s one of the worst players in the majors given his position.
He’s been that way for the last 2-3 yrs…and this year he seems to be bottoming out.
2nd worst in WAR in the NL
Now, WAR is a counting stat, so you only get to the top or bottom by playing every day (so there are worse bench players/utility players. In fact there are plenty of them).
But still. Shit. His negative WAR actually cancels out Ethier’s WAR, for reference.
by Riffraffselbow on Jun 8, 2011 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions
but you're exactly right on the kemp/ethier thing
The good players do not deserve to get shit on.
Sometimes, Kemp gets shit on bc he isnt as good as what people think he should be…but to me thats crap.
Its ok to hate on the bad players. They deserve it.
But to run down that actual guys that have talent….its mindless to me.
But then again..I never understood how guys like Loney, Pierre, or Cesar Izturis could be fan favorites. How are people entertained by these players? I dont understand.
That's pretty simple
Most people think of themselves as regular folk and they are attracted to those similar traits in athletes. That is why you get mixed reactions on the really big superstars, most people can’t relate to someone so good that he towers over everyone else who does it.
It was easier when you didn’t have as much access and the press was controlled. Plus when there was no free agency.
People can relate and pull for
less talented players who play hard…Kemp was distracted last year and he even admits he underperformed. When talent meets work ethic, then that should be enough for fans. I think it’s fine for fans to expect great talents to maximize that potential…wasted talent is a sad thing to see.
Overqualified in an underqualified world since 2008.
So basically
Everyone likes Crash Davis, but Nuke LaLoosh is a douche.
by Taylor Maricle on Jun 8, 2011 11:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Izturis, outside of 2004, was pretty tough to watch hit, but he could really fucking field, and a very good fielding SS is going to be fun to watch.
Successful base stealers – JP career 75% successful – are fun to watch. How excited were people to see Dee Gordon steal a base yesterday?
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Loney has given us some pretty good moments in his time with the Dodgers, True, he isn’t performing well this year, but people remember the clutch home runs and doubles to win games. That’s why people still like him.
Baseball is a game, and games are supposed to be fun.
The 2008 NLDS buys a certain amount of goodwill.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
NBC should be happy
They’re getting Game 5 and 6 at least.
/nhl guys with sticks
I wonder how much of that had to do with letting go of the NFL rights back in the 90s. Fox and NBC sort of flipped at that point.
That and losing the NBA did not help.
Also, speaking of Fox I’ve just started Bones due to the wonderfulness of Netflix streaming. This is a good investment?
Friends had a built in audience from the Seinfeld days, and Frasier had the Cheers pedigree. I think without the NFL and NBA to develop new series’ to new audiences, the writing was on the wall before those series went off the air
The NBA isn't on enough to develop a new series
I will grant you the NFL helps but in the end, it is shows that keep ratings. I am surprised you would say that about Friends though, to me its key demo wasn’t even 18-49, it was like 10-25 so you would have been right in their wheelhouse.
Seinfeld was a much older audience show, with the references and stuff, I think you needed to be already in your 20s to be a fan.
I meant that from a scheduling perspective. Back when the current FOX (former NBC) scheduler had a blog, he talked about tying the development of Friends to Seinfeld’s success. They tried to do the same thing with Mad About You and Frasier.
This is as much
as talk about such stuff on a board but as a viewer, that’s how I saw it. Sure there were certain time slots you tried to fill and hold people.
Like now Mondays at 9 on CBS, went from Raymond to Two and Half Men.
It's... okay.
It shows flashes of being a clever procedural, but too often it’s bogged down by the tiresome “I love you but I pretend not to love you but I care for you anyway but how do I say so but I’m not in love with you” BS.
by Riffraffselbow on Jun 8, 2011 10:25 PM PDT up reply actions
I fully enjoy it
its better then it should be.
You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.
The DodgerTalk callers seemed to skew older tonight. One guy said he was a fan of 70 years, and the last guy sounded older than that.
This season and last
have aged him 35 of them though.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
MSTI
with a hilariously sad series of tweets about tonights game
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
not sure why other teams even consider pitching to kemp.. whats the point
by hee came hee seop'd he choi'd on Jun 8, 2011 8:08 PM PDT up reply actions
if he gets one
why even try to stop him from stealing? :)
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Jun 8, 2011 8:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Marlins
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Jun 8, 2011 8:15 PM PDT up reply actions
The Florida Marlins coach
Eduardo “Son of Tony” Perez is going to be coach there. His father managed the Marlins in 2001
Lets hire both
and have them duke it out with Pentland
by Riffraffselbow on Jun 8, 2011 10:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Has Joel Guzman retired?
I looked up his baseball reference page and he doesnt have anything listed in 2011.
In 2010, he played AA for the Orioles and did this:
279/344/519….33 homers
He’s listed 6’6 252..little bigger than our current SS.
last I heard
he was in Japan I think
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Jun 8, 2011 8:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Right
Hitting a buck forty-two for the Chunichi Dragons.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Fun with selective endpoints
In the last 24 games (since May 14), Rod Barajas and Dioner Navarro have combined to hit .163/.188/.204, with 0 HR (4 doubles), 4 runs, and 6 RBI:
Navarro: .184/.216/.224 in 52 PA
Barajas: .143/.160/.184 in 51 PA
During that time, Navarro has been used as a pinch hitter 6 times and Barajas twice.
Sorry if that didn’t cheer Keith up.
Signing Manny is the final piece to make the 2009 Dodgers a fully functional offense. Hopefully one that will walk all over the rest of the NL West.
Jansen
Mitchell
or
How about get Barajas out of town and just bring up Ellis?
by 68elcamino427 on Jun 8, 2011 9:13 PM PDT up reply actions
not one of those guys
will out perform the current duo
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Jun 8, 2011 9:17 PM PDT up reply actions
well maybe
AJ can at least take a fracking walk……..
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Jun 8, 2011 9:20 PM PDT up reply actions
.000/.500/.000
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Jun 8, 2011 9:21 PM PDT up reply actions
it’s a new show
“Backup Catcherville”, shown right after “The Trailer Park Boys.”
by 68elcamino427 on Jun 8, 2011 9:21 PM PDT up reply actions
That's
GScott’s fun end point for Loney too: .284 / .357 / .432 / .790 in 84 PA.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
More importantly, Jennifer Connelly gave birth to her 3rd child. Don’t know who’s luckier, her hubby or that kid who gets to breast feed for the next 3+ years.
3+ years!?
Aren’t Stephens eating raw red meat by six months?
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Well, we may have lost the game and the series, but I have to say
freshly-made ice cream at home is amazing
Do the chair know we gonna look like some punk-ass bitches out there?
Can't really top that one
But I just realized that for that week of July 4th, both the Dodgers and Angels at home for all seven games. After this trip to Colorado, the Dodgers only travel out the local area for 3 games until after the All-Star break.
But I just don’t recall an entire week (Monday through Sunday) where both local teams played at home at the same time (and both teams are playing 7 games). Eric already mentioned trying to go to both team’s game on the 6th when the Dodgers play at night against the Mets and the Angels host a day game against Detroit.
It's so shitty having tuesdays and wednesdays off as your normal off days
No one ever wants to do anything those nights.
"If we hit that bull's eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate"
’Cause I drink alone, yeah
With nobody else
Yeah, you know when I drink alone
I prefer to be by myself
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
yeah man, the bar was like, empty tonight.
then came the dawn
and she was gone
by 68elcamino427 on Jun 8, 2011 9:10 PM PDT up reply actions
lol
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Jun 8, 2011 9:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Eric
wants to punch him now
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Jun 8, 2011 9:02 PM PDT up reply actions
bigger face to punch
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Jun 8, 2011 9:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Andy Laroche
joins Hu, Young and Abreu as outrighted former Dodger Top Ten prospects now in the minors.
Abreu just hit a 3 run double to tie the Rays in the 8th. 3-3.
Baseball is a game, and games are supposed to be fun.
cory's at the game right now
He invited me but I’m an idiot so i didn’t go
"If we hit that bull's eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate"
:/
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Jun 8, 2011 9:30 PM PDT up reply actions
So I have a somewhat crazy, off-the-wall idea.
But hear me out. What if a team were to put a good lefty on the mound, and a good righty in left field or somewhere innocuous, and swap them out as lefty and righty batters came up? I realize you’re (to a certain extent) sacrificing a lot of hitting to do this, and you end up burning 2 pitchers instead of one, and the guy in LF has the potential to get cold (maybe get him a portable electric blanket or something), but could this work? Would the cost of it be too great for the value provided?
ignoring the logistics of how much time it would take for them to switch
if they are bad hitters, what do you gain?
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Jun 8, 2011 10:24 PM PDT up reply actions
1B might be better
Since pitchers are often tall and unathletic.
I’m not sure if you’re allow to put a guy back on the mound after taking him off, there might be a rule against that.
by Taylor Maricle on Jun 8, 2011 11:12 PM PDT up reply actions
There isn't
Davey Johnson did this in extra innings one night, with Roger McDowell and Jesse Orozco.
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Anyone watching this here new south park?
Stan caught cynical asshole, and it makes everything sound like shit and taste like shit.
I was about to point out
that it seemed like south park decided to make an episode about mintxcore. You beat me by 3 seconds.
You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.
funny how one sees an episode about cynical assholes, and one thinks about TBLA : )
by Josie Becker on Jun 8, 2011 10:27 PM PDT up reply actions
I...
what just happened to south park?
You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.
that was a hell of a midseason finale. Did things just, change?
by Josie Becker on Jun 8, 2011 10:31 PM PDT up reply actions
and why are cool people guesting on Workaholics. That show is so shitty.
by Josie Becker on Jun 8, 2011 10:34 PM PDT up reply actions
but talking about blowing dudes ofr money
is so edgy and hilarious!
You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.
With south park you never know
I mean they pulled the bait and switch before(Terrence and Phillips go to Baghdad)
You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.
if they come back with the final seven, and Stan’s parents are together, I’m done with the show, that would be so shitty.
by Josie Becker on Jun 8, 2011 10:36 PM PDT up reply actions
well apparently there is a high chance this is hte last season
and randy and his wifes break up talk could be read as them saying they are ready to move on
You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.
no i definitely got that vibe, but they still have seven episodes to go, unless they’re ending early
by Josie Becker on Jun 8, 2011 10:39 PM PDT up reply actions
apparently they have an out clause in their contract...
so that could even be the last one ever if they chose.
You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.
huh. well that was a fantastic last episode if it was : )
by Josie Becker on Jun 8, 2011 10:43 PM PDT up reply actions
trey and matt were basically making fun of themselves..
They appeared to write Stan off the show, and were basically saying every week its the same shit.
I think they are just about done.
Yet, the Simpsons continue.
Clipper fans, you hear this?
rumor is, 76ers in talks with Clips to trade Iguedola for Kaman. Thoughts?
(no link, saw this on SC)
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Jun 8, 2011 10:48 PM PDT reply actions
In case you haven't seen it, New Post
http://www.truebluela.com/2011/6/8/2213596/dodgers-6-8-11-minor-league-report
@davidyoungtbla - The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Criticism of Loney
All I can add to the debate/frustration with Loney is in my opinion many people had too high expectations for Loney.15-20 HR’s was too high in my opinion I always thought he was a 10-15 HR guy. Felt his defense was great, but everyone else has to hit maximum. If they don’t people piss on him more, because of the unrealistic expectations.
I am thrilled about Kemp’s performance and can only hope we can get a healthy Blake and Uribe for most of the season, but at this point I would happy to see the Dodger ownership drama finish, and finally turn a page,
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