Dodgers August In Review: By Far, The Best Month Of The Year
by Eric Stephen on Aug 31, 2011 7:56 PM PDT
in Dodgers Monthly Reports
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The Dodgers had their best month in quite some time in August, going 17-11 for their first winning month since June 2010. They got fantastic pitching, which isn't necessarily a new thing, but combined it with a major league offense for once. The Dodgers in August both scored their most runs and allowed their fewest runs of any month this season.
Dodger Batter of August: Rod Barajas went on a power surge in August, and ended up hitting .357/.403/.750 for the month. It is the second straight monthly award given to a catcher, and last month's winner was designated for assignment just over three weeks later. James Loney certainly had a strong case for the award, finding an old case of Gatorade from September 2007 to hit .367/.433/.633 with five home runs, more than he had in the previous four months combined. However, Barajas takes the award because he led the club with six home runs despite collecting just 68 plate appearances.
Honorable mention goes to Matt Kemp, who joined the 30/30 club on August 26 and hit .330/.400/.518 with 23 runs scored and 20 RBI. It was the 53rd month with 20 runs and 20 RBI by a Dodger since the club moved to Los Angeles.
Dodger Pitcher of August: Clayton Kershaw won the National League Pitcher of the Month in July, and continued to roll in August. Kershaw won five of his six starts, and put up a 1.55 ERA with 10 walks and 39 strikeouts.
The entire pitching staff was stellar in August, as 11 of the 13 pitchers had an ERA of 3.77 or better and 10 of the 13 pitchers had FIPs under 4.00.
August Record: 17-11
131 runs scored (4.68 per game)
85 runs allowed (3.04 per game)
.688 pythagorean winning percentage (19-9)
| August National League West Standings | |||||
| Club | W-L | Pct | GB | RS | RA |
| Diamondbacks | 19-10 | .655 | --- | 120 | 106 |
| Dodgers | 17-11 | .607 | 1½ | 131 | 85 |
| Padres | 13-15 | .464 | 5½ | 131 | 117 |
| Rockies | 13-16 | .448 | 6 | 143 | 148 |
| Giants | 11-18 | .379 | 8 | 78 | 104 |
Season Record: 65-70
524 runs scored (3.88 per game)
520 runs allowed (3.85 per game)
.504 pythagorean winning percentage (68-67)
| National League West Standings Through August 31 |
|||||
| Club | W-L | Pct | GB | RS | RA |
| Diamondbacks | 78-59 | .569 | --- | 612 |
573 |
| Giants | 72-65 | .526 | 6 | 460 |
483 |
| Dodgers | 65-70 | .481 | 12 | 524 |
520 |
| Rockies |
64-73 | .467 | 14 | 626 |
642 |
| Padres | 60-77 | .438 | 18 | 514 |
529 |
Game of the Month: On August 26 against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium, Carlos Gonzalez hit a ball 421 feet into the upper part of the right field pavilion in the first inning for a 1-0 lead. However, that was all Ted Lilly would allow. During the game, Vin Scully announced his return for 2012 on air, then the Dodgers rallied in the seventh inning thanks to some chicanery from Aaron Miles and a two-run single by rookie Justin Sellers. James Loney homered in the midst of his power surge, and Matt Kemp followed with a bomb to center field to join the 30/30 club. All in all, it was a fun night at Dodger Stadium and a 6-1 Dodger win.
Welcome Aboard: Justin Sellers made his major league debut on August 12, and hit his first major league home run on August 14, at home in front of friends and family at Dodger Stadium against the Astros. A.J. Ellis hit his first major league home run on August 24 in St. Louis.
Pinch Hitting: For the month, Dodger pinch hitters had four singles in 29 at-bats, with seven walks, hitting .143/.314/.143.
Runners in Scoring Position: In August, the Dodgers hit .291/.376/.423 with runners in scoring position in 273 plate appearances, by far their best month of the season.
They had a runner on third base with less than two outs 57 times (through August 30), and got the runner home 32 times, or 56.1% (the entire NL scored 431 of 878, 49.1%).
They had a runner on second base with nobody out 47 times through August 30, and the runner advanced 29 times, or 61.7% (the entire NL advanced the runner 338 of 629 times, 53.7%).
Upcoming Month: The Dodgers end their season with a lot of traveling, playing 17 of their final 27 games on the road. The Dodgers play the Diamondbacks and Giants six times each, and travel to San Diego for a weekend series with the Padres.
August Weeks in Review: August 8 | August 14 | August 21 | August 28
Previous Months in Review: April | May | June | July
August Stats
| Player | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SB/CS | BA/OBP/SLG | OPS |
| Barajas | 62 | 56 | 9 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 19 | 5 | 0/0 | .357/.403/.750 | 1.153 |
| Loney | 90 | 79 | 15 | 29 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 10 | 0/0 | .367/.433/.633 | 1.066 |
| Kemp | 125 | 112 | 23 | 37 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 20 | 13 | 7/4 | .330/.400/.518 | .918 |
| Rivera | 100 | 88 | 12 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 9 | 0/0 | .273/.340/.409 | .749 |
| Blake | 69 | 58 | 9 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0/1 | .293/.358/.362 | .720 |
| Sellers | 72 | 63 | 15 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 1/0 | .254/.333/.381 | .714 |
| Miles | 104 | 95 | 12 | 23 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 1/2 | .242/.298/.389 | .688 |
| Gwynn | 75 | 70 | 9 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4/1 | .257/.284/.400 | .684 |
| Ethier | 99 | 87 | 12 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 12 | 0/0 | .253/.343/.333 | .677 |
| Carroll | 93 | 83 | 5 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 3/0 | .265/.322/.301 | .623 |
| Starters |
889 | 791 | 121 | 228 | 36 | 7 | 24 | 115 | 82 | 16/8 | 8.288/.352/.442 | .795 |
| Ellis | 11 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0/0 | .333/.455/.667 | 1.121 |
| Oeltjen | 22 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2/0 | .235/.409/.412 | .821 |
| Navarro | 41 | 35 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0/0 | .171/.268/.314 | .583 |
| Gordon | 25 | 25 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3/0 | .240/.240/.240 | .480 |
| Velez | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0/0 | .000/.063/.000 | .063 |
| Bench |
115 | 101 | 7 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 12 | 5/0 | .188/.278/.297 | .575 |
| Pitchers |
69 | 62 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0/0 | .113/.141/.113 | .254 |
| Totals |
1073 | 954 | 131 | 254 | 38 | 7 | 27 | 127 | 96 | 21/8 | .266/.331/.406 | .737 |
| Pitcher | G | W-L | Sv | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | ERA | WHIP | FIP* |
| Kershaw | 6 | 5-1 | -- | 46.1 | 34 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 39 | 1.55 | 0.950 | 2.89 |
| Lilly | 6 | 2-3 | -- | 38.1 | 23 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 31 | 2.35 | 0.913 | 4.10 |
| Kuroda | 6 | 5-1 | -- | 39.1 | 37 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 30 | 2.75 | 1.195 | 3.31 |
| Eovaldi | 5 | 1-2 | -- | 26.0 | 22 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 18 | 3.46 | 1.308 | 3.70 |
| Billingsley | 5 | 1-1 | -- | 31.0 | 31 | 18 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 3.77 | 1.452 | 4.79 |
| Starters | 28 |
14-8 | -- | 181.0 | 147 | 59 | 53 | 58 | 137 | 2.64 | 1.133 | 3.68 |
| Jansen | 3 | 0-0 | -- | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0.00 | 0.667 | 3.08 |
| Elbert | 12 | 0-0 | 1 | 9.1 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0.96 | 0.964 | 2.76 |
| MacDougal | 13 | 1-0 | -- | 11.2 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 1.54 | 1.457 | 4.88 |
| Lindblom | 7 | 1-0 | -- | 7.2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 2.35 | 0.652 | 1.78 |
| Guerra | 10 | 0-0 | 5/6 | 10.1 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 2.61 | 0.968 | 2.02 |
| Guerrier | 13 | 1-0 | -- | 13.1 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 2.70 | 0.975 | 2.26 |
| Kuo | 8 | 0-1 | -- | 5.2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 6.35 | 1.059 | 3.61 |
| Hawksworth | 9 | 0-2 | -- | 10.2 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 8 | 7.59 | 1.313 | 3.36 |
| Relievers | 28 |
3-3 | 6/7 | 71.2 | 55 |
26 | 25 | 21 | 62 | 3.14 | 1.060 | 2.97 |
| Totals | 28 |
17-11 | 6/7 | 252.2 | 202 | 85 | 78 | 79 | 199 | 2.78 | 1.112 | 3.48 |
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Comments
Yes, they do.
Is Hobo a horror film though, or just an exploitation action film?
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Confidential to David Young
I most certainly did tell her that I created life, using my — er — magic wand.
magnae clunes mihi placent, nec possum de hac re mentiri.
quis enim, consortes mei, non fateatur
I think I am flattered and Maddz is insulted.
Follow @DavidYoungTBLA
- The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
just catch the giants
all I ask and if you’ve seen them play lately you know it can be done
by lchristmas on Aug 31, 2011 8:15 PM PDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
16-11 to 81-81
It’s so gonna happen.
magnae clunes mihi placent, nec possum de hac re mentiri.
quis enim, consortes mei, non fateatur
by Humma Kavula on Aug 31, 2011 8:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Could certainly be done. The schedule doesn’t look that formidable. Although there are a lot of road games.
by dodgerpreacher on Aug 31, 2011 8:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Liked this recap
Regarding the Batter of the Month — it’s your award, and you can give it to whom you like; furthermore, I don’t wish to put down Barajas’s accomplishment…
…but if you ask me — and you didn’t! — I can’t give BOTM to a player with 62 PA… not when there are viable and deserving candidates with 90 PA (half again as many!) and 125 PA (twice as many!). Barajas outhit them by a little, yes, and he plays catcher, yes…. but that is a lot less playing time.
The Bison for BOTM! WHO’S WITH ME?!!?!
magnae clunes mihi placent, nec possum de hac re mentiri.
quis enim, consortes mei, non fateatur
wow, that is a whole lotta care you drug up there
by Hollywood Joe on Aug 31, 2011 10:05 PM PDT up reply actions
In my opinion, he uses his cutter way too much for what it is
And it’s hurt him. Fangraphs says his cutter is a plus pitch though so i guess I’m probably wrong.
by Taylor Maricle on Aug 31, 2011 8:28 PM PDT up reply actions
are these wins frustrating anybody else besides me?
such a tease. some sliver of hope in me feels like the dodgers can make the playoffs. i wish i could pull that sliver out with tweezers.
would be great to finish out the season strong though.
Time to pull a 2007 Rockies September run, mirite?
by Taylor Maricle on Aug 31, 2011 8:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Love it!
If only all the starfish could be Dodgers.
by EJ Rankin on Aug 31, 2011 8:53 PM PDT via iPhone app up reply actions
Colorado
had a 69-66 record after September 1st but only trailed the W/C spot by 6 games. They went 20-7 to force a one game playoff with San Diego which they won.
Even if the Dodgers went 20-7, their 85-77 would not be in the ballpark of a playoff spot.
im with you
Giants suck, D-backs suck. Dodgers, best team in the NL West right now.
"We're the best in the west and the west is ours!"
- Good Time Boys
So, the Dodgers fly to pittsburgh for 1 game?
"They say The Jet's lost a step or two... but I wouldn't be surprised to see some fireworks here."
A's and Indians
are in the 14th inning. And have a game at Noon eastern tomorrow.
You know, this 8-1 hot streak might have actually meant something special if the D-backs haven’t won every game in the same stretch.
by Taylor Maricle on Aug 31, 2011 8:33 PM PDT up reply actions
We gotta hit em hard in these next two series coming up
REAL HARD
"We're the best in the west and the west is ours!"
- Good Time Boys
What a bunch of crap right
If they had gone like 4-4 it would only be 8.5 games right now, which isn’t as terrible looking.
"If we hit that bull's eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate"
The two fastest comebacks in the standings that I saw was in 1982 and 2006
On July 30, 1982, the Dodgers entered a 4 game (1 DH) series at Atlanta trailing them by 10 games. A 16-4 run marked by 2 4-0 sweeps of the Braves put the Dodgers in front by 4 games. It did not end well of course.
On July 28, 2006, the Dodgers trailed the Padres by 7 games. A 17-1 run gave the Dodgers a 3.5 game lead over the Padres.
He needs a huge place to keep his big pro baseball player collection
@BillShaikin
Court files: Frank McCourt says he’s moving into $17,500 per mo apt; landlord wants 6 mos. prepaid over concerns “regarding my liquidity”
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
That stuff
really doesn’t matter to the bankruptcy court, court of public opinion is too far gone to worry about.
Trend is for one or maybe two teams lose small leads in September
After August 31, 2010 the leads conquered were the Padres 4 game in the NL West over the Giants and the Braves 3 game lead over the Phillies in the NL East.
After August 31, 2009, the lead lost was the Tigers 3.5 game over Twins.
After August 31, 2008, the Diamondbacks lost a 2.5 game lead over Dodgers, the Mets lost a single game lead over the Phillies.
WGS
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
It would be nice at least to see the Dodgers finish on a strong note
That would offer a good amount of hope for next year. None of the teams ahead of us are exactly striking fear into us. Now if only McCourt would sell the team..
Eveland will be called up tomorrow for sure.
Gordon will be activated, and likely Russ Mitchell
by Eric Stephen on Aug 31, 2011 9:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Differing views on the infielder for tomorrow
From Steve Dilbeck:
Rosters can be expanded Thursday, but for Manager Don Mattingly said only one other player is expected to join them in Pittsburgh. Since the player had yet to be told, he would not reveal the name, but said it was an infielder who has been up previously this season, which pretty much points to Ivan De Jesus Jr.
From Tony Jackson:
The Dodgers also are expected to recall a utility infielder from the Isotopes. Of the two who are presently on the 40-man roster, Ivan De Jesus was in the starting lineup for Albuquerque’s game at Memphis on Wednesday night and Russell Mitchell wasn’t — a clear sign that Mitchell is on his way to Pittsburgh to join the Dodgers.
I’ll side with Jackson on this one.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 31, 2011 9:48 PM PDT up reply actions
The bullpen was awesome this month
Then again, the starting pitching and the offense was too.
"If we hit that bull's eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate"
rockies lose
"They say The Jet's lost a step or two... but I wouldn't be surprised to see some fireworks here."
Headlines from 2012:
Kemp 50/50, 2nd straight MVP.
Kershaw 25-4, 1.45 ERA, 2nd straight Cy Young
Javy Guerra somehow breaks Gagne’s consecutive saves record in only one and a half seasons by saving 75
Chris Withrow ROY and Cy Young runner-up
by Taylor Maricle on Aug 31, 2011 10:11 PM PDT reply actions
I've been gushing random impossibilities all over this comments section
I figured why stop?
by Taylor Maricle on Aug 31, 2011 10:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Dee Gordon
big bust, or biggest bust in 2012?
It's not what you look like, when you're doin' what you're doin'
It's what you're doin' when you're doin' what you look like you're doin'!
Ryan Braun should not play ball drunk
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
by underdog on Aug 31, 2011 10:32 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
(tweeted via Chad M)
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
hey, are u planning to go to the LAD @ SF game coming up?
"They say The Jet's lost a step or two... but I wouldn't be surprised to see some fireworks here."
Not sure yet! Have to wait til the g/f's back to find out if we're going out of town that weekend, haha
but want to if we’re around. would love to see that kershaw-lincecum matchup if it comes to be. You?
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
that is my plan
but so many people are out of town that weekend. i dont get it.
"They say The Jet's lost a step or two... but I wouldn't be surprised to see some fireworks here."
i haven't. I've seen Bills pitch 5 times
And never Kid K! What the heck…
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
by underdog on Aug 31, 2011 11:08 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I had the privilege of seeing Kershaw’s first ever appearance at Dodger Stadium. No, not his debut – but the exhibition game against the Red Sox (night after Coliseum). He was amazing, knew he would be super special right then and there.
by silverwidow on Aug 31, 2011 11:13 PM PDT up reply actions
I
Think I saw Wolf pitch the most in 2009.
by bhsportsguy on Aug 31, 2011 11:28 PM PDT up reply actions
I’ve seen Kershaw pitch last year in 2010 against the Dbacks. I keep getting Ted Lilly!! and we keep losing. What the heck indeed!
"They say The Jet's lost a step or two... but I wouldn't be surprised to see some fireworks here."
Ha. I was behind home plate at the game where Kershaw went CG and Gwynn hit a walk-off single.
Then i got Lilly’s start against the Mets and the Dodgers lost miserably.
by Taylor Maricle on Sep 1, 2011 12:19 AM PDT up reply actions
I saw him beat
Adam Wainwright last year :). I was at Bills CG SO against the Giants last year as well.
"I kind of stepped my swagger up. You look at the Madden game and the swagger's so low, maybe they'll bump me up. Before it was a meatball flex, so you've got to liven it up a little bit." - Animal Jr.
Beyond classic
Holy wow is that amazing.
by silverwidow on Aug 31, 2011 10:59 PM PDT up reply actions
it is really cold right now in SF
it’s making it hard to work
"They say The Jet's lost a step or two... but I wouldn't be surprised to see some fireworks here."
I
Hope the firm is paying the heating bills.
by bhsportsguy on Aug 31, 2011 11:31 PM PDT up reply actions
In-house now
Doing corporate stuff. Prior, did mostly litigation, some employment. (oh as a paralegal)
in-house
The paralegal dream. I would love to work in-house somewhere but there’s not exactly a wealth of openings. Or at least im looking in the wrong places…
by hee came hee seop'd he choi'd on Sep 1, 2011 12:31 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
And we barely gain ground because the Snakes keep winning
Nonetheless, nice to see the team still playing hard…
The more you drink, the less gruesome I look.
Writing and inciting at Barca Blaugranes
Troll @shadowking011
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