Chad Billingsley Looks To End Down Season On High Note
by Eric Stephen on Sep 24, 2011 12:54 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Previews
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The Dodgers battle the Padres on Saturday evening at Petco Park, and while all eyes aren't on Matt Kemp's march toward a possible MVP award, they will focus on the mound. Chad Billingsley makes his final start of what has been a disappointing season.
After a strong finish to 2010, there were high hopes for Billingsley heading into his age 26 season. At the end of spring training, Billingsley signed a three-year, $35 million extension, which starts next season and at the time looked like a potential bargain. That may still prove true, but Billingsley's 2011 has dampened expectations.
It's not that Billingsley has been bad, necessarily. He has simply been, well, ordinary. At times Billingsley has shown flashes of brilliance, such has his 11 strikeouts in eight scoreless innings against the Cardinals on April 17, or his allowing one hit and one unearned run in a tough-luck loss to the Diamondbacks on May 14, or when he allowed only one walk and nothing else to his last 22 batters faced against the Nationals on July 24.
Since that win over the Nationals, Billingsley has made 10 starts, and has 30 walks and just 35 strikeouts while putting up a 4.97 ERA in 54 innings. Whether it's fatigue -- Billingsley made 241 total pitches in back-to-back "save the bullpen" starts at the end of August -- or a mechanical issue, Billingsley simply hasn't been a very good pitcher for most of the last two months.
Luckily for Billingsley, he has a chance to go out on a high note Saturday night against the Padres. He faced San Diego once this season, and got a win by pitching eight scoreless innings, but to show the true up-and-down nature of Billingsley's season, he also walked more (five) than he struck out (four) and was fighting his command all game.
Billingsley is 11-7 with a 2.76 ERA in his career against the Padres, including 5-3 with a 2.25 ERA at Petco Park, the site where he made his major league debut in 2006.
Triple Crown Watch
Jose Reyes had a single in three at-bats plus a walk in the first game of a doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies, maintaining his National League leading batting average at .32950, nearly indistinguishable from the .32948 that he began the day with.
Albert Pujols did not hit a home run against the Chicago Cubs in St. Louis on Saturday, so he and Kemp remain tied atop the NL with 37 home runs.
Kemp has four hits in 13 career at-bats against Saturday's starter for San Diego, Aaron Harang, including a double and a home run, hitting .308/.375/.615.
From The Start
Today is Billingsley's 32nd start of the season, matching Clayton Kershaw and Ted Lilly for the team lead. If Hiroki Kuroda makes his start on Tuesday as planned, that will give the Dodgers four pitchers with at least 32 starts for the first time since 1993. Orel Hershiser made 33 starts 18 years ago, and was joined by 32 starts each from Tom Candiotti, Ramon Martinez, and Kevin Gross, all of whom pitched at least 200 innings. That 1993 team was also the last Dodger team with five pitchers with 30 starts, as Pedro Astacio started 31 games.
*****
Game Time: 5:35 p.m.
TV: Prime Ticket
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Ryan “5 RBI behind Matt Kemp” Howard will not start the second game of the Phillies/Mets doubleheader tonight.
Marmol Collapse
The end of the Cub Cards game was a riot-3 walks by Marmol. Braves are just about done in Washington, Cards still have a chance.
would suck for Jansen to end up like Marmol
by dodgerpreacher on Sep 24, 2011 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions
It won't happen
Think Jansen has a more even personality and won’t be subject to the ups and downs that Marmol delivers.
someone hacked his wiki page just now
lol
by shaqfor3 on Sep 24, 2011 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
From the last thread
Ethier
After a couple of days with the team, did Ethier go home to Phoenix to recuperate after his knee operation?
Do we think he’ll join the team in the dugout next week when they arrive there? Can he? Or maybe just the last day of the season?
Will he want to [show everyone he’ll] be there with his teammate Matt when he achieves whatever he’s going to achieve? Or just do an Ethier and stay recuperating at home? Will Josh R. do a final PR job for the Dodgers and get Andre to the stadium on time before he himself slips away to the home clubhouse?
by berkowit28 on Sep 24, 2011 10:35 AM PDT reply actions
Good question
Ethier was supposed to start his rehab in Arizona after about a week after the surgery. I suspect he is home, making daily trips to the Dodgers complex in Glendale.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 24, 2011 10:40 AM PDT
I actually saw Ethier, in uniform, at Dodger Stadium on Thursday. I have a photo, not uploaded yet, that I will post at some point. He was talking to some people, standing unaided. But I would also guess he’s now in Arizona, not San Diego.
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Ethier is not being a......
Believe after Etheir had the surgery he was up in SF and probably has been getting some affairs in order before he goes to AZ to do the rehab, as per Eric in AZ. Despite his down season he still had over 30 doubles this season playing 135 games. Power definitely down, but everything I have ever read or heard indicates that he has been a supportive teammate and is not a jealous one.
I didn’t notice this before, but Kemp is also tied for the major league lead with 119 RBI. With Curtis Granderson.
Also from the last thread
Vin Scully on Kemp, Kershaw, etc
http://t.co/XdoQT3nJ
by Eric Stephen on Sep 24, 2011 12:27 PM PDT
I more than agree with 68elcamino427, it is swesoke!
Matt Kemp is having an outrageous season.
Clayton Kershaw’s “ceiling is the Sistine Chapel.”
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This is amazing.
magnae clunes mihi placent, nec possum de hac re mentiri.
quis enim, consortes mei, non fateatur
by Humma Kavula on Sep 24, 2011 2:06 PM PDT up reply actions
If Javy Guerra gets four saves in the last five days of the season, he will tie Takashi Saito for most saves by a Dodger rookie.
Fuck…have to root for the Giants today, at least to score some runs, enough to not have Ian Kennedy get win number 21
Might as well, Giants are DOA anyway
Or Kennedy gives up 2 runs, is get ejected in the 4th inning for throwing inside too much on a Giant, then DBacks come back and win later.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
the Giants are eliminated from the postseason with a loss tonight. With the Braves swooning, I just want the snakes to make it mathematically official
by Josie Becker on Sep 24, 2011 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Giants aren’t going to make the playoffs anyway. I want Kershaw to lead the league in wins outright.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 24, 2011 2:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Matt Kemp, going into today, leads the NL in OPS (unadjusted!) at .987
If that holds up, that will be the first NL leading OPS under 1.000 since 1991 when Barry Bonds lead with a .924. (The 2008 AL leader, Milton Bradley, had a .999.) The last Dodger to lead the NL in OPS, and the only LA Dodger to do so was Pedro Guerrero, .999 in 1985. For Brooklyn, Duke Snider did it twice (’56 – .997 and ’53 – 1.046), Pete Reiser in ’41 with a .964, and Dan Brouthers in 1892 with a .911.
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Swesoke
I love that Guerrero led the league in OBP and slugging that year.
Fucking Willie McGee
by Eric Stephen on Sep 24, 2011 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions
Someone swab their cock across Willie McGee’s next deli platter.
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- The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Going into today
Braun was second in NL OPS at .979.
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outside shot at catching Miguel Cabrera at 1.009 for second to Bautista.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 24, 2011 1:41 PM PDT up reply actions
One piece of hardware I think Matt Kemp has locked up
Silver Slugger. (duh)
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Dodgers OF to win Silver Slugger
Dusty Baker (1980-1981)
Pedro Guerrero (1982)
Kirk Gibson (1988)
Andre Ethier (2009)
Matt Kemp (2009)
The 1985 OF Silver Sluggers were McGee, Dave Parker (finished 2nd in MVP, Guerrero was 3rd), and Dale Murphy.
Guerrero was hurt in 1985 by missing time and by playing other positions. 80 starts in the OF (including 9 in center!), 44 starts at 3B, and 10 starts at 1B
by Eric Stephen on Sep 24, 2011 1:48 PM PDT up reply actions
If I'd doing this right on b-r
It appears that as of last night, the NL has only 60 players who qualify for the batting title (and other rate stats). (3.1 PA per team games)
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The AL has 67.
I guess four or so per team makes sense. And with the DH, more in the AL makes sense.
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74 NL, 70 AL. (7 others sort of qualified, but played in both leagues, e.g. Scott Podsednik)
If no one else qualifies this season, 20 less is almost a 14% drop.
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Minor League Central now has pitch by pitch data. Want to know how often players swing and miss at what Allen Webster is offering. Now you can…at least in AA and AAA below that the data is really sketchy.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
This nail biting, hair greying Cal game is preparing me well for Kershaw's final start
"I was a little scared he was into that Oakland thing. We swing here on 3-0." Grady Little on Andre
6-0, thanks to a 3-run shot from Nolij’s fav
by Eric Stephen on Sep 24, 2011 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions
random question
Anyone here have a truck? Anyone here willing to use that truck to help move stuff from Redondo to Sherman Oaks? I will pay you in beer or cupcakes. Punching Bodhi not included.
Also, GO BILLZ
I pitched to Matt Kemp, and all I got was this stupid earned run.
@maddzgoesrawr @arenafitness
by Maddz on Sep 24, 2011 1:52 PM PDT via iPhone app reply actions
I say this proudly and selfishly…I used to have a truck.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 24, 2011 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions
No truck, but large SUV
Could help move some things, esp. if I’m down in El Segundo already…..
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Sweet, I’ll let you know. :)
I pitched to Matt Kemp, and all I got was this stupid earned run.
@maddzgoesrawr @arenafitness
by Maddz on Sep 24, 2011 3:43 PM PDT via iPhone app up reply actions
Winners
Gordon SS
Sands RF
Kemp CF
Rivera LF
Loney 1B
Mitchell 3B
Federowicz C
Sellers 2B
Billingsley P
seconded!
"I was a little scared he was into that Oakland thing. We swing here on 3-0." Grady Little on Andre
Are they upset or frightened in Tampa
Tampa trying to pick up a game on the Sox for the third straight day? Will they do it today!
1. Red Sox look like a total mess.
2. It’s probably too late to make a difference. It is not enough for the Red Sox to give away their playoff spot; they also need Tampa/Anaheim to take it from them.
magnae clunes mihi placent, nec possum de hac re mentiri.
quis enim, consortes mei, non fateatur
by Humma Kavula on Sep 24, 2011 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions
God I hate McCarver
“One look at that ballpark (Citi Field) and you know it’s not a big league ballpark; it’s too hard to hit home runs”
Jon Weisman
nails it again at Dodger Thoughts:
I’m not saying it’s a stupid question to wonder if a player on a non-contender should get voted MVP? Even Vin Scully asked the question aloud during Friday’s Dodger broadcast.
The problem is not with the question. The problem has been with the answer.
If the answer is, “The goal is to win a championship, and any performance that does not come with a championship isn’t the most valuable,” you’re saying that Matt Kemp wasn’t valuable because Juan Uribe was terrible. Does that make any sense? “Because my next-door neighbor is a bad guy, it doesn’t matter how good I am.”
Value, clearly and cleanly, comes down to this. What would you rather have? If you knew everything there was to know about the 2011 regular season in advance, which player would have been your first pick before Opening Day?
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Despite his one obvious character flaw, I usually really enjoy JW’s writing, but the analogies in this particular article feel flat for me. I’m with you on the bolded comment, but the follow-up sentence doesn’t really follow. His argument should be something more like “Should we deny Sandra Bullock the Oscar for The Blind Side because Tim McGraw was only so-so.”
"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great."
The answer to the last part is clearly yes :)
by Eric Stephen on Sep 24, 2011 3:35 PM PDT up reply actions
I wouldn’t have given Bullock that Oscar because she was so-so, but the performance of her co-stars shouldn’t be held against her.
"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great."
I know, just dicking around
But if Mikasa was the volleyball in Cast Away instead of Wilson, Tom Hanks would have won his third best actor Oscar
by Eric Stephen on Sep 24, 2011 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions
oh damn
SeaTimesSports: RT @Mariners: Felix Hernandez has been removed from the game after being hit in the right arm with a line drive…
That's odd
Pitching Sunday would put him in 5 days rest for Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 24, 2011 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Braun is starting
Even after clinching. Fielder in there too.
Plus, Milwaukee is trying to beat out the D-Backs for 2nd best record
Thus avoiding the Phillies in the NLDS.
by The Dude Abides on Sep 24, 2011 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions
Matt Kemp has to get at least four hits tonight to pass Reyes, either in four (.330479) or five (.329915) at-bats.
Haven’t done calcs for extra innings.
Of course Reyes could pinch hit or enter the game later, but just shooting for the current .32950
by Eric Stephen on Sep 24, 2011 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions
I have the TV on mute, but I believe Alec Baldwin just shat himself in the New Era cap commercial with John Krasinski.
No
Believe it is a take off on an earlier commercial where Baldwin the NY fan and some other star call each other out. This one they are watching the same game, and you just don’t know the results.
Yes he did
In the beginning of the commercial he was holding it in, not wanting to go the bathroom and potentially trigger a Boston rally by not watching the game.
by The Dude Abides on Sep 24, 2011 3:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Oklahoma State just had a sure touchdown jacked by a receiver dropping the ball just shy of the goalline, out of the endzone. Turnover.
24-20 OSU over A&M, near end of the third.
and Texas A&M just threw an interception. Crazy
by Eric Stephen on Sep 24, 2011 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Maybe Chad's problem is that he's been on a high note all season? :-)
"I was a little scared he was into that Oakland thing. We swing here on 3-0." Grady Little on Andre
D'oh
That’s what I get for not checking around earlier.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 24, 2011 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Cal-Wash game is kinda exciting...
"I was a little scared he was into that Oakland thing. We swing here on 3-0." Grady Little on Andre
clap, clap, clap, clap-clap-clap, calp
Cal-Wash, whoa-oa-oa-oa, Cal-Wash game!
Come on y’all and sing it with me, Cal-Wash, Cal-Wash, yeah!
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ahhh this game is killing me...
"I was a little scared he was into that Oakland thing. We swing here on 3-0." Grady Little on Andre
I also had fun with Jen, Gary, Phil, Bobbie and Cory last night
Bobbie definitely had the game of the night, 223 IIRC. But I believe I did have the series of the night, over 480 (150something, 140 something, 189).
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What the shit? Bobbi had a 221 game and he couldn’t beat a 480-ish series? He must have been drunk :)
by Eric Stephen on Sep 24, 2011 3:37 PM PDT up reply actions
Bob throws with a big wrist Sutcliffe-Eovaldian curl and a resultant big hook. When it’s on, lotsa strikes, but when it’s off….
And yes.
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Also
It has been a while since I’ve been served by a cocktail waitress older than I am. (She was nice.)
The bar there has karaoke after 9 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. The drink prices go up during that time, even if you are in the bowling alley, not in the bar!
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Glad you guys had fun. :)
I pitched to Matt Kemp, and all I got was this stupid earned run.
@maddzgoesrawr @arenafitness
by Maddz on Sep 24, 2011 4:32 PM PDT via iPhone app up reply actions
The pub was cool too – thanks for the tip.
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that cocktail waitress looked, uh, expired.
"I was a little scared he was into that Oakland thing. We swing here on 3-0." Grady Little on Andre
I got an 83 then 123 with 221 in the middle
I was buzzing the 2nd game, drunk the 3rd game so not as good! Lol
by Ivdown on Sep 24, 2011 4:18 PM PDT via iPhone app up reply actions
are the phillies up to something
or do they decide to jump into a shithole before the post season?
almost everyone was saying they will win well over 100 games, now it looks like they will barely make it
not that i’m complaining or anything
The sacrificial lambs
Venable LF
Hudson 2B
Maybin CF
Headley 3B
Hermida RF
Martinez C
Rizzo 1B
Parrino SS
Harang P
Chambers:
Next time I want to be Marichal
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'!
Back from vacation, eh
and happy to see the team doing so well. On the city tour in SF the bus driver (obviously not a series baseball fan) said something to the likes that “the Giants could still win the playoffs.” Win the playoffs? hehe.
Nice
Welcome back.
Enjoy the baseball match tonight.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 24, 2011 3:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Me too
I’m hoping that the Dodgers put up two touchdowns on the board, with Matt Kemp scoring one of them and kicking the extra point.
by The Dude Abides on Sep 24, 2011 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Made it back in one piece, eh?
Did you gain a pound a day on the ship?
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I'm sad you didn't come over to watch 4 hours of TV at my house while stopping here ;-)
(j/k, and I’m sure they don’t give you a lot of time in each place — but do hope you had a good time. Sounds really fun.)
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"I was a little scared he was into that Oakland thing. We swing here on 3-0." Grady Little on Andre
When it comes to HFA in the LDS
In case you’re wondering. Arizona has the tiebreaker on Milwaukee and Detroit has the tiebreaker on Texas for the 2 seed.
I hope Milwaukee wins their final 5 games, with no help from the 0-for-17 Ryan Braun.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 24, 2011 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Jose Bautista hits #43 and the Blue Jays are up 2-0 early on the Rays. Who continue to blow their chances.
Braun making a run
Braun 1-1 in first AB, a triple.
Hebrew Hammer?
"I was a little scared he was into that Oakland thing. We swing here on 3-0." Grady Little on Andre
Hank Williams Jewnior?
I’ll do anything for a joke, so if this is in too poor taste, delete it
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'!
WTF
But when Kemp hit his birthday homer, it left the Dodgers 79-77 with six games to play. Now, 79-77 may be modest in terms of the Dodger tradition, but this is a team that was 37-51 on July 6, whose conditions at Dodger Stadium had rotted to the point one player called their home park “a rathole.”
note the wording. Their refers to the team, not to a player. It’s probably an opposing player.
by Josie Becker on Sep 24, 2011 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions
that's really shocking
maybe the opposing clubhouse is poorly kept?
"I was a little scared he was into that Oakland thing. We swing here on 3-0." Grady Little on Andre
I never take Ryan Vogelsong seriously.
cal. lakers. dodgers. packers. chelsea.
vols. rangers. galaxy.
rathole- maybe they were referring to the midget militia?
"I was a little scared he was into that Oakland thing. We swing here on 3-0." Grady Little on Andre
Rathole
McCourt felt that all nice accommodations and accruements had to be used in one of their mansions, hence all pillows were taken…..PS Gammons has a paid gig on the Giants flagship station KNBR. I think now anytime he has anything to stay about the Dodgers it has to be negative.
Pimping Matt Kemp for MVP is hardly negative.
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Rathole... I didn't know Matt Kemp played his home games at Angels Stadium.
cal. lakers. dodgers. packers. chelsea.
vols. rangers. galaxy.
The article is unintentionally hilarious in many ways
The quoted paragraph above is pretty badly written. Then there is this wrong-word gem:
“He ought to win a Gold Glove, which is especially significant playing in the five specious parks in the National League West,” says one divisional front office person.I do tend to think of Phone Company Park as specious, in a way, but not all five.
Know thy audience Peter, national audience needs national references:
Both Kemp and Ethier are free agents at the end of the 2012 season, and it doesn’t take Kemp’s agent Dave Stewart to tell you that Matt Kemp on the market at age 28 is going to cost a lot more than an estate in Cotuit.Cotuit is in Cape Cod, presumably swanky.
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I love trolling Angel fans
http://discussions.latimes.com/20/la-sp-0924-angels-athletics-20110924/10?sort=asc
The Dude Abides at 5:03 PM September 24, 2011
The Angels should try to get that Mickey Napoleon guy from Texas. He’s got a ton of power, and has thrown out around 40% of base stealers when he’s played catcher. The guy has a lot of patience, too. He could DH and play catcher. They need to get rid of that Wells guy, also. Maybe trade Wells to Texas for Napoleon? Maybe too late now, maybe they should have tried that trade before the season started. Just a change in personnel of those two players alone would probably be worth a ten-game swing in the standings. You guys think Texas would go for that trade? Or is their GM too smart?
by The Dude Abides on Sep 24, 2011 5:11 PM PDT reply actions
Stewart on Dodger Pregame
Dave Stewart said many nice things about Kemp and the Dodgers and thought it is quite likely that they will be having a conversation with "Mr McCourt and Mr. Colletie regarding a long term contract.
Stewart’s comments a far cry from last year. Change in coaching staff this year helped him.
No help from the Giants
Although they scored a run in the first, Giants have 6 rookies in the line-up against kennedy. Surkamp already has walked two, bases loaded!
40 pitches plus in the first inning
Surkamp goes 2/3 of an inning. D Backs up 4-1, and Giant 2nd baseman ran into the umpire at 2nd trying to field a ball, priceless, but no help for Kershaw.
Game Chat
http://www.truebluela.com/2011/9/24/2446980/dodgers-padres-game-xvii-chat
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