Matt Kemp, Dodgers Go Out On A High Note
by Eric Stephen on Sep 28, 2011 10:06 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Recaps
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Well, that was some final night of baseball, wasn't it? While the Red Sox and Braves snatched defeat from the jaws of victory to complete their dual epic collapses, the Rays and Cardinals were busy snatching their respective wild cards. Meanwhile in Arizona, Matt Kemp, Ted Lilly, and the Dodgers went out winners, 7-5 over the Diamondbacks.
Kemp hit his 39th home run of the season in the seventh inning, to win the outright National League home run crown, extending his hitting streak to 12 games. He had a shot in the ninth inning to join the 40/40 club, but struck out against Ryan Cook. Still, Kemp's season was ridiculous. He hit .324/.399/.586 on the year, and tied for second in the league with 40 steals.
Kemp is the first player to finish in the top two in both home runs and stolen bases since Hank Aaron in 1963.
Kemp lead the league with 39 home runs. Adrian Beltre (2004) is the only other LA Dodger to do that.
Kemp lead the league with 126 RBI. Tommy Davis (1962) is the only other LA Dodger to do that. Davis, with 153 RBI that year, is the only LA Dodger with more RBI in a season than Kemp.
Kemp lead the league with 115 runs scored. Brett Butler (1991) is the only other LA Dodger to do that.
Kemp is the second Dodger ever to lead the league in both runs and RBI, joining Duke Snider (1955).
Kemp is the third Dodger ever to lead the league in both homers and RBI, joining Dolph Camilli (1941) and Oyster Burns (1890).
Kemp lead the league with 353 total bases. The last Dodger to do that was Snider in 1954, when the club was in Brooklyn.
No matter how you slice it, Matt Kemp had a season for the ages. A deserving National League MVP.
Lilly continued his second half resurgence, pitching seven scoreless innings to pick up his 12th win of the season. Since the beginning of August, Lilly put up a 2.09 ERA in 11 starts, with 21 unintentional walks and 64 strikeouts in 69 innings. To top that, Lilly didn't allow a single home run over his last six starts and 42 2/3 innings, avoiding the 30/30 club.
James Loney continued his second half surge with his 12th home run of the season. Loney in his last 35 games of the year hit .388/.438/.679 with 16 doubles and seven home runs.
Dee Gordon had two hits, scored two runs, and added another stolen base. He ended his abbreviated rookie season hitting .304/.325/.362, a remarkable rise considering he was hitting .232/.250/.280 when he was optioned to the minors on July 4. Gordon since his recall on July 31 hit .345/.367/.408 with five walks and 11 strikeouts in 148 plate appearances.
Jerry Sands continued his September run with two more singles, and finished his season with 24 hits in his last 59 at-bats (.407). Fellow rookie Justin Sellers shook off his late slump with two doubles in his final game too.
Eugenio Velez also made history on Wednesday, but not the good kind. He grounded out in the top of the eighth, ending his season at 0 for 37, the most at-bats ever by a position player in without a hit. In addition, Velez is 0 for his last 46, the longest stretch of futility by a position player in major league history, surpassing Bill Bergen (1909) and Craig Counsell (2011).
Kenley Jansen got the final two outs of the season, but amazingly didn't strike anybody out. He ended his season with 96 strikeouts in 53 2/3 innings, a new major league record of 16.10 strikeouts per nine innings.
The Dodgers ended with an 82-79 record, including going 25-10 over their last 35 games.
See you next April 5, when reigning National League Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw goes 1-0 on the season at Petco Park.
WP - Ted Lilly (12-14): 7 IP, 3 hits, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts
LP - Joe Saunders (12-13): 6 IP, 9 hits, 5 runs, 2 strikeouts
Sv - Kenley Jansen (5): 2 up, 2 down
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Ah, I just asked in the other thread if this is the pre-game ritual Vin was talking about. Thanks, I missed what he said.
That’s some chemistry, right there.
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Sep 28, 2011 10:20 PM PDT up reply actions
Honey looks like an Uncle at a family bbq not knowing what to do after his nephew just cussed out his parents.
by Lex in Brooklyn on Sep 28, 2011 10:22 PM PDT up reply actions
And Sellers has no sense of timing, waiting to bump fists while they’re doing it. Didn’t realize he has a hawk.
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Sep 28, 2011 10:24 PM PDT up reply actions
and Kenley
maybe Tolleson..Jerry Sands…Prince HOPING
by Dodgerblue8188 on Sep 28, 2011 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions
so much fun
The Dodgers are all of a sudden a very compelling team
by Lex in Brooklyn on Sep 28, 2011 10:27 PM PDT up reply actions
It’s all because Loney went All World for two months, yet people are eager to replace him.
Now, if you say “See how good we are when Loney gets hot? We could play like this all season if he was just a better hitter. We should replace him with Prince because he’s more likely to be consistently good all year” then I could buy the argument. Otherwise, Loney is 1/3 the price of Prince, 1/4 the price of Pujols, and that’s a couple grips of money that could be used on Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Beltran for a couple years rather than on a long term deal for one of three players (Reyes the third) who aren’t guaranteed to make it out of the end of that deal alive.
interesting scenario
but Beltran and A-ram have concerns of their own.
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 29, 2011 8:04 AM PDT up reply actions
You should visit their team page on CBS Sports.
There are four – count ’em, four! – threads for the entire year. Dodgers are middle of the pack with 160.
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Sep 28, 2011 10:21 PM PDT up reply actions
there is a 2000 comment post in the middle of 50-60 comment post
by NotJoeTorre on Sep 28, 2011 10:24 PM PDT up reply actions
YES!!!
See you next April 5, when reigning National League Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw goes 1-0 on the season at Petco Park.
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 28, 2011 10:15 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
i still think
we got a shot beating the Phillies if it was not for him
by Dodgerblue8188 on Sep 28, 2011 10:16 PM PDT up reply actions
I laugh when people blame entire playoff series losses on a situational relief pitcher.
We’d have been better in 2006 if relief pitcher Brad Penny didn’t shit himself in Game 1, if we could have scored more than one run off the corpse of Tom Glavine (Kuo started the game relieved by Tomko and Hendrickson IIRC), and if Maddux and Broxton hadn’t shat themselves in game 3. That series was less about beimel and more about our bullpen being Saito, Broxton and broken Gagne/Brazoban, shitty Odalis and then guys like Tomko, Hamulack, Dessens, Gio Carrara being relied on.
We’d have been better in 2008 if Bills didn’t shit himself in game 2, Cory Wade didn’t blow game 4, and Bills didn’t shit himself in game 5.
We’d have been better in 2009 if Kershaw didn’t shit himself in Game 1 at home, if we’d have scored even one run off the corpse of Pedro martinez in game 2, if Kuroda didn’t shit himself in Game 3 and Cliff Lee didn’t exist, if Broxton didn’t shit himself in game 4, and if Padilla didn’t shit himself in game 5.
by G.Scott on Sep 29, 2011 8:10 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Wake up on the wrong side of the bed today?
by Michael White on Sep 29, 2011 8:12 AM PDT up reply actions
Not at all. It really is funny to think a situational lefty reliever could lose multiple games he didn’t pitch in.
by G.Scott on Sep 29, 2011 8:24 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
On the next plane to Burkina Faso
Are these shirts:
by slaps825 on Sep 28, 2011 10:16 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
will the second place WC team get a shirt next season?
by NotJoeTorre on Sep 28, 2011 10:20 PM PDT up reply actions
Why? The wild card team made the playoffs when 22 of the 30 teams didn’t. Good for them.
by G.Scott on Sep 29, 2011 8:11 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
thanks to the last 2 months
it’s incredible how things turned around by just looking at stats and there record and series won
by Dodgerblue8188 on Sep 28, 2011 10:24 PM PDT up reply actions
The Giants are no longer world champions
by NotJoeTorre on Sep 28, 2011 10:25 PM PDT up reply actions
If you can’t defend, you’re still the champions until the post season is over?
by NotJoeTorre on Sep 28, 2011 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions
it makes sense but whatever! no giants this year
by NotJoeTorre on Sep 28, 2011 10:31 PM PDT up reply actions
84-77 pythagorean record (85-77 in 162 games) FTW! :)
by Eric Stephen on Sep 28, 2011 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions
I'll be shocked if hes better the Kuroda
and on that note, I hope someone beats out Eovaldi for a spot in the rotation
by NotJoeTorre on Sep 28, 2011 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions
True or False: if someone beats Eovaldi for a spot in the rotation, it’ll be somebody like Padilla (pitches well but injury issues) or an NRI.
magnae clunes mihi placent, nec possum de hac re mentiri.
quis enim, consortes mei, non fateatur
by Humma Kavula on Sep 28, 2011 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions
OK, then, true or false: an injury-prone pitcher or an NRI should beat Eovaldi for a starting spot, because Eovaldi has options and could use more time in the minors.
magnae clunes mihi placent, nec possum de hac re mentiri.
quis enim, consortes mei, non fateatur
by Humma Kavula on Sep 28, 2011 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Wada is the clear cut #2 starter here, amirite?
by silverwidow on Sep 28, 2011 10:31 PM PDT up reply actions
I have never heard his name before, so yes, you are right. Sorry, I mean, you are rite.
magnae clunes mihi placent, nec possum de hac re mentiri.
quis enim, consortes mei, non fateatur
by Humma Kavula on Sep 28, 2011 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions
I don’t know about you, but I’m not putting my money in any institution called “SoftBank.”
This is America, and we do things hard. HARDBANK! That’s where my money goes.
magnae clunes mihi placent, nec possum de hac re mentiri.
quis enim, consortes mei, non fateatur
by Humma Kavula on Sep 28, 2011 10:34 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Funny, I thought the same thing. Just make sure he leaves it at home, and we’re cool.
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Sep 28, 2011 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Wada video
He tops out at 88 mph but gets SHITLOADS of Ks.
by silverwidow on Sep 28, 2011 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions
I know nothing about anything, and baseball least of all, and Japanese baseball even less than that, but……. isn’t there a pretty good history of soft-tossers from the Japanese leagues coming over to the majors and getting exposed?
What makes Wada different?
magnae clunes mihi placent, nec possum de hac re mentiri.
quis enim, consortes mei, non fateatur
by Humma Kavula on Sep 28, 2011 10:37 PM PDT up reply actions
He is murdering guys in that video with a slider. I mean, making them look KP. Check it out.
by silverwidow on Sep 28, 2011 10:39 PM PDT up reply actions
I’d feel better if the fastball was 93 and the slider was 88
but on the video it did look deceptive with late movement
by Hollywood Joe on Sep 28, 2011 10:50 PM PDT up reply actions
like to hear
G.Scott’s analysis
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 28, 2011 10:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Not even 88
He topped out at 140 KPH in that video, which translates to
140.0 KPH = 86.9 MPH.
by The Dude Abides on Sep 28, 2011 11:59 PM PDT up reply actions
lol, true
lefty
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 28, 2011 10:43 PM PDT up reply actions
It could be Steve Nebraska and G would say “meh.”
by Eric Stephen on Sep 28, 2011 10:43 PM PDT up reply actions
LOL
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 28, 2011 10:44 PM PDT up reply actions
headcase
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 28, 2011 10:45 PM PDT up reply actions
theres a reason we do so well with NRIs and shit
amirite
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
Is this the first time that both Uptons are in the playoffs?
cal. lakers. dodgers. packers. chelsea.
vols. rangers. galaxy.
So has anyone asked Skinny Swag on twitter to confirm explanation of the weird huggy dance with Barajas?
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
There is a ton of potential with Dee and funny handshakes. I suspect years of fun out of this guy
by Lex in Brooklyn on Sep 28, 2011 10:36 PM PDT up reply actions
If Dee is statistically decent, he will be breathtakingly amazing enough, to be a HUGE fan favorite
Dee is going to be loved by all
by Hollywood Joe on Sep 28, 2011 10:39 PM PDT up reply actions
half elmo / half amazing
he will do things we have never seen before and won’t see since
by Hollywood Joe on Sep 28, 2011 10:41 PM PDT up reply actions
He will be the favorite baseball player of 6 year olds the world over.
by Lex in Brooklyn on Sep 28, 2011 10:49 PM PDT up reply actions
This is right, Joe. As long as he can hold down the job, he will be loved.
I really missed his first stint with the team — that came when I fell off the face of the earth as things got busy at work — so all I’ve seen is Good Dee and Really Good Dee, and whoa, that guy is fun.
magnae clunes mihi placent, nec possum de hac re mentiri.
quis enim, consortes mei, non fateatur
by Humma Kavula on Sep 28, 2011 10:43 PM PDT up reply actions
From Tommy Rancel, formerly of DRaysBay
Don Zimmer….DON ZIMMER said he’s never seen nothing like this. Said he felt like he was playing in the game
love that
I wish we could the whole day over, hell the whole season over
by Hollywood Joe on Sep 28, 2011 10:42 PM PDT up reply actions
him playing in the game would only have made it more memorable
They Yankees would have given him an inning or so
Overqualified in an underqualified world since 2008.
Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw
this year was phenomenal. You are all that is good and right with baseball and the universe. Thanks to you two for making this such a memorable season, it really was a pleasure.
Other players made Dodgerdom proud, like Carroll with his solid presence, Jansen with his utter domination, Dee and Sands with their second stints, Loney’s rise from the dead, Rubby’s heater, Guerra’s surprising emergence, Gwynn Jr.‘s sparkling defense, Navarro’s momentum-turning DFA.
And yes, you too Eugenio, with your foray into history. We will always hold you dear. Hope to see you on the Giants next year.
2012: A New Hope
Overqualified in an underqualified world since 2008.
by Pure Azure on Sep 28, 2011 10:43 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
For next year, at least at this point..
My wish is that we would acquire a 1st rate starter to go with Kershaw, plus Kuroda again and a solid 2nd baseman.
3rd base too, but I doubt that will happen, so hopefully Uribe picks his game way up next year.
End of day August 31
Standings!
AL East
Boston 83-52
New York 81-53 (1½ GB)
Tampa Bay 74-61 (9 GB)
NL Wild Card
Atlanta 80-55
St. Louis 72-64 (8½ GB)
The Braves scored seven runs in their final five games (0-5)
I love that Boston and Atlanta had better years than the Dodgers, yet we feel so much better on how everything turned out
expectations and perception
by Hollywood Joe on Sep 28, 2011 10:53 PM PDT up reply actions
Ending on a shitty note is the worst. Ending on a hopeful note with interesting young players is fun.
by Lex in Brooklyn on Sep 28, 2011 10:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Baseball is amazing
after the Dodgers swept the Cards a while back they looked completely lifeless. Wainwright going down at the beginning of the year looked like doom. Also Albert’s supposed broken wrist.
Tampa was given up for dead at the beginning of this year (by me and many others) with all their FA defections, and I thought the Red Sox were a lock to make the WS.
Overqualified in an underqualified world since 2008.
I believe Adam Wainwright is currently peeing on Jonny Gomes.
"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great."
by Nolij on Sep 28, 2011 11:19 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Gomes was a Red
In spring training and when he heard that Wainwright was out for the year Gomes went into the Reds clubhouse singing and celebrating about said injury.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 28, 2011 11:49 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
he said that wasn’t true
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 29, 2011 6:49 AM PDT up reply actions
Sorry if this sounds retarded
but what if we get both Wada and Kuroda? Two japanese pitchers sounds kinda cool.
Someone I associated with in high school
hit a game winning home run to put the Rays into the playoffs. That’s pretty cool. Man what a night : )
yeah, he was in the brother school of the all-girls school I went to
by Josie Becker on Sep 28, 2011 11:18 PM PDT up reply actions
St. John Bosco
my brother went there for his freshman year
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 29, 2011 6:50 AM PDT up reply actions
Gordon now has my hopes irrationally up
by Lex in Brooklyn on Sep 28, 2011 11:08 PM PDT up reply actions
he was the 26th prospect in baseball
he is producing in the major leagues. I don’t feel entirely irrational at thinking he could really be something.
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
I’m amazed, considering he was a bit mediocre in hitting in AAA (taking the hitter friendliness into account)
Yes. I did not expect anything like this
by Lex in Brooklyn on Sep 28, 2011 11:54 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh man, MLB Network showed NESN during the rain delay
Sox were up, and Rays were down 7-3. On the NESN broadcast, Dan Shaugnessy was freaking giddy, and said this:
I think the Rays are not going to win tonight. I think the one thing we’ve eliminated tonight is the Red Sox season is not going to end tonight. They live to play another day.
Imagine the self important self pity in Boston right now.
by Lex in Brooklyn on Sep 28, 2011 11:12 PM PDT up reply actions
my good friend is RSox fan. i was rooting for them
"They say The Jet's lost a step or two... but I wouldn't be surprised to see some fireworks here."
a rsox friend of mine on FB
“hey Sox fans, at least we have our narrative back”
by Lex in Brooklyn on Sep 28, 2011 11:24 PM PDT up reply actions
If you throw out the last decade, how perfectly would this have fit the curse? The Almighty shutting Jon Lester down, Papelbon choking and the two-headed monster of Evan Longoria Parker and Dan Freaking Johnson.
The only thing better would be if this had happened to the Cubs.
"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great."
ESPN could have interrupted Catching He’ll with an update from the game! ;)
by Eric Stephen on Sep 28, 2011 11:37 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
the Bruins finally winning this year is their only solace
Overqualified in an underqualified world since 2008.
I can't believe i missed the final game!
what’s worse, i wasnt on TBLA for this game
"They say The Jet's lost a step or two... but I wouldn't be surprised to see some fireworks here."
Fucking hell, I missed a historic baseball day
Screw you, Shaugnessy…
The more you drink, the less gruesome I look.
Barca Blaugranes
@shadowking011
I am happy that Joe Maddon
doesn’t have to go back to his other job…
last thought of the night
O’s and Rays were down to their last strike
Overqualified in an underqualified world since 2008.
Kershaw and Kemp both had great seasons, historic even
And the young players (Gordon, Sands and the rest) progressed nicely… I am so looking forward to 2012…
The more you drink, the less gruesome I look.
Barca Blaugranes
@shadowking011
I am with you on that.
Only real hole in the whole team is ownership.
by the_mighty_met on Sep 29, 2011 12:51 AM PDT up reply actions
I havent seen two Dodgers reporters fight before
But two Eagles writers apparently came to blows:
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/2011/09/28/2011-09-28_writers_punchy.html
I did</> see Michael Eaves go off on TJ Simers for like 10 minutes in the Dodger dugout for misreporting a question Eaves asked Mike Scioscia a few days earlier.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 29, 2011 12:02 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Just in case I broke the italics…
by Eric Stephen on Sep 29, 2011 12:03 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
If the Dodgers can re-sign Kuroda
IMO, their first priority, if they can afford him, should be to sign Reyes and convince him to play 2B for health and longevity reasons. If not Reyes, then try to do the same with Jimmy Rollins. Five years with a sixth-year option for Reyes, three years with a fourth-year option for Rollins. I think it’s likely that Reyes would turn this down, but I think the team should still make the effort. Rollins would be a decent fallback option. The lineup below could score a lot of runs:
SS Gordon
2B Reyes or Rollins
CF Kemp
LF Ethier (healthy at last)
RF Sands
1B Loney
3B Uribe (resurgent)
C Barajas/Ellis
P
by The Dude Abides on Sep 29, 2011 12:11 AM PDT reply actions
What about this?
SS- Gordon
3B- Furcal
CF-Kemp
RF- Either
LF- Sands
1B- Loney
2B- Uribe
C- Caramrod
If Prince is a possibility, do the same thing.
I’m cnvinced signing Raffy on the cheap and sticking him at 3rd will get one more good year out of him.
by Lex in Brooklyn on Sep 29, 2011 12:36 AM PDT up reply actions
Ethier in Left???
Eithier has one of the best arms in baseball and look at his and Kemp’s Double-Plays and Assists. Big numbers. Sands is going to have to take it from him if he is going to play there. Best arm since Joe Ferguson. Gordon played ROY quality. Rollins would be cool. Carole was great though. Dodgers know they don’t have a great catcher. No one ready in the system either.
Tip of the hat to Barajas though for clutch power hitting. Catcher runs the pitching staff and team defense so let’s get Clayton a great battery mate. Like your thoughts. Michale Young will be available for right deal and plays excellent third base. Great bat and Rangers have disrespected him enough that he wants to move.
by the_mighty_met on Sep 29, 2011 12:40 AM PDT up reply actions
you don't watch Ethier play the field much I guess
he’s pretty bad aside from his decent arm. Sands has a better arm.
Overqualified in an underqualified world since 2008.
Ethier is a terrible fielder. He has a good arm, but Sands is far better
by Lex in Brooklyn on Sep 29, 2011 12:57 AM PDT up reply actions
Referring to Ethier as the best arm since Joe Ferguson is downright silly in an organization that has featured Reggie Smith and Raul Mondesi in right. Shawn Green’s arm was pretty comparable to Ethier’s too.
"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great."
Andre has an accurate arm
But not a real strong one. He’s more suited for LF at this point in his career. Both Bison and Sands have much stronger arms than Andre, and they also have more range, especially on shallower fly balls. I think if the team can sign Rollins or Reyes, then they could try and re-sign Gamer as the primary backup middle infielder, and keep Sellers instead of Miles as the other utility guy. There is no way that Miles belongs at 3B in any single inning of a pennant race, and I’m confident that my proposed lineup would result in plenty of important games in September and possibly October 2012. I’m really hoping Hiroki comes back, and I think Eveland could hold down the 5th spot in the rotation until Eovaldi gets called up in July after having polished his secondary stuff in Chattanooga. IMO, Eveland has 7th starter stuff but 3rd/4th starter command.
by The Dude Abides on Sep 29, 2011 2:02 AM PDT up reply actions
Ethier has one of the best arms in baseball and look at his and Kemp’s Double-Plays and Assists. Big numbers.
Ethier had 8 assists (tied for 14th among RFs) and 0 double-plays this year.
He’s never finished in the top 10 in assists among RFs in MLB. He has 2 double-plays in his career.
any miracle money this offseason
should go to signing Kemp. That should be their first priority.
Overqualified in an underqualified world since 2008.
Obviously,
But I will hold out on the fantasy of all the above happening…
or, or this!
Sands is moved to 3rd and shows he can hack it, Rivera and Loney re signed, and…viola!
SS- Dee
3B- Sands
CF- Kemo
RF- Ethier
LF- Rivera
1B- Loney
3B- Uriba
C- Robajaellis
by Lex in Brooklyn on Sep 29, 2011 12:59 AM PDT up reply actions
Coming home from Aizona
Wow what a week. The tension during these last three games was playoff level. Matt Kemp was rewarded with much Diamondbacks respect. His defense is what everyone at the airport is talking about. Of course the whole town is talking baseball right now. Last night was the traditional Dodger “Dem Bums” heartbreaker. Only the Dodgers can do so much and blow it! LOL There is no glory in scoring six unearned runs. Defense wins games and our Dodgers certainly have some holes to fill. Torre brought on Blake to toughen his young club and it lead to two solid playoff runs. I agree with all who say that we need 2nd and 3rd covered. The great Dodger teams were strong up the middle.
Those teams were owned by people who loved the Dodger’s traditions. They made a lot of money because they loved their Dodgers. Exit McCourt and enter a new owner who has the same passions as we fans have.
The team finished magnificently! Last night’s loss is just part of Dodger Tradition.
Thank you Matt Kemp for saving the team and telling the world he plays best when his mom is watching. That’s Cool coming from a record-breaking MVP.
Kershaw is from my neighborhood in Texas and he no longer looks like the high-schooler we knew… LOL
A Cy Young triple crown and his team spirit gives me faith in the future.
Gotta board my flight. To all my good friends and fellow fans see you in a few months when we will take this damned division.
Arizona is going to face a hot brewers club and from what I saw this week I am not sure they can take Braun and Fielder. I personally will not bet against Kurt Gibson.
Good luck Arizona thanks for the hospitality this trip.
Go Dodgers!!!
KP
by the_mighty_met on Sep 29, 2011 12:26 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Final note/quote on this incredible night from Robert Andino, who had the walk off hit against BOS
“To end the season like this and make Boston go home sad and crying, I’ll take it all day. I’ve got no words for it. You saw Boston’s faces,” he said.
Wow, he doesn’t hate the Red Sox at all…
The more you drink, the less gruesome I look.
Barca Blaugranes
@shadowking011
Showalter wont play you if you dont
by Lex in Brooklyn on Sep 29, 2011 12:38 AM PDT up reply actions
Boston sad and crying???
The GM ripped the heart out of the team months ago. No one likes losing this way. Glad you found some happiness out of someone’s despair. Most folks won’t do that. Too much class.
by the_mighty_met on Sep 29, 2011 12:47 AM PDT reply actions
The word you’re looking for is Schadenfreude…
The more you drink, the less gruesome I look.
Barca Blaugranes
@shadowking011
hmmm
can’t figure out how to use baseball reference
I wonder how many players have reached 39-39 before kemp
Here you go
Rk Player Year HR SB Age Tm
1 Bobby Bonds 1973 39 43 27 SFG
2 Jose Canseco 1988 42 40 23 OAK
3 Barry Bonds 1996 42 40 31 SFG
4 Alex Rodriguez 1998 42 46 22 SEA
5 Vladimir Guerrero 2002 39 40 27 MON
6 Alfonso Soriano 2002 39 41 26 NYY
7 Alfonso Soriano 2006 46 41 30 WSN
8. Matt Kemp. 2011 39 40. 27 LA
by bhsportsguy on Sep 29, 2011 12:59 AM PDT up reply actions
Nate Silver calculates the odds
But just for fun, let’s put all of them together in sequence:
The Red Sox had just a 0.3 percent chance of failing to make the playoffs on Sept. 3.
The Rays had just a 0.3 percent chance of coming back after trailing 7-0 with two innings to play.
The Red Sox had only about a 2 percent chance of losing their game against Baltimore, when the Orioles were down to their last strike.
The Rays had about a 2 percent chance of winning in the bottom of the 9th, with Johnson also down to his last strike.
Multiply those four probabilities together, and you get a combined probability of about one chance in 278 million of all these events coming together in quite this way.
by bhsportsguy on Sep 29, 2011 2:33 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
How is your trip?
When we get you back?
by Hollywood Joe on Sep 29, 2011 6:13 AM PDT up reply actions
I get up about 5:30 every morning
India is still working then, allows me to react to any news within their business day
by Hollywood Joe on Sep 29, 2011 7:08 AM PDT up reply actions
the odds of Velez playing in the majors next year
Right up there with my dog winning the Nobel Prize for physics.
by preacher roe on Sep 29, 2011 9:04 AM PDT up reply actions
Way to put this season to bed. Now on to months of pissing about who we can afford and whinning about what we have.
I for one hope that we dangle Guerrier and Hawksworth in front of Boston for a pot of chowder and some crab pots, or the proverbial bag of used baseballs. I think that we have enough depth in the minors to fill out our bullpen and still have good depth. I also think that we have seen the last of Mac the 9th unless we pony up some money, again I see him being persued by bean town. I think that Mac will be missed, I know that I will miss him. I can see us in working a deal to bring Kuo back and Brox, both of whom should be on incentive heavy contracts.
On to the off season. Free Agency HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
Grimjack = Lion-O
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 29, 2011 7:04 AM PDT up reply actions
Went to bed early last night
anything interesting happen? :)
by Xeifrank on Sep 29, 2011 6:49 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
From the TBLA prediction thread in March
Immouch had by far the most accurate prediction on the 2011 season. Pretty incredible how good this one was:
78 to 81 wins
i’m seeing this year’s team as bottoming out before a period of spectacular success
here’s why:
as much as i like the starting pitching, on paper, i don’t believe in the full-year health of lilly, kuroda, padilla and garland. as a result, injuries will turn the team’s lone area of strength into a problem. we have avg. or below avg. major leaguers at at LF, 3B, 2B, C, 1B. our closer looks shaky (and that’s the optimistic view)… our bench/infield depth is such that aaron miles could wind up with 200-plus ABs… the defense has the potential to range from bad to very bad
on the plus side
- sands comes up, briefly, and looks like the starting LF for 2012
- rdl makes 5 quality starts in the bigs.
- dejesus hits .275 and steals 15 bases
- jansen finishes the season as closer, though he is held back a bit in sept. as a non-contending team chooses not to overwork him…
- kemp revives mvp talk
Pretty much the only prediction he missed was on DeJesus, but maybe he just meant Gordon. Heckuva job!
Some dude named immouch. Scroll down to 12:52 pm.
That's pretty impressive overall
I’m surprised the demise of Ethier isn’t on here with how much he got right.
Loney’s last 47 games: 40 Starts Team Record 30-17 180 PA 160 AB 29 Runs 60 Hits 17 2B 1 3B 8 HR 31 RBI 18 BB 2 IBB 20 K .375/.438/.644 1.082 OPS
I’m willing to have him be our starting 1B, unless we go for Pujols or Fielder, so Loney is basically my top realistic choice.
I'm fine with Loney at 1B next year
If we can get another bat at 2B or 3B.
by dodgers4life on Sep 29, 2011 8:22 AM PDT up reply actions
Two years of wasted at bats for Dan Johnson by Tampa management turns into one final magic at bat.
If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.
how about that?
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 29, 2011 8:23 AM PDT up reply actions
Maybe it was mentioned but in the post game show after they had Dee on, they ran of clip of them talking to D2X about 2012 and what he was looking forward too. He said the character of the players, then mentioned Miles, Carroll, and Blake. Mind you they didn’t ask him about 2011 but about 2012. Kind of add he would pointedly mention three free agents.
If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.
That was all I remember, then Lyons and other dude went with that and started talking about how great their character was.
If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.
did you see Ned
on the pregame?
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 29, 2011 8:26 AM PDT up reply actions
No, I missed the beginning, didn’t catch anything until around the 3rd inning.
If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.
said pretty much the same stuff he's been saying
the one kind of interesting tidbit to me was them asking him about Uribe, and if he’s talked to him about his subpar year. Ned said he was going to visit him in about a week or so.
“Gonna have a conversation with him?”
“Maybe a few.” Ned said, laughing a bit.
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 29, 2011 8:30 AM PDT up reply actions
Kenley's last 34.2 Innings from June 18th on
32.2 Innings 10 hits 2 Runs 61 Ks 12 BBs 0.55 ERA .094 BA .192 OBP .104 SLG
Jerry Sands
Using Fangraphs leaderboard
For the month of Sept:
As a RF had the 5th best wRC in baseball at 153
As a LF had the 3rd best wRC in baseball at 153
Sept line of .342 / .415 / .492 in 83 plate appearances.
If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.
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