There are a couple Dodgers-related links worth pursuing today (with a hat tip to Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts). The first is an online petition by Matt Falkenbury of The Daily Stache calling for Vin Scully to call one more World Series:
Vin Scully, the greatest baseball announcer of all time has not called a World Series Game on Television since Game 5 of the 1988 World Series when his Dodgers defeated the Mighty A's. As his career comes closer to an end, I feel that this great man and broadcaster needs to have one more chance to shine when the stage shines the brightest, The World Series. Join me in this push to have him get one more chance to crown a World Champion in the way it should always be done, with class, diginity and honor, the way he has done it for over 60 years.
The next is a thoroughly enjoyable interview with Dodgers advisor to team travel Bill DeLury, who has been with the organization since 1950, by Evan Bladh of Opinion Of Kingman's Performance.
In the winter of ’50 or the spring or early summer of ’51, there was a scout that we had working for us by the name of George Sisler, and I had just started working less than a year. And he said to me, "young man, if you want to stay in this business, remember one thing. God gave you two eyes, two ears and one mouth. And he did that because you should see and hear twice as much as you say." And that was over 60 years ago, and I’ll never forget that. It’s the best advice I’ve ever received. And I just told somebody that same thing today.
Tonight's Game
Clayton Kershaw has pitched three shutouts in his career, and the day after each one he was followed on the mound by Chad Billingsley. Here is how Billingsley has done in the first two occurrences:
- September 15, 2010 at San Francisco: 7 IP, 6 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts
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May 30, 2011 vs. Rockies: 7 IP, 11 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
One person who won't be hitting against Billingsley tonight is Miguel Cabrera, who is 0-for-12 against Billingsley in his career. Per Chris Iott of MLive.com:
"This is one of those no-brainers," [Jim] Leyland said. "He plays every day. He gives you everything he's got every single day. He's 0-for-12 against Billingsley. Those are common-sense moves. …
"You give him a break because the guy's been tough on him and you keep Victor and Alex (Avila) in the lineup."
Max Scherzer gets the start for the Tigers, trying to become the first 10-game winner in MLB this season (unless fellow nine-game winner Roy Halladay, whose game starts about two hours before tonight's Dodger Stadium tilt, gets there first).
Game Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV: KCAL