No, really – just keep pouring it on.
This moming, the Dodgers placed Chad Billingsley on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow pain (retroactive to April 16). Stephen Fife – ninth on the Dodgers’ starting-pitcher depth chart when the season began three weeks ago – will start today’s game in Baltimore, trying to help the Dodgers end their six-game losing streak.
Fife has started three games for Triple-A Albuquerque this year, posting a 4.61 ERA in 13 2/3 innings with 20 hits allowed, three walks and 14 strikeouts. As a major-leaguer, Fife had a 2.70 ERA in five starts covering 26 2/3 innings in 2012, with 25 hits and 12 walks allowed against 20 strikeouts.
Fife’s longest outing this season so far is five innings, in the game he last pitched, Monday at Iowa. He allowed four runs and struck out eight, throwing 91 pitches.
We’re waiting for details on the timing of Billingsley’s trip to the DL. The right-hander, of course, eschewed surgery last year despite missing the final six weeks of the season with his elbow problem. He has a 3.00 ERA in 12 innings this year with 12 hits allowed, five walks and six strikeouts.
By the way, 21-year-old former first-round pick Zach Lee has a 1.17 ERA after four starts for Double-A Chatanooga this year, allowing 26 baserunners in 23 innings while striking out 21. (His teammate, Yasiel Puig, is on the seven-day minor-league disabled list with a sprained thumb.)
Update: “Chad Billingsley is not making his scheduled start today due to increased tightness and pain in his right elbow that he experienced during his last bullpen session,” the Dodgers said in a statement. “After consulting Dr. Neal ElAttrache, it was decided that he will return to Los Angeles on Tuesday for further medical evaluation. More information will be forthcoming after that examination.”
Dodgers at Orioles, 10:35 a.m.
Carl Crawford, LF
Mark Ellis, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Matt Kemp, CF
Andre Ethier, RF
Jerry Hairston Jr., 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Skip Schumaker, DH
Justin Sellers, SS
(Stephen Fife, P)
Anonymous
Awesomeness keeps on coming…Long is beginning to take on a new meaning with this season
Anonymous
Lat year, I wanted the regular season to end in April because the Dodgers were in 1st.
This year, I’m embracing the same thought . . . for the opposite reason.
package206
It is beginning to sound like surgury might have been the best option for Bills.
Anonymous
I guess the less radical treatment was worth a shot, since going under the knife earlier would have meant missing the season in any event. Hope this works out for Bills. Nice to have a little depth. Is there anyone after Fife or do we start looking outside the system?
package206
That depth is disappearing, Bob.
Anonymous
That’s why I ask.
Anonymous
I was always skeptical but, at a distance, it’s easy to be critical.
Dave Alden
Adding to the ill tidings, Allen Webster is listed to make his Major League debut this evening for the Red Sox.
Last year’s big trade with the Sox has thus far worked out well for the Dodgers. especially with Crawford’s early performance. But, like many, I wondered at the time if Colletti really needed to include both Webster and de la Rosa in what was a salary dump for the Sox. The consensus in baseball this spring seems to agree, with the thought that Colletti had his pocket picked. Today turns the knife a little further.
Anonymous
Garbage truck stops at Dodger Stadium tomorrow… Colletti absolutely deserves to be put on it, maybe Joe Torre’s stooge also. Uribe to DFA, Sellers and Cruze to Albuquerque. Gordon and Castellanos back to LA. Some kind of trade action for a ss or 3rd baseman…
Anonymous
Webster hasn’t thrown a ML pitch yet. What was your take on Trayvon Robinson? The Boston trade needs more time still.
Anonymous
Did Fife fly overnight from Albuquerque, where the Isotopes played Oklahoma City yesterday?
Anonymous
Sounds as if he would have had no alternative, could be jet-lagged. I expect he would have had to change planes as well.
Anonymous
So, if that’s the case, he is probably pitching on a few hours of sleep, at best.
Anonymous
Yeah, I would certainly cut him some slack today.
Anonymous
I would probably cut him some slack because he’s Steven Fife also.
Anonymous
But at least he’s not Harang.
Anonymous
The way our pitchers are falling, I think we need him back!
Anonymous
Compare and contrast: Through yesterday’s action, the Dodgers are:
–next to last in the National League in RISP at .173, ahead of just the Cubs, who are at .148.
–last in the NL at .050 (1-for-20) in hitting with the bases loaded, but
–first in the NL at .310, in hitting with no one on base.
Linkmeister
David Pinto offers up hope for the Dodgers: http://baseballmusings.com/?p=92633
Anonymous
About Jake Arrieta, today’s starting pitcher for the Orioles:
–Career: 20-23, 5.33 ERA, WHIP of 1.457
–This year, 1-0, 5.40 ERA, WHIP of 1.600
Anonymous
vs. Dodgers: looking like a Cy Young Award candidate . . . but then they make almost every pitcher look that good
Anonymous
Carl with RISP!
Anonymous
Mellis & Agon with RISP!
Anonymous
Mark my words!!!!!
Anonymous
Adrian!!!! C’mon, Bison!!
Anonymous
THIS is what we were expecting this year!!!!!! 3 consecutive hits with RISP!!!!
Anonymous
Regardless of the outcome, let’s hope this inning is a turning point.
Linkmeister
Not to be greedy, but man, if Hernandez could have gotten a hit there — instead it’s three more LOB.
Anonymous
Clearly, a very good inning, one of the few this season. But it could have been a great inning. Ramon Hernandez? It’s a week bench.
Jeffrey Thomas III
After that DP thought Fife would make it out of the 5th with a chance at a win, bummer.
Anonymous
Matt hitting & stealing again . . . sure hope he’s busting out!
KT
Just caught up…had a plumbing emergency…Great slide by Kemp!!
Anonymous
Hope that it didn’t break the bank.
KT
don’t know yet…the pressure reducing valve isn’t carried by the local hardware stores…find out tomorrow
Anonymous
We can’t afford to be starting Sellers virtually game after game. Time to call up Dee Gordon despite his defensive shortcomings.
Anonymous
I’d like to think so, but I’m unconvinced.
Anonymous
Let’s get some insurance!
KT
there you go
Anonymous
Yes! Scoring in four different innings . . . have they done that at all this year?
Anonymous
Ethier 0 for 5 today, 2 for last 21; BA now lower than Kemp’s
Anonymous
I’m actually more worried about him rather than Kemp
Anonymous
DP for the W!
Jeffrey Thomas III
A win at last!
Anonymous
just woken up, great news on the score, not so great re Bills
KT
Yes…good come from behind
Anonymous
We needed that.
KT
that’s definitely an understatement…thought that streak was going to last forever
Anonymous
Great win, especially after the news re Billz and the hole they started in.
Let;s hope this is the start of a winning streak!
Jon Weisman
NPUT