Having grabbed some rays from baseball’s national spotlight thanks to their 9-1 start, the Dodgers can now expect the following treatment after what’s supposed to be their first test, a three-game series in Milwaukee beginning tonight:
Dodgers at Brewers, 5:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, SS
Mark Ellis, 2B
Matt Kemp, CF
Andre Ethier, RF
Juan Rivera, LF
James Loney, 1B
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Chad Billingsley, P
Dee Gordon, SS
Mark Ellis, 2B
Matt Kemp, CF
Andre Ethier, RF
Juan Rivera, LF
James Loney, 1B
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Chad Billingsley, P
Anthony Forkush
Genius!
underdog
Pretty much nailed it, Jon. Was thinking along same lines. They can’t win, even if they do win. I guess best case scenario is winning 2 out of 3 then. ;)
Madeleine Clarke St Marie
Outstanding.
Anonymous
“Just win, baby!” — A. Davis
Anonymous
What Al said … Though I think if he were saying anything right now it would be: Get me out of this box!!!!
Anonymous
LOL!
Anonymous
How long before AJ Ellis starts hitting in front of Uribe? Loney?
Terry Pruett
Unfortunately, the answer to this would be “forever”.
Terry Pruett
To be fair…every year an unexpected team jumps out to a good start (I think last year Pittsburgh did this). Given that the Dodgers only won 82 games last year, and given that the Padres and Pirates are not expected to be good THIS year, it can’t be a surprise when observers hold judgement. So…with that… I agree with Jon’s graphic, with the caveat that it’s all meaningless anyway until 50 games are in the bank. The team is playing well, though…and this will be a good test against some very good pitching and a team that should hit better than they have. Spotlight on Chad Billingsley tonight…let’s see what you’ve got, son.
Justin Drummond
I am looking forward to hearing what the national sports media has to say about what they think is wrong with Milwaukee.
Anonymous
I’m happy being the underdogs, and then defying all expectations in the end. Makes for a better story anyways
underdog
Me too! :)
Anonymous
Not to mention the Braun versus Kemp blather.
foul tip
Can’t say si.com’s Verducci runs from controversy. Quotes Conte a good bit here.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/tom_verducci/04/17/closers/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_t11_a0
Anonymous
Thanks, very informative.
Jon Weisman
Dodger starting pitchers: 4-1
Dodger relief pitchers: 5-0
Anonymous
Brilliant!
Jon Weisman
Roadrunner starts it off with a single …
Jon Weisman
Pickoff. Drat.
Anonymous
Dee’s been so good so far I forgot how being aggressive on the base paths really stinks when you aren’t successful.
Anonymous
Another routine double for Matt, and it’s not against the Padres.
Jon Weisman
Matt Kemp doubles in the first inning to raise his 2012 batting average to .500 (20 for 40).
Jon Weisman
I’d walk Ethier if I were the Brewers.
Jon Weisman
Or I’d strike him out.
Anonymous
He won on a technicality, Lyons.
Jon Weisman
Nice recovery from the leadoff double by Chad.
He gets out of the inning on 11 pitches, nine for strikes.
Anonymous
Nice inning by Bills after the leadoff double.
Anonymous
Oh dear–with DTV Extra Innings, it looks like I can only get aBrewers broadcast. So far, it hasn’t been bad, although all about the Brewers of course. When there is stress on either side will come the tell, and I can’t remember how these guys are. With Vin, even if I was for the opposition, I would have my ear glued because I would get great stories and details
Anonymous
And Gee—doesn’t Billz look good this year!!
Jeffrey Thomas III
I came back from starting my laundry to see the Brewers were up 2-0 in the bottom of the first. I wasn’t sure how this was possible with Ryan Braun their number 3 hitter up with a man on base so I went to MLB.com to check the play-by-play to see that KCAL was just wrong. I was worried that Bills had somehow given up a lead-off two-run homer.
Anonymous
KCAL was just an inning ahead.
Jeffrey Thomas III
Second time we’ve seen Kemp jump early for a fly ball this year. Shoulda had that one Matty.
Anonymous
Really hard play to make, as was the other one, but a Gold Glover is supposed to make them.
KT
The warning track at that part of the park is deeper/wider than any other ballpark in america according to the brewer announcers
Anonymous
I think we should be happy it was only a 2 run innings
KT
I agree or if they didn’t pull in the infield so early in the game Izturis would never had gotten on and he wouldn’t have been a threat to score
Anonymous
Should’ve been 1; could’ve been 3.
Anonymous
Disaster avoided, but Bills needs some help with adjustments.
KT
we need to put the pressure on their pitcher as well
Anonymous
not doing that with a 12 pitch innings
Anonymous
Gift.
Anonymous
I get to watch Matt bat with live look in (for a bit anyway)
(but the innings was over too quick)
Adam Luther
Steiner on my ride home has referred a couple times to Miller Park as “being one of the darker (poorly lit) parks in baseball.”
Anonymous
yup. I hate watching games there. it’s like spotty fluourescent lighting.
Anonymous
Wow. What do you guys think of that reaction by Braun? He has absolutely no angle on that pitch from LF to have an opinion if it was a strike or not. Sure looks like he was expecting retaliation.
Anonymous
While what I desire most is The Dodgers rebuilding and benefiting from their system, this could take a few years, and I delight in what buying one really good offensive player could do for this offense in the short run. What BA and others foresee is the Dodgers sytem producing 5-10 # 3 starters in the next few years, and possibly a few # 2’s. This is incredible if managed well.
Anonymous
Why?!
Jeffrey Thomas III
Don’t get it either. James could have scored on that double too.
Anonymous
Wow–Some Padre guy is so hopeless that the Dodgers get a run. Loney responds in kind.
Could Uribs be more hopeless?
KT
well that’s twice we ran us out of a run
Andrew Shimmin
James Loney is slow.
KT
I think it was a missed sign by someone and I would probably point my finger at James on this one
Anonymous
Mattingly will be asked I’m sure.
KT
That was a much smoother inning by Billz
KT
Let’s get some runs guys
KT
Mark how could you let that one go by
Anonymous
These B’s announcers are not too bad–too be fair– but it sure would be good for them to get a thumping.
KT
Way to go James
KT
Not a good way to go James
Anonymous
If Loney hadn’t struck out in his first at bat, he’d have a good chance of running for the cycle.
KT
Come on Chad
Sooo long Chad…At least you can maybe still win
Anonymous
Wow—too bad Loney had to bat in front of Uribe!
Anonymous
Oh No!–please not Matt Guerierre
KT
Strike 2 was low and outside
Anonymous
Going on the record now as not necessarily agreeing with that move. Bills cruising. Not a helpless hitter. Kennedy now 1 for 10.
Anonymous
I don’t think Gamel is “filling in” for Price at first. To paraphrase, Prince is not walking through that door.
Jason Ungar
Chad can throw more pitches than 85 can’t he??
KT
Come on DP
Andrew Shimmin
Matt Kemp is good at baseball.
KT
Nice Matty but you should have caught Izteris’s
KT
Way to get on Mark
Anonymous
That guy told the whole ballpark that he was going to squeeze…..
Nobody in the Dodger dugout, behind the plate, etc. … made any kind of adjustment….
The ball hit the bat and traveled 6 feet….. Brewers took the lead…
And, the Dodgers had absolutely no answer for it…
Poorly handled. IMHO.
KT
DRE!!!!!
Anonymous
Dre!!!
Jon Weisman
Andre!
That ball did not look like a homer to me off the bat. But yay!
KT
I didn’t think so either but the CF’er just keep traveling towards the wall
Anonymous
I was thinking the same thing. But in Monday-esque style it kept carrying and carrying :)
Anonymous
Way to go Andre!
KT
^_^
Anonymous
Was Honeycutt yelling something out at K-Rod and pounding his chest after that HR? Mattingly tugged on his jacket as if to say “knock it off.” Not used to seeing that.
KT
Is Kenley in?
KT
Yes
Nice…2 more Kenley
Anonymous
3 pitch strikeout, great way to start Kenley
KT
weak MVP chant going on
KT
1 more Kenley
KT
good inning…Let’s get some insurance
Anonymous
You gotta know when to hold ’em. And Kenley does.
Anonymous
Come on Uribe!!!
Oh well so much for that.
Jon Weisman
That was a beautiful pitch for called strike 3 on A.J.
Anonymous
Rats
KT
need a K here
Jon Weisman
This is certainly a tense moment.
KT
force is on…Come on DP
Anonymous
Great stop by Dee on the wild pickoff attempt
Jon Weisman
Time for the Dodgers to put in their triple-play defense.
Anonymous
Just what I was thinking!!
KT
wasn’t that the triple play pitch?
Jon Weisman
Big K after being down 2-0.
KT
Now time for the DP
Anonymous
Big K!!!!!
Jon Weisman
I applaud Ron Roenicke for going for it here and hitting for Izturis, even though he has no SS for extra innings.
KT
Ron played pony colt baseball right up the street at our local little league in West Covina
KT
and it paid off
Anonymous
Ugh
Anonymous
Bleah!
Anonymous
Dang.
Bob Bartholomew
bummer man..
Anonymous
Tough loss. But a great game.
Anonymous
You win some, you lose some. Tomorrow is another day
Gilbert
bad pitch… Javy been lucky last few times he keeps it up hes gonna lose that spot real quick
Anonymous
Sure, but this is a guy who after six games had a 0.667 WHIP and an 0.00 ERA.
KT
now I know how the padre fans felt after our come from behinds
Anonymous
Bummer of a final score, but… Great ball game. :-)
Michael
Must say that after seeing Guerra flirt with disaster a few times, I think he’d be better as the set-up man for Jansen. Even though Jansen blew a save last week I think that was because he was gassed (his top FB was 91).
Anonymous
That hurts..
Jon Weisman
NPUT
Anonymous
I’ll take partial blame here as I left my couch to go to a friends house. Up to that moment I had either watched or attended every game and we were 9-1. My bad.
Michael
I understand Mattingly pulling Billingsley for a pinch hitter with runners in scoring position, but Chad seemed to be in the zone. Guerrier gave up a run, and maybe if Chad got through the 7th it would have been a different ending. But, like I mentioned, I completely understand for the sake of scoring more runs.