Dodgers at Giants, 7:15 p.m.
Jerry Hairston Jr., LF
Mark Ellis, 2B
Matt Kemp, CF
Andre Ethier, RF
Hanley Ramirez, 3B
James Loney, 1B
Luis Cruz, SS
A.J. Ellis, C
Stephen Fife, P
The Dodgers placed Scott Elbert on the disabled list with left elbow inflammation, and used the vacated roster spot to recall Stephen Fife for tonight’s start against Matt Cain in San Francisco.
Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reported that Elbert “has been dealing with discomfort for several weeks,” which is itself discomforting to hear. Interestingly, however, Elbert has been pretty strong in over the past two months. Since May 23, he has a 0.98 ERA in 18 1/3 innings over 22 games, allowing 18 baserunners while striking out 17 — and stranding all 22 inherited runners.
Elbert has also been more effective against right-handed hitters (.584 OPS) than lefty (.733) this season.
* * *
From the Wish I’d Thought of That Dept., Sam Miller of Baseball Prospectus discusses the prospects of introducing a deep pit into a baseball field.
Anonymous
I think the deep pit should be where the home plate umpire stands. So they can have a really good look at those ankle high pitches that they have been calling for strikes lately
Linkmeister
I like the idea put forth by one of BP’s commenters: Alligators in the pit.
Anonymous
here is a nice piece on Fife from the Isotopes web-site dated Tuesday. I linked it here at DT very late that night but I think there’s no harm in linking again:
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/mlb/minorleagues/affiliates/index.jsp?c_id=la
Anonymous
from a link provided by foul tip to a Cubs writers material: Dempster, as the parent of a seriously affected special needs child has much more on his plate when he makes a decision than someone who has a family without those issues.
Anonymous
Tonight’s lineup out yet?
Anonymous
There’s a slightly changed version of the article you quoted, Jon, on dodgers.com Elbert has been dealing with tenderness for several weeks, and the club nearly had to disable him early this month while in Arizona. That is a key reason the Dodgers wanted veteran lefty reliever Randy Choate, who was included in the Ramirez deal.now. It now says
veryolddodgerfan
they’ve wanted a real lefthanded situational lefty from day 1. been talking about it all year.
Anonymous
I thought Choate looked pretty good in his first outing.
Anonymous
that was a quote not my opinion in case that fact was not clear so your comment was pointless at least as a reply to mine.
veryolddodgerfan
i thought it was pretty pointed. or something is pretty pointed. dang, i’m all mixed up now.
veryolddodgerfan
it’s always about you. hmmm.
Anonymous
I have discovered that we have root beer in Aus!! It is often known as sarsaparilla
http://www.bundaberg.com/info/product_range/sarsaparilla/?gclid=CMKrl5v9urECFedMpgod4DQAQA
Jim Hitchcock
No kidding? I always wondered what sasparilla was like (they used to offer it at bars in the old western movies.
foul tip
But still no skunks.
You’d rather have root beer. Trust me on that.
Anonymous
Kemp & Ethier (since coming back) haven’t produced like i thought they would but i think (hope) it’s just a matter of time, long term i think the Dodgers have the bats & arms to beat Frisco. big picutre baby picture.
Anonymous
Whats our record since June 1? I believe we are below 500.
Anonymous
by one game Artie, your right.
Anonymous
Thanks I thought it was more than that. I guess it just seems worse.
Anonymous
Love the picture of Hanley Ramirez in the last thread, SooHoo knows how to take ’em.
Anonymous
I agree with your predicted line-up because Mattingly is much more patient than I am but let’s look at Hairston vs Abreu on the season vs RHP: Hairston OPS 751, Abreu 697 doesn’t seem like a big difference but it’s all in SLG
More important: last 30 days against any pitching OPS Hairston 741, Abreu 474 (don’t know how to find splits); last 7 days Hairston 846, Abreu 437
not only that but Hairston has slightly better numbers against Cain: 3 for 10, a double, 2 RBI, 3 BB (one an IBB) but 2 K, Abreu 1 for 5, a double, 1 RBI , 4 BB. I said slightly.
Next on to Mark Ellis, on the full season against RHP 197/301/236 Is his fielding worth putting up with that? I don’t know. Just for comparison same stats for Uribe 236/313/350 beats Ellis in every one.
Anonymous
Stark #s. But I stick with Ellis, not Abreu. Hopefully he starts proving me wrong.
underdog
Yah the actual lineup seems fine to me, too.
Hairston LF Ellis 2B Kemp CF Ethier RF Ramirez 3B Loney 1B Cruz SS Ellis C Fife P
Loney has excellent career numbers vs. Cain as well, though Cain has been outstanding this year and Loney… hasn’t, so maybe it won’t mean much.
Anonymous
you can add Ethier into the mix of hitters that can hit Cain -> .468 BA – .491 OBP (yeah you know me)
Anonymous
This should be the default lineup unless there’s some special reason for it not to be.
underdog
That is quite a haul the Brewers are getting from the Angels in Greinke trade. If Angels make playoffs and Greinke is great-ke, I’m sure they’ll be fine with it, but 3 of their top 10 prospects including #1 prospect Segura. Good on the Brewers, whose farm system had been weak and were basically toast this year.
veryolddodgerfan
i think many would say the brewers gave up MORE to get Greinke.
underdog
Yeah Cain and Escobar seem like solid big leaguers. Maybe it’ll all end up fairly close to equal, only time will tell.
veryolddodgerfan
yup. you really never know until it becomes embarrassingly obvious a few years down the road. anything can happen and people who think they absolutely know can’t possibly know. it might even change on a yearly basis.
KT
Here’s the link if anyone is interested:
http://tinyurl.com/cuuure2
Anonymous
Tonight is the worst of situations – blacked out by MLBTV because I live in the East Bay. Having to make do with Gameday.
Anonymous
the world of WBB. No gracias.
Anonymous
The worst of baseball situations. At least I can listen to Vin for the first few innings before being stuck with Steiner.
Anonymous
You pay for internet radio broadcasts?
Anonymous
I have an MLBTV subscription, so I can hear all games and watch those that are not blacked out. Gnat and A’s games are blacked out, because they’re on local cable, which is not worth the expense to me.
KT
I’ll be around if you need me to explain any situation
veryolddodgerfan
who told you to move to oakland for gawd sakes. … i kid. i lived in san ramon for a while.
Anonymous
I went to school at UC-Berkeley many, many years ago. Oakland had a great Chinatown and a great magazine/newsstand downtown. Had/and still has some wonderful old neighborhoods.
veryolddodgerfan
still has some great spots. but still has some desolation
Anonymous
That was DeLauer’s for out of town papers. Oakland can be a great place to live – we love it in Temescal – but there are definitely out-of-bounds areas.
Anonymous
one of the managers were i work went to a game (football) out there, his description scared me a bit to be honest, but somebody else told me he went to an A’s V. Yankees game & it was awesome, so i don’t know…
Anonymous
WBBsAs: DeLauer’s. I had forgotten the name. It always had a great selection of baseball magazines and stuff like “Who’s Who in Baseball.” When I was a kid, my father would buy it for me. It cost 60 cents, and I would spend hours on it.
veryolddodgerfan
ok so how many of you would trade Lindbloom for Dempster?
Anonymous
with Lilly coming back soon, i wouldn’t pull the trigger on that one. Somebody had a great quote from Branch Rickey a few weeks back, i kind of feel that way about your proposal.
veryolddodgerfan
actually it’s not my proposal. apparently that’s what they’re discussing
Anonymous
Has the Cubs price dropped to one relief pitcher for him?
veryolddodgerfan
well it was the no. 1 pitching prospect, then the No. 2 pitching prospect, now i guess it’s lindbloom.
Anonymous
speaking of great quotes (kinda) i dare you not to get goosebumps on this one http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/07/letter-to-young-poet.html from Ken Arneson link blogs.
Anonymous
Your post is one of the great things that I like about this blog. On what other sports blogs would one find such a post? Thank you.
Anonymous
it’s amazing right!. For me it just sets me on an even keel…
KT
Come on DP
KT
There we go
Anonymous
Morning in Jakarta with Vin and gameday.
KT
Happy Saturday to you
veryolddodgerfan
got some world cruisin sons of guns in this chatroom
foul tip
In addition to world travelers, IIRC In years past there have been commenters from Israel, New Zealand, England, France, 1 or 2 from Aus before John and the other one who popped in recently, military in the Middle East, and likely other countries I’m leaving out.
Not to mention many states in the US and a couple current and past regulars from Canada.
In one DT reincarnation there was a world map with DT pins, I think. It was impressive.
Maybe Jon could update that if he gets a chance. Or Bob T, who has his ways of finding out things.
Anonymous
Nice DP, just what the doctor ordered.
KT
Nice throw Dre
Long single sets up the force
KT
just what I ordered
Anonymous
Ethier has a respectable arm out there.
KT
Come on Dre start it off
Anonymous
I think the new ownership will gradually make the Dodgers better than the Giants, so they can compete in the west.The Giants are presently better. They have developed young starters so well that it would take a team with substantial resources to compete with them. The Dodgers have the resources, although it may take a couple of years to pass the Giants. Gee–it was almost more fun when money wasn’t the main determinant of who would win!
Anonymous
Will quickly make the Dodgers superior. At the moment, the Dodgers are somewhat better, but not dominant.
KT
Nice hit James
Come on Luis
Anonymous
uh, like the composure there by FIfe…
Anonymous
thinking about it, i think i was more impressed with how well he was holding the runner, i’m horrible at explaining things you guys.
KT
Come on DP
KT
thought that was the DP
KT
Nice hustle Matt
Still looking for the DP 1-2-3
Anonymous
thinking if that ball doesn’t hit Fife is it a DP, i don’t know man, the thing was hit hard.
what do you guys think?
KT
Tough to tell
KT
good play Jerry
Anonymous
As if things were not going poorly enough, now I’m stuck with Steiner.
Anonymous
All I can say at this point is at least its a familiar voice.
KT
Good hit Dre
Come on Han-Ram
Anonymous
Cain threw a down and away fastball & Ethier just went with it. Looked pretty too, the swing did.
Anonymous
this could be a telling inning.
KT
Come on DP
KT
Almost Jerry
KT
Nice play Han-Ram
KT
NICE Catch MATTY!!!!
Anonymous
Kemp’s got wings!
Anonymous
Fife is pitching his little hart out.
Anonymous
Lilly to pitch 2 innings on Sunday at Rancho
Dodgers move 2012 draftee LH relief P Steven Rodriguez up 2 levels to AA after 6 1 inning appearances. This is the player some said could be a Sept. call-up. His stat page from low A
http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=P&sid=t456&t=p_pbp&pid=572089
Anonymous
My, my, my!
KT
Fife trying to help himself…lettle harding and that was going to the wall for maybe an insider
Anonymous
Fife returned the favour with a rocket to right field.
KT
JERRY!! Fife does help himself
Anonymous
new ball game boys!! 1-1 on a Hairston double to right field
Anonymous
that’s right!
KT
Mark!!
Come on Matty
Jason Ungar
yes, a run in this ballpark! Now let’s get some more!!
David Farinella
Nice!
David Farinella
It’s nice to have 3-4-5 hitters that cause some stress to the other team!
KT
Good steal Mark…Come on Matty
Anonymous
Return of the real Gnatt Cain!
KT
Cain @ 80 pitches through 5
Anonymous
Didn’t see it, but am I correct that Sheerhope misplayed that ball in the outfield?
KT
No he was playing shallow along with all the other outfielders and it was a gapper…if Fife had hit it harder Sheerhope wouldn’t have even got his glove on it and it would have rolled close to the wall
David Farinella
Cruz plays a pretty nice SS.
veryolddodgerfan
he’s solid enough. just wish he had a little more range. however, please keep him there and hanley at 3b. and if you want right a song about Cruz of the 7 organizations
David Farinella
And he hits.
Anonymous
it was hit hard WBB, but i think he just didn’t get down low enough, he barely got his glove on it.
KT
Come on Dre start it off
KT
Good hit Dre
Come on Han-Ram
Anonymous
Dre is able.
David Farinella
The gnats get Marco Scutoro… there hasn’t been a trade that’s scared me less since, um, well, ever….
Anonymous
He’s a decent player, far better than Crawford, but hardly a game-changer.
David Farinella
That’s my point…. He’s a slightly shorter Jamey Carroll.
Anonymous
Quite a bit more pop than Carroll.
David Farinella
You know what I mean. One of those guys that’s a “gamer” but rarely effects a game.
KT
way to move him over
Come on James bring him home
David Farinella
Is James coming around?
KT
Good hit BGJ!!
Come on Luis
Anonymous
the right guys in the right situation = another run. yes!!
KT
^_^
KT
Good hit Luis
Come on AJ
KT
oh well we got 1
Anonymous
one is a lonely number?
KT
not when it adds up to 3
KT
Nice play Mark
veryolddodgerfan
You know. I didn’t see him last time. But Barney can pitch a little.
veryolddodgerfan
not much stuff. But he’s not afraid.
KT
he’s pitched well both times…He has 4 pitches that he can throw for strikes according to Vin
David Farinella
Who needs Dempster when we’ve got Fife? (kinda serious)
KT
Come on Stephen
KT
just swung a little under those balls stephen
KT
Cains at 100 pitches and due up 1st in the bottom of the inning…he’s probably done since they have someone warming up
David Farinella
It will be interesting to see if Lindbloom gets into the game tonight.
Anonymous
If you traded a position player during a game would you be obliged to remove him from the line up? Since he was on the roster at the beginning of the game, not sure if a Josh appearance would mean he hadn’t been traded. Actually, I have no idea.
David Farinella
I believe you do have to take the person out immediately lest they be injured.
David Farinella
Great game Fife! Tip o’ the cap.
Anonymous
very much so, he’s pitched two 1 run games.
KT
He’s pitching so well, why remove him only 93 pitches
veryolddodgerfan
that’s why i think. melky
KT
melky might not get up this inning
veryolddodgerfan
oopsies
KT
good play randy
KT
gone so soon?
Anonymous
always love watching guys stick to fundamentals, love the way Choate made the out. Held the ball with his hand in glove. Coach would have made us run twice around the park if done wrong…
Anonymous
In Japan they would have made you do those laps backwards on your knees.
KT
there is one very loud mouth fan I’ve been hearing all night
KT
Come on Belli shut them down
KT
Come on DP
KT
YES!! still looking for that DP
Anonymous
when Belli is right, he’s just unfair… WOW.
Anonymous
err
KT
Still think we should have left FiFe in
Come on DP
Anonymous
Just some facts: In his last 10 minor league starts the longest he went was 7 innings. In his last start on Sunday in AAA he threw 98 pitches, tonight 93. I don’t like burning a relief pitcher for 1 hitter in the 7th inning so I agree with you but the Dodgers know more about Fife’s stamina then we do
veryolddodgerfan
alll those lefties have to wonder why randy didn’t stay around longer.
Anonymous
Good point.
Anonymous
you mean the one who came after the 4 righties or do you you mean the one who came after the one rightie who came after the one leftie who came after the 4 righties? Which do you mean by “all”?
veryolddodgerfan
thanks for the help Tink.
Anonymous
If I could only believe you were willing to accept the help you need I would be so happy
veryolddodgerfan
thanks for your gracious help Tink
Anonymous
Rats.
Anonymous
poor placement of pitches i feel, everything was on the outside corner to these lefties. Me & my comfort of hihnsight…
KT
AJ should have hit the batter
KT
Time to get those runs back
Come on James start us off
KT
Come on Juan
Jason Ungar
That should bring his July era up to about 8.
KT
Nice hit Juan
Come on Luis
Anonymous
Great start Juan
KT
good bunt
Come on AJ
KT
Come on Jerry
Anonymous
not exactly the results we wanted but its o.k.
Anonymous
The dangers of an overworked bullpen.
Anonymous
be gentle with my little heart baseball gods. please.
Anonymous
Another extra inning game? wow
KT
Come on Mark start it off
Jason Ungar
everyone but Kemp and Hanley have hits tonight. Now would be a good time ..wow this Romo guy has filthy numbers over the last 2 seasons plus this one
KT
1 out of 2 isn’t bad
KT
now that was the pitch to hit Dre
KT
good eye
Come on Hanley
Anonymous
yes, yes, yes!!!!!!
KT
HAN-RAM!!!!!
Anonymous
HANLEY MVP
Anonymous
Steiner’s dinger call had my heart in my throat knowing that sometimes he gets over excited.
KT
only the second row @ the 385 mark
Jason Ungar
YES!!!!!!
KT
VERY VERY Quite now at the phone booth to be named later
Anonymous
Bleet LA!
KT
^_^
Anonymous
Nobody say nothin till this inning is over.
KT
so you want us to say something? (double negative)
KT
Good Hit Juan!!
veryolddodgerfan
ooh Hanley didn’t need to that crap on the trot. but i fear that’s just who he is.
Anonymous
What did he do?
KT
see below or above depending on how you have your comments (oldest 1st or newest)
David Farinella
Agree, that was bush.
Jason Ungar
what did he do? (I’m not watching)
KT
put his fingers around his eyes like eye glasses while looking into the Dodger dugout
veryolddodgerfan
actually looking into the giants dugout
Anonymous
Wow… I see a broken wrist on an inside fastball in Hanley’s future.
KT
He did it to his own dugout only Bob…I confirmed twice
KT
no I’ll rewind to be sure but it was the Dodger dugout I’m sure
veryolddodgerfan
Right after he turned second base.
KT
VODF…just confirmed he did it only to his own dugout
veryolddodgerfan
he’s a hot dog by nature and it’s not pretty. guess he’s not old enough. but he’s been doing it since the beginning. i’m sure dodgers fans will be happy with him as long as he keeps hitting home runs. but it’s not very classy. can’t believe Don baseball would be in favor.
Jason Ungar
Yah I am not a fan of that stuff. I agree. In any sport.
veryolddodgerfan
giants announcers disagree with you KT. I would never disagree with you. it’s what Don Drysdale would hit you in the head for.
KT
I re-confirmed it…as he rounded second he he immediately turned towards the 1st base dugout and did the finger around the eyes thing…which means ” do you see me…I see you”
veryolddodgerfan
well with that 95 inch screen you should be able to tell.
KT
It’s only 80″ but I have an HDDVR and I’m 7 and 1/2 feet away
KT
The Gnat’s announcers are homers anyway…of course they are going to try to stir up trouble
KT
I think he was just happy to help his new team…he did it towards his own dugout, not at the Gnats dugout which really would have been bush
KT
Come on Luis…Bring Juan home for an extra insurance run
KT
Come on K then DP
KT
Come on Kenley
KT
That’s 1 Kenley…now for the DP
Anonymous
the Giant hitter is right on Jansen’s pitches.Let’s see what happens.
Anonymous
oh man, Jansen struck him out!
Anonymous
first 2 batters got hits, last two struck out.
Anonymous
high heat for both.
KT
That’s 2 Kenley…1 more
David Farinella
I’ve had such a long week. Is there anyway we can just obviously win a game?
Anonymous
Henley’s giving me a heart attack this inning.
Anonymous
Never in doubt.
Anonymous
had to leave for about 25 minutes. when dre was at bat, its weird but I just knew if Andre got on Ramirez would homer
Anonymous
Yes!
David Farinella
Okay. Whew. Night all.
KT
night David
Anonymous
Fun way to break the losing streak
Anonymous
Steiner is a bit excited. (and so am I!)
KT
me too
KT
That’s 1 need two more guys
KT
VODF…just confirmed he did it only to his own dugout
Anonymous
Bills tomorrow against Zito.
Jason Ungar
what about Sunday, do u know off hand??
Anonymous
Major relief and gratitude for those of us in the North of the State, who will be able to show our faces outside our homes again tomorrow.
Great contributions from Fife and Hanley!!Kenley is taking years off my life.Go Dodgers.
Jon Weisman
NPUT
underdog
Found this picture of Mike Krukow after the game. Poor guy, hope he’s okay.
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6i4lmB4rs1r0a19h.jpg
The HanRam homer really upset him (and he doesn’t like it when other guys showboat, only when Giants do it.)
Anonymous
Yeah, like this kid Fife – outpitching Cain at AT&T in his 1st road start – gotta love it.
Anonymous
And Hanley making a couple real nice plays at 3rd great to see.
KT
^_^ Looking comfortable
Anonymous
Dodger farm team Rancho C. had 19 hits tonight after 19 yesterday and the answer to Don Drysdale’s immortal question, did we win? is yes both games.