Dodgers at Pirates, 1:05 p.m.
Shane Victorino, LF
Mark Ellis, 2B
Matt Kemp, CF
Andre Ethier, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
James Loney, 1B
Adam Kennedy, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Joe Blanton, P
Shane Victorino, LF
Mark Ellis, 2B
Matt Kemp, CF
Andre Ethier, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
James Loney, 1B
Adam Kennedy, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Joe Blanton, P
Some morning notes before a mid-day game …
- Vin Scully gave an interview this week to the SI.com Hot Clicks podcast.
- Ryan O’Sullivan, a righty with a 3.05 ERA and 5.6 strikeouts per nine innings for two Single-A teams this year, has gone to Philadelphia to complete the Joe Blanton trade. O’Sullivan will turn 22 next month.
- Boston Globe sportswriter Bob Ryan wrote a lovely farewell piece for the publication that he is (mostly) retiring from after 44 years.
- Rubby De La Rosa has resumed his rehab, throwing three innings of shutout ball in an Arizona League game Monday.
- Expressed Written Consent is a program that “brings non-traditional broadcasters into the booth to have a go at the pastime that’s evolved alongside the pastime: calling the game,” writes Jeremy Brisel for MLB.com.
- Former Dodger pitcher Rick Rhoden — the subject of one of the two calls I made to sportstalk radio in the 1970s as a child — is the inspiration for Josh Wilker’s latest piece at Cardboard Gods. The last two paragraphs explain why …
Anonymous
One more thought… This guy played most of the season on the juice and only had 11 home runs?
As a Dodgers fan, I’m chalkin’ that one up in the “W” column.
Anonymous
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/player/melky-cabrera/hitchart/340181?q=melky-cabrera
Phone Park isn’t (wasn’t) the best place for his spray chart in terms of dingers.
Anonymous
Rick Rhoden always reminds me of Vin talking about how he contracted osteomyelitis as a child. First time I had ever of it. I believe the story was that he was on a slip-n-slide and drove the blade of some sheers into his leg. As a kid, Vin made it sound pretty drastic, and I suspect it is, so Rhoden always had my admiration for his being able to work through it and make it to the major leagues.
Anonymous
Mickey Mantle would have lost a leg to it if he had experienced it (osteo…) just a year earlier.
A sweaty overnight drive to the only doctor within hundreds of miles to have what was then very new (penicilin) saved his leg.
Anonymous
Wow. Never knew that.
Anonymous
article on minor league pitcher Ryan O’Sullivan mentioned above by Jon as going to the Phillies. it was written when the player was promoted from the Loons to RC:
http://news.yahoo.com/great-lakes-loons-ryan-osullivan-promoted-eliminates-another-160500673–mlb.html
Anonymous
Re: the previous post about Kemp’s improvement. You stack the deck by dividing 2010 from 2011. In fact, you might as well have just shown Kemp’s improvement between 2010 and 2011. His OPS went from .986 to .760, a 29.7% improvement. We can argue forever about why that occurred, but most around here would agree that 2010 was below expectations, and 2011 was above them.
Cabrera’s case is different. His career shows a pretty consistent OPS ranging between .641 and .752 until 2011, when all of a sudden it jumps to .809 and then .906 this year. He was never regarded as the kind of player Kemp, but started putting up Kempian numbers. Plus he explained his sudden improvement to his workout regime with Alex Rodriguez, and admitted PED user.
None of it proves anything, of course, but it does create a preponderance of evidence. At the same time, I can’t think of the player caught using PEDs that would surprise me at this point. Maybe Ichiro or Derek Jeter, but that’s about it..
Anonymous
Dee Gordon might shock me a bit.
Anonymous
I don’t think Jason Bay is juicing this year. Unfortunately.
Anonymous
Jon used 2006-2010 in his comments even if Jon had used 2009 vs 2011 for Kemp the improvement would still be impressive just not as impressive and not as much as Cabrera’s but the point would be the same.
Cabrera SLGed 470 last season, Kemp SLGed 450 in 2010 so hardly “Kempian”. Cabrera this year SLG 516, Kemp last year 586 this year 636 (I thought this year would be lower btw although nothing to do with my reply to SaMo’s theory that Cabrera has been taking a banned substance for well over a year without being caught)(if 70 SLG points doesn’t sound like much think about it)
Cabrera hit 18 HR last season about half of them before SaMo suggested yesterday the mid-season start of his PEDing and is on a pace for fewer than 18 this year with his 11 HR. not “Kempian”
Anonymous
>> His OPS went from .986 to .760, a 29.7% improvement.
I think you got those two numbers backwards. Just sayin’… :)
Jon Weisman
I don’t think I’m stacking the deck. The point at which people began noticing the dramatic improvement in Cabrera was 2011. And as you note, I could have “stacked the deck” even more by cherry-picking Kemp’s disappointing 2010 season. The fact that I include pre-2010 in the discussion should show that I’m not trying to tilt the argument.
No. 2, the point isn’t that Kemp and Cabrera are equals – it’s the increase in improvement shown. Cabrera did not suddenly start putting up Kempian numbers. The players are the same age, yet Cabrera has never had an OPS better than Kemps since they were rookies.
No. 3, you say that Cabrera’s case is different because he showed a “consistent” range of OPS of 111 points. Kemp’s range in that period was 157 points. That’s the big difference?
I don’t know how you can look at Kemp’s 2011 and not consider it a dramatic improvement over what he had shown before. His career high in OPS was .894 – and that was four years before.
Now, I totally believe in the legitimacy of Kemp’s improvement. You seem to believe in it too. So there’s no preponderance of statistical evidence against Cabrera. (The A-Rod thing is another matter, but not part of my story.) If you are arguing that Cabrera’s improvement was significantly less dramatic than Kemp’s, I have to disagree with you, and I certainly reject the argument that I’m stacking the deck – I could hardly have been more broad.
Anonymous
I’m just saying the circumstances are much more different than the statistical portrait you’ve painted by including certain years and excluding others. This is a case where the numbers tell a part of the story, but not the entire story. I think that’s kind of your point as well. Kemp’s disappointing season in 2010 is what makes the numbers so close as to invite the comparison.
Jon Weisman
The point is that any number of factors can account for a rise and fall. Accusing me of stacking the deck to make that point hits me very wrong – and there’s no basis for it. Among other things, you don’t acknowledge that Cabrera had disappointing seasons himself. What’s the big difference between what happened to Melky in 2010 and what happened to Kemp?
There is no preponderance of statistical evidence that incriminates Cabrera that doesn’t incriminate Kemp. That’s why I think anyone who believes in Kemp’s development should stay as far from that argument as possible.
Jon Weisman
“Kemp’s disappointing season in 2010 is what makes the numbers so close as to invite the comparison.”
Kemp’s OPS declined 9.7% from 2009 to 2010.
Cabrera’s OPS declined 10.8% from 2009 to 2010.
I mean, can we put that to rest now?
Anonymous
fair enough.
Jon Weisman
And if you just want to use 2012 OPS vs. the previous season: Cabrera has improved 12%. Are we going to suspect every player in his prime with a 12% improvement in OPS in one year or 20% in two years of drug use?
Anonymous
Let’s face it, most players have their ups and downs – day to day, week to week, and season to season. There are plenty of examples of players who suddenly have a great year, and plenty of others of players who suddenly have a poor one. Neither makes a case that someone is or isn’t using PEDs. That’s what drug tests are for.
Anonymous
The Joe Garagiola pregame show often provided whimsy that I miss.
Anonymous
Rhoden was an underrated pitcher, but I really admired his hitting.
Anonymous
Andruw Jones is batting cleanup for the Yankees today.
Russell Martin is the DH. Because he has such a valuable bat.
Anonymous
9th best on the team in this situation at least from Joe Girardi’s point of view
Anonymous
Ex-Dodgers Jones (.213/.297/.455/.752) and Martin (.197/.313/.366/.678) are two of nine Yankees who are in double figures in homers with NY. They have 12 each. Three Dodgers have hit 10 or more home runs while with the club. The Yankees are first in MBL with 180 homers. The Dodgers are last with 70.
Anonymous
Positively Uribean in their averages. Actually, a tad better than Juan.
Anonymous
Only Ned could have figured Uribe was worth $7M a year but Martin wasn’t worth $5M…
Anonymous
good argument except for the part that Martin wasn’t worth even the $4.2M that Neddy offered
Dodgers Blue Heaven
Thank you for the bubble gum blowing contest video… awesome
As Tommy would say, “Bevacqua!”
Anonymous
Loney since June 23: 248/252/292. If the difference between 248 and 252 looks small it is due to the fact that Loney has 1 walk in 115 PA and it was intentional. (credit to msti)
David Weiner
I went to Rick Rhoden’s baseball camp when I was a youngster in Los Angeles. It was a great camp, I learned a lot. Met some current Dodgers and him of course. Such a great guy. What I remember the most, because after Hebrew School essentially ended my Little League career due to conflicting schedules, was that at Rick Rhoden’s camp I struck out the only batter in my competitive baseball career. Side-arm left handed fastball on the inside corner of the plate. I caught him looking.
Always have great liking for Rhoden.
Anonymous
Great remembrance. Thanks for sharing it. My parents could have but didn’t send me to Hebrew School, so I can’t offer that as a reason for my lack of success playing baseball.
jasonu
Whenever I can get a StringfellowHawk reference I am good to go. I loved Airwolf as a kid. They should make it a movie.
Anonymous
In looking at some stats, I found something that I consider interesting. Kemp has an OPS this year of 1.058. In MLB history, only three players have a higher career OPS — Ruth at 1.164, Williams at 1.115 and Gehrig at 1.080. The only other major leaguers with a career OPS above 1.000 are Bonds, Foxx, Pujols, Greenberg and Hornsby.
Anonymous
Speaking of Barry, I think the babe still ended up with a much higher PA/HR %.
Ruth was something else.
Anonymous
Well – being that I was busy most of the day yesterday and ended up working a night shift ’till 3:30 AM this morn, I finally got a chance to do some reading on the whole Melky fiasco – I’ve come to the conclusion that I actually like that Grant Brisbee guys writing over on McCovey Chronicles – seems like a decent guy who loves baseball. When considering Giants fans, I always keep in mind that most of the time, it’s probably not their fault that they “picked” the wrong team to root for. Growing up in the Bay Area, was Dad’s team, etc. – and the vast majority of Giants fans that I’ve come into contact with at games and elsewhere are good people, and I enjoy talking baseball with them. Brisbee strikes me as one of them.
Anonymous
Yeah, but most of the other Gnatblogs are full of cyber-bullies. Bisbee is a thoughtful exception who recognizes zits when he sees them, and describes them credibly.
Jon Weisman
Andruw hit a two-run homer to pull the Yankees in to a 4-4 tie with the Rangers in the sixth.
Anonymous
And Martin singled in the go-ahead run.
Oh well.
Anonymous
Wait, which ex-Dodgers do we want to do well and which ones do we want to fail.
Anonymous
>> Wait, which ex-Dodgers do we want to do well and which ones do we want to fail.
We want them all to do well when playing against the ‘ants, and to fail the rest of the time, especially when they are playing against the Dodgers.
Anonymous
I’m not a fan of the Blanton trade. I always wanted the Dodgers to face Blanton when going against the Phillies, because I knew we’d score runs. He’s a #5 pitcher, and I feel like our young arms can do just as well as a #5 and maybe even better. Fife was doing fine and there’s a few others down there that I would love to see. As for Matt versus Cabrera, I think the consensus was always that Matt had the tools to break out, whereas Cabrera was going to be average or just above average since 2009. Of course guys have great seasons when not on drugs, but it was just more unexpected to come from cabrera than Kemp.
Anonymous
I’ll give Barry this – he knew how to use it and how to mask it.
I highly recommend “game of shadows”, if anyone here missed it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_of_Shadows
Anonymous
Actually, it was Victor Conte who knew how to mask it.
Anonymous
Right, but only Barry really translated it and trained to take full advantage, with some significant help from his best friend, who took the fall and had been in the bodybuilding scene.
He never adjusted his 2001 weight up from 228, even though he seemed to be a few pounds heavier in later years.
Anonymous
I saw him at SFO late one night in 2001, after he had choked big-time v. the Mets, and was tempted congratulate him on clutch effort. If he had taken a swing at me, I would probably be set for life financially, but in a wheelchair.
Anonymous
I hate to confess it, but he gave the nl west twice the personality and drama it has had since.
Anonymous
Baseball is infinitely better without him.
KT
bounced around in Hanley glove…Come on DP
KT
Still looking for that DP
Anonymous
Puigwatch – Yasiel went 2 for 4 yesterday and stole a base, and is now 3 for 8 (.375) in his two RC games.
T.M. Brown
Vin Scully is not a fan of DT Rule #9:
http://deadspin.com/5935451/its-stupid-to-avoid-mentioning-a-no+hitter-in-progress-vin-scully-said-so-52-years-ago
jasonu
while I very much respect Jon’s rules I agree with Vinny
Jon Weisman
The only time Rule 9 applies to Vin is if he’s commenting on this site. It does not apply to broadcasters.
KT
Jones hurts again
Anonymous
Blanton loves to serve up taters.
KT
did you see my reply on how to make my “like” smiley face. It is:
Shift 6, shift dash and shift 6 again ^_^
Anonymous
Yeah, but now that I look at it again, it seems to be raised eyebrows. What the heck does that mean?
KT
They are more like squinty eyes
Anonymous
Meh – Blanton, Shmanton – yardwork is beckoning.
KT
Blanton’s pitch count is very high…definitely going to be a pullpen game
Anonymous
Loney has GOT to play a little closer to the line against leftys when Blanton is pitching – they’ve been yanking balls down the line the whole 1st inning it seemed.
Anonymous
WGJ says who needs defense with the lumber I got!?
KT
Come on Dre start it off
Anonymous
Now, where is Gwynn when we need him? Or Repko for that matter?
jasonu
what happened to Kemp?
KT
Kemp said something to protect Dre and the ump immediately tossed him
jasonu
Ok I missed that somehow. tending to my toddlers! I just saw the recap…I get that you want to stand up for your team mates but I always could never stand anyone who argues about calls with refs in all sports. Now in a pennant race we are missing our best player. Let the coaches yell at the umps. U sit down and have some sunflower seeds and chill.
KT
if you happen to have a dvr rewind to the 1st strike of Dre’s at bat you will see the ump turn toward the dugout then again after the next pitch and then he turn towards the pitcher and right back to the dugout and tossed Kemp
jasonu
ya he warned him twice…
Anonymous
Wow, this game went downhill in a hurry – damned umpires.
Anonymous
Gameday shows Kemp and Mattingly being ejected. Description why?
Jeffrey Thomas III
I guess he disputed some strikes from the dugout. He was none to happy and they had to pull him off the field. Donnie came out to defend him and got his moneys worth as well.
KT
no sure what was said by Kemp but the ump immediately kicked him out and both of them went ballistic
Anonymous
Worst part about it is Kemp made some contact with an ump or two and may be facing a short suspension.
Anonymous
Big James steps up.
Jeffrey Thomas III
Perfect timing for that.
KT
BGJ!!!! showing a little power ^_^
foul tip
VERY little, unfortunately. But we’ll take it, and more if he can manage it.
Anonymous
A Loney Homer? – now this game has REALLY taken a bizarre turn.
Anonymous
Blanton PHI 2012: 4.59 ERA (68 ER in 133.1 IP) 1.193 WHIP
Blanton LAD 2012: 6.75 ERA (9 ER in 12 IP) 1.500 WHIP
jasonu
wow Loney, so unexpected.
Anonymous
Gameday must have a software programming error, because it says…
foul tip
Are first Dodger “coaching visits to mound” usually by Honey, or does Don go at times?
See very few games and don’t know his style for this.
Anonymous
When the pitcher is having trouble and it’s not time to yank him, Rick goes. When it IS time to yank him, Donnie goes.
When there’s an umpire issue, Donnie goes.
Anonymous
Let’s not get into Donnie’s style of visiting the mound.
KT
Nice play Adam!!
Anonymous
Ugh, so sick of MLB umps and their rabbit ears.
Anonymous
I thought it might have been just me, but after the very generous strike three call to MEllis in the 1st (that I saw as an obvious inside and high ball), Blanton seemed to be getting squeezed on the low/away corner and even a pitch or two that was in the same spot that Burnett got the strike 3 call to MEllis. Kemp got too vocal about it.
KT
Blanto 35 pitches after 1, 42 after 2 much better
Anonymous
Yeah, 42 is much better than 70.
foul tip
Gameday says the two weren’t ejected by the same ump. Guess they want to spread the glory around.
KT
I think the 1st base ump threw Donnie
Anonymous
I don’t know if that was 200 ABs since James’ last?
I think that’s about right.
Anonymous
Following on Gameday – so the HP umpire tossed Kemp, and 1B tossed Donnie? I believe the HP ump is a vacation fill-in. He should really know his place. Sheesh.
Anonymous
Lyons says Melk not eligible for batting title because he is suspended.
Anonymous
Isn’t the champ in any case on first base right now?
Anonymous
Lyons says those numbers are likely to go down as the season wears on. I wasn’t aware of this suspension criteria..
Anonymous
It really doesn’t matter. The batting champ is required to have 502 AB (3.1 per team game). Melky only has 459.
Anonymous
Sure, but what about this suspended angle?
foul tip
Wasn’t familiar with Burnett and didn’t know he threw a knuckle curve. At least Gameday says so.
If I recall, Dodger Burt Hooton made most of his living off that pitch. I’ve wondered why more pitchers don’t try it. Or…maybe they do try and can’t make it work.
Anyone know of other current pitchers who throw it?
Anonymous
Mussina used to throw one.
foul tip
As I get it, Hooton was trying to learn a regular knuckleball, but the knuck curve was what he got instead.
Anonymous
Why would a guy like Hooten try to learn to throw a knuckler? Just fooling around on off days?
jasonu
when I read Knuckle Curve I say it in my head as if I am Ross Porter :)
T.M. Brown
A little late on this but: Angel Campos definitely looked like he was either terrified of Donnie + Kemp or knew he made a brash call ejecting a team’s best player in the middle of a very important game for both teams.
Anonymous
No kidding! Just watched the clip on Gameday, and WHOA I have never seen an umpire cower in fear like he did. He was hiding behind the other umps and even darted away from Donnie!
I certainly wouldn’t want Don Mattingly coming after me either, but don’t toss players on the bench if you can’t take the heat.
KT
Blanton @ 63 after 3…still too high…he needs another quick 1,2,3 inning
Anonymous
Still, better than 105.
KT
at 105 I think he’gone
KT
Come on Mark..start it off
KT
Good hit Mark
Come on Elian
KT
Elian!!
Come on Dre
Anonymous
Very nice job by Herrera.
Anonymous
Despite Elian’s hit there, why put in Herrera in LF in the 3 spot and not Rivera? It’s not like Burnett owns Rivera or anything.
Anonymous
RH power bat off the bench?
Anonymous
Mattingly filled his line-up today with LHH where he could namely Loney and Kennedy. I have never seen him use a player who had gone 2 for 11 with 4 K’s against the starting pitcher when there was a reasonable choice buut that was the story with Kennedy today. I concluded that Mattingly was giving more weight to lefties today vs Burnett than he usually does. Thus the choice of the switch hitting Herrera against the RHP Burnett.
Anonymous
We wouldn’t have wanted to see a hit and run with Elian on first. A three-run shot would have been excessive.
KT
Han-Ram!!!!
KT
Very quite at PNC Park
Anonymous
I love the Hanley Man!
KT
^_^
Jeffrey Thomas III
Other guys stepping up in Kemps absence!
KT
^_^
Anonymous
No matter the result of the game, I think it’s crucial they have fought back — character!
Anonymous
Glad I decided to put off the yardwork.
KT
very smart move…your yard will still be there after the game
Anonymous
Yep – and it will be cooler outside – I actually walked out and started moving some stuff around and thought, “what the hell am I doing?”, and went back inside to the game.
T.M. Brown
Doing this against Burnett makes it that much sweeter.
Anonymous
Man, Burnett really didn’t like Hanley’s little ICU back to the dugout while rounding the bases. Stared him down the whole way.
For what it’s worth, I don’t like it either.
Anonymous
I like his game and care not for his showboating.
Anonymous
I haven’t liked it from the start.
Jeffrey Thomas III
If AJ has a problem with it, he can throw at somebody and take care of it himself.
Anonymous
And I’ll totally understand when Burnett drills him next time up.
jasonu
That was a bomb! His numbers as a dodger are impressive. Maybe it’s a coincidence but I wouldn’t be changing it, specifically not for Dee Gordon…His numbers before today as a SS this year are
347/400/429/829
Anonymous
all in August
KT
good eye Adam
Come on AJ
KT
2nd baseman has taken 2 hits from AJ by playing up the middle
jasonu
and saved a few runs that inning.
foul tip
After that torrid season start, most times this team would have been toast down 3 in the first…or down 3 about anytime.
Now it may just be a different animal. One with fangs. Big fangs, and sharp ones.
Anonymous
Joe Blanton gives the run back immediately
Jeffrey Thomas III
I cannot believe Barajas scored from first. A better relay surely could have gotten him.
Anonymous
Victorino’s throw to Mark Ellis was the problem
Anonymous
Fate doesn’t seem to like a Dodger lead lead. Whe does Blanton walk a guy on 4 Pitches. When does Barajas score from 3rd?
Anonymous
I never could type-sorry.
KT
that’s why I used the edit function frequently
Anonymous
Do you mind editing my stuff while you are at it?
KT
ok send your password to my facebook account or just type it here
Anonymous
Ha! Why are you blue?
KT
click on my name and you will see
Anonymous
is Campos just trying to pick a fight or what?
KT
still looking for my DP this game
KT
that was my DP…you missed you call Blue
Anonymous
Walk more batters Blanton, you’re awesome at it.
Jeffrey Thomas III
Really Blanton? Please get him out of there.
Jeffrey Thomas III
The last home run wasn’t enough? Please Hillman, get him out.
Anonymous
How do you groove one down the middle on an 0-2 count????
Anonymous
Vin has been lamenting on this fact almost all season. The lack of a quality pitch being made 0-2. And not just by Dodger pitchers.
KT
Why does Blanton Groove those pitches to Jones
Anonymous
That is inexusable.
Anonymous
SMFH Blanton.
Blue-eyed Gal
Strike zone or not, Blanton really hasn’t impressed me yet.
How close is Lily to coming back? :(
jasonu
Blanton is terrible.
KT
Should have taken him out on that 1st mound visit
T.M. Brown
Steve Lyons is very upset. He and his .252 lifetime batting average would NEVER have thrown that pitch.
Anonymous
Why would you leave a starting pitcher in a game long enough to allow eight runs? Please.
jasonu
ya one who has as u showed a almost 7 era for you so far. I mean it’s not like a shock..
Anonymous
I stand by my statement of calling Blanton a gas can when we picked him up.
Anonymous
Always good to stand by your statements, paticularly when you are right.
KT
Blanton was pissed on that strike him oui throw him out call that the ump missed
Anonymous
Madness. This fill-in ump will never work another MLB game. If there’s any justice. What a little chickens***.
Anonymous
Then, after Blanton grooves it on an 0-2 count he wants to go after Campos?
What an ignoramus.
Jeffrey Thomas III
I’m sorry but after already ejecting Kemp and Mattingly earlier did Campos even need to make eye contact with Blanton? The guy is leaving the game, surely as an ump you can be the bigger man and look away. What a stupid ejection.
Anonymous
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like the way Campos is calling the game either, but Blanton sure didn’t help himself with his pitching either. Struck me that Blanton wanted to blame Campos for his poor effort – dude has to look in the mirror, in my opinion.
Jeffrey Thomas III
I agree, but he didn’t run towards him until he was ejected. I mean really what was the point in throwing him out there?
Anonymous
Would you mind terribly stepping outside again?
Anonymous
On my way.
Rob Carnachan
What gives with this umpire? I just tuned in a little bit ago and could have sworn that the last pitch to McCutchen was strike three (before the Jones HR). There were a couple of other pitches I saw from Blanton, and now from Guerra, that looked like strikes but weren’t called. Does this ump just have a tiny strike zone? Didn’t seem like Burnett was getting squeezed like that.
KT
no this game has been a little 1 sided in that aspect and he definitely missed strike 3
KT
Come on Elian
Anonymous
Frustration spilling over on both sides.Let’s see what Burnett does with Ramirez.
Anonymous
Burnett gets the best revenge in that situation.
Anonymous
I can see the point in giving up EO and Martin–Cabrera could have as much value in the future. But does Blanton have any value after our pitchers get healthy. I know–you can never have enough pitching. I can’t remember what we gave up for Blanton right now, anyway.
KT
Ryan O’Sulliven
Anonymous
thanks,thats right, and its not much
Anonymous
seems like more than Blanton is worth and I thought that before the game as well
Anonymous
We gave up Ryan O’Sullivan, it’s actually mentioned in this post by Jon.
KT
I hope this ump never makes it to the bigs fulltime
jasonu
This ump has little man complex. and I’m a little man (5’8)..but never had the complex.
Anonymous
Campos just dropped a fine on Hanley for throwing the bat to the ground.
Jeffrey Thomas III
We get it Campos, you’re the boss. Looks like he almost threw out Hanley for standing near him.
KT
Good hit Loney
Good Hit AJ
Come on Shane
The Bionic Trout
I seriously hope Campos talks to reporters after the game.
Anonymous
Tying run to the plate.
KT
Way to get on Shane
Come on Mark
KT
Good Job Mark!!
Come on Elian
Jeffrey Thomas III
Great hustle Mark! Would be nice to have Matty here…
Anonymous
Just thinking the exact same thing.
Jeffrey Thomas III
Time for Dre to do damage against a lefty.
jasonu
we all are. Let Uribe yell at the umps Kemp. You can even tell him what to say if he wasn’t paying attention
Anonymous
Lyons claims that Kemp wasn’t yelling at the ump, but at Dre. That’s why he and Donnie were so bloody irate at him being tossed.
jasonu
ya I just saw all that.. I’d still let Uribe do the talking just in case :)
Anonymous
Charlie Steiner sure does struggle with any play beyond the realm of the routine. He can’t even begin to describe the action until it’s long over.
Anonymous
I wish Steiner would wait until the play was over before trying to describe a long fly ball. You’d think he’d have learned something in 29 years of radio, or however long he’s ben annoying fans with his breathless imitation of an announcer.
Anonymous
Worst I’ve ever heard on flyballs to the outfield.
KT
Burnett getting wild
Hit Juan for a run…Burnett gone
Come on Dre
Anonymous
I thought we were playing the thinking game pretty poorly. Shows what I know–apparently the Dodger coaching staff did it brilliantly!
KT
Come on Wild Pitch
KT
Come on DP
KT
Nice move Jamie
Jeffrey Thomas III
Too much to ask for the bullpen to keep games close.
Anonymous
Ugh.
KT
Why did the ump go out so fast
KT
Way to get on Hanley
Come on James
Anonymous
If the Dodgers MUST lose one more on this trip — and I hope they don’t — I don’t mind if it’s to the Pirates. We lament 2+ decades since winning the Series . . . imagine almost the same length since finishing at .500!
Anonymous
just tuned in. My heart sank when I first saw the box score with Matt out of the game. It was a great relief when I scrolled down to see it was just an ejection!
jasonu
I think id hit Hanley in the 4 hole. He is consistent vs both handed pitchers. So many big situations over the year and I think oh awesome our clean up hitter is coming up and then I think oh it’s Dre and they will got to the lefty and it will be an auto out. it really deflates me as a fan.
Anonymous
Ethier went 2 for 3 against Wandy R. yesterday which moved his OPS vs LHP to within 76 of Rivera’s
jasonu
100 points below Hanley..
Anonymous
That’s baseball! You get 1/8 inch more of that ball and Sanchez doesn’t get it.
KT
Good inning Shawn
KT
Good Morning / Afternoon / Evening all
See you all tomorrow
Anonymous
Too Bad, but we got three. First time I’ve paid a lot of attention to McCutch, and he looks like the real deal. With good fortune, maybe another Matt Kemp. the people of Pittsburg need and deserve it!
Anonymous
They probably do deserve him, but if he is another Matt Kemp, they can’t afford him. He won’t be there long.
Jeffrey Thomas III
Still 5-2 on the road trip, but my what a frustrating game.
Anonymous
I’m OK with today.
We scored 6 runs w/o Kemp, and Mattingly became the most ejected coach in the majors. We’re angry, united, and still seeing ourselves atop the NL West. Other than Blanton being awful (and who among us did not see at least one of these coming), there was no real negative in this loss.
jasonu
agreed. our number 5 vs their number 1 in their yard and we were going for a 4 game sweep of a team with a better (same basically) record as us
KT
“Let’s Go Dre” famous words to get you kicked out of a MLB game
Anonymous
Hopefully the Dodgers fight this and don’t stop until Campos is punished.
Anonymous
Good luck with that…
SteelMohawk
I know it is expecting too much for ESPN not to piss me off, but I couldn’t help it. I was so mad to see the pirates front and center on the ESPN MLB page. After the dodgers stomped them, finally they are legit, whatever, it just makes me mad to look for one article the last few days, and to find one today, when the Pirates finally beat us.
Anonymous
Just doin their part to help Pittsburgh win the wild card. . . so they can punish the Pirates when they meet in the playoffs. Would love to see the Buccos succeed. . . at some other team’s expense, that its. Preferably the Cardinals.
Just checked their schedule: aside from a 4-game series against the Mets, they don’t play out of their pitifully lame division in September. Their final 3 are against Atlanta, however, Oct. 1-3. Wild card could be on the line. What would baseball do if those two were locked into the 4-5 spots and neither team gave a damn about home field advantage, choosing to rest their aces for the 1-game playoff?
Anonymous
“Russell Martin is the DH. Because he has such a valuable bat.” from btimmer earlier today. I just looked at the box-score; could not believe Martin was hitting 6th. It was his second game of the year hitting 6th, 6th is the highest he has hit this season.
Jon Weisman
NPUT
Anonymous
http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/2012/08/16/angry-dodgers-drop-finale-in-pittsburgh/