Dodgers at Giants, 1:05 pm
Mark Ellis, 2B
Shane Victorino, CF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Andre Ethier, RF
Luis Cruz, 3B
Juan Rivera, LF
A.J. Ellis, C
Chris Capuano, P
This pinch-hit Dodger Thoughts post is in honor of Lenny Harris.
Enjoy the stylings of Matt Vasgersian and Tim McCarver on this Saturday afternoon on Fox. Get ready to hear Ken Rosenthal say the word “jell” a lot. I’m missing this game because of work, but I think it will be a pain in the aspic.
Matt Kemp, 3 for 29 since he came up second in a battle with the fence at Coors Field, is out for the remaining two games of this series. And potentially more as an MRI on his shoulder is planned, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times via Twitter. Time to reacquaint yourself with the excitement that is Juan Rivera, although don’t be surprised to see Bobby Abreu or Alex Castellanos wandering around left field if the situation with Kemp persists.
The other outfielders on the 40-man roster who could still be recalled include Scott Van Slyke and Matt Angle. Officially, Jerry Sands and Yasiel Puig are on the 40-man roster, but they are both likely off-limits. Elian Herrera, who can play many positions, although maybe not any of them particularly well, could also be recalled.
Anonymous
I know this team looks to have no hope, but if we can win these next two games, which SHOULD be doable, 3.5 back can be erased in a week. The offense needs to step-up. Now. Otherwise just start the AAA lineup again.
Anonymous
Bob: Enjoyed your lead-in. I presume Sands is off-limits because he is part of the Red Sox trade, but why is Puig likely off-limits?
Anonymous
Lack of pro experience.
Anonymous
Maybe this is a silly question, and maybe it’s been answered already, but… Why did the Dodgers need to add Puig to the 40-man?
Anonymous
That’s what his agents negotiated.
Anonymous
Aha! Thanks. Contractual requirement, so that it starts all the procedural stuff like options and arbitration eligibility. The advantage is all his, not the team’s, which is why it’s almost never done upon signing. I guess we wanted to sign him badly enough (and he was in sufficient demand) that we were willing to start those clocks to get him to sign with us. Makes sense.
Linkmeister
If the Dodgers get swept in this series it will do what two oral surgeries in two months (one major, one not-so-much) haven’t done: it will drive me back to liquor and cigarettes.
Anonymous
Liquor is OK, within reason, but don’t let the Dodgers put you back on cigarettes. They aren’t worth it.
Linkmeister
Well, I’ve been off booze since 2000. Off smokes just for two months. It would be a lot easier to slip back to cigarettes. ;)
Anonymous
Good for you. You may have only three weeks remaining to hang in there before this season ends, anyway.
Linkmeister
Impending cancer surgery is a great motivator. ;)
(It worked, they say. Not a sign of any more cells anywhere.)
Anonymous
Here’s wishing you an unending series of such cancer-free reports.
Anonymous
Congrats and stay strong. Its too bad this team can drive a saint to drink.
KT
Good job you can do it
I’ve been off cigs since 84 and booze since 87…you don’t need them
Anonymous
I believe Chris Capuano’s pumpkin is double-parked.
Anonymous
Same old, same old.
Anonymous
E5 IMO.
SteelMohawk
Does Uribe get an at bat before all of the 10 not-on-the-DL OFs on teh 40 man roster do?
underdog
You almost have to laugh. The Dodgers have had 3 baserunners in two innings, but the minimum number of hitters after two DPs and a CS. That’s efficient! :-/
With all the key guys banged up, have to feel like we’re cursed basically. Maybe it was a two-for-one Magick ritual that the Giants performed, to give their seemingly average lineup super powers while bewitching our own.
underdog
At least Cappy’s settled down after 2-4 hitters.
Hope it’s not too late! :-/
Anonymous
Self-acknowledged Rule 7 violation follows: A saving grace for the Dodgers is that a team cannot hit into more than one DP in an inning.
Anonymous
Well, there could be a fourth out situation.
Anonymous
Only you could come up with that, and I say that in the most respectful manner.
KT
^_^
underdog
Another silver lining, or a miracle really: Retired Pagan the first two times! Seems like he’s more of a devil for the Dodgers. But here’s where Cappy struggled the first time…
underdog
Good job Cappy! He’s settled down a great deal.
Now let’s go for that four out inning Dodgers!
Anonymous
Hoy, es un angelito.
Anonymous
The Dodgers have gotten Marco Scutaro out. This is not a drill. The Dodgers have gotten Marco Scutaro out.
Anonymous
Like Jon, you are making this stretch bearable.
Anonymous
Currently Marco Scutaro has more HR’s for his new team than Adrian Gonzalez has for his new team.
underdog
Which is sad. That said, I’m still happier to have AGon long term than I would be to have Scutaro long term.
Anonymous
Scutaro is an underrated player, but he’s also been phenomenally lucky.
underdog
Cappy’s not so crappy now!
Our offense has taken over that mantle.
Anonymous
I do believe in miracles. I do I do I do, but this team is starting to get the look and feel of anything but destiny’s darling. Ownership has done more than enough. Donnie has me second guessing the lineup (why Kemp in the four hole and not third) and HanRam at SS rather than 3B, but bottom line the timely hitting is non existent as is the bullpen. Would love a 18-7 march to end the season, but I don’t feel it – at least tonight!
Anonymous
To: SteelMohawk, regarding your question “Does Uribe get an at bat before all of the 10 not-on-the-DL OFs on the 40 man roster do?” The Dodgers’ lack of usage of Uribe — he has not appeared since August 26 — brings to mind how most teams used to carry three catchers. The third catcher played sparingly. I think he was used mostly to warm up pitchers in the bullpen. I don’t think clubs had bullpen coaches then who did that. Our host Bob would probably know about that.To: SteelMohawk
Anonymous
According to C.C. Sabathia, “pitching is 100% mental.” Which is why I’m such a great pitcher.
Anonymous
Sounds like what Yogi Berra said: “90% of the game is half mental.”
Anonymous
A.J.! Sensational.
plaza23
This team is just bad.
Anonymous
Perhaps that remarkably bad call by the umpire at first base or the great play by AJ Ellis at third base will provide an emotional lift for the Dodgers, who seem uninspired. What I find maddening about this team — among other things — is that no one seems to exhibit any fire. I would love to see someone return to the dugout after making an out and throw a helmet. Or break a bat over his leg. I wouldn’t mind if someone got tossed for getting in an umpire’s face. Where is the exuberance of a Mickey Hatcher or the burning anger of a Kirk Gibson? This team seems like a group of attache-carrying executives who board the Long Island Rail Road for work everyday, and don’t even play bridge because it would be too exciting.
Anonymous
Agreed. If anything, this is why this team must keep Dee Gordon in its plans.
Anonymous
Dee, despite his Deeficiencies, needs to be a part of this team. Is he still in Triple-A for the PCL playoffs?
Anonymous
Dee Gordon is at Alburquerque. He’s also still on the 60-day DL, so a roster move would have to be made to bring him back.
Anonymous
Move AK to the 60-day, or DFA him.
Anonymous
Yes. For some reason.
KT
I actually think the 3rd base umpire corrected the 1st base umpires mistake. Blanco just ended where he should have been in the 1st place…on the bench. Blanco was safe at 3rd but the baseball gods told the ump to correct the situation because of the importance of the game
Anonymous
I believer Vasgerian just said that the Dodgers got Mark Ellis in a trade deadline deal last year with Colorado. Didn’t we sign him in the off-season?
Linkmeister
Yep.
Anonymous
He went TO Colorado last year. A month before the deadline. Not to mention that he called him A.J. Ellis too.
Anonymous
Good to know that Matt Vasgersian pays attention to all those news stories he reports on about baseball. EVERY DAY HE GOES TO WORK.
Anonymous
That’s the kind of pitch that Garvey used to strike out on.
Anonymous
Charlie goes wild on the WP.
Anonymous
0-for-16 now with RISP in this series?
Anonymous
Forgot to mention this earlier, but Ken Gurnick reported that it’s likely that Adam Kennedy is done for the season:
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120908&content_id=38089424¬ebook_id=38095462&vkey=notebook_la&c_id=la
KT
just saw him walking gingerly in the dugout
Anonymous
There’s the 40-man roster slot for Dee.
Anonymous
Go, go Gonzo!
KT
^_^
KT
YES!!!
Anonymous
The long RISP hitless drought has ended.
T.M. Brown
Tim McCarver is just. He’s so astoundingly bad at his job.
Anonymous
You must be mistaken McCarver is the recipient of the 2012 Ford C. Frick Award, elected to the Broadcaster’s wing of the Hall of Fame.[1]Contents
[hide] 1 Early playing career1.1 St. Louis Cardinals1.2 Later career2 Broadcasting career2.1 Criticism3 Music career4 Honors and awards5 Works6 In popular culture7 See also8 References9 External links
KT
HANLEY????
Linkmeister
What on earth was Ramirez thinking?
Anonymous
Are you serious?
Anonymous
NO Giants, YOU win this game, WE DON’T WANT IT.
Jason Ungar
exactly, I am like are they trying to lose?
KT
What’s up with the base running….missed signs or stupidity?
Jibin Park
both
Anonymous
There’s a part of me that doesn’t want to watch the next half inning because of those two moves.
Jibin Park
we got league.
Linkmeister
For that matter, what the heck was Ethier thinking? He’s no base stealer.
Jibin Park
botched hit and run?
Anonymous
When I was coaching JV baseball, if a player on my team did what Ramirez did in trying to steal third with no outs and in that situation in the game, I would have privately taken him aside after the game and gently but firmly explained why that was such a poor decision. Will anyone on the Dodgers braintrust do that?
Anonymous
How about if his uniform tomorrow say batboy…will that send a message?
KT
Alex does not seem like a sure fielder to me….this is not his 1st shakey attempt
Linkmeister
This IS San Francisco, with the winds we all remember all too well. It may not be Candlestick, but . . .
KT
yea but he looked shaky at DS and there was no wind…His routes to the ball are bad…I was wondering if he was a converted infielder
Anonymous
He is.
KT
that would explain a lot…Thanks…I’ll cut him some slack for a bit
Linkmeister
Wasn’t this Castellanos’s first appearance in a game this year?
KT
No he was up earlier in the year
Anonymous
That was not an easy play in an unfamiliar park.
KT
ok but I’ve watched almost every inning of every game and I think I see all the innings he’s played left and He’s not a sure outfielder…If I was playing softball and he was in the field I would be picking on him
Jibin Park
wow
KT
Can’t any game be easy for us…my heart is strong but i hate testing it
Let’s take the series tomorrow
Anonymous
So much for my prediction of a sweep.
Anonymous
I thought it was favorable. Historically, the Dodgers have done well against Gnatt Cain.
Anonymous
There’s NO video for this game on Gameday. Huh?
Anonymous
there never is on nationally televised games (perhaps only for the Fox games we can see on Sunday). I think they show up after 90 minutes.
Anonymous
Well the defibrillator worked and Im breathing on my own. My goodness why is winning a game so complicated?
KT
^_^
Anonymous
They’re underway in Pittsburgh, with the Pirates taking a 2-0 lead in the first, and in St. Louis.
Anonymous
MLB Network will be showing Saturday’s game vs STL nationwide.
Anonymous
I didn’t see the game, Braves were on; listened to Steiner who didn’t shut-up for more than 15 seconds the whole time, poorly called the Gonzalez triple and the Ramirez steal. If management thinks he and Colletti are doing a good job one has to doubt their judgement.
On the Castellanos play which I didn’t see-we have Gwynn at AAA who must be a better fielder and might even be a better runner. I realize Gwynn is not on the 40-man but Matt Angle could be DFA’ed or brought up rather than Gwynn as I have read he is a fine CF.
Anonymous
True, Gwynn has some value there.
Anonymous
NPUT
Anonymous
http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/2012/09/08/dodgers-lose-kemp-win-game-confuse-fans-and-run-bases-in-unusual-manner