The current National League West Fourth-Place standings
Team L W GB Last 20 (L-W) Padres 75 69 - 5-15 D’backs 72 71 2 ½ 11-9 Dodgers 70 74 5 13-7
Cardinals at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m.
Shane Victorino, LF
Andre Ethier, RF
Matt Kemp, CF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Luis Cruz, 3B
Nick Punto, 2B
A.J. Ellis, C
Chris Capuano, P
Shane Victorino, LF
Andre Ethier, RF
Matt Kemp, CF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Luis Cruz, 3B
Nick Punto, 2B
A.J. Ellis, C
Chris Capuano, P
As you can see, the Padres have gone into a winning slump, allowing the Dodgers to make up eight games in a hurry and get back into the race.
The Dodgers will have a big chance to catch up to San Diego in the loss column with a three-game series September 25-27 in San Diego. But first, the Padres must avoid not having trouble with Arizona from September 18-20.
Los Angeles holds a tiebreaker advantage over San Diego, nine losses to six.
Anonymous
This is getting serious.
Anonymous
I think we need a “cynicism” tag on this one.
Anonymous
Does not cynicism fall under Rule No. 7?
Jon Weisman
The rules apply to commenters.
Also, what I wrote above isn’t sarcastic. It’s all objectively true.
I’d say this post is more trying to lighten things up than it is cynical.
Anonymous
We need to form a Cynicism Commission.
Anonymous
I am still allowed to be facetious, though?
Anonymous
The Dodgers can get this done – only 5 back of the Padres with plenty of games to go, especially the way the Pads have been playing!
Robert Tiffin
About a month ago, my Dad mailed me four free Loge tickets to last night’s game he had been given but wasn’t able to use. We would have made it just in time except that traffic on SW was backed up almost to the on ramp. (If it had been just the brother and I, we wouldn’t have been anywhere near the park, of course).
We broke out the Chipotle right there in the car and took our time eating it while Vin called the game. That was easily the best part of the evening.
After the game, I couldn’t figure out whether I was more frustrated at the Dodgers for another listless offensive performance or the ~10,000 extra people that just came for the fleece blankets (which were long gone by the time we got into the gate, much to my sister-in-law’s disappointment).
Beckett’s 9-3 ground out was definitely the highlight for us, though. I think I got my brother with that a couple of times on our old Super Nintendo back in the mid ’90s.
And no, we did not pony up for Cool-A-Coos. They just make me thirsty.
Anonymous
Someone needs to tell Stan to go back to ‘all fans in attendence’ for giveaways. I always thought other teams were lame for limiting them, now we are lame too.
Anonymous
Yeah I missed out on the free blanket :(
At least to all kids in attendance.
Anonymous
My biggest concern now is if the Rockies games will be loser’s dividend games.
David Farinella
For a minute there I thought you meant that we had WON 13 against 7 losses and I was wondering why I was feeling so down… Then I paid attention.
Anonymous
It’s been so depressing lately, I haven’t even been reading DT nearly as often.
Anonymous
Victorino leads off today. Punto in place of Ellis at second base.
That’ll show ’em!
Anonymous
While Cruz has been the best hitter for a month.
Anonymous
Not sure how Punto sparks an offense more than Dee.
Jon Weisman
Tonight’s lineup:
Victorino LF
Ethier RF
Kemp CF
Gonzalez 1B
Ramirez SS
Cruz 3B
Punto 2B
Ellis C
Capuano P
Anonymous
Another thing I’ve learned recently. People in St. Louis hold Nick Punto in extremely high esteem.
Jon Weisman
CHICAGO (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates lost their seventh straight game Friday and kept fading in the NL wild-card race as
Starlin Castro hit a three-run homer that sent the Chicago Cubs to a 7-4 win.
Jon Weisman
“On Aug. 8, the Pirates were 63-47, but have gone 9-24 since. They are now just a game over .500 for the first time since June
15 when they were 32-31. Pittsburgh hasn’t finished with a winning record since 1992.”
plaza23
Nick Punto playing…and Victorino leading off…ugh.
Jim Hitchcock
A Town Without Pity…
Anonymous
KCET’s website with a good essay and accompanying photos on the history of the Chavez Ravine area, nearly all of it pre-Dodger Stadium.
Anonymous
Thanks for that link, Bob. Fascinating. I knew some of the story, but not all of this (and I’m sure there’s still more).
Jon Weisman
The CarTalk guys’ reaction to “Bernoulli” & “lift” might be the single-greatest moment in the show’s history. bit.ly/PC9hKE
This short clip cuts off too soon, but it gives you a taste.
Anonymous
Since THE TRADE
JLoney; .268/.281/.357 for a 68 OPS+
AGonzales: .233/.296/.370 for an 83 OPS+
Yikes.
Anonymous
The Astros are interviewing Larry Bowa. Oh please. Oh please. Oh please. Oh please. Oh please.
Anonymous
Well, even if it happens, he’ll be in the other league.
Anonymous
What have you got against the Astros?
Anonymous
Larry Bowa may have been the worst coach the Dodgers had ever employed. He motivated players to play worse.
Anonymous
So I repeat, why do you hate the Astros? They’re so cute and harmless. And their ballpark features a train!
Anonymous
I want Larry Bowa to fail again.
Anonymous
And you don’t care who gets hurt in the process? That’s cold, btimmer. Cold.
Or maybe you’re still holding a grudge against Mike Scott?
Terry Pruett
The Astros might be a good fit for Bowa: a roster full of guys who hit even worse than he did.
Terry Pruett
This season, like an old soldier, isn’t dying…it’s just fading away. In retrospect, the Dodgers received their mortal blow (if it indeed it turns out to be a mortal blow), the millisecond Matt Kemp’s hammy seized on him crossing 1st base that day. I truly believe he was going to have a historic season, and carry the Dodgers with him.
Now, after the hamstring, and with the shoulder, his bat speed is noticeably slower. He needs the off season…as do we. However, I retain a small measure of hope. It is baseball after all. And, as Casey Stengel once said: “In baseball, you don’t know nothin’.”
Anonymous
Are these standings from the Bizarro baseball league?
Ron Conner
fuck the dodgers
Anonymous
Seriously, I started ignoring baseball to protect my feelings from the Dodgers doing so poorly as they are being beatten so soundly by the Giants and others.But I have been able to get through this and see that we are doing something rather rare and incredible!.I’m hoping it can turn right around. But it may never really register statistically how bad the Dodgers have done as they have spent 1/4 Billion and given up amazing pitching prospects which may mitigate this streak. It is very interesting and I truly believe we are storing good luck for something.(wish I knew what and when it is.)
Anonymous
Kershaw is now questionable for Sunday’s start because of the same hip issue he had before.
So, it’s time for people to question Don Mattingly’s manhood again I guess.
Anonymous
And Mattingly will be back in 2013.
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/story/_/id/8379458/los-angeles-dodgers-gm-ned-colletti-says-don-mattingly-back-2013
KT
Nice play Cappy!!
KT
that ball kept carrying
KT
Cappy playing his position well
KT
tried no posting yesterday
today going for the encouragement posting
I’ll try anything to break this streak
Anonymous
The theme song for this series so far:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9MpqbOaXdo
KT
Come on Guys let’s get those two back
KT
Good start Gonzo
KT
Come on Hanley bring him home
Linkmeister
I think the pitchers have all decided “what the hey, I’ll give up a run or two in the first couple of innings just to eliminate any suspense.”
KT
Way to get him over Hanley
Nice RBI Luis
Linkmeister
Yes, ground balls to advance runners are SO exciting. ;)
This team couldn’t get three hits in a row if it meant its house would stay unburnt in a forest fire.
KT
We don’t need anymore negativity or sarcasm
The team needs all the positive vibes it can get
KT
Head 1st dives slow you down Nick
Should only be used to avoid a tag
KT
Bad Vibes equal bad results
Anonymous
Like two-out errors that lead to two-run homers?
KT
yep
KT
way to get on Shane
Come on Dre get on
Anonymous
Many laughs. I don’t even think this is something new in baseball!!!
KT
DRE!!!!
Jibin Park
ETHIER BOMB! LET’S GET EXCITED!
Anonymous
Squewethieeeer!
KT
Alright Matty your turn
Anonymous
Ethier creams one. LOL. what does this mean??? ha Hahaha?
KT
Alright Gonzo start it off
Anonymous
You are definitely a soldier and a better fan than me. Much respect.
KT
trying anything to turn around this season
Losing makes me sick
KT
Way to get out of it Matt
Anonymous
The Phillies won, but the Brewers lost. They are both rooting for the Dodgers here. I suppose the Pirates are too, but the Bucs are a lost cause.
KT
Come on Bobby you’re due
KT
no tag (actually tag on the hip after hand hit bag)
bad call
Anonymous
Wow, Punto has so few talents. He may have been safe! But it is so stupid to give up the only time he has a position.
KT
Let’s go Shane
KT
Wow…that looked a little unorthodox but it worked
KT
Ok Let’s get some runs
Start it off Dre
KT
Nice hit dre
Come on matty relax…you can do it
KT
come on Gonzo…bring dre around
KT
Come on Luis
KT
LUIS!!!!!!
Jason Ungar
SO YOU’RE TELLING ME THERE IS A CHANCE
Anonymous
Winnipeg Goldeyes beat the Wichita Wingnuts tonight 8-3 to win the American Association championship (Independent baseball league). This is the first championship for any professional sports team in Winnipeg since the Goldeyes won the Northern League championship in 1994.
Oh we will be partying at Portage and Main tonight!
And – nice hit Cruz!
Anonymous
On the other hand, the local Canadian Football team – the Winnipeg Blue Bombers – lost 44-3 tonight. Two weeks ago they lost 52-0. Perhaps not going to be their year.
And now back to our regularly scheduled Dodgers comments…
KT
I used to like the edmonton Eskimos back in the late 70’s because a friend from school played for them…used to watch a lot of CFL back then
Anonymous
Are you happy to have the Jets again?
Anonymous
I think it is funny that we have waited 15 years to get them back, and then one season after they return there is an impending lock-out. I’m trying to imagine how the mood would have been in Winnipeg if a lock-out had happened last year!
Anonymous
Did they get to keep the Jets legacy stats and stuff like the “new” Cleveland Browns, or did that all go to Phoenix?
Anonymous
It all went to Phoenix. Instead of having records from Dale Howerchuk and Teemu Selanne, etc. we get a bunch of Thrasher stats and history.
Anonymous
Well, Thrasher is a great Neil Young song, and his parents were married in Winnipeg, so it all connects in the end.
Anonymous
You sir, are most knowledgeable.
Anonymous
I admittedly used wikipedia for the parents married in Winnipeg part.
Anonymous
When I hear wingnuts and Wichita, it’s all I can do to avoid a Rule 5 violation.
KT
Time to add on boys…we want production from the whole lineup
KT
Start it off Elian
KT
Good eye Elian
Come on Shane get on
KT
Excellent executed Hit & Run…Nice Shane
Come on Dre
KT
Take second Shane (double steal)
KT
Come on Matty
Jason Ungar
He needs a few days off. I mean he may need even more than that but gosh is he terrible now. May as well try Herrera
KT
something that is for sure
KT
I think Donnie needs to drop matty to the 6th hole to take the pressure off…go with the hot bat instead
KT
Nice Gonzo!!
KT
good hustle Shane
KT
Come on Hanley bring him home
KT
that fan needed to get in the way
KT
Good win
time to make two tomorrow
underdog
I don’t understand… what… just happened? [shifts into Huell Howser impersonation} They won? They scored runs and that lead to one of these wins I keep hearing about? Interesting. And you’re telling me if they score this many runs the odds are that they’ll win? Very cool. I’m always learning more about California’s Gold.
Anonymous
Spot on, minus the ellipsis before… California’s Gold.
underdog
Also, Cruz continues to be one of the best stories of this season–regardless of how anything else turns out at the end. And he continues to have great at bats, it’s no fluke in the way that Herrera’s early season run was basically a fluke. It’s fun to watch.
KT
I think Luis and Matty should switch spots in the order unless matty is hurt then he should sit
KT
Night all
Anonymous
Good job!
Anonymous
Sooo, did they get it all out of their system?
Anonymous
We’ll find out tonight.
Anonymous
I love the way Vinny has been hailing Molina.
Anonymous
Yadier’s a legit MVP candidate.
Anonymous
I was out and gone, and they pulled me back in! Damn those Ds. Now I have to watch and care about baseball again!
Jon Weisman
NPUT