Game wrap – Page 11 – Dodger Thoughts

On April 5, 2011

In Game wrap, Uncategorized

Doug Pensinger/Getty ImagesClayton Kershaw doesn’t dig Chris Iannetta’s fifth-inning homer.

What is a quality start for the Dodgers this year?

Given the expectations for the offense in 2011, I’ve been thinking that the definition might need to be lowered to a maximum of two runs, not three, over at least six innings.

On the other hand, when playing in Colorado’s Coors Field, you’d think the Dodger offense might be able to step it up enough to let the starting pitcher allow that third run.

Three runs is what Clayton Kershaw allowed in six innings during his second start of the season, and it’s hard to be very critical. He struck out eight, walked none except for one batter intentionally. He did give up a few hard hits, not the least of which were solo home runs by Troy Tulowitzki in the fourth inning and Chris Iannetta in the fifth that ended Kershaw’s bid for a 0.00 ERA this season and put the Dodgers on the path to a 3-0 loss, their second shutout in five games this season.

Dominant? Not exactly. But quality? I’d say so.

Which brings ups back to the Dodger hitters. They had a few hard-hit balls of their own, but none that left the park, nor any that were particularly well-timed (the team went 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position and left six on base). Additionally, Colorado’s defense was stingy rather than generous like San Francisco’s fielders were most of the past weekend.

Tony Gwynn Jr. had a pretty nice game. He had the Dodgers’ only extra-base hit, a double, and also took a double away from Todd Helton with a barehanded grab of his drive off the wall and quick return throw to second base to nail him. He also came as close as any Dodger to driving in a run, but with Jamey Carroll on third base and two out in the fifth inning, third baseman Ty Wigginton made a nice play to barely throw Gwynn out at first.

Andre Ethier singled and walked twice (once intentionally after Gwynn’s double in the third), but Matt Kemp had his roughest night at the plate this year, going 0 for 4.

Dodger relievers Mike MacDougal and Blake Hawksworth slowed the Dodgers early season relief troubles with shutout innings of relief, keeping the game close, but Colorado pitchers Jhoulys Chacin (seven innings, seven baserunners, four strikeouts), Rafael Betancourt and Huston Street combined to retire the final 12 Dodgers in order. Carroll’s leadoff single in the fifth inning was the Dodgers’ last hit of the night.

* * *

From Tony Jackson’s ESPNLosAngeles.com notebook:

Casey Blake is likely, but not definitely, going to be activated from the disabled list before Wednesday’s day game, likely meaning that Ivan De Jesus Jr. won’t get his first major-league hit for a while.
Jon Garland is scheduled for a rehab start with Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday. John Ely looks likely to take the Dodgers’ major-league start in San Diego that day.
Vicente Padilla had a setback, hopefully a small one. He will see a doctor Wednesday after experiencing soreness following a 60-pitch simulated game.
Jay Gibbons will be with Albuquerque on a rehabilitation assignment, continuing to hope his newest pair of contact lenses solves his troubles.

Dodgers survive and advance, 7-5

On April 3, 2011

Gus Ruelas/APAubrey Huff dives in vain for Jamey Carroll’s soon-to-be RBI triple, giving the Dodgers a 1-0 first-inning lead.

Gus Ruelas/APAn oncoming Juan Uribe loses his footing.

Dodger Stadium almost saw a perfect game of a most unexpected sort Sunday.

After Matt Kemp hit a two-run homer to cap a three-run first inning for the Dodgers and Pablo Sandoval countered with a leadoff blast to start the second inning for the Giants, pitchers Hiroki Kuroda and Barry Zito combined to retire 26 consecutive batters. At the moment of truth, Freddy Sanchez hit a slow roller that third baseman Juan Uribe tumbled going after – “Hiroki was actually walking off the field when that ball was hit,” ESPN commentator Bobby Valentine said – ending the streak.

But even though it wasn’t a perfecto, real or imagined, the result was plenty good for the Dodgers, who won their third of four games in their 2011 opening series with San Francisco, 7-5.

Marcus Thames, who went 0 for 2 against lefty starter Zito, found southpaw reliever Dan Runzler more to his liking to break a 3-3, seventh-inning tie. Thames’ drive to deep right had Aubrey Huff running for his life like Cary Grant in “North by Northwest” before the ball went off his glove for a triple, driving home James Loney. It was the second time in the game that Huff, moved to right field to make room for rookie Brandon Belt at first base, had let a ball play him into an RBI triple.

In his third appearance of this young season but his first on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball since his disastrous outing against the Yankees last June, Jonathan Broxton pitched the ninth inning with a 7-4 lead. Aaron Rowand hit the second homer of the season off Broxton – who in 2008 only allowed two homers all year – and Freddy Sanchez hit a one-out single, but Broxton retired Huff and Buster Posey to ground out to end the game.

San Francisco lost despite scoring in each of the final four innings.

Gus Ruelas/APHiroki Kuroda needed only 56 pitches to get through the first five innings.

What ended up being a high-scoring game from Giants-Dodgers standards spent half its time as a pitcher’s duel, led by Kuroda, who was superb from his second batter. (His first, Andres Torres, was hit by a pitch.) After Sandoval’s homer, Kuroda retired 14 in a row before Sanchez reached base. Ensuing hits by Huff and Posey drove in the second run, though Kuroda retired Sandoval to escape further damage … temporarily. In the seventh, leadoff hitter Pat Burrell hit his second homer of the season to left field to tie the game.

A one-out double by Miguel Tejada sent Rick Honeycutt to the mound for his first visit of the night. But the nailbiting didn’t last long. Mike Fontenot obliged Kuroda with a first-pitch flyout and Torres fouled out, ending Kuroda’s night at seven innings and six hits, no walks and five strikeouts.

In the bottom of the seventh, after Loney’s single (his second hit of the year in four games) and Thames’ triple, pinch-hitter Aaron Miles singled in pinch-runner Tony Gwynn Jr., Rafael Furcal doubled in Miles and Andre Ethier singled in Furcal.

Dodger reliever Hong-Chih Kuo was erratic enough in the eighth that Don Mattingly pulled him – after striking out Sandoval on his 22nd pitch – with two on and two out in favor of offseason free agent acquisition Matt Guerrier. Even shakier, Guerrier walked Burrell and Belt to force in a run, before Tejada, swinging at the first pitch, fouled out.

Not for the first time this season, I’m at risk of not giving due credit to Kemp, who has once again become “Stop what you’re doing and watch TV” – in a good way. His first-inning homer, coming one batter after Jamey Carroll tripled past a diving Huff, landed deep in the left-field bullpen, and at the time made Kemp 5 for 9 with 10 total bases and a .667 on-base percentage. Zito himself retired 14 in a row after that and ended his night with the score tied – a tie that seemed like ancient history by the time this one was finally over.

Ooof: 10-0

On April 2, 2011

Jae C. Hong/APAndre Ethier had three hits, but the Dodgers tossed away their undefeated season with a 10-0 loss to the Giants that ended, as Tony Jackson of ESPNLosAngeles.com noted, with catcher A.J. Ellis warming up in the bullpen for a potential relief outing. Hector Gimenez had his first major-league hit on the otherwise dreary day.

Kemp, Dodgers race home with another victory, 4-3

On April 1, 2011

Mark J. Terrill/APRafael Furcal delivers his game-winning hit.

Two games into the season, the Dodgers have kindly requested that their fans not despair.

If your pitcher gives up a bunt single and hits a batter to start the game, he can still order up a double-play grounder.

If that same pitcher gives up a three-run homer in the fourth inning, that doesn’t mean he won’t complete six solid innings.

And if you find yourself down by two runs against San Francisco’s No. 2 starting pitcher, don’t give up on the idea of a comeback.

On a night that you could not get the uncertain fate of assaulted Giants fan Bryan Stow out of your mind, the Dodgers, energized for the second night in a row on offense by Matt Kemp, rallied for three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and once again hung on for a 4-3 victory.

After hitting an RBI double to give the Dodgers a short-lived 1-0 lead in the fourth inning, Kemp singled to start the bottom of the sixth and then went from first to third on a hit-and-run groundout by Marcus Thames. James Loney inside-outed a fly ball to left field to cut the Dodgers’ deficit to one, with a tip of the cap to new baserunning coach Davey Lopes.

The Giants then proceeded to tie their season high for sixth-inning errors: two. Following Rod Barajas’ single, Aaron Miles hit a slow roller to third that Pablo Sandoval gloved but threw away, The single-plus-error put runners on second and third base.

In his first major-league at-bat since September 27, 2006 and third overall, Hector Gimenez (batting for Billingsley, who allowed seven baserunners in six innings, striking out four) hit a slow bouncer between the mound and third base, which Giants starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez whiffed, allowing tying run Barajas to score. Rafael Furcal’s solid single off reliever Guillermo Mota completed the rally by driving home Miles.

Mark J. Terrill/APBuster Posey’s lightning-bolt whiff.

Of course, that hardly meant the game – or the worry – was over. The fifth of six players of the night making his Dodger debut, Blake Hawksworth, allowed a bunt single, another single and a walk to load the bases with two out and San Francisco cleanup hitter Buster Posey on deck. An 0-2 count went to 3-2.

Despair? Maybe. Defeat? Not this time. Posey swung hard and missed hard, his bat flying like an errant missile into the stands to his left.

A quick eighth inning – featuring a diving catch by Kemp – set the stage for Jonathan Broxton, who this night would not have a two-run cushion to play with, but just one. Let’s play it again, Sam.

vs. Mark DeRosa: called strike, called strike, called strike. Bat never left the man’s shoulder.
vs. Andres Torres: ball, fly out to right-center field.
vs. Freddy Sanchez: ball, called strike, slider just low, fastball fisted to Loney.

That ninth inning looked easy. Despair may yet come, but tonight, it was no match for hope.

“This is just the beginning,” Kemp told Prime Ticket after the game.

Let’s pass some of that hope Bryan Stow’s way, as well as toward a belief that someday, everyone will realize that you don’t get to use a baseball rivalry as an excuse to commit mayhem.

Kershaw strikes at heart of Giants, 2-1

On March 31, 2011

Jeff Gross/Getty ImagesClayton Kershaw, out of the blue and into the black

Any hope that the Los Angeles Dodgers would support their pitching with great fundamentals and an underrated offense took an early uppercut to the jaw on Opening Day, 2011.

But any fear that Clayton Kershaw wasn’t up to carrying the responsibility of team leader on his shoulders was KO’d.

In the latest of his coming-of-age performances, Kershaw shut out the San Francisco Giants for seven innings, striking out nine, and the Dodgers knocked the Giants off their Opening Day beanstalk, 2-1.

Kershaw struck out four in the first two innings, eight in the first four innings. He didn’t fret when he went 3-0 for the only time of the night to Pat Burrell, nabbing him two pitches later on a flyout, nor did he get shy after Aubrey Huff hit the night’s biggest shot, a fly ball to the wall in right field in the fourth. Kershaw simply reared back and struck out Buster Posey and Burrell.

He pitched out of his first two-on jam in the fifth inning, drew a double-play grounder after allowing a leadoff single in the sixth. In the seventh inning, he matched a Dodgers Opening Day record (for non-extra-inning games – thanks, Bob Timmermann) by striking out his ninth batter.

And after that, admired as Hong-Chih Kuo and embattled Jonathan Broxton — after a skipped heartbeat or two — held up their end of the pitching deal, closing out the game.

It was a true showcase for the ace — not so much at first for some other of the Dodgers’ skills.

The first inning set the tone, when Kershaw struck out the side to overcome Rafael Furcal’s one-out unforced throwing error. In the second inning, Kershaw was unable to handle James Loney’s lob for a 3-1 groundout, and in the bottom of the frame, Juan Uribe overslid second base and was called out after initially appearing safe stretching a single to a double. Then, after Rod Barajas singled (a hit that might have scored Uribe) and went to second base on a passed ball, Jamey Carroll couldn’t put the ball in play, striking out ahead of Kershaw doing the same.

Loney undermined his own Mr. RBI marketing campaign by grounding out with two runners on and two out in each of his first two at-bats — the Dodgers going 0 for their first five at-bats with runners in scoring position. Hey, it happen. And it figures to happen pretty often with the Dodgers this year, not due to a lack of heart but the law of low on-base percentages.

Of course, there was also a guy named Tim Lincecum out there on the mound, so no one’s really going to hold the Dodgers too accountable for not lighting up the scoreboard this time around. And then, as it turned out, last year’s world champions proved even more fundamental-free than the Dodgers.

After Matt Kemp walked for the second of three, count ’em, three times in the game, Loney nearly hit into another groundout, only to be saved by a Miguel Tejada throwing error. Lincecum then hit Juan Uribe with a pitch to load the bases.

And then, in the first bizarre play of this young season, Posey shoveled up a pitch in the dirt, then fired at third base trying to pick off Kemp just as the Dodger was completing his return to the third-base bag. The throw got past Pablo Sandoval, and Kemp trotted home with Run No. 1.

“I saw Pablo,” Kemp told Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com after the game. “I saw his reaction. I saw his eyes, and I knew the ball was coming. I don’t know what was going on, but I’ll take it.”

Kershaw threw 13 pitches in the seventh inning, giving him 96 for the night and setting up the possibility that with a quick eighth inning, he might go the distance — and spare everyone the edginess of a Broxton appearance. But debut Dodgers manager Don Mattingly gunslinged straight to his bullpen to start the eighth, beginning with Kuo.

That’s the guy who elicits no scorn, but Kuo threw his first six pitches out of the strike zone (four to leadoff man Mark DeRosa, batting for Lincecum). Rallying, he retired Andres Torres, Freddy Sanchez and Huff to wrap up the frame.

In the bottom of the eighth, Kemp worked out that career-high third walk, followed by a no-contest stolen base. Loney, grateful for the latest chance to drive in a run, came through with a solid double. Neither Uribe, Barajas or Carroll could build upon that Farmer’s Insurance Run (naming rights pending) …and so we came to the heavyweight bout of the night.

Broxton vs. Broxton.

The crowd buzzed …

vs. Posey: ball a little high, and then a grounder to Loney that he slid for, kept in front and shoveled to the rumbling pitcher covering the bag.
vs. Burrell: ball, ball, foul back, and a home run smoked on a low arc to left field. Alarm bells.
vs. Tejada: ball, swinging strike, tapper in front of the plate for Barajas to throw to Loney for the second out.
vs. Brandon Belt: swinging strike, ball outside, ground foul wide of third, ball outside, soft foul toward the Giants’ dugout, hair’s breadth foul tip, foul back, looping liner to third base.

Done.

The emotional stakes

On March 29, 2011

Dodger fans are going to have very little patience for games like tonight’s when the season starts. And they’ll come, as they always do. But if they come early and often, it’s going to get very ugly, very quickly.

* * *

Angels 5, Dodgers 1

Highlights:

Rod Barajas hit his third homer in the third inning.
Juan Uribe hit his team-high seventh double.
Hiroki Kuroda picked off Torii Hunter, and walked none while striking out four in four innings.
Michael Antonini, acquired in December for Chin-Lung Hu, pitched two shutout innings.

Lowlights:

Kuroda allowed three runs on seven hits.
Scott Elbert gave up a two-run homer to Hunter in his only inning – he faced six batters and allowed four baserunners.

Sidelights:

Spotlight man Andre Ethier went 1 for 3.
Molly Knight of ESPN the Magazine on Twitter: “When told of Ethier’s comments that he could be non-tendered after 2011, a visibly agitated Ned Colletti shook his head.”
Steve Mason and John Ireland of ESPN AM 710 had Chad Billingsley on today, then later, me. Mason and Ireland called me “the most mellow guy in the world.” If they only knew …
From The Associated Press: “Dodgers head trainer Stan Conte was not with the team, having spent Tuesday in San Francisco testifying in Barry Bonds’ perjury trial. The former Giants slugger is charged with lying to a grand jury when he denied knowingly taking performance-enhancing drugs. Conte, the Giants’ head trainer during seven of his 15 years with them, gave detailed and damaging accounts of Bonds’ daily activities with his personal trainers, Greg Anderson and Harvey Shields – whom Conte had attempted to ban from the clubhouse.”

Dodgers walk nine in 5-4 loss

On March 28, 2011

In Game wrap, Spring Training

Angels 5, Dodgers 4

Highlights:

Rafael Furcal singled, walked and scored two runs.
Consecutive RBI hits by Juan Uribe and Rod Barajas rallied the Dodgers from a 3-2 sixth-inning deficit.
Jerry Sands and Hector Gimenez each had late hits.
Relievers Mike MacDougal, Matt Guerrier and Hong-Chih Kuo pitched 3 1/3 combined shutout innings, allowing one hit and striking out three.

Lowlights:

Ted Lilly walked five and allowed four hits in a four-inning outing.
Kenley Jansen walked three more and gave up a hit and a run while recording only two outs.
Ivan De Jesus Jr. messed up a double-play ball behind Jonathan Broxton with the Dodgers leading 4-3 in the ninth.
After the tying run scored on a single by top prospect Mike Trout, Broxton walked minor-leaguer Andrew Romine, allowing Hank Conger to come up to bat and hit a sacrifice fly.
Gabe Kapler hit into a game-ending double play with two on in the bottom of the ninth.

Sidelights:

I’m seriously considering complete abstention from debating the merits of Jonathan Broxton for the time being. The season hasn’t even started, and already the fur is flying about his value. No, he didn’t do his job. Neither did De Jesus, Jansen or Lilly, but no one will question their manhood. I’m willing to admit I’m concerned about whether Broxton’s all the way back from his late 2010 troubles, but I just don’t know if I can spend yet another year arguing about the man’s courage, spine or gumption. It’s completely subjective, and people are just going to believe what they want to believe.
It seems Jay Gibbons might go on the disabled list because his eye issues remain unresolved. That would probably mean an Opening Day start for Tony Gwynn Jr. As for the roster spot, that could go to anyone: a pitcher (allowing Scott Elbert and Lance Cormier both to make the team), a catcher (allowing both Hector Gimenez and A.J. Ellis to make the team), an infielder (Juan Castro) or an outfielder (Kapler or Trent Oeltjen).
“Don’t Stop Believin'” is back? Goodness gracious sakes alive, why???

Dodgers drop Camelback finale

On March 27, 2011

Indians 6, Dodgers 1

Highlights:

Aaron Miles went 2 for 2.
Corey Smith hit a ground-rule double to dead center. In 14 plate appearances this spring: two singles, two doubles, two homers, four walks, four outs, 2.114 OPS. Smith, a third baseman who turns 29 next month, is shaping up to be this year’s John Lindsey. He’s an 11-year minor-league veteran who has never reached the majors.

Lowlights:

Chad Billingsley allowed a single, a walk, a hit batter and a double in a two-run second inning.
Ivan DeJesus Jr. was called out on strikes with two on and two out in the third.

Sidelights:

Ramon Troncoso was sent to the minors. As Tony Jackson of ESPNLosAngeles.com says, the final spot in the bullpen is a two-man competition between lefty Scott Elbert and righty Lance Cormier. If the Dodgers were going on last year’s performance, however, Cormier would be a lock ahead of Mike MacDougal, who has apparently made the team. That being said, Cormier did walk more than he struck out last year as well.
Dylan Hernandez of the Times is suggesting that the Dodgers are now considering going to a fifth starter on April 10, to give Clayton Kershaw and Billingsley an early extra day of rest, and aree lining up Tim Redding for the slot.
Jerry Crowe of the Times tells the story of how Mike Brito discovered Bobby Castillo, which of course had a major effect on Fernando Valenzuela’s path in Los Angeles.

Kershaw perfect in warmup to regular season

On March 26, 2011

Dodgers 5, Padres 4

Highlights:

In a scheduled short tune-up outing for Opening Day, Clayton Kershaw retired all 11 batters he faced (including one that reached on an error by Juan Uribe). Kershaw struck out three.
Dodger pitchers didn’t allow a hit until Jason Bartlett singled off Lance Cormier in the sixth inning.
Uribe doubled and homered, driving in four runs.
Jonathan Broxton hit a batter before retiring his next three, striking out one.
James Loney singled, walked and scored twice.

Lowlights:

With roster spots all but locked up, Scott Elbert gave up a homer and two singles to the four batters he faced …
… and then Mike MacDougal allowed both baserunners to score, giving up a single and two walks among his five batters.
Rafael Furcal went 0 for 3. For the spring, he has a .264 on-base percentage and .240 slugging percentage – 10 singles and a double in 50 at-bats.

Lowlights:

Furcal was hit by a pitch an inning after Broxton hit his batter, and both benches emptied. From The Associated Press:

… There were no pushes, punches or ejections during the dustup in the sixth inning.“That’s just players being players,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “It was a competitive game even though it was spring training. It was good, spirited play.”

The incident occurred after the Dodgers’ half-inning ended when Andre Ethier began shouting at the Padres dugout from the on-deck circle. Moments earlier, Furcal was hit by Padres reliever Brad Brach.

Ryan Ludwick was struck by Broxton’s pitch in the bottom of the fifth.

On his way back to the dugout, Ludwick stopped at home plate and began hollering at the Dodgers, but neither side got within 10 feet of each other as Black and Dodgers manager Don Mattingly broke up the dispute.

“I’ll tell you what, I don’t mind our boys stepping up,” Mattingly said. “I don’t mind at all.” …
With roster spots all but locked up, Scott Elbert gave up a homer and two singles to the four batters he faced …
As Tony Jackson of ESPNLosAngeles.com reports, John Ely was optioned as planned – remaining a candidate to be called up for an April 12 start – and Ron Mahay was granted his release.
Travis Schlichting was reassigned to minor-league camp.
According to the Dodger press notes, Los Angeles is 13-9-1 this spring in full-squad games, which would mean they are 0-9 in split-squad games.

Ivan DeJesus Jr. likely to start at second base while Blake is out

Diamondbacks 6, Dodgers 3

On March 25, 2011

In Game chat, Game wrap, Health/injuries, Uncategorized

Rob Tringali/Getty ImagesIvan De Jesus Jr. has a .380 on-base percentage this spring.

“Barring an injury,” writes Tony Jackson of ESPNLosAngeles.com, “infielder Ivan DeJesus looks like a strong bet to make the club and remain in the big leagues until Blake returns from back injury. DeJesus, who will be making his major league debut, likely will get the bulk of the starts at second base during that time, while Juan Uribe will move to third.”

It’s a pretty impressive feat for the infielder, who has remaining options, who had to come back from a 2009 broken leg and was even said by some to be in the Dodgers’ doghouse last year.

Jackson also writes that the Dodgers will carry four starting pitchers on their Opening Day roster, and will call up a fifth starter from the minors April 12. That pitcher figures to be John Ely, especially if Tim Redding’s back ailment today proves to be serious. Jackson:

… Redding returned to Camelback Ranch, the team’s spring-training complex in Glendale, for further examination. No diagnosis or prognosis was immediately available. …

The season opener for Triple-A Albuquerque isn’t until April 7, so whomever the Dodgers choose to start in place of Garland could start that game and then be perfectly lined up to pitch for the Dodgers on April 12 in San Francisco. …

* * *

Highlights:

Coming in to relieve the injured Redding with one on and none out in the fourth, Rubby De La Rosa got a double-play grounder and only allowed a bunt single in his first three innings.
Backup catchers A.J. Ellis and Hector Gimenez each went 1 for 2.
Xavier Paul thew out a runner at the plate.
Doubles by Aaron Miles and Justin Sellers’ sandwiched Ellis’ single and gave the Dodgers an early 2-0 lead.

Lowlights:

Redding allowed a two-run homer in the third and six hits total in his three-plus innings, before leaving with the back trouble.
De La Rosa allowed three runs in his fourth inning of work.
Tony Gwynn Jr. went 0 for 4, his spring OPS falling to .689.

Sidelights:

Christina Taylor Green’s brother Dallas and Tucson shooting victim Ken Dorushka threw out first pitches before today’s game.
Nick Charles, who has terminal cancer, will call the opening bout on HBO’s “Boxing After Dark” on Saturday, says Sports Business Daily.
Rafael Furcal has been recovering from an offseason illness, reports Dylan Hernandez of the Times in this feature.
Great pics of Fernando Valenzuela pitching in Mexico last week, shared by Roberto Baly of Vin Scully Is My Homeboy.
Another great item, this from Eric Nusbaum at Pitchers & Poets, gives us Ken Levine talking about Vin Scully: “Normally I can look over somebody’s shoulders, I can pick up their scorecard and I can kind of figure it out. With one exception – Vin Scully. He’s got lines and dots and stuff. I have no idea. You need Navajo code breakers to figure out Vin’s scorebook. I have no idea.”
Here’s part 3 of Mark Timmons’ LADodgerTalk.com interview with Logan White.
The Dodgers aren’t the only ones with injuries, by any means. The shoulder of Phillies closer Brad Lidge is hurting, and so is Philadelphia’s bullpen, writes David Schoenfield of ESPN.com.
Padres starting pitcher Mat Latos is also ailing, notes Aaron Gleeman of Hardball Talk.
Will Leitch on the Mets (via Rob Neyer): “Even if this year is a write-off, the team will be more enjoyable to watch than it has been the last four years, if only because the franchise is finally moving forward. It’s going to get better, soon. I promise, this isn’t a scam. You are forgiven for fearing otherwise. This is, after all, the Mets.”

* * *

Dodgers at Mariners, 7:05 p.m.

Billingsley shines, Dodgers win in 10th

On March 22, 2011

Kevork Djansezian/Getty ImagesChad Billingsley (shown here on St. Patrick’s Day)

Dodgers 2, Cubs 1 (10)

Highlights:

In the finest outing by a Dodger pitcher this spring, Chad Billingsley threw six shutout innings, allowing four hits and three walks while striking out three. Starting in the second inning, he retired 12 batters in a row before allowing a single and two walks with two out in the sixth, but Billingsley then retired Jeff Baker on a fly to center.
Dodger farmhand Kyle Russell doubled with one out in the 10th, then scored on Orlando Mercado’s game-winning hit.
Hector Gimenez’s charmed spring added another clover when, in his first inning in left field, he threw out Tyler Colvin at the plate. Dodger Thoughts reader BHSportsGuy said Colvin had barely passed third when Gimenez picked up the ball, but it was a good, low throw to Rod Barajas.
Scott Elbert relieved Lance Cormier with two on and two out in the seventh, and struck out Colvin.
Rafael Furcal singled and doubled.
Xavier Paul singled in Eugenio Velez (2 for 3) in the fifth to give the Dodgers their initial 1-0 lead.
Hong-Chih Kuo pitched a perfect inning, striking out Carlos Pena and Geovany Soto.
Minor-leaguer Corey Smith singled and walked — in nine plate appearances this spring, he has a single, a double, two homers and two walks. OPS: 2.611.

Lowlights:

Velez hurt himself while bunting for a hit in the seventh inning.
Ramon Troncoso gave up a game-tying homer to the first batter he faced in the ninth inning, Baker, before retiring the next three hitters.
Gimenez’s charmed spring lost a clover when he went 0 for 4 at the plate with three strikeouts.
Jay Gibbons went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts.

Sidelights:

Good work by Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A., showing how the Camelback Ranch attendance drop reported by Steve Dilbeck of the Times was overblown.
Logan White told Mark Timmons and Jared Massey of LADodgertalk.com, “I’d rather be a Dodger than a GM,” adding that his heart really wasn’t into the job interviews he has had.
Blake DeWitt tripled off Cormier to start the Cubs’ thwarted seventh-inning rally.
Even though Stanford lost, this was the highlight of my day:

Dodgers, Brewers take Route 6-6

On March 19, 2011

In Game wrap, Spring Training

Dodgers 6, Brewers 6

Highlights:

Aaron Miles went 2 for 4 with a one-out double in the bottom of the ninth that led to the tying run, completing the Dodgers’ rally from a 6-2 deficit.
Juan Castro also doubled and singled.
Scott Elbert pitched a perfect inning. He stayed around the plate for the first two batters, before going to a three-ball count on the third.

Lowlights:

Ramon Troncoso replaced Hiroki Kuroda with two out in the sixth inning, score tied 1-1 and two runners on base. By the time he got the third out, the score was 4-1 Brewers.
Two more runs came off of Travis Schlichting in the seventh inning.

Sidelights:

Vicente Padilla’s rehabilitation seems to be progressing rapidly, reports Tony Jackson of ESPNLosAngeles.com.
San Francisco closer Brian Wilson has a ribcage strain and might miss the start of the regular season, says The Press that is Associated.

Rubby doobie doo: Four no-hit innings for De La Rosa

On March 18, 2011

APRubby De La Rosa

Just as there’s no denying how meaningless Spring Training performances generally are, there’s also no denying how much fun it can be when you see a top prospect excel. Has there been a better March memory this century than Clayton Kershaw’s Public Enemy No. 1 from 2008? (It helps when you have Vin Scully documenting it.)

Though it’s hardly been the best of Dodger Spring Trainings in 2011 (albeit one devoid of controversy), the organization’s reigning players of the year have far from disappointed. Jerry Sands was red hot at the plate in the early going, and now there’s pitcher Rubby De La Rosa, who fired four no-hit innings in a start against San Francisco today.

De La Rosa walked three (his first free passes of the spring) and struck out two. In exhibition play, the player who will become the centerpiece of the Dodgers’ 2013 “Rubby Tuesday” marketing campaign has thrown 10 innings and allowed seven baserunners while striking out seven and posting a 1.80 ERA.

De La Rosa will start the season in the minors, but will we have to wait until 2012 for his arrival? If he can pitch consistently into the summer, maybe not …

However unrealistic (at least in the short term), it’s fun sometimes to just tune out the noise and think about guys like Sands and De La Rosa as potential saviors.

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Dodgers 6, Giants 3

Highlights:

Um, Hector Gimenez homered again, this time off Guillermo Mota. Gimenez is a combination of fun and scary. Dare I even consider falling in love with this guy? How about a no-strings-attached fling?
Matt Kemp was in the thick of things again, with a triple, walk and sacrifice fly.
Second base, the position that could open up if Casey Blake goes on the disabled list, looked nice to Ivan De Jesus,Jr., who started there and went 3 for 4 with a double.
Xavier Paul, who also homered off Mota, upped his spring OBP to .343 and slugging percentage to .625.
Rafael Furcal and James Loney had two-hit games.

Lowlights:

Blake Hawksworth allowed two runs in the fifth inning.
Kenley Jansen struck out two but allowed back-to-back extra-base hits in between.

Sidelights:

Batters retired by De La Rosa: Mike Fontenot, Miguel Tejada, Aubrey Huff, Nate Schierholtz, Aaron Rowand, Travis Ishikawa, Jeff Suppan, Tejada, Huff, Pablo Sandoval, Schierholtz.
In 31 plate appearances this spring, Loney has 10 singles, no extra-base hits and one walk.
In their past two games, the Dodgers have 25 hits and one walk.
Confession: While checking in on the game via MLB Gameday, I saw Eugenio Velez homered in the ninth inning, and I groaned. Then, I saw that he had added to the Dodger lead, and remembered he was on the team. Then I saw that Gameday had made a mistake, and it was really Paul who hit the homer.

Gimenez rallies Dodgers with three-run blast