Postgame – Page 4 – Dodger Thoughts

A good night to take the long view

On August 20, 2016

By Jon Weisman

Baseball sends waves and waves of challenge, testing to see how well you can ride them — or recover from the wipeouts.

It’s what I love about the game, though clearly it’s hard to stomach when you’re going the wrong in the riptide.

Brett Anderson’s second start of 2016 rolled him only slightly less than his first. He allowed four runs in the first inning tonight and six runs overall in 3 2/3 innings, before leaving with a blister on his left index finger, in the Dodgers’ 11-1 defeat at Cincinnati that kept them half a game behind San Francisco in the National League West.

Brandon Finnegan no-hit Los Angeles until Adrián González lined a single to center to start the seventh. It was even closer to the third no-hitter against the Dodgers in the past 12 months than you might have feared, because rain stopped the game barely five minutes later. After 79 minutes, the teams came back to wrap things up.

It’s been a terrible two nights in Cincinnati for the Dodgers, outscored 20-3 so far. But the question, as it has always been, is how they respond. This is not the end of the line, however weird a line it’s been.

Baseball is never static. Baseball is process. A game isn’t an inning, a series isn’t a game, a season isn’t a series. Setbacks are inevitable. What comes after them is what it’s all about.

Bud Norris struggles, on a memorable night for a Reds reliever

By Jon Weisman

On August 19, 2016

In Postgame

Kirk Irwin/Getty Images

By Jon Weisman

From the moment he had the Cincinnati grounds crew work on the mound before throwing his first big-league pitch in 19 days, Bud Norris rarely looked comfortable, and he rarely got comfortable in what became a 9-2 loss Friday to the Reds, a loss that dropped the Dodgers into a temporary first-place tie with San Francisco in the National League West.

Three batters into the game, Norris was down 3-0 after a walk to leadoff hitter Billy Hamilton, a single by one-time Dodger Ivan De Jesus Jr. and a three run homer by Joey Votto. Norris stabilized some in the second and third innings, but was knocked out in the fourth by a two-run double form opposing pitcher Tim Adleman and a bases-loaded walk by Votto.

Corey Seager's OBP is .368, the highest it's been in 2016 except after the second game of the season.

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) August 20, 2016

The Dodgers reached base 17 times (four by Corey Seager), enough to threaten the Reds more than once, but their only run-scoring hit was Seager’s single in the seventh to cut the Reds’ lead to 6-1. Then, in the bottom of the inning, Reds reliever Michael Lorenzen drilled a ball with two runners on into the surely-you-jest stream.

It had to be a special and surreal moment for Lorenzen, whose homer was his first and came hours after he was reinstated from the bereavement list following the passing of his father.

Update: Cody Pace of MLB.com has more from Norris on his difficulties.

Dodger momentum snapped in Philly

By Jon Weisman

On August 18, 2016

In Postgame

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

By Jon Weisman

The Dodgers’ good-time roll hit a rock in their series finale at Philadelphia.

González provides sock, Dodgers’ lead hops

By Jon Weisman

On August 17, 2016

In Postgame

Adrian Gonzalez connects for a three-run home run in the fourth inning. (Tom Mihalek/AP)

By Jon Weisman

Just like Tuesday, the Dodgers erased a 1-0 midgame deficit tonight with one swing of the bat.

It’s a fine formula.

Tonight’s hero was Adrián González, who — doing his best Howie Kendrick — hit a lead-changing homer in the fourth inning, and then — doing his best Chase Utley — hit his second homer of the night in the seventh inning of the Dodgers’ 7-2 victory over Philadelphia.

Los Angeles now leads the National League West by 1 1/2 games, their biggest margin since April 26. The Dodgers have gained 9 1/2 games on the Giants in 52 days.

Before rout began, hot Howie Kendrick’s homer was turning point

By Jon Weisman

On August 16, 2016

In Postgame

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By Jon Weisman

In every other way, this was Chase Utley’s night. He was welcomed home by his longtime fans in Philadelphia with a prolonged standing ovation. He homered — against the Phillies — and they begged him for a curtain call. He hit a grand slam, and the begged him for another.

But in one very specific way, tonight was about the fact that we are in the midst of one of the most meaningful stretches of Howie Kendrick’s 11-year MLB career.

The Dodger Insider cover guy ripped a mammoth two-run homer to center and flipped a one-run deficit in the fifth inning, part of a 4-for-5 night in the 15-5 victory that, pending the final score of the Giants’ game against Pittsburgh tonight, put the Dodgers in a tie for first place in the National League West.

Dodgers weather McCarthy’s troubles in 8-4 win

By Jon Weisman

On August 13, 2016

In Health/injuries, Postgame

By Jon Weisman

There are more questions about Brandon McCarthy, but at least the Dodgers had multiple answers for their two-game losing streak.

Dodgers show that starter innings aren’t everything

By Jon Weisman

On August 13, 2016

In Postgame

By Jon Weisman

Scott Kazmir went six innings. Ross Stripling went seven innings.

Suddenly, the Dodger starting rotation is starting to get more length. The only asterisk is that neither performance led to a victory.

Winning 23 of their first 36 games since Clayton Kershaw’s injury, the Dodgers have proven that starting pitching isn’t everything, and over the past two games, they’ve made that argument more perversely. Instead of winning without it, they’re losing with it.

Big hits betray Dodgers in loss to Phillies

By Jon Weisman

On August 10, 2016

In Postgame

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By Jon Weisman

Nothing reverses fortunes like baseball.

Blue-hot offense powers Dodgers into first-place tie

By Jon Weisman

On August 9, 2016

In Postgame

By Jon Weisman

In 2013, the Dodgers were 9 1/2 games out of first place in June, and came back and won the National League West.

In 2014, the Dodgers were 10 games out of first place in June, and came back and won the National League West.

In 2015, the Dodgers were … well, they were in first place already in June, so that’s good.

But in 2016, the Dodgers were eight games out of first place in June. Late June, in fact. With Clayton Kershaw going on the disabled list.

There are still 49 games remaining in the regular season, but if nothing else, the Dodgers have made their latest grand comeback.Pounding Phillies pitching phor the second night in a row, Los Angeles romped to a 9-3 victory that moved them into a first-place tie with San Francisco at 64-49.

While this is no 42-8 run to resemble 2013, the Dodgers are 23-13 (.639) since Kershaw last pitched, the best record in the NL. Their .515 winning percentage in games Kershaw hasn’t started this season (50-47) would put the Dodgers .007 behind St. Louis for a wild-card spot.

“I think that obviously when you look at the standings, that’s something to hang your hat on a little bit,” Dave Roberts said after the game. “But the bigger picture is the way we’re going about preparing every day. Like I always say, the wins are a byproduct of our preparation, so that’s what we’re trying to focus on.”

If the Dodger bullpen has gone from unsung hero of the 2016 team to focal point of praise, the Dodger offense is making its own in-your-face bid for recognition.

When you’re Seager, the whole world smiles with you

By Jon Weisman

On August 8, 2016

In Postgame

By Jon Weisman

Each time he jogged around the bases tonight — and trust us, he wasn’t loafing — Corey Seager had a wide grin on his face.

And why not? Seager broke the Los Angeles Dodger record for homers by a shortstop in the first inning with his 20th, then added his 21st for good measure in the seventh, in the Dodgers’ 9-4 victory over Philadelphia.

Milestones for Gonzalez, Segedin in Dodger win

By Jon Weisman

On August 7, 2016

In History, Postgame

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By Jon Weisman

Adrian Gonzalez hit his 300th career home run, while Rob Segedin drove in a club-record (for an MLB debut) four runs, in the Dodgers’ 8-5 victory over Boston tonight.

It’s important to relay the note from the Dodgers’ public-relations department that the previous franchise mark for RBI in a debut of three was set by Packy Rogers, on July 12, 1938 vs. the Giants.

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Stripling passes big test in Dodgers’ shutout of Sox

By Jon Weisman

On August 6, 2016

In Postgame

Matthew Mesa/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Tie game, bases loaded, two out, full count.

Sometimes, the biggest moment of the game comes in the bottom of the ninth. For Ross Stripling and the Dodgers today, it was the top of the first.

Yasmani Grandal triples up Rockies

By Jon Weisman

On August 4, 2016

In Postgame

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Taking the road less traveled, Yasmani Grandal enjoyed a diversion from his homer heroics of late.

Dodgers late for supper in Colorado

By Jon Weisman

On August 2, 2016

In Postgame

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By Jon Weisman

A two-run double by Justin Turner in the eighth inning and a solo homer by Yasmani Grandal in the ninth couldn’t undo the damage of 19 Colorado baserunners in a 7-3 Dodger loss to the Rockies.

Dodgers stamp successful July with 14-3 victory

By Jon Weisman

On July 31, 2016

In Health/injuries, Postgame

Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers

By Jon Weisman

Throughout July, Dodger bats and relievers had carried Los Angeles through their first full month without Clayton Kershaw. On the final day before August, they summed it up in one rollicking package.

Dodger Thoughts

Jon Weisman's outlet for dealing psychologically with the Los Angeles Dodgers, baseball and life

Category: Postgame (Page 4 of 21)

A good night to take the long view

Bud Norris struggles, on a memorable night for a Reds reliever

Dodger momentum snapped in Philly

González provides sock, Dodgers’ lead hops

Before rout began, hot Howie Kendrick’s homer was turning point

Dodgers weather McCarthy’s troubles in 8-4 win

Dodgers show that starter innings aren’t everything

Big hits betray Dodgers in loss to Phillies

Blue-hot offense powers Dodgers into first-place tie

When you’re Seager, the whole world smiles with you

Milestones for Gonzalez, Segedin in Dodger win

Stripling passes big test in Dodgers’ shutout of Sox

Yasmani Grandal triples up Rockies

Dodgers late for supper in Colorado

Dodgers stamp successful July with 14-3 victory

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