55 years ago today, perhaps my favorite non-WS game I ever watched or listened to played out on my transistor radio. It was a Thursday evening. School had just started, and we had just completed our third day of my 9th grade year. I was forbidden to be listening to my transistor radio, but I chose to ignore the rules and listen anyway. Of course that is another story that will stay between my therapist and myself.
Lineups for the game between the Dodgers and Cubs are listed below . The Cubs had three HOF players in the lineup (Billy Williams, Ron Santo, Ernie Banks), while the Dodgers only had a HOF left handed starting pitcher…Sandy Koufax.
Don Young CF Maury Wills SS
Glenn Beckert 2B Jim Gilliam 3B
Billy Williams RF Willie Davis CF
Ron Santo 3B Lou Johnson LF
Ernie Banks 1B Ron Fairly RF
Byron Browne LF Jim Lefebvre 2B
Chris Krug C Wes Parker 1B
Don Kessinger SS Jeff Torborg C
Bob Hendley P Sandy Koufax P
Unlike the several hundred thousand who said they were at that game; I simply was listening. Actually there were only 29,139 at the Stadium that night. The Dodgers were playing the Cubs. Pitching for the Cubs was Bob Hendley. Hendley came over to the Cubs earlier in the year in a trade with SF Giants. On March 29, 1965, SF Giants traded Hendley, C Ed Bailey, and OF/PH Harvey Kuenn to the Cubs for C Dick Bertell and 1B/PH Len Gabrielson.
Entering the game, Hendley was 2-2 with an 8.22 ERA. Thusly, Hendley was not considered a threat to throw a perfect game, and yet for four innings, that is exactly what he did. However, in the 5th, Sweet Lou Johnson walked on a 3-2 pitch. Ron Fairly sacrificed Johnson to 2nd. Johnson then stole third and scored on the errant throw from catcher Chris Krug. Dodgers up 1-0. An offense, certainly unlike the 2020 Dodgers.
In the 7th, Sweet Lou doubled for the only hit in the game, but was left stranded. The 1-0 score held up over nine full innings. Koufax pitched a perfect game, and Hendley pitched a 1-hitter. He allowed only two base runners, and surrendered one unearned run. It was undoubtedly the best pitched game of his career. The 1965 Dodgers were not an offensive juggernaut. For the year they batted .245/.312/.335/.647. Out of 10 NL teams, those stats were ranked 7th, 6th, 9th, and 8th respectively. Hendley was not finished with Koufax and the Dodgers in 1965. Five nights later, Hendley bested Koufax 2-1 on a 4 hit complete game victory.
Through seven innings, Koufax had allowed:
3 Pop Fly Outs
1 Line Out
4 Fly Outs
5 Ground Outs
4 Strike Outs Looking
4 Strike Outs Swinging
But that was just a precursor as to what Koufax was about to do in the final two innings. Ron Santo led off the 8th and was struck out looking. Sandy followed that up with swinging strikeouts of Ernie Banks and Byron Browne.
Now comes the 9th. Catcher Chris Krug led off and struck out swinging on a 2-2 pitch. Joe Amalfitano pinch hit for Don Kessinger and struck out swinging on an 0-2 pitch. That left PH Harvey Kuenn who came over to the Cubs with Hendley earlier in the season. Kuenn worked the count to 2-2 and as Vin Scully said, Swung On and Missed.
Koufax struck out the final six batters he faced, the last five by swinging. A lot of swing and miss on that night, especially the last two innings. Koufax threw 113 pitches., and had three 3-ball counts.
The game ended at 9:46 PM and unfortunately for me, I let out a loud cheer. My parents came running in to my room, grabbed my transistor radio and smashed it in front of me. Lucky for me I had good friends (and their parents) who looked out for me and got me a new one, which I was able to hide for the last 4 years I was in the house.
Like most of us here believe, Sandy Koufax was larger than life. Before the perfecto, Sandy had three previous no-hitters:
- June 30, 1962 – 5-0 against NYM at Dodger Stadium
- May 11, 1963 – 8-0 against San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium
- June 4, 1964 – 3-0 against Philadelphia at Connie Mack Stadium
The umpires for the game were Ed Vargo (HP), Chris Pelekoudas (1B), Bill Jackowski (2B), Paul Pryor (3B). Vargo is the only Major League umpire to call a no hitter and a perfect game for the same pitcher. He was behind home plate for Sandy Koufax’s no-hitter on June 4, 1964, and his perfect game on September 9, 1965.
Vargo wore the same jacket when he worked Koufax’s perfect game, the first World Series night game in 1971 and Hank Aaron’s 714th home run in 1974. It was donated to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
September 9, 1965 will always be a special day for this Dodgers fan.
Vin Scully to me was perfection. He has made some very memorable calls, but for me, his final inning of Koufax’s perfect game is my favorite. So instead of me continuing, I will let Vin call the final three outs of my favorite non World Series game.
I listened to that game too, but not Vin’s call. I think it was Lou Boudreau who called it for the Cubs. I lived in Ohio at the time and if the weather was right I could get Chicago, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh on my transistor radio, as well as Cincinnati. A couple of years later, my dad bought me a short-wave radio and I could frequently get Vin’s call on a number of stations, sometimes on the Voice of America.
A few days ago, my son and I were talking about how the internet has changed things. In 1974 and 1975, I lived in Brooklyn, NY where I worked on construction. We had a long-term job in Spanish Harlem and if the Dodgers played on the West Coast, you could not get the scores from the night before. The East Coast sports departments simply would not mention those scores on the radio. The early edition of the NY Post would not have the scores either, so on my break, I would walk through Spanish Harlem trying to find an English version of the Post, which was not easy. Sometimes I had to walk 8 to 10 blocks to just read the box score. Spanish Harlem was also not a very safe place then. but back then I could whip 5 men and a wild monkey… and I didn’t care, which is probably why I never had a problem: “This white boy is crazy!”
Now, we instantly know everything, pitch-by-pitch. Times have certainly changed!
One story from Vero Beach: Probably 20-25 years ago, I was there for Spring Training for a week. This was long before I got Press Access, but I had seen Koufax come and go… like a ghost all week long. One evening after a Spring Game at Holman Stadium, I was driving to Bobbys, which was right on the beach at Ocean Drive. “Bobbys” was known for great steaks and the Dodgers. Dogers memorabilia was all over the walls and Lasorda, Orel, Sax, Mota and others were often seen there. I never saw Koufax there and it was understood that you did not approach the Dodger players or manager if they were in Bobbys. In fact, there was a sign, saying that.
At any rate, I am driving my rental car to Bobby’s and a white convertible pulls up to my right with the top down. Immediately, I could see it was Sandy Koufax. He turned his head my way, a thin smile came to his lips and he nodded politely at me. Then he sped off. I had always carried a ball for him to sign if I ever had the chance, but never got the chance. I gave most of my balls away, but I still have three: Steve Garvey, Clayton Kershaw and Vin Scully!
Is Lux a reincarnation of Steve Sax’s
One game does not a career make, but yeh …
So far… both have had the yips, but Lux has more power.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if he could actually do that consistently?
I would love to see him lead off and put Betts between him and Bellinger.
Cody can go the other way and moving him to the #3 spot might make his less pull inclined.
I’m not taking ab’s away from Seager for Lux!
Please! Leave Betts alone, Mark. He’ll do best as the lead off hitter
I mentioned it at the end of the last thread – but I woulda got Kenley outta there double quick last night. He wasn’t missing bats. No heat, and no velocity.
Plus, his confidence will have taken a huge hit.
Having Treinan gives Doc options, but I’m not sure he will be brave enough to use them.
Joe keeps repeating that “the Dodgers will go as far as Kenley will take them in the Playoffs”
He knows.
That was one of the sloppiest games that I have ever seen; to wit:
1 – Buehler throwing 100 MPH but giving up loud contact over and over. No curve balls either – I know, the blister, but if he can’t throw breaking stuff due to the blister they shouldn’t have run him out there.
2 – Jansen – doesn’t he make you nervous every time he’s out there?
3 – Treinen – for a guy who makes a living throwing sinkers, are you troubled that almost everything last night was up in the zone?
4 – Wood was aggressive out there last night but didn’t have good command of his pitches yet.
5 – Lux doesn’t look like a major league 2B to me. But Rios has improved greatly at 3B.
6- The Dodgers had 10 hits and 12 walks. They were 5 for 17 RISP. They left 10 on base in the 1st 4 innings. They left 15 on base.
7 – The Dodgers should have lost that game a number of times. The Dbacks gifted it to them. What’s with Locastro running home in the 9th?
As an aside I hadn’t heard that much of Joe Davis. He is utterly generic – he sounds like any number of young generic play by play guys that you can hear on ESPN or Fox. There is nothing interesting or outstanding about him at all. I know that you really can’t replace Vinnie, but geez – I have never liked Jon Miller and he’s way better. Krukow and Kuiper of the Giants are a million times better. The Dodgers have to be able to find a more distinctive play by play guy than Davis.
Treinen was up in the zone simply because Az does not hit the high fastball that well. At least that is the book on them. Jansen makes me extremely nervous. Davis is nothing more than a Joe Buck clone, and Orel prattles on and on. And last night there was a lot on inane chatter between them. The miss Turner, and the sooner he is back, the better the offense gets.
Thank you for the trip back in time Jeff! I too listened to that game on my transistor radio and was so excited when Kuehn struck out. I woke up this morning at 4:00 a.m., I couldn’t get back to sleep and saw that you had posted this article. I listened to Vin’s call of the last inning and was immediately transported back to my 15 year old self, laying on the living room floor, listening to the game. I didn’t realize then, as I do now, that I was listening to the greatest sports announcing voice of all time, describe the greatest left handed pitcher of all-time and both were on the top of the their craft. Scully kept everything so simple, yet masterfully conveyed the drama and tension of the moment like none other. Who else takes time to let you know that Koufax is tugging on his belt or running his fingers through his black hair? It let’s you “see” at that moment, that the pitching mound in Dodger Stadium was truly the loneliest place in the stadium. Then, on the other side, you have Koufax, throwing one majestic fastball after another to strike out the side. Priceless!! Thank you.
Talk about winning ugly! Yuk! Serious question: Does Gavin Lux have a case of the yips? Yes, it’s Steve Sax deja vu all over again! Thankfully, he finally showed that he can hit. The solution: Lux at DH, Taylor at 2B.
Dodgerrick, I’m not getting nervous when I see Jansen, I’m getting terrified.
Buhler is clearly bothered by the blister, but also seemed to get rattled by Lux’s error.
Fortunately, they didn’t give up, but still, they’re not going to beat SD this way!
Clean up your acts, folks!
It seems to me that our most consistent reliever these days is V-Gon. Maybe he’s our future closer. I love Bazooka but he’s still a work in progress.
You never know which Kenley you’re going to get when he enters a game. It’s time that Doc manned up and pulled him early on games like last night’s. If it’s obvious he doesn’t have it that night, yank him. His ego will survive it and Doc needs to let both Kenley and CK know that he makes the final decision. After all, he’s the one that takes the blame when it goes bad. It somehow seems as though Dave treats those two differently than he does the rest of the staff. He shouldn’t. Decisions should be made based on results for that game, not on reputations.
I don’t think we fully realize how much we miss JT when he’s out. He, along with Mookie and Corey are the three guys I most want up when the game is on the line.
Two lefty surprises this season; Kolarek and Gonzalez. Gonzalez able to pitch more than one inning is a big advantage. I am with you about JT. Team suffers offensively and defensively when he is out.
Cody didn’t necessarily have a bad game, but I’m starting to worry there’s not enough time in this abbreviated season for him to come around to playing at last year’s level. Or even near it. Maybe it’s too harsh, but he looks like he’s hacking up there and not being very judicious with the pitch selection. Last year, I thought he was fairly patient, and the downturn reads as frustration to me. That once enviable swing that announcers would gush over, doesn’t look as resplendent now. Mechanics, eye, contact are all off, but I bet it’s largely a mental thing. He seems better when he’s engaged, either running bases or being active on defense. I wonder if getting more time at first base might be a good thing, as he’d be more physically involved each game seeing more defensive action. I’d like to see him run pretty much anytime he gets on base. If the hitting component isn’t working, maximize his other 5 tools. Maybe the more things he feels good about will trickle down to his hitting.
He was swinging and missing the low inside breaking pitch like he did in the 2017 Series and most of the 2018 season.
One of my favorite memory’s. I too listened on my transistor, but since I was heading into my senior year, and living in a new foster home, they did not mind. I remember thinking Sandy was throwing an awful lot of fastballs. I did not find out why until years later when Torborg gave an interview about the game. He said that Koufax never got a feel for the pitch the entire game, and it wasn’t working in the pen either. So they went with the heater. There also was the story that it took him until the 4th or 5th inning before he felt really loose out there. Hendley pitched a great game too. On any other day he would have had some ink as the players used to say. One of the quotes from the Cubs I also heard about later came from Banks, who was said to have quoted, Sore arm my eye……toned down for you kiddies. As to last night’s hard to watch contest. How does a guy lose it so fast. Seems to me, they should have pulled Buehler when they noticed him checking his finger earlier in the inning. And when they went out there to check, they ended up leaving him in. But after the inning, on the bench, you could see him pulling something off of that finger. Just so you know why, the book on the D-Backs says they are the worst fastball hitting team in the league, and especially susceptible to the pitch high in the zone. All of their homers came on pitches low in the zone. Lux does look to have some throwing issues, but in his defense, that throw to first when he spun after catching the ball, would not have been easy for anyone, he just threw it wide and Muncy was on the wrong side of the base to get to it. Rios looked a lot better at 3rd than the kid I first saw there a couple of years ago in spring. And he looked like he just flicked that double off of the wall. Too many men left on base. Too many innings out of a bullpen that has been overused as it is. They miss Turner a lot. I would not have brought Kenley back after they scored 4 to take the lead, McGee was available as was Ferguson. Hell, even Sborz could hold a 4 run lead. Kersh vs Clarke tonight.
Oh yeah, we got about 4 inches of snow last night, and it is colder than a witches……yep. Hope it all melts in Denver before the boys get here next week.
My buddy drove to visit our friend in Denver for a golfing trip. He left Sunday. I think they’ve got one round in.
4 more unearned runs. 3 early. Game should have never gone into extras.
100 mph looks impressive. But if that’s all you got you’re gonna get hit. Can’t spin it? Better develop a change up and fast.
We will continue to score. But we’d better figure this pitching and defense thing out or we are vulnerable in a short series, especially against a motivated team.
Good write-up, AC. Brought back a lot of memories. I, too, listened on my radio, laying on the carpet in the dining room beside the wall socket the radio was plugged into. I let out a whoop of delight and pride for my number 32 when the game ended. This was right after I had moved to SoCal from Canada so was happy to be in the Dodger area rooting for them.
Hanley had a beautiful swing. So much so it made it easy to forgive his sloppy play at SS. That is aside from one error throw he made to 1st with plenty of time to take to get it right. But he didn’t and thus Kershaw pitched the most perfect no hitter. No walks with 15 K’s. Dammit Hanley!
Little late to relive that. Giants signed Justin Smoak. D-Backs pitcher Merrill Kelly will have thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. Howie Kendrick to 10 IL with a strained hammy. Good chance he gets shut down since DC has little chance of making the playoffs. Braves reinstate Albies from the IL> Lakers win game 3, Bucks eliminated by Miami.
Lakers D was impressive down the stretch. I was wrong about Rondo. He’s been huge this series so far. Kuzma playing excellent D too.
LeBron was a beast last night. When that one Rocket player collided with Davis, it cracked open his skull. He was bleeding pretty bad. Checked for a concussion, and passed. Milwaukee was the top seed, so them getting knocked out is pretty significant. Clippers being played tough by Denver. And football starts this weekend. I won’t watch the pro’s, but will definitely watch some college games. BYU crushed Navy earlier in the week. They need to jump all over Clarke early tonight. Give CK a cushion, since his performances over the years at Chase are not awe inspiring.
I would love to see Kersh throw one more no hitter in his career. I would think Buehler could accomplish that also. But not a priority on this team. Pitcher to keep an eye on, Sixto Sanchez of the Marlins. Kid threw 6 shutout innings against Atlanta yesterday. Gave up 3 hits, walked one and struck out 6. ERA at 1.80. Even without Albies, that is a tough bunch to shut down. Astros split their DH with the A’s. Right now they are close to being knocked out of the playoffs. I really dislike the later start times. I know it is 6:40 in LA almost 8 here.
Edwin Rios has 9 hits….7 of them for extra bases. Dodgers have 6 players above .250, 2 hitting over .300. All the rest are in the low .200’s. Dodgers, courtesy of Lux, now have 81 homers, which leads the majors. I am very comfortable with Rios at 3rd, but they NEED Turner. Whether he DH’s or whatever, he needs to be in that lineup.
As bad of a year as it seems Belli is having, that is the case for many stars. Yelich is hitting .209 with 9 homers, 18 ribbies and a .811 OPS. Bellis is a tick higher in BA, 1 up in HR’s, and 4 in RBI’s. But his OPS is .741. I am hoping that Belli just makes more consistent hard contact. He has been just missing pitches. So it seems his timing is somewhat off. Just a week ago, he was barreling up more pitches. Muncy has played 42 of the 43 games. If anyone needs a day off, it is Max. He has been down around the Mendoza line most of the year. I would love to see the lefty’s just poke the ball the other way. Some of the shifts they put on these guys are extreme and just taking an outside pitch the other way would be an instant hit. Seager had his hitting streak broke because he pulled everything, even though they were pitching him mostly on the outer half. Hell, even a bunt would work.
Yes, Bear, what ever happened to bunting? The Dodgers of the 50s and 60s would have known what to do with the shift: lay down the perfect bunt. In the small-ball era, they prided themselves on the fundamentals., bunting, stealing a base, hit and run, etc. Today, either they’ve forgotten how to bunt, or it’s a macho thing: real men don’t bunt, they just swing for the fences, and leave runners on base. Or perhaps the algorithms say that bunting has a low probability of success. If you never do it, it has a zero probability of success. In conclusion, bring back the bunt!!!
I am not worried about Getting Seager more AB’s. I am all about what is best for the team. I really, really think Cody needs to change his approach to that of a #2 or #3 hitter which is “make more contact – get on base – go the other way – pick your power moments.” I also like the L – R -L -R type lineup.
Please Doc, just one time do this and I’ll never ask again:
1. Betts RF
2. Bellinger CF
3. Pollock LF
4. Muncy 1B
5. Turner DH
6. Seager SS
7. Smith C
8. Lux 2B
9. Rios 3B
You could flip Turner and Pollock.
Why would you want to hit your best or second best hitter (depending on how you want to look at it) 6th while hitting Belli 2nd? Seager’s batting average is about 100 points higher and his OBP is 75 points higher. He belongs in the second spot. You think moving Cody to the 2nd spot will change his approach? He’ll have to change his swing to do that and I don’t think that’s gonna happen any time soon. And yes, I’d flip Turner and Pollock. Might also have Belli at cleanup and Max in the 6 hole.
Why not throw Betts 7th while we’re at it, and force Muncy to lead off again. You bat your best players highest in the lineup.
Right now, that’s Betts Seager Turner
Put him 9th for double leadoff for that matter. Pollock 3rd? Yikes
Last year in the first half Belly barreled up everything in the zone. This year he just fouls off so many of those same pitches. Don’t have much confidence in him, Muncy, Joc and Kike headed into the playoffs. We can’t win it with another year of the playoffs offensive yips again!
You have to play with what you have, and what they have is Belli at .217, Muncy at .201, Kike at . 221 Beaty at .220, Lux at .219, Rios at .209, Joc at .184. Muncy has struck out 43 times, and is 6 ahead of Taylor in that department. Pollock has 33. No one else has more than 30 yet. Smith is leading the team in OBP. Muncy also leads the team in walks with 28. The only additions or subtractions can come from the alternate site, so no picking up a RH power bat. The options to come to the bullpen are limited, but both Baez and Kelly are really close. Baez may be back by the weekend according to Roberts, and Kelly maybe by the end of next week when he serves the 5 games. Their pitching is what is going to win or lose it for them. The offense will have it’s moments. It always has. The pen and the starters are the key to post season success. If those kids can be as good as they have been advertised, the Dodgers will be fine. The problem lies that in a 3 game series, you cannot get down 1-0., Anything can happen then. And if you burn your ace, who right now is Kershaw, you are really up against the wall.
Ugly wins work but this one takes the cake. It was like 2 or 3 games in one.
* KJ is a concern obviously. It seems the progress he was making and the trust he was trying to build has gone south. Many posters here are back to that old feeling that he can’t be trusted in a big situation. I hope he finds himself and quickly. Otherwise, he has to be demoted, especially when we face a tough line up. KJ hasn’t looked good since the 3 blown saves loss the the Giants. 90 – 91, up and center cut all day just isn’t going to cut it. Pun intended. Last year, Doc made some bullpen decisions because he couldn’t trust KJ. I see us heading that way again.
* Singingthe Blue made an interesting comment about Doc having to man up to take the ball out of KJ’s hand. I know KJ makes a lot of money and he’s been the closer for awhile. But for some reason he casts a presence where folks seem scared of him. Afraid to take him out. Afraid to go to another closer. Afraid to piss him off. It’s a production and if you’re not getting it done changes have to be made. Doc’s probably not there yet but that decision is a few blown saves or failing to hold big leads away.
* Nice to see Lux hit. Defensively he plays tight. He aims throws. Confident throwers at second flip the ball from any angle accurately. Robbie Cano is the best example. Lux lacks that.
* No offense to the DBacks. They are a Major League team but we are making a very mediocre staff look like Cy Young. We should be blowing Ginkel and that Mantiply kid off the mound.
*;We need JT back badly in more ways than 1.
* I need a vacation from Orel and Joe again. I’ll watch Brendley and Berthuane (?) tonite. Orel just goes on and on and on. Joe had the capper quoting Winston Churchill “never stand when you can sit. Never sit when you can lay down”. Huh?
*
Davis is a poor man’s Joe Buck. And I could not stand him either. He also has a habit that drives me nuts. Sometimes when he ends a sentence with a K in it, like Clarke, he makes a clicking sound on the K. Very annoying. And Orel, he needs an OFF button. He just drones on and on. Good info or no, he just does not shut up. Some guy painted a mural of Kelly making a face at the Astros on the side of a building in Silver Lake. Tim Neverette was going to go see it today.
Dodgers have just announced that they will be eliminating Davis from the broadcasts because of those clicking sounds on the k’s. Orel will now be doing the broadcasts on his own. Each broadcast will start with the menu of what his wife sent him for dinner and there will be an update during the 7th inning stretch.
Team now looking for Davis’ replacement for next year. Guitar players will be given preference. This is your big chance Bear. Would you be willing to relocate?
I would love play by play, and at one time I even took some classes on broadcasting. I have the voice for it, but probably not the chops to do those inane commercials. That to me was the worst part of the whole thing. Look, some like Davis and think he is entertaining and a good announcer. The best story he told last night was about the usher who stole his field wireless mic during a game. Orel I just cannot take much more of.
I’d watch a game on mute before listening to Brenly. He’s the worst in the game.
I didn’t know, maybe some of you already knew:
Congratulations to Joc Pederson, his wife Kelsey, and big sisters Poppy and Blue on their newest arrival! Joc and Kelsey welcomed their second child, a boy, over the weekend. #BabyBoyPederson
https://twitter.com/DodgersLowDown/status/1303390474011471873
All those guys are putting up horrible numbers against a schedule of BAD teams with mediocre to bad pitching. What happens when we get to the playoffs and face good teams with good pitching? I know we don’t want to face the Mets in the first round!
I didn’t want to say this in the first half of the season when the bullpen was basically untouchable because I knew I would get blow-back, but the bullpen might be the Dodgers weakness especially if Bellinger, Muncy, Pederson start to produce like we know they can.
Very funny STB. Had me laughing even if I know it is all in fun. Maybe Joe might do better alone in the booth?
Glad to see Lux hit well. Must have felt good to him and a relief. Now to get him over those so-called yips?
Phil, is aiming the ball instead of throwing it trying to compensate from throwing from a longer shortstop position ?
Also congrats to Joc and wife on the birth of their son.
DBM you have asked an excellent question about aiming the ball, as I think Lux does from second sometimes. The answer is both mental and mechanical. Basically, aiming is “consciously” (there’s the magic word” trying to place the ball to the target versus letting the muscle memory take over and just let it go. Yes, I think the longer throw from short requires throwing the ball quickly and hard and just lettin it go. The fear of a bad throw can cause mechanical problems like getting under the ball and it sails. Trying to take something off a throw is a frequent culprit. A good example is a comebacker to the pitcher who picks the ball up and lobs it into rightfield. I used to think “lead with your elbow” on a shorter throw like a double play ball from short. It was just a mental key for me that let my arm work properly. Overthinking this can lead to the “yips”. The Latin players in particular are very comfortable with any arm angle from 3/4 to submarine, with no hesitation or thought. They just fearlessly let it go. Lux appears to think about and sometimes pushes the ball.
Hope that answered your very good question.
Did you see yourself on TV yet?
Thanks Phil. I think I had heard somewhere that Lux was a shortstop before a 2nd baseman and wondered. It seems he has a strong arm. Very good explanation, thank you.
No, have not seen myself yet. I am not sure where I am at other than I know it is not in the most expensive seats. I got a confirmation that my picture and money was accepted but they have not informed me where I am placed. My kids and grandkids think it is neat though.
I say bring back Strip, and let him and Joe Kelly take over for Davis and Orel and call the games! They’d be a lot funnier, more interesting, and profane (especially Kelly, whose every other word would need to be censored!).
Really like Joe Davis, great announcer. A poor man’s Joe Buck? Wow, everybody’s a critic. Too funny. Hard to judge batting averages, just a weird time — Look at Christian Yelich for one. The bullpen has hit a speed bump. Reason for concern or just a bump in the road? We’ll see.
To each his own. I think that Davis sounds just like Buck, and is just as boring. I even told him so on twitter. He is what he is. He is not leaving anytime soon either. So I just live with it. But I am of the mind he would be a much better announcer without Orel in the booth. Then I would not have to listen to them talk about BBQing, and some of the other really stupid crap they talk about. I like Nomar much better. No way I would want Harrison Jr in there, he NEVER shuts up. I realize Davis had to step into the biggest shoes in broadcasting, and that cannot be easy. He has the same broadcast style many of the young guys have, but is does just not resonate with me. And why can’t we criticize? Everyone gripes about Doc, why not the announcers too?
Bear, I personally like Joe and Orel. But they are both dweebs both assume unusual roles in the booth. Joe plays the younger generation subservient son to Orel’s geekie dad. Joe’” aw shucks Pa, How’s he make that ball curve”? Set up the all knowing wise sage.
It just gets OLD to me.
And Joe stats me to death. “You know Orel, Smith here is 0 for 12 against left handed sliders, on 1 and 1 counts with a man on first in the 5th inning of day games, this year”. Who cares!
I think Joe may be better with someone closer to his same age in the booth. That’s so he doesn’t play that roll of lobbing softballs to Orel. Like Brady Quinn. They seem to mesh well without the role playing. And it would be nice if Orel talked in sentences and not paragraphs. Either way, give me 2 adults in the booth who understand and talk about the game in a sensible way. And don’t quote anymore Winston Churchill.
It will be interesting to see if the two Puerto Ricans on the team opt to wear 21 tonight on Roberto Clemente day. MLB allowing all players of that nationality to wear Roberto’s # 21. There has also been some push to retire 21 all across baseball for Clemente. Will see if that happens down the road. In case you wonder, MLB would allow players already assigned that number to wear it as long as they play. Same thing they did for 42.
A commentator here, much wiser than me, (i honestly can’t remember who), said a while back, that the Bullpen would suffer as the season went on, if the Starters continued to throw short games. Well here we are.
If any other Pitcher was throwing the innings that KJ was last night, Doc would’ve had him outta there fast.
Has been quoted by many Watford. You cannot pitch the bullpen 4 or 5 innings every game but one or two a week and expect them to be as perfect as these guys were all the way to the end.
In the midst of post op blues… To tell people how important the last months LADT are to me, is/would be impossible to convey… (Hell, I don’t know if I pulled those last two sentences off, so I’ll blame it on the opiates )…
1965 had me in Millington Naval Air Station, Tenn. for boot camp and A school…
My first experience in the South… Good food and music in or around Beale St., Memphis and I’ll leave it at that… Played ball for the Navy base and damn it had it’s perks for sure!!! I yearned for the Manhattan Beach, Ca. and the Pacific…
Sandy is and will be the greatest pitcher to ever toe the rubber for the Blue IMO…
Yips always remind me of Sax and how painful it was to watch before he worked out of it…
Garvey at 3rd. a close second…
Peterj, nice to hear from you and well wishes to get rid of those post op blues. Glad that your friends on DodgerTalk helped. You are one of the good guys. I am with you on Sandy.
peterj, I went in the Army in Dec of 65. Took basic and AIT at Bliss in El Paso. AIT the equivalent of your A school. I went to High School in Manhattan Beach. Mira Costa.
Bear… Mustang class of 64…
Those were the days Bear…
Lived in tree section of M.B. and no, it wasn’t a rich guy’s neighborhood…
Father worked as a plumber at Douglas facility in Torrance…
I lived on Stanford Ave, just the other side of Pier. I was across the street from where Redondo’s students were drawn from. No bus, Had to walk about 2 1/2 miles to school. Class of 66, but I was in foster homes, so I took matters into my own hands, and left. Moeller was class of 60 I think. He used to pitch BP to us.
Marte to the 10 day IL for the D-Backs. Phil, you are probably right about Davis, but I can honestly say, I enjoy Steiner more. And Monday too. Guess us old farts like the veteran guys. I would rather listen to Uecker. As for Orel, I loved him as a player. As an analyst, I just have a tough time listening to his horse manure
Age has nothing to do with likes and dislikes on announcers Bear. I’m a couple years older than you and I really like Joe. Not a big fan of Charlie or Rick M.
As I’ve mentioned before (and I’m probably in the minority here) I really liked it when they had a three man booth, which included Nomar. Orel would look at an in-game situation from the pitcher’s viewpoint and then Nomar would view it from the hitter’s angle. I really found that exchange very interesting and it definitely gave them less time to discuss the non-baseball stuff they’re using as filler now.
I’d love to see Uecker team with Joe. Maybe we can have him included when we trade for Hader this winter.
Singing The Blue, all kidding aside, I really like Joe Davis also. Your 3 in a booth sounds interesting, but I have found sometimes, that three in a booth has a tendency to chat a lot outside the game and I get frustrated saying, pay attention to what is happening on the field. I think Joe does try to follow the game and if had more time, thought his stories would be interesting.
Actually DBM, when they had those three in the booth they stuck much more to baseball than Joe and Orel do now. But I also understand those who think that having a three-person broadcast team is simply too much talking.
I can’t handle Steiner. I do enjoy when Monday and Kennedy are/were together. I think Monday is better at play by play. Steiner makes every home run sound like a easy fly out and every fly out like its going to be a home run. I recently watched a video of him calling an entire AB by Joc Pederson. He spent the entire AB calling him Max Muncy including the HR and the HR trot around the bases by Joc. He didn’t realize that it wasn’t Max Muncy until the next better entered the batters box. The next batter was indeed Max Muncy.
~
I tend to agree the 3-person booth tends to smother the game. Vin sure knew when to be quiet.
Maybe not Blue, but although he is dyslexic, I like Steiner. Davis is a taste I have not acquired. I think he would be better alone, then he could concentrate on baseball and not Orel’s inane rantings. No one will ever be VIn and we all know that, To tell the truth, sometimes I turn the sound down low so I do not have to hear what they are saying. I do not need an announcer at the stadium, and I sure can get by without one at home watching the TV. We could go back and forth on this for hours. But it all boils down to ones likes and dislikes. You have yours and I have mine. I hate peas and most green vegetables too.
Tonights line up.
1. Betts RF
2. Seager SS
3. Taylor DH
4. Bellinger 1B
5. Muncy 3B
6. Pollock CF
7. Smith C
8. Lux 2B
9. Hernandez LF
P Kershaw.
Good to see Smith catching Kershaw. It tells me that its getting close to playoff time.
I agree with that
I disagree with that. Why would you change what has been working. Kershaw loves to pitch to Barnes. I do not think it is a coincidence that Kershaw is struggling tonight.
I’m sorry but I have to disagree. There’s no way the catcher makes the pitcher worse
That is dillusional.
Kershaw’s personal catcher used to be AJ Ellis, now it is Austin Barnes. Greg Maddux’s personal catcher was Eddie Perez. If you do not think a catcher makes a difference, Maddux refused to pitch to Javy Lopez. Koufax loved throwing to Jeff Torborg. Pitchers and catchers have a very unique relationship. Smith can catch the other pitchers. Let Kershaw throw to Barnes.
Kershaw has thrown good games to Smith before this year. Smith’s bat is a weapon.
Reds got 3 off of Darvish in the first on a Moustakas homer. His ERA up to 1.86.
I wish Doc would consider Smith batting third with that great plate discipline and great OBP.
Seriously?
Yes before this game started Smith had the best OBP this season.
I’m not looking to move Betts and Seager at 1 and 2.
I like Joe Davis and like Bear, I would like to see a one-man booth.
It doesn’t look like CK isn’t confortable with Smith behind the plate. Not sure why
Probably the only time we see Smith catch Clayton this year.
Eric,
The catcher and pitcher have to be in sync about how to attack different batters, which of the pitcher’s pitches are and aren’t working that day, how to control the running game, and so on. Sometimes, over time, a pitcher comes to feel like a particular catcher has better rapport with them on those decisions.
As former Atlanta Braves’ pitcher John Smoltz puts it, “you just don’t want to be out there shaking your head 20 times.” It can be very disruptive to a pitcher’s rhythm and concentration to have to wave off pitches (or worse, take extra mound visits) because he and his catcher are out of sync about how to manage the game.
Maybe you have more experience at catching or pitching, but if not, I suggest you do not have a clue!
If you still don’t think it’s a thing, read this:
https://dashboard.mlblogs.com/behind-the-mask-how-catchers-influence-every-pitch-c7a25a5da82e
Yeah OK I hear you but how much of a difference does the catcher make. I personally don’t think that much. Just my opinion.
I absolutely love Corey’s offensive game, but that is a play easily made by a superior defensive SS. He loves the backhand but it seems to me if he charged and threw on the run as opposed to playing the backhand he would have made the play a lot easier.
D-Backs should have never scored their 4th run if Corey makes that play.
Got to think the move to 3B discussion will grow some legs in the off season.
The catcher has nothing to do with Kershaw’s stat line tonight. Kersh has given up squibbers, had a ball hit the bag, and had horrible defense by his shortstop and now right fielder.
Smith is doing just fine. Kersh is doing just fine. The rest of the guys behind them look like 3rd graders.
We just disagree. The catcher has a great deal with how the pitcher attacks. Kershaw has not looked comfortable since the first inning. Now did he deserve better results? Yes. Defense has been atrocious tonight. But Kershaw has not pitched well…yet.
Smith isn’t making him throw 55 ft curve balls.
Dodgers aré playing garbage
Seager and Muncy are a defensive nightmare together on left side!
Agree.
Seager’s bobble on the easy double play doesn’t show up as an error because he got an out at first, but it did cost Kershaw a run. Sloppy. We can play like this against the crap teams. This won’t work in the playoffs.
The catcher can definitely affect the pitchers performance. Why do you think the Dodgers kept AJ Ellis around for all those years? He certainly was not a great hitter, but he was Kershaw’s personal catcher his entire time with the team.
Who else did they have? The team was void of catching in the organization back then.
Ellis caught Kershaw because Kersh wanted him back there. Made no difference who was the starter or the backup. Ellis did not even become the main guy until he was 30, and he only caught over 130 games once in his career. 2012. They always seemed to have a veteran catcher to back him up. The year before he took over it was Rod Barajas as the starter most of the year. Then he had guys like Treanor Hernandez and Butera back him up. But he was always CK’s guy. And I think that some pitchers just do better with a catcher they really trust. Greinke liked Grandal so well, that Ellis rarely caught him.
Why Kershaw just 5 innings??! This team looks like a kids league pitch counter
87 pitches.
How many extra “high leverage“ pitches did his defense cost him?
Did you kids see the Braves scored 29 runs tonight??
They beat Miami 29-9. No that’s not a Falcons Dolphins score
the last 5 games have been painful to watch. the padres are just behind
Seager’s D has definitely cost Kershaw a W and a more extended outing. It’s been pretty sloppy lately.
Because of our ridiculously easy schedule our record is way better than this team actually is! I don’t see a World championship team right now!
Who is the guy wearing Bellinger’s jersey? Those last two ab’s belong in Tulsa!
Watch out, Bear’s watching! Shall we trade him in the offseason for an SP? How about Lindor?
Last season, I got a lot of flak for saying that Seager was not a first rate SS in fielding. I love his offense, but his throwing has me wondering if he will be moved off SS next season. He has bobbled too many and so many throws in the dirt to 1B. You don’t want this from the SS.
What is more surprising to me is the poor fielding we’ve seen from Mookie. His arm looks very mediocre to me and his accuracy is subpar. He is a GG but looks nothing like one. Maybe he is still getting used to playing in the National league. I hope he improves. Bellinger was far better in RF, GG quality.
Muncy is doing an admirable job at 3B. His defense has improved a lot but I still don’t think he is a natural at 1B. He doesn’t have the height of a Bellinger for those long stretches.
The last two games have been very sloppy. I agree that the C is important to a SP. The connection is probably more psychological than actual. I’m surprised that Doc started Smith with CK. You always go with strength when possible. I do like Smith and it would be great if CK adjusted to him.
Dodgers win!!
Subpar? No. Accuracy has been off a few times. Sloppy play is contagious some times. Puig would have never heard the end of a throw like tonight’s.
Maybe sub-par was being too unkind. Pedestrian, then. He doesn’t seem to have the arm of a Puig or Bellinger.
Another win against a very average team that was harder than it should have been.
I like Treinan Closing things out.
Pete – hope you’re ok.
Bums & Vegas – hope you guys are enjoying this version of the Baseball Season and are keeping well.
Bellinger once again looks lost. Seager is not the best fielding SS in the league, we all know that. But I doubt he moves to third and it would not happen next year anyway. They have to decide what they are going to do with Turner. Rios looks like he can handle the 3rd base job if he hits enough. Right now he still strikes out too much. If the NL keeps the DH, as most think it will, then Turner is a natural to fill that spot most of the time, and I think they will bring him back on at least a 2 year deal. To keep Muncy’s bat in the lineup, they will keep him at first. It is where he can do the least damage defensively. This year is an anomaly. I do not think you can take any players performance in this atmosphere and compare it to what they have done before. I think Jeff is totally wrong about Mookie. He has one of the strongest and most accurate arms in the outfield. So he has one bad inning out there. I have seen a lot of great fielders have bad days, but they usually make up for it. Jeff seems to forget the throw Mookie made earlier in the season to throw out a runner at third. Us older guys remember Willie Davis making 3 errors in a world series game. Treinen did a great job tonight, and Ferguson, after giving up a double, did not let it bother him, and did his job. Will the Dodgers be better in the playoffs? No one here, or anywhere else knows how they will do. What they are on paper, and what they do in reality are two totally different things. The Giants are on a roll. They are the 8 seed right now. The Rockies have lost 3 straight to SD, and play them again tomorrow. Then on Friday when the Dodgers are off, SD plays the Giants. If both SD and LA win tomorrow, SD will have a chance to cut the lead to 4 on Friday while the Dodgers are off. Then we play Houston twice before heading to SD for the last 3 against them in the regular season this year. Then off to Colorado for 4 with the Rocks. The next 7 games should give us some idea how LA plays against better competition. And that string of consecutive division titles might be on the line. One thing is painfully obvious to me though. They need Justin Turner back, and the sooner the better.
My take on Mookie is not based on this game alone. Yes, I remember his great throw but there have been a few going to the plate that have been off enough to allow a runner to score. I’m still a fan of his but I need him to prove me wrong now.