- Last night had a happy ending, but it looked bad for a while as Rich Hill gave up 4 runs in the first three innings. He threw 103 pitches. 75 of which were strikes, and his curveball was amazing. It really was a good outing and the two HR were (in my opinion) just one of those things. Hill pitched a strong 6 innings and kept the Dodgers in the game. It was good to see the 5-6-7-8 hitters score 8 of the 11 runs.
- I think I have figured out how Doc makes up his lineup: If a guy is slumping we know how he stays with them, and stays with them, and stays with them… and then when they get hot, he sits them so that other guys can get hot, or so that they don’t cool off. It’s like Verdugo who had 2 hits on Monday, so he sits him. It’s maddening…. I know – it makes no sense! That’s my point. I used to be his biggest fan, unlike Donnie Ballgame whom I never liked from Jump Street!
- Turner, Machado and Freese = back-to-back-to-back doubles, and then Kike with a single, Taylor with a hit and then the hardest-hit single… ever by Yasmani = 6 runs scored! It doesn’t always take a long ball, guys. Watch and Learn!
- I think that David Freese can have a big impact on Chris Taylor – CT3 needs to change his approach on two strikes and Mr. Freese is guy who can teach him that. Freese is going to help this team a lot. He is going to be a huge weapon off the bench.
- Brian Dozier continues to dooooozzzeee while Manny is hitting well.
- After being out for two months, Josh Fields returned and looked rusty. It’s just his first game back, so I can overlook the fact that he needs to add 3 MPH on his fastball. His fastest was 95 – when at full strength he can hit 97-98. I like what I saw last night . It’s a start! How he feels today will tell the tale.
- If any pitcher deserves the name “Bulldog,” it’s Pat Venditte. He is ambidextrous, and to top it all off, he throws with both arms. Who knew? Anyway, he inherited a bases loaded, no out situation and you could just see the “steely resolve” in his eyes. He likely has no shot at a Post-Season Roster spot, but what a story!
- I have no idea if Kenley should should travel to Denver or not. I have never played baseball there, but physically, I cannot tell any difference. Back on the farm, we always knew that if a horse threw you off, you got right back on. This is different! It’s his heart. His doctors and Kenley will make the choice. I’d like to think that Baez, Floro and Madson are now better prepared to close. Yes – Pedro Baez. I see a new look out there.
- Let’s hope Austin Barnes gets untracked – he’s much better than this.
- 2018 in MLB = the lowest Batting Average for all of MLB since 1972!
- Keep on Trucking!
Rant and Rave Wedenesday
Last night had a happy ending, but it looked bad for a while as Rich Hill gave up 4 runs in the first three innings. He threw 103 pitches. 75 of which were strikes, and his curveball was amazing. It really was a good outing and the two HR were (in my opinion) just one of those things. Hill pitched a strong 6 innings and kept the Dodgers in the
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Discussion (57)
Disagree, not disagreeable
After going 16 and 26 to start, I could only dream about being in a position to have one good road trip and likely get in. And yet here we are 1 1/2 out of the division and 2 out of the wildcard and playing both of those ball clubs in the next week and half. Go Dodgers,
Please don’t suck!!
Sorry for all the typos, but my point still stands. Rockies just went ahead and we are likely staring at a 1 1/2 game deficit. They have the advantage in my mind despite what Fangraphs says. Fangraphs believe we are still close to 80 percent favorites to win the division but I beg to differ, eye test tells me otherwise.
We may be the one’s getting buried this weekend if we can’t find some clutxh batting and hitting. Honestly the last time we we played a solid series was At Atlanta in the second series out of the break. A lot of average things below average baseball since.
Take a page from Mark a few months ago. Nothing to see here folks, let’s move on to Colorado. Bury the body.
Met’s 14 hits, Dodgers 3 hits, that is what is ridiculous!
The Dodgers only had one runner in scoring position!
Taylor leading off the 8th inning with the Dodgers 4 runs down should have been thinking of one and only one thing, namely getting on base. Instead he went up to the plate swinging for the fences, an d struck out for the 160th time. If he’s back next year he needs a new plan.
The Mets have 14 hits through 7 innings. Let’s check in on how ridiculous they’ve been and… only two balls over 100mph, Conforto’s single and Plawecki’s double, have been hard-hit.
Mets exit velocity on 14 hits today = 77.5 mph.
I just realized Dozier is hitting .202 for LA (not sure if that includes today’s game, so he could be under. 200 by days end)
Dodgers’ bats doing nothing – 9 Ks in 6 innings.
Ryu ineffective; Madsen hasn’t pitched well since donning the Blue. Not surprising -he had a 5.28 ERA before he got here. They acquired him, the Cup and the Ax in lieu of actual good relievers.
I just don’t get the lack of urgency with these lineups. There aren’t a lot of games left. It isn’t time to give a guy like Machado a day off just because they have the next day off especially with Jansen not going to Colorado. You pull and 35/100 guy from the lineup to play a .225 hitter and weaken the defense. Machado makes the catch the Kike didn’t.
Jensen wont fly to Colorado. Apparently
Grandal literally cost us 2 runs by dropping that ball, no pun intended. Absurd.
AC, after 2 innings, I understand what you mean about Wheeler. Wow he’s throwing hard with absolutely perfect control! He’s 28. If he’s a free agent, I’d be very interested in signing him!
Kuechel & Corbin – combined 11yrs. @ 290M..
Ludicrous Monoply money… I am sure glad I don’t have a couple of young kid who dig going to the Ravine…
I wonder if Kersh and the front office already knows what he’s going to do??? So much I think hinges on that… Shoot, I wish he’d pull a Tony Gwynn and stay with us… Wishful thinking on my part…
P.S. Here we go MJ… MLB salaries = Money by Pink Floyd (one helluva group)
I am beginning to believe Dozier is not going to be much help in September. I like him, but just not hitting.
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My son, who is a Dodger fan has told me twice this season , he is glad I am not the manager. I still love him. He think Kershaw will be with the Dodgers because he will not get more on the open market. I agree.
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The way the Dodgers played last night reminded me of last year. No one was trying to win it with a HR. They were getting a hit and passing it on to the next player. This has been a frustrating year. Maybe it will end the way we all hope.
1. Joc Pederson (L) LF
2. Alex Verdugo (L) RF
3. Justin Turner (R) 3B
4. Max Muncy (L) 1B
5. Cody Bellinger (L) CF
6. Yasmani Grandal (S) C
7. Enrique Hernandez (R) SS
8. Brian Dozier (R) 2B
9. Hyun-Jin Ryu (R) P
lineup?
Another interesting article about the foul pop up. Is it true? If it is might this bring action from the league office?
https://bleacherreport.com/los-angeles-dodgers
Interesting article about the line drive bellinger hit down the first base line the other night. Don’t know that we would have come back, but we should have had the chance. I didn’t see the play, if someone knows where to find the video please post the link.
http://www.thinkbluela.com/2018/09/blatantly-blown-call-lands-dodgers-in-second-place-in-nl-west/
Back in July I was hoping personally that LA might acquire Beltre, but I never saw any rumors about this happening. (I did see suggestions that he might go to Atlanta.) I was surprised to read yesterday that LA did inquire but that Beltre was not interested in leaving Texas.
His decision makes sense. He wants to play in Texas another year, and presumably he will represent them on his Hall of Fame plaque. But it would have been great to see him return to where he should have been all along. Freese doesn’t bring the sentimental element, but he has performed quite well thus far, both at the plate and in the field.
Today’s game will likely be like Monday’s game. The Mets throw a tough pitcher against us, so it won’t be so easy for us to score. As the case with Wood Monday, we’ll need Ryu to be sharp vs this avg lineup, and get us to the Mets bullpen where we can take over.
I agree that Baez looks fantastic out there this month. Last night was further proof: the trio of dummies let a bloop fall for a double. Yet Baez isn’t fazed and gets out of that jam easily. Good for him. However, as AC said, we’ve seen this too many times. Baez is unhittable , but the moment we need him the most he’s not so unhittable. I feel like Charlie Brown running after the football, and Baez is Lucy who’s holding that football.
Today’s a rightie, so expect our leftie hitters to be thrown in the lineup. Hopefully someone listens to all of us, and let’s Verdugo lead off today (and for every game in Denver).
If it’s up to me, I tell Kenley to enjoy the weekend off, and we’ll see you Monday in Cincinnati. No need to risk that heart issue again, and it’s time for our bullpen guys to man up.
I was listening to MLB.Radio this AM and my conclusion is that the following pitchers will get these deals:
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Keuchel – 5 years/$130 Million – Age 31-36
Corbin – 6 years/ $160 Million – Age 30-36
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Any takers?
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Plus, give up a pick…
As Will.i.am would say “It’s a new day”…
I’ve got alot to be happy about, with my Blue in a pennant race and my beloved Fighting Irish beating Big Blue…
LAD 1 game at a time…
I was hoping there would be something written up on Roberto Clemente on this day. Even though Dodgers let him slip through their fingers it’s not really sad he landed with Pirates. A great story with so tragic of an end. It’ll never completely end as today in Clemente’s namesake Justin Turner is Dodgers awarded choice in honoring him. Anybody could certainly do much better than me in forming the right words about Clemente. So I’d enjoy reading something of the subject from the more gifted.
The last time a starting pitcher gave up 4 runs was August 18, and Rich Hill was the starting pitcher that day as well. He is giving up too many HR’s. In his last 4 games he has allowed a 3 run HR to LHH Kyle Seager, a 3 run HR to LHH David Peralta, a 2 run HR to LHH Jay Bruce, and a 2 run HR to LHH Michael Conforto. The team has lost two of those games and won two. Draw your own conclusions as to whether he represents a strong starting pitcher. Throw away the HR’s and he is outstanding, but those 2 and 3 run HR’s are a problem when pitching for a team that scores too few runs in too many games.
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I have questioned lineups and in-game moves by Doc Roberts on multiple occasions over the last month or so. But I have never referred to Roberts as a dumbass, nor would I ever. I do not pretend to know more baseball than Roberts, but as a fan of the LAD since they moved west, I reserve the right to question why he does the things he does. I guarantee you that FAZ’s questions will be far more piercing than any of ours on a blog. I have more respect for Roberts as I believe he is his own person and is not a puppet of FAZ. But if it is a voice of reason to never question a manager, then I will never have a voice of reason.
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David Freese was an outstanding acquisition. His 2019 option is for $5MM, and I believe that FAZ will strongly consider him as a big RH bat off the bench, and someone who can replace JT on occasion.
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Mark believes in Pedro Baez more than I do. I have been fooled on too many occasions where Baez was pitching great, only to fall apart AGAIN. I am also not sure that Fields is injury free. His shoulder is still a question. We have no choice but to hope Floro, Madson, and Baez are late inning high leverage closer or setup relievers. But I sure would be more confidant in Familia, Kela, Pressly, Brach, or Leclerc. (I know, let it go).
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I hope the HR will loosen Barnes up a bit and get him to swinging the bat again.
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Yes, the Dodgers play the lowly Mets again today, but they face Zack Wheeler, who I think is finally healthy and is starting to become the top of the rotation pitcher both the Giants and Mets believed him to be. I have stated that I would like to see Wheeler in a Dodger uniform. His last start against the Giants was outstanding. In particular, in his last 7 starts he has accumulated 46.0 IP, or about 6.1 IP/start. During that time, he has 50 K and 9 BB with a 0.98 ERA.
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Go Blue! Win the series.