The Dodgers-Brewers series: What they’ll say

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Having grabbed some rays from baseball’s national spotlight thanks to their 9-1 start, the Dodgers can now expect the following treatment after what’s supposed to be their first test, a three-game series in Milwaukee beginning tonight:

Dodgers at Brewers, 5:10 p.m.
Dee Gordon, SS
Mark Ellis, 2B
Matt Kemp, CF
Andre Ethier, RF
Juan Rivera, LF
James Loney, 1B
Juan Uribe, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Chad Billingsley, P
  • http://www.facebook.com/Vashkan Anthony Forkush

    Genius!

  • http://underdog.typepad.com/ underdog

    Pretty much nailed it, Jon. Was thinking along same lines. They can’t win, even if they do win. I guess best case scenario is winning 2 out of 3 then. ;)

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000251875645 Madeleine Clarke St Marie

    Outstanding. 

  • Anonymous

    “Just win, baby!”  –  A. Davis

  • Anonymous

    What Al said … Though I think if he were saying anything right now it would be: Get me out of this box!!!!

    • Anonymous

      LOL!

  • Anonymous

    How long before AJ Ellis starts hitting in front of Uribe?  Loney?

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Terry-Pruett/1707390003 Terry Pruett

      Unfortunately, the answer to this would be “forever”.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Terry-Pruett/1707390003 Terry Pruett

    To be fair…every year an unexpected team jumps out to a good start (I think last year Pittsburgh did this). Given that the Dodgers only won 82 games last year, and given that the Padres and Pirates are not expected to be good THIS year, it can’t be a surprise when observers hold judgement. So…with that… I agree with Jon’s graphic, with the caveat that it’s all meaningless anyway until 50 games are in the bank. The team is playing well, though…and this will be a good test against some very good pitching and a team that should hit better than they have. Spotlight on Chad Billingsley tonight…let’s see what you’ve got, son.

  • http://ajellisfacts.tumblr.com/ Justin Drummond

    I am looking forward to hearing what the national sports media has to say about what they think is wrong with Milwaukee.

  • Anonymous

    I’m happy being the underdogs, and then defying all expectations in the end. Makes for a better story anyways

    • http://underdog.typepad.com/ underdog

      Me too! :)

  • Anonymous

    Not to mention the Braun versus Kemp blather.

  • foul tip

    Can’t say si.com’s Verducci runs from controversy.  Quotes Conte a good bit here.

    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/tom_verducci/04/17/closers/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_t11_a0

    • Anonymous

      Thanks, very informative.

  • http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/ Jon Weisman

    Dodger starting pitchers: 4-1
    Dodger relief pitchers: 5-0

  • Anonymous

    Brilliant!
     

  • http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/ Jon Weisman

    Roadrunner starts it off with a single …

  • http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/ Jon Weisman

    Pickoff. Drat.

    • Anonymous

      Dee’s been so good so far I forgot how being aggressive on the base paths really stinks when you aren’t successful.

  • Anonymous

    Another routine double for Matt, and it’s not against the Padres.

  • http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/ Jon Weisman

    Matt Kemp doubles in the first inning to raise his 2012 batting average to .500 (20 for 40).

  • http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/ Jon Weisman

    I’d walk Ethier if I were the Brewers. 

    • http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/ Jon Weisman

       Or I’d strike him out.

  • Anonymous

    He won on a technicality, Lyons.

  • http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/ Jon Weisman

    Nice recovery from the leadoff double by Chad.

    He gets out of the inning on 11 pitches, nine for strikes. 

  • Anonymous

    Nice inning by Bills after the leadoff double.

  • Anonymous

    Oh dear–with DTV Extra Innings, it looks like I can only get aBrewers broadcast. So far, it hasn’t been bad, although all about the Brewers of course. When there is stress on either side will come the tell, and I can’t remember how these guys are. With Vin, even if I was for the opposition, I would have my ear glued because I would get great stories and details

  • Anonymous

    And Gee—doesn’t Billz look good this year!!

  • http://www.twitter.com/ElJefedor Jeffrey Thomas III

    I came back from starting my laundry to see the Brewers were up 2-0 in the bottom of the first. I wasn’t sure how this was possible with Ryan Braun their number 3 hitter up with a man on base so I went to MLB.com to check the play-by-play to see that KCAL was just wrong. I was worried that Bills had somehow given up a lead-off two-run homer.

    • Anonymous

      KCAL was just an inning ahead.

  • http://www.twitter.com/ElJefedor Jeffrey Thomas III

    Second time we’ve seen Kemp jump early for a fly ball this year. Shoulda had that one Matty.

    • Anonymous

      Really hard play to make, as was the other one, but a Gold Glover is supposed to make them.

    • KT

      The warning track at that part of the park is deeper/wider than any other ballpark in america according to the brewer announcers

  • Anonymous

    I think we should be happy it was only a 2  run innings

    • KT

      I agree or if they didn’t pull in the infield so early in the game Izturis would never had gotten on and he wouldn’t have been a threat to score

  • Anonymous

    Should’ve been 1; could’ve been 3.

  • Anonymous

    Disaster avoided, but Bills needs some help with adjustments.

    • KT

      we need to put the pressure on their pitcher as well

      • Anonymous

        not doing that with a 12 pitch innings

  • Anonymous

    Gift.

  • Anonymous

    I get to watch Matt bat with live look in (for a bit anyway)

    (but the innings was over too quick)

  • Adam Luther

    Steiner on my ride home has referred a couple times to Miller Park as “being one of the darker (poorly lit) parks in baseball.”

    • Anonymous

      yup. I hate watching games there. it’s like spotty fluourescent lighting.

  • Anonymous

    Wow. What do you guys think of that reaction by Braun? He has absolutely no angle on that pitch from LF to have an opinion if it was a strike or not. Sure looks like he was expecting retaliation.

  • Anonymous

    While what I desire most is The Dodgers rebuilding and benefiting from their system, this could take a few years, and I delight in what buying one really good offensive player could do for this offense in the short run. What BA and others foresee is the Dodgers sytem producing 5-10 # 3 starters in the next few years, and possibly a few # 2′s. This is incredible if managed well.

  • Anonymous

    Why?!

    • http://www.twitter.com/ElJefedor Jeffrey Thomas III

      Don’t get it either. James could have scored on that double too.

  • Anonymous

    Wow–Some Padre guy is so hopeless that the Dodgers get a run. Loney responds in kind. 
    Could Uribs be more hopeless?

  • KT

    well that’s twice we ran us out of a run

  • Andrew Shimmin

    James Loney is slow.

  • KT

    I think it was a missed sign by someone and I would probably point my finger at James on this one

    • Anonymous

      Mattingly will be asked I’m sure.

  • KT

    That was a much smoother inning by Billz

  • KT

    Let’s get some runs guys

  • KT

    Mark how could you let that one go by

  • Anonymous

    These B’s announcers are not too bad–too be fair– but it sure would be good for them to get a thumping.

  • KT

    Way to go James

    • KT

      Not a good way to go James

  • Anonymous

    If Loney hadn’t struck out in his first at bat, he’d have a good chance of running for the cycle.

  • KT

    Come on Chad

    Sooo long Chad…At least you can maybe still win

  • Anonymous

    Wow—too bad Loney had to bat in front of Uribe!

  • Anonymous

    Oh No!–please not Matt Guerierre

  • KT

    Strike 2 was low and outside

  • Anonymous

    Going on the record now as not necessarily agreeing with that move. Bills cruising. Not a helpless hitter. Kennedy now 1 for 10.

  • Anonymous

    I don’t think Gamel is “filling in” for Price at first. To paraphrase, Prince is not walking through that door.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=713935344 Jason Ungar

    Chad can throw more pitches than 85 can’t he??

  • KT

    Come on DP

  • Andrew Shimmin

     Matt Kemp is good at baseball.

  • KT

    Nice Matty but you should have caught Izteris’s

  • KT

    Way to get on Mark

  • Anonymous

    That guy told the whole ballpark that he was going to squeeze…..
    Nobody in the Dodger dugout, behind the plate, etc. … made any kind of adjustment….
    The ball hit the bat and traveled 6 feet….. Brewers took the lead…
    And, the Dodgers had absolutely no answer for it…
    Poorly handled.  IMHO. 

  • KT

    DRE!!!!!

  • Anonymous

    Dre!!!

  • http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/ Jon Weisman

    Andre!  

    That ball did not look like a homer to me off the bat. But yay!

    • KT

      I didn’t think so either but the CF’er just keep traveling towards the wall

    • Anonymous

      I was thinking the same thing.  But in Monday-esque style it kept carrying and carrying :)

  • Anonymous

    Way to go Andre!

    • KT

      ^_^

  • Anonymous

    Was Honeycutt yelling something out at K-Rod and pounding his chest after that HR?  Mattingly tugged on his jacket as if to say “knock it off.”  Not used to seeing that.

  • KT

    Is Kenley in?

    • KT

      Yes

      Nice…2 more Kenley

  • Anonymous

    3 pitch strikeout, great way to start Kenley

  • KT

    weak MVP chant going on

  • KT

    1 more Kenley

  • KT

    good inning…Let’s get some insurance

  • Anonymous

    You gotta know when to hold ‘em. And Kenley does.

  • Anonymous

    Come on Uribe!!!

    Oh well so much for that.

  • http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/ Jon Weisman

    That was a beautiful pitch for called strike 3 on A.J.

  • Anonymous

    Rats

  • KT

    need a K here

  • http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/ Jon Weisman

    This is certainly a tense moment. 

  • KT

    force is on…Come on DP

  • Anonymous

    Great stop by Dee on the wild pickoff attempt

  • http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/ Jon Weisman

    Time for the Dodgers to put in their triple-play defense. 

    • Anonymous

      Just what I was thinking!!

      • KT

        wasn’t that the triple play pitch?

  • http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/ Jon Weisman

    Big K after being down 2-0. 

  • KT

    Now time for the DP

  • Anonymous

    Big K!!!!!

  • http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/ Jon Weisman

    I applaud Ron Roenicke for going for it here and hitting for Izturis, even though he has no SS for extra innings.

    • KT

      Ron played pony colt baseball right up the street at our local little league in West Covina

    • KT

      and it paid off

  • Anonymous

    Ugh

  • Anonymous

    Bleah!

  • Anonymous

    Dang.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Bob-Bartholomew/1467188022 Bob Bartholomew

    bummer man.. 

  • Anonymous

    Tough loss.  But a great game.

    • Anonymous

      You win some, you lose some. Tomorrow is another day

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/DQKCUJVYNHPWJGM36UUHRXUPP4 Gilbert

    bad pitch… Javy been lucky last few times he keeps it up hes gonna lose that spot real quick

    • Anonymous

      Sure, but this is a guy who after six games had a 0.667 WHIP and an 0.00 ERA.

  • KT

    now I know how the padre fans felt after our come from behinds

  • Anonymous

    Bummer of a final score, but… Great ball game.  :-)
     

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_AGJN4PYDJLDR3O2PSOU3PSVJ6Q Michael

    Must say that after seeing Guerra flirt with disaster a few times, I think he’d be better as the set-up man for Jansen. Even though Jansen blew a save last week I think that was because he was gassed (his top FB was 91).

  • Anonymous

    That hurts..

  • http://www.dodgerthoughts.com/ Jon Weisman

    NPUT

  • Anonymous

    I’ll take partial blame here as I left my couch to go to a friends house.  Up to that moment I had either watched or attended every game and we were 9-1.  My bad.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_AGJN4PYDJLDR3O2PSOU3PSVJ6Q Michael

    I understand Mattingly pulling Billingsley for a pinch hitter with runners in scoring position, but Chad seemed to be in the zone. Guerrier gave up a run, and maybe if Chad got through the 7th it would have been a different ending. But, like I mentioned, I completely understand for the sake of scoring more runs.