August 5 game chat

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Jon Weisman

Cubs at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.
Shane Victorino, LF
Mark Ellis, 2B
Matt Kemp, CF
Andre Ethier, RF
Hanley Ramirez, SS
James Loney, 1B
Luis Cruz, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Joe Blanton, P

Dee Gordon, who hasn’t played since Independence Day, is still tied for the National League Lead in stolen bases.

http://veryolddodgerfan.blogspot.com/ veryolddodgerfan

and errors right? just want to help out all the Dee haters

Anonymous

Beat me to it!

I prefer to think of myself as an L Cruz fan. We’ll see if the national league has studied some tape on Luis and he cools way down this month.

http://veryolddodgerfan.blogspot.com/ veryolddodgerfan

so what’s cooling down when he gets below 270 obp. you have an unusual value system.

Anonymous

Sorry if I find a 12-game hit streak from a kid fresh from AAA to be impressive, especially from this infield. As many dingers as James’ all season in that stretch, too.

http://veryolddodgerfan.blogspot.com/ veryolddodgerfan

have you even compared cruz’s stat line with Dee’s.
Anonymous

Sure. League leading errors, an ops that hasn’t seen over 571 since opening week. Were you thinking of something else?

Anonymous

Pretty close to my favorite line-up for what we’ve got. I have to hope the expected bump Shane gets from the trade and batting leadoff improve his OBP a bit.
Anonymous

My kid, when I expressed wonder at the fact that the rockies bum gave up 2 runs without a hit:

“That means he has a no-hitter!”
foul tip

Has Vegas posted odds of “Dodger pitcher Cliff Lee” becoming reality? Understand Vegas has odds on everything.

Highly unlikely it happens.

Think the teams have until today sometime to work out something, if. Anyone know what time? Midnight?

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

The deadline has already passed. I believe it was at 1pm EST today. Cliff Lee will remain a Phillie. He had a bit of a rough start today too, luckily the Phils have come back and can hopefully defeat the snakes.

KT

Love that DP

Loney should have gone to 2nd 1st on the ball that hit the batters foot
Anonymous

Not a great start Joe
KT

I have to watch the WGN feed via directv 721 channel and it’s not even in HD

http://www.linkmeister.com/wordpress/ Linkmeister

Better than I’ve got: nothing.
http://veryolddodgerfan.blogspot.com/ veryolddodgerfan

I know. it’s brutal. you should still be ok with that 90” you have

Anonymous

So Ryan Howard comes through in the bottom of the ninth, and the Fills bite the Snakes. Now it’s the Rocks’ turn to help out.

KT

too bad they are already behind 3-1

Anonymous

Too bad since the D-Backs are the only hope to catch SF in the West.

KT

Nice hit AJ

Come on Joe move him over
http://veryolddodgerfan.blogspot.com/ veryolddodgerfan

nice cherry picking. don’t forgot all those balls that you see go up the middle now untouched. Dee got those. he may have thrown a few away.

Anonymous

Brighter minds than myself tell me that Dee’s UZR/150 is -25.9.

I don’t have much of a clue what that means, but it probably isn’t good.

Luis has a positive number, around 10 for the year.

http://veryolddodgerfan.blogspot.com/ veryolddodgerfan

i think even stat kids agree defensive stats S-U-C-K. stick with what you know.

Anonymous

Sure, but league-worst-at-position in UZR/150 AND league-leading errors just might be telling you something. Maybe.

Speaking of errors, that wouldn’t have been a run just there without some really, really bad fielding.

http://veryolddodgerfan.blogspot.com/ veryolddodgerfan

He’s made 19 errors I get it . mostly throwing errors. doesn’t make him a worse choice than Cruz by any stretch of what you think you know.
Anonymous

17 mostly fielding errors.

Anonymous

With Cruz the batter reaches first, with Dee the batter reaches second!

KT

Thought that was hit further than it actually went
KT

Let’s get some runs guys

Start it off Hanley
foul tip

Does Blanton remind anyone of B. Penney, maybe a bit? Or, better, good Penny?

Except, you know, for apparently being able to get guys out a good lot of the time.
KT

Good hit James

Come on Luis
KT

Come on AJ
KT

YES AJ!!!!
Anonymous

NICE HIT ELLIS!!!!!!!!!!!
KT

Come on Joe help yourself
Blue-eyed Gal

AJEllis trends in another run!

The bad news is that I’m at the ballpark. Whenever I’m here and Capuano pitches, it’s a W. Whenever it’s somebody else… Er… Uh oh.

http://veryolddodgerfan.blogspot.com/ veryolddodgerfan

what’s happened before has no relationship with what may happen today
Anonymous

It looks like a good idea to throw a lefty against this Cubs line up. I quess they adapt somehow.
Darn Castillo. (or whoever)
KT

good to see the string broken

KT

Good play Luis!!
KT

Let’s get that one back…come on Shane start it off
KT

Come on Mark
http://veryolddodgerfan.blogspot.com/ veryolddodgerfan

Never thought i’d see 9.6 in the 100
KT

Come on Matty
KT

Let’s go Dre…bring them home

Anonymous

A little magic Dre.
KT

Ball 4 dre

KT

Come on Hanley

KT

looks like they are pitching around Hanley

KT

Does anyone know if Bobby Abreu cleared waivers
KT

Come on Juan…just a base hiit will do
KT

Good eye Juan Tie Game

Come on Luis
Anonymous

I’m a little surprised to see Mattingly send the runners there.

KT

two out 3-2 count..come on

Anonymous

I know the count was 3-2. I’m still surprised.

KT

I thought you were being sarcastic

Anonymous

I still think he is being sarcastic
Anonymous

I could be both.

KT

LUIS!!!
KT

Come on AJ
http://veryolddodgerfan.blogspot.com/ veryolddodgerfan

wow that no. 88 looks odd
Anonymous

The first 3 men in their line-up are LH, I would have left Blanton in to face Barney and a PH.
http://www.twitter.com/ElJefedor Jeffrey Thomas III

What a terrible showing from the bullpen today.
Anonymous

Terrible
Anonymous

Choate was good his first couple outings, terrible since.
Anonymous

Guerra shouldn’t be pitching in these types of situations.
KT

Bt, Jon, Mike

Do any of you know if Bobby Abreu cleared waivers and accepted the Alb assignment?
Anonymous

Wonder who is pinching here…
KT

Come on Tony
KT

Come on mark get on
KT

Good eye Mark

Come on Matty
Anonymous

Gwynn has become a virtual sure out — .229 in June, .140 in July, hitless in a few at bats in
August.

Anonymous

Automatic.

Anonymous

Uribistic.

KT

Nice hit Matty

Come on Dre your due
KT

DRE!!!!
http://www.twitter.com/ElJefedor Jeffrey Thomas III

Nice to see Dre get a big hit off a lefty!

Anonymous

Big enough to not pull that hammy on Matt, hopefully.

Anonymous

Bullpen wars
Anonymous

Can’t hit lefties.
http://profile.yahoo.com/MW2R2Q72LP22HKPEXB2ZZPHSZM dud dew

There was a lotta noise nationally about the Ds ‘winning” the trade deadline dance.
Improved bullpen, improved lineup.
Everyone they acquired was gonna deliver career bests, apparently.
I thought their prospects for postseason, always low, improved marginally,
if that.
KT

Good EyE Hanley ^_^
Anonymous

Really Rivera? What was that?
Anonymous

lots of twists and turns in this game
KT

Come on DP
KT

Come on Belli
http://www.twitter.com/ElJefedor Jeffrey Thomas III

So ugly.

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

But he came back with some dirty third strikes.

Anonymous

Is is it really so much to ask? To give the guy with a documented history of yayo and booze abuse a short leash when he’s obviously wild in a one-run game? Donnie?

Anonymous

Looks as if he regained his focus pretty quickly.
Anonymous

The above is the most humane of the three most vile comments I have ever read at DT all three left by the above commenter. Another was either in part or in whole ”That is impressive. I mean, it’s really hard to do that much coke and drink that much rum in the clubhouse and not visibly scratch your nose or lurch at all.”

Perhaps I am too literal but I don’t think any DT rule is broken by these comments thus I conclude DT needs a new rule if these comments are acceptable.

Anonymous

You deserve a police badge.
Anonymous

But my grammar was correct? The implied subject in the second sentence was acceptable?

I wrote that before he put the second guy on, incidentally.
KT

I agree

Anonymous

Easy DP botched.
Anonymous

Nobody wants to win this game

KT

I want to win this one…my friend who is a cubs fan is there

KT

Nice K..now for the DP
KT

1 more belli

KT

Nice Belli

Let’s get an insurance run or two

KT

Come on Luis start it off
KT

Nice hit Luis

Come on AJ
KT

Good no need to bunt now
Anonymous

Hit-and-run, anybody? Donny?
KT

Come on Jerry bring him in
Anonymous

Still looked to bunt–not good in my opinion.
Blanton was OK, although I see he walked 3—-not acceptable if you’re around the plate enough to lead the league in HRs.

http://veryolddodgerfan.blogspot.com/ veryolddodgerfan

negative nellie
Anonymous

True, though he came into the game with the best BB/K rate in the NL. Hopefully it isn’t a new LA habit.

Anonymous

Both teams should be like “I’m in a tight spot here”. Just like George Clooney in the burning barn in “Oh Brother, where art thou.”

Anonymous

I liked that movie, but ….really?
KT

Oh my hair, my hair

http://www.linkmeister.com/wordpress/ Linkmeister

Oh fer . . .
KT

At least Mark Ellis leads off

Anonymous

Walk-off by Ellis.

Anonymous

Another blown lead today, these bullpens should be embarrassed.
KT

sure wished Cruz scored last inning

Come on guys walk off
Anonymous

Well, if we get a lead now our bullpen won’t be able to blow it.
http://twitter.com/chrisclue Chris

Did anyone catch today’s attendance number? Thanks

KT

MLB has it at 42,495

http://twitter.com/chrisclue Chris

Thanks

KT

NP

KT

Good eye Matty

Come on Dre do it again
Anonymous

victorino has not had the best of starts as a Dodger I see
KT

Good hit Dre

Come on Hanley
Anonymous

Cmon Hanley be a hero

Anonymous

and he is!!!

KT

Han-Ram!!!!
Blue-eyed Gal

Wooot! Messy, but the W was definitely a team effort!

Anonymous

team effort, League and Choate got holds for their part. It was Choate’s 17th.

Anonymous

Baseball most bogus statistic.

http://www.linkmeister.com/wordpress/ Linkmeister

Well, that was nice. 3-game sweep and on to the next victims.
Anonymous

Well, that was tougher than it shoulda been but, in the end, it was gratifying.

Anonymous

I found it grating rather than gratifying. I mean as nsx posted those were the Iowa Cubs+Soriano

Anonymous

Well, it was occasionally stressful but, in the end, the hitters came through.
Anonymous

And we were the Philly dodgers – I doubt Nate would have given us a quality start.
Anonymous

I found it grating too. (And I don’t mean because in their six games this year, the Dodgers won four, and I went to the other two.)

The Dodgers have a habit of making their opponents’ really bad starting pitchers look like aces. This series was a perfect example. The offense has improved with HanRam, but Weaselface looks like a step backwards. Kemp and AJ can’t carry the team by themselves. Don’t look now, but Mark Ellis is fading fast. And in case no one noticed, much of the Dodger offense in this series consisted of gifts by the Cubs, in the form of walks, errors, hit batsmen, and mistakes like Soriano repeatedly throwing to the wrong base.

The bullpen is a big concern now. It was lights out for much of the season. But lately, formerly rock-solid relievers like Belisario, Jansen, and especially Guerra look really shaky. Lindblom and Elbert are missed. League and Choate make their trades look like big mistakes. Tolleson is starting to look really good but he’s untested and unlikely to enter with the game on the line.

Anonymous

Agree with all you wrote

KT

Swept who we were supposed too

Now here’s hoping to do it again next series…because we are supposed too
Anonymous

Chipper Jones quoted in reprint at MLBTR ”No matter what you do you’re not going to make everybody happy. I’ve got two wives that will attest to that.”

Anonymous

I didn’t think Chipper was from Utah.
foul tip

If one isn’t an ex-wife, the Georgia bigamy police will be after his hide. ;-])

OTOH, two at the same time definitely would explain their unhappiness.

Anonymous

We have 2 relief pitchers with negative WAR on the season (I picked WAR because it’s one number and I want to be fast) Wright and League. Obviously, League in not leaving. My question is who will come off the roster when Elbert comes back on? My assumption has been that Elbert was hurt about as much as Billingsley was. Elbert can be activated on Friday if he is ready.

Anonymous

Uribe

Anonymous

Plus, Elbert is an upgrade at the plate.

Anonymous

Unless it’s the plate at the all-you-can-eat buffet.. Juan still knows how to work that kind of plate.

Anonymous

I can’t contradict that. Could we some day see an eat-off between Uribe and Fatsoval?

Anonymous

>> My question is who will come off the roster when Elbert comes back on?

Unfortunately, it will almost certainly be the one guy in the pen who’s been consistently pitching well lately, because he’s the only one with options: Tolleson.

Anonymous

So in the past few weeks, the Dodgers:

- won 3 from the Mets
- lost 3 to the Cards
- won 3 from the ‘ants
- lost 3 to the Dbacks
- won 3 from the Cubs

Can someone please tell the team that now would be a nice time to break the pattern?

KT

at least we won 1 of the 4 from the cards so it wasn’t two sweeps

Anonymous

Yes, I know that, only too well. The Dodgers are 1-5 in games I’ve attended this year.

KT

my record is 1-1 with 1 more to go on 9/25…I was in attendance for the Kenley Janson brain fart game…thought for sure we were going to win that game

Anonymous

Alex Castellanos, playing third, came out of Alb.’s game tonight in the top of the second after one AB in the bottom of the first. Have to assume he got hurt.
Alb. has an article about Castellanos on their web-site:http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120803&content_id=36053378&vkey=news_t342&fext=.jsp&sid=t342

Anonymous

Could be a pending trade, also.

Anonymous

I don’t like either of those possibilities.
Anonymous

Could be coming to LA. Goodbye Juan?

Anonymous

It’s more likely that Juan will leave when Adam Kennedy returns from the DL this coming weekend. I don’t see Alex coming up during the current roster crunch. Unless they were ready to dump Adam too, and I don’t think we’re at that point yet. I expect to see Alex with the roster expansion in September.

Anonymous

So, here’s my main question: How long will Donnie B tolerate Shane under the Mendoza in his LA vacation before he starts Jerry?

Anonymous

Until the rosters expand next month.

Anonymous

I don’t know if anybody noticed, but Yasiel Puig hit two home runs yesterday in his Arizona Rookie League game.

Anonymous

I did hear. Hopefully the Dodgers will get him out of Arizona and into some tougher competition before the minor leagues wind up.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Casey-Barker/100003908968118 Casey Barker

Victorino looks as bad as I thought he might be. Maybe I am just nitpicking, but it would make sense to limit Blanton’s daytime starts at Dodger stadium since Dodger stadium is less HR-prone at night.

Anonymous

I was thinking the same thing, and that swapping out Harang was probably not such a good idea for the day game. Oh well.
Anonymous

Victorino will be fine. He’s a huge defensive improvement in left, and he will hit.

Anonymous

I’m unconvinced that he’s an upgrade from Hairston in LF.

Heroics probably were impossible with the Fonzi double today, but his play there was nothing to write home about.
Anonymous

Don’t count on it.

Victorino 2012 Phil .261 .324 .401 .724
Victorino 2012 LA .118 .118 .176 .294
JHairston 2012 .278 .351 .399 .750

Anonymous

http://vimeo.com/46799351

dunno if this was posted – Puig in his debut in AZ.
http://twitter.com/Derek_TC Derek TC

So, the contract Puig got…Seems like this year will be a waste mostly…Lots of money to get back into baseball shape and catch up to the game again. Really hoping he is the real deal.
On another note, This series was bitter sweet, went to game 1, which was my little brother’s birthday. He was a HUGE Cubs fan. He passed away March 30 in a car accident at age 18. There were about 65 or so of us near the right field foul pole one the Cubs dugout side celebrating his birthday. Lots of Dodger fans wearing Cubs attire and Curry 16 t shirts.

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

I’m so, so sorry, Derek. I truly am.
Anonymous

Derek: What a tragedy. My heart goes out to you.
Anonymous

So sorry Derek. I have lost 2 nephews to car crashes and that is a pain that does not go away. Be strong

http://www.facebook.com/michael.canup Michael Canup

Kinda glad that Jansen blew the save to get the win – rather him than Guerra getting a W today.

Anonymous

Teamwork!

Blue-eyed Gal

And up in Dodger Blue Heaven, Curiosity’s reached home plate on Mars.

( What a day… drive to LA from the OC, watch the game and shout myself hoarse, drive home, grab a bite, then liveblog the most knuckle-biting NASA mission I can remember since the original shuttle launch, when I was too young and naive to understand that things can go wrong.)

Anonymous

You chose an exciting game to attend!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Terry-Pruett/1707390003 Terry Pruett

In the long ago golden days of my youth, I remember my elementary school teachers bringing TV’s into the classroom so we could watch the Mercury and Gemini launches and follow the flights. The whole country was riveted. It all seems like so long ago….we’ve lost our collective ability to be amazed by anything, I fear.

Anonymous

Yasiel Puig isn’t the only new Dodger on a tear in the rookie leagues. Corey Seager went 3 for 6 Saturday with 1 HR, 4 for 4 Sunday with 2 HR and 5 RBI.
Anonymous

This entire weekend was a blur. Apparently Sands has found his stroke. According to TBLA (I can’t remember who was the writer) he is prime to take over 1B September 1st. That’s quite a leap of faith during a playoff race. Interesting!

Anonymous

If it’s not coming from a quite from Donnie, the comment can only be viewed as speculative. Not that it’s necessarily a bad idea, but I rather doubt he will get many starts at first if the race is tight. Note, I’m a big Sands booster, and I’d like to see him get another shot, but I’m just saying that I don’t think it’s likely for him to get many starts this year.

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

I’m rooting for Sands as well. He’s only 24. His OBP ability in the low minors was really impressive, as was his power…and the hope of course is that these things can be replicated at the MLB level. And, he’s more athletic than expected. However, I was a little disappointed when I actually saw him play. It appeared he could not handle hard stuff inside, and actually had trouble squaring up high fasballs in general. That OBP fades pretty quickly when MLB pitchers realize they have nothing to fear by throwing fastball strikes. However…I hold out hope that maybe he’s not a 4A player…but that’s what he seems to be now.

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

The article was by Brandon Lennox. The quote: “Not only is he ready for a September call up, but he is looking to take over the 1st base job for the rest of the 2012 season.” This is utterly without attribution (Jerry Sands is probably “looking” to do many things…achieve world peace…visit the worlds largest ball of twine) …and unless his home/road splits have dramatically improved, there is absolutely no way the Dodgers would hand Sands the 1st base job and say, “go for it, Jerry”. Right now, he would have to be classified as a 4A player.

Anonymous

Sands’s huge home/road split for the ‘topes this year is not all that different, OPSing .942 at home, .836 away on the season. The bigger stat is that he’s been hot lately after a not-so-great April and June:

Apr OPS .689 in 23 G
May OPS 1.116 in 14 G
Jun OPS .743 in 27 G
Jul OPS 1.013 in 27 G
Aug OPS 1.382 in 4 G

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

Thanks for the numbers…I hadn’t realized that the splits had narrowed that much. However, the PCL is a hitters league for the most part.

Anonymous

I’m a Sands supporter but I’m glad the club isn’t contemplating such a move, more for the glove than the bat. Between out hitting Loney and achieving world peace, the former is much easier. But can he out hit Victorino in LF?
Anonymous

The Jerry Sands movement has started. Tony Gwynn was designated for assignment this morning and Sands was recalled from Albuquerque, according to the Dodgers twitter feed.

Anonymous

I’m really surprised. And pleased.

Gwynn was not hitting well, except as a pinch hitter. He was useful, but his strengths – speed and defense – were probably made superfluous by the Victorino acquisition.

So now all our backup outfielders can (and probably will) get more playing time at first base (Sands, Rivera) and other infield positions (Hairston).

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

NPUT
Anonymous

Not sure why you designate Gwynn in this situation if Sands is going to play more 1b than LF. I guess the addition of Victorino means you no longer need a defensive replacement in left, but who is the fourth outfielder now? Hairston? Sands? Adam Kennedy when he returns?

Speaking of which, Kennedy’s due to come off the DL this week. Who gets the short straw? I can’t see Hairston going away, and I doubt the Luis Cruz experiment is over. Will this finally be occasion for Uribe’s departure? Did the Dodgers really get anything for their money by having him around these last two weeks?

Anonymous

I’ve replied in the NPUT.

Dodger Thoughts

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

August 5 game chat