Dodger Thoughts

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

Gonzalez in starting lineup – Kershaw too

Marlins at Dodgers, 6:10 p.m.
Kershaw CXLIII: Kershawrvest Time
Shane Victorino, LF
Mark Ellis, 2B
Matt Kemp, CF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Hanley Ramirez, SS
Andre Ethier, RF
Luis Cruz, 3B
A.J. Ellis, C
Clayton Kershaw, P

Adrian Gonzalez and Clayton Kershaw, in the same lineup. Hello.

  • At the plate this month, Kershaw is 7 for 10 with a sacrifice fly.
  • Keith Law offers a scout’s perspective on the trade at ESPN.com.
  • Peter Abraham writes about the traded Red Sox at the Boston Globe under the headline, “Bad contracts, sure, but not bad people.”
  • Still awaiting word on the Dodgers’ official roster moves. Will update before the game if they come in a timely fashion.
  • Farewell, Neil Armstrong.

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The morning after

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Ethier tinkers successfully, Gonaflon Gonzalez leaves ever so little to chance in triumphant Dodger debut

195 Comments

  1. Anonymous

    ATL 4 – 1 SF bottom of the 7th  :)

  2. Anonymous

    Wow Ethier dropped to the 6th spot tonight!

    • Anonymous

      Remember the days when Adam Kennedy would hit 5th? Me neither.

      Like like the R-L-R-L, no problem with Ethier hitting 6th.

  3. Anonymous

    The Bravos have knocked out Gumbarner (aka “Bad Mum”) and now lead 4-1 in the seventh. 

  4. Anonymous

    Atlanta gave SF an extra out and it cost them…4-3 Braves going into the 8th.

    • Anonymous

       Why does Fredi Gonzalez bring in a Chad Durbin when he’s got guys like Venters in the pen?

  5. Anonymous

    With props to Mike Tink, I heard from Mike Lindskog of the RC Quakes, in response to my query about why Yasiel Puig missed the last two games:

    “Thanks for your email.  Puig bruised his right heal and is simply day-to-day.  The doctors cleared him to play, but he’s simply taking it easy until it feels a little better.  He’s not on his way to Boston. :)
     
    Thanks and Go Quakes”

  6. Anonymous

    On the Dodgers twitter feed:

     
    RT and welcome @adriangon28 @CarlCrawford_ @Shredderpunto, and new to Twitter, @beck19bb to #Dodgertown!

    • Anonymous

      Welcome  @CarlCrawford_:twitter  @adriangon28:twitter  @Shredderpunto:twitter  @beck19bb:twitter from the DodgerThoughts commenters.

  7. Anonymous

    And now for something different:  In the Little League U.S. Championship game in Pennsylvania, Tennessee led California (Petaluma), 15-5 after 5 1/2 innings of a scheduled 6-inning game.  Petaluma scored 10 runs in the bottom of the 6th to tie the game.  It is now in the 7th, tied 15-15.

    • Anonymous

      I’ve been watching, very wild.

      When I was a kid – admittedly long ago – pitchers always dominated our games, usually with large strikeout numbers. It seems there are few Ks here, and too many HRs – the fences need to move back.

      I like it that the Petaluma kids have a LH catcher.

      • Anonymous

        Tennessee (Goodlettsville) scored nine runs in the top of the 7th and beat Petaluma, 24-16, for the U.S. championship.  Tennessee meets Japan tomorrow for the overall title….Regarding the fences, I agree.  There were far too many homers.  I have been umpiring youth baseball for 11 years — Mustang, Bronco, Pony and Colt — and the fences at the Little League field in Pennsylvania seem to be too close for the Little League age level.

        • Anonymous

          They seem plenty far for me for LL in general, its just that these are some of the best players in the world at that age.

        • foul tip

          Or Little Leaguers like these, anyway.

          One of the Goodlettsville stars picked up another and twirled him over his shoulders as part of the celebration.  You don’t see that often in this age range

          Another hit three 3-run homers, all with two strikes, for 9 RBI.  Amazing whatever the fence depth, which I think they said was 225′.

          Now most or all the better TN pitching has been used and/or is ineligible due to pitch limits.  That favors Japan tomorrow.  But who knows? 

          • Anonymous

            Yes, they are 225 ft, while the LL recommendation for fields in general is 180 ft.

  8. Anonymous

    Affeldt has done the Bravos the favor of walking in a run in the eighth now 5-3.

    • Anonymous

       Make that walking in two runs, now 6-3.

      • Anonymous

        I love it!

        To me, walking in a run is “gifting” a run to the other team.  Even more so when you do it twice.  When the ‘ants lose, it’s great, and it’s even better when they beat themselves.  :)

        • Anonymous

           They have a couple decent starters, but a bad pen overall.

  9. Anonymous

    Beckett starts Monday.

    Have we heard anything about Bills, other than that it’s only a strain (per Stephens at TBLA)? Any word on how long he might be out (if at all)?

    • Anonymous

      Just guessing, but I expect he misses a start. So close to roster expansion, they probably wouldn’t want to put him on the DL.

    • Anonymous

      At the press conference, Colletti mentioned that Billingsley may be out a little longer than before.

      • Anonymous

        Thanks for the update.

        Before, he was on the 15-day DL, but only missed one start (due to the All-Star break).

      • Anonymous

        thanks BTimmer, i like the idea of giving Billz the extra time. 

  10. Anonymous

    AGon wears 23 for the Blue.

  11. Anonymous

    In addition to RDLR, it looks like Sands is officially a PTBNL too.

    • Anonymous

       Too bad. I’d be curious to watch him play in Fenway.

      • Anonymous

        Sounds like he will, but not this year.  Like Rubby, I assume this is because he hadn’t cleared waivers.

    • Anonymous

      Since they won’t officially move until after the season, can we expect them on the September roster?

  12. Jibin Park

    This would be my “conventional” lineup.

    1 – Victorino  2 – Gonzo  3 – Kemp  4 – Ethier  5 – Hanley  6 – Ellis, AJ  7 – Cruz  8 – Ellis, M  9 – Kershaw

    This would be more radical and still preserve the L-R-L-R principle.  The “Book” says you should bat your best hitter second.  Seriously?  Why not?  Let’s have Ethier and Kemp get an additional 30-50 ABs that they otherwise lose by hitting down in the order.  Who’s with me?????

    1 – Ethier  2 – Kemp  3 – Gonzo  4 – Hanley  5 – Victorino  6 – Ellis, AJ  7 – Cruz  8 – Ellis, M  9 – Kershaw

    • Anonymous

      My ideal lineup would be the one that’s playing tonight, but with the two Ellises switched.

      • Jibin Park

         That one would be good as well, but starting off with Ethier and Kemp!!!!! That would be awesomer!

      • Anonymous

        A.J. doesn’t have the speed to hit 2nd though.  All those walks would clog up the base path behind our big hitters, no?

        Ya, I realize I just framed A.J.’s walk stat in a poor light.

        • Anonymous

          the problem is that Mark Ellis is terrible against RHP and so is Victorino both, at least this entire season

    • Anonymous

      I like the lineup Mattingly is running out there today better then either of those two – the two table setters 1,2 – then Murderer’s Row to knock ’em in.

      • Anonymous

        Victorino OBP for season vs rhp 299,as a Dodger 296
        Mark Ellis OBP 2012 vs rhp 315
        neither worthy of being called a table setter against rhp.

  13. Anonymous

    Well, I’ve read a lot of the break-downs on the trade, and a lot of good comments here. I’ve decided that what it all comes down to for me is simply : are the Dodgers in a better position to win now than they were before the trade?
    I get where VODF is coming from and I have some of the same reservations – of course it is better to “win smart” – by making good deals, and having a productive farm, rather than just throwing money around to the point of if you don’t win, you are a laughingstock – because you SHOULD have won with THAT type of payroll. But – that said, I’d rather have the added chances over the years that throwing money around will afford the Dodgers.
    So – are the Dodgers in a better position to win now than they were before the trade?
    I think the answer is yes – so that being the case, I like it.

  14. Anonymous

    I was thinking that one immediate consequence of the trade might be that the Dodgers would be more likely to show up on the national networks, but I checked the schedule and it looks like Fox and ESPN were already planning to broadcast the games at the phone booth Sept 8-9, and Fox the Saturday game in Cinci.

    • Anonymous

      Then I checked the schedule for MLB Network for the first few games of September, which they just added in the past day or two, and I see that we’re on September 1 AND September 3.  :)

  15. Anonymous

    Old friend Reed Johnson bangs another nail the Gnats’ coffin with an RBI double, after a Freeman single and Le Poseur bounced a throw about five feet in front of second on a steal attempt.

  16. Anonymous

    Flashback:  One year ago, He Who Shall Not Be Named was having trouble meeting his payroll in LA…

  17. Anonymous

    Braves defeated Giants, 7-3.

  18. Anonymous

    Time to shave off a third of the Gnat’s lead this evening.

  19. Anonymous

    Has Vin Scully tried to make God laugh by announcing his plans for next year?

    I wonder if all this harried dealing by new management might be more for the benefit of Vin Scully than anyone else, if indeed he intends to make this his final year. One more shot at the World Series….

    Also, has that lady in the valley fired up her oven in another attempt to bribe Vin Scully with cookies?

    • Anonymous

      I would assume Thursday’s Vin Scully Bobblehead giveaway may be a decision day. However, I don’t think Vin would ever announce his retirement on a game day because that would take away from the action on the field and he wouldn’t want that.

    • Anonymous

      If this trade leads to a Vin Scully extension, it was worth it. 

  20. Anonymous

    The Boston Globe article reminds me that this is all Kuroda’s fault.  He goes to Boston, they make the playoffs and none of this happens.  No Bobby Valentine and no Francona covering the LLWS.  Still can’t figure out how the brass missed the boat on the Greek God of Walks.

  21. foul tip

    Anyone seen anything about what the at least semi-intelligent purpose for Punto is?

    Guess it always could involve U-rbi-less.  Hope never dies…

    • Anonymous

      I truly think Ned thought we needed to replace Hairston in case of injury. If I were Herrera I’d be angry.

  22. Anonymous

    Billinglsey to the DL, Castellanos back to Albuquerque. Juan Uribe lives!

    • Anonymous

      He could give Richard Hatch a lessons or two.

    • Anonymous

      No mention from Colletti that Billz was put on DL when asked about him.

  23. Anonymous

    Colletti on Prime Ticket right now.

  24. Anonymous

    Victorino scratched – back tightness – new lineup M.Ellis leading off

  25. Anonymous

    Cruz in the 2-hole

  26. Anonymous

    AJ minus M Ellis’ OPS’s vs RHP: 253
    I think I’ll try to post this stat before every game with a right handed opposing pitcher

    For their careers, Victorino’s best batting order position is by far 6th (second best is second) while Mark’s is 8th (second best is first) (except that best is really 2 for 6 with a HR batting 4th). Let’s move one of them down to their best place historically and move either Cruz or AJ Ellis up.

  27. Anonymous

    Same 3 thru 6 as above, then Rivera in LF, AJ, Kershaw

  28. Anonymous

    Watching the Braves’ win over the Giants, there were many comments about the trade, including relief expressed by some in Red Sox country about the shedding of so much money.  One tweet that was reported:  “This has made Magic Johnson more popular in Boston than Larry Bird.”

  29. Anonymous

    Gonzalez looks very happy.

  30. Anonymous

    I actually like Rivera but why should he bat 7th and AJ 8th?

  31. Michael Morris

    Listening to Vin on mlb.com and making my wife listen with me. To help her appreciate what she hears we’re switching to the marlins broadcast for the bottom. She said, “You’re going to really grieve when he stops broadcasting aren’t you?” And that got me thinking. I’ve been listening to him for 47 years, and there’s no other man in my life – not even my father – I’ve respected for longer. Hell yes I’m going to grieve and I know I wont be alone.

  32. Anonymous

    Glad to have read that Globe piece, Jon. Didn’t think of Boston racism affecting Crawford after he got off to a poor start last season 

  33. Michael Morris

    AGon making nice pick there

  34. KT

    Two good defensive plays in the 1st…I like this infield defense

  35. Anonymous

    Can’t anybody get through the first inning?

  36. KT

    Good hit Mark!!

  37. Michael Morris

    Luis! Wow!

  38. Anonymous

    Cruz-o-matic!

  39. KT

    Good hit Matty
     
    Come on AGon

  40. KT

    AGON!!!!!!

  41. Anonymous

    What a welcome.  Bienvenidos!

  42. SteelMohawk

    WOW, feasting on some poor NL pitching right there!

  43. Anonymous

    Fairy tale!

  44. Michael Morris

    Statement. Take a bow AGon!

  45. foul tip

    That’s a hell of a first Dodger  AB.

    Even if he hadn’t homered, Gonzalez, Ad. 1B is great to see appearing in Gameday boxscore.

  46. Michael Morris

    “In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened.” 

  47. Anonymous

    Bang.

  48. KT

    Good hit Dre
     
    Come on Juan

  49. Anonymous

    I missed the reason Shane wasn’t in the lineup tonight (?).

    Awesome Adrian and welcome home!

  50. KT

    Good hit AJ
     
    Help yourself Clayton
     
    Nice to bat at least 9 in an inning

  51. Anonymous

     back tightness…

    Thanks AaSsWw!

    • KT

      ? I thought I gave you the info but that’s ok AaSsWw need props ever now and then ^_^

  52. KT

    MARK!!!!

  53. Anonymous

    Throwin’ it out there – I really like M Ellis in the lead off spot.

    • Anonymous

      Throwin’ it out there – I really like A Gonzalez hitting cleanup.  :)

  54. Anonymous

    When was the last time we had six hits in an inning, BTimmer, please?

  55. KT

    Nice Matty
     
    Come on AGon

  56. Anonymous

    Dodger home runs in games 1-125: 79
    Dodger home runs in games 126-127: 5 so far

    :)

  57. Anonymous

    nice way for Gonzalez to break in, & NL pitchers aren’t going to be able to relax with this lineup. 

  58. Anonymous

    “Welcome to the Dodgers!” – Vin Scully, upon AGon’s 3-run HR in his first at-bat as a Dodger.

  59. KT

    Good play Clayton

  60. Anonymous

    pick-off by Kershaw to Gonzalez! not picture perfect but an out non the less. 

  61. KT

    Good hit and Hustle Dre

  62. Anonymous

    8 consecutive hits for Ethier – gotta love it.

  63. Anonymous

    You guys weren’t kidding about Ethier being streaky, he’s red hot now!

  64. KT

    Nice hit AJ
     
    Come on Clayton

  65. Michael Morris

    NL record for consecutive hits is 10 shared by 4 players, last by Matt Diaz in 2006. AL is 12 by the amazing Walt Dropo in 1952.

    • Anonymous

      Pinky Higgins had 12 hits in a row, although he also had 2 walks during the streak.

      Livan Hernandez had 8 hits in a row in 2001.

  66. Anonymous

    Nice sacrifice, Clayton. Deliver the knock out blow, Mark!

    • Anonymous

      Kershaw is third in the NL in sac bunts with 12.

  67. Anonymous

    Oh well, one run and 29 more pitches forced ain’t bad.

  68. KT

    good play Hanley

  69. Anonymous

    in a nutshell the way i understand the goings on is.

    1) the Dodgers secure a more lucrative cable deal.

    2) we become a power house in the NL (short term slash stop gap).

    3) Make no mistake Kasten is a player development junkie, you have to love that. my number 2 is a bridge to my number 3. 

    4) Kasten resume is reassuring, most definitely.    

    • Anonymous

      Since Kasten’s taken over, we added something like $420 mil. in payroll and gave away 3 valuable pitching prospects, with the result that we now have aging, declining stars at SS, 1B, LF, and RF, plus a mystery Cuban who’s supposed to save us because he’s hitting A ball pitching. Granted, the newcomers are replacing some of the worst players in their respective positions, but they are not worth $420 mil. Oh, Kershaw still hasn’t gotten his extension. Kasten’s resume from two decades ago isn’t exactly reassuring in face of what he is actually doing right now.

      • Anonymous

        you have to give something to get something. 

        • Anonymous

          Sure, they ain’t worth that amount on the field over that period, but getting Gonzo was a coup and if they make the playoffs the new owners will get off to a great start in revilatizing the franchise.

          • Anonymous

            Well, a great start for revitalizing the Red Sox.

          • Anonymous

            So far,lets see how they spend the money this time.

      • Anonymous

        Victorino, I’m assuming, is gone at the end of the season. Why bother mentioning him? The loss of Ethan Martin who is one of the 3 valuable pitching prospects?
        What about Landry OPS of 1145 for Seattle’s high A team?

  70. KT

    Nice hit Matty
     
    Come on Adrian

  71. Anonymous

    Johnson knocked out after 3 innings :)

  72. Anonymous

    Johnson wasn’t missing many bats, a ton of foul balls…

  73. Anonymous

    Giancarlo Stanton’s power is freakish, it’s one thing to do it a Coors Field but to do it here, wow. 

  74. Anonymous

    Gonzalez & Ethier have pretty swings. Just wanted to point that out. 

  75. Anonymous

    My Loney has a first name
    It’s J-A-M-E-S
    My Loney has a second name
    It’s L-O-N-E-Y
    Oh, I love to watch him every day
    And if you ask me why, I’ll say
    ‘Cause James Loney has a way With H-I-T-T-I-N-G

    Best Wishes, James Loney.

  76. KT

    Wow the last couple of days have a lot of posts…Just caught up 

  77. Anonymous

    This is worth noting – Ethier is one hit away from tying a Dodger record of 9 consecutive hits.

  78. KT

    DRE!!! Ties Cey for the most consecutive hits

  79. Michael Morris

    Dre ties Cey for most consecutive hits by an LA Dodger (9) and is one away from tying NL record. Awesome. And it was off a lefty. It’s like fairy dust …

  80. Anonymous

    I guess Ethier is on a bit of a hot streak! : )

  81. Anonymous

    for those of you out on the town – Ethier just tied a Dodger record of 9 consecutive hits set by The Penguin. 

    in was a dinger!

    • KT

      Actually the LA Dodger record…the overall record is 10 consecutive by Edward Konetchy in 1919

  82. Anonymous

    Anybody feelin’ blue (lowercase ‘b’ blue) about losin’ Sands right now?

    • Anonymous

      I am happy for him, though not sure how much playing time he will get with the Bosox.

    • KT

      Never really was a strong fan of Mr. Sands

  83. Anonymous

    Off a lefty no less.

  84. KT

    Nice hit Juan
     
    This is a strong lineup

  85. Anonymous

    Watching this team is starting to be fun again!

    • by some peoples reaction you could have fooled me! People seem to worry about other people’s money and about players that may never pan out. I’ll enjoy a team that now has a chance to win NOW and trust that ownership will also want to win in the future.

  86. KT

    HE Was OUT

  87. Anonymous

    Bad call.

  88. KT

    Check swing out…He was playing Cricket

  89. Anonymous

    with a 7-2 lead i doubt they will debate it. It looked out though. 

  90. Michael Morris

    Come on Dre!

  91. KT

    Dre going for the overall record of 10 consecutive by Edward Konetchy in 1919

  92. Anonymous

    Ok…  Somebody’s got to say it…

    I’m watching the game on DVR…So, I’m not up to date with you guys….

    However…. I just saw Juan Uribe congratulating Adrian Gonzalez ….
    Guess What?…. I also saw Adam Kennedy in the dugout as well….

    No matter how many guys this club acquires, Uribe and Kennedy live on! …
    These guys should be contestants on “Survivor” this Fall….
    That’s all I have for now…. 

  93. Anonymous

    Ethier just missed tying the Brooklyn record by inches. 

  94. Michael Morris

    That’s 10!

    • Anonymous

      Maybe he doesn’t want to be shown up around all these superstars that are being assembled around him

  95. KT

    Good job Dre

  96. Anonymous

    Wasn’t that a fielder’s choice? :-)

    • KT

      no hanley rounded the base then was caught off trying to get back…single all the way

  97. Anonymous

    up, he tied it with a bloop to centre. 

  98. Anonymous

    just tuned in, happy with the trade, much!

    • KT

      Oh Yea
       
      Tuned in just in time to see Dre tie the consecutive hit streak of 10

      • Michael Morris

        10 is the NL record. Walt Dropo it in 12 straight AB in 1952 with the Tigers.

  99. Anonymous

    we’re so spoiled, 10 straight! are you KIDDING! 

  100. Anonymous

    Nice favor for Petersen’s mom, not so much for Petersen.

  101. Fascinates me to see who the new guys sit next to, talk to, their first game at a new team. 

  102. KT

    Nice hit Mark  3-3 w/ a bb

    • Seriously, how great is it to watch him right now.

      • KT

        I had a man crush on him since he 1st came up with us…Solid to exceptional defense…gap power…clutch hitter w/ runners on

        • Anonymous

          He signed my baseball in St. Louis.

          He’s not great about sticking around and signing, but I asked him in Spanish.  :)

          • KT

            I’m going to try to get him in SD on the 25th…Have seats right next to the dugout

        • Anonymous

          He is impressive

  103. Mark Ellis the Dodgers’ 2012 MVP. 

  104. Anonymous

    Cruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuz!

  105. Anonymous

    Heath Bell makes more money this year than any Dodger reliever.  And three times as much as any Dodger reliever not on the 60-day DL.

    Oh, and Bell gets a 50 percent raise next year.

  106. Anonymous

    That was a real ‘we are leading 8-2 in the 8th’ type of swing from Kemp

  107. Blue-eyed Gal

    Weird game. 

    I really do LIKE A-Gon; I usually put him down for ASG votes because I just thought he was a classy player who never got enough recognition because he played for the Pads. So I’m delighted to see him come up to bat.

     If we’d given up just about any prospect but Rubby, I’d be dancing on my seat right now!

  108. Anonymous

    Cmon Hanley, I want to see Ethier bat again

    • Anonymous

      Nope.  You’ll have to wait till tomorrow to see if he breaks the record!

      Unless the Marlin score at least six times in the ninth, and we don’t want that, do we?

      • Anonymous

        I was just thinking the same thing. Maybe Don should lead him off next game (it’s only fair, it was his turn next)

  109. Anonymous

    1st and 3rd with none out, how could we (who cares really) :)

  110. Anonymous

    1st out by both the newbies combined

  111. KT

    Luis to close it

  112. Anonymous

    That’s weird.

    Yahoo has head shots of MLB players for various displays on their website.  The players usually are in the uniform of their current team, with understandable exceptions like AGon still wearing his Boston cap tonight.  I’m sure it will get switched to a Dodgers cap soon.  Except…

    …their photo of Belisario right now is in a Pittsburgh uniform.  He hasn’t been in the Pittsburgh system since 2008, and never played in the bigs before joining the Dodgers the following year.

  113. KT

    Love this strong lineup

  114. Anonymous

    We are the truck that is sitting just behind in the rear view mirror of the Gnats – we are large, quick and coming up fast and you might as well just get out of the way

  115. Anonymous

    back-to-back wins & Ethier watch tomorrow. 

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