September 16 game chat

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Stephen Fife is starting for the Dodgers today in place of Clayton Kershaw. If he pitches well, he might keep starting. There is also talk of the Dodgers using a four-man rotation for the stretch run, though that would mean some guys going on three days’ rest.

Anyway, given the possibility that Fife might not stick in the rotation, leaving only Josh Beckett, Joe Blanton, Aaron Harang and Chris Capuano, I was wondering what the Dodgers’ record is for most consecutive starts by a non-homegrown player. That is your research assignment for the day …

Cardinals at Dodgers, 1:10 p.m.

  • Anonymous

    Does Ishii count as a home grown player? The Dodgers were his first team, but he spent no time in the minors and was established in Japan. If he does not, then the entire 2002 season except for Victor Alvarez start in game 162.

  • Anonymous

    Ted Lilly was 5-0 with a 1.79 ERA through his first 5 starts of the season. In his last start of the season, May 23, he was charged with 8 earned in 3 1/3 innings, never to pitch again this season. Billinglsley was arguably the best pitcher in baseball after the All-Star break before blowing out his elbow. Kemp injured off and on for most of the season, now looking nothing like the player who started the season as the best hitter in the game. Now Kershaw. One of the most important things to an eventual Championship team is the ability to avoid injuries to key players, and remain relatively healthy. With all that has gone on for the Dodgers this season, even if they don’t make the playoffs, I’ll still give them credit for providing some great moments, and hanging in the hunt for the postseason for as long as they have.
    Go Fife!   

  • Anonymous

    Today is a day that is not good for fans of the Pirates, Phillies, and Brewers. With the Dodgers and Cardinals tied and playing each other, no one can make up ground in the playoff race. Also, the Dodgers and Cardinals are both off on Monday.

    The Phillies getting shut out in Houston last night was very baseballish.

  • Anonymous

    The Pirates have decided to move James McDonald to the bullpen for the rest of the year. He’s run out of gas and he’s been hit very hard since the All-Star Break. (7.08 ERA)

  • http://veryolddodgerfan.blogspot.com/ veryolddodgerfan

    Still have no interest in these store-bought Dodgers. Cosmic justice has been served for making the most arrogant and financially stupid trade in baseball history. I just wish I had been on the Interweb when Donny Baseball pinch hit Rivera for wonder boy A.J. Ellis. That would have been fun.

    • T.M. Brown

      Let’s see that’ll be one Rule 3 and one Rule 6 violation with a side of animal fries. 

      • http://veryolddodgerfan.blogspot.com/ veryolddodgerfan

        what are animal fries?

        • Anonymous

          For the record, I’d also like to know what animal fries are.

          • Anonymous

            French fries from In n Out burger that are served with Thousand Island dressing

          • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

            and cheese

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

             Poutine!

          • foul tip

             Does that mean only animals will eat them?

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

         If my memory is accurate, it’s also a Rule 8 violation.

        • Anonymous

          Probably Rule 11 too

          • Anonymous

            It’s gotta be 5:00 somewhere.  Or maybe an oxy scrip.

  • http://twitter.com/FredosDog Fredo’s Dog

    Hey guys, is Clayton okay? My buddy said the Dodgers will win the division five games ahead of Arizona, with the Giants even further behind. That will be tough to do if Clayton isn’t dealing. I hope he’s okay!

    • Anonymous

      Your friend believes the Giants will drop over 12 1/2 games in the standingd in 3 weeks?

      • Anonymous

        Must be a friend of WBB.

        • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

          ^_^

    • foul tip

       Was your buddy sober at the time?  ;-])

    • http://twitter.com/FredosDog Fredo’s Dog

       Hey guys, be nice. My buddy is still smarting from the 2010 World Series. He said it would be “1989 minus the seismic phenomena” and boy was he wrong. I hope we can at least get to the Wild Card game, because my buddy is not looking very good these days!

  • Anonymous

    AJ Ellis with the day off. M Ellis down to 7 spot. Treanor bats 8th. Victorino in leadoff spot with Either in 2 hole.

  • foul tip

    Instead of the homework assignment, I’ll thrown in that if Ely is added to the mix, there’s one more not homegrown.

    Neither is Jamie Wright, in the highly unlikely event they would go to him.  Don has said he likes Wright in the pen, and he seems to have done well there lately.   Not sure when he last started, but talk was when he came that he could do either.

  • foul tip

    Based on pictures at dodgers.com over the season, including today, it appears Kemp is the designated mauler of any teammate who gets a GW hit.

    At least he feels good enough to do it.  Maybe that’ll translate to the batter’s box.

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Let’s go DP

  • Anonymous

    Fife has no windup, very odd motion

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Come on Matt pay attention

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    looks like it will definitely be a bullpen day…Fife w/ 31 pitches

  • Anonymous

    Fife on pace to give up 18 runs and strike out 27.

  • Anonymous

    Still on pace for 27 strike outs. 6 K’s in two innings…

  • T.M. Brown

    For those watching on TV: With all due deference to Vin, I think I remember Holliday for taking a line drive in the cojones (or in the general area) to give us a playoff win a few years ago. That was Matt, wasn’t it? 

    • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

      yes

  • http://twitter.com/hunter_owens Hunter Owens

    18 K pace, but 3 two strike outs in the 3rd. 

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Come on Shane bring him home

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    DRE!!!!

  • T.M. Brown

    Dre really does have a beautiful stroke when he’s on top of a ball. 

  • Anonymous

    Wow – I was wondering if Wainwright would sort of pitch around Ethier to get to Kemp.
    Nope!

    • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

      I know I would at this point in time

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    All tied up

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

    BOOM. Tied. 

    Squee-thier!

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

      Meanwhile, painful to say but Kempie needs to sit a day or two. :( He’s obviously just not right at the plate. 

  • Anonymous

    Cubs with a grand slam to go up on Pirates 10-9 in the 6th inning. Astros up  on Phils 7-6.

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

      Nice!!  A win today would be huge, especially on heels of winning yesterday, facing the Cardinals, and not having our ace going.

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

      No-o-o-o-o! (IN RE: the Pirates)

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    I’ll take a DP here

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Great catch Shane

  • foul tip

    Gameday says Barney’s second pitch to Craig in the first was an 86 mph…changeup.

    It says the third was an 86 mph…fastball. 

    Finely tuned instrument, Gameday, to be able to tell the difference, especially back-to-back pitches.

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Nice hit Luis

  • Anonymous

    The ‘Stros have once again flogged the Fillies.

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Astros 7-6 over Fillies

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Come on Mark

  • T.M. Brown

    You know, isn’t it completely conceivable that we end the month down 3 games to SF going into the season ending series? We’d make up 4.5 games (yes, most definitely a lot) and end up in a situation where a sweep ends up in a tied divisional leader. Potential excitement methinks. 

    • Anonymous

      I don’t know how likely this is, but if we were to win 5 games more than the Giants over the next several weeks – I think I would like our chances for the wild card anyway.
      Meaning, we would be winning a lot of games.

      • T.M. Brown

        It’s definitely the optimistic track. And I assume if we’re in a position to win the division going into that season ending series we’d probably be in a position to win the 2nd WC regardless of the outcome of that series. 

        And Fife only strikes out sides. He doesn’t believe in moderation. 

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Come on Guys let’s scratch this inning

  • Anonymous

    Do you let Fife bat in the bottom of the inning? Or better yet, do you throw him out there to pitch the 6th inning?
    Seems like he is still got a bit left in him today…

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

    Wow, who had 9 Ks in the Stephen Fife pool? :)

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Way to get on Matt

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Come on Elian

  • http://twitter.com/hunter_owens Hunter Owens

    Damn. and we lose fife. 

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    WoW…Wbb that’s what happens when the doesn’t make contact when ordered to hit and run

    • Anonymous

       I still approve of the attempt – if you want reward, you have to take risk.

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Good bunt Elian
     
    Come on Shane

  • Anonymous

    That was idiotic

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Come on Dre

  • Anonymous

    Vogelchirp got banged around for the Gnats again, giving up a bases-loaded triple to Patrick Corbin (.069 hitter), six earned runs in four innings. Their starting pitching is real shaky, very lucky to have winning records.

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Ok Matty start if off…take a walk if need be

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    There you go matty…I knew your next hit would be to RF…keep going that way

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Come on Gonzo

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Let’s go Hanley…bring him home

  • Anonymous

    We are only a couple days away from the 6th anniversary of the 4+1 game. I am surprised that the almost unbelievably perfect BR website does not list this game in their calendar list of events, births and deaths that occurred on September 18. http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/September_18

    • T.M. Brown

      Holy cow I could waste a lot of time there…

  • T.M. Brown

    I’m pretty sure Hanley did that on purpose so Wainwright would head back to the bench. He is the cagiest of veterans!

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    generous scoring of a base hit there
     
    Come on DP

  • Anonymous

    Ooh, some of Hanley’s plays at SS are a bit embarassing.

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

    Hitting with RISP, what is it?

    • Anonymous

      runners in scoring position

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

         Thanks. I was expressing my doubt that the Dodgers recognize the concept. ;)

    • Anonymous

      The Dodgers are 1 for 6 in this game. The Cardinals, right now, are 1 for 3.

      • Anonymous

        And now the Cardinals are 1 for 4.

    • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

      It’s done by good teams frequently…that’s what it is

  • Anonymous

    I believe Jamey Wright’s plan is to have his career end with his right arm flying out of its socket getting somebody out in the next two weeks.

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Jamie pitched well
     
    Come on Paco get the final out so we can score some runs to give you the win

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    cubs win

    • Anonymous

      Which puts the Brewers ahead of them now.

      • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

        of the cubs…I thought that was a given since the cubs are eliminated ^_^

  • T.M. Brown

    Donnie’s strategy that inning: Bore the Cardinals to death with pitching changes. 

    • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

      it worked ^_^

    • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

      By the way…everytime I see your handle I think of my sister whose married name is T.M. Brown

      • Anonymous

        How do you know it isn’t your sister posting?

        • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

          she baseball illiterate

        • T.M. Brown

          I wish I had something funny to say to this but I don’t. 

      • T.M. Brown

        The initials provide a great androgynous pseudonym. Good to know the handle isn’t automatically male-associated even though I am a guy!

  • Anonymous

    Bad news on the steal attempt.

  • Anonymous

    Gordon went back to sliding head first. Not that it helped.

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

    I know Molina is behind the plate but, anybody else think Dee hasn’t looked that great trying to steal the last couple of days? He seemed to get a little lucky last night.

    • Anonymous

      I think it’s a matter of Molina just throwing very well right now. It’s quite a sight.

      • Anonymous

         By far the best catcher in baseball.

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

        Yeah, I agree with both of you. I guess I just expect Dee to steal everything off of anybody.

  • Anonymous

    Hey, not bad–he was within 2 inches on that attempt. Its what I want to see–exciting baseball!

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Even if Dee would have been safe on a close call He was going to lose after all the lobbying by the Cards manager / players last night

    • Anonymous

      This is true. But somebody might make a mistake. I wouldn’t expect anyone to hit.

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    who do you think hits for League

    • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

      sorry gameday had league up…forgot Bobby pinch hit for the pitchers spot

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Come on Shane start it off

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Come on Dre base hit

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Come on DP king…ground into one

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Now that I got my DP
     
    I want a run here in the 9th

  • Anonymous

    Paging Luis Cruz. Five minutes til curtain.
    You are staring in a little show called Cruz vs the Cardinals.

  • Anonymous

    Not that it matters much but the Rockies and Padres are tied 11-11 in the 8th.

    At PETCO.

    • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

      well aren’t the Padres creaping into the WC picture

  • Anonymous

    Was that Rodriquez. I know he should be better once adjusted, but he really does look a plug.
    I’m probably just being grumpy>

    • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

      who…oh do you me Adrian gonzales

      • Anonymous

        Yeah-sorry. Having trouble keeping names straight after the big trade. But I must say seems like half the hispanic ball players are named Rodriquez, Gonzoles, or Ramirez. Even Manny!

  • Anonymous

    I would take a walk, stolen base and a wonderful single right about… now.

  • Anonymous

    Ah, well the next guy (Hanley?), made him llok OK.

    • Anonymous

      Now Cruz is good and hot! Come on Luiz!

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Come on Belli throw strikes

    • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

      there you go

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    need a line drive DP here

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    there you go
     
     
    Come on Ellis connection let’s get it done

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Nice Mark
     
    Come on AJ

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Come on Juan two days in a row

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    YES…I’ll even take another WP

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    smart move

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Squeeze?

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    In the dirt Shane…come on make contact

    • Anonymous

      Non GDP contact that is.

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    way to stay in the rundown mark

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    another smart move

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Make them throw you strikes matty

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

    Walking Ethier to get to Kemp? Shows how much Matty has been slumping. I hope he makes them regret it.

  • Jibin Park

    Mark should have gotten back to 3rd.  He’s the better runner than Juan and he would have had the right to the bag.  With 2 outs, not a big deal, but why give up?

  • T.M. Brown

    My first reaction was: “Wow! They want to pitch to Kemp?! Things have sure changed for Bison in a hurry.” Then I realized that they’re doing R/R matchups, force out, etc. but I think Matty is taking this sort of thing personally. 

  • Jibin Park

    Time for Kemp to earn his money…

  • Anonymous

    I actually wish Matt was a good bunter here; Due for a mistake!!

  • Anonymous

    Oh, shirt.

  • Anonymous

    Well, hopefully this will be one of those times where he can;t find the zone after the IBB. I feel like the Dodgers of recent times have had success with the walk off walk.

  • Anonymous

    It says a lot when I actually wished it was someone other than Matt coming up to hit.  :(

  • T.M. Brown

    Blugh, frustrating. A walk is as good as a 600′ HR there. Good thing about this lineup: Don’t have to wait to go round again before we get some good hitters up. 

  • Anonymous

    This is a good game, but Mat has just about used up the relievers. A one game playoff might be fun.
    But I don’t want to go into the play-offs missing Billz, Kershaw, and Lilly, at the same time with a gang of sluggers colder than the bottum of the popsicle cooler. 

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Neep a DP here…what do you say

    • T.M. Brown

      My favorite kind of DP!

      • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

        mine too

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Nice DP

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Come on Gonzo…you are due

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Nice hit Hanley
     
    Come on Luis

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Vinny and the camera man had me thinking that was in the stands

  • T.M. Brown

    (-___- ;  )

  • Anonymous

    Well, we’re to John Ely- the other guy who was could have started today. 

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Come on John…throws strikes

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Come on K

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    I like it can I have another

  • Jibin Park

    Oh boy.

  • Jibin Park

    My least favorite Supreme Court Justice.

  • Anonymous

    Double on an 0-2 count :(

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    means another come from behind, come from behind walk off to win it like yesterday

  • Jibin Park

    That’s why walking Beltran was probably a bad idea to begin with.

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    got to hold here…Come on Ely

  • Jibin Park

    Hanley is terrible.

    • Jibin Park

      He should have just gone to first on that.  Lazy play on Hanley’s part.  Just lazy.  Unacceptable.

      • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

        was moving in the wrong direction…I rewound to check that myself

        • Jibin Park

          You have to make that play there.  No excuses.

    • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

      couldn’t get it out of his glove

  • Jibin Park

    This is painful to watch.

  • Jibin Park

    Why did we walk Beltran again?

    • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

      to get to holliday who hasn’t been hitting in this series like beltran and only got on twice by HBP

      • Jibin Park

        Still.  Down already by one run, doesn’t make sense to give free passes and add more pressure to Ely.

        • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

          we did it before and no one complained

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    well it looks like we will be 1 game back…had that feeling once we got deeper and deeper in free baseball…Still a chance be we need the final out now

  • Anonymous

    And the collapse is complete. Only 2 runs in 12 innings, only costing them about $100 million per run?

    • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

      we are 1 game back instead of 1 game ahead  when before we were a few games back and now the collapse is complete?

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Come on Nick we need base runners

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Way to get on Nick
     
    Come on Shane same thing runners

  • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

    Alright Dre do your two out magic

  • Anonymous

    I do not like Shane Victorino. 

    I didn’t like him as a Phil.
    I didn’t like the move to get him.

    A simple sac fly wins the game in the 10th.
    But he couldn’t even do that.

    Go stink up somebody else’s line-up next year, thank you.

  • http://twitter.com/plaza234 plaza23

    Who knew the Dodgers would tank and the primary reason would be Matt Kemp being horrible?

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

      Gonzales and Victorino going 0-11 didn’t help. The whole offense is just brutal.

    • Anonymous

      Let’s not vilify our best player.  Despite his injuries and toubles, he has managed to put up a 145 OPS+ and has a lot to do with them even being able to sniff at a playoff spot at this point.

      • Anonymous

        “Bad teams blame their best player for their problems.” Bill James.

  • Anonymous

    And yet, the Dodgers are still just one game out of a playoff spot. 

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

      The Dodgers are reminding me of about the only quote from Godfather III anyone remembers.”They keep pulling me back in!”

      And then they stomp on my feelings and hopes and dreams again.

    • Anonymous

       Well, yeah, but it’s the mild card.

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

    Welp, for a game I kind of thought would be a loss before it started due to sudden pitching matchup advantage — but then Fife settled down and pitched well, our pen outside of Ely was outstanding, and… the offense just blew countless opportunities.  I blame t hat more than I blame Ely, painful though he was to watch.   I also give credit to at least one Cardinals reliever, Rosenthal, whose stuff is outstanding and threw near 100 for almost all of 2 innings.   But anyway, for a game I thought might be a loss. they sure teased us with this one.  
    If they didn’t have such a tough schedule and key injuries I’d still feel reasonably optimistic about making the playoffs, but they do have a shot, and if some key guys get hot together you never know. Making the playoffs, even if a one and done deal, would be a victory. 

  • Anonymous

    Wow – walking Dre to get to Kemp. Man, this past series has been a soul crushing experience for #27 – save for the great throw yesterday! I feel for Matty. Just wish he would choke about an inch and calm down and get on base. A two out single would have won it and completely changed this whole series for him!

  • Adam Luther

    Abreu did not help on Gordon’s steal attempt.  LH batter 2-0 count and does not swing to protect, and a perfect throw gets him by a foot.  It’s the little things that matter.

  • Anonymous

    matty is not our best player right now, even the cardinals know it.  we’ll see where we’re at after this coming week with wash and cincy.  with kershaw down anything’s gravy at this point since i don’t expect us to make the playoffs.

  • http://twitter.com/plaza234 plaza23

    What could possibly be wrong enough with Kershaw’s hip that he’d need surgery that would cost him 8 months?  I can understand any type of arm problem causing a long absence…but lower body?  

    • Anonymous

      Labrum problems can keep players out a while. Doctors usually give the longest possible time someone would be out because they need to be realistic.

    • https://www.facebook.com/kmt59 KT

      try having both your hips seperately replaced and then you can ask that question…I’ll let you in on a little secret…Having them replaced is easier on the body then having surgery to repair them…ask Bo Jackson

  • http://www.facebook.com/kirk.davenport.14 Kirk Davenport

    Regarding the lack of home grown pitchers among the starters now..I cannot figure the “consecutive” starts issue, but as early as 2005, the Dodger pitching staff only had 6 starts by a home grown pitcher all year. Edwin Jackson made those 6 starts so 156 starts during the year were by store bought pitchers (Weaver,Lowe, Penny, Houlton, Perez, Dessens, Erickson, Wilson Alvarez and Derek Thompson)

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

    NPUT