Buy ‘The Catch: A novel’
What happens when three old friends in crisis fall into an unexpected love triangle? In The Catch, Maya, Henry and Daniel embark upon an emotional journey that forces them to confront unresolved pain, present-day traumas and powerful desires, leading them to question the very meaning of love and fulfillment. The Catch tells a tale of ordinary people seeking the extraordinary – or, if that’s asking too much, some damn peace of mind.
Buy ‘Brothers in Arms’
Commenting guidelines
Thank You For Not ...
1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
9) typing "no-hitter" or "perfect game" to describe either in progress
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with
Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén
KT
Go BLUE!!!!
Anonymous
I was so tempted to jump in and say that first, but I didn’t wan’t to jinx the team :)
KT
But you did jinxed it because it isn’t the lowest comment
Anonymous
I almost read the title as Kenesaw Mountain Landis.
Anonymous
Kerneshaw Mountain Landis
Anonymous
Some very one-sided scores in other NL West games today
KT
both for and against…soon I won’t be worried about them at all
Anonymous
I’m just hoping the Dodgers survive the experience of Skip Schumaker playing second base. I suppose Mattingly thinks he has the “hot hand”, but Skip plays second base in an inartful manner.
Linkmeister
I still think we shoulda kept Jamie Carroll around.
Anonymous
Mattingly has made it clear by his actions that he doesn’t put major importance on “hot hand”. More important, he has time and time again spoken about match-ups. Placing great importance on L-R and pitcher-batter match-ups is conventional wisdom in MLB. Since I discovered baseball-reference every Dodger manager I have watched day-to-day has made match-ups the single most important factor in line-up decisions.
Kuroda’s OPS splits are 674 vs 538 LHH doing better as would be expected with a RHP.
MEllis is 0 for 5 against Kuroda, Schumaker 7 for 17.
Btw, Since the ASG, Mark E. has a higher BA and OBP than Skip S. but Skip has 4 XBH to Mark’s 2 in far fewer AB so Schumaker kills MEllis in SLG thus, at least, imo, “hot hand” doesn’t fit this situation at all.
I am not expressing agreement with Mattingly’s decision merely describing how he has made clear his line-up decisions are made. Although in this case I do agree because Schumaker is a LHH.
Anonymous
Your criticism is genteel.
KT
Kershaw
KT
Good inning Clayton
KT
a down vote for that???
Anonymous
I don’t know how to undo it now! So sorry.
KT
don’t worry about it…thought it was a troll…I’ve done it before I just hit an up vote to even it out
Anonymous
If you click a second time it undoes what was done the first time. Lady Macbeth notwithstanding.
Anonymous
Sorry – I hit the down arrow by accident. It was a good inning by Kershaw, sort of. He did start each batter with a ball, and had a lot of balls in general for only 3 batters. Such is the brilliance of Kershaw that I feel compelled to critique to such a level.
foul tip
Note to ESPN pooh-bahs==. NYY v. LAD, Dodger Stadium, part of first visit in years.. Mariano’s final year and what we all hope is not Vin’s, Kerhsaw v. current Yankee ace and former teammate Kuroda. Ratings gold.
No, the Yankees aren’t playing the Red Sox tonight. But you know what? You blew it not televising this. Might even have brought better numbers than your usual NYY-BoSox fixation.
David Farinella
Funny, I was thinking the exact thing earlier…. Amazing that this series — that has, I’d argue, as much history as BOS/NYY — didn’t get more national attention. Or, perhaps, I’ve just been absorbed in summer family craziness and missed it.
Anonymous
I wonder if Cleveland fans feel their team is as charmed as we feel the Dodgers are right now. Another dramatic win for them tonight.
KT
DP Time
Anonymous
The Pirates have won their 4th straight game against the Cardinals. One more game to go in a 5-game series.
The Bucs are 65-42, best record in the majors.
KT
no gaining ground tonight
KT
Dre!
Anonymous
Bad news:
“Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Kemp would not be activated when he’s
eligible Aug. 6, and the club does not have a timetable for his return.”
Anonymous
Might not be until early or even mid-September.
Anonymous
Dodgers one of the “winners” of the trade deadline.
http://mlb.si.com/2013/07/31/mlb-trade-deadline-winners-losers-soriano-peavy/?xid=si_topstories
Anonymous
Kershaw – 51 pitches through 3 innings.
KT
he had more at this time when I saw him on Matt Kemp bobblehead night and ended up pitching 8.2 innings
Anonymous
That’s a good reminder. Kersh can turn it around and bear down amazingly quickly. What a pitcher.
KT
Let’s go Kersh…drive him in
KT
Nice Shoe!!!!
Anonymous
That helps!
KT
good move my Clayton
foul tip
Apparently.Puig never saw a first pitch he didn’t like. If I were an opposing pitcher I never would throw him a first-pitch strike.
Not that it has to be a strike for him to hit it. But, anyway….he helps get himself out at times.
KT
I love how my 3 year old knows how to push all his older (11) sisters buttons…just makes me laugh and of course I have to try to keep a straight face…it’s hard
KT
Los Angeles Dodgers @Dodgers 19m
Magic and Mamba: pic.twitter.com/XtON6vRkq9
KT
Gonzo!!
Anonymous
Here is our chance (with 3,4,5 coming up)
Anonymous
Old fashioned (60s) Dodgers-Yanks pitchfest.
Anonymous
Wow, now Kershaw is at only 80 pitches through 7 innings. 29 pitches over the last 4 innings.
Anonymous
Maybe he will win in 10 innings.
Anonymous
As you noted earlier.
KT
Wow Gonzo
Anonymous
Puig effect?
Anonymous
Vin says it best.
Anonymous
What happened on the Gonzalez single?
Anonymous
Ill-advised attempt to stretch it.
David Farinella
He tried to stretch it to a double and, um, there was a ball waiting for him at second base.
KT
Bounce off the 1st basemans glove and went to the area before the stands get close to the field …Wells recovered it quickly and fire a strike to second and had him out by over 10 feet
KT
Dre
KT
AJ!
Anonymous
Let’s go Skippy!
David Farinella
No way Adrian scores on those two singles, right? I mean, how could you send him?
Anonymous
Thanks, all, for providing the word pictures on what happened to Gonzalez after he singled.
Anonymous
Ned! You let this guy get away.
Anonymous
Vin knows he outfieders: “Crawford should catch it”.
David Farinella
Crawford made it look exciting.
Anonymous
Great — that single was worth it to get rid of Kuroda. . . . Now the Kid needs to shut them down, offense scores, Dodgers win but Hiroki doesn’t lose.
Anonymous
But they’ve gotta be shut down!
Anonymous
Their pen is no cakewalk either.
Anonymous
But I’ve always liked Kuroda. I prefer a Dodger win but not a Hiroki loss.
Anonymous
Ned made Hiroki the enemy
David Farinella
Agree. Hard to root against him tonight.
Anonymous
Find it easy. He can do want he wants against others.
Anonymous
Yes – out of that jam.
Anonymous
Step 1 done. I can live with a win that’s NOT a walk-off! Let’s get the “W” for the Kid!
Anonymous
Does Kershaw hit for himself?
KT
looks like they are taking him out
Anonymous
Thou speakith in haste.
KT
Juanito!
KT
kershaw up for bunt
David Farinella
Uribear! (If I may.)
Anonymous
I’d like to see Kershaw replicate Opening Day with a homer in the bottom of the 8th to break up a scoreless tie and win.
Anonymous
I posted that before Uribe singled.
David Farinella
Let Clayton Swing!
KT
beautiful bunt
David Farinella
wow
Anonymous
Does Kershaw pitch for himself in the ninth?
KT
no
KT
belli and kenley up
Anonymous
??
KT
Let”s go Yasiel
Anonymous
I like Crawford, but had no sense that he would get a hit there.
KT
Let’s go Gonzo
David Farinella
Wow, wouldn’t you rather face the rookie?
Anonymous
IBB is very strange.
Anonymous
Agon was the best hitter the first part of the year . . . come through again!
Anonymous
Okay, looks like it’s gotta be a walk-off . . .
Anonymous
Maybe they would like to walk Gonzo too – to get to Hanley. Oh, I guess not…
David Farinella
dagnabit
Anonymous
I think I would be tempted to leave Kershaw in for one more inning.
Anonymous
Let’s hope we all don’t regret the decision!
Anonymous
The Dodger hitters treated Kid K the way they treated H.K. when he was a Blue . . . low run support. (Of course, that’s the way they’ve been treating Kershaw most of the year!)
KT
DP Time
Anonymous
And still DP Time.
Anonymous
Uribear!
Anonymous
I’m nervous!
KT
good
David Farinella
Is that one of the first times Paco has let that happen? Seems pretty rare.
Anonymous
BA leftiles against was .127, so not very often.
Anonymous
Well, I guess that means we get to see Mariano.
Anonymous
I would’ve been happy to have been denied that pleasure.
Anonymous
Maybe they don’t use him at this point.
Anonymous
Long time….no blog… :-)
…
Yes, I saw it.
…
Question: Does anybody here know which minor league affiliate Brian Wilson has been assigned to?
Anonymous
New Jersey Gumbas, I believe.
Anonymous
Thanks, Bob… :-)
KT
AZ then RC
Anonymous
Actually, I believe dodgers.com says Wilson will pitch to hitters at the team’s spring training facility; after that he will be assigned to a minor league team.
KT
Az equals arizona facility RC equals Ranco cucamonga
Anonymous
Since the question was “which minor league affiliate Brian Wilson has been assigned to?” I thought your answer referred to a minor league affiliate.
KT
When did the Rancho Cucamunga Quakes (Low A ball) stop being one of our affiliates http://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t526
Anonymous
Beardstown, home of the Lady Stockpickers.
Anonymous
Keep it at one.
Anonymous
Or not. Drat.
Anonymous
Weak
David Farinella
Melllis didn’t look to happy there.
Anonymous
He had a look like he was thinking “….foolish rookie….”
David Farinella
It was either “foolish” or another f word.
Anonymous
Exactly, but I’m not gonna break rule one.
Anonymous
Meaningless July game – or harbinger of the end of the Dodger’s magical run?
David Farinella
If the past month has taught us one thing it is this: The game ain’t over until it’s over.
Anonymous
Oh, I agree. I was just playing at being dramatic.
David Farinella
Well, I mean, it very well could be the end! [runs out of the room screaming]
Anonymous
Ellis should have caught the ball….
He “heard footsteps” as Puig never touched his arm nor glove…..
He kinda, ‘wimped out’ …. like a receiver that gets ‘alligator arms’ when he goes over the middle and is afraid of getting ‘lit up’ by the safety.
….
Not to absolve Puig of his role in that play.
Anonymous
Receivers expect to get hit, 2nd basemen, not so much.
Anonymous
Agreed…….. Hey, I don’t blame him.
I wouldn’t want to run into Puig… even if I was ready for it…. Ha.
Anonymous
ready for it and wearing pads and helmet….
Anonymous
I gotta disagree. That’s Puig’s play all the way. Impossible for us to know who called it, but the outfielder should always call off the infielder. And Gonzalez was just standing there watching–he should have been directing traffic, telling Mellis that Puig was able to make the catch.
Anonymous
Dre used to have a lot of issues with O-Dawg on those sorts of plays.
Anonymous
LATimes article this morning said Ellis heard Puig call for the ball but too late. I’ll defer to the professionals here, but if I hear a freight train coming at me, I’m getting out of the way no matter how late it is.
Anonymous
Naw Puig has to get out of MEllis’ way there but Bob is right the missed DP by Hanley was the real killer.
Anonymous
It’s normally the RF’s ball.
Anonymous
Not when the 2nd baseman is camped under it.
Anonymous
Still RF’s option to call him off (don’t know what, if anything, was said out there)
KT
the missed called strike 3 by the 3rd base ump was the killer
Anonymous
Alright – let’s get this guy.
Anonymous
Ya – he’s overrated
Anonymous
Mellis error somewhat meaningless. Failure to turn the DP is what looks like will have done us in.
Anonymous
Concur.
Anonymous
Failure to score doesn’t help.
Anonymous
Rivera getting the Greg Maddox calls nowadays
Anonymous
Good thing we picked up Butera to take our mind off this loss.
David Farinella
lolz
Anonymous
I have a date for Sat game against the Cubbies.
Anonymous
A ‘date’ ????
Is this a new girl? :-)
Anonymous
My attentive daughter in this case.
Anonymous
Can’t get any better than a daughter…. that’s for sure. Good for you guys
…
My daughter is 15 months old, and I cannot wait to take her to Chavez Ravine
for her first Dodger game. You’re a lucky man, Bob.
Anonymous
I agree.. Enjoy it Bob!!
Anonymous
I couldn’t wait either, and I happened to score some club level tickets (shade! easy in/out!) when my twins were 13 months. It happened to be Dennis Martinez’ perfect game. They loved DS but didn’t care about a chance to see an entire perfect game. The twins lasted six innings, my wife and I lasted seven innings.
Anonymous
Oh well, we can’t be perfect all of the time :)
Anonymous
Yep – I’ll take 10 out 12 the rest of the way – no problem.
Anonymous
Somehow a loss when you are in first doesn’t hurt as much as a loss when you are coming last
Anonymous
Hellava well pitched game by Kershaw.
Anonymous
And Kuroda was awesome as well – no surprise there.
Anonymous
On the bright side – the Dodgers streak of winning one-run games is still intact.
Anonymous
foul tip earlier: “Apparently.Puig never saw a first pitch he didn’t like. If I were an
opposing pitcher I never would throw him a first-pitch strike.”
Puig is hitting 676 on first pitches and 700 on 1-0 counts but “only” 333 on 0-1 counts. Seems clear a pitcher should throw him a first pitch strike just not one easy to hit.
Anonymous
Only hitting .333 on 2-0 counts as well, so you could pitch him backwards as it were. Get him anxious that he won’t get a chance to get a hit. He has never walked after getting that count. Of course given his desire to hit early in the count, he has only had a 2-0 count six times to begin with.
Anonymous
Bob, don’t think you will see this so all I will write is you have misinterpreted baseball-reference’s data.
Anonymous
Won’t be the first time.
Anonymous
Yeah, I needed to scroll down.
Anonymous
“The most influential work on the subject was written by Mike Fast for
Baseball Prospectus in September 2011. Using pitch location data, Fast
determined the number of extra strikes each catcher got over a five-year
period. Based on the estimated run value of each extra strike, he found
that Molina had saved his teams 73 runs, more than any other catcher
despite playing less often than many.”
from this interesting article:http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324110404578628012148995702.html
Anonymous
Interesting – wonder where AJ fits on the list.
Anonymous
IIRC Russell Martin did fairly well on this.
T.M. Brown
Jon, you’re getting much love over on the Deadspin NL West Beat Reporter discussion, though they keep adding a silly “h” to your name.
http://deadspin.com/los-angeles-dodgers-dylan-hernandez-la-times-steve-d-988858262
Anonymous
Do people actually like Dylan Hernandez? Now that the Dodgers have no Japanese players, his ability to speak the language isn’t much of a plus.
Anonymous
Hoping the Dodgers bring their bats and hitting (in the clutch) shoes to ChiTown . . . they were winning but they weren’t scoring much on the homestand.
KT
Dodgers lineup:
Crawford 7
Puig 8
Gonzalez 3
Ramirez 6
Uribe 5
Van Slyke 9
MEllis 4
Federowicz 2
Nolasco 1
Jon Weisman
NPUT