Dodger Thoughts

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

0-2 in their last two games

And the inconsistent Chris Capuano is starting tonight. Can you handle it?

Dodgers at Marlins, 4:10 p.m.

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Yasiel Puig does not need to be benched

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And, exhale

275 Comments

  1. KT

    Go BLUE!!!!

  2. KT

    Got this from MSTI and it was so Nice I thought I would share:
    “BIah 12 hours ago

    This is why I’m not particularly worried – the NL West season as of yesterday. the Dodgers lead is massive compared to any earlier point in the season”

    http://i.imgur.com/dDBOQlO.png

  3. ASW1

    It’s good for the Blue to lose a few here and there – keeps ’em grounded.

    • KT

      Agree…But I would like to stop the streak at two because I would really like to keep all the doomsayers in the closet while we got them there

      • ASW1

        True, but the Doomers can be rather amusing – there was a Braves fan commenting on an MLB.com board the other day who said the Dodgers are smoke and mirrors because they’ve gotten to fatten up on a weak NL West. Have you taken a look at the Braves competition in the East lately? The second place team (Washington) is 4 games UNDER .500 – at least Arizona is 5 games over .500. What a doofus.

        • KT

          296-322
          305-317
          guess which league is which ^_^

        • Bob_Hendley

          If only, the Braves are 6 game over .500 against the West and we are 4 games under.

    • WBBsAs

      Are you Steve Lyons?

  4. RBI

    I can handle it.

  5. Bob_in_Vegas

    To reiterate what I said at the end of the last post (hey, I used to work in local TV — reruns aren’t bad!): Those two losses came with “quality” starts by Ricky and Ryu. Regardless of who’s pitching for the Blue, the offense has to contribute . . . and they HAVE bailed out Bad Cappy before.

    Let’s give credit to Cole and Fernandez and hope the hitters remember it’s August, not May.

  6. KT

    Another good bunch of graphs from MSTI:
    Cochito Commish 9 hours ago

    Hah, yeah!

    http://imgur.com/a/R41Ry#5

  7. JonnyTAFKAJ

    Are there any support groups for us Dodger fans who have Time Warner Cable, and hence, no channel 9 with which to watch the games all this week?

    • KT

      two words “digital converter” my parents don’t have cable at all and they are watching the Dodger games this week…if they can do it anyone in the LA area can

  8. Bob_in_Vegas

    Dodgers #2 in Fox Sports power rankings. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/powerRankings
    Marlins are #2 from the bottom. Let’s hope that proves accurate these next three games!

  9. btimmer

    Ryan Dempster was suspended five games for his actions on Sunday. If he doesn’t appeal, he would miss his start Saturday against the Dodgers. As a Dodgers fan, I think you want Dempster to appeal.

    • WBBsAs

      On suspensions, starting pitchers get off much easier than position players and relievers.

  10. btimmer

    Ryan Dempster was suspended WITH pay. But he has to pay a fine.

  11. btimmer

    Ken Gurnick is reporting that Yasiel Puig is not starting tonight. Morosi and Rosenthal open up bottle of Champagne.

    • WBBsAs

      So Mattingly lied to Tony Jackson? In pure baseball terms, a night off might not be a bad idea, if Kemp or SVS were available.

  12. WBBsAs

    I can handle it, but I may have to close my eyes when Giancarlo hits.

    I was a little bewildered that, having gone through all the trouble of putting the Bearded Exhibitionist on the active roster, Mattingly didn’t even use him last night. Has he already designated him for the so-called “setup” role?

    • mike_tink

      Withrow is 140/260/279 vs RHP even after last night so he should have been chosen over League on Sunday; Mattingly was making amends.

  13. KT

    Los Angeles Dodgers ‏@Dodgers3m
    #Dodgers lineup at Miami:
    Crawford LF
    M Ellis 2B
    Gonzalez 1B
    Ramirez SS
    Ethier CF
    Uribe 3B
    Schumaker RF
    Federowicz C
    Capuano P #whiff

    • mike_tink

      Federowicz will play on Thursday as well, I guess

  14. KT

    Jon Weisman ‏@jonweisman1m
    Chattanooga OF Joc Pederson is Southern League Player of the Week: Batted .435 (10-for-23) with three homers and eight RBI in seven games.

  15. KT

    Mike Petriello ‏@mike_petriello39s
    As annoying as “PUIG BENCHED DERPA DERP” is going to be, note that he really, truly, looked awful at the plate last night.

  16. I have no problem with Puig getting a day off – I just have a problem with the idea that he should get a punitive day off and that this will change him dramatically.

    • WBBsAs

      Is it indeed a “punitive” day off, even if that’s the sensationalist take on it?

    • KT

      He needs a day to get right again..no punishment I agree

    • Markbleedsblue294

      Seemed like Puig was a little hot after some of those close calls and was swinging out of anger. Maybe he just needs a day to cool off and re-gather himself which I’m cool with especially if he’s available to pinch hit in a key situation today.

    • Today’s day off will make it less likely he Costs Us a Game in the Playoffs! /morosi logic

      (But honestly, he needed a day off, aside from whatever other reasons Mattingly is doing it.)

  17. btimmer

    If Dempster takes his suspension, then the Dodgers would face Jon Lester on Saturday instead of Sunday.

  18. btimmer

    From the CBA:

    (c) The Senior Vice President, Standards and On-Field Operations may choose to suspend a Player without pay for: (i) intentionally throwing a baseball, equipment or other object at a
    non-uniformed personnel with the intent of causing bodily harm;
    (ii) physically assaulting a fan or member of the media; (iii) physically assaulting an umpire in a manner that endangers his health
    or safety; and (iv) making public statements that question the
    integrity of the game, the umpires, the Commissioner and/or
    other Commissioner’s Office personnel. Suspensions without pay
    for such conduct shall be appealable through the procedures of
    Article XI(B) in an expedited manner, and the suspensions shall
    be stayed pending the completion of those procedures

    So, I’m not sure why it is considered normal for a player like Dempster to be suspended WITH pay.

    • Meanwhile, Von Miller will have to sit 6 NFL games and will not be paid, so he will lose more than $800,000. Not that he’s blameless, but it’s basically because he puffed pot and then screwed up a test.

      Dempster throws at a batter’s head twice and isn’t ejected and isn’t fined, other than getting an extra day of rest.

  19. KT

    Bill Plunkett ‏@billplunkettocr 31m

    So Yasiel Puig hustled into locker room at 4:50. 35 minutes before stretch. Well after most players here. Now in mgr office with Mattingly

    Detractors in 3, 2, 1…

  20. Bob_Hendley

    I am the one that needs a day off around here.

    • KT

      but it doesn’t seem like you been travel much lately

      • Bob_Hendley

        Actually, long distance flights are just about the only chance I have these days to get away from it all.

  21. KT

    Los Angeles Dodgers ‏@Dodgers2m
    Zack “Big Fly” Greinke: https://vine.co/v/hOElVTMr1uK

  22. This is the game chat thread.

  23. mike_tink

    dodgers.com has Ellis catching

  24. What on earth will we do if the Dodgers lose… GASP… three in a row? Will the season come crashing down? Will Puig be blamed? Will we need to replace Mattingly with Trey Hillman? How will we survive? Hope everyone has enough emergency rations! ;)

  25. btimmer

    And so it begins… I’m heading to the store to stock up on emergency supplies and I’ve got a “go bag.”

  26. KT

    ok let’s get that one back guys

  27. Each pitcher allowed a double and three outs. So the game is tied. Isn’t it?

  28. KT

    Juanito!

  29. ASW1

    Uribe smokin’ hot.

  30. John_from_Aus

    Let’s make this count

  31. Bob_in_Vegas

    This is regressing to May.

  32. ASW1

    Brutal

  33. btimmer

    For those scoring at home, Schumaker is not credited with a GIDP in that situation since there was a tag play involved and it was not a reverse force.

  34. ASW1

    On the bright side – Dodgers got Cap out of the way to start the next inning.

  35. scooplew

    For those of us not watching or listening, please explain what happened after Schumaker hit the baseball.

    • Bob_Hendley

      I am on Gameday, but not sure I want to know what happened.

      • KT

        Shoe hit a sharp hit grounder to the 1st baseman who was even with the bag one step away…He stepped on the bag and threw home and the catcher had Ethier off the bag and ran him back and tossed to the 3rd baseman who made the tag

    • ASW1

      Shoe smoked it to 1st baseman, who stepped on the bag for 1st out, then threw home, who thrw to 3rd to get Eithier wandering off 3rd for 2nd out.

    • “Who goofed? I’ve got to know!”

      • Bob_in_Vegas

        works the same with good news

      • KT

        My opinion even though you probably already know…Ethier he wasn’t going on contact and still got caught off third…there was a chance of a 3-6 DP but he didn’t even let them try it

      • dalegribel

        I do miss Jim Healy

  36. Bob_Hendley

    On Gameday with a right handed batter up that homerun monstrosity is blocked from view.

  37. ASW1

    Top ‘O the order : here we come!

  38. scooplew

    Linkmeister: Thank you very much for the link yesterday to “Ball Tales: A Study of Baseball, Basketball and Football Fiction of the 1930s Through 1960s.” I appreciated the opportunity to read about Duane Decker, creator of the mythical Blue Sox baseball team. “Ball Tales” looks like an interesting book.

    • Yeah, it does. If you’re interested in publishing the story of all those juvenile fiction series is interesting. The number of people who wrote The Hardy Boys under the name Franklin Dixon was very large. ;)

  39. ASW1

    C’mon Hanley – start carryin’ yer weight around here.

  40. Is that you Dempster?

  41. KT

    3 outs…let’s scratch now

  42. Bob_in_Vegas

    Cap is doing his job — now the hitters have to wake up (and stay awake when on base).
    Silver Lining: wasn’t there a stretch when LA didn’t score until the 5th or later?

  43. KT

    Uribear is currently 17-32

  44. KT

    Juanito!

  45. Can’t stop the Uribear.

  46. Bob_in_Vegas

    Can’t wait to hear what happened — MLB audio hasn’t had it yet for me.

  47. Bob_in_Vegas

    Okay — bloop single — Uribe!

  48. Bob_in_Vegas

    This “time traveling” is somewhat appropriate since I just finished “Slaughterhouse Five” for the first time.

  49. scooplew

    Uribe is now 10-for-14.

  50. Schu is playing rally killer tonight.

  51. KT

    Good eye Cappy!

  52. Bob_in_Vegas

    Come on CC after CC!

  53. KT

    Come on CC

  54. Bob_Hendley

    Only once this year (May 18th) did good Cappy show up and the offense didn’t.

  55. ASW1

    Can we get a knock with the bases juiced?

  56. Bob_in_Vegas

    Gameday says in play, run(s)!!!

    • KT

      tipped off the pitchers glove and the 2nd baseman stopped it before going into RF

  57. Bob_Hendley

    Wow, just wow!

  58. ASW1

    There we go!

  59. Bob_in_Vegas

    Yay! Ain’t pretty, but it’s not a beauty contest!

  60. This inning is much more like the Dodgers of late!

  61. Thank you for your generosity Marlins! Very fishy, the best kind of fishy!

    Dodgers have also been hitting Turner pretty well so it felt like only a matter of time though there’s been some luck this inning, too. Be nice if Hanley could finally do something against his former club here.

  62. Bob_in_Vegas

    Agon — again!

  63. Can’t believe Dodgers have nine hits already.

  64. Damn, Hanley was actually robbed there (made good contact these last two times). Oh well, hard to complain after 4 came in.

  65. Bob_in_Vegas

    Cappy ignites the offense . . . hope his trek on the basepaths doesn’t affect his pitching

  66. Bob_in_Vegas

    Meanwhile, c’mon, Reds!

  67. Bob_in_Vegas

    Turn two . . . or three!

  68. KT

    setting up the 1-2-3 DP

  69. ASW1

    Oh, boy.

  70. Bob_in_Vegas

    C’mon, Cap!

  71. Doesn’t help that Cap’s getting squeezed a bit here, too. But I’ll give up a run to get some outs.

  72. Please don’t turn into 4 or 5 run Cappy, 3 will do.

  73. Bob_in_Vegas

    Cap helps, then hurts.

  74. scooplew

    Third straight poor start by Capuano.

    • Though thanks to Dodger heroics he hasn’t lost in his last 6 starts. It might take some of the same tonight.

    • But I don’t think he’s pitched nearly as poorly as the 3 runs indicates, imho. again he was really squeezed by the ump and they weren’t otherwise roping a ton of hard smacked balls. Still… didn’t expect this would be a real low scoring pitcher’s duel and both guys have so far lived down to that. ;)

  75. Bob_in_Vegas

    Shut ’em down here.

  76. Bob_in_Vegas

    Get the K!

  77. Bob_in_Vegas

    Technically, still in line to be a “quality” start . . . the best news is the offense has awakened and will hopefully put up more.

  78. KT

    time to get some Moar

  79. KT

    Good Eye Dre!

  80. Bob_in_Vegas

    Cynical Silver Lining: No DP possible for Schu this time

  81. KT

    Way to get on this time Shoe!

    • ASW1

      That was crazy – that ball landed a foot foul, and skipped fair past 1st base.

  82. Bob_in_Vegas

    Gotta pinchhit

  83. Bob_in_Vegas

    With all those pitchers???!!!!

  84. scooplew

    I expect we will see Wilson make his Dodgers debut tonight.

  85. Now 15 baserunners in five innings for Dodgers.

  86. Bob_in_Vegas

    How about improving that runners per run ratio now?!

  87. KT

    3 outs…now that’s enough for Cappy I think

  88. Bob_in_Vegas

    CC — just the start! (I hope!)

  89. John_from_Aus

    this game reminds me of a rollercoaster ride

    • Bob_in_Vegas

      fits with the season!

    • Bob_in_Vegas

      With the missed opportunities, it’s the old “What will they do to lose?” feeling surfacing more than the “What will they do to win?” more of late.

  90. Bob_in_Vegas

    Agon — again! C’mon, Hanley!!! Sac fly at least!

  91. Bob_in_Vegas

    Dang!

  92. John_from_Aus

    runners at 1st and 3rd, I’m nervous!

  93. foul tip

    “Carl Crawford singles on a ground ball to catcher…”

    OK. I’ll bite. How did that happen, for the TV-impaired?

    Surely that’s not how they describe an ordinary bunt for a hit…

  94. ASW1

    Hanley seems intent on pleasing the home crowd in Miami.

  95. KT

    League in

    • John_from_Aus

      I’m nervous has given way to I’m extremely nervous

  96. KT

    Nice K Brandon

  97. Bob_in_Vegas

    Turn-about is fair play . . . DP time!

  98. KT

    This guy is in the top 5 in GIDP’s

    • ASW1

      Would have been wise to throw one out of four near the strike zone

  99. Bob_in_Vegas

    Great — when the offense has returned to early-season form, so has League.

  100. scooplew

    Enough, already, with League!

  101. I don’t like the trend of using League in tight games, even if he did have a string of nice outings.

  102. Regan Chapman

    Why are we still going with this loser League? Get rid of him now

  103. Bob_in_Vegas

    Dodgers can’t count on Cincy.

  104. KT

    Puig coming in?

  105. Bob_in_Vegas

    Guess neither the Dodgers nor the Marlins read their respective power rankings by Fox — #2 and #29. . . .But that’s why the game is played on the field.

  106. KT

    3 outs!!

  107. Bob_in_Vegas

    Now let’s get some runs!!!!!!!!!!

  108. Nicely done, Withrow.

  109. KT

    SKIPPY!!

  110. KT

    From MSTI:
    steelmohawk just now

    “In a normal staduim, Outfielders have to yell to call off infielders, in Miami it only takes your inside voice.”

    Made me chuckle

  111. Spence

    Dbax just won

  112. KT

    Come on Let’s turn two guys

  113. RBI

    Somebody forgot to tell the Marlins they can’t hit.

    • John_from_Aus

      Someone forgot to tell us that we can pitch, as well as hit with runners in scoring position

  114. KT

    Let’s get 2 strikes then give up the base hits

  115. Is it fair at all to question the pitches FedEx is calling for? Or is it just poor execution from the pitchers?

  116. Way to recover Withrow!

  117. KT

    PUIG!!!!

  118. Bench that man immediately!

  119. Spence

    Hey Donnie, it doesnt matter if Puig gets there 5 minutes before the game starts. Dont ever bench him

  120. scooplew

    Late to the stadium, late entry into the game, what have you done for me lately?

  121. RBI

    Gotta love his flair for the dramatic. Puig!!!

  122. scooplew

    Plaschke on Puig: “And, make no mistake, for every playoff game Puig wins with his boldness, he could cost them two.” I guess that’s why we’re been playing at a .333 winning percentage since he joined the team.

  123. scooplew

    We need to get the ball to Jansen in the 9th with a lead.

  124. I wonder what special situation Donnie is saving the bearded freak for?

  125. KT

    Los Angeles Dodgers ‏@Dodgers48s
    Yasiel Puig’s only swing of the night was fairly productive. Watch him put the Dodgers on top: http://atmlb.com/18IPr7r

  126. ASW1

    Why take Beli out?

  127. Jack Dawkins

    Old friend Juan Pierre sighting!

  128. Bob_in_Vegas

    Two traditions return: PuiG! — after I take my dog to the park and return with offensive production . . . all right, it’s just one run, but it’s something . . . big game to win, c’mon, Blue!

  129. KT

    JP (Juan Pierre) was sighted then sat down…Marlins know how to use him…as a decoy

  130. ASW1

    Would have rather had Beli face Pierre. Doesn’t matter though

  131. Bob_in_Vegas

    PaK-Man!

  132. Spence

    Donnie’s going to end up using his 5 good relievers and 1 bad one tonight

  133. ASW1

    Now Hanley doubles

  134. KT

    Hanley!!

  135. KT

    Juanito!

  136. RBI

    Nightmare at bats for Shoe tonight.

  137. KT

    Juanito with the speed

  138. FedEx does indeed offer insurance. (Sorry KT)

  139. KT

    Come on Kenley 1-2-3 inning

  140. KT

    wow 12 men left on base for us

  141. KT

    what a delay tactic

  142. Jack Dawkins

    Why the delay?

    • KT

      took forever for a grounds crew member to come out and fix the area around the rubber

  143. ASW1

    2nd rate ballfield

  144. Bob_in_Vegas

    2 more!

  145. Bob_in_Vegas

    I stepped away as Hanley doubled to talk to my brother . . . came back and there was the insurance run. . . . I get the message — I’ll step outside and hopefully return with the news that the new winning streak has started!

  146. 7 pitches, 7 strikes, Gameday says.

  147. RBI

    1 more strike.

  148. RBI

    Yes!

  149. KT

    Ball Game Dodgers Win!!!! Broke the Streak, New Winning Streak Started!!!!

    21 games over .500

    won 20 of last 23 on the road (.870), best road record in NL
    36-27

    won 16 of last 19 gms (.842), 26-5 since ASB (.839) , 43-10 since 6/22 (.811),

    7.5 gms ahead of the Dbags, 2nd largest lead by a division
    leader

    #3 seed, 3 gms back of the #1 seed

    17 straight series win or tie 13-0-4, going for series tie
    tomorrow

    http://i.imgur.com/AMbO5zV.jpg

  150. A happy ending, thanks to Puig!

  151. John_from_Aus

    If we can win those sort of games,we can win anything :)

  152. Bob_in_Vegas

    BIG win! These are the games you’re expected to win, so if you don’t, especially with missed opportunities . . . I know the players say they try to shrug off each game and start anew, but if winning is contagious, losing must be as well. And the cure for losing is the big W! What started to bring back the “How will they find a way to lose?” feeling turned into “Wow, look how they found to win!”
    Go, Blue! Zack & Kersh and lumber no longer slumbering!

  153. KT

    Dodgers are in 3rd place in the NL standings.

    .5 games behind the Bucs.

    3 games behind the Barves….very obtainable…Go BLUE!!!!

    pic.twitter.com/R0s1kaupQq

    • Bob_in_Vegas

      MOST important — not letting AZ gain ground!

  154. KT

    ESPN ‏@espn2m
    Is this heaven? No.

    It’s an actual photo from the Little League World Series -> http://instagram.com/p/dQh8wyg0Hc/ #LLWS

  155. KT

    Chad Moriyama ‏@ChadMoriyama15m
    [GIF] Yasiel Puig’s bat-flip of joy: http://files.upit.me/1377124880.gif

  156. KT

    From MSTI:
    NeDieterich just now

    http://i.imgur.com/e6dRtio.jpg

  157. Bob_in_Vegas

    Cappy is Cappy . . . and the Dodgers score when he pitches and have won his last 7 starts.
    Kershaw is Kershaw . . . the Dodgers don’t score nearly as much and his record suffers.
    Go figure.
    Except . . . the experts acknowledge the Kid’s brilliance, despite the record.

  158. KT

    Chad Moriyama ‏@ChadMoriyama4m
    [GIF] Puig being a clubhouse cancer with Hanley and Uribe: http://files.upit.me/1377123551.gif

  159. John_from_Aus

    I think everyone is just jealous we have unearthed a superstar

  160. Bob_in_Vegas

    Not only did Hanley’s double lead to a run, I hope it got the monkey (fans/pressure) off his back for these other two games.

  161. NPUT

    Sure were a lot of comments in this thread today, given that it’s not 2008 DT anymore.

  162. KT

    Los Angeles Dodgers ‏@Dodgers2m
    RECAP: @YasielPuig goes yard as #Dodgers trump Marlins, 6-4: http://atmlb.com/18IVCsi pic.twitter.com/YJieno4SDE

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