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KT
Todays Lineup:
Puig RF
Punto SS
Gonzalez 1B
Van Slyke LF
Cruz 3B
Schumaker CF
Federowicz C
M.Ellis 2B
Magill P
Anonymous
any comments from Mattingly on why Cruz over Uribe? I know Cruz is 2 for 3 with a HR against
Minor.
.
Unless Puig is going to try to steal, seems like he should have at least switched with Punto.
Anonymous
Schumacher, Punto, Puig, Agon, SVS, FedeX, Cruz (better yet Uribe), Ellis
Anonymous
can’t agree; Minor is too tough on lefties
Anonymous
It’s baffling. Seems like he’s been playing Cruz every game over Uribe, generally, for the last week or so. I think Cruz is getting a final chance to prove he belongs before he gets shipped out once Kemp and Crawford come off the DL.
Anonymous
that’s not exactly any day now
KT
turn two guys
KT
doesn’t get that call because he’s been wild
Jeffrey Thomas III
Even Vin is amazed that Cruz is batting fifth.
Anonymous
missed it what did he say please
Jeffrey Thomas III
He just made a comment of how a guy hitting .136 with 1 home run and 6 RBI is hitting fifth. He’s too classy to say anything disparaging, but he seemed a bit amazed.
Anonymous
thank you
KT
Puig!!
Anonymous
From BP: “It took until 1941 for a disabled
list similar to the one we have now to be instituted. Initially, only
two players could be on the disabled list at the same time, and they had
to spend at least 60 days on it. Teams were also restricted because
they could not place anyone on the disabled list after August 1.
In 1950, the amount of time players had to spend on the DL was reduced
to 30 days, which meant that the list was used more often. The length of
a trip to the DL has constantly evolved; there have been 10-, 15-, 21-,
30-, and 60-day versions. To make the varied lengths of disabled lists
even more confusing, the 30-day and 60-day versions were sometimes
called the emergency lists because of the severity of the injuries.
Prior to August 1990, teams were only allowed to have two players,
including only one pitcher, on the 15-day disabled list, three on the
21-day DL, and one on the 30-day DL.**
The 15-day disabled list first appeared in 1966. In 1984, the 10-day
disabled list was permanently dropped. In 1990, the 21-day disabled list
was dropped and the 60-day disabled list was added in place of the
30-day version. The limits to the number of players on the disabled list
were removed, but a few conditions needed to be met: the injury had to
be certified by a team physician and a Standard Form of Diagnosis had to
be submitted to the league.”
KT
Great Bunt!!
Anonymous
just woke up, good to see Puig was fit to play
Jeffrey Thomas III
Ok Luis prove us wrong.
KT
Come on walk
Jeffrey Thomas III
We’ll take it!
Anonymous
better than nothing!
KT
SKIPPY!!
Anonymous
There used to be an Australian TV show called Skippy. It was about a kangaroo who was trained and would save a kid from all sorts of dangers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFHtc_bDXWA
Linkmeister
There’s a long-time left-leaning blogger in California who calls his blog “Skippy the Bush Kangaroo.” http://xnerg.blogspot.com/
Anonymous
Cool
Anonymous
Bad – could/should have been more, Good – Minor has racked up 31 pitches already
Anonymous
that’s better, more strikeouts, less walks
Jeffrey Thomas III
Nice catch!
Adam Luther
What’s our record on this home stand?
Jeffrey Thomas III
4-2
Adam Luther
Thanks! 8-2 or 7-3 would be nice.
Jeffrey Thomas III
That’s also 4-2 in the Puig era ;)
Anonymous
Move him over Matt
KT
worked anyway…watch for the IBB
Anonymous
He got there anyway!
KT
Good play by Freeman to rob Punto of an extra base hit and rbi
KT
need two here
KT
STOP SIGN!!
Adam Luther
Wow – “respect the arm” and that’s why Mattingly has to keep Puig in RF.
Anonymous
a great arm is very useful in CF as well
Jeffrey Thomas III
That error really hurt.
Jeffrey Thomas III
Ok now it REALLY hurts.
Anonymous
Errors have hurt us a lot this year
Adam Luther
Should have been out of the inning!
Adam Luther
Ugg.
KT
Damn Gonzo
Anonymous
Ouch
Anonymous
Ugh-la…
Adam Luther
That was a veteran welcoming the rookie to MLB. He knew he’d been struggling with his pitches and he should have been out of the inning all runs unearned.
Linkmeister
Unearned runs or not, young Mr. Magill’s lack of control isn’t helping him. I suspect he needs more seasoning in the minors.
Jeffrey Thomas III
Magill’s struggles today are exactly why that error hurt so much. He needs all the help he can get from the defense.
Anonymous
Impressive defense by the Braves.
foul tip
Just now was able to check in, via Braves telecast. They point out that the Dodgers have more payroll on the DL than the entire payroll of 14 other MLB teams.
That certainly doesn’t excuse everything about this bust of a season thus far, but as also pointed out on their telecast, if the Dodgers got everybody back 7 or 7/12 games could be made up quick. (Course, everybody won’t be back.)
That assumes, of course, the bullpen doesn’t implode, the team can begin to hit with RISP, and the team doesn’t keep fielding like (insert apt comparison here if you feel so inclined). And if the starting pitching keeps doing the job most of the time.
Anonymous
Is that all :) So we are a chance then!
foul tip
Not that it’ll be a deciding factor today, but I share the bafflement @ Cruz hitting 5th. I share the bafflement Cruz is starting over Uribe, a clearly better option at this point. And if management above the Mattingly level doesn’t share this bafflement, I’d be further baffled.
Just color me baffled.
Jeffrey Thomas III
It’s fun not having a center fielder.
Linkmeister
Yeah, well, a rookie pitcher giving up six walks doesn’t help either.
Jeffrey Thomas III
Yes, Magill had a bad day, nobody is debating the fact.
KT
rewound and couldn’t tell if it hit the railing behind
Anonymous
Vinny says Kemp, too, has had a set-back. File that under, “What else is new?”
Anonymous
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/story/_/id/9358386/matt-kemp-los-angeles-dodgers-suffers-setback-recovery-hammy-strain
Anonymous
The Dodgers cannot win with these players. Health is a must.
Anonymous
If we said 2-2 for the series at the start, we would have taken it, if we said 2-2 after we won the first 2 games, we would have been disappointed
Anonymous
As we are.
More than just the record, it’s the fact that the offense has again disappeared.
And the injury news keeps getting worse.
Anonymous
Yes, i know we have had bullpen problems, but I think no offense and injuries sum up our season so far
KT
could have used that one with the bases loaded
Anonymous
I hate to say it, but……
….
I really have a hard time envisioning this club ever really getting any ‘traction’ and putting together any time of real ‘run’ towards the playoffs if they have to keep trotting a pitcher out there every other day who really shouldn’t be in the major leagues… and, if their lineup is consistently this riddled with utility / backup players.
….
bummer! :-/
Anonymous
Agreed — but I substitute making a run towards the playoffs with just reaching .500.
When I checked in today, it was terrible to see Magill gave up soo many runs . . . but worse is this lack of offense.
Still worse is the injury news about Hanley, Matt, and Andre . . . so unless Puig can be cloned incredibly fast, there’s no encouraging news for this anemic offense, which puts more pressure on the starting pitchers, much less the bullpen.
:(
Linkmeister
What’s really annoying is that the Yankees have had about the same run of injuries and population of the DL, they’re still down Jeter and A-Rod, and yet they’re fighting for first place. So we see articles wondering “how come the Yankees and their payroll can do it while the Dodgers with a similar payroll can not?”
Anonymous
Hey, I wish we could simply rely on the notion of…
“Where there’s a will, … there’s a way.”
….
However, if you watch pro sports long enough, you get a bit jaded, I suppose.
“Too far back in the standings” is 99% of the time, exactly that, as things turn out.
….
I’m just trying to come to grips with the fact that….
Unless some totally unforeseen, dramatic miracle comes to pass….
That this 2013 edition of the Dodgers will be nothing more than what we’ve seen over the last few seasons….
….
‘Lots of preseason anticipation, followed by six months of a handful of memorable, exciting Dodger moments carried out by a skeleton crew of players, adding up to mediocrity in the standings… and all graciously, and beautifully narrated by the one and only, Vin Scully.”
Anonymous
Yes, Bob…. I agree.
….
Funny thing…. doesn’t this seem to be the story of just about every year (especially with the pitching) for the last 3 or 4 seasons? (See below)
…..
Spring Training —> Season Start —> Dodgers’ fight uphill battle —> Mediocre
(lots of injuries)
“We’ll get ’em next year” quote seems to start earlier and earlier.
….
This is getting old.
KT
I must be a gluten for punishment…I just bought tickets to the 6/22 game here in SD…I think Kershaw is pitching
Anonymous
said to myself gluten is not the right spelling but what is?
glutton – Comes from Latin glutire, “to swallow.”
KT
thinking glutton typing gluten
KT
good catch SVS
KT
Puig 3-5
KT
Puig update .464/.483/.964
KT
Good afternoon all
Anonymous
Good morning from me! (Monday looks more promising already) :)
KT
Good clayton is pitching
Anonymous
My head tells me to accept that this year is not our year, again. My heart continues to whisper, “But, but, but…”
Anonymous
Some players then need to start moving their butt, butt, butt
Anonymous
Thanks. I needed that laugh!
KT
.
Anonymous
Dodgers farm team the Loons has had trouble scoring all season averaging less than 4 runs per game 15th out of 16 in scoring. They went 4-21 in one stretch. Recently after going 0-7 (not part of the 4-21) they are 4-0 by a total score of 40-6.
Anonymous
Are you saying there’s hope?
Anonymous
The current Dodger owners have far more tolerance than I. I would most definitely fire Mattingly, Colletti, and the medical staff. It is a certainty that all three have contributed to the massive failure we’ve had this year. Some player personnel changes are in order too. Or are they shooting for a high draft pick next year????
Anonymous
I also want to put in a request for new Dodger baseball gods…
Anonymous
I hate to defend Colletti but why didn’t you tell us this year would be a massive failure in April?
You should have contacted ownership to tell them their marketing slogan would soon be taken ironically.
Anonymous
On the post game show, I could have sworn that I heard a guy refer to, among other things, “fake DL assignments” as one of the frustrations of this early season….. (I could have heard wrong, so I”m putting that out there, but I could have sworn that’s what I heard) …. as he asserted that these players are, in effect, ‘holding the organization hostage.’
….
My points are these…..
…..
1. When I criticized the medical staff on this blog, I received some snarky comments. After all, nobody likes a ‘conspiracy theorist’…. right?
2. We’ve had all kinds of scandals in this game over the years: steriods, gambling, etc…..
Why not a new one to throw out there? (as Ron Burgundy might say) …
…
Players–> some ‘guaranteed’ contract $ to medical staff–> Authorized DL (paid vactation) time!
….
This time allows them to enjoy life on the company dime, after all, look how many times they had to ‘sell out’ in order to get that money in the first place…..and, it also extends their career as it lowers the rate at which that arm or those legs acrue mileage. It’s the MLB answer to a ‘guaranteed higher degree of career longevity’ ….
:-)
I’ll stop to avoid a rule #8 violation, as I’ve made this point in a few other ways in the past.
Sorry Jon.
Anonymous
PS – Read up on the MLB players pension plan, if you have any questions on their potential motivation…..
Anonymous
I would enjoy your posts more if there was even more white space and fewer letters.
btw you have never accused anyone of committing a crime before that I remember and I think I would remember that.
Anonymous
I’ll …………..see…………what ………….I ………….can……………do,…………Mike!
:-)
Anonymous
BetteryetI’llseewhatIcandomike!:-)sorry,justmessin’withya.
Anonymous
I think I remember like Mike that your previous posts on the medical staff seemed to question their competence as a reason for the myriad of injuries, whereas this post suggests a crime is being committed. Now, there is a notion that GM’s try to use the DL option somewhat freely in order to facilitate roster moves, but what you are suggesting is that the players and medical staff are putting one over on the organization. We don’t have access to the evidence as it were, but looking at the DL list are there some that you feel might fit into your new theory?
Anonymous
Perhaps… but, I was just taking what I thought I heard from the guy on Dodger Talk and kind of expounding upon that notion…. So, the origin of my thought isn’t that ‘organic.’
I just found it interesting how he used the phrase, “holding the team hostage”….
…
On a side note: When I was getting out of bed this morning, and I walked down the hall by the office…. I looked at the computer, and asked myself, “What the heck was that I typed last night?” – If Ned and management feel the players are being less than truthful with them, then it’s up to them to handle it. Not for me to ‘pop off’ about it.
So, just consider it something I ‘floated’ out there, but am not willing to ‘die on my sword’ for it. :-)
Anonymous
BTW – I knew a guy who was a bat boy for the Angels in college, and he said that all kinds of money floats between the players and the ancillary staff.
…
For instance, the players would frequently give him cash for running errands for them, getting chicks’ numbers (chicks in the stands), arranging for meals, movies, entertainment, etc.
Anonymous
as if this has any connection to your slanderous accusations of bribery and taking salary but not doing the job due to being bribed; both felonies
Anonymous
Agree, “holding the team hostage” is a strange turn of phrase.
Anonymous
I have no doubt that Ned is being just as “truthful” with the players.
Anonymous
The 1963 World Series replica ring is a lot heftier than I would have imagined. I was expecting a fairly cheap plastic piece of crap.
Anonymous
I agree!
KT
Los Angeles Dodgers @Dodgers 35m
Yasiel Puig has been named the National League Player of the Week! pic.twitter.com/gLjLklVhDw
Who else was even close
foul tip
To paraphrase a certain well known pro football writer, 2 things I think I think after Sunday–
1) If what AJ Ellis and maybe Mattingly and others have said about Magill’s makeup is accurate, he’ll be back, tho likely not soon. The Braves didn’t exactly tatoo him early. Braves’ broadcasters described him as “effectively wild” then. Of course, why swing when the opposing pitcher is issuing plenty of get out of the batter’s box and take first free passes? (How’s that for a long-winded way to say “walks”?) Anyway, based on what I’ve seen and ST he has a live arm, along with absolutely no idea where the ball is going. In yesterday’s game story he said he was missing by feet, not inches.
2) Also from Braves broadcasters….talk about Puig liking the ball away because he likes to dive into pitches, implying that pitchers may start working him more inside. Guess we’ll see. But good luck to any pitcher who aims inside and misses over the plate. He’s likely to be asking for a new ball.
Anonymous
I think we’re going to see more of Dee Gordon this year. Apparently the club is expanding his defensive parameters, both infield and outfield. I know some of you have said if he can’t hit enough to play at short, he can’t play anywhere. Well, I suppose he could pitch… Your contentions are valid as an everyday player but is that true if you compare him to a versatile bench player like Hairston or Punto or Schumacher? What are their averages likely to be at the end of the season? That would seem to be the standard he has to meet.
Anonymous
The standard he would have to meet is Justin Sellers, who was recalled today. I’m not sure he’s going to set the world on fire either. I can’t see why either would be in the Dodgers’ long-term plans.
Anonymous
Yeah, they’re not old and decrepit enough to interest Ned.
Anonymous
So who went down, Hanley or McGill?
Jeffrey Thomas III
Magill.
KT
matt
KT
Dodgers lineup:
Punto SS
Ellis 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Puig RF
Hairston LF
Ethier CF
Uribe 3B
Federowicz C
Kershaw P
Anonymous
Lethal! (or about as close as we get to it these days).
Anonymous
Think I would prefer Puig third, Agon fourth.
Anonymous
Sure, but takes a big swing to get him home, no?
Anonymous
Seriously, Kershaw hitting 8th? He’s got better numbers than Fedex or Ethier at this point.
Anonymous
Does anybody know what Kemp is doing while on the DL?
Watching video, hitting off a tee, hitting to right field, etc.
Anonymous
Well, we was running…
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/story/_/id/9358386/matt-kemp-los-angeles-dodgers-suffers-setback-recovery-hammy-strain
Jeffrey Thomas III
Sellers being called up and Hanley being left out of the line up again are not good signs. Looks like Hanley could have himself another DL stint on the horizon.
Anonymous
Might have preferred another catcher, but the Isotopes are down to two themselves!
Jeffrey Thomas III
Now they’re saying Hanely won’t go to DL but will miss another 4 or 5 days. I hope he’s actually ready then.