Random Thoughts Going Into Game 75 of 2015
We are up just one game above the Giants. It will be a “pennant race” with the Giants all season. I suppose now we call it a “division race”.
If the season ended today, the Pirates and the Cubs would be the Wild Card winners. That makes our division race all the more important.
Giants are hosting the Rockies while we are visiting the Marlins. A sweep of the Marlins sure would be sweet.
We split the four game series with the Cubs. Does that prove we can beat a team that is above .500? Or does it prove nothing, because it was just a tie?
The only offensive player that is hot right now is Justin Turner. Everyone else has gone cold. Gonzalez has awoken recently, but he has had a bad June. Pederson forgot how to hit home runs after his five game streak. A couple recently.
Do we have a true lead off hitter? Somebody with a good OBP? Someone who can steal a base? Oh yeah, I guess not.
How long before Brett Anderson’s arm gives out?
Who will we be able to get in a major trade to shore up the starting pitcher rotation? Who will we have to trade away?
Will Corey Seager be coming up soon? His OPS at AAA Oklahoma City is now .807 in 206 plate appearances. His fielding percentage at shortstop is .968 in 188 chances at shortstop.
Is the bullpen starting to coalesce around Nicasio and Howell as the set-up men?
Would you trade Howie Kendrick straight up for Dee Gordon? Would the Marlins make that trade?
Do you like the super-short paragraphs? Or do you hate them, because they remind you of the poor writers at the LA Times?
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Outside the Dodgers 
Oh geez, we’re going up against another Lefty today, Nicolino.
I noticed the lefty thing….even though we lucked out yesterday, I don’t want to try it again. The runs we scored were mostly by the regulars….and, we still didn’t hit much later in the game.
I guess we are 5-8 against lefties including yesterday. If I was an opposing manager, I’d shift around my rotation to throw a maximum number of lefty starters against the Dodgers. Heck, I’d even bring up a AAA Lefty for a spot start.
I like your thread 🙂 I also think we will be getting a starting pitcher. They keep saying Seager isn’t coming yet….however, we didn’t think Puig would be coming a while back. As for Dee….I’m not a big fan of him He really faltered after the All Star game….Howie is okay …. his defense is awesome.
Thanks. I agree on Howie – I wish his bat would wake up. Maybe yesterday’s double was a good sign.
If and when Brett Anderson makes it through the second inning tonight, his innings pitched this season will be the highest season total since 2010, when he was 22 years old.
Pedro Baez is off the DL. Another solid piece to the bullpen squad. Jansen – ninth inning (but not today), Nicasio and/or Howell – eighth inning, Baez/Peralta – seventh inning.
Lineup
Pederson CF
Kendrick 2B
Turner 3B
Gonzalez 1B
Van Slyke RF
Guerrero LF
Rollins SS
Ellis C
Anderson P
I’m actually shocked that Donnie is playing Gonzalez and Pederson against the lefty. But I’m happy. But notice there’s no Ethier.
After three days of not playing, I’ve just got to ask – how exactly did Puig get a blister on his palm?
I really don’t care if he plays or not….wish Dre could have a full game against a lefty.
Great story about how Turner improved his hitting skill. Side note in this story is that Pederson worked together with Turner last off season.
http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/132701636/secret-behind-justin-turners-big-breakout
Interesting question about Dee Gordon. Clearly the Dodgers lack a decent lead off hitter but one could argue Dee wasn’t really all that good as a lead off hitter when he wore Dodger Blue. Vinny refers to some players as being a “pest” and when was the last time the Dodgers had such a player? Brett Butler? Perhaps the Dodgers were wrong in trading Dee, perhaps not. Let’s see what happens the remainder of the season before we decide.
I think I’d make the trade for Gordon right now if I had the opportunity, if it was up to me. I think, but I hope I’m wrong, that the Dodgers will regret letting him go.
That said, I like Kendrick and he’s one of the team leaders.
Dodgers are dead last in the MLB (30 teams) in stolen bases. Dodgers have 14, the next worst team is the White Sox with 22. The Reds lead the MLB with 73, and of course, leading the Reds is Billy Hamilton with 36.
…..annnnnnnnnnnd that’s how you manufacture a run.
Scott Van Slyke getting two back with a 2 run HR! Dodgers take the lead! Woo hoo!
Now that’s odd two guys picked off in the same inning.
Timely hitting by Rollins (with the bases loaded) scores two more runs!
Wow! Brett Anderson with a crucial insurance RBI! 5-1!
But, now his pitching has gone to pot!
If it’s in the park, Joc gets it.
IDK what’s gotten into Anderson, but I like it. 10 K’s tells me he must have eaten his Wheaties this morning.
He was great tonight!
Outstanding!!
Welcome back Pedro Baez!
The last 10 Marlin outs were strikeouts for a total of 16.
WOW! I didn’t get to watch the game as I was working – thanks for pointing this out OBF! That’s pretty amazing!
Good job Boys!
I like the way Pedro Baez came off the DL by striking out the side. Almost as awesome as Kenley Jansen coming back and striking out four batters in his first inning off the DL.
Nice Post. Nice Win. Our 3, 4,5 pitchers come with wins, now if we can get some run support for 1 and 2 maybe this team can separate from the gnats. I liked Dee, he put some excitement in the game, when he got on, but that is the qualifier, when he got on?
That trade took Haren and gordon to get a talented pitching prospect, and then we flipped him to get Kendrick, somebody is very high on Kendrick, and I have nothing bad to say about him.
Here is my question of the day: Will AJ actually start two games in a row, especially with brother Clayton starting today?
Actually, it may be three in a row…he started the last game in Chicago (Frias was pitching) so, I’ll bet he will start with Kersh on the mound. Then again, who knows what Donnie will do?!
Guess AJ is out today….here’s the lineup:
Joc,cf
Howie, 2b
Justin, 3b
Adrian, 1b
Dre, rf
Yas, c
Alex, lf
Jimmy, ss
Kersh, p
It was nice to wake up this morning to find out that the Giants lost and we have a two game lead. Now I know we can’t fall out of first place this weekend. The worse that can happen would be the two teams would be tied.
It’s a comfortable feeling, isn’t it?
Not comfortable enough but I will take it. However, it does make every game feel so much more exciting with the teams so close in the standings.
Another good outing by Anderson and the pen, plus the bats appear to be coming out of the deep freeze. I’ll still want to see what the standings are like at the end of the trip, but we have weathered the storm.
Interesting article about Dee Gordon in the L.A. Times this morning. Dee seems happy with the trade and makes some telling comments about how he thinks his base stealing would be hampered by the current Dodger lineup, and even commented about not wanting to take a chance last year by taking the bat out of the hands of Agon, Puig, etc. So my question: Billy Hamilton and Dee steal bases (and Dee has been caught 10 times this season) but how much has this helped their respective teams? Granted, their teams have not done well not because of these players but because overall the teams are struggling. Stats can tell only so much of a story. I still believe the analytical guys place little value on stolen bases and yet we all know a stolen base at the right time can be crucial. Just the threat of stealing a base can change the way a pitcher faces the hitter. But then again Anderson picked off two runners in the same inning yesterday, perhaps costing the Marlins runs. Managing a big league team certainly has its challenges.
The Dodgers certainly don’t seem built to steal bases…but the suicide squeeze is a play Tommy used to much success. R. J. Reynolds, anyone? I’d like to see Mattingly gamble a bit more and use it, especially with this team struggling to manufacture runs. Donnie’s like a guy with a Ferrari driving 50 mph in the slow lane. Guess what? A suicide squeeze might fail. But that’s what makes baseball fun. Donnie ball is boring ball.
I agree, but I think they should also try to steal some bases a little more often. It would add some variety to the offense. Mix it up a little. OR are they just going to use the steal as a surprise? It’ll surprise everyone including us. I know they haven’t been too successful lately, but they can’t be that bad.
Totally agree. If you don’t have guys to steal bases there are so many other little things that can be done on the base paths. Just always standing around waiting for a bomb rarely results in success.
Again I want to point out that against Kersh the opposing team doesn’t sit all their regulars that are left handed hitters.
WTG..KERSH
Turner forced the Dodgers to make him an almost everyday player out him but as much as I like Justin, I agree he poses a challenge to how management seems to think.
Of more concern to me today is once again Kershaw is behind in a close low scoring game having to exert a lot of energy to keep the opposition from scoring more runs.
He’s been good especially when his back has been against the wall – the D has let him down.
Another game lost started by Kershaw or Grienke. This is a disturbing trend, especially because those guys are pitching well.
Just got to keep trying. Another game tomorrow. Good luck to the Rockies.
From the bizarro world–starting pitching won/loss record:
Kershaw 5-6
Greinke 5-2
Anderson 4-4
Bolsinger 4-2
Frias 5-5
This is shaping up to be a weird season.
Got to keep that lead today.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
That helps.
Just a little.
My boy made an awesome catch!
Everyday Dre flashing the leather!
Yes, Very nice catch.
Greinke ERA 1.58
Awesome job Zack and Crew…..now, on to Arizona.
Dodgers were 0-9 with RISP, but we won, that’s all that counts.
The best way for Zach to get a win todY is to throw a shutout. The lack of offense continues to be a big problem.
You can say that again.
Right now the team is getting good to excellent pitching from the starters and pen, which is where the wins are coming from. lbirk and oldbrooklyn have already pointed out the offense as a whole is not getting it done.