The Dodgers found themselves up against one of the most dominant pitchers in the history of baseball on Thursday night. He's an overpowering presence with stuff that is practically unhittable. Any team would be lucky just to crack the scoreboard against him.
Actually, it was Brian Burres of the Pirates, a guy who entered the game with 14 career wins and a 9.31 ERA this season.
It may as well have been Cy Young out there, as Burres and two other relievers completely shut the Dodgers down. Clayton Kershaw tried, but the Pirates took an early 2-0 all the way to the end for the win. The Pirates have now won three of four from the Dodgers already this year.
To say the Dodgers didn't provide the spark they needed would be an understatement. Their offense put together four measly hits (only one for extra bases) and four walks. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that with zero runs, they were all stranded.
The first inning could not possibly have gone any worse for Matt Kemp. Fresh off of some hefty criticism from Ned Colletti, Kemp let a single bounce all the way by him for a two-run "triple" for the game's only runs. I say "triple" only because it should have been an error, no doubt. For whatever reason, it wasn't.
It's not like the Dodgers never had any chances to score, because they did. In the third, Blake DeWitt singled and went to third on a Garrett "Matt Kemp" Jones error in right (yes, Jones let the ball bounce by him as well). Kershaw then took a walk for two on and one out.
Russell Martin then came up, and things were looking good. Then Kershaw got gunned out trying to get to second on a passed ball. So things were looking bad. Then Martin grounded out. So things were looking dead and gone.
In the fifth, Kemp and Andre Ethier hit back-to-back singles with one out, and Ethier went to second as Kemp advanced to third. Casey Blake struck out, but James Loney walked. With the bases loaded and two down, Jamey Carroll grounded out to end the inning.
The Dodgers again had runners in scoring position in the sixth. Walks to Ethier and Blake with one out gave them hope, but two groundouts put that threat to bed.
That's really all there is to say about this game. Kershaw's final line was 6 1/3 innings, three hits, two runs, four walks, and seven strikeouts. But, as has been his problem his entire brief career, he threw WAY too many pitches at 117. He opened the game with consecutive free passes, so the high pitch count isn't a surprise.
As for the offense, it was another case of coming up short in big situations. Remember how they were tops in the league with an average over .300? Ya, it's down to .273 now. It was unrealistic to expect them to hit over .300 like that, but they've still crashed and burned pretty hard lately.
With all due respect to the teams they're playing, it's the Dodgers who are their own worst enemy right now. Walks, baserunning blunders, bad defense, terrible hitting with men on - it's all gone wrong. And when it rains, it pours.
It's up to Chad Billingsley to get the Dodgers back on track tonight, as he's coming off his best start of the season in Washington. Of course, he took the loss 1-0. So, maybe it's not up to Bills, it's up to his offense to back him up.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Colletti has seen enough
In case you didn't hear, Ned Colletti is really MAD! He recently went on KABC Radio on Tuesday morning and ripped his team a new one. Here are some of the highlights (bolded words are the more interesting ones):
After reading these comments, my first reaction was that Colletti's heart was in the right place. I think it's not necessarily a bad thing that he refuses to sit back and act like everything is OK. Since he's not known as a guy that will bash people in public, you have to listen up when he actually does.
But, I find the Kemp bashing to be a little odd. Maybe Colletti is just trying to light a fire under him, as his defense has taken some criticism this year. And let's face it, he's never been the smartest guy on the basepaths.
Still, I think Colletti would be better off talking about the pitching, which has been atrocious. Last I checked, Kemp isn't a pitcher. There's only a few pitchers who have performed well (Broxton, Kershaw, Kuroda, and Monasterios). The rest range from terrible to downright embarrassing.
So instead of calling out Kemp, I think Colletti should've talked about the need for the team as a whole to play with more fire. When frustration sets in, lots of things are said that could have been avoided, and that may be the case here.
Then again, if Kemp starts playing a better all-around game, and the Dodgers start beating teams they're supposed to, maybe we'll look back at these comments and be happy they were made.
- "I grabbed a couple of players one-on-one and let them know I'm not satisfied with their approach. It's not an easy game, and when you think you've mastered it and you can take it easy and walk to your position and not hustle, the game catches up to you. And some guys think they're better than they are and they think the opposition will roll over and get beat by them. That just doesn't happen."
- "We lost two of three to Cincinnati, we lost two of three to Washington, we lost two of three to Pittsburgh. No offense to those clubs, but we're better than they are. It's frustrating."
- "It's below average. The baserunning is below average, the defense is below average. Why is it? Because he got a new deal? I can't tell you."
- "If this was the last day of the season and you were voting for Gold Glove, his name would not be on the ballot.
After reading these comments, my first reaction was that Colletti's heart was in the right place. I think it's not necessarily a bad thing that he refuses to sit back and act like everything is OK. Since he's not known as a guy that will bash people in public, you have to listen up when he actually does.
But, I find the Kemp bashing to be a little odd. Maybe Colletti is just trying to light a fire under him, as his defense has taken some criticism this year. And let's face it, he's never been the smartest guy on the basepaths.
Still, I think Colletti would be better off talking about the pitching, which has been atrocious. Last I checked, Kemp isn't a pitcher. There's only a few pitchers who have performed well (Broxton, Kershaw, Kuroda, and Monasterios). The rest range from terrible to downright embarrassing.
So instead of calling out Kemp, I think Colletti should've talked about the need for the team as a whole to play with more fire. When frustration sets in, lots of things are said that could have been avoided, and that may be the case here.
Then again, if Kemp starts playing a better all-around game, and the Dodgers start beating teams they're supposed to, maybe we'll look back at these comments and be happy they were made.
Embarrassing road trip ends with another loss
I guess playing the Reds, Nationals, and Mets was not the recipe for success the Dodgers thought it would be.
The Mets completed a three-game sweep of the Dodgers today by winning 7-3. With the loss, the Dodgers completed their nine-game trip with a pathetic 2-7 record. They now stand at 8-13, dead last in the NL West.
Make no mistake about it, the Dodgers are a bad team right now.
After losing Tuesday's doubleheader by a combined score of 14-5, you would think the Dodgers would try to scratch and claw their way to a victory today. Instead, they fell behind 4-0 after two innings, and once again looked completely lost.
With a tired starting staff and bullpen (except for Jonathan Broxton, who never gets to pitch because the rest of the team can't get the damn ball to him), John Ely was called upon to make his first start in the bigs. Along with Jon Link, Ely was part of the Juan Pierre trade this past offseason.
In the second, David Wright doubled to lead off and Ike Davis singled for two on. A fielder's choice grounder by Jeff Francoeur made it 1-0. Rod Barajas was then beaned, and John Maine sacrificed both runners into scoring position.
With two down, Ely needed a big out, but didn't get one. Instead, Angel Pagan hit a two-run triple, and Alex Cora an RBI double to make it 4-0.
The Dodgers got one back in the third, though it was by luck. Jamey Carroll hit an infield single to start, and two outs later found himself on third. An error by Jose Reyes off the bat of Matt Kemp allowed Carroll to score, and it was 4-1.
Francoeur's RBI double in the bottom of the third got that run right back. About the only sign of life from the Dodgers came from Russell Martin in the fifth, who hit leadoff today and uncorked a two-run homer, putting the score at 5-3.
That's as close as it would get on this day, as Ronald Belisario couldn't hold the score as is in the seventh. RBIs from Jason Bay and Davis put the game away at 7-3. Francisco Rodriguez gave up a couple of hits in the ninth, but struck out the side to end the game.
I'm glad the Dodgers don't return to the East Coast until mid-June, because they don't look like they have much of a clue right now. They've lost two of three in Pittsburgh, Florida, Cincinnati, and Washington, and lost all three in New York. That's good for a 4-11 road record. And that's just horrible.
Their offense has tanked, and the pitching and defense have been lousy all year. The GM is ripping the team, and the manager preaches patience. It doesn't matter who you want to blame, the bottom line is that the Dodgers have no identity right now, and are in desperate need of someone to step up and lead the way.
I also don't find this much of a coincidence that they're 1-5 since Manny Ramirez went on the DL. Manny's presence in the lineup has obviously had a trickle-down effect, and suddenly the team that had the top offense looks pretty ordinary. True, Manny has nothing to do with the pitching, but the team as a whole doesn't look the same.
All the Dodgers can do now is go home and put together one win at a time. Yes, it's a tired sports cliche, but in this case it works because the Dodgers aren't favored against anybody at this point. They've got the Pirates at home for four, the same team that beat them two of three to start the season.
Clayton Kershaw gets the ball tomorrow, and that's a good thing. He still throws way too many pitches, but has lowered his ERA by over a run in his last two starts.
The Mets completed a three-game sweep of the Dodgers today by winning 7-3. With the loss, the Dodgers completed their nine-game trip with a pathetic 2-7 record. They now stand at 8-13, dead last in the NL West.
Make no mistake about it, the Dodgers are a bad team right now.
After losing Tuesday's doubleheader by a combined score of 14-5, you would think the Dodgers would try to scratch and claw their way to a victory today. Instead, they fell behind 4-0 after two innings, and once again looked completely lost.
With a tired starting staff and bullpen (except for Jonathan Broxton, who never gets to pitch because the rest of the team can't get the damn ball to him), John Ely was called upon to make his first start in the bigs. Along with Jon Link, Ely was part of the Juan Pierre trade this past offseason.
In the second, David Wright doubled to lead off and Ike Davis singled for two on. A fielder's choice grounder by Jeff Francoeur made it 1-0. Rod Barajas was then beaned, and John Maine sacrificed both runners into scoring position.
With two down, Ely needed a big out, but didn't get one. Instead, Angel Pagan hit a two-run triple, and Alex Cora an RBI double to make it 4-0.
The Dodgers got one back in the third, though it was by luck. Jamey Carroll hit an infield single to start, and two outs later found himself on third. An error by Jose Reyes off the bat of Matt Kemp allowed Carroll to score, and it was 4-1.
Francoeur's RBI double in the bottom of the third got that run right back. About the only sign of life from the Dodgers came from Russell Martin in the fifth, who hit leadoff today and uncorked a two-run homer, putting the score at 5-3.
That's as close as it would get on this day, as Ronald Belisario couldn't hold the score as is in the seventh. RBIs from Jason Bay and Davis put the game away at 7-3. Francisco Rodriguez gave up a couple of hits in the ninth, but struck out the side to end the game.
I'm glad the Dodgers don't return to the East Coast until mid-June, because they don't look like they have much of a clue right now. They've lost two of three in Pittsburgh, Florida, Cincinnati, and Washington, and lost all three in New York. That's good for a 4-11 road record. And that's just horrible.
Their offense has tanked, and the pitching and defense have been lousy all year. The GM is ripping the team, and the manager preaches patience. It doesn't matter who you want to blame, the bottom line is that the Dodgers have no identity right now, and are in desperate need of someone to step up and lead the way.
I also don't find this much of a coincidence that they're 1-5 since Manny Ramirez went on the DL. Manny's presence in the lineup has obviously had a trickle-down effect, and suddenly the team that had the top offense looks pretty ordinary. True, Manny has nothing to do with the pitching, but the team as a whole doesn't look the same.
All the Dodgers can do now is go home and put together one win at a time. Yes, it's a tired sports cliche, but in this case it works because the Dodgers aren't favored against anybody at this point. They've got the Pirates at home for four, the same team that beat them two of three to start the season.
Clayton Kershaw gets the ball tomorrow, and that's a good thing. He still throws way too many pitches, but has lowered his ERA by over a run in his last two starts.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Rain forces doubleheader on Tuesday
Monday night's game between the Dodgers and Mets in Citi Field has been rained out. If you live in New York like me, it's been raining since Sunday, so it's no surprise.
Both teams will play two on Tuesday, starting at 4:10 ET. The Dodgers will throw Hiroki Kuroda and Charlie Haeger, and the Mets counter with Johan Santana and Oliver Perez.
Tuesday's game was originally supposed to be a mystery as far as the starting pitcher was concerned. Since Haeger has volunteered to pitch, the next mystery will be who pitches on Wednesday. According to the Dodgers' official website, the candidates are all minor leaguers: Jesus Castillo (Double-A), Josh Towers (Triple-A), and Scott Elbert (Triple-A).
Both teams will play two on Tuesday, starting at 4:10 ET. The Dodgers will throw Hiroki Kuroda and Charlie Haeger, and the Mets counter with Johan Santana and Oliver Perez.
Tuesday's game was originally supposed to be a mystery as far as the starting pitcher was concerned. Since Haeger has volunteered to pitch, the next mystery will be who pitches on Wednesday. According to the Dodgers' official website, the candidates are all minor leaguers: Jesus Castillo (Double-A), Josh Towers (Triple-A), and Scott Elbert (Triple-A).
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Billingsley rebounds, but Dodgers lose a close one
Chad Billingsley finally stepped up and pitched the kind of game people have been waiting to see. After giving up a run in the first, he shut the Nationals down for the next five innings, striking out five along the way.
Too bad the offense didn't have his back.
The Dodgers didn't capitalize at all when men would reach base, and the Nationals held on for the narrow win, 1-0. With the loss, the Dodgers dropped two of three in Washington, and are now 2-4 on the current road trip.
On paper, this looked like anything but the pitcher's duel that it turned into. Billingsley and Scott Olsen each had horrible ERA's entering Sunday afternoon's game, and one would think that the bats would make plenty of noise.
During the first inning, both teams had plenty of chances to score. Russell Martin, Matt Kemp, and James Loney all singled to center with one down. Casey Blake came up, and he was coming off a two-homer game the day before. The good vibes didn't carry over to today, as he struck out. Ronnie Belliard popped out to center, and a big scoring chance was flushed down the drain.
Nyjer Morgan began things for the Nationals with a single. Adam Kennedy then took a walk, and Christian Guzman laid down a nice bunt to get them both over. Adam Dunn ripped one to Belliard, who had to make a diving catch just to get the out and only one run.
That would be it for the scoring on this day, as both pitchers did a nice job of keeping their team in the game. The Dodgers actually put a runner on in innings 4-7, but couldn't get the big hit. Andre Ethier had the day off, but pinch-hit in the seventh and grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Matt Capps came on once again for the Nationals to try and nail down the save. Loney led off with a double, and the Dodgers were in business. But, like every other inning, they failed to get anything done. Blake, Belliard, and Garret Anderson all recorded easy outs to end the game.
I'll look at the positive here, and it was definitely Billingsley. He came into this game with a 7.07 ERA, and left with a 5.40 ERA. He took the loss, but it wasn't his fault by any means. With Vicente Padilla hurt, the Dodgers really needed Bills to get back on track, and he started to do that today.
While the offense was sizzling coming into this series, they only scored five runs in three games. Manny Ramirez did not appear in any of them, as he's on the 15-day DL. It's not hard to figure out just how valuable he is to the offense as a whole. Take his presence out of there, and opposing pitchers are more confident in getting the job done.
Next up is a three-game series in New York, rounding out the road trip. The Mets are an average team like the Dodgers are now, so it's an even matchup. Hiroki Kuroda will go in the first game against Oliver Perez.
Too bad the offense didn't have his back.
The Dodgers didn't capitalize at all when men would reach base, and the Nationals held on for the narrow win, 1-0. With the loss, the Dodgers dropped two of three in Washington, and are now 2-4 on the current road trip.
On paper, this looked like anything but the pitcher's duel that it turned into. Billingsley and Scott Olsen each had horrible ERA's entering Sunday afternoon's game, and one would think that the bats would make plenty of noise.
During the first inning, both teams had plenty of chances to score. Russell Martin, Matt Kemp, and James Loney all singled to center with one down. Casey Blake came up, and he was coming off a two-homer game the day before. The good vibes didn't carry over to today, as he struck out. Ronnie Belliard popped out to center, and a big scoring chance was flushed down the drain.
Nyjer Morgan began things for the Nationals with a single. Adam Kennedy then took a walk, and Christian Guzman laid down a nice bunt to get them both over. Adam Dunn ripped one to Belliard, who had to make a diving catch just to get the out and only one run.
That would be it for the scoring on this day, as both pitchers did a nice job of keeping their team in the game. The Dodgers actually put a runner on in innings 4-7, but couldn't get the big hit. Andre Ethier had the day off, but pinch-hit in the seventh and grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Matt Capps came on once again for the Nationals to try and nail down the save. Loney led off with a double, and the Dodgers were in business. But, like every other inning, they failed to get anything done. Blake, Belliard, and Garret Anderson all recorded easy outs to end the game.
I'll look at the positive here, and it was definitely Billingsley. He came into this game with a 7.07 ERA, and left with a 5.40 ERA. He took the loss, but it wasn't his fault by any means. With Vicente Padilla hurt, the Dodgers really needed Bills to get back on track, and he started to do that today.
While the offense was sizzling coming into this series, they only scored five runs in three games. Manny Ramirez did not appear in any of them, as he's on the 15-day DL. It's not hard to figure out just how valuable he is to the offense as a whole. Take his presence out of there, and opposing pitchers are more confident in getting the job done.
Next up is a three-game series in New York, rounding out the road trip. The Mets are an average team like the Dodgers are now, so it's an even matchup. Hiroki Kuroda will go in the first game against Oliver Perez.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Add Padilla to the DL with a sore forearm
Vicente Padilla is the latest Dodger to hit the 15-day DL. He has a sore right forearm, something that he first complained about back in Spring Training.
The beginning of the season was downright awful for Padilla, who was given the Opening Day start in Pittsburgh, then got bombed for seven runs in 4 1/3 innings. His next start in Florida was terrible as well, but he's coming off of two pretty good starts.
His stuff has looked pretty good, so even when he was getting torched, I thought he'd be able to turn it around. His last two starts against the Giants and Reds have combined for 13 innings, six earned runs, and 15 strikeouts. So I thought he was figuring things out. Now this happens.
In his place is supposed to be Jon Link. Since he was just sent down to Triple-A, he hasn't fulfilled the required 10 days to come back up. But, if the Dodgers are given permission since he's replacing an injured player, he'll be the one.
The bigger question will be who makes Padilla's next scheduled start in New York on Tuesday. Jeff Weaver is also hurt, so perhaps Scott Elbert will get recalled. We shall see.
The beginning of the season was downright awful for Padilla, who was given the Opening Day start in Pittsburgh, then got bombed for seven runs in 4 1/3 innings. His next start in Florida was terrible as well, but he's coming off of two pretty good starts.
His stuff has looked pretty good, so even when he was getting torched, I thought he'd be able to turn it around. His last two starts against the Giants and Reds have combined for 13 innings, six earned runs, and 15 strikeouts. So I thought he was figuring things out. Now this happens.
In his place is supposed to be Jon Link. Since he was just sent down to Triple-A, he hasn't fulfilled the required 10 days to come back up. But, if the Dodgers are given permission since he's replacing an injured player, he'll be the one.
The bigger question will be who makes Padilla's next scheduled start in New York on Tuesday. Jeff Weaver is also hurt, so perhaps Scott Elbert will get recalled. We shall see.
Martin's single gives Dodgers the win in 13
Russell Martin's error led to the tying run in the eighth, but his RBI single in the 13th lifted the Dodgers over the Nationals, 4-3. Basically, it was the typical formula of the hitting outperforming the defense and bullpen to get the win.
It was a bit of a wild game with pretty good starting pitching, plenty of hits, and lots of baserunning blunders. Fortunately for the Dodgers, the Nationals seemed determined to screw up on the bases and give away outs.
Ian Desmond's one-out triple in the first was the game's first hit. He scored a batter later on an RBI groundout from Christian Guzman.
Casey Blake was involved in a lot of big plays today, and it all started for him in the second. James Loney singled with one down. Blake then hit a two-run homer, his second of the season, making it 2-1.
One of the big mistakes on the bases from the Nationals cost them in the sixth. The starting pitcher, Craig Stammen, hit an RBI single to tie the game at two. Nyjer Morgan then hit one over Xavier Paul's head in left, but got gunned out trying to get a triple out of it. Stammen didn't cross home plate in time, so it remained tied.
Blake continued his hot day at the plate with a solo shot in the seventh, his second of the day, making it 3-2. Once again, he's quietly putting together a good year with a .316 average, and great defense at third.
The game was then turned over to the bullpen, and you can probably guess that it would be an adventure one way or another. And it was. Hong-Chih Kuo and Ronald Belisario combined to hold the Nats scoreless in the seventh, but it wasn't easy. Rafael Furcal had an error, but the Nationals ran into an out when Desmond was tagged out at home.
Ramon Troncoso came in next inning, and gave up a single to Alberto Gonzalez with one out. Adam Kennedy forced him out with a fielder's choice for two down. Enter Jonathan Broxton, still only with one save. Well, Martin didn't make it easy, as his bad throw to second on Kennedy's steal allowed him to go to third.
Wouldn't you know it, the bad defense cost the Dodgers. Morgan singled to left, and Broxton suffered a blown save in knotting the game at three.
Matt Capps already has seven saves, and he was called upon to keep the game even. Singles by Loney and Blake put men in scoring position with two down, but Paul flew out to deep center to end it.
Fast forward to the 13th, and the Dodgers came through. With two outs, Raffy singled and stole second. That would be key, as Martin lined a single just ahead of Morgan in center to score the winning run.
Carlos Monasterios survived a very shaky bottom of the 13th for the win. Pudge Rodriguez singled and Morgan doubled with one down. Desmond then bounced one to Blake, and the throw home just barely got Pudge on a nice block and tag by Martin. Guzman flied out to Paul to end the game.
Yes, the Dodgers made it hard on themselves, but it doesn't matter. They just need wins while their bullpen settles in. Clayton Kershaw wasn't too sharp, going six innings for eight hits, two runs, three walks, and six strikeouts. But, the bottom line was only giving up two runs in six innings, which he'll take.
Give credit to both George Sherrill (yes, I did just say that) and Monasterios for their work in extra innings. Sherrill was perfect in 1 1/3 innings, and Monasterios went 2 2/3 scoreless for his first career win.
Sunday is a big start for Chad Billingsley. The Dodgers have all but lost patience with him, and he needs a good start to reassure everyone that he'll be OK. He currently has ERA of 7.07. It could be worse, though. The guy he's going against is Scott Olsen, and his is 11.74.
It was a bit of a wild game with pretty good starting pitching, plenty of hits, and lots of baserunning blunders. Fortunately for the Dodgers, the Nationals seemed determined to screw up on the bases and give away outs.
Ian Desmond's one-out triple in the first was the game's first hit. He scored a batter later on an RBI groundout from Christian Guzman.
Casey Blake was involved in a lot of big plays today, and it all started for him in the second. James Loney singled with one down. Blake then hit a two-run homer, his second of the season, making it 2-1.
One of the big mistakes on the bases from the Nationals cost them in the sixth. The starting pitcher, Craig Stammen, hit an RBI single to tie the game at two. Nyjer Morgan then hit one over Xavier Paul's head in left, but got gunned out trying to get a triple out of it. Stammen didn't cross home plate in time, so it remained tied.
Blake continued his hot day at the plate with a solo shot in the seventh, his second of the day, making it 3-2. Once again, he's quietly putting together a good year with a .316 average, and great defense at third.
The game was then turned over to the bullpen, and you can probably guess that it would be an adventure one way or another. And it was. Hong-Chih Kuo and Ronald Belisario combined to hold the Nats scoreless in the seventh, but it wasn't easy. Rafael Furcal had an error, but the Nationals ran into an out when Desmond was tagged out at home.
Ramon Troncoso came in next inning, and gave up a single to Alberto Gonzalez with one out. Adam Kennedy forced him out with a fielder's choice for two down. Enter Jonathan Broxton, still only with one save. Well, Martin didn't make it easy, as his bad throw to second on Kennedy's steal allowed him to go to third.
Wouldn't you know it, the bad defense cost the Dodgers. Morgan singled to left, and Broxton suffered a blown save in knotting the game at three.
Matt Capps already has seven saves, and he was called upon to keep the game even. Singles by Loney and Blake put men in scoring position with two down, but Paul flew out to deep center to end it.
Fast forward to the 13th, and the Dodgers came through. With two outs, Raffy singled and stole second. That would be key, as Martin lined a single just ahead of Morgan in center to score the winning run.
Carlos Monasterios survived a very shaky bottom of the 13th for the win. Pudge Rodriguez singled and Morgan doubled with one down. Desmond then bounced one to Blake, and the throw home just barely got Pudge on a nice block and tag by Martin. Guzman flied out to Paul to end the game.
Yes, the Dodgers made it hard on themselves, but it doesn't matter. They just need wins while their bullpen settles in. Clayton Kershaw wasn't too sharp, going six innings for eight hits, two runs, three walks, and six strikeouts. But, the bottom line was only giving up two runs in six innings, which he'll take.
Give credit to both George Sherrill (yes, I did just say that) and Monasterios for their work in extra innings. Sherrill was perfect in 1 1/3 innings, and Monasterios went 2 2/3 scoreless for his first career win.
Sunday is a big start for Chad Billingsley. The Dodgers have all but lost patience with him, and he needs a good start to reassure everyone that he'll be OK. He currently has ERA of 7.07. It could be worse, though. The guy he's going against is Scott Olsen, and his is 11.74.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Strained calf lands Manny on the DL
Manny Ramirez has re-aggravated his strained right calf, an injury originally suffered in Pittsburgh the first week of the season. Rather than taking a few days off and hoping for the best, the Dodgers have placed him on the 15-day DL.
The decision looks to be all Manny's, as he's the one that told club officials that he needed more time to heal. It might seem like a strange request (this is Manny Ramirez we're talking about), but he's only been on the DL three times in 17 years. That's pretty amazing if you think about it.
If this were a younger version of Manny, I highly doubt a DL trip would be needed. But, he'll be 38 in about a month, and he's in the league without the designated hitter. Add it all up, and it's easy to see why he wants the extra time to get rest and get healthy.
In his place with be slugger Xavier Paul, who was tearing up Triple-A Albuquerque with a .361 average, three home runs, and nine RBIs in 15 games. For him, it's another audition to get the starting role next to Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier next year when Manny is gone. Numbers like those show great potential.
The decision looks to be all Manny's, as he's the one that told club officials that he needed more time to heal. It might seem like a strange request (this is Manny Ramirez we're talking about), but he's only been on the DL three times in 17 years. That's pretty amazing if you think about it.
If this were a younger version of Manny, I highly doubt a DL trip would be needed. But, he'll be 38 in about a month, and he's in the league without the designated hitter. Add it all up, and it's easy to see why he wants the extra time to get rest and get healthy.
In his place with be slugger Xavier Paul, who was tearing up Triple-A Albuquerque with a .361 average, three home runs, and nine RBIs in 15 games. For him, it's another audition to get the starting role next to Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier next year when Manny is gone. Numbers like those show great potential.
Dodgers can't stop Dunn
The Dodgers were facing a pitcher making his first big league start, and a defense that committed three errors on the night. It didn't matter, as Adam Dunn's two homers led the way, and the Nationals took this one, 5-1.
Playing without Manny Ramirez, who was placed on the 15-day DL earlier in the day with a strained calf, the offense never could get going. When they did put men on, they were left on base over and over, which is never a recipe for success.
The bad news started in the first, as Nyjer Morgan led off with a triple to left. Adam Kennedy scored him right away with a single, and it was 1-0.
The Dodgers got it back in the fourth. A double by James Loney, a single by Ronnie Belliard, and an intentional walk to Blake DeWitt brought up A.J. Ellis with one down. He put the ball in play on an 0-2 count, and scored Loney on a groundout.
Dunn hit his first of two homers in the bottom of the fourth, an absolute bomb to right. Seriously, it hit off the bottom part of the upper deck. He would add his second one in the sixth, this time a two-run blast to make it 4-1.
Like I said before, the Nationals committed three errors, but they never had to pay for it. It was just one of those nights at the plate for the Dodgers. It's unrealistic to expect them to pound the ball every single night. They have been for the most part, but not tonight.
Charlie Haeger got his third start, and it was a mixed bag. Actually, it was more on the negative side after looking at his numbers: 5 1/3 innings, five hits, four runs (three earned), two walks, three strikeouts. I wouldn't say he was that bad, but obviously the long balls by Dunn killed him.
Then there's Ramon Ortiz, who for some reason or another continues to find himself in games. And, once again, he was terrible. He went 2 1/3 innings and only gave up a run. But, don't be fooled. He gave up four walks, including walking the bases loaded in the eighth. He just got lucky and got a pop-up, a forceout at home, and Willy Harris wandering off of first base for no reason and getting picked off.
I'm just baffled as to why Ortiz keeps getting the call. The guy has a 6.94 ERA in nine appearances. And the Dodgers wanted him over Jon Link? I just don't get it. There must be something going on that I'm not aware of, because this makes no sense.
Clayton Kershaw will try to get the Dodgers back on the winning track by going on Saturday afternoon. He's gotten a little better in each of his three starts, so hopefully that will continue.
Playing without Manny Ramirez, who was placed on the 15-day DL earlier in the day with a strained calf, the offense never could get going. When they did put men on, they were left on base over and over, which is never a recipe for success.
The bad news started in the first, as Nyjer Morgan led off with a triple to left. Adam Kennedy scored him right away with a single, and it was 1-0.
The Dodgers got it back in the fourth. A double by James Loney, a single by Ronnie Belliard, and an intentional walk to Blake DeWitt brought up A.J. Ellis with one down. He put the ball in play on an 0-2 count, and scored Loney on a groundout.
Dunn hit his first of two homers in the bottom of the fourth, an absolute bomb to right. Seriously, it hit off the bottom part of the upper deck. He would add his second one in the sixth, this time a two-run blast to make it 4-1.
Like I said before, the Nationals committed three errors, but they never had to pay for it. It was just one of those nights at the plate for the Dodgers. It's unrealistic to expect them to pound the ball every single night. They have been for the most part, but not tonight.
Charlie Haeger got his third start, and it was a mixed bag. Actually, it was more on the negative side after looking at his numbers: 5 1/3 innings, five hits, four runs (three earned), two walks, three strikeouts. I wouldn't say he was that bad, but obviously the long balls by Dunn killed him.
Then there's Ramon Ortiz, who for some reason or another continues to find himself in games. And, once again, he was terrible. He went 2 1/3 innings and only gave up a run. But, don't be fooled. He gave up four walks, including walking the bases loaded in the eighth. He just got lucky and got a pop-up, a forceout at home, and Willy Harris wandering off of first base for no reason and getting picked off.
I'm just baffled as to why Ortiz keeps getting the call. The guy has a 6.94 ERA in nine appearances. And the Dodgers wanted him over Jon Link? I just don't get it. There must be something going on that I'm not aware of, because this makes no sense.
Clayton Kershaw will try to get the Dodgers back on the winning track by going on Saturday afternoon. He's gotten a little better in each of his three starts, so hopefully that will continue.
Bullpen blunders sink the Dodgers
All season long, Dodger fans have been waiting for the returns of Hong-Chih Kuo and Ronald Belisario. Once they were back, all would be well.
Last night both came into the game trying to hold onto a lead. Both exited without one.
After Garret Anderson hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the seventh to get the lead at 5-4, the bullpen had its latest meltdown in giving up four. The Reds took this one, 8-5.
It was another game in which the offense did their part, but the other side of the diamond really let them down. It's still very early in the season, but when the Dodgers find themselves with a team ERA of 5.52 and dead last in fielding, it's a definite cause of concern.
Andre Ethier gave the Dodgers an early lead, and he hit a laser out to right for a two-run tater. That's two straight games with a homer, and he's now hitting a whopping .388.
Vicente Padilla turned out to be his own worst enemy in the bottom of the first. His error let Chris Dickerson reach to lead off, and Joey Votto's sac-fly RBI put the score at 2-1.
The Dodgers manufactured a run in the fifth. Blake DeWitt singled to start. Groundouts by Russell Martin and Padilla put DeWitt on third, and Rafael Furcal's RBI single made it 3-1. Speaking of hot hitters, Raffy is now at .344.
Remember that error I just mentioned by Padilla? Well, it happened again, and it was even more costly in the fifth. Two singles by Daniel Stubbs and Ryan Hanigan with one out brought up pitcher Mike Leake. A simple bunt was hit to Padilla, but he threw it away. Orlando Cabrera's RBI single with two down made it 3-2.
From there, the two teams traded both two-run homers and temporary leads. Jay Bruce struck first in the sixth to go up 4-3, but Anderson's blast put the Dodgers back up at 5-4.
Kuo and Belisario were then called upon to do what they do best - hold a lead. Dickerson just missed getting a bunt single to start, but the Reds made up for it soon after. A single by Cabrera and a walk to Votto gave Kuo the hook.
Belisario came in and quickly got Brandon Phillips to line out to DeWitt. DeWitt then had plenty of time to double-up Votto at first, but rushed the throw and it was wide. It didn't go down as an error, but it was a play that definitely should have been made. Instead of escaping the inning unscathed, it ended up costing the Dodgers dearly.
A two-run double by Scott Rolen, and consecutive RBI singles by Stubbs and Hanigan gave the Reds the lead for good at 8-5.
The Reds still aren't a very good team, but they do have a good setup man-closer combination in Arthur Rhodes and Francisco Cordero. Both men got the job done when given the ball, something the Dodgers have obviously failed to do time and time again.
In addition to taking the loss, Manny Ramirez left the game after hitting a single in the sixth. It's unclear how long he'll be out, but it certainly didn't look serious. Oh by the way, he's hitting .415, so I'd say he still knows what he's doing.
The Dodgers are right back at it on Friday as they start a three-game series in Washington. The Nationals are actually pretty decent at 8-8, so they won't be a pushover like they may have been in the past. Charlie Haeger is coming off a lousy start, so he'll get another chance to get back on track.
Last night both came into the game trying to hold onto a lead. Both exited without one.
After Garret Anderson hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the seventh to get the lead at 5-4, the bullpen had its latest meltdown in giving up four. The Reds took this one, 8-5.
It was another game in which the offense did their part, but the other side of the diamond really let them down. It's still very early in the season, but when the Dodgers find themselves with a team ERA of 5.52 and dead last in fielding, it's a definite cause of concern.
Andre Ethier gave the Dodgers an early lead, and he hit a laser out to right for a two-run tater. That's two straight games with a homer, and he's now hitting a whopping .388.
Vicente Padilla turned out to be his own worst enemy in the bottom of the first. His error let Chris Dickerson reach to lead off, and Joey Votto's sac-fly RBI put the score at 2-1.
The Dodgers manufactured a run in the fifth. Blake DeWitt singled to start. Groundouts by Russell Martin and Padilla put DeWitt on third, and Rafael Furcal's RBI single made it 3-1. Speaking of hot hitters, Raffy is now at .344.
Remember that error I just mentioned by Padilla? Well, it happened again, and it was even more costly in the fifth. Two singles by Daniel Stubbs and Ryan Hanigan with one out brought up pitcher Mike Leake. A simple bunt was hit to Padilla, but he threw it away. Orlando Cabrera's RBI single with two down made it 3-2.
From there, the two teams traded both two-run homers and temporary leads. Jay Bruce struck first in the sixth to go up 4-3, but Anderson's blast put the Dodgers back up at 5-4.
Kuo and Belisario were then called upon to do what they do best - hold a lead. Dickerson just missed getting a bunt single to start, but the Reds made up for it soon after. A single by Cabrera and a walk to Votto gave Kuo the hook.
Belisario came in and quickly got Brandon Phillips to line out to DeWitt. DeWitt then had plenty of time to double-up Votto at first, but rushed the throw and it was wide. It didn't go down as an error, but it was a play that definitely should have been made. Instead of escaping the inning unscathed, it ended up costing the Dodgers dearly.
A two-run double by Scott Rolen, and consecutive RBI singles by Stubbs and Hanigan gave the Reds the lead for good at 8-5.
The Reds still aren't a very good team, but they do have a good setup man-closer combination in Arthur Rhodes and Francisco Cordero. Both men got the job done when given the ball, something the Dodgers have obviously failed to do time and time again.
In addition to taking the loss, Manny Ramirez left the game after hitting a single in the sixth. It's unclear how long he'll be out, but it certainly didn't look serious. Oh by the way, he's hitting .415, so I'd say he still knows what he's doing.
The Dodgers are right back at it on Friday as they start a three-game series in Washington. The Nationals are actually pretty decent at 8-8, so they won't be a pushover like they may have been in the past. Charlie Haeger is coming off a lousy start, so he'll get another chance to get back on track.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Dodgers hang two touchdowns on the Reds
The league's top offense flexed their collective muscle on Wednesday night, as they absolutely unloaded on some porous Reds' pitching in a 14-8 win. The win gets the Dodgers back to .500 at 7-7.
The Dodgers were able to score at least a run in every inning except the fourth. It all started in the first when Matt Kemp took a walk with one down. After Andre Ethier grounded out to get Kemp to second, Manny Ramirez scored him with an RBI single, and it was 1-0.
Hiroki Kuroda, however, could not hold the lead, as he was victimized by the longball. Joey Votto hit a two-run shot, and Scott Rolen added a solo blast to put the Reds up 3-1. It was only an inning, but it sure looked like a repeat of the previous night when the pitching couldn't hold a lead.
Thankfully, that wasn't the case, as the Dodgers knotted it up in the second. Back-to-back singles by Blake DeWitt and Russell Martin with one down led to a two-run single from Rafael Furcal, tying the game at 3-3.
Ethier put the Dodgers up for good with his fourth homer of the year, a solo shot against Aaron Harang to open the third. A soft RBI single from Manny in the fifth made it 5-3.
The sixth inning is when the Dodgers really put their stamp on this one. With two outs and Martin on second, Raffy continued his hot hitting with an RBI single, part of his 3-for-5 night. Ethier added an RBI single, and James Loney a two-run single, making it 9-4.
More runs were added on for good measure in the seventh, highlighted by an RBI triple from Raffy and a two-run homer from Kemp, his seventh already. RBI singles by Casey Blake and Reed Johnson closed out the scoring.
The hitting was just awesome, as they kept applying pressure all night. It reminded me of a good fastbreak offense, where a team just keeps pushing the ball and finding ways to score. Hey, I'm a Lakers fan, so obviously I'm in a basketball mood this time of year.
The big win wasn't without some negatives, though. Two more errors were committed, and on pretty silly plays. Both Raffy and DeWitt had routine grounders go right through their legs. I mean, they were hit hard, but definitely should've been fielded.
Then there's George Sherrill, who came in the sixth to get one out. Well, it took him three batters to do this, thanks to a walk and two-run single from Brandon Phillips. Granted, Raffy's error unnecessarily kept the inning going, but Sherrill is still lost out there.
Kuroda got the win, albeit with a pretty strange line. He finished with 5 2/3 innings pitched, seven hits, six runs (three earned), two walks, and four strikeouts. The bats made him look really good, but it wasn't one of his better starts. Still, he has a 2.18 ERA and is 2-0, so I'll take it.
It was good to see Ronald Belisario back, as he pitched a scoreless seventh. Jeff Weaver came on to pitch the eighth, but had to exit after getting an out. It looked like his back was giving him fits, so let's hope that it's nothing serious. Carlos Monasterios did a good job of finishing the game without giving up a run.
Thursday will be the rubber game, as these two teams have already scored 40 runs in two games. Yes, this is a National League game, not American League. Vicente Padilla is mercifully coming off a good start, so he'll look to keep it going.
The Dodgers were able to score at least a run in every inning except the fourth. It all started in the first when Matt Kemp took a walk with one down. After Andre Ethier grounded out to get Kemp to second, Manny Ramirez scored him with an RBI single, and it was 1-0.
Hiroki Kuroda, however, could not hold the lead, as he was victimized by the longball. Joey Votto hit a two-run shot, and Scott Rolen added a solo blast to put the Reds up 3-1. It was only an inning, but it sure looked like a repeat of the previous night when the pitching couldn't hold a lead.
Thankfully, that wasn't the case, as the Dodgers knotted it up in the second. Back-to-back singles by Blake DeWitt and Russell Martin with one down led to a two-run single from Rafael Furcal, tying the game at 3-3.
Ethier put the Dodgers up for good with his fourth homer of the year, a solo shot against Aaron Harang to open the third. A soft RBI single from Manny in the fifth made it 5-3.
The sixth inning is when the Dodgers really put their stamp on this one. With two outs and Martin on second, Raffy continued his hot hitting with an RBI single, part of his 3-for-5 night. Ethier added an RBI single, and James Loney a two-run single, making it 9-4.
More runs were added on for good measure in the seventh, highlighted by an RBI triple from Raffy and a two-run homer from Kemp, his seventh already. RBI singles by Casey Blake and Reed Johnson closed out the scoring.
The hitting was just awesome, as they kept applying pressure all night. It reminded me of a good fastbreak offense, where a team just keeps pushing the ball and finding ways to score. Hey, I'm a Lakers fan, so obviously I'm in a basketball mood this time of year.
The big win wasn't without some negatives, though. Two more errors were committed, and on pretty silly plays. Both Raffy and DeWitt had routine grounders go right through their legs. I mean, they were hit hard, but definitely should've been fielded.
Then there's George Sherrill, who came in the sixth to get one out. Well, it took him three batters to do this, thanks to a walk and two-run single from Brandon Phillips. Granted, Raffy's error unnecessarily kept the inning going, but Sherrill is still lost out there.
Kuroda got the win, albeit with a pretty strange line. He finished with 5 2/3 innings pitched, seven hits, six runs (three earned), two walks, and four strikeouts. The bats made him look really good, but it wasn't one of his better starts. Still, he has a 2.18 ERA and is 2-0, so I'll take it.
It was good to see Ronald Belisario back, as he pitched a scoreless seventh. Jeff Weaver came on to pitch the eighth, but had to exit after getting an out. It looked like his back was giving him fits, so let's hope that it's nothing serious. Carlos Monasterios did a good job of finishing the game without giving up a run.
Thursday will be the rubber game, as these two teams have already scored 40 runs in two games. Yes, this is a National League game, not American League. Vicente Padilla is mercifully coming off a good start, so he'll look to keep it going.
This game was the season in a nutshell
Big hitting, lots of runs... and absolutely no pitching or defense.
If you haven't followed the Dodgers at all this year, all you had to do was tune into Tuesday night's game against the Reds, and that summed it all up. Chad Billingsley was rocked, the bats came back anyway, only to have the bullpen and gloves cough up the lead and lose, 11-9.
The offense tried their best, collecting 13 hits, five for extra bases, but it was the other end that flopped miserably. Three out of the four pitchers were terrible, and the defense committed two more errors. Their .972 fielding % is second-to-last in the entire majors. Ugly.
The start of the game looked good, as Rafael Furcal singled to lead off, and Andre Ethier and James Loney drew walks. Casey Blake unloaded the bases, netting a three-run double to go up 3-0.
Billingsley easily put the Reds down in order in the first. But, like he ALWAYS does, he found an inning where he could do absolutely nothing right. This time, he did it earlier than normal in the second.
Brandon Phillips led off with a solo shot, cutting it to 3-1. Four straight hits then came, an error by Billingsley on a bunt by Homer Bailey, a sacrifice fly, and another single totaled six runs. In all, 10 men went to the plate, and they just crushed anything Bills threw up there.
The lead for the Reds got up to 9-3 following Joey Votto's homer. That came off the great Ramon Ortiz. Have I mentioned lately how much I'm looking forward to the returns of Hong-Chih Kuo and Ronald Belisario?
The Dodgers didn't quit, though. Instead, they came all the way back, scoring six unanswered runs. In the sixth, Manny Ramirez doubled to start. An out later, Blake scored him on a triple. Blake DeWitt added an RBI single, and it was 9-5.
The Reds' bullpen is just as bad, because the eighth inning for them was a disaster. Raffy hit a two-run single, and Matt Kemp deposited a three-run homer to tie it at 9-9. The shot was Kemp's sixth of this young season.
With new life, the Dodgers gave the ball to Ramon Troncoso. He had been pretty reliable thus far, but that changed. A two-run single by Paul Janish gave the Reds the lead for good. Of course, it didn't help that Ronnie Belliard dropped the ball while trying to throw home. It was pretty sad.
The Dodgers are hitting a collective .306, and are clearly showing why they have one of the top offenses in the game. But, it really doesn't matter if they continue to get beat up on the mound. Not only that, but 14 errors in 13 games just won't get it done. They can't outhit everyone each game. That's a dangerous way to keep going.
As for Billingsley, I have to wonder how much longer the Dodgers will be patient with him. I haven't heard of an injury with him, so that can't be it. It just looks like batting practice with him. The guy was an All-Star last year, and now he has a 7.07 ERA. He must be a mental wreck right now.
Hiroki Kuroda will get the start tonight, and he's been very good in his two starts. With the pitching staff in disarray, he'll need to be a calming influence that he normally is.
If you haven't followed the Dodgers at all this year, all you had to do was tune into Tuesday night's game against the Reds, and that summed it all up. Chad Billingsley was rocked, the bats came back anyway, only to have the bullpen and gloves cough up the lead and lose, 11-9.
The offense tried their best, collecting 13 hits, five for extra bases, but it was the other end that flopped miserably. Three out of the four pitchers were terrible, and the defense committed two more errors. Their .972 fielding % is second-to-last in the entire majors. Ugly.
The start of the game looked good, as Rafael Furcal singled to lead off, and Andre Ethier and James Loney drew walks. Casey Blake unloaded the bases, netting a three-run double to go up 3-0.
Billingsley easily put the Reds down in order in the first. But, like he ALWAYS does, he found an inning where he could do absolutely nothing right. This time, he did it earlier than normal in the second.
Brandon Phillips led off with a solo shot, cutting it to 3-1. Four straight hits then came, an error by Billingsley on a bunt by Homer Bailey, a sacrifice fly, and another single totaled six runs. In all, 10 men went to the plate, and they just crushed anything Bills threw up there.
The lead for the Reds got up to 9-3 following Joey Votto's homer. That came off the great Ramon Ortiz. Have I mentioned lately how much I'm looking forward to the returns of Hong-Chih Kuo and Ronald Belisario?
The Dodgers didn't quit, though. Instead, they came all the way back, scoring six unanswered runs. In the sixth, Manny Ramirez doubled to start. An out later, Blake scored him on a triple. Blake DeWitt added an RBI single, and it was 9-5.
The Reds' bullpen is just as bad, because the eighth inning for them was a disaster. Raffy hit a two-run single, and Matt Kemp deposited a three-run homer to tie it at 9-9. The shot was Kemp's sixth of this young season.
With new life, the Dodgers gave the ball to Ramon Troncoso. He had been pretty reliable thus far, but that changed. A two-run single by Paul Janish gave the Reds the lead for good. Of course, it didn't help that Ronnie Belliard dropped the ball while trying to throw home. It was pretty sad.
The Dodgers are hitting a collective .306, and are clearly showing why they have one of the top offenses in the game. But, it really doesn't matter if they continue to get beat up on the mound. Not only that, but 14 errors in 13 games just won't get it done. They can't outhit everyone each game. That's a dangerous way to keep going.
As for Billingsley, I have to wonder how much longer the Dodgers will be patient with him. I haven't heard of an injury with him, so that can't be it. It just looks like batting practice with him. The guy was an All-Star last year, and now he has a 7.07 ERA. He must be a mental wreck right now.
Hiroki Kuroda will get the start tonight, and he's been very good in his two starts. With the pitching staff in disarray, he'll need to be a calming influence that he normally is.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Fathead product promotion
John over at www.smile.ly is currently running a promotion for Fathead products. Here are some details he would like you to know about:
- Coupon code to receive 15% off select Fathead products: SML15C
- Coupon code to receive 15% off shipping: SMLSHP1
- Click on this sweepstakes link where a free Fathead Junior is given away daily in the month of April: fathead.com/sweepstakes/mlb
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Russ Ortiz is designated for assignment
In move that anyone could see coming, the Dodgers have designated reliever Russ Ortiz for assignment on Sunday. In his place will be Jon Link, who was acquired as part of the Juan Pierre trade this winter.
I know I've done my fair share of Ortiz bashing, but I actually feel sorry for the guy. He had an excellent Spring Training, pitching 18 innings with a 2.50 ERA, striking out 15. With the injuries to Hong-Chih Kuo and Ronald Belisario, he pretty much forced his way onto the team.
Unfortunately for everyone, he left his good pitches at Camelback Ranch, as he was miserable when the real games started. He gave up eight runs in seven innings, good for a 10.29 ERA.
The final nail in the coffin was this past Friday night against the Giants. After retiring the side in order in the eighth, he let four of six batters reach base, getting charged with four runs and turning a blowout into a close game. A similar situation occurred against the Marlins about a week ago.
There's a chance Ortiz could accept an assignment to Triple-A Albuquerque, so we'll see. I would highly doubt anybody would claim him off waivers.
As for Link, his stay appears to be short thanks to the impending returns of Kuo and Belisario. But, it's a move the Dodgers simply had to make to try and shake up an ineffective bullpen early in the season.
I know I've done my fair share of Ortiz bashing, but I actually feel sorry for the guy. He had an excellent Spring Training, pitching 18 innings with a 2.50 ERA, striking out 15. With the injuries to Hong-Chih Kuo and Ronald Belisario, he pretty much forced his way onto the team.
Unfortunately for everyone, he left his good pitches at Camelback Ranch, as he was miserable when the real games started. He gave up eight runs in seven innings, good for a 10.29 ERA.
The final nail in the coffin was this past Friday night against the Giants. After retiring the side in order in the eighth, he let four of six batters reach base, getting charged with four runs and turning a blowout into a close game. A similar situation occurred against the Marlins about a week ago.
There's a chance Ortiz could accept an assignment to Triple-A Albuquerque, so we'll see. I would highly doubt anybody would claim him off waivers.
As for Link, his stay appears to be short thanks to the impending returns of Kuo and Belisario. But, it's a move the Dodgers simply had to make to try and shake up an ineffective bullpen early in the season.
Manny! Manny! Manny!
This pinch-hitting thing is sure working out well for Manny Ramirez.
With the Giants clinging to a 1-0 lead in the eighth, Manny came up with one down and deposited a two-run homer to deep left, putting the Dodgers up for good, 2-1. The win gave the Dodgers two of three from the first place Giants.
Forced to sit out the game for the second straight day with a tight right calf, Joe Torre picked the perfect time to give him a shot to make a difference. And that he did. It was his second career pinch-hit homer. His first? Who could ever forget his grand slam against the Reds last July.
A pair of southpaws, Clayton Kershaw and Barry Zito, threw up blanks for the first six innings. Kershaw ended up going seven innings for four hits, one run, four walks, and seven strikeouts. Zito went 7 1/3 innings, four hits, one run, one walk, and three strikeouts. Both men were pretty dazzling all day long.
There's not much to report about for most of the game, as both teams would put a man on here and there, but get nothing. The third was the only time two men reached base, as Nate Schierholtz and Edgar Renteria got on, but Pablo Sandoval struck out to end that.
In the seventh, Juan Uribe was the first person to get his team on the board with a solo homer to left. Andre Ethier led off the bottom of the seventh with a single, but Matt Kemp, Casey Blake, and Ronnie Belliard left him stranded.
The eighth is an inning the Giants will be kicking themselves about, as they had a chance to really blow the game open. Kershaw started the inning, but was quickly yanked after walking Eugenio Valez. Jeff Weaver came in, and Renteria sacrificed Valez over to second, then Sandoval was given the intentional pass.
Out went Weaver, and in came George Sherrill, who's endured his fair share of beatdowns already this season. But this time, he got Aubrey Huff to fly out to left. Ramon Troncoso then came in and beaned Bengie Molina to load the bases. Thankfully, Uribe grounded into a force play to end that threat.
The Dodgers made sure that would come back to haunt the Giants, as they finally cashed in in the bottom half. With one down, Garrett Anderson drew a walk in what would be Zito's last hitter of the day.
Blake DeWitt came in to pinch-run, but it wouldn't matter. Sergio Romo was given the task of getting Manny out, but it didn't work. Manny's homer was No. 548, tying him with Mike Schmidt for 14th all-time.
Jonathan Broxton got his first save of the season after waiting nearly two weeks for a chance. He put the Giants down in order.
The Dodgers have only played .500 ball at this point with a 6-6 record, but this was a good weekend. They should've had a blowout win on Friday if it wasn't for Russ Ortiz, got crushed on Saturday, and won a squeaker today. The Giants came into this series with only two loses, so it's good to see the Dodgers take it to them.
After a 4-2 homestand, the Dodgers will once again make a trip out east. They'll use a travel day on Monday, then play for 13 straight days. The first nine days will be on the road against the Reds, Nationals, and Mets, before returning home for four against the Pirates. Chad Billingsley will take the hill on Tuesday.
With the Giants clinging to a 1-0 lead in the eighth, Manny came up with one down and deposited a two-run homer to deep left, putting the Dodgers up for good, 2-1. The win gave the Dodgers two of three from the first place Giants.
Forced to sit out the game for the second straight day with a tight right calf, Joe Torre picked the perfect time to give him a shot to make a difference. And that he did. It was his second career pinch-hit homer. His first? Who could ever forget his grand slam against the Reds last July.
A pair of southpaws, Clayton Kershaw and Barry Zito, threw up blanks for the first six innings. Kershaw ended up going seven innings for four hits, one run, four walks, and seven strikeouts. Zito went 7 1/3 innings, four hits, one run, one walk, and three strikeouts. Both men were pretty dazzling all day long.
There's not much to report about for most of the game, as both teams would put a man on here and there, but get nothing. The third was the only time two men reached base, as Nate Schierholtz and Edgar Renteria got on, but Pablo Sandoval struck out to end that.
In the seventh, Juan Uribe was the first person to get his team on the board with a solo homer to left. Andre Ethier led off the bottom of the seventh with a single, but Matt Kemp, Casey Blake, and Ronnie Belliard left him stranded.
The eighth is an inning the Giants will be kicking themselves about, as they had a chance to really blow the game open. Kershaw started the inning, but was quickly yanked after walking Eugenio Valez. Jeff Weaver came in, and Renteria sacrificed Valez over to second, then Sandoval was given the intentional pass.
Out went Weaver, and in came George Sherrill, who's endured his fair share of beatdowns already this season. But this time, he got Aubrey Huff to fly out to left. Ramon Troncoso then came in and beaned Bengie Molina to load the bases. Thankfully, Uribe grounded into a force play to end that threat.
The Dodgers made sure that would come back to haunt the Giants, as they finally cashed in in the bottom half. With one down, Garrett Anderson drew a walk in what would be Zito's last hitter of the day.
Blake DeWitt came in to pinch-run, but it wouldn't matter. Sergio Romo was given the task of getting Manny out, but it didn't work. Manny's homer was No. 548, tying him with Mike Schmidt for 14th all-time.
Jonathan Broxton got his first save of the season after waiting nearly two weeks for a chance. He put the Giants down in order.
The Dodgers have only played .500 ball at this point with a 6-6 record, but this was a good weekend. They should've had a blowout win on Friday if it wasn't for Russ Ortiz, got crushed on Saturday, and won a squeaker today. The Giants came into this series with only two loses, so it's good to see the Dodgers take it to them.
After a 4-2 homestand, the Dodgers will once again make a trip out east. They'll use a travel day on Monday, then play for 13 straight days. The first nine days will be on the road against the Reds, Nationals, and Mets, before returning home for four against the Pirates. Chad Billingsley will take the hill on Tuesday.
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