Back to (one) back
After eight innings of passivity against Arizona starter Dan Haren and reliever Tony Pena, the Dodgers threw on their rally caps for the ninth inning of Saturday evening's tussle with the D-Backs in the desert, but it wasn't enough. Arizona wins 3-2, and once again leads the NL West. Chad Billingsley was in and out of trouble over his 5.2 innings of work, giving up three runs on seven hits and a trio of walks. Haren, meanwhile, was filthy, striking out seven and scattering only four singles in his seven frames. As I mentioned only sentences before, the Blue made a game of it off Arizona closer Brandon Lyon, as Jeff Kent, who up to that point had hit a lot of balls on the nose but had nothing to show for it, finally put one where nobody could catch it- over the wall in left-center. 3-1, Snakes. After a one-out single from James Loney, Delwyn Young doubled him home. Dodgers down one, 3-2.
With Young standing on third, Lyon made the colossal mistake of walking pinch hitter Andruw Jones- that'll get a guy fined in the Kangaroo Court- but he was bailed out by Matt Kemp, who swung at the first pitch he saw, and popped weakly to right. Game, set, match. Once again, the Dodgers fall a game back of Arizona, with the rubber match of the three game set coming tomorrow.
BK
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Matt Hemp musta had a date.
Posted by: benzojones | July 19, 2008 at 08:28 PM
i heard schmidt had a setback is that true?
Posted by: dave m | July 19, 2008 at 11:17 PM
I need to know whether to boo Kemp or yay Kemp. So far, boos win, about twice per AB. How many first-ball outs has he made this season? Is there a baseball stat for first-pitch-swinging VS first-pitch-HITTING? Should be.
QB
Posted by: QueenBee | July 19, 2008 at 11:36 PM
That was a heartbreaker. I just wish they could have gotten Haren out of the game earlier. When Haren induced a Martin ground ball for a double play the only time we had more than one runner on, you just knew that we were not going to get to him. The Snakes' pen is the best route to runs.
In regards to Simers' article, I'm glad someone's arguing for no trades. Seriously, it's just not worth the cost--for anybody.
Anyhow, way out here in rural VA I could hear the collective groan of Dodger Nation as Jones came up to bat. I joined them. Then I realized who we had on the bench: maza, berroa, laroche, ardoin... and ... who else? (swy eligible to activated?) Maza and Berroa with the big hit? Right. Ardoin's not on the roster for his bat either. And LaRoche, whom I am still certain will start reaching base soon, has not exactly been aces in tight spots this season. Hard to put the kid in this spot.
Then it hit me: Jones was actually, truly, in reality the best bat we had off the bench in tonight. Ugh.
Posted by: VA Blueblood | July 19, 2008 at 11:38 PM
Matt Kemp's stats with the count 0-0
Count 0-0 45 ABs 19 H 6 D 3 HRs 17 RBIs .422 Avg .756 Slugging 1.178 OPS
It's raining today.....Bloody Matt Kemp
Posted by: Eric | July 20, 2008 at 06:15 AM
Is there a chance Donnie B can teach Hemp how to wait for more than one pitch, or at the very least teach him how to count to 4?
Posted by: benzojones | July 20, 2008 at 07:00 AM
Eric-
It's not that he swung at the first pitch per se, just that the situation- a guy who had been all over the place, alternating between grooving fastballs and missing wildly- and the pitch- if you're going to swing at a first pitch, it should be a very good one, but that fastball was a little up and in, and got into Kemp's hands- made it a questionable AB. I think he was just a little eager.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | July 20, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Until the Dodgers figure out what they need to do to win a game, they'll be stuck in 2nd place under .500. They refuse to do the little things.
For example, in the third inning, Bills hit that 45 foot single, and Kemp followed with a basehit to left. 1st and 2nd, no outs, down by two runs. What should they do? BUNT! BUNT! BUNT! Why would Torre not have Andre Ethier move those guys into scoring position with a bunt?!? Instead, the runners are just waiting around for some amazing homerun. Ethier strikes out, Martin hits into the inning ending double play. So much for that.
The only time you don't bunt in that situation is if you have a legitimate power threat up to bat. Howard, Ramirez, A-Rod, etc. The Dodgers do not have a player like that, and haven't for many years. I knew the game was over after that 3rd inning.
I happened to watch most of the Angels-Red Sox game on FOX before the Dodger game started, and it made me understand why the Angels have the best record in baseball. Angels had 1st and 2nd, no outs, down by a run.... and guess what they did? THEY SACRIFICED THE RUNNERS TO 2ND AND 3RD!!!! Next thing you know, it's a 4 run inning. They put the pressure on one of the best pitchers in the game, Beckett, and it won the game for them.
The Dodgers however, refused to put any pressure on Haren, and squandered a huge chance to get back into the game early. It changed the whole momentum and complexion of the game. When will this team learn to manufacture some runs?
Posted by: Higgins | July 20, 2008 at 10:45 AM
VA Blueblood -
I was thinking the same thing about AJ in the 9th last night. As sad as it is, he was actually the best option. At the start of last night's game, Luis Maza owned the best Batting Average on the bench - at .228. Wow.
Injuries are a major driver of this, but it is going to be tough to win close games down the stretch with this bench.
Posted by: OhioVic | July 20, 2008 at 11:31 AM
BK
To be honest, I never saw the AB. Living in the east..well, you know. Kemp being impatient, just hacking away, wouldn't surprise me at all. It just seems Kemp gets blamed for an awful lot.
Eric
Posted by: Eric | July 20, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Higgins--
Are you related to Joe Morgan? You've got to be kidding when you say we should bunt with our two best hitters coming to the plate. Also--and I'm certain I'm not the first person to tell you this--there is no statistical evidence to back up the theory that good bunting improves a teams run output. There is also oodles of data to back up the assertion that you should never waste outs. I understand about certain situations (e.g., 2-on, no out, and a pitcher with 1 career hit in 72 ABs at the plate), but to suggest we should be bunting with our 2nd or 3rd batter--and 2 highest OBPs on the team--is just plain ludicrous. I suspect you are either an angels fan or bill plaschke. Certainly you have never read a lick of Bill James or any related sabermetric thinking. I remain appalled, as I have been for my entire adult life, that there continue to exist people who deny the place of reason and mathematics in baseball.
Incidentally, firejoemorgan.com is my new all-time favorite website. Thanks to whoever it was on here that pointed out that site. If you haven't checked it out, do so immediately. You will chuckle, I promise.
Posted by: VA Blueblood | July 20, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Thunderhands!!!!!
Posted by: benzojones | July 20, 2008 at 12:35 PM
VA Blueblood -
Sorry I'm such an idiot. I wish I knew as much about baseball as you. Please teach me! And try to be a little more pretentious next time, too.
Posted by: HIggins | July 20, 2008 at 01:44 PM
Higgins--
Okay. Start with firejoemorgan.com. Let me know if you have any questions.
Posted by: VA Blueblood | July 20, 2008 at 02:10 PM
This lineup has no basis in reality for this lineup. I understand Jeff Kent was once a cleanup hitter, but now he is at best the Dodgers 6th best player. It is time for Torre to let the veterans earn their spot in the lineup. Please Joe, just base the lineup on RESULTS. AJ now has an OPS of .511...absolutely pitiful.
Kemp
Martin
Garciaparra
Ethier
Loney
Kent
Dewitt/Laroche
Jones/D. Young
Posted by: cpark | July 20, 2008 at 03:00 PM
VA Blueblood -
I have a question. Why do you come here to post and just insult me? Thanks for proving how much of a jerk you are.
Posted by: Higgins | July 20, 2008 at 04:53 PM
No prob, bob.
Posted by: VA Blueblood | July 21, 2008 at 12:43 PM