Crazy 8's
Lots of fun if you're talking card games. Not nearly as much when it's the measure of how many games the Dodger losing streak has reached while in pursuit of the NL West crown (now just a little further out of their grasp). Kicking off a deadly important series against Arizona (the team they just happen to be chasing) and squaring against the most beatable of the pitchers offered over the weekend (Doug Davis), it was easy to consider last night's game a "must win" of sorts. Thus, it's even more frustrating to see final outcome was a 9-3 score in favor of D-Backs where all the issues plaguing the Blue during their skid remained firmly on display.
Take the first inning, for example, where Davis struggled with location and managed to load the bases. The Dodgers continued their ways of leaving dudes twisting in the wind, wrapping up the frame with a goose egg in the run column. Three more innings with Davis scuffling and runners yearning to touch home followed. Three more repeat wastes, providing at least preliminary indications that Russell Martin (1-5, no runs) at the top of the order isn't the answer for what ails them. Two runs were eventually racked in the fifth, but it's gonna take more to come out on top when you're allowing the floodgates to open through fielding gaffes, as Nomar Garciaparra did. Twice. If this strikes you as the type of stuff that doesn't winning box scores make, it's probably not your first day taking in a little baseball.
As if things weren't going poorly enough for the Dodgers, Jeff Kent will undergo a knee MRI. The ailment has apparently been bugging the vet for about a month before reaching the point where he needed to take a seventh inning seat during last night's game. He's expected to miss today and tomorrow's games.
There was one bit of excitement for Dodger fans amidst the carnage. Touted lefty Scott Elbert, first rounder of the 2004 draft, finally made his debut in the bigs. For the youngster, who's dealt with boatloads of health issues since being drafted, this step represents nothing short of fantasy turned reality.
Jason Schmidt's Vegas rehab inning went off without a hitch.
For real. The Dodgers need a win. Like... now. And Chad Billingsley has been the team's best pitcher all season, so he provides at least a beacon of reasonable hope. Unfortunately, that "Haren" cat tossing against him ain't all that incompetent himself and Arizona hasn't provided Bills a ton of breaks.
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Benzo,
You've been blacked out? Consider yourself lucky.
Posted by: Chunkdog | August 30, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Mike T,
Just to establish a tone early, we don't mind you posting a link for your site every now and then, but let's keep it within reason. A couple times per day would be overkill. Somewhere in the middle would be ideal.
Plus, if you really want to generate interest, I'd concentrate on political sites, just because you might find more people with similar interests right off the bat.
Thanks,
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | August 30, 2008 at 12:00 PM
"Plus, if you really want to generate interest, I'd concentrate on political sites, just because you might find more people with similar interests right off the bat."
I forgot about that.
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | August 30, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Your headline after today's game will be "8 is Enough." It must end now, and a new winning streak will begin.
Posted by: Higgins | August 30, 2008 at 12:31 PM
No one asked me, but..
1. Lead-off with Pierre.
2. Sit down Kemp- he is swinging at the first pitch EVERY time, no dicipline, poor BB instints.
3. Kent is not helping-sub DeWitt.
4. Nomar is done as a every day player-usefull pinch-hitter-and sub Berroa, those errors are what lose games.
5. Fresh young arms coming to the 40 man roster must be tried, at least they are a mystery to most opponents, and that is a big edge
Posted by: dencard | August 30, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Any doubt the Dodgers are now the worst team in the NL? They lost soundly in a sweep by the last place Nats and got pounded last night by the D’backs who had lost to the second worst team. That puts them at the bottom in my book.
Everyone knows what is going to happen now. The Dodgers will still suck but the D’backs will keep fumbling their way along with the Dodgers finishing the division race 1 game behind.
Dodgers… the ultimate tease.
Posted by: Andy B | August 30, 2008 at 02:09 PM
Brian
I hear ya buddy. I keep saying it too, the D’backs have the worst announcers in baseball.
To hear them pee all over themselves (oh, HOW can this HAPPEN!) over a borderline pitch ad infinitum gets me nauseous. The call you mentioned is typical.
I though Brennaman was bad, but Darrin Sutton is pitiful. Whoever hired him is a moron. I can't believe the D'back fans put up with it.
Posted by: Andy B | August 30, 2008 at 02:26 PM
It looks like they are the Area 51s
Posted by: pk-mesa | August 30, 2008 at 02:34 PM
Any guy with "ho" for a middle name was born to suck.
Posted by: dodgerdog | August 30, 2008 at 03:27 PM
Keep Martin out of the all-star game. The dude gets absolutly no rest all year. He caught like 82 innings in this years joke. I say if you really want to back your team vote them OUT of the all-star game. The national league never wins anyway so screw it. Let the dudes chill with their families and catch their breath.Since it appears Martin has a struggle down the streatch he really needs to reconsider representing.
Posted by: dodgerdog | August 30, 2008 at 03:36 PM
Dencard...you know NOTHING about baseball. Kemp is now having only his second slump of the year, and he's still more productive than Juan Pierre will EVER be. Juan Pierre has been among the WORST leadoff hitters in baseball for the last three years: low OBP, non-existent power, no walks. And, he's one of the worst outfielders in the Majors. Kemp has shown this year that when he struggles for a few games, he always bounces back. Remember, for the about 3 months, he was one of the 5 most productive outfielders in baseball. Now, when he has 6 bad games out of 8, you're gonna sit him to play one of the worst outfielders in the majors? Get a clue son.
Posted by: twerp1 | August 30, 2008 at 05:03 PM
The one good thing about Joe coming here instead of retiring. Is it shows the world he he really is not a good Manager and his pre Yankee experience is what he really is. His 'strength' on the Yankees was he was able to stroke the egos of all those high priced superstars and keep them playing. But when it comes to actually managing games he is pretty clueless. Unfortunately for us we had to be the ones to prove this.
David
Posted by: DavidS | August 30, 2008 at 06:23 PM
I agree that Torre is poor game manager, especially in a league without a DH. The record speaks for itself.
Posted by: WBB | August 30, 2008 at 06:46 PM
Manny! Manny! Manny! Manny! Manny!
I love you Manny! You are the man for sure. I hope the Dodgers resign you and another superstar, too.
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | August 30, 2008 at 07:15 PM
Dodgers are winning again because they sent the curse back to LA for a MRI
Posted by: K T | August 30, 2008 at 07:19 PM
kent gone = Dodgers play with spunk.
Coincidence, I think not.
Now, can I will swn to the junk yard???
Posted by: Benzo Jones | August 30, 2008 at 07:28 PM
Dodger win??
Alright now let's don't dwell on Joe Torre... I agree he isn't the best game manager but he's no Grady Little!!
Again, lets focus on what the real problem is w/ this Dodger team.... Ned Colletti.... he might not be the jinx from SF (I personally think he is) but everything the guy touches sucks.... since Colletti has been here (3 years) the first was semi-success w/ making the playoffs... however, since J.D. backdoored him, he's been a baffoon ever since....
My personal opinion on why THIS TEAM is sucking like the past year's team.... poor leadership.
Is it coincidence that the meltdown occured when Kent started voicing his true feelings??? .... and Juan Pierre started pouting??? The team might be a better team w/ Pierre starting ONLY B/C Ethier won't bring the team moral down acting like a PrimaDonna.. whining, sulking, and just plain being a little b***h.
Is it coincidence that now the ship is sinking that Kent all of a sudden has an injury???... and whats team guy Pierre have to say... I told you so??!! I should be playing??? --- NOT! Ethier is producing, PERIOD. Ethier doesn't make the mental errors that Pierre is prone too... the ERRORS cost games.
Another note about Kent... his bad attitude has the rookies uneasy... Broxton breaking down/choking... bet Kent was playing second in those games... Broxton gets the save... bet Ozuna was playing?? dont' know for sure but just a feeling.
AK, BK,
Quick Question... When did baseball game strategy/management decide that a starting pitcher should throw a certain amount of pitches per start??
I read here that your St. Louis guy, La Russa was the great inventor/creator of this philosophy? .. it is true...
I can't remember when pitch count became an issue... never when I was a kid in the 70's early 80's.
Is the theory that one must limit their pitches from the arm burning out throughout the season??.. if so, I just don't understand that.... It seems to me that there are more injuries w/ pitchers now then there were back in the days where starting pitchers threw until a complete game or they didn't have the stuff to get outs and could cost the team a game...
Please answer.. very interested to hear what your take is on this.
Thanks.
Posted by: Rob | August 30, 2008 at 09:09 PM
To the moron posting under other people's names,
1) Not to tell you how to go about conducting your lame business, but considering I'm the one clearing the comments, do you really think you're going to be able to post one under MY name without me noticing? Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why that might not work.
2) Seriously, get a life. Stop being such a loser.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | August 30, 2008 at 09:32 PM
Wow no Redneck grumpy Kent and Dodgers become a team this guy is the real Cyrus The Virus. Now maybe the boys can pull this one off, nice to see Dewitt back I love his desire I really feel if continues in majors will be the leader years to come.
Posted by: pk-mesa | August 31, 2008 at 07:56 AM
Even with these recent woes, I still think the Dodgers have what it takes to advance to the playoffs. Here's why:
Ok, so this is a sad division to talk about because of their one team above .500 (The D-Backs sit precariously at .511). It really seems like nobody wants to win this division. At least the Rockies have fallen far enough back that they can be discounted from the race, unless of course they pull something off reminiscent of last year. And this would have to be a spectacular run. But I frankly don't see them doing the same this year. Even though the Dodgers are 3.5 games back of the D-Backs and currently below .500, I pick them to win the division. Here's why: the Dodgers have had a consistent pitching staff, combining for a 3.81 ERA (2nd best in the NL). Furthermore, the Los Angeles Dodgers have added Manny to their lineup, which has been paying its dues in the form of a 4 for 5 day to life the Dodgers over the Diamondbacks.
Posted by: stefan | August 31, 2008 at 10:47 AM