Dodgers start Derek Lowe (0-1, 13.50 ERA) vs. Russ Ortiz (0-0).
Dodgers: 2-2 (T-3rd place NL West, 1.0 GB, W2) Giants: 1-3 (Last place NL West, 2.0 GB, L1)
From dodgers.com, the scouting report on the starters:
Dodgers: Lowe's debut Monday in Milwaukee couldn't have gone worse. He created repeated trouble with five walks in four innings and received little help from his outfield defense. His early exit forced the Dodgers to get into their bullpen quickly. Lowe pitched just as poorly in last year's opener and still won 16 games.
Giants: It's entirely possible that Giants fans won't notice any change in Russ Ortiz since he left the club after the 2002 season. He has recaptured the delivery he used then -- simply put, bringing his arm back in a semicircle as he prepares to throw. This imparts force and movement on his pitches, which he lacked for the last two seasons as he merely hoisted his arm upward before releasing the ball. Ortiz and the Giants are fully confident that he's no longer the pitcher who struggled to a 5-19 record in 2005-06.
COMMENTS
- Let's see if Derek Lowe learned anything from watching Brad Penny pitch like a champ last night (seven innings of shutout ball, 10 hits but only 1 ER, with 1 BB and 1 SO, earning the win). The Dodgers' lineup does not appear (at this stage) to be one that is going to score a lot of runs, so it will be critical that Lowe doesn't do his typical meltdown at the first sign of adversity.
- Aside from the drama around the return of Russ Ortiz (Delino's favorite fascination), there is the continuing watch on that other guy who has apparently hit a lot of home runs in his time. Considering how much Barry tends to tee off Dodger pitching, I can only take solace in the fact that he should not get enough at bats in the remaining two games of this series to break the all-time record.
- Finally, Luis Gonzalez and Barry Bonds will continue their competition for "worst defensive left-fielder in the series." Bonds never looks incredibly spry these days, but Gonzo (who did go 2-for-4 yesterday from the plate, despite choking in key rally) has a slight edge in the race by picking up his first error of the year yesterday. With Barry out of the lineup this afternoon (thanks TD), there's nothing but downside for Gonzo.
UPDATE
The lineup, courtesy of Inside the Dodgers:
Pierre, CF
Valdez, SS
Garciaparra, 1B
Kent, 2B
Gonzalez, LF
Lieberthal, C
Ethier, RF
Betemit, 3B
Lowe, P
71 comments:
I'm guessing Barroid won't be starting, as it's a day game after a night game, and he's liable to explode if he doesn't let the HGH do its magic.
You are indeed correct, TD. Hal, er, Todd Linden takes the start in left field.
Okay, watching Luis Gonzalez read the Dodgers' lineup for Fox was passable, but just...weird.
Perhaps he's prepping for a career in the booth? (by August?)
Pierre is killing me. Called strike three.
Luis Gonzalez announces the lineup. Don't quit your day job. Wait—do quit your day job!
WTF was Exxon Valdez thinking trying to stretch that to a double? Now it's two out with no one on for Nomar.
Sufferin' succotash... how in the world did Josh Lewin end up being a National market broadcaster with that lateral lisp of his??? It's really annoying...
Signed,
Sylvester the Cat
By the way, our very own Eric Karros is doing the color commentary. Go get 'em, Eric!
Josh Lewin does indeed have the voice of a Simpsons character.
Russ Ortiz is back. Look out.
Omar Vizquel was a lot more fun to which to listen than Gonzo. I'd give the job to Omar.
You think Omar Vizquel watches pro wrestling?
Kent spry!
Way to go, Lowe. 10-pitch inning. Nice Pierre and Kent efforts on D.
What the hell the Rally Monkey is doing in that Chevy ad, I don't know.
It is nice not to see the Yogi Berra Aflac ad for once, though.
A Dodger pitcher threw less than 10 pitches to get out of an inning?? Oh my... stop the presses!
Jeff Kent...no-nonsense...comes to win. As opposed to the rest of the team...nonsense...come to lose?
I don't have athlete's foot, but if I did, after seeing the sock puppet ad, I'd buy Lamisil.
Okay, for all the talk of LA fans showing up late? Nine outs into the game, AT&T is just starting to fill up.
F' the media bias.
Kent, not spry enough!
Karros is a homer.
Why can't Juan Pierre get to that ball???
Pierre... would it have hurt any worse to have tried to dive at that ball???
Nice play by betemit!
A-Rod walk-off GS against the Orioles.
Are these announcers national? It's almost as bad as Jon Miller doing ESPN games.
Karros is a very good color man. The issue is that somebody in Fox Sports owed Josh Lewin's dad a huge favor...
Josh Lewin is one of the most boring announcers in all of sports... and that freakin' lisp of his really makes me wonder how he could secure a job like this without having "known" somebody from within. He tries too hard...
nice double andre!
Hey all, I am pissed because I have to listen to this game on the Giants network and watch gameday. I paid 120 bucks for mlb.com and can't watch this game! It aint blacked out where I live dammit!!! Oh yes, go Andre.
Small ball??? That was a great piece of hitting...
pierre can't score ethier from second...
pierre gets his first SB of the year!
AC--this game isn't televised on Fox as the national game for you?
Wilson Valdez sucks.
They are showing another game out here. But since Fox is showing all types of games around the country, they are considered blackout everywhere. Sucks. BTW, sounds like Vladez messed up.
we need gonzo to sit for kemp
AC, sorry. You're probably hearing about Valdez' inability score the runners right about...now.
Valdez does end up making a good defensive play on Roberts in the bottom of the inning, though.
Dare I say, Ortiz is actually pitching fairly well so far. Wonder what Delino is thinking.
Another two-out rally...I am not hopeful.
Ethier-Pierre-Kemp. That should be our outfield.
BTW that double earlier in the game was Ethier's first hit of the year.
Orel: except for the Pierre part...
Thank you, Russ Ortiz!
Sax: Who would you put in center? I'm still curious to see Furcal-Pierre bat 1-2.
Betemit gets his second RBI of the year in style...a four-pitch walk.
That is a cool B of A ad. If they weren't the official bank of the Giants, I might switch.
Orel: you're right, I shouldn't start bagging on Pierre just yet.
You can only rent "Bobby" at Blockbuster? Guess I won't be seeing it.
Is that the Bruce Froemming story? He breaks up a perfect game with a cheapie call on the last batter? Sounds like a egocentric prick to me.
Again, why isn't Pierre catching that ball? Isn't it his (the CF's) call?
jason repko should play center oh wait...
Ha Ha
Thank you, Rich Aurilia and Jeff Kent!
I just realized I had this game on High Def, after watching an inning on Lame Def like a sucker. Nice down the line double, Kent. (Alas, one of those runs was not earned)
Willie Mays ?
what the f was Jeff Kent thinking there, though? Doubled off of second on a pop fly?
Check out the yankees box score. Seven runs in the last two innings. Unreal. (Avodart... for your growing problem... tee hee)
betmit is playing some good D but he needs to start hitting
Bench Betemit. Nomar to third. Loney at first.
hey sounds like we are doing well going into the 7th. Go blue!
WEAK STREAM
Betemit surprises with the glove (or bare hand) again.
DP baby!!!!
Nice 6-4-3 started by Valdez.
Random thought, anyone know what happened to Bigbie?
Bigbie couldn't find any takers and is with the Las Vegas 51's. His next chance to opt out is is June 1, I think.
Sweet short-hop by Valdez! And he's 3 for 4 today.
Kent spry!...ish.
Saito getting fly ball outs...makes me uncomfortable.
Go Blue!!
Still gets the job done. Nice!
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