Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Game 9 Thread: April 11 vs. Rockies, 7.10p

Dodgers start Brad Penny (1-0, 1.29 ERA) vs. Jason Hirsh, RHP (1-0, 1.35 ERA).

Dodgers: 5-3 (T-2nd place NL West, 1.5 GB, W1) Rockies: 4-4 (4th place NL West, 2.5 GB, L1)

From dodgers.com, the scouting report on the starters:

Dodgers: Penny returned to his first-half form of last year Friday night. He took a shutout into the eighth inning against the Giants and lost it only because of sloppy outfield play behind him. He allowed 10 hits and struck out only one, but was efficient with his pitch count and threw his breaking ball for strikes.

Rockies: Demonstrating a precise changeup and command of his fastball to both sides of the plate, Hirsh held the Padres to one run in 6 2/3 innings of a 4-3 victory in his Rockies debut on Friday night. Hirsh, a rookie obtained from the Astros over the winter, gets another shot in a pitcher's park -- Dodger Stadium -- before ever having to take the mound at Coors Field.

COMMENTS

  • After inching a close 2-1 game out last night, Dodger fans should be excited we can win the close games (three of our five wins were one-run games). On the other hand, if we have to count on incredible pitching performances from Brett Tomko (in his first start of the year, the #5 starter pitched like a stud with 6 IP, 9 Ks and 0 R), we may be in trouble. Sammy Saito looks like he's got his rhythm back (registering his fourth save of the year last night), which means that we can and will use a Beimel-Broxton-Saito bridge if the starter can make it through the sixth.
  • But where the hell are the Dodger bats? As pointed out in the Game 8 post-game thread, we've got four players barely swimming above the Mendoza line, and when it includes your leadoff, seventh, and eighth hitters (Pierre, Ethier, Betemit), it leads to a lot of one-two-three innings (specifically, three of our eight innings last night). LA's team batting average (.240) and runs scored (30) are 10th in the NL, and our OPS (.669) is 11th. Using the Pythagorean theorem, our expected wins would have us fourth in the NL West. We need to hit the ball better, and coach Eddie Murray should start hitting the film room with at least half the lineup.

AND, SoSG will be at the Stadium tonight, ready to report about the parking situation and consume some more beers and Dogs. This evening, I'll be on the reserved level. I'll be the one yelling "Juan Pierre, 4-for-4--I told you so." Stop by and say hi.

UPDATE

The lineup, courtesy of Inside the Dodgers:

Pierre, CF
Martin, C
Garciaparra, 1B
Kent, 2B
Gonzalez, LF
Valdez, SS
Ethier, RF
Betemit, 3B
Penny, P

12 comments:

Damon said...

im expecting a no hitter from penny tonight

Steve Sax said...

I am not sure what is more unrealistic, a no-hitter from Penny or a 4-for-4 outing from Pierre.

Alex Cora said...

How about Betemeit getting a hit.

Lasorda said...

A 4 for 4 outing would be more realistic than D'Vaughn getting 4 walks in a game.

Anonymous said...

Which Penny will show up tonight? Half-Penny, Two-Penny, Gold Krugerrand? : )

Orel said...

Six comments, six different commenters. Cool.

Damon said...

brad penny no hitter through 1

Alex Cora said...

Penny looks pretty shaky tonight. And our bats look pretty quiet too.

Alex Cora said...

Nice double steal and cashed in by Nomar.

Steve Sax said...

Sorry I've been quiet. It's cold out here.

Alex Cora said...

Giants and Arizona Lose tonight, hope we can pull this one out!

Alex Cora said...

Saito looked good in the 9th. Gagne who? The bottom of our lineup sucks though.