Monday, April 02, 2007

Game 1 Thread: April 2 @ Brewers, 11.05a

Dodgers (0-0, T-1st) @ Brewers (0-0, T-1st)

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

Dodgers: Lowe can be a ground-ball machine when the sinker is sinking. This will be his third Opening Day assignment as a Dodger, and he lost the two others, one time getting whacked, the other losing a tough pitcher's duel. In two starts against the Brewers last year he was 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA.

Brewers: The best part of Sheets' Spring Training was not that he finally had a little success in Arizona. It was that he simply felt healthy, the first time that's been true in spring since 2002, really. When healthy, Sheets is one of a handful of the best pitchers in the National League. His curveball can be devastating in day games at Miller Park because hitters struggle to pick it up in the bright sunlight, and for his career, Sheets has a winning record and a 3.56 ERA in day games. In his four previous Opening Day assignments, Sheets is 2-0 with a 3.80 ERA (nine earned runs in 21 1/3 innings) and 19 strikeouts. The Brewers are 3-1 in those four games, all of which were on the road against a National League Central opponent.

Via Inside the Dodgers comes the lineup for Opening Day:

Pierre, CF
Martin, C
Garciaparra, 1B
Kent, 2B
Gonzalez, LF
Betemit, 3B
Ethier, RF
Martinez, SS
Lowe (0-0, -.--), P

Brewers' starting pitcher: Sheets (0-0, -.--)

COMMENTS

  • Where's Matt Kemp?! Just kidding. But if Grady plans on using him as a late-inning substitution, Kemp's going to have to overcome sitting on the bench for most of the game.
  • Martin batting second on Opening Day is mildly surprising. They must have a lot of faith in him—not that I don't, but let's not pile too much on the kid's plate.
  • If Betemit doesn't start slugging out of the gate, expect to see him hitting seventh or eighth before long.

39 comments:

Steve Sax said...

Is Martin's "kids plate" something like a happy meal? I hope it comes with a toy surprise (like a bobblehead doll).

Orel said...

"Let's not pile too much on his Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity plate."

Alex Cora said...

I'll be watching the first part via MLB.com. Go BLUE!

Orel said...

almost there...
stay on target...

Orel said...

Play ball!

Orel said...

Juan Pierre K's. Go figure.

Orel said...

3 up, 3 down
THE SEASON IS OVER

Alex Cora said...

See the dodgers not do anything top of the first, go get something to eat, come back and there are 2 on and none out. What the hell?

Alex Cora said...

I'm going back to the fridge. Brewers lead 1-0.

Alex Cora said...

BTW, Dionar Navarro is batting now for the D-rays. Remember him?

Orel said...

OK Lowe

Orel said...

KENT IS BACK!

Orel said...

Dioner Navarro is no Russell Martin.

Alex Cora said...

alright!!!! Kent Homers to right center. Brewers - Dodgers tied 1-1.

Orel said...

HR or bust, I guess. 1-1 going in to the bottom of the 2nd.

Alex Cora said...

Pierre bobbles a ball in center then airmails to second base. Come on Juan, play some D!

Orel said...

Is that an E on JP?

Alex Cora said...

Corey Hart is on second for the brewers and he isn't wearing his sunglasses.

Steve Sax said...

Ump isn't giving Lowe any calls in the strike zone...mlb gameday says all of those pitches to Weeks were strikes.

Alex Cora said...

hey David Ross is batting for the Reds, remeber him?

Alex Cora said...

Crap, Hardy singles to center on a meatball down the middle fo the plate by Lowe. Brewers up 2-1.

Alex Cora said...

Crap #2, boss is coming around and I have to stop watching the game on the computer. Time to goto work...Go BLUE!!!!

Orel said...

Alex Cora is fondly reminiscing about former Dodger catchers.

Steve Sax said...

Lowe's on the ropes, 3-1 Brewers. Are we headed for a fourth-straight opening day loss?

Orel said...

aargh

Orel said...

Gameday sucks, BTW. I guess they already determined that at DT.

Steve Sax said...

Lowe falls apart in the fourth. Where is Carolyn Hughes when you need her.

Orel said...

Every time I look away, the Brewers score.

Orel said...

Mark "Game Over" Hendrickson is in.

Orel said...

7-1

Steve Sax said...

Orel: for God's sake, stop looking away!

Steve Sax said...

Ben Sheets has pitched only 88 pitchers and we are in the 8th inning. And the only hit he gave up was the home run to Kent.

F' the power bat. We need ANY bat.

Orel said...

Wow, we are getting one-hit. Can you say "impotent"?

Steve Sax said...

Ben Sheets has exposed our offense as anemic. This is pathetic.

Orel said...

Clark doubles! In your face, Sheets!

Orel said...

(sound of "Taps")

Steve Sax said...

Derek Lowe is now 0-3 in Dodgers Opening Day starts. Counting the loss from Nomo the year prior, we have lost four straight opening days.

Anonymous said...

From the "Department of Redundancy Department:"

Perhaps the Sons of Steve Garvey may wish to rethink the name of their daily game threads.

Instead of "Game Thread for Game X: (enter date, opponent and time here)", might we suggest the following:

"Thread for Game X: (enter date, opponent and time here)"

or perhaps even:

"Game X Thread: (enter date, opponent and time here)"

We at the Department of Redundancy Department hopefully and maybe perhaps hope you'll take this suggestion and or advice with a tongue firmly planted within cheek.

Orel said...

Nice call, dodgerfan in idaho! Give yourself a raise!