Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Game 34 Thread: May 9 @ Marlins, 4.05p

Dodgers start Brett Tomko, RHP (0-3, 4.40) vs. Dontrelle Willis, LHP (5-1, 5.44).

Dodgers: 19-14 (1st place NL West, 1.0 GA, L1)
Marlins: 15-17 (3rd place NL East, 5.0 GB, W1)

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

Dodgers: The bottom three of the Braves' lineup went 0-for-7 against Tomko on Friday in his last start, but the rest of the order went 5-for-12 with six walks as he struggled with his command and lady luck. The four runs scored on a pair of doubles, one by Brian McCann on a pitch well out of the strike zone, the other on a ball that glanced off the glove of center fielder Juan Pierre. Nonetheless, four of the walks factored in Atlanta's two scoring rallies.

Marlins: Willis held the Padres hitless through four innings on Friday, and he was outdueling Greg Maddux, 3-0, going into the sixth inning, when he allowed a bases-loaded triple to Mike Cameron to lose the lead. Willis was most frustrated by the four walks he issued. He has said since Spring Training that his main focus is to cut down on walks this year. On a positive note, he allowed just four hits through six and struck out five.

COMMENTS:

  • 0-3 Brett Tomko vs. the Marlins' ace: who do you think wins this one? Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis? The Dodgers, now 2-3 on this road trip with two games remaining, will need to pull off an upset today and win again tomorrow afternoon to make this a winning road trip. A 14-8 record against NL West opponents is impressive, don't get me wrong--but as I'm looking to avoid a repeat of last year's playoff performance, it would be nice to strike a little bit of fear into the other divisions.
  • Nomar Garciaparra has been a black hole in the third slot over the last three and a half games. Let's see if he can turn this around.
  • Another early game today, make sure to hit the bars early. We'll likely need a stiff drink.

UPDATE, 3.41p:

The lineup, courtesy of Tony Jackson:

SS Furcal
CF Pierre
C Martin -- leads all ML catchers in runs, hits, steals
2B Kent
1B Saenz
3B LaRoche -- has hit safely in all three of his ML games
LF Valdez
RF Clark
RH Tomko -- 6 walks in 4 2/3 innings Fri night at ATL

Looks like a day of rest for the old fellas.

63 comments:

Damon said...

Free James Loney and get Bombko in the pen.

Orel said...

How are we still in first place?

Steve Sax said...

Well, the Giants losing to the Mets today drops them back another half game, before we even take the mound.

It's (almost) time for Dodger Baseball! Good to have you back, damon!

Steve Sax said...

Wow, looking at that lineup...Grady puts up the white flag before the team even takes the field. Swell.

At least he had the sense to move Martin to the three-hole. But Saenz at first? FREE JAMES LONEY!

Alex Cora said...

That sure is some lineup Grady is putting out there. Lets see if we can generate some runs - and play fundamental defense.

Orel said...

Willis wobbly!

Alex Cora said...

Woohoo! We score! Nice take by LaRoche.

Steve Sax said...

Wow, that is a huge at bat and walk from LaRoche. 3-2 count, one foul, and he takes the 7th pitch for a ball? Nice, Andy! 1-0 Dodgers.

Orel said...

Way to show some patience at the plate, Valdez.

Alex Cora said...

If I were Valdez, knowing that Willis is wild, I would have taken those last two pitches - I think he swung at 2 balls.

Steve Sax said...

And Exxon Valdez chokes it. 1-0 Dodgers. At least we made Dontrelle pitch 32 pitches in the first inning.

Out of Dontrelle's seven appearances this year, only his game vs NYM had him throw over 30 pitches in the first inning (he gave up four runs on 34 pitches, facing ten batters). In that game, Willis went 5 and took the loss.

Let's hope this augurs well for the Dodgers.

Steve Sax said...

Tomko has a 1-2-3 inning, only 15 pitches needed. Dodgers 1-0 through one.

Orel said...

At least Tomko's doing his part at the plate.

Steve Sax said...

Pierre has generated two fly outs and has seen only three pitches total, with a wild Willis on the mound. Furcal has also generated two outs (one was an FC) and has seen six pitches.

TAKE A PITCH!!! Especially if Willis is wild (49 pitches through 2).

Ddodger 1-0, on to the 3rd.

Steve Sax said...

61 pitches through three--we are letting Willis off easy. There is no way a one-run lead will hold up so we need to score here.

Steve Sax said...

Tomko gets a RBI! He's pulling a Penny!

Steve Sax said...

With that sacrfice bunt and RBI, Tomko has 25% of Wilson Valdez' RBI this season.

Steve Sax said...

Furcal scores Clark from second!

Now, what pitch # will Pierre swing at? Any takers?

Steve Sax said...

...look at that, Pierre swings at the second pitch. He has now made three outs having seen five pitches. Way to leave a RISP, Juan.

Steve Sax said...

Willis at 75 pitches through four innings of work. Dodgers 3, Marlins 0, on to bottom 4.

Steve Sax said...

Tomko has pitched an economical 50 pitches, through four.

And though he's had baserunners through walks, I'm not going to say what he's working on right now.

LA 3-0 through four, on to top 5.

Alex Cora said...

SD up 1-0 over ATL and ARI 2-0 over PHI.
We need this game.

Alex Cora said...

TOMATO!!!!!!!! Belted that one.

Damon said...

Just when I was thinking Olmedo is way too old he hit's a bomb

Steve Sax said...

Killer Tomato jacks a two-out bomb! 4-0 in the 5th.

Steve Sax said...

How'd it look, party people? Was Olmedo's jack gone from the start?

Steve Sax said...

Vadez has now left five on base in his 0-for-3 day. Not a good seven-hole hitter.

Damon said...

All 5 of the Marlin fans in the stadium tonight gasped

Alex Cora said...

Tomato upper cutted the ball, looked to be a low fastball, sort of a moon shot into the blue seats.

Alex Cora said...

Tomko just struck out the first 2 batters.

Damon said...

Wow Tomko is actually looking really good tonight. Too bad next game he's going to give up 5 runs in 4 innings

Alex Cora said...

Is it too early to say? Avoid the jinx...

Steve Sax said...

Willis is at 92 pitches. His max for the year is 111. Depending on Florida's 5th, he may be done.

Borchard Ks for the first out. Olivo backward Ks for the second out. Amezaga takes the first pitch to line out. Willis will come out to pitch the 6th as he's first up in the bottom of the 6th.

Tomko just had an eight-pitch inning to total 58 pitches, which is unreal. And he is still working on what he is working on, through 5. Dodgers 4-0, on to top 6.

Steve Sax said...

We'll take the sac bunt to move Clark to second. Nice, Tomko.

Furcal had better score Clark though or Pierre will get us out of the inning. Again.

Damon said...

Cabrera really needs to be on a good team

Alex Cora said...

Dammit Pierre you CANNOT leg out a flyout. Hit the damn ball on the GROUND!

Steve Sax said...

Dammit, Juan! He AGAIN swings at the second pitch and AGAIN generates an out. He's had four at-bats, generated four outs, and seen seven pitches total with 3 LOB 2 were RISP). Eddie Murray should take Juan behind the woodshed and kick his ass!

Alex Cora said...

Well, can't get them ALL out. bye bye no-no

Alex Cora said...

Wow, damon, you were right...

Steve Sax said...

Tomko is crumbling, tying run at the plate in a 4-1 game...

Damon said...

For real we either need to get ride of valdez or martinez or both

Steve Sax said...

This is unfortunate. Tomko giving up the bomb now makes it 4-3 and is spoiling the line on what was otherwise a pretty impressive outing. I know Grady wants to rest his bullpen in the middle of a 13-straight-game stretch, but asking Brett Tomko to finish the seventh is crazy. Tomko hasn't gotten through seven since May 15 2006.

Broxton is in and we'll see if he fares better than his lame performance yesterday.

Steve Sax said...

Call me crazy, but I don't think gastball-centric Broxton is the best person to pitch against free-swinging Florida, no?

Steve Sax said...

Ramirez is at second with the tying run. Broxton is all over the board. Come on, Brox!

Sweet! Hopefully that builds his confidence.

Going to inflict Rick Monday on my ears. Back in a second.

Damon said...

I usually bitch about the other teams announcers but these Marlin guys aren't that bad

Steve Sax said...

All right, Juan with RISP yet again...

Alex Cora said...

Don't let them disrespect you Pierre.

Alex Cora said...

Flyout by Pierre. Surprise surprise. Call up Kemp.

Damon said...

They should of pitch hit for him

Steve Sax said...

Pierre swings at the first pitch AGAIN! He is writing my post-game article for me!

Alex Cora said...

Only problem with the marlin announcers is that they keep refering to Josh Willingham as the "hammer". Ugg

Damon said...

I traded Pierre in MLB2k7

Alex Cora said...

Traded for what? A bucket of balls?

Steve Sax said...

Monday at the end of the 8th: "But Broxton labeled...uh, labored, and the dodgers take a one-nothing lead, dodgers 4, marlins 3.". What the hell are you talking about, Rick?

Alex Cora said...

Wow! That was heads up by Valdez. Pretty bunt

Damon said...

Wilson Valdez or Juan Pierre??

Alex Cora said...

Lets GO SAMMY!

Damon said...

Damn Ethier I thought that was gone

Steve Sax said...

I don't know what Valdez was thinking with that bunt, but I'm glad we scored at least one off of Betemit's pinch double. There won't be many of those, after all.

Alex Cora said...

Wow, 95 MPH fastball to 75 MPH slider outside corner. Nice

Alex Cora said...

We didn't score off of Betemit's double. Martin stopped at third. With valdez up, he bunted down the 3rd base line as he saw Caberra was playing deep. It scored Martin and Valdez beat out the throw to first (Betemit to third). Was risky with 2 outs, but worked.

Steve Sax said...

Nice!

Alex Cora said...

That was sweet. Sammy is clutch. Go Blue!