Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Game 126 Thread: August 22 @ Phillies, 4.05p

Dodgers start Derek Lowe, RHP (9-11, 3.45) vs. J.D. Durbin, RHP (5-2, 5.36).

Dodgers: 64-61 (T-3rd place NL West, 6.0 GB; T-4th place WC, 2.5 GB; L1)
Phillies: 66-58 (2nd place NL East, 5.0 GB; T-1st place WC; W1)

Current postseason odds for the Dodgers, from baseballprospectus.com: 16.5%

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

Dodgers: Lowe snapped a streak of eight starts without a win by shutting down the Astros on Friday, scattering five hits over seven scoreless inning without a walk. Lowe showed no signs of groin or hip discomfort in his first scoreless outing since May 30 and his longest start since June 15.

Phillies: In his last outing, Durbin tossed six innings and allowed three runs -- two earned -- on four hits as the Phillies defeated the Pirates, 11-8, on Saturday. Durbin is 4-1 with a 4.11 ERA in six starts for the Phillies.

More on Wes Parker and the lineup from Inside the Dodgers:

I'm pleased to let you all know that Wes Parker was named as the first baseman on Rawlings All-Time Gold Glove team. So many of you voted for him and having spoken with him yesterday, he couldn't possibly be happier. He sent along this message to share with everyone:

"This award wraps up my career in the most beautiful way possible. I did not expect it. I had a shorter career than the other honorees, have been retired the longest (one year longer than Willie Mays) and was not sure fans would remember me after 35 years away from the game. Also, I am the only one of the nine who is not, or will not soon be, in the Hall of Fame, so am thrilled to have won.

I took great pride in my fielding. The first base position, I think, has been slighted over the years by players thinking they have only to catch throws and dig balls from the dirt to play it well. Nothing could be further from the truth. Dedicated first basemen charge bunts, range to their left and right for grounders, dive for balls, run all over the place for pop-ups and use their arms aggressively. They take risks, go after everything and defend their ground with pride and determination. And in doing all this they expand the position from one of passivity and conservatism to one of action, excitement, daring, beauty and grace.

I was lucky to have been born with good eyesight, quick reactions and a younger brother, Lyn, who for ten years smashed ground balls at me in our front yard. We were just two kids doing what we loved but that period between the ages of eight and 17 clinched for me the respect I have always felt for good defensive play and tried to exhibit during my nine-year career with the Dodgers.

Six months ago, when I first heard of my nomination, I was excited to be the lone Dodger representative among the other 50 and to be included among such fine men and long-time friends as Bill White, Brooks Robinson and the great Roberto Clemente. I am even more excited today to have learned that I finished on top at my position and for this I thank the many voting fans and friends around the country for recognizing my contributions. I also thank the O’Malley family for giving me the chance to play this wonderful game at the big league level, and the current Dodger organization for believing that I deserved to win. Lastly, I thank Rawlings for their 50 years of honoring defensive excellence. I am proud to bring this award home to Los Angeles, prouder still to call it my own personal Hall of Fame."

UPDATE:

Lineup for today is:

Furcal, SS
Pierre, CF
Kemp, RF
Kent, 2B
Ethier, LF
Martin, C
Loney, 1B
Hillenbrand, 3B
Lowe, P

35 comments:

Steve Sax said...

Hey, we've already scored one run for Derek Lowe. Hope he can pitch a shutout, since we never score for him.

Orel said...

Did you see Lowe hustle down the line on his AB? Guess his hip's okay.

Steve Sax said...

Matt Kemp has now grounded out twice on two pitches. From whom is he taking batting tips? Juan Pierre?

Orel said...

Kent double! Ethier home run!

Orel said...

So that's what power feels like!

Orel said...

Okay, Jimmy Rollins is amazing.

Steve Sax said...

Orel, why the Rollins love? Please describe to those of us still stuck at work.

Steve Sax said...

Well, there goes the shutout

Steve Sax said...

Pirre unsurprisingly grounds out on the first pitch!

Kemp follows by taking three pitches, and then singling to right-center. SEE, MATT?! DO NOT EMULATE PIERRE!

Orel said...

Rollins has taken at least two base hits away from us with his incredible range. Like Furcal does a lot.

Steve Sax said...

Too bad Lowe Kd with the bases juiced. Still, 5-1 Dodgers.

Steve Sax said...

Is Jimmy Rollins related to Henry "Black Flag" Rollins?

Orel said...

Furcal & Pierre on base. Seems like forever since we've had that.

Orel said...

Donnelly holds Furcal at third! Bases loaded, no out.

Orel said...

9-1 Dodgers. This is a strange feeling indeed.

Orel said...

"You go to a Dodgers-Phillies game and suddenly in the seventh inning it turns into Baltimore-Texas." —Steve Lyons

Eric Karros said...

It's exactly 1/3 of Baltimore-Texas

Eric Karros said...

Must be an even stranger feeling for Lowe

Steve Sax said...

Free James Loney: 2-for-3 with 3 RBI

Steve Sax said...

SD up 7-2 in the bottom the seventh. ATL losing late, COL losing early.

All eyes on Webb tonight as he tries to chase Orel's record of scoreless consecutive innings...

Steve Sax said...

Triple from Kent scores two! 12-3 Dodgers in the eighth

Steve Sax said...

Ramon Martinez, subbing for Kent, gets Kemp home from third. 13-3.

Steve Sax said...

We have a Mike Lieberthal sighting. Grady is opting to rest Russell, which is crazy, even if only for two innings.

Steve Sax said...

Loney's current batting average: .311. Sounds like a great band.

Steve Sax said...

Can Scott Proctor give up an 11-run home run in the eighth? I suppose we'll find out...

Anonymous said...

Saxy,
I stated yesterday that I wish I was an Angel fan because they have it all. You said that we have 6 titles compared to the Angels 1. Although I will never switch loyalties, (the Dodgers are in my soul)that statement should not be a factor. You played for the Yankees and they have what 30 titles. Does that make a difference for you?

Steve Sax said...

Sweeney continues his sweet pinch-hitting ways, grounding out "softly." Why did we pick this guy up again? Was Manny Mota not available?

Steve Sax said...

Anon, let's chat! Pick up a screen handle, man!

Steve Sax said...

And by the way, I didn't play for the Angels. QED.

Steve Sax said...

The scoreless streak is over! Webb gives up a run in the first, Fielder gets the RBI.

Steve Sax said...

Orel, how are you feeling now that your scoreless inning streak is safe again?

Eric Karros said...

Now halfway to Texas-Baltimore...

Steve Sax said...

Poor Baltimore.

Eric Karros said...

Arizona down 1-0. Orel, you're safe.

Orel said...

Woo-hoo!