Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Game 138 Thread: Sept. 4 @ Cubs, 5.05p

Dodgers start Brad Penny, RHP (14-4, 2.88) vs. Steve Trachsel, RHP (6-8, 4.48).

Dodgers: 72-65 (3rd place NL West, 4.0 GB; T-2nd place WC, 3.0 GB; W2)
Cubs: 70-66 (1st place NL Central, 1.5 GA, L1)

Current postseason odds for the Dodgers, from Baseball Prospectus: 30.0%

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

Dodgers: Penny struggled against the Nationals on Wednesday afternoon, allowing six runs on eight hits while striking out only one in five innings. The righty didn't figure in the decision, despite leaving the game down, 8-3. The Nationals just peppered the All-Star, putting the ball in play pitch after pitch, and Penny didn't help his cause, leaving his fastball up in the zone too often. Penny is 2-2 with a 2.60 ERA in seven career starts against the Cubs.

Cubs: Trachsel will likely make his first start for the Cubs since Sept. 3, 1999. The right-hander, acquired by the Cubs from Baltimore for two Minor Leaguers, was needed for his experience. He also had a solid August, posting a 2.37 ERA last month. The only player left from his first stint with the Cubs is Kerry Wood.

From Inside the Dodgers, the lineup:

Furcal, SS
Pierre, CF
Kemp, RF
Kent, 2B
Gonzo, LF
Martin, C
Loney, 1B
LaRoche, 3B
Penny, P

50 comments:

Steve Sax said...

Guess Gonzo's 2-for-3 performance yesterday (with 2 R) outweighs Ethier's 2-for-5 performance with 1 R.

Hear that? That's the sound of bones creaking at Wrigley Field....does Grady think it's Gonzo's birthday a second day in a row?

Lasorda said...

What's slower? Gonzo in the OF, or Traschel's delivery on the mound? Be prepared for lots of random baseball tales between pitches tonight. . .

Steve Sax said...

I would have loved to have seen a James Baldwin-Steve Trachsel showdown (slowdown?). I can just imagine the stories Rick Monday would tell without having to worry about letting half-inning breaks get in the way.

Steve Sax said...

By the way, playoff odds are at 30%for the first time since AUGUST 11. Yeesh.

Orel said...

Trachsel is sooooo slow.

Orel said...

We're the freakin' Keystone Kops on the basepaths today. Kemp picked off in the 1st, Gonzo and Martin thrown out in separate plays in the 2nd.

Steve Sax said...

Matt Kemp, picked off once again in the first inning. Wonderful.

Penny also is issuing a ton of walks.

And James Loney, would it have been too much to have asked for a sac fly? And what the hell was Martin thinking getting doubled off first with one out?

Orel said...

Penny settling down after a rough 1st inning. 0-0 after three.

Steve Sax said...

nice job of Brad not to get flustered by the two-out Derrek Lee double.

Orel said...

Anyone who wanted to trade youngsters for Mark Teixeira should look at Atlanta: two games above .500 and losing to Philly right now.

Orel said...

Matt Kemp is leggy.

Steve Sax said...

Shiver me timbers, Gonzo with a RBI! 1-0 Dodgers

Steve Sax said...

It woud be nice if Atlanta beat Philly today. In 35 innings. Using every pitcher on both teams.

Steve Sax said...

Daryle Ward, are you kidding me?
Men at the corners with none out for Penny.

Steve Sax said...

Crap, there goes the shutout

Steve Sax said...

That's the Jason Kendall we remember out here in CA! Inning-ending GIDP.

On the Dodgers' side, I suppose we need Brad penny to double and uan Pierre to single him in in order to score. 2-1 Dodgers.

Steve Sax said...

Pierre's signature quickness can't score him from second on a deep Kemp single to right. Nice job, Juan.

Furcal scores on the play from third, though, so it's 3-1 Dodgers going to bottom 5.

Steve Sax said...

Maybe Pierre didn't realize that SOME outfielders can throw the ball all the way to the catcher??

Steve Sax said...

Orel, quit drooling over Matt Kemp's legs and get back to commenting here.

Orel said...

The DP is Brad Penny's best friend. I think that's his third today.

Orel said...

Kerry Wood!

Orel said...

RBI double by La Roche! I mean LaRoche!

Orel said...

AZ scores two off "Tall Chris Young" of SD in the 1st.

Orel said...

JP with his second two-out RBI today!

Steve Sax said...

Loney leads off with a single, and LaRoche doubles him home! 4-2 dodgers!

Steve Sax said...

Sorry I am commenting so late. 5-2 with that Pierre RBI.

This blackberry is slooooooow

Orel said...

Okay Brad, just make it through the seventh and the bullpen will take it from there.

Orel said...

Why was LaRoche taken out?

Steve Sax said...

Steiner had some serious man-love for Kerry Wood.

Oh, man, it's Ohman.

Orel said...

Okay, Wilson Valdez (pinch running for Gonzo) is wearing the same silly necklace as Hu. What's up with that.

Steve Sax said...

Slick Rick Monday's fun fact of the game: "Will Ohman has 9200 songs on his ipod."

Thanks, Rick.

Steve Sax said...

Loney with the IBB! Yeah, you know me.

Gonzo had a 2-for-4 day with a RBI. He's playing like a 38-year-old!

Orel said...

Free score!

Steve Sax said...

This drive home is awful today.

Orel, don't we want the snakes to lose?

Orel said...

Mark Sweeney up. THERE'S NOBODY OUT, MARK.

Orel said...

Yeah, if we're conceding the division to the Padres.

Orel said...

sign at Wrigley: WE BOO BECAUSE WE CARE!

Orel said...

Backwards K for Sweeney. Thanks for playing.

Alex Cora said...

Hey, we are winning!!! Pinella looked pissed when he took that last pitcher out.

Orel said...

Martin getting greedy!

Steve Sax said...

Sweeney pulls an Olmedo and Ks.

YET ANOTHER RICH DONNELLY IDIOT MOVE! Sending Martin home on a weak pop fly, leading to a Martin injury and a third out. Brilliant.

Orel said...

Broxton in. Not a hold situation?

Orel said...

Did Donnelly send Martin?

Orel said...

Loney starts DP #4!

Alex Cora said...

That was so far outside to Ethier. That was a ball. The ump was just tired and wants to go home and sleep.

Alex Cora said...

Non save situation for Saito - why is he in?

Alex Cora said...

5th DP - great glove save and a beauty for Saito.

Alex Cora said...

Saito closes it out again! Go Blue!!!

Orel said...

Matt Kemp has interview patter down pat.

Steve Sax said...

Patter pat? Sounds like the Dodgers' offense in August.