Thursday, June 19, 2008

Game 72 Thread: June 19 @ Reds, 9.30a

Eric Stults (2008 debut) vs. Aaron Harang (3-9, 4.10).

COMMENTS: You want a harang(ue)? How about mlb.com getting its story straight so it's clear who the damn starting pitcher is before game time? The Dodgers also welcome back Eric Stults to the team after he went 1-0 in 2006 and 1-4 in 2007, with a career ERA of 5.75. I was fortunate to have met Eric during last year's cup of coffee, and he's a nice guy (and indeed did kick ass during The Transporter, Crank, and Lock Stock). Let's hope Stults opens a can of whupass on the Reds today and we get a much-needed sweep.

403 comments:

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Steve Sax said...

Pierre, LF
DeWitt, 3B
Kent, 2B
Martin, C
Loney, 1B
Kemp, CF
Ethier, RF
Berroa, SS
Stults, P

The four through seven slots had better show up this morning.

Erin said...

Is this lineup weird? Maybe I haven't been paying attention lately, but Kent third and Ethier seventh?

I guess I shouldn't be surprised by anything Torre throws out there.

Steve Sax said...

I'm with you, Erin (though not literally (unfortunately)). It seems like a pretty big black hole at the top of the order (save DeWitt--but he can't do it alone). At least Stults has a pretty good bat, though batting between Berroa and Pierre isn't great either.

Steve Sax said...

Speaking of being with you, Erin, you busy this weekend (I am serious)? I'm heading out your way.

Erin said...

Sax, I don't think I'll be too busy. My girlfriend has to work all day Saturday, and I have to drive a friend to the airport at some point that day. But I'm definitely up for getting together for a drink or a meal of some sort, if that's what you're suggesting.

Eric Karros said...

I never saw The Transporter, Crank, or Lock Stock, but I enjoyed Eric Stults' work in Mask.

Erin said...

Weird. MLB.tv has the Dodgers' feed today, even though it's in Cincinnati. That's good.

Steiner says this is the same lineup as the last two nights. Guess I really haven't been paying attention.

Orel said...

See what happens when you actually take a few pitches? Kent doubles!

Erin said...

Two outs on three pitches. That's the way to start the game, Dodgers.

Orel said...

Martin doubles too! 1-0 Dodgers!

Erin said...

Seems like maybe Pierre and DeWitt should have been a little more patient. Then maybe Kent's double would have been preceded with "RBI."

But then, Martin swings at the first pitch and we get a run out of it. So what the hell do I know?

Erin said...

A lot of the guys seem to have decided to wear their pants and socks in the more traditional baseball way. I can't recall seeing Loney doing that most of the season.

Orel said...

Loney works the walk. This is a good sign.

Erin said...

Hopefully it's making those top two guys kick themselves for not sticking around in the at-bat a little longer.

Orel said...

Day games and high socks go well together.

Orel said...

Swinging at the first pitch is a conundrum. If a pitcher has no control, you want to make him throw a lot of pitches. At the same time, he's more likely to throw a fat fastball for the first pitch to get ahead in the count. This is Jeff Kent's thinking when he swings at a lot of first pitches, but he made a nice adjustment this inning.

Orel said...

Hey Sax, I just tried calling you back.

Erin said...

I think I get most angry about the swinging at the first pitch thing when it happens early in the game. At least see what the guy is throwing first. That is particularly true for Pierre, whose job is, in part, to take pitches so the other guys can see what's happening.

Orel said...

Gun shows Stults' fastball at 88 mph.

Orel said...

Good point, Erin.

Orel said...

Stults K's Bruce!

Orel said...

Loney & Stults go together like day games & knee socks!

Erin said...

Good inning for Stults. We didn't see any jitters.

Orel said...

Harang is 6'7", 275 lbs.

Erin said...

Goodness. Harang weighs 275 pounds? He's huge!

Orel said...

Tough break for Ethier. But at least he made solid contact.

Steve Sax said...

Ethier has another eight-pitch at bat. Is it just me, or does it seem like he is pretty patient at the plate?

Steve Sax said...

Orel, I'm calling you right now.

Steve Sax said...

Orel I'm talking to you right now. And the connection sucks.

This new job of yours underground is awful.

Erin said...

Wow. Stults gets eight pitches and takes a walk. Nicely done.

Erin said...

Pierre leads the National League in BA with RISP? I don't know what to do with that information.

Steve Sax said...

Thanks, Orel

Orel said...

Another blown opportunity. I think Berroa's been getting baserunning tips from Pierre.

Erin said...

That ended badly. Pierre pops up to left (maybe that stat I just quoted is no longer true) and Berroa somehow gets doubled up at second on a friggin' pop-up. Ugh.

Steve Sax said...

Erin, that Pierre line cannot be true.

And if it is, it's only because of small sample size, given there is never anyone on base when his leadoff spot rolls around.

karina said...

Hi guys! thanks for the updates, i just got back home from my internships...

Loney has been rocking the high socks for a few days now...

Steve Sax said...

Bowa should read Berroa the riot act in the dugout...

Erin said...

I swear that's what Steiner and Lyons said. I hope I heard them incorrectly. I'm going to look it up. But I did think it must have something to do with sample size.

karina said...

I think Pierre has hit a double and a triple with RISP in the last two games.

Orel said...

Don't worry, Russell, I don't think Dunn is a threat to steal.

Steve Sax said...

It's funny b/c that inning-ending DP is wrong for so many reasons

--Slappy flies out yet again
--Slappy flies out with two men on
--Slappy flies out on the third pitch since he had put himself in an 0-2 hole to begin with
--Berroa is doubled off second base
--Berroa is doubled off after left fielder Adam Dunn catches it

Stults had to be standing on first saying, "what the f'? I worked a walk for this?"

karina said...

When gameday says, while Dunn at the plate, "in play, no outs", gives you the creeps. At least it was a single.

Orel said...

Two foul-ball outs in one inning. Go Stults!

Orel said...

Not only did Dunn hit a single, Karina, but it went about ten feet in front of the plate.

Orel said...

Full count for DeWitt! Dodgers are taking pitches!

Orel said...

Karina, I found this for you:

http://tinyurl.com/68g9gl

Erin said...

They were at least right about Pierre's average with RISP. It is .391 (25-46). I can't find a list of the league leaders in that category, though.

Orel said...

Remember the Dodgers' 15-game winning streak earlier this season? They were taking a lot of pitches then too.

Erin said...

Sorry, that's 18-46.

Orel said...

Damn, Russell tagger that.

Orel said...

tagged

karina said...

you found me a badge! that's so sweet, Orel!

and my son Martin lines out.

Erin said...

The Dodgers have been hitting the ball hard today. With Harang's pitch count and the Dodgers' patience thus far, it sure feels like we should have a bigger lead.

Orel said...

Attention, Fashion Police! Ruling on James Loney's fly-type sunglasses?

Orel said...

Charley says Kuroda to the DL.

Erin said...

And he also says Chan Ho Park is expected to start on Saturday. I always feel like I'd rather see Kuo than Park.

Orel said...

KEMP BOMB! Sorry to spoil the surprise, mlb.tv-ers!

Steve Sax said...

Kemp, on the second pitch!

Erin said...

A bit of a spoiler, Orel, but the ones involving home runs are always welcome.

karina said...

I saw those sunglasses last week and i liked them a lot, though i don't fancy the tiny silver little things at the sides. He wore another pair of sunglases 2 or 3 days ago, and i swear those wore the most stylish sunglasses i've ever seen on a baseball player.

sunglassses+high socks=glamourous.

karina said...

Those Kemp homers seem to be coming more often!

Steve Sax said...

Orel, how are you keeping track of this game? Can you get a radio or tv signal from your underground bunker?

Steve Sax said...

Andre again with bad luck--but again with a lot of pitches (he has seen 14 pitches in two at bats, which helps out the team!).

Orel said...

Visual aid for the Fashion Police:

http://tinyurl.com/5hh9ee

Steve Sax said...

Berroa with his SECOND hit in two ABs? Impossible.

karina said...

I meant 2 or 3 WEEKS ago.

Orel said...

Sax, I knew I should have taken a left at Albuquerque!

Orel said...

Hit & run with the pitcher up? And the pitcher gets a hit?!

Steve Sax said...

stultsie reaches base again too!

Slappy, try to get a hit this time and not a DP

Orel said...

Charley is having a heart attack!

Steve Sax said...

There you go, whoomp!

Orel said...

S-A-F-E-T-Y squeeze!

karina said...

Sax, i guess Berroa realized his batting avg is similar to Sweeney's.

Orel said...

"In a safety squeeze, the runner at third does not take off until the batter makes contact bunting, waiting for more certainty that the ball will go to a location from which it will be difficult for the fielding team to make an out at home plate."

Steve Sax said...

3-0 Dodgers, and Pierre improves his already red-hot RISP hitting.

karina said...

Pierre singled in a sac bunt, Berroa scores...

Erin said...

That was a nice bunt from Pierre.

I am now waiting to be struck by lightning.

Orel said...

Seattle manager John McLaren fired, Jim Riggleman takes over.

Orel said...

Erin, wear rubber socks!

Steve Sax said...

Slappy can squeeze if you want to. He can leave the Reds behind.

'Cause if the Reds can't field, and if Slappy can run, then score the run just fine.

Steve Sax said...

Can't spell Kent without a K

karina said...

Sax, i just imagined you saying that in a lovely southern accent, like a Coen castoff character...

karina said...

Orel, King James is wearing the sunglasses i adore, last weekend he changed them.

Erin said...

Man, the streaming internet feed made it a little difficult to tell if Kemp caught that ball.

Erin said...

Stults has given up two hits today: an infield single and a little bloop to right. No one has hit the ball particularly hard.

karina said...

Another throwing error by Martin, trying to get the runner stealing. Well, he can't be perfect.

Erin said...

No harm, no foul on that error, though. Stults struck out Dunn, then got the guy next guy to pop up.

Orel said...

Loney broken-bat single! Men on 1st & 2nd!

karina said...

Son Martin walked and fashionista singled...no outs.

Orel said...

Run James run!

karina said...

Don't you love these youngsters?

Erin said...

They always say it's a good thing when guys go the other way with their hits. If that's true, Kemp is looking good.

Lyons is gross, talking about Kemp and peeing. And then Steiner brings up Dick Pole. That was weird.

Erin said...

Lyons: "I call Kemp the 'Tinkle Guy' because you don't want to be going to the bathroom while this guy is batting, because he can make things happen."

Steiner: "Dick Pole..."

As close to a direct quote from Lyons as my memory will allow.

Orel said...

Hee hee, Erin!

karina said...

That quote is awfully gross. You should try to erase it from your memory, Erin.

Steve Sax said...

Steve Lyons and his dreams of golden showers are stories I can do without.

Why not just call Kemp "Bison", like the rest of us?

Steve Sax said...

Stults' avg drops to .500 with that strikeout.

Steve Sax said...

Harang is at 107 pitches through five. Stults is at 50 through four.

Stults is dealing today. And we need him in the ro'!

Steve Sax said...

By the way, we're at 98 comments through 4.5 innings. We're on pace for 200.

Steve Sax said...

100!

Steve Sax said...

Bako bako bako bako bako bako bako

Sorry, I started playing Pac-Man there.

Erin said...

Guys, I'm sorry, but I'm rooting for the Padres today. They probably won't win, but I need to send them good vibes while they play the Yankees.

Orel said...

Which is the team more in need: the Dodgers or the Red Sox?

karina said...

The Dodgers.I'm watching that game too, besides I have a soft spot for Chamberlain and Abreu starts on fantasy.

Orel said...

Mike Lincoln pitching for the Reds. Dodgers need to put Chan Ho in so we can have a Lincoln-Park matchup.

Erin said...

At this point, Chamberlain might be the Yankee I hate the most. I will have an amazing day if he loses to the Padres.

The Yankees need to lose a game so they don't continue the roll they're on. The Sox are playing well, but I don't need to hear from moronic Yankee fans about how they're catching up to the Sox. Besides, the Yankees get to play the Reds next, so New York will have a nice weekend.

Orel said...

Nice hustle by DeWitt to avoid the DP!

Erin said...

According to Lyons, a good player is one who "comes to the ballpark everyday."

Orel said...

I could do that!

Erin said...

I could do it, too. I think we're headed to the Hall of Fame.

Orel said...

Erin, you're on fire!

Erin said...

You know how they put guys on the DL, and it's generally retroactive to a certain date? Anyone know what the rules are on that? Like, how far you can go back in time to put a guy on the DL? Just curious.

Orel said...

Reds with two singles to start the sixth. Can Stults bear down?

Orel said...

Stults rocks the DP to escape the inning!

Orel said...

Erin, my initial guess would be you can go as far back as the player's last idle game.

Orel said...

"Players may be put on the DL at a date retroactive to the last day they played. This allows a team to avoid being penalized because it avoids the disadvantage of playing with a reduced roster. Retroactive placement may be made at most 10 days after the time of injury. When a player is listed as day-to-day before being placed on the disabled list, it therefore may pinpoint the date of the injury."

Steve Sax said...

Can I just say, Stults is ROCKING today. Good for him.

Clearly, his meeting me last year paid dividends.

Orel said...

Ethier makes sure all Dodger starters have a hit!

Steve Sax said...

karina, I just noticed you called me a Coen castoff character. Yikes!

Though I will say--and Orel can back me up on this--I am a SUCKER for southern accents. I melt.

Erin said...

Cool, Orel. Thanks.

Sax, meeting you pays dividends for anyone who can claim such a pleasure. Even I almost went out and pitched six scoreless innings soon after we met.

Steve Sax said...

This Dodger hit parade is crazy...except for the fact that we're playing the Reds.

Steve Sax said...

Oh, Erin, you're making me blush. That's just the comped beer talking.

And just think, you don't even have a southern accent, and I still love you.

Steve Sax said...

Stults batting in the seventh with RISP! Will Torre let him run the CG?

Erin said...

I was raised partially in the south, though, and sometimes people hear a southern accent in my voice. I can turn it on when I want to.

Steve Sax said...

Dear Mark Sweeney. Your spot has been replaced by...ERIC STULTS (who, even with that K with Ethier on second, is still batting 220 points ahead of Sweeney).

karina said...

Sax, i didn't mean to offend you.

Same here, i melt with southern accents.

Steve Sax said...

"I can turn it on when I want to."

Okay, this GT is getting too saucy for prime time. My monitor is fogging up.

Orel said...

That was a killer pitch to strike JP out on.

Erin said...

Wow. I have Gavin Floyd of the White Sox on my fantasy team, and he's currently losing to the Pirates 6-2. But get this: not one of those six runs are earned. That seems strange. I mean, the Sox had one error that should have been the third out, and all six runs occurred after that. But at some point, the pitcher has to be held accountable for not getting that final out, right?

Steve Sax said...

karina, no offense taken. After all, I referred to you as a gnome once.

I'd actually be psyched to be a Coen castoff, probably most so in Fargo (one of my favorites) or Raising Arizona (there's that southern accent again).

Orel said...

Erin: Southern accent = free beers from Sax.

Steve Sax said...

Orel, the funny thing is, one doesn't even NEED a killer pitch to strike Juan Pierre out.

Steve Sax said...

Slappy strands Andre in scoring position, btw.

karina said...

Erin, somehow i pictured you like Annie in "Bull Durham". Without the groupie thing, OF COURSE.

Orel said...

Only one error, Erin? You'd think some of those runs would be earned.

karina said...

Fargo and Raising Arizona rock my world.

Erin said...

That's what confused me, Orel. But according to the play-by-play, there was an error on a fielder's choice, which allowed a run to score and loaded the bases. The next hit was a double that cleared the bases. At that point, I guess I would assume the runs would be earned, but the next hit was a home run that scored two. Then the inning ended. Strange, for sure.

Orel said...

The ball went off a diving Loney's glove and hit Votto. 6-1 Dodgers, men on 1st & 2nd w/no out for the Reds. Thank you and good night, Eric Stults. Great job.

Erin said...

Poor Stults. He should be able to finish out the seventh.

Orel said...

How is the HR not an earned run? Is the ruling that everything after the error is unearned?

Erin said...

I guess that's what they're saying, unless ESPN has it wrong right now. Sure doesn't seem like the homer should be unearned, but maybe because the error should have been the final out? I don't know. It's strange.

Orel said...

"To determine whether a run is earned, the official scorer must reconstruct the inning as it would have occurred without the errors (for purposes of this rule, the "errors" also include passed balls). The benefit of the doubt is always given to the pitcher in determining which bases would have been reached by errorless play....

"While the inning is still being played, this last scenario can cause a temporary situation where a run has already scored, but its earned/unearned status is not yet certain. For example, with two outs, a runner on third base scores on a passed ball. For the time being, the run is unearned since the runner should still be at third. If the batter strikes out to end the inning, it will stay that way. If the batter gets a base hit, which would have scored the runner anyway, the run now becomes earned.

"When pitchers are changed in the middle of an inning, and one or more errors have already occurred, it is possible to have a run charged as earned against a specific pitcher, but unearned to the team. The simplest example is when the defensive team records two outs and makes an error on a play that would have been the third out. A new pitcher comes into the game, and the next batter hits a home run. The runner who reached on the error comes around to score, and his run is unearned to both the prior pitcher and the team. However, the run scored by the batter is counted as earned against the relief pitcher, but unearned to the team (since there should have already been three outs). Had the team not switched pitchers, neither run would be counted as an earned run because that pitcher should have already been out of that inning."

Orel said...

You can print that last post and take it to the bathroom if you'd like.

karina said...

The run produced by the homer should be earned.

The run batted in for the homer should be unearned.

i think...

Erin said...

Both Yahoo and ESPN are listing all six runs as unearned, so I guess that's the way it will be, barring a change of heart from the official scorer. But it must be this part that he's following:

"Had the team not switched pitchers, neither run would be counted as an earned run because that pitcher should have already been out of that inning."

The error occurred on what should have been the first out. Still seems crazy, though. If the White Sox had scored twenty runs, would they have all been unearned just because that one out wasn't recorded? It's kind of nice for the stats for that pitcher.

Erin said...

Steiner (to Proctor): "You're leading by five runs late in the game. Throw strikes."

Amen.

Orel said...

Uh-oh, Jay Bruce represents the tying run.

Erin said...

Stults doesn't deserve this.

Erin said...

Correction to my above post: the error occurred on what should have been the third out.

Eric Karros said...

I see I have joined in the middle of a complicated discussion. I take it we recently committed an error.

karina said...

We don't really deserve Proctor, either.

Orel said...

Epale, EK!

Orel said...

This blowout has turned into a nail-biter.

karina said...

Epale, Eric!

Eric Karros said...

So I guess the ERA of a team is not always the weighted average of the ERA of its pitchers.

Orel said...

Blimey, Beimel! Not bad! One more out to go!

Orel said...

Brox!

Eric Karros said...

Epale Karina!

Eric Karros said...

Epale Orel!

Erin said...

Okay, so now here's a question related to this game. Those two runs the Reds scored were Stults' runners, but are they earned?

Orel said...

Broxton is rocking the Beimelesque sideburns.

6-4 Dodgers....

karina said...

Yes, they are.

Orel said...

Gameday says Stults has allowed 3 runs, but only 1 earned.

Orel said...

I love Fuji apples.

karina said...

Erin, Yankees are winning 2-1. The winning run was a single by Jeter (who hitted a very upside ball), a force out by Abreu , a stolen base by Jeter and then, a single by A-Rod.

But i might add for somewhat undisclosed reason, the infielders were playing close to their positions in the A-Rod at bat. Banks, a rookie pitcher, was way higher than 100 pitches at Yankee Stadium.

Bruce Bochy sucks.

Erin said...

Thanks for the update, Karina.

I might not be able to stick around for the end of this suddenly close Dodgers game. That's unfortunate.

Erin said...

For the record, Sax, the four through seven slots heard you today, so far.

They're currently 6-13 with 5 RBI, 3 runs scored, 1 HR, and three doubles.

That's before this Martin at-bat, which has not yet concluded in my world.

karina said...

Glad you're eating apples, Orel.

Orel said...

Thanks, Karina. I credit Mrs. Orel for helping me eat healthier. Hello, bran cereal!

karina said...

King James singled, no outs, let's get an insurance run!

karina said...

awwww, Mrs. Orel. That's real love, do you realize that?. She wants you to be healthier so she loves you for more time.

Orel said...

That was a perfect throw by Jay Bruce.

karina said...

My mistake, King James doubled!

karina said...

Speaking of Kemp, the announcers in the Yankees-Padres games are talking about gifted runners who commit lots of mistakes. Can you guess one of the examples they gave?

karina said...

Ethier singles, Fashionista scores!

karina said...

I guess it's time to Young to show up.

karina said...

*sigh* will Sweeney get his daily strike out?

Erin said...

Okay guys, I have to leave. Taking a bus down to a fancy movie set. I'll check in on my phone if I can get a signal on the bus.

karina said...

have a great time over there, Erin.

karina said...

and Sweeney struck out, of course.

Orel said...

Stay out of those eyelines, Erin!

Karina, it's true. My wife wants to love me longer, as opposed to having more of me to love.

karina said...

I don't know Mrs Orel but:
Congratulations, Orel!

Orel said...

Bruce tried to call time-out before a called strike three. Ump didn't give it to him. Bruce argued he wasn't ready and probably said a naughty word as he walked away.

karina said...

I misread. Runner advanced to 2nd due to defensive indifference.

Orel said...

Game over! Dodgers get a much-needed sweep! Let's do it again tomorrow, everybody!

karina said...

I feel very sad this series against the Reds have ended. The Dodgers should play them every day. In fact, they could buy them lunch.

karina said...

Tomorrow i'll be watching the game in TV.

karina said...

edit: The Dodgers should buy the Reds lunch.

karina said...

Have a great afternoon everyone!

Steve Sax said...

edit: The Dodgers just ate the Reds' lunch.

Yay for the Dodgers! Yay for the sweep!

Steve Sax said...

Guess we're not getting to 200. Oh well.

Orel said...

The Dodgers drank the Reds' milkshake.

Only seven more comments to go!

karina said...

Jay Bruce asked for time-out to check out King James' sunglasses.

karina said...

what kind of milkshake do the Reds drink?

5 comments to go...

Orel said...

"Ump! Time out to check out King James' fly shades!"

karina said...

Ump: can't you ask him about the shades after the game?

Bruce: but, but...

that's why he got so mad...

karina said...

We're spoiling Sax, 2 comments to go...

Steve Sax said...

karina, you're the best!

Steve Sax said...

200!

Steve Sax said...

AZ scores in the bottom of the 8th to take a 2-1 lead. Come on, Oakland!

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