Sunday, April 26, 2009

Game 19 Thread: April 26 @ Rockies, 12n

"Getting swept makes me cry."

Clayton Kershaw (0-1, 4.41) vs. Jason Marquis (2-1, 4.26).

COMMENTS: Division sweet division. The Dodgers are now 13-2 against NL West opponents and go for another sweep of the Rockies today. The offense has made like a needle and found its groove, as the Dodgers are averaging six runs a game and have scored in the first inning ten of their 18 games (according to Steve Lyons on last night's post-game show). And there's still room for improvement, if Russell Martin can build on yesterday's four-RBI performance.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers' pitching situation is evolving faster than you can say (Danny) Darwin. ("We're not whole yet in the pitching staff," allows Joe Torre.) Presumptive anchor Hiroki Kuroda will be returning to Los Angeles today to have the dreamy Dr. Neal ElAttrache ElExamine his strained left oblique, but rookie James McDonald—baby steps!—got his first official win yesterday. In the bullpen, last night's hero Ramon Troncoso and Ronald Belisario continue to make their cases to fill in the gaps behind Jonathan Broxton. Even Hong-Chih Kuo might be regaining his mojo.

Rafael Furcal and Casey Blake AND Manny Ramirez (0-for-5 with 3 K's yesterday) are due for the day (or at least the start) off, so expect Juan Castro at short, Blake DeWitt at third and Juan Pierre in left. The Dodgers travel to the warm and caring embrace of San Francisco after today's game for more intra-divisional love. Let's hope they fly into the Bay Area on the wings of a broom.

70 comments:

Steve Sax said...

Juan Pierre starting in left field. Yay.

Orel said...

And leading off!

Pierre, LF
Hudson, 2B
Ethier, RF
Loney, 1B
Martin, C
Kemp, CF
DeWitt, 3B
Castro, SS
Kershaw, P

Alex Cora said...

I don't know why we rest everyone at once. Why don't we rotate some of the players rest? Taking out Furcal, Blake, and Manny all at once just doesn't seem good.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Torre did that with a Saturday game against the Rox (Castro for Furcal, DeWitt for Blake, and Ausmus for Martin). The Dodgers scored 9 runs that game.

NicJ said...

its gotta be hard for young clayton to take the mound when you know its in Coors Field, but then you look at the lineup and see casey, raffy, AND manny not on it.

Rats!

NicJ said...

i heard a radio interview with russ the other day and he was talking about wanting clayton to attack the strike zone a little more. He was saying that his early mentality was to strike guys out rather than for guys to hit bad pitches, which would explain his high pitch count.

Steve Sax said...

I keep watching that Canada ad, secretly hoping that the rope line snaps and the guy falls into the river.

The giggly guy on the kayak has also got to go. Maybe that seal can capsize him.

NicJ said...

hmm, hudson seems to have withered a bit without the manny shield.

karina said...

After back to back walks, it's not nice a ground out and a fly out.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Kershaw's Curve is really droppping well. The problem is the fastball. He's trying to nip the corners. That can really raise his pitchcount.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Seriously? Clint Barmes?

NicJ said...

what the hell happened i changed the channel for 30 seconds

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I guess it is true. Coors is where young pitchers go to die.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Nice throw by Martin

NicJ said...

again

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Aw crap, this one's over.

NicJ said...

i blame eric collins, im sure he is calling this game at home.

NicJ said...

over? its coors field.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Sorry, that's my usual reaction when the Dodgers trail by four. You know how it is with habits.

Steve Sax said...

Yeah, I wouldn't say it's over, but having pierre in the lineup doesn't help our cause.

NicJ said...

JP will slap bunt us to a W

(arm falls off)

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

How have there been no Dodger home runs in this vacuum of a ballpark?

karina said...

Surprnsigly, Pierre did walk on the 3rd. Maybe we're lucky and he'll get a couple of leadoff infleld singles.

Steve Sax said...

Dear Clayton Kershaw,

Good luck coming back from any run deficit with this lineup.

Sincerely, Joe Torre

PS. ApodacaApodacaApodaca

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I hate Brad Hawpe

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

Nice little double play.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I've given up on this game. I've switched to Bulls/Celtics

Steve Sax said...

We've had no hits for the last three innings.

4-0 Colorado at the end of four.

Orel said...

Loney saves Kershaw's bacon on that play.

Orel said...

Clayton needs some home cooking. Runners at first and third.

NicJ said...

walked to get hawpe?

Orel said...

Uh-oh. RA for Hawpe.

Orel said...

They only walked the guy after a WP advanced the runners to 2nd & 3rd.

NicJ said...

but hawpe kills the dodgers

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I said it before and I'll say it again. I hate Hawpe.

Orel said...

Clayton gets the hook after walking in the Rockies' sixth run. Meanwhile, the Celtics and Bulls are in double overtime.

Orel said...

The idea was an out at any base, I guess.

Orel said...

Bulls win!

Orel said...

Oh Kemp.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

All 3 go to Kershaw

karina said...

Is Fowler as good as he seems in gameday?


We're down for 6 runs.

NicJ said...

now its over.

Orel said...

Well, this one's over. 9-0 Rockies, all nine runs charged to Kershaw.

Orel said...

Fowler is very fast.

karina said...

What did Kemp do?

By the way, i'm off i gotta go to work.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Kershaw's ERA sky-rocketed. 3 runs higher than it was before the game.

Orel said...

Here comes Juan to save the day!

Orel said...

Vin walked about the winds shifting. Baker hit it hard to Kemp, who ran back with full extension. The ball bounced off the tip of his glove and the bases cleared.

Alex Cora said...

Uh, this game sucks. No starters = Loss. Sorry Clayton.

Eric Karros said...

Hi folks, just checking in. 9-0, eh? Looks like Dinger can save his tears.

Orel said...

Vin says it's starting to rain.

Orel said...

Loney double makes it 9-2!

Steve Sax said...

Two bad starts in a row. So is Kershaw just Billingsley circa two years ago, where upside comes with maturity?

Eric Karros said...

I'm just now looking at the box score. Ugly.

Loney 2-run double. Better than nothing.

Eric Karros said...

Inning over. I have to go to my car to get my Dustbuster. I'll be back.

NicJ said...

give calyton a break he is still young and has alot of potential to live up to. It doesnt help that everyone wants to call him the 2nd koufax.

you should really blame the GM for a thin rotation to begin with.

NicJ said...

clayton*

damn spectacles

NicJ said...

i think eric collins is in that dinger suit tonight.

Orel said...

Fowler has 2 HR so far this season. He could be pretty good.

Just knocked in another RBI. 10-2 Rockies.

Steve Sax said...

9-2.

And THAT'S why you SoSGers shouldn't be making fun of purple triceratops mascots.

(Arm falls off.)

Eric Karros said...

Meanwhile the Pistons are keeping it close vs Cavaliers.

And in 6th-round NFL draft news, the Giants just took Deandre Wright from New Mexico with the 201st overall pick.

I can't believe he fell so far. I had him going 197th.

Eric Karros said...

Ohman goes 1-2-3 in 7th.

Steve Sax said...

How did your Giants do this NFL Draft, Delino?

Eric Karros said...

They stole Deandre Wright with the 201st pick.

Steve Sax said...

How did your Giants do this NFL Draft, Delino?

NicJ said...

is it over yet? i stopped watching and refuse to turn it back.

Eric Karros said...

It keeps going until someone drafts Mel Kiper Jr just to shut him up.

Eric Karros said...

Hey, Martin drives in Loney. 10-3!

NicJ said...

the subs are 1-11 today and o dog is 0-3, who says manny doesnt make a difference.

and its not like there going against a marquee pitcher.

(pun intended)

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Jeff Kent, that's who.