Eric Stults (2-1, 5.50) vs. Doug Davis (2-3, 2.91).
COMMENTS: Fresh off of the euphoria of a four game slamdown on the division rival Padres, the Dodgers have rolled to a perfect 10*-0 home start to break the franchise record for consecutive home wins to start a season, tying the NL record in the process (with three other teams). It's going so well, we can start a lineup with four second-stringers and see three of them produce at the plate (the only one to go hitless, the 0-for-3 Mark Loretta, is still batting .391 on the year).
So what better way to jinx the streak than to have SoSG's own Alex Cora and Steve Sax show up to the Stadium in person? (Third base side, field level--please comment in the thread if you'll be at the game, and we can arrange a time to grab a beer, assuming they've restored wireless service to the Ravine.) Perhaps having a greater impact on the outcome of the game will be our starter, Stults, who got rocked in his last outing in SF (5 ER in 2.2IP, with 2BB and 1K). Stults will need to rebound well (kind of like that other LA team playing tonight in Game 1 of their own series). And I've always dug Davis get it?, who is coming off of a strong start of (0ER over 7IPs with 7Ks) pitched against the Cubs. Either Stults or Davis might have a slightly bigger impact on the outcome of tonight's game. But the guys who will be getting into Mark Reynolds' dome all night (ARI 3B Reynolds has 5HR but 26Ks and bats .268)? Yeah, that will be AC and me.
*Yes, I know I could have used a myriad of other references for the accompanying "perfect 10" picture. I'm trying to keep us somewhat respectable. For once.
430 comments:
1 – 200 of 430 Newer› Newest»Furcal, SS
Hudson, 2B
Ramirez, LF
Ethier, RF
Loney, 1B
Martin, C
Kemp, CF
Blake, 3B
Stults, P
Nice to see the normal lineup. Still, why the lefty-lefty in the 4-5 slot with Davis pitching?
Well, I suppose Ethier's .357 .471 .500 line against Davis justifies keeping him in the clean up spot. And it looks like Loney has put up .455 .500 .545. Torre looks like a genius there :-P
Argh, Martin still hitting eighth. He better repeat his success from Saturday or there'll be hell to pay. And by hell I mean I'll just complain about it on this blog.
Heck to pay, then.
What do you mean Martin still hitting eighth? He is hitting 6th. When he should be hitting 1st or 2nd. Anyway, it is good to have Martin in front of Kemp to draw walks and be on base.
Nice catch Alireza, my bad.
The other promising thing about Martin's game is he did it mostly against Chris Young, who he hadn't been that successful against and who dominates RHB.
Gents I'm pulling for Martin big time. my favorite Dodger...
Chappy, i share your opinion.
Orel, that "10" reference on the game thread is awesome. Bravo!
:)
Mr. LA Sports Fan - I think you meant Martin should be batting eighth. Like you said, hopefully he repeats his performance from Saturday. I have faith in Russell. He just needed that one good game to get him back on track.
My mistake was already caught.
Karina: I do the GameThread, but Orel gets the love. What gives?
I'm surprised you guys didn't make the joke I heard earlier that can only be used today:
May the Fourth be with you.
one pitch, one away
what a play!
Gameday stinks today
Nice inning for Stults. I would love some early offense.
May the fourth be with you! I love it Erin!
That pause by Davis in his windup is very strange to watch.
Quad, I'm glad you liked the joke. And I was just about to say something about how Davis' delivery bugs the heck out of me.
Woohoo!!!
MANNY.
Yeah! Manny way to work the count!
That was a bomb!
MANNY!
Back 2 Back!
Back to back!!!
perfect time to turn the game on!
ANDRE.
Awesome.
An 88 MPH fastball down the middle to Manny Ramirez. Davis pretty much gave up there.
Oh goodness. Davis is in for a long night if he keeps throwing those pitches.
ETHIER!
First inning runs again. Gotta love that!
This power hitting game has been a long time coming! So psyched!
Two quick runs should help Stults.
Davis threw the same pitch to Loney as to Ethier. Loney needs to stop taking such a downward trajectory to the ball.
Back to back home runs!
Steve, i beg your pardon!. My mistake, so all the love is for you!
Come on Stultsie, get it together.
Upton's got speed, Martin needs to be ready.
MLB.tv apparently hates all Puerto Rican internet signals, because it refuses to work properly anywhere in San Juan. It's maddening, to say the least. I'm lucky it was running smoothly for the 90 seconds that spanned the back-to-back homers.
Reflexes! holy crow!
Does Stults have a decent move? I know Kershaw has developed one.
nice play, Orlando-Dogg!
A lot of empty field level seats. Guess not many people are taking advantage of the eSaver deal tonight. It's good for the 7th and 9th too.
sorry Erin that sucks...
Byrnes is a rabbit. Martin has been hammering runners, however.
I'll be okay. 33 days to go. I hope.
seeing eye ball
The Magic beat the Celtics in Boston to take the lead in the series. Time to flip between the Doyers and Los Lakers.
need the DP bad!
I would've walked Wilson, but then again he doesn't seem to be a big threat.
crap!
And now Stults is in trouble
great play!
Settle Down Eric.
sac bunt for the hottest hitter in the lineup.
is kuroda better yet?
That ought to get Martin fired up to hit!
Lets say it again. Russell Martin is a top tier DEFENSIVE catcher.
Are you working on a film, Erin?
nic if u think stults is nerve racking just wait for weaver tomorrow
Christine is working on a film down here. I'm just along for the ride.
Russ has a mixed history against Davis. Hollow .278 AVG with lots of singles. Very few BB or K.
Good news: coverage is back in the Ravine!
Better news: back-to-back jacks by Manny and Andre, seen from 100 feet away!
Too bad about the cheapie run scored by the snakes.
As long as Martin hits eighth, I'm content with him. Glove and all, he's a great catcher. He just shoult not be batting sixth.
is martin going to do any running this year?
If Gameday is correct, the ump is squeezing Davis' zone big time.
nice lead off walk. Russell turning the corner I hope.
alireza, that pitch was high and outside
koufax, i already stated my hate for weaver. Im on suicide watch for tomorrow.
pray for me.
Anyone here at the game with us?
Btw, we just had a SoSG Lasorda sighting!
His speed seems off to me Sandy.
whew, Martin can still draw the walk. One of Martin's pluses is that he is short but has power. Makes more pitchers liable to walk him.
haha, you got it nic
MLSF - You seem to forget that the guy was, without question, the best hitter the Dodgers had for more than a year and a half. He has been in a slump, nothing more. His skillset also says he should be leading off, not hitting in the bottom half.
As far as Russ doing running, it is tough when your OBP is low.
One dodger dog and one hot sausage down. Sax isn't drunk ... Yet.
wow, ill take it.
dah dah dah....
chappy, i see that too, but i think with the offense clicking torre hasnt had the desire to run very much...
ERROR! Kemp avoids the DP.
Wilson has his boots on.
Who's up for a double steal?
Maybe Blake can hit his sixth homer tonight, too.
not gonna see a pitch better than that.
Ducks on the pond for Casey!
I don't think that Martin stinks. I just think that while he is slumping, he needs to go into the 8-hole. Once he appears to get into the swing of things (ugh, bad pun) he can be moved up.
Hope you're right Sandy, I like my hard hittin', hard runnin' never give up catcher.
Every time Martin comes up with runners on, I expect a GIDP. It's been that way for all of this season, and basically the second half of last season, too. It's going to take a few (or ten) more decent games before I'll be able to shake off that feeling and trust him to bat higher in the older. I'm all for putting him in the eight hole.
Davis has nothing
Full count. Runners should go.
HOLY SH-
triple play.
dammit, thatll be on sports center
Shit!
wrong on that one alireza
Well the Dodgers will certainly be on ESPN now... ugggh.
This is not how I wanted LA to appear on ESPN.
I can now say that I've seen a triple play live.
Ouch.
The Dodgers will only make an appearance in the first half of Sportscenter because of a triple play. Awesome.
Russ only has 4 GDP this year. His main problem has actually been Ks, which is uncharacteristic.
Gameday is still trying to put that up.
As Vinny would say, he went from the basement to the penthouse
Damn Gameday. I still haven't seen a live triple play. Why didn't Torre have them going?
For the record, AC was yelling, "Send 'em, Larry!"
Nic j, tomorrow is going to be nerve-racking, but we all have to have hope.
ron artest rocking the mohawk, with the rockets team emblem shaved into the side of his head
Gameday still has nothing on it.
I didn't think the numbers backed up my feeling that he's always grounding into double plays, but I guess I just don't expect him to do much at all anymore. It's a bad feeling. I think I'm mostly alone here in my opinion of the guy anyway. I just don't like him. I want him to hit well because I want my team to do well, but I'm not rooting for the guy personally.
triple play?gameday is slow...
I think that GITP just killed Gameday for a few innings.
ESPN Gamecast also still hasn't posted the triple play.
they had them going alireza, SS cuaght a line drive
I don't know if Torre should have sent the runners. Blake is strike-out prone, and Martin hasn't done a heck of a lot of running.
come on stults hold it together buddy
Watching the Sox/Yankees game, and they just showed the back-to-back homers. They say they'll show the triple play later.
I guess it's official: We are on Gameday watch.
And Gamecast just now updated to show the triple play.
Erin - I don't know why. He has done some of everything for the Dodgers and has a great story. He has maintained a great relationship with his family, never seems to do idiotic things, is really good with the fans and actually knows a thing or two about culture.
What isn't to like?
And just as I say that, Gameday puts it up.
Amen Alireza!
hate to bring up hockey, but ovechkin and crosby both had hattricks tonight, crazy
MLSF - Blake being K prone is actually a pretty good reason to send the runners. Blake is a RHB and Martin is very fast, so 3B isn't much of an option. Getting the Bison as the trail runner is equally dicey because he is even faster.
Martin is a nice guy, but when you have a girlfriend like that, I guess you really don't care what other people think of you.
Does he know a thing or two about culture because he likes jazz?
I don't know. He's cocky, and it rubs me the wrong way. That might be part of it. He has a bit of a Napoleonic complex going on that I just can't quite get behind. I don't really want to get into my dislike of a Dodger too much, because I want to like all the guys on my team.
but i'm frustrated as hell too Erin.
I guess I'm not a risky person.
Whew, close one.
erin, i met him at a bar in colorado, i wasnt being a groupy but went up to him and told him i liked what he was doing and keep it up. he was super nice to me, bought me a beer.
Way to work it out.
There are other players who slump and I don't get angry with them. David Ortiz of the Red Sox (my other team, for those who don't know me) is having a hell of a slump right now (though he's doing well tonight), and all I want is for him to come out of it--for him as well as for the team. I just don't have that same feeling for Martin.
I've never really seen Martin outside of a game. He never came across as cocky to me.
I don't know if he knows a thing or two about culture or if he's cocky, He's my favorite player because he's got great amounts of talent, i think he's just going on a slump. Besides, he's a catcher, which i think is the most physically demanding defensive position in baseball AND he's my favorite Dodger catcher since Scioscia, whom i worship no matter what.
i think he is a pretty humble dude, just intence. he came from not very much, didnt his dad play sax in the subway for money?
Erin - More because both his parents are artists (mother had a TV show on Radio Canada and father is a musician), he is fully bilingual, lived in France for two years and actually has a deep appreciation for music.
As for being cocky, where do you get that? The guy is the first to celebrate when his teammates are successful, he beats the hell out of himself playing the toughest position and has been acknowledged as one of the most fan friendly players the Dodgers have.
Ah, well, I'm fully aware I'm in the minority with this opinion. It's just one of those things, I guess. Maybe I'm just a fairweather fan, and I'll be loving the guy once he starts hitting again.
That curve is any lower and Stults hits it out.
davis' fastball is 84 mph
If anybody cares, Ethier and Kemp will be making appearances at the Macy's in Northridge.
On June 5
One brat, two beers down. Back in line for round 2.
I would drive to Northridge for that if I weren't currently on a Caribbean island.
hey now!
eithier prob not taking photos i gather
The televisions at the concession stands are running about 3 seconds behind the live action.
How annoying.
Koufax - Russell Sr. earned extra money playing in the Metro in order to be able to spend more time taking care of Russ because his mother lived near Ottawa, which is a hike from Montreal and to provide him with top quality sports gear to allow him to play at higher levels.
Erin - Perhaps you should watch the special FSN did on Martin. It will definitely change your mind.
Ethier needs to be careful. One wrong turn and suddenly everyone thinks he and a manaquin have a thing.
When MLSF?
Wild Pitch, if it weren't for that TP Davis would be dead already.
i think walking o dog here to get to manny is a great plan
thanks doug
O Dogg should take advantage of what Davis is throwing at him.
Manny with runners on and he already hit one out. Gotta be an easy out.
wow did he just miss that or what
as he actually did...
Ok Manny. Go Earl Weaver on his ass.
oh no! whew on the bat!
not close erin
I'm hot blooded, check it and see.
Erin, on Gameday not one was close.
I've seen a lot about Martin's story, and I don't know what to say. Perhaps I'm just cold-blooded. Or perhaps it's the slight aversion I have toward Canadians.
ESPN Gamecast's strike zone made it look like three of the four pitches to Hudson were strikes. Were they close?
**edited TWICE to fix one missing word. d'oh.
wow battier got busted open by sasha
would not have picked that outcome
crud.
saw that nic, pao is bleeding too
pau's was nothing compared to battier.
Argh, with the cable down, no Lakers or Dodgers. What's the score with the purple-gold?
how'd it happen, elbow?
21-18 bad guys
21-18 rocjets
yeah unintentional elbow rebounding.
ESPN just showed the triple play. Damn.
Still close there.
Stults is having trouble.
matt kemp = vacuum
nice catch by Kemp!
Nice play by Kemp to run that one down!
Kemp should get a gold glove just for the month.
patience, grasshopper.
Kemp with a great grab!
21-18 Rockets at the end of the first. Nice to see Sasha getting physical.
BTW, Zack Grienke is officially the best pitcher in baseball this year.
I read SI's article on Greinke. Great story there.
stults has a decent move to first
nice throw!
Lamar has 2 fouls, 24-24 and Von Wafer still has the coolest name in the NBA.
the lakers are playing the kind of game that the rockets want to play.
Link of the Greinke story? i've read some things about him and it's quite the story. He was my workhorse in fantasy last year.
no more batteries, good luck tonight everyone
Seriously about Grienke. He just screws with hitters. He once threw a 50 MPH curve just to see if he could. Anyone who throws as hard as he does and can turn around and throw Eephus pitches is a monster.
Greinke has become the face of the Royals. KC is starting to transform, starting with a solid pitching staff.
greinke was the cover boy on SI last week. SI cover curse much?
Re: Los Lakers
artest is tearing up ariza right now. bynum had two fouls in 2 minutes. kobe is as good as a sick kobe can be.
That was only the 6th K of Loney this year
Home plate ump has a really inconsistent K-zone tonight. He squeezed Davis earlier and is now giving him some really borderline pitches.
34-26 bad guys lakers look FLAT.
To all the Martin haters - That pitch was pure nastiness. Manny would have K'd.
Things i like of King James: solid hitting and slow K rate.
Greinke is a guy who deserves a lot of good things to happen for him.
2-1 through four frames.
Brooklyn Dodgers pizza, not too shabby.
2ns half team.
(assuming kobe makes it that far)
nice!
kemp to the rescue again.
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