
Clayton Kershaw (8-6, 2.73) vs. Dan Haren (11-7, 2.57).
COMMENTS: "One game at a time," the cliché goes, but let's face it: Not taking this series against the 52-63 Diamondbacks would be a disappointment. The Dodgers' toughest test this weekend will be facing Arizona's de facto ace, Haren. However, Haren has hit a rough patch in his past few starts, admitting, "It's no secret, I'm scuffling right now." Cat's out of the bag!
It's also no secret that Kershaw is currently the ace of the Dodgers' staff. To put this into perspective, Tim Lincecum — the Cy Young-pitcher who didn't get the victory against the Dodgers on Wednesday — is 25 years old. Kershaw is 21. You could say he's in the catbird seat.
The Dodgers are 5.0 games ahead of the Rockies, 6.5 ahead of the Giants. They also have a 32-13 record against the rest of the NL West this season. It's time to sharpen your claws, gentlemen.
171 comments:
Furcal, SS
Martin, C
Ethier, RF
Manny, LF
Blake, 3B
Loney, 1B
Kemp, CF
Hudson, 2B
Kershaw, P
Hudson with the eight-hole training wheels.
At least he's back
You should see the D-Back's lineup. I don't think I know the first name of half the guys starting. No Upton, no Young, no Lopez, no Byrnes.
NYM 1, SF 0, top 2
I'm impressed that Kemp hasn't punched Torre yet for constantly batting offensive juggernauts Loney and Blake higher than him.
And knowing Torre, he'll sit Kemp on his bobblehead night.
Kemp is "protecting" Loney.
Has there ever been a team where the most successful hitter through out a season has hit as low as Kemp?
Just to play devil's advocate, clearly Kemp is thriving where he is batting in the order now. Why shake that up when it's working? He's getting up with plenty of RISP so it's not like he's stuck down there having low potential impact at bats.
@Mr LASF: Gerardo Parra is having a great season , i guess he's the best D'Backs hitter right now.
FLA 3, COL 0, bot 6
NYM 3, SF 0, bot 7
Johnson has a no no going for the fish.
Atktins just homered. That jinx worked fast!
I figured it would be Tulowitzki.
The Giants game is going incredibly quickly. Already in the top of the ninth.
Giants lose!
Dan Haren - Meet your owner.
No wonder Haren is already 3-0 to him
BTW, that was a nice ride Russ gave the ball he hit.
But all this warning-track power is getting frustrating.
Thank goodness J.D. Drew opted out of his Dodger contract. But it seemed like a big deal at the time.
K
Steven Drew just got owned.
Orel - Warning Track power is a good sign. Just missing it.
As for the J.D. Drew thing, I never cared except that it left the Dodgers in a lurch. I can't stand J.D. Drew and his faux religious fanaticism combined with an ego that I think even Scott Boras has to tone down.
KK! 1-2-3 inning!
See ya later Rico Suave.
I wonder if his brother is the same way.
Wow. Manny owns Haren to a greater degree than even Ethier. 10-20 with 2 bombs.
That second strike was an awful call.
Manny is so fearless on 0-2 counts. 11-21 against Haren now.
Orel - Yep. Haren's various fastballs are what make him so lethal, and Manny owns fastballs.
Beard is not Manny, but what an idiot move by the catcher.
I was wondering where Blake was, but I realize it now. With the runner at first, Blake was out automatically.
Wow. Kemp knew it immediately. Haren throws that on the first pitch and it wouldn't have landed yet.
The book on Reynolds must be to throw high. Kershaw was really working that area.
That wasn't good.
Told it before, if it's not the former Dodger, it's the venezuelan.
The walk comes back to haunt. 1-0 D'backs.
Nice job Russ. Talk to your lefty.
I was wondering about Blake too (last inning).
Well, that's not good. Second inning, kershaw cracks
Orel - He started running, but I think the umpires told him he was out. I believe the rule is that, with the force in play, the batter is automatically out but the runners can move.
Shit I love it. The Aussie comes out to Men at Work.
It's gonna be a long night.
RA for the D'backs. Shit.
Come on Minotaur. Settle down. I do wish Montero had run on Manny though, because Manny had him cold.
We could really use a 1-2-3 DP right now.
Rockies lose — barely.
I was just looking at Oeltjen's numbers in the minors. Why hasn't this guy gotten a chance before?
Augie-f'ing-Ojeda.
Oeltjen can fly. One needs to worry about the squeeze here.
Wow. What a garbage call by the umpire.
Oeltjen played for Aguilas in winter baseball, he was impressive. He's australian.
Merdre Alors. Kershaw just hung that to Haren. He came close to popping him up.
3-0 D'backs. So much for the sweep. (Yes, I'm an alarmist!)
Come on Minotaur. Just throw it to the glove.
I don't like Clayton out of the stretch.
I hate it when Martin gets caught unawares like that.
Wow, Minotaur Meltdown!
Ok, I can't watch anymore
Stop! Haeger time!
Is Charlie Haeger still on the roster?
Oh boy, Parra is coming, get him again, Kershaw!
After the friggin' intense District 9, I needed something to lighten my mood. This isn't it.
Long man Tron? Huh?
Orel, I have no idea. I just figured begging for him to appear couldn't hurt.
That was bad, but not insurmountable. Let's get some back!
Capsule review, Josh?
@Orel There's plenty of game left!
Even Audrina Patridge can't act like a balm on my jangled nerves.
1-2-3 for Haren. Kershaw doesn't get much of a rest.
Thanks Karina!
District 9 capsule review:
Brilliantly made and inventive documentary-style film about extraterrestrial refugees in Johannesburg, South Africa. Amazing seamless special effects and surprisingly good action sequences, but some images and story elements were, as I said INTENSE. Not a feel-good flick, but definitely worth a watch.
Figures we play like this when we have the chance to gain a game.
So, Tsotsi with aliens?
At least Kershaw could have waited until the fifth to fall apart.
KKKKK
"A wet double for Rusty Ryal" is probably the filthiest thing Vin's ever said.
Vin does an Australian accent!
Kershaw Ks the side with a ground-rule double interspersed in.
JJ!
"So, Tsotsi with aliens?"
It kinda sorta starts there, yeah, but then the story takes a turn that I don't really want to go into detail about here for fear of treading into spoiler territory.
2-3-4 hitters for the Blue. Let's go!
Thanks for no spoilers, Josh.
Russ first-pitch swinging. Guess it couldn't hurt at this point.
Ethier gets under it. Haren is rolling, but here's Manny.
Manny has come to play. Too bad he's alone.
Haren isn't afraid to throw Manny first-pitch strikes.
Manny singles on the second pitch! RALLY TIME
silver lining: Manny 2-for-2
WP advances Manny to second.
Did I hit rewind on my DVR?
Beard Ks swinging to end the inning. We need to get Haren out of there.
Josh, how was District 9?
Love this Corona commercial.
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When Kershaw isn't missing the plate, they're tagging his pitches.
Is Hinch out-managing Torre?
Good block, Martin.
Public Enemy Number One owns Parra!
Those four-run innings, they'll come back to haunt ya.
It seems like the dodgers pitching staff owns Parra I think I remember bills striking him out three times in a game too.
It's no fun being on the run
Because they got me, Public Enemy number one
@Ali when he played here, his at bat song wasn't any Men At Work. I would remember that. I'm glad he's in the bigs, he seems to be a nice guy, at least he took lots of time to sign things for the fans, specially for the kids.
Aren't I glad I changed the TV back?
BISON HR!
Now we just need four more of those
Wasn't it a beautiful HR?
The key to Haren is to swing at the first pitch.
Well, either that or be Manny Ramirez or Andre Ethier.
Furcal have a cramp?
That was so close. Furcal probably should have fouled it off. Come on Russell.
Why is a 12-year-old managing the D-backs?
Russ is going to be upset with himself there. He usually doesn't get fooled on that kind of pitch.
WHY did he swing at that???
Orel - Hahahahahahaha. Better yet, why did he have a high level front office job?
At least we got Haren up to 72 pitches.
Clayton is getting better with his move. He needs it, because he is a bit slow to the plate
Bow and arrow baby.
This ump sure likes to take his sweet-ass time calling strike three.
Kershaw showed a lot of guts today. Yet another performance characteristic of an ace, and not because of the result.
BTW, Torre should have let him finish the damn inning.
Welcome to the big leagues son.
Ethier single + Manny HR makes this a game.
Ethier not cooperating with my grand plan. Guess Manny'll just have to cut the lead to two.
Manny HR, Beard Walk, Loney HR (on the road and in AZ)
That was almost three.
Manny only half-cooperating. Doubles.
Perhaps Casey's problem is the all too thin beard?
For the love of god, please someone get on base in front of manny.
Ha! Beach balls interrupt the games in Arizona too!
Montero looked like Spider-Man there.
Haren may have a lot of different pitches, but three of them are fastballs (and that is not counting the splitter)
Where was that single last time, Beard? 1st & 3rd, one out. Loney up.
King James, pleaseeeee
Dreadful
Disgusting.
Dammit Loney!
I can't decide if loney or j Mart are pissing me off
more tonight.
Vin is reporting Bills had a good bullpen session today.
Good news from Vinny on Chad. Looking at the red in his skin and all the water he retains, they really need to monitor his blood pressure.
Nic - At least Russ hit two balls hard.
At least Tron looks pretty smooth.
Either way you look it's still 0-3
This is the Tron we all know and like.
What's up with you Haren?picking up a fight?
Can we do anything with a leadoff walk?
Time for a JP HR.
Can't do anything right tonight.
Why would we use Belisario losing by three?
This sucks.
I thought we were done with the beanballs.
Belly, you know this hitters very well, get him!
He almost killed soo hoo!
Jon SooHoo dodges the flying lumber!
Oop. Make him pay manny.
Ps Russ is freaking terrible tonight.
Love Andre's slooooow walk to first after getting hit by Haren.
Damn! that freaking close.
Dammit, that looked gone.
Not Mota!
More Bison glove love!
I bet the dodgers score two in the ninth just to piss me off.
A work of art courtesy of the Bison.
I love how Kemp doesn't land on his wrist on those plays.
Well, here we are in the ninth...leadoff walk to Beard.
No GIDP here, Loney!
Try as he might, James couldn't hit into another DP there.
Shit, that was close. FJL forces Blake at second. One out.
1st & 3rd w/one out. What do you think, DP to end it?
We really need a better pinch hitting option than Loretta.
Useless.
He will single here.
wah wah wah wah
Damn we could of lost by two.
We could've lost by one.
MFPGT up.
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