Series Thread (Games 103-105), July 29-31 vs. Ekans

7/29, 7p: Kenta Maeda (9-7, 3.25) vs. Zack Godley (3-1, 5.88).
DODGERS 9, DIAMONDBACKS 7. GB=1

7/30, 6p: Scott Kazmir (9-3, 4.35) vs. Braden Shipley (0-1, 10.13).
DIAMONDBACKS 4, DODGERS 2

7/31, 1p: Bud Norris (6-9, 4.27) vs. Patrick Corbin (4-9, 5.31).
DODGERS 14, DIAMONDBACKS 3. Grandal: 3-run HR; Seager: 3-run HR; Pederson: 2-run HR

Raise your hand or forked tongue if you've never heard of two of those three opposing starters. What happened to the D'backs? They're this year's Padres, who finished 2015 with 74-88 record. Right now the D'backs are trending to a 71-91 record. Ouch.

Series Thread (Games 101-102), July 26-27 vs. Rays

Tuesday night's stadium giveaway.

7/26, 7p: Bud Norris (5-9, 4.50) vs. Chris Archer (5-13, 4.56).
DODGERS 3, RAYS 2. Norris: 6.1 IP, 0 R

7/27, 12n: Brandon McCarthy (2-0, 1.61) vs. Matt Moore (6-7, 4.31).
RAYS 3, DODGERS 1

A quickie two-game series against the Rays followed by another day off. Will Chris Archer be a Dodger by series' end? LANA!

Dear Chase Carey: Go Fuck Yourself

Still bitter after all these years.

Series Thread (Games 98-100), July 22-24 @ Cards

7/22, 5p: Brandon McCarthy (2-0, 1.69) vs Michael Wacha (5-7, 4.45).
CARDINALS 4, DODGERS 3 (16)

7/23, 4:15p: Kenta Maeda (8-7, 3.25) vs Mike Leake (7-7, 4.00).
DODGERS 7, CARDINALS 2. Toles: 3 for 4, 2R

7/24, 5p: Scott Kazmir (8-3, 4.30) vs Tyler Lyons (2-0, 3.54).
DODGERS 9, CARDINALS 6

As the Giants and Cubs cool off from their red-hot starts, the Dodgers and Cardinals suddenly find themselves in spitting distance of first place in their respective divisions — the Dodgers 4 games back and the Cards 6.5 back. Back in May, the Dodgers took two of three from the Cards at Dodger Stadium. Ah, remember those Ross Stripling days of yore?

Justin Turner T-Shirt Night, July 29 @ Dodger Stadium

Series Thread (Games 95-97), July 19-21 @ Nats

Another Nats series, another Dusty bobblehead. This one has the toothpick. (Or a weird melty popsicle. Hard to tell.)
7/19, 4p: Scott Kazmir (7-3, 4.52) vs. Reynaldo Lopez (0-0, -.--).
DODGERS 8, NATIONALS 4

7/20, 4p: TBD Bud Norris vs. Gio Gonzalez (5-8, 4.70).
NATIONALS 8, DODGERS 1

7/21, 9a: TBD Julio Urias vs. Stephen Strasburg (13-0, 2.51).
DODGERS 6, NATIONALS 3

Hyun-Jin Ryu is back on the DL with elbow tendonitis, so the Dodgers are starting a bunch of shrug emojis this series. One of them against Stephen Strasburg. What could go wrong?!

UPDATE! Norris tomorrow. And Urias Thursday against Strasburg, despite working out of the bullpen in AAA. That's, uh, something.

Series Thread (Games 92-94), July 15-17 @ Snakes

Miss ya, Zack!

7/15, 6:30p: Bud Norris (5-6, 3.98) vs. Patrick Corbin (4-8, 5.25).
DODGERS 13, DIAMONDBACKS 7. Taylor: GS, 6 RBI

7/16, 5p: Brandon McCarthy (2-0, 2.70) vs. Archie Bradley (3-5, 4.64).
DIAMONDBACKS 2, DODGERS 1 (13)

7/17, 1p: Kenta Maeda (8-6, 2.95) vs. Robbie Ray (4-8, 4.81).
DIAMONDBACKS 6, DODGERS 5. (cries)

Home Run Derby & All-Star Game Thread, July 11-12

Seager's going to ruin his swing in the Home Run Derby, and he should have been traded for Cole Hamels anyway!

Kershaw's injury is worse than reported and he's going to sign with the Rangers once his contract is up!

This is Kenley's last year and the Giants are going to make him an offer he can't refuse!

Enjoy the All-Star festivities, folks!

Series Thread (Games 88-91), July 7-10 vs. Padres

Only two of these three dapper gentlemen will be in the house this weekend (cries)

7/7, 7p: Hyun-Jin Ryu (0-0, -.--) vs. Drew Pomeranz (7-7, 2.65).
PADRES 6, DODGERS 0

7/8, 7p: Scott Kazmir (7-3, 4.37) vs. Andrew Cashner (3-6, 4.42).
DODGERS 10, PADRES 6. Grandal: 5-for-5, 3 HR, 6 RBI

7/9, 4p: Brandon McCarthy (1-0, 0.00) vs. Luis Perdomo (3-3, 7.93).
DODGERS 4, PADRES 3

7/10, 1p: Kenta Maeda (7-6, 3.07) vs. Christian Friedrich (4-4, 4.42).
DODGERS 3, PADRES 1. Maeda: 7.0 IP, 13K

Vin Scully, on the Tragedy in Dallas

GUEST POST: Turned and Burned or: One Man’s Lament About Missing the Second Biggest Dodger Game of the Year

SOSG Todd -  author of A Very Pleasant Good Evening -  provided us the following requiem about his Sophie's Choice to miss a Dodger game that may have been scheduled specifically for him.  Read on, SOSG-slingers.
   

Greetings from the Northwoods of Wisconsin. I’m writing this little missive on my computer in a cozy, woods adjacent guesthouse that’s about half a mile from the nearest wifi signal.   While I feel myself growing more Unabomber by the day, “going to town” to check email has helped stave off the effects of willingly spending three weeks without cable. 

Except there was one recent email from the Sons’ own Big Daddy Delino that nearly pushed me to the edge of the envelope. Its subject was to the point and took a negative-g dive straight to my heart: how are you missing this?!?!?  The body of the email contained no pleasantries. Only a link to get tickets for Movie Night at Dodger Stadium. 

Back when my wife and I booked our trip up here for a 4th of July blowout with a squadron of my cousins, I realized my rather flexible employment situation and the Dodgers’ schedule had come together in perfect harmony, like two best friends who can finish each other’s sentences and perfectly execute high fives that have a high degree of difficulty. 

I could stay for nearly a month and only miss four extra Dodger games. The ones I was really bummed about missing were Old Timer’s Day and Movie Night, which at the time was still just Movie Night but is always fun.  Then the grim truth was revealed. “Movie Night” was really “Hey Todd, We’re Going To Be Playing Your Absolute Favorite Movie of All-Time* While You’re Stuck in the Woods and Your Wife Won’t Let You Cut Your Vacation Short Because She Wants the House to Herself Night.” 
That’s right. Tonight’s post-game feature film at Dodger Stadium is Top Gun. 

And what am I going to be doing? 

Oh, just sitting here in this cable-free guesthouse NOT watching the Greatest Movie Ever Made* in arguably the most hallowed place you could ever watch it. But it’s cool, I’m still going to make a little party for myself. There’s a DVD player and an assortment of movies in the house. Maybe I’ll carve out some time to finally see what that Good Burger hype is all about or take a ride into the danger zone by watching Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 without having ever seen the first chapter. 

No really, I’ll be OK. You don’t have to worry about me following Goose’s dog tags into the depths of Somewhere in the Indian Ocean. I’d have to walk a good mile out into Chequamegon Bay to find deep enough water anyway.  I know Vin Scully won’t add to his legend as the Iceman of baseball by wearing a sweet pair of mirrored aviators when he welcomes fans to the game on DodgerVision. 

I know Chase Utley totally won’t go by the call sign Slider tonight.  I know A.J. Ellis would never walk up to “Take My Breath Away.”   And I know there’s no way Puig would ever serenade Alanna Rizzo with “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” when she interviews him after his walk-off hit. 


That’s right. I just called the ball.   Y’all have fun tonight while I’m playing with my boys Ed, Dexter, and Paul B. Heck we might even get a little beach volleyball game going. Sundown doesn’t happen until 10 up here. 

*Top Gun’s status as the greatest movie ever made excludes any of the films that comprise the original Star Wars trilogy. 

Thank you for sharing your sadness and regret, Todd.   It's not too late for you reading this - tickets still available for today's game / Top Gun screening.   Though I'd rather wait until Dodger Stadium screens this far more worthy aerial adventure.... 

Time For Dodgers Fans To Vote Starling Marte

After all, Starling Marte is the right choice for the 2016 MLB Final Vote, according to CBSSports.com's Dayn Perry.

And we don't want anyone else winning, either.

UPDATE 7/7 6:40p: Starling Marte takes the lead over Brandon Belt. Less than 24 hours to go!

Series Thread (Games 85-87), July 4-6 vs. Orioles

7/4, 6p: Julio Urias (1-2, 4.09) vs. Yovani Gallardo (3-1, 5.77).
DODGERS 7, ORIOLES 5. WIN STREAK = 5

7/5, 7p: Kenta Maeda (7-5, 2.82) vs. Chris Tillman (10-2, 3.71).
ORIOLES 4, DODGERS 1

7/6, 12n: Bud Norris (4-7, 3.89) vs. Kevin Gausman (1-6, 3.97).
ORIOLES 6, DODGERS 4 (14)

Happy 4th! And 5th! And 6th! (These Series Threads are taking some getting used to.) The Dodgers are back on the schneid, looking for their third straight series win after taking two of three from the Brewers and sweeping the Rockies, going from eight to five games back of the Giants in the process.

The first-place Orioles are a formidable opponent, even if they're not a natural one (Baltimore last visited L.A. in 2004). Hey, remember when Andre Ethier hit one out of Camden Yards? Good times.

Dodgers "Sniffing Hard" On Archer

I really don't have much for this ESPN.com Rumor Central piece, but I absolutely had to make the reference:

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been "sniffing hard" on Chris Archer but so far have been rebuffed in their pursuit of the Tampa Bay Rays' right-hander, reports Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.

Archer has a 4-11 record and a 4.50 ERA, but posted a combined 3.26 ERA the previous three seasons and was an All-Star in 2015.

Though the last-place Rays could be willing to trade a starting pitcher, Archer might be the least likely candidate to leave because of his club-friendly contract, tweets Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman is very familiar with Archer from their time together in Tampa Bay. Los Angeles also has the type of minor league talent that could be of interest to the Rays.

Series Thread (Games 82-84), July 1-3 vs. Rockies

7/1, 7p: Bud Norris (3-7, 4.22) vs. Jorge De La Rosa (5-4, 6.47).
DODGERS 5, ROCKIES 0

7/2, 7p: Scott Kazmir (6-3, 4.67) vs. Chad Bettis (6-5, 5.84).
DODGERS 6, ROCKIES 1

7/3, 1p: Brandon McCarthy (0-0, -.--) vs. Jon Gray (5-3, 4.83).
DODGERS 4, ROCKIES 1. SWEEP!

Daddy's Home

At the "Legends" Game with the family DeShields. I refuse to call these players old timers cause that makes me Methuselah

As the themes from All in the Family and Hill St Blues played some other notable SONS showed up...

And even a ghost of SOSG past...

My son excitedly shouted out "HE'S JEwISH" when Sandy Koufax appeared.  But didn't have the same fervor for Shawn Green. 

After one inning Kenny Lotons hobbled defense turns an out into a double, Nomar gunned Skip Schumacher down at third and Saxy grounded out with little fanfare. 

 In a play that made me feel spry, Guerrero chased down a fly ball at such a languid pace that time itself slowed down to a halt. 

Questionable officiating and aged joints aside a fun time was had by all.  

And the DeShieldses are now 12 total bobbleheads richer