Friday, June 30, 2017

Series Thread (Games 82-84): June 30-July 2 @ Padres


After a split (or is it two splits?) with the Angels, the Dodgers leave Dodger Stadium South and head for Dodger Stadium Even Further South. It's also the halfway point of the season! (Unless you're reading this after Friday's game started, then you missed the halfway point.) As of this writing, the Dodgers hold a 2.5 game lead over the Snakes and a 6 game lead over the suddenly-tailspinning Rockies.

Fri, 7p: Alex Wood vs. Clayton Richard

Sat, 7p: Rich Hill vs. T. Beedee

Sun, 1:30p: Kenta Maeda vs. Jhoulys Chacin

82 to go! Stay on target. Keep the Donga Line going!

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Series Thread (Games 80-81): June 28-29 vs Angels



The morning starts with a workout and a view.  Its hot.  Two more games with the Angels to finish out this freeway series.  We split the first two so lets take the series here.  Good times, anytime.  Good times, all the time.  (I hate that commercial by the way, but it is fricken' stuck in my head).

Wednesday, 7p: Ryu vs Meyer
Thursday 7p: Kershaw vs Ramirez

Monday, June 26, 2017

Series Thread (Games 78-79): June 26-27 vs. Angels

Not so much of a Series Thread this time, more like a Mini-Series Thread (hmm, that sounds strangely familiar...). But we get two games against the Angels at home before the long journey down to Anaheim for two more games @ the Big A.

And what a time for us to meet the 40-39, third-place Angels: the Dodgers are absolutely mashing. The Dodgers have won 10 straight games (and 16 of their last 17), and have at least one HR in 17 consecutive games, tying a Los Angeles franchise record (total franchise record is 24 consecutive games, Brooklyn 1956). The Angels, meanwhile, are starting a pitcher Monday night who has seen his team lose each of his last 10 starts. (To be fair, we are starting Blister Boy tonight, so all bets are off.)

Oh, and Mike Trout is out, on the 10-day DL.

With a 2.5 game lead over the Diamondbacks and the best record in the NL, let's hope the mashing continues over the next two games.

Monday: Rich Hill (4-3, 4.73) vs. Ricky Nolasco (2-9, 5.23), 7p.
Tuesday: Kenta Maeda (5-3, 4.62) vs. Jesse Chavez (5-7, 5.15), 7p.

Sunday, June 25, 2017

Bellinger is So Good, He's Turning ESPN Pervy

Not sure whose talents I'd rather see on display - Bellinger's or Teri Hatcher's (circa mid 90s).

Actually, I know the answer... but even if Bellinger couldn't get me to rent Heaven's Prisoners for a ten second "talent" scene:

ESPN's still got it right. He's the real deal.

And when did ESPN's leads turn into second-rate Maxim and Stuff headlines?

Ironically, as the Twitter-verse learned, Cody doesn't even know who Seinfeld is. Not even from Bee Movie.

Friday, June 23, 2017

Series Thread (Games 75-77): June 23-25 vs Rockies

It's the battle for first place! The Dodgers are currently atop the NL West with a 48-26 record and the Rox and Snakes are tied for second place, both teams 1.5 games back. (Like the Dodgers, the Snakes are also 9-1 in their last ten games — what's up with that?) Anyhoo, we have our three best pitchers going this series, away from the Kemp-killing bandbox that is Coors Field. Dodgers have won seven straight. Let's make it eight.

Fri, 7p: Alex Wood vs Kyle Freeland

Sat, 7p: Clayton Kershaw vs Tyler Chatwood

Sun, 1p: Brandon McCarthy vs German Marquez

note: this series thread is late because Sax hit the wrong button. Sorry.

Dave Roberts Is A Genius

I was at the game last night and saw the Dodgers finish off the sweep of the Mets with a 6-3 victory. The post-game wrapup focuses on Joc Pederson's tie-breaking HR to lead off the bottom of the seventh, making it 4-3 LA. However, from my perspective, the play of the game came later that inning, when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made a bold gamble that totally paid off.

As that frame continued, with the Dodgers up 4-3 and two out, Kike Hernandez walked to load the bases (Logan Forsythe had singled; Chris Taylor had walked). Up came Pedro Baez, who got Wilmer Flores to ground out and end the top of the inning, and therefore had only pitched one out.

This would have been a good time to put in a pinch-hitter for Baez, so we could go to another reliever. Instead, Roberts let Baez, who does not have a single hit in his entire major league career, come to the plate. Mets pitcher Jerry Blevins, who had already gotten Cody Bellinger out for the second out of the inning, may have been rattled by walking Hernandez. If so, Roberts somehow knew it, and rubbed it in the Mets' face by sending up a relief pitcher in that situation.

Baez then earned a four-pitch walk to walk home the Dodgers' fifth run. And Blevins was so flustered, he proceeded to walk Austin Barnes right after than, stoking LA to a 6-3 lead. Terry Collins had seen enough then, and replaced Blevins with Fernando Salas to get Yasiel Puig to ground out. But the damage was done. The Mets didn't get any closer than that.

The Mets are obviously struggling, 12 games out of first in the NL East, having allowed 15 HR in the four-game series with the Dodgers, and a number of their stars on the disabled list. But Roberts' bravado to make that call in this game was about as insulting, and incredible, a call as you could imagine. Almost 20 hours later, I remain blown away at what a brilliant call that was to leave Baez in the game.

Way to go, coach! What a sweep.

Monday, June 19, 2017

Series Thread (Games 71-74): June 19-22 vs Mets

Mon, 7p: Clayton Kershaw vs Zack Wheeler

Tues, 7p: Brandon McCarthy vs Robert Gsellman

Wed, 7p: Rich Hill vs Rafael Montero

Thu, 7p: Alex Wood (7-0, 1.90) vs. Steven Matz (1-1, 3.21)

Friday, June 16, 2017

Series Thread (Games 68-70): June 16-18 @ Reds

Werewolves of London!

4:10p: Alex Wood vs Tim Adleman

1:10p: Hyun-Jin Ryu vs Asher Wojciechowski

10:10a: Kenta Maeda vs Bronson Arroyo

The Dodgers just swept these guys at home by a combined score of 21-13, and are still hot after taking two of three from Cleveland. Let's continue to take it to OH!

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Series Thread (Games 65-67): June 13-15 @ Indians


Three games set with Cleveland.  This won't be the FINAL act for the Dodgers interleague play.  We DUB the first game to be a pitchers duel.  If we can win, we can CURRY (or Kerr-e) favor with the baseball gods.  So lets go out be WARRIORS and get another sweep.

What, too soon?

Also the Dodgers selected an outfielder and a pitcher during the first day of the MLB draft.

Tuesday, 4p: Kershaw vs Bauer
Wednesday, 4p: McCarthy vs Kluber
Thursday, 9a: Hill vs Tomlin

Friday, June 09, 2017

Series Thread (Games 62-64): June 9-11 vs Reds



We will be Seeing Red for a three game set.  Our Master Plan is to Smite them without Holding Back.    Looks like there is some Flexibility with Maeda due to his Settlement and Sacrifice to the bullpen.  Kershaw still has his Fastball Special with Deadly Precision and Colossal Punch - outs.  This team is Full of Surprises with Chris Taylor and Cody Bellinger demonstrating Godlike Power.  Hopefully Hill has some Savage Healing but I'm sure its going to be a Give and Take.  Wood needed the Recovery and Recharge with Web Bandages being the Reluctant Hero.  The bats need to rise From The Ashes for an Aerial Assault and Dive Bomb the opposing pitcher.  But is nice to see Roberts be the Uncanny Strategist, say "Everyone With Me", and rally the Combined Forces of the offense before we are Out of Bullets.  

There's also the Reality Crush and Anger that the Rockies are still in first - lets Keep Your Enemies Closer and take A Little Off The Top.  Take a Deep Breath and Bring Out The Best boys!

Whales, Whales, Whales!

Friday, 7p: Garrett vs Hill (Dodgers 7, Reds 2, Maeda Save #1)

Saturday, 7p: Wojciechowski vs Wood (Dodgers 5, Reds 4, Seager's first career walkoff)

Sunday, 1p: Adelman vs Ryu (Dodgers 9, Reds 7, Seager Slam)

Thursday, June 08, 2017

Archiving the 2016 SoSG Attendance Record, For Posterity

Okay I don't have time to do the maths on all of this, but I did notice that, two months into this season, we've finally taken down the Sons' 2016 record at Dodger games from our rugged sidebar. I dare say the 2016 record wasn't complete for all the Sons (it was for me!), but for now, it's what we've got.

SoSG 2016 Record: 10-5
4/12 vs. AZ: L, 2-4 (Dusty)
4/15 vs. SF: W, 7-5 (Dusty)
4/17 vs. SF: W, 3-1 (Delino)
4/27 vs. MIA: L, 0-2 (Dusty, Nomo, Orel, Sax)
4/30 vs. SD: L, 2-5 (Dusty)
5/10 vs. NYM: W, 3-2 (Dusty)
5/14 vs. STL: W, 5-3 (Dusty)
6/5 vs. ATL: W, 12-6 (AC)
6/22 vs. WAS: W, 4-3 (AC, Nomo)
8/26 vs. CHC: L, 4-6 (Sax)
8/27 vs. CHC: W, 3-2 (AC, Sax)
9/2 vs. SD: L, 2-4 (Sax)
9/3 vs. SD: W, 5-1 (Gnomes)
9/4 vs. SD: W, 7-4 (AC, Dusty)
9/19 vs. SF: W, 2-1 (Sax)

The Sons have always done pretty well at Dodger games, to the point that one would think the Dodgers would invite us to every game. Alas, that hasn't come to fruition as of yet.

Prior SoSG attendance records: 2008 (18-15), 2009 (21-10), 2010 (9-8), 2011 (10-7), 2012 (24-18), 2013 (24-16), 2014 (22-12), 2015 (27-13).

Wednesday, June 07, 2017

Keeping a Promise to Vin, 2017 Edition

From 2016:



From 2015:


2013 version:


Earlier at SoSG:

Monday, June 05, 2017

Series Thread (Games 59-61): June 5-7 vs Nationals

Mon, 7p: Hyun-Jin Ryu vs Gio Gonzalez
Tues, 7p: Brandon McCarthy vs Max Scherzer
Wed, 12n: Clayton Kershaw vs Stephen Strasburg

Friday, June 02, 2017

Series Thread (Games 56-58): June 2-4 @ Brewers

Mr. Met has raised the mascot stakes. Whatcha got, Bernie Brewer???

Splitting the series in St. Louis should have been just a push, however ending our six-game win streak, plus dropping the last two games in absolutely anemic fashion, has us going into 29-25 Milwaukee with some concern. In addition, the Dodgers have dropped back into third place behind both Colorado and Arizona.

This series has a lot of early start times (which get earlier through the weekend). So let's get animated!

Fri, 5p: Clayton Kershaw (7-2, 2.37) vs. Jimmy Nelson (3-3, 3.83)
LAD 2, MIL 1

Sat, 1p: Rich Hill (2-2, 4.09) vs. Matt Garza (2-2, 3.98)
LAD 10, MIL 8. Chris Taylor 9th-inning go-ahead grand slam!

Sun, 11a: Kenta Maeda (4-2, 5.21) vs. Zach Davies (5-3, 5.18)
MIL 3, LAD 0