Friday, April 16, 2021

Series Thread (Games 14-16): April 16-18 @ Padres

"Yes, if the leak in the dike was about six feet high, I'd plug it like this."

Fri 4/16 7p: Walker Buehler vs. Carl Weathers
Sat 4/17 5.30p: Clayton Kershaw vs. Yu Darvish
Sun 4/18 1p: Trevor Bauer vs. Blake Snell

The hype machine has hit new levels, as ESPN is calling this MLB's hottest new rivalry. Sure, last year's sweep of San Diego in the 2020 NLDS was emotional. But let's keep this in perspective: San Diego is 2.5 GB; and Fernando Tatis Jr. is still recovring from a shoulder injury (he may be reactivated for this series). This April series might lack the fireworks that last year's playoff series had.

On top of this, Dodger pitcher Trevor Bauer completely admits that former Dodger and sometimes-motivated Manny Machado "has his number" (.588 / .667 / 1.412 in 21 plate appearances). The three ESPN pundits say the Dodgers--red-hot off a 6-0 homestand--win this series. We'll see.

119 comments:

Steve Sax said...

Tatis has been activated for tonight’s game.

Steve Sax said...

GAME 1

Betts RF
Seager SS
Turner 3B
Smith C
Muncy 1B
Taylor CF
McKinstry 2B
Raley LF
Buehler P

Steve Sax said...

Raley gets the start over Pollock! Still no Belli ☹️

karen said...

San Diego Friars. I just hate them. For the most part they have never been good yet they play the Dodgers with a chip on their shoulder. They have beat us in some critical games over the years. It didn't matter that the win wouldn't benefit them, they usually were so far in the rearview mirror their season was over. But holy god to hurt the Dodgers in whatever race they were in at any given time gave the friars a reason to breathe. I'm not sure but I think my lifetime epic HATE of frisco may translate over to LoCal. Time will tell.

karen said...

Belli has a hairline fracture of his left leg. :(

Steve Sax said...

Oh no on Belli!

Steve Sax said...

Seager GIDPs in the first for the Dodgers, but the Padres GIDP on their own.

0-0 through one

Steve Sax said...

At least we are running up pitches on Weathers. He’s at 28 pitches with none out in the second

karen said...

Manny Machado...MLB's answer to Aaron Hernandez.

Steve Sax said...

SD cheers when Raley grounds out, but Weathers is at 46 pitches through two. That bodes well, I reckon

0-0 through 1.5.

karen said...

@Saxy...Agreed. You reckon right.

karen said...

Myers made Walker work for that out.

karen said...

Campusano is hitting .91 and he gets the RBI.

karen said...

1-0 friars after 2.

Steve Sax said...

Buehler can’t find the zone

karen said...

Buehler K's Pham to escape the fourth.

karen said...

Luke Raley goes yard to tie the game.

Steve Sax said...

Luke Raley!!!!

karen said...

Sax...Do you remember when Tatis Sr, who was playing for frisco at the time, hit 2 grand slams in the first inning at Dodger Stadium?

karen said...

CT3 and some fast and loose defense by the friars put Boys ahead 3-2 in sixth.

Steve Sax said...

Tatie error leads to two dodgers runs! 3-2 La

karen said...

....and CT3 scores on a wild pitch. 4-2 Champs.

Steve Sax said...

@karen 858p: oh wow. No I don5. When was that?

Steve Sax said...

^don’t

Steve Sax said...

Attis jr had a solo shot to make it 2-1 SD, and now it’s 4-2 LA as the error opened floodgates.

Steve Sax said...

^Tatis

Steve Sax said...

Really tough to text on an ipad

karen said...

I can't remember what year. I want to say it was opening day too but that could just be the trauma of having to see it.

karen said...

GIDP to end the sixth. 4-2 LA

karen said...

I'm glad to see the Dodgers eating into the bullpen's good ERA.

karen said...

CRAP!! We needed that double play.

Steve Sax said...

Dammit Zach!

karen said...

I LOVE THIS FREAKING KID!!!

karen said...

Siddown Hosmer!

karen said...

My mental health is not strong enough for this.

karen said...

Go get him Doc

karen said...

To the ninth in a 5-5 tie.

karen said...

JT brings Mookie in...6-5 T9.

karen said...

Going to the bottom of the ninth leading by 1.

karen said...

Tatis Jr: OUT

karen said...

Cronenworth: OUT

karen said...

Machado on first repping the tying run.

karen said...

Machado steals second.

karen said...

Machado goes to third on a passed ball.

karen said...

I may need to drop some acid to get through this.

karen said...

Going to extras.

karen said...

Dennis Santana in to pitch B10.

karen said...

Santana hits PH Jorge Mateo. Benches clear. Stupid friars. Like Santana would hit the dude on purpose in extra innings.

karen said...

Umpires issue warnings. Friars on first and third with 1 out.

karen said...

Bases loaded for Tatis Jr.

QuadSevens said...

Couple of big Ks there for Santana to get out of the bases loaded jam!

karen said...

Tatis Jr. K's. Santana and Dodgers escape the tenth.

QuadSevens said...

Jumbo Jacks for all!

QuadSevens said...

We go down weakly in the top of the 11th.

karen said...

David Price in to pitch B11.

karen said...

Price K's Hosmer and Myers. Here we go to the 12th.

QuadSevens said...

Price with a couple Ks of his own. On to the 12th!

QuadSevens said...

SEAGER!!

karen said...

MVP goes yard to bring in 2 runs!!! 8-6 Boys.

QuadSevens said...

The old leadoff 2 run bomb!

QuadSevens said...

Tatis error leads to an RBI for McKinstry! 9-6!

karen said...

Tatis Jr. blows a perfect double play ball. Bases loaded.

McKinstry singles to bring in JT, 9-6 Champs.

karen said...

Cronenworth pitching T12 for friars. Now 11-6 LA.

karen said...

Going to B12. 11-6.

QuadSevens said...

Price with a sac fly RBI! What a night!

karen said...

DODGERS WIN!!! This one was never in doubt (ha ha).

karen said...

(and this is just game 1 of 19)

Steve Sax said...

What a win. Wow!!!

QuadSevens said...

GAME 2

Pitcher’s duel so far. 1-0 Dodgers in the bottom of the 6th.

QuadSevens said...

Kershaw gets a huge double play to get out of the 6th unscathed.

Steve Sax said...

Sorry I'm late, but just in time to register the JUMBO JACK!!!

Steve Sax said...

Tonight's strike zone is all over the board. Balls are called strikes, strikes are called balls. Can't believe it's 1-0. Even Joe and Orel are aghast. "This is a tad embarrassing right here," Orel just said.

Steve Sax said...

Turner leads off the ninth with a HR!

2-0 LA

Steve Sax said...

Fifth HR of the season for Turner, so he's ahead of his total 2020 HR count. Wow

QuadSevens said...

Machado down looking to start the 9th.

QuadSevens said...

Myers with a single the VGon comes in and walks the first batter.

QuadSevens said...

FC. Runners on second and third. Need one more out!

QuadSevens said...

Mookie with a diving catch in center to end the game! Holy crap!

QuadSevens said...

Under review and confirmed! WIN!

Steve Sax said...

Holy smokes, Mookie is amazing.

I looked it up and he's batting .293 and .920 OPS. Which is crazy because that's gotta be the quietest .920 OPS I've ever seen. Just wait until his bat starts making some real noise... wow.

Steve Sax said...

GAME 3

Dodgers lineup not available yet, but SD has shaken it up: Profar in leadoff, Cronenworth second, then Tatis Jr 3rd and Machado cleanup. Hmm.

Steve Sax said...

GAME 3 DODGERS LINEUP

Betts RF
Seager SS
Turner 3B
Smith C
Taylor CF
Muncy 1B
Pollock LF
Neuse 2B
Bauer P

This is Sheldon Neuse's first appearance as a Dodger. He batted .250 with a 65 OPS+ in 25 games with Oakland in 2019.

Steve Sax said...

Neuse came over in the Kolarek trade, this off-season.

karen said...

Looking for the SWEEP today. Just have to get past the great pitching of Snell and the whole T Bauer/Manny Machado history.

karen said...

I still think the Dodger brass should have sent a World Series ring to Kevin Cash.

Steve Sax said...

Dodgers go down 1-2-3 in the first.

Steve Sax said...

Padres wearing their camo. I can’t see them. Where are they?!

karen said...

CT3 crushes the ball!! 2-0 LA

Steve Sax said...

I’m still on will smith’s lead off songle

Steve Sax said...

^single

Steve Sax said...

Ok just saw it. Wow. First pitch of the AB

Steve Sax said...

Machado gets his hit off Bauer, but Neuse starts Hosner on a DP to erase Machado as well

Steve Sax said...

Mookie should have had that fly ball. It went foul, but still

Steve Sax said...

Bauer walks Pham

Steve Sax said...

LAT had a nice Sunday feature on the Dodgers-Padres rivalry over the years. Was a little surprised they held this story until the final day of the series, but still, a pretty good piece.

Steve Sax said...

Bauer gets out of the second

Steve Sax said...

Lux went to the IL. Graterol also activated

karen said...

No fastballs to Machado Trevor

karen said...

Fastball = Base hit to left.

karen said...

Manny Machado is Trevor Bauer's kryptonite.

karen said...

Pham K's chasing. Bauer gets out of the inning giving up just the one run.

Steve Sax said...

JT tripping over the third base there, and Bauer signaling safe, was great.

karen said...

This ump crew has made the most horrible calls on balls and strikes.

Cliff Beefpile said...

Cuzzi's strike zone is more suited for Manute Bol than most of these players. Was he the one that ran Bud Black for complaining about the strike zone last week?

karen said...

Crap. Tied.

karen said...

@Cliff...I think he was. This is the same crew.

Steve Sax said...

Grateful comes in and promptly shits the bed. Single to Machado, double to Hosmer to tie the game. None out

karen said...

Bazooka not looking very Bazooka-y.

Steve Sax said...

Grateful exits with the game tied and men on first and second. Here comes Scott Alexander

Steve Sax said...

Myers to pinch hit

Sorry, men are at the corners

Steve Sax said...

Alexander gets the ground out to end it. 2-2 through 7

Cliff Beefpile said...

McKinstry Fan Club now taking applications

Cliff Beefpile said...

Mckinstry Fan Club Kids! Become a MFCKer today!

Cliff Beefpile said...

I really dislike the Milk/Milk/Lemonade/Fudge color scheme of these Pobres uniforms. I much prefer the orange/brown combo.

Cliff Beefpile said...

Great, I finally show up for a game thread and it's the first floater in 15 games. I accept all blame for today's loss. :(

karen said...

OMG!! He called JT out on strikes.

karen said...

@Cliff...Nah, you keep coming back

karen said...

Dodgers don't get the sweep but win the series.

On to Seattle.

Steve Sax said...

Booooooii