I Hope He Wears Number 47

• Dodgers are expected to sign Adam Kennedy (Dylan Hernandez, LA Times)

No more Jamey Carroll or Aaron Miles? No problem. Let's get ready to welcome our new MSB.

Jerry Sands, One Happy Star

I don't know what's funnier in this video: Jerry Sands in the Happy Star outfit, or Aaron Miles in his Flashdance outfit.

Things More or Less Star Wars Than Dodgers Star Wars Night

One of these things is not like the other.

"What do you mean, there are no black stormtroopers in Star Wars?"

"Lord Vader, what's a 'rampart'?"

"Batting sixth sixth sixth, Boba Boba Boba Fett Fett Fett."

Not Star Wars Night, but Star Wars-related: Trey Hillman instructs Han Solo on the finer points of "business in the front, party in the back."

"That's right, Indiana Jones wears an earring."

"Tommy, what's your opinion of Yakface's performance?"

Fly, Ackbar, fly!

Creatures deleted from the cantina scene: Chococat, Aaron Miles, Hello Kitty, Keroppi, Justin Sellers, My Melody.

Earlier at SoSG: Things More Star Wars Than Dodgers Star Wars Night

1: Jill Weisleder/Dodgers; 2-4: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images; 5-6: Juan Ocampo/Dodgers; 7-8: AP; 9: Ocampo/Dodgers

Post-Game 148 Thread: Bill Welke, Weak Sauce

DODGERS 3, SNAKES 2

Gerardo Parra's prior immature histrionics notwithstanding, home plate umpire Bill Welke's tossing of Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw, after nicking Parra on the elbow with an inside pitch (that was not up in the zone), was nothing but the weakest of sauce. Kershaw, furious, was tossed. Don Mattingly was also tossed. All 724 people in attendance were tossed. Heck, the post-game spread caesar salad was even tossed.

And how bad was this call? As of game's end, the video of the offensive play wasn't even available as a mlb.com highlight. That's because even MLB is fucking embarrassed, Welke. (UPDATE 12:06a: Here's the highlight of the incident itself.)

Kershaw was in line for his 19th win of the year having left the game with a 2-0 lead (5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 Ks (which unlocked his mlb.com badge of 7 Ks, inexplicably))--but only if the Dodgers could maintain the lead. The Snakes got one in the eighth to make it 2-1, and then Aaron Miles got a one-out RBI single in the bottom of the eighth to put the lead back at two runs.

Kenley Jansen allowed a leadoff single to come around to score with two out, but got the victory by striking out the side, ending the game with a called strike three on Chris Young. Kershaw earns the win, and the Dodgers salvage the last game of the series.

Matt Kemp got his 39th SB and went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Eugenio Velez remains hitless on the season, but has not yet sucked enough to make the recently-published list of the worst full-time players of the last 50 years (in fact, no Dodger was on the top 20).

Dodgers Incentive Triggers Down The Stretch

Ken Gurnick of MLB.com had an interesting article documenting Dodgers players in reach of contract bonuses:

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Dodgers have roughly $50 million in payroll potentially coming off the books from 2011, but there still are a few players who can earn additional incentives this year.

Starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda, for example, has thrown 178 1/3 innings so far. He's in line to receive another $125,000 when he reaches 180 innings, $175,000 more at 190 innings and $200,000 more if he hits 200 innings.

With 463 plate appearances, Jamey Carroll has already reached $275,000 in incentives, but there's another $125,000 if he gets to 500. That might be tough to reach now that his playing time has diminished with Dee Gordon and Justin Sellers playing almost daily in the middle infield.

Aaron Miles, with 433 plate appearances, has earned $75,000 in bonuses but has another $25,000 coming if he reaches 450.

Near the end of a lost season, this list gives some indications about individual achievements which could bring meaningful bonuses. What was interesting, however, was all of the Dodgers' organization incentives that Gurnick chose not to mention:

• Eugenio Velez will get $3.27 if he gets his firs hit before the end of the season (no, that game-winning run scored as a PR Friday night agains the Giants doesn't trigger the bonus, even if Velez' shock at being located on any base was widely evident).
• Andre Ethier will get $5,000 for every additional opinion he needs to get about arthroscopic surgery on his knee.
• Rod Barajas can earn $100 for using four pounds of chewing tobacco in a single game.
• Miles and Carroll are in a head-to-head, winner-take-all competition to be the first to grow an inch in height.
• Juan Uribe will get no bonus, no matter what he does even over the next two years in his contract. However, he is still in the running to have the AYCE right field pavilion renamed after him.
• Ned Colletti believes he can pocket 10% of every former Giant he can sign, but that in fact is not a contractual stipulation. Irrespective, his behavior has remained consistent.
• Rick Monday, who has told the score of the game 27 times all season, will get a bonus of $3,000 if he reaches 50 total times.
• Charley Steiner is three correct HR calls away from $10,000.
• Dylan Hernandez can earn $7,000 if he can get a canary to build a nest in his beard.
• SoSG Sax will pay the Dodgers $20 to get rid of Don't Stop Believing AND God Bless America as daily game traditions.

Post-Game 130 Thread: Yet Another Come-From-Behind Victory

DODGERS 6, ROCKIES 1

One shaky inning (the seventh) felled Esmil Rogers and the Rockies, thanks in no part to Andre Ethier, whose charge home from third on a Jamey Carroll fly ball to shallow center field ran right past the outstretched arms of Dodgers 3B Coach Tim Wallach, and straight into a double play at home. Nice.

But Rogers, who had walked Ethier and Aaron Miles to start the inning (and had let Rod Barajas single to set up that aforementioned rancho ardiendo situation), was done in by himself. His intentional walk to Tony Gwynn was followed by a balck, scoring Miles and tying the game. Then Sellers continued his AB and singled to right, scoring two and putting the Dodgers up 3-1.

James Loney came up next and homered to right (his seventh), putting the Dodgers up 5-1. And Matt Kemp followed with his 30th HR to deep center field, ricocheting off the camera pit, to give the Dodgers an even six runs. That was all the team needed; Ted Lilly went seven strong innings with three hits and only one run (a Carlos Gonzalez solo shot), earning the win. Dodgers now have won four in a row and are a game back of Colorado for third place in the NL West.

Oh, and Vin Scully announced he is coming back next year. In a year of the depressable, the delightable has happened.

Post-Game 128 Thread: Lucky 13

Sorry, I couldn't do a third reference to one of my favorite SF watering holes.

DODGERS 13, CARDINALS 2

The lucky after-effects of the Sons' recent visit to Busch Stadium lingers in the park this evening, as the Dodgers roll to a thirteen-run stomping of St. Louis, which wasn't their biggest run-producing output of the year (15 runs scored on June 27 versus the Twins), but their most against a contending team this season.

Credit Clayton Kershaw for another stellar start (6.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 2 BB and 8 Ks), but that wasn't really the story. The Dodgers had four home runs, starting with Matt Kemp's 29th, a three-run shot before an out had even been recorded in the game (Justin Sellers singled and James Loney walked). Rod Barajas had two HR, his 13th and 14th of the year, and Aaron Miles, the hero of last night's ninth inning, added a two-run HR of his own off of Cardinals 2B Skip Schumacher (who ended the inning with a 18.00 ERA, down from a momentary 54.00).

Oh, and Eugenio Velez had a strikeout in the eighth to make him 0-for-26 on the season.

Post-Game 127 Thread: Dodgers Sting Late

Actually, it was it was a moth. But the headline doesn't work if I say "Dodgers Fly Toward Bright Light And Cotton Clothes Late", so we're sticking with the bee thing.

DODGERS 2, CARDINALS 1

Nathan Eovaldi pitched a decent enough game as the starter: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER off a solo shot from Lance Berkman (that was jacked 421 feet to center, getting fireworks from Busch Stadium), 2 Ks, 1 BB. However, when your offense prior to the ninth inning consisted of James Loney (3-for-4 before being subbed by Trent Oeltjen) and Rod Barajas (2-for-4), there wasn't a lot of hope. Josh Lindblom, Scott Elbert, and Matt Guerrier each pitched a scoreless inning to keep us down by the one run, but we looked largely impotent.

In fact, the first time the Dodgers got to the Cardinals was in the eighth inning, when a bee sting (or something (see picture caption; it was apparently just a moth)) felled Matt Holliday in left field (Holliday left holding his ear and was replaced by Corey Patterson). But then came the ninth: a leadoff HBP to Juan Rivera (PR Justin Sellers), which chased Chris Carpenter (8.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 Ks). Then Arthur Rhodes struck out Andre Ethier (capping off a 0-for-4 evening for 'Dre). And then, improbably, Aaron Miles tripled off of Fernando Salas, causing a chorus of boos from the Cardinals crowd. And Rod Barajas then hit a smoker to short which was misfielded by former Dodger Rafael Furcal, who compounded it by coming home with a bad throw wide of the plate (on the first-base side), allowing Miles to scamper in with the go-ahead run. Casey Blake PH for Eusuckio Velez and promptly GIDP, but the damage was done, with the Dodgers scoring two in the ninth to take a 2-1 lead.

Javy Guerra came in and got Albert Pujols to fly out to the infield and got Patterson to ground to second. Then Rafael Furcal came in with two out and Jamey Carroll returned Furcal's misplay favor (to be fair, it was a tough grounder that Carroll tried to barehand while charging, and when he couldn't pick up the ball there was no play). Founding Father Jon Jay then flied to left field and the Dodgers had stolen the game outright.

Post-Game 117 Thread: Dodgers Strike Late (Not The First Time Though) To Win

DODGERS 1, ASTROS 0 (10)

The Dodgers took another solid start from Nathan Eovaldi (6.0 IP, 2 H, 4 Ks and 3 BB) and got a fortunate double play in the eighth inning to blank the Astros through nine innings. Unfortunately, Astros starter Bud Norris had also held the Dodgers down with 8 Ks over his 7.0 IP, but the Dodgers had the Astros, the NL's worst team, right where they wanted them.

Enter the bottom of the ninth, still scoreless, and Juan Rivera opens up the inning with a leadoff triple. Two IBBs later and we've got the bases loaded with none out, so it's all over, right? Except PH Tony Gwynn fans, Jamey Carroll forces out the runner at home, and Aaron Miles ground out to end the game. Hmm. That wasn't what we had planned...

So on to the tenth inning, still scoreless. Casey Blake hits another leadoff XBH, this time a double. Andre Ethier is intentionally walked, and then the Astros inexplicably decide to pitch to Matt Kemp (instead of walking the bases loaded again and pitching to non-hitting (0-for-19 on the season) Eugenio Velez, who had entered as a pinch-runner for Rivera after his triple). I mean, if you're gonna walk the bases loaded in the ninth by sidestepping the .199 Dioner Navarro (not an easy task, given Navarro's girth), why not reprise the move and pitch to the .0000000000000000 Velez?

But Kemp was their chosen target, and three pitches later, a light single to right field scored Blake and won the game, sending an announced attendance of 33.6K (probably more like 16K in the stadium) to post-game fireworks.

Post-Game 115 Thread: Toying With Dodger Fans

PHILLIES 2, DODGERS 1

The first inning basically said it all. The Phillies open the game with two singles off of Ted Lilly (expected), but get Chase Utley to ground into a double play and Ryan Howard to ground out, staving off a Dodgers defeat...for now. Later, in the bottom of the inning, the Dodgers get two leadoff singles off of Cliff Lee (unexpected), yet Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp K and then Aaron Miles pops out to end the threat. As a Dodger fan, you had to feel like you were being played.

That first-inning shot was our best, if not only, chance to get to Cliff Lee, who proceeded to coast through the next seven innings. Lee tacked up a solo shot of his own (along with a Jimmy Rollins RBI double in the third) to make it 2-0 going into the ninth.

Oh sure, the Dodgers got a run in the ninth on a Casey Blake RBI single. And Lilly had a respectable 8.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB and 5 K outing. But Dee Gordon had to leave in the middle of an eighth-inning at-bat (down 0-2) because of that bum shoulder (you can't spell DEE-L without DEE!). So, man, I feel toyed with. And even though I knew it would happen, it still hurts. I need another drink.

Post-Game 102 Thread: The "Route" Is On (And Then Almost Off Again)

8-5, get it?

DODGERS 8, ROCKIES 5

Like in yesterday's game, the opponent scored first, with one run in the top of an early inning (three consecutive two-out singles in the second inning). And like in yesterday's game, the Dodgers' pitching staff (Rubby De La Rosa, Matt Guerrier, and Kenley Jansen) proceeded to shut them down after that, allowing no hits from the third inning until the ninth inning.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the plate, our 1-2-3 batters (Rafael Furcal, Aaron Miles, and Andre Ethier) went a combined 6-for-13 with 6 RBI and 2 BB, and Juan Rivera (in the five-hole) added a RBI double of his own. The Dodgers scored three in the third (two off a Ethier HR), two in the sixth, and three in the eighth (batting around), which brought the immortal words of impeccable speller SoSG Dusty Baker, "the route is on!"

But unlike yesterday's game, things didn't end so smoothly. In the top of the ninth, Hong-Chih Kuo entered with a seven-run lead in his favor, but decided to bring along his backup band, the Yippers. Kuo couldn't find the plate (17 pitches, only five for strikes), allowing a single and two walks while recording one out. Kuo had to be rescued by Mike MacDougal, who promptly walked Ryan Spilborghs and allowed Dexter Fowler a RBI single. And then Jamey Carroll added a fielding error to allow a fourth run to score. MacDougal then walked in the fifth run of the night, and we had to call Javy Guerra into service with the bases loaded, in order to get the last two outs of the game on the ninth and tenth batters of the inning.

What was almost an epic implosion was narrowly, narrowly averted, but you know what they say: no lead is safe at Dodger Stadium. Not with this bullpen, at least. Dodgers win their third in a row and climb to 13 GB. We're making our move!

Post-Game 101 Thread: Natsies Make Patsies, Dodgers Take Series

DODGERS 3, NATIONALS 1

The Nationals opened the game against Chad Billingsley with a walk, a HBP, and a single, causing Bills to get a visit from the dugout. Then the next batter singled in a run with the Nationals' second hit of the game. and things weren't looking too good, two hits and none out in the first.

But that was the last hit the Nationals got for the rest of the game. Bills struck out the side in the first and then went seven strong innings with 10 Ks to thoroughly befuddle the Nationals. And when PH Alex Cora came in to face Kenley Jansen in the eighth, it was more of the same; no hits for Jansen (1 K) and none for Javy Guerra into the ninth (2 Ks).

The Dodgers win thanks to some smart base running from Matt Kemp to score from first on an Aaron Miles 2-RBI single (making it 2-1 Dodgers). The Dodgers added a third run on a cheapie when James Loney, with the bases juiced and one out, should have GIDPed but reached first on a bad throw from Nats SS Ian Desmond, allowing Rafael Furcal (who had walked) to score from third and Loney to reach first safely.

Dodgers win the rubber match which may have had something to do with the fact Juan Uribe did not play today. No time to breathe however as the Rockies roll into town starting tomorrow.

Post-Game 96 Thread: The Meek Inherit The Shutout Loss

GIANTS 5, DODGERS 0

One day after Dodgers manager Don Mattingly defended his beleaguered shortstop by concluding, "That is what you love, that [Rafael Furcal] is out there trying," Furcal went out and did Mattingly and his blind confidence proud, going 0-for-3 wtih 2 LOB to drop his average to .163, an intimidating force from the leadoff spot. In fact, even when Furcal did something not-wrong, in the seventh inning with the Dodgers already down 5-0, with two men on and two out by getting a walk, it was all for naught as Aaron Miles came out and took the second pitch to ground to third. Not that the Dodgers had many chances; their seven scattered hits all evening led to a 0-for-5 with RISP, 8 LOB evening. And this time, Charley and Rick couldn't blame the oft-cited wives tale about getting in late / getting little sleep: the Dodgers actually made it to SF before the Giants did.

Chad Billingsley (5.1 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 0 BB and 4 Ks) takes the loss. James Loney (0-for-4 with 2 LOB) takes the night off (along with Furcal). The Dodgers take another one to the gut, deciding not to spoil anything tonight except their own evening.

Linkification

• Don't think the Dodgers will be exercising Jon Garland's $8 million option for 2012. Shoulder surgery to end Garland's season (Dodgers.com)
• MSBs wobble but they don't fall down. Aaron Miles' elbow X-rays negative (ESPNLosAngeles.com)
• When Matt Kemp hits a total of four home runs in the second half, this will be why. Home Run Derby and Matt Kemp's swing (Dodger Thoughts)
• According to Bill Plaschke, next year is the last guaranteed year of Ned Colletti's contract. Last-place Dodgers are just taking up space, and there's nothing Ned Colletti can do about it (LA Times)
• Paper chase. MLB says Frank McCourt isn't entitled to documents (Bill Shaikin, LA Times)
• McCourt is such a fool he made Kareem become a writer. Bums! (The Dodgers' owners, that is.) (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, ESPN.com)

  

photo from @Dodgers

Post-Game 83 Thread: Kuroda Finally Gets Some (Run Support)

DODGERS 5, ANGELS 0

Hiroki Kuroda could not believe his eyes. The Dodgers scored single runs in each of the first four innings, then tacked on another In the seventh inning off of the chaos caused by having SpeeDee Gordon and Tony Gwynn Jr on the basepaths at the same time, leaving havoc in their wake (Angels catcher Hank Conger looked like he was going out of his mind). Gwynn went 3-for-3 with a double and reached base five times. Aaron Miles had a good game as well, going 4-for-4. And Kuroda, victim of poor run support all year, was rolling, despite the Dodgers leaving 16 on base and batting 2-for-13 with RISP.

Oh, and James Loney went 0-for-5 and left 5 on base, but Casey Blake (1-for-4) topped that with 6 LOB.

Meanwhile, Kuroda went seven shutout innings and labored at the end but held the Angels to three hits and one walk (with two HBP, including a first-inning pitch that hit Torii Hunter on the hand and knocked him out of the game; hopefully Hnter is okay). Mike MacDougal had a nerves-testing, shaky eighth, and Javy Guerra closed the door in the ninth to secure the shutout. If I heard Charley correctly, that was the eighth shutout of the year and the fifth involving Kuroda. Well done, Hiro!

Post-Game 81 Thread: Take Your Pick: 25 (Hits), Or 6 To 4 (Loss)

TWINS 6, DODGERS 4

One night after the Dodgers stroke a MLB season-best 25 hits, they lose 6-4 to the Twins.

Ted Lilly gets behind in the score 3-0 and 4-1, only to see the Dodgers improbably rally to tie the game in the top of the fifth inning that included an unlikely Aaron Miles HR. And then Lilly promptly goes out in the bottom of the fifth and can't even complete the bottom of that frame, yielding a two-run HR to Luke Hughes that proved the difference in the game. Dodgers drop to nine games below .500 at the halfway point of the season.

That video sure has a lot of horns.

Post-Game 66 Thread: Yippee-Ki-Yay, MSB

"It's a TRAP!"

DODGERS 11, ROCKIES 7

Lots of highlights from last night's game, in which the Dodgers' offense beat the Dodgers' defense. But more than Aaron Miles' 4-for-4 night with 2 RBI, Casey Blake's PH 2B that scored three runs, or Tony Gwynn Jr.'s magnificent game-ending catch in left field--Jamey Carroll, 4-for-5 and positioned in the lineup so early that RBI don't come easy, delivered in a huge way.

Carroll not only added the Dodgers' last two runs in the top of the ninth inning, doubling in Gwynn and Dee Gordon to stretch the lead to 11-6, what was awesome was he popped up after the double and showed an emotional yell of excitement. This, from a relatively stoic wide-eyed player. Mon Calamari! Whatever; Carroll, we loved it--thank you for being a highly-productive Mini-Sirloin Burger for the Dodgers this year.

photo from mlb.com; can't find the credit but would be happy to amend

Post-Game 65 Thread: Showing Up Too Late

ROCKIES 6, DODGERS 5

This game only appeared close because the Dodgers decided NOT to show up for the first eight innings, instead showing up late for the ninth. Through eight innings, the Dodgers had only three hits, all three of which came from leadoff batter Dee Gordon (two of the three hits) and recent call-up Trent Oeltjen. But in the ninth inning, Matt Kemp hit a one-out solo shot, Tony Gwynn doubled in James Loney, Aaron Miles hit a two-run single, and Rod Barajas singled Miles home, accounting for all of the Dodgers' scoring (five runs, total).

All that was not enough to overcome Chad Billingsley's sorry 4.2 IP, 13 H, 6 ER outing, that's for sure. Certainly not when you miss your wake up call and show up to the game late.

Post-Game 56 Thread: An Offensive Juggernaut

DODGERS 8, ROCKIES 2

The Dodgers offense has suddenly morphed into a juggernaut, and if the Dodgers go on to make a run for the playoffs, you Cain Marko this date, the third game in a row in which the Dodgers scored seven or more runs, as the one which made fans begin to hope. The Dodgers are 7-1 when scoring seven or more runs and this includes the last three games, each of which resulted in a win.

Ted Lilly went seven tonight and gave up two ER (including a solo shot to Ty Wigginton) and had 8 Ks. Rubby De La Rosa breezed through the eighth, and gave up a two-out double in the ninth, but got Todd Helton to fly out to left and end the game.

On the offensive side, Matt Kemp had four RBI, including a two-run HR in the first, and Casey Blake added a three-run shot in the seventh, scoring Jay Gibbons and Jamey Carroll. Heck, even Aaron Miles, who cost the Dodgers a run in the third inning after catching an over-the-shoulder, short fly out to right (cutting off Andre Ethier, who could have easily made the play and had momentum homeward to hold the runner) and allowing Chris Nelson to tag and score from third, had a run-scoring double of his own. Every Dodger position starter reached at least first base, even 0-for-3 Dioner Navarro.

And so it is, these Dodgers are rolling and unstoppable. One might call it...uncanny.

UPDATE 6/1 9:35a: You know what else is uncanny? Check out the LATimes' Steve Dilbeck's headline. UNCANNY. (Except I had spelled "juggernaut" correctly (check his story's link.)

Post-Game 41 Thread: The Abyss At The Bottom Of The Dodgers' Lineup Rises, Swallowing Kemp and Ethier

D'BACKS 4, DODGERS 1

It's common knowledge that the bottom of the Dodgers' order--with Rod Barajas (batting .235), James Loney (.230), Juan Uribe (.200), and whoever is in left field--sucks. It basically renders the second half of our lineup useless, such that if Ethier and Kemp can't tally RBIs, we are through.

So Don Mattingly decided to go absolutely wild today and bat five through eight as follows: Loney (who went 1-for-4, 4 LOB), Dioner Navarro (0-for-4 with 3Ks and 4 LOB; now at .176), Juan Castro (0-for-2 before being replaced by Uribe, who walked twice), and Tony Gwynn Jr (0-for-2). Total and complete impotence.

And it didn't stop there. In fact, the tar pit actually rose a bit, engulfing #3 Andre Ethier (0-for-4 with 4 LOB, breaking his on-base-streak at 37 games, fifth-longest in Dodgers history) and #4 Matt Kemp (0-for-3 with 2 Ks; Kemp 0-fered last night as well). That left only Jamey Carroll and Aaron Miles to get hits, and though they tallied five of the team's six hits, that wasn't enough to scratch out more than one run in the loss.

Ted Lilly must have been deflated after seeing a bottom of the first that started with two leadoff singles, and then continued with an Ethier K, Kemp BB, Loney one-pitch fly out, and Navarro K. Lilly was so flustered, he came back out and gave up four runs, his only bad inning (6.0 IP). The bullpen pitched a scoreless three, but with offense this impotent, they could have been out there for 18 innings and we wouldn't have tied the game. Dodgers fall to three below .500 and four back of the division lead.