Games 151-153 Thread: Sep 23-25 vs. Cardinals

Fri 23 7p: Heaney vs. Quintana
Sat 24 6p: Kershaw vs. Montgomery
Sun 25 1p: Anderson vs. Wainwright

This series marks the return of all-time Dodger great Albert Pujols, who, after his legendary stint with the Dodgers, opted to play out one final year with the St. Louis Cardinals. Pujols is on 698 home runs (fourth all-time), and there is a chance he can get to 700 while playing at Chavez Ravine--which would be entirely fitting for the future Hall of Famer. (It is widely rumored that Pujols, always generous, may opt to give St. Louis a little bit of love on his HOF plaque, given that the Dodgers already have so much HOF representation.)

St Louis leads the NL Central by 7.5 games--but as the NL division leader with the weakest record, the Cardinals will likely have to play in the Wild Card Round before the NLDS. Should they advance, there's a chance these two teams could meet in the NLCS. Better not show the entire hand this series, right?

Welcome back to Dodger Stadium, Tio Albert!

2021 NLDS Game 3: Oct 11 vs. Giants

Scherzer vs. Wood, 6.30p.

After splitting the first two NLDS games in San Francisco, it's time for some home cooking! And the Dodgers' chef will be the only Max on the Dodgers menu this season :(, none other than Max Scherzer. From a Michelin star perspective, Max Scherzer is like Wolfgang Puck or Gordon Ramsay: the stars he earned after coming over at the trade deadline and ratting off nine straight starts with a combined 0.78 ERA was impressive; however, Scherzer has allowed 11 earned runs over 14 2/3 innings in his last three games (two regular-season, one Wild Card game).

That said: the Dodgers have all twelve games that Max Scherzer has started. Even when he's not in the kitchen, he's still cooking up a plan for victory.

On top of that, we've got Albert Pujols starting in place of Cody Bellinger, who had the (early) dagger in NLDS Game 2. Yes, Tio feasts on lefties. But I also think this also has to reflect the fact that Giants starter Alex Wood knows the Dodgers lineup inside and out, but Pujols is going to be a new and unknown ingredient. Doc has made tons of great moves in the postseason, so I'll trust him again on this one.

I'll be there to watch tonight's game. LET'S GO, DODGERS!

Post-Game 104 Thread: Hipster Kershaw Downs Angels

DODGERS 3, ANGELS 1

Clayton Kershaw overcame the hip issue that had scratched him from two starts, and sat many an Angel down (7 Ks; retired his last 15 batters) en route to victory today. Kid K's scoreless streak is now at 38 innings; the Angels got a run in the ninth off of Kenley Jansen, whose shakiness is starting to get a little concerning. Albert Pujols snuck in a pop fly right in front of Scott Van Slyke to score David Murphy for the Angels' only run; Jansen did have two Ks, including Mike Trout, in the final frame.

The Dodgers' offensive outburst came in the sixth inning, with a Van Slyke sacrifice fly to left (scoring Howie Kendrick, and a Yasmani Grandal HR scoring Adrian Gonzalez. The Dodgers had other chances, ending the game 0-for-6 with RISP. But three runs was enough to make Kershaw's effort stand up.

Scoreboard watching: The Giants are facing Cole Hamels in his debut with Texas, and are down 2-0 in the second (Giants have Chris "Charlton" Heston on the mound: 11-5 / 3.14). As of this posting, the Dodgers have a two-game lead in the West, with only 58 left to play.

DelinO Lost Weekend Part Deux

Technically, my two days of baseball wound up being three days. And none of it took place in the Valley. But damn, Charlize was frikkin' hot.

Memorial Day brought me down to that other LA baseball team. Call yourself Los Angeles all you want, Angels. You're still Orange County through and through.

And now my car smells like an Angels fan - self-righteous and polished with a touch of Pujols regret.

Speaking of, how about that Pujols Plush?

I've already designed an Andre Ethier action figure which I'll be selling from my trunk.

There was also a rare Johnny Utah sighting.

Plenty of fruit.

And one of the most ridiculous baseball games I've seen in years.

Weaver went down with a back injury after a half dozen miserable pitches. The Angels defense treated the ball like it was covered in lard. (Or, for you Thai food fans, LARB.) But it helps when you're playing Phil T-Ball Hughes. One walk off homer later, I was enjoying the fireworks from the parking lot.

Just when I was ready to tip my hat to Anaheim, my car's gas light went on, and I found an exit with zero gas stations. I pulled in with one mile - literally, one mile - to spare.

All the fruit and plush Pujols didn't make up for that agita! But if they keep beating the Yankoffs, all is forgiven.

Coming Soon: DelinO Lost Weekend Part Shalosh (that's Hebrew) - Bobble Booyah!

PuLOLs

A bit of hilarity over at ESPNLA, via Jon Weisman's Twitter:

Yes, that's a genuine caption. It's all in good fun now, but it won't be as funny if that's still Loney's home run total in September.

The Revised Angels Pujols Billboard Plans Probably Aren't Going To Fly, Either

Angels say "El Hombre" issue has been handled (ESPN.com)

Angels Billboards Post Early, But With Reservations

Los Angeles is a town addicted to outdoor advertising (even despite the city's much-appreciated crackdown on illegal building wraps). And each year, I have to chuckle at how Arte Moreno's deep experience in outdoor advertising seems to give him a leg up in invading Los Angeles early, usually leaving the Dodgers' outdoor campaigns behind.

This year, the Angels billboards are up, with Albert Pujols as their obvious centerpiece. But according to LA Observed, their new star isn't exactly ecstatic about the new ad campaign:

In St. Louis, the fans, his teammates and the Cardinals PR people learned that Albert Pujols did not want to be known as El Hombre. It was a play on The Man, the longtime nickname for local legend Stan Musial. Pujols felt that Spanish-izing the name for him did Musial a dishonor. So now he comes to the Angels in Anaheim, and just before the start of spring training this week, 20 billboards go up in Southern California marketing Pujols as El Hombre.

"Like I say, I haven't talked to them, but I prefer not to use [El Hombre]," Pujols told a reporter at Angels camp on Wednesday. Says Angels VP Tim Mead: "We're more aware of his feelings about that now...."

Whoops. I guess the one with Albert and the "Big A" message can stay, however.

(More from Mark "axonometric projection videogame" Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles here.)

photo credit to Stanford's own Molly Knight

Retroactive Comment of the Week

This comment was made March 11, 2011, by John G:

My St Lousian GF got us tix to this game for my birthday. I'm assumming so she has one last chance to see Albert in Cards gear before he goes to Anaheim next season.

Six Nine months later...

Pujols Pours On The Perks

You see, Dodgers, it doesn't take much to sign a once-in-a-lifetime offensive power. Just a lot of cash, and then some creative extras here and there (and there, and over there too):

NEW YORK -- Guess $240 million wasn't quite enough for Albert Pujols. In addition to his salary, the Los Angeles Angels are giving the slugger four season tickets to home games over the next decade.

He and the Angels still need to work out the location of the seats, which are his to enjoy for the duration of his contract. After that, if he still wants them, he has to pay.

Those details were contained in the terms of his deal that was filed Thursday with Major League Baseball and the players' association.

Other perks include:

• A hotel suite on road trips.
• A luxury suite at the ballpark for the Pujols Foundation, his charitable group, for 10 home games a year.
• The right to buy a luxury suite between first base and third base for all home games.

Los Angeles' offer to Pujols surpassed St. Louis' offer by more than $40 million. Pujols played his first 11 seasons with the Cardinals.

The Angels' deal was so complicated that it includes three separate agreements: His playing contract, a marketing deal and an agreement to enter a 10-year, personal-services agreement following the playing contract's expiration or Pujols' retirement, whichever is later. That will pay $1 million annually, but because it is contingent on Pujols actually working for the team, it is not considered guaranteed money for the purposes of baseball's luxury tax.

High-payroll teams such as the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are likely to examine that structure closely and may emulate it in future agreements.

There also is a marketing agreement that will pay Pujols for milestone accomplishments. The player will receive $3 million for 3,000 hits and $7 million for a record 763rd home run. He currently has 2,073 hits and 445 home runs.

Including all three agreements, Pujols could make up to $268.75 million over 20 years. That includes $875,000 in possible award bonuses each year for accomplishments such as Most Valuable Player, World Series and League Championship Series MVP, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger, and making the All-Star team.

Unsigned Prince Fielder: probably taking some notes here and there?

(By the way, is it "perks" or "perqs"? I followed the ESPN.com article's convention, but I'm not sure.)

Meet the New Angels

photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

More on Pujols

A text message conversation with my father-in-law helps sum up nicely my feelings on the Pujols deal. My words are in green.

I don't have to rationalize this with myself. Dodgers signed an eight-year deal with a 27-year old 2011 MVP (in my reality), and Angels signed an already-aging "32"-year old (do we really know? do we?) Pujols to a ten-year deal. Hell, even Barry Zito is looking at that deal and saying it's bad for the long term.

Albert Pujols Is Coming To L.A....

...adjacent.

Damn.

MLBTR: Angels to sign Albert Pujols.

UPDATE (Sax) 9.09a: ESPN.com: 10 years, $250M.

Too Much Damn News

• James Loney was arrested last month. L.A. Dodgers Star CRASHES MASERATI Allegedly Spits at Cops (TMZ)
• The Angels just dropped $300+ mill. Angels To Sign Albert Pujols (MLBTR)
• Angels To Sign C.J. Wilson (MLBTR)
• The Dodgers made a trade! Orioles Acquire Dana Eveland (MLBTR)
• Yu Darvish. YU DARVISH! Japanese star Yu Darvish agrees to be posted (Jeff Passan, Yahoo! Sports)

UPDATE: From @jorgearangure:

CJ Wilson just said on Sportscenter said he would have preferred to sign with Dodgers if they had been a suitor. He likes the NL and area

No Fielder, No Pujols, No Surprise

From "Dodgers not likely to add big bat in off-season" by Dylan Hernandez at the LA Times:

The notion that the Dodgers had entered a new big-money era was dispelled Tuesday when General Manager Ned Colletti acknowledged the team was unlikely to make a run at top-line free agents such as Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols.

Asked of the possibility of adding a big bat, Colletti said, "As of today, it looks less realistic."

The concession was made only a day after the Dodgers finalized an eight-year, $160-million contract with Matt Kemp and departing owner Frank McCourt said Colletti was free to pursue the likes of Fielder and Pujols.

The Dodgers went into the winter with Fielder atop their wish list, but Colletti said he wasn't scheduled to meet the power-hitting first baseman's agent at the general managers meetings in Milwaukee this week.

The Dodgers are expecting to reduce payroll next season because of their bankruptcy and impending sale, according to a person familiar with the team's off-season plans. The Dodgers' payroll was at around $110 million last season, including deferred payments to players who were no longer on the team.

Not that this news comes as anything of a shock, but I wonder if the front office timed it to emerge after leaking news of Kemp's contract. Because it worked — I'm so relieved that Kemp is (unofficially) locked up that not pursuing an overpriced first baseman right now is no disappointment.

Still Holding Out For Pujols

Yes, I'm still dreaming. As Jayson Stark of ESPN says, however, the Dodgers landing Albert Pujols might be within some realm of possibility:

There's also the Franchise Changer sales pitch. If you're just looking at signing Albert Pujols the baseball player, you might not give this man eight or 10 years at age 32, no matter how great a player he is. But say you're a team like the Marlins, trying to put your franchise on the map as you move into a new ballpark. Or say you're the Dodgers, desperate to restore the luster of the franchise. Then signing The Best Player in Baseball becomes more than just a baseball transaction. "If I was running the Dodgers, I'd sign Albert Pujols in a heartbeat," one veteran agent said. "He could enhance the value of the franchise by $200-250 million. I know that sounds high, but you have to look at the ability to market [the player], the ability to raise prices. The TV contract alone would go up at least 20 percent. This isn't just another player we're talking about. This is Albert Pujols."

USA Today Predicts Infielder Moves: Hello Kelly Johnson?

Short piece in USA Today yesterday mentioned the infielder moves that they believe will happen this offseason. The bad news is that they predict the Dodgers won't get Albert Pujols (who will return to St. Louis) nor Prince Fielder (who will end up with the Cubs). The worse news is that according to their chart, we'll end up swapping out Jamey "Admiral Ackbar" Carroll for Kelly Johnson of the Bluejays:

Ranking the free agent infielders

8. Jamey Carroll, IF. Prediction: From Dodgers to White Sox; Lots of questions in the White Sox infield.

12. Kelly Johnson, 2B. Prediction: From Blue Jays to Dodgers; A younger version of recent Los Angeles gambles at second.

I'm still holding out hope for Albert.

World Series Game 4 Thread: Cardinals @ Rangers, 5p

Edwin Jackson (1-0, 5.84). vs. Derek Holland (1-0, 5.27).

"The Cardinals and Rangers have scored a total of eight runs in their first two games. Expect them to exceed that in Game 3 alone," I wrote yesterday. Game 3's total runs? 23. Herewith:

FIVE THINGS THAT WILL HAPPEN IN GAME 4

1. Um, fewer than twenty-three total runs. Pujols fewer than three homers. Going out on a limb here.

2. A former Dodger (Jackson? Furcal? Theriot? Beltre?) does something productive, annoying Dodger fans everywhere.

3. Shot of Nolan Ryan with MASSIVE TENSION HEADACHE.

4. Yadier Molina signs an endorsement deal with Maybelline eyeliner.

5. Ogando vs. Craig (Part 4) settled by arm wrestling.

photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images

World Series Game 3 Thread: Cardinals @ Rangers, 5p

"Okay guys, I'm finally ready to talk about Game 2. Any questions?...Really? Nobody has a single question...?"

Kyle Lohse (0-2, 7.45) vs. Matt Harrison (1-0, 4.22).

Nice to see the Rangers tie the series up with some genuine AL-style offense: bloop singles, stolen bases and sac flies. If the opening rounds of the playoffs were all about power, then the World Series has been about pitching — until tonight. The Cardinals and Rangers have scored a total of eight runs in their first two games. Expect them to exceed that in Game 3 alone.

Yankees' Woes Don't Stop with A-Rod

Found this pretty interesting. From Tom Verducci at SI.com:

I wrote back in January about how [Mark] Teixeira, coming off a .256 season, is so mechanically unsound that he is going to continue to decline. Teixeira collapses on his back side and swings up on the ball. I wrote then, "The style means Teixeira must catch the ball out in front of him and leaves him prone to lifting the ball rather than driving through it. As he ages, Teixeira becomes an even more extreme fly ball hitter and pull hitter, trends that mean he will continue to lose points off his batting average." [...]

His batting average on balls in play has dropped every year with the Yankees: .302, .268, .239. That's not unlucky. It's symptomatic of his hitting style. His fly ball rate has increased every year as a Yankee (37 in 2008, followed by 44, 46, 47). His infield pop-ups, which are no different than strikeouts, and were as low as 14 in 2008, have grown to 21, 30 and 27 as a Yankee.

Teixeira's swing simply is not built to make him a consistent clutch hitter. After coming to the Yankees with a .308 average with runners in scoring position in 2008, he hasn't come close to that kind of reliability with New York (.264, .273, .268) -- especially in the postseason environment.

Teixeira turns 32 years old next season. The Yankees already have age-related issues with Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter. You can put Teixeira in that category, not because of health, but because his pull-happy, fly ball swing is the kind that doesn't age well, sort of like those of J.D. Drew and Adam Dunn.

According to Cot's Baseball Contracts, Teixeira is under contract until 2016 and is making $22.5 million annually. A-Rod is signed through 2017 and will make $29 million next year alone. Jeter is signed through 2013, averaging $16.5 a year, and has a 2014 player option. Something to think about as we lust after Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols.

Another Dream Team in Florida?

From "Guillen departure ends South Side madness, brings South Beach jolt" by Jon Heyman at SI.com:

The Marlins are about to have the big-name marketable manager they have craved as they head into their new stadium. The White Sox are rid of their headache.

Ozzie Guillen will become the face (not to mention the mouth) of the Marlins as soon as their deal to hire him is completed. The White Sox, surely growing weary of Guillen's continuing public protestations about his contract situation and inability to get along with White Sox GM Ken Williams, announced it had allowed Guillen out of his contract Monday, and are expected to receive minor players in compensation from the Marlins once they sign him.

The Marlins desperately wanted a marquee man to manage their team, one that can help market their revenue-challenged team. And Ozzie should be perfect for that. He's funny in two languages. And now, he is about to become the star of the South Florida show, which is what the Golden Beach, Fla., resident wanted all along.

So the NL East just got a little more obnoxious. What if the Marlins make a run at Albert Pujols or Prince Fielder, as has been speculated? And if Bryce Harper joins Stephen Strasburg on the Nationals, that division could really grab a lot of headlines in 2012. And that's before the Mets' ownership situation gets resolved.