Series Thread: Games 11-14 vs. D'backs (April 14-17)

Back when we thought all we needed was two starting pitchers to win a title.

Four-game series with the Diamondbacks kicks off tonight in true form, with Friday Night Fireworks Sponsored by Denny's, set to the music of Billy Joel! Oh, and there are these two familiar guys who used to play on the same team, now squaring off against each other. I suppose that's interesting as well.

Saturday involves the unveiling of our Jackie Robinson statue (complete with replicas given away at the Stadium); Sunday gives away a Kenta Maeda fathead, and Monday doesn't offer anything except the best starting pitcher on the Dodgers so far (statistically speaking, of course). Somewhere in there, it would be nice to end the series back above .500. But that goal seems awful slippery when playing with these 7-3 snakes.

Friday: Clayton Kershaw (1-1, 3.46) vs. Zack Greinke (1-0, 2.31), 7p
DODGERS 7, DIAMONDBACKS 1

Saturday: Kenta Maeda (1-1, 6.30) vs. Patrick Corbin (1-1, 1.80), 6p
DODGERS 8, DIAMONDBACKS 4. Happy Jackie Robinson Day!

Sunday: Rich Hill vs. Tajuan Walker (1-1, 4.91), 1p
DIAMONDBACKS 3, DODGERS 1. Blistered.

Monday: Brandon McCarthy (2-0, 1.50) vs. Robbie Ray (1-0, 2.19), 7p
DIAMONDBACKS 4, DODGERS 2

Series Thread (Games 8-10): Apr 10,12-13 @ Cubs

We have to watch those Cub bastards hoist their World Series banner on their opening night tonight? And we have to watch them get their rings the following ni--....wait there is no game the next night of this away series. WTF? So we have to watch the banner hoisted, get angry about it on the off day, then try to keep our cool as we watch them get their rings the next night? And neither of those games will be played during the damn daytime, when Cubs games are supposed to freaking be played. Oh, also Rich Hill has a strained blister on his throwing blister that has blistered up, so he's scratched for the opener against Jon Lester. What can go wrong in this series? Dusty mad already.

4/10, 5:05p: Alex Wood vs Jon Lester
CUBS 3, DODGERS 2

4/12, 5:05p: Brandon McCarthy vs John Lackey
DODGERS 2, CUBS 0

4/13, 11:20a: Hyun-Jin Ryu vs Brett Anderson
CUBS 4, DODGERS 0. Hello, old friend.

Game 4 Thread: April 6 vs. Padres, 12n

Brandon McCarthy (0-0, -.--) vs. Jered Weaver (0-0, -.--)

In the current divisive political climate of this country, a return to McCarthyism might not be something that we should be celebrating. But given the abyss of the back end of the Dodgers' starting rotation, we may as well give Brandon a shot here. Brandon has already "earned" $28M of his $48M, four-year contract with the Dodgers, pitching a total of 63 innings and delivering five wins and 73 strikeouts. Let's see if he can overcome his elbow and hip maladies and earn us a series win in today's early game.

Brimming with confidence.

Dodger Fanfest 2016

Dodger Fanfest 2016 happened this past Saturday and I was lucky enough to have a day off and attend.  This was the first time I have attended, what Nomo affectionally names "Linefest" so I didn't know what was in store.  Seeing that there were about  25,000 people, you can imagine there were heaps of people going every which way.  I think the Dodger organization did the best that they could, especially with the amount of fans attending.  I really wanted to go because I wanted to meet Ryu.  Shout out to fellow brother Dusty for getting me access!

I had 4 autograph vouchers for the last 2 sessions.  I took Mamma Cora to help me out.  The lines were massive, but what I really enjoyed was talking with fellow fans.  There was a woman in front of us who travels down from San Francisco for this event.  She was lamenting that she didn't receive the All Star baseball from Ebay in time for Yasmani to sign it.  Then the gentleman in front of her said, I have one, and I can trade you a regular ball for it.  It was so cool to see.  The lines moved fairly fast and they kept on time.  I was able to meet Bill Russell and Brandon McCarthy.  I told Brandon that his twitter game was "strong" and whether he was going to change his avatar any time soon.  He said he was thinking about it, but since there were so many other players changing their avatar like his, he might keep it.  Mamma Cora met Yasmani and Austin Barnes.  She told Yasmani that he was a "very handsome  man" and he said thank you and turned to Austin and said "she better not tell you that too!"  That was funny.

Brandon McCarthy getting ready to sign autographs

Chase "Sweep the leg Johnny" Utley signing autographs

Vic the Brick and Alanna Rizzo

Standing in line for session 6, Tommy drove by and was waving to the crowd after his on stage appearance.  They seemed to use the visitor bullpen for media gathering and I saw Vic the Brick and Alanna Rizzo talking.  Steve Yeager was also down there. We got to talking with the people in front of us who attended the meet and greet with Kershaw.  They said it was cool, but went by too fast!  Greet, autographs, picture, out.  But they said he was nice as always.

The Tommy drive by

Yaz sighting

Joc sighting

I finally met Ryu.  He was very quiet, but was nice and signed both my baseball and bobblehead.  I got another Yasmani autograph as well - and if anyone wants to trade email me through the website! Yasmani also said that his rehab is going well.

Ryu signing autographs

Mamma Cora also snapped some great pictures, especailly of our new skipper.  He apparently was very gracious and when she asked Bob Geren where he was going to be sitting in the dugout, Dave interjected "Right next to me!"  Love the rapport.

Skipper Dave Roberts

I also spent 40 bucks on a "mystery bag autograph" and pulled a Jimmy Rollins baseball.  Of all of the autographs, I really like Dave Roberts and Jimmy Rollins because they are legible.

The baseball haul - From Top left to bottom right, Geren, Yaz, Barnes, Ryu Bobblehead, McCarthy, Roberts, Russell, Rollins, Yaz, Ryu

Thanks Ryu!

Overall, it was a nice time to visit the park.  Since we were there towards the end of the day, the crowd started to thin and we were able to "run the bases" (more like stroll) and lie down on the grass. I wandered up to the lodge level and checked out my new mini plan seats (thanks Bryce from Dodger ticketing!) and was pleased by the location.  I liked the event in that it got my baseball "its a new year" energy flowing again.  Can't wait for opening day!!!  Go Blue!

Post-Game 17 Thread: New Champs!

AGon taunts his former team with his newly-won prize.
Dodgers 11, Padres 8

This one was, as good ol' J.R. would say, a "slobberknocker." Petco Park became Coors Field for the evening, as the Dodgers smashed four home runs, en route to beating the Padres, 11-8. Andre Ethier, Adrian Gonzalez, Howie Kendrick, and yes, even Juan Uribe(!!!) hit one out of pitcher-friendly Petco. (I wish I could have seen this offensive outburst, but my MLB.tv was hot garbage tonight.)

Brandon McCarthy's night was, to use another J.R.-ism, "bowling shoe ugly." McCarthy coughed up 3 home runs to Padres hitters (one to Wil Myers and two to Justin Upton) before exiting in the 6th with the frightening-sounding "forearm tightness." We hope the injury isn't serious, because McCarthy's a genuinely cool guy who just can't seem to catch a break health-wise. (Plus, Puig's hammy is still questionable, and he may be headed for the DL.)

That left the bullpen to defend a suddenly vulnerable 10-6 lead for four innings. Brand new Dodger reliever Sergio Santos was shaky, surrendering a run. Juan Nicasio pitched two scoreless. Chris Hatcher continued his up and down year by surrendering another run, but finally shutting the door in the ninth.

And of course, as you can see from the image above, the Dodgers have won the Baseball World Heavyweight Championship by taking two straight falls from the Padres. (The new side plates for the belt are at the engravers, and will be here Monday.) This is the Dodgers' first title reign, and the fact that their victory comes just after a Dodgers blog took charge of tracking the championship is strictly coincidence.

I swear.

Game 17 Thread: April 25 @ Padres, 5:30p

Brandon McCarthy (2-0, 4.50) vs. Ian Kennedy (0-0, 0.00)

Fresh off their series-opening win against the Pod Rays last night, the Dodgers look to continue their winning ways (well, ok, at least for the last game) and, potentially take the championship belt from the reigning BWHC campeones.

It's early, but these games against contenders are just as important now as they are in September. As always, Petco Park = Chavez Ravine South, and tonight should be no different. Great to see so much Azul in the crowd there in San Diego. It is even chillier there than it is here in LA, but visiting Dodger fans can bask in the warmth of a tenuous first place position.

Yours truly is heading to a local bar in order to be able to watch this one live on - what do they call it - video. Hope more than 30% of our beloved readers can do the same. Make it so!

Post-Game 12 Thread: 7-Up

DODGERS 7, ROCKIES 0

The Dodgers won their seventh in a row with a 7-0 victory, completing the sweep of the Rockies on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at the Stadium. The action started in the second inning, when a Scott Van Slyke one-out double scored Howie Kendrick, and Joc Pederson followed that with a double of his own to score SVS.

The sixth inning was an explosion, however. Kendrick leadoff HR, then Andre Ethier walked to set up a two-run SVS homer, and then Pederson followed with a HR of his own. Justin Turner (4-for-5 today) doubled home A.J. Ellis later in that frame, to make it 7-0. The only offensive disappointment was Adrian Gonzalez: 0-for-5 with 7 LOB, plummeting his average to... .469. Very nice to see Ellis finally get a hit this season, after starting the year 0-for-11. Van Slyke's 3-for-4 today gives him a 1.600 OPS on the year.

On the other side of the coin, Brandon McCarthy continued notching strikeouts (6 Ks), and this time didn't allow a barrage of HRs, which was refreshing! Dodgers remain in first place in the NL West and take another rest day before the long flight to San Francisco for a series that starts Tuesday (Clayton Kershaw vs. Ashley Madison in the Wednesday matchup!).

Well-placed icon hands

McCarthy Was Terrible/Brilliant Last Night!

LA Times' Bill Shaikin breaks down Brandon McCarthy's pitching performance last night. I was at the game, and I viewed McCarthy as terrible and, well, lucky. Turns out he was good as well:

The Dodgers' right-hander became the first pitcher in major league history to give up four home runs in a game in which he walked none and struck out at least 10.

He ended the evening as the major league leader in home runs allowed -- and in strikeouts. In 12 innings this season, he has given up six home runs and struck out 19.

Shaikin also notes that McCarthy has given up nine runs this season, eight on home runs.

Way to make history there, Brandon! I will attempt a simultaneous boo/cheer next time you take the mound at Dodger Stadium.

Post-Game 7 Thread: Guerrero Plates Ethier in Extras

I had a 4-0 lead, and I didn't win?

DODGERS 6, MARINERS 5 (10)

The Mariners hit four home runs tonight off of Brandon McCarthy (who amazingly notched 10 more strikeouts and now leads the team with 19 total): two from Nelson Cruz, and one each from Kyle Seager and Dustin Ackley. McCarthy went 7.0 IP and gave up 5 ER as well, so his ERA sits at a healthy (as in, "Juan Uribe is looking awfully healthy tonight!") 6.75.

But the Dodgers still won, amazingly, stoking an impressive comeback led by Alex Guerrero. Guerrero sacrificed Adrian Gonzalez in the bottom of the fourth inning, paving the way for Joc Pederson to single home two more runs that inning. Yasiel Puig (3-for-5) then hit a solo HR in the fifth, followed by a Howie Kendrick RBI single (again scoring Gonzalez) later that inning.

And there it sat at 5-5, until the tenth inning, when Guerrero scored Andre Ethier (who entered the game in the top of the tenth on a double switch) for the winning run. Ethier led off the tenth with a double; Gonzalez was intentionally walked with one out, followed by an unintentional Kendrick walk. Carl Crawford struck out to set up Guerrero's two-out, walkoff single to center.

Yimi Garcia gets the win, the Dodgers finish off the game with 15 Ks total, and win by outhitting the Mariners 9-6. Mariners starter James Paxton now has a bit more time to fix the kerning on his uniform:

Game 7 Thread: April 13 vs. Mariners, 7p

Brandon McCarthy (1-0, 7.20) vs. James "Bill" Paxton (0-1, 3.00).

James Paxton has a 9-5 career record including his 0-1 2015 numbers (2.68 lifetime ERA). As a three-time minor league all-star for Seattle, however, one might think Paxton has a million dollar arm. Alas, his salary is only $519K, perhaps speaking to the frailty of his starts (seven innings is about Paxton's vertical limit, as he's only exceeded that once in his career), as well as a persistent knee problem. He's known for his fastball, which hasn't hit speeds of 90mph of late; he also goes to the sinker, but as for his curve, he's not known for having much of a twister.

A simple plan for the Dodgers might be to show some of the offensive strength we put on display Sunday (when the Dodgers score six runs or more, we win; three runs or less, we lose). McCarthy notched nine strikeouts in his 2015 debut, and the starting lineup of the Mariners has only two players (SS Brad Miller and LF Dustin Ackley) batting .300+; but one false move against someone like Nelson Cruz or Robinson Cano could easily result in a titanic shot--and then it's [Spy Kids 3:] Game Over. Let's be efficient then, Brandon, and not let this game stretch to the edge of tomorrow!

Oh, and speaking of our lucky GT theming of 2 guns:

more Bill Paxton, from the SoSG archives: 2009 caption contest

Post-Game 3 Thread: Gonzalez' 3 HR Make History

Not sure why the link to the video of Gonzalez' three HRs is failing, but you should listen to hear Charley Steiner incorrectly use "further" when referring to distance.

DODGERS 7, PADRES 4

Adrian Gonzalez hit three HR tonight, going 4-for-4 with 4 RBI. As per MLB.com, Gonzalez becomes the first player in MLB history to hit five home runs in the first three games of the season. He is batting .769 this year, with a 2.077 slugging average and a 2.846 OPS. Adrian Gonzalez is on pace to hit 270 home runs this season.

All three of A-Gon's HRs went to right field over Padres RF Matt Kemp, and the second one was definitely catchable (bouncing off the top of the wall).

Meanwhile, #3 starter Brandon McCarthy has as many Ks (9) as Clayton Kershaw, and over twice as many as #2 Zack Greinke. His line wasn't great tonight: 5.0 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 9 Ks and 2 HR), but it was effective enough. And, unlike last night, Mattingly's relief choices fared better: Paco Rodriguez rescued a struggling McCarthy to strike out Clint Barmes; Pedro Baez went a clean 1.2 innings; J.P. Howell had a one-hit eighth inning, and Joel Peralta punctuated his one-hit ninth with a Kemp strikeout (Kemp was 5-for-13 in the series).

Yasiel Puig went 0-for-5 with 5 LOB and is batting .083. He did get an RBI on a botched double play that ended up being a double play either when Jimmy Rollins forgot to run to third, or Puig ran too far around first, or whatever. Juan Uribe went 1-for-3 and is batting .111.

Dodgers get a much-needed day of rest before meeting Arizona in the desert on Friday. But what will we do without baseball Thursday? ARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!

Game 3 Thread: April 8 vs. Padres, 7p

Brandon McCarthy (0-0, -.--) vs. Andrew Cashner (0-0, -.--)

I say we quickly move on from last night's bunglefest, since reaction on Twitter today has been of the "Burn it all down! Season over!" variety.

Speaking of Twitter, Brandon McCarthy, making his official Dodger debut, is quite the Twitterer...

she can't see your jeans you dummy pic.twitter.com/9IGszNlQLi

— Brandon McCarthy (@BMcCarthy32) March 25, 2015

He even Photoshopped his own avatar, seen above. Just look at that detail work. It's almost Sons-esque! Certainly, he deserves to win his debut for this masterpiece alone, don'tcha think?

ST Game 6 Thread: March 9 @ Giants, 1p

Brandon McCarthy yesterday: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 K.

HOT STOVE IS HOT II

CORRECTION: Andrew Heaney to Angels for Howie Kendrick, not Austin Barnes.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) December 11, 2014

Source: McCarthy four years, $48M with #Dodgers.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 11, 2014