Game 1 Thread: Apr 2 vs Padres, 1p

Clayton Kershaw (0-0, -.--) vs Jhoulys Chacin (0-0, -.--).

Whaaaaaat, did you think we forgot about you? Fear not, the Sons are out of rehab and down for another season of high hopes followed by the inevitable weight of soul-crushing disappointment grinding our love for game into the dirt—

Ah shit, sorry about that — didn't mean to get all doom and gloom on you. Yes, I know that many media outlets and finer sports-betting establishments are picking the Dodgers to win it all this year. And our GM is a nice guy. And our clubhouse has *gasp* chemistry.

But we've been here before, what with the astronomical payroll and lofty expectations. Who isn't glad that Kenley and Turn Down for What are back? And even Old Man Utley? But let's see some results on the field. Then we'll know what this year's team is made of.

P.S: Best of luck to Joe Davis, making his home-game debut today!

UPDATE: Can confirm that SoSG Stubbs is actually not out of rehab yet.

Just...no.

NLDS Game 5 Thread: Oct 13 @ Nationals, 5p

What's that strange thing on Chase Utley's face? Is that a...smile?

Rich Hill vs Max Scherzer.

• Rally thong? Check.
  
• High hopes? Check.
  
• Scared to death? Check.

After Game 1, the thought of a Game 5 would have been ridiculous. After Game 4, it's the high point of our season. Clayton Kershaw's gutty performance on Tuesday paved the way for Rich Hill, who has never started a game on three days' rest hasn't pitched on three days' rest since 2009. Julio Urias stands in the wings, ready to step in should Hill falter.

In a season (and post-season) filled with ups and downs, who knows where today's game will leave us. Riding high in September, shot down in October? Or celebrating into the rest of this month? Whichever it is, it's always better sharing it with fellow Dodger fans like you!

Series Thread (Games 118-120), Aug 16-18 @ Phillies

8/16, 4p: Kenta Maeda vs Vince Velasquez
DODGERS 15, PHILLIES 5. Utley: 90-second standing ovation before first PA, solo HR, grand slam, 5 RBI. Dodgers in sole possession of first place for first time since May 10.

8/17, 4p: Scott Kazmir vs Jake Thompson
DODGERS 7, PHILLIES 2. AGon: 2 HR, 5 RBIs

8/18, 4p: Bud Norris Ross Stripling vs Jerad Eickhoff
PHILLIES 5, DODGERS 4

Didn't we just play these guys? Anyway, a Philadelphia series is all about Chase Utley's homecoming, so expect to hear plenty about that. And we better take at least two of three here — enough with letting the Giants stay in first place.

Post-Game 72 Thread: Kershaw Rises To The Occasion While Strasburg Bows Out

Our all-time saves leader.

DODGERS 4, NATIONALS 1

Washington Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg was scratched from tonight's matchup with back tightness, but Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw took centerstage and dominated. Seven innings, 8 Ks, 1 ER when he tired and labored through a tough seventh inning. Joe Blanton pitched a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen got his 162nd save, setting the franchise record (Eric Gagne apparently called to congratulate Jansen; Gagne will be at the game tomorrow for a ceremony).

Justin Turner homered in the first and singled in Corey Seager in the fourth inning, and Joc Pederson added a leadoff HR in the fifth off of Yusmiero Petit. Chase Utley added an insurance run in the seventh inning to stretch the lead back to three runs.

Really gritty effort from Kershaw tonight, who was humble in deferring the limelight to Jansen in the post-game interviews. With the Giants' 1-0 loss in Pittsburgh (off a solo HR from the Pirates' backup catcher, on a ball that Giants LF Angel Pagan had in his glove but lost over the wall), the Dodgers are 5.5 games behind in the division and are in the Wild Card lead.

photo: Harry How / Getty Images

Post-Game 60 Thread: Three Is A Magic Number (For Us, Anyway)

DODGERS 4, ROCKIES 3

Going to the ninth inning this evening, there were two NL West games of relevance, both knotted at 3-3 ties.

In San Francisco, Boston was down 3-2 before battling back to tie the game 3-3 in the seventh inning. And then, in the tenth inning, Xander Bogaerts hit a two-run single off of Giants closer Santiago Casilla to win the game. Casilla had loaded the bases, and as the Boston commentator mentioned, "I think Bochy stayed with this closer too long":

Meanwhile, down in sunnier climates, the Dodgers and Rockies were tied at 3 apiece in the ninth. Trayce Thompson knocked in his 10th HR of the year, a solo shot with two out in the bottom of the ninth, to give the Dodgers the victory over Colorado. That's Thompson's second walk-off HR of the season, which brings back memories of what Andre Ethier used to be able to do for us. Wow.

Julio Urias had his best start of the season, four innings of one-run ball which lasted 86 pitches. He's still not very economical with the pitch count, but his 7 Ks tonight definitely have great potential in the cards. Leave it to Joe Blanton to screw up his second inning of work and start to give up the lead (not that Urias would have gotten a win anyway, with only four innings of work), and then Pedro Baez to blow the save outright. Both Blanton and Baez had 3 Ks each.

Justin Turner had a three-run HR in the first inning to sore Chase Utley and Corey Seager.

Dodgers move to three back of the Giants and a half-game out of the wild card (with only 102 games left to play).

Chase Utley, Prankster

ESPN.com: Dodgers use tracks by longtime ump Joe West as walk-up music

LOS ANGELES -- Hoping to supply music to the plate umpire's ears, Los Angeles Dodgers players used Joe West songs as walk-up music during their first at-bats Sunday.

West, the longtime umpire who has two country albums to his credit, was behind the plate for Sunday's game between the Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves. At one point, West could be seen on the Dodger Stadium video board laughing inside his umpire mask.

"You noticed that? That was a little ode to the cowboy," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after his team's 12-6 win to complete the series sweep.

"That was Chase [Utley]'s idea," Roberts added. "We could only find six songs, though, so we had to kind of loop them. I think Joe enjoyed that."

The Dodgers had 14 hits yesterday, which is about 14 more than West has had. But if you want to inflict your own sort of right-down-the-middle-strike pain, here you go.

Post-Games 56-58 Thread: Braves Swept

This is an odd photo of Dodger Stadium.

Friday: DODGERS 4, BRAVES 2
Saturday: DODGERS 4, BRAVES 0
Sunday: DODGERS 12, BRAVES 6

Three times this homestand, SoSG AC did the Game Threads. And three times this homestand, the Dodgers came through with big victories. We're going to make AC do all the Game Threads from here on out. (Or, we will need to make sure we play the Braves from here on out.)

Indeed, the Braves are the NL's worst team, with a record that is 4.5 games behind the Reds and 6.5 games behind the Padres. At 16-40, there's not a lot of hope, which is why the Braves left poor Matt Wisler (2-6, 3.98 this year, but 10-14, 4.42 lifetime) out there on the mound after Wisler had given up seven runs in the first two frames. Wisler lasted the fourth and gave up an eighth run, and then John "Not Ron" Gant gave up another earned run in the fifth, before the Dodgers finally went scoreless in the sixth.

Aggravated at the scoreless frame in the sixth, Chase Utley doubled in Yasmani Grandal, and Corey Seager hit a two-run HR, to add three more runs to the totals. Seager went 3-for-5 with two more HR (building upon his 3 HR game Friday). Adrian Gonzalez, Howie Kendrick, Joc Pederson, Enrique Hernandez each had 1 RBI; Grandal had three RBI with a three-run HR in the third.

Scott Kazmir only went five innings and gave up 7 H and 3 ER, but had 5 Ks. Chris Hatcher still looked lame in the eighth, giving up 3 H and 2 ER. But with 12 runs, even these mediocre pitching outings could get by today (whereas Kenta Maeda and Clayton Kershaw led us to victories in the first two weekend matches).

And now we have the unpalatable aspect of rooting on the Cardinals over the Giants. SF just took a 2-1 lead in the fourth. Hoping for an earthquake to swallow both teams up at once.

Post-Game 53 Thread: Kazmir Beats Arrieta, As Expected

Well, that was surprising!

DODGERS 5, CUBS 0

The Dodgers won a game, on national television no less, only by beating the ace of baseball's hottest team. Jake Arrieta hadn't lost a start since July 2015 (a string of 23 starts in which the Cubs had won; Arrieta had won 21 of those starts).

But the Dodgers kept pace with Chicago, scoreless through seven frames, thanks to Scott Kazmir pitching six frames of one-hit ball. When Clayton Richard relieved Arrieta for the top of the eighth, the Dodgers got on the board thanks to Chase Utley and Corey Seager leadoff singles, an Adrian Gonzalez RBI single, and then a Howie Kendrick sacrifice fly, to make it 2-0 LA.

Corey Seager then unloaded a three-run HR in the ninth off of Trevor Cahill to put the game well out of reach. Joe Blanton had two innings of scoreless relief, followed by Adam Liberatore in the ninth.

Series is tied 1-1 with two more to play at Wrigley.

Game 51 Thread: May 29 @ Mets, 5p

Chase Utley. He's a smooth son of a bitch, ain't he?

Clayton Kershaw (7-1, 1.48) vs Bartolo Colon (4-3, 3.44).

Last time these two pitchers met, things fell our way. In that game, Chase Utley went 3 for 4 with a home run. Yesterday, Chase Utley hit two home runs, including a grand slam. Conclusion: Chase Utley will be in the lineup today. ANALYSIS

Utley Be His Name

A few times a year, Delino faces a dark Civil War within himself. Mets vs. Dodgers. Team of my Youth vs. Team of My Adulthood. And this is personified by one (in my best Alan Rickman voice) Person. Chase. UTLEY.

Long before he was in Dodgers blue, he applied dagger after dagger into the hearts of Mets sufferers everywhere. As a Dodgers fan, I wish he showed half the moxie reserved for the Mets against ANY OTHER TEAM. As a Mets fan, I wish him every form of groin injury one can imagine.

As if "THE SLIDE" wasn't enough. Or his very presence causing Thor to let loose his mighty hammer. Or the RBIs. Or the Home Rungs. Now there's this...

The New York Mets' majority owner, Fred Wilpon, has a reported net worth of $500 million. But on Saturday night, the Mets were not owned by a suit who made their profits from real estate development.

No, the Mets were owned by former Phillies second baseman and current Los Angelers Dodger Chase Utley.

At least according to the Mets' Wikipedia page.

Joey Zasa in Godfather III perfectly articulated my feelings about this Man

I wish the Dodgers all happiness... including the NL West and beyond.

What I wish for Utley I'd rather not put in writing.

For the Record

Thanks to SoSG reader Orlando Zepeda from the on-the-spot reporting from tonight's game at Citi Field. He writes:

Great game! Wore the Drysdale jersey to the game, which ended up being appropriate.

Way to represent, Orlando!

Post-Game 45 Thread: Dodgers Sack Up And Win Game; SoSG Ends GT Boycott

Alex Wood shows what 16 innings does to a man.

DODGERS 9, PADRES 5 (17)

After rolling over and laying dead for four straight games (both games at Angel Stadium; then the first two games of this San Diego series, both of which were walkoff losses), the Dodgers went out and actually won a major league baseball game! Never mind it's against the 19-26 Padres: it's a win.

Yasiel Puig was the catalyst after a two-run RBI single in the 17th, followed by a stolen base and then advancement to third on a wild pitch (that scored Joc Pederson, to make it 8-5 LA). Puig scored on a Carl Crawford force out to make it 9-5 LA, which ended up holding up to give Ross Stripling his second win of the year (3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 K).

Howie Kendrick went 4-for-8 with a HR and double; Chase Utley went 3-for-9; Joc Pederson went 2-for-7 and Puig had a 3-for-7 outing. A.J. Ellis went 0-for-5 with three walks.

We got a win! So yeah, we'll come back to writing some Game Threads again. Thanks for your patience.

Post-Game 19 Thread: Dodgers Win Despite Another Short Wood Start AND Necessary Ninth-Inning Comeback

DODGERS 12, ROCKIES 10

It's a rare occasion these days, for me to be able to watch a game live alongside another Son. (I'm working on this issue.)

But watching with SoSG AC today, we were giddy watching the Dodgers squander a 7-1 lead, capped by a five-run Rockies bottom of the eighth that just about nailed the coffin shut for the Dodgers--only to see us miraculously counter with five runs of our own in the top of the ninth, to win the game 12-10. This was truly unbelievable, and we were both going nuts with despair and then elation. And this is why baseball is so great.

Alex Wood sucked again, struggling through five innings before exiting in the sixth with another horrible line (5.0 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 3 BB and 5 Ks; his ERA is now 6.00 and he has had only one outing (of four) longer than five innings). So look, I had expected to lose this game, given Wood was starting. Even though Pedro Baez pulled off an impressive escape routine in the sixth. Even though Adam Liberatore had a scoreless seventh. And even though my fears came to fruition in the eighth, when Chris Hatcher proved ridiculously ineffective yet again (four batters, two hits and a walk, 3 ER), Luis Avilan let another two runs in, and Joe Blanton was needed to get the comebacker 1-6-3 DP to end the nine-batter frame.

Down 10-7 going to the ninth, it looked pretty bleak for us to try and take the game and this series. Adrian Gonzalez led off with a single to right; Yasmani Grandal forced Gonzalez at second, but advanced to third on Howie Kendrick's one-out single. Kike Hernandez walked, and Trayce Thompson hit into a FC at second.

With two out and down 10-8, pinch hitter A.J. Ellis singled to center to score Kendrick and make it 10-9 Rockies. And then a wild pitch by Jake McGee scored Thompson, and Chase Utley (2-for-6 with three runs and a RBI) doubled in Charlie Culberson (who had PR for Ellis). Corey Seager then doubled home Utley, to make it 12-10 Dodgers, and we too had notched five runs and nine batters in the next frame.

This is the kind of comeback victory that makes players believers. This is the kind of win that has one think, "wow, this team has some magic here." It's early. But this could be a turning point in this young season.

With the win, the Giants' 5-4 loss to the 6-11 Marlins, and the Snakes' loss to the Pirates, the Dodgers are in first place by 2.5 games with a 12-7 record. What a surprise that one game can make. We'll need it...especially when Wood starts.

graphical thingy courtesy fangraphs

Post-Game 9 Thread: Dodgers 3-D Helmets End Losing Streak

DODGERS 3, DIAMONDBACKS 1

Alex Wood led the Dodgers' 3-D batting helmets to their first career victory, earning a rare win of his own and lowering his ERA to 4.50 (7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB and 3 Ks). Rubby De La Rosa lowered his ERA as well by over 33%, which was amazing given our pre-game predictions. But hey, we'll take it (so will Adrian Gonzalez, who had a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth).

De La Rosa wasn't helped by his infield, who let the Dodgers take the lead when Chase Utley hit a ball to Nick Ahmed at shortstop; Ahmed threw the ball into right field, allowing Howie Kendrick to score in the bottom of the fifth. The very next play, Corey Seager hit a double-play ball to second, but Paul Goldschmidt bobbled the throw to first, allowing Seager to reach and Joc Pederson to score.

Kenley Jansen needed to notch a five-out save when Wood, and then Pedro Baez, tired in the eighth inning. Jansen needed five outs because, unlike our matte-finish batting helmets, we don't have a lot of depth there.

Yasiel Puig went 2-for-4 and is now batting .394, a notch ahead of Gonzalez' .389.

Yasmani Grandal went 0-for-3 in his first start of the season.

Post-Game 1 Thread: 15-Love

Not sure exactly what this is. I am decently interested, however.

DODGERS 15, PADRES 0

With the news that another NL West team posted a 12-3 Opening Day victory earlier in the day, Clayton Kershaw went out there and simply dominated the Padres, one-hitting them over seven innings to lead the Dodgers to a 15-0 victory in San Diego.

Chase Utley is old and should not be batting leadoff (injuries have rocked the Dodgers before the season even began), and Utley had both himself and his walker thrown out at the plate early (trying to score from first on a Justin Turner double to left)--but even he went 3-for-5 with 2 RBI. Turner went 2-for-5 with two runs. Adrian Gonzalez went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI in cleanup. And Yasiel Puig went 2-for-3 with a triple, RBI, and even a walk. Heck, even Joc Pederson went 2-for-5 with two doubles.

No long balls for the Dodgers, but the hit parade allowed us to play bench players like Scott Van Slyke, Austin Barnes, Charlie Culberson, Enrique Hernandez, and Trayce Thompson to get an Opening Day appearance. Louis Coleman and Yimi Garcia got mop-up duty late, and the Dodgers take a ten-K victory (nine from Kershaw) into the largest Opening Day shutout win in major league history.

Pretty good start, if you ask me. The Dodgers are now on pace for 2,430 runs this year.

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!

Dodgers Prepare For 36-Year Old Utley's Return By Extending Safety Netting Around Home Plate

Hours after re-signing Chase Utley to a one-year deal, the Dodgers announced they will extend the safety netting around home plate. Coincidence? I think not:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Dodgers will extend the netting at Dodger Stadium in accordance with new safety recommendations issued by Major League Baseball, the club announced on Wednesday.

The screen behind home plate will be extended to cover the seating area between the ends of the dugouts closest to home plate and within 70 feet of home plate. [...]

Said President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman, "There's just no way Utley is catching up to big-league fastballs, not at his age. We want to make sure our fans don't get clocked in the noggin by a late-swing foul ball."

Fans with field level seats behind the Dodgers' third-base dugout will also be asked to stay alert during Utley ABs.

Utley Deal Complete: Dodgers Confident About Strong Core

In the same article that speaks of the official signing of Chase Utley's $7M, one-year deal, Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman said the Dodgers, even less Cy Young runner up Zack Greinke (and possibly also sans Howie Kendrick), were still "solid":

As Friedman talked about the composition of his roster, he offered this reminder: The Dodgers still have a solid foundation.

Their roster remains stocked with several players with All-Star experience, including Clayton Kershaw, Adrian Gonzalez, Yasmani Grandal, Yasiel Puig and Joc Pederson.

"We're really excited about the core we have in place," Friedman said. "The core group of guys, we feel, is a championship-caliber core."

Even if the Dodgers don't make any significant additions over the remainder of the off-season, Friedman believes their nucleus is strong enough to lead them to another NL West championship.

"Yeah, definitely," he said.

Yeah, okay.

Dodgers Off-Season Is Complete: Utley Coming Back

Dodgers fans are treated to another season of creaking bones (pending no injury, of course)

Chase Utley, a career .281 batter who batted a torrid .202 for the Dodgers down the stretch last year (career OPS+: 121; Dodgers OPS+: 81), has reportedly signed for another year.

The Dodgers and second baseman Chase Utley have agreed to a one-year deal, according to Yahoo Sports.

The club has not confirmed the deal.

Utley, who will turn 37 this month, was traded to the Dodgers from the Phillies this past August and batted .202/.291/.363 during his time in Los Angeles.

The move gives the Dodgers another option at second base. Los Angeles adds Utley back into the mix alongside utility man Enrique Hernandez and Jose Peraza, whom they acquired from Atlanta in a three-team trade in July. Hernandez hit .307/.346/.490 in 76 games for Los Angeles last season, and Peraza is ranked by MLBPipeline.com as the club's No. 4 prospect but is only 21.

Adding Utley could also be an indication that the Dodgers are unlikely to re-sign free agent Howie Kendrick, who hit .295/.336/.409 in his first season with the Dodgers after coming over via trade from the Angels last offseason.

Who needs Greinke?

Or, as SoSG Dusty coined in the SoSG staff room: "Utley will slot in nicely at the two spot in the rotation, with Dave Roberts pencilled in for the three spot."

(cries)

(h/t SoSG Orel for the headline) photo: Stephen Dunn / Getty Images

NLDS Game 3 Thread: Oct. 12 @ Mets, 5:30p

Brett Anderson (10-9, 3.69; 180.1 IP (prev. career high 175.1 in 2009))
vs.
Matt Harvey (13.8, 2.71; 189.1 IP (prev. career high 178.1 in 2013)).

Dodgers. Mets. NLDS. 2006. Remember that? 2006 was a shitty playoffs year. First there was Joe Beimel. Joe Fuckin' Beimel. That's right, we're not afraid to bring him up because he's a symbol of the Dodgers' haunted playoff history against the Mets — a history that can get purged today.

Then there was the infamous home-plate double play, starring Paul "Fuck the Dodgers" Lo Duca. That's right, same year! The Dodgers' most humiliating playoff moment of the aughts still stings nine years later.

But...things are different now. The Dodgers, playing like zombies until, oh, the seventh inning of Game 2, are now the most hated team in the playoffs.

Chase Utley, true Dodger

— Sons of Steve Garvey (@sosgsosg) October 11, 2015

And in the center of the storm is one Chase Utley, until recently firmly in the Jim Thome school of "Legends for Other Teams with a Few Meaningless Innings as a Dodger."

If the Dodgers can step on the Mets' throat today, reveling in the boos and inevitable HBPs, and come away with a huge Game 3 win, we'll look back at the "Chase Utley moment" that started it all. Go make history, Boys in Blue!