End of the Line for Lilly

Ted Lilly was DFA'd yesterday, and I at least somehow missed the news. It would have made yesterday's loss a little easier.

The Dodgers had questions about Ted Lilly's health and his transition to the bullpen, so they designated the veteran left-hander for assignment on Thursday.

The decision to cut ties with Lilly came one day after he was activated from the disabled list for the third time this season. The Dodgers have 10 days to either place Lilly on waivers, release him or trade him. In a corresponding roster move, the Dodgers promoted utility man Elian Herrera from Triple-A Albuquerque.

"I'm obviously not happy about what happened," said Lilly, who was 0-2 with a 5.09 ERA in five starts. "It's a pretty big turn of events. I went from being activated yesterday to them changing their mind today."

One has to admire his desire to get back out to the mound and help the team, but unfortunately for Lilly, he just didn't have anything left in the tank after a number of injuries and, well, after being like 176 years old.

So long, Theodore Roosevelt Lilly, and thanks for not giving up any more home runs in early innings as a Dodger pitcher.

Photo: Dodgers/2012

At-Game Recap: Pounded @ Petco (June 21, 2013)

June 21, SoSG Alex Cora and I went down to San Diego's Petco Park to witness the pre-winning-streak Dodgers roll over and play dead against the Padres. It was a horrible game to watch first-hand, what with Elian Herrera's misadventures in left field, complemented by the Dodgers getting the leadoff runner on almost every inning but only plating two runs, not to mention seeing Clayton Kershaw uncharacteristically struggle.

But the good part was that Petco Park is a pretty nice stadium, and there are always plenty of Dodger fans around with which to chat. I love the way the seats are gently angled towards home plate (we were up the third base line, sort of behind the visitors' dugout). I love the center field park and playground area. And I love that the Petco Park aisle attendants don't let people walk down the aisle during an at bat.

This wasn't my first visit to Petco Park, but there were new things that I hadn't tried, including clam chowder in a cup (from Anthony's, no less!), and a fried shrimp sandwich. Here are some shots from the fun day (despite the crappy outcome of the game):

The band behind the center-field batter's eye was playing Eagle Eye Cherry's "Save Tonight." Brandon League should have been paying attention.

Lots of Dodgers fans near our seats!

Uribe does the splits. Insert joke here.

Elian Herrera took time out to sign autographs, which was great. This probably came at the cost of fielding practice, however, which he ended up needing.

Hanley Ramirez came out to say hi, and plywood board man emerged from the depths.

Crowds are flocking.

Puig dwarfs Herrea during the national anthem.

Way up top, a Dodgers blanket!

Milton Bradley was in the crowd (I'm not entirely sure that was Bradley, however).

Red skies at night above center field.

A wine tasting spot on the park premises! Great idea!

With Victory, Dodgers Secure Third NL Wild Card Slot

Elian Herrera, last night's walk-off king.

Nothing else to play for in these last two games, right?

photo: Stephen Dunn / Getty Images (October 1, 2012)

Post-Game 160 Thread: Scoot' Slips, Sink Chumps

DODGERS 3, GIANTS 2

The Dodgers stay alive tonight with a ninth-inning victory over an overmatched team. Andre Ethier took Matt Cain deep in the fourth for a 2-1 lead, and though the Giants tied it in the eighth when Shane Victorino forgot how to both field AND throw on the same play, Elian Herrera capped a ninth inning with a one-out, bases-loaded rocket that was too hot for the Giants' Marco Scutaro to handle on the fly. Hanley Ramirez, who led the ninth off with a single up the middle, was the winning run.

The Cardinals won, to cut their magic number to one. But you can't hate on the Dodgers when we walk off with the victory! So let's keep this winning streak (six, tied for our longest of the year) going.

PLAYOFFS!

Post-Game 155 Thread: Where Have These Dodgers Been All September?

DODGERS 8, PADRES 2

Matt Kemp, 4-for-5 with 4 RBI and a HR (his 20th). Adrian Gonzalez, 2-for-5 with 2 RBI. Hanley Ramirez, 2-for-5 with 1 RBI. THIS is how we expected our 3-4-5 hitters to perform all month. And now, it's too little too late, but it's still good enough to leave a hopeful taste for 2013.

Even Juan Rivera even got a HR. Nick Punto, in the two-hole, went 3-for-5 with 4 runs (he reached in the sixth on a FC). The only frustrated Dodger today (besides Juan Uribe, who ran out of mayonnaise at the spread) was Elian Herrera, who went 0-for-5 with 2 Ks as the leadoff hitter. But the Dodgers scored early and often, and at least maintained a tragic number of 4 pending the Cardinals' outcome (they are currently down 2-0 @ Houston in the bottom of the sixth).

Post-Game 146 Thread: Luis Cruz = Dodgers' 2012 MVP

DODGERS 4, CARDINALS 3

For eight innings, it was the same old shit. The Dodgers scratched out two runs, the second on Mark Ellis' solo home run to start the third. They proceeded to get zero hits from their next eighteen batters.

But then three things happened:

1. Matt Kemp never gave up. He turned in another 0-for-4 performance at the plate, with three Ks. But when Yadier Molina led off the ninth with a double that Kemp misjudged, crashing into and — phew — safely bouncing off the padded Dodger Stadium outfield wall, Kemp kept his head. Yadi got greedy, trying to take third with his stumpy catcher legs, and Kemp gunned him down like some badass in a Coen Brothers movie.

2. CRUUUUUUUUUZ. In the bottom of the ninth, with the Dodgers down one and down to their last out, Andre Ethier singled. Dee Gordon ran for him and promptly stole second off Molina, making up for his ninth-inning CS in Thursday's Game 1 loss. Luis Cruz, the most dependable bat in a sea of multi-million-dollar contracts, smacked a full-count double to tie the game up. We'll say it: Luis Cruz is the Dodgers' MVP this year.

3. Juan Rivera? Really? Don Mattingly put Elian Herrera in to run for Cruz, and Juan Rivera lofted one juuuuust over Daniel Descalso's outstretched arm to score Herrera FTW.

Dodgers are actually tied for the second wild card spot. Unfortunately Clayton Kershaw isn't going tomorrow — but that won't stop us from watching.

Post-Game 120 Thread: Barved

BRAVES 4, DODGERS 3 (11)

Don Mattingly got killed on Twitter tonight. With the Dodgers leading 3-1 in the eighth inning, he pulled Chris Capuano, who had given up consecutive bloop singles. After Ronald Belisario gave up an RBI, Mattingly kept Beli in to face Jason Heyward, who's hitting .228 against lefties. Tie game.

Then in the top of the tenth, Shane Victorino bunted with Elian Herrera on first, eventually taking the bat out of the hands of Matt Kemp, who was intentionally walked. Did Mattingly call for the bunt? Hard to tell, but sometimes you're going to lose no matter what: Donnie batted Juan Rivera for James Loney in the eleventh, and Rivera — surprise! — hit into a double play.

Overshadowed by the road misery was Capuano's great start and Andre Ethier's two-run homer in the sixth. Dodgers are 5-3 on the current road trip; Giants are killing the Padres, so hello again, second place.

Herrera Recalled As Hairston Hits DL

Press release from the Dodgers:

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today placed IF/OF Jerry Hairston Jr. on the 15-day disabled list with left hip inflammation (retroactive to August 12) and recalled IF/OF Elian Herrera from Triple-A Albuquerque. Hairston was hitting .273 (65-for-238) with four home runs and 26 RBI and has made starts at second base (26), third base (23) and left field (12).

Since being optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on July 13, Herrera was hitting .299 (32-for-107) with eight doubles, three triples, one home run and 19 RBI in 24 games and owns a .330 (75-for-227) overall average in 52 games for the Isotopes this season. The 27-year-old IF/OF is hitting .243 (41-for-169) in 51 games for Los Angeles, making starts at third base (14), second base (nine), center field (nine), left field (seven) and right field (one).

Remember how white-hot Elian was when he first came up? Here's hoping for that again (which looks like is consistent with his recent AAA performance). Welcome back, Elian!

Post-Game 84 Thread: Dodgers 4-1 in July

Scott Van Slyke: solo HR in the 4th.

Elian Herrera: solo HR in the 7th.

DODGERS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 1

On the day the Dodgers lost yet another starter to the DL — this time it's Dee Gordon for six weeks — the Dodgers cobbled together another signature victory, chipping away at Diamondbacks starter Wade Miley and giving Nathan Eovaldi his first win in almost a year.

Giants cooperated by losing in walk-off fashion to the Nats, so the Dodgers are 1.5 games up. Kershaw up next!

Holy Hops!

Dee Gordon and Tony Gwynn celebrate while Elian Herrera looks on after Friday night's victory.

AP photo

Post-Game 65 Thread: No Sale

DODGERS 7, WHITE SOX 6

Down 6-1 through five innings, it looked bleak. Adam Dunn opened the first frame by launching a two-run HR off of Clayton Kershaw, whose struggles all night (6.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 7 Ks, 2 HR) made even the most optimistic Dodger fan conclude that something must be wrong for the Minotaur. Chris Sale was rolling to what seemed to be his sixth consecutive win...

...and then came the bottom of the sixth, in which the Dodgers batted around and Juan Uribe had a surprising RBI double, Ivan De Jesus had a PH RBI single, Elian Herrera had a 2 RBI double and then came around to score the go-ahead run off a Juan Rivera single. Five runs in the frame, and the Dodgers had taken a 6-5 lead and knocked Sale out (5.2 IP, 5 ER, 4 BB, 6 Ks).

Alex Rios hit his second HR of the game in the top of the eighth to tie the game at 6. But in the bottom of that inning, an errant Matt Thornton pitch allowed James Loney to score the winning run from third, notching a margin which held up when Kenley Jansen pitched a 1-2-3 ninth. Wonderful comeback for the Dodgers this evening over a formidable opponent, making it all the more difficult to focus on considering if something is eating Kershaw. Nah, that's for another day. For now, we'll take it.

Post-Game 61 Thread: Slamming The Door On The Mariners

DODGERS 8, MARINERS 2

Andre Ethier, 1-for-25 in his last seven games entering today, bounced back in a huge way with a second-inning grand slam. The slam scored Tony Gwynn, Dee Gordon, and Elian Herrera, and put the Dodgers up 6-1 early. James Loney and Adam Kennedy added RBI in the eighth inning just for laughs, and Chad Billingsley (7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 Ks) coasted to a series-clinching victory. The win also capped a productive 7-3 road trip played without Matt Kemp. Back at home Monday against the Angels!

Dodgers Have Weighty Decisions Around The Bend

Don Mattingly has certainly been Tommy Lasorda-esque this year, somehow pulling the most out of players and getting them to overdeliver despite playing with a revolving door of injuries and substitutes. But guess whose shadow is looming large?

PHILADELPHIA — Juan Uribe is expected to be activated from the 15-day disabled list Monday and Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly said he plans to play him at third base.

Mattingly has also said he intends to continue playing Jerry Hairston Jr. at second base because he wants to build continuity in the middle of the infield.

So where does that leave Elian Herrera?

If he continues to play the way he has, Mattingly said he will find a place for him.

The 27-year-old rookie utility man entered Wednesday batting .304. He drove in the winning run in each of the Dodgers' two previous games.

"If you're getting two hits every night, you keep playing," Mattingly said, laughing. "If you keep driving in the winning run every night, you keep playing."

Herrera figures to get starts in center field or at third base on days Uribe rests. He could also play second base when Hairston takes a day off.

"We'll figure it out," Mattingly said. "There are plenty of days for everybody, it seems like."

Lineup decisions will ultimately be based on performance.

"The game tells you what to do with guys," Mattingly said. "I'm not going to sit here and say Elian's going to play every day or not going to play."

Well, if you won't, I will! Herrera has either scored a run and/or had at least one RBI in five of his six games. Herrera has a .779 OPS; Uribe has a .640 OPS (his season high, btw. Herrera has a .306 BA; Uribe's is .250. Herrera is also not fat. Uribe is.

I trust Donnie to make the right choice here. Don't give in to the big footsteps (even if they shake the ground)! Let's bring Uribe back...to a treadmill.

The Morning After Sweeping Through Philly

It's only four games, I know. A four-game sweep on the road, even in Philadelphia, was something that the Dodgers had done before.

But a day later, I can't believe it.

After watching the Dodgers get crushed by Philly in 2009 and 2008, I shuddered whenever I saw that neon-outlined bell in the outfield. This was the place where Jonathan Broxton crumbled like a blueberry muffin under the pressure (and was never the same again).

And we were coming in with our best bat out of the lineup, and having lost six of our last seven.

But a band of Davids took down the Goliath--well, maybe the Goliath of yore--in Philly. I mean, who are these guys? Dee Gordon and Elian Herrera providing the one-two punch in the ninth inning off Philly closer Jonathan Papelbon? Okay, but that won't happen again.

Except it did happen again the next night, off the bat of Herrera to win the game in the eighth.

So now we're in line for the series split. And Chris Capuano gives up three homers in Game 3, so that's destined to be a loss, right? But the Dodgers score six runs, all of which come from unlikely sources: second-string fielder Tony Gwynn Jr., slumpster Gordon, powerless James Loney, new Dodger Jerry Hairston Jr., and Capuano himself (on an error). So we're set up for the win....

...that is, if Kenley Jansen, who hadn't registered a save in over a week, can close the door for a third straight evening. But with the (large) ghosts of Broxton casting shadows over the field (if ghosts can cast shadows, that is), a thoroughly gassed Jansen brings the Dodgers another one-run victory.

If this were Vegas, you'd pick up your chips, throw a couple to the dealer, smile to your tablemates, and walk away (or as Kenny Rogers would tell you, "run"). But the Dodgers stay for one more hand, in a game where Accuscore had us at around a 25% chance of victory, against a pitcher who went 3-0 against us in the two aforementioned NLCSs.

And we win again. This was also a one-run game until the ninth, when Herrera (again!), Andre Ethier, and Hairston blow the game open with four runs. Sweep, complete. We get on the plane to Seattle before the sun goes down. Philly doesn't know what hit it.

Thursday encapsulated a rough stretch. The Phillies played sloppily in the field, scored in just one inning and watched once again as the bullpen could not keep the game close.

Asked about his level of frustration, [Phillies manager Charlie] Manuel said, "I never put it up to a level. I feel how hot my face gets."

How hot is it?

"Pretty hot."

Three to five years ago, the Phillies beat teams into submission with a powerful offense. The last couple seasons, they ran Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels and Vance Worley at teams, giving opponents a defeated feeling even before they stepped into the batter's box.

And they always caught the ball and played good defense.

But the air of invincibility is gone. Losing does that.

Unbelievable.

The second-place Giants started the week three games behind us, playing the creampuff Cubs and the pathetic Padres over the same span. The Giants ended up going 3-1. And they still lost ground. And now they face Texas, the best team in the AL, while we get the Mariners, the AL's third-worst team.

But back to Philly. Philadelphia fans are going to squawk that this year the team isn't the same. Doc Halladay is injured. Ryan Howard isn't playing. Neither is Chase Utley.

But you know who is playing for the Phillies? Juan Pierre. That's right, the Phils have chosen Pierre for their backup player (possibly because we're still paying a portion of his salary). It was strangely great to see Slappy McPopup again, since in a opponent's uniform, it was perfectly fine to see him go 1-for-13 with 7 LOB, as well as blow a fully catchable ball in left (off Herrera, remember?) which cost Cliff Lee the win and the Phillies the game. And, McPopup's highly-vaunted speed wasn't enough to catch up to a bloopy Matt Treanor RBI single in the sixth yesterday; the Dodgers broke the 3-3 tie with that play. And these plays don't even take into account the noodle arm! I'm glad I don't have to watch Juan Pierre for us in left anymore. He's all yours, Philly!

Over a third of the way into this season, the Dodgers have been absolutely surprising. We've had to bring in a phalanx of reinforcements, most notably for the big bat of Matt Kemp. And yet, as the LAT's Steve Dilbeck points out, "Somehow, they are now 15-7 without Matt Kemp, and 22-14 with him healthy."

These super-subs and AAA players have delivered in their short (and in some cases, hopefully much longer) stints in the Show. Mediocre starters have over-performed. Comeback and one-run victories have revealed more grit than we've shown in the last two years combined.

This could all fall apart after this. But it's been a hell of a great ride so far.

And that sweep in Philly will be one to remember for a long time.

photo via Deadspin

Post-Game 56 Thread: Dodgers Bear Lee, Win

The Dodgers owe Juan Pierre $3 million this year, so don't feel too bad for him.

DODGERS 2, PHILLIES 1

(Thanks to SoSG Nomo for the headline!)

The good Chad Billingsley showed up tonight, allowing only one run over seven innings (with some defensive help from Andre Ethier). The better Cliff Lee also showed up, shutting down the Dodger bats over those same seven. The Dodgers showed some life in the eighth, opening the inning with a Matt Treanor double. But Tony Gwynn Jr. bunted and Lee gunned down Treanor at third. Then Bobby Abreu singled, but Hunter Pence gunned down Gwynn at third. It was looking like another Dodger loss to the Phillies.

Enter Elian Herrera. After a Dee Gordon single kept the inning alive, Herrera weathered a host of Lee's breaking balls and on the seventh pitch of the at-bat doubled just inches over the glove of a leaping Juan Pierre. Lindblom gets the hold, Jansen gets the save and Billingsley gets his first win in ten starts.

Dodgers pull out another one-run victory and move to 35-21. Yes, a major-league best 35-21!

AP photo

Post-Game 55 Thread: Pap Smear

DODGERS 4, PHILLIES 3

The Dodgers busted out for three runs against Phillies starter Vance Worley in the first two innings tonight thanks to RBI-singles by Juan Rivera, Bobby Abreu and Dee Gordon. But the Phillies answered in the third with an RBI-single followed by a two-run home run by Placido Polanco off Clayton Kershaw.

It was tied 3-3 in the ninth when the Phillies brought in their closer, Jonathan Papelbon. No problem. Gordon hit a triple — his first of the year! — and Elian Herrera singled him in. Ronald Belisario gets the win and Kenley Jansen gets the save. BillingsLee tomorrow!

AP photo

Post-Game 39 Thread: Berkman Buoys, But A.J. Answers

This image is not from tonight's game, but it was all I could find of an unhappy Lance.

DODGERS 6, CARDINALS 5

In a close one that was tied at four from the third inning until the bottom of the seventh (James Loney finally broke the tie by singling in Andre Ethier for what looked like the go-ahead run, with Ethier having reached off the generosity of former Dodger Rafael Furcal's error), it ended with a ninth inning full of drama. Man, that was a horribly-worded lead.

Kenley Jansen mowed down his first two batters in the ninth inning before Cardinals PH Lance Berkman took a 0-1 count over the wall, tying the game. Depression. But these plucky Dodgers don't go down easy. Elian Herrera walked to lead off the bottom of the ninth, and even though Andre Ethier was fooled (swinging), Adam Kennedy singled Herrera over to third. Inexplicably, the Cardinals chose to IBB James Loney (BA: .250) and load the bases with one out, allowing A.J. Ellis (BA: .327, the highest BA in the lineup tonight) to earn a walk-off walk (as well as a Matt Kemp-delivered shaving cream pie during the post-game interview). Dodgers snatch victory back from the Cardinals in the series opener.

Kenley Jansen is now 2-0 when he blows the save.

Ted Lilly pitched a nice seven innings of 4 ER ball (two of the four earned runs, all unearned, came off a Matt Holliday bomb), which was a gritty outing if not spectacular. Josh Lindblom had a shaky eighth but ended up striking out the side over what seemed like 463 pitches. And Loney did end up going 3-for-4 with 2 RBI, paling only in comparison to 4-for-4 Adam Kennedy (1 RBI). When Loney and Kennedy are coming through for the Dodgers, it's hard not to think something special is going on here. Let's enjoy this while it lasts.

(Oh, and the Lakers won Game 3 and trail OKC 2-1 in the series.)

Post-Game 37 Thread: Afternoon Disaster

PADRES 4, DODGERS 2

The Dodgers scored two runs in the top of the first, catalyzed by a Tony Gwynn single and an Elian Herrera double (Herrera scored on a Andre Ethier sacrifice fly. "So with a lineup that doesn't LOOK like it's going to score," said Vin Scully, "darned if they don't get a run with the first two hitters!"

But Scully was right, that was all the scoring we would do. Clayton Richard shut us down for his second win on the season, improving to 2-5, and Chris Capuano--who had a decent 6.1 IP with 3 ER (all off the bat of Chase Headley) and 6 Ks--took the loss. The Dodgers were so lifeless offensively today (on a day where Ethier was the only opening day starter in the lineup), that they sent up .236 BA James Loney at the end as the tying run, with Bobby Abreu in scoring position. Loney popped to third to end the game. And there we go. How soon are Jerry Hairston and Matt Kemp back, again?

At least the Lakers are sure to win tonight. We can use this as the Game 2 GT.