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

Game 90 Thread: July 10 @ D'backs, 6:30p

Hyun-Jin Ryu (7-3, 2.82 ERA) vs. Tyler Skaggs (2-1, 3.65 ERA)

I'm sure Tyler Skaggs is a nice man, but his name is just too, well, Skaggy not to mock in this space. Especially as giddy as we are, on the precipice of getting back to .500 for the first time since the end of April. Having already locked down another series win, the Dodgers behind Ryu will try for the series sweep and a chance to move within 1.5 games of the NL West lead. This would be great momentum coming into the final home stand against the Rockies before the All-Star Game break.

One thing I'll be looking for is to see Crawford get back to his pre-DL form, given that the Kemp news seems to be getting worse (irritated AC joint). For the record, Kemp has thus far expressed no irritation toward SoSG AC.

In other news, Ted Lilly has asked Donnie to consider using him out of the pen, and not as a starter. Waaaaaay ahead of you on that one, Theodore.

Happy thought for the day: the Gnats have a worse record than the Cubs!

Above all else:  VOTE PUIG!

UPDATE: Looks like we'll have to wait longer to see about Crawford. He is not in the lineup tonight. Ethier, Puig, and Van Slyke will round out the outfield.

Game 62 Thread: June 9 vs. Barves. 1p

Matt Magill (0-1, 6.38 ERA) vs. Mike Minor (7-2, 2.52 ERA)

This a truly ugly pitching matchup. I have the privilege of witnessing it in person. As exciting as a great day game at the Yard sounds, this one could be scary to see. Magill was called up to replace Ted Lilly, who again goes to the DL. One has to figure this is near the end of the road for Lilly. And one has to hope so; he's almost but not quite entirely ineffective.

Word is that Hanley Ramirez is having more hammy problems and will be getting an MRI on what has to be the most over-used MRI scanner in existence.

Everyone pray to Cuban Jesus and maybe, just maybe, we'll get a series win out of this.

Vin Scully, on Dog Hero Ted Lilly

Vin Scully, from last night's telecast:

Ted Lilly's wife, Natasha, has her Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science at Cal Poly, and then she got her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Davis. We bring that up to give you an insight into Ted Lilly, who is very quiet, very soft-spoken, very serious, and a very good competitor.

They were out with their dog, a Lab, and the Lab was attacked by a pit bull. And Lilly went after the pit bull, which is not exactly a nice thing to do, pried the jaws of the pit bull open to release his Lab. Got his hand cut up a little bit, but the big thing was he saved the Lab. Right thumb was torn.

So he is that kind of a guy. Quiet, peaceful, but deadly determined.

We were talking before about the career of an Albert Pujols. I mean, Ted Lilly was drafted in 1996.

Fastball, unintentionally fouled back....

Game 52 Thread: May 30 vs. Angels, 7p

Ted Lilly (0-1, 4.05 ERA) vs. Jason Vargas (4-3, 3.43 ERA)

Oh jesus. It's Lilly tonight. We'll have to rely on him to to bring us the improbable series win. Lilly faces Jason Vargas, who has gone 4-0 in his last five starts with a 2.25 ERA. It just doesn't seem like a fair fight, does it?

Last night, the Dodger bats broke out too little, too late, but hopefully that will provide some momentum coming into tonight's game. A-Gon and Hairston have a good record facing Vargas, so we'll look to them to turn up big.

In injury news, Matt Kemp (hamstring; swing; pride) is not due to have his MRI until this afternoon, so we can assume he will definitely be out of the lineup today. Looking like Schumaker in CF unless there's a longer term injury to Kemp, then we hear the Puig/Pederson conversation amplified. On a positive note, HanRam is about to begin his rehab assignment and doesn't look too far away from a return.

The recently-floundering Gnats are playing the A's right now. It would be nice to gain some ground on them. In fact, let's get this thread going early and use it for some scoreboard watching/Gnats hating.

UPDATE: Kemp to the 15-day DL to get his groove back.

UPDATE II: AJEllis has an oblique issue and is held out, hoping not to have to go on the DL. T-Fed called up and into action.

Keep watching this space for updates as the inexplicable injuries keep piling up.

Return Of Magill?

Matt Magill went 6.2 innings against the Brewers in his last start, his major league debut, yielding two runs on four hits and striking out seven.

Ted Lilly went 3.0 innings against the Rockies in his last start, his 2013 debut, yielding five runs (four earned) on eight hits, striking out two. Lilly needed 22 pitches to get the first out of the game, having already yielded four runs when out #1 finally came.

Magill's pitch speed was often in the low 90's, topping out at 93, consistently throughout his start. Lilly topped out at 87 mph.

So the Dodgers might indeed be thinking that Magill might be a better option on Saturday. What an epiphany:

LOS ANGELES -- After an impressive Major League debut, Dodgers right-hander Matt Magill could take the mound again Saturday if Ted Lilly is unable to make his scheduled start against the Giants.

Lilly had an injection in his right rib cage Tuesday after he experienced discomfort in his start against the Rockies on Monday. The left-hander lasted just three innings and allowed five runs on eight hits.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Wednesday that Lilly's status for Saturday was "still kind of up in the air."

"If it's not him it would be Magill," Mattingly said.

Lilly didn't look right on Monday night (at least to the Dodgers; I am sure the Rockies were quite satisfied). It might be much to ask Magill to make his second MLB start up in San Francisco on Saturday, but it sure seems like a better option to me.

Game 27 Thread: May 1 vs. Rockies, 7p

Let's go #Dodgers! Showing off my #DodgerBoobs twitter.com/DodgerBoobs/st…

— Dodger Boobs (@DodgerBoobs) April 2, 2012

Not currently an active account. But we can pray.

Josh Beckett (0-3, 4.75) vs. Juan Nicasio (3-0, 4.62).

Later, April! After all the crap that went down last month, I'll take a 13-13 record. Hanley's back, but Crawdaddy's got a ginger hammy. Ryu's on fire, but Clayton's grieving and Lilly's lying. When will this team get on the same page? Until then, boobs.

Post-Game 20 Thread: Hitting The Wall

METS 7, DODGERS 3 (10)

We don't need no education. But you know who might? Whomever made this game-hinging call:

With the Dodgers up 3-2 going to the bottom of the ninth, following a brave five-inning start by the newly reactivated Ted Lilly, not to mention a (video review) HR and three runs off the bat of struggling Matt Kemp, Brandon League has two out and a runner on third with David Wright up and John Buck, lifetime .236 batter, on deck. League gets the call from his manager to attack Wright, who promptly knocks the first pitch into right for a game-tying single. Buck didn't even finish his ninth-inning AB since Wright was thrown out at second base.

Post-game radio interviews confirmed that League was told--by someone who will remain anonymous but whose name rhymes with "gone battingly"--to "go after" Wright, who "has a tendency to be aggressive." Unfortunately, Wright also has a tendency to be a good hitter (he's batting .309 this year). And League has a tendency to serve up meatballs like the grooved fastball to Wright.

Josh Wall struggled in his 0.1 IP in the tenth, yielding a single, a walk, a sac bunt, and an IBB before giving up the grand slam to Jordany Valdespin. Look, if you're going to get beaten, maybe getting beaten by Valdespin isn't so bad. But Wright? What a bizarre call.

Mattingly also made the point not to call for Matt Guerrier or Paco Rodriguez tonight, supposedly given their recent workload and the day game tomorrow. Wall was on his own tonight, which ended up "for worse" rather than "for better." Let's see if this bullpen gamble pays off tomorrow with a series-taking win.

Game 20 Thread: April 24 @ Mets, 4p

Dodger Nation: 2 consecutive wins for our @dodgers and they are starting to hit the baseball!

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 24, 2013

Ted Lilly (0-0, -.--) vs. Matt Harvey (4-0, 0.93).

Winning streak! After dropping six straight, the Dodgers look to make it three victories in a row and climb back to .500. Two considerable obstacles stand in their say: Mets phenom Harvey, who beat Stephen Strasburg his last time out, and the Dodgers' own Lilly, in his first outing after starting the season the DL.

Not coincidentally, in their last two wins the Dodgers have scored seven runs per game. Mellis led the way yesterday, and while Kemp may not be hitting home runs, he's 8 for 19 in his last five games. Crawdaddy seems to be cooling down a bit, but AGon is OPSing .987. Indeed, our Dodgers are starting to hit the baseball. Let's hope they keep hitting the baseball.

Pictured: a completely unretouched picture of a man hitting the baseball. Amazingly, he doesn't need to look anywhere near the baseball to hit it, and the baseball has shrunk to the size of a matzo ball. Great job, Shutterstock.

ESPN Predicts Harang Will Edge Lilly, Capuano For Fifth Slot

So says Baseball Prospectus' Ben Lindbergh, in an insider-only link run on ESPN.com which predicts the winner of the Dodgers' fifth starter:

Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

Position: No. 5 starter

Battlers: Chris Capuano, Aaron Harang, Ted Lilly

Signing Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu gave Los Angeles a surplus of starters. With Chad Billingsley's health status uncertain, the Dodgers have thus far refrained from trading any of their extra arms, although they might still deal one during spring training.

Who should win? Harang. Capuano is the only one of the trio who's had an extended stay in the bullpen in the past decade, and with Scott Elbert unlikely to be back from offseason elbow surgery by Opening Day, the Dodgers could lessen the logjam by using him in long relief. In light of his age and shaky shoulder, Lilly too would be better deployed in short bursts, at least until he's proved that he's intact enough to attract interest from other teams.

Interesting that they didn't mention Clayton Kershaw. I hope he gets a chance to start, too.

Sizing Up The 2013 Dodgers

It's Top Ten season for ESPN.com's Buster Olney. And the Dodgers don't end up too bad, all things considered.

First up, the pitching rotations. And Buster Olney places ours third in the majors: (link insider only):

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Josh Beckett, Chad Billingsley, Ted Lilly/Chris Capuano/Aaron Harang/Hyun-Jin Ryu. For Greinke and Beckett, this is the perfect situation, because they don't have the burden of being The Guy. Kershaw is the National League's best pitcher and he fully embraces all that comes with being the staff leader, from the media responsibilities to those moments when retaliation is needed. Greinke and Beckett can just worry about pitching, which is probably how they prefer it to be. The reason the Dodgers are ranked third -- and not higher -- is that it's not really clear what Don Mattingly is going to get out of Billingsley, Lilly or the starting pitcher who isn't dealt.

Linchpin guy: Beckett. Like other veteran starters who have moved from the AL to the NL, he should benefit from the shift, and Beckett is smart and savvy enough to be able to take advantage of those weakest spots at the bottom of the lineup. Beckett had a 2.93 ERA in his seven starts with the Dodgers, after being acquired from Boston, and now he gets a full-season reset button. He could be excellent. It's evident from Beckett's FanGraphs data that he relied a lot more on his cutter in his last few starts; it's a small sample size, but his strikeouts-per-9 ratio jumped from 6.64 with the Red Sox to 7.95 with the Dodgers.

Olney's got Detroit and Washington ahead of us, with only the Giants mentioned from the rest of the NL West (ninth).

Next up, the outfield, where the Dodgers rank fourth (link also insider only):

4. Los Angeles Dodgers

It's the outfield with the most star power, for sure: Matt Kemp in center, flanked by Carl Crawford in left field and Andre Ethier in right. Kemp was plagued by injuries and limited to 106 games, and still managed to hit .303 with 23 homers, and Ethier finished the season with 20 homers and 89 RBIs. Crawford missed almost all of last season with elbow trouble before having Tommy John surgery, and he may not be ready for the very beginning of the 2012 season. If each of the three match their best seasons from the past, this group could be the best in the majors, with power, speed and defense. But a significant factor will be how Ethier and Crawford fare against the parade of left-handers they will see, especially in the later innings of games.

Ethier had an OPS of .606 versus lefties last season, and Crawford had even worse numbers (OPS of .566) against lefties while playing for Boston in 2011. Kemp did a ton of damage against lefties last year, with a 1.105 OPS, and the Dodgers will need him to continue that trend, because he's going to see a ton of lefties while hitting among Crawford, Ethier and Adrian Gonzalez.

Something to remember: The Dodgers' payroll is going to be far beyond the luxury tax, and the team's management has a distinct win-or-bust, Steinbrenneresque style of operation right now. If Crawford or Ethier struggle against lefties and the Dodgers suffer in the standings, it's hard to imagine the front office waiting patiently for them to figure out their swings. They're more likely to pursue a right-handed-hitting outfielder who can help balance the lineup -- which might explain why they were open to retaining Shane Victorino for 2013.

The unknown of Crawford is the key, clearly. Although a fully-healthy Kemp and a consistent performance from Ethier would also come in handy. Victorino? Come on.

Oh yeah, the Angels, Nationals, and A's are ahead of us, with the Diamondbacks at #9.

Infield? We didn't make the top ten (link insider only, if by now you haven't figured this out). Washington snagged #8, and the Giants finagled #9.

Nor did we place in today's post, the top ten lineups. Angels lead the pack, with the Nationals fifth and the Rockies seventh.

Well, two out of four ain't bad (though the Nationals certainly look pretty good, on Olney's paper). The Angels only placed in two of the four top ten lists as well. Let's see how we fare in Olney's next sets of top tens (peanut vendors, concession stand line lengths, and flush-free urinals).

Post-Game 145 Thread: At Laaaaaaaast

DODGERS 8, CARDINALS 5

For the first time in the past nine games, the Dodgers scored more than three runs. For the first time in a long time, they hit more than one home run in a game. And for the first time in forever, they weren't just solo homers.

Andre Ethier hit a two-run shot in the third, and Luis Cruz put the Dodgers ahead with a three-run jack in the sixth. Adrian Gonzalez added a two-RBI double in the seventh. Matt Kemp went 0 for 4, but it didn't matter in the end. See how that works?

Enjoy tonight's victory while you can, because it wasn't all happy happy joy joy today. Clayton Kershaw is questionable for Sunday's game due to his hip issue, and it's been confirmed Ted Lilly is out for the season. On the other hand, Kenley Jansen is supposed to be available starting Tuesday.

Back to one game behind in the mild card race. Momentum, how does it work?

photos by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Game 81 Thread: July 2 vs. Reds, 7p

Homer vs. Bills, get it?

Chad Billingsley (4.7, 4.18) vs. Homer Bailey (5-6, 4.42).

Clayton Kershaw was the stopper yesterday, and now it's up to Chad Billingsley to nourish the iota of momentum the Dodgers have mustered. In his way stands Homer Bailey, the Christian Bale lookalike widely known for hitting Manny Ramirez on the hand in 2009...which lead to the dramatic BobbleSlam. Ah, memories.

Anyway, where were we? Huh? Oh, sorry, we were talking about chocolate?

In other news:

Dodgers news - team selects contract of infielder Luis Cruz from triple A. Shawn Tolleson optioned and Ted Lilly transferred to 60 day.

— Patrick O'Neal (@PONealFSWest) July 2, 2012

Game 64 Thread: June 13 vs. Angels, 7p

Nathan Eovaldi (0-2, 1.93) vs. C.J. Wilson (7-4, 2.39).

No support is exactly what the Dodgers have given young Nate Eovaldi this year — in his three starts filling in for Ted Lilly, the Dodgers have scored a grand total of three runs. That works out to...oh...let's see...carry the one...ONE RUN PER GAME. Let's get this kid some runs!

(Oh, and Nomo and Sax will be at tonight's game. Post a comment if you want to meet up.)

Lilly Out for at Least One Start

From "Nathan Eovaldi to start for Dodgers in place of Ted Lilly" by Kevin Baxter of the LA Times:

The Dodgers are recalling pitcher Nathan Eovaldi from double-A Chattanooga to start in place of Ted Lilly on Tuesday against Milwaukee.

Although Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly coyly deflected questions about Eovaldi on Sunday, Chattanooga pitching coach Chuck Crim later confirmed that the pitcher is headed to Los Angeles and said he was told the right-hander would take Lilly's place in the rotation.

So did Lilly get shelled by the Diamondbacks because he came back down to earth, or he was hurt? Our minor-league position players have served us well; let's see how their pitchers do.

LAT's Dilbeck Gives 'Paws Reflection

Great feature piece by the LAT's Steve Dilbeck on the Dodgers' left-handed starters, Clayton Kershaw, Ted Lilly, and Chris Capuano, and how the southpaws have paid dividends for the Dodgers so far this 2012 season:

[N]o team, anywhere, has three left-handed starters going right now like the Dodgers.

Entering Wednesday's games, Clayton Kershaw, Ted Lilly and Chris Capuano combined had a dazzling 15-2 record with a 1.99 earned-run average. And even after Lilly's meltdown that night — eight earned runs, nine hits and five walks in 31/3 innings — the ERA is still only 2.38.

If they were to somehow keep that up, they'd only go down as the greatest trio of left-handed starters in one rotation ever.

With the Arizona Diamondbacks sending left-hander Patrick Corbin down Tuesday, the Dodgers became the only team in baseball currently with three left-handed starters.

"I don't mind at all, particularly when they're pitching like this," Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly said. "I don't want to have lefties just to have lefties.

"But guys have trouble with lefties. They just don't see them as much. It's just a different look."

Not so different as to be unique. This is hardly the first time the Dodgers have successfully used a trio of left-handed starters. In 1965, their four-man rotation included Sandy Koufax (26-8, 2.04 ERA), Claude Osteen (15-15, 2.79) and Johnny Podres (7-6, 3.43) around No. 2 starter Don Drysdale (23-12, 2.77).

In 1973, they had Osteen (16-11, 3.31), Tommy John (16-7, 3.10) and Al Downing (9-9, 2.98), though the ace was Don Sutton. And in 1985 they used Fernando Valenzuela (17-10, 2.45), Jerry Reuss (14-10, 2.92) and current pitching coach Rick Honeycutt (8-12, 3.42).

"It's pretty unusual to have three," Honeycutt said. "These guys have all had success. This is my seventh year [with the Dodgers], and this is by far the most experienced five guys we've had."

Kershaw's greatness may have been predestined, but Capuano and Lilly's form this year are sure making Honeycutt, and GM Ned Colletti, look good so far. Let's hope this holds up.

Post-Game 44 Thread: Dodgers Pay Piper

DIAMONDBACKS 11, DODGERS 4

Ted Lilly didn't have it tonight, allowing eight earned runs over only 3 1/3 innings. Dodgers drop to 30-14 but maintain their seven-game lead over the Giants. Off-day tomorrow; Astros come to Dodger Stadium on Friday. Rest up, boys!

Game 44 Thread: May 23 @ Diamondbacks, 6.40p

Ted Lilly (5-0, 1.79) vs. Joe Saunders (2-3, 3.55).

I'm still getting over last night's crazy come-from-behind victory, still shocked that we not only battled back from 5-0 on the road, but then went down to our last AB and got Ivan DeJesus Jr. to give the Dodgers our first lead of the game, as well as the lead that held up for the win. And here we go, in the final game of the series against the Snakes, and the Dodgers send up a pitcher whose 1.79 ERA ranks second among NL starters (slightly behind Atlanta righty Brandon Beachy's 1.77.). Ted Lilly--a 12-14 last year--is a surprising Ace, indeed.

Lilly, who faces faces former Angel Joe "Colonel" Saunders, will helm the ship as we try to grab our seventh-straight victory (which would register as our longest streak of the year, as well as our longest streak in over two years). I want to go streaking, Ace. Show us the way. (On second thought, keep your clothes on.)

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.)

Game 39 Thread: May 18 vs. Shards, 7p

Lilly (5-0, 2.11 ERA) vs. Lynn (6-1, 1.81 ERA)

Welcome to the first weekend of interleague pla....Wait, what the what is wrong with the MLB schedule? Never mind. Do over.

Dodgers return from a long, arduous road trip to face the old enemy Shards (22-16). This three-game home stand represents a real test of strength and spirit for a Dodgers team that has beaten up on crummier teams but has been somewhat tested by contending teams. This is all the more difficult with Kemp, et al out of the lineup. Here's hoping that old fossil we dug up Bobby Abreu keeps up his success with the bat and doesn't fall victim to the virulent hamstring flu currently decimating our squad.

Re-reading that first paragraph makes it sound like we're struggling this year. But wait! We're the best team in baseball at 25-13. Pull your socks up, lads and lasses, because we can get this done against the dread Shards. Let's splinter them into a million pieces and send them home crying for their moms.

ps- Don't forget to vote A.J. Ellis to this year's All Star Game squad!

Image: www.etsy.com