Sunday, July 27, 2014

Really, LA Times?

Why Do These Exist?

Discuss.

And purchase one here, if you dare.

Rox Misspell 15K Jerseys On Tulowitzki Jersey Night; Dinger Unscathed

If one fires Dinger (who is clearly behind this atrocity, with his jealousy of Troy Tulowitzki's star widely known), one can afford a proofreader.

The Colorado Rockies gave out 15,000 replica jerseys honoring All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki on Saturday night, but the back of them read "Tulowizki" instead -- minus the second "T."

The Rockies said they discovered the misspelling at some point, but instead of disappointing those looking forward to receiving the jersey, the team said in a statement that it decided to hand them out anyway.

"Is there something wrong with it?" fan Jordan Deuschleman asked, according to the Associated Press. "I didn't notice with the name being so long."

The Rockies plan to remake the jersey with the correct spelling later in the year, and fans can exchange Saturday night's for the new one at the stadium or at one of the team stores.

Fans who exchange the jersey also will get a free ticket to a future 2014 or '15 game.

"Many of the fans got here early. Took the shirt and left. They recognized it was a collector's item," usher Leon Thomas told the AP. "There were only so many handed out. They were gone fast."

What an insult. Tulo to even consider.

photo: AP / David Zalubowski

Saxon Waxes Well On Kershaw

It's gotta be tough to do a daily sportsbeat these days, but Mark Saxon turned in a nice piece yesterday, by positioning Kershaw's business-like two-hitter Saturday, to a lesson in team leadership:

But the Dodgers are a pitching-first team, and Dodgers pitching is a Kershaw-first phenomenon. He could pitch well in a phone booth, but put him on the mound at a cool, breezy bayside stadium with big outfield gaps, and the other team's hitters might as well close their eyes and swing as hard as they can. Maybe they'll get lucky. Nothing else seems to be working. Kershaw has a 0.69 ERA at AT&T Park.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly has noticed other teams' approaches to Kershaw and, at times, Greinke: Swing early when they are trying to get ahead, avoid deep counts where their devastating off-speed comes into play, and perhaps score early in the game and hope your pitchers can do the rest.

"When you do that and you don't [score], you end up with a low pitch count, and you end up getting a full dose of our guys," Mattingly said. "I can't say it's a bad plan, but it's a dangerous one."

The Giants got a full dose of Kershaw on Saturday evening: nine scoreless innings in which they mustered three baserunners. It was absolute domination and you could argue in good faith that it was his fourth-best outing this season. There was that near-perfect no-hitter on June 18, perhaps the best-pitched game in history; the eight scoreless at Coors Field; the 11-strikeout game against San Diego.

This one, of course, carried the most import, slipping the Dodgers quietly back into first place in the NL West.

And all along, Kershaw has operated with a relentless edge that the Dodgers, when they're at their most coldly efficient, seem to emulate. Teams have been throwing inside to Ramirez relentlessly lately. In the game in which Ramirez was hit twice by pitches in St. Louis, Kershaw stuck a fastball under Matt Holliday's numbers. It wasn't personal, just business.

Somebody asked Kershaw how much "fun" he has been having during the run he is on. He leads the majors with a 1.76 ERA, a 0.80 WHIP and a .503 opponents OPS.

"It's fun to win. It's not fun to lose," he said. "It's pretty much a start-to-start thing for me. I'm happy right now and, if I lose the next one, I won't be. That's pretty much how it goes."

There may be a bit of a leadership void on this team that Kershaw has stepped into. Puig is in only his second full season and still has lapses in judgment. Ramirez has trouble staying healthy and can have a brooding presence in the clubhouse. Matt Kemp has taken his unhappiness with his position switch public through his agent, never a way to win points with teammates. Adrian Gonzalez is having a down year and Juan Uribe has never been an elite player.

But every fifth day, the Dodgers look like the team nobody wants to face and everyone should want to play for.

It's one of Saxon's better daily posts over at ESPN. Nice work, Mark! Now if we can just get you to stop ending your sentences with prepositions, you'd be a journalist to cheer for.

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Post-Game 105 Thread: Dodgers Drink Giants' Milkshake


DODGERS 5, GIANTS 0

Did you know In-N-Out serves milkshakes? It's true; they're delicious. Clayton Kershaw was delicious tonight, pitching a complete-game two-hit shutout against the Giants. He used 113 pitches and struck out seven, and runs his all-important win-loss record to 12-2.

The Dodgers left the bases loaded in the sixth and seventh innings but still managed to capitalize on the Giants' pitching. Hanley had a two-out RBI in the fourth, Uribe had an RBI single in the fifth, Crawford and Uribe had RBIs in the sixth, and AGon added a seventh-inning RBI. If only one more Dodger had knocked a run in, we could say Five Guys had RBIs.

Tonight's win gives the Dodgers their first series win against the Giants since 1963 this season and vaults the Boys in Blue into first place by half a game. It's Ryu vs. the newly-acquired Peavy tomorrow for the whole bag of fries!

Game 105 Thread: July 26 @ Giants, 6p

Clayton Kershaw (11-2, 1.92) vs. Ryan Vogelsong (5-7, 3.99)

We've tried boobs. Might as well try burgers.

Dodgers will hope to double down on their emphatic win last night, and the odds are good for doing so with the #1 pitcher in baseball taking on a struggling Vogelsong. As SoSG Sax reported earlier today, it seems as though Puig is becoming more entrenched in center field, which may be part of the secret menu to help provide the stability that hasn't truly been there all season, really shake things up, in time for the stretch run. Only a half game separates these two teams, and this series remains critical, almost taking on a playoff atmosphere. Please lettuce take this one today!

Where the hell did Dan Uggla come from? I know, the Barves cut him, but I had pretty much thought his career was fried. Now he's an every day starter for a contending NL West team. To top it all off, we have to hear Vin tell us at least several more times that "Uggla" is Swedish for "owl."

Programming note: Don't forget the six o'clock hour start time, not the usual seven, for this one.

This Puig-In-Center-Field Thing May Have Legs

We saw Yasiel Puig start in center for the first time this year, and it looks like this move, unlike other Dodgers before Puig who have not fared well in center, might have some legs (get it?!):

After moving Matt Kemp out of the position in May because they were unsatisfied with his defense, and tiring of the lack of speed from the next two players they tried there, Andre Ethier and Scott Van Slyke, the Dodgers have decided to make Yasiel Puig their center fielder.

Puig returned from a hand injury and started in center for Friday night's opener of a crucial three-game series against the San Francisco Giants. He had only four chances in center. Three of them were routine, but he ran down a Buster Posey warning-track drive to left-center in the ninth that might have eluded the Dodgers' other center-field candidates.

He also tied a franchise record with three triples and added a double and two RBIs as the Dodgers moved within a half-game of National League West-leading San Francisco by beating the Giants 8-1. The last player with three triples in a game was Denard Span for Minnesota in 2010.

"I just want to be on the field helping my team win," Puig said after the game. "Whatever position they ask me to play, I'm going to do my best. I do prefer center field a little bit, because I can run more."

Three days earlier, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said he hadn't tried Puig in center yet because he plays "out of control most of the time" and "he scares the other outfielders."

Mattingly said he and the coaches sat down with Puig on Friday and stressed the importance of communicating with the other outfielders. Puig started six games in center last year but hadn't started there all season until Friday.

"We feel, with our combination of guys, this may be our best chance in center field," Mattingly said. "It could be a day, it could be a week, it could be forever -- or as long as he plays. We don't really know, but we know he's physically capable of handling the spot."

Article goes on to say that Matt Kemp's agent, Dave Stewart, continues to be a salty dog about Kemp in right. Enough yapping, Dave.

Friday, July 25, 2014

Post-Game 104 Thread: Puig Serves Up Triple Triple; Dodgers Go Animal Style on Giants

DODGERS 8, GIANTS 1

The Dodgers, rested from their day off yesterday, began tonight's game with some sparks, with Yasiel Puig tripling and Adrian Gonzalez knocking him in for the 1-0 lead. Little did we know what this would augur.

The fifth inning is where the Dodgers opened up the can of whup-ass, mostly on Tim Lincecum:

  • Zack Greinke with a one-out single.
  • Dee Gordon RBI triple to center. 2-0 Dodgers.
  • Puig RBI triple to center. 3-0 Dodgers.
  • A-Gon RBI single to right. 4-0 Dodgers.
  • Hanley Ramirez single to left; Lincecum chased after 4.1 IP.
  • With Juan Gutierrez pitching, Carl Crawford lines to first for the second out.
  • Matt Kemp with a 2-RBI triple to right. 6-0 Dodgers.
  • Juan Uribe flies to left, to end the inning. 6-0 Dodgers.

That's right, a three-triple inning for the Dodgers. And in fact, Puig himself had an incredible three-triple night: a triple triple. Puig went 4-for-5 with 2 runs and 2 RBI--11 TB (three triples and a double)--in his first career start in center field. Maybe that's a good spot for him?

The Dodgers had 15 hits tonight, with no HR. A.J. Ellis, Carl Crawford, and Juan Uribe each went 0-for-5. Speaking of lame performances, Paul Maholm is still trainwreckian, giving up three hits and a walk in the ninth inning, and allowing the Giants to get on the board.

And our starter, Zack Greinke? Just another 10-K evening, 7.0 scoreless innings pitched, with only one walk. In fact, Greinke recorded the Dodgers' fourth all-time 4-K inning, when (in the third inning), Greinke Kd Hector Sanchez swinging, Tim Lincecum looking, and Hunter Pence swinging but the ball escaped Ellis and Pence reached first safely; so, Greinke struck out Gregor Blanco who was thrown out at first for the fourth and final out. Great night for Zack and Puig, and for the start to this three-game series!

credit to SoSG Nomo for the PGT photo idea! Thanks, Gnomes!

Game 104 Thread: July 25 @ Giants, 7p

Zack Greinke (11-6, 2.90) vs. Tim Lincecum (9-6, 3.65).

"There's never any controversy or distractions around a Bochy team. They just play hardball," writes Richard Justice at MLB.com. Look, we get it. The Giants have chemistry, magic bat-splintering googly-eyed aliens, and Chardonnay. They turn fool's gold into MelkyScutaroHudson. They are the Littlest $154-Million-Payroll Team That Could.

That would make the Dodgers the bad guys, and tonight the bad guys are starting Greinke in the type of game they are paying him $147 million to win. Not give-his-team-a-chance win, but terminate-with-extreme-prejudice win. Zack will be with the services of a hobbled Hanley Ramirez, thanks to the plunk-happy Cardinals pitching staff, and Yasiel Puig will be able to don his Superman tights tonight. The bullpen? Stuck on Krypton.

Greinke-Kershaw-Ryu. It's the best the Dodgers have to offer against the grittiest team in the NL West. Let's keep it clean, and no hits below the Belt!

In Focus with Vin Scully

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Kemp's Doing Great! (Caveat Emptor)

Dodgers.com trumpeted yesterday that players' coach Don Mattingly was awful impressed with Matt Kemp's two-game record in right field. Hmm:

PITTSBURGH -- Yasiel Puig and Hanley Ramirez missed another start Tuesday night nursing left hand injuries, so manager Don Mattingly had Matt Kemp back in right field and Justin Turner at shortstop.

Kemp, in fact, impressed Mattingly so much with his natural play in right field Monday night that Mattingly said he is considering trying Puig in center field.

The reason center field is an issue is that Mattingly took that job from Kemp, who hasn't regained his center-field form after ankle and shoulder injuries. Mattingly has started Puig in center on rare occasions, but hasn't been at ease with it, opting more for Andre Ethier or Scott Van Slyke.

"Pretty much because he's out of control most of the time," Mattingly said of Puig's unbridled aggressiveness. "I don't mean that in a bad way. But for a tweener that both guys can catch, nobody wants to get hit at full speed. You have to have communication and you have to have trust. Yasiel doesn't give up on balls and I think guys know that. Scott said [there was] one ball he could have caught, but he knew Puig wasn't going to stop."

As for Kemp, Mattingly said he wasn't completely surprised that the outfielder would take to right field, even after a five-year absence from the position at which he broke in.

"He always said he felt better in right than in left," Mattingly said. "It looked like it last night."

Wow, that's a pretty solid endorsement from a manager who was just recently questioning Kemp's defensive range, judgment, and ability in the outfield scant months ago.

Oh...wait a second. ESPN.com has the Matt Kemp trade outlook; I get it now. (link insider only):

The Los Angeles Dodgers have maintained a crowded outfield for some time, and there are always plenty of teams looking for a quick fix to their lineup. As such, Kemp's name has come up often over the past two years as a possible acquisition for production-hungry teams such as the Seattle Mariners.

But consider this a word of warning: No matter who's in the hunt, acquiring Kemp would be regrettable.

A crowded outfield

While the Dodgers have demonstrated that they are not particularly troubled by a high payroll, they have a surplus of outfielders. Yasiel Puig is one of baseball's young superstars, a player who seems to up his game every time a baseball writer complains about his conduct. Joc Pederson, one of the top prospects in baseball, is hitting .327/.452/.582 for Albuquerque and is the Dodgers' only outfield candidate with any business playing center field.

If we look at Puig and Pederson as keepers, that leaves Kemp, Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford for the last open outfield spot. Those players are currently guaranteed $244 million in salary. Even for the cash-flush Dodgers, moving at least one of them would be prudent.

Ethier and the always-overachieving Scott Van Slyke make for an ideal platoon. Also, neither Ethier nor Crawford has significant trade value, which leaves Kemp as the most realistic trade candidate.

A fallen star

Thinking of Kemp as a high-upside addition at this point requires one to have been in deep hibernation or abroad without Internet access since the middle of 2012. Over the past two seasons, Kemp has hit .269/.329/.411 with 14 homers in 641 plate appearances for a 109 OPS+, numbers that aren't remotely close to his monster .324/.399/.586 line in 2011.

While a 109 OPS+ is still quite useful from a center fielder, Kemp has enough business being in center field at this point in his career as I do in a swimsuit competition.

Several years ago, it appeared Kemp would maintain a below-average yet acceptable level of defensive play in center. While defensive numbers are volatile and different measures sometimes don't match up, there's a good deal of consensus regarding Kemp's defensive performance. The numbers from the gang at Baseball Info Solutions have Kemp's defense in center field at 18 runs worse than average over 88 starts going back to the start of 2013. And that might be generous; ultimate zone rating puts the figure at a hair under 25 runs worse than average over the same period.

What's even more concerning is that Kemp doesn't even play solid defense in left. BIS and UZR have Kemp's defensive performance this season as a left fielder -- in fewer than 400 innings -- at minus-11 and minus-9 runs, respectively. The loss of Kemp's speed is reflected in the numbers. While baseball doesn't hold a combine with measured 40-yard dashes like the NFL does, it does have measures that approximate speed, with Bill James' speed score taking into account stolen base rate, triple rate and other things that reflect a player's in-game speed. In 2009, Kemp's speed score of 7.0 was 10th in the majors (leading were Michael Bourn, Jacoby Ellsbury and Elvis Andrus). In 2014, his speed score is 4.0, 77th in the majors, just below Seth Smith and just above Edwin Encarnacion. Neither of those players is known for having blazing speed.

The defensive numbers aren't a mirage; they simply reflect the real-world consequences of losing a great deal of one's burst.

A heavy weight

While there are a number of teams that may be willing to take on Kemp, the obvious issue that we haven't directly addressed is that doing so would also involve taking on his contract. With roughly $114 million guaranteed through 2019, the Dodgers likely would have trouble trading Kemp without eating a hefty portion of his contract. To get an idea of what Kemp's performance is likely to be worth to a team over the next 5 1/3 seasons, I ran his ZiPS projection (to the right). It ain't pretty. In fact, it's perhaps even more frightening than my involvement in that theoretical swimsuit pageant.

Though ZiPS projects Kemp to hit better than he has over the past year and a half, it predicts just 8.2 WAR from him over the remainder of the contract. His projected value for next season checks in at $5.7 million, and with a 5 percent yearly salary growth, his actual value for the course of his contract is right around $51 million. That is, of course, a much smaller number than the $114 million he's owed.

If a general manager decides he likes Kemp more than the evil supercomputer and its algorithms do, then maybe Kemp is worth $70-80 million, which would mean the Dodgers would need to be willing to eat $30-40 million. None of this factors in on-the-field compensation for losing Kemp; if the Dodgers want actual prospects in return, they would likely have to throw in even more cash.

I don't want to see Dan Szymborski in a swimsuit competition. However, I do still hold out hope that Kemp is just playing injured and he will regain his form. Wishful thinking?

Vin Scully, on BYO Musical Instrument Night at Ebbets Field

We don't get TWC at SoSG Worldwide Headquarters, so we apologize for the lack of new Vin transcriptions this season. But we've dipped into the archives (OK, last year's games) to bring you some fresh transcriptions we haven't run yet.

Vin Scully, from the sixth inning of the Mets-Dodgers game on August 13, 2013:

It was memorable to have a chance of working in Ebbets Field. It was a delightful place.

On this day in 1951, for several years, the Dodgers had a group of fans who had musical instruments. They didn't play 'em well, but they had instruments. They were called the Dodgers Sym-phony.

Well, the local labor union decided the Dodgers had to pay this group, this motley group of players. Pay them. And of course they weren't going to do that.

So we'll tell you what happened, but we don't want to miss a pitch down here. And we'll get back to Ebbets Field after this.

So the Dodgers decided, Well, we're certainly not going to pay a bunch of fellows who are kidding around with musical instruments. So let's send 'em off, and we'll have a night dedicated to amateur musicians.

And if you bring an instrument, you don't have to know how to play it. But if you bring the instrument to the ballpark, you can come on in.

And several thousand people came with every imaginable thing that you can imagine. Violins and saxophones, harmonicas, trumpets. And you can imagine the noise was like nothing you have ever heard anywhere — and I wouldn't wish you to hear the noise anywhere.

One man drove up, tongue in cheek, I'm sure, with a flatbed truck and a piano. Said, "Can I come in?"

And they said, "If you can move the piano, you can come in."

Fly ball, Schumaker is out there, one away.

Well that was Music Depreciation Night at Ebbets Field back in 1951.

And the batter, Daniel Murphy, who singled to left, flied to center....

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Post-Game 103 Thread: Haren, Eaten Up

PIRATES 6, DODGERS 1

After becoming deluded into thinking otherwise, thanks to Josh Beckett's no-hitter, coupled with an impressive 4-0 start to the season by Dan Haren...I thought we might have a full rotation. But Beckett proved yesterday over his ephemeral 3.2 IP that he is not reliable, and Dan Haren came out today and evidenced why his promising season start was just a mirage.

The back of the Dodgers' order is a train wreck. And even worse, with each crash, we have to suffer through Paul Maholm!

Haren gave up five runs in the first two innings, and though he stretched out to a somewhat-less-implausible 5.0 IP (in which he apparently retired the last 10 batters faced), Haren fell to 0-4 with a 9.47 ERA for July. The good news is, Haren presumably has one more start this month to get him to a double-digit ERA, as July's not over yet!

Haren is so bad (how bad is he?), even Don Mattingly might be coming to his senses, saying: "He's gotten us in a bit of a hole in the last couple of games but now is not the right time to talk about his future." No shit!

Meanwhile, the offense only consisted of a double from both Miguel Rojas (who was promptly doubled off of 2B) and Dee Gordon; two hits from Juan Uribe; and a hit from PH Justin Turner, who came around to score the Dodgers' solitary run.

So we continue our 2-4 road trip with a day off, before our last roadtrip stop in San Francisco, with a chance to be 5.5 games behind by the time we leave (we are currently two games back but SF plays one more with Philly Thursday). Whoop de frickin' doo!

Game 103 Thread: July 23 @ Pirates, 4p

Dan Haren (8-7, 4.30) vs. Francisco Liriano (1-7, 4.43)

Well, who's ready for the inevitable gut punch today? Will it be a fast-regressing Haren allowing multiple home runs and getting bounced in the 4th? Will it be the Noffense? Will it be our zombie bullpen walking in three runs? Will it be because we can't field a full squad after having so many of our players hit and hurt? Will every Dodger batter swing at the first pitch? Will Dodger outfielders switch positions between Pirate at-bats?

These questions and others persist. Yes, as many have pointed out the team still has as many wins as any other team in the NL, but one gets the sense this could start going south quickly, especially with a tough away San Francisco stand due up next.

Also, word is that there may be thunderstorms in the Pittsburgh area this evening, so we'll monitor to see if they can get the game in. In the case it is delayed, please use this space to grouse.

Post-Game 102 Thread: Pirates Plunder Dodgers

PIRATES 12, DODGERS 7

It was almost a game. Pirates had two solo shots in the second; Dodgers return with two runs in the top of the third (Adrian Gonzalez and Andre Ethier RBI). Pirates get two more runs in the bottom of the third; A.J. Ellis knocks in two in the top of the sixth.

but with A.J. Ellis on second and one out, the Dodgers keep Paul Maholm (who took over for Josh Beckett in the fourth) to bat. Maholm Ks, and Dee Gordon flies out. And then immediately afterward, Maholm gives up two leadoff singles, is replaced by Jamey Wright, but the floodgates are open and the Pirates score four runs.

The Dodgers come back to make it 8-6, in the top of the seventh, with a two-run A-Gon shot. And we get one more back on a solo Scott Van Slyke shot in the eighth to make it 8-7.

And then Don Mattingly gets his second ill-fated idea of the night, to go to Chris Perez in the bottom of the eighth. Perez gets one out and then delivers four straight walks; Brandon League tries to relieve Perez and gives up two straight singles. 12-7 is the score through eight, and that's all she wrote.

Mattingly tried very, very hard to go with the freezing cold hand tonight, depending on Maholm and Perez to...screw things up. What a missed opportunity.

At-Game Recap: Dodgers in Sydney (Part 6)

Here's another post in the series recapping the Dodgers' historic trip to Sydney, Australia, for 2014 MLB Opening Day.

Going into the tunnels underneath the big scoreboard, heading from the Noble and Bradman Stands toward the O'Reilly Stand.

Would you believe, instead of dot racing,...sailboat racing?

Back in the original seats. Wish I could remember what was on the scoreboard at this time, as it's kinda blurry (the scoreboard, as well as my memory).

Game over! Dodgers win!

Diamondbacks sulk off the field in defeat!

More soon!

Earlier: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Game 102 Thread: July 22 @ Pirates, 4p

Baling wire. Not shown: spit.

Josh Beckett (6-5, 2.26) vs. Vance Worley (2-1, 3.38).

The Pirates' offense, undoubtedly frustrated after seven innings of extended-rest Ryu, today face a fresh-off-the-DL Beckett, who is currently being held together with spit and baling wire. "I feel like as long as I'm not messing up my mechanics and I feel like I can get people out, I'm just going to ride it out until the end of the year," he said. It's not exactly Mel Gibson's speech in Braveheart, but as long as Beckett can keep filling that number-four slot, we'll take it.

Another Cuban On The Dodgers' Horizon?

In the first rumor ESPN has posted about the Dodgers since spring training this year, ESPN.com says that the Dodgers might be interested in Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo (link insider only):

Seattle may be the front-runner to land 27-year-old Cuban outfielder, Rusney Castillo.

Bob Dutton of The News Tribune reported Friday that "some rival scouts suggest the Mariners, who seek a right-handed bat, are among the leading contenders to sign Castillo. ..."

The speedy line-drive hitter will have a showcase in Miami on Saturday and, per Dutton, is also being pursued by the Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins. Dutton also reports that U.S. government recently cleared Castillo, making him eligible to sign immediately with any club.

Yasiel Puig, Alex Guerrero,...next up, Rusney Castillo? Because we could always use another outfielder, right?

Kemp: Right In, Rather Than Left Out

Matt Kemp started Monday's game in right field, and to his credit (unlike Kemp's agent), Kemp was saying all the right things prior to the game:

“I’m just happy to be in the lineup,” Kemp said to The Times’ Dylan Hernandez in Pittsburgh.

“It’s just another position to play.”

It seems clear, however, the Dodgers are determined to let Kemp know they very much do not envision him a center fielder. The easy thing Monday would have been to send Andre Ethier back home to right and start Kemp in center; Carl Crawford is starting in left.

Center is the more glamorous, demanding position and where Kemp still sees himself, even if the Dodgers have seen enough of him making poor jumps and routes on balls up the middle.

Sunday in St. Louis he made another bad jump on one ball, starting back on a drive in front of him and letting it drop for a hit, but then making a terrific diving stop of another on his next ball. If possible, he sometimes seems almost awkwardly athletic.

But with Puig out, tonight Kemp slides over to right. Kemp is hitting only .229 (11 for 48) this month but had two hits Sunday. And, as ever, the hope remains he can approximate his offensive form of 2011.

I don't think it's necessarily clear that the Dodgers don't want Kemp in center field. I think they're just trying everyone in this crowded outfield out a bit, before making decisions that they'll have to make sooner or later. At least Kemp has his head in the game and is saying the right things.

At-Game Recap: Dodgers in Sydney (Part 5)

Okay, let's shake it up here from my last four entries in this series (links to which are conveniently posted along the bottom), and instead post some videos. Sure, they're short, but they're videos nonetheless!

First, here's a quick video of Clayton Kershaw doing some warm-up throws:

Next, here's the tail end of Scott Van Slyke's two-run HR (scoring Adrian Gonzalez), which ultimately proved to be the difference in the 3-1 final score (yes, that's me screaming like a madman on the audio):

Finally, along with clay from California, two teams from America, and plenty of tradition: MLB also brought the wave over to the Sydney Cricket Ground:

Man, that was embarrassing; of all the things we could have left in the US, we tried to export the wave. Maybe it was a one-way ticket! In any event, even with the wave, this was a very fun game to watch from these awesome seats. I am indebted to my friend for these awesome Dodgers memories.

More soon!

Earlier: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4