Post-Game 101 Thread: Rested Ryu Bumps Bucs

DODGERS 5, PIRATES 2

Coming off a week of rest, Hyun-Jin Ryu went 7.0 IP yielding only 5 H and 2 ER, striking out 5 and walking 1, to earn the win. The Dodgers won even with Yasiel Puig and Hanley Ramirez sidelined, who were spending their time videobombing Dodgers reporter Alanna Rizzo. In their absence, the top of the lineup stepped up:

• Dee Gordon, 2-for-5 with a run and his 45th stolen base;
• Justin Turner, 2-for-5 with two runs, a double, and 2 RBI;
• Adrian Gonzalez, 3-for-3 with a double and a RBI;
• Matt Kemp, 1-for-4 with a double and a RBI.

Juan Uribe also went 2-for-5 from the seven-hole. Andre Ethier went 0-for-5 but had a groundout RBI in the third.

Giants won so we remain in a tie for first with 61 games left. And I didn't watch any of this game, so unfortunately that's all I got!

cropped image swiped from here

Game 101 Thread: July 21 @ Pirates, 4p

Where they took Hanley after last night's game.

Hyun-Jin Ryu (10-5, 3.44) vs. Edinson Volquez (8-6, 3.65).

Today's theme is injuries. As in, how many more can the already-fragile Dodger lineup take? Thanks to the handiwork of the Cardinals' pitching staff, both Puig and Hanley are questionable for today's game. Three of our five starting pitchers have spent time on the DL, as well as our catcher and third baseman. It's enough to make a general manager wonder if he should sign more players under the age of 30.

Old friend Volquez is having himself a dandy little run right now. According to STATS LLC/ESPN, he "has given up one run or none while going at least six innings in three of his last four home starts. The right-hander also has posted an 0.90 ERA while winning his last four starts overall."

So the 52-46 Pirates, in third place and only 1.5 games back of our buddies the Cards, could present quite a problem for the Dodgers during this nine-game road trip. Let's see if Ryu can channel his inner Kershaw and give the boys a chance to win.

Kemp Key For Dodgers' Second-Half Run

David Schoenfield says what we all are thinking: if Matt Kemp can rise to form and make some more highlight-reel plays in left, or center, or wherever he plays, the Dodgers should be in very good shape:

OK, we're already a couple of days into the second half of the season, which actually begins well past the actual halfway point of the season, but here are the key players to watch for each National League team. [...]

Los Angeles Dodgers: Matt Kemp

Kemp began the second half with his agent Dave Stewart proclaiming that Kemp just wants to play every day and "his hope at some point is to get back to center." That's not going to happen, as the Dodgers finally realized Kemp's bad routes lead to too many bad plays in the outfield (he had the worst Defensive Runs Saved total in the majors in the first half at any position). So that means Kemp will have to hit -- and play left field. He had a solid June, hitting .317/.375/.525. The Dodgers will happily take that at this point.

Keep up the good work, Matt!

ESPN's Bowden Suggests A Trade So Crazy, Even Colletti Would Laugh

Three prime Dodgers prospects for Cole Hamels (link insider only)? Not likely...

Philadelphia Phillies-Los Angeles Dodgers

Phillies receive: CF Joc Pederson, LHP Julio Urias and INF Alex Guerrero

Dodgers receive: LHP Cole Hamels

Hamels has a limited no-trade clause that includes 21 teams he cannot be dealt to. However, he has pre-approved eight teams, and the Dodgers are believed to be on that short list. Imagine a Dodgers rotation of Kershaw, Greinke, Hamels, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Josh Beckett (when he returns). Hamels, 30, has proven to be a good postseason pitcher and boasts a 7-4 record with a 3.09 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 13 playoff starts. He would immediately make the Dodgers the World Series favorites.

The Phillies, meanwhile, are in desperate need of a rebuild, and Pederson would be a major step in the right direction. He'd immediately become their best prospect, and many believe he's major league-ready. He could take over any of the three outfield positions. Pederson currently sports a .319/.437/.568 line at Triple-A, with 11 doubles, 3 triples, 17 home runs, 42 RBIs and 20 stolen bases.

Urias, 17, would become the Phillies' best pitching prospect. He would need a good three or four years of development before he can help the team, but he has plenty of upside. Alex Guerrero missed time earlier this season after teammate Miguel Olivo bit off part of his ear, but he's back now and is sporting a .376/.417/.735 line at Triple-A. He could play second base or shortstop if Chase Utley or Jimmy Rollins were traded. He could also be used as a trade piece, as teams such as the Orioles, Blue Jays, A's and Giants could all use an upgrade.

This would certainly be an unpopular deal for the Phillies to make, but the rebuilding process needs to begin sooner rather than later.

Well the other thing is, this would certainly be an unpopular deal for the Dodgers to make! After all, two of the three of these prospects were on the aforementioned Top 50 Prospects list. Let's hope Ned Colletti doesn't do anything foolish.

Okay, maybe let's just hope Colletti doesn't do anything THIS foolish.

Three Dodgers in Keith Law's Top 50 MLB Prospects

Here's the relevant Dodgers who made the Top 50 Prospects list, from ESPN.com's Keith Law (link insider only):

5. Corey Seager, 3B | Los Angeles Dodgers

Age: 20 | Current Level: High A (Rancho Cucamonga)

Preseason Ranking: 18

Seager had some trouble in the Cal League late last summer after a promotion from low-A, but the Dodgers got him to firm up his front side and stay balanced through contact so he wouldn't overrotate and become too pull-oriented. That change was fortuitous: Seager has destroyed high-A all year, at his hitter-friendly home park and away from it, with 54 extra-base hits through 80 games. He's not going to stay at shortstop, but he'll be the Dodgers' third baseman for six solid years once he gets to the majors at some point next year.

17. Julio Urias, LHP | Los Angeles Dodgers

Age: 17 | Current Level: High A (Rancho Cucamonga)

Preseason Ranking: 14

Ranking the 17-year-old 17th was a coincidence, I swear -- he's just this good, up to 95 consistently with an above-average to plus curveball and average or better changeup, deception in the delivery, lots of torque from his hip rotation, and shocking command for his age. We all should hope the Mexican-born Urias stays healthy as he navigates his late teens. The Dodgers are being extremely cautious with him, so he might not see the majors until 2016 or later.

22. Joc Pederson, CF | Los Angeles Dodgers

Age: 22 | Current Level: Triple-A (Albuquerque)

Preseason Ranking: 41

Pederson should be the center fielder in L.A. right now, but the Blue Man Group has run a series of corner outfielders out there rather than call up Pederson -- who isn't quite as good as his Albuquerque-inflated line might indicate, but would definitely give the Dodgers a boost on defense and in OBP. He still needs work against left-handed pitching, mostly picking up spin, but he's not getting much of that experience in the PCL anyway.

The Giants do not have one player on the Top 50 list.

When Did Tommy Get Slim So Fast?

Love getting dressed up to go give out an award to Tom Seaver! pic.twitter.com/YjEEMh4wbE

— Tommy Lasorda (@TommyLasorda) July 18, 2014

Tommy looks great here, but I mean, should we be worried?

Another Pederson Plug (from Plaschke)

No one, let alone the Dodgers, appears to be listening to Bill Plaschke's pleas to nab David Price. So, echoing others, tired ol' Plaschke has written another tired ol' article, this time in a plea for Joc Pederson:

If the Dodgers offense continues in this vein, even in the mediocre National League, their playoff hopes could eventually fall off. Despite ranking third in the league in runs scored, their bats have been wildly inconsistent, having scored three runs or fewer in 46 of its 99 games, going 13-34 in those games. This is an offense that needs a burst of energy. This is an attack that needs another July jolt like last season.

In this space previously, the call was for the Dodgers to trade two of their top three star prospects for Tampa Bay star pitcher David Price. Now another mandate has appeared. The one prospect they should keep, center fielder Joc Pederson, should be called up from triple-A Albuquerque immediately to give them that charge.

Pederson is athletic, powerful — with a 1.025 on-base plus slugging percentage — and energetic. Another veteran outfielder will have to be benched to make room for him, but the excitement the kid will provide will overcome any bad chemistry his presence might cause. The Dodgers' uniformed personnel can't say anything, but you know they would love to see a kid such as Pederson give a push to the stiff and struggling clubhouse veterans. Mattingly can't say anything, but you know he's tired of watching his veteran hitters casually toss away midseason at-bats as if they were pesky pieces of junk mail instead of the precious stuff of championships.

While Mattingly publicly continued to contend he is happy with his current roster, he acknowledged Saturday his team needed a spark and that "sometimes, it happens all of a sudden.''

Sometimes, Ned Colletti, it's just a phone call away.

Actually, it's 664 miles by flight, or 787 miles by car (through Flagstaff, Arizona).

Post-Game 100 Thread: Dodgers Win, Hands Down

Matt Kemp treated us to a little vintage Bison defense in the sixth inning.

DODGERS 4, CARDINALS 3

The Dodgers eked out a win in St. Louis, but this series could mark a turning point in the health of the Dodgers lineup. If this sounds like a repeat from the 2013 NLCS, there's a reason for that.

Kershaw stepped down from godly to merely very good tonight, working with a 3-1 lead until giving up a two-run home run to Bourjos in the sixth. Kershaw left after seven innings with eight strikeouts. (He also stole a base for good measure.)

Offensively, the Dodgers didn't score a ton, but in a refreshing change of pace scored all their runs with two out. Uribe had an RBI jam shot in the second, Kemp and Ethier had back-to-back RBI singles in the third, and AGon, who had been taking a lot of unsuccessful first-pitch hacks up to that point, hit a second pitch for the game-winner. Patience pays!

Now the bad news: With Puig sidelined by Joe Kelly's plunking of his hand yesterday, the Dodgers watched as Carlos Martinez hit Hanley in the shoulder in the fourth...and AGAIN as Rosenthal drilled Hanley on the forearm/hand with a 99-mph heater in the ninth. Results are negative, but we'll see.

And, in a further demonstration of Kershaw's awesomeness, he plunked Mothballs in the ass with his first pitch in the bottom of the fourth, generating warnings all around. If you believe in karma, the next batter hit into a double play. Kershaw did it right: Message sent, nobody hurt. Unlike the Cards, who seem to like going high and tight, or in toward the hands — three times alone in this series.

In unrelated news, Steve Garvey favorited a Star Wars-themed tweet I made. The streams have crossed!

photo via @MLB

Game 100 Thread: July 20 @ Fredbirds, 5p

We need to Photoshop a hologram Kershaw.

Clayton Kershaw (11-2, 1.78) vs. Carlos Martinez (2-4, 4.43).

How quickly things turn. At the All-Star break the Dodgers were on top of the world, alone in first place with four All-Star representatives. Then Puig oh-fer'd his Home Run Derby appearance, and now the team is back in second place, their outfield controversy has rekindled itself, Plaschke is calling for big moves, and Puig is out of the lineup with a sore hand.

Which is when we get to the bright spot: Once every five starts we get to see a Kershaw start, and today he's only being asked to pull the Dodgers out of a nosedive against the very team that handed him his worst postseason loss ever. The Giants lost again, so first place is also at stake. Help us, Obi Wan Kershaw, you're our only hope.

Mattingly Wants Joc in CF

From an MLBTR summary of this Ken Rosenthal video:

Don Mattingly prefers Joc Pederson in center field, but he’s not yet on the active roster. In Pederson’s favor, there’s little doubt that he’s the best defensive option. Some within the organization worry about his minor league strikeout rate, and believe he’ll benefit from further seasoning. If Mattingly gets his way, the Dodgers outfield will become even more crowded, further increasing the likelihood of a trade.

OK, so you've got four outfielders with contracts totaling $429 million and the manager advocating for a minor-league callup? Ned Colletti problems!

Post-Game 99 Thread: Dodgers Explode for Two Runs Again

CARDINALS 4, DODGERS 2

Sorry to pinch Grant Brisbee's schtick in the headline there, but scoring two runs a game is like flushing the toilet after hearing that blorp blorp bubbling sound in the bathtub: It ends with shit everywhere.

For the sixth time in their last seven games, the Dodgers scored two runs or fewer. That strategy may work against the Padres, but not a real team like the Cardinals. Greinke had a rough first inning, allowing four runs, which was all the Cards needed. The Dodgers scratched out runs on RBIs by Hanley and Crawford, but the game was never close.

All-around terrible person Joe Kelly continued his Dodger-hunting ways, this time beaning Puig on the left hand in the third. Puig left the game in the eighth and x-rays were negative.

Oh, and did I mention the Dodgers are no longer in first place?

Game 99 Thread: July 19 @ Cards, 1p

Will we get another Van Slyke-Kelly standoff today?

Zack Greinke (11-5, 2.73) vs. Joe Kelly (1-1, 3.44).

Oh hey, look, it's Joe Kelly, everybody's favorite rib-plunking, standoff losing (above) Cardinals pitcher. Too bad we're not at Dodger Stadium, where he can get the fan reception he deserves.

Last time Greinke pitched, things ended poorly for both the Dodgers and SoSG Nomo. St. Louis isn't coming after Gnomes yet...but there's still time.

Post-Game 98 Thread: Dodger Bats Still on All-Star Break

What would SoSG Sax say?

CARDINALS 3, DODGERS 2

We're spoiled by our one-two pitching punch of Kershaw-Greinke, because it shouldn't be a disaster when your pitching staff allows three runs. But like Puig showing bunt in the Home Run Derby, the Dodger bats remain out of sync.

"A murmur of protest" is what Vin might call the Dodgers' two runs, scored on seventh-inning doubles by Uribe and Ellis, who scored on a wild pitch. The Dodgers struck out eleven times tonight, leaving the bases loaded in the third (on a Kemp strikeout) and squandering a two-on, one-out situation in the eighth. Blame Haren for only lasting 4 2/3 innings, but two runs isn't going to cut it against the Cards.

The Giants beat the Marlins easily, putting them back in a first-place tie with the Dodgers. The Dodgers' schedule doesn't get easier anytime soon, so hold on to your butts.

Game 98 Thread: July 18 @ Cardinals, 5p

Maybe the only good thing about the Cardinals? Maybe.
Dan Haren (8-6, 4.23) vs. Lance Lynn, Secret Chimp (10-6, 3.14)

Ah, the Cardinals. The Hanley-hurtin', Mickey Mouse-complainin', All-Star Game-blowin', "best" fans-havin' Cardinals. They sure seem to have shot up the ranks of Dodger fans' most hated teams lately, haven't they? And, like, didn't we JUST take three out of four from them? Why won't they just GO AWAY?

The Dodgers start their second "half" (technically, 60% of the season is gone) with Dan Haren on the mound. Not a huge amount of hope for this one, but maybe Danny got some nice rest over his six days off.

Dodger baseball is back! Let's get at it!

Kemp's Agent Voices Dissension

At least it isn't coming from Matt Kemp himself, I suppose. But the news, through Matt Kemp's agent Dave Stewart, that Kemp would rather leave the Dodgers in order to play every day in center field, is a little disappointing.

First, the news:

The Los Angeles Dodgers have a crowded outfield, and if that gets in the way of Matt Kemp playing every day he would be open to a trade.

The outfielder's agent, former major league pitcher Dave Stewart, said that Kemp wants to be an everyday center fielder and if the Dodgers cannot make that happen, Kemp would be open to a trade, according to a report from FoxSports.com.

"Whatever they want to do we're favorable to, as long as it gives him an opportunity to play every day," Stewart told FoxSports.com. "He'd like to eventually go back to center field. He's not opposed to right or left. But his hope at some point is to get back to center."

The Dodgers removed Kemp from center field for defensive reasons at the end of May. Carl Crawford injured his left ankle on May 28, and Kemp has been the everyday left fielder ever since. Kemp is batting .269 with eight home runs and 35 RBI this season.

Kemp is working on a year where his OPS+ is 114, 13 points fewer than his career average, with a .269 BA (vs. career .291). After hitting 39 HRs in his great 2011, Kemp hit 23 in 2012 and a sad 6 in 2013. He's on track for 14 or so this year. His defensive aptitude had had glimmers of potential that have been unrealized, certainly in this season (where I would guess Kemp is likely playing injured). And yet, Kemp (through is agent), is jockeying for an everyday position--which he had, based on not only his reputation and potential but also injuries to Carl Crawford--and then proceeded to lose, due to his sloppy fielding.

I like Kemp, and my guess is he's gutting through the pain and not saying much. But it's almost as bad to have your hired guard dog on the attack. Let's all mellow out a bit here, and let Kemp heal and regain his power swing and defensive potential; the rancor doesn't do any of us any good.

Nomo, Park Honored Today

From a BZAPR release:

NOMO, PARK TO BE HONORED IN CEREMONIES ON JULY 18

Two former Los Angeles Dodger All-Star pitchers will be honored on Friday, July 18.

Hideo Nomo will be inducted into the Japan Baseball Hall of Fame. Ceremonies will be held on the field to honor the 2014 inductees prior to the Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star Game at Seibu Dome in Tokorozawa (near Tokyo), Japan. Chan Ho Park will receive recognition during retirement ceremonies prior to the Korean Professional Baseball All-Star Game at Champions Field, Kwangju, South Korea.

Nomo became the youngest player elected to the Japan Baseball Hall of Fame at age 45 and 4 months on January 17, 2014. He is only the third player in history elected to the Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. Victor Starffin, a Russian who pitched and won 303 games in Japan and Tokyo Giants’ superstar Sadaharu Oh, the all-time leader in home runs with 868, were the others elected to the Hall in their first year of eligibility.

Peter O’Malley, president of the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1970-1998, will participate in the induction ceremonies in support of his friend Nomo. O’Malley is chairman of Historic Dodgertown. In 2012, Nomo and Park became founding partners of Historic Dodgertown – Vero Beach, Florida and each has helped encourage teams from Asia to train there.

“Nomo and Park are both true pioneers,” said O’Malley. “They opened the door for more players from Japan and South Korea to participate in Major League Baseball. Today, there have been 40 players from Japan and 14 from South Korea who have played in the major leagues. I am very proud of their leadership and their on-going commitment to youth baseball in Japan and South Korea.” [...]

Park, 41, signed as a free agent pitcher with the Dodgers on January 14, 1994. He enjoyed 17 seasons in Major League Baseball, including nine with the Dodgers (1994-2001, 2008). In 2001, he was a National League All-Star for the Dodgers. Park’s 124 major league wins are the most by a pitcher from Asia. He also pitched in three postseasons, including the 2009 World Series for the Philadelphia Phillies. Park pitched in 1,993 innings and had 1,715 strikeouts.

Park, from Kong Ju City, first pitched at Dodgertown, Vero Beach, Florida during 1994 Spring Training as a rookie. Park made his first pitching appearance indoors on February 19, after a second consecutive day of rain cancelled his original debut at Holman Stadium.

Since retiring from his playing days in the United States in 2010, Park pitched one season for the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan and one year for the professional Hanwha Eagles of the Korean Baseball Organization in South Korea, where he remains one of the nation’s most popular athletes.

Today, Park is developing a baseball training center and entertainment complex in South Korea.

Congratulations to two Dodger pioneers!

THRilling Photography

The Hollywood Reporter just released its annual Sports Issue, including a photo section featuring notable sports figures. Dodger greats Vin Scully and Fernando Valenzuela made the cut:

Another Off-Day? Let's Have A Party!

With another off-day throughout Major League Baseball today, it's time to invite the neighbors over and have a party. Like this guy, for example!

You're tearing me apart, Lisa!

Vin Scully, on Lines of Communication

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.

Elio Chacon, Richie Ashburn.

Vin Scully, from the third inning of the Mets-Dodgers game on August 12, 2013:

There was another story: I remember the late Richie Ashburn, who was not only a marvelous player but also a wonderful broadcaster, and he wound up his career with the Mets — a lot of good players did.

The one-oh pitch on the way is high. Ball two.

And there was a shortstop with the Mets, Elio Chacon. And anytime there'd be a ball hit out into shallow center, Richie would come racing in and Chacon would just run over him.

And so Ashburn said, Well, I've gotta communicate with this guy, who didn't speak English. So they finally established three Hispanic words.

It was "Yo tengo" something, meaning "I've got it," I guess.

And sure enough, any time there'd be pop fly out there, Chacon would be racing out, and Richie would come hollering, "Yo tengo! Yo tengo!"

Here's the two-oh pitch, in for a strike, two and one.

And sure enough, one day there was a fly ball into shallow center, Ashburn was running in, hollering "Yo tengo," and he was completely knocked out of the ballpark by the right fielder, Frank Thomas. Who didn't understand Spanish and didn't know what Richie was calling about.

Ground ball speared by Mejia. He just runs over to first and just like that we have the third out. So no runs, one hit, a man left. At the end of three, two-nothing, Mets.

Dodgerpalooza - My Dodger Birthday Day Two

We came home from the game on Saturday, slept in and then got back in the car to goto the Sunday game.  It was super hot and our seats are directly in the sun, so we decided to pay the extra money to sit in the Stadium Club.  Unfortunately I didn't plan in advance to reserve a rail seat overlooking the game.  But we were greeted by a nice all you can eat (this is becoming a theme here) buffet with champagne at an indoor table.  In addition, I was fortunate enough to watch the World Cup Final.  About the 7th inning we wandered to our seats and watched the Dodgers pull out another one run win.  This was a great birthday weekend and again I have to acknowledge Mrs. Cora for setting it up.  I hope the Dodger second half season is a successful one.  Lets Go Blue!

Champagne and the Dodgers - A Winning Combination

On the Club Level

Dodger Dog - Yum

Dodger Game on the left, World Cup Final on the right.

Dodger Dog Pizza - Not too bad, a little spicy

Riding the wave

These look like they were taken from Vero Beach.  Cool.