Probably not. In Robert’s defense I think it’s become a sick addiction for him. He must play the terrible hitters against left handers. I think he may need to attend mendoza line hitter’s anonymous.
Oscar should really pursue a job as a motivational speaker. Because after he wrote this article about Justin Turner. The red bearded third baseman responded by slugging a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning of the Dodger’s 4-3 win over Colorado. I don’t know if that was possibly the biggest troll job in the history of baseball, but whatever Oscar did apparently worked well. I’ve asked him to write a similar type of article about Yasmani Grandal in hopes that gets him going since he’s been mired below the Mendoza line since opening week.
My hopes is that Oscar does this for the rest of the lineup (minus Corey Seager and Trayce Thompson, they obviously don’t need it) and the boys in blue start scoring 6 runs per game. It wasn’t Turner’s home run that won the game, but Trayce Thompson’s second walk-off of the season in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Dodger’s bookended the game with home runs in the first and ninth innings to even the series.
Julio Urias had his best outing of the season, allowing one earned run on three hits and striking out seven with one walk over 4 frames. Of course the Dodgers were too scared to let him pitch another inning to try and remove some of the load off of the bullpen. It’s a delicate balance between what’s best for the club and what’s best for Julio’s development. At some point the Dodgers are going to need some innings out of Urias and Mike Bolsinger. Urias made 86 pitches but has had trouble keeping his pitch count down and putting hitters away once he gets two strikes on them. It’s something the kid needs to work on going forward.
Dodgers Lineup vs. Colorado-TBA
Chris Rusin-1-4 vs. Kenta Maeda-5-3
Game Time – 7:10 PM – TV – SNLA
Moving along, the Dodgers will attempt to get a series win over Colorado in the final game of the home stand before the big series against the Giants in San Francisco this weekend. Right hander Kenta Maeda will counter Colorado left hander Chris Rusin.
The 25-year old faced the Dodgers back on April 24, allowing two walks and one hit over 3.1 scoreless innings. Rusin was originally drafted by the Cubs in the fourth round of the 2009 amateur draft. Colorado claimed him off of waivers in 2014. This season he has split time between the rotation and the bullpen. He’s made 6 starts and 11 appearances. Rusin has posted a 1-4 record with a 4.62 ERA. He’s struck out 36 and walked 16 across 48.2 innings pitched. However he’s allowed just 2 home runs this season so he’s able to keep the ball on the ground.
Rusin is 1-1 with a 4.58 ERA in 4 career appearances against the Dodgers. He’s tossed 6 innings at Dodger Stadium allowing three runs on 5 hits and three strikeouts. Rusin has limited the Dodgers to a .209 (9 for 43) average against with a .571 OPS against. Rusin has a fastball, curve, cutter and changeup.
Rusin vs. Dodgers
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Chase Utley | 9 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .111 | .111 | .111 | .222 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Adrian Gonzalez | 8 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .429 | .500 | .571 | 1.071 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| A.J. Ellis | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .000 | .167 | .000 | .167 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Joc Pederson | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | .000 | .333 | .000 | .333 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Scott Van Slyke | 6 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Howie Kendrick | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .250 | .250 | .250 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Corey Seager | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .250 | .250 | .750 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Turner | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | .667 | .500 | 1.167 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yasmani Grandal | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Trayce Thompson | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 48 | 43 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 7 | .209 | .292 | .279 | .571 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Maeda is 1-0 against Colorado this season. He faced the Rockies back on April 23 at Coors Field. In that start he tossed 6.1 innings of shutout ball and struck out 8. He won his last start against Atlanta and has posted a 5-3 record with a 2.84 ERA in 11 starts. Maeda has struck out 8.0 per nine and allowed 7.0 hits per nine over 63.1 innings pitched.
Maeda vs. Rockies
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Nolan Arenado | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Carlos Gonzalez | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gerardo Parra | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ryan Raburn | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Trevor Story | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DJ LeMahieu | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .500 | .500 | .500 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cristhian Adames | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tyler Chatwood | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 19 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | .158 | .158 | .158 | .316 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
National League West Standings
|
#
|
Team
|
W
|
L
|
PCT
|
GB
|
HOME
|
AWAY
|
L10
|
||
|
1
|
|
35
|
25
|
.583
|
–
|
16-12
|
19-13
|
5-5
|
||
|
2
|
|
32
|
28
|
.533
|
3.0
|
17-13
|
15-15
|
6-4
|
||
|
3
|
|
26
|
32
|
.448
|
8.0
|
10-15
|
16-17
|
3-7
|
||
|
4
|
|
26
|
35
|
.426
|
9.5
|
10-21
|
16-14
|
4-6
|
||
|
5
|
|
25
|
35
|
.417
|
10.0
|
15-17
|
10-18
|
5-5
|
||
The Dodgers are now 3 games behind the Giants. This is the closest they’ve been to first place in weeks. Perhaps the club is starting to make a move? While the Dodgers are finishing up against the Rockies, the Giants will be at home against Boston. Maybe we have a chance if Dave Roberts doesn’t play the B-squad tonight against the southpaw. Oh who am I kidding, he’s gonna do it isn’t he?
Go Blue!
Maybe Dave’s trying to break Donnie’s record for most different lineups by the All-Star break? Has Ellis hit leadoff yet this year?
Per ESPN.com on Monday:
“(Last night), “Roberts tried what he could, writing out the Dodgers’ 49th different lineup in the club’s 59th game, but his moves led to little flow. ”
Haven’t seen Brock Stewart mentioned here, but he appears to be one to keep an eye on. https://calltothepen.com/2016/06/08/los-angeles-dodgers-brock-stewart-dominating-double/
Bum
Where have you been?
OK, Trayce Thompson has made Yasiel Puig expendable. Puig is a knucklehead who could flourish in another system. Sometimes it just takes a change of scenery. Then there is Yordano Ventura of the Royals who is also a knucklehead. He has electric stuff, but as we have seen recently, he is a hot head. Sometimes a change of scenery is all it takes.
Trade Puig, Hatcher and Lee for Ventura. I’d consider making Ventura the set-up guy.
You forgot “and throw in Crawfish.”
LOL…..that’s not right!
Maybe tell them where they can find him.
Crawfish is on the bone pile.
I tell you this Mark. Ventura throws a very easy 97, 98. No maximum effort, at all.
What is different with Ventura and Chapman?
I think that it would be a good idea to wait until Thompson has gone around the league a few times before deciding that he has made another player dispensable. At the same point in his career, Puig’s hitting was looking pretty good. And on the defensive side, Thompson hasn’t been consistent yet. And Joc was looking pretty good at this point too. Thompson has never looked this good in the minors, so let’s wait and hope.
http://dodgersdigest.com/2016/06/07/the-real-trayce-thompson/
Dustin is very knowledgeable but he frames everything so that he is never wrong: Thompson has the opportunity to be the best player in the deal. That isn’t likely to happen.”
If it happens he was right and if it doesn’t, he was right.
I read that crap, but I take it with a grain of salt. I am high on Thompson and remember I am the guy who was never high on Pederson or Puig. Still ain’t!
Agree.
I’ve seen Puig for three years and if KC would do that deal, I’d move him so fast Kansas would think it was a tornado.
Puig may ultimately be a star (I doubt it, but he has the talent). I’m just done with him and Lee and Hatcher.
I agree. But KC is very fundamental….not sure how Puig would fit in. They would love him the first month and then, well the real fun kicks in.
Hpwolf
I like Thompson, but I agree.
Ventura throws a little slower and has never shot up his garage.
Both are knuckleheads.
You give us your knucklehead, we’ll give you ours!
TJ Siemers (I know, not a reliable source) used to refer to Jim Tracy as the “Micro Manager”, given his penchant for multiple moves within a game and so forth.
I nominate Dave Roberts as Tracy’s successor. Given his multitudinous lineups, his manipulation of his 8 man bullpen, his platooning and shifting, his moving players to positions they don’t usually play, he qualifies.
By the way, what has all of this Micro Managing wrought? Does the team have any additional wins as a result?
Sounds like Bochy and Maddon – those morons do the same thing!
Of course, some years Bochy looks really bad… but three of the last six he looked pretty good.
I think it’s all perspective. Last night someone said Roberts was misusing Keshaw….
Nobody bit on Alex Guerrero (Sorry about that) so he can sign with any other club now (or even the Dodgers for that matter) for league minimum. Someone will probably sign him. I assume that since his contract stipulations have been fulfilled, he is off the rosters and his salary is guaranteed, the Dodgers could sign him to AAA. I think that would be a good move on both their parts.
Nobody in baseball wants him. He may have had some bad luck, but when a teammate tries to bite off your ear, there’s probably a reason the guy was infuriated. I know there’s a story back there, but no one is talking. With Arrrrr, he was just fat and lazy. That’s the story there.
I’m thinking Arrr was hungry and that ear was looking good.
Wondering
Guerrero had better offensive stats in AAA, and he was playing everyday. In fact, he had better stats then Joc. And everywhere he has played for the Dodgers, when given consistent playing time, he has hit well.
He had really good offensive stats in Cuba too. Remember when he was hot and hitting last year, but Mattingly didn’t play him. He gained weigh last year, while sitting on the bench, and came to spring training the same way.
I can’t blame him, because when he was hot, and hitting, it really didn’t matter to Mattingly.
Guerrero had really bad stats, this year, when he came back after hurting his knee in spring training. I thought that was odd, but I heard that Guerrero purposely tanked to get a release from the Dodgers. I don’t know if that is true, but it does make sense to me.
The Dodgers were not going to give him a chance, and they couldn’t trade him, because he would be a free agent, at the end of the year, if a team traded for him. Because that was in his contract.
And the stats he had last year, at the end, doesn’t tell the whole truth about Guerrero, because he never got consistent playing time, as you know. Let’s just wait and see, if he eventually pops up with some team. He can hit, and most teams, will get a player in the line up, that can hit, unlike Mattingly. Who continued to play both Joc and Grandal last year, the rest of the second half of the season, even thought they had not hit over 200, since the after the Allstar break.
Ventura has only had 1 good season in 3. In his rookie year, he had a low ERA, a WHIP of 1.2 an a K/9 of 8.3. This year his ERA is 5.6 and he is not pitching well. If he throws 99, great – but he isn’t a good pitcher right now.
Which makes him a perfect choice for us, right? What’s most important is that he would be cheap. Honeycutt could make some tweaks in his delivery and then he could hit the DL. Should’ve traded Yasiel while he still had some value.
I would put him in the pen. The dude has ADD – let him focus on small blocks of time. He’s no starter. He could be an elite reliever… plus he’s ornery!
Wandy Rodriguez Opts Out Of Orioles Contract
FAZ wouldn’t sign him, would he??????
What does it look like?
It looks like your wife!
That Giant’s game to night, should be a good game, especially if the Giants lose. It is Bumgarner against David Price.
Now that;s a different lineup!
Hernandez, SS
Turner, 3B
Gonzalez, 1B
Thompson, CF
Van Slyke, RF
Kendrick, LF
Ellis, C
Barnes, 2B
Maeda, P
Roberts is trying to set a record for the most starting lineups in a season
He wants to shatter that record!!
Hey guys
Thompson looks pretty comfortable in center to night. I hope he can keep it up, and play a over all better defensive game.
For several seasons now, some teams use this left-right thing, for the players starting a specific game.
Now one could consider:
Is it to get more players work?
Off-set the balance to work better?
To rest some players because of the LONG season?
Or, just not having key stars at positions?
We old-timers can remember when teams did not do that very much. Hank Aaron did not sit much. Neither did Stan Musial, nor Willie Mays, and many others — other than for injuries or sometime those double hitters.
Could it be that the quality of players just is down a bit, and rest is necessary, and computers say play this guy instead of that guy !!!
But, how do you make the Hall of Fame playing part-time?
Here’s what I see to be the problem with the modern athlete: They are bigger faster and stronger than ever before, they have better advance scouting and film review than ever before, they are more prepared than ever before, but… they have the same bones, ligaments and tendons — their strength and speed outstrips their infrastructure and/or all the modern diets are deficient in nutrients needed for tendon and ligament health.
… or not!
Roger
I don’t remember the Dodger players, in the middle to late 70s, and early 80s taking that many days off.
We didn’t have the same coverage of today, but we all had radios.
There’s something about Barnes I like. Similar to Kike
But who cares what I like; we need some hits off this no name pitcher!
Bobby
Are you telling me that Barnes is quicker then AJ?
I think Bartolo Colon is quicker than AJ
Bobby
This is a joke to night.
Austin Barnes is a Junkyard Dog and I love that!
All Kike had to do was hit it to the outfield, but he tried to hit a HR, and struck out. And Turner swung at a ball. Unbelieviable! And Turner can catch up to a 91 fastball.
that was pathetic, yup
Not sure how Dave Roberts believed this lineup would produce anything. Incredibly stupid not playing your biggest offensive threat because there is a lefty on the mound
The pitcher who started for the Rox is horrible and has been bad all year. The Dodgers are just so inept offensively…
Does anybody have the stats for our offense when we face a leftie and Pinocchio the manager throws out that whole right hitting lineup?
I honestly can’t recall a time where that lineup actually produced and we won
Bobby
Vin said last night that the Dodgers were one game under 500, when they have these rightie line ups. And now it is two games under 500.
Oh no I agree with Mark again 100%. Ouch!!! The athletes these days are stronger and more complex but the body structure is still the same. These trainers or lack thereof are killing these guys. This sport is different than others. Somebody has got to figure it out. Oh wait sabermetrics for injuries. We have that field covered.
Damn good thing Dr. moved our red headed step child (Ro’fer) to second in the lineup. This is a joke
Tim
Turner shouldn’t be in the heart of the order, as you too, have voiced. I just don’t get it. It isn’t like everyone wants to bench him.
He has not always hit like he did last year. He has only hit really well, for part of the 2014 season, and most of last year. But he did go on the DL for at least a week or two, last year.
It is not like he has been producing at a high rate, his entire career, but that is the way that they are treating him. He is causing most of the Dodgers offensive problems.
A team with no real number three hitter, is not going to have much of an offense. And his bat is missed the most, because he was hitting like a third hitter last year.
And he is making it hard for Agone to make a offensive difference. Did you notice in the last two games, that Turner was rested, that the Dodgers offense, was much more productive?
When Kike struck out last night, with the bases loaded, I just wanted to turn the TV off. And then Turner came up, and swung at ball four, when the bases were loaded.
Punt! Time to end the Friedman era, and get some decent hitters in
How many times has Donnie shuffled the Marlins lineup this year? I haven’t checked but I thought someone in here might know. That might tell us if the Dodgers managers actually set the lineups or if it’s being delivered to them before the game from FAZ.
Roberts needs to get back to the basics. He needs to remember just how hard, it is to hit, when a player, is not getting consistent at bats.
And he needs to move Turner down in the order, because Turner is not even close to hitting.
He did hit that HR, but that was a average fastball, right down the middle of the plate.
Any big leaguer, would hit that pitch out.