The Dodger bullpen blew another one just hours after Oscar jinxed them with an article praising their recent performances. Of course we all would love to be able to blame Oscar for the problems with the pen if only because it’s really funny. All joking aside it is not Oscar’s fault. The bullpen had been pitching better lately. Oscar details that well in his latest. However the bullpen fully regressed by blowing a 5-4 lead on Friday night which lead to the Dodger’s 7-5 loss to Colorado in the series opener. Did you see that throw from Yasiel Puig though? My goodness that was incredible.
Dodgers Lineup @ Colorado
Utley 2B
Seager SS
Puig RF
Gonzalez 1B
Kendrick 3B
Hernandez LF
Pederson CF
Ellis C
Maeda P
Kenta Maeda-2-0 vs. Tyler Chatwood-2-1
Game Time – 5:10 PM – TV- SNLA
Then there was this…..
Kazmir is wearing a brace on his left wrist
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) April 23, 2016
And this….
Right bicep soreness for Yimi Garcia.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) April 23, 2016
There was more bad news besides the losing. That would unsurprisingly be more injuries. Scott Kazmir turned in another lousy start and had to leave after five innings because of a sore thumb. Apparently he was seen wearing a brace in the dugout. With Kazmir stinking it up and the clear awfulness of Alex Wood, it’s probably a good time to call up Julio Urias.
Don’t you think? In other news Mike Bolsinger is rehabbing from his oblique injury. Oh and Yimi Garcia is hurt as well. He injured his biceps during the seventh inning. Losing Yimi isn’t that huge of a loss, but losing Kazmir would become a problem. Come on down Julio Urias! The failures of the front office to build a reliable pitching staff have been an issue this season.
In game two of the series the Dodgers will send Kenta Maeda to the mound against Tyler Chatwood. This will be Maeda’s first Coors Field start, but he says he is not worried. Maeda is 2-0 with a 0.47 ERA in three starts. He’s whiffed 15 and walked 3 and has looked quite impressive this season. Let’s hope that continues on Saturday.
Colorado counters with Tyler Chatwood. The 26-year old right hander from Redlands had his career derailed because of injuries in 2014, but has returned to action with a vengeance. This year he is 2-1 with a 2.79 ERA in three starts. He’s pitched very well for the Rockies thus far. Still he hasn’t missed many bats (12 whiffs in 19 frames) and has allowed more hits (20) than innings pitched.
Chatwood is 3-4 with a 3.38 ERA in seven starts against the Dodgers. He’s 10-5 with a 4.11 ERA at Coors Field. The current Dodgers are hitting .222 (10 for 45) with one home run versus Chatwood.
Chatwood vs. Dodgers
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| A.J. Ellis | 19 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | .200 | .278 | .267 | .544 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Adrian Gonzalez | 17 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | .267 | .353 | .467 | .820 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Chase Utley | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .167 | .167 | .167 | .333 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yasiel Puig | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Turner | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Blanton | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yasmani Grandal | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | .500 | .000 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 52 | 45 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 7 | .222 | .294 | .356 | .650 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
Carl Crawford has finished his rehab assignment with Oklahoma City and is expected to join the Dodgers within the next day or so.
Go Blue!
God is a Puig fan!
Zach Lee was scratched from his start. Is he on his way up, especially since Cashmere has a thumb issue?
Could be, although they won’t need anybody to replace Kaz until they get home. Maybe he’ll be the long man in the pen in case Alex Wood gets shelled again. He’s pitched well enough at OKC to deserve another chance, but Coors is not the venue a rookie pitcher is looking for.
I hope so but I was under the impression that the team needed 4 more injuries before he would move up.
FAZ to Lee, I got good news and bad news….
Puig’s throw to third was allegedly measured at 93 mph. That’s how hard he can throw when he is moving hard into it. The throw home was a two bouncer 10′ off target. Why? I saw two contributing factors – his route was ineffective and there were two Rockies looking right at him in between him and home plate. The first base coach deliberately lined himself up. It worked. Yassie needs to get himself in position to be moving toward the base he’s throwing to and take the coaches face with it if he’s in the way. He had time to do it on that play. Work on route.
Maeda may think he knows how to handle Coors, but you can bet starting with the Rockies leadoff man they are going to be looking for a Rocky Mountain high hanger and these guys know what to do with them. Maeda has to start everything lower than usual. Miss under the knees.
Badger that just might work, but there is always the umpire, that can be a problem, if they don’t call strikes at the knees.
Badger I thought the same thing about Puig’s throw to home, last night. If Puig has to much time to think about something, he rushes and doesn’t make a good play, or doesn’t wait for a good pitch. That is why Puigs throw, from the wall, was so much better, then his throw home.
And Badger like you said, if Puig would have took just a little more time, to square up, and then make the throw home. He would have thrown that tagging runner on third, out at home, by a lot.
I was really happy for Puig, but I wish he could learn to slow the game down, so he can be a even better player, and make use, of all of the talent that he has.
I know ultimately, Puig just wants to do well, and he likes the attention he gets, when he does well. But a lot of times, he just doesn’t make the right decisions, to make that happen.
Puig looked like little kid on the bench, especially when his fellow team mates, told him, he did well. I was really happy for Puig, and it is hard, not to feel for him, because he just wants to do well, and belong.
And the change in Puig, makes getting rid of Mattingly, look so much better. And it was the best decision, that the front office made. And hiring Roberts, was almost, as good of a decision, as letting go of Mattingly.
The throw the Yankees left fielder made to home measured at 103. He took the bunny hop to get everything he had into the throw. Puig’s pitch to third was made without a bunny hop. His throw to home was made with his momentum going to his left. I was wondering if he had taken one more step to gain more control of his body before throwing and made a harder and straighter throw if it would have made a difference.
I saw Puig’s throw to third again and he did get a little bunny hop in there.
Losing Kasmir would be a problem???
Maybe for Vegas. The bookmakers will have to lower the over/under. That’s about it.
Well it’s my 50th today.
I know you can’t believe it from the pic with the King above.
28 years since I fell in love with the Dodgers on a trip to LA in 88.
Having a party in London tonight so won’t be able to see the game but fingers crossed for a win.
Congrats!
Enjoy the major milestone. I have a few more years to go to reach that #.
1988 a great year to start following our boys in blue.
Happy B Day!
Badger is almost twice that age. Happy birthday.
Bums I thought about you yesterday, when I heard that Joc, Cory, and Wood, are renting, and sharing a home, in California. So Joc and Cory probably are friends by now.
Joc and Cory are roommates on the road as well. Thompson I think was also sharing that house in LA with them. I wonder how that will play out if Crawford takes a job away from Thompson if he returns.
Bum if that happens, that probably we be better for Thompson, so he can get more consistent at bats. It is hard to hit, without consistent at bats.
Happy Birthday Watford!
Watford have some drinks for us, and Happy Birthday! If sixty is the new forty, then fifty, is the new thirty!
Happy Birthday, man!!
Did you know today is also the 45th birthday of Sticky Fingers, from the Rolling Stones?
Nice company to keep.
Happy 50! have a pint and some fish/chips for me
I could be your father W. Happy birthday kid.
Shark went 7.2 with 1 earned yesterday. It was the Marlins, but, 7.2 is a good outing for him.
Good one artie.
Lee in Denver? Yeah, what could go wrong with that.
They said it could be Lee, or Cotton.
Badger I wonder if Kazmir is really hurt, or is that the story they are saying now.
Happy birthday Tim. Somebody picked a fight with me on my 50th birthday, He suffered a loss of a tooth and three failed stand up attempts before getting his feet back. I was feeling old that day until then and felt quite the youngster after.
good for u. I love when those who deserve an ass kicking do in fact get said ass kicking
now, let’s win today
I’m waiting for you to turn 100 and then I am going to try my luck again with you Quas. I was able to insert the tooth and it is still in and working fine.
I’ve got a tip for anybody to win a fight with me nowadays. Just trip me, I have a hard go at getting back up.
I’ll still wait.
Meada in Denver is something not to miss! Today will most likely be his 1st taste of an altitude anywhere near a mile high aside from his plane trip here to the US. I’m sure he’s been tipped it’s gonna be all about his selection and spotting. Normally I really do not look forward to any games at Coors and always give pass to any pitcher’s performance.
Great throw by Puig but only at 93mph? Hicks let one go that was timed a few days back at 105.5mph. Maybe the Yankees should turn him into a pitcher. What’s to lose?
The BP was NOT good yesterday but what do you expect? They can’t do it EVERY day, NO BP can. I still have confidence in them because it’s way too early to determine how good they are(or not).
Anybody notice that Grandals’ strikeout was his 1st of the season. He already has 7 walks.
I wonder what our record would be if we didn’t have players like Ryu, Ethier, Bolsinger on the DL.
FAZ have to be excited about this: http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/lincecum-looking-long-term-teams-wait-showcase
I would have thought that someone would have commented on Lincecum as a potential Dodger. He does fit the FAZ mode.
Someone did make some remarks somewhere else, but he could reinvent himself, as they say. Are the Pirates looking for relief?
Dodgers at Rockies, 5:10 p.m.
Chase Utley, 2B
Corey Seager, SS
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 3B
Kiké Hernandez, LF
Joc Pederson, CF
A.J. Ellis, C
Kenta Maeda, P
If it were me and it won’t ever be, I would put Kike’ at third and keep Kendrick in left as that seems to be his position, at least until Crawford returns. Also, against a right handed pitcher, why not bat Joc ahead of Kike’?
I rather have Grandal playing tonight, and have AJ play the day game tomorrow. I wonder why Turner is not playing tonight. He just had a day off, earlier in the week, and he finally got a hit yesterday.
And Bum I rather someone else, was starting over Howie too. But I guess I would play Turner Instead. And I have a problem with Roberts, moving Howie up in the order. Howie has come up, at least five times, with runners in scoring position, and done nothing.
And it might have been more then five times. And he is striking out a lot, and doesn’t look close to hitting.
One of the problems with managing veterans is that they expect patience and resent being moved up and down the lineup.
I think Thompson would be playing in spacious Colorado if he were going to stay with the team. Looks like Crawford is going to bump Thompson. Thompson probably needs to change take a close look at Seager’s swing. They both are about 6′ 4″ and I think taller players tend to strike out more.
Bum how tall is Joc? Just teasing you! In Howie’s last five games, he is one for fifteen, with five strike outs.
I don’t know how many games he has played in, but it must be more then five games, considering how that was worded.
I don’t think Howie is really an outfielder, and there’s a lot of ground to cover up there. Roberts is still feeling his way with the lineups, but I would want Grandal’s bat in there too. Maybe they trust AJ more to call the game for the rookie.
.161/.188/.349
I know in modern baseball you sacrifice some defense for some offense, usually OBP.
But for that? Oh well I guess you can always bring in the defense later in the game.
That is why I would have started Turner, instead of Howie! Another RBI missed, because of Howie, and Turner had a day off, earlier in the week, and he finally got a hit last night.
Its my opinion quite a few runs are given up by hard hit balls off right handers bats that find clumsy left fielders. Left field is also where you find arms that send two and three bouncers off line, sometimes from 150′ away. Kendrick is ok out there I guess. Kike is good. Thompson could be great. Does anybody remember Buckner when he first came up? He could run and sold out on every play. He was fun to watch.
Maeda got away with a few cookies first inning. Keep it down.
Ellis. Surprise!
I remember and didn’t he badly injure his ankle?
I agree with Bum above. Since none of our LF options are tearing the cover of the ball, go with the guy who can help prevent some runs out there: Trayce
This is what we did last night. We need to get some more runs. They need to get more runs, each inning, they hit.
Puig is still trying to pull every pitch!
Howie would have never got that! Good catch Kike! We need runs. The Dodgers need to have some good at bats!
Another ump that didn’t get the 90. These guys make way too many mechanical errors for top of the pyramid professionals.
Maeda. Mixing it up. This guy can pitch. Note to rest of staff, watch and learn.
What Badger said!
This bullpen is not this good!
Badger really has a knack of getting out of a jam. He is pretty stingy, with runners on base. He is a real
Competitor.
Yes he is. 4 starts, 25.1 innings. Still projecting 30 starts and 180 innings for him, Hope he makes it.
The bank that is now the owner of the property where I’ve resided these past 12 years had their attorney offer me $2000 assistance to vacate within 30 days. I accepted under the condition that the 30 days start on the date I’m paid the moving assistance. My terms weren’t found very pleasing by their lawyer as he stated normally it’s paid upon completion. I countered that after the fact whatever assistance wouldn’t deem so assisting as presently my lack of funds has me without the power to put any plans to move in motion. I want to move and the sooner the better. But I’m certain the facts of my position most judges in court would lean towards my favor. I don’t want to be a stinker in this matter but I’m aware I very much could be if I chose. It should be viewed making me capable to move will have the best results for their interest.
At any rate me saying all this is this is this will put me living (temporarily at least) where there is no cable of any choice and internet is only by satellite and the expense for streaming games that method is above my means. So in all likelihood I won’t be part of this community for a time period. But I shall return! Knock on wood.
Quas I will knock on wood, two times for you! Are you just afraid of Bum?
Meada is a SHARK! I got what I was looking for with this cat! He’s all that!
Might Luke Walton be the next Laker Coach?
Giants against the Marlins on MLB channel. Peavy and Fernandez pitching. Fernandez just gave up a hit, to Peavy, with bases loaded.
The Rockies bullpen isn’t that good. Our guys better get more runs! And Blanton better get this out, after his lazy high
Fastball, and giving up that run.
Maeda
has worked to hard, to let this bullpen, not do there job!
I am still mad at Blanton, even though a got that last out.
Maeda has tried to keep perfect concentration, throughout the time he has pitched, in this game.
Couldn’t Blanton do that for two hitters?
He is really stingy with runners on base. One heck of a competitor!
Blanton just threw a high fastball. Big mistake. If he keeps it down he is fine. It cannot be much fun to pitch in Coors Field.
Maeda didn’t have to much trouble pitching there!
That was probably the most fun game I’ve ever watched played at Coors Field. Not a single moment to cause a cringe.