I mean when a club is trying to gift you a win, you take it. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. The Dodgers just couldn’t get out of their own way on Saturday.
The Dbacks did their best to try and give away Saturday night’s game to the Dodgers. The Dodgers just weren’t having that and decided not to accept the gift from one of the worst teams in baseball. So they hit, ran, and tootblaned themselves out of a win. You can find blame in the bullpen, but keep in mind Kenley Jansen has blown all of 4 games the entire season and the Dodger bullpen has the best ERA in MLB.
It wasn’t just the terrible hitting with runners in scoring position and leaving like 100 runners on base, but the costly base running blunders from Corey Seager and Scott Van Slyke that really hurt. Those tootblans screwed them good. I’ve said before many times that good base running is paramount to a winning club. The Dodger’s base running has been pretty horrendous for the last couple of years now. Perhaps the coaches should stop being bumps on the log and actually teach some proper base running skills? I know baseball is hard but come on.
Dodgers Lineup @ Arizona
Kendrick LF
Seager SS
Turner 3B
Van Slyke 1B
Puig CF
Taylor 2B
Ellis C
Walters RF
Maeda P
Kenta Maeda-8-6 vs. Robbie Ray-4-8
Game Time – 1:10 PM TV- SNLA
The Dodgers will go for the series win this afternoon as Kenta Maeda will take on left hander Robbie Ray in the rubber game. Since Ray is a left hander the Dodgers will roll out the all righty lineup again. That means no Adrian Gonzalez at first base, Scott Van Slyke takes over for the day there. Newest Dodger Zach Walters is in right field with Yasiel Puig sliding over to center field. Chris Taylor is at second base with the red hot Howie Kendrick in left field.
Robbie Ray vs. Dodgers
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Howie Kendrick | 12 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | .273 | .250 | .545 | .795 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| A.J. Ellis | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | .111 | .273 | .222 | .495 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Adrian Gonzalez | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Yasiel Puig | 9 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .375 | .444 | .375 | .819 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Corey Seager | 8 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | .167 | .375 | .167 | .542 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Scott Van Slyke | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .143 | .250 | .143 | .393 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Justin Turner | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .250 | .400 | .500 | .900 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yasmani Grandal | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chris Taylor | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 69 | 61 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 14 | .180 | .261 | .262 | .523 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Maeda vs. Dbacks
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Paul Goldschmidt | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .167 | .167 | .167 | .333 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jake Lamb | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .600 | .667 | 1.000 | 1.667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jean Segura | 6 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .800 | .833 | 1.000 | 1.833 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Nick Ahmed | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Welington Castillo | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .667 | .667 | .667 | 1.333 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michael Bourn | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .500 | .500 | .500 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Archie Bradley | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Patrick Corbin | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chris Herrmann | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yasmany Tomas | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 35 | 33 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | .333 | .371 | .424 | .796 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Perhaps the Dodgers should work on better lineup creation too and stop using the all-righty lineups against left handers. Kike Hernandez is still out so at least Dave Roberts can’t put a .190 hitter at the lead-off spot, but I’m still sick of seeing this every time we face a southpaw. Lineup creation is actually a lot more important than you think. I’m still annoyed about last night’s game if you can’t tell.
Enjoy the game and Go Blue!
This question is way off topic and I apologize in advance. I can’t seem to find the answer anywhere and I need help.
What qualifies a major leaguer for a pension after retirement? How much do they get or does it depend on what they made during their playing years?
What is the formula if it depends on how much they made.
Thanks in advance for the answer guys, MUCH appreciated.
MLB players must play 43 days in the majors to earn a minimum $34,000 annual pension plan. Just one day in the majors gets them lifetime healthcare coverage. After 10 years in the big leagues, benefits grow to $100,000 annually.
http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/1999/03/19990301/No-Topic-Name/Baseball-Pension-Plan-Tops-In-Pro-Sports.aspx
You don’t even have to play, just be on the roster. Worse yet, you only need to be on the team DL 43 days. Anybody who buys a ticket….
Thanks wondering. Much appreciated.
Robbie Ray is an interesting talent. Only 24, with strike out stuff, but command issues. He hasn’t fared well against RH hitters this year, .297/.374/.478 slash line, but then, today he faces the RH Blue Thundering Herd, so, those numbers could change.
Don’t know Richie, but I think making the Majors is like being elected to Congress – once you’re there you’re set for life.
Scott,
Better it is to look a gift horse in the mouth than somewhere else…
Good point Yoda
I don’t even know
Dandy start for Maeda today
OK, right about now, Maeda has to start pitching inside.
The D-Bags have done it enough.
Give them what they give!
I’m already frustrated
Has Lamb taken Goldy’s place as the batter who beats the Dodgers every time?
They have to stop punting away games like this. Are they going to do this every time there is a lefty on the mound? Ok so Maeda had a bad start, probably dude to the long layoff between starts, but what was the reason for putting out a lineup like this? You have to put your best hitters in the lineup every day in order to win, If you lose, you lose with your best, not with your backup catcher in the lineup and a minor leaguer in right field. It’s really infuriating. They have zero chance to win with these lineups
Scott
I said that in the first game of this series, and suprisingly, the offense was good
But this offense of mostly rightie hitters, rank 25th in all of baseball for offense.
I feel like you, and most people on here, that the team should stick with mostly the same line up.
And give days off, but not all at the same time.
And occasionally give some leftie hitters a day off, when hard leftie pitchers, are pitching, if it is a really bad match up.
But not all at the same time either.
I rather have players, that are getting consistent at bats, in the line up, almost all of the time.
Instead of a team of part time players, who are not getting consistent at bats.
4 innings out of the starter this time – so 5 innings in the 1st game of the series, 6 innings last night, 4 innings today – anyone see a pattern here?
THIS HAS TO STOP
I don’t know how it can. Maeda and Kazmir have basically proven they can’t get past 6. Norris we don’t know what to expect. Ryu god knows if he can even get to 5.
a 7 inning start won’t occur until Kersh is fully ready to go, whenever that really is.
Wouldn’t this be the perfect time to let Frias go 3-4 and save everybody else??
Bobby
The only answer is a long reliever in the pen, but that has been so obvious for a while now.
And the starters not pitching deeper into games, is also nothing new, as you answered to Dodger rick.
Ok rick.
What’s the plan?
It will require different starting pitchers – or a different manager.
As to the 2nd item, there have been too many instances like last night where the Dodgers’ starter is sailing along and is pulled early. That doesn’t need to happen.
As to the first, it will take the commitment of the Braintrust to make the trade or sign the free agent to obtain a starter who can consistently go at least 7. Thus far, I haven’t seen this – and I don’t expect to.
Bad team
Bad Manager
Bad FAZ
Bad Owner
Stupid fans who keep giving them money. You don’t like them? Quit supporting them.
Meanwhile, former Dodger great Edwin Jackson has a no no thru 6 vs the giants
Kemp with a homer in that one.
Badger
Did you hear that about the Giants?
They just scored three runs, on a HR from Conner Gillepse, who ever that is.
Bobby
That at bat by Puig made me sick!
Playoff game. Two out in ninth, winning run on second. You lose the game, the season’s over. Who do you want at bat?
SVS
Agon
Puig
Grandal
Kemp
Who’s pitching?
Doesn’t matter. They’ll walk AGon and pitch to Grandal.
That’s not a line up. What one player on that list do you want at bat?
AGon. Because he’s a Dodgers. But, they’ll walk him. Unless it’s Roberts. He’ll pitch to him.
Who do you want up there? Consider this – Kemp’s slash WRISP is .329/.344/.529. But he’s not a Dodger.
Scott
That rally in the ninth, proved our points.
Why put your best line up, in the top of the ninth, instead of the begining of the game?
Puig once again, can’t deliver.
Puig is swinging from his heels, and can’t even make contact, and put the ball in play.
The Dodgers didn’t even need a hit, all Puig had to do, is hit a fly to the outfield, or just try to hit a slow grounder, to the right side.
Please move Puig to the seventh position.
I am beginning to believe that Yasiel Puig is a few fries short of a Happy Meal.
I doubt that the Dodgers could get a TOP 20 prospect for him.
We are stuck with him.
By the way, the Dodgers bullpen is 8th in innings pitched. The Royals were 5th last year and won it all, so I don’t think it is mandatory that the starters pitch 6 or 7.
McCarthy is ready to go seven – they just aren’t pushing him and I think that is smart. Roberts would have been dumb to keep him in yesterday just to eat an inning.
Mark
Toles who has only played a few games in the majors, got another hit in the ninth.
Roberts please keep playing Toles, he is good under pressure, like Bum has said.
That is what the team needs, a 300 hitter, that can make contact, and put the ball in play.
But his hit came off a right-hander. Don’t really know how he hits lefties, but he couldn’t have been much worse than Walters, could he?
Snider
I don’t know how he is facing a leftie, but this almost mostly all right hand line up, is ranked offensively 25th in all of baseball, and that tells me that maybe Roberts should try the other line up.