The Dodgers suffered one of the most pathetic losses of the season on Friday evening blowing a golden opportunity to gain more ground on the slumping Giants in the NL West. The Dodgers blew a 3-2 lead with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth inning as Kenley Jansen allowed a game-tying solo home run to Jedd Gyorko. When the game went into extra innings I sent a DM to Oscar telling him that the game was essentially over because the offense was unlikely to score again.
As it turns out I was right. The Dodger bats were so pathetic that they were basically unable to score for the equivalent of two games with the exception of Justin Turner’s top of the ninth inning home run that gave the club the lead. Brandon McCarthy turned in another impressive performance but he had to leave the game early in the seventh inning with leg cramping due to the muggy weather conditions.
I know this Dodger team very well and I instantly knew that they would not score again. Sometime the offense is super pathetic honestly. With the exception of Corey Seager, Who had another 4 hit game, Justin Turner and the hot hitting Howie Kendrick. The rest of the club needs to step it up and the plate approaches are awful. The Dodgers seriously need to add a big bat in the lineup preferably someone that can play left field so they can move Kendrick back to second base. They also need another starting pitcher. They better get it soon because the Giants could start winning again at any moment.
Dodgers Lineup @ St. Louis-
Tonight's Dodger lineup at Cardinals:
Utley 2B
Seager SS
Turner 3B
González 1B
Kendrick LF
Grandal C
Toles RF
Pederson CF
Maeda P— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 23, 2016
Kenta Maeda-8-7 vs. Mike Leake-7-7
Game Time – 4:15 PM – TV-SNLA
The Dodgers will try to forget about the marathon crapfestival and get back on track as they give the ball to Kenta Maeda in the second game of the series. They’ll need Maeda to give them some innings since they burned through the entire bullpen yesterday. Even Bud Norris had to pitch once there was nobody left. The Dodgers are sure to be tired; of course the Cardinals will be tired too.
Maeda has never faced the Cardinals and is coming off of a rough start where he allowed five earned runs in 4.1 innings to the Dbacks. Maeda is 8-7 with a 3.25 ERA in 19 starts. He’s struck out 112 and posted a 1.12 WHIP across 108 innings pitched. Maeda is 5-2 with a 3.31 ERA away from Dodger Stadium this season.
The Cardinals will counter with right hander Mike Leake. The former first round pick has had an average season posting a 7-7 record and a 4.00 ERA over 19 starts. He’s struck out 6.7 per nine and allowed 9.5 hits per nine innings as well. Leake is a control pitcher, and he’s around the plate often. He’s only walked 17 this year and his 1.3 BB/9 rate over 117 frames is one of the best. Count on him to throw strikes and attack the strike zone.
The Dodgers were unable to hit him back on May 15th at Dodger Stadium. He limited the Dodgers to one earned run on five hits over six innings during that game. In 9 career starts he is 4-4 with a 3.77 ERA against the Dodgers. Justin Turner is 7 for 15 against Leake but nobody else can hit him.
Leake vs. Dodgers
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Chase Utley | 25 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | .125 | .160 | .417 | .577 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Turner | 17 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .467 | .529 | .467 | .996 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Yasmani Grandal | 14 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .154 | .214 | .231 | .445 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Adrian Gonzalez | 13 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | .091 | .231 | .182 | .413 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yasiel Puig | 8 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .250 | .250 | .375 | .625 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joc Pederson | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Corey Seager | 7 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .143 | .143 | .571 | .714 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Joe Blanton | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Austin Barnes | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | .333 | .000 | .333 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Scott Van Slyke | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Howie Kendrick | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 2.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brandon McCarthy | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 104 | 97 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 12 | .186 | .240 | .320 | .560 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
The Cardinals have now won 5 in a row and are just a game behind the Dodgers in the wild card race. Since when did the Cardinals decide to be good again? It’s super annoying. Dodgers please take care of this now and stop these guys. I am so sick of the Giants and Cardinals. I’ve had enough of those two teams to last a lifetime. Lose Cardinals, lose badly.
NL Wild Card Race
| Wild Card Teams | W | L | PCT | WCGB | WCE # | L10 | STRK |
| LA Dodgers | 54 | 44 | .551 | +1.0 | – | 6-4 | L1 |
| Miami | 52 | 44 | .542 | – | – | 7-3 | L1 |
| St. Louis | 52 | 44 | .542 | – | – | 8-2 | W5 |
| NY Mets | 51 | 44 | .537 | 0.5 | 67 | 4-6 | W1 |
| Pittsburgh | 49 | 47 | .510 | 3.0 | 64 | 5-5 | L1 |
The Dodgers have called up Ross Stripling and optioned Grant Dayton. Stripling will have to give them some innings today.
Dodgers have recalled RHP Ross Stripling from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned LHP Grant Dayton to OKC.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 23, 2016
Go Blue!
Actually good move to have Strip up. It’s very likely that today and/or tomorrow the starter will go 5ip max, so we’ll need someone who can go a couple/3 innings and give the rest of the guys a break
Dodgers favored today. I don’t know why. 8 runs.
because we have the momemtum?
For those of you who don’t blame Kenley for the loss last night: He had one out to get. His team was ahead. He didn’t get it done… but it’s not his fault! Yes, let’s make him feel good. Give him a medal and sign him to a 5 year $100 million deal. All I can say is:
The team didn’t hit with RISP, BUT THEY WERE AHEAD AND ALL HE HAD TO DO WAS TO GET ONE OUT. ONE STINKING OUT! IT’S TOTALLY ON HIM!
Joc booting the ball in CF when tried catching it between his legs had nothing to do with the loss. Or his 0 for 6 at the plate. More Toles less Joc.
I’m still pissed. I hate Kenley ALMOST as much as I did J-BROX!
Did I mention that I am still pissed?
Yep. You did. Trade him and Pederson to the giants for Crawford. I know you love guys name Crawford. And this Crawford has made 4 errors in the last 12 innings, so the midgets don’t want him anymore
http://www.fangraphs.com/coolstandings.aspx
Not as bad as I thought it might be.
Oops – they just changed that error today to a hit. So, it’s only 3 errors. And some strikeouts. But the deal’s off.
Gee…no Crawford in our lineup??? Is it too late to bring back Willie???
Badger
Isn’t Leake a leftie?
Nope.
Let’s say we don’t sign him at the end of the season. Who would take his place?
Therein my friend lies the question….and the answer is………Aroldis Chapman signed to record contract by Dodgers….120 million for 5 years for a closer……..NOT !!! Garcia? Baez? Liberatore? Deleon? Who knows. What we do know is that Kenley will get major money from somewhere……
He made 1 bad pitch……he blew a save…..the world did not implode….get over it..
Deja vu – 5 times.
whoopee…..nobody’s perfect………
I come close.
No… wait…. that wasn’t me.
Never mind.
The gold standards for closers, Rivera and Hoffman, converted 89% of their save opportunities in their long careers. Jansen, currently at 88% is obviously a bum. I agree the loss falls mainly on his shoulders and I’m sure he would agree–the difference between him and Grandal or Pederson is that he is an elite player and they aren’t.
The question of who would take his place is a good one, but no doubt FAZ already have some retread in mind. They have been looking for an excuse not to pay Jansen all year. At this rate they’d better watch out–he might take the qualifying offer.
Mark
I feel the same way.
This almost makes me feel as bad as I felt, after Kenley blew the save in SF.
When that
cost us two games in the standings.
I was thinking about what Kenley has to do, as compared to what Blanton, and Libertore, have had to do this year.
They have had to pitch more innings, and in more high leverage situations then Kenley has.
I still don’t think it is a lot to ask Kenley to get the job done.
He almost always comes into a clean inning , that he can control if he pitches the best he can.
I don’t like that Kenley won’t talk to the media after he blows a save either.
He talks after he pitches a good game, so he should talk after he doesn’t.
I didn’t like Joe Torre. But I think players play up closer to their potential, are less likely to fail or make a mistake, with a strong manager like Torre as opposed to a mousey, “Yes, Mr. Friedman” type like we now have.
You have no idea about Dave Roberts or who he is. That’s sad, because you are not even close. Believe me, Dave Roberts is his own man, but if you have already formed an opinion devoid of facts, I can’t help that!
None of us know Dave, that is a given. What we see on TV is nowhere near the real thing….
Talk to those around him or baseball people. Actually, what you see is pretty close.
Close to what?
I have the same issues with Roberts I had with Mattingly – what’s with the lineups? They both do it so I assume they are driving under the influence. This roster is has appeared strange to me from the beginning and I don’t blame Roberts for that.
Wondering, are you The Donald?
There are 5 pitchers who have 30+ save opportunities in baseball:
Familia, Britton. Ramos, Melancon and Jansen.
The first four have 4 blown saves – AMONG THEM! TOTAL!
Jansen has blown more saves than the top 4 closers combined.
I don’t get over incompetence!
It’s just like like Logan White said about Jon Broxton: “He’s as second tier closer.”
Famila has only blown a save to us?
How many tiers are there?
It’s cute to see you kids in hear pissed off at each other when the team blows a game.
We would show a lot of mettle if we come out today and win this game. giants yanks tied 1-1 in the 6th
Bobby
Isn’t Leake a leftie pitcher?
Nope.
Watching Cueto. 117 pitches, 72 strikes, 9 k’s in 6. He looks good today,
Leake is a rightie. We can take him
Chase
Seager
Turner
Agone
Howie
Grandal
Toles
Joc
Maeda
Sometimes some even get infuriated in here Bobby. Road rage.
Meanwhile, the ChiSox scratch Chris Sale from his start tonight.
Wonder if there’s a trade in the works???
Maybe they took that kings ransom after all.
Will it be the Rangers or the Dodgers that get him?
If it is a good deal for us, I would want him.
Argument in clubhouse, he was sent home. Strange. See MLBTR.
I was right Kenley’s pitches were really not cutting much, or at all.
And it is because Kenley’s mechanics are off.
Honeycutt is working on Kenley’s mechanics right now.
I thought Orel would see that Kenley’s ball wasn’t cutting, and say something about it last night.
But maybe we have a better look, with high definition, then Orel does.
How can Texas trade for Sale when they gutted the farm last year for Hamels?
Badger
Is it Texas really?
No, not really!
Thanks Mark.
“Chris Sale has been scratched from tonight’s scheduled start and sent home from the ballpark by the White Sox due to a clubhouse incident before the game. The incident, which was non-physical in nature, currently is under further investigation by the club.
“The White Sox will have no comment until the investigation is completed.”
WTF
Hey guys
How are you feeling today?
I”m not sure about you guys, but I like how Toles looks out there. Dare I say he reminds me of Dave Roberts???
I”d be more than ok with him starting in CF and Joc and his swing and misses being dealt to Tampa for a starter
How can you disparage him and yet expect another team to overpay for him?
To have the team come out like this tpday, speaks volumes about it’s manager in light of last nights tough loss.”
AMEN!
So Sale cut-up the team’s jerseys? Bizarre!!
Mark
He also was one of the most vocal about the first base man, not being able to bring his kid to work.
Sale didn’t like the uniforms.
The White Sox are a mess. Trade him.
http://www.sbnation.com/2016/7/23/12264116/chris-sale-sent-home-for-cutting-up-white-sox-throwback-jerseys
wtf again
Toles is pretty good
I’m tellin u Scottie. Lead this guy off!!
When they called him up, I said we may have found our leadoff hitter.
Mark
I will give you credit, you did call Toles call up a week early, and said he would be are new lead off hitter.
Bobby
Imagine how good Toles will be, once he is playing more or everyday?
He will play better defense, once he gets more comfortable.
And he does have gap to gap power.
He isn’t just a singles machine!
Two key finds:
1. Pederson is finding out how to hit; and
2. FAZ found Andrew Toles – speed kills! I like him a lot!
Mark
I really hope Joc can, because he is good in center.
Cory caused that guy to be safe at second.
Why did Cory tag the runner again, after he had already tagged the runner?
That made it look like Cory never tagged the runner, when the runner slid into second, the first time.
Mark
Toles will be even better, once he is allowed to play on an everyday basis.
That last hit Toles let drop, won’t be dropping once he feels more comfortable on the field.
He will be able to dive and catch that same hit.
Toles is talented and I like him, but I still love what Utley has given the club all season long
Scott
You and me both!
Chase try’s to steal a game for this team, anyway he can.
And he never really lets up.
He doesn’t hit leftie starters well, but he has had some really good clutch hits, against leftie relievers, late in games.
That is why I don’t like when he isn’t in the line up.
He’s def teaching the kids in the clubhouse. What a perfect vet to mentor Seager
Toles does look good. I can see him playing every night and leading off. Just move the batting order back one player.
To me it says a lot about this team this evening. Tough loss yesterday and they come out playing hard.
Again the bull pen is doing well with new guys in the pen.
This could be our year fellows. I know many of you do not like this team, but they play as a team. Utley and Agon has a lot to do with it. I would not make a trade. Let DeLeon come up and start a game.
Against RH Pitching:
1. Toles LF
2. Utley 2B
3. Seager SS
4. Turner 3B
5. Gonzo 1B
6. Pederson CF
7. Grandal C
8. Thompson RF
Against LH Pitching:
1. Kendrick LF
2. Barnes 2B
3. Seager SS
4. Turner 3B
5. Gonzo 1B
6. Grandal C
7. Thompson RF
8. Pederson CF
Where’s Puig? Oh, he got traded to the Yankees for Chapman. Jansen is the set-up guy!
I could go with that line up. Pederson looked different tonight. He was not swinging as hard. Even his last out, he barreled it up and did not swing hard. Maybe, just maybe, he is finally getting the message.
Avilan and Stripling with 3.1 good innings. Grandal is batting over 300 in July.
Liberatore
Dayton
McCarthy
Anderson
Maeda
Kazmir
Blanton
Wood
Coleman
Norris
Hatcher
They are all acquired by FAZ and they have 32 of the Dodgers 55 wins among them. Some are better than others…
Toles
Kendrick
Utley
Grandal
Taylor
Culberson
Thompson
They were also FAZ acquisitions.
The team is within one game of last year and I am amazed at how they bounced back tonight.
FAZ kept the farm intact.
They have been busy.
I remember people mocking the Toles acquisition: “Friedman just wants players he had before.”
Just sayin…
FAZ ain’t so bad! 😉
Well, lots of responses to this are possible:
1 – there is such a thing as lost opportunity costs. In other words, who could the Braintrust have obtained that would have been better? Are Wood, Kazmir, Maeda, Anderson and McCarthy really the guys that the Dodgers want for their rotation? Who could they have signed or traded for that would have been better? (Zach Greinke for one – I’m sure that you could think of others.) Also, as a lost opportunity is noted ‘roider Dee Gordon who is better than either Utley or Kendrick (when he’s not suspended).
2 – really – you think that Hatcher, Norris, Coleman, Latos, Jim Johnson, McCarthy, Anderson, etc. etc. are big plusses?
3 – they’ve spent millions on Cubans – will they ever have anything to show for it?
4 – if touting the Braintrust is just to get a rise out of people, I’m sure that you will accomplish your goal.
Those pitchers also responsible for 30 losses. Just sayin’. But Toles may be a great find if pitchers don’t figure him out as quickly as they did Thompson.
“Who could the Braintrust have obtained that would have been better? “
That has been my question… REPEATEDLY… and no one has ever answered it. NO one!
Be the first!
Tell me please!
We back to this again?
Not me.
What’s the big deal? We’re 6-4 in our last 10 , as are 15 other teams, some even better, including St Louis who is 7-3. We’re .500 on this trip, right? We’re battling through some difficult times here. That’s a good thing. There are currently 9 teams within 7 games of a playoff spot. Looking ahead, Maeda, Kazmir, McCarthy our Big 3? Well….. Ok. 6-4……. Keep that up for two months? Again…… yeah, sure. Go team go, fight team fight.
One thing please, just one thing – don’t attempt any out of your ass Latos deals in the next week. Stay the course. 6-4 for two months will get us in the playoffs. I think. Haven’t really run the numbers. Just keeping the positive thoughts here.
.. it has always been that.
Everyone bitches. but they have no better options.
I find it ______________________
No better options?
Trade scenarios and ideas on who to play where abound all over the Internet, including in here.
We all wanted a better #3 option, still do, and I don’t know why they go all around De Leon. We’ve already purchased and have hanging around about 7-8 starting pitchers so unless they decide they have some leftover Latos tolerance, I don’t see them going after an Archer like purchase. It’s my opinion the best option for ’16 is to stick with the plan. It works or it doesn’t. Almost all of us saw this as a 90 win team and it appears that it still is.