The Dodgers have been gaining ground on the NL West, but they are still in Fourth place and under .500 for the season and under .500 at home. Today Alex Wood was on the mound to try to put the Dodgers closer as the Rockies and Diamondbacks both lost. The Dodgers have dug themselves a deep hole as far as being a .500 team, so it will take time. They got off to a good start in the first inning, Chris Taylor led off the game with a home-run off Jordan Lyles and the Dodgers led 1-0.
What I would give for Brad Hand to be a Dodger….
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) May 27, 2018
In the top of the 2nd inning the Padres struck back as Freddy Galvis hit a two run shot. In bottom of the 2nd inning, Cody Bellinger struggles continued as he grounded into a double play. The Padres led 2-1. In the bottom of the fourth, Justin Turner hit his first home run of the year and the Dodgers tied the game at 2-2. Matt Kemp and Yasmani Grandal both hit singles. Logan Forsythe then singled in a run. Joc Pederson then grounded in a run and the score was 4-2.
Clayton Kershaw said his simulated game went well and he’ll be ready to start for the Dodgers in 5 days if that’s what the team decides.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) May 26, 2018
In the top of the 5th inning, former Dodger A.J. Ellis hit a home run to make the score 4-3. In the bottom of the 5th, the Dodgers had the Padres on the mat with the bases loaded and only scored one run on a Cody Bellinger walk to make the score 5-3. In the top of the 6th, Jose Pirela hit a single followed by a two run shot from Christian Villanueva. The Padres tied the game and Pedro Baez came in for relief if you can say that. Daniel Hudson came in and gave up an infield single in the top of the 7th. Scott Alexander came in and hit a batter. Jose Pirela then singled in a run to make the score 6-5 Padres.
In the top of the 8th, Scott Fields came in and gave up a solo shot to Christian Villanueva and the Padres took a 7-5 lead. The Padres would win. The pitching didn’t get the job done today. The Dodgers need bullpen help and another bat to make a serious run with Corey Seager out. Luckily the whole division is losing so the Dodgers are staying in the race. Walker Buehler pitches tomorrow.
#Dodgers mgr Dave Roberts: "Five runs, that's enough to win a baseball game." Not this one. And not when you give up four home runs.https://t.co/FG79bCKMOo
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) May 27, 2018
James Moya
Hi I’m James Moya. I am an avid Dodgers fan. I graduated Cal State Fullerton with a Bachelors in Communications. I used to freelance at the San Bernardino Sun. I’m excited about this opportunity to write for LA Dodger Report to gain experience. I’m a straight shooter on my opinions and I hope to get some good conversations going. My dream has always been to report on the Dodgers because Baseball is the National Past-time. I hope you enjoy the ride with me.
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Certainly, the Dodger pitching will have to bear the load for this one. Wood, who is pitching much better, shot himself and has only himself to blame for letting this get away from him. Only Kershaw could be allowed such a luxury and still manage to win a game like this! (just joking).
We all know that Baez and Hudson cannot hold games much of the time. But Roberts wants to make them into reliable relievers in spite of seeing their recurrent failures. When will he ever learn…
He learns by using Baez for less than 1 inning and usually for 1 batter! That shows a lot of confidence. lol.
Again, is it going to be Alexander or Fields who is the bridge to Jansen? Now, it seems like it is a competition, an audition for the position. Chargois and Cingrani are used when? This must be where the metrics step in. This makes me think Roberts has no clue who to use when and where.
The positive here is the batting. While not what we would call hot, it would have been sufficient for the win if the pitching held. Alas, is it really going to improve?
As badly as Wood pitched, and he sucked, the bullpen lost this one. We got skunked innings 6-9. Their bullpen was better.
Coincidentally, I was sent an interesting article last night regarding the evolving pitching landscape in MLB. It’s at Rumors, written by Kyle Downing. I’d post it but doing so would likely put me in moderation jail. You can google it. It’s an excellent explanation of how bullpens are being used. We will continue to see what looks like weird moves (closers starting) as this analytics game ripens. The FAZ/Roberts coalition is no doubt on board with it.
One thing has become quite clear to me. The Koufax Gibson 9 inning matchup I mentioned yesterday is a thing of yesteryear. Today’s young fan will never see one of those matchups again.
Jeff
In the first year Roberts was the manager, he also had to try and find the best pitcher, to be the bridge to Kenley, because Hatcher and Baez, couldn’t do the job then.
Our relief pitchers, especially Fields, know that most of the players on the Padres, are all or nothing hitters, especially Villanueva, so it is upsetting when Fields has still not learned to watch his first pitch, to hitters like Villanueva.
I don’t know why Hudson is still in the bullpen, but Alexander is the pitcher that threw away this game.
He came in and hit his first batter, and he didn’t bear down, and make good pitches with two outs, and because of that, he gave away a hit, that hit the go ahead run in.
It is unbelievable to me, that some pitchers can’t just pitch one clean inning, that is really not much to ask, especially against a team like the Padres, that only have one real hitter in their line up.
Before this game started, everyone of our pitchers, knew Villanueva led the Padres in HRs, and yet we allowed this guy to hit two HRs, in this game.
Well MJ, this is why I ask the dumb questions that I ask. What seems like common sense to me, is not what I am witnessing when I watch Roberts select the pitchers. Maybe Badger is right in the sense that the game has moved away from feeding the hot hand to a numbers crunch. Starters used to be given full opportunity to fire a complete game. Rarely do we see this any longer and almost never on the Dodgers. It’s hard for me to put my gut feelings aside for an ‘idea’ or ‘system’. I still have them as a living organism in spite of our computer-like brains who think they are in control and use analysis for everything. I guess they call this ‘old school’. It would fit me, for sure.
Jeff
I don’t think any questions are dumb, especially when someone doesn’t know, because that is a person that just wants to be more, informed.
I think it is better to use all the information you have, whether it be from numbers, experience, and even from your own gut.
Obviously we didn’t get the right matchup with Villanueva.
If you check the stats you will see that on Saturday night against RH relievers he hits .165 on sinkers low and on the outside corner of the plate. From the 6th on he hits .203 against sliders. On Sunday, a day game, he is more vulnerable to change ups after his second at bat, and he will chase fastballs up, but only late in the count and only from the 7th on. His wife makes grande burritos on Tuesday at noon, so that is the day you can get fastballs by him, but only in the first at bat. By the 3rd inning the burritos have moved into the descending colon so from then on he’s more susceptible to offspeed stuff. Against lefties? Just walk him and pitch to the next guy.
How about don’t give him anything good enough, that he can hit out?
Badger
Do the Hispanic people in Mexico, eat burritos.
Is the Sergeant Major a lifer?
I would think so….
I thought everyone ate burritos…….. You have never been there MJ? One thing I noticed when I went to Juarez a few times were a lot of street vendors. Their idea of a taco as we see it is much different. It is just a tortilla wrapped around some beef. Nothing else on it. I never saw a burrito down there. But there was a vendor on the main street who sold ham and avocado sandwiches on some sort of bun for at the time, 50 cents. I used to love those things….but one thing is very true..do not drink the water unless it comes out of a bottle. I drank some water at the Denny’s in Tijuana and got the worst case of Montezuma’s Revenge.
Michael
Exactly, the Mexicans down there, don’t have burritos, so they don’t eat them.
That an American concoction.
Badger, I am surprised, you don’t know that?
I don’t know that? You folks don’t know your history.
Before the development of the modern burrito, the Mesoamerican peoples of Mexico used corn tortillas in 10,000 B.C. to wrap foods, with fillings of chili peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, squash, and avocados.
12,000 year old Mexican tradition. Of course we Americanized it and now claim it as our own. It’s what we do. But there was a few years of history before we stole America from the Native Americans and now claim to be the greatest nation in the history of all time and inventor of everything.
I know US History Badger, not much about Mexico. I do know I never bought a burrito south of the border. I do agree never hit Hernandez in the 2 hole. Personally he is one of a few players I would rather see elsewhere right about now. Time for Bellinger to either go back to AAA or to get some bench time because he is not helping this team right now. They were not really Mexican’s back then…they were Indians…
The people there 12,000 years ago were neither Mexicans nor Indians. And I doubt they used a Spanish word for what we today call a burrito.
I got a burrito in Puerto Vallarta.
Villanueva is from Guadalajara. I went to his Facebook page and he says his favor restaurant there is called Las Burritos de Moyahua. When asked why he liked the place so much he said “Amo los burritos de moyahua desde uuuuuu toda la vida definitivamente ve a visitarlos como deli gozadera bajita de sal cómete dos por mi porfa y me da envidia estés cerca corre ! Ve!”
Sounds like a ringing endorsement to me.
I had haute cuisine at a nice fusion restaurant in Mexico City. Didn’t see any burritos anywhere.
Mexico is a huge place with a lot of people. I’m sure you can find burritos there these days, maybe even at a Tex Mex sports bar!
Well, what can you say? Not much at this point. That they are the way they are playing, 3.5 games back is a frippen miracle. Wood reverted to his best Rich Hill imitation last night and let baseball’s fly out of the park. Villanova I can understand, but AJ and Galvis? Must have been give the Po Boys a cookie night at the ravine. By the way Jeff, Chargois is at OKC for the moment and not a factor. My question to DR is Paredes has been here for 3 days and not seen the mound yet….ya saving him for Christmas??? Dodger visible needs. 1. Bullpen help…Some guys who can actually throw strikes and get people out BEFORE the opponent scores runs. 2. They desperately need another steady bat. I care not where this person might play, but I am thinking SS so Taylor can replace the joke’s that have been out in CF. 3. Consistency from the hitters and the pitching staff. Neither can be counted on game after game. 4. Someone to patch the HUGE hole in Cody Bellinger’s swing. He is missing making solid contact more often than not. 5. Someone please find Joc Pederson’s lost power. He hits a ton of weak contact fly balls. Consistent contact by Yasiel Puig. I would like to see the guy from the second half of last year reappear. 6. Clayton Kershaw back in the rotation. 5 days away hopefully. 7. No more Daniel Hudson out of the pen. Pretty much a gas can that guy is. News……Darvish to 10 day DL, knew that was coming, and the Padres acquired Phil Hughes from the Twins for a minor league catcher.
Badger
I have been to both Guadalajara and Puerta Vallarta at the best resort at the time, and in a toursit town like Puerta Vallarte, they will have those American foods.
And I know you are just winging the rest.
Frustrating loss for sure! I already had the line “8 out of 9” when we had the lead. Hopefully we can say 8 out of 10 after today’s game.
Anybody think Cody should be sent down for a few weeks? I thought it was between Cody and CT, but it appears that CT seems to be turning it around…appears. And Cody doesn’t want to go the other way with the shift. I don’t think I’ve seen him try to beat the shift. Maybe modern baseball is against trying to go the other way.
And I completely missed Daniel Hudson returning to the big club, when did that happen?
He has been there about 3 weeks. And not pitching all that well. Alexander up until last night had looked pretty good since his return from AAA. Chargois was sent down on Thursday and Paredes recalled. DR found Baez strong point last night…only let him face 1 hitter. Fields gave up the HR that gave them a 2 run lead, but it really did not matter……Padres pen shut them down completely. Neither Cody nor Muncy are hitting right now, but there is no one at AAA doing much better who plays where they do.
I’ll go on s limb here – I don’t bat Kiké in the 2 hole.
I don’t know about all that Burrito stuff but I sure wish I had one about now.
How about a key lime pie with fresh blueberries on it. Just had a piece. Mmmm pie.
Dumb move by Puig.
I just had a mini pizza…..delicious…….and a Sam Adams…can’t have pizza without beer…..BBQ tomorrow..
I just had another piece of pie. With ripe blackberries AND blueberries this time.
Old friend alert:
Frankie Montas had a nice start:
6IP, 3H, 1R, 2BB, 7K, 82 pitches. Started getting hit a little harder third time through lineup, but a good start overall for him.
Let’s hope it continues! I didn’t know he was starting.
MJ
Well another stupid move by Dummy. He took out Kemp again. The guy is 4th in hitting in the ML and Dummy takes him out. If Dummy ever gets canned I will go on a week drunk and I don’t drink anything except red wine. I hate Dummy!!
Dummy is no dummy. He was recruited by the Air Force Academy but instead chose UCLA. He graduated summa cum laude with a degree in quantum physics. Most of that is true.
Badger
Did you ever know someone who had a lot of book knowledge and no common sense? Meet Dave (Dummy) Roberts. Besides, he is effecting my pushup bet with you. Every time he does that he takes away and AB.
Thankfully for you and the public package, we don’t have to worry about that.
Bluto
What is your problem?
Let me get this straight:
You repeatedly call the manager of the team you purport to support (rhyme) a dummy AFTER he leads the team to Game 7 of the World Series. Then you postulate hypotheticals about him being fired, which will not happen any time soon.
and you ask me what my problem is?
LOL
Bluto
Yes I do support the Dodgers, but that does not mean I support everything that they do or who they hire as manager. In my opinion they did not get to the W.S. game 7 because of Roberts but in spite of him. You have no idea if he will be fired or not. Your problem is that you like to make stuff p ersonal. This is not the 1st time. You once called one of my posts the stupidest one you had ever read. Look, if you don’t like what I write, DON’T READ IT!! You sound like someone who would write it but not say to someone’s face. Truly a coward. I call Roberts “Dummy” and I would say it to his face. Perhaps there is some way we could straighten this out?
There’s nothing to sort out. As Michael has stated numerous times, all we have here is opinions.
I have no intention on taking anything you post personally, nor do I have any intention to say anything as a personal affront. No offense, but I’m quite sure whatever I called stupid was something I found stupid. I was speaking of the content of the posting, not the intelligence of the poster.
I’ve never met you package, or so I think. I have no interest in meeting you or anyone. My advice? Either off the following:
1.dont take anything I say personally. I’m wrong quite often, and am not very informed.
2. Take your own advice and don’t read my stuff.
Badger
Stop with the food stuff. Don’t you know I am hungry! HaHa!
“Do Hispanic people eat burritos in Mexico?”
No, they only eat them in LA.
That 9:07 post was intended to be funny and we end up talking about burritos in Mexico not being a thing. A 10 second google search will tell you of course they eat burritos in Mexico. I can post a link that will give you the 15 best burrito restaurants in Mexico City but I’d be defending sh*t I made up out of thin air.
I like burritos but I prefer a well prepared tostada. As for what what Villanueva prefers I have no idea and as far as what his wife prepares for him the answer is he doesn’t have a wife.
Maybe I’m not as funny, nor as clever as I think I am.
Badger
I was just winging, what you winged!