Boy what a pathetic start to the road trip. An 8-1 loss to the Barves, I mean lousy Braves puts the Dodgers at 8-6 now through the first 14 games. That’s not terribly unimpressive, but it’s not great either. I guess with all of the players on the disabled list, it’s probably better than expected. Speaking of unimpressive, I give you Alex Wood. The left hander now has a 1.75 WHIP, 5.06 ERA and just 8 strikeouts against 7 walks in his first three starts.
He’s bad. Everything about his pitching is bad. His arm angles are bad, his mechanics are bad, and his funky delivery is horrible. One good start followed by two or three terrible starts is not going to cut it. The Dodgers better either help him figure it out, or ship him out.
Of course what was the offense’s excuse for not being able to hit a minor league pitcher? Then there was the three errors, (two bumbling plays by Justin Turner) that didn’t help. It was just a bad day I guess. Better not happen again today, because the Dodgers should at least win two out of three here.
The second game of the three game series features a young pitcher that has actual talent. Rookie youngster Ross Stripling will go up against Julio Teheran in hopes of evening up the series for the Dodgers. Stripling is coming off another solid outing against the Dbacks on the last home stand. Hopefully he can keep this nice stretch of good pitching going. Stripling is still looking for his first MLB win, but has a 2.02 ERA in two starts. He’s only allowed three earned runs in 13.1 innings pitched.
Dodgers Lineup @Atlanta
Utley 2B
Seager SS
Turner 3B
Gonzalez 1B
Puig RF
Grandal C
Kendrick LF
Pederson CF
Stripling P
Ross Stripling 0-0 vs. Julio Teheran-0-2
Game Time – 4:10 PM TV- SNLA – TBS
Teheran was supposed to start on Tuesday night but was pushed back because he was sick. Williams Perez started in his place and of course shut down the Dodgers. I have no idea why the Dodgers have such problems hitting these no name rookie pitchers. They haven’t had many problems hitting Teheran. They’ve clobbered him in the past. Here’s how they’ve done against him, and the numbers from Tuesday’s preview.
Teheran vs. Dodgers
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Chase Utley | 19 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | .278 | .316 | .278 | .594 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Adrian Gonzalez | 16 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 5 | .357 | .438 | .643 | 1.080 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| A.J. Ellis | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | .286 | .500 | .429 | .929 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yasiel Puig | 10 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .625 | .700 | 1.125 | 1.825 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yasmani Grandal | 8 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .429 | .500 | .714 | 1.214 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Turner | 8 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | .250 | .250 | .250 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Howie Kendrick | 6 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .333 | .333 | .500 | .833 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joc Pederson | 6 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Clayton Kershaw | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .200 | .200 | .200 | .400 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Charlie Culberson | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .500 | .500 | .500 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 90 | 81 | 28 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 9 | 21 | .346 | .411 | .494 | .905 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
Carl Crawford nearing a return.
That’s right; everyone’s favorite rusty outfielder is nearing a return. Crawford is going out on a rehab assignment at Oklahoma City on Wednesday and is expected to be activated by Saturday or Sunday. I wouldn’t expect him to play until the Dodgers come home, so that would be after the Colorado series. Either way this could be good for the Dodgers. One additional healthy player is always a good thing.
Plus this would allow the club to move Howie Kendrick back to second base. I can live with Kendrick playing left field only if Chase Utley or Kike Hernandez is hitting well enough to justify it. Both have played well and having a place to keep Kendrick in the lineup has been a good thing for the Dodger offense. Moving him back to second base would help the defensive unit more than anything else. The Dodgers are slowly getting healthier, and that’s great news.
Go Blue!
I hope B17 repeats what she said at the end of the last thread; that was quality stuff!
Bobby – B17 is male before you try & chat him up!
Really? Usually Bobbie is the spelling for female and Bobby is spelling for male
Yep – but it was mentioned before
And B17 explained it.
Quite right, a couple of weeks ago if I remember correctly. Bobbie17 might give some consideration to changing it to the shortcut you use, B17… to avoid future misconceptions.
B17 was his original moniker I think.
What nearly shocked me was MJ isn’t male. I hope that’s not taken wrongly in any nature. I swear no offense meant.
Quas I take that as a compliment, so thanks. I really didn’t want anyone to find out, but no big deal.
We called it Utley!
Scott I don’t follow you about Howie. Both Kike and Utley, are hitting much better, then Howie.
So I prefer to have them playing over Howie right now. And Howie isn’t hitting righties very well, at this point.
Roberts didn’t play Grandal right away, when he first came back. Maybe he should have done the same, with Howie.
I do think that Roberts put Howie lower in the batting order today, so that is good.
And Turner really isn’t hitting, and we need him to start hitting. Both Turner and Cory’s batting average, is going down quite a bit, so I hope they both heat up tonight!
Do you think Richie Hayward, one of the greatest drummers of all time, was a girl?
We need all the veterans hitting. That’s why they were brought here.
8-6 was greatly aided by the fact we opened up the season against SD!
Hopefully this kid can keep pitching well. He is a great story 🙂
Yep. Good story.
Here’s another good story. Bryce Harper has 7 home runs and 20 ribbies in 13 games. Give me an on pace for that one BOB.
Come on Turner. You gotta make that play.
Maybe Tuner’s offense is messing with his defense.
These errors are making Stripling throw to many pitches.
Puig with a Puigism. Hit the cutoff dummy.
Sloppy again.
And Stripling is pitching toward an early exit.
Badger do you think
that is the best move?
You mean removing him? I don’t know. Castro hit a good pitch. 2 outs, only 76 pitches. I think maybe I let him go another 15 pitches. Freeman already struck out twice. Tough call.
What do you think?
I was kind of thinking that way, but I really didn’t know. I must say I sure like the results. I Like that Roberts makes quick decisions, because Mattingly always waited to long.
Finally and Agone, against a lefty!
Yes. This is a great observation. Being decisive means a lot in a 162 game season. Go with what you got. Tomorrow is a new day. This type of mindset flows down to the players.
Yeah, Strip wasn’t super sharp today, but he wasn’t bad either. He battled. The Franchise made an error that cost him then a couple of nice swings/soft hits got him.
I still like how he looks out there.
Bobby when I see those soft hits, it makes me crazy, and wonder why are guys are not doing that, especially with runners, in scoring position.
AGood.
Ok pen. You’re on.
Wow who was that Johnson guy for Atl out of the bullpen that just overmatched our 3, 4, 5 hitters??
We should trade for him……
That wasn’t good. That is just a nightmare. Johnson finally pitches decent, and our hitters are not doing much. What is wrong?
Jim Johnson looked good. Matos looks good. Nacisco is looking good. We had all of these last year. Wood does well at Atlanta and he is now struggling. What is the common denominator here. Honeycutt.
Idahoal you know I agree about Honeycutt, but Johnson had a surgery in the off season.
Trade Wood back to Atlanta, and next week he would probably pitch a no-hitter.
They might take him. He’s only 25, cheap, and not a free agent until ’20.
Let’s get there closer for Wood. He looked pretty good.
And Inciarate!
Roger that was funny!
Gutsy win. It was against the team with the worst record in the NL, and it took 7 pitchers, but a good win.
Hey, if the ace does his job tomorrow, it means we take a road series. I”ll take it
Here’s the deal:
Last year I took a lot of heat from many of you jacksasses about how horrible Latos, Johnson and anyone FAZ traded for was… Especially Badger… of course, he then tempers his comments and tries to back out.
Look, I have to leave – some of you are just too stupid to understand! If you are not too stupid – Good Luck with these idiots!
God be praised! Don’t let the keyboard kick you in the ass on the way out (again). See you in a few days after you decide to return again. Hey Mark, why don’t you keep your word and disappear for good, no wet eyes here. Damn it smells better already.
Seriously, what is your problem?
Only you are smart I guess.
Look at the record. Mostly, Latos has been bad the past few years. Johnson – ask Billy Beane what he thinks of him after his disastrous tenure as Oakland’s closer. Both of those guys have had iffy records the past few years to say the least and it really wasn’t a big surprise that they stunk. Well, maybe it was to you, because the Braintrust obtained them and everything that they do is perfect!
Man, you are insufferable.
I actually suggested the Dodgers get Latos well before they actually acquired him. He’s actually been a solid pitcher in his career, but had gotten some injuries. The Fangraphs folks actually took a close look at him before the deadline last year, and his velocity was ticking up, and his peripherals were looking better. He was moving in the direction of the solid pitcher he used to be in spite of of his poor showing.
It was a smart, low risk, high upside move that just didn’t work out. …and by low risk, the Dodgers didn’t pay much in actual money and the even more precious prospects. They got him cheap.
Once again, ….once again…. it was a smart move that just didn’t work out. That shit happens. That’s why it’s a sport. You can’t predict the outcome of every move every single friggin time.
The reason Mark even brings up Latos is that it validates that he isn’t the total bum that you claim he was. For whatever reason now, versus last year when the Dodgers acquired him, he’s pitching up to his potential.
I don’t ask that every single thing FAZ touches turns to gold. That’s unreasonable. All I ask is that the Dodgers have smart people in the FO, who have a plan, and do their homework. This front office does their homework.
Latos was better than just solid from 2010 through 2014. He was what the Dodgers needed last year, a very good three, sure we all would have liked another ace, but price was too high. Johnson was also very good 2011 through 2014. He had 50+ saves in 2012 and 2013 with sub 3 ERA’s.
Like you said, “moves just didn’t work out”. I don’t know if they got Honeycutt’d, choked, Piazza cursed, injured or what, but with hindsight we know it didn’t work. I didn’t have and still don’t have any problem with FAZ going in this very “Theo” like direction.
If FAZ was going in that direction they would have traded Grienke last year for 3-4 good prospects and would be trading Kershaw within the next 2 years for 4-5 good prospects.
As I’ve said before, their plan changes weekly. If going young then why resign Utley? Why resign Kendrick? Give the kids a chance at 2B.
Otherwise the pre-requisite for signing a FA……must be a foreigner or must have played for the A’s or Ray’s.
Mat Latos was last good in 2013. He missed 1/2 of 2014 with injuries, was bad with Miami the first 1/2 of 2015 and then – well, you remember his stay with the Dodgers. But it’s not just that. He caused conflict everywhere he went.
http://www.gaslampball.com/2012/10/9/3479638/mat-latos-all-i-know-is-that-im-in-the-playoffs-theyre-home-watching (re: his tenure in San Diego)
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2015/02/23/reds-strongly-support-the-clubs-medical-staff/23883757/ (re: his time in Cincy)
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/166385314/mat-latos-looks-to-repair-image-with-white-sox (re: his reputation generally)
Jim Johnson hasn’t been good since he left Baltimore in 2013. He hasn’t been good with Atlanta this year either (prior to today).
I would lay you long odds that Latos pitches badly, gets hurt or makes his teammates angry before the year’s end. I would not be surprised to see Johnson cut by the Braves before the year’s end.
You describe these transactions as low risk, high reward. I disagree.
First, Latos started several games and they were mostly horrible. They could have cost the Dodgers the Division. The same with the high-leverage situations that Johnson was put in. The risk was that they put bad pitchers in crucial situations and they blew it. In my mind, that IS a high risk.
And the players that they traded away – the main guy was Olivera. The initial reports aren’t too good, I concede that. So maybe the Braintrust knew that he was a bad actor, but maybe they shouldn’t have signed him in the first place without doing due diligence. The Dodgers’ record isn’t too good on Cubans so far…
Everything here sums up why I was disappointed in the move. Yeah, it could have worked out, but like so many other moves these guys made, it didn’t. I wanted the sure thing, Hamels, who finished strong last year and has started strong this year. I still don’t believe it would have taken two top 5 prospects to get him, and looking at what got it done, it sure didn’t. We’ve been over it enough, no need to do it again. I don’t believe for a minute Latos is rehabilitated.
We have a lot invested in Cubans. I sure hope the organization got something right about them. They should be ready to help by 2018.
There are no sure things in sports ………….EVER!!
Dodger patch I thought Latos would do better too. Because he did well with the Reds, and had pitched good for the Marlins, especially in the last couple months.
I do wonder about Honeycutt, with all these pitchers, leaving, and the very next season, they are good. Johnson I didn’t feel the same about, because I saw him pitch terribly for three different teams, so I thought that that was a terrible move.
But yesterday, they said that Johnson, had a surgery in the off season. I think that Mattingly couldn’t deal with Latos, and that was part of the reason, that he didn’t work.
But I do think we should do better, against the Braves, but I am happy with the win.
If you leave you will miss out on all the fun Mark.
Mark don’t take it personal. They are not doing that, against you. They just have there own beliefs, just like you do.
No one here, all thinks the same way. There are different views on everything.
I don’t think only one way, it always depends on the subject, and subject manner. I think you are pretty witty, so keep it up.
Sorry Mark. Not gonna miss ya lately. We agree and disagreed. But why the nastiness? Bud, it’s a blog, remember? Let’s have fun. Please????
Mark, I would of liked to have known you in your 20’s. I bet you were fun to be around and in trouble75% of the time. I bet all of your friends knew exactly where you stood. Those pitchers were horrible last year. They were good before we acquired them. Then we let them go and now they are all playing well again. I do not blame FAZ for acquiring them. They all looked like a good acquistion. But they pitched for Honeycutt and Mattingly. I cannot think of one pitcher who came to us playing badly and did well under Honeycutt . I can think of a lot of pitchers who came to us playing well and failed under Honeycutt. I thought Blanton was a bad signing, but right now he looks pretty good. What in the hell do I know.
Stay with us Mark. I love your comments.
Mark is off his bi-polar meds again. That was uncalled for.
Greinke and Bumgarner knotted at zeroes through 5.
Isn’t that your team Tax?
OK. I think the Alfred head is a bit much. Maybe it was what teed Mark off. All in good fun bro!!!!
I have two teams every night – the Dodgers and whoever is playing the midgets.
Good one. Me too.
Just like the Lakers and whoever’ s playing the turds.
I went to college in Boston. On the rooming group application I said, I’m a Lakers fan. I got a single room.
Not surprising, Celtic fans have no class. I would have wanted the single room anyways.
If that’s all it takes its a no brainer. In LA I would say I was a midgets fan if it kept me from having to room with …………. someone I didn’t get along with.
OK so I think I have it figured out. My Mad magazine avatar tripped something. Most on the site won’t have a clue what I am talking about, but I think it’s a Spy vs. Spy thing with Badger and Mark. Seriously think about it. That should conjure up some chuckles amongst the group. Good old fashioned humor!!!!
You have got to be kidding, I bet, almost all the geezers on this site are very familiar with Spy v. Spy. Most here, like me, probably honed the reading skills, reading Mad magazine and comic books. I remember going to Thrifty Drug’s comic rack and reading Mad and comics till they kicked us out. Never stopped us from going back. Good times.
Boxout 7 and you had to get sea monkeys, after reading those comics.
No, MJ, I was never into sea monkeys. After reading Superman comics, was more interested in ripping phone books in half and not being the 98 lb weakling getting sand kicked into his face. But, I think my sister did have some sea monkeys once.
why are my comments suddenly requiring moderation?
Sometimes the spam filter catches a comment if it sees a link it doesn’t like. Doesn’t happen all the time, but every now and then. It does it to everyone, including me. Not a big deal. I pushed your comment through. Sorry Rick, probably only happens to 1 out of every 50 comments. small price to pay to have the site free of spam.
understood
Do you guys think, that some of the guys on the Dodgers, are trying to hard, to get runners over, to have a productive offense, that it could be messing with there hitting. I think a productive offense, is good , but it has to be a adjustment, for some players.
Also do you think some of the players, are not swinging to hard, to not hit a HR, and that is affecting there hitting. I know the offense, was terrible last year, and they hit a lot of HRs, but is the team trying to hard the other way, that they are not hitting HRs, much at all.
I think they need to do something in the middle, and maybe that will be coming, when the adjustments, become easier. Does anything I just said, make any sense to anyone?
It appears to me what Roberts is trying to do is get these guys to play with better foundational fundamental mechanics. After Mattingly, it’s a transition. There are a lot of little things these guys haven’t done well in several years. An example of that is the miscommunication on that squeeze. Nomar and Orel talked about it. You don’t safety squeeze with a force out at home. My guess is Culberson missed the sign, hanging Turner out. Whatever, it was a good idea gone bad. Gonna take some time to re-learn fundamentals. And with Puig out there doing his overthrow thing, some of these guys may never get it. Most of the megamillion dollar players didn’t get these contracts because they can bunt and hit behind runners. They be swingin for the .900 OPS money.
I hope Roberts is successful.
Badger thanks. I love what Roberts is doing. I guess eventually, the team will perform right in the middle.
Where they are hitting with power, and hitting HRs, in the middle of the pack. But we will also see, more runs scored, then last year.
Because last year, the rate that they were putting people on base, and on base, and in scoring position, they were at an all time low, in scoring runs. And it had been at least ten years, that a team had performed so low, and we’re not able to get base runners in, with the amount of runners, put on base.
Turner has had a problem with, his base running at times, so who knows.
This umpire is helping this pitcher, quite a bit, with some of his calls. Kershaw finally, got one of those calls. I guess Angel is well known for his challenged umpiring.
I think Roberts should move Cory down in the batting order, while he is going through this stretch, with his hitting. It has helped Joc, and Cory would get some better pitches to hit.
And with Kike playing today, his right handed bat, would brake up the two left handed bats, at the top of the batting order.