Scott Kazmir getting bombed in last night’s 9-0 blowout loss to the Red Sox was about as exciting as watching paint dry. I’m no Nostradamus but it doesn’t take a clairvoyant to figure out that Kazmir was going to get lit up like a Christmas tree. The next guy to get lit up like a Christmas tree will be this afternoon’s starter Ross Stripling who was called up this afternoon after Bud Norris was placed on the disabled list with a mid back strain. Rich Hill makes his debut tomorrow, so let’s hope he can help stabalize the rotation. Nevermind, he’s still having problems with his blister so his debut is delayed. Brandon McCarthy will get the start instead.
Stripling (2-3 4.14) has not made a start since he was blown out at Anaheim on May 19th. He’s been pitching in relief since then and has tossed 11.2 innings and allowed just two earned runs. It seems like he’s more suited to being a reliever.
The Red Sox will counter with 23-year old left hander Eduardo Rodriguez. Rodriguez is 10-6 with a 3.85 ERA in 21 starts. He’s originally from Venezuela and has never faced the Dodgers. He has a 1-1 record and a 6.75 ERA in interleague play.
Dodgers Lineup vs. Boston
Kendrick 2B
Seager SS
Turner 3B
Gonzalez 1B
Hernandez CF
Reddick RF
Van Slyke LF
Ellis C
Stripling P
Eduardo Rodriguez-10-6 vs. Ross Stripling-2-3
Game Time – 1:05 PM – TV-SNLA
Big Papi David Ortiz is back in the lineup and playing first base, while Hanley Ramirez is not in the lineup for Boston. Of course with a left hander on the mound the Dodgers go right back to the atrocious all-righty lineup that works once every 99 times. Honestly I just don’t get why the Dodgers keep doing this. It’s becoming very infuriating.
Hernandez is batting .191 and hitting .203 against left handers this year. Van Slyke is batting .224 and has a .762 OPS against left handers. A.J. is batting .205 and has a .635 OPS against lefties this year. These guys are terrible and I have no clue what the Dodgers continue to see in them.
Playing the percentages does not work, and when the bottom of the lineup is Van Slyke, Ellis, pitcher you probably won’t be scoring many runs. I mean they had 3 hits last night and this is the lineup they put out? If anyone wonders why they are struggling and not in first place, this is why. It’s August, you have to play the hot hands.
Anyways, Enjoy the game! Beat those Sox!
Scott:
The latest I read is Hill will NOT make that start as he is still having a bit of trouble with that dang blister.
Whose next to go on the DL? When that player does it will set a ML record. With all the players we’ve had on the DL at one time or another would field a pretty good team.
You’re right Richie. This just changed recently. I updated the post
If you don’t think pitch framing is a real thing just watch AJ cost Stripling strikes today. I’ve already seen it in inning one.
I notice that a lot with AJ…now that I’m conditioned to look for how a catcher holds his mitt. His mitt is all over the place. Yaz holds his very still and and just barely squeezes the zone in a subtle way.
Maybe pitch framing is too much of a thing, but it is measurable and quantifiable….therefore a thing.
When’s Reddick going to snap out of it?
2017
Well he finally got his first Dodger hit and immediately asked for the ball
“The next guy to get lit up like a Christmas tree is this afternoon’s starter Ross Stripling”. Great job Scott.
It was a joke Idahoal. Are you really this miserable?
some people take u too seriously, Scott. I find it comical.
But regardless, Strip was awesome today. Really saved the day!
Good job of explaining – and basically how I feel about the topic. Good quotes from Kershaw and Greinke:
http://www.thinkbluela.com/index.php/2016/01/29/pitch-framing-myth-or-passing-fad/
An indictment of the umpire.
I think there is a strong possibility Stripling will get hit hard. Define lit up. Like Kazmir did? Yeah, that could surely happen. It’s Ross Stripling not Satchel Gibson. His ERA is over 4 and he hasn’t faced the #1 offense in MLB yet. The surprise would be if he shuts them down. Surprise us Ross. What’s the problem with talking about it?
Sure Scott, sure. An easy way for you to explain. It was a joke. I just do not like negative people.
Go back to the other blog site!
Idahoal you acuse everyone of being negative when in fact you are the one who is negative.
Have to agree with you there Scott…he does get surly sometimes…
Is it me, or does Grant Dayton look 10x better than some of the crap they keep trading for (Fields, Chavez, etc)??
This is the 2nd time he’s come in, and thrown 2 fantastic innings. Maybe he should get a tryout as our long reliever for a bit???? If they send him down again….
After all, they gave up a #1 pick for him! But I don’t think they can resist tinkering with the roster.
Dayton has great control. He was on the plate and accurate with his off speed stuff. Great job on Big Papi and Han-Ram.
I watched Dayton pitch in ST. Louis and I was impressed at his ability to throw at 3 speeds and pound the zone. He much better than a couple guys on this roster. I think Ross and Dayton really showed how unnecessary it was to deal for Chavez.
Surprise!
Well pitched, and well played game today.
Stripling pitched a really good game, and
Dayton pitches really well again.
And yes Dayton is fearless up there on the mound.
Stripling has really grown this year.
Kike had two hits, and Agone had three hits.
AJ who hardly plays, hit in the first run.
Kike didn’t try to do much, and got those two hits today, and a hit last night.
I hope he is back, he could help this team in a big way, against leftie pitchers.
Big team win!
By comparison Pederson looked terrible in his first AB..what in the blue blazes was he swinging at???????????????????????????????????????????????
Yes it seems like Joc is doing the same stuff that Puig will do, at times.
First Joc with his two base running errors, then swinging at who knows.
Nice bounce back win. Kenley was nails in the 9th and nice bit of clutch hitting today. As for pitch framing, I think it is more an indictment on the ragged strike zones most umpires have. No two are alike. He squeezed Stripling a couple of times today. Ellis did a great job of getting the kid through. And he drove in the first run. Ellis is still a much better game caller than Grandal, and the pitches in the dirt he was able to stop, which to me is Grandal’s biggest weakness……
So we have to wait a little longer to see if our new starter is going to be any help at all…..figures. FAZ is great at acquiring injured pitchers so you just knew he was out to keep his reputation intact. I think I would have a heart attack if he actually got someone who could pitch effectively immediately……
Michael
They can’t get pitchers with long injury histories, and expect them to not get hurt, that isn’t common sense.
Happy trails Idaho… You got in some beauties today, but alas you cant make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear…
OK, back to the Dodgers and their damn platoons, useless trades and sending Stripling out on a kamikaze mission and then there’s FAZ and Reddick…
Oops I just looked at the box score… I was joking…