Dodgers at Cubs, 11:20AM PT, TV: SPNLA
Every Red Sox and Cubs fan knows who Jon Lester is, while only Dodgers fans know who Carlos Frias is. Yet they have identical 4-5 W-L records this season. Lester’s not had a win in his last six starts, although he’s pitched well. Frias has lost three of his last four starts.
Expect changes to the Dodgers lineup, since it’s a day game and a travel day and Lester’s a lefty. Puig has an open callus on his left hand and is day-to-day.
Lineup:
Today’s #Dodgers lineup vs. Cubs:
Hernandez CF
Rollins SS
Turner 1B
Van Slyke RF
Kendrick 2B
Guerrero LF
Callaspo 3B
Ellis C
Frias P
NPUT
Seen last night:
“… but a main rallying cry against the Dodgers losing Kemp and Hanley was “what about losing all that right-handed power.” Updated through today’s games:
Turner + Guerrero: 19 2B, 2 3B, 20 HR in 335 PA
Hanley + Kemp: 19 2B, 2 3B, 20 HR in 585 PA
And Joc says he wishes to check in representing left-handed power”
Joc: 11 2B, 1 3B, 19HR in 299 PA
A-Gon also has something to say: 22 2B, 13 HR in 301 PA
John Steed (Sir Denis Eton-Hogg to Spinal Tappers) has died: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-33279566
On that game-ending play last night… I saw several replays on the televised game today. One play had me absolutely convinced that the runner was out. Then they showed another angle which convinced me equally well that he was safe. Bottom line, there are some plays that are so close, I would not want to say whether the Ump’s call was right or wrong. It was a good point that the reviews should be made by people with the technical ability to use the great equipment available to them, and not the Umps themselves who might have other axes to grind.
Which brings up The Neighborhood Play. The Umps, with help from the players, have created a Pandora’s Box of problems there. On a big stage, World Series or something, it is going to create a real problem someday. The Umps, in an effort to save the infielders from possible injury, tend to call out the forced runner even though the infielder never actually touches the base. The Ump reasons if the ball is there in time and is handled cleanly, touching the base could be a dangerous formality, so they call the runner out anyway. There is a similar thing on many tag plays on the bases. Home plate is the only one where the rules are strictly enforced. Usually if the ball arrives early enough and is handled cleanly, the Ump will call the runner out when the infielder tags his body, even though his hands or feet actually reached the base before the tag. Once again, this is a courtesy to the infielder, shielding him from possible spike injury. Most runners accept this because they expect the same courtesy to themselves. Like the Neighborhood Play, sometimes managers will challenge this but, by and large, most of the time nobody complains because there’s no favoritism, all teams and players benefit from it.
This has concerned me as well.
some smart manager will continue to go along with this until it happens in a game 7 in the playoffs or world series….then comes the challenge, a rally is sustained, he is a genius…until then, you are right, everyone will let it go
I assume that it would happen in any “meaningful” game. As long as there are still umps reviewing in NYC, rather than the “nerds” that Maddon calls for, they are more likely to not overturn “neighborhood” plays.,
I hope you are right, to keep the playing field even, so to speak. But all is takes is one huge game, and challenge, and the replays incessantly showing the middle infielder no where close to the bag….
Yeah, sure to happen. Hopefully the announcers will try to “educate” the casual fan.
funny! the announcers will educate the fans based on their biases….”Rollins has always done that and never been caught before, he is living off his reputation, maybe now he will be a little more diligent in taking care of the little things”
Wow! Who said that?
no one….yet…..but Joe Morgan will one day….he is a Dodger hater
Excellent!
So, there I am, a couple days ago, railing on all things bad about the Dodgers. I close out my comments with the old “now they’ll probably run off a 20 game win streak” finish.
18 to go…..
I have to stop thinking of the Cubs as the perennial doormats. They’ve got just two fewer wins than the Dodgers after this split.
100 years of losing….until they win, they are still doormats.
They are significantly better than the Gnats.
You thought the Nazis were better than the Gnats… What am I saying, most Argentines were pro German.
Ouch….this is baseball?
I was going to cheer on the Pads, but SF has a 7-0 lead.
Woo-HOO!!!! (Watching as I work…)
Chat with you all later. Time to head outside with my son.
Who would’ve thought that a 4-game split would have wins from the games Kersh and Zack did NOT pitch?
Not expected was it. But perhaps the Dodgers have some vibes going on the road and with the bats…
We win!
That was a message from the future for me, listening to Gameday audio.
And a welcome message at that!
Ha – that’s for sure!
Toooooo many miscues on the basepaths!
Someone may’ve already commented on this, but I was shocked — shocked! — to see that if LA was in the Central division, they’d be in 4th place! (Moving up if they keep this lead.)
I noticed that the other day as well. Just put them in the NL East instead. Back in first place!
Yimi starts the 9th? (only 14 pitches)
The #s say yes, my gut says don’t push it.
Who would you bring in? (see that Kenley is warming up).
Honestly, don’t know.
But I’m still shaking off the game I attended in SD when Yimi got between the two fielders going for the popup, causing the error, then giving up the 2-run HR which not only blew Kersh’s chance for the win, but put LA behind.
I’m all for redemption and he’s achieved that, so quit while you’re ahead.
Can’t say that I agree with this call.
I agree with your disagreeing.
Hopefully it’s moot — win today and easy win manana.
To me it’s a waste. Won’t be available tomorrow and perhaps the next day as well.
Dave, did you say you’d never driven from Winnipeg to Vancouver? Here’s a time-lapsed video of the trip.
Too bad the front end of the trip is so cloudy. It’s not usually like that. Can’t really appreciate the big sky. Other than that – wow! If only all cross country trips were that quick!
Google says it’s 22 hrs 45 minutes straight through. I don’t believe it. There’s a whole bunch of mountains between the coast and the plains.
You still talking from Winnipeg to Vancouver (or Van to Wpg)? Probably just around 24 hours or so at minimum.
Yeah The southern route.
I have had friends do it in 26 hours for sure.
Not and enjoy the scenery, I’m guessing.
Very true. They had a ferry they were wanting to catch at a certain time.
I hadn’t realized Saskatchewan was between you Manitobans and Alberta. I hang my head in shame.
That’s a LOT of flat country before you get to the Rockies. I’ve driven through Iowa and Nebraska and then into South Dakota and south through Wyoming, but it was a long time ago and I’d forgotten what all those plains look like while on the road. One level horizon out in front of you for miles and miles.
Also, they certainly didn’t take the direct route across the number 1 hwy, but went north across Saskatchewan and then back down south across Alberta – then north again to Banff.
On to the 8th. It would be great if the Dodgers could bring this one home without having to use Jansen. I’m sure he could go three days in a row, but if he doesn’t have to that would be great.
If we keep the 4 run margin, not likely to see him start the inning.
Drat. Two wasted triples in two days.
waste not . . .
… want more.
Meh. Both times with two out. Run expectancy is triple and double with a runner at second in 0-1 outs. (now that’s a waste!). Given that runners can generally score from second on a single with two outs, run expectancy on second (.224) and third (.275) is not all that different.
See? They should have hit them with fewer than two outs!
Sure miss those glory days of April/early May when LA would have 2-out rallies.
Turner’s home run yesterday was a beautiful two out blast, if that helps any.
Home… run… ?
Must be. It hit the yellow line. (or else, why paint it yellow?)
Made it home from work a bit early today. Good to see the Dodgers are still holding onto the 4 run lead.
Big strike out there to get out of that jam.
KK-arlos!
Tightwire walk!
Carlitos!
Frias getting some strike calls.
K-arlos!
C’mon, one more!
Odds on Frias making it through the bottom of the 5th? It looks like this will end up being another long bullpen game.
Only 64 pitches, no?
But always in hot water — or at least warm.
Hopefully that trend stops right here.
He’ll probably go longer than we want him to because of the pen use yesterday.
He’ll need some luck, even more than he’s had so far.
Haven’t heard them posting this at any of the casinos, but I might run down and put some $ down.
Actually, several of the sports books have apps and you can make the bet from the convenience of wherever you are . . . at least I believe that’s how it works.
Feels like last nights game. Score a bunch early, then lose their stride at the plate. As long as the results are the same, I will take it.
Agree with the results . . . and VERY glad they’re getting situational hitting, but still concerned they’re not hitting that much.
Still, if it’s a W . . .
Pulling Lester? I wonder if that flu bug that caused Maddon to pull Bryant affected him too.
Amazing throw from Guerrero, perhaps something he’s never done before in his career.
Cubs were certainly shocked.
17 assists this year for Alex, none from the outfield.
Love it when you’re in the field and get the DP because the runner is in motion . . . obviously equally detest it when you’re batting.
Oh man. I love the strong hitting Dodger team a lot. Let’s keep them around for the rest of the summer.
— and deep into Fall!
Replacing Pederson with Hernandez in centerfield is not wise.
I wouldn’t do it, but Quique is competent.
Joc has played in 72 of the 73 games, and may yet appear in this one. Quique is capable in a pinch out there. (Seems like a better option than calling up Heisy)
I can see your point.
I played the Heisy card there.
Lester seems to have some of the same home run problems that have plagued Kershaw lately.
Howie could hit one now and I wouldn’t object.
¡Buenos días! You’re up and around already?
I awakened at the same time the game post was published — 7:00am.
Sitting both AGon and Joc does not make much sense. Playing A.J. actually does, though it adds a near automatic out to the lineup.
From Eric S: “… A.J. Ellis gets the start at catcher. Ellis has reached base in seven of his last nine starts, hitting .280/.400/.360 during that span.”
Like I said, low or no score today. Joc and Agon off, (that’s insane), Guerrero playing two games in a row? Must be a showcase. Ellis, Kendrick, Rollins, holes in the lineup. Why bother? Why not just catch an early flight and forfeit the game. Mattingly is an idiot.
Gonzalez lifetime vs. lefties .272, vs. righties .304
Pederson (short) lifetime vs. lefties .241, vs. righties .237
Makes no sense to pull both of them out.
..and the other side of the coin, their replacements OPS against lefties this year: Quique .982 and SVS .832. Makes some sense.
Puig scratched again but, habemus lineup: https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/614103877978161152