Reds at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MLBN
Cincinnati has had a disappointing season as shown by their trades of Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake, but they can still be dangerous. They send rookie righthander Keyvius Sampson (1-1, 3.00 ERA) to the mound for his third big league start. He’ll face the Dodgers’ Mat Latos (4-8, 4.67 ERA), who’s making his third start for the Dodgers since arriving in trade from the Marlins. Latos has had one good outing against the Angels and one bad outing against the Pirates.
Lineup when available.
Today's #Dodgers lineup:
Dodgers:
Rollins SS
Hernandez 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Ethier LF
Puig RF
Callaspo 3B
Pederson CF
Ellis C
Latos P
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 13, 2015
NPUT
According to MLBTR, the Gnats are penny-pinchers: “The Gnats have topped the luxury tax limits with their 2015 payroll, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports. San Francisco is nevertheless willing to tack on obligations to add Chase Utley (or, presumably, another option). Indeed, the team had already gone over $189MM when it dealt for Mike Leake. Because it’s the first time the Gnats have cracked that ceiling, they will owe only a 17.5% tax on the overage, and are expected to avoid any such payments next season.”
Just when you thought it was safe to go shopping for home stuff…
http://www.wsmv.com/story/29783801/timber-rattlesnake-captured-in-spring-hill-home-depot
Mike P. looks at starters moved at deadline. SSS, obviously. Latos is the only one with 3 starts.
“’m not really sure what my point is here, I guess. Maybe it’s “we can’t
possibly draw conclusions based on two or three starts,” which is true.
Maybe it’s “there’s no denying that Price would look great, but what if
it had been Hamels?”
http://dodgersdigest.com/2015/08/14/on-those-underwhelming-rotation-additions/
It’s a thoughtful analysis, even though it doesn’t make us feel any better about last night.
Looks like the Dodgers have just been treading water since the All Star Break: 13-12, if I’ve counted properly.
That’s not all that exciting.
And essentially the same since May 13th.
We talked before about their great start, then their slump — and wondering which is more indicative of the team. Since it’s lasted far longer than the on-fire start, it looks like this “meh” .500 team is what we have.
Tho still leading the West, I believe they’re one game away from having the FIFTH best record in the NL.
Have a great night …………… Tomorrow – 6PM sharp.
It’s over and out for me. Start a new streak tomorrow.
Whatever Latos found coming back from his injury, he seems to have lost it again.
11 hits and only 3 runs to show for them. Strange.
Plus some walks in there as well.
NOW Rollins gets a hit.
Just walked in to see the score……
….
I’m not worried and neither is Vin Scully as, despite the sizable deficit, still read off the ” Murderers Row ” that we have coming to bat in the bottom of the 9th…
….
Where did Vinny get his optimism? … Simply ask our very own RBI … 🙂
Not a great representation of traditional Dodger pitching on Koufax bobblehead night. His head must be shaking at the sight of this.
We still need at least seven. Plus Jonny.
Jonny?
Ehhh… Hem…… You rang? …. 🙂
Ah Jonny!
Blogger Jonny.
Highlights of the game. Joc’s HR. Johnson’s scoreless inning. And the “Re-Turner”. Nice to have JT back.
And Yimi.
We’ll hope that this is the first of many scoreless innings for Mr. Johnson….
He’s had a rough time of it, but I’ve heard he’s a ” Hot/Cold ” kinda pitcher….
Time to heat up.
bah.
You just jumping in now?
I have to cook and eat dinner!!!
Barring a miracle, we’re back to 2 1/2 up.
We need seven in the eighth.
Link wasn’t kidding when he said the Reds could be dangerous. 15 hits and counting.
At some point we have to win a game pitched by someone other than Kershaw and Greinke.
Great. Now Howell’s catching the bullpen bug.
Just came to the parade. The pitchers we acquired a couple weeks ago certainly aren’t doing the trick.
They’re pretty much a disaster so far.
Vin with a good one on Hamilton, saying that he ran around the bases after the home run as if he was afraid that they would change their minds.
Is this his first one?
4th of the year. (don’t think he really knows how to run the bases in a different way)
What in the world did Billy Hamilton have for breakfast?
Old friend Skip Schumaker making Howell work.
Badenhop is a great name for a baseball player. I would have thrown the runner out but it took a badenhop.
I have a feeling that may be your swan song. And a good one it is!
You are correct. I will maybe give another quick glance once I’m nestled in my bed but if not – see everyone tomorrow!
Play well!
Thanks. I usually lose but my serve kept me in the match on Tuesday.
Autocorrect is killing me tonight!
I loved the Sean song!
Okay, Puig. We need a few runs here.
No more JJ tonight.
I don’t know how I feel about that!
We’re getting one every inning. The problem is they’re getting crooked numbers.
The Nats are struggling worse than we are, and the Mets keep winning.
Well, you weren’t wrong, Winnipeg Dave, but the route to three outs was ugly.
No need to be so formal. You can just call me Winnipeg. 🙂 j
Well, he seems to be a ground ball pitcher.
Made me laugh, again.
Oh – I take it all back. Scoreless inning!
It has to be psychological at this point. Don’t we have an inhouse sports shrink for these guys?
Where’s the guy that McCourt was using? Russian dude.
The psychic?
Yah that guy. Even he would be psyched out by Johnson.
It’s almost uncanny how much he gets hit. It’s so cringe worthy it’s hard to look away. The horror show continues…
See below. He needs a head-coach.
Ten pitches later…
C’mon, JJ. This guy is 0-3!
Ball two was strike three, according to GDay.
Noticed that. It always looks weird.
Jim Johnson coming in. Might have to stick around just for the entertainment value. Dollars to donuts he shuts the Reds down tonight. The guy is fearless when down by 6 is my guess.
Or not.
Nope. First batter on.
Bad starting pitching plus shaky bullpen never a good combo for us.
Well friends – I am heading away from this game very soon.
I looked away for literally a minute… Whoops.
I would call that good timing rather than bad at this point.
But Puig got a hit!
I’ll stay til the end of this inning. If the Dodger score 3 or more runs, then maybe…
Tough bargainer, but okay.
I have to get up early tomorrow – to play tennis!
But CC stole a base!
And so did CC!
Meanwhile, the Nationals are scoring less than the Dodgers tonight. Still 2-1.
The Dodger just don’t have any thing positive in them tonight. Just one of those nights I guess.
Well, he didn’t make it as an infielder after all.
To whom are you referring?
I think Baez, who was converted into a reliever.
Ah!
I thought Hamilton was supposed to be struggling as a hitter.
Not tonight, clearly. Maybe he just needed to face us. Uh oh. Snark attack.
I was going to add that I thought the Reds were supposed to be struggling as a team, but I don’t want to bring even more snark out of you.
I understand there was bad blood between Latos and the team. Looks like they are exacting their revenge. His snarky exit was one of the reasons I’m not so in love with Latos.
I don’t believe it. Mattingly actually replaced a struggling pitcher.
At least Hamilton can’t steal another base.
We need an out or two here, please.
Latos has a spot on my bench right beside Johnson. Turn it around now boys or face the consequences.
We need to hold them now. (Stating the obvious.)
What are the chances Either destroys his bat in the dugout now – like he did a couple of weeks ago?
Which game was that?
When the went up against Sonny Gray and the A’s. Either flyed out or lined out – hit it hard – and then smashed his bat up in the dugout. Vin Scully said “Let it all out son.” Dodgers lost 2-0.
That’s why I love Vin so much.
Speaking of Vin – I was wondering if it is this time of the season where he sometimes announces whether he is coming back (or not) – or is it mid-September?
Later, I think.
Still need another one this inning.
Or one per inning from now on.
That’s the only way the picket fence line score will work for them. Otherwise, single runs ain’t getting it done.
I love the “In play, no out” almost as much as the “In play, runs.”
OK. Time for Gonzo to launch one into the bleachers.
Tonight’s game brought to you by the movie Turner and Hooch (Latos).
That sounded like a looong single from Mr. Turner!
Let’s go, offense.
Atta boy, Avilan.
So at what point do we throw in the Latos towel?
Oh, man.
Given our challenge record, not holding my breath here.
Looked safe from here (a couple thousand miles away).
Let’s see what the New Yorkers have to say.
Joc!
Yah!
To those with eyes, would you say Sampson is effectively wild? He’s almost even, balls and strikes.
So, with Kershaw’s 8 strikeouts last night he moved into 148th on the
all time list. By next year he should pass – among others – Lincecum and
may make it into the top 100.
That’s it. Reds won’t score anymore tonight.
Right?
Let’s hope.
That’s what Ethier shoulda done.
Starting to feel frustrated.
That miss at third didn’t help anything. Callaspo not at his best tonight.
So the steal was on Callasp0?
The ball went in and out of his glove. Sounds like they would have had Frazier otherwise.
The ball was there, and Frazier would have slid right into the tag.
Glad Turner’s playing tomorrow.
Is Turner considered better on defense that Callaspo?
I thought so, but maybe I’m wrong. Anyone know?
Where’s Bob H? He would have a good answer.
By reputation and my eye, Alberto is considered to be a better fielder, but advanced stats for this year so far rate Justin much higher then Alberto.
Thanks Bob! I feel like a glove first guy should be better on defense than a more pure hitter.
Thanks, Bob.
Not cool.
Alright, time for Gonzo to park one into the bleachers.
Or that.
Yes. We’ll take it.
But Andre! Really?
Strikes out Votto.
That second run certainly on Latos.
Here we go again!
Just what I was going to say! 🙂
Latos not helping himself, or the team.
Well, now we don’t have to worry about his stealing 2nd – or 3rd. Grrr.
Wow – 8 pitch at bat for Joc: strike, ball, strike, ball, strike (foul), ball, strike (foul), ball
He’s fouling more pitches off, which is a good sign, before walking.
Yep. And in previous at bats, he has had some loud and long fouls on good swings.
Boo. SF out in front of Washington,
Nats get more opportunities v. Vogelscheiße, though.
Only the 1st inning. The night is young.
According to Gameday, Strasburg getting seriously squeezed.
Anyone catch what Vin said about the Dodgers and Reds not scoring more than 6 runs against each other?
No, but it startled me to hear that Koufax was 19-20 lifetime against them.
Yeah, that surprised me as well. They must have especially gotten to him early in his career.
Considering he only lost 87 in his entire 12-year career…
Good start for Latos. Be great to get another 5 innings out of him.
Puig up with 2 on and 2 out. Time for some more rbi’s.
Not to be…at least this time.
So apparently Greinke’s era went down today. Something got changed from his game against the Phils so one run came off his ledger.
ERA’s often a misleading stat, in any event.
I don’t disagree. Just being the messenger.
Caught stealing!
Discussion below of the Cards, of which this is more. Suggests maybe a rarity, a modern superteam.
Their blueprint sounds very much like the Dodger plan. Build from within, do whatever else to complement that.
However much we dislike them as fans, they have to be respected.
http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/08/11/st-louis-cardinals-superteam-mike-matheny
The problem is that McCourt, Ned & Co. dug such a big hole that filling it has been more than an overnight project.
Well then. Here’s hoping for the good Latos (Angels) not the bad Latos (Pirates). But mostly I hope the good offense and the good bullpen!
The recent discussion about the pen makes me wonder just how important it is to have a “good” pen. Would be great to see some rigorous analysis on what it means in terms of overall results if one has a good pen, versus an average one or a bad one, and how much having good starters and a good offense can mitigate. Using WAR, I roughly added up the values of the relievers and come out with a figure of -1.3. Is this reasonable?
You bring up a good point, it’s a team effort. If your starters go 9, the bullpen is totally irrelevant. If your offense scores 6 runs per game, you can get by with a less than great bullpen. I don’t know of any stats on this but I have a feeling scoring 4 or 5 runs in the first 3 innings tends to discourage the other team and makes your bullpen look good. So you should have a good on-base-percentage guy hitting leadoff. I don’t think his name is Rollins…
In a broad sense, if we assume that starters go 6 innings on average, their ERA would have twice the weigh of that for the relievers.
Starters have a chance to redeem themselves. If my math is right: a reliever who goes 1 inning and gives up 3 has an ERA of 27. A starter who gives up 3 and goes 3 innings has an ERA of 9.
I equate relievers with NFL field goal kickers — they screw up once and the onus is on them.
Jon has a nice blog on that today as regards Johnson.
Thanks for the heads up.
Jon was channeling Oddball from “Kelly’s Heroes” — ‘Cut those negative waves, man.’
Starters hardly ever go nine any more.
Is that right?
One thing Kershaw always talks about as regards his performance is his desire to pitch as many innings as possible. His is tied for first with Scherzer and Greinke is next.
Here’s a little bit of analysis of the 2014 KC Royals’ bullpen and its success.
I look at WAR for those three in 2014 and they add up to 9.0. Those guys were really important!