Game 116, 2015

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Reds at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA

The Reds trot out rookie (and lefty) John Lamb to make his MLB debut. He was 1-1 with a 2.65 ERA for the Reds’ AAA Louisville Bats this season after going 9-1 for the Royals’ AAA Omaha Storm Chasers. The Dodgers counter with Alex Wood, who is 0-1 in two starts for the Dodgers after his acquisition from the Braves in July.

Lineup when available.

78 thoughts on “Game 116, 2015”

  2. Debated whether to post this. But it’s different and interesting enough, IMO.

    I don’t spend a lot of time in comments at TBLA. But noticed lately a guy has surfaced there who posts some of the most obscure current Dodger game stuff v historical counterpart imaginable. Commenters didn’t know what to make of it at first, figured it probably was bogus. Some checked it out and it wasn’t. In a sense it’s off in the weeds, but I’ve taken to looking for it just to see what he comes up with next. Suppose b-ref is at least part of what he uses, but dunno. He may have outdone himself after last night’s game–

    “Turner, Gonzalez, and Wood
    The last time that a third baseman who was born in Southern California and attended Cal State Fullerton started the Dodger scoring with a sacrifice fly in the first and then drove in the run that put LA ahead for good in the fifth before scoring later in the inning on a 3-run home run with two outs by a first baseman wearing number 23 who went to High School in San Diego county to support a pitcher who picked up his first Dodger win that involved recording at least ten outs was 1 June 1993. Tim Wallach and Eric Karros were the corner infielders on that day with the great Pedro Martinez earning the victory in relief of Orel Hershiser. ”

    by GWilson on Aug 14, 2015 | 10:05 PM

    • That’s certainly worth posting, and it’s certainly obscure. I wonder who GWilson is and whether we could persuade him/her to drop by here with pearls like that. (Without bringing every rowdy at TBLA along. I doubt that our rules would keep them in check, and my life is getting too short to moderate every comment for profanity.)

      • Couple more I had saved:

        From Dre’s recent 2 HR game–
        ” Andre is the first corner outfielder to lead the Dodgers to their fourth straight win following a shutout loss at home by twice breaking ties with home runs from the cleanup spot since the great Jackie Robinson on 17 July 1953.”
        by GWilson Aug 3, 2015 | 1:40 AM
        ==========================
        Puig and Anderson
        ” The last time that a Dodger starter was staked to a lead with a 3-run home run with two outs in the visiting first and proceeded to earn a victory, after the club had lost his previous two starts, by allowing only a third-inning run over a six-inning effort in a game in which the Dodgers scored their fourth and final run in the fifth after their switch-hitting leadoff man reached to start the frame was 16 July 1956. Gil Hodges supplied the big home run in that game with Roger Craig getting the win.” by GWilson Aug 5, 2015 | 7:30 PM
        ==========================
        When it counts most
        “Dodger left-handers have allowed .436/.489/.564 against their 47 left-handed batters faced in the seventh or later in high-leverage in 2015. The other 29 teams have allowed a combined .229/.307/.323 for this split. ”
        by GWilson Aug 10, 2015 | 12:06 PM

        Last one might account for some pen struggles in a way no one else has noticed.

        May have more but maybe approaching the eyes-glazed-over level.

  4. Dunno about any relevance for this year, but Brandon Beachy has turned in 2 straight good starts at AAA–following 2 that weren’t–as he tries to rebound from TJ. His numbers there aren’t bad. Effective 7 times in 9 appearances.

    His 2 starts for LA were atrocious. Suspect he wouldn’t have made them except for injury situations as it appeared he wasn’t ready to be effective at the MLB level.

    Signing him always was more about next year. Chance of seeing him in Sept., maybe. Especially if Latos doesn’t pick it up.

    http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?sid=milb&player_id=545404#/career/R/pitching/2015/ALL

    • Bringing him up was a little premature. He’s still a project, probably won’t be able to judge him properly until next year.

  5. Disclaimer. I know that wins (and losses) and era are old news in terms of pitching stats. However, part of me was sad that Wood didn’t go up against DeSclafani, who is pitching on Sunday against Greinke. Wood, prior to tonight’s start, was 7-7 with a 3.72 era. DeSclafani’s record is 7-7 with a 3.75 era. I guess Dodgers would have won by 0.03 runs. (Yes, I do know it doesn’t really work like that.)

    • I thought Mattingly pulled him a little early – low pitch count – but the ‘pen was perfect tonight.

      • Not an “unusual” move. Wood had given up two runs in the previous inning. Donnie brought in the righty to face righty. This is just what they got Johnson for, to pitch the seventh. Low leverage situation good for getting his confidence back. He is not the greatest, but certainly a better pitcher than his first couple of outings. Getting him back on track is all that much more important with Nicasio out.

        • In any event, Wood was good. Votto, meanwhile, is the younger version of AGon, and could be the best Canadian position player ever.

  17. The curse of the DH: John Lamb, the Reds rookie pitcher tonight, just had his first plate appearance in this, his seventh year of professional baseball.

  18. So, I guess it is alright to comment on the game itself. Dodgers tied 1-1.
    Actually, I won’t be commenting too much tonight. I am officiating a wedding tomorrow and need to write out some words on marriage. I leave it to the rest of you to bring the Dodgers safely to shore this evening.

    • I see that you officiate weddings. May I ask in what denomination? You, of course, have no requirement to answer my question.

      • I am not officially ordained in the church, but have become registered to do this though Vital Stats of Manitoba. I am not trying to break the sensible rules we have here about not talking about religion, but I will say that I am Christian and work with a Christian organization. I work in the university so from time to time I get asked to officiate weddings of the students I have worked with. Again, my apologies if this comment violates our community’s posting rules.

          • 34 years! Tomorrow – along with the wedding I’m officiating – my wife and I will be celebrating our 17th year. You have been married twice as long as us!

          • It’s not been perfect, but I’m not complaining. I will say it’s better to let go than persist in a mistake.

          • I have been learning that as well. I shake my head at some of my attitudes and actions from the early years. Not that I’m perfect, but I think I am more understanding and less uptight than before.

    • i am guessing that 90 wins gets us the division (just speculating here). That would require 26 wins and basically winning at the same rate, .553, that we are now. Then we unleash Kershaw and Greinke.

  20. An incisive comment from a new poster to DoDi: “A lot of Dodger fans seem to be confused about what the organization’s priorities actually are. While they want to win now and they want to win going forward, these priorities are not equal. It’s pretty clear that between those two they put building the organization for the future ahead of winning now. They realize that you can’t be a consistent winner without producing the core of your talent through your farm system. To say that you want to be a consistent winner like the Cardinals are and you want to do whatever it takes to win this year is a contradiction in terms.”

    • Especially since there is nothing you can do to guarantee winning.

      But the Dodger fan base is fresh out of any kind of patience.

      Best of both would be for the team to win it all this year. That would buy considerable patience.

  21. Ruh-ro.

    By Jon Weisman

    “Juan Nicasio has been placed on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to Aug. 10) with a left abdominal strain by the Dodgers, who have activated Chris Hatcher from the 60-day DL.

    “Carlos Frias, out since July 1, has been moved to the 60-day disabled list.”

    Also what Latos thinks he needs to do.

    http://dodgers.mlblogs.com/

    • Nicasio has been one of the better relievers lately. Hopefully a healthy Hatcher is ready to step in.

  22. LAT’d: 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.”

  23. The early returns on the pitchers we acquired prior to the trade deadline:
    Wood, 0-1, in two starts, ERA of 5.56.
    Latos, 0-2, in three starts, 6.75
    Avilan, 0-0 in five relief appearances, 7.71
    Johnson, 0-2, in five relief appearances, 23.14

    • . . . vs. A-Gon who, I believe, homered in his first AB as a Dodger and has consistently produced over the course of each season.

      Hopefully these gentlemen can make us forget their start as Blue by great finishes to this season (and — fingers crossed — beyond).