Game 132, 2015

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Giants at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, CSN-BA

Can the Dodgers sweep? You gotta like their chances with Clayton Kershaw (11-6, 2.24 ERA, and did you know he’s just gone two straight months with a sub-2.00 ERA?) going against mid-season acquisition Mike Leake (9-6, 3.53 ERA). Leake’s been no slouch since coming over from the Reds, giving up seven runs in 18 2/3 innings with the Giants. He’s got no wins to show for it, though.

This will be the last series between the two teams until a four-game set to end the season starting September 28.

Lineup:

124 thoughts on “Game 132, 2015”

    • I don’t see Seager as making a major splash down the stretch, but it wouldn’t bother me if he did.

  3. Despite the Gnatloss, Brisbee is back in form this morning: “Dan Szymborski ran some ZIPS projections last night, and the results were that I’m incredible because I spelled his name right on the first try. I know, I know, it’s impressive, but I spelled it one letter at a time and in the end, it all came together. D-A-N. Still can’t believe I did it!”

  4. A timely Wikipedia summary: “After blowing a four game lead with seven to play in 1962, the Dodgers again built a lead in 1963. On August 21, the Dodgers beat the Cardinals 2–1 in 16 innings to take a 7 1⁄2 game lead. When they went to St. Louis for a three-game series on September 16, their lead was one game over the Cardinals, who had won 19 of 20 games. Sports fans around the country were saying how the Dodgers were going to blow it again. But the Dodgers swept the three games from the Cardinals to move four games ahead with nine to play; a 4–1 win over the Mets clinched the pennant in the season’s 158th game.”

    • Good point. These were not easy wins, with LA getting only two runs in each of the last two games.

      Luckily they had the 2015 version of Koufax & Drysdale pitching these games.

      Once again, the call goes out — Sign Zack!

      Kid K — wasn’t he once 2 games under .500? — is now at .667.

  8. Well that’s it for me. I’m tired and excited and a wee bit nervous because so much went right in this series after so many things going wrong not too long ago.
    I close tonight with this: Great series sweeps of your deepest rival is always worthy of appreciation and joy. It is good to be a Dodger fan right now.

  9. I know that there are some issues with Mattingly as manager, and that some here – and elsewhere – would not be too sad to see him go. I was thinking though that one of his strengths may come into play this evening. I say may, because truthfully I don’t know for sure it is an actual plus or not. Or perhaps what I think is a strength of his style is absolutely standard for every MLB manager and thus nothing special. Anyway – I think he will not let them get too high after this win. They may stumble a bit in SD but I don’t think it would be for long because Mattingly seems able to keep this team on a fairly even keel.
    (After all, as the critics can point out, they are only 2 games above .500 over their last 14 games.)

    • I don’t like Mattingly, wouldn’t mind seeing him replaced. But, pessimist that I am, I am certain that he would be replaced by someone just as bad, perhaps in the same ways, perhaps in different ways. Because that is what managers are, flawed men. Maybe the job requires it. Or maybe the job does it to them. I can’t imagine why anyone who can afford to decline the job would ever take it.

      • “Maybe the job requires that.” Loved it. I can just imagine the interviewing process…
        FO: “So, what’s your flaw? Bunting a bit too much perhaps?”
        Manager-to-be (with look of faint disgust): “Ugh, no way. Outs are the precious life blood of baseball never too be sacrificed away so lightly.”
        (Then, with some pride): “No, I much prefer mismanaging the bullpen in a way that will infuriate our entire fan base.”
        FO: “Hmmm, I think we were looking for someone who would fall in love with a low OPS guy as their lead off hitter.”
        Manager-to-be: “I could give it a try.”
        FO: “You’re hired.”

      • I am not a Mattingly fan, but I appreciate the difficulty of handling 25 highly paid players – most of whom earn more than he does. When I managed a slow pitch team, it was hard enough to handle the egos of guys who weren’t getting paid to play.

  10. Leaving Kershaw in felt like one of Jon’s “It’s Your Call” posts on Dodger Insider. “Kershaw’s at 125 plus pitches with 2 out in the ninth but SF have runners on 1 and 2 after 2 straight singles. Jansen has pitched 4 out of the last 5 nights and is not available to close. Do you leave Kershaw in or bring in Avilan? It’s your call.”

    • I wanted him to stay in, but wonder what toll that many pitches will do later on this month and next.
      This was a very big game, but not a playoff game. I’m probably just worrying for nothing but I do hope that it doesn’t have any negative repercussions.
      But for now, we party and dance.

        • Yes I agree. I think that will happen which could/should help Kershaw’s (and Greinke’s) arm to recover somewhat. I wonder how many more starts Clayton will get? 300 k’s would be cool and the way he’s pitching he could get there – but can one ask for or expect 10k games each time out?

  12. Feels like the Dodgers just finished off the NLCS and won a trip to the World Series after tonight’s game.

  20. C’mon, Kersh . . . uno mas!
    Another K ties personal best for a game . . . but I’ll take any kind of out!

    • They just avoided another 5-or-less hits game. . . . Sure hope it’s enough for the W.

  25. If I were Mattingly, I would leave it up to Kershaw whether he wants to come out for the ninth, but I’d have Kenley ready.

  34. The defense has been a bit below their best tonight. In fact, I would say the official scorer has been a friend to them and an enemy to Kershaw. Several hits could have been ruled errors.

      • Oh, I thought the graphic on the tv showed that their challenge circle was used up. I’ll have to check it again when the game comes back on.

  42. I mean wow! Kershaw breathing a sigh of relief after Bryd and then takes our breathe away vs Belt.

  52. In the realm of pain I wonder what hurts more, HBP or fouling a pitch off your bat onto yourself (for comparison sake – same place for both)?

    • It’s been a long time since I was hit by a pitch (I leaned in when I was a little leaguer and other coaches screamed). More recently, when I fouled a ball off my foot in fastpitch, it really hurt.

  53. It’s interesting to note that, when McGwire hit .201 in all of 1991, he still OPSed .714; Joc is presently OPSing .794.

  54. Package, considering your experiences earlier today, you ought to consider changing your Nom de Plume to Don Quixote.

  55. WBBsAs: I got a kick out of your clever Boogaloo Down Broadway post yesterday, combining the Giants pitcher and the Pike in Long Beach. We went there a couple of times when I was a kid in L.A. It was a rough amusement area. I remember seeing a tattoo parlor for the first time, the diving bell and one of the scary fun house rides.

    Take a look at this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXbEqX6OQWw

    More on the Fantastic Johnny C, now in his early 70s: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-fantastic-johnny-c-mn0000053882/biography

  57. I hope Pederson gets another dinger, just to cement his confidence in the change to his approach.