Dodgers at Giants, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, CSN-BA
It’s Clayton Kershaw’s turn to try to advance the Dodgers into the postseason and turn out the lights on the Giants’ hopes of getting there. He’s 15-7 on the year with a 2.25 ERA, 1-2 with a 2.76 ERA against the Giants. He and his teammates will face Madison Bumgarner, who’s 18-8 with a 2.88 ERA, 2-1 with a 1.63 ERA against the Dodgers this season. Both of these pitchers have been excellent since the All Star break: Kershaw’s gone 9-1 with a 1.48 since then, while Bumgarner has been almost as good, going 9-3 with a 2.31 ERA. He’s also thrown three complete games in that span.
There are some other games of consequence being played today and tonight as well.
Lineup when available.
Tonight's #Dodgers lineup
Hernandez CF
Kendrick 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Turner 3B
Seager SS
Ruggiano LF
Ellis C
Van Slyke RF
Kershaw P
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 29, 2015
NPUT
Brisbee asks whether Kershaw (or anyone else) can have a 300-K season at present? http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2015/2/13/8032819/300-strikeouts-randy-johnson-history-future-whoa
Well, Clayton certainly can, if he and the team agree that it is a worthwhile objective.
I’m sure he wants it, and time isn’t a problem, their first playoff game isn’t until the 9th (?)…
Yes, of course he will get another start, the issue may arise during the course of that game.
Didn’t see this because of blackout, but truly beautiful:
So, Bochy said BadGums had bad luck yesterday. Homers by three of the Dodgers’ lesser power hitters was bad luck?
Also from ESPN, but in a different post: “If the Dodgers can make up two games in their final five [on the Mets], they would open the playoffs Oct. 9 at Dodger Stadium.”
If Kershaw pitched like he did last night, I’m sorry – it doesn’t matter where Game 1 is. All it would take is 1 Dodger run in NY and suddenly HFA would be LA’s again.
ESPN:
OK. Braves went 17 times to the playoff over those years. 12 times not making the WS.
Interesting point AJ made. Because there’s no bullpen, all the players were together for the long game last night, and he felt like it made them come together as a team.
Have you had a pint or two tonight?
I would if I could but I can’t so I didn’t!!!!
If I counted correctly, they currently have a 38 man roster.
Hefty team!
That’s an extremely wet clubhouse. Poor Alanna.
She just got a blankie around her shoulders.
Kershaw at 294 strikeouts. Among Dodgers pitchers, only Sandy Koufax (three times) has ever had more in a single season.
Hairston asked Kershaw about the 13 pitch at bat. Kershaw: I knew I didn’t
have a chance, so I just spread out and tried to be as annoying as possible.
As nervous as I was last night, tonight was well worth the wait.
I love games where it all works for you from the first batter on.
Thanks, everybody for all season. On to the playoffs! I didn’t paint my nails blue, but I wore my Ebbets Field 1955 World Series Champions T-shirt tonight. It has a picture of Ebbets Field on it. I got it about 15 years ago.
I had on the ’88 championship T-shirt. And the toenails are staying blue!
I had my Dodger Thoughts t-shirt on today.
Whoever’s playing the Mets this week, beat ’em!
Fillies and Nats (but the Nats are just as likely to beat themselves)
Huge huge respect for the team tonight. This was an unbelievably strong finish.
https://youtu.be/qpGx4foRdPw
It will be fun to see tomorrow’s starting lineup!
I think you are playing second base.
I’m ready to turn DP’s all night long!
Momentum in a bottle!
Such a great way to finish!
28 K’s in Kershaw’s last two games against SF.
Game score of 97!
WOO-HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We win!!!
There we go!
http://media.fyre.co/rqFMaMIdQyW0Dh6AZ3Q5_giant%20kid%20cry.png
He ran out of snot.
His tear ducts are full of it, though.
1 more!
Oh wow!
What a strike three pitch!
Close it down, Kersh!
Turner hit. Hope he’s okay.
Might be Guerrero at third tomorrow.
Day after they normally clear the bench in any event.
That got a lot of meat on the forearm. Will be a nice bruise, but nothing more serious.
Hello, Jack.
Nice to see AGon get some good swings tonight.
Okay. Clearly he starts the ninth. If he can get another strikeout or 2 or 3 in the ninth – he would be within shouting distance of 300. Even in a reduced start to warm up for the playoffs – he might still do it.
Public Enemy number 12!
Definition of a dominant performance.
On the Schadenfreude front, BadGums will not win 20 games.
I like that!
Magic number is really two 2’s. We should have known it all along. #22
Excellent!
He should bunt, save his arm for the CG.
Kershaw should bat with all those towels he wears in the dugout when he comes to the plate!
Yup. That hit stung.
Kersh getting booed. Sign of respect.
Gnats fans deserting the sinking ship.
Best regular season game for the Dodgers this year!
And still no outs.
AJ! Two RBI game.
Jim Johnson should pitch the ninth!!
Too soon I guess. 😐
And still no outs.
Pouring it on!
Oh yeah!
Triple for Ethier!!!!
Dre!!!!
Glad to see Ethier in.
Affeldt made some of our relievers look like world beaters after tonight’s performance.
The streak is alive.
Corey still a good player!
Corey! Great RBI.
So Greinke or Kershaw for Game 1 NLDS*?
(* if they win tonight)
Greinke is the best pitcher in the NL and the second best pitcher on the Dodgers.
That’s it exactly for this season!! So – you go with the best. 🙂
AGon gets a hit!
290!
At this rate Kenley’s last meaningful pitch of the regular season might well have been last Thursday.
It would be funny if he doesn’t pitch until tomorrow or later – potentially after the Dodgers clinch. My guess we see him in the ninth if it is 4-0 or even 5-0.
Clayton will want to do a CG, if he keeps this up.
DM might not want to try the handshake thing like he did after Wood was pulled from his one hitter.
If he is in lows 90s by the 9th, Donnie will have to pry him off the mound with a crow bar.
It sounds like there are a lot of Dodger fans there.
2 truckloads of topsoil and mulch won’t move themselves, so I’ve pressed record to watch (celebrate?!?) later
Nooo. Stick around a bit longer! 🙂
would love to, but duty calls 🙂
They need you in the outfield of AT&T.
Ha!
You mean TPBTBNL.
Remind me what that stands for?
The Phone Booth To Be Named Later.
So funny!
Amusing and appropriate.
Is he up to 290 K’s now?
289 I guess.
Kersh is on fire. Love seeing him like this.
wow
Clayton feeling it!
that is just plain nasty
Not sure Pagan happy to have that extra pitch!
nice play by Turner on the foul
nice curve!
As seen on your neighborhood Gnatblog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=5&v=JSUIQgEVDM4
have been out gardening, but just thought that this might be the game of the day on TV. just came inside in time to see both the HR’s!
Excellent timing.
as i turned it on Ruggiano was walking up to the plate
Thank you for the good juju.
The Dodgers just planted a few in the SF garden-er.
it was much more satisfying seeing it live
Package, you watching?
It appears Kershaw’s at bat meant Bochy left Bum in one inning too long. The 6th inning is the new 7th this year?
Back to back!!!! Wow.
The hook for Bad Gums!
Thanks for the season. You can pick up your gift bag at the door.
This is truly beautiful.
AJ. !!!
Dinger parade!
AJ!!!!!!!
Oh yes!
Rugs!!!!!!
Saw this post before I saw the HR happen on MLB.tv – and new it was gone!
Seager struggling against Bumgarner. First time I’ve seen him press.
Strikeouts to one pitch pop ups and two pitch ground outs: Na unh. Kersh and us are still besties.
Struck out the side, the curve is working now.
KKKershaw strikes out the side!
And HRHRgardner leaves the game.
I love BadGums’s pitch count but I’d like to see more runs.
Me, too. Maybe this inning.
Dodgers delivered!
Not sure Bumgarner is long for this game. Thanks, Clayton, and Gnats defense.
He is due up fourth this inning, although he’s a decent hitter.
I’m pretty sure they’ll keep him in for one more.
But we didn’t score our run this inning which really would have made MadGuy mad.
Okay, AGon. Drive in the stake.
Gonzo would have corralled that low throw me thinks.
Third stringer, who has played about 50 games at first in nine year career. So, yeah.
15% of Bumgarner’s pitches were to Clayton on that at bat, according to Orel.
Longest at bat by any pitcher this year – says Steiner.
Amazing competitor.
Steiner? Yeah I guess he is kinda scrappy. 😉
RBI with the toss. Winnipeg Dave, with the punch line!
My dear wife thanks the internet for being the place where my one liners go to live.
Epic at bat, fouled off 7 before succumbing. 13 total.
and scooting down the line.
Kersh making him work
Working on a Cora?
BeeGees – Staying Alive
https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/649059575690330113?ref_src=twsrc^tfw
Seven-pitch inning works for me.
Sorry strikeouts, my new BFF’s are the one pitch pop up and two pitch ground out.
Ruggs!
Nice catch buddy!
I’m fine if we score every odd inning.
Toes are doing their job.
That was an adventure.
Hi all. Settle down, Kersh! We need this third out here.
Hey RBI. How are the nerves tonight?
Much better, thanks. I had to give myself a little “settle down” talk, and I just did the elliptical for the first inning, and cooked and ate dinner for the next few.
Good call on the elliptical. And then a nice dinner. Sounds like you are good to go! #notadoctor but sounding like I know what I’m talking about 🙂
The consensus seems to be PB instead of WP.
I just saw the video of Quique’s dinger, and even Steiner got it right.
In the land of players being spark plugs, Kiké is King.
Bumgarner appears to have control issues. SNLA came back on for me in the 2nd.
Not happy with the ump either.
He’s always snarling.
Had a stare down in LA as I recall.
Quique mania!
37 pitches for Bumgarner already. That’s nice. Lots of foul balls, at least, guys.
Bases loaded, none out, and we produce all of one run. One key hit and we could have been up by three. Giants fans have to be happy with that, Dodgers fans not. Was Kendrick’s grounder a potential DP?
Yep, should have been a DP.
OK, so we caught a big break there. I don’t feel as bad then about only getting the one run.
Easy DP ball. We got a gift.
Still, when you load the bases with nobody out, you want more.
Oh, man, more runs would have been nice there. Steiner telling us Mattingly spoke to Rollins to tell him Seager was playing SS for the next several games. Then the kid strikes out. It figures.
Not totally outclassed against one of the better southpaws in the game. Had one good cut and took a low slider, before King.
I am glad we will be seeing more of Seager.
Good situational hitting by Turner.
Oh please, let the crying begin. Let’s go Justin!
BadGums doesn’t cry. He just blows the snot out his nose.
I have temporary look-in on Gameday, but that also means Steiner.
Ok………Let’s lace ’em up and try this again 24 hrs. later……..
….
Glad to have Ki-que’s energy back…….
Goodness. rainouts all over the East. The Jays can’t clinch and will have to play two against the Os, the Cards and Pirates will have to play a doubleheader and so will the Twins and Indians.
Behind Dre’s rebirth:
He had only 51 PA against lefties last year. Difference is that he is murdering righties again like he used to. And doing twice as well against leftiies (though still only 63 OPS+)
Have the giants (sic) feed tonight. Can’t wait to hear them cry.
I’ve got no video, but at least that means no Steiner.
SNLA not coming in at my house tonight for some reason.
Let’s look at the numbers.
From Grant Brisbee:
Don Mattingly is weird, y’all.
Consider his bunt fetish. He loves, loves, loves putting runners in scoring position with one out, even if it means sacrificing an out to the baseball gods. A wee, precious out. So fragile, so rare. Mattingly crushed the out’s skull against a rock and feasted on the syrup inside. He didn’t give a single damn.
Contrast that with Bruce Bochy in the bottom of the 12th. After a leadoff single, Kelby Tomlinson came up. He’s fast and ostensibly bunty. Seems like a fella who can half-swing the stick. Mattingly was probably telling his fielders to crash and crash hard. Bunt’s-a-comin’.
Except the bunt never came. And Tomlinson lined an opposite-field single to right, allowing the winning run to scamper to third. Good things can happen when the bunt is neglected. It’s not all double plays and pop-outs. The Giants won because they didn’t bunt; the Dodgers lost because they did.
If you don’t care so much about the bunt, focus on the fact that Kenley Jansen warmed up four times without coming into the game. He’s the best pitcher on the team after Kershaw and Greinke. He can get outs. He can get strikeouts with a runner on third and one one, which, say, was the exact situation the Dodgers were in when they lost. If you need a primer on why Jansen should have been in there, some dingus wrote about it here:
… when it comes to the Dodgers and Kenley Jansen, who is clearly the best reliever on the team (without a close runner-up), not using him in a tie game on the road is the same thing as saying, “Nah, that’s okay. Improving the odds of the game continuing isn’t as important as the closer getting a save opportunity that may or may not ever exist, even if it comes in a three-run game.” Yet, that’s what Don Mattingly does, without fail.
This is exactly what I was yelling at Mattingly about last night – bringing in KJ in the bottom of the 12th. (After earlier sighing heavily about calling for a bunt.) Granted, I was in the my kitchen, and he was in SF. But did he listen? No, he did not. Bochy is the smarter manager, sad to say.
I am no Mattingly fan, and his departure would not upset me. That said, many if not most major league managers would do exactly what he did last night. There is no guarantee that a different manager would be any better.
Hence my position that I have yet to like any manager the Dodgers have had or are likely to have in the future. I think Mattingly’s gone unless the Dodgers actually get to the World Series.
You didn’t like Alston or Lasorda?
In a word, “No”.
Their Series championships were simply not good enough for you, then? It sounds as if you think the ’63 Dodgers should have done better than just sweeping the Yanquis.
Every year is a new season, a new chance to win. Winning once, twice, whatever, does not make up for all the losses. You’re bandying words to pick a fight…
So, unless you win the Series every year you’re a failure?
He has the personal backing of the owner, so unless he himself does something that clearly results in the Dodgers not making it that the FO can add to a list of grievances, I think he stays.
Rather strange performance on Donnie’s part. He might have outfoxed Bochy if he had only pulled the trigger and brought in Kenley in the 12th. I had assumed that he was going the conventional route and was only going to bring him in if and when the Dodgers got the lead. If he had gone the non-conventional route at the get go, he would have already used Kenley in the 9th. I hadn’t know that Kenley had been up four times already. A bit of a waste. Of course, Donnie only has to win one of the four so he may be taking a longer view, but even then, as you pointed out last night, Kenley seems to have rust issues and hadn’t been used in 4 days alredy.