Dodgers at Rockies, 5:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, ROOT Sports
Kenta Maeda makes his fourth start of the season, and he’s already joined some elite Dodger company after his first three games. He’s
2-0 with an 0.47 ERA through his first three starts, joining Fernando Valenzuela (0.33 in 1988), Billy Loes (0.37 in 1952), and Sandy Koufax (0.40 in 1955) as the only three Dodgers to post an ERA under 0.50 through their first three big league starts.
His opponent will be Tyler Chatwood, who’s 2-1 with a 2.79 ERA.
A tale of two Gonzalez’s: The Dodgers’ Adrian Gonzalez has 19 HRs in 77 games at Coors Field during his career, while the Rockies’ Carlos Gonzalez has hit .320 (99-for-309) with 19 homers and 61 RBIs against the Dodgers in his career.
Lineup when available.
NPUT
Not often that a team goes into Coors and gets a win with only four runs.
And in the end, AJ’s 2 run HR would have been enough to do it.
A three-run lead is uncomfortable at Coors. A one-run lead is agonizing.
Move over Nolan Arenado. I have a new fave non-Dodger third baseman. Manny Machado – that dude can play:
http://m.mlb.com/cutfour/2016/04/23/174131782/manny-machado-makes-throw-to-first-from-his-knees-against-royals
Plays just up the street from me and have been able to see him several times over the years. Had a big injury a couple of years ago but is now back at it. I agree, quite a ball player..
Saw Nolan make two errors in a game against the Nats last year. Just sayin’
Still I would take him on the Dodgers post-Turner!
DFA!
He deserves worse!
Good win for LA! Do you think Lee is up to take a start or just for bullpen depth?
I think probably just depth in the pen. Unless Kazmir is out for longer than they are saying right now.
I wouldn’t mind Lee for a Kazmir start.
As long as Kaz is not injured I would give him one or two more starts before bumping him from the rotation. But if he is still shaky come mid May then I would begin to look at options.
If I recall correctly, Kazmir got off to slow start last year before turning it on and had fine numbers for the entire season.
We shouldn’t assume too much from either Kazmir or Maeda (though I think Maeda will have an excellent season, it can’t continue as it has).
Marda first pitcher in MLB history to go four games with only giving up one run.
Really? That is very cool!
Nicely done. We’re 7-5 on the road, 4-2 at home for 11-7. The season is now one-ninth over. Expand that 11-7 over a full year and it goes to 99-63. I’d happily settle for that.
Woo-HOO!!!
The Dodgers really didn’t want to give up their hold on first place to Colorado.
Jansen with his 8th save in the Dodgers first 18 games. He is on pace for 72 saves!
He’s only 11 away from tying Gagne for most in franchise history. I find that a little startling, but when I think about it it seems to me the Dodgers have always had great starters but rarely the big-name relievers. Oh, sure, Mike Marshall and Perranoski, but they didn’t do it for long. In fact, they’ve only had 6 guys log more than 100 career saves for the team: in descending order, Gagne, Jensen, Shaw, Worrell, Brewer, Perranoski.
We win!
With the exception of Jansen, whenever we go to the bullpen I feel like it is a roll of the dice.
Geronimo!
Báez looked great last night, throwing very hard, blew away CarGo.
This looks like it is setting up for another save opportunity for Jansen – barring any runs being scored in the top of the ninth by the Dodgers.
Silly old dog decided she wanted supper at 4:30pm. Came in, looked at her (empty) dish, came out to find me and tell me about it. Filled it up, she inhaled it, and right back out she went. Humph.
Hard not to love a dog like that though. She looks wonderful.
That is a good looking dog, Link.
She was an adoptee from one of the rescue outfits.
Here were our original surmises about her. Since then she’s completely flipped her behavior from what it was three years ago. She doesn’t spend any time at all inside except to eat. She hangs out under the house or in the bushes surrounding a paperbark tree near the pool, occasionally basks in the sun next to the outer wall of the yard, and is completely an outside dog.
Great dog!
The malamute lets us know when it’s breakfast or dinner time, since he’s quite a talker (but not a barker). He too was a rescue of sorts – family with young baby decided they didn’t have time for him, so we adopted him. He’ll be 12 on May 16th and, while he doesn’t pull us around the block any more – rather, we pull him – he can still turn it on if there’s a squirrel in the back yard.
He’s a beauty.
We are really making their bad pen look good.
I know. It is really too nice of us.
Okay – on to the 8th.
Seager with the oops there.
I agree with Roberts taking him out after that first out.
Just peeking in. Maeda still with the shutout in the 7th in Coors!
You would be so proud of him Bob. And equally impressive getting out of his spot of trouble in the 6th as he was throughout the first 5.
I thought the Rockies pen was supposed to be bad. I guess they are going through a market correction like the Dodgers did.
Steiner: “Maeda’s ERA is 0.35 on this side of the Pacific.”
Wonder if it is a USA thing or whether he will do just as well pitching in Canada. 😉
In Toronto first week of May. Take Canadian Rail over there, Dave!
Unfortunately I will be just coming back from the other direction. I spend the first week of May directing a camp for 50 university students in Alberta, just north of Calgary.
Poor timing, sir.
I had good friends who used to live in Bragg Creek. Great area.
I had to look up to see where exactly Bragg Creek was. We won’t be far from there – about an hours drive directly north from it.
Except it is actually at 0.36.
Maeda impresses more every inning.
Hey RBI. Yes, fun to watch/listen to him work for sure!
Yes! He got out of it! Bases loaded and only 1 out and he gets out of it with no runs scored.
Maeda has escapability.
Why the injury delay?
Of course Arenado is coming up in this spot. Sheesh.
Probably for the best. Now don’t have to worry about balancing pitch count with potential no hit bid.
Alright let’s just focus on winning this thing.
Ah well. I certainly had visions of Nomo dance through my head.
Can you name the other L.A. Dodger whose last name had the same four letters as Nomo?
Mono? He was always sick. Just joking. Wally Moon.
But I liked that trivia question. Made me think a bit.
I think it was 29 HRs he hit that year he figured out how to hit opposite field over the screen at the Coliseum.
One small step for man, one small blast for Moon.
Shucks.
WinnipegDave: I also thought you might be getting lonely.
Thanks Scoop! This game is still interesting to follow. I don’t know where everyone else is.
Watching while cooking. Before that, listening to transistor radio while hiking! I am such a Dodger nerd.
Heh. I have the TV on in the kitchen but the radio back here in the office.
Why do you think I come here to chat? Y’all understand!
Hiking and listening sounds wonderful. Nothing nerdish about any of that!
As long as the bears are listening too.
We did see a healthy sized coyote wandering down the middle of the street, bold as anything.
Utley has been more than a pleasant surprise thus far this season.
Wish the Dodgers could score another run or three.
Maeda seems to know what he is doing, and doing it quite well thus far. Interesting.
I will be back later this evening. Tonight it is my turn for bedtime routine with my son.
Second time in two nights that Pederson stung the ball but right at an infielder.
Chatwood at 74 pitches. We are definitely going to see the Rockies’ bullpen early tonight!
Good at bat by Howie. Pokes one through the hole for a single.
This one feels different than last night despite the same early score.
Nice work by Maeda.
Making Chatwood work – 20 pitches in the first inning, and another 20 in the second with 2 outs.
AJ totally deprived Joc of a stolen base attempt there. Oh well. 3-0 Dodgers!
Nice start for Maeda.
Looks like he got CarGo with the same pitch that he used on Story.
Nice k of Story by Maeda
Howie is all glove no bat right now.
Well at least they got one run.
Okay Gonzo let;s do some damage here.
I thought this was an interesting comparison of big time outfielder throws: http://m.mlb.com/cutfour/2016/04/23/174059374/yasiel-puigs-throw-was-an-homage-to-jose-guillen
And to be completely honest, I think Guillen’s throw was more of a rope than Puig’s – who’s throw had more of a rainbow arc to it.
More from Cut 4 – old friend Uribe dancing! http://m.mlb.com/cutfour/2016/04/23/174081492/juan-uribe-dances-in-dugout
I am guilty of stereotyping. I never expected to see a correct reference to a ballet dancer like Misty Copeland on a baseball blog.
Live and learn my friend. Live and learn.
Cubcasters presently admiring Puig’s throw.
Lotsa depth and food for thought in this typically excellent Jon W piece:
http://dodgers.mlblogs.com/2016/04/23/view-from-the-top-andrew-friedman-analyzes-three-keys-to-the-dodgers-future/#more-2102262
I like the “integrating talented young players on to your roster in almost a slow-drip sort of way” concept/plan.
Reviewing Puig’s throw last night – I also showed it to my softball-star nephew who was amazed – I have to express my relief that he didn’t Kemp himself running into the fence.
Yes indeed.