Dodgers at Jays, 10:10AM PT, TV: SPNLA
Ross Stripling (0-2, 4.33 ERA) goes for the Dodgers and Marco Estrada (1-2, 2.64 ERA) goes for the Blue Jays. Estrada’s gotten only 10 runs to work with in his five starts this year while Stripling has seen his ERA climb every start since his first, when he threw 7 1/3 innings of no-hit ball and was pulled due to a predetermined pitch count. In two of his last three starts he hasn’t made it to the fifth inning. It’s not for lack of determination, though:
Gonzalez will be the Dodgers’ DH, but the first base job is between Utley and Turner. Meanwhile, Russell Martin returns to the catching position for the Jays; he took Dickey’s start off.
From pink bats to specially-designed uniform logos to honorary bat girls to “Pink Out” days in the stands all of MLB will celebrate Mother’s Day in one way or another.
Someone please post the lineup in the comments if I don’t get to it before the game starts (7:10AM my time).
NPUT
Dodgers retake first place, by percentage points, as Rox swat Gnats 2-0.
Joc’s OPS now at .942.
Joc is swinging harder for the last 10 days or so and it is resulting in more home runs and strike outs. I hear / read that he continues to keep in his swings the key elements that he has been working on so it isn’t like he is totally reverting to last year.
He needs to keep hitting home runs as the team doesn’t have other players that seem to be able to hit them often enough. Pitchers have to be very careful with him and therefore he is a stressful at bat for them. Now if he will let his home runs come mostly from pitchers mistakes and be prepared to hit line drives up the middle on most pitches he will get, he should continue to do well.
Stripling pitched his heart out.
He’s had an up-and-down start to his season, hasn’t he? Near no-hitter the first time, then three or four where he’s barely gotten to the fifth inning, and now today.
He’s work-in-progress, what you might expect from a youngster.
Or coming back. When Ryu and McCarthy get healthy they’ll probably bump the 2 & 3 starters down to 4 & 5 and it’ll be decision time for Roberts et. al.
Hatcher gets the win!
Very nice. And a happy rest of the Mother’s Day to you all.
Thank you. You too!
I was not thinking we’d win this one.
Woo-HOO!!! Kenley!
Dodgers still not taking advantage of their opportunities.
Seager looking comfortable out there.
The Chutley signing looks better every day.
Utley with the gem!
Lack of reliable 7th/8th inning relievers could mean that Jansen is overworked. Not good to contemplate.
More like underworked. If we don’t get to the 9th with a tie or the lead he is probably not going to pitch. Hasn’t worked very much at all on this road trip, for example.
True, but asking him to get seven outs in about 24 hours is what concerns me.
OK, but he has thrown only 20 pitches on the road trip.
Well, it looks like I am outvoted on this one.
He hadn’t pitched four days until yesterday.
Now, if we can break it open here, he can sit down.
Geronimo for the 4 out save!
OK Pedro, would be nice to see back-to-back good outings.
Joc’s OPS today (for those keeping score): 1.250 on three whiffs and a homer.
“lies, damned lies and statistics.”
Two runs! Two runs!
Justin is fightin’ it.
He took a good pitch for strike three.
Are we finally seeing the Justin Turner that the Mets saw?
It was more an observation of his frustration over a number of calls that were either strikes or too close to take. He had a pretty good week with a hit in every game on the road trip and a couple of multi-hit games and a dinger yesterday.
Joc gets the Dodgers even!
Stripling and the Dodgers can take a lot of hope away from his showing today.
Pederson now has 31 Ks in 78 AB — 39.7 percent.
But also an OPS of .924, which is exceptional.
WBBsAs: Point taken (and just emphasized).
Top 15 in the NL.
Orel and Nomar said yesterday that he’d improved his stroke. He still strikes out too much, they said, but the swing is shorter and contact is better.
Normally use PA, so it’s 33.6%. Still high, but one-third of the time he steps to the plate (rather than appearing to be 40% of the time)
Happy Mother’s Day to all the wives, moms, daughters and daughters-in-law in each of your families. We’ve got my sister coming over in an hour or so with takeout Eggs Benedict. Ah, Hollandaise!
I just wished Happy Mother’s Day on the phone to my mother, who is halfway between 95 and 96. Tomorrow is the birthday of my wife of 36 years. And our daughter called to wish her mom Happy Birthday’s Day. So, now you know about the three most important women in my life. Happy Mother’s Day to all.
With all due respect to my mother and my wife (also a mother), pink is patronizing.
Utley 2B
Seager SS
Turner 3B
Gonzalez DH
Grandal C
Kendrick 1B
Pedersen CF
Crawford LF
Thompson RF
(Stripling P)
Thank you.
You’re welcome. And thank you for tirelessly and consistently running this blog.
Tirelessly? I’m exhausted! 😉
Ha!
After shrimp risotto for lunch – with a Patsy Cline soundtrack in Buenos Aires! – it’s time for Dodger baseball.
Saw an episode of Globe Trekker the other night which featured a road trip from north to south on Ruta 40 in Argentina. It was fascinating but looked arduous.
I’ve driven it many times. In 1991, we saw three other vehicles in four days on the southernmost segment. That’s now mostly paved.
I have done the northern section, Mendoza-Salta, a couple of times, and the Esquel – El Bolson part in the south. Just lovely.