Game 121, 2017

Dodgers at Tigers, 1:05 PM PT, TV: FS-D, FS1, SPNLA

The Dodgers send lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu (4-6, 3.63 ERA) to the hill to face the Tigers’ RHP Michael Fulmer (10-10, 3.78 ERA). The Dodgers are 6-1 in Ryu’s last seven starts (five of which ended before the sixth), and he’s got a 2.50 ERA in those games. Fulmer has lost four starts in a row and put up a 7.89 ERA in those games.

The Dodgers acquired Curtis Granderson from the Mets for the proverbial player-to-be-named-later or cash. This may have an impact on Joc Pederson’s playing time, and it’s hard to see what they do with André Ethier when he presumably returns from his injuries in September. “The Dodgers designated pitcher Dylan Floro for assignment to make room for Granderson on the 40-man roster. They will have to make a corresponding transaction to make room on the active roster once Granderson joins the team.”

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1955 For the sixth consecutive season, Robin Roberts is a 20-game winner. The Phillies right-hander, who will finish the season with a 23-14 record, beats Don Newcombe and the first place Dodgers at Connie Mack Stadium, 3-2.
  • 1957 Citing poor attendance as the reason, Giants’ president Horace Stoneham, ignoring baseball’s edict of banning announcements about relocation of franchises until after the World Series, informs the press the club has signed a lease to play its home games in San Francisco next season. The club’s Board of Directors voted 8-1 approving the shift to the West Coast, with the only dissenting vote cast by M. Donald Grant, who will become the chairman of the Mets, an expansion team located in New York to fill the National League void created by the departure of the Giants and Dodgers to California.
  • 2004 Pitching a perfect bottom of the ninth inning, John Smoltz establishes the franchise record with his 142nd save in a Braves uniform. The right-handed reliever surpasses Gene Garber as Atlanta beat the Dodgers in Los Angeles, 6-5.
  • 2008 The Dodgers reacquired Greg Maddux (6-9, 3.99) from the Padres for cash and two minor leaguers to be named or an additional monetary sum. The 42 year-old future Hall of Fame right-hander, obtained to help the club down the stretch run, played in LA for part of the 2006 season, winning six of nine decisions.

On this day in 1951 Forty-three inch tall Eddie Gaedel walks on four pitches in his only major league appearance. Bill Veeck’s idea of playing the midget was legal at the time but is later outlawed.

Lineup when available.

Huh. Granderson’s arrival allows movement all over the lineup. I hope it works.

125 thoughts on “Game 121, 2017

  1. My dream has come true – as the Cerveceros beat the Snakes, the Dodgers now have a 20-game division lead.

    • Good — hopefully mine comes true as well . . .
      My dream is that the Dodgers win 11 postseason games this year.

      • 20-game lead was a short-term goal. In the post-season, I’m expecting eleven straight.

    • And that team across the Bay can be eliminated from NL West division race on Sunday with either Dodger victory or a loss.

  2. He didn’t negate the possibility of amputation, though…

    Cody Bellinger said he will live. "No grave necessary," he said. He will get tomorrow off.— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) August 19, 2017

  3. The Dodgers (and Stephen Colbert) are a great remedy for the mood I’ve been in since Jan. 20..

  4. Seems like I’ve been saying this often, but what a great win; let me count the ways: not spectacular, but steady starting pitching and great when the need called for it, shutdown bullpen, steady-to-spectacular D, and an offense which made things happen with hustle and power, including taking advantage of a gift given them.

    • Overall, pitching has been spectacular with a team ERA of 3.15, more than half a run better than the second ranked Snakes. The defense makes it 3/4 of a run better than the Snakes at R/G of 3.33.

      • I was talking only of today.
        Yes, they are definitely clicking on all cylinders.

        • Sure, but just to point out that relative to the season some cylinders clicked more than others in this game. The offense “under-performed” by 2.12 runs and the pitching/defense “over-performed” by 3.30 runs.

          • Moreover, relative to NL average, the offense is 0.5 runs better. Relative to pitching and defense 1.3 runs better.

    • That’s awesome.
      I hope for his, the team’s, and our sake (because that would mean his play is tremendous) that he’s a Dodger next April 15th and he gets to wear #42 in Dodger Blue.

      • It’s admirable, but he’s only a rental. There’s too much younger talent for them to re-sign an aging, expensive outfielder.

          • Andrew Toles will also be returning. Had he not been injured, he’d be getting a lot more playing time (though his presence might have delayed Bellinger’s arrival).

  5. Back home after my 5 week sojourn in China. Happy to see the Dodgers went a very tidy 25-5 in my absence.

    And happy to see them touch home themselves in this game!

  6. Grandy wearing #6. I couldn’t think of a Dodger that wore that number and after I looked it up, it appears that it is not a popular number.

  7. Difference in two teams: no attempt at running to first on a dropped 3rd strike vs. Granderson running out what turns out to be a two-base error.

    Bring him home, Grandal!

  8. Two things from actually getting to see the team, uncommon for me:

    1) Ryu flat knows how to pitch, even without his best control. A craftsman out there.

    2) Dick Enberg has lost little if anything. Still one of the best ever in the booth.

  9. Mo just said tomorrow brings the Dodgers’ interleague play to a close.
    Correction — we hope there’s another series in October!

    • Until he changed laundry, Granderson — like all Mets and Mets fans — probably disliked/hated Chase. Now he’s going to appreciate him.