Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 7:10 PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FS-A
Believe it or not, the Dodgers could clinch a postseason spot as early as tonight. The scenario has permutations galore and most of them have to do with the Brewers and Cubs. Put simply, if the Dodgers win tonight’s game and the Cubs and Brewers both lose, the Dodgers are guaranteed a spot because neither of those teams can match the Dodgers’ record of 93 wins.
The streaks end tonight. So saith I, Master of all I survey. In order to make it so, the Dodgers will send their parfait genteel Japanese knight Kenta Maeda, he of the 12-6 W-L record and the 4.19 ERA, to the mound to do battle with the D-Backs’ Taijuan Walker, who brings an 8-7 record with a 3.42 ERA to the game. Oddly, Maeda has 122 strikeouts for the season and Walker has 120. Advantage, Dodgers!
The D-Backs hammered Maeda last week in Phoenix, scoring seven runs on eight hits and knocking him out after three innings. Walker shut out the Rockies for five innings in his last start.
Today in Dodgers’ history:
- 1924 In a game that features a total of only six hits, the Brooklyn Robins beat Boston, 1-0, behind the strong two-hit performance of right-hander Bill Doak. The Braves Field victory is the team’s 15th consecutive win, establishing the longest winning streak in franchise history.
- 1953 With Giants manager Leo Durocher yelling “stick it in his ear”, Ruben Gomez hits Carl Furillo, the National League’s leading hitter, on the wrist with a pitch. After taking first base, the Dodgers right fielder bolts into the opposing dugout to choke ‘Leo the Lip’, but in the melee, the knuckle on his little finger is fractured, putting an end to his season.
- 1981 Fernando Valenzuela ties the National League’s rookie record for shutouts, blanking St. Louis, 5-0, for his seventh whitewash of the season. The Dodger lefty shares the mark with Irv Young (1905 Beaneaters), Grover Alexander (1911 Phillies), and Jerry Koosman (1968 Mets).
- 1985 In a matchup of aces that lives up to its advanced billing, Dwight Gooden and Fernando Valenzuela hook up in one of the best pitchers’ duels in recent memory. New York beats Los Angeles at Chavez Ravine, 2-0, thanks to Darryl Strawberry’s two-run double on a day that the 20 year-old Mets right-hander strikes out 10 batters, throwing nine shutout innings, while the Dodgers southpaw pitches 11 innings without allowing a run.
- 1996 Brett Butler returns to the Dodger lineup four months after having surgery for throat cancer. The 39 year-old center fielder scores the decisive run in the team’s 3-2 victory over the Bucs.
Also on this date in big league history, in 1995 Cal Ripken breaks Lou Gehrig’s consecutive game record, playing in his 2,131st straight game. When the game becomes official in the middle of the fifth inning, the new ‘Iron Man’ takes a victory lap around Camden Yards during the 22-minute standing ovation from the sellout crowd, including President Bill Clinton.
Lineup when available.
Tonight's Dodger lineup vs. D-backs:
Taylor SS
Granderson LF
Turner 3B
Bellinger 1B
Grandal C
Puig RF
Utley 2B
Pederson CF
Maeda P pic.twitter.com/aEVrj7X18P— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 6, 2017
NPUT
How bad is Phlablo? https://twitter.com/mccoveychron/status/905852785610117121
Funny thing — that much-derided first game of the doubleheader featuring the cast of “Who?”sville featured the second largest number of runs scored during this nightmare — the first game in AZ had 6 for the Blue, last Saturday saw 5.
I am no way indicating we should use that lineup. But outside of the quality of opposing pitchers, might the other answer be bats pressing?
Good morning! Good grief!
Maybe the Padres will beat the D-backs tomorrow, she says plaintively.
Well, someone will beat them at some point.
In theory.
We hope.
I thought LV was all about probabilities, or rather taking money way from people who don’t understand them.
It is, and we thank everyone who tries to beat the house — keeps us without a state income tax and allows the Raiders to move here. (Don’t like the team, but excited to have the NFL here.)
Me, I stick to dime video poker.
Futility: “… the Dodgers didn’t get a hit after the third inning.”
Weird stretches of Dodger baseball in the fairly recent past:
2013: 30-42 and then win 42 out of the next 50.
And my personal favourite…
2006: coming out of the All-Star break, they lose 13 out of 14 including the last 8 games in a row. Then they immediately turn it around and win 11 in a row and 17 out of 18.
My command was ignored! Vengeance will be mine!
Drat. This is one of the more discouraging stretches the Dodgers have given me that I can remember.
Maybe your decree was delayed getting to the mainland?
That must be it! Then it will undoubtedly catch up to them by tomorrow evening’s game. I’m sure of it!
Hear, hear!
Night all. Boo-hoo, and all that.
For a while I’d forgotten what it was like to lose. Now I can’t remember what it feels like to win. Weirdest year ever.
Ditto.
Bring ’em good luck manana!
Thunder in Vegas skies . . . only action I’ve heard all night.
Maeda looked a lot better.
All three starters redeemed themselves from last week.
Unfortunately, same result.
D-backs are crazy good right now.
And Dodgers crazy bad.
There was an NPR story today about the Dodgers and they summed it up: you can have bad pitching or bad hitting, but not both at the same time.
I was just thinking that. Look at the Rockies. Same thing.
They also said that AZ would not feel the invincible mystique of the Dodgers in the playoffs . . . if ANYone still feels that way.
Well, let’s see what happens when Seager comes back.
Not sure the Nats or Astros or Indians ever did.
Bad combo.
See you all tomorrow. It will get better. Kershaw pitching.
So much for having players in place to take the load off of him.
Luckily he had that rest (unlucky he had the injury).
Well, they did for weeks and weeks.
This calls for extreme measures. Blue toenail polish, starting tomorrow.
Still waiting for the exclamation point countdown. It will happen and it will be fun!
Very stalled.
I’ll pass.
This is how Gnats fans have felt all year.
They weren’t teased with greatness.
Oh, in their minds they were…
Hahaha. Zing!
They stink.
Yeah. I don’t like the D-backs either.
Remember when McCourt had that psychic on payroll?
Perhaps a sports therapist/hypnotist would help.
I don’t care what they say about being confident, I can’t see how they’re not questioning themselves and pressing.
Here we go. Time for some Hollywood magic.
Right now, that’s an even more improbable script as their rise was.
Hunger and malnutrition are threatening baseball in Venezuela: http://tinyurl.com/y9z5w8kj (in Spanish)
There hasn’t been much scoreboard watching in weeks (months), but gotta be rooting for everyone AZ (and WSH) plays.
Tony C. doesn’t scare me as much.
SP has MUCH better than last week. (Tho same results, so far.)
Gotta seek silver linings to stay sane.
Let’s put the D-backs in a bit of perspective. They do not have the best record in baseball.
They do not have the best record in the NL.
They do not have the best record in the NL West.
They are not even the hottest team in baseball.
The D-backs are overrated.
There I said it.
Who is hotter?
They’ve owned the Dodgers there and here.
And they know it.
Cleveland has won 14 in a row.
Wow. They will be the sentimental favorites vs. anyone, the Cubs of this year.
Agreed. Against anyone not the named the Dodgers and I’m all in with Cleveland winning.
As much as I wanted the Cubs to win last year (when LA was eliminated), I would’ve been happy for Cleveland.
I cheered for Cleveland.
The bats have been cursed since they cursed Rich Hill.
I blame the SI cover more.
*Whistles quietly to himself as he hears this conversation and think about the team’s record since he came home from China.*
Hahaha…you? Never!
And yet…
I think we are doomed. Again.
@@$”!!#*!!!#£
Big moment here.
I love it. He threw it away.
I hate Bradley. There, I said it.
How about now?
I relish that wild throw.
Wow. Forsythe made an amazing catch at third.
Yep.
I guess AZ has our number right now. Colorado series will be more fun I’m sure.
I’m sure many felt the same way when they went down to San Diego.
Now we get to face Archie, with no Turner. Granderson, Forsythe and Hernandez all in the lineup now.
Yup. Double play.
Why pull Joc for Kikè?
Good question and now Doc should be asking the same question.
This is so painful.
And now we have Forsythe in the lineup again.
Okay, Puig. Get on base.
Remember when it was fun being a Dodger fan?
Let’s call that time October and all be happy.
Was watching on Game Day and so happy to see in play outs
Wake me when this part of the season is over, please.
Didn’t look like it hit him.
Are they challenging?
Nope.
Same ump making the call?
I think so.
Single, double, single. Good job, Avilan.
Here they go again, and here we do, too. Lucy, yanking the football.
Dodgers playing from behind again.
I really can’t bear it.
And now the umpire has ejected JT from the game after a teammate yelled at him about that call.
Hard for JT to get a good swing when the called strike three is wayyyyy outside.
Dipping in and out myself. Much better for my mood.
I’m Dodgering in and out of this game tonight. Can’t take another one like last night’s 10 inning affair.
Very nice throw by the catcher to catch Puig trying to steal 2nd. Unfortunately.
I know. D-backs with another great had-to-be-perfect play.
Maeda must have a better pick-off move than the lob toss to first that he has done a few times tonight.
What’s the latest on Seager?
Coming back on Friday I heard.
We are as quiet as the crowd at Dodger Stadium.
True. I have the game on the tv but am doing some work on the computer tonight.
I’m in and out of my school classes
Having to do elliptical downstairs to stay sane and swear in private.
Joc gets a ball to fall in for him. Something that wouldn’t go his way in his last 30 games.
Maybe the Dodgers were simply missing… Joc! And perhaps they will now get back to their winning ways.
A first baseman with speed gave the Dodgers the lead.
Dodgers take the lead and AZ behind in a game for the first time in forever!
I only visit Dodger Stadium infrequently, and I was unaware there’s a snowcone concession.
It’s also an unusual occurrence.
Well, you do have shaved ice in Hawai’i.
Dodgered a bullet.
Granderson with the ultimate snow cone.
So, the best hit ball of the night is an out.
To put things in context… https://twitter.com/TheOnion/status/905611647565344768
Love the Onion.
Ya hay alineación… https://twitter.com/LosDodgers/status/905588738218131456
This lineup is not inspiring confidence.
One good thing: no Forsythe
I can’t find the Dodgers lineup tonight. Here’s hoping that neither Granderson nor Hernandez is in the No. 2 hole — how about Barnes? — and that the lineup doesn’t include Granderson, Hernandez of Forsythe. I know that I am asking a lot.
It makes no sense to have Granderson (.105) in the lineup, but having hiim batting second is ridiculous. I am glad that Joc is getting a start.
I do not think Joc and Granderson should be in the same line up at all. They are basically the same.
Perhaps Joc will return with a bang . . . or not.
He did get a hit.
Oh well.
Regarding the item above from 1953, the injury forced Furillo to miss the rest of the regular season but he had enough at bats and led the league in hitting at .344. He returned for the World Series, batting .333 in the six games. The Yankees won the Series, 4-2.
Why do I feel like Charlie Brown, and the D-backs are holding the football?
Was hoping BBRef had a pitch count for Fernando on that 1985 game, but no. 11 innings, 6 hits, 3 walks, 39 batters faced. That would take 5 or more pitchers to accomplish in this era.
Retrosheet doesn’t have pitch counts either, at least not from that time period.
Nice article about Dodgers still having confidence, despite the recent stench (his word) — https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2017/9/6/16258948/dodgers-losing-streak-confidence-best-record-in-mlb-diamondbacks
“The bottom line is this. How the Dodgers fare this October will depend on how they play this October. It won’t be because of how they played in late August and early September, just like it won’t be a result of how they played in June, July, or most of August.”
It’s a very persuasive argument.
Well, Ripley, that IS tough to believe. First wish — a Dodger win.