Dodgers at Rockies, 5:10 PM PT, TV: SPNLA, ATT Sportsnet RM, MLBN (out-of-market only)
Why are baseball games always scheduled to start at five or ten minutes after the hour?
The Dodgers open their final series of the 2017 season with LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (5-8, 3.47 ERA) pitching in the rarefied air of Coors Field against RHP Chad Bettis (1-4, 5.72 ERA).
Ryu has been very good since the All Star break, going 2-2 in ten starts with a 2.42 ERA. He’s in a tussle with Alex Wood for a spot in the post-season rotation. Bettis had a good outing his last time out, giving up just one run on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings last weekend in San Diego. He’s battling for a spot on the Rockies’ post-season roster if they get in. The Rockies have a two-game lead over the Brewers for the second National League Wild Card spot. If they win and a Brewers lose tonight they’ll clinch it.
The Dodgers select IF/OF Tim Locastro’s contract from OKC.
Today in Dodgers’ history:
- 1951 Don Newcombe becomes the first African-American to win twenty games in a season. In a must win for the Dodgers, the right-hander bests Robin Roberts, also a 20-game-winner, when he blanks the Phillies at Shibe Park, 5-0.
- 1959 At the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, the Dodgers capture the NL flag with a dramatic 6-5 come-from-behind victory over the Braves, taking the first two games of the three-game playoff necessitated by the teams being tied on the last day of the season. The deciding run comes in the bottom of the 12th inning, after the first two batters make outs, when Gil Hodges walks and scores on singles by Joe Pignatano and Carl Furillo.
- 1976 Tommy Lasorda is named to succeed Walter Alston as Dodger manager. ‘Smokey’ compiled a 2040-1613 record (.558), during his 23-year tenure with the club, winning seven pennants, and four world championships.
- 1979 Manny Mota sets a major league record with his 146th career pinch hit, a single to right field, in LA’s 6-2 victory over Chicago at Dodger Stadium. The Dominican Republic native surpasses the all-time record set by Smoky Burgess, who collected his last hit as a pinch-hitter in 1967.
- 2000 Gary Sheffield ties the Dodgers’ franchise single-season home run record when he goes deep off Woody Williams in the team’s 3-0 victory over San Diego at Qualcomm Stadium. The left fielder, with his career best 43rd round tripper, now shares the team mark with Duke Snider, who established the record in 1956 when he played for Brooklyn.
Today is also the anniversary of The Catch (the Willie Mays one, not the Dwight Clark one):
Lineup when available.
Tonight’s Dodger lineup at Rockies:
Granderson CF
Seager SS
Turner 3B
Bellinger 1B
Puig RF
Ethier LF
Grandal C
Forsythe 2B
Ryu P— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 29, 2017
NPUT
The idea was great, trying to bolster SP so Kersh wouldn’t have to carry the postseason weight.
However . . . .http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/256751158/hyun-jin-ryu-struggles-against-rockies/?topicId=27118384
Of course, if the bats come alive and SP is decent, the Big Three take care of the LDS.
Klayton has been used on short rest the past three NLDS when the Dodgers were down 1-2, so yeah. Wood might still be used to start game 4 depending on the circumstances and still appear in game 1 or 2 as a short reliever, which would be like off day work. It was Mattingly who used him to start game 4 in 2013, when the Dodgers were up 2-1, looking for the kill.
The effectiveness of curve balls is said to be diminished in Coors, and even in the Snake Pit, so that probably contributes to Ryu’s woes. Perhaps Hill’s is so good that he would have less of a problem. Still, if it is to be the Rox, then maybe Darvish and Hill switch for the start in Coors.
I was thinking about the breaking ball up there as well, so as you mentioned last night, I was wondering about judging just on that one game (it IS Coors Field — I know it’s not the favorite place for Kersh . . . we’ll find out).
But apparently Ryu hasn’t done well vs. CO wherever the game is played, so that’s a contributing factor.
It’s apparent the FO are fans of metrics, as it appears they have all these stats.
Hill has never pitched for the Dodgers in Coors. Very poor record prior to that there, though he was a different pitcher then.
From sea to shining sea. Anybody up for nice walk?
https://www.mnn.com/green-tech/transportation/blogs/canadas-great-trail-stretch-15000-miles-coast-coast
Gives a whole new meaning to ‘Take a hike!’
I’d bicycle parts of it quite happily.
Just registered for the chance to buy WS tickets.
https://securea.mlb.com/la/ticketing/postseason-ticket-opportunity/
Those recent laughers vs. SD were nice, and needed.
Lack of connection to postseason or not, it would be nice to beat a winning team going into it since they haven’t done it since two weeks ago tomorrow.
All right! Holding them at nine!
— but staying at one.
There was a slight amount of sarcasm involved in my comment.
— and a lot of disappointment in mine.
This game is interminable.
Almost 200 pitches by the Dodgers.
Which team would you rather we face between the Rockies, D-backs and Brewers?
Rox for me.
I would have said that before tonight.
Can’t let yourself be swayed by one game.
They look very dangerous tonight, is all I am saying.
Also, they’ve had our number lately.
Actually, I guess the Brewers, though don’t think that will happen.
I’m most concerned about the Cubs. I can see us taking care of business with everyone else, even the Indians. We just have this thing about the NLCS.
The Padres. Not that you offered them as a choice.
Arizona not exactly finishing up with a bang either. Lost again tonight.
How could that not go out for Grandal?!?!?!
Báez is human buffering…
Post of the night. Maybe week.
Worst outcome from this game would be Baez back in discussion for playoff roster.
Okay, does not look like we will be clinching anything tonight.
Since the Astros have won, “it
will beis the first season since 2003 with three 100-win teams and just the sixth in history (also 2002, 1998, 1977 and 1942).”Tough year to make it to the World Series.
Bellinger 2 for his last 19. That is no way to feel good about yourself going into the playoffs.
145 pitches by the Dodgers so far.
Postseason roster rules:<
Ha! Baez with the best pitching performance so far.
Lose by 1, lose by a dozen, it’s still just one loss.
The sloppy play, tho, is another matter.
Four laughers in a row, but one at our expense.
I’m more concerned by the failure to hit, in Denver, against a mediocre pitcher.
He pitched really well tonight, helped by the strike zone.
Mental mistake by Turner.
— then Grandal.
Comedy of Errors . .. which isn’t funny.
This is starting to go at a Baez-like pace.
(If this has already been addressed, sorry)
When are the rosters due before each round? I would think LA would have until after the WC game to determine theirs. If CO is in the mix, one would think pitching in Coors Field plays a big part in the final determinations, as tonight proves. (A very specific reason why HFA is important.)
I expect on the morning of the first game. However, it would seem only fair to require wild card teams to go with the same roster through the NLDS – otherwise, they can load up with bullpen and bench players instead of their starting pitchers.
Is there a mercy rule in baseball?
In Coors? I think not.
Not a good story for the Dodgers tonight.
Ump interference! Bob T keep count of those?
That seems rare.
Buehler getting quite a test.
And takes care of Blackmon!
Seems to me there have been a lot of fly balls to Granderson in this game.
Only the fence deprived him of catching one of them.
Did anyone catch what Alana was mentioning about one Dodger player possibly making the post-season roster as a burner (I.e. a pinch runner)? I didn’t hear who they were taking about.
Locastro
Oh. Wow – that’s why they brought him up I guess.
I love how the comment section is layered with Disqus. It just made it look like I am suggesting the Dodgers brought up Locastro because he was painting his parents basement. 🙂
With this front office…
He must have been using Pantone 294.
He was painting his parents basement when he got the call.
Thanks!
Most enjoyable part of the game so far. Buehler can really toss it in there.
I liked as well Turner taking a hit away from Blackmon.
The ump is not at all consistent on his strike zone – especially low. Called low strikes vs Bellinger and Puig but not for Colorado.
Let’s score multiple runs here.
Promising start, junk ending.
That’s better than a DP.
Can’t finish hitters off today.
Are the Rockies playing to clinch the WC tonight?
Yep
From above: If they win and a Brewers lose tonight they’ll clinch it.
Thanks.
Ryu has lost the plot.
Good grief. And maybe good night.
48 pitches and not out of the 2nd inning yet. This is going to be a bullpen game.
Strike zone not helping.
Ryu could be pitching himself off the playoff roster.
Wood looking better and better.
Sure, but doesn’t lessen the concerns about him.
Hats off to Nomo.
62.
Two innings and out he goes!
Desmond is no run of DeMille player. (Sorry, that just flashed into my brain right now.)
I think your closeup is calling.
You got it.
You win a peg in my mind.
I once had a username of WinManCan – for Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Of course it could have just as easily been CanManWin.
CanManWin would depend on the opponent, right? What’s that town with all the polar bears? Ft. Churchill or something like that?
I look away for five minutes with two outs and the Rockies score three? Yikes. Could be a long night.
“It’s Coors Field, Jake.”
Crowd wearing down jackets.
Flack jackets in the bleachers.
Incoming!!
My thought for this series: Just stay healthy Dodgers. Just stay healthy.
Oh, Ryu. Did the Arenado HR just rattle you?
Surprised Granderson didn’t even jump.
No chance.
Ryu jumped on that one. So did Reynolds for that matter.
Oh fudge.
Turner doing the job.
JT!
HFA aside – the Spiders are winning 6-0 already – the Dodgers owe it to the Cerveceros to put their best possible lineup out there.
And the Rockies. And – most importantly – themselves.
It’s Blackmon Turner Overdrive this weekend. Winner is NL Batting Champ.
It’s an up-mountain climb for Turner.
Oh wow Link. That is so, so good. And as a Winnipeger I really appreciate it. 🙂
I’m an old dude, guy. I have those albums (and that other band Bachman was in too).
I always wanted to put together an album of stuttering songs, starting with “My Generation,” but BTO gets an honorable mention.
10-1.
Link! Look at you pulling out the philosophical questions right at the end of the regular season.
Why do games start after the hour indeed?!
Meanwhile, in the City of Brotherly Love… https://twitter.com/TheOnion/status/913867754482085889
The source on This Day in Dodger History left out a key element of the pennant-winning game in 1959, Felix Mantilla’s error. Here is part of the story by Braven Dyer of the L.A. Times:
“Carl Furillo, at 37 the elder statesman of the Dodgers, was the last player to come to bat and his bounder behind second base with two outs in the 12th started the play which sent Gil
Hodges across with the winning run.
“It was ruled a hit, but what actually cooked the Braves was Felix Mantilla’s wild throw to first. The ball bounded in front of Frank Torre and then skidded by the Milwaukee first sacker, hit Dodger coach Greg Mulleavy on the shoulder and wound up in the stands while Hodges crossed the plate and ran into the wildest reception party in Coliseum history as all the Dodgers poured from the dugout and pounded him purple. … ”
The Dodgers had trailed 5-2 but scored three runs in the bottom of the 9th to send the game into extra innings.
Carl Furillo hit a bounder! Good for him! Cads, bounders, rakes…they should be battered!
Mantilla took it hard.
I expect the Spokane Spokesman-Review gave the story real good play because that is where the Dodgers had a Triple-A franchise for many years. My wife grew up in Spokane and she saw many of the past and future Dodgers, including, in 1959, Roger Craig, Tommy Davis, Frank Howard, Phil Ortega, Norm Sherry and Maury Wills, who was called up that June.
I was once on a plane with Peter O’Malley from Spokane to Seattle, and saw many of those future Dodgers when they visited Tacoma. I also saw Maury when he was a Seattle Rainier, but only on TV (I once had a Rainiers baseball card of his on the backing of a HyGrade Hotdogs package).
Were you a Dodgers fan then?
Yes, indeed. Peter O’M was doing his apprenticeship as GM of the Spokane Spiders.
I was hoping for a Joc sighting. Ethier seems to be on the playoff roster.
Joc may not even be on the radar of the Doc(k).