Game 121, 2019

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Dodgers at Marlins, 4:10 PM PDT, TV: FS-F, SPNLA

RHP Dustin May (0-1, 3.18 ERA) takes the mound in Florida. He’ll face Hawai’i boy RHP Jordan Yamamoto (4-3, 4.17), who started off in the big leagues like a house afire but has cooled off in his last four outings: he’s given up four ER or more in each of those games. May will be making the third start of his career: he’s gone 5 2/3 innings in each of his first two, striking out ten and walking just one.

How good is the Dodgers’ rotation? So good that Kershaw is only the third-best pitcher in it. Partly because of that, the Dodgers are having their best season since they moved to Los Angeles. “But, but, the bullpen!” Well,

If there’s a weakness on this team, it’s clearly the bullpen, though having the ninth-best bullpen ERA (per Fangraphs) isn’t exactly the disaster the narrative around the relievers might have you think.

Here’s an excellent story about Walker Buehler from SI’s Tom Verducci. WBBsAs pointed it out in the comments to the previous post.

This date in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1910 In a game which features each team having 38 at-bats, 13 hits, 12 assists, 2 errors, 5 strikeouts, 3 walks, 1 hit batsman, and 1 passed ball, the Pirates and the Superbas (later to be known as the Dodgers) play to what else – an 8-8 tie.
  • 1951 Any fan who shows up with a musical instrument during the Dodgers’ Musical Depreciation Night is admitted free to the Ebbets Field contest against Boston. With an assortment of trumpets, trombones, zithers, tubas, accordions, bugles, flutes, various type of drums, violins, mandolins, assorted horns, a glockenspiel, a washboard, and a piano, 2,426 fans, which is about 10% of the total crowd, take advantage of the team’s unusual promotion.
  • 1965 Dean Chance establishes an American League record when he fans to extend his streak to 11 consecutive plate appearances with a strikeout. The Angels’ right-hander falls one shy of the major league mark set by Sandy Koufax, who whiffed in 12 consecutive plate appearances in 1955.
  • 1982 At Chavez Ravine, Dodger second baseman Steve Sax steals his 41st base to set a franchise record for rookies when he swipes second base in LA’s 6-1 victory over San Francisco. The eventual National League Rookie of the Year, the fourth consecutive Dodger to win the award, will extend the record to 49.
  • 2006 LA’s Greg Maddux and SF’s Jason Schmidt hook up in a classic West Coast pitcher’s duel, reminiscent of match-ups of Koufax and Marichal, as the Dodgers beat the Giants, 1-0, thanks to Russell Martin’s 10th inning walk-off home run. When Giants slugger Barry Bonds lines into a double play in the first inning, it marks the only time in baseball history a 300 game winner pitches to a batter with over 700 homers.
  • 2007 For the first time in 1,303 games, Nomar Garciaparra of the Dodgers is ejected from a game. The 12-year veteran infielder, who is tossed by home plate umpire Tom Hallion for arguing a called third strike in the fourth inning, is restrained by first base coach Mariano Duncan when he continues to shout and points his bat toward the umpire.

Lineup when available.

249 thoughts on “Game 121, 2019”

  3. Wednesday Wakeup – No major changes from yesterday. Dodgers continue to lead Snakes and Gnats by 18.5 and 19.5 respectively, while Pads tumble to 24 and Rox to 26.5. For best NL, Dodgers maintain nine-game lead over Barves.

    For best in baseball, Dodgers remain tied with Yanquis, but they are now 1-1/2 games ahead of the Minute Maids, who split a doubleheader with the Chisox yesterday

    • I have the 4th edition (1979). I also have a copy of “The Official Encyclopedia of Baseball”, revised edition (1956), which was earlier attempt with a different editor and publisher. I always liked that one because it had little diagrams of the various ballparks in it (including Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City). I also have the 5th edition of “Total Baseball” (1997), which along with the earlier versions I owned is the main reason I never got any newer editions of the Macmillan book. I liked Total Baseball much more. Then Sean Forman came along.

  10. How many games are the Yankees playing against the Orioles this homestand? Every time I look, there’s another.

    • All the games.
      I think that’s all they play until the end of the season. Of course, the joke would be on the Yanks because then they wouldn’t be used to tougher teams come playoff time.

      • Just looked up the schedule: 8/5, 8/6, 8/7 there, 8/12, 8/13, 8/14, 8/15 in NY… No wonder it feels endless!

          • 1906 Chicago Cubs went 19-3 vs Philadelphia Phillies. That might be the record for most wins against a team in a season.

          • The Cubs don’t hold the record. They 1927 NYY went 21-1 against the St. Louis Browns. I can’t say for sure that this is the record, but yikes – it had better be…

          • Final thought: The Yankees actually won the first 21 games that year. They lost the 22nd game 6-2, but it was in NY so the St. Louis fans unfortunately couldn’t celebrate the victory.

    • Will myself catch the Dodgers in Baltimore in early September. Dingers galore I am guessing.

  12. Dustin May, blowin’ ’em away! On pace for a 102-pitch extremely interesting game.

  14. Regarding Link’s notes above, and thanks, as always, not only did Koufax strike out 12 straight times in 1955, his rookie season, those were his only 12 plate appearances that year. He went 2-for-17 the following season including 12 more strikeouts. In his career, he struck out 386 times in 776 at bats. He did hit two homers, both in Milwaukee, the first in 1962 off Warren Spahn (I was listening to the game and still can’t believe it) and the second in 1963 off Denny Lemaster. The HRs were the only hits he ever got off either of those pitchers. Koufax drew 43 walks and was hit by a pitch only once in his career. Koufax had a lifetime batting average of .097 that included nine doubles and no triples. Although he was a lefty, as we all know, he batted right, which meant his left arm was the more exposed at the plate. His best season as a hitter was 1965, when he had 20 hits and batted .177. Koufax had no stolen bases and one caught stealing in his 12 seasons in the majors. He also hit three sacrifice flies. He scored 26 runs and had 28 RBIs….He wasn’t a bad pitcher, however.

    • I had Koufax in my All-Star Baseball set (the game with the disks and spinners), but I never wanted to use him because his disk was SO bad (the game was all about hitting, pitching wasn’t factored in). Fortunately, I also had Don Newcombe in the set.

  17. You get Dustin May 15 runs, and he can be tough… (with all due respect to the late Gnatcaster Hank Greenwald, one of the greats).

  28. Wonder if it’s weird to have an at bat that is so split up like this one for Martin.

  32. Mattingly must feel miserable. When he was with the Dodgers he acted depressed on our good days!

  39. As long as the Dodgers don’t hit a single this inning, they will set the record for most extra base hits without a single.

  41. Want to throw this out there before it gets lost under the flurry of exra-base hits: May was fun to watch!
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    I am looking forward to a May-October romance!

  46. It is like the Dodgers got a bit worried after the Astros won 23-2 and almost caught up to them in terms of run differential. The last few games they have brought the lumber.

  48. I only have a couple of minutes of battery left so I shall leave ya’ll with a big lead.

  69. Which rookie are people most excited about this season?
    1. Alex Verdugo
    2. Will Smith
    3. Dustin May
    4. Other

  74. Well, Pollock won’t set the Dodger record for most doubles in a game. I am not sure what it is, but I recall Cey once having four in game in Cincinnati.

  76. Ruiz with his broken finger can only wait and watch Smith lock down the catcher spot.

    • Great video. Had never seen it. Had a job interview at the Miami Herald 40 years ago. Didn’t get hired. Got hired at the San Francisco Examiner instead. Whew!

    • He’s is also a hoppy, hoppy guy. He was bouncing up and down when that ball went out to Muncy.

  89. Cody is searching searching searching for that sweet swing. Miami might be a good place to find it again.

  92. Anderson is the only Miami batter who can do anything with May’s pitching. But he’s made May work.

  96. Seager gets to 10 HR. I was curious who would get there first between Seager and Pollock.

  101. I’ve made plays like Muncy’s in slow pitch, and didn’t have time to think about my teeth.

    • Apparently only their alternate shirt (black) says Marlins. Home and road both say Miami.

  105. Tyler White to the IL. Garlick is back up. I suppose that’s one way not to DFA White.

    • I’m hearing him on Spectrum. He is in awe. Nope! You are right – it’s Noooomarrrrr.