Dodgers at Angels, 7:05PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FSW
Kershaw versus Heaney. The prime-time pitcher versus the rookie. Heaney, briefly a Dodger last winter, is 6-2 with a 3.18 ERA. Kershaw is 12-6 with a 2.18 ERA.
Kershaw will want to be wary of Pujols, who is hitting .440 off the Dodgers’ ace and has a .563 on-base percentage, the third-highest mark by anyone with at least 10 at-bats against him.
Lineup when available.
Tonight's #Dodgers lineup:
Ruggiano LF
Utley 2B
Turner 3B
Gonzalez 1B
Van Slyke RF
Seager SS
Ellis C
Guerrero DH
Heisey CF
(Kershaw P)
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 8, 2015
NPUT
I don’t want anyone to leave unhappily. I do wish that the subjects of Joc’s strikeouts v. Kemp’s defensive liabilities, Kendrick’s abilities v. Dee Gordon’s, and Grandal’s one-time suspension could be avoided, as well as the motives of the Dodgers’ front office. The mention of any one of those things immediately stirs up the fire in people who feel differently than the original mentioner.
Let’s just all try to enjoy the season we’ve got with the players we’ve got, please?
The Dee/Kendrick issue is one on which reasonable people can differ.
I hope this isn’t gasoline but gentlemen can disagree on any issue. The key is to be nice to each other. When we realize the other person is not going to change his mind, and we aren’t either, it’s time to drop the subject and back off, not say something to make him more angry. It’s a lost cause for both of you. WBB, we’ve clashed on several occasions. Yet I consider you perhaps the most intelligent and have the broadest interests of anyone on the blog, but you certainly have your faults. I think you are essential to the continuation of the blog, if we want it to remain an interesting place to visit. I hope it will continue in a more polite manner.
Cubcasters are acknowledging Koufax’s perfecto today (while also recalling Hendley’s opposing one-hitter).
I saw the last two outs. I think I’m glad I didn’t see the 7th inning. I’ll take the win, though.
We win. Magic number 16.
Whew!
Yes, indeed!
Angels keep playing us hard. I have to admire them for that. But SO glad we won.
Yea!!!!!! Woo-HOO!!!!
Geronimo!
Never seen Kenley throw wide ones like that.
I’ll take the RBI groundout
Uno mas!
Fourth outing in five days for Jansen.
Every time I turn around, it’s Cole Calhoun at the plate.
What a play by AGon!
Not impressed with Utley’s little side arm flip tosses to first.
Go Kenley!
Oh, brother. Never easy for Kershaw to get the win this year, is it?
Ump not giving Kenley the benefit of the doubt on ball three.
Ball one was surely a strike.
I missed seeing that one.
So did the ump.
Every time Baez pitch I mentally call him By-Bye Baez. Tonight he went bye-bye and not the hitters.
Would love this to be a one-two-three ninth.
Guess not.
Baez to start – and hopefully finish – the 9th.
Dang, Kenley up.
Shame.
Let’s go Dre! Get Kenley to sit down.
Glad to see ths infield d really come through in the 8th. Seager had a routine play for the 3rd out but good for him to have that chance to get the errors behind him.
I have been a contributor to this blog for many years. I enjoy the fact that we share a passion for the Dodgers, through thick and think, and we engage in meaningful exchanges. Lately, however, I feel that some of us are violating three of the precepts of this site, specifically:
2. personally attacking other commenters
3. baiting other commenters
4. arguing for the sake of arguing
That is detracting from my enjoyment.
I don’t mind witty reparté but I agree that at times it feels more adversarial around here than it needs to – especially considering how well the team we are all rooting for is doing.
Me, too.
Sometimes I think of Monty Python’s argument sketch.
How about Crawford stealing third?!? Who are these guys?
20 pitches and one stressful inning for Kershaw.
I think that’s it for him.
Got a break on that one!
We’ll certainly take it.
Yes!!!!
Okay, Clay. Shut Cole down.
Costly errors. Poor kid.
Time to pull Kershaw.
I just can’t figure out balks.
And it seemed like such a delayed call. Usually the balk call is instantaneous to the balk movement itself.
Kid having a little bit of trouble in the field.
If Kershaw rolls through this inning he could still be under 100 pitches.
I hope Kershaw goes just 6 or, at the most, 7 after the 132-pitch outing last Wednesday.
I would say one more inning (7th) but knowing Kershaw he will want to pitch the 8th as well.
Said it last night and I will say it again tonight: The Dodgers have owned the middle innings (5,6,7) over the last week or two.
Seager looking so comfortable hitting line drives. And fielding. And throwing.
Basically looks quite at ease in general.
just wait until he starts hitting home runs
Let’s just hope he doesn’t have a slump.
Not quite so much fielding tonight. A couple pretty sloppy errors.
Seager showing something!
Not often you get back to back double play balls. Utley messed up the first one but got the second.
Heaney at 75 pitches through 4. Kershaw seems to have gotten over his first inning blip – not just the HR, but lots of missed location on his pitches.
Should keep my mouth shut. Kershaw bounced 2 or 3 more pitches that inning. The ump is calling low strikes but not that low.
Kershaw strikes out Trout for the 3rd out. During that at bat, he threw over to try and pick Calhoun off first base. I know it’s great picking runners off, but I’m not sure I would want to face Trout again right away the next inning. It’s like having another half AB to have to try and get him out.
Crazy lineup tonight.
How bad does Washington feel after blowing a 7-1 lead to the Mets?
My buddy went, not looking forward to seeing him tomorrow.
I am happy that it looks like there are going to be many different teams in the playoffs this year (such as the Astros, Mets, Cubs, Pirates). It makes the playoffs much more interesting
Not that I’m rooting for them, but don’t forget the Blue Jays. Royals still seem “new” as well. I have a friend who is convinced it will be 1985 all over again: Jays vs Royals in AL and Cards vs Dodgers in the NL.
1985 with better results, presumably.
Chase has been lights out so far.
That’s one way to start a game. Way to go, Ruggiano!
For the tennis buffs, Serena Williams just beat her sister Venus in four sets to advance at the US Open. On to the semifinals for her.
Somehow the work email filter is letting me in today!
Match the player with their Sept. OPS+: Joc, Dre, Justin, Agon; 125, 103, 81, 59.
Package is going to love this Joc-less lineup: https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/641369725327511552
Guerrero sighting!