May 24

Game 50, 2014

It’s the fiftieth game of the 2014 season already? Oy!

Dodgers at Phillies, 12:05AM PT, TV: SPNLA

Dan Haren has done better for the Dodgers than I think most fans expected; obviously the front office knew more than we did. He’s 5-2 with a 3.18 ERA and has given the team at least five innings in each of his nine starts.

The Phillies counter with 25-year-old right-handed David Buchanan, who’s taking the place of Cliff Lee (phew! Got past him this time!), who’s on the shelf with a left elbow strain. This will be Buchanan’s major league debut. If any of you went to Georgia State, he’s a fellow Panther. This will be the first time a former GSU attendee has ever started in the big leagues.


Since it’s the 50th game, how are the negotiations between TWC and the cable carriers in LA going? Not well.

There’s a certain irony in this story appearing on ESPN.com; according to a 2013 article by Patrick Hruby at Sports on Earth

ESPN’s monthly affiliate fee is widely expected to rise from $5-plus to more than $7 by the end of the decade. (By contrast, cable’s most-watched network, USA, reportedly charges $0.68.)

If the facts weren’t so clear, one might say to ESPN “aren’t you the pot calling the kettle black?”

Anyway, things aren’t looking good for the average Dodger fan in Southern California who wants to see his or her team on the tube.

May 18

Game 45, 2014

Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 1:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MLB.TV free game

The Dodgers’ Dan Haren, off to his best start in years, is 5-1 with a 2.84 ERA. Josh Collmenter is 1-2 with a 3.89 ERA. As a starter he’s 1-2 with a 4.28 ERA since moving from the bullpen to the rotation.

In other news, Hyun-Jin Ryu is scheduled to come off the DL this week and could start against the Mets in NYC next Wednesday.

May 12

Game 40, 2014

Marlins at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA

The Dodgers are really happy to have Dan Haren this season, since he’s posted a 4-1 record with a 2.68 ERA so far. He’ll be pitching against Tom Koehler, who’s 3-2 with a 1.99 ERA.The right-hander beat the Dodgers on May 2 in Florida, going seven strong innings.

Puig extended his hitting streak to eleven games with his home run yesterday. Uribe is still day-to-day.

Lineup when available.

May 07

Game 35, 2014

Dodgers at Nationals, 10:05AM PT, TV: SPNLA, MLBN

Dan Haren’s off to a great beginning with the Dodgers. He’s 4-0 with a 2.39 ERA in six starts. He’ll face Stephen Strasburg, who’s 2-2 with a 3.60 ERA so far this season.

Is Carl Crawford finally coming out of his season-long slump? He’s had two multi-hit games and has a four-game hitting streak going into today’s game.

May 01

Games 28 & 29, 2014

Dodgers at Twins, 10:10AM PT, TV: SPNLA

Dan Haren, 3-0, 2.03 ERA v. Mike Pelfrey 0-2, 7.32 ERA.

Game Two

Dodgers at Twins, 4:10PT, TV: SPNLA

The Dodgers brought up a pitcher named Red Patterson from the Isotopes to start Game Two. Patterson was added to the 40-man roster Thursday, with outfielder Nick Buss designated for assignment. He was 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA with Albuquerque.

The Twins will pitch Kris Johnson, a lefty they called up from AAA Rochester. He was 2-2 with a 2.86 ERA for the Red Wings in four starts.

The lineup hasn’t yet been announced.

Apr 24

Game 23, 2014

As if there weren’t some interesting prospects there, this may be sufficient reason for a road trip to Albuquerque to see the Isotopes.


Assembly instructions here.

Phillies v. Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA

It’s the Phillies’ Kyle Kendrick, who is 0-1 with a 3.50 ERA, facing Dodgers right-hander Daren Haren, who is 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA.

The Dodgers defense has been awful, as we’ve all seen. They’ve committed 22 errors in their first 22 games, which won’t cut it.

“I’m assuming, if we’re going to get to where we want to go, it’s not going to be with 10-8 and 7-6 games, it’ll be 4-2 and 3-1 where a mistake can cost a run when they don’t come easily,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “You don’t get as much attention for playing solid defense. They don’t say, ‘Bills [Chad Billingsley] really backed up the bases well today.’ But we have to change what we’ve been doing. We need a much better concentrated effort. There are going to be certain physical limitations for certain players, but we can’t afford mental mistakes. We need to be in the right position and communicate. These guys know what to do. We’ve got to make sure we put enough focus on it. I’ve expressed it to them once and will continue to.”

Lineup when available.

Apr 19

Game 18, 2014

Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 5:10PM PST, TV: SPNLA

The D-Backs send rookie Mike Bolsinger, who’s got all of three innings of MLB experience, and that was last week in relief against the Mets. The Dodgers counter with Dan Haren, whose last outing was against the same D-Backs last Saturday. He went 5 2/3 innings and got the win, but he wasn’t happy with his performance.

Lineup:

Apr 13

Game 13, 2014

Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 1:10 PM PST, TV: SPNLA.

Haren v. Cahill. On paper this shouldn’t be a contest. Haren is 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA in 12 innings over two starts. Cahill is 0-3 with a 7.90 ERA in 22 1/3 innings over three starts. “But that’s why they play the games,” says the aphorism.

Lineup:

I think this is the first time Ethier has started in left field this season.

Apr 02

Game Five, 2014

Dodgers v. Padres at Petco Park, on SPNLA TV at 7:10PM PST. The Dodgers send out Dan Haren for his first start for his new team in 2014 while the Padres send out Tyson Ross, a 26-year-old in his second year with San Diego.

Lineup:

In other news, the Dodgers claimed infielder Carlos Triunfel off waivers from Seattle. They’ve optioned him to Albuquerque. You may well ask why they need another middle infielder and shortstop, what with Hanley Ramirez, Corey Seager, Alex Guerrero (being moved to second base) and Erisbel Arruebarrena already on board.