Game 50, 2014

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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.

20 thoughts on “Game 50, 2014”

  2. At least 2 Dodger pitchers viewed as iffy came thru. Haren struggled with a high pitch count but K’d 7 in 6 innings and effectively kept the team in the game. He has exceeded most expectations so far.

    Maholm turned in a second straight good relief outing. Gameday has his pitches a tad faster than when he started and had to pace himself.

    That tad could be the difference between an effective reliever and pretty much a BP pitcher. Guess we’ll find out.

    If he keeps it up, Maholm could come to be known as “Tad” Maholm.

    • I probably had higher expectations as regards Haren than most, having seen him in DC last year in the second half after coming back from injury. That said, he has still exceeded my expectations.

  4. If you are what your record says, the 2014 Dodgers are not that good. Then you add all the expectations . . .

    I don’t have the stats to back it up, but anecdotally, I say the underachieving offense is more of a problem than the underachieving bullpen.

    • Its a combination I think. Obviously the pen is not what we thought it would be. But we can’t let the starters off the hook, either. At 57% quality starts we are just above the league average of 56%. Hopefully that will improve with Clayton and Ryu back. As well, the offense is underachieving for me. We should be capable of 4.5 RS/G and we are at 4.29 (still 3rd in the NL). As it is, it is not enough to compensate for our less than stellar pitching which is allowing 4.22 RA/G. This all adds up to an average team at this point.

  9. This is ANOTHER pitcher making their debut who stymies the Blue? (I knew he’s a rookie, didn’t realize it’s his debut.)

    Would that be poor scouting . . . or another indication that the offense is underachieving?

    • Maybe — but amazing how the Dodger hitters can make a rookie look like Cliff Lee.

      And the defense . . . well, they’re the opposition’s best friend (maybe tied with the bullpen).