Game 61, 2014

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White Sox at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA

I think it’s safe to say the Dodgers’ starter tonight, Josh Beckett (3-2, 2.52 ERA), has been a pleasant surprise. Nobody knew what to expect from him after his thoracic surgery last year. Even aside from the no-hitter he threw in his next-to-last start, he’s done well. The White Sox send out John Danks (3-5, 4.66 ERA).

47 thoughts on “Game 61, 2014”

  2. This from another Dodger blog should bring smiles at a time when they’re needed–

    Subject, Puig–

    First comment:

    “This guy is simply one of the best payers to ever darn a Dodger uniform.”

    Reply:

    “I’m guessing that you probably meant: “This guy is simply one of the best players to ever don a Dodger uniform.

    “Yasiel doesn’t seem like the knitting type to me.”

  3. I made a comment on the wrong thread – here it is again: Last night’s game was the first this year where I stopped watching, not
    out of frustration or anxiety, but because I couldn’t stay interested.
    Because it felt like the team couldn’t stay interested. I’m glad to have
    a day off. I’ll tune in again tomorrow, and hope that Mattingly’s
    candor will have some kind of effect.

  4. Gurnick’s game story last night refers to more internal stuff, like a public tiff between Jansen and Hanley. With this much smoke odds are there’s some fire, maybe even an inferno.

    Interesting typo in a quote from this story–“”Obviously, it’s frustrating,” said catcher Drew Butera. “No one here is happy with what we’re doing, but you can’t put your
    head down and cry about it. You have to keep grounding it out.”

    Um….. how about not. The team has grounding out down pat. Try something else. Please.

    Amazing the umpire called a walk on a 3-2 count. Don’t they use those little ball and strike hand counters? Or is that considered beneath the dignity of MLB?

    http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_06_04_chamlb_lanmlb_1&mode=recap_home&c_id=la

    • Donnie sounds as frustrated as we are.

      Good — misery loves company, especially the company that can make things happen. (Tho I’m not sure what that would be. Maybe bring up Albuquerque to show what players who want to win look like?)

      • Pederson could be last year’s Puig and give the Dodgers a shot in the arm but that said, Albuquerque isn’t doing as well as the LA.

  5. Hitters resent pitchers who attempt to rally the hitting and usually a player has to be hitting the ball before they can start leading the hitting. Puig is the only hitter who is hitting and he still needs to talk like a rookie for now.

    Adrian can say all he wants about other players attitude but his bat needs to do the talking and his bat is lacking good attitude. The Dodgers don’t need loud voices in the dugout, they need loud bats.

  6. From the link cited below:

    Mattingly spoke at length on how the Dodgers are lacking a team feeling, that they’re not all moving in one direction. Mattingly couldn’t explain why that’s the case, but he said it has nothing to do with his crowded outfield.

    “I don’t know if I can sit here and put a finger on it,” Mattingly said. “I’m just saying right now I don’t feel it.”

    Too many stars concerned with their own performances? How the heck do you motivate millionaires to play together?

    • They need to be concerned with their own performances. The only person they can high five is Puig so there are long periods of a game where they have to look the other way when a “hitter” returns to the dugout.

      I pull for Kemp and so I look forward to his at bat but hitting behind Gonzales I have noticed how many times Gonzales makes the last out of an inning and I have to wait for Kemp to lead ff the following inning.

    • “Too many stars concerned with their own performances? How the heck do you motivate millionaires to play together?” I echo Bumsrap, shouldn’t they be concerned about their own performance? What does playing together mean in the context of baseball? I can sort of understand the concept when it comes to basketball. Team feeling will come with wins. When you are losing (well, not winning much), suddenly the dugout shennanegans of others get on your nerves.

  7. Once again, the pitching comes through . . . the hitters do not. They reach a nadir for the homestand — 2 whole hits.

    Equally scary/puzzling as the hitters’ “performance” is the headline of the Dodgers.com story: “Mattingly trying to get club to play with singular goal” . . . even without reading it, that goal should be evident: win the game. Each game. Every game.

    If Donnie is having a problem getting them to buy into that, this club REALLY has problems.

  8. Funny thing…. Last year about this time, I was lambasting this club for their ‘flat-ness’ … their ineffectiveness, and overall disappointing performance….
    …

    Then, they went on a little ‘run’ …. So, this year, I’ll reserve my negative commentary and just relax and enjoy the ride…
    …
    It is… puzzling, though… I have to say.

    • Flatness!? Last year we were horrible, this year we are underachieving. On June 22 we were 12 games under .500, 9.5 games back, in last place and Clayton having just lost had a 5-5 record.

  16. Padres won 3-2 today with only one hit. While there is life, there is hope

  20. We just look flat and uninspired. Wonder what it will take to wake the team up?

    • “Inept”….. Linkmeister, that’s a generous term.
      …
      “Impotent” – Try that one on for size… 🙂

  25. Matt jack-knifes away from a lot of strikes. Is he standing too close to the plate?

  27. If the Gnats can come back from 2 down to win, so can we …………………… Can’t we (please)

    • At least at this point in the season, they are the much better team.
      I’m hoping it doesn’t stay that way.

  31. No Dodger fan could be real wild about the source of this, but if even close to true it might explain some of the team’s underachievment. Link came from another Dodger blog, and a couple commenters there seemed to think there was something to what’s said.

    Excerpts:

    “when Adrian Gonzalez was asked recently about an apparent lack of motivation among his teammates, he responded with a terse “no comment.”

    “… the Dodgers…have their own group of stellar individuals, notably Clayton Kershaw (who tossed a gem against the White Sox on Monday), second baseman Dee Gordon and the currently injured A.J. Ellis and Juan Uribe. But they have become known for strife, blatant cockiness and maddening inconsistency, not to mention a distinct lack of clear leadership.”

    http://www.sfgate.com/giants/jenkins/article/Giants-Dodgers-rivalry-seems-headed-for-epic-5526400.php#page-1

  32. I wonder which version will turn up to play today, oh well, we will see in good time 🙂