Game 110, 2015

Dodgers at Pirates, 1:05PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FS1

Mat Latos (4-7, 4.29 ERA) makes his second start for the Dodgers since coming over from the Marlins, while Francisco Liriano (7-6, 2.92 ERA) is searching for his fourth straight win. Latos is 5-1 with a 3.13 ERA in his career against the Pirates; Liriano hasn’t lost to the Dodgers in three career starts, posting a 1.37 ERA. He’s making it very hard to hit him this year: opponents’ batting average is an anemic .201, sixth lowest in the league. Latos has improved since his inflamed knee was drained and he came back from the disabled list: his ERA since then is 1.73.

Lineup:

165 thoughts on “Game 110, 2015

  1. Fascinating to watch the Pirates after recently reading the book “Big Data Baseball: Math, Miracles, and the End of a Twenty-Year Losing Streak”, by Travis Sawchik on how the FO and Hurdle turned this team around. A must read for those interested in how big data is being employed by teams to improve their performance using the filibusteros to illustrate. Its all there, pitch framing (why they targeted our beloved Russell Martin back in 2013), infield shifts, approaches to pitchers and pitching patterns, etc. Interesting section on Liriano and how he was culled from the trash heap of injured pitchers to become an important part of the rotation. It’s not by accident that the Pirate pitchers hit batsman at a rate 60% above the league average.

      • Sure, but they have already gotten WAR 7.1 from him over three seasons at a cost of around $18 million. They are into him for $28 million over the next two seasons, however.

        • Mind you, we could say the same of Brett Anderson, who’s been very good. Most of his injuries appear to have been freakish, though.

          • Yes, that’s why the book may of particular interest to us, as it is very explicit in the way that the Pirates were using an approach copied from the Tampa FO.

  2. I will get the game here in Australia then. I will be at work, as it is 10am Monday my time, but I have just set it to record and then I can watch it after work

  3. Sorry/grateful (Sondheim anyone?) that I missed the brutal/frustrating/unjust ending of the game.

    However, the ice cream was delish and we stopped off at the local fire station to visit our neighbourhood fire fighters. Very fun to visit them and see the big fire trucks, etc.

  4. Strike three on ball three. Bummer. And I hate that they overturned the call at first.

  5. My wife and son are just getting their stuff on. Looks like I will miss an exciting finish!

  6. One last thought before I go: Justin Turner – Dodger fans turn their lonely eyes to you.

  7. Going out for ice cream with my family. I will check out the end later. Probably read it and weep, but hopeful not.

  8. Wouldn’t it be funny if the bullpen started to turn it around and the starters were off. Ha ha – so funny. Grrrr

  9. McCutchen just involved in two questionable running plays in a row and gets let off lightly by Buc announcers.

    • Not sure about his health right now. Was lifted after 3 innings in his last start on the 4th.

  10. Time to prep some dinner. I’ll check back in later for the dramatic conclusion of this one.

  11. True or false: this game will end up having as many/more runs than the Dodgers 10-8 win vs the Pirates?
    I guess I choose the under, but not super confident I will be right.

  12. Less of a chance of stranding McCutch now than the already minimal chance when he was on 2nd.

  13. This is going to be an ugly game isn’t it? It will take some more good hitting to win.

  14. Just tuned in. What was the issue on the field with the umps (Pirates broadcasters don’t seem to know).

    • “If a batter strikes at a ball and misses and swings so hard he carries the bat all the way around and, in the umpire’s judgment, unintentionally hits the catcher or the ball in back of him on the backswing before the catcher has securely held the ball, it shall be called a strike only (not interference). The ball will be dead, however, and no runner shall advance on the play.”

    • Batter’s bat hit AJ on backswing. Stolen base had to go back to first. Then Mattingly questioned whether batter should be out as well, but was never out of the box so no out.

      • For the Wednesday afternoon, August 19, Dodgers game in Oakland, I will be sitting in either section 120 or 121. There is a group of us and I am not certain yet exactly where I will be. As you said you will be in Section 120, it will be easy for us to meet. What is your seat number?

  15. If Dodgers win today they will be 63-47. The won the World Series with that identical record one year.*

    *The year was 1981 – which, of course, was a strike year. Back when MLB and MLBPA thought it was a good idea to strike every few years or so.

  16. From Eric Stephen:

    “Through June, the Dodgers bullpen had a 3.17 ERA, a 27.2-percent strikeout rate, an 8.3-percent walk rate, and opponents hit .224/.290/.334 against them with 16 home runs in 919 plate appearances.

    “Since the start of July, the bullpen has a 6.17 ERA, a 24.7-percent strikeout rate, an 8.8-percent walk rate, with opponents hitting .299/.369/.509 against them, with 16 home runs in 377 plate appearances.”

    From me: this brings whole new meaning to putting the bull in the bullpen.

    The trend is not our friend.

    • It seems to me in earlier times you’d get a complete game from one of your starters in every turn of the rotation which allowed the bullpen to rest. Thanks to pitch counts and health concerns that doesn’t happen as much as it used to.

  17. Who would ever have thought Guerrero would hit behind Ellis? I used to be very high on Guerrero but now I think he ought to ask them to send him down so he can better learn his craft and eventually be an outstanding player. His money is assured for the next 4 years at $7 MM @. That would be the wise thing to do.

    • Hard to imagine. Even more at this point with only a couple weeks left in farm ball.

        • If you care to look it up, he said in ST in response to a question about his contract that he would not go down. So it appears it’s in his world.

          He’s scuffling now and not playing much, but he or any other player with double digit HRs is not going to ask to be demoted–even if it might help him. Competitive drive and ego play a part, but he like any player would say he just needs more PT and he’d be fine, that he belongs in the majors.