Giants at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, NBC Bay Area, MLBN Free Game (out of area only)
Kersh v. MadBum for the ninth time. The Dodgers’ lefty is 1-0 with a 1.20 ERA this season, and Bumgarner is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA. ‘Nuff said.
Giants catcher Buster Posey has stepped into the batter’s box against Kershaw more times than any player in the Major Leagues, but he has struggled with a .228/.256/.329 line in 75 plate appearances. That’s his worst OPS against any pitcher with a minimum of 25 plate appearances.
The Dodgers’ Adrian Gonzalez has fared even worse against Bumgarner. The first baseman’s .151/.191/.200 in 47 plate appearances adds up to his worst OPS against any of the 49 pitchers he’s faced 25 times or more in his career.
It’s Jackie Robinson Day around the majors, so every player will be wearing uniform number 42. Jackie’s wife Rachel and daughter Sharon will be at Dodger Stadium for the game, and I hope you saw the Ken Burns documentary about Jackie earlier this week on PBS. As far as I’m concerned, Rachel was the star. There’s one oddity about this celebration, though; there are fewer African-American players in baseball now than there were 10 or 15 years ago, and this season there are only fourteen black pitchers in all of baseball. Where are the Bob Gibsons and Dave Stewarts and Vida Blues and Doc Goodens and Fergie Jenkins and Mudcat Grants? Gone to the NBA?
Lineup:
Hernandez LF
Puig RF
Gonzalez 1B
Turner 3B
Kendrick 2B
Thompson CF
Ellis C
Culberson SS
Kershaw P— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 15, 2016
Even this early in the season it’s becoming very apparent that Dave Roberts is not averse to platooning or playing the matchup game. There are very few if any lefties in his lineup against the left-handed Bumgarner.
NPUT
Per MLBTR (edited for spelling): “Up-the-middle Gnats regulars Brandi Crawford and Joe Panic are both dealing with seemingly-minor hip issues, and there doesn’t appear to be much cause for concern so long as they can manage those matters with a bit of rest. The loss of Adrian certainly complicates things, but Kelby Tomlinson remains on hand and is capable of playing short, second, or third.”
It’s unfortunate they can’t use Kelby simultaneously at all three.
Just had a deafening thunderclap right overhead, and huge raindrops are starting to fall.
There was talk earlier of CK working on a changeup. You guys with eyes–has he thrown any in games?
Still seems to use the 12-6 curve ball as his change up.
Story a bit back at dodgers.com quoted him as trying to cultivate one but not liking the results so far and AJ saying CK being Ck, he would keep at until he did. Like he did with his self-taught slider.
They were talking pure change, not curve. He long ago mastered the curve.
I commented at the time that maybe he could ask Maddux, whose change was a major weapon. CK with a great change plus his other 3 pitches is a tantalizing thought for Dodger fans and a potential even worse nightmare for hitters.
Good that he’s thinking ahead to the days when he won’t be so overpowering, tough as that is to think about.
Good tongue-in-cheek tweet from Chad of DoDi:
“@ChadMoriyama
When will Dave Roberts WAKE UP and start future All-Star Charlie Culberson over BUST Corey Seager? Must be the FO nerds”
Link: think Chad lives in Honolulu. You two Dodger bloggers ever cross paths?
Chad must have meant “future HOFer Charlie Culberson.”
No, but my activities all take place within about 5 miles of my house. I expect Chad is a little more out-and-about.
Back from an unexpected trip out late this afternoon. I saw both of Kiké’s HRs but nothing else. Yahoo!
Night all. See you tomorrow!
Zach having a Greinke-like night for the Snakes but not much run support against the Pads.
Another team win! (Hernandez notwithstanding.)
I would say two teams. Feels like SF gave a helping hand as well. 🙂
Always gnice to see the Gnats drop from first to third.
Woo-HOO!!!
We win!
Kiké the easy pick at this point for player of the game.
Hatcher mixed his pitches and looked great.
And Turner with the wild dash (almost). Darted down the line but then put on the breaks.
Howie with the wild swing.
Pence with the wild dive.
Smooth play and strong arm by Culberson.
Ditto AJ!
Let this be a quick and quiet inning for Kershaw.
Puig a little hasty there.
Tomlinson is the gift that keeps on giving.
What we needed. A quick inning.
Culberson has been a really useful player so far into the season.
Thompson as well.
Culberson looked good in the spring. Thompson did not. That said, I expect Thompson will be a Dodger for a longer time.
And where was Culberson from again? Just part of the Dodger farm system or did we pick him up in a trade recently. I don’t recall.
Old Rox player as I recall.
Thanks Bob.
Picked up as FA, but was originally a first round draft pick of the giants [sic] in 2007.
Well, so far so good.
Originally a Gnat.
Thompson had some good plate appearances in spring, despite poor results, but he actually didn’t look comfortable in center.
Some were questioning here when he started last week against Bum.
Both times, he’s delivered. Seems a solid bench player, but probably fungible.
I guess so, just so he isn’t replaced by Tomlinson.
Like Little League: Everybody hits!
Like little league in more than one way.
Zing!
Got one back!
Yup. According to Vinny, first time in Kershaw’s career that he has two wild pitches in one game.
Finally!
So many pitches this inning. Almost at 30.
Surprisingly, Bum has been more efficient and has only 82 compared to Clayton’s 93.
Hopefully not by the time this inning is over.
Oops, you are right Clayton has one more inning
DP, please.
This inning not nearly as much fun.
I wonder how often Kerhaw has had two wild pitches in one game?
Especially 2 run scoring wild pitches.
Right. I forgot about that. He’ll be angry at himself.
Vin said this was the first time for Kershaw with 2 in a game.
A $40,000 scooter? Doesn’t that seem like a lot for scooter?
Apparently Pence had one.
Gold-plated?
I guess so.
Our turn for an ugly inning. Must be something in the water tonight.
Never easy against these guys.
Oh man, wish we could shut them down right about now.
Got the right man on the mound to do it.
Pagan still drives me nuts. Something about his glare.
Curve ball not hitting the spots but setting up the fastball well.
And then he gets Blanco on a beauty of a curve!
Hi all! Dinner cooked and eaten. Nice game so far. Comedy of errors, more theirs than ours, happily.
What was on the menu?
Grilled swordfish, oven roasted Brussel sprouts and rosemary potatoes, and sliced tomatoes. Happy husband.
Wow. Sounds delish!
Not always like this over here, believe me.
I completely understand!
We got back from dinner at the Jardín Japonés around 11:30, just in time for me to catch Quique’s second dinger.
Good timing!
Nice play by AJ.
Butter and egg man hopefully can do his thing here.
What fun. Oh joy! Oh bliss!
You can score a lot of runs if you are given 7 outs.
Ha ha! Love seeing this!
Wow, another error on a double play ball.
We will take it all. SF is always a danger to come back.
The more I see of Tomlinson the Gnat, the more I like him.
Pence bobbled the ball and let in a second run.
Nice to see SF have the jitters too.
Not a defensive clinic for either team tonight.
Let’s push a few across here this inning. 2 on and no outs.
Hopefully this inning is a little cleaner for the Dodgers.
And so it came to pass.
Quique carrying the game on his shoulders.
Bum grooved that one right down the middle as well.
Quique owns BadGums!
Hernandez to the rescue!
Dang, that one went about as far as the first one!
Always fun to see all the number 42’s. Watched the first few innings with my 10 year old. He doesn’t really love baseball but we have read about Robinson so it was more interesting to him.
He’s ten already? Time flies.
So very true. Pre-adolescence is a whole new ball game. Have had a few of “those talks” to help him navigate the changes that are beginning to happen.
Hernandez to the rescue.
Yep. Stupid.
Keystone Kops inning in the making.
Clayton being nibbled to death.
Watching the game on MLB.tv. Pleasure to watch Kershaw.
Although this inning is stupid.
Kiké channeling Ricky Henderson.
That ball to Kiki was sure grooved in the heart of the zone. It went half way up the Pavilion just to the left of the batter’s eye seats.
Kabooom!
Not sure that you all have access to this article in BP on everything you wanted to know about the challenges of the FOs in Australia.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=28899
No problem reading it here in BA.
Anecdotally, I spent a flight from LAX to Melbourne in proximity to Steve Phillips before he was the Mets’ GM (and before he disgraced himself).
Interesting article, thanks
Thought you might find this of interest. Cheers.
It’s hard to settle on who’s the least likeable Gnat, so we’ll have to go with two: a pitcher (BadGums) and a position player (Pagán, though Brandi Crawford’s a close runner-up).
We won the off-season! (never to soon to declare victory, particularly when you are ahead). Ok, only twice through the rotations, but Dodger starters have 80% QS, as compared to SF 40% and Snakes 30%. For game scores it’s Dodgers 61, SF 46 and Snakes 42 (NL average 52).
Now the pen, meh. Though it’s not like our rivals have been gangbusters either. For inherited runners scoring, LA 53%, Snakes 50% and SF 40% (NL average 40%). Successful save opportunities are at LA 57%, Snakes 50% and SF 67% (NL average 66%)
Haven’t seen the giants [sic] line up yet, but last time against Clayton Bochy did not start either Crawford or Panik, both lefties.