Dodgers at Giants, 7:15PM PT, TV: SPNLA, KTLA, CS-BA, MLB.TV free game
When the schedulers at MLB HQ in New York set this weekend’s games up they were surely hoping that the two long-time rivals would be neck-and-neck in the NL West division, and even up to two or three weeks ago that seemed like a wish that might come true. But the Giants’ bullpen continued its season-long collapse and it hasn’t been able to hold a lead to save its life. Somehow it has managed to blow 32 save opportunities this season. Thirty-two! Not all the blame rests with the pen, though; the Giants have been shut out 13 times this season, and nine of those games have been after the All-Star break.
Somehow, despite that, the Giants have a magic number of three to clinch a Wild Card spot. If they end up tied with the Cardinals those two teams would have to play a preliminary game just to determine who gets to play the other Wild Card winner in the one-game playoff, the winner of which gets the Cubs. The Mets are in this too, so it’s complicated.
Tonight it will be the Dodgers’ Rich Hill (12-5, 2.05 ERA) against the Giants’ Madison Bumgarner (14-9, 2.71 ERA). Bumgarner was last seen by the Dodgers as he yelled at Yasiel Puig in the vicinity of first base on September 19 at Dodger Stadium. At the time he had a 1-0 lead through seven innings; he was pulled from the game at that point and the bullpen (there it is again) gave up three singles to tie the game and a game-winning double by Adrian González to win it for the Dodgers.
Hill hasn’t started a game since September 20, presumably in hopes his blistering fingers will fully heal. He’s expected to start Game Two of the NLDS and he needs to stay sharp. He may have a short leash this evening.
Lineup when available.
Tonight's Dodger lineup:
Kendrick LF
Turner 3B
Seager SS
Puig RF
Ruiz C
Segedin 1B
Hernández CF
Culberson 2B
Hill P— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 30, 2016
NPUT
Well, rats. I don’t think McCarthy is suited for long relief, based on this small sample size.
Dodgers went 17-10 in September, our best winning percentage for any month. And we were 16-7 when it mattered.
Back to the question I asked after they clinched — I sure hope the Dodgers have NOT been trying to get the #2 seed because they’re 1-3 in that stretch.
Would think that their number one priority was to set the rotation and roster and give some guys a rest before the playoffs, which I agree with.
That was the other option.
Well night everyone. October begins tomorrow and let’s hope for a good start to an amazing month!
So is this one on Roberts for choosing to bring in McCarthy?
I thought Cooch was the designated goat?
Alright. 6 to tie.
Of all the accolades I can imagine giving Vin – perhaps the biggest is this: still watching this game through to the end because of him.
Hear hear!
Ouch. Getting hit on the hand would feel horrible.
Poor Giants. They will be so sad when the Dodgers score all the runs in the 9th inning.
Love the shot of the Dodger flag flying at the top of the flag pole in SF.
MadBum still out there. SF really hates their bullpen.
Some egos at work here.
But too scared to pitch against Puig. jk
Bochy thought better of that match up at this point.
Let’s score 3 runs this inning and 4 the next.
Kendrick is 4-for-37 since Sept. 18.
BAbip of .154 so he may be due.
Hope so.
Not any real options at this point.
Yes, I agree.
The work of several players in the last few days is making it easier for Roberts and the FO to determine who WON’T make the post-season roster.
Uh, but the auditions for the fourth starter in the playoffs are, well, not exactly going too well, you think?
Urias did well enough in his short stint.
Yes, but there seems to be doubt as to how many innings they will allow him to go. My simple solution to the search for the fourth starting pitcher in the playoffs, at least in the first round vs. Washington: Win the first three games behind Kershaw, Hill and Maeda.
Nice plan. Plan B could be 5 innings of Urias and 4 more of Stripling.
Is this the worst inning of the year for the Dodgers? Sure feels like it.
Anyway, I blame Utley. He came in this inning and he is just standing there at second base not helping out.
And of course as I type that non serious statement – he catches the third out!
Vin just confirmed my suspicions. The most runs they had given up before this was 5 (done numerious times).
Hill needed to go more than 5.
Not many of our starting pitchers have been going more than 5 or 6 for quite a while. And we won’t have 37 pitchers in the bullpen during the playoffs.
I wonder what the Dodgers record is with Ruiz behind the plate?
6-0
Didn’t they lose the first game he was in – the one with Jansen and the wild pitches?
I am just joking. Have no idea. He usually starts against lefties so that might tell you something about how the Dodgers do when he starts.
Ha! Didn’t realize you were joking – I trust your stats so much.
It would be 5-3 by my count in games that he starts.
Baseball reference has him at 6-7.
That is for every game he appears in whether as a PH or late innings sub.
Bringing in anyone else for McCarthy.
Totally tanking against the bottom of a weak order.
McCarthy not really a reliever.
3-2 Dodgers!
Will Hill pitch in the 6th? He must be close to the end at 81 pitches.
Meanwhile, back to back hits by the Dodgers
Back to back to back, you mean…
I would take one more!
It’s time for…cringing with Steiner.
Only once more will Vin toss the radio ‘cast. 🙁
Hill not as sharp tonight. But great k of Pence.
He got out of it!
Was it Hill who had the game in the last month or so where he started poorly — giving up 2 runs, i believe — then finished impressively strong?
I don’t recall.
Probably thinking of someone else. Hill has given up more than 1 run only once, when he gave up 4 and went 5.1 innings.
Nice play by Puig.
Can you imagine a play with Bumgarner trying to field the ball and coming close to Puig running down the line?
Yes. Yes I could.
Yes, and also can imagine some serious cleat marks on Bum’s back. 😉
Nice rebound, Rich.
Pitch count about the same for both pitchers as well.
Grrr. That’s 2 outs made on the bases.
And off the base.
Nearly 40 minutes to play the 1st — you would think Baez had been out there! (At least slo-mo Pedro.)
Would love to see Hernandez lead off inning 2 with a HR.
After a 10 pitch AB.
Walk is good.
Indeed.
Hill might be losing his #2 position.
Yes, can he keep the #3 position though?
Hope so. Nothing against Urias, but the Dodgers are better when they’re all playing well.
He will be the number 2. He won’t drop unless he is injured.
20 pitches and a 2 – 2 tie
An out would be good
If Hill got his glove on it, would have gotten 2 outs.
I was thinking 3
FYI, for anyone interested in Wild Card races, all games are free on MLB.TV (out-of-market) for the entire weekend.
So technically, the Dodger/Giant game should be available? Unless they figure Vegas is in the Bay Area market?
Ruiz with the bloop. 2-0.
Nice start even with Turner getting thrown out going to third.
Puig with the hit and Seager with the hustle! 1-0 Dodgers!
So Seager still has an outside chance at 200 hits. Sitting at 193 with his first inning single.
It would be so nice to keep MadBum at 99 wins until next season.
Has it started? Seems like MLB.tv is frozen or something.
Never mind – it just started.
I want to see a Puig batflip off BadGums tonight.
Michael Connelly (and Harry Bosch) pay tribute to Vin: http://www.si.com/mlb/2016/09/30/michael-connelly-vin-scully-los-angeles-dodgers?xid=socialflow_twitter_si
That’s cool. Mom loves the Bosch books, so I just requested it at my library. There are already 108 people ahead of me.
I love the Bosch series — as well as Lincoln Lawyer books. I’m currently reading “The Burning Room,” featuring Harry.
I just put it on hold – spot 180 (but 80 copies so not so bad).
Thanks — nice link . . . even if not from Link!
I never want to play the Giants in a playoff game in an even year.
I want the Gnats gnever to make the post-season, but I want their record to be good enough that their first-round draft pick remains unprotected.
I like the scenario Link mentioned: Cards and Giants tie in regular season and have to play to see who continues to play . . . with the record those teams have in the playoffs, I wouldn’t want to face them, no matter how the Dodgers have done vs. them this year. (and, frankly — especially since I’m not looking past the Nats — i don’t want either of them to win the Series.)
Here is my rooting pecking order for winning the World Series:
Dodgers
Indians (I have a long standing Cleveland thing)
Cubs
Mariners (if they make the playoffs)
Rangers
Orioles
Nationals
Red Sox
Tigers (if they make the playoffs)
Blue Jays
Mets
Cardinals (if they make the playoffs)
Giants
I’d go
Dodgers
Cubs
Nats
Indians (talk about going from 0 to 60 if Cleveland wins the Series the same year they took the NBA title!)
Pretty sure they won’t hit the trifecta. The Browns are junk as ever.
I have been a Brown’s fan since 1985.
Not always easy.
No. My sympathies.
Grant’s tribute to Vin: http://www.sbnation.com/2016/9/30/13065708/vin-scully-retirement-dodgers
Great article. And he linked to a few others including this one from Sports Reference: https://medium.com/@sports_ref/a-statistical-trip-thru-vin-scullys-extraordinary-career-a9928bc5eaf8#.lkorod6kx
Some interesting choices for most exciting game he has called (not a playoff or WS game, nor the 4+1 game). Also surprising pick for best hitting game (not Green’s 4 hr, 19 total bases game) and best pitching game (not Koufax, nor Kershaw).
I’ll repeat something I mentioned on the other thread: All this weekend, in addition to the privilege of playing the Dodgers, SF is hosting http://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/2016/, with many of performances streamed live. Arguably the greatest outdoor musical festival ever, in Golden Gate Park, and it’s free. We usually go there in person, but this weekend we may not be able to make it.
It will be interesting to see if Joc gets back to back starts against lefties tonight because is he does and does okay that could mean the Dodgers could be leaning to keep Kike’ off the first round of the playoffs.
According to Fangraphs for the month of September of all MLB players with 50 or more plate appearances, Joc ranks #2 in OPS and is tied for 6th in WAR. What a difference a year makes. Joc was clutch down the stretch and reinvented the #8 spot in the lineup.
Matt Kemp was #9 and Adrian Beltre was #11 Trout was #24, Loney #111, Kris Bryant #169 in OPS.
OPS: Pederson #2, Reddick was #22, Pug #31, Turner #57, Grandal #101, Seager #109, Utley #154, Gonzales #203, Kendrick #239
WAR: Pederson #6, Turner #21, Seager #36, Reddick #38, Puig #91, Grandal #110, Utley #123.
All other Dodger hitters below zero WAR