Giants at Dodgers, 7:00 PM PDT, TV: ESPN
The Giants send LHP Drew Smyly to the mound for his first start of the season after appearing in relief for one scoreless inning on July 23. He’ll face the Dodgers’ LHP Julio Urias, who’s also making his first start of the year. With the departures of Maeda, Ryu and Hill, he’s got an opportunity to cement a spot in the rotation for years to come if he does well in this shortened season.
On this date in Dodgers’ history:
- 1900 In Brooklyn, a sheriff seizes the St. Louis share of gate receipts to reimburse Gus Weyhing, recently released by the Cardinals after posting a 3-4 record in eight starts with the team, who claims to have been cheated out of ten days of pay. Next week, the right-hander, known as Cannonball by his teammates, will sign with the Superbas as a free agent.
- 1948 Former Dodger skipper Leo Durocher, who left the team ten days ago, makes his first appearance at Ebbets Field since taking over the Giants. The return of ‘the Lip’ is less-than-triumphant when his new team drops a 13-4 decision to Brooklyn.
- 1951 In a 9-1 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Jim Russell becomes the first player in major league history to hit a home run from both sides of the plate in a game in two different games. The Dodger outfielder’s accomplishment will be surpassed in 1956 when Yankee slugger Mickey Mantle goes deep both right and left-handed in the same game for a third time.
- 1960 The Phillies end their scoreless streak of thirty-eight consecutive innings when Johnny Callison plates Tony Gonzalez with a sixth-inning single in the team’s 4-3 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Philadelphia’s drought began when the team failed to score in the last six frames of a 3-0 win against the Giants, and continued when they were shut out in three straight games ( 2-0, 2-0, and 9-0) by the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
- 1991 Mark Gardner no-hits the Dodgers for nine innings, but Los Angeles wins the game in the bottom of the tenth on two singles off the Expos’ starter and Darryl Strawberry’s RBI single off reliever Jeff Fassero. It’s the first time the Dodgers had been held hitless at home for nine innings since Johnny Vander Meer’s second straight no-hitter in 1938.
Lineup when available.
Tonight's #Dodgers lineup vs. Giants: pic.twitter.com/bjls3u33e9
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 26, 2020
https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1288147029437435907?s=20
In the context of tonight’s game (presuming it actually happens) – https://www.sfgate.com/athletics/article/Oakland-A-s-cutout-of-Astros-mascot-trash-can-15437443.php
As long as it’s MLB calling the shots, I doubt that they let the Fish spoil the party.
As long as it’s MLB calling the shots, I doubt that they let the Fish spoil the party.
Manfred finds a solution. https://twitter.com/TheOnion/status/1287892281748525060?s=20
Ray Davies wrote a song about it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D1NC_UUuhM
That’s all, folks… https://twitter.com/lauferlaw/status/1287765813202747393?s=20
It’s hard to believe games will, or should, continue after this outbreak.
Gather that they will try to continue for now, but hopefully with a new appreciation for the protocols throughout the various organizations. Donnie Baseball need a new moniker however. Jeez, what was he thinking?
I know! Florida-brain.
https://twitter.com/nycsouthpaw/status/1287932383413645313?s=20
I am pessimistic. Why shouldn’t players wear masks on the field? It’s not as if they’re lifting weights or running marathons.
Yeah, I was certainly pessimistic going in and not surprised at the outbreak.
Marlins are being tested today and depending on results would apparently bus it to Baltimore and play the series there.
Bus it from Miami to Baltimore?
They are in Philly.
End of the season? https://twitter.com/SamDykstraMiLB/status/1287769441611194375?s=20
AJ! Double!
Looked like a Corey Seager Special.
Rally. Pitcher is wild and has to pitch to three. Don’t bail him out Seager.
Well hit but might have been better if he took a strike there.
Pollock is really not an inspiring at-bat. I remember him killing us at the plate…
In the playoffs. Actually hit very well last part of the season after returning from injury.
I have a selective memory sometimes.
It’s his fault.
I an beginning to doubt that he will ever be inspiring for the Dodgers. He did hit 15 HRs last year, but he is injury prone. He has played in more than 113 games only once in his career. Pollock has had only one outstanding season in his career, and that was five years ago with Arizona.
Guessing that he is penciled in as RH DH, so opportunity for injury would diminish.
Mookie is a Gnats out-machine.
Both teams have had some bloop hits and dribblers tonight.
Split the series with SF
Man, losing two in a row after winning the first two in blowout fashion doesn’t fill me with confidence.
Last year 8-8. After 60 games 41-19.
“Past performance does not guarantee future results,” as the mutual fund managers say.
Works both ways, that’s why you stick with the fundamentals.
Putting the ugly in ugh.
Night, all.
Really bad couple of games.
Watching pitches go right down the middle all night.
I wonder how Verdugo is doing these days? Lol.
Mookie will kick in.
Not feeling it.
Max?
You can help out here Mookie.
Need Smith to hit another 9th inning HR.
Nope.
Good start!
Kenley looking sharp.
My last comment of the night. I’ll watch the rest from bed on Gameday.
Hope it shows In Play Run(s).
Let’s GO Dodgers – bottom of the 9th.
3 innings worth of outs by Mookie.
Seemed like a Joc opportunity to PH.
Looks like AJ will need to save the day…
Don’t bet your bottom dollar.
Drat.
Ugh-fest.
Last night Joc gets HBP in this situation and now Seager to again bring up Kike’
Not a bad strategy, to be honest.
Hard to overrule.
You are right.
Hopefully that helps the Dodgers. I would rather Seager at bat than Kiké.
Me, too. He wanted to stay in.
Kiké time? Or Seager time.
The 8th so far is more funner
Still need a few more hits. Or a big blast.
It’s time for Bellinger’s first HR of the season.
Or a Seager blast.
Just don’t hit it to the left field gate
Okay! Wakey wakey!
Thank goodness for JT.
We haven’t had a hit since the third inning. Or perhaps since The Castaways did “Liar, Liar.”
This is a dull and annoying game so far.
We’ve forgotten how to swing at strikes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TvQydvkGDk
Frustrating!
You said it!
I do feel like we are one big hit away from remembering we are a scary offensive team.
Nope. Our DH is a bust.
Who was it maybe in 2018 that we were all down on?
Oh man – who was it?
Logan Forsythe.
That’s the guy, thanks.
Come on AJ. Prove me wrong here.
This is not going well at all.
Grrr.
Wake-up call needed.
Baez putting me and the Dodgers to sleep
Cutouts getting up and leaving the game.
Hahaha.
Not loving this game, even with the ESPN sound off and the radio on.
Too many pitches without anything put in play
Not for them.
Happy now!?
I think I am
Going to have to win it late I guess.
More than ever. We are sloppy!
Need to string some hits together and fast.
As Pads have lost to Snakes, Dodgers can regain sole possession of first place by beating Gnats tognight. They are also tied with Rox at the moment.
Dodgers game is an ESPN blackout, as is Barves-Mutts game currently underway.
Dang it.
Taylor on. Let’s go Seager.
I’m glad relief pitchers have to pitch to three hitters or we would be here all night
26 man rosters cant come fast enough for me.
Petey in to make it all night.
Phew… we’d better wake up.
Not too worried. Hard to see this team held to one run.
I know. But I worry nonetheless. Good to have you here Jack!
Ugh. We are not looking sharp at all – not for two games now.
These Giants are good.
LOL
Meanwhile, we haven’t had the leadoff man get on base once.
Amazing to me how many 100 mph arms are out there these days.
Gee, leadoff batter aboard again.
Fifth straight inning.
Now Peralta has to face Turner.
I love balks.
Now let’s get a bushel of runs and make Urias the winning pitcher.
I’d settle for a peck
Yes. DP!!!
He should be able to put Pence away now.
Im tired of their leadoff hitter being on base seemingly every inning.
Fourth straight inning.
How else are we going to turn double plays?
Urías hasn’t found his rhythm yet.
Jack Dawkins: Welcome back to this great blog after a nearly two-year absence. We are pleased to have you with us again!
Thanks. I’ve got no place else to go!
I wander in and out….been a long time since the Toaster days, but im still here.
Not a great play by Urias
He is a bit off tonight in a few different ways.
No one to throw it to for awhile, then not a good toss.
A great play would have been a firm throw to the bag and let Kike’ run to it instead of throwing it to Kike’ when he was still moving to the bag and had to stop and wait for the ball.
Certainly went for the sure out.
I will always take a sure out happily. For some reason I still remember the first time I played second base with the 90 foot base paths and the runner at first tried to steal second base. I didn’t move with the runner and instead waited to see what the hitter did. The catcher had a great arm and bailed me out with a throw about six inches above the bag and I was able to catch it on the run and tag the runner for the out. The catcher threw to a bag that wasn’t covered and if he hadn’t, I would have been embarrassed.
I’m tired of this Heineman. Why couldn’t the Busted Poseur play instead?
I agree!
Buster Posey and his wife adopted 2 children who were born prematurely. He elected not to play this year. But I’m sure you knew that already.
I like the guy, and wish them well.
Me too!
Did he bring his catcher’s glove into the maternity ward like he did in his commercial?
The issue is, Heineman’s better than the Poseur.
Keep it going CT.
Fouled off a lot of pitches
And hit it hard – but right at Yaz.
Yaz is the grandson of Yaz and it seems normal to hear that name. We have been watching baseball a long time.
1983 doesn’t seem that long ago. That’s when Yaz retired.
I wonder if SF could get a favorable trade with Boston?
Help with the sting of losing Mookie I suppose.
Belli drives in Betts.
Are we going to call that a BelliBett?
Our two Marquee hitters have the worst averages so far, Bodes well.
Yes! RBI!
Let’s go Belli. Hit it where they ain’t.
Just did barely
SF have had some seeing eye hits as well.
Belli deserved a hit though as it was hit hard
True.
Lots of flinching for a righty batter against a lefty pitcher
I noticed that as well.
Great steal.
So good they didn’t even attempt a throw.
Mookie steals second. Need Turner to drive him home now.
Lob tosses to first for naught
Just like Urias’ tosses were.
The cardboard cutouts need some paint on the backsides.
So many soft tosses over to first by both pitchers tonight.
It’s a little annoying
At very least it seems like it’s unproductive.
A hit!
Only the 4th game but the pitching has been led by one guy not expected to make the team much more the rotation and another that was traded.
Ok Dodgers. Let’s wake up and get hitting.
My thoughts exactly.
Not going to lie. ARod’s laugh is weird – bordering on creepy.
Nice hustle by Mookie to make that grab.
Bloop ball continues.
No video, but Gameday would suggest that Julito’s not at his sharpest.
He is not overpowering that’s for sure.
The numbers suggest he’s throwing hard enough, but without command.
That’s what I’m seeing.
Both pitchers at 28 pitches with 2 base runners allowed through 2 innings of play.
Bet Yaz lost that in the lights for a moment.
Five tiers of cutouts tend to hide the ball
Seager is no longer as hot as he was in summer camp.
Better throw would have had him.
Why is Urias throwing lob passes to first base?
To get to the other side of the road?
Ha!
A Rod not in Joe Morgan territory yet, but close enough that I’ve put the game on mute.
I might as well mute because I’m basically tuning out what they are talking about. Basically they are background noise.
Betts not hitting yet but looking fairly smooth out in right.
He had a better chance of contact by kicking the strike 3 ball than he had swinging at it.
Mookie still not relaxed at the plate.
Neither is Belli.
Back tonight. Apologizing for being out on an overnight hike yesterday and the resulting loss.
Welcome back. Where were you hiking?
Went from Islip Saddle up to Mt Baden Powell and spent the night there. Needed to get the bod to start adjusting to a pack for my Sierra hike in a month. Im a tad creaky tonight, but that was the goal.
Do you go with others or is solo hiking a thing?
Just on my own. My yearly Sierra hike is usually 10 days and I have not been able to talk others into that.
Sounds adventurous!
I think of it has soul maintenance. I get closer to the Lord and come away with my priorities straight usually. You really learn to let everything non essential go. Plus, I think the Southern Sierra is the most beautiful place on Earth.
Love this. Grace and peace on your trip.
My longest hike was about 30 miles starting at Tuolumne Meadows up Vogelsang Pass to Merced Lake and then to the top of Half Dome before heading down via Nevada and Vernal Falls to the valley.
Kern River Valley?
Anywhere in Sequoia especially. This year I plan on going into the Kaweah Basin, a longtime wish. It will involve going down, and then slogging up out of that trench. I will say that the Kern Trench is not a favorite, but makes the areas around it all the more earned.
In the Sierras, I get closer to Dog.
As a teenager I was able to do summer hikes in the Sierra for a couple of weeks at a time. Just gorgeous!
Nice start by Urias.
Oh Seager – just missed that catch.
Ready to put yesterday in the rear view mirror and start a new winning streak tonight.
It’s an ESPN blackout, but at least there’s no Steiner tonight.
Hurricane Douglas is 100 miles east of Honolulu moving at 16 mph, expected to remain a Category 1 with winds of 85 mph when it goes past us (he says hopefully) to our north. That means we should get winds of 40-65 mph about the time Jansen closes out the game tonight.
Stay safe Link.
Passed by my place, well off shore, as a tropical depression last week.