Game 71, 2021

Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 1:10 PM PDT, TV: Bally Sports Arizona, SPNLA

RHP Tony Gonsolin (0-0, 3.38 ERA) pitches for the Dodgers and LHP Alex Young (2-4, 3.86 ERA) goes for the D-Backs.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 2008 In recognition of their significant contributions to the community, the Dodgers become the first sports franchise to be honored by the Hollywood Historic Trust and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. The team receives an Award of Excellence star, which is placed in the Walk of Fame. The Hollywood Walk of Fame includes a constellation of celebrities, real and fictional, who have had a major impact on the entertainment industry.
  • 2009 Jeff Weaver beats his kid brother Jered when the visiting Dodgers best the Halos, 6-5, at Angel Stadium. The Northridge, California natives become the eighth set of siblings in major league history to start against one another.

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183 thoughts on “Game 71, 2021

    • Certainly he’ll ask to play tomorrow but, out of caution, the Pads should sit him for the series.

        • Apparently he will play and, though I’m not a doctor, I think it’s risky. Repeated injuries could be a real warning sign, especially in someone so young.

  1. I should have taken a nap a couple of hours ago and missed all this tension.

    • Why should we save number 330 for Jansen? (I am trying, but likely failing, to be funny).

  2. That was akin to getting a D-minus on a final exam in a pass-fail class but still getting credit.

  3. We cannot wait for the return of Alexander and/or Graterol to help fix this bullpen. Replacing White with Uceta is like fixing a headache with a hammer.

  4. I had to take a break from this game. I went outside to water the plants. I just returned. At least we still have the lead. But, OMG.

  5. So here’s what needs to happen: we beat the Dbacks today but they are energized by their almost comeback and beat their next several opponents.

  6. Goodness. I left for a long phone call and suddenly we’re only up by one run? That’s nuts!

      • Don’t think he got someone up quick enough. Things turned bad quickly and Uceta was throwing some good pitches.

  7. Right now we’re looking at a save situation after being ahead 9-1. Too often this year we build up big leads and then have to start sweating things out.

  8. Going to the ninth at the Litterbox, the Pads still lead 3-2. Old friend Kyle Farmer leads off for the Rojos.

  9. Giants lead the Phillies 11-2 after 8. Reds got 2 in the 8th, now trail Padres 3-2 after 7 1/2.

  10. Pitching matchups the next three nights in San Diego:
    M — Urias-Darvish
    Tu — Kershaw-TBD
    W — Bauer-TBD

    • Pads have had to work their pen pretty hard over the weekend, and the Rojos are rallying in the eighth. It’s now 3-2 Pads after 7-1/2.

      • What’s up with their rotation? Any idea why the uncertainty regarding starters for the series?

  11. Will Uceta get a chance for the three-inning save? (or does Doc want to give some others a little bit of work?)

  12. The hit by Burns means that every starter, including Gonsolin, has at least one hit today.

      • Thanks. My wife is on a long-planned trip, visiting her sister in Washington State. Our daughter lives in the S.F. Bay Area. She sent me a great card with a $60 gift certificate for use at Dodger Stadium. Raised that kid right.

  13. Arizona finished second two years ago in the NL West — albeit a very distant second — to the Dodgers.

  14. As much as Dodgers run differential may improve today, Dbacks’ negative run differential will be even bigger.

  15. How would you like to be the person for the Diamondbacks who has to write the pre-game press notes for the media?

  16. Catman at 30 pitchers after three. Reached that in the first inning in previous two starts.

        • When I was a kid growing up in L.A., there was a 15-minute radio sports show on KMPC, AM 710, at 6 p.m., M-F. It was “Bob Kelley’s Parade of Sports.” A main advertiser was the Apple Valley Inn. I made a point of trying to listen to it nightly. His theme music was one of Souza’s marches. Do any of you remember that?

          • Nope, but went to grade school one year in Apple Valley. Recall that they had a mayoral candidate who pledged to put a fence around the area and call it the biggest sandbox in the world.

          • Was it out in the desert?…Did Roy Rogers and Dale Evans own the Apple Valley Inn?

          • My wife’s late father was career army. He liked the family to get up early. The first time we visited, at about 7 in the morning he put a Souza march on real loud on the phonograph. Talk about being startled. Despite that, I have been happily married 41 years.

  17. Try to find the video of Albert’s homer. When they switch to the dugout, take a look at the incredible expression on Lux’s face, particularly his eyes. Priceless.

    • Well, it did prevent us from having another shot at getting the guy in from third and deprived Catman of the opportunity to make the last out of the inning.

    • They mentioned his 6 dingers in 77 PA. It reminds me that Drysdale had 7 in 72 PA in 1958!

  18. Pujols now hitting .264 for the Dodgers in his 26th game. He batted .198 for Anaheim in 24 games this season.

          • Do you think there is any chance the Dodgers would try to keep him after the season ends?

          • Doutbtful, I’d say. They’ll need more room on the 40-man roster for younger players.

          • He would need to take a paycut from the $570,000 the Dodgers are paying him plus the pro-rated $30 million from the Angels. Next season he is supposed to start a 10-year, $10 million personal services contract with the Angels, representing their lifelong commitment to each other. Gather that is still a thing, if not in spirit.

  19. Catman has a pretty stellar ERA for someone who has struggled so much. Charmed life.

  20. My son and I are watching the Clippers vs Suns on tv, while I also watch Dodgers vs Diamondbacks on my phone. I never realized how close the two of those sports places are located in Phoenix.

    • The Suns originally played at VA Memorial Coliseum, about three blocks from my grandmother’s house near 15th Ave and McDowell. They moved in 1992.

  21. At Yanqui Stadium today, leading 2-1, Chapman walks the first two batters in the ninth. Then – talk about bad situational hitting – A’s catcher Sean Murphy grounds into a round-the-horn TP.

    • If ever there was a tailor-made triple play, this was it. The third baseman was just a few feet from the bag, the ball was hit hard and right at him, and the batter was the catcher. The play at first wasn’t even close. It was also the Yankees’ third triple play this season.

  22. Some facts about the Diamondbacks (and the Dodgers):
    I looked up Arizona on baseball-reference.com, which is a great site. The Diamondbacks were created in 1998, so this is their 24th season.
    In the category of career WAR (Wins Above Replacement), Randy Johnson is No. 1, but, remarkably, five Diamondbacks who also played for (or are still playing for) the Dodgers are in the top nine: No. 4 — Luis Gonzales, No. 6 — A.J. Pollock, No. 7 — Steve Finley, No. 8 — Zack Greinke, and No. 9 — Dan Haren.
    Arizona has lost 16 straight games. I hope it breaks that streak tomorrow. Although the season is not yet half over, this is the second losing streak of at least 13 games for the team. The Diamondbacks have also lost 23 in a road, now a major league record. Their last road wins were April 25, when they won a doubleheader in Atlanta. Their next road game is June 25.

      • No, we are thus far in good shape. Thank you for asking. The fire is southeast of us, about 12 miles away. Crews and air support are doing an excellent job. The air is clearer than yesterday. They appear to be containing it at about 2,000 acres. It seems in roughly the same area as the Carmel Fire last year, which should have been called the Carmel Valley Fire. Because of the 2020 fire, there is likely less fuel to burn. Also, because it is the only fire in this area, there is no shortage of firefighters (currently about 450) or aircraft to combat it. We evacuated for five days last year when the fire got to within about a mile and a half of us.

        • I used to do a lot of backpacking in that area with my first malamute in 1970s. I’d go in October or later and have the whole area to myself (except when I stumbled upon the Tassajara Zen Center, but at least they kept the noise down).

          • The Tassajara Zen Center is a wonderful place to get away from it all. My wife and I have spent a few days there twice. No TV. No Internet. All meals are vegetarian and are served family style at long tables. Swimming in the river — bathing suits optional — or the pool. Closed for visitors last year and again this year because of the pandemic, however. It’s been evacuated because of the latest fire.

  23. Some facts about the Diamondbacks (and the Dodgers):
    I looked up Arizona on baseball-reference.com, which is a great site. The Diamondbacks were created in 1998, so this is their 24th season.
    In the category of career WAR (Wins Above Replacement), Randy Johnson is No. 1, but, remarkably, five Diamondbacks who also played for (or are still playing for) the Dodgers are in the top nine: No. 4 — Luis Gonzales, No. 6 — A.J. Pollock, No. 7 — Steve Finley, No. 8 — Zack Greinke, and No. 9 — Dan Haren.
    Arizona has lost 16 straight games. I hope it breaks that streak tomorrow. Although the season is not yet half over, this is the second losing streak of at least 13 games for the team. The Diamondbacks have also lost 23 in a road, now a major league record. Their last road wins were April 25, when they won a doubleheader in Atlanta. Their next road game is June 25.