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.
Lineup when available.
Today’s #Dodgers lineup at D-backs: pic.twitter.com/3UagrP4Stk
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 20, 2021
Tatis didn’t play today. I wonder what his status is for tomorrow.
Certainly he’ll ask to play tomorrow but, out of caution, the Pads should sit him for the series.
Sounds great to me.
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.
Gameday says “no out.” The play says force out. What happened?
Very bad call and even worse review from New York.
Deleted
Pujols!!!! Wow!
Was that a “moral defeat”?
I expect that we will take nothing for granted in San Diego.
I should have taken a nap a couple of hours ago and missed all this tension.
Whew!! At least Kenley only had to throw 7 pitches.
Save number 330 for Jansen. He ties John Wetteland for 15th all time.
Why should we save number 330 for Jansen? (I am trying, but likely failing, to be funny).
That was akin to getting a D-minus on a final exam in a pass-fail class but still getting credit.
Well said.
Well, Snake fans were given some hope, if only for an inning.
Phew-HOO!!!
Ha!
Well said!
A seven-pitch save!
Dodgers win!
K is for Kenley!
Edge of my seat. Let’s go Geronimo!
There’s a start!
Two on, none out, no runs. Oh, brother.
Thanks to one atrocious call.
I am happy to say I missed it. (No eyes, no ears.)
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.
Well said!
Mookie time?
Nope, it’s Smith.
Not much speed on a ground ball. I worry about a DP.
Smith does run well, but Taylor makes the question moot.
Sure, though Smith not slow. Moot at this point.
Doubt they will overturn.
He never had control, never put a hand on it.
Never had control!
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.
We need some Jimmy Reed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkqGgCCWjus
Some insurance here would be very nice.
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.
Goodness. I left for a long phone call and suddenly we’re only up by one run? That’s nuts!
Why did Doc leave Uceta in so long? Geez!!
Don’t think he got someone up quick enough. Things turned bad quickly and Uceta was throwing some good pitches.
That one was more in Albert’s range
Well, he fielded the first one, but Víctor didn’t get there.
As regards distance to the bag.
If he’d sprinted immediately, maybe he’d have got there.
“Sprinted?”
It’s all relative.
Peralta lurking
And now we get the Snakes best hitter.
Who’s up in the bullpen?
Oh, Victor!
That was ugly.
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.
OK, that’s enough.
Arrgh. Please remove this pitcher ASAP, Doc.
Pads hold off the Rojos.
That’s better.
That swinging strike was a brutal pitch.
The Dodgers need to stop doing the White-Uceta shuffle.
Santana lost his chair when the music stopped.
Uceta for an inning was fine, and I think he’s a prospect. He has great movement.
Or a suspect.
Rather, they need to get Alexander and Brusdar back.
You’ve nailed it.
Going to the ninth at the Litterbox, the Pads still lead 3-2. Old friend Kyle Farmer leads off for the Rojos.
Giants lead the Phillies 11-2 after 8. Reds got 2 in the 8th, now trail Padres 3-2 after 7 1/2.
Pitching matchups the next three nights in San Diego:
M — Urias-Darvish
Tu — Kershaw-TBD
W — Bauer-TBD
Giants rolling today. Padres in pretty good shape to win.
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?
A.J. enjoying the visit to AZ.
Will Uceta get a chance for the three-inning save? (or does Doc want to give some others a little bit of work?)
I expect he’d prefer to avoid using Nelson, Treinen and Kenley.
Thinking more along the lines of Kelly.
Certainly deserves one more, if not two more, after that inning.
https://twitter.com/billplunkettocr/status/1406719667322843138?s=20
The hit by Burns means that every starter, including Gonsolin, has at least one hit today.
And even Cleavinger made it on.
By the way, belated Father’s Day wishes to all.
You as well Scoop.
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.
Very right!
Arizona finished second two years ago in the NL West — albeit a very distant second — to the Dodgers.
The latest on Andrew Toles. It’s a very sad story: https://sports.yahoo.com/wants-son-back-father-dodgers-120054485.html
That is heartbreaking. His father is heroic.
Truly sad. When we saw him on the field, he seemed to enjoy himself.
So heartbreaking. I always really liked him.
9 runs. But could easily be 12 or more.
As much as Dodgers run differential may improve today, Dbacks’ negative run differential will be even bigger.
How would you like to be the person for the Diamondbacks who has to write the pre-game press notes for the media?
It would just be a list of the new scrubs brought up from Reno.
I wish they would bring up Zach Lee. What do they have to lose?
I’d like to see him face Chris Taylor.
Poor ‘zona.
That is a bad team. Sure, I want us to win, but still you have to feel for them.
I’m fine if they right the ship and beat up every other team in the division.
I wish them well for the rest of the season, minus the 9 games left vs the Dodgers.
I feel for them…
Tony filling the void.
Some pretty hard contact this inning.
In getting to the popup with the shift on.
Great. All we need is an injury to another starter, but the hard contact was before that.
Well, at least it is the same starter?
Oh, no. I wonder why he was pulled with a big lead.
Have subsequently read that Doc had him on a 45-pitch count because he complained of soreness right after his previous 80 pitch outing. Seemed to be losing velocity in any event.
Announcers suggesting something hampering him physically.
Catman at 30 pitchers after three. Reached that in the first inning in previous two starts.
Playing AZ helps perhaps.
More like he has command. Recall that the first outing was against Pittsburgh.
Where did he get that nickname?
He loves cats.
Thanks.
Aggressively so.
Time for some sweet Souza music.
Or very much not.
Next time you have 25 minutes to spare: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-m3XHUSN08
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?
Yep. Main attraction was stuffed Trigger.
You bring back a flood of memories.
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.
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.
Souza Jr. making the most of his chances.
Our current crop of replacement players seem to be a win above.
Batting Gonsolin lead-off this inning didn’t hurt.
Correct. . . You never know what you never know.
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.
He only has himself to blame for not getting an RBI.
Sweet.
Boom from Albert!
King Albert!
They mentioned his 6 dingers in 77 PA. It reminds me that Drysdale had 7 in 72 PA in 1958!
Good knowledge. Do you think Pujols could pitch? LOL.
I vaguely recall, in 1965, Drysdale and Lou Johnson being tied for the team HR lead at one point late in the season.
They were pretty much neck and neck through mid-June.
Albert!
Keep on rolling Dodgers. 1-0 and looking for more.
And more we just got!
Meanwhile, in the Midwest, https://twitter.com/jokeylocomotive/status/1406680195214368773?s=20
I guess pitchers don’t have the book on Pages yet.
Either that, or they’re Quebecois…
How so?
Can’t read anglais…
Hmmm.
https://twitter.com/billplunkettocr/status/1406713730512023553?s=20
Lux. Tootblan.
Particularly with two outs and the pitcher batting.
Exactly.
What was he (not) thinking?
Element of surprise? May have been thinking that no one would expect him to try.
Although a few of the Dodger pitchers have been hitting pretty well. But yeah – no, not a good move.
Pujols now hitting .264 for the Dodgers in his 26th game. He batted .198 for Anaheim in 24 games this season.
They’ve chosen his spots.
And they’ve chosen fairly wisely.
As a role player, he still has some value.
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.
Not likely. IMO
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.
Astroturf hit for Lux.
Good situational hitting. 😉
Catman has a pretty stellar ERA for someone who has struggled so much. Charmed life.
Whenever he falls, he lands on his feet…
Haha! Good one.
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.
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.
More unlucky than anything.
Hit a ground ball straight to 3B who was virtually standing on the bag.
Exactly.
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.
Mitch White demoted and Edwin Uceta called up.
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.
Scoop, are you having smoke issues from the Big Sur fire?
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.
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.