Game 41, 2023

Padres at Dodgers, 1:10 PM PDT, TV: BSSD, SPNLA

LHP Ryan Weathers (1-1, 2.50 ERA) takes the hill for the Padres and RHP Tony Gonsolin (0-1, 1.93 ERA) does so for the Dodgers.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

  • 1956 The Orioles, taking a gamble, purchase sore-armed Billy Loes from the Dodgers for a reported $25,000. The 26 year-old right-hander, who will be selected for American League All-Star team next season, will post a 21-30 (.412) record during his four years with Baltimore.
  • 1978 In a contest best remembered for Tommy Lasorda’s postgame rant, Dave Kingman hits three home runs, accounting for eight RBIs against the Dodgers in the Cubs’ 10-7 victory at Chavez Ravine. The third-year manager takes exception to radio reporter Paul Olden asking his opinion about the Chicago slugger’s performance, responding with an obscenity-laced tirade that has become legendary.

  • 1981 With a 3-2 win over Montreal in front of the largest Dodger Stadium crowd in seven years, rookie sensation Fernando Valenzuela improves his record to 8-0. The 20 year-old southpaw, who has started the season with five shutouts and a minuscule ERA of 0.50, gets the victory when right fielder Pedro Guerrero hits a leadoff game-ending home run off Steve Ratzer in the bottom of the ninth inning at Chavez Ravine.
  • 2011 For the first time since 1914, the Dodgers are defeated after allowing just one hit, losing to the visiting Diamondbacks,1-0. Chad Billingsley, the hard-luck loser, gives up a leadoff double in the second to Stephen Drew, who scores the game’s only run when shortstop Jamey Carroll fails to cover the bag in an attempted pick-off play.

Lineups when available.

52 thoughts on “Game 41, 2023

  1. Puds are 0 and 5 against the Dodgers since disrespecting Kersh on May 5th.

    Don’t mess with Kersharma.

  2. Early enough in Berlin that I can probably watch the whole game. It’ll be a nice change of pace from the Mauer Museum (the history of the wall, which is intense). Our hotel is just a short walk from Checkpoint Charlie.

    • Have enjoyed my short visits to Berlin, especially the Jewish Museum and nearby Checkpoint Charlie.

      • Only time I was in Germany (1984) it was pre-collapse of the Wall. Getting to Berlin was something I wanted to do, but it was difficult and we had little time to spare, so I never made it. I’ve always been sorry about that.

        • I spent two months in West Germany in 1970, but the process of getting to Berlin was intimidating.

        • Had been a wish of mine as well, but never made it there until after the fall.

  3. This concern about the Pads seems a bit premature. 40 games seems like an even smaller sample size than normal given how unbalanced the schedule is. 25 of their games have been against teams better than .500 (Dodgers 17).

    • Great point. But isn’t it also kinda true that – especially early in the season – when a team loses, that helps the other team to be over .500?
      So the Padres had a hand in that stat of playing more successful teams.

      • In this case probably not. LA and MIL have beaten them badly, but they are actually positive against teams like Atlanta and Arizona.

  4. Condolences and prayers to Clayton Kershaw and his family on the death of his mother.

    • Guessing that this is a lot, cuz he has pitched for a long time, in both leagues and for a number of different teams. What would Klayton’s numbers be?

      • It’s the equivalent of 40 full baseball teams with not one player on more than one team, right? 25-man roster, 1000 players…

        This is his 20th season.

        I haven’t seen any calculations for Kershaw yet, but I’ll bet someone’s doing them now that this stat has surfaced.

        • Seems more like a Ross Porter type stat. Interesting in what it implies, but not really a “record” sort of stat.

          • Sometimes I think I’ve heard everything, and then I remind myself there’s an infinity of baseball stats.

  5. At the 40-game mark:
    2017 22-18 Lost WS
    2018 16-24 Lost WS
    2019 25-15 Lost DS
    2020 30-10 Won WS
    2021 22-18 Lost CS
    2022 27-13 Lost DS
    2023 25-15

    • A short five-year old in LL must have been something to behold. I don’t think I started in organized ball (church school league) until I was eight and was banished to right field so I wouldn’t mess things up too badly.

      • In retrospect, I might’ve been better than I thought I was, but we had lots of talent in junior high and high school. Our No. 1 starter reached the majors with the Spiders and then the Beerboys.