Game 89, 2023

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Angels at Dodgers, 6:10 PM PDT, TV: BS West, SPNLA

The visiting Angels send LHP and birthday celebrant Reid Detmers (2-5, 3.72 ERA) to the Dodger Stadium mound to face LHP Alex Vesia (0-4, 7.08 ERA), who will be the first in a string of relievers for the Dodgers.

Today in Dodgers’ history

  • 1949 Hank Thompson, who broke into the majors as a member of the St. Louis Browns twelve days after Larry Doby’s American League debut with the Indians in 1947, becomes the first African-American to play for the Giants. When the former Kansas City Monarchs’ standout faces Dodger right-hander Don Newcombe, it marks the first time a pitcher-batter confrontation takes place between black players in the major leagues.

In the “Dubious Moments in Baseball History” column comes this item: in 1979 the Mets announce the selection of Mettle as the name for the team’s new mascot mule. Dolores Mapps of Mercerville, N.J., who submitted the winning entry, believes the moniker captures the team’s “spirit, ardor, stamina, and courage, all of which the Mets have in abundance.” Alas, Mettie only had one year in the big leagues. It was a victim of a change in Mets ownership after the season.

In a slightly more aesthetic moment, back in 1994 Red Sox shortstop John Valentin snares Marc Newfield’s sixth-inning line drive, steps on second to retire Mike Blowers, and then tags the runner coming from first, Kevin Mitchell, to turn an unassisted triple play. After completing the rare feat, accomplishing a play that has occurred only ten times in major league history, the infielder begins a three-homer outburst by Boston in the bottom of the frame, helping the team defeat the Mariners at Fenway Park, 4-3.

Lineups when available.

111 thoughts on “Game 89, 2023”

  2. Even the NYT disapproves of the uniforms!

    The Atlanta Braves tried; their entire infield played together in the bottom of the fifth inning. That could have been a stirring visual, but for the third year in a row, M.L.B. put the teams in generic Nike uniforms, making its best players look as indistinguishable as possible.

    • They should just move him to SS and concentrate on getting a right hand hitting OF that crushes lefties.

    • A 3-2 win for the NL. They’re first since 2012. The AL still leads the overall series 47-44-2.

  5. No ASG post? I used to care about it – so did the players – but today I’m only watching because there’s little else to do. The uniforms have set new standards for ugliness.

    • It was only since 2021 that they started wearing non-team jerseys. I hate the concept. It was FUN to see all those guys in their regular uniforms playing on the same side.

      I didn’t’ feel like doing a post for this game. Seems to me the recent ones have gotten 20 or fewer comments, so leave ’em here if you like.

  6. We are off to Italy today, back on July 20th. I will be checking in here at odd times. Someone else may need to put in all the Woo-HOOs I am expecting after the break.

  7. Yippee! Pirates beat the DBacks Sunday, 4-2, meaning that the Dodgers are now in first place heading into the All-Star break. The teams are tied in the Games Behind category, but the Dodgers’ winning percentage is .573 compared to the DBacks’ .571. Arizona has won one game more and lost one game more than the Dodgers. Considering all the mound trauma that the Dodgers have suffered and are still suffering, this is remarkable.

  9. It will be weird to have no game scheduled on a Sunday. I cannot recall that ever being the case previously.

  10. So, will the Angels trade Ohtani? I am sure they would love to unload Rendon.

    • They should have traded him last Aug 1st. They should trade him this Aug 1st. I guess they won’t however. They will extend an offer, get a draft pick when he doesn’t sign – and wish things had been different.

  16. Snakes have their worst starter going tomorrow. If Bucs can win, Dodgers will be in first by percentage points.

  17. At the break last year, the Dodgers were 60-30. But considering all the injuries this year, 51-38 is pretty remarkable.

  23. Bryan Hudson is trying to be like Daniel Hudson. Load ‘em up and then knock them down.

  26. Ok Hudson, B. Time to record an out or 3 now that the bases are loaded.

  41. I do appreciate the mix of veteran and rookie this year. And they all seem to enjoy and support each other. That is Doc’s superpower.

    • Doc won’t sniff the MOTY, but this might be his most challenging year to help the team succeed.

      • He’s very underrated as a manager, I think. Having managed a slow-pitch team, I can appreciate how difficult it is get everybody on the same page.

    • The Snakes did that to B*nds, but he was on BALCO Flaxseed Oil at the time.

      • Absolutely none! It’s just the classic idea to build something big in a small town as an easy tourist attraction.

        My favourite in Manitoba is the Happy Rock in a place called… Gladstone.

        • But apparently this coke can is the largest in the world. And since we were out for a drive (Portage is an hour east of Winnipeg) – it was fun to see.

  51. If I didn’t know better, I might think that Mookie bulked up with B*rry.

  56. Granted that today is a bullpen game, but I wish that we weren’t starting Vesia, who will be pitching for the third day in a row. I know he only made three pitches last night, but he still had to warm up for awhile. I’d keep him in the pen and use him if necessary.

  57. Bucs blew one big to the Snakes today, so Dodgers unlikely to occupy first place at the break (if Dodgers win tonight and Snakes lose tomorrow on Dodgers’ off day, LA would have a percentage points lead over them).

  58. LAT’d, but worth repeating – https://twitter.com/DustyBakerTV/status/1677807978450235394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1677807978450235394%7Ctwgr%5Ed4b1528bb70f8fea8336834be4cf1ed06e2af258%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdisqus.com%2Fembed%2Fcomments%2F%3Fbase%3Ddefaultf%3Delysiant_i%3D891520http3A2F2Flinkmeister.com2Fdodgers2F3Fp3D8915t_u%3Dhttp3A2F2Flinkmeister.com2Fdodgers2F20232F072Fgame-88-20232Ft_e%3DGame20882C202023t_d%3DGame20882C202023207C20Elysian20Fieldst_t%3DGame20882C202023s_o%3Ddefaultversion%3D6047006d1bba420c11b6a485beb91d04