Category Archives: Game Threads

For discussion of today’s game

Apr 16

Game 12, 2016

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Giants at Dodgers, 3:10PM 6:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, CSN-BA

This game matches the Giants’ Johnny Cueto and the Dodgers’ Scott Kazmir against each other for the second time in a week. Cueto got the better outcome in the first game: he survived a five-run first inning and went six more to get the win. Kazmir gave up three HRs and six runs in four innings but escaped with a no-decision.

The Dodgers optioned catcher/infielder Austin Barnes to OK City and reinstated right-handed pitcher Chris Hatcher from paternity leave on Friday.

Bumgarner and the snake: a fable told by Vin Scully.

Lineup when available.

Apr 15

Game 11, 2016

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Giants at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, NBC Bay Area, MLBN Free Game (out of area only)

Kersh v. MadBum for the ninth time. The Dodgers’ lefty is 1-0 with a 1.20 ERA this season, and Bumgarner is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA. ‘Nuff said.

Giants catcher Buster Posey has stepped into the batter’s box against Kershaw more times than any player in the Major Leagues, but he has struggled with a .228/.256/.329 line in 75 plate appearances. That’s his worst OPS against any pitcher with a minimum of 25 plate appearances.

The Dodgers’ Adrian Gonzalez has fared even worse against Bumgarner. The first baseman’s .151/.191/.200 in 47 plate appearances adds up to his worst OPS against any of the 49 pitchers he’s faced 25 times or more in his career.

It’s Jackie Robinson Day around the majors, so every player will be wearing uniform number 42. Jackie’s wife Rachel and daughter Sharon will be at Dodger Stadium for the game, and I hope you saw the Ken Burns documentary about Jackie earlier this week on PBS. As far as I’m concerned, Rachel was the star. There’s one oddity about this celebration, though; there are fewer African-American players in baseball now than there were 10 or 15 years ago, and this season there are only fourteen black pitchers in all of baseball. Where are the Bob Gibsons and Dave Stewarts and Vida Blues and Doc Goodens and Fergie Jenkins and Mudcat Grants? Gone to the NBA?

Lineup:

Even this early in the season it’s becoming very apparent that Dave Roberts is not averse to platooning or playing the matchup game. There are very few if any lefties in his lineup against the left-handed Bumgarner.

Apr 14

Game 10, 2016

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Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FS-A

The D-Backs send lefty Robbie Ray (0-0, 3.00 ERA, 2 runs, 4 hits, 3 strikeouts and 4 walks in 6 innings) to the mound for his second start of the season. The Dodgers send the righthanded Ross Stripling out for his second start after his stunning first one, when he threw 7 1/3 innings of no-hit ball (and got no decision; thanks, bullpen!) against the Giants.

Lineup when available.


Don’t ask me why Barnes is at second. If Utley needs a rest, why not play Kendrick there? Instead, Howie’s at third and Turner gets a day off too. Puig and Gonzalez seem to be the only guys who play every day.

Apr 13

Game 9, 2016

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Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FS-A

Old friend Rubby De La Rosa has had horrid luck against the Dodgers, going 0-3 with an 11.21 ERA against them in his career. Overall he’s 22-25 with a 4.61 ERA in his five previous seasons in the big leagues. Alex Wood has similar career stats: he’s 26-27 with a 3.36 ERA in three previous seasons.

Lineup when available.

I hadn’t thought of getting both Kendrick’s and Utley’s bats in the lineup in quite this way, but…we also see Yasmani Grandal making his first start of the season after he came off the DL Tuesday.

Here are some highlights from Opening Day:

First, Mr. Puig at second base switching hands on the base.

Now, here are the two throws to get Castillo at home, Puig to Turner to Ellis.

Apr 12

Game 8, 2016 (aka Opening Day at Dodger Stadium)

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Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 1:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FS-A, MLBN (out of market only)

The visiting D-Backs send Patrick Corbin (0-1, 5.14 ERA) to the mound to face the Dodgers’ Kenta Maeda (1-0, 0.00 ERA). The next run Maeda gives up will be the first one of his American MLB career. All the runs Corbin gave up in his first start were via home runs; the Dodgers only have three so far this season so he may be safe. On the other hand, Maeda has one of the Dodgers’ HRs; Corbin may need to be careful pitching to him.

The Dodgers are expected to activate Howie Kendrick and Yasmani Grandal from the disabled list for this game, which means they’ll have to put two players on it or send two down to Oklahoma City. I hope I don’t have to type that too often. I still think of Albuquerque as the location of the AAA affiliate, even though Las Vegas was the site for a few years recently.

Lineup when available.

And there’s this news from Ken Gurnick as well: “Roberts said Van Slyke on DL. Grandal active.”

Apr 10

Game 7, 2016

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Dodgers at Giants, 1:05PM PT, TV: SPNLA, CSN-BA

Scott Kazmir of the Dodgers tries to build on his first start of the season in which he went six shutout innings, gave up only one hit, walked none and struck out five. He’s 1-1 with a 1.42 ERA in two career starts against the Giants. Johnny Cueto pitches for the Giants. He’s 2-5 with a 2.79 ERA in eight career starts against the Dodgers. He went seven good innings in his first start, giving up one run on six hits, striking out four while walking none.

Lineup when available.


Happy Birthday to one of yesterday’s heroes: Charlie Culberson is 27 today. Barnes caught Kazmir in his first game, and A.J. has played two in a row, so the younger guy’s playing today. Van Slyke left yesterday’s game with back tightness he says isn’t serious but is persistent.

Apr 09

Game 6, 2016

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Dodgers at Giants, 1:05PM PT, TV: SPNLA, CSN-BA

The two aces go at one another for the first time this year: Kershaw (1-0, 0.00 ERA) against Bumgarner (1-0, 5.40 ERA). Kershaw is 9-3 with a 1.16 ERA in 14 starts at the Giants’ home park, while Bumgarner is 13-7 overall against the Dodgers with a 2.45 ERA in 22 appearances.

The Dodgers got 9 hits in Friday night’s game but only converted them into two runs. Had they gotten more young Stripling might have gotten a win for his efforts rather than a no-decision. They are still hitting well: Puig, Utley, Gonzalez, Seager, Ellis and Turner all singled and Pederson got a double. For the second night in a row the bullpen gave up the go-ahead or winning runs.

Lineup when available.


Hmm. Several unfamiliar faces in the lineup against MadBum. I wonder what the reasoning is.

Apr 08

Game 5, 2016

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Dodgers at Giants, 7:15PM PT, TV: SPNLA, NBC-BA

Ross Stripling makes his debut against the most bitter rival the Dodgers have in the rival’s home park. Welcome to the big leagues, kid! He’ll face Matt Cain, who’s fallen from previous stardom due to elbow and forearm injuries to the #5 starter’s spot in the Giants’ rotation (which is still better than Tim Lincecum, who hasn’t thrown a pitch since June of last year and is now a free agent, rehabbing from hip surgery).

Puig and Gonzalez have eight and seven hits respectively for the Dodgers in this young season; Seager and Utley have six, Pederson has five. The pitching’s been excellent until Thursday, when not only Wood but the bullpen (saving Louis Coleman, who threw 1 1/3 innings of hitless ball) failed, Wood after four good innings.

Lineup when available.


Carl Crawford gets a day off for the second day in a row.

Apr 07

Game 4, 2016

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Dodgers at Giants, 1:35PM PT, TV: SPNLA, CSN-BA

Alex Wood makes his 2016 debut for the Dodgers and Jake Peavy does the same for the Giants.

The projected starting eight for the Dodgers is a combined 8-for-66 against Peavy. Time for a change!

Apr 06

Game 3, 2016

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Dodgers at Padres, 6:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FSSD

Two righthanders face off: newcomer Kenta Maeda meets Andrew Cashner. Maeda is fresh off an 8-year career in the Japan Central League with Hiroshima in which he was 97-67 with a 2.39 ERA; Cashner is in his 7th year in the big leagues with a record of 26-42 and an ERA of 3.59. He went 0-3 against the Dodgers last year but had a 3.38 ERA, getting little to no run support in three of his four starts against them.

The Dodgers have to be greatly encouraged by Yasiel Puig’s performance in the first two games, with 2 triples among his 3 hits in 6 ABs and 3 RBIs already.

Lineup when available.