Category Archives: Game Threads

For discussion of today’s game

Apr 11

Game 11, 2014

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Dodgers at Diamondbacks, 6:40 PM PST, Hyun-Jin Ryu v. Brandon McCarthy, TV: SPNLA.

Ryu is 1 – 1 with a 3.86 ERA. He only lasted two innings in his last appearance against the Giants, giving up six runs in the process. McCarthy is 0 – 1 with a 7.82 ERA. He did well in his first outing through six innings and faded, and in his second start he gave up six runs in six innings.

In case you missed it, Magic Johnson caught (or otherwise came up with) a foul ball off Ethier’s bat Wednesday night and gave it to a fellow fan.

Lineups when they appear.

Apr 09

Game Ten, 2014

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Tigers at Dodgers. Anibal Sanchez makes his second start of the season; he gave up two runs over four innings in the first one and then the rains came and he was done. The Dodgers haven’t formally announced it to MLB.com, but their starter is supposed to be Josh Beckett, who’ll make his first start of the season.

No lineups yet, either.

The game time is known, though! It’s 7:10 PST, 4:10 HST, 10:10 EST, and who knows when for John_from_Aus. Televised on SPNLA.

In news of disgruntled players and front office personnel, the Giants have ended contract talks with Pablo Sandoval. It’s reported he wants a five-year deal for more than the $8.25M he’s getting paid this season. So, is the Kung Fu Panda worth $45 or $50 million bucks? He’s currently hitting .161 with 1 HR and 4 RBI. He’s 27 and will hit free agency after the 2014 season. Uribear is under contract through 2015.

Apr 06

Game Eight, 2014

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Giants at Dodgers, 5:00PM PST, ESPN2.

Zack Greinke goes for the Dodgers and Matt Cain goes for the Giants. Oddly, they have identical ERAs of 3.60 for the young season. Greinke has a win and Cain has no record.

Lineup:

Hmm. No Puig. From a tweet an hour after the lineup was posted: “Don Mattingly: Yasiel Puig is on his way to get an MRI. We don’t expect it to be anything major. X-rays were negative.”

Apr 05

Game Seven, 2014

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Giants at Dodgers, 1:10pm, Bumgarner against Maholm. TV, Southern California: Sports Net LA, Fox Sports 1; Northern California: CSN-BA

Bumgarner’s first start was pretty bad, although he came out with no decision and a 0.00 ERA. He lasted four innings and gave up four runs, all unearned. This will be Maholm’s first appearance of the season.

Lineup:

Play Ball!

Apr 04

Game Six, 2014

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Today is the home opener for the Dodgers, and it’s against their fellow migrants from New York, the San Francisco Giants, also known as “the hated enemy.”

First, we get the news that Matt Kemp will start in center field. Second, we learn that that was not the original plan, but that Mattingly changed the lineup to try to get the message across to Yasiel Puig that being late costs playing time.

It’s Ryu v. Vogelsong at 1:10PM PST on SPNLA or in Northern California on CSN-BA.

Due to a quirk in the schedule, this will be Ryu’s third start in five games, all on normal or better rest.

Paul Maholm and Zack Greinke will start Saturday and Sunday for the Dodgers, while rehabbing right-hander Josh Beckett will pitch in a Minor League game Friday.

Maholm was signed to be insurance if fifth starter Beckett wasn’t fully healed from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. Beckett’s recovery, however, was complicated by a bruised right hand suffered in the clubhouse in Spring Training. This will be Maholm’s first start of the season.

Beckett will pitch for Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga. Greinke, who pitched five innings for a win Tuesday, will be pitching on normal rest.

Lineup:

Update: According to SI, “Puig thought he was supposed to be at the park at 10 AM PT, when he was actually supposed to be there in time for a stretch at 9:40 AM.” Okay, that’s a lot less annoying than I thought it might be. I was expecting that he’d underestimated traffic and hadn’t left his home on time, which in my world is unacceptable (I’m ten minutes early for everything).

Apr 02

Game Five, 2014

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Dodgers v. Padres at Petco Park, on SPNLA TV at 7:10PM PST. The Dodgers send out Dan Haren for his first start for his new team in 2014 while the Padres send out Tyson Ross, a 26-year-old in his second year with San Diego.

Lineup:

In other news, the Dodgers claimed infielder Carlos Triunfel off waivers from Seattle. They’ve optioned him to Albuquerque. You may well ask why they need another middle infielder and shortstop, what with Hanley Ramirez, Corey Seager, Alex Guerrero (being moved to second base) and Erisbel Arruebarrena already on board.

Apr 01

Game Four, 2014

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Dodgers at Padres, 3:40PM PST, TV: In LA, SportsNet LA. In San Diego, FSSD, FOX Deportes San Diego. Greinke v. Kennedy.

Lineup:

The middle of the Dodgers’ lineup has not yet begun to hit. Hanley Ramirez is hitting .091. Adrian Gonzalez is hitting .111. Andre Ethier is at .167. Anybody worried?

Update: Disappointing news about Kershaw from the pregame show: after an examination by Dr. Neal ElAttrache earlier today, his injury is “more serious” than previously thought. He may not be allowed to pitch for another two or three weeks.

Well, that stinks.

Mar 29

2014 Freeway Series, Game Three

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Haren faces Tyler Skaggs, a 23-year-old lefty.

Update: Much more important than this game, news came this afternoon that Kershaw has been placed on the 15-day Disabled List effective March 23.

the Dodgers are making no promises about when he will pitch again. Mainly, because there is little urgency in the season’s first few weeks given the spate of off-days, and because they want to remain ultra-conservative and make sure Kershaw is right when he returns.

Tests earlier this week showed the strained upper back muscle, behind his left shoulder. Mattingly said he does not know of any more tests scheduled as of now.

“We know what it is,” he said. “We’re not concerned that he’s going to do any damage to it.”