July
31, 2007
- Giants 3, Dodgers 1
Seven
fifty-bore
Dodger
Stadium was sold out on Tuesday, and even those in attendance probably
couldn't tell you why they were there. To see Barry Bonds do it?
To see Barry Bonds not do it? To see Roberto Hernandez pitch an
inning in relief? Whatever they were there for, fans didn't get
much of a show. Bonds remained at 754 while the Dodgers managed
just five hits off of Giants' starter Noah Lowryand none off
of five relievers. After leaving the bases loaded in the first inning,
the Dodgers did very little else. Brad Pennywho was charged
with just his second loss of the seasonstruck out Barry Bonds
on three pitches in the first inning, providing the only entertainment
of the night
unless you count Juan Pierre's throw to third
base in the third inning which, believe it or not, came within inches
of actually nailing a runner.
As
for Tuesday's trading deadline, it thankfully came and went without
much ado in Los Angeles. Colletti used the deadline to correct a
mistake he made last season when he acquired Wilson Betemit from
the Braves. Tuesday, Betemit was sent to the Yankees in exchange
for reliever Scott Proctor, who came up through the Dodgers organization.
In 2003, Proctor was traded by the Dodgers to New York along with
Bubba Crosby for Robin Ventura. Proctor didn't do much in New York
until last season, when he appeared in a league-high 83 games. The
Yankees have been using him just as frequently this year, but with
much less success. Proctor is flirting with a 1:1 ratio of strikeouts
to walks and has given up a home run every six innings. More exciting
than anything he does on the field during games, though, is what
he does on the field after games. Following a disappointing appearance
against Oakland a month ago, Proctor set fire to his equipment outside
the dugout. It's not exactly throwing a plastic bottle at a fan,
but I'll take it.
July
29, 2007
- Rockies 9, Dodgers 6
Dodgers
scalped by Ubaldo
Because
a three-team race isn't interesting enough, the Dodgers decided
to let a fourth team into the mix this weekend. Losing to the Rockies
on Saturday and Sunday, the Dodgers are now just three games up
on Colorado--and percentage points ahead of San Diego and Arizona.
Chad
Billingsley took the loss on Sunday, his first of the season. He
went 4 1/3 innings, walking three and giving up two home runs. The
Dodger bullpen was no better, giving up five runs over the next
4 2/3 innings. Rudy Seanez had his best appearance in weeks, however,
going a third of an inning and not giving up a home run.
The
loss of game was compounded by the loss of Jeff Kent, who had to
leave in the ninth inning after straining his left hamstring. Kent
was 4-for-4 and was hitting .500 over his last dozen games. The
injury is just the latest for the Dodgers, who were already trying
to nurse Brad Penny, Derek Lowe, and Randy Wolf back to health.
(And Charley Steiner, too, who spilled hot coffee on his belly Sunday
morning.) While Penny is scheduled to start Tuesday, Derek Lowe's
next start is being pushed back to next Saturday, and Randy Wolfin
the midst of a rehab stintis being shelved again. In all likelihood
Wolf won't pitch again this year, which is a real shocker considering
his tremendous durability over the last five years. (If you've been
living on Mars, Wolf hasn't played a complete season since 2003.)
While
Ned Colletti spends the next day or two trying to figure out how
to fuck up the team's future, Dodger fans will be preparing for
the arrival of an even more offensive creature: Barry Bonds. I've
been going back and forth about the timing of this. On the one hand,
the thought of seeing this asshole in orange possibly break baseball's
most prized record on our soil is completely nauseating. On the
other hand, what better way to ruin his moment than to have 55,000
Dodger fans telling the world what a cockface he is. And what better
way than this for one lucky fan to say cockface: throw the
ball back. I can't imagine that anyone would actually have the balls
to do it, and frankly it would take incredible stupidity as well,
but we're talking about the bleachers, so you never know. I do know
this, though: I'd wet my goddamn pants and put that fan on a pedestal.
Or at least send them a free shirt.
July
26, 2007
- Dodgers 5, Rockies 4
Mark
Hendrickson: never been healthier
Jason
Schmidt is gone for the year. Hong-Chih Kuo is gone for the year.
Randy Wolf is on the disabled list. Takashi Saito has been on the
shelf for almost two weeks. Derek Lowe left Wednesday's game with
a strained groin. Brad Penny left Thursday's game with abdominal
cramps. Mark Hendrickson and Brett Tomko? In perfect shape. Go figure.
The
Dodgers beat the Rockies on Thursday, 5-4, but there's definite
concern about the pitching staff. The concern shouldn't be over
whether the Dodgers can overcome the injuries, though. The concern
should be over whether Ned Colletti is going to get sodomized by
another general manager. With Hendrickson and Tomko as the Dodgers'
number four and five starters (and an injury away from being number
three and four), there's clearly improvement to be had. But
would that improvement really carry the Dodgers past the first round
of the playoffs? Doubtful. Yet you know Ned's thinking, "Hmmmm,
Jamie Moyer could really help us." Hey, Ned, you know what
would help the Dodgers? Keeping James Fucking Loney.
As
for Penny's abdominal cramps, he blamed it on Colorado's altitude.
I'm thinking maybe it has something to do with the cheeseburgers
he eats for breakfast. Look, a guy doesn't get to be 290 pounds
by eating sushi. I doubt he and Olmedo Saenz have much to talk about
off the field, but you know damn well those two go on late-night
fast-food binges. And early-morning fast-food binges. And mid-afternoon
food binges. McDonalds is McDonalds whether you're at sea level
or a mile high.
July
24, 2007
- Astros 7, Dodgers 4
Seanez
should follow in Biggio's footsteps
Mark
Hendrickson saw something on Tuesday that he isn't used to seeing
as a starting pitcher: the sixth inning. He didn't have much time
to get a good look at it, though, getting yanked by Grady Little
after allowing the first two Astros to reach base. Leading by two
runs at the time, Little turned to Rudy Seanez. And I turned away
from the television. I wasn't quick enough, though, as Seanez immediately
allowed a game-tying double to Morgan Ensberg. The shitbag then
walked two, setting the stage for Craig Biggio.
Prior
to the game, Biggio had announced that he'll be retiring after the
seasonsomething like his 63rd season with the Astros. Facing
38-year-old Rudy Seanez with the bases juiced in the sixth, Biggio
crushed the first pitch into the left field seats for his fourth
career grand slam. Seanez might as well have put the ball on a tee,
dusted Biggio's shoes, and warned fans in left to get their gloves
ready. While it was a great moment for Biggiowho was never
busted for drugs, drunk driving, rape, or illegal dogfightingit
was hopefully an embarrassing moment for Rudy Seanez, who should
have retired about six years ago. In his last 4-2/3 innings, Seanez
has now allowed five home runs. Five! That's not good. In
fact, it's pretty goddamn terrible. I know the bullpen isn't in
great shape, but Rudy friggin' Seanez?? Every other night?
Rudy, do everyone a favor and pack your bags for El Centro.
July
23, 2007
- Dodgers 10, Astros 2
Bullpen's
newest friend: Chad Billingsley
After
having used the bullpen with alarming frequency for the past, oh,
month and a half, you got the feeling Grady Little was letting Chad
Billingsley go nine on Monday regardless of how he pitched. It just
so happenedto Little's approvalthat Billingsley pitched
the best game of his short career. After being blasted by the Phillies
in his last start, Billingsley went the distance on Monday, giving
up five hits and two runs (both runs on a 9th inning home run).
Billingsley
was the beneficiary of an offensive explosion from the Dodgers.
Continuing to make Ned Colletti look like a genius for firing Eddie
Murray (the key word being look), the Dodgers knocked out
seventeen hits and scored ten runs off of four Houston pitchers.
Jeff Kent answered the comment I made yesterday by going 4-for-4,
Nomar Garciaparra showed a glimmer of his old self by getting three
hits, and Juan Pierre... well, he went Juan for four.
There
was good news off the field for the Dodgers as well on Monday. No,
Rick Monday did not lose his tongue in a tragic electric toothbrush
accident. Rather, an MRI on Takashi Saito's shoulder showed no structural
damage. Cleared to play by the Dodgers' prized training staff, Saito
is now on his way to meet the Dodgers in Texas... where he'll likely
fall to the ground in pain after making three pitches on Tuesday.
July
22, 2007
- Mets 5, Dodgers 4
A
true team effort
A
day after carrying the Dodgers to victory with a home run against
the Mets, Matt Kemp reminded us all that he's still a rookie-or
that he's just blind. His dropped fly ball in the 9th inning on
Sunday allowed the Mets to tie the game at four... and an inning
later it was over.
Kemp,
of course, was not alone in his failures on Saturday. Other than
Derek Lowe, who found himself pitching a 1-2-3 seventh inning because
the Dodger bullpen is a friggin' mess, pretty much everyone else
wearing the Dodger uniform had a day to forget. I wish I could forget,
but I can't:
- Rudy
Seanez: allowed his inherited runner to score
- Roberto
Hernandez: one inning, one run
- Jonathan
Broxton: two wild pitches, blown save
- Nomar
Garciaparra: hits a home run early in the game, but stands at
the plate motionless with the winning run on base in the tenth
- Russell
Martin: 0-for-5 with three strikeouts
- DJ
Houlton: one inning, three hits, takes the loss
- Juan
Pierre: 0-for-4
- Jeff
Kent: shows less interest in playing baseball than the Pope
- Grady
Little: bats James Loney seventh in the lineup
- Olmedo
Saenz: finally starting to swing like a guy who looks like him
should
- Takashi
Saito: not disclosing that he actually dove headfirst off a cable
car after the All-Star game two weeks ago
- Mike
Lieberthal: didn't play, but screw him anyway
July
21, 2007
- Dodgers 8, Mets 6
Kemp's
dinger rings Mets
A
day after Brett Tomko looked like Brad Penny on the mound, Brad
Penny looked a lot like Brett Tomko. Penny struggled through the
first few innings on Saturday, giving up four runs to the Mets.
It was Penny's second start after the All-Star break, and frankly,
you couldn't help but wonder whether it would be the beginning of
his second-half woes. Probably not fair to doubt a guy with a 2.40
ERA just because of a couple bad innings, but what's fair got to
do with it? Thankfully (especially for the weary bullpen) Penny
settled down and took the Dodgers into the 7th inning. With Takashi
Saito apparently still not well enough to play, Grady Little turned
to Jonathan Broxton for an inning and two-thirds. Bridging the gap
between Penny and Broxton was Joe Beimel. Like Roberto Hernandez
a day earlier, Beimel wasn't particularly effective in that role,
giving up a two-run homer to Carlos Beltran.
The
Dodger offense came up big on Saturday, or at least that's what
I hear. It was a little tough to follow the game since Fox cut away
every time Barry Bonds blinked or farted
and every time he
was about to blink or fart. Look, it's not like I need to watch
every Juan Pierre at-bat (in fact, it would have been great if Bonds
timed his at-bats to coincide with Pierre's), but I also don't give
a flying shit about Bonds-unless he's being mauled by a lion, in
which case I'd ask to be immediately notified
even if I was
in the middle of having sex with Jessica Alba.
Speaking
of banging, Matt Kemp did just that in the fourth inning Saturday-banging
a Jorge Sosa pitch over the wall in left for a 3-run homer. That
turned the game around, and the Dodgers didn't look back. Actually,
one Dodger looked back: Juan Pierre. After getting nicked by a pitch
in the 6th inning, he looked back at the home plate umpire to make
sure he saw it. Most guys try to play off a hit-by-pitch, but Juan
Pierre was all over it. Already with two hits on the day, Pierre
knew his chances of a third were slim. Amazingly, Pierre has lifted
his batting average to .290. Terrific, but I'd still rather have
an outfield of Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, and Luis Gonzalez
and have $45 million to play with.
July
19, 2007
- Mets 13, Dodgers 9
Nineteen
hits, but still a sad tune
When
Derek Lowe's first pitch of the night on Thursday was hit into center
by Jose Reyes, you got the feeling it would be one of those games.
When the Mets went on to score six runs in the inning, you got the
feeling that Wilson Betemit might be pitching by the fourth inning.
Tom Glavine wasn't much better, though, and the Dodgers crept back
into the game. You could look at the positive, how the Dodgers didn't
give up, or you could look at the reality of it: they really fucked
themselvesespecially on the basepaths early.
First
mistake: Down by six, the Dodgers loaded the bases in the first
inning with nobody out. Luis Gonzalez singled to right, driving
in two. As the runs came in, Jeff Kent lost his goddamn mind and
tried to go from first to third. He's 112 years old, the Dodgers
were down by four, and the Mets have good arms in the outfield.
And Kent needs to be at third? He was nailed (by Shawn Green, of
course), and instead of having two on and one out, the Dodgers had
one on and two out.
Second
mistake: The Dodgers have the bases loaded and one out in the third
inning. Olmedo Saenz hits a fly ball to center. Luis Gonzalez tags
and scores. Meanwhile, Nomar Garciaparra (clearly not used to being
on base) decides to tag at second. He's nailed at third for the
final out of the inning, and the Dodgers are done. Clearly learning
nothing from the experience, Nomar did it again in the bottom of
the eighth with two outs-this time making it by a hair.
You
could expect rookies to make baserunning mistakes like that, but
guys who've been playing for a combined 28 years? The baserunning
might not have cost the Dodgers the game, but it sure as hell cost
them a couple golden opportunities to make it a closer one.
To
add to the frustration, of course, former Dodgers Shawn Green, Marlon
Anderson, and Aaron Friggin' Sele all contributed to the Mets' victory.
Green went 2 for 5 with an assist, Anderson went 2 for 5 with 2
RBI and a sliding catch, and Sele went three innings without allowing
an earned run. (As a Dodger last season, how many times did Sele
go at least three innings without allowing an earned run? Twice.)
Making it even more painful, the Dodgers left thirteen guys on base
(if you count Juan Pierre as a guy).
Despite
all the action on the field Thursday night, Vin Scully still found
time in the fifth inning to share an important thought: "It's
interesting how some James are Jimmy or Jim, and some James are
James." Yes, Vinny, quite interesting. Thanks for that. Too
bad you couldn't have just reached through the TV screen and punched
me in the face instead.
July
18, 2007
- Dodgers 5, Phillies 4
Chad
bad, but Dodgers win
With
the Dodgers' pitching staff tired, it was kind of Chad Billingsley
to throw a career high 113 pitches. The problem, however, was that
his 113 pitches only took him through the fifth inning. For the
final four innings, Grady Little turned to a quartet of tired relievers.
On this day, the four were actually effective. Rudy Seanez, Joe
Beimel, Jonathan Broxton, and Takashi Saito combined to shut down
the Phillies, and the Dodgers came from behind to win, 5-4. Saito
made things interesting in the ninth when he missed the call for
a pitch-out and came within inches of hitting home plate umpire
Mark Wegner square in the nuts. No harm was done, though, and Saito
hung on for his 25th save.
Andre
Ethier and Luis Gonzalez each had key home runs, which was nice
considering that they're boyfriend and girlfriend. Well, maybe not
in a Paul Shuey/Tom Martin kind of way, but they're definitely in
love. Gonzalez played for Arizona when Ethier was at ASU, and they
both followed each other's careers. A little weird for a major leaguer
to keep up on what a random guy in college is doing, isn't it? Whatever,
if their special relationship helps the Dodgers win, great.
Speaking
of relationships, there might be a new one brewing in the Dodger
bullpen. Forty-two-year-old Roberto Hernandez was called up by the
Dodgers on Wednesday. He and Rudy Seanez should have a lot to talk
about. The Dodgers are Hernandez's 10th team, and Seanez, of course,
has been on about forty-five.
July
15, 2007
- Dodgers 5, Giants 3
Dodgers
sweep; Tomko on top of the world
For
most pitchers, giving up a run over five innings isn't anything
terribly special. For Brett Tomko, however, it was an achievement
he'll be someday be sharing with his grandchildren. "Grandkids,"
Brett will say, "Jump up here on my lap. I want to tell you
a story about a game your Grandfather started for the Dodgers in
the year two-thousand and seven. Boy, was it a game. I didn't give
up one home run, or even walk in a run. I didn't throw a wild pitch,
and two of the three runs weren't even earned. That grumpy guy with
the moustache made an error." The grandchildren will be in
awe until one checks online and sees that their grandfather actually
had an ERA of almost six at the time and was only pitching because
the team was afraid to let him come out of the bullpen.
Along
with four scoreless innings of relief from Eric Stults, Joe Beimel,
Jonathan Broxton, and Takashi Saito (which was refreshing considering
the collapse a day earlier), Tomko's work on Sunday helped earn
the Dodgers a series sweeptheir third consecutive sweep in
San Francisco. As with Saturday's game, the Dodgers screwed with
the heads of Giants fans on Sunday. The Giants took a first-inning
lead, and after the Dodgers regained the lead in the fourth, the
Giants tied it in the fifth. Rafael Furcal's sixth-inning triple
shut the San Francisco fans up for good, however, and the Dodgers
went on to a 5-3 victory.
Continuing
to impress, Matt Kemp and Russell Martin each had three hits. Continuing
to disappoint, Nomar Garciaparra went 0-for-5. The umpires didn't
help his cause by taking away a double that seemed to hit the foul
line, but Nomar looks nothing like the Nomar of the past. In fact,
Nomar doesn't even look anything like the Tripp Cromer of the past.
If Nomar was down in the dumps on Sunday, he certainly had company.
Barry Bonds went hitless as well, making him 0-for-12 in the series
with three strikeouts and three double plays. Gee, it would sure
be a shame to see Bonds go 0 for his next 470 at-bats.
July
13, 2007
- Dodgers 9, Giants 1
A
Barry good night for Dodgers
The
only thing San Francisco Giants fans hate more than the Dodgers
is losing to the Dodgers. For the ninth game in a row on
Friday night, the Giants did just thatlose to the Dodgers
at home. As a Dodger fan, is there anything sweeter? The fact that
the Giants are ten games out of first and ten years older than any
other team in baseball does nothing to diminish the sweetness.
Not
only did Barry Bonds make no progress toward his seldom-mentioned
pursuit of the home run record, he grounded into two double-plays.
The first was induced by Chad Billingsley (who pitched six shutout
innings) and the second by Jonathan Broxtonwith Bonds representing
the tying run in the eighth inning. Personally, I'd puke my brains
out if Bonds hit 755 or 756 against the Dodgers. It'll be upsetting
enough just to see him pass Aaron; to see him do it against the
Dodgers would be seeing Adolf Hitler fuck Jessica Alba in your bedroom.
Considering
the way the Dodgers ended the first half of the season, the victory
on Friday was an important oneespecially since Brett Tomko
pitches on Sunday. James Loney, Russell Martin, and Andre Ethier
each had three hits, and Rafael Furcal and Juan Pierre each had
two. The game was in reach for the Giants until the top of the ninth,
when seven consecutive Dodger hits (most of which looked like they
were thrown into the outfield by your grandma) brought in half a
dozen runs. Things got so good for the Dodgers, even Nomar Garciaparra
got a base hit. Friday the 13th craziness, I tell ya.
July
10, 2007
- AL 5, NL 4
All-Star
game, or Dodger game?
The
hour-long Willie Mays tribute notwithstanding, Tuesday's All-Star
game had all the makings of a typical Dodger game. The National
League left nine guys on base (including the bases loaded in the
bottom of the ninth), they displayed no power until it was too late,
there was an inside-the-park home run on a ball misplayed by the
outfield, and there were plenty of boos from Giants fans (directed,
of course, at the Dodgers).
The
American League victory gives them ten consecutive All-Star wins,
a streak of National League futility that's truly LA-like. Only
you can't really blame it on the Dodgers. From my quick calculations,
they've had only thirteen All-Star at-bats over the past decade,
going 3-for-13.
On
Tuesday, the Dodgers were quiet once again. Russell Martin went
0-for-3 with a strikeout, and Brad Penny and Takashi Saito each
threw a scoreless inning. Announcers Tim McCarver and Joe Buck focused
on Martin's dad and Saito's age, saying nothing about how Penny
had slimmed down to a taut 260. At least Penny didn't break an elbow,
which I was totally prepared for. (Yeah, yeah, don't end a sentence
with a preposition. Eat me.)
July
8, 2007
- Dodgers 9, Marlins 3
A
tall order, but Hendrickson wins
It
was a big day for Dodger fans on Sunday, as a trip to the ballpark
meant getting to see Mark Hendrickson, Eric Stults, and
Ramon Martinez. Believe it or not, though, all three actually contributed
to the Dodgers' 9-3 win over Florida. In danger of going into the
All-Star break on a five-game skid, the Dodgers now go into the
break only losing four out of five. Now they can go home to their
families with their heads held high.
All
kidding aside, though, the Dodgers can at least rest assured that
they've sent a message to Ned Colletti about the value of the team's
youth. Home runs by Russell Martin and Andre Ethier propelled the
Dodgers on Sunday, capping an impressive first half of the season
for the current crop of prospects. It's no secret that the Dodgers
need pitching help, and it's no secret that Colletti has a thing
for aging veterans, but hopefully he'll realize the inevitable mistake
in sacrificing the team's future for someone who might leave via
free agency after the season. Sure, it's Los Angeles, so you've
got to win now... but how many times has that been said over the
last fifteen years, and how many times have they actually won? Frankly,
if the Dodgers don't make the playoffs this season because they
failed to pull off a big trade, fine by me. I want to go to the
stadium next year and see guys like Matt Kemp, James Loney, Tony
Abreu, Jonathan Broxton, Chad Billingsley, Adam Laroche, Martin,
and Ethier. The Dodgers picked up one of the greatest pitchers in
history last season, and where the hell did it get them? That's
not to say Maddux didn't help themit's just that one guy (or
two, if you count that waste of skin Julio Lugo) rarely makes the
difference.
Meanwhile,
there's some sad news to report. In order to make space on the roster
for Ramon Martinez, the Dodgers have optioned reliever D.J. Houlton
to triple-A Las Vegas. Houlton fans shouldn't pout, though, as DJ
figures to be back sometime in the middle of the 2009 season.
July
6, 2007
- Marlins 6, Dodgers 5
How
about a nice kick in the nuts instead?
As
fans walked into Dodger Stadium on Friday night, they should have
been given a choice: Either sit down and enjoy three and a half
hours of frustration, or take a quick kick to the groin and get
on with your life. Unfortunately they weren't given the choicethey
were given a Rafael Furcal bobblehead.
On
this night, the bobblehead probably could have done a better job
managing than Grady Little. The Dodgers were out of position players
in the ninth inning, and the bullpen was depleted by the tenth.
Standing in the on-deck circle representing the winning run in the
tenth was Brad Penny. Unfortunately, Penny didn't get a chance to
bat, as Juan for Six popped out with the bases loaded to end the
game. Frustrating, but was it any more frustrating than watching
a blind umpire take away a run from the Dodgers because he didn't
see a pitch hit Matt Kemp in the foot? More frustrating than watching
Andre Ethier ground into more double-plays than Eric Karros? More
frustrating than seeing Takashi Saito blow a save after the Dodgers
had ninety-nine straight victories at home when leading after eight
innings? More frustrating than seeing the bottom half of the lineup
go 0-for-14? More frustrating than seeing the Dodgers leave a dozen
guys on base? More frustrating than seeing two great plays by Furcal
go for naught? More frustrating than watching Brett Tomko walk the
leadoff man in the tenth inning? More frustrating than knowing that
the Dodgers had a chance to gain ground on practically everyone
in the West?
That
game sucked donkey dick. Is the season over yet?
July
5, 2007
- Braves 8, Dodgers 6
Penny
to hit cleanup for All-Stars
What
Brad Penny didn't do on the mound Thursday night, he did at the
plate. His three RBIs weren't enough, though, as Atlanta knocked
off the Dodgers, 8-6. On the mound, Penny lasted only four inningsprobably
two more than he would have if the Dodger bullpen was rested. He
gave up six runs, nine hits, and walked four. Tim Hudson was no
better for the Braves, but Chipper Jones' two homers were the difference.
The homers put Chipper ahead of Braves legend Dale Murphy on Atlanta's
all-time home run list. For those who are too young to remember,
Dale Murphy had a huge mole on the right side of his face. Just
thought I'd point that out.
Here's
another thing to point out: the fucking Dodgers left eleven guys
on base. They had Juan Pierre on third with nobody out in the fourth
inning. Left him. They had the bases loaded in the fifth. Left 'em
loaded. They had two guys on in the sixth. Left 'em both. Meanwhile,
someone left the iron just beyond centerfield, as smoke from a house
fire drifted into the stadium. Too bad the smoke didn't stick around
long enough to obscure my view of the Dodgers going down on four
pitches in the ninth inning. It almost takes less time to say Saltalamacchia
than it does for the Dodgers to throw in the towel.
If
anything good came out of Thursday's game, it's that Brett Tomko
didn't pitch. Tomko, who gave up three runs on Wednesday, has been
so bad out of the bullpen that the Dodgers are considering putting
him back in the starting rotation. With Randy Wolf and Hong-Chih
Kuo on the DL, the Dodger rotation is hurting for bodies. Frankly,
I'd rather see a dead body on the mound than Brett Tomko.
Speaking of dead bodies, Joe Beimel is still alive. Beimel was hospitalized
on Tuesday for heart palpitations, but was released on Thursday.
Doctors were initially unable to find the cause of his palpitations,
but ultimately determined that he was just excited to see fireworks.
July
3, 2007
- Dodgers 7, Braves 6
Revenge,
but reversed for once
As
a Dodger fan, you grow accustomed to watching mediocre former Dodgers
come back to haunt their old team. It happened with Jeromy Burnitz,
it happens with Craig Counsell, and it happens with Jose Cruz, Jr.
Last month, it even happened with Dioner Navarro and Edwin Jacksonon
consecutive nights.
Tuesday,
however, a freakish thing happened. A mediocre Dodger had a great
night against his former team. Wilson Betemitthe Adrian
Beltre of the Braves (except that he never had a breakout season)led
the Dodgers to a 7-6 victory over Atlanta. Starting in place of
Nomar Garciaparra, Betemit had a single, double, and home run. He
drove in four, and surely drove Braves fans mad. With Barry Bonds
just four homers away from Hank Aaron, Braves fans are already on
edge; now with the Betemit game they're probably ready to jump from...
uh... actually, I know nothing about Atlanta. I have no idea where
they'd jump from.
The
victory was also a big one for the Dodger bullpen, which followed
Randy Wolf's early departure by pitching six scoreless innings.
D.J. Houlton pitched three, with Rudy Seanez, Jonathan Broxton,
and Takashi Saito combining for the final three. Matt Kemp came
up with the tie-breaking hit in the seventh inninga two-out
base hit to centerand will probably be rewarded by sitting
on the bench Wednesday. Can we just get it over with and make him
the starting right fielder? Andre Ethier can play left when Luis
Gonzalez gets injured in a few weeks, but until then, it's Kemp
time. And time for me to update the friggin' Fan of the Month.
July
1, 2007
- Dodgers 5, Padres 0
Dodgers
salvage one from San Diego
After
losing to the Padres on Friday and Saturday, the Dodgers saved face
on Sunday by shutting down San Diego, 5-0. Matt Kemp and Rafael
Furcal each homered, Russell Martin extended his hitting streak
to a career-high 11 games, and Juan for Three stole his fifth base
of the series.
The
game was won on the mound, though, as Chad Billingsley threw seven
strong innings, giving up just three hits and striking out nine.
(To be fair, though, three of the strikeouts were of Russell Branyan,
whose average has been hovering around the Betemit line.) Nonetheless,
it was nice to finally see Billingsley have a game like that.
Meanwhile,
National League All-Star selections were announced on Sunday, and
I'm sad to report that Marlon Anderson wasn't chosen. I suppose
that's a good thing, though, since he's no longer a Dodger. Among
the other moves the Dodgers made over the weekend, Hong-Chih Kuo
returns to Las Vegas, Mark Hendrickson returns to the starting rotation,
and the biggest move of all: D.J. Houlton returns to the Major Leagues.
News
of Houlton's recall spread quickly across Los Angeles on Saturday,
with Channels 4, 7, and 11 breaking into their regularly scheduled
programming to announce the move. Reporters descended on the airport,
each hoping to be the first to interview Houlton as he stepped off
the plane. Avoiding the media, however, the 27-year-old pitcher
(who's really 47, by the way), was hurried into a limo on the runway
and whisked off to the stadium. Making his first appearance for
the Dodgers since 2005, Houlton pitched a scoreless ninth on Sunday.
Grown men were crying, teenage girls were fainting, and cotton candy
vendors paused to absorb the enormity of the moment. The DJ spins
again.