Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Site News: Important Updates! Important Updates!

So, there's quite a bit to go over. Let's get right to it.

First, you'll notice a name change. I love the moniker KempKershaw, as it combines the names of my two favorite Dodgers, and two of my favorite players period. But all good things must come to an end, and I'll now be blogging under my real name. You can still call me KempKershaw or KK if you'd like though. I'm chill with either.

Why the name change, you ask? Well, I'll now be contributing full time (at least during the season) over at Memories Of Kevin Malone. Also, using your actual real birth name garners more respect, or so I've heard.

What will I be contributing to MOKM, you ask? Game Threads and Game Recaps, mainly, plus an occasionally post, I imagine, on something else that my mind decides to land on and stick to for a time. The opportunity to contribute to MOKM that Chad Moriyama presented me with was too good to pass up, and I'm very grateful for the opportunity he's giving me.

I'll still be blogging here, and perhaps posting links to what I do over there on occasion. So please, keep coming back, I try my best not to disappoint.

As always, you can still find me on Twitter at @ArgyledPlaschke, and over at Yardbarker.

Dodgers Notes From Wednesday's Game 6/30/2010

Dodgers 8, San Francisco 2.........SWEEP!


Box Score.
  • Vicente Padilla, coming off of an excellent performance against the Yankees, went another 7 excellent innings (1 ER, 3 Hits, 5 K, 1 BB, 1 HR Allowed, 98 pitches - 66 for strikes).
  • Bullpen: 2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 K, 0 BB, 1 WP.
  • Matt Kemp hit his 13th HR, and Rafael Furcal hit his 3rd HR.
  • Kemp (HR, 2 Singles, BB), Furcal (HR, 3 Singles), and Jamey Carroll (2 Doubles, 2 BB) each reached base 4 times. Russell Martin (Single, BB) and Ronnie Belliard (2 BB) each reached base twice.
  • The offense struck out 10 times, drew 6 walks, and had 4 extra-base hits.
  • Manny is day-to-day with his strained right hamstring suffered Tuesday. An MRI has been scheduled.
"It's hard to tell right now," trainer Stan Conte said. "He was walking normally when he left here. We'll take a look at him before the day game tomorrow and see how he recovers. With pulls, it's kind of hard to tell until the next day. We'll know a lot more tomorrow. I'm not thinking DL right now."
"He didn't feel it pop, so hopefully he's OK," said manager Joe Torre.






[Photos via Getty Images]

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Dodgers Notes From Tuesday's Game 6/29/2010

Dodgers 4, San Francisco 2


Box Score.
  • John Ely went 7 effective innings (1 ER, 5 Hits, 5 K, 3 BB, 112 pitches - 67 for strikes).
  • Bullpen: 2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 K, 0 BB, 1 HR Allowed. 4 Relievers.
  • Russell Martin stole his 5th and 6th bases of the season. The second one was a thing of beauty, caught the Giants' defense sleeping.
  • Rafael Furcal (Triple, 2 Singles) and Casey Blake (Single, BB, IBB) each reached base 3 times. Matt Kemp (2 Singles), Andre Ethier (Single, BB), James Loney (2 Singles), and Martin (2 Singles) each reached base twice.
  • The offense struck out 11 times, drew 4 walks, and had 1 extra-base hit.
  • Manny Ramirez left with a strained right hamstring. He was replaced by Matt Kemp, who was inexplicable benched for the third straight game. Kemp made two absolutely fantastic catches.

[AP Photo]

Monday, June 28, 2010

Dodgers Notes From Monday's Game 6/28/2010

Dodgers 4, San Francisco 2


Box Score.
  • Chad Billingsley, in his return from the DL and a strained groin, went 6 innings (2 ER, 5 Hits, 3 K, 2 BB, 98 pitches - 54 for strikes).
  • Bullpen: 3 IP, 0 Runs, 4 Hits, 1 K, 1 BB.
  • Casey Blake hit his 8th HR of the season.
  • Rafael Furcal stole his 12th base of the season.
  • Manny Ramirez (Double, 2 Singles, BB) reached base 4 times, Furcal (Double, Single, BB) reached base 3 times, while Blake (HR, Single) and A.J. Ellis (Single, BB) each reached base twice.
  • The offense struck out 10 times, drew 3 walks, and had 3 extra-base hits.
  • Jon Link continued his impression of Blake DeWitt circa 2009 as he was sent back to AAA to make room for Bills's return.
  • The Dodgers signed aging lefty reliever Jack Taschner, assigning him to AAA (via Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness).
  • Joe Torre will decide his managerial future late in the season. Please, just be gone now.
"Just so I don't hamstring this organization," said Torre, who is coming to the end of the three-year, $13 million contract he signed when he left the Yankees after the 2007 season. "I'm going to wait [to decide] until later in the season. I have to. It's not fair to them if I don't do that."
I feel for the guys," Torre said. "At that point, my managing is over with. You bring your closer in and your managing is done. That makes it tougher for me because there's nothing you can do. You just hope the result is better."

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Joe Torre Should Be Fired. Immediately.

Joe Torre must be fired now if we are serious about winning, because he clearly isn't.

Torre brought in Jonathan Broxton to close out Sunday's game against the Yankees. The Dodgers led by 4 runs, Ronald Belisario had just thrown a measly 12 pitches the previous inning, and most importantly, Broxton had pitched or warmed up the previous 4 days. That's right, Sunday made it 5 days in a row of taxing Broxton's arm.

That is simply unacceptable, and Torre's decision is inexcusable.

Torre clearly doesn't care about Broxton's health, and putting in a clearly tired pitched doesn't scream "I'm trying to win this game" either.

I've never been a big Torre fan; he misuses his bullpen, puts together often horrific lineups, and favors veterans over younger, better, and more upside-laden players. This horrific decision is the final straw for me, and should be for every fan of the Dodgers. Jonathan Broxton will shoulder much of the blame from the traditional media and most Dodgers fans in all likelihood, but he was put in a position to fail. A tired pitcher against one of the best offenses in all of baseball? That's a clear recipe for failure.

Managing your bullpen properly: so easy, Caveman Torre still can't do it.

Fire Joe Torre Now. Before it's too late.



[Image via nomass.org]

Dodgers Notes From Sunday's Game 6/27/2010

JOE TORRE SHOULD BE FIRED. IMMEDIATELY.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New York Yankees 8, Dodgers 6

Box Score.
  • Clayton Kershaw went 7 innings (2 ER, 4 Hits, 5 K, 0 BB, 1 HR Allowed, 1 Hit Batter, 101 pitches - 63 for strikes).
  • Bullpen: 3 IP, 6 ER, 7 Hits, 1 K, 2 BB [1 IBB], 1 HR Allowed.
  • Ronnie Belliard hit his 2nd HR of the season.
  • Rafael Furcal reached base 4 times via a double, single, and 2 BB.
  • The offense struck out 9 times, drew 5 walks, and had 4 extra-base hits.

Joe Torre has now used Jonathan Broxton on 5 consecutive days: 4 of them in an actual game, and the 5th warming up. That is unacceptable. Broxton should have never been in this game, and now we have to worry about an increased risk of injury. Damn I'm pissed off.




[Image via nomass.org]

    Saturday, June 26, 2010

    Dodgers Notes From Saturday's Game 6/26/2010

    Dodgers 9, New York Yankees 4

    Box Score.
    • Hiroki Kuroda went 5.1 innings (4 ER, 7 Hits, 5 K, 3 BB, 1 WP, 1 HR Allowed, 110 pitches - 71 for strikes).
    • Bullpen: 3.2 IP, 0 Runs, 1 Hit, 4 K, 2 BB. 4 Relievers.
    • Rafael Furcal stole his 11th base of the season.
    • All 8 positions players reached base at least twice. Manny Ramirez (Double, 3 BB) reached base 4 times. Matt Kemp (Double, 2 BB), Furcal (3 Singles), and Casey Blake (Double, 2 BB) each reached base 3 times. Andre Ethier (2 Singles), James Loney (2 Singles), Russell Martin (Single, IBB), and Blake DeWitt (BB, IBB) each reached base twice.
    • The offense struck out 8 times, drew 10 walks, and had 3 extra-base hits.


    [Reuters Photo]

    Dodgers Notes From Friday's Game 6/25/2010

    New York Yankees 2, Dodgers 1

    Missed the game to attend the first round of the NHL Draft at Staples Center; had a great time, hope to see the draft in Anaheim in the near future.

    Box Score.
    • Vicente Padilla went 7 excellent innings (2 ER, 6 Hits, 7 K, 1 BB, 1 HR Allowed, 1 Hit Batter, 112 pitches - 69 for strikes).
    • Bullpen: 2 IP, 0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 K, 0 BB.
    • Rafael Furcal stole his 10th base of the season.
    • Manny Ramirez was the only Dodger to reach base more than once (2 Singles).
    • The offense struck out 10 times, drew 3 walks, and had no extra-base hits.
    • Charlie Haeger was DFA'd. Jon Link was called up yet again to replace him. We'll see if a team takes a chance on Charlie; I would.
    "It's just frustrating. The whole season has been frustrating," said the 26-year-old Haeger. "To not throw well, to be on the DL, the throw twice in nearly two months. Last night I think I was one out away from having a decent game. It's frustrating."
    He was asked if he had a fair shot.
    "Early in the season I did," he said. "I had five starts. But I feel like, coming off the DL, throwing twice in the span of two months, I don't know how fair that is. I had an opportunity early in the season to throw the ball well and didn't. But it was a good experience here. It's been a rough season, but I fell like last night I threw the ball pretty well and feel like it's back, I found it again. Obviously, I'm disappointed. I want to be here."



    [Photos via Getty Images and AP]

      Friday, June 25, 2010

      Attending The NHL Draft

      I'll be at the NHL Draft today at Staples Center, showing off my Anaheim Ducks pride.

      I'm hoping we go forward. Goal-scoring forward to be exact.

      It's the first draft of any kind (excluding fantasy drafts) that I'll be attending, and I expect it'll be a fun day.

      Go Ducks!

      Thursday, June 24, 2010

      Dodgers Notes From Thursday's Game 6/24/2010

      Dodgers 10, Anaheim 6


      Box Score.
      • Charlie Haeger went 4.2 innings in his return from the DL (4 ER, 5 Hits, 4 K, 4 BB, 1 WP, 1 HR Allowed, 102 pitches - 56 for strikes). Two of the runs charged to Charlie were inherited runs allowed by the pen.
      • Bullpen: 4.1 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 6 K, 2 BB. 6 Relievers.
      • Manny Ramirez (2 Singles, BB), Casey Blake (Double, 2 Singles), James Loney (Single, IBB, HBP), and Jamey Carroll (3 Singles) each reached base 3 times, while Matt Kemp (2 Singles), Rafael Furcal (Double, Single), and Russell Martin (2 BB) each reached base twice.
      • The offense struck out 7 times, drew 4 walks, and had 3 extra-base hits.
      • Chad Billingsley may be near a return, this Monday barring a setback. Let's hope he's back then.
      • The Dodgers signed Jesus Colome, 32 and a reliever, and he's in AAA.
      • A second lighting delay this season. Joy.
      I've said this in a few places, but I do not hold Matt Kemp responsible at all for his "part" in last night's 9th inning. Brian Fuentes balked, plain and simple. Kemp should be taking a secondary lead when the pitcher begins to motion towards home plate, which is what Fuentes did. The fact that it wasn't called a balk, as it clearly should have been, isn't Kemp's fault.


      [AP Photo]

        Wednesday, June 23, 2010

        Dodgers Notes From Wednesday's Game 6/23/2010

        Anaheim 2, Dodgers 1

        Box Score.
        • John Ely went 7 excellent innings, rebounding from a string of bad starts (2 Runs [1 ER], 3 Hits, 6 K, 2 BB, 97 pitches - 58 for strikes).
        • Bullpen: 1 IP, 0 Runs, 1 Hit, 2 K, 1 BB.
        • Andre Ethier (2 Singles, BB) reached base 3 times.
        • The offense struck out 7 times, drew 2 walks, and had 1 extra-base hit.
        • Matt Kemp was robbed twice tonight, to go along with his final at-bat last night.
        • Rafael Furcal returned from the bereavement list. Chin-lung Hu heads back to AAA Albuquerque.
        • Ramon Ortiz is a Met, signing a minor league deal.
        • That 9th inning was....interesting.

        Bill Plaschke Writes To Me

        About a month ago I decided to follow Bill Plaschke on Twitter, figuring if he was good enough to name this blog after, he was good enough to follow. Lo and behold, what do I find when I awaken the next morning? A direct message from Plaschke, the Argyled One, in the flesh.

        Here's what Bill had to say to me:


        I am truly honored to have been written to by Plaschke, and I will not let the line of communication die here. Hopefully this conversation between the two of us continues and yields fruitful results.

        Of course, this could be a direct message everyone who follows Plaschke gets, but I'm going to think otherwise. It's really more fun that way.

        You can find me and Plaschke, Thy Sweater Is Argyle at:

        Follow me on Twitter: @ArgyledPlaschke
        Find me on YardBarker: PTSIA at YardBarker
        Use the Blogger follow function (bottom of left sidebar) to get updates of new posts
        Subscribe: via RSS

        Tuesday, June 22, 2010

        Dodgers Notes From Tuesday's Game 6/22/2010

        Anaheim 6, Dodgers 3

        Box Score.
        • Clayton Kershaw went 6.2 innings (5 ER, 6 Hits, 6 K, 3 BB, 1 HR Allowed, 1 Balk, 102 pitches - 62 for strikes). The 4th and 5th runs were inherited runs surrendered by the pen after Kershaw had been removed from the game.
        • Bullpen: 1.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 3 K, 0 BB.
        • Matt Kemp hit his 12th HR of the season, a beautiful shot to right-center.
        • Jamey Carroll stole his 5th base of the season.
        • Andre Ethier (Double, Single), James Loney (Single, BB), Russell Martin (Single, BB), and Carroll (2 Singles) each reached base twice.
        • The offense struck out 6 times, drew 2 walks, and had 3 extra-base hits.
        • Charlie Haeger starts Thursday. I can already see it now: Ramon Troncoso to the DL.
        • Dee Gordon and Pedro Baez will represent the Dodgers in the Futures Game on July 11 in Anaheim.


        [Image via The Left Field Pavilion]

        Monday, June 21, 2010

        Matt Kemp "Photoshop" = I FAIL

        I've picked up some followers on Twitter who are die-hard Rihanna fans - "Rihanna Stans", as one of them put it- so I thought I'd try and do something nice for them, to thank them for following me and reading the blog.

        This, this is what resulted from my well-intentioned attempt:


        This is what happens when you have no artistic ability whatsoever and no idea how to use photoshop, not even the remotest clue, and end up having to use Microsoft Paint and something called Photo Stitch.

        Well, I tried.

        Follow me on Twitter: @ArgyledPlaschke

        Memorabilia Monday: Matt Luke

        I met Matt Luke in Autograph Alley prior to the Jonathan Broxton Bobblehead Giveaway Night game against the Cardinals on June 8. Nice guy, took a picture with me as well. Line was short when I got there just after 6:00ish. Autograph Alley is a great feature of Dodgers games, and I hope to check it out each time I attend a game in the future.


        Grading Manny Ramirez's Return To Boston

        Manny Ramirez was the DH in all 3 games, so he was flawless in the field during the trip to Boston. A positive, for sure. Now, on to Manny at the dish over the 3 game set.

        Game 1: Manny reaches base in 1 of his 5 plate appearances. Video of his 1st plate appearance (great video can also be found at Juan Pierre's Oversized Hat):



        Some pictures to finish off day 1 back in Beantown:




        Game 2: Manny reaches base twice in 4 plate appearances, including his 8th HR of the season. He also steals his 1st base of the season, and first since 2008, off of knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, who was also the giver of Manny's HR. Video of Manny's shot into the Green Monstah.


        Game 3: Manny had 4 plate appearances, reaching base 3 times with two singles and a walk.

        -------------------------------------------
        When it was all said and done, Manny had 13 plate appearances, and successfully reached base in 6 of those 13 appearances. He had 5 hits and a walk, including a HR and the truly rare Manny Being Manny stealing a base (granted, it was against a man who throws a knuckleball). And again, flawless defense.

        My final grade: an A for Manny.

        What's your grade for Manny's return performance? Vote below.

        What Grade Does Manny's Return To Boston Get?



        [Photos via AP, Getty Images, Reuters; Video via Youtube]

        Sunday, June 20, 2010

        Dodgers Notes From Sunday's Game 6/20/2010

        Boston 2, Dodgers 0

        Box Score.
        • Hiroki Kuroda went 7 excellent innings (2 ER, 6 Hits, 9 K, 1 IBB, 1 Hit Batter, 2 WP, 117 pitches - 73 for strikes).
        • Bullpen: 1 IP, 0 Runs, 1 Hit, 2 K, 1 IBB.
        • Manny Ramirez (2 Singles, BB) reached base 3 times and Blake DeWitt (Single, HBP) reached base twice, the only Dodgers to reach base more than once.
        • The offense struck out 6 times, drew 3 walks, and had 1 extra-base hit.
        • Rafael Furcal's father passed away today.
        • Carlos Monasterios hit the DL. He disagrees with the decision. This just gets better and better every day.
        "It doesn't really affect me," he said. "It doesn't bother me to throw."
        "I just have to respect the decision of the manager," he said. "Once I come off the DL, I hope to pitch as normal as I was. They want me to take care of it and make sure everything is healed."

          Dodgers Notes From Saturday's Game 6/19/2010

          Boston 5, Dodgers 4

          Missed the game, as I was in San Diego attending the Padres game against the Orioles. I picked up a spiffy Kyle Blanks Bobblehead, I'll include pictures of it in my recap of the game, hopefully coming soon to a computer screen near you by the end of the weekend of early next week at the latest.

          Box Score.
          • Vicente Padilla, making his first start after a lengthy stay on the DL, went 5.1 innings (4 ER, 5 Hits, 4 K, 1 BB, 2 HR Allowed, 89 pitches - 56 for strikes).
          • Bullpen: 3.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 6 K, 1 BB.
          • Manny Ramirez hit his 8th HR of the season.
          • Russell Martin and Jamey Carroll each stole their 4th base of the season, while Manny somehow swiped his first. I need to see a replay of that rare occurrence.
          • Garret Anderson (?) (Double, 2 Singles) reached base 3 times, while Manny Being Manny (HR, Single) reached base twice.
          • The offense struck out 7 times, drew 3 walks, and had 3 extra-base hits.


          [Reuters Photo]

            Friday, June 18, 2010

            Site News: Upcoming Picture-Filled Recaps


            I've got a few picture-filled recaps coming up. I'll be recapping both Inland Empire 66ers games I attended, as well as the Angels game I attended last Monday night and a Padres game I'm attending tomorrow.

            Tons of pictures, some good stories, and my utter failure to do something I should have done.

            So yeah, hopefully they're all up by the end of this weekend. Early next week at the latest I hope.

            Dodgers Notes From Friday's Game 6/18/2010

            Boston 10, Dodgers 6

            Ronnie Belliard appears to be having a conniption.

            Box Score.
            • Carlos Monasterios went 4 innings (6 ER, 8 Hits, 2 K, 2 BB, 2 HR Allowed, 72 pitches - 45 for strikes).
            • Bullpen: 4 IP, 4 ER, 5 Hits, 3 K, 2 BB [1 IBB], 1 HR Allowed, 1 WP, 1 Hit Batter.
            • Garret Anderson hit his 2nd HR of the season. I would still cut him. NOW.
            • Matt Kemp (Triple, Single), Russell Martin (Single, BB), and Ronnie Belliard (Double, BB) each reached base twice.
            • The offense struck out 9 times, drew just 2 walks, and had 4 extra-base hits.
            • In his return to Boston, Manny Ramirez singled in 5 plate appearances as the DH.
            • Former Dodgers Adrian Beltre and J.D. Drew hit HRs.
            • Nick Green signed with the Blue Jays.
            Manny learned this next move from Clayton Kershaw:



            ----------------------------------


            Hall Of Famer Roger Clemens shares his thoughts:



            [Photos via AP and Getty Images]

            Pitcher Pitches Against Own Team, Dominates

            I've always believed Tommy Hanson was a fantastic pitcher, but hot damn, he's so good he's allowed to pitch against his own team, and he shuts 'em down with ease.


            Tommy Hanson: Modern Day Beast and do-everything pitcher.

            CLICK TO EMBIGGEN BOTH IMAGES

            And while we're on the subject of Yahoo FAIL, let's take a gander at a blurb on the player page of Tigers outfielder and Santa Monica native Brennan Boesch:


            Livan has a "tantalizing assortment of pitches"? Really now. This is the same Livan Hernandez who has a 4.45 career FIP? Damn Yahoo, and to think I respected you more than ESPN all of these years.

            /I still do, which really says more about how awful ESPN is on a day-to-day basis.


            Previously on Yahoo Sports FAILS:

            Jeff Mathis Needs To Tan Less

            Thursday, June 17, 2010

            Matt Kemp Laughs At Your Attempt To Block The Plate




            Whether you're Yadier Molina, Miguel Montero, Brian McCann, or some punk teenager, Matt Kemp shows no mercy.

            I posted this video once before (Don't Anger The Bison), way back in August of 2009. And it's still amazingly awesome 10 months later.

            I love Kemp's line in the video:

            "You are a freaking legend and my personal...I'm not going to say that!"

            And the origins of Kemp's nickname, The Bison, one of the greatest nicknames known to man, is finally revealed:
            "He's built tougher than a robot made of nails."

            Garytush!

            Dodgers Notes From Thursday's Game 6/17/2010

            Cincinnati 7, Dodgers 1

            Box Score.
            • John Ely went 4.2 innings (7 ER, 8 Hits, 3 K, 3 BB, 3 HR Allowed [one to the opposing pitcher, ugh], 78 pitches - 47 for strikes). Well, he DID get back one of those runs with an RBI single. That's.....something.
            • Bullpen: 3.1 IP, 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 4 K, 0 BB.
            • Casey Blake (3 Singles) Jamey Carroll (3 BB) each reached base 3 times, while Blake DeWitt (2 Singles), James Loney (Single, BB), and A.J. Ellis (2 BB) each reached base twice.
            • The offense struck out just twice, drew 7 walks, but had 0 extra-base hits.
            • Rafael Furcal hit the bereavement list to tend to an ill member of his family in the Dominican. Chin-lung Hu was called up to ride the pine. Jamey Carroll replaced Furcal in the lineup.
            • Manny Ramirez again got a day game off after a night game, but I assume it's just to rest up for the weekend series in Fenway. He needs time to re-acclimate himself to the interior of the Green Monster. I imagine he spent the game watching video of him and the wall from his past glory days.


            [AP Photo, via True Blue LA]

            Wednesday, June 16, 2010

            Dodgers Notes From Wednesday's Game 6/16/2010

            Dodgers 5, Cincinnati 1

            Box Score.
            • Clayton Kershaw went 7.1 fantastic innings (1 ER, 7 Hits, 7 K, 1 BB, 110 pitches - 79 for strikes).
            • Bullpen: 1.2 IP, 1 ER, 1 Hit, 1 K, 1 BB, 1 HR Allowed.
            • Andre Ethier hit his 12th HR of the season, while Manny Ramirez hit his 7th HR.
            • Matt Kemp stole his 10th base of the season.
            • Ethier (HR, 2 Singles) reached base 3 times, while Manny (HR, BB), Russell Martin (2 Singles), James Loney (Double, Single), and Blake DeWitt (2 BB [1 IBB]) each reached base twice.
            • The offense struck out 6 times, drew 3 walks, and had 3 extra-base hits.
            • Travis Schlichting was recalled to take the place of the injured and DL'd Chad Billingsley. In his only appearance of the season, Schlichting threw 4 scoreless innings of relief on June 2nd.
            • Claudio Vargas is back with Dodgers and in AAA with Albuquerque.

            Joe Torre's bullpen usage, and usage of the pitching staff in general, frustrates me beyond belief. This is how I picture Joe when he thinks about what to do concerning the staff:




            [Image via nomaas.org]

              Steve Lyons Ain't No Fool With His Pants On The Ground

              Oh wait, yes he is:


              Much, much thanks to the always amazing kensai from Memories Of Kevin Malone for creating this.gif and honoring my request to see it immortalized forever in infamy.

              Tuesday, June 15, 2010

              Dodgers Notes From Tuesday's Game 6/15/2010

              Dodgers 12, Cincinnati 0

              Box Score.
              • Hiroki Kuroda went 5 rain-interrupted innings (0 Runs, 3 Hits, 8 K, 2 BB, 84 pitches - 55 for strikes). I would not have brought him back after that epic rain delay.
              • Bullpen: 4 IP, 0 Runs, 5 Hits, 4 K, 0 BB.
              • Manny Ramirez hit his 6th HR of the season.
              • Rafael Furcal (Double, 4 Singles) reached base 5 times. James Loney (3 Doubles, Single) and Casey Blake (2 Singles, 2 BB) reached base 4 times. Manny (HR, 2 Singles) reached base 3 times. Matt Kemp (2 Singles), Andre Ethier (Single, BB), and Russell Martin (Double, BB) each reached base twice.
              • The offense struck out 8 times, drew 5 walks, and had 6 extra-base hits.
              • Chad Billingsley hit the 15-day DL with a groin strain. Big loss.
              • RAIN DELAY: 2 Hours, 24 Minutes.
              Steve Lyons, please for the love of all that is holy, SHUT UP!

              Monday, June 14, 2010

              Memorabilia Monday: Kevin Love (UPDATE)

              Every Monday, I'll post a picture and description of some piece of memorabilia I have. Perhaps it will be Dodgers-related, perhaps not. Feel free to send in your own pictures and descriptions, and I'll post them for you.

              E-mail me at plaschkethysweaterisargyle@yahoo.com if you're interested in having something of yours posted for the world (i.e. the 12 people who read the blog) to see. Subject line: PTSIA Memorabilia Monday.

              Up first, we have this autographed picture of UCLA alumni and Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love.


              I met Love at a signing this past Saturday at a card shop in Culver City. Nice guy, very friendly. He signed the above photo and was kind enough to take two pictures with me, as the first didn't come out great. I also met Love's uncle, Mike Love, of Beach Boys fame, at the signing. Love's uncle came decked out in a Kevin Love jersey t-shirt. I arrived at 12:00 for a 1:00-2:00 signing, expecting a large line. I was the first one there, and by the time I left at about 1:40, there had been maybe 20 people total. I'm so short (and they're so tall) that I came up to about their armpits in the pictures I took with them.

              Kevin and Mike Love:



              All in all, a great day.

              UPDATE: I'm an idiot. That's Stan Love, Kevin's father, not Mike Love, his uncle. What can I say? They look similar and Stan was talking about the Beach Boys, so I assumed he was Mike Love.

              Sunday, June 13, 2010

              Carlos Santana, Come Back To The Dodgers

              Dodgers Notes From Sunday's Game 6/13/2010

              Anaheim 6, Dodgers 5


              Box Score.
              • Carlos Monasterios went 2.2 innings (4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 K, 3 BB, 1 HR Allowed, 1 WP, 70 pitches - 38 for strikes).
              • Bullpen: 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 5 K, 2 BB, 1 HR Allowed. 5 Relievers.
              • Rafael Furcal hit his 2nd HR of the season.
              • James Loney stole his 9th base of the season.
              • Manny Ramirez (2 Doubles, Single) and Loney (2 Doubles, Single) each reached base 3 times, while Russell Martin (2 BB) reached base twice.
              • The offense struck out 10 times, walked just 3 times, and had 5 extra-base hits.
              • Matt Kemp was finally given a day off, something I mentioned yesterday should have already happened long ago.



              [AP Photos]

                Saturday, June 12, 2010

                A Retrospect: Ramon Ortiz and Nick Green No Longer Dodgers

                The baseball gods surely healed the Dodgers of some of what ailed them:



                This is how I felt when I heard the wonderful news they had been DFA'd.

                A little late (a lot late), but eh, the vigor with which I post this is still the same as when I heard the oh so glorious news that these gentlemen had been DFA'd.

                What took Joe Torre and Ned Colletti so long? Green is useless on this team (and any other), while Ortiz is a veteran, and was a San Francisco Giant. Those two traits all but guarantee you a job and a semi-long to long stint with the Dodgers nowadays.

                For what it's worth, Justin Miller is likely to not be much better, if better at all. And hey, what do you know, he's a veteran AND a former Giant.

                Set for life I tell ya, set for life.

                Dodgers Notes From Saturday's Game 6/12/2010

                Anaheim 4, Dodgers 2

                Box Score.
                • John Ely went 5 innings (4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 K, 3 BB, 1 HR Allowed, 85 pitches - 50 for strikes).
                • Bullpen: 4 IP, 0 Runs, 3 Hits, 3 K, 1 IBB.
                • Russell Martin (Double, Single, BB) and Jamey Carroll (Double, 2 BB) each reached base 3 times, while Rafael Furcal (Double, BB) reached base twice.
                • The offense struck out 9 times, walked 6 times, and had 2 extra-base hits.
                • I think a day off would really benefit Matt Kemp. I've thought that for a while. Last Wednesday would have been great, combining it with last Thursday's off-day.

                Meeting Dodgers' Righty John Ely

                Saturday, June the 5th, I met John Ely in Culver City. The event was scheduled to begin at 11:30, and was originally scheduled as Chad Billingsley, who was unable to attend due to the fact that he was pitching later that night. I went with a few buddies, and wanted to arrive at 10:00, seeing as how Ely had been pitching so well that I assumed there would be a big crowd if I arrived later.

                I ended up getting there at about 10:15, and was very surprised that there were about 80-100 people already in line. I quickly got in line, and then walked up to talk to one of the store employees and get a booklet he was handing out. He told me that there were about 20 people in line at 8:00 that morning. Pretty devoted fans (Elyites?).

                Yeah, I'm going with Elyites©.

                I also went looking for Roberto from Vin Sully Is My Homeboy, but couldn't find him. Clearly I didn't look hard enough, as he was near the front of the line. I got back in line and waited as my friends went off looking for items to get signed. 45 minutes later they returned with nothing. Oh joy.

                I talked with a few different fans while waiting. One guy was from West Covina, and we talked briefly about the Chad Billingsley signing there this coming Saturday and how apparently he heard Andre Ethier had in fact been the one to sign in Pasadena (he wasn't, it was Casey Blake, and the belief that it was Ethier contributed to almost 1000 people in Pasadena). He told me he heard from a friend in the front of the line that there were people who had showed up as early as 4 am. I mean, I know Ely has been pitching well, and he probably hasn't ever had a major signing like this before, but jeez, 4 a.m.? I was happily sleeping at 4 a.m. You wake me up that early for a signing, it better be every player I love and have ever loved watching, all signing at once and giving out free tickets and taking pictures and giving out free money. Dedication? Sure. Insanity? You bet.

                Found another Casey Blake shirt in the crowd. M.Brown, you should be very proud.


                I also spotted some guy wearing an Andruw Jones jersey. Really? Why you would purchase one in the first place is beyond me, but really, at this point just burn that sucker.


                As we moved up in line, we talked with a guy ahead of us about some of the potential trades being rumored and some players on the current roster. This guy hated Blake DeWitt and thought James Loney would win, and should win, the Golf Glove every year, but was robbed because Pujols hits a lot of HRs. He also thought it was meaningless that DeWitt had a good eye and drew walks. You can see where I'm going with this. He did have an awesome shirt on though, and was a nice guy, even taking into consideration his willingness to sell the farm in a trade and his misunderstanding of the importance of on-base percentage.


                I headed up to the front to check things out for a minute, and behind me John Ely walked up and was greeted with a nice cheer and a round of applause. Ely arrived around 11:05, well early of when he was scheduled to appear. Our journey to meet John Ely was underway.


                A store employee passed out this flyer to everyone who wanted one. I have no use for a new phone, but I suck at saying no to people who pass stuff out. I'm glad I did take the flyer, because I immediately noticed that they made the ridiculously egregious error of spelling John Ely's name wrong. Come on guys, how hard is it to ask the Dodgers how Ely spells John? The event was great though, so I'll give them a pass. But if I'm Ely, I'm mad, and you wouldn't like me mad! #ElyMania does not take kindly to spelling errors!


                I then spotted this guy with a John Ely-like wig. The John Ely Hair Club For Men is strong with the people.


                Near the front of the line, we saw this gentlemen who was also at the January Caravan Event I went to. He almost got into a fight back then, but managed to not come close to fisticuffs this time around. I think he's some type of collector/memorabilia dealer. He was trying to sell the people in line stuff back in January, which is what that almost-fight centered around.


                We got in, and they directed us towards the back and towards Ely. We talked briefly with a guy who works for the Dodgers and helps organize and run these kinds of events; he said he'd been doing it for about 11 years. Pretty sweet job if you ask me. My turn in line comes, and I hand Ely the item I brought. He looks at it and immediately starts laughing. I smiled and said it was all I had, and I figured it was better than nothing. He said he thought it was really funny; that, coupled with his initial reaction, leads me to believe someone had shown him it before. Glad to know the Dodgers scour the Internet and Dodger blogs for what people write and say and create about them. While Ely was signing my item, I said he had been "pitching great and it was really good" - or something like that - and then was ready to ask for a picture when I noticed the signature had come out kinda faded. Ely noticed it too and then traced over his own signature. Really nice of him, a pretty cool gesture from an athlete who probably had to sign about 500 plus items that day. Took a picture, shook his hand and said thanks, and was on my way.


                As is the case at most of these events, someone told Ely he was on their fantasy team, and John asked "How am I doing?". When told of his performance to date, Ely asked "Is that good". I found this exchange particularly amusing.

                They gave us two free tickets each as we were leaving, which I chose for the next day's game. I couldn't attend, but it was pretty cool that they gave them out.


                Two vantage points of the line. I would say there were about 80-100 people in line before us, and probably about another 100-200 waiting by the time we left.



                Some random pictures from the signing, which was a fantastic experience. I highly recommend every Dodgers fan attend one of these at some point.



                O.J.? A Dodger? Hide the women and children.


                I didn't know Ramon Troncoso drove a Mustang and frequented Dodger autograph signings. The more you know.