6 games against good teams all year, a few vs .500ish and majority of games vs bad/horrible teams.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
They would get crushed in the AL, or damn sure wouldnt be 28-13.
Printable View
6 games against good teams all year, a few vs .500ish and majority of games vs bad/horrible teams.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
They would get crushed in the AL, or damn sure wouldnt be 28-13.
Right you are as the Dodgers haven't had a serious series so far this year...Playing way above their heads against a bunch of minor leaguers really...By the All-Star break we'll know the true Dodgers...Hope they can prove me wrong but I know baseball..Quote:
Originally Posted by NaturalBornHustler
This is false.Quote:
Originally Posted by NaturalBornHustler6 games against good teams all year, a few vs .500ish and majority of games vs bad/horrible teams.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
They would get crushed in the AL, or damn sure wouldnt be 28-13.
They have played against every NL team except Cincinatti, Philadephia, NY Mets, and Miami. All four of those teams are near .500.
I agree they would not be 28-13 against the AL, but they are not built like an AL team. AL teams are more offense-based (because the pitcher never comes up, and instead there is a DH, who typically hits well.)
I fully expect the Dodgers to make the playoffs, at least if they can recover somewhat from the injuries. Ellis being out will hurt them somewhat, and Kemp out would be terrible, though I think he's coming back as soon as he's eligible in 9 days.
Huh?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan DruffThis is false.Quote:
Originally Posted by NaturalBornHustler
They have played against every NL team except Cincinatti, Philadephia, NY Mets, and Miami. All four of those teams are near .500.
.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/schedule...ngeles-dodgers
That has to be one of the softest schedules in MLB so far. Forget AL/NL no DH or not wasn't talking about that, just the scrubs they played.
The first 10 games were soft. The rest have not been.Quote:
Originally Posted by NaturalBornHustlerHuh?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/schedule...ngeles-dodgers
That has to be one of the softest schedules in MLB so far. Forget AL/NL no DH or not wasn't talking about that, just the scrubs they played.
Again, the Dodgers have played series against all but the above-named 4 NL teams. And those four teams are .500-ish so far, so it's not like the Dodgers have missed out on playing any dominant NL forces.
The truth is that the NL is wide open this year, as there is no elite team. The Dodgers have just played the best baseball so far, especially considering all of their recent injury problems.
Yes, they will regress somewhat until they get healthy. Yes, they need another big bat to really be playoff-ready. But I like what I'm seeing so far, as I expected the team to finish around .500 and miss the playoffs. This team actually reminds me a lot of the spirited '88 team that accomplished far more than expected and won the World Series.
Dodgers have the 2nd easiest schedule in all of baseball so far:Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan DruffThe first 10 games were soft. The rest have not been.Quote:
Originally Posted by NaturalBornHustler
.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/rpi/_/sort/sos
And look at the very top.
This is only because they have played 9 games against terrible San Diego.Quote:
Originally Posted by NaturalBornHustlerDodgers have the 2nd easiest schedule in all of baseball so far:Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/rpi/_/sort/sos
And look at the very top.
Even with the schedule adjustment, they are ranked #5 on RPI (and #2 in the NL, a hair behind the Braves).
regardless they can't win out so I'm betting against them until I make some money
This is just getting old now.
LA down 5, tie it up in 7th,
go down 1 in the 8th
and rally to win.
Giants are 3 over 500 and still down 7, thought we could make up some ground w/Kemp out.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index...mlb_1&mode=box
Kirk Gibson (current Diamondbacks manager) called this Dodger team "very opportunistic", which is a big compliment from the best hitter on the most opportunistic team in Dodgers history -- the 1988 World Championship club.
This team reminds me a lot of the '88 squad where a bunch of journeymen came together with a great hitter (Gibson in '88 / Kemp in '12) and a superb pitcher (Hershiser in '88, Kershaw in '12) and put together a surprisingly successful season.
I'm running a half marathon on June 9th in Chicago and have turned it into a road trip, planning on seeing White Sox-Astros after running and driving to Cincinnati to see Reds-Tigers Sunday night.
I've been to both parks before but am excited for some MLB action.
This reminds me that I really hate this teenybopper/gangsta fad of leaving stickers on the fucking hats.Quote:
Originally Posted by Vwls
*grumble-grumble-get-off-my-yard*
You can do that all you want, but when it's done burning, the D-Backs will still be 11 1/2 games behind (and the Giants 7).Quote:
Originally Posted by Vwls
I don't care about the D-backs. I care about the Giants. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan DruffYou can do that all you want, but when it's done burning, the D-Backs will still be 11 1/2 games behind (and the Giants 7).Quote:
Originally Posted by Vwls
another very odd thing about this season: rarely do you see a 19-25 team (now, the Angels) have a glut of hitters at certain positions and release one of the veterans (Abreu), he gets picked up by the best team in baseball, and is starting and hitting in the heart of the order.
Abreu needed a change in scenery. He was very unhappy with the Angels.Quote:
Originally Posted by gut
He is a shell of his former self, but it was a great pickup for the Dodgers, who needed his bat due to injuries and got him for really cheap.
Dodgers are F*cking up as they need to try to trade some prospects for Morales of the Angels...Trump is out of the question now as they won't part with him...What part of "Loney has to go" don't you people understand?...Quote:
Originally Posted by gut
Unless they get another hitter, and someone with power to compliment Kemp and Either it's a fade in the second half of the season for the boys in blue...Lilly and Harang will each die by the homerun ball...
And I know what I'm talking about after following L.A. for over 50 years...
Well looks like we've found someone to fill in for Mike Piazza in A.J. Ellis...Not the HR power, but the batting average will help for the run to the pennant...
AJ Ellis with a walkoff 3-run HR!
This guy is a 31-year-old career minor leaguer, yet he is hitting well over .300 with 5 HR, is 3rd in the majors in OBP, and has played great defense.
Dodgers now 20-5 at home, 31-16 on season, 7.5 ahead of 2nd place Giants.
:yes
... and Kemp coming back on Tuesday.
That's about the same age Maury Wills was when he made the majors...After playing 9 years in the minors...Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
Oh Ellis almost parked one in the 5th but missed short 2 feet and was robbed of a double by a good catch by outfielder...
Capuano on the hill today...
:to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHDmk...eature=relatedQuote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
This team really reminds me of the 1988 Dodgers -- the last Dodgers team to win a World Series.
MVP-type outfielder:
1988 - Kirk Gibson
2012 - Matt Kemp
Solid secondary-star (albeit injury-prone) outfielder:
1988 - Mike Marshall
2012 - Andre Ethier
Ace pitcher:
1988 - Orel Hershiser
2012 - Clayton Kershaw
Journeymen pitchers with inexplicable success:
1988 - Tim Belcher, Tim Leary
2012 - Chris Capuano, Aaron Harang, Ted Lilly
Solid closer:
1988 - Jay Howell
2012 - Kenley Jansen
Good defensive second baseman who can also hit fairly well:
1988 - Steve Sax
2012 - Mark Ellis
Good defensive catcher who can also contribute offensively:
1988 - Mike Scioscia
2012 - AJ Ellis
Backup catcher who seems to deliver surprising clutch home runs:
1988 - Rick Dempsey
2012 - Matt Treanor
Crappy third baseman:
1988 - Jeff Hamilton
2012 - Juan Uribe
Surpringly productive bench player:
1988 - Mickey Hatcher
2012 - Jerry Hairston, Tony Gwynn Jr.
Mediocre but still serviceable first baseman:
1988 - Franklin Stubbs
2012 - James Loney
As weird as it sounds to say, the scariest team to me right now in the NL is Washington. That rotation is just crazy. Gonzalez, Strasburg, Zimmermann, and Jackson are giving that Phillies rotation from the last year a run for its money.
Ryan Zimmerman also hasn't really got it going yet either at 3B. With him, Harper, and Werth in the middle, and if Laroche and Desmond keep producing...could be a scary squad...hurts that they lost Ramos for the year though.
also it may have been mentioned in this thread or the mlb one, but look at Harper so far in his age 19 season : http://www.baseball-reference.com/pl...arpebr03.shtml
compare to Griffey Jr's age 19 season: http://www.baseball-reference.com/pl...riffke02.shtml
still alot of time in the season, but this Kid looks like the real deal.
Someone's going to have to reckon with them at the end...Quote:
Originally Posted by gut
Bum city U.S.A.Quote:
Originally Posted by jsearles22
:facepalm3
Time for the Dodgers to get serious and get some hitting via a trade...We can't endure a month of no Kemp without falling in the standings...
Quote:
Originally Posted by son of lockmanBum city U.S.A.Quote:
Originally Posted by jsearles22
:facepalm3
Time for the Dodgers to get serious and get some hitting via a trade...We can't endure a month of no Kemp without falling in the standings...
Yup, barring a miracle comeback tonight, it will be 5 losses in a row, including that awful 4-game sweep at HOME by the Brewers.
Of the Dodgers' starting lineup tonight, only Ethier and Gordon were opening day starters.
This team won't be able to hold onto first with no Kemp for a month, unless they make some kind of move to improve the offense. It looks like a AAA lineup right now.
Damnit, Dodgers two innings away from 4-game sweeping the Phillies (in Philadelphia, no less), and with a 1-run lead, they put in Jamey Wright.
:gay
Jamey Wright sucks. He is like 37 years old, but he sucked even when he was young.
I understand using Wright during trash time, but as your setup man with a 1-run lead?
:facepalm2
Right now Phillies have a runner on 1st with 1 out. The next 2 outs can't come fast enough.
Props to the Dodgers though, without Kemp for all of June, for coming back from their 5-game (and 6-out-of-7) losing streak with 3 straight road wins prior to this.
Also I will admit for the first time this season that I am scared of the Giants.
They're playing really well recently.
The Phillies are atrocious. They have literally handed the Dodgers this four game sweep. Our bullpen is an abortion.
When's Halladay due back? Has he really lost his fastball?Quote:
Originally Posted by JUSTIFIEDhomicide
Boston Red Sox fan Freddie Roach throws out first pitch at Dodgers game.
"Though he has lived in Los Angeles since 1992, Freddie Roach has never been to Dodger Stadium. But that Ripkenesque 20-year streak comprising over 3,000 games will end tomorrow night when Roach takes the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, at approximately 6:57 p.m. PT, before the Dodgers battle the Milwaukee Brewers."
Source
"...Later, Roach threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Los Angeles Dodgers hosted the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium. A native of Dedham, Mass., Roach wore a Dodgers' home jersey with No. 9 on it.
"Ted Williams, baby," Roach said, referring to the Boston Red Sox' Hall of Fame slugger."
Source
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmdHOcyEdc8
Halladay's never been a flame-thrower, but his velocity is down a tick this season. http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx...on=P#pitchtypeQuote:
Originally Posted by Hockey GuyWhen's Halladay due back? Has he really lost his fastball?Quote:
Originally Posted by JUSTIFIEDhomicide
I think they said 6-8 weeks for him being out also.
Yeah, he wasn't a flamethrower by any means but I had heard he was down 5-6 mph in spring training & people were worried. It looks like he's recovered most of that by the time the season started.Quote:
Originally Posted by gutHalladay's never been a flame-thrower, but his velocity is down a tick this season. http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx...on=P#pitchtypeQuote:
Originally Posted by Hockey Guy
I think they said 6-8 weeks for him being out also.
He's getting older so maybe the Blue Jays did the right thing with/for him. I still like him though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hockey GuyWhen's Halladay due back? Has he really lost his fastball?Quote:
Originally Posted by JUSTIFIEDhomicide
Nah, his fastball has been fine. if you look at his starts this year he's done well everytime, and then had one bad inning in each start.
They took an mri of his shoulder and compared it to an mri from 2008 and they said their is little to no difference. He says he is symptom free at the moment and will be back within the 6-8 weeks they initially set out for.
Doesn't matter how he pitches if we can't put up more than two runs per game though
Sad to see what has happened to this team. I remember when the Dodgers played them in the 2008 and 2009 NLCS, and they just had a killer lineup.Quote:
Originally Posted by JUSTIFIEDhomicideQuote:
Originally Posted by Hockey Guy
Nah, his fastball has been fine. if you look at his starts this year he's done well everytime, and then had one bad inning in each start.
They took an mri of his shoulder and compared it to an mri from 2008 and they said their is little to no difference. He says he is symptom free at the moment and will be back within the 6-8 weeks they initially set out for.
Doesn't matter how he pitches if we can't put up more than two runs per game though
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan DruffSad to see what has happened to this team. I remember when the Dodgers played them in the 2008 and 2009 NLCS, and they just had a killer lineup.Quote:
Originally Posted by JUSTIFIEDhomicide
You should hear local radio. Everyone is screaming sell sell sell at the trade deadline. Personally, I feel like the east will be close the entire way through, and we will have a shot the whole way. If either Howard OR Utley can come back to being the player they once were, or even a portion of that after the all star break we could have a shot.
Also, rumor around our city is that Hamels, a california kid, is headed to the Dodgers in 2013