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LA Dodger Talk

Just Win, Baby!

I am not sure if Al Davis coined that phrase, but he sure used it a lot! Clayton didn t have his best stuff last night as he struggled with his command. But, he continues to ignore my advice. I tried to tell him. These guys are jumping on his first pitch. All he has to do is change that up a little. Don t make every first pitch a strike. But,

By Mark Timmons2 min readJump to 62 comments

I am not sure if Al Davis coined that phrase, but he  sure used it a lot!

Clayton didn’t have his best stuff last night as he struggled with his command. But, he continues to ignore my advice.  I tried to tell him. These guys are jumping on his first pitch.  All he has to do is change that up a little. Don’t make every first pitch a strike.  But, he stuck to HIS plan and managed to do something no other Dodger pitcher has ever done:  Give up 4 HR in a game!  Here’s the re-cap of how they homered:

  • Pollock homered on the first pitch.
  • Martinez homered on 1-0 count.
  • Mathis homered on the first pitch.
  • Marte had a 2-2 count when he homered.

That’s the Bad News.  The Good News is that the hitters, particularly Justin Turner, picked him up.  He did pitch 6.1 innings so the pen is not gassed.  I guess all you have to do is Win Baby!  Look at the Indians –  yesterday, their Ace got beat like a rented mule (his ERA is 20.00+) and they still won.  It’s the “W” that’s important.

Now, if they can just get to Robbie Ray tonight. He is 3-0 with a 2.27 ERA against the Dodgers this year.  They need to be patient and let him run up his pitch count.  He has struck out 61 Dodgers in  159 AB’s.  They should not just be swinging for the fences.  This is a short series, Granderson’s leash is short.  Andre Ethier will get a chance against a RHP before the series is over. Kike will play in LF tonight.  I don’t know if Rich Hill prefers Grandal over Barnes but I suspect Barnes will get the start.  Kershaw prefers Yasmani but I am not sure Rich Hill really cares.

The question is, do you leave Puig at #5 or move him to #8 against the LHP?  He has not hit them well this year… and that is being very kind! Actually, he was horrid!  Logan Forsythe is hitting .444 against Ray and Taylor is at .438.  Barnes, Bellinger, Granderson and Seager all are hitting under .170 against Ray. To me, this has the makings of a pitchers duel.  It’s for this game, that the Dodgers signed Rich Hill.  Hopefully he makes them proud! When Ray and Hill are on, they are among the best in the game.

Dodger Hitters Verses Robbie Ray

Diamondback Hitters Verses Rich Hill

Justin Turner, Corey Seager and Yasiel Puig were the story of last night’s game.  Tonight, some other players will need to step up.  We will likely see “El Gasolino.”  I believe he will be very, very good or verry, very bad.  We all know that Chase Utley has such an important role on this team.  Jerry Crasnick of ESPN, says that “the Dodgers fear disappointing Chase Utley.” That article is a very good read and reveals Utley’s value to the team.  It’s end with a Corey Seager sound bite:

“You don’t ever want to disappoint Chase. That’s a good word for it. He sees everything, even when you don’t think he’s looking.”

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In memory of Tom Petty, Roy Orbison and George Harrison:

YouTube — open on www.youtube.com

Discussion (62)

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  1. dodgerrickOctober 8, 2017

    Dodgers have 25 on base in 2 games. That’s not going to get it done.

  2. Peter JOctober 8, 2017

    Now this is fun…Baseball at it’s best… Wonder how Zack G. will handle Puig’s antics/cheerleading?? Y.P. will have an audience, because a lot of us Blue fans taking the road trip to AZ.

    I hope Forsythe gets a chance to make this team in 2018… I’m a big fan…

    We got the snake pinned, now sever the head and save the rattles!!!

  3. TherealtenOctober 8, 2017

    Great series at dodger stadium! I will repeat start Barnes! He just is a much tougher out and runs the bases so well. Puig is off to a hot start and having fun. Ray is really hot saying he beat himself and the dodgers didn’t do anything lol! He did self destruct but the dodgers took advantage and didn’t bail him out. That’s where if grandal would have been in the game he would have chased but Barnes didn’t. We got ray at the right time but that’s part of the breaks you need to advance. It is also what playoff pressure is all about. I know he didn’t pitch particularly well but I love watching hill pitch as he battles and competes every pitch. Maeda looked great and Roberts used him just right. I wanted him to pitch more but he is ready now for Monday. I really believe the umpire hurt hill. The umpire has more impact in hills starts than others because of that curveball. We need to win 1 in Arizona please no game 5.

  4. IdahoalOctober 8, 2017

    The 6-7-8 batters did it. They were patient. This is what we did during our good winning streak this year. You never knew from one night to the next who was going to be good this game. For the next game, I would rather see Either than Granderson and Barnes than

    The Dodgers should learn the Snakes love to go after the first pitch.

    Great to be a Dodger fan.

  5. AlwaysCompeteOctober 8, 2017

    Just like for teams, the Playoffs is a new season for the players. Forsythe getting 3 hits and two off of RHP. Both of Puig’s hits off of LHP. Granderson a clutch hit. 4 stolen bases.

    .

    Next time that pitch to Drury is called for Morrow, he better shake it off. That pitch should never be thrown for a strike. Lesson learned. Do not fix what is not broken. Keep throwing that high fastball until they prove they can hit it.

    .

    Now go out and beat Greinke. Let’s end this at 3.

  6. Bill RussellOctober 8, 2017

    Barnes is a stud and a Riverside Boy. What more can you say.

  7. HawkeyeDodgerOctober 8, 2017

    I hope Dodgers fans fill the place on Monday. I was a little suspicious of the Dbags crowd on Wed. I wondered how many free tickets they gave away to fill the place. Dodgers fans should take baseball cards with a scream for Greinke to sign them. He hasn’t had a good outing since he brush up with Neshek about the baseball cards.

  8. Watford DodgerOctober 8, 2017

    Well I’ve had 2 great early mornings, trying not to wake the house, whilst jumping round my lounge going berserk.

    What a rollercoaster the Post Seadon is.

    Kershaw did a good job of keeping Base Runners to a minimum, so the HRs didn’t hurt too much.

    When Goldy dispatched that ball into orbit, I feared the worst.

    To be fair to Hill, he recovered well.

    Puig & Forsythe looked good, and there must be a case for Ethier starting in LF.

    On the downside, Belinger & Seagar look like they are swinging for the fences with every AB.

    Barnes needs to start every game from now on, and to be fair to Kiki, he had a couple of decent ABs as well.

    Let’s hope Yu can do it on Monday as the extra rest will do us good.

  9. IdahoalOctober 8, 2017

    I will also take a Corona with lime.

    Seager and Bellinger need to pick it up. They will. They are smart players. I hope Ethier starts in LF and Barnes as catcher on Monday.

    How about Puig’s bat flip on a single. At least he finally remembered to run. The announcers are knuckleheads like Puig. That is not fair to Puig. The announcers must of signed a minor league contract.

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