Game 122 Unfair Loss Shares ( Cubs )
Soriano -- 1
Baker -- 1
Guzman -- 1
Top of the third, Cubs have just tied the game at two. Runners at second and third, and only one out. Weaver is a frayed thread from coming completely unraveled. This is the moment when the Cubs could have buried the Dodgers and won the game. Torre doubles down and walks Fukudome intentionally to load the bases. Soriano comes up, the $136 million disappointment, and he --- disappoints. Disappoints Cubs fans, anyway. Hear that? Hear that sound? You don't hear anything, do you? ( If you are hearing something as you read this, pretend you don't hear anything. Stuff some cotton in your ears. ) That nothing you hear is the sound of Soriano whiffing on three straight pitches. Three Jeff Weaver pitches. ( Okay, the first strike was a foul off, and that probably made a sound, but that's just a pesky detail. ) Then Jeff Baker came up, and he struck out on four pitches. And that was it for the Cubs. There would be no grand slam, or bases clearing double, or run forcing walk. There would only be disappointment, and the lingering question that defines the entire Cubs season so far: How could something that once seemed so promising turn out so poorly?
Game 122 Unfair Win Shares ( Dodgers )
Martin -- 2
Furcal -- 1
Torre is getting kind of desperate, I guess. He manages like a man who doesn't believe in his team. He manages as if disaster will follow if the Dodgers allow the other team to pull one run ahead, which must be part of the reason why he risked loading the bases with one out in the third inning. ( Of course, a bigger part of the reason is likely that Fukudome is a considerably better hitter than Soriano. ) Torre also manages as if it is vital that the Dodgers pull ahead by even one run, even if the chance at a higher scoring inning is compromised. I believe that's part of why he had Hudson sacrifice Manny and Blake over in the bottom of the sixth inning. He wanted that runner on third with one out. The Dodgers struggle to get the big hit, so put them into a situation where they don't even need a hit to score a run, even if it means giving up an out and an opportunity for another baserunner.
Pinella was just as desperate, just as willing to raise the stakes as Torre. He ordered ( or allowed to be ordered, at least ) the intentional walk of Loney, therefore loading the bases for Russell Martin with one out. Through their choices both Pinella and Torre had essentially gambled the entire inning on Russell Martin's at bat. His at bat was a double play waiting to happen. It was a walk waiting to happen. It was a strikeout waiting to happen. It was a scoring fly ball waiting to happen. In this disappointing but still sometimes productive season for Russell Martin, it was everything waiting to happen except the one thing that happened. That will score a run! --- I shouted, when he hit it, a high and deep fly ball. Well, I was wrong. It would score four.
21 August 2009
20 August 2009
Going Backwards
I guess I got over the loss during the long two hour drive back home after the game. I got what I wanted in that game, mostly. I wanted to see Kershaw pitch again, and I did, even if his outing was brief and his innings long. I wanted to see Matt Kemp play on his bobblehead night, and I did, even if he came up short at the plate and in the field. I wanted to see the Dodgers provide excitement, and they did. I wanted to see the Dodgers win. I guess 3-4 isn't too bad. A flawed three for four, with a deep sigh.
It ended for the Dodgers as it often does, with clutch outs. This is the curse of the Dodgers, that when they lose, they do it with their hands in the door, and when that door slams shut it hurts all the more. Monday's loss, in which the hitters went meekly down 1-2-3 in the ninth inning, was an aberration. Last night they got a bizarre gift from Dennys Reyes when he plunked Ethier in his only pitch of the game, but Manny, Blake and Loney couldn't get him home.
The Dodgers were down a run because of what happened in the top of the ninth, and to really understand what happened there with Broxton I think we have to go pitch by pitch.
Pujols
Strike (looking)
Ball
Strike (foul)
So far, everything is fine. At this point I'm thinking he will continue his dominance of Pujols.
Ball
Foul
Ball
Ball
Broxton loses Pujols and walks him. You just can't walk the leadoff hitter in the ninth inning of a tie game. I understand Pujols is an elite hitter, but Broxton is an elite pitcher, right? At least if you walk Pujols you'd better shut down everyone else. But that's not what happened.
Holliday
Ball
Ball
Ball
Broxton has now thrown 6 out of 7 pitches for balls. That is poor pitching, no matter who you're facing. But the worst pitch is coming up.
Strike (looking )
Yeah, it's a strike. But Broxton completely ignored Pujols and let him get a huge jump. In my opinion this was Broxton's worst moment. Martin had no chance to get him, but threw to second anyway and made a bad throw.
In play, deep fly out to center, Pujols scores
So, after two batters, Broxton has allowed a walk, a stolen base, and a deep fly out. This is not a good outing, no matter what happens after. You can say that Broxton was unlucky that Pujols ended up on third after the steal, but then you also have to acknowledge that Broxton was lucky that his 3-1 pitch wasn't hit for a home run instead of just a deep fly out by Holliday.
Ludwick
Strike (swinging)
Strike (swinging)
Strike (swinging)
Broxton is still capable of excellence. I just wish he had found it against Pujols and Holliday.
DeRosa
Ball
Ball
In play, easy ground out
Broxton fell behind another hitter, something he does far too often lately, but this time he gets away with it. Broxton threw 18 pitches, half of them for balls. Sometimes you can get away with that, but more often than not you can't. Maybe in this particular outing you could argue that Broxton was unlucky, though I don't buy it. But I am sure that in the long run if you throw so many pitches out of the strike zone you will not be successful. I have no problem assigning Broxton a healthy dose of blame ( but not all the blame ) for this loss, even though he didn't give up a hit. There is more to it than what shows up in the box score.
I still think Broxton can recover from his poor pitching, and in any case the game was not all about him. There were the home runs in the seventh inning by Ethier and Blake, two of the most fan energizing non-game winning non-game saving home runs I've seen in Dodger Stadium. There was McDonald's excellent middle relief. There was Wainwright's dominance through six innings, and the early possibility of a shutout, or no-hitter, or perfect game. There was Kershaw's tough outing. There was Hudson's error that made Kershaw's third inning so much longer and harder than it needed to be. There was the official scorer bizarrely ruling that Hudson didn't make an error on that play. There was hope that the Dodgers would win. There were Matt Kemp bobbleheads. There was the feeling, when Kershaw first took the mound, that maybe I was about to see a really special performance. It didn't happen, but it was nice to think about.
Unfair Loss Shares ( Dodgers )
Broxton -- 1
Martin -- 1
Kemp -- 1
Unfair Win Shares ( Cardinals )
Wainwright -- 1
Franklin -- 1
Molina -- 1
It ended for the Dodgers as it often does, with clutch outs. This is the curse of the Dodgers, that when they lose, they do it with their hands in the door, and when that door slams shut it hurts all the more. Monday's loss, in which the hitters went meekly down 1-2-3 in the ninth inning, was an aberration. Last night they got a bizarre gift from Dennys Reyes when he plunked Ethier in his only pitch of the game, but Manny, Blake and Loney couldn't get him home.
The Dodgers were down a run because of what happened in the top of the ninth, and to really understand what happened there with Broxton I think we have to go pitch by pitch.
Pujols
Strike (looking)
Ball
Strike (foul)
So far, everything is fine. At this point I'm thinking he will continue his dominance of Pujols.
Ball
Foul
Ball
Ball
Broxton loses Pujols and walks him. You just can't walk the leadoff hitter in the ninth inning of a tie game. I understand Pujols is an elite hitter, but Broxton is an elite pitcher, right? At least if you walk Pujols you'd better shut down everyone else. But that's not what happened.
Holliday
Ball
Ball
Ball
Broxton has now thrown 6 out of 7 pitches for balls. That is poor pitching, no matter who you're facing. But the worst pitch is coming up.
Strike (looking )
Yeah, it's a strike. But Broxton completely ignored Pujols and let him get a huge jump. In my opinion this was Broxton's worst moment. Martin had no chance to get him, but threw to second anyway and made a bad throw.
In play, deep fly out to center, Pujols scores
So, after two batters, Broxton has allowed a walk, a stolen base, and a deep fly out. This is not a good outing, no matter what happens after. You can say that Broxton was unlucky that Pujols ended up on third after the steal, but then you also have to acknowledge that Broxton was lucky that his 3-1 pitch wasn't hit for a home run instead of just a deep fly out by Holliday.
Ludwick
Strike (swinging)
Strike (swinging)
Strike (swinging)
Broxton is still capable of excellence. I just wish he had found it against Pujols and Holliday.
DeRosa
Ball
Ball
In play, easy ground out
Broxton fell behind another hitter, something he does far too often lately, but this time he gets away with it. Broxton threw 18 pitches, half of them for balls. Sometimes you can get away with that, but more often than not you can't. Maybe in this particular outing you could argue that Broxton was unlucky, though I don't buy it. But I am sure that in the long run if you throw so many pitches out of the strike zone you will not be successful. I have no problem assigning Broxton a healthy dose of blame ( but not all the blame ) for this loss, even though he didn't give up a hit. There is more to it than what shows up in the box score.
I still think Broxton can recover from his poor pitching, and in any case the game was not all about him. There were the home runs in the seventh inning by Ethier and Blake, two of the most fan energizing non-game winning non-game saving home runs I've seen in Dodger Stadium. There was McDonald's excellent middle relief. There was Wainwright's dominance through six innings, and the early possibility of a shutout, or no-hitter, or perfect game. There was Kershaw's tough outing. There was Hudson's error that made Kershaw's third inning so much longer and harder than it needed to be. There was the official scorer bizarrely ruling that Hudson didn't make an error on that play. There was hope that the Dodgers would win. There were Matt Kemp bobbleheads. There was the feeling, when Kershaw first took the mound, that maybe I was about to see a really special performance. It didn't happen, but it was nice to think about.
Unfair Loss Shares ( Dodgers )
Broxton -- 1
Martin -- 1
Kemp -- 1
Unfair Win Shares ( Cardinals )
Wainwright -- 1
Franklin -- 1
Molina -- 1
19 August 2009
Dodgers have a little Captain Hadley in them
Finally, the big hit was delivered, by none other than Chad Billingsley. When a pitcher leads the way on offense, the Dodgers win. I hope Kershaw takes extra batting practice today.
The seven runs the Dodgers scored makes it easy to dismiss the frustration of the first three innings, when the Dodgers stranded five runners. But I remember the concentrated dismay I felt, when it seemed that the Dodgers would let Boggs get the best of them. But the thing is the Dodgers will always have innings like that. Always. That's just part of the game when you get lots of men on base but don't hit a lot of home runs. It just gets hard to take when the stranded runners start piling up on top of the frustrating losses that have piled up on top of the blown saves that are piling up until you just want to scream STOP PILING!!!
I suppose the best news of the game was that Billingsley appears to be fully healthy again. He hit trouble in the sixth, again, but overall I think his mound work was a rousing success. Also successful was Jon Broxton, who didn't make me think he was back to his old form but also didn't stir up any trouble. And he continued his mastery of Pujols, who is now 1-10 lifetime against Broxton.
The best moment of the game came when Vinny started talking about protective cups, and which players wore them, and which didn't, and then he mentioned that Jose Oquendo the third base coach of the Cardinals said he never wore them, and then the camera showed Oquendo, and what the heck are we supposed to be looking at as the camera lingers on him? I think if the cameraman had zoomed in for a closeup of Jose Oquendo's crotch and then Vinny had said, "Well, it's hard to tell from this angle" it would have been the greatest moment in Dodger history.
Game 120 Unfair Win Shares ( Dodgers )
Billingsley -- 1
Ethier -- 1
Hudson -- 1
On the telecast last night they gave Ethier player of the game honors. I would have gone with Billingsley. In fact I really want to give him two unfair win shares, but Hudson deserves one as well and of course Ethier can't be denied after his Pierre-style cycle. In the end two runs in six innings just isn't good enough to earn multiple shares for Chad, even if he did deliver the biggest hit of the night.
Game 120 Unfair Loss Shares ( Cardinals )
Boggs -- 1
Pujols -- 1
Holliday -- 1
Like Billingsley, starter Boggs may deserve two unfair shares, but again two hitters demand attention. Both Holliday and Pujols were 0-4. Pujols hit two wicked grounders to third that might have been hits if they didn't smack right into Blake ( who understandably couldn't field either cleanly ) but that's the way it goes sometimes for hitters. I give Billingsley and Broxton credit just for keeping him on the ground in those two at bats.
What do you think of when you hear the name Boggs now? Wade Boggs, the great third baseman for the Red Sox back in the 80's? Or Boggs from the Shawshank Redemption, one of the sisters who repeatedly violated Andy Dufresne during his first two years in prison? For me it's the latter. But wouldn't that be a great text message question thing for during the telecast last night? Now THAT would have been the greatest moment in Dodger history.
The seven runs the Dodgers scored makes it easy to dismiss the frustration of the first three innings, when the Dodgers stranded five runners. But I remember the concentrated dismay I felt, when it seemed that the Dodgers would let Boggs get the best of them. But the thing is the Dodgers will always have innings like that. Always. That's just part of the game when you get lots of men on base but don't hit a lot of home runs. It just gets hard to take when the stranded runners start piling up on top of the frustrating losses that have piled up on top of the blown saves that are piling up until you just want to scream STOP PILING!!!
I suppose the best news of the game was that Billingsley appears to be fully healthy again. He hit trouble in the sixth, again, but overall I think his mound work was a rousing success. Also successful was Jon Broxton, who didn't make me think he was back to his old form but also didn't stir up any trouble. And he continued his mastery of Pujols, who is now 1-10 lifetime against Broxton.
The best moment of the game came when Vinny started talking about protective cups, and which players wore them, and which didn't, and then he mentioned that Jose Oquendo the third base coach of the Cardinals said he never wore them, and then the camera showed Oquendo, and what the heck are we supposed to be looking at as the camera lingers on him? I think if the cameraman had zoomed in for a closeup of Jose Oquendo's crotch and then Vinny had said, "Well, it's hard to tell from this angle" it would have been the greatest moment in Dodger history.
Game 120 Unfair Win Shares ( Dodgers )
Billingsley -- 1
Ethier -- 1
Hudson -- 1
On the telecast last night they gave Ethier player of the game honors. I would have gone with Billingsley. In fact I really want to give him two unfair win shares, but Hudson deserves one as well and of course Ethier can't be denied after his Pierre-style cycle. In the end two runs in six innings just isn't good enough to earn multiple shares for Chad, even if he did deliver the biggest hit of the night.
Game 120 Unfair Loss Shares ( Cardinals )
Boggs -- 1
Pujols -- 1
Holliday -- 1
Like Billingsley, starter Boggs may deserve two unfair shares, but again two hitters demand attention. Both Holliday and Pujols were 0-4. Pujols hit two wicked grounders to third that might have been hits if they didn't smack right into Blake ( who understandably couldn't field either cleanly ) but that's the way it goes sometimes for hitters. I give Billingsley and Broxton credit just for keeping him on the ground in those two at bats.
What do you think of when you hear the name Boggs now? Wade Boggs, the great third baseman for the Red Sox back in the 80's? Or Boggs from the Shawshank Redemption, one of the sisters who repeatedly violated Andy Dufresne during his first two years in prison? For me it's the latter. But wouldn't that be a great text message question thing for during the telecast last night? Now THAT would have been the greatest moment in Dodger history.
18 August 2009
Catching Up, With Vengeance
Game 116 Unfair Loss Shares ( Dodgers )
Kershaw -- 1
Loney -- 1
Martin -- 1
This game was typical of the Dodgers losing ways lately. The starter stumbles, the secondary stars on offense do nothing. Both Loney and Martin were 0-4, with outs in clutch situations, when the Dodgers had a real chance to come back in the game. Simply put the Dodgers offense couldn't deliver the big hit. Sound familiar?
Game 116 Unfair Win Shares ( Snakes )
Haren -- 3
You could say, maybe, that Haren was just too good, both on the mound and at the plate. Maybe. I mean, there he is, getting every unfair win share for that game. But the Dodgers did have their chances against him. They had the tying run come up to the plate four different times after they went down 4-0. Once Martin struck out. Once Loney grounded into a double play with Kemp on deck. That should count as two blown chances right there, shouldn't it? Or three, given the great game Kemp had. Appalling, Loney. Then in the ninth, against closer Qualls, Hudson struck out and Loretta lined out.
It's maddening. I didn't watch or hear the game and yet I almost feel like I did. It's just like all the other losses when the Dodgers have their chances but never come through.
Game 117 Unfair Loss Shares ( Dodgers )
Broxton -- 2
Troncoso -- 1
After the home runs, after Broxton let the Dodgers down, the Dodgers had a chance to take the lead in the top of the tenth. With one out Kemp walked and stole second. The Dodgers had two chances to deliver a hit and take the lead again. Of course they didn't take either chance. Blake struck out. Loretta grounded out. And then they lost.
Game 117 Unfair Win Shares ( Snakes )
Davis -- 1
Montero -- 1
Reynolds -- 1
I really really hate giving Reynolds an unfair win share.
Game 118 Unfair Win Shares ( Dodgers )
Wolf -- 2
Ethier -- 1
An anomaly. Sadly.
Game 118 Unfair Loss Shares ( Snakes )
Petit -- 3
Petit sure is a terrible pitcher. And that's how it seems to go lately for the Dodgers. They crush bad pitching. Sure, most teams do, but they punish bad pitching better than any team around. It's against competent pitching that the Dodgers come up short. They can't get the big hit.
Game 119 Unfair Loss Shares ( Dodgers )
Furcal -- 1
Hudson -- 1
Ausmus -- 1
The Dodgers went 0-5 with the third run on second base. A third run they would never get. They needed it. They keep failing when it matters. Yesterday it was Furcal twice, Hudson and Ausmus once. Haeger too, but he doesn't count, so call it 0-4 with that precious extra run out there. Even 1-4 would have made all the difference. Or maybe not. Then they would have lost in extra innings.
Game 119 Unfair Win Shares ( Cardinals )
Carpenter -- 2
Ankiel -- 1
Carpenter was good, just as Haren was three days previous. The Dodgers are losing to some good pitchers. I can see that. But again they had their chances. Good teams sometimes beat the good pitchers, you know. The Dodgers aren't playing like a good team any more. They still have time to change that. It could start today. Why not? Their turnaround last year came out of nowhere, and this year's team is a lot better than last year's team, and hasn't come close to the same nadir that the 2008 team hit. I don't know. I have nothing left to say about this team that is rational.
Kershaw -- 1
Loney -- 1
Martin -- 1
This game was typical of the Dodgers losing ways lately. The starter stumbles, the secondary stars on offense do nothing. Both Loney and Martin were 0-4, with outs in clutch situations, when the Dodgers had a real chance to come back in the game. Simply put the Dodgers offense couldn't deliver the big hit. Sound familiar?
Game 116 Unfair Win Shares ( Snakes )
Haren -- 3
You could say, maybe, that Haren was just too good, both on the mound and at the plate. Maybe. I mean, there he is, getting every unfair win share for that game. But the Dodgers did have their chances against him. They had the tying run come up to the plate four different times after they went down 4-0. Once Martin struck out. Once Loney grounded into a double play with Kemp on deck. That should count as two blown chances right there, shouldn't it? Or three, given the great game Kemp had. Appalling, Loney. Then in the ninth, against closer Qualls, Hudson struck out and Loretta lined out.
It's maddening. I didn't watch or hear the game and yet I almost feel like I did. It's just like all the other losses when the Dodgers have their chances but never come through.
Game 117 Unfair Loss Shares ( Dodgers )
Broxton -- 2
Troncoso -- 1
After the home runs, after Broxton let the Dodgers down, the Dodgers had a chance to take the lead in the top of the tenth. With one out Kemp walked and stole second. The Dodgers had two chances to deliver a hit and take the lead again. Of course they didn't take either chance. Blake struck out. Loretta grounded out. And then they lost.
Game 117 Unfair Win Shares ( Snakes )
Davis -- 1
Montero -- 1
Reynolds -- 1
I really really hate giving Reynolds an unfair win share.
Game 118 Unfair Win Shares ( Dodgers )
Wolf -- 2
Ethier -- 1
An anomaly. Sadly.
Game 118 Unfair Loss Shares ( Snakes )
Petit -- 3
Petit sure is a terrible pitcher. And that's how it seems to go lately for the Dodgers. They crush bad pitching. Sure, most teams do, but they punish bad pitching better than any team around. It's against competent pitching that the Dodgers come up short. They can't get the big hit.
Game 119 Unfair Loss Shares ( Dodgers )
Furcal -- 1
Hudson -- 1
Ausmus -- 1
The Dodgers went 0-5 with the third run on second base. A third run they would never get. They needed it. They keep failing when it matters. Yesterday it was Furcal twice, Hudson and Ausmus once. Haeger too, but he doesn't count, so call it 0-4 with that precious extra run out there. Even 1-4 would have made all the difference. Or maybe not. Then they would have lost in extra innings.
Game 119 Unfair Win Shares ( Cardinals )
Carpenter -- 2
Ankiel -- 1
Carpenter was good, just as Haren was three days previous. The Dodgers are losing to some good pitchers. I can see that. But again they had their chances. Good teams sometimes beat the good pitchers, you know. The Dodgers aren't playing like a good team any more. They still have time to change that. It could start today. Why not? Their turnaround last year came out of nowhere, and this year's team is a lot better than last year's team, and hasn't come close to the same nadir that the 2008 team hit. I don't know. I have nothing left to say about this team that is rational.
While I Was Gone
I heard one pitch of the series with the Snakes. It was Friday night and I decided to see if I could catch some of the game on the radio from the rustic cabin we were staying in. I fiddled with the knob and antenna until I could hear Vinny's voice, and I heard --- Kershaw give up a RBI single to Dan Haren. Spleesh.
I don't need this, I thought. So I turned off the radio and never turned it on again the rest of the time I was there.
I guess the biggest Dodger related story to happen while I was gone was Kuroda giving up a ground rule double off of his head. My mother told me that he was hurt badly when I talked to her on Saturday, but it was not until I was back home that I heard and saw the detail about the ball being hit so hard that it bounced off his head into the stands. I can't believe he's not hurt worse. He'll miss one start, and surely more after that? But maybe not, apparently. I would be amazed if Kuroda could come back so quickly, but the Dodgers seem to think he may do just that, since they haven't put him on the disabled list yet.
Jon Broxton gave up two home runs in that same game. I find that almost unfathomable. This is not the same pitcher we were watching at the start of the season. There is no way. The Jon Broxton I've been watching the last few years doesn't give up two home runs in one inning. Maybe he's hurt, maybe he's lost his command, I don't know. At this point I wouldn't care if the Dodgers made Sherrill the closer and Broxton the set-up man. I'm not saying that Sherrill is better; I'm saying that Broxton has declined to the point where I don't think it matters who pitches the ninth inning. I think there is a decent chance that Broxton recovers in the next month and regains the form he had at the start of the year, but that's not certain. Usually when someone criticizes Broxton I want to defend him but I just don't feel that way anymore. Now I want to join in the criticism. It takes a lot of mental energy to give him the benefit of the doubt now. It's so much easier to just assume he's lying about his toe being fine.
Wolf's incredible game was the third biggest Dodger news event while I was gone, or maybe the second, but I fear that I place Broxton's failure above Wolf's success. Yes, this is wrong. But that's the way it is these days with the Dodgers. The failures are obsessed over, with the victories few and forgotten. The team is doomed. Doomed! Well, I hope not. The truth is a winning tear could happen at any time, or not at all. There is no way to predict these things. It would help if the starting staff got healthy again.
I saw last night's game, and I wish I didn't. I feel like another vacation from the Dodgers. I'm this close to questioning the team's character and heart and will to win. I know that's a load of nonsense, but it would make me feel better.
I don't need this, I thought. So I turned off the radio and never turned it on again the rest of the time I was there.
I guess the biggest Dodger related story to happen while I was gone was Kuroda giving up a ground rule double off of his head. My mother told me that he was hurt badly when I talked to her on Saturday, but it was not until I was back home that I heard and saw the detail about the ball being hit so hard that it bounced off his head into the stands. I can't believe he's not hurt worse. He'll miss one start, and surely more after that? But maybe not, apparently. I would be amazed if Kuroda could come back so quickly, but the Dodgers seem to think he may do just that, since they haven't put him on the disabled list yet.
Jon Broxton gave up two home runs in that same game. I find that almost unfathomable. This is not the same pitcher we were watching at the start of the season. There is no way. The Jon Broxton I've been watching the last few years doesn't give up two home runs in one inning. Maybe he's hurt, maybe he's lost his command, I don't know. At this point I wouldn't care if the Dodgers made Sherrill the closer and Broxton the set-up man. I'm not saying that Sherrill is better; I'm saying that Broxton has declined to the point where I don't think it matters who pitches the ninth inning. I think there is a decent chance that Broxton recovers in the next month and regains the form he had at the start of the year, but that's not certain. Usually when someone criticizes Broxton I want to defend him but I just don't feel that way anymore. Now I want to join in the criticism. It takes a lot of mental energy to give him the benefit of the doubt now. It's so much easier to just assume he's lying about his toe being fine.
Wolf's incredible game was the third biggest Dodger news event while I was gone, or maybe the second, but I fear that I place Broxton's failure above Wolf's success. Yes, this is wrong. But that's the way it is these days with the Dodgers. The failures are obsessed over, with the victories few and forgotten. The team is doomed. Doomed! Well, I hope not. The truth is a winning tear could happen at any time, or not at all. There is no way to predict these things. It would help if the starting staff got healthy again.
I saw last night's game, and I wish I didn't. I feel like another vacation from the Dodgers. I'm this close to questioning the team's character and heart and will to win. I know that's a load of nonsense, but it would make me feel better.
12 August 2009
Into the Wild
My journey goes through a canyon, past a lake, through a desert, across the shoulders of mountains, then into the mountains, into the cool green under a brilliant blue sky. Away from the heat and noise, away from television and telephones and internet.
So Dodgerama pauses to meditate. The blog will return, perhaps wiser, early next week.
So Dodgerama pauses to meditate. The blog will return, perhaps wiser, early next week.
... and Awwww, darn it
Mota. So that's how they went down. A home run given up by Mota. You know, I feel like all the things I said about him early in the year are coming true again. It's like time is going backwards! If you see any contracting water ripples, look out. You might get eaten by a newly un-extinct raptor.
So, now for the unfair shares.
Game 115 Unfair Loss Shares ( Dodgers )
Kemp -- 1
Blake -- 1
Mota -- 1
A number of Dodgers went hitless against Lincecum, but Kemp struck out three times, including once late with a runner on, and Blake hit into a double play early. I wonder, though, if I should take Blake's away and give a second to Mota. All of my old hostility toward him is coming back!
Game 115 Unfair Win Shares ( Giants )
Lincecum -- 2
Uribe -- 1
I was thinking that Lincecum might get all three before he gave up the tying run.
Believe it or not, I have one more post to make today, which will be coming shortly.
So, now for the unfair shares.
Game 115 Unfair Loss Shares ( Dodgers )
Kemp -- 1
Blake -- 1
Mota -- 1
A number of Dodgers went hitless against Lincecum, but Kemp struck out three times, including once late with a runner on, and Blake hit into a double play early. I wonder, though, if I should take Blake's away and give a second to Mota. All of my old hostility toward him is coming back!
Game 115 Unfair Win Shares ( Giants )
Lincecum -- 2
Uribe -- 1
I was thinking that Lincecum might get all three before he gave up the tying run.
Believe it or not, I have one more post to make today, which will be coming shortly.
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