Cardinals 6, Dodgers 4
Because I know somebody is going to ask, Joe Torre was saving Jonathan Broxton for a save situation if the Dodgers took the lead -- something they should have done in the 10th, when they got runners to first and third with one out. Russell Martin struck out, and after the inevitable intentional walk to ManRam, James Loney flied to left. That's an inning the Dodgers will remember for a long time and an at-bat Martin will remember for a long time -- he struck out on a 2-2 pitch in the dirt from Ryan Franklin.
This is what Martin said:
``I was just trying to get a ball in the air, trying to drive it to the outfield. I really wish I could have that at-bat back, but there is nothing you can really do. I got a few pitches to do something with, but I wasn't successful.''
This is what Torre said:
``I think Russell got a little aggressive there. If you think having Manny behind you means you're going to get a pitch to hit, maybe you're not as selective. Not every pitch is going to be right down the middle. But again, he was aggressive, and I don't want to take that away from him.''
Manny is now batting .625 (10 for 16) as a Dodger. Martin is now 4 for 17 with five strikeouts in five games hitting in front of Manny. In two games hitting behind Manny, Jeff Kent is 1 for 8 with 2 strikeouts and no RBI. James Loney, who also has hit directly behind Manny in two games, is 3 for 9 in those games. But he also has just one RBI. Tonight, he GIDP's immediately after each of Manny's two hits.
Dodgers fall to 56-56 and 2 1/2 behind the Snakes.
Tony,
What about Kuo? Why did Torre use Johnson before Kuo? Is it because he felt that Kuo was already used a lot during the AZ series? It seems like he'd be alright after the rest/travel day.
Let's give Loney a little more credit. He may have grounded into two double plays after Manny's hit, but it's not quite accurate to state that "after the ...walk to ManRam, James Loney flied to left." More accurately, Loney LINED to left. The ball was hit hard, just not in the right place. That, together with Sweeney's line-out to end the ninth was just bad luck.
I think the key to last night's loss is something no one is talking about. The first two (and almost three) of the runs the Cardinals scored were on 0-2 counts. Billingsley gave up the first and Beimel gave up the next when he hit Ankiel with an 0-2 count. If not for Matt Kemp's terrific shoestring catch, it actually would have been 3 runs on 0-2 pitches.
We talk about hitting in the clutch all the time but rarely do we talk about pitching in the clutch. Dodger pitchers did a poor job of pitching in the clutch last evening and especially with the hitter on the ropes and it eventually cost them in extras.
Russell has to do a better job of being selective with Manny batting behind him. Most guys would salivate at the idea of having the caliber hitter Manny is protecting them. He almost looks like he doesn't have a plan most at bats and I think we know that Russell is one of the smartest hitters the Dodgers have had in many years.
Kuo not being used made a lot more sense to me than Broxton not being used. Kuo cannot be used in two inning bursts every day or every other day. It's too much stress on his arm, off day notwithstanding. They were right to only use him if he was the last man standing last night. Not using Broxton because of the lack of a "save situation" was the really stupid move imho. They may have lost anyway, eventually, but why save your best pitcher when you know when run given up will end the game. There's no wiggle room there. They had a chance to sneak away with a comeback win - and as Tony points out, they missed some opps on offense, no doubt - but you can't let your best reliever sit on the bench in place of your arguably worst reliever. Dumb.
Anyway I hope we see Broxton tonight - for the save!
The Cards just always seem to have the D's number, even back to the Ted Niedenfeur days, so this will be a very tough series, esp since the woeful Pirates play the Snakes this week. Let's hope Manny and Co. take the next two and get on some kind of road roll!
PhillyDodger –
Is Ted Niedenfuer any relation to Tom Niedenfuer?
Also, those woeful Pirates just beat the 'Zonies 2-0 today, on the strength of a two-hit shutout by Jeff Karstens.
Previous post:
"As we all know, the Dodgers are weak offensively ranking near the bottom of baseball in nearly all categories. They have an especially hard time beating anyone's front line pitching.
I looked up their stats against their opponents top 2 starters (or 3 in a few cases where it's a little unclear who might be better) to date.
In 45 starts, these starters are averaging a bit over 7 innings per start vs the Dodgers, giving up just under 6 hits per start, and 2.18 runs per start (total runs, not earned). The Dodgers overall record in games when facing one of these pitchers is 15-30.
Within the division, they are 1-3 when facing Haren/Webb, 1-3 when facing Cook, Jimenez, 1-5 when facing Peavy, Maddux, or Wolf (gone I know), 2-0 when facing Cain (no starts for Lincecum yet).
Vs. potential playoff opponents (insert Mora: Playoffs!? here), they are a combined 5-7 vs top starters for CHI, MIL, NY, STL, and FLA (havent played PHI yet).
Vs the AL, they are 0-7 vs LAA, DET, CLE, CHWs top starters including Sabathia who is now on MIL (whom the Dodgers are 2-0 vs Sheets and Parra).
To sum up the obvious, the Dodgers are weak, especially against anything of quality. They are a punchless bunch of slappies whom opposing pitchers have no fear of."
Update:
Since the 28th, the day of the previous post, the Dodgers are 1-2 vs the top 2 pitchers of their opponents. Another win vs Matt Cain although he pitched well going 7 innings and giving up only two runs. They have since lost to Brandon Webb, 8 innings 1 run and Chris Carpenter who went 5 innings allowing 0 runs. The Dodgers are now 16-32 in games started by other teams 1 or 2 starter. Having Manny in the lineup should help but they have to show an ability to beat these starters (and the league, for that matter) for anyone to get excited. These are the very same starters they would face in any playoff series.