Tag Archives: Joe Blanton

Blanton would start in Game 163.

Posted on by
Reply

Joe Blanton will start for the Dodgers if they can force a game 163 on Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Manager Don Mattingly made the announcement prior to Tuesday’s game against the San Francisco Giants.

“If we get to that game, we’re going to be feeling really good,” Mattingly said. “Joe’s been throwing the ball good. Joe’s pitched in the World Series. We’re going to have the freshest arm.”

A lot would have to go right for that to happen — the Dodgers must beat the San Francisco Giants today and tomorrow, while the Cincinnati Reds must beat the St. Louis Cardinals tonight and tomorrow. If the Dodgers win that game, they will have to turn around and fly to Atlanta for the wild-card game, which factored into Mattingly’s decision not to pitch Josh Beckett on three days’ rest.

Continue reading “Blanton would start in Game 163.” »

Padres scratch Quentin for series opener.

Posted on by
Reply

Carlos Quentin was scratched from the Padres’ lineup for Monday’s game against the Dodgers because of irritation in his right knee.

Quentin was originally scheduled to bat fourth and play left field. He’ll be replaced in left by Chris Denorfia, who bats fifth, while Yonder Alonso moves from fifth to fourth in the batting order.

The longtime Chicago White Sox outfielder has been on something of a tear since Aug. 18. Since then, he has a .969 OPS with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 13 games, including an eight-game hitting streak during that span.

Quentin has no hits and one walk in three career plate appearances against Dodgers starter Joe Blanton.

Denorfia has hit .135 (13-for-96) in his career against the Dodgers.

Don Mattingly’s toughest decision down the stretch.

Posted on by
Reply

Conventional baseball wisdom holds that pitching takes on greater importance in the playoffs than the regular season, and Dodgers manager Don Mattingly has lived it.

When he was the New York Yankees’ batting coach from 2004-07, he recalled, “(Robinson) Cano was hitting ninth. It was dangerous. But those clubs didn’t win.”

Mattingly believes the reason was simple.

“We didn’t pitch enough,” he said. “Playoffs are a whole different animal. Short series are always tough, even a seven-game.”

Assuming the Dodgers qualify, who will begin the playoffs in the starting rotation? Mattingly ducked the question for a second straight day Sunday and he can for the moment, with only five healthy starters on the active roster. He won’t be able to if/when Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Josh Beckett, Joe Blanton, Chris Capuano and Aaron Harang are all healthy.

This could be the manager’s biggest decision all season, if not in his brief career.
Continue reading “Don Mattingly’s toughest decision down the stretch.” »