Now let's hope Kuroda is on tonight.

http://www.linkmeister.com/blog/archives/003059.html

Nice AB by Ethier fallowed by a nice hit by Kent & Manny Ramirez got hit, now Loney gets a hit to score Ethier. Woo!

Then he says Loney gets a hit because Nomar is behind him! Thats the reverse of the year.

Miller said that about Loney, but it was a joke, poking fun at the Kent/Manny situation. Nomar killed the inning by swinging at a 2-0 ball. The plate discipline of this team is pretty terrible.

that is definitely a first for me, wow that's crazy.

weird play non-the-less.

Also, Gammons: Because Martin is Canadian, Martin is wearing down.

Yes, some umps squeeze pitchers. And some umps widen the strike zone beyond belief. But it's been happening since the days of Cy Young. I really would prefer it that way than any other way.

Besides, the first time one of those machines malfunctions, it'll be a nightmare.

10 ip
2 hits
1 run
9 ks
2 bbs

Like Rob said, he is Mai Kuroda...

I guess you can say he worked Manny a day to get better.

Btw, did y'all enjoy Joe Morgan raving about Matt Kemp's baserunning prowess in that second inning. I was shocked but I guess pleased to hear that.

Hope this game remains interesting for awhile longer. Another run or two would be nice.

And, now Grumpy hits into the DP.

http://tinyurl.com/5kfcz8

he doesn't even try anymore... he's like, uh, there it goes.

Nice play by Victorino to get that Loney fly.

According to baseball-reference.com, he played four games for the 1974 Dodgers, all in September. Aaron's HR was hit in April.

Anybody got an explanation for that?

Great play by Victorino.

Wow.

He's been shaky all night & is over 100 pitches.

Dodgers should score this inning.

Oh, wait ...

Harumph.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL197404080.shtml

Not that Andy Laroche is making any friends in Pittsburgh. He's now approaching Andruw Jones territory.

A: Andy LaRoche.

Also, besides Andre, when was the last time the Dodgers acquired a minor leaguer?

Seriously, what is that junk? Half the fun of Football video games is doing crazy stuff like never punting or kicking field goals, throwing flea flickers three downs in a row, or running fake field goals on first down.

Who runs Kansas City? Anybody dumb enough to give Tony Pena Jr. as many ABS as he got this year might be tempted by Pierre.

Nice.

Andy Tracy is on deck.

Good pitching Brox.

Feliz didnt even hit that well

In other news...PETE HAPPY!!!

Time for Manny to hit a homer.
Hope the Phils bring in Durbin.

I'm guessing he's begging for a trade before 2010.

Carry on, throng.

And Loney caught that ball in foul terrority but it didn't hit the ground when it was in Loney's glove? Way is it an issue?

Sorry, that should say Feliz, not Broxton.

Hey, it's a walk!

Bases loaded 0 outs.

...And the Phillies walked Sweeney.

Hopefully Casey can get a flyout or at least not a DP.

Dude, dial down the hyperbole. Have you seen his numbers? A guy can pitch well all year, then give up a couple runs, and suddenly he can't close.

Remember when Kuo gave up some runs, and everyone suddenly claimed that he was 'tired'?

Pitchers give up runs. It happens.

Great way to get nothing out of a bases-loaded, nobody out jam.

it was in the back of my mind but, geez!

Thank you.

Pig, meet lipstick.

Good closers do not blow 25% of their save opportunities.

He's not 2004 Gagne or Saito. Whoopty-freaking-doo. The kid is great, and has been since the moment he came up to the club.

Roaching Broxton is crap.

Bemiel's making people miss with so so stuff, but he's showing much better command than Broxton did in the 9th. This is what Broxton's needs to do.

You cant blame Blake? He hit the ball hard? What game are you watching? He missed a hanging breaking ball over the heart of the plate. In that situation, you look for a pitch up (which he got) and put it in play (which he didnt). He failed on that pitch. He then hit a weak ground ball to the thrid, which is the absolute worst place he could have hit the ball. You cant blame him for the placement, but you need to hit the ball in the air. The blame is 100% on him and I bet he would even tell you that.

Nice catch.

NICE catch by Loney.

A week ago, the Dodgers were playing rather spectacularly, winning early, winning late. Where was the "only the Dodgers" stuff then? You guys are frustrated by not scoring in the 10th? I'm frustrated by short memories.

Look around. This stuff happens all the time to every team. I know it's frustrating, but enough with the rending of garments. Quit feeling sorry for yourselves. You want to quit on the team? Be grownups and quit when they're winning.

On a thoroughly mediocre team with fat 18 million dollar non-factors and 9 million dollar noodle-armed turds and an incomp GM, Broxton is the problem. Broxton. Not defense. Not thinking the solution is Greg Maddux. Broxton.

Really.

Thank you for the third out, Howard.

(///)

It's like people are jumping over each other to condemn the kid.

331. nick
Broxton ... at times visibly struggles with his command in a way that, imo, dominant closers simply don't do.

Having said that, how many top closers are there. Are there even ten active?

Again, I ask commenters not to use "rule one violation" as a euphemism for a rule one violation.

I got either Matt Kemp or Werth.

Leaning Matt Kemp.

"If it had only been this one game, reaction would be overzealous. But over the last two MONTHS there is plenty of good evidence against JIMMY ROLLINS properly filling ANY SPOT IN THE LINEUP right now."

hehehe

http://tinyurl.com/4pot5n

"You guys thought we were going to win the World Series, didn't you?" [Kent] said.

Manny and Blake were going to be the two "big missing pieces". The Dodgers were going to finally jump over the Diamondbacks.

Only, not.

Yes, Broxton's young. Yes, the team's in the offensive funk. And... he still has to do his job.

Nope

Also, Ozuna in the 3rd spot is outrageous.

Therefore...What? Demote him back to setup guy for Kuo? Because Kuo has been unhittable, except when he gives up nine-mile bombs in the ninth. Because two or three games apparently dictate a pitcher's worth now.

Of all the guys to complain about, Broxton is like eleventy-fifth on the list.

At least we aren't Mets fans!!

Total strawman. Nobody's saying Broxton is the biggest problem on the team. He is, however, nothing like an elite closer.

...And yeah, I'll be surprised if Victerino doesn't score, the Phillies are due.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6Wl-N9iOts

The Office - Best moments

I just want people to stop the hysterics. What Frank McCourt does has nothing to do with any of that.

Is what I'm saying so mysterious? I'm not asking people to not be critical. I'm just asking people to act like they've seen a baseball game before.

366 - Everyone's frustrated tonight. That's when it's most important to follow the rules of the site.

I don't like his approach on the bump any more than you do, Rob. He's been uncomfortable...That's obvious.

But he's not ruining any seasons. The team is not exceptional, and hopefully he can grow into the role this year, and be the bee's knees when it matters. Which is not this year.

To be fair, you can get a blown save pitching in the 8th inning, where he was for the better part of the year. Tough job where you can get a blown save but not be able to record a save. Thats why his save percentage looks so poor.

But, he has been very bad in august. 5 walks in 10 innings, ERA over 6 more hits than innings pitched. Jon is often very good, but tonights outing was very frustrating.

Looking at Broxton's numbers for this year, it sure seems like he just gives up hits at the wrong time: nothing wrong with K rate or HR rate. But watching him pitch, it sure seems obvious when he's struggling.

Oh, Cole popped out...good thing Pedro Feliz isn't any good...

Again, I disagree. McCourt is setting the tone and building expectations (unreasonable as I believe them to be, and so far has been borne out) for a winning season that will lead to at least a division victory. Not beating teams that are in better divisions with better records is still a likely result, but I can totally understand people not recognizing that one or two players are not the team, and that the fundamental issues facing the Dodgers are not going away just because they got Manny.

And I totally do not understand why Manuel didn't call for a suicide squeeze with one out and a man on third.

Bad loss.

You're right. He sucks. Trade him.

What is your point here? Who would you like to be the closer? Kuo? Okay, fine, whatever.

I'm over this whole argument, as I'm sure you are. Broxton doesn't have the closer mentality and he's terrible and he's cost us the NL pennant.

"Try Again" made me want to challenge Rob to a duel.

410 , agreed. Gnight, all!

Yeesh.

We win this game if he was still healthy.

Anyway, I'm a longtime reader and follower of the site and this is my first time posting. Bill$ needs to play stopper tomorrow night.

Numbers don't lie I guess but I still don't trust 'em. hey man, I hope he becomes a great closer for us but for now, my brain says watch out.

I love Brox and have never criticized him. It is not up to me to say that he can be an elite closer or not. He is 24 and a very good reliever. But, the fact is that he has cost the Dodgers about 3-4 games in a very short period of time. There is no doubt that if he had pitched in August as he has all year, we'd be in a better situation. But again, he is 24, he is our best option and please, leave off the Kuo chants. He was not much better when given the chance.

419 - You're right. He sucks. Trade him.

This is exactly the problem I've had with every one of your posts on this subject in this thread. You keep introducing strawmen, addressing arguments that nobody is making (I never said Broxton had no value, nor that he should be traded), making factually incorrect statements (Broxton's problems amount to much more than one or two games)... Should Kuo be the closer? Sure, for now. But that's almost beside the point.

I wear my optimism as a badge of honor. & from what I understand we live a lot longer too.

David Beckham is not a closer!

The same cannot be said for his actual guitar playing.

I have never said people couldn't be upset, frustrated or disappointed.

I want the Dodgers to win every game no matter who owns the team, manages the team or plays for the team. But when that doesn't happen, I recognize that that was a distinct possibility from the start. The best teams in baseball lose almost 40 percent of the time. I expect people here to understand that.

Most importantly: I don't care a whit how upset you get offline. Here, a certain civility is required. I really don't know how much more clear I can be about that.

When Manny doesn't hit, this team doesn't score, kind of like how it was before he joined the team.

If we can't hit Kendrick or Blanton, Myers is likely to make mince meat out of us. If Manny can't hit Blanton he must really be in a slump.

On the positive side, the critics of the Manny trade felt we were weakening our team for the future by picking an ill-advised run for the present. Not counting on LaRoche in 2009 might end up being a good thing. Even a wrist injury can't explain away his foray into the depths of Marteville.

But Kuo should close. Because he has tons of experience as a closer and no history of arm problems. At all. And he has the closer mentality, apparently. I don't know. I haven't gotten him on the psych couch yet.

We just agree to disagree. And it's devolving into a snarkfest, so get one more shot in and we'll be done with it.

Morris was 19 when he was drafted so he may or may not get an extra year before he has to be protected on the 40-man roster but if not, he will need to be protected after the 2009 season and by all looks, he will still need some more time to develop after that.

But, if some unfortunate incident should happen to befall either, it would not come as a great galloping surprise.

7/17 = 41% of Broxton's save opportunities turn into blown saves.

Because 17 save chances dictate a player's worth.

He should not, at this time, be the team's closer, full stop

Why? This is not a playoff team. Let the kid work the ninth, and figure out if he's the guy to lock down the ninth. The Dodgers are not a playoff team. You know it, I know it, we've known it since May. Hand the guy the ball and let him learn.

Because you like watching him walk AAA players on four pitches?

Yes, Rob. I enjoy watching this. It makes me happier than anything on planet earth. Happier than a pint of Firestone and a fat dip of Skoal. I love watching Broxton fail. Can we just give the kid the ninth inning and let him grow into it?

Wow. I don't think it's fair to criticize Broxton as the sole reason the Dodgers lost the game. I've only read the last few comments, and basically its a debate between Broxton vs. Kuo. But frankly, it's as simple as this:

1. Broxton struggles with guys on base. Fair enough... we can see that he doesn't have the mentality.
2. The Dodgers are not getting it done at the plate. but... what boggles the mind is... HOW? Most of the team OPSed over .800 in the last 7 days. Even poor Russell Martin is OPSing over .800 this week despite being dropped to 8th. Yet, the Dodgers continue to score 3, 3, 3, 1, 2, 2 runs in each game.

Good to be back... I took a sabbatical after the dismal Giants series... only to return after a dismal Phillies series.

How can a team 3 games out on Aug 24th not be considered a playoff team? Were we not a playoff team a week ago?

What is pathetic is that both you and Rob agree that this team has no right to try to play for a playoff spot but you can't agree on how not to make that happen.