Does EQA measure scrap?

More importantly, does EQA take into account that the Dodgers only had to win one more game in 1988.

Funny that the 1988 Dodgers, who are known for their psychological makeup started three guys who were never known for bringing much to the table in the way of attitude in Marshall, Davis, and Hamilton.

And Dodger fans seem to like John Shelby a whole lot more as a coach than a player.

The 1988 Dodgers had "The Stunt Men". The 2005 Dodgers just have "The Red Shirts", just a bunch of unknown guys who get killed as soon as they land in hostile territory.

From today's Daily News (Tony Jackson)
"Dodgers outfielder J.D. Drew tested his ailing left knee by swinging a bat on Saturday. While he reportedly felt fine and could return to the lineup today, Drew wasn't available for Saturday night's 3-1 loss to the Angels, when the Dodgers could have used him with two outs in the ninth inning and the potential tying run at the plate."

Well, the Dodgers only have to win one more game today. So there's that.

If the Dodgers had lost in '88, history would record how Fred Claire didn't provide the depth to take advantage of Orel Hershiser's pitching. No such albatross for him ... instead, he got the Pedro trade.

Just noticed something. Lowe's ERA is pretty good given his record. He's given up 14 unearned runs this year, which is obviously a lot. The entire team has given up 25 unearned runs this year and gave up 37 all of last year. Ishii gave up the most unearned runs last year with seven. Dodgers have committed 66 errors this year and 73 all of last year.

This isn't an argument in favor of Cora (hello, Steve) or Beltre (hello, Icaros). Just an observation. But with a staff of pitchers who generally don't strike out a lot of batters, I think it is significant.

Well, let's see how those unearned runs scored:
4/5 at SF - Valentin makes bad throw on grounder to allow run to score
4/10 at AZ - Izturis makes throwing error to allow runner to reach who later comes around to score
4/20 at SD - Valentin makes bad throw and run comes around to score (Dodgers are 12-2 after this game)
5/12 at STL - Robles fails to touch second to allow run to score. Drew also makes wild throw to allow run to score. Phillips has passed ball to allow run to score. This was all in the same inning!
6/6 vs DET - Kent makes bad throw to allow runner to score. Perez makes bad throw to allow runner on base who comes around to score
6/16 at KC - Perez misplays grounder to allow runner to reach. Four unearned runs ensue.

I left out my conclusion that Lowe has been betrayed by his defense at times. In St. Louis, it was pretty much the fault of the defense. In Kansas City, after Perez's error at short, Lowe then couldn't get anyone else out.

Assuming Jim Tracy sticks with his "Kent needs a day off" plan, and J.D. Drew isn't quite ready to play, I have to question the decision not to play Kent. Unless he's REALLY hurting, I see no reason why he couldn't just suck it up for a couple more days until Drew is ready. Because without either of those 2 in the lineup, and Bradley hurt, the lineup just plain sucks.

Now watch, we'll score like 10 runs today on nothing but singles, stolen bases, and sacrifice bunts.

Well, I just looked up the Willie Davis 3-error game in the WS in 1966, and it appears Lowe's in good company; Koufax was the loser in that game. 4 runs, 1 earned.

Assuming that this is today's game chat since it has a link to today's gamecast on MLB.com....

Random Dodger game callback

June 26, 1990

It reached 112 degrees in Downtown Los Angeles this day, but that didn't bother the Dodgers as they were playing in Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium. And the Braves' Dale Murphy made five outs to produce three runs as the Dodgers lost to rookie lefthander Steve Avery, 4-2. The Dodgers dropped to 35-36 and were now 11 ½ games behind Cincinnati and in fourth place. It was Avery's first major league win.

The Dodgers scored in the top of the first when Eddie Murray had a 2-out RBI single to score Stan Javier. The Braves came right back in the bottom half when Lonnie Smith, Jeff Treadway, and Ron Gant singled to load the bases against Mike Morgan. Rookie first baseman David Justice then walked to force in a run. Murphy then bounced into a double play to score a run to put Atlanta ahead 2-1.

The Braves add another run in the third. Treadway walked and Justice singled him to third. Murphy hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Treadway and make it 3-1.

In the seventh, the Dodgers had the tying runs in scoring position with two outs. But Avery was able to strike out Mickey Hatcher to get out of the jam.

Charlie Kerfeld, making one of his last major league appearances, came into relieve in the 8th. Murray was caught looking and argued the call with home plate umpire Dana DeMuth and was ejected. Hubie Brooks singled and Mike Scioscia followed with a walk. But Juan Samuel grounded into a double play to end the inning. In the bottom of the 8th, Gant and Justice singled and Murphy hit into his second double play of the game to score Atlanta's fourth run.

The Dodgers made another rally in the 9th. Alfredo Griffin led off with a single and stole second. Griffin moved up to third on a line out to right by Lenny Harris. Javier hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Griffin. Mike Sharperson drew a walk. Manager Tommy Lasorda then brought in Kirk Gibson to pinch hit. Braves manager Bobby Cox, on the job for just three days after Russ Nixon was fired, brought in Joe Hesketh to relieve. Hesketh let Sharperson get to second on a wild pitch, but got Gibson to ground out to first to end the game.

The Dodgers would make a run at Cincinnati, but could never quite there, finishing in second by 5 games with an 86-76 record. Three losses really stood out for the Dodgers. Two were at home against Philadelphia. On May 19, the Dodgers led 8-5 after four, but the bullpen couldn't hold the lead and the Phillies prevailed 15-12 in 11 innings. Then on August 21, the Dodgers led the Phillies, 11-3 going to the 9th and gave up 9 runs in the 9th to lose 12-11. And on September 4, the Dodgers led Houston 7-0 after two innings, but ended up losing 10-8.

Eddie Murray had the highest batting average in the majors in 1990 yet didn't win a batting title. He batted .330 with 26 homers. However, St. Louis outfielder Willie McGee hit .335 before being traded to Oakland. So McGee was awarded the NL batting title although his overall average dipped below Murray's.

The Dodgers also got good production from Kal Daniels who hit 27 home runs and Hubie Brooks who hit 20. Samuel, acquired in the off-season from the Mets in exchange for Mike Marshall and Alejandro Pena, had his typical year, batting .242 and striking out 126 times with only 51 walks.

Pitcher Ramon Martinez had his finest year in 1990 going 20-6 with a 2.92 ERA. On June 4 at Dodger Stadium, Martinez struck out 18 Braves to tie the team record. But Orel Hershiser pitched only four games before going down with a rotator cuff injury.

With Hershiser injured, the Dodgers tried a variety of pitchers to fill his spot: Tim Crews, Mike Hartley, Jim Neidlinger, John Wetteland, Mike Maddux, Terry Wells, and Dennis Cook. Jay Howell overcame some early injuries to save 16 games.

The Dodgers would make some improvements for 1991 and expected to be contenders. But very few people realized that the Dodgers opponent on this day in 1990 would be taking over the National League. (Atlanta finished 65-97.) From 1991 through the three games this season, the Dodgers have beaten the Braves 60 times while losing 83 times. The Braves have won their division (either the West or East) each year since 1991, with the exception of 1994, when no team was declared a winner. The Dodgers have won the NL West twice (1995 and 2004) since 1990. As for the rest of the new 5-team NL West, the Padres have won the division twice (1996 and 1998), the Diamondbacks have won three times (1999, 2001 and 2002) and the Giants have won three times (1997, 2000 and 2003). God bless the Colorado Rockies!

Thanks to the Los Angeles Times, BaseballReference.com and Retrosheet

The difference in the two teams, obviously, is...Tommy Lasorda.

Great callback Bob. I am a little younger than some or most here so it is nice to recognize most of the names in your callback. I think the first year I remember following baseball at all was 1991 when we finished one out after being tied going into the final three game series against the Giants.

11: Wow, Benaiah. So you don't even remember the '88 World Series. The Dodgers might as well be the Cubs as far as your concerned, for all the winning they've done on your watch.

Vintage Ramon Martinez. He was very very good that year. At the time we had the brothers in our organization. A lefty I think was called Jesus or something. Don't know whatever happened to the right handed brother. Can't quite recall his name. Was said to be to small to really amount to much.

yeah bob, i liked today's RDGC a lot. in fact, the summer of 1990 was the most avidly i'd ever followed the dodgers until last year. ramon is still my favorite pitcher ever. and i remember all the games you referenced, ESPECIALLY the phillies ones. i know i was in attendance for one of those games. ahh, 1990.

12 - Yes and no, I mean as a Dodger fan I read Boys of Summer and I have seen the video of Gibby's home run, while a Cubs fan would only have stories of all the ones that got away. My University won the NCAA basketball Championship two years before I got here, but I still get warm feelings from watching the replays. That said, on my watch it hasn't been exactly great. Every year it seems like my least favorite teams in each sport make it to the finals (the Patriots, Eagles, Spurs, Pistons, Tar Heels, Illini, Red Sox and Cardinals are all on the wish ill list).

Thanks, RDGC will be on hiatus until July 5.
Unless of course, I fall asleep all day due to jet lag.

15: That's an interesting list. I didn't think it was possible to feel one way or the other about the Spurs (unless you're from San Antonio). So where DID you go to school? Or shall we make that today's puzzle - everyone guess where Benaiah went to school. All we have is the list of teams he roots against, and a cryptic statement about his school winning the NCAA title 2 years "before [he] got here. Forgive me, I'm assuming "he." So Division I.

Hating the Illini is probably the best clue.

17 - Actually hating the Tar Heels is the big clue.

Don't forget that great driftwood-carving ability of Tracy, Jon. Very important skill in a major-league manager.

I sense a Duke fan

I am not from LA so my loyalties largely lie with the teams my dad likes: the Dodgers and the Buffalo Bills. That said, there are teams that just annoy you. The Illini last year were a team I kept hoping would lose and they just kept winning. Finally all the way to the Finals where I desperately hoped they would beat the hated Tar Heels and save me from my comeuppance only 11 miles away. Alas it was not to be.

Ah. Duke. Feh.

The Buffalo Bills-LA Dodgers fan exacta is probably not a common one.

I hated them too, then I got in.

since bob guessed duke, i'll go with maryland.

d'oh!

hah, it just occurred to me that the school i'm going to this fall won the NCAA championship two years ago.

23 - If you are old enough and from upstate NY it could be. I don't think that is my Dad's case, but being a Brooklyn/Buffalo fan and staying loyal to the Dodgers after the move would explain it.

Orel Hershiser was born in Buffalo.

So Benaiah are you a Clipper fan since we have Brand/CM? Cherokee Park used to be a Clip favorite.

You shouldn't have given us the North Carolina clue. That made it to easy and on a day when the Dodgers will get drubbed again we needed a diversion.

I am sure you lively boys will find something to talk about.

The actual lineup today:
C Izturis
Perez 2B
Saenz DH
Werth CF
Choi
Phillips
Edwards 3B
Grabowski LF
Ross RF

Halos
Figgins CF
Erstad 1B
Guerrero DH
Anderson LF
DaVanon RF
M Izturis 3B
J Molina C
Cabrera SS
Kennedy 2B

Can anyone recall a team (other than the Dodgers) starting two outfielders hitting below .200 in the same game?

I was thinking this past March
"You know if we can have a 3-4 punch of Saenz and Werth, this team could be awesome!"

That is the worst lineup I have ever seen. I don't think that there are any redeeming characterisistics. It isn't good on defense, it isn't fast, it doesn't have power, it can't hit for average. It is a replacement level lineup. VODL.

Most teams start three outfielders with .000 averages on Opening Day.

But you were likely looking for a different answer.

Without injuries our 3-6 today would be batting 6-9

Actually, when it's time for Werth to get his "day off", we might be able to field an entire outfield hitting in the 100s.

31 -- That is a brilliant, and beautiful, driftwood carving.

OT, Choi's ABs the last few weeks (one stretch notwithstanding) really frustrated me, and I figured he needs to make like Wade Boggs and Edgar Martinez and pretty much forego swinging at the first pitch entirely. Look over the stats at ESPN, I see:

By Count AB AVG OBP SLG OPS
0-0 30 .400 .419 .833 1.252

Whoops.

Just to fill out the picture:
0-1 12 .333 .357 .583 .940
0-2 17 .176 .176 .353 .529
1-1 14 .286 .313 .643 .956
1-2 31 .065 .094 .161 .255
1-0 12 .167 .167 .417 .584
2-0 7 .286 .286 .714 1.000
2-1 9 .222 .222 .333 .555
2-2 24 .125 .125 .250 .375
3-2 23 .217 .486 .391 .877

Anyone smarter than me is willing to take a crack at this.

[Note: eagle-eyes may note the lack of one particular count (hint: 3-1). This is ESPN.com's fault, not mine. They're the professionals.]

p.s. WARNING: do not let this information fall into the hands of Jim Tracy, lest he lift Choi with a 2-0 count due to the small sample size.

#32 Kilgore:

No, but the Mariners at one point this year had (or may still have) 3 bench players hitting in the .160s. Even in the AL, this has been a crippling handicap, and interleague games have exposed it even more.

Gotta love it when 1 for 6 is a good day.

Nearly every player's average with 2 strikes is going to be lower than with 0 or 1 strike because you can't strike out on the other counts. There is always something more likely to "happen" with 2 strikes.

Choi hasn't gotten a hit or out on a 3-0 count either.

It seems like Choi is suffering from a distinct failure to achieve with 2 strikes.

41 - though Bob explains it. I guess that makes sense. It is difficult to strike out on the 2-1 pitch.

If we give Werth enough at bats with runners on base he might get to the sub 200 average all by himself. You guys enjoying Cody Ross yet?
Boy am I looking forward to going to Dodger Stadium and watching this lineup do battle.

Today's lineup for the first place Padres isn't all that fearsome:
Jackson 2B
Sweeney 1B
Giles RF
Klesko LF
Fick C
Burroughs 3B
Nady CF
Greene SS
W Williams P

Aside from Giles and Klesko, it's hard to believe a team like that can have a reasonable edge in the division.

Fick is batting .348, but he still hasn't played much and I think his average will start to drift downwards.

Yeah, Nevin just went on the DL.

Pads now have Nevin, Hernandez, and Loretta out. The injuries aren't even yet (what, with Giles and Klesko still healthy), but it's about time for someone other than us to feel the pain. Having Nady and Fick available as backups is a nice luxury, though. Nady SHOULD be starting anyway, probably ahead of Burroughs.

Back on May 21, the Dodgers lost to the Angels in a game when the Angels had DaVanon batting third, Finley fourth, and Juan Rivera fifth.

After a horrific game in the outfield, Felipe Alou is using Alex Sanchez as a DH where he presumably can't run into anyone.

I'll soon have to leave the exciting Tampa Bay-Florida game. The Marlins lead 1-0 in the bottom of the 7th in St. Pete.

The Devil Rays announcers speculate that either Carl Crawford or Jorge Cantu will be the Devil Rays All-Star.

It's okay to hope bad things happen to SD, right now. But at some point, if the Dodgers' fortunes don't turn around, don't we have to band together and focus all our voodoo ire on Arizona? Can you imagine how unreadable the Times is going to be if Green and Glaus make the playoffs?

I have absolutely no worries that the Diamondbacks will win the division. They are going to be better than we expected, but unless the Dodgers lose EVEN MORE players, I think they will finish behind the Dodgers.

The DBacks have a pitching staff that isn't much better than the Dodgers. And the bullpen is pretty scary.

Lowe needs to throw a shutout to give LA a chance. It's about time for Lowe to have a great game. He's being paid enough.

Lowe needs to throw one of those -1 games that the 2003 staff needed.

If we can't beat Byrd (#4 or 5 starter) with our #1 or 2 starter, then we are in real trouble.

CHOI BLESS JAYSON WERTH!

See that's a tremendous 3-4 punch!

Woo hoo!

I wonder how many games our starters pitched at least 7 innings with 1 or 0 runs this year.

so, was that werth the wait?

Jayson the Baptist is back with a vengence. I'm predicting a 2003 Adrian Beltre second half out of him.

er, vengeance.

Why is Tracy resting Kent today with all these minor leaguers (MIL) playing. Is Kent that tired that he can't do any better than MIL. Maybe Tracy is conceding this game or expecting a miracle. What a stupid illogical decision making.

The only way Dodgers can score these days is with homer. I hope Lowe can make it hold up. Please don't give up any runs in the 1st 3 innings.

Lowe and Weaver both have thrown complete game shutouts. And I think Weaver had another game where he gave no runs through 8.

Penny lost 1-0 to San Diego last week.

The Dodgers pitching really hasn't been all that bad recently. At least not as bad as May.

It's just that the Red Shirts aren't pulling their weight.

61,
I bet we're gonna win today. And Tracy will have justification for his decision.

Nice to see Werth getting his stroke back, eh? Could be the much needed shot in the arm we need. Maybe once we get Drew and Bradley, we'll be a pitcher away from having a fighting chance?

The theories about Werth's return being like Spring Training are seeming more and more true. He is 5 for his last 17 with 3 HR and a double.

If Odalis and Bradley can come back by the break and Drew doesn't see any time on the DL, I think our chances are pretty good for the second half. Having guys like Phillips, Perez, and Choi not having to carry the load should do wonders for the lineup.

Plus, if they call up Broxton to pull a Brazoban this year, we could have a mighty 1-2 punch for the 8th and 9th, leaving Sanchez and Carrara (or Osoria?) to share the 6th and/or 7th.

BTW, how was the out Choi made? Was it an unlucky hard hit?

I hope Perez doesn't make any more mental and physical errors (baserunning, fielding error). It seems like he makes at least one of these everytime Lowe pitches and Lowe can't shake it off like a good pitcher.
I'm pretty disappointed with Lowe this year. Even though his ERA is okay, he let's the errors effect his way too much and he just BLOWS up.

Imagine what might have been had Tracy hit Grabowski cleanup and Werth eighth. That guy is a genius.

61: Kent is resting because otherwise he's going to kill some of those minor leaguers.

63. Thanks for that info. How do you find these info so fast. That makes it 4 great starts. But that numbers seems so low compared to other teams.

66. Is Broxton ready to pitch at this level? Is he the most ready among our relievers in Minor Leagues.

With all the crap on our roster right now, I still think Grabowski is our worst hitter.

At least Lowe got out of 1st inning without giving up a run. Hope he can get at least 2 more innings.

a dodger game is not really a dodger game unless we get at least one Grabowski Face (TM)

I think the Dodger pitching is among the worst in giving up 1st and 2nd innings runs.

The Grabowski Face keeps the Earth in its proper orbit.

Broxton has been an excellent starter in the minors and has recently been moved to the bullpen, most likely to help the team out if he's needed. It's been said before that he could be his most dominant out of the bullpen although he could be a very good #3 starter in the majors (sounds a bit like Gagne).

71,
The Dodgers pitchers have been so bad this year, that it's easy to remember good performances.

The Padres got a leadoff homer from Damian Jackson and are up 1-0.

Due the absolute logjam of talent in AA, Broxton moved to the bullpen (though I heard that it wasn't permanent and that all Suns Starters were now going to rotate in and out of the pen). Even before he moved to the pen alot of people speculated that he was bullpen bound based on his body type and personality. I heard he gained 4-6 MPH on his heater in relief, which would elevate his status further. Sorry I know alot of this has been posted before.

How can we expect the Dodgers to even get to the post season with a starting line up like this?

67,
Choi's line out wasn't hit all that hard. It was a little looper that Kennedy caught just of the ground. If if had dropped, Choi would have been thrown out easily.

Don't most pitchers pick up mph when they move to the pen? Gagne sure did.

Like Vin said... "as usual, the Dodgers get run on by the opposition", and we saw why - stole that by a mile

82,
I believe Erickson has moved up from 80 mph to 81 mph.

phew

79,
What's the record of the AA team since it started to get so stacked? With so many studs on that team, it should be going undefeated.

84- If Erickson truly is all the way up to 81, I think it's time to let him out of the doghouse. I'm going to start a petition to have him named our new closer.

Jacksonville has only been stacked for about two weeks. I think that they are 3-4 since LaRoche and Jackson started the flood of high ceiling talent.

Score Summary from the Sportsline.com game-tracker thingy (mlb.com isn't working for me): "Jayson Werth (3) 2 run shot to left off Byrd, Saenz scored."

I've never seen something like that use a descriptive term ("2 run shot") rather than the traditional term ("home run").

Steve, will you host my petition on your website?

Jacksonville won the first half title in their division of the Southern League at 38-32. They just started the second half.

Most of the low minors play split seasons.

80. They'll get to the post-season. They may be watching rather than playing in it, but they'll get there.

Funny (not funny actually), we don't even refer to what Izzy is going thru as a "slump" anymore. It's just Izzy.

San Diego is up 3-0. The Giants are losing 5-0.

Mark Prior has found a way to neutralize the White Sox speed. He gave up only one hit through six innings.

Byrd is not going to strike too many batters out it looks like. Dodger hitters need to be aggressive with this guy...

Prior is back?

How deep did Cody Ross hit that ball?

Prior is indeed back. 6 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 3 K in 71 pitches before being taken out.

97, a few feet short of the track but high enough that either outfielder could've caught it.

That should have been 1 H allowed for Prior. Jerome Williams relieved.

93 - I disagree. I mean it is just Izzy and regression to the mean. But lately he is far worse than he has been in recent memory. This slump has just lasted so long that it now seems like there is no expectation of him breaking out it.