I think Jon would have vented a lot on July 21, 2002. The Dodgers lost to the Giants at home that day, 6-4. Tom Goodwin hit a 2-run homer in the ninth off of Gio Carrara to give the Giants a win. The winning pitcher was RUSS ORTIZ

July 21, 1989

Four months into the 1989 season, the 1988 season was increasingly looking like a mirage for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers traveled to Pittsburgh to open up a six-game series. Los Angeles split a doubleheader with Pittsburgh, losing the first game 4-1, but winning the second 7-3. With the split, the defending World Series champions were 44-52 and 14 games out of first and in fifth place with the Giants occupying first.

The Dodgers suffered numerous injuries, most notably to outfielders Kirk Gibson and Mike Marshall. On July 18, General Manager Fred Claire tried to get some help by trading pitcher Tim Leary and shortstop Mariano Duncan to Cincinnati to get outfielder Kal Daniels and infielder Lenny Harris. Daniels would play an important role in Game 1.

Because their first trip to Pittsburgh was rained out, the Dodgers had to play six games in four days on their next visit. Game 1 matched Tim Belcher against John Smiley. The Pirates got on the board first when Barry Bonds led off the bottom of the first with his 13th home run of the season.

Smiley and Belcher matched zeroes after that until the 7th. In the bottom of the inning, Bobby Bonilla led off with a double. Glenn Wilson walked and Benny DiStefano followed with an infield single to load the bases. Belcher then bore down and got Mike LaValliere to pop up and then struck out Rey Quinones. That brought up Smiley, a poor hitting pitcher. Since Smiley was working on a shutout and it was a doubleheader, Pittsburgh manager Jim Leyland let Smiley hit.

Smiley lifted what looked to be a routine fly ball to Daniels in left. But Daniels couldn't track the ball and he turned completely around, stopped quickly, had a shoe fall off and then saw the ball bounce past him allowing all three runners to score. Smiley was credited with a double.

The Dodgers scored a run in the 8th when Quinones and Bonds both made errors to allow an unearned run. Smiley went the distance for the win.

In Game 2, Fernando Valenzuela faced Neal Heaton and the game went much better for Los Angeles. The Dodgers took the lead in the second on a home run by Marshall and added another in the third on an RBI single by Eddie Murray. The Dodgers scored again in the 4th when Quinones made another error to allow a run to score. It was Quinones 19th error in just 69 games with Pittsburgh and he was released following the game.

Pittsburgh third baseman Jeff King made two errors on one play in the sixth to give the Dodgers another run. The Dodgers scored twice more in the ninth on RBI singles from Harris and Jose Gonzalez.

Valenzuela went 7 innings and gave up 2 runs and just 4 hits, but he walked 6 while striking out only 2. Jay Howell gave up 1 run in 2 innings of relief to pick up the save.

The Dodgers would win the next two games of the series, but lose the final two. The last one had a bench-clearing brawl after Dodger reliever Tim Crews hit Pirate Gary Redus in the head with a pitch.

The 1989 Dodgers looked they should have been better than the team that had won the World Series the year before. Murray plugged the hole at first base. He batted just .247, but he did hit 20 home runs. Jeff Hamilton had a full year at third and showed that his potential would remain unfulfilled. He batted .245 with 12 home runs for the seasons. (And he lost a game as a pitcher in Houston when the Dodgers were forced to use him at the end of a 22-inning game.)

Daniels played just 11 games before getting hurt. Eleven different players patrolled left field for the Dodgers in 1989. 1988 MVP Kirk Gibson played in just 71 games and batted .213. John Shelby batted .183 in 108 games.

Orel Hershiser had a 2.31 ERA, but the feeble offense gave him a 15-15 record. Belcher led the league in shutouts with 8 and went 15-12 with a 2.82 ERA. Howell saved 28 games.

But the end result in 1989 was most displeasing. The Dodgers finished at 77-83 and 14 games behind the Giants in fourth place. Claire and the Dodgers front office were going to have to start over in their plan to retool the team.

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

An excellent RDGC today. I remember both the game where Daniels lost his shoe and Hamilton's pitching debut. Neither were particularly good moments but it's still fun to recall them. Thanks, Bob.

Excepts from Jon's first column.

- Beyond Shawn Green, the team has very little power for baseball in the 21st century. Still true.

- Cesar Izturis is the worst offensive shortstop in baseball. Luckily, Christian Guzman is still playing.

- This is a team that struggles to score. Yep.

- During the team's best months of May and June, the team was getting on base a little bit more, but not a lot more. Really, they were just combining their hits better. Like the 12-2 start.

- Despite the injuries to Kevin Brown and Darren Dreifort ... Goes without saying.

- And the only major league player that would interest anyone is Beltre, who is still only 23, but with his long slump, worth less now than he was three months ago. This is the funniest line! Once again, Beltre is worth less now than he was three months ago.

- But the fact of the matter is, I just don't believe there are any moves that can be made. We've got no way to get anyone worth a damn. This may be the sad reality of '05 as well.

- Right now, the Dodgers are just playing poorly - making errors and bad pitches to match their poor hitting. Uh, yeah.

- But in my mind, it is not a team that you can tinker with to get over the top. It is a pretender, and while it still has the possibility to go far, it does not have the likelihood. Has been much addressed already.

- But when it comes to any transactions, their focus should still be on 2003 and beyond. Three years later, and this still hasn't changed.

Here's to more great observations, Jon ... and hoping that you won't have to write these same thoughts about the Dodgers in another three years!!

Stan from Tacoma

The Dodgers and Astros then played 13 innings the next day. The Astros had to use Mike Scott to relieve in the game.

And on August 23, 1989, the Dodgers beat the Expos in Montreal in 22 innings, 1-0 on a Rick Dempsey home run.
The Dodgers got 1 run on 20 hits. The Expos had 17 hits. The Expos pitcher set a major league record for most innings pitched in a game without a walk.

That's it. No other players on the 25-man roster have batted against Lieber

Phillies vs Perez
Abreu 2 for 23
Bell 6 for 19, 1 HR
Burrell 4 for 16, 1 HR
Chavez 3 for 9
Lieberthal 6 for 16
Lofton 1 for 3
Michaels 1 for 1
Padilla 0 for 2
Pratt 3 for 6
Rollins 6 for 21

Depo: "Jim? Paul here. Hey, listen, nice win last night, but ya know, I've been thinking. With some of our injured players coming back soon we probably have enough juice to stay ahead of the &%#$ Giants, but basically this season is toast. It's time to begin planning my roster for 2006 and I'm going to need your help."

JT: "Am I always here for you, Paul? Of course I am."

Depo: "That's great, Jim. Now the first thing I want to decide is whether or not we're going to need a new first baseman, so it's time to see once and for all what Choi can do playing on a regular basis. If he flops, I'll go out and get us a big bat who can play first and be Dunn with it."

JT: "Do I agree with you, Paul? Yes, I do. Have I been playing Choi regularly when I think he has an opportunity to succeed? I would say yes, I have."

Depo: "And just what opportunities are those, Jim?"

JT: "Do left-handed pitchers figure into the equation? They certainly do. Can right-handed pitchers be a factor as well? They can, unless their arm angle is between 6 and 14 degrees. Are there any other mitigating circumstances? Yes, the moon has to be less than 5/8ths full and my corns can't be bothering me. Then do I play Choi regularly? I do."

Depo: "Listen, Jim, I know you're the field manager and all, but I didn't trade away the heart and soul of the Dodgers just to put some extra Asian-American butts in the stands. I was also hoping to get a first baseman out of the deal. Let's find out whether or not I accomplished that, OK? Choi plays every day."

JT: "Can I do that? Yes, I can. Will I do that? Not unless he's in a position to succeed. What happens if I put Choi in a position where I don't think he will succeed? I deprive other players like Oldmaid O'Saenz and Mike Edwards of positions to succeed."

Depo: "Think 2006, Jim! O'Saenz and Edwards don't figure to have much impact next season, but it's possible Hee Seop might. He plays, today and every day!"

JT: "Is the corn on my left pinky toe throbbing like Alyssa Milano's heart for a starting pitcher? It is. Does this mean Choi can't succeed? It does."

Depo: "Look, Jim, it's an order, not a request."

JT: "Are you aware of how much I would love to manage in Cincinnati next year? I suspect you are not."

Depo: "Good-bye, Jim."

Considering the two, or was it three, special ceremonies they hosted for the Kor-Am communnity after Choi was acquired, it certainly did seem like that was a big part of the reason. I'm sure Sitrick & Co. can offer a more educated opinion.

How did we keep from going mad when he started?

Or did we........

As I remember it, Fernando mis-timed his jump at a soft liner only slightly over his head. The ball went off his glove into right field and wound up leading to our demise.

Robles
Izturis
Kent
Saenz
Werth
Edwards
Rose
Repko
Pitcher..

Any explanation why good hitters like Antonio Perez, Choi, and Ledee are on the bench, while guys that have been totally sucking (Izturis, Repko, Edwards, Saenz) are in there??

JT: "Other than the new stadium playing like a smaller version of Colorado, and it being hotter than a sauna in Hades here, not so bad. We won a game you know."

Depo: "Yeah, nice game last night. I told Billy Beane that Cory Lidle was a one-season wonder. Hey, I noticed that Kent's back to playing second base full time now?"

JT: "Yes, our other option there just can't catch the ball. I hate to say this, Paul, but we have about five DH's on this team right now."

Depo: "Tell me about it. I can't get any takers for them, either. Hey, you're thinking of putting Valentin the outfield? His agent phoned me."

JT: "Yes. Werth hits righties like I did, so we've got to get someone out there to platoon. Plus, your find, Robles, is doing a good job of steadying the lineup in the leadoff spot. Thank goodness I can stop penciling in Izturis there."

Depo: "Good point. Listen, I need you to play Choi more.

JT: "He can't hit National League pitching."

Depo: "Granted. But I didn't trade away the heart and soul of the Dodgers just to put some extra Asian-American butts in the stands. There must be some soft-tossers you can start him against."

JT: "There are some left-handed ones, I suppose. Of course Saenz, another one of the DH's we have, hits lefties pretty well."

Depo: "Find some way to play him, alright. I know he had a 4-for-80 (whatever) earlier this year, but that means he's due to move closer to his norm in the second half."

JT: "Well, as Eric Karros used to say to me all the time, 'It's still early.'"

Depo: "That's the spirit. Oh, and could you maybe stop using Brazoban in the 9th inning? I'd like to win a couple more games on this road trip."

I mean, I know that by using some binomial assumptions, you can prove that these stats don't mean anything when a guy is 2-for-26 against a certain pitcher.

But I would like to see a study that takes, say, a guy's first 20 AB's against a pitcher, and then actually follows that matchup for the next 20 AB's, to see what the results really are. And so on for every batter-pitcher matchup. No binomial assumptions.

That is a study I would be interested in reading.

The Mets lead 1-0.

14. Classic post. I saved it.

22. Because we scored too many runs yesterday. Tracy wants more efficient use of our runs. Why win 10-2 and get all tired running the bases and swinging the bats when you can win 1-0 and stay well rested.

vr, Xei

Oscar Robles, I know we haven't known each other long...

Not much that wouldn't have happened if you had an actual hitter batting second.

I remember that the game was a Sunday night game that wasn't televised. It was August. It was L.A.
What do you think the weather was like?

I would pitch around Werth too.

vs. Righties (OBP/SLG): 290/443
vs. Lefties: 351/518

Like I said, insane.

But Lieber has thrown one wild pitch this season.

Ryan Madson leads the Phillies with five.

(I agree, we're off to a decent start, for once)

I have to tell you, I was out of town and away from newspapers or TV for a few days and soon as I got home my first outlet to find out what really had been taking place was DT. Eventually, I got around to the LA Times and ESPN but I was really interested in reading what you and the rest of the gang had to say. Thanks again.

7/21 Odalis Perez vs Phillies

Colorado Blue: No Pick
CT Bum: 5 2/3

Howard: 6 1/3
Xeifrank: 6

Joekings: 6
Louis In SF: 6 1/3

Standings...
Xeifrank 3-1-2
Howard 3-3-0
CT Bum 2-2-2
Louis in SF 1-1-0
Joekings 1-1-0
Colorado Blue 2-4-0

And the Mets have 1st and 3rd with one out.

Much to my surprise the record is EIGHT

And it was last done in an AL game in 1977.

The Texas Rangers had eight sacrifices against the White Sox at Comiskey Park. The Rangers won the game 11-6!

However, the record lumps sacrifice hits and sacrifice flies together because they used to be counted that way. So in 1977, the Rangers had 3 sac flies and 5 sac bunts.

On June 27, 1939, the Dodgers played a game Steve would have loved. They played for 23 innings with no sacrifices, the longest game in NL history with no sacrifices. The game ended as a 2-2 tie.

What amazes me about 1989 is how clearly I remember the Fernando at 1st base 22 inning game, and yet I completely forgot about August's 22-inning affair against the 'spos.

And I guess, technically, he's on pace to 31 batters (k+wp every other inning).

There were three games in the late 1920s with 8 sacrifices by one team, but I believe at that time they awarded sacrifices if you hit a fly ball that moved a runner up one base, not just a scoring fly ball.

The number of sacrifice bunts in a game may be hard to figure out exactly.

The Dodgers are one of the several teams that had three sacrifice hits in one inning. It was on May 23, 1972.

DODGERS 6TH: Robinson homered; Mota doubled to center; Parker reached on an error on a sacrifice bunt by Rader [Mota scored,
Parker to third]; CARRITHERS REPLACED CUMBERLAND (PITCHING);
Carrithers threw a wild pitch [Parker scored (unearned)]; Garvey walked; Garvey stole second; Cannizzaro reached on an error on a
sacrifice bunt by Goodson [Garvey scored (unearned), Cannizzaro
to first]; Sutton out on a sacrifice bunt (pitcher to second)
[Cannizzaro to second]; Carrithers threw a wild pitch
[Cannizzaro to third]; Russell struck out; Valentine reached on
an error by Speier [Cannizzaro scored (unearned), Valentine to
first]; Carrithers threw a wild pitch [Valentine to second];
Davis grounded out (first to pitcher); 5 R, 2 H, 3 E, 1 LOB.
Giants 2, Dodgers 8.

That makes the Robles/Izturis tandem 7 for 19.

Izturis is 7 for 14.

Brad Wilkerson is 4 for 12.

Robles has the distinction of the most CS without an SB, 5.

baffling.

past inning he walked a guy, allowed a single and then proceeded to strike out, fly out, and strike out the middle of the padre order.

can't say that I really miss the guy...but... he's exciting

Bowden and Robinson didn't even know he was hurt.

So yes, there are teams that have worse medical staffs than the Dodgers.

However, Paul Quantrill got him to pop up to left.

Just kidding.

"It's not the doctors. It's me. I'm the doctor. I don't need it, but I'm going to" have an operation, he said.

That guy's first name is Ender.

We'd have this division sewn up if not for the injuries.

The Padres really suck.

"Speaking of changing positions, Thursday marked the fifth consecutive game in which Antonio Perez was not in the lineup, an interesting phenomenon considering that his .324 batting average is exceeded only by the .355 of Oscar Robles, who has supplanted Perez as the third-base replacement for the injured Jose Valentin.

Tracy made it clear that Perez is not playing because he doesn't have a true defensive position. Tracy still believes Perez is most comfortable at second base, but Tracy isn't comfortable enough with Perez there to make room for him by moving Jeff Kent to first base.

"You get beat in the middle of the infield if you don't make the plays, that's what I have to say about that," said Tracy. "You can't allow other teams to get extra at-bats. Perez needs work defensively wherever you put him."

By contrast, Robles can play three infield positions adequately and Tracy has been so impressed with his offensive approach that Robles supplanted Cesar Izturis in the leadoff spot, even against left-handed pitching.

Tracy also said that while Perez continues outfield drills, "he's not ready" to play there, either. Valentin, still on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Las Vegas, will brush up on his outfield play and might leap past Perez for playing time when he returns merely because he has outfield experience.

I still believe that we can bring in reinforcements without sacrificing prospects by agreeing to take on contracts.

From what I have seen, in the past few years, teams have two options: give up top prospects or take on money. The Dodgers can afford to do the latter, and considering this year's mind boggling attendance, it can be argued that they owe it to the fans to put the best team possible.

Ooh, a discussion of how long Tracy should leave in the starter?

That reminds me of May.
Good times then. Good times.

Olmedo I believe is worn out... For a guy thats only 33 and hasnt had many surgeries, he really is out of shape.

The weird thing is that from the replay it looks like Chavez didn't tip the ball. He just swung and missed.

Never mind, I forgot we are talking about the Dodger bullpen.

i'm getting it too. wtf?

what happened with michaels?

Who's gonna be the one to do that?

Which umpire was the "Penny Incident" umpire? The home plate one or the 1st base one?

yes i heard that but what about the ejection? was he arguing with the HP ump about the called strikes?

However, Izzy is batting 2nd so that cancels out.

The Giants, Pirates, and Nationals were all worse in the NL. Oakland and KC were worse in the AL.

Actually the Brewers aren't that bad. It's just a Brady Clark who is bad.

The Dodgers had thrown out 22% of runners trying to steal coming into the game. The Rockies, Padres, and Mets were worse.

The Dodgers have allowed the most stolen bases in the NL, but three AL teams have allowed more: Cleveland, New York and Oakland.

Saenz being in there tells us how much Tracy cares for stats (other than an 0-11 history). Everyone else knows Saenz is a monster against lefties, Tracy falls in love with Saenz instead of Saenz' splits.

Our rotation should be fine next year.

I can't wait for Buntermaker to put our regular lineup in. vr, Xei

nope, michaels got ejected after throwing a post strikeout tantrum (see #194).

If DePo hasnt ax'ed Tracy yet, I cant seem him havinv the fortitude to trade Izzy.

Firing Tracy would seem an easier move to make (regarding fan relations), than trading Izturis.

Wow! what an arm by repko.

Braz is due for some "regressing to the mean" quality innings.

Jimbo sure knows how to put guys in positions to succeed...

Pleae bring in Schmoll. No more Gio.

Choi lines out on 1st pitch.
Robles grounds out on 2nd pitch.
Izzy strikes out on 3 pitches.

Can Robles play SS at all? I wouldn't mind seeing Izturis back next season as a .280 hitting SS in the 7 or 8 hole, but I think we can get a prospect and a solid reliever for him though I do wonder about who the SS would be after him.

I wasn't condoning trading him as much as acknowledging that if he keeps hitting these next few days, he at least gains some value from where it was a week ago.

Yay! Schmoll! I shall live or die on the Grassy Schmoll

Could Tracy actually be capable of learning? Or is this just the "even a blind disabled baboon gets one right once in a a while" phenomenon? Either way, I'm glad OP is out of there. He did his job. Now let Steve-o et. al do theirs.

I really dont like Alvarez in this situation.

I'm so glad Tracy brought Alvarez in. So fricking glad.

That'll do it. I guess.

What are the chances Yhency blows 3 games in a row?

He's due to regress to the mean.

July 27, 2003 in Arizona. Nomo defeating Schilling with a save by Gagne.

Larry Barnes drove in the only run with a double that scored Jeromy Burnitz.

Makes me wince to type that.

I confess to having done a double take upon seeing Lofton inserted in the Phillies's lineup. On further inspection, this suprising news: Not only is the 38 year old Lofton out-OPSing our entire outfield (and everyone on the active roster but Kent, Robles and Saenz) but he's stolen 11 bases and only been caught twice!

Trenidad Hubbard homered in the first inning. Carlos Perez pitched a 4-hit shutout.

The Dodgers got 2 hits that day off of Shawn Estes and Julian Tavarez.

Unless of course his confidence is shot, in which case the likelihood probably goes up.

Nice start Yhency!

Brian Johnson had a triple in the game. I wonder how he did that?

Huge confidence boost!

imaginary endings:

* ghame over blows out his arm, erickson blows a save.
* ghame over gives up consecutive HRs
* my internet goes out and I don't know what happens...