Game 97: Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cardinals 0:2
Two words: run production. That is what is missing from the Dodgers as of late. When the ace on the staff suceeds at pitching a quality start and only holds the opposition to two runs, said team should win the ballgame.
Unfortunately, the Dodgers were shutout.
The Dodgers have stumbled to near the cellar in the National League West-- which many consider the worst division in baseball.
The Dodgers tried to redeem themselves in the ninth. Andre Ethier reached base on a walk and Olmedo Saenz, pinch hitting, reached on Scott Rolen's fielding error.
Then, Grady Little, obviously having given up on the game, decided that out of his three available players to pinch hit, he sent Sandy Alomar up to the bat. Alomar flew out to end the game.
Why Little went with him other than Ricky Ledee or Kenny Lofton is beyond me.
The Dodgers are 1-8 since the All-Star break and have been outscored 45-15 during this stretch.
Penny dropped to 10-4, allowing two runs and six hits in 6 2-3 innings against a Cardinals lineup that averaged 12 runs over their previous four games.
J.D. Drew limped out of the game in the first inning with a bruised right knee getting hit by a pitch. Being that this happened shortly after reigning NL MVP Albert Pujols was brushed back by a 2-0 delivery from Penny, and the fact that Cardinal Manager Tony LaRussa openly admits to ordering intentional hits, it wouldn't surprise me if it was payback.
Hopefully when Penny plunked Jeff Suppan on the left arm with a 3-2 pitch in the fifth, it was in retaliation. No warnings were issued by the umpires though, and there were no further incidents.
Juan Encarnacion, who was part of a five player trade that brought Penny to the Dodgers with a run scoring single in the sixth. Penny minimized the damage by retiring the next batter on a double play grounder.
Some thoughts:
1) If the hit Drew took puts him on the DL like last year, I hope we plunk the hell out of the Cardinal lineup Saturday and Sunday.
2) Cesar Izturis was back in the lineup after missing four games to be with his wife, Liliana, for the birth of their daughter. A special congratulations to them.
3) Now that it seems as apparent as ever that the Dodgers can't be considered true contenders for 2006, I think it is time to officially rebuild. It isn't often I say this, but I think we need to be sellers.
Unfortunately, the Dodgers were shutout.
The Dodgers have stumbled to near the cellar in the National League West-- which many consider the worst division in baseball.
The Dodgers tried to redeem themselves in the ninth. Andre Ethier reached base on a walk and Olmedo Saenz, pinch hitting, reached on Scott Rolen's fielding error.
Then, Grady Little, obviously having given up on the game, decided that out of his three available players to pinch hit, he sent Sandy Alomar up to the bat. Alomar flew out to end the game.
Why Little went with him other than Ricky Ledee or Kenny Lofton is beyond me.
The Dodgers are 1-8 since the All-Star break and have been outscored 45-15 during this stretch.
Penny dropped to 10-4, allowing two runs and six hits in 6 2-3 innings against a Cardinals lineup that averaged 12 runs over their previous four games.
"`I threw the ball well and I felt better than I've felt
in a long time," Penny said. "Unfortunately, the way
we're playing right now, if you make a couple of mistakes
you're going to pay for them."
in a long time," Penny said. "Unfortunately, the way
we're playing right now, if you make a couple of mistakes
you're going to pay for them."
J.D. Drew limped out of the game in the first inning with a bruised right knee getting hit by a pitch. Being that this happened shortly after reigning NL MVP Albert Pujols was brushed back by a 2-0 delivery from Penny, and the fact that Cardinal Manager Tony LaRussa openly admits to ordering intentional hits, it wouldn't surprise me if it was payback.
Hopefully when Penny plunked Jeff Suppan on the left arm with a 3-2 pitch in the fifth, it was in retaliation. No warnings were issued by the umpires though, and there were no further incidents.
Juan Encarnacion, who was part of a five player trade that brought Penny to the Dodgers with a run scoring single in the sixth. Penny minimized the damage by retiring the next batter on a double play grounder.
Some thoughts:
1) If the hit Drew took puts him on the DL like last year, I hope we plunk the hell out of the Cardinal lineup Saturday and Sunday.
2) Cesar Izturis was back in the lineup after missing four games to be with his wife, Liliana, for the birth of their daughter. A special congratulations to them.
3) Now that it seems as apparent as ever that the Dodgers can't be considered true contenders for 2006, I think it is time to officially rebuild. It isn't often I say this, but I think we need to be sellers.
posted by Blue Man | 6:26 PM
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