Bills Makes Dodger Debut Against Old Friend

Dodgers Lineup vs. San Diego

Chad Billingsley vs. Eric Stults-1-0

Last night’s game was a total disaster, so let’s not ever discuss it again. The Dodgers are looking to rebound from their 9-3 meltdown loss to the Padres. The Dodgers have the right man on the mound to get them back on track. Tonight’s game will feature the return of Chad Billingsley. Our old buddy is recovering from a finger injury he suffered while doing bunting drills. We haven’t seen Bills since spring training, so it’s been a while.

After last night’s Broxtonian, box of pain inspired metldown and walkapalooza, we’ll need a long game from Bills. Bills has historically dominated the Padres. The numbers back it up. Bills is 12-8 with a 2.62 ERA versus San Diego. In 140.2 career innings pitched against the Padres, Billingsley has whiffed 132, while walking only 57. That comes out to an 8.4 whiff per nine rate. He’s also been dominant at Petco Park. At Petco Park, Bills is 6-4 with a 2.36 ERA. He’s posted an 8.3 whiff per nine rate at the spacious ballpark. The Padres are only hitting a paltry .223 (21 for 94) against Billingsley. He has allowed zero home runs, and a .584 OPS. The only guy that he has to watch for is Will Venable, who is hitting Bills to the tune of a .280 (7 for 25) average. Of course if you remember, Bills made his MLB debut at Petco Park back in 2006.

It’s good to see Bills back in Blue-Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

The Padres will counter with old friend and former Dodger lefty Eric Stults. I think this is bizarre. The former Dodger has bounced around in recent years. The Dodgers drafted Stults back in 2002, and he pitched two shut-outs for the Boys in Blue. (2008,2009) Stults pitched for the Dodgers from 2006-2009, posting an 8-10 record, and making 24 starts. Stults went and pitched a year in Japan for the Carp, before returning to the Majors in 2011. He pitched six games for Colorado in 2011, before he was released. He then signed with the White Sox, and pitched two games for them before they released him as well. Finally in May of 2012, the padres claimed him off of waivers. Stults pitched in 18 games for San Diego in 2012, and finished with an 8-3 record, and posted a 2.92 ERA. Stults won his first game this season pitching five scoreless frames against the Mets. Stults has faced the Dodgers once before. It was last September and he came away with a no-decision after tossing six innings of one-run ball. The Dodgers are hitting .333 (7 for 23) off of Stults. Andre Ethier does have a home run against Stults, and Adrian Gonzalez is 2 for 5.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Eric Stults (53) during the bottom of the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim O

Of course, Bills comeback, facing Eric Stults, and we won’t be able to see any of it. Not until the Clipper game is over. I mentioned earlier, Prime Ticket is preempting the Dodger game to tape delay because of the Clipper game on at 7:30. The Dodgers game will be shown in full after the Clipper game is over. Prime Ticket will be showing the Dodger game live on alternate channels. Check out my earlier post for more details.

I won’t be able to see it though. The games are only viewable on the alternate channels if you have a high definition box. Alas, I am just a common Dodger Blue man. I only have a regular cable box, so I will have to wait until after the Clipper game, or listen to it on radio like the rest of the common folk.

Because of this, We’ll have our normal game recap up tomorrow morning. We apologize for this, but you can thank Prime Ticket for this crap. What’s really infuriating is that Prime Ticket is preempting the Dodgers again on Friday night for an Anaheim Duck’s game. It’s like a slap in the face to Dodger fans. Tomorrow’s game is safe, and back on at normal time.

Hey maybe I’ll just wait until after the Clipper game to watch. Just don’t tell me what happens. Maybe it’s best I’m surprised. At least we didn’t miss Uribe’s home run last night. Join us after the game for a late night early morning Lair Dodger recap! Fun Fun Fun! (FYI, today is national siblings day! So on this day the Dodgers must win, for Stacie and myself)

Speaking of fun, I could watch this all day long….

This is what happened when Uribe homers. Feastmode.

Go Blue!