Dodgers Use Forfeit Lineup and Lose to San Diego, to No One’s Surprise

Scott Andes — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:16:27 +0000

Dodgers 2 5 1

Padres 4 6 1

WP-Richard-2-5

LP-Capuano-5-1

SV-Thayer-4

HR-Headley-6

This game was lost the minute Manager Don Mattingly filled out the lineup card. The Dodgers fielded a lineup filled with minor leaguers, Utility players and Adam Kennedy. The game featured Chris Capuano losing his first game of the season, and of course Mattingly added in another bases loaded pitching change in the seventh inning, and using Loney as a pinch-hitter in the ninth. Clayton Richard, who sucks against the rest of the league but for some reason is like Koufax when pitching against the Dodgers, pitched seven effective innings to get the win. Richard only allowed two runs on four hits, no walks, and he whiffed seven Dodgers. Chase Headley would provide all of the offense for San Diego, with a solo home run, and a two-run double, to help San Diego beat a weak Dodger lineup 4-2.

Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE

The Dodgers only had one hit from the fourth inning on. Face it, this was another forfeit game. I don’t know what Mattingly is thinking, but there is no reason to “experiment” with the lineup and use another game full of Minor leaguers, just because Bison is hurt.

Mattingly did not have either Ellis play, and Gordon sat as well. Elian Herrera played second base, and picked up his first major league hit, and double. Jerry Sands played first base, and the outmaker was again at third base, with Justin Sellers playing shortstop.

The Dodgers scored their two measly runs in the first inning. Tony Gwynn back in center field today, singles to lead off the first inning. Elian Herrera in his first major league start smacks a double right down the third base line. The ball rolls all the way down into right field, scoring Gwynn from first base. The Dodgers lead 1-0. That’s the first ML hit for the youngster, and his first RBI. Bobby Abreu grounds out to second. Herrera advances to third. Andre Ethier plates the youngster with a sac fly to center field. Jerry Sands ends the inning with a ground out. The Dodgers take an early 2-0 lead.

Bottom of the first. The Padres get one back. Cameron Maybin pops out. Chase Headley homers into the left field seats. 2-1 Dodgers. Chris Denorfia flies out to Gwynn. Jesus Guzman whiffs to end the first.

Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE

The Padres would take the lead by scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth off of Cappy. They use three consecutive hits, two singles and a double. Cameron Maybin reaches on an infield single. Sellers makes a great stop, but can’t throw Maybin out. Chris Denorfia singles Maybin to third. Chase Headley who homered earlier in the game, clears the bases with a two-run double. San Diego takes the lead 3-2.

The Padres would another run in the bottom of the seventh. Hudson singles. Cappy can’t field a bunt, and throws the ball away for an error. There is a walk to load the bases. Mattingly makes his obligatory bases loaded pitching change, to bring in Javy Guerra. Javy of course walks in a run to make it 4-2 San Diego, before finally getting the last out. That was about it. The Dodgers would just go down quietly, much like they did yesterday. Except for a single from Abreu in the ninth inning, the Dodgers would not be heard from since.

This is the second forfeit game in a row, and I am not happy about it. There is no reason to put out a lineup like this. None. I don’t care if it is a day game after a night game. We could lose a lot of ground in these next two weeks, if Don Mattingly keeps putting out these stupid lineups. It just seems to me like he never learns from his mistakes. It’s like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer over and over again. Tomorrow the Dodgers play game two against San Diego, before coming home to play the Cardinals. Aaron Harang takes on Edinson Volquez. Tomorrow is a 710PM game.

Oh by the way, tonight at 8PM, I will be talking Baseball with Daniel Shoptaw of http://www.Cardinal70.com. If you can tune in, and listen to the last LasordasLair podcast of the month. If any of you wonder why I don’t like Mattingly, it’s days like this that are a prime example. If he does this again tomorrow, I am going to be very un-happy. We are just losing ground like this. This is no time to be experimenting with the lineup, and giving guys a “look”

Dodgers Use Forfeit Lineup and Lose to San Diego, to No One’s Surprise - Lasorda's Lair - Lasorda's Lair - A Los Angeles Dodgers Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More

Cappy Looks to Keep Rolling in San Diego

Scott Andes — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:34:08 +0000

Dodger Lineup vs. San Diego

Tony Gwynn 8

Elian Herrera4

Andre Ethier 9

Bobby Abreu 7

Jerry Sands 3

Justin Sellers 6

Adam Kennedy 5

Matt Treanor 2

Chris Capuano 1

Chris Capuano-5-0 vs. Clayton Richard-1-5

The Bison-less Dodgers stroll into San Diego for a quick little two game interlude. Today’s game will be a strange 3:35PM afternoon business man’s special. This is day number three without Matt Kemp, and the Dodgers are trying to keep their heads above water until he returns. Today will be another tough test. The Dodgers come into San Diego still with the best record in Baseball at 24-12, and maintain a six game lead over the second place Giants.

: David Banks-US PRESSWIRE

The pitching match-ups will feature another battle of lefties. However these are two lefties that have been going in very different paths. It seems that the Dodgers have had to face a small army of lefties so far this year Chris Capuano will be on the mound for the Dodgers today. Cappy has been on quite a roll. He has won five in a row, and will be looking for his sixth win of the season. Like Lilly, a new breaking ball/slider grip has helped Cappy garner more success. Cappy is 5-0 with a 2.06 ERA. In his career against San Diego he is 4-2 with a 4.04 ERA, and 42 whiffs. Cappy is holding the current group of Padres to a .212 batting average against.

: Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE

The Padres will counter with struggling lefty Clayton Richard. The young left hander beat the Dodgers in his only win of the season on April seventh. Since then he hasn’t won a game. He is 1-5 with a 5.32 ERA. In his last start he was victimized by the home run ball, allowing two, and five runs off eight hits through 5.1 innings, in a loss to the Phillies. He will try and turn his season around against the Dodgers. Richard has always given the Dodgers a lot of trouble. He is 5-1 with a 2.63 ERA career vs. the Dodgers. The Dodgers are only hitting .171 off of Richard. For whatever reason he just gives the Dodgers fits. Andre Ethier is only hitting .143 off of him, and Loney is hitting .200. No Dodger not named Matt Kemp has hit a home run against Richard. Once again it seems runs will be at a premium.

Today’s game is televised on KCAL 9. Manager Don Mattingly tried playing all of the rookies last night, and not surprisingly none of them hit. He has decided to return to a similar forfeit like lineup today. (Gordon and Kennedy are barely major leaguers), With this lineup scoring runs will be most difficult. Although yesterday we did learn that Andre Ethier can play center field with no problem.

Tomorrow the Dodgers will play at 7PM, then come back home for a weekend set with the Cardinals. Speaking of the Cardinals, I will be having a podcast tonight after the game with BBA President, Daniel Shoptaw of www.cardinal70.com. We’ll be talking about the upcoming Cardinals/Dodgers series, and more. Check it out tonight at 8PM. You can listen in here- www.blogtalkradio.com/dishing-up-the-dodgers.

Check in with us after the game for our nightly postgame recap. So, Skip school, play hooky from work, it’s time for mid-afternoon Dodger Baseball! I want a win today boys so make it happen. Go Blue

Cappy Looks to Keep Rolling in San Diego - Lasorda's Lair - Lasorda's Lair - A Los Angeles Dodgers Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More