Pittsburgh @ Los Angeles GameThread, Apr 14, 2008 10:10 PM EDT

Pirates vs. Dodgers, 14 April 2008

by Charlie on Apr 14, 2008 6:47 PM EDT

Pittsburgh @ Los Angeles

10:10 PM, Zach Duke and Hiroki Kuroda.

Check this out:

Duke: 12.2 IP, 7 K, 2 BB, 2.13 ERA

Kuroda: 12.2 IP, 8 K, 2 BB, 2.13 ERA

The Dodgers are in fourth place, and while I'd love to chalk that up to their lack of confidence in their young talent, it's not that simple - yeah, Juan Pierre is off to a predictably terrible start and they'd be better with Matt Kemp out there every day, but Andruw Jones and Russell Martin have both been dreadful too. The real problem is that they're underperforming their runs scored and runs allowed; they'll probably climb over .500 eventually.

One thing to watch for this year - I've seen the Dodgers a little so far this year, and I don't know how representative this is, but Blake DeWitt was just awful at third. He probably started Spring Training as the Dodgers' fourth-string third baseman, but Nomar Garciaparra, Andy LaRoche and Tony Abreu all went down with injuries. DeWitt may be a good third baseman eventually, but he probably isn't ready; he spent most of 2007 all the way down in Class A.

Here's the box.

0 recs | Comment 207 comments

Story-email Email | Print |

Comments

Dodgers

DeWitt actually started 2007 in A+ ball not AAA (typo?). DeWitt has actually made some very nice plays this year and is doing a fine job defensively. Offensively, he's done as well as Nomar or LaRoche would be expected to do minus some of the pop that LaRoche has in his bat. DeWitt is just a placeholder though, and anything the Dodgers get out of him is a plus.

Matt Kemp will be in the lineup today, and most likely against any LHP the Pirates throw at the Dodgers. Dodger fans are upset with all the playing time Pierre is getting. Both Pierre and Kemp have 28 ABs on the season.

Kuroda has been Ok so far, one very good outing and one subpar outing. His line drive rate is much lower than Duke's so far. Eventually those line drives will start going out of the stadium.

Game Win Probabilities:
Simulator: LAD 56.30%
LV Hilton: LAD 62.26%

vr, Xeifrank

by Xeifrank on Apr 14, 2008 7:31 PM EDT 0 recs

That was a typo - thanks for catching that.

Did you see DeWitt in the first Padres series? Ooh, that was ugly. I guess it's good to know he's not always like that.

by Charlie on Apr 14, 2008 8:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

I hate those probabilities

by DITO on Apr 14, 2008 7:45 PM EDT 0 recs

Loads of young talent from the Dodgers

Either and Loney are breaking out in a big year. Furcal is having a hot start as well. Gotta keep them off the basepaths.

by Bad Andy on Apr 14, 2008 8:59 PM EDT 0 recs

I've decided

that I don't like the late starts. Even though I'm home for the home game, it starts way too late. It's homework time now... not 1st inning time.

Actually, I don't mind late starts. They're just not good when I have HW due tomorrow.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 14, 2008 10:10 PM EDT 0 recs

No LaRoche again. And Rivas at SS, batting 8th.

Andruw Jones is batting .100???

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 14, 2008 10:11 PM EDT 0 recs

LaRoche is out - flu.

by Charlie on Apr 14, 2008 10:11 PM EDT 0 recs

Ah.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 14, 2008 10:12 PM EDT up 0 recs

Huh. The Dodgers' announcers love DeWitt at third. Beware small sample sizes, I guess.

by Charlie on Apr 14, 2008 10:12 PM EDT 0 recs

Indy update

Burnett pitched another scoreless inning for the save

That's 8 scoreless innings and Indy's 9-3

by Bad Andy on Apr 14, 2008 10:13 PM EDT 0 recs

Almost as good

as the Salt Lake Bees.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 14, 2008 10:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

...

Just FYI.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 14, 2008 10:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

Do you go to a lot of games there?

by Charlie on Apr 14, 2008 10:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

I haven't as of late.

Went to a couple last year.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 14, 2008 10:16 PM EDT up 0 recs

High-scoring? It's a pretty wacky offensive environment, I think.

Minor league ballparks are something that interest me way too much.

by Charlie on Apr 14, 2008 10:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah.

Very high scoring.
The first games I remember going to ended with the scores 19-1 and 20-1. In favor of the Bees/Buzz/Stingers... whatever they were called then.

That, or the guys the Angels (& Twins back then) have in AAA are good at generating runs in some fashion.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 14, 2008 10:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

Terrible at bat by Bay.

by Charlie on Apr 14, 2008 10:16 PM EDT 0 recs

Hate Scully

Hate hate HATE him. Take a breath, blowhard. Not one second of dead air.

by azibuck on Apr 14, 2008 10:16 PM EDT 0 recs

Yeah. It's impressive, but it's too much.

by Charlie on Apr 14, 2008 10:19 PM EDT up 0 recs

Love Scully

What a great voice, what great pacing - and he does his own color commentary. He barely has time to take a breath

by Trogluddite on Apr 14, 2008 10:19 PM EDT up 0 recs

Isn't he close to 85 or something?

by Bad Andy on Apr 14, 2008 10:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

Not sure

Didn't start listening to him until I bought MLB.com audio. Loved listening to him when the Giants (and Bonds) were in LA last year w/Bonds chasing Aaron.

by Trogluddite on Apr 14, 2008 10:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

...and one of the nicest people you'll ever meet in your life. I did some work for him when I lived in L.A. - beautiful home, wonderful man.

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. -- HST

by cocktailsfor2 on Apr 14, 2008 10:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

Off-topic, but

I'm really starting to hate this "z" button feature here.
Now, no matter what site I'm at, I'm hitting "z" to refresh it automatically... and getting pissed off when it doesn't do anything.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 14, 2008 10:19 PM EDT 0 recs

What is the "z" function? I've never used that. For me the comments always update automatically. You shouldn't have to press anything.

by Charlie on Apr 14, 2008 10:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

Oh wow. Weird.

by Charlie on Apr 14, 2008 10:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

It kinda

scrolls through them, I guess that's the word.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 14, 2008 10:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

Dang - 9 pitches or so to 1st batter

by Trogluddite on Apr 14, 2008 10:22 PM EDT 0 recs

Didn't affect him too much there

by Bad Andy on Apr 14, 2008 10:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

But it can add up

He's w/15 pitches in the first inning - w/luck he gets six at this pace.

by Trogluddite on Apr 14, 2008 10:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

For the most part

if the Pirates' starter goes more than 6, something screwy is up (ignoring Snell).
Most of the times, that screwy thing is an implosion.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 14, 2008 10:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

Over/Under on Runs given up by Morris tomorrow?

I just heard he's pitching. Guess we won't sweep this series. Does anyone have a phone number for Tanya Harding? We can start a collection

by Trogluddite on Apr 14, 2008 10:25 PM EDT 0 recs

DeWitt

When did you see him? When you say awful at third do you mean overall, or just defensively?

Co-Author Of The Fourth Most Popular NL West Based Blog On SBN

by Andrew on Apr 14, 2008 10:25 PM EDT 0 recs

Just defensively. At the first San Diego series a week or two ago DeWitt made a series of very bad plays.

Apparently they weren't representative.

by Charlie on Apr 14, 2008 10:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

No, I actually agree with you, I think most fans are completely delusional about him.

Co-Author Of The Fourth Most Popular NL West Based Blog On SBN

by Andrew on Apr 14, 2008 10:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

Huh. Okay, cool.

by Charlie on Apr 14, 2008 10:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

By the way, Andrew, I'm glad you're here, I've been trying to email you for months, but my email to you doesn't go through.

I wanted to know what you thought of the idea of my doing another "Worst GM" tournament, now that Littlefield's gone. This would have been a better idea when the firing occurred, but it'd still be funny.

by Charlie on Apr 14, 2008 10:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah, i had some E-Mail issues for a while. Apparently you can't delete E-Mails when your inbox is full. I think it's time for another one since we've had some terrible ones get culled recently.

Co-Author Of The Fourth Most Popular NL West Based Blog On SBN

by Andrew on Apr 14, 2008 10:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

You want to do it, or do you want me to do it? because I'd be thrilled to. I'd give you credit for the idea, of course.

by Charlie on Apr 14, 2008 10:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

Go right ahead.

Co-Author Of The Fourth Most Popular NL West Based Blog On SBN

by Andrew on Apr 14, 2008 10:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

Excellent, thanks.

by Charlie on Apr 14, 2008 10:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

Joey Bats goes Long!

INDEED

2-0 BUCS!

by Bad Andy on Apr 14, 2008 10:32 PM EDT 0 recs

OH MY!!!!

by Pirates_of_the_Windy_City on Apr 14, 2008 10:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

Jose!

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 14, 2008 10:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

Wow. The Bucs are getting it done with the long ball recently.

by Charlie on Apr 14, 2008 10:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

My boy!

by azibuck on Apr 14, 2008 10:33 PM EDT 0 recs

JOOOOOSSSSEEEEE!

by Trogluddite on Apr 14, 2008 10:33 PM EDT 0 recs

That was crushed

I never lost faith.

by azibuck on Apr 14, 2008 10:33 PM EDT 0 recs

Jose waited on that curve ball

and WAILED on it.

by Bad Andy on Apr 14, 2008 10:34 PM EDT up 0 recs

What is up w/Jose's power?

Two years ago, I recall him having a power flare-up near the end of the season. That raised expectations.

Last year, he had all the power of a Louis Rivas.

by Trogluddite on Apr 14, 2008 10:34 PM EDT 0 recs

Come on

He was a doubles machine and hit 15 HR.

by azibuck on Apr 14, 2008 10:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

Well, 15 isn't a lot for 3b - we saw some guy

named Alex hit like 50 up here last year. Most of my questions though, are just based on vague impressions and not firm stats.

by Trogluddite on Apr 14, 2008 10:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

Haven't done any stat homework yet and I know the season is still young but does this team remind anyone of the '97 Lamont led Pirates?

by Pirates_of_the_Windy_City on Apr 14, 2008 10:35 PM EDT 0 recs

So far

by Bad Andy on Apr 14, 2008 10:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

Wouldn't know...

...was in ole' Virginnie

by Trogluddite on Apr 14, 2008 10:38 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ah Geez

Pirates are giving away a run!

by Bad Andy on Apr 14, 2008 10:39 PM EDT 0 recs

Here comes a meltdown

I can feel it.

by EmmaOMG on Apr 14, 2008 10:39 PM EDT 0 recs

This is how it starts.

by Charlie on Apr 14, 2008 10:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

What? Why didn't Mientkiewicz throw there?

by Charlie on Apr 14, 2008 10:39 PM EDT 0 recs

They called a balk apparently.

Co-Author Of The Fourth Most Popular NL West Based Blog On SBN

by Andrew on Apr 14, 2008 10:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

BALK

Just stated on TV

by Bad Andy on Apr 14, 2008 10:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

If Ryan Doumit called his own pitches, that wouldn't have happened. :)

by Charlie on Apr 14, 2008 10:40 PM EDT 0 recs

Mild victory?

Sure, giving up a run is no fun. But in years past, Andru would hit a triple or something and ignite the dormant Dodger offense.

by Trogluddite on Apr 14, 2008 10:42 PM EDT 0 recs

Chocolate Sugarbombs are ROCKING tonight

Haven't checked your lineup (no, seriously), how you doin' Charlie?

Charlie and I are going h2h this week in the Bucs Dugout Fantasy league.

by azibuck on Apr 14, 2008 10:44 PM EDT 0 recs

Not so great so far.

I'm like a long-distance runner, though. I hang out behind you all week and then you check the league page on Monday and wonder what happened. So watch your back, Zibuck.

by Charlie on Apr 14, 2008 10:48 PM EDT up 0 recs

Duke?

Just walked away from my computer. Did Duke single?

by Pirates_of_the_Windy_City on Apr 14, 2008 10:47 PM EDT 0 recs

Yeah.

by Charlie on Apr 14, 2008 10:48 PM EDT up 0 recs

i mean

he is a real good hitter...we pinch hit with him

You're a Pirates fan?

by thegetupkids on Apr 14, 2008 10:49 PM EDT up 0 recs

just checking, went to the fridge for a beer.

by Pirates_of_the_Windy_City on Apr 14, 2008 10:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

concerned he was hit by a pitch

by Pirates_of_the_Windy_City on Apr 14, 2008 10:53 PM EDT up 0 recs

Small sample size, yes...

but Duke now has a higher BA than LaRoche.
Just saying...

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 14, 2008 10:50 PM EDT 0 recs

And

Andruw Jones.

Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...

by UtesFan89 on Apr 14, 2008 10:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

Good AB by McLouth

Worked it to a full count, fouled off several pitches. Hopefully those on deck and in the hole were watching.

by Trogluddite on Apr 14, 2008 10:53 PM EDT 0 recs

Bay worked it too a full count

yet Furcal made a very nice play

by Bad Andy on Apr 14, 2008 10:54 PM EDT 0 recs

Nice play by Furcal, good effort by Duke.

by Charlie on Apr 14, 2008 10:54 PM EDT 0 recs

Let's go Doumit.

by Charlie on Apr 14, 2008 10:55 PM EDT 0 recs

At least the Bucs are doing an excellent

job being patient. Kuroda will get knocked around sooner or later

by Bad Andy on Apr 14, 2008 10:57 PM EDT 0 recs

anyone see the pens game?

pretty sweet

You're a Pirates fan?

by thegetupkids on Apr 14, 2008 11:01 PM EDT 0 recs

Wooooooooo go Pens!

Really, it has been the most ridiculous FSN Pittsburgh marathon for me tonight.

by EmmaOMG on Apr 14, 2008 11:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

White Shoes

a.k.a. 3vas

by hisjazziness on Apr 14, 2008 11:02 PM EDT 0 recs

LONEY'S HIT PARADE meets Bucs

James Loney has hit in 12 straight games as the Pirates arrive in L.A.

Straight from the front page of MLB.com. No mention of McLouth's 12 game hit streak, of course. Sorry if this has been pointed out already, I just arrived.

by camoseven on Apr 14, 2008 11:05 PM EDT 0 recs