Stan Kasten tight lipped about Don Mattingly
http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-0518-dodgers-notes-20130518,0,1937192.story

An Annoyed Don Mattingly criticized Dodgers sloppy play
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_17_lanmlb_atlmlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=la

Prospect Pederson turning heads within organization
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130517&content_id=47812864&notebook_id=47818026&vkey=notebook_la&c_id=la

Enter Our Dodgers Ticket Giveaway Contest & Win $100 in Ticket Credit + 60% OFF for ANY GAME from our partners at TiqIQ.com.

Enter Here: http://www.tiqiq.com/dodgers_contest_cs

It’s super easy and fun!

The all-too-recent memory of the ball club plummeting into the desolation of last place was all but mocking the boys in blue, after an eight-game losing streak, and an apparent inability to produce from the plate.

Had it been a pitching issue, attributing the club’s struggles to Greinke’s trip to the disabled list would have been all too easy. But the pitchers, for the most part, were not the cause of the team spiraling to a place that no one expected them to be at any point this season.

After to Greinke’s performance on Wednesday against the Washington Nationals, maybe it is just easier to say that the team just feels more confident when Zack is back.

Greinke (2-0) threw 83 pitches, struck out four, and gave up a single run through 5.1 innings of work in his return to the mound as the Dodgers beat the Nationals 3-1 to win their second consecutive series.

Greinke opened the game with a 1-2-3 inning, retiring the side in order, showing Dodger fans, as well as the Nationals, why he felt he was ready to return a month before originally expected.

Matt Kemp extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a double in the first inning. Adrian Gonzalez, batting in the cleanup spot, brought Kemp home on a single to center.

There had been question of whether or not management would allow Greinke to swing the bat, being as he has a metal rod in his left collarbone.

The answer to that came in the bottom of the second inning when Greinke singled to right to score Andre Ethier, giving the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.

Ryan Zimmerman, who has led the Nationals with his bat throughout the series, prevented the Dodgers from busting the game wide open in the third inning. Andre Ethier walked to load the bases with two outs in the inning. Scott Van Slyke forced a full count from Ross Detwiler, before connecting for a line drive. The ball was hit well enough, but was speared by Zimmerman at third base, who seemed to grab the ball above his head in mid-flight.

In the fourth inning, Adam LaRoche, who spoiled what was about to be Clayton Kershaw’s seventh career complete-game shutout on Tuesday night, hammered a ball deep to right-center and made it a one-run ball game.

Wilson Ramos connected to left later in the inning, going 2-for-2 on the night. But when he reached first base, he bent down and looked uncomfortable, and he promptly left the game.

Among the many great aspects of Kershaw’s near complete-game shutout on Tuesday night was that the bullpen had the opportunity to rest — which came in handy, since they were used heavily on Wednesday night.

Greinke was pulled after recording the first out in the top of the sixth inning. J.P. Howell came in relief, and struck out a batter before giving up a walk.

Manager Don Mattingly immediately pulled Howell after the walk, and went with Matt Guerrier, who gave up a single to Kurt Suzuki.

For the moment it seemed as though the bullpen might put Greinke out of contention for the win, but Guerrier got former Long Beach State Dirtbag Danny Espinosa to ground out to end the inning. Greinke could be seen walking around the dugout with a grin on his face at the inning’s conclusion.

Mattingly later fanned the flames as far as recent talk about just who is the Dodgers’ closer.

Paco Rodriguez was lifted after giving up a two-out walk to Denard Span in the seventh inning, and Kenley Jansen came in relief. Jansen barely got the feel for the mound before A.J. Ellis fired an absolute cannon shot to second base to gun down Span, who was attempting to steal second.

Then Zimmerman happened again.

With no one out and a runner on first in the eighth inning, Jansen gave up a single to Zimmerman, which moved Eury Perez to third.

Jansen recovered by getting LaRoche to fly out to left, just shallow enough to hold the runner at third. Then he struck out Ian Desmond.

It was all up to Kurt Suzuki. The count was 1-1 when Suzuki swung and connected — and flew out to right field to end the inning.

Jansen’s achievement in preventing the Nationals from scoring, despite the tying run being 90 feet away from home plate with no outs, no doubt creates more support for him to return to the closer role.

Brandon League continued his ninth inning struggles, giving up a leadoff single to Espinosa.

Roger Bernadina then stepped up to the plate, but all eyes were on the on-deck circle, where Bryce Harper was warming up to bat with a bandage on his chin.

However, League got Harper to ground out to first for the second out of the inning, and Span grounded out to short to end the game.

League recovered to earn his ninth save of the season.

The Dodgers begin a six-game road trip, starting in Atlanta on Friday.

- @MattKamlet

TiqIQ’s job is to find the best sellers and deals out there on the market, and for Dodgers tickets, you may want to check out GoTickets.

Also you can get our New Hyun-Jin Ryu inspired Monster t-shirt here –> www.dodgersbeat.com/store

Updated 04/26/13

Vin Scully on Twitter, Monday Night Football and Being His Own Worst Critic

Vin Scully’s First Job: “The Best and the Worst”

Vin Scully: Former Dodger Manager

]]> http://www.dodgersbeat.com/vin-scully-interview-with-fred-roggin/feed/ 0 http://www.dodgersbeat.com/dodgers-game-recap-april-13-2013/ http://www.dodgersbeat.com/dodgers-game-recap-april-13-2013/#comments Sun, 14 Apr 2013 18:00:32 +0000 admin http://www.dodgersbeat.com/?p=508 Saturday’s battle between the Dodgers and Diamondbacks featured two pitchers with a point to prove: Hyun-jin Ryu to establish his place among the top of the Dodgers’ rotation, and Ian Kennedy to get back to the form that won him 21 games two seasons ago.

Ryu made his case and made a case to be a reliable lefty bat off the bench, as the Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks 7-5, with Ryu going 3-3 at the plate, hitting two singles, a double, and scoring a run.

Adrian Gonzalez opened the scoring in the fourth inning on a solo home run to right field that left Gerardo Parra hanging from the fence.

Paul Goldschmidt hit a 407-foot double in the bottom part of the inning that fell inches short of a game-tying home run.

Ryu would get out of the fourth unscathed, however, with a strikeout that left two runners aboard as his family looked on from the stands.

Crawford scored the second run from first on a Skip Schumaker double to the left-center gap in the fifth inning, moments after racing to first to prevent a double play.

Andre Ethier kept the inning alive by singling to right, bringing in Schumaker to extend the Dodgers’ lead to 3-0.

The Diamondbacks got their first run on an A.J. Pollock groundout to short that scored Cliff Pennington from third.

But Crawford used his leather to make sure the damage ended there by making a difficult backhanded catch at the track that landed him chest-first on the left field wall.

Matt Kemp hit a two-run, bases-loaded single off Kennedy, that caused Diamondbacks manager and Dodgers legend Kirk Gibson to pull the plug on Kennedy.

Things weren’t much better for reliever Matt Reynolds, as Gonzalez hit an RBI single to make the game 6-1.

Justin Sellers was thrown out while on first by Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero during Ryu’s fourth at-bat, which ended Ryu’s night at the plate.

Don Mattingly pulled Ryu in the seventh after two Diamondback singles with no outs and brought in Ronnie Belisario.

Ryu allowed three runs (two while Belisario was pitching) and threw 108 pitches — his most this season. He struck out nine, walked one, and allowed six hits over six innings.

The Diamondbacks scored two runs in the seventh inning and Martin Prado added a solo shot in the eighth off Kenley Jansen to make the game 6-4.

Aaron Hill added a two-out double to left field off Jansen to put the Diamondbacks within one.

But Dodger newcomer Ramon Hernandez’s RBI double in the ninth gave the Dodgers insurance and finalized the scoring.

Gonzalez and Crawford continued their fine form, going 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs and 2-for-5 with two runs respectively. Matt Kemp continued to bounce back from a slow start to his season, going 2-for-5 with 2 RBIs.

Luis Cruz continued to struggle, going 0-4. He was pulled in the seventh inning for Juan Uribe.

The paid attendance was 37,214, with many fans wearing ”BEAT LA” shirts given to fans prior to the game. No word if Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick forced any more Dodger fans to wear D-Backs gear.

Josh Beckett (0-1, 4.91 ERA) and Trevor Cahill (0-2, 5.91 ERA) take the mound tomorrow at 1:10 on FSN Prime Ticket.

Francisco J. Reyes
@fjr3487

You can use that ticket credit on TiqIQ.com towards Monday night’s game vs the Padres.    Be sure to TAG Dodgers Beat as part of your answer (i.e. #DodgersBeat).   Each blog partner gets credit for contest entrants, so show me some love!

Click here to enter:  http://www.tiqiq.com/pitchers_contest

Also, get the best deals on  Los Angeles Dodgers tickets here.

Ernie Villa
@EvilLA83

That was interesting. Carlos Quentin is now PUBLIC ENEMY #1 In Los Angeles. I don’t really get what this dudes problem was, he led the league in HBP in 2011 and 2012. Also, Zack Greinke had a 3-2 count to this guy in a 2-1 ball game, not exactly an ideal situation to plunk a guy. Especially to a guy batting .250…Now comes word that Zack Greinke has suffered a Broken Left Collarbone…wow. Mr.Quentin, you have been warned.

Zack Greinke will probably be out for 6 weeks. Not exactly what you want for the 147 Million dollar investment. This sucks. The guy stands right on top of the plate, you cannot be a big cry baby if you continually do that. that is bush league.

Matt Kemp finally got a couple hits, unfortunately it was actual Padre players and maybe even Bud Black, Padres Manager. Kemp exploded after hearing the news that Greinke was hurt, he was pleading his case to whomever would listen, At one point it looked like he was trying to fight Andre Ethier and Josh Beckett, but who in the league hasn’t hit Beckett. I like to see that fire in our players but that is dampened by the loss of Greinke for 6 weeks.

Now a little about the game, Zack Greinke looked good cruising through 5 innings, Carl Crawford remains on FIRE!! I think he is finally healthy and happy. It’s really nice to see Adrian Gonzalez get his power stroke back with that monstrous blast to right field.

But the man of the hour is Juan Uribe with a fence scrapper. Dude looks like he hits it to the upper deck, does the bat flip and it barely goes over..lol.

One last thing on the fight, I do completely agree with Don Mattingly in that Quentin shouldn’t be able to play until Greinke pitches. We all know that will NOT happen, at most he’ll get 3-5 games. But an Eye for an Eye.

This game wasn’t easy, but nothing really ever is for the boys in blue. Especially in San Diego, This is their World Series considering they wont be a contender for the next 5 years. We know this coming in, yet we still do NOT come with that fire that we KNOW we need! One day we’ll figure it out.

On to the Desert..D backs beware the boys in blue are not in good moods…

Ernie Villa
@EvilLA83