33 1/3 Dodgers at the 33 1/3 mark: Hiroki Kuroda (7)
Hard to be too upset about the Dodgers' loss Monday, not when Hiroki Kuroda did so well in his return to the majors from a two-month absence. While he had some understandable problems with location, Kuroda said after the game that he was "pain-free," according to Jim Peltz of The Times.
Kuroda's injury was not to his arm, which is a double bonus: no rehab necessary for that precious part of his anatomy, and instead plenty of rest to gear him up for the remainder of the regular season and (ideally) the postseason. Kuroda will have his imperfect moments, but any team would be grateful to add a rested pitcher with a 3.66 ERA since 2008 to its rotation on June 1. The fact that such a team has the best record in baseball is rather sublime.
Did you know that Kuroda hasn't allowed a home run since Sept. 3 and has allowed only four home runs in 111 2/3 major-league innings since July 1? Impressive.
Team IP OBP SLG K/9 ERA ERA+
Dodgers 10.67 .282 .286 6.8 2.53 169
66ers 8.67 5.2 5.19
Ah I see, D4P.
Definitely good news from Hiroki.
Posted by: fanerman | June 02, 2009 at 03:49 PM
Jason,
I sent you an email
Posted by: Kevin Lewis | June 02, 2009 at 03:53 PM
Dodger Tony,
Are you sure seeing Haren in person would be good for you?
Posted by: Kevin Lewis | June 02, 2009 at 03:54 PM
Tickets have been claimed. Thanks and hope it's a Dodger win tonight!
Posted by: JJ24 | June 02, 2009 at 03:55 PM
Lineup: Martin gets game off. Blake and Furcal back in lineup.
Pierre, LF
Furcal, SS
Hudson, 2B
Loney, 1B
Blake, 3B
Ethier, RF
Kemp, CF
Ausmus, C
Wolf, P
http://insidethedodgers.mlblogs.com/
Posted by: Alex41592 | June 02, 2009 at 04:03 PM
I'm planning to go to the game on Wednesday. Does anyone know of any good coupon codes or have any tickets available? I'd like to sit in the field level or loge.
Posted by: Harold | June 02, 2009 at 04:05 PM
I! don't! think! I've! ever! seen! so! many! exclamation! points (!!!) as! there! are! at! ITD!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Marty Leadman (LAT) | June 02, 2009 at 04:07 PM
Nationals replaced their pitching coach Randy St. Claire today. Promoted the AAA pitching coach, Steve McCatty. Here's what acting GM Mike Rizzo had to say re the difference between the two guys:
"RIZZO: Well, I think there are differences in the two ways of doing their job. Randy, as we all know, is a diligent film-worker and a mechanics-oriented pitching coach. Steve is more of a gut-feel [guy], more of a mental aspect kind of the game, and he's a much more old school pitching coach than I think Randy was. He was kind of the modern guy who worked diligently with films, how to attack hitters and that type of thing. And Steve I would describe as more not only of a mechanics type pitcher, because he's a very successful one in his own right, but a guy who really delves into the mental aspect of pitching as well."
Yowza!
Posted by: Sam DC | June 02, 2009 at 04:11 PM
Jon, add Jair Jurrjens to "impressive" when it comes to avoiding the HR. And, yes, some of us know, as the HR and HR/9 data might have some influence on your fantasy pitching staff when HR is a scoring category for SPs. Oh, and to introduce an old friend into the discussion, in 07, Derek Lowe gave up 20 HR in 199.1 IP. Last year was 14 HR in 211. I was hoping that this year would be last year and not so much 07, and as of now, Derek is at 2 HR in 69.2 IP. Haven't lost the HR for SPs category in the first 8 weeks, even without Hiroki.
Posted by: TheRealPaul | June 02, 2009 at 04:13 PM
So, we should see more chin music out of the Nats pitchers from here on?
Posted by: Marty Leadman (LAT) | June 02, 2009 at 04:19 PM
Lincecum just recorded his 300th strikeout. If Bob Carpenter can be trusted, this is his 68th start, and that is the fastest for any Giant to reach 300.
Posted by: Sam DC | June 02, 2009 at 04:19 PM
Sorry, that was Lincecum's 500th K.
Posted by: Sam DC | June 02, 2009 at 04:24 PM
Hah, Marty, sounds like it. I just am so skeptical that having a good guy hand around the bullpen telling pitchers they've got to pound the zone and throw strikes really contributes much.
The team is so schizophrenic. They started the year replacing "swing hard and stay positive" pitching coach Lenny Harris with a video and stats guy (Rick Eckstein) and they've praised the headlights off the guy. So, now they go the opposite direction with the pitching coach?
Posted by: Sam DC | June 02, 2009 at 04:28 PM
er, hang around the bullpen, that is . . .
Posted by: Sam DC | June 02, 2009 at 04:31 PM
Next up top: Clayton Kershaw.
Posted by: Jon Weisman | June 02, 2009 at 04:31 PM
Yeah, because the pitching coach was the problem with the Nationals.
McCatty will be able to get so much more out of proven big-game pitchers like Scott Olsen and Ross Detwiler.
Posted by: SaMo | June 02, 2009 at 04:39 PM
The Nats bullpen has been blamed for their woes. but they have only 13 blown saves, or just 2 more than the Dodgers.
The much-maligned Mets, meanwhile, have just six blown saves
Posted by: SaMo | June 02, 2009 at 04:45 PM
"I! don't! think! I've! ever! seen! so! many! exclamation! points (!!!) as! there! are! at! ITD!!!!!!!!!!!"
Check out the book `1941', Marty...it's truly headache inducing.
Posted by: jim hitchcock | June 02, 2009 at 05:13 PM
Kevin,
I will be bringing my parachute if I decide to jump tonight.
Seriously, I have seen the Dodgers handle Danny H pretty well over the last couple of years. We are still at home and I have to think the team has recovered from the Chicago hangover flight.
All things being equal, the Dodgers should eke out a win tonight. Right? Huh? They just gotta!!
Posted by: dodger tony | June 02, 2009 at 05:45 PM
I can't wait for another Jon player update. What if he just keeps updating players and can't stop. "next up top, Trenedad Hubbard".
Posted by: dodger tony | June 02, 2009 at 05:48 PM