Colorado Rockies-Los Angeles Dodgers Tid Bits
Colorado Rockies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Sept. 17-19, 2010 at Dodger Stadium
Tulo Talk
Troy Tulowitzki, who hit two home runs and drove in seven runs in the Rockies’ victory over the Padres, has 11 home runs and 27 RBIs over his last 14 games. Only one other active major-league player ever hit at least 11 home runs with 27 or more RBIs over a span of fewer than 15 games: Alex Rodriguez in April 2007. And prior to Tulowitzki, the last player to do that in September was Hank Greenberg for the 1940 Tigers.
Running in Place
The Dodgers offense has hit bottom in the second half. After scoring 423 runs in 88 and hitting .289 with 69 home runs and 395 RBI in 88 games before the break, Dodgers have hit on hard times after the break. Dodgers hit .
The Dodgers were 49-39 at the Break and are 23-36 since.
How they stack up:
Before Break After Break
Games 88 58
Avg. .289 .229
HR 69 37
RBI 317 169
Runs 423 187
Dodgers rank last in NL in average, home runs and runs scored.
Past Encounters
Rockies are 118-161 all-time against Dodgers – 53-84 in Los Angeles.
A year ago, Rockies were 4-14 against Dodgers, 2-7 at both Dodger Stadium and Coors Field.
Rockies have swept a series from Dodgers seven times, four in Los Angeles.
Dodgers have swept a series from Rockies 14 times, 10 at Dodger Stadium.
Managerial Waiting Game
Manager Joe Torre said he won’t announced his plans for next year until Dodgers either clinch post-season berth or are eliminated officially. The Dodgers tragic number for elimination is five in both the NL West (combination of Giants wins and Dodgers losses equaling five) and the NL wild-card (ditto on Braves wins, Dodgers losses).
MLB.com polled Dodger players and 11 said Torre would return, 13 said no and four abstained.
Replacement would come from Don Mattingly, Torre’s choice, and Tim Wallach, organizational choice. Brings back memories of 1999 when Dodgers had to hire a manager, and passed on home-grown Mike Scioscia in favor of Davey Johnson. Wallach has organizational backing.
Westward Woe
Rockies vs. NL West
Team W-L Pct.
San Diego 149-136 .523
San Francisco 126-154 .450
Arizona 99-121 .452
Los Angeles 118-161 .423
Five worst records All-Time for Rockies
Team W L Pct.
Atlanta 57 92 .383
Los Angeles 118 161 .423
Philadelphia 59 78 .431
Arizona 99 121 .452
San Francisco 125 152 .451
Lately
Dodgers completed road trip with 3-7 record . Dodgers are 32-24 against NL West teams.
Clayton Kershaw pitched first shutout of his career in 1-0 victory on Tuesday at San Francisco. It was Dodgers’ 16th shutout, most since they had 17 in 2003. They have four pitchers with shutouts – Kershaw, Chad Billinglsey, Vicente Padilla and Ted Lilly. It’s first time they had four pitchers with shutouts since 1998.
Padilla is out for the season with a bulging disk in his neck.
OF Scott Podsednik is out for the rest of the season wit plantar fasciitis. He took over in left field when Manny Ramirez was dumped. Podsednik hit .262 with one home runs and seven RBI in 39 games with the Dodgers.
C Russell Martin made the start in left field on Thursday, his first outfield start in his career.
2B-SS-3B Jamey Carroll hurt his wrist swinging, but an MRI on Thursday shows no problem..
2010 In Review
Dodgers have won seven of 12 from the Rockies, taking 2 of 3 at Dodger Stadium May 7-9 and again Aug. 17-19, and at Coors Field May 28-30, but Rockies won 2 of 3 at Coors Field Aug. 27-29. Dodgers have three one-run victories and two 2-0 victories against the Rockies. The two teams meet at Coors Field again Sept. 27-29 in Rockies final home games of the season.
Rockies have outscored Dodgers
51-44. Casey Blake has hit .300 with team-high seven RBI. Andre Ethier has hit .321, Ryan Theriot .368 and Rafael Furcal, limited to three games by injuries, is 5-for-12, .417. Clayton Kershaw, who starts Sunday, is 3-0 with a 1.04 ERA against the Rockies. LH reliever Hong-Chih Kuo has struck out seven and walked two in four hitless innings. Jonathan Broxton is 0-1 but has four saves.
Carlos Gonzalez has hit .378 against Dodgers with 4 HR and 14 RBI. Melvin Mora has hit .313. Joe Beimel is unscored upon in four innings over seven appearances. Ubaldo Jimenez starts Friday and is 0-2 against the Dodgers, but has a 2.57 ERA.
Unarmed
Twice Rockies have had a non-pitcher pitch, including Todd Zeile, Sept. 14, 2002 vs. Los Angeles. Zeile made his debut as a pitcher in the ninth inning of a 16-3 blowout by the Dodgers. After a leadoff single by Cesar Izturis, Zeile got Chad Krueter to ground into a 6-4-3 double play and then struck out Wilkin Ruan swinging.
Double Down
4 times the Rockies have been shutout in back-to-back games, all on the road.
May 5-6, 2000 at San Francisco
Aug. 30-31, 2002 at San Diego
Aug. 30-31, 2003 at Los Angeles
July 28-29, 2009 at New York Mets
Triple the Pleasure
On June 13, 1998 at Los Angeles, the Dodgers turned the first triple play against the Rockies. With no outs in the fifth and runners on first and second, Kurt Abbott dropped a sacrifice bunt attempt. Pitcher Darren Dreifort picked up the ball and threw to second to force out Neifi Perez. Shortstop Jose Vizcaino, who received Dreifort’s throw, fired to first to get Abbott. Second baseman Eric Young, who was covering first, then completed the play by throwing to third to get Jamey Wright (1-6-4-5).
Ex-Patriots
Rockies manager Jim Tracy was bench coach (1999-2000) and manager (2001-05) of Dodgers. He guided Dodgers to NL West title in 2004. LHP Joe Beimel pitched for the Dodgers 2006-08. He was 11-4 with three saves and a 3.04 ERA in 216 appearances.
Dodgers INF Jamey Carroll played with Rockies 2006-2007.
OF Scott Podsednik played for the Rockies in 2008.
Brad Ausmus never played in big leagues for Rockies but he was an expansion draft from the Yankees.
FYI
Hideo Nomo of Dodgers pitched only no-hitter at Coors Field, Sept. 17, 1996. Dodgers pitchers also have thrown three one-hitters against Rockies, all at Dodger Stadium, none since 2002.
Clint Barmes made his major league debut by starting at shortstop against Dodgers on Sept. 5, 2003, and going 1-for-3.
James Loney hit first major league home run against Rockies Sept. 2, 2006, and on Sept. 28, 2006 he equaled a Dodger franchise record set by Gil Hodges with RBI in game against Rockies. He was 4-for-5 with two home runs.
I am really hoping that the Dodgers don’t pull a “win it for Joe” thing. It would certainly be torture if the Dodgers play more like Dogbutt the last 2 weeks against the Padres and Giants, then come to life against the Rockies.
This series worries me. Come on Rockies!
Of course the dodgers have become a thinking express, turning to analysis of the mc courts, their own careers and baseball activities… instead of natural instinct reacting to pitches, running the bases and defensive plays. We are seeing self absorbed psychology strangle talent… and strange as it seems, this Mattingly man who appears lost… is actually setting the tone for less analysis and more ‘winging it for fun.’ About this man-child… Rihanna and her huge career, enabling this guy to actually see into big business… has crept into his thought processes… that were formerly baseball in the sky, now jammed by competition from an alternate way of life. Talent always loses when single mindedness… is jammed by chatter. the mc courts should triple colletti’s salary, as his marvelous instinct for getting good guys for very little… has single handedly enabled the mc courts to rape this big earning franchise. But… now that the facade is fading, the heart that drives the income may weaken and with it, belief in a baseball enterprise, further stimulating thought/counter thought in the minds of any talented baseball bodies dorning this uniform. That’s what happened to the Chicago Cubs… losing for so long. Now the Dodgers are losers… and the seed at the top I fear won’t allow positive expectations to surface. mr. good guy
that was like poetry. i need an espresso.
Yeah, that Mr. Good Guy just won the ITR poetry slam.
OK, EY Jr defenders, defend that attempted steal of 3B with Tulo up and one out …
lol. it is pretty indefensible…but do you blame EY or the coaches as well.
EY has the speed, but maybe Richie or Glenallen need to have the brains?
I am sure EYJ did that on his own. No coach would EVER call for a steal of 3rd with Tulo up.
MLB’s Harold Reynolds was screaming “balk” on Broxton’s move, but, it was not. He kept saying you can’t stop your leg and then throw. That’s true, but, as long as the leg is rising(however so slowly)you can still throw to a base. The problem was that EYJ left way to early(which he has done more than once)and was toast.
EYJ is a rookie, I understand that, but he MUST begin to THINK out there. He has to put his ego in his pocket during the game. He’s fast but no amount of speed is called safe all the time.
10-5 the rest of the year and I think we’re in(unless 3 of those loses are to SFG).