IGD: Padres @ Dodgers (29 Jun 07)

Fri, Jun 29, 2007Ballhype: hype it up!
by Geoff Young
Game #78
time: 7:40 p.m. PT
tv: 4SD
sp: Chris Young (7-3, 2.08) vs Hong-Chih Kuo (1-3, 6.33)
pre: Padres.com, SI.com

I guess Luis Gonzalez didn’t get the memo. You know, the one that says he’s washed up. Gonzalez is batting .350/.424/.624 over 132 plate appearances since May 21 and .301/.393/.500 overall. Russell Martin? Still a pain in the neck. Jeff Kent and Andre Ethier are doing okay, but the rest of the Dodgers offense is pretty dormant.

In an effort to get youngster James Loney more playing time (good idea), the Dodgers have moved Nomar Garciaparra to third base (bad idea), where his tepid .266/.306/.321 line wouldn’t seem to justify the injury risk of playing him at the hot corner. Garciaparra, the oldest 33-year-old in baseball, has one home run in 2007. That’s the same number as Friday night’s starter, Hong-Chih Kuo.

The Padres, meanwhile, welcome Brian Giles back to the lineup. Nobody seems to be expecting much from him, which is probably just as well. Better to be pleasantly surprised than disappointed that he still isn’t the player he once was.

Chris Young? I feel like I should say something about him, but I’ve run out of superlatives. How ’bout if he just keeps doing what he’s doing. Yeah, that’ll work.

Go Padres!

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147 Responses to “IGD: Padres @ Dodgers (29 Jun 07)”

  1. Geoff Young Says:

    FYI, Corey Brock from Padres.com will be on MLB Radio tonight at 8:20 p.m. PT:

    http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/radio/index.jsp

    It’s the “Under the Lights” program…

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  2. Bruce Says:

    Not only is Brian Giles back tonight, but the Padres are getting imaginative: he’s leading off. I like it. At this point he’s much better suited to leading off than NOG.

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  3. Phantom Says:

    OG is leading off. I like this idea. Let’s see how it goes.

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  4. Stu Says:

    Alriiiiiiiiiiiiiiight - going to the Ravine tomorrow night.

    For those out of town, Matty V must be on assignment for FOX, as we’re getting Steve Quis in the booth with Mud.

    Also, the Nomar at Third era continues for the Dodgers.

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  5. Phantom Says:

    Surprised he didn’t get run on that full count pitch, but nice AB by OG. That’s what we need from him.

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  6. Stu Says:

    Kuo got squeezed on ball 4 to OG. Dodgers are squawking. Bodes well.

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  7. Geoff Young Says:

    #2: I love this move.

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  8. Phantom Says:

    Kuo’s already thrown 14 pitches to the first 2 batters. That’s what those guys are supposed to be doing.

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  9. Phantom Says:

    Adrian chased a bad pitch there. He really needs to start getting more selective at the dish again.

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  10. Phantom Says:

    Wow, Kemp just barely got to that.

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  11. Phantom Says:

    Shit. CY doesn’t have much in command tonite and Pierre is on third with one out.

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  12. Geoff Young Says:

    Pierre is amazing. How a guy with such terrible on-base skills can steal so many bases is beyond me.

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  13. Ben B. Says:

    He doesn’t steal them at a particularly good rate either.

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  14. Stu Says:

    12 - more proof that baserunning skills and hitting ability are not correlated :)

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  15. Phantom Says:

    Man, Khalil just barely missed getting that ball on the fly too.

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  16. Phantom Says:

    Man CY is missing badly tonite, which is totally handcuffing Barrett.

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  17. Mark Ase Says:

    Not sure why Greene didn’t at least look Pierre back there

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  18. Phantom Says:

    Alright Gonzales, we get it. You can foul off pitches. Make an out now, please.

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  19. Phantom Says:

    17: His momentum was pulling him toward first. It’s better to get the sure out instead of no out. Plus, it is just the first inning.

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  20. Phantom Says:

    Good call on the check swing there. He came around pretty far on that.

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  21. Stu Says:

    Wow, gift call from everyone’s favorite AAA umpire!

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  22. Mark O Says:

    I don’t like the way this game is starting out..

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  23. Phantom Says:

    Bad, bad, bad AB by Khalil there. I hope that’s the last we see of that tonite.

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  24. Phantom Says:

    Thank you Juan Pierre!

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  25. Stu Says:

    Cruz comes through with a triple that should have been caught - Pierre and Kemp were going to collide so they both broke off.

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  26. Mark O Says:

    I like being tied…but I still don’t like how we look so far..

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  27. Phantom Says:

    CY’s having trouble putting away batters tonite.

    That will work though.

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  28. Stu Says:

    26 - yeah. It’s still early though. Let’s see if/how the pitchers settle through the next two innings.

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  29. Phantom Says:

    Adrian has been falling behind much much much more recently than he did at the beginning of the year. He’s not putting himself in a position to get good pitches to hit.

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  30. Mark O Says:

    Why don’t we just put Furcal on 2nd base now and get on with things…

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  31. Mark O Says:

    Cruz played that ball horribly…

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  32. Mark Ase Says:

    It looks as if Cruz could really, really use a couple of days off

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  33. Phantom Says:

    Oh Christ. CY’s losing it quickly.

    That’s a horrible balk call.

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  34. Mark O Says:

    that’s a horrific call…

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  35. LynchMob Says:

    re: # of HR’s by Nomar & Kuo … OG also has only 1 HR on the season … and he (OG) is prolly the oldest 36-year-old in baseball … just sayin’ …

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  36. Mark O Says:

    nice baserunning by Cameron..

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  37. Phantom Says:

    Nice little league play there Loney. Could we take a lead now?

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  38. Ben B. Says:

    Both teams are really exploiting the weaknesses of the other. Dodgers running wild on CY and the Padres running wild on the arms of the Dodger outfielders.

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  39. Phantom Says:

    Why didn’t we send Barrett? Nice AB by Khalil, but that ball was hit to Pierre, was it not?

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  40. Ben B. Says:

    KOOOUUUUUZZZZZ!!!!

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  41. Phantom Says:

    Kouz missle!!!

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  42. Kevin Says:

    Kouzmanoff just did what he does. 3-run homer.

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  43. Lance Richardson Says:

    DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!DONG!!!

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  44. Phantom Says:

    All this with no outs. That’s what we need more of out of this team.

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  45. Mark Ase Says:

    Lineup is a lot better with Giles back and Barrett on board….doesn’t appear to be any easy outs anymore.

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  46. Kevin Says:

    OG ran like a lead-off man.

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  47. Phantom Says:

    Man I never thought I would say this, but it’s really nice to have OG back.

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  48. Ben B. Says:

    Special thanks to Jeff Kent on that play for having no range.

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  49. Kevin Says:

    Whole family is hitting.

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  50. Mark Ase Says:

    3 Run shot would sure be nice

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  51. Phantom Says:

    The boys are swinging the bats well now. Any time you tell me that CY is pitching with a 5-run lead, I’d say that’s a good day.

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  52. LynchMob Says:

    43 … I love it when you do that … just like ol’ times!

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  53. Paul R Says:

    I’d like to see us get Adrian a little bit of a break and have him sit the rest of this one. He doesn’t look like he’s moving around that well.

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  54. LynchMob Says:

    Klesko with an HR to get Gi’nts up 2-1 over D-backs …

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  55. Phantom Says:

    Furcal doesn’t look happy :-(

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  56. Paul R Says:

    55: It is fun to watch the Giles brothers go in to second on the front half of a fielder’s choice or double play. Both of them play the game right.

    If Giles gets hit next time up, we’re going to have benches clear. It looked like Furcal was complaining about what Marcus did…

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  57. LynchMob Says:

    At Eugene … Kulbacki with a triple … Cory Luebke with his debut (1 IP) …

    http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....x_eveasx_1

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  58. LynchMob Says:

    It hardly seems fair to have Colt Morton playing in the AZL … but it is what it is … and it’s gonna result in Ws like this sometimes …

    http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....k_pdrrok_1

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  59. LynchMob Says:

    Chase Headley went back to AA San Antonio …

    http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....x_tulaax_1

    … and has picked up right where he left off … HR #14 :-)

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  60. LynchMob Says:

    And in game #2 of San Antonio’s DH, Nick Hundley show’d that he can be inspired by Chase Headley …

    http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....x_tulaax_2

    … HR #10 on the season for him!

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  61. LynchMob Says:

    It’s a *power* night all around …

    http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....a_visafa_1

    … Chad Huffman with HR #13 for the STORM!

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  62. LynchMob Says:

    Even Cedric (the Great) gets into the act …

    http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....x_ftwafx_1

    … HR #3 on the season … and a *nice* outing by Nate Culp!

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  63. Paul R Says:

    I wouldn’t mind seeing the Dodgers deal Loney for a bat before the deadline. He really looks like a good hitter.

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  64. Paul R Says:

    58: Brannan with 2 scoreless innings in that AZL game as well…

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  65. Geoff Young Says:

    Way to shut ‘em down, CY.

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  66. Phantom Says:

    63: I wonder how much of that is because people aren’t throwing him smart pitches?

    Kemp is also supposed to be a good hitter, but CY made him look foolish.

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  67. Paul R Says:

    Kemp has a bit more power, but strikes out a lot. I thought that the pitch that CY threw to him wasn’t that bad. Slider down and in. I don’t think it was a strike (although you’re not usually supposed to pitch lefties down and in).

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  68. Paul R Says:

    Kouz looks locked in tonight-even the pitches that he takes he looks confident on. I hope that he’s starting another hot streak

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  69. Phantom Says:

    Nice nite at the dish by Kouz.

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  70. Mark Ase Says:

    I’m not so worried about Loney at this point in his career….he hit .287/.345/.382 at AAA this year as a 23 year old in a hitters environment.

    Now if you told me the Dodgers would deal Kemp, Kershaw and Loney for Teixeria I’d be thrilled, especially after they started paying Teixeria 15M a year.

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  71. Bip Says:

    Does anyone know what place in the batting order Barrett usually hit in Chicago? I’m trying to figure out where Uncle Milty will hit.

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  72. Mark Ase Says:

    If I remember KT on the radio today(welcome back to afternoon radio by the way)

    OG
    NOG
    Connect 4
    Agon
    Cameron
    Barrett/Bard
    Greene
    Kouz

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  73. Phantom Says:

    Hendrickson is a little more erratic than I recall. Not complaining.

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  74. Phantom Says:

    72: I’d be completely comfortable with that lineup.

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  75. Geoff Young Says:

    #71: Barrett split time between #5 and #6.

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  76. Phantom Says:

    At least Khalil didn’t break anything.

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  77. Phantom Says:

    Marcus i sa nice kid. After Pierre slides into his knee, he asks Pierre if he’s ok.

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  78. Mark Ase Says:

    Nah Marcus is a terrible human being and one of the worst 2nd baseman in baseball….he’s also boring to watch

    signed SDSUBaseball

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  79. Phantom Says:

    78: lol. Not to be a dick, but that’s one of the mroe clever comments I’ve read today.

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  80. Geoff Young Says:

    Another nice AB by OG — he adds a different dimension to the Padres lineup.

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  81. Stu Says:

    78 - hilarious :)

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  82. Mark Ase Says:

    OG acting like a real leadoff hitter, stealing bases and everything

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  83. Geoff Young Says:

    Adrian continues to expand the strike zone.

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  84. Phantom Says:

    83: Adrian is looking really lost at the plate right now. Hopefully the rest of the team can pick him up for a little bit.

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  85. Phantom Says:

    Damnit Luis Gonzales is annoying at the dish (I sorta wish we would have signed him for a decent deal to play LF)

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  86. Rick Schroder (Turbine Dude) Says:

    CY is friggin’ smokin’!

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  87. Kevin Says:

    78: Well played.

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  88. Mark Ase Says:

    I still can’t believe Luis Gonzalez got 7.5M for the season….must be nice to be the Dodgers

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  89. Peter Friberg Says:

    There are certain players who I feel I can read their facial expressions… Strikeout, HR, unearned run, CY looks more like he stressed about an upcoming exam than a professional ballplayer who can throw a heymaker when needed…

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  90. Phantom Says:

    Khalil Greene is a golden god.

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  91. Rick Schroder (Turbine Dude) Says:

    KG with a nice out. Wow.

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  92. Geoff Young Says:

    Whoa, how does Khalil make that play?

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  93. BZ Says:

    72: Yeah, that’s a pretty tough lineup, especially if Milt can stay healthy and relaxed, Kouz continues to warm up and Greene lays off a breaking ball or two…

    I do like OG in the leadoff spot, and this makes life hard for opposing managers rigidly dedicated to L-R splits. But get ready for some two hour 7th or 8th innings when the Pads next play LaRussa and the Cards…

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  94. Kevin Says:

    Bonds hit 750

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  95. Phantom Says:

    92: It’s those kinds of plays (which you can’t really statistically measure) that account for so much of my man-crush on Khalil.

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  96. Phantom Says:

    Khalil got robbed :-(

    Thanks a lot, Nomar.

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  97. BZ Says:

    CY should probably be done here? (pretty high pitch count…)

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  98. Geoff Young Says:

    Has Furcal slowed down some, or was that just a really nice play by Adrian?

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  99. Phantom Says:

    98: His ankle is still bothering him (at least that’s the excuse Vin’s giving), so take that for what it’s worth.

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  100. Geoff Young Says:

    #99: Makes sense. I mean, it was a nice play by Adrian, but I didn’t expect the return throw to get Furcal.

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  101. BZ Says:

    I hate to say this, but is anyone else worried we will never put the bloom back on Cla’s onion? Seems like this sort of thing sometimes happens with the “wacky delivery” guys (Nomo, BK Kim, etc.) for a while they are essentially unhittable, then the league figures something out and things get patchy…

    That said, thanks Cla for a scoreless inning…

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  102. Phantom Says:

    101: Cla seems to have worked out his issues, whatever they were, and has looked pretty nice the past few outings.

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  103. Kevin Says:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.....ey_Company

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  104. Phantom Says:

    Shut em down Royce, you can do it!

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  105. Mark Ase Says:

    All I know is that I wouldn’t want to face Ring if I hit left handed….he’s going to be a really, really nice guy to have around come playoff time

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  106. Ben B. Says:

    Typical slugging Dodger offense.

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  107. Bip Says:

    Maybe Trevor kindly asked Cla and Royce to create a save opp.

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  108. Phantom Says:

    C’mon guys, put the breaks on here.

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  109. Geoff Young Says:

    This is just like Linebrink against the Giants the other day. Ring is making good pitches.

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  110. Stu Says:

    The Dodgers are just killing the ball. Or, not.

    Get Hoffman up…

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