The Give Up Game

The Dodgers are comfortably in first place, playing Colorado.  They have a day off before a big series in Cincinnati.  You would think, thankfully, that most of the regulars would play since we have a day off, particularly against Colorado's best pitcher.

But then you remember our manager is woefully confused.  Endorsing Ned's bizarro pick-up, Edinson Volquez (who maybe shouldn't be playing anymore) gets the start instead of Fife...and with Puig still day to day with injury, Donny also rests TWO starting outfielders, along with the 1st AND 2nd baseman.  After Volquez gets shelled (of course he does), he sends in Brandon League.  OK, this is just a give-up game.  Brandon (naturally) throws two wild pitches but somehow doesn't give up a run.  Donny continues the give-up with Marmol.  Why even try, right?

But then the top of the 8th, the Dodgers get hot and cut the Rockies lead to 2.  Now what does Donny do?  Start sending in the guys he benched AND then follow that up with the guys from the bullpen who were to get rest as well.

The managing in this game simply baffled me.  Was it a give-up?  If so, why decide to try just because it's close?  I wanted to call Dodger Talk and ask Kevin Kennedy, someone who's managed big-league ball, if he's ever seen anything like this.  I understand guys needing rest due to the riggers of a 162-game schedule, but this is re-dic.  Another caller beat me to asking the question.  His response was that he "understood" benching all these guys because they'd all play in Cincy.  OK, we disagree...whatever.  Then, he states he was "confused" by sending Rodriguez in the 8th.  So we DO agree...you just want to tote the company line, I guess.

Donny's press conference seemed unusually upbeat, stating that Volquez "showed him a lot" and that he and Rick Honeycutt know how to "fix" his problems.  Don't worry, Donny assured everyone, the usual folks will return in Cincinnati, he's just playing the strangest shell game with the starting rotation.  Why not have 7 guys?!  There's no rule about that, and Joe Torre never said he couldn't do that.  And here we are.

Let there be no question: it is the ability of the Dodgers individual players that lead to this success.  And, I'm willing to wager large amounts of any sort of valuable item that some mouth-breating writer somewhere else (not LA) thinks Donny is doing great things.  He really "turned them around" after he "drove them into the fucking ground" - wait...the start wasn't his fault at all...

Shit, we're in first, I need to cheer up.  Ah, here's a picture of Tommy and Ice Cube.

Mild recovery

The Dodgers' bleeding finally ended in playing the Marlins (as is the case for most teams) but all is not well.  Sunday's game proved all you need to know.

Cap started, and while he kept that explosive Marlins offense in check, he couldn't even make it to 80 pitches.  Ugh.

Feeling comfortable with a 4 run lead, Donny Yankees puts in (sigh) Brandon League.

Check out this line
1 IP
2 R
3 H
ERA now 6.28

Brandon League sucks.

I am at a loss of words for why he is playing so bad, why he's allowed to play, and why he isn't in Albuquerque right now.

Years ago, when the Dodgers bullpen was truly horrible, Donovan Brandt and I used to say there had to be at least a 5 run lead for us to accept the bullpen's fate to end the game.  Was the "5 run cushion" reached?  If so, there are no worries.  Apparently, this rule will have to be extended to League.

When Drew Boatman was writing on the blog he once said moments like this shouldn't be considered "saves" but more "thank Christ it's over."  League wasn't awarded a "save" but he did his best to turn a 4 run lead into just that. 

I have to end with this quote from CBS Sports on League, because it explains so much:

"(In his last 3 appearances) he is 0-2 with a 13.64 ERA over that span, but manager Don Mattingly said earlier this week that he will remain the team's closer."

Helpful Information for Brandon League

We're averaging a different person in the office each day.  Sit down, Brandon.

OK, first off, you're the team's closer and we're doing the talking here, so "mouth closed" is an important policy you will follow...understand?  Secondly, and I don't know if you talked to Chris on the way out--you didn't?  Nobody talked to you?!  That's our mistake.  Well, just to give you a review: our manager Donny Yankees is interested in sending the team into the toilet rather than win--you don't think so?

How about we review your stats?  Donny considers you a "closer."  As a rule, you pitch 1 inning, maybe 2 at the most.  The other rule is you are to "close" the game, preventing a loss.  This has been difficult for you, huh?

Stats are one thing, you say?  Well, your ERA is 5.40.  So if you are pitching 1 inning, shouldn't--OK, I'll stop with the stats.  Here are some recent headlines:

"Brandon League keeping Kenley Jansen in the picture"

"Brandon League escapes with save No. 7"

"Brandon League serves up walk-off homer"

"Brandon League delivers second straight loss"

Look, I'm through giving you evidence.  We're wasting time.  You'll take Southwest Airlines, and...are you familiar with Albuquerque at all?  You've seen the facilities.  It's a fine town - it's got everything you'd want and more. The clubhouse manager has taken the liberty of packing your items for the trip.  This voucher is good all day, but if you hustle you can make the 12:30PM flight...that's nonstop.  When you get there, look for a kid in an Isotopes jacket.  He'll take you to the Hawthorn Suites.  The gal at the check-in desk already has your information.

I'm looking online here and it says the BioPark Zoo just welcomed a baby giraffe.  See, you'll have fun there, and get back your "command."  Thanks, Brandon.