I'm sure I could find a YouTube link to
this, but that would just depress me more.
Basically, the Dodgers lost
another game that they had in the bag. Only this time, it was not to the Yankees, or the Cardinals, but, to the
Giants. And, it started when the starting pitcher, Clayton Kershaw, plunked a .286 hitter in apparent retaliation for the Giants pitching at our guys. Kershaw gets tossed, and so does the manager, Joe Torre, according to the rules.
So, it's a 5-4 game at this point, and luckily, that leadoff plunked batter doesn't score. So, fast forward a couple of innings to the top of the 9th. Broxton, the closer, is making it interesting. He used to do this all the time, but has gotten better recently. But tonight, gives up a leadoff single, then a walk and a sacrifice, and than an intentional base on balls.
Hitting coach and heir-apparent Don Mattingly, who's now managing in the absence of Torre, goes out to the mound to talk to Broxton. The whole infield is there, the conference is over, Mattingly turns to go and steps off the mound. James Loney - it's his bobblehead night, no less - asks Mattingly something, and Donnie B. turns and steps back on the mound, says two words, and goes back to the dugout.
SF manager Bruce Bochy goes to the umps, pointing out a rule that says that the visit ends when the manager steps off the mound. Therefore ...
stepping back on to the mound triggers the "2 visits to the mound" rule, at which point the pitcher has to come out of the game.
No one is warmed up - they'd already burned the next best reliever after Kershaw hit the guy - so they bring up a warmed-over POS by the name of George Sherrill, who's done literally nothing but stink this year. He promptly gives up a 2-run double, and the lead.
****. Classic, heads-up, nitpicky managing, and one of the reasons I do love baseball, but, really, it was just maddening to watch.
Dodgers bat in the bottom of the 9th, and except for Rafael Furcal's double , pretty much rolled over. The rest of this season ain't gonna be pretty, I fear.