The Unwritten Rules

A lot has been made of the "unwritten rules" of baseball this season and those unwritten rules were highlighted in the brawl between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers. A hit by pitch led to a hard slide that ended up with a punch to the chops. The unwritten rules dictated that the Mets pitcher Noah Syndegaard throw behind the Dodgers Chase Utley in order to make a statement for Utley's takeout slide during last year's playoffs.

Chase Utley was the leadoff hitter for the Dodgers. I believe if this pitch would have been thrown behind Utley with the first pitch of the game rather than the top of the third inning, Syndegaard probably would not have been tossed from the game. Was something said in the Mets dugout to Syndegaard? I do not buy Syndegaard's claim that a 99 MPH fastball "got away" from him. That pitch had a purpose behind it and Mets manager Terry Collins is an old school manager. Utley knew it was possible that some sort of retaliation was headed his way. It was the top of the third inning in a scoreless game and Syndegaard had only given up two hits to that point so I would have to question the timing of the pitch but the message was sent.

Chase Utley is a veteran player. His hard nosed slide in last season's playoffs was seen as a dirty play by some but no one would have raised an eyebrow 30 or 40 seasons ago. Utley's slide caused baseball to re-examine the way players go into second base to break up a double play and adjustments were made to the rules. Utley is not going to be intimidated easily and he responded to Syndegaard's and the Mets statement with a statement of his own. He hit two homeruns and drove in five runs off of Mets relievers and led the Dodgers to a 9-1 win. Hopefully the Dodgers and Mets can get back to playing baseball.

Stripling Gets His First

It was not the best game Dodgers starter Ross Stripling has pitched in his short major league career but the Dodgers offense made sure he got his first major league win. Stripling went five innings and gave up four runs and left the game in the top of the sixth inning with a 7-4 lead. The Dodgers erratic bullpen shut the Cardinals out the rest of the way pitching four innings and only giving up a hit and a walk and closer Kenley Jansen got the final two outs for his 12th save.

The Dodgers offense was led by Yasiel Puig's three hits, including his fourth homerun, and two runs batted in and Trayce Thompson's two RBI's. The Dodgers were also helped out by the St. Louis Cardinals four errors, three of those by shortstop Aledmys Diaz. Five of the Dodgers eight runs were unearned.

Back In The New York Groove

I borrowed the title of this blog from the old Ace Frehley song after watching Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers dominate the New York Mets in a 5-0 victory. Kershaw allowed three hits, struck out 13 and walked only one in pitching the complete game shutout. The Dodgers gave him all of the run support he needed in the first two innings, scoring all five of their runs, led by a Chase Utley solo homerun and a Yasmani Grandal three run shot.

I couldn't help but feel the game was over after the Dodgers put up a four spot in the bottom of the first inning. Kershaw may give up a run or two but he is usually not going to be involved in a slugfest. Kershaw's control is what has amazed me this season. He has only issued four walks (while striking out 77) in 62 innings pitched and that kind of control is not common in a power pitcher. He is always around the plate and the opposing hitters are still only batting .186. He has a WHIP of 0.73, and ERA 0f 1.74 and a record of 5-1. Should MLB go ahead and give him the Cy Young Award now or wait until the end of the season?