Dodgers Dugout: Great start wiped out by Miami’s four-game sweep

Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell, wondering if we can pretend the last four days just didn’t happen at all.

Connect four

So, after getting off to an impressive start, the Dodgers lost four in a row at home to the Miami Marlins. Now those are the Dodgers I remember, the team that plays to the level of their opponent. The team that has a bullpen that can’t be trusted (other than Kenley Jansen). The team that is good enough to make the playoffs, but you don’t see as having a chance at winning the World Series.

I’m not going to go off on a rant, because it’s still early in the season and the team is still in first place, tied with the San Francisco Giants. But all those old worries from the last few seasons are back. Hopefully they can rebound against the San Diego Padres this weekend.

And you have to figure Don Mattingly is feeling pretty good today.

Say it ain’t so, Dee

Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon was suspended for 80 games late Thursday night after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Gordon tested positive for exogenous testosterone and clostebol, a modified form of testosterone. I’m not sure why MLB decided to wait until after Thursday’s game to suspend him, a game in which he knocked in the tying run and scored an insurance run when he forced Pedro Baez to balk.

To their credit, the Marlins immediately criticized Gordon for using PEDs, but said they will support Gordon going forward.

Suddenly that extreme improvement in his hitting last season makes a lot more sense. Gordon won the batting title last season, which earned him a five-year, $50-million deal from Miami.

That Gordon trade doesn’t look quite as bad all of a sudden.

Mattingly on Gordon's suspension: “Definitely shocked and surprised. You love your kids, and that’s Dee for me. That’s one of mine. We’re going to love him through this process and love him any way we can.”

Just want to point out

This is Barry Bonds' first season as Marlins hitting coach.

1 vs. 100

So, a couple of weeks ago, Dave Roberts removes Ross Stripling in the eighth inning of a game in which Stripling is pitching a no-hitter. The reason? Because he reached the 100-pitch mark and it’s important to protect his arm because he had Tommy John surgery two years ago. After all, he couldn’t possibly throw more than 100 pitches without putting his future in jeopardy. In fact, Roberts said “Under no circumstance am I going to even consider putting his future in jeopardy. For me, it was a no-brainer.” Which makes Monday’s game against the Marlins even more puzzling. Stripling was struggling all night and was at 95 pitches after five innings. Instead of sending up a pinch-hitter for him in the bottom of the fifth, Roberts let him hit and then sent him out to pitch in the sixth. Stripling gave up a couple of hits and was removed after 106 pitches.

I’m having trouble wrapping my head around why throwing 100 pitches would make his arm fall off one game, but a few days later, he can throw more than 100 pitches.  Yes, the bullpen had been overworked in the three-game series against Colorado, but that makes it suddenly OK to risk Stripling’s future? In two weeks his arm magically got so strong that fears over his surgery are no longer valid? If he had escaped the sixth with no trouble, would he then be OK to pitch the seventh, getting his pitch count up to 120 or so? To me, it’s just more evidence that taking him out of the no-hitter was the wrong decision.

Ask Ross Porter

Former Dodgers announcer Ross Porter will be answering select reader questions for the rest of the season. Email me a question for Ross, and I will pass it on. His latest response:

Don Riley asks: I still believe that the Dodgers were the better team that got beaten by the Yankees in two World Series in a row: 1977 and 1978. In your opinion, Ross, were the Dodgers the better team or did we lose to a superior Yankees team?

Ross: Those two clubs were even in talent in my estimation, Don. The Yankees won both Series in six games. In each one, the Dodgers were hurt  by an umpire's bad call.

In 1977, American  League umpire Nestor Chylak was out of position at the plate in the sixth inning of Game 1. Steve Garvey was clearly safe, but called out. It would have given the Dodgers a 3-1 lead so when they scored a run in the ninth, it only tied the game instead of winning it, 4-3. New York won in the 12th.

The 1978 World Series was even more painful. The Dodgers captured the first two games at home and might have won Game 3 had third baseman Graig Nettles of the Yankees not made FIVE sensational defensive plays between the third and sixth innings. The next day, the Dodgers had a 3-1 advantage in the sixth inning, and apparently were in the process of completing an inning-ending double play. But baserunner Reggie Jackson moved his right hip into the ball approaching second base and deflected it, allowing a run to score. National League umpire Frank Pulli failed to call interference and nullify the run. The Yanks went on to win, 4-3, evening the Series, then outscored the Dodgers, 19-4 in games 5 and 6.

Years later, Jackson admitted to me in an interview, "I got away with one there."

Could the Dodgers have won Game 7 in 1977 and 1978  had the umpires' calls gone their way?  We will never know. The Dodgers spotted the Yankees two wins in the 1981 World Series and then captured four in a row to earn the title of World Champions.

What Vin Scully means to me

I asked you to send me your best Vin Scully memory, and I got a lot of responses. I will relate selected ones in each newsletter. And keep emailing them to me.

Michael D. Gonzalez: All through high school and college I worked at my dad’s service station.  This meant many nights and weekends alone at work. I always looked forward to turning the game on the radio and spending the spring and summer evenings listening to Vin (and Jerry Doggett and Ross Porter).  I grew up with the Garvey, Cey Lopes and Russell infield, listened to Vin describe the Joe Ferguson throw home in the ’74 World Series.  I refused to go out and pump gas until Steve Howe struck out Reggie Jackson.  I listened along as Fernandomania swept us off our feet.  The soundtrack of my youth was classic rock and Vin Scully.  Now, my children are in their 20’s.  They have had the privilege of watching the games on the big screen along with Vin and I.  What they miss however, is the intimacy that Vin and I shared, all alone on those summer nights as he wished me a very pleasant good evening.

The TV deal

If you would like to complain about the Dodgers’ horrible TV situation, here’s who to contact:

For the Dodgers, click here or call (866) DODGERS (866-363-4377)

For Time Warner, click here.

For your local cable or satellite provider, consult your bill for the customer service number and for the website.

And finally

Filmmaker Tom Wilson has made a documentary about the Dodgers’ TV situation. You can read all about it here.

Have a comment or something you'd like to see in a future Dodgers newsletter? Email me and follow me on Twitter: @latimeshouston