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Dodger Blue > Dodgers News > Dodgers Make Correct Decision In Removing Ross Stripling, In Spite Of Loss
Dodgers News

Dodgers Make Correct Decision In Removing Ross Stripling, In Spite Of Loss

Jeff Spiegel
April 8, 2016
6 Min Read
Dodgers Make Correct Decision In Removing Ross Stripling, In Spite Of Loss
John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
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John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

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The thing was, I’m not sure anyone watching the game had supreme confidence in Stripling to get six more outs in this one. In fact, I went so far as to joke that I wanted Kenley Jansen to come in to record the last six outs of the game.

Alas, Roberts let Stripling go back out there in the eighth, and he got Brandon Crawford to fly out to open the inning. Next up was Angel Pagan, who walked on five pitches (although ball four was pretty darn close to a strike). And that was that for Mr. Striping.

After 100 pitches and just five outs away from a no-hitter, Ross Stripling was done.

And Twitter just about exploded.

Not with rational thought or reasoned arguments, of course, but with the hottest of hot takes fueled purely by emotions. From former players to national writers to LA Times columnist Bill Plaschke, it seemed no one agreed with Roberts’ first big decision as Dodger manager.

You know, except those who understood what they were looking at. These were the folks who knew that Stripling was just 71.1 innings removed from Tommy John surgery in 2014. These were the observers who recognized that having thrown 100 pitches on Friday, Stripling had thrown more pitches in any of the 40 professional starts he had made in his entire career.

Or how about those who that realized that Stripling had thrown just 58 strikes on Friday night? That he had allowed four baserunners on the night — including two walks in his last six batters? Or even just the fact that this was Stripling’s first start of the season after pitching more than two innings just once all spring?

And just for good measure, let’s not forget: we’re talking about a two-run game, on the road, in the pouring rain. But hey, as my dad always said, ‘Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story.’

Yes, Chris Hatcher came in and gave up the game-tying home run, and yes Joe Blanton allowed a walk-off home run in the 10th inning, but neither of those things change the fact that Roberts unequivocally made the correct decision.

You make the decision and take your chances; just because it didn’t work out doesn’t mean it wasn’t the right call. The Dodgers need Stripling to be healthy for the next couple of months while they await the rest of their rotation’s return to health.

In fact, if Stripling is going to pitch anything like this in the Majors, they’re going to need him the next few years — something they surely were thinking when they decided 100 pitches was enough for the night.

So, yes, Roberts was right on Friday night. And, well, he lost anyways.

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TAGGED:Chris HatcherDave RobertsLos Angeles DodgersRoss Stripling
ByJeff Spiegel
Jeff Spiegel was raised in California but currently resides in Portland, Oregon. After graduating from the University of Oregon, he worked in sports before entering journalism full time — first as a Sports Reporter and then as the Associate Editor of a local newspaper. Online, he has been writing about both the Dodgers and Raiders since 2012 — having written for DodgersNation.com and SBNation.com prior to joining both DodgerBlue.com and RaidersNation.com. He left full-time journalism in 2012 to become a pastor. Jeff can be found on Twitter at @JeffSpiegel. Favorite Dodger I'm going past and present (sort of) on this one. Recently, I was a die hard Yasiel Puig guy. The energy he played with was amazing and the hope and expectation he brought every single night was captivating. Whether it was a rifle from the warning track to throw a guy out at second, an aggressive bat flip or licking his bat, I was here for ALL of the Yasiel Puig era. Past tense, I'd go with Eric Gagné. This wasn't so much about Gagné himself as it was the experience of cheering for him. Yes, he was on steroids — but the dude was unlike any pitcher I've ever seen — he was NASTY. I still stand by the claim that if I needed one out and my life depended on it, and could choose any pitcher from any era to get me that out, I'm taking roided up Gagné in a heartbeat. Favorite Dodger Moment A few jump to mind immediately. Being born in November of 1988, I missed the last World Series by weeks — which also meant I didn't get to see the Dodgers win a playoff game until I was nearly 16. They had made the playoffs in 1995 and 1996, but were swept both times. In 2004, though, I got to see them win behind a complete game shutout from Jose Lima, and that was pretty freaking special. The next in-person moment that came to mind was the Manny Ramirez bobblehead night pinch-hit grand slam from 2009. Vin Scully claimed it was the loudest he had heard Dodger Stadium in 20 years, and it's hard to disagree. As far as ones I didn't get to see live, I'll throw one more out there: the back-to-back-to-back-to-back home runs that tied a game against the Padres in 2006 (plus the walk-off from Nomar Garciaparra in extra innings) was an all-timer. Obviously, the impending Dodgers World Series will quickly jump to the top of this list...
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