Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Game 15 Thread: April 16 vs. Pirates, 7p

Brad Penny (1-2) vs. Paul Maholm (0-1).

COMMENTS: Dodgers can achieve a series victory with a win tonight. SoSG has run the numbers and found out that the Dodgers are 2-0 this year when scoring 11 runs. As such, we're boldly predicting tonight's key to the game: score 11 runs. Free James Loney's hitting streak is up to 14 games, and his .380 average is sixth in the NL. But it was nice last night to see Jeff Kent bust out the whipping stick (Kent leads the Dodgers with 3 HR), inspiring both Russell Martin (his homer last night lifted his average to .184) and Andruw Jones (an unbuttoned jersey and a two-hit night lifted his average to .149). Let's hope the boys can keep the runs coming (they can use Immodium on tomorrow's day off).

And speaking of intestinal fortitude, a Daughter-in-Law of Steve Garvey will be in the house tonight, along with a Mom of a Son of Steve Garvey (man, that sounds awful now that I've written it; no slight mention). Baseline seats and everything. How many fleece blankets will the two of them procure from tonight's giveaway? Stay tuned.

59 comments:

Erin said...

I'll be there also, only to collect my fleece blanket.

Also, Nomar is back tonight. What more do Dodger fans need to get them excited about this season?**


**please, please tell me that sarcasm can translate over the Internet.

Steve Sax said...

Erin, please say hi to my family for me.

"Hey Blake DeWitt! Thanks for your 5 RBI and 6 runs, both good enough for fourth on the team. Now move over for Nomar."**

Steve Sax said...

I'm all for 790AM and everything, but this is the worst pre-game show ever on air right now.

Erin said...

Seriously. Did you hear Obama flub that question about the infield fly rule? Disgraceful.

Erin said...

I'm at the game, I have my blanket, and Steve Sax's family wishes everyone well.

Question: now that I have the blanket, do I even bother staying for the game?**

Steve Sax said...

Erin, my family is the one with the fleece blankets.

As for Obama, at least he hit a home run from the plate tonight. Hillary said she did, fending off several pitches inside at that at bat, but when she was shown tape of her weak comebacker, she said she misremembered the at bat.

Steve Sax said...

Kemp evades the tag!!!

Erin said...

Kemp avoiding that tag is the craziest thing I've seen.

Juan Pierre and Nomar got the loudest applause in the player intros. Way to go Dodger fans.

StolenMonkey86 said...

5-0 Dodgers.

5 down, 6 to go.

karina said...

how sweet was that kemp assist?

Steve Sax said...

Vinny could not get his head around how Xavier Nady ran right through the stop sign to make the last out at the plate, down 4-0. It's the Pirates, for pete's sake! They are on a streak of something like 15 losing seasons! What do you expect?

I hope Penny just coasts a la Loiaza last night, and earns a well-deserved win in his first non-Peavy start since opening day.

Steve Sax said...

The Saxes are sucking down margaritas in the Baseline Club right now. I'll try to get a movie of this up tomorrow.

Steve Sax said...

Fourth inning, Nady comes up, and Vin is all over him again for his second-inning gaffe. Nady almost hits one out but flies to Kemp to end the inning.

I think Vin plans to drive next to the Pirates' team bus tonight, roll down his window, and moon Nady.

Steve Sax said...

Kemp with a hit, is now 2-for-3.

Heck, even Pierre got a bunt single and is 1-for-2.

Steve Sax said...

Free James Loney flies in the fourth to end the inning. He's got two RBI but both on SFs, so his hitting streak is on the line.

Steve Sax said...

For that matter, so is McClouth's (0-for-2 tonight so far)

Steve Sax said...

Nomar hasn't done looked half-bad on defense so far, with at least two chances that I've seen.

Steve Sax said...

Andruw with a hit down the left field line!

Orel said...

Wassup rockers? I believe this game isn't official until the Dodgers score 11.

Orel said...

Penny's knee-high socks make it look like he's wearing pantaloons.

Steve Sax said...

Orel, thank god you're here. I've been crying in my fleece blanket.

Steve Sax said...

And McClouth picks up a hit, lengthening his streak to 15 straight.

Wherefore art thou, FJL?

Steve Sax said...

Penny gives up an unearned run and is asked to take a seat, stoked to a 6-1 lead. Cruel.

Steve Sax said...

Matt Kemp made a pretty poor throw from RF to home...good thing it was the third out (though he didn't know it)...

Orel said...

Wait, both Erin and Sax are at tonight's game? All this fleece blanket talk has got me confused.

Steve Sax said...

Orel, you're getting fleeced.

Orel said...

Dodgers' top four hitters have been 17-for-30 between last night and tonight. That will get it done, yessir.

Steve Sax said...

Dodgers have gotten the leadoff man on in each of the first six innings.

Steve Sax said...

Jose Bautista goes down, and the Dodgers cue the defeated pacman sound effect.

Orel said...

E-5. Welcome back, Nomar!

Steve Sax said...

Remember how I gave Nomar props for his defense? Well he just blew a potential DP ball at third. E-5, and E-Sax for the comment in the first place.

Orel said...

Defeated Pacman Sound Effect—don't they have a new album out?

Orel said...

Nice to see Beimel being effective.

Steve Sax said...

Quick aside. Earth's Best Organic Baby Food, Rice and Lentil (for 6 months and up): Not all that bad.

In case you were wondering.

Steve Sax said...

Orel, you're thinking of The Arcade Fire Emblem.

Orel said...

The streak stays aliiiiive! FJL!

Steve Sax said...

Loney gets his hit in what is likely is last AB of the game. 1-for-2 tonight with 2 SFs, not bad.

Dodgers get the leadoff man on for the seventh inning in seven tries.

Orel said...

Not all that bad for adults? Or babies?

Chris said...

Nice to see Loney keep the streak alive...Free James Loney!

Chris said...

I also have to say thoser little Dodger batting hemoet radios we got at the suite work really well! The radio at my office doesn't like AM stations, but that little helmet does the trick!

Orel said...

Hey dodgerfan.net Chris, is that you? It's like a reunion or something here.

Steve Sax said...

"...on a miracle doube by Pierre" -Vin Scully

True words, spoken.

Orel said...

Meanwhile, fan fave Juan Pierre with the RBI double!

Orel said...

Remember kids, 11 runs or bust!

Steve Sax said...

And since Vin (and we) keep blabbering about the leadoff Dodger reaching every inning, I should note that the Dodgers have only scored that leadoff runner in three of the seven innings, stranding him in the other four.

Chris said...

Yup, it's me! Just seeing what's going on and keeping an eye on tonight's game. How are you guys?

Steve Sax said...

whoops, Vin did indeed say "double" without the misspelling.

Vin is amazed at the crowd on a Wednesday night. Shoot, they gave away 50,000 free blankets for pete's sake.

Steve Sax said...

Chris, pull up a chair. Loved the Hal McRae meltdown.

Orel said...

We can't complain, Chris. The good guys are winning.

Chris said...

Yeah, that was a good one, courtesy of Dodgerfan Alex (brother of Dodgerfan Chris). He lives in Arizona so unfortunately had to miss out on last week's fun.

Steve Sax said...

Zito, by the way, is 0-4 this year. He has never started a season 0-4.

Steve Sax said...

Kemp called out on strikes in the eighth, blowing the streak of leadoff men getting aboard. Oh well.

Orel said...

Kemp has been on the wrong side of a few close calls tonight.

Steve Sax said...

He has, but his throw home to nail Nady in the second was right on target (though he had Nady by a mile).

And, it seems like everyone else (Pierre and Furcal if not others) were beneficiaries of close calls at first.

Orel said...

I had Nady by a mile. But then I put some cream on it and it cleared right up.

Orel said...

I have no idea what that even means.

Steve Sax said...

And Sammy is back (despite a two-out double)!

Good night, everybody!

Steve Sax said...

Hey Orel, you know what's good for curing you of the Nadys? Sleep.

Under a nice warm fleece blanket.

Steve Sax said...

One could say that the Pirates gt kicked in the Nadys tonight.