Friday, May 02, 2008

Game 29 Thread: May 2 @ Rockies, 6p

Brad Penny (4-2) vs. Jeff Francis (0-2).

COMMENTS: Will the weather affect this game? Click here for the latest Denver forecast.

If you recall the last time Penny pitched, the Dodgers scored 10 runs in the first inning en route to a 11-3 drubbing of Colorado. Meanwhile, Rockies ace Francis is still searching for his first win, even after holding the Dodgers to two runs over seven innings last Sunday. Penny is 13-2 lifetime against the Rockies. Francis has a career 2.64 ERA against the Dodgers. Magic 8-Ball says: Expect a pitching duel.

Hurting the Rockies is an injury to Troy Tulowitzki, which will sideline him for weeks, if not months. On the other hand, the Dodger offense is humming along. As a team, the Dodgers are batting .279/.360/.404, 2nd/3rd/9th-best in the NL. If Andruw Jones can rebound from his craptacular April—"I'm trying everything," he says—the Dodgers will enjoy the type of offensive production they haven't seen in years. Here's to seven in a row!

193 comments:

Orel said...

Epale, Dodger fans! Tonight's lineup:

Furcal, SS
Pierre, LF
Kemp, RF
Kent, 2B
Martin, 3B
Loney, 1B
Jones, CF
Bennett, C
Penny, P

Martin starting at third! In the outfield, it's Ethier's turn in the barrel.

Erin said...

Kent leads off the second with a freakin' triple, and neither Martin nor Loney can bring him in.

And now it's up to Jones. Great.

Erin said...

And Jones, predictably, strikes out on a ball out of the zone. Awesome. Not a good omen.

Erin said...

Penny isn't exactly holding up his end of the pitcher's duel, what with the three walks before getting out of the second inning.

2-0, Rockies.

Orel said...

Martin makes a sweet play to save Penny's bacon.

Orel said...

Time to hit, boys. The air's thinner here, remember?

Orel said...

Vin says leadoff triples score 85% of the time. Welcome to the Dodger 15%.

Erin said...

Who will be the first to start a new blog entitled "Dodger 15%"?

Alex Cora said...

What did I miss? Hey Fur CAL got on with 2 outs. Come on Pierre.

Erin said...

I was starting to write a post about how it makes no sense to have Pierre bat after Furcal, since it's always an automatic out right after the guy who gets on base constantly.

And then Pierre went and hit a single.

Alex Cora said...

Here we go Kemp - 2 men on!

Orel said...

Dodgers fail to convert Kent's triple. Penny not so sharp.

27 degrees in Denver.

Orel said...

Pierre cares not for conventional wisdom.

Orel said...

Damn, Kemp.

Alex Cora said...

Damn.

karina said...

Murphy's law, Erin?

Epale everyone!

Erin said...

Penny is really screwing us here.

Home run, Helton. 3-0, Rockies.

Orel said...

Epale, Big K!

Murphy's Law indeed. I was getting ready to type 1-2-3 inning for Penny...boom, Helton HR.

Erin said...

As part of the Dodgers' attempt to make Dodger Stadium more environmentally friendly, they should consider a change to the way guys drink water in the dugout.

Every time a guy gets a drink, he uses a disposable cup one time, then throws it on the ground. That's not exactly "green", and it's always bothered me. I don't know the solution, but someone should look into it.

karina said...

Hmmm, that's a good idea. But players do that in every dugout, maybe they could have a rule to stop that.

Longoria was blocked at the plate!

karina said...

Francis has his best outing of the season so far against the Dodgers, bad timing, i guess...

Erin said...

Yeah Karina, it was an awesome throw from Brandon Moss to nail Longoria.

We're talking about the Sox/Rays game, in case you guys are confused.

And yeah, they do it in every dugout. MLB should look into this. I'm going to write a post on my site about it, I think.

Orel said...

Individually labeled water bottles? It's more about changing the culture than the method.

karina said...

I think it's disgusting every time you see a dugout after the game and see piles of wasted cups.

Is it too difficult to put those on a bin?

Erin said...

Absolutely. People have to care that they're wasting so damn much just for an ounce of water.

Steve Sax said...

I think Juan Pierre should have to use the cups off the dugout ground. And Andruw Jones, too.

3-0. Ugh.

Erin said...

As far as I know, Dodger Stadium still has no way to recycle the plastic water bottles, plastic water cups and aluminum beer bottles. So I guess we need to change the culture of the whole stadium.

I know Fenway has enacted recycling at the park, so it's not unheard of in MLB.

karina said...

Orel, i got another gem about the Dodgers, this time from the Strike Zone Channel:

speaking about Jones' struggles at the plate, the announcer says:

Jones can't hit righties this season...or lefties for that matter

Erin said...

Vin Scully is telling a story about a one-thumbed umpire.

The man should never retire.

Steve Sax said...

Bennett actually works a walk, and Penny sacrifices him over for the second out. Enter Raffy...

Orel said...

Erin, just tell Frank McCourt that Fenway recycles. You'll see recycling bins in Dodger Stadium faster than you can say costusVladimirGuerrero!

karina said...

That Martin-Loney DP. I think i love Martin like i'd love my son.

Orel said...

Karina, that would be funny if it weren't so, so true.

karina said...

haven't you heard something like "i laugh so i don't have to cry"

Erin said...

Martin has made two amazing plays at third tonight.

Alex Cora said...

Ugh, can't make it - have to goto sleep, hope I wake up to a comeback win! Go dodgers!

Steve Sax said...

Erin, remember how proud Frankie McCourt was of the flush-free urinals' water-saving capacity?

One would think he wouldn't piss on another recycling opportunity...

Erin said...

I think you're right, Sax. Don't worry. I'll be all over this first thing tomorrow, once I catch up on all the other posts I've avoided in the last few days.

Erin said...

Padres already lost, Mets are beating the Diamondbacks 4-2 in the third. Dodgers might have an opportunity to cut Arizona's lead, but only if they start to score some runs.

Erin said...

Pierre leads off with a single and Kemp doubles him home, all while I was away checking on the Sox. Kent can do some damage here.

Orel said...

"I laugh so I don't have to cry." Did a lot of that last season.

Orel said...

Russell beats out the wide grounder! You think Kemp would have been able to advance on that play though.

Erin said...

Atkins saves a run with a nice play at third, but Martin gets to first anyway.

Now Loney needs to come through with RISP.

Orel said...

C'mon, FJL!

Erin said...

Scully points out that Andruw Jones said something to Loney before the latter went to the plate.

I can only pray that Jones said, "Do exactly the opposite of what I do."

karina said...

that's my theory, sometimes it's painful to give your heart to something you can't control like sports fandom, so let's try to be cheerful.

Erin said...

Kemp and Martin execute the double steal, while Loney gets to a full count.

karina said...

nice...double steal!

Erin said...

And he walks! Bases loaded!


Oh. For Andruw Jones. Looks like Francis is done for the night. Is this a good thing?

Orel said...

Double steal! Torre really seems to favor the double steal, and he seems to know when to call them.

Loney works the walk! Bases loaded, 1 out with...uh oh...Andruw Jones coming up.

Francis getting yanked.

karina said...

Loney draws a walk, Jones coming up...would he at least hit a sac fly?

Orel said...

Karina, that's a beautiful thing. Let's try to remember it because Andruw is up with the bases juiced.

karina said...

Erin, the Red Sox are playing outstanding defense tonight.

Erin said...

Indeed they are, Karina. And Moss, the guy who made the great throw to nail Longoria at the plate, just hit a solo shot to make it 2-0, Sox.

Orel said...

Hawks 102, Celtics 98 w/10.6 seconds left!

Erin said...

Oh for the love of god. Third strikeout for Jones, once again on a pitch practically in the dirt.

Jones did get a bad call for the strike two pitch, but still.

And Mark Sweeney is batting for Bennett? Is this supposed to be an advantage for us?

Orel said...

Andruw can't even make contact. But, in keeping with my newfound attitude, I have a smile on my face!

karina said...

Andruw Jones career with bases loaded:

AVG 272, 4 grand slams. Tonight: 2 K's.

listening to Carlos Hernandez describing his bad balance and his stubborness looking for inside pitches, depresses me.

Orel said...

Sweeney in for Bennett? Looks like Martin is moving back behind the plate.

Orel said...

Torre should send Kemp.

Orel said...

Sweeney showing discipline. Full count.

Orel said...

Yes! Way to work the walk, Sweeney! 3-2 Rockies.

Erin said...

Sweeney walks in a run. That was the best possible outcome, as far as I'm concerned.

karina said...

Bennett drew a walk, is Penny batting up next or Torre will send Ethier?

Orel said...

Game 7 in Boston, Sunday Sunday Sunday!

Erin said...

DeWitt is DeMan. He can do this. Positive attitude, right?

Orel said...

DeWitt's in because he'll take over at third.

karina said...

My mistake. I guess it's Dewitt, God bless him.

Erin said...

I don't think the Celtics are losing the series, but whoever is waiting for them (the Wizards?) must be happy to see it go to seven.

Erin said...

DeWitt!!!!!

Orel said...

You're right, Erin! DeWitt is DeMan! 4-3 Dodgers!

karina said...

let's show some love to Dewitt. I'm sorry i thought about Ethier first. Nomar and LaRoche might think at this point to be the backup 3B.

Orel said...

That would be incredible if the Hawks won Sunday. You never know!

Erin said...

D-Backs are now down 5-2 to the Mets.

Orel said...

You're right, Karina. Great AB for DeWitt that the Dodgers should consider before rushing LaRoche back.

Orel said...

I'm no Mets fan but...go Mets!

Erin said...

We can be Mets' fans until Monday.

Orel said...

C'mon Raffy, let's bust this one open! Or as open as a game can get in Colorado!

Orel said...

That'll do.

Erin said...

After scoring a total of five runs in the 50 innings coming into tonight, the Sox have now scored six through 3.2 innings in this game. That's nice to see.

Erin said...

Furcal!!! Sh*t! I missed it watching Ortiz hit an RBI single. Ugh!

Erin said...

Who is this comeback team? I hardly recognize them.

Orel said...

Is Torre wearing a hearing aid?

karina said...

Well, Orel is working, you can't stop making game threads.

I put the gnome pic on my MSN and hid on my facebook account. I think i'll make it my profile photo.

Orel said...

Erin, Cleveland plays the winner of the Celtics/Hawks series.

karina said...

They are even showing consistency

Orel said...

Erin, dual tuner TiVo!

Karina, that's sweet. Looking forward to your gnomey profile photo.

Erin said...

I have the Extra Innings package, which means I technically could watch the channel that shows eight games at once. But, the Dodgers' games are blacked out, so when they play at the same time, I am forced to flip.

Erin said...

Right, I knew it was Cleveland or Washington. I even knew Cleveland won tonight. I'm just a moron.

Steve Sax said...

I wsa going to bag on Sweeney for the graphic they put up during his at bat, that listed his career PH at .272 or something like that. Of course, that was because his current batting average is .100.

But then he coaxes the walk, and then the house of cards falls down for the Rockies. Seven runs, on an inning that ended only when Juan Pierre came to the plate (thankfully with none on). Wow.

Steve Sax said...

Dudes dudes dudes

MLB.com tv - mosaic. Multiple games streaming at once.

Erin said...

MLB TV doesn't black out Dodger games?

Erin said...

I'll be in Chicago for two months without my Extra Innings package, which shall be painful, so I need to figure out the best method to watch as many games as I can.

Steve Sax said...

Erin: good point, I suppose it depends where you are located.

I've noticed, this year, that mlb.com has targeted banner ads based on where they think you're located (my connection at work goes through servers in Arizona, so I keep getting Snakes tickets ads; when I was in the bay area, I got alternating Giants and A's ads).

Erin said...

I guess when I'm in Chicago, I won't be getting blacked out on Dodgers or Red Sox games, so that's good.

karina said...

I'm working on my profile photo with the gnome, i'm putting it on my shoulder.

I do love Russell Martin like a son. Let's go King James!

Steve Sax said...

Loney, that was a pretty weak GIDP.

Erin said...

I certainly love Russell Martin more than I ever thought I could love a Canadian.

Steve Sax said...

Erin, when you're in Chi-town, remember that you can buy mlb.com tv by the month and save some dough.

Hey, what months will you be there, anyway? I may visit in June.

Steve Sax said...

Martin, or his agent, had better call up the Dodgers and make a frickin' deal.

Erin said...

I am leaving on May 15 or thereabouts, and I will likely be there until mid-July or later.

Steve Sax said...

Mets up 5-2 in the sixth; Giants and Padres have both already lost.

Erin said...

Wow. Great play from Martin at third tonight, and then DeWitt comes in and gets an error.

Steve Sax said...

Erin, are you changing the name of your blog to Beantown Midwest?

DeWitt: Russell wouldn't have made that error at third (just kidding).

Orel said...

Karina, you're feeling very maternal tonight!

Ooh, E-DeWitt. That's okay, you've earned it.

Erin said...

Home run from David Wright makes it 7-2, Mets, and really helps my fantasy team, too.

Micah Owings should stick to hitting, I guess.

Steve Sax said...

7-2 Mets in the sixth (they just added two more).

Holy smokes that was almost a run-scoring blooper. Come on, Dodgers.

Steve Sax said...

Erin, you and I are on such a similar wavelength tonight, I feel like I want to ask you to pass me a beer from the fridge.

DaMmit, DeWitt! Make a frickin' play at third already!

Steve Sax said...

DeWitt needs to DeFrost out there, as a mid-game replacement.

Erin said...

Plenty of beer in my fridge, available for the taking.

Maybe I'll buy you one at Wrigley if you're in Chicago in June.

Steve Sax said...

I'll be there during the interleague series, 6/20-22 @ Wrigley.

Erin said...

If we end up with a Spurs/Lakers conference finals, I think things might get ugly in these game threads.

Holy crap. DeWitt cost us two runs, and the Rockies have a runner at third with no outs. Let's hold on here, Dodgers.

karina said...

I guess, Orel. But i hadn't felt so much admiration for a Dodgers catcher since Mike Scioscia (yes, i know about Piazza and LoDuca, but they were never charismatic to me)

Russell Martin is one of the ballplayers who play like they were children, with all the passion and enthusiasm. I love that kind of ballplayer.

Orel said...

Hmmm, seems that Wade is dwowning out there....

Erin said...

Wade would have two easy ground ball outs if not for DeWitt.

Orel said...

Dammit, Wade plunks Taveras. You he's going to steal.

Erin said...

Methinks things are unraveling a bit here.

karina said...

My mistake again. Dewitt hasn't been as sharp as usual with his glove :(

Orel said...

Here comes the gnome-meister himself, Joe Beimel!

Steve Sax said...

DeWitt's errors have cost us two runs already...7-5 with the tying run at the plate and a man on third. NO OUTS.

Steve Sax said...

If Beimel can get out of this with one more run, I'll be satisfied.

Steve Sax said...

At least Tony Bennett isn't behind the plate any longer.

Orel said...

Just think how difficult it must be concentrating on the runner at first, only to shift your entire field of vision at the last minute and throw a perfect strike.

Erin said...

Good lord. Taveras steals, of course, and a full count to whoever the batter is. This is not looking good.

Are we still being positive?

Erin said...

Holliday, Helton and Atkins coming up, and Beimel stays in the game.

Steve Sax said...

Oh man, I have a baaaaad feeling about this. Bases juiced, none out, Holliday up.

Orel said...

We are being positive through gritted teeth.

Steve Sax said...

Those yellow dots are pulsing on the espn.com gamecast. 3-2 count, here we go.

Steve Sax said...

Those yellow dots are pulsing on the espn.com gamecast. 3-2 count, here we go.

Erin said...

Am I crazy for thinking DeWitt should have gone home on that grounder from Holliday?

Steve Sax said...

Why didn't DeWitt go home on that throw?

Orel said...

"I didn't think Blake DeWitt looked too mature on that ball," says Vinny.

Steve Sax said...

Erin, would you at least pass me the chips and salsa? And stop hogging the remote!

Orel said...

Did you see Loney lay out for that catch? Pretty limber for a big guy.

Steve Sax said...

"Come on, Beimel" mouths DeWitt.

"Let's not make a third error in the inning, DeWitt" mutters Beimel.

Erin said...

Orel, I think Scully said "sure" not "mature."

Sorry, Sax. Great minds think alike.

Steve Sax said...

Okay, it may be the karma since i'm scoreboard watching the Mets-Snakes game. I just closed that window.

Erin said...

Holy moly. I can't believe we escaped that inning with the lead.

Steve Sax said...

...and it works! Dodgers get the DP despite Holliday's upending of Furcal. 7-6, Blue.

Orel said...

Furcal is grace in motion in the 4-6-3 DP.

karina said...

It was very close. Let's see if the baseball gods are with us tonight.

Steve Sax said...

Erin: True story--

One time, back in high school, I was over at Pedro Guerrero's house (SoSG Pedro, that is), and we both replied to a question from Pedro's mom with the exact same words. "Great minds think alike," I remarked.

"Meager minds never differ," retorted Pedro's mom.

Steve Sax said...

Okay, I'm not looking at other game's scores anymore. Dodgers-focused. Let's go, Blue.

Oh good, Manny Corpas is in!

Erin said...

Ha, that's a good comeback. I've never heard that before. Sounds like a story Scully would tell.

An extra-base hit for Jones! That has to be good for our karma.

Steve Sax said...

Wow, even Andruw Frickin' JONES can get a double off of Corpas.

Erin said...

Congrats, Lakers' fans. ESPN says Kobe is the MVP this season.

Steve Sax said...

Erin, I suddenly got the sinking feeling that you and I would not be good broadcasting booth partners.

But at least we'd agree with each other all the time.

Steve Sax said...

Hey, without spoiling it, how was this week's Office episode? Going to watch it with Ms. Sax in ten minutes (she's pencilled me into her calendar).

Steve Sax said...

I really thought the first Office back from the hiatus was just weird. And last week's (Michael and Dwight in NYC, the rest of the guys locked out) was not that funny, either. Is this week's better?

Erin said...

In that case, Sax, I suppose I'll have to ask McCourt to ignore the joint application I submitted for us.

Orel said...

Thanks, Erin. I was wondering if that was Vin's way of saying DeWitt should have started the DP at home.

Steve Sax said...

Andre Ethier just got a walk, and he almost lapped Jones who was still completing his stand-up double.

Erin said...

I liked the dinner party episode, because I'm all for the craziness of Jan, but last week's was a little weak. I haven't watched the most recent one yet, and probably won't until tomorrow, unfortunately.

Steve Sax said...

Erin, I'm sure he'll recycle that application, though.

Erin said...

Two errors in the game for DeWitt, and now he can't lay down his sac bunt. He should have been swinging away anyway, if you ask me, but still. He's gotta do what the team asks of him.

Orel said...

Hey, what's Jones doing on second? He must be wondering the same thing.

Erin said...

I take back my negative feelings about DeWitt. Down 0-2, he works a walk to load the bases. Nicely done, kid.

Steve Sax said...

Well done, DeWitt, working a walk iut of an 0-2 count.

I actually feel a little bad for Corpas. He's awful.

karina said...

I think the gnome on my shoulder is working!

Erin said...

Philly beat the Giants with a walkoff homer in the bottom of the tenth. Ha!

Orel said...

Okay, when a nubber results in a run and no outs, you know we're going to win this game.

Erin said...

If anything Pierre does results in runs scored and no outs, then I might agree with you, Orel.

Orel said...

Touché, Erin.

Erin said...

Time for Kemp's second career grand slam.

Nevermind. As I wrote that, he hit a double down the line to score three runs. That'll do.

Orel said...

Karina, is your gnome picture up?

Kemp clears the bases! Kemp for President!

Steve Sax said...

Pierre grounds into a force out at home. What a surprise!!!

karina said...

SoSG Pedro's mom rules (and the gnome). You'd better send me some pics of you with blue or yellow faces and i'll put the gnome on.

karina said...

nope, but i will out it up, so you can see it.

Steve Sax said...

Sorry my comment is late; Ms Sax commandeered the computer. So much for The Office.

Kemp's bases-clearing double was smooth.

karina said...

pic is up! (though it's not a very good picture of myself)

Erin said...

Anyone surprised to see Chan Ho Park in trouble?

Orel said...

That's great, Karina! Hopefully it'll be as lucky as me doing Game Threads.

karina said...

deal, Orel!

Steve Sax said...

Seriously, putting Chan Ho Park out there in Coors Field seems pretty self-flagellating. However, he gets out of a two-on, none-out jam with DeWitt's smooth DP and a hard fly out. On to the ninth, 11-6.

Steve Sax said...

karina, you're on the left, correct?

Erin said...

Let's put up ten more on Redman, okay?

Steve Sax said...

Loney, not such a good night. 0-for-4 with a run and a walk.

Jones can't get his girth to first to beat out that throw. Two out.

Steve Sax said...

AZ lost.

Erin said...

Should we really waste Saito with a five-run lead in cold weather like this?

karina said...

LOL. Yes, it's me on the left...

Steve Sax said...

Another Office question: there have only been three episodes aired since the hiatus, right? It seemed pretty quick that Michael was watching Jan flip out at the dinner party in week 1, and then she's out of the picture entirely in week 2. Who did she piss off?

Steve Sax said...

Jones actually had moderate wheels on that fly out. One down.

Erin said...

I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of Jan. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking, since I think the actress is great.

I guess Saito was just warming for fun in the bullpen, since Park is still in for the ninth. Good thing.

Orel said...

Park trying to close it out.

Orel said...

Anyone notice...Dodgers hang another 11-spot on the board?

Orel said...

"And that will be that!" says Vinny. 11-6 Dodgers. Better start on tomorrow's Game Thread!

Good night, kiddos!

Erin said...

In case you didn't notice, the Dodgers scored eleven runs again tonight.

Erin said...

Oh Orel, you beat me to it.

Goodnight everyone.

karina said...

Yep. It's definitely a trend. #11 is Manny Mota's number so i guess it's a good one.

karina said...

Night, Erin and guys. See you on Sunday!

Orel said...

I can't understand a word Furcal is saying in the post-game interview.

Steve Sax said...

I don't care what Furcal is saying as long as he keeps hitting like he has this year...

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

Just trying to get this up to 200. Flyers rule.