Saturday, May 03, 2008

Game 30 Thread: May 3 @ Rockies, 5p

Esteban Loaiza (1-2) vs. Jorge De La Rosa (0-0).

COMMENTS: Yawn. Another 11-run game? Big deal. What's next? Esteban Loaiza. Coors Field. Uh-oh. Think of something positive to say! "Esteban Loaiza exhales carbon dioxide, which plants need to live." Nicely done! Anyway, what the hell was I thinking, predicting a pitchers' duel in Colorado yesterday? Today, expect the opposite. Bombs away! Let's hope Loaiza goes at least five innings and the bullpen can continue its strong work. Meanwhile, De La Rosa comes the Rockies straight from the Royals' triple-A team as a PTBNL from an earlier trade, meaning against the Dodgers he'll be Bantha fodder. Or Cy Young.

Despite the cold weather, Dodger bats stayed hotter than Iron Man ($38 million through Friday). Everybody contributed yesterday—even Andruw Jones had a double (to go with all those Double-Doubles). Russell Martin said play me anywhere, I'll still produce. Don't be surprised if Russell throws a few innings of relief today. Matt Kemp had four RBIs and leads the team with 21. With four RBIs of his own, Rafael Furcal is so hot (.380/.464/.612) he should be black market goods. If, nay, when the Dodgers get to the Rockies' hapless bullpen early again, we may be treated to another RBI cornucopia! A veritable scoring extravaganza! An amazing offensive lollapalooza!

194 comments:

Orel said...

Russell Martin is starting at third again! Ethier sits for a second straight day! If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

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

Erin said...

Guess DeWitt's two errors didn't please Torre too much.

The Mets had a chance to beat the D-Backs for us, but Arizona just blew it open in the eighth and leads 10-4 heading to the top of the ninth.

Orel said...

I wonder if it's more of a pro-Martin than an anti-DeWitt move by Torre.

Orel said...

Mets are toast. Shit. Let's hope we can keep that lead to four games.

Erin said...

Wow. Pierre's incredible lack of bunting skills actually worked to his advantage there, as he bunted hit over the head of the third baseman. That's something.

Erin said...

Correction: bunted it, not hit.

Erin said...

Bases are loaded, Kent strikes out. Martin at the plate. Let's not let this opportunity pass us by, boys.

Alex Cora said...

Great! bases Loaded 0 out, oops make that 1 out, caome on blue!

Erin said...

Hey Loney, how about a hit with RISP?

Alex Cora said...

How did everyone get on base?

Erin said...

Thank you. I will indeed take a bases-clearing double.

Alex Cora said...

That was a sweet stroke by Loney! Dodgers 4-0!

Alex Cora said...

Dammit! Jones is SO BAD!!!! Why is he playing????

Erin said...

Infield hit for Furcal, bunt hit from Pierre, Kemp singled to left, and the bases were loaded.

Erin said...

Jones is terrible. He's definitely a cure for a struggling pitcher.

Alex Cora said...

Thanks erin - sure is nice to turn on the game and see the bases loaded!!

Alex Cora said...

Were Loiza and that guy he just got out have words with each other?

Erin said...

I didn't see. I flipped to the Red Sox game, and just turned back to see Loaiza get a bloop single to help his own cause.

Erin said...

Bases loaded with nobody out for the second consecutive inning.

You guys, this team might be on a roll.

Alex Cora said...

So, Loaiza was coming off the field and the other player was jogging back to the dugout behind him and Loaiza turned around and said something - my volume is off, so I don't know if the announcers noted it or not. We will see if some dodgers or tockies get plunked tonight.

Alex Cora said...

Bases loaded AGAIN - and Kemp wtih the sac fly.

Erin said...

Double steal again!

Alex Cora said...

We need as many runs as possible at this ballpark. No lead is safe.

Alex Cora said...

I LOVE the double steal!!! Torre is awesome.

Erin said...

In this park, we need to just keep piling on. A six-run lead is not nearly enough.

Alex Cora said...

That was great baserunning by Pierre - to move from 2nd to 3rd on ground out in front of you. Nice.

Erin said...

Ha, AC, we're on the same page tonight.

Alex Cora said...

yeah - 6 run lead is not safe - ie last night.

Orel said...

It's Amateur Night at Coors Field!

Alex Cora said...

What the hell was that? Kent couldn't bend over with that 40 year old back! And Jones lolligagging out there to the ball.

Erin said...

We have our own amateur, apparently, as Loiaza can't find the plate. Not even close on that four-pitch walk to Atkins.

Orel said...

Ah, I see Loaiza is sharing the wealth. Not a good idea, Esteban!

Erin said...

This is going to get ugly really fast if Loaiza doesn't throw the kind of strikes that don't drop end up as base hits.

Alex Cora said...

What the hell is wrong with the defense? Pierre bobbles the ball - not like he had a chance to throw out Helton with his weak arm.

Steve Sax said...

Loiaza wants to keep this interesting, giving up a run in the second. Now two on, two out, 1-2 count...

Steve Sax said...

Sorry, 6-2. My fury is getting in the way of my addition.

Erin said...

Oh my dear god. HBP loads the bases with nobody out. Painful. Honeycutt's on the phone already. Good idea. Let's bring in Kuo.

Alex Cora said...

That was pretty nice play for Jones to flip to Kemp for the throw back into the infield, probably saved a run.

Orel said...

I would wager the final score of this game is not going to be 6-2.

Steve Sax said...

Honeycutt is on the phone, asking Jason Schmidt how he feels.

Alex Cora said...

Bases loaded - but for THEM!!! AGGGHHH!

Alex Cora said...

HEY Furcal was on the infield dirt to pick up Pierre's relay - WOOHOO!

Steve Sax said...

AC, what the cameraman didn't show you was Jones momentum as he broke through the outfield wall, and only stopped when he got to a hot dog stand.

Erin said...

Well, that could have been much worse. Let's hope our own hits keep coming.

Alex Cora said...

Nice GUN by Kemp to keep that man on second.

Steve Sax said...

Oh, the Wienerschnitzel commercial.

Jones would like this ad.

Alex Cora said...

Phew - get out of that with only 3 run damage - bring Loaiza back????

Orel said...

At this rate, the final score will be 27-14.

Erin said...

Wow, anyone else just see that Wienerschnitzel commercial? I'm no prude, but that might have been a little inappropriate for a family baseball game advertisement.

If you missed it, it involved a girl chasing after a hot dog, thinking she had caught it, only to realize she had actually awakened some young gentleman in a way he found quite pleasing.

Alex Cora said...

SS - A body in motion with stay in motion, unless stopped by a hot dog stand.

Orel said...

Jones has a tummy.

Alex Cora said...

Wow, that definitely NOT appropriate for a prime time baseball game.

Orel said...

Blink and it's 0-2 to Andruw.

Orel said...

I saw that commercial yesterday and was kind of aghast. And I don't consider myself prudish or anything.

Orel said...

C'mon Bennett, get on so we can get the pitcher's slot out of the way.

Alex Cora said...

This just in - RARE strikeout by Andruw Jones.

Orel said...

There ya go!

Orel said...

I don't like how Vin calls Loaiza "Estie." He hasn't earned first-name privileges.

Alex Cora said...

There you go Orel -Bennett on 1st. Pinch hitter?

Orel said...

Can a pitcher "settle down" after 77 pitches?

Orel said...

Torre's looking to save our bullpen too. Loaiza's in there for a few more innings.

Erin said...

I hope Kuo is warm. Loaiza really doesn't know where home plate is. Everything is wide left.

Except that home run from Holliday.

Orel said...

Holliday jack. 6-4 Dodgers.

Alex Cora said...

You guys are about 3 pitches ahead of my mlb.com, so that HR was painful to read, then WATCH!

Orel said...

I was wrong! Thank goodness. Torre with the hook, Kuo coming in.

Orel said...

Female streaker!

Orel said...

(Just kidding, AC.)

Alex Cora said...

You know what is starting to annoy me is Bennett having to stand up and lob the ball back to the pitcher - is he that old / weak that he can't put a little mustard on that ball? Guess that "special medicine" has worn off.

Alex Cora said...

Oh I thought you were talking about Jones Strikeout streak - he is up there like he isn't playing with his 'nads anyways.

Alex Cora said...

No lead is safe, huh?

Alex Cora said...

Hawpe pretty much golfed that using a 3 wood.

Orel said...

Are we going to hear about Kuo not having enough time to warm up?

Erin said...

I go to feed my neighbor's cats, which is annoying enough, but I come back to this? Ugh. We have a new game. What do we think the chances are that Kuo won't allow any other runs?

Alex Cora said...

Woohoo! We get out of the inning. Start from scratch again guys.

Orel said...

Aflac trivia question: Who holds the LA Dodger record for consecutive games reaching base safely?

Orel said...

I'M IN UR PARK
THROWIN MEATBLLZ

Alex Cora said...

Colorado Aflac trivia - with Julio Franco retired, who is the oldest MLB player? I say Miguel Tajada - you never know if he really told the truth.

Orel said...

All of a sudden our hitting has gone south. WTF?

Erin said...

That's the way to answer back, Dodgers. Give that pitcher a nice 1-2-3 inning.

Alex Cora said...

Wes Parker - or was he just the cycle machine.

Orel said...

Nice, AC.

Orel said...

Dodger Aflac answer: Shawn Green! 53 straight during 2000.

Erin said...

There's a story on SI.com entitled "How Mark Mangino put Kansas football back on the map."

Poor choice of words there, since all I can think of is that the article must be all about how you can see Mangino from space.

If you haven't seen the guy, check him out on Google Images.

Orel said...

Furcal with a sweet play to get Tavarez.

Orel said...

The first GIS picture of Mangino shows him picking his nose. Classy.

Alex Cora said...

Answer - Jamie Moyer (45)

Orel said...

Kuo K. 2 out.

Orel said...

1-2-3 for Kuo.

Alex Cora said...

Wow - K by Kuo.

karina said...

Hello, everyone!

just passing by while i leave the house, i don't know if it sounds crazy, but, why not having Ethier and moving Kemp to the CF?

Erin said...

This is where we knock the starter out of the game. I can feel it.

Orel said...

Epale, Karina! It might just come to that in CF.

Orel said...

Barmes with the airmail. Guess he figured Kent wasn't going for second. Keep thinking those same thoughts, Erin.

Orel said...

WP! Kent to second anyway!

Orel said...

De La Rosa is like Jekyll & Hyde.

Alex Cora said...

Karina - TOTALLY agree - Get Jones the heck out of there. Our defense will be fine with Kemp in CF.

Orel said...

Ball 4 to Martin.

karina said...

I don't know about you, but the more i see the baby blue playing together, the more i like them, how do you feel about it?

btw, how's been Martin on third tonight?

Orel said...

FREE JAMES LONEY! 3-RUN HR!

Erin said...

Whoo!!!! Loney is on his way to another 9-RBI night at Coors Field!!!

karina said...

Hail to King James!

Erin said...

Did I call it, or what?

Alex Cora said...

Worked that count back from 0-2 to hit a homer? Amazing. Nice - another 9 RBI day for Loney at Coors????

Orel said...

Erin's prophecy proves correct! Nice!

Erin said...

When he swung and missed in that at-bat, I didn't think he had a chance to do much. And when that ball left the bat, I also didn't think it was leaving the park. But thank goodness it did.

Alex Cora said...

And the BEST part was that Jones wasn't up with the bases loaded. Loney had to get it done there or else we would have been out of the inning. It is like the pitcher's spot is coming up after Loney.

karina said...

Alex Cora, maybe it's time to start a campaign "FREE ANDRE ETHIER, HIDE ANDRUW JONES"

i just think on "If you build it, he will come" (though i don't like that film much)

Orel said...

O GRILLI?

Orel said...

Quick, Erin, predict something else.

Orel said...

Aw, how can you not like Field of Dreams?

Andruw singles!

Erin said...

A solid base hit for Jones? My mind is reeling.

Erin said...

Loney will have eight RBI before the night is over, but won't get to nine.

Alex Cora said...

HOLY CRAP! Jones got a hit!!! Stop the presses!

Orel said...

I can live with that. Good prediction.

Orel said...

How do you stop the presses on a blog? Hit the stop button?

Erin said...

I will tell you that I almost predicted that Bennett would GIDP, but I didn't want to be negative.

Alex Cora said...

Karina - I'll start making the shirts now...

Orel said...

Damn, DP.

Orel said...

Looking forward to another epic Kuo bat flip here.

karina said...

hmm, it's a tiny little bit corny, that's all. Maybe if someday i read the book, i think i might feel it better.

Alex Cora said...

Come on Kuo, hit it out and flip the bat!

Alex Cora said...

Kuo almost beat that one out - what a gamer.

Orel said...

The book is good, I just read it.

Orel said...

Gotta jet, we're going to Versailles. Thanks for holding down the fort!

Alex Cora said...

What is up with Helton's "Craig Counsell" batting stance?

Alex Cora said...

Have a great time orel - can you post the game threads from there - of course 4 min past the hour?

Alex Cora said...

Wow - Strikeout by Kuo. 6 straight!

karina said...

Bye Orel!

Let's see if i can work something for those shirts before i go

Alex Cora said...

WOWOWOWOW. Kuo strikesout the side!!! Is he our new 5th starter?

Steve Sax said...

Turned it back on to see we were tied.

A wise blog commenter once said, "no lead at coors field is safe."

And then FJL bangs one! 9-6 Blue!

karina said...

it seems i can't, i gotta go, let's go blue!

Alex Cora said...

Furcal with 48 hits...wow he is really on fire.

Alex Cora said...

Classic Pierre with a bunt hit. Wow, all of the cylinders are hitting.

Alex Cora said...

Double steal Torre - come on!!!

Alex Cora said...

Green light Kemp on 3-0?

Alex Cora said...

Don't need to walk to Kemp, basesloaded. 0 out.

Steve Sax said...

Karina, "Hide Andruw Jones" is a great idea. Except we'd need a circus tent to do so.

10-6 Blue.

Alex Cora said...

That was a nice catch by Traveras, but still gets the sac fly by Kent

Steve Sax said...

We are the double steal champions.

Alex Cora said...

LOVE the double steal AGAIN!!!

Alex Cora said...

Yeah, XXL shirt for Jones.

Steve Sax said...

If Pierre had any gonads, he would have tried to steamroll Yorvit.

That would have been hilarious.

Erin said...

Eleven runs!

Alex Cora said...

Damn, Pierre thrown out at the plate- catcher's knee blocks Pierre's foot.

Steve Sax said...

And there's our 11th run, ladies and gentlemen!

Alex Cora said...

Pierre would have bounced off of him like a fly.

Erin said...

Homer here gives Loney the eight RBI I predicted.

Alex Cora said...

Now Kemp steamrolling the pitcher would have been funny.

Erin said...

Wow. Hell of a catch from Taveras. Damn him. Loney would have had seven.

Steve Sax said...

Nice catch by Tavares, but Loney sure is seeing the ball well...

Alex Cora said...

Another nice catch by Traveras - Loney robbed of his RBI.

Alex Cora said...

Thought it was going to be a 123 inning but that rookie got his first MLB hit. Next batter grounds out to Furcal with a nice pick by Loney.

Erin said...

Oh, I forgot to mention...

GO SPURS GO!!!

Alex Cora said...

No lead is safe, Holliday on second.

Alex Cora said...

99 MPH by Proctor? What?

Alex Cora said...

Ok, DP time, come on guys.

Alex Cora said...

Nice hook by Proctor - 2 out.

Erin said...

I jumped back to the game in time to hear Scully say, "Remember when you were a kid, and you'd say, 'save me a lick!'?" I have zero clue what he's talking about.

The Rockies are trying to scratch their way back, but here comes Big Bad John to shut them down.

Alex Cora said...

No idea either - but at least you get to listen to Vin - I have the Rockies annoucers.

Steve Sax said...

Love the Broxton pirouette after that inning-ending K!

Alex Cora said...

Come on Broxton. GEt that out!

Alex Cora said...

WOW - 96 MPH to shut em down.

Erin said...

Walking Kent to get to Martin. Interesting.

Alex Cora said...

Wow, Nice hit by Kemp for a double.

Alex Cora said...

Bases loaded again for the Blue Crew.

Erin said...

Dodgers have spent a lot of time loading the bases tonight. That's always fun.

Steve Sax said...

Wow, reading back through the comments, I had no idea Orel was in France right now.

Erin said...

Here's Loney's chance to prove me right.

Alex Cora said...

12-7 with RBI from Martin.

Alex Cora said...

Hit a GS - go for the record JL!

Erin said...

Damn. Loney strikes out.

Is Orel really in France? I just assumed he meant he was going to some restaurant called Versailles or something.

Alex Cora said...

Damn, fooled by the change. K for Loney.

Erin said...

Do we think Loaiza lost his starting job tonight?

Otherwise I'll have to watch another of his starts (I was there last Sunday) when I go to the game on Friday.

Steve Sax said...

Jones is horrible. I don't care how nice a play at third that was.

Alex Cora said...

Broxton gets out of the inning!

Erin said...

Tonight's win will finally give the Dodgers a .500 record on the road, at 8-8. That will be after winning five straight on the road, so until now, they've really sucked out there on the mean streets.

Alex Cora said...

Saito up in the pen, better get warm fast, we are hacking up there 2 out already.

Erin said...

Is it weird to use Saito in a five-run game? He just worked on Thursday, so it's not like he's been sitting and needs the work.

Erin said...

I turned back again in time to see FSN showing a slow-mo face plant from Andruw Jones. Did he dive for a ball?

Alex Cora said...

Jones is NO traveras.

Alex Cora said...

No lead safe AGAIN?

Erin said...

I really don't understand why the Rockies' mascot is, like, the triceratops from The Land Before Time.

Erin said...

And I also don't get why the mascot is allowed to dance directly behind the batter. Batters get a batter's eye, but pitchers don't at least get to expect the other team's dinosaur to sit the hell down?

Meanwhile, Saito not exactly showing any command here.

Erin said...

Holy cow. That was a catch the likes of which you've never seen from one Mr. Juan Pierre. There's a chance he just robbed Helton of a home run. Certainly at least a double.

Alex Cora said...

WOW - great catch by Juan - better than Jones?

Alex Cora said...

Thinking the same thing about that mascot. We should have Jones sit behind home plate and wiggle his stomach back and forth just like the dinosaur.

Alex Cora said...

Saito is giving up the LONG fly balls...he is walking a thin line.

Erin said...

Eight in a row! Goodnight everybody!

Alex Cora said...

WOOHOO! Dodgers win! Saito a little shaky - no trademark smile after the game, but still with the pseudo save. GO BLUE!

Steve Sax said...

Erin, the Rockies' mascot is named "Dinger" by the way.

He's not too fond of Dodger fans, either.

Eight in a row! Good night everybody!

Fred's Brim said...

Dinger can go to hell

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

My goodness, I'm in the past! And there's my dad in high school! Wait, why is he getting the crap beaten out of him by Thomas F. Wilson?

Kyle Baker said...

Dinger licks rim.

MDIL is permanently banned form talking about or mentioning Dinger during Dodgers v Rox games in Denver. I heard enough.

Nostradamus said...

*writes note to future self*

The answer to Season III PCS #9 is Jeff Shaw.