Hiroki Kuroda (1-2. 3.82) vs. Nelson Figueroa (2-1, 4.08).
COMMENTS: The Dodgers averted a losing streak with last night's 5-1 win, and now trail the Diamondbacks by only three games. But, tonight they face a solitary man who boasts all five vowels in his last name. ALL FIVE VOWELS! (Shouldn't we be countering with Esteban Loaiza? Wait a second, scratch that idea.) The Dodgers send Kuroda (of three-vowel fame) to the mound in return. The Dodgers have the third-most runs in the NL, but we're not scoring them with the long ball (T-11th), so it was a pleasant surprise to see Rafael Furcal, Blake DeWitt, and Matt Kemp all go yard last night. Can we keep up our offensive tear tonight?
107 comments:
Uh oh. Furcal is out tonight with a stiff back, putting Pierre back in the leadoff spot.
That sucks.
Pierre, LF
Jones, CF
Kemp, RF
Kent, 2B
Martin, C
Loney, 1B
DeWitt, 3B
Hu, SS
Kuroda, P
Pierre then Jones? I have my doubts.
Pierre then Jones? I have my doubts.
Pierre then Jones? Start with two outs?
The lack of offense at the top
Erases all momentum's clout.
And worst of all, sits our Andre,
Who must be trying not to pout.
Geez, I didn't notice it was Pierre then Jones when I first saw it. The Pierre part just distracted me. Crap. That's at least one, if not two, automatic outs at the top of a lineup. That should work out well. I don't know why you would have any doubts, Orel.
Uh oh - if Figueroa has five vowels in his name, he must be good...Or, maybe not?
From my blog: The Mets will hand the ball to Nelson Figueroa. The 33-year old pitcher starting-pitcher has been noted to have poor control, which evidently gets him into trouble when runners are on-base. The Dodgers should be able to capitalize on Figueroa's poor pitching.
http://dodgersblog.mlblogs.com
Guys, I just want to remind you now that tomorrow's game starts at 12:10. I don't want anyone to forget the game thread.
Why do they need to have day games? They're really not going to get a huge deal of attendance at that hour.
Thanks Erin, I would have overlooked that. Sax, do you want to take tomorrow's GT or shall I?
Erin, are you volunteering?
Uh, no, not volunteering. I can't compete with what you guys do.
Besides, I'm busy taking on the Dodgers and their recycling issues.
Hmm, good idea. Maybe I'll recycle an old game thread.
Orel, I can try and pull something together tonight.
Okay, let me know if you can't.
Bold prediction: the Dodgers will not get a home run from the leadoff spot tonight.
Okay, it's only a solo dinger. Shake it off, Kuroda.
Did you guys just feel an earthquake? Epicenter at Chavez Ravine, perhaps?
Hopefully, Orel.
As you know from your pitching days, an early run can destroy the confidence and ultimately the control of a pitcher on the mound.
Lets hope Kuroda keeps his head in the game.
Arizona is up early, 1-0, on the Phillies, but the Phillies have a runner at third with one out.
And, just like that, with a home run, the D-Backs are down 2-1. Randy Johnson is on the mound.
The disdain, or disappointment, for Andruw Jones is simply dripping from Vin's voice.
It's funny, because Scully would never say anything outright about hating a guy or anything, but you can really tell with the way he talks about certain guys, Jones being one of them.
If I were a ballplayer, I would never want Vin Scully to be disappointed in me. Hell, I'm not a ballplayer, and I still would not want Vin Scully to ever be disappointed in me. I don't know what I could do to make that happen, but I'm living my life trying to avoid it.
Gavin Floyd (White Sox) just had his no-hitter broken up with one out in the ninth. Too bad. I own him on two fantasy teams.
That's right, Erin.
why David Wright has to be so good? let's go, Russell!
Damn it. Kuroda is not fooling anyone.
is this batting practice? someone please talk to Kuroda...
It's batting practice out there for the Mets.
Good call, Karina. We're on the same page.
how sad would it be if the Mets win this series without Johan Santana?
I'm thinking positive tonight. I believe in this team's comeback potential.
Indeed, Erin.
who thinks they should keep Dewitt?
DeWitt should not be sent down. He's earned his place on this team, even if it's just as a backup and not a starter.
Meanwhile, Arizona just took the lead in the fourth inning. They're up 3-2.
nice Hu bunt...i love the baby blue!
Make that 6-2. Apparently Adam Eaton, the Phillies' starter, sucks.
I really don't know what to do when Pierre plays like this.
Hey, a Jones homer here would tie the game!
a single by Pierre, 3-1
i thought i'd never say this but i really think they should sit Jones at least for a week. I hate the idea Ethier is sitting on a bench.
Pierre batting .329
bad baserunning gets me on the nerves big time...
Wow. Pierre really blew it there. Stole the base, must have thought the ball got away, then got tagged trying to get back. That was weird. I don't know what made Pierre think the ball was in center field. Maybe a good fake from the Mets' outfielder.
This might not be the Dodgers' night.
This is official. Kuroda really thinks is pitching batting practice.
If Schneider hits, i think we're lost.
Throwing to second with a runner at third was probably a bad deal, and then Hu double clutched before throwing the ball back home. Alou scores.
And now we're down 4-1. Boo.
"Could Furcal have made the play? Probably."--Scully
that double steal was pure caribbean baseball. It was also tragically beautiful.
does someone know if there is someone in the bullpen?
Kuo just started warming up.
I demand Torre gets Jones out of this game NOW. Saw that awful at bat?
David Wright...again
Time for DeWitt's first grand slam?
I guess you and I are the only ones here tonight, Karina.
Blake DeWitt delivers! Two hits tonight, this one good for two RBI. Sweet.
I have no idea why Torre would let Kuroda go out again for the fourth, except that his spot in the order is due to lead off the next inning. But still, that's not a good enough reason, especially now that Kuroda leaves with two runners on base and only one out. Here comes Kuo.
Kuroda gives way to Kuo and we are only in the fourth. At least we're only down by one...wow, two straight Ks for the Kuo-ster!
The Dodgers need to get to Figueroa right now. No more letting him off the hook.
Boy this is a slow game. I see Kuroda couldn't hold it together tonight. Still, it's the fourth inning and we're only down one.
Jones singles!
Sweet mercy, Figueroa gave Jones quite a gift there, and Jones actually took advantage with a hit up the middle.
1,700th career base hit for Andruw.
David Wright is a Dodger killer. Son of a gun.
Dodgers tagging the ball but right at people. Figueroa's getting lucky.
We should be getting to the Mets' bullpen in the next inning or two.
3 consecutive K's by Kuo!
Someone will have to remind me why Loaiza is ostensibly still in the starting rotation.
And then Kuo walks the damn pitcher.
Vin (on an inning-ending called strike three with two on): "An angry Ryan Church saying things that are not in church."
It's painful to see the Dodgers losing to this pitcher.
But I guess that's how the Mets' fans feel about their guys only getting three off Kuroda.
Erin, back to your early comment, I think Vin would be quite proud of your writing. You're not letting him down.
Whoa. I was just noticing that it looks like Russell shaved, and then Vin started talking about it. Creepy.
Sax, that's the best compliment I've received in a while. Thank you.
Inside the park home run! Awesome!
Are you kidding ne? DeWitt!!!!!!!!! Inside the park HR!
That ball sure looked like it bounced right on top of the wall, too, like it would have gone over if Church hadn't gotten his glove on it. Would that have made it a more conventional home run?
Erin, if Vin ever met me, he'd probably tell me I wasn't the real Steve Sax, I wasn't even close.
And that I wasn't funny.
Speaking of funny, an airmail special from David Vitamin Water Wright!
Sax, I highly doubt that. I think Vin has a good sense of humor. He would get you.
Kuo is just dealing. It's a pleasure to watch.
I just caught the DeWitt ITPHR. Wow. Just wow.
AFPBDW (Another Fine Play By David Wright)
Okay, we head into the 8th with the slimmest of leads. Broxton and Saito, time to do your thing.
Kuo: 8 K's in 3 2/3 innings.
And there's that inappropriate Wienerschnitzel commercial again.
Followed by the creepy hair dye commercial.
D'backs 6, Phils 4
Broxton K's Wright to finish the 8th! Fistpump!
So, who's skipping work to go to the game tomorrow?
I think I might head to the stadium and get a ticket right before the game starts.
Hu singles. Let's get some insurance here.
Wouldn't it be nice to get a little insurance for Saito here?
2 out, man on third, Jones up. Not holding my breath.
Let's get some Erin Esurance here!
So it's been the DeWitt & Kuo show tonight.
Backwards K for Jones. Sorry Saito, you get just one run to work with.
You guys read the quote from Torre today about how he's not going to bench Jones, right? Is that an insane man talking? How can he watch these at-bats and see a baseball player who's actually attempting to make adjustments? Jones is just a liability at this point, and Torre's loyalty to him is completely undeserved.
Hey all! Can't wait to see the highlights of this game - hope Saito can hold it in the 9th.
LeBron James cannot continue to do things like go 2-for-18 against the Celtics. This is the playoffs.
Erin, you wouldn't be worried about taking Jones' glove out of the outfield? Who should play center, Kemp or Pierre?
Loney with a silky smooth play to take away a double from Delgado! He was perfectly positioned.
Erin, I agree with you--I would vote Crock-Hit before Tubbs at this stage. He looked positively worthless in that called K to end the 8th.
Loney with a SWEET play at first for the second out in the ninth!
Erin, do tell how you can take off work tomorrow...I need tips.
Wow - Loney was situated perfectly. Nice stab. one more to go!
However, I just did see your "This is what stealing $18 million looks like" caption. Love it!
I'd say Jones' glove is not outweighing his offensive liability at this point. His VORP is in the negative numbers right now, so he's technically costing this team games. Kemp has been decent in center when he's played, and he has a stronger arm than Pierre (who doesn't?), so I guess he should start there, leave Pierre in left, and put Ethier in right.
I like Jones' defense, for sure, but we just can't continue to give away outs, particularly when Torre insists on doing things like hitting Jones in the second spot in the lineup.
Man on with two out. Come on, Samster the Hamster.
Thanks, Orel. That caption is a personal favorite of mine also.
Sax, it's easy for me, since I work from home anyway. Others aren't quite so lucky.
Crap. Come on Saito.
Uh oh, two consecutive singles with two out. Bear down, Saito.
Damn, lost Pagan with 2 strikes. Come on Saito!
No! Come on Saito - what are you doing? One MORE FRICKEN OUT!
Erin, what's your record at Dodger games this year?
Sax, if you include the two preseason games, I'm 8-1 this season.
The only loss is the night I spent with you guys in the luxury suite.
Saito!
Saito hammer curve to win the game! WHEW! Another series win!
It's been a pleasure, people!
WOW, that was an awesome pitch by Saito for the game-ending K.
You're frozen. When your heart's not open.
WOW! Backwards K!!!! GO BLue!!!!
You know, Erin, many women would call a night with the Sons in a suite as a win.
But your point is still taken. Good night, everybody.
You're right, Sax. That was a different kind of win.
Goodnight guys.
The disdain, or disappointment, for Andruw Jones is simply dripping from Vin's voice.
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