Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Game 65 Thread: June 11 @ Padres, 7p

Wolf Bills! Get it?

Chad Billingsley (4-5, 3.57) vs. Randy Wolf (4-4, 4.06).

COMMENTS: The Dodgers face a former Dodger starter for the second night in a row, and if we've learned anything after last night's 7-2 victory, it's that even our sorry offense can draw blood against the Padres' relief corps. The bad news for us, though, is that Wolf's record this season shows he is getting stronger as the season has progressed, lasting over six innings in each of his last five starts (2-1 record over that period). With Russell Martin and Matt Kemp each notching three RBI last night, and James Loney reaching base all five times (2-for-2 with 3 BB), could the Dodgers' bats be awakening, in pitcher-friendly Petco Park of all places?

STAT OF THE DAY: Rafael Furcal still leads the team in runs (34), despite the fact that he has only played in half of the team's games (Furcal has missed 32 games of the Dodgers' 64). Furcal is also tied for second on the team in home runs, and is third for doubles and stolen bases. (With regards to a non-cumulative measure, Furcal also leads the team in OPS at 1.045; the closest, Russell Martin, is almost 200 points away at .858.)

137 comments:

Orel said...

Pierre, LF
Young, RF
Kent, 2B
Martin, C
Kemp, CF
LaRoche, 1B
DeWitt, 3B
Berroa, SS
Billingsley, P

Welcome (back), Andy!

Steve Sax said...

And take a seat, FJL? Is that any way to reward a 2-for-2, reaching-base-five-times performance?

Erin said...

I think we've established by now that Torre's method of selecting lineups day-to-day is a little...unique.

Steve Sax said...

Erin, I don't know if anything can be a little unique. I think uniqueness is binary, right?

Ah, I'm just being a pain. I don't get Torre's lineups, either. And neither does Loney, I imagine.

Erin said...

Yeah, I was being loose with the definition there, in my effort to be diplomatic.

Erin said...

Geez. The Mets were up 3-0 over Arizona, but Arizona just tied it up in the top of the ninth with a three-run home run.

karina said...

they tied with two outs, i'm watching that game...

Steve Sax said...

Yikes, Billy Wagner with the choke job. Unbelievable.

karina said...

I think we all need a map of Torre's thinking, how on earth is Loney taking a rest today?. They are playing Petco Park and God knows the Dodgers need their best offense available.

Steve Sax said...

And our hopes lie in the hands of Schneider (sans toolbelt)...

Steve Sax said...

And Schneider keeps fouling them off, with men on first and second and Chavez on deck!

Will there be no Endy to this? (ouch, that was painful)

Steve Sax said...

yay, Schneider flies to center. Free baseball in Flushing!

Erin and Karina, I'll have to depend on you two for updates. I am, how do you say, going to the other side?

Erin said...

They're going to extra innings.

And the Red Sox win! Now it's the Dodgers' turn.

Erin said...

I'll at least be listening, since I don't trust MLB.tv to provide me with the video.

karina said...

I'll do my best Sax, but i have to wait the Mets-Dbacks ends, the Dodgers game will be broadcasted, after said game.

Steve Sax said...

Is MLB.tv that bad? I always thought it was great, and mosaic rocked.

MLB is certainly happy with its performance.

Erin said...

I think it might be the Internet connection in this hotel room. I find that it works better during the day, and then gets choppy at night. Maybe because more people are using the wireless in the hotel? I don't know. It's maddening. I miss my DirecTV Extra Innings package.

Steve Sax said...

Vin says SD has 21 SBs on the year; their opposition has over 4x as many SBs.

Erin said...

At least for the first three innings I can hear Vin. After the third, I'll try the TV again and see if it's a little better. I'd rather keep listening to Vin than sit here with Charlie Steiner.

Erin said...

Am I alone in disliking Randy Wolf? I really want us to kill him tonight. Metaphorically.

Steve Sax said...

Young forces Pierre at second, who got on with a rare base hit. Young at first, and Kent dribbles to first (Young to second). At least Kent worked a full count, Wolf's second this inning.

Orel said...

Hi all. D'backs & Mets still tied in the 11th.

Orel said...

So much for the shutout. At least it was only a solo job. 1-0 Padres.

Erin said...

I hate hearing that Adrian Gonzalez is roughly my age. Dude looks about 40 to me, at least, and makes me wonder what exactly I look like to the rest of the world.

Erin said...

Hell, Adrian is actually two years younger. Even worse.

Steve Sax said...

Bills gives up his sixth HR of the year, and we're down by one. Kemp almost blows a fly ball but we get out of the first down 1-0.

Orel said...

Don't worry, Erin. Adrian Gonzalez has nothing on your youthful looks.

Always an adventure with Matt Kemp in center.

Orel said...

I don't hate Wolf. He gave the Dodgers a discount even though he ended up getting hurt, big surprise.

Erin said...

I'm trying to go with a friend to the day game at Wrigley tomorrow, but getting tickets is proving much more difficult than any of the other times I've gone. It's a bit frustrating. Apparently people are very excited about "throwback" day with the Cubs and Braves.

Orel said...

Karina, you have the flu? You need to rest up!

Orel said...

LaRoche has short hair. Looks weird.

Orel said...

Erin, what are your chances with just walking up to the stadium?

Erin said...

Orel, that's going to be the plan, I guess. We're meeting another friend for lunch in the area, so we're just going to head to a corner where I've heard guys saying, "who needs tickets?" in the past. We'll see if we can get anything decent without paying an arm and a leg.

Steve Sax said...

Kemp Ks, yet again. His 64th K of the year.

Erin, how much is your hotel charging for internet?

Welcome back Andy...another full count (good!), and a walk (better!).

Vin just erred--LaRoche is the Dodgers' THIRD baserunner.

Orel said...

LaRoche walks. Mr. OBP!

Erin said...

Oh Karina, what was it that you said we had in common? You mentioned it after reading that post on my blog about me last night, and I forgot to ask.

Erin said...

Sax, internet is free. I mean, it would be free anyway because we're not paying for this room. But it's free wireless for all guests.

Orel said...

D'backs & Mets move to the 12th....

Orel said...

Whoa! Berroa with a single! 1st & 3rd w/2 out.

Steve Sax said...

Erin, I always thought those people asking "Who needs tickets?" were asking rhetorically. I always want to answer, "I don't know, who?"

Men on first and third with 2 down and Chad up.

karina said...

Erin, half of the time i work as a production assistant, the other half i do wardrobe (surprise!) and props...

Erin said...

Sax, maybe these days they're actually saying, "Hu needs tickets." At least outside Dodger Stadium. Poor guy gets sent down to the minors and he can't even get in to see the big boys play.

Erin said...

Karina, that's good stuff. My girlfriend actually went down to Argentina to work on a commercial last year. I realize that's not really near Venezuela, but it's my only current connection to South America.

Erin said...

Oh my god. Creepy Khalil Green hit a home run? Come on, Chad. You can't be giving up home runs at Petco.

Erin said...

Khalil Greene.

karina said...

Erin, Argentina and Venezuela are very close in business terms (due to politics). In the last few years there have been a number of argentinan-venezuelan coproductions, mostly exchange of film personnel and actors.

karina said...

Don't you guys think Greene looks a lot like Jeff Spicoli on Fast Times at Ridgemont High?

Erin said...

Good to know, Karina. As far as I know, this was an American production that wanted to shoot in Argentina for some reason. It was for a commercial that aired during the Super Bowl. It was a quick trip, though. My girlfriend was only down there for about four days. Maybe even three.

Meanwhile, Arizona and New York head to the 13th.

Erin said...

Good point, Karina. He is a lot like Spicoli. Greene just creeps me out for some reason.

And of course Wolf is dealing now with his two-run lead. He's thrown 52 pitches through three innings, though. Maybe we can get him out early.

karina said...

Maybe they wanted to use the landscape. I bet shooting in Argentina was also cheaper than doing it on America.
There are a lot of foreign commercial and films that have been shot in Venezuela. It seems taxes, native personnel salaries, transportation and catering are cheaper. We have the advantage of landscape, too. This is a small country and you could get from a mountain with snow all year long to the amazonic forest in a 2 hour-flight.

Erin said...

Yeah, I think landscape was the issue, although you can get a pretty varied landscape in southern California. But for a lot of reasons, shooting in California has unfortunately become too expensive for a lot of productions.

Erin said...

I really did not expect Billingsley to have trouble with this "offense" tonight. This is absurd.

Orel said...

Down 3-0 and it looks we're lucky it isn't worse. At least the D'backs and Mets are still beating each other up.

karina said...

It's expensive because fortunately, the industry treats people much better. Most of the time, we can't even dream of the perks some people working in other countries (i'm not talking about actors and executive producers)

Orel said...

And Martin tags it but right at Spicoli. Dude.

Alex Cora said...

Hey all. Gosh, I've been absent for the last couple of games, and come back to us losing? I have to listen to the Padres announcers, but they did have a spot on look alike with Angel Berrora and Mark MacLemore. Not bad guys.

Alex Cora said...

Nice catch by Spicoli - we could call him "Mr. Hand".

Erin said...

It's also expensive because California gives no real tax breaks to productions who shoot here. So companies go to Louisiana, New York and Canada, where they can get a better deal. It makes me crazy, and it's a shame our governor, an actor himself, doesn't really care enough to do anything about it.

Orel said...

LaRoche with the BOMB! 3-1 Padres!

Erin said...

Yes! LaRoche! Damn it, I wish I had seen that. Way to go!

Alex Cora said...

Woohoo!!! Welcome back Andy - Home Run!

karina said...

Dudeeeeeeeeeeeeee, LaRoche homered!

Erin said...

AC, are you still in Chicago? If so, is that thunder I keep hearing, or some other loud noise?

karina said...

You're right, i bet film and tv gotta be the top industries of California and the governor, an experienced actor who should understand the business, he could make things better for all the parties involved.
I found admirable the writer's strike, the way the fought for their rights.

karina said...

LaRoche homers and DeWitt strikes out...don't get nervous, Blake.

Erin said...

Yes, I was definitely behind the writers, but it was hard because so many people were out of work. I'll be behind the actors, too, because everything I hear says they'll be striking at the end of the month. That one will be much more devastating if it lasts too long, though, so hopefully there will be more incentive to get it resolved.

Erin said...

Hey, Beltran hit a home run to end the game in New York! Game over!

Alex Cora said...

Yup, I am, but only for a few days more. That "thunder" is fireworks down by Navy Pier. Every Wednesday and Saturday night during the spring summer months, they shoot fireworks. Nice they spend so much money on stuff that pollutes the environment, but neglect the homeless situation in the city...but I digress.

karina said...

I'm loving Carlos Beltran, hit the 2-run walk off homer. Finally, i can get to watch the Dodgers game.
(let's cross fingers i can get to hear Vin tonight)

Erin said...

Fireworks makes sense. I didn't think there were any storms around.

Alex Cora said...

Anyone watching mlb.com tv, they just showed the announcers for the padres before the commercial break - one was taking them to the break, while the other one was typing on his phone. The first announcer says "Say hello for me" and the other guy typing looks up and says "huh?" Hilarious stuff.

Erin said...

We don't exactly have the heart of the order going in this inning.

karina said...

If they go into a strike, it can't last too long. I'm aware the consequences of the long writers' strike, but actors are different, unless the different actors unions keep fighting.

karina said...

I'm with Vin tonight.

Erin said...

Yeah, they need the actors a little more than they needed the writers, so it shouldn't be too bad. Hopefully it won't last long if they do strike, and keep your fingers crossed that it doesn't affect me too much.

Erin said...

I'm listening, but I'm about to switch to Gameday because I have to do some work that requires me listening to something other than a baseball game.

Alex Cora said...

Nice stat: In dodgers wins offense produces 7 runs per game, in loses 1.9 runs - ie we need some more runs.

karina said...

I'll be crossing fingers if they do strike, it won't affect you.

karina said...

Young is making a big impression, the same he did in the minors, he really can hit.

I had to edit, i had a freudian slip when i thought Kent was up.

karina said...

I have an idea for Torre, let Kent rest tomorrow and LaRoche gets the start at second base.

Orel said...

Kemp looks lost tonight.

Erin said...

Three strikeouts for Kemp tonight.

Orel said...

Hey AC, I just started GTAIV. It's fun right now but I'm sure it's going to get a lot harder.

Orel said...

Andy LaRoche looks like he's 13 years old with that haircut.

Orel said...

Adrian Gonzalez is only 26?!

Alex Cora said...

Orel: there are some great GTAIV you tube videos - I think by Machima.com. hilarious stuff as they voice over the characters. I just played Guitar Hero for the Wii this weekend. Pretty damn fun. Can't wait to try Rockband.

Orel said...

I've avoided GH and Rock Band because I would get totally obsessed.

Orel said...

Wolf has 8 K's tonight.

Orel said...

Whoops, 9.

karina said...

DeWitt has 2 K's alone

karina said...

Kemp has 3 K's.They really need King James tonight.

Orel said...

DeWitt just got outwitted by that ball down the line.

karina said...

I hope they can pull off the late inning comeback. They seem to need King James tonight.

Spicoli again...

karina said...

the ball made a strange bounce

Erin said...

I've been playing Guitar Hero on PS2 for a long time now (I have GH I, II, and III). It is indeed quite addictive.

Erin said...

If you believe Gameday, Bililngsley is getting robbed on these calls in the Tony Clark at-bat.

Alex Cora said...

GH is a great party game too. Man, you can get pretty drunk.

Orel said...

Chad's tiring. Pull him.

Alex Cora said...

Bills looks to be throwing the hook, but pitching around him to put on the double play.

Orel said...

Saw that coming. Gerut RBI, 4-1 Padres. PULL CHAD

Erin said...

I can't see the game, but it sure as hell seems weird from here to leave Chad in with two runners on in a two-run game.

And then he goes and gives up another run, and he's still in?

Alex Cora said...

This sucks.

karina said...

I hate Jody Gerut. He ruins my birthday and tonight, while sick, he singles on a 0-2 count.

Erin said...

That DP came one batter too late. That fourth run was big.

Alex Cora said...

Where was that dp one batter earlier?

Orel said...

Well Chad got out of it. But now we're down three...is another comeback in the cards?

Alex Cora said...

Karina: Today your birthday??? THEN HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! WOOHOOO!!!!

Steve Sax said...

Poor Chad Billingsley. He gets no run support and is going to lose yet another game thanks to the pathetic "bats" behind him. LaRoche notwithstanding.

Orel said...

Chad at 101 pitches.

Steve Sax said...

And Wolf lasted seven...just as we told you he would

Steve Sax said...

Andre swings on an awful pitch. One out in the eighth.

Erin said...

We put up quite a fight there in the eighth, huh?

Should we be hoping to see Hoffman in the ninth?

Alex Cora said...

Three Lefty batters against a righty pitcher and 3 ground outs. Our offense is TURRABLE (a la Charles Barkley).

Steve Sax said...

4-1, almost at the ninth inning. So guess who's up for SD?

Steve Sax said...

Once again, we won't be able to make up any ground on the Snakes, despite the fact that they lose an earlier game.

Yay.

Steve Sax said...

Yikes, Soriano breaks hand, is out six weeks. Eek.

Steve Sax said...

At least San Francisco lost, 1-0 to the Rocks.

Steve Sax said...

erin, I'm just reading your comment on "Hu needs tickets".

nice.

Alex Cora said...

Here we go - down three runs against hoffman. I say 3 homeruns in a row, then win it in extra innings. Yeah, right, like THAT has ever happened.

Steve Sax said...

Jeff Kent to start out the ninth. Old guy vs. Old guy!

karina said...

Alex, tonight's not my birthday. He played winter baseball last year, ruining my birthday on a doubleheader

Steve Sax said...

And the Old Guy wins! Hoffman gets Kent to pop up a mile high but with no depth. One away.

Alex Cora said...

Oh, well, HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!!!! WOOHOO!!!

Steve Sax said...

Martin shows some life with a ROPED double down the line! Come on, Blue!

karina said...

Isn't my son Martin adorable?

karina said...

Thanks, Alex!

Steve Sax said...

Hey, it's triple K...this time with a fly out to center.

Thanks for a great performance tonight, Matt!

karina said...

Torre, Loney needed to start tonight...

Alex Cora said...

Hey Kemp avoided the 4 K night, but weakly pops out. Here comes FJL!

Alex Cora said...

One shot to maintain the hitting streak...

karina said...

Good night, everyone...i'll be at the other side

Erin said...

In a word? Pathetic.

Steve Sax said...

Matt Kemp's 66 strikeouts give him the clear lead on the Dodgers, even ahead of Whiff-boy Andruw Jones (45). Loney has 37.

Loney also weakly grounds to third to end the game and strand Martin.

Off to the day game tomorrow, boys! Way to be mediocre against a sub-par team!

Good night, everybody!

I'm not salty!

Steve Sax said...

Ugh, I need a drink.

Alex Cora said...

That was disgusting. Eck. Dodgers need Furcal back.

Orel said...

Okay, that has to have been the fastest game of the year. Two hours seven minutes?

Steve Sax said...

AC, it's not like we're not trying to send Raffy get well cards.