Thursday, June 26, 2008

Game 78 Thread: June 26 vs. White Sox, 12n

Clayton Kershaw (0-1, 4.34) vs. John Danks (4-4, 2.80).

COMMENTS: For the baseball fan on the go, or with a case of ADD, the White Sox can't be beat. Tuesday's game lasted all of 2:05, and last night's game clocked in at a breezy 2:22. Take in today's businessperson's special and you might be back at the office in time to make that 3 o'clock PowerPoint presentation. Just don't get any mustard on your tie!

Kershaw is winless in six starts but sports a nifty 8.07 K/9 rate, good for second among Dodger starters. He also has a slightly less nifty 1.55 WHIP and is averaging less than five innings per start, but patience is the key for those of us rooting for this rare talent. Some Stults-ian run support (the Dodgers have scored 12 runs in Stults' two starts) would be nice too.

141 comments:

Steve Sax said...

Sax here. Had such a good time last night that I'm going to today's game. Not sure how much I can chime in real-time, as I will likely be melting in the heat.

Orel said...

Have fun!

Pierre, LF
Kemp, CF
Martin, 3B
Loney, 1B
LaRoche, 2B
Young, RF
Berroa, SS
Ardoin, C
Kershaw, P

Erin said...

LaRoche at second? Excellent. I am interested in how comfortable he looks out there, Sax. Please report when you can.

QuadSevens said...

I know you have pretty good seats, but try to weasel your way into some seats behind home plate. That way you can get a real good look at Kershaw's "public enemy number 1." Enjoy the game Sax!

Orel said...

Martin flashing the leather early at third! LaRoche with the nice pick at second!

karina said...

I thought the game was one hour earlier, so i could make home just in time.

Sax, the important thing is you have fun at the game!

karina said...

Gameday changed, it has a 3D mode since today.

karina said...

First LaRoche DP as a second baseman!

Orel said...

4-6-3 DP gets Kershaw out of the 1st inning. This untested infield looking pretty comfortable so far.

Orel said...

Why does Gameday have a Imperial Stormtrooper at bat?

Orel said...

White Sox C Hall drops Pierre's pop-up for an error. Dodgers get four outs and Pierre takes advantage, singling to left.

Orel said...

JPSQ!

Orel said...

Kemp barely held up on ball four. Men on 1st & 2nd w/no out for the Dodgers.

karina said...

Not only it kinda looks like a Stormtrooper, there's no pitcher on the mound.

Orel said...

Martin, first-pitch swinging, fouls out to first.

Orel said...

Yoda is pitching, you just can't see him.

Orel said...

Double steal!

karina said...

King James, i don't think queen momma James would approve such foul language.

Orel said...

How do the Dodgers not score in that inning? Pathetic.

karina said...

Frustrating, specially after that double steal. They hadn't done it lately.

Orel said...

Quick walk to Dye.

Orel said...

WOW Martin showing the Gold Glove-caliber defense! "And he is able to nick Swisher at first base." —Vin

Orel said...

Russell Martin is such a stud. I'm convinced he could play all nine positions.

karina said...

For those little things i feel like i love him like a son.

Orel said...

Dammit, Sox score.

karina said...

Did you notice any regular major league left fielder could have thrown out the runner at home?

karina said...

I know it's redundant to talk about Pierre's defense...

karina said...

However, that was Gold Glove caliber play by Martin.

Orel said...

Pierre's arm has hurt us less in left than it has in center. If it's any consolation.

Orel said...

Delwyn works a walk! Horton hears a who!

Orel said...

Ardoin slides into first and is safe! Worth it if only to get the pitcher's spot out of the way.

Orel said...

Kershaw is fighting his control. This is the second leadoff batter he's walked.

karina said...

He's still very young and needs to work on his control, that's his main issue.

Orel said...

Wild pitch moves the runner to second. Single to right bobbled by Young, run scores. 2-0 Sox.

karina said...

I think i thought a Bad News Bears rerun.

karina said...

edit: i think i thought i saw a Bad News Bears rerun.

karina said...

Bless the day Russell Martin got drafted by the Dodgers!

Orel said...

Martin with another amazing grab, but LaRoche with the error at second. This isn't helping your chances, kid.

Wait, Vin said they just ruled it a base hit.

karina said...

That play should make at least the top ten of the week, maybe the month.

Orel said...

Kershaw at 46 pitches already and we're not out of the third inning. Runners advance on Pierre's weak arm.

Orel said...

Dodgers have 1st & 3rd w/no out. DON'T SCREW THIS UP GUYS

karina said...

But then, Matt Kemp advances Pierre on a single...

Eric Karros said...

Hi folks. I like the new 3-D/stormtrooper Gameday look.

Orel said...

Martin's been as bad with the bat as he's been good with the glove today.

karina said...

Sometimes, you could think Martin is a sort of a baseball Superman. These things remind us he's still human.

Orel said...

Epale, EK!

Eric Karros said...

Now one out. They better score at least 1.

karina said...

Eric, what do you think of the invisible pitcher?

Orel said...

Loney with the fly shades again!

Eric Karros said...

The invisible pitcher must be difficult for the batter. And baserunners probably can't take much of a lead.

Orel said...

Another DP. PATHETIC!

Eric Karros said...

Whoa...I just discovered the perspective-changing function

Eric Karros said...

No runs. Unbelievable.

Eric Karros said...

Heart of the order, too.

karina said...

It's very worrying Martin and King James are failing horribly with RISP.

Eric Karros said...

I guess Martin and Loney aren't Juan Pierre

karina said...

I feel like the White Sox are reading Kershaw too well.

Eric Karros said...

I can't wait until all these video perspective functions are possible on a real TV feed.

karina said...

3 views. No pitcher. Maybe Anakin Solo is pitching.

karina said...

I wouldn't be surprised if we get an squeeze play.

Eric Karros said...

Too bad the Dodgers' bats are invisible too

Eric Karros said...

Jar Jar Danks up to bat. He better not get a hit.

QuadSevens said...

The rare 2-6-3 double play. Excellent!

karina said...

Gentlemen, that's caribbean baseball, but it turned out to be good for the Dodgers.

karina said...

Oh i get it. White Sox are stormtroopers and Dodgers bats are somewhere lost in a galaxy far far away...

Eric Karros said...

What up quad?

What's carribbean baseball, Karina?

Eric Karros said...

edit: caribbean

Eric Karros said...

They look like stormtroopers on casual day. Or maybe they're in their summer uniforms.

Orel said...

A fly ball is all we need, Berroa.

Orel said...

That was weird...Danks knocked down the comebacker and tried to get LaRoche at third. Andy was safe, now we have 1st & 3rd w/1 out. Again.

karina said...

Caribbean baseball: emphasis on good defense (that's why there are so many very good infielders from the caribbean countries), agressive baserunning where bunts and squeeze plays are very frequent, even in early stages of the game and using the middle order of the lineup.

QuadSevens said...

Hi EK. Hi all. Just listening along on the radio at work. No storm troopers for me. Sounds interesting though.

karina said...

Though since the trend of american baseball is on the long ball, we're getting less of that, since players are more interested in developing their power.

karina said...

Hi Quad!

Orel said...

We can't catch a freakin' break! Ardoin drilled it above Danks' head, Danks caught it leaping and doubled up Berroa on first. It just wasn't meant to be today.

karina said...

I've heard people yelling nasty things to managers and players like this for not executing a good bunt.

http://tinyurl.com/4v66mn

Orel said...

E-6 by Berroa keeps the leadoff-man-getting-on-board streak alive at nine.

Eric Karros said...

Ah, I see Karina - thanks...

Eric Karros said...

Ugh, phone is ringing, hang on...work is such a nuisance sometimes

Orel said...

Bye bye, Kershaw. No win today.

karina said...

Eric, if you ever come back here, try it on the winter! i bet you could have so much fun (and maybe be amused by our strange ways on baseball games)

same for you all!

Orel said...

Falkenborg!

Orel said...

What do you mean by strange ways? I mean, you still sing at the seventh-inning stretch.

Orel said...

The good ol' 1-2-3 DP ends the inning!

Eric Karros said...

I'd love to see a Venezuelan league baseball game. I wish I had done so when I was there.

Eric Karros said...

DP in 3D! And if we were in Venezuela it could have been DP in 3D while having some 4D ice cream.

Eric Karros said...

Orel, do we have a 9-inning streak of getting the leadoff man on board?

Orel said...

Sweeney's here! We're saved!

Orel said...

The leadoff man streak is for both teams.

karina said...

But we have cheerleaders, people screaming sucio at the umpires (oh well, lots of screaming), they sell beers way long after the game is over, screaming political statements just because (this is since Chavez is ruling), people dancing african drums at the top of the dugouts, beauty queens who represent the team and their main goal is joining people to throw the first pitch, for example there's a guy who works for Leones del Caracas that goes to the mound while the national hymn with a Venezuelan flagged rubber glove and a flag, etc, etc. Every team has its quirks.

karina said...

But you were here during the strike, so no baseball for everyone. Useless, since he never left.

Orel said...

Dye robs Martin of a game-tying HR. Or something close.

Orel said...

That sounds like a blast, actually.

karina said...

Most american players say in interviews they love the enviroment, because they don't get that kind of response in the minor leagues.

karina said...

You're invited, beer's on me!

Eric Karros said...

Sounds like fun!

Eric Karros said...

One day I'll return to Venezuela I'm sure.

Orel said...

Road trip!

Eric Karros said...

I'll drive!

karina said...

I hope you can. If you stay in Caracas, you should try a Caracas-Magallanes (if you get tickets), that's MADNESS. Then, you've got to see a Tiburones game. They have a group of fans, they all play percussion in games, they've doing that since the eighties, passed it on from fathers to sons. The stadium announcer will say: tiburones and everyone will answer "pa' encima", no matter if they are losing for a bunch of runs on the 9th.

karina said...

Great idea!

karina said...

If you ever get to Maracaibo, tell me, so i can get tickets for you. My "stadium family" is a blast.

Eric Karros said...

Karina do you go to Caracas very often?

If I ever go to Maracaibo I will of course let you know...

karina said...

Not too often. But it's easy to me going there.

Eric Karros said...

Well one day I will return!

Yikes it's already the 7th inning and still no runs. I hope the Dodgers don't throw another binary shrimp on the barbie, so to speak.

karina said...

So you can have an idea:

http://tinyurl.com/3sylo

The mascot is dancing in front of the second row, my seat is on the first row, first line, almost perpendicular to the first baseman, do you think you'll like there?

In the video, you'll first see a drunken man dancing, so you don't get scared.

Eric Karros said...

Hey the linke isn't working. Is this the full address?:

http://www.patrickh.com/images/familyguy.gif

karina said...

i can't make it work..

http://youtube.com/watch?v=zuC3n4Ea9qw

Orel said...

I want to be that man.

Orel said...

That is one funky mascot!

Orel said...

Where are the cheerleaders?

karina said...

Maza singled and Ethier's up!

Eric Karros said...

Wow quite a clip. The drunk guy sure looks like he's having fun!

karina said...

Agui is the best! well, Orel you can always watch the video and practice!

Orel said...

Too bad Juan Pierre can't steal first.

Orel said...

I'm practicing right now!

karina said...

7th inning stretch (for the looks of the people, i'm pretty sure they were losing big time, besides not enough people wearing orange)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0W97rLDczMg&feature=related

Eric Karros said...

A youtube search of "venezuelan baseball cheerleaders" seems to only turn up videos about venezuelan baseball.

karina said...

Agui dancing

http://youtube.com/watch?v=VkVFwN2do24&feature=related

Agui and his mortal leap (though the routine is not complete, he runs all bases, clowning around)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WmOEytgVdV8&feature=related

Agui and another drunk guy

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ridniqyAtaw&feature=related

karina said...

and people wonder why i go to every game!

karina said...

Leones del Caracas has a very popular cheerleaders squad. I'm trying to find some video, but i can't.

Eric Karros said...

Oh, Agui is the name of the mascot. I thought it was the drunk guy. I was impressed you knew his name.

Eric Karros said...

Ok folks, I gotta get back to work then go home...hope the Dodgers pull this one out!

karina said...

Guys, is there entertainment between innings at Dodger Stadium?

karina said...

Have a great time, Eric.

I know lots of people by the names, but sadly i don't know the first drunk man.

Orel said...

I like how Agui uses his donut-shaped midsection to full effect.

He is clearly a descendant of James Brown.

karina said...

Kids absolutely dig it! did you like what you saw?

Orel said...

The entertainment at Dodger Stadium is tame compared to that. On the big screen they put games and trivia contests, highlights and bloopers. Organ or blaring rock music. "Kiss Cam" and shots of the crowd.

Orel said...

Yes, it cracks me up!

Orel said...

Rays swept the Marlins.

karina said...

We got a crappy board but we got Agui. We also sing good-bye to the opposing pitchers:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fig8cFCwe9I&feature=related

(if i'm not boring you with our game antics)

karina said...

For last, an instructional video for my kids, it only lasts 5 seconds.

Father asks their children who's an Aguilas del Zulia fan. Check out their response:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=x1FZM8FfWBM&feature=related

I need to make a Dodger version.

Orel said...

Thanks, Karina! Much more interesting than this Dodger game.

karina said...

*blushing* i think i'm boring you, actually.

Orel said...

And that does it. What a frustrating game. So many wasted opportunities. The season in a nutshell.

Orel said...

Thanks for the entertainment, Karina! At least we got to see an exciting game somewhere!

karina said...

Exactly. Nice afternoon, Orel.

karina said...

Glad it wasn't boring.

karina said...

Let's concentrate in the good: Martin played outstanding 3rd base and LaRoche looked comfortable on second base.

QuadSevens said...

http://tinyurl.com/yo855k

Enjoy this song with a binary solo in honor of the latest binary score the Dodgers put up.

Eric Karros said...

Nice link quad. Definitely one of the better binary songs out there.