Thursday, July 03, 2008

Game 85 Thread: July 3 @ Astros, 11a

Chad Billingsley (7-7, 3.38) vs. Brandon Backe (5-8, 5.12).

COMMENTS: The Dodgers remain undefeated in July and a win today would give them a series win over the Houston Astros. Today's early game means morning baseball, allowing the Dodgers to fly to San Francisco for the weekend series with the third-place Giants. And by Thursday afternoon, we'll either be talking about how Jeff Kent's extra-inning HR Tuesday, coupled with Hiroki Kuroda's masterfully efficient performance last night, is giving the Dodgers new hope for the second half of the season...or, we'll be lamenting yet another sad offensive showing, likely capped by a pop-up to the pitcher in a Mark Sweeney pinch hit situation with the winning run on third. As I write this, I realize, I've gotta start drinking as soon as I get up Thursday morning...bring on the hard stuff (that goes for you too, Chad!).

75 comments:

QuadSevens said...

If you're going for the hard stuff, may I suggest some Johnny Walker Black Label on the rocks to help wake you up?

Scotch, scotch, scotch! I love scotch!

Steve Sax said...

Hi Quad! Yeah, I'm a scotch fan too. I prefer single malts, especially Oban 14 year. I've got some great cask-strength Glenmorangie that is getting me through the morning.

Steve Sax said...

Tony Jackson was interviewed on the pre-game show and he mentioned, among other things, that Clayton Kershaw was pretty disappointed to be sent down to double-A. "They can spin it any way they want," Kershaw apparently told Jackson, "but the fact of the matter is I am being sent down."

Tony Jackson also has a slightly higher-pitched voice than I expected from seeing his picture on his blog.

karina said...

How about Old Parr? my dad would love to hang around with you guys, specially if you love poker.

karina said...

Kemp, CF
Ethier, RF
Martin, C
Kent, 2B
Loney, 1B
DeWitt, 3B
Young, RF
Maza, SS
Billingsley, P

karina said...

i'm watching the game on TV!

karina said...

Martin with the single! 2 outs

Eric Karros said...

Hi karina, quad, sax...just checking in but have to take off now...hope to read about a dodger victory later

karina said...

Kent walks, King James is up!

karina said...

King James with the RBI double!

karina said...

DeWitt with a 2 RBI single, between center and right, Dodgers 3-Astros 0

QuadSevens said...

Scotch and poker. My two most favorite things in the world. I'm heading into Las Vegas again this weekend to watch some poker. World Series of Poker main event starts up today.

karina said...

Master Quad, i think you and my dad could very good friends.

QuadSevens said...

3 up and 3 down for Billingsly. Going into the second.

Always up for a new poker buddy.

Steve Sax said...

Karina, thanks a ton for posting the lineup. 3-0, what a luxury!

karina said...

It's poker night at my house 2-3 times a week. I used to have my studio on the poker room, but "it was suggested that i have to move"

*sigh*

karina said...

My pleasure, Sax!

Steve Sax said...

I'm not into poker. But I'll share scotch with Karina and Q7!

QuadSevens said...

Bills is rolling. Another 1-2-3 inning.

I'm gonna have to have a scotch as soon as I get into Vegas now. And I may have to try to find some Oban 14 or Glenmorangie now Sax.

Steve Sax said...

Bills is dealing, on an average pace of 25 pitches through 2 innings.

karina said...

Ethier with the HR! Mr. Ethier, you're spoiling us!

karina said...

I don't drink scotch but i can still hang out with you, guys.

what do you like to drink?

Steve Sax said...

Quad, the true test of your love for the Dodgers is if you bet on them in Vegas this wkend. Please keep us posted.

Steve Sax said...

Karina, what's the score?

karina said...

Kent with the single! adopted son Martin is up! no outs.

karina said...

Edit: Martin grounded out, then Kent singled, King James up, one out.

sorry for the mistake.

karina said...

Dodgers 4-Astros 0

karina said...

King James "singled", showed some speed.

karina said...

DeWitt grounded out, Kent at 3rd and Loney at 2nd.

Time for some redemption, Mr. Young.

QuadSevens said...

I'll have to swing by a sports book and see how much I can make on the Dodgers vs. The Hated Ones.

karina said...

I'd love if the Might L.A. Blue sweep the other team on the bay.

karina said...

Ethier walked, then he was caught stealing

karina said...

Kent is out of the game, he's hurt but nobody knows what happened yet.

Berroa is now at the shortstop and Maza is playing second base.

karina said...

It worked. They just made a double play.

karina said...

I jinxed Maza. He just made the error and living by the old baseball saying "after the error, comes a hit", Pence singled and Towles with the double RBI.

Dodgers 4-Astros 2

the runs are unearned but they still count.

Steve Sax said...

Shoot, 2 unearned runs. I can't see it; is Delwyn a liability in the field? He was last night, that's for sure.

karina said...

It wasn't Young's fault. It was a deep double, the problem was Maza's error.

karina said...

King James with the HR! Dodgers 5-Astros 0

karina said...

Well, in spite it wasn't Young's fault, he really looked lost trying to field the ball.

karina said...

There's a mistake on the MLB gameday. DeWitt flied out to right field, gameday says he singled.

Steve Sax said...

Loney HR!

Kent left the game with back stiffness...he's likely out Fri for a day game, I suspect.

karina said...

Andruw Jones would return to the team tomorrow night. Great.

karina said...

Is a day game tomorrow?

karina said...

Garciaparra would likely return tomorrow, too.

Steve Sax said...

Young joins Kemp with 3 Ks today

Steve Sax said...

Karina, how's the weather where you are?

karina said...

HOT all year long. This is "the land by the sun beloved".

karina said...

I know the correct word would be warm, but it wouldn't be accurate.

Steve Sax said...

Karina, it sounds like Maza had a sweet defensive play earlier this game, right?

Btw Rick Monday's homerun call on Loney's HR was a yawner.

Carlos lee doubles, but doesn't score.

karina said...

It's sort of damp too.

karina said...

He did, but i forgot to mention it. It was very sweet, "venezuelan shortstop quality" level.

Steve Sax said...

Furcal apparently had a successful surgery today. That's good.

Kemp gets a hit! He finally hits the slider that struck him out 3x today! No golden sombrero, Matty!

karina said...

Kemp singled (3 k's for a leading spot is depressing). Anyhow, i still love the Bison.

karina said...

Wild pitch. Kemp to 2nd.

Are you finally watching the game, Steve?

karina said...

I hope Ethier didn't get hurt. He fouled himself.

karina said...

May i ask why you're curious about the weather in my city?

karina said...

Berroa singled. King James at the plate.

karina said...

How bizarre is Berroa batting 4th?

karina said...

Loney walks. Berroa at 2nd.

QuadSevens said...

Hi all. Just back from lunch. Glad to see the Dodgers are still leading.

karina said...

Astros almost made a triple play!

cigarcow said...

What is with these Thursday day games that nobody tells me about until the 8th inning? So annoying. How does Mccourt allow this? He's gotta be losing money on these middle-of-the-week-nobody-shows-up-or-watches-on-tv deals.

karina said...

It's not a McCourt decision. MLB planned more day games on Monday and Thursdays, because they're traveling days for teams, specially when teams have to make long trips.

karina said...

Bills: 8 IP, 92 pitches, 4 K, 1 BB, 2 R, 0 ER

Working as the ace he really is.

karina said...

Sweeney pinch hitting for Bills, why do i even mention this?

karina said...

Sweeney got his daily K, Kemp walks. Pitching change.

karina said...

It wasn't a pitching change. Pitcher got ejected but i had to take out my dog.

karina said...

Top of the 9th. Saito at the mound.

karina said...

Dodgers win! keyword for today: 0.5

let's go blue!

Happy 4th of July, you all!

Erin said...

You guys still here?

Erin said...

Well, if anyone is still reading, I just checked into my St. Louis hotel, which is directly across the street from Busch Stadium. Turns out this is where the out of town players stay, so I just took a picture in the lobby with none other than Mr. Johan Santana.

karina said...

WOW! The one and only gocho! Señor Johan Santana!
i bet he was very polite with you!

off, i need to go to the library...

Damon said...

I just got home and checked the box score only to notice this.

a-Struck out for Billingsley in the 9th.

a-Sweeney, PH 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .094

Steve Sax said...

erin, the picture is indeed sweet. well done. see if you can sign him to a deal with the Dodgers...or better yet, get us a bat!

Orel said...

Epale everyone! Sorry I missed today's festivities. Erin, you gotta post that picture!