Thursday, August 14, 2008

Game 121 Thread: August 14 vs. Phillies, 7p

Hiroki Kuroda (6-8, 4.02) vs. Brett Myers (5-9, 5.09).

COMMENTS: From Dodgers.com:

Kuroda is coming off back-to-back strong starts, now that he is able to finish off breaking balls without worrying about his shoulder being sore. In his most recent start, the only run he allowed the Giants in eight innings scored on a sacrifice fly in an inning extended by a wild pitch third strike. It was the fourth time this year he's pitched at least eight innings. He's never faced Milwaukee.

He's also never faced Philadelphia, in case you were wondering.

As for the competish, Myers is 3-1 with a 2.76 ERA lifetime against the Dodgers. Joe Torre fielding last night's lineup will give the Dodgers their best chance at a four-game sweep.

STAT OF THE DAY: Dodgers' record since the Great SoSG Dodger Ticket Giveaway™ commenced: 3-0.

114 comments:

Orel said...

Kemp, CF
Ethier, RF
Kent, 2B
Ramirez, LF
Loney, 1B
Martin, C
Garciaparra, SS
Blake, 3B
Kuroda, P

Kemp & Ethier go together like M&M's! Manny gives Kent more protection than a box of Trojans! Russell's rising with a bullet!

Erin said...

I really like this lineup.

Orel said...

Me too. For as long as Torre took to get to know this team, he seemed to figure out the best pieces to put around Manny pretty fast.

Erin said...

You guys got the email, I'm sure, but Brad Penny is heading to the DL.

Orel said...

Actually, I hadn't heard. I wonder if this paves the way for...Greg Maddux?

Damon said...

Eric Stults Greg Maddux same thing

Steve Sax said...

Yeah, erin, we got the email...what do you think? Maddux part deux?

Erin said...

Maddux's record isn't good this year, but we all know that doesn't have a lot to do with him. His WHIP is decent at 1.24, and I guess he's pitched pretty well this season. He'd probably be happy to go somewhere with run support. I can't say that I'd be opposed to getting Maddux.

But what do the Padres want?

karina said...

Kemp & Ethier, on the first and second slots in the lineups, belong together like nail and flesh.

The thought of Maddux wearing Dodger Blue again pleases me a lot.

Erin said...

Apparently, Manny cut his hair.

Erin said...

Vin Scully just used the term "f-bomb."

karina said...

This is intriguing:

"One inch, half an inch," Ramirez said. "It's still long. If I come back next year, it will be shorter."

Could anyone think on a clean and classy way to dump Pierre and Jones?

Erin said...

I don't think he thinks much of Brett Myers.

Unknown said...

I can listen to Vin say 'F-bomb' and other derogatory abbreviations...theres a certain dignity to it.

Erin said...

I guess Ramirez has laid out the rules: in order for Joe Torre to get #99 to cut his hair, Torre must convince the higher-ups to sign Ramirez to a long-term contract.

Erin said...

You're right, Andrew. Vin Scully could say anything at all and give it dignity.

Steve Sax said...

Kent is now 14-for-26 batting ahead of Manny (after a first inning two-out single tonight).

Steve Sax said...

Myers, 11 pitches through 1.

Erin said...

Scully, regarding Stults and Sturtze:

"We certainly don't want them in a rundown."

The man says things like that, and I get a little teary.

Unknown said...

Man I love when they have Vinny on MLB.tv...I have nearly broken my laptop numerous times having to listen to the DBack announcers especially...Vinny makes sleep easy here on the East Coast.

Steve Sax said...

KKuroda, with two strikeouts in the second.

karina said...

I'm getting the game on Gameday and Kuroda is doing smoothly. There's hope for this game.

Unknown said...

Am I the only one that feels that Loney would be an exceptional two hitter...perhaps encourage him to develop even more gap power instead of beating it in him that he needs to hit the ball out of the park to be productive?

Erin said...

There's always hope, isn't there, Karina?

Steve Sax said...

Leadoff triple for Loney!

karina said...

King James tripled!

karina said...

Always, Erin.

Erin said...

Three innings, 28 pitches for Kuroda.

You get the feeling the Phillies just want to get the hell out of here?

Awesome defensive inning for Nomar. Very nice.

karina said...

Why does in Gameday says the Dodgers have scored one run on the 2nd inning? i hit refresh and it stays the same.

karina said...

Forget it. I got confused.

Erin said...

There goes the no-hitter. Utley with a double down the line.

karina said...

Kuroda K's Howard. Nice, very nice...

Erin said...

47 pitches through four. As my girlfriend (er, fiance?) just said, "I guess we're getting good Kuroda tonight."

karina said...

It's impossible not to love these youngsters. King James walks, then he steals second.

karina said...

You'll have to get used to the term "fiance" and then "wife". Awwwwww.

karina said...

Though Martin struck out.

Erin said...

58 through five. I'm enjoying keeping track of this pitch count.

Brett Myers has the same number through his four innings.

Karina, I don't know if I'll ever use the word "wife." It sounds so strange. I'm going to have to come up with a better title.

Loney Fan said...

Your Vin Scully? Someone you love and can't think of life without? Someone who will always have a place in your heart and makes every Dodger game better?

Whatever the title, congratulations again!

Erin said...

Thanks, Loney Fan.

I'll ask Christine how she feels about being introduced as "My Vin Scully."

Erin said...

Kuroda is kruising. 68 pitches through six.

Erin said...

His inning-by-inning pitch count looks like this:

1st: 7
2nd: 15
3rd: 6
4th: 19
5th: 11
6th: 10

Not too shabby.

And Kemp belts one out!

karina said...

Whatever you call her, she's your true love and that's quite an achievement.

Love permeates this game thread.

karina said...

Speaking of love, Matt Kemp homered.

Erin said...

Yes, love is definitely all around, especially when the Dodgers are winning.

karina said...

I've got that song stuck on my head, in the Wet Wet Wet and R.E.M. versions.

Werth and a leadoff hitter, put some respect, Mr. Kuroda.

Orel said...

Love Is All Around!

Orel said...

I like the non-sucky Kuroda.

Orel said...

To address Andrew's question, Loney will really have to cut down on his GIDPs if he is ever to bat second.

Orel said...

Martin with the shattered-bat single!

Orel said...

Some insurance would be nice.

Orel said...

Whatever happened to the feet-first slide? Martin steals second diving headfirst, making me a little nervous.

karina said...

Orel, i love that link. Watching and listening Mike Mills sing, brings lots of joy to my heart. I love R.E.M.!

Orel said...

Casey delivers! 3-1 Dodgers! Torre played that to perfection.

karina said...

Does he look hurt?

Orel said...

Rich Dubee "Dubee Doo" making a mound visit. Exchanging glances with the pitcher.

Steve Sax said...

Nice RBI by Blake!

WHY IS SWEENEY UP

Erin said...

Oh good, Sweeney. We'll be out of this inning shortly.

Erin said...

In case anyone is wondering, Kuroda is at 79 pitches through seven innings. That's some kind of efficiency.

Steve Sax said...

sweeney doesn't strike out! Unbelievable that he draws a walk.

Orel said...

I'm not a huge R.E.M. fan but I do enjoy their version of that song.

Martin wasn't close to being hurt, but you don't like to see your catcher throwing his body around with such abandon. Generally.

Orel said...

This game has been fast, thanks to The Kuroda Effciency.

Erin said...

Hey, anyone going on Saturday night (fireworks night)? I just got tickets today.

Dodgers are 11-2 (including preseason versus the Sox) in games I've seen at Dodger Stadium this year. Saturday's game will be my 22nd MLB game of the season (three preseason), which is one more than my total for all of last season.

Erin said...

Kuroda's coming back out, right? There'd be no reason to bring in a reliever.

karina said...

Kuo is in, because Torre doesn't want to bore us.

Steve Sax said...

I do like the REM. But Mike Mills on lead vocals is not so good. Stipe is in that band for a reason, and it's not "ba-ba-ba-ba, ba-ba-ba."

Steve Sax said...

Sorry, that should read "the REMs"

Erin said...

Kuroda wasn't taxed. I see no reason to take away the possibility of a complete game from him. I bet he wasn't too pleased.

karina said...

Hey, Mike Mills has a great voice! you can listen to him on "Superman" found in "Lifes Rich Pageant", "Near Wild Heaven" on "Out of time" and making backing vocals on most R.E.M. songs.
Or maybe your point is you don't like Mike Mills performance in that particular song.

Orel said...

You're doing better than SoSG (13-11), Erin.

Orel said...

Mike Mills Marching & Chowder Society

Orel said...

Kuo mows Victorino down!

Erin said...

Here's something interesting:

Chowder & Marching Society: Organization founded in 1949 by 15 Republican Congressmen opposed to monthly bonuses for war veterans.

Orel said...

Kuo's developing a little victorious hop-step!

Orel said...

Neat, Erin. Vin probably announced that event too.

karina said...

It's "R.E.M. Marching and Chowder Society Band", for somewhat reason i've got a sort of a crush on Mike Mills *blushing*

Erin said...

Ha!

There appears to be no correct answer to when the term was actually officially coined, though. A brief web search brings up several possibilities. That one just jumped out at me as the most interesting.

Erin said...

My favorite numbers are 23 and 72. Somehow, without trying, tonight I have managed to write both the 23rd and 72nd comments.

karina said...

Why do you like those numbers?

Erin said...

I was 23 when I met Christine. 72 comes from a song from one of her favorite bands, Turin Brakes. The song is called "Emergency 72."

karina said...

'Dre doubles!

Orel said...

Is it the bass guitar or the glasses, Karina?

Orel said...

I love how Ethier has taken opportunity by the throat.

karina said...

Christine has very good taste...

Orel, i think it's both options and his voice. It doesn't hurt him the fact he's also a passionate baseball fan.

The other guys are also the best thing since bread came sliced.

Erin said...

Funny how the Red Sox telethon for their charity (Jimmy Fund) is scheduled at almost the same time as the Think Cure Telethon. Jimmy Fund is today and tomorrow, and Think Cure is all weekend.

karina said...

Though, we could define these youngsters as "the best thing since bread came sliced"

Erin said...

Karina, I would like to make a t-shirt that says exactly that:

"Young Guns: The Best Thing Since Bread Came Sliced"

Orel said...

Anything the Red Sox can do, Frank McCourt can imitate.

Orel said...

Alllllmost, Martin. 3-1 Dodgers going into the ninth.

Erin said...

Assuming we win, is this a two-inning save for Kuo?

karina said...

Erin, if i've got some time, i'll sketch something this weekend. It's a great idea.

Orel said...

Kemp has wheels in CF! One down.

Erin said...

Awesome, Karina. I'd love to see what you come up with.

Orel said...

Last time the Dodgers had a four-game sweep of the Phillies? 1962.

Orel said...

I would assume so, Erin.

Orel said...

DODGERS WIN!

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

Put in Broxton damn it! My fantasy team needs the save. (And I traded kuo for Broxton when he started closing)

karina said...

Game Over! still tied on the first, but they won't have to face Sabathia this weekend.

Orel said...

And we miss Sabathia this weekend!

karina said...

I got Broxton too, Delino. But Dodgers are first than my fantasy team.

karina said...

#100 (paraphrasing Sax)

Erin said...

Sheets pitched (and lost) today, so we'll miss him, too.

Steve Sax said...

Big win. Big sweep.

Way to go, Blue!

Orel said...

Just be happy what the Dodgers did for the Mets, Delino.

Steve Sax said...

karina, fair point on Near Wild Heaven and Superman. I still like Stipe better, but you've convinced me to change my mind.

Wow, I am so psyched on the Dodgers winning four over the Phillies! Unbelievable.

Steve Sax said...

delino, how's dekid?

Erin said...

To think I was praying for just a split before this series began.

Steve Sax said...

PS Karina, way to nab #100 tonight!

Erin said...

I'm dumb. I mentioned Sweeney coming in, but neglected to realize he was hitting for Kuroda. So of course Kuroda didn't come out to pitch the eighth. I'm a moron.

karina said...

Stipe is awesome (words can't describe him), Mike Mills does excellent backing vocals just like Bill Berry did (i miss him).
Steve, are you a R.E.M. fan? (and the way i nabbed #100 is called "influence")

karina said...

No Erin, you're not. Sweeney is the moron, as long as he performs as a decent pinch-hitter.

Orel said...

Me too, Erin. I was thinking we would have been lucky to get a split.

Orel said...

Kevin Kennedy just conflated Hong-Chih Kuo and Chan Ho Park.

Steve Sax said...

Karina, I am indeed an REM fan. I've seen them 4-5 times in concert, both as a foursome and a threesome, and have most of their albums from Life's Rich Pageant onward.

One of my favorite b-sides is "wall of death", which was an extra track on the E-Bow the Letter" cd-single. Great harmonies.

karina said...

Steve, you have added bonus points to your overall coolness!. I'm a huge fan myself: got every record at least twice (i tend to buy special editions, imports, etc), but the fact you've seen the wonderful four and three is awesome.

Yep, their instrumental b-sides rock, they 're mostly instrumentals, i guess that's when the rest of the band let Peter Buck be.