Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Game 126 Thread: August 20 vs. Rockies, 7:10p

Jeff Francis (3-8, 5.74) vs. Chad Billingsley (12-9, 3.10).

COMMENTS: Ugh, so last night's game was a little ugly. Kuroda looked shaky at the start of the game, our mighty bullpen started to show some kinks in the armor, and our bats fizzled with men in scoring position (13 men LOB). What do we need? Our ACE to come in and right the ship. I'm sure that Bills told Joe Torre the same thing that Ace Ventura said: "I'm ready to go in coach, just give me a chance!" We need the next two wins to salvage the series. Plus Orel and I will be at the game tonight! Let's Go Blue!

50 comments:

Erin said...

Pierre, CF
Kemp, RF
Kent, 2B
Manny, LF
Nomar, SS
Blake, 1B
Martin, 3B
Ardoin, C
Billingsley, P

Erin said...

Looks like MSTI was right on in his post today about Martin never getting a "real" day off.

karina said...

There you go. Pierre scored out of a single, stolen base and single by Kemp. None out.

karina said...

By the way, Orel and Alex Cora, have fun at the game!

karina said...

Double play...Matt Kemp was tagged at first, Kent flied out.

Steve Sax said...

Karina, please don't tell me that was another Kemp baserunning gaffe for the DP.

Rocks threatening with a man on second in the 2nd.

Erin said...

Sax, hard to blame Kemp on that one. Holliday made a really nice running catch on a ball that looked like a sure extra base hit for Kent. And Kemp was running on the pitch anyway.

Steve Sax said...

Ok. I'm not watching the game tonight, so thanks for the recap Erin.

And then Kemp nails Stewart at home to end the second and maintain the shutout. Wow.

Steve Sax said...

I just got a call from AC at the game with Orel. Wait until you see these pictures, sports fans. They are having a suite time.

Erin said...

Yeah, it was a nice throw from Kemp and a nice tag from Ardoin, who got creamed at the plate.

Erin said...

I'll be at tomorrow's game. Last Dodger game for me until the final home game of the season.

karina said...

Padres 4- D' Backs 0

Erin said...

It's actually D-Backs 6, Padres 4 now.

Erin said...

Now 6-5, D-Backs, in the sixth.

karina said...

Son Martin is on fire tonight! 2-2

Steve Sax said...

Ugh, bills is in trouble here in the fifth, giving up a leadoff DOUBLE to the pitcher Jeff Francis, and then walking the next batter, and then allowing a sac bunt to reach first. Bases loaded. None out. Holliday up. 3-1 lead in jeopardy.

Steve Sax said...

what the hell happened there? Play at the plate, everyone else up 90 feet?

Steve Sax said...

Crap, it appears it's 3-2 and the bases are still juicy juiced.

karina said...

Rancho Ardiendo for the Rockies. Time for the Atkins GIDP.

karina said...

I called it, it happened. Dodgers still lead 3-2

Erin said...

The Rockies only got a run thanks to Blake committing an error. He tried to rush it, but it would have been an easy force out at home if he had just taken his time.

Erin said...

Two of the outs in the inning came as forces at home, with the second force out at home being the first out of a double play. That makes sense, right?

Double play was 5-2-3 (if Blake was covering first, which he must have been).

karina said...

Rough night for Blake. Guess first base is not his thing.

Erin said...

Seems like this would be Billingsley's last inning. He's over 100 pitches. He'll be hoping the bullpen can manage three innings with a one-run lead tonight. Or hoping the offense will actually punish Francis a bit (guy has given up nine hits in five innings, but has only had to throw 77 pitches).

Erin said...

And an E-5 extends the sixth for Billingsley. But Francis is up to bat. Of course, he has two hits tonight, so I guess it's not so easy.

karina said...

*Crossing fingers for the offense*

Not watching the game, but Bills have given up more walks than usual, hitters have seen too many pitches, however he's been able to keep the team in the game.

Erin said...

They say the sign of a good pitcher is his ability to get through innings even when he doesn't have his best stuff. I'd say that's what Chad is experiencing tonight.

karina said...

What the odds? Francis grounded out. Nice, Bills!

Steve Sax said...

oh god, it's sweeney again

karina said...

Suckweeney grounded out. He defines futility.

Steve Sax said...

Why do we put auto-out sweeney up there?

Erin said...

I know I've said this before, but it bears repeating: why is Sweeney on this roster? MSTI has made the case for Hu to come up, which makes a lot of sense to me. At this point, if we put our best lineup out there everyday, our bench options are as follows: Pierre, Ardoin, Berroa, Ozuna, Sweeney. That's despicable, and Hu has been hitting well at Triple-A. Guess management just figures we'll hang on until September 1.

Erin said...

Two terrible throws from Martin across the diamond. Two errors. Three errors in the game, all three from players playing out of position.

karina said...

Oh well, if you can remember when was the last time he collected a hit or a RBI, maybe we could stop considerate him as the out the Dodgers give away.

Steve Sax said...

As happy as I am about Manny, I still blame the Dodgers for Sweeney.

Erin said...

Arizona wins.

Steve Sax said...

Frickin' Padres are rolling over and playing dead against the Snakes, down 8-5 in the ninth.

We should demote Sweeney, and make him one of the PTBNLs for the Maddux trade.

Erin said...

It's unfortunate that wouldn't work, Sax. I read somewhere that the PTBNLs can't have been on the active roster at the time of the trade.

Meanwhile, Park has allowed the tying run to cross the plate, and has the go-ahead run standing 90 feet away with one out.

Erin said...

The Padres had a 4-0 lead in the first inning, with Jake Peavy on the mound. You had to figure that's a win for them, but no. They couldn't do us one favor.

karina said...

Padres have a dreadful offense, maybe Dodgers should give them two players, Suckweeney as a bonus and offer to pay for his entire salary.

karina said...

Rockies tied.

Rob said...

4-3 Rocks. Thppt.

karina said...

Thppt?

Damon said...

why not pitch not with Ethier

karina said...

i was thinking the same, Damon.

Rob said...

Well it's a dog's life in a rope leash or a diamond collar
It's enough to make you think right now
But you don't bother
For goodness sake as you cry and shake
Let's keep you face down in the dirt where you belong
And think of all the pleasure that it brings
Though you know that it's wrong

Rob said...

Karina -- http://thppt.ytmnd.com/

karina said...

Futile. Painful. Night.

Loved your link, Rob.

Orel said...

And I'm back. Four errors tonight. Ugly. We just blow against the NL West.

Steve Sax said...

I am miserable. All that momentum from the Phils/Brews series, evaporated with a stupid Torre lineup that yielded four errors. Two games back of Arizona, and we can't beat the teams we should be demolishing.