Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Game 132 Thread: August 26 @ Nationals, 4p

Derek Lowe (10-10, 3.89) vs. Collin Balester (2-6, 4.99).

COMMENTS: The Dodgers: one game under .500, three games out of first place. The Nationals: 39 games under .500, worst record in the Major Leagues.

A sweep of the Nationals: necessary.

Lowe: Glad to see Maddux? Balester: how SoSG Sax probably refers to Christian Bale.

171 comments:

Orel said...

Kemp, CF
Martin, C
Ethier, RF
Manny, LF
Loney, 1B
Nomar, SS
Blake, 3B
Berroa, 2B
Lowe, P

Orel said...

nope, make that:

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

Steve Sax said...

Wait, Garciaparra is playing short instead of Nomar?

Steve Sax said...

I can't believe the Nationals are going to Collin Balester for this start. I'd call on a more experienced starter.

Orel said...

Dodgers go 1-2-3 in the first. All three batters made contact, though.

Steve Sax said...

Yeah, and we gave Balester 7 big pitches, all fastballs, and he's done with his first inning. Yay.

Erin said...

Man, there are some weird camera angles in this stadium. If you're watching, the camera seems to be up on top of the press box in order to get a shot of the batter running to first. So strange.

Hello guys.

Steve Sax said...

whoops, the box score says Balester had 8 pitches, though the pitch-by-pitch only has 7

Steve Sax said...

erin! what's up? Any robots around?

Orel said...

1-2-3 for Lowe. 13 pitches.

Steve Sax said...

and now it's ack to 7 pitches.

Lowe needs 13 pitches to get through the first inning (unharmed)--almost TWICE as many pitches as the Balesterama

Erin said...

No robot sightings today.

Orel said...

Erin, why is the url for your site different than the name? Was www.robotstookmymedicine.com taken?

Orel said...

Balester: 11 pitches, four outs.

karina said...

King James got a walk. No outs. Son's up.

Erin said...

Orel, I don't know. I guess I just liked the idea of including both somewhere on the page. Also, even though "robots took my medicine" is only one letter longer than "robots are everywhere" it just felt so long.

Steve Sax said...

russ breaks up the no-no, and Loney takes second on the single. One out, Nomar up.

Steve Sax said...

robotsarepeopletoo.com looks like it's available

Steve Sax said...

Nomar pulls a Loney, GIDP to end the inning.

Erin said...

Sax, you'll have to set up a rival site.

Steve Sax said...

To be fair, NL Leaders in GIDP has a new #2:

Derrek Lee 24
Miguel Tejada 23
James Loney 21
Adrian Gonzalez 20

Steve Sax said...

erin, do I have to open up cityofangelseast.com first?

Erin said...

It would be a logical progression, I think, Sax.

Steve Sax said...

look at that, i blink my eyes and lastings milledge gets a homer.

WE ARE LOSING TO THE NATIONALS, PEOPLE

Steve Sax said...

Well, at least it's only 1-0 after two innings.

What this team needs is some good robot batters.

Steve Sax said...

hey blake, how about you hit one out here.

Steve Sax said...

wow, acc to gameday, that almost went out after all!

Steve Sax said...

as of this writing, Derek Lowe is batting 14 points better than Mark Sweeney

Steve Sax said...

...lowe reaches on throwing error, so now it's only 11 points better than sweeney's batting average (but at least he made it to first base, unlike Mark)

Booger said...

Inning Ending Double Play = Dodgers Baseball

Steve Sax said...

Kemp AGAIN swings at the first pitch, this time GIDP.

Three innings, two GIDPs

Two at bats, two pitches, three outs for Kemp

Come on, people, play like you give a damn

Loney Fan said...

I think you actually have to give a damn before you can play like it.

karina said...

I need advice from Mac users, MLB gameday doesn'y work and the ESPN gamecast is sort of confusing.

Orel said...

Hello, I see the Dodgers are turning Collin Balester into the next Cy Young.

Steve Sax said...

another run for WAS

Booger said...

This is shaping up to be another great day

Steve Sax said...

karina, who's the new beau?

espn gamecast at least has those fun pulsing yellow bubbles

Booger said...

Its nice to see that they responded to Larry Bowa's comments with such great play.

Orel said...

You can't stop the Nats. 2-0.

Steve Sax said...

Two-run lead. Insurmountable.

karina said...

Guys, let's have some faith, it's the 4th inning...aren't we hardcore fans? this team can win this game.

Loney Fan said...

Loney will make it happen

karina said...

Steve, he's not a "beau". He's Jesus Flores, for somewhat reason he put himself to my side, i felt uncomfortable, but i couldn't speak, move or breathe...for that matter. In the full size picture, you can see i'm blushing...

Loney Fan said...

or not

Booger said...

this team hasnt given any indication that they care too much right now. They are very uninspiring.

karina said...

C'mon, drive in at least a run...

Steve Sax said...

Two on, one out...Loney flies out, and Martin...

Orel said...

If caring was all it took, we'd all be big leaguers.

karina said...

Martin is seeing lots of pitches, let's see if he hits something well.

Steve Sax said...

...this is one hell of an at bat, russell...

Booger said...

WTF!!!!!!!!!!

Steve Sax said...

we can't buy a run

Steve Sax said...

Fire Mattingly

Loney Fan said...

At least we are not Detroit right now. Six runs in the third for Cleveland including back to back homers.

Booger said...

This team has the talent to be great. so there is obviously something missing.

Orel said...

I hate to point it out, but all the vets got on base and all the kids got outs that inning.

Steve Sax said...

These nats sure are pesky.

Steve Sax said...

Karina, you're conspiring with (today's) enemy...

Orel said...

Is Nomar okay?

Orel said...

Is Casey okay?

Orel said...

Dear Dodgers,

We are trying to GIVE you runs. PLEASE beat us.

Sincerely,
Nationals

karina said...

I hope back to back HBPs, don't bring any retaliation. Dodgers don't need any ejections or suspensions.

Steve Sax said...

We get the 7 and 8 men on? How can it be?

Oh, two HBPs.

We'll take it...

karina said...

Steve, i chose this avatar in order to jinx him. It has worked, so far

karina said...

We'll take whatever they give...as long they win.

karina said...

If avatar doesn't work out, gnome will be back. What do you think?

Orel said...

LET HIM WALK YOU LOWE

Steve Sax said...

WAY TO GO, LOWE! Six-pitch at bat, not counting numerous pick off attempts...and he ekes out a walk. Bases loaded, none out...

...TAKE A PITCH, MATTY

Steve Sax said...

Kemp sees a second pitch in an at bat, hallelujah

Orel said...

"Matt Kemp hits into triple play. Three out."

Booger said...

this is what it takes to get a run? an ERROR!!!!!!!!!!!!

Orel said...

I gotta say, the kids ain't getting it done tonight.

Steve Sax said...

bases loaded, none out, rookie pitcher on the rocks...and all we can manage is a run on a force out to third? come on.

Steve Sax said...

orel, Kent didn't do jack there, either

Booger said...

Man, it seems like you actually have to try to play this bad.

Orel said...

Bases loaded, no out. We score one run. Our level of suckitude is off the charts.

Steve Sax said...

"How To Make The Least Out Of A Potentially Huge Opportunity"

Steve Sax said...

erin must be drunk somewhere, trying to dullen the pain of this game

karina said...

or maybe she's watching the Red Sox-Yankees game. It's far more interesting than this game right now.

Eric Karros said...

Hello folks. I take it from the most recent few comments the game isn't going well.

Perry said...

this offense is absolutely horrible.

Orel said...

Offense? What's that?

karina said...

hey, Manny doubled, King James singled.

There is offense, but no clutch. There's a difference.

Eric Karros said...

There's no way they can't score at least 2 runs here

Orel said...

Should Manny have scored on that play?

Erin said...

Bases loaded with no one out. Again. Can we at least tie here?

Erin said...

And yes, I was watching the Sox/Yankees game. And also looking for video for my newest blog post.

Erin said...

Wow. Just...wow. This is just the worst offense ever right now.

Perry said...

wow unbelievable

Eric Karros said...

We excel at forcing errors.

Orel said...

Wow. Are you even kidding me.

Booger said...

They just arent trying now. They make me sick!

Eric Karros said...

what happened? I guess I'll read about it in a few seconds...

Orel said...

Lowe: "If you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself."

Erin said...

For once I agree with Steiner:

"These are the times that try men's souls."

Orel said...

Maybe Loney should try to steal home.

Erin said...

I just don't know what to do about this team. There are no more adjectives to use to describe them, and there are only so many times we can talk about how awful they are. Too many games left in the season to keep seeing this over and over again.

Erin said...

100!

Orel said...

Maybe the Dodgers just really hate Derek Lowe.

Steve Sax said...

Bases loaded, none out, again

Nomar GIDP, again

We don't score that frame, again

The good news is, since everyone is kelvin-thermometer-low kold right now, they're bound to all heat up at the same time.

The bad news is, the biorhythms all come back up in December

Steve Sax said...

And when you've got the bases loaded, and none out, and you're playing the Nationals--and you are HOPING to score a run,

...something is very, very wrong with this offense, and this coaching staff, and this lineup.

Steve Sax said...

Arizona is watching this game from their locker room, and laughing its lungs dry.

Orel said...

Again, Dodgers have more hits than their opponent and are losing.

Orel said...

Apparently Steven Shell = Nolan Ryan. Who knew?

Orel said...

At least Karina is doing her part. Flores is 0-for-3.

Alex Cora said...

Dude this sucks. This is the fricken' nationals. Come on. Our payroll is too much to play like this. 2 more innings to score.

Eric Karros said...

I'm gonna start photoshopping Karina's photo into pictures with other Washington Nationals.

karina said...

Orel, Flores is clutch. It seems the Nats fans are very appreciative of him, due to his ability to hit when it matters the most.

He should be at Double-A, but the Nats had to start him and release LoDuca, for example...

karina said...

You should photoshop Lastins Milledge.

Eric Karros said...

112!

Orel said...

Flores may be clutch, but even he is unable to overcome the Karina Kurse™.

Orel said...

Okay, I'm off. I do not harbor hopes of a come-from-behind win.

Alex Cora said...

Manny on first. Double play or load them up to hit into a double play to end it.

Erin said...

It's Loney, so the GIDP is quite likely.

Erin said...

But he strikes out, because he is generous and wants Martin to have the chance to GIDP.

Eric Karros said...

How's this?

karina said...

Again: it ain't over 'till it's over.

Alex Cora said...

What did I tell ya...

Erin said...

See?

Eric Karros said...

Alleviate the pain of a frustrating game with avatar fun!

Erin said...

This is really making me throw up. I guess the only positive is that, by playing on the east coast, the Dodgers make me miserable early, allowing me time to recover before bed.

Eric Karros said...

Ok, that was for a limited time only. Back to Woody.

Eric Karros said...

I'm going to bed also. G'night all -

karina said...

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

karina said...

Night, Eric.

karina said...

I don't want to sound like Derek Lowe's Marching and Chowder Society, but he doesn't deserve this kind of performance by this team. They did the exact same thing last season, too.

Erin said...

No, Lowe cannot be blamed for seeking a contract elsewhere in the offseason. This team isn't scoring for anyone lately, but Lowe always seems to bear the brunt of it all season.

Steve Sax said...

somewhere, trina lowe laughs

btw, gameday is slow...did Martin GIDP?

Erin said...

Martin did, indeed, GIDP. Two outs in the bottom of the eighth now, with a runner on first.

Erin said...

The super great news is, we have our 7-8-9 hitters coming up in the ninth.

Erin said...

Two on now. First and second, two outs. Lowe has thrown over 100 pitches, and Broxton is warming. Here comes Torre.

Erin said...

But Lowe stays in. That ought to help Broxton's confidence.

Erin said...

Eight strong innings from Derek Lowe. He allows two damn runs, and he will get the loss.

Unless Nomar, Blake and probably Sweeney can do something.

So, yeah, Dodgers lose.

Steve Sax said...

Okay, I'm sticking around to "see" the end of this debacle. 2-1 Nats, in the top of the ninth, with Nomar leading off (so he thankfully can't GIDP)

Erin said...

Nomar works a full count, getting my hopes just a bit, and then weakly grounds out to third. Awesome.

Steve Sax said...

And on a 3-2 count, Nomar...grounds to third. One out.

Steve Sax said...

Who, pray tell, will Torre put up to bat ninth?

My guess is Sweeney!

Steve Sax said...

Blake singles, with one out.

Steve Sax said...

Or maybe it's JP!

Steve Sax said...

Oh, YEAH! Sweeney!

GIDP, here we come!!!

karina said...

Indeed, Steve.

Erin said...

At least one of my teams is getting it down. Sox are up 7-3 against the Yankees. With the bases loaded in the seventh, one out, and A-Rod up, Justin Masterson got A-Rod to GIDP. Sweet.

Meanwhile, Blake's on base with, yes, Mark Sweeney batting.

So, GIDP to end the game?

karina said...

Just a few inches and that could have been a double...

Steve Sax said...

Replacing Derek Lowe with Mark Sweeney actually LOSES us points fom a statistical perspective (Lowe is batting better than Sweeney)

Erin said...

Sweeney just hit a little flare that I thought might land fair. But it falls a foot away from the line, in foul territory.

Erin said...

3-1 to Sweeney.

karina said...

Sweeney walks...go Bison!

Erin said...

Dear lord, he walks. Two on, one out. Pierre is pinch running for Sweeney, and Ozuna had already replaced Blake. Matt Kemp coming up.

Hope I'm not ruining things for the Gameday folks.

Alex Cora said...

Hey I step away and we have 2 on in the 9th with one out...rally?

Alex Cora said...

Home run?

Alex Cora said...

or DP?

Erin said...

I can't take this teasing.

Steve Sax said...

Ozuna PRs at second. Pierre PRs at first (Sweeney inexplicably walked, which won't raise his pathetic BA). And here's Kemp, ready to GIDP

Steve Sax said...

Kemp has a 2-0 count

Alex Cora said...

Green light to kemp or have him take?

Alex Cora said...

Guess it was a green light - but swung at a ball.

Steve Sax said...

3-1 count, take the walk Matt

Erin said...

Kemp has swung at two balls in this at-bat. He's got a full count, but he should be on base.

Erin said...

And he flies out. Man alive.

Alex Cora said...

Wow that sucked. It is all up to Either - pseudo walk off Andre!!!

Loney Fan said...

Let's go Ethier!!!

Steve Sax said...

Fly out, Kemp. On a bad pitch. Thank you, Matt, for your 0-for-5 day, and for treating us to the inevitable swap for Pierre in leadoff tomorrow.

Alex Cora said...

That strike pitch has been killing Andre all game.

Loney Fan said...

AHHHHHH I can't take it anymore!

Erin said...

The end. Unreal. A 2-1 loss to the worst team in baseball must mean that we are the worst team in baseball.

Steve Sax said...

I just noticed that on mlb gameday, you can change the view to be looking a pitches from underground. Cool.

Steve Sax said...

And there you have it, Ethier sees Kemp's 0-for-5 day and matches it.

Stick a fork, we are done.

Alex Cora said...

CRAP. Torre needs to sit down with this team and kick them in the ass. This team is too good to have only 7 hits and one run to show for it. The pitchers keep them in the game and 1 for 12 with RISP is horrible. We are probably going to be 4 out after tonight. The fricken' ROCKIES are going to over take this team.

Erin said...

I know we all believe this team doesn't really deserve to make the playoffs, but the thing is, Arizona refuses to take over.

Right now, they're losing 5-2 to the Padres in the fifth inning. It'll still be a three-game deficit if the Padres hang on, and if we can keep it there (or make it a little less) by winning against the Nationals (easier said than done, apparently) and hoping the Diamondbacks lose, then we'll control our own destiny this weekend.

I guess that's the best any team can hope for. Now we just have to see if the Dodgers will ever step up to the plate and take advantage of their situation.

Orel said...

6-2 Padres.

Problem is, the Dodgers basically have to sweep the D'backs to make up significant ground. Even two 2-1 series wins (which I would be happy with, by the way) "only" makes up two games in the standings.

Orel said...

8-2 Padres!

You know this just means the Padres are going to kill us when we play them nine times next month.