Clayton Kershaw (4-5, 4.41) vs. Paul Maholm (9-8, 3.68).
COMMENTS: Morning, sleepyheads! For the first time in 17 days, the Dodgers didn't trim at least one game from their magic number, which remains at eight. The Dodgers' lead over the Diamondbacks is 3.5 with ten games left. The Dodgers are 12-3 in September. Things are looking good, but the post-season? We're not talking about it.
So what are we talking about? Kershaw, for starters. The Dodgers have won his past three starts, but Kershaw has already thrown 157 innings this year (96 for the Dodgers and 61 for Jacksonville). If you believe in what SI.com's Tom Verducci calls the "Year-After Effect," then Kershaw, after throwing 122 innings between Jacksonville and Great Lakes last year, should be done for the season. Instead, he's in the thick of a pennant race. Present versus future? It's a tough call.
In the other dugout, Maholm is nearing 200 innings pitched himself. If the Dodgers can make him throw a lot of pitches early, then maybe they can get to the Pirates' bullpen, which they touched up for three runs yesterday before their own bullpen imploded. In any case, this has already been a winning road trip for the Dodgers; today's outcome determines if they will have gone 7-3 or 6-4. Ah, September baseball!
AP photo
125 comments:
Thanks for getting this GameThread at 6.10am, Orel!
This is hilarious. I'm checking back in almost three hours later, and no one has commented! Must have been soooome party last night!
Dodgers down 1-0 in the top of the third.
Pirates got their run on a McClouth sac fly in the first.
Dodgers do not have a hit yet, but with two out they've got a runner on second (Berroa, walked and Kershaw sacrificed), and Martin is up.
Martin gets a four-pitch walk to bring up Ethier with men at first and second. Ethier is batting a very cool .300.
Ethier grounds to first to end the inning. I don't think Ethier has been the same since his return from the birth of his child...
To be fair, having gone through this myself, it is a pretty disruptive life event. I can give him a break. But that run would have been nice.
Minotaur has thrown a lot of pitches so far, but he gets through the 3rd with two Ks and a ground out.
1-0 Bucs.
Yay! A hit!
I came over to say that I'd be pissed if the Dodgers got no-hit today.
Guess I should have started commenting earlier.
Dodgers up, 2-1.
LA 2-1 on a DeWitt single to score Manny (who walked) and Kemp (who doubled--great to see it coming back, Matty!).
2-1 Dodgers after 4.
Hi all! Monday & Reuss are in fine form on the radio today.
Reuss: "...but [some setback] did not discern him." Distress + concern = discern.
Monday: "Morgan has been well-recepted in Pittsburgh." Received + accepted = recepted.
Bucs in the bottom of the fifth have Paul Maholm up with a man on first and one out. Not necessarily surprising, since Maholm is pitching a two-hitter, but...
Maholm called K on three pitches.
Monday + Jerry = Merry?
At least you can hear the game, Orel. I'm stuck down here, in the basement structure with 12" thick concrete walls. Gameday is it for me, baby.
On to the sixth inning, 2-1 Dodgers.
Andy LaRoche is in perfect position to put a dagger into us.
They IBB his brother to get to him.
Saito is pitching, with men at first and second and two away.
7th pitch of the at bat, many balls fouled off. It's still 2-2 with two away and two on; the deuces are wild!
...And Andy gets the single to score the man from second, tying the game. Dammit!
2-2.
Saito Ks Chris Gomez to end the inning, stranding two on base. 2-2 after 6 innings.
Well, at least the good news is, Saito pitched 25 pitches and looked like he could hang tough in adversity.
We never should have traded for Manny!
Why would they leave the bunt on for DeWitt with a 3-1 count? It doesn't matter, since Maholm walked DeWitt, but still. That move doesn't make any sense.
Young not Sweeney!
I know NL convention says you bunt Berroa there, but I don't like the move. Maholm walked two guys in a row. Why give him a break by handing him an out?
So Young pops up and there are two outs with a runner still at third. That bunt move makes even less sense now.
Rancho Ardiendo for Andre Ethier!
Hard to argue with that logic, Erin. Torre is playing for the one- or two-run lead, as opposed to trying to bust it open.
Ethier RBI!!
Andy LaRoche taketh, Andy LaRoche giveth. 3-2 Dodgers.
IBB to Martin to load the bases, but Ethier comes through with the tie-breaking single.
Rancho ardiendo for the Dodgers with Manny up and two out. Come on, Manny, mash this puppy.
And Ethier gets a tiny dribbler up the line, but that's all we needed. Run scores. 3-2, Dodgers. Ramirez up with the bases juiced.
crap. Manny, no mash.
3-2 Dodgers.
Cory Wade doesn't have a straight-on mug shot, like everyone else.
Ethier assist to nail Mint-kay-vitch!
Andre made an awesome throw there.
two out single against wade, here in the 7th
Nyjer Morgan steals second. Come on, Cory.
Erin, how the heck are you? Are you still in Idaho? Back on the meds?
CRAP, Cruz at least ties it if not more
I'm actually in Seattle now, but I leave here tomorrow to head back south (after a two-day detour in San Francisco).
There is absolutely no reason we should be having this much difficulty against Pittsburgh.
Why is Tommy Lasorda yelling at me over the radio?
3-3, on to the eighth
orel, did you catch my tommy epigraph at the end of my "we're not talking about it" post?
I'm telling you, I hear a lot of the games on the radio, and when I hear Tommy barking at me about going to Aamco, I kinda get pissed off about it and want to avoid them (and him) altogether. I'd rather wait until Tommy calms the hell down.
Will the person masquerading a James Loney, now 0-for-4 and coming off a horendous error last night, please return Loney's jersey to its proper owner?
All right, DeWitt. Kemp does his part by singling and stealing second. Now score him.
Sweeney batting for Berroa. Hmmm.
...or, don't get the opportunity, as you have been IBBd.
Guess the Pirates are going for Berroa-k.
Yeah, this should work out beautifully.
Oh no, it's Sweeney.
Why even bother with a coaching visit to the mound? Unless you're trying to stop your pitcher from laughing, that is.
Saw that, Sax. When I listen to the Dodgers on the radio, it's usually in the car and I mute the commercials. But with today's rare morning game, I've got it on at work.
Sweeney pinch-hitting for Berroa likely means: Dog Let The Hu Out.
Woof, woof woof.
Kemp caught at third for out #3. That'll set his cause back a few weeks.
You think Kemp was going on his own there? Not a good move, getting thrown out at third for the third out, even if it is Sweeney at the plate.
WTF is Kemp doing trying to steal third???
That is an awful, awful call
Sax, you are on fire with the puns. Or at least you've got a little bonfire going.
Okay, here comes the ninth.
I guess Hu has to lead off?
my god, we are going down like creampuffs in the ninth
Martin is 0-for-3 in the leadoff spot today
Oh dear, Chan Ho is pitching the ninth
Double play! Extra baseball!
One out, Ethier on second, and they IBB Blake to get to Loney.
MAKE THEM PAY, JAMES
Loney Ks, capping an 0-for-5 day. Come on, James. We expect better.
DeWITT! RUSSELL!
That was a crazy play.
I have a bad feeling about this.
Casey Blake's a busy boy in the 11th.
Ethier does not bunt here.
Leadoff walk for Martin in the 12th. Let's make something of this, this time!
Hi guys! join in just in time to see Dodgers win.
Can they please just win already? I'm so hungry, and I can't go get something to eat without seeing the end of this game.
Rancho Ardiendo II: The Redemption of James Loney
Erin, I seem to remember your being in this position earlier this season.
Epale, Karina!
Rancho Ardiendo for King James!
Wonderful AB from Blake to work a walk out of an 0-2 count. Rancho ardiendo for the Dodgers...and here is James Loney to make magic happen!
Free yourself, King James!
If numbers are to be believed, King james should have at least a single...
Yes. The Dodgers take up too much of my time, and I have forsaken eating more than once. My parents are remodeling their house, and we're all crammed into two rooms. The refrigerator is outside. There is no food here, so I have to leave to get it.
Come on, Loney!
Erin, your avatar is looking a little malnourished as well.
Erin:
Local business results for pizza delivery near Seattle, WA A. Pagliacci PIzza: Queen Anne - www.pagliacci.com - (206) 726-1717 - 54 reviews
B. Pagliacci Pizza: Broadway - www.pagliacci.com - (206) 726-1717 - 43 reviews
C. Pagliacci Pizza: University - www.pagliacci.com - (206) 726-1717 - 17 reviews
D. Mad Pizza - Madison Park - www.madpizza.com - (206) 329-7037 - 12 reviews
E. Zeeks Pizza - Belltown - www.zeekspizza.com - (206) 285-8646 - 36 reviews
F. Mad Pizza - First Hill - www.madpizza.com - (206) 322-7447 - 14 reviews
G. Pizza Hut: Delivery or Carry Out - www.pizzahut.com - (206) 325-3200 - 6 reviews
H. Pizza Hut: Delivery or Carry Out - www.pizzahut.com - (206) 783-3700 - 1 review
I. Mad Pizza - Fremont - maps.google.com - (206) 632-5453 - 6 reviews
J. Snoose Junction Pizza - www.snoosejunctionpizzeria.com - (206) 789-2305 - 10 reviews
More results near Seattle, WA »
There you go, James! 4-3 Dodgers!
SoSG: We are full-service.
Loney makes it happen!
Anybody watching it, can you please describe it?
Harry Potter reference:
"Loney is my King"
Kemp did not atone for his baserunning. DeWitt's turn to try for insurance.
Indeed, Orel. This was King James Loney's redemption...
Loney's hit was on opposite field single. Nice piece of hitting.
Thanks for the pizza results, Steve. But after two weeks of eating Wendy's, I think I'm going for some salads for a few days.
and that's all we'll get is one run? Hmm.
Well, make the most of it, Dodger D!
Go Brox!
Gameday says Proctor is pitching
Gameday is wrong, unless Proctor packed on about 100 pounds.
erin:
Local business results for salad delivery near Seattle, WA A. Mad Pizza - Madison Park - www.madpizza.com - (206) 329-7037 - 12 reviews
B. Roma Trattoria - www.romatrattoria.com - (206) 547-9992 - 8 reviews
C. Pagliacci PIzza: Queen Anne - www.pagliacci.com - (206) 726-1717 - 54 reviews
D. Pagliacci Pizza: Broadway - www.pagliacci.com - (206) 726-1717 - 43 reviews
E. Zeeks Pizza - Belltown - www.zeekspizza.com - (206) 285-8646 - 36 reviews
F. Zeeks Pizza - Phinney Ridge - www.zeekspizza.com - (206) 285-8646 - 31 reviews
G. Pagliacci Pizza: University - www.pagliacci.com - (206) 726-1717 - 17 reviews
H. Sunlight Cafe - www.igougo.com - (206) 522-9060 - 21 reviews
I. Snoose Junction Pizza - www.snoosejunctionpizzeria.com - (206) 789-2305 - 10 reviews
J. Pagliacci Pizza: Seattle Area Delivery - www.pagliacci.com - (206) 726-1717 - 7 reviews
More results near Seattle, WA »
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What's funny is that it's mostly the same places that I posted for pizza delivery.
They just changed it...
Brox K's the first batter but has thrown almost all balls since.
We face Pittsburgh's 9-1-2?
Gameday is so far behind, I'm still on the pitching change.
Who the hell is this Morgan guy? Why is he a Dodger killer?
Come on, Broxton. I can't keep watching after this inning, so just get it done.
Orel, please do the play-by-play, Gameday is lagging
Broxton deflects and recovers! Two out, man on third....
Who is Morgan? What is going on????
100!
Orel, keep 'em coming
Sorry, I gotta switch to Gameday.
gameday brox hasn't even pitched one ball to doumit yet
Broxton walked Nyjer (sp?) Morgan, then got a comebacker and threw the batter out at first. Two outs, runner at third.
HHEEEEELLLLLPPPPP
I'll keep you up to date on this, Sax. I'm hoping I'll just have to do that job for this one last batte.r
Isn't Morgan the same guy who was driving when the police checked on Neimel, Young and Martin?
I feel like I'm outside the time-space continuum here, waiting for events to happen at glacial speed.
Maybe this is what Barry Allen feels like.
They are intentionally walking the batter (maybe McClouth--my volume is down).
I'm feeling your pain too, Steve
Yes Karina, the same guy.
Thanks erin.
I owe you another beer.
And a salad.
Okay, so intentional walk puts runners at first and third. Two outs, Jason Michaels at the plate.
If Martin et al bought Morgan's dinner, he'd better not score here.
Is Jason related to Bret? Or Al?
1-2 count to Michaels.
Or maybe I'm Wally West.
Can we please unskinny bop Michaels here
2-2 count.
I need some antacid
Michaels pops up to short right, DeWitt makes the play, and the Dodgers win.
Thank you, Erin!
Thank you, Broxton!
Thank you, DODGERS!!!
Orel and I are at the game tomorrow!
Okay, time to eat.
I guess you both will be our lucky charm. I'll get to watch the game on TV.
Thank you very much Erin!
Let's go Blue!
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