Friday, October 10, 2008

NLCS Game 2 Thread: Oct 10 @ Phillies, 1.35p

Chad Billingsley (0-0, -.--) vs. Brett Myers (0-0, -.--).

COMMENTS: What is this strange feeling? A post-season loss? The Dodgers' post-NLDS glow has been replaced by the frustration of their Game 1 defeat to the Phillies. Derek Lowe pitched well, but not well enough. The defense was good, but not good enough. The bats did some damage, but not damage enough.

Well that was yesterday, dammit. Today we've got our ace, Bills (16-10 regular season record, most wins on the Dodgers) going against Myers (10-13 regular season). But we've also got a team that may be pressing to hit home runs after so many near-misses yesterday. The Phillies, meanwhile, have already established their power stroke in their bandbox of a stadium.

So what do the Dodgers need today in order to avoid returning home in a 0-2 hole? At least six strong from Chadley and getting to Myers early, before he can settle into a rhythm. In other words, a little bit of that ol' Cubbie magic. So fire up, Dodger fans! Let's follow a loss with a win and welcome our boys home with some Dodgertown drive!

photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

130 comments:

Erin said...

Let's beat that wife beater!

Erin said...

From Inside the Dodgers:

Furcal, SS

Martin, C

Manny, LF

Ethier, RF

Loney, 1B

Kemp, CF

DeWitt, 2B

Blake, 3B

Bills, P

Orel said...

So that's Myers? It's hard to keep track of all these persons of ill repute.

Orel said...

Let's beat that wife beater-wearing wife beater!

Steve Sax said...

We need more from Furcal offensively. I can excuse the error, but the bat has gotta pop more from Raffy.

Steve Sax said...

Erin, I wasn't aware of Brett Myers' wife-beating ways; got a link?

Erin said...

Yep, Sax. Here you go.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2497723

Steve Sax said...

unbelievable. thanks for the link.

Erin said...

Furcal didn't really do a great job of taking a few pitches there. Two pitches, one out.

Steve Sax said...

Ethier finally started hitting yesterday, for the first time this postseason, in the two-hole; why did Joe put him back down to fourth?

Steve Sax said...

Torre's lineup tinkering is maddening

Steve Sax said...

2Ks for Chadley. Come on, Dodgers offense!

0-0 through one frame

karina said...

Ethier leadoff single!

karina said...

I adore and worship Sandy Koufax.

karina said...

King James double! inches from a HR! Go, Bison!

Erin said...

How is it that we now have two balls that have just barely missed being home runs? Argh!

Still, two RISP, nobody out.

Erin said...

Has Kemp reverted to his old self, fooled on breaking pitches out of the zone?

karina said...

Kemp swing and miss pitches way out of the zone. K.

Erin said...

Why is Mark Sweeney even there?

karina said...

DeWitt grounder RBI. King James at 3rd, 2 outs. Blake's up.

Unknown said...

Big strike zone today, but Myers look about as hittable as his wife..oooooh snap!

karina said...

I'm afraid of Furcal's glove...gotta go, my mami needs me!

Erin said...

Giving up hits and runs to the bottom of the order? Awesome.

Erin said...

I can only hope Billingsley gets out of this with no further damage, and that Myers is severely affected by having to run around the bases.

Erin said...

This blows.

Orel said...

Shit, not a great start here.

Erin said...

Oh for the love of Christ. So much for holding their offense in check with our ace on the mound.

karina said...

Former Aguilas Rollins and Victorino are crashing us. I'm torn and heartbroken.

Orel said...

FUCK

Erin said...

This is what happens when you let the frickin' pitcher get on base.

Stephie V said...

Is this really happening?!?!?

Steve Sax said...

Floodgates are open, Bills crumbling. 4-1 Phils.

Erin said...

He looked amazing for the first two batters of this inning. What the fuck is going on?

Steve Sax said...

Oh no, Howard up with two on and Bills a disaster.

Orel said...

Anyone watching on TV? What's wrong with Chad?

Erin said...

I'm watching on TV, but I have no idea what's going on with him. He looked great, and then all of the sudden he didn't anymore.

Orel said...

There's a little magic back.

Unknown said...

Three runs is nothing against the way Myers is throwing today

Erin said...

Let's hope our boys are thinking that way, Andrew.

Furcal is not getting the job done.

Orel said...

Leadoff bunt in the third inning? Doesn't that seem a little desperate?

Steve Sax said...

Why is Alfonso Soriano wearing Rafael Furcal's uniform this NLCS?

Erin said...

Sure does. Especially when you get thrown out.

Steve Sax said...

Furcal has been a black hole this series

Erin said...

Myers isn't exactly mowing 'em down. Our guys can hit him. They just aren't.

Erin said...

Dude has now walked three in less than three full innings. Take advantage, Dodgers!

Erin said...

Doesn't 4-2 feel better than 4-1?

Orel said...

Big-game James!

Unknown said...

E-5...THEY...MUST...PAY....!!!!....

Orel said...

Rancho Ardiendo!

Erin said...

Damn it.

Orel said...

I just yelled "Fuck!" at work.

Orel said...

A loss today would make me considerably less psyched for Sunday's game.

Unknown said...

This seems like a BABIP regression.

Unknown said...

Better to yell it than to do it?

Erin said...

JESUS, Chad!

Park is warming already.

Orel said...

Wow, time to pull Chad.

Orel said...

Let's get a DP here!

Orel said...

Damn you to hell, wife beater.

Erin said...

GOD DAMN IT.

FUCK BRETT MYERS.

Jimbo said...

Who let the Cubs onto the field?

Orel said...

See, Cindy?

Erin said...

I feel like yelling, but I don't even know what I would yell. This is so god damn frustrating.

This is how Cubs' fans feel.

Erin said...

Rollins, not Rolling, was bitching about the strike three pitch, but it was awesome.

Erin said...

All right, guess I'll go back to watching last night's Grey's Anatomy now.

I hate the Phillies.

Orel said...

Let's see if we can come from behind like we did during the season.

Stephie V said...

Let's all do it together... FUUUUCK!!!

Orel said...

Never mind. Game over.

Unknown said...

you can't give up yet!!

Eric Karros said...

Boy am I glad I didn't spend any $ to attend this gmae.

Erin said...

Oh my god. They're still not out of the third?

Orel said...

Getting killed on the field makes for a more productive work environment.

Erin said...

Here comes Jeff Kent. Knock one into the left field bleachers, and I might consider actually sticking around for this one.

Unknown said...

This is NOT over. I cant stress enough how poorly Myers looks.

Erin said...

The thing is, they can keep Myers on a short leash. It's only the fourth, but the Phillies' bullpen is the only one that can give the Dodgers' a run for its money.

And if Kent doesn't take the bat off his shoulder, we won't get anywhere.

Orel said...

I haven't given up yet. But I'm damn close.

Erin said...

Turns out we won't get anywhere even if he does swing the bat. DP. Two outs, and Furcal and his hitless self at the plate.

Orel said...

Thank you, Jeff Kent.

Erin said...

The only way Furcal can get on base is with a swing and a miss at a ball that gets away from the catcher.

That seems like a nice way to describe this game for the Dodgers.

Jimbo said...

MANNY!

Erin said...

Every Dodger fan in the world was praying for Manny to do exactly what he just did. Holy crap.

Three-run homer. 8-5, Phillies.

Unknown said...

LETS DO THIS!

Unknown said...

Manny in the dugout yelling "If you dont throw 95, dont go there!" LOOOOOOOOOOL

Unknown said...

YAHOOOOOOO!!!

Unknown said...

The key to a comeback is to stop the other team from scoring...Mr McDonald looks dirty today boy! Woot, lets eat away at this lead and take it back to LA 1-1

Erin said...

Please stop giving up hits to the bottom of the order.

Erin said...

Kinda sucks that Billingsley's crappiness means that Jeff Kent is playing defense in this game.

Erin said...

So, apparently god loves the wifebeaters of the world, huh? How else to explain Myers' three-hit (so far) day?

Erin said...

Torre leaves McDonald in to hit for himself with one out and one on (Kemp), but McDonald does almost the worst thing he could have, grounded out and eliminating the lead runner.

It's hard to see why McDonald hit for himself, except that it's early and difficult to imagine using up all the good pinch hitters by the end of the fifth inning. If Casey Blake doesn't do something big here, Torre will be answering some questions about this inning, for sure.

Unknown said...

Erin, I dont think its a bad move as its the 5th inning and bench resources are limited and this situation will most likely come up again the next time around the order. Its a toss up IMO.

Erin said...

Did everyone else actually do what I only threatened to do? Where is everyone?

Erin said...

Yeah, Andrew. That's what what I figured, too. If Torre wastes a pinch hitter there and nothing happens, he has to dip into the bullpen. It's a tough call, but that's why he's the boss.

Unknown said...

Its only 3-0 IMO, we are showing some moxy and have a chance at this game. We were up 2 going into the sixth last game and gave it up.

Steve Sax said...

Erin, you working today?

Erin said...

And three of their runs were on hits from their stupid starting pitcher, who is now out of the game. So that threat is gone.

Orel said...

We've got spunk!

Erin said...

I should be working, but I'm not. I'll probably start soon, but I can continue watching the game regardless.

Kent is not making me happy. New pitcher only has to throw one pitch to get the first out.

Steve Sax said...

Erin, I'm here. I've got your beer in hand, I just can't find you.

Erin said...

Okay, Furcal is on base. Let's get aggressive here.

Erin said...

100!

Erin said...

Sax, now I want a beer. It's after five in Philly, so I guess it's okay to start drinking.

Erin said...

Come on, Manny. Do it again.

Erin said...

Durbin gives up a hit and still only needs to use ten pitches to get out of the inning. The Dodgers are being way too impatient. You can sense the Philly crowd is nervous about the lead. The Dodgers need to take advantage.

Orel said...

Yeah, what happened to making the pitcher work?

Orel said...

On the bright side, James McDonald is proving his worth.

Unknown said...

Jimmy McDDDDDDDD

Orel said...

Rally time! If only we had some sort of mascot that epitomized a rally, some sort of animal....

Erin said...

Nothing like a "Yes on Prop 8" commercial to really get my blood boiling. Thanks, Fox.

Ryan said...

JAMES FREAKING McDONALD! What a BEAST! I mean, talk about a life-saver. We ask the guy to come in and stop the bleeding, and he drops this stat line:

3.1 IP's, 2 Hits, 1 BB, 5 K's(!!!), 0 ER's.

I think a star was born tonight...

Orel said...

We need someone who is not Manny to catch fire at the plate.

Erin said...

Loney's not gonna be the one. He got completely schooled by Romero there.

Orel said...

How does a team go from loose to uptight over the course of 1 1/2 games?

Erin said...

Come on, Nomar. We all know you're clutch.

Orel said...

Kemp works the walk, which is nice. Let's see if Nomar can earn himself a contract next year.

Erin said...

Well, Nomar knows how to hit. You can't deny that. First pitch, just takes the ball and does what he can, which is to hit it to the opposite field.

Come on, Blake. Please get us at least one run here.

Orel said...

Everything with two outs.

Erin said...

Shit.

Blake gave it a ride, but Victorina makes a catch. Buck and McCarver are going crazy over it, but it wasn't such a spectacular catch. Just a nice job of knowing where he was.

I sure would like to see one deep ball for the Dodgers actually get out of the park, instead of being caught.

karina said...

I'd wish i could hate Victorino. I can't, i'm a terrible person.

Erin said...

Don't worry, Karina. I hate him for you.

karina said...

Is it me or anyone else feels nervous when Pedro Feliz is at the plate?. Flied out...

Erin said...

Glad you could stop by, Kent.

Orel said...

I'm not watching, but it feels like the Dodgers are pressing at the plate.

Erin said...

It's hard to be happy right now that Kent and Furcal rushed back after surgery.

Erin said...

The Dodgers are most definitely pressing, Orel. They missed their chances to eke out a run or two here and there, and now they're feeling like it's getting too late. Which it is. That's how their body language looks, anyway.

karina said...

Sandy Koufax doesn't deserve to watch that game. I wonder what he thinks about Kershaw and McDonald.

Erin said...

Kemp is up with two on and one out. Now's your time, Matt.

Erin said...

Matt Kemp is a very predictable hitter. I knew what pitch they would throw to get him out.

Erin said...

So it all comes down to Nomar. Two on, two out.

Erin said...

Wow. I don't think our guys swung at one strike in this inning. That was awful. Terrible, terrible game to watch. Figure it out, Dodgers.

Unknown said...

major bummer.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

If form holds up, Dodgers sweep Dodger Stadium and Phillies sweep their stadium.


Just sucks that even if we sweep, we go back to Philly.