Saturday, October 04, 2008

NLDS Game 3 Thread: Oct 4 vs. Cubs, 7p

Hiroki Kuroda (0-0-, -.--) vs. Rich Harden, RHP (0-0, -.--).

COMMENTS: I can scarcely believe I'm writing this Game Thread. In the past three days, the Dodgers have doubled their playoff victory total of the previous 19 years. And this NLDS has provided us with many intriguing story lines: the emergence of the Dodger "kids" while veterans find new roles, the media's obsession with the Cubs alleged curse, the NL playoff team with the worst record leading the NL's best team.

But the only story line I care about is the Dodgers winning this series. Tonight. We nervous and/or superstitious Dodger fans aren't content with only having to win one of the next three games. (Then again, some of us are.) No, tonight is the time to end and extend the Cubs' misery (Nostry's prediction notwithstanding).

And why not? For those praying for Good Hiroki to show up tonight: Kuroda has a microscopic 0.59 ERA in two starts against the Cubs. And if you thought Ryan Dempster surrendered a lot of walks (seven) in Game 1, just wait—Harden has the worst BB/9 rate (3.80) of any Cubs starter with at least ten starts.

So conditions are ripe for a Dodger sweep—which, of course, guarantees nothing. Enjoy the ride while it lasts, Dodger fans. Both Sax and I will be attending tonight's game (Mrs. Orel and I will be dining at Alegria on Sunset pre-game), and we'll be decked out in full Dodger regalia and cheering our little hearts out.

Are you going too? Drop us a comment—let's get an SoSG head count! Let's root, root, root for the Dodgers! And maybe, just maybe, we'll all return from Dodger Stadium one step closer to the World Series....

photo by Amber Matsumoto/Dodgers

48 comments:

Orel said...

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

SoSG commenters at the game: Sax, Erin, me...

Orel said...

We are en route! Hopefully the Dodgers will be on a rout!

Loney Fan said...

Had Loge level tickets and gave them to a friend. SoSG gave me tickets to a game earlier this year. The Dodgers won that game and the good karma seemed to flow from there. We can always use more good karma, so I am hoping this helps. Enjoy the game!

Orel said...

Good on you, LF!

Those driving to DS: Sunset is jammed.

Erin said...

Sax and Orel, if you guys are in seats on the third base side, look to left center field. I'm in the front row, five seats to the right (your right) of the second-to-last staircase. We're behind the Best Buy sign on the railing. Maybe you'll be able to spot me.

If this posts more than once, I apologize.

Orel said...

I can't see you from traffic!

karina said...

Nice, Soriano grounded out at the first pitch.

Steve and Orel, i hope you could make the game on time.

karina said...

My son doubled! let's go blue!

karina said...

Manny singled, Martin at 3rd, in a very close call.

karina said...

King James 2 RBI double!

Eric Karros said...

2-0, woohoo! Hi Karina!

Eric Karros said...

Hey very classy move, LF. Are you sure you aren't this guy?

karina said...

Hello Eric! hanging around 'till my friend picks me up (i found out i can watch the game in the place i'm going)

karina said...

Hey Dodgers fan at Chavez Ravine: stay classy...there's no need to boo Cubs.

Orel said...

Got here in time to see Loney's two RBIs!

karina said...

Bringing good karma over there...

Eric Karros said...

Karina, is the game on TV there in venezuela? what channel?

karina said...

Leadoff single by Furcal, bad throw to first by Harden, Furcal is at 2nd.

Ouch, Fontenot seems hurt.

karina said...

Meridiano Television. Are you here?

karina said...

Runners in scoring position, King "i've got 6 RBI's at the series" James at the plate.

MR.F said...

Ethier and Loney just missed their pitches.

Eric Karros said...

No, I'm not. I was just curious...

karina said...

Gotta go, boys!

Eric Karros said...

Ok, see you Karina!

MR.F said...

Way to get out of it!

Orel said...

Crowd standing for two-strike counts. Feels like Yankee Stadium.

Eric Karros said...

One more run, 3-0!

Eric Karros said...

Dewitt with a 1-out bases-empty double.

Time for blake-to-blake hits, Casey...

Eric Karros said...

Cubs bring in the one guy in their bullpen whose last name is 50% identical to his first name, Carlos Marmol.

Eric Karros said...

Proves to be the right move as he mows down Casey and Hiroki.

Eric Karros said...

Incidentally, Kuroda's first name is only 33% identical to his last.

Eric Karros said...

Hiroki Kuroda vs Kosuke Fukudome. How many alternating consonants and vowels can one at-bat involve?

Eric Karros said...

Man on 1st and 3rd. Can the Cubs get a run or two back?

Fonte-NOT!

Steve Sax said...

Erin, I'm here and aisle 53 field level. You here?

Eric Karros said...

Cory Wade faces Aramis E. Ramirez.

That entire sentence is constructed of alternating consonants and vowels.

Eric Karros said...

Too bad Aramis Ramirez' middle name doesn't start with an 'E'.

His middle name is actually 'Nin'.

Steve Sax said...

This has been an incredible game so far. I hope it holds up!

Steve Sax said...

F'ing Daryle Ward.

Eric Karros said...

Sax, I'm here, Row A of my couch, section Living Room. Swing by if you can.

Eric Karros said...

In the books, baby!

MR.F said...

Congratulations everybody!!! NLCS here we come!

Jimbo said...

We NLCS, baby!

Orel said...

Still in the parking lot. And we don't care!

DanGarion said...

Here are some pictures I took at the game. I took nearly 400, this is just a few.

http://picasaweb.google.com/dangarion1/DodgersVsCubs2008NLDS#

Steve Sax said...

Love that opening shot from the parking lot, Dan. The clouds look so ominous...luckily, not for us!

DanGarion said...

I posted 200 total up on that previous link. You guys are welcome to use any you like just credit me (www.dangarion.com).

karina said...

In spite i didn't see the game at home, i could get to watch it at the disco, i only missed the top of the 3rd!. Anyway, when it was all over, i shook hands, kissed and hugged people i barely knew. I'm euphoric, i feel like i'm 6 and falling in love with baseball again. Let's go blue!

p.d: lovely pics, Dangarion.

Steve Sax said...

Dan, your pictures rocked. In fact, your album was the first I had heard about Martin and Kemp up on the left field pavilion--thanks for the link to the great shots!

Go Dodgers!