Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Game 22 Thread: April 29 @ Giants, 7p

Eric Stults (2-0, 3.52) vs. Tim Lincecum (1-1, 2.96).

COMMENTS: If the first two games of this series are any indication, then expect an asteroid or a jetliner to crash into AT&T Park tonight. After all, if the Dodgers and Giants haven't exactly been playing disastrous baseball, they've certainly been playing games filled misadventure and mayhem.

Such is life in the NL West, where expectations are low and no one seems to mind. (The Red Sox's win streak just ended! OMG!) Giants fans will treat tonight's rubber match like Game 7 of the World Series, to which we say: Bring it on.

Which they will happily do, since the Dodgers have never beaten Lincecum—who has recovered from a rough start to strike out 25 over his last two games. Hmmm, maybe I shouldn't have been so cocky in the previous paragraph.

Stults is in the unenviable position of facing the reigning Cy Young winner while following the act of his own team's ace. But the under-appreciated Stults knows unenviable; workmanlike performances are becoming his specialty. If he can once again keep the Dodgers in the game, he'll be under-appreciated just a little less.

253 comments:

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Steve Sax said...

COL over SD, 7-5
AZ spanks the Cubs, 10-0

Dusto_Magnifico said...

Pierre starts and bats 9th!!!

Furcal 6
Hudson 4
Ramirez 7
Ethier 9
Loney 3
Martin 2
Blake 5
Stults 1
Pierre 8

I kinda like it.

NicJ said...

Pitcher in the 8 hole. I like it.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

It kinda works because you typically have a weak 8 and 9 spot.

In our case, our 8th hitter (Blake) leads the team in HRs (tied with AE) so there is very little drop off moving our 8th hitter to the 7th position.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

And Stultz can handle a bat.

Steve Sax said...

Hey Neeebs, our weakest hitter is still in the ninth spot.

Steve Sax said...

Why is Matt Kemp (.316 BA, OPS .977) sitting?

Steve Sax said...

Kemp is 0-for-4 career vs. Lincecum, with 2Ks.

Juan Pierre is 2-for-6 vs. Lincecum, with 1K.

Small sample size lovers, unite!

Steve Sax said...

Accuscore gives us a 30% chance of winning tonight.

And that's BEFORE they knew Pierre was starting.

Erin said...

Last night I was falling asleep when we got to the seventh inning. I turned off the TV because the remote doesn't work so I had to get up to do it, and I didn't want to do that once I was actually asleep. So I missed the end of the game, and I woke up this morning thinking that the Dodgers had lost.

What I'm saying is, please let the Dodgers kill Lincecum and put this away early tonight so that if I fall asleep before the end, I'll wake up thinking we won, and hopefully be right about it.

Unknown said...

Thank god Russ is out of the 4 hole. What a disaster..

Steve Sax said...

Alternatively, I have a pair of AA batteries that I can smuggle you, erin...

Orel said...

If that isn't a reasonable request, I don't know what is.

Unknown said...

Pierre + Furcal + Hudson + Lincecum's ridiculous delivery =
15 SB's.

Erin said...

If only it were as simple as the batteries. No, in this apartment, the remote only controls the DirecTV box, which means volume and power cannot be remotely controlled. It is a pain, but I move into a hotel on Friday, so it's only a temporary pain.

Steve Sax said...

Can't one just reprogram your remote for the tv?

I suppose if you're moving out soon, f' it.

Erin said...

This remote looks like it was built before television even existed, so that process of making it work with the TV is useless, unfortunately. I only have to deal with it tonight and tomorrow, though, and then I'll be watching all the games on my computer anyway.

karina said...

Erin, i'm watching right now the Red Sox-Indians game, it's been a great game so far.

Before the game actually starts, we all should remember there's always a first time for everything.

Unknown said...

Torre's logic in putting Russ in the 4 hole against a hard throwing lefty was actually decently founded, though Kemp should have been the one in there. Russ was actually rather successful in the 4 hole last year with the following line: .333 .385 .514 .899

Anyway, I am not averse to Slappy starting today given that Lincecum is pitching and Kemp has had problems handling him. Pulling a LaRussa is also a good idea with a guy like Pierre in there because you figure he will be on base at least once in 4 ABs and his speed becomes a big factor in front of Manny. This is even more true considering that Stults can handle the bat.

Steve Sax said...

Wow, five pitches gets Lincecum out of the first inning.

Good luck, Stults!

NicJ said...

lincecum threw more practice pitches than realy pitches in that inning.

NicJ said...

first inning, no runs, and a chant already?

NicJ said...

wow, that was a bad pitch. might as well of just thrown it over the wall for him.

Erin said...

I would like to remind everyone that my tickets for Saturday night's game are for sale on eBay. They are fairly priced. If anyone is interested, the link is up on my page. And that's the last I'll mention it.

Christ, Pierre looked ridiculous going for that ball. Tough play for anyone, I guess, but does Kemp catch it?

I thought Stults could get out of it. Guess not.

NicJ said...

kemp would of caught that, maybe.

Nims said...

Ugh, gonna be a long one tonight.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I just turn on my TV and I see San Fran up by 2? What happened to Stults? How does Molina get a triple?

NicJ said...

a slow sinker that didnt sink.

Nims said...

Notice JP's in CF. That's part of the reason.

Orel said...

Let the second-guessing of JP in CF commence!

Orel said...

This is Torre's strategy: Have Stults throw so many pitches in the first that Lincecum starts to tighten up on the bench.

karina said...

Slappy's noodle arm already costs the team 2 runs.

Orel said...

Our long national nightmare of a first inning is over!

Erin said...

Those two runs should be all Lincecum needs. Maybe we can try to make him throw more pitches so at least we can get into the bullpen.

Orel said...

Hope the middle relief is ready.

Erin said...

Oh man, it is torture to watch these games on the Extra Innings package and see In-N-Out commercials.

NicJ said...

pfff suck on that lincecum, you only pitched five pitches in the first inning. Stults got all the way up to 27!

Steve Sax said...

I lost count, but I think Stults had 78 more pitches that inning than Lincecum.

2-0 Giants.

Orel said...

Cameras off, everyone! Ethier's batting!

Orel said...

Erin, ever try Apple Pan?

Erin said...

Television stations should really respect Ethier's wishes and treat his at-bats as though there is someone running on the field: cut away and wait for it to be over.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I think it's that digital copy pitching for the Giants, not the realy Timmy

Orel said...

Wasn't Kershaw drafted before Lincecum?

Erin said...

Apple Pan is delicious. I'd also go for a Houston's burger right now, too. There are any number of things I'm dying to get back to in L.A. You would think I've been gone for six months instead of six weeks.

NicJ said...

pfff lincecum is already losing it, hes already at double the pitches he had last inning.

karina said...

I bet Delwyn Young could be a way more efficient replacement. Why they didn't trade Pierre or dump him like they did with Andruw Jones?

NicJ said...

nobody wants pierre, they tried getting rid of him.

Orel said...

Lincecum has now thrown negative ten pitches.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

If the Dodgers eek out a hit it will be a miracle.

Fred's Brim said...

Lincecum no hitter tonight?

NicJ said...

im sure manny will get a hit.

karina said...

Fred's Brim: you just jinxed Lincecum. Well done!

Fred's Brim said...

throw strikes

karina said...

Burriss gets the leadoff walk.

Erin said...

Lincecum's hair is so bad. No one with that hair deserves a no-hitter.

NicJ said...

he cant even throw a strike to first

Orel said...

Stults is shakier than a bobblehead on a mechanical bull.

Erin said...

His body language is pretty bad, too. I don't like his chances to last much longer.

Orel said...

Lincecum has the Randy Johnson hair that Randy Johnson doesn't even have anymore.

karina said...

and he can't even grow a proper beard. So, no hitter for him.

Fred's Brim said...

Raffy playing close to second helped on that one

NicJ said...

alright now its over.

Orel said...

Trashball!

PenosCabell said...

this is painful

Fred's Brim said...

show a little toughness, please

karina said...

I would conform if this game at least is close.

Orel said...

Nice short-hop pick by Blake.

NicJ said...

so....

how is kuroda?

karina said...

Let's remember Lincecum was the one who moved the runner to scoring position.

Erin said...

Christine just walked in the door from work and said, "Who's the Wiccan that's pitching?"

Guess she doesn't like the hair either.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

last season against the D-Backs the dodgers put Dan Haren on base, and he was tripled home. After that, Haren was so exhausted he couldn't pitch. That's what needs to happen to Timmy

Fred's Brim said...

Tim Lincecum?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Blake's fighting

NicJ said...

come on slappy!!

Erin said...

Lincecum looks so much older than he did last season, or even than he did in that video game commercial.

Fred's Brim said...

Juan's only chance is to try to bunt every time

Nims said...

C'mon Slappy! You can do it!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

If it were any other team, I would feel honored to have the Dodgers no-hit. But with the hated ones, it just sticks in my craw.

NicJ said...

lincecum after 3 IP - 29 pitches.
Stults after 1 IP - 27 pitches.

NicJ said...

that was easy.

Orel said...

Nice gag, FB!

karina said...

Erin, at least the Red Sox won a great game, it was like a Hitchcock movie.

Fred's Brim said...

Stults is pitching like he's got a girlfriend at the University of New Mexico

Erin said...

Ugh. He was OUT.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

There goes the DP

Erin said...

Karina, you're right about that. It was a crazy game. I'm glad it ended up in Boston's favor.

Orel said...

"I'll always remember the last words of my grandfather, who said, 'A truck!' " —Emo Philips

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Get ready to see Tron pitch a long outing.

Steve Sax said...

Sorry I'm late coming back here.

But I too like the Apple Pan.

I also like Carney's burgers.

Erin said...

It is so over.

karina said...

Did you notice both teams got into trouble after two outs?it was very entertaining...

NicJ said...

meh just leave stults in, id rather not run through the BP just to get an L

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

They really needed Monday's game.

PenosCabell said...

This is brutal.
.Trancoso warming up.

Fred's Brim said...

jeez Eric, show some pride. These bums aren't as good as you are making them look

karina said...

Please, someone tell if there are already people warming up in the bullpen.

Steve Sax said...

4-0 already. Yikes.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

You mean Carney - the train restaurant - Carney?

MR.F said...

It's not over, but we need good at-bats and get Lincecum's pitch count up.

karina said...

Thanks, Penos Campbell

MR.F said...

And a few hits would be nice, too.

PenosCabell said...

Can the Dodgers get a hit?

Steve Sax said...

I agree with Nic j. Leave Stults in and see if the second time through the order, we do any better.

We still have 11 more games before our next off-day.

Fred's Brim said...

Urkel, Carl and Tom Poston just got trapped in a bomb shelter. how will they ever get out?!?

NicJ said...

who is gonna get a hit first, the dodgers? or lincecum?

Erin said...

Is it over now?

Steve Sax said...

Mr LA, one and the same. The Carney train restaurant up on Sunset rocks. And their chili is superior to Pink's, IMHO.

After MUCH, much trial and error. (Ask Orel.)

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Here comes Tron

PenosCabell said...

Escuse me while I go throw up.

Nims said...

I'm not watching, but it sounds like quite a few of these hits are bad luck rinky-dink shots. Poor Stults, poorer Dodgers.

Steve Sax said...

Stults just let a .161 hitter get a RBI.

Time to get on the horn, Neddie, and get us another arm or two or twenty

Erin said...

Torre believes in a comeback, or he has some misguided idea about protecting Stults's pride.

NicJ said...

should of left him in.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I had Pinks once, and i can't remember, so I guess it wasn't that good. Carney's is worth while just for the train experience alone. The chiliburger was fantastic.

Steve Sax said...

At least Tron is in line for a win when the Dodgers do a miraculous comeback, rather than a wimpy save.

NicJ said...

i think stults pride was blooped over the second basemans head a few pitches back.

Steve Sax said...

Mr LA SF (wow, that doesn't abbreviate well), let's do a Carney's night after an upcoming home game.

How about Monday the 4th?

Steve Sax said...

Who else is in, for post-game chili at Carneys on the 4th?

NicJ said...

that is tire him out at the plate.

Steve Sax said...

And hopefully we can get a cardiologist to join us!

Fred's Brim said...

Lincecum has a nice swing

Nims said...

Stop you guys you're making me hungry

Steve Sax said...

Wow, Ramon Troncoso's out pitch is Premium.

Coincidentally, that's exactly what pitch Lincecum loves to face. And, hates to face.

What are the chances?

Steve Sax said...

LINCECUM NO HITTER
LINCECUM NO HITTER
LINCECUM NO HITTER
LINCECUM NO HITTER
LINCECUM NO HITTER

You heard it here first!

(I am trying very hard to say this very loud.)

NicJ said...

greedy mlb

Steve Sax said...

Come on, nims. Join our chow line.

Steve Sax said...

Is it just me, or has Lincecum changed his conditioner?

His wavy hair looks even extra shiny tonight.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Let's go right now, not like I'll miss anything.

karina said...

Troncoso struck out Lincecum, it gives me some comfort.

NicJ said...

did anyone happen to see lincecum on the cover of 2K9? Hope that doesnt jinx him.

NicJ said...

HA! it worked!

PenosCabell said...

Nice

Nims said...

Thank you O Dog

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Whew, the O-Dog saves us from bowing to the feet of Giant pitching.

NicJ said...

sorry stupid giants, no no-hitter tonight.
Suck on that win.

Steve Sax said...

And there goes the no-hitter.

I'm going to eat dinner now. I'll be back.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

No more Pablo

karina said...

That's a relief. Did he get injured?

Erin said...

Guess he'll just be settling for a complete game one-hitter.

MR.F said...

Thank Ch-i we broke up the no-hitter.

Fred's Brim said...

with the no-no gone, i am heading to bed. i'd rather feel like a jerk for missing this comeback than suffer through the rest of Lincecum's 2-hitter

NicJ said...

Ole, manny.

Fred's Brim said...

i like Manny's blue glove. A Ramon Martinez special!

karina said...

Stay, Fred's Brim, game is at a very quick pace.

Seriously, we all could only show a little more optimism. "It ain't over 'till it's over"

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

heard Pablo has some kind of groin injury

Nims said...

Very true, Karina. Let's not forget how many comeback wins the Dodgers have already had this season.

By the way, I forget. Anybody know how many there have been?

Fred's Brim said...

can Tron start games?

NicJ said...

i would like to be a little more optimistic, but Lincecum didnt win the Cy Young last year for nothing. Odds are that its over.

PS were LA fans arent we supposed to leave early?

Fred's Brim said...

haha you've convinced me!

NicJ said...

tron was actually in the running to be a starter, but pitched himself out of contention early on.

Orel said...

No perfect game/no-hitter for Lincecum. He must be really embarrassed.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

The Dodgers can't even work a 3-0 count for a walk

Erin said...

All right. The rally begins.

Orel said...

A walk! IN YO FACE

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Whoops, scratch that, Loney walked and I double-clicked.

NicJ said...

nope, must of been dust.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Why is it that when the Dodgers give up leadoff walks, they always seem to score. But when the Dodgers get a leadoff walk, it's always stranded.

Erin said...

Well, Russell certainly looked overmatched there. That ball was never in the strike zone.

Fred's Brim said...

jeez Russ had no chance there

Alex Cora said...

This is bad. Someone bean Lincecum.

MR.F said...

Were those swinging strikes or looking?

NicJ said...

tron one inning?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Now the advantages of the pitcher batting eighth come in. At least JP's gonna lead-off next inning.

NicJ said...

let loney pitch!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

ah jeez, I can't do nothing

NicJ said...

everyone has an off day mrlasf

Fred's Brim said...

Juan should do pushups every time he pops up, Willie Mays Hayes-style

Orel said...

JUAN PIERRE FOR PRESIDENT

NicJ said...

at least kuo can get some work in.

Fred's Brim said...

excellent, another wild lefty

karina said...

Slappy has played 5 innings and has taken two at-bats. Can we have Kemp n the field?

NicJ said...

i hope this doesnt mean they will be calling eric milton up.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Like the Major League reference, you don't hear people talk about WMH, usually just Vaughn

NicJ said...

at least kuo looked good.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Kuo's got good stuff. He finally gets that no-pressure situation everyone wanted for him.

Fred's Brim said...

the whole lineup should say "F you, Jobu" after this game

NicJ said...

did raffy just draw a walk? wow

NicJ said...

why not bunt and move him over, 1 run looks better than none.

NicJ said...

yay!

alright lets try not to look foolish again dre

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Wow, two baserunners in one inning, Lincecum's losing his touch.

NicJ said...

do they have a mic in the crowd behind home plate? i can hear everything the crowd says

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

They usually have boom mikes on the screen. They can pick up a lot of conversations. I was watching a FOX game and I could hear a guy ask his wife what they would be doing for dinner.

NicJ said...

james is hearby downgraded to prince.

NicJ said...

what else is on?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I guess you can't say Torre's exhausting the bullpen. They're only 10 pitches an inning.

Nims said...

Tony Jackson made it sound like Elbert is about to get sent back down anyways.

NicJ said...

that great home opener had to come back around sooner or later.

NicJ said...

we got a guy to third last time, maybe we can go all the way this time.

Nims said...

Cool fact about the "Home Run cycle." Anybody else hear that?

Orel said...

We look like a bunch of little girls tonight.

Steve Sax said...

Oh, this is disappointing.

Why didn't Torre let Kuo go long?

Steve Sax said...

At least the game is going quickly, that's a plus.

NicJ said...

i think the fact that the giants have 6 runs hurts the most, the goose egg for us wasnt totally unexpected.

NicJ said...

7 ouch

Steve Sax said...

Yeah, I expected more fiber out of Stults tonight. Alas.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

So how do the Dodgers look tomorrow?

NicJ said...

thats three HR's for elbert in about 5 IP

Steve Sax said...

I was going to comment that they've got two sub-Mendoza bats in their lineup, but then I noticed Martin is only at .216 and Furcal is at .235. Yeeks.

NicJ said...

on the bright side we have our home winning streak to defend tomorrow night.

Steve Sax said...

We're batting .125 tonight so far (3-for-24)

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