Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Game 29 Thread: May 6 vs. Nationals, 7p

Clayton Kershaw (0-2, 5.46) vs. Daniel Cabrera (0-2, 4.44).

COMMENTS: This is one of those games that you know is going to go poorly for our beloved Dodgers, winners of 12 home games in a row, tying the major league record for consecutive home wins to start a season with the Detroit Tigers. And what about those 1911 Detroit Tigers? They didn't even make the playoffs, finishing in second place, 13.5 games behind the Philadelphia Athletics. And tonight's game, which would give the Dodgers sole possession of the record, sets our 20-8 team (best record in baseball!) up against the Washington Nationals, the worst team in the majors at 7-17, poised for the unlikeliest of upsets this evening. I stare at my magnet schedule, dreading the matchup, and tremble in fear. WAS? NOT WAS!

But enough about my insecurities, access to Dodger promotional items, and penchant for cheesy 1980's music videos. In order for us to beat those pesky Nats, we're going to have to rattle Cabrera, who threw four wild pitches in his last start against the Cardinals. Our rabbits need to be primed to take off. And it will also depend on which Minotaur shows up for us tonight; the one who shut down the Padres on Friday with seven scoreless innings, or the one who struggled in his two starts before that (giving up 15ER over 9IP). All I know is, there's nothing more heart-wrenching than a winless Minotaur (the only starter without a win). Especially one with 29Ks, third-most on the team. I mean, even Hiroki Kuroda has a win for pete's sake! Let's go, Blue!

Oh yeah, and SoSG Orel, Alex Cora, and I (Sax) will all be at tonight's game...be on the lookout for the at-game writeups, which promise to be extra-special indeed...

501 comments:

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Neeebs (The Original) said...

Have fun at the game, boys.

gCHOW said...

KKKKKKKKKKersha earns his W today.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

I want to get an iphone/blackberry just so I can keeep up with the games on the go. usually I am hunkered down glued to my computer during game time... it would be nice to have that mobile!

Lets go special "K"!

karina said...

Have fun!

I've got a question, should i change my avatar with Jesus Flores just to jinx or i keep the current one to not defy faith?

karina said...

Dusto, i'm in a waiting list for a blackberry so i can keep with the games WHENEVER i go to.

And you just got me a Placebo song stuck in my head with the "special K".

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Keep the current avatar Karina.

No me gusto Senor Flores.

Caio

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Although, given the new Star Trek movie, should I change MY avatar to the new Spock?

Erin said...

I think everyone should keep his/her avatars exactly the same, at least for tonight. Please.

karina said...

Let's make a deal:we'll change our avatars when the streak is broken or the next away series. How about that?

Why don't you like Mr.Flores? for one reason, he's soclutch, ask any Nats fan!

NicJ said...

im hoping we win today, get the record, then los tomorrow. I dont want the hated ones to get a chance to break the streak.

NicJ said...

im hoping the patient dodgers show up tonight. Not the strike ourselves out dodgers that make scrub pitchers look great.

good luck everyone!!

Eric Karros said...

Yes, please no avatar changes Karina & Neeebs!

NicJ said...

is that a bad sign?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Kershaw's not looking good so far.

NicJ said...

curveball looks on.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

maybe I spoke too soon?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

second of three tough batters all night right here

karina said...

Ok, Erin and Eric.

Because of the Yankees-Rays rain delay on the eight inning i can't watch the game on tv. I had the hope to watch the game listening to Vinny....

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Kershaw's throwing too many pitches

NicJ said...

MLASF - what else is new.

ps, go lakers

NicJ said...

the hitting streak continues.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

argh, now it's Dunn

Erin said...

I absolutely refuse to believe that the damn Nationals will end this streak. This is not a jinx. Just my stubborn feeling.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Dunn is actually hitting decently

NicJ said...

dunn looks like will ferrel

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Kershaw better not let the wheels fall off too early. Maybe in the fifth or sixth when the game is out of reach for the Nats.

NicJ said...

down goes big donkey

Erin said...

There you go, Clayton. But maybe don't take six pitches to get every batter, okay?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

close one

karina said...

KK!

you scared me with Dunn, Minotaur.

game is on and i got Vinny!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Dukes is the last tough out in this lineup. After him it's easy.

NicJ said...

kershaws pitch count was high his last outing i think he was at 60 in the 4th, but the he started cruising.

karina said...

The second strike was an off-speed work of art.

NicJ said...

going into the 4th i meant.

karina said...

I've said before and i'll say it now. Flores is clutch and can't be underestimated.

Chappy said...

Evenin' everyone, thank god for Fox Prime Ticket!

How's our young pitcher doin?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

oh no, full count

Erin said...

Crap.

NicJ said...

damn

karina said...

Rancho Ardiendo...i hope the boys are booing...

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

aw jeez

Chappy said...

that good huh? 26 pitches is disappointing, but he'll battle right here!

Erin said...

If Daniel Cabrera is on, he can be really tough. Until one thing happens that makes him lose his mind, and then the wheels fall off. But barring that, he can be nasty. So Kershaw needs to keep the Nats off the board and quit throwing so many damn pitches.

karina said...

Kershaw is all over the place... worrying...

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

If Kershaw walks in a run, so help me...

NicJ said...

russ had an interesting radio interview about clayton trying to hard to strike everyone out, rather than pitch to poor contact. He gave that as a reason for his high pitch counts in games.

Chappy said...

way to battle back Kershaw!

NicJ said...

nice clay.

karina said...

This was "barato"

Erin said...

Young pitchers have a tendency to try to nibble, for sure. You just hope he outgrows that quickly. Like tonight, for instance.

karina said...

All outs on this inning were strikeouts.

NicJ said...

i wonder if a veteran calling games would help that. Has Aumus ever caught clay?

Chappy said...

nice bunt Raffy!

NicJ said...

nice raffy way to start it off.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I know Ausmus caught J-Mac in his first game, and that didn't help much

Erin said...

It appears that Ausmus has never caught Clayton, Nic.

This is a good start for us.

karina said...

Runners in scoring position, no outs and MANNY is up!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

The O-Dog is loose!

Erin said...

Manny has faced Cabrera a lot, since he used to pitch for the Orioles.

NicJ said...

j mac is a different story. i think his issues are mental.

NicJ said...

thanks for the stats erin.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

most likely. I'd like to see someone cue up the stats on games Ausmus has caught.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

aw, 3-2 count to Manny

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Manny walks. Bases juiced for Ethier.

Erin said...

Dodgers are 3-1 in games Ausmus starts.

Chappy said...

This is apparently not going to be a pitcher's duel...

NicJ said...

btw way im not hating on Russ,

karina said...

Rancho Ardiendo! no outs!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

how 'bout ERA?

Erin said...

The games haven't exactly been pitchers' duels, either. Dodgers gave up five runs in two of the wins, three runs in the other, and nine in each of the two losses.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

DP scored Furcal.

Erin said...

Oh, Ethier. Come on.

NicJ said...

eh, at least its a run.

Chappy said...

one is better than none I guess...

karina said...

Hmmm, King James: any single will do, no ground outs or strikeouts.

Thanks in advance.

Erin said...

Sorry, what I just said is wrong about Ausmus. It was just one loss when he started and we gave up nine runs. The other he was just pinch hitting.

Chappy said...

Other than Billingsley you're right Erin, we haven't been winning behind the mound as much as the bat.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

1 is better than none... then again "groundout" is up to bat so....

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Ethier's got too many GIDP's

NicJ said...

one of those wild pitches they keep talking about would be nice about now.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Ugh, this is similar to last year's team.

Erin said...

That is what we call a major wasted opportunity. I hope we don't regret that crap.

NicJ said...

everybody panic!!!!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

There is a method to Torre's madness. Russ is batting .303 at Chavez Ravine.

Erin said...

I'm not panicking. I just watched the Red Sox load the bases twice in the first four innings, and only score two runs. That was fine until the fifth, when the Indians broke open the game and ended up winning 9-2. I just hate watching the Dodgers not take advantage of weaker teams.

NicJ said...

i would say loney has been slumping a bit. doesnt he hit better on the road. erin?

karina said...

If no one is posting this, just for tradition (and the streak):

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

karina said...

Belliard and Belisario share the same nick

Chappy said...

Kershaw's ugly tonight, but he seems to be gettin it done!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

An ugly win is still a win. I picked that up from the Lakers.

Chappy said...

Karina you read my mind. But as a "newcomer" I didn't wish to overstep my bounds.

NicJ said...

look a non strike out!

Erin said...

Loney is awful at home. .156 coming into tonight. .364 on the road.

Erin said...

Thanks, Karina. That was an important step the rest of us missed.

Erin said...

I'm not hating what Kershaw is doing so far.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

An economical inning for Kershaw

Erin said...

He threw half as many pitches in that inning, so if he continues that trend, the next inning he should throw about 7.5 pitches.

Erin said...

Cabrera loaded the bases with no outs in the first, and still only needed 17 pitches to get out of the inning.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Russ singles

Erin said...

100.

NicJ said...

nice russ, he didnt pull it that time.

MattyA said...

Is Russ finally breaking out of his slump?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Whooh, good thing this defense stinks

NicJ said...

lucked out on that one.

Erin said...

Sounds like he just went with the pitch, which is something he rarely does, so good.

Kemp got lucky there.

Unknown said...

Great shot by Russ.

I'm pissed at myself that I forgot to start Clayton on my fantasy team. 5 K's already.

karina said...

Chappy, i think there's no "newcomer" thing.

Someone had to do it, Erin.

I'll take that error. No DP and they really should score on this Guzman's gift.

Chappy said...

Starting to understand why the Nats are in the cellar.

Beimel must feel like he's in the fifth ring of hell.

Erin said...

I'm crossing my fingers that there will be no triple play.

NicJ said...

yeah, i really think russ' slump has a lot to do with him always pulling the ball.

Chappy said...

thanks K :-)

just trying to feel my way through the group...

Unknown said...

Why isn't gameday registering an RBI for Ethier?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Blake moves the runners over

Unknown said...

Anyone for a Squeeze?

Chappy said...

Hey Nic do you think Russ' weight loss has made his bat a little quicker?

Erin said...

MattyA, "Unnecessary Quotes" may be my new favorite blog. That is one of my biggest pet peeves in the world, and I take pictures of that crap all the time.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Argh, Kershaw pops out

karina said...

Raffy, your call.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

ONLY 30 PITCHES FOR CABRERA?! WHAT?!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Cabrera's still wild

karina said...

I vote for a squeeze!

NicJ said...

its possible chap

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

ARGH! Raffy grounds out

Erin said...

Awesome job, hitters.

NicJ said...

no runs out of that? wow, dodgers are really chancing it tonight,

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

This kind of beginning either means runners will be stranded all game or the Dodgers will burst out later.

Unknown said...

Pre-injury, Raffy plants that pitch in the stands.

MattyA said...

Erin, I'm glad you like the blog. My friend Bethany started it a few years ago when we were undergrads and it just took off.

NicJ said...

meh, if you get alot of hits your bound to strand runners, runs will come.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

ARGH! Double for Guzman!

karina said...

This is unbelievable. Yanks-Rays game started again and the signal was cut off from the Dodgers game.

Erin, tonight i hate NY and the Yankees with passion.

Game is tied to 3, game goes to extrainnings.

Chappy said...

Kershaw's curve ball is ridiculous...

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

ground out puts S.W.A.S. at third

NicJ said...

karina, its the east coast sports bias at work again.

NicJ said...

wow, kobe is on fire. 18 points already!!!

sorry for the laker talk erin.

Erin said...

Karina, I hope it ends quickly. When the Yanks and Rays play each other these days, I actually don't know who I'm supposed to root for. Tradition says I always root against the Yankees, but the Rays are tough so I don't really want them getting wins either.

Maybe the whole place will be struck by lightning and all the players will survive, but will be rendered inept at the game of baseball. And then your broadcast will go back to the Dodgers' game.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Aw, fly out let's S.W.A.S. score

Erin said...

I don't mind the basketball talk.

What I mind is the Dodgers being tied with the Nationals in this game.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Holy cow! Just looked at the Laker game score and its 29-16!

NicJ said...

the lakers are shooting over 80%

Chappy said...

Why does last place meeting 1st place have to be so tough? Cripes!

Chappy said...

Another dirty curve ball! man!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Kershaw's gonna leave in the fifth

Chappy said...

if he even makes it to the 5th.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

not too bad.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

that pitch count just kills Kershaw. He needs to work on his changeup more. He can't survive as a fastball-curveball pitcher.

karina said...

ERin, the Rays just scored with a Pena HR. Percival is pitching the bottom of the 10th, fingers crossed he pitches well.

This score is awful.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Cabrera's making quick work of the Dodgers.

karina said...

Erin, i just read this comment from Deadspin (credit to The S.P.O.R.T.S Cam:

Only Chuck Norris could save Yankee Stadium. Too bad Chuck is a Red Sox fan.

Erin said...

How nice of us to make this so easy on Cabrera. 42 pitches through three.

Erin said...

Ha! That's a funny quote, Karina, even though I don't really like the idea of accepting lame Chuck Norris as a Sox fan.

karina said...

It's not only his low pitch count, it's the wasted opportunities.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

After first quarter, Lakers lead Rockets 39-25

NicJ said...

hi five MLSF!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

still three more quarters to go

NicJ said...

the dodgers are being over aggressive at the plate again.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

argh, Kershaw can't throw a strike to save his life.

NicJ said...

its looking good, the lakers are dictating the pace of the game,

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Argh, just missed the DP. Nice play from Furcal.

NicJ said...

2nd unit is blowing the lead again.

karina said...

Awww, Erin. He might be lame but i have a thing for the guy because of my dad. He loves James Bond and Chuck Norris.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

two out

karina said...

Meanwhile, game over in NY.

Chappy said...

did you know that under Chuck Norris' beard that there's another fist?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

argh, Kershaw walked the pitcher

Chappy said...

he's that much of a badass!

NicJ said...

never walk the pitcher.

Erin said...

Kershaw just walked the pitcher. Buck up, buddy.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

just throw it over the fing plate K!

damn!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Now he has to face S.W.A.S.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

whew, Kershaw avoids damage. Next inning is his last.

NicJ said...

you never know, he could have a three pitch inning.

MattyA said...

Is Troncoso available tonight?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Loney with a single!

NicJ said...

didnt he pitch last night? haha McDonald is.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

If McDonald can pitch from the pen like he did last year

karina said...

Hahaha, Chappy.

King James singles, son is up and then Kemp. Love these 3 players.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

ARGH! Martin with a GIDP!

karina said...

Don't GIDP, son!

Erin said...

I'm actually getting physically sick listening to this game.

karina said...

which he did.

Wait, don't boo Martin!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Why don't they just sit down at the plate and wave their bats every time Cabrera pitches.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

and Kemp goes down. This game is getting very ugly very fast.

NicJ said...

wow, that hit sounded way better than it was.

PenosCabell said...

This one is putting me to sleep.

I'm flippping to the Lakers.

Fred's Brim said...

sorry i'm late! time to win!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Kershaw's still working.

Fred's Brim said...

i saw the 4th inning - has the whole game been as frustrating as that?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Lakers are falling fast

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

The Laker game is starting to get ugly

PenosCabell said...

Looks like the usual for the Lakers. They are blowing this in a hurry.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Kershaw got a nice inning. Hopefully the Dodgers can score and put him in line for the win.

PenosCabell said...

Good inning for Kershaw.

Fred's Brim said...

good inning CK - 1-2-3s are where it's at!

Chappy said...

lakers can't buy a bucket at this point.

PenosCabell said...

Rockets take the lead 49-48.


Wonderful

Erin said...

All right, guys. I'm leaving you all to this madness. I'll be listening, but I don't possess the energy to pay attention to the comments anymore. I'm hoping for some runs in the next inning so maybe Kershaw can get a win. See you tomorrow.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Oh good lord. The rockets just took the lead

NicJ said...

damn

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

S.W.A.S. blows another play. Blake is on first.

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