Thursday, May 07, 2009

Game 30 Thread: May 7 vs. Nationals, 7p

Randy Wolf (1-1, 3.93) vs. Jordan Zimmermann (2-1, 4.24).

COMMENTS: Hey everybody, anything interesting happen today? I just think it's great how we're in the middle of this historic winning streak and it feels as if nothing can go wrong. It's like, I don't know, we're in some invisible bubble that protects us from all the evil in the world. Undefeated at Dodger Stadium! There's no place like home There's no place like home There's no place like home

547 comments:

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Orel said...

Furcal, SS
Hudson, 2B
Ethier, RF
Loney, 1B
Martin, C
Kemp
Blake, 3B
Wolf, P
Pierre

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Go Blue.

Chappy said...

When all else seems to fail, there is always Orel.

AND, we get to see more of Torre's "Pierre batting 9th" line-ups. Maybe he'll play great and we can trade him on say, i dunno, July 3rd.

Natalie said...

So, I'm going to tonight's game. I'm gonna go and enjoy my radio and cheer like it's 1959. I hope they win #14 tonight, but even if they don't it doesn't mean they are gonna fall apart over the next 50 games. I'm interested to see how the team plays tonight and what the mood in the stands is. On days like this, where I feel like I was punched in the heart, I try to focus on the things that I love about baseball. So, tonight I'm gonna go to the game with my mom, eat a Dodger Dog, enjoy a warm evening, and hopefully see a well played ball game.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

i just found out about Manny, this really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really sucks. I've done my best to contain as many expletives as possible.

rbnlaw said...

Fans, plenty of Mannywood seats still available for tonight's game.
Why don't you come on down and join us?

rbnlaw said...

MLASF,
Just know that we're here and we feel your pain.

Now, lets kick some DC arse!

QuadSevens said...

I wonder if Mannywood refunds will be handed out for the next 50 games. McCourt might be sorry about this situation, but he's not sorry enough to give back money is he?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I won't lie. I almost started to cry. This is the effect Manny has had on this team.

rbnlaw said...

7777,
HAHAHAHA!
Good one.

rbnlaw said...

Just think if we'd been stuck with Jason Bay in that trade last year:
BA HR RBI OBP
.311 7 25 .479
SLG .622

Saxy,
They pick up parking, and I'm in for the season plan!

Natalie said...

I almost cried, too. It was more thinking about the rest of the team. I feel bad for them.

NicJ said...

Come on guys its Chateau De Pierre, i here they are serving pasta over by the left field foul pole.

When Xavier Paul plays it can be called X-Pauls danger room.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

X-Paul is the silver-lining in this tragedy.

NicJ said...

at least that means we get manny for two years now, and when he comes back he will be playing like kobe did when he didnt rape that girl.

NicJ said...

thats a sliver of a silver lining.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Pressures on to make a big trade to boost this team. Who knows how much ground the Dodgers can lose with Manny out. They definitely need to look at every posibility.

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

It could be worse. In 51 games, we'll have a never more sexually-fulfiilled Manny back in the lineup.

And in 51 games, they'll still be the Nationals.

QuadSevens said...

Maybe X-Paul will use the next 50 games to showcase his talent and keep Pierre on the bench permanently. Paul was tearing it up in AAA, so let's hope he keeps it going.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I came in expecting Derek Fisher to be suspended. This is much, much worse.

NicJ said...

it might be just me but i have a feeling we wont see too much of Xpaul. Unless juan pierre fails a drug test.

rbnlaw said...

Will there be another, "I'm Baaack" press conference in July?

NicJ said...

man i bet the lakers wish they would of won game 1 and lost game 2, it would have flown under the radar.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I'm still trying not to cry.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I've never said this, but I don't want to hear Vin talk about this during the game. I can't handle anymore.

NicJ said...

jeff kent is crying

Neeebs (The Original) said...

If we agreed to change our Avatars yesterday, none of this would have happened, would it?

NicJ said...

i think this game is going to feel like watching a wake.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

This press conference is ripping me apart. Still fighting back tears.

QuadSevens said...

I am still expecting the Dodgers to score some first inning runs. They have won without Manny in the past, they can do it again.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

One of the bad parts is that it's making the other NL West teams cocky

Chappy said...

Torre's a stand-up guy supporting Manny like this; he better come back and earn it.

Chappy said...

So the Dodgers spin it as a "mistake".

I hope it really was or the Selena Roberts of the world are going to eat this guy up, all while he's in LA.

NicJ said...

i missed the press conference, how was it.

NicJ said...

man, local radio today totally ripped manny apart this afternoon, mainly KLAC. That radio station has gone downhill since they merged wiht fox sports radio. All they talk about everyday is god damn steroids,

Chappy said...

press conf. was sad mostly, Dodger Mgmt apparently had no idea until last night after the game.

But Manny knew b4 the game...

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

A-Rod did HGH full-up and lied. Nothing. Manny takes a fertility drug. 50-game suspension. Bud Selig looks like a total hypocrite.

Unknown said...

I think this lineup is a good approach, though I think Martin or Kemp should be hitting cleanup. Hopefully Martin's breakout coincides with this next 2 months and that cushions the blow.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I could easily believe that this is the whole east-coast bias thing. To keep up the ratings Selig would do nothing with A-Rod, but with Manny he can easily suspend him.

Chappy said...

yeah but A-rod's pee is from 2003 and Manny's is the fresh 2009 variety.

i think he's hiding behind Mitchell's recommendation not to go after past offenses.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Still smells fishy to me, but then again anything Selig does never sits well with me.

Chappy said...

probably right MLASF. a man like Selig who looks like a wax statue come to life has got to be up to some shady shit

Natalie said...

I'm about to leave for the game. Cheer extra hard for the Dodgers tonight. They need us more than ever.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I hope this can put the pressure on MLB to deal with past offenders. It doesn't set a good example when you let A-Rod off with a slap on the wrist after spending his entire career on PEDs.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Still a lot of people in shock. Bill Plaschke and Jeff Passan of Yahoo want him out of baseball.

NicJ said...

why cant mota be suspended for not using banned substances.

NicJ said...

who here wants manny off the team?

NicJ said...

we still dont know for sure that manny actually took steroids, or if he did when he took them.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

All we know is that Manny took a woman's fertility drug this year. A drug btw that was banned starting last year.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

And now people are spreading a rumor that Manny got the drugs from his cousin at a storefront that no longer exists.

NicJ said...

i heard he got them from A-rods cousin.

kidding.

people make mistakes.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

That whole thing was in a Plaschke column when he was refering to A-Rod. But now everyone thinks it actually is real.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Just realized our #4 and $5 hitters have ZERO homeruns combined this year.

NicJ said...

Plaschke needs to cool the fuck down. he didnt mind when manny was winning games.

NicJ said...

thanks for pointing that out neebs, now im really bummed.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

Plaschke is the worst thing to happen to the times since ... well ... ever!

I'll take Tony thanks. Fire Bill Plaschke!

Chappy said...

Plaschke is just taking advantage of getting a lot of national coverage, I'm not sure I buy the hysterics.

NicJ said...

alright guys im out, of all days to have a little league game. i hope none of my kids are juicing.

Chappy said...

me too, have a good evenin' gents.

rbnlaw said...

Plaschke is the ugliest sportswriter alive. And that's saying something.

Steve Sax said...

You can't spell Plaschke without the letters H-A-C-K

koufax said...

glad that there is a baseball game being played and vinny talking, was gettting real sick about the ramirez coverage

Orel said...

Vin is taking the high road.

koufax said...

orel does vin take any other roads?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

And we are underway

koufax said...

mlsf, i was happy kobe didnt get suspended for game 3 also

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Wolf's slider is off today

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Yeah, I heard about that on ESPN. I had no clue that he was even being considered for suspension

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

The first out of what I hope will be a great game

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Put a K up for Wolf

Erin said...

Hey guys. I'm trying to get the MLB.tv audio to work for me so I can listen in again tonight, but it's going slowly.

The more I think about this whole Ramirez mess, the worse I feel. First it was like being punched in the gut, and now it's just an overall sinking feeling.

I don't know if anyone has already said this, but Manny has definitely been around long enough for our young players (and others in the league) to have come up admiring him, maybe even considering him a hero. If this is a blow to us, think about how it must feel for them. Ugh.

Erin said...

Oh, and does anyone want to paraphrase what Vin said, since I missed the beginning of the broadcast?

koufax said...

erin - he stated that it happened, they played som eof the torre press conference, talked briefly about juan pierre and then on with the game

Erin said...

Good. That's exactly what I assumed Vin would do.

koufax said...

i like the start

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Wolf's throwing a lot of pitches. But at least he's getting it done.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Time to strike early

Steve Sax said...

2Ks for Randy in the first inning, which is usually where he struggles... 0-0 going to bottom 1

koufax said...

just listened to the bill plaschke audio - what a lunatic

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

i don't need no audio to know that Plaschke is insane

Erin said...

How big is the crowd tonight? Same as it has been?

Steve Sax said...

Raffy with a 3-pitch K

O-Dog with a 6-pitch walk.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

O-Dog walks. He's still got it.

Steve Sax said...

why isn't o-dog stealing second?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Ethier singles. Two aboard for Loney.

Alex Cora said...

Heads up running by Hudson to get to 3rd.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

For the love of jeff no GIDP

Steve Sax said...

Andre gets a hit WITHOUT Manny protecting him... Men at the corners for FJL!

Alex Cora said...

The crowd looks about the same as last night...so far.

Alex Cora said...

Loney with the RBI!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Loney comes through! 1-0!

Steve Sax said...

In play, run(s)

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Now let's see what J. Martin does.

Steve Sax said...

1-0 Loney!

Steve Sax said...

MLASF, was that for the love of jeff KENT?

koufax said...

dare i say martin has had a few good days in a row?

Unknown said...

Good eye shown by Russ.

BTW, anyone notice how classy Russell's comments were? When are they going to pin a "C" on his chest and be done with it?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Bases juiced for Kemp

Steve Sax said...

four-pitch walk to russ

Steve Sax said...

100!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

A GRAND SLAM FOR KEMP!

Erin said...

YES!!!!

Alex Cora said...

Manny who???? Kemp with the grand slam!!!

Steve Sax said...

YEAH!!! SALAMI!!!!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Jeff Kent deserves all the love he can get. Anything to turn that hairy frown into a mustache.

Unknown said...

In play, run(s)

KABOOM!!!!

Matty Ramirez anyone?

Loney Fan said...

KEMP!!!!

Steve Sax said...

Start up the Mini Sirloin Burger Coupon printing press, Frankie!

Steve Sax said...

The Dodgers soooooo needed that. I mean, I know it's the Nats. But here, in the first inning, to make a statement like that--wow.

Way to go, BLUE!

Erin said...

That hit right there was just what the doctor ordered.

Unknown said...

Zimmerman has some good stuff. He just really needs to refine it.

Erin said...

Exactly, Sax.

Alex Cora said...

Keystone cops out there for the nats.

koufax said...

thats some bad defense there

Unknown said...

Casey at the Blake gets a hit that isn't a home run.

Steve Sax said...

casey gets into the act

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Blake with a triple! Manny who?

Loney Fan said...

WOW! The Nationals are really really really really really really really really really good.

Unknown said...

A triple? Casey Blake? Wow.

Here's hoping Manny has truly inspired this team, and it isn't just a matter of beating up on the Nats.

koufax said...

dukes has a cannon

Loney Fan said...

Casey Blake can run? Alright!!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Wolf sends Blake home! It's 6-0!

Unknown said...

Just what the doctor (not Manny's though) ordered.

koufax said...

they gave him a triple, looked like an error to me

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

This is officially a statement game

Erin said...

That felt good.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I'm out for now, but will be back shortly.

Unknown said...

Juan Pierre still sucks, but at least he kept it on the ground. When does X-Paul take over?

Erin said...

Anyone read Jayson Stark's take on the Ramirez thing?

http://tinyurl.com/rb29zt

Orel said...

Wow. What a relief.

Orel said...

What did Russell say about Manny?

Erin said...

“Do I still think we can win without him? I think he makes us a better team when he’s with us, but without him we still have a good team and we’re still capable of winning us some ballgames,” Martin said before Thursday night’s game against Washington.

“He’s one of the best hitters of all time, so it’s definitely going to be tough. But what can you do? You’ve just got to move on and keep plugging away. You have to take it either as a challenge, and that’s what we’re going to do,” he added.

Orel said...

Thanks, Erin. Nice to see Russell learning the art of the quote.

Erin said...

And this from Ethier (quotes from the NBC Sports page):

“It’s not like an injury, where we’re playing a guessing game wondering when he’s going to be coming back. We know we’re getting him back on a certain date,” said right fielder Andre Ethier, who started in Ramirez’s No. 3 spot in the order against Washington.

“But we’re not going to be looking forward to that date and saying if we just hold on until then, we’ll be all right. We’re going to keep going out there charging ahead and playing the game the way we’ve been doing the last couple of weeks here. We have enough depth, talent and confidence to keep moving on here.”

NicJ said...

wow I'm missing alot

koufax said...

lets get the pitcher here

Orel said...

C'mon, Wolf. Make this a laugher. We could use it.

Orel said...

When did these kids grow up?

Unknown said...

I am disappointed in Stark. He usually breaks from the pedantic-yet-uninformed mold of most sports writers, but is terribly predictable here.

Unknown said...

Gameday says that should have been strike 3 called.

Erin said...

I don't know. I found myself partially agreeing with Stark.

Erin said...

Yikes. KABC is airing a commercial for VIP Tickets, with Manny Ramirez as the spokesperson.

Orel said...

What is up with Furcal, still?

Unknown said...

Stark approaches his post with the same uninformed opinion as everyone else. He calls hCG "similar to Clomid" which it absolutely isn't. Clomid is an anti-estrogen that has absolutely no use in men other than perhaps to treat male breast cancer. HCG has far more legitimate, non-steroid related uses in men, including for sexual performance.

Additionally, he approaches it like Manny didn't own up to taking the medication. He did. That he provided an honest explanation is no reason to then attack him as "not like Pettitte."

Steve Sax said...

You know, that radio commercial by Manny Ramirez for VIP Tickets, where he says "go with someone you can trust"? The commercial that just played?

They might want to shelve that for a while.

Erin said...

Manny owned up to taking the medication, but said that it was his responsibility under the rules of the league. Like, "hey, this wasn't really my fault, but the rules say I have to act like it is." If you're a professional athlete who plays in a league in which there is drug testing, you don't go to a random doctor in Miami and take whatever he gives you. If it's for a legitimate medical reason, then you know the rule is to go to the league and tell them about it.

As for what the drug is, Stark makes some points about how the drug doesn't have much medical purpose. I'm not a medical professional by any means, but it is hard, reading what I've read about the drug he allegedly took, to figure out exactly why he would need it.

koufax said...

might be a good idea sax

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Stark's comment is nothing but bandwagon talk. People act like he was shoving the needle in his ass for his entire career. But there's only evidence that he did it this year.

Erin said...

And actually, I don't give a crap what he took it for--the point still stands that if it was for a legitimate medical reason, he had a responsibility to follow the rules stipulated by the MLB drug policy. Period.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Wolf is throwing way too many pitches

koufax said...

zimmerman is a tough out

Erin said...

Especially with such a big lead. He doesn't need to be so careful.

Unknown said...

Erin - The problem is that hCG DOES have quite a few legitimate medical purposes in men and Manny has never tested positive for anabolic steroids.

Further, hCG was just added to the banned list this off-season. His doctor relied on the previously published list, which was far more commonly circulated and the prescription may have occurred before the ban took place.

Anyway, Manny owned up to the mistake in his statement. He said what happened and didn't say his treatment was unfair, though it really was under the circumstances.

Erin said...

The biggest selling point for my season seats is that they're four rows from the field to Manny's left. I'm still missing five more games, so I wonder if Manny has screwed my chances to sell them for a decent price.

Unknown said...

Would be a nice time for Russell to just swing away. The team is way ahead and he needs a power break out.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Manny needs to provide all of the facts. If anything is hidden, he's just setting himself up for more scrutiny.

Unknown said...

Bison time

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Those six runs might just be all they get.

Orel said...

Wow. Ryan Zimmerman.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Dunn goes down on strikes.

Erin said...

I can tell where you stand, Alireza, and I'm not going to change your mind, so I'll just leave it alone.

But, I will say this: I have loved Manny Ramirez for a long damn time--ever since he came to the Red Sox. I am torn on this issue, and I'm not willing to vilify the guy right now, but nor am I willing to just shrug it off as a "Manny being Manny" moment. I feel embarrassed to be a fan right now, and I don't like it when something I love so much causes me such terrible feelings.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Argh, pointless walk

koufax said...

willingham fouled one off deap to left not too far foul, i think randy was afraid to bring in a fast ball and challenge him

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Wolf can't be afraid to throw strikes, he's got a big lead to work with.

koufax said...

wolf was not getting that fast ball by florez

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Wolf will be lucky if he can get past the fifth inning.

Unknown said...

Wolf's pitch count is WAY too high. He looks like Kershaw last night.

koufax said...

bend but dont break from wolf

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I've never seen an 0-2 count rack up such a high pitch-count

Erin said...

Zimmerman has given up six runs, but he's thrown about 20 fewer pitches than Wolf.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

JP with a single.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

With Pierre on, Zimmermann seems distracted

Unknown said...

Erin - I have been a fan of Manny's since the 1995 season when everyone first really became aware of how special a talent he is. I'm also, despite being a Dodger fan my whole life, a big fan of Barry Bonds.

That isn't the reason I take the position I do. As a lawyer and as someone who unfailingly looks to the Constitution as a guide, it rattles me to the core to see how many public figures are guilty until proven innocent in the forum. Further, as someone who prefers rational thought as opposed to reactionary behavior, I like to look at evidence at hand as opposed to speculation. I also can't stand policies that make no carve out for mistake, inadvertance, reasonable neglect or outright ignorance of a situation.

Do I think Manny should be suspended? Yeah, probably. Not for 50 games, however, because there is no evidence of malicious intent and no way that hCG was going to enhance his performance. The real reason MLB banned hCG is simply because it is at times used to soften the after-effects of steroid cessation. It doesn't enhance performance, other than perhaps the sexual performance mentioned before. Also, hCG isn't a controlled substance, so Manny didn't do anything illegal. I think 10 games would have been more than enough.

J.C. Romero shouldn't have been suspended for one inning based on what happened to him. The supplement he was taking was not labeled as containing a banned substance. Indeed, a crime was committed by the supplement company and Romero was banned for being an innocent victim of that crime. I hope to hell Romero wins his law suit, but he should be pitching for the Phillies right now.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

S.W.A.S. doubles

koufax said...

glad guzman didnt test pierre's arm there

koufax said...

great pick by blake

Orel said...

Wolf with 98 pitches through five.

koufax said...

the bats have gone quiet

Erin said...

I have changed my opinion on this Ramirez thing about 25 times today. Seriously, it's like I'm bipolar or something.

I don't want to be reactionary, but Manny did admit to doing something wrong, so as far as the "guilty until proven innocent" thing, he has already admitted guilt. Whether or not he bears the largest responsibility in the crime is still up in the air, but he is still technically guilty.

I agree that the rules are too black and white, and the Romero case is a perfect example. Maybe the Ramirez case will end up being the same way. We certainly don't have all the information right now, and who knows if we ever will.

To quote Texy, who writes over at Out In Center Field (because I can't say it any better myself):

"I generally detest the witch hunt that MLB has chosen to go on now for these guys, after sitting on their asses for years and watching the Roids/PED problem take off without ever having the balls to take a stand. And this is no different. I hate cheating, but their holier-than-thou stance the last few years is a little conveniently late to the party."

I'm going to sleep on it, and see how it all looks/feels in the morning.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Zimmermann is at 77 through 5 innings

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

If it weren't for Dunn's quick out, Wolf would be gone by now.

Erin said...

Is someone warming? The shutout is blown.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

And that should be all for Wolf

Unknown said...

Just 1 more out Randy.

Unknown said...

YAY. He handled that with a minimum of pitches.

Erin said...

Considering his giant pitch count after just two innings, Wolf did pretty well to hang around through six. Not bad. Should have been better considering the opponent, but oh well.

Fred's Brim said...

hi everybody - can't bring myself to watch tonight, just following the score. I saw Matty went 4x yard and Randy is doing well. How's the mood at the game? How's the mood here?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

A little less for the bullpen now

rbnlaw said...

Wolf though 6.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

A walk for J. Martin

Orel said...

XP!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Blake singles. Two one for a ph.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

hey, Paul's in!

Orel said...

"I'm going to sleep on it, and see how it all looks/feels in the morning."

Me too

"How's the mood here?"

I don't know. Happy but subdued?

Unknown said...

X-Paul handling his first AB well.

Unknown said...

Xavier seems to like that high fastball. Could be a blessing or a curse.

Orel said...

Welcome to the bigs.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

dammit, not a good debut for Paul

Orel said...

BEAUTIFUL backhanded glove flip by Guzman, even if Hernandez wasn't even in the same area code as second base.

Unknown said...

Ouch. Now XP can't stay in for Pierre.

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