Thursday, May 28, 2009

Game 49 Thread: May 28 @ Cubs, 5p

Good Wrigley Field Memory: James Loney hits a grand slam in NLDS Game 1, putting the Dodgers up 4-2 and shifting the game and series momentum to the Dodgers, who would eventually sweep the Cubs.

Bad Wrigley Field Memory: Chad Kreuter gets into it with a Cubs fan in 2000, starting a melee and causing suspensions and civil lawsuits.

MANNYWATCH: 31 GAMES

Randy Wolf (2-1, 3.02) vs. Randy Wells (0-1, 1.50).

COMMENTS: Let's go for more of those good memories, shall we? The Dodgers open up four games at the Friendly Confines but will miss Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano, who went apeshit yesterday after a call at the plate went the Pirates' way. Instead, Round 1 of Dodgers / Cubs features Wells, whose debut this year already includes three strong starts and a miniscule ERA, versus our king of no decisions Wolf (whose seven no-decisions is tied for the major-league lead).

Will Wells go-Far? I still wouldn't bank on it against a Dodgers offense that had 31 runs over three games at Coors Field; despite the fact that LA didn't deposit any HRs in the three games, they still were able to cash in a lot of runs playing small ball. Let's hope for more returns today.

229 comments:

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Josh S. said...

Reed Richards is envious of that stretch, Sax. (I kid.)

Steve Sax said...

JS: So is Patrick "Eel" O'Brian. I know, it was bad. No, it was awful. I was out of juice today.

But look, James Loney not only hits a grand slam, but he took his spray-paint can to the billboard area behind him!

koufax said...

anyone going to wrigley this weekend? i will be there saturday.

Steve Sax said...

WSJ's Accuscore has us winning tonight's matchup, 5 runs to 4.6.

Gametime in 1:40.

Steve Sax said...

That's odd. ESPN AccuScore, which I assume is the same company, has us as a 49% chance of winning, and calling the score 4.9 runs to 4.9 runs. Hmm. Maybe the line changed during the day?

Eric Karros said...

So, it's bank puns this time, eh Sax? Sorry to say I will not be participating. I'm going through withdrawal.

rbnlaw said...

I just hope the magic vs. the Cubbies continues. Computers estimating the score scare me.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Anyone find a lineup yet?

Josh S. said...

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

Furcal is back. Joe is still playing lineup games.

Steve Sax said...

Josh Schippe, we may have to hire you on staff. Thanks for the lineup post!

Steve Sax said...

p.s. the pay is awesome, btw

Josh S. said...

I'm just benefiting from a slow day at work. (And sharing what Inside The Dodgers already posted.)

Thanks!

Steve Sax said...

No worries.

Shouldn't you be getting in shape for the NBA draft?

Steve Sax said...

I mean, this is you, right?

rbnlaw said...

Sure, now's the time to work on hitting the 3 with a man in your face.

Josh S. said...

Yep. I'm just terrible at spelling my own name.

QuadSevens said...

Thinking of bank puns is hard work. I'm going to need a bailout.

Josh S. said...

Jon Weisman posted a piece today about the Dodgers not having any home runs from the #5 spot. Looks like Torre read it and is doing something about it.

Unknown said...

What in the hell with Kemp 8th and Russell 4th? Russell should be 2nd and Kemp 5th or 6th.

Steve Sax said...

rbnlaw, Shipp's problem wasn't really that he couldn't hit the 3 consistently. IMHO, it was that he was slow on the first step, so he couldn't penetrate, and then he needed tons of spacing to get off a jumper (a la Jason Kapono back in his Bruin days).

I like Shipp, but he's going to have to lose some pounds if he's going to need to hustle faster.

Eric Karros said...

Random fact: first nightgame at Wrigley was on 8/8/88

Steve Sax said...

Ali etc: Well, at least we know now that Torre isn't afraid of hurting anyone's feelings by moving them around in the lineup.

Steve Sax said...

Who here has been to Wrigley?

I have.

I love it.

It's quite a beautiful park.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Josh: If your name was Tom Paciorek, I bet that they wouldn't put you on the payroll.

:-)

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Actually, I'm tired of Greedo. Let's change to something more...happy.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Much better, no?

rbnlaw said...

Sax,
Agree. Leave him alone; deadly. Stay with him and make him shoot off the bounce; not so much. It's why UCLA is so adept at running the high screen. Gets you the pick and roll or it frees up your shooters.
The lack of a true center doomed them this year. I wish Ship(pe) all the luck in the NBA and hope he doesn't become Ed O'Bannon, the Sequel.

Fred's Brim said...

Saxy, I saw the Yanks play the Cubs there a few years back. Woke up early that morning in a still-drunken stupor to stand in line for standing-room tickets. We ran up to Milwaukee to see the Brewers play the Sawx in the afternoon and then rushed back to Chi for the Sunday night ESPN game. It was a really fun day. And I loved the park. I appreciated that they still had troughs instead of urinals in the bathroom. Somehow that made the lines go so much faster

Josh S. said...

Don't think I'm weird or anything, but I went ahead and changed to my last initial, for brevity's sake. (Not for privacy's sake. That's already shot.)

Eric Karros said...

Wasn't Ed O'Bannon the Sequel named Charles?

QuadSevens said...

Wrigley Field is amazing! I loved that they had a beer guy selling 16oz CANS of Old Style walking around in the crowd. However, I wasn't so thrilled with my seat directly behind a support beam.

Steve Sax said...

rbnlaw, Yeah, I'm worried about Shipp's chances in the NBA, but it is nice to see Howland recruits like Afflalo, Westbrook, and of course Farmar and Ariza locally (Ariza was pre-Howland) thriving in the pros.

Jrue Holliday really needs to stick around another year. For the team's sake, and for his own sake.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Where's the love for Kevin Love?

Eric Karros said...

Let's hope Kevin Love isn't George Zidek the Sequel

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

That's the Raffy I know and love.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Loney with a nice at bat.

Keep the rally going.

The Beard.

Unknown said...

That Play with Pierre and Furcal must have looked so damn cool on TV.

Unknown said...

Casey got robbed

Alex Cora said...

Hey Hey everyone. Looks like the blue got out quickly. Nice swinging bunt by Furcal.

Unknown said...

Nice thought, poor execution Andre. Is this the first time Bradley and Andre have played opposite each other at the same position since the trade (which would mean ever)?

NicJ said...

sax, totally agree about jrue, but with that, he is the most complete freshman so some team will take a chance on him.

im a little worried about the bruins basketball season next year.

NicJ said...

nice dp

Alex Cora said...

DP!!! Phew. Nice.

Alex Cora said...

Wow! Wolf with a 89 MPH Fastball to get Bradley swinging. I always think that something is going to explode if Bradley doesn't do well...

rbnlaw said...

Sorry, dropped out for a bit. If Holiday goes NBA, oh well. Not like he was an impact player anyway. He was biding his time for the draft in hindsight.
True Nic, next year looks shaky without a true point and soft big men.

George Zidek actually had a nice NBA career and went home to make more money. Look at Gadzuric. He was getting better minutes than Luc Richard MM. And don't get me started on Kevin Love. His weakness, heees sloooowwww.

Eric Karros said...

Kemp with a single -

rbnlaw said...

Oh, final thought on UCLA: I like Drew Gorden's upside and intensity.

Alex Cora said...

SWEET! Kemp with the stolen base on a PITCHOUT!!! Slide under the tag.

NicJ said...

wow, that was close

Eric Karros said...

rbnlaw, what are your thoughts on Toby Bailey (I'm trying to get all 5 starters on the '95 team mentioned)?

Kemp with the swipe!

Eric Karros said...

Juan Pierre's gonna get a hit, I can feel it.

BTW I'm working on a game-changing bank pun...

Unknown said...

Come on Beast Mode, drive Bison Mode home.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

First Florida, then Colorado, and now Chicago. The Dodgers' road schedule is looking more and more like a tribute to Juan Pierre.

NicJ said...

ethier afraid of the bricks?

Alex Cora said...

Damn had him 3-2.

NicJ said...

i love how zambrano threw the ump out.

NicJ said...

you'd think they would have a punching bat for him to beat on in the tunnel.

NicJ said...

bag*

Eric Karros said...

Koona t'chuta Soto goes down looking.

NicJ said...

wow, nice pitching by the wolf

Eric Karros said...

Is anyone else flipping between the game and the spelling bee?

Current word: gyascutus

Eric Karros said...

The dude nailed it!

NicJ said...

wow, the cubs just look a step slow today.

PS, whats with all this first to third stuff, i like it.

Eric Karros said...

The Dodgers get 2 men on base while I'm watching a 13-year-old spell 'gyascutus'.

NicJ said...

nice rbi by the beard.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

BEARD MODE! I would be pissed if this guy gets no All-Star consideration.

NicJ said...

he wont, sadly.

NicJ said...

man andre just swung at junk.

Alex Cora said...

gotta go to dinner! Will be back!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

The Cavs are murdering Orlando.

NicJ said...

wolf is cruising

NicJ said...

how many singles are they going to have through the 5.5 hole. ill take it.

damn kemp

NicJ said...

that inning was way too easy for wells.

Steve Sax said...

Getting back to the UCLA Bruins hoops team: one of my favorite memories was being at an away game (I think @ either Cal or Stanford) where the crowd was razzing Moose Bailey by chanting "You're-Not To-by (clap clap, clap clap clap).

And the time when the Stanford crowd had a huge joint to razz Jelani McCoy (who still leads the Bruins in FG% in a season, btw).

Yeah, I'm worried about the Bruins next year too, but Gordon does indeed have upside.

Steve Sax said...

Oh yeah, nice to come back to one's desk and see the good guys up 2-0.

Though weren't the Cubs up 2-0 before the Loney GS in NLDS Game 1?

NicJ said...

wolf's lost his control all of a sudden

Steve Sax said...

wow, this is a sparse out of town scoreboard.

Steve Sax said...

Wolf will get Lee to GIDP

He was just throwing around Bradley to drive Milton NUTS

NicJ said...

damn that one sounded lie it was out.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Is there a rat trying to enter Nick Johnson's chin?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I mean Reed Johnson

Steve Sax said...

How Andre Ethier wasn't able to turn Lee's fly ball into a double play is beyond me. Thanks for making my prediction worthless, Andre

NicJ said...

can we just re-trade ethier for bradley mid-game.

NicJ said...

nice stop by blanco, any other guy in the lineup would have been an out.

Eric Karros said...

Pierre with another hit! After his earlier steal, he now has 439 career SB's, exactly 250 behind Joe Morgan.

I like to watch JP chase Morgan.

Hey, Sax's Well's Go-far pun was backwards too.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Another steal-and-swinging-bunt?

NicJ said...

damn, that ball just hung up there

NicJ said...

the drawbacks of aggressive baserunning.

Steve Sax said...

Mr LA SF, I'm working on that Reed Johnson photoshop right now

Steve Sax said...

Hudson is not having a good game.

Nor is Herr Ethier.

Steve Sax said...

EK, pretty good one there with the Chase JP Morgan

NicJ said...

man the cavs just cant hold a lead this series, they have lakeritis.

Steve Sax said...

I'd say, that was a good pun. A Capital one, at that.

Eric Karros said...

Thanks Sax. It was better than some of the ShitiBank puns out there.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

EK - Your puns are getting better. I'd wachovia shoulder to make sure nobody steals them.

Eric Karros said...

Point taken, MLASF. You can't suntrust anyone these days.

Ok that one was lame but I was feeling too much pressure to come up with another good one quickly.

NicJ said...

wtf, the some of the yankees are at the cavs magic game and sabathia gets an interview. The dodgers were at the lakers nuggets game and we get nothing, figures.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Wolf strikes out the side.

NicJ said...

how are the two randys tied in pitch count. Wolf seems like he has been doing so much better.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I'm surprised. I didn't think the Cavs would begin their slow decent into oblivion until the second half.

PenosCabell said...

A hit in each inning.

It would be nice if they scored in each inning.

Booger said...

Andre Ethier has lost it, he has become truly pathetic.

he is like the brett tomko of outfielders

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Talk about a collapse. Cleveland went into the second quarter up by 17, and now go into halftime up by 1.

PenosCabell said...

They were up by 17?

Wow.

The Cleveland LeBrons are blowing it, huh?

Eric Karros said...

Are you rooting for either Cleveland or Orlando, MLASF?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I want them to kill each other so whoever wins will be exhausted by next Thursday.

Eric Karros said...

Then I guess you're rooting for Cleveland, at least in this game.

Down to the Final Four in the Spelling Bee.

NicJ said...

this lack of runs is kind of concerning

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Who is singing TMOTB today?

PenosCabell said...

World famous William Peterson?

Booger said...

I heard Tyrese is signing the 7th inning stretch, but he's going to change all the words into one of his own songs.

Booger said...

The Wolf is still pitching is the 7th? thats a surprise

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

After yesterday I don't think Broxton is available. That's a little disheartening.

NicJ said...

yeah, torre confirmed he will probably be using tron for late inning relief tonight in his pregame interview.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Tron is a good choice. I'd like to see the sinkerball in Wrigley.

PenosCabell said...

If they need late inning relief. Wolf is cruising.

PenosCabell said...

Whats Wolf's pitch count?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

101

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

The other Randy is gone. Now the Dodgers can tee-off on this Cubs bullpen.

PenosCabell said...

Oh. Maybe they will need Tron.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Last chance for the O-Dog to extend his hitting-streak.

NicJ said...

there goes the hitting streak

PenosCabell said...

I think you're right MLASF.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

This is definitely a quick game.

PenosCabell said...

Wolf coming back?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I'm gonna go have some dinner now.

PenosCabell said...

Have a nice dinner.

PenosCabell said...

I don't think Torre can resist using the bullpen.

NicJ said...

hopefully wolf can get this done, the cubs have been hitting him harder in the last few innings.

PenosCabell said...

One minute into the 3rd quarter, Orlando takes a 4 point lead.

60-56

PenosCabell said...

A CG would be nice. Resting the bullpen would be a huge gift from Randy.

karina said...

Guys, keep commenting, this is my mom's birthday and i'm counting on you and Gameday.

Epale!

PenosCabell said...

If he walks this guy, does Torre pull him?

PenosCabell said...

2-1 Dodgers.

Time to pull him?>?>

NicJ said...

i knew wolf was getting tired.

Booger said...

i think Wolf wants out, he served that up on a platter.

PenosCabell said...

Here comes Joe.

PenosCabell said...

6 more outs.

Steve Sax said...

Argh. Okay, come on tron tron

PenosCabell said...

Hold this lead Tron.

PenosCabell said...

Uh oh.

PenosCabell said...

What now?>

NicJ said...

randy should get the win, Providian the bullpen does their job.

PenosCabell said...

Fuk-U-Do-Me

PenosCabell said...

Jesus H. Christ.

PenosCabell said...

I can't watch.

NicJ said...

i knew we needed more runs. wolf is Mr. No Decision.

NicJ said...

Tron really got a Bailout on that one.

Booger said...

they need bullpen help.....!

PenosCabell said...

Inning ending double play.


The fourth double play Chicago has hit into.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

The Cubbies are killing themselves with the DP's.

Booger said...

Andre 'the double play' Ethier is up. luckily the bases are clear

Booger said...

ohh wait, blake is on, noooooooo!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Actually Beard Mode is on first. That is if Gameday is correct.

NicJ said...

at least it wasnt a double play

Booger said...

they probably should get an insurance run; im not sold on troncoso.

NicJ said...

why are they warming up mota?!?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Big Russ works out a walk. Kemp is up with two aboard.

Booger said...

damn, Mota sucks, and i dont mean tootsie pops.

NicJ said...

i almost hope they put him in and he gives up a loss, it could be the final nail in the coffin.

NicJ said...

nice slide by russ

NicJ said...

leaving tron in, risky play but we have nobody reliable in the pen.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Tron will pitch in the ninth. He's batting.

Steve Sax said...

wtf why is troncoso batting

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Tron strikes out.

Steve Sax said...

Is Brox unavailable?

That was ridiculous

NicJ said...

alright tron, its not your job to bat just hold the lead.

Steve Sax said...

This is going to bite us in the ass

NicJ said...

brox threw a season high amount of pitches in that debacle yesterday.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Orlando has a 1-point lead going into the fourth quarter.

Steve Sax said...

NicJ, you're right. Sorry, I've already blocked that debacle out of my mind...

...it was a day game though. doesn't that mean extra time to rest?

Steve Sax said...

Bradley / Lee / Johnson in the ninth

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Bunt single. Winning run is at the plate in the form of Milton Bradley.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I mean Derreck Lee.

LLCoolL said...

Ok, tell me Troncoso didn't just bat with 2 on in a 1-run game. That didn't just happen. I think Torre still doesn't understand the rules in the National League. The pitcher doesn't HAVE to bat.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Crap. Lee singles. Two aboard.

NicJ said...

a bunt single, wow.

Steve Sax said...

If Lee wins this game, it's revenge for Furcal breaking his hand a couple of seasons back

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

The move to keep Tron appears to be a miscalculated one.

Steve Sax said...

Wade? Ohman? Weaver? Milton? Koufax? Anyone?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Two foul bunts. Tron has to get one more.

NicJ said...

cant win them all, i cant really think of anybody in the pen that i trust right now.

NicJ said...

i think id take koufax out of all those.

Steve Sax said...

what is happening, my little mlb gameday rectangle disappeared

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I still miss when there was Saito, Broxton, Kuo, Beimal, Park, and the good Wade.

Steve Sax said...

In play, out(s)

Please tell me it was a triple play

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Rat-Chin sacs Milty and Lee to third and second. Tron IBB's Soto.

NicJ said...

yeah, all of those pitchers aint that great this year.

Steve Sax said...

IBB to Soto to get to Fontenot. Nowhere to go, Tron.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Tron has to get Scales to GIDP.

Steve Sax said...

Let's go, GIDP

NicJ said...

can we get another double play. come on tron you can do it!

Steve Sax said...

Sorry, Scales. My bad, Fontenot is out.

Come on Tron, tip the Scales

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Tron has to throw strikes.

Steve Sax said...

the tension on gameday is thick

Steve Sax said...

these balls do not look anywhere close

Unknown said...

Nail biter for Tron. I guess Torre wanted to shut Brox down because of his long outing.

NicJ said...

GOT HIM!!!!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Scales strikes out! Two down for Blanco.

Unknown said...

I would take a popup at this point.

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