Friday, June 26, 2009

Game 74 Thread: June 26 vs. Mariners, 7p

MANNYWATCH: 6 GAMES
DODGERS' RECORD WITHOUT MANNY: 26-18

Clayton Kershaw (4-5, 3.76) vs. Jason Vargas (3-2, 3.24).

COMMENTS: Kershaw was nails in his last start, against the Angels. Vargas the quasi-journeyman (four seasons, three teams) seems to be finding a groove in Seattle, having shut down the Diamondbacks in his last start. (He sat out all of 2008 with a hip injury.) Kershaw has never faced the Mariners; Vargas has faced the Dodgers once, beating them in 2005 with the Marlins.

So pitching-wise, there's no clear-cut favorite. But fan-wise, there will definitely be a favorite enemy, since tonight marks former fan favorite Adrian Beltre's first return to Dodger Stadium since 2006. Unlike more recent fan favorite Nomar Garciaparra, Beltre is certain to get booed, as Vin would say, with feeling.

Going to the game? Pre-game highlight: The Lakers' Pau Gasol will throw the ceremonial first pitch. Post-game highlight: The Friday Night Fireworks show will feature the music of the late Michael Jackson.

photo by David Bauman/Press-Enterprise

153 comments:

Orel said...

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

Josh S. said...

EESHEERO!

I'm going to miss most of this game for a birthday dinner. The boys scored 4 runs yesterday when I took a half hour away from the game to eat, so tonight should be a blowout!

rbnlaw said...

There is a disturbing trend of missing game threads for me. Tonight it's a softball doubleheader and my son's basketball practice.
I'll be here in spirit.

In other news: If any of you find yourself in Long Beach and craving a burger, go no further than the 49'er Tavern. Three reasons why this place is great, not good, great.
1. It's a Dodger bar. The schedule is posted on a computer screen interchanging with the tap beer list.
2. They say they have the best burger in Long Beach. They lie.
It's the best burger I've ever had. If you hate garlic, you may not like it. Otherwise, it's made with minced garlic and Worcestershire and basted with butter. All served on a toasted sesame seed bun with 1,000 island dressing, lettuce,tomato, and onions. It's messy, but outstanding.
3. $3.25 PBR schooners and $2 pints at happy hour (which I caught at the end).
In all, the place to be. Very friendly. I might go there next week if I don't go to the day game vs. the Rocks and my old friend, Hawpe.

Happy trails, y'all.

rbnlaw said...

Oh, I have no financial interest in the 49'er other than they now have some of my money.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

and Kemp is back at #7. Any other team and the dude hits third or 4th. I can't even believe that people still think that Pierre should play over Ethier or Kemp! Outrageous!!!!!

Dusto_Magnifico said...

oops 8th

Dusto_Magnifico said...

the best centerfielder in all of baseball is hitting 8th!!!

MR.F said...

True Dat, Dusto.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

I HATE JOE TORRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

No thread for me, at least until not later. EESHEERO!

NicJ said...

Going 0-6 last night didn't help his cause, would of had a HR if he wasn't robbed though. I remeber that time he led off a few weeks back he was 0fer too. We are scoring more runs than a few weeks back so I can't complain.

NicJ said...

I agree that there is no way anyone other than jp should sit when manny is back though.

koufax said...

pau is big

karina said...

Beltre shouldn't be booed.

karina said...

Sweet, Kershaw K'ed Ichiro.

karina said...

Epale, everyone!

They're not booing Beltre...yet

koufax said...

i think beltre should have been booed, when he originally went to seattle it was for a small amount of money more than what the dodgers offered. we suffered through some poor years on his part waiting for him to produce and when he finally did, he chose to leave for not that much more money.

karina said...

Also, this is an interesting game for me: there is one Cardenales de Lara (Lopez) and two Leones del Caracas (Cedeno and Gutierrez). I'm really crossing fingers Minotaur embarrasses Cedeno and Gutierrez, because i hate Leones more than i hate Giants.

Lopez not so much, he made wonders for my last season's fantasy team.

karina said...

Nice, backwards K for you, Gutierrez.

karina said...

His Beardness delivers a double, King James is up!

karina said...

King James singles, runners at the corners, no outs...

koufax said...

casey barely missed hitting that out

Orel said...

ETHIER'S BACK!

karina said...

Ethier BOMB! Dodgers 3-Mariners 0

NicJ said...

All the way dre!!

Orel said...

Brewers 5, Giants 1, bot 8

Orel said...

Hit parade! Pile it on, boys. As we learned, you can never have enough.

Orel said...

Wow, how do you bunt into a DP?

karina said...

You're right, Orel. Specially if we consider Kemp is a good runner.

NicJ said...

Bad bunt. Good inning though

and if kershaw keeps pitching the way he is he can come up to his next at bat with no bat for all I care.

I've missed NL baseball

karina said...

Dodgers face Felix Hernandez tomorrow...they've managed to miss Santana and Zambrano so far.

karina said...

Balentien has also played a lot in Venezuela with Cardenales de Lara.

Orel said...

Three Ks for Kershaw.

Orel said...

I wonder what Papiamento sounds like.

Orel said...

Happiness is a freshly washed dog.

NicJ said...

The curve is looking good tonight

karina said...

Good boy, KKKKershaw.

NicJ said...

What kind of dog did you have Orel?

karina said...

Orel, it's very rhythmic, it's like they were singing.

karina said...

Make it 5. Putting on a show!

Orel said...

Jimmy! It's on!

Orel said...

"What kind of dog did you have Orel?"

Shelter dog. I've been told he's a pit/chow mix.

Orel said...

All MJ music between innings tonight, apparently.

NicJ said...

Shelter dogs are the best. They always have a little quirk that you have no idea why. One of my dogs hated when people were wearing stripes and the other was afraid of fire.

NicJ said...

Maybe one was owned by a prisoner and the other was owned by Frankenstein previously.

karina said...

Fox announcer: "Juan Pierre is an authentic devil"(speaking about his speed)

Orel said...

We better win tonight because I'm nervous about King Felix tomorrow. I don't want to lose three straight until after the All-Star break.

karina said...

Orel, does your dog have any quirk?

karina said...

Are we going to have puzzles for every day in the All-Star break?

NicJ said...

The devil just got caught stealing.

Orel said...

"Shelter dogs are the best. They always have a little quirk that you have no idea why. One of my dogs hated when people were wearing stripes and the other was afraid of fire."

Right on, he is the best.

The pyrophobia I get. Fear of stripes? That's new. Although I heard about a dog that peed every time she saw anyone in a suit because that's what her old (mean) owner wore.

Orel said...

Perfect throw by Johjima there.

MR.F said...

CS =(

Orel said...

"Are we going to have puzzles for every day in the All-Star break?"

I'm not sure. I would think at least one, but that's Sax and EK's territory.

Orel said...

"Orel, does your dog have any quirk?"

Well, he does snore like an old man.

Orel said...

Junior just loves to tickle!

NicJ said...

Yeah it's the weirdest thing he growls at stangers wearing stripes but that same person withot stripes he is fine with. Maybe he used to be owned by a fashion designer.

karina said...

Ken Griffey Jr is the best.

karina said...

Hahahahahahahahahaha, Nic j.

NicJ said...

There goes the no hit game. Damn you ichiro.

Orel said...

Or A-Rod, or Randy Johnson....

NicJ said...

Some great fielding there by dre.

Orel said...

Aflac: Ichiro Suzuki is 1 of 3 players from Japan to be a Rookie of the Year in the majors. Who are the others?

karina said...

Nomo is one of them.

NicJ said...

Damn

Orel said...

Hmmm, Kershaw got human all of a sudden. 3-1 Dodgers.

Orel said...

Too many pitches, Clayton.

karina said...

Rancho Ardiendo for the M's.

NicJ said...

Let's just get a ground ball.

Orel said...

Bee-yoo-tee-ful.

NicJ said...

Great shot kid! That was one In a million!

Chris said...

What's happening, fellas? Nice to see Kershaw escape that inning!

Orel said...

Aflac: Hideo Nomo, Kazuhiro Sasaki

Orel said...

Hey Chris! You're in the press box again!

Orel said...

Beardly!

NicJ said...

Casey being casey.

karina said...

Blake rocking the fence!

NicJ said...

Hmmm that was not a strike.

NicJ said...

Andre has hit into two more DP this year than he did last year. And it's not even the all star break yet.

Chris said...

Yup! Got some great photos of Griffey and Ichiro at BP that I'm trying to load up...

Orel said...

KKKKKKK

NicJ said...

WOW!!

NicJ said...

The kid with a ribby

Orel said...

Nic what kind of dogs do you have?

NicJ said...

Haha Casey just told kemp that he should of ran harder and he could of made it home.

Orel said...

Clayton helping his own cause. Love it.

Orel said...

Kershaw is blocking Pierre on the bases!

Orel said...

Beltre's still a slick fielder.

NicJ said...

A terrier mutt. And a toy Pomeranian.

If you need some nice dog shampoo let me know I sell the fancy stuff at my work, at wholesale too.

NicJ said...

Down goes odog. I hope Claytons arm doesn't cool down during this long rally.

Orel said...

Giants and Padres lost, Colorado winning.

karina said...

How old are your dogs? (Orel and Nic j)

Orel said...

My dog just had these two huge sneezes.

Orel said...

Thanks, Nic.

Orel said...

11 years old. Old boy! How old is Coper?

Orel said...

Rory Calhoun?

NicJ said...

Vegas is five, and Freddie is eight.

karina said...

Awwwww, Orel. Coper is 5 years old.

Orel said...

O-Dog missed a chance for an easy RBI (not to mention a chance to get Kershaw a breather).

NicJ said...

One run is better than nothing.

Orel said...

Dog talk, O-Dog talk.

NicJ said...

We have Do(g)dger talk going on tonight.

Orel said...

Vin is dressed like Dwight Schrute tonight.

NicJ said...

Beets, bears, and battlestar galactica.

Orel said...

Ichiro's father sounds a little pushy.

karina said...

Coper wants to eat all the popcorn.

Orel said...

O-Dog basket catch!

Orel said...

Mid-game finger dap!

karina said...

Hail to the O Dog!

NicJ said...

Looks like you can teach an o dog new tricks.

Orel said...

Popcorn sounds good right about now.

Orel said...

Jones Loney =! Orlando Hudson

NicJ said...

Loney. I hope that doesn't hurt us.

karina said...

If i could, i'd share the popcorn with you.

karina said...

Nic j, you are right, Lopez is a skilled hitter.

NicJ said...

Damn.

karina said...

Why would want Seattle trade Washburn for Pierre?

Orel said...

Kershaw had his best stuff, then he didn't. A three-run lead helps.

Orel said...

Thanks, Karina. I've got some I can pop.

Orel said...

Kershaw at 96 pitches. Think he pitches the seventh?

Orel said...

"Why would want Seattle trade Washburn for Pierre?"

It doesn't make sense for them unless the Dodgers pick up most of Pierre's contract — which doesn't make sense for the Dodgers.

Orel said...

Andre Ethier hearts Dodger Stadium.

Orel said...

Holy smokes, the Dodgers have three HRs tonight. Getting warmed up for Manny's return!

karina said...

Dre's second homer of the game...with this lead, maybe Kershaw should pitch next inning, with a quick hook

NicJ said...

haha Mitch's intro music is Mr. Jones by the counting crows.

Orel said...

By request?

Orel said...

Torre bats for Kershaw.

karina said...

Caballito?

NicJ said...

NO dog

Orel said...

O-Dog swung at ball four.

karina said...

Mota...with a 5 run lead.

Orel said...

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karina said...

Why is a night game tomorrow?. I really want to "see" the game, but tomorrow night there's a gig of a band i absolutely love to listen live. I'm torn.

karina said...

The "poet" Miguel Batista.

Jimbo said...

Almost, Russ.

Jimbo said...

"Why is a night game tomorrow?. I really want to 'see' the game, but tomorrow night there's a gig of a band i absolutely love to listen live. I'm torn."

Bummer, Karina. Saturday home games are usually at night. I wouldn't blame you if you went to see the band — after all, there are at least 162 Dodger games this year.

Chris said...

The Dodgers just showed another Gasol highlight reel between the 7th and 8th innings and the crowd went NUTS giving Pau a standing ovation, which he returned to the fans. Awesome moment.

karina said...

Mota to the 9th?

karina said...

Orel, this is the dilemma: the Dodgers don't face King Felix all the time.

The band i want to see "Cachicamo con caspa and Leyko el perro de la cuarta dimension", is a cover guaracha band. Thing is they are very funny and after every gig i've ever attended, i sing my lungs and my body hurts from all the dancing (and i'm a trained dancer).

karina said...

Ethier third bomb!!!!!!!!!!!!

karina said...

Curtain call!. Chris, this is a great game to be at the press box.

Kemp singles. Poor poet.

NicJ said...

AnTREY!!

Orel said...

ANDRE
ANDRE
ANDRE

Orel said...

They should freeze him out in the dugout!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Not once, not twice, but thrice!

karina said...

Josh S. was right.

karina said...

Belly pitching at Lopez...i think Guttierrez hits well to Belly, don't have the numbers though.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Matt Cain did not get the win tonight, that's good news.

karina said...

Belisario owned Gutierrez!

karina said...

ladies and gentlemen, dog lovers: this was a historic Dodgers win. Go Blue!

Orel said...

Belly hitting 100 mph?

Orel said...

Post-Game Thread is up!

Karina: Whatever you do tomorrow, have fun!

Josh S. said...

"Josh S. was right."

The power of positive eating.