Monday, June 29, 2009

Post-Game 77 Thread: The Game No One Wanted...Save ANDRE

DODGERS 4, ROCKIES 2 (13)

We're going to let Jim Tracy take this Post-Game Thread. Jim?

Coming back tonight to Dodger Stadium, as a manager of a major league baseball team, was a pretty special feeling for me tonight. Was it the kind of game that I expected to see play out this evening? To answer that question, you've got to ask yourself, "Am I the kind of person that expects Ryan Spilborghs to break a scoreless tie in the fifth with a two-run home run?" Some might say, no.

But I would only answer that question by wondering aloud if I thought Randy Wolf would answer in the bottom of the fifth, by getting Ubaldo Jimenez to balk, and then following up with a game-tying single. I think I would be surprised to see Wolf tie the game with that single. But I also think I would have left Jimenez in the game for more pitching anyway, because I always like leaving in pitchers too long, except this time it would work out as Jimenez pitched a solid seven frames.

And finally, after four and a half hours, was I shocked to see Andre Ethier hit his walkoff home run in the 13th to win the game and keep the Dodgers seven games ahead of the Giants? And was I surprised that Michael Eaves started his post-game interview sarcastically ribbing Ethier for the Dodgers not winning the game earlier? And did I show any shreds of emotion after this gut-wrenching loss, which keeps the Dodgers from losing three games in a row yet again? I'd have to answer those questions all by saying no.

Are purple and black good colors for my complexion? Do the pinstripes help me look svelte?

12 comments:

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Too tired to read it now. I'll get around to it tomorrow.

Orel said...

Is it fun mocking Jim Tracy? Yes.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I lied. Or at least I didn't plan for a recap of Wimbeldon postponing Conan. He looks like he's trying to dance.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I'm refering to Tracy.

karina said...

"But I also think I would have left Jimenez in the game for more pitching anyway, because I always like leaving in pitchers too long, except this time it would work out as Jimenez pitched a solid seven frames."

Touché

"Are purple and black good colors for my complexion? Do the pinstripes help me look svelte?"
They might Mr. Tracy, but purple and black are soooooo fall-winter 2007, which means you are demodé.

Seriously, for almost two hours, this game was "the game nobody wanted to win", but in spite of pitching mismanagement, we were treated with flawless bullpen performance and a spectacular ending: a beautiful swing that produced a walk off win.

But the question remains: will this pitching mismanagement bite the team back later in the week?

Orel said...

Think of it this way: All the relievers are probably available for one inning each tomorrow.

Josh S. said...

Woooo!!!

It was very strange to go to sleep and not know what happened (though I did see a couple of the earlier failed rallies). Nice to wake up and see that Dre pulled through AGAIN.

Steve Sax said...

For what it's worth, on the Gt, I called that Beard would score in the 13th.

Josh S. said...

Also, I'm sorry, guys. If I hadn't bailed early on the thread, we could have broken 800 and gotten at least one more DAMMIT! out of somebody.

Josh S. said...

"But the question remains: will this pitching mismanagement bite the team back later in the week?"

It's the perfect setup for Chad's first complete game of the season.

rbnlaw said...

Funny you should mention complete games, Josh. As news of Timmah's latest CG shutout rippled through MLB, I was left thinking, "Hmm, sounds like the Giants are burning up another arm(s) (if you count Matty Cain) just like they did to J. Schmidt."

The Gnats better hope yoga is the answer for Timmah, or he'll land on the DL sometime this year or early next. You heard it here first.

rbnlaw said...

Oh, pardon the hijack.

The Tracy mocking is first rate and pitch-perfect. You could ask yourself, "Did I laugh?" and you would have to say, "Yes."