Sunday, July 05, 2009

Game 82 Thread: July 5 @ Padres, 1p

Chad Billingsley (9-4, 3.12) vs. Josh Banks (1-0, 3.38).

COMMENTS: Joe Torre acknowledges Manny Ramirez may not be 100% (despite his home run yesterday), so will Torre still start Manny today? If so, the Dodgers will be looking for Manny to spark the offense (but hopefully won't be waiting around like a bunch of slack-jawed yokels).

This is the first time Banks has faced the Dodgers. With the Dodger bats already uncertain and facing an unfamiliar pitcher in a spacious park, and with the bullpen showing signs of fatigue, Billingsley will be expected to pitch deep into today's game.

Manny and Chad: I just want to tell you both good luck. We're all counting on you...to prevent a series loss to a team ten games under .500.

431 comments:

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Kyle Baker said...

Hopefully men's tennis will finish up before the game starts. I mean Tuesday's game.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I don't know how to feel just now. Alfonso Soriano is not in the ASG, but Josh Hamilton is.

Kyle Baker said...

Totally agree Sports Fan. It's so glaringly stupid. You can have fair discussions about other positions (AL 1B, for example) but Hamilton? Cheapens legit nods.

I know this phenom isn't new, but continues to be a problem.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Bills and Brox are both in. Waiting on the reserves.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

The O-Dog is in.

Kyle Baker said...

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Shaggy's brother isn't going. That's odd.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Matt Kemp is on the final vote ballot. VOTE FOR HIM, DAMN YOU!

Kyle Baker said...

No starting Yankees pitching. Hilarious.

(Not that there should be).

Kyle Baker said...

Taking day off tomorrow to pack ballot for Kemp.

Kyle Baker said...

Anyone see the LA Times article on Gagne today? Amazing. Really feel for the guy. Check it out...

Kyle Baker said...

Furcal, SS

Pierre, LF

Loney, 1B

Blake, 3B

Ethier, RF

Martin, C

Kemp, CF

Castro, 2B

Billingsley, P

Josh S. said...

Hey Joe! He rested for FIFTY GAMES!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I don't quite see why O-Dog has another day off, especially after Castro bobbled that DP ball.

Kyle Baker said...

Agree and agree. Let's put best team out and take this series. It's not like it is a day game after a night game, even. Give the fans (e.g., me) what we want.

Josh S. said...

And it's an off-day tomorrow. *sigh*

Josh S. said...

Back to the ASG, who starts for Ibanez and Beltran, assuming they're both still hurt?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Up to the manager I think.

rbnlaw said...

15 votes for Bison and counting.
Castro literally cost us the game yesterday and he's rewarded with another start?

Really, his glove has saved the Dodgers' bacon a few times, so yesterday was bound to happen. Good to see Beast Mode back in the line-up. He must have been hurting the past couple of days. The guy who filled in for him wasn't bad and even caught a fly ball.

rbnlaw said...

Up to 20 votes and still no block. Now I feel like a Chicago voter.

rbnlaw said...

25 votes submitted. I'm also voting for Figgins in the AL because he's had a good run thus far, but Longoria makes more noise and Young hits the long ball.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Now we're no better than the drunken Milwaukee fans who made J.J. Hardy the leading shortstop candidate in the first week of voting.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Uncle Mitly was put on the DL. DeWitt was called up.

Erin said...

I've lost count, but I'm sure I've voted at least 40 times. I guess there's no limit on this one.

Kyle Baker said...

Dewitt must have huge amount of frequent flyer miles by now. Free trip to Fiji soon, for sure.

Kyle Baker said...

Voting repeatedly for Kemp. This feels like Florida in 2000. Hopefully Katherine Harris won't dictate who gets the final spot.

Steve Sax said...

But Katherine Harris loves buffalo-ing people; she may support Bison.

karina said...

On the final vote, there's no limit.

Mr. LASF, we're different from Milwaukee fans because no one who is baseball knowledgeable can argue Matt Kemp is a deserved All-Star.

I don't know how many times i've voted, but i voted non-stop for 20 minutes for the Bison and Adam Lind.

karina said...

While voting for Matt, you could stop by and vote Ethier as the June Clutch performer.

Erin said...

Holy moly, the Padres certainly love to wear ugly uniforms.

karina said...

Erin, are they wearing the camouflage uniforms?

Erin said...

Yep, Karina. And they're hideous as always

Kyle Baker said...

JP to Manny: This is how we do it.

karina said...

Ewwwwwww. Camo uniforms+hideous red caps=fashion nightmare.

Is it too hard to hire a designer if they want to have different uniforms?

Anonymous said...

I'm stuck at work all day. We actually have a dish here, but it doesn't get KCAL, so no game for me :( . Guess I'll have to waste my time today by voting for Bison.

PenosCabell said...

Camouflage unis with red hats. It looks like they got dressed in the dark.

Kyle Baker said...

Pods uniforms making me hate America.

karina said...

I wonder who had the idea to (mis)match the camo uniforms and the red hats.

Erin said...

They're wearing the camo for every Sunday game this season. It just happens to coincide with the weekend where MLB requires them to also wear the red hats.

Orel said...

Another man left in scoring position.

Kyle Baker said...

Even worse idea: hideous green batting helmets. Didn't I wear that same one in little league in 1975?

Erin said...

Paul Lukas at ESPN wrote a good column about the camo uniforms.

Erin said...

Scully just called Loney "Jones." I think it was sort of a combo of his first and last names.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Just tuned in and no Manny. I guess you need to rest after resting 50 games. [Insert sarcastic look.]

Erin said...

And the Astros have taken an early 1-0 lead on the Giants.

Erin said...

Ha! Just turned to the Giants game in time to see the commercial advertising the Brian Wilson bobblehead game.

Guess how the Wilson bobblehead is posed?

Kyle Baker said...

Did Jack just totally ditch Mini Sirloin Burger campaign in favor of this new (lame) buffalo ranch chicken sandwich thing? Why did they stop a good thing?

Steve Sax said...

Chadster is efficient thru one. We shoulda scored in the top of the first, but it's scoreless through one frame.

Orel said...

ANDRE!

Kyle Baker said...

E!!!!!!!!

Erin said...

Does anyone else hear something weird on the KCAL broadcast? Like if you listen really carefully, you can maybe hear the Spanish broadcasters?

Andre just hit that home run and the guys got louder, so now I'm convinced that KCAL has both button pressed or something.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Boom!

Orel said...

You can hear the Spanish-language broadcasters underneath Vin.

Erin said...

Thank you, Orel.

Orel said...

"Guess how the Wilson bobblehead is posed?"

Blowing a save?

Steve Sax said...

Mini Sirloin Burgers have got to be still viable; the Dodgers are giving 'em out all yr long

Orel said...

"Andre just hit that home run and the guys got louder, so now I'm convinced that KCAL has both button pressed or something."

I was thinking small broadcasting booth.

Kyle Baker said...

KCAL are you reading this thread? Tired of telling my sis-n-law to ignore the other voices. I tell her they are just in her head.

Kyle Baker said...

With Kemp up I am reminded to go vote for him another 427,000 times.

Erin said...

It seems so low behind Vin that I don't think a small broadcasting booth is the culprit. It just seems like both feeds are going at the same time.

And now I don't hear it anymore anyway.

Orel said...

What was Kemp thinking?

Kyle Baker said...

He tripped.

Orel said...

So Manny just needs to be in the dugout to help Ethier?

Erin said...

Brian Wilson bobblehead

PenosCabell said...

This is the best commercial

Anonymous said...

wow what a terrbile bobblehead. Why is he doing that on the rubber?

Orel said...

Vin name-drops Icarus!

Kyle Baker said...

MLB.com article:

"Sore legs force Manny to rest for Dodgers"

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Vinny just said that the sun beat Loney just like it beat Icarus.

Erin said...

Scully referencing some Greek mythology after Loney loses a ball in the sun.

Kyle Baker said...

"As for Ramirez, Torre said: "It's his legs. He can pinch-hit today and we can leave him in the game. He has to get his legs under him. Running back and forth to the outfield, it takes some time. By the time the second half starts, he should be all the way back." "

PenosCabell said...

Andre "Carl Lewis" Ethier

Erin said...

Tomorrow is an off day. Ramirez can't "get his legs under him" on an off day? That's stupid.

Orel said...

Makes it sound like Manny's using a walker.

Anonymous said...

I think I'm over 60 now on the Kemp votes...

Erin said...

Whoa! Billingsley with a double down the line!

Steve Sax said...

Chad with a basehit double!

Kyle Baker said...

Good thing we put Castro in the Pods lineup today!

Steve Sax said...

Furcal with a Slappy-like bunt, reaches on an error

Erin said...

Was it an error? Scully said single.

Erin said...

Soriano is moving to the sixth spot in the Cubs' order.

I should point out that when I was in the clubhouse last month, Pierre was talking to Hudson about how Soriano shouldn't be a lead-off hitter, and that he'd be better in the middle of the order.

Pierre is a genius.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

If JP hits a HR here, will this vindicate Torre's choice today?

PenosCabell said...

Bills looking like Ray Lewis

Kyle Baker said...

Steroids helped Alfonzo make that out.

Erin said...

BLAKE!!!

PenosCabell said...

The Beard coming through

Neeebs (The Original) said...

That made up for the goof.

Steve Sax said...

Nice hit at home by bills! J d drew, eat your heart out

beard mode 3-run homer'!

Josh S. said...

His royal beardness!

NicJ said...

Pfff why didn't they just do that early. That was waaaaay easier.

Kyle Baker said...

Knocked my Blake bobblehead too hard on that HR that the little bat fell out. Cannot get the bat to screw into the hand correctly for the life of me.

Orel said...

I thought PETCO was supposed to be a pitchers' park.

Josh S. said...

"Guess how the Wilson bobblehead is posed?"

Crying?

Kyle Baker said...

4-0 Houston

Orel said...

"Knocked my Blake bobblehead too hard on that HR that the little bat fell out. Cannot get the bat to screw into the hand correctly for the life of me."

Put it on the DL.

NicJ said...

When I was there yesterday I noticed the balls were carrying like crazy in the afternoon game compared to the night game.

Josh S. said...

Dusty, the bat came out on mine too. There's a little nut glued into his hand (No jokes please.) that the bat screws into ( I said no jokes!) The glue comes apart really easily.

PenosCabell said...

I hope Bills can keep his composure here with a 4 run lead

PenosCabell said...

100

PenosCabell said...

The bat came out of mine too.

PenosCabell said...

6-3 DP

Kyle Baker said...

HAH! Bobble to the DL. Nice one. I might have to call up Beimel to take his spot on the roster.

Erin said...

The bat was out of my bobblehead when I first opened the box. But I did manage to screw it back in fairly easily.

PenosCabell said...

Nice easy inning for Chad

Anonymous said...

Josh, that's too bad. Lucky for Giants fans the Brian Wilson bobblehead has no nuts.

PenosCabell said...

I had the same problem with the bats on my Steve Garvey and Nomar Garciaparra bobbles. They're just cheaply made.

Erin said...

Billingsley only at 30 pitches through three innings. I'm just waiting to see what happens in the sixth inning.

Kyle Baker said...

The nut/bolt contraption seemed like a good idea on paper, but in practice, it's just too cheaply made. I might do surgery and just take the nut out and superglue the bat into Casey's hands. Won't be able to pack it back up again, but hey, why would I ever want to bury Casey in styrofoam anyway?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

The time is now for Kemp to buff his All-Star resume.

Orel said...

D'OH

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

He dropped the ball.

Kyle Baker said...

Jesus, Vinny, thanks for the physics lesson today.

Anonymous said...

Watching the updates on CBS sports line

"Foul on 1st baseman Gonzalez´s dropped ball error, Foul on 1st baseman Gonzalez´s dropped ball error"

Did Gonzo drop it TWICE in a row, or is this just a glitch?

karina said...

What kind of physics was talking Vinny about?

I'm watching Astros and Giants game. Astros 4-Bah team 0

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

They can't get the marines some better seats?

Kyle Baker said...

karina-

Physics of a dropped foul ball. Talked about wind velocity, spin, aerodynamics, etc. It was like a guest lecture at Cal Tech.

Orel said...

"Did Gonzo drop it TWICE in a row, or is this just a glitch?"

Just once.

Erin said...

That's where they always seat them. They're not Marines yet, anyway. They're in boot camp still. So maybe that's them getting hazed.

karina said...

Getting them good seats every once in a while is a better homage than the camo uniforms and nobody gets retinas hurt.

By the way, Erin, it was a very good column to read (there were beautiful uniforms to see, too)

Anonymous said...

"They can't get the marines some better seats?"

LOL!! I'm not watching the game but every time I see a Padre game they're up in the 3rd deck, and always have to leave in like the 8th inning. Happy 4th of July, boys.

Orel said...

Bills at 37 pitches through four.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Bills is pulling a Marquis.

Erin said...

Frankly, they're lucky they get to go to a baseball game at all while in basic training.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Only a commercial like that could make putting pineapple on a burger seem like a good idea.

Orel said...

Burger?

Erin said...

For a few seconds there, KCAL was playing a lovely 1 kHz tone. And there it is again. Who is in the sound booth over there today?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

HOLY FUCKING HELL

Orel said...

CHADLEY!

Erin said...

HOLY CRAP.

Pitcher's park, indeed!

Steve Sax said...

Bills HR off of Banks--he OWNS Banks!!!

Silent treatment for Bills in the dugout...

Orel said...

I love the freeze-out!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Manny just gave Bills a high-five. Let's cut to the crowd for a reaction.

Orel said...

Triple! Let's hit for the cycle in this inning!

Erin said...

Bills is halfway to the cycle. Anyone see a triple in his future?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

RAFFY TRIPLE! EVERYTHING'S COMING UP MILHOUSE!

Josh S. said...

I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW!

NicJ said...

Martin and bills are tied in HR's for the year.

Steve Sax said...

Sax's Mom: "Is Petco Park a batter's park?"

Sax: "No, it's a pitcher's park."

Sax's Mom: "Well, Billingsley IS a pitcher!"

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Nic - You just made me squirt Coke out of my nose.

Orel said...

Single! All we need is a double!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

The Banks has forclosed.

karina said...

Can't believe it, Bills proves he's serious money and then Furcal triples, two HRs sans Manny, unbelievable.

Josh S. said...

LOL at Vin's "Banks in trouble" joke.

karina said...

Mrs. Sax's mom beat me to this.

Erin said...

Apparently my iPhone thinks I'm more likely to write the word "dingle" than the word "single," which makes my text about what Pierre just did a little more interesting.

Josh S. said...

I can't believe that was Chad's first. He looks like he's built to drive them out.

Erin said...

It's okay, Karina. Technically, I beat Sax's mom, what with my "pitcher's park, indeed!" comment. So I win.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

It's the crush-his-head-then-tag-him-out caught stealing.

Orel said...

That was a multi-purpose pitch.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Vin just stole my joke!

Steve Sax said...

banks and alfonzo, you cheap shot pieces of crap to flatten loney in order to "pitch out" to get pierre stealing.

Bills, if you weren't en route to a cycle, I'd definitely tell you to bean Alfonzo (since Banks is going to be gone...NOW, as Loney strokes a "f you, Banks" single to right).

Erin said...

I like your wrath, Sax. That was pretty lame.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Now we see if Bills learned anything from the playoffs.

Kyle Baker said...

Perdomo - uglier than his shirt.

[Sorry, still po'd about that knockdown pitch]

karina said...

Does Perdomo facial hair look as offensive as it looks on Gameday? geez, this team needs a style intervention very bad.

karina said...

Yep, Bills should bean Alfonzo.

karina said...

A double here for Ethier could be very sweet.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Bills' BA is actually higher than Martin's

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

It's also higher than Ethier's.

Orel said...

O-Dog's not talking!

karina said...

So, runner in scoring position for the hipeful All-Star Bison.

Kyle Baker said...

Come on, Kemp...can't leave men on like that with a wimpy popup. Now I will only vote for you 1,298,344 times.

Kyle Baker said...

O Dog was talking so fast that I couldn't even see his mouth move.

Erin said...

There goes the shutout.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Damn Kouzmanoff

Kyle Baker said...

"SAN FRANCISCO -- Randy Johnson walked off the mound in the fourth inning of the Giants' series finale with the Houston Astros on Sunday at AT&T Park, leaving the game with an apparent injury to his throwing shoulder."

Steve Sax said...

6-1 on the solo shot, but Chad is still rolling

Steve Sax said...

Dusty Baker: That sucks for Johnson. I never like to see guys get injured, even Giants.

Especially Matt Cain.

Or Tim Lincecum.

Orel said...

Guess the Giants won't be trading Jonathan Sanchez.

Erin said...

Five innings on only 52 pitches. Nice job so far, Chad.

Steve Sax said...

Erin: Sorry this reply is so late--

You're not the first woman to appreciate my wrath. On the other hand, hell hath no fury...

Steve Sax said...

Triple for me, Your Royal Thighness

Orel said...

Even Castro got a hit!

Erin said...

Good bunt, Chad!

Kyle Baker said...

No I agree re: not hating on anyone for an injury. But it is newsworthy for NL West, and for trade issues if it is serious/long term.

Here's to having the best players out there - and beating them!

Erin said...

That's right, Sax. Just don't scorn me.

Steve Sax said...

Chad should have run over the pitcher covering on his bunt attempt

Cabrera smothers but doesn't have a play on Furcal, his third hit of the day

Steve Sax said...

Erin, I am so not scorning you, that I should be seeing heaven's fury by now

Anonymous said...

This game could get out of hand soon. Time to bring in the bench players. Manny, O-Dog, get out there.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Bases loaded for Loney.

Steve Sax said...

SEND HIM HOFFY!

Sorry, I suppose it's Bowa now. But we should have sent Fidel. Look at how poor that throw was up the line...

Erin said...

Too bad the Dodgers aren't playing at home for the next ten days. Christine is out of town, and I can't get a Dodger Dog, so I guess I'll just be living on cereal and sunflower seeds for a while.

Orel said...

C'mon Casey, serve' em salami.

Anonymous said...

Loney I've had quite enough of these fielder's choices. Quit being so democratic.

Orel said...

There's always Dodger Dogs at the Universal City Walk.

Kyle Baker said...

It's so easy for me to sit on the couch and say this, but...GUYS, lift the friggin ball out of the infield when you have a scoring opportunity!

Steve Sax said...

Speaking of which, Erin (back to 2:21p), my mom is still sore that your comment beat hers.

Loney doesn't even have PITCHER'S MOUND POWER on that ball. Geez, Loney, stroke that sucker with the bases juiced and one out!

Orel said...

I hope we don't regret leaving the bases loaded twice.

Erin said...

Orel, do they grill the ones at City Walk? That's the only way to eat them, if I were so inclined to drive just over the hill.

NicJ said...

Alright it's the 6th. Come on bills.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

C'mon, Raffy.

Erin said...

And a Furcal error starts a potential sixth inning nightmare for Billingsley.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

That's showing 'em, Bills.

Erin said...

Looks like Billingsley threw at Eckstein's head, but to be fair, that would just be a pitch at the belt for any normal-sized man.

NicJ said...

Col lost.

Orel said...

Bills gets over the sixth-inning hump.

Erin said...

Six innings on 67 pitches. Chad is working it today.

Erin said...

199

Erin said...

200

Kyle Baker said...

5-0 Houston in the 8th now

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