Friday, July 10, 2009

Game 86 Thread: July 10 @ Brewers, 5p

Chad Billingsley (9-4, 3.14) vs. Braden Looper (7-4, 4.78).

COMMENTS: Ah, the Brewers' Miller Park: home of friendly fans and Secret Stadium Sauce. Although the Dodger Dog will always be first in our hearts (and stomachs), a Milwaukee Brat slathered in the good stuff can also bring one to baseball nirvana. Highly recommended for the next time you're in the greater Milwaukee area.

Gastronomical delights aside, this is Billingsley's last chance to become a ten-game winner before the All-Star break. He's had some hard luck lately and he may not be the National League starter — that honor belongs to Tim Lincecum — but Billingsley's trip to St. Louis is well deserved.

Looper has had a strange career arc, relieving for the first nine years of his career (including closing for the Marlins and Mets) until the Cardinals turned him into a starter in 2007. As a result, he has started against the Dodgers only once, in 2007, when he got the win.

top photo from Flickr user katherine of chicago

332 comments:

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JL said...

in other news, jayson werthless is replacing beltran in the ASG. i'm furious right now.

hopefully Bills goes nuts on milwaukee tonight. you too kemp!

Josh S. said...

I've been looking forward to this series. The Brewers are probably my second favorite team since my dad's side of the family is from the Milwaukee area.

I don't have any loyalty issues or anything. I just find the Brew Crew generally likable.

Kyle Baker said...

Fair enough, Josh S. It's nice to face a team that we don't outright loathe every once in a while, isn't it?

JL said...

Ryan Braun is awesome. He's fromt he valley. granada hills to be exact. home of yours truly!

Josh S. said...

I used to take up residence in GH as well.

MR.F said...

Ryan Church for Jeff Francouer. "The Last Straw" continues.

Josh S. said...

"Ryan Church for Jeff Francouer."

I heard the trade was rescinded after Church missed Turner Field.

rbnlaw said...

(rimshot)

I agree with Mr. Shippe. Milwaukee is a fine team and, from what I hear, a nice city. All my in-laws are from there. And when I say, "from there," I mean it. None of them live there anymore.

Also, did anyone else get the offer from MLB-TV of 10 days of free MLB-TV for voting in the last chance? I signed up and can watch games now even though it starts tomorrow.

Sweet.

rbnlaw said...

Was just watching former Dodger, Edwin Jackson, taking on the Injuns. I kind of like this MLB-TV thingy.

Say, think we could deal to get Jackson back? Nah, probably too expensive.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I got it too. That's a pretty sweet reward.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I think I'm in love with MLB.tv

It's...beautiful

Josh S. said...

So the ten days of free MLB TV falls when there's three days of (essentially) no baseball? Or is it ten days from when you sign up?

I'm curious because I didn't get the offer. I did get an offer of Gameday Premium for $5 for the rest of the season, but I'll never end up using it.

Erin said...

I had MLB.tv in Puerto Rico, but the internet connection sucked so bad everywhere down there that it was hardly worth it. It's pretty cool, but since I'm at home, I'll just stick with my Extra Innings package.

Erin said...

From Dodger Thoughts...

Rafael Furcal, SS

Andre Ethier, RF

Manny Ramirez, LF

Casey Blake, 3B

James Loney, 1B

Russell Martin, C

Orlando Hudson, 2B

Matt Kemp, CF

Chad Billingsley, P

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

It runs from the 11th (tomorrow) to the 21st, though rbnlaw is right, you can use it right now.

MR.F said...

mlb.tv is very handy for someone who lives outside of the LA area and does not have DirecTV.

Josh S. said...

A one-game sample size is hardly anything to go by, but I think Joe may have found the definitive lineup. He should run with this order for the foreseeable future.

(Cue the "Kemp batting 8th" complaints.)

Erin said...

Yeah, MLB.tv is great as long as you're not in PR. When I'm in Idaho in two weeks, for example, I will use it religiously.

Erin said...

Also, FYI, MLB Extra Innings is not exclusive to DirecTV.

Erin said...

Has anyone ever noticed problems with KCAL going in and out of HD? The pre-game looks fine right now, but in recent games the broadcast has seemed to shift back and forth.

Steve Sax said...

I'm not local tonight, but I don't have MLB tv. Gameday it is.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Raffy just got under it.

Erin said...

ANDRE

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

But Andre did not!

Erin said...

He did not get under it.

Fred's Brim said...

that's a nice start!

Erin said...

Both outs went all the way to the wall. Looper was lucky.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I thought I heard some jeers of "steroids" from the crowd while Manny was up. After all, it's not like a Brewer would use a banned substance (cough, Mike Cameron, cough).

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

That's all for me. I'm outta here.

Fred's Brim said...

i have been to county stadium and miller park and liked them both, but i will say that stadium sauce tasted like mustard to me

karina said...

I'm craving a hot dog because of this game thread.

Related to the game, it's nice they are back to first inning scoring.

MR.F said...

'Dre Day!

Fred's Brim said...

karina,

agreed

and agreed

Fred's Brim said...

crud - don't walk the bums, Bills

karina said...

Did you know Braun has a line of shirts that look a lot like Ed Hardy's?

Erin said...

Oh Chad. Come on.

Fred's Brim said...

cmon man, dont be scared of these guys

Fred's Brim said...

left that one up a little

stay tough on Cameron here

Erin said...

Great.

Fred's Brim said...

god i hate Mike Cameron. he is such a bum, but he always seems to get hits at the wrong time.

Fred's Brim said...

Catalanotto, they guy who was cut to make room for Andruw Jones in Texas

Erin said...

Way too many three-ball counts for the first inning, Chad.

Fred's Brim said...

gotta clean it up, Bills

Fred's Brim said...

The Mets must have really hated Ryan Church. They traded him for Jeff Francoeur. Omar Minaya's quote: "We were able to get a righthanded hitter."

Fred's Brim said...

keep taking pitches, guys - the walks will come

karina said...

The Dodgers are just hitting fly-outs.

karina said...

Kemp seemed to listen, so he grounded out.

NicJ said...

Maybe bills just likes the number 9

karina said...

Way to go, King James! new game, people!

NicJ said...

We are gonna need to start getting guys on. Solo shots aren't gonna cut it tonight. Unless everyone hits one.

karina said...

J. Martin, now you worry me. You were 0-3 and ended with a pop up to first on a full count.

Fred's Brim said...

damnation

NicJ said...

He is saving his good pitches for the ASG.

Fred's Brim said...

and that clears the pitcher too.
gotta be better than that Bills

karina said...

Three HRs in four innings, game is close so they can win it.

Fred's Brim said...

nice, Matty

we gotta adjust to all these sinkers and splitters

Fred's Brim said...

karina, your boy Bronson Arroyo is pitching a gem against the Mets tonight

karina said...

Fred's Brim: i'm actually watching that game on TV. He's not my boy, he's just very handsome :)

I've had a crush on a Reds player for years, but it's not him.

Fred's Brim said...

hehe Brandon Philips?

Erin said...

Nah, I bet she's going old school and crushing on Joe Morgan. :)

karina said...

Thanks, Dre for the lead off single.

Fred's Brim said...

Manny!!!

Fred's Brim said...

OK lets pile on the runs now

Erin said...

Shit. I missed it when I flipped the channel. Oh well.

Manny!

karina said...

Wrong, Fred's Brim, keep guessing!

Erin: that was he funniest thing i heard all week!

karina said...

MANNY! Dodgers 4- Brewers 3

Fred's Brim said...

haha Erin, do it again! they are showing something cool on channel 4 right now...

Erin said...

Well, so far the only Venezuelan I see on their roster is Ramon Hernandez. Are you sticking with your countryman?

Erin said...

Crap, I totally forgot Andre was on base, too! I just thought we had it tied.

MR.F said...

Having Manny on the team sure is nice.

Erin said...

It sure doesn't suck, fanerman. :)

Erin said...

Hey! Russell Martin! I flipped back just in time to see it clear the fence.

Fred's Brim said...

Russ with #2!!

Erin said...

The Red Sox managed to sneak one run across the plate in the bottom of the eighth of a pitcher's duel, and they just won it, so I am a happy camper.

Fred's Brim said...

karina, it's gotta be Aaron Harang - he's dreamy...

karina said...

J. Martin HR! your last at bat is forgotten!

way to go, son!

Fred's Brim said...

Erin, what was on Channel 4? that was just a trick to get you to change channels :)

Erin said...

You think Francoeur is happy about being traded? He grew up in or near Atlanta and has always played for the Braves.

Erin said...

Yeah, I figured you were lying, FB. I flipped to 729 instead to see the end of the Sox game, but it had the same effect anyway.

Fred's Brim said...

no way - the Braves have a better shot than the Mets at making the playoffs these days.

i dont understand that trade at all, except that Minaya and Manuel just dont like Church

Fred's Brim said...

hehe for all I know, the Dodger game is on channel 4

Fred's Brim said...

jeez Chad, tighten it up, will ya?

karina said...

Yes, Erin. It's Ramon Hernandez and this crush has lasted for years, since he was Rookie of the Year in venezuelan winter baseball, he was very young, like 19 or 20 years old, i was a teenager, around 14.

Here, he only plays first base and once, a ball almost hit me because i stopped paying attention to the game and was looking at him. He dances with his neck between innings, so cute!

Now i feel like a silly teenager (i'm blushing)

Fred's Brim said...

oh i forgot it was the 6th inning

turn it around, Chad

Fred's Brim said...

wooooooOOOOOOOOooooo Karina and Ramon, sitting in a tree, K I S S I N G!

Erin said...

Yeah, he gets traded away from his hometown team to a team that is just flailing about at the moment. Not a good day in the Francoeur family.

And yeah, that trade really just says that these teams don't like these guys and want someone else to deal with them.

karina said...

He's already at 101 pitches.

Erin said...

It's all right, Karina. We all have our crushes.

NicJ said...

Watching our rotation this week makes me think we do need to go out and get an ace.

Erin said...

Chad needs to get his crap together right now.

Fred's Brim said...

Cameron, you bastard, you'd already had your RBI tonight. No more!

Erin said...

Wow. Billingsley really could have benefitted from getting that call from the ump.

Rancho Ardiendo with nobody out. Trouble. Let's get a ground ball here.

Erin said...

And apparently Billingsley and Kershaw are numbers one and two in most walks allowed in the N.L.

Erin said...

SHIT. Chad has nothing.

Erin said...

Mota coming in with the bases loaded and nobody out. I really don't like this.

Fred's Brim said...

i'm only playing around Karina - i dont mean to offend. i wont do it any more

karina said...

Mota? this is not beneficial for our collective blood pressure.

karina said...

I'm not offended, Fred's Brim, i know you are just teasing me (and make me blush)

Erin said...

100.

Fred's Brim said...

agreed, Erin - he's not the best with inherited runners to begin with

he's gotta bet going for Ks and ground balls

Erin said...

Eric Collins making the argument for bringing in Broxton right now, since the game is on the line. I can't say I entirely disagree, though it does mean that we would need someone for the 9th if the game is still close.

Fred's Brim said...

did the Brewers fans boo Mota the way the Mets fans did?

Erin said...

Well the game is tied. Now we have to stop it here. DO NOT let them take the lead.

Fred's Brim said...

Sorry Chad, you made your bed...

Erin said...

I didn't hear any booing. They were probably too excited about the situation.

NicJ said...

I hope he doesn't pitch thos bad in the ASG.

Erin said...

EXCELLENT.

Very nice, Mota. I'm sorry I doubted you.

Fred's Brim said...

good job, G-Mo

Fred's Brim said...

Nic, Charlie Manuel will probably leave him on the bench and pitch Joe Blanton instead

Fred's Brim said...

nice, Matty!

now don't get picked off

karina said...

Sorry, Mota...but my Gameday almost makes me very mad:

[IMG]http://i28.tinypic.com/25iw3o0.png[/IMG]

Erin said...

I hate it when Gameday does that, Karina.

Fred's Brim said...

dammit Raffy - that was worthless

Erin said...

Come on, Andre. Don't leave a man on third.

karina said...

At least he moved Bison to the third.

Fred's Brim said...

Dre's not so good vs the lefties these days

Erin said...

Damn it.

karina said...

I refuse the idea Dodgers lose tonight, not after 4 home runs, including two courtesy of King James and Martin.

Erin said...

I didn't want a close game tonight. Looks like the dog won't be going on a long walk, since I'm not getting out of here before it's dark.

Orel said...

Epale all, just getting caught up on the comments.

Erin said...

Epale, Orel.

Karina, I'm with you. We're winning this.

Orel said...

Wow, we scored all our runs on HRs???

Orel said...

We need Shawn Green to come in and hit four home runs!

Orel said...

Good on Wade.

Erin said...

Good inning, Wade.

Let's go, offense. We got Ramirez, Blake and Loney in the eighth. Let's do this.

Fred's Brim said...

great inning Cory!

Fred's Brim said...

howdy, Orel

Orel said...

Back in a sec. Taking the dog for a quick walk. Switching to radio.

Fred's Brim said...

take the walk, Manny!

Erin said...

Come on, guys. We just need a run.

Erin said...

Middle of their order coming up in the bottom of the eighth. Bottom of our order coming up in the top of the ninth.

karina said...

Epale, Orel!

Fred's Brim said...

big spot for young Brent!

Fred's Brim said...

i like the bottom of our order!

Fred's Brim said...

Loretta at first? Did i miss a double switch?

Erin said...

I like the bottom of our order, too.

Erin said...

I didn't hear them mention Loretta at first.

Fred's Brim said...

oh jeez - i forgot for a second that Trevor Hoffman is a Brewer

Erin said...

The huge wad of chew in Gamel's mouth seriously grosses me out.

As does the lack of a second "T" in his name.

Erin said...

Now we have a real problem. Why can't Chad Billingsley ever hold on to leads?

Fred's Brim said...

and we'll get to see Mr Hoffman

NicJ said...

This one goes on bills.

Erin said...

I really, really hate losing. We need to do something in the ninth.

NicJ said...

Bills may have got someone on the team traded with this poor performance.

Fred's Brim said...

i dont know, Erin. it seems like he overthrows at times, and he also nibbles too much. i dont think he has enough confidence in his stuff right now and is scared to challenge guys. I wish he would attack more, but maybe he would get battered around if he did

Erin said...

Come on, Troncoso. They can not add on here.

Fred's Brim said...

would Belli have stared this inning if he was available?

Orel said...

This one's on the pitching staff.

Erin said...

Good lord. How about some outs?

Orel said...

By the way, Rick Monday said that Brent Leach has been "maybe under the radar gun" since spring training.

Fred's Brim said...

the bottom of this order is killing us

Erin said...

We need a ground ball. Turn the double play, get some runners on in the ninth, and win this game.

Fred's Brim said...

Orel, any idea what that means?

Erin said...

Okay, step one accomplished.

Orel said...

Pitcher's best friend!

NicJ said...

Now, do we have anymore homeruns left?

Orel said...

What would be the best way for me to figure out the Dodgers' record in games in which they have a HR?

Erin said...

It means Rick Monday sometimes has trouble with the English language. He meant Leach has been flying under the radar, I assume.

Fred's Brim said...

well they got your request started right, Erin

Erin said...

Orel, that's a tough one.

Fred's Brim said...

Orel, do you have access to the Elias database?

Orel said...

We need a 1+1 game.

Orel said...

You got it, Erin.

FB, no.

Orel said...

Martin single!

Erin said...

Okay, baserunner. Good start.

NicJ said...

When I was at the game in San Diego last week a dodger fan commented while Heath bell was walking out of the pen "man Hoffman got fucking fat!" all the dodger fans in the area had a good laugh.

Orel said...

That was close.

Erin said...

Ooh, just barely got Hudson at first.

Erin said...

Orel, I found a link for you. Hold on.

Orel said...

Needling them where it hurts, Nic.

Orel said...

I did not expect that.

Erin said...

Dodger game logs

NicJ said...

Kemp can bunt!?!!?

karina said...

Bison, you're the only one member of the former :baby blue" who hasn't homered. It could be sort of nice right now.

Erin said...

Holy moly, Kemp! Awesome!

Orel said...

That'll do. Thanks, Erin!

karina said...

I'll take that, though.

Erin said...

Loretta, please don't blow this.

Erin said...

Should Kemp run?

Orel said...

TIE GAME!!!

Steve Sax said...

Why is kemp bunting there, setting up the dp?

Orel said...

Torre looks like a genius with the double switch there.

Erin said...

I've always said that the difference between bravery and stupidity is the outcome. That's what happened with Kemp's bunt there.

Orel said...

Lyons just called Kemp the fastest player on the Dodgers.

Erin said...

Poor Pierre.

Orel said...

Shucks.

karina said...

New game, again...

Erin said...

Damn it Furcal. Thanks for killing the momentum.

All right, let's hold 'em, boys.

NicJ said...

Damn. Alright let's get it to extras!!

Fred's Brim said...

nice work, guys - let get 'em in extras

but goddamn double plays

Erin said...

Giants are up 4-0 in the third.

Orel said...

Nice underhand by Hudson!

Erin said...

Orel, I just quickly counted and came up with a 29-13 record when we hit a home run. Is that what you got?

O-Dog!

Fred's Brim said...

i like the underhand flip!

Orel said...

What the hell is up with the Giants.

Erin said...

Hudson couldn't get that one. And he's a bit shaken up by it.

Fred's Brim said...

nice pic by Loretta!
ok one more, guys!

NicJ said...

Damn that was almost a DP ball.

Orel said...

"Orel, I just quickly counted and came up with a 29-13 record when we hit a home run. Is that what you got?"

I hadn't even started counting! Thanks for doing my homework, Erin!

Actually, that pretty much scuttles my theory. I had a suspicion that somehow the rest of the offense relaxed after someone hit a home run.

Orel said...

Kendall is a slow runner, which helps.

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