Friday, July 24, 2009

Game 96 Thread: July 24 vs. Marlins, 7p

Clayton Kershaw (8-5, 2.95) vs. Josh Johnson (8-2, 2.74).

COMMENTS: Ace vs. ace! Last time I said that, something wonderful happened. But it's a long season and we can't rely on minor miracles every day. Instead, we'll hope for another strong start from co-ace Kershaw and for the bats to do a reasonable amount of damage off Johnson. The Dodgers' winning streak is at five; the Marlins are tied with Atlanta for second place in the NL East. Other teams may be dealing, but the Dodgers can only control their own hand. Hit me!

164 comments:

Orel said...

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

Green Lantern JBJ of Sector 1138 said...

i think mannys lil kicks at the plate might cameo as the Ace of Diamonds

rbnlaw said...

Alas, I'll be catching the game in progress after my softball game.

And I'll likely be surrounded by Angels fans (who double as my friends).

Why is Manny batting third when he's obviously more effective coming off the bench with the bases loaded.
C'mon, Joe. Wake up.

Nostradamus said...

Pocket aces two hands in a row? I'm watching the deck closely if I'm playing poker against you guys.

NicJ said...

Manny hit by pitch again.

karina said...

I'm under the impression Josh Johnson totally owned the Dodgers in Florida.

karina said...

His Beardness lead off triple!

Unknown said...

The Beard has become a triple machine. He has sneaky speed.

Nice WP Josh.

karina said...

Wild Pitch, Blake scores

Dodgers 1-Marlins 0

Unknown said...

He may have made an out, but I think Russ showed his bat speed there. You have to get the head around to chop a 97 MPH fastball into the dirt.

Unknown said...

Ok Clayton, here is a plan for Helms. Gas, Change, Curve. If you miss on one, gas on the corner.

Unknown said...

Or jam him with a heater on the hands. That works.

karina said...

Spectacular play by O-Dogg!

Unknown said...

4 pitch walk? I know its Hanley, but you are an ace now Clayton. Challenge him with that fastball in on the hands.

Unknown said...

This is a snoozer of a game thread tonight. Everyone out partying?

Unknown said...

Wow. That curve was absolutely strike three.

karina said...

Looks like everyone is partying, just you and me here, it seems.

Kershaw might have confidence issues.

Unknown said...

Karina - I wouldn't say that. Hanley scares people almost as much as Pujols. Still, Clayton has a lot of success jamming RHB with inside fastballs because of his velocity and movement. Sort of like Mariano Rivera but from the other side. That may be the key for him. Saw off the RHB and K the LHB.

Unknown said...

The umpire is an idiot.

PenosCabell said...

That wasn't a strike.

Orel said...

Epale, all. I feel lucky that we scored that one run.

Unknown said...

Seriously. The ump keeps giving Johnson the inside strike on lefties.

karina said...

You have certainly a point there, Ali. But sometimes he looks like he loses concentration or gets anxious. Just saying!

Epale Orel and everyone else!

karina said...

@Alireza, PC and Orel: the umpire is an idiot.

PenosCabell said...

I can't believe I left that game in the fourth inning.

PenosCabell said...

Clayton's curve looks good tonight.

Unknown said...

Oh wow. If Clayton keeps throwing changeups like that, he is going to brutalize the league.

PenosCabell said...

WOW.

Orel said...

My Uzi weighs a ton
Because I'm public enemy number one!

Unknown said...

Clayton is throwing a pitch that Gameday calls a slider, but I think it is actually a harder curve. Sort of like Francisco Rodriguez.

PenosCabell said...

It's definitely a curveball.

Orel said...

Commenter formerly known as PC: The BobbleSlam game?

Orel said...

72 mph!

PenosCabell said...

Orel - yeah, I left after the fourth inning. I saw the slam on tv.

Fred's Brim said...

that was naz-tee!

karina said...

That last pitch was a very fine work of art.

PenosCabell said...

I love watching Clayton work. He really is blossoming before our eyes.

Unknown said...

Brett Carroll was so over matched there

Orel said...

PC (I'm going to keep calling you that): I'm assuming you had your reasons. Still, the fourth inning is when some people are arriving.

Orel said...

Good eye, Manny.

Fred's Brim said...

a PE reference in a game thread? I thought this place was all star wars and grammar quizzes!

Unknown said...

Penos - There is that harder pitch, goes around 10 MPH faster than the Buggs Bunny curve that Gameday calls a slider. I just think that is a harder curve. That is a nice little pitch.

PenosCabell said...

I'm fine with PC. My kids were asking me who PENOS CABELL was.

We had to get the kids from the babysitter.

Unknown said...

Manny was sitting dead red there. Johnson was smart to throw that 2 seamer.

Unknown said...

Nice piece of hitting by Andre. He needs to do more of that.

BTW, at the game where Manny was hit in the hand, I was sitting at field level in section 9 and got a good look at the Dodgers on deck. Ethier has one of the most beautiful swings this side of a young Ken Griffey Jr.

Fred's Brim said...

PC, i take it Dick Pole wouldn't be a good handle either?

PenosCabell said...

Fred - Dick Pole was my second choice.

Orel said...

@FB "a PE reference in a game thread? I thought this place was all star wars and grammar quizzes!"

We're hard like that!

Orel said...

Casey giveth, Casey taketh away.

Unknown said...

For his own sake, Johnson needs to be careful with all the heat he is throwing. Blake murders hard stuff.

Fred's Brim - Jack Mehoff and Mike Hunt might not be either.

Fred's Brim said...

straight gangsta!

PenosCabell said...

Alireza, Fred's Brim - funny!!

Unknown said...

I found my new favorite Major League name...a pitcher in the 1920's named Urban Shocker...wonderful.

Orel said...

Nice hit by Bonafacio.

Fred's Brim said...

i am guessing Bonafacio's gonna head towards second soon

Orel said...

Hugh Jass?

PenosCabell said...

Damn

Orel said...

Dammit.

Orel said...

We never seem to throw the guy out at the plate. Maybe they should have held Helms there.

Orel said...

Gets Hanley to pop up. Nice.

Steve Sax said...

Ugh,tied up. Come on kershaw!

Orel said...

Damage limited. 1-1 tie.

Orel said...

SF 3, COL 1, bot 9

Orel said...

Martin HBP. All these plunks look accidental, but it makes one wonder: Are the Marlins protecting the Reds?

karina said...

Martin HBP, that pitch looks the same to the pitch that hit Manny.

Orel said...

Who is this generic-looking fella in the Ford commercial?

Orel said...

Ethier watching O-Dog there. Ethier should have caught that.

Orel said...

Shit. WP makes it 2-1 Marlins.

karina said...

That pitch was wild, wild, wild...Marlins up 2-1

NicJ said...

Man what's up with the defense today.

Orel said...

Wow. Hudson has made two mental errors this inning.

karina said...

This is unbelievable...why did he throw to third id there wasn't a chance to get the runner?

Orel said...

I thought we would be fine if we could get to their bullpen.

karina said...

Game isn't over. Hanley's up but let's trust in the Public Enemy Number One.

Orel said...

Furcal saves the day!

NicJ said...

Wow, raffy brought the D.

karina said...

Hail to Furcal!

Orel said...

"This is unbelievable...why did he throw to third id there wasn't a chance to get the runner?"

He was being cute.

NicJ said...

Kershaw doesn't deserve a loss tonight. Pitched well, the defense didn't really help.

Orel said...

Didn't see that earlier great catch by Hudson. Ethier was expecting him to do it again last inning.

Orel said...

Two on, no out!

Nostradamus said...

Tying run up. Let's at least try to get Clayton off the hook for the loss.

karina said...

Back to back singles!

Nostradamus said...

*on

Orel said...

This would be insane if Manny hit another homer.

karina said...

At least he moved the runners to scoring position, go Dodgers!

Nostradamus said...

I know I'm late to the party, but how is Johnson only at 80 pitches in the sixth?

Orel said...

Finish him!

Orel said...

Johnson has been great. Blake's triple was his only mistake, and it should have been a double.

ANDRE!

karina said...

New game, gentlemen!

Nostradamus said...

That's how it's done, Dre.

NicJ said...

andre takes Kersh off the hook.

New Game!

Orel said...

Clayton off the hook!

NicJ said...

well, we probably have at least another inning of this guy.

Nostradamus said...

The pen has been nails recently. Lets hope that continues.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

Loney sucks.

Fred's Brim said...

cmon James, throw strikes. these guys are bums

karina said...

Two runners on, after they completed 2 outs.

Orel said...

Shit!

Rough GBA tonight.

Fred's Brim said...

i am tired of this two out nonsense. it starts by giving up a two-out hit to the pitcher in the 6th

Julie Hibbard said...

I don't even think GOD likes that song anymore...

Orel said...

Nice, Julie.

Nostradamus said...

Anybody seen that tiger from yesterday?

PenosCabell said...

Tron.

Orel said...

Coghlan HR. 5-3 Marlins.

Orel said...

"Anybody seen that tiger from yesterday?"

No, but Coghlan apparently didn't like his role in the puzzle.

Orel said...

Angel Compost?

Nostradamus said...

Am I allowed to be glad that the Giants and Rockies are playing each other yet?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I blame Charley Steiner for this.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

That and the fact that Kershaw and McDonald sucked with two outs.

Orel said...

If we can keep the lead to two, we have a chance.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

So much for that.

NicJ said...

Let's get davey Johnson back

Orel said...

6-3 Marlins. I guess we don't have a chance.

PenosCabell said...

Oh lord.

PenosCabell said...

It's out of hand now.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Two reasons why the Dodgers are losing:

The pitchers suck with two outs and nobody on.

Charley Steiner jinxed the bullpen.

PenosCabell said...

MLASF - what did Steiner say?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

He opened the seventh by raving about how stable the bullpen has been, and how it's the best in the majors.

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

Yep yep yep yep.

PenosCabell said...

Damn you Steiner.

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

Manny trying to throw runners out at the plate - lack of tension there, eh?

PenosCabell said...

BOOOOOOOO!!!!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

C'mon Tron. If you're gonna hit Ross, hit him like a man.

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

The hits keep coming

karina said...

Who are you and what did you do with Tron?

Orel said...

When we hit guys, why do we always graze their uniforms?

NicJ said...

Tron is just sucking it up tonight because he doesn't want to be traded.

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

Anytime Tron comes in or out, they should play the sound effect from the old school arcade game.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I want Ross's blood. Not some wimpy "It hit his jersey" crap. That's bush league stuff.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

On the plus side, this does bode well for my game tomorrow. The Dodgers have not lost a series against an NL opponent since early May.

NicJ said...

Haha, or you could just leave very, very dissapointed.

Orel said...

finally

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

Way to chase crap there.

14 hits? Geez.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I thought you were an optimist.

Besides, if I walk away with a pic with Antonio Gates, I will not be disappointed at the end of the day.

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

10 Years in the minors? Crash Davis much?

Orel said...

Leadoff walk!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Gotta start somewhere

NicJ said...

It comes and goes.

PenosCabell said...

Damnit Lando.

NicJ said...

Hiro is pitching tomorrow against some newbie.

Orel said...

No Manny heroics tonight.

PenosCabell said...

Manny 0 for 3

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

That was anti-climactic.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Andre keeps hope alive.

Orel said...

Andre's pulling his weight tonight.

Nostradamus said...

Dare I even think about a two-out rally here?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Who do you think we are, Mr. C? The Marlins?

Dusto_Magnifico said...

Casey sucks... im in a pissy mood.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

This better be a blip on the radar. I want Randy Newman tomorrow, dammit!

Nostradamus said...

MLASF,

My mistake.

NicJ said...

this game started off with a card analogy and turned into craps.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Now where the hell is my scotch?

Orel said...

Okay, here we go. Three in the ninth.

Orel said...

Okay, so our boys enjoy doing everything with one out.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Or two outs.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

Loney still sucks.

NicJ said...

who do you like dusto?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

That does it.

Orel said...

That's all, folks.

Orel said...

Glad we used up the bullpen, too.

NicJ said...

Heeeerreeeee you go dear.

(BOOM)

Orel said...

PGT up.

Steve Sax said...

Well, with all those 0-Fers at the bottom of the lineup, plus Manny's 0-fer, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised