Sunday, August 09, 2009

Game 112 Thread: August 9 vs. Braves, 1p

Eric Stults (4-2, 4.80) vs. Javier Vazquez (9-7, 2.99).

COMMENTS: The Dodgers are 6-10 in their last 16 games, and it doesn't get easier after today. Tomorrow they enter the unfriendly confines of AT&T Park, followed by a trip to Arizona. Both the Giants and Diamondbacks are 7-3 in their past ten games. Oh, and Albert Pujols and the Cardinals come to town after that. Followed by the Cubs.

But first things first. Stults will try to help the Dodgers salvage a series split against Atlanta today, but Vazquez, who trails only Tim Lincecum with 164 strikeouts on the season, will try to continue to take advantage of a struggling Dodgers offense.

You know what would be nice? One for the road. Let's hope the Dodgers turn their frowns upside-down and board that charter with a one-game win streak.

285 comments:

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Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Ask your doctor if victories are right for you.

Paul said...

Warning side effects could include: Andruw Jones like stomach bloating, strained Billingsleys Broxton Burns and the Schmidts.

Kyle Baker said...

No smoking: It could Stults your growth.

Kyle Baker said...

We gone do this shit today? I'm really in a bad mood over it all.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Abreu is optioned to make room for Stults.

Paul said...

For old times sake let's see the dodgers who would get a few runs in the first inning.

Steve Sax said...

Wow, you guys sound almost as cynical as Orel and me after beers. When we recruit new writers, we'll know where to turn...

Paul said...

Right now being a Dodger fan and manic depression have very similar signs. In fact they might be right next to each other in the DSM.

Kyle Baker said...

@ Sax

That's because I've had a couple of beers.

Kyle Baker said...

Furcal, SS

Ethier, RF

Manny, LF

Blake, 3B

Kemp, CF

Martin, C

Hudson, 2B

Loretta, 1B

Stults, P

Steve Sax said...

@Dusty
and you didn't invite us? Wow.

NicJ said...

At least loney is sitting today. He has really been struggling.

Steve Sax said...

No Loney in the lineup...

Orel said...

Epale, all. I'm hoping for a win today...but I'm not expecting one.

karina said...

@Sax: "we'll know where to turn..."

I knew my application was going to be rejected, not cynical enough.

karina said...

@Sax: "we'll know where to turn..."

I knew my application was going to be rejected, not cynical enough.

Orel said...

I think this is why Vin is not a homer. If you were rooting for the home team, how could you do this for 60 years and not want to kill yourself?

Orel said...

Don't worry, Karina, there'll always be room for a token optimist.

Orel said...

Here we go....

Orel said...

One out! This is going well so far!

karina said...

Orel, you know why they'll win? because this Sunday has been perfect for me: woke up early, had a delicious non diet breakfast, i finished a rereading of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and watched Star Wars IV: A New Hope. What could be wrong?

Also, "you can call me a nerd but i didn't say i was one"

Orel said...

Two out! We're rolling!

Orel said...

Karina, I love your geekdom! Plus, Sunday is the best day of the week for non-diet breakfasts.

Orel said...

THREE OUT!

karina said...

Good first inning

NicJ said...

Brandon Phillips touches up cain for a HR early. Reds up 1-0

Orel said...

Now how about a first-inning run or two to start us off right.

Orel said...

Vazquez is a K machine.

NicJ said...

Lovely

Paul said...

Wow manny = K these days

Orel said...

Vazquez is on. Ks the side.

Orel said...

Wow, Stults Ks Escobar!

karina said...

Manny has to be injured, this is not normal.

Kyle Baker said...

Manny > KRam these days

Orel said...

Well, we had one inning of happiness. 1-0 Braves.

Kyle Baker said...

Can we put Grim Reaper in now?

Paul said...

Not good

Kyle Baker said...

Tell me ONE MORE TIME how Diaz pronounces his name.

Orel said...

Heads-up play by Loretta to keep his head on there.

Orel said...

Beard works the walk. We deprive Vazquez of his perfect game. He's probably crushed and will pitch poorly from this point out.

Paul said...

I have seen this one. bugs bunny strikes out everyone.

Orel said...

Vazquez is all about binary outcomes: K or BB.

NicJ said...

At least that was a ball put in play.

Orel said...

Martin always seems to hit it hard — right at somebody. Guess those spray charts are working.

NicJ said...

I think every team in the league knows he is going to hit it to the left side of the field.

Orel said...

Hudson went down like he was shot in the foot.

Orel said...

Are spray charts available online?

NicJ said...

Yeah they are on MLB gameday.

Orel said...

1st inning: 3 Ks
2nd inning: We make contact.
3rd inning: ???

Orel said...

Thanks, Nic.

Orel said...

"Be careful of so-called loan modification consultants — such as myself."

NicJ said...

No problem.

Paul said...

So much for a quick start

Orel said...

What do you mean? The Braves are off to a very quick start.

Orel said...

Russell Martin's spray chart. He seems to be fairly well distributed.

Paul said...

@Orel

Yeah I wouldn't trust that guy with Schmidts shoulder.

Orel said...

If we could only sneak Schmidt's shoulder into Vazquez. He'd never know what hit him!

Orel said...

Braves now have an insurmountable two-run lead.

NicJ said...

if you check his groundouts they are really left side heavy. His usual MO is to try to pull the ball down the line. He will use the whole field for a short while but usually abandons it

Orel said...

More two-out madness.

Orel said...

@Nic: Yeah, I noticed his groundouts are heavily weighted toward the left side. He's not an inside-out kind of guy.

Paul said...

I think Vinny is trying to get me to drink. I don't want to hear how good the giants are at home

NicJ said...

the braves, we are losing to the braves.
the braves. the atlanta braves.

no matter how many times i say it it doesnt sound right.

karina said...

@Nic J; The Braves always will have 1991, as my older brother likes to remind me.

NicJ said...

At least cain is falling apart.

Orel said...

Vazquez with a no-hitter through three.

Paul said...

Giants down 4-0. I feel a positive wave heading our way

karina said...

Let's jinx Vazquez: impressive no hit three innings, i'd wish it lasts longer...

NicJ said...

a lead off walk. nice

Paul said...

Vasquez is overconfident now. Just setting him up for a five run inning next.

NicJ said...

paul i think that positive wave you predicted missed us and went straight to the braves.

Orel said...

Stults is spotting the Braves two baserunners before he gets to work. I like that kind of confidence.

Orel said...

We just got owned there.

NicJ said...

all we need is a triple play

Paul said...

Why does Diaz pronouns his name like that. I wonder if anyone has asked that. oh yeah cause his grandpa pronounced it that way. Weird that is why I pronounce my last name

Orel said...

Double play! We're only down three now!

Paul said...

3 runs seems like a lot these days

Orel said...

That was pretty cheap. Still, down three is pretty tough.

Kyle Baker said...

I dozed off and had a dream that DreamWeaver was already warming up.

NicJ said...

we are going to have to score some runs BEFORE the ninth inning today

Paul said...

Five runs here we come

Kyle Baker said...

I also dreamed, and I swear this is true, that the Nats just won their 8th straight while the Dodgers were struggling at home to opponents they should be beating.

Orel said...

@Nic "we are going to have to score some runs BEFORE the ninth inning today"

You crazy!

NicJ said...

i think that qualifies as a nightmare DB.

karina said...

What happened? Gameday says a walk, a HBP and an line out for the 3rd out. Refreshed and is still loading, how many runs Atlanta score?

NicJ said...

they are up 3-0

Orel said...

SINGLE!

NicJ said...

haha someone was singing the Ole song replacing Ole with Andre.

NicJ said...

manny has been overswinging

Kyle Baker said...

Just the way Manny planned it!

NicJ said...

now thats the kind of hit that will get you out of a slump!!

Orel said...

"I'd rather be lucky than good!" —Vin

Paul said...

Here we go!

Orel said...

"Now it's in the lap of the gods." —Vin, on the replay

Kyle Baker said...

Manny, keep doing that every time. It's better than striking out, and your friends will think you're cool!

NicJ said...

pierre is pissed that manny stole his hitting technique.

Orel said...

Did you see Manny raising his arms at second? Glad he's still loose.

Orel said...

Nice, Nic.

Josh S. said...

Manny's victory pose on 2nd is my new favorite thing EVER.

Orel said...

No shutout!

NicJ said...

HEY, A SAC RUN!!!!!!!!!! WE NEVER GET THOSE!!!!!!!

Orel said...

And we didn't wait until the ninth to do it!

Orel said...

Or tenth!

NicJ said...

reds up 5-0

NicJ said...

son of a bitch.

Orel said...

Um, aggressive?

Kyle Baker said...

Bowa clearly thought Pierre was playing in place of Manny today.

Josh S. said...

Ummm...no.

Orel said...

Did Bowa send him?

karina said...

Aaaandre!

Kyle Baker said...

Gints down by 5 now, at least.

Paul said...

Did manny still my whiskey what the hell was that?

karina said...

Baby steps, gentlemen.

NicJ said...

lets hope stults doesnt give our hard earned run right back.

Orel said...

Of course. Vazquez singles.

NicJ said...

so that means he will score, right?

NicJ said...

WP puts him into scoring position.

Orel said...

If Martin keeps doing that, yes.

Josh S. said...

He should have at least gone back and hoped for a rundown, instead of casually bumping into the catcher.

Paul said...

A good unproductive out

Orel said...

Feels like BP.

Josh S. said...

On a side note, I love how giddy Vin gets over Kershaw's curve ball.

NicJ said...

Josh, the last thing we need is manny pulling a hammy going into a pickle.

Paul said...

Getting vasquez winded on the basepath all according to the plan

Kyle Baker said...

He casually bumped into the catcher with a smile on his face, almost mocking his own lack of speed. He needs to be a little LESS loose these days, I feel.

Josh S. said...

Whew!

NicJ said...

Josh i like your new Avatar BTW

Orel said...

Is Stults goes one more scoreless inning, he will have a quality start.

Kyle Baker said...

Marlins swept Phils.

Orel said...

@Paul: Exactly.

P.S.: Love the avatar.

NicJ said...

the phils have been struggling lately, i think the only wins the have had in the last week and a half were the ones Lee pitched.

Paul said...

Is there a quality start Jinx if you mention it before it happens?

Josh S. said...

@Nic: Thanks! It's from an awesome children's book called "You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?!".

Josh S. said...

O-Dizzle!

Orel said...

Can't say nothing is going our way today — O-Dog painted the line there.

NicJ said...

russ continues to show off his outfielder hitting ability.

and Odog with the double!!

Josh S. said...

Did we ever figure out where 'Lando's Candyman nickname came from?

Paul said...

@Orel
thanks. I wish I had that print framed but only seen it in Kadir's book

NicJ said...

stults out after 75 pitches?

NicJ said...

now pierre will hit a homerun to show up manny.

Kyle Baker said...

JP and Martin are consistent if nothing else.

NicJ said...

or a crappy grounder to first.

Paul said...

Damn vasquez. He is more machine than man. Twisted and evil

NicJ said...

the giants are fighting back runners at the corners and no outs.

NicJ said...

hopefully weavers era doesn't continue to go up

NicJ said...

SanDOUGHval GIDP and the bad guys only get one.

5-1 reds.

Orel said...

@Paul: You would think he'd have prints available.

Kyle Baker said...

Weaver always looks one hanger away from giving one up deep, but I'll take that inning nonetheless. Now let's get some runs.

Orel said...

Colorado cruising.

Paul said...

Top of the lineup. No bad tequila commercials. Good things on the way

Orel said...

Flex your warning-track power.

NicJ said...

maybe i didnt ventilate well enough while i was painting the spare room earlier but i still think we are going to win this one.

Orel said...

Nasty curve to K Ethier.

Orel said...

I picked the wrong day to stop sniffing glue.

Kyle Baker said...

Two in a row for Manny!

Orel said...

Manny is blooping hits. It's a start.

NicJ said...

two cheap hits by manny. ill take it.

Kyle Baker said...

re: sniffing glue

Nice one, Orel.

NicJ said...

now manny is taking loretta's hitting technique.

NicJ said...

i hate that guy.

Paul said...

I am depressed

karina said...

a Manny single. I'll take it.

Paul said...

Why is the dodger channel creating cute metaphors for the giants. Kung Fu grip blah

Orel said...

Weaver is our 5.5th starter.

Paul said...

"the light in his eyes". Vinny has been listening to too much adult contemporary music.

Kyle Baker said...

Nine outs to get it done, lads. Come on, everybody, Think Blue!

Kyle Baker said...

Manny has his hand over his non-heart side.

Orel said...

Good GBA, with a minimum of embellishment. And she's cute.

NicJ said...

manny is an alien.

Orel said...

@DB "Manny has his hand over his non-heart side."

Manny is a rare specimen whose heart is on his right side.

Kyle Baker said...

She was indeed cute. Nice little Dodgerette.

karina said...

Weaver=lights out

Orel said...

I do not care to hear about Javier Vazquez's character right now.

Kyle Baker said...

Vazquez: His Life and Times

Orel said...

FINALLY a Martin hit finds grass!

Kyle Baker said...

Martin missed. He was aiming for the SS and hit it a little further.

Orel said...

Vazquez: More Worthwhile Than You

Paul said...

Alright. O dog. You are due

karina said...

I don't want to know anything else by Vazquez today

Orel said...

We are so un-clutch.

Paul said...

Ack. I will be back I need to take a walk and find myself This is brutal.

Kyle Baker said...

Here we go with the Bobby Cox/spikes story.

It's funny how when we are winning, Vinny can say no wrong. When we are down in a slump, his stories rub me the wrong way.

Josh S. said...

So was Joe overthinking things by activating Stults? Weaver would have been just fine.

Orel said...

Good observation, DB. Vin stays the same; our moods change.

Orel said...

I don't think Weaver is stretched out enough to go five or six. Plus, he seems happier to come out of the bullpen.

NicJ said...

im really sad that last year is going to be the last time is hear the ice skating story

Orel said...

Someone should go back in the archives and transcribe all of Vin's stories. I volunteer.

Kyle Baker said...

If Randy Winn is starting in the SF series, I'm ready for 32 tellings of the time when Winn hit a half court shot to win a car during a Clippers game.

NicJ said...

to be fair josh, this is the first time weaver has given up no runs in like 6 outings. Its good to see him turn it around though.

Paul said...

Oh good back in time to see loney

Orel said...

The art of pitching...yeah, yeah.

NicJ said...

dusto is running to his computer right now to tell us loney sucks.

Orel said...

The Dodgers are lulling Vazquez into a false sense of security. Two out in the eighth...time to surprise him!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

This is one ugly game.

Orel said...

Nic, I think he has a macro for that.

Paul said...

Vazquez delivery is finally starting to get a bit sloppy

Orel said...

Ethier HR ties it up here.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

And remember, there is no Rafael Soriano available.

NicJ said...

soriano is the only one out of the pen we can score runs off of.

Orel said...

OMG that was unexpected.

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