Wednesday, August 26, 2009

More Thoughts On The Dodgers' State

When it gets cold outside and you got nobody to love
You'll understand what I mean when I say
There's no way we're gonna give up
And like a little girl cries in the face of a monster that lives in her dreams
Is there anyone out there cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe
Is there anyone out there cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe

Look, there are other great Dodger blogs out there that discourage Dodger fans from fretting, from whining, from venting their frustrations. We are not that site. I understand why one should sleep on it sometimes rather than fly off the handle. But if you're waking up the next day and you still have a bitter taste in your mouth about a loss, then venting is totally appropriate. I know, our postseason odds only declined less than one percentage point such that we're still a 97.7% chance to make the playoffs, and an 80% chance of winning the NL West. I can still be bitter, and voice my concerns over unrequited losses.

It is therapeutic and some might argue cathartic to be able to voice anger, displeasure, confusion, bewilderment, angst about the team we love so much--just as we all heralded joy and hearts and flowers when the team was pulling off come-from-behind, one-run, walk-off victories with ease and frequency earlier this year.

It's a rollercoaster of a season. That's what happens over the course of a 162-game season. That's what happens in the game of inches that is baseball. So come, and vent, and howl at the moon. We'll keep serving drinks here at the SoSG bar to help fuel the fire.

And now, back to your regularly scheduled sarcasm.

Two-game lead, Dodgers. Now would be a nice time to show some moxie, or for starters at least show up in the first place (that means you, Rafael Furcal, Russell Martin, and James Loney).

18 comments:

Neeebs (The Original) said...

But wait...didn't Raffy deliver a clutch double (that almost went through for a triple) in the ninth inning to set up the tying runs?

As for Loney and Martin...is it time to remove the Loney bobblehead from my wall of fame or should I have him switch places with Count Chocula?

Eric Karros said...

I wonder how much happier I'd be if the slumpy period started the season but was followed by a great recovery as opposed to vice-versa, even if it resulted in the same current record.

Nostradamus said...

In general, my flavor of Dodger-fandom is like the emotional equivalent of Vegas. I get way to cocksure when the chips are up, and equally infuriated when the luck starts running thin. It's probably a good thing that I don't gamble.

@Neeebs,

I'm all for calling the Count up from the minors for a spot start, but he always has a huge sugar-crash in the late innings.

Steve Sax said...

@EK, you need to graph that data, with euphoria on the Y-axis.

Eric Karros said...

Would you rather think you won $5 million in the lottery, then 3 days later find out it was all a mistake, or would you rather think you lost $5m (pretend you had that much to lose), then 3 days later find out you didn't really?

Jimbo said...

There was a blurb in "Men's Health" magazine about how sports fans that vent on team websites tend to have healthier lives. I'm paraphrasing, so don't quote me on that.

I'll look for the exact quote when I get home.

Paul said...

At least when the Post-season starts we won't have to hear about any 08 Cubs comparisons.

Of course now the 08 D'backs keep comming up.

The thing that is frustrating is that this year started off as one of the best in a long time. Then we lost Manny and it still was one of the best. Then we get Manny back so everyone felt like the good times would go on and on.

Then a week of bleh play, then another, then a month. Amazing thing is the Dodgers still don't have a big losing streak. But it seems like we are in bizarro land. It use to look so difficult to beat the Dodgers 3 games in a row. Now it looks like everything has to fall into place for them to win 3 in a row.

This is suppose to be cathartic right? Why do I have a headache now

Nostradamus said...

@Dr. Geek

There was also an article about how to rip my lats. Without getting into too much detail, let's just say caveat emptor.

In all seriousness, I don't doubt that statistic is equal parts reduced stress and not going on a shooting rampage at the local Winn-Dixie (well maybe not equal parts).

Josh S. said...

I have a tiny gut feeling that the Dodgers are going to get a little bitchslapped this week. Thankfully though, they have an opportunity to sweep the Reds while the Rox and Giants go head to head again this weekend.

Nostradamus said...

My beer gut has a feeling that Josh's tiny gut feeling is correct.

Wesley Vento said...

I haven't seen anyone on here comment on the fact that Ethier can't hit lefties. Why is it so hard for left handed batters to face a left handed pitcher? Not too many right handed batters struggle against right handed pitching, you mostly hear how some right handed hitters "feast" on left handed pitching. Its very strange, but also infuriating when Ethier comes to the plate to face a lefty. 9 times out of 10 you know he's going to strike out on a bad slider low and off the plate. I know he had 3 hits, and has been the best run producer, but still. Hit a lefty every once in a while! He'd be the MVP of the league (or close to it) if he did.

Greg Zakwin said...

Eric Karros- I'd rather just win $5 mil.

Hong Like A Chih Kuo- He can't hit lefties on the road. He hits them extremely well at home.

http://www.truebluela.com/2009/8/21/997217/andre-ethier-has-been-more-than



And it's not venting that gets me, it's the irrational venting, like people saying how we should have traded for Cliff Lee and given up the farm (I've even heard some say we should have dealt Kershaw), when it's obvious that the pitching has been fine, it's the offense that's not pulling it's weight. If you're going to vent and criticize, at least do it logically and criticize the right people.

Kyle Baker said...

HLACK asks:

"Why is it so hard for left handed batters to face a left handed pitcher? Not too many right handed batters struggle against right handed pitching, you mostly hear how some right handed hitters "feast" on left handed pitching."

I have wondered that for years. Is it maybe that this combination has been the least practiced on, since more batters and pitchers are righties, hence this might be the least practices matchup for a batter? Clearly there is a way to remedy such, but then again we're not dealing with bench coaches and trainers who are Cal Tech grads.

Kyle Baker said...

And forgive my above comment if I am hopelessly naive about the hitting lefties situation.

karina said...

RT Sax @EK, you need to graph that data, with euphoria on the Y-axis.

Eric, your graphs bring a lot of joy to my heart, can you do one of them,please?. I could lose faith on the Dodgers, but i'll still smile. How about that? please again :)

Nostradamus said...

HLACK / DB

I've been told, by people smarter and more coordinated than me, that left-handed pitchers get a better view of the release point on right-handed pitchers, and vice-versa.

Since most people are right-handed, it makes sense that there are a slightly higher proportion of lefties in baseball than the general population, since they have a natural advantage. However, they are probably not, on average, as strictly good as righties with comparable numbers.

An alternate explaination, though, is that I may be entirely full of crap.

rbnlaw said...

@KK
Dodger fans? Irrational?
The hell you say.

It's one reason why I can't listen to Dodger Talk after the games. I heard that talk about Lee and about lost it. I was also vocal in opposition to the Loney, Martin, et al for Taco Bell and Adrian "my homers come in the first half" Gonzalez.

No reason we couldn't add a power bat off the bench. The Rox will have Giambi for all of September and October. Who we will have when we need some power in the 7th or 8th? I love JP, but we can't always use a single to drive the stake through the heart of the opposition.

Greg Zakwin said...

rbnlaw- I assume you avoid LA Dodger Talk them? I read it for the humor alone.