Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Game 134 Thread: Sept 2 vs. Diamondbacks, 7p

Chad Billingsley (12-8, 3.83) vs. Max Scherzer (8-8, 4.26).

COMMENTS: We are so certain of a victory tonight that we're even taking the brakes off of our GT superstitions (opponent name in the title; posting on the hour). Why should we be worried? Arizona is 19 games off of the division pace. Scherzer hasn't gone more than 7 innings in any of his last six starts (2W, 2L, 2ND), with his ERA jumping from 3.61 to 4.26 over that period. AccuScore gives us a 53% chance of winning tonight's contest. And most of us Dodger fans have faith in Chad Billingsley, despite drivel from Bill Plaschke and the usual gang of idiots, as well as losses in Billingsley's last two outings.

We've waited two games into this four-game series to bust out the team's hupping sticks, whcih I believe is deliberately and coincidentally timed for "new-man" (get it?) Jim Thome's arrival tonight. So I expect a huge win by the Dodgers tonight. In fact, you'd be Mad not to agree.

252 comments:

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Neeebs (The Original) said...

Me gusta chicas polar!!!!!!!!

es tu amigas?

http://tinyurl.com/l6cqm4

rbnlaw said...

Las chicas Polar es muy bonitas.

Or something like that.

Max Scherzer? Wunderbar! Es gibt mir gut!

OK, I'm all out of foreign languages.

koufax said...

the fat guy pitching for the giants makes it through the first inning

I Alivandi said...

Hey all. I am heading to the game tonight and a friend had to cancel. Thus I have an extra ticket if anyone wants to come along. I expect no money for this, though splitting parking might be a good idea.

Let me know if interested.

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

Are the Chicas Polar the new official SOSG spokes models? Can we have a Dodgers game viewing party and they serve us beer?

Kyle Baker said...

Damn, Ali, normally I'd take you up on this since I work right down the road from the Yard, but I have a going away/happy hour gig I have to go to..

Paul said...

I wished I lived closer so I could take advantage of all these free tickets.

I just hope they are showing the Dodgers' feed tonight on the MLB package. The Arizona crew was awful. It really put me in a bad mood.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

I second GLG's proposition.

Up for a vote.

All in favor say "Yo now."

Kyle Baker said...

Yo now!

rbnlaw said...

Double Yo Now!

QuadSevens said...

Yo now!

I'll be checking out the Chicas Polar when I get out of work. But I'm sure I'm voting the right way.

Unknown said...

Hey Paul,

If you have the same Extra Innings package as I do (I have Comcast in Boston), they have both home and away feeds for tonight's game!

Paul said...

Andrew,

Thank you for the info! Now I can watch the game in peace and not have to listen to people literally cheering for their team.

Kyle Baker said...

Furcal SS
Ethier RF
Manny LF
Kemp CF
Loney 1B
Belliard 3B
Martin C
Hudson 2B
Billingsley P

Paul said...

oh yeah and

"Yo now, Yo now...yeeeeah." (In my best beavis voice)

Paul said...

We all knew Furcal doesn't approach an at bat like a leadoff hitter.

Then we found out he couldn't hit much at all.

Now we know he can't bunt for a sacrifice.

What is left? Still on top because there is no where to put him.

That being said GO RAFFY. I hope you go 3 for 4 tonight with a double and two runs scored and a sacrifice.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

How about a stolen base, too? You know, the leadoff batter should steal a base or two every now and again.

Steve Sax said...

@neeebs, dusty, rbnlaw, quadsevens: I've got news for you. The Sons of Steve Garvey ARE the Chicas Polar. You finally figured it out, Neeebs. Well done!

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

@Steve, you look damn hot in a bikini...you single?

Neeebs (The Original) said...

@Sax: Ah...in hindsight it all makes sense now. I should have seen this coming. So then Delino MUST be the chica con cabeza estrano. (tilda on top of n)

JuanLove said...

Raffy hasn't stolen a base since game 2 of the Cards series in St. Louis or as I like to call it, Hell

I Alivandi said...

Ticket still available.

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

I wish I could take you up on that offer I Alivandi but I can't make it tonight...you could always scalp it when you get there, I have sold tickets like that

Nostradamus said...

"Hello, Newman."

Also, yo now!

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

The Giant pumpkin has pitched 4 innings, given up 2 hits and no runs or K's...here's hoping he blows up in the 5th

I Alivandi said...

GLD - No need to sell. Prefer to go with a hardcore fan.

Erin said...

Penny has two on with nobody out in the fifth. I seriously cannot express to you how much I am rooting against him right now.

Steve Sax said...

Ali, I would totally take you up on this but I can't tonight. Thank you for your generous offer, though--very cool.

Have a great time cheering on the Blue!

Erin said...

Now two on with two outs. I am unbelievably angry about this turn of events, but I should have seen it coming. Penny acts like the Red Sox didn't give him enough chances to prove himself (so did Smoltz, by the way), so he is so happy to get out of that situation. I guess he just wanted to go back to the NL where his pitches look like they're going 100 mph.

Now it's two on with two outs, but Penny is still bitching at the ump when he doesn't give him the borderline calls. Ugh. He makes me sick.

Erin said...

Through five on fewer than 60 pitches, no runs scored. Excellent job, Phillies. Excellent.

Nostradamus said...

Erin,

I hear you. Professional athletes who mail it in tend to get under my skin.

Fred's Brim said...

verrry interesting lineup there

Nostradamus said...

@fb,

Ethier in the deuce seems funny to me, but we'll see how it goes.

Fred's Brim said...

nice work, Happ

Fred's Brim said...

agreed Mr C

but if they score 9 runs tonight, i'll sign off on it :)

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

Anyone read the espn.com article about the baseball players with anxiety disorders? I forgot which analyst wrote it but you could tell they wanted the reader to feel sorry for these players. I have to say that I there is no way I would ever feel sorry for a professional athlete. You get paid a TON of money to play a game(some players make more per game than some fans make in a year couple of months), get the VIP treatment wherever they go and are beloved by fans because they do something that most people can't. Now I know that being a professional athlete is difficult what with the time away from your family and the strain and drain but come on...suck it up and quit looking for people to feel sorry for you when there are thousands of people in the minors and in the stands who would give up everything they have to trade places with you (rant over)

Fred's Brim said...

the game is on ESPN as well. the redsox game is on before it so they will probably join the Dodgers game in the 4th inning...

Erin said...

Penny is going to pitch an effing complete game shutout.

Nostradamus said...

@glg

[puts serious hat on] It seems absurd on the face of it, yes, but mental illness ain't no joke. Like you said, lots of guys toil in the minors, but a lot of those multi-million-dollar players used to be those guys, and you don't get to the big time without being serious as a heart attack about your craft.

Spend a few years wondering if you should have gone to college instead of signing that contract to waste a your life riding around the midwest in a bus? I can see how that one might be edgy.

That said, is it the new trendy catch-all diagnosis? Probably. But that doesn't mean that I don't respect the hell out of guys like Greinke for pulling their shit together. It probably doesn't merit a ESPN lead story, though.

[takes of serious hat, replaces ridiculous cavalier chapeau.]

rbnlaw said...

Penny going for the shutout!

(the jinx is in, but let's face it, the Phils ain't Murderer's Row)

Nostradamus said...

*off

rbnlaw said...

Erin beat me to the jinx. That's good; she's magic.

Nostradamus said...

@GLG,

Sorry dude, I didn't mean to gnaw your leg off.

Nostradamus said...

Why must the Yankees continue to win? *sigh*

JuanLove said...

watch Lince get rocked tomorrow

Neeebs (The Original) said...

You guys are talking some serious *hit, and I'm still thinking about Las Chicas Polar.

Nostradamus said...

@neeebs,

I don't need my brain to think about las Chicas Polar.

Nostradamus said...

Colorado takes the lead, and still threatening in the bottom of the third.

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

@Mr. C - No offense taken at all. I have two friend who have made it to the bigs (one in baseball and one in football). They are the guys who are the second to last people on the bench (you know the guys who get passed from team to team like a bad habit) and they laugh at the ego's of some of these superstars. While they are wondering if they have a job from week to week, the superstars are pitching a fit because the catering crew didn't have the lunch they wanted. I guess your perspective changes once you get to a certain level of success. Now keep your ridiculous cavalier chapeau on :P

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

Sorry Neeebs but Saxy ruined the mood when he revealed that the SOGS are in fact the Las Chicas Polar...i take back my suggestion of them being our spokes models

Nostradamus said...

@glg

"I guess your perspective changes once you get to a certain level of success"

That's for damn sure. The good ones keep their feet on the ground.

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

On a more positive note, today is Salma Hayek's birthday today...happy birthday beautiful

Neeebs (The Original) said...

UMmmmmmmmm Salma!!!!

Nostradamus said...

Well, I'm not thinking about las chicas polar anymore!

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

*breaks out the From Dusk Till Dawn DVD*

Fred's Brim said...

cmon, Bills, shut these bums down!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Two pitches, one away.

Nostradamus said...

Just looked it up. Damn that woman ages well.

incidentally, it's also the birthday of both Keanu Reeves and Rex Hudler.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

1-2-3, easy as A-B-C

koufax said...

joe torre is really making a conscious effort to rest our starters so that they are fresh for the playoffs. last night when he put elbert in i think he was doing that and it almost cost us the game. he needs to be careful.

Steve Sax said...

I hate the fact that Penny won in his Giants debut, but it will make his comeuppance against the Dodgers even sweeeeeeeeeter.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

@Sax - I don't need anything to make Penny's defeat a cause for celebration.

Steve Sax said...

Ethier double!

koufax said...

@sax

it also means the philly offense is beatable, if the big fat ugly can go 8 scoreless innings.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Manny, you suck

Nostradamus said...

@Sax,

I feel like Penny going to SF is the universe returning to equilibrium after Jeff Kent's time in LA.

Nostradamus said...

5 in a row?

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

Mr C. Don't forget about the Schmidt debacle

Steve Sax said...

Ethier stranded

Nostradamus said...

@glg

I was hoping to.

Fred's Brim said...

such waste - this team needs to get green

koufax said...

manny has looked increasingly human for the past month and i dont like it.

Fred's Brim said...

it feels like Manny has eliminated walks from his game

Steve Sax said...

Reynolds, wrapped.

karina said...

Patience...it's only the 2nd inning.

karina said...

@Paul your avatar is hilarious! :)

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

More 1-2-3 goodness. I think Billingsley is using this game to give the middle-finger to Plaschke.

Nostradamus said...

Bills working efficiently. I hope he's feeling the magic again.

Fred's Brim said...

lets see that wild swing, Tenderonnie!

karina said...

I'm angry at the fact the 5 inning Penny i came to like a lot, pitched 8 innings for the Giants.

Fred's Brim said...

nice play going to the knee

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

@MLASF - it's funny how "real journalists" like Plaschke talk crap about bloggers being hacks and worthless when in actuality the bloggers are actually die hard fans who feel like ranting and raving about their team. Whereas newspaper writers are a dieing breed who need to use controversy to keep people reading their stuff and could give a crap about how the team is doing because they get a paycheck regardless

Nostradamus said...

@karina,

Ain't that the way, though?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

@GLG - Absolutley. Plaschke is the reason why print media is dying. He gets a nice, cushy job with the second largest paper in the nation, and Tony Jackson gets the ole' heave-hoe because of the economy.

Nostradamus said...

Who needs reporters when opinion will get the job done (in a half-assed way)

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

I don't pay much attention to the AL so I haven't seen much of Thome except for the SportCenter highlights but from the interview on Dodgers live before the game, he seems like a really classy guy...he sounds like a great addition to the clubhouse, nice one Colletti

Fred's Brim said...

damn

Nostradamus said...

He's throwing rocks tonight!

koufax said...

bills looks like he has the good stuff tonight

Nostradamus said...

He was pretty well liked in Cleveland, Philly, and Chicago. Not many soft-hearted fans there. I take that to be a character endorsement.

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

Yeah Cleveland, Chicago and Philly definitely aren't known for their bleeding heart fans hehehe

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Wait. Tony Jackson was fired? Nooooooo, He writes the best blog on the Kings and the season is coming up.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

@Neeebs - I'm talking about the Tony Jackson who followed the Dodgers for the Daily News. Unless you're being sarcastic.

NicJ said...

Neebs you are a Kings fan? Im so, so sorry.

last season was a least one of the more fun ones in a while.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Strike that. I was thinking about Rich Hammond. Wow what a brain fart that was.

Paul said...

I guess no 3 for 4 for Raffy just more waste of lineup space.

Thanks Karina. Bill doesn't want to get killed but knows it is comming.

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

I am a Kings AND Clippers fan...the Dodgers are all I got man! (well and the Chargers but they tease me with greatness and then disappoint in the playoffs)

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I'm definitely more of a casual Kings fan, though my moniker demands that I follow them.

Fred's Brim said...

Vin is talking about Chuckie

Paul said...

Vinny is talking about chucky Hillarious.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

@Nic J

I am a bigger Kings fan than a dodger fan. I'm a glutton. But this year the Kings will turn it around

Fred's Brim said...

Hudson is making me nervous on those grounders

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Plaschke: "Bu-bu-but, the Dodgers don't have an ace! No, Billingsley! I demand you to stop pitching so well! You are undermining my entire month's worth of articles!

Nostradamus said...

Andre en fuego

karina said...

@Paul we don't know if i'm going to kill you, we are still in the Vol.1

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Manny, you suck

koufax said...

MLSF coming out with the hatred. im not there yet my friend.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

@Koufax - I've hated Plaschke for a while now.

Fred's Brim said...

*sigh*

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Does anyone other than Ethier feel like getting a hit?

Fred's Brim said...

does Der Scherzer have different colored eyes?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Plaschke: You call yourself an ace, Billingsley? Please! Cliff Lee would never give up a one-out double.

Nostradamus said...

Colorado handling the Mets. It looks like we're on our own for this one.

Fred's Brim said...

fuckin crap

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

It looks like we don't need any other infielders beside O-Dog and Loney tonight...Hudson keeps getting the ground balls

karina said...

Don't lose concentration, Bills.

Fred's Brim said...

how'd we get to the 6th inning already?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Billingsley's falling apart like a house of cards.

Paul said...

Oh jeez. Two runs behind. If kemp or eithier don't go crazy we are toast

Nostradamus said...

@FB

"Does Der Scherzer have different colored eyes?"

Trippy, huh?

NicJ said...

CHad's meltdown came a little early today.

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

I have changed my profile photo from a happy Gagne to a sad Gagne to mirror the Dodgers losing

Fred's Brim said...

his reminds me of the last couple of Kershaw starts. it's like Honeycutt and Joe yelled at them to not mess around and just throw strikes. And when you do that (and you have good stuff), occasionally you groove one and it gets pounded. The other times, they are easy outs

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Get an out, Bills. Jeez.

Fred's Brim said...

that was the pitcher, Chad

get the next guy and I will forgive you

NicJ said...

I was waiting for that.

karina said...

Furcal, if you can't hit, at least make a good throw.

Fred's Brim said...

lordy

that was his only play, and not really a play at all, but these runners better not score

Paul said...

Is Bills mentally fragile? Speaking of mental health issues. Furcant makes a mental error too.

NicJ said...

Chad went from perfect to crap in an instant.

Fred's Brim said...

unreal

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Crap in a bucket.

Paul said...

This is one of those weirs september canes I was rambling about a few weeks ago.

Fred's Brim said...

lots of seeing weak singles there - this could/should only be 2-0

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

It's the NLCS all over again

NicJ said...

I know Karina will scold me but, I think Chad's gonna get his 3 straight loss tonight.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

That was unbearable. Now the offense will sputter and collapse and the night will be a total loss.

Nostradamus said...

This is a lot less fun than it was 20 minutes ago.

Paul said...

I mean. Weird and games. Man I am slurring and completely sober.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Somewhere, Plaschke is feeling vindicated.

NicJ said...

@glg- I wish it was, manny was still hitting back then.

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

Bills looks like a little boy who just lost his puppy

Nostradamus said...

@glg

"I have changed my profile photo from a happy Gagne to a sad Gagne to mirror the Dodgers losing"

The byzantine-style nimbus really sells it, too.

Fred's Brim said...

i bet he's texting Tony Reali about it right now

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

SOMEBODY GET A FRICKIN' HIT

Fred's Brim said...

swing swing swing

Nostradamus said...

Time for a change of scenery. I'll be back in a jiff.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

The worst part is the first pitches of the at-bats are good pitches to hit. They're just doing a crappy job of hitting them.

Paul said...

I am sorry I know they can do it but have no faith they can score 5 runs in 4 innings.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

@Paul - I don't think they can score two runs for the rest of the game.

NicJ said...

Looks like we are back to five starters.

Fred's Brim said...

cripes why do things just go wrong like that? it just kind of piles on top of itself

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Whew, Reynolds was DOA

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

@Mr. C - I have no idea what that means but I think it was a compliment

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

Hey, Martin saved Bills' ass

Fred's Brim said...

try inside, Bills

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Lucky K, that thing was a mile outside.

karina said...

@Nic j: he might get a ND.

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

Manny actually made a play!!! And the fans rejoice!!!

NicJ said...

we would have to start hitting in order for that to happen.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I think the question is if the Dodgers manage to load the bases, who do you want: Thome or Manny?

Fred's Brim said...

an Eyechart sighting!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

(Golf clap) Welcome back, Eyechart.

Fred's Brim said...

Douggy where have you been all my life?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

For the love of Jeff, when the third hit of the game comes from the guy who's been out since April, there's something wrong.

Though I do applaud Eyechart's determination.

Paul said...

Doug got one of those April loretta singles.

NicJ said...

Eyechart must of not gotten the team memo that we arent hitting tonight. Its his first day back so he gets a pass.

Fred's Brim said...

cmon Dre, cut this lead in half

Steve Sax said...

Hmm, our offense is still missing in action.

Paul said...

Furcant by a step gets one of our stars up.

Fred's Brim said...

cmon Manny, cut this lead to 1

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Now Manny has a chance to cut the lead to one.

Jeez, Ethier's good.

NicJ said...

you cant hide from baseball when your in a slump.
Big situations always find you.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

That was a pathetic showing, Manny. I hate you so much.

Fred's Brim said...

this is frustrating

Paul said...

I can barely remember when manny came to the plate and I would actually get excited.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Right now, my fear is that Manny just isn't trying. This might be what Boston had to deal with. It's almost like his heart isn't in the game.

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

Lets hope Elbert learned something in the minors

NicJ said...

this is Scherzer's longest road outing in nearly two months. Seems like we have been giving alot of those away lately.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I'd rather not see Elbert here after he screwed up yesterday. I'd put the ball in Haeger's hands. Tomorrow was his scheduled start anyway, what's the difference.

Fred's Brim said...

i hope he's just in coast mode right now

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Walking the pitcher to lead off the inning = Fail.

NicJ said...

elbert continues where he left off from two nights ago.

Fred's Brim said...

Elbert and then McDonald warming. I guess Joe has put up the white flag (sox?)

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

Alright boys in blue, cut the shiat...lets stop screwing around and finish this game off

Fred's Brim said...

agreed GLG
*snaps fingers*
wake up!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I've got a new nickname for Bills now: House of Cards.

Fred's Brim said...

damn what luck!

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

Alright, beat down Gagne is in full effect now!

Josh S. said...

We traded our entire offense to the White Sox for Thome.

NicJ said...

we are the giants, without the pitching.

Fred's Brim said...

Belliard looks a lot like Russ when standing in the batters box

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

Anyone want to buy a Martin jersey? I bought it last year when he was tearing it up...not so much this year

Steve Sax said...

We. Cannot. Score. Against the Diamondbacks.

Pathetic.

karina said...

We need Erin's magic ASAP

Neeebs (The Original) said...

I really can't watch this game anymore. Time to start reading and turn off the TV.

NicJ said...

i hope youre happy dodgers, you have got Neeebs reading now.

Kyle Baker said...

@ Paul

The sad part is that the crowd at the game, especially the shall we say beach ball crowd, still goes nuts when Manny gets up to bat, and then when he strikes out/pops up weakly on the first pitch, there is this huge letdown. It's sad and embarrassing.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

@Dusty - It's all the screaming and fanfare when he hits a fly ball that irks me. It's like they can't even see.

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

Anyone else holding out this hope that we are getting the suck out of our system now so we will be in top form for the playoffs?

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