Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Game 159 Thread: Sept 30 @ Johnny Podres, 7p

Jon Garland (11-12, 3.90) vs. Clayton Richard (8-5, 4.62).
DODGERS' MAGIC NUMBER: There is no magic number. It's all in your mind.

Why are the Dodgers playing one of their own former players? It makes no sense. Anyhoo, did you know the Dodgers haven't been swept all season? It's true. So, more than one significant event hangs on the outcome of tonight's game, this being the second game of a two-game series. I've never heard of Clayton Richard, but if he's the bastard child of Clayton Kershaw and J.R. Richard, we're in trouble.

(Thanks to Julie Hibbard for the picture!)

309 comments:

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Kyle Baker said...

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

Josh S. said...

Randy Wolf got really excited since he thought the Dodgers were at the Pod Race today.

Dusty Baker's Toothpick said...

Is too early for voodoo? Print out the Gnome, and prop up next to your set during tonight's telecast.

The Gnome

JuanLove said...

7th for Dre, wow

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I know 'Dre is slumping, but putting him behind Loretta? That's just cruel.

NicJ said...

I know dre can't hit lefties, but wow.

Maybe torre is just trying to take some pressure off of him.

Kyle Baker said...

Avatar fail! Josh, this is all on your shoulders now, brother.

Kyle Baker said...

Nic

Or put some pressure ON him.

Josh S. said...

So then what's jinxier? Leaving this one, which clearly impacted 'Dre negatively, or switching to a new one mid-thread, which has the potential to take down the whole team?

Kyle Baker said...

You are atoned since you coined the phrase, "jinxier," Josh.

I'd change it now, plenty before game time. THe pain will still be wet, but it will have the desired effect. And I believe it will also replenish the amount of souls in the guff.

Kyle Baker said...

Beto Duran tweet:

"Dodgers fans cheered Ned Colletti walking to Petco; says the Dodgers will finally win the West tonight."

I heard Ned was close to signing a new 3-year deal. I hope so. He's had his wins and losses but I think we should stick with him and reward him for assembling a playoff-caliber franchise.

Kyle Baker said...

I am intrigued by the fact that sometimes, the more I comment, the fewer comments I have on the sidebar comment counter.

Josh S. said...

"Dodgers fans cheered Ned Colletti walking to Petco"

They were probably cheering the fact that he was walking, and not arriving in a solid gold stretch Hummer.

Kyle Baker said...

@ Mr. C-

Or, more appropriately for me, talk is cheap.

rbnlaw said...

I apologize to all fans and the followers of SoSG. It became quite apparent to me that the Dodgers' stagger through the land of the mediocre started when I switched to my Piazza avi. After all, Italian-American superstar, Mike Piazza, was a fantastic player to watch hit, but not much behind the plate. While with the Dodgers, he set records for rookie catchers hitting home runs but delivered little else. He will also be the poster child for Fox ownership and its marvelous ineptitude.

So with that, I bring you the new avi; rbn pounding brews with my daughter's friends on her 21st birthday. It was only a year and a half ago, but it feels like yesterday. . .except her birthday is in February and it was frickin freezing that night. I apologize for the fact that I am drinking a Coors Light in the picture (I had long since run out of Bud), but I am smoking a fine cigar at the same time.

Here's to winning tonight and going on to party like it's 1988.

koufax said...

im summoning the awesome power of tommy lasorda's fine oil painting tonight. Im hoping it has special powers like that painting in ghostbusters 2.

6th chair said...

New day, new game, new thread, new line up. Lets do this!

Orel said...

Hey, 6th Chair! Pull up a...chair!

Nostradamus said...

@rbnlaw

I second partying like '88, except for the part about being a minor, and being legally denied essential partying rights and privileges.

Kyle Baker said...

Mr. C-

In that case, I'd advise that you need to fight for your right to paaaar-ty!

6th chair said...

Thanks Orel.

I have to say though, I haven't been able to make it through a full game lately.

Kyle Baker said...

I was watching the 1988 WS from my dormroom during my freshman year in college. I distinctly remember a lot of Milwaukee's Best Light was involved, along with other recreational pursuits.

So yeah, I wouldn't mind going back in time!

Kyle Baker said...

@ RB

Like the new avatar, but the Coors Light bit is troubling, indeed. I'm going to just move on under the premise that the main fridge and the backup/garage fridge and even the stacks of warm, non-refrigerated beers had been raided by a gaggle of 21-year-old girls, and you were forced to deal with drinking from your "left over from the last fishing trip" stash in the rusty bass boat still parked on the side of the lawn.

Orel said...

@6C "I have to say though, I haven't been able to make it through a full game lately."

Yeah, it's been a masochistic week.

Orel said...

Wouldn't a fine cigar go better with a fine Scotch? Although that would be a tough way for a 21-year-old to start off.

Kyle Baker said...

Jays 8-0 over BoSox

Boston:

Are you Dodgers, are you Dodgers, are you Dodgers in disguise?

Wesley Vento said...

I've been watching, and refraining from posting the last two weeks out of fear of bringing my negative energy into the tournament, but it will end now. I'm not watching tonight's game at all. I'm not going to check the score on my phone, in fact, I'm going to Hemet tonight where there is ne 3G reception so I can't check the score. I can't bare to watch another GIDP or see our starting pitcher struggle to get another of the NL's dreg lineups out. Manny needs to get his shit together tonight. Come on man!

Fucking win one!

Fred's Brim said...

Drinking (drunken?) rbnlaw is the move! i have a good feeling about tonight...

Kyle Baker said...

HLACK-

Yeah, cause bringing negativity around here would just be a huge downer...not tolerated. /sarcasm

Did you follow last night's game thread?

6th chair said...

@Hong Like a Chi Kuo
Tonight's going to be different.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

"I wanna win, dammit!" - Sigmund Freud

Kyle Baker said...

@ Freud

Is this one of those times when a cigar is just a cigar?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

@Dusty - Ask Rbn.

Kyle Baker said...

Great interview with Vinny here:

http://tinyurl.com/yebdgre

Kyle Baker said...

I'm feelin' it tonight - lots of people checking in to the thread. Sure is a lot of optimism even without Karina being here yet.

koufax said...

DB great link thanks.

chexxum said...

@ HLACK

This isn't Dodger Thoughts, we don't keep our negativity/frustrations bottled up, until one day we spontaneously explode into a gory mess of innards a la Visioneers (awesome movie).

Kyle Baker said...

Exactly, we spontaneously explode into a gory mess of innards every damned night.

Nostradamus said...

@chexxum

As of late, my spleen's been displayed here almost nightly.

Nostradamus said...

Dammit dusty,

How often do I have to refresh this damn thing not to be saying the same thing as you, a minute or so later.

Steve Dittmore said...

Something to impress your colleagues with we wait for tonight's game... As a long-time lurker ‎and occasional poster, I shared the experience of Tuesday's night awful ‎performance on this blog. It occurred to me that I was living the ‎sport psychological concepts of BIRGing and CORFing that I often teach students. Clearly, though, last night ‎was much more of a CORF than a BIRG. WTF am I talking about...

Basking in ‎Reflected Glory = basically we feel good when some referent group ‎experiences success

Cutting off Reflected Failure = basically we feel bad ‎when some referent group experiences failure

So, when people look at you strange while you do the happy dance tonight, just say "I'm BIRGing".‎

Okay, back to pondering Loretta batting ahead of Ethier...

Fred's Brim said...

thanks for that link Dusty!

Fred's Brim said...

Steve, I look forward to some heavy BIRGing tonight!

6th chair said...

@DB
Thanks for the link. Good interview.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I don't look forward to CORFing.

Nostradamus said...

Ok, enough of SOSG surfing lightly interspersed with work. I'm going to go stock the fridge with beer and catch the first pitch. Back in a flash!

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

Bats, they are sick. I cannot hit curveball. Straightball I hit it very much. Curveball, bats are afraid. I ask Jobu to come, take fear from bats. I offer him cigar, rum. He will come.

Lets all make a toast to Jobu and hope he helps us clinch tonight!!!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I'm ready to clinch. This needs to happen now. I need a victory to settle my nerves. A loss will just amplify my worries, and will contribute to the wide media bashing.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Rox taking it to Brew Crew 5-3 in the fourth

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I like the way Vin says "Lafayette".

Neeebs (The Original) said...

@RBN:

Trust me my friend, it's not the curse of the Piazza Avitar. It was the lost soul of Richie Rich who strayed from its rightful owner that created this mess.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Brewers have cut the lead to one.

Fred's Brim said...

the SD announcer-clowns claiming that Manny's hair is extensions

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Such is the beginning of our demise.

Steve Dittmore said...

In-between inning question. For those following on Gameday like me, I've always wondered what "view" people prefer. I go with CF shot b/c I'm probably conditioned through TV.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

If we can't take it to Poor Richard, then we truly don't deserve champagne.

Brewers have two on in the fifth.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Chedder Heads lost it. Still down by one.

LLCoolL said...

Steve, I like to switch it based on who's at bat.

Steve Sax said...

Phils won
Cards lost

Twins lost so they are basically done

Kyle Baker said...

I think I just CORFed a little in my mouth.

LLCoolL said...

Garland seems to be struggling with the zone tonight.

Fred's Brim said...

why can't we do that?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Well, there goes the clincher today. Let's regroup after tomorrow to figure things out.

Steve Dittmore said...

@Dusty :-)

Steve Sax said...

@Steve D 7.15p: I have never changed views on Gameday, now that you mention it. I'm too used to the 7 o'clock view, though I confess I usually adjust it slightly in order to have the pitcher's pitches come straight at me.

Speaking of having pitches come straight at me, Garland has already given up the lead, and it's only the first inning! With one out and two on!

Yeesh.

Kyle Baker said...

Glad you guys liked that Vinny link. It made me appreciate all over again how much he adds to the franchise and to our enjoyment and understanding of the game and our team.

LLCoolL said...

That's it. I'm going to bed.

karina said...

BIRGing is the way. All Professor Dittmore's posts are a blast, for real.

karina said...

Can you calm down? it's the first inning!

Too much negativity from the fans to the team can't be any good.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I'm CORFing a ton right now. I know a precurser if I ever saw one.

Steve Sax said...

Kuroda skipping next start with a stiff neck, acc to mlb.com. We'll post in a second.

Fred's Brim said...

that was a gift but i'll take it

NicJ said...

how is it still the first inning!?!

Well, not anymore.

Fred's Brim said...

good pic karina!

NicJ said...

A mark Loretta Homerun!!!

which is a long flyout.

Fred's Brim said...

i don't get McClelland's strike zone

that make have been out at Yankee Stadium!

NicJ said...

i just noticed garland already gave up a run. Great.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Milwaukee threatening with two on in the sixth.

Steve Dittmore said...

@Karina - thanks for the comment. please don't call me professor (unless others will be Gilligan, Mary Ann and Ginger)

NicJ said...

8 pitches.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

How do teams with worse records get to celebrate before us?

rbnlaw said...

Sorry it took so long to get back.
Looks like the new avi is working already as Garland only allowed one in that debut inning.

My only question is, why isn't De Witt starting over Loretta? That and why aren't we scoring runs?

And why aren't we beating teams we should be killing?

And why do we look like the Bosox right now?

Kyle Baker said...

Karina-

It's been too long since you had that avatar. I've missed it!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Vin talking about little Brad Lidge.

Kyle Baker said...

Call me Professor Booty.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

They don't even want to leave any thoughts of a clincher. They just want to lose and lose badly.

Steve Sax said...

Wow, the Padres' catcher Nick Hundley is batting .238, which is even worse than Russell Martin.

And even Hundley can get a hit tonight.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Chedder Heads load the bases. Two out though.

NicJ said...

Garland is a horrible pitcher watch, never an easy inning with guy.

rbnlaw said...

I'd like to BIRG and purge tonight.

rbnlaw said...

karina summoning the power of the gnome.

Like it.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Jody Gerut strikes out on three pitches, two of which were in the dirt. Way to go, Brew Crew.

NicJ said...

their clayton is bigger than ours. Im comfortable with that.

Kyle Baker said...

Nice Hitchhiker's reference, Nic.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I don't know about you guys, but I think Jeff Suppan is the most vanilla pitcher there is. He makes Garland look like Lincecum.

rbnlaw said...

"Hi and welcome aboard Garland Airlines. I'm your captain, John, and I'll be piloting you trip with us tonight. The ride could get a little bumpy with some elevated pitches leading to rips to the gaps. Don't worry though; there'll be plenty of sliders in the dirt that these clowns will chase. So, buckle up and hang on; we're cleared for take-off."

rbnlaw said...

100

NicJ said...

Thanks DB.

rbnlaw said...

OK, gotta eat.

Steve Sax said...

How sad is Russell Martin's performance this year?

Bengie Molina: 20 HR, 79 RBI, .265 BA, .285 OBP, .441 SLG

Russell Martin: 6 HR, 52 RBI, .251 BA, .351 OBP, .326 SLG

Yikes.

karina said...

@Fred's Brim @Dusty Baker i thought i was going to use as avatar the image of the gnome, but Dusty Baker's toothpick got ahead of me. Anyways, glad you liked it.

NicJ said...

Jamie Moyer is out for the season now too? Man thie Phils pen is going to be mighty thin.

karina said...

@Steve Dittmore got it. Sorry.

Steve Sax said...

Garland, 40 pitches through 2.

Let's score some runs, dudes.

karina said...

@Nic j that's a swell avatar!

NicJ said...

haha, you can really tell Everth Idolized Furcal on that play there.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Well, Rockies just jumped the lead to three.

Steve Sax said...

All right team, they're giving us a free baserunner in Furcal, with one out.

DO SOMETHING

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

There goes that.

Fred's Brim said...

*sigh*

Steve Sax said...

O-Dog, Gameday says that second pitch was about eye-level, why did you swing?

6th chair said...

And there's your DP

Steve Sax said...

Come on, O-Dog, what the hell?

GIDP

NicJ said...

Little Richard is Womp-bomp-a-loom-op our a-womp-bam-booms

Kyle Baker said...

Make the Rox lead 4.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Thanks for the help, Chedder Heads! (salute)

6th chair said...

It's ok. Next inning starts with Manny, Kemp and Loney. We'll get it back.

NicJ said...

ALright time to take Loretta out.

And I mean to pasture.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Oh fantastic, Loretta. Show you're as capable of fielding as Thome so you can get a playoff spot.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

According to Vin, Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run homer for the Rockies. He really is killing us.

NicJ said...

free blake dewitt!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Damn you, Chase Headley.

karina said...

@Mr LASF it was Carlos Gonzalez, not Adrian

I feel Carlos Gonzalez is gonna rip whatever's left of my heart this week.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

If only San Diegans knew baseball games lasted nine innings, and not three.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

(facepalm)

6th chair said...

Crud!

Steve Sax said...

My god, we are letting Kouzmanoff get RBIs off of us? Come on, people.

NicJ said...

i think the San Diegoites were right about that.

i think that is the game.

NicJ said...

So, how 'bout them Lakers?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

They have beaten LA. Torre should just pack up so he won't have to spend any more arms.

Fred's Brim said...

things just arent going well for us. that wasnt a bad pitch, similar to the one he hit off Bills in the 6th yesterday

NicJ said...

Garland feels Bills should get that 4th spot i guess.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Too bad Matt Kemp was too dumb to have turned his single into a double. Then this whole mess could have been easily averted.

NicJ said...

who is more likely to overcome a 4 run hole, us or the Brewers?

Steve Sax said...

Manny doesn't swing on first pitch, LA fans rejoice

NicJ said...

The dodgers clinch tomorrow!

Fred's Brim said...

lets get 2 back this inning

Fred's Brim said...

that's not what I meant

Nostradamus said...

What the hell!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Clearly FB's words of encouragement were lost in translation.

Fred's Brim said...

I think Cabrera has been watching Christian Guzman tapes

Orel said...

DERP DERP DERP

6th chair said...

@FB that's what the baseball gods thought you meant

Steve Dittmore said...

I guess we'll be cheering for Manny tomorrow. Manny Parra and his 6+ ERA, that is, tomorrow v. Aaron Cook to win the NL West for LA

karina said...

I want them to clinch today.

Fred's Brim said...

I repeat, why can't we do that?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

@Karina - I want world peace. But you can't always get what you want.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

But if you try sometimes, you might just find you got what you need.

Kyle Baker said...

I want another beer.

Fred's Brim said...

thanks for playing, JG

Josh S. said...

I am trying so hard to be positive, Karina-style, but they are giving me NOTHING.

I just hope it's not too tiring playing like this, so they are fresh for next week.

Fred's Brim said...

i am afraid MLB might take away our playoff berth

Fred's Brim said...

Elbert pitching for a playoff roster spot

Josh S. said...

Hey hey hey!

It's Scoooottttt Elbert!

Fred's Brim said...

gnite folks. see you on the Rox-watch thread tomorrow

karina said...

Tony Gywnn: Dodgers killer?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Nothing surprises me now anymore.

Josh S. said...

*ahem*

Sorry.

So, that Tommy plaque giveaway is pretty neat, huh?

Steve Dittmore said...

what the heck happened... Loretta interference?

Nostradamus said...

I swear to god, they're trying to make me break something.

Kyle Baker said...

Muy embarazoso at this point.

ubragg said...

I guess there is always the "better to get all the losses out of the way before the postseason starts" school of thought.

Kyle Baker said...

Throw at MSB!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I seriously think Torre should just forfeit and let the team regroup. There's no sense in continuing this abomination.

Steve Sax said...

Elbert in? Guess we conceded this game.

Kyle Baker said...

The fact that there is an off day tomorrow, so we'll have to stew in this another day, is too much for me to handle. No disrespect to the off-day puzzle or anything.

Kyle Baker said...

10-5 Colorado.

Orel said...

Maybe it would help if Manny got suspended again.

Nostradamus said...

Ok, this is just unwatchable. C out.

karina said...

@Josh S my anger was softened when i saw cute Lucas. He's super big!

Kyle Baker said...

On the bright side, Yank-mes attendance at their stadium down 13 percent.

Kyle Baker said...

Karina, don't go soft on us, here. ;)

Steve Sax said...

Bases loaded, but Elbert gets a DP. That's good.

Rox up 10-5 with two on and threatening for more. That's bad.

Kyle Baker said...

The hate...it seethes.

kill Kill KILL!!! the Padres.

NicJ said...

At least i can say i saw the night Mark Loretta decided to retire.

Kyle Baker said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Not even Freud can cure my depression. I'm going on an avi hunt.

Kyle Baker said...

I could have driven down to SD in the time it took for Loretta to get to 1st.

NicJ said...

FREE BLAKE DEWITT!!!!!!

Kyle Baker said...

Free JOYCE DeWitt!

Kyle Baker said...

^ that's a job for RB

NicJ said...

we have to be able to win at least one from the rox, right?

Steve Dittmore said...

It's 1030 here in the CST. Time to CORF. Ciao...

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

My new avi should at least remind us the very depths of which failure can reach.

NicJ said...

This is like watching the Pad's hop in the team bus and repeated run over my new kitten.

NicJ said...

do those bags come in dodger blue?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Mota's in now? Then Torre truly has forfeited.

rbnlaw said...

I'm on the way to free De Witt.
You want the underplayed infielder or the bat-shit crazy 80's sit-com star?

Kyle Baker said...

CORF off, Padres.

NicJ said...

id take the sitcom start right now over loretta

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Has anyone seen the new show Community? I think it's really funny.

NicJ said...

How is Weisman going to spin this into a positive?

rbnlaw said...

@Josh S. 8:20.

That Lucas has got some potty mouth on him.

I like that kid already.


Rancho Crapamongo!

rbnlaw said...

close to

rbnlaw said...

200

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

This game is making me dip into my jazz collection here. It's that depressing.

rbnlaw said...

Are CORF's and MILF's related?

Kyle Baker said...

According to a @stats_MLB tweet:

"New Yankee Stadium has seen at least 1 HR hit in 80 of 81 games this season, no stadium has ever seen as many such games in a season."

Horrible comma splice, but interesting stat.

rbnlaw said...

This thread is reminding me of a McCovey Chronicles thread I lurked back in June. It was funny to read then.

NicJ said...

I dont know about that RBN, but this is a game id like to fucking forget.

GILFF?

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