Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Post-Game 140 Thread: Just When You Had Forgotten What A Comeback Win Felt Like

DODGERS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 4

This game did not look promising whatsoever. Second inning, Russell Martin GIDP. Third inning, Rafael Furcal GIDP. Fourth inning, James Loney GIDP. Sixth inning, Matt Kemp GIDP. Seventh inning, Ronnie Belliard GIDP. Seven innings, five GIDPs. It was like everyone wanted to get his own dose of GIDP goodness.

Meanwhile, Chad Billingsley lasted his usual six innings but gave up 8H and 4ER along with 4Ks and 3BBs, and left the game without a chance to win.

Then, the eighth inning comeback. The Dodgers sent ten batters to the plate, allowing Orlando Hudson to bookend the inning with outs. But in between, singles from Martin, Furcal, Kemp, Andre Ethier, Loney, and Belliard--with a walk to Manny Ramirez for good measure--led to a four-run frame that was just enough to have the Dodgers mount a great comeback victory, 5-4. This keeps the Rockies (on a five-game win streak) 3.5 games behind, with the Giants game still in progress. James McDonald picks up the save, Hong-Chih Kuo a gritty hold, and Jonathan Broxton a fairly clean save.

Don't call it a comeback? Well, maybe we should. Maybe we needed this. Maybe we deserved this. And maybe this team has more guts than the pundits would have you believe.

UPDATE 9/9 8a: The Padres ended up holding on to a 4-3 lead to defeat the Giants, who are now 6.5 GB the Dodgers in the NL West, and 3 GB in the wild card race.

41 comments:

Kyle Baker said...

As much as I may think we don't have this or that or too much of this or that, deficient here, not delivering there, etc., I've always felt that we have GUTS, above all else.

Kyle Baker said...

And yes, I truly think that guts and team chemistry DO matter in a clubhouse.

Steve Sax said...

Padres take a 4-3 lead in the 8th on a Chase Headley single, scoring Adiran Gonzalez. Bottom of the 8th about to begin; Uribe, Winn, Rowand to bat.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Are saying Peter Gammons is wrong? How dare you!

(slap to the face with glove)

Pistols at dawn!

Steve Sax said...

@Dusty, I agree with the chemistry thing, but I think winning creates chemistry rather than the other way around. But we can discuss this over beer sometime.

Kyle Baker said...

ESPN is sending some hard pipe-hittin' types out to LA as we speak to shut us up.

NicJ said...

We're going streaking!!!!!!!!

Two in a row
two in a row

Steve Sax said...

@Dusty: isn't that what LA Live is for? So they won't have to send people from Bristol, and they can save on airfare?

Kyle Baker said...

No I totally agree Sax, there's never been a horrible team that people pointed to and said, "Yeah, these guys stink, but boy they sure get along well!"

And agree with the necessity of frosty cold adult beverages to thoroughly discuss all aspects of the question.

Kyle Baker said...

Heh..listening to Dodger post-game show and they mentioned LA Live right when you mentioned that in your comment. Better go lock the back door.

Kyle Baker said...

Per MSNBC.com, Lidge may be out as closer:

"There was only one question following Tuesday night’s 5-3 win over the Washington Nationals: Is Brad Lidge still the closer?

Charlie Manuel wasn’t saying for sure, although Lidge seemed to think the job was still his after a postgame meeting between player and manager. The meeting was necessary because — only a few hours after giving Lidge a public vote of confidence — Manuel found himself having to yank Lidge from the game in a ninth inning in which the reliever retired only one of four batters."

No word as to whether Tommy Hagen is still out as consigliere.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

The Phillies needed George Sherrill more than the Dodgers needed Cliff Lee.

NicJ said...

Pads win!!

Kyle Baker said...

4th time in Dodger history that we've hit into 5 DPs. One was in a 19-inning game.

And to think, we still won! Love this game, and love this team. *pounds chest*

Steve Sax said...

Padres actually held on to won, wow.

I guess we are playing the Phils at this rate, whether we finish ahead of the Cards or not.

Steve Sax said...

@Dusty, I'm on my second beer right now. MGD, as I go prol' during the week to keep me grounded.

But I did have two glasses of red wine with dinner...

rbnlaw said...

I will gladly take credit for breaking the DP jinx. When I posted my comment, the Dodgers had grounded into their final DP of the evening. The next time it was close, but JP legged it out. We all know what happened next.

Most of this game could be called the Dodgers' nadir. Failed production, shaky pitching, and the dreaded GIDP.

With the Denver Purple People Eaters and the Gnats closing in, it would be easy to fold. The Dodgers have proven they can still comeback in games that matter, even if it is against a team and pitcher they should thump. So, low point passed. It's all uphill from here.

On to the River Kwai!

JuanLove said...

freakin a this is getting annoying.

MLB Network was saying we dont have any pitching.
sigh

Kyle Baker said...

@RB

That's an interesting theory re your breaking the DP jinx, but the REAL reason, clear and simple, is that I broke out my Manny t-shirt tonight after having had it drop down in the depth chart for several weeks. As soon as I slid out of my suit and tie and into my more comfortable Manny tee, the comeback started.

Kyle Baker said...

@ Sax

You ARE a man of the people. Alas, I'm on my high horse, staring down my monocle at you while enjoying a Spaten Optimator.

Kyle Baker said...

Word on Scratchy Lincecum is that his back is really an issue and that he's already seen a specialist about it. Could possibly miss the next start - against Los Doyers.

[Credit to Levine and Suchon for this info.]

JuanLove said...

oh please, i hope so

Steve Sax said...

@Dusty, great scoopage on Lincecum (and speaking of a man of the people, you sir are the one listening to DodgerTalk on a school night). If Timmah's back is causing issues, isn't this the reason why most scouts passed on him to begin with? (Even if it is probably the reason for his success, too.)

Kyle Baker said...

Someone send one of those Man Groomers they keep plugging on the radio to Lincecum.

Kyle Baker said...

@ Sax

That's exactly what the fellas were saying, that it could have something to do with Timmah's delivery. It could be that, it could be the new weight he's carrying this year, too (just my take); last year he was a stick but this year's he's added a coupla milkshakes to his frame. So it's the first year he's carried that way, delivered that way, and pitched so many innings. Don't have data in front of me, but his last few starts haven't been wins, especially on the road. All this could just be adding up to affect his back.

Not wishing an injury on someone, but if we miss him in the rotation, that could be huge. On the other hand, Gnats will probably call up someone from high single A to pitch against us, and he'll end up being Luis Tiant.

Steve Sax said...

Maybe we can send Marvin the KABC Martian over to Lincecum's house to teach him what items are recyclable.

(said in a nasal annoying voice) Ready?

Steve Sax said...

I have to say, Lincecum is kinda fun to watch (when he's not playing us). Hope he's not too hurt.

JuanLove said...

i think it's the workload

they used him too much last year to get the CY
this year he's been throwing a lot as well.

Kyle Baker said...

Exactly, JL.

JuanLove said...

i agree Sax.

I actually dont hate the dude.
He seems cool outside of baseball.

i just dont like when he freakin annihilates us

JuanLove said...

Beto Duran's Twitter

All you need to know about #Angels coverage in Los Angeles. 0 tv stations at the game.

good stuff

Kyle Baker said...

What exactly did he mean, JL? The game was carried on the telly tonight in my viewing area (to my dismay).

JuanLove said...

basically saying no one gives a ---- about the Angels.

I hate that people say Los Angeles when talking about the Angels.

"Morales is crushing the ball in L.A."
no he's not.


I hate Arte Moreno

Fred's Brim said...

I Need A Beat of Dan Haren tonight

Steve Sax said...

Fred, you sure are up early

Kyle Baker said...

I hate when Angels are on national TV and the non-SoCal native announces refer to them as being in LA, a suburb of LA (OC people prolly hate this as well), just outside of LA, etc. Showing that not only are they awful at geography but that they don't at all get the many vast differences between the two despite being adjacent.

Fred's Brim said...

Saxy, not so early, just on the biased side of the country

rbnlaw said...

@DB
Ha. I said the same thing about my favorite Dodgers T-shirt. They kept losing when I wore it, so it dropped in the depth chart.
My anti-jinx paragraph was clearly effective in giving JP that sudden burst of speed.

As for Timmah, he now finds himself a victim of Giant pitching abuse (not abused by Giants, rather his coaches). Dude is way young to be pitching as many complete games as he does. Fact is, the Gnats could lose some of those 1-0, 2-0, 3-0 games he's stayed in. They killed Schmidt's shoulder; killed Zito's confidence; now it's Timmah's back.

LLCoolL said...

The Dodgers are 3rd in GIDP in baseball with 126. They are only two back of MLB-leading Houston.

Steve Sax said...

@LLCoolL: That means we've got a shot at overtaking Houston in the final 22 games, if we focus and put our minds to it!

Kyle Baker said...

FB-

Are you posting from ESPN headquarters?