Friday, September 11, 2009

Post-Game 142 Thread: Cain Helps Awaken Dodger Bats

DODGERS 10, GIANTS 3

I know the mainstream media wasn't watching this game, given all eyes were on Derek Jeter and the Yankees (who lost 10-4). But if the media had been watching, they would have had a lot of questions answered, like:

- Don't count out Hiroki Kuroda yet. A masterful game by Kuroda included retiring 19 straight batters and going eight innings while dominating the Giants on a highly-efficient pitch count (Kuroda had 61 pitches through six innings, it was sick).

- The Dodgers' bats might not be so dormant after all. 10 runs tonight says they're just fine. Casey Blake returned to the lineup to have 3 RBI and a HR; King James Loney (who needs a raise) had 3 RBI of his own; and even Russell Martin had a two-run double to boot.

- Even one-half of the Giants' dynamic duo has bad days, too. Our crazy output came against Giants Deuce Matt Cain, who probably didn't know what hit him when the Dodgers got two more runs in the sixth to take a 4-1 lead. Cain was chased after that, allowing the Dodgers to tee off on Merkin Valdez for four ER, and Bob Howry and Joe Martinez for one ER each.

It was an important night to win, too, as Padres closer Heath Bell blew the save in the ninth, the Padres losing 4-1 to the Rockies (winners of seven straight). NL West lead stays at 2 games for the Dodgers, whose magic number drops to 19.

28 comments:

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Tony Shalhoub helped also.

NicJ said...

Word is that kershaws shoulder is separated, not bruised.

: /

Steve Sax said...

Whoops, I forgot to mention Monk! Maybe the AP report will credit him?

Either way, he'd better be back tomorrow, Mr LA SF

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

:'(

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

At least until there's another loss. When (if?) that happens, I've got another avi lined up.

Steve Sax said...

Good, 'cause we need a seven-game win streak of our own.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Sax, from the games I've seen, pitchers are always in the outfield shagging flies. However, they never give it any real effort, and will casually jog if a ball goes to the wall, or just play it off the wall. Kershaw most likely got carried away, and now he/we are paying the price.

Steve K said...

Unfortunately, the lead is 2 games (not 2.5) thanks to our off day yesterday.

Kyle Baker said...

Thanks, J Steve. I was trying to do the math to make it 2.5, but couldn't get it to work God knows I'll never figure out the off-day puzzle at this rate.

NicJ said...

they are on an 8 game streak right now too.

They still have a three game series against the cards so im not too worried.

NicJ said...

i was so looking forward to our magic number dropping to 18 too, i guess 19 will have to do though.

Kyle Baker said...

Here's LA Times take on KKKershaw:

"Clayton Kershaw is in worse shape than the Dodgers initially reported.

When Kershaw ran into the outfield wall shagging fly balls at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, he did more than bruise his non-throwing shoulder -- he separated it.

"Bruise, sprain, separated, it's all the same," Kershaw said.

Kershaw, who was scheduled to pitch the final of the three-game series in San Francisco, said he is hopeful of throwing a bullpen session and returning to the rotation next week.

While the Dodgers' medical staff hasn't let him catch a ball since hurting himself, Kershaw said he's noticed an improvement in the range of motion of his right arm.

"Certain things that were hard at the beginning aren't hard now," he said. "Bending down to put on your shoe or putting on deodorant, I can do all of that now."

The Dodgers are less concerned about Kershaw's ability to catch the ball than they are about the possibility of him altering his mechanics to deal with the pain, which could cause him to hurt his prized throwing arm."

NicJ said...

dont mess with the golden arm.

NicJ said...

reading the McCovey Chronicles post game thread cheers me up a whole lot.

NicJ said...

sorry for quoting a giants fan, but me being a wrestling fan i found this laugh out loud hilarious.


Douchebag Giant Fan 1: "you do know the game isn’t over yet, right?"

Douchebag Giant Fan 2:It's more over than The Rock at a Miami house show"

They might not have a world series, but at least they have a nice joke every now and then.

Kyle Baker said...

That is golden, Nic. Thx for scouting it out and bringing back the intel.

Green Lantern JBJ of Sector 1138 said...

if Bruce Bochy were to borrow some words from Elvis Costello to explain why his club lost he'd say "Blame It on Cain"

NicJ said...

man i cant believe the rox won on a blown check swing call for the third strike.

Their lucky reserve has to be nearing its end, right?

Kyle Baker said...

It's gotta run out at some point.

I was listening to the Padres broadcast in XM, so there was obviously some bias, but on the check swing the commentators said, respectfully, the ump fucked up. And then, before the next pitch, went on to predict exactly what ended up happening. They were PIIIIIISSSSSED.

Steve Sax said...

Thanks, j steve, the lead is indeed only two games; corrected.

NicJ said...

i saw it on sportscenter, it was clearly a swing.

PS, The 'topes just got swept out of the playoffs by the redbirds, the AAA Cardinals team. Is that a bad omen?

rbnlaw said...

The Pods and their fat assed closer can blame an ump all they want. Fact is an ump will never, and I mean NEVER, end a game on a check swing. That's like the All-Star Game ending in a tie. Doesn't happen.

Heath "Taco" bell blows like Moby Dick with a krill allergy.

Thank the load we piled on the Gnats. It made losing our opener of the Fountain Valley co-ed season seem less frustrating. So did the 2 pitchers of Bud.

And the pizza. Go Blue! We get J. Sanchez tomorrow. Things look good; nay, really good.

rbnlaw said...

@nic:
Naw. It just shows all the Cardinal mojo goes to AAA, and not the big club.

If anything, I'd tell the Redbirds to cool it.

Kyle Baker said...

RB comes in with a nice take at the end of the evening - good stuff.

The other thing the commentators were saying is THROW A FUCKING CURVE BALL every once in a awhile, Padres relievers. Apparently Taco Bell and others were just throwing Broxtons right down the middle, so all the hitters were dead red from the git-go.

rbnlaw said...

Thanks DB. I might have gotten the idea from Lyons or Suchon. Can't remember.
Like I said, 2 pitchers of Bud at the pizza place (I shared it; a little) tends to fuzz the memory.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

I like calling Cain the "deuce".

Steve Sax said...

Dusto, this is a day late and a dollar short, but thank you for recognizing the Cain nickname, "the deuce." The Giants, if nothing else, know #2.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

I wanna take a deuce on the Gigantes season. I think they will be the Deuce of the wild card in the end.