Thursday, October 15, 2009

NLCS Game 1 Thread vs. Fillies, 5p

The playoff beards of Clayton Kershaw.

Cole Hamels (0-0, -.--) vs. Clayton Kershaw (0-0, -.--).

Hey, they reset pitching stats after each round. Who knew? Anyhoo, it's time to put aside Dodger Divorce Thoughts and refocus on the here and now: 21-year-old Kershaw, who in two years has gone from callow rookie fireballer to grizzled (see above) NLCS Game 1 starter. Kershaw's left-handedness will come in handy against Subway pitchman Ryan Howard, although it won't necessarily give him the edge against Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez.

And if Kershaw needs a hand, we can expect to see Chad Billingsley out of the bullpen — a move he took graciously. "We're here to win games. We're not here for individual achievements," he said, and it makes you root for him that much more. (Additional roster updates: Hiroki Kuroda and Scott Elbert in, Jon Garland and NLDS Game 1 bullpen hero Jeff Weaver out.)

As for the Dodger hitters, they're big boys now. Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp are the boppers; Manny Ramirez is now a complementary piece, not the centerpiece. Rafael Furcal, Casey Blake and James Loney are the glue. Remember, this is the same lineup that outscored the Cardinals 13-6 in the three-game NLDS.

Hamels went 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA against the Dodgers in last year's NLCS, but don't expect those numbers again this year. Why? Call it the Brett Tomko Effect. (Plus, Hamels is a new daddy and therefore sleep-deprived. If he's not? Deadbeat dad.) Tell you what, Mr. Hamels: Prove us right and we'll rename this principle Cole's Law. Get it? HA HA HA

Kershaw 1: AP photo; Kershaw 2: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images; Kemp: Mark J. Terrill/AP

659 comments:

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Brandon said...

Slingbox is ready.

rbnlaw said...

So's Slingblade.
Hmmm uhnnn.

I likes me them biscuits with mustard.

rbnlaw said...

I remember back in 2002 when a local team sent a young Texan out to tame team full of sluggers.

What was that result again?

Don't mess with the Texan.

Josh S. said...

Ahhh...a game thread! No divorces, no boys who may or may not be in balloons, just BASEBALL.

I'm pumped beyond all reason!

Neeebs (The Original) said...

@RBN

I kinda like the way you talk.

QuadSevens said...

"It's (almost) time for Dodger baseball!"

Nothing is getting done today at work. I need my fill of Vinny!

Neeebs (The Original) said...

@Josh S:

I call BS on that boy in the balloon. I can't believe he was ever in there.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Q7 drive by.

Kyle Baker said...

Sweet jeebus. If time crawled forward any slower it would be going backward. Between having to watch a bunch old old white farts debate on the Senate floor and having to wait for the game tonight, I'm about to rip my secretary's arm off and strangle myself with it.

Kyle Baker said...

I hereby declare this a no boy/balloon story zone, effective immediately.

Kyle Baker said...

I never found an alternate avatar that really spoke to me, so if it's okay I'm going to go with the one that brung me. Let me know if anyone has any suggestions (Neeebs will have final say).

Neeebs (The Original) said...

@DB:

As much as I like Richie Rich, I hereby deem your existing Avatar as an omen of good fortune. Stick with it.

Kyle Baker said...

Bless you, Neeebs.

QuadSevens said...

I thought about switching avatars like everyone else here, but I always forgot once I got home from work. Sticking with mini Manny.

Josh S. said...

I need to just leave this thread page open. If I go to the main page, I have to play that famous game, "Scroll Past the Playboy Cover Image As Fast As You Can So No One Sees You Looking At It On Your Work Computer". (Or SPTPCIAFAYCSNOSYLAIOYWC.)

rbnlaw said...

Jobu says, "Stick with the girl whut brung ya."

@neeebs:
Who do you reckon I would call if'n I was to kill somebody?"

Neeebs (The Original) said...

@RBN:

Hmmm uhnnn.

@Josh S.:

SPTPCIAFAYCSNOSYLAIOYWC

QuadSevens said...

I was trying to come up with some "game" I could play that had the initials LAWINSNLCS, but I've given up. My brain is not functioning well today.

Nostradamus said...

Liftoff in approximately 2 hours.

Gagne's lucky glasses said...

I heard people mentioning that you can listen to Vin's radio telecast on the net. Is that true? Anyone got a link for me? Much appreciated if so :)

Kyle Baker said...

Half an hour and no new posts? Are you people paralyzed by nerves, already at the game, or driving home like mad men and women to get to the TV by 5:07?

MR.F said...

My avatar is more of a familiar, really.

karina said...

Obi Wan is back. We need the force to be with them tonight.

dodgersfanman said...

Here's some favorable stats for this series.

Some of the Phils big guns BA vs. the Dodgers staff this year.

Rollins .179
Utley .154
Victorino .125
Howard .107, w/ 11 K.

Go Blue!

Josh S. said...

1 hour!

I feel like I'm going to puke.

(It could be the stuffed crust pizza.)

NicJ said...

¡Si Se Puede!

Kyle Baker said...

¡Si Se Puede!

Josh S. said...

Yes we puede!

QuadSevens said...

Listening to Dodger Talk now on the radio. I don't normally, but I need the Dodger influence right now.

rbnlaw said...

@Nic & DB,
What did you call me?

rbnlaw said...

And for Josh S.
Here's what you have to look forward to as a dad. The orthodontist just informed me that my darling son, age 8, will need an expander, braces, and head gear if he hopes to avoid an adolescence of loneliness and isolation. Much like his father's.

karina said...

@Rbnlaw yes, we can!

Josh S. said...

Doesn't wearing an expander, braces, and head gear also lead to loneliness and isolation?

Kyle Baker said...

@ RB

The irony is that if your lad wears spacers, braces, headgear, etc., he will experience an adolescence of loneliness and isolation.

It's a zero sum game.

Kyle Baker said...

Josh, my spiritual brotha, on the same wavelength re braces.

Erin said...

Christine loves you guys, but she'll be pissed if I spend the whole game logged on to this game thread. So, I'll be here sporadically if I can.

Either way, GO DODGERS!!!

karina said...

@Rbnlaw see the bright side, the younger he gets all the gear, the sooner that gear gets removed.

Also, it's time to teach him to ignore all the criticism and to be proud off himself.

Kyle Baker said...

Erin-

Maybe just drop in to make the traditional prescient prediction, and to make sure some of us are behaving (specifically: FB, RBN, Mr C, Neeebs, and myself).

MR.F said...

Eh, look on the bright side Josh S. From my experience, avoiding the spacers, braces, and headgear don't guarantee an adolescence free of loneliness and isolation. Oh wait... that doesn't sound too bright. Nevermind.

Kyle Baker said...

Almost forgot:

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

MR.F said...

I thought Martin had the flu.

Todd said...

Just in case y'all didn't see this:

http://tinyurl.com/yzn6pq5

The sad thing is the "Werth/Furcal" photo caption is the closest thing to a factually correct statement in the entire story.

Kyle Baker said...

Martin did have the flu, so the fact that he's starting either means he is past it or is playing through it.

NicJ said...

I guess he can't hit any worse than usual.
Maybe it's the homerun flu?

Kyle Baker said...

Maybe it's the boogie-woogie flu.

NicJ said...

After reading that I must apologize to Plaschke for all the bad things I've said about him. He is only the second worst writer.

Steve Sax said...

Sax is here! And dad is throwing the first pitch!

Greg Bishop said...

I wonder why the McCourts decided to announce this NOW instead of waiting a couple of weeks.

Anyway it's still Almost Game Time.

I'm putting the pizza in the oven and cracking the first beer.

Kyle Baker said...

Todd, why did you show that article to me? It's going to piss me off all night until I email a response to that moron.

Yes, let's make light of gang warfare to compare the two teams. That will get this man a Pulitzer (actually it may given the lowered benchmark these days).

He gives us this jewel:

"Basically, Dodger Crips are a bunch of Porsche-driving, starlet-chasing, cocaine-sniffing, surfboard-waxing, Armani-wearing, spritzer-drinking, sunshine-soaking, tofu-eating, leg-hair-waxing, sunglasses-wearing weinies."

Cocaine sniffing? That's kind of a big boy accusation to make, Mr. Bykofsky.

I need to move on so I can enjoy the game.

NicJ said...

doesnt it seem like our media disasters always come at the worst time? Manny suspension right after 13 home game record and right before a first big roadie, now this.

Anyways, its baseball time!!

Kyle Baker said...

Time for me to head out of Mid-Wilshire on my trek home to Pasadena. I'll have to catch a few innings on el radio before I can watch in person and post some masterful insight. Hold the fort down!

Fred's Brim said...

let's do this!!

Gibby's home run was 21 years ago today according to Vin!

NicJ said...

russ almost knocked himself out on that post

sanfrandodgerfan said...

Nice snag Jmart!...

NicJ said...

victorino already is a pest

Fred's Brim said...

my internet's acting up so I may not be able to misbehave to my full abilities. DB, I hope you guys can pick up my slack

sanfrandodgerfan said...

Hey nic j...see any 'porn 'staches' out there today...hahah

sanfrandodgerfan said...

Kemp is the man!...

Greg Bishop said...

Close one.

sanfrandodgerfan said...

sweet!

NicJ said...

thats right asshole!!

Greg Bishop said...

Good sign.

karina said...

Victorino, what are you complaining for? Furcal didn't touch your head!

Fred's Brim said...

nice work!

and Howard is up in the second with nobody on

sanfrandodgerfan said...

Then KKKKershaw can pitch the big lugnut...

MR.F said...

Cool.

NicJ said...

damn, lets have better at bats than that.

NicJ said...

hey! andre got a hit off a lefty!

sanfrandodgerfan said...

There's one...Let's Go Blue!...

rbnlaw said...

Victorino can suck my left one.

I like the aggression coming out in these first at-bats.

rbnlaw said...

Keep making contact Big Man.

NicJ said...

that was pretty close to a cheap homerun.

rbnlaw said...

I know they've been foul balls, but we're hitting Hamels pretty hard.

sanfrandodgerfan said...

hanging tough...

rbnlaw said...

Crap! Soccer practice.
Switching to radio.

sanfrandodgerfan said...

10th pitch?...

NicJ said...

manny's battling.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Dammit.

NicJ said...

damn changeup

sanfrandodgerfan said...

manny dies...

rbnlaw said...

Lousy pitch to swing at.

I'm really delaying my departure.

Greg Bishop said...

Why did he swing at that?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Hooray for Bison. Now make something of it, Beard.

NicJ said...

Hamels makes a living off his changeup.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Crap in a bucket.

Fred's Brim said...

we'll get him yet

NicJ said...

thats probably one of his higher pitch count innings at dodger stadium, so thats good.

sanfrandodgerfan said...

manny!....

NicJ said...

that was a homerun in philly

Fred's Brim said...

Manny hustling to the spot

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Ew, Werth.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Vin: Werth is a great guy, and we are so happy for him.

Who's we? Got a mouse in your pocket?

Fred's Brim said...

here comes the curve again

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Siddown, Jayson!

NicJ said...

siddown!

sanfrandodgerfan said...

Kid is working it...

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Quick, we need a blogger to suggest there's the possibility that Raul's enhanced. That will throw him off his game.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

SIDDOWN, RAUL!

sanfrandodgerfan said...

KK

NicJ said...

WOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Fred's Brim said...

narsty!

sanfrandodgerfan said...

Is Ibanez 'juiced?'...

NicJ said...

loney in a national MLB commercial?

NicJ said...

LONEY!!!!!!!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

SUCK IT, COLE!!!

OCTOBER LONEY!

sanfrandodgerfan said...

BYEBYE!...

Fred's Brim said...

Home James!!!!

MR.F said...

Big Game indeed!!!!

karina said...

King James!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NicJ said...

get that man a muthafukin raise!!!

karina said...

@Fanerman indeed, he's big game King James!

Fred's Brim said...

haha it almost hit EK!

Paul said...

Hola everyone.

Good start for Kersh!

Free King James!!!

Fred's Brim said...

rats

we're hitting him though

NicJ said...

I dont even like Hawaiian bread anymore.

NicJ said...

at least work the count russ.

Fred's Brim said...

ugh i forgot about Feliz - i don't like that guy

NicJ said...

dont yell at your glove cole, its not the one making crappy pitches.

sanfrandodgerfan said...

hahaha...

Paul said...

Points at Hamels

HA HA

Fred's Brim said...

nice, Clayton!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I like Hamels' strategy of walking the pitcher especially since it’s more likely to benefit us.

NicJ said...

at least we made him make some pitches and got a run.

Alright lets keep the one run lead we got.

Fred's Brim said...

1-0 good guys

keep 'em locked down, Clayton!

NicJ said...

look at loney and his 5.000 OPS, haha.

NicJ said...

did he just call him clinton kershaw?

Fred's Brim said...

what happened to the SF Feliz who was so impatient at the plate? something happened to him this year

Fred's Brim said...

woah watch out for the bag

sanfrandodgerfan said...

I miss Chavez...it's foggy up here right now...and no Vin...

NicJ said...

maybe the giants hitting coach WAS the problem.

NicJ said...

damn we cant ever get this guy out.

Fred's Brim said...

dangit

sanfrandodgerfan said...

I went to HS woth Carney...we were starters in our FB teams backfield and he played short and I played third on the baseball teams...good dude...

Fred's Brim said...

almost had a shot there

MR.F said...

"Kershaw looks back on the grass like it done him wrong." I love Vin.

koufax said...

sup everybody, im on a virgin america flight from new york to LA, got my girlfriend holding her computer and camera up to the tv to watch the game right now.

sanfrandodgerfan said...

more runs...coming up!...

Nostradamus said...

nice

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Nice

Fred's Brim said...

nice work Clayton!

off the bat, it looked like he sliced it into right but he just nubbed it

NicJ said...

MLB is gonna get you Koufax.

haha.

Fred's Brim said...

haha nice work koufax! and Mrs koufax of course

Fred's Brim said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Todd said...

@Dusty Baker

Sorry to enrage you. If you didn't have a chance to read the comments even the Philly fans lit that dude up for being such a moron.

NicJ said...

haha, FB

NicJ said...

is that Evil Chan Ho Park with the beard?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I just saw that article on Philly.com. That is incredibly racist.

NicJ said...

man, the crowd is surprisingly dead right now.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Though I have to admit, it is nice to see comments of Phans really berating Stu for being so insensitive.

NicJ said...

hamels at 54 pitches through 3, not bad.

MR.F said...

Vin used the word "gloaming." That is so cool. I'll softly open my mouth in the cold for that.

karina said...

Anyone else is worried about Pedro Martinez starting tomorrow?

Nostradamus said...

Time to make a break for it between innings. I'm switching from gameday-at-work mode to radio mode, to be followed shortly by ass-on-the-couch mode.

NicJ said...

nope.

NicJ said...

does that guy ever shut up?

sanfrandodgerfan said...

hey dodgersfanman...

koufax said...

kkkkersh appears to be throwing well from up here

sanfrandodgerfan said...

@Koufax...he is throwing beautifully!...

NicJ said...

that was a swing!

NicJ said...

OH COME ON!

sanfrandodgerfan said...

BS!...

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

That was a strike, dammit.

midnightdrive said...

that was strike 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NicJ said...

four strikes gets you a walk now i guess.

MR.F said...

Were those good calls or did Kershaw throw 5 strikes to Howard?

Fred's Brim said...

so is it 5 strikes per out in the playoffs?

MR.F said...

Err, 4 strikes. I can't count =(.

sanfrandodgerfan said...

FUCK YES!!!...

NicJ said...

stupid umpire almost cost us the lead.

karina said...

I stopped breathing.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

That was way too close.

midnightdrive said...

whoo...

that was TOO close

Fred's Brim said...

wow I thought I was going to have to reach through my TV screen to choke those umps if that had gone out

and that was 10 rows deep in Philly

Ken said...

Guys, the umps did the same thing in the Rockies series. It costed the Rockies several runs on both sides of the innings

Greg Bishop said...

Perhaps we'll get that call back.

"Randy Marsh?" isn't that the character from South Park?

Ken said...

Ryan Howard struck on twice. Okay he at least should have struck out once.

Damn Tom Brady rules.

Paul said...

Now it is time for James to free the Dodgers.

sanfrandodgerfan said...

Nice...loo-hoo-sin it...

midnightdrive said...

lets go beard!

NicJ said...

wow, that looked bad.

sanfrandodgerfan said...

TRAITOR!...

NicJ said...

hamels settling in, lets fix that.

Greg Bishop said...

C'mon Ballyard.

Ken said...

at least hamels didnt get those pitches

sanfrandodgerfan said...

crap...looking like a fight...

NicJ said...

maybe next inning then...

Fred's Brim said...

are we not taking as many pitches as we should/could be?

Ken said...

anyone going to a nlcs game?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I need more than this!

Fred's Brim said...

gemalogical? is that a real word?

NicJ said...

well, the problem with that is that if you take pitches you run the risk of getting in a whole. Then comes the changeup and you are done.

Hamels already at 67 pitches so its not bad.

NicJ said...

hole, rather.

Erin said...

The Dodgers will score in the next inning. Seems unlikely, I know, but I feel it.

Kyle Baker said...

Whattup.

NicJ said...

either way i doubt we can hold them to no runs, so lets score so more.

Ken said...

sup DB

NicJ said...

man, not calling the lower half of the zone tonight.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Let's get some runs after this.

NicJ said...

thats no good.

Fred's Brim said...

dammitall

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