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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That was a strike?????
damn it i thought that would drop.
WHEWWWW!!!
Dammit. Two out.
Earn it TOO MEE...
wow Werth was really shallow on that
happ to Thome. hope he makes a mistake.
Hey this is why we keep a roster spot open for this one trick pony.
just give me a single.
as long as he remembers the one trick...
I HATE the # 25...
put in park!
LAst week, after hearing the guy behind me yell "HOME RUN" every time there was even the littlest pop up, apparently I screamed out "AM I THE ONLY WHO SEES THE TRAJECTORY?!?!?!" I think that was after DeBaby spilled beer in my lap.
Thome's whole reason for being on the team is right here.
SWEET...it HAS to be a strike...EYERS babe...
Tomorrow's game, I'm bringing a bath towel.
Rancho Ardiendo!
WOO HOO!...it's deja vous all over again...
Drah-mah
RANCHO RAFIENDO!
dont get thrown out from center thome!!
What's with the grump? Let them get their pinch runner
Bringing the speed out!!
Wolf looks so flushed
Use the force wolf!!
come on raffy!
Where was he? Top Deck?
Why wasn't Wolf ready?
he didnt have cleats on
brb...gotta get my lady from bart...keep the faith you all...
c'mon Raffy
two inches up would have gotten us two runs
Full countiendo!
runners going!!!
Dyin here
antici......
DAMN!!!!!!
farging icehole
nothing out of a bases loaded situation. Lets tie it up at least for a potential walk off.
meh, blake has been worse. Games not over though.
FIST
Nine outs to get one run. Doable.
Hey it is Kuuuu o
This is definitely doable. Hold em now. Meat of Dodger order coming up. Beer flowing. Confidence returning.
i need some rolaids
whos going to the game tomorrow
i will be in lower reserve
All you need is run, run.
Run is all you need.
LAsportsfan
dont u know we have to get the runs after the stretch~
history dictates it
damn, opposing baserunners is not what we need.
damn - that's what we needed out of you, Raffy
wow, that was an out?
got him
Revenge of Fangraphs.
pick off the whack-ass hawaiian
everyone in my house is doing the strike call fist pump. its not even planned or anything. i dont even want to bring it up because they might stop.
hey the game is at the plate
that looked good
that was more of a strike than the other one.
narsty!
Beard Mode's beard IS getting longer. I guess if you already have a beard, the playoff beard is more difficult to pull off.
it's time for Matty to re-emerge
Just one run.
do they have another lefty for andre?
yes!!!!
maybe Casey is letting his back hair grow out for the playoffs
oh thank the lord for having viagra getting rid of the viagra song
Now let's take back what is ours!!! This time we are not joking!!!!!
DB I need a refill.
Ken-
Agreed re Viagra advert, but now we have some whitebread baby boomer talking to his own reflection in a storefront window. Good god, make this company stop its advertising.
Bastard-o was tough against us before, wasn't he?
Paulie! Get yourself another one out tha fridge already. I just did.
The pattern of the announcers shirts just gave made me dizzy.
DB, yup
He'd have the greatest name in baseball if not for a certain Putz
damn ump - that wasnt a strike earlier in the game
im freaking out on this airplane right now, 4 mini glenlivets down...
what a bastardo
Ethier has a lot of the power that E had.
Leither-off double!
Double!
yes, Dre, yes!
now get him the EFF home!
i think andre may have spent the off days taking lefty batting practice.
Hang in there Koufax. How long til landing? Maybe you should switch to JD.
We are starting to come together boys. Starting to come together.
All up in they pen, now.
andre is even sexier to me~
3 more hours, ahhhhhh. i started with jack, but the glen is only 6 bucks, hard to ignore that DB.
is evil chan ho park good?
This beer new beer looks better than the last
woah talk about a playoff beard!
You made the right decision, Koufax. I shouldn't have questioned you.
i love mannys after homerun staredown
i liked chan ho so much better when he was on our team
i didnt.
don't strand Ethier, please!
This is when our diabolical plan to ship Park to Phiwwy should pay off. He has lurked like a trojan horse and is now poised to come in and pitch shitty so we can pounce. Execute!
I need a hit here.
step up your game kemp.
compact ur swing matty
Kemp showing patience.
Before something more dramatic happens, thoughts on the seemingly high percentage of Scotch enthusiasts among SOSG faithful?
Mr C-
Can't be random.
Fuckity fuck fuck
kemp you dissapoint
Kemp, you're not stepping it up, man. Getting to be some distance between Ethier and you now.
come on casey, do something.
Kemp 3-18, 9 Ks, 0 BB
how is park owning us right now?
Casey shorten that swing.
should of leaned into it.
i hate this.
WHY
damndamndamn
oh how i wish we only gave up 3 runs in that inning.
Just checking in quickly to say that was some bulllllllshit.
I can't believe we just let Chan Ho Park do that to us. Wasting a lead-off double? Unacceptable.
and this is where Philly pushes it back out to a 3 run lead
gotta keep it close!!
That Ryan Howard double was a back-breaker.
Fuckin shit fuckty fucker.
there is still hope, brad lidge is in that visitors pen.
I'd love to see a situation where we light up Lidge to win the game, thus rendering all the baseball media elite, idiots.
my favorite hat model
Park somehow pwned us back in May too
that's not good
Throw strikes, George!
shape up, George!
scoring no runs off the bases loaded is looming large.
So breezy melts when the lights are on bright.
Can someone throw a mother fuckin strike? Who knew that might be required?
Flat Breezy hasn't looked good the last few weeks. Now the walks.
great.
That's game
the response to lidge's "comeback" has been asinine. First off, he's the f-ing closer. He should be able to get them out. And doing okay in two or three games in a row does not mean he's cured of his awful season.
why can't i predict Dodger runs like this? :(
so, um, that bit, blew, and sucked.
two years in a row
Night, guys. It's been, er, fun. Until tomorrow...
the offense is just too much
Al Leiter is looking smarter and smarter
Really?
0-2 count and he GIVES Ibanez a 'hit me' pitch...
hey Nic j, it's just one game, not 2 years in a row!
HFA is gone.
Ruiz you sonofabitch - i am so tired of you
Is everyone sure it's Flat Brim Reaper on the mound?
The goddamn plane has crashed into the mountain.
Their Armour is too strong for blasters
@Fred's Brim i'm tired of the entire Phillies roster
that good defense would of been good before the game was out of reach.
Quick FB predict 10 dodger runs in the next inning.
goddam walks, wild pitches and meatballs. There's no excuse for any of that
Karina @8:21...then put the Jedi whammy on them...
Dodgers are gonna bat around and score 6 runs in the bottom of the 8th
I've stopped believing.
8 runs on 7 hits, crazy.
@karina - me too. i forgot my hate for them, but they have done a nice job of reminding me
So how 'bout them lakers?
lets get some baserunners
there's one
could of used that line drive last inning.
Lakers lost to the stinkin Dubs...how 'bout 'em?...
its preseason.
If we close within 1 and lose, I'm gonna walk into traffic (no, not really, but christ)
there's two
@sanfrandodgerfan more than Jedi whammy, they deserve more of a Han Solo treatment to Greedo.
Back to back singles, si se puede!
nic...true...I'm jus' sayin'...
"If we close within 1 and lose, I'm gonna walk into traffic (no, not really, but christ)"
Internet traffic?
Where was that with the bases juiced?
and a third
This is red 55 I am going in!
karina...the force is indeed strong with you...
Liking what I'm seein'...
hmm, maybe i should continue not watching.
my g.f., a PADRE fan...LOVES Juanito...
JP
our wedge!!! Always dependable and never dies.
and a fourth, but it costs an out
Nic j
I'm not sure how one would walk into internet traffic. Tripping on an ethernet cable?
This is still tense.
Rapi...mejito...
The 'pen falters.
Damn it Jim!
But here they come again!
Great game.
Star Wars...DFM...not Star Trek...
at least its a run.
IT takes a(n) (ex) Dodger...
now a fifth...
And it rests on the shoulders of Manny Ramirez.
Oh god, why do they alway pull this shit. I've lost months off my life tonight
Oh manny manny pleeeeeease. Eye of the manny!
dont get too big, manny.
TOFTT Manny...
This is "Showtime", Manny
@fb
"A fifth"
I sure as hell need one
madson has mannys number it looks like
yup
just imagine this game if we had any pitching at all tonight.
I can't believe this is a slugfest.
I just said the 'C' word when M*nny grounded out so weakly...my G.F. JUST happened to be walking into the living room...BOY...I am in the dog house now!...
I feel like Rocky after fighting Drago. "my hands they won't stop shakin"
I feel like Apollo's face after Drago got done with him...
let 'em score three more so we can score 2 in the bottom of the inning
Shit throw fuckin strikes you bastards.
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