Sunday, October 18, 2009

NLCS Game 3 Thread @ Cheesesteaks, 5p

11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Hiroki Kuroda (0-0, -.--) vs. Clifton Phifer Lee (0-0, -.--).

The Dodgers and 'Steaks take their competition for the ultimate prize to the cold, wet confines of Citizens Bank Park (while that other L.A. team is gladly trading freezing rain for sunshine after going down 2-0 to the Yankees).

Plan A for the Dodgers: Beat Cliff Lee, who was 14-13 with a 3.22 ERA during the regular season. Hmmm, Plan A might not be so easy. Plan B: Get into Philly's bullpen. After all, it worked in Game 2 (and almost in Game 1). But how many pitches will it take to knock out Lee?

Quite a few, as it turns out. In 24 of Lee's 34 starts this season, he threw over 100 pitches. Three times he threw 122 pitches, and once he threw 124. So will the Dodgers swing early or try to go deep into counts? Will they have a Plan C?

Kuroda hasn't pitched in a real game in nearly three weeks, but Joe Torre made a wise choice for the Dodgers' toughest start of the season. Kuroda combines the experience of a veteran with the toughness of, well, someone who took a nasty line drive to the head and came back stronger than before. It doesn't hurt that Kuroda was actually more effective on the road this season, going 6-3 in away games and 2-4 at Dodger Stadium.

So grab that poncho and melt that Cheez Whiz — we're going to be in Philadelphia for a few days.

GO DODGERS!

cheesesteak photo from Roadfood.com; other photos by Rob Carr/AP

435 comments:

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Steve Sax said...

Let's DO this!

Cliff Lee has his first Phillies meltdown today. You heard it here first.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Today's lineup

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

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Lineup courtesy of Ken Gurnick, per his MLBlog

Kyle Baker said...

Beat me by a fraction, MLASF! Now I don't have anything else to live for the rest of the afternoon.

rbnlaw said...

I'm hungry, the family didn't bring me any food, and I have 3 hours to kill.

I'm going out.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Then my work here is done.

Wicks said...

@Sax

I don't see a Lee meltdown happening bit I sure wan't it to happen!

Wicks said...

why the hell did i add a ' to want?......hmmmmmmmm

karina said...

@Sax i choose to believe in your prediction.

Where's Nostry? Neeebs?

Nostradamus said...

I hope you guys are happy. I felt like I was missing out, so I watched a few episodes of Glee this morning.

Effing.

Great.

NicJ said...

Lee had a few bad outings for the phils this year so it's possible. Kemp has to wake the hell up though he usually kills lefties.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Raiders beat Eagles.

Just Pt. 1 of California sticking it to Philadelphia today.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

I'd swap Martin for Belli in the two spot.

Belli's a bit too much of a free swinger for that all important spot as a table setter.

As for Cliff Lee...

Cliff Lee Shclif Lee. Fehhhh.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

I predict Dodger toughness and resiliency.

Ken said...

plan D is the sucker actually rains out, and we dont have to deal with cliff lee for the duration of the game

Paul said...

Holla!

Let's take the lead in this series and not look back. Dodgers eat aces for breakfast.

Orel said...

Mr. C: "I hope you guys are happy. I felt like I was missing out, so I watched a few episodes of Glee this morning.

Effing.

Great."

One of us! One of us!

Orel said...

Baseball Tonight guys (Olney, Vina, Showalter), asked to predict their players of the game: Lee, Utley, Feliz. Wonder who they think will win?

Orel said...

CBP is an octagon!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

They said we could not beat Lincecum. They said we could not beat Carpenter. They say we cannot beat Lee.

Orel said...

They said a man could not eat 68 hot dogs in ten minutes.

karina said...

I like the way Neeebs and Mr LASF talk.

Go Dodgers!

Kyle Baker said...

I could eat 50 eggs.

karina said...

They say Manny hits .429 against Lee, including a ton of extra base hits.

Nostradamus said...

@dusty

could and should are entirely different galaxies

Nostradamus said...

Here we go.

Orel said...

KABC is thankfully relatively in sync with TBS.

Orel said...

Dammit!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Crap

Nostradamus said...

Good contact, but we need to be seeing more pitches.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

A lefty is pitching to a lefty in a lefty-favored park. Who the hell gets the edge?

Kyle Baker said...

Orel, my father-in-law thanks you for the sync tip. He's been listening to Vin since he moved here from Peru in 1962, and couldn't bear the burden of listening to these TBS idiots again tonight.

Orel said...

Lee: 13 pitches in the first.

Orel said...

Lee: 13 pitches in the first.

Orel said...

Always glad to help, DB!

Orel said...

AZ has a Peoria?

sanfrandodgerfan said...

Hey LADs fans...

Orel said...

Tight strike zone again?

Orel said...

Hey SFDF!

Orel said...

One down.

Nostradamus said...

'sup sfdf

How was John's? Louie still bartend there?

karina said...

Kuroda 0-Victorino 1

Nostradamus said...

effing Victorino

NicJ said...

Well hiro is getting hit pretty hard so far.

Erin said...

I don't know if it's DirecTV or what, but Vin is always two-three seconds ahead of TBS for me. But it's vastly better than listening to the idiots on television, so I'm just going to deal with it.

sanfrandodgerfan said...

Hey Orel...

Kyle Baker said...

Pick off attempt to first and hit Victorino in the face!

Kyle Baker said...

TBS thru Charter Cable and AM 790 are almost exactly in sync, Erin. Rare, but appreciated.

Nostradamus said...

fack

NicJ said...

Davey lopes how do you sleep at night?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Oh fuck

Orel said...

Shit, Victorino steals second.

sanfrandodgerfan said...

Hi Mr. C...don't know Louie...

but...

I ate at 'different' sounding place today...

'Squat and Gobble!'...

Yep...in the Castro...)

Kyle Baker said...

Davey Lopes was classless for not joining The Infield for that opening pitch the other night. He should have been able to put uniform aside in favor of team heritage and memories, and for the fans. He lost me on that one.

Nostradamus said...

jaysus

Orel said...

Utley singles. Can't believe they held up Victorino.

Erin said...

Come on, Kuroda. Don't blow any momentum we had coming in here.

sanfrandodgerfan said...

Freaking sweet spot pitches!...

NicJ said...

This is about how I expected things to go.

Erin said...

DP, DP, DP, DP.

Orel said...

@DB: I get it. It was a good gesture for the Phillies and their fans.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

This is already tense

sanfrandodgerfan said...

erin@5:26...I heard plenty of that at Squat and gobble...lol

Paul said...

No control. Who is next in the pen?

NicJ said...

Well. That was a short game.

karina said...

I've had enough of Howard.

sanfrandodgerfan said...

Fuck...Time to change pitchers...NOW!!!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

That's game

Fred's Brim said...

throw strikes and you dont get in meatball situations

Nostradamus said...

@sfdf

"squat and gobble"

that's...unique.

My company tends to put me up at that hotel just a few doors down from John's when I'm in town, so I've spent many a hazy evening.

NicJ said...

Can padilla pitch again?

Nostradamus said...

this is useless.

sanfrandodgerfan said...

Torre has Phil Jackson syndrome...leave 'em in until they 'solve' their own problems...or...until things get too far out of hand...

SEE?...

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Now it really is game

Paul said...

What did they see in that simulated game that convinced them they could put hiro in this game ad waste a roster spot?

Fred's Brim said...

Does Hiroki think he's pitching against the Pirates?

Orel said...

How many ex-Dodgers involved in the scoring so far? Just two?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

So we go tomorrow down 1-2, with Wolf pitching against schmuck #2. I think we can tie it up.

NicJ said...

Haha bills warming up, that's comforting.

karina said...

Awesome, listening the Aguilas game on the radio and they are losing 5-0, bottom of the 6th.

Dodgers also losing 5-0....but this game is not lost yet.

Orel said...

3-0 to Ibanez.

Nostradamus said...

actually, if you're going to have a laugher, there's worse things you could do than have bills go out there and get some work.

Nostradamus said...

I don't see me lasting long in this game.

Orel said...

Cliff Lee is getting cold on the Phillies' bench. All part of the master plan.

sanfrandodgerfan said...

This game is a real pisser so far...

Mr. C...I work @ Townsend and 3rd...but I have to be in FIDI much of the time...I know John's fairly well too...

S & G is a crepe place...semi-chain around town...good enough for the $$...I guess they didn't used to have tables, ergo the name...

NicJ said...

Thats only two outs!?

Orel said...

Ks Ibanez. Two out.

Kyle Baker said...

@ Orel-

I get it, but I don't respect it. It was a poor gesture to his old fans. In baseball, more than a lot of other sports, people rise above the minutia to show greater respect of the history and heritage of the game, and Lopes didn't take that opportunity. No wrong answer, but he lost some respect in my estimation. Opposite of Gibson last year on turn back the clock: 80s night when he was wearing a D-bags uni but stepped out and did a coupla trademarked fist pulls for the crowd after the jumbotron had shown the sequence where hit jacked one out in 88. He showed that there was more to the game than the immediacy of the game that day, and I respected him for it.

Fred's Brim said...

how do these games get out of control like this? it's like it's on fast forward, like a Rick Pitino Kentucky team

Orel said...

Escapes. You can bet Torre will start him next inning.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

So Lidge to come in in the bottom of the frame. I guess this is last licks. Three outs left.

Orel said...

Werth's HR was the killer in that inning. 2-0 we could actually deal with.

Kyle Baker said...

Karina-

It's 4-0, not 5-0. SO all is not lost!

Paul said...

Well look at it this way

if somehow we come back it will be a huge hit to their confidence and a boost to ours.

And if we don't we still can get it back to LA with a win tomorrow.

Orel said...

Good argument, DB. I think Vin said Lopes told the team any other time of year, I'm up for it. But not during the playoffs.

NicJ said...

Might as well throw hiro back out. Why waste bills, wolf is pitching tomorrow.

Nostradamus said...

The optimistic side of me says that coming back from a 4-0 first inning deficit would be pretty crushing.

I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen, but it keeps into the game.

Fred's Brim said...

lets get a couple back

Orel said...

Manny first-pitch swinging in yesterday's game, pops up with the bases loaded. Tonight, looks at a 90-mph fastball right down the pipe.

NicJ said...

We know manny sucks, Philly.

Fred's Brim said...

DB do you know the Lees from Benton, AR?

Orel said...

IF Kuroda stabilizes, which is possible, we can chip away.

Orel said...

Full count to Manny.

Orel said...

Manny singles! IT'S ON

Fred's Brim said...

here we go

Kyle Baker said...

FB-

Don't know the Lees but knew Lee was from there and that he was a Razorback. I want not to like the guy but I can't.

NicJ said...

Praying for a cliff lee blister.

Nostradamus said...

well, ok.

Let's get something on the board, anyway.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

A base hit? What be this demonry?

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Two runs here and its a ballgame

Kyle Baker said...

Power Hitter: Matt Kemp

Nostradamus said...

road loney activate.

NicJ said...

Where have all the Bison gone?

Orel said...

Insult to injury: Loney GIDP.

NicJ said...

Well...

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

That should do it.

Nostradamus said...

well, we'll find out if we're toast or not in this half inning.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

How many are second guessing Torre's decision to start Kuroda?

NicJ said...

Here comes babe ruiz.

Nostradamus said...

Yeah, we're toast.

Orel said...

Ruiz doubles. So much for stability.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

@Dusto - At TBLA, plenty

sanfrandodgerfan said...

PULL THIS SCHMUCK!

chexxum said...

Burnt toast.

Fred's Brim said...

god i am so tired of the phillies, especially Ruiz. he has to come back to normal at some point

Dusto_Magnifico said...

its time to check Carlos Ruiz for steroids. (and James Loney for Hemeroids)

Nostradamus said...

@dusto

Meh. I'd have similar questions if it were Garland or Bills, frankly.

Hindsight is 20/20.

Kyle Baker said...

Kuroda can't even throw it to 1B.

Kyle Baker said...

SCOTT ELBERT???? Warming up. WTF?

Orel said...

I don't see why you don't pull Kuroda, with Ruiz at third.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I wonder what's going on in the NFL right now...

Erin said...

Yeah, I'd much prefer Elbert to Billingsley. WTF?

I said earlier today (and ever since the rotation was announced) that Billingsley should have started. I wanted Kuroda to prove me wrong about that.

Fred's Brim said...

time for a Rollins homerun

Nostradamus said...

gots to go, hiro.

Fred's Brim said...

Elbert's warmup pitches are wild as hell

NicJ said...

Elberts in the pen bouncing balls off the backstop.

Orel said...

Why not start warming up Elbert in the top of the second?

sanfrandodgerfan said...

I'm out for awhile...I can't watch this shite anymore...

Nostradamus said...

ok, I'm done.

Orel said...

First pounding of the postseason.

Josh S. said...

Hiro, we love you and you've had a rough year, but you's gots ta go.

FUUUUUUUCK.

Orel said...

"The bell is not the only thing with a severe crack in it tonight." —Vin

karina said...

Is this a nightmare?

Fred's Brim said...

unreal

why can't we do that? Jimmy Rollins is terrible

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Karina with prescient powers. (Sp)

Erin said...

Torre is really going to have to explain why Kuroda even started the second. He has NOTHING. But the decision to leave him in with Ruiz on third is really terrible.

Orel said...

Watch more "Glee," Mr. C!

Josh S. said...

Oh, and Joe, get the fuck over whatever shit you have with Bills.

NicJ said...

Falcons vs bears!?! Crap, guess I'm stuck with this until basketball start.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I'm with Mr. C. I'm out.

NicJ said...

I think that made me hate victorino even more.

Nostradamus said...

@Orel

Now that you mention it...

Kyle Baker said...

I'm about to commit hari kari after Hiro's performance.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I had to shut off Vin, it was so bad.

Fred's Brim said...

MLASF, I have done the same

Josh S. said...

Elbert thinks Russ is underground.

NicJ said...

Scott from Joplin is not entertaining.

Fred's Brim said...

everybody's staying away from Hiro like he's cursed or just ripped a big fart

Erin said...

I can't stand how pathetic this team looks tonight.

And I've never been more angry with Joe Torre.

NicJ said...

When I said I wanted the dodgers to go deeper into the playoffs I didn't mean lose in 6

Fred's Brim said...

where's James McDonald to come in and pitch 4 no pressure innings?

Fred's Brim said...

this is embarrassing

Kyle Baker said...

Bills up.

This is all a bunch of handedness shit. Fuck that. Go out and pitch well and get people out and forget who throws with which fucking hand.

Orel said...

Elbert BB, WP. We just need someone to eat innings at this point.

Erin said...

How many strikes will Elbert throw?

Oh, look! Billingsley is warming up. What a great idea!

Philly comes out with a huge lead in game one, and we attempt to claw our way back the whole game. Then we only win game two because of an Utley error. And now they're crushing us in game three. It's not wonder the national media gives no respect to the Dodgers.

NicJ said...

Switch off vin and put on yakkity sax, it makes the game tolerable.

Paul said...

Did they see what we saw in the bullpen. Fing ridiculous.

Fred's Brim said...

was Jeff Weaver our good luck charm?

Scott Elbert certainly isn't

Josh S. said...

No innings eaters on the roster (Weaver, Garland, Mota).

Fred's Brim said...

Cliff Lee was caught napping in the dugout

Erin said...

Maybe Lee will be tight in the next inning because of the long wait. You know, when we're down 9-0.

Orel said...

Upcoming: Ryan Howard grand slam.

Kyle Baker said...

Erin, I agree. I rarely if ever question Papa Joe, but this is just on him. Why run Hiro back out in 2nd? If you do, why not have someone else warming up? If you have someone else warming up, why not Bills over Elbert? And why not have Weaver on the roster at all? Oh, and why start a pitcher who has had major injuries all year and has not thrown a competitive pitch in forfucking ever?

NicJ said...

What's the worst playoffs loss ever?

Orel said...

6-0 Phils

Kyle Baker said...

"No innings eaters on the roster (Weaver, Garland, Mota)."

Exactly, Josh S.

Erin said...

Will the Dodgers actually believe they can come back in this game?

Joe, you are so on my list. This is just unbelievable. Now Billingsley comes in? What a fucking waste.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

I hate Joe Torre!

Josh S. said...

The Redemption of Chad begins...now!

karina said...

I think we'll witness Bills' redemption as the legitimate ace on the team.

Kyle Baker said...

Nic-

Remember that spanking D'bags gave to Yankmes back in the early 2000s in the playoffs?

NicJ said...

At least we are technically wasting a cliff lee start, an injured moyer could of won this game with this kind of run support.

Erin said...

I don't know how Joe can justify any of this. If anything, like you said Dusty, if he brings Kuroda out in the second, he needs to have someone warming.

Kyle Baker said...

KempKershaw, Bills is in! This is your time, man.

Erin said...

Joe won't care what Billingsley does here. Kuroda will probably still make his next start, assuming we get to it.

Fred's Brim said...

Billingsly to pitch no-hit ball until 2 outs in the 7th

Erin said...

Now Billingsley has to bat for himself, since his spot is up third in the top of the third.

NicJ said...

So does bills meltdown in the 6th still or does it get defered to the 7th?

Josh S. said...

Also, Chad could feasibly homer in CBP.

Kyle Baker said...

A strike! Wow.

Orel said...

@Nic "At least we are technically wasting a cliff lee start, an injured moyer could of won this game with this kind of run support."

I like this thinking.

Kyle Baker said...

Torre's bobblehead is going into the corner, facing the corner.

Orel said...

Chad escapes. Of course, this just means we're going to lose 6-5.

Erin said...

I know it's just one game, but it's the way we are losing. It's embarrassing and not good for confidence. And I don't care if players say they don't let these things affect them. I don't believe them.

Nice start, Chad.

Josh S. said...

Chad, buddy! How ya been?

What? Me talk shit about you? Never!

karina said...

Bills Ks!

NicJ said...

I knew bills should have started this game, I just was waiting till this moment to tell everyone.

I swear....

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Boy this NFL thing really is something.

karina said...

Can we believe?

Erin said...

Nic, I never said it in the blogosphere, but I did say it to anyone who would listen. I would have been happy to have been proven wrong by Kuroda, though. I wanted him to do well, I just didn't see why Billingsley wouldn't start a damn game.

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