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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Fred's Brim said...

this is a a big steaming pile of whatever to me right now. We can lose this and win tomorrow and we will have taken back home field and make this a best of 3 with 2 games to be played in LA.

Erin said...

Vin is reminding us that we were once down by five to Arizona, and came back to win.

The circumstances are only slightly different now, right?

Erin said...

I just want to see an epic collapse by the Phillies. Let's make that the story.

Fred's Brim said...

lets get 2 back right now

Orel said...

Just remember how the Phils felt after Friday's game. They must have felt they just gave that game to us.

Fred's Brim said...

this ump is trouble

NicJ said...

I think this game might have put the DSB guy in the hospital.

Orel said...

Chad tater right here.

Orel said...

Nice hack by Chad!

Kyle Baker said...

I am very sad right now.

Erin said...

Ugh. I don't think I can sit on the computer anymore during this. If the Dodgers show any signs of life, I'll come back.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

This is so depressing.

Kyle Baker said...

Chad's cuts looked better than damned near anyone else on the team. Can Elbert swing like that? Hell no!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

So how 'bout those Bears?

NicJ said...

Man, why didn't WE think of trading for cliff lee?

Fred's Brim said...

i am taking off my Assassins Circle victory prize Mannywood shirt. I wore it for the Broxton meltdown in Pittsburgh and it clearly isnt working tonight

Kyle Baker said...

At least I'm learning new Spanish profanity tonight from my father-in-law.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

@FB - I just imagined Fernando taking off his shirt. And not young Fernando, either. You sicken me.

Fred's Brim said...

I sicken me too, MLASF

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

I missed the first two innings. Anything interesting happen?

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

There's no place like home
With your family around you you're never alone
When ya know that your loved
You don't need to roam
Cause there's no place like home

Time's are changing everyday
We won't get by with the same old ways
No-oooo pulling together will make it right
With help from are friends I know we can right

Cause there's no place like home
With your family around you you're never alone
When you know that your loved
You don't need to roam
Cause there ain't no place like
Better believe it
I said their no place like home
"I mean no place child" .

Josh S. said...

I was about to make fun of the Under the Lights ad and VIN BEAT ME TO IT.

I am laughing so hard right now.

Orel said...

Oh man, MLASF rockin' the white flag avatar. It's only the third inning!

Dusto_Magnifico said...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN199008210.shtml

its time for a little retribution.

NicJ said...

I blame the Mets for this. Why cant they be good enough to not let these guys get into the playoffs?

Josh S. said...

"Hit, run, throw, eat, drink, and party under the lights...none of which the Dodgers are doing right now." - Vin

NicJ said...

We got ruiz out!!!

NicJ said...

Andre is probably eating.

Fred's Brim said...

lets get 1 back this inning

Fred's Brim said...

Dusto, that is still my least favorite Dodgers game ever. I listened to the Phillies radio broadcast of that when it happened. I walked around in a daze for 2 days after

Fred's Brim said...

Mattingly was packing away the sunflower seeds for a long winter

NicJ said...

FB, lessening your demands?

Fred's Brim said...

yep - 2 is way to much to expect at this point

maybe I should ask for a walk or HBP

Fred's Brim said...

*too

NicJ said...

The dodgers took the crowd out of the game at least.

Boredom still counts.

NicJ said...

If we can't get lee out of the game maybe we can get ruiz out.

Fred's Brim said...

take that, Rooeeze!

Fred's Brim said...

wow, no way

Kyle Baker said...

http://pic.gd/8e2948

Torre's place. This is for you, Erin.

NicJ said...

Dodgers new goal, win in 6 so we don't have to see lee again.

Kyle Baker said...

We almost hit one out of the infield!

karina said...

@Dusty Baker you made me smile with that pic.

Erin said...

DB, that is AWESOME. Christine won't let me put our Torre bobblehead in the corner or on the floor. She's trying to be all optimistic and crap. So he's staring at me from the front row of our bobblehead/ball shelf. I think he's mocking me.

(yes, I'm still here even though I said I wouldn't be. Christine's annoying optimism means I have to sit through the game--instead of watching Dexter, for instance--so I might as well hang out with you guys)

NicJ said...

Maybe a pitch slips here, Chad?

Kyle Baker said...

Glad you liked it Erin and Karina.

Erin, I feel like we're you're second or third choice tonight - so hurt *feigns grief*

Kyle Baker said...

Can we throw at Victorino while he's yakking in the dugout?

NicJ said...

This billingsley fellow is pretty good.

NicJ said...

That's an out in little league.

Fred's Brim said...

is he a rookie?

NicJ said...

The string of outs has broken, how does bills cope?

Fred's Brim said...

"Why does it say "Chad Durbin" on the bat?"

Erin said...

We'll win tomorrow, right? A guy named Blanton shouldn't beat anybody.

Kyle Baker said...

We'll get 'em tomorrow. I was already mentally prepared to lose this one.

Fred's Brim said...

Erin, yes we will. that'll make it 2-2 and they'll have to win game 5 to keep from having to win 2 in LA

Erin said...

I was prepared to lose, too, DB. I just thought it would be a better game.

NicJ said...

Didn't blanton beat us last year?

I think we will win tomorrow though

NicJ said...

Touchdown!!!!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I think Blanton started the Stairs game, so no, I don't think he beat us.

Kyle Baker said...

Manny locked in.

(That's all I could muster, positively.)

Fred's Brim said...

Manny = Whole Team

Erin said...

Can I just say that in this topsy-turvy game, at least I can still find reasons to hate Steiner? It's comforting to know that some things will never change.

NicJ said...

Manny is on fire!

That always seems to happen when no one else is hitting.

Kyle Baker said...

Manny is putting this team on his back!!!

Fred's Brim said...

lets get 0 back this inning

Fred's Brim said...

cmon Matty, it's time to re-find it.

Smack something back up the middle

Fred's Brim said...

like Cliff Lee

Kyle Baker said...

Didn't Steiner just say Lee had retired requisite 12 batters he'd faced going into the 5th? And hadn't Manny singled before?

Betsy said...

Thank God for Chad! I'm playing the Youtube DSBG during the 8th inning...miracles can happen..

Erin said...

Unbelievable, Kemp. Why are you swinging at those pitches?

Erin said...

DB, Manny was erased on a DP.

Kyle Baker said...

Kemp Ks for the 11th time.

MR.F said...

We're not doing too hot.

NicJ said...

Postseason Kemp = Postseason A Rod (until this season)

Erin said...

Christine says, "Come on, Loney. Hit one of those homers you like to hit away from home."

Fred's Brim said...

Loney G I a DP before

Eric the Ice King said...

@DB

Loney hit into a DP, so Charley's right, darn it...

However, when Charley and Rick start talking like they do, I have to wonder who's paying them...

Fred's Brim said...

yes! we met my goal for the inning!

NicJ said...

We are just setting up lee for a game seven loss.

Yeah, that's it.

MR.F said...

A-Rod did pretty well in the postseason with the Mariners. I'd take that from Kemp.

Kyle Baker said...

Eric and Erin-

Right-o. In the context he was speaking my mind went to the idea of 12 up 12 down, so I went a different way than what he was saying. My bad. Though it understated the immensity and critical importance of our one hit by describing it that way.

Erin said...

I'm about to eat A LOT of cake. Damn you, Dodgers.

Fred's Brim said...

Victorino mic'ed: is there a way to double-mute the TV?

Fred's Brim said...

Chad vs Lee in game 7?

Fred's Brim said...

Craig Sager seems like a good dude

he and Don Cherry should have a Suit-Off

Erin said...

I can't tell you how much cake I would need to get through a game seven. Could we just win in six, please?

Fred's Brim said...

Fred's Brim sent to mental hospital for posting to himself

Fred's Brim said...

what kind of cake?

Erin said...

My friend made a caramel cake with chocolate frosting for a BBQ yesterday, and insisted we take the majority of it home. I objected, but took it anyway, and now I'm very happy. It's delicious.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I love caramel, and as a result, I hate you, Erin.

Fred's Brim said...

sounds awesome!
i'd help you get rid of it if I could :)

Neeebs (The Original) said...

This team is not showing that they have any BALLS at all.

Eric the Ice King said...

At this point, the sole good point is that Bills is doing a good job. Bills vs. Lee would be not too ridiculous to see if this series goes the distance.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Time to turn off this game and help baby Neeebs with her homework.

Erin said...

I hate Steiner and the way he frickin' calls things. He is four seconds ahead of the radio call, and I had to watch on the television to figure out where that ball was going.

MR.F said...

It's okay. As long as all the runs are coming out today. That means shut outs the rest of the way, right guys?

NicJ said...

See, if bills pitched we still would have lost.

NicJ said...

WTF does Feliz have on his nose?

Eric the Ice King said...

Caramel cake with chocolate frosting? My blood sugar just went up via my I-net connection.

Fred's Brim said...

Ruiz is somehow going to hit a grand slam

Erin said...

I wrote that incorrectly. Steiner's call is four seconds ahead of the video, and I still have to watch for the television to tell me what happens.

Are we done now?

Fred's Brim said...

how is this possible?!?

karina said...

I have a headache and i'm craving chocolate.

Hate you Ruiz.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

And there's the insurance. Watch, we'll score seven now.

Eric the Ice King said...

Should we get Thome or Loretta up to pitch next inning? =D

Fred's Brim said...

if the Dodgers somehow lose this series, Ruiz will hit under .200 in the world series

JuanLove said...

if the dodgers somehow lose this series, i'm a yankee fan for november

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

If it's Yankees/Phillies, I might kill myself.

Fred's Brim said...

it pains me to say this, but me too

Erin said...

If the Dodgers somehow lose this series, the season will be over and I'll be counting down until pitchers and catchers report. There is no way I'm watching a Yankees/Phillies WS, or even an Angels/Phillies WS.

NicJ said...

I'll be rooting for snow.

MR.F said...

If it's Yankees/Phillies, I might kill myself.

I might join you. Maybe we can have a group kool-aid drinking party.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

save the PEN! leave Bills in to finish it out!

Fred's Brim said...

lets get -1 back this inning

Erin said...

Why does it seem like the bottom of our order is always up in this game?

JuanLove said...

we need to beam someone

NicJ said...

O dog!! I remember that guy.

Erin said...

Billingsley should stay in this game. There's no reason to waste anyone else, and it's not like he couldn't use the work. Torre somehow believes we'll be coming back in this one?

Fred's Brim said...

when did we get him?

NicJ said...

How many pitches has he thrown? He probably isn't stretched out enough.

Erin said...

I'm just going to pretend this game never happened and enjoy fantastic Sunday night programming.

JuanLove said...

Cliff Lee is just giving Ned the middle finger

Fred's Brim said...

is there a way to call this and just come back tomorrow?

NicJ said...

What happened to furcal? He was so good a week ago.

You could of said that about the whole team though.

Kyle Baker said...

Homemade pizza night. More red wine will be quaffed than usual. Catch you on the MFPGT to express my dismay.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

@Nic - You really could.

Orel said...

Lee at 84 pitches. Think Manuel's going to pull him anytime soon?

NicJ said...

Maybe one of the dodgers should try to find the switch to the sprinklers.

Fred's Brim said...

i can't believe I left the Bills-Jets game early for this

NicJ said...

I'd like to see breezy in a no pressure situation tonight

Fred's Brim said...

Tronny to finish up?

JuanLove said...

i hope none of the prospects Cleveland got for Lee pan out

Todd said...

Been watching street/high school fights on YouTube since the 4th. Much more entertaining.

NicJ said...

Haha, FB this game is probably the only worse game than that bills jets game.

Fred's Brim said...

as I remember, they didnt get much. My buddy's who's an Indians fan says he liked what they got, even though they weren't any of the big prospects. But he's an Indians fan...

Orel said...

Bison with the moral victory!

NicJ said...

JL that probably will be the case prospects often don't pan out. Unless they are dodgers prospects then they become allstars upon leaving dodger stadium.

Eric the Ice King said...

We just need a touchdown and a field goal and we're back in this!

Fred's Brim said...

at least I could have seen the Bills win! but i probably would have gotten beat up by a bunch of greasy Jets fans afterward

Fred's Brim said...

shuttup Barry Larkin, you're just a Red

NicJ said...

Haha, I swear I thought that game was going to end in a tie.

Orel said...

SINGLE!

NicJ said...

Here comes the twelve run avalanche.

Fred's Brim said...

what happens when the ball goes into the outfield but it isn't caught n the fly? is that allowed?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Someone other than Manny gets a hit!

Orel said...

Andre will hit a 7-run homer here.

Fred's Brim said...

Nic, I think they were both awarded a loss after that one

NicJ said...

Lets get that two run triple from the first inning back!

Runner on, manny gets an out.

Fred's Brim said...

when are Belli2 and Casey going to re-aggravate their hamstring injuries?

NicJ said...

Manny's getting pretty good at that follow through clunk on the noggin

NicJ said...

Thats a little classless for tbs to show that sign.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

@Nic - What'd the sign say?

Fred's Brim said...

where's the fast-forward button?

Fred's Brim said...

send it up the middle, Matty

just hit it

MR.F said...

Good AB so far for Matt Kemp.

NicJ said...

"Too manny roids."


If anything it's not enough!

Orel said...

DB: Reminds me of this.

MR.F said...

And then he strikes out. Gotta catch up to that!! Argh.

Fred's Brim said...

Matty just swung at that pitch.......
.
.
.
now

NicJ said...

What's that, 11 k's now?

Orel said...

Lee at 103 pitches through seven. He is going all the way tonight.

JuanLove said...

must be nice having a guy you just KNOW is going to do that every single night he's out there

Fred's Brim said...

Mike Bloomberg, don't worry, i'm not voting for Bill Thompson

NicJ said...

There are not too many dodger games in October I would skip to watch a lakers clippers preseason game but this is one of them.

Fred's Brim said...

and neither is anybody else here

Orel said...

Down 8-0, we finally pitch around Ryan Howard. Makes sense.

JuanLove said...

i didnt even know the lakers were on.
thanks

Kyle Baker said...

Nice link, Orel. Exactly.

NicJ said...

The raiders won today? That explains the fireworks going off in my neighborhood.

Kyle Baker said...

Or draw the walk he actually deserved.

Fred's Brim said...

we've got to seriously refocus for tomorrow. I hope we can get a few hits over the next six outs so we can start feeling good about our hitting again

Orel said...

Craig Sager reporting Kuroda feels physically fine. Great news, guys — he can start Game 7!

Orel said...

Inning-ending DP. IN YOUR FACE PHILLIES

NicJ said...

At least our 2nd basemen can make a throw to first.

Fred's Brim said...

ahh that's the bum Feliz that we all know so well

Fred's Brim said...

what is everyone doing to generate some kind of enjoyment out of this evening?
i've heard eating cake, watching Lakers-Clips, what else?

NicJ said...

Does plaschke already have his next article about the dodgers needing to pitch MORE inside if we want to win?

Nostradamus said...

I see there's only been 33% more suck than when we last met. Some would call that an improvement.

Nostradamus said...

@fb

Watching backlog episodes of Glee, as previously documented.

Orel said...

Always love to see the backwards K in a blowout.

NicJ said...

FB, I'm putting the finishing touches on my cliff lee voodoo doll.

Orel said...

I don't think Joe Blanton is going to continue that trend.

Nostradamus said...

@orel

Hopefully all the support runs will go to the pitcher who doesn't need them, and the one who does won't get any.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Clearly if we had an ace this loss would have been averted.



Especially if that ace was Cliff Lee.

NicJ said...

I hope we can bounce back after an embarassing loss like this. This feels like the Matt stairs moment stretched out over 9 innings.

Fred's Brim said...

i am torturing myself by drinking flat coke and figuring out how my fantasy football teams did today (and it aint good...)

Fred's Brim said...

imagine if it was Cliff Lee getting torched by the Phillies tonight instead if Hiro. Plaschke would be saying we should have made a bigger pitch to get Halladay or CC

Eric the Ice King said...

Charlie Manuel can only win if he doesn't use his relief...ever.

I suppose the Dodgers haven't pushed Lee at all, but even if the fans will eat Manuel's still-beating heart if he ever replaces Lee, I'd like to see what he does if Hamel's or Blanton ever get into trouble.

Orel said...

We gotta be able to touch Blanton.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

Dodgers score 9 in the 9th

JuanLove said...

i dont know what we need

Kyle Baker said...

@ FB-

Getting hammered on really expensive pinot noir. Stuff I should be saving but fuckt the world.

Orel said...

What crazy thing would you do for the Dodgers to win this game?

JuanLove said...

and of course he gets a hit

im glad there were some enticing NLF games today. otherwise we would never hear the end of this mess

mpearse89 said...

What's wit the umps giving Ruiz all the borderline calls? No wonder they're struggling to get him out, you have to throw it right down the middle or it won't get called a strike!

Kyle Baker said...

Orel-

If I answer that, I think you'd gong me and/or erase my response.

Kyle Baker said...

Seriously, why is Lee still in this? I respect his night, and concede defeat like a French soldier, but why is Lee still in?

Fred's Brim said...

can we not let them score?

Eric the Ice King said...

Lee exhausts himself on the basepath, comes back weakly in the top of the ninth and Manuel is paralyzed with indecision as the game implodes...

And then I fell off the couch and awoke to the reality of this game...

Fred's Brim said...

of course not

fuck
this

JuanLove said...

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