Randy Wolf vs. Joe Blanton.
COMMENTS: See those numbers atop the post, and how some of them have a strike line through them, and some of them don't? Math geniuses might have gleaned that it marks how many wins we have to achieve this postseason to claim the ultimate title. And we've got just about the same amount of marks now as we had last year, after sweeping another NL Central team in the first round (the Cubs), only to hit a roadblock against the Phillies.
In fact, there's a lot of parallels to where we were last year at this time. Down two games to one, we were coasting along with a 5-3 lead in 2008 NLCS Game 4, having scored five runs off of the same Philly starter we'll face tonight, Joe Blanton (5 ER in 7 IP in 2008 NLCS Game 4; 12-8 with a 4.05 ERA in 2009). We then met up against Shane Victorino and Matt Stairs, both of whom hit two-run home runs in the eighth to put the Phillies ahead for good. Game 4 was the backbreaker last year, and this year's Game 4 looks to be the series fulcrum again.
This time around, however, things will be different. For one thing, we've got Randy Wolf going for us; Wolf was yanked early (after 3.2 IP, with the lead) in Game 1 of the NLDS, and hasn't pitched in 12 days. He may be rusty, but he'll be rested and ready to go deep; his 2.78 road ERA, fifth in the league, also bodes well. And even Philly fans love and respect Randy Wolf, even though he's a Dodger now.
For another thing, we've got karma on our side (not to mention Fox, who would love a Dodgers-Yankees World Series). And karma will take down reliable, trusted players just the same as anyone else in its wake. Matt Holliday? Bonk. Chase Utley? Bonk. The Phillies might have slept well last night, but the karma police will come, and that fridge-buzzing is about to become a detuned radio.
And finally, they've got Chan Ho Park on their this time around, unlike last year. That alone may be keeping our playoff odds at 33% for this series, even down 2-1 and playing the next two on the road (we were at 57% for the NLCS prior to last night's aberration).
We can strike out the "7" after tonight's game. We can bring the series back to Los Angeles. We can win this series. We can do it. I believe.
LET'S GO, DODGERS!
1215 comments:
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Kemp
Ethier
Ramirez
Loney
Belliard
Martin
Blake
Wolf
^ I will start putting "Manny" in there instead of "Ramirez" when Manny starts being Manny again.
One win tonight erases last night. One win evens this series and makes it a best 2 out of 3, with 2 of those possible 3 in our house. One win restores hope. One win.
HLACK-
One win to rule them all!
Oh, wait, it's "ring" not "win."
Man, Torre really likes to screw around with the lineup every game. Anyone look up to see if he has used the same batting order for 2 games straight this postseason?
Joe finally remembered that Blake in the 8-hole can be magic. Too bad Kemp and Blake both can't hit 8th.
AC, he used the same order for all 3 games of the NLDS. He started tinkering in the NLCS and then, well, we all know what happened.
@dusty
keeping with the theme, our quest balances on the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it will fail
I'm calling a James Loney home run tonight.
HLACK, I'll go one better: Russell Martin dinger tonight.
Joss Whedon to direct an episode of Glee.
I think my brain just exploded.
I would really enjoy handing out a beating like we got handed last night. 1-0 victories will still be accepted, though.
This looks like the kind of lineup that King George I would pencil in.
@Neeebs,
Couldn't be George I, there's no umlauts.
SoSG: Where Umlauts Live
I am going to be running around during gametime but I am going to try and comment as much as possible. When we comment a lot, we win. I don't have data on this yet, but I'm going to assume it's true and act accordingly.
Nine companions. So be it. You shall be the fellowship of the ring. (World Series Ring!)
Sax, I think you're totally correct on the link between comments and wins. I don't have any data to support my claim that you are correct, but it's a gut instinct.
Isn't Lars Umlaut a character on Guitar Hero?
Batting forth, on Lead Guitar, #666, Lars (echo) Umlaut (echo)
And I'm pretty sure that Belliard should have an umlaut somewhere.
This discussion reminds me of the limerick challenge from back in May or so. re: Juan Pierre: "Is he Latin or French?" or something to that effect.
Padilla announced as Game 5 starter.
@Dusty
I thöught thät I wäs thë önly öne whö rëmëmbered cräp likë thät
Mr. C - Kids today would look at those umlauts and wonder how you got your emoticons to stand up straight.
@MC:
This is the problem with foreign born royalty. Kings of England shouldn't be born in Germany, and vis-a-versa.
Mr. C-
No, I remember all sorts of random shit like that. Just never anything of major import, like what Mrs. Dusty asks me to do for chores or a grocery list (at least, a list that doesn't just consist of beer, bloody mary mix, baseball cards, etc.).
@Dusty Baker: I can't believe you remembered that "is he Latin or French" line, either. Nicely played.
You're like A-Tilde The Hun.
By the way, if our postseason GT comments are any indication...there is no correlation between number of comments and Dodger win/loss outcome. Three of the six games got into the 600s, with mixed outcomes.
On the other hand, we haven't had a 2009 postseason GT get to the 700s! Hmm...
@Dusty, why is Torre standing in the corner? Is he losing his religion?
*tries to solve secret puzzle contained in Mr. C's umlaut post*
@ Sax-
Yep, that's him in the spotlight.
@Neeebs,
Kings of England are a mess anyway. One can't be choosy about the country they're originally from. Hell, we only speak modern English because the Plantagenets couldn't be bothered to learn the language properly.
I need a victory. Who's with me?
Sax, if Torre had left Kuroda in any longer last night, the thread would have been at least a couple hundred comments longer: all curse words.
@ Mr. C, Neeebs-
Yeah...the whole idea of English kings always sounded good on paper until one realized that very few actually were, technically, English.
Josh, if Torre would have left Kuroda in any longer last night...I...I can't even finish the sentence. Must move on.
@Dusty
I've always admired that about the English character. No other being but an englishman could take an pompous, presumptive, illegitimate foreigner who invaded their country and subjugated their population and turn him into a revered national hero.
Limericks, umlauts, REM references, LOTR references, a Dusto drive-by; this thread is off to a promising start.
Life is bigger, bigger than you
And you are not me.
Oh no, I've said too much.
@rbnlaw
You haven't said enough.
Oh yeah, forgot the history of the English monarchy.
I love the Saxon kings just for their names. Ethelred; always popular.
Edward the Confessor? Love him.
Thanks Mr. C. I almost never hear that. . .even in an REM sort of way.
@rbnlaw
Hardicanute was the bomb.
@rbnlaw
re: REM
I could have gone with you haven't set it up, but that would be easily disproven.
@rbnlaw, Mr. C, Dusty: Thanks for picking up the REM thread.
Now you guys are just continuing to riff just to Stipe me.
And we're not even receiving a Stipend, Sax.
@Sax
We're all just shining, happy people holding hands in here.
FWIW, the Live Acoustic Version / Rockline of Losing My Religion, on the UK Collector's Edition CD Two, is an awesome version of the track.
No Stipend, Dusty? Not even a Buck or two?
I'll be trying to keep up with the tread, but I don't know if I can do it.
"thread" D'oh!
That's an awesome shirt, Josh S.
@Josh S: I'm trying to figure out where your avi shot was taken. Americana? Grove?
Definitely Americana
@ Sax-
Just a few small Bills.
Americana indeed.
I recgognize the elevators.
@Dusty,
"Sven-Goren Eriksson"
William of Normandy, but I laughed out loud a little. I'm sure my sanity is being questioned by my coworkers right now.
Sorry, was preoccupied there for a bit.
Hey, not your run of the Mills thread today, eh?
Long live King Athelstan.
Eriksson was being interviewed for another international position. After destroying England and trying to destroy Mexico, who wouldn't want the guy as a manager?
Something for the Dodgers to ponder tonight...sage advise from those 80's visionaries.
"Are we not men?"
@rbnlaw
It's tough to keep track of all these tangents when people Berry the comment you were originally referencing.
Let's just hope that after tonight's game, the Dodgers aren't Out of Time.
I always liked Æthelred the Unready. It's like, if you're the friggin' king, can't you change your name and demand people call you something cooler, or else you'll make them pay?
[And yes, I know that Unready translation is actually wrong.]
@RB, MC-
In answer, Sweden or Nott's County, apparently.
20 minutes to game time.
Come on, Dodgers!
If we are preferring Kings here, I'd much prefer the Russian Czars over their European counterparts.
Manny will drive in 8, then take a break.
Sax, I'm just now getting to this news item in your post-game post. The credit card system was down and it was cash only? You are kidding! WTF? I never carry cash. I would have had to watch from Short Stop.
The Angels are making more mental mistakes than that airship family.
@Sax
"...the Dodgers aren't Out of Time"
If they are, I'll be around the Document the atrocities.
Dusty: I hear you, it was ridiculous. It's bad enough that the little cart vendors all over the place don't take credit cards. But the actual concession stands? During a playoff game? I'm sure that there were lost sales as a result.
What's worse, they cut off beers to ONE beer per person, as of the sixth inning, thanks to the cops on site. I thought that this might have been due to the day game, but it was true for Game 1 as well. Weird.
Eight minutes to get this party started.
Conflicting Edits, you stopped me from another lame REM pun. Damn you! You're going to turn me into a Monster!
I'd just like to say good job! You guys are so close to hitting 100 comments before the game even starts. I see 700 on the horizon for sure!
GO DODGERS!!!
Drive by complete.
We all have to do our part!
I've never experienced the one beer cutoff thingy. Insane.
Yeah, why no card transactions at the cash only carts? There are usually few people in those lines and massive amounts of people in the food+beer lines. Dodger management: can we get a little load balancing love for once?
@Neeebs
Those of us with playoff beards would prefer to avoid Peter the Great. Boris Gudonov gets a literary pass, though.
Can we hit 100 before the first pitch?
Si se puede!
Leadoff double for Mathis in the tenth for the Angels.
@Orel
Si se puede!
Let's see if the Angels can end this one quickly.
Rivera coming in. Don't make me switch channels, Angels!
Still listening on the radio at work. Can't wait to get out of here and get a beer for the game.
Only if everyone promises not to post "100." That would be like inflating a beach ball during the pre-game ceremony, or starting the wave in the top of the first inning.
Now pinch-hitting for the Angels...Luis Gonzalez!
I want the Angels to win this game.
91
DB, what about "answer sent"?
I almost posted "that number" earlier DB. Somehow I resisted.
If the Angels let this one slip away, I see them exiting the playoffs without a Murmur of protest.
Rivera pulls an Izturis!
How many Rally Monkies are flailing around in the stadium now I wonder. I really hate that monkey.
Texiereriaraireiraira stabs his old team in the back with a diving stop.
Can that OC team postpone the day of Reckoning?
Fanerman-
I was tempted to post "Answer sent" after Mr. C's umlaut post, but thought better of it.
Vinny is on the air!
hi everybody
i am confidently nervous and nervously confident
And just in time for us to reach our goal.
I'd love to see Mariano Rivera blow a save here (for many reasons) but especially because it would cause the collective Yankeegasm among the sports media complex to pause, albeit momentarily.
Rancho ardiendo in Anahem.
Hey, the game's already started!
is that Pat Sajak behind the plate at the Angels game? Is he their Mary Hart?
Blanton looks like Penny lite.
@FB - My dad called to say he saw Jack Saypat behind the dish. I one-upped him and said I saw Scott Boras.
2 down in the first already.
Kemp's bat made contact with the ball and drove it forward! Baby steps...
dammit blue, if that's gonna be a strike....
Penny lite? Isn't that an oxymoron?
Or just a moron?
1-2-3...again
Quick first for Blanton. Let's see if Wolf can do the same.
we've gotta be more patient somehow
Rancho ardiendo, 2 outs, Vlade up.
Well, that's game.
I'm sorry, it's not over? I thought based on the crowd reaction that the Phillies won.
Heading home to watch the game. Have a good thread all.
Angels fail to convert the leadoff double. Ouch.
wow Yanks get out of the jam
Drive safe, Q7!
See ya, 4-7s. I'm going to be doing the same in a minute...45 mins til I get home and catch up on the Tivo.
box score says 54 degrees in Philly
cmon Randy, throw strikes. we need a good one out of you
Ominous start.
FUCK
one pitch, one single
Crap
damn they don't wait around
da da da dum...
C'mon, Randy....
jees
Good job by Dre to get there.
Thank goodness Furcal & Ethier didn't pull an Aybar & Figgins.
Vin not waiting to start with the stories.
Victorino popped Russ like Manny's been doing Ruiz
Bloops! The secret weapon!
please no 2-out rbis :(
Hmmm, two pop-ups.
Angels fail in the bottom of the 10th.
If Randy Wolf isn't comfortable in Philadelphia, no one will be.
where was that? too much of a strike?
Ump gettin' squeezy.
FUCK
son
of
a
bitch
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
GOD FUCKING DAMNIT
And there's your game. Fucking umps.
that was a meatball
Well, that was kind of a pop-up, too, if you think about it.
ump, you are killing us!
What garbage.
Let's try not to hemorrhage any more runs, for chrissake.
Stabilize, Randy.
tell 'em Ron!
thanks for the recap, Chip
Wolf at 98 pitches already.
FINALLY
Can we get Kuroda warming up?
figure out that strike zone, ump
Infuriating first inning stumbles aside, if we can't score 3 runs in this fucking postage stamp of a ballpark, we deserve to lose.
the ump in the Angels game is calling strikes for our game
Mr. C-
We call it a Randy Marsh-sized ballpark.
This K-zone better be equal
C'mon, Manny. Stop the humiliation.
make this bum throw strikes
Argh Mr. Ramirez...
Okay, so Manny doesn't strike out weakly. I feel redeemed.
Bullshit strike.
how is that a strike?
doppio!
Hopefully a good omen.
BULLSHIT
Wolf doesn't get that call.
unreal
this game seems out of control
that pitch must have been low
It's 9 against 10 now.
Hey, it's Joe "Cy Young" Blanton!
patience is the key here. For the Dodgers, not us.
I'm ecstatic we hit one in the air.
For real, Orel. That fly ball seemed to put the game slightly less in their control...
Okay, no more bitching from me about the ump. He's not going to change -- we gotta deal with it.
Dodgers offense, Show The F Up!
Off to Pas. Catch yall later. Someone please txt me if I need to stop on the bridge over the Arroyo Seco and just jump off.
what was Jerry Hairston doing?
Angels win.
agreed Orel
time to play and win
Hmmm, wide strike to Ibanez there.
Sorry, couldn't help it!
@orel
Yeah, it'd be harder to fuck up balls and strikes on BASE HITS.
Angels are now in the same position as the Dodgers. Bizarre.
is it me or does every ball they hit seem like it's hammered?
Randy, this is Pedro Feliz - he's one of the easy outs
@fb
Every ball they hit increases the likelihood of me getting hammered.
@Orel:
I was just thinking the same thing.
A lot of long-ball fouls by the Phils. Not helping the nerves.
Nice rundown Andre.
Now it's Ruiz.
Mr C, maybe that's what I need to do, especially w Ruiz coming up
Randy's working the strike zone.
Did we just get Ruiz?
WE GOT RUIZ OUT!
WE GOT RUIZ OUT!
WE GOT RUIZ OUT!
what happened there? Did the Phillies give up?
THE, RUIZ, THE.
THE, PHILLIES, THE
HE'S A MERE MORTAL!!!!
Bellytoo with the barehanded catch/throw from shallow center on Ruiz's bouncer. Nice stretch by Loney.
And there was much rejoicing.
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