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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I really hate Werth. No reason, except he used to be on our team and now he's on my most hated NL team.
Martin hits it hard but Werth runs it down. Yes, we are getting no-hit.
like a dominatrix, were starting to hit the balls harder
FB: Think of it as drinking Philly blood.
Fanerman: Good enough for me.
Hudson forever, Casey ne-... well, at least not right now.
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Very nice, FB. I just crossed my legs.
we're gonna get ours, i can feel it. Blanton is hittable
Randy will get a hit tonight.
Nine up, nine down. This can't hold.
cx.
I'm going to have to agree with you MLASF.
That was me pounding the keyboard with my fists.
I agree FB. Baby steps. Hitting balls hard is only a good thing.
not to give too much credit, but Ryan Howard has made great strides with his defense. You could count on him gagging on a play a game, but not anymore
Only 32 pitches for Blah-nton? Ugh.
Hey guys, did you hear Blanton has a perfect game going?
I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I'm getting pissed, so here it is.
Shut up, Vin.
perfect? like no hits or baserunners of any kind? you don't say...
Notice how Mattingly hasn't gotten any flak for the bats yet?
Even Blah-nton gets good hits.
Hey Blanton has one home run
ah shit too late for the jinx.
tell 'em to fuck off, Joe
I predict better things the second time through the lineup.
These Philly hitters are unstoppable.
HOLY SHIT THIS GODDAMN UMPIRE
These are all strikes.
TBS' pitch track thingy is making the home plate ump look really bad.
4 strikes
1 called
Ted Barrett does not deserve his pension after this.
Another one. Delightful.
Where the hell is this ump's strike zone.
Randy getting in a groove. But phils will score more than 2.
Ron Darling, to a "full-grown", older woman with a "I love Ron Darling and TBS" sign:
"Very nice, stay hot"
My friend and I discussed how nice it is that Dodger Stadium doesn't allow self-serving, stupidly phrased signs inside, unlike CBP.
Either TBS strike zone is off, or the ump just really sucks.
Situational ump: more likely to call a strike on a 3-0 count.
I mean, shouldn't the best umps be doing the playoffs?
1-2-3!
is Randy pitching to the Dodgers batters?
I just want to point out that Werth made a routine catch in right and Caray's response was, "And look at Werth cover ground!"
The bias is simply unbelievable. If the strike zone for Blanton were this bad, would these guys be commenting so nonchalantly about it?
Sometimes, I appreciate that SoSG doesn't have the Dodger Thoughts "making the same point over and over again" rule.
What was the difference between the first and the fourth pitch? Good fucking lord this ump is the crappiest I've ever seen.
We need UMPBOT3000.
K top of the order in the fourth. We have them right where we want them.
@Fanerman: "Sometimes, I appreciate that SoSG doesn't have the Dodger Thoughts 'making the same point over and over again' rule."
Yeah, our Game Threads would have like, three comments.
Another one right to 'em.
So we'll just get no-hit tonight? Is that it?
I think I saw a Phillie glove sticking out of Barrett's back-pocket.
Joe Blanton is pitching a perfect fucking game. PERFECT FUCKING GAME.
Come on Matt...
hit it back up the middle, Matty
Kemp just swung on a junkball in the dirt. He's off.
What is Kemp swinging at this series? What happened to our confident power hitter?
Good job not swinging at that one.
Hey, Fanerman swore!
YES!!! Good at-bat Matt.
BISON WALK
THAT'LL SHOW 'EM
way to lay off, Matty!
now tie it up, Dre!
" Phillies will win the World Series with a strikeout of Kemp..."
Just trying to imagine why they're so freakin' pumped.
We have a walk! 3 more walks!!! 3 more walks!!
take that!!!
WRONG UMP, ANDRE! WRONG UMP!
Desperate times, Orel.
Now that Blanton doesn't have a perfecto, he's going to fall apart any second now.
There. All it took was me calling him on it. Kemp doesn't strike out, and the perfect game is over. We score this inning.
Huh. An ump gets hit? Karma?
Wish Ethier could have hit the home plate ump like that.
I also have flu-like symptoms, so my patience is pretty thin right now.
Mariano is a bug dude!
Maybe that was the horse's head in Barrett's bed.
I don't mind Ethier swinging here. Gotta stay aggressive.
I wish we would have put a play on here. Send Kemp. Do something!
Other than swinging at everything Blanton throws, I mean.
Way to be a gamer, Fanerman!
that PitchTrak is off too
damn
DAMNIT!!!
I hate Victorino so much.
:(
Ethier with the warning-track fly out. It's like we gain a few inches every time through the lineup.
can we catch one break? or did we use them up in game 2?
It sucks to be late when you're making non-stop references to R.E.M.'s music, i'm Green with envy. Can i just join the fun late? if Sax weren't married, i'd ask him to marry me and then i thought the same with Rbnlaw, Dusty Baker, Josh S and Mr C, shame you're all Half a World Away and taken.
@Josh S certainly Manny is Driver 8, because "he can reach his destination but it's still a ways away" (poetic license taken here)
Note that Kemp isn't trying to steal.
Well, that'll be about as hard as we hit the ball all night, I reckon.
Yeah, I'm being negative. I don't care. I'm so frustrated with this team right now.
Tie it, Manny. Make then regret thinking they should pitch to you.
I hate Victorrino. He didn't have to jump. Showoff.
people whose days just got brighter:
Sax
Rbnlaw
Dusty Baker,
Josh S
Mr C
Why you gotta swing at that?
Manny needs to let the dreads roam free
You can't have SB with no one on base, Charley.
Did Charlie Steiner say that we probably never heard of Josh Outman?
I smell swinging K. Sorry.
What are those phillie fans chanting?
Oh Philly fans are so creative.
Thank you Manny!!!
RALLY!
YES! NOW ENGAGE, ROAD LONEY!
That was a hanging ball that Manny could have really launched. I'll take a runner at third, but I wish there weren't two outs.
TBS Sucks...my TV keeps farting!
Come on JL!!!
I'm sorry I doubted you, Manny. But it's nice to see you not swing for the fences every time.
Me, too, Keith.
I'm surprised the crowd didn't explode with appreciation after Manny broke the no-no
one
time!
AC: I think "You took steroids!"
YES YES YES YES
RAOD LONEY
YES! TAKE THAT, CROWD!
There we go, Loney!
If you believe, they put a man on the moon!
FUKC YES!!!! SCREW YOU BLANTON!!
yes!
here come the comments about hits with RISP
It's not a grand slam at Wrigley, but it feels like it!
We got one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I guess karina couldn't get there from here.
just another single, ron-ron
James!!! We are on te board.
now the philly fans are hating the ump
Wow that crowd is really quiet now...
I don't understand this strike zone. But it seems (almost) relatively even for both pitchers.
Re; the Filly fans: There as bad as the Giants' crowd chanting, "Manny is a tranny."
Only thing is, the balls we're getting are actually balls.
RANCHO ARDIENDO
RANCHO ARDIENDO
RANCHO ARDIENDO
RANCHO ARDIENDO
Come on guys Bases JUICED!!!
Rancho Cucamunga!!
This is such a strange feeling.
RANCHO MARTIENDO
Blan-ton @ 61 pitches.
Doobe Doobe Doo...
Does blanton color his chin hair?
Come Russ totally redeem yourself!!
just a walk, Russ...
Time for Russell to make me not write that critical post about him I have planned.
Take a hit off a Doobie...instructed pitcher.
Good eye, Russ.
WOW!
ripped!!
tie game!
YES!!!! J mart!!!
TIE!!! SUCK IT PHIWWIES!!!
@Rbnlaw "if you're needing inspiration, King James is where i go, i go"
New game! that's my son!
Yeah haw!!!
@MLASF,
Our balls are true.
@karina,
Don't Go Back to Rockville.
J Mart with the ribbie!
Russell, I take bak every bad thing I ever said about you...
...but I reserve the right to change my mind the next time you GIDP to the left side during a crucial rally.
this would be a good time for Casey to break out
SHOW 'EM WHAT A BEARD IS MADE OF
Come on Casey totally redeem yourself.
BACK TO GOLDEN GOD STATUS!?
Casey is totally due.
Rbnlaw and waste another year?
I'd rather be all the way to Reno.
That was a Kempian swing-and-miss.
3-1 count to the Beard!
C'mon, Casey. Work the walk.
I'd like a Beard on base, please.
But don't K looking, okay?
C'mon, Casey!
Dammit. And Wolf leads off the next inning.
Damn, so close to taking the lead.
Darn, but will take it!
O-Dawg forever, beard not right now.
Crap. Tied it up on two outs.
damn
tie is fine by me though
I was hoping for one of those special Utley throws to first :(
Yes, it could have been a better inning. But it could have not happened at all. So, I'll take it.
*sigh* what noisy cats are we.
If we believe, there's nothing on their sleeve.
Crap.
Well, Jefferson, were not lost.
So we'll just get no-hit tonight? Is that it?
"I'll take it": The official phrase of SoSG commenters!
Blanton at 69 pitches. We need to knock him out, and soon!
I don't know why my "we'll just get no-hit tonight?" comment just got posted again at this point. That's annoying and strange.
It's a new game! see the bright side.
If Wolf shuts them down this inning, we have this game.
I was wondering about that, Erin. Perhaps you slipped into a time-space vortex.
Man, those philie fans are really quiet now..
Erin
I thought you just reposted it to prolong the jinx on Blanton
when is Utley going to come out about his shoulder injury?
Wolf is certainly brave
Nice rainbow curve!
Uncle Charlie from the Oddfellows 151
I think we're going to break 700 comments tonight.
Howard took a curtain call after that HR?? Really?
Suck it, Pig Snout.
THE, HOWARD, THE
YEAH!!! Strike out!
Ks Howard looking. Nice.
Randy big K!! I'll take it!!
Randy's cruising now.
To be fair, it was a perfunctory curtain call.
Ahead on Werth 0-2.
Werth has a landing strip on his chin.
Breaking 700 equals a W
nice!
THE, JAYSON, THE
CRUISE CONTROL!!!!
You can literally hear the silence.
Wow! Ks Werth swinging! I think Randy's in a groove!
Oh, Randy Wolf. I'm totally in love.
I hope Wolf gets a single here, or at least makes Blanton throw some pitches.
agreed Orel - take pitches until you walk or strike out
Is that the Sounds of Silence?
The wolf man is howling. He is feeling it. I think he gets a hit next.
How many pitches for Wolf?
We need to get to that bullpen!
Ok, time to bat around again.
Wolf at 60 pitches.
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