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:
«Oldest ‹Older 401 – 600 of 1215 Newer› Newest»"hello silence, my old friend".I take another poetic license again.
Well, that was okay. Made some good contact there.
License and registration, please.
Where the hell is this ump's strikezone?
Knock one out Matt!
So much for capitalizing.
BISON FUCKING STRENGTH!!!!!
I take it back!
Who called that!!!!!
BISON-BELT!!!
YES!!!
Holy cow, is that stadium silent.
Dunno- I've found it pretty inconsistent this round and they rotate umps so no good explanation.
Nice one Bison!
Mrs. Orel: "We're winnnnnnnnnnnning!"
Matty! Feelin better!
"hey, what's the big deal, i'm an animal"!!!!!!!!!!!
BISON POOOOOOOOOOWERRRRRRRRR!
That was Carpenterian.
Hell yeah!!! And Love to see Victorrino be so helpless!
that was a huge fly ball
cmon Dre you can do it too!
Hey, Victorino;
You coulda had that. . .sucker.
That has to help the confidence of our hitters. HAS TO.
As Andre swings at a terrible pitch.
It sure did look like Victorino could have caught it if he stuck his glove out. It didn't land very far over the fence, and I thought for a second he might get it.
Matty is back baby!!!
Kempy!!!!
Dammit. At least Ethier tagged it there.
I kind of want to keep Blanton in now.
Dre with the rip, but Utley playing towards the middle
good guys lead 3-2!
The feathers hit the ground before that ball left the air.
I love me some bison.
agreed Orel - Blanton is in line for a blow up inning
Just frame-by-framed it. Victorino was fully extended and the ball was still a few feet away from his glove.
I thought he caught it but the answer was blowing in the wind.
What's this strange feeling? Oh it's a LEAD!
Let's go, Wolf!
Let's go, SoSG commenters!
Let's go, Dodgers!
@Orel - Funny. I thought it was that fish taco I had today.
Wolf has mastered that outside strike on lefties.
445 comments, let's keep it moving! I've gotta go do some chores...
Nice!!! 2 outs!
@MLASF: That's maybe why TBS is farting.
They can keep swinging early in the count if they'd like. I don't mind one bit.
Are the Phillies...pressing???
get Ruiz so Blanton stays in!
get Ruiz just because!
The real test: Carlos Ruiz.
@FB: Ethier way, we win!
Hello Ruiz.
Gut Ruinz so we can have Blah-nton or a PHillie lead off.
Don't be afraid of him, Wolf. Let's go!
Wolf's turning point was getting Ruiz the first time.
Let's get him again.
Nice curve. 3-2 count.
I'ma just looking for the soft underbelly that is the Phillies relief corps...
That should rain on the Philly fan confidence.
DAMN!
Blanton's batting!
Hmmm... Blanton hitting?
That was a strike,
Love Wolf's reaction to another bullshit call: A smile and a nod.
I don't care. We're getting to their weak-ass bullpen.
"buy the sky and sell the sky lift your ams up to the sky, ask the sky, ask the sky"
Come on. Always ruiz.
Interesting. So next inning is when Blanton gives up three more?
Blanton bats? OK.
Charlie Steiner: "He's built a lot like Brad Penny."
@Orel would you expect less from a Master Jedi?
Steiner on Blanton: "He's built like Penny"
Including the kegerator that is his stomach?
Come on Randy...Lets get this one.
nice work Randy
Nice job, Wolfie!
Still, if Lidge and co. are so over their problems, Charlie is awfully reluctant to go to them....
Damn, karina. If you write a book, it will be called Life and How To Live It.
Come on Manny time to get dangerous.
Time to pile on, boys!
@Karina "would you expect less from a Master Jedi?"
You know, you'd think Randy could Jedi mind-trick the ump into some decent calls.
BRING IT!
Is Craig Sager Jar jar Binks then?
that looked hittable
Manny just took that first strike. Interesting.
Manny always seems to be 0-2. Like Billy Ashley.
@Rbnlaw "we're agents of the free, i've had fun and now it's my time to"
Sager is Jar Jar Pimps.
Thanks, Feliz.
SAFE AT FIRST!
what was I saying about Ryan Howard's fielding?
Wow, manny almost turned to goto second. Hey another I'll take it!!
Me, with Feliz's throw in mid-air: "Blow it!"
And Howard did.
We are taking some good swings on Blanton!
you are right, AC - i saw that too!
C'mon, Belly 2.0
We're back to tagging it for outs. Again, this can't hold.
Josh Was that a jedi mind trick?
Come on belliard don't be a nerfherder here
@Rbnlaw Lifes Rich Pageant is always disputing the second place of my favorite R.E.M. record with Murmur, so i'll listen to your holler.
Man, no one talks up minutiae like Rick Monday.
BELLYTOO!
Another Copper Glove play!
Hooray for bloopers!
there's another break!
All together now.... I'LL TAKE IT!!!
Blanton is a sad tomato.
I would hate for the narrative on this series to be 'Phillies defense gives away NLCS'. But hey, as long as we win, I guess.
Blanton at 93 pitches.
Russell, here's where you really change my mind.
This strike zone is, like, oval.
pick a good one, Russ
MSL: ITI!
Mike Sharperson, I'm with you. But we got our first three runs on our own, so I'm okay with this.
Oval indeed, Orel
Ball.
Give it to him, Russell!
Fuck you ump.
Oh, good lord. This ump is in no way consistent. This guy is a joke. Where is the penalty for umpires when they call games this badly?
Man, the ump needs to watch more TBS.
This ump sucks.
Once again- NOT A STRIKE
This ump is on crack.
Beard, redeem thyself.
Stupid replacement refs, er, uh, I mean ump.
cmon Casey, get a hit and shut up the crowd again
BREAD BREAD BREAD
BEARD MODE!!!!
STATE FARM INSURANCE RUN!!!
BEARD LIVES!
Everyone's safe!
The Beard is back!
BLOOPER-RIFIC!
hehe BREAD
Randy's chance!
Nice Slideycam work!
Work it, Randy!
Beard mode!!!
Also, Russell had better not get thrown out, even if he has a point
Yessss!!!! It is the comment count. The higher we go the better the Dodgers play.
Wolf takin' hacks. Love it.
I'm taking Paul's comment and running with it.
back up the middle, Randy!
If that were only the case, Paul.
Si se puede!
If that were only the case, Paul.
If that were only the case, Paul.
Stupid Philly fans.
If that were only the case, Paul.
If that were only the case, Paul.
HA HA! Blake with the steal!
Casey steal!
You can do it, Randy!
How was that not strike three??? ITI
We got a break with that non-strike call there. But the score is not balanced.
Weird. That last ball to Wolf was a strike, so the ump is occasionally retarded in our favor.
thank you Casey!
4-2 good guys!
This ump is on Quaaludes.
Well this zone is killing both teams.
Good for Beard. He was the only guy in the park not happy to see Blanton out for the next inning.
Only two hits for the Phiws, and both were in the first. Way2go, Wolfie.
Black taco?
Do not want.
The difference with that call is that it didn't end up hurting us. Unlike, for instance, when Ryan Howard clearly got a strike two pitch that was called ball three, then hit the next one out.
Keep it up everyone. We are all connected in this seamless web.
Top of the order coming up.
Everyone going to see 2012?
One up, one down.
Did you see that curve!?! Nice!
I hate this guy.
Only if we hit 2012!!! Wait the world might end.
@AC,
I was just thinking; isn't that the same guy who brought us, "The day After Tomorrow?"
How'd 2012 even get the greenlight?
AC: When does it take place?
Sorry, I nicked that joke from Ken Levine.
Lets see if I can tell my wife that I cannot move from my current position on the couch to help out with dinner due to the good luck for the dodgers...
Woot! Chan Ho warming! Let's get our two slams offa him...
HOW IS THAT NOT A STRIKE
BOOO Shane!!!
I hate that guy!
SHIT SHIT SHIT
Of course. A triple.
I really hate that guy.
Come on, Wolf. Don't let that bug you. Just get the next two outs. You've got this.
Out for a run?
And once again, a non-strike call could cost us.
Russell getting all Yadier-ish.
JP could've hit the cut-off.
Don't tell Kempkershaw
Strikeout, groundout. No runs score.
I know he doesn't get paid to field balls, but why would he wait for the ball instead of going for it?
Maybe Barrett was punishing Martin for sniping at him.
A K would be good- snuff the phans.
In case anyone was wondering, it didn't work and I have to go make dinner. At least I tried.
They chant "Beat LA" like they know what it means.
Ha! I say. Ha!
@Karina: Do you mean Manny?
SHIT.
Fuck. No out, and a run.
God, I really hate everything about Victorino.
It's your fault, Manny
Even the way he oh-so-casually crosses home plate.
I blame AC.
Fuck
damn - that fastball needed to leak further out
Walk Howard. Period. I don't care if it's unconventional. I don't want to see this guy swing the bat.
I gotta say, I might not survive this series. Too much anxiety. Game 2 nearly killed me.
I sometimes wonder if Rick and Charley are on our side or whomever playing against us.
Can't we just have a game where we get up by 5 and cruise into the 7th with our starter?
So, what if Howard just lays down the bunt here?
I'd be happy not to lose the lead here.
Good start. Get ahead of him
HITNAS
HOW
IS
THAT
NOT
A
STRIKE
UNREAL!!! Where is this strike zone? I swear to god, I know we keep saying this, but I really don't understand.
That was such a strike
Good, Orel. "HITNAS" is easier to type.
I have a bad feeling about this.
Walk him if you have to, Randy.
Though I think it should be "HITNAFS," for that certain word added in there.
I am nervous.
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