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 601 – 800 of 1215 Newer› Newest»i think i've figured it out - any ball that isnt straight is automatically a ball
I'll program a HITNAS macro.
I'm seriously going to throw something at Ted Barret next time he's in town.
Ted Barrett is not invited to my kid's Bar Mitzvah.
Well, we wanted to walk Howard.
@Orel i meant Manny
I don't agree with pulling Wolf here. At all.
Sandy!
Koufax is there.
Sandy is next to Frank tonight. They must have joint custody.
Nicely done, Randy. We'll get you the win.
Sandy! Two seconds after a Bar Mitzvah comment! Coincidence? As we Hebrews say, it's beshert.
I can't really be mad at anyone or anything if i get to see Sandy Koufax.
you know there's some Philly asshole screaming that Steve Carlton was better than Sandy
Get in there, Koufax! Strike out Werth!
I can't believe they knocked out Wolf before we knocked out Blanton.
Werth owes us a GiDP!
@Karina: Victorino's ball rattled around in the corner. Manny fielded it cleanly. His throw was a little off-line, though.
good call, Eric!
Belisario? Really?
Oh yeah, who really wants this game resting on Belisario?
blue glove, in effect!
I have a bad feeling about this.
Lucky strike there.
OH MY GOD.
Bellytoo drops the room-service GIDP ball.
Could have been better, could have been worse.
Whew- force play, but Belli2 killed my prediction.... =(
damndamndamn
cmon - please can we get one guy out with RISP?
I hope we don't pay for that.
I don't even know about that call. Was it really dropped on the transfer? Looked like he never had it.
I swear to god, Belliard, if you cost us this game...
I do trust Belisario and he did well.
Awww fuck. Can't give these guys extra outs.
You said it, Mr. C.
He really Aybarred that one.
I hope we gets the good Chih Kuo.
I was ready to cheer like crazy when Casey picked up that ball.
C'mon, Kuo. K that damn Ibanez.
Ibanez hits better against lefties :(
The Dodgers are about to make that fetus very sad.
(a reference to the end of the State Farm commercial that just aired, in case you missed it)
pleasepleaseplease
Time for some Kuo badassery.
He looks ready. Eye of the tiger.
We need the pitching equivalent of a Kuo bat flip here, please.
I wonder what O-Dog is thinking right now.
Why wouldn't Belisario stay in if Ibanez is so great against lefties? Torre should know those numbers, right?
Glove flip?
Manny!!!!
MANNY D!
MANNY!!!
Oh, I almost died right there.
I love that State Farm commercial, but hate that the Dodgers are relegated to just a sunshade.
SI SE PUEDE!!!
WOWiWOWWOW
Glad Charley missed that call and Manny didn't miss that catch....
BEST SHOT EVER: Ryan Howard cheering when he thought that ball to Manny had dropped, then realizing it was an out.
Way to go Manny and i'm sorry to speak bad about your defense!
Manny how did he catch that?
me too Erin
if he misses that, they take the lead and maybe Inabez comes all the way around
The Schwartz is strong in that one
Chad Ho Park!
Yup Erin. That was awesome.
Oh, Furcal. What a terrible pitch to swing at, especially from Park.
take pitches against ECHP
Raffy, didn't you hear? We're not sucking anymore!
Furcal is useless again.
Lee and Pedro looke like Lords of the Sith in the dugout.
God Furcal sucks again.
Eye of the Bison!
wait for the meatball
Good eye, Matty
Dammit.
damn - you can't hit that even if it is a strike
Andre's due.
3-1 count
Here we go dre this your pitch.
Come on Andre hit one out!
That wasn't a strike a second ago.
Oh no! Rally towels!
That was a ball.
Ethier walks! Seems familiar.
Hmm, dunno if I'd take that one, but I'll take that call
Seriously, what can be done about this friggin' ump? That ball four looked like strike three, but a few of the other called strikes should have been balls.
Ted Barrett is not welcome in Los Angeles or Philadelphia.
Or walk. That's ok, too.
Another two-out rally.
Okay Manny, time for "Fuck You" moment #2.
Two shit calls cancel each other out, right?
but still, Ted Barrett is getting a Dodger dog with everything on it thrown at him.
we just hit 700 with ease
C'mon Manny, take it out of the Park.
With ease!
This ump has his contacts on backwards.
Really, who wears a baby blue Phillies cap?
Andre CS??? WTF?
Damnit Andre, WTF!!!
Ass on backwards? Schwartz?
What is this, a "Spaceballs" thread?
Damn it, Andrea.
Or, um, Andre.
I guess Ruiz is not also welcome in Los Angeles.
What. The. Hell ?
yeep that wasnt even close. was Manny supposed to swing at that?
Manny didn't even swing, so it couldn't have been a busted hit & run.
I still remember the last time Ethier got thrown out stealing for the 3rd out with Manny up. Not cool, Dre :(.
Andre wasn't in Beast Mode there.
This game 4 seems a lot like game 4 of last year. Time to rewrite the script. Kind of like those choose your own adventure books.
It's still a lead.
Vin just mixed up Kuo and Park.
Chip Carey looks like the "cool dad" on Modern Family
Karina and Paul, on opposite ends of the spectrum.
ugh Kuo for another inning
i never like this
Uh oh, Kuo just sailed one.
I wonder, if Kuo gets a 1-2-3, does Torre bring in Broxton to get the front of the lineup, or does he stick with Sherrill?
Uh oh. Kuo.
That fastball is why he's in.
Good question, MLASF.
Ks Feliz!
Nice Kuo!
Can we ever throw a first pitch strike to Ruiz.
Well, you have two switch-hitters and a lefty at the front of the order. And if you get through that, you have Howard (lefty), Werth (righty), and Ibanez (lefty).
I'm surprised this ump hasn't called balls on swings-and-misses.
Nice pick by Loney.
Nice throw by Raffy to nail Rooeez.
Ruiz...out? *rubs eyes*
Phew, Nice stretch and throw.
@Paul "Can we ever throw a first pitch strike to Ruiz."
No, it's illegal.
It's not in the script.
By holding the ball there so many times, Martin must be thisclose to getting ejected.
If there's anything that really pisses me off about the Cliff Lee trade, it's that Cleveland threw in Francisco. I mean, seriously? You're throwing in an extra player? I bet the Dodger prospects for Lee would be worth the same as the Philly prospects for Lee and Ben. I found that part of the trade to be absolute bullshit.
whew
i almost threw up
Whew.
Phew!!!!
You may live another day, Hong-Chih Kuo.
Whew!
Lets get some state farm here.
Werd!
I don't think we ever had the prospects.
@Orel
They need to change that rule. If I was comissioner.....
God that swing scared me.
May we actually reach the rare 1000th post?
GEICO PLEASE
Would you all judge me if I revealed that I just caught myself humming a little Journey just now?
MLASF: SÃ se puede!
I think that's relative, Orel. For one, I think Cleveland was just in love with the Philly prospects, and demanded MLB-ready players from us in order to one-up the Phils. I don't buy that our kids were vastly inferior to theirs, and the addition of Francisco just pisses me off even more.
Mr. C: Original version or Glee version?
Manny. Please. Kill it.
We just need a:
1) Dodger rally
2) more consistent inconsistency from HP Ump Barrett
3) multitudes of desperate relief pitching changes by Manuel
to get to 1k postage.
I agree, Eric. Luckily, we have Madson to serve up BP here.
Pitch 1 was a ball.
Philly fan giving the finger on national TV. Good job.
That we never came close to Lee or Halladay tells me our offer was lacking. Still, it's all conjecture.
James commence lift off
@orel
Unclear. I can't hum polyphonically.
Well, no one was close to Halladay. That's for certain. But I just think Indians liked the Philly prospects more, and didn't care where the Dodger kids stood. Of course, we'll never really know unless someone reveals the names.
Strike 3 was only a strike because Wolf didn't throw it.
Phiwwy Phans don't like being fair.
Why did Loney swing at ball 4?
To be honest, according to Gameday, all three balls were truly balls.
Loney is swinging at some junk.
Furcal & Manny flirting with Pedro?
Now that sixth and seventh pitches were balls.
Pedro, Manny and Furcal all making fun of Loney's swings from opposite dugouts.
Not quite lift off but...
I'll take it!
Loney on!
Chip Carey and Charley Steiner should talk....
Wow, Loney golfed another ball 4 for a single!
Hey oh! Good at-bat, Loney. Weak hit, but...
...I'll take it.
James singles. Let's get a homer here and keep this thing at an arm's length.
Bellitoo needs to atone for his failed GIDP.
Good time to redeem yourself, Belliard.
Yeah, it's gonna take a bit to get to 1000
Ronnie is due. K I am going to stop calling homeruns.
Non-believers!
Just started watching, has the strikezone been this jacked up all night?
Force play... oh well.
keep it goin Russ!
Even if it's a Herve Villachaize arm length...
Well, could've been worse.
We are denied the pleasure of seeing Utley airmail another DP ball.
Nic: It's jacked up, it's inconsistent...for both teams.
I guess Utley didn't want to try. Wonder if he actually touched the bag...
800 without breaking a sweat, though.
Carlos Ruiz, you are no Yadier Molina.
100 per inning, we should come up 100 short of 1K
1,000's in the bag.
Belly steal.
Okay, I'm back. Still 4-3? I can't take this tension!
I'm happy Bellitoo stole that base, but why did he go?
Bad call at 2nd base?
Closer than it looked.
Belli2 spikes Utley
Wow, 800+ comments? You SoSGers are really kicking it into overdrive here. Nice job.
Technically, Belliard was out because his foot slid into Utley's foot and knee, not the bag.
Haha cleated knee for utley.
Close play.
Christine, on the bad call at second:
"Oh well. How many bad strike calls have we had to endure?"
2 on, 2 out for Casey.
He was probably out, but it was an impossible call.
Sing it, Christine!
Big Jim on deck. If Casey could get on, I'd like to see what happens.
Thome on deck!
Two on. Guess how many out?
I guess having Thome hit is a pipe dream.
Hang in, Beard!
Now would be a good time for some vindication, casey.
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