Monday, October 19, 2009

NLCS Game 4 Thread @ Liberty Belles, 5p

11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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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Kyle Baker said...

Furcal
Kemp
Ethier
Ramirez
Loney
Belliard
Martin
Blake
Wolf

Kyle Baker said...

^ I will start putting "Manny" in there instead of "Ramirez" when Manny starts being Manny again.

Wesley Vento said...

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.

Kyle Baker said...

HLACK-

One win to rule them all!

Oh, wait, it's "ring" not "win."

Alex Cora said...

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?

Josh S. said...

Joe finally remembered that Blake in the 8-hole can be magic. Too bad Kemp and Blake both can't hit 8th.

Josh S. said...

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.

Nostradamus said...

@dusty

keeping with the theme, our quest balances on the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it will fail

Wesley Vento said...

I'm calling a James Loney home run tonight.

Josh S. said...

HLACK, I'll go one better: Russell Martin dinger tonight.

Josh S. said...

Joss Whedon to direct an episode of Glee.

I think my brain just exploded.

Nostradamus said...

I would really enjoy handing out a beating like we got handed last night. 1-0 victories will still be accepted, though.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

This looks like the kind of lineup that King George I would pencil in.

Nostradamus said...

@Neeebs,

Couldn't be George I, there's no umlauts.

Steve Sax said...

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.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

Nine companions. So be it. You shall be the fellowship of the ring. (World Series Ring!)

Kyle Baker said...

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.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Isn't Lars Umlaut a character on Guitar Hero?


Batting forth, on Lead Guitar, #666, Lars (echo) Umlaut (echo)

Neeebs (The Original) said...

And I'm pretty sure that Belliard should have an umlaut somewhere.

Kyle Baker said...

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.

Kyle Baker said...

Padilla announced as Game 5 starter.

Nostradamus said...

@Dusty

I thöught thät I wäs thë önly öne whö rëmëmbered cräp likë thät

Josh S. said...

Mr. C - Kids today would look at those umlauts and wonder how you got your emoticons to stand up straight.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

@MC:

This is the problem with foreign born royalty. Kings of England shouldn't be born in Germany, and vis-a-versa.

Kyle Baker said...

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.).

Steve Sax said...

@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.

Steve Sax said...

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...

Steve Sax said...

@Dusty, why is Torre standing in the corner? Is he losing his religion?

Kyle Baker said...

*tries to solve secret puzzle contained in Mr. C's umlaut post*

Kyle Baker said...

@ Sax-

Yep, that's him in the spotlight.

Nostradamus said...

@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.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I need a victory. Who's with me?

Josh S. said...

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.

Kyle Baker said...

@ 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.

Kyle Baker said...

Josh, if Torre would have left Kuroda in any longer last night...I...I can't even finish the sentence. Must move on.

Nostradamus said...

@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.

rbnlaw said...

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.

Nostradamus said...

@rbnlaw

You haven't said enough.

rbnlaw said...

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.

rbnlaw said...

Thanks Mr. C. I almost never hear that. . .even in an REM sort of way.

Nostradamus said...

@rbnlaw

Hardicanute was the bomb.

Nostradamus said...

@rbnlaw

re: REM

I could have gone with you haven't set it up, but that would be easily disproven.

Steve Sax said...

@rbnlaw, Mr. C, Dusty: Thanks for picking up the REM thread.

Now you guys are just continuing to riff just to Stipe me.

Kyle Baker said...

And we're not even receiving a Stipend, Sax.

Nostradamus said...

@Sax

We're all just shining, happy people holding hands in here.

Steve Sax said...

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.

Steve Sax said...

No Stipend, Dusty? Not even a Buck or two?

Josh S. said...

I'll be trying to keep up with the tread, but I don't know if I can do it.

Josh S. said...

"thread" D'oh!

MR.F said...

That's an awesome shirt, Josh S.

Steve Sax said...

@Josh S: I'm trying to figure out where your avi shot was taken. Americana? Grove?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Definitely Americana

Kyle Baker said...

@ Sax-

Just a few small Bills.

Josh S. said...

Americana indeed.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I recgognize the elevators.

Nostradamus said...

@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.

rbnlaw said...

Sorry, was preoccupied there for a bit.

Hey, not your run of the Mills thread today, eh?

Long live King Athelstan.

rbnlaw said...

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?

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Something for the Dodgers to ponder tonight...sage advise from those 80's visionaries.

"Are we not men?"

Nostradamus said...

@rbnlaw

It's tough to keep track of all these tangents when people Berry the comment you were originally referencing.

Steve Sax said...

Let's just hope that after tonight's game, the Dodgers aren't Out of Time.

Kyle Baker said...

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.]

Kyle Baker said...

@RB, MC-

In answer, Sweden or Nott's County, apparently.

Steve Sax said...

20 minutes to game time.

Come on, Dodgers!

Neeebs (The Original) said...

If we are preferring Kings here, I'd much prefer the Russian Czars over their European counterparts.

Josh S. said...

Manny will drive in 8, then take a break.

Kyle Baker said...

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.

Orel said...

The Angels are making more mental mistakes than that airship family.

Nostradamus said...

@Sax

"...the Dodgers aren't Out of Time"

If they are, I'll be around the Document the atrocities.

Steve Sax said...

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.

Steve Sax said...

Eight minutes to get this party started.

Kyle Baker said...

Conflicting Edits, you stopped me from another lame REM pun. Damn you! You're going to turn me into a Monster!

QuadSevens said...

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!

QuadSevens said...

GO DODGERS!!!

Drive by complete.

MR.F said...

We all have to do our part!

Kyle Baker said...

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?

Nostradamus said...

@Neeebs

Those of us with playoff beards would prefer to avoid Peter the Great. Boris Gudonov gets a literary pass, though.

Orel said...

Can we hit 100 before the first pitch?

QuadSevens said...

Si se puede!

Orel said...

Leadoff double for Mathis in the tenth for the Angels.

Nostradamus said...

@Orel

Si se puede!

QuadSevens said...

Let's see if the Angels can end this one quickly.

Orel said...

Rivera coming in. Don't make me switch channels, Angels!

QuadSevens said...

Still listening on the radio at work. Can't wait to get out of here and get a beer for the game.

Kyle Baker said...

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.

Orel said...

Now pinch-hitting for the Angels...Luis Gonzalez!

MR.F said...

I want the Angels to win this game.

Orel said...

91

MR.F said...

DB, what about "answer sent"?

QuadSevens said...

I almost posted "that number" earlier DB. Somehow I resisted.

Nostradamus said...

If the Angels let this one slip away, I see them exiting the playoffs without a Murmur of protest.

Orel said...

Rivera pulls an Izturis!

QuadSevens said...

How many Rally Monkies are flailing around in the stadium now I wonder. I really hate that monkey.

QuadSevens said...

Texiereriaraireiraira stabs his old team in the back with a diving stop.

Nostradamus said...

Can that OC team postpone the day of Reckoning?

Kyle Baker said...

Fanerman-

I was tempted to post "Answer sent" after Mr. C's umlaut post, but thought better of it.

QuadSevens said...

Vinny is on the air!

Fred's Brim said...

hi everybody

i am confidently nervous and nervously confident

QuadSevens said...

And just in time for us to reach our goal.

Kyle Baker said...

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.

MR.F said...

Rancho ardiendo in Anahem.

Orel said...

Hey, the game's already started!

Fred's Brim said...

is that Pat Sajak behind the plate at the Angels game? Is he their Mary Hart?

Orel said...

Blanton looks like Penny lite.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

@FB - My dad called to say he saw Jack Saypat behind the dish. I one-upped him and said I saw Scott Boras.

QuadSevens said...

2 down in the first already.

Kyle Baker said...

Kemp's bat made contact with the ball and drove it forward! Baby steps...

Fred's Brim said...

dammit blue, if that's gonna be a strike....

Kyle Baker said...

Penny lite? Isn't that an oxymoron?

Or just a moron?

Orel said...

1-2-3...again

QuadSevens said...

Quick first for Blanton. Let's see if Wolf can do the same.

Fred's Brim said...

we've gotta be more patient somehow

Kyle Baker said...

Rancho ardiendo, 2 outs, Vlade up.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Well, that's game.


I'm sorry, it's not over? I thought based on the crowd reaction that the Phillies won.

QuadSevens said...

Heading home to watch the game. Have a good thread all.

Orel said...

Angels fail to convert the leadoff double. Ouch.

Fred's Brim said...

wow Yanks get out of the jam

Orel said...

Drive safe, Q7!

Kyle Baker said...

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.

Orel said...

box score says 54 degrees in Philly

Fred's Brim said...

cmon Randy, throw strikes. we need a good one out of you

MR.F said...

Ominous start.

Orel said...

FUCK

one pitch, one single

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Crap

Fred's Brim said...

damn they don't wait around

Neeebs (The Original) said...

da da da dum...

Orel said...

C'mon, Randy....

Fred's Brim said...

jees

MR.F said...

Good job by Dre to get there.

Orel said...

Thank goodness Furcal & Ethier didn't pull an Aybar & Figgins.

Orel said...

Vin not waiting to start with the stories.

Fred's Brim said...

Victorino popped Russ like Manny's been doing Ruiz

MR.F said...

Bloops! The secret weapon!

Fred's Brim said...

please no 2-out rbis :(

Orel said...

Hmmm, two pop-ups.

MR.F said...

Angels fail in the bottom of the 10th.

Orel said...

If Randy Wolf isn't comfortable in Philadelphia, no one will be.

Fred's Brim said...

where was that? too much of a strike?

Orel said...

Ump gettin' squeezy.

Orel said...

FUCK

Fred's Brim said...

son
of
a
bitch

MR.F said...

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

chexxum said...

GOD FUCKING DAMNIT

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

And there's your game. Fucking umps.

Fred's Brim said...

that was a meatball

Kyle Baker said...

Well, that was kind of a pop-up, too, if you think about it.

Fred's Brim said...

ump, you are killing us!

Nostradamus said...

What garbage.

Let's try not to hemorrhage any more runs, for chrissake.

Orel said...

Stabilize, Randy.

Fred's Brim said...

tell 'em Ron!

Fred's Brim said...

thanks for the recap, Chip

Orel said...

Wolf at 98 pitches already.

Orel said...

FINALLY

Kyle Baker said...

Can we get Kuroda warming up?

Fred's Brim said...

figure out that strike zone, ump

Nostradamus said...

Infuriating first inning stumbles aside, if we can't score 3 runs in this fucking postage stamp of a ballpark, we deserve to lose.

Fred's Brim said...

the ump in the Angels game is calling strikes for our game

Kyle Baker said...

Mr. C-

We call it a Randy Marsh-sized ballpark.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

This K-zone better be equal

Orel said...

C'mon, Manny. Stop the humiliation.

Fred's Brim said...

make this bum throw strikes

MR.F said...

Argh Mr. Ramirez...

Orel said...

Okay, so Manny doesn't strike out weakly. I feel redeemed.

MR.F said...

Bullshit strike.

Fred's Brim said...

how is that a strike?

Nostradamus said...

doppio!

Hopefully a good omen.

Orel said...

BULLSHIT

Wolf doesn't get that call.

Fred's Brim said...

unreal

this game seems out of control

Fred's Brim said...

that pitch must have been low

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

It's 9 against 10 now.

rbnlaw said...

Hey, it's Joe "Cy Young" Blanton!

patience is the key here. For the Dodgers, not us.

Orel said...

I'm ecstatic we hit one in the air.

MR.F said...

For real, Orel. That fly ball seemed to put the game slightly less in their control...

Orel said...

Okay, no more bitching from me about the ump. He's not going to change -- we gotta deal with it.

Steve Sax said...

Dodgers offense, Show The F Up!

Kyle Baker said...

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.

Fred's Brim said...

what was Jerry Hairston doing?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Angels win.

Fred's Brim said...

agreed Orel
time to play and win

Orel said...

Hmmm, wide strike to Ibanez there.

Orel said...

Sorry, couldn't help it!

Nostradamus said...

@orel

Yeah, it'd be harder to fuck up balls and strikes on BASE HITS.

Orel said...

Angels are now in the same position as the Dodgers. Bizarre.

Fred's Brim said...

is it me or does every ball they hit seem like it's hammered?

Fred's Brim said...

Randy, this is Pedro Feliz - he's one of the easy outs

Nostradamus said...

@fb

Every ball they hit increases the likelihood of me getting hammered.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

@Orel:

I was just thinking the same thing.

Orel said...

A lot of long-ball fouls by the Phils. Not helping the nerves.

MR.F said...

Nice rundown Andre.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Now it's Ruiz.

Fred's Brim said...

Mr C, maybe that's what I need to do, especially w Ruiz coming up

Orel said...

Randy's working the strike zone.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Did we just get Ruiz?

Orel said...

WE GOT RUIZ OUT!
WE GOT RUIZ OUT!
WE GOT RUIZ OUT!

Fred's Brim said...

what happened there? Did the Phillies give up?

MR.F said...

THE, RUIZ, THE.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

THE, PHILLIES, THE

Nostradamus said...

HE'S A MERE MORTAL!!!!

Orel said...

Bellytoo with the barehanded catch/throw from shallow center on Ruiz's bouncer. Nice stretch by Loney.

Orel said...

And there was much rejoicing.

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