Vicente Padilla (-, -.--) vs. Zach Duke (-, -.--).
COMMENTS: Finally, the action moves from the courtroom bench to the dugout bench. After an off-season with more tirades than trades, we can, at least for three hours, concentrate on baseball.
The pre-game focus in Pittsburgh, at least according to the AP, is the unseasonably warm weather and the unfortunate late-season lull the Dodgers suffered through last year before kicking some Cardinal ass in the NLDS.
The pre-game focus here at SoSG? Pull up a barstool and find out. Unless the Sons win the lottery or perish in a tragic blimp accident — and I can't decide which is more likely — there'll be an SoSGGameThread™ for every game this season. (And for Lakers playoff games, if we can keep our act together.)
And for those wondering about the opening-day roster:
- PITCHERS (12)
- Chad Billingsley
- Jonathan Broxton
- Charlie Haeger
- Clayton Kershaw (L)
- Hiroki Kuroda
- Carlos Monasterios
- Ramon Ortiz
- Vicente Padilla
- George Sherrill (L)
- Ramon Troncoso
- Cory Wade (see note below)
- Jeff Weaver
- CATCHERS (2)
- Brad Ausmus
- Russell Martin
- INFIELDERS (6)
- Ronnie Belliard
- Casey Blake
- Jamey Carroll
- Blake DeWitt
- Rafael Furcal
- James Loney
- OUTFIELDERS (5)
- Garret Anderson
- Andre Ethier
- Reed Johnson
- Matt Kemp
- Manny Ramirez
Explains Josh Rawitch at Inside the Dodgers:
Joe Torre explained that if all goes as expected, we'll purchase Russ Ortiz's contract tomorrow and officially DL Cory Wade. He likes having 12 starters, especially without Kuo and Belisario on the active roster.George Sherrill remains the eighth inning guy, according to Joe, despite a rough spring.
Joe also told the media that Ethier has had a little bruise on his knee, which was why he didn't play the last couple games but that he's fine and if this were the regular season, he'd be out there.
Not sure why the guy who suffered a strained groin during spring training is batting second — I was looking forward to seeing Kemp get some quality ABs ahead of Ethier. Is Joe Torre still making tweaks to the lineup?
And I guess that's it! Happy baseball, everyb— oh wait, I just a found a note from Sax:
Good times indeed, SeƱor Buzzkill!
1: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images; 2-4: Jon SooHoo/Dodgers
287 comments:
1 – 200 of 287 Newer› Newest»Furcal SS
Martin C
Ethier RF
Manny LF
Kemp CF
Loney 1B
Blake 3B
DeWitt 2B
Padilla P
It feels so good to do that when it actually matters.
oooh baby! it's a big day in the Fred's Brim household!
Dodger baseball: It's real and it's SPECTACULAR!
woooooot!
@Everyone - You had me at Game Thread. I'm in Japan at the moment where it is now actually Tuesday so I am lifting a hotel minibar Asahi to results of game 1. Just wait, you'll see when your time zone catches up. Tomorrow, I'm off to see if I can get tickets to see Eric Stults and his Hiroshima Toyo Carp take on the Tokyo Yakult Swallows (assuming Japanese ticket scalping etiquette roughly resembles American). Also caught a few innings of the NYY-BOS opener and the Japanese dubbing made more sense to this non-speaker than Miller and Morgan once I figured out how to change the sound track. Needless to say, I switched back the Japanese announcers who became excited at the appropriate time and avoided cliches and malaprops.
@Dusty @11 am last Game Thread on some day I can't figure out thanks to time zone differences... thanks for the 2nd best virtual bar shout out. I'll take that any time.
Finally, some tips on the Pirates and PNC Park in Pittsburgh from someone that lived in that fair city for the first decade of the stadium's existence (including seeing Mike Piazza hit the first home run at an exhibition game there)...
The short porch in right is an illusion, lots of lefties are suckered into over swinging only to see the the ball blown foul by the winds off the river or the ball die 10 feet short of the track. The only person to hit a ball into the river on the fly is former Dodger Dmitri Young (twice, no less). Here's hoping Ethier, Loney and DeWitt don't fall for the sucker's play.
The Pirates race Pierogies before the 6th inning each game. Bet on Cheese Chester, he will make you a mint over the course of a season.
Zach Duke is a soft tosser that relies on a defense to keep his BABIP depressed. The Pirates turned over 3/4 of their infield leaving Andy LaRoche as their longest tenured IF. Expect lots of "seeing eye" ground balls.
Also, I hear the Pirates Parrot may be carrying, if you know what I mean.
Now THAT's a scouting report! Thanks, Jason!
am I late for the bracket challenge?
@FP
You're early for next year.
I wonder how many comments we'll get before the game starts. And how many of us will be following via Gameday.
As much as I would love to play hooky for opening day, I'm afraid it's Gameday and streaming audio for me (and probably a lot of other plebs).
Anything going on today?
We're just waiting to hear from anyone who's tried the new KFC Double Down sandwich.
@Dusty
Just another beautiful day in SoCal.
It's pissing down rain here in LA. Good thing we didn't have the opener scheduled for today, here. Likely would be a washout.
Hey all, I'm going to have a busy Monday so it will be sporadic posting at best. Game Day Audio for me.
Orel, thanks for a great GT and for adding my note. You make my handwriting look positively Comic Sansian. I hope my voice doesn't sound like that font looks.
I too will have to catch this game on GameDay, most of it via blackberry as I'll be at a dinner this evening in a European time zone. Zut alors, I have missed (GameThread number) one!
I just wanted to offer up a giant fuck you to Charter Cable and the city of Glendale for not settling their sissy slap fight before Opening Day. Now I have to watch the game in blur-o-vision.
Well, fuck you has been stated, to paraphrase both Josh and the Geto Boys.
Mercifully my choice to live merely a few miles away from Josh's cable viewing area has meant that I reside in a more MLB-amenable world.
Although the channel the games come on doesn't register in the on-screen guide and it permannently just says "SIGN OFF," causing me to have to manually set the Tivo every day. Still, I'll take that over Josh's situation.
Answer sent!
So, a friend sent this math puzzle to me:
2 + 3 = 10
7 + 2 = 63
6 + 5 = 66
8 + 4 = 96
Then:
9 + 7 = ????
Apparently, he thinks my IQ can handle this. Hate to disappoint him.
144
Anyone else notice Martin, Ethier and Kemp all use the same model of Louisville Slugger? Wonder what the size/weight differences are among the three.
144, no?
I was wondering that, too, Todd. Model # doesn't reveal much. And they all look roughly the same to me (other than color, obviously).
144 easy. My mind works well with number puzzles by for the life of me I can't figure out Bears and Owls.
@Sax
If that font were a voice, I imagine it sounding a little like Henry Winkler.
Have a cognac (or fancy-pants continental drink of your choice) for me.
Thanks for the answer. I'll check it.
Now how did you get it? I'm better at Owl/Bear puzzles.
POTUS just threw out the first pitch. It is ON.
Add the two numbers on a line together and multiply it by the first number.
Thanks DB. It's obvious I spent too much time at the bar last night while the wife was losing money.
20 min to GAMETIME!
PNC sound crew played the 90210 theme during the Dodger intros.
I'll admit it, I laughed.
Let's get this party started!
That is the first and last bit of math I intend to do for the year.
the twenty longest minutes in the world...
While waiting, I think I'll create an account at CougarLife.com.
GBA before the game? Genius!
I think I'll shop for some spring essentials for the modern man at Macy's.
Now that's clever.
*puffs on pipe pensively*
Sorry, I was playing Shakes and Fidget. What'd I miss?
Only $4.99 3-day delivery at fastballfanatics.com!
Forgot to set the dvr. Thank Vin for the Directv iphone app!
Good luck everyone!!!!
Like the first drop on a roller-coaster. Here we go then.
On :: Donkey Kong
Furcal doesn't strike out. Chalk up a moral victory for him.
I will be with you all in spirit no I am not dead but close enough I am at work.
James Loney please free yourself.
Martin OBP = 1.000
Way to go E!
WHY DIDN'T YOU SEND HIM BOWA? Just kidding, I'm on Gameday.
if you guys want to watch it online: http://www.justin.tv/tb4u2222#r=3vbJuI8~
p.s. dont know how i feel baout martin in the second spot
MLB.TV feed (audio) keep dropping for you all? Does for me.
#We'recontrollingtheMarsRoverwithaniPhonefromaPasadenapubbutwecan'tgetGameDayaudiotoworkonOpeningDay
DB, i don't think you paraphrased the Geto Boys there - I think that was a direct quote
"thought I had 'caine but it was Gold Medal flour..."
Up to Kemp.
Yes keep loosing damn audio - wth?
Attaboy Bison!
there we go kemp!!
Thx, Michael!
FUCK YOU MLB.TV!
2 run single cashes in the Boys in Blue.
BISON POWER
back pocket out and all
why pay money when you can watch if for free on the internet right? haha
P.S.: I am not "stud_muffin_4da_ladies" at Michael's live feed.
Matty begins his MVP campaign!
Somewhere RiRi smiles...
because she is rich and beautiful and young
I never had audio. I can't hear the damn game. Only the silly graphics.
Loney with the K. Good Guys up 2-0 after half an inning.
Anyone having problems with gameday audio?
Loney struck out.
James Loney's MVP campaign gets off to a slow start
Opening day audio glitches. ARRRRR
No audio glitches here. Going old school. AM Radio at work.
Although, you could argue that AM Radio is a glitch by itself.
@Neeebs-
That's cool that you can hear the graphics.
i'm posting on the stream as mimosaonice fyi
Hi All! Finally got my game day audio going. Happy new season!
I'm posting as stud_muffin_4da_ladies
{kidding}
OOoops; didn't see Orel beat me to the stud_muffin_4da_ladies comment.
Oh damn, what did I miss? Up 2-0!!!
I beat you to the bottom of the barrel, Dusty.
Wow, MLB Audio is crappy today.
D'oh!
Son of a....
Just like that, tie game.
Fuck you padilla
Splash down time for the Bucs. Tie game.
That's in the Allegheny.
It is crappy, Chappy.
Oy.
Shitsticks.
Is there an appropriate amount of time for me to wait before bemoaning our lack of pitching depth?
Padilla seems to be a little rusty, Dusty.
I think hitting off a tee would have been harder than hitting that meatball VPad left out over the plate. My god, NORAD alarms were going off during the ball's flight.
season's over, all hope is lost. good bye
DeWitt!!
Professional hitter, Blake Dewitt.
"#stud_muffin_4da_ladies: i live in pasadena so its not a long way"
I promise that's not me!
Free Blake DeWitt!
I have to refresh Game Day audio every 30 seconds or so... fun so far.
My daughter picked a great time to need a ride to her Bikram class.
Time for a 2 out nightmare.
100
Crap. got 101.
Still a little rusty.
"Rafael Furcal had 47 RBI a year ago."
That's a pretty impressive stat to have on Opening Day 2009, Eric.
/nitpick
dust_muffin_4da_ladies?
Well 2010 is off to a rousing start!
Oh boy.
Battle Toad doesn't look like he has an ounce of confidence on any pitch he throws. I'll defend Opening Day jitters in front of an enemy crowd, but you have to at least think you can get every batter out, and have that confidence, or you're toast.
Phew.
Wow, a 1-2-3 DP.
we don't need updates on your arousal level
lol @ felix
I like that Yahoo! still has VP's Rangers headshot.
This is not how I pictured opening day
Eeeewwwww...I didn't need to see that Pirate mascot gyrating like so.
I made this last night and was hoping I wouldn't have to use it.
http://twitpic.com/1dg35a
YES!! Two hands manny - way to work the fundamentals.
phew
nice pic nic j
Cool baseball card graphics on PT.
Nice, Nic!
Nice catch by Milledge but Ethier is feeling it already.
Manny double!
Opposite field power for manny. Wish someone was on base though...
Too many Dodger fans listening to the KABC feed I guess. I had to switch to the Pirates radio station. Blah.
Duck on the pond for Bison again!
Beautiful swing my Manny. Like what I see so far.
Kemp doing his best Loney impression.
Lyons: "The more times you have people on base in scoring position, the more chance you have for success." Thanks Psycho.
Glad the season is underway!
Anyone watching this on Prime Ticket or is everyone at work and listening to the radio.?
Chinstrap being interviewed on TV. It is his bday.
at work, could ask them to change the tv though but everyone is watching the tiger press conference
Rick Monday just announced that Troncoso is not with the club today. He's with his wife and newborn baby, Isabella.
Dammit!!!
Ohhh F***
I don't like Garret Jones.
Jones owns Padilla
Padilla sure was the right choice for the opener...
@Quad
I don't like Padilla.
Jones picking up where he left off - he hit a bomb against us in that 11-1 shitpile Monday day game last September
FB: You at this game? Aren't you out that way?
I give up on MLB audio; it is simply not working.
Maybe Wednesday will be better. See ya
Areial views from the blimp make that stadium look really nice.
I thought those aerial views were from the baseball-cam from G. Jones last AB.
@AC
Watching the pirated (no pun intended) feed referenced earlier in this thread. MLB.TV puking early in the season.
And I no longer own an AM radio.
Professional hitter Blake Dewitt (again)
OK, who is "drboner" in that pirate feed?
Dr(.)Geek, is that you?
DeHitt!
"DeHitt!"
Yes! Like it.
Haven't checked but for all of those with a computer - try to search around justin.tv - sports section...Maybe they have the PT feed.
Fooky - that blew chunks.
Michael posted the feed link earlier in this thread.
@AC - I am in NY, but I went to those games in Pixburgh last September.
and it is a really nice stadium, as long as you aren't sitting behind Troy from West Virginia...
AC, welcome from your slumber.
Look up^^^
Furcal doing his best Furcal impression.
RF you are the veteran. You need to step up here.
Hey, they've got one of them there funicular thingies in Pittsburgh, too.
@FB:
I loved the Pitt stadium so much that the Pirates have become my second favorite team. (Plus they have a cool logo.)
Oops: Must have missed that comment. Sorry.
My lord - watching Vicente Padilla pitch is NOT A FUN THING.
I know this is only the 4th inning, but come on it is the fricken' bucks...
How long til Spring Training? We need a countdown clock.
Just kidding, ust kidding. It's only 4 innings into a season.
But still...
2-3-4 due up next. Let's do some damage.
At least DeWitt looks good.
Yeah - Mohawk gets a double!
Martin caught in a rundown between second and third. At least his groin's getting a good workout.
COME ON!!!!
We are already leading the league in pussy-ass dribblers easily handled by infielders to end once-promising innings.
This sucks.
I picked the wrong day to stop being pessimistic.
How do you hit McCutcheon? It's like trying to throw at a piece of dental floss.
"We are already leading the league in pussy-ass dribblers easily handled by infielders to end once-promising innings."
@Dusty = new stat PADEHBI2EOPI
Let's put Fan Graphs on that one, Steve.
BOOOO!!!!!!
Wow Padilla what a mark to leave
There was ZERO movement on that ball VPad threw to Milledge. Or velocity.
Get him outta there Joe!
93 pitches for 4 1/3? ouch!
Ok, ramon, lets get this done.
Fangraphs odds of winning: 13%
So begins the perilous journey of the 2010 bullpen.
Where is Karina when you need her. This is falling apart
It's sad that this first game is already a microcosm for all our offseason fears: shaky starting pitching (outside of Kershaw, Bills, and Kuroda if healthy); questions about whether pen can deliver as it did last year; where will aging Furcal pick up; where will JMart's head be; etc.
Positives: DeHitt.
Aw, F%ck. Church was all over that.
Best start ever!
Oh, and WTF did Ramon Ortiz make the team. That was the other thing I was going to type above.
Alright, shows over folks.
Going for lunch, can't stand the massacre anymore
AC-
Ramon got it done, alright. Or, was that not what you were meaning?
Odog would have caught that.
And it's getting better and better...
BAD NEWS BEARS
Odds of winning: 4%
Goodbye, ladies and gentlemen.
...and we're done here. I'll see ya'll Thursday an we can pretend like this never happened.
i think other teams in spring training intentionally layed off hitting the Ortizes and the other questionable pitchers we had in camp, just to trick us into adding them to the roster
Love this Dodgers.com headline and subheader:
"Torre defends approach to rotation
Dodgers skipper reaffirms confidence in Padilla and Co."
http://tinyurl.com/y9c4xo5
Wow, just...wow.
So what did I miss this time?
200, for starters.
Yeah, Ramon got us done. Well done. Ugh...
Yeah, I could've limped into that one with the double post.
@nic:
I was going to say Jeff Kent.
That pirate Pirate feed was just unplugged:
"Content from this channel removed at the request of the copyright holder. This channel will be accessible again in 24 hours."
There is a god!
After watching some of the Yanks and Botox last night, I know this much is true; early season pitching is suspect at best. . .except when facing the Dodgers. Then it's solid.
Post a Comment