Monday, April 05, 2010

Game 1 Thread: April 5 @ Pirates, 10:30a

"Hello, I'm Vicente, and I'll be your Opening Day starter."


The Dodgers work out at PNC Park yesterday.


Garret Anderson changed his number from 00 to 9. Think he's wearing a BEAST MODE T-shirt underneath?


Someone had some spare time in Pittsburgh. I hope they do this every game.

Vicente Padilla (-, -.--) vs. Zach Duke (-, -.--).

Gameday

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:

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»
Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Furcal SS
Martin C
Ethier RF
Manny LF
Kemp CF
Loney 1B
Blake 3B
DeWitt 2B
Padilla P

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

It feels so good to do that when it actually matters.

Fred's Brim said...

oooh baby! it's a big day in the Fred's Brim household!

Josh S. said...

Dodger baseball: It's real and it's SPECTACULAR!

Nostradamus said...

woooooot!

Jason said...

@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.

Orel said...

Now THAT's a scouting report! Thanks, Jason!

Felix Pardalis said...

am I late for the bracket challenge?

Nostradamus said...

@FP

You're early for next year.

Orel said...

I wonder how many comments we'll get before the game starts. And how many of us will be following via Gameday.

Nostradamus said...

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).

Kyle Baker said...

Anything going on today?

Orel said...

We're just waiting to hear from anyone who's tried the new KFC Double Down sandwich.

Nostradamus said...

@Dusty

Just another beautiful day in SoCal.

Kyle Baker said...

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.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Hey all, I'm going to have a busy Monday so it will be sporadic posting at best. Game Day Audio for me.

Steve Sax said...

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!

Josh S. said...

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.

Kyle Baker said...

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.

rbnlaw said...

Answer sent!

rbnlaw said...

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.

Kyle Baker said...

144

Todd said...

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.

Josh S. said...

144, no?

Kyle Baker said...

I was wondering that, too, Todd. Model # doesn't reveal much. And they all look roughly the same to me (other than color, obviously).

Neeebs (The Original) said...

144 easy. My mind works well with number puzzles by for the life of me I can't figure out Bears and Owls.

Nostradamus said...

@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.

rbnlaw said...

Thanks for the answer. I'll check it.

Now how did you get it? I'm better at Owl/Bear puzzles.

Kyle Baker said...

POTUS just threw out the first pitch. It is ON.

Kyle Baker said...

Add the two numbers on a line together and multiply it by the first number.

rbnlaw said...

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!

Josh S. said...

PNC sound crew played the 90210 theme during the Dodger intros.

I'll admit it, I laughed.

MeanieBreanie said...

Let's get this party started!

Kyle Baker said...

That is the first and last bit of math I intend to do for the year.

Orel said...

the twenty longest minutes in the world...

Orel said...

While waiting, I think I'll create an account at CougarLife.com.

rbnlaw said...

GBA before the game? Genius!

Kyle Baker said...

I think I'll shop for some spring essentials for the modern man at Macy's.

Orel said...

Now that's clever.

Kyle Baker said...

*puffs on pipe pensively*

rbnlaw said...

Sorry, I was playing Shakes and Fidget. What'd I miss?

Orel said...

Only $4.99 3-day delivery at fastballfanatics.com!

Keven C said...

Forgot to set the dvr. Thank Vin for the Directv iphone app!

NicJ said...

Good luck everyone!!!!

Nostradamus said...

Like the first drop on a roller-coaster. Here we go then.

Kyle Baker said...

On :: Donkey Kong

Orel said...

Furcal doesn't strike out. Chalk up a moral victory for him.

Paul said...

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.

Orel said...

Martin OBP = 1.000

Nostradamus said...

Way to go E!

Orel said...

WHY DIDN'T YOU SEND HIM BOWA? Just kidding, I'm on Gameday.

Unknown said...

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

Kyle Baker said...

MLB.TV feed (audio) keep dropping for you all? Does for me.

#We'recontrollingtheMarsRoverwithaniPhonefromaPasadenapubbutwecan'tgetGameDayaudiotoworkonOpeningDay

Fred's Brim said...

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..."

Orel said...

Up to Kemp.

Betsy said...

Yes keep loosing damn audio - wth?

QuadSevens said...

Attaboy Bison!

Unknown said...

there we go kemp!!

Kyle Baker said...

Thx, Michael!

FUCK YOU MLB.TV!

QuadSevens said...

2 run single cashes in the Boys in Blue.

Orel said...

BISON POWER

back pocket out and all

Unknown said...

why pay money when you can watch if for free on the internet right? haha

Orel said...

P.S.: I am not "stud_muffin_4da_ladies" at Michael's live feed.

Fred's Brim said...

Matty begins his MVP campaign!

Somewhere RiRi smiles...




because she is rich and beautiful and young

Neeebs (The Original) said...

I never had audio. I can't hear the damn game. Only the silly graphics.

QuadSevens said...

Loney with the K. Good Guys up 2-0 after half an inning.

BrazilianDodgerFan said...

Anyone having problems with gameday audio?

Loney struck out.

Fred's Brim said...

James Loney's MVP campaign gets off to a slow start

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Opening day audio glitches. ARRRRR

QuadSevens said...

No audio glitches here. Going old school. AM Radio at work.

QuadSevens said...

Although, you could argue that AM Radio is a glitch by itself.

Kyle Baker said...

@Neeebs-

That's cool that you can hear the graphics.

Unknown said...

i'm posting on the stream as mimosaonice fyi

Chappy said...

Hi All! Finally got my game day audio going. Happy new season!

Kyle Baker said...

I'm posting as stud_muffin_4da_ladies

{kidding}

Kyle Baker said...

OOoops; didn't see Orel beat me to the stud_muffin_4da_ladies comment.

Alex Cora said...

Oh damn, what did I miss? Up 2-0!!!

Orel said...

I beat you to the bottom of the barrel, Dusty.

Chappy said...

Wow, MLB Audio is crappy today.

QuadSevens said...

D'oh!

Chappy said...

Son of a....

Orel said...

Just like that, tie game.

NicJ said...

Fuck you padilla

QuadSevens said...

Splash down time for the Bucs. Tie game.

Kyle Baker said...

That's in the Allegheny.

Kyle Baker said...

It is crappy, Chappy.

MR.F said...

Oy.

Josh S. said...

Shitsticks.

Kyle Baker said...

Is there an appropriate amount of time for me to wait before bemoaning our lack of pitching depth?

Chappy said...

Padilla seems to be a little rusty, Dusty.

Kyle Baker said...

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.

Unknown said...

season's over, all hope is lost. good bye

Chappy said...

DeWitt!!

Alex Cora said...

Professional hitter, Blake Dewitt.

Kyle Baker said...

"#stud_muffin_4da_ladies: i live in pasadena so its not a long way"

I promise that's not me!

rbnlaw said...

Free Blake DeWitt!

Chappy said...

I have to refresh Game Day audio every 30 seconds or so... fun so far.

rbnlaw said...

My daughter picked a great time to need a ride to her Bikram class.

Time for a 2 out nightmare.

rbnlaw said...

100

rbnlaw said...

Crap. got 101.
Still a little rusty.

Josh S. said...

"Rafael Furcal had 47 RBI a year ago."

That's a pretty impressive stat to have on Opening Day 2009, Eric.

/nitpick

Orel said...

dust_muffin_4da_ladies?

rbnlaw said...

Well 2010 is off to a rousing start!

Kyle Baker said...

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.

Alex Cora said...

Phew.

rbnlaw said...

Wow, a 1-2-3 DP.

Felix Pardalis said...

we don't need updates on your arousal level

Unknown said...

lol @ felix

Felix Pardalis said...

I like that Yahoo! still has VP's Rangers headshot.

NicJ said...

This is not how I pictured opening day

Kyle Baker said...

Eeeewwwww...I didn't need to see that Pirate mascot gyrating like so.

NicJ said...

I made this last night and was hoping I wouldn't have to use it.

http://twitpic.com/1dg35a

Alex Cora said...

YES!! Two hands manny - way to work the fundamentals.

Orel said...

phew

Unknown said...

nice pic nic j

Alex Cora said...

Cool baseball card graphics on PT.

Kyle Baker said...

Nice, Nic!

Orel said...

Nice catch by Milledge but Ethier is feeling it already.

Orel said...

Manny double!

Alex Cora said...

Opposite field power for manny. Wish someone was on base though...

Chappy said...

Too many Dodger fans listening to the KABC feed I guess. I had to switch to the Pirates radio station. Blah.

QuadSevens said...

Duck on the pond for Bison again!

Kyle Baker said...

Beautiful swing my Manny. Like what I see so far.

Kyle Baker said...

Kemp doing his best Loney impression.

Alex Cora said...

Lyons: "The more times you have people on base in scoring position, the more chance you have for success." Thanks Psycho.

Unknown said...

Glad the season is underway!

Alex Cora said...

Anyone watching this on Prime Ticket or is everyone at work and listening to the radio.?

Alex Cora said...

Chinstrap being interviewed on TV. It is his bday.

Unknown said...

at work, could ask them to change the tv though but everyone is watching the tiger press conference

QuadSevens said...

Rick Monday just announced that Troncoso is not with the club today. He's with his wife and newborn baby, Isabella.

Alex Cora said...

Dammit!!!

BrazilianDodgerFan said...

Ohhh F***

QuadSevens said...

I don't like Garret Jones.

BrazilianDodgerFan said...

Jones owns Padilla

Chappy said...

Padilla sure was the right choice for the opener...

BrazilianDodgerFan said...

@Quad

I don't like Padilla.

Fred's Brim said...

Jones picking up where he left off - he hit a bomb against us in that 11-1 shitpile Monday day game last September

Alex Cora said...

FB: You at this game? Aren't you out that way?

Chappy said...

I give up on MLB audio; it is simply not working.

Maybe Wednesday will be better. See ya

Alex Cora said...

Areial views from the blimp make that stadium look really nice.

Kyle Baker said...

I thought those aerial views were from the baseball-cam from G. Jones last AB.

Kyle Baker said...

@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.

Alex Cora said...

Professional hitter Blake Dewitt (again)

Kyle Baker said...

OK, who is "drboner" in that pirate feed?

Dr(.)Geek, is that you?

Orel said...

DeHitt!

Kyle Baker said...

"DeHitt!"

Yes! Like it.

Alex Cora said...

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.

Alex Cora said...

Fooky - that blew chunks.

Orel said...

Michael posted the feed link earlier in this thread.

Fred's Brim said...

@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...

Kyle Baker said...

AC, welcome from your slumber.

Look up^^^

Kyle Baker said...

Furcal doing his best Furcal impression.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

RF you are the veteran. You need to step up here.

Kyle Baker said...

Hey, they've got one of them there funicular thingies in Pittsburgh, too.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

@FB:

I loved the Pitt stadium so much that the Pirates have become my second favorite team. (Plus they have a cool logo.)

Alex Cora said...

Oops: Must have missed that comment. Sorry.

BWrightson said...

My lord - watching Vicente Padilla pitch is NOT A FUN THING.

Alex Cora said...

I know this is only the 4th inning, but come on it is the fricken' bucks...

Kyle Baker said...

How long til Spring Training? We need a countdown clock.

Just kidding, ust kidding. It's only 4 innings into a season.

But still...

Orel said...

2-3-4 due up next. Let's do some damage.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

At least DeWitt looks good.

Alex Cora said...

Yeah - Mohawk gets a double!

Orel said...

Martin caught in a rundown between second and third. At least his groin's getting a good workout.

Alex Cora said...

COME ON!!!!

Kyle Baker said...

We are already leading the league in pussy-ass dribblers easily handled by infielders to end once-promising innings.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

This sucks.

Kyle Baker said...

I picked the wrong day to stop being pessimistic.

Kyle Baker said...

How do you hit McCutcheon? It's like trying to throw at a piece of dental floss.

Steve Dittmore said...

"We are already leading the league in pussy-ass dribblers easily handled by infielders to end once-promising innings."

@Dusty = new stat PADEHBI2EOPI

Kyle Baker said...

Let's put Fan Graphs on that one, Steve.

Alex Cora said...

BOOOO!!!!!!

Betsy said...

Wow Padilla what a mark to leave

Kyle Baker said...

There was ZERO movement on that ball VPad threw to Milledge. Or velocity.

karen said...

Get him outta there Joe!

Steve Dittmore said...

93 pitches for 4 1/3? ouch!

Alex Cora said...

Ok, ramon, lets get this done.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Fangraphs odds of winning: 13%

Nostradamus said...

So begins the perilous journey of the 2010 bullpen.

NicJ said...

Where is Karina when you need her. This is falling apart

Kyle Baker said...

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.

Alex Cora said...

Aw, F%ck. Church was all over that.

Chappy said...

Best start ever!

Kyle Baker said...

Oh, and WTF did Ramon Ortiz make the team. That was the other thing I was going to type above.

NicJ said...

Alright, shows over folks.

Betsy said...

Going for lunch, can't stand the massacre anymore

Kyle Baker said...

AC-

Ramon got it done, alright. Or, was that not what you were meaning?

NicJ said...

Odog would have caught that.

BrazilianDodgerFan said...

And it's getting better and better...

Kyle Baker said...

BAD NEWS BEARS

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Odds of winning: 4%

Goodbye, ladies and gentlemen.

Nostradamus said...

...and we're done here. I'll see ya'll Thursday an we can pretend like this never happened.

Fred's Brim said...

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

Kyle Baker said...

Love this Dodgers.com headline and subheader:

"Torre defends approach to rotation

Dodgers skipper reaffirms confidence in Padilla and Co."

http://tinyurl.com/y9c4xo5

Orel said...

Wow, just...wow.

rbnlaw said...

So what did I miss this time?

Orel said...

200, for starters.

Alex Cora said...

Yeah, Ramon got us done. Well done. Ugh...

rbnlaw said...

Yeah, I could've limped into that one with the double post.

@nic:
I was going to say Jeff Kent.

Kyle Baker said...

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!

rbnlaw said...

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.

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