Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Game 7 Thread: April 13 vs. D'backs, 1p (HOME OPENER)

We are ready for the siege
We are armed to the teeth

Clayton Kershaw (0-0, 5.79) vs. Ian Kennedy (0-0, 5.40).

Gameday

COMMENTS: Here we go, the majors' last home opener, with the badly bruised Dodgers coming off a horrid 2-4 roadtrip that is either an ominous portent for an awful season, or evidence that our early stumble will be quickly overcome as we work out the kinks. It has been draining as a Dodger fan, but today's game will help us determine whether it's nigh time to pull the panic switch or if we shouldn't be reading all that much into three unlucky one-run losses (despite the fact that the last two were choke jobs).

There's no secrets this year that we don't have a solid pitching corps, with a starting rotation that isn't going very deep into games (save Hiroki Kuroda, who went eight full on Friday vs. the Fish), and a relief pitching squad whose lack of reliability is in stark contrast to the performance of the relievers over the last couple of years. Couple that with the creaking bones of new additions Garret Anderson and the twin Ortiz terrors, and we can see the limited flexibility provided by our roster. Growing old is getting old.

I know I got incredibly lucky at the home opener last year, watching the Dodgers pound Randy Johnson and the Giants while Orlando Hudson cycled his way to Dodgers history. I'm hoping for another great Opening Day today, as well (come on by Field Level 44 if you want to say hi; I'll likely be wearing a Dodgers jersey). I know it will be crowded (as Opening Days always are), with a stadium filled with rabid, hopefully not too drunk fans; but I don't mind. I figure I'll either be surrounded (or spiralling).

Swoon album layout and design done by the incredibly talented Sara Cumings Design. I'm a big fan. (Even if you don't write me back.)

209 comments:

1 – 200 of 209   Newer›   Newest»
MR.F said...

It's time for Dodgers Baseball!

Nostradamus said...

Time to start baseball season! Fer reals this time!

Steve Sax said...

I'm en route! We're coming off the 2 and heading toward the secret gate!

Kyle Baker said...

Drinking on some side street before I drive up Sunset Gate.

NicJ said...

Let the great experiment begin!!!!

Fred's Brim said...

man oh man I wish I could be there!

side-street drinking rules too! just make sure the keys aren't in the ignition if you are drinking in your car

Orel said...

Gameday link added to main post.

Wicks said...

The Silversun Pickups are a very under-rated band. They are one of my favorites!

Kyle Baker said...

Noted FB. TG for sister in laws who are willing to drive my lazy ass around.

Josh S. said...

Here! And the place is lookin' gorgeous!

rbnlaw said...

Alright, who made it to the Shortstop?? 2 buck PBR's are nothing to pass up in this economy.

Steve Sax said...

Josh S, I'm here too. Shoot me a post with your location and I'll stop by to say hi.

Steve Sax said...

This place is BEAUTIFUL today. AZ BP.

Looked at the Victory Knot. $18. Victory? Not.

Steve Sax said...

Great Lakes Loons story on the D-Vision

Nostradamus said...

You guys are getting me all riled up. I haven't been to opening day since '04, but I'm wishing I was there today.

Kyle Baker said...

Loge Lounge - anyone

Kyle Baker said...

109 Loge

Josh S. said...

I'm in loge 158 M.

Keven C said...

I'm in. Glee!

NicJ said...

That whole dodgers being shown up by scrub pitchers doesn't count for opening day right?

Hope not. YAY!!

karen said...

I agree with MC. The only consolation we who are at home have is we get to hear Mr. Scully call the game.

NicJ said...

Any sign of Jamie McCourt?

Steve Sax said...

Dusty, where are you in 109loge, what are you wearing?

QuadSevens said...

Jamie McCourt is sitting this one out. A short in the LA Times says she won't be at the game.

Radio time for me at work.

NicJ said...

She probably couldn't afford a ticket.

NicJ said...

I love how the kfc double down is out trending dodger stadium in LA right now.

#wearefat

karen said...

Here we go! Good luck guys

Paul said...

Good luck my friends!!!

koufax said...

trying to get excited about the dodgers again, hope today is the day it happens

MR.F said...

Go Blue!

MeanieBreanie said...

I’m envious of those that are there. MLBN is no consolation. Have a great time and drink one for the rest of us poor souls destined to be elsewhere. GO BLUE!

koufax said...

wish i could hear vinny right now

Orel said...

Happy Opening Day, everyone!

NicJ said...

Leadoff weak hit single. Ugh.

koufax said...

nice pic nic

koufax said...

a lot of strikes from kkershaw is encouraging

Kyle Baker said...

@ Sax

109 Loge row M seat 1

wearing traditional LA hat and Los Dodgere tee.

spank said...

Good job CK

koufax said...

reynolds well on his way to breaking his own k record

spank said...

3 strikeouts for Ck so far

koufax said...

how does kelly johnson have 3 homeruns this year so far?

koufax said...

home loney?

QuadSevens said...

Rancho Ardiendo for Martin!

spank said...

Oh Snap! C'Mon JMart

Steve Sax said...

Dusty, I'll be up there around the eighth inning. I've already had a great time meeting Josh S and Mrs S....

koufax said...

patience j mart

QuadSevens said...

Sac fly for Martin. Dodgers up 1-0.

koufax said...

in play run(s)!

Unknown said...

i was wondering what the secret gate steve is talking about in his comment earlier? wish i could have made it for openning day, will be there saturday though for Lincecum vs Haeger

koufax said...

at least we got kennedy's pitch count up

Kyle Baker said...

8th it is Sax

Nostradamus said...

Who-hoo! Meeting canceled, office goldbricking schedule resumes!

koufax said...

kkkk

Orel said...

Kershaw at 48 pitches through three. 1-0 Dodgers

Kyle Baker said...

Anyone wanna split a victory knot?

koufax said...

should we start calling him kkkkkkemp

NicJ said...

Kemp really knows how to ruin a good at bat.

Kyle Baker said...

Why is Tommy wearing a sleeveless canary yellow sweater on opening day?

karen said...

5 k's for CK

Unknown said...

another strike out for kemp :(.... dusty, i just looked up the victory knot and it looks f'ing delicious!

NicJ said...

Kemp must have been blinded by the glare of his gold glove.

koufax said...

gamecast said that ball was over the fence

rbnlaw said...

I was reading that Honeycutt and Torre want Kershaw to pitch to contact more.

I don't think that's what they had in mind.

rbnlaw said...

Reynolds struck out again?
Shocking.

Jason said...

Charlie keeps referring to Adam LaRouche as LeRoach.

koufax said...

almost dropped the f bomb in the middle of my class

koufax said...

kershaw looking pretty efficient out there 71 pitches through 4

rbnlaw said...

@koufax: Allow me.
Fuck! 1-1.

koufax said...

thanks rbn

Kyle Baker said...

The hit for RBI was fluke. Good sequence in that AB for him and that was a good pitch. Just broken bat luck. ..

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

The delino is in the house. Walked 100 miles to get here. Awful bloopers. Awful lines. Great hot dog. Solid game. Mannys up....

NicJ said...

Manny being manny!!!

koufax said...

boom

karen said...

And she is gone! Thanks Manny

Casey Lombardo said...

That looked like a monster HR on gamecast

koufax said...

dont recall manny having a solid at bat like that for a while

Steve Dittmore said...

That looked like (at least on GameDay) like Manny's best AB of the year.

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

Pretty pretty pretty good

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

....Come on loney...do ny fb team proud

Steve Dittmore said...

@Casey... 2010 = Home Loney

Josh S. said...

MANNY!

Holy shit, 3G sucks here.

Steve Dittmore said...

No Beard Bomb

koufax said...

apparently they figured out that 88 mph fastball

karen said...

I feel better now

Casey Lombardo said...

Haha, my bad (@Steve)

koufax said...

cant remember seeing a homerun hit off of the first pitch after a coaching visit to the mound, love it. just throw strikes son...

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

Sweet....blake, loney bri ing me the points.

Nostradamus said...

Casey and...uh, Home Loney?!

That's a good, good thing to see.

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

My father in law hit a guy in the face while going for a beach ball

Steve Dittmore said...

Near as I can tell from Gameday. Kennedy has a slow flat fastball and off-speed pitches that can't get in the zone. Not a good recipe.

Nostradamus said...

Josh,

Let me guess. AT&T? It was absolute hell for me in the playoffs last year. The bandwidth is totally inadequate for 57,099 fans all tweeting simultaneously.

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

Josh s.heard you.are in my row? My 3g sucks too

NicJ said...

Kershaw has lost the strikezone.

NicJ said...

Here comes another three run homer.

Steve Dittmore said...

@NicJ - time to bring in your avatar

rbnlaw said...

Power on Opening Day? Love it.

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

From his back..that is some kind of man

QuadSevens said...

100

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

Women in blue fan club just got advertised. Tee hee

QuadSevens said...

Walked away to do some actual work and I missed the bombs. Love coming back to a lead though.

Nostradamus said...

*heart resumes beating*

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

Kershaw stepped in some lucky s__t that inning

Casey Lombardo said...

Bison

Casey Lombardo said...

Estimated distance on Manny HR: 435 ft. (via @dylanohernandez)

Nostradamus said...

Homerun derby today! Save some of that patented mojo, lads.

MR.F said...

A delayed BISON MODE!

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

Beach ball

Keven C said...

It's 2010 and grown men have been begging to do the wave since the third inning. This is my town.

MR.F said...

Nice patience.

Casey Lombardo said...

Uh, time for the hook, Joe.

BrazilianDodgerFan said...

@ Keven C

They are remembering the 80's...

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

Aa fight broke out just out of my view. Consarnit

Casey Lombardo said...

THROW A STRIKE.

Unknown said...

effing god...

karen said...

Is Joe leaving CK in because he's afraid of our bullpen?

Unknown said...

FINALLY, a strike.

Casey Lombardo said...

That was a miracle K. Now PULL HIM.

Unknown said...

Hell yeah! 'bout time for another K

BrazilianDodgerFan said...

I think Broxton can pitch today, Torre must put him now

Unknown said...

The question now is if Jeff Weaver will be better.

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

Clayton dancdd into the fire enough. Good houdini like game

karen said...

Ortiz sighting in bullpen

Unknown said...

FAAAAAACK.

Casey Lombardo said...

So is the plan to just destroy Weaver this year?

BrazilianDodgerFan said...

Back to class now

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

Splat cam...genius.
We learned if you drop a tv one level it smashes.

Kyle Baker said...

3g is fine at my angle. Now if they could just invent a battery that lasted more than 2 hrs. Note to apple: look at mars rover.

Ryan said...

So let me get this straight...Kershaw was allowed to throw 109 pitches in 4 2/3 innings in his first start of the season (most of any major leaguer), and then 111 in 5 1/3 (probably going to be most among major leaguers this week again) in his second start?

What happened to protecting that golden arm?

BrazilianDodgerFan said...

Will Kemp make Ri-Ri laugh again???

BrazilianDodgerFan said...

ETHIER!!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Holy hell we're hammering these clowns.

spank said...

Homerun Galore

MR.F said...

WHOOO!

MR.F said...

If our lead gets a little bigger, we might be able to safely bring He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named...

Josh S. said...

This game is awesome.

Sax is awesome.

My connection is not awesome.

BrazilianDodgerFan said...

@ MR F

I'm confused, you are talking abou Sherrill right??

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Hey, the thin Ortiz is in.

karen said...

Is a 7 run lead enough for an Ortiz brother?

Neeebs (The Original) said...

@Spanky:

Digging the Rush Avatar

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Damn you, Ra Ortiz.

QuadSevens said...

Steiner: "Reynolds lifts a flyball to fairly deep left field. It's more than fairly deep, it's gone."

Midseason form already.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

@Karen:

NO!

MR.F said...

He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named = Voldemortiz

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I can't wait for the return of Belly, Kuo and (mentally) Sherrill.

Unknown said...

98% win chance on FanGraphs...

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Where's the damn hook?

Casey Lombardo said...

My god, this bullpen is incredible.

Unknown said...

bloop, down to 97%

MR.F said...

Get him out of there! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

spank said...

@neeebs - that's my band. Damn, it was just 9-2 WTF!!!!!!!!!!

Casey Lombardo said...

This week should be a huge wakeup call. Bring up McDizz and Belisario already! Hell, Lindblom, too!

Neeebs (The Original) said...

@Spanky:

So are you Alex, Geddy, or Neil?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

It's finally over.

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

The delinos real face was seen...by end of this innining, ill have aged enought that it won't matter

spank said...

@neeebs I'm the Snowdog LOL

Neeebs (The Original) said...

2112

MeanieBreanie said...

Stuck in a meeting. What's the current score?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

9-5 Blue on top of Snakes.

spank said...

Not very smart JMart

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

The sun has finally reached me. Cursed warmth

spank said...

Did everyone leave the stadium already or are you too drunk too post a comment

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

The Delino's not used to natural light.

Kyle Baker said...

Prediction: we will not end the season 162-0.

Unknown said...

Ramooooooooon

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Is DSB guy there? Didn't see him at the Cleveland exhibition.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

That Rihanna has a talented boyfriend.

spank said...

Was that Yoko Ono in the stands behind home plate?

karen said...

We survived our bullpen! Yaaaaaay!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

WE WIN!

Nostradamus said...

That's more like it! Hoorah us.

Nostradamus said...

I liked it better when shaggy was the most unpredictable guy we had in the pen, rather than middle of the pack.

NicJ said...

A nice little win. The pen sucks, but its not really complete at the moment. If it continues to struggle when Kuo/Belli get back ill start to worry.

Josh S. said...

Traaaaaaaaafic.

Nostradamus said...

Wasn't Belly1 supposed to be back next week, anyway?

NicJ said...

well it depends, he is on the restricted list so he is basically working without pay. He should be ready soon but you never know if the organization wants to sit him out the full 30 days on the restricted list to send him a message. If the ortizes keep pitching like crap i dont think that message will be worth losing games over though.

Fred's Brim said...

good win

I don't like relying on homers to score our runs - it just doesn't work, long-term, in our park, but i'll take it. I like that we drew a lot of walks too.

NicJ said...

FB, true. But i dont want to be on the lower third in HR totals. Its really hard to win games without the longball when your pitching is shaky and you dont have a whole lot of speed on the basepaths.

Before today Albert Pujols had more HR's than our entire team.

Josh S. said...

Back home. Exhausted. Happy.

Sax, Delino, and Dusty are all just as cool in real life as they are on here. Maybe even cooler.

Kyle Baker said...

This shoutout going to my sister in law for driving, to Josh for stopping by, and to Sax for also checking in. Great day at the Yard made better by good company. Checking in later w some thoughts and some tastefully post-processed photos.

Kyle Baker said...

Glad you made it through the traffic, Josh. It was bad, but not as awful as it can be sometimes.

So what do I do with the rest of my evening? Oh, I start watching the game again on Tivo.

#DustyNeedsALife

Steve Sax said...

Dusty, Josh S, etc: send pix! We'll post them or at least links to them...

Josh S. said...

Sax: Will do, when I'm back in front of my computer later.

Kyle Baker said...

Will do. I'll upload to a Flickr or Flickr-lookin' account.

Steve Sax said...

Wow what a game. I'm still sobering up...

Kyle Baker said...

That's weird, Sax...I'm still getting drunk!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

If it matters to anyone, Buccos leading San Francicso(sic) 3-0, still batting in the top of third.

Kyle Baker said...

@MLASF-

I just checked. Yep, it matters! Thx for the update.

Having some 'za and uploading some pics from the day. Can't wait to post some masterful insight/useless snakrk later on. GLEE anyone?

Josh S. said...

Mr. LASF: When they introduced Monasterios during the pregame, I let out a huge "YEEEEAAAHHHH!!" and then realized I was the only one who had made any noise. It drew a good chuckle from those around me.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Thanks for representing me, Josh. When will people learn about the greatness that is Monasterios?

Kyle Baker said...

Here are some photos I took today. I'm no Jon Soohoo, but hope you all enjoy.

http://tinyurl.com/y3jcgj9

Here's to many more successful Opening Days.

rbnlaw said...

Why was that game closer than it had to be?
Why didn't they use Monteserios?
Can we cut an Ortiz now, for god's sake?

rbnlaw said...

Hey! Glee's on you bunch of worn out drunks!

Kyle Baker said...

I'm watching GLEE. I'm not worn out!

karen said...

@Dusty

I loved your pics! Thank you for sharing.

Kyle Baker said...

Glad you liked them, Karen!

Kyle Baker said...

"Did you know that dolphins are just gay sharks?"

Nice line from GLEE.

Paul said...

I had a brutal day in enemy territory but a Dodger win made everything alright.

Thanks for the pics Dusty. I like that the Odyssey is right next to the Simpsons guide.

Paul said...

3 more outs and this day will be complete.

Kyle Baker said...

@Paul

Between both Homers, all wisdom is contained.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Now just one more out.

«Oldest ‹Older   1 – 200 of 209   Newer› Newest»