Friday, June 11, 2010

Game 61 Thread: June 11 vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 7p

Chad Billingsley (6-3, 3.80) vs. Joel Pineiro (4-6, 5.23).

COMMENTS (from Sax): How can we follow up the excitement that was a 1-1 tie for Mexico and South Africa, followed by a scintillating 0-0 France/Uruguay tie? How about by the grand re-opening of 2010 Interleague Play, including the matchups YOU the fans demanded to see!

Second-to-last-place Astros @ second-to-first-place Yankees! Muddling Mets at Odious Orioles! Politically-located Nationals at politically-incorrect Indians! And what says "rivalry" if not Royals / Reds, Blue Jays / Rockies, or Rangers / Brewers?

At least we Angelenos get the Freeway Series, where the 33-30 Angels come to Dodger Stadium to try and ruin the end of our outstanding 8-2 homestand. The Cardinals' sweep proves we can win the close ones, and having Hideki Matsui stumble around in left negates any damage Manny Ramirez might do out in left field. But the Angels have a habit of showing us up, so I'm not counting on a series win, or even a blowout victory for the good guys tonight. Let's just try and score more points on the board than France, okay? Merci.

140 comments:

Nostradamus said...

I really don't like losing to the Angels. Let's lay some lumber on them tonight.

Nostradamus said...

Orel,

You seem cranky. Does someone need a nap?

Josh S. said...

I'm at the game tonight, and since the friend I was supposed to go with canceled, Mr. Dusty Aloysius Baker will be taking his place.

Mister Los Angeles Sports Fan, are you still going?

Nostradamus said...

Get some heckling in for me, lads.

Nostradamus said...

Damn, I'm beginning to realize my game participation is way down this year. I need to pick it up.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

MC: I sense you've been up from early this morning. I predict a crash coming before the game is done.

Josh S. said...

Furcal
Kemp
Ethier
Ramirez
Loney
Blake
DeWitt
Martin
Billingsley

Steve Sax said...

To be fair, Orel fell asleep after the France/Uruguay match, so I did today's GameThread (Sax)

Steve Sax said...

Have fun at the game, Josh and Dusty!

Have fun storming the castle!

Paul said...

Dusty and Josh sitting together. I sense another fake proposal in the late innings.

rbnlaw said...

Orel had his chance to nap during the FRA/URG match.
I got caught up on paperwork; whatever that is.

Hey, let's send the Los Angeles Angels back to Anaheim. I'll be waiting for them.

Nostradamus said...

@Neeebs

I'm living on construction site time right now, so only the early games are really troublesome.

You'll not be rid of me that easily.

Nostradamus said...

Sax is doing little to discredit the theory that the Sons are all different personalities of one very conflicted individual.

rbnlaw said...

The conflict is called, "A. Delino."

karen said...

Hi Everyone,

I don't really look forward to the Dodger/Angel games. I know alot of Angel fans who are sore losers and REALLY obnoxious winners

Nostradamus said...

I hope Double D is a good sport. He's been through a lot.

Nostradamus said...

Hey Karen,

The payoff for winning the freeway series does not equal the punishment for losing it, I agree.

NicJ said...

Everyone forgot to mention the greatest battle of them all. The battle of the team japanese translators!!

#TEAMKENJI

NicJ said...

Today before i left work i made sure to wish all the coworkers of mine that were Angel fans good luck, "Break a leg" was the phrase i used.

Too Soon?

MR.F said...

Bahahahahaha. Nice.

Nostradamus said...

Definitely not too soon.

karen said...

"Break a leg"...Nic you crack me up

Fred's Brim said...

Why do the Angels give us so much trouble? Sometimes they are better than us, so I get that, but they always seem to have a mental edge over us. That I don't get. Time to flip that the fuck over tonight

Fred's Brim said...

Well played, Nic!

karen said...

I agree with FB. It seems most of the time we are the better team but somehow they find a way to beat us. Lets kick their collective asses tonite

Fred's Brim said...

Josh and Dusty, sittin in a tree!


I expect to hear some tales of hijinks, mischief and ribaldry later

karina said...

Epale, everyone!

I'm tired of the Angels winning the Freeway Series.

@Nic J that was pure gold!

@Dusty Naker and @Josh have fun!

karen said...

Epale Karina!

Are you ready to get on the roller coaster ride that is a Dodger/Angel game??

Fred's Brim said...

howdy karina!

Fred's Brim said...

that was a nice inning

Chad threw a bullet to James for that third out

Fred's Brim said...

woah - sneaky triple for Raffy down the right field line!

now GET HIM HOME!

karen said...

Raffy all the way to third!!!

Fred's Brim said...

dammit - Matty hit the fly ball but they didn't send Raffy. Then the throw from center wasnt any good

Fred's Brim said...

get him home!

Fred's Brim said...

Dre with the walk to bring up Manny with 1 out.

no double plays!

Fred's Brim said...

shit - Manny pops it up
Raffy still at 3rd, 2 outs now

karina said...

@karen i'm always ready for Dodgers baseball :)

Orel said...

AARGH

Steve Sax said...

Well that was a missed opportunity.

Fred's Brim said...

shite, Loney grounds out and Raffy's triple spoils on the vine

Fred's Brim said...

hmm that one was supposed to be low and away

Fred's Brim said...

cmon Chadley, straighten it out

Fred's Brim said...

great snag by FJL!

karina said...

King James and the gold worthy glove!

Fred's Brim said...

pitch K of Napoli

Fred's Brim said...

Kendrick stands sooo far off the plate

Nostradamus said...

Back from the open roads. I hope for less futility from this point forward

Fred's Brim said...

crud - Chad couldnt come up with the chopper, 1st and 3rd with 2 outs

Fred's Brim said...

Quinlan stands at the plate like a beer-league softball player

Fred's Brim said...

Chad, please throw strikes to the guy batting .182

Fred's Brim said...

excellent - Mr C is here!

karina said...

In the first inning the announcers were "we'll be broadcasting Manny's return to Fenway Park next weekend".

I suspect most media will cover the series as "Manny plays against the Red Sox" as opposed to "Dodgers vs Red Sox"

Fred's Brim said...

attaboy Russ - way to clear the pitcher!

Nostradamus said...

@FB

I had to stop and ask myself if you were being ironic after the way I've been abusing the WC thread today.

Fred's Brim said...

@karina - they definitely will. The MLB Network will be showing the game on Friday, the Saturday game is the Fox game of the week and the Sunday game is the ESPN game.

And I am going to the Saturday game!

karina said...

Wait, there was a World Cup thread?

Fred's Brim said...

ha! no i was serious. I stayed out of the WC thread today so I haven't seen what damaged you caused. Should I not look?

karina said...

@Fred's Brim awesome! have lots and lots of fun!

Fred's Brim said...

damnation - 3rd strike gets away from Russ and Piniero gets on. Unacceptable

Also unacceptable was the amount of Angels fans cheering. I hope DB and Josh are taking care of that

Fred's Brim said...

@karina - you know I will. I just hope I dont get attacked by any red sox fans!

Fred's Brim said...

wow Russ almost had that

Fred's Brim said...

wow what a double play! great stop by Raffy to start it!

Steve Sax said...

Uh oh for Chad, two on none out

Fred's Brim said...

crap crap crap
Chad had his chance to get out of the inning but freakin Abreu singles in Piniero

Fred's Brim said...

cmon Chad, finish this off

Fred's Brim said...

most of the hits have been hard ground balls through the infield

karen said...

Chad gets out of it cheap enough.

Fred's Brim said...

wow that one nearly got out

Nostradamus said...

@FB

Ha! No, it's not that bad. I just don't get to the top of the recent comments unless I'm really riled up about something.

I'll be out in Boston Saturday, and we're going to the game Sunday. Shoot me an e-mail if you need strength in numbers. I believe Paul is going to Saturday's game, as well.

Fred's Brim said...

cmon guys, take some pitches, please!

Fred's Brim said...

yeah like that, thanks Dre

Nostradamus said...

I feel like the guys get a little too bloodthirsty when a pitcher is shaky. Pineiro looked none-too-comfortable in the first inning, but we just couldn't execute.

Fred's Brim said...

wow it's gone! FJL hits a homer at home!

karina said...

Displaying all the royal skills!

Fred's Brim said...

i didnt think that was gonna make it, especially compared to the one Raffy hit

Nostradamus said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Fred's Brim said...

uhoh here's the scream

please stay with it, mlb.tv

Nostradamus said...

Never mind. Perhaps I should make snide comments about facing medic ore pitchers before eve at bat if that is going to happen!

Nostradamus said...

^mediocre, that is. Strike two on me.

Fred's Brim said...

haha this is funny - i wonder if DB and Josh are screaming

Fred's Brim said...

I think the cheer after Mark Loretta's game-winner in the playoffs was longer and louder

Fred's Brim said...

dammit Chad!!!
WALKING THE OPPOSING PITCHER IS UNACCEPTABLE!!!

Fred's Brim said...

Chad is not crisp tonight

karen said...

C'mon Chadley...It's a whole new ballgame. Get your act together

Fred's Brim said...

*sigh*

Fred's Brim said...

this feels like the first 3 weeks of the season

Nostradamus said...

Le sigh

Nostradamus said...

I really hate losing to the damn Angels

Paul said...

Hey guys.

I woke up from my World Cup slumber to see this crap. Evil twin brother. Chet Bills is pitching.

LLCoolL said...

Can somebody explain to me why the Angels own us so badly?

karina said...

@Paul @Mr C we're in the 5th and Dre is playing.You're worrying too much.

Fred's Brim said...

well done, Raffy

Fred's Brim said...

goddamn ump has that zone dropping further and further down

Unknown said...

This game is starting to tick me off.

NicJ said...

How low is the strike zone going to go? That was way below the knee.

Paul said...

@Karina

points to Mr. C.

He started it!

Ughhh wasted opportunity.

Nostradamus said...

@Karina

I'm not writing off the game just yet, but playing from 3 runs down seems painfully familiar.

Paul said...

The Angels are the sneaky rival for me. I am not in LA so the rest of California doesn't have many vocal Angel fans but then when we play them I remember how much I dislike them.

Although they did prevent fat head and the Giants from winning a world championship.

Nostradamus said...

@Paul @Karina

I accept full rresponsibility.

Nostradamus said...

@Paul

The Angels were tolerable until 2002.

Paul said...

Somewhere at the ravine MLASF is trying to find a wall to punch.

Fred's Brim said...

unreal

karina said...

@Mr C you win more when you send positive vibes ;)

Fred's Brim said...

god I can't stand that shit

Nostradamus said...

Again with the walking of the pitcher?

karina said...

@Mr C you win more when you send positive vibes ;)

Nostradamus said...

@Karina

This IS L.A. I could go down to the Scientology Center and get my thetans checked.

Fred's Brim said...

karina, I am taking my negative vibes out of here. that should help you turn the tide.

gnite all

Nostradamus said...

Well, no sense easing you into it, George.

karina said...

oh Sherrill with Rancho Ardiendo.

Thanks to my son and his brilliant plat at first.

Paul said...

Not a good time to implode chadley. I thought all those frightened reactions for the king kong ride were reactions to Sherrill heading in from the bullpen.

karina said...

I'm torn, Abreu is batting....

Nostradamus said...

THROW A STRIKE

Paul said...

Sherrill pulled his pumpernickel on that one. Back to the DL.

Nostradamus said...

breezy, my man, you are pissing me off something fierce.

Nostradamus said...

Whatever mojo Sherrill had last year is gone. This just ain't working out.

karen said...

When Joe brings in a guy like Sherrill in a game that we're still in it makes me feel like he's throwing in the towel

karina said...

@Mr C i think the pitcher has three runs. An AL pitcher.

Btw, I don't know anything about Scientology and I'll have to do some intensive Wikipedia research. It's been awhile since I had my last "Learning with Mr C" episode (it's a compliment)

karina said...

Torre, Troncoso needs a night off here and there. Just sayin'

rbnlaw said...

Following the CSUF/UCLA super regional game as well. CSUF up 4-1 against could-have-been-Yankee, Gerritt Cole.

Dude is dealing in the high-90's in the 6th.

Nostradamus said...

@Karina

There's no shortage of material out there on Scientology, certainly! They own a lot of real estate in and around Hollywood, hence my comment. You might infer that my fellings are somewhat cynical.

Kyle Baker said...

DSBG. Eases the pain.

Unknown said...

Forget this crap. Bring on England.

Steve Sax said...

Oh well, a 8-3 homestand still sounds good.

Nostradamus said...

We had better get our shit together tomorrow.

Nostradamus said...

Did I mention that I hate losing to the Angels?

Paul said...

This is obviously Chris myers fault

Paul said...

Boddingtons vs Samuel Adams. Who win? Paul wins!!!!

Josh S. said...

Worst game I've seen live in a few years. Except for the company. Dusty's still the man.

Josh S. said...

@FB, 8:28:

I said the EXACT same thing to Dusty about the Loretta hit.

And yes, we screamed a bit.

It sucks we didn't get the volume record. That shit hurt my ears.

Kyle Baker said...

I can vouch for that. Josh said exactly the same thing re noise and Loretta.

What a poor night of baseball. Nonetheless, Josh and I had a great time and made some important observations.

For one, Josh noted that the Dodgervision screen looks like a sideways iPhone. You just don't get that kind of insight anywhere else.

DSBG was there and he was in fine form.

Paul said...

I hate the Angels but they have a tenaciousness about them that stems back to Lasorda's teams. It's the bloodlines. It's family.

That being said Mikey flipped to the OC so let's take him out the next two games!!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I went. Bad seats. Really bad. So bad, Bob Uecker gave me his condolences. But fun. Screamed a lot. Lost my voice. Using that as excuse for abbreviated sentences. Pitching sucked. Especially Sherrill. Sadly Miller as well, my second favorite meme. Hitter stunk worse. Loney has the same number of homers as Manny. Chew on that.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

DSBG was in prime form. Just an excellent performance. He and Ozzy were the highlights, which really tells you about the game.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I also saw the tweets me and Josh sent out today on the ribbon board, but my camera died as I tried to take the pictures. I hope someone caught them.

Fred's Brim said...

I bailed last night, recusing myself and my negative energy in hopes that it would help the team and everybody here. Of course the score got twice as bad but then all of our division foes came back and won their games

What a shitass shitpile of a night! Maybe I was the only thing holding it all together.

Fred's Brim said...

Of course this is the perfect time to put up a "how are they doing it?" article on the main Yahoo MLB page

Fred's Brim said...

and Pat Effing Burrell is a goddamn VaGiant? When the hell did that happen? What could they do to make me hate them more?

Nostradamus said...

I can't hold FB responsible for the meatballs Sherrill was serving up.

Green Lantern JBJ of Sector 1138 said...

this baby has his game face on