Chad Billingsley (2-1, 3.92) vs. Jeff Karstens (2-1, 4.05).
Billingsley is 4-0 lifetime against Pittsburgh and 2-0 at PNC Park. I know, against a team that hasn't had a winning record since 1992, that's like saying I can beat my six-year-old kid on XBox Dance Central (even in "no flashcards" mode--booyah!). But Karstens, a spot starter for Russ Ohlendorf, lasted only four innings in his last start (against the Padres); Andre Ethier may have found his home run swing again (after yesterday's difference-maker at Citi Field); and the Dodgers are due for some good luck. I say, the Bucs stop here.
144 comments:
Carroll - SS
Miles - 2B
Ethier - RF
Kemp - CF
Uribe - 3B
Loney - 1B
Sands - LF
Barajas - C
Billingsley - P
If we bat
Sands
Urine
Carroll
Kemp
Miles
Ethier
in order, it would at least provide a nice mnemonic.
I believe this now makes three starting lineups this season with all 8 position players hitting above the Mendoza line.
*cries*
Or today, in honor of Milton Bradley's DFA, we could bat
M.iles
B.arajas
Billingsley
Uribe
Carroll
Kemp
Loney
Ethier
Sands
@Jason 1:06p: It's like the "No Dodger Left Behind" program
Someone is warming up P&A.
A friend from Pittsburgh is headed to this game and just texted me:
"Dodgers suck!"
I was forced to respond with:
"Yes, yes they do"
This friend also expects the pre-game video montage to be in the style of "300" and entitled ".500".
that would be an awesome video montage...though I don't know whether Sparta is us, or Pittsburgh
@Jason 1:09p: ? what do you mean someone is warming up P&A?
@Sax 1:03pm: LOL (Literally)
Your alternate lineups forming mnemonics bear some similarity to a puzzle warm-up.
@Jason 1:48p: Ah yes. We'll have to use that at some point...
Mattingly is only 984 wins behind Mike Scioscia.
@Mr C (and Mr Ed, while I have you), why the long face? If Donny continues playing .500 baseball, he'll be at the 1000 win mark by 2023. No problem.
See that former dodger J-Mac pitched six innings with no runs the other day. Grr....
Not so much that I think that Donny is necessarily the problem (or the solution, for that matter), but I hate seeing former Dodgers go on to greater success elsewhere.
I hate feeling like a chump (you'd think I'd be used to it, but that's a whole other thing)
Today's Dodger badges:
Barajas double
Uribe triple
Ethier HR
Ethier HR is probably the most likely, esp. since he stroked one yesterday. Uribe triple is probably the least likely, given (a) he can't run, and (b) Urine was 0-for-14 with 7 Ks in the last three-game series against a sucky Mets team.
Barajas double, come to think of it, is pretty unlikely too. As SoSG Alex Cora pointed out to me yesterday as we watched the game, Rodster is either a HR or a K. Nothing in between. And a double is in between, so it won't happen.
Too bad, too, since this is the only one of the three badges I still need.
DEAR LORD, SOMEONE KILL MILES NOW
33 game on-base streak!
Urine!
somebody tell me what the hell happened on that "reviewed play" w/ fan interference?
interestingly, GameDay says "Play reviewed and stands as called: Garret Jones hits a ground-rule double (3) on a fly ball to right field, on fan interference."
Did a Pirates fan just cost them a HR?
And Bills comes right back and gets Walker to fly out. That's awesome.
Bills is showing some gumption this year. It's impressive.
Twins @ Red Sox is the only one of the four early games to not have scoring in the first inning
jerry sands, one pitch out
@Mr LASC 4:28p: don't cry, jones didn't end up scoring!
Bills showing the lumber.
Chad kinda lumbers naturally.
bills can double just like you, garrett jones
and, he can pitch, too
1-0 through two innings
Based on crowd shots, I'd guess the parents of each Pirate starter showed up.
Apparently an opponent featuring Aaron Miles hitting second and future Pirate James Loney isn't the draw once was.
aaron miles is an amazing (for him) 2-for-2
@Jason: "Future Pirate James Loney"? Yar be kidding me, matey!
Wow. That sucked.
ah, there's that Aaron Miles I thought I'd see.
Miles doubled off of first when Kemp FLIES out. To center field.
Well done, Miles.
Lyle Overbay is this year's two-years-past-his-career-expiration-date Pirate.
Also, nice grab by future Yankee McCutchen.
Eric Collins interviewing kershaw. Clayton says you know a lot.
Karstens looks like Blake trying hunt.
^ to bunt. And maybe hunt.
Mega Millions jackpot is $18 million. Or roughly half of the Pittsburgh payroll.
well, that's not good.
Blerg.
Someone should point out to Collins that Walker was drafted as a catcher and spent most of his time in the minors playing third base.
@Jason 4:58p: [Camera shot of Robert Nutting, furiously scratching off lottery cards]
Tied at 1 through three innings at PNC Park.
time for Uribe to badge me that triple
Loney grounds out in about the same time
The Pirates local broadcast just showed an entire inning filmed by a camera man sitting in a seat through the screen behind homeplate.
I do not have a single Pirates badge.
I'm not saying I want one. I'm just saying, I don't have any.
@Sax 5:02 - We all know a $1 lottery ticket is too rich for Bob Nutting's blood. He saves his nickles for trips to the dog track in Wheeling, West Virginia.
Mega Millions ad replaced by an Iron City beer ad. Iron City is Pittsburghese for Budweiser.
Pirates catcher singles to right field
DOUMIT
Iron City is fine, but when I'm anywhere in Pennsylvania I only have Yuengling
I got a "heh" out of Mr. F!
ah, Chad...now would be a good time to get those last two outs of the inning.
four-pitch walk there to alvarez
(of course, the Dodgers making Karstens pitch only EIGHT pitches last inning doesn't help any (*that's right, I'm looking at you two, Urine and Loney))
does anyone know what that "NF" means on Gameday, beside each pitch's velocity and pitch type?
Is there a real world equivalent to the faint praise that is "a good hitting pitcher?"
A Darren Dreifort mention that did not include the phrase "disastrous contract."
that's better
1-1 through four, though Bills is at 68 pitches, Karstens a mere 49
if Rod had stretched that to a double, I'd have a Barajas badge.
@Sax 5:15 - NF stands for Nasty Factor which somehow measures the success other hitters have had against the same pitch on a scale of 1 - 100.
When Battletoad is pitching, it obviously refers to how much sweat is on the ball.
Whew, dodged the bullet that was the Shane Victorino triple badge by not having that game open last inning.
okay, gotta go grill some chicken for dinner. (seriously)
No badges yet today.
@Jason
1) is a high NF good or bad?
2) that's odd, I had the phils/fish window open, but didn't land victorino's badge. hmm.
maybe we should throw at victorino's head.
Jalapeno Hanna!
@Sax - I think higher is better (just like life!).
I've also noticed that badges are not "won" when using tabs anymore. It might have to do with the last Flash update which was supposed to address inter-tab security issues.
If you looked up "beady eyes" in the dictionary, you would find a picture of Ryan Doumit.
We must take advantage of the Urine walk and Loney single!
Loney gets his first single of the game, and the Pirates are so surprised, they pull their starter
Sands goes down on one pitch.
Nicely done, rook'.
@Mr F: we did not take advantage whatsoever
=(
I'm glad we get such hard hitting news from Fox Sports West as "Padilla with four career saves!"
Ryan gets another single
DOUMIT
1-1 tie through six
Every time I see Kemp's cleats I think he should be wearing a zoot suit to complete the look.
Hrrf.
Denard Span SB badge. I finally break into the second case.
Billingsley batting > Loney batting
Chad Billingsley, hitting machine!
I guess if Doumit is Beady Eyes, then Bills is Beefy Thighs.
ba-dum-bum
Bills, at .231, is now batting better than Loney, Urine, Sands, and Barajas
Troy from West Virginia, you're up!
@Sax - Don't forget DeJesus, Gibbons, and Mitchell.
That was nearly Loney-esque.
COME ON ANDRE!!!
Bills at 94 pitches through 7.
Does he come back out? With our bullpen?
I think he does come back. With a short leash.
Juuuuuusssst a bit outside!
Well then...
100
Of course Urine swings at the first pitch from the guy that can't find the strike zone.
He caught it.
There is some guy in the crowd getting picked trying to heckle with "you are still not very good!" Such a polite city.
Mitch Moreland HR in the case.
I guess Sax is really enjoying that grilled chicken dinner.
What just happened?
Urine and Mattingly got kicked out. I guess Emo Juan Uribe has material for tomorrow.
Aw. I was enjoying the Jason Monologues.
You need Uribe's bat in the lineup. - Steve Lyons.
The hell you do! - Jason.
You need Uribe's fat in the lineup. - Local Pittsburgh caterer
I wrote a companion piece to the Vagina Monologs called the Penis Apologies - Andy Bernard
Oh, fuck.
What?
Sands. Barajas. PH.
BLERG.
Eff this. All that posturing doesn't mean crap if you don't win.
Cc: Bynum and Odom.
BLERG, indeed.
Kuo should just hit Overbay with the first pitch.
So close!
Revenge of the umpire.
Umpire strikes back.
Attack of the Umpires.
The Phantom umpire.
Return of the Umpire.
A new Umpire.
Ah, there is the racist Pittsburgh fans I remember! Starting a USA chant because the pitcher's name is Kuo.
Trey Hillman is having Kansas City flashbacks.
Ryan Doumit double badge!
(cries)
Well, that's just great.
They're giving away James Loney GIDP practice jerseys?
Way to let this game get away, boys
Gotta clear stock on those Loney jerseys before they ship him off to Toronto.
Gibbons or Gwynn to PH?
At least the Celtics lost.
(cries)
Looks like we'll see both Gwynn and Gibbons as PHs this inning.
(cries)
How many people think there is going to be a player only meeting today?
The Celtics losing means the Heat won.
(cries)
How many people think it going to do any good?
Gibbons started back to the dugout and Lopes had to call him back.
Maybe they should consider a coaches only meeting?
I think Eric Collins just pulled a groin with that call at first.
now would be a nice time for a HR, miles
Aaron Miles is not very good at baseball.
Lousy Dodgers are lousy.
The dodgers aren't very good at baseball.
Seriously. The f'in pirates.
This is no good.
We now have the answer to the trivia question: who did the Pirates beat to go above .500 the latest in a season since Barry Bonds left town?
post-game thread up
jenga!
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