Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Game 151 Thread: Sept. 17 vs. Snakes, 6:30p

Zack Greinke (14-3, 2.74) vs. Patrick Corbin (14-6, 2.92).

Coming off a three-game losing streak against the Giants, in the opening game of the series last night, Don Mattingly inexplicably resorted to having Juan Uribe bunt with two on and none out in the ninth inning. Uribe has a career sacrifice bunting percentage of 79%, higher than the MLB norm of 69%. But Dodger fans took a punch to the gut when this ridiculous managerial moved had Uribe force Michael Young at third (trading an out for...nothing), which then gave way to Nick Buss (batting eighth, at .182) and PH Matt Kemp (fresh off a two-month DL stint) to go and seal the loss for the Dodgers. If this was Connect Four, we'd be done.

Lucky for us, we're playing a different game. Before five in a row comes, the Snakes have to get through Zack Greinke, which ain't gonna happen. Greinke is 11-1 in his last 16 outings dating back to June 22, including a win over Arizona (he also has a ND vs. Arizona from earlier this season). Corbin's no slouch--2-0 with a 2.60 ERA in three career starts vs. LA--but we've got this one. Magic number will drop to two after tonight's game. After all, we don't want to break the heart of that cute kid in the image above.

(But just to be sure, I'm altering the GT post time by a couple of minutes. Superstition, and all that.)

78 comments:

Hideo Nomo said...

Boom.

Puig RF
Mellis 2B
Ramirez SS
Gonzalez 1B
Kemp CF
Uribe 3B
Van Slyke LF
Ajellis C
Greinke P

Paul said...

Now that's a fire!

Orel said...

He be all right, roll the child around.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

The real boom will be heard by SVS tonight.

Neeebs knows all.

Steve Sax said...

Carl Crawford sits.

Steve Sax said...

Atlanta lost the early (rescheduled from yesterday) game vs. the Nationals.

Atlanta is down 3-0 on the bottom of the eighth in the second game.

Steve Sax said...

Nats up 4-0, end 8

Steve Sax said...

Braves challenging in the top off the ninth, two on and two out, still 4-0 WASH

Steve Sax said...

All over, Braves lose

Steve Sax said...

Everybody's a righty tonight, except A-Gon (4-hole)

Steve Sax said...

Puig flies weakly to left for out #1.

Steve Sax said...

Mellis up the middle for a one-out single!

Steve Sax said...

HanRam with a hit to left. First and second, one out. Here's A-Gon.

Steve Sax said...

A-Gon pops foul to short. So here's Kemp.

Steve Sax said...

passed ball to Kemp on an 0-1 count, right through the five hole. Runners advance, making it even more sad when Kemp Ks here....

Steve Sax said...

Kemp proves me wrong! Kemp with a double, it's 2-0 Matt Kemp! (And the Dodgers.)

Steve Sax said...

After watching Kemp K last night, it is sweet to see Kemp totally in control with that swing. Perfect timing, perfect balance. 2-out, 2-RBI double.

Steve Sax said...

Uribe HR! 4-0 Dodgers

Cliff Beefpile said...

URIBE! Fuck yeah! This is more like it. Kemp could just trot in and not test out that ankle or hammy.

Steve Sax said...

Uribe NAILED that ball to left. Over the Diamondbacks' bullpen.

See what happens when we field a real lineup!

Steve Sax said...

SVS with a single to right!

Four runs, five hits for the Dodgers. Two out in the first.

Cliff Beefpile said...

How's that 2.5 ERA against the Dodgers now, Corbin?

Cliff Beefpile said...

All with two outs. Clutch hitting that's been missing the last few days.

Cliff Beefpile said...

C'mon, Greinke.

Cliff Beefpile said...

Goddammit, Greinke.

Steve Sax said...

Two on, but Greinke gets Prado to K (his second of the game) to end the inning.

4-0 through 1

Cliff Beefpile said...

Greinke gets out of it. And he's leading off the inning.

Cliff Beefpile said...

I love it when there's more Dodger fans than dbag fans in Arizona.

Steve Sax said...

what are you doing swinging at that, yasiel?

Steve Sax said...

Hanley walks a leadoff walk. Nice job. Down 0-2, he worked it all the way back.

Here's A-Gon.

Steve Sax said...

A-Gon atones for his first-inning foulout, with a big HR to right on a 0-2 count. 80mph slider, GONE

Paul said...

Yeeehaw!

Steve Sax said...

Kemp knocked the shit out of that ball to dead center field. 2nd double tonight.

Steve Sax said...

And Corbin is chased. 6-0 Dodgers, none out in the third, Kemp on second base.

Steve Sax said...

In comes Matt Langwell.

Steve Sax said...

Whatcha' got, Langwell?

Steve Sax said...

Dribbler to second, effectively a sacrifice for Kemp to reach third

Steve Sax said...

Nail this ball, SVS

Steve Sax said...

SVS grounder right to short, broken bat. Kemp can't move from third.

Steve Sax said...

Ajellis strands Kemp with a fly out to right.

Steve Sax said...

Evelyn Taft sighting!

Steve Sax said...

Mark Ellis scores Greinke from second with a dribbler past first base.

7-0 good guys.

Cliff Beefpile said...

HanRam didn't pull up lame there did he?

Steve Sax said...

Kemp with another RBI there, even though Hanley was thrown out at third. 8-0 Dodgers.

Steve Sax said...

@Cliff: Just checked the replay, looks like Hanely just stopped way early.

Steve Sax said...

Though to be fair, Hanley didn't make much of an effort for that Goldschmidt shot up the middle there

Cliff Beefpile said...

@Sax: Phew. Well, as one who's had herniated discs in his lower back, I can empathize. Thank goodness for cortisone.

Fred's Brim said...

Hanley definitely looked hurt during that AB :/
I hope he can rest it away

BJ Killeen said...

Checking in. 60% happy, 30% worried, 10% terrified.

Dusty Baker's Toothpick said...

@cliff no celebrating on the field? Un fuckin believable

BJ Killeen said...

Hey Donnie, when they fire your ass, take Wallach with you. Skip could have scored.

spank said...

gotta love BJK. we're about to clinch the division and she still wants to see El Don get the slip. that's what i'm talking about. Passion.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gmm5jN_H1D4

look closely at the vid and you see Neeebs and PJ getting down.

Steve Sax said...

9-2. Hanley scores on a Michael Young triple.

I think Michael Young may have just knocked Dee Gordon out of a lineup spot.

Steve Sax said...

Skipster grounds to third for the third out

Fred's Brim said...

Cmon, Belli! Find your groove again

Fred's Brim said...

Dammit, Beli, do you not want to pitch in the playoffs?

BJ Killeen said...

Thanks Spank. I wanna go all the way. Been too long.
Update: 65% happy, 25% worried, 10% terrified of League

Fred's Brim said...

good cover, Beli

Fred's Brim said...

that works

finish this, Beli!

Fred's Brim said...

yeesh, Donnie, let him finish

Fred's Brim said...

cmon, Paco, find your groove, too

Fred's Brim said...

wow, amazing play by Uribe and Young!

Fred's Brim said...

Cmon, Kenley, 1-2-3

BJ Killeen said...

KJ's here. 95% happy, 4% worried, 1% terrified (of Fife tomorrow)

BJ Killeen said...

Poor kid. As if his last name wasn't bad enough, his parents named him Tuffy!!

Steve Sax said...

1-out walk by KJ. AJ Pollock up.

Fred's Brim said...

cmon, blue, that third ball was a strike!

Fred's Brim said...

Kenley has been struggling with his control lately

Steve Sax said...

come on, ump!

Steve Sax said...

@FB: what is up man. Make sure the Mets get swept by the Giants, please

Fred's Brim said...

will do, Saxy!

I emailed the SOSG gmail account last night

Fred's Brim said...

Kenley is shaky again

pound that zone, kid!

Fred's Brim said...

YESYESYES!

Fred's Brim said...

dos!

Paul said...

We make party!

Fred's Brim said...

it was great seeing Matty hitting again

Steve Sax said...

PGT so up.

Fred's Brim said...

Cmon, Fife-dawg, let's end this!