Sunday, August 30, 2015

Game 129 Thread: August 30 vs. Cubs, 5p

Alex Wood (9-8, 3.70) vs. Jake Arrietta (16-6, 2.22).

Put any thoughts of sweepage out of your mind, Dodger fans. First, this game is on national television, a stage on which we do not perform well. Second, three Cubs regulars have >.500 batting averages against Alex Wood (over the last five years): Starlin Castro (.500 BA); Chris Coghlan (.667), and Chris Denorfia (.800). Third, Arrietta (the Cubs' ace) is third in the majors for ERA, behind Zack Greinke and Sonny Gray--and is 10-1 on the road.

Going into play tonight, we're at 16 games over .500, as high as the Dodgers have been all year long. Enjoy the altitude now, because a sixth-consecutive win in front of a national audience would be downright shocking.

(but wouldn't it be awesome if we won?!)

image idea from SoSG Dusty Baker!

117 comments:

Steve Sax said...

Added image thanks to Dusty Baker's idea!

Steve Sax said...

Rollins, SS
Utley, 2B
Gonzalez, 1B
Ethier, RF
Crawford, LF
Grandal, C
Pederson, CF
Hernandez, 3B
Wood, P

Joc gets a rare start...but Turner sits?!

Steve Sax said...

Now added a video to the GT. That's a pretty funny skit.

Steve Sax said...

Probably more smiles there than we'll get in today's game.

(sad trombone)

Dusty Baker's Toothpick said...

Hope the boys in blue slather up with the sun screen

Steve Sax said...

Oh, and Ron Roenicke just heard: he can't have children

Steve Sax said...

STL 7, SF 5 (T9)

Steve Sax said...

Tim Kurkjian on ESPN is extolling Jake Arrietta's virtues, sharing a story that Arrietta can walk across the clubhouse on his hands.

If Arrietta can do that, there's no way we're winning today.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Buster Olney and his hairpiece are both reporting from Dodger Stadium. Olney is recounting Mattingly's pre-game comments in which he described the Giants as "cockroaches," in that they won't go away.

That comment is going to come back to haunt us, I'm sure.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Baseball Tonight team talking about how the Giants are 9-3 against the Dodgers this year, with seven head-to-head games to play.

We are doomed.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Baseball Tonight team predicting the Giants will win five of the seven head-to-head games.

No hope.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Giants in the bottom of the ninth, first batter (Adrianza) Ks.

But they still have two outs, and they're only down by two runs.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Marlon Byrd, Giants trade-deadline pickup, has 4 RBI today.

Mat Latos, Dodgers trade-deadline pickup, has zero wins in four games started for the Dodgers.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Giants' Susac gets Kd, and then Nori Aoki grounds out to end the game. St Louis wins.

But the Giants are still only four games back of the Dodgers, with seven head-to-head games to play. They'll narrow that gap.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

And I feel bad that I even had to root for St. Louis, in the first place.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

And now ESPN is doing a big feature valentine piece on Joe Maddon, our opponent's manager. It's hard not to love the guy after this piece.

Public sentiment will swing the Cubs' way tonight.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Japan trailed 10-2 in the LLWS, and ended up winning 18-11?! Wow, that's impressive!

There's no way we can mount a comeback like that, not with this offense.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Dodgers only 20-31 vs. teams above .500; 12-23 vs. playoff competitors.

(sad trombone)

karen said...

We are going to have to start calling you Sad Saxy.




(sadder trombone)

karen said...

Well crap. How did they get 2 runs??? Other than it being a national game and all??

karen said...

Spanky...Did you see what Byrd did today? I think we're right about him. He's going to be the 2015 version of Cody Fucking Ross.

spank said...

did Curt Schilling become a Caitlin? he sounds like a woman.

spank said...

yeah, Karen. it was bound to happen. if we had gotten Byrd he'd still be looking for his first hit as a Dodger.

karen said...

Nah, he'd be on the DL!!!

Cliff Beefpile said...

Wood certainly seems to be getting everything in the neighborhood called his way, though I missed the first. I was stuck in the drive-thru at Taco Bell, and they still forgot my Meximelt.

/sad trombone

spank said...

holy crap! Jessica Mendoza replaced Schilling in the broadcast booth.



noice

Cliff Beefpile said...

ESPN: At least four innings of blather about shadows per game. Guaranteed.

Steve Sax said...

Alex Wood has given up two runs, five hits, and gotten only five outs.

2-0 CHC, top 2

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Alex Wood and his ridiculous delivery is totally missing the strike zone. He's not even close.

51 pitches, still in the second. That means we'll have to go to the bullpen early.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

@Cliff: because Collaspo sucks

Steve Sax said...

Wood Ks Bryant for the third out, stranding two.

But the Cubs are still up 2-0.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

^Collapso

Steve Sax said...

Callaspo with the 2015 Dodgers: OPS+ of 79. Plus two errors.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Arietta makes very quick work of the Dodgers. He's got a no-hitter through two.

(sad trombone)

karen said...

Sax...Get out of my head! When he said 6 up, 6 down I thought the same thing.

Cliff Beefpile said...

Goddammit. I want Uribear back.

Now the ESPNers talk about Posey being underrated and an MVP candidate, because of course during a Dodgers-Cubs game.

/rusty trombone

karen said...

Did anyone hear Vin telling the story about Oyster Pubes when the Evildoers were trying to sign Jon Lester? Oyster Boy showed up on Lester's doorstep and said 'Hi. I'm Buster Posey and I'd like to be your catcher for the next 6 years'.

Steve Sax said...

Alex Wood barely gets out of the third inning, stranding another two Cubs. Still 2-0 CHC.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Pederson returns to the starting lineup and promptly strikes out.

(sad trombone)

karen said...

Hit or error?

Steve Sax said...

Hernandez reaches base but only because Starlin Castro can't handle a ball hit right to him.

Doesn't matter, as Kruk is focusing on how foolish Pederson looked in his K.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

@karen: scorers rule it an error, so Arrietta's no-hit bid is still intact

(sad trombone)

karen said...

Damn. Error.

Still no hits.

Steve Sax said...

Thompson's Water Seal has just about the most boring outdoor advertisement possible, digitally positioned for ESPN behind home plate. What is that font, Times New Roman? How 1990s.

(sad trombone)

karen said...

There you are in my head again...

Cliff Beefpile said...

WE HAVE A BASERUNNER!

Steve Sax said...

And Rollins strikes out, as expected. 2-0 Cubs through three.

(sad trombone)

karen said...

Arrieta still has a no hitter

Arrieta still has a no hitter

Arrieta still has a no hitter

Steve Sax said...

Arrietta does indeed have a no-hitter through four. Of course, this would be a great highlight for ESPN Sunday Night Baseball when it happens.

(sad trombone)

Cliff Beefpile said...

Shit. I knew I should've picked up Amari Cooper in my fantasy drafts.

/hindsight sad trombone

karen said...

My cat could K Joc these days.

Steve Sax said...

Joc Pederson has the walk on a 3-1 count, but his check swing goes over so he doesn't get the walk. And then he Ks.

Arrietta's no-hitter is intact through five.

(sad trombone)

karen said...

STILL NO HITS

STILL NO HITS

STILL NO HITS

STILL NO HITS

Hideo Nomo said...

#BlameSax

(mournful bassoon)

Cliff Beefpile said...

Watching Joc in the batter's box just makes me sad now.

Steve Sax said...

Alex Wood finally has a 1-2-3 inning in the sixth.

The Cubs still lead, 2-0.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Juan Nicasio is already up in the bullpen, as Alex Guerrero comes in to PH.

Nicasio.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Guerrero hits a first-pitch comebacker. Nice AB there, Alex; way to make Arrietta work!

(sad trombone)

karen said...

Didn't we just get no hit last week?

Steve Sax said...

Rollins walks, but Utley promptly flies out to left to end the inning. No-hit bid is still alive through six full.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

ESPN is reporting (and I use that loosely) that the Cubs will wear their pajamas on the flight home tonight.

The Dodgers, arguably, have not even put on their uniforms for this game.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Nicasio is now in.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Nicasio surrenders a leadoff double.

(sad trombone)

karen said...

Nacasio off to a great start...

Steve Sax said...

Unbelievable. Comebacker to Nicasio, had he opts to throw back to second base, but very high. Rollins has no chance for the tag on Fowler--AND, the runner reaches first. Now there's two on with none out.

Way to go, Juan. Idiot.

(sad trombone)

karen said...

This is getting painful

karen said...

I may have to break out the Ben and Jerry's...

Steve Sax said...

Nicasio gets a gift called strike three on Bryant.

But there are still two on with one out.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Bases now loaded. One out.

Nicasio about to self-destruct on national television.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Nicasio amazingly gets 4-6-3 double play to get out of it.

The Dodgers still don't have a hit and are down 2-0.

(sad trombone)

karen said...

The devil jumps up!!

karen said...

JAKE ARRIETA IS PITCHING A NO HITTER

JAKE ARRIETA IS PITCHING A NO HITTER

JAKE ARRIETA IS PITCHING A NO HITTER

Steve Sax said...

Gonzalez grounds out on the first pitch.

Arrietta is now eight outs away from a no-hitter.

(sad trombone)

karen said...

WTF Dre??

Steve Sax said...

Andre Ethier's K there was so weak, he looked like a wet noodle.

Two outs in the seventh, only seven outs for the no-hitter.

And Crawford lines out to second for the final out of the inning.

(sad trombone)

Cliff Beefpile said...

Ethier fooled badly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va5_rn3vG3A

Steve Sax said...

Nothing like national television to expose how bad our offense is.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Howell comes in and immediately gives up two basehits, including one to Arrietta.

Two on, one out, T8

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Camera shows two old guys in the crowd wearing Koufax shirts. They could probably pitch better than Howell right now.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Howell gets out of it with a GIDP.

The Dodgers are still down 2-0 and have no hits, with only six outs left.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Grandal looks foolish in his K, to start the eighth.

Chris Arrietta is five outs away from a no-hitter.

(sad trombone)

karen said...

5 OUTS FOR A NO HITTER

Steve Sax said...

Arrietta does not have a no-hitter in his career.

But he is making us look foolish tonight. Pederson, a strike away from a K.

(sad trombone)

spank said...

NO HITTER NO HITTER NO HITTER

karen said...

4 OUTS FOR A NO HITTER

Steve Sax said...

Pederson flies weakly to right.

Two out.

(sad trombone)

Fred's Brim said...

I blame Curt Schilling

Cliff Beefpile said...

Arrieta reminds me of a bumgarner/Brian Wilson hybrid. Fuck this guy.

karen said...

3 OUTS FOR A NO HITTER

Jason said...

Sax, in HTML5 form

Steve Sax said...

Hernandez grounds out, so it's a no-hitter through eight innings.

McGwire frickin' blows. The Dodgers' approach to these at bats is pathetic.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

@Jason: I'd like to thank you for that link, but my google chrome just crashed again, mid-animation.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Fowler has a leadoff single in the ninth, and is looking to add an insurance run for the Cubs.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Baez gets a strikeout, but it won't matter. We're still losing.

(sad trombone)

karen said...

3 OUTS FOR A NO HITTER

3 OUTS FOR A NO HITTER

3 OUTS FOR A NO HITTER

3 OUTS FOR A NO HITTER

3 OUTS FOR A NO HITTER

3 OUTS FOR A NO HITTER

Cliff Beefpile said...

This feels like Kris Bryant's 15th at-bat of the night.

Steve Sax said...

Baez strikes out Bryant (called strike three), and even he is surprised with the unexpected call.

We don't expect a good outcome.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Single to right gets Fowler over to third, since Puig isn't playing RF and Andre's arm is a fraction better than Juan Pierre's

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

ESPN keeps showing pained expressions on Chase Utley's face, as if he is not happy to be here

(sad trombone)

karen said...

We need to find out who tonights official scorer is and send Spanky to pay a call on him

Steve Sax said...

Dodgers get out of it, so now it's to the bottom of the ninth to see Arrietta jubilant, on national television

(sad trombone)

spank said...

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
HITTER HITTER HITTER HITTER
FUCKDRE FUCKDRE FUCKDRE FUCKDRE

Steve Sax said...

At this point, Vin Scully has to be reassessing his decision to come back next year.

(sad trombone)

karen said...

We hadn't been no hit this year until we got Chutley...I blame him.


And ARod

Cliff Beefpile said...

I don't even care about losing at this point, the Cubs still gain a game over the gnats in the wild card race. I just don't wanna get no-hit.

Steve Sax said...

Idiot fans behind home plate have their backs to the plate. Embarrassment to LA fans.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Turner fans on a pitch in the dirt. One out in the ninth.

(sad trombone)

karen said...

2 OUTS FOR A NO HITTER

Steve Sax said...

It's so bad, they are doing the "charge" music when there's a 1-2 count.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Rollins' second strike is so slow, it's still crossing the plate.

(sad trombone)

Steve Sax said...

Rollins just watches strike three go by.

Great effort there, Jimmy!

(sad trombone)

karen said...

1 OUT FOR A NO HITTER

Jason said...

Fucking Roenicke, losing streaks, no hitters, Vin announces his final year. He's the living incarnation of every baseball curse of legend.

Cliff Beefpile said...

Butt.

Steve Sax said...

And, Utley with a weak K to end it. Dodgers no-hit for the second time in the blink of an eye.

(sad trombone)

spank said...

FUCK RACHEL DRATCH ALL UP IN BOTH EARS

Steve Sax said...

PGT up.

Believe me, I had this one queued early.