Tuesday, August 28, 2018

"Series" Thread (Games 132-133): August 28-29 @ Rangers

Tues 8/28: Walker Buehler vs. Ariel Jurado, 5p
Wed 8/29: Alex Wood vs. Mike Minor, 5p

Just after abandoning all hope in the SoSG World Headquarters, following the dispiriting sweep by the Cardinals, the Dodgers beat up on the division rival Padres to get back a small piece of their manhood (if beating up friars makes one more masculine, that is). COupled with the Giants' shutout of Arizona in SF, and the Angels' late come-from-behind victory vs. Colorado, the Dodgers find themselves only two games back of the division lead and one game back of the Rockies. The Dodgers still have shrunken scrotums, abut at least there may be something in there after all.

Meanwhile, we Sons took the weekend off from posting Series Threads (i.e., we were hung over), but now we're back, somewhat hopeful again (and back atop Baseball Prospectus' Playoff Odds charts, at 56.0% playoff odds vs. Arizona's 53.4%), though incredibly guarded (and, as seen from the above picture, dressed in hipster garb). I would love nothing more than to have "Ariel, listen to me" in the first game, and then get make sure the second game ends on a Minor key for the Rangers.

I'm gingerly hopeful, that the offense will show up, that Matt Kemp's slump is over, that Kenley Jansen won't give up any more ninth-inning home runs.

You?

56 comments:

Steve Sax said...

GAME 1

Pederson LF
Turner 3B
Machado SS
Muncy DH
Dozier 2B
Grandal C
Bellinger 1B
Kike RF
Taylor CF
(Buehler P)

Steve Sax said...

No Puig, no Kemp.

Steve Sax said...

Dodgers get three in the top of the third, but the Rangers have two and aren’t done yet.

Steve Sax said...

Beltre pops foul to first for the third out. 3-2 LA, through three full

Steve Sax said...

8-2 LA, 8th inning!

Steve Sax said...

Buehler only lasted four innings though (2 ER)

Steve Sax said...

Colorado up 2-0 on LAA; SF and AZ scoreless. Both games B3

Steve Sax said...

Can KJ hold down a 8-2 lead?

Leadoff single to Adrian Beltre, who gets his first hit of the game.

Hooooooo boy

QuadSevens said...

KJ seems to be missing everything up.

Steve Sax said...

Five-pitch walk to Profar. What the fuck, Kenley?

QuadSevens said...

Doc with the visit after the walk.

QuadSevens said...

Got 'em looking!

Steve Sax said...

3-2 count to Gallo, KJ gets a called strike three on the bottom border of the box. We'll take it.

One out.

QuadSevens said...

Kenley is looking a lot like old Baez. Not good.

Steve Sax said...

Robinson Chirinos singles. Bases juiced, one out, still 8-2 for now.

Steve Sax said...

Ronald Guzman single scores two.

I hate to say it, because this game wasn't high-leverage: but we have to stop the Kenley thing now.

Steve Sax said...

8-4 LA. Two on, one out.

Steve Sax said...

Or how about now? Choo GIDP, game over. Okay, that's good.

8-4 LA, WIN

Steve Sax said...

Choo goes 0-for-5 today

QuadSevens said...

KJ starts the DP with a behind the back snag of the ground ball! Amazing!

Steve Sax said...

and, has an error that allowed the Dodgers to score our fourth run

Steve Sax said...

@Q7, I need to see that highlight!

Steve Sax said...

Wow, just saw it. That was awesome.

Steve Sax said...

Maybe that starts Kenley back on the right path?

Steve Sax said...

And now, to scoreboard watch.

Rockies up 2-1 on the Angels, who just scored in the bottom of the fifth. Two out, man on first, Trout at the plate.

Snakes and Giants tied through five full.

Johnny Blanchard said...

I am torn... I kind of don't care and want the Dbacks to shove a bat up Bumgarner's keyster

Steve Sax said...

COL 2, ANA 1, end 6
AZ and SF 0-0, end 6

Steve Sax said...

i'm gonna be up late

Steve Sax said...

Rox extend lead to 3-1 with a run in the seventh.

Steve Sax said...

Mid 8 for both games, no change in score. 3-1 COL, 0-0 in SF.

Steve Sax said...

Angels score 1 so it's 3-2, top 9, in ANA

Giants have two on with one out, B8, 0-0

Steve Sax said...

Giants...could not score. 0-0 through 8 full.

Bottom of the ninth for the Angels, down 3-2.

Steve Sax said...

Colorado wins, 3-2, so they stay a game up on us.

Steve Sax said...

Two on, one out again for SF. 0-0, B9

Johnny Blanchard said...

well it 'tis what it 'tis... we'll be content with the 1! game deficit despite Giant happiness

Steve Sax said...

Hernandez walks it off in the bottom of the ninth for SF, who wins 1-0.

NL West:
AZ 72-60
COL 72-60
LAD 71-61 (1.0)
SF 67-67 (6.0)
SD 51-83 (22.0)

Steve Sax said...

Hey, it's Wednesday! We're one back!

QuadSevens said...

According to Kenley, his bad performance was because of his heart meds. He stopped taking them Sunday, and didn't give up a HR Tuesday.

Scary quote, "[The medication] might be making sure my heart doesn't stop. But I told my doctor I can't pitch like this," Jansen said.

Article: https://tinyurl.com/ybka5rp9

Steve Sax said...

Yeah, I don't know if I want Kenley threatening his heart condition...

Steve Sax said...

GAME 2

Dozier 2B
Turner DH
Machado 3B
Kemp LF
Hernandez CF
CT3 SS
Puig RF
Bellinger 1B
Yaz C
(Wood P)

Steve Sax said...

Dozier leadoff...wow.

QuadSevens said...

Bellinger and Machado with solo bombs. 2-0 bottom of the sixth.

QuadSevens said...

Btw...Mrs. Quad is not a fan of teams that have multiple uniform colors (i.e. Rangers and Mariners). She says, "What are they a bunch of girls with all these different outfits?"

QuadSevens said...

Puig tried to steal home but got caught. Still 2-0 at the stretch.

QuadSevens said...

Yaz!!

QuadSevens said...

Wood with 7 shutout innings. 3-0 in the 8th.

Steve Sax said...

3-0, B8, one out

Steve Sax said...

AZ @ SF (Godley vs. Rodriguez), 0-0, B1

Steve Sax said...

Orel describing Puig's triple (I hope): "Wow, that is some firm landing gear."

Hmm.

Steve Sax said...

3-0 LA, end 8

Steve Sax said...

3-1 on the Beltre double. B9, one out.

Steve Sax said...

Profar pops out to short for the second out.

Steve Sax said...

Beltre steals third and Gallo walks, but Guzman grounds to first and we WIN.

Steve Sax said...

DODGERS 3, RANGERS 1

Steve Sax said...

AZ up 2-0 on SF in the fourth, though.

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