228! 229!

Keep 'em coming.

227!

With one swing of the Mighty Turner's bat, the Dodgers come that much closer to a Wild Card.

But more importantly, they have reached 227 HOME RUNS FOR THE SEASON

To Justin and all the Sons, this one's for you.

In case you want to sing along...There's no place like home
With your family around you you're never alone
When ya know that your loved
You don't need to roam
Cause there's no place like home

Time's are changing everyday
We won't get by with those same old ways
(No-oooo)
Pulling together, we'll make it right
With help from our friends, I know we'll get by

Cause there's no place like home
With your family around you you're never alone
When you know that your loved
You don't need to roam
Cause there ain't no place like
(Better believe it)
There ain't no place like
(Better believe it)
Cause there ain't no place like
There's no place like home
"I mean no place child".

IT'S COMING

What... you may ask?

A NUMBER even more magical than our cherished and cursed FIVE.

One more dinger.

One more tater.

One more bomb.

And the Dodgers will reach a plateau so magical, we dare not even speak its name.

SonsOfSteveGarvey, in conjunction with

...and the estate of Marla Gibbs, will be covering this historic event with up-to-the-second real time analysis. Get your champagne and Charles Shaw wine ready, SOSG-maniacs. For there's "no place like home(r)".

Game 155 Thread: Sept. 27 @ Rockies, 1p

DIE DINGER, DIE is German for THE DINGER, THE.

Alex Wood (11-11, 3.60) vs. Chris Rusin (5-9, 5.39).

Magic number is stuck at two; likely playoff opponents Mets have clinched and are currently putting Matt Harvey's arm on ice. Can Wood deliver? Giants play the A's at the same time as the Dodger game, so by 4 p.m. we could be playoff-bound...or still two games back. Either scenario calls for drinking!

Game 88 Thread: July 3 @ Rockies, 5p

Roger that, Dinger.

Zack Greinke (10-4, 2.78) vs. Franklin Morales (4-4, 5.75).

Zack Greinke, stopper? Per STATS LLC via ESPN, "He's gone 13-2 with a 1.98 ERA in 19 starts following a Dodgers defeat since joining them in December 2012." However, Greinke also has a lifetime Coors Field ERA of 4.38. However, the Rockies have lost five series in a row, starting with the series they lost in which they got no-hit by Clayton Kershaw at Dodger Stadium.

So the probabilities of this matchup aren't exactly clear. What is exactly clear? How annoying it is that the Rockies (and MLB) allow Dinger to do his schtick behind home plate while the opposing team's pitcher is at work. It's bullshit! Kill Dinger Now!

Post-Game 54 Thread: Dung

ROCKIES 7, DODGERS 6 (10)

I'm pretty sure that "Dung" is past tense for something Dinger did. It also means shit. Which is what most of us felt like after we had this game wrested from us by - wait for it - a crap-tastic bullpen (with all due fairness to J.P. Howell, who was solid). But Gurrier and Belli, we're looking at you.

Speaking of bellies...

What a slob! Giant thighs. Gut hanging out. And Dinger isn't taking care of himself these days, either.

We kid because we cry inside, folks.

Please feel free to use the PGT as your official Sparks vs. Stars GT tonight.

Game 53 Thread: May 31 @ Rockies, 5:40p

Clayton Kershaw (5-3, 1.68 ERA) vs. Jon Garland (3-6, 5.53 ERA)

Always look on the bright side of life, folks.

At least our beloved team doesn't have a lame purple, dotted anthropomorphized triceratops mascot named Dinger. Plus, Dinger is clearly a child molester:

At least Kershaw is pitching, and we'll have our 1-2-3 pitchers for the Rockies road trip. (Although he is a disappointing 3-3, 5.91 ERA lifetime in 10 starts there.)

At least we have guys who can do this:

At least the Dodger blogosphere has reasoned writers who can break down the inure/replacement scenarios. MSTI:  How Many Dodgers Are Headed to Colorado?

At least we have a great stadium to come home to after the current road trip. Thanks to @bigleaguestew for letting us to contribute to the Ballpark Roadmap Project!

And of course, at least we have Vin. Though apparently Vin has some tendonitis in one of his hands, according to @ScottMCBS. Must have been from marking down all those Kemp strikeouts on his scorecard in May. Get well soon, Vin! (And Matty!)

Here's to low surly factors, success in Denver, and turning the corner in June!

Game 130 Thread: August 28 @ Rox, 5:30p

Get stuffed, Dinger.

Chris Capuano (11-9, 3.37) vs. Tyler Chatwood (3-3, 4.98).

After yesterday's Schadenfreudefest, what else is there to say? Coors Field. The best lineup we've had in years. This shit can't happen again, can it?

Poll: Code Purple

Three games against the Rox this week! How will we do?

• Sweep! 3-0.
• Series win! 2-1.
• Series loss! 1-2.
• Get swept! 0-3.

Give us your answer in our sidebar poll. And here's the results from last week's poll:

It was close, but most of you think it's hate mail. I guess we've arrived!

This Is My Town? Episode VII

Found at Manchester and Aviation.

Please Don't Sweep Me!

Post-Game 19 Thread: Rocked & Dinged

"Thank you for sparing my tears! I dance now!"

ROCKIES 10, DODGERS 4

Clayton Kershaw: 4.2 IP, 8H, 9ER, 4BB, 4K, 2HR, 7.29 ERA. More question marks for the starting rotation! Dodgers are outscored in Denver 20-16 but take the series anyway.

photo: Getty Images

That's Where I Know Dinger(Berry) From !

The next dinosaur-killing meteor can't arrive fast enough.

Game 19 Thread: April 26 @ Rockies, 12n

"Getting swept makes me cry."

Clayton Kershaw (0-1, 4.41) vs. Jason Marquis (2-1, 4.26).

COMMENTS: Division sweet division. The Dodgers are now 13-2 against NL West opponents and go for another sweep of the Rockies today. The offense has made like a needle and found its groove, as the Dodgers are averaging six runs a game and have scored in the first inning ten of their 18 games (according to Steve Lyons on last night's post-game show). And there's still room for improvement, if Russell Martin can build on yesterday's four-RBI performance.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers' pitching situation is evolving faster than you can say (Danny) Darwin. ("We're not whole yet in the pitching staff," allows Joe Torre.) Presumptive anchor Hiroki Kuroda will be returning to Los Angeles today to have the dreamy Dr. Neal ElAttrache ElExamine his strained left oblique, but rookie James McDonald—baby steps!—got his first official win yesterday. In the bullpen, last night's hero Ramon Troncoso and Ronald Belisario continue to make their cases to fill in the gaps behind Jonathan Broxton. Even Hong-Chih Kuo might be regaining his mojo.

Rafael Furcal and Casey Blake AND Manny Ramirez (0-for-5 with 3 K's yesterday) are due for the day (or at least the start) off, so expect Juan Castro at short, Blake DeWitt at third and Juan Pierre in left. The Dodgers travel to the warm and caring embrace of San Francisco after today's game for more intra-divisional love. Let's hope they fly into the Bay Area on the wings of a broom.

Post-Game 17 Thread: That'll Do, Brox

DODGERS 6, ROCKIES 5

Jonathan Broxton: 30 pitches last night. 22 pitches tonight. Hoping for a blowout victory tomorrow.

Oh, and how about those savvy veterans? Brad Ausmus (2-for-5, game-winning RBI) and Mark Loretta (1-for-1 off the bench, 1H, 1 RBI). Unfortunately, another 25 (aggregate) LOB, but it seems that's part of the territory nowadays.

UPDATE:

"Plunk me! I dare ya!"

Couldn't get enough of the Rockies' dinosaur mascot, Dinger, trying to distract Jonathan Broxton? Here's more info for you: Mascot Madness (SoSG).

Mascot Madness

Mermaids and bobcats—oh my! Tuesday's police blotter item involving the Diamondbacks' mascot made us wonder: Who else in the NL West has a mascot? Answer: Everybody except the Dodgers. Hallelujah!

mascot (team)	inspiration	unfortunate reality
D. Baxter the Bobcat (Diamondbacks)	Lynx rufus endemic to Arizona	(click to enlarge)
Dinger (Rockies)	first Triceratops fossils, found in Colorado
The Swinging Friar* (Padres)	padre --> father --> friar (although "friar" is actually derived from the French frère, or "brother")	Nothing fires up a crowd like a hulking mendicant devoted to poverty, chastity and obedience! Add to his name a contradictory modifier suggesting sexual experimentation, and everybody's happy! Or confused! Whatever!
Lou Seal (Giants)	harbor seals in the San Francisco Bay	Name sounds female, yet character is purportedly male ("Full Name: Luigi Francisco Seal"). Its oversized noggin is an unfortunate reminder of someone...we can't quite remember who....

*unofficial mascot of the Padres: The San Diego Chicken