Behind The Scenes: Conversations from the SoSG Staff Room (The Day After, 10/22/09)

SoSG Sax: Orel, did you see last night's Post-Game Thread? Wasn't it hilarious, how it amassed 300+ comments (a new record) and how it lasted into the wee hours of the morning and then picked up again at 6am without a hitch? And it involved the wit of all of our awesome commenters and "regulars at the SoSG bar"?

You see, THAT'S what we have to do next, to take SoSG to the next level!

SoSG Orel: And what's that, Sax?

SoSG Sax: OPEN UP A SoSG BAR NEXT YEAR! Just think about it--this will be legen...wait for it...dary!

SoSG Orel: Uh, yeah, Sax. I'll get right on that.

Post-NLCS Game 5 Thread: Okay, You Can Stop Believin' Now

PHILLIES 10, DODGERS 4

So it turns out good pitching and hitting beats bad pitching and hitting. Who knew? Congratulations to the Phillies. I'd say good luck in the World Series but, you know, go screw yourselves.

In the end, it wasn't about the crappy umpiring, or the weather, or the seemingly endless parade of former Dodgers spitting on our grave, or the East Coast fans — who are, it must be noted even in our grief, the Derek Jeter of fanbases. Or even Jonathan Broxton (mostly). The Dodgers had the better regular-season record, but the Phillies were better in this series. Much better.

It was a great season for the Dodgers: the record-setting start at home, Orlando Hudson's cycle, the amazing first-half record, Manny's BobbleSlam, Andre "Mr. Miracle" Ethier, Matt Kemp's development, the amazing NLDS.

But there'll be plenty of time to reminisce — we're baseball fans, after all, and there's still the ALCS and World Series to follow before we get to the McCourt divorce proceedings, which will make the Manny negotiations look like a lovefest.

Right now, though, it's time to get pissed, stew in your juices, kick the furniture. Because it feels like 2009 = 2008. But eventually we'll see 2009 for what it really was: a fun, wild ride — and we're glad you took it with us. Stick around!

Post-NLCS Game 4 Thread: A Punch in the Face

PHILLIES 5, DODGERS 4

UPDATE 9.26p from Sax: Well, at least Lindsay Lohan has company now.

Post-NLCS Game 3 Thread: Dodgers Lose a Squeaker

PHILLIES XI, DODGERS...WHAT'S ZERO IN ROMAN NUMERALS?

Good news! Scott Elbert, Chad Billingsley and Ramon Troncoso only allowed two runs tonight! Unfortunately, they were sandwiched by Hiroki Kuroda (1 1/3 IP, 6 ER, 40.50 NLCS ERA) and Ronald Belisario (1.0 IP, 3 ER). Not sure why Joe Torre kept Kuroda in the second inning to give up two additional runs after the Phillies smacked him around for four in the first, but it's a moot point.

Oh, and Cliff Lee? 8.0 IP, 3H, 10 Ks. And if you're the type to rub salt and orange juice in your wounds, former Dodgers Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino had a home run each, combining for five RBIs.

Pretty shitty, right? But think of it this way: If the Dodgers had scored as many runs as they had in Games 1 and 2 combined, they still would have lost. This one just wasn't meant to be. Stew for a few moments, then move on.

Help us, Randy Wolf, you're our only hope!

Post-NLCS Game 2 Thread: Clawing Out A Win (Dodgers 2, Phillies 1)

DODGERS 2, PHILLIES 1

You know why this post-game thread is so late? Because it was INCREDIBLY FRICKIN' HOT out there at the Stadium today. Unbelievably hot. And since a phalanx of Sons (Alex Cora, Delino DeShields, Orel, and Steve Sax) all humped it out there to support the Dodgers (and only Delino made it out of the parking lot morass with reasonable speed), no one was left in the SoSG staff offices (Lasorda was at a picnic, Karros getting his hair coiffed, and Guerrero sleeping on a park bench), we're a little late.

But, we're happy. All Dodger fans are happy, especially those who stuck it out for nine innings to watch today's NLCS Game 2. Aside from the excitement that comes from watching a winning-run scoring, bases-loaded walk to win the game, we can revel in the glory of having seen:

• Vicente Padilla pitch lights-out through seven and a third innings, giving up only a Ryan Howard home run in the fourth that was probably the quietest postseason home run ever;
• Chan Ho Park (who took the loss) return to the form that we remember as Dodger fans, instead of the Park that basically shut us down in Game 1;
• Jim Thome knock a key base hit in the eighth to keep the game-winning rally going;
• the Phillies' bullpen melt down (while the rest of us Dodger fans just melted);
• Jonathan Broxton pitch a 1-2-3 ninth inning;
• the Dodgers win, 2-1, with a stadium packed to the gills whooping and hollering and waving towels and singing along to "I Love L.A.";
• the Dodgers tie the NLCS at one game apiece, going back to Philly for three.

An eighth-inning comeback is awesome to see, even when it comes off a Chase Utley error and a bases-loaded walk. And I have to admit, as conflicted as I am over the Don't Stop Believing guy--there was magic there. Consider the facts:

• Last night, DSB plays, but no DSB guy accompanied the tune on the video, throughout the montage of crowd shots. We lose.
• Today, DSB plays, and they cut to the DSB guy at the end of the video montage. And we come back to win.

Yes, the schtick was the same. Yes, he still has bad hair. Yes, he still ends with him pointing at the Dodgers logo on his cap.

But there is SOMETHING with the DSB guy, something that fires up the crowd to cheer on a day when the heat and alcohol have drained all energy, something that just may get the team inspired to take those last six (or three) final offensive outs and make the most of them.

And as for the rest of our home games--and what the hell, maybe we should pay to fly the DSB guy out to Philadelphia with a boombox and have him do the routine there to whomever will listen--that DSB guy has got to be there. Make the note.

It was a pretty sweet victory to see in person, especially after the bitter loss less than 24 hours prior. We can win this series, especially when we get to the Phillies' bullpen. Be patient, Dodgers, and be true, Dodger fans. And Don't Stop Believing.

Post-NLCS Game 1 Thread: Uptight

Tonight's strike zone (actual size), brought to you by home-plate umpire Randy Marsh.

PHILLIES 8, DODGERS 6

Well, that was bullshit. Constricted by a strike zone tighter than Prince Fielder's waistband, Clayton Kershaw imploded in the fifth inning, giving up five runs (including a Carlos Ruiz three-run homer) while issuing three walks and throwing three wild pitches. But Cole Hamels followed suit, as Manny Ramirez parlayed a Chase Utley error into a three two-run homer.

It was a game until the eighth, when the usually reliable George Sherrill walked two and then gave up another three run homer, this one to Raul Ibanez. The Dodgers had a glimmer of hope when Matt Kemp led off the ninth with a single, but Casey Blake GIDPed and all of a sudden it's 2008 again.

The Dodgers outhit the Phillies 14-8 but also gave up seven walks and left ten men on base. To rub it in, former Dodger Chan Ho Park pitched a scoreless inning for the Phillies, and Brad "Is Back" Lidge got the save. We do this again in 15 hours, so it's time to move on.

Post-Game NLDS 3 Thread: Sweep Me in St. Louis

11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

DODGERS 5, CARDINALS 1

Andre Ethier: 3-for-5, 403-foot two-run home run in the third inning, a single short of the cycle.

Vicente Padilla: 7.0 IP, 4H, 0R.

Manny Ramirez: 3-for-5, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs.

Rafael Furcal: 2-for-5, RBI.

Holliday! Celebrate! 2009 Cardinals, meet the 2008 Cubs. The Dodgers overcame their regular-season tormentors (they lost five of seven to the Cards) in two strong outings and one incredibly fortunate inning. Now they get a four-day rest while the Rockies and Phillies play snowball in Denver.

Most press coverage will be about CARDINALS LOSE (dodgers win), but don't let that bother you. That's why we're here!

Oh, and kudos to the wise soul at KABC who decided to sync up the radio feed to TBS' picture. It was a real pleasure to win with Vin!

Enjoy your winter, Mr. MVP.

blue broom 1 by Guy Batey; blue broom 2 by ~pansinYing; Dodger photos by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images; Pujols photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

Post-NLDS Game 2 Thread: DOFI:HJNES:O FJNDFOIS:JNSEOIFE

DODGERS 3, CARDINALS 2

COMMENTS: asdf;ljasdf ko;aenio;a2vsljasvdfnlh aednom ERIUVYBHEWIRUBER7FBS ZKUSHFB AVKUSFH KLGHHGLKUHKUGSJ DFIALLASID FJAS;DL NIFASD; EAW;LAESO;I AZSEO;I FZWSOEAI ZSOEIF NA E SZEFZSOei:p Nszeoip: Ns:oeifszo:ieSEZOIAPNseio:pSZeiop: :soe F;zsokef ;ailsn EFIOESNFAOSIPAWEOPFH NASOPIEH FNOAPISE6NASOPIEFH NAOSNASOIPE NASOPIEFH AOEI FNAOSIPEH FNAOSIPEH FNASOPIEH FANSOPIEH FNASOPEI NASOIPE NASOPIE AOPSIEFAOSIPEN AOPISEH FNOAIPSE FNOAISPNFPAOSIEFHANSOPIEFNASOPIEAOPSIHNAPOSIHAOS PI SPDFY BA89WEP Y09yn098yn90yn09un faufn0a9un fawefuaw0e ff af dsfhauoshapsoe aep9nf ase;fnusdf o;ianuasd foa;foisnas e f asdokifyslzianasw efpn asfu nuslzkaweoif'nuawoefn

Post-NLDS Game 1 Thread: Grind

11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

First inning: Matt "The Bison" Kemp crushes a Chris Carpenter offering into the All-You-Can-Eat Pavilion.

DODGERS 5, CARDINALS 3

First of all, kudos to TBS for a glitch-free broadcast tonight. Stellar production, boys. Really.

Hoo boy! Guess there might be something to home-field advantage after all. In his first career post-season start, Randy Wolf came out tighter than the Death Star trash compactor and loaded the bases, aided by a brainfart defensive mix-up between Ronnie Belliard and Matt Kemp. But a Yadier Molina double play allowed Wolf to find the escape hatch.

Still, down 1-0 with Cy Young candidate Chris Carpenter taking the mound is never a good situation. Unless he gets mowed down by a Bison. After a single by Rafael Furcal (3-for-4, RBI), Matt Kemp pounded Carpenter's first pitch for a home run and suddenly the Dodgers had the lead.

And the Dodgers held on to that lead, although it was a grind. They stranded James Loney at second base in the first and Rafael Furcal at third base in the second, but scratched out another run on a Mark DeRosa throwing miscue in the third to go up 3-1.

Wolf only lasted through the fourth, hitting Matt Holliday to load the bases and getting pulled by Joe Torre with the score 3-2. But Jeff Weaver came in and got out of the jam. The Dodgers ended up grinding out another run in the fifth, with Furcal capping off an 11-pitch at-bat against Carpenter with a sacrifice fly. 4-2 Dodgers, and Carpenter was done after five innings and 105 pitches.

Thereon out it was a battle of the bullpens; each team ended up using five relievers. Ronald Belisario got the Dodgers' only 1-2-3 inning of the night in the sixth, while Kyle McClellan plunked Russell Martin on the shoulder to force in a run. 5-2 Dodgers.

The Kevorkian Committee was mostly effective, with Hong-Chih Kuo smoking Troy Glaus with two on and two out in the seventh and George Sherrill sandwiching a Skip Schumaker HBP with two fly-ball outs. Torre brought in Jonathan Broxton in the eighth to face Albert Pujols (0-for-3, 2 IBB) and induced a groundout to Casey Blake.

Broxton made us squirm slightly in the ninth, allowing a run on a Ryan Ludwick single and a Mark DeRosa double, but struck out Rick Ankiel looking on a 100-mph fastball to end it. WHEW.

So on a day where the favorites (Phillies, Yankees) followed the script, the Dodgers ad libbed and beat their chief tormentors. It wasn't pretty; both teams stranded a combined 30 men on base, a new playoff record. (Congrats!) Still, as we said a million times in the Game Thread, I'll take it. Any comments, Karl "Cardinals in 3" Ravech? Kevin "Cardinals in 3" Baxter (thanks, TBLA!)?

Kemp photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Post-Game 162 Thread: Dodgers Win 95

DODGERS 5, ROCKIES 3

As Vin would say: A modest thing, but thine own. The Dodgers crafted a two-game win streak to give them a little momentum heading into the playoffs, scoring four in the first inning and making it stand up. Vicente Padilla made his case for the post-season by doing his best Clayton Kershaw imitation, striking out ten, including the first five batters of the game. The Dodgers' bullpen notched seven more strikeouts after that, and now we sit on our hands for two days.

The 2009 Dodgers finish the regular season at 95-67, in first place in the NL West, and with the NL's best record. And Dodger fans did their team proud, with the Dodgers' regular-season attendance of 3,761,655 edging out the Yankees' 3,748,057 for most in the majors.

On to the playoffs! Game 1 vs. the Cardinals is Wednesday at 6:37 p.m. PT. Rest up, Dodger fans!

Post-Game 161 Thread: YUB YUB!!!

DODGERS 5, ROCKIES 0

This will be a day long remembered. It has seen the end of the Dodgers' losing streak and it will soon see the end of the Rockies' rebellion.

JEDI OF THE GAME: Clayton "Skywalker" Kershaw (6.0 IP, 3H, 0R, 10K)

PROMOTED FROM STORMTROOPERS TO IMPERIAL GUARDS: Obi-Juan Pierre, Matt "Solo" Kemp, Manny "Jar Jar" Ramirez, Ronnie ReBelliard, Mark "Biggs" Loretta (one RBI each)

CANTINA CLOSERS: Hong-Chih "Ree Yees" Kuo, George "Darth Maul" Sherrill, Jonathan ChewBroxton: three hitless, scoreless innings

With one game left in the regular season, the Dodgers are 94-67 and have the NL's best record. They clinch the division and home-field advantage in the playoffs — against the Cardinals.

Post-Game 160 Thread: Dodgers Show Sign of Life

ROCKIES 4, DODGERS 3

It was another case of too little, too late — but too little is better than nothing. Which is a step in the right direction, I guess. Ubaldo Jimenez shut down the Dodgers for six innings and Troy Tulowitzki hit a back-breaking two-run homer off Ronald Belisario in the seventh. Down 4-1, the Dodgers actually put together a rally against the Rockies' bullpen, scoring two runs on a Russell Martin homer and an Andre Ethier RBI single. But 13 Ks — including four each by Manny Ramirez and Casey Blake — were too much, and the Rockies held on to win, giving the Dodgers just two more chances not to fall victim to the largest deficit (15 1/2 games) overcome in MLB history. See y'all tomorrow!

UPDATE: Oh yeah, Hiroki Kuroda's out for the NLDS. Whoopee.

Post-Game 159 Thread: The Difference Is Clinchability

PADRES 5, DODGERS 0

Post-Game 158 Thread: Everybody Panic

PADRES 3, DODGERS 1

Post-Game 157 Thread: Does Champagne Travel?

PIRATES 11, DODGERS 1

If ever you needed proof that baseball is also a mental game, look no further than this morning's shellacking. After a humiliating ninth inning yesterday, the Dodgers elected to watch the Rockies game in the clubhouse for a possible delayed celebration. "As far as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter how it happens as long as you make it happen," Jeff Weaver told the LA Times.

Of course, the Rockies won (they're off today), and the Dodgers came out this morning flatter than Kate Moss. Former Dodger — and it's always a former Dodger — Andy LaRoche did most of the damage, going 5-for-5 with two home runs and six RBIs.

Then again, maybe this is the Dodgers' crafty way of bringing their playoff celebration closer to Southern California. They start a two-game series against the Padres tomorrow, and you can be sure Dodger fans will flock to PETCO Park en masse. Pretty sneaky, sis!

photo by Barry Chin/Boston Globe

Post-Game 156 Thread: Not So Fast

PIRATES 6, DODGERS 5

"Time to ice up the bubbly!"

—Charley Steiner, after the Dodgers took the lead in the eighth inning

If it's any consolation, today's ninth-inning loss was a team effort: Clayton Kershaw allowed two runs in four innings of work, Andre Ethier was thrown out at third and Matt Kemp was picked off first in the fourth, the Dodgers loaded the bases with one out but scored only once in the seventh, and Jonathan Broxton melted down in the ninth, aided by errors by Rafael Furcal and Ethier.

Magic number remains at one; Colorado currently leads the Cardinals 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth. Early start (9:30 a.m.) tomorrow — hang in there, Dodger fans!

Post-Game 155 Thread: Playoff Bound

Joe Torre and Ned Colletti join in a toast to this year's playoff team.

DODGERS 8, PIRATES 4

Parts of today's game were expected: Randy Wolf got another no-decision, and the Dodgers had to come from behind.

Other parts were unexpected: The Pirates scored three runs off Hong-Chih Kuo and George Sherrill, and Jim Thome had two RBIs.

But the end result was something that has been expected for a long time: The Dodgers clinch a playoff spot. Champagne flowed in the locker room afterward, but heads stayed dry — for now. The Rockies' loss to the Cardinals tonight reduces the Dodgers' division-winning magic number to...one!

photo by Jon SooHoo/Dodgers

Post-Game 153 Thread: Dodgers Eke Out Series From Pesky Nats

DODGERS 7, NATIONALS 6

Dodger starter Vicente Padilla wasn't exactly on target tonight, yielding 4 ER over 5 IP along with 6 Ks and 103 pitches. But hey, it's the Nationals, losers of 100 games this year (five losses ahead of the next-worst team, the Pirates, our upcoming opponent for four games).

Big ups to Rafael Furcal for his second four-hit game of the series, Matt Kemp with a three-run home run in the first inning, and Andre Ethier with a game-saving outfield assist to nail the speedy Elijah Dukes at the plate (nice tag, Russell Martin). The Dodgers leave Washington with the league's best record, the Giants eliminated from divisional title contention (thanks to their 3-2 loss to the Cubs tonight), and luckily no increase in taxes. On to Pittsburgh for four games!

Post-Game 152 Thread: Hold On for One More Day

NATIONALS 5, DODGERS 4

Post-Game 151 Thread: Installations

DODGERS 14, NATIONALS 2

On the day the National Portrait Gallery installed a painting of Tommy Lasorda, the Dodgers installed their foot in the Nationals' ass and won their first-ever victory at Nationals Park. It was a cakewalk that served as a perfect tune-up for the playoffs:

• Hiroki Kuroda: 6.0 IP, 2R (both unearned), 6K
• Rafael Furcal: 4-for-5, 4 RBIs
• Matt Kemp: 2 RBIs
• James Loney: 3-for-5, 2 RBIs
• Casey Blake: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs

Also making appearances were Juan Castro, Juan Pierre, Jason Repko, Blake DeWitt, Jim Thome, A.J. Ellis and Chin-lung Hu. Yeah, it was that type of game.

Want more good news? Clayton Kershaw pitched the last two innings of the game, throwing 39 pitches and striking out four. He hit 94 mph with regularity and looked comfortable, even fielding a high bouncing comebacker to end the game.

Magic numbers drop to 3 (to make playoffs)/7 6 (to win division). Padres and Rockies are tied at six in the fourth inning at Colorado — feel free to scoreboard-watch in this thread!