Post-NLCS Game 6 Thread: Now We're Dead

CARDINALS 9, DODGERS 0

Well, the hated Cards (and their self-righteous, self-declared best fans in baseball) got the best of us this series. After a season whereby the Dodgers started with huge promise, dropped to last place, Magically rose from the ashes to go on a 42-8 run, and eventually won the division, the bats just couldn't wake up, the pitching inextricably failed, Puig spaced out, and the Cards ripped our heart out and left us for dead. Blue blood stains the streets of LA.

All props to Cards pitcher Michael Wacha. He was brilliant in this series and, rookie or no, got his shit done when called upon. Although the Dodgers were hampered by late injuries - a fair excuse - the Cards in the end did what they do best: find a way to win post-season games. Clayton Kershaw experienced a Freaky Friday moment and changed places with 2012 Carlos Marmol closing for the Cubs. Kid K was Kid ball-in-dirt and just never had it for whatever reason. He's gotta be the loneliest man on the planet tonight. Or maybe Puig is. His "fielding" was like watching outtakes from Bad News Bears III. Serious work to be done with him in the offseason. At this point, and I know some will yell and disagree, Puig may need some time at AAA to start the season not just to work on fundamentals but to be shown the game is much bigger than he is.

This season began in LA with a Kershaw home run of all things to give us an Opening Day win. It is indeed bittersweet to see the last game of the season be almost, but not entirely, Clay's fault. It's toug to swallow, and you have to feel for him.

It's been a roller-coaster season, to be sure. But there were bright spots and there will be bright spots next year as the new(ish) ownership continues to take this team in the right direction. We'll come back better, meaner, and more experienced.

As SoSG Nomo-san well put it:

*shoves narratives aside* This season was pretty awesome, all told. -N
— Sons of Steve Garvey (@sosgsosg) October 19, 2013

Drink up in the SoSG pub, ladies and gentlemen. Rounds are on us. Thanks for another great season in this blog space! Don't miss us in the offseason.

Post-NLCS Game 5 Thread: Not Dead Yet

DODGERS 6. CARDINALS 4

The Dodgers batboys finally tapped into the secret vault of Dodgers humidor-controlled bats today, as the Dodgers--homerless in the first four games of this series--opened up the whupping sticks with four shots today, two off the bat of Adrian Gonzalez, coupled with four-baggers from A.J. Ellis and Carl Crawford. All four of these shots came with no one on base, which was the bummer. But these home runs, over the course of six innings, turned a 2-2 tie into a 6-2 lead.

The Dodgers ended up needing this insurance gap as the Cardinals scored two in the ninth to add some worry, but Kenley Jansen got Adron Chambers looking to seal the victory and send the series back to St. Louis.

Zack Greinke was awesome today. After loading the bases in the first inning, Greinke emerged unscathed thanks to a nice Juan Uribe-led GIDP, and then Greinke looked pretty sharp from there on save the third inning, when Carlos Beltran and Matt Holliday strung consecutive XBH to let the Cardinals tie the game. Greinke went seven full innings, striking out four and allowing only one walk. And, Greinke added a RBI single of his own. Not a bad day for the Dodgers.

Let's hope the equipment manager packs these same bats on the flight to St. Louis. Dodgers have to win them both. But after today's outburst, there's much more confidence that we can do it. Let's take those bats to the Cards, in all the ways we can.

Post-NLCS Game 3 Thread: Dodgers Bear Injuries, Find Ryu of Sunshine

And this was only the second or third weirdest thing that happened last night.
DODGERS 3, CARDINALS 0

We knew this was a must-win game, but it also needed to be a must-enjoy game. After a 13-inning slog and a feeble shutout, the Dodgers desperately needed a shot of life, and man, did they get it.

First up, Hyun-Jin Ryu. Ryu struggled mightily in his lone NLDS start (something he chalked up to nerves, not injuries), so it was hard to predict what we'd get out of him. Turns out, we got seven innings of 3-hit, 4 K, shutout ball. We'll take it, and then some!

Again, though, the pitching has not been the problem this series. Coming into the game, the Dodgers had gone 19 innings without scoring a run. The streak extended to 22, when Adam WhineWainwright looked to be his typical self after three. Then, in the fourth, Mark Ellis doubled to lead off the inning. Mattingly resisted bunting with Hanley at the plate, but a flyout did move Ellis over to third. Finally, Adrian Gonzalez ripped a double to right, scoring Ellis and ending the drought. Adrian celebrated at second base, irritating Wainwright and the best fans in baseball.

GIF by Chad Moriyama
Speaking of celebrations, two batters later, Yasiel Puig became the first player in recent memory to pimp a home run and celebrate a triple in the same at bat. Puig's long drive to right missed being a home run into the right field seats by only about five inches to the left. When he realized it wasn't going out, he switched on the gas and made it to third without a throw. (AGon scored.)

That seemed like it would be enough for how Ryu was pitching, but they added one more in the eighth when the ailing, but still willing Hanley Ramirez deposited a dunker past second, scoring Carl Crawford (channeling Puig-like speed) from second. (Andre Ethier also gutted out his injury, but went 0-4.)

Brian Wilson nailed down the eighth, Kenley Jansen closed up shop, and the Dodgers found themselves right back in it, alive and kicking.

And oh yeah, that bear. Like I said, it was only the second or third weirdest thing that happened last night, and that was because A.J. Ellis hit a triple.

Post-NLCS Game 2 Thread: Without Puig And Ramirez, Dodgers Screwed

CARDINALS 1, DODGERS 0

Remember how we didn't think it could get worse than Game 1, oh, about 16 hours ago? Sunday, it in fact did--and this time, it wasn't Donnie Baseball's fault. Instead, the Dodgers--without Hanley Ramirez (late scratch), Andre Ethier (save a weak PH K with two out in the ninth), and Yasiel Puig (who played, but his 0-for-4, 4K performance was basically a black hole)--simply refused to execute.

Biggest case in point was the sixth inning: down 1-0, the Dodgers led off with a Clayton Kershaw single to left, followed by a Carl Crawford single to right center which Cardinals 2B Matt Carpenter threw into left field for an error. Second and third, no out for the Dodgers. We'll get at least one, right?

Nope, not with this noffense. Mark Ellis pops out in the infield, Adrian Gonzalez gets the intentional pass, and then Puig strikes out weakly (looking absolutely lost at the plate) and Juan Uribe strikes out with a series of wild crazy swings at the plate. End of inning. The Dodgers didn't have a better chance than that for the rest of the game (oh sure, Nick Punto got to third with Michael Young batting with two out, but it's Michael Young for pete's sake).

Look, I'm surly and depressed and pissed off, and not just because ios7 sucks and is a battery-draining sycophant: Donnie's screwball managing lost the first game, but this one was all on us (or at least, those of us who played). I can take solace in thinking that the Cardinals are supposed to win those two games at home; the Cardinals aren't really hitting, either (we've out hit our opponent in all six of our postseason games). We've still got three in our house and we can roll. On the other hand, we've spent Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw and despite great performances from both, we've got nothing to show for it.

I need a day to sleep on this, but I'll stick with: Dodgers in 6.

Go Blue!

Post-NLCS Game 1 Thread: Criminy, Donnie: That Was Horrible

CARDINALS 3, DODGERS 2 (13)

The Dodgers could not overcome all of Don Mattingly's horrible, non-sensical managerial calls tonight. 11 LOB. Outhit the Cards 9-7. Relievers giving their all and getting out of jams. And yet...not enough, even to beat a Cardinals team that is totally beatable.

If there's any silver lining to this steaming pile of shit, it's that the Cardinals are vulnerable. That is, if we can stop insane managerial moves like pulling Adrian Gonzalez in the eighth inning of a tie game. Or using Dee Gordon to replace A-Gon, who is so lame he not only doesn't steal second base to get into scoring position, but is thrown out at second on the next ground ball. Or watching Michael Young, A-Gon's replacement, GIDP to end an extra-inning threat. Or wasting Zack Greinke's impressive 10-K performance. Or using Nick Punto and Skip Schumaker in PH situations, both of whom Kd. Or pulling Chris Withrow to have Kenley Jansen's confidence shattered when he gives up the game-winning RBI to Carlos "I Keep The Bat On My Shoulder" Beltran.

I can't do a proper PGT right now. Fuck, Donnie: don't pull this bullshit again, please.

Post-NLDS Game 4 Thread: Juan, For The Memories

DODGERS 4, BRAVES 3; DODGERS ADVANCE TO THE 2013 NLCS

In one of the most amazing come-from-behind Dodgers playoff victories that I've ever seen (besides that one, of course), the Dodgers turned a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning due to the incredible exploits of Juan Uribe, who knocked a HR to left field.

That was the dagger. And with that dagger comes a pass to the NLCS, where we will face either Pittsburgh or St. Louis. The Dodgers are the first team to advance past the NLDS this October.

Clayton Kershaw started on short rest and gave up 2 R but 0 ER in a 6.0 IP performance (1 BB, 6 Ks). Adrian Gonzalez obliged on both of the Dodgers' errors (one fielding, one throwing), to give the Braves their two runs, which matched the two runs that two solo shots from Carl Crawford gave for the Dodgers.

In the top of the seventh, Ronald Belisario came in and got the first out on a comebacker, but then gave up a triple to right (exacerbated by Yasiel Puig's fielding slide that passed by the ball's carom), and an RBI single to PH Jose Constanza, before getting yanked.

With the Dodgers down 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth, Puig redeemed himself with a leadoff double, and Uribe came up and started bunting his way into a 0-2 hole, despite loud boos from the crowd on the managerial misstep. When finally allowed to swing away, Uribe hit that game-winning HR to left (scoring Puig). Kenley Jansen closed out the ninth by striking out the side, and we're moving on.

A glorious win for the Dodgers tonight. I'll have to write up my perspectives of the game, but for now I've gotta revel in this victory myself. In the meantime, let's celebrate our victory--GO DODGERS!

Uribear GIF via Chad Moriyama

Post-NLDS Game 3 Thread: Whup-Ass Can Opened

DODGERS 13, BRAVES 6

And this game really wasn't even that close. The football score from Sunday night's NLDS Game 3 was led by the Dodgers' 13 runs, which was the most the Dodgers had scored in a postseason game since the 1956 World Series. For those of us that were there, as I was, it was an incredibly satisfying game to see.

Not that it didn't start with a bit of a scare. Cognizant that the winners of Game 3 in a five-game series have gone on to win the series 14 out of 15 times, Dodger fans had to feel worried when the Braves came out fast and feasted on Hyun-Jin Ryu early, staking a 2-0 lead in the first. Carl Crawford singled and took second on a WP with none out in the bottom of the first, but couldn't score, deflating the crowd. Ryu had a 1-2-3 top of the second inning to help, but you could still cut the tension with a knife.

And then came the bottom of the second. Leadoff singles to Yasiel Puig and Juan Uribe gave cause for hope, and Puig eventually came around to score when Ryu poked a sacrifice fly to right (2-1, Atlanta). But before you could blink an eye, Carl Crawford hit a shot into the right field bullpen to make it 4-2 Dodgers (scoring Uribe and A.J. Ellis, who walked). And the place started going nuts.

The Braves quickly notched two more runs in the third to make things worrisome again (tie game at 4). And then Hanley Ramirez led off with a monster double, scoring on Adrian Gonzalez' RBI single; Puig forced out Gonzalez at second but took second base after the Braves' attempt to turn the DP led to a Elliot Johnson throwing error. Despite the out, Puig's turn from so far up the first base line (almost on the outfield grass) and then hustle and slide into second created even more energy from the crowd. Skip Schumaker knocked Puig in with a single to left, and suddenly it was 6-4 Dodgers. Braves starter Julio Teheran had been chased. Sighs of relief abounded.

But the beatdown didn't stop there. In the bottom of the fourth, Ramirez' triple off the base of the wall in left center (compounded by Evan Gattis' misplay to not back up Jason Heyward) scored a seventh run; Puig singled home HanRam to make it 8-4; and Uribe followed with a dagger HR to right to make it 10-4 (good buddy)!

The Dodgers added three more runs in the bottom of the eighth to make it 13-4 (all three runs scoring off of small ball play). And the crowd went wild, and kept going wild. It was great.

The Dodgers' offense was a juggernaut. Crawford: 2-for-5 with 3 RBI. Ramirez: 3-for-4 with 2 RBI. Gonzalez: 2-for-5 with 2 RBI. Puig: 3-for-5 with 2 RBI. Uribe: 2-for-5 with 2 RBI. Mark Ellis was the only Dodgers position player in the starting lineup without a hit tonight.

There were some causes for concern, most notably Ryu, who lasted only 3.0 IP (68 pitches), did not look sharp all night (though to be fair, the strike zone was called a little strangely by home plate umpire John Hirschbeck), and Ryu made two bad fielding errors (failing to cover first on a DP; picking up a squibbler that he should have let roll foul which allowed a Braves runner to score). Chris Capuano ended up getting the win with three scoreless innings after Ryu.

But that energy in the Stadium--I will talk about it later in a At-Game Recap, but it was absolutely incredible. What a great evening for the Dodgers and all Dodgers fans. Let's keep it rolling!

Post-NLDS Game 2 Thread: Minor Victory, No Big Deal

BRAVES 4, DODGERS 3

The Braves got a Minor victory this evening, to split their two home games in Atlanta before the series moves to Dodger Stadium Sunday. The Dodgers outhit the Braves 10 to 6, but were beset by three GIDPs (Skip Schumaker, Mark Ellis, and Carl Crawford) that seemed to take the air out of any potential rally.

Zack Greinke pitched fine--6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB and 3 Ks--and muscled through an 83-pitch effort that wasn't his best stuff, and should have been enough to win (which went to the Braves' Mike Minor). Handed a two-run lead, a nightmare seventh inning involving Chris Withrow, Paco Rodriguez, Ronald Belisario, and J.P. Howell allowed the lead to stretch to 4-1.

Hanley Ramirez knocked a two-run HR to left in the eighth, with none out, to make it interesting at 4-3. But the Dodgers ninth-inning attempts to tie the game did not go well: A.J. Ellis with a one-out walk; Dee Gordon PR immediately CS for the second out; Andre Ethier with a two-out PH walk; and Crawford K swinging to end it.

Hey, it's one game. The series is now a best-of-3 series with two of the games at home. If we can string some of these hits together a bit better, we'll be fine. Credit Hanley Ramirez for going 3-for-4 with 3 RBI: the rest of you guys, take notes.

Hyun-Jin Ryu vs. Julio Teheran features two 14-8 pitchers with ~3 ERAs. Take a breath. This is a minor speedbump, not a big deal.

deviant Bioshock Infinite art from here

Post-NLDS Game 1 Thread: KKKKKKKKKKKKershaw

Sitting pretty.
DODGERS 6, BARVES 1

Before game time, you couldn't find a Dodger fan whose stomach wasn't in knots. Odds are, we're all feeling just a bit better now.

Clayton Kershaw, THE BEST DAMN PITCHER IN BASEBALL, took the ball for Game 1 and did what he does best: shut down offenses. He didn't look particularly sharp over the first four innings, needing way too many pitches to put guys away and allowing a run in the bottom of the fourth. (Pitch count was up to 73 after four.) Then, he flipped a switch and struck out 8 of the next 10, finishing with 12 Ks over seven innings. (Including 6 in a row at one point, tying a postseason record.)

So, Kershaw was Kershaw, so that means the offense didn't support him, right? Not so fast, my friend! Turns out the bats made the trip to Atlanta too. Thanks to a few Braves mistakes (on the level of what Jon Paul Morosi assumed Puig was going to make), the Dodgers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second. (Single by Puig, single by Uribe, sac fly by Skip, double by A.J.)

That should have been enough for Kershaw, but they weren't done yet. Adrian Gonzalez crushed a 2-run home run off Kris Medlen in the third. They added a run in the fourth on an RBI single by Mark Ellis. Medlen was finally chased in the fifth after plunking Puig. It didn't look intentional, but Puig was still fuming. (Puig ended up 2-4 and made a swank play to double off Evan Gattis in the second.) The only one missing out on the fun was Hanley Ramirez, who went 0-3 against Medlen, but he later had an RBI double off Jordan Walden. Yeah, I think the offense is going to be OK.

The bullpen helped out, too. Brian Wilson pitched a scoreless eighth, and Kenley Jansen closed out the game with a wobbly, but scoreless ninth.

Dodgers steal home field advantage, silence that infernal chant, and send Greinke to the mound tomorrow. Do we dare feel...confident?

Image: I took a cell phone pic of my TV.

Post-Game 162 Thread: Fans Get Punked

ROCKIES 2, DODGERS 1

Let's count the ways that Dodger fans, on Fan Appreciation Day, must not have felt very appreciated:

• The Dodgers dropped the series finale 2-1, despite having the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the ninth...only to see Tim Federowicz flail (swinging K) and Skip Schumaker follow in kind (fooled on a bad breaking ball away).
• Schumaker, who will likely start in center field now that Matt Kemp has been shut down for the entire postseason, went 1-for-4 to lower his intimidating .263 batting average.
• Speaking of injured center fielders, Andre Ethier is only going to be available as a PH for the NLDS. Great.
• Hyun-Jin Ryu took the loss after pitching four innings of 8 H, 2 ER ball. Ryu got in trouble early in the first and escaped with only one run, but opened up the fourth in kind for another station-to-station run by the Rox.
• Chris Capuano made an appearance in the sixth, and gave up two hits. Yeah, that feels pretty reassuring.
• Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth and struck out two but gave up two walks. Hmm.
• The USC marching band, apparently, led off the post-game rally.

The Dodgers are limping into the postseason with a bunch of bad ankles and a lot of rainclouds. I'm not feeling very appreciated here. The Braves must be salivating.

Post-Game 161 Thread: Greinke Solid; Offense Take Night Off

ROCKIES 1, DODGERS 0

The Dodgers, sans Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, and Yasiel Puig (save for a PH appearance), did not support Zack Greinke in suffering a 1-0 loss at the Stadium. Scott Van Slyke, Skip Schumaker, and Nick Buss, substituting for the aforementioned outfield threesome, went a combined 0-for-10. But Greinke was fine in his final regular-season appearance preparing for the postseason by looking sharp (6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB and 7 Ks over 90 pitches).

The loss did not affect the Dodgers' postseason plans, which will have us starting on the road either at St. Louis or Atlanta. The Cardinals took a one-game lead on the Braves in the standings, so if they beat the Cubs today, we play Atlanta in the NLDS. If the Cardinals lose and the Braves lose, it's still Turner Field for us. If the Cardinals lose and the Braves beat the Phillies, we play St. Louis (due to the season tiebreaker between St. Louis and Atlanta). All of this is not as exciting as the AL postseason possibilities, but believe me, I'll still be watching.

photo: Lisa Blumenfeld / Getty Images

Post-Game 159 Thread: Dodgers, Giants Solidify Placements

GIANTS 3, DODGERS 2

The Dodgers lost the rubber match and ended up the season with an 8-11 record against San Francisco this year. But the Dodgers, 36-37 against the NL West, are going to the playoffs while the Giants, 42-31 against the NL West are not. This is because the Dodgers went 55-31 against the rest of the majors, while the Giants went a dismal 32-54. But enough math!

The Dodgers' loss...demonstrated that Edinson Volquez might be passable as a fourth starter (5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB and 4 Ks). Paco Rodriguez, who lost the game on an eighth-inning Angel Pagan HR, might be a bit worn. And the offense wasn't fully clicking; Carl Crawford had a first-inning triple and scored on an Adrian Gonzalez sacrifice; Juan Uribe and Mark Ellis strung consecutive doubles to notch another run.

But the Dodgers have more important games to consider, especially with their fate solidifying as the third-best division-leading record in the NL. This would put the Dodgers on the road for the first two games of the NLDS, with home games October 6 and 7 (and a final fifth game on the road, if necessary). Both Atlanta (54-24 at home) and St. Louis (51-27) are formidable at home, so I suppose it's a tossup.

The Giants win...vaults them ahead of the Mets in the standings, making them the 12th worst team in the majors. This is a good thing. On top of that, Tim Lincecum (7.0 IP of 2 ER ball) didn't look all that bad last night. So the Giants should really be picking up Lincecum (10-14 this season; ND last night) on a long-term deal. Absolutely.

Post-Game 158 Thread: Wobbly Fourth Leg

GIANTS 6, DODGERS 4

Ricky Nolasco (5.2 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 1 BB and 7 Ks) took the loss tonight in what may portend a bad turn: after going 8-1 in his first 12 starts with the Dodgers, he's now had two shaky outings of fewer than six innings, in which he's given up 11 ER and 13 R in aggregate three shaky outings of fewer than six innings, in which he's given up 17 ER and 19 R in aggregate. This is a pretty dangerous way of trying to solidify a sturdy fourth leg, or even mention a #3 starting rotation position on the post-season rosters. Not sure what's eating Ricky here, but I hope he reverts quickly.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers' offense--starting a substitute infield of Michael Young, Skip Schumaker, Nick Punto and Jerry Hairston, went a combined 1-for-14. We were 2-for-10 with RISP. So maybe it's not much of a surprise we dropped this one, the second game of the series.

In more important news, Atlanta lost to stay two games ahead of us, but St. Louis won to gain a game on the Braves. The Dodgers look increasingly unlikely to finish first in the NL; in which case, finishing second or third would only swing home-field advantage, rather than opponent. Keep tinkering, Donnie. Don't go nuts here.

Post-Game 157 Thread: Peaceful, Easy Feeling

DODGERS 2, GIANTS 1

Slightly more suspense in this one than I had earlier anticipated, but at least it wasn't a Heartache Tonight.

Hyun-Jin Ryu had a solid 7.0 IP, giving up one ER on a Tony Abreu solo shot in the bottom of the fifth (countering Yasiel Puig's solo HR in the top of the inning). Ryu had a reasonably long night on a cold evening in San Francisco: 104 pitches, 1 BB and 6 Ks, but was relieved in the eighth by Brian Wilson for a 1-2-3 eighth. And Kenley Jansen let Oyster Pubes get a single to right, advancing him to second on a wild pitch--but proceeded to fan Hunter Pence and Pablo Sandoval (both swinging on high heat) to earn the save.

The winning margin for the Dodgers was a HR in the top of the sixth by Matt Kemp. Kemp's blast, like Puig's, was a no-doubt-about-it shot. Both HR came off of Matt Cain, who took the loss and fell to 8-10 on the year.

Madison Bumgarner gets scratched tomorrow in favor of Barry Zito, making his last home start as a Giant before accepting the $7M buyout, the capper on his 7-year, $126M deal.

With Atlanta and St. Louis both winning tonight, I still contend the Dodgers should take it easy. I Can't Tell You Why.

Post-Game 155 Thread: Kershaw Restores Order

DODGERS 4, PADRES 0

Clayton Kershaw, well-rested and pool-bathed, took the mound tonight and hadn't missed a step: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB and 10 Ks. A.J. Ellis got in his second HR in three games, a two-run shot in the fourth; Yasiel Puig launched a mammoth two-run shot to deep center which sailed over a tall piece of shrubbery just right of the batters' eye. That's all she wrote.

The Braves' loss to the Cubs left them one game away from clinching; both division leaders Atlanta and St. Louis each have 91 wins. The Dodgers are now at 89 wins, with seven more to play.

Dodgers tickets

Post-Game 154 Thread: Send In The Scrubs

PADRES 2, DODGERS 0

With most of the Dodgers' core group of starters unavailable, as their uniforms were being run through the clothes dryer (gotta use gentle cycle or they could shrink; right, Uribe?!), the Dodgers fielded a minor-league lineup today and got...minor league results.

Prior to the ninth inning, the Dodgers were held to only four hits (two from Skip Schumaker, including two doubles; one from Dee Gordon (1-for-4 with a SB) and one from late double-switch entry Michael Young). We had made three errors (Gordon, Carlos Marmol, and Tim Federowicz). The ninth had some slight intrigue: another Skip Schumaker double to leadoff the inning, with Skip advancing to third on a one-out Adrian Gonzalez PH single. But Yasiel Puig's PH appearance ended in a K, as did Matt Kemp's PH appearance. Should have let those guys rest, Donnie!

Edinson Volquez did pretty well: 6.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER (HR by Jedd Gyorko), 4 BB and 6 Ks. Marmol pitched 1.1 IP and it was a push, 3 BB and 3 Ks. I'm all for resting the starters, but shouldn't that mean giving them a full nine-inning respite?

Dodgers tickets

Post-Game 153 Thread: We Are The (NL West) Champions!

DODGERS 7, DBACKS 6

Last place on July 1.

First team to clinch.

'Nuff said.

Image vis Dodgers on Facebook

Post-Game 152 Thread: Fife And Beli Let It Get Away

Fife was played tonight.

D'BACKS 9, DODGERS 4

Stephen Fife, spot-starter in place of Clayton Kershaw, didn't last very long. Wild pitches and walks helped the Diamondbacks score 4 ER, which took care of Fife with one out in the third inning.

The Dodgers muscled their way back into the game, making it 4-3 by the seventh inning, which doesn't account for a horrible call at the plate after Miguel Montero missed the tag on Michael Young (who was called out), as well as an unusual call at second (ejecting Adrian Gonzalez, who was voicing his displeasure having doubled without getting the RBI).

Still, the Dodgers' bullpen kept the one-run game close...until Ronald Belisario came in and picked up right where Fife left off. Belisario, who has been shaky for over a month now, gave up three walks and two doubles, putting the Dodgers down 6-3. Peter Moylan didn't do much better, inheriting the bases loaded and letting all three runners score.

Tim Federowicz added a two-out solo shot for the Dodgers in the ninth but who the hell cares. This wasn't one we expected to win, anyway, not with that lineup plus the umps working against us. Let's come back tomorrow for some early baseball and see if we can clinch this.

Post-Game 151 Thread: Corbin, Blue

Chicken Corbin Blue

DODGERS 9, D'BACKS 3

Like a geyser waiting to erupt, the Dodgers lineup (finally at full strength, thanks to the return of Hanley Ramirez and Matt Kemp in the starting lineup) exploded for four runs in the first inning and two runs in the third inning. Matt Kemp played a key part in the first inning, hitting a two-run double in the first inning (Juan Uribe homered Kemp home. Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run HR in the third. 'Zona starter Patrick Corbin lasted only 2.0 IP (7 H, 6 ER, 1 BB and 1 K).

The Dodgers scored two more runs in the fourth (Mark Ellis singled home Zack Greinke, who walked and advanced on a Yasiel Puig groundout; Kemp singled to center scoring Ellis). And they scored one more in the eighth on a Michael Young triple, scoring Ramirez.

Quite an offensive blowout for the Dodgers--12 hits in all--with the exception of Puig (0-for-5 in the leadoff spot) and AJ Ellis (0-for-5 with 7 LOB). Kemp, in his first start in months, went 4-for-4 with 3 RBI, a run scored, and two doubles.

And that Greinke kid? Just another 6.0 IP performance (6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB and 5 Ks). Ronald Belisario had a shaky eighth, but we'll save that concern for later. For now, let's just revel in the fact that the Dodgers' magic number is down to 2. Whaddya say, Tommy? Ready to feast?

Post-Game 150 Thread: Have Ryu Ever Seen The Rain

D'BACKS 2, DODGERS 1

And right about now (funk soul brother), this losing thing is getting really, really old. Hyun-Jin Ryu gave up a two-run HR to Paul Goldschmidt in the first inning, and goes another seven innings without giving up another run (8.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB and 4 Ks).

And yet, the Dodgers can only muster three hits after the first inning, scoring our only run through a bases-loaded Yasiel Puig walk. Not that we didn't have our chances: a ninth-inning rally starting with two straight singles (Michael Young, Skip Schumaker) was followed by a Juan Uribe bunt (wtf?) attempt (comebacker that, instead of advancing both runners, forced Young at third), followed by a weak Nick Buss grounder to first, and then a Matt Kemp PH K to end the game.

The Dodgers went 0-for-8 with RISP and had 8 LOB (AJ Ellis, 0-for-3, and Adrian Gonzalez, 0-for-4, both had 5 LOB). The Diamondbacks didn't have any RISP, and left 1.

And yet, the Diamondbacks won.

Yesterday, and days before, Sun is cold and rain is hard. I know; been that way for all my time.