Hmmm...once again, I tried to get to I Love Alpacas.com, but wound up here instead...

(just trying to loosen things up a bit, guys)

Rays are four outs away from a big win.
150:1 baby!
vr, Xei

0 - I know that the Dodgers (and shoe shine boy) want to avoid a showdown in SF, but I say, bring it on!

3 I won't be too troubled if the magic number is 1 before Friday night's game. :-) (I'll be more troubled if it's 3 or more.)

Stop, Evil-doers!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lw17Pb7Nso

The return of Matt Kemp to the top of the lineup. Its his birthday tonight right? Lets celebrate with his first multi-home run game.

6.
I'm pretty sure he had a multi-homer game in Colorado when he first came up.

Here's to an oppo home run tonight for the Bison.

Happy birthday to my favorite player.

And yes, happy b-day Bison!

Okay, first 3 homer game.

4 I agree. They need to go into SF on Friday with at least a 2 game lead (i.e. Magic number of 2 or less).

I would hate to see the panic on this site if the lead is cut down to a single game or worse heading into SF.

7 Yes, yes he did.

That was during the Grady Little/Kemp mancrush period.

I'll use the Office discussion from the last thread as an excuse to link to the funniest thing I saw this weekend:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrcjGQjdmfo

It's SFW, but a very odd sketch from "Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job" (Rainn Wilson's involved)

2
Xei,

I forgot: are the Rays 150:1 to win it all, or just the pennant?

I'm going to the game tonight. Section 7, Field Box MVP. Anyone else going?

http://minors.baseball-reference.com/players.cgi?pid=32153

Whats the point of having a guy like Travis Vetters in the organization?

15
Nice seats!

16
Gotta fill the rosters somehow.

16
I wondered why they didn't promote him instead of just letting him smash away.

I'd like the Bison to celebrate his 24th with a bomb into the Loge tonight. Has anyone ever hit two into the loge?

18 Yeah, but Vetters already 24, and failed to do anything at low-A. I rather see 18 year old try his luck over Vetters who seems his ceiling is smashing rookie ball pitchers.

15
Yup, bullpen loge.

I had seats for the game tonight but had to give them up for more pressing matters at hand.

The resident baseball expert will be sitting in section 2-4 in the reserved.

This should be a great game.

Think Cure everybody:)

22
I'm sitting here wondering why I need to think of songs by The Cure.

D'Backs and Cards underway with a Stephen Drew base hit.

Drew is double-handedly trying to lead Arizona to the playoffs.

I'm not sure why Reynolds is out of the lineup for AZ.

23 - Maybe you need to be sitting there wearing black eyeshadow.

More awful defense and D'Backs in business.

Tony LaRussa hates the Dodgers.

There's nothing to fear with Nick Stavinoha in the lineup for the Redbirds.

Bases loaded and one out for Upton.

Cardinas died.

Upton strikes out. Two away for SCY.

23 - Trying to avoid 200 Ks on the year?
Bob Melvin is tired of watching the butchery at third base?

4 - Here in Mexico, your namesake is known as Supercan (as in canine). Es muy macho, so three games wouldn't trouble him. But, I agree, one would be less troubling for all of us.

SCY grounds to second. No Score and the Cards are coming up.

Mark Reynolds should go for the gold

Kyle Lohse you stud!!!!!!!

Off to the game, I'm 9-2 at Dodger games this year.

Also, the Metrodome is rocking tonight as the Twins host the White Sox.

Reynolds could lead the league in errors and Ks - quite a feat.

Kyle Lohse wants that Calros Silva special. a $48 million/4 year and then he can totally take a 4 year vacation with a bad team willing to overpay a veteran.

Izzy leads off with a base hit to right. Eckstein's sheer determination and will could not make the grab on the liner.

And Izzy steals second off the Unit.

Gamecast is saying all the balls Izzy got were in the strike zone.

Clay Aiken exits closet.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/09/23/clay.aiken.ap/index.html

Elsewhere, the sun is hot.

Will Kyle Loshe replace Jody Gerut as my new love? Let it be so.

Infield single for Lopez. 1st and 3rd with nobody out for Albert Pujols.

Rally in St. Louis!

Jon:

I don't like the 9/26 comment.

I'm going to unjinx that one and proclaim an easy weekend, resting many regulars.

How's that.

M!V!P! Pujols

Base hit Pujols! 1-0 Cardinals.

Albert Pujols is awesome.

44 I'm glad this place has pop culture experts/devoted followers like D4P so I'm kept up-to-date with what's going on in the celebrity world.

It sure is fun rooting for Pujols/Glaus/Ludwick vs. the 45 yr old goat.

Clay Aiken is a celebrity like Britney Spears is.

Glaus flies to left and hits himself with a broken bat on the swing.

52
You know me. I loves me some celebrities.

LUDWICK!!! 4-0 CARDINALS!

Cardinals win. Dodgers in.

Ludwick for MVP!!!

YES! It's a laugher at Busch!!

Woo!

Magic number twinkling already!

Base hit Stavinoha.

4-0 isn't a laugher at Busch.

HHHOOOOMMEEE RUUUNNN!

However, the baseball gods take umbrage at a 4-0 score being called a "laugher." They are now officially Planning Something.

4-0 Cardinals Top 2.

66
Are the Baseball Gods related to Gregg Easterbook's Football Gods? Is it somewhat akin to Greek and Roman mythology?

Is Randy Johnson the Rolling Stones of baseball? Dominant at his best, stuck around too long, bad skin?

Jason Kubel hits a bomb in Minnesota to give the Twins the lead.

With two outs and two on, Dave Bush walked Jeff Kartens to load the bases. Nyjer Morgan followed with a 2-run single to tie the game and then Freddy Sanchez doubled home Karstens to make it 3-2 Bucs in the 2nd.

I've noticed that Dale Sveum tends not to have his cap on in the dugout. It's not a good look.

4-0 Cardinals Bot 2.

Animal style fries for me!

I apologize for the laugher proclamation. However I did literally laugh when I saw that jack so technically, ya know.

Lincecum now leads MLB in Strikeouts and ERA. How can he not win the Cy Young?

How can he not win the Cy Young?

The NL has a 20-Game Winner™, and it's not Timmy.

I take back what I said about removing Ludwick from my Christmas card list.

73
Sporky, I missed something. Are you rewarding yourself with Animal Fries if the D-Backs lose? Or are you just having them?

Dunn hits it 390 feet but to center field for the out.

4-0 Cardinals Bot 3.

4-0 Cardinals Top 4.

An Alfredo Griffin special for Jose Reyes makes it 6-2 Mets over the Cubs.

4-2 Cardinals SCY 2 run HR.

SCY homers. Grr.

75 Does he lead the league in wins? That's all that matters to me.

Bad Kyle Lohse. Bad!

4-2 Cardinals Bot 4.

One of those runs is on Stavinoha for his abysmal attempt at catching that fly ball.

13
That song was stuck in my head Sunday night after watching that episode.

If you assume that the MVP has to come from a contending team, does Manny have a compelling case for the award?

Yeah, see. There's no such thing as a laffer.

4-2 Cardinals Top 5.

90
But what about the Laffer Curve?

Cliff Lee gives up five runs to the Red Sox, blowing up his ERA to 2.53, costing him a loss, and letting Boston clinch a playoff spot.

48 and the other jinxy comments made Disabled List die a little inside. C'mon people, have some consideration along with having faith. ;-)

Nice. Dunn is done and on to the bottom of the 5th.

4-2 Cardinals Bot 5.

Red Sox 6 outs from the postseason.

I'm surprised the Red Sox game isn't on ESPN, followed by a 2 hour post game special celebration.

Infield single for Sporky's new hero.

Randy Johnson can barely move on any sort of infield grounder. Kyle Lohse leads off with an infield single. LaRue bunts Lohse to 2nd base for Izzy.

Is that hero or love?

Whatever Ozzie tried to accomplish by calling out Javy Vasquez, it didn't work.

alot of really interesting games right now, mets up 4, phils down 1, brewers down 1, dbacks down 2

I'm really starting to like Felipe Lopez. 5-3 StL

Woooo! Lopez RBI double 5-2 Cardinals. And here comes Albert.

felipe lopez doubles! 5-2

Two out base hit.it's huge

They will walk Pujols. It falls to Glaus.

5-2, my bad.

Yay! I like seeing "in play, run(s)".

Lopez could have been ours.

80 pitches and counting for Giraffe Johnson.

5-2 Cardinals Top 6.

Effective motivational technique by Ozzie Guillen to call out Javier Vazquez before tonight's game.

He's getting beaten around like a pinata!

alright we'll take a run though, lets hope they can close this out, maybe dig into the dbacks bullpen in an inning or so

5-2 through 5 now and I would assume next inning will be RJ's last.

Red Sox 3 outs from the postseason.

Montero solo HR 5-3 Cardinals.

Montero hit the ball real hard.

It's too bad Stephen & J.D.'s older brother Tim never faced off against Kyle Lohse, so we could see the headline of the game preview: "Win: Lohse or Drew?"

Montero belts one.

Montero? Are you kidding me Lohse?

The Tim Kawakami / Raiders press conference stuff as sadly hilarious.

argh

Great play by Felipe Lopez robs Eckstein of a base hit.

5-3 Cardinals Bot 6.

119 You're really missing Bert Convy game shows aren't you?

122 - a complete joke. What was Herrera thinking. As a life long Raiders fan, this garbage is making me physically ill. Goodell needs to step in and figure out whatever way he can to wrestle control away from Al.

88 It's still stuck in my head

122 You could make the argument that Lane Kiffin is the most mature Raiders coach at the moment.

Leadoff walk for Ludwick.

126 Somebody told me on DT that there's a Raiders board that has John Madden as part of it. Just think about it. John Madden as owner.

Bottom of the 9th in Philly. 3-2 ATL.

Stavinoha bunts Ludwick to 2nd.

Rauch is up in the D'Backs pen.

130 - that would be hilarious. PFT was saying today that Troy Aikman is a part owner. I'll take an investment group headed up by Clay Aiken at this point.

125
The password is "Yes".

Uh-oh. Lohse is getting pulled after 82 pitches. That means 9 outs of the Cardinals pen.

alright cards, make good use out of this. How are the card's set up men?

Think Lowe is worthy of the Carlos Silva special? (4 years/$48 million)

5-3 Cardinals Top 7. Jason Motte will take the mound. He throws the ball real hard.

Philles lose and Red Sox one out away.

137 - their pen leads the NL in blown saves.

Luis Ayala in to save the game for the Mets in the 9th with 2 on, 1 out and a four run lead.

Old Friend Koyie Hill is up.

134
The Aikman rumor is wrong, just like most things from PFT.

138 Yes and more.

Yankees are eliminated in the regular season for the first time since 1993.

Kemp. CF
Martin. C
Ramirez. LF
Ethier. RF
Garciaparra 1B
Blake. 3B
DeWitt. 2B
Berroa. SS
Billingsley. P

Randy Johnson is out!

i would have preferred kemp ethier manny but whatever

I get to hear Vin again!

5-3 Cardinals Bot 7. Motte impressive.

Ahhh! Vinny!

Being in the moment and savoring the now.

Bhsportsguy said Nomar couldnt move.

I guess he miraculously recovered.
Or Torre has lost confidence with Loney.

little cesar singles

152 Dodgers are facing a lefty. That and Nomar was doing his best Paul Pierce impression, and all that was missing was the wheelchair.

Our Cards are in business, 2 on, no out, for Pujols.

1st and 3rd for Pujols with one out.

Rally in St. Louis! Pujols up with runners on 1st and 3rd 1 out.

78 I was planning on having animal style fries if/when the Cards were blowing out the Diamondbacks. This was close enough.

153 Gamecast iz slow. :(

First and third with 1 out for Sir Albert.

Ah, Jon Rauch is in the game. I feel better already.

158
May you get to have them twice more!

M-V-P!

MVP! MVP! MVP!

I'm not digging the soul patch on Mattingly.

Pujols base hit! 6-3 Cardinals.

albert baby!

Think the Snakes would like a do-over on the Jon Rauch deal?

163 :)

168

Its almost mind-boggling how bad he has been for them. I love it!

Okay, Dodgers, as you prepare to start your game tonight may I remind you of my oath of stinkitude until you win a game?

Hit parade in St. Louis!

Base hit Glaus! 7-3 Cardinals.

Glaus for MVP! Heh.

I may have to remove some of these guys from my hastily written manifesto.

I feel obligated to have more fries now.

I don't even like In-N-Out fries, but I feel compelled to try animal style.

Welcome back, Good Chad!

did vin just call bills a lefty?

Replay delay in Houston.

Now that' a way to start the game.

176 Your arteries will weep.

181
Actually your arteries won't weep. They will just harden up.

7-3 Cardinals Top 8.

I misspoke earlier. J.D. is the eldest of the three MLB Drew brothers. Tim was drafted out of HS, 1 year before J.D. out of college.

Umm Andre... your allowed to move towards the ball and try to catch it on the fly.

Comebacker for Bills. Good start.

DP!

168 I'm more outraged that Bowden wanted us to trade Raunch for DeJesus and then went on Mason and Ireland to blast the Dodgers for not doing the deal.

185 Andre is just following what Manny would do.

I would like to know the election process for the position of commissioner of the More Taste League.

Nicely done, Chad!

185 - Yeah there was one of those on Sunday too, after all those diving catches by the Giants people were kinda wondering why he didn't dive as well. Easy to say from where we sit, but...

189 It did look rather Manny-like, didn't it?

LeBlanc gives Kemp an early birthday gift.

4 pitches and a Bison aboard.

haha happy birthday bison

And a Bison is loose!

Jim Joyce is the home plate umpire responsible for the loud and poetic strike calls audible to everyone in the park tonight.

TARP POWER.

Russ the bus.

Looks like Ethier will bat with full bags.

woohoo! lets go

If it wasn't the Tarp, Martin would have a RBI.

Wow. Thanks!

I've never seen an umpire make that gesture-- putting his hand over his eyes. I guess he was saying "you can't see it".

Oh yes!!! Feeling good tonight!

wooo!

Clearly batting in front of Ethier makes Manny better!

there we go!!

Manuel!

What was the Padres SS doing?

Also, Manny hair can't be denied.

Only 3 more RBI needed for Manny to guarantee being the first Dodger since Oyster Burns in 1890 with at least as many RBI as games.

Gotta love what this is doing for scoreboard watching in St. Louis.

Dre protects Manny!

Don't touch that phone Bud...

Walking a lefty? Wade LaBlac is in trrrrrrrrrouble.

uh oh cards in a tad bit of trouble

Go back to your crappy sitcoms, LeBlanc!

This is a fine turn of events - very fine.

Chris Perez is not impressing anybody right now.

Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, can we keep him, Frank? Please!!!

Would I be going out on a limb by saying this is a good start?

7-4 in StL, 2 outs, top 8. Man on 3rd.

Wowie wow wow.

220. Ummm. no.

Wawaweeewaaaaaa!!!!!! Not a bad start

wooooooooooooohoooooooohoooooooooooooooooooo!!!!

yesss!!!
yesss!!!

Garciaparra - Home Run!

Sac fly 7-4 Cardinals 2 away Top 8.

NOMAR!!!!!!!!! I think he looks just fine to me.

Wow, death by Nomar.

WHOA! Nomar looks fine here! Looks like we got a platoon here at first base.

WHOA! Nomar looks fine here! Looks like we got a platoon here at first base.

Gameday seems to be confused in St. Louis - Adam Dunn's PA appears not to have happened despite the batters on either side making it on base. What's actually going on there?

Hey! Vin stealing my point!

Nomah!.....7-4 cards, come on red birds!!

Woohoo!!!

ring ring....ring ring...

NOMAH!

I'd give a leblanc check to be able to face this pitcher again this year.

This is Kip Wellsesque.

Casey Blake singles!

231
It's a glitch that Gameday has.

"LeBlanc" apparently means "soft throwing left hander" in the Scully-French/French-Scully dictionary.

The call by Vin on Nomar's home run was classic.

Good thing Nomar jacked that one out. It's easier for him not to have to run around the bases. Trotting is much easier.

7

#33 - DeWitt

231 Well, Gameday's still not fixed, but above comments suggest Dunn did get out somehow. (Oh, and I meant GameChannel from Yahoo - oops!)

DeWitt singles!

his arm is full of LeBlanks

This is just some BP right now.

We need these kind of innings when Maddux pitches.

StL ends the threat. 7-4 mid 8th.

Berroa makes an out by swinging at the first pitch.

7-4 Cardinals Bot 8.

Vinny: "It's gotta be so tough when you know you can't throw with the big boys and you're somehow trying to make a living as a Major League pitcher".
Ouch.

And the Dbacks are down to their last three outs of the game...

hug!!

Yeah! Bills helps himself!

SQUEEZE!

Squee!!!

I loves me some squeezin'!

yay!!!! hahaha!! this is fun!

Squee....ze!

Wow. Chad would be the last person I'd squeeze with. He really is a terrible bunter, but good job Chad!

ok few, cards out of it, if they cant hold 3 runs then so help me God..

and a squeeeeeeeeze!

Squeeze time! Billingsley gets the bunt down!

Excellent squeeze bunt, Chad! I love it -- going for the kill. Kill, kill! Grrowwwlll!

Jackson singled
Villon replaced Motte
Dunn flied out to center
Perez replaced Villone
Jackson stole second
Upton walked
Jackson and Upton advanced on a wild pitch
Jackson scored on a sac fly by Upton
Franklin replaced Perez
Lopez moved to third, Miles came into play second
Montero grounded out

Kemp was just up 12 minutes ago.

awww man, that was just getting fun..Way to be guys!

It's got to be tough on a young pitcher having to face a team 3 times in 3 weeks.

Ha! This is fun!

Am I too late for the hit parade?

Anyone else feeling just a little better?

266

I'd really like for Friday night to be the most meaningless baseball game I've ever attended.

Didn't know Mannys full name ia Manuel Aristides Ramírez Onelcida.

Just sounds like baseball royalty don't it?

I hope sunglasses are being worn at The Griddle, what with all the walking into the light going on tonight.

276
No more teams can be eliminated tonight. Maybe tomorrow.

Given the St. Louis bullpen, would love to see the Cards get a few more runs. It was wonderful to hear Darren Sutton describe the Nomar homerun, his voice really dropped.

276.
Oh, they're on..

Old Friend Mota trying to pick up a hold for Old Friend Gagne in Milwaukee.

277 I'm still waiting to make $50. Hurry up and die, Yanks.

Last time Martin came to the mound, the next pitch was a double play.

Here comes the sequel!

281
What is your bet?

281
The Yankees were eliminated tonight.

"I can't wait for HOUSE to start in 25 mins"

- sdsuaztec4 on gaslampball

284 YES!

281 Yankees were eliminated by the Red Sox winning the game vs the Indians.

Nice way to start the game. I knew immediately from the sound of Nomar's homer that it was going over the fence.
It reminded me of Buck O'Neil who wrote in his book about the distinctive sound made by Babe Ruth's bat during batting practice. Nobody else made that sound. Fifty years later, he heard that sound again in Kansas City when Bo Jackson came up.

Icaros is just waiting for 90210 to start.

That counts as an assist for Kemp! (and Blake)

Does Kemp get an assist on that?

283 I bet my dad $50 that the Yankees wouldn't make the playoffs.

Bison power!

i'll take that.

nice play.

He does! Jeez, imagine Kemp as a pitcher?

It's a shame more guys don't swing heavier bats these days. I really think that has something to do with the sound. Plus, probably fewer broken bats (heavier bat can take more torque).

Old Friend Mota with the blown save as he gives up a 2-run homer to Pearce in the 8th.

Bucs 5, Brewers 4

296
I think he'd fair about as well as LeBlanc tonight.

289

Recording it.

1 out in the 9th. 7-4 Cardinals.

1 away in StL

Bills doesn't look sharp tonight.

297

It's the handle of the bat that changed everything. The handles are so thin today you can see why anything not hit on the barrell will break it. Just hold a new bat in your hand with an old one and the difference is amazing.

Vasgersian just called that a "BroBI" (Edgar driving in his brother Adrian).

Normally I stick up for Matt Vasgersian, but he no help me now so I say forget him, I do it myself.

2 outs in the 9th.

So Kemp does get an assist on that play? That was purty cool all around.

So what's the magic number in the Daron Sutton Sad Panda watch?

Bills is not on tonight.

Kemp to Blake to DeWitt just doesn't sound as good as Tinkers to Evers to Chance, does it?

Wow, have we got a couple of arms in the outfield.

I'd hate to see Bills have more than one ineffective game in a row right now.

dang, come on now chad

FOUR!

Magic Number: 4!

YES!!

Cards win 7-4

Yesssss, Dbacks go down.

Now c'mon Chad, settle down pardner. This game ain't won yet.

I imagine the nature of this mound visit by Honeycutt is the same as Don Draper's visit with Mrs. Barrett near the powder room at the restaurant.

Woo hoo, magic number is 4.

w00t!

The Magic Number is: 4!

MAGIC NUMBER IS NOW 4.

Snakes go down, thanks.

magic number is 4, hopefully 3 after our game is over!

This is the night we've all needed.

haha, i knew i wasn't going to be first, but i didn't think i would be thirtieth :P

That's better.

I won't start up the bath just yet though.

The best part of the AZ game ending is that I don't have a PIP taking up part of the Dodger game.

Oh yeah, and the loss part was good too.

Now if we can just get this one. I'm afraid they have to watch Bills closely.

I'd like to take this moment to apologize for quitting on this team during that 8 game losing streak that now seems like ancient histroy. I am totally lame.

Now, if we could only get a certain LA times writer to admit the same.

AZ Snake Pit in full melt down after Melvin both put in Rauch, and then left him in.

I think this sums up our feelings about the AZ baseball club:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp7H3Uauxzg

322 - dude, that's a rabbit hole kind of question.

I look at it and every possible response that I have just takes me to crazy town.

lost in the sun!

I love the 3 man coverage on a ball, and they let it drop

Cue the Benny Hill music.

Just awful.

San Diego Padres is apparently spanish for Washington Generals.

San Diego Padres is apparently spanish for Washington Generals.

Dang, thought Manny had a chance!

Somewhere out there right about now there's a DBack fan writing a manifesto of their own with several run-on chapters about the Padres.

338
Yeah, but theirs is in need of editing.

I don't to jinx anything, but...

The Los Angeles Sparks look to be in the Conference Finals.

Wally Joyner, I always liked him. My dad had a habit of calling him Jolly Warner, became kind of a running joke in the family. Shame he resigned today, hope he finds a place in baseball again.

338 - best one I found on the Snake pit - "Le Blanc if French for - I'm a zero."

Dale Sveum is a man who loves his sacrifices.

Jon Rauch: example 765 on why you don't trade for middle relief.

Leave it to Vinny to come up with "Alphonse and Gaston" as a way to describe the misplay.
I had to look them up. Here is what I found:

I am not sure exactly who they were, but my mother used to quote their
lines..."After you, my dear Alphonse." "No,no, after you dear Gaston."

Brew Crew ties it in the 8th on a Kendall double.

John Grabow returns the favor with a blown save for the Bucs in the 8th.

341
My favorite Wally Joyner story came from when he was with the Angels. When Jackie Autry ruled the roost, she instituted a no-alcohol policy in the clubhouse. Joyner, a Mormon who didn't drink, brought in a few cases of beer because one of his favorite things about baseball was sitting around after the game and just talking baseball with his teammates.

345
Awesome.

347
Bob, why do you bother? :)

Chad is four K's away from 200 for the season. Anybody think he won't make it? If the Dodgers clinch before Sunday tonight is probably his last game of the season. He needs four more tonight and he may fall short.

348 - good stuff.

351
Don't you think Chad might see an inning or two during the weekend so he doesn't go 9 days in between starts?

348 - growing up behind the Orange Curtain, I probably saw as many live Angels games as I did Dodger games, and for what ever reason, Joyner was among my favorite Angels. Him and Devon White.

The 150:1s have rallied to take an 8th inning lead in Baltimore.

Have they released any information on why Joyner resigned?

Ethier has a disinterested face going on. D:

356
Joyner said he didn't feel welcome in the organization anymore or words to that effect.

It is quite easy to have a bored face during a baseball game.

353 Shakin said Bills would likely make his schedule start on Sun, and then come out after a few innings to stay sharp, and then pitch in game two on 3 days rest.

Wonder if Bills is tiring at the end of the year? That butt has got to weigh you down after awhile.

Bills is bending, but not breaking. Still, this is a game where a long relief guy would be key. Free Eric Stults!

I totally jinxed the Sparks.

360
Thanks.

Hey, he's ThunderThighs, not ThunderButt.

361 I hope thats not the case...if so lets hope they'd all get an extra kick of adrenaline if we are able to make the playoffs

360 You forgot to add, IF the Dodgers made the playoffs.

365 ThunderButt sounds horribly sulfurous.

Looks like Nomar got an order from the staff not to hustle on to first base.

362 - When Billingsley got in trouble in the second inning with a six-run lead, I wondered if Torre was going to pull him and bench him for the remainder of the season.

I also didn't say if the Dodgers died in a fiery crash.

Careful man, there's a beverage here!

Hah! Somebody screencapped a Philly fan giving the finger to a camera at the Philly-Braves game.

372
The plane has crashed into the mountain!

363.
How dare you..

Wow, this is a great night for me. Arizona lost, the Dodgers are up 6-1, and my dessert just informed me I will inherit money and jewelry.

I hope it's from a wealthy great aunt I didn't know I had like the am/pm commercial.

376
I thought you were on acid for a second.

376 My $50 pales in comparison now.

As long as Vin is talking about Tommy John and his wife, this seems a good time to say Jim Bouton's wife (and another woman married to a ballplayer) said TJ was the one guy in the bigs who was faithful to his marriage.

TWO RBIS FOR BILLS!

Billingsly really helping his own cause, 2 RBIs tonight.

bills!

379 - The other wife might've been married to Mike Marshall (the pitcher).

Aww, LaBlac is pulled!

I wish my dessert talked to me, but it just sits there and looks delicious.

Vin going on about the Tommy John story. TJ has a solid case for the HOF under some courage/pioneer + very good player clause.

I've always said, driving in more runs than you allow is a recipe for a win.

I shall miss you, LeBlanc. Au revoir!

386 - after he passes, they will put his elbow on display at the Hall

The greatest fortune cookie prediction I ever received was "You will receive the gift of fortune (cookie)."

374
That RBI by Billingsley really tied this inning together.

LeBlanc looks like he knows that he's at Triple-A next year, and is never going to get called up again.

389
I think it's only fair John's ligaments are used for future Tommy John surgeries.

I'm opening my fortune cookie, too. Presumably that's what Eric was referring to and not some talking mousse.

i tune in just in time to see the billz rbi, but also 5 hits/ 2bb in 3 ips...hang in there chad.

It's Knuckleball time!

Lincemcum appears to be struggling tonight (relatively speaking). Hopefully, this will encourage Bochy to shut him down for the rest of the year.

Uh oh. I might be getting the call from the Padres soon. "You're help will be needed in an embarrassing situation."

Berroa! What are you doing!

Awesome, I did not expect to see Charlie Haeger ever again.

very smart play by berroa so chad won't have to run the bases! /sarcasm

Ohhh, Ahn-hel. Bad! No dessert for you.

387 It would be interesting to see how many times a pitcher has driven in more runs than he gave up and NOT won. I'm sure it's happened a few times.

397 Yeah, for his sake. And for the Dodgers sake, hopefully it won't matter whether he pitches Sunday or not.

389 ...his left elbow and his right forearm. It might not be a pleasant sight after a while.

I came home with a fever, so I'm just checking in on the score now.

May I assume that the mood around here is much improved?

Good, good. I'm going back to my fever now.

Have fun, everybody!

I didn't jinx the Sparks.

We are going to the Conference Finals, everyone!!

406
You know what the prescription for a fever is?

LeBlanc looks so sad. I'd feel for him, but I rather laugh at his misfortune.

406 Advil, water, heater, hot tea, sweat it out with the pleasant dreams of DBack losses and Dodger wins and kittens and puppies. We'll wake you if something dramatic happens.

397 Even if the game against the Dodgers doesn't mean anything on Sunday, which we all hope is the case, Bochy won't shut down Lincecum because he is being touted in Northern California, including on sports radio programming, as a likely Cy Young Award winner. This despite the fact Webb has 22 wins.

Dodgers don't care to make fantastic defensive plays tonight.

397 Even if the game against the Dodgers doesn't mean anything on Sunday, which we all hope is the case, Bochy won't shut down Lincecum because he is being touted in Northern California, including on sports radio programming, as a likely Cy Young Award winner. This despite the fact Webb has 22 wins.

Dodgers don't care to make fantastic defensive plays tonight.

Dodgers don't care to make fantastic defensive plays tonight.

377
not nearly long enough, is it?

Sorry for my doubleheader.

Charlie Haeger has a base hit. Isn't he the pitcher?

407 - I'm pumped.

406
[a] cold?

Living up to the "tri" in your name, eh? ;-)

C'mon Chad, a hit to Charlie Haeger?! Okay, he needs to be on a short leash tonight.

Let Billz go one more inning and let him take the rest of the night off.

406
Geez guys, the only prescription for a fever is more cowbell!

2 more strikeouts..come on Bills, you can do it.

Clearly not Chad's best stuff, but some times it pays to play the Padres.

Thank you, Venable.

Whew. One more inning for Chad and then bring in the pen, I say.

This is nothing personal against Nomar, but if you're concerned about him holding together, and the lefty starter is out of the game, wouldn't you rush to take him out?

Maybe they aren't concerned about him holding together.

Dunc!

For those stuck in an NL west bubble... Prince Fielder hit a 2-run walkoff to keep Milwaukee 1 back of the Mets. Mets have to face Zambrano and Harden while Milw plays 2 more with the Pirates. Not sure who has the coin flip there.

Does lefty and righty matchups mean anything with a knuckleballer?

Billingsley is paddling in new waters. He pitched 146 innings in 2005, 160.2 in 2006, 147 in 2007, and was at 192.2 before the start of tonight's game. I agree that the Dodgers should pull him after 5 tonight.

Bison steal!

I'd say the Dodgers should pull Bills when his name gets called in the batting box.

every team should have a knuckleballer

Scully got dangerously close to saying something embarrassing there.

Have I mentioned lately that I dislike the Brothers Giles?

Because I do

When did the Padres sign Jim Bouton?

I just yelled the same word Ethier did.

Darn, I thought Ethier had hit that outta there, just missed.

Anyone notice that Ethier's calm "letting things go more easily" attitude that he said came from Manny was short lived? He has been really frustrated for the last week or so. On Saturday I saw him beat a bat to splinters in the dugout.
Maybe it's the lack of sleep with the new baby.

441 - the relaxed attitude is good in the batter's box, outside the batter's box, I like the breaking of equipment.

Of course, I don't have to pay for said equipment

441 - I noticed on that last at-bat.

441

I think it's the fact that he isn't tearing the cover off the ball like a couple weeks ago. It's easy to have a new attitude when things are going well. I know from experience.

Ethier had to put up the Paul O'Neill routine so Torre thinks that O'Neill is still in RF and pencils his name every night.

Ethier, since returning from paternity leave, is 7-for-27 with no XBH.

442 There's always the risk of him injuring himself (a la Tulowitzki).

Lincecum is struggling in his game against the Rockies.

101 pitches so far and he's only in the fifth inning.

I'm sure he'll be much calmer once the Dodgers make the playoffs, or when the baby turns eighteen. Whichever comes first.

445 - Paul O'Neill's tantrums were not theatric. Nay, they were operatic.

Do we have any second basemen who can range right?

4 1/3 innings and Lincecum is done.

He looked better that inning, but I'd still pull him now.

451 - Ivan DeJesus?

Thank you, Chad. Now have a seat.

444 Yeah, I thought it was funny that he was talking about how he was so much calmer as he was hitting like .400. Not much of a test. And claiming Manny as your biggest influence is a questionable choice. I still think Ethier isn't the most mature player on the team but he has come a long long way in two years and I think it's affected his play in a very good way.

452

Aw...I wanted him to make 160 pitches tonight.

Vin is hilarious!

I'm having an argument as to why the NL West is not the worst division in baseball. I am saying it is not. Am I wrong?

Hah. Vin is so cute tonight. I love it. (We're his alibis for his kissing Tommy John's wife.)

One of the rare times you'll see James Loney as a pinch runner.

http://tinyurl.com/3q5thp

Tim Kawakami does an interview with Deadspin about the Raiders.

Torre reading DT in the dugout?

Nomar out. Loney is going to run for him. That's silly.

lol james loney pinch running

Hah. James Loney, pinch runner. (I know, he's staying in the game, just as Jon was thinking should happen. Still, it's a funny thought.)

Chad better NOT be done. 1 K to reach 200!

459 AL West is worst. The Angels just beat up on 3 really bad teams, while the NL West has two average teams, and 2 mediocre ones, and one really bad team.

Headley is fine, but he hit his hand pretty badly on a wall.

468 that's what I said. I was hoping not to settle for second weakest, but I may have to

Close one for crazy legs there

DeWitt hits his 8th homer.

YESSSSSSS!!!

W000HOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!!

DEWITT!!!!!

A DeWitt BOMB!

That magic number is coming down another notch tonight!!!

#33 - Blake DeWitt - how sweet it is!

the solution!

Knuckle THIS, says the Solution!

Woo hoo!

Should I start up my bath now?

OK, now pull the starters.

DeWitt prefers David Lee Roth!

470 If I had to list the divisions from strongest to weakest.

AL East
NL Central
NL East
AL Central
NL West
AL West

480 - I agree with that.

470

Defending the quality of the NL West, like Defending the Pac 10, is the battle we cannot win.

I don't think anyone can debate that the Pac 10 is the worst of the major conferences. Sure, we have USC, but everybody else is just awful. Thoughts? Rebuttals?

Bison is having a happy night

477
Please, you dirty hippie. We can smell you in Walnut Creek.

482
Let me introduce you to the ACC.

The beauty of a game like this is the only complaint we have is how long we keep Billingsley, Martin and Manny in.

I say 6th, 7th and 8th respectively. But, whatever. It feels good tonight.

485
Big East ain't exactly the greatest conference either. Or Big 10.

485

I would agree, but who just got their butt kicked by the lowly Terrapins of Maryland? A Pac 10 Team.

Still, I think the ACC might take the cake, because they don't have a dominant team to speak of.

484 LOL. I believe this may be one of the shortest bathing strikes on record, as I showered last night. I think you're smelling my upstairs neighbor, a real hippie who looks like Snuffleapagus and smells like him, too.

486 That sounds about right to me. I'd put in Hu and Delwyn or Repko and pull Bills after or during this inning.

Or and Ardoin for that matter. Sit Russ!

I want a McDizzle appearance.

488

Yea... now that I think of it, the ACC would have to be it. At least UCLA beat Tennessee (albeit now that isn't saying much). Bob was right on top of that one.

I feel so much better with the nice addition of the 3 spot, I figure this is Bills last inning. Wonder if Jeff Kent will pinch hit tonight? Wonder if we might also see Stultz? It would be good if Stultz and McDonald could finish this off.

A.J Ellis, with Loney pitching.

Would be nice to see Kuo...get an at bat.

Dodger Leaders, Multi-RBI Games 2008
Loney 18
Manny 17
Martin 16
Kent 15
Ethier 15
Kemp 14
DeWitt 14

http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/cyHv

Called it!

There's McDonald in the pen.

497 -

12t. Billingsley 1

496 Considering that Kuo is on the unofficial DL, he's not coming into a game tonight any time soon.

Also, a McDonald sighting in the bullpen, and nobody else is warming up. Elbert looks like he's in Torre doghouse for a little while longer.

McDizzle's in the pen warming up!

I stepped out of the room for a few minutes, came back to find that Tivo had changed the channel. I just realized, I've got two shows recording right now, so I can't watch the rest of the game.

(Eureka and Fringe, for those wondering)

200 K's will have to wait for San Francisco.

I think Eureka and Fringe would both be better as one combined show. That would be a cool program.

Damn! I wanted that 200th K!

4.1 IP, 5 H, 5 BB, 6 R, 4 ER

Lincecum had a bad night. Hopefully this convinces Bochy to shut down Lincecum for the rest of the year. Since he won't reach 20 wins, or 19 wins.

Billingsley's 199+ strikeouts are the most by a Dodgers pitcher since...

his teammate Chan Ho Park back in 2001! He had 218 K's in 234 IP.

You'd have to go back to 1997 to find a player with 100+ IP with a better K/9 (Nomo with 233 K's in 207 1/3 IP).

Okay, let's save some of this offense for tomorrow, guys. (I know it doesn't literally work that way but sometimes it feels like it.)

Where was that hit on Sunday with the bases loaded? It does seem like the baseball gods are giving some of what they took from us on Sunday.

It has gotten so bad for the Padres that their announcers are mourning the loss of WSH Geoff Blum.

In comes Mr. Zero.

man he sure is a beanstock

501

Really? I was seriously expecting Kuo to make a PH appearance.

beanstalk...

McDonald hit 95!

Bada ba ba baaaaaa!!!

I'm loving it!

514 Last I heard, the Dodgers just decided to shut down Kuo for the rest of the year.

I think those are the longest human legs I have ever seen.

McDonald on the mound looks like a cross between Ramon Martinez (Lucille 1??) and Pedro Astacio.
He seems to pitch like a big leaguer too.

517 - That is not true.

http://tinyurl.com/3s8eum

C'mon James, you shouldn't give up hits to Ambergris.

But McDonald's impressive-looking to me. I really look forward to seeing more of him next year.

518
Longer than these?

http://tinyurl.com/52e7pk

517

Okay, I guess you really do think I was being serious.

I'm behind on comments, but ...

RIP Wally Hilgenberg

some of those pitches seemed to be left up in the zone a bit, but hey he got out of it

524 - Aw, another Purple People Eater leaves us.

517 - just the regular season, or the whole year?

TronTron sighting.

I just remembered that Juan Pierre hit a home run as a dodger, and that I saw it....still a memorable season

Even Slappy gets to join the hit parade!

Old Man Berroa is the only one on the outside looking in but even he has a walk.

As Alex pointed to above, here's the official scoop on Kuo just so we can put this discussion to bed. He's not done for the year. Not even for the week.

>>Saito may soon be joined in Los Angeles' bullpen by Hong-Chih Kuo (let triceps stiffness), who said he felt good on Tuesday but has yet to cut loose with his best stuff.

Kuo, who has pitched once in the past 16 days, played catch before the game and is expected to throw off a mound any day.

Torre said Kuo may be available on Tuesday, but he does not expect that.<<

From Dodgers.com.

529 that sounded weird, as if the season is almost over..I meant that regardless what happens, Pierre's homer will be a classic memorable moment for me

Hardest work'in man in baseball at the plate

If Troncoso comes in, that may give Stults some hope.

At the worst, IF the Dodgers clinch a playoff berth before Sat or Sun I'm sure he'll pitch one of those games. IF.

Let McDonald close the game!

What a waste.

Martin out. I'm two for three. Manny is out in the 7th.

89 walks for Martin now.

Good. Russ is done for the night.

I still have no idea why Ozuna is on our team.

In case you were wondering, Pablo Ozuna < Manny Ramirez.

540 - Every September roster has a Pablo Ozuna on it. A utility guy who is speedy and mostly worthless. He won't be on a playoff roster IF they make the playoffs, I would think, barring injury.

Wonder why Torre didn't let Manny hit. I'm sure Manny likes Padded Stats as much as the next guy.

Tron Tron Time

540

Someone has to file down Torre's toe calluses.

543 - Perhaps because the Padres threw at Manny's head his last at-bat.

542
But he has been on way longer than September.

542 - Well then, hopefully he doesn't get injuried.

Sign TronTron for the post season roster.

It's funny how quickly the mood of DT can change in only 5 hours. My only concern tonight was Chad's relative shakiness over 5 innings. Seems like he's still fighting it since the Pittsburgh series. Small quibble, but great work by the boys in blue so far!

Anybody seen I Love LA?

For the Giants series, Derek Lowe, Hiroki Kuroda and Chad Billingsley are scheduled to go in that order. That would allow Lowe to pitch in a potential Game 1 of the NLDS on regular rest. If the last game of the season ended up being meaningless, Billingsley could make an abbreviated start in order to rest up for Game 2.

http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/mlb/dodgers/

547 Then I believe Icaros' answer above is correct. He has other uses.

I here now, ready to eat some crow--raw if needed.....

Elbert gets the scraps.

550 Well, as of five hours ago only one of the last five games in the pennant race had gone our way. It's natural that a bit of uneasiness might set in. Barring disaster, we'll have our magic number down to three tonight and be 3 games up with 5 to play. One more win or one more D'backs loss in the next four games, and the worst case scenario is tied on the last day of the season. That can make a fan feel a bit more comfortable.

SCOOTER Elbert.

Elbert in the game with his guady 13.50 ERA. Yeah, doesn't mean much but doubt he'll make the team next year.

555 And by that, I mean tied going in to the last game of the season - kind of sloppy wording there.

Believe it or not, McDonald has been throwing harder than Elbert with the Dodgers.

554 Dogbert?

557 - In fact, it doesn't mean much. The Dodgers seem very interested in having him on the team next year.

557 Jason Johnson gave up most of Elbert's runs.

3

3 game lead.

Magic Number: 3

Or 3 'good' outcomes out of 10 possible.

5 games remain.

The lead and magic number are the same. This is very good news.

The Dodgers need two wins and one D'Backs loss to clinch Thursday night at Dodger Stadium.

The Magic Number is: 3!

3 is a magic number, yes it is its a magic number!

We win!

557 Elbert's knocked 1.69 points off that ERA since you posted!

Horray, we made 82 wins!

I Can Dream About You

568 And another 0.69 points in the time it took me to post that! I love small sample sizes!

566 let's just sing it all, shall we?

Three is the magic number,
Yes it is, it's the magic number.
Somewhere in the ancient, mystic trinity
You get three as a magic number.

It is also possible that Arizona could lose twice and the Dodgers win Wednesday and then Thursday night's game wouldn't matter.

573 - Grr. Arizona has a day game Thursday. I like this scenario. Lets do that.

My less than a day-long bathing strike is over! Hurrah! It worked! Maybe I'll threaten to start another one if things get dicey again.

Am I correct in stating the D-Backs need 8 of 10 results to go their way to force a playoff?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxmKRyLdBho

I've always found this Schoolhouse Rock to be not sufficiently edgy.

Dodgers clinch a winning record for the season - I remember when some people were wondering whether any NL West team would be above .500. Way to go, blue.

I miss Shannon Hoon and Blind Melon.

watching these old clips of the Dodgers on the post game show, I have to ask... a lot of people talk about how Yankee Stadium wasn't really Yankee Stadium after the remodel in the 70s. Anyone get that feeling with Dodger Stadium? The lose of foul ground, the plate being moved up, and all that stuff, is the current Dodger Stadium really Dodger Stadium?

579 - http://tinyurl.com/iliketherain

580
Dodger Stadium is still very much Dodger Stadium. You can still pee in a trough. The exterior of the stadium hasn't changed much.

The differences in the field dimensions aren't that jarring.

And the place still looks old in parts.

Still don't understand it, with all of the switching and the playoffs getting closer, if you are going to consider Kent, wouldn't you have wanted to give him an AB tonight, there seemed to be a number of places to do it. Especially when he pinch hit for Manny with Ozuna.

581
That's not the real Blind Melon. Not same without Shannon.

582 - the lack of foul ground still looks weird to me. And the exterior of the stadium is a hill, so short of a really bad earthquake, I can't see it changing all that much.

Kind of like the Alice in Chains-minus-Layne Staley abomination touring now.

OK, bed.
We'll do it again tomorrow.

586
Yeah.

I'm ready for a modest two game win streak.

583 On the other hand, why not give him more rest if the game's a blowout? Why risk anything in a game that is long decided? I know whatcha mean but I think keeping him out makes sense. He already knows how to hit. Why risk it?

--

Btw, I always liked De La Soul's take on "Three is the Magic Number" a lot, too.

Katt Williams is funny, but he violates Rule 1 with impunity

591
His bit on Michael Jackson is great.

yeah, hasn't got there yet, but I caught part of it the other day

True Blue Stories: 2005

YAY!

sp i guess the only negative today was a walk off in Milwaukee?

Andruw Jones' off-season training regimen will be overseen by a personal trainer and nutritionist hired by the Dodgers

http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-dodfyi24-2008sep24,0,7493099.story

The expansion of the lead made me feel much more secure about said lead. 3 games up only five left. The D'backs have a mountain to climb.

596
You're just setting these up on a D4Tee.

596
There's no quit in Andruw Jones?
That's hilarious.
Bad joke.

At least Andruw can film a reality show about him keeping in shape, if his baseball career is over.

Here's an interesting stat I don't see mentioned very often. I just saw that the Dodgers have given up the least amount of runs (627) in the National League. 2nd least in baseball after Toronto. Pretty impressive.

Sorry for this off topic:

For fans of Bob Dylan (or anyone who likes free things), there is a new Bob Dylan mp3, released today, available for free at Amazon.com.

http://tinyurl.com/4blvkz

I'll bet Bob is a Dodger fan. Didn't he write "(Chris) Gwynn the Eskimo"?

596

if anything, I'm glad all parties are taking this serious.

An Andruw Jones- Jeff Francoure trade, and then trade Francoure to Kansas City for spare parts

I updated my table with the Dodgers odds of winning the NL West pennant with tonight's results. Using my simulator the Dodgers chances of winning the NL West now sit at 98.06%, with 3% of seasons ending with a one game playoff.
vr, Xei

605
Go math!

Go banana!

Life gets better.

I'd rather be 3 up with 5 to play than 4 1/2 up with 15 to play. And that was a good day! But this is much better.

4 games down, 1 to go.

Tonight, I sat with Jacob Burch and one of his friends in my DodgerTalk Call of Night seats (free Infield Reserve, Mon-Thurs). I got there just in time to hear Vin salute Dr. Frank Jobe.

As Vin would say, the seats were barely warm when Chad got Giles to hit into a DP. After Martin hit the ground rule double, I said to Jacob, well, he'll walk Manny to face Ethier. So we waited to see the catcher raise 4 fingers and instead in got down into a crouch.

Before I could say, "I guess they are pitching to Manny, Manny rips a line drive into left center, both runs score and the game was never in doubt. Another walk and then Jacob said that on the third pitch Nomar will hit a home run.

On the third pitch Nomar hit a home run.

When Chad had 1st and 3rd, 1 out, I thought Chad would just bunt to more DeWitt over, Jacob and I both agreed you can't trust Chad to get a squeeze bunt down. Then I see Casey Blake running and Chad bunting, what a play.

After that it was wondering if McDonald would pitch (he did), if Stults would pitch (he didn't), how many tickets sold (48K+) and what the mood was on DT.

One more game for me this regular season.

Looking forward to ending my journey to Dodger Stadium like I entered it on Opening Day, with a win.

607 All cleaned up?

Well he's got all the money in the world but there's one thing he can't buy.

What's that?

...a dinosaur.

McCourt's cryptic comments about Ned today were great.

He's good as gone. Hopefully Logan is the choice.

612
Where are these comments?

613 http://tinyurl.com/McCourtvsColletti

614
Gracias.

610 Fresh as a daisy! :-)

--

So I scanned this popular Cubs blog just for the heck of it and one of the fan posts was asking which team they'd prefer to face in the playoffs. Most of the comments were fairly predictable and even rational. But there's some real ignoramuses, too. Including this guy, chastising a fellow Cubs fan for saying Dodgers rotation scares him more than Mets:

"you would rather face johan, pedro, maine over lowe, kuroda, and billingsley? you are CRAZY

lowe doesn't scare me, i don't care how hot he is…..kuroda hasn't proved anything yet and i'm not even going to address chad billingsley"

That last one made me actually post a comment there, I just couldn't take it.

616 I really don't understand where these people come from. John Maine has been below average, Pedro has seemingly become more hit or miss than Kuroda away. They win the Ace battle obviously, but seriously? Does it just hurt some people to do a little research? Or is this another "you can see it in their eyes" argument?

Wonderful wonderful game to go to live. The Bob Carpenter book is 1-0 (2-0 if we count TV games), even though it got a little water on it which caused me to ask BH for about half of the scoreboxes.

The third pitch called shot was my best since the David Ross walk off. I was this close to saying it would be to the Universal Studios sign as well, which is just about where he hit it. Ah well.

Going with my Dad thursday it sounds like--just surprised me on a text message. Could be two very different games depending on what happens in St.Loius!

616 It'll make it all the more gratifying when Chad strikes out 10 Cubs over 7+ innings of shutout ball.

618
Yes, ruining Cubs fans lives would be excellent. Especially, Billingsley domination.

They shall learn to never underestimate HRT.

617 Yeah, in fairness there were other Cubs fans there who were talking up the Dodgers staff who seem more knowledgeable. I'm sure that fool doesn't represent every fan, but I've seen some other postings like that which make me wonder if some of these fans live in a bubble and then come out of it just to type nonsense. Of course, Chad's had one bad outing and one mediocre outing in his last two starts so I hope he doesn't make me look foolish, but his numbers this year are pretty overwhelmingly clear.

And bring us luck on Thursday if you go -- you never know, that could be the one!

I'll be perfectly happy watching Jason Repko and Hu start on Friday night because that would mean good things happened for the Dodgers, though it would be fun to see a clinching game in person. But one game at a time, one game at a time. Night folks.

616 Dodgers may have lost 5 of 7 against the Cubs but it wasn't because of the pitching.

http://tinyurl.com/3ude85

621 That wasn't necessarily a shot at Cubs fan--I am friends with many who know what they're talking about (and isn't the Met's rotation more likely to include Pelfry than Pedro or Maine? And possibly even Perez?) in spades, and I know plenty of Dodger fans that are even worse. I just don't know what leads the men to type with such forceful opinions these things that don't seem to have much basis in fact.

As long as Thursday doesn't sell out by tomorrow afternoon, I'm going--Dad wishes to avoid Ticket Master wonder and go to the box office.

Maine would be unlikely to pitch in the postseason. Manuel (Jerry, not Charlie) is hoping to get a "few innings" out of him this weekend.

I would assume the Mets would go something like Santana, Martinez, Perez, and Pelfrey.

625 Don't know if you heard (or even went ot the Game), but the Coca Cola question today involved a one-batter-faced W. I called it a "Timmerman Win"

Aaron Cook will not make his final start of the season against the Diamondbacks this Friday. Jason Hirsh will get the call.

http://tinyurl.com/4cqxvw

BH, how many games did you go to this year? Also, sorry for ruining your record! :)

Nice call, JB on the Nomar HR and creating the "Timmermann Win" moniker.

628 Counting tomorrow 35, so far my record is 22-12.

Whew, good win. Now I think we can talk about the postseason. I'm torn between wanting to play the Phillies and taking my chances against the Cubs in a best of 5. If we do play the Phillies, I think Lowe and Kuroda should pitch Games 1 and 2. This would let Billz and Kershaw pitch at home in 3 and 4. Also, it lets Billz throw some this weekend and throw on regular rest in Game 3 at home. Also, Kuroda was awesome in his last start in Philly. A lot of this logic also holds true against the Cubs. I also heard the Cubs are planning on using Dempster and Harden in G1 and G2 with Big Z in G3 on the road. Not sure I love that idea, but ok.

Diane Lane is on the Early Show on CBS right now. It's not even 8:30 and she looks ethereal. God bless.

I'm sure this was discussed yesterday, but what are we to make of McCourt's comments on management? I certainly didn't hear the "Ned will be back" line the press has been putting out.

621 - Just as long as it it not a clenching game.

I remember first seeing Diane Lane in "The Outsiders" she's aged very well.

From the PE Dodger Blog (Diamond Leung) For the Giants series, Derek Lowe, Hiroki Kuroda and Chad Billingsley are scheduled to go in that order.

From the DailyBreeze In a move that might have been designed to help Matt Kemp cut down on what is about to become a franchise- record strikeout total - although Torre wouldn't say that was the reason for it - the lineup was shaken up dramatically.

632 Right now, not too much, remember he is still under contract through 2009.

631 When is that Joe Beimel piece going to run in the magazine?

635 That allows Lowe to stay on a 5 day schedule and pitch game 1 of the NLDS on schedule October 1st.

Right now, not too much, remember he is still under contract through 2009.

That means absolutely nothing. Remember, DePo had three full years left when he was canned.

640
True, but that was before McCourt was broke...

641 Maybe Frank will give all the World Series profits to Manny.

Where did those chickens go?

634-Her performance in Unfaithful remains one of the hottest things I've ever seen. I'd definitely be nervous interviewing her.

Anybody see VH1's "Best Week Ever" 3-4 years ago when that one comedian (I think his name is Doug Benson or something) said "I'd like to take a walk down Diane Lane..."?

Happy Birthday to Dick Nen and thanks for a great Dodger moment!

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN196309180.shtml

Matt Millen was fired or resigned from the Detroit Lions.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3606294

Angel Berroa VORPWatch: -2.2

646 - I'm not a Lions fan but after watching them in person on Sunday I can definitely say... good move.

About 3 years too late, but good move.

True, but that was before McCourt was broke...

It'd be quite a bit of irony for McCourt to fire Colletti due to the playoff profits generated.

McCourt just bought the L.A. Marathon with his own money.

Just because I'm bored.

Odds of finishing...

Arizona
5-0 5.0%
4-1 21.1%
3-2 34.7%
2-3 27.5%
1-4 10.3%
0-5 1.4%
Dodgers
5-0 8.8%
4-1 28.2%
3-2 35.0%
2-3 21.2%
1-4 6.2%
0-5 0.7%

The Dodgers have a 36.3% chance of clinching at home, and a 72% chance of clinching with no help.

I saw trainwreck mentioned Katt Williams' bit on Michael Jackson above. I don't know what it is, but I'm just not that big a fan of Katt Williams. I hear he has another special that's pretty funny, though. I'm more of a Mike Epps guy. His HBO special was hilarious. The bit about Michael Jackson never inviting kids from the hood to his ranch because they would just steal everything was comedy. "There's a giraffe missing, Tito!" still gets me every time. His bit where he imagines Michael Jackson in prison, running the joint was hilarious, too. "Call up Bubbles, and let's get up and get it done! I'm gonna make a change, wooo! Mike Epps bit on watching Unsolved Mysteries alone was classic, too.

McCourt just bought the L.A. Marathon with his own money

...leaving less money to spend on the Dodgers. Adios, Señor Santana.

652 And I'd rather re-watch Dave Chappelle's concert on HBO for the 5th time, which is what I just did the other night over either of those guys. I still bust a gut watching that one. (Kind of interesting to hear him talking about a black president in a 2000-ish concert, not to get in Rule 5 territory but just interesting -- parts of that concert are also a little dated even but that much more is still relevant.) Please belieeeve me!

Hank the Tank fired a few shots at Torre and the Dodgers today:

Yankees Senior VP Hank Steinbrenner isn't all that impressed that Joe Torre has the Dodgers on the brink of the playoffs in his first season managing in L.A.

"I'm happy for Joe, but you have to compare the divisions and the competition," the bombastic Baby Boss says in a guest column in the new Sporting News magazine, which hits newsstands this week.

"What if the Yankees finish the season with more wins than the Dodgers but the Dodgers make the playoffs? Does that make the Dodgers a better team? No."

http://tinyurl.com/hankthewhiner

653 The only money that is listed in any of the articles about this is that the new operating company for LA Marathon will reimburse the City of Los Angeles $534K that was due for expenses for the past 3 years.

Other than that, McCourt's new company just won a city contract to operate the Marathon, so to use the term "bought" the marathon is inaccurate and there was also no timetable set on when the reimbursement of those expenses needed to be paid.

Not to get into Rule 5 territory

I plead the fifth! 1,2,3,4, FIFTH!

I got to work early today.

If the Dodgers were in the Yankees's division, their current record would net them 5th place.

655 I sincerely hope the baby bosses run that franchise in the ground. They're certainly off to a good start.

646 Speaking of running a franchise in the ground....

649 I'm still betting that the team needs to win a playoff round for Ned to survive.

"This is by no means a knock on Torre - let me make that clear - but look at the division they're in. If L.A. were in the AL East, it wouldn't be in the playoff discussion. The AL East is never weak."

That would be kinda hard, since the Dodgers play in L.A. which is on the west coast. The AL East is a division made up of American league teams on the east coast.

657 I think it is more like "FIF!"

"What if the Yankees finish the season with more wins than the Dodgers but the Dodgers make the playoffs? Does that make the Dodgers a better team? No."

Good teams find ways to win... their division. =)

No one will argue that the NL West is in the AL East's class, but it's not as simplistic as they make it sound when comparing teams. You design your team at least in part to the competition around you, the pitching is strong in the NL West for example, and the parks you play in and so on. They're totally different kettles of fish. Again, no one would argue the divisions compare right now, but it's hard to know if the Dodgers were an AL East team, if they'd be designed the same way in the first place, and how their record would translate over there, and so on.

Plus, yeah, all that east coast travel would be hard on them. :-/

Plus, shut up Hank.

661

Yeah, it sounds like a lot of "woulda coulda shoulda" to me.

The Yankees have nothing to complain about, and that argument in particular is completely hollow. Go back to 16 teams, no interleague, and no DCS and LCS, and maybe you stop that argument.

655 Someone needs so shush him.

*to

Hank Steinbreener doesn't really run the team, its his brother Hal, and his sister. Or that at least what the Yankees want you to believe.

664 I've heard something along those lines a lot, but isn't the goal to build your team to win the most games espically in a big market? I can't imagine a team like LA holding back on a player that may when them a few more games because they believe they already have a team designed to win the divison.

I maybe wrong because I think of this years Twins for example, they thought they had no shot to win the divison because of how good Clev, Det, and maybe even Chi were supposed to be so they unloaded Johan.

664
So, if the Dodgers were in the AL East, Ned wouldn't care about "speed and athleticism" and would care about getting on base and hitting for power...?

I dunno. I think Ned carries his philosophy with him wherever he goes.

669 win not when.

No Hank, your not wrong, your just an....

Is anyone impressed with the quality of the AL East this season? How can you compare wins in a totally different league? I'd be betting on this Dodger team against any team from the AL East. You think Berroa is a black hole, take a look at what Lowrie has done in Sept. With Ortiz and Drew hurting, and Manny in LA who is going to come up with the big hit for the Sox. They couldn't even run down the Dodger Rays this month.

Hank can spin it anyway he wants but his team got beat out by a team who makes less then his 3rd baseman.

669 Yes, big market teams are expected to bring in marquee players, which the Dodgers do, for better and for worse (we've seen both this year). But I'm talking about the types of players you bring in, certain hitters and maybe focusing more on pitching because the other teams in the division have strong pitching and not as strong hitting. Not saying the Dodgers avoid trying to bring in strong hitters (or even that Colletti has subscribed to the above) but just in general there are ways of designing your team based on both the level of competition, the parks you play in and the lineups you face, and that it's too simplistic to even compare. Would the Dodgers as designed have made the playoffs in the AL East? No, likely not, but they're still a good team and most importantly, at least right now, the best team in their division.

673 - Yah, it would've been fun if the Dodgers had faced a few AL East teams this year just for the sake of argument. I don't know if they would've fared that well but who knows, with their pitching and pen they might've competed. Pre-Manny their offense wasn't as strong though, but with him I would think the games might have been close and fun. Ah well.

Is anyone impressed with the quality of the AL East this season?

Yes.

Anyone else going to see My Bloody Valentine next week?

I can't freaking wait much longer. I heard ATP New York was amazing.

673 I wouldn't go as far as saying in a 7 gamer I'd bet on us vs. Boston. But I would say Dice-K would be the worst pitcher of both teams top 3. Billingsley and Beckett are at least a toss up, same with Lowe and Lester.

I already have a bet in place with my pal who's a Sox fan that we will not get swept. He said, "If they played it would be a sweep, look at that team they have too many fake players."

If the Dodgers were capable of doing damage against the American League in any significant way we would have clinched the division this weekend. We're a good team now but we would have been slayed in the AL East this year.

677 Im going. I need to get industrial strength earplugs at guitar center this weekend.

Also saw Okkervil River last night which was great but I didn't get to bed until 2am because of it.

The Dodgers offense + 5 games against Roy Halladay = bad news

678 Your friends are like a united nations of baseball fans...You have any friends that are Dodger fans?

679 Especially with Nomar, and Juan manning the DH for most of the season.

678 - Obnoxious comments like that are another reason to root for the BoSox to get their comeuppance in the playoffs. And what does "fake players" mean? I guarantee the Dodgers would not get swept vs the Sox, and don't you think Manny would, you know, play pretty hard in that series? Ah well, odds are we won't find out what would happen so we can just ponder it.

Your friend and that Cubs fan who disrespected Chad Billingsley should be locked in a basement somewhere and forced to watch highlights from the Dodgers 88 season on repeat for several days straight, (followed by repeated "Diff'rent Strokes" reruns for added torture).

682 Of my close buddies;

2- Indian fans
1- Red Sox fan
1- Yankee fan
3- Dodger fans

Who would be our DH if we were in the AL?

681 - Boy, that'd be a tough 5 game series!

I got an e-mail from my ex-coworker regarding Billingsley. She's regressed back to "omg, he can't start a playoff game."

685 I'm surrounded by Cubs and Braves fans.

Nomar wouldn't be DHing against an AL team, it'd be Manny.

686 - Again, if we were in the AL we would probably have a different type of roster, at the very least a more appropriate DH type.

But of the current roster, probably Delwyn Young or maybe Manny with someone else playing the field for him.

686 We have a bunch. Nomar, Delwyn, Pierre, Jones.

688 I just hope we clinch by Sunday so he can have a day off. Dude could use a break.

688 Sigh.

Next year, I expect Dodgers games to lead off Sportscenter next year due to ESPN opening a new headquarters in downtown L.A.

690 Manny to DH means JP to LF.

688 - What on earth does that mean?

She's fired!

684 I think his definition is a player that comes up and makes a splash and than is never heard from again. He always says the Dodgers always have a bunch of fake players, McKay Christionson, Grabowski, Robles. This years group of fake players apperently are, DeWitt, Wade, Kuo.

680 Yeah, definitely. What day are you going? I'm going the 2nd. Maybe an ultra mini DT/MBV gathering is in order.

698 Going on the first. I head to SF on the 2nd which involves me missing out on my game 3 playoff tickets as well as the potential ability to watch all the games on tv since I will be deep in enemy territory surrounded by giants fans. =(

Hank can spin it anyway he wants but his team got beat out by a team who makes less then his 3rd baseman.

that's crazy man...

697 Then he doesn't know a) what he's talking about or b) the Dodgers. Grabowski, yes, fake player, Kuo, DeWitt, etc, were always highly regarded prospects. I don't think fans who are completely unfamiliar with a team's roster and backstory should make comments as if an expert but of course that doesn't stop most fans from doing just that anyway. Anyway... go Rays!

699 There are plenty of friendly faces up here in enemy territory. ;-) IF they do make the playoffs and there's a DT north playoff game TV watching party we'll invite ya.

Maybe the fake player is Berroa.

702 the rabid giants fans Im staying with are not so friendly. perhaps I can make some sort of an escape. however they might let me watch the games with the vain hope that the dodgers will lose so I have that in my back pocket.

677 Speaking of ATP New York, a friend of mine who used to be a college radio DJ and goes to ATP every year wherever it is, told me a horrible story about how she and her b/f went and never got to see any of the bands because the place they stayed in was infested with bedbugs and they spent 1.5 days dealing with that and then gave up and went home. I'll spare you the details but it was pretty awful. So they missed almost all the music even though they were staying in the place where the music was. :-(

704 Oh no, we can't have that. We'll have to help you escape. That's no way to watch games.

IF they make the playoffs.

(Whew, almost forgot to type that.)

703 - Well that I'd accept though he's only filling in for their injured MV-SS.

I see Dodger fans are feeling pretty full of beans today. It really is remarkable the swings in mood that happen on this board from day to day. (I'm as guilty of that as anyone, of course. I don't mind saying, I'm feeling pretty good today.)

However, I still like to be as objective as possible. Assuming they win the division, I would argue that the Dodgers might be the weakest of the 8 teams in the playoffs (maybe except for the Mets). The Red Sox, Rays and Cubs are FAR better teams. The Dodgers would indeed be long ago eliminated if they had to play half their schedule against competition as tough as the AL East. I'm all for optimism and confidence, but a little humility isn't a bad thing either. The Dodgers have had a terrific September, but they've been pounding on crummy teams all month. They haven't played a team with a winning record since getting humiliated in four straight by the Phillies Aug. 22-25.

The Red Sox have Mike Timlin. He's their Roberto Hernandez.

New rule.

No more relaying your dumb friend's 5th grade level commentary on the Dodgers. Please.

Thanks in advance,

MC Safety

Good luck Fausto tonight on your quest to get 16 outs.

708 I believe the Dodgers are 15-5 in September. Over the course of the season we are as you say, but the team we put on the field today can (IMO) compete with any of them.

710 But our own 5th grade level commentary is still ok, right?

710 I like it, it's comical.

Cubs fan wants to play the Dodgers because they have a bunch of journeymen starters.

They lead the NL in ERA.

708 Honestly though, I don't think anyone here needs much of a reminder about humility. The team's been humiliated enough in recent years. ;-) Despite my confidence the team might win a few games vs AL East foes (which isn't the most brazen statement in the world), I don't expect them to run on through to the World Series. I just want them to make the playoffs. Where I think they can compete with just about anyone in the NL, except maybe the Cubs - I don't see them winning a series vs the Cubs but I think they'd at least give them a series. That's not being overconfident, I don't expect they're the best team competing for a playoff spot right now, but is there anything wrong with having some faith in them, too?

713 Don't they have a show on Fox about this?

716
I believe it's called "Joe Buck covers the World Series."

715 Some folks sounded like they needed a humility reminder. But to be clear, I couldn't care less that the Dodgers aren't the best team in the playoffs. That team rarely wins the big prize. In the last decade, I'd say that the Red Sox last year, and the Yankees in 98-99 are probably the only "best teams in baseball" that went on to actually win the World Series. The Rockies might've been the 10th best team in baseball last year. But somehow, there they were at the end, runners-up to the title.

Just because the Dodgers aren't objectively as good as the Cubs or Phillies, doesn't mean they can't win a playoff series against them. Believe me, I'm as fired up as anyone!

717
With special guest star, Tim McCarver.

705 Yeah, I heard that place was a dump. In the Pitchfork review, they mentioned Patton Oswalt joked that David Lynch would have walked in and said "Ahh, perfect".

703

Ardoin. But you know what, i think he's a better catcher then Bennett that's for sure.

Venus de Milo is a better catcher than Bennett.

Not sure if it's been mentioned yet, but the Dodgers are enjoying one of their best Septembers since moving to LA.
Previous high winning percentage I've found is 1965's .733 (22-8).

721 That's because Ardoin can actually throw to the plate.

Hank Steinbrenner = Sour Grapes.

Don't worry about his comments. The Yankees are 6 games behind the WC leaders and are about 6 wins below average fielding as a team due to their three DHs (Abreu, Giambi, Sexson) that they trotted out on the field this year.
vr, Xei

713 Totally made me laugh out loud. Coming from Mr. Superstitious, especially.

Superstition (Latin superstitio, literally "standing over"; derived perhaps from standing in awe; used in Latin as a unreasonable or excessive belief in fear or magic, especially foreign or fantastical ideas, and thus came to mean a "cult" in the Roman empire) is a belief or notion, not based on reason or knowledge.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superstition

643

I've never seen the movie, just checked out the Wikipedia plot line for the movie, sounds entertaining.

725 I'm sure he wasn't complaining in 2000 when they won the WS with 87 wins and the 9th best record in baseball.

Considering that the Nats are going to lead the league in missed attendance, exactly why did they leave Canada? You're telling me that they couldn't do this in Montreal?

728 To be fair to Hank, it was his father who was the proponent of the current divisional divisions. Really, Hank should blame his father for the Yankees current woes.

The Expos drew a little over 740,000 in their final season in Quebec.

The Nationals are still going to draw over 2.2 million.

2.2 million > 740,000

so I guess if the season ended today we'd have to face the Phills... I'd much rather face the Mets.

726 I am so not "Mr. Superstitious". I'm as logical and level-headed a fan as there is. I just have an irrational fear of impending doom, that's all. Hubris and irrational exuberance sets me off.

Now, that said, the cosmic baseball gods are vengeful, so I have taken it upon myself to purge the sins of the DT commentariat. If you'll excuse me, I have to go find a quiet place at work where I can sacrifice this goat (my cubicle is just too small).

The Phills to me are great hitting, o.k. pitching & great closer. I guess it would be a coin toss if we were to face them.

I think the Mets can win the East.

The Mets have a much harder five games left. Although the Cubs don't have to trot out much of a lineup today and tomorrow. The Marlins are going to be a challenge for the Mets just because they can hit a bunch of home runs off of the soft underbelly of the Mets bullpen.

The Mets pen is 100% soft underbelly!

733 Hah hah. Believe me, I'm the one who has to post "IF we make the playoffs" as if knocking on wood every time I post about it this week. I ain't taking nothin' for granted, either, and I, too, am fired up.

So if the Dodgers and DBacks both won their next two games, the magic number would be 1 for Friday's game right?

Not that I'm rooting for that or anything.

The Tampa Bay chapter of the BBWAA has chosen the Rays MVP for the season:

Jason Bartlett

Who is the Dodgers MVP? I vote for Larry Bowa.

734
Manny will go Pujols on Lidge and give him nightmares all over again. Just like Wagner, Lidge will cave again.

That said I'd also rather face the Mets but then we start sounding like Cub fans who say they would rather face us and I hate that.

I'm just glad that we are in the playoffs, picking who we'd rather play sounds like something Disabled List's Baseball Gods would frown on. I'd rather they smite the Cub fans for being cocky then us. I was just cocky about winning the division with a 90% of doing so. Not like I was out on a limb or anything.

638-Next issue out tomorrow. It's one of those "6 Things You Should Know" about being a set-up guy things.

Was Troy Percivil on the ORV list?

XeiFrank's simulator sure comes in handy these days.

742 AKA Troy Percival.

738
Joe P was all over that yesterday.
http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/09/23/bartlett-equals-skippy/

Are you letting work get in your way of timely information?

From the Dodgers:

Thursday's game is sold out. Limited tickets remain from tonight.

"for tonight"

Dodger MVP is a no brainer but how about ROY?
Clayton
Kuroda
Wade
DeWitt

I think most of us would have bet that LaRoche would have been the guy on March 1st. At least he brought us our MVP thank you very much.

738 Check out the latest FJM post on that, too.

>>
I just want to announce here on this blog, that if any baseball analyst of any kind tells me that "you really have to watch Jason Bartlett play every day to understand how much he means to this team," and that same analyst is found drowned at the bottom of my hot tub the next morning, and...<<

Well, just read the rest.

748 Tough choice. Three erratic but very important contributors, and the incredibly consistent Cory Wade. Wade gets my vote. But Kuroda, despite some horrible games, has mostly been very good and solidified a pitching staff that got nothing from Brad Penny this year. And DeWitt was incredibly important both at the beginning of the year, and then over the past month. Tough.

If Win Shares are your thing, the Dodger MVP is Ethier followed by Kemp, Martin, Billingsley, Loney, Lowe, and then Ramirez seventh.

DeWitt is your ROY, followed by Kuroda, Wade, Kershaw, and Young.

DeWitt has had a pretty roller-coaster rookie year. It's sort of instructive to divide the season into four parts for him.

1st quarter: Lifesaver.
2nd quarter: Mildly annoying.
3rd quarter: Not on the team.
4th quarter: Lifesaver.

Question...what kind of bear is best?

Nah, sorry, for real: how specific has MLB been in a playoff schedule so far? I can just see that games are to start on 10/1. Just wondering if LA (er...the "NL West winner") would be playing Friday and/or Saturday of the following weekend.

751
Only mildly annoying in the 2nd qtr? If he had hit the wall any harder he'd be Wile E. Coyote.

752
The NL schedules have the same pattern, so it's just a matter of figuring out the pairings and then TBS deciding on when to show each game.

Well, OK, he was really annoying, but you couldn't really hold it against him because of the previous "Lifesaver" period.

754 - So the NL might be:

Game 1: Wed, 10/1
Game 2: Thu, 10/2
Game 3: Sat, 10/4?

DeWitt was also hitting 8th. Expecting your 8th hitter doing much is well, kinda silly when the whole team was scuffling. I expect Berroa to make an out every time he's at bat, and am pleasantly surprised when he doesn't. That's the attitude you should take with DeWitt.

NPUT

1st quarter: Lifesaver.
2nd quarter: Mildly annoying.
3rd quarter: Not on the team.
4th quarter: Lifesaver.

This made me wonder how many players have enjoyed such a season. Considering injuries, etc. some of the names could be HOF names.

I don't know why I read some of Bill Plaschke's latest other than self-torture, but besides it being idiotic in other ways, I feel like it's also poorly edited. To wit:

>>So, well, OK, couch spectator Manny Ramirez apparently forgot which pennant race he was playing in.

And, OK, so neither did Angel Berroa, who was stressing so much he was flying a remote helicopter near his locker.<<

Neither did...? That really doesn't match with the previous paragraph, Bill, does it?

Sigh.