The 1925 Dodgers finished tied for 6th at 68-85 with Philadelphia. The Cubs were in last at 68-86.

The team batted .296, but that wasn't much of an accomplishment as the NL batted .292.

Funny because somebody said last night that the team had only come back when down after 7 one time this year. I was thinking, that may be true but doesn't it feel like this team does nothing but come back in dramatic fashion over the last two weeks? I have great confidence in the team now, even when they're down and I'm sure they have it too. Nice asset in post season play.

2

i feel the same way

Late-inning comebacks are relatively rare for any team no matter how good or bad it is. So if a few of them are bunched together in a few days may not that be unusual.

Think of taking a deck of cards and throwing it in the air and then just picking up one card at a time in what you think of as a random fashion. You will likely end up picking up two aces in a row. Random events don't necessarily mean discrete and indpendent events.

I could explain this better, but I'm not David Krumholtz's character on "Numbers".

4 Are you saying I've been fooled by randomness? That may be so but I would guess that the Dodgers have as well and that may cause confidence which is not random and can have an effect on outcome. =)

4, 5 - Demonstrating the ability to come back late in games definitely affects a team and their opponents. One may not be able to prove it by numbers, but all championship teams seem to have that quality.

Come to think of it, this probably could be proved by numbers - by someone more industrious than I.

There is only one number I care about right now and it is magical. It is the number 1.

One is not the loneliest number today

8

the most rewarding tambien (spanglish sorry)

It's been all about streaks for the Dodgers this year. They have now won 5 in a row and 7 of their last 8. I cannot say I foresaw that after the first two games of the Pittsburgh series.

The only way the Dodgers miss the playoffs now is if they suddenly go on a three-game losing streak. Which, sadly, is always a real possibility with this team.

We're busy making a get well soon card for Nick Johnson at my kitchen table.

Brad Penny realizing he may not make the playoff roster will of course say his back is fine after today's bullpen session. Later in November if he has an unsuccessful postseason he will disclose that his back never felt right.

6 - That begs the question: Shouldn't championship teams not get into situations where they have to make comebacks? The Dodgers are not a championship team yet...doesn't mean they won't be. Still have bitter taste from all those blown games to baseball doormats.

If you hit the ball for a good average and haven't hit the ball earlier in the game, the chances are you're going to hit the ball late in the game.

The motto is: Don't worry about your ability to come back in a game, just take care of hitting the ball and everything else is taken care of.

Gahhh it was DREW that won that game for the LAD last night?!?!?!? GRRR!!

Oh no, Rosenthal just dropped a Dontrelle-for-Francour rumor...

15. He had hit a 2 run homer earlier, but if it's any consolation he struck out in the ninth.

I know everyone's not going to agree with this but here's my playoff roster:
Martin, Nomar, Kent, Furcal, Betemit, Anderson, Lofton, Drew
Hall, Saenz, Martinez, Ethier, Repko, Lugo
Penny, Lowe, Maddux, Kuo, Billingsley, Saito, Broxton, Biemel, Tomko, Sele, Hendrickson

I chickened out; I really wanted to leave Lugo and Hendrickson off and put Loney and Stults on. Lugo only makes it because of fear of Kent getting hurt. I suppose Anderson could play second and I could add Loney because Nomar will definitely miss some games, maybe all of them. Hendrickson beats out Stults just because it would be so insulting to him to not be included. I really can't think of anything he has done to help the team this year. Like Hall, he gets in only because we have no other backup catcher. Maybe something will happen in these last two games to change things.

I seem to remember the 88 Dodgers having a number of late-inning comebacks, and that was before the playoffs. A Franklin Stubbs walk-off homer sticks in my mind but I can't remember details on any others. It's weird, that and the 86 Mets painful comebacks seemed like the first time that any baseball team had come back in the late innings; I guess it was just the first time I really watched baseball closely.

I would like to bring Nomar back next year but I just can't see it. Despite his frailties, or maybe because of them, he is the heart and soul of the Dodgers. But how can we pay him $9M, with all the injuries and down time he will have, when we can get equal or better performance out of a healthy 22 year old kid who will play for $340,000? I just wished we had that problem at third base. Betemit isn't going to cut it there and LaRoche probably won't be ready to take the job next spring. Our number one priority this offseason should be going after Ramirez from the Cubs or Cabrera from the Marlins. And there's always A-Rod. Then Eric Byrnes and some pitching...

Wow, McCarver just said he thinks Luis Pujols should be the NL MVP this year.

c'mon rain, stop falling in Florida so the Phils can lose.

21

his avious meter is way up today.

Game on in South Florida.

I wonder what this season would have looked like if Manuel had gone with a lineup of Victorino-Conine-Utley-Howard-Rollins for the second half...

jeers the rain delay.

Florida leads 1-0. Yeah!

So, will today be another day of bloopers and bleeders, or could we just hit the ball harder? I mean, too bad the score looks bad for Kuo, but at least 3-4 of thie hits were not hit hard. And he struck out 8. He pitched a lot better than the score would indicate.

And nice one Miguel Cabrera

28.

I mean, he struck out 6.

From inside the Dodgers:

Last night was a true team victory. Let's see if we got two more in us.

Furcal, SS
Lofton, CF
Lugo, 2B
Kent, 1B
Drew, RF
Betemit, 3B
Ethier, LF
Martin, C
Maddux, P

ugh lugo 3rd.

Y'all do remember that Victorino was once Dodger property?

Our local sportscasters love the kid, since he was born in Maui (we also hear more than I care to about Tyler Yates and Brandon League, for similar reasons).

marlins back-to-back hr, 2-0

Make that Marlins TWO, Phils 0.

I'll feel a lot better about lugo batting third if the Phillies lose this game.

30 pitches for Wolf in the first.

Why does Grittle insist on batting Lugo third? Is it because Lugo complains? I mean really, what other reason could there be?

37.
its just mind boggling.

Why is Lugo even playing over Loney?

I like Grady, but sometimes his lineups are baffling.

I know, lineups don't matter, so on and so forth. But come on here, folks. Lugo third, Drew fifth (again), no Loney against a righty, Martin chained to the eight spot? Weird.

39 - That, too.

39 Seriously. There has to be a reason. Does Grittle honestly think that the Dodgers have a better chance of winning with Lugo in the lineup than with Loney? I just don't get.

42 Obviously, Grittle's going with the hot hand.

40 - It is weird. That's the best word for it. However, I'm not in a complaining mood today. It's time to celebrate...almost.

40
Maybe Grady is suffering some distress over hearing that Pedro won't pitch again this year.

3-2 phils

3-2 Phillies

In the meantime, Philadelphia has decided not to go gentle into that good night. Too bad.

3-2 Phils ...

i hate these stupid backout restrictions i got DTV extra innings and MLB.tv and i cant watch one game.

30.

Talk about putting the worst line up in there. At least he didn't put in Robles I guess.

But c'mon, Lugo instead of Loney? What the ?

Why couldn't the Marlins walk Nunez to load the bases for Wolf?

20-

why Eric Byrnes? We've already got Drew, Anderson, Kemp, Eithier for next year.

If the rumors of us going after Aramis are true then it's going to be interesting to see what we do with Laroche and Betemit.

loney had more RBI's in one game then lugo has had in 140 At bats.

54 - LOL - Grits must think Lugo is "due".

50

Its a conspiracy to force us to listen to Buck and McCarver .... :-(

(I'm listening to Harry Kalas on WPHT now)

53, yeah i dont agree with the byrnes thing either. i think this offseson our 2 main objectives should be a 3rd baseman (agaian) and pitching pitching pitching.

Loney has to be playing today. I wouldn't care if Kent sat and Lugo still played second, but why put in an extra righty against a righty starter when you have a lefty on the bench two days removed from one of the most productive games in Dodgers history?

Loney is also the best 1B defender on the team.

meanwhile ... the ChiSox are making life difficult for the Twins again (6-0 top 9).

The Twins are probably gonna end up playing the Yanks, and given their recent playoff history, I'm not optimistic.

53, 57 - I think we should sign Byrnes, then convert him to catcher so he can do his little throw-and-somersault routine every time he returns the ball to the mound.

58

perhaps there are some atypical righty-lefty splits going on here?

history with the pitcher?

What would be your ideal matchup in the playoffs? I think it has to be the Cardinals, despite the season sweep. Both teams are completely different since then (the Dodgers are 39-22 since that series, and the Cards are 26-36) and if we played them then we would be at home to start the series. The Astros on the other hand, despite their flakey offense, terrify me. (now lets clinch before I jinx anything)

Marlins have tied it up. 3-3.

woohoo! single by the pitcher!

3-3 Phills-Fish

3-3 Marlins/Phils ... rbi single by pitcher Olson

60, lol

M. Cabrera up with 2 on 2 out.

come on Miguel !

Quick Draw Charlie makes an appearance...I wonder if he would even think about using Leiber in this game should this inning turn ugly...

Leiber has left the team for personal reasons.

wow wolf is out. madesn in.

Whoa! They pulled Wolf?!

that was a quick hook for Wolf

hmmm .... Dodgers have 16 H in 37 AB against Cain lifetime ....

74

they cried Wolf?

Good move by Charlie, considering Miguel already went deep against Wolf.

I mena, he wasn't pitching like Koufax or anything, but...

56 - Hey D, when they switch Wheels back in you'll want to hit up http://chriswheelerglossary.com/

Yknow, the Wolfman is from CA isn't he? And you guys will need a lefty in your rotation...plus he knows Mike Lieberthal!

The pitcher Suppan is 2-2 against Sheets; the rest of the Cards are 3 for 16. Finally, some protection for Pujols.

crap.

I was really hoping that wasn't going to work out.

Still, just because it did work out doesn't make it the right move.

79

LOL ... thanks for the head-up ....

I've actually contributed to the "Cole Hamels Facts" site :-)

well the fish tied it up now let's hope that olsen can shut them down for at least the top o f the 3rd

Phone message from Bob: He suggests that Vin Scully might do all nine innings on radio today with Fox's national team broadcasting the Dodger game on television. Scully, remember, had the call of Steve Finley's division-winning grand slam on radio in 2004.

It's looking like the Phils game will go on until at least the time that Fox goes on the air on the west coast. Hopefully they will go live to "exciting moments".

!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shane-O with some clutch baserunning, gotta love the Flyin' Hawaii'an!!

Olsen's struck out 4 Phillies already.

No point pitching a hurt pitcher that can't pitch in Penny, Grady.

My theory is that Grady wants the wild card. He figures the Mets don't look as good as the Astros or Cardinals because of the Mets rotation, although both Houston and St Louis have faulty closers this year, while Billy Wagner has been pretty reliable.

im listening to "you've got another thing coming" by priest to get fired up for todays ballgame.

old friend Cody Ross with a 2 out walk

looks like he took of on the 3-2 a little early

it was a 2-2 pitch, its impossible to get caught going 3-2 with 2 outs unless there is a lefty pitching and you are really dumb. if theres a righty and you get picked 3-2 with 2 outs you are just retarded.

It's possible that 93 was joking -- saying he took off on the 3-2 a little early... so early, in fact, that the count was only 2-2.

BTW, Jon, you might just want to update the payroll worksheet. ;)

bunt single for Olsen!

Ramirez up, waiting for coaching visit to be over

Lieberthal pulled!

Whom else is hoping that these last two days are the last of Julio Lugo?

Playing him when he shouldnt be playing is one thing.

But batting him 3rd is I think a fireable offense of Grady Little. The manager doesnt have much to do other than make out the lineup card, and putting Lugo 3rd is basically flunking. Its like misspelling your name on the SAT.

Little started out as a really good manager this season, but his September managing (Drew batting 5th, infatuation with Lugo, non-use of Saito in important games) has brought him down several notches.

93 sorry 'bout that, GameDay mis-read, brain and hands ahead of my eyes

I'm not ready to flunk Grady yet. I've seen flunking. I saw flunking last year. This isn't flunking.

At the same time, I just do not get it.

Inning over. Can you say Uggla.

103 - What happened to Leiberthal? Was he hurt?

I think batting Lugo 3rd, when you consider all the other options, is on par with batting Izturis lead-off.

102
Grady Little trusts his ballplayers. I think he sees something in Lugo that hasn't yet been revealed to us fans.

105 It's far worse in my opinion.

104 - Leiberthal was very nice to my kids at baseball camp earlier this year.

106

so when is that "something" going to be revealed? I hope its sometime this weekend. Cause you know, time's running out a bit.

105

it's Lugos magical powers i tell you.

106, 109 - It could just as easily be revealed in the 8-hole.

Olsen channels Billingsley

Is Lugo going out with one of Little's ugly daughters? No one with an IQ of more than 50 would play him at all. Maybe Colletti promised his cousin in Tampa Bay that Lugo would get beau coup playing time. Be honest, folks, you hate Lugo playing as much as I do; realistically the only thing we can hope for is an injury; the manager is insane.

I'm thankful that Jeff Conine still sucks.

Josh Rawitch confirms via e-mail: Vin is doing nine innings on radio.

St. Louis losing 2-0 in 8th.

All right, Olsen!

Chris Coste = not clutch.

Ahhh and here's the Beard!

115

that's pretty weird, what happens with Steiner & gang?

106 Well it isn't hitting, fielding, or baserunning, what could it be? The only solace I can find is that every time the incompetent bozo plays, he knocks zeros off his salary next year. I'm starting to be very afraid he is damaging his rep so bad that no one will sign him and we will be stuck with him again next year. And our dumb donkey manager will make him the regular third baseman hitting in the three hole. Average .197; OBP .198; Slugging .212; HomeRuns 0; RBIs 19.

15 If Josh will converse with you via email, please ask him why Lugo plays when there is no earthly reason for it.

119

i'll drink to that, you're anger inspires me!!

119 I'm going to suggest that rules 3 & 8, though especially number eight, are being violated at this point.

119

Our d.d.m. is 86-74, so he's doing something right. Give him some faith!

I'd like to point out that there are four AL teams with records better than St. Louis who will not be in the playoffs. Would anyone like to speculate if any NL team can win the World Series?

i have a feeling that the guys who took the gameday pictures of Maddux & Cain aren't professionals

122 - I agree.

Bases loaded triple by Spezio puts Cards ahead, 3-2.

a triple in st.louis and the cards are up 3-2...

115 re: Scully -

I can't think of a time over the past 30+ years of listening to Dodger games where Vinny has done all 9 innings on radio. Hasn't he always said that he didn't want to prevent the other 'casters from doing their jobs, which is why he wouldn't just simulcast the whole game? Odd that he would be doing all 9 innings today.

I'd hate to declare shenanigans so late in the season, but ...

129

i guess it's because these games are very important.

is Bob up in frisco this weekend or what?

Does anyone else find Josh Lewin to be extremely annoying?

Gotta say I'm loving the Lasorda spots for ESPN playoff baseball. Clever stuff.

133 he sounds like he has a mean sinus condition.

Ben Sheets in 6 innings today: 7 K's, 1 BB,7 H's, 0 ER. Sheets is one of my favorite non-Dodger players and one of the best pitchers in baseball in general. It's a shame that it seems he can never stay the whole season healthy.

124
Yeah I was going to make the same point yesterday but when I started breaking down the AL teams they are just as flawed. This could be one of the greatest offensive minded playoffs due to the incredible shallowness of everyone's pitching. Don't base on the year stats base it on who is in the rotation come playoff time and it is not pretty for anyone.

Well, Lugo did something useful.

that is Lugo's first "significant" contribution in as long as I can remember.

Alou is Loftoning RF for the Giants.

Thanks for the radio tip Jon/Bob

man, that Julio Lugo, just a professional hitter...there's no substitute for an RBI guy in that #3 slot....

J.D. Drew had a fly ball out for the 3rd out.

He did have 3 hits one game and was an integral part of the victory several weeks ago.

That was the luckiest hit i have seen in a while

Speaking of weak lineups, no Bonds!!!

luck is the residue of design, or so i've heard.

i don't know man, i'm scared of the giants.

i think we gave away that run.

Well it looks like both team's weak three-hole hitters have exchanged Olneys.

that pitch that Maddux just maid was like art in motion.

Still 4-3 Phillies, middle of 7th inning

Tried listening to the Vinny on the radio and watch it on TV but he's ahead of the TV and it's kinda freaking me out.

the first is usually Maddog's worst inning. And that one only took 9 pitches.

Just got in. I am astonished at playing Lugo over Loney!

my Dodger mojo just told me Ethier will have a good day today.

I hope either A-Ram signs with the Dodgers, or LaRoche is ready for next year.

I dont think I can stomach watching Wilson Betemit Feliz patrol 3rd base all of next season.

Booyah! Miggy C has been remarkably unclutch today and I am lovin every minute of it!!

156. Speaking of LaRoche, wouldn't it behoove the Dodgers to put him at second considering his labrum injury?

I don't think the D's really mean to keep their young players.

156. Speaking of LaRoche, wouldn't it behoove the Dodgers to put him at second considering his labrum injury?

darn, didn't mean to double post (of course, who does?)

Conine is unclutch to the Nth power.

156

Betemit has a better ISOd then A-Ram.

i love how Martin frames pitches

hey guys-

how do i listen to the game online? mlbtv is blacked out and fox isn't showing it on the East Coast. KFWB 980 is playing the news..

Can anyone help?

I, too, just got in and I join the chorus of astonishment that Lugo is playing ahead of Loney. Lugo entered the game with 3 hits in his last 25 at bats, although I see that he had a sac fly in the 1st.

158 If LaRoche could play second, he'd be playing there already.

156 I think LaRoche will be ready if the shoulder that needs surgery is his non dominant one. He is as ready for MLB pitching as Loney, Aybar, and Ethier were.

Pedro Feliz does nothing to quel a stereotype.

LaRoche doesnt seem athletic enough to play second. He would probably be about as good as Kent is right now while playing hurt.

168

Laroche tore labrums in both of his shoulders. the one in his right was a slight tear and has healed through rehab. the one in his left shoulder ia a full complete tear that he will have surgery on this winter.

http://projectprospect.com/2006/09/28/andy-laroche-interview.aspx

That guy needs some Lasik surgery.

171

thanks, Nate. I wasnt sure because of the conflicting info out there.

The only other observations i have about LaRoche comes from my wife. She said he is bow-legged and needs to lose what she believes is his mullet.

luck is on our side

Nice blooper by K Loft. Too bad Lugo is batting 3rd!

Geez, the Marlins really seem to be hitting out of synch.

Lugo is going to fail us again.

173

Mullets are making a comeback.

LaRoche has long hair. It's not a mullet.

I'd have Lofton run right now and get caught stealing. It would be less painfull than to watch Lugo hit into a DP.

painful*

Lugo gets a double!

Quentin robs Roberts of a 2run homerun. nice! I am getting the SD-AZ game here in Tucson :(

Wait a minute - I thought that a ground ball (one that has already hit the ground before getting to the bag) is fair if it bounces over the bag, regardless of where the first bounce is behind the bag. Right? So the Furcal hit wasn't fair on the basis of hitting the chalk, it was fair on the basis of going over the bag fair, having already hit the ground.

gotta love the RBI man!

Lugo is useful again! He must be reading DT.

Grady knows what he's doing with Lugo.

Way to go, Juliooooooo

with my tongue in my cheek i will say that was, "clutch".

on second thought, i'm just going to go to a sports bar on bourbon street.

Kent is being pitched around

Gameday is telling me Lugo did something beneficial to the Dodgers.

I am going to sue gameday for lying.

I don't think Cain was pitching around Kent to get to a better hitter.

Of course now Little is probably going to bat Lugo third throughout the post-season.

193- it definitely looked like that

DJ just blew it!

K Lofty!

take that GIANTS!!

run, Forest, run!

Stupid play, good result. Goodness.

wow! shades of Alfredo Griffin...

what happened??! what did drew do?

I have never seen anyone tag on a ball hit that shallow in the outfield. That was a hell of a play by Lofty.

i don't mean to sound like mother hen here, but i think the slams on lugo are kind of annoying. i know he's been bad, but he's had to adjust to being a bench player, which is tough. and besides, you're supposed to root, root, root for the home team!

Felipe's reaction was priceless.

Good hustle, Kenny!

So does Drew actually get a sacrifice fly and no AB on that plate appearance?

I'm just glad that I have a strong heart, otherwise this team would have had me in the cardiac ICU sometime around August 1st.

206 I think so. And an RBI.

Why did the pitcher cut that throw? HAHA

203

We gotta complain about somebody, Drew's been great of late.

203 I agree. In addition, he's not playing much in a new league where he doesn't know the pitchers.

So, should I forget about the Phillies for now and start following AZ/SD now that the Dodgers are winning?

So I'm sitting here listening to Vinny while waiting in the Vegas airport for my flight to board... god bless technology!

199, 201-
not a stupid play. Durham casually positioned himself under a flyball that was barely hit into the outfield. Assuming the Lofton wouldn't tag, he caught the ball flatfooted and nonchalantly tossed the ball back into the infield.

203 Of course I'm rooting for Lugo today, as it seems most everyone here is doing. It's just frustrating that Loney is sitting after his game in Colorado in favor of a guy who has just not performed for the Ds this year.

So is this going to be the game where every Dodger who is most hated by someone on this board is going to contribute? For me, that would mean Gio gets a two-inning save.

Hey Nate, what happened to the starter for AZ?

Edgar Gonzales is getting "interesting" against the Priests through 4 innings.

214 If the pitcher doesn't cut it, he's out from me to you.

Agree to disagree, I guess. He's safe, so it's brilliant.

My bad, didn't realize Gonzales came in in relief, still, 4 innings of interesting baseball

Hey Nate, what happened to the starter for AZ?

nothing. it was planned to use cruz for only 2 innings.

216 - JD Drew drove one in already right? I'm covered.

214

you always have to take 2 or 3 steps back on a fly ball when there's a man on 3rd PERIOD

213

Talk about cool...It's 12:00 MIDNIGHT where I live. I'm watching MLB.TV on my computer while conversing with you guys on DT as though we're all sitting together in my living room.

Ah! Where's Vin? I thought he was going 9 tonight.

203 I think the Marlon Anderson pickup evens out the bust of the Lugo acquisition. Lugo is a decent player he just didnt play well for us...

223

i just quoted/got a flashback of my couch

219- the ball would have slowly rolled to the catcher and the other runners might have advanced, if the Giants don't cut it off (I'm pretty sure it was their 1st baseman)

In the Phils-Marlins game, Josh Wood just doubled with 1 out in the ninth.

224 Where are you, Israel?

Marlins with a runner at third, one out, Hanley Ramirez batting in the 9th.

Wild pitch by Gordon in Philly, runner advances to 3rd with one out in the 9th

228 It worked. It's all pixie dust and fairy farts, provided the Dodgers clinch a spot. Nice play, Kenny.

You lied to me Jon/Bob. You're out of the circle of trust.

Bottom of 9th: Marlins have a runner on 3rd. 1 out.

New bats for everyone!

Reed, who pinch-ran for Wood, just went to third on a passed ball.

Another steal for Maddux this year, he did the same thing with the Cubs!

Um, wha?!

Maddux is a baseball genious!!

This game is nuts.

Hey, why not. Let's pull the hidden ball trick next.

that's a great play by Maddux...

What the heck, Fox?

Don't care...don't care...

show the Dodger game only please!

Ramirez just grounded out in the Marlins game, 2 outs.

Two outs, Uggla with a chance to put the Ds in the postseason.

Victooooooooooooooooooooo-ry!!!

darn you Victorino

*Ugh*gla...

that was hit hard but Victorino made a great play

Uggla is Dead To Me

Good. Let's win this game, and dance on the Giant's mound. That's what I want anyway.

Uggla out. Ds have to do it on their own.

Hanley Ramirez had a chance to tie the game with a sac fly, but couldn't hit the ball out of the infield

Well we just have to win today now since PHI won.

Pitch counts

Maddux: 33
Cain: 70

Hanger by Maddux

Of course, it couldn't be easy.

Why do I have the feeling tomorrow is going to count?

son of a knuckleball went yard

I would rather have us celebrate after a win instead of backing into the playoffs.

How did Maddux steal second there? Was it a delayed steal? Was he not being held on? Cain pitching from the windup?
Please explain/inform.

Aye, warning track.

261 No one was covering second, Cain wasn't watching him.

well, that's more like it.

The Priests take the lead in the desert.

It will not be easy.

2-0 Padres on a Cameron homer.

Maddux is a model of efficiency.

The game is no longer interesting in AZ; and it is no longer tied. 2-0 SD after a Cameron HR.

I'm a few blocks from AT&T Park, but I have to work today. (:

Let's Go Dodgers

Baseball's great. Bleed Dodger blue. Dodgers. McCourt. Gibson. Greatest game in the world. Pasta. Hate the Giants.

Thanks Tommy. We get it.

Has Greg Maddux had a start this year without an assist?

This is the first time in months I've been able to watch the game at home and also follow with you guys on the internet. It's great!

Lugo aspires to warning track power.

Kent, Furcal, and Drew have been on fire this month. The 3 highest paid players on offense are certainly doing their part.

Jeff Kent apparently thinks he's 22 instead of 42

Finally, somebody ignores Rich Donnely.

Kent with the California rolling stop there. I hope he didn't get a ticket for that.

Baseball's great. Bleed Dodger blue. Dodgers. McCourt. Gibson. Greatest game in the world. Pasta. Hate the Giants.

don't forget slim fast

That play sounded ugly--- but, you know, Steiner was calling it.

JD Drew just added a digit to his RBI total

what kind of baseball credentials does Donnely have?

Drew doubled, and then advanced to 2nd on a throwing error?

How did Kent score all the way from 1st?
Is Moises Alou really that slow out in RF?

Big moves by Lofton and Kent on the base path.

282
If anything, the error should be givin to Alou, he did bobble it.

As for Maddux having a game without an assist, I can't find day-by-day fielding totals. I checked last year's on Retrosheet and in only two starts did Maddux not record a putout or assist.

I'm still rooting desperately to win, and could never do anything else, but if by chance we don't make the play-offs or have to play extra games(suicidal with our pitching) I won't feel it reflects on our talent. We are using hurt players and utility players we don't have to, and not even playing in position.

cain's not going to make it much longer. how is the giants bullpen?

285 - sounds about right. Thanks, Bob.

282

my spelling skills don't allow me to answer you're question sorry bro.

The Giants bullpen is not just a job, it's an adventure.

i like adventure, bob

The game plan must be to hit the ball towards Moises Alou general direction.

Lofton- triple on fly ball to RF Moises Alou
Furcal- doubles on ground ball to RF Moises Alou
Lofton- singles on soft fly ball to RF Moises Alou
Lugo- doubles on line drive to RF Moises Alou
Maddux- singles on soft line drive to RF Moises Alou
Drew- doubles on line drive to RF Moises Alou

287 - Mike Stanton is the closer

http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/stantmi02.shtml

Althought Lugo has gained lot of positive points today, Betemit is slowing creeping up on Lugo for the most underperforming Dodger.

280 He's a baseball lifer. Base coaches are recycled like two liter bottles of Pepsi.

See: Roenike, Ron. Sveum, Dale.

Knoedler manages 6 pitches out of Maddux.

Why pinch hit for your catcher but not your pitcher?

How important is a 1st base coach?
Why are there 1st base coaches?

292 Don't forget Jeff Kent!

Jeff Kent singles on a line drive to right fielder Moises Alou.

Maddux came into the game with 1644 fielding chances as a pitcher. He is 117 behind Christy Mathewson's record. He would likely have to pitch two more years to break the record.

Or have a lot of guys try to bunt on him.

294

i was thinking that my self.

3.5!

i worry that ethier's struggles have little to do with being tired and more to do with the league catching up with him. i hope that i'm wrong because he seemed so good (and it doesn't hurt that he's the best looking dodger)

Bob, when you have a chance, check out the wrapup of the Everton/Manchester City game.

Goal at the death, foul language, mooning fans. Good times.

Andre Ethier singles on a ground ball to RF Moises Alou.

through the 3.5 hole

If you didn't have a first base coach, who would yell "BACK!" ?

Randy Choate in to pitch to replace Gonzalez who will in turn in be facing Gonzalez.

Gonzalez looks on from left field.

And who would yell at Jake Peavy?

306 If you ever attend a Dodger game and hear a bunch of idiots in the stands yelling "BACK!" on every throw to first...

Congrats. That's me and my friends.

306

Chris Berman?

C'mon Greg, chicks dig the long ball

OK ... so the Fox game is over here in NYC, and I STILL can't get the 4PM games on Extra innings or MLB.TV ..... sigh

today's episode of Dodgers Playoff Adventures features Greg Maddux in the role of Orel Hershiser

I predict a single up the middle ...

hey, Brock, is there a place to see those highlights somewhere online?

302

you're a chick huh!

303
More importantly, my nephew's soccer team won its first soccer game. Ever. They won 3-1 today and my nephew scored a goal, his first since kindergarten. He's in third grade.

He likes to play in the back. I think he's better equipped to be a libero.

316 last time i checked ;)

Get used to seeing a lot of Felipe for the rest of the game.

315 Here's the BBC article, with video clips. Fox Soccer (DirecTV 613) should also cover it.

http://tinyurl.com/ojwt7

Not Doug Mirabelli drives in a run to make it 3-0 Padres.

321

Not Doug Mirabelli .... nice! :-)

317 Congrats, Uncle Bob. Tell your nephew that fans love the strikers, but coaches love defenders.

4 HR allowed in 89 AB

pinch hit here?

Hmmm .... Beltre is now at 25, 88, .268 .... not quite 13M/yr. worthy, but not as putrid as what his first two months would have foretold

thanks, Brock.

golden opportunity.

Don't die on me Fox.

325
That is pretty much a common Beltre season.

326 Glad to help.

323
My nephew apparently has started to learn to lean over the ball when kicking it. Third grade goalies don't like bending kicks in the air. They are used to stopping balls rolling on the ground.

Beltre has hit 9 homers in september.
16 homers in Aug/September.

Yeah, that a regular Beltre type of season.

303. That's my boys. Richards is quickly becoming City's version of Nomar.

These giants make it easy for Maddux.
They swing at everything.

I suggest Beimel, Broxton, and Saito to close this out.

60 pitches in 6 ip.

Do you think they might let Maddox go 80 or 90 pitches if it means making the play-offs?

On Dodgers.com, there's a picture of Maddux in action.

Two questions==

1) What kind of pitch does that grip indicate he's throwing?

2) Does the ball he's throwing have two small (scuff?) marks.....hmmmmmmm......?

331 That's outstanding. No matter the age, my first two practices always entail twenty minute ball striking practice, where one kid holds the ball, and another plants his foot, leans over, and strikes the ball in slow motion. Ball striking and using the outside of your foot are the two most criminally undercoached things in soccer.

It's very odd listening to "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" while this game is on. I laugh at moments that shouldn't be laughed at, like Lofton's strikeout.

I think Maddux has another inning in him

Brandon Medders gets out of the mess without further damage. 3-0 Padres

I wish I knew this stuff about striking a ball when I played youth soccer.

338 - that looks like the mlb logo

Maddux should definitely go 1 more.
Then Broxton/Saito for the last two.

Khalil Greene playing shortstop now for San Diego.

I suggest Beimel, Broxton, and Saito to close this out.

McCarver teretory

The baserunning adventures return at a less than ideal time of the season

Bad baserunning by Drew.

betemit, 0-4.

Drew leaves his brains at the plate.

Drew, what on earth are you thinking?

Are we SURE Vizquel can't make the Hall mostly on his defense?

349
It was also a very good play by Vizquel and Niekro.

Is there any reason for putting Wilson Betemit in the lineup?

Look on the bright side, it would have been a DP by Betemit anyways.

.392 OBP. 20 HR's, 100 R'sBI.

I think JD has done just fine this year. He has, at least, silenced some people.

356 - you assume the same pitch sequence.

355 - the best reason is putting him in instead of Lugo. He has gone yard for the D's before too

For those on gameday, Drew was actually out at 1st, not 2nd.

355. He's not Julio Lugo.

Thats the best I can come up with.

if not betemit, then who at third?

355 Well, now that Lugo has decided to hit, Rob ... :-O

338 - yeah looks like a MLB logo and that Maddox is throwing a 4 seamer... although it's hard to tell. It's definitely not a sinker.

356
Betemit's grounder wouldn't have been a DP. It wasn't hit all that hard.

did he forget to tag first?

I don't know if anyone has mentioned before, but Vin doing the last three innings in addition to the first three is a God-send for me. I'm stuck in Rochester, NY without TV coverage because FOX has the rights to the game. I like Charlie & Rick, but Vin is amazing.

365, they probably would of turned it, betemit is slow as molasis.

365 Bob, what time do you head out to the Rose Bowl since you live so far away?

367

I second that (e)motion ...

Diane in NYC ....

367
Hey Steve. You listening to the game online?

For me, Maddux is going

ALL

THE

WAY!!!

Why do they stick Charlie Stiener with a color guy? He's always struck me as a guy that could do games on his own.

By the way, why do they have color guys in baseball?

Padres pinch-hitting for Wells in the 7th. It will probably Merebrinkman to finish up.

I was not envisioning Maddux getting us to the 8th.