1 Yes. It is also the most.

Trick question!

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2008_09_17_sdnmlb_colmlb_1

[slime]

You Can't Say That on Television, or You Can't Do That On Television?

That was a great theme song: http://tinyurl.com/h2x7l

4/30/2002 and 5/1, vs Pittsburgh (10-0 and 6-0)
6/19/2006 and 6/20, vs Oakland (6-0 and 7-0)

??? Maddux's last game was a throwback to his remarkable peak: 7IP, 2H, 0R, OBB, 3Ks in an economical 68 pitch outing. The team lost 1-0, but not due to Maddux.

He may not be able to replicate anything real close. But at 42 he realizes this might be his last shot at another ring. Last time out he showed that vintage Maddux is still reachable.

IIRC, Kuroda has been called the Japanese Maddux. He followed Maddux with 7IP, 3H, 0R, 1BB, and 2Ks in an almost-as-economical 83 pitches.

Then came Lowe with 7IP, 5H, 1ER, 0BB, 3Ks, 97 pitches.

That's a combined 21 IP, 10H, 1ER, 1BB, and 8Ks for the last three Dodger starters.

It just doesn't get a whole lot better than that.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1595048/20080917/story.jhtml

Get your blood tests, everyone. It could save your life!

If you have a few extra bucks, here you go http://tinyurl.com/4qzea9

Realistically the Dodgers can do most of this themselves: If the Dodgers go a reasonable 7-4 in their remaining 11 games, the Snakes would have to win all 12 of their remaining games just to force a tie.
With 2 games left in Pittsburgh, chances are good the team can accomplish this within the next homestand. Besides, I don't think the D-Backs will win all their games in CO and STL on their next road trip. Division is very much within their sights now. They must not get ahead of themselves.

but i just saw a clip of roger clemens pitching his 20 strike outs at fenway and there were maybe 6 fans in the outfield..just a thought considering LA is always pegged with the "fair weather city"

I also heard something on the radio a while back where someone compared dodger fans to marlins fans in 2003. He said in the same way that marlin fans only came out to see dontrell, dodger fans only come out to see clayton kershaw..

I may of never heard a more blatantly false statement about a group of fans..

but just so I know (because it IS a life/death importance fact of life), but are Manny's dreads gone, or just pinned up?

"Ramirez, a free agent after this season, confirmed he doesn't need a rest."

"I'm Cal Ripken," he said.

http://tinyurl.com/4ozapw

How do I look up Billingsley's home and away splits on Baseball Reference?

I wouldn't think it could've helped Morgan to note who he was.

Disgusting story. A nice gesture by Nyjer Morgan turns into that garbage.

All he needs is 12.1 more scoreless innings! :)

but who am I kidding, outside the NL west rival announcing, these guys rock

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-marathon18-2008sep18,0,7108862.story

Do these guys even realize the things they are saying? Thats just too ridiculous, expecially after the year that Cano had this year.

Chad struggling a bit tonight.

Beimel, a former member of the Pirates who grew up in Pennsylvania and was having dinner with family after the game, said it's happened to him.

"Guess they're pretty strict with it here," he said.

Jumping to conclusions with that DWB?

The Red Sox have used three pitchers in the third and two of them have made errors. It's very 2006 World Series-like.

That would more likely be an Amber Alert.

I guess that means Loney hits against lefties.

Rounding third on a base hit, Bowa held him because the right fielder was so shallow. Nomar tried to stop with his right leg and the left one just sort of gave way.

I guess i missed the part where Bowa was sending Nomar initially. If he ddi, scratch whatever i said.

Our infield defense is crap today.

The poor guy can't catch a good break.

Tipoff is set for 10 AM.

OK, big AB here, great first pitch from Bills.

Chad had 2 chances to get a guy out and he didn't do it.

Hope you're well. The weather here in Pittsburgh is a little cooler than it was in Los Angeles, but it's okay. The team isn't very good, but I'm doing everything I can to make it better.

Regards,
   -- Andy

Of course, but all but one of the runs is a direct result of poor infield defense. That all adds up to extra pitches, turning over the lineup, etc. Its not fair to Chad for him to get 4 or 5 outs an inning.

No, he just butchered it royally. He actually got to the ball in time which was surprising because of his lack of range and then went into a sort of half dive that didnt need to be made. The ball went right between his glove and his feet.

we ain't...goin' nowhere...

we can't be stopped now...

RUSS!

He finally made it!

this is where it stops!

on the ozuna play...if he was more competent the ball would've hit his glove thus causing the error. as it were the ball went between his legs and the glove.

lol good point

Bullpen vs. Bullpen.

And er, yeah. Don't know how Berroa thought that was a triple, but I'm really glad he tied the score up.

Actually I've been lurking, watched the last couple of kooky innings. Even after LaRoche (Adam) hit the grand slam I didn't give up on this game at all, I'm sure y'all didn't either. Adam's having himself a nice game, though.

Oh, and some of you (ahem) jinxed Chad today with all your talk of ERA predictions. For shame! For shame! ;-)

--

Ozuna's hustle got him safe at first. His spacing out almost cost them a run though. But we'll take it.

Huh? Messy fielding caused the out?

And actually Procter's doing great. Nobody has hit the ball hard against him. I'm astounded.

And I don't have that long of a drive home.

And Elbert looks less sharp, walking "McClouth(!)." C'mon Scott!

I have to look at Joe as a comic manager or I would be crying right now. You can't lose this game, but I feel he has tried several way.

Why did Torre put him up there?

On a related note, for my penance for jinxing Chad tonight, I have one (yes, only one) reserved level ticket to Sunday's game against the Giants. I will give it away for free to the first person who emails me at ericdstephen at gmail dot com.

Or if the defense didnt completely suck tonight and didnt force Bills to get 4 outs in 3 different innings.

Let's go outfield!

Los Angeles Librarian Arrested For Illegal Fishing

California game warden Juan Pierre has arrested Bob Timmermann of the downtown Los Angeles library and charged him with the illegal taking of fish, a misdemeanor punishable by something or other, Pierre said.

Timmermann claimed he was under a lot of pressure, what with his library duties and maintaining The Griddle at baseballtoaster.com, along with continuing to be a prolific commenter at Dodger Thoughts at that same Internet address. Since Timmermann also follows numerous sports and several other interests closely, he said, he just did not have time to wait for fish to bite in the normal way.

He added that if he had known it would come to this, he would have gone to Texas and retrieved some of the fish caught there in a chain link fence following Hurricane Ike, or perhaps just picked up some of the thousands of others lying in the road.

http://blogs.theledger.com/default.asp?item=2263265

http://www.pixcetera.com/news/destruction-in-the-hurricane-zone/35139 (#2)

"It's a fine kettle of fish Mr. Timmermann has gotten himself into," commented Pierre, who admitted that he is not sure what the penalty is for this offense because he has just begun this second career following his surprising release from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"Actually, if Mr. Timmermann had not incriminated himself by admitting his crime on Dodger Thoughts, it would have been very hard to catch him in the act," Pierre went on.

Pierre pointed out that seeing Timmermann's admission of guilt was a stroke of luck. He said he has taken to following Dodger Thoughts closely due to abuse heaped on him by DT commenters all during his Dodger career. "The arrest of this hardened criminal brings a certain level of satisfaction," he said. "This should be a warning to his cohorts at Dodger Thoughts that I'm watching them closely.

"This is far from being just a fish story," Pierre concluded.

3-0 Giants Top 1!

Given the way this inning is going we may finally see McDonald

Oops. 2 out and nobody on.

So let's bring in Elbert earlier and have him give up two runs then instead of now? Again, Chad got burned for 7 runs early so the pen gets out of whack, it happens. I probably would've left Proctor in there for another out, too, but a bunch of people were wondering why he was still in there.

At least we can be assured JJJ won't be on the post-season roster.

And can feel some warmth in our hearts for beleaguered Andy LR having a good day, too. (A small amount of warmth.)

And still, this game isn't over.

But I'm going to have dinner now instead. Later.

I don't know, I'm kind of looking at this as a "get everything out our system game."

Sept 2nd to answer my own question. Thats after he went 14 innings in august with a 2.5 era.

Guys, really, mellow out.

What. The. Hell?

I'm not feeling too bad about this game. It happens.

I think 469 and 471 sum it up best for me.

Mostly I keep checking back just to see if McDonald is pitching.

D'Backs down 3-1 Top 2.

If Bob doesn't need bail money, I'm outta here.

The Dodgers hold that record with 12 runs scored against the Reds on August 8, 1954 in the 8th inning. The Dodgers scored 13 in all, but the first run came in on a sac fly and then the next batter made out.

Take a deep breath:

DODGERS 8TH: JUDSON REPLACED GREENGRASS (PITCHING); BRIDGES
REPLACED BORKOWSKI (PLAYING SS); Hodges tripled to right;
Furillo hit a sacrifice fly to right [Hodges scored]; Gilliam
grounded out (second to first); Campanella was walked
intentionally; Labine walked [Campanella to second]; Hoak walked
[Campanella to third, Labine to second]; Reese reached on an
error by Harmon [Campanella scored (unearned), Labine scored
(unearned) (no RBI), Hoak to third, Reese to second (on throw)];
COLLUM REPLACED JUDSON (PITCHING); Snider walked; Robinson
singled to right [Hoak scored (unearned), Reese scored
(unearned), Snider scored (unearned)]; AMOROS RAN FOR ROBINSON;
Hodges doubled [Amoros to third]; Furillo singled to center
[Amoros scored (unearned), Hodges scored (unearned)]; Gilliam
was hit by a pitch [Furillo to second]; Campanella singled to
left [Furillo scored (unearned), Gilliam to second]; Labine
walked [Gilliam to third, Campanella to second]; SMITH REPLACED
COLLUM (PITCHING); Hoak homered (unearned) [Gilliam scored
(unearned), Campanella scored (unearned), Labine scored
(unearned)]; Reese walked; Snider singled to right [Reese to
second]; Amoros walked [Reese to third, Snider to second];
FOWLER REPLACED SMITH (PITCHING); Hodges flied to center; 13 R
(1 ER), 7 H, 1 E, 3 LOB. Reds 5, Dodgers 20.

https://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/292323.html

DODGERS 8TH: JUDSON REPLACED GREENGRASS (PITCHING); BRIDGES
REPLACED BORKOWSKI (PLAYING SS); Hodges tripled to right;
Furillo hit a sacrifice fly to right [Hodges scored]; Gilliam
grounded out (second to first); 2 OUTS: Campanella was walked
intentionally; Labine walked [Campanella to second]; Hoak walked
[Campanella to third, Labine to second]; Reese reached on an
error by Harmon [Campanella scored (unearned), Labine scored
(unearned) (no RBI), Hoak to third, Reese to second (on throw)];
COLLUM REPLACED JUDSON (PITCHING); Snider walked; Robinson
singled to right [Hoak scored (unearned), Reese scored
(unearned), Snider scored (unearned)]; AMOROS RAN FOR ROBINSON;
Hodges doubled [Amoros to third]; Furillo singled to center
[Amoros scored (unearned), Hodges scored (unearned)]; Gilliam
was hit by a pitch [Furillo to second]; Campanella singled to
left [Furillo scored (unearned), Gilliam to second]; Labine
walked [Gilliam to third, Campanella to second]; SMITH REPLACED
COLLUM (PITCHING); Hoak homered (unearned) [Gilliam scored
(unearned), Campanella scored (unearned), Labine scored
(unearned)]; Reese walked; Snider singled to right [Reese to
second]; Amoros walked [Reese to third, Snider to second];
FOWLER REPLACED SMITH (PITCHING); Hodges flied to center; 13 R
(1 ER), 7 H, 1 E, 3 LOB. Reds 5, Dodgers 20.

The four choices were the Phillies, Dodgers, Mets and Brewers.

Philles 59%, Dodgers 19%, Mets 10%, Brewers 12%.

The White Sox scored 11 overall, getting a leadoff homer.

WHITE SOX 5TH: Smith homered; McAnany grounded out (pitcher to
first); Stanka grounded out (second to first); Aparicio singled
to right; Aparicio stole second; Fox singled to center [Aparicio
scored]; Landis walked [Fox to second]; Kluszewski singled to
right [Fox scored, Landis to third]; Lollar singled to left
[Landis scored, Kluszewski to second]; MORGAN REPLACED FOYTACK
(PITCHING); Goodman singled to center [Kluszewski scored, Lollar
to third]; Smith singled to center [Lollar scored, Goodman to
third]; McAnany singled to right [Goodman scored, Smith to
third]; Stanka singled to third [Smith scored, McAnany to
second]; Aparicio was hit by a pitch [McAnany to third, Stanka
to second]; Fox tripled to center [McAnany scored, Stanka
scored, Aparicio scored]; NARLESKI REPLACED MORGAN (PITCHING);
Landis made an out to third; 11 R, 10 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Tigers 3,
White Sox 11.

That kind of describes the Dodgers today in general.

The Dodgers now have the tying run... in the bathroom.

Florida leads Houston 14-2
Detroit leads Texas 12-1

But, hey James McDonald!

They just took it off my friend's desk.

In broad office light.

I'm still ticked off about that far more than this game.

Some day James McDonald will sit back on his farm and tell his grandkids the story of getting the win in his MLB debut.

I'm lovin' it. (tm?)

Or maybe it was Pam Anderson, striking a blow for vegetarians.

Ever?

Are you Tony LaRussa?

If they gain one tonight, they will still be a game under .500

He's been cleared.

But Gary Bennett might be a suspect.

I liked his velo also, but he dont know how much of that can be attributed to his long layoff and just pitching one inning. I'd imagine as a starter he sits at 89-90.

Good night for Bison.

Possibilities still exist for a SF trip to see the final two Sat/Sun games, and possibly to see underdog's cats.

Go figure ...

And the Dodgers have the tying run on... (let's see... doing the math... carry the one...) the phone in the clubhouse.

Duh. I think most of the consternation is due to Torre's backwards use of Beimel/Elbert and pulling Proctor after he was going so well.

I love this, down by 8 runs, and we are still scoring runs in the 9th. We might not win it, but its great to see the guys chugging away.

Which I consider a problem. Elbert just came up and Torre has used him mostly in higher leverage, late inning situations. Beimel has been very good at his job but is used incorrectly and in the wrong spots. There was no reason to waste him for 1 batter in the 5th inning. Just poor bullpen use.

And now his removal is a hanging offense?

Sometimes, you make a decision and it doesn't pan out. Sort of like when I bought a ticket to go see "I HEART Huckabees"

The only two times in seven games that Elbert had given up runs were when the scores were 8-0 Dodgers and 7-0 Dodgers.

If the Dodgers win tomorrow, that will conclude a very successful 7-3 road trip.

Was it the turkey sandwich Monica made?

604

Agreed. The only frustrating thing for me that inning was the walk Elbert gave up to the first batter.

https://griddle.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1052330.html

Or anyone buying a ticket to Cleveland (for the first time).

"It's something that needs to change," Mattingly said.

_____
http://www.pe.com/sports/baseball/dodgers/vitindex.html

It's really cool when Brad Pitt and Tom Skerritt start lobbing hand grenades in to the river to stop the bad guys from stealing the collection plate from the church.

636 Paul, Xavier, you mean. Xavier's his first name. Maybe we'll see him next season, or another team will.

(--Bender)

Okay, off to try to get some work down. Hasta manana. Hopefully no one on the Dodgers will be profiled by the police tonight.

And yet given up only one run and only four hits.

That is Shaquelle Evans, WR.

7-3 AZ.

Steven Goldman: The guy wasn't in a wheelchair. He had no hands, so operating a wheelchair might have been a problem. When Cobb started stomping the guy, people around him shouted, "He has no hands!" Cobb said, "I don't care if he has no feet!" and kept stomping. Cobb did not discriminate against the physically challenged, just non-whites.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/chat/chat.php?chatId=523

I agreed with the move as well.

the subtleties of the game & how it can emulate life is very intriguing.

http://blogs.chron.com/leonhale/2008/02/fishing_with_green_walnuts.html

And then an aftershock.

"I voted for Pujols," Ramirez said.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-dodgersfyi18-2008sep18,0,3741487.story

Is the 22-4 record the Dodgers started out with in 1977 the best stretch of games in L.A Dodger history?

Dodgers neeed a win, then all the pressure will be on the Dbax facing Lincecum.

Magic Number: 8

If the Dodgers go 5-5 in their remaining 10 games the Diamondbacks would have to go 9-2 in their remaining 11 games in order to force a divisional tiebreaker at Dodger Stadium.

I'm still not 100% confident about our chances, but it's nice to be on the other side of the ledger for a change. :)

--

Just watched Sunday's "Mad Men." Woo, Betty Draper sure is getting nuttier all the time. And how long do we think Joan Hollaway's marriage bliss will last? Two more episodes?

cargill06
Sushirabbit
preacherroe
MidwestBlue
Benaiah

They all predicted an 90-72 record.

Dodgers are currently on pace for an 84-78 record, which was only prediction by one poster: uke*.

*I have a feeling I may have mistyped that name.

>>Because I know many of you are going to ask, we (I) did ask Joe Torre about removing Scott Proctor in the seventh inning. For those who weren't watching, Proctor had retired all five batters he had faced in what was now a 7-7 game, and Torre brought in rookie lefty Scott Elbert, who came on with two outs and nobody on, walked the first batter he faced and wound up allowing four runs without recording an out.

Here is what Joe said:

``The guy comng up (Nate McLouth) had hit 26 home runs, 23 of them against right-handers. I felt pretty good about that situation. We thought we were set up for that line of hitters, but it just didn't work out. (Elbert) just tried to overthrow the ball.''<<

>>Nomar's knee isn't as bad as it originally looked, but he'll miss at least a day or two. He said he fully expects it to feel a lot worse tomorrow. But he also said he thinks the injury is limited to the MCL, the same injury that resulted in the most recent of his DL stints this season. He wouldn't guess as to how long it will keep him out, but given that the Dodgers aren't expected to try to re-sign him this winter, I supposed it's possible he has played his last game for them. But again, he didn't sound like a guy whose season just ended, so we'll see<<

http://www.insidesocal.com/dodgers/

Maybe Matt Luke posted under a pseudonym.

-The incessant, karma provoking mocking of all things Pittsburgh by the smarm producing Charlie Steiner, typically piggybacked by Josh and Ken on the radio side nightly.
-The total collapse of Billingsley in the biggest game of the year, in particular his walking the bases loaded with two outs followed by the crushing salami.
-The possible end of Nomar's career on the third anniversary evening of the 4 homerun game. Also freakish.
-The implausable 8 runs with two outs after a simple choice by Torre to go with the lefty after Proctor pitched his best game all year, causing a chain reaction crash heard 3000 miles away.

While numerous things must simultaneously happen for the perfect storm of a Dodger collapse, the opening strains to such a song seem to have been sung here on this rather disturbing evening in Pennsylvania, the state that will also have an enormous impact on the general election.

Are we on our way to becoming this years Mets? Or are the Mets on their way to becoming this years Mets, yet again? Tomorrows game is far bigger now for the 20 year old prodigy then it was mere hours ago. Torre's leadership AND decision making is slightly more vice like.

I shudder to think.

I'm normally a pessimist among pessimists, but tonight's game didn't bother me in the slightest.

"This year's Mets" - after a one-game losing streak?

Surely you didn't think the Dodgers would go undefeated.

I won't deny anyone their feelings, but try to put them in perspective.