Woof!

I wouldn't make any changes to the format at all.

And I remember when only two teams from each league made the post-season. Talk about a lot of sad Octobers for most fans. What're they gonna do, give the top seeded teams 3 straight games at home? Stretch the NLDS to 7 games and push everything well into November? Nah, this is about as fair as it gets.

Stupid pet tricks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D85yrIgA4Nk

I'd like to see seven games in the first round.

And eventually expand the playoffs to 16 teams, and 4 rounds of playoffs, with six spots guaranteed for division winners, and the 12 spots open to teams from both leagues. Are the Blue Jays, and Yankees really that much better than any NL team not named the Cubs this year? Lets actually prove it in playoff series instead of using that cliche of AL teams are infinitely superior over NL teams. Of course this'll never happen, so I'll just take expanding the first round to seven games.

Since I got LAT'd

I really wasn't aware of how alive and well homophobia is in this country until yesterday. Neil literally got called every derogatory name synonymous with 'gay' in the book, and many, many times over.

And it always came from men. Women would yell things like "Brewers suck" or "Go home" but not one woman speculated loudly about Neil's sexuality.

4

That makes me sad

4 Nods head sadly.

It's particularly glaringly shocking, though, when one is in San Francisco and hearing it. (Though again I don't think these guys exactly represented the city.) But it's scary and depressing when you hear it anywhere. Sorry he had to deal with that.

I wouldn't mind the division series being a best of 7 match up. I wouldn't cut games though. I'd have double headers on Labor Day, 4th of July, and Memorial Day - even if they are the day/night variety. Ultimately, I don't have a problem with the playoffs. I don't see it as a crap shoot, and instead see it as a competition of skill, talent, and strategy. Luck, as they say, is when preparation meets opportunity.

My windmill is more the unbalanced schedule than anything. I'd rather have a balanced schedule and no interleague play. Not really sure how the Cubs and Brewers getting to play extra games against the Reds, Astros, and Pirates really is.

4
Don't step foot on a high-school campus.

6
Grown up in Bay Area practically my whole life and everyone uses those insults. It's just a part of our culture.

I could handle re-seeding based on record. If you're going to disallow the WC and top-seed playing each other if they come from the same division (blatant Red Sox/Yankees pandering, but hey), why not just stack rank them 1-4, and go 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3?

Also, home field should be determined by record and not division winner status. I don't think LA should get homefield against Milwaukee next round (yeah right) just because LA played in a crummy division.

Mark me down for 7 games in first round. If 154 isn't enough to decide who belongs in the Playoffs, then 5 REALLY isn't enough to decide who can advance.

Wouldn't that just make Philly homophobic, not the whole country?

12
Young people in general.

I can't even tell you about how often people use the N word.

Molly,

for me it is the same with racism in this country. I grew up in the LA area, and I know it is far from perfect, but I have become used to a pretty diverse population around me. I grew up pretty naive about racism in general

3 16 teams? Good lord, this isn't hockey.

Part of what I like about baseball's postseason is that it generally does a good job of weeding out the mediocre teams. Not a perfect job -- this year, the Dodgers get the booby prize, but in past years, it's been the Padres, the Cardinals... any number of teams that have been barely above average.

This is heresy, I know, but there's an argument that the NL would be better represented if we were out of it and the Mets were in it -- that is, if the four best records in the NL went to the postseason. Same thing in the AL -- cut the White Sox, add the Yankees, and maybe, maybe, the AL is better represented.

But we don't just care about record when we make up the postseason schedules. Baseball has decided that geography should count for something, and that's probably a good idea. If not, it could happen that, just by chance, there would be no team from the entire western US in the playoffs. That's not good for the sport, so setting up a system that requires each region to be represented is probably a good idea.

So I'd change nothing.

Post-season records don't count toward a player's season or lifetime stats. The home run totals for Ruth, Aaron and Bonds don't include any of their postseason home runs. And that's fine. It's a separate deal.

To me, the postseason is a kind of exhibition season, the closed parenthesis to spring training. The season itself is what's real. Winning your division is the truest achievement, the best evidence of superiority. There should be some award given in each division for the team that had the best record, and another award for the team that had the best record in the league.

By including the Wild Card team on equal terms with at least one division winner, the post-season loses all claim to the role of determining a champion. The 2002 World Series was a matchup of two teams that couldn't win their divisions. It was a fun series between two good teams, but how could either of them have been considered "champions" under the circumstances?

There's no fixing it unless MLB went to four divisions or back to two. And there's probably no reason to fix it. It's fine the way it is. But it's a tournament. When the Dodgers win their division, that's the pinnacle in my book. The subsequent games are a kind of reward to the fans bestowed after having reached that pinnacle.

4
That's really sad. In San Diego, there is usually limited verbal insults if I wear Dodger gear, but it's rarely that bad.

Earlier this year, though, as I was walking to the Convention Center to my car, one fan took umbrage to my Chad jersey by continually shouting "Billings-gay". He kept yelling it, trying to get my attention, but I never turned around. It was not creativity at its finest moment, that's for sure.

11 Sure it is, for the very reason that Jon gets at in his post.

The playoffs don't determine which team is best. The playoffs determine which team gets to call itself the Champion.

If you want to ensure that the best team is the Champion, it's very easy. Set up a balanced schedule, cancel the postseason, and call the team with the best record the Champ.

But we don't do that, because the playoffs are fun. Champion is just a title (or a Title) -- maybe the only one that matters, since nobody cares who won the regular season... but just a title. Once you get to the postseason, no team has more of a right to that title than any other until the World Series is over.

Someone needs to tell Dale Sveum that polite discourse requires that one not begin every sentence with the interjection "Obviously...."

Of course, it's also possible that Sveum is just a sore loser.

Does anyone know if the game is on NASN tonight? I don't have cable and enjoyed watching the game on the internet for free.

19 - you could do away with divisions in each league, balance the schedule and go old school and the team with the best record in each league is the champ and they play each other in the World Series. But a lot of people would miss the play offs.

I think the main problem with MLB's post-season is that it's just too random, too often. The best team doesn't win often enough to really think of the "World Series Champions" and "Best Team in Baseball" as synonyms. The NFL is a little better, but the NBA is easily the best at this. Also, how interesting are upsets when they happen so often?

I would eliminate the wild card, go to two division leagues where the division champs each played in a League Championship Series (like they did before the wild card). But I would have each of the three series (NLCS, ALCS, WS) be a nine-game series - with more games the better team wins more often - also I'd try to schedule the games as closely together as possible to avoid teams being able to rely heavily on 2-3 starting pitchers - depth should matter.

Yeah, I think the problem is that I just wasn't expecting it. I was ready for some really clever insults, and I was disappointed. The two funniest comments came from the same guy. When we were picking up our tickets he yelled at Neil: "Your team sucks. Your city sucks. Your starting pitcher today sucks. And your hair sucks." Haha.

Then he came back later and yelled "Who wears pinstriped uniform pants with a solid colored shirt?! This is an outrage!"

I shook that man's hand.

Every-time the Giants come to Dodger Stadium, anyone in orange and black is subjected to homophobic slurs. Embarrassing.

I have been to at least 30 Dodger/Giant games at Dodger Stadium in my lifetime and I can honestly say I've never heard a homophobic slur aimed at any Giant fan. I've seen drunken abusive behavior, but not specifically that kind of slur.

18, edited -

18. Lexinthedena
Every-time the Giants come to Dodger Stadium, anyone in orange and black is subjected to homophobic slurs. Embarrassing.

22 And then contract about 15 teams. Really, you can't have a best team from each league only goes to the postseason when there's 30 teams in the MLB.

27 - yeah, I know. I really don't mind the current format. Like I said, my windmill is the unbalanced schedule and interleague play.

23 I think the main problem with MLB's post-season is that it's just too random, too often.

I appreciate this point, so I'm not trying to be flip when I say this:

That's baseball.

Your system would certainly make certain that better teams make the postseason -- by necessity, since fewer teams would make the postseason. And it would bring back the classic pennant race, which would be fun.

But we'd lose a number of things:

1) wild card races, which have been real and fun.
2) a whole round of playoffs. also fun.
3) the chance to expand the sport's popularity by giving more teams (and thus more fans) a chance to be emotionally invested in the postseason.

Just something to consider.

I'd be up for scrapping interleague play and making the All-Star break last a week. You could have interleague exhibition games then...crosstown rivalries and stuff?

Just a random idea.

28 I tried to think about this the other day. If MLB went back to a balanced schedule and eliminated the wild card, it would have to revert to just an NL West and NL East. I was wondering what the NL West would look like in order to keep the rivalries intact. I figured it would be the NL West plus Houston, Cincinatti and Milwaukee, even though that would mean Chicago and Milwaukee are roughly 90 miles away from each other and in different divisions.

31 It wouldn't have to revert to two divisions.

It could be that the team with the best record gets a bye to the LCS and that the other two play off for the right to face them.

But I don't know that this is an improvement. Probably not.

I really wish the Dodger game was the 3:00 clock game. My friends are having a Vice Presidential debate drinking game tonight.

I have to figure out how to balance both.

21

This link is working for me right now

http://tinyurl.com/rays-sox

Although it is running through WMV or Quicktime

33

rules?

4 division within each league, 4 teams within each division. Expand with two more teams in the AL, putting a team in Portland, and a team in Mexico City.

35
I am not sure. But I am guessing when a certain candidate (you can guess which one) says certain words we have to drink. But that is just my assumption, they actually seem to have rules and plans set up for this.

37

That could get ugly fast

36 The part of me that digs chaos would loooooove a team in Mexico City.

Denver elevation: 5,280 feet

Mexico City elevation: 7,349 feet

32 I think a bye would hurt in baseball. In the last two years (yes I know very small sample size) the two teams who mowed down their respective leagues (Colorado and Detroit) had to wait an extended period of time for their opponent and were subsequently eliminated handily in the Series. And its not simply a matter of losing momentum, baseball is a game set up so that the only days off are Mondays and Thursdays for 6 straight months; the idea of introducing a full week off after that would (in my opinion) be a detriment to overcome.

This is my suggestion - stay with me, as it is sort of a double-elimination format:
- Same as now, 4 teams advance. Three Division winners are seeded 1-3 and the Wild Card #4.
- Round 1: Best 2 out of 3 (all games at the top seed), for instance, this year it would be Dodgers at Phillies; Brewers at Cubs.
- Round 2: Best 2 out of 3 (all games at the high seed). Both Round 1 winners play against each other; both round 1 losers play against each other. Let's say the Dodgers and Cubs win round 1, round 2 would be Dodgers at Cubs and Brewers at Phillies.
- The team that wins both rounds advances to a best-of-5 LCS (2-2-1 format starting at home) and gets a 3-day bye; the teams that go 1-1 in the first 2 rounds play each other in round 3 (best 2 out of 3 at high seed). Let's say the Dodgers beat the Cubs in round 2 and the Phillies beat the Brewers. Dodgers await the round 3 winner to start the LCS at Dodger Stadium. At this point only the team that lost both series is gone.
- LCS: let's say the Phillies beat the Cubs. The Phillies and Dodgers would play a best-of-five series; winner goes to the World Series. Dodgers would be rewarded for winning the first 2 series with a rested staff and could set-up their rotation.

There it is. To advance to the WS, a team would need to win 2+2+3=7 games, just like now. It's fair because the top seed would play two mini-series at home, and would need to lose them both for a quick exit. Pitchers would have to be used like the regular season, since there would only be one off-day between 3-game series. You could even lose a mini-series and survive.

29. Those are legit points. I just think its a blancing act because baseball is so random we want to avoid that randomness by playing as many games as possible. Basically I think the Cards winning two years ago with a barely .500 record to be a big problem; they simply weren't the best team in baseball.

I would be open to keeping the system the way it is now, with the Wild Cards, but expanding the length of the series. I'd be willing to shorten the Regular Season by 10-15 games, even 20, if the Playoff series could be expanded to 7-9-9 or even 9-9-9. That way the playoffs could be seen as a 'second season' for the legit clubs.

38
I do know I have to bring a playing card with me or something.

Yes, it could. I guess everyone is practicing for Oktoberfest this weekend.

31 - it wouldn't really effect the rivalries. Milwaukee and Chicago would play each other about 10 times a season in an unbalanced schedule.

What I really don't like about the wild card right now is that you're in a race with teams that are playing different schedules than you are. If you're the Dodgers or D'Backs, you're facing the tough pitching of the NL West and the AL East. While the Brewers get the Reds, Astros, Cards, and Pirates, and the AL West.

40 Is that hurt outweighed by the fact that you get to go to the LCS without having to play your way into it?

I don't know the answer to that question.

I think there are a lot of reasons why my suggestion in 32 is a bad idea.

I can't describe how geeked I am for My Bloody Valentine tonight.

Hopefully that ESPN update thingy someone mentioned a while back works, as I will be missing pretty much the entire game.

35. Every time a candidate, any candidate, says something stupid you do a shot. I predict the game will last about 10 mins before someone throws up.

30.
Definitely agree with eliminating interleague play (I mean, it is entertaining to see pitchers like Jered Weaver and Chen-Mien Wang hit and all). Take these extra games, start the postseason early and make the LDS 7 games, and LCS/WS 9 games.

36
In my English class in senior year of high school, I wrote a proposal to change the baseball schedule similar to that. I know I had eight 4-team divisions, and I believe the schedule breakdown was as such:

22 games vs. each intradivisional opponent (3) = 66 games
6 games vs. each intraleague opponent not in division (12) = 72 games
6 games vs. each interleague opponent (4) = 24 games

I had the interleague rotating divisions every year. The key was every four-team pocket that was fighting for the same playoff spot played the same schedule.

30.
Definitely agree with eliminating interleague play (I mean, it is entertaining to see pitchers like Jered Weaver and Chen-Mien Wang hit and all). Take these extra games, start the postseason early and make the LDS 7 games, and LCS/WS 9 games.

41 - sounds like the College World Series.

36 - I just can't see a team in Mexico. Portland, New Orleans, and Vegas would be more likely targets, in my mind.

47
That's like when people do the century club. It is destined to end bad.

I must say I am enjoying this place being a politics-free zone. 'Cause as much as I am fired up about the candidate I am supporting, it's nice to know I can go somewhere and get a break from all of it.

51 It does sound like the College WS, but it's 2 out of 3 to advance, not just a lucky day.

Get rid of the AL and NL designations.

Four New Leagues would be defined by baseball earned income and only the winner of each league would participate in the playoffs. Each year these leagues would be redefined based on the previous years income.

Every game of course would be played with an announced active 25 person roster with a taxi club of 5 players.

All Playoff series would be 4/7 using 2/3/2 format.

Fans would get to vote for who would call the games.

Fox would not be allowed to televise playoff games.

Frank Calindo would not be allowed to ever show up in another postseason commercial

I like interleauge, and feel that every team should benefit from the ticket proceeds the Yankees can bring. A team like Pittsburgh would love to see the Red Sox, or the Yankees have a home series at PNC park. It would mean a sold out stadium even if its filled with drunken New Yorkers.

47 And if Sarah Palin plays `Cross-Eyed Mary'
on her flute, everybody has to do triple shots.

53 Completely agree. I dont have to worry about this place erupting into political attacks at each other.

52.
Uggh. And a single shot of beer every minute for 100 minutes sounds so easy too...Until about the 70 minute mark that is..I actually think they had a major for drinking games at UCSB.

Every post season Dodgers win, we get to punch Frank Caliendo in the face.

If the Cubs win, Cubs fans are able to kick Frank in the groin.

52- I saw three people puke through their noses while attempting to join the Century Club in college. That kind of imagery sticks with you

61 That's a Rule 13 violation. Or it should be.

41 Not sure I like the wild card having to play possibly all their games on the road. Don't think I would if I was a home fan...

Cool idea though.

62.
No discussing of bodily fluids on DT.

Done and done.

61
The century club seems more physically impossible to accomplish than the gallon of milk stunt.

Speaking of that, Molly if you cover the Dodgers if they make the NLCS can you find out the whereabouts/status of Brad Penny? Did he clear out his locker upon being shut down last week? Inquiring minds want to know.

19 I'm down with this and with the theme of Jon's post. I get that it is what it is and I accept what it isn't. But if the first round was 7 games instead of 5 it would FEEL a little less random. And in the end, it's entertainment so it's all about how it feels. The Playoffs are the least accurate series and far and away the most fun.
Too many games and they lose the rush. Too few and they lose validity and therefore some of the rush. To me, 7 is the happy medium.

61 Did you avoid the Cubs fan today (baseball writer).

65 I see your gallon of milk and raise you fifty eggs.

63 That's what I actually like about it. A Wild Card would need to win 2 out of 3 series on the road to be rewarded with home games in the LCS. Heck, if they win the first 2 series on the road they would have home field advantage during the LCS

0 Eliminate interleague, eliminate the All-Star game as a determinant of home field advantage, go back to 154 games, force the Brewers back into the AL for some balance, play half the games during the day, ban Joe Buck.

8 Or a college campus.

59
Seriously.

64 That's the unspoken rule 13?

66 Fair enough.

61.
There are tales of coeds successfully joining and then actually going out to enjoy the rest of their night in Isla Vista. I happen to think of these as legend however..kinda like a unicorn.

65 There was a mention last week that Stan Conte believed he was going to continue monitoring Penny's rehab.

I'm on my way out to get some Dog Face Fish Head Punkin Ale or whatever the heck it's called. You guys were probably responsible for at least a few cases worth of sales last night!

65
The milk gallon chug is literally impossible. The century club can be done. I have seen my friend do it.

72
It's a variation of the true Rule 13. Of course, the mere mention of Rule 13 is a violation of Rule 13, so I've probably said too much. :)

I'll give you a hint: it's a popular phrase used by Bill Simmons I would guess at least 20 times over the years.

The Brewers cannot play defense.

Thief River Falls: you are needed to monitor the situation in Philadelphia.

79
If only that were true on DT Day at Dodger Stadium.

Just a baseball aside, the postseason is built for guys like the Flying Hawaiian to succeed while superstars can't seem to hit the ball out of the infield.

82
while superstars can't seem to hit the ball out of the infield

...unless they pull out their pitching wedge on a curve ball in the dirt :)

*Sorry, underdog. I joined Tony Gwynn in the joke stealing club!

I'm off to go watch the game in my Dodger Maddux jersey at my friends. Be safe all. Go Dodgers!

And America, meet Mr. Bills tonight. 7 IP 8 K 2 BB 1 ER for Bills today

The first thing I would do is move a team from the NL to the AL to have 15 teams in each league (or add teams to make it 16 in each).

I also don't think playing your opposite league rival is fair - we play the Angels 6 games every year who are normally a very good team while others teams may play a bad rival every year. Also, one year we may play the AL East more games where where NL Cental teams may be playing more games against the AL West.

This is one reason why the final record doesn't matter - because your strenghth of schedule may be very different - very hard or very easy.

I would have two divisions in each league and take the two top teams from each division and go from there (play each team within your division 14 games - play other division teams 8 times). No interleague play. I do like the idea of going back to three or four double headers to shorten the season and extend all playoff games to seven - maybe the World series to nine.

82.
Flying Hawaiian? Is he in any way related to the Flying Tomato?

I suggest Sam Adams Oktoberfest. Quality beer that is not hard to find.

80
I can't decide if the signal for that should be more visual like the Bat Signal or auditory like the Vikings guy (or the Snickers feasting horn).

78 Bill Simmons phrase? Simmons is the "Boston teams rule; everyone else sucks" guy. Can't think of any phrase he frequently uses though.

http://tinyurl.com/43wjeh

For those who really want to do some detective work. I remember the day I figured it out. It was a glorious day indeed.

I just found out the rules to the drinking game. We are playing (candidate's name) bingo. I have to print out a card from the website.

Whoops, I'm wrong. Victorino is currently 3-for-3 with two doubles and a home run. This is not a cycle alert; repeat, this is not a cycle alert.

Stand down if you were ever standing up.

Thief River Falls will continue to monitor the situation.

85
With odd teams in each league there would have to be an interleague series essentially every day.

89.
'yup, these are my readers'?

80 Sorry if I've missed the point, but I haven't seen any triples listed on Gameday...

92 Never mind.

94
Rule 15 is actually "no mention of yup" ever. :)

76 Dogfish Head Punkin Ale. You won't be disappointed. There are other decent varieties of pumpkin beer out there (Smuttynose has a good one), but that one's the best. I preach the gospel.

To address the main post topic, the change sI would make to the baseball season: eliminate the short series in the NLDS by going to a best-of-7. No more first round bingo.

Next, I would eliminate as many October off-days as possible, including the ridiculous one between Games 4 and 5 of the World Series. Baseball is meant to played daily, it has to have that everyday rhythm.

Also, I would love to see the playoffs end with a week to go before Halloween, no later. So we need to shorten the regular season up a little. Not by eliminating games, but rather by including actual scheduled doubleheaders. Every team should host three doubleheaders over the course of the year. Do it on the holidays: Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. End the regular season on a Wednesday instead of Sunday, and start the playoffs the following Saturday. Done and done.

Eventually, I'd like to see a 32-team, 4-division format, so we can get rid of the wild card. But that would require more expansion, so that should be at least 10 years off, no less.

79 Google says the answer is 29, for what it's worth.

When it comes to handing the trophy to the most deserving team, I think the domestic football (soccer) leagues have it spot on with the champion responsible for baggin the most points (or with a lack of ties, wins) over the season. A balanced schedule is obviously required and more difficult to pull off in baseball than in football, but it could be done if there was enough interest.

To supliment the excitement lost from a lack of a playoffs, tournaments are held over the course of the year with a separate trohpy and rewards going to these winners as well. You get the best of both worlds, crowning a national champion who has decisevely proven it over a course of a long season as well as the drama and upsets associated with a knockout format.

I doubt we see baseball or any American sport go this route as the playoff system has been engrained into your culture. Not that I particularly mind, to be honest, in adition to Jon's point about all the teams and fans knowing the rules and the stakes, there is something inherently ingrained in baseball about unfair advantages. The radically different ballpark dimensions are a perfect example to me of baseball embracing its quirks and unpredictability and I am not so sure that is neccessarily a bad thing.

95 Yeah, I forgot that he hit a double off of Sabathia. For a moment I thought it was a single. Which would have made this a yellow alert.

Instead, it's just a boy-howdy-is-Victorino-having-a-hell-of-a-day-or-what alert.

97.
Yes! I got it!

Finally off work..good luck tonight all (especially trainwreck...godspeed).

Go Blue!

100 You need to post more, by the way. And teach us all Wiffle Cricket.

I love the way MLB is set up, it gives me plenty of chances to go to fun, meaningful games during the year, and then the magic time in October. Even when the Dodgers aren't in it, I still watch because I love watching baseball with the tension turned up to 11.

I am a proud member of the century club. I also have two friends who made it through all 100 without taking a bathroom break.

Gagne up in the Milwaukee pen.

105
I can do it now, but not back then in my younger and more venerable years.

Old Friend in the game on the mound in Philadelphia.

Compared to the idiocy that is the NBA playoff format, I think the MLB post-season is a dream.

109
I concur.

ESPN Radio:

"When he was the Dodger closer, [Gagne] was automatic. Got the nickname 'Lights Out.'"

110 I remember the NBA having 3 game series, but then division winners had a bye.

Maybe baseball should just use the BCS.

111.
Yeah, I heard that too....

113 Of course, some football team in LA was worried about going undefeated and being jobbed by the BCS, wonder what ever happened about that?

109 The NBA post season could be much better if they just play games back to back, or one game in between road and home games.

Right now, the NBA allows 3 off days between HOME GAMES. Its how they can extend the seasons into mid june, its hilarious and stupefying.

Thanks for posting the link to Bill Simmons piece, Jon. Very Boston-centric, but worth the read. Among other things, it sheds some light on JD Drew's departure from our fair city. Always useful to ask about the man behind the curtain.

And I guess I'm not the only person who thinks Scott Boras deserves a good, swift kick in the dongly bits on general principle.

Lights Out retires the Phillies in order.

111
Come on ESPN, get your steroid users clear.

Merriman is Lights Out.

Century Club and gallon of milk are both doable - I've seen them both in person.

For our fraternity rush week we had the annual gallon of milk contest - 30 minutes to drink it, 30 minutes to keep it down. My best friend did it with ease and I got to witness two other people successfully finish (though their bouts with diarrhea probably wasn't worth the glory).

At the end of rush week we always did Century Club and at least 10 people were able to do it each time. I only tried it once, but I only lasted about halfway before it came back up. It would be easier to just chug a beer every 10 minutes or whatever, but that takes away from the fun of it. Oh, and there was definitely much more drinking after that was done.

Yeah, we were kind of the Animal House of our fraternity system :)

120
The milk challenge is doable, but I think the people that can do it are more beast than man.

Hot dog champ Joey Chestnut did in 41 seconds I think.

121
By the way, you are supposed to use whole milk, which is what makes it so ridiculous.

But what about fifty eggs? Can anyone eat fifty eggs?

5-2 Phillies, first and second, two out, two on for Fielder. JC Romero on the mound.

123
Michael Phelps could.

First pitch, broken bat slow roller to Utley and he's out.

Man, I hope the Brewers come alive next game.

122 Oh, well that's a different story. I think we used 2% or 1%.

We did give one guy whole milk without telling him and cracked up at the look on his face when he booted way before anyone else.

The best part was that we used food coloring for all the different contestants so it was a very colorful experience.

127
Your house must have looked like a Jackson Pollock painting.

98 Wow, DL, you were so right about the Punkin Ale. I've already forgotten my work day and this may make whatever happens in either the debate or the Dodgers-Cubs game not matter quite as much, or at least go down easier. ;-) (Don't worry, I'm a light drinker so just one for me, no rule 11 violations from me tonight.)

53 Let me guess, Molly. Is this your guy?
http://tinyurl.com/4y3srq

People are shocked I'm watching the Dodgers over the VP debate. But I figure we'll know which way it's going in the first half-hour, and then Play Ball.

105 - I'm a member of the Century Club twice-over at UCSB, once without having to get up to use the bathroom.

Up until I started having kids, it was one of my life's achievements I was most proud of.

I have been told there is only one October. Which October is that?

129 Beer is not something I will ever steer anyone wrong about.

But enjoy it while you can. It's a seasonal thing, and they stop selling it after Thanksgiving.

128 Luckily we had plenty of trash cans set up, but sometimes all the trash cans would be occupied so they'd have to launch it over the balcony onto the front lawn.

133 {hoard} ;-)

Okay, I'm ordering a pizza and hunkering down in the underdog bunker for the eve. Backatcha soon.

135 Is that like the batcave?

115
That hurts, BH! For the record, USC was never worried if they went undefeated of getting jobbed by the BCS. Now they can just concentrate on getting to the Rose Bowl with the slight possibility of a better bowl game waiting in the balance.

133 I'm pretty sure after the last season or two, I've found Pumpkin Ale at BevMos and other larger beer selection places year round. YMMV.

I really like Dennis Eckersley as a commentator. He's a good addition to the TBS crew.

Also, Eck was great last year or so on the Fox Sports recap of Game 1 of the 1988 WS. His candor was refreshing and insightful.

On the board I run, nearly everyone running blow-by-blow of the debate is from Australia or Europe. I've barely spent time out of the country, and am watching baseball.

I love it!

Fifteen minutes!

I'll just ask this for USC if they go to the Rose Bowl again. Please, Rose Bowl pick somebody from the Big 10.

141
Please, Rose Bowl pick somebody from the Big 10

The Rose Bowl committee usually bends over backward for that.

Dennis Eckersely STILL looks like he stepped right out of 1983. But yeah, the TBS studio crew is pretty good.

Sounded like it's gonna be the same lineups for both teams, except that Fukudome and Theriot were going to switch spots (#2 and #8) in the order.

I mean, don't pick somebody from the big ten.

This Rose Bowl talk is confusing. I think Tripon is pulling for Penn State!

Tony Gwynn looks like he ate John Kruk.

I kind of like the gray hair on Tony Gwynn. Makes him look distinguished.

Molly's heckler friend would not approve of the Cubs uniforms tonight.

I was doing great in Scary Thoughts, thinking that you guys are a bunch of babies, until Ken Noe had to go and mention flying monkeys. I have been under the bed ever since. But now I have Candy and Sr. No, nono, no on the tube. Go Bums.

Woohoo!

Here we go!

Keep throwing balls, Cubs.

get us goin furky

"The hills are alive with Cubs fans."

149 - is that like Scary Spice?

I don't know if it's good or bad but Zambrano's certainly pumped up tonight, almost psychotically.

Alright, it's time to meet the ace!!

C'mon, Manny. We don't need a Clemens 1990 ALCS moment here.

This umpire has a very wide strike zone so far.

If Z is on tonight, Chad needs to be on, too. Could be a low scoring game. Hope His Royal Thighness doesn't have too many jittery nerves.

Zambrano has a bit more control tonight than Mr. Dempster last night.

That was brief.

That's Sr. Maldonado on the Latin feed.

158 - if Gameday is to be believed, Manny had cause to complain.

Bills and Russ were working on the outside corner and breaking balls during the break.

Okay, not ideal start.

Over throwing a bit, Chad.

The way that Billz' pitches move, he can take advantage of a wide zone big time.

Not the best of all possible starts. Come on, settle guys!

The Cubs shouldn't wear the dark tops with pinstriped pants. They should wear solid white if they have to go for that combo.

Somebody send Martin to the mound.

... Wow. I'm sorry, but that Bill Simmons article was terrible, and doesn't belong anywhere near the mainstream press. It reads to me like a mediocre-at-best piece from a whiny blogger - "Waaahhhh, my favorite player is gone so I'm going to blame everybody but him." Granted, my opinion is worth little more than the electrons it takes to run this computer, so...

On another note, I am not a fan of the way this game is beginning.

That was not a breaking pitch, Dick.

Bob is all over the Cubs tonight.

That was filthy.

Great pitch to Theriot.

172 I know, that made me crack up. Stockton = Not the best judge of pitches.

Theriot retired on the "giving up on the dropped third strike rule." Once Theriot walked out of the dirt circle, he was out.

Bills sure settled down in a hurry.

The 1-2 pitch was strike 3.

That looked like a strike but missed Martin's target. Feh.

Damn, that was a strike, but because of how Martin moved he did not call it.

nice! Bills looks good.

Oh well, nevermind. : )

ok. this start looks better now that bills has settled down

Bills coming up big so far.

179
That pitch had the misfortune of a moving Martin setting up inside and reaching out (over the plate) to catch a strike.

Oh well, at least Lee struck out.

Cutters and sliders away are the way to go.

Quick and extremely amateur scouting report on Bills' 1st inning so far:

Curveballs = biting
Fastballs = exploding

Hey batter batter batter....

Not a bad inning at all, not at all.

That'll work.

Nice.

{exhale}

Alright, time to go multi-task.

Go Dodgers!

YEAH! Great job Bills!

{Homer Simpson} That 1-2 pitch looked like a... D'oh!

man I wanted a K of the side so bad

After Soriano those Cub hitters had as much chance as I did against Bluebleeder in wiffleball fastball.

Aramis Ramirez (man that's a cool full name!) from this humble observer looks ultra aggressive to me.

Zambrano is working on his curveball.

Any bets on who brings in the first run?

Money on: Bison

DeWitt

197 - I did not know there was such a thing as fast-pitch wiffleball.

200
I'll go Loney

I mean Ethier!

Nice start Andre.

oh yes, those kind of breaks also help.

WOW! YAY!

Theri-d'oh!

brilliant call... Joe Torre?

Nice call Torre!!!

yess!! Lets get em early.

alright. lets bring em in

Joe Torre post-season tactical genius!

More Cubs magic from Theriot.

Nice! Caught a break there, let's cash it in...

That was an awesome bit of execution and call. Nice.

52 hits to left now, Tony. :)

that's one of those plays that will kick up the bad vibes in Wrigley.

And for the record, I like that, I like that a lot.

171 It was more of a plea to not blame Manny solely for what happened

beautiful!

I love the aggressive hit and run! The difference between 1st and 3rd and nobody out or 2 out and nobody on.

200 - looks like you may be right.

Kemp 3 for 6 lifetime against Z.

lol anyone else just realized Matt, Zambrano and Ethier are all in those ron stalonovich vids?

Big Z is not happy.

whats the website that espn used that shows (using flash) the projected scores, and each players hits/rbi's...

Well, although the announcers were somewhat premature on mentioning this, there goes the no hitter.

C'mon Bison, that should have been hit to the street.

Zambrano is really on top of the strike zone tonight.

I forgot to mention.....w/three K's

I just had a ScrappyRon1 flashback

222
I read "brings in" as "scores"

WORK THAT COUNT KEMP!

grrrrr.

Swing the bat Matt. Swing the bat.

222 - or not.

Oh-Oh. These announcers sound like hayseeds at best.(I don't want to call them biased yet.)

Kemp looks pretty timid

Pretend there's someone on 2nd too, Blake!

woooot.

sweet!

we take the lead!

I win

oh that is just so sweet.

wow! I'll take it!

DEEEE-fence....duh duh duh duh....DEEEE-fence....duh duh duh duh.

Thank you, DeRosa. Thank you Lou for starting Fukudome at right field instead of DeRosa. Thank you, Academy. Thanks Mom. Thanks everyone.

That went from worst case scenario to best case scenario rather quickly.

222 - the ex-Solution gets the first one in.

Double bonus: 1.) We score a run and 2.) this is sure to get Zambrano agitated.

ok, now punish them with the 3-run jack!

We got one! Breaks are huge in the playoffs!

242
I still read "brings in" as "scores"

How noisy is that crowd now? Sounds more like a low disgruntled murmur.

245 - more like duh-fence.

Zambrano's not looking so good!

YES!! I LOVE IT!! woo!

manifestation's of yesterdays Dodger victory are evident, NOW!

the North Side of Chicago is going to burn down tonight.

Are they on skates?

i know it may not be cool. but i really feel for cubs fans right around now.

The Chicago suicide hotline has got to be blowing up right now.

Wow....what is going on for their infielders?

I don't believe what I'm seeing, STONE HANDS today!

it has to be taking a toll on Zambrano

More bad defense!!!

Uh oh (were is that goat?)

Man... this is just crazy. Three botched plays in a row. The Cubs are nearly winning the game for us!

Paging Alex Gonzalez, paging Alex Gonzalez, please come to the white courtesy phone.

Alex Gonzalez.

That inside cutter from Zambrano is going to be murder on righties today if he's gonna get that inside strike call. They're going to have to basically step back a bit to try at least to foul it off. So we'll take what we can get.

What is going on with the Cubs tonight?

Pressure is on Cubbies...

Cubs fans may want to read Jon's "Breaks come and go" post.

HRT! HRT! HRT!

E3. This is insane.

BTW, I highly suggest listening to Vin. He's on tonight.

so. let bills swing? or tell him not to move the bat?

265 - they wouldn't let it in the park.

267
The Cubs need an after the fact scapegoat, and quick!

Shouldn't Chad just keep the bat on his shoulder here? K or BB, but no DP.

Boy, Zambrano's getting the Broxton defensive treatment.

well at least it isnt a dp....

Jeez, this is almost Buckneresque here. Brace yourself for a week's worth of whining about The Curse.™

276 Don't say "goat" to Cub fans.

Zam is surely a bit wild, so it probably wouldn't hurt to take a few pitches.
Those ground balls were rifled. If you get hit that hard, no defense can save you.

The announcers are so excited they don't know how many outs there are.

260 - I have to. I'm married to one.

I don't mean it in a bad way Billz but at least we got you out of the way in this inning. :o)

Time to welcome back Furcal to the national stage!

OK, big moment for Furcal here. Show 'em you're back...

It sure would be nice to have Kemp in the leadoff spot right now...

I was half expecting Billingsly to hit it out.

oh. my. god....
i think we can say that raffys back

GENIUS!

HAHAHA, WOW!

woohoooohooooooo!!!

yess!! Dodgers!!!

ATTA BOY!

Awesome...Furcal is the Drag King!

God I missed Rafy

YES! Brilliant play by Furcal!

Leon Durham is smiling

DRAG BUNT! FURCAL!

Well--that wasn't huge for Zam, as the announcer had anticipated!

That was BRILLIANT, Raffy. Woo! Cubs are being seriously outexecuted this inning.

I dare you to throw an inside fastball to Russ.

Unsane. Drag bunt single. Good managerial call, if that's what it was, by Torre to exacerbate the Cubs' wobbly infield.

281 - You are not allowed to kid them?

That wasn't a drag bunt, but the thought is nice.

let me correct you all.
bases loaded rbi drag bunt.
its better than any other ordinary drag bunt

294 Hah hah. Different than the Drag Queen, eh?

What's that woofing sound in the stands?

294 - don't you have to be a lesbian for that?

Boy-- marginal strike.

has there been an outfield hit in this inning?

301
YESSS!!!!!!

310 guess that answered my question

lol

YOWSA!

GOLDEN GOD!

Nice work GG!

Piniella: Hide anything breakable.

THE GOLDEN GOD!

Huge.

WOOOOOO!

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

YESS!!

RUSSELL GOLDEN GOD!!!! HAHAHA!!

YESSSS!!!! 5-run inning!!!

Ruseelllllll Marrrrrttin!!! i love you

OH YEAH! OH YEAH! OH YEAH!!!!!!!!!

"And the city by the lake is underwater" - Vin

304
I wanted to use the term "Drag King". Forgive me.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present your National League Division Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Golden God!!!!!!!

OH MY GOSH! Martin sure has chosen a good time to heat up at the plate!

I wouldn't change much about the postseason, but the best teams could be rewarded with some pretty simple changes. Make the DS 7 games and elimate off-days when not required for travel. Teams would be forced to use 4th and possibly 5th starters and the playoffs would more closely match the regular season.

Russell Martin!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!WoooHoooo!!!!!!!!!

go russ!

I'm getting a bad delay when I tune in to Vinnie.

Zambrano has too much pride to do what he should clearly do here, walk Manny.

All he needed was a little rest. Golden God, wop, wop, wop, Gold.

Simply amazing!!!!!!

that was about 3 millimeters from being a 7 run inning

324 Easy now...

I freakin' LOVE it. And it's not just the Punkin Ale talking! Wow, what a genius inning for the Dodgers in every way.

that was strike 3? really?

This ump is just as bad as last night.

How many of those runs were unearned?

Manny knew that was strike 3. No debate.

ump squeezed Manny there--payback for last AB?

Thank you Golden God.

Drag bunts are hit down the third base line.

Think Vic Davalillo in 1977.

Yo Thunderthighz...just sling dem strikes homie.

Is it just me, or is Zambrano's Strike Zone a little bit on the wide side?

Does this anyone knew if the game is being streamed anywhere??

324 Don't get fanerman's knuckles bleeding again.

two strike outs for Manny.

Dear Carlos,

I'm leaving before this gets out of hand.

Sincerely,
Cubs Water Cooler.

This umps strike zone is about 2 inches wider on each side. But he's consistent.

That double by Martin really tied the inning together.

That rest really did Martin well. It makes me a little angry that Navarro isn't here catching 50 games a year while Russ catches 110 and plays 3rd in about 15-20 more.

342 I think that's for a right handed batter. A lefty would drag a bunt down first baseline right?

So Furcal accomplished what LaRoche could not (bases-loaded, two-out bunt).

348
Nice.

anyone posted a link where the game can be watched online?

342 Most mondern Glossaries and Dictionaries accept the broad definition. Live a little Bob!

347 And yet, 5-0. Guess the team is a bit more than just Manny.

am i dreaming?

338 - only one of the Dodgers' five runs were earned.

Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa.

Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa.

Whoa.

342 I dispute your definition of drag bunt, despite your status of know-it-all-in-chief.

DeRosa 2 for 6, w/ 3 k's
Edmonds 1 for 11 w/ 4 k's
Soto 0 for 2 w/ 2 k's

Is there no lighting over the bleachers at Wrigley? It's awefully dark when look in from the outfield.

Just pointing this out. If someone hypothetically bet -- you know, if gambling were legal -- $200 on the Dodgers +141, that someone would stand to win $282 if the score holds up. And that someone would hypothetically be a very happy San Diegan -- or you know, wherever this hypothetical person was from -- because a few more postseason tickets would be paid for.

Furcal's bunt was not a drag bunt. Drag bunts go down the line. Furcal's bunt was to the second baseman. Slightly different.

348 - The Cubs water cooler gets beat up by everyone. I think even Maddux took a swing at it a couple years ago.

The know-it-all in chief retracts his anti drag bunt stance.

Please accept my apologies.

Do I have unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks?

Bleed Cubbies Blue must be melting down.

363
There is only minimum lighting there. The only game I ever saw there was a night game, and it was pretty surreal and awesome. Basically, the stands are dark and the field is lit. It's like you are watching a performance on a stage. Very cool.

Either Billingsley's cutter is moving more than usual or he's throwing a lot more breaking balls tonight

367
Motion carried.

Does MLB.com archive radio broadcasts as well as the TV ones? I'm gonna have to purchase the audio package right now!

Beautiful, Chad. Just great!

Feel the thunder!

368 I can hear the Rule 1 violations from here.

363
Wrigley's lights are designed to keep a lot of the light from hitting the neighbors. If there were lights above the bleachers, the people across the street would be living under a spotlight.

365 While MW isn't the king of baseball terminology, I like their definition (I'd add a bunt that goes past the pitcher, but alas):

: a bunt in baseball made by a left-handed batter by trailing the bat while moving toward first base ; broadly : a bunt made with the object of getting on base safely rather than sacrificing.

Dick Stockton has a weird definition of checked swing.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cs-060524cubsgamer,0,3197362.story

364 I really wanted to hypothetically wager on this game given those odds, but I subscribe to the mantra of never hypothetically bet on your favorite team

Cubs fans love Soto, and for good reason, except apparently the big guy in the stands behind the plate who cursed him out after that strike out.

Which was a pretty filthy pitch from Bills.

364 And a hypothetical Reggie Miller lover is sad he never emailed this hypothetical gambler to add a c-note to the bet.

Emailing you shortly on a few things, by the way.

380 - hypothetically speaking, it's best to bet with your head and root with your heart. Hypothetically.

is it just me or are torre and phil jackson's philosophy of not really managing pretty similar?

375 Are you in the bar again?

One of the crowd shots showed the old CEO of Tribune. Then Russell hit the double. That was sweet.

378 - I know! We literally could have another drinking game on our hands with Dick Stockton-isms.

Wasn't Johnny Oates the master of the drag bunt? That's one of those baesball truisms from my childhood floating around in my head (and it might be completely wrong.)

383
For instance, bet on the best pitcher and bet against the pitcher with a 10 ERA in his last 7 non-no-no starts.

As tight as last night's ump's zone was, that's how loose tonight's is

For a second there, when Theriot looked over at DeRosa, I was sure that ball would drop. :)

I've decided to stop peeking in to BleedCubbieBlue, even when things are going badly for them. I can't really enjoy it, it's just kind of frightening and depressing. And I certainly don't feel like posting anything over there anymore. It was friendly awhile back but after the series started, fuhgedaboutit.

TBS just noted that Ethier was batting 1.000 so far in the NLDS. I guess that 0-3 yesterday didn't really count.

David Wells drag bunt last season was stupendous.

226 answered my own questions, and i guess we blew their projections out of the water.

Because, Dick, we have other good hitters on our team besides Manny. Jerk.

Vic Davalillo was the king of the drag bunt. At least for one day.

Greatest
Drag
Bunt
Ever

I agree, this ump has a WAY bigger strike zone.

If GameCast is correct, the pitch called strike for the 3-1 on Loney, was like 2 stories under the zone.

I wish I could hear Vinny without the delay. I don't have tivo so the delay would probably drive me nuts...

Russ Martin's double didn't look "thin", did it?

I'm glad it's 5-0, but I don't like this ump.

Zambrano's actually pitching a pretty good game. He really does have a reason to blame his defense so far.

397
Bob, I'm ashamed to admit this, but I don't know the bunt of which you speak. Was it 77 or 78 against the Phillies?

385 Nah, I'm at home tonight. But if I listen really hard, I probably could hear them for real. That place is just down the street.

399 yeah the 3-1 pitch strike was almost identical to the 2-1 called ball

401 Heeeeell no!

Is there a video link for this game somewhere?

375 - I think it was Rita Rudner who said (and this is from memory) "I beat my husband at tennis once. I asked him, 'Will we ever have sex again?' He said, 'Yes, but not with each other.'"

At this precise moment, I'm not sure I should go home...

This Ump..Mr. Imel, is inconsistent as can be.

Gah, I'm still steamed at that second strike call on Kemp. He has no chance if Z's gonna get calls like that. Well, as long as it cuts both ways I guess.

397 Yes, yes he was.

I think what I miss the most not watching this on TV now is the expression on Lou Pinella's face.

Headline right now on Yahoo Sports: "Hex of a Game"

Man, they really like to play up this curse business. Sheesh.

408.
http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=20361&part=sports

Eric,
9th inning, Game 3 of the 1977 NLCS. Two outs, none on, two strikes on Vic Davalillo and then the drag bunt ...

lol can anyone give me a link to game?

My friend does not have TBS.

the cubs gotta feel cursed after that 2nd inning

My fantasy team this year was named "Beyond Fukudome". I did not win.

Just filthy.

I thought Fukodome was gonna break his neck on that last swing

404 - see here:

http://6-4-2.blogspot.com/2003/07/pickoff-moves.html

In my opinion, Game 3 of the 1977 NLCS was the most exciting Dodgers game I saw until the 4+1 game.

403

I agree. Zambrano has been on all night except for those three botched plays. Thank goodness GG hit the mini jackpot!

415
Nevermind, thanks.

I really get a kick out of switch-hitting pitchers.

I am HAPPY and enjoying every second of this... 20 years of pent up Dodger-playoff frustration being released... Whatever happens, the Dodgers finally came to a playoff series to PLAY.

425,
Its on a delay. Like 2 batter delay.

Cue Gob. "C'mon!!!"

Bills now has 41 pitches, settle down Bills, settle down

Good strategy Chad, get the pitcher tired by making him run the bases

Bad Chad, bad. NO.

431, "i like your style"

416 ,422
Thanks!

Did you graduate HS in 1994? Just wondering about the moniker.

423
Yeah, but I only heard it on the radio. JC days between classes.

Does anyone else think Rick Honeycutt bears at least a passing resemblance to Tom "Jake Taylor" Berenger?

433 "I like your moves"

Look at Z's legs just wilting under his stout frame while Billingsley gets two visits to the mound!

410 - Paul Emnmel is the home plate umpire.

Way to settle down, Lord Chadwick!

Joining in late. 5-0 lead -- that's awesome!

What's the story of the game?

Joining in late. 5-0 lead -- that's awesome!

What's the story of the game?

Nice job of calming Chad down.

haha..vinny

"Dodgers 5, Cubs...NADA!

435 Nah, it's somewhat random (I graduated in '99). Overkill is my favorite metal band and 1994 is the year of the album I first bought by them.

Good coaching, Honey!

I'd say Chad settled down pretty well there.

"Dodgers 5 Cubs NADA!!!" - Vin

I wasn't watching, but that would look frightening if the 6'5" 255 lb Zambrano ran really hard at the 5'1" 175 lb DeWitt.

442 Dodgers get 5 in the 2nd, 4 unearned.

441 ,442
Lots of errors/misplays by the Cubs non-Aramis IF, capped by a bases loaded double from Golden God.

441 Russ Martin is great. Cubs defense is not great.

Chad Billingsley must be LOVING this, the big stage, young up & coming stud like him pitching against the Cubbies 5 run lead.

just show'em what you got Bills.

What IS unfair is the tunnel vision seeding system for the playoffs. The Angels get the best record and are rewarded by getting to play...the Red Sox?

Do people really suffer long term injury from Cialis usage?

Ah, don't answer that.

Sweet! Vampire Weekend!

454 - Hard to say.

Getting back to the drag description, I want to amend my Furcal comment to call his play a "push" bunt. I think drag implies the ball on the ground, being seemingly dragged along with the runner.

Nothing works on my friends comp, this is hell!

454
Well, not the actual people taking Cialis. :)

457 Nah, a push bunt can only be done by a righty when he truly is pushing the ball the other way while running towards it

Good hustle Blake

Ramirez joins the club!

This whole standing up and cheering for every 2-strike count is pretty annoying. Wouldn't it have much more impact if they saved it for key situations?

Now all the infielders have errors!

Aramis Ramirez...

Amaris Ramirez joins the error infield.

451 And Furcal is a good bunter.

All 4 Cubs' infielders with a misplay.

Take advantage, Raffy!

And BCB just crashed the FanNation server on that error.

There's an Aramis special.

Seeing Z's body language I sense a Zambrano detonation, especially Ramirez dropping that.

E5 = third error.

BCB is melting down.

467 And he does!

Torre has a Joe Morgan-esque quality of being unable to utter a single sentence without bringing up his glory years.

Just like Morgan yammers on about the Big Red Machine, Torre constantly flashes back to his pinstripe days.

I again dare Z to throw an inside fastball to the Golden God.

next year, the Cubs need to have a day where fans bring goats to the game.

or maybe have a Santo do a sacrifice, just don't tell PETA

Man... what a difference a Furcal makes

Zambrano killer with a chance to add on.

Whoever had the Honeycutt/Berenger look-a-like comment......HAHAHAHA! youre so right.

I wouldn't mind some more unearned runs here.

That was a heck of a pitch for strike 2.

Now the catcher has a misplay! No harm no foul though.

you know what though, Zambrano has some SICK! movement on those pitches man.

Mr. Imel youre killin me!!

A drag bunt goes down the line but is traditionally down the 3rd base line. Furcal's bunt was a push bunt, a bunt pushed past the pitcher towards a deep middle infielder.

478
We should have gotten a live chicken.

Wow, these Cubs error are going to make the heart of the order come up about four times in six innings. This both brings up dangerous hitters, and raises your pitch count, a hard combo to beat.

did anyone see Z tellin' Martin something?

478 Thank you. I was beginning to think no one caught that..

Get him next time GG!

457 oops, sorry

Belated D'oh! ;-) for 456 .

Ay caramba, my pizza's late and now I'm nervous that 5 runs won't be enough of a lead in this park. Too nervous to eat when it finally arrives.

71 pitches through 4 for Zambrano.

475 Or better yet, have Santo sacrificed.

487

Zambrano from what I heard talks to him self, I wouldn't be to concerned.

492 - huh?

492 Hasn't Santo's body sacrificed enough?

The Cubs are one error away from the Division Series record.

The Rockies had four in Game 1 of their 1995 series against the Braves (Ritz, Burks, Castilla, and Girardi) and the Braves had four in Game 3 against the Cubs in 2003 (Furcal, Lopez, A Jones, Castilla).

In Game 3 of the 2003 NLDS, the Braves line was 1 2 4.

Interference.

Interference!

Interference, that should be a double play!

Put your damned hands down, DLee.

Isn't that illegal?

Um, why is Ramirez not out there?

How is that not interference?

that play by Lee could have really hurt either him or DeWitt. not cool at all man.

Derek Lee stops a Double play ball by intentionally blocking the ball with his hand.

The most common incidence of interference is when a member of the offensive team physically hinders the defensive team, decreasing their chances to make an out or increasing the chance that a baserunner will advance. Whenever this offensive interference occurs, the ball becomes dead. If the interference was committed by a batter or a baserunner, that player is called out and all other runners must return to the bases they occupied at the time of the interference. If interference is committed by a runner with the obvious intent of preventing a double play, the batter-runner will be called out in addition to the runner who committed the interference.

This is turning into a Cub-tastrophe.

How is that not interference? No argument at all?

We never get interference calls in the postseason...

Darn, what has our offense done in the last few inning. We had a chance to put the Cubs away. Oh well, Billz, keep doing and I am praying for you.

508 Don't want to stop Bill's momentum. And we get a DP anyway!

493, I mean, everyone knows that but he actually looked at Martin the whole time....argh oh well, that was interference

That play is never called interference. Lee would have to have slid way out of the baselines or tried to put a rolling block on DeWitt.

Chad Billingsley is awesome.

God intervenes with another DP opportunity.

And by God I mean Chad.

Chad is looking very, very good.

At least it doesn't matter. Chad had to waste a few more pitches.

Man is it nice to have Furcal back at short.

There we go. 6-4-3.

501 I don't think so. As long as he was sliding toward the bag it doesn't matter. It's like if the runner's halfway to 2nd and you hit him in the head.

Oooohhh, yes, let the boos rain down upon the Cubs.

GIDP...

well that made up for it.

Karma!

now we actually get a DP, cuz we had no INTERFERENCE!

In fact, Instant Karma.

493 ,512
I didn't see it, but as TBS was going to break, they were showing the crowd and I saw a fan say to his friend "he's staring him down" and pointing to the field. I assumed he was talking Big Z.

510

I think Big Z settled down quite a bit since the 3rd, but it's still early. He's been pitching pretty well tonight... with a liiiiiiiiiiitle help from the home plate umpire. No biggie.

I can't wait for the story tomorrow about how Manny's first two Ks were only a setup for his HR this inning.

Beautiful DP. In some of these previews DeWitt was a defensive liability. Shame on Baseball Prospective, THT, or whoever.

Zambrano will be done soon. Even if they leave him in I think he's ineffective after this inning.

513 That play should be called interference. Lee was clearly sticking his hand in the air with the intention of deflecting the throw.

512

that's what pitchers do (due?) D82.

wooooooooooooooooooooooo!

529
Ahem.

Manny being Manny!

Manny being Manny

Nice call Eric!

Manny hits a 2nd homer off the best pitcher in the NL.

Manny is pretty cool.

Wow. He's good. We have a good hitter there.

Manny is just absolutely amazing!

Manuel.

Manny Ramirez is just not real man...

YOU CALLED IT Eric!! hahahaah MANNY!

529 Good call.

Piniella needs to yank Z.

Well that ball was...what's the word? Mannyfied!

515 - you doubt the Great Dodger in the Sky?

Manny so good.

I love Manny Ramirez. I love him as much as a straight man can love another man, if not more.

Last night's connection to the game on TBS via

http://www.ustream.tv/videoplayerpopup/channel/302816
(the link mentionned in DT last night)

…isn't working tonight. I imagine that the final number in the address is different for tonight's broadcast.

I haven't been able to read all 500 messages to find the answer to this question.

528, Manny's homer must of stopped you in your typing.

Manny is in the Bonds Zone right now.

549
No sir. I may have over-blasphemed with that one.

Manny or Machine?

Props to 486 as well.

Wow, these Cubs error are going to make the heart of the order come up about four times in six innings. This both brings up dangerous hitters, and raises your pitch count, a hard combo to beat.

Bills at 58 pitches through 4.

I think it's time for the national media to take the Los Angeles Dodgers seriously.

556 - I'm already looking forward to Manny's appearance on the Sarah Connor Chronicles

I love the fact that their own over-simplistic, cliched paradigms are now forcing the media to talk about Manny as a good example!

Is Lou conceding by leaving Zambrono in and saving his BP for another day?

20 years. I'm gonna cry, I am so happy. First time I have seen a dodger team in 20 years play as if they belong in the post season. No matter what happens from here.

559 - but the Dodgers don't have anything other than Manny Rameriz

556
Things are looking good for you to possibly (knock on wood, of course) see an LCS game involving the blue, no?

I turned the volume off after the announcers basically orgasmed when Soriano got a leadoff single in the first.

Odds are -- it's time to buy NLCS tix, methinks.

Is there another playoff team that both got all it's key players healthy in time for the playoff AND whose top pitchers are all rested and pitching in more or less top form? Maybe the Rays?

Things have set up very nicely for the Dodgers in that regard.

Belated WHOOP!

My pizza arrived and Manny's home run coincided and life is just good all around.

All this talk of people never seeing the Dodgers play this well in the playoffs make feel old.

Really old.

I feel like I should sit back and tell people about Sandy Koufax's curve ball.

567
Those ticket prices are going up!

Matty's having a tough game. I'm glad Manny can shield him a bit.

565. Yes, I was at the Phils game tonight. The Victorino slam was great. I have LCS tickets for Philles game 1 and 3. It looks like the Dodgers are making me change my plans of selling tickets to one of those games.

Will Carroll (7:24:45 PM PT): Every time I see Casey Blake play third, I think to myself that he ranges to his left about as much as any 3B I've seen. Is there any stat that would tell me if this is actually the case?

568
I do love the fact that this optimal lineup was trotted out for the first time in Game 1 of the playoffs. Kind of a "just in time" feeling to it.

This takes some getting used to. I had to get used to rooting for a team in the final four with Ben Howland coached teams and this Dodger team could make me feel the same way...
I think I will figure it out.

562

with Zambrano's arm woes, that wouldn't be a smart move.

A Bill Murray sighting. What about Bills?

Hee, poor Cubs fans.

Wait, what am I saying. They can rot.

574
Speak of the devil. 5-3 groundout!

Ah man......I dont know why but i felt Manny was gonna do some "Ivy Angels" HAHAHAHA! oh sorry im laughing at my own Jokes.

Right at the edge of the track.

Two quick outs.

Edmonds has hit a couple high flies (it's too high!) last night and tonight that I thought were out. That's the breaks!

Wooo hooo!! Chad.

Well, this is a thoroughly enjoyable game...so far. I've been watching the game and reading the Bill Simmons article on Manny, and my impression is that it's the most pro-Manny and anti-Boston sportswriter article I've seen since the trade. His main point is that he believes Boras constantly bad-mouthed the Boston front office to Manny, it finally got to Manny, and Manny couldn't pull out of his funk this time. He points out that Boston had let Manny dangle in the press in trade talks for four of the previous six seasons, and Manny pretty much snapped and decided he wanted out of Boston. Boras now stands to collect a hefty commission when signs his new multi-year deal.

Also, Bill still loves Manny, and it's too painful for him to attend Dodger games. Bill really lays into the hypocrisy and guttersniping of the Boston sportswriters, and can't believe that none of them wrote about the Boras angle during all the drama.

Yeah Bills!

Cubs fans despise Fukodome now. If only it was April every month.

Fukudome is getting a lesson in other words starting with the sixth letter of the alphabet.

583 - too high, what do you mean too high?

587 Fukudome shouldn't get too much of the blame for tonight, the infield has been rather more ludicrous.

Masterful job by Chad tonight. I'd let him go one more (two if he has a 10 or less pitch inning) and then let Beimel and McDonald get some work. Is that tempting fate a little too much? You'd still have Wade, Broxton, and Saito available in case something goes awry.

570 - When Kirk Gibson hit the homer off of Eck, I was 2 years old.

What makes me feel old is that Kershaw is younger than I am.

569

Pizza! Where'd you order from if you don't mind me asking?

For such "great" baseball fans, the Cubs and Red Sox faithful sure turn on their own players awfully quickly.

Although I gotta say, Dodger fans been known to do that too.

Sweet Lou looks sad.

That probably should have been caught by Soriano. Make 'em pay, Beard.

563 I haven't felt this way in looooong time man. I just can't get myself to believe this yet.

68 pitches in 5 for Bills. That's about a 96/7 pace.

592
So, where did you watch the Gibson HR? :)

589 at first, the trajectory of the ball looked way too high

592 - when Gibby hit the homer off Eckersley, I read about it in the paper and said, oh, that's nice, the Dodgers are in the World Series again.

Yes Chad, just keep owning.

Zambrano hits Casey Blake!

594 Part of the "greatness" is in quantity as well as quality: a larger sample size means more fans who can make their fellows look bad. Probably holds for most teams.

There's not that much need to let him go more than 7 unless he's really efficient. I'm not sure how much of a believer Torre is in the leave a guy in if he's got a shutout going thing, but as long as he's not throwing too many pitches, it probably couldn't hurt.

I also imagine Torre would pull him after the first run scored, if not the first baserunner of the 8th or 9th.

592 The active player older than me was Julio Franco. I was saddened when he finally stopped getting signed.

He was safe at 2nd!

Aw, Casey Blake was safe!

Hi, I was safe.

Sincerely,

Casey Blake at 2nd.

i don't know about that call.

I was 10 years old and in the back seat of the car when Gibby hit the home run. I was watching on TV and my parents decided it was time to go get dinner.

I was bouncing up and down when he came up, I simply knew he was going to hit a home run. I had a lot of fun rubbing it into my friends the next couple of days who all said the A's were going to win.

Wow, nice play by Zambrano, although he was safe.

c'mon ump...now billz will run the bases

C'mon, ump!

TERRIBLE call. NOT EVEN CLOSE.
Good time for a bad call, though, if you have to have one....

The luxuries of a 6-run lead means no complaining on that though.

Whats with Soriano jumping at every flyball?

I can't believe he was called out on that play. Wow. Zambrano is so lucky. Yeah, I guess Blake decided not to argue at that point, but good lord...

That was a really awful call, especially considering that the ump had a perfect view of the play. It wasn't even close in real time.

I was 8 years old and fast asleep when Gibson hit his homer. Unfortunately I was living in Florida at the time so it was quite late. My dad did wake me up when it happened so that I could see the replay though.

616
That's kind of his signature move. Kind of like Eric Byrnes diving after the catch.

it turns out it was a close play, but still, tie goes to the runner.

571 - Stubhub is kinda swelling! But there are some decent tix on there for sure.

Having Zambrano hit here seems kind of stubborn.

Boy, do the Dodgers look good, or what?

Of course, Manny has made a huge difference, but I also think Torre deserves credit. He's helped change the mentality of this team, and they're playing right now like Torre's World Championship Yankees teams.

no such thing as a tie

Says a lot about their bench that they have Zambrano hit for himself, no matter how good a hitter he is.

Right off the scouting report against Soriano there.

chad is good at baseball, i will owe jon a few more dollars after this game!

You know Cub fans are booing their own hitters, which I totally understand the frustration, but I wonder if they realize just how good Billingsley is pitching, too.

This game, so far, is receiving the much-coveted Humma Kavula Seal of Approval.

Bride of Kavula and I have tickets for Saturday and we are getting very excited for that.

This is a coming out party for Bills against this supposedly mighty Cub offense.

comic relief from my 5 yr old:

"Too bad the Cubs don't have Manny!"

Man that breaking pitch is just tremendous.

Clapping loudly for Chad right now.

This is a great coming out party for Bills. Just amazing.

Chad is the man!

Hmm, this Billingsley kid might actually be a good pitcher. Who knew?

Bills looks great. I think Lou is just saving the bullpen for a game he thinks he can win.

625

well I guess if you wanna break it down by milli seconds...

626 Yah, but it does say a lot about Zambrano as a hitter, too. He's not just pretty good, he's really good -- 333-ish average, 4 HRs. A lot of teams don't have PH's that good.

If there is a Game 4 on Sunday that game will be at 7:25 pacific time.

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

Guys, HOW SWEET IT IS!

640 You forgot to have an (ahem) at the end of that comment.

Z has a career obp of .246 in about 500 OPA, and it's a dumb move to let this year's small sample size induce you to have him lead off---his lifetime OPS+ is 60. Not good.

Zambrano and Martin look like they want to fight.

641 - with all due respect, for all of you who have tickets to game 4, I hope you get refunds next week.

Yeah, but you need Zambrano's for a possible game five. And he's not looking sharp against Manny.

Wanted no part of Manny.

Manny, three true outcomes in four plate appearances.

it mind boggles my mind how much movement Zambrano gets with those 95mph fastballs, it's just amazing.

the only thing is that there not strikes.

Listening to the TBS crew, I don't think they realize Chad has outpitched Zambrano.

Neal Cotts is in for the Cubs.

Oh wow. Is Zambrano crying?

Is he.... is.... IS HE CRYING? There's no crying in baseball.

639 Sorry, pet peeve of mine. I got thrown out of a game for arguing that once. I came back with a physics book. Then I almost got beat up. It was awesome.

651 I bet it's the thighs.

I don't mind that he's under the radar. From what he's said, he doesn't mind either.

632
Hilarious!

On a side note, man is Saturday going to be amazing or what. I anticipate the excitement factor will be overflowing.

I put the TBS sound up for a second. Guys seriously. This is NOT a Cubs home feed. You don't have to sound so depressed. My goodness.

651 I try not to listen but I was thinking the same thing. Dick Stockton used to all but root for the Celtics against the Lakers back in the day when he called the NBA Finals.

So do arbitration hearings take post seasons into accounts?

Because if so, Russell Martin going to earn a lot more after this post season.

651 Chad is throwing a TWO-hitter, how can anyone not realize that?

653 654

you guys are bad.

Ethier has just completely stopped swinging at balls outside the zone--

How can Niel Cox be imploding! It's 6-0 Dodgers, there should be no pressure on him!

Who is more agonized right now?

A) Cubs fans
B) Fox TV executives

Chad Billingsly, two hits, 1 walk, 6 strike outs, 6 innings so far.

This is so awesome.

Niel Cox?

Let's Go Dodgers chants in Wrigley. Awesome!

Not for nothing, but if they're going to show women in the stands, can they show someone younger than 80?

657 - we just bought tickets to the Saturday game and already Helen said she doesn't want to go.

661

... because the cubbies are so sad. And crying baby bears are not fun.

Nice hustle, Lomey! :)

Neal Cotts, not Niel. Sorry.

What will be the story of this game?

(a) Chad Billingsley shows the NL's best offense who's boss

(b) Cubs beat themselves

665 Fox.

Cubs fans are used to the disappointment.

huh, normally a ground ball by Loney to the shortstop means a double play. things are really not going the Cubs way.

665 - Phillies vs. Dodgers can't be too bad. In the AL, it's looking like a Rays vs. Red Sox series. Neither of those are terrible.

Come on Bison! believe!

661

in all honesty, if the game was beeing played in L.A. I would like to think the broadcasters would be praising Billz A LOT more.

kind of like what Bob was saying yesterday about the crowd dictating the broadcasters mood.

Tripon.... spelling!

It's Neal Cotts and Chad Billingsley.

662
After this game is over, I will feel bad for Zambrano. Not before! He didn't pitch too badly at all, although the two errors in the big inning were on balls that were hit pretty hard.

674 - with four unearned runs, I'll take (b).

665 - A

Fox still has another great World Series on the table should the Cubs not get there.

It involves certain players and a manager returning to a certain location. Peter Gammons approves this message.

Time for the Bison to roam free!

674 Manny homered. Torre managed.

BISON! BISON!

Bison!

Matt Kemp! Bison double power!

BISON POWER, BISON SPEED!

Bison solid! Going the other way!

Bison! power!

Bison!!!

665 B, but only because LA fans don't care and no one will watch.

674 - a little from column A, a little from column B.

Great piece of hitting by Kemp.

I'm going to channel BH on the flip side for the Cubs, and say guys, the Cubs have 0 runs. Hard to blame the pitching/defense when the offense doesn't score.

heart of the order for cubs, one more inning for billz?

Cotts gives the Dodgers another run to add to both the Cubs' misery and Zambrano's postseason ERA.

if I were managing the Dodgers I'd bring in McDonald here (why not) i mean, we have a 7 run lead...

682

Is the wife reading over your shoulder? Take away those 4 unearned and it's still a three-run lead.

674 For all our efforts to prove that Clayton doesn't exist, it's Chad who's somehow invisible.

Ah, That makes me happy for Matt. He's my favorite player still.

In your face ESPN.

For once, Gammons might get it right.

699

Is he on the playoff roster?

674 Little bit of both, but Dodgers would be up now even with no errors, so I'm hoping for more of a. I'm liking the multiple choice questions.

Of course, should the Dodgers power their way to the World Series, they would end up squished by the Rays or Red Sox. Though I wouldn't mind the Red Sox going down in flames; the postseason has gotten positively boring with them sweeping every team they encounter. Frankly, Boston has been responsible for the least interesting World Series games in this millennium.

699

Agreed.

i love kemp but he looks very timid and weak in big situations.

704
Yes, over Troncoso.

If Chad doesn't go for the CG, I'd love to see Kershaw get a few reps in.

I do believe that Bills would pitch a hypothetical Game 5, so I say let him go seven or eight tonight, with Sammy pitching the ninth to stay sharp.

592
im 23 tomorrow and what makes me feel old are players like kershaw and kopitar (la kings) who are a few years younger tham me and playing in the big time while i am working for peanuts (even though im doing something i love)

700 - yes, but I think the chokage is affecting the offense, too.

Its the Dodgers! Its the Bills! Its the team that's shocking the baseball world!

706
Of course, should the Dodgers power their way to the World Series, they would end up squished by the Rays or Red Sox

Hey, if it worked 4 weeks ago, why not try the reverse jinx some more!

697 - I'm in the minority around here on this, but am a big believer in not pulling a pitcher throwing a gem until he's either in trouble or asks to be taken out.

I actually think the TBS crew has been pretty praiseworthy of the Dodgers in this game. I've watched the whole thing, but they've been praising Billingsley (Gwynn last inning said "A lot of credit should go to the guy on the hill for the Dodgers, Billingsley has pitched great.") Etc. They are kinda of dull sounding, but I don't think they've been ignoring the Dodgers.

Boy how much is Fox loving this? They really lucked out and got the more exciting matchup with the NLCS, unless somehow the two Sox teams meet up in the AL.

716
Especially since Chad's pitch count is low and his next start is on at least 4 days rest.

Heard the Cubs are going to fly tomorrow, and not late tonight due to letting their players have a good night's sleep. Can't see them sleeping well tonight.

1999 featured the Pedro 6.1 relief no-no!

713

You just seem to be kind of hating on a pretty positive moment (for Dodgers fans), what with the already predicting destruction at the hands of the Red Rays and such.

I hope ESPN pimps Billz tonight.

Only 88 pitches?

So is all the talk of the 2001 Yankees making us feel worried that Ryan Theriot is going to make some incredible play on Saturday?

592
im 23 tomorrow and what makes me feel old are players like kershaw and kopitar (la kings) who are a few years younger tham me and playing in the big time while i am working for peanuts (even though im doing something i love)

712 Wait until some of the guys you're watching now wind up as coaches, then you'll REALLY feel old!

720 - you'd be amazed how well you sleep after drinking a bottle of vodka.

May we have a current game score for Bills?

Oh ye. Getting some props.

billz look strong today because he was rested, i wouldn't stretch him past 90-100 pitches.

TBS and Gwynn praising Bills right now.

92 pitches for Bills.

727 LOL

Bills keeping up the K per inning pace.

This should be his last hitter no matter what.

Aw crap, I thought Kemp had that one!!!

727 yeah. i have got a ways to go with that one..actually for being so young (comparatively) i think i have had a great share of sports memories.

Damned plants.

This is the National League Division Series. Bills goes until he's done he's just tremendous tonight.

almost, ALMOST for Kemp.

Cubs score on a double. Matt Kemp was lost the ball in the Ivy.

ARGH so close. Oh well, Bills is still pitching brilliantly.

I thought The Bison had that.

Chad now has a non-zero ERA.

I thought Kemp had that one. Oh well, not time to panic.

Edmonds has really been pounding those warning-track fly balls in this series.

This should be Bills last inning, just get the out and say good game for Chad.

He's given up a few hard-hit balls now.

He's pitched great and now he might be nearing the end of the line. Still, this has been nothing but remarkable.

Robot Made of Nails v. Ivy. Ivy loses.

time to pull billz? no need to jam him up...

Torre pulling Chad, for a double switch.

Man, at least let him pitch to Fukodome.

double switch by Joe.

Billingsley has to get Fukudome right now.

i guess one of Wade or Beimel will be coming in.

Okay, good to remove him there. Great job Chad. Now the 'pen has to not implode. Which can happen in a place like Wrigley.

Also, I really hate the ivy at Wrigley.

751 - it's the Wall Made of Bricks backing up the Ivy that worries me.

96 pitches for Billingsley

Angel Berroa is coming in to play second. How nice, the Dodgers are giving the Cubs a chance to score on an error.

Berroa in, DeWitt out. Bills out, Wade in.

Bummer...it all started with Chad not going to his low cutter again on that 1-2 pitch to DeRosa. Tried to sneak a high fastball by him and DeRosa was looking for it. OK, we need to get this final out here. Let's go Wade!

When does Wrigley usually shut down the organ and house music, per neighborhood code?

754 Hes done his job, no sense in pushing it. Hes got hit hard 3 straight batters. Let Wade do what hes done all year.

Berroa for Dewitt? Really?

I would have supported him facing Fukudome as his last batter, but Chad was at the end of the line.

i'd rather just have blake in there instead of the defensive replacement(?) berroa

I know it was a double switch, but couldn't they find a worse glove to replace than DeWitt?

I blame myself for the run & rally. I was working on a post showing the highest Dodger game scores in postseason history. With two outs I copied it and was about to paste it when the first double happened.

If Bills would have got DeRosa out, his game score would be 79, tied for 11th with among others two Koufax starts in the 1963 WS.

Dear Cubs' fans:

wrong sport, wrong decade if you're looking for a miracle

Thanks,

KG

Angel Berroa in at 2nd base, with Cory Wade on the mound. To force Fukudome in the game due to Fukudome being a lefty.

761 I don't see the need for the double switch either, just let Wade hit if you need him to pitch another inning. Did Darling just say that Berroa is an upgrade defensively?!?!?!

WADE!!!!

767
Chad was at the end of the line.

Well, it's aaaalllll right...

Man what an 0-1 pitch by Wade.

You gotta catch that, Bison.

Berroa played 2nd for a few innings yesterday.

wade...you're so money you don't even know it!

They're saying Boookudome! Booookudome!

Nice just three pitches.

Well done, Chad.

The only question was how Fukudome would make an out. He's been terrible in the second half.

Whoa, 777 was very delayed. Glad the Cory Hotline put out the fire.

The home plate umpires in this series have been awful.

This really shouldn't be happening. I'm all scared of what we'll see with a close game.

What a tremendous effort by Billingsley. What a wonderful night.

785 - well, hopefully, we only have to deal with them for one more game.

785 - well, hopefully, we only have to deal with them for one more game.

Torre had a choice:

Wade vs. Fukudome

OR

Beimel vs. Reed Johnson

Torre chose wisely.

783 Why would Lou leave Fukudome in the game? Torre basically baited him with calling Wade to relieve.

Great move by Joe. Keep Fukudome in the game by going to his righty. He knew Lou would bring a righty off the bench if he brought in Beimel. Now let's get some more runs!

770
Since I was already working on this anyway...

Highest Game Scores, Dodger Postseason History
89 - Drysdale, Gm 3 1963 WS, 1-0 shutout
88 - Koufax, Gm 7 1965 WS, 2-0 series clincher
88 - Koufax, Gm 5 1965 WS, two within a 4-day period!
87 - Hershiser, Gm 2 1988 WS, 3-0 shutout
84 - Sutton, Gm 1 1974 NLCS, 3-0 shutout
82 - Sherry Smith, Gm 2 1916 WS, 2-1 14-inning loss to Babe Ruth!
81 - John, Gm 2 1978 NLCS, 4-0 shutout
80 - The Lima Game
80 - Hershiser, Gm 7 1988 NLCS, 6-0 shutout
80 - Hooton, Gm 2 1977 WS, 6-1 CG
79 - Koufax, Gm 4 1963 WS, 2-1 series-clincher
79 - Koufax, Gm 1 1963 WS, 5-2 plus a then-record 15 K
79 - Newcombe, Gm 1 1947 WS, 1-0 loss to Allie Reynolds
79 - Sherry Smith, Gm 3 1920 WS, 2-1 win

Chad ended up at 66. Following up Lowe's 55 last night.

Marmol is in.

784 $4.95 a minute.

Here are some words that rhyme with Cory: Gory. Story. Allegory. Montessori.

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

Frank Caliendo will be haunting my nightmares.

The balls were bouncing perfectly Cal, they just didn't bother catching them.

This game is great vindication for people who have to deal with sporky's ex-coworker or some of my family RE: Chad.

Casey Blake singles!

And for some reason TBS switched to their studio analysts to broadcast the game.

why is the TBS studio crew doing commentary?

Eck talking about winning post season games in LA is, nice.

Geez, these guys are really pulling for the Cubs, it seems.

I hope people speak less about the Cubs curse and more about the Dodgers dominance.

Hey-o, unintentional alliteration.

I think I see Steve Bartman! Oh, it was just a guy who kinda looked like him.

Did you know that Chad Marmol is part-Vulcan?

Little-known fact, Sammy.

The Beard can slide!!!

Way to get that run back, boys!!!

Oh wow, Marmol gives up a double to Furcal.

Torre-Ball.

Yes. Sliding beard power!

Nice slide by The Beard!

Yes, crush their hopes and dreams.

meh we don't need any more runs...save 'em for harden pls.

wow, Blake just stole another run. Wrigley does not seem like a happy place for the locals.

They're not booing--they're saying "FOOOOORCAL"!

802 Yeah right, but whatever, one more win and it won't matter.

I loves me some Furcal!!!

Folks, that's Dodger execution! We must also remember that Marmol is filthy.

Furrrrcal!

Woe is the Cubs, according to this TBS studio crew. Making me SICK. Give credit where credit is due!!! MUTE BABY.

Oh, Raffy. Welcome back.

MAN is it good to have Raffy back or what?

He's so dreamy!

That was a single + FC.

Have cake. Eat cake.

Great slide by Casey! Furcal 3 for 5 tonight!

The narrative of this series is now the curse and the poor Cubs fans. The outcome has nothing to do with the Dodgers. Blah.

Oh man, I'm so glad Furcal is back. That could be the difference-maker, people!

The Cubs fan forgot to take his rally cap off when the Dodgers are batting. Hence the run!

{cue more sad panda faces in the crowd, X20}

I guess Arizona didn't win in the NLDS last year on merit either. It was just the curse.

Russ, that should have been in the bleachers.

There's a guy in the stands that looks like Penny. He's wearing a Cubs jacket and half a watermelon in his head. The melon has a "C" carved into it.

I love Raffy so much, I'm going to start singing Baby Baluga any second now!

824 meanwhile the Dodgers are still scoring runs.

9-1 Dodgers!

Umm, hey guys, we actually have an ok team, it's not just the fact that the Cubs aren't playing great. I know it's hard to believe and all..

9-1.

Pour it on baby!!

Wow. this is just incredible.

Wow. Our lineup is seemingly relentless.

Awesome...great power hitters force the outfielders to play deep. You make your own breaks.

what's the rule for where the pitcher is suppose to start with the ball? I thought it had to start in the glove, but this guy is holding it outside the glove.

Andre Ethier's hair makes him look like a whiter, less chunkier Magglio.

What a Delicious night.

This is total utter domination.

Sad Cubs fans is bringing out the schadenfreude in me. Hopefully this doesn't bite us in Dodgers stadium, because that would be depressing. I do not want to see sad Dodgers fans in snow.

838
There is no rule where the ball has to "start." The pitcher just has to be at a complete stop before the pitch if there are runners on base. And one foot must be touching the rubber.

838
The pitcher just has to come to a set position, which Marmol is doing before the pitch.

Too bad JR muted the TV. He missed yet another time where Gywnn, Darling and Stockton gave the Dodgers a lot of credit. I guess I'm watching a different game.

Tony Gwynn is stepping up and talking about the Dodgers. Dick Stockton sounds totally depressed.

The cumulative score in the series so far is 16-3. So sweet!

LOL...Andre was sitting DEAD RED on that 3-2 curve.

Dodgers 16, Cubs 3 so far

16 runs scored, 3 runs against. I think that translates to a 2-0 Pythag record.

I must be dreaming 9-1 and only 1.5 innings to go...

don't wake me up

Since I've been able to grow facial hair:

Dodgers record when I don't have a playoff beard: 1-12

Dodgers record when I do have a playoff beard: 2-0*

*assuming 9-1 holds up (sorry Fanerman)

Someone asked earlier about the organ music at Wrigley. It's supposed to stop at 9:20 pm (as do beer sales) for night games, but I would assume that those regulations are waived for playoff games.

They're not booing they're chanting LOUUUUUUUUU

852 Shave the beard and we vote you off the island.

Seriously I think Stockton is less depressed than he is on some sort of anxiety medication. He's just so drowsy. But the other guys have been fine imho.

Will we see McDonald in the 9th?

Wade's in for the 8th inning.

I would rather have Park pitch and then Maddux again.

850
Only a .966 winning % :)

852 See, I should've done that one instead of the no showering thing. Not that that lasted very long. Thankfully.

This is shocking domination.

I was confident that the team could win these two games, but not like this. It just shows what amazing pitching and the addition of Rafael Furcal can do the lineup. He just changes everything. That b unt totally changed the game around. So fun to watch.

I would just like to point out that the Dodgers are undefeated in the playoffs in my dog's lifetime.

862 Nice answer, but completely wrong. The correct answer is Joe Torre and Manny Ramirez.

It helps that the Cubs defense stopped playing defense for large stretches of this game.

I'm pretty sure that's Penny with the watermelon on top of his head.

Dick Stockton is 66 years old. It's past his bedtime. It's past my bedtime.

Who's throwing out the first pitch at Dodgers stadium? Tommy Lasroda?

Wade only threw three pitches in the previous inning so I don't mind him coming in again. Don't give them any chance to get back in the game at all.

THIS IS THE GREATEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE!!!!!!

862 I was not confident. I thought the Cubs were better than the Dodgers are and that though a Dodger victory was possible, it was not necessarily the most likely outcome.

I am pleasantly surprised by the outcome.

866 It could explain a lot.

Tony Gwynn thought we would make this a 'very competitive series'. I'd say..

Cory Wade can pitch anytime Torre sees fit.

I don't know why, but I really like the watermelon-head guy. I'm tired of seeing the other Cubs fans, however.

Wade is godly.

857

I hope so. either him or Kershaw like somebody else mentioned.

Well, maybe not, but it's been nearly a lifetime since I've seen the Dodgers play like this in the postseason. Amazing.

I swear Stockton just said "Cory Raid"

TBS crew says that the Dodgers pursuit of the D'backs trained them for playoff baseball, while the Cubs ease into the postseason hurt them.

868.
Duke Snider, Don Newcombe.

863 My cat alas does not have the same record. This would make his post-season record 3-9. (Born in 94)

I can't think of any words that rhyme with "Cory" that have something to do with baseball.

Dodgers have nine times the runs, obviously...on twice as many hits.

I have not trimmed my beard since the beginning of September. I just wanted to see what my normal close-cropped facial hair would look like if I let it get all shaggy.

But then the Dodgers went on a huge tear. And now they're in the playoffs. And they're still on a tear. And my face is now REALLY HAIRY. And it's itchy. And I really, really want to trim it, but I don't dare. GRRRR.

I don't know how those hockey players do it.

Also, I am perfectly happy to have Chan Ho Park go nowhere near the mound at Wrigley. Dodger Stadium, okay, if necessary.

883 This game is pretty danged gory.

I haven't had a chance to post anything here this season - but I had to dig out my password and say...I'm in Dodger Heaven.

875 I'm kind of fond of him myself, I think he's way funnier than Frank Caliendo.

879 Leave the poor guy alone it's sleepy time

883 Torre?

Lorey?

I'm still knocking wood here, for the series. Two games is not a huge lock, historical data be damned. Dodgers can't sleep at home and rest on their laurels.

That said, what a great game!

http://www.cubworld.com/category/a_cubworld_cam

Check out all the fans leaving. Ha!

Ron Santo looks crushed.

890 Okay, but seeing Wade strike someone out and saying, "Here are some words that rhyme with Cory: Torre" doesn't quite work.

Oh TBS don't show Santo that's just cruel.

man i hope we do all these poor cubs fans a favor and not come back here again this year...they look so sad :(

Yay! Ron Santo Sad Panda shot.

hey all, just rushed home form the bar...my roomate broke up with his girlfriends so luckily I can console him with a little bit of run security behind us..

but I must say, while the defense was awful for the cubs in the second, our defense has been fabulous, casey has been just great tonight at the hot corner

this is just an experience beyond words for me tonight, and even if we close this out, there is still a ton of work to be done...but wow golden god, man ram, raffy this is just the best.

893 I thought only LA fans left early

888

Kady!

897 Hey, we all wanted to play Philly before this series started! The Cubs had a choice between the Mets and the Brewers, and they allowed the Brewers the wild card.

888
Welcome back! The Dodgers good luck charm!

You know whose fans don't leave early sometimes?

No one's

Juan Pierre's speed caused that error.

Pretty funny that the fans are booing Pierre.

JP arrives on an error!

900 Anybody can leave early, takes a special breed to /come/ early. LA's most infamous for it but I'm sure that sort are widespread as well, I really don't want to generalize.

Also, ouch.

Record-tying error!

The field-level seats are 50% empty and we're hearing about how the Cubs fans always stay.

Who wants to go to Philly with me next week?

Saito will pitch the ninth. Good idea to give him work.

888

some of the fellas were asking for you... you missed a great GREAT pick-nick this year.

888 Oh NOW you come back. j/k ;-) Welcome back.

Wow, thank you Cubs.

911

Um...you're going to get a lot of "I do"s.

904 Not even Cardinals' fans?

I'd like to see Saito get an inning of work. He'll have a chance to rest tomorrow if Torre is nervous about throwing him 2 nights in a row.

Please ask Mark DeRosa after the game how he thinks the Cubs will do in Game 3. Please.

911. I'll be there for game 1 and game 6 (assuming Dodgers make it).

I'm really getting sick of hearing that "the Cubs aren't playing well." How about us guys?

Ten is good right?

That's run number 10.

916-Phillie fans don't know what to do with females in the opposing team's garb. They won't call me a derogatory word for a homosexual, but they will question my virtue.

917
From personal experience, I have seen many Cardinals fans leave games early. Remember that a lot of Cardinals fans drove a long way to get to the game. If it's out of hand, they're going to want to start heading back.

Ten to one.

the Dodger bats will punish all errors!

911 I'll go, if you're buying the cheesesteaks.

It's good to see JP coming off the bench to score a run. Keep pouring it on boys!!

888

I don't think I've met you before. I'm LogikReader! Nice to meet you kady.

917

Bob was saying the other day that even Cardinal fans do it also... or maybe I understood wrong.

First double-digit scoring Dodger playoff game since Game 1 of the 1978 WS.

Berroa gets a base hit!

I feel like Tony is giving the Dodgers some respect.

10 to 1

10 to 1!!!

Cubs infield just completed the fielding cycle

911 um ... I don't know about going with you... but I'll probably be there if the Dodgers can get there. My wife works for mlb and i think i have a good shot at tickets! and Philly is not a far train ride from nyc...

924

All you can do is take it as a compliment.

I had faith in the Dodgers this series, but wasn't quite expecting this onslaught. Wow. Take no prisoners!

924
They won't call me a derogatory word for a homosexual, but they will question my virtue

That's the nicest possible way to put that. :)

Will MLB be selling glass vials of Cubs fans tears?

I will again put out the call for NYC-area DTers to meet up for the game on Saturday. Speak up if interested...

901 hola!

903 Now if they lose the next game I'll blame myself.

Isn't it fun watching other fans agonize for once? It's kind of like bizarro world.

Still no mention of the Dodgers on the espn.com/mlb page

I was nervous about 2 things coming into the playoffs. 1, that the young guys wouldn't hit. Well, I'm not nervous about that anymore. And 2, that our weak schedule the last month of the season wasn't really preparing us for the caliber we'd see in round one. Well, no ned to worry about that either!

924. That's why I'll be going in stealth fan mode.

now, if Frank Caliendo can do Obama I may actually be impressed with something he does..

939
No commercials, no justice!!!

The Dodgers have scored against every pitcher in two games although Cotts wasn't charged with a run. Impressive

Every Dodger non-pitcher has reached base* except DeWitt, and he has a R and RBI on an FC.

*JP on an error only.

I gotta say, Frank Caliendo's Barack Obama impression is really good.

Jay Jaffe (9:10:23 PM PT): Oh, hey, Kevin's back. I'll hang for a bit longer. Kev, what's your take on DeWitt from upthread?

Kevin Goldstein (9:12:33 PM PT): I think you nailed it Jay -- he's kind of a tweener, but scouts have always put some pretty big hit scores on him -- the kind of numbers that didn't necessarily jive with the production even, so the evaluators certainly see upside in him offensively.

925 That comment was more civilized than I was hoping.

920-OK. I want to try and huddle with other DTers in Philly. That would be really fun. Maybe we can meet up at that Chicken Pete's (I know that's wrong--but you know what I mean) bar across the street beforehand?

The Hard Rock Cafe near Chinatown is also a safe haven because it's infested with tourists who are unaware of post-season baseball. The floor manager there WILL be in a Phillies jersey, though.

Even on the 100th viewing, I do like the DHL commercial with the boss & subordinate separately golfing.

930 likewise!

947 Frank does a great John Madden.

Our offense against GOOD pitching has been beyond my wildest expectations.

925 931

evidently my mind couldn't process the info correctly. :o)

we've been told other wise for so long etc...

I try to go to games in SF in stealth mode, but underdog exposes me by arguing with the local curs.

Jay Jaffe (9:20:31 PM PT): I feel like we missed on Cory Wade this year. He was a lineout in BP08 at the back fo the chapter, and while we allowed for the possibility that he might see Dodger Stadium this year, his 2007 numbers and obviously this performance this year certainly merited full entry status.

I beat myself up about that one a little.

913 DARN!

odds that tbs will interview a cub first instead of a dodger when the game ends?

Damned plants.

I'll definitely be there. No diamond club seats from work with a Dodgers hat and a Kemp jersey, but I'll find some somewhere.

JP knows the score!