LAT'ed by the smallest of margins. Ah well, probably fitting.

1 - Very sorry about your dog, Dave.

1
Sorry about your dog.

2 Thanks. I am at peace with that; it was the right decision at the appropriate time. But it is never easy.

1 I'm sorry about your dog. My dog had to be euthanized a few months ago and it was painful.

Well, make 4 for 3 too.

Some of you guys need to relax. Pierre over Kemp??? Are you kidding me? The biggest issue with the Dodgers right now is Furcal. He NEEDS to get on base. If he doesn't, we won't score a lot of runs. We are fine. The Phillies have Moyer, Blanton and then Hamels going against Bills in Game 5 @ DS. I can ASSURE you Bills will not pitch like this again. And I can assure you we are going to put some runs on the board against Moyer and Blanton. One game at a time though. WE GOT THIS!!!

7 - I don't think you need to repeat a comment that was 20 minutes old :)

On the other hand, maybe it's worth repeating...

Yes Jon I know lol but I want people to read it. We got this. No worries. Believe!

I'm sorry to hear about your dog too, El Lay Dave. A friend of mine has a girlfriend who's cat of 20 years had to euthanized a few week ago. She was crushed. Just hearing my buddy recap the details was heart breaking.

Fortunately, your dog is in a better place now.

---

More Dodgers talk. A moment ago, as we were getting the new post, someone brought up how thin the team will be next year. I had a feeling about this back in August myself. The Dodgers will just have to make the most of 2008, because I don't have a good feeling about 2009. Lots of things can happen, but I still worry about it.

If the Dodgers don't win another game, this will still be an extremely successful season. The Dodgers brought credibility, excitement, and interest back to their team, and I see more fans catching on coast to coast. How cool is that?

And 5. Because he was a pretty big dog, about 70 pounds, I always thought we'd be lucky if he made it to 13 years old or so, but he got over 2.5 years bonus time - a good, long life, so that helps for me, I think.

It's funny, last night I think I mentioned that the Phillies were too reliant on the home run in the post season. And then they go and put up 8 runs without hitting a single one out of the park.

Lovely.

So, I'll say it now, the Dodgers haven't had enough home runs this season. That should be good for about 12 runs on 4 homers, right?

A friend of mine has a girlfriend who's cat of 20 years had to euthanized a few week ago.

should read

"A friend of mine has a girlfriend whose cat of 20 years had to be euthanized a few weeks ago."

Sorry about that, guys.

11
I think our pitching will be fine and very young, which means it should hopefully only get better.

It is our hitting that I am worried about. I expect Manny to be in New York (AL or NL). Then third we re-sign Blake, which would be an issue for me or go sign someone like Beltre. I assume we would also go after another outfielder since we can't count on Jones or Pierre. That all basically means that we are going to need Kemp, Loney, and DeWitt to make some nice strides.

11 - I don't get the concern for the roster next year. Kemp, Loney, Martin, Ethier are all coming back. DeWitt should improve. Billingsly, Kuroda, Kershaw, Broxton, McDonald, Kuo (assuming his arm is still attached), will all be back. There's a pretty good chance that Manny and/or Blake are back. The only guy that might not be back is Furcal. This post-season experience is going to help the Bums, it's extra games, it's a reminder of what they play for (besides the money). The Dodgers will be better in 2009. Of course, the D'Backs and Rockies should also be better, and with their pitching, who knows what the Giants will do, but still, the Dodgers are going to be in it down to the wire.

On the brighter side, I do have tickets for game 4 Monday, which will be the first playoff game I've ever attended. Should be exciting, no matter what.

For game 3, against Moyer how many RH bats will Torre try to squeeze into the lineup? He might be tempted by Nomar's career numbers against Moyer, although all but 3 PAs are prior to 2004:
37 PAs, 15 H, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 1 BB, 1 K .417/.432/.722/1.154

11 Why do you have a bad feeling for next year? It's just a feeling so I don't want to be too harsh on you. But I'm excited for next year.

It's hard to believe, but this is Kemp's and Loney's first year in the majors. With this year under their belts, either of them could take a major step forward next year. Billingsley is already the ace -- next year could be the year that he steps forward to be a Cy Young candidate. Ethier was amazing in September -- can he do that for an entire year? What will Kershaw do next year?

I'm not giving up on this year yet (even if I am striving for a Zen attitude about the games that are lost and in the books) and hope that we haven't seen the last of the 2008 edition, but if these are the last games we get this year, that's not so bad. Sure, there are a lot of question marks for next year -- we've discussed them all. But next year also has so much exciting going for it. All you can ask of a team is to give you interesting baseball, and I see lots of reasons why the 2009 Dodgers will give us that.

But your bigger point is correct: let's see what happens Sunday first.

18 should read Kemp's and Loney's first FULL year in the majors.

I keep hearing beltres name come up but I hope everyone is aware he had thumb and shoulder surgery with a 5 month recovery time. Will he really change teams before he has even recovered?

and forgot to add that he has one year left on his deal

20
Options at third are not very good.

The Pirates have two young third baseman maybe we should try to get one of them. : )

21
I would assume the new Mariners GM would trade away anyone with value to start rebuilding the team.

Anyone with value that is not in their long-term plans.

Someone in the last thread mentioned the importance of getting Furcal on. What about Kemp in the leadoff spot and dropping Furcal down to 8th? Kemp had a .360 OBP batting leadoff in a 185 AB.

Dodgers Bullpen Changing Plan
Clayton Kershaw Joe Beimel
Greg Maddux Takashi Saito
(Useless Player: Joe Beimel,Chan Ho Park)

Travis Denker claimed off waivers by SD.

27
The balance of power in the NL West shifts.

Tough game all around and im a little concerned about this ESPN article reporting on post game. Bills apparently addressing that he feels some of the issue was pitch selection. Just curious what others make of this?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2008/news/story?id=3637274

Here's a far more important question. What do I wear to Game 4?

a. Dodger Thoughts T-Shirt (blue)
b. 1988 Dodgers World Champions T-Shirt (also blue)

28 I was thinking what a tragedy that the Giants ultimately got nothing for Sweeney.

29 Since the pitcher can shake off signs, I claim that pitch selection responsibility ultimately resides with the pitcher.

29
I think it is no big deal and everyone likes to make a big deal about the attitude of our young players.

31 Nothing from nothing leaves nothing.

My cats and I send you condolences about your pup, Dave. It sounds like it was his time but it's always a sad time. Best wishes.

And best wishes to Travis Denker, too. I have to sort of chuckle in remembering the handwringing and teeth gnashing in worry that Travis Denker was a big fish we let get away. Sweeney was worthless this year but he pitched in last year and I never thought that much about Denker. But maybe he can make it with the Pads.

Off to put away laundry and then get my mind off baseball for awhile by watching a Werner Herzog doc. (Not the bears one, the Antarctica one.)

33. well im not sure this has to do with attitude, i thought it had more to do with Bills actually stating that he felt pitch selection was an issue. Just hope this doesn't cause some rift between the two but i think ultimately Martin is too mature to take this personally.

36
Jason Varitek will solve all these problems!

Bills has veto power over pitch selection.

15 -18

The main reason I get worried about 2009 is because I feel like Ned is going to blow it all up. For instance, at 3rd, he could sign Pedro Feliz. Or in the outfield, if we don't re-sign Manny, Ned will either go it with Jones/Pierre or sign another placeholder despite Delwyn Young waiting in the wings.

As for the rotation, I'm pretty sure Lowe will end up on another team, which is cool because he's getting old, but it leaves a significant hole. I could almost smell a Kyle Lohse signing, oof.

I also feel like the Plaschkes of the world will pressure Ned into trading a lot of the youngsters after seeing how they struggled in this series. That sounds really ridiculous, but I wouldn't put it past him.

I'm also concerned about whether our beloved youngsters have peaked. I don't think they have, since our corner OFs didn't play full time until two months ago.

Then there's Furcal who I figure will move on. All told, it adds up to post 11 . Basically if we make the right moves, the team will be solid for 2009. But I can't count on that from the incumbent management.

39
I would never expect Delwyn Young to be more than a backup.

29 After my own reading of the Amy Nelson article, I've got to say it's a pile of garbage. Billingsley is not a very good interview to begin with. So what if he keeps mentioning pitch selection? He never says that he blamed Martin, yet all throughout the article Nelson writes it as if Billingsley specifically throws Martin not just under the bus, but onto the freeway during rush hour. Somebody's digging extra hard for a controversy. I can't wait to hear Joe Buck's spin on this.

Couple of thoughts after being at the game:
1) it didn't end up mattering, but the Dodgers caught another bad break on Loney's double in the 2nd - the ball bounced softly off a weird spot on the wall; if that ball hits hard, with Werth going for the jumping catch, it could be a run-scoring triple.
2) Myers stumbled significantly "sprinting" to third in the 2nd inning; he rarely hit 90 MPH with his fastball afterwards. Very hittable, and it made me wonder if he had any problems with his legs. For the rest of the game, I don't remember him throwing a fastball in an important situation.
3) McDonald's got me excited; if Sabbathia will give us an LA discount, I'm seeing a rotation in two years (giving time for development) of Sabbathia, Billingsley, Kershaw, McDonald, Kuroda - seems like potentially three #1s, a #2, and a #3.

41 - I got the same feeling from reading it.

I definitely felt that pitch selection was huge in this game. Billingsley's slider was unhittable. I think all of the big hits given up off Chad in the 2nd and 3rd were on fastballs. I really couldn't understand why with a 2-2 count or a 1-2 count on Ruiz and Werth they couldn't call a slider in the dirt for them to chase.

I noticed Russell looking into the dugout before pitches, so is it him or is it Torre/Honeycutt who calls the pitches?

44. I must agree. With an 0-2 count, you shouldn´t pitch a fastball up.

"I noticed Russell looking into the dugout before pitches, so is it him or is it Torre/Honeycutt who calls the pitches?"

Maybe they were giving the signals to Russ set the defense. And if someone calls the pitches, this someone should be Greg Maddux.

"Bad News Bears" was just on HBO right now (pretty neat) I guess in spirit of the playoffs or something...

30
El Lay Dave, I think you need to rock the 1988 champs t-shirt. That would be awesome.

29 Wow, what a terrible article. The author even twisted a statement explicitly undermining the thesis of the article:

"When you're not throwing the ball like you want to, it's easy to second-guess yourself," Martin said in a very mature, politically correct response. "If it works, it works; if it doesn't, it doesn't. We're going to have to make adjustments."

Here Martin is saying that Billinsley's concern with pitch selection was an instance of self-criticism. I don't know how Martin's comment can be interpreted otherwise.

45 - What if Greg Maddux was calling pitches?

Torre touches his nose and his cheek, Martin puts down his fingers and Billz nods or shakes his head.

Looking at the Dobbs infield single, I could have seen that called as an error. Furcal had his glove on it, but couldn't make the play; that he ranged as far as he did probably prevented it from being an error, though.

35 Totally off topic, but Grizzly Man! What a case study in insanity, every interview in that doc is so off the wall. One of my favorites.

49- Fire him! lol

J-Mac has really impressed me, his fastball hit 94 on the gun and his changeup was great. It was really nice to watch him and Kershaw today.

El Lay Dave, you lost a dog? I'm so sorry. That is my worst nightmare.

I think McDonald got himself into the 2009 rotation with today's awesome performance.

His curveball has major bite and he combines it with a much better fastball than advertised.

Terrific prospect.

This article warrants rule 1 violations. Where is FJM?

39 - The Cardinals already signed Lohse for 4 years, $41 million.

Frankly, I don't think Feliz would be a terrible signing at 3rd - he'd be relatively cheap and short term (assuming Colletti doesn't give him a Pierre contract), and we don't currently have a good internal option (DeWitt might stick there eventually, but he's not going to hit enough to justify a corner position next year). Regardless, without Furcal it does make for a pretty weak-hitting infield.

39 Pedro Feliz signed a two year deal with the Phillies and is signed through 2009 with a team option for 2010.

58

Whew! Lohse and Feliz are out. That still leaves Joe Crede (oof) and Ben Sheets. I doubt Sheets would come to LA, anyhow, but I'm concerned about how injury prone he is lately.

...or rather, Sheets' injury "potential"

To further show what garbage the Amy K. Nelson article is, here is how the exchange was portrayed in the Times:

-----------------

"I didn't make great pitch selections today," [Billingsley] said.

Martin, who called the game, smiled and shrugged when relayed Billingsley's comments.

"When you're not throwing the ball like you want to, it's easy to second-guess yourself," Martin said.

--------------------------

That's just bad reporting by Nelson. Ha ha.

Molly is going to have to layeth the smackdown on her.

And I like Amy Nelson too. What have we done to deserve this, Amy?

62
She's dead to me now.

Amy, not Molly, of course.

This loss was depressing for about a minute, then I chalked it to baseball being baseball. Its encouraging that even with a huge for the Phillies, the Dodgers tried their best to chip away at it.

Kuroda's going to win game 3, and then Lowe and Billingsley are going to redeem themselves in game 4 and 5. And we'll knock Bret Myers in his smug face in game 6 to win it. Knock on wood.

We have verrry favorable match-ups in games 3 and 4. Kuroda v Moyer and Lowe v Blanton. We should be able to win those. If we do, it'll restore some swagger to this team (which we have lost, as evidenced by Ethier and Loney losing their cool during different ABs), and hopefully will put us in a good position for Billingsly v Hamels.

My hand is splintery now.

Just hold serve now. No biggie. Seriously. We could have won both games.

Reading Molly's blog, sounds like she's had a better 24 hours.

We'll work hard to send it back to Philly, Molly.

67
That usher fits Philly so perfectly.

Hey all. I haven't posted at DT in months (between business and general laziness), but I have to say I still think we have a good shot at this.

We could have won both games, its not like we're out of our league, the bounces jusi haven't gone our way. There have been at least 3 instances (Manny's double, Loney's double, Casey's out) where a couple of feet kept the Dodgers from scoring runs. And multiple weak hits that could have been outs lead to Phillies rallies. I really don't think Billz was that awful. Sometimes he made good pitches but the Phils just hit them anyway. And like someone else said, he won't have an .800 BABIP often.

We get to go home next game and Kuroda is better than Moyer (especially since we hit lefties well), and then Lowe is much better than Blanton. If we could win those two than we're right back even, and Billz gives us a great shot at game 5. We need 4 out of 5, which is tough, but hey, we beat the Phillies 4 times in a row earlier this year.

I definitely don't see this as our only shot at a title either. We have Billz, Kershaw, McDonald for years to come. Add in Kuroda and Kuo (okay, no idea if he's being considered but I would make him a starter) and we have 5 guys already who could be above average starters, with 2-3 potential ace types. Thats not even considering if we sign CC (although with all those arms I think it would be wiser to add a hitter) and other FA's or Schmidt (okay maybe thats too far). But we have the potential for a dominant rotation. In the bullpen we have Broxton/Wade/Elbert/Troncoso for the next 5 years, with Saito/Kuo/Proctor/Beimel/CHP all options as well. Frankly, I don't see how our pitching won't be really good for quite some time.

For the position players things aren't quite as rock solid, but they still look quite good. How many teams have a young core as good as Martin/Kemp/Ethier/Loney/Dewitt with other guys like Hu/Delwyn/Dejesus/Abreu/Lambo being in there soon too? You could probably count them on one hand! And hitting isn't even our strength! Next year Kemp, Loney, Dewitt, and Martin will probably all be better and if Ethier can play as well as this year we could have 5 out of the 8 spots locked up with good players for years. You figure one of the aforementioned other guys will eventually shine too and we will have the money to sign at least a couple bats (especially if Manny re-signs) and there's no reason we can't have a strong offense as well.

Bottom line is this: With our great core of young talent and the money to keep it and (supposedly) supplement it with some free agent signings, the Dodgers should be contenders for a long time IMHO, unless some idiot stops them. Colletti will try his best but really I can't even see him ruining this. Also, remember that if our minor league system seems a little thin now, we have Lowe/Manny/Beimel as potential type A free agents, and Blake/Maddux/Penny as potential Type B's, so we'll get a plethora of picks to stock the farm this year unless we sign a ton of FA's.

Finally, I don't really see the point in bashing the guys on our team at this point. We're in the NLCS, we should be enjoying this. We are in the final four of 30 teams, thats pretty darn good. Even if we get swept out of this series, I'll still feel extremely proud of what this team accomplished this season, how far these guys came. Its been an unbelievable journey following this team at DT; from Raffy's injuries and the hopelessness of Andruw Jones, to the Minotaur's debut and Billz' development, to getting Manny, to passing the D-Backs and winning the West, to shocking the world by sweeping the Cubs, and to whatever our fate may be; I'll never forget this year. I know I love this team, win or lose, I love all these guys, and I hope every season can be as fun and crazy as this one has been. As a fan thats all you can really ask for.

With that I think I've said enough, apologies for the length. Just making up for lost time I guess! ;-)

GO DODGERS!

I was quite surprised to see Kemp accused of "lack of effort" on that play. I could be wrong but I remember thinking just the opposite at the time. Kemp had 18 outfield assists during the regular season (tied for the league lead) and I felt he was thinking if he could scoop that ball up on the run he might have a play at 3rd base. I guess this is a perfect example of two people observing the same play and seeing something entirely different.

Hello from beautiful Lijiang China in Yunnan province. I hope the Dodgers can hold serve at home and the Rays can even things up. Will check in, in a few days!
vr, Xei

69 - Pretty sure they're no longer considering Kuo as a starter because of the 4 elbow surgeries.

60-63 etc.

I cannot comment because it's the Internet. DT picnic '09? You bet your buttons.

I knew when Furcal made that error that we were going to lose both games. The crowd in game 1 had been disturbingly silent until that point, and then it came alive. It was pretty much checkmate.

Despite the awful losses, the Philly fans (and ushers) who need to get a life, and the smelly bus ride home, I had a blast.

Random stats of the day: Jonathan Papelbon's G/F ratio

2005: 0.84
2006: 0.78
2007: 0.53
2008: 1.61

69 - Great thoughts, bablue, thanks for sharing. 70 - I sort of had the same feeling. Kemp was intent on gunning down Myers and seemed to have him in his sights, but Myers little stutter step seemed to fix the Bison's gaze on the runner when he should have been concentrating on the ball. I do think that Rollins going for second caught him by surprise, however.

Philly 8-10 BABIP yesterday off Billingsley. You gotta be kidding me, Chad couldn't do that again if he tried.

Well, I guess as long as we get back to Philly we still have a realistic chance, even down 3-2.

Game 6- Kuroda vs. Myers
Game 7- Lowe vs. Moyer/Blanton

There were a lot of reasons for yesterdays loss, but I blame Torre. Joe is treating these games like regular season games. After Bills gave up 4 runs he should have pulled him. It was obvious he didn't have his best stuff and it could only get worse. Also how in the world did Nomar ever win a batting title , not by swinging at pitches that weren't close to the strike zone like yesterday.

From Simmers today

A couple of weeks ago, the Philadelphia police bomb squad was called to the ballpark to detonate three suspicious packages. Turns out the packages were leftover hot dogs, wrapped in white packing paper and duct tape, and ordinarily shot from a launcher into the crowd by the team mascot, the Phillie Phanatic.

Watching the game yesterday at home with no distractions, pressure, or having to stand inches from something flying past me that if it were to hit me could break a bone, fracture my skull, or merely make me look absolutely stupid I noticed that Myers started soft stuff after Manuel's visit to the mound.

I wanted Kemp to look for something soft on the first pitch and he didn't. And once Myers got the 0-1 count, I wanted Kemp to know he was going to see balls in the dirt.

Then I wanted Ethier to realize he was going to see only pitches in the dirt and he swung as if he thought he was going to get something to hit.

Finally, I thought Nomar would use his experience to know he wasn't going to get a pitch to hit until a strike had to be thrown and he swung as if he thought he would get a pitch to hit. I even thought Nomar might swing at an attempted pickoff throw to first by the time the third pitch came.

I thought Billingsley had great stuff and then got pitches up and over the plate. He didn't do a Burt Hooton, but he did learn from today and will use the experience for the rest of his career.

I thought Loney had an excellent game.

I tried to bet buttons, once. The mob has no sense of humor.

I've done it!

After growing out my hair for a few weeks, I've shorn it off at Supercuts. My apologies to the hair growers and non bathers (I can already hear Disabled List shouting "I thought we were in this together!"). :)

The rally hair stopped working, so I've excised it... now let's get some W's!!

not to open old wounds here but Torre's decision to let McDonald bat was a bad one, and he clearly left Bills in too long. And I'm not second guessing...it was very obvious at the time, and not just to me. In front of a travel day, you don't lose a game because you're afraid to go to your bullpen. You don't stake your chances on a ninth inning rally against Lidge. Torre gets as much blame as any of the players. The Dodgers have enough vulnerable areas without a manager who is afraid to change pitchers. That wasn't being laid back, it was a choke. Pure and simple.

83 Lowe's out of nowhere 5th inning implosion the day before and Chad's uncharacteristically bad outing are more to blame than anything. Torre had to blow through more of his bullpen in the 1st game and way too early in the 2nd than anyone would have expected or hoped. I like the faith he showed in McDonald and McDonald was pitching so well. The Dodgers had plenty of chances to get runs across since the 'pen pitched well after Bills, plenty, and they couldn't do it. As he told the Fox crew when asked about that between innings, besides all those reasons, if you blow through your few good pinch hitters that early you're left with no one late in the game. I really feel his hands were tied there. No, blame Chad's bad outing for digging a big hole for the team early, more than anything. Now they need to make up some ground in LA.

And I appreciate your post, too, bablue, that's a great attitude to have. Doesn't make it less frustrating or disappointing if they lose this series, initially, but ultimately I think you're right.

Oh, and glad you survived Molly.

The only problem I had with the game at the time was when we didn't just walk Ruiz to pitch to Myers with 2 outs in the 2nd with a RISP. I would do that every time in the playoffs with a RISP and first base open. You can tell me all about how bad of a hitter Ruiz is and that there is always a chance the pitcher will get a hit (or 3), I get it but would still do it every time.

83- Your screen name makes me feel like I owe it to you to disagree. It also makes me want some mall candy. Very powerful screen name.

85 I agree. Though it seems someone had switched Myers' bat with "Wonderboy" before the game and it wouldn't have mattered the way things worked out for him last night. But strategically, I agree.

Oh well, it's a sunny day, no Dodger game to fret over today. Enjoy yourselves, folks.

If Kemp had played 5 games like this, say, in June, no one would be calling it "atrocious". They'd just think (if they thought about it at ALL), "meh, Kemp hasn't been so hot this week."

Some people think a player can magically change their game the second you utter the words ABRAKAZAM POSTSEASON!

My recommendation for such people, is to go to your local batting cages today, and hit in the "pro-speed" cage. Then go again on Sunday and pretend it's the postseason. I guarantee you nothing will have changed, but perhaps your luck.

I think much of the erroneous thinking about batting comes down to the simple fact that most people have no idea what it's like trying to hit an extremely fast moving baseball.

I do not mean that in the typical sense of "don't knock'em unless you've been in their shoes." I mean it as in, if from experience you know what it's like, you'd know that no mere "mental adjustment" from regular-season thinking to post-season thinking can change what a batter can do in the measly .425 seconds he's given to react to a curving ball.

It's about 20 hours since the game started, and I still have a hard time making any relevant points.

Myers getting 3 ribbies, McDonald being as good as he was, Bills and his terrible BABBIP...

This is baseball. It happens, right?

30 I'll be there Monday night too, El Lay Dave - driving in from Las Vegas to catch my first ever Dodger playoff game. And I'll be wearing the white Dodger Thoughts long sleeve -- though I'm assuming I'll get nacho cheese on it at some point, as I'm sitting in the all you can eat pavillion...

85

I see your point and had this same conversation with my dad as it was happening.

Remember, Bills had K'ed two in the inning. Dobbs got a clean hit, but nothing that showed a crack in Bills' armor. Dobbs was on first, so there was no open base. If they retired Ruiz, then Myers would have led off the next inning instead of Rollins.

It makes complete baseball sense, even if it didn't work out.

What would Torre have done if he had known in advance that McDonald would do as good as he did? do, did, done in one sentence--beat that.

Dave, I am so sorry about your dog.

82-
I'm about to shave off my undefeated playoff beard.

Dave-- sorry about your dog.

It was a rough couple of days at Citizen's Bank Park. And while we didn't take as much heat as I expected from other fans, the fact that people working for the ballpark said/yelled inappropriate things at us numerous times was pretty appalling.

I still think it's worthwhile to approach ever game with the attitude that it is absolutely not over until it is over. It makes the losses even tougher to take, but the alternative is too disheartening, and to me not the right way to enjoy our first NLCS in my semi-adult life. I'm trying to take a step back and remember that I'm watching the Dodgers this deep in the playoffs. They lost a lot of momentum, but things could chance quickly back in LA, and I really like our match-ups the next two days (as long as we don't get baby-arms Kuroda). We were such a good home team towards the end of the year that really anything could happen. There were a couple of gut punches in Philly that I will not soon forget, but it is in no way the end.

In Brooklyn when Gil Hodges slumped in the World Series, clergymen asked worshipers to pray for the Dodgers first baseman.

In Los Angeles this year, when Matt Kemp starts off slowly, people ask for Juan Pierre to play instead.

O Lord, why hast thou forsaken us?

Does anybody else think Billz may have been tipping his pitches. Or gotten his signs stolen in the second. His stuff and control looked pretty usual, but the Phillies beat him like a drum.

Here is a link to the Phillies Guest Code of Conduct:
http://tinyurl.com/27rnmp

Mike DiMuzio is the person in charge of ballpark operations for the Phillies.

If I had received verbal abuse from an usher, I would write an actual rational snail mail letter to that guy.

96
Billingsley was bereft when he realized that he wasn't pitching to Jason Varitek.

Anybody knows the stats of Kent and Nomar vs Moyer? I have a feeling we might see both of them playing tomorrow against the ageless lefty. Maybe just one of them if we want to keep a right handed bat on the bench other than Ardoin.

I am hopeful we can win one and go from there. This isn't over but our margin of error has really shrunk.

It is still fun to be in the NLCS.

The only people to blame for these two losses are the.....

dun dun dunnnn

Phillies...

They were the better team the first 2 games. Period. End of story. Nothing Torre did would change the outcomes of the games. I thought it was def. the right call he stayed with MacDonald. And he def. should not have walked Ruiz. He struck out the first 2 hitters with filthy pitches, Dobbs gets a broken bat single, and you want to walk Ruiz? No way.

One thing that DOES need to happen is Furcal getting on base. He is so important for us to score runs...we need to have guys on for Manny. Phillies took care of business...not its time for us to do the same. Look at our matchups rest of the series...

Kuroda / Moyer
Lowe / Blanton
Bills / Hamels
Myers / Kuroda/Kershaw/MacDonald??!?!?!
Moyer / Lowe

We are still in very good shape. I have 110% faith in Bills in game 5 that he will absolutely shut down the Phils. He will be ready. If Lowe can give us a good outing on 3 days rest...just a quality start and Kuroda and get us our first win....we will be FINE!!!! We will score runs off Moyer and Blanton...those guys do not have good stuff. Guys just need to be PATIENT against Moyer. If Nomar starts I will be irate. He will swing at every pitch Moyer will throw and just bang ground balls right into the ground. Moyer is crafty, team just has to be patient.

Great news, hockey fans!

Kopitar signed to a 7 year extension! Hooray for the Kings!

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=386102

Kent is .267/.313/.533 (16 PAs) vs. Moyer. Nomar is .417/.432/.722 (37 PAs).

I just hope that Brett Myers isn't the Charles Hudson of 2008.

101 Does that mean KingKopitar is a hockey reference?

104
You didn't think so despite the fact that he talks about hockey quite frequently?

102

Well it's certainly tempting to start Nomar with those numbers. A case could be made for benching Casey Blake and using Nomar at third. I'd leave Loney out there.

102 Thanks!

Any numbers on Blake and DeWitt vs Moyer?

And Loney vs Moyer?

The Dodgers emailed me yesterday and I've been invited to help carry that huge flag on the field for the national anthem prior to tomorrow's game. Any advice?

106- Most of those PAs were from back when Nomar was good at baseball. He was 2 for three against Moyer, last year, though. As it happens, he's gone two for three against Moyer in each of the last three years they've faced each other.

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

Nomar Garciaparra has a total of 3 ABs against Jaime Moyer since 2003. He was 2 for 3 against him in a 2007 game.

But Nomar OWNED Moyer in 1998 and 1999.

109
Don't wear your Che Guevara t-shirt.

105 I had no idea Kopitar was the name of a hockey guy. And, I dunno, I guess King could stand for anything.

109 - Just don't let it touch the ground, or we will have to burn it (and put Rick Monday in restraints).

Funny thing is, while it's not the same Nomar, it is the same Moyer.

109 You have to get there by 1:45 with a prepaid parking pass. Seems like a lot of time to spend but you won't get stuck in traffic like me.

107- Here's a list of how every batter who's ever faced Moyer did. Dewitt hasn't faced him, Loney is one for two with an RBI, and Blake is .118/.167/.471 (18 PAs).

http://tinyurl.com/3kjqan

109 Don't say anything negative about Rick Monday. That is awesome, by the way.

109
Don't try to set it on fire near Rick Monday.

82 I finally trimmed my beard this morning, for the first time since early September.

Nobody said anything, but I was just getting too many weird looks from people at work.

Jamie Moyer may be 45, but he doesn't look a day over 50.

Thanks for all the condolences on my dog. He was quite aged and I am at peace with the decision being right. My wife said she is still "heavy hearted", but she has never had to make this decision before while I have. I truly appreciate the all good thoughts. You're all orders of magnitude better than CitizenBandbox Park ushers!

I am still growing out my hair, though I had to cut sideburns a bit as they were getting ridiculously thick and annoying.

The Red River Rivalry (former the Red River Shootout) has turned into a shootout.

Michigan could lose at home to 1-4 Toledo, a team that was shut out by Ball State.

117 Thank you very much. It seems that Nomar might be playing third tomorrow.

I want to look at Pierre, Kemp, and Ethier's numbers too.

The only guys we will see for sure are Manny, Raffy, and Russell. I think Joe could shake up second, third, and the outfield based on matchups.

117 List with just the Dodgers vs. Moyer
http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/T5XC

Manny owns him, as someone pointed out a topic or two ago.

125
Why wouldn't Ethier start?

125 If you click on the names, you can see the performances game by game. Yesterday and today it was pointed out that almost all of Nomar's history with Moyer is pre-2004.

124
Seeing all those Pikachu dolls in Oklahoma scared me.

109

Hey, all riiiiiight! Congratulations, buddy.

Will you also get a ticket to watch the game? I was wondering about that last week.

123 - The didn't look like this, did they?

http://preview.tinyurl.com/hervz

Oh, did you guys go over this yesterday? I only read the last couple hundred comments in the last thread. If I'm behind six hundred or fewer comments, I almost always go for it. If it's more than a thousand, it's too daunting.

131
They were boring old sideburns, just thick.

I should say, even if I decide not to read the whole thread, I always Ctrl-F Pellam's name, to see if anybody's been talking about him.

I'm now prepared to predict that Texas will win its football game today.

Michigan misses a 26-yard field goal with 5 seconds left. The Wolverines are headed to their first ever loss to a MAC team. They were 24-0 against the conference before.

How has Nomar fared against Bill Moyer(s) for that matter?

The Fighting Enders are going to win this one. That means the two teams I picked to go to BCS Championship game (Okalhoma vs USC) will both probably be eliminated.

I was dumb enough to bet on UCLA to cover the spread today, since it's a big spread. But I forgot UCLA isn't very good. So if they lose, you can blame me, or you can blame UCLA for not being very good. Still, I feel like they can keep this one close.

139
Oregon has some real QB issues, so hopefully they are a bit of a mess.

It's interesting that in ABC's split screen previewing the USC-ASU game that they show Pete Carroll throwing passes.

I don't think he's all that mobile at his age.

139 , 140

Is that game on TV up here?

Kindle. Bookends. Hilarious. I wonder if Amazon is slipping the color guy a little money under the table.

142
Unless you have Fox Sports Pacific, you can only see part of it after the Sharks game.

USC vs ASU is on ABC at 12:30. UCLA at Oregon is on FSN at 7:15.

Cal is off. Stanford is at home starting at 5 pm.

144
A Pac-10 football game will always be a least two hours longer than a regular season NHL game.

Texas hosts Missouri in a big game next week.

That sounds strange.

144

I have Fox Sports Pacific, apparently. Never knew it existed until now.

Just noticed that my brother is in Columbia today for the Mizzou-Oklahoma State game.

http://tinyurl.com/44fxzs

140 That's what gave me a little faith in UCLA. We shall see.

USC had some QB health issues, too, but then now it's ASU that appears to have the more serious QB issue, and thus the huge point spread in that one looked less tempting to me.

I also have Fox College Sports Atlantic and FCS Central. Inside Baylor Sports is on at 3:00!

I was gonna donate my betting winnings to a good cause, anyway, so I believe the sports Gods owe me this one, especially after they were on the Phillies' side yesterday.

151
Yeah, I got NFL Network, ESPNU, and Versus with my package.

All of that and I only ordered FSN Pacific so I could see UCLA beat Arizona a few years ago.

153
Presumably that was for a basketball game, not a football game.

153

Yes, those are some more of the hundreds of channels I pay for yet never watch.

Bolivia leads Peru 2-0 in CONMENBOL World Cup qualifier. I've got ESPN Deportes!

But on Fox Sports Espanol, the qualifier between Spain and Estonia is at halftime.

154
When UCLA won the Pac-10 for the first time in awhile. Was home that weekend and was not going to miss UCLA dethroning the Wildcats.

I had CSTV, but not it is apparently the Tennis Channel.

*now

CSTV has CBS in its name now.

My cable system is not showing the USC-ASU game in HD.

138 - USC's loss was early enough in the season to keep them in the race (they just need some help), and Oklahoma's loss was to a team ranked high enough that they'll still be in the race. The one flaw with college football is that it's not so much if you lose, but when you lose.

95 Maybe no one has been praying for Kemp.

162
I can't imagine the computers giving USC credit for beating up on the terrible Pac-10.

The USC game has all the signs of a slaughter.

Ethier and Kemp are one for three against Moyer, Kemp homered.

Kirk Gibson hit .400 against him.

Manny owns him. 10 homers in 60 at bats!

113 This post made me sad.

The Dodgers have been getting me down but the Kings signing both Patrick O'Sullivan and Kopitar to great deals this week has me feeling pretty good. It's just a shame the season has to actually start.

I think the real question at this point is how well Moyer hits.

167
The return of Rob Blake tonight...again.

The real question is how sad will Digger Phelps be if crush his son-in-law?

I hope very sad.

I'm going to the game on Sunday. I imagine the boos will show up on the Richter Scale.

Bob, I don't know if the USC game is available in HD. I don't have it in HD here either, via KEYT-HD.

---

Notre Dame vs North Carolina on ABC out east: What a complete waste of bandwidth.

171
How could you boo Rob Blake?

That is like if Dodger fans booed Shawn Green...

Oh wait.

171

Maybe so, but Blake isn't worth the expense at his age. Doncha think?

I've never known a 12:30 ABC game to NOT be in HD though.

Oh well.

The UNC-ND game would give me a headache. Notre Dame could win this game and then finish 10-2 and go to a BCS bowl and lose by 45.

It'd be like if JD Drew signed with the Dodgers after his Red Sox contract was up, sucked for 2 years, and then left the Dodgers hanging by signing with the Diamondbacks.

174 I wouldn't want him for $5 million, but I didn't actually expect him to pursue money and give up the number retirement and team job that would have come with retiring as a King. Oh well, the Kings have Jack Johnson and he's basically a young Rob Blake so it's no big loss.

176
Except Blake was on the team for years and was really good. Drew was only on the team for two years.

How can you blame Blake for wanting a chance to win another cup?

You're not officially a King-legend until you go somewhere else, come back, then end your career on some other team. :)

We'll get Blake's number retired someday.

The Blake I Era was good. The Blake II Era was like the second John Robinson Era at USC.

Pretty easily, actually. He already ditched the team once in pursuit of a Cup, I'm not going to forgive him again. Besides, we all know he doesn't want to win a Cup because he signed with the Sharks.

Dumb question: Is Notre Dame the unofficial "College Football Team of the Northeast?"

http://tinyurl.com/5qb9bw

170 Lidge "es un producto de Notre Dame"

I don't know if you guys care, but I just put up a mini-season preview for the Kings on my blog. Read it or, you know, don't. Go Kings (and Dodgers)!

http://tinyurl.com/4d32fx

181
Notre Dame is sort of the default team to show for most of the country.

As much as I hate them with every single fiber of existence, Notre Dame does have the biggest national following.

Which proves that I hate most of America.

Des anybody know the process the Dodgers have regarding hiring ushers for the upcoming season?

185
There will likely be an announcement on Dodgers.com if you look hard enough or you can check on Monster.com?

You know they don't wear the straw hats anymore?

Which proves that I hate most of America

Hey look: our feathers match.

114 I don't have a Che shirt but was going to wear my Jackie 42 jersey and a Philippines adidas jacket. You think they'll allow me to recognize the diversity within our country?

116 yeah that's early, but apparently they're going to feed us. I'm pretty sure it won't be healthy.

118 , 119 thanks, I could just imagine Rick Monday flying down the stairs and trying to carry the flag all by myself.

130 No free tickets, but I'm pretty excited to be on the field when they do the introductions!

I'll be thinking of DT while I'm there!

169 BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Also, re: 171 - 1) He ripped off the captain's C in 2000 during training camp when he wanted Pronger money even though he claimed to not want to be a distraction, then said he'd want to test the free agent market but wound up re-signing w/ Colorado as soon as the free agency period started in 2001. 2) The game in 2002 or 2003 when he chucked a water bottle at the fans in sec. 119 near the end of a game at Staples. 3) He came back 2 years ago, knowing that the Kings were going to be rebuilding, then claimed that he was lied to about rebuilding, refused to waive his no-trade clause at last year's trade deadline (per Roenick on the radio...so this may or may not be true) and signed with San Jose as soon as the free agent signing period started this year.

Pet peeve:

Sports teams who dub themselves "America's team".

186 - From what I understand from this site, they have ditched the hats and are now outfitted with blinders.

191
I can tell you that I would be shocked if a Dodger Stadium usher ever directed a profanity to a spectator wearing the opponent's colors.

I've never seen anything like that from an usher at any sporting event in L.A., including USC and UCLA events.

I really hope Molly writes a letter of complaint to the Phillies. The ushers are there to help the people who have PAID MONEY to attend the game and help them ENJOY THE GAME. They are not there to act as partisans.

That usher must be related to Jimmy Clausen or Charlie Weis.

183 thanks, i told my friend i'd follow the kings if he followed the knicks. While I love ucla and laker basketball, hes a die hard ranger fan, so we're trying to increase our sports fanhood.

190
Notre Dame isn't "America's Team." It's "God's Team."

The Cowboys were the first to get the "America's Team" moniker but that was from somebody who slapped that name on to the title of an NFL Films season retrospective back in the 1970s. That was back in the days when the Cowboys were all full of cokeheads.

Oh wait....

The Altanta Braves did use "America's Team" for a while, but they did drop it. Probably when they realized that they really didn't have much of a national following.

82 ,120
Wow, you think you know some guys. :)

I guess my playoff beard must stand alone! There's 2 to 2.5 weeks left of growth to be had.

192 Jimmy's a good kid, hes just comes across as a buffoon in interviews, I went to highschool with him and I'll vouch for him as a pretty good kid and an extremely hard worker

114 on second thought, maybe I should wear a Croatia soccer jersey.

197 was meant for 112

Here is a report of a Nats fan visit to CBP on the day the Phillies clinched:
http://nats320.blogspot.com/2008/09/classless.html

The Phillies replied:
http://nats320.blogspot.com/2008/10/phillies-respond.html

196
But Clausen went to Notre Dame.

So he is beyond redemption.

Even by the most merciful of Gods.

194
The Cowboys and Braves were the two I had in mind. I didn't realize the Braves dropped the moniker.

201
The Braves aren't on a superstation anymore, so people can't watch them all over the country like they used to.

Missing out on Atlanta Braves baseball was one of the reasons Bart gave to Homer to try to convince Homer not to cut the illegal cable TV hookup in "Lisa vs. The 8th Commandment."

I can't believe how many Braves's games I watched on TBS back in the 80s. You haven't been bored until you watch Atlanta at Montreal live from Olympic Stadium, with Pete Van Wieren, Ernie Johnson, Skip Caray (and someone else) on the mic.

203
In that era, the fourth guy was John Sterling.

203 ,204
I don't think I had TBS until Joe Simpson and Don Sutton replaced Johnson and John Sterling.

Man that must have been awful to have John Sterling involved. I remember him doing some basketball games on TBS back in the day too.

204
Don't remember him. Man those guys were dull, especially compared to Harry Caray/Steve Stone/Milo Hamilton??? on WGN.

Sterling wasn't as annoying working for the Braves as he does for the Yankees. With the Yankees, Sterling is the #1 radio guy and he knows it and really emphasizes the #1 aspect of it. I expect that Charlie Steiner hated working with him.

Sterling also called Atlanta Hawks games for a while.

Alyssa Milano interviewed Kevin Kennedy about what went wrong for Chad Billingsley on Friday. Kennedy spread the blame around.

http://alyssa.mlblogs.com/archives/2008/10/ouch_ouch_it_hurts.html"

Why was Kennedy shouting at her the whole time?

"Well, Alyssa, as you know, I used to be a director for 'Who's the Boss?'"

This week's Office deleted scenes:

http://www.officetally.com/business-ethics-deleted-scenes

Accuscore has us as pretty heavy favorites for game 3. 63 / 37.

"Maybe it was just an ostrich ... wearing a soccer uniform."

Why was Kennedy shouting at her the whole time?

And how did he manage to shout so much without exclamation points?

Let the record reflect that I am rooting for Stanford in football again today.

215
I assume you're rooting against my first alma mater, and for my second.

The Tar Heels take one of Clausen's passes back for a TD!

Yippee! Time to go light a candle in a grotto somewhere.

217
Did the Tar Heels really "go for one" after the TD instead of two...?

Don't go for 2 before the 4th quarter is the rule of thumb.

If the baseball playoffs were on ABC, we'd all be hating the nonstop "Eli Stone" commercials.

Fortunately, I already hate the show.

220
We'd also undoubtedly hate the studio show with Chris Berman.

220
You're in a very hateful mood today.

222
Notre Dame (and Jimmy Clausen) brings out the worst in people.

However, every time I say I hate Notre Dame, Charlie Weis, and Jimmy Clausen, I am told that my beliefs are mistaken.

224
I am with you, Bob.

It does not take much for me to hate things though.

ESPN's college football box scores now allow viewers to give a rating for the game. The UNC-ND game is getting 4.7 out of 5.0.

I wonder if ASU will try to capitalize on the Rays' magic and just become the Sun next season.

And will Duke just be The Blue...?

"In her return to television, Lisa Bonet."

I'm sold.

Wake Forest will just be the Deacons.

DePaul will be the Blue.

228
Duke is evil enough to keep the Devil.

Old Friend Mike Nixon with the INT.

Shouldn't USC have something like 56 points in this game instead of 21?

Arizona State is not very good. I even think UCLA would have a chance against this ASU squad.

Duke can become the American Express.

229 - I think it's funny they're promoting her when she's not even a series regular, at least as far as I can discern.

Lisa Bonet's character in Life on Mars might be the shortest cop in fiction or nonfiction history.

235
What about Rosie Perez in -- [checks to see if anyone is listening] -- Pineapple Express?

Is Lisa Bonet more remembered for:

1. Cosby Show
2. Angel Heart
3. Kissing Jon

235
Holly Hunter plays a cop in "Saving Grace" and I think she's shorter than Lisa Bonet.

I WAS really rattled by the usher mouthing off to me, so much so that I fired right back--and I'm a pacifist!

I think being pushed past the point of keeping my cool was the most disturbing part of the experience, but being picked on by an authority figure is demoralizing. I may write a letter, but what possible good would it do? I don't know the guy's name. And if the Philly people really cared about adhering to a code of conduct, they'd eject all the angry drunks.

People I also would be interested in their "return to television":

Tempest Bledsoe
Mark Linn-Baker
Tiffany Brissette
Josh Saviano

The IMDB says Lisa Bonet and Holly Hunter are both 5'2".

I will wait until they get measured at the Actors Combine in Indianapolis.

237
In my insulated world, only The Cosby Show. I've never heard of the other two things you mentioned.

What about the little kid in Cop and a Half with Burt Reynolds.

He has to be shortest cop.

239
Maybe it is just me, but the absurdity of an old usher making fun of me, would cause me to burst out laughing.

Every time you hate Jimmy Clausen, an angel gets his wings.

239
Wasn't the usher in a particular section? The supervisors would get a general idea of who was assigned there.

At worst, a few guys will have to go listen to their boss yell at them. Or they might not get assigned to work additional playoff games.

Oh, and I can't wait to regulate on some jerk Dodger fan who dares to ridicule and curse an opposing team's fan at Dodger stadium, especially if there are children around.

Josh Saviano

He (as well as Crystal McKellar (aka Becky Slater)) both went to Ivy League schools are are now attorneys.

This game has devolved into a battle between Marc Sanchez INTs and missed FG by the ASU kicker.

247
Oh, and I can't wait to regulate

"16 in the clip, and one in the hole. Molly Knight is about to make some bodies turn cold..."

Sorry, I had early 90s rap on my mind.

243 If we're going there, then the pooch in "K-9" (and for that matter Hooch?) would have to be considered.

250
Now I want to watch Above the Rim.

Also, was "The Incredible Shrinking Man" a cop? If so, he'd probably win.

This is a terrible football game.

Simply terrible.

253 - Mmmh..not sure. What did Thumbalina do for a living?

254
I don't know if that "8" by USC is going to go up by more than one or two.

Texas Tech and Nebraska in OT in Lubbock.

Damnit! I knew I should've bet on that one - Nebrask was something like a 28 point underdog but I just knew their defense was awful and they were on the road, but... damnit. If only I could pull a Back to the Future II and make some money the Biff way.

The biggest winning margin in a college football OT game can only be 14.

So, if UNC scores a TD to go up by 4, do they go for 1 or 2...?

If UNC goes by 4 in the fourth, they should go for 2.

Although it's unlikely that Notre Dame would kick two field goals.

They went for 1.

Notre Dame doesn't have a great kicker.

Texas Tech survived 37-31, so that's one team that is still undefeated.

Coming into today's game, UNC was 1-16 all time vs. ND, with an average score of 26.3 to 10.2.

I think ND going for it on 4th down is indicative of what Charlie Weis thinks of his kicker.

Although that would have been a fairly long field goal.

30 games without pay for Monta Ellis!

267
Monta we don't feel like paying you while you are hurt, so we are going to do this.

267
For driving a moped?

266
He made a 42-yarder earlier. This one would have been 44.

269
The Warriors cited Ellis' violation of Paragraph 12 of the NBA's uniform player contract, which prohibits a player from engaging "in any activity that a reasonable person would recognize as involving or exposing the participant to a substantial risk of bodily injury," including "driving or riding a motorcycle or moped."

I was kinda hoping they'd terminate his entire contract.

270
Charlie Weis is smarter than you. And he's better prepared. And he coached Tom Brady. And he almost beat USC once.

271
Losing Ellis would have really screwed up the franchise.

Charlie is another in a long line of hall of fame coaches at Notre Dame. You got your Lou Holtz, your Gerry Faust, your Knute Rockne, your...other guys too.

Losing Ellis would have really screwed up the franchise

Screw up the Golden State Warrior franchise?

271
I was kinda hoping they'd terminate his entire contract.

Before or after the injury? :)

ITD says Lowe to start Game 4.

275
Yes, even more screwed up than they already are.

277
Good thing Lowe got pulled early in Game 1.

279 He planned it perfectly, implode in the 5th inning, then have that much more rest so he can start game 3.

Er, game 4.

Arbogast must be really ticked off at Arizona State now.

That makes me happy.

Just posted on the PE.com blog:

>>Manny promised the tunes, and he delivered. The Dodgers are currently taking batting practice at Dodger Stadium to the thumping bass of "Going Back to Cali," by Notorious B.I.G., an apt song, really, for a team returning to their home playground down 0-2 in the National League Division Series.<<

I always liked the LL Cool J song by the same name better. But I'm old school that way.

And now Arbogast will begin his gloating.

I'm sure he will be his usual gentlemanly self.

283
They should play some west-coast rappers.

I thought "Goin' Back to Cali" was an LL Cool J tune.

286
The essence of hip-hop is to rip off others.

287
And get rich in the process. Such a scam.

They could play Live and Die in LA. Pete Wilson's trying to see us all broke!

288
Well, the record companies get rich.

Actually the real essence is to make music for minorities, but mostly young white people buy the music.

Well that was crazy.

i got a good feelingt

C'mon! End the game!

Please replay man, make Jimmy Clausen mad!

I don't even think the refs can give this one to ND as much as they want to.

Has anything happened since the 26-yard pass play?

Did they fly Pac-10 officials to North Carolina?

Thank you, refs.

It was a very long review. But the refs did make the correct call.

Even from my admittedly biased perspective.

O/U 8 for tonight's Boston's @ TB game. Both pithcers are hurting, I'll take the over.

I believe Cardboard Gods will be your host for the rest of the ALCS. I'll miss much of tonight's game as I'm going out to dinner. With someone else paying! The best kind of dinner.

I am probably wrong, and I am probably way late in the discussion, but I think Furcal is not feeling 100%. He is not swinging the bat well, and a healthy Furcal doesn't pull Loney off the bag in game 1.

Just my thoughts...

301 Where?

the only change I might consider to the lineup would be maybe Nomar for Casey...but I am not strong on that, just a thought...

I received an email from the Dodgers inviting me to hold the flag tomorrow at the pregame ceremony. Anyone else gonna be there? It the really big flag that covers most of the outfield, so I would guess there are a few hundred invites. They also say food and drinks will be provided...pretty cool.

I am very excited!

302 I doubt it had anything to do with health. It was a rushed throw, and he fell back. Just bad mechanics while rushing his throw.

305 JJ42 of post 109 is also holding the flag. Have fun!

305
Check JJ42's comment above.

303
I'm not saying. I don't sign autographs while I'm eating.

308
Don't eat any more of that white gravy. That stuff looked unhealthy.

Is the Jason Forcier playing QB for Stanford related to Chris Forcier of UCLA?

305 Cool, we'll definitely represent the DT crowd on the field! It'd be great to meet up while we're there. I'll be wearing the Philippines jacket and a #42 jersey and my girlfriend will be wearing her Ethier t-shirt.

310
Yes, and his brother Tate will be going to Michigan next year.

But the Forcier at Stanford is a Michigan transfer.

And it was a third stringer who seems to have led the Cardinal to a win.

313
And his brother Chris will also eventually transfer.

Cal is now all alone in first place in the Pac-10.

Texas's Cody Johnson carried the ball 3 times today for 4 yards.

And 3 touchdowns.

I think you could argue, going back up thread, Notre Dame largely deserved most of its coverage at its height, but that was a long, long time ago.

Kind of like the Yankees back in the day. Yea I'm not a fan of any "America's Team" either. Nobody consulted me about these monikers!

316

Reminds me of Jerome Bettis circa 2004-05 :)

For those of you hangin out here in DT, I posted a fun role-play thread over on my blog, LOCKS of the Week (on right sidebar above the phrase "Invaluable Resources").

If an ALCS/NLCS team was a football team, which team would it be?

A humble poster cycle... This would be a good time for an NPUT :(

---

I had a chance to read the National Fan's account of his experience at Citizens Bank Park. That is unbelievable! He's a Nationals Fan! Even as dicey as it can get at Dodger Stadium, I don't see anyone out here piling on Nationals Fans. Most guys would just say "Why bother?"

319
I will try to stick to NFL.

Red Sox = Patriots
That one is obvious.

Rays = Chargers
Young upstart team doing damage, taking on the beasts of the AFC, and they like to tussle a bit.

Dodgers = Redskins
Traditional power that is good again thanks to an infusion of talented youth.

Phillies = Saints
Talented team with great offense and the real heart and soul of the team does not get enough credit (Brees and Utley), while flashier plays get all the pub (Bush, Rollins and Howard).

I don't know enough about the NFL to make informed comparisons. Unless you want to ask me about the NFL of 1979.

322

College teams work too.

321

I really like the Rays to Chargers comparison. I was having a tough time finding a football equivalent... I like your answer better.

The Rays are like the Chargers in that ultimately I think they will lose to the big boys.

In a really heartbreaking way.

324
I was having trouble with Phillies, because I just wanted to say their fans are jerks (not ones like das411) and do not deserve their team. Philly fans turn on their players at the drop of a hat.

Tony Jackson:

"In other news, Nomar will start tomorrow night against Jamie Moyer, whom he hits extremely well, and it SOUNDS like it probably will be at first base, because that position will be easier on Nomar's body and because it will allow Torre to rest James Loney against the lefty."

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

327
Lame.

OK. I just saw a mouse in my cupboard. My super is not home. What do I do?

Jon, if anyone deserves a break right now it is you, with all you have accomplished this year. Trying to keep up with my 2 year old grandson I can't believe you are also raising three youngsters. And I instinctively know you are doing it well!
Seeing Pedroia's homer just now reminded me of what one of the regs. on WFAN out of NY said today. The Sox aren't going away. They may need a few replacements, but they are basically young, or beginning long contracts. From offence to pitching they will be a Yankee nightmare for several years, and are definetaly not vets going for "one more championship". They even could be a dynasty eclipsing the Yanks's late '90's,
And in some ways, this could also be the Dodgers. If the core is subtlely augmented, this too could be a dynasty. The key is developing a few young starters. The talent is already there, but will the Dodgers succumb to the allure of gaining a few good relievers guickly?

327 - Yeah, sit down our second hottest hitter. THAT'S a good idea.

If you're going to start Nomar, he needs to be at third. If anybody needs to sit, it's Blake.

329- Go out to dinner and forget about it. It'll go away on its own.

Unless you have an air rifle.

Do you have an air rifle?

332
Call your ex-boyfriend who most resembles Woody Allen.

327

Hoo boy... do I smell a sweep?

332-That's exactly what I was thinking.

But poor Pirate. He's circling the kitchen, looking for some action.

Re 330 See what I mean!

Pedroia could be in Boston for ages!

Youkalis could also be in Boston for a long time.

And a nightmare for the Yankees does not generally cause much concern in Dodgertown.
(or wherever we are based now).

333-If any of my ex-boyfriends could properly manage crises they wouldn't be my ex-boyfriends.

Four in a row--have I been LATed?

Woody could only inflate a crisis!

Gen3, I completely agree. I could tell the Red Sox were the new Yankees about a year ago.

Tampa Bay is having a tough go of it in Game 2 so far. Hopefully they can pull ahead.

Dodgers tomorrow? I know I tend to overract, but they figure to win the game, even if they're using Nomar for most of the game. We can do this! I need my ice cream!

Farewell, Gil Stratton

No Jason. No.

329 Keep it as a pet!

343 While I would like for the Dodgers to be the Yankee's nightmare for the next five years, I am happy if the Sox can do it. Maybe they can ease the Dodgers in. I've got a good feeling about the games in LA. And for god sake, get that Ice Cream. You deserve it.

Nomar is going deep tomorrow. Book it.

If King Kopitar is lurking, the Kings scored their first goal of the season a few minutes ago. Mini woo hoo! 1-0 Kings, 1st Period.

I think I can dig the Kings--I remember the day. What gives with Longoria, he is great, but wasn't Laroche almost as good on some international team? Of course it will be good for the Dodgers if Andy amounts to nothing. but a lot of us here are afraid to believe that.

350 Thank you to Eric Stephen and Molly Knight for the Warren G reference and the thought that Vs. is fifteen years old. The early 90s are definitely my favorite music period. When is PJ going to do a West Coast tour? I thought they'd be doing it this fall.

While Blake hasn't hit Moyer, his OBP is really high. Pablo Ozuna has also hit him well, look for him to be the first pinch hitter used if Moyer is still in the game and we bat for Kuroda.

I will be at the game tomorrow to hopefully rally our deficit to 1-2. I also have 2 extra tickets i need to sell but not really drawing any real interest via craigslist. Does anybody know of a good way to sell them?

Oh yeah and if anybody is down to meet up and grab a drink at the stadium let me know.

Wow, Gil Stratton. "Hello Everybody!"

Wasn't he one of the famous "Big News" staff? I remember being surprised when I saw him in Stalag 17.

353 Where are your seats? Hard tix or print outs?

I really like our chances at home. And thanks to Eric and Molly for making this place more interesting. Who was that King's center in the early 90's? Darnit, I should remember.( I hope it wasn't the 80's) Im getting so old--like Doc. Technical.

Anybody out there watch Showtime's "Weeds"? We watched the first 3 episodes tonight. I'm not sure whether I like it or not. The kids on the show are horrendous. I'm not sure what the writers are thinking: it's not as if kids are gonna be watching the show, and it's not as if adults want to watch kids who can't act deliver lines written by writers that were trying too hard to make the kids sound clever but just made them sound phony and unconvincing.

NPUT

357

You must be talking about Luc Robataille. He had a swan song season two years ago and now has his number retired.

He was special, that Luc Robataille.

354 - The ones I am trying to sell? or where I will be sitting? I am trying to sell Reserve 42....they are printouts..etickets.

opps I meant 356

If anyone is interested I have some extra tickets for this series (they were for a friend who was recently laid off)

Tomorrow 2 tickets Infield Reserved Aisle 10 Row F $145/pair

Monday 4 Tickets Top Deck Aisle 6 Row G $100/pair

These are Ticketmaster tickets so I can email them to you if interested. If you are interested email Amurvine at hotmail dot com.

If anybody wants I have 2 tickets tomorrow for Reserve 42 row HH......

I will be on my iphone checking throughout the day tomorrow as well so let me know if anybody here going to the game wants to grab a beer before or during the game. I'll be wearing my #99 jersey not that it will narrow it down lol.