Jon, I almost feel the same way. But that doesn't explain my, "I don't want to talk about it!" attitude at work today. I'm trying to keep a level head, but I have to admit, I'm pretty keyed up.

One thing for sure, they won't lose because of my lack of attention- I'll be watching every pitch!

For my part, I feel real confident. We have played very well in our park and we are going with our 4 best pitchers...

And Tomko had pithed so badly lately that Little will give him very little participation in crucial moments in this series...

I'm feeling it. It's that excited/nervous feeling where you can't wait to watch but can't bear to watch. It's probably eary to be feeling it as this season will likely come down to the last 4-5 games. But I'm invested this year.

In a sedate way, suiting the 50-year-old gentleman I am, I am feeling a surge of competitive zeal for the Dodgers like I haven't felt since about 1998 -- or whenever the awful Brian Johnson home run was hit. I think it's because, when all's said and done, I like this Dodger team more than I have other Dodger teams over the past decade or so. I like the veterans and I like the babies. I like Furcal -- if you ditch April, he might be the NL MVP. I like Lowe and Penny, warts and all. I like the way Chad developed, and was thunderstruck by Kuo's great games. I like Saito and Broxton. I know it's frustrating that some of yesterday's heroes are slumping today, but I'm cool with it. Nomar won us a lot of games when he was riding high. Kemp's homers mattered, as did Betemit's. Ethier was just what we needed, so many times. I appreciate the consistency of Drew, and the maturity of Martin. I like Grady Little. I think you can make a good case for Ned Colletti's "I need two of everything" transaction methodology. I like it that Odalis Perez was traded for Elmer Dessens. And I like it that whatever happens to this team, the future is bright, no future has been mortgaged, our best players aren't 40+, and the farm system is still rich.

Right now I feel nervous about this series, but more than anything I feel frustration that the dodgers do not have the two and a half game lead nor the four game winning streak they should have going into it. I know however that when the dust settles on Monday the cubs series will be a distant memory.

4. Amen.

4 Great post.

Oh, are the Dodgers playing the Padres this weekend or something?
{whistles}
{hums quietly to self}
La, la, la, I'm not listening...

Actually, I'm just bitter because I can't watch the games this weekend on TV. :-(

Amen to D-Rat from me, too. Everything you said, except I wish you hadn't brought up the Brian Johnson-town massacred, I'd almost purged that memory from my brain.

Relax, all. This series is in the bag. (Just like E. Coli.)

Remember, the Padres front office is sabotaging the season so they can clean house this winter.

Speaking of the Giants, it's always pleasant to see them get pummelled. 10-2 Cards in the 6th.

And a pitcher named Billy Sadler is in for SF, making his major league debut. At least there's not much pressure.

Jon, didnt you state earlier in the season that you werent as attached to the team as in years past?

Maybe thats why you are quite feeling much yet.

The Brian Johnson home run was in 1997.

That game made me feel like Gary Bennett before he went on the DL this year.

11 Yeah, my brother wrote me a note complaining about how unclutch Hennessey was. He filled in for Schmidt, who was hurt. Other than Cain, I was told, the SF pitching staff is falling apart.

ESPN is looking into whether it would be legal to immediately transfer Brandon Webb to the Giants "in the best interests of baseball."

'97. That's right. I was fond of that team for some reason, even though Eric Karros was on it. I was really crushed when they lost.

I suppose I would have been unhappy if the 2004 Beltre team got booted that last weekend. But it was pretty obvious how thin the talent on that team was. This team seems to have more going for it.

Beltre's 48HRs wasnt exactly 'thin'.
Neither was Gagne at the end of games.

16 Right. That's what we had, Beltre and Gagne, and Werth and Bradley, and a pretty decent version of Odalis. Augmented, of course, by Cora and Izturis. Shawn Green and his sore shoulder at first base. Kaz Ishii and Jeff Weaver taking the mound every fifth day, bringin' it! And Jim Tracy calling the shots. You just knew that team was destined for greatness.

I do prefer this year's model.

9/18/1997 (with me slightly correcting Retrosheet's description)

DODGERS 10TH: BECK REPLACED BERRYHILL (PITCHING); Piazza singled
to right; Karros singled to left [Piazza to second]; Mondesi
singled to right [Piazza to third, Karros to second]; Zeile was
called out on strikes; MURRAY BATTED FOR OSUNA; Murray grounded
into a double play (second to catcher to first) [Piazza out at
home]; 0 R, 3 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Dodgers 5, Giants 5.

I'm actually feeling pretty negative about the team right now. I hope they prove me wrong but I really didn't like that they let those two games go in Chicago. Nevertheless I'll be rooting for them at home and at the stadium tomorrow.

I'm feeling negative too. I think its from spending 30 bucks on sushi just now.

18 I remember exactly where I was sitting when Murray hit that double play ball. Wasn't it a first-pitch swing? Since I was listening on the radio, I couldn't figure out why Piazza couldn't score on Mondy's hit. Other than the obvious, that he's slow.

21
The three Dodger singles in that inning came in reverse order of speed. The slowest guy got on first (Piazza), then the not quite as slow guy (Karros), followed by the guy who could run like the wind at the time (Mondesi).

I don't know if Zeile even swung the bat.

19. It was all Tomko... Little knows it.

20
You just ate sushi, and you're feeling negative? I know it's expensive, but c'mon! It's sushi!

Is anybody else watching BBTN and really impressed by Orestes Destrade?

hey folks, lets all just brace for the worst, there is no sense in getting our hopes up.

21 I was in the local baseball card shop when Murray hit that double play. We were all just stunned after that play.

19 Interesting how Little works. He gives a guy a limited number of chances, then it's over until the next slot opens up. He doesn't make a big deal about it, he doesn't embarrass the guy, he just temporarily disappears him. Remember Tracy kept putting pitchers out there who were clearly in slumps or incompetent, and say things like "he has to pitch his way out of it." Little seems to handle it 180 degrees differently. Yeah, I think Tomko is going to be resting up over near Ethier for a little while.

24

I love sushi but my laziness got the best of me. I could have gone to the place about 15mins away and get everything for half price since it was happy hour but instead i went to the one down the street like 1 min away for full price.

26 By reliving the painful past, that's what we're doing! It's all a psychological dodge. We've revisited the Museum of the Fates, now we can watch the game with the right mix of relaxation and control.

26

Someone's channeling my late mother here. That woman was never optimistic about the outcome of a sporting event in her life.

I feel like Roberts didn't get as good a jump as usual.

Personally, I'm not on pins and needles because of the wild card slot. Sure, losing the division would hurt, but that safety slot is still there. That's the basis of my unpassionitude.

Man I love seeing Roberts get thrown out.

That was only the sixth base stealer to be unsuccessful against Maddux. He's allowed 23 this year.

The Phillies lead the Astros 4-3 going to the bottom of the 9th.

A Pat Burrell slam in the first was all the scoring for the Phils.

The Marlins won to stay somewhat relevant.

12 - Yeah, that's basically true. Although it's all relative. I'm still plenty invested.

wife watching short cuts right now (and me over her shoulder) -- good LA mood movie to a certain extent, but it does have me feeling sort of ambivalent about the game. And humanity.

Wells wore a shirt sporting the phrase "I Beat Anorexia"
I have one for him, " I Ate The Baby"
Any others?

Astros have first and second with one out. A 2-base error by Howard allowed Huff to reach and Burke reached on an infield hit.

I've heard these David Wells stories so many times. I really don't want to hear about the Hell's Angels either but I know it is coming.

With Lane up, Conine dropped a fly ball in left and then he tried to throw to third for a force, but the pinch runner, Jimerson, just beat the throw.

39 Get in ma belly--little fella!

Jeff Conine looks like he's going to cry.

Maddux isn't getting the borderline calls right now.

And pinch hitter Humberto Quintero bounces into a 4-6-3 DP to end the game and give the Phillies a win and everybody on the team smiles.

18

All I remember of that was the double play. Any reason why they didn't have a pinch-runner for Piazza?

31

I'll bet she was right a lot, too.

36

Who are the DTers rooting for to get the wild card (assuming the Dodgers win the west, of course)? Me, I want the Phillies. I've always had a soft spot for them, don't like the Giants, Padres, or Reds, and don't care one way or another about the Tuna.

If you know the writing of Raymond Carver, that movie Short Cuts is very weird. Altman transferred the plots and characters of short stories set among the working class and poor in depressed logging towns in Oregon and Northern California to LA, and presented them as some kind of statement about the city. It was jarring. Like seeing Faulkner characters relocated to Brooklyn. (Example: The Griffith Park scene with the dead body was supposed to take place on a weekend fishing trip deep in the wilderness, and the idea was, the wife couldn't stand it that her husband and his buddies just kept fishing, instead of immediately hiking out of the wilderness to report what they found.

Carver was dead so he couldn't say anything about it. But when I finally got past all that, I liked the movie.

Note to pitchers: Good things happen when you don't fall off the mound on your follow through. Fielding position, people. Fielding position.

Maddux apparently had to set up the double play.

Nice play by old friend Cody Ross, coming in at Web Gem #4.

Steiner said that "we'll see in about 5 hours whether the DOdgers remain in first place".

Man, I hope the game doesn't last that long.

28

Good theory, but isn't Nomar a counter-example?

If he was really generous, he'd give out some base hits.

48 I didn't read any Carver (maybe a story or two in school) until after seeing the movie, so it was differently jarring.

47

I don't think Russell sent in a runner for Piazza because he wanted to make sure he had his best hitter in the game if it went longer. Mike Piazza in 1997 was a beast. The backups were Tom Prince and Henry Blanco. There weren't many fast guys on the bench. Wilton Guerrero and Garey Ingram were already in the game.

The pinch runner would either have been a pitcher or ... Paul Konerko!

Blown save for Frankie Rodriguez in Texas.

Is it me, is it early, or does the crowd seem overly passive for a game of this magnitude?

I take it Grits is still "resting" Ethier.
28 I might believe your theory when Lugo, Ham, and Tomko get six game rests.

It's early

Is Tomko in the first year of a multi year?

Bingo!

Greg Maddux has 3 interesting innings in the books.

62 One usually brings that up with nine outs to go, not nine outs into the thing.

Interesting.

The A's have driven in two runs on outs in the fourth. Somebody tell Buster Olney!

I wonder how many of Wells' pitches would actually be strikes if the hitter never swung the bat. It doesn't look like a very high percentage.

Aflac --not Wells. Maybe Clemens? Ehh- Wells is in the Park.

I see cornhusker fans in the stands, and can hear chants of USC, USC coming from my back left surround sound speaker.

maddux gets a gift strike. thats a HOF pitch. hehe

That called strike to Walker was ridiculous.

My local markets are selling USC paper plates, napkins, and cups.

I never see UCLA versions of them. But then again, I can't picture anyone buying them.

Does Wells have a good move to first?

Nevermind Vin just answered that.

Is it the college logo on picnic tools that you can't see people buying, or the UCLA logo that you don't see being in demand?

70 Maybe when basketball season starts they will.

Good thing they didn't run on Piazza.

i hate GIDPs :(

Hey ,I'd forgot that -Maddox pitched in my home town in '86.

74

Pauley Pavilion does not lend itself to tailgating.

I think Kent needs some oxygen after that run.

Man, I could feel Kent's pain around those bases.

I think Kent's hurt.

excellent!

Outstanding. Drew delivers.

Kent's torso/side/ribs have to kill now.

Guerrero homered in the 11th to put the Angels back ahead.

Wow, that would have been awesome if Nomar hadn't GIDP.

78 D'oh

I should have thought about that.

87
The ambience of Lot 8 leaves much to be desired.

Alright Greg, we got you your run.

Yeah, but was Drew, you know, enthusiastic?

Hey, two runs! No excuses now, Greg.

Buster Olney just picked the Padres to pull out the NL West.

They got a lot of momentum afer they traded for Wells.

Luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugoooooooooooooooooo

I don't think it works well.

Lugo didn't take nd on that throw.

Lugo is doing well(s) tonight.

Lugo contributes.

In case anyone was wondering, I'm happy!

The Dodgers have to win this game. They cant waste Julio Lugo's career game as a Dodger.

94 Now I'm mad about it.

97 Jon's emotional state seems very dynamic.

92

I believe at the end of July, Buster Olney thought the Dodgers got momentum from acquiring Maddux and Betemit.

There's a lot of momentum going around. Someone needs to check with Sir Isaac Newton to send what's going.

Is there a Fourth Law of Baseball Motion that I didn't learn about?

I sniff Int BB...

I am happy with Maddux' start. He has been getting away with some high pitches though. Did I see Tomko warming up in the pen? :)
vr, Xei

I was thinking the butterball was melting down, but I'm afraid we didn't finish cooking him.

Odd that Repko or Kemp didn't get the start in left against the lefty.

I'd like to see a quick inning and get Wells huffing and puffing back on the mound.

104
Didn't the little probe pop out?

103 Because those high pitches didn't finish the job? :o)?

28 pitches in that inning. That should take a bit out of Wells.

Little's going with vets.
I think Kemp/Ethier have been replaced by Lofton/Marlon.

IT's not odd, it's crunch time...

Boy, that's the most emotional I've ever seen Maddux on the mound. Weird.

At this rate Grits could have a quandry. Maddox could get so near the end of the game before he reaches his pitch count that it might be hard to lose.

He did it again! Greggers is angry.

Angels hold on for another 2-1 win over Texas.

Charlie Steiner, doing the major-league scoreboard: "Yankees and Red Sox rained out; they'll play a day-night doubleheader Sunday, as well as a doubleheader tomorrow. None of the four games count, but it's the Yankees and the Red Sox, so we're supposed to believe that it's important."

Those aren't doubleheaders. They're just two games that happen to be scheduled on the same day by some fluke, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Bob Timmermann Quixotic Battle #652, all rights reserved.

i want to go out but i cant go until the game becomes un-interesting. But I want the game to end interesting.

what a conundrum!

Maddux is peaking my interests.

117 - You have the day-night doubleheader, while others want the foul poles renamed "fair poles." (Hey, a ball hit off it is in fair territory, right?)
We all have our windmills at which we decide to tilt.

Quixotic:
1.(sometimes initial capital letter) resembling or befitting Don Quixote.
2.extravagantly chivalrous or romantic; visionary, impractical, or impracticable.
3.impulsive and often rashly unpredictable.

Must. Stay. Awake.

117
Do you have a link to your list of Quixotic Battles? :)

119 - Maddux is amazing. I wish I hadn't taken him for granted when he was at his pique.

He's not piqued tonight.

123

There is not enough server space.

Surely Furcal cant get thrown out by Piazza again. Once a season is plenty.

So what part of that last 5 game series between the Red Sox and Yankees, and this weekends 4 game series was originally on the regular schedule?

123 If this were Letterman, we could have Jae Seo come out and read the list.

I'm sending Furcal.

Brandon Webb gets the complete game giving up 1 earned run on 6 hits. No BBs vs. 10 Ks. 16-6.

How do we enter a link to a comment number again? Was it semicolons before and after the #?

132 []

132 - Brackets.

I know it must be the 6th inning because my lap top battery is dangerously low signalling the begging of the end for me on DT until post game.

133
Thank you.

131 - At Gonzo's "I'm outta here" press conference this afternoon, he said the D-Backs were finding motivation in helping Webb win the Cy Young Award.
He may take it.

Webb's ERA is 2.92 also.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have ourselves an interesting game.

hmmm, lots of doughnuts.

The Padres must be very piqued by now.

wow. all we need now is a thunderstorm to appear out of nowhere and flop on DS for about an hour.

62, 63

OK, JoeyP, you're on.

Very interesting.

The Dodgers will have to face Webb again.

That will probably not go well.

Rudy, the best nose in all of baseball. He and Scottie Pippen should start a club.

Maybe interesting is getting too obvious.

How about "noteworthy?"

Yes, lots of delicious looking bagels.

This guy Seanez used throw 100mph when he was with the Dodgers.

145 I assume the Padres will face him at least once, maybe even twice.

Nomar looked like his knee was bothering him quite a bit after stopping past first base (I'm watching the SD feed, so different pictures).

looks like nomar hurt himself.

Nomar's headed into the clubhouse.

its looney for loney tunes time.

Let's wear Seanez down too. Good job, Officer Kent.

Actually, I think the Dodgers may miss Webb. But the Padres should face him twice. It depends what Bob Melvin decides to do with the offday he has.

Considering the Chicago debacles, a few more runs here would be nice.

my friends are getting annoyed because I wont leave the house.

Don't say no-hitter. It is bad luck!!!

Don't say no-hitter. It is bad luck!!!

Don't say no-hitter. It is bad luck!!!

Don't say no-hitter. It is bad luck!!!

158 Tell them to hold their horses.

Use euphemisms. It might help.

you just said it.

about 3 times. thanks. you ruined everything.

Did you see Drew hump it when it looked like he might GIDP. What effort!

This has to be a spot for Betemit right?

Wow, herman with the cyber hooliganism.

Keep 'em annoyed, Nate!

3 for 3!

My bad :(

Every year, Rudy Seanez looks more and more like the serious eagle from the Muppets.

Just a blooper Russs....
A 3rd run might be all the team needs tonite.

Just a blooper Russs....
A 3rd run might be all the team needs tonite.

158 Are they annoyed b/c you won't leave your house, or their house?

I'm pretty sure the rules regarding baseball superstitions don't apply to trolls, so everything's OK.

Yes, everything is A-OK.

9 more outs until the game is over. Hope we can hold on to the lead. vr, Xei

174

my house to meet them at their house to go out.

baseball before friends right?

Boy Grady Little will have a decision to make in the bottom of the 7th depending on how many pitches Maddux throws this inning.

176
I share Xeifrank's attitude.

It's the start of the Looney era!!!

8 more outs!!!

i would have brought loney in at 1b instead of betemit at 3rd.

180

Except Kent is playing first.

Too bad, now let's beat the Padres.

I blame herman.

Did I do that.

Look at Seanez stats. Usually way less than 1 hit per inning, way more than one strike-out and inning, usually at least 2 K/bb.
Yet this guy has been many, many teams. He must be so undesirable for something(maybe his pugnatious marshal arts, or maybe just BO or something) that most teams seem hardly able to wait to get rid of him.

Good for you, Dodger crowd.

Ok lets blame herman!

okay its over. hope i find out we win when i come back.

Grady has got to be kidding. Kent to 1st, Lugo to 2nd & Betemit to 3rd? No James "his defense is major-league ready but everyone was wondering if he'd hit enough" Loney?

187
Rudy Seanez gets hurt A LOT.

Somebody delete Herman's posts and ban him from the site for tonight. Obvious rule violation!!! vr, Xei

Winkum, blinkum, noddimus rex,
Protect us all from the man with the hex.

That was for you, Herman.

Lugo-haters, I'm not getting you. That was some play.

and that is how fast piazza is.

68 pitches through 7

OOy.... That was Jason Phillips slow.

Anyone have Maddux' pitch count?

I'm pretty sure the Philospher King will have something to say/do regarding our jinxaliscious "friend".

197

Telepathic?

The Padres are 1-21 on balls in play tonite.
I dont think its their nite.

Nancy Bea! What's up, you wonderful lady?

Transaction Information for Rudy Seanez

Selected by Cleveland Indians in the 4th round of the free-agent draft (June 2, 1986
- signed June 7, 1986).

Traded by Cleveland Indians to Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Dennis Cook and
Mike Christopher (December 10, 1991).

Traded by Los Angeles Dodgers to Colorado Rockies in exchange for Jody Reed
(November 17, 1992).

Granted free agency (July 16, 1993).

Signed by San Diego Padres (July 22, 1993).

Released by San Diego Padres (November 18, 1993).

Signed by Los Angeles Dodgers (January 14, 1994).

Granted free agency (October 15, 1996).

Signed by New York Mets (January 14, 1997).

Sent to Kansas City Royals by New York Mets for future considerations (May 30, 1997).

Granted free agency (October 17, 1997).

Signed by Atlanta Braves (December 15, 1997).

Granted free agency (November 2, 1999).

Signed by Atlanta Braves (December 12, 1999).

Granted free agency (October 30, 2000).

Signed by San Diego Padres (February 25, 2001).

Traded by San Diego Padres to Atlanta Braves in exchange for a player to be named
later (August 31, 2001); San Diego Padres received Winston Abreu (September 6,
2001).

Granted free agency (November 5, 2001).

Signed by Texas Rangers (February 1, 2002).

Granted free agency (October 28, 2002).

Signed by Texas Rangers (December 15, 2002).

Released by Texas Rangers (May 3, 2003).

Signed by Boston Red Sox (May 6, 2003).

Released by Boston Red Sox (July 29, 2003).

Signed by Chicago Cubs (August 2, 2003).

Released by Chicago Cubs (October 15, 2003).

Signed by Kansas City Royals (February 12, 2004).

Traded by Kansas City Royals to Florida Marlins in exchange for Abraham Nunez (July
31, 2004).

Granted free agency (October 28, 2004).

Signed by San Diego Padres (November 24, 2004).

Granted free agency (October 27, 2005).

Signed by Boston Red Sox (December 20, 2005).

Released by Boston Red Sox (August 28, 2006).

Signed by San Diego Padres (August 31, 2006).

Actually, giving up the hit was just Maddux' way of setting up the DP to keep his pitch count low!

Sorry for the long post there.

In my 20 years as a dodger fan, I don't think I have ever seen Nancy B. Hefly before. That was actually a highlight for me.

who's hurt?

In defense of "herman", he seems to have violated the only spirt and not the letter. The guideline is very narrowly worded. Perhaps Jon should look into that.

Oh well... Just win.

208 Brocail

Doug Brocail hurt his ankle and is out. Embree's coming in.

Maddux is at 68 pitches.

Okay, I blame herman for the jinx, but I blame Nancy Bea Hefley for Brocail's injury.

209
So, you're a strict constructionist?

210, 211 - Thank you.

Piazza just reached first base.

This is game I could understand bringing in Broxton and taking out Maddux.

Maddux isnt really dominating them, although he does have only 68 pitches.

I'd probably bring in the Bull for the 8th.

209 - And I don't think he's a troll, either. Just an infrequent poster who obviously wasn't aware of Jon's policy.

ESPN keeps referring to our old friend as CORY Ross.

It's contagious. I spent the last two years on K Street. I'm working to get over it, but it's a struggle.

Living in Ma. it seems all my Red Sox freinds are right. Grady's good for a year leading up to a winning team. But he has to go before you can really go for it. He uses the whyole roster indesciminately, and favors old vets.

Not only that, but it's Olmedo Saenz vs LHP.

Living in Ma. it seems all my Red Sox freinds are right. Grady's good for a year leading up to a winning team. But he has to go before you can really go for it. He uses the whyole roster indesciminately, and favors old vets.

Sniper! Everyone get down. (Brocali pulled a hammy)

9) typing "no-hitter" to describe any no-hitter in progress
I think Herman violated the rule pretty blatantly x 3. vr, Xei

215 you made me laugh. Thanks.

Tomato Heinz

I like this move by Little.
Saenz vs Embree-- good matchup
And Broxton/Saito you have to feel comfortable with that.

200 It smelled to me like a hit. He knew the rules. The repetitive posting proves it.

But I don't think the jinx works if someone deliberately says "no-hitter" as if to make it stop. You can only jinx a no-hitter by inadvertently mentioning it. Maddux lost it to a good hitter, not a lame poster.

200 It smelled to me like a hit. He knew the rules. The repetitive posting proves it.

But I don't think the jinx works if someone deliberately says "no-hitter" as if to make it stop. You can only jinx a no-hitter by inadvertently mentioning it. Maddux lost it to a good hitter, not a lame poster.

209
capdodger, I direct your attention to Baron de Montesquieu:

http://tinyurl.com/pdbac

Nice hustle there Marlon. A scrappy run!

223 there was no actual description of the situation in any of herman's posts, a good lawyer could get a not-guilty verdict

Interestingly, Khalil Greene has been out for what seems like a month and here in San Diego it seems like he is hardly missed.

231
You're assuming that Our Leader follows due process and all that. He would just have a show trial like they did in the Soviet Union back in the 1930s.

232
Does anyone else call him "Spicoli?"

Grits may pull Maddox and I can't say it*.

I have to say, that looked pretty intentional to me. No one was saying no-hitter, no one at all, and all of a sudden he comes in shouting it. How can you believe it wasn't intentional when he's violating his own so-called warning in his own post.

I'm really disappointed.

227, 228 - I think the repetitive posting proved that he hit submit multiple times while he was waiting for his post to go up :)

Multiple posts? Were they deleted?

235
I hope Little pulls Maddux since he pinch hit for him and all that.

231 Tom Robinson was innocent as well.

Didn't work out too well for him, as I recall.

234 That hasn't caught on but he is a favorite of the teenage girls. A staredown between Khalil Greene and JD Drew would be interesting.

240

Stand up Greg, the Philosopher King is passing.

Whats the record for a no hitter with the least amount of strikeouts involved?

I kinda wanted to see Maddux get it that way.

Nooo, my post 235 was a sarcastic joke--tell me he didn't pull Maddox.

He violated the spirit and the letter, as far as I'm concerned. It just seems too random for someone who hasn't commented here in ages to come in here and do something so obnoxious.

4-2 Oakland over Chicago in the bottom of the 8th.

236. IP ban?
vr, Xei

236 240

My humblest apologies. By your leave, Your Greatness.

243
There have been no-hitters with no strikeouts.

228 - "You can only jinx a no-hitter by inadvertently mentioning it. "

That's not true as far as I'm concerned. That doesn't even make sense to me.

241
But Greene looks exactly like him. Drew would lose becuase stoners don't bink.

Ethier must be pretty far in Grady's doghouse to not even get into the game as a defensive replacement.

He's better than Repko!

At least, isnt he?

I mean "blink."

Would it kill our relief pitchers to, I don't know, RETIRE the leadoff batter of an inning every once in a while???

I'm picking nits. But that Cubs series scarred me.

It crossed my mind that this may be the biggest game/situation that Broxton has been in.

245 It was the DT equivalent of a streaker running onto the field in the bottom of the ninth of a tie game.

249
Wasn't Dock Ellis' no-hitter on acid a no-K outing? I think he plinked a couple of batters and walked a bunch.

Er... Come on Broxton. Take a little off and hit the mitt. Please?

252 Repko's faster, has the better arm, and hasn't played in awhile. Plus, the LF spot in the lineup probably won't have another AB unless bad things happen. Ethier seems more consistent in a Drew-type way, but Repko is flashy so people think he's the better defender.

Can we talk about Mike Piazza's perm?

Sad Sam Jones of the Yankees threw a 2-0 no-hitter against Philadelphia on 9/4/1923.

Ken Holtzman did it on August 19, 1969 against Atlanta
http://retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B08190CHN1969.htm

And people are doing the wave. SIT DOWN!!!

Dock Ellis struck out 6 and walked 8 in his electric kool-aid acid test no-hitter.

And now he's gone as abruptly as he came.

Well, thanks to everyone else for playing along.

250 What I meant was, "herman" was being malicious. When you think of someone jinxing a no-hitter, you think of an excess of enthusiasm. This guy

a) clearly knew your policy
b) clearly knew the community was trying to keep the lid on
c) posted the same post more than twice, which either means he was rubbing it in, or pushing his browser to show him his handiwork.

I don't see how someone who acts with malice aforethought can be a jinx.

Julio Lugo and Marco Scutaro are a combined 7 for 7 today.

263
The funny thing was that he forgot he was pitching that day, which is why he dropped the LSD.

From indifference to joy to hope to anger to frustration.

Jon's been on an emotional roller coaster tonight.

Maddux would have made a kicksave on that one.

I again echo Xeifrank's comment in 176.

Well, I guess we'll see if the "save Saito for the Padres" plan works out. He's warming up.

Yes, it's this sudden disappearing act that makes me fear you've pegged herman's intentions. When he posted a couple of semi-contrite comments following his jinx-ery, I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Mike Piazza has a perm?

I'm going to go hide under the bed until this inning is over.

That Cubs series REALLY scarred me.

268
The five stages of game chatting by Elisabeth Kubler-Weisman.

Please make Broxton a starter until he has some experience.

A guy named Termel Sledge should not be a banjo hitting 175 pound fungo.

Loney would have picked that ball.

This is why Loney should be playing first.

I'm not sure what it is, but it is perm-like.

Terrmel Sledge will be the third Kennedy Cougar to play tonight.

Garret Anderson was 1 for 5
Jon Garland went 5 2/3 IP for the White Sox and could lose.

Now it's time for Terrmel.

Nomar or J-Lo would've dug that one out.

278 - Maybe he bought a crimper?

Termel looks a little TOO happy in his Gameday picture.

275 Why? He did great. Absent the error, he gets out of it w/out a run.

The fourth Kennedy High Cougar "involved" in this game has won no Quixotic battles tonight.

282 - it's the greenies.

how was that an earned run? If Lugo didn't make the throwing error, wouldn't that have been a double play, thus no run?

273 You can come out from under the bed now DL. Did you find anything worthwhile under there?

286 - Can't assume the double play.

ah

Still, wouldn't Gonzales have been left at 3rd?

Don't hide under the bed. That's where the face-eating monsters live.

At least, that's what I tell my nephew. Kidding?

285
After that at-bat, perhaps he'll be frowning in his next picture, or punching the photographer if the greenines have kicked in.

I remember visiting Dodger Town in Vero and walking past a bunch of Expos minor leaguers there for a minor leaguer spring game on one of the B fields.

Some mid 50s woman was trying to find out what time the A game in Holman was to start, and was a couple feet away from Termel Sledge who was on the other side of the fence.

I'll never forget how funny it was hearing a mid 50s woman asking "Mr. Sledge, what time does your game start?"

Picture your mom saying "Mr. Sledge," and that was how funny it sounded.

288,286
Either that or gameday just has it wrong. Even scoring the runner reaching thrid as an FC, they still have to account for the runner scoring. It will probably change?

Terrmel was one of the first two players to be named as testing positive for steroids. He flunked a pre-Olympic screening. Sledge and Derrick Turnbow (who has a nose that puts Seanez's to shame) both tested positive.

Gameday says it was unearned. You can't assume the double play, but both runners advanced a base, which was accounted for by the error.

Do you think maybe we could get a run now!

296 - oh, ok

278
I think its called a body wave (I have three sisters)

Kemp pinch runs so people keeping score don't have to change a lot of letters.

If Nomah's down for a while, I hope that Grady doesn't play Kent at first regularly.

There might be a Loney sighting in the 9th.

261

That no-hitter by Holtzman is incredible. The Braves were 0 for 26 on balls in play, 0 for 27 if foul outs count in that stat!

Lugo with a chance to put it away...

intentionally walk a guy to face a guy who's 3-3 on the night?

Clyde Wright threw a no-hitter with just one strike out. When he talked about later, he said, "I was very lucky. I just threw it and they just hit it into people's gloves."

Bochy walks Drew to get to a guy who's 3 for 3?

I'm watching with the volume off (2 year old is sleeping) and noticed that Broxton sure has a terrible follow through on his delivery for defensive purposes. Sure enough a couple of pitches later, the ball is lined up the middle and he doesn't have a chance to field it. Even with a good follow through that particuliar hit may have been impossible to field but atleast you give yourself a chance to field balls hit up the middle if you follow through properly. The only defense I could make for such an ugly follow through (and many young power pitchers do it) is that it enables him to add a few mph to his fastball. But it's on all pitches, not just fastballs. vr, Xei

A's win 4-2. Good night for the Tigers who pick up a game on both the Twins and Sox.

The Halos are on life support.
They pretty much need to sweep all 7 games left with the A's.

287 I found some spare change, a few kernels of ancient popcorn, a pen I've been looking for, a sock, and some dust bunnies the size of Julio Lugo.

And we still have the lead. I should hide under there more often.

304 - I guess they figure he's due to make out.

306
Oops. Didn't see the StolenMonkey post.

Matt Kemp doing well with the pinch runner job.

310 Just hide out under there til November. I'll tape the games for you.

Didn't see herman under there, didja?

312 - that's ok, I didn't copyright it. :)

I think Piazza's jerry curl needs some activator

Okay 3.5, you should be plenty rested by now.

Isn't it jheri curl?

And I have no sisters!

are they letting repko hit?
vr, Xei

Broxton on deck?!

Herman's in my basement. I'll let him out in November.

The Pads don't have a lefty available listed on Gameday

Which is why a righthander a pitching.

Which one of the Hardy Boys was Scott Cassidy?

I can never remember.

321 - if Ethier gets a hit, Grady figures Broxton can go ahead and take it, I guess

324 - good call

I forgot. He'll be replaced by Martinez, most likely.

The right-handed one.

That was a heck of a catch.

Shaun Cassidy as Joe
Parker Stevenson as Frank

i'm watching online, feel free to live blog.
vr, Xei

It's plays like that that just kill the BABIP.

And Jerry Mathers as the Beaver.

After hearing all those HBO documentaries and Lexus commercials, I know what I'm going to do if I win the lottery.

I'm going to hire Liev Schreiber to narrate my daily life. That guy is awesome.

331 334 Nicely done, boys.

The clear key to this game was Jason Repko's half inning of terrific defensive work in LF.

335
And he's living with Naomi Watts too.

Okay, now the....fun....starts....

I'm drinking wine. I must be nervous.

Good Frame-up by Martin on the 2-1 pitch to Roberts.

a little help from the ump is nice

Sweet. Pass the vino.

Roberts is a physical freak. His knees are two inches from his ankles.

332

Well, let's see. First the earth cooled. And then the dinosaurs came, but they got too big and fat, so they all died and they turned into oil. And then the Arabs came and they bought Mercedes Benzes. And Prince Charles started wearing all of Lady Di's clothes. I couldn't believe it.

Same pitch and frame for the (Backward) K.

340 Something Navarro never seemed to do.

Dodgers getting the calls tonite.

That was beautiful. The 1-2 was strike 3 and fooled the umpire. The 2-2 just missed. The 3-2 was awesome.

Gamashi Over!
vr, Xei

343
Sort of like Cotton Hill?

I don't suppose Grady will start Loney at 1B, Kent at 2B, and Betemit at 3B tomorrow, will he?

We win!

Man, Dodger fans are lucky to have Saito come in after all those great Gagne years. He's just as charismatic, in a quiet way.

338 - For too, too long, I could only picture Naomi Judd when I read that comment. And I thought: (A) somebody ENVIES this guy, and (B) that must be one big dumpster.

WOOT!! 1.5 ahead.

344 and 351 have me stifling one of those cool LOLs.

Do they play any song for Saito when he comes in? Most closers have songs. He should have one.

After tonight's win, the possible end of series scenarios for the Dodgers and Padres are....

A) Dodgers lead Padres by 4.5 games
B) Dodgers lead Padres by 2.5 games
C) Dodgers lead Padres by 0.5 games
D) Padres lead Dodgers by 1.5 games
vr, Xei

1 in the sack. 25% done. YES!!!!

Game 2 I think is the most important one of the series.

Dodgers.com says Ethier will start Saturday.

351 Well, that's how the umpire saw him.

I truly, truly don't think I have heard Kevin Kennedy give commentary without reminding us he was a major league manager.

The gang over at Gaslamp really lambasted the homeplate umpire tonight. Pretty funny to view the game through the eyes of the enemy.
vr, Xei

Saito saved Grady's bacon. I can't believe Grady would pull Maddox with less than 70 pitches and no runs, one hit. That is close to the most idiotic move I have ever seen.
I have supported Grady all year, but in the last two weeks, his incompetent use of the pitching staff and the guys who will form the nucleus of our team in the future(unless he trades them) has made me a very hard critic.

366 - it was only a 2 run lead, and Maddux had given up 3 walks.

Also (now maybe this is just me), pitchers that have just given up no hitters can often become quite vulnerable to flat out losing it.

As much as I deplore Grady being allowed to manage or do anything with the D's, this baloney makes me so glad Kevin Kennedy never got his hands on them, I thank and praise the great Lord.

367 As it turned out, you are right.

358 - Everytime I've seen Saito pitch in person, they're playing some sort of techno song while he warms up. I'm not sure what song it is, though.

Its not like Maddux was dominating the Padres hitters. He was getting hit the ball was just finding the gloves. I think going to Broxton was the right move, bc Broxton is a better pitcher than Maddux.

370
I recommend iodine for you.

Kevin Kennedy talked for 10 minutes of nonsense until he finally said something that made sense -- I think Russell Martin is the Rookie of the Year too.

I think Grady managed the bullpen well tonight, but it was pretty much "mission fool proof". If he gets 7+ out of his starters, it sure makes things easier. Once he is forced to use someone other than Broxton or Saito then he is rolling the dice. Something any manager with only two effective relievers would face. Grady (to use a familiar DT favorite tv show line) doesn't get kicked off of the island tonight. vr, Xei

Broxton has a great arm, but he is prone to the HR
I am so glad we got Maddox instead of the butterball. Though if Wells had a few less cheesebergs/day he might be as good of better.

I think using the inexperienced Brox with two on base is sort of rolling the dice, but you mostly have the right of it.

373 Amen!

If you hit the Yahoo standings page at the right time, they say the Mets have clinched the NL East. But they haven't.

The Dodgers magic number is 15. However, if they win 14 games they clinch. If you assume that the Dodgers are going to finish 14-2, you are very optimistic.

372 Noticing my % of the latest posts I think I need Iodine and a shot of some kind Good night all>

I had to come back because of this special after the game on whatever TVabout R. Martin and his father.. Having this guy our catcher for many years is amazing. May he never get Boras for an agent.

375 -- If Broxton is "prone to the HR," why has it been pretty much forever since he gave up a home run? Broxton's HR rate was high in the first part of the season, but he is a kid in his first full season and had some adjustments to make. He made the adjustments.

374 - You are on the money. The Dodgers make Grady's life easier and Dodger fans life easier when he doesn't have to go to Tomko, Dessens or anyother gas can to the fire with the possible exception of Beimel who has been pretty good for most of the year. Most of the time, we are crossing our fingers when anyone but Broxton and Saito come in. Even Broxton tonight was a little sketchy, though the Padres scored on a poor relay throw by Lugo that Kent could not scoop. Nonetheless, I can sleep easy tonight with a win. When they lose like Tuesday or yesterday, I spend time going over the game like a manager losing valuable sleep time. Chalk this game up for improvement of my physical health.

378 After the Reggie Bush story, Yahoo! can do no wrong in my book.

378 - I would think going 10-5 over the last 15 games should get us a spot in the postseason. Would that be fair?

375 - Are you mistaking Broxton for Tomko?
It's Tomko that is susceptible to the long ball. Broxton game up just a single to ARam on Tuesday and he made a pretty good pitch, ARam caught just enough of it to get a single and tie the game but Broxton was brought in when Tomko made a mess by walking two batters. Broxton was warming in the pen when Tomko gave up the dinger to ARam yesterday.

Just back from the game. I sat in front of Marlon Anderson's biggest (and, it does seem possible, his only) fan. Which was a little weird. Scanning back through the comments, now, do we have a theory on why Nomar was pulled?

If anybody heard a lot of booing in the top of the fourth, for no apparent reason, there was a troupe of Nebraskans with corn cob hats taunting the left field pavilion. Which was moderately less weird than the Marlon Anderson fan. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Just got back from the game, the crowd was slow getting in, it is amazing no matter how late you make the start time, some people are not going get there until the 2nd or 3rd inning.

I agree Maddux wasn't on his A game though aside from Cameron's line drive that he snagged for a double play (I am going to guess here, but I bet he leads all the Dodger pitchers in double play assists), not too many sharply hit balls.

I think it helped him early on that Wells was pitching fast, I it kept him in rhythm.

Drew's double was a shot, maybe a better relay gets Kent.

The crowd spontaneously gave Maddux a standing ovation for his efforts and then he closes it out with the double play.

Crowd was good, lots of energy in the air. Hopefully Chad can followup with a good game, getting the first one makes this a much more easier series to watch. Again, they are now 17-3 in their last 20 games at Dodger Stadium .

Also Andre had a nice at bat and took that ball to left center, I think he will have some good games in this homestand.

385 Nomar suffered a strained quad when he ran out a ground ball in the 6th.

387- Thanks.

386- A group of about a dozen people came looking for their seats for the first time during the sixth inning, up near me. Which was pretty impressive, even for L.A., I thought.

I thought it was established that Maddux has a great deal of say, if not all the say, in deciding when he wants to come out of a game.

358 My vote goes to "Turning Japanese" by The Vapors, even if a lot of people think it's a song about playing with yourself.

See new post above.

There should be a television station devoted entirely to replaying the clip of Martin nailing Dave Roberts in the first. I'd watch.