amazing. i hate my life. way to miss this game nate considering you never miss a game.

The. Best. Game. Of. The. Year!

That was the best game I've ever seen, likely the best I'll ever see.

I looked at the game situation online, before taking a post-softball game shower, sometime just after the 8th when the Dodgers trailed 6-5.

I took my shower and checked back in, in shock to see the four consecutive homers, and more in shock to see that Sele had given up the lead run.

I had a discussion with my wife, looked back, and saw that the Dodgers had won it on another home run. Holy cow. I wish I had a subscription to whatever would have let me see that game!

lets rub it in some more! its okay im tough, i can take it!

People are going to be talking about this game for a long time.

No matter what happens after this, whether the Dodgers win the WS or dont even make the playoffs, people will still be talking about this game.

Tonight was baseball history.
Down by 4 runs, bottom of the 9th, back-back-back-back HR's. Then a walk-off in the 10th.

That'll never happen again.
Ever

Those people that left DS early have to be killing themselves.

This is what sports is all about!

Jon, you should save tonight's thread and print it in your next book. Heck, just fill the whole book up with tonight's thread.
vr, Xei

Well, like I said last thread, which members of this group actually attended the game and will come back here awestruck?

Greatest game of the season (thus far).

The only way it could have been better... Nomar makes out, Kent Triples Lofton in, Drew walks, Martin makes out, ground rule double by Anderson. The double cycle to conclude the game. Only in dreams... or tonight.

6
"This is what sports is all about!"

Honestly, you can watch hours and hours of sports and maybe once every 5 years you'll see something that makes you feel like this!

What an emotional roller coaster ride! I love this game! It is games like that that I absolutely love to hear Vin Scully call a game. My heart is still racing.

How does one go about buying this game from MLB.com? is the quality any good? nomar is hoarse on the post-game interview.. haha

It honestly feels like we won the world series. This singular elation, I dont think anything can top this.

Maybe Kuo throwing a perfect game in the 7th game of a WS could do it...

But there's just nothing that could top this game. This game has to make you feel good for the next week at least, no matter what the Dodgers do.

I'm so happy that I'm willing to even forgive Lugo for not hitting the 5th straight HR.

1 This oughta make you feel better Nate...I left in the top of the 9th!! This combination of devastation and elation is quite interesting. :)

When all is said and done, still a half game lead but we chopped four games off of our magic number and so did the Padres.
vr, Xei

16 - I can't imagine how you feel. I was thinking about going to bed, but I figured... eh just watch half an inning.

I tried to get tickets to tonights game, but the only ones they had left were $400 dollars.

It would have been well worth it.

16- you werent the only one. For a sell out crowd, maybe half the people were still there for the bottom of the 9th.

But wow!

I mean I'm thinking, why havent the Dodgers hit more homers all season? Is it really that easy?

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM

15 When Furcal went to the warning track in the ninth I went into premature celebration.

With the exception of the Cardinals on the road, on paper the Pads have about as easy of a schedule as the Dodgers from here on out. But I still can't help wondering if this is the kind of soul crushing defeat that just incapacitates the Padres.

I just...well, you know...baseball game...home runs...comeback...stuff...more stuff...Vin...

You know what I'm saying here people. Work with me.

If MLB.com hasn't updated their stats yet, that means the Dodgers have passed the Pirates to get up to 15th in the NL in homers!

I still can't believe it. I just can't. That game is NEVER coming off the TIVO. I am going to watch the end every day for weeks.

Amazing game...

In 1979 when Sutcliffe and the Dodgers hit 7 homers I had to sneak my radio in my room to listen to the game...

Tonight I was able to watch 7 homers with my wife and trade emails with my dad (to whom I had to play dumb in 1979 and pretend that I was surprised when listening to all of the homers on Dodger Replay on KABC 790)...

Good times...

Hopefully the Dodgers can ride this game and steam roll the Pirates...

I am hopeful...

15- Nomar was overdue for another walkoff hit

25 - Can we see another piece for Slate? Or can I write one?

I rewound the TIVO and am watching 9th inning again :-)

What a night to be stuck on a work trip in a hotel in Denver...

17-- you're right. But I said this in the other thread. Watching sports is about being entertained. And it doesnt get any better than this.

Its almost like 2006 has been a successfully entertaining season based on this one game. BC no matter what happens from here on out, we'll always be able to talk about how awesome this game was.

Amazing.

19 - I was offered tix to the game, but would have had to drive an hour to pick them up. So I turned them down and watched it with you guys instead.

And ya know what? That's a pretty great way to watch a game like this! I don't feel like I missed a thing. Thanks Jon and everyone!

I think the guy who went upstairs to get the blue gatorade won it for us. From now on, blue gatorade. I wonder if orange or red is ok, I can't imagine drinking anything blue. But if that's what it takes...
vr, Xei

30 Hey, just tune in ESPN. Not even the fabled East Coast bias can knock that off the highlight reel.

Jon--Slate is my turf. Back off!

Seriously, though, if my editor emails me tomorrow, I will have a hard time saying no.

20.

It's easy when every pitch is up and over the middle and about 85-89 I guess. Oh yeah, and it's that easy on the video game where you can create a team of 6 foot, 4 inch monsters with unlimited power. Otherwise, no.

Now we have to figure out a proper punishment for the disbelievers. For example, I think Gen3Blue should probably have to wear a dress, during tomorrow's game.

Im going to buy the game off mlb and watch it sometime this week uninterrupted.

I still cant believe I missed this game. What are the odds. Ive probably missed about only 5 dodger games this whole year and this happens to be the game of the decade.

So when is the Marlon Anderson statue erected at DS?

You know, I really think that all the bad luck and bad breaks that have gone against us facing the Padres this year was just balanced out, right now.

34 saw the highlights, couldn't believe it. I'm going to the Rockies/Giants game tomorrow, hoping for a 21-7 game

35 - :)

April 30. September 18. Even Steven.

Somewhere out there a Timmermann types furiously at a Griddle entry.

You forgot another Vinny gem - quoting Dylan Thomas after Martin's home run: "Do not go gentle into that good night"

Next to the Gibson homerun, this was the best game I have ever seen. Awesome. I am floating on a cloud. This is a game that washes worries away. This is a game we will tell our future children, grandchildren, and for some of us great grandchildren. WOW

After all the nightmares from September 12th, I totally forgot about April 30th...

I'm just sick to my stomach. I left the greatest 9 inning comback in my life after Saito threw the wild pitch. My wife opened the door when I got home and told me what happened. I stay around 90% of the time until the last out during the 40 or so games I see. I'm just sick.

okay, i just bought the game on MLB, but can't figure out where to download it. what gives??? anyone have experience with this?

43
Yes, I'm writing the preview of tomorrow's game.

I try not to write long entries about the teams covered by the sectarian blogs.

Agreed. We're even. And that first game also helped the Dodgers decide to get rid of Lance Carter so maybe the edge is to us now.

44 - I missed a lot of them, unfortunately. But he was having a great night. He was conveying the emotion early on.

47 See 34. It won't capture the emotion, but at least you can see it.

47 - Don't be hard on yourself. You meant well.

I think this game is makes the April game seem feeble.

Granted, its not everyday you lose a 5 run lead in the 9th, but it happens.

A team hasnt hit 4 straight homers in one innning in over 40yrs, much less in the bottom of the 9th down by 4. The only way that could have been more dramatic was if there were 2 outs and they did it.

Tonite was Alex Cora's 18pitch HR times 10 imo.

33 Everytime I got a chance to see the game tonight, something bad happened. Lofton and Furcal killed the rally. Giles scored in the 10th.

I decided that I wasn't going to watch the rest of the game because everytime I put it on, bad stuff happened. All the good stuff happened while I wasn't watching.

Well, at 10, when the Padres went ahead 6-4, I admit it, I caved in and switched over to "Studio 60." I had only planned to check it out if the game was over, but...eh...it looked like another bad Padre game and I just wanted to escape it.

First commercial break, switch over to the game. Now it's 6-5. But I know Trevor is coming in, and the Pads look like they're rallying. Back to the wit and wisdom of Aaron Sorkin.

Next commercial break, the game is on a commmercial, so I go back to the travails of Matthew Perry.

Next commercial break, the crowd is jumping up and down. Marlon Anderson-who I love-has just tied it! 9-9?

So I don't know how "Studio 60" turned out. I'll probably never watch it again, sheerly from resentment.

So glad they could come back after falling behind again in the 10th. Sele, you sucked, but then you were clutch. Nomar...you pulled it out...you're a master of drama...and Scully, you'll never get old. Never.

49 But this game is so Griddleliscious, I can't imagine anybody else writing about the myriad nonsense, and making sense of it.

All due respect to the Philosopher King

I'm sorry Toy :-( but I can't blame you - I think even the most optimistic of us thought it was over at that point. I was barely keeping an eye on the end on GameDay or whatever until it started to get more interesting. And hey - at least they won. You can download the game. Small consolations, I know...

48 no help? :(

Thank you all for an unforgettable evening well-spent. Goodnight.

This may be the single greatest baseball game I've ever watched start to finish. Granted it wasn't the post season but just for the double comeback and the four back-to-back home runs. They were saying in the post game that since the last one (1964) and this game there's been something like 200,000 games played. Games like this make a whole season feel worthwhile. That said, I could get used to this being a happy Dodger fan thing...

GO DODGERS!!!

56 Basically describes my experience to a tee - except substitute MLBTv/GameDay for TV, and I did watch the end of Studio 60. Remind me tomorrow rat and I'll tell you how it ended. I'm too exhausted now.. Night all!

Pleasant dreams :-)

After Kent hit 1st HR: Let's go down fighting.

After Drew hit 2nd HR: Let's make it interesting.

After Martin hit 3rd HR on 1st pitch from Hoffman: Anything is possible now.

After Anderson hit 4th HR on 1st pitch from Hoffman again: Impossible just happened.

Finally, Lugo tries to hit one and it's just a flyball (back to reality)

59 What do you mean, where to download it? Are there multiple servers you can pick to download from? If so, pick the closest one geographically.

64 - that's my question. i can't find the link to where i actually download the dang thing after they charged me!

well, it's back to the all-nighter for me

65 Oh. I haven't done it, so I'm probably of no help, then. Is there an FAQ?

67 - useless... sigh

This is Jon's turf. There is no Wayne Krivsky involvement, so I'm sticking to my own turf.

47 I feel your pain. Meet 16.

68 I downloaded the Finley game a couple of years ago. They should send you a purchase confirmation with a link included in the body of the email.

65- http://tinyurl.com/n7o2s

71 - that's what i figured, but nothing in the email. i guess i'll just have to wait to call customer service in the morning.

I just got home from the game, and if I were as good a writer as Jon, I could tell you how it all felt. Alas, I'm not, so I can't. But, um, WOW.

While walking out of the stadium, I passed a group of young men in ties, obviously junior front office guys. They were crying.

I rushed home to see if Fox sports was replaying the game, so I could burn it on to a DVD for posterity. Evidently, they are not.

Here's the FAQ:
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/help/faq_dds.jsp

Scroll down to question #9.

72- Oops. You must have found that, already. Sorry.

72 - thanks andrew, but the only option i get is "add to cart," which i've already done and paid for. could be that it's just not up yet, i suppose..

75 - saw that, too. can't even get it to start streaming...

77 You gotta have WMV 7.0 or above, apparently. Try the sequence in that #9 answer.

16 47 You're not alone...we left after 7 innings when the score was still tied at 4-4. People gotta go to work and school tomorrow morning. But at least we got home in time to see the comeback on TV.

Hmm. Well, if they send you a confo email with a link, that will (eventually) do it for you, I imagine.

9/18/2007.

I think I know what Jon will be posting about. It'll be his second not-so-random-game callback in a week.

The only downside again comes to Nomar.

On one hand, it would be a shame to see a guy with that many big hits for us go.

On the other hand, it would make little financial sense, and for the future, it would be hard not to play Loney, and it we don't sign Nomar, it may give us a better shot at a big time pitcher.

So if the dodgers let him go, my thoughts will be torn with "darn, how could we let that guy go," and "well, makes sense because Loney seems ready, and the dodgers have a better shot at signing pitching."

And I would be thinking the opposite if he was retained. Poor Ned Colleti here.

69 - If there's anything you want to add, feel free. If you want to collapse from exhaustion, feel free.

i think mariano duncan set the tone tonight. said we aint going to back down, not tonight, anyway.

Just got home from the game. Front row behind the Padres dugout. It was a um, good game.

I have no words.

Hello all,

I've an avid fan of Jon's work, and I've been following a number of games with the DT crew as a reader only. I've been thinking about joining for many-a-moon now, and after what I just witnessed, today is unquestionably the day. Hello everybody, and go blue!!!!

85 Was there ever any explanation of that yelling Peavy was doing in the early innings? I missed that part of the game.

So will the Dodgers be re-energized from this win, and plow through the Pirates?

Or will they suffer a let down against the Pirates, and be lethargic?

It'll be interesting to see what happens.
I think this is a killer loss for the Pads though.

81 I just looked at my confirmation e-mail from the Finley game. There was no link in it.

If memory serves, it took a while to actually be able to download.

You never like to admit to a bit of schadenfreude....

.... but damn, it was fun to go read Gaslamp Ball just now.

For those who missed it, FSN Prime Ticket is scheduled to replay the game tomorrow from noon - 2pm.

i still cant believe marlon freaking anderson has made this much of an impact for us.

Quote:

This being September, it is a search successfully conducted only by the fittest, the wisest, the ones who have searched before.

The Dodgers today look like none of those things.

The San Diego Padres look like all of them.

...

The Dodgers' boat is even more shaky, though, when one considers that their veterans are suffering from stress of a different sort.

It's obvious that Jeff Kent's aching side has robbed him of his power swing.

It's apparent that Nomar Garciaparra, whose sore leg kept him out of the starting lineup Saturday and Sunday, will stagger to the end of the season.

End quote.

- Bill Plaschke, Monday morning

dodger games ive been to, in order of awesomeness:

1. game 1 in 88
2. tonight
3. finley walk off gs against the giants

ill read back through the threads, but man oh man tonight was amazing....

For schadenfreude-induced kicks, I wandered over to Gaslamp.
They broke the profanity filter over there.

Okay, I'm back, if the emotions watching the game were intense, being there well, the best I can put it, Jon we may have a candidate for best game ever.

First, Penny goes off and before half the crowd is in their seats he gives up 4 two out runs and we are down 4-0.

Then, you blink and its first and second until Nomar bounces into a DP. But Kent (who hopefully is starting a hot streak, hits a screamer to left center and we get one run.

Bottom of the second and Marlon Anderson just smashes one to right center and its now 4-2, and the crowd senses that we are coming back.

Third inning and Raffy hits another homer and then Kent and Drew hit back to back doubles and the crowd is buzzing, tie game.

A change of karma occurs when we blow bases loaded nobody out.

The Ox comes in and walks Blum on 4 pitches and then 2 runs eventually score. However, Anderson running through a stop sign and triples, scoring on Betemit's base hit, crowd is now back in the game.

When the Killer Tomato came up next, I pondered what JoeyP would say, I understood the play but when Lofton doubled a few hitters later, I wished Lugo was in scoring postiion.

The ninth had such a swing of emotions, Saito just getting hit all over, the wild pitch it just seemed inevitable that we were going to lose.

Lucklily, I came with a friend from the office who was happy to hang as the Dodgers came up down by 4. Before I knew it, Kent homered and then I glanced down to see that Hoffman wasn't in and Akins was brought in the non-save situation.

I told my friend as Drew worked the 3-0 count, that I see Hoffman warming up again so I figured this was Akins' last batter as Drew swung and deposited one over the RF wall. As Hoffman was warming, the crowd was buzzing and I saw Martin take a pitch, I just Russ on the radio and he said that Hoffman had gotten him out on a high fastball so he was looking for the pitch and he was trying to elevate it out, so then he hit (trust me all 3 were no doubters) and as Martin is settling in and we are saying 3 in a row, Marlon crushes his second and we are tied. It was so fast and unbelievable, I can only tell you that it was a combination of being stunned but also having the time of your life.

When Lugo hit the flyball to right, we were so used to the homers, we were disapppointed that it didn't go out.

The top of the 10th and I was pleading for once this game the Dodgers could retire the side in order (they never did) but Sele gives up the 2 out hit and we are down by one.

Fortunately Seanez was in the game and I had hope which was reinforced when Kenny walked. I kept waiting to see if Kenny would try to steal but as the count when to 3-1, I told my friend well maybe they will play run and hit, Nomar swung and Dave Roberts just started jogging in and the place went ballistic.

By the way, I did pick up my Subway so the streak stays alive.

Best game ever, it has my vote.

91 - OMG. I swear I hadn't read your comment, T.

55 - Well, my experience was similar to yours, everytime I switched to the game, bad things would happen, I finally gave up after it was 7-5 in the 9th. A friend called me after the first HR by Kent in the bottom of the 9th, I had him give me the play by play of the 9th for fear if I watched it myself, it would not keep happening. I quickly switched in the top of 10 just in time to see the hit that made it 10-9 SD. Friend told me to not watch it again and he gave play by play of the Lofton walk and the count going to 3-1 to Nomar, then he started yelling and saying we won! Nomar did it! I switched in time to see Nomar round 3rd and throw his helmet. I watched all the highlights and just shook my head. Unbelievable. I'm getting too old for this. Talk about getting a split the hard way. That sure is one for the books.

New post up at Inside The Dodgers.

98. :-)

I'm trying to imagine how it feels to be a Padre tonight. I mean, those guys were pretty heroic themselves! They kept doing what they had to do, kept getting the lead time after time.

And there they were, up by four runs in the ninth. They had to feel pretty sure they'd be leaving Los Angeles with a game-and-half lead. And then to see the Dodgers hit 4 consecutive homers.

And then, to take the lead once again, only to lose it once more! Wow--after all those heroics the Padres pulled off, in this game AND the three previous games. And they end up leaving town exactly where they started: still chasing the Dodgers!

Talk about riding the elevator!

I've been watching Dodgers games for 55 years now. Rarely have I felt so emotional. Talk about a season of extremes!

I too am one of the poor SOB's who left the game in the middle of the ninth. I always have this saying before leaving those types of situation - 'well, we can leave now, or we can stick around and possibly see the greatest comeback of all time.' Unfortunately this was the time for the latter, not the former.

Screaming at the radio on the way home isnt as good as being there in person, but it's good enough for me.

I'll admit it: I turned off the Internet feed after Saito's wild pitch, then began tending to other business.
After a while, I noticed that I hadn't received the Dodgers' postgame e-mail. Just as Gameday loaded, Nomaaah hit it out.
I don't feel bad, though.

I had updated the standings for the Griddle's sidebar, but decided not to hit save after Kent's homer.

When the top of the 9th unfolded, I thought these Padres really do have our number. Murphy's Law as applied to MLB as no matter what the Dodgers do, it seemed to come up craps in Vegas. I thought maybe a voodoo lady in SD was sticking pins in Dodger dolls for the season series between the teams. I was in such agony and I felt I was a jinx, every time I turned to the game, bad stuff, switch away, Dodgers start coming back. Maddening to the Nth degree. I am relieved they won and are back in first.

Okay Broxton and Saito, tonight we were all saved by a miraculous team performance. Starting Tuesday, get back to shutting everybody down!

107 Yeah its pretty funny the game ended up the way it did. We left in the middle of the 9th because there was some ugly, ugly plays going down. Some bad defense, batch pitching and bad at bats. Its hard to stay at a game like that when someone youre with has to get up at 4am the next day.

I know, I'll keep rationalizing...

Kuo, Maddux and Bills against the Bucs the next three nights while the Pads play the Snakes in SD. I think AZ has played SD tough and Webb will pitch against them and not us according to the rotation set up. Let's try to pick up a couple and put some teams away now!

I'm so conflicted. I want to go back and read the game thread but I'm afraid I'll be up all night. I have a couple of pics of the mob at home plate if anyone has a place for me to post them.

When we got down by 4, I thought to myself my comment on how we had not been able to climb out of that big a hole and the reasons included not having a consistent middle relief (aside from Brox and Saito, hmmm) and the lack of homers. Luckily we were able to get by those tonight.

I thought I was going on Wednesday (and I might still) but it turns out I will be there tomorrow, I have to try get in before they show the highlights of yesterday's game.

So yeah, first trip over to Gaslamp Ball.

Don't think I'll be heading back any time soon.

What a great game. I am for sure talking about the game tonight, but beyond that, what a great game baseball is. I have been a Dodger fan for a long time and a baseball fan even longer. Games like tonight make all the time I have spent following baseball and the Dodgers so very worthwhile.

Thanks Jon for all that you have done to keep this site what it has always been: an absolute treasure.

Stan from Tacoma

I was checking to see if Dodger Blues was going to change the last great moment clock and was greeted with freaky nudity.

MY EYES. THE GOGGLES. THEY DO NOTHING.

What was it that Vin said after Gibson's homer? Something about how the improbable gave way to the impossible? The only other moments like this were, well, Gibson's homer, and that 3 run top of the ninth in game 3 of the Dodgers-Phillies playoff series in '77.

And re that last, that's why I don't mind if the Dodgers have to play the Phillies in the playoffs. Philly is home to Dodger miracle comebacks and great games pitched in the rain [with the latter being game 4 of that '77 series when Tommy John bested Steve Carlton].

JUST got back. I was at the park on Other People's Tickets; camera came with as well. I'll have pictures and a full writeup ASAP. As Jon says, not as great as the Gibson homer, not at important as the Finley slam two years ago, but maybe the most important game since the 1983 game mentioned above, and certainly the most memorable game I've ever been to at Dodger Stadium.

According to the notebook section in the Times, if the Dodgers and Phillies tied for the wild card, that tiebreaker would be played in Philadelphia.

Wow. Just wow. L.A. is finally turning into a great baseball city again. I was so happy to look around and see tens of thousands of fellow die-hards still standing and cheering after being down by 4 in the 9th. And on a Monday. And looking down the barrel of a gun named Trevor Hoffman.

When Nomar's ball went out, it felt like being in a third world country as a nasty dictator had just been overthrown. It was really something to be a part of as a fan.

Russell Martin is a big-game player. Mark it down now. Maybe I'm not the first to say it, but I damn sure won't be the last.

Interesting factoid from Elias via ESPN: "It was the first time in Dodgers history that they won a game in front of the home fans in which they trailed by at least four runs in the last of the ninth inning and again in extra innings. Over the last 75 years, only four other teams have won in that fashion, most recently the Yankees against the Phillies on July 16, 2000."

My brother went to the game! Lucky him! He told his girlfriend, "Don't worry. The Dodgers will hit 5 home runs in the bottom of the 9th." His prediction was a little off. But wow. It must have been amazing to have been there.

Tonight was a case of an incident simply too amazing and breathtaking to describe in words.

Probably less than half of those who attended the game initially remained past the top of the 9th. However I like to think that it only contributed to making this great come back what it was. In 18 years of existence in this great city I have never seen a sports arena as lively with so many fans already left the stadium.

A night like tonight only makes me wonder what experiencing Kirk Gibson's home run to propell the Dodgers to take the 1988 World Series would have been like. If the Dodgers go on to win the World Series this year (which doesn't seem likely, but after tonight I suppose anything could happen), these homers tonight may come close to Kirk's.

And to think I wasn't going to go because I felt sick. Shame on me.

Anybody who missed Studio 60 entirely, or in part, can see it tomorrow, for free, at video.NBC.com. It'll have commercials. And, presumably a buggy, intrusive media player. On your tiny little computer screen. With bad sound. But, well, free.

117 Bob, I am praying that it does not come that, but if it does, well, then I suppose it'll be just one more occasion to add to legend.

Four consecutive home runs. I still can't believe I saw that happen tonight. The first time in 200,000 ball games. May as well be one in a million.

OK--it's happened three times before. BUT: I'll bet it didn't happen in the bottom of the ninth, with the home team down by 4 runs. I'll bet it didn't happen at such a magical moment in such a crucial series in the last few weeks of the season.

Inconceivable.

I am a proud owner of an autographed Marlon Anderson baseball. After tonight's game, it's heading straight to e-bay....just kidding.

I met Marlon before a game at Veterans Stadium. I talked to him for about 5-10 minutes and then he signed a ball for me. He's one of the nicest players I've ever met. I'm sure he's pleased that his team won in the game of his life.

Pennant Fever!! I was one who was not there tonight and won't claim to be tomorrow but felt the electricity of this game on the streets! Left my house in Downtown L.A. with the score tied 4 to 4 of a very entertaining, intense game to go see the Sharp Ease and Fortunes Flesh (two of the better art-punk bands in L.A. right now) play a show at the Echo just down the hill from Dodger Stadium on Cesar Chavez Blvd.

Left after the Sharp Ease's exciting set and turned on the radio to two horse Dodger announcers describing what was the most incredible game they had witnessed since the Gibson homer!! One block later (with announcers still giddy and realing from the experience they just had) we drove up to the onslaught of Dodger fans coming down the hill from Dodger Stadium - horns were honking and people were screaming half hanging out of their cars. There were people standing on the sidewalks waving Garciapara jerseys to the cars passing by and holding their fists up in the air. All the while the game replays were blasting away on the radio. Dodgers down by four in the ninth hit 4 consecutive homers to tie it...Dodgers down by one in the tenth...Garciapara hits walk off two run homer to put the Blue back into first place. The hair was standing up on my arms as we drove back home amidst the crazed fans back downtown. This is what the playoff run is all about!!

Game replay is starting right now on FSN.
I must punish myself and stay up and watch until the end.

The Dodgers had 47 total bases, one shy of the team record (8/20/74).

125 Courtesy of espn.com - Three other teams had hit four straight home runs in one inning, all of them in a four-year span. The Milwaukee Braves did it in the seventh inning at Cincinnati on June 8, 1961 (Eddie Mathews, Hank Aaron, Joe Adcock, Frank Thomas), the Indians did it in the sixth inning against the Angels on July 31, 1963 (Woodie Held, Pedro Ramos, Tito Francona and Larry Brown) and the Twins did it in the 11th inning at Kansas City on May 2, 1964 (Tony Oliva, Bob Allison, Jimmie Hall and Harmon Killebrew).

Oliva, Allison, Hall and Killebrew led off the top of the 11th with their 4 homers.

The Dodgers gained a game in the standings on the four teams closest to them.

130 BTW, after the game I spoke to my mom and I said to her, this game is the best I have been to since one that you probably don't remember but you were there. She said, against the Braves? All she remembers is that the Dodgers won in the bottom of the 9th and it was hot, but it was exciting.

I was surprised that she remembered but it goes to show you that you were correct, but tonight may be its equal.

One good thing about Marlon Anderson is he does swing his hardest every at bat.

Its like the awesomeness of this game makes up for all of the bad losses the Dodgers have had this year. It all has evened out.

http://6-4-2.blogspot.com/2006/09/when-words-fail-nomar-hero-at-last.html

134 JoeyP, this is as happy as I have ever seen you (so to speak).

131. (Hey, how do you refer to someone else's post and make it a link?)

My point exactly. The May 2nd, 1964 quartet of home runs may have been exciting, coming as it did in extra innings. But that's different from doing it in the BOTTOM of the inning, and when you're down by exactly 4 runs.

And I doubt that a game on May 2nd had all that much riding on it!

Great photo, Rob.

Nomar also won that game in Houston with a ninth-inning grand slam.

http://tinyurl.com/g7zlp

137 Use [] around the number. And I was not implying that it was the same, just thought I would list the actual times it happened, being there I can tell you that it was something you won't forget, I had a great view for all of them.

This one's going on my desktop...

http://tinyurl.com/h3ohq

138 I was at that game too! Actually stayed to the end of that one.. hehe

The Rams winning the Super Bowl will for me probably never be topped, but in terms of baseball I think tonite's game is it. Short of a perfect game in the WS, it cant be topped.

Another great shot...

http://tinyurl.com/f93za

139

Thanks for the tip. And I didn't think you were implying that the other home run quartet was equally exciting. I just can't stop talking about this one. I feel a little giddy.

I have details of the 4 four-consecutive homer games on the Griddle.

Tomorrow in Queens and the Bronx some cheeks will be puckering while watching ESPN.

Oh, and I got past my moral objections and got all over the Padres players. Manny Alexander had shot us a smug look with each Padre run that had scored. When it ended, I got to look him right in the eye and tell him "2nd place buddy. Get used to it because it's where you're staying". He and all the Padres looked genuinely stunned.

I like the happy Joey.

ninjavshippo - i'm not sure if you got your question answered about buying the game...

after you buy the game, just click on log in at the top of the mlb.com page and log in and it's going to direct you to your account page. there's a link that says my downloads on the left. click on it and whatever games you bought will show up. the dodger game today won't show up until tomorrow though. hope it helped

Anyone else having a hard time getting to sleep?

Doing my part to run the comments to 1000-

I was actually there tonight. Throughout the game, I kept telling my sister (a Padres fan) not to worry, the Dodgers would find some way to lose. I felt that, if I truly kept up this attitude, they had a chance, but I would have to TRULY believe that they would tank.

My season tickets are shared with another guy, and he had the tix for tonight, so I bought some in section 52, next to the Pad's bullpen. Hoffman and the other guy (who was it that gave up the first 2 homers?) were warming up and with each hiss of the incoming ball and subsequent "thwack!" I saw the Dodgers going down.

I even told my sister not to worry after the back-to-back-to-back-to-back. Our Dodgers would find a way to tank. When Sele came out in the 10th, and gave up the run, I was SURE of my prediction.

Like one of the other posters said, a thesaurus does no good at times like this. Maybe I won't have to return all those post season tix I bought after all.

Did anyone hear Nomah on KFWB after the game? He was right on the edge of tears. Listening to him brought me there too.

Thanks to everyone and Jon for all the great stuff on this blog during this season. It always brings a smile, even when the Dodgers are falling by the wayside.

Anyone else watching the replay?

Well, I can't wait to go back and read the threads, but first, I just gotta confess.

I snooze, I lose.

(Funny that, having looked at the box score, I am now more interested in reading the DT threads than the LA Times gamer.)

Such a strange game, the Dodgers never retired the side in order. The Padres scored 10 runs without a home run, the Dodgers scored 11 runs, 8 on 7 home runs.

I am trying to think of any reasons why I should not go to the 5 of 6 games I can go to (I am going to 3). I would like to see the game on Wednesday with Maddux, at DTers who want to go, let me know.

152 Yep, Raffy just made it a one run game.

The other thing, the Dodgers never led until the ball carried over the wall.

Furcal - Singled, homered, scored 2 runs
Lofton - Walked in the 10th, scored on Nomars homer
Nomah - Walk-off 2 run homer
Kent - 4 hits, 2 doubles, 1 homer, 2 runs, 2 RBI
Drew - Double, homer, 1 run, 2 RBI
Martin - Homer
Anderson - 5 for 5, 2 homers, a triple, 3 runs
Betemit - Single, RBI

The pitchers have to shake this off, though Penny did hang in there to go 5 and Beimel again pitched well.

Wow. I just got back from the game. Wow.

I watching but I'm worried. The last time i watched the replay i was looking for one specific inning and they edited it out. If they edit out the 9th and 10th you will hear my scream.

158 Dude, where do you live? Game is on Prime Ticket, top of the 7th.

159 Fortunately they took out the 4th, 5th and 6th.

I think Russell Martin's dad playing the anthem on Wednesday is bonus enough to get me to make a return trip. I'm a sucker for that kinda stuff. I'd love to see Kuo 2.0 tomorrow, but I'm gonna need the night off after this.

Ha. We had some food at Denny's before coming home. Plus, we waited aroung for an hour after the game.

The parking lot was a zoo. Everyone was honking their horns in jubilation.

162 That might be enough to bring me back. I did not realize until Vin just told me, the Dodgers also never went down in order in the game, so both teams were able to put men on base all game.

This may be the only time I put somethimg complimentary about the opposing team but Trevor Hoffman had some very nice things to say about the game and how it turned out, he is a pretty classy guy.

Oh, now the pain and joy of the 8th, 9th and 10th.

I, too, am watching the replay because I can't sleep; I feel like a kid on Christmas eve.

So far, I have TiVo'ed ESPNews, the start of SportsCenter and soon the end of the replay. On my way home from work, I listened to Dodger Talk and the sound bites of the homers gave me chills. I would've TiVo'ed those sound bites too.

I can't wait to attend Sunday's game. I love these Dodgers!

165
Didn't you mention in an earlier thread today how this team had not come back from a deficit of 3 runs or greater all year?

Good thing I don't have a job right now so I can sleeep in after the replay to get ready to go to the game tomorrow night.

167 Yep, actually they had done it once, I think in the first Angel game or something like that, it was actually 4 runs they had never come back from, Josh mentioned in his late night entry.

I do have a job and I am going to the game tommorrow. This is a lot of fun.

166 cnnsi.com has a great picture on their site, ESPN.com has the video segment and then the picture on their MLB section.

That photo on cnnsi.com is already set as my background ... and it will be on my work computer in, oh, about 12 hours. :)

Bottom of the 8th, 6-5 Padres.

Sac bunt coming!

172 In the alternate universe perhaps.

This beach volleyball thing, err, Dodgers replay is exciting stuff.

Something very cool about seeing a game and then having watching the replay with Vinnie putting his artistic touch on what I saw with my eyes. I had already forgotten how agonizing that 8th inning was.

Not even the temptation of a Girls Gone Wild commercial will make me flip the channel now.

I'll take Marlon Anderson's joy over the Ultimate Rush anyday.

Well unless, they jump to the 10th, here comes the most improbable four at bats I have ever seen.

Kent has that nice compact swing working, I hope it continues for another month or so.

Drew really crushed that ball, btw, these Carl's Jr Milk shake commercials are a little creepy.

At the game to start the bottom of the ninth, they played September, a favorite Earth Wind and Fire song of mine, I heard on Friday and I thought I hope it brings us luck.

Okay, now I can wait another 10-12 minutes until the bottom of the tenth. 3 pitches, 3 homers. Drew,, Martin and Anderson.

179 Yes, those Carl's milk shake commercials are disturbing. If they want to sell them, have Paris Hilton wash a car in a bikini while drinking one. Oh wait ...

181 Looks you and me and maybe ToyCannon hanging until the end.

182 I have to get my fill since I was working during the game. That, and I really am giddy.

Oh oh, its 10-9 Padres.

Okay for you replay fans, it looks like it will be innings 1-3, 7-10.

We need one to tie, two to win.

Wow, I didn't know Blum popped up the first pitch with Sele on the ropes. What an idiot!

187 I can't tell you how excruciating the 8th, 9th and 10th were to witness.

Kenny did not swing on that 2-1 pitch.

188 Don't get me wrong; my co-workers were giving me at-bat-by-at-bat updates and even that was almost too much to take. (And I did peek over my shoulder to watch the flat screen every other pitch or so). And as excruciating as it was, I will go on that ride any day of the week.

Here we go!

I am very glad I was there because really seeing it on TV is one thing but feeling the intensity of the crowd and everything was amazing.

Wow, I still get chills. Now time for bed ...

My home game record shoots to 11-4, with a 7 game winning streak.

Well, what better use of 5:30 to 6:30 am then reading 900 DT comments on such a game. I've got a sick kid that has had me up for hours each of the last few nights, and I actually feel asleep last night with my head on the kitchen counter sometime after Marlon's first homerun in the second or third inning.

Anyhow, lots of wonderful moments, and lots of crow, in these here hills.

Don't feel bad Sam, I fell asleep on the couch with my teething kid after Drew's double tied the game at 4. I was actually really scared to check the score this morning, so I went to Dodgerblues first.

If I recall correctly from skimming the thread, that must have been an eye-opener.

On Peavy (from the North County Times)
------------------------

Excoriating himself as he came off the field after retiring L.A. in the first inning, with the Padres still leading 4-1, Peavy heard Duncan's voice as the coach ran behind him toward the Dodgers dugout.

"He said, 'We're gonna get your (expletive), you stupid cocky (expletive),' " said Peavy. "That's it, verbatim, with that little Dominican twang. I didn't even know who the guy was. But that's one classless individual . . .

"I'd love for him to come to San Diego Fight Club, where we train sometimes, so we can settle it there."

OMG -- what a perfect day to play the Pirates!

http://tinyurl.com/mguv

As I caught up with the game thread comments this morning, this comment seemed so perfect:

494. - JoeyP
Kent/Drew/Martin will come to bat with seemingly the division title on the line in the bottom of the 9th.

Unbelievable. What a great game.

Two links to visit next time you have a really bad day:

http://tinyurl.com/gz3b7
http://tinyurl.com/gdhtc

200 Really hard to top this one:

"Attention people who keep quiting on this game: learn your lesson!"

I think my favorite comment in the last thread is #551.

198. I didn't realize anyone outside of the south spoke with a twang. Is it just me or is the idea of Jake Peavy training at the San Diego Fight Club just make you laugh?

Reason #374 why MLB.tv is the greatest invention ever:

I was watching the game last night on the computer screen, and finally decided I'd had enough at around 1 am EDT. The Pads were leading 6-4 in the top of the 8th, and I decided that I'd rather not be comatose at work the next morning. It looked like another depressing Padre humiliation, and after the bases-loaded-no-out stinker in the 6th, I figured the Dodgers were dead.

I wake up at 7:30 this morning and turn on my cell phone. It instantly lights up with multiple 6-hour-old text message alerts from friends back in LA. Without reading the messages, I turn on the computer, head to www.mlb.tv, click on the archived games, and forward to exactly where I left the game, in the 8th inning.

Just from having recieved the text messages, I knew something good had happened. I had no idea how amazing it actually was until I saw it. I watched the end of the game while getting dressed, and I think my whooping woke my roommate up. He must think I'm insane, to be cheering at a baseball game at 8 o'clock in the morning.

Additionally, MLB.tv is smart enough not to have the scores listed anywhere on its pages, and they hide the linescore next to the video window when you're watching the archived games. It allowed me--hours later and 3,000 miles away--to share in what all you guys got to experience live. Amazing.

I'm gonna name my first-born son MLB.tv. (Well, maybe his middle name, anyway.)

As I read last nights thread on my computer at work this morning, tears of joy and laughter were rolling like they have not in a long time. Thanks so much. I'm changing my screensaver after I buy & download the game.

I had dozed off on the couch -- it was after 2 a.m., after all. But the sound was still on and the commotion with Martin's homer woke me up. Then, a few minutes later, at 2:30 in the morning, my phone starts ringing off the hook.

203 Now, Eric, let's play nice!

From Jerry Crasnick, ESPN.com:

No one knows if the two teams will experience a carryover from Monday's bizarre finish. Several Dodgers players said they'd never seen anything like it, and Drew had to harken back to the 1997 Northern League season to come up with anything close. During his holdout as a Philadelphia Phillies' draft pick, Drew was part of a strange comeback by the St. Paul Saints.

"The funny thing is, Bill Murray was one of our owners, and he was coaching the bases," Drew said. "We were down 12-3 or something like that, and Bill was yelling at everybody in the stands, 'This is going to be the greatest comeback of all time.'

"We started coming back in the seventh inning, and the next thing you know Bill sends a runner home that he never should be sending, and the guy scores and we win the game."

So, maties, are we all in agreement that R.J. Reynolds has officially walked the plank?

Despite my overwhelming negativity all night I will point to #540 from last night as proof that I still thought they could win it.

UN - BE - LIEVE - ABLE!!!

Instant Classic without a doubt. Cant't wait to watch the 9th again on Tivo tonight. A couple good articles from the bitter Padre nation here:

http://www.greatsportsnews.com/mlb/mlbsrch.php?q=San+Diego+Padres

Dodger Blues has to consider resetting the counter now, I think.

205 - Great story man.

So. I missed most of the weekend games. Went to FLA@UT. It's always a bit emotional for me, I know it's sentimental, but I tear up at the national anthem because I think of some friends no longer here that really loved going to those games and the whole Neyland stadium atmosphere. Sitting there in the 3rd quarter, I'm wondering what the Dodgers are doing against the Padres, and thinking about the post that wondered why JD Drew still cared about the SEC. And I think "baseball is the greatest game, but very few games ever compare to this..."

That's generally true. If you have never been to an SEC game, I really encourage you to try it should you ever get the chance... but, WOW! Last night definitely compares. That kind of energy in the stadium. Magic... Whatever you want to call it. I turned on the TV last night expecting to find my Tivo'd game already in progress, but it wasn't. I was mad again, top o 7th, tied at 4.

I wasn't mad long. Ha! Here's hoping the power stays in those bats and we swab the deck w' Tracey's scurvy dogs!

Where could I see a WPA graph of last night's game? Somehow the hardball times has the Mets game listed as the game of the night. They probably didn't stay up to watch the Dodger game.

217 Fangraphs.com. That's where The Hardball Times gets them from.

Dodger Blues didn't reset the counter on the Steve Finley game, they're not going to reset it for this one.

Not to diminish last night, but Jon's right... in terms of context, 10/2/04 was bigger and better than 9/18/06.

And to be honest, last night will only surpass 9/11/83 if the Dodgers end up holding off the Padres for the division title.

217 It looks like they haven't done this game yet.

Even though I'm rooting for the Pods, I gotta take my hat off to the Dodgers for that comeback. Wow!

I don't know how I made it into work today. Honestly. I don't remember driving here. I don't remember the route I took. All I thought of on the way was how beautiful the arcs of those five homers in the last inning-plus looked from my seat in the top deck.

I failed to put the two phenomena together, but we can thank Steve Perry (formerly of Journey) for that win last night. They cut to him in the stands and now I know where that inspiration in the 9th and 10th came from.

DONT STOP. BELIEVIN'.

I barely watched the first couple innings and turned it off when it was 4-1 Padres. I guess I acted too soon...

223 - Dying laughing. The ball took the midnight train going EN-EEEE-WHERE...

Did it occur to anyone else when Lugo came up in the ninth inning, that now would be a great time to pinch hit with Kemp, tell him to 'hit it out'? He was the most likely player on the bench to hit one. It would have been a walk-off, world record 'back to back to back to back to back' home runs. And if it failed, no harm done; Anderson to third, Kemp to the outfield. What actually happened is fantasy enough, beyond any of our dreams. But one more homer would have been so nice...

226 this is one game where I'm not gonna second guess the manager's decisions.

226 Lugo was 4 for 4 against Hoffman at the time. Now 4 for 5, I guess.

I'm 1,000 posts behind in my reading and have much to say. The real time comments during the 9th and 10th inning last night (550-650 in the game thread) are priceless. Breathtaking.

If I could only share one thing from my experience of last night, its this. In the top of the 9th I turned the tv off. My wife said, "Give me the remote." I figured she was gonig to find a movie or sitcom to ease herself to sleep, but she said "I don't want to turn the game off before its over. Its only 3 more outs."

Marriage, my friends.

I also went to Gaslamp Ball to read the Padre fan reaction. Wow. That's quite the intellectual discourse they've got going over there.

Has anyone found any photos of the Padre dugout after the game? After reading those Pad fans, I think I'd like THAT be my screen saver.

I read through the threads last night and the ebb and flow of emotions was quite evident.

The game certainly hit national coverage, but to me the other encouraging signs is Kent and Drew's swings, Russ showing no signs of wearing down, and Marlon Anderson, who has done nothing to indicate why he should not be playing everyday for a while.

From a Baseball Primer comment:

I was actually in my car eating Wendy's (chicken nuggets + chili = mmmmm mmmm good) and listening to Loveline when this happened. The only reason it was on the air was because Dr. Drew is a Dodgers fan and he was watching the game on television while they were taking calls. Apparently he jumped out of his seat and freaked out when they hit the third homer in a row (he wasn't screaming on the air, all we got to hear was his co-host laughing at him and describing what just happened).

Speculation warning. Jon Heyman at SI.com handicaps the Soriano sweepstakes and has the Dodgers in the lead at 5-1 odds: "Like their neighboring Angels, they tried hard for Soriano at the trade deadline. They have a nice stash of up-and-comers but believe they may be a little short on home-run power, their seven-homer barrage Monday notwithstanding. If he can hit dingers in RFK Stadium, Dodger Stadium is certainly doable." http://tinyurl.com/qvcoq

He also guesses a 5 year, $75 mill contract.

But what he doesn't address after last night's game is this: The Dodgers already have Marlon the Invincible penciled in for left field next year.

There were really only two pitchers in that game who pitched well:
Cla Meredith
Brett Tomko

Every other pitcher was decidedly awful. Embree should have given up runs, but Meredith bailed him out.

234 Actually Beimel who gave up a bloop hit but otherwise got out of the 7th with the DP pitched okay.

Frankly, in a game where no team went down in order, no pitcher can raise his head after last night.

233 I take it that the Nationals will not sign up Soriano to be their showcase player for the new stadium.

Eric Neel really got me today.

Apparently, the game was exciting enough to get Rob McMillan to write something about the Dodgers. He was at the Stadium, and has a nice first-hand account up at 6-4-2.

From reading the postgame comments of the Padres, most of the players accepted the result of the game as well as could be expected. Bochy, Hoffman, and Giles all seemed to be somewhat philosophical. Peavy, as reported above was angry, but like Penny, he isn't exactly the most level-headed guy on the day he pitches.

237 Agreed, go check it out. My only comment is that the Sept. 11, 1983 game must be a lot more memorable than I ever gave it credit for.

Does anyone know what time they usually show highlights of the previous game before the game, is it around 6:30 or so?

Another comment, Charley Steiner, who one could not blame for being excited, needs to show a little restraint like Vin.

Vin in his classic capturing of the moment, calls the homerun, is quiet as the Nomar circles the bases and then adds his final thought, oh yeah, the Dodgers are in first place.

I wonder what the record for downloads of game are for MLBTV, this one could be record breaker.

Sorry if someone posted this earlier but I didn't see it - the New York Times has a nice piece this morning on the game, I mean, The Game:

http://tinyurl.com/m5j9w

definitely worth a read.

I was asked this over on the Griddle and I mentioned it last night, but yesterday MLB had a coin flip for a potential Dodgers-Phillies tiebreaker and it would be held in Philadelphia.

For some reason, when they had the first round of coin flips, MLB didn't think a Dodgers-Phillies tie was likely.

Marlon Anderson is our cheap 2006 version of the 2005 Randy Winn.

After watching the replay this morning I came away with several things. One is that Peavy is a jerk for showing up Piazza. Can't say I've ever seen a young pitcher show up a HOF teammate like Piazza and I became a big Duncan fan when he yelled at Peavy after that inning.
2nd is that Vinny may be old as the Dodger hills but even on TV he can still paint a game like no one else.

Here's a link to Eric Neel's column that Sam mentioned earlier. What a great read.

http://tinyurl.com/p82mu

245
I would agree that all the Padres seemed very classy about the game except for Peavy.

When Martin was being interviewed in the hallway about an hour after the game, Penny was walking behind him trying to look inconspicuous.

A classic post, from 2006-09-01 16:43:11

192. regfairfield
I'm not upset about losing Jhonny Nunez, it's just that Marlon Anderson doesn't help the team in any way, shape, or form. It's impossible to make an impact in just 20 at bats through anything other than dumb luck.

Dumb luck strikes.

230 To be fair, I don't think we'd be much better if the tables were turned.

248 Since apparently this is going to continue to get thrown back in my face, I have to ask. Is there anything non-lucky about Marlon Anderson having the best 30 at bat stretch of his career the second he hits the Dodgers?

243
Thanks for the link. It was a nice article but what made the game so special was not just the 9th and 10th innings, it was the whole game. Kent and Marlon Anderson had already had awesome games even before the incredible finish. When I left early figuring we lost I left thinking I had seen a great game but that SD just had our number. Can't wait to get to the stadium tonight. I think we could have a huge Tuesday night crowd since alot of ST holders stay home during the weeknight games. Not tonight, not after last night. Not this one.

250
I think ToyCannon's comparision of Marlon Anderson to Randy Winn was right on target.

I think there a lot of instances where a team gets a hold of a player on a late season hot streak and tries to ride it out.

Not that he was acquired in a trade, but Shane Spencer is another player that comes to mind.

Former Dodger pitcher Jack Banta passed away at age 81.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2594485

The only thing I care about is that Marlon is having the luckiest 30 at bats in his career as a Dodger. Dumb luck if it goes your way is the best luck in the world because it is so unexpected.

In September 2005, Randy Winn batted 447/479/877!

Anderson right now is at 448/485/996. However, Anderson has just 29 ABs this month. Winn had 114 last year in September.

A commenter at Josh's place has attempted to transcribe Vin's call of the ninth and tenth. I'm not vouching for it or anything, but it's a nice read for those of us who weren't there.

249 - Au contraire, Reg. I admit I'm biased, but that thread at Gaslamp Ball lacks the genuinely funny wit displayed at DT. It is also profane without restriction. No comparison, in my book.

246
Thanks for the link. The column is great, so perfect. Almost Weisman like.

I was in the left field pavilion with one of best friends. She's an amazing sports fan, but doesn't know a ton about baseball. Midway through the 9th, seeing me with head down, she said, "Remember UCLA/Gonzaga... anything's possible."

Bless her heart, but she didn't understand. This was the Dodgers vs. the Padres. This was Trevor Hoffman.

When that 4th straight homerun went out, I swear to God, I had tears running down my face like it was the last episode of the Wonder Years. We just saw one of the rarest feats in the history of baseball in the most crucial part of the game in the most important game of the year.

Poor Mario came running back to the seats behind us in the 10th with his 6 year old daughter. He'd left early because she was tired. He kept repeating under his breath, "I can't believe I missed it..."

Maybe someday I'll hold a newborn in my arms and all this will seem less important. But for now last night was one of the greatest nights of my life and probably the defining sports moment of my 30 year life.

258 Jon's gonna appreciate that "almost".

Any Dodger fans getting work done today:)

Has the web replaced the water cooler at work to talk about things that transpired the previous day?

254 I agree, what Anderson is doing is truly amazing. I just trying to make it clear that what I was saying was not incredibly stupid.

Dodger Blues actually did reset the counter after the Finley home run... for a day or two.

261 Not a whole lot, and yes.

Eric Neel's column was terrific, btw. And I agree with 251, what made this game sublime is that it was taut and exciting from beginning to end, with a ton of interesting storylines and drama occurring before the 9th inning. (We had two 4-run comebacks last night.)

And since we name games like this after the most notable player (see: RJ Reynolds, Steve Finley), has it been decided yet if this is be the Marlon Anderson game, or the Nomar game? My vote is for Marlon.

Eric Neel talked about his six most memorable Dodger games.

Mine would have to be (in my lifetime):

1. Gibson, 1988 World Series
2. Last night
3. Finley's slam to clinch, 2004
4. RJ Reynolds, 1983
5. Fernando's no-hitter, 1990
6. Gibson scoring from second on a wild pitch to beat the Expos in the ninth, August of 1988.

262 Personally, I thought if Marlon got a hit or two in his PH duties that would be a good return, when he got a couple of hits last week, I thought okay, he is showing us something, but yesterday he was just hitting ropes.

There is no question that the acquisitions of Betemit, Maddux and to a lesser degree Marlon Anderson have affected the Dodgers more than anyone could have expected.

While Raffy, Derek Lowe, the work of the bullpen in August were main reasons for the Dodger's success since the horrendous start after the break, Ned's moves in total surely played in impact to where we sit today.

Marlon: 5 for 5, 13 total bases
Nomar: 2 for 6, 6 total bases, 3 Ks, 1 GIDP

264 - I agree. I was watching it with my Giant fan buddy, and he remarked in about the 6th inning what a great game it was. And he kept my hopes alive when it was 9-5, saying that a game like this just had to have a great ending.

Little did we know...

Nice, it wasn't a dream.

I've already called this game "the four homer game." I guess there were more homers, but that's what I would think people will remember in 10 years.

Looks like I picked the wrong night to fall asleep on the couch.

265. Nice list. Mine would go.
1. Gibson HR game
2. Rick Monday HR game vs Expos in playoffs
3. Last night.
4. Derek Fisher's 0.4 shot.
5. Horry's 3pt shot after Vlade's tip.
... the rest is just a blur.
vr, Xei

264 Eric pretty much covered it but I agree for a total game, last night was certainly among the most emotional experiences I have ever had at the Stadium.

In no particular order:
1. Games 4 & 5 of the 1988 NLCS or 12 hours between Gibby homers that took the Dodgers to certain defeat to the 3-2 lead in the series.
2. She is gone, the game itself was intense only because it was a World Series game but only the Gibson at bat remains etched in stone.
3. Manny and Vic show in Philly or why was Greg Luzinski playing LF in the 9th, again an improbable 9th inning comeback, mostly memorable since I heard all of on the radio. at my high school.
4. SQUEEZE - Based on both Eric Neel and my mom (two folks who would generally not belong in the same sentence), I think that one for its time probably is the most similar to last night.
5. 1981 post-season, all the comebacks kind of merge together, The game Jerry Reuss pitched in the series was a classic.
6. 1980 3 game series against the Astros, again great drama where guys like Fergie and Cey made the dream last one more day.

Hi, my name is Midwest...and I'm a choke-aholic.

I've tried to rid myself of this sickening habit, but I can't seem to overcome it.

I was very enthused about the game last night...and all of sudden we're four runs down. The feeling starts. Tie the game..and Grady brings in Brox to repeat what he did the night before. Oh-no.

Top of the ninth and Grady finally brings in our best closer...only to see his rust from lack of use spill all over the mound.

It was too much, I tell you! I had to take a sip of the choker-aid. I couldn't help it! I reached for the remote...

All I remember is waking up this morning in despair and guilt over our loss and being 1.5 games down. And then I read all of your enthusiasm and I realize...I just have to kick the habit!

No more assuming a choke! If it takes five homeruns to win the game, then dammit we'll do it. I thank you for your support.

The four home run rally was not like catching lightning in a bottle. It was like trying to catch a meteor in a thimble.

Nationals fans are happy because (i) they generally remember Marlon Anderson fondly and (ii) they view last night's game as payback for this atrocity -- http://tinyurl.com/k35k7 -- which severely derailed or ended Nats' wildcard fanatasies last year and occurred almost exactly one year ago.

There are those people who say, "I just don't understand how people can care SO MUCH about sports?!"

If any of those people had been at Dodger Stadium last night, they would understand.

The best games I actually saw at the stadium:

1. Koufax pennant clincher in 1965
2. Drysdale 5th shutout 1968
3. Finley grand slam 2004
4. Osteen 4-0 WS win 1965

How many of you have downloaded last night's game?

So, the Post's Orioles beat writer, Jorge Arangure, Jr. is from San Diego and a moderatly vocal booster of the Pads. He happens to have a weekly on line chat Tuesdays at 2:00. Starts like this:

Dodger Fan in D.C.: Ha ha ha hoo hoo yeah allright way to go unbelievable incredible ha ha ha ha!

How 'bout that Marlon Anderson?

Jorge Arangure Jr.: I hate you.

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

Now I cannot imagine what immature troll would submit such an obnoxious question to a newspaper reporter's chat.

Well, I work with a huge Padres fan, and got to work this morning (after falling asleep in the top of the 9th last night), and what does he tell me, after I had woken up this morning to find that the Dodgers won? He tells me that even though his team lost, that was by far the greatest game he had ever seen.

BTW I just wasted my whole morning reading last night's thread and this one. Best use of time ever.

Was just checking out all the Dodger blogs on Jon's link list. I like to visit Dodger Blues for the funny pictures they show. Wish I didn't click on it today. The company has a policy about viewing those kinds of pictures on the internet. So view at your own risk today. vr, Xei

280 Sam, did you stay up for the whole game?

Mr. Heart and Soul dropped the f-bomb?

Take the boy out of L.A. and look what happens.

283 Wish I could've made it - see 153, 194.

284 - ?

286 Just heard a teaser on the Dan Patrick, don't know much about it.

Parking $10.

Inner Reserve. Section 20. Row U. Seats 1-4. $80.

Being there for the whole game: Priceless.

One moment from last night: when Nomar came back out of the dugout for the curtain call, I glanced over to the press box.

Vin was giving him a standing ovation.

288 Sweet.

Dunno if this has been covered but given what an amazing game it was last night, need to offer my take on it; didn't get to watch any of it until the highlights on Channel 9 here in LA on the 10 o'clock news. He (sportscaster Alan Massengale) was almost tripping over his tongue. I believe (haven't checked the time of the HRs) but when he came on at 10:45 he was stammering about an amazing game. He finally got to saying the Dodgers had hit four straight HRs to tie the game in the 9th...then later in the sports report (15 minute report) he tells us that the Pads are winning 10-9 and I sort of groaned. I guess the HRs were happening as he first reported them because he couldn't get the highlights. But when he came back from the first commercial break, we saw them. And so (I don't have cable) I was scrambling around with the radio trying to get KFWB but couldn't get a good signal, so it wasn't until 11:30 that I found out that Nomaaaah won it. It was great reading the comments just now to see people's joy of the win. And Massengale was just about beside himself trying to explain what was happening. He managed to hang in there but for a moment it looked like he might just choke on his tongue.

Best Dodgers Games I've seen live:
1. The Jose Lima playoff game
2. The "Marlon" game, even though I left early I still get to count it. Please
3. Gibson scoring from 2nd in 88. Seems trite but it was an awesome game.
4. Piazza destroying the Giants pennant chances and Torres's career
5. Bill Singer No Hitter
6. 1st game I ever saw at DS with Don Sutton throwing a 1-0 shutout in 69

I was at the Finley GS game but all we needed was a SF so I've always felt the game was overrated. Plus I never liked him once he came over with his I have to play CF even if MB was much better at it. I tend to enjoy games more if players I like are the stars. You won't see any memorable games that Sheffield or K Brown were a part of on my list.

Never been to a WS and the Lima game is the only playoff game I've been to.

Best sporting event I've ever seen was the Lakers comeback against the Trailblazers in game 7 that led to the 1st Shaq/Kobe WC. Back when I still liked Kobe and was a huge Laker fan.

Last night I changed the channel out of frustration no less than 5 times.

That's another reason why going to games beats watching them. The worst you can do, I suppose, is go get some nachos when you can't stand to see Lofton get doubled up with the bases loaded.

Fav. Dodger/Laker games (keep in mind I was born on game 4 of the 81 series, and therefore too young to fully enjoy the 88):

Finley's shot
Kobe to Shaq vs. Blazers
Vlade to Horry
Lima Time, 2004 post-season edition

291 In order to make my list, there had to be the feeling in the air that you didn't want to leave the stadium after the game is over. The Gibson Wild Pitch game was like that. We watched the highlights after the game, and we wanted more.

Last night, I could have stayed at DS until the sun came up this morning. I didn't want to have some of that magic wear off on my ride home.

According to BPro, last night's win boosted the Dodgers' chances of reaching the postseason from 71.9% to 86 %

294 - is the 71.9% if they had lost, or before the game?

Not to look ahead, but who does Marlon Anderson bump off the post-season roster? Ramon Martinez?

I'm surprised to see how many people were at that Gibson wild pitch game. I was there too (I swear).

295 - Before the game.

Fangraphs has the graph up. Nomar was responsible for a ~65% swing in win expectancy.

274
Everytime I sipped the choker-aid and turned off my video feed, the Dodgers rallied. I stopped watching gameday for 10 seconds to go get a drink and they won. Perhaps we shouldn't watch any more games.

299 - Can you post a link to the graph?

http://www.fangraphs.com

NB to Ken: I think I noticed what might be slight bug in the toaster there. When there were 300 posts, the 301-350 hide/show banner came up. When I posted 301, it was gone. Now I know that it doesn't appear until there are (n*50)+(5?) posts, but it would seem it jumped the gun by showing up when it did.

But you probably know that already.

302- I think that happens when one (or more) of the comments gets deleted, as it looks like one might have been in this thread. I didn't notice which, but since the counter at the top is at 301, when your comment is 302, I think one probably was deleted.

256 Which website is Josh's?

261 And no, I'm getting very little work done today...unless by work you mean saving every picture and reading every last word about yesterday's game...which I presume you don't.

Another funny thing from the local news last night, Jim Hill, in signing off the CBS 2 sports news here, said that 200,000 people would today be claiming they were at The Game.

291 I was at the Lima CG playoff win in 2004 and felt like it was the best game I ever saw at Dodger Stadium, too. Gotta say, though, if I had been there last night, I can't imagine how I would not have felt like this was a more amazing feat.

I mean, those three other times that a team has hit four consecutive home runs: none of them could have been facing a 4 run deficit in the bottom of the ninth, could it? Historic!

302 thanks, yeah, i know it messes up at mod 50. but conversations that reach that many posts rarely stay at that number for very long, so it's not one of my top priorities to fix.