Yay #1!!! I'm going to the game with my parents 28 years after they got married during the 1978 World Series!!!

Let's hope it turns out better:

Sunday, October 15th

IN THE NEWS: The Yankees pummel the Dodgers with 18 hits to win the 5th game 12–2. Bucky Dent, Mickey Rivers, and Brian Doyle have three hits each.

http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/chronology/1978OCTOBER.stm

Last time I saw Maddux in person it was with my new little baby boy and it was THE Maddux game (perfect after the 1st). I predict good things....I also have tickets tomorrow and maybe some extras....watch this space. :-)

THINK BLUE

Wish I could be there, but I'll be watching every pitch on TV.

I'm heading out as soon as my brother gets here.

And I want to be there tomorrow too!

Go Blue!

That lineup looks great by the way. I'll miss Nomar but if Loney is hot ( I know Vinny he's no Gil Hodges). I can't think of a better lineup for a must win game -- and we got Nomar and Ethier on the bench!

teh mlb average per marginal win per 1 warp is around 2million right?

Could it be that a man growing up in New York and getting the radio gig at a very early age for the Broklyn Dodgers got caught up in some sentiment when he compared Loney's and Hodges' 9 RBI record?

I am guessing Vin would love to pull those words back if he could. Gil Hodges was a special guy as was PeeWee Reese.

My first love was the fifties Dodgers and especially Duke Snider and I am guessing Mr. Scully, as he gets to the end of his career has sentiment running throughout his body being back in NY doing the Playoffs.

I hope James Loney gets an 11 RBI game. Today would be a nice day to do it.

Enjoy, I'll be battling the traffic to the Rose Bowl, although I don't think it will be all that bad going there. I think there will be a lot of no-shows. I feel bad for the people trying to get from the Westside to Pasadena.

I work weekends, so I have missed all the Fri-Sun games this season. This weekend is no exception. My only solace: unloading today's tickets for a goodly sum. The Dodgers have to go on so I can go to a playoff game!

James Loney's figure to shoot for:

Most RBI in a Division Series game:

7 by Edgar Martinez, Mo Vaughn, John Valentin, and Troy O'Leary.

The NL record is 6 by Reggie Sanders.

The Banterers are not handling things well right now.

"Blankety Blank Blank Blank," and so on.

Jeremy Bonderman has turned into Greg Maddux! 35 pitches through 4 2/3 IP.

Steve Lyons mentions that Jim Leyland manages while wearing cleats. I think it's also unusual that he pulls up his uniform pants and wears the high socks.

40 pitches through 5 innings for Bonderman. That's definitely Madduxian.

6- Bumsrap I think you are right. Actually I'll see your comment and raise you one: I think Vin was absolutely right. Gil Hodges played well before the 1980s explosion of power. Gil is a veritable legend and future (hopefully) Hall of Famer who got his RBIs with 4 homers which makes his accomplishment sweeter and more rare. I remember asking if anyone here had read "Say a Prayer for Gil Hodges" andno one responded. When my son was born I put a 1961 Topps Gil Hodges cardin his co-sleeper for good luck. I hope Vin wouldn't take back those words -- he's right. Just as he was right about Hugo Chavez being out of line. (Again, not a fan of our current resident of the White House in the slightest, but I still have some respect for the office. Plus I've seen the devil and he owns the Yankees.)

:-)

Florida is laying the wood to LSU, and Tim Tebow looks like a monster.

Carnage wasn't that bad in South Bend. Notre Dame 31, Stanford 10. The Cardinal covered!

Where's Andy Van Slyke? Oh, there he is

For your daily Tiger update:

LSU: Losing
Detroit: Winning
Auburn: Lost
Clemson: Won
Mizzou: Playing later
Woods: Off

Glass: Not heard from since 1987

19 Oh, wow, excellently played, D4P.

Fine job, good sir.

I think the english translation for schadenfreude is "Bronx Banter"

Apparently, the Yankees-Tigers aren't on radio in L.A. so I won't know how that one ends.

I'm starting to get pumped for tonight's game. I'm sure you're all thinking what I'm thinking. If any team can run off three in a row and over come an 0-3 deficit, it's the Dodgers. Besides, the Tigers have me feeling pretty good about baseball right now.

23 Of course I meant "an 0-2 deficit". Even the Dodgers can't overcome an 0-3 deficit in the division series.

A rerun, posted on last thread right after this one opened. I'm known for great timing.

Hope this hasn't been posted; not best I could tell===

Oct. 9 Sports Illustrated out with all-time team. Those surveyed included Bill James and Peter Gammons, and "more than a dozen former and current SI staffers."

Excerpted from and no doubt timed with the SI Baseball Book, "on sale this week."

Those disagreeing--shock, could such a thing possibly happen--are invited to SI.com/baseball to correct things by casting their own ballot.

Manager Jon McGraw, Coaches Joe McCarthy & Casey Stengel

Players (25)--7 starters, 2 relievers, 2C, 7 OF, 7 IF. Team described as a "fascinating blend of art and science."

Starters: Warren Spahn! (exclamation point mine), Lefty Grove, C. Mathewson, Koufax, Walter Johnson, Clemens, Cy Young

Note (mine). Until seeing this I didn't realize Koufax had a posteason ERA of 0.95.

Relievers: Eckersley, Rivera

Catchers: Berra, Bench

IF& OF: Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, Stan Musial, R. Hornsby, Honus Wagner, Mike Schmidt, A-Rod, DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Cobb, Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, Mays

Story said all-time hits leader Rose "simply not better than any of these infielders or outfielders." His gambling had "no impact" on ballot.

Also, Bonds not included "because his freakish late career production linked to steroids and other performance enhancing drugs, has numbers not to be believed."

Off to the Arroyo Seco to enjoy some mediocre Pac-10 football!

25 I saw that in my copy Thursday afternoon. There's only one third-baseman on that list (Schmitty), although A-Rod and Jackie both played there. I thought that was a little odd.

26 Go Bruins. Have fun, Bob.

14.
- Mr Fox news:
Jon says no politics here…
Don't talk about stuff that you don't/can't/refuse to understand…
-----
This our oasis where we can all forget about all that and rather talk about Russell Martin's middle names and his wonderful Dad (better than jeff weaver's mom…) not your uninformed political comment. Because of Jon's rules i'll save the rest of this post for when we meet in a dark alley.…

29 Andrew is no longer the edgiest guy at Dodger Thoughts.

I told him he shouldn't have quit smoking.

I guess I've been out of the loop too long... did Vin really say something about Hugo Chavez? And what did he say re Loney/Hodges?

14 Was a mild, fairly inoffensive statement. 29 Was not.

{Ducks and runs like hell}

"Players (25)--7 starters, 2 relievers, 2C, 7 OF, 7 IF. Team described as a "fascinating blend of art and science." "

That is a horrible roster configueration.

31 Vinnie objected to Chavez calling the President of the US "the devil." He didn't think that was appropriate behavior.

About Loney's 9-RBI game he just implied that comparing Loney to Hodges was a tad premature. I'd have to agree.

33 -seems like standard fare for most of the All Time Teams, looking at the starting rotation, it's not like they'd have much need for middle relief.

35 Yeah, of course most of your staff will be starters, but shouldn't some of them be put in the pen? You think guys would want to start on 6 days rest? I'd prolly stick Grove and Young in the pen if that was the staff. And 7 outfielders?

Does anyone know why there was no tag applied to the sliding runner for the Tigers' 8th run there?

Although I'm thinking the best 25 man roster possible. It looks like this is more of a list of the top 25 players of all-time with restrictions on how many come from each position.

37

The ball arrived too late for that.

Mea culpa. I just posted a somewhat troll-ish comment on Bronx Banter. Sorry, I couldn't resist. I hate the Yankees. I figured I should confess here, because you guys would understand.

I think Hugo Chavez is wrong. I'm the devil.

39 But from the replay it looked like it got there in plenty of time for a try at a swipe tag.

Ah well, hopefully it's an unneeded run. Go Tigers!

Wow. It's official, the yankees will never advance in the playoffs without pitching.

So what is it going to take to get A-rod in a Dodgers uniform?

Elbert, LaRoche, ???

43 If that's what it takes, then I will respectfully decline unless the Yankees agree to eat the entire contract.

43 I don't know what it would take. But what is he worth to you? I love the prospects, but, man, how cool would it be to have A-Rod? What are your limits?

43 And play him at third? We have a perfectly good shortstop without the $$$ baggage A-Rod has.

35 36--Who'd be the manager best suited to tell THAT staff who was going to the 'pen?

Dr. Phil?

I'd put A-Rod at third, I'd be willing to trade Penny, Betimet, and LaRoche. I'd even throw in Kent, since the Yanqis apparently need help at first.

36, 47 - I'd put Clemens and Grove in the pen. And honestly, I'd seriously consider using a four man rotation given some of the names there, especially since most of those guys played in the days of the four man rotation. Plus, you do have Ruth to take a couple of innings, if needed.

As far as the number of outfielders, yeah, that seems like a lot, but we are also taking about a team that has a 9 man pitching staff instead of a 11-12 man staff.

I have to say, I'm a little surprised that Jimmy Foxx isn't on the list.

But this kinda reminds me of the video games where you can unlock the old time players - I use to put them all on a team, just to see how many games they'd win.

Ty Willingham is one of the worst football coaches in college football. How he got the Notre Dame job, I'll never know.

Nice time management at the end of the USC game Ty.

While on an SI kick, a recent story profiled A-Rod.

Apart from whatever Mt. St. Steinbrenner and co. might do if things finish up as they probably will, I got from the SI story that A-Rod's not a good fit for NYY.

Portrayed as aloof, not playing hard, not team-oriented, just content to go out and put up numbers, not coming through when it counts, whatever. Unfortunate and typical NY experience for some. Elsewhere, A-Rod's probably much better, certainly happier.

Maybe he could be had. A slight upgrade at 3B would be good.

With the resources available to the Dodgers, I'd think Colletti could pull it off.

The Tankees probably would be happy to pay a bunch of his salary (along with however much whoever else is paying) and be rid of their current scapegoat.

25 Blending career length with peak performance, my own selections would be:

C Josh Gibson
1B Lou Gehrig
2B Joe Morgan
3B Mike Schmidt
SS Honus Wagner
LF Barry Bonds
CF Willie Mays
RF Babe Ruth

C Roy Campanella
IF Jackie Robinson
IF Rogers Hornsby
OF Ty Cobb
OF Ted Williams
OF/1B Oscar Charleston
OF/1B Stan Musial
IF/OF/P Martin Dihigo

SP Walter Johnson
SP Satchel Paige
SP Pedro Martinez
SP Lefty Grove
SP Roger Clemens
RP Greg Maddux
RP Randy Johnson
RP Hoyt Wilhelm
RP Dennis Eckersley

I tried to pick a team that would actually win, as opposed to a collection of merely the best players; hence the inclusions of the versatile Dihigo and Robinson.

I love Sandy Koufax, but there is no defensible way to pick him over people like Pedro, Johnson, and Grove, who had both better peaks and longer careers.

33 -seems like standard fare for most of the All Time Teams, looking at the starting rotation, it's not like they'd have much need for middle relief.

53 - sorry about that, fingers slipped and somehow ended up posting an old comment.

Any way, my all time team:

C - Roy Campanella
1B - Lou Gerhig
2B - Jackie Robinson
SS - Honus Wagner
3B - Mike Schmidt
LF - Joe Dimaggio (how'd he not make the list, by the way)
CF - Willie Mays
RF - Babe Ruth

Bench:

C - Yogi Berra
IF - Rogers Hornsby
IF - Joe Morgan
1B/3B - Pete Rose
OF - Musial
OF - Ted Williams
OF - Ty Cobb

SP - Cy Young (his numbers are seriously sick people)
SP - Mathewson
SP - Nolan Ryan
SP - Walter Johnson
SP - Pedro Martinez
RP - Drysdale
RP - Koufax
RP - Sutter (sp?)
RP - Rivera (based almost entirely on post-season performances)
RP - Eckersley

It's over in Detriot

Yea.

The Banterers are not particularly friendly to new faces around there.

I learned this today, the hard way.

54 Um, Rivera's not bad in the regular season either. ;)

That was hilarious, Jim Leyland just kissed a guy on the hat - through the fence - after kissing two members of his family. Was that guy in his family, too, or just a drunken fan? Pretty funny.

Nice comeback by the Tigers after the first game, after a lot of people had already written them off. There's hope for us all.

Here's to the "scrappy underdog" as the announcer just said it. ;-)

57 Were you polite when you entered?

57 What did you say?

Oh no... I just realized we're going to have to suffer through Joe Buck and Tim McCarver tonight aren't we? Yargh... I may have to try to get Vin Scully on the internet radio.

58 - yes, but the post season is the only time I watch the Yankees (unless I happen to get tickets to the Angels and Yanks in Anaheim)

54 "LF - Joe Dimaggio (how'd he not make the list, by the way)"

He did.

Oh, they were all talking A-Rod this, Torre that, and I was completely conciliatory and friendly, and said, "You guys get some pitching, and you'll be fine."

64 - yeah, apparently I've forgotten how to read

Kenny Rogers pouring champagne on the cop was quite a sight to see

Kenny Rogers spraying champagne into the crowd was a lot of fun too.

"LF - Joe Dimaggio (how'd he not make the list, by the way)"

All a matter of opinion, of course, but IMO he's nowhere near good enough to make that team. The Yankee aura and Marilyn Monroe are cool and all, but not reason enough to pick him over guys who were clearly better players.

It took Kevin Kennedy literally three seconds to mention his managerial career.

First words out of Kevin Kennedy's mouth "I managed against..."

You know, Honus Wagner gets picked for these teams, but who ever saw him play? How do we know (aside from the "first class at Cooperstown" business, which is impressive, but still...)?

Lazzeri, Ozzie, Ripken, Banks...

Subjective indeed.

69 - keep in mind Dimaggio gave up three years in the middle of his career and still hit 361 HRs. He walked twice as often as he struck out. Was a career .325/.398/.579 hitter.

Those are pretty good numbers.

... Wow, the celebration in Detroit looks as if they won the World Series.

70 71 That could be a new Kevin Kennedy drinking game.

Jim Leyland is being very humble, saying they caught some breaks.

72 One could say the same about Babe Ruth. We only have his stats and the opinions of those who watched him play -- both of which pinpoint him as easily the best shortstop who ever played. The shortstop position is really the only one that's a runaway.

Here are Honus Wagner's career numbers, they look better than Ozzie Smith's

http://tinyurl.com/j4q95

76 Ruth in right field is a runaway.

76 Except there's Movietone newsreel footage of Ruth. I've never seen anything but a publicity still picture of Wagner.

I'm not really arguing one way or another, just waiting for the Dodgers-Mets game to start.

And then Ben Olson gets hurt.

69 Eric, as a baseball historian you may know the answer to this---

Seems like a few years ago I saw a story in which someone asked a baseball guy what he thought Ty Cobb would have hit in the modern game.

I think the reply was something like .310, .315. Surprised, the questioner said something like, "Really? You think he'd fall off that much in the modern game?"

The baseball guy said, "well, you've got to remember that Cobb would be over 70 years old now."

If you're familiar with it, who were the people involved? Thanks!

Okay, here we go. Good luck to all of us - even if we're not doing anything involving the playing of the actual game. I'll feel like celebrating with champagne if they just win a freakin' game.

I'd like to officially blame Greg Brock for the Stanford loss. I only hope he can find some way to live with himself. Maybe with a paper bag over his head; just spit-balling here.

If the game really does start before five, can someone, please, mention that it has? Pregame shows make me want to set my hair on fire.

Oh God, do we have to see yet another replay and have yet another rehash of The Double Play?

... So when does this thing start, 4:30 or 5:30?

84 Keep that lighter handy, now Shawn Green's being interviewed. Looks like a 5pm start.

85

... That double play is going to be shown for the next twenty years, or at least until the Dodgers win a playoff series here and there.

I've seen footage of Wagner. It's lousy footage, but it does exist.

81 The story is apocryphal and has been told about several players, though Cobb most commonly. The person being asked the question is usually Lefty O'Doul or Cobb himself.

... Oh, let's now go to Terry Bradshaw. Perfect.

Oh great, good news though - looks like Joe Buck is in Philly for the football game tomorrow. So we won't have to suffer through him...

Wait . . . "we go to Joe Buck in Philadelphia . .."

we still must be subjected to Terrell Owens.
Great

I'm surprised Fox isn't taking some extra time to promote The War at Home or one of their other excruciating sitcoms in these last few minutes...

I'd like to officially blame Greg Brock for the Stanford loss

All he had to do was book it. But noOOOOooo...

Think of this as a test of our mental toughness in preparation for tonight's game. If we can make it through the Fox pre-game, we can make it through anything to come.

I've never had much interest in best-team-ever-lists because each era determines it's stars and I wouldn't expect The Babe to be "The Babe" today (is that blasphemy?).

I loved Norm Cash because, without exception he always hit a million homers for me in Start-O-Matic. But when I found out his card was corked, I switched to Roberto Clemente, who is, for what it's worth, er, on my all time list. So is Joe Dean, but that's hurling ...

... Ugh. Thundersticks. Is that a law now; that every baseball team on the West Coast has to have thundersticks? It makes us look like idiots.

91 ...but we do get Tim McCarver. Sigh.

65 Too bad we don't still have Carter and Baez to offer them, as beginning point for A-Rod trade...

98 To be perfectly frank, the beach balls already did that a long time ago.

98 Thundersticks?

81 Of course we have no idea how much Cobb would drop off. I figure he'd probably be a Carl Crawford type, but nobody knows.

98 Well the Cards fans were waving towels weren't they? Then they love the Tomahawk Chop in Atlanta. Stupid marketing gimmicks and trends are nationwide, but yeah, the the thundersticks are embarrassing. We also should apologize to the world for starting The Wave, too, no?

Oh well, hopefully they'll have something to use the thundersticks for tonight.

83 Sorry, Andrew. I'm only allowed to book one sporting event per day, and I was saving the booking for today's Dodger game.

As for the paper bag over the head: Done and Done.

Olson is hurt? I moved back to the Bay Area, dang no FSN Prime Ticket.

102

... The silly balloon noisemakers.

101

... Point taken.

103 Cobb was by far the best power hitter of his time. (And Wagner, actually, was second.) I suspect they would both hit copious amounts of home runs in today's game but steal fewer bases.

My word, those Banter folks are angry. Jeter's being blamed for not behaving like a "captain."

What is this game, hockey?

here we go peeps!!

... OK. Let's go, guys. Get well at home.

Not having seen any of the Spankee game, what did Jeter do or not do?

109 Told you. To quote The Dude, "Real Rectionaries"

... Infield defense needs to be sharp today.

LOL

When I first read your post I thought you were using it like "Dang!" You know, like a medieval expression of frustration, "Thundersticks, Tim McCarver is the color man!"

I don't know from thundersticks, but I like the idea of "Thundersticks!"

108 Cobb was a power hitter, yes. But Speaker have the same number of career homers and more doubles in few ABs. They were almost exact contemporaries. How was Cobb more of a power hitter than Speaker?

I'm not sure about Anderson batting higher than Martin,Betenit and Loney.

105- Alright. Temporary amnesty till we see how your booking turns out. But so help me Ch-i, you don't hold up your end of the bargain here. . .

McCarver is calling LoDuca "The Duke."

Sorry, Tim, that one's taken already.

... WHAT a relay!!! Got him!!!

nice throw Furcal

ISO- Cobb .146; Speaker .155

Great play. Just great. Good job Magellan...er, Kenny.

Nice karma at work there ...

116 Cobb had a higher career SLG than Speaker despite not padding his stats in the lively ball era as much as Speaker did.

Nice play but Maddux looks tight

121 The game started already? Well, gotta go to the TV. See ya.

Boy, if Maddux doesn't get the outer half, it's going to be a tough night.

Now if Greg can just find the corners ...

Good. Get the entire top of the order out of the way in the first inning.

Man, Maddux really is a smart pitcher.

cheap hit

... Well, Maddux isn't fooling anyone here.

Dang.

Er, I mean Thundersticks!

At this rate Mr. 65-75 pitches will only make it through 3 innings

What couldn't Marlion get that

ARRRRRGGHHHHHHH!!!!

... Unbelievable. Anderson didn't get a good look at that ball, I fear.

I think it's clear the Mets came here to play one game. We're going to have to be incredible to take this game, period.

If I remember correctly, Green has had some great success against Maddux.

Are the pitches up as high as they claim on mlb.com?

oh boy!

Green always a Dodger killer

Boy, two strike hits drive me up a wall.

... Well, when you're hot, etc. etc. etc.

No ground balls for Maddux yet. It's a bad sign.

141

there reading Maddux really well.

What now Grady? Bring in Honeycutt?

Bills is getting up in the first...

There we go. Nice grab James. Three runs isn't a great way to start, but it's only three.

Trachsel isn't exactly Cy Young so i'm still hopefull.

That looked like a good pitch to Green, he just reached out and poked it.

Wow. Does Nomar get that one?

Chins up, everybody. We can score lots of runs too!

141 ESPN radio announcers say Maddux is wild high.

Let's go Dodgers, time to score 5.

Loney keeps Maddux in the game, for now. The two balls Maddux got outs on were stung. At least a couple of the hits were flares, but Greg does not look like he has it today.

153

... We CAN?!?!

27 outs to get three runs. Baseball is a long game, and Trachsel on the hill.

Come on guys. I mean, I booked a win. Don't sweat it.

155 Marlon should have caught the Floyd single that scored the second run. That was just poor outfield play.

150 Trachsel is Cy No

I love the spunk, Furry, but why don't we hold off on the bunting, m'kay?

my cousin & his chick are @ the game.

By the way, I would swipe bags on Trachsel and LoDuca all day.

At least LAT's daughter has something to smile about.

Furkel swings at ball 4

164 - after taking a gopher ball on 3-1

and then looks at strike three.

... Rung up. Nice call, blue.

163. Yes Marty, daughter and I are not on the same page tonight.

I really hope Lofton is not resigned

Top of the order has killed us so far in the series.

That third strike to Furcal looked like it was the same place Maddux didn't get twice.

i'm not gonna swear i'm gonna be a good poster, i'm not gonna swear i'm gonna be a good poster, i'm not gonna swear i'm gonna be a good poster,i'm not gonna swear i'm gonna be a good poster,

daughter and I are not on the same page tonight

Use this as practice for when she's a teenager :-)

I take a quick shower and the Proven Winner has already put the Dodgers in a hole. Ned better not bring him back for $8 million.

Come on Jeff. Hit with your 'stache!

... All I ask for is good at-bats. Battle the pitcher a little bit.

Good thing Kent didn't dog it on that ground ball

Okay, Drew gets a job done right here, and life is good.

Clutch job by Kent to reach base!

Come on Drew!

We have to take advantage of this opportunity.

did i just here the announcer say i rear mistake by Wright?? from what i understand David Wright is a good hitter & not a good fielder.

... Sooner or later, some of these guys at the top of the Dodger batting order will hit to their potential. Hopefully, it's not May 2007.

my cousin is wearing his authentic Fernando Valenzuela jersey that his chick bought him today.

All right, Maddux, show me that the first inning was an aberration!

keep the ball down Maddux.

At least we were'nt as stupid as the Mets to have our pitcher lead off the next inning.

Did they ever identify that contraption? I'm listening to Vin, so wouldn't have heard. What is that?

Real cool guys rip on the blind.

187 - They just explained it on the teevee.

Apparently the guy is legally blind and it improves his vision by 15%. McCarver just apologized for his comments the other day.

188 They didn't know. Neither did I.

And blind people are normal. They deserve to be ripped on like everybody else. They wouldn't expect anything different.

Reyes was out

Maddux beat him.

Loney isn't sharp at 1st today he hasn't played in a while so it's understandable.

Watching/listening to the game via mlb.com and refreshing the screen on DT is a bit like the Mystery Science Theatre experience. Too bad the posts can't be converted into streaming audio.

Or can they ...

190
I was just joking.

Nice job by Maddux and Martin

... NOW you're out.

Nice throw Russ

We are giving this game away by ourselves, we don't need the umps help

sit down Reyes!!

Russ Almighty!

Nice.

Hey, the Dodgers have a catcher who can throw guys out stealing second. That's different.

195 Trainwrecks are normal people. They deserve to be ripped on like anybody else.

Yes!!!
No!!!

LoDuca is gonna have a strawberry tomorrow

... Jeezus H. Let's just put every single Met on base, save the pitcher.

Thom talking about the D-Backs he could not resist. Thankfully he is going to the Reds.

Wow. Is Bills ready yet?

nice inning by Maddux all we have to do is score some runs.

I expect good things from James Loney tonight.

Book it.

206. That pitch won't even leave a mark. He acted like it 100 mph at his head.

it's a shame that McCarver's abvious meter is high today.

204
Speaking of trainwrecks, how bad did Olson's injury look? (if you saw it)

212 LoDuca went to the Kenny Lofton school of diving out of the way of everything like Nolan Ryan threw it at your head.

214 Sprained ligaments, at least.

Maybe worse. I'm a UCLA alum and fan, so it's probably worse.

Imagine we get to a bases-loaded two out situation here. Does Maddux bat, or does he bow out for a pinch hitter?

If things keep going the way they are Lo Duca is going to have a hangover from the champagne.

I can't see the game, just Gameday. Does anyone think Maddux sort of hit Lo Duca on purpose? He's not known for poor control.

217 My mistake, Drew's batting fifth. Make that bases-loaded, one out.

214- Late hit to the knee; looked like his cleat held, but I couldn't see how much the knee gave. He couldn't put any weight on it, coming off the field with the trainer and another player under each arm pit.

220 My mistake again, as I can't count. Make that bases-loaded, nobody out, and I'll kindly shut up now.

219 - LoDuca was right on top of the plate, so maybe, but I doubt it. Maddux doesn't strike me as the kind of pitcher that would throw at a guy

That was a hanging breaking ball. Wilson missed it.

217

... My hunch is that Maddux would bow out for a pinch hitter, and Little would send up Lugo to strike out.

seems like the Dodgers are pressing no?

Come on James ...

Maddux didnt want to hit Loduca. Why would he. The ball just slipped out of his hand.

226

... Pressing, or choking?

223
Seeing as how it's do or die, maybe he's changed his philosophy, or he did it to reset his head and the Mets' as well.

Well Reyes broke his gold chain on the play so I guess we got something out of it.

223

he's not the Drysdale/Gibson type

Johnson, Doesn't look like we will be loading the bases anytime soon.

... Pressing, or choking?

both i guess.

If Loney does that again, he should come out for Old Maid.

Wait a second! The Delgado shift just worked!

First, McCarver - there is a difference between crawling and running. What Reyes did was running.

Second, hey, the shift worked against Delgado. That's different.

233 Sorry. I'll try to stick to nonfantastical hypotheticals from here on out.

Halftime at Rose Bowl 14-7 UCLA

i think the hot red head chick from that 70's show is in the Stadium.

... It looks like Maddux is getting the ground balls now. Unfortunately, he's nearing the 45-pitch ceiling.

240 - isn't she blonde now?

Stop calling women chicks. That's pretty disrespectful.

Floyd is just wearing out that outside pitch.

Does Maddux know the goal is to go 1-2-3?

Stop calling women chicks. That's pretty disrespectful.

the hot broad from that 70's show.

Sorry LAT's daughter, but I hate Shawn Green.

Can we please put in Ethier and Repko now?

PLEASE?

Okay. Maddux doesn't have it tonight. Let's bring in Chad and take a shot.

this is not good, but i keep on thinking Trachsel is pitching for the metropolitans

It's not easy beating Green

Floyd does not look good after rounding third

Hate to see a guy go down, but well, you know, want to win the game

Cliff Floys is J.D Drew east

Looks like Floyd may be done.

Trachsel is batting for the second time in the TOP OF THE THIRD. Ugh.

Does Maddux leadoff?

I leave for 5 minutes and all hell breaks loose ...

NOw that would have been embarassing if Green beat Bedimet to 3rd

252

... If Floyd goes out, Endy Chavez comes in, right? He's the guy that started the Dodger demise in Game 2 with the bunt.

It's not like the Dodgers gain an edge, either way.

I like Floyd, he's a good guy. I feel bad for him because I hurt my Achilles in high school running track. Fortunately, mine was just a sprain. Floyd might have torn his. If it's not his Achilles then it's his hamstring.

255 I would say no. But I'm not Little.

Let's waste an out, have Maddux give up another run, and then bring Chad in to pitch.

Yeah, that's the ticket.

I don't let Maddux bat here. Just go with Bills. He is going to have to come in an inning or two anyway

wow Cliff FLoyd makes Randolph & the trainer look like little kids. yikes.

I actually agree with Tim McCarver here. Maddux is done for the game. He'll be lucky to get through five.

We need Billingsley to come in for Penny in the third inning of Game 4.

No, it's not difficult to remove a pitcher with a great reputation, McCarver. That's Little's job as a manager, to walk up to the guy and say, "looks like you don't have it, thanks for the try."

We are losing! Let's try something different. Why is Maddux up?

I would bet money he has to pull Maddux next inning.

265 We need to get to Game 4.

Run.

promising start by Furcal.

At least Furcal is taking a lot of pitches... and now draws a walk.

He better be on third before Lofton swings the bat

... I don't see ANY problem with leaving Maddux in. It's not his fault the Dodgers can't hit or catch at this point.

If the Dodgers' top of the order goes 1 for 50, it won't matter much who's on the mound.

i think Furcal should run

266- it is difficult for traditional managers like Grits to remove "name pitchers". If Maddux's name was Aaron Sele, he would have been lifted for a pinch hitter.

Why are they talking about David Wells in this game?

That graphic said DOdgers are 1-44 when losing by 4 or more. Of course in that one game we came back from 4 down twice.

274- down by 4? Maybe hit and run.

Run.

Run Run RUn Run

Furcal is really trying to get into Trachsel's head.

Just face facts, this is not Lofton's series.

Mr. Pop Up Kenny Lofton.

... This is classic Trachsel. Constant throws over to first, deliberate between pitches.

I remember even Vin losing his patience during a game at Shea, saying "Oh Come On, Steve!" and the Mets' crowd chanting "Throw The Ball".

Can Ethier or Anderson play Ethier?

hit it out Anderson!

280 Kenny Lofton is really trying to get into the Kansas City clubhouse.

284 - that second Ethier should say "center"

284
Drew can.

Furcal just stole the base

Should have gone first pitch after he got on base.

Charlie Horse for Reyes

288 - that'll work too

It's funny, the announcers were just talking about "playing the hot hand" and all I can think is "Lofton is 0 for the series and he continues to play"

Yes....For those of you on this site who have disliked Shawn Green for his poor last year in LA, he seems to be doing something tonight that he did in his two good years in LA, go the oppositte way. That is when he was at his best. Sadly it looks like that is the case now.

Drew has always said he prefers centerfield.

We led the league in hitting, right?

I always liked Green, thought we really gave him away. Never made much sense to me

... I swear, right now I just want to go to everyone in America watching this series -- all of the people who haven't watched the Dodgers much this season -- and tell them that the Dodgers really don't suck this bad.

Lofton's doing nothing in this series but he was a major contributor this season and I'm not sure the team would be confident that Jason Repko could do it against a righty in a must win game. But it's definitely not playing the hot hand - just not sure what other options they have there unless Drew played CF and Ethier could play LF.

297

... Green hasn't had all that good of a season, has he? I mean, you KNEW he would light up the Dodgers, but I don't think he's really played well overall.

LoDuca is the prototipical 2nd hitter.IMO.

299 - that's pretty much what I was thinking, Anderson, Drew and Ethier in the outfield

Green just hits Maddux well - I knew that could be a troublesome matchup tonight. I would assume Maddux, even though he looks like he's settled down {fingers crossed}, won't hit the next time he comes up...

We get two runs this inning, we're in good shape.

A happy ending to that half inning, in more than one way.

I love Loney giving Randolf the pat on the elbow there.

That inning looked like the Maddux we saw for most of the time with us.

302 Oops, I meant Ethier playing RF, or Anderson... but yeah, that's what I was thinking too. That may be what happens next year because Lofton won't be back, if Kemp isn't ready, presuming the team prefers Repko off the bench.

But I'm not ready to talk about next season yet! Keep hope alive! Keep hope alive!

The Dodgers are displaying an abundance of lethargy so far today. The rally starts now!

300 - looking at his numbers, they haven't been great (though with 15 HRs and 31 doubles, he'd fit right in with this Dodgers team).

My point really is that we didn't get good value for him in the trade. Who besides Navarro did we get? And by some logic, the trade ended up being Green for Lugo.

310- Green for Hendrickson. Lugo came by way of JtD.

I have the same feeling as 298. Where is the Dodger team we all know can win this series?

311 - even better

This is no time for the Dodgers to be tired.

Lead off man on board, this might just work out

310

... Well, to be honest, Lugo's a very good hitter; he just has the "I've forgotten how to hit since I joined the Dodgers" affliction that seems to happen to certain players.

Let's get it going Dodgers.

We're getting the hits, the runs will fallow.

Time is running out. Those runs better start following NOW.

... Hendrickson's warming up.

Speak of the Devil.

I could have sworn that I was watching the Dodgers play, not the Arizona Diamondbacks.

can you call Trachsel throwing to 1st base a phobia?

Trachsel is getting some Tom Glavine calls tonight.

... Wow. Off the end of the bat. Perfect.

322
If only these teams played as well as the D-Backs they would talk about them.

323- Maybe more of an obsessive compulsion.

I have no idea how the Dodgers are ever going to get back into this game. It's hard to hit balls that are pitched to mid-shin, and that's where Trac-shell is making a living.

Reyes SS skills don't impress me.

All Right. Lets take advantage of this opportunity.

No DP here Wilson

Boom goes the Betemit?

... Come on, Betemit. Get a hold of one.

329 They should. He's a stud.

Me thinks they are pitching around Betemit.

Obviously they do not know about Loney

335- Betemit will not walk here

Oh my...

... Are you KIDDING me, blue?!?!?!

How was that a strike?

This is a horse euphamism strike zone.

... Are you KIDDING me, blue?!?!?!

329 He took a couple of funny steps before that throw. I think he may be injured from when Furcal's helmet hit his left knee on the steal.

be a good poster bluebleeder

wow even McCarver admits the Mets are getting all the breaks from the umpire.

... Sorry for the double post. Wasn't intended.

That was the worst called strike I've seen... ever. That was horrible.

It takes guts to take any pitch, tonight.

Kent a hard nosed baserunner? Didn't Charlie see the first game?

Kent a hard nosed baserunner? Didn't Charlie see the first game?

How was that a "gutsy" pitch? Thom over dramatizes everything.

well if anything the blue is consistetly giving all the breaks to NY

Loney time!

nothing like a pop fly single

Shawn Green comes through in the clutch

I'm happy that Kent actually made it to 3rd.

Loney time!

Well, that break makes up for the horrible strike call.

was anyone else worried that Kent might try to score on that hit?

The fans on the background have Charlie Steiner type eye sight.

I gotta put the kids to bed? NOW?!!?!?!??

... Well, if they want to continue playing after tonight, something has to happen now. This is the moment of truth. This isn't exactly Cy Young out there on the mound. He is hittable. Come on, Dodgers.

Loney needs to do something here or else Ned won't trust him going into next season.

J LO!!

211

Loney ROCKS!!

Forget Ferris Buehler... James Loney, you're my hero

Loney!!! We're back in this thing!!!

Welcome to 1B, James. It's yours for the next five years, at least.

Don't use Lugo...

Ethier has a batting helmet on, that is a good sign

Old Maid must bat here

Bring in Saenz.

Let Ethier hit, Grady.

Enter Tomato.

... Do you burn Ethier and go to Saenz with the lefty?

What's going on? Gameday is stuck.

OK, it's back on now.

The kid stays in the picture.

I don't burn Ethier. His OPS splits were basically dead even on the season. Give him a shot and let's show the world what our rookies can do this year.

Ethier hits, Lofton gets the last out and that's where the pitcher goes.

Ethier can do it. Oppo base hit off an away fastball.

Poop.

that is just bad, bad timing

Unbelievable

Unbelievable. Just unbelievable.

now that's bad luck

I asked for two runs. I got two runs. We're winning this game.

Book it.

387
Will Andrew take the bait...?

Bad, bad luck, but we're back in the game.

ouch

Ethier stung the heck out of that one. Freeze on a line drive boys, freeze on a line drive....

That is such bad luck...who comes in now Hendrickson?

heh, the fielding scoring looks funny

Error: Loney
Outfield assist: Lofton

Two on, one out, Grady does what Brock thinks he should and the inning ends without any additional runs. You do the math.

Ethier hit that on the nose. I stand by leaving him in, it was just bad luck that it hit Oliver's glove.

Okay, the baseball Gods taketh away, giveth, and then taketh away again.

I'll taketh two over nothing but damn... that coulda been a lot more.

I know Hendrickson did OK with the Mets, but geez. Geez I say.

If i had good writting skills i would be able to discrive how bad that double play made me feel, but we did get 2 runs so it's all good.

Grady should be fired for not hitting Saenz...

Lady Luck is not with us tonight, unfortunately.

And neither is the home plate umpire.

Against the Mets, I mean.

Oh, dear. Hendrickson.

... Let's look on the bright side. At least they didn't line out into a triple play before they scored two.

399 - if that doesn't end up in the pitchers glove, we'd be looking at a tied game

waaa!! my pinky is hurt waa!!!

Oh, and I officially question Darren Oliver's lineage.

Nothing wrong with leaving Andre in there - he hits lefties well.

Gack, putting all our hope behind Hendrickson is a little scary. He should throw one of those crazy looping balls way outside the plate that get called a strike.

I just really don't understand this ump's strike zone tonight. But whatever, maybe it'll even out before the game's over for both teams.

But wow... it floats around more than then the colors in a lava lamp.

I'm amazed how many meaningful innings Mark Hendrickson is getting in these playoffs.

Damn you Beimel.

Saenz will bat soon enough.

... Not a bad idea to walk Wright. Go after the lefty hitters, Mark.

407- I actually agree with that, just giving Brock a hard time.

ok, someone remind me who the Jacksonville Five are/were?

Bills, Brox, Loney, and who?

Chavez has a lanky swing.

COME ON MARK - DON'T WALK THIS GUY!

Seeing Hendrickson in there reminds me of Jennaro Pargo and Samaki Walker getting important minutes for the Lakers in the 2003 playoffs.

nice job lurch

... Nice job, Hendrickson. Well done.

LaRouche is another 413

417 - that made me chuckle

416 - I had almost blanked those minutes for Pargo and Walker out of my mind. Thanks.

413 LaRoche and Guzman?

413

LaRoche and Guzman?

412 My cordial relationship with Andrew seems to hinge on the outcome of this game.

413 - Wasnt Joel Guzman the last one?

413 - Billz, Broxton, Loney, Martin, Laroche, but wait, wasn't Guzman in there?

So we've still got four in the organization. Plus Martin and Ethier.

This club just might be pretty good for the next few years

Wasn't Martin one of the Jacksonville 5? Or maybe it was really 6.

Lurch, I like that too - I may use that for Hendy too. It's weird to think I'm more confident in having him in there than Maddux, but that's the way it goes against the Mets.

407 Yes, there was. The lefty allows the 3rd baseman to cheat in. That means that Betemit must stay closer to the bag. He didn't, and so end of story. With the lefty up, any grounder to third, since the 3rd baseman is cheating in, will likely end with Betemit still at third. So you bat a righthander to keep the 3rd baseman back. Their 1st baseman otherwise has to stay bag on the rightie, unless, of course, they plan on using their 2nd baseman to cover his base.

399 Not fired, but you can gather from my above remarks that a rightie was indeed called for. Saenz was otherwise acceptable since there was no risk of that groundball double play.

we are getting hosed by the ump

this umpire is a joke!!!!!!!!!!!!

This umpire needs to be strangled slowly and painfully.

Eric Cooper is dead to me.

This umpire is awful

Broxton was called up so I don't think he was considered part of the Jacksonville 5.

Eric Cooper is awful

i'm thinking very mean things about this umpire.

... Wow, I know it's a NEW YORK TEAM (tm), Blue -- but can you please give us a fair shot?

What is Kent yelling about in the dugout? The umpire?

This umpire needs to be strangled slowly and painfully.

we gotta go mid-evil on this ump!! what do you say DTer's!?

C'mon Lofton, break through here.

How many times can the ump miss a call in one game? All of the post season umpiring has been terrible.

The Pursuit of Eric Cooper, next on TBS.

is this ump from NY or something??

Sheesh, Lofton's been awful.

It may be time to get cleaned up and go play cards

The Philospher King is very wise to institute a policy of decency and restraint, because I have one of the better expletive filled tirades that this world has ever seen, and it's just dying to come out.

... I hope Repko at least gets a shot in this series before it's over.

445

Loftin 1-20 this series.

And that one looked like a strike. Hrm.

Another rope by Marlon.

One New York team already lost today. Eric Cooper has his orders from Fox.

... Anderson has really been amazing for us. I know that's been said a lot, but it can't be said enough.

Whoa, I just read your mind Greg and that was definitely rated NC-17. It's okay - I was thinking the same things.

YEAH

Ok, I'm a Jeff Kent fan tonight...

Book it.

Tie Game!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Scratch going to play cards - we got us a brand new ballgame

new ballgame!

Jeff Kent sends his love to Miltie.

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET.

Kent, I temporarily love you.

take that UMP!!

Back in it!

Kent for intergalactic czar!!!

Yes.

I take back 85% of the bad things I've said of Jeff Kent

... WE'RE TIED UP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jeff Kent!!!! Yes sir!!!!!

Wait, wait, I've got a pluse.

two out rallies, gotta love 'em

459 Cardplaying is what we do in between Steve Trachsel pitches.

457

... You go, Greg. You're calling it!

Two out, down two, jacks it out with one on - that's clutch, right?

McCarver's abvious meter is slowly going up.

Not that he pitched well, but I'm glad Maddux is off the hook. A lot of his trouble was caused by the ump's disappearing strike zone in the top 1st.

474 Obvious?

The Dodgers have scored as many runs in the last 1.2 innings as the Mets have scored in the entire game.

Man, I wonder what this series would look like right now if we were getting any production from the top of the order.

473 - I dunno, fifth inning is a little early for clutch.

Kent's trade value just went up. Maybe we can include him in the A-rod deal.

What a bad time to hold a Governor debate.

473 A pair of jacks would beat that, though. ;-)

If you look at the stretch drive and the playoffs, it is very obvious that Loney is the only one who drives in runs every time he plays, which is not often.( I'm refering to the last 3 or for times) I know that this is a small sample but I sure wish they had played him more to see if it was a freak.
The onely lonely reason not to play Loney is it might show that 1st base was covered, and there was no 10 mil. slot for the aged Nomar or Kent.

Why Jeff Kent will be playing for the Dodgers next year!

... Can this possibly be done? Down 2-0 in the series and 4-0 in the game, can this possibly happen? A miracle?

474

McCarver's stupidity meter is blasting through the stratosphere.

478 A lot better that's for sure. But try not to think about it - it's making me weepy.

LOL @ Miltie! Poor Kent can do no right.

480 - I like your thinking.

Ya gotta believe in BLUE

Martin is 3fo3

I'm stuck in the office today and torn between watching the game when I get home on Tivo and following it online (online is winning out so far).

All of I have to say if keep the faith Dodger fans. This team has had many wonderful comebacks this year, that we owe them our faith.

Go Dodgers!

Martin just ShawnGreen'd that one.

Golden boy does it again. Come on Wilson.

480

You really want to trade for May-rod?

... These rookies are learning. Loney with the RBI double, Ethier with the line drive, Martin with the hit and the throw-out of Reyes. The future is learning now, in the playoffs. It's a pleasure to see.

Broxton up in the 5th? Wow! Good move, Grittle.

I agree with McCarver again. I feel dirty.

Do you bring in Saenz for Loney if they bring in Feliciano? I would.

301 If Loduca is Martin is. And he can run faster.

486

chukles as i take a sip of my brew.

This umpire's strike zone is really inconsistent. Maybe he's learned his lesson. He called that pitch a strike against Betemit last time.

That last pitch to Betemit was more of a strike than the strike called during his last AB

... NOW we go to El Gordo

Cooper is so inconsistent - I mean that shouldn't be a strike, but he's been calling it a strike all night. But, we'll take it.

Betemit walks, on an inside pitch, that's different

Come on JAMES! DO SOMETHING!

It's funny how even McCarver is noticing Cooper's internal dilemma on whether to screw the Dodgers or not.

Or yeah, what D4P said.

Come on Tomato!!

This is a golden opportunity so I think you have to go with Saenz and just hope the defensive downgrade doesn't come back to bite you.

i'm going to the corner market real quick, i'm expecting Don Torrez (the owner) to give me his take of the game. I'll be back.

Loney time!

Anybody who thinks LoDuca is the equal of Martin behind the plate has never caught a day in their life.

I did. For ten years. Martin is way better.

Or Loney. Olmedo Loney.

You know, McCarver really hasn't been bad tonight at all. I've cringed at him in the past but have to say he's been okay tonight.

I love Loney, but Saenz should be hitting for him right now.

484 Exactly! As I explained in 483 right?

471 I literally watched entire possessions in the Cal-Oregon game between Trachsel at-bats today.

... Nomar getting ready to bat? Hmmmmmmm.

Make him throw a strike before swinging.

And I agree with McCarver again, thinking more about it.

FWIW - Loney OPS .850 in 20 ABs vs. lefties this year

I think you stay with Loney here. Otherwise, who hits for the pitcher or is used in the double switch?

If Nomar comes in to pinch-hit, he should hobble up to the plate and foul a couple of pitches off weakly before trying to hit one out

C'mon Loney, reward Grady's confidence.

... Come on, James. Make it a good pitch.

3-0 count!

Um, taking all the way anyone?

That was a ball!

That was freaking ball 4. This ump has the fixd in.

This ump is killing me.

We're not worthy!

Good eye! I love patience.

Good eye Loney!

Way to overcome Eric Cooper's astigmatism.

NOMAR~~~! Oh my goodness.

that. was. not. a strike

Cooper couldn't say THAT pitch was a strike!

nice!

Noooooomaaaaaaahhh! Let's go!!

I know CPR.

This is important, because Eric Cooper is dead to me already. I shall revive him, and make him dead to me again.

What a moment here with Nomar.

somewhere, Joe Morgan shakes his head about what just happened.

That's the lead! Loney is MVP if the Dodgers pull this out ...

i am dying. i think i just had a stroke. i'm also melodramatic.

I swear, I usually don't complain that much about umpiring/officiating, but Cooper is doing everyhting he can to give the Mets this game.

I think he was working the Oregon/Oklahoma game a few weeks ago.

I meant "glaucoma" above.

And now we get a Nomar sighting -
Bunt single Nomar! Go for it. ;-)

This guy hasn't thrown a legitimate strike yet.

... My heart's alive right now. This is awesome. We are having a MOMENT.

Come on, Dodgers. Come on, Dodger fans.

COME ON NOMAH!!!!! DO SOMETHING!!!!

C'mon Nomar - leg that one out! What're you, hurt or something??

That was a really weak at bat by Nomar. At least we got him out of the way early.

DO SOMETHING OTHER THAN THAT!!!!!

The Dodgers are averaging more runs per inning in this game than the Mets. If that keeps up, the Dodgers will win the game.

1. Grady should be fired for not hitting Saenz.

2. My best guess is that the homeplate unpire in on LSD.

544

Don't get fancy with the medical terms. This ump is freakin' BLIND.

541

What do you mean, "if" ?!?

Are the umps having their strike zones evaluated in the Playoffs? This zone seems to begin about four inches below the bottom of the knee. I'm not asking much, just that it be called as it's written.

552
You're complaining even though a run scored?

549 And saved the Tomato's AB

Johnny B already? He's going multiple innings.

... Well, not all of them can be Gibsonesque.

I've been reinstalling all the software on my computer so I haven't been able to say hello.

Man, what a game. What a clutch performance by Loney and Kent. What a terrible, NY-loving umpire. That Furcal non-HBP? Outrageous. I lost count of how many Trachsel strikes were replicated by Maddux as balls, and vice versa. But, hey, we're winning. Broxton coming in -- right move.

Okay, back to work. Hope you're all having fun.

543 I know, I feel the same way - I hate complaining about officiating and umpiring because generally they don't lose games (but that NCAA game you mentioned was one example the other way)- but I hate seeing an umpire butcher a game like this. It's distracting for hitters and pitchers. Umpires should never be noticed, when they're doing a good job.

Regardless, this is the Dodgers game to win now - they have to overcome this and concentrate...

I don't care about the inconsistent strike zone. I care that the strike zone has been inconsistently one sided. I've said, many times, that people who complain about umpiring are excuse makers, but this guy has been truly atrocious.

This is too big a game for Mr. Cooper behind the plate.

at least we didn't have to burn another bench player by having someone run for Nomar.

Oh, and we have the lead

552 Grady probably figured that nomar can still swing the bat, but he can't play the field. Saenz can still play the field, so it's better to hold him in relief.

Can we have both Brox and Saito go two IP apiece?

WWSH

Memo
From: Fox
To: Cooper
Subject: World Series

You will make sure the Mets win tonight.

Wow, Green looks like a twig in that shot of him and Broxton.

Oh yeah, and where is Jason Repko? Can't Grittle see how completely lost Lofton is?

dzzrtRatt out.

... Broxton better keep it down to less than 20 pitches per inning, because he'll be asked for more than one, I'm afraid.

Green is killing us

557 Can you think of a more ideal situation to bat Seanz?

Shawn Green you are breaking my balls!

Shawn Green wouldn't have to play with a chip on his shoulder if he wasn't such a soft guy with the team.

557- I'm not sure that I agreed with the decision, but I'm glad he was used early in the game.

571 Yeah you're right, but I'm hopeful for another one this game where he'll be the only option. I'm not really trusting Grady these days ...

if we let Cooper get to us the terrorist have won

Greenie's all "I'm a New York kind of guy now..." Blech. I was at game 1 in my home white Nomo jersey, and although I met a lot of great Mets fans with whom I had a healthy mutual respect, I also got all sort of heckling, up to and including racist and homophobic comments.

WWSH

Last ump comment: The right side of the plate doesn't seem to exist to him.

576 lol

Well, there you go. Brenneman just said Little is ready to use Broxton and Saito for 2 innings apiece.

So we really are going through with Penny tomorrow?

So that's where Michael Tucker ended up ...

581 I know. I heard it too. Let's just win this one.

Green is doing a # on us.

Okay, that was McCarver's first officially duh comment of the evening. "Not a thought of pitching around Tucker with Reyes on deck."

Mother Tucker...

Come on, Brox....

WWSH

if anything this sets up a DP

588
Not likely with Reyes.

RE: 588

Awfully hard to double-up Reyes, though

WWSH

Get someone ready.

If Broxton can't even last an inning, my confidence level will go through the floor. Bills is still in the pen, right?

When did pitchers deside to put there glove over the mouth when talking to coaches or there catchers?

577 Unfortunately, homophobic comments are par for the course at any sporting event.

581 I really haven't had any major problems with Little all year, but he is frustrating me to no end during the playoffs. Why would we even consider starting Penny tomorrow? Why is Kenny Lofton getting so many at-bats? Why pinch hit the clearly injured Nomar against a lefty with the bases loaded when Saenz is sitting on the bench? Why???

wow he was swinging 2-0

Ok, worst color guy in baseball - McCarver, Morgan, or Lyons?

... Grits told John to get nasty, apparently.

STRIKE HIM OUT!

The Bull needs a changeup.

599 ...desperately need that right now...

597 Morgan, without any doubt

597 Morgan and it ain't even close.

Another dunker

... Man, can the Mets get any more luck in this series? This is absolutely unreal.

A slider? Why! Why God, why?

See 600

A freakin' hanging curve!

597
Morgan. Today he was saying Duncan's 22 HRs don't show him much because he only had 43 rbis.

Our bullpen stinks...

Simple as that.

WWSH

Can't we bring Repko in as designated thrower?

ARRRRRRRRRRGH.

I thought Furcal had caught that one.

I'm gonna cry.

Jesus Christ. How many gorks are they going to hit?

Bloopers are very annoying when they do it to you.

"A little looper to centerfield..." - the theme of this game

they love the dunkers

If Depo hadn't traded Lo Duca to Florida, he probably wouldn't have just driven in that run

stupid texas leaguers!!

Broxton keeps hanging those sliders

Where's the coffee and donuts? It's just dunker after dunker.

I'm sure Kent's pep talk to Broxton is something none of us would want to be on the receiving end of.

And more trash about Paulie's heart-and-soul.

WWSH

Mrs. McCourt looks like she is on pins and needles. (sarcasm)

You've gotta be freaking kidding me!!!

Death by blooping.

I can't take this anymore.

Jesus.

GORK GORK GORK GORK

This is ridiculous.

Bloopered to death. All sliders.

Ok, Marlon Anderson is not the left fielder.

... I've gotta say this -- I've never seen three dunkers like that, one after the other, in a long time -- if ever.

612 3

I mean really...

Sheesh.

Well, do we know enough not to fully give up on this game? I do.

But, wow, I feel kind of sick.

609 - I'm glad I didn't watch that game, my head might have actually exploded if I heard him say that.

Isn't this what we've done to other teams all year? Or have we at least had the decency to hit doubles and triples with men on base?

I always said it was better to be lucky than good. Three dunkers for hits vs a screaming line drive right into a glove.
Lady Luck has not been with us this series.

627 Comapres interestingly to the four dongs on that Monday night - just as deadly

Not that the game is out of reach but it's really gonna suck if I have to watch all these former Dodgers celebrate on our field.

I am suddenly not so sure that bringing Penny in instead of Brox in Game 1 was such a bad move.

Alright, we just need to stop the bleeding

Three innings before Wagner comes in. Olmedo's still on the bench.

Eventually, we'll get some breaks too. Just gotta hold on.

Keep faith!

WWSH

Shouldn't that last pitch just prove once and for all to the Dodgers that Broxton should just be throwing heat. Period?

631

... Remember the line drive Loney caught in the first.

You can't blame The Bull. A parade of duck farts leads to three runs.

Why has Broxton been throwing his slider anywhere near the zone? You have a 94-97 mph fastball ox. Throw it and make them catch up to it.

i wanna go mid-evil on bloopers!!

Brox looks like he's recovering, but I have a bad recollection of him blowing other big games. Not sure if my recollection is all that correct. Regardless, he's still very much the rookie.

WWSH

... I think the Mets stole a sign and knew that Martin was going to arm-fake a throw in that situation.

Re: 638

We can blame him for the walk to Tucker.

Thank you Brox for stopping the bleeding.

WWSH

Okay, he sort of proved me wrong with that last pitch.

638 Hah hah,that's a perfect description for what those hits were.

Sigh.

Aargh. Middle relief this year...

Alright, we can score on this bullpen. Time for Furcal to start things up.

ugh - well, 4 innings to make it all right

On the bright side, when we're in the World Series next year, this experience will prove very valuable to Broxton.

643 Okay, you blame him for a walk.

And the four Texas Leaguers he gave up? Not one hard hit ball. That's baseball.

Stupid baseball.

Well the best move would have been bringing Saito in and then making him pitch 4 innings ;-) but second choice was bringing Broxton in early. Or I guess Billingsley might have been a good choice. But they were thinking, if they win today and play tomorrow, and Penny gets in trouble, they'll want Billingsley fresh is my guess..

The thing that annoys me about the Fox crews is that they keep talking about the LoDuca trade as "the most contraversial trade in Dodgers history". It's as if the Piazza trade has been completely forgotten. If that had been in the blogger era, it wouldn't even be close.

RE: 648

Yep, I think that's definitely true.

Walks are death to relievers, and this was a hard place to learn the lesson.

WWSH

We still got Loney!!

... The top of the order HAS to start hitting at some point, otherwise we don't deserve to win this series. The time may as well be now.

It's pretty bad that, thus far, Hendrickson was the only effective pitcher today.

Broxton remember your fastball..One slider I understand. But have to agree with MacCarver I would have thrown him the fastball. LoDuca, whatever people may say about him on this site is an excellent fastball hitter. SO I understand the slider to him and accept it. His pitch selection to Tucker was not great and he frankley looked nervous from my perspective, The ass chewing he got from Kent seemed to be appropriate.

These ads with Tommy Lasorda ("You can't handle October...") are gonna feel more painful if the Dodgers are not in it next week.

Furcal/Lofton really need to do something.

G-d willing we'll get those runs back.
Just wait and see.

i still believe, let's get 'em fighting Dodgers!!

652 So you blame him for one run out of three.

I agree with the earlier statement that Broxton needs to learn how to throw a changeup.

Re: 649

And for the hung sliders.

Listen, I think Brox is our second-best reliever, and lady luck didn't like him tonight, but this was just not a great performance.

WWSH

Yet another disgruntled ex-Dodger to battle against. This is almost too much to bear.

Mota is hittable, depending on the strike zone Eric Gregg- I mean, Cooper, decides to give him.

We are not shaking our heads at the trade still you tools.

Enough about that trade already Fox, sheesh!

And enough pathetictude, Furcal.

Furcal down. Again. (sigh.)

Eric Gregg is dead and would do a better job calling balls and strikes in this game than Cooper.

The stupid thing about all this stuff about the trade is none of them are talking about what I think DePo should have done in hindsight--gave up Jackson and Penny for Randy Johnson. Instead, it's the usual media drivel...

WWSH

668
lol

A HIT!! A HIT!! Lofton got A HIT!!

Okay, three more bloops like that and then we're even in the bloop-o-meter.

Now we get a little luck...

WWSH

Lofton dow... No! It's a miracle!

Steal. Now.

671 And a bloop at that!

Furcal 1-10? Ugh. Lofton 0-11? Ditto. OH! Make that 1-12! Things are turning around!

This would be a good time to see some more of Marlon's home run power...

Oh, by the way, we're only in the sixth inning.

Jesus. My heart is not going to survive.

My liver is already on life support.

669 - Well, I can understand that as the second half of the trade never actually happened.

RE: 679

Imagine what I felt like at Shea during game 1. I think I was going to have a heart attack multiple times.

WWSH

chip away Dodgers

668- that was low

RE: 680

BTW, that wasn't a criticism of DePo. No one knew Jackson would crater and Penny would first get hurt and then become mediocre. But with a crystal ball, that's the move that should have happenned, assuming all those rumours were right.

WWSH

Let's go Jeff...

Why is Lofton still on first base? If he's still on first base at the end of this inning he should be taken out.

I can't believe that Fox brought up the Penny trade.

And I can't believe anybody here would dignify that by talking about it.

Bad break, costs the Dodgers a run

... Uggggggggggggghhh. HORRIBLE luck on the ground-rule double.

Dodgers get unlucky again

My son went to a birthday party and I was the escort... not easy to concentrate. I turned on the TV just in time to notice that Paul LoDuca is the missing link for us.

Sheesh.

Don't be so happy fan we would have scored.

Way to go Kent. Come on JD. Bring them home.

Come on Jeff, two jacks are better than one

damn you ground rule doubles!!

Arggghhhh.. can we not get a freaking single break?

The baseball gods owe us at least a bloop from Drew, if he can't manage to get a clean hit.

WWSH

Damn ground rule double. Lofton could've scored.

Lady Luck is really not smiling on us tonight.

For a second, I thought the beach ball bouncers cost us a run, but that was a legit GR 2B.

JD, your time is NOW!

JD plays Grady Ball

If those fans had half a brain, they would be less excited than they would be disappointed that Kent's ball went into their seats.

And now add JD Drew to my "want to strangle list" after Cooper and Furcal.

Ground rule double. The baseball gods are blanking killing us tonight.

First pitch? I just died a little bit.

... Unbelievable. When will the bad luck end for this team in this game? This is just mind-boggling.

@$#%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know I will be pilloried for saying this here, but does anyone here actually have any confidence in JD Drew?

Freakin' ground rules.

I am absolutely fed up with being told by baseball announcers that I, as a Dodger fan, am still "shaking my head" over the Lo Duca-Mota/Penny-Choi trade as if not only could I not understand why it was done, but also I felt as if the trade ruined the franchise. "Heart and Soul" and all that.

Please.

It was a good trade. We sold Mota high (and look what happened to him), we traded away an average catcher who doesn't have a good arm and who was about to start making a lot of money, and got a solid starting pitcher, who has given us two years above and beyond the two starts we got from him before his injury in '04.

Don't tell me I'm shaking my head over that trade. Give me a chance to have 30 seconds on the microphone and maybe we can put an end to the groupthink about that trade.

Re: 687

I am in no mood to be dignified at this point.

WWSH

Someone get on base for Loney next inning.

Mr Roboto can't deliver

708 And Johnson takes the bait.

706 20 HR, 100 RBI this year.

712 Sorry. I just got trolled by Tim McCarver.

Re: 712

Or we could instead talk about our awful luck this game. Talking about "The Trade" might actually be a better topic of conversation than how this game has gone.

Anyhow, still 9 outs left. Martin and Loney will save the day next inning...

WWSH

Yea! Vin is calling the game now on mlb.com. That's GOT to do something.

watching & hearing Buck O'neil just makes me happy inside.

I don't know...I feel in my gut that the Dodgers are going to win. I've felt it all night.

Thom Brennaman is high on the soapbox this evening.

706

... Drew did a terrific job in September as the Dodgers made their run to the Playoffs.

Now I'm starting to think maybe they should have brought Bills in early instead of Broxton. But hindsight is 20-20.

Come on Greenie, GIDP!

WWSH

718 I hope your gut has good foresight.

...or not. I forgot Kent has no range any more.

Okay. We may lose this game. Do you guys realize what a great position we're in?

Billingsley. Loney. Salary flexibility. Great farm system with LaRoche, Young, Kemp, et. al. Hell, I can deal with losing this year.

I haven't been this optomistic about the Dodgers in 15 years.

There's the Shawn Green we all knew and loved.

... The technology I will be impressed with the most, as a sports fan, would be the button on the remote control to toggle the game broadcast on and off. I want to hear the crowd, but the broadcasters are killing me.

Who needs sedatives when you have Shawn Green on the opposing team.

That is what we like Chad.

725

Yep, Greg. I hear you.

722 Well done Wayne! Can you make another wish now? :-)

713 - Yeah, I know. What would happen to ARod if he put up those numbers? He would be lynched.

Wow, Bills was filthy.

No matter how this game and series turns out, I am loving the experience that the youngsters are gaining.

708
That's the point. You will never get thirty seconds with the microphone to set the Fox boys straight and even if you did, you'd be dismissed because "you don't know the game" as well as these experts. You're right, they're wrong but just try convincing them otherwise.

I know that sounds bitter but it's just so evident that these guys don't know what to say outside of conventional wisdom... it gets frustrating.

725

agreed, the long term looks great for us.

That was 3 beautiful pitches in a row from Bills.

725 Amen, my brother! Amen!!

725
True. I just hope there is no thought to go after some vets as the "missing pieces"

Excuse me if I don't fall apart over a first round loss to the best team in the NL.

Fellas, the Dodgers are back. I have much to be proud of, and look forward to.

I'm not a Yankee fan. The future looks pretty great to me.

Billingsly looked filthy.

725 Let's save that for after the game. I'm as fatalistic as the next guy, but we're still in this.

Agreed. The future is bright. A penant in the meantime would be OK, too.

Come on Betemit. Get on for Loney.

the ethier line out and kent ground rule double are eating inside of me

... What's the deal with the first-pitch swings??

725 I'm with you, Greg. I look forward to the future, too. Those guys already look great.

(Now, I only wish the present looked a little better.)

Loney time!

740

McCarver alert

Mets 74 - 4 this year when leading after 7 ... um ...

... That shot of Gagne a few seconds ago -- sigh. How we needed you.

That pitch was at Betemit's eyes. You can not swing at that pitch. You will never hit it.

... What's the deal with the first-pitch swings??

pressing

Well, it sounded both good and frustrating on the radio so far.

Loney, I'm sorry I once doubted you.

Please forgive me.

WWSH

Nobody's giving up over here. We can win this thing. I just want people to have perspective.

You know, perspective. That thing that separates normal humans from Yankee fans.

And with that, Loney singles. The future is bright.

LOL D-Backs again!!!

I do like the announcers lovefest for Loney tonight. I've enjoyed that part of their blather.

... Loney! People, that young man is only 22. Isn't that great?

i swear GM's must be salivating over our rooks (sp?)

He brings in Saenz NOW?!!?!? Against a right hander? What the hell Grady?

Just another Arizona reference by Thom....

And Bob arrives to provide a voice of reason.

Ok, that thing about saving the Tomato's bat until later? The time is now .. Come on Olemdo! YOU CAN DO IT!

What is the point of mentioning Tracy's son?

684: good idea to stay away from the "no one knew" and "everybody agreed" and "who could have foreseen?" mantras. Generally, someone knew, someone disagreed, someone foresaw. That's what prophets and curmudgeons and contrarians are for.
At least a couple of healthy handfuls commenting here were not particularly troubled by the Dodger side of the deal, but the Marlin side. You're right, we didn't "know" Penny would be hurt and mediocre. This is baseball, after all. But we had strong "senses" he would, and said so, at the time (and good thing we hurried, 'cause a week later he was hurt and gone a while...)

... 3-0 to El Gordo.

They're pitching around Saenz to get to the Furcal Sample.

764 Shout out to Thom's peeps?

I've been pretty hard on these guys tonight but Thom and Tim are exactly right--two outs on three pitches is silly.

What is the point of mentioning Tracy's son?

brain cramp

McCarver just said "Double [bowel movement]" Freudian slip

Wow was that not a pitch to hit on 3-0? Or would he have Drew'd that one?

... And he's rung up. Went from 3-0 to a K.

Looked off the plate to me.

Saenz is a lefty specialist.

Vin Scully talked a lot about the perfect storm of traffic today. And I got the ball rolling with a post on the Griddle. Which got picked up on LA Observed. And then by the LA Times. And now by Vin.

I can die happy.

when's the last time Olmedo looked at that many pitches?

That was another one of those balls that are called strikes but since he's been doing that most of the night Saenz should have swung protectively on that at least.

SIGH.

ugh

The bullpen just needs to hold the line. Furcal and Lofton can start to redeem themselves (and Drew) next inning. All of them are well overdue.

WWSH

NO way that was a strike, if I were the Tomato I would be very very tempted to go Milton Bradley in the dugout right about now...and I'm not even a Dodger Fan!!

769 Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.
Or once a day if it's 24-hour clock.

If you're a pinch-hitter, shouldn't you swing the bat?

And is it just me or does Cooper look like he's ready to pick a fight with someone? See him waiting for Saenz to turn around as he left?

Maybe Mariano Duncan should throw his hat at him.

776 On my way in to Santa Monica at game time, I saw the 10 East was packed until the west side.

776

what time is it out there Bob?

Grady should have picked a fight with him long ago.

Why is Billingsley out?

Oh yeah, we pinched hit. Brain fart.

776
It's a little after 8 pm where I am.

Mets are doing the smart thing.

Can I nickname Lo Duca "Hal Chase"?

Well, at least Suffering Bruin showed up to share the pain of this playoff loss.

At least I have that.

My god lofton has a noodle of an arm.

If I had a dead-to-me list, LoDuca might be on it.

790

i thought you were in Japan?

... You have got to be kidding me with this crap.

Nothing you can do about that

788 Saenz pinch hit for him.

To quote the Twilight Zone: "Ladies and gentlemen, we are in Hell."

I can't stand this. The sight of all these bloop hits is laughable if it wasn't so painful.

I also would have left Bills in for one more inning because there may not be a tomorrow anyway, why bring in Tomko? Then again, why bring in Tomko ever?

If Kent bats once more, gets a hit, and the Dodgers still lose, he will have the highest batting average ever in a 3-game Division Series.

Yes, I'm reaching here...

793 thanks, man. This hurts but

a) it beats grading papers and
b) if I'm going to feel pain, I'm going to have good company.

"Just put the bat on the ball" - that's what my coaches told me

And now he's warming up saito.

Tomko just busted a Lowe.

Maybe if we could borrow a humidor from Colorado, we could keep all these bloopers on the infield.

Our Old Friends have not treated us kindly

OK, now they don't deserve to win.

803
We still got the mystery recruit to look forward to.

It doesn't get any better than a bloop single on a pitch that almost hits the dirt.

Thom Brennaman, ladies and gentleman!

Oh yeah, I typed mine before realizing I, too, had a brain fart.

Still, "why bring in Tomko ever" still stands.

We got one run off Wagner before.

Hopefully we can get just enough off of Heilman.

But Tomko needs to stop the bleeding NOW.

WWSH

"You're closer has a much longer career when he only pitches one inning."

Thom Brennaman/Bill Plaschke, separated at birth?

... You know what I think is funny? The veterans are making the mental errors and (with the exception of Kent's hitting) have been brutal in this series offensively and defensively, and the young players haven't.

I mean, how can Grits look me in the eye and say that Repko doesn't deserve to play CF when Lofton is 1-12 and terrible in the field?

Reyes hair is interesting

Color commentator guy wants a statistic called a hold to measure the value of the set-up reliever.

Absurd on so many levels.

The tank appears to be dry.

Do we really have to suffer through Tomko again next year? Can't we trade him somewhere, for some magic beans or something?

Oh well, at least our suffering is over for the night.

I don't even feel like partying tonight after watching all these bloopers end the Dodgers season

814- This required the assumption that either of them had a mother, which, I think, is not a safe one.

I'm suppposed to be in Japan? Man no wonder why I was so surprised to find all these tall white people speaking English at the Rose Bowl!

Re: 815

Well, we are talking about Repko here. He was playing well before he got hurt, but he hasn't looked very good as of late.

WWSH

817 Yeah, I liked that one, too.

I mean, how can Grits look me in the eye and say that Repko doesn't deserve to play CF when Lofton is 1-12 and terrible in the field?

he's a "players manager"

823 I don't care. Repko wouldn't have to do much to be better than Lofton has been.

"The tank is dry" becuase they used it all up in the last 2 weeks of the regular season, I'm afraid.

820

that's the only thing that's keeping me sane

Vin just bashed our middle relief without mentioning them. Class.

"It's a shame Siato has to come in to clean up ... "

823

... At least I would have the peace of mind that I'm getting good defense in CF. And how could Repko hit worse?

Well, there's a capper.

Yeesh.

The tank could be dry because the Mets are better.

I really want A-rod now

Nice touch Wilson!

No, Wilson!!!

This is all Colletti's fault. (Hey, if Depodesta had traded for Betemit, you know Plaschke would've found a way to blame him.)

Let's do all we can to make sure Zito does not end up a Met.

Well, I just officially lost my appetite.

May need to be fed through a tube for a few days.

my coach would have me running 3 laps for a bone head play like that, freaking bull crap i swear!! these guys are supposed to be professionals?? ha!!

... This is such an embarrassing series. We have looked like the Bad News Bears out there. The mistakes and mental errors have made us the laughingstock of the Playoffs. Congrats, Dodgers.

[833} I won't argue with that after this performance. But I will remember this year for so much more than being swept by the Mets... which hasn't happened just yet.

Those objects out there on the field? Oh, those are the wheels...they just completely came off for the Dodgers.

A classic case of trying to do too much. Take the out at first.

Those were our '06 hopes sailing away over Kent's head.

Well lads ...

I'm remembering when St Louis won on our turf a couple of years ago and the Dodgers, led by Shawn Green I believe, came out and congratulated them. A class move.

What do you think may happen tonight if the Mets close it out? Think Kent will lead the boys out for a chat with the winners?

830 Good points. I definitely would have brought Repko in in the 5th or whenever it was that Lofton miraculously got on base.

No matter what happens tonight, there are two certainties:

1) I just bought a bunch of beer
2) I'm going to drink all of it

RE: 820

I could see Repko being horribly over-aggressive in the field, although he's certainly got better wheels at this point than Lofton.

WWSH

I need to work my way into getting a ticket for the USC-Cal game on 11/18.

My girlfriend has an extra ticket, but I'm not the first choice to get to use it since I'm not a USC person.

Why is Saito the only Dodger reliever that knows how to throw a slider?

9-5??? Can you say back-to-back-to-back-to-back homeruns?

I retrospect, I think I would've preferred a division title and a series against the Cards.

845- I hope so. Then, I hope they have a nice long conversation with Cooper. . .

845 They'll probably be gracious but with so many obnoxious, motivated ex-Dodgers on the Mets I personally would have a hard time going over there and congratulating them. I'd be like, 'It's not my fault you were freaking traded!'

Maybe it'll be gracious if we just don't spit on them...

852
All things considered, I'd rather be in Philadelphia.

Re: 851

Seriously, 4 runs isn't insurmountable. Wagner once blew a 4 run lead agains the Yankees.

At this point, there's nothing left but hope and faith.

WWSH

I'm surprised that last one didn't bloop it's way into the outfield, too.

Washington was oh so close today!

I hope someone slashes the umpires tires.

so, when do we get A-Rod?

833
It's both.

I'm turning the game off now, because I can't take this anynore, and becuase I want to be disappointed and elated at the same time when I miss the miraculous bottom of the eighth, when we score 2, and the ninth, when we win.

845
I believe the handshakes in 2004 were Larry Walker's idea.

My guess is Fox will jinx any possibility of a multi homer comeback by having some sort of montage of highlights from that game now.

If only we were the D-Backs we would be unstoppable.

A-Rod didn't exactly set the postseason on fire . Why would he have helped us this turn?

I've only been seeing the scores from Berkeley, but now I just saw Cal's uniforms.

They are truly dreadful.

865
He's facing Maine and Traschel instead of the team with the best pitching in baseball.

Nice!

Way to go Furcal. Do the same Kenny!

I am one of the more responsible drinkers I know, but in the wake of this playoff performance, I have decided to destroy myself tonight.

Good Lord. One win in 16 years. One stinking win.

Nice AB by Furcal...

WWSH

867 True. Still, I'm sort of skeptical about his postseason abilities - but I suppose I wouldn't mind him being on the team, either!

my optomistic mind is still pumping with that hit by Furcal

And a truly awful one by Lofton.

WWSH

Apparently it's First-Pitch Swing Night at Dodger Stadium.

866- You ain't kidding. What's that about?

Kenny. Kenny. Kenny. Somebody please kill him.

870
I like that term "destroy myself"

Cut it down to two, Marlon!

Lofton, Lofton, Lofton

870 I blame the "new" playoff format. Division Series' are not kind to us. Maybe we can get a bye next year?

...Lofton!! @$$##%$!!

... Yeah, I can see why Repko shouldn't play.

Lofton contributed a lot to the Dodgers offense this season, so I'm trying hard to overlook how truly awful he's been this series.

If the Dodgers do lose this game, look at it this way, that was probably his last at bat with the team.

No.. must resist! He was good as a hitter this year. He helped! Must not try to strangle him.... Save energy for umpire... must not blame Kenny.... unh.

Kenny acts like he did something way out of character by swinging at the first pitch and popping up

876
They wanted to beat Oregon on the field and in the ugliest uniform department.

"It has been a nightmare series for Kenny Lofton."

...At least he'll be waking up soon.

Do you think Mota will get credit for the win?

Who do we have left on the bench to hit? Repko and Hall?

Send Furcal?

Martinez and Lugo, no?

WWSH

Thom Brennaman will be the voice of the BCS championship game on Fox for the next several years.

885- Neither easy, since Oregon has that idiotic steel print thing on the shoulder pads. On the plus side, it's good to know the pack who designed the D'backs uniforms still gets work.

866 No kidding. My wife and I both almost puked when we saw those unis. That thing needs to be retired immediately.

891
That may be the worst news of the night. He can't possibly mention the D-Backs or the Reds (his future employer) calling those games, can he?

Wouldn't Feliciano get the win?

Condition Orange!

Billy Wagner ain't so tough!!

We got to get to Loney.

Bob gets his wish

Go for 3, Kent!

Come on JD, time to atone...

WWSH

Drew's turn to do somthing cool.

Jeff Kent knocks Fernando Vina out of the record books!

How many times has this site gone over 1K? I think tonight another one is coming...

Okay, give me a three run home run, and I'll destroy myself a little more slowly.

Don't score, and all bets are off.

cmon JD

A year ago if you told me that the Dodgers would be in the playoffs I would not have believed it. I am glad they got this far.
This will be an interesting off season. Colletti is going to be busy again.

905 Can you destroy the home plate ump too while you're at it?

Please?

Beer, meet liver.

You know each other.

the Robot can't get a hit

Baaaaaa!
Baaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Baaaaaaaaaaaa!

That's the sound you're hearing from the dugout, which is full of goats.

And have all of you just saw the Dodgers right now have out hit the Mets 15 -14.

907

... I don't buy that type of reasoning. Never have. There is no excuse for the poor play the Dodgers have shown in this series. And it's been the veterans, the players who are supposed to be leading the young guys; these guys have been making the mental errors and costing us this series.

I'm officially depressed now.

I'm just annoyed they got blooped to death for eight runs. It's like death in a plane crash versus death by papercuts. You feel every single one until you expire.

914 Are you really THE Saul.

Good job on converting the Romans to Christianity. I hear they were a hard sell.

What manager comes to the park wanting to lose a playoff game Thom?

Looks like we'll have some people on here relapsing tonight.

I don't drink when I'm alone and/or depressed. I'll have to cry myself to sleep.

all i know is that our Dodger future looks bright, mix that in with the big L.A. budget it's just a matter of time before we are the class of the Major leagues.

913 - Of course, the point you mention brings up the question of why the veterans are playing when the young guys have shown themselves to be superior. That's a management issue.

If the Dodgers can leave two runners on in the 9th, they will tie the NLDS record for runners left on base in a 9-inning game.

It was set earlier in the day by the Padres.

If the Dodgers leave the bases loaded, they would tie the alltime postseason record for LOB in a 9-inning game.

New goal. Let's try to hit the 1000 comment mark.

I hope Saito comes back.

give me Franco's eating habits??

HBP, HBP, HBP, HBP, Walk-off Grand Slam Furcal

Well, guys, I just want to say, no matter what happens here, no matter what the results tonight, I enjoyed chatting with y'all through this game and through many of them this season. made the losses more bearable and the wins that much more fun.

if the off season is to come faster than we would like, I hope to keep chatting with y'all through it.

Dog bless.

923
yeah, that's one of my biggest off season wishes. the other being a NCAA title for my Louisville Cards

Get on base for Loney guys!

Shawn Green player of the game. That hurts.

Is left field Marlon Anderson's natural position?

This "Player of the Game: Shawn Green" has the feel of naming Marty Barrett in Game 6 1986, no?

927
In which sport?

Everybody should be looking fastball Main St. to drive the ball.

My natural position is sitting on the couch.

Anderson was originally a 2nd baseman.

... Make him work, Russ. Make these final at-bats count.

931
Basketball mainly. If they want to win in football, I would enjoy that too.

916 Thanks, but I can't take credit for that.

The one who annointed me "The Saul" gave me that name because as he said, "You're cool, just like The Fonz".

For some reason, that mock turtleneck didn't look appropriate on Vin

Change that to Ramon Martinez Walk-off Grand Slam...

943

0-2 in 5 seconds for Betemit

Let's walk out to shake the Mets' hands, and then start a huge fight.

New goal. Let's try to hit the 1000 comment mark.

i'm with Greg Brock, i'm gonna distroy my self today, my goal drink 3 beers in 3 seconds!!!

936
You have a better chance in football I think.

Can we keep Nomar and try to convert Loney to the OF next year?

936
Sorry, but the Gators and Bruins and Wildcats (Arizona variety) are going to end that dream.

Loney time!

942 Sorry, I'm too busy slashing the umpire's tires out in the parking lot.

Well if it's going to be up to anybody, it might as well be Big Game James...

Wag(ner) the Dod(gers)

Wag(ner) the Dod(gers)

Loney is good

A Sad day for all Dodger Fans. i am officially in a lot of pain right now. Being A dodger fan in NYC SUCKS. There is nothing worse then Met Fan.

Give that man the 1st base job!!

For some reason, I just don't want James to make the last out.

Of course, I still want a brawl, so I'm kind of out of it right now.

Pencil Loney in for next year.

Loney will you marry me?

... Great game, James. You'll see better days.

Loney's pretty clutch. Let Nomah walk. Let's use money for pitching.

955 Moral Victory!

April isn't so far away, so I'm not as depressed as I could be ...

Lucille II making the final out of the season would be appropriate

953 - Growing up in NJ among Met fans - I understand your pain

Martinez should lean into that sucker.

Come on, HBP.

211

Is it too earlier to dub Loney "Big Game James"...?

There is one nice Mets fan who visits the Toaster: Ravenscar.

All the rest could fall into the East River and the world would little note their departure.

948

chuckle certified

Wow - no one can get Loney out.

Actually Kenny Lofton making the last out would be more appropriate.

Nice at-bat, Ramon. Hope some of the other guys in the dugout are taking note.

28 more comments, let's go!