Extra! Extra! (9.24)
There are some people who feel that when things go badly, everything might as well come off the rails, with the hope of getting everything bad outta the way in one shot. For such mentalities, last night's 9-3 trouncing by the D-Backs may carry a positive of sorts. For everyone else (people we at Blue Notes like to call "cognizant of how a playoff race works"), there was nada good about the disastrous outing. Were the game arbitrarily called after the first inning (which would have surely raised some D-Back front office eyebrows), Blue smiles would have filled L.A.
Doubles by Nomar and a newly dialed in J.D. Drew. Quick 3-0 Dodgers lead. From there, little went the Dodgers' way. Snakes starter Miguel Batista became a finely tuned machine. For their part, L.A. pitchers became lemons a used car salesman wouldn't have the heart to pawn off. Brad Penny, who apparently hit the wall after the All-Star break, put his team in early trouble, giving up five runs and a kajillion pitches in five innings. Those in relief looked just as worn down as the early season ace. It's hardly unusual these days to see Penny huffing and puffing through a game. Russell Martin? That's kinda surprising. One would assume the box score didn't perk the rook up much, either.
On a happy note, big ups to award winners Rafael Furcal and James Loney.
Grady Little. Calm in the eye of a storm or way too laid back? You make the call.
Takashi Saito takes this game VERY seriously.
Assuming the Dodgers get in, the Cardinals want them.
Chad Billingsley and Hong-Chih Kuo both need to be ready down the stretch. Of course, it would be wise for Kuo to be alert today, considering he's the cat starting for the Dodgers. He'll be going up against Livan Herndanez, who's been knocked around by many a Blue bat. Kuo's last start was fantastic until the fifth inning rolled around.
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Hendrickson 4.29
Tomko 4.95
Dessens 4.56
Carrara 4.55
Great Middle Relief Pitchers!!
Posted by: Tom | September 24, 2006 at 10:35 AM
A player who gets RBIs in about 60% of his games will drive in around 100 for a full season. If you check Nomar's, Drew's and Kent's stats, that is the pace at which they've driven in runs.
So, despite many of us ranting about lack of clutch hits from them, their record is pretty good. Plenty of other guys have picked up plenty--Ethier, Martin, Anderson, Saenz, Furcal all have had big RBIs.
So, scoring really isn't the issue. However, pitching, that's another story. Other than Lowe, Maddux and Billingsley (until he got hurt), the starters have been weak. This includes Penny who, despite his giant-sized body, has managed to disappear in the 2nd half of the season. He even managed to get critcized last night by Vin, who said, "Five innings just isn't going to get it done"--a rare type of statement from an annonuncer who tends to stress the positive on all sides.
The Dodgers are 4-6, over their last ten games. Phils are 8-2, Madres, 7-3. End of story and, sadly, end of season.
Posted by: Dodgerdog | September 24, 2006 at 10:46 AM
last night's loss was tough to swallow, hopefully the marlins and the pirates decide to light it up today and we get a good performance out of kuo. seems like kuo has been pretty solid, just hope he goes deep enough so that we don't have to use anybody other than beimel, broxton or sammy
Posted by: bmurph | September 24, 2006 at 10:50 AM
I really hope they prove me wrong, but after last night, consider my panic button officially pushed.
Posted by: Jen | September 24, 2006 at 11:02 AM
2nd inning in Philly and the Fish are up 4-0
Too early tho
Posted by: mti | September 24, 2006 at 11:24 AM
THE BIZZARE GAME THEY CALL BASEBALL. ONCE AGAIN THE TALE OF TWO SEASONS.
THE THREE PLAYERS,ETHIER,NOMAR AND PENNY. THAT LEAD US TO VICTORY IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE SEASON, ARE THE SAME PLAYERS THAT ARE LEADING US TO DEFEAT IN THE SECOND HALF.
ANYONE SURPRISED BY PENNYS PERFORMANCE LAST NIGHT HASN'T BEEN WATCHING.
IT WAS TOTALLY PREDICTABLE AND ONCE WE HAVE TO GET INTO MIDDLE RELIEF EARLY WE'RE DONE.
WE'RE NOT DONE BUT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO TROT PENNY OUT THERE AGAIN.
TWO WEEKS AGO THE PHILLIES WERE MAYBE 5 GAMES OUT
OF WILD CARD. DID THEY GIVE UP? WE'RE A HALF GAME BEHIND THEM. SHOULD WE PANIC AND GIVE UP NOW?????
Posted by: stargazin | September 24, 2006 at 11:26 AM
just checked back on the scores. Phillies just tied the game up 4-4.
What else is new. Phillies are the Baseball God's pet this year. There is nothing that can do wrong from here on end.
Posted by: mti | September 24, 2006 at 11:48 AM
Last nights mess was just not acceptable if we are going to make the playoffs. Hell, its unacceptable if you just want to see and enjoy good fundamental baseball. We stunk up the joint! Those guys should be embarrassed after that effort, or lack thereof. Go Pirates, go Marlins, go Dodgers!!!!
Posted by: Jim | September 24, 2006 at 11:53 AM
I agree, Jim. It's not that we lost last night, it's the embarrassing way we chose to do it. It just stunk all the way around. And that's why I've hit panic mode. I'm afraid unless something *huge* gets lit up today, we are done.
Posted by: Jen | September 24, 2006 at 12:07 PM
At this point, does anyone think the Dodgers are going to the playoffs? The Phillies are surging and the Padres just win. The tank is just plain empty. But Grady will still keep them "battling".
Why not bring up the rookie pitchers? Could they be any worse? What do they have to lose? It ain't gonna happen with most of these guys in the pen.
Is Penny hurt? Out of shape? What happened to this guy? Doesn't Little know what's at stake here? And knowing that, why doesn't he at least pull Penny at the second or third sign of trouble? (I know, I know, who do you put in...)
Well, there is always next year, and the following year, and the year after that...
I guess I'm a wee tiny bit frustrated.
Posted by: Andy B | September 24, 2006 at 12:08 PM
Penny is a major liability. Mentally and physically he is a mess.
Posted by: Jim | September 24, 2006 at 12:11 PM
Phillies are up 8-4 now.
Posted by: Jen | September 24, 2006 at 12:15 PM
Damn right SG! The Philly cheese-steaks didn't give up when they were 5 games back, and neither shall we! Go Dodgers!!!
Posted by: DodgerBlueBalls | September 24, 2006 at 12:21 PM
DODGERDOG- ONCE AGAIN YOU HAVE TO SEPARATE NOMAR'S
PRE ALLSTAR FROM POST ALLSTAR. YES HIS OVERALL
STATS ARE ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT FIRST HALF.
BUT HIS POST ALLSTAR AVERAGE OF .216 AND COMPARABLE
RISP IN SECOND HALF HAVE KILLED US.
THE TEAM IS AVERAGING 1 RUN A GAME LESS IN SECOND HALF THAN THE FIRST HALF . 4.3 VS. 5.3.
YES KENT AND DREWS OVERALL STATS ARE ACCEPTABLE.
ITS PARTLY OFFENSE AND PARLTLY PITCHING AND PARTLY
DEFENSE.
CERTAINLY THE BIGGEST PART PITCHING.
ONLY 3 DEPENDABLE STARTERS AND ONE GOT INJURED
AND IS ONLY PART OF THE WAY BACK.
WITH ONLY 2 AND HALF DEPENDABLE STARTERS AND
LOUSY MIDDLE RELIEF THE TASK BECOMES VERY, VERY
DIFFICULT.
IF YOU WANT TO GIVE UP, GO AHEAD. BUT WHATS YOUR
HURRY. WANT TO BE ABLE TO TELL THE REST OF
US YOU TOLD US SO BY FOLDING EARLY???
Posted by: stargazin | September 24, 2006 at 12:21 PM
I STILL THINK A KICK IN THE REAR END BY THE MANAGER
AFTER A GAME LIKE THAT IS GOOD. BUT IT AIN'T GOIN HAPPEN ON THIS TEAM.
Posted by: stargazin | September 24, 2006 at 12:22 PM
AND I DON'T CARE HOW LATE IN THE SEASON IT IS-
IF A GRIZZLED VETS NOT GETTING IT DONE, GIVE
SOMEONE ELSE A CHANCE.
Posted by: stargazin | September 24, 2006 at 12:24 PM
I REALLY SHOULDN'T MENTION THIS ( CAUSE I REALLY LIKE AK) BUT THE LIVE BLOG IS STILL UNDEFEATED
UNDER BK????
Posted by: stargazin | September 24, 2006 at 12:26 PM
Considering the complete lack of effective middle relief, no production from 3rd base, and little production from 1st base since the break (read Nomar isn't getting it done), only three effective starters with one of those injured, we're lucky to still be in the race.
Posted by: Jim | September 24, 2006 at 12:49 PM
LAst night can't be counted as a regular live blog, because it got shut down after 10pm by the giant fans. . .
Posted by: DodgerBlueBalls | September 24, 2006 at 12:51 PM