NLCS Game Three: Dodgers @ Phillies
By
Oh, yeah, there’s that other playoff series. After two thrilling games in the Bronx, the Yanks and Angels enjoy a travel day to take them out to sunny Southern California. Even though we’re stuck without the Bombers for a night, we can still check out their National League counterparts.
The Phillies and Dodgers come east after splitting a pair of games back in LA, the second of which involved a glorious meltdown by Philadelphia’s shaky bullpen. Considering how unreliable Brad Lidge has been this year, Charlie Manuel can’t feel good when his other relievers cough up a lead. Joe Torre doesn’t have to worry too much about his relief corps, he can trot out power arm after power like his replacement in the Bronx.
After missing the NLDS with a bulging disk in his neck, righty Hiroki Kuroda returns to the make the start for Team Torre. The Japanese import faced the Phillies once this year, two-hitting them over seven scoreless innings back in June. The Phillies will counter with an import of their own – trade deadline pickup Cliff Lee. Lee shut the Rockies down in two NLCS starts, and is working on normal rest. I expect great things.
Here’s the lineups:
Los Angeles
Rafael Furcal, SS
Ronnie Belliard, 2B
Andre Ethier, RF
Manny Ramirez, LF
Matt Kemp, CF
James Loney, 1B
Casey Blake, 3B
Russ Martin, C
Hiroki Kuroda, SP (8-7, 3.76)
Philadelphia
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Shane Victorino, CF
Chase Utley, 2B
Ryan Howard, 1B
Jayson Werth, RF
Raul Ibanez, LF
Pedro Feliz, 3B
Carlos Ruiz, C
Cliff Lee, SP (14-13, 3.22)
TBS has the call, with first pitch scheduled for 8:07pm ET. The weather report looks ominous, but it appears that there’s a big enough window to get this one in.
If the NLCS isn’t your thing, then go ahead and use this puppy as an open thread. The Bears and Falcons are your late football game, but talk about whatever you like. Just please follow the guidelines and be nice.
The quest for second best continues.
I’m lovin this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v....._embedded#
I think it’s the new official theme song for the Yanks. It’s awesome.
That’s disgustingly pathetic.
+ I can’t make a # big enough
Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine would have done a better cover job.
I’d take some Three doors down…
No no, I can’t even keep a straight face while I type that.
What’s wrong with New York, New York?
I went to high school with the guy that wrote it, I am still friends with him and he is and always has been…a MET FAN!
That makes this even more ridiculous. You can’t be any more obvious of your want for the Angels to win.
Explains everything. Its like reading a Joel Sherman or Ken Davidoff column, they just fundamentally don’t get it.
+1
Let’s go Dodgers. Cliff Lee is going to be the deciding factor in this game. Can’t wait to watch it, hopefully we get a good game.
Some people are just occasionally stupid, yet others make a profession of it.
http://msn.foxsports.com/other.....an-reality
They drop a few balls in horrid conditions, so now we forget the entire regular season. Gotcha.
Man, that is sad. How quick you can fall.
When you’re as short as he is, you reach the ground pretty fast.
http://sadtrombone.com/
OK fine. I’ll try this.
http://www.recoilmag.com/news/....._1107.html
Low blow, low blow.
Well, it kinda has to be, or you’d miss him.
OK, get out. Get out now.
He gets paid to write clueless crap like that? Man, I thought ESPN was bad…
http://www.newsday.com/columni.....-1.1529943
This is just sad, Leyritz at Stan’s selling pix for $5 a pop.
So … I guess I don’t really care who wins the NLCS, as the Yankees cannot be stopped so their opponent is irrelevant. It would be more fun if The Fightin’ Torres won just because I think there would be some catharsis between him and us. I think he’d get a standing ovation, than we’d beat the shit out of his club and sweep him in the world series, and everyone goes home happy.
Still Charlie Manuel is one of the greatest baseball characters this side of Casey Stengel and it would be fun seeing him befuddled at the might of the Yankees.
vs Phillies: edge Yankees bullpen
vs Dodgers: edge Yankees offense
Sanchez =
Sadchez
Sad-tromboneforyou-chez
http://sadtrombone.com/
It hasn’t been a very stirring performance.
He’ll get better, though. We’re really missing big Kris Jenkins. This game might still be 13-3 if he was around.
You’re also missing a good fantasy football team.
Bam.
Damn Tom Brady dream matchup vs. the Tennewevealreadygivenuponthisseason Titans.
Lol. I felt like I made a mistake after accepting that trade with ColeTrain…but I guess not?
Not at all. Brady’s far from dead, and the Pats sked has some cupcake matchups.
<3 wide right.
NO GOOD!!!
Wide right… oh God… Why?
There cant be more painful words in Buffalo…
“We’re all out of blue cheese dressing”
“Starting QB Trent Edwards?”
“We just signed Terrell Owens”
“Dick Jauron contract extension”
Beat me to it.
Picked off!
“We’re trading Bob McAdoo to the Knicks for John Gianelli”
Had to look that one up… not a big basketball guy. I didn’t even know that Buffalo once had a team!
“Canada’s invading”
Fucking James Idehigbo. GET YOUR HEAD ON STRAIGHT.
(Full disclosure: his brother is engaged to a friend of mine.)
Actually, looks like Marques Murrell shoulda got that flag.
NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO BE TAKING SHIT PENALTIES
L’il Leon Washington!
http://www.tutorialjungle.com/.....ment_5.jpg
Harold Reynolds just said that Manny making outs early in the count will be a good thing for him because it will make the opposing pitchers think “Hold on! He’ got something going now.”
Harold Reynolds apparently doesn’t know the difference between “Runs” and “Runs Batted In”, as a recent MLB LCS Preview demonstrated.
How is that possible?
They were comparing middle infields.
It had a big ass HDTV screen right behind him that said
ROBINSON CANO:
.320 AVG 25 HR 103 RUNS
DEREK JETER
.334 AVG 17 HR 107 RUNS
And he looked right at the damn thing and repeatedly said things like “Robinson Cano has 103 RBIs, he could be playing 3rd in most lineups he’s 7th with the Yankees” … never once did he say refer to the correct stat of runs in the entire 5 minute bit as he discussed both players, AND the two Angels players for that matter. It bugged the living hell out of me.
I don’t even have the energy to fight with Harold Reynolds anymore.
What?
Exactly.
They were talking about how Manny’s been having trouble at the plate, or whatever and Reynolds was saying he should start swinging early in the count at some of those pitches. I don’t quite know why.
Because baseball players are smart.
Pulled a Romo.
How to be a Jets fan: Introduce your face to your palm.
As a Bills fan, I’d actually be happy with a tie… anything but a loss.
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/.....ations.jpg
Walk-off safety would be nice, though…
Bills always seem to lose heart breakers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy-QmgdUVTI
Wow, what a FAIL by the Jets.
Woooooops.
(cue Martin Lawrence voice)
DWIGHT LOWERY!!!!!!!!
“Do either of these teams want to win today?”
Certainly doesn’t seem like it…
The Bills have SIX INTs?!
“A.J. Burnett threw another nice game with favored catcher Jose Molina behind the plate, allowing three hits and two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings. So look for Molina to remain his personal catcher thoughout the postseason. Yankees manager Joe Girardi and Burnett have suggested it was Girardi’s call to employ Molina. But of course it comes with Burnett’s unspoken (at least publicly unspoken) approval.”
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....oop/1.html
Its lines like that from Heyman that make me nuts. The clear implication is that he has some super secret off the record info that he can’t go with, but he wants to get out there. If you’re at all familiar with his work, very few of these inferences bear out over the course of time. I’ve come to the conclusion that he phrases things this way to make it look like he knows more than he actually does, like he’s a real insider. He’s such a fucking hack.
Heyman’s inference could be read as a personal rift between these two, like AJ’s knocking Jorge off the record. Every reputable beat reporter I’ve heard has gone out of their way to clarify that is simply not the case. That’s not who AJ is, publicly or privately from everything I’ve read elsewhere.
Heyman is one of the few guys who write this way, and it’s just rumor mongering, plain and simple.
If Burnett happens to pitch a road game in the WS, Molina had better not be catching.
Focus, Matt. I’m killing Heyman and looking for people to pile on with me.
Fine.
Yeah, that’s pretty hackish by Heyman. What’s said is that he’s well respected enough to get by on it. People will pass it on like it’s cold, hard truth: “Well Heyman said…” and then people will click for his articles or read them in SI or whatever, and the cycle will continue.
Hasn’t AJ Burnett actually gone on the record saying it doesn’t matter who his catcher is, and that he doesn’t want the onus of the decision of Molina catching on him because he really doesn’t care?
Only every time he’s been asked.
Aside from repeatedly stating it was not his decision or desire to not throw to Jorge, and not being that kinda guy in the first place, AJ isn’t dumb or arrogant enough in his first year on the team to diss the 15-year veteran Yankee w/4 rings. As you said, Heyman’s just trying to stir shit and look like the guy w/the inside track. Lame.
Anybody notice how managerial Jorge looked in the dugout early last night? Hmm…
YOU GOTTA BE FUCKING SHITTING ME.
Its like both fighters got paid to take a dive…
“The Fighting city of Philadelphia”……WTF, Chip Caray?
It’s a typo. He meant to say “The Fisting city of Philadelphia”.
It doesn’t even make any sense.
It’s made with real bits of panther… so you know it’s good.
…Smells like a turd covered in burnt hair…
This Jets/Bills game is hysterical. I’m not a football fan, but this is like watching clowns at the circus.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMf2SZtuqPk
I’d like a lowlight clip reel of this game set to this music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxJi-si5FRY
Nah, Yakety Sax has been done. I’m going classical.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmVkSEhVcuo
I’ll get on that. you want the 6 interceptions on it?
Yup, all of them. Don’t forget Murrell and Idehigbo trying to break Derek Fine’s neck.
Haha @ the Jets.
You’re mighty chatty for a Cowboys fan.
Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!
The Cowboys have lost to the Giants and the Broncos.
Both pretty good teams, they’ve played shitty but I’ll take 3-2 for the way they have played. 3-2 and a few plays from being 4-1.
This is…amazing.
Well, I mean, the Eagles did lose to the Raiders…right?
Don’t remind me.
McNabb v. Raiders or Favre v. Ravens. That’s a slam dunk of a fantasy decision, right? No question about it. McNabb every day of the week and twice on Sunday.
3-3
Thank Mo it’s almost over…worse game ever?
*worst
It’s karmic payback for last night.
Come on. Game 5 of the NFL season? You could be a Buccaneer fan….or a Seminole fan
Ughhhh… The Bills cannot catch a break. Or a pass, for that matter.
So i got an email form MLB.com and it asked me to vote for the Best Clutch Player of the Year so of course they deliberately leave off A-Rod.
You picked Nick Punto, right?
Well of course, he’s a baseball player and I didn’t know that. Did you also know he plays the game the right way?
I picked little Dusty Pedroia – filled with grit, and would never blame someone else for the quality of his play.. OH WAI-
Has he gotten those ground keepers fired for cause yet?
Oh yeah he should get the award because he absolutely deserves it OH WAI-
Here comes another missed FG. This game has tie written all over it.
Try as they might to lose, the Bills actually pull it off!
sorry Tommie. You want a popsicle?
Thanks, but no.
I miss my pussytubing team. We’ll be back, though. Rookie mistakes. Part of the growing process.
I miss my pussytubing team.
The Yankees didn’t go anywhere.
+1
That’s right, fuck a defeatist attitude 6 games into the season. This team will bounce back.
Bunting at the first pitch? Really?
FUCK THE JETS.
It’s been “Moral Victory Weekend”. Notre Dame coming close against USC, Arkansas taking Florida to the last second, Brian Fuentes getting 2 strikes on ARod, and the Tennessee Titans not getting beat by 60.
Is it just me or does Raul Ibanez look like a douchebag?
Ron, isn’t that what every pitcher does? Every pitcher and every hitter tries to dictate the pace of an at bat. Why does this guy get paid for analysis?
I am now watching baseball and pretending football doesn’t and never has existed.
Football season doesn’t start until after the World Series. These are just mildly important pre-season games.
+1
I’ve been doing that for the last 10 years.
I’m looking for another Cliff Lee steal tonight.
Steals home, and gives Ruiz a knee to the face as he slides in.
Why would he knee his own catcher in the face?
Because he’s tough like that.
On a Grit scale of 1-10, kneeing one of your own teammates in the face has to be at least a 12.
Hahahahaha. I suck so bad. Here, I’ll save you the trouble.
http://sadtrombone.com/
For me.
That’s two thus far, Artist.
This is why I need that PC Richard whistle, for the strikeouts.
Look at all the facial hair on the Dodgers infield. Wow. Grit-tastic.
Best nickname I’ve heard this post season
“Chase Knobloch”
+1
Chase’s woes have me brought me so much joy this postseason.
I don’t have anything against the Phillies, I just thought that was funny.
No, I don’t either. It just brings on a pleasant nostalgia, pleasant because it’s taking place on a team I have no emotional interest in.
Torre calls pitches from the bench?
That girl behind home plate looks thrilled to be there. Spoiled little brat.
Throwing down and not-so-in to Ryan Howard – not a great idea
Ryan Howard triple … that’s gotta be pretty rare.
I love good baseball.
Is it just me or did it take Ethier waaaay too long to get to that ball?
Let me put it this way…
Ethier is so Swish out there in RF.
*no Swish
/shamed
When we play the Phillies in the WS, Howard is the guy we can’t let beat us.
Howard is dangerous because he is Howard, but far from scary me in a big spot.
He can be pitched to, but the mistakes will be mutilated.
Wow that was a shot.
Damn, what a fucking meltdown.
Joe’s in a tough spot. Ideally, he wants Kuroda to eat innings and keep the Dodgers close – but this could get really ugly really quickly.
Joe’s in a tough spot because his team isn’t as good as the Phillies. It’s nice to have a good bullpen, but you have to get there.
There’s that, too. Depending on Vincente Padilla as your de facto #2 starter is not a good thing
Kuroda hasn’t pitched since 9/28, and it’s showing. Joe’s got Garland out in the pen
Garland’s not on the playoff roster.
So that’s why Billingsley was up… my bad.
Kuroda can get it together – but he doesn’t have much more time
Who would of thought that guys like Wolf, Kuroda and Vincente would get starts over Billingsley.
Well, there’s the offense that had been missing so far this postseason.
What’s up with Happy Pete’s nose?
…can someone remind me why Randy Wolf didn’t start one of the first 3 games for the Dodgers this series?
His last outing was pretty ugly, maybe he’s not 100%
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....yerId=4087
Yeah I know he got yanked early in his first outing but I subscribe to the “dance with the one who brought ‘ya” philosophy. If he’s hurting I guess I can buy that, but he’s still pitching game 4 when he is clearly better than being the 4th best starter on their team. I mean, you’d have to think he’d be doing better than Kuroda is now.
A very exciting thing happened today in Venezuela. Romulo Sanchez vs. Jesus Montero. The epic battle came to a draw, as Jesus drew a walk from Romulo.
Worlds collide!
A George divided against itself cannot stand
Jerry doesn’t get the worlds theory.
I was waiting for you to give the outcome of that. Jesus didn’t want to embarrass Romulo, so he let him walk him.
Did The Titans play today? Like Seriously, did they show up today? My God.
They did, but it was the T.C. Williams High Titans.
This game is going to be fun to watch.
As long as you’re not a Dodger fan.
Or a Joe Torre fan.
+1
Interesting comment from Darling – “Kuroda can’t pitch against this team…. or any team like this”
Joe’s gotta pull Kuroda here – or let him take one for the team
Didn’t they all agree earlier that Kuroda was the perfect guy to pitch to the Phils since he could get ahead of them and neutralize their patience?
Do you mean having to watch Torre work his bullpen for 5+ innings?
where oh where is Scottie Proctor when you need him?
not either. I don’t want teh Torre playing teh Girardi in teh WS. Too much ink about the personalities and Donnie and Arod and the book and all that return to YS crapola.
There’s that
It’s difficult for me to root against Torre or Mattingly – that even overcomes the fact that Manny’s on that team
Someone’s probably gonna take one for the team tonight. It could get ugly quickly
Yeah, as long as they’re not wearing Yankee pinstripes, I have no problem rooting against them.
Root for the laundry. Everything else is details.
Absolutely.
+1
Players, managers and coaches come and go, I root for the team. I even got ticked off when they’ve had contract disputes with some of the core guys like Mo and Jorge. I had no problem when they let Bernie go, and I loved Bernie. Its always team first for me.
+1
I could care less about Torre and his drama. Give me some good Baseball. The only reason I’d want to face the Dodgers is they’re easier to beat. But I’ll be happy to face the Phils, it’s a great match up.
I think the winner of this series is completely irrelevant. We cannot be stopped.
Its just your choice of media-driven narrative:
Torre vs. The Yankees
or
Battle of the ex-Indian Cy Young Winners
Yeah, I think we beat the Phils, but its a tough series. 6-7 games, and if it goes 7 anything can happen. We could sweep the Dodgers.
Really? I think we murder either of them. I’ll take CC over Cliff Lee every time and their weak pitching besides him more than compensates for a potentially tough lineup. Either way, CC is hitting a homerun in game 4 of the world series.
This.
Same potent offense. Big difference in pitching.
Hey Scot Elbert, 1st round draft pick in 04.
Donnie’s lovin’ them seeds.
Attempted grit by Howard.
Really, Joe? You’re gonna play the match up with the lefty on deck? You might as well just leave him in for Werth and Ibanez then go to CB.
So Billingsley has ‘the stuff to dominate and be an ace’?
Sounds like a certain other young pitcher with great stuff
are people meeting up at the stadium tomorrow?
Would you guys still trade Cano for Billingsley?
Rite now no. Im surprise Billingsley struggled the way he did this season.
He really only had two bad months (July/Sept), the rest were fine.
I’m thinking I wouldn’t do it.
Mostly because we have CC and AJ. Then Joba and Hughes who can have potential to be ‘aces’.
I’d rather have Cano at 2nd then Pena.
Oh I definitely wouldn’t do it.
Yeah, but would you have in the offseason?
I think the consensus was pretty much a yes.
and yes, I answered in the comment above speaking in terms of now.
Pop fail.
Pop fail.
AKA: “The Usual.”
Well, back then, I probably would’ve said ‘no’ because there was no suitable replacement for Cano.
Oh, I actually thought you were just being sarcastic. Keep Cano, no question about it.
It’s obviously a silly thing to bring up, but doesn’t it seem like Cano is the only guy with a legit shot of breaking Jeter’s hit record?
Just did a quick comparison … Jeter is outpacing him through their first 5 years by a decent amount. If I had to guess what Yankee record Cano could own, I’d say its the doubles record. He could conceivably be top 5 in A LOT of categories if he stays a Yankee and lives up to his potential … and stays healthy of course.
Jesus Montero!
I can’t wait. The Jesus’ quest for the Yankee HR record will be epic indeed.
hey, i just moved out to santa barbara and i’ve got tickets to game 4. can any of the california yankee fans give me some advice on roads to take and how much time to give myself to get to the angels stadium? are there any good places to eat, especially ones where yankee fans congregate? thanks in advance.
I used to live in LA. Just take the 405 south. It’s near Disney Land. try http://maps.google.com/maps. They know where the stadium is too. As for food, Stop by any In n’ Out and you won’t be disappointed.
Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas
Totally hot, or totally overrated?
The latter.
Yeah, I just don’t see it.
One of the more attractive ex-meth addicts I’ve seen.
Well, she does have that going for her. Bribing someone with cold medicine is a major turn on for me.
Knock ‘em out with Nyquil, eh Artist?
Or a roofie colada
She’s kinda like Seinfeld’s “Two Faced” date:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xi9kgnvjQE
In some pics, Fergie looks hot… other times, she looks manly
Yamma Hamma…
My opinion on that changes each day. Sometimes I think, “Oh yes, daddy likes.” The other times I go, “So?”
Anyone know why Ronnie Belliard starts over Orlando Hudson.. is Hudson hurt?
I think it’s ’cause RB raked at the end of the year.
ZOMG you guys, maybe Cash could swoop in with an offer of Melky, IPK, and some unsold Legends seats tickets!
http://tinyurl.com/yl97pcd
What a joke that is.
Dude how the hell is that possible? JJ Hardy, Manny Parra, Mat Gamel, and Angel Salome. No. Are you kidding? Its a joke, right?
I never believe anything written by anyone named Boris.
Ever.
this is unfair…
if true wud be funny to read Rob Neyer’s reaction
No, Ron, it says something about the fact that the NL East was kinda “meh” in 2009 and that the Phillies mash the shit out of the ball.
Ron Darling-”The Dodgers will really need to pay their back taxes if the expect to get back in the ballgame.”
Chip Carey-”Hey Ron, you want to take the next inning off?”
Heh.
carlos ruiz is killing the dodgers
Anyone else want to see an offensive burst like this from the Yanks tomorrow night?
I would be down for that.
Yeah, I kind of realized after posting that question that it’d be like asking RABers if they were interested in steaks and blowjobs.
WHERE CAN I GET MINE?!?
Let me think . . . Would I like to see a lot of offense or not? Uh . . . okay . . . I’ll try the large amount of offense please.
HMMMMMMM….steak.
We’re forgetting something:
http://cdn.ksk.uproxx.com/wp-c.....TUBING.jpg
No, I don’t like football.
No… give me a pitcher’s duel.. i dont want a repeat of04.. it wud be the same situation…
i wont sleep till game 4 if we scored double digits tomorrow
did anyone see the beginning of this video with michael kay??
He knows the ROC sign??
HOVA??
this man is hip!
http://web.yesnetwork.com/medi.....id=7067433
My name is HOV! H to the O V, I used to move cocaine by the OZ!
haha
not for nothing but Chris Sheerhan or whatever his name was sounded wasted in that clip.
mercy rule?
mercy rule?
Dodgers getting that ass woop
I know Cliff Lee is a good pitcher. I also know Cliff Lee is not a “great” pitcher. His ‘08 season was outstanding. When(if) we play him in the WS, he will not be this immortal that the NL has made him out to be.
Thinking about it, say Lee and Hamels start 2 games in Yankee Stadium. That means either Pedro(our son), JA Happ or Blanton will be pitching in Philly, the NL park.
The way I see it, Manuel will be forced to take his starter out early so they can try and PH for some offense when in their NL park. Their bullpen is no bueno.
All signs point to #27.
We don’t even lose a bat in game 4 with CC hitting. He’s going to F them in the A.