After Two Days Of Waiting, Dodgers Should Preach Patience
by Eric Stephen on Oct 7, 2009 2:00 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Previews
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Print| NLDS: Cardinals vs. Dodgers | |||
| Game 1 | Wed | Dodger Stadium |
6:37pm |
| Game 2 | Thu | Dodger Stadium | 3:07pm |
| Game 3 | Sat | Busch Stadium | 3:07pm |
| Game 4* | Sun | Busch Stadium | TBD |
| Game 5* |
Oct 13 |
Dodger Stadium | TBD |
| *if necessary | All times Pacific | ||
| All games televised on TBS | |||
Game one is upon us, finally. The last two days have seemed like an eternity, but game day is finally here. It no longer matters what happened over the final 10, 20, or 30 games, or even the season for that matter. It doesn't matter how many pundits pick against the team with the best record in the National League, and the best run differential in baseball. All that matters now is that the playoffs are here, the Cardinals are here, and the Dodgers get to play at home.
The Dodgers have lost 31 of their last 43 games against the Cardinals, and they will start Chris Carpenter, who is something like 74-2 against the Dodgers with a 0.07 ERA. I may have rounded on those numbers, so don't quote me. I went back to MLB Gameday to look at both of Carpenter's starts against the Dodgers, both Cardinal wins. I looked specifically at how he pitched to the Dodgers' big three outfielders, trying to find a pattern:
vs. Andre Ethier: Carpenter threw 17 pitches, but only five fastballs. Ethier smoked the three fastballs that were strikes for a single, double, and a lineout. Carpenter had success when keeping the ball up on Ethier, inducing a couple infield popups and a groundout
vs. Manny Ramirez: Threw 10 fastballs in 22 pitches. Carpenter had success when challenging Manny on his hands with the inside fastball, inducing a pair of double plays. Manny hit a double off a mistake pitch, a fastball Carpenter left up in the zone.
vs. Matt Kemp: Threw nine fastballs in 29 pitches. Carpenter got Kemp out on off-speed stuff away. Kemp was patient though, seeing those 29 pitches in only six plate appearances.
I'm no scout, but it seems to me the Dodgers strategy against Carpenter is to wait on his fastball. It could be a dangerous plan against someone who walks so few hitters (1.8 walks per nine innings on the season), but it was the same plan that worked against Tim Lincecum at Dodger Stadium nearly three weeks ago.
A better strategy just might be to have Randy Wolf pitch a good game. Tonight is Wolf's first playoff game, in his 11th big league season, so I'm sure the butterflies will be there. Then again, he did give up 16 and 17 runs in the first two innings, respectively, this year, so that might not be anything new. Then again, Wolf almost always settles down and ends up pitching deep into the game, so there is no need to worry.
All quality starts are not created equal, but Wolf is comparable to Carpenter in that department. Wolf threw 24 quality starts, which was 71% of the time, good for eighth in the NL. Carpenter was second in the league, throwing a quality start in 22 of 28 starts, 79% of the time.
The last time the Dodgers hosted game one of a playoff series was in 1996 against the Braves, a 2-1 loss in 10 innings. The Braves' starter that day was John Smoltz, who will be available in the bullpen for tonight's game and might start game four on Sunday.
James Loney has a hit in each of the eight postseason games he has started, and is hitting .382/.447/.559 with 11 runs batted in in nine playoff games.
The Cardinals have two left-handed relievers on their playoff roster, Dennys Reyes and Trever Miller. Andre Ethier, who hit .194/.283/.345 against southpaws this season, has only limited action against both. He is 0-for-1 with walk and a HBP against Reyes, and has one hit in five at-bats against Miller. Ethier did manage to hit lefites well at home, however, hitting .305/.376/.610 with six home runs in 93 plate appearances at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers are 4-6 all-time in game ones at Dodger Stadium.
Game Time: 6:37pm
TV: TBS (all NL playoff games will be on TBS)
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Second
playoff game of the day to be won by the home team.
I’m pumped! Go Dodgers!
You wanna know how great baseball is? The greatest basketball player ever left his sport to play baseball.
Sixth sense
I see horrible announcers
had the displeasure of hearing Chris Berman for the final two innings
by Eric Stephen on Oct 7, 2009 2:32 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Berman
“our player if the game is Cliff Lee, with a 6-hit shutout in the Phillies 5-1 win.”
he also failed to identify simple fielding plays numerous times. On radio.
by Eric Stephen on Oct 7, 2009 2:34 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Is there anywhere on the net to legally pay for or watch the Dodgers games?
You wanna know how great baseball is? The greatest basketball player ever left his sport to play baseball.
Seventh
post season XBH coming up for Furcal
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/furcara02.shtml
anyone going to be at the game tonight ?
by Dodgermanramon on Oct 7, 2009 2:41 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Twin / Yankee game thread is up.
http://www.truebluela.com/2009/10/7/1075045/baseball-playoffs-day-one-chat
Yeah baby!
My wife just delivered our second child. And now the Dodgers are gonna win. He’ll yeah, what a great day. Big up to all my Dodger friends.
by Skunkburner on Oct 7, 2009 3:08 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
I liked the new interns they brought in last year
especially the hot one with no feelings. Made me want to put on a few pounds:)
On the press room coverage, you can see jackass Vic “The Brick” Jacobs in the first row.
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?topic_id=6350584
Joe looks old and tired in the video
Next year that will be you in the first row Eric. By then SBNation will have media credentials for you.
i havent listened to 570 in four years (got sirius) but wasn’t vic popular?
by LA Taco on Oct 7, 2009 5:18 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I feel like his job is pretty poitless
all i ever hear him say is “give up for th azul” or “over at the down town hoops dojo” in his THICK new yawk accent, it really doesnt sound right
William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.
Finally
Schumaker 2b, Ryan SS, Pujols 1b, Holliday LF, Ludwick RF, Molina C, DeRosa 3b, Rasmus CF, Carpenter P
i was hoping ankiel would play
damn now we get a gold glove outfielder
I found this an interesting read. Maybe Eric already linked to it in his plethora of articles over the last few days.
http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/04/young-talent-critical-to-dodgers-hopes/
I'm always happy when baseball is watched.
TBS Hits Homerun with Most Watched MLB Tiebreaker Game Since 1998
TBS scored with its exclusive coverage of last night’s 12-inning showdown between the Detroit Tigers @ Minnesota Twins, which was the most watched MLB tiebreaker game since 1998, garnering 6,543,000 total viewers. In addition, the game was the most watched regular season game on broadcast or cable during the 2009 season. The American League Central clinching game propelled the Twins into the MLB Postseason to face the American League East Champions, the New York Yankees.
· The game delivered a record number 6,543,000 total viewers, a 57% increase over last year’s tiebreaker game between the Minnesota Twins @ Chicago White Sox.
· The game produced a 4.2 U.S. HH rating, a 56% increase over last year’s tiebreaker game.
· The tiebreaker game also saw significant growth in households and key demos including:
o Households: +53% 4,780,000 vs. 3,129,000
o A18-34: +49% 1,335,000 vs. 896,000.
o A18-49: +47% 2,814,000 vs. 1,913,000
o A25-54: +50% 2,971,000 vs. 1,984,000
o M18-34: +38% 958,000 vs. 695,000
o M18-49: +41% 1,991,000 vs. 1,409,000
o M25-54: +47% 2,105,000 vs. 1,432,000
· The game delivered a 27.1 rating in the Minnesota DMA and a 24.6 rating in the Detroit DMA.
At this time tomorrow
we will be watching Clayton strike out his sixth straight Cardinal as he ends his 2nd inning of work.
by meercatjohn on Oct 7, 2009 3:52 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
I wonder if my insides will be churning violently again if Mark DeRosa hits another early home run to put the Dodgers behind in game one of the NLDS.
Idk if you know this (only if you watch ESPN you would know this, actually), but the Dodgers rotation struggled greatly in the 2nd half.
How do these idiots get paid to “report” this crap?
Kuroda
struggled to keep from having a ball hit him in the head.
Kershaw
struggled to keep from slamming into walls.
Bills
struggled to keep from becoming an average pitcher.
Padilla
struggled to keep from killing anybody.
You know, struggled.
My favorite line had to be
“I look at the Dodgers rotation and wonder…How are they in the playoffs?”
I managed to score tickets to tomorrow afternoon’s game thanks to my brother-in-law.
KERSHAW!
HOOWAH!
He may be his brother - in - law
but I doubt that ticket is a freebie. He will pay in some way if not in currency in a big I owe you one.
I think I must be a pretty good father...
…when my 2 oldest daughters (22, 20) decide to skip class and go see the Dodgers tomorrow. They already bought tickets on StubHub. I guess I did something right!
(Sadly, #3 is an Angels fan.)
True Blue Father of the Year - A regular Jim Anderson
that should keep the young ones scratching there heads if not for google.
Clip fans
haven’t felt this good about a team since the Larry Brown era. DeAndre Jordon is going to shock the NBA world.
deandre is really good
we are going to playoffs this year, maybe scare someone in 1st round
So you, me, and Phil are probably the only ones on this blog who know who the heck Jim Anderson is. But great pull!
Was it worth missing the rest of the Stephen clan
to watch USC romp on Saturday Night?
Was that one of your daughters at the game?
well feel good 2 out of 3
i would probabley have force the third one to be a dodger
Eric u better get ready for a ton of overflow threads... :)
Because when I think of Boris Diaw, I think of Beethoven and the age of Romanticism....
Game Threads are not archived
so I have no idea how many we had last year but I’m sure it was probably Tango & Cash talking to himself.
All I know is that a year
ago I felt confident we’d beat the Cubs until the game started then we couldn’t do anything with runners on base until James Loney hit the big fly that changed everything. (for a week anyway).
hey, there
Any objections to a fan of another team jumping on the bandwagon for the playoffs? My guys are out now. :(
"While there's life, there's hope." --Cicero
hee hee
I won’t. I believe in thowing people for a loop by being polite on the internet – they get confused. :)
Besides, I’m in the Eastern time zone so I can’t talk about that at all.
"While there's life, there's hope." --Cicero
Your lucky you didn't try to join the Giants
you’d have already been banned by now for not using Fuck in a sentence.
If you're going to be funny,
you are even more welcome.
We can only take so much of Eric’s Mother Theresa jokes.
I try my best
But I make no promises. I’m not familiar enough with your team to know all the inside jokes that fans always have – mostly I’m just rooting like crazy for Clayton Kershaw.
"While there's life, there's hope." --Cicero
As long as you are a fan of Edwin Jackson
"Who would win: Coach Ditka versus a hurricane? The name of the hurricane is Hurricane Ditka"
by Mr. LA Sports Fan on Oct 7, 2009 5:05 PM PDT up reply actions
As long as you are a fan of Edwin Jackson
"Who would win: Coach Ditka versus a hurricane? The name of the hurricane is Hurricane Ditka"
by Mr. LA Sports Fan on Oct 7, 2009 5:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Damn you SB NATION!
"Who would win: Coach Ditka versus a hurricane? The name of the hurricane is Hurricane Ditka"
by Mr. LA Sports Fan on Oct 7, 2009 5:05 PM PDT up reply actions
I did
"Who would win: Coach Ditka versus a hurricane? The name of the hurricane is Hurricane Ditka"
by Mr. LA Sports Fan on Oct 7, 2009 5:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Said the bishop
to the actress
"Who would win: Coach Ditka versus a hurricane? The name of the hurricane is Hurricane Ditka"
by Mr. LA Sports Fan on Oct 7, 2009 5:08 PM PDT up reply actions
heh
Actually, it’s because I’m a fan of Clayton Kershaw. I watched him for my local minor league team a couple years ago. :)
"While there's life, there's hope." --Cicero
yes I did
I live right in town, so after work I could drive over to the park and watch. Saw both of their home playoff games including the 11-inning win in game one against Fort Wayne where they had to come back four times including hitting a 3-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to tie off the best closer in the league.
Love Dee Gordon – absolutely fearless. I lost track of how many times in games I would see a fly ball, think “dang, he can’t advance on that,” and then glance back at the basepath to see Dee or someone else just tearing like hell for the next base.
And Aaron Miller is incredible.
"While there's life, there's hope." --Cicero
by Baroque on Oct 7, 2009 5:12 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
nice work :)
Aaron Miller is spectacular, and extremely poised. He does not get nervous. St. Clair is the same way – just ice water in his veins. In the third and deciding game of the first playoff series this year, he pitched two innings for the win (Jaime Pedroza homer in the 10th inning) and shut the opposition down cold.
Kyle Russell doesn’t seem like he should strike out that much, because he takes good swings and does hit well. Excellent fielder, too – he’s very tall and rangy, and can get to just about everything.
"While there's life, there's hope." --Cicero
oh
And Dee Gordon is a very good fielder at shortstop. He improved over the course of the year and by the end so many errors had disappeared from his game – I was surprised when anything got by him.
But the best was when he got on first base and the pitcher turned into a pile of nervous tics waiting for him to steal. Sometimes he did, sometimes he didn’t have to because the pitcher got so unnerved that he either walked the next batter or threw the pickoff throw right into the dugout.
"While there's life, there's hope." --Cicero
I can't make promises regarding heavy-duty stuff
I can’t analyze stats and whatnot – but if you need subjective things I can do that. I always go to the games by myself and stand out in right field so my view isn’t obstructed by cotton candy vendors or rabid kids.
This year the Loons came up with a new ticket thing they called a Grass Pass – you paid $60 and got 10 lawn tickets for the season. You didn’t have to specify dates or anything like some ticket plans, you just tossed the tickets in your purse (well, I did, anyway) and then any time you wanted to go to a home game, you showed up with one of your tickets. Very easy to attend when I could make a decision on short notice.
I just had to make sure I had my lucky t-shirt in my bag and I could change in the restroom before I left work so I could get a good parking place. :)
"While there's life, there's hope." --Cicero
thanks
It was an emotionally draining game, but I’m proud of how they did.
Their record in the Metrodome I was terrified that Porcello wouldn’t be able to keep his fastball under control because of the adrenaline rush and by the third inning it would be 9-1 Twins.
"While there's life, there's hope." --Cicero
Porcello is someone to be excited about
Really a foundation of Verlander, Porcello, and Jackson is nice to have going forward.
That game was truly THE playoff game
Back and forth, back and forth… Someone had to win it. I was rooting for your Tigers as well, Verlander would keep the Yankees in check more than what the Twins are doing to the Yankees right now… ugh
i saw edwin jackson pitch here
he was pretty good
they won 7-2 against the astros
Because when I think of Boris Diaw, I think of Beethoven and the age of Romanticism....
Tommy Lasorda via Twitter:
For all of you who are worried about how good Carpenter is just remember that he has lost before, so he can lose again.
"Who would win: Coach Ditka versus a hurricane? The name of the hurricane is Hurricane Ditka"
by Mr. LA Sports Fan on Oct 7, 2009 5:10 PM PDT reply actions
SBNation is being a bitch to me today
The TBLA main page doesn’t render worth crap, at least on this computer. (I did report it via the “contact us” and have been in a little correspondence with them.)
I'm on IE
and it sucks too
"Who would win: Coach Ditka versus a hurricane? The name of the hurricane is Hurricane Ditka"
by Mr. LA Sports Fan on Oct 7, 2009 5:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Mine does too now
Earlier it was pissing me off, I actually had to “learn” what my human bio professor was teaching us.
i dont know what i hate more, that tbs shows kate hudson in the stands, or that i know who that is
by LA Taco on Oct 7, 2009 5:13 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Probably won't be in the game threads much
Watching at home with the wife most games, in DS for game two and Kershaw!
Man i've really got the jitters now
wont be around for the game, we’ve got a good group of LA natives here in Dallas getting together for the game, so hopefully we emit some good vibes : )
William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.
Heading home
Good Luck everyone and remember don’t get bummed if Wolfie allows a run or two in the first.
I'm going to freak out,
like when DeRosa hit that two-run homer off Lowe last year. I thought we were toast from there. I always freak out.
"Who would win: Coach Ditka versus a hurricane? The name of the hurricane is Hurricane Ditka"
by Mr. LA Sports Fan on Oct 7, 2009 5:26 PM PDT up reply actions
me too but then this happened:
Because when I think of Boris Diaw, I think of Beethoven and the age of Romanticism....
I don’t know if there have been enough references to that home run in this thread, can we get a few more?
i have ESPN's picks for who would win that series if u want....
Because when I think of Boris Diaw, I think of Beethoven and the age of Romanticism....
I've seen it
one guy picked us, just like last year :)
"Who would win: Coach Ditka versus a hurricane? The name of the hurricane is Hurricane Ditka"
by Mr. LA Sports Fan on Oct 7, 2009 5:51 PM PDT up reply actions
I mean this year
"Who would win: Coach Ditka versus a hurricane? The name of the hurricane is Hurricane Ditka"
by Mr. LA Sports Fan on Oct 7, 2009 5:51 PM PDT up reply actions
yes
lets hope they reverse jinx the dodgers again….
Because when I think of Boris Diaw, I think of Beethoven and the age of Romanticism....
expert
“ex” = a has-been
(spert) “spurt” = a drip that didn’t make it
Experts know nothing, they just wear nice suits and look credible reading stuff on camera. :)
"While there's life, there's hope." --Cicero
didn't you know?
everything you read on the internet is true. The Dodgers have no chance :P
And my Tigers were supposed to be in fourth place in the division this year, too.
They know nuttin.
"While there's life, there's hope." --Cicero
Wolf vs. Cards' 3-7 hitters in 09'
2 for 15, 2 2B, 3 walks. That’s a 0.133 average people.
This is a good thing.
Those 2 doubles all from Holliday.
i hope that includes pujols...does it?
Because when I think of Boris Diaw, I think of Beethoven and the age of Romanticism....
Unless he's batting second
I think it does. Remember, we really did hold Albert in check, aside from one homer off Haeger and the walkoff in the 13th(?).
"Who would win: Coach Ditka versus a hurricane? The name of the hurricane is Hurricane Ditka"
by Mr. LA Sports Fan on Oct 7, 2009 5:52 PM PDT up reply actions
yes
haegar was great that game
we woulda beat carp if not for ankiel….
Because when I think of Boris Diaw, I think of Beethoven and the age of Romanticism....
I'm worried that the Dodgers will be too concerned with Pujols
and will let other guys burn us instead. Like last year. I think the Dodgers were so worried about not letting Ryan Howard or Chase Utley hurt them, they completely blew off everyone else.
"Who would win: Coach Ditka versus a hurricane? The name of the hurricane is Hurricane Ditka"
by Mr. LA Sports Fan on Oct 7, 2009 5:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Just about every time I see
the Pepsi commercial with Bob Dylan and will.i.am singing Forever Young, I love it. I have probably seen it 200 times, yet every time I hear “May your hands always be bizzah…” I get excited.
im sick of those commercials
theyre ok but they overkill it when fox has saturday baseball games
Because when I think of Boris Diaw, I think of Beethoven and the age of Romanticism....
http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2006/writers/john_donovan/09/13/ryan.howard/t1_ryanhoward.jpg
NO, BRAD LIDGE HAS NOT RETURNED TO FORM!!!! I DON'T KNOW HOW THE HELL YOU CAN DEDUCE THAT BASED ON TWO OUTINGS!!!!
by Mr. LA Sports Fan on Oct 15, 2009 5:55 PM PDT reply actions
<img src=“”http://media.photobucket.com/image/Ryan%20Howard%20the%20office/ineedsafe2/tempryan.jpg"/>http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2006/writers/john_donovan/09/13/ryan.howard/t1_ryanhoward.jpg"/>
NO, BRAD LIDGE HAS NOT RETURNED TO FORM!!!! I DON'T KNOW HOW THE HELL YOU CAN DEDUCE THAT BASED ON TWO OUTINGS!!!!
by Mr. LA Sports Fan on Oct 15, 2009 5:56 PM PDT reply actions
NO, BRAD LIDGE HAS NOT RETURNED TO FORM!!!! I DON'T KNOW HOW THE HELL YOU CAN DEDUCE THAT BASED ON TWO OUTINGS!!!!
by Mr. LA Sports Fan on Oct 15, 2009 5:57 PM PDT reply actions
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