NLCS Game 1 Open Thread
by chuckb on Oct 9, 2008 8:00 PM EDT
in News
117 comments
Tonight it's Hamels vs. Lowe. Looking at the teams initially, I thought Hamels was pretty easily the best starter on either staff. I was surprised to find out, however, that BOTH Lowe AND Billingsley finished w/ lower FIPs this year than Hamels. Hamels is, unquestionably, a terrific pitcher. I guess my surprise came in how good Lowe and, to a lesser degree, Billingsley were this year. In fact, Hiroki Kuroda ALSO finished w/ a lower FIP than Hamels. It's true that the Dodgers' pitchers faced weaker competition in better pitcher's parks, but even if you normalize for competition and park factors, Billingsley, Lowe, and Hamels were all about equally good this year.
Citizens Bank Park can have a big impact on this series. There are few parks in the game that are tougher on pitchers than Citizens Bank Park is. Fortunately for the Dodgers, Lowe is an extreme ground ball pitcher -- 60.3% GB%. Hamels had a 2.99 ERA at home this year. Can you believe he was slightly better at home than on the road? He yielded 15 homers in 117.2 IP at home. Should be a really great series. BTW, let's see what the reaction is during this series or the World Series when Brad Lidge gives up a homer. He's a fly ball pitcher and has been extremely lucky to have only given up 2 so far this year. How often will we get to see the Pujols homer during this series?
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I think
the team with the smallest Culture of Losing will win every time!!
For some reason, I don't enjoy watching Big Mac hit #62, but I fondly remember Ray Lankford blasting the ball out of the park in the same game. He had one sweet swing!!
by miniboscorino on Oct 9, 2008 8:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
that's as far as you can hit one
and not have it get out. Wow! What a blast!
by chuckb on Oct 9, 2008 8:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i highly doubt
that anyone will a homer remotely close to the Pujols home run this series.
by soccerfreak on Oct 9, 2008 8:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
No
But I would love to see Manny hit one out like he did on that first home run in Wrigley, I’m still waiting for DeRosa to catch that ball at 2B.
For some reason, I don't enjoy watching Big Mac hit #62, but I fondly remember Ray Lankford blasting the ball out of the park in the same game. He had one sweet swing!!
by miniboscorino on Oct 9, 2008 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
no but if someone does
we’ll get to see a lot of highlights of the Pujols homer
by chuckb on Oct 9, 2008 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Phillies fans
seem to be as dead as Wrigley once the game was untied.
For some reason, I don't enjoy watching Big Mac hit #62, but I fondly remember Ray Lankford blasting the ball out of the park in the same game. He had one sweet swing!!
by miniboscorino on Oct 9, 2008 8:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
No
We are not around.
For some reason, I don't enjoy watching Big Mac hit #62, but I fondly remember Ray Lankford blasting the ball out of the park in the same game. He had one sweet swing!!
by miniboscorino on Oct 9, 2008 9:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes really,
On a more serious note…I don’t know if anyone else is going to post tonight.
For some reason, I don't enjoy watching Big Mac hit #62, but I fondly remember Ray Lankford blasting the ball out of the park in the same game. He had one sweet swing!!
by miniboscorino on Oct 9, 2008 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it's a thursday night
where is somebody, anybody?
by stlcardinalsfang on Oct 9, 2008 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Boo Tim McCarver
hooray Beer!!!
For some reason, I don't enjoy watching Big Mac hit #62, but I fondly remember Ray Lankford blasting the ball out of the park in the same game. He had one sweet swing!!
by miniboscorino on Oct 9, 2008 9:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
+1
i hate tim. i can stand joe
by stlcardinalsfang on Oct 9, 2008 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lowe's just pounding the bottom of that zone
Victorino’s a nice little player. He’s not a star but he’s Skip-like, only better.
by chuckb on Oct 9, 2008 9:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
yep,
victorino doesn’t have the vs lefties issues, skip has
by ball in play on Oct 9, 2008 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
more speed, too
maybe a little more pop. Like Skip, he’s limited, but a nice player to have around.
by chuckb on Oct 9, 2008 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's less limited though
Being a switch hitter, more speed, more power, doesn’t ground into a crippling number of DPs.
I’d take Victorino as a starter on our team in a heartbeat.
by Hardcore Legend on Oct 9, 2008 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
over anyone not named colby in center field
it’s not close.
by stlcardinalsfang on Oct 9, 2008 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Of course, Colby doesn't count
and the Flyin’ Hawaiian can play LF if need be :D
Or 2B.
by Hardcore Legend on Oct 9, 2008 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
nice throw by victorino
not that it mattered.
by stlcardinalsfang on Oct 9, 2008 9:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Have the talking heads figured out how
to reconcile Howard’s obvious MVP-dom with the fact that he’s not a very good hitter?
by StanTheManFan on Oct 9, 2008 9:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Enter Tim's and Joe's
bloviating about how badly Manny was hurting the Sox!
by chuckb on Oct 9, 2008 9:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He really is.
Strange though, that lefties hit him so much better than righties.
by njnick on Oct 9, 2008 9:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ethier's got 2 solid hits
and that liner by Loney was smacked
by chuckb on Oct 9, 2008 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Furcal
I know a lot of people on this board have him as the number 1 or number 2 goal of this offseason but his injuries scare. I know Will Carroll said that he is not AS concerned about the lower back. Still, i could see Furcal playing in 300 games over a 3 yr contract. I just would not want to pay someone 45 million to do that.
by njnick on Oct 9, 2008 9:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
that's a real concern
another is that the longer the Dodgers play, and the better Furcal plays, the more his price tag rises.
by chuckb on Oct 9, 2008 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
did lowe get jammed?
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
by Yadi2Second on Oct 9, 2008 9:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Manny, the Roberto Clemente of his generation
doesn’t need two hands on a crucial flyball.
With a track record of exemplary OF defense as Manny’s, no need for extra precautions.
by Hardcore Legend on Oct 9, 2008 9:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
flight
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
by Yadi2Second on Oct 9, 2008 10:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Eh, watching the replay
that ball was pretty good.
by njnick on Oct 9, 2008 10:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
*wakes up*
Oh it’s a ballgame.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
by Yadi2Second on Oct 9, 2008 10:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I know
it was thrown out there that Lowe would pitch 1/4/7 but i would give Kershaw the start.
by njnick on Oct 9, 2008 10:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I would too
though Lowe going 3 times would be better than using Maddux in game 4
by chuckb on Oct 9, 2008 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
wow
amazing play by Blake.
defy, cards, defy. hey logic --- you suck.
by effin fisk on Oct 9, 2008 10:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
am suddenly occupied with
Thoughts on melding Cole Hamels with A.D.A.M.
I don’t know why.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
by Yadi2Second on Oct 9, 2008 10:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I may have to stop watching
due to that rendition of God Bless America. How in the hell did they ever pick her? That was horrible.
Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
by Tackle Box on Oct 9, 2008 10:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It's So time!
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
by Yadi2Second on Oct 9, 2008 10:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
awww So.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
by Yadi2Second on Oct 9, 2008 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That guy is Sooooooo Taguchi
Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
by Tackle Box on Oct 9, 2008 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Was that Izturis?
Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
by Tackle Box on Oct 9, 2008 10:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
never boo gooch
stl should bring him back as our japanese pr guy/bat boy
by adiueordie on Oct 9, 2008 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
by Yadi2Second on Oct 9, 2008 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Has it been brought up here yet
that Saito was left off the NLCS roster?
Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
by Tackle Box on Oct 9, 2008 10:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What, really?
somehow I caught that Kuo was on, but not that Saito was off.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
by Yadi2Second on Oct 9, 2008 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that's what made me think of it
I heard it earlier on the radio or something and kinda forgot about it. Didn’t hear Buck because I was on the phone. Figured I’d bring it up anyway since I wasn’t sure if it had been mentioned and in my quick scan of the page, i didn’t see it.
Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
by Tackle Box on Oct 9, 2008 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
saito
was hurt. came back in september. never really got it together.
was not very good in game 2 of nlds. no outs, 2 runs, etc. easy decision.
by adiueordie on Oct 9, 2008 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Dodgers have found their 2B
DeWitt doesn’t hit enough to play 3b, but he’s pretty good offensively at 2b and he can definitely field the position. What a find!
by chuckb on Oct 9, 2008 10:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm envying their fireworks.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
by Yadi2Second on Oct 9, 2008 10:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Game 4 Starter for LAD
2008 splits for PHI
Player AVgR AVGL OPSR OPSL
Rollins .274 .287 .767 .794
Victorino* .289 .279 .751 .832
Utley .306 .280 .918 .861
Howard .304 .231 1.065 .786
Burrell .251 .276 .819 .950
Werth .251 .291 .755 .920
Feliz .246 .267 .704 .758
Ruiz .253 .206 .700 .650
*66 PA as RH vs RHP not included
Maddux? Kershaw? Flip a coin?
by adiueordie on Oct 9, 2008 10:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
listening on WPHT
radio on mlb radio
one of the guys is going off on the first base ump. says he’s terrible, shouldn’t be a first base ump in any game, let alone the nlcs. plus, he’s home plate ump tomorrow.
i’m assuming this will be all over sportscenter tomorrow, like the manny thing, right?
by adiueordie on Oct 9, 2008 10:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
who is it?
So we can update that umpire fantasy league….
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
by Yadi2Second on Oct 9, 2008 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
UFL
was funny the first two times. the last 200 times was not.
i hate sportscenter, but i can’t stop watching it. it still interests me more than 99% of everything else on television during the day.
by adiueordie on Oct 9, 2008 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yes
I watch it for the pure comedy value.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
by Yadi2Second on Oct 9, 2008 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
oh, forgot... it exists
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
by Yadi2Second on Oct 9, 2008 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
been meaning to comment inanely
What’s up with the Man-dreds?
Reminds me of when Belly drastically changed his for the playoffs.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
by Yadi2Second on Oct 9, 2008 10:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think this is what your looking for
The Dodgers have a bit of a dress code, I believe and while it’s not as strict as what the Yankees used to have it did have things in there about hair length and stuff. So, while he didn’t want to completely cut his hair (and I think they really didn’t want to make him) he offered to cut his hair shorter so that it was closer to the dress code.
Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
by Tackle Box on Oct 9, 2008 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
when his helmet flew off
on that epic score from first base against the cubs, you could see a huge mess of dreads tied up on the back of his head. not sure he actually cut them.
by adiueordie on Oct 9, 2008 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
he's always tied them back
but now there just shorter.
Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
by Tackle Box on Oct 9, 2008 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
btw, this is how long they were when he became a Dodger
Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
by Tackle Box on Oct 9, 2008 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
they're still there
i think he just tied them up under the hat like softball players do.
by adiueordie on Oct 9, 2008 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
he looks like he's wearing a hair net
I don’t know if he’s a LF or a cafeteria line-worker
by chuckb on Oct 9, 2008 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
fwiw
i’m pretty sure he’s a lf
um… jk.
by adiueordie on Oct 9, 2008 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
he looks like he's serving
chicken fried steak at Luby’s
by chuckb on Oct 9, 2008 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
woody's chicken
alton, illinois. RIP.
by adiueordie on Oct 9, 2008 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
aha
That’s what I thought.
Reply to above, it looked different from DS to CS.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
by Yadi2Second on Oct 9, 2008 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
visual
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
by Yadi2Second on Oct 9, 2008 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here we go, Joe
pretty good options on the bench — Juan Pierre and Garciaparra.
Did I call it or did I call it? Sure didn’t take long!
by chuckb on Oct 9, 2008 10:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
that lefty pitcher for the Dodgers looked pretty good..
Considering he has had 2 elbow surgeries and 2 tommy john surgeries? Did I hear that correctly
by ICbirdfan on Oct 9, 2008 10:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
believe it or not
some pitchers can have surgery and still be effective in the majors.
just not cardinals pitchers, apparently.
by adiueordie on Oct 9, 2008 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
...
i’m rooting for the dodgers.
that was totally weak.
but yeah, lidge is looking more badass than ever.
by adiueordie on Oct 9, 2008 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
2 hours 36 minutes
Hey American League!! Take some notes!
Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
by Tackle Box on Oct 9, 2008 10:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
no shit
but i don’t want baseball to end. so the long games in the playoffs are cool with me.
by adiueordie on Oct 9, 2008 11:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
mock sportscenter
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
by Yadi2Second on Oct 9, 2008 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
aaaahhhhh
Who’s rocking the NLCS backdrop?! Dizzzyyyyy.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there. They can't be bargained with. They can't be reasoned with. They don't feel pity, or remorse, or fear." - THT
by Yadi2Second on Oct 9, 2008 11:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I want Lowe to be a Cardinal so badly
His F-bombs were like 90% as cool as Carpenter’s otherworldly bombskies. Of course this is the playoffs and Carp gets it done in the regular season but still.
Kosuke Fukudome: $48 million .257 .359 .379
Skip Schumaker: $Free .302 .359 .406
Skippy needs a new publicist, but I heart Ben Zobrist
by joker24 on Oct 10, 2008 12:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
FYI
Carp probably isn’t going to be getting it done in the regular season anytime soon.
Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
by Tackle Box on Oct 10, 2008 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I want nothing to do with Lowe
we saw what happens when a sinkerballer doesn’t sink. Or, when his defense betrays him.
by Hardcore Legend on Oct 10, 2008 12:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
so let's just go for it with...
(insert better options here)
by adiueordie on Oct 10, 2008 1:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No one
We’ve sunk our money in Kyle Lohse. If we are going to get a starting pitcher, it’ll be through a trade. We can’t afford a FA pitcher who actually deserves the money he gets.
by Hardcore Legend on Oct 10, 2008 2:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ah, ok. fixed your post, then.
I want nothing to do with good free agent pitcher.
we saw what happens when a good free agent pitcher doesn’t sign with the cardinals because i don’t think they’ll spend the money to sign him.
Also, sinkerballs..
it was obviously a hypothetical statement, kind of like, “man, i wish kevin youkilis was a cardinal. his strikeout tantrums are almost as awesome as troy glaus’!”
but, hey, that’s what you’re here for, right? to bring everyone back down to earth? thanks, hardcore legend.
by adiueordie on Oct 10, 2008 3:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Derek Lowe may have been a good pitcher this year
but going forward, I doubt it.
by Hardcore Legend on Oct 10, 2008 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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