NLDS 2009 Game 2 Thread

[Wolfgang622]

Everything will be fine. Doubt not.

[BigEd76]

but the Dodgers are gonna sweep their NLDS series while ours goes 4. No hope of winning WFC now....

[Wolfgang622]

but the Dodgers are gonna sweep their NLDS series while ours goes 4. No hope of winning WFC now....

Oh my God...

You're RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!

OH MY #$!&@ GOD IT'S ALL OVER #$!&@ YOU CRUEL WORLD

[TenuredVulture]

I'm gonna hate tomorrow.

[Wolfgang622]

I'm gonna hate tomorrow.

Time for relaxing, breathing deeply, forgetting today's disappointment. Trust in Pedro.

[cartersDad26]

but the Dodgers are gonna sweep their NLDS series while ours goes 4. No hope of winning WFC now....

this - and chances of HFA for the NLCS slipping.

[TenuredVulture]

I'm gonna hate tomorrow.

Time for relaxing, breathing deeply, forgetting today's disappointment. Trust in Pedro.

I don't handle off days well. I gotta work on that.

[Harpua]

I'm not so bold as to put this on the worst sports writing thread, but this is over the top. Renck's a pro, but some of the word choice in the gamer is out-of-control silly.

To wit:

The Rockies led 5-3 entering the eighth, allowing manager Jim Tracy to unfold his arms and move pawns in a delightful chess game.

He went with right-hander Rafael Bentacourt against left-handers.

After Jayson Werth's home run shaved the deficit to 5-4 in the eighth, he trusted Franklin Morales to erase Raul Ibanez. Morales then warmed up to begin the ninth, a clever ploy to get the Phillies to burn pinch-hitter Ben Francisco.

Huston Street jogged in to retire Francisco, a strategic advantage over facing nemesis Matt Stairs to lead off the inning. Stairs walked — "He has four hits off me and all have cost me games," Street said — and Jimmy Rollins singled on 1-2 pitch, creating two-out drama worthy of a daytime soap.

In stepped Shane Victorino, who already owned three hits. How he achieved those set up the final out. And The Pitch. Torrealba cataloged the at-bats, remembered how Victorino had handled the sinker from Aaron Cook (five innings, three runs).

So when the count ran to 2-2, the plan was set. Second baseman Clint Barmes cheated to his left — "I knew what was coming," he would say later — and Street delivered a devilish 86-mph changeup.

So we've got a chess game, an erasure, a clever ploy, a nemesis, a poor daytime soap metaphor, a Needless Capitalization and an evil pitch. Bravo.

[1]

i pictured clint hurdle reading it out loud, and it made it that much worse

[kruker]

Son of a bitch.

Went to school real early so I could watch as much of the game live as possible. Ended up seeing until the pitching change in the bottom of the sixth then had to go to a meeting. Avoided all scores until I got back an hour or so ago and then watched the final innings.

I get trying to go all out for this game....kind of...but Blanton and Happ. That's putting a hell of a lot of confidence in Pedro being able to pitch in sub 40 degree weather. Unless Charlie knows that Saturday is getting canceled, I'd have booked Blanton for the start.

[HillMD]

I'm not so bold as to put this on the worst sports writing thread, but this is over the top. Renck's a pro, but some of the word choice in the gamer is out-of-control silly.

To wit:

The Rockies led 5-3 entering the eighth, allowing manager Jim Tracy to unfold his arms and move pawns in a delightful chess game.

He went with right-hander Rafael Bentacourt against left-handers.

After Jayson Werth's home run shaved the deficit to 5-4 in the eighth, he trusted Franklin Morales to erase Raul Ibanez. Morales then warmed up to begin the ninth, a clever ploy to get the Phillies to burn pinch-hitter Ben Francisco.

Huston Street jogged in to retire Francisco, a strategic advantage over facing nemesis Matt Stairs to lead off the inning. Stairs walked — "He has four hits off me and all have cost me games," Street said — and Jimmy Rollins singled on 1-2 pitch, creating two-out drama worthy of a daytime soap.

In stepped Shane Victorino, who already owned three hits. How he achieved those set up the final out. And The Pitch. Torrealba cataloged the at-bats, remembered how Victorino had handled the sinker from Aaron Cook (five innings, three runs).

So when the count ran to 2-2, the plan was set. Second baseman Clint Barmes cheated to his left — "I knew what was coming," he would say later — and Street delivered a devilish 86-mph changeup.

So we've got a chess game, an erasure, a clever ploy, a nemesis, a poor daytime soap metaphor, a Needless Capitalization and an evil pitch. Bravo.

He really moved over right before that pitch? You kidding me?

I really did think it was going to be a hit if everyone was where they usually are. Unbelievable

[Phan In Phlorida]

To wit:

So when the count ran to 2-2, the plan was set. Second baseman Clint Barmes cheated to his left — "I knew what was coming," he would say later — and Street delivered a devilish 86-mph changeup.

He really moved over right before that pitch? You kidding me?

I really did think it was going to be a hit if everyone was where they usually are. Unbelievable

Funny thing is, it wasn't some stroke of genius or hatched plan. Middle infielders do this all the time, position themselves according to what pitch and location is called. The key is to do so covertly as to not tip off the batter. Maybe the author is angling for a career as a soap opera writer.

[phorever]

Hes Pedro $#@! Martinez. Id trust him if we were playing game 3 on one of Jupiter's moons

if pedro comes through and the phils win game 3 and this series, i swear that smuggy gets immunity from me for the next 3 years, and all past baseball sins absolved. he got lee for game one and pedro for game 3, and the 5-game crap-shoot division series is where those two starts are most crucial.

[Wizlah]

calmed down today. I don't think I was really that angry last night, just wound up to high doh following all the excitement of the last two innings.

Honestly, I think we'll beat them. I think Scott Eyre might be my new hero. Seems like he's throwing it all out there because he won't be back ever again. Can't fault it.

[phorever]

calmed down today. I don't think I was really that angry last night, just wound up to high doh following all the excitement of the last two innings.

Honestly, I think we'll beat them. I think Scott Eyre might be my new hero. Seems like he's throwing it all out there because he won't be back ever again. Can't fault it.

hopefully, last night put karmic balance (back?) strongly in our favor. horrible babip luck including one that takes out a potention game 3 starter, superstar starting pitcher's wife goes into labor while he's on the mound.
the gawds have now paid us back for the whole third-order wins thing and can leave us alone.

getting the saturday night game replaced by a much more pleasant monday start time would be a great sign that the fates are smiling on us.

[Trent Steele]

I had no problem with how Charlie managed yesterday. You need to manage to win the game in front of you and Blanton was a better choice that Durbin or whoever else in the 6th inning. I probably wouldn't have used Happ there, but I cant kill him for it.

Best case scenario is that tomorrow gets postponed so Lee can pitch Game 4 on full rest.

Game 3 starter? Doesn't much matter to me. I'd probably go Blanton, but I love me some Pedro.

I think it's funny that the Phils are the ones who are supposed to be worrying about starting pitchers the next two games. The Rockies are throwing out Jason Hammel and Jason Marquis. This is Andy Sonnnanstine Part II and III. Phils are going to ass pound them.

[JFLNYC]

3-game series now, with the first 2 in Denver.

[Trent Steele]

and I know Hamels needs to make a better pitch, but Ruiz should have his nuts cut off for calling for a 2 strike curveball to Torrealba

[Houshphandzadeh]

"Chess game" is really a terrible analogy. There's never a time in chess where you move a knight and it doesn't take the square you're moving it to.

[Bucky]

"Chess game" is really a terrible analogy. There's never a time in chess where you move a knight and it doesn't take the square you're moving it to.

srly? I though king's knight out was always a solid 2nd move? So you never move your knight until later in the game when enemies are approaching?

I guess that's why a just-turned-7-year-old kicked my butt in checkers yesterday