Chan Ho Park pitched a great game for the Dodgers, continuing his attempt at Comeback Player of the Year. In 6 innings he gave up 4 hits and no runs. He struck out 7. Falkenberg pitched well in the 7th, and Broxton and Saito each struck out the side, for a total of 14 Ks in the game.
The Dodgers looked like a championship team. They strung together hits (plus a Russell Martin homer) to get 3 runs, and Ethier pinch-hit a 3-run homer in the 7th. All this against one of the best teams in baseball, beating the Angels 6-0.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Stultz Pitches Complete Game Shutout Against White Sox!
What a difference a day makes... last night, the Dodgers looked completely flaccid, and tonight, Eric Stultz threw a complete-game shutout, giving up only 4 hits to the 1st-place White Sox. He also drive in an RBI with sac fly, winning the game 5-0. This was only his second game this year - both were wins, giving him the only winning record amongst the Dodger pitchers.
All the kids look good tonight. Both DeWitt and Kemp made good defensive plays, the hits and RBIs were spread out well among the team.
All the kids look good tonight. Both DeWitt and Kemp made good defensive plays, the hits and RBIs were spread out well among the team.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
DODGERS LOSE TO WHITE SOX
The Dodgers may be celebrating their 50th year in Los Angeles, but there wasn't a lot to celebrate tonight, as Mark Buehrle made the Dodgers batters look like Little Leaguers, winning 6-1. The lone Dodgers run was a homer by Delwyn Young.
The attendance was reported at 43,900, but the crowd was sparse in the 9th inning. Derek Lowe had 8 Ks, but had a tough 1st, loading the bases and giving up a run, then another run in the 2nd. That would have been enough to lost the game, but he turned it around and made it into the 8th with a 2-1 deficit, but gave up 3 more, and Wade gave up another for the loss.
The Dodgers are looking worse and worse each time I see them. It's like the life is gone from the team.
The attendance was reported at 43,900, but the crowd was sparse in the 9th inning. Derek Lowe had 8 Ks, but had a tough 1st, loading the bases and giving up a run, then another run in the 2nd. That would have been enough to lost the game, but he turned it around and made it into the 8th with a 2-1 deficit, but gave up 3 more, and Wade gave up another for the loss.
The Dodgers are looking worse and worse each time I see them. It's like the life is gone from the team.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Dodgers Blow it Yet Again
The Dodgers lost to the Cleveland Indians 6-4 tonight in a rare display of futility.
Clayton Kershaw pitched 5 innings and gave up 4 runs, but that wasn't the problem for the Dodgers. Over and over the Dodgers left runners on third base... The Dodgers had 12 hits but managed a paltry 4 runs. It didn't help that game time temperature was 92 with no wind. The hottest night game I've ever been to.
50,000 people were on hand to watch the Dodgers tie up the game in the bottom of the 10th, then to watch Saito take the loss by giving up 2 runs. Saito has not been himself this year; he throws a lot of balls, and has given up 20 walks this year so far.
The highlight of the night for the Dodgers was a rare 6-2-5 double play, with the bases loaded, the shortstop threw to home to stop the run, and quick-thinking Russell Martin threw to 3rd for the 2nd out. It was not enough to win the game, though.
Clayton Kershaw pitched 5 innings and gave up 4 runs, but that wasn't the problem for the Dodgers. Over and over the Dodgers left runners on third base... The Dodgers had 12 hits but managed a paltry 4 runs. It didn't help that game time temperature was 92 with no wind. The hottest night game I've ever been to.
50,000 people were on hand to watch the Dodgers tie up the game in the bottom of the 10th, then to watch Saito take the loss by giving up 2 runs. Saito has not been himself this year; he throws a lot of balls, and has given up 20 walks this year so far.
The highlight of the night for the Dodgers was a rare 6-2-5 double play, with the bases loaded, the shortstop threw to home to stop the run, and quick-thinking Russell Martin threw to 3rd for the 2nd out. It was not enough to win the game, though.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
THE INEDIBLE KLUMP
Just what America needs, a crappy remake of a crappy movie that's only 5 years old, THE INCREDIBLE HULK. Just about everything here is a misfire... there's virtually no continuity anywhere in the movie, no motivations or explanations for anything that happens. One of the biggest problems in the first film was the ridiculous nature of the gargantuan animated character; it lacked any believability whatsoever.
The new Hulk is only slightly more believable. At least they TRY to explain his infinitely expandable pants, sparing us from his giant green penis flopping around as he runs (I miss Roger Ebert). But so little in the film makes any sense, it's hard to care about any of the characters. And the acting is universally terrible, even Ed Norton, who probably made the movie even worse with his constant tinkering.
Well, they can always try again in 5 years.
The new Hulk is only slightly more believable. At least they TRY to explain his infinitely expandable pants, sparing us from his giant green penis flopping around as he runs (I miss Roger Ebert). But so little in the film makes any sense, it's hard to care about any of the characters. And the acting is universally terrible, even Ed Norton, who probably made the movie even worse with his constant tinkering.
Well, they can always try again in 5 years.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
INDY IV
I don't think there was a single moment in the film INDY IV where I felt like I was watching something new. The film has constant reminders of other films, and not just the other Indy films; several times there are homages to CADDY SHACK.
It's a dopey script that's not very well executed. Dialogue scenes seem to exist only to string the action scenes together, and the action scenes are comically unbelievable. Visual effects were weak overall, looking more like a video game than the classic Indy films. Actig ranged from mediocre to terrible.
I'm not quite sure why Sean Connery was not in the film. Perhaps he was the only one smart enough to turn the script, even though it is basically a license to print money.
It's a dopey script that's not very well executed. Dialogue scenes seem to exist only to string the action scenes together, and the action scenes are comically unbelievable. Visual effects were weak overall, looking more like a video game than the classic Indy films. Actig ranged from mediocre to terrible.
I'm not quite sure why Sean Connery was not in the film. Perhaps he was the only one smart enough to turn the script, even though it is basically a license to print money.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Rockies Beat Hated Giants 10-5
The Rockies have begin to resemble the team that went to the World Series last year, with Aaron Cook going 7 innings and giving up only 3 earned runs for his 9th win. .
More importantly, the offense looked alive with 2 home runs, a 3-run homer by Todd Helton, and a 2-run shot by Garret Atkins. Helton & Quintanilla each had 3 hits; Atkins & Baker each had 2.
More importantly, the offense looked alive with 2 home runs, a 3-run homer by Todd Helton, and a 2-run shot by Garret Atkins. Helton & Quintanilla each had 3 hits; Atkins & Baker each had 2.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Rockies Hammer Brewers, 7-2
the Rockies looked quite good tonight, and I am increasingly impressed with Coors Field. It's a great place to see a game, especially when the team plays this well. Rookie Greg Reynolds got his first major league win, but it was the offense that carried the game.
Colorado had a 5-run first inning, all with 2 outs. A double followed by 2 walks was followed by a grand slam by Brad Hawpe... and on the next pitch, another home run by Ianetta.
Colorado still has five major players on the DL. It will take a lot for the team to come back from the basement.
Colorado had a 5-run first inning, all with 2 outs. A double followed by 2 walks was followed by a grand slam by Brad Hawpe... and on the next pitch, another home run by Ianetta.
Colorado still has five major players on the DL. It will take a lot for the team to come back from the basement.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Kuroda Shuts Out Cubs
Hiroki Kuroda pitched his best game yet for the Dodgers, pitching a 4-hit shutout against the most dangerous offense in baseball.
Jeff Kent got the first RBI in the first inning. That would have been enough to win it. Kuroda had 11 strikeouts and no walks in the game. Kent got thrown out later in the game for questioning a strike call that looked far inside and high.
Russell Martin had the night off and his replacement Danny Ardoin had 2 RBI, including a perfect executed squeeze play.
If the Dodgers can beat the Cubs, why can't they beat the Rockies???
Jeff Kent got the first RBI in the first inning. That would have been enough to win it. Kuroda had 11 strikeouts and no walks in the game. Kent got thrown out later in the game for questioning a strike call that looked far inside and high.
Russell Martin had the night off and his replacement Danny Ardoin had 2 RBI, including a perfect executed squeeze play.
If the Dodgers can beat the Cubs, why can't they beat the Rockies???
Thursday, June 05, 2008
RECOUNT
For several years after I was critically ill in late 2004 - 2005, I would get sick to my stomach when I was driving down Buena Vista Street in Burbank. The reason was that St Joseph's Hospital is on that street, and the time I spent there was very traumatic.
I may be over most of those demons, but to this day, I still get that same sick feeling when I think about the events in late 2000 surrounding the election. Eight years later, I remember the pendulum of my emotions as they called Florida for Gore, then Bush, then no one... Gore gave up, then he didn't, then it went to court after court.
For that reason, I did not want to see RECOUNT, even though it had a great cast, good reviews, and was directed by one of the nicest guys I knew at film school, Jay Roach. Tonight I finally screwed up my courage and watched it.
It was very, very painful to watch.
But thank you, Jay for making it. The film is very good, and a very good thriller, even though we all know the outcome. But it is an important reminder of the events that shaped our country for the last 8 years.
There is also another tie-in between my illness and the election. If you've read my account of being sick, you'll know that I got sick just after the incredible depression of the 2004 election. And I don't think that's any coincidence. I had never in my wildest dreams imagined that this country could be stupid enough to re-elect a moron who lied to get us into an unnecessary war. But, as George Carlin says, "Imagine how stupid the average American is; then realize that, by definition, 50% of the country is even dumber than that."
There is a weird irony, though. No one could possibly have done more damage to the Republican Party than George himself has done in the last 8 years. At the same time, no one could have done more to help stop global warming than Al Gore, which he almost certainly could not have done if he had been elected.
Mysterious ways.
I may be over most of those demons, but to this day, I still get that same sick feeling when I think about the events in late 2000 surrounding the election. Eight years later, I remember the pendulum of my emotions as they called Florida for Gore, then Bush, then no one... Gore gave up, then he didn't, then it went to court after court.
For that reason, I did not want to see RECOUNT, even though it had a great cast, good reviews, and was directed by one of the nicest guys I knew at film school, Jay Roach. Tonight I finally screwed up my courage and watched it.
It was very, very painful to watch.
But thank you, Jay for making it. The film is very good, and a very good thriller, even though we all know the outcome. But it is an important reminder of the events that shaped our country for the last 8 years.
There is also another tie-in between my illness and the election. If you've read my account of being sick, you'll know that I got sick just after the incredible depression of the 2004 election. And I don't think that's any coincidence. I had never in my wildest dreams imagined that this country could be stupid enough to re-elect a moron who lied to get us into an unnecessary war. But, as George Carlin says, "Imagine how stupid the average American is; then realize that, by definition, 50% of the country is even dumber than that."
There is a weird irony, though. No one could possibly have done more damage to the Republican Party than George himself has done in the last 8 years. At the same time, no one could have done more to help stop global warming than Al Gore, which he almost certainly could not have done if he had been elected.
Mysterious ways.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Dodgers Lose to Rockies
The Dodgers gave the Rockies their first road win in 14 games tonight, being shutout 3-0. Penny had a rough first inning, giving up 2 of the runs, and threw a lot of pitches in the next few innings, but managed to go 6 innings total with only those 2 runs on 6 hits and 4 walks.
The Dodgers were so frustrated that the highlight of the night was a bench-clearing brawl between Matt Kemp and Rockie's catcher Torrealba, which I had hoped would motivate the Dodgers to do well in the 9th, but even with 2 men on, Blake DeWitt popped out to fizzle the ending of the game.
The Dodgers were so frustrated that the highlight of the night was a bench-clearing brawl between Matt Kemp and Rockie's catcher Torrealba, which I had hoped would motivate the Dodgers to do well in the 9th, but even with 2 men on, Blake DeWitt popped out to fizzle the ending of the game.
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