Los Angeles @ Arizona GameThread, Jul 19, 2008 8:10 PM EDT

Gameday Thread, #97: 7/19 vs. Dodgers

by Jim McLennan on Jul 19, 2008 6:30 PM EDT

Los Angeles @ Arizona

Chad Billingsley
RHP, 9-8, 3.25

Dan Haren
RHP, 8-5, 2.72

Baseball-Reference.com preview [opens in new window]

"Who will survive, and what will be left of them?"

That was the tagline to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre - the original, not the Michael Bay-produced suckfest of a remake - but could equally well apply to the bullpens of the two sides here. The Dodgers relief corps went for nine innings, and used everyone, while the Diamondbacks threw one frame less, while Chad Qualls was our only arm not thrown into the game. And it wasn't for a want of any desire, more a twinge suffered while warming-up. Both sets of pitchers will be on their knees before their respective starters, demanding at least six innings, ideally more.

Basically, with the teams tied, whatever happened in the first 96 games of the season is no longer particularly relevant: it's whoever wins more of the remaining 66 who will be going to the playoffs, as simple as that. I am continuing to feel that our offense is heading in the right direction, and their feasting on Kuroda last night was a good sign. But, Davis's outing was a serious step backwards, and shifts him towards a back end of the rotation that posed as many questions as it answered over the first half of the season. We - for a myriad of reasons - need a serious bounceback outing from Haren today. In 2007, he was brilliant before the break, but only average after it; today will be the first step towards seeing if he can sustain the brilliance shown for us down the stretch.

We're heading out for an early dinner, so may not be about for the very start of this, but intend to be back before too much of the game has passed. Wonder if we'll hit four figures in comments again? I think we'd trade that for a win.

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I have a date

with the Clown Prince of Crime tonight, so you all will have to hold down the fort.

HAaHAaHahAhhAhhahAHahAHAHAhAhhahHHahAHAHahhAHAhAHAHAha!

by soco on Jul 19, 2008 6:38 PM EDT 0 recs

And I have a date with a bunch of girls

But I will be like across the way from Chase Field so I will send all my good vibes towards the game. (Well, the ones I am not sending at the MIGHTY MERCURY!)

Isn't it enough to know I ruined a pony making a gift for you?

by mrssoco on Jul 19, 2008 6:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

Oh no! :(

Normally I would root for the Mercury but they’re playing the DREAM!! The poor Dream need all the help they can get!! I have an in-law connection to them so I daren’t support anybody else.

by snakecharmer on Jul 19, 2008 6:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

But… but… but… MIGHTY MERCURY. MIGHTY MERCURY.

... Oh I will forgive you. For now. (I will just cheer a little harder.)

This video makes me tear up. My family went to rallies, helped get people to sign petitions and did a CRAZY lot to get the Mercury here. We have had season tickets for 11 years.

Isn't it enough to know I ruined a pony making a gift for you?

by mrssoco on Jul 19, 2008 7:05 PM EDT up 0 recs

Don’t worry, the Dream are terrible, you will have no problem beating them. But at least let it be a CLOSE game!! They need a little encouragement.

by snakecharmer on Jul 19, 2008 7:17 PM EDT up 0 recs

Hmmm.....

not a WNBA fan, personally. Kinda see it as a second rate league of a sport that I don’t much like to begin with. ::ducks::

I will admit that the “Phoenix Mercury” really is a great name for a sports team, though.

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 21, 2008 12:45 AM EDT up 0 recs

I have a date with my suitcase.

Gotta pack, heading home tomorrow..

Also a date with a lot of email I really should be taking care of… :(

by snakecharmer on Jul 19, 2008 7:02 PM EDT 0 recs

In other news,

at least we didn’t lose last night by a walk-off bases-loaded HBP, like the A’s did to the Yankees today. That’s pretty sad.

by snakecharmer on Jul 19, 2008 7:03 PM EDT 0 recs

i have a date

With a large pepperoni pizza, extra cheese.

I think we’ll both be very happy.

Well, I will, anyway… :-)

by Jim McLennan on Jul 19, 2008 7:03 PM EDT 0 recs

I'll be spending tonight's game

searching for textbooks online for cheap.
Because I can’t afford $400 for one semester’s worth of textbooks from the NAU bookstore.
:-\

Maybe the Diamondbacks should just sign me...

by emilylovesthedbacks on Jul 19, 2008 7:35 PM EDT 0 recs

Good luck with that :(

Textbook shopping is always painful! Does your bookstore’s website give you the option of used books? Also, of course check half.com…

by snakecharmer on Jul 19, 2008 7:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

yeah, but even with the used books,

it’s still 400 bucks.
they know how to get music students- you can’t really get a used theory workbook.

Maybe the Diamondbacks should just sign me...

by emilylovesthedbacks on Jul 19, 2008 7:48 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ugh, that is true :(

Luckily, when you get into the program and meet people, you can bribe them for their old books. Hmm, I still don’t know where that Calc III book is….

by snakecharmer on Jul 19, 2008 8:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

I have a good feeling about tonights game

Fully expect a D’backs victory!

by AF DBacks Fanatic on Jul 19, 2008 8:07 PM EDT 0 recs

K

Nice K by Haren

by AF DBacks Fanatic on Jul 19, 2008 8:12 PM EDT 0 recs

Nice to see the lineup Burke-less again.

"Evil lurks everywhere, often in plain sight... Can you lurk in plain sight? Or is that just walking?"

by kishi on Jul 19, 2008 8:18 PM EDT 0 recs

And to the bottom of the innning

Need to get it started early

by AF DBacks Fanatic on Jul 19, 2008 8:18 PM EDT 0 recs

Wow, quiet thread tonight

How’s Haren looking?

by snakecharmer on Jul 19, 2008 8:20 PM EDT 0 recs

Can’t talk. Eating.

"We...probed them all the way through. They're completely meat." — Terry Bisson

by Scrbl on Jul 19, 2008 8:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

ok so far...

gave up a walk

by AF DBacks Fanatic on Jul 19, 2008 8:20 PM EDT 0 recs

CoJack

with a nice Jack! 1-0 good guys

by AF DBacks Fanatic on Jul 19, 2008 8:24 PM EDT 0 recs

O dawg with a double!

keep it rollin

by AF DBacks Fanatic on Jul 19, 2008 8:25 PM EDT 0 recs

Nice to see that early lead

If I can figure out how to get our computer back on speaking terms, I’ll drag the laptop out to the TV, and then I should be a bit more vocal.

"Evil lurks everywhere, often in plain sight... Can you lurk in plain sight? Or is that just walking?"

by kishi on Jul 19, 2008 8:28 PM EDT 0 recs

Ground rule

double for tracy – o scores…2-0 good guys

by AF DBacks Fanatic on Jul 19, 2008 8:29 PM EDT 0 recs

Wish we could have gotten the third run in, but a 2-0 lead is a pretty nice way to start the second inning.

"Evil lurks everywhere, often in plain sight... Can you lurk in plain sight? Or is that just walking?"

by kishi on Jul 19, 2008 8:31 PM EDT 0 recs

Woohoo!

by snakecharmer on Jul 19, 2008 8:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

I'm good

with a 2 run first…

by AF DBacks Fanatic on Jul 19, 2008 8:34 PM EDT up 0 recs

This looks fun...

TERMINATOR SALVATION: THE FUTURE BEGINS
Starring Christian Bale, Anton Yelchin, Sam Worthington, Bryce Dallas Howard
Directed by McG

Remember those robots stomping human skulls in Terminator 2? They’re, uh, back. This is the first Terminator to to be set in Earth’s not-so-pleasant future (machines have declared war on humans) and the first without Arnold Schwarzenegger (although a Governator cameo isn’t an impossibility). This time, the heavy acting will be done by Bale (The Dark Knight), who plays grown-up world-saver John Connor. ’’Our idea is to give the film the look of Children of Men but with the velocity of Transformers,’’ says McG (Charlie’s Angels). ’’We aspire to do to Terminator what Christopher Nolan did with the Batman franchise.’’ (Hits theaters May 22, 2009)

by AF DBacks Fanatic on Jul 19, 2008 8:34 PM EDT 0 recs

this is the Terminator 2 I wanted to see

the real one was too frelling sentimental

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Jul 19, 2008 8:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

T2

was entertaining…but I always found the future stuff stole the show and I wanted more…

by AF DBacks Fanatic on Jul 19, 2008 8:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

I’m curious if it’ll tie into the TV series at all.

"Evil lurks everywhere, often in plain sight... Can you lurk in plain sight? Or is that just walking?"

by kishi on Jul 19, 2008 8:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

Did you see the trailer for it?

TrailerAddict.com has it, IIRC.

by Jim McLennan on Jul 19, 2008 10:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

That sounds awesome....

I’m stoked.

Mark Reynolds: back to turning me gay.

by DbacksSkins on Jul 20, 2008 10:57 PM EDT up 0 recs

had problems getting snakepit to load but heree now

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Jul 19, 2008 8:34 PM EDT 0 recs

Harren

got out of the inning…lets get some more runs…

by AF DBacks Fanatic on Jul 19, 2008 8:41 PM EDT 0 recs

Leadoff walk

By CY…I’ll repeat, a walk by CY

by AF DBacks Fanatic on Jul 19, 2008 8:45 PM EDT 0 recs

Oooh

“the future is not fixed”,it’s an alternative universe

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Jul 19, 2008 8:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

Young? On base?

Gasp and shock!

"Evil lurks everywhere, often in plain sight... Can you lurk in plain sight? Or is that just walking?"

by kishi on Jul 19, 2008 8:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

Double for Romero

Second and third, no outs!

"Evil lurks everywhere, often in plain sight... Can you lurk in plain sight? Or is that just walking?"

by kishi on Jul 19, 2008 8:45 PM EDT 0 recs

Romero

is growing on me…not literally though, that would be weird

by AF DBacks Fanatic on Jul 19, 2008 8:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

If it was literal, you’d probably need to see a doctor for that.

"Evil lurks everywhere, often in plain sight... Can you lurk in plain sight? Or is that just walking?"

by kishi on Jul 19, 2008 8:47 PM EDT up 0 recs

Compound W

would have to adjust their marketing strategy …

"It's like deja vu all over again."

by unnamedDBacksfan on Jul 19, 2008 8:47 PM EDT up 0 recs

tough luck Dan

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Jul 19, 2008 8:50 PM EDT 0 recs

Drew’s worked to a full count…

"Evil lurks everywhere, often in plain sight... Can you lurk in plain sight? Or is that just walking?"

by kishi on Jul 19, 2008 8:50 PM EDT 0 recs

Ball Four

Bases loaded, one out.

Come on, CoJack, give us another hit.

"Evil lurks everywhere, often in plain sight... Can you lurk in plain sight? Or is that just walking?"

by kishi on Jul 19, 2008 8:51 PM EDT up 0 recs

Oooh, come on CoJack!

Don’t waste this…

by snakecharmer on Jul 19, 2008 8:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

Dangit

GIDP.

"Evil lurks everywhere, often in plain sight... Can you lurk in plain sight? Or is that just walking?"

by kishi on Jul 19, 2008 8:53 PM EDT 0 recs

anything would have been better

by AF DBacks Fanatic on Jul 19, 2008 8:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

SS, DD

::: sigh!::::::

I could use a nap.

"It's like deja vu all over again."

by unnamedDBacksfan on Jul 19, 2008 8:54 PM EDT 0 recs

gosh darn itt

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Jul 19, 2008 8:55 PM EDT 0 recs

Back-to-back hits from the Dodgers

Be nice to have a double play in response here…

"Evil lurks everywhere, often in plain sight... Can you lurk in plain sight? Or is that just walking?"

by kishi on Jul 19, 2008 8:57 PM EDT 0 recs

later rather than sooner

but it’ll do

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Jul 19, 2008 9:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

How does

Billingsley “single to the pitcher”?

"It's like deja vu all over again."

by unnamedDBacksfan on Jul 19, 2008 8:58 PM EDT 0 recs

Infield hit that Haren fielded and didn't throw in time?

by snakecharmer on Jul 19, 2008 9:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

I think they said on the radio that it was basically a slap bunt that caught the infield off-guard.

"Evil lurks everywhere, often in plain sight... Can you lurk in plain sight? Or is that just walking?"

by kishi on Jul 19, 2008 9:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

ahhh,

thanks.

"It's like deja vu all over again."

by unnamedDBacksfan on Jul 19, 2008 9:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

Nice K

"Evil lurks everywhere, often in plain sight... Can you lurk in plain sight? Or is that just walking?"

by kishi on Jul 19, 2008 8:58 PM EDT 0 recs

Double play!

Much nicer to see when the Dodgers hit into it than when we do.

"Evil lurks everywhere, often in plain sight... Can you lurk in plain sight? Or is that just walking?"

by kishi on Jul 19, 2008 8:59 PM EDT 0 recs

YES!

by snakecharmer on Jul 19, 2008 9:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

Doug Slaten

is on the 15 day DL due to a strained right knee.

"It's like deja vu all over again."

by unnamedDBacksfan on Jul 19, 2008 9:00 PM EDT 0 recs

DANGIT!

Our pitching staff is totally imploding now…

by snakecharmer on Jul 19, 2008 9:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

The other shoe

is dropping with vengeance….

We are gonna need this offense to seriously step it up and hold.

"It's like deja vu all over again."

by unnamedDBacksfan on Jul 19, 2008 9:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

IAWTC

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Jul 19, 2008 9:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ugh

We were lucky to go through the first few months with so few injuries. Now they seem to be making up lost time.

"Evil lurks everywhere, often in plain sight... Can you lurk in plain sight? Or is that just walking?"

by kishi on Jul 19, 2008 9:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

Petit looked usefull the other day

and we have Mad Max to call up

We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.

by hotclaws on Jul 19, 2008 9:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

Is he off the DL yet?

"Evil lurks everywhere, often in plain sight... Can you lurk in plain sight? Or is that just walking?"

by kishi on Jul 19, 2008 9:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

Evening, folks

I see we are doing okay, overall.

by Jim McLennan on Jul 19, 2008 9:02 PM EDT 0 recs

Could sleep for a week, but othewise okay...

Oh, You mean the game!

;-)

missed out on a bases loaded 1 out opportunity last inning, but Dan is doing his thang out on the mound tonight.

"It's like deja vu all over again."

by unnamedDBacksfan on Jul 19, 2008 9:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

Question to those more knowledgable than I:

What is the average for BABIP?

"Evil lurks everywhere, often in plain sight... Can you lurk in plain sight? Or is that just walking?"

by kishi on Jul 19, 2008 9:06 PM EDT 0 recs

.294 is the NL average this year.

.301 for the full season last year. Comparable figures in the AL are .298 this season, and .305 in 2007.

by Jim McLennan on Jul 19, 2008 9:10 PM EDT up 0 recs

Thanks

I was reading an article that said Haren had a “fortunate” BABIP at .266, but that seemed like a relatively reasonable number. The difference between .266 and .294 would be, what, about one hit in thirty?

"Evil lurks everywhere, often in plain sight... Can you lurk in plain sight? Or is that just walking?"

by kishi on Jul 19, 2008 9:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

True...

But that’s also the difference between a .264 hitter and a .294 one. Haren has been lucky, but we’re not talking an Upton-esque .400 in April or anything like that.

by Jim McLennan on Jul 19, 2008 9:15 PM EDT up 0 recs