Starring Matt Holliday As Bill Buckner!
October 8, 2009 at 6:40 pm | Posted in 2009 NLDS vs. Cardinals, Mark Loretta | 25 Comments
Wow.
Just… wow. I mean, a special brand of “holy good god are you f-cking kidding me” wow, but still… wow.
I had written up an entire piece about how today’s game, a tightly played pitcher’s duel, couldn’t have been more of a polar opposite from Game 1′s cripplefight of wasted opportunities. Not to glaze over that, but let’s give credit to Clayton Kershaw for keeping the Dodgers in the game, skip right past Adam Wainwright’s dominating performance, and go right ahead to the HOLY CRAP DID YOU SEE THAT?! 9th inning… my word, that 9th inning.
Andre Ethier pops to second, and after Ryan Franklin enters, Manny Ramirez flies out. Up comes James Loney, 0-3 to this point. As Loney flies out weakly to left field for the third out, the Cardinals had managed to survive Los Angeles with a split. They’d be headed back to St. Louis tied, facing the questionable Vicente Padilla, and with momentum squarely in their favor.
Except…
it can’t be…
Holliday tries to catch the ball with his junk, and Loney’s safe on second, soon replaced by pinch runner Juan Pierre.
Casey Blake strides to the plate, and if anyone’s going to make a statement against Franklin, it’s going to be Blake, who had an absurd OPS of 1.275 in 14 at-bats. Blake, in a hard-fought nine pitch at-bat, draws the walk, putting the winning run on base for the continuously struggling Russell Martin.
So with two men on, the much-maligned Ronnie Belliard comes up, hitless today. First pitch? Line drive up the middle! Pierre scores! Tie game! Matt Holliday looking like he’s going to be sick in left field.
That by itself is a pretty nice gift, because with two outs and the horribly struggling Russell Martin next and mostly useless pinch hitter Mark Loretta afterwards, I was ready to settle in for extra innings. But then Yadier Molina’s passed ball advances Blake and Belliard to second and third. And then Franklin loses the plate, walking Martin to load the bases for Loretta.
I’ve been pretty critical of Loretta this year, with good reason I think. He’s been dreadful, and I didn’t even want him on the NLDS roster. Over at the Big Blue Wrecking Crew, where I was enjoying the game, I said this as Loretta came to the plate:
Dear Mark Loretta,I’ve said nothing but bad things about you all year.
I keep calling you “the corpse of Mark Loretta”.
I didn’t want you on the NLDS roster.
Please make me eat my words.
Yours, MSTI
Of course, Loretta singles up the middle for the game-winning hit, and he’s earned a “Get Out of Jail Free” card on this site until the end of time. You heard it here; I will never be critical of Mark Loretta again.
This is going to be one of those games that’s talked about, oh, I don’t know, forever, and I don’t feel like I’ve done it even the slightest bit of justice. This, friends, was a gift from the baseball gods, and sometimes – just sometimes – those are the teams that end up having an October to remember.
Up 2-0 headed back to St. Louis… with a chance to close out the series. Un…believable. God damn, do I love baseball sometimes.
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I have to admit. I thought it was over after Ethier’s pop out. I slammed my head at the back of the couch. Manny goes.
Then the Holliday error keeps the game alive.
Then Casey Blake would not go away.
Belliard (known as Belisario by the TBS guys) right up the middle.
And a Molina brother allows a passed ball. Russ gets a free pass to first base putting the game in the hands of Mark “previously-o-for-15-against-Franklin” Loretta. That’s ownage.
All Loretta does is have the game-winning hit.
Unbelievable.
Comment by slam— October 8, 2009 #
Really there is no need for discussion. What else can we say
Comment by david s— October 8, 2009 #
I’m so happy now. Who else but Mark Loretta to get that game winning hit? We still have to take care of business in St.Louis but I really like our chances. A fun and exciting game all around.
Comment by Azamat— October 8, 2009 #
This Dodger team has a magic circle around them this year. It’s a date with destiny.
Comment by mk— October 8, 2009 #
Not sure if anyone can find the video, but Wainwright was just shown on MLB Network whining about the white rally towels Dodger fans were waving when Holliday booted Loney’s ball.
Looking at the video of the play no one was waving towels at the time (as would be expected with 2 out and no runners).
Comment by Tim— October 8, 2009 #
Here’s part of the quote:
“..it doesn’t really seem fair that an opposing team should be allowed to shake white towels when there’s a white baseball in the air”…”Matt’s gonna be fine…”
Comment by Tim— October 8, 2009 #
Too right.
Loretta has done everything now we could ever possibly ask him to do now.
If he just ends up being the backup backup 3rd baseman from now on, his place in Dodger’s lore is now a lock.
Wow. Blue has battled all year long and still have some fight in em! Wow.
Comment by Dodger Dude— October 8, 2009 #
i was there when gibson hit it out… people walked out… i was working the cokes in the pavillion… i was 16 :)
now, today.. i left my house when manny went down. I actually looked at my wife and said..lets just go out on the boat.. dodgers are gonna lose….
and then i get this sinking feeling, in my boat, as i see the game STILL ON in another house along the lake…
I go home, and have to watch it on the highlight reel…
i made fun of the those that left early last time.
karmas a b*tch
Comment by jmello— October 8, 2009 #
oh wait its gets batter look at this quote…..
”That ball got lost in 50,000 white towels shaking in front of Matt’s face,” Wainwright said. ”It doesn’t really seem fair that an opposing team should be able to allow their fans to shake white towels when there’s a white baseball flying through the air. How about Dodger Blue towels?”
wwwaaahhhhhhhhh….whatever teardrop
Comment by PT— October 8, 2009 #
oh wait its gets batter look at this quote…..
”That ball got lost in 50,000 white towels shaking in front of Matt’s face,” Wainwright said. ”It doesn’t really seem fair that an opposing team should be able to allow their fans to shake white towels when there’s a white baseball flying through the air. How about Dodger Blue towels?”
wwwaaahhhhhhhhh….whatever teardrop
Comment by PT— October 8, 2009 #
Today, unfortunately, I was stuck in lab for the duration of the game, but as soon as I got out, I checked the score of the game, ripped off my sweatshirt to reveal the Dodger blue shirt I’d been wearing all day (we have to wear long sleeves for safety issues), and screamed, “WE WON!!!! WE F*****G WON!!!! WOOOOOOO!!!!”
Comment by The Fury— October 8, 2009 #
Oh hell yes, you better believe I was there. I’ve never heard the crowd so loud as they were in that last inning. Loretta came through when it mattered the most.
I will say that, aside from the amazing 9th, traffic was particularly bad because of rush hour. I’ve never been happier sitting in traffic.
Comment by Stephen— October 8, 2009 #
I *briefly* considered turning it off when kershaw gave up that deep fly double to rasmus. esp. considering how well wainwright was pitching, it was likely he’d go 9. he probably should have.
but then i just had a feeling that there was some magic left to be had. after that i didn’t even consider turning it off when ‘dre popped out in the 9th. not even when loney routinely flew to left. not until holliday had it safe in his glove. which he never did heh. tried to catch it with his junk haha wonderful.
Comment by sumdumfu— October 9, 2009 #
Game was UNF’KING BELIVEABLE! Back from the big empty, a loss to probably the best pitcher in the NL. Escaping the Dragon’s lair with all the loot!
Loved that game last night!
train
Comment by bluetrain— October 9, 2009 #
I am WILDLY jealous of those of you who got to be there for that.
Except for the 10 hour trip you probably had geting home.
But still – jealous!
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— October 9, 2009 #
Ahh…ensuing hangover from last night’s festivities…class is gonna be fun today! Still, completely and totally worth it.
Comment by The Fury— October 9, 2009 #
Somewhat lost in all the unbelievable ninth inning events is the brilliant play by Loney in the 7th inning to cut off the relay and get Rasmus at third. Cardinals go from no outs, a run in, and a guy on third to bases empty and one out. Highly likely that the Cardinals come out of that inning up at least 3-1 and another round of miracles is needed in inning nine. LaRussa went ballistic in the dugout as he should have.
Let’s hold off on the destiny talk, let’s put a foot on the Cardinals neck and take these guys out in three. BTW, I would start Billingsley in game three – if we gets right, that changes the entire complexion of the Dodgers starting pitching. Padilla might pitch a solid game, but he is still Padilla.
Comment by Luke— October 9, 2009 #
You keep talking shit about everybody. Padilla, Loretta and when suddenly they do something good Wow you made me eat my word bla bla bla.
Cmon is time that you understand that every single guy here is so valuable for the team.
Couldnt you just write in your lines Padilla, no, no, no had to write the “questionable Padilla”. I’ve told you already this team has to become one in order to win. Every piece is important, even if Padilla fails and i think that Padilla is not going to win this game cause the Cards have to win it plus its their ballpark, but i think that he is going to try hard c’mon. Believe, thats the word.
Comment by dbz!!— October 9, 2009 #
17 – I don’t think it’s a stretch to call a guy who got flat-out cut by a team in the middle of a pennant race “questionable”.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— October 9, 2009 #
I was listening to this game on my iPhone yesterday as I was walking into Angel Stadium. The best part of it was I got to hear Vinny call the game just before I lost signal (AT&T stinks once you get into the park, but I imagine this is very common). Unbelievable comeback, reminiscent of Vic Davalillo’s drag bunt single in the 1977 NLCS Game 3 that utterly turned the game around for the Dodgers. Just incredible, and why you follow the team.
Comment by Rob McMillin— October 9, 2009 #
Hey stuff happens in baseball too bad for Holiday. However, its jerks like you who have to use vulgar language “because you have a platform” to explain things. Why not try to be dignified in your comments like the players do when things go wrong.
Comment by Tony— October 9, 2009 #
20 – Huh? What? Where did I use vulgar language? Did the word “junk” offend you that much? You smell like a jilted Cardinals fan.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— October 9, 2009 #
20 – Huh? What? Where did I use vulgar language? Did the word “junk” offend you that much? You smell like a jilted Cardinals fan.
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— October 9, 2009 #
Gotta say that is the second best ending I have ever seen for a Dodger game. Nearly as good as Gibby’s bomb, but better than the Nomar homer after the 4-homer onslaught.
Probably the biggest error to help the Dodgers since Greg Luzinski trapped the ball against the fence on Mota’s fly or Cody Ramson’s famous error.
Comment by grabarkewitz— October 10, 2009 #
Wow, junk is vulgar? We best be careful if we use such words or phrases like darn, drat or the ever-obscene, rats.
Comment by grabarkewitz— October 10, 2009 #