2008 NLDS: Trainspotters @ baby bruins, game 2
October 2nd, 2008 by brianS
Salami is deliciously magical. I love salami. I remember when I was a kid, we used to shop at the (long-gone) Marcell General Store occasionally in inner-city Marcell, near where my parents built a lakeside cabin. It had the best german-style hard salami, which the old-man proprietor would shave almost paper thin. Ohhhh, man, was that stuff good.
As an adult, I drooled over The NYT's love letters to homemade sausage
But the most devastating salami of all is the one that delivers four on the board. With one mighty serving of fatty goodness, James "Only the" Loney may have changed the entire tenor of this series. Can the baby blues recover? Will all those bandwagon fans hop off the "EL" and watch the Biden-Palin Exhibition tonight instead? Or will swing fans hide their eyes behind their fingers watching the game instead?
This may be one case where Fox agrees with 99 percent of baseball fans that it is a good thing they are not carrying the playoff games tonight.
anyway. Pitching matchups still matter in this series, which isn't even half over yet.
for LAD: Chad Billingsley (age 23, 3.74 xFIP, 129 tRA+, 201:80 K:BB)
for ChN: Carlos Zambrano (age 27, 4.68 xFIP, 114 tRA+, 130:72 K:BB)
by the numbers, Billingsley looks to be the better pitcher by a considerable margin. He's kept the ball on the ground (48.8 pct GB), in the park (5.15 pct HR/BIA) and off the scoreboard (2.99 ERA in the second half). Zambrano, despite the no-hitter to his credit, has been considerably less successful this year.
But Zambrano was pretty tough in the second half this year (229/320/331, compared to 243/306/349 in the first half), whereas the youngster faded a bit (260/345/388 after the break, 236/303/337 before). Could Billingsley be hitting the wall? Accuscore sez: Cubbies are 61-39 favorites tonight.
In a bold, New Guy-like move, I will make the following prediction: the Cubbies won't score two runs tonight.
Gametime is scheduled for 8:30 central. To accompany, I'm recommending a nice, cellar-temperature Sierra Nevada Porter (hoppy for a porter, but smooth, rich and a hint of chocolate) with a plate of select cold cuts, cheese and crackers. Savor the salami.
This entry was posted by brianS on Thursday, October 2nd, 2008 at 7:30 pm and is filed under 2008 Postseason Game Logs. It is one of 528 entries by the author. We are no longer accepting Letters to the Editor on this post.
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Jeff A replied on October 2, 2008 at 8:51:59 pm
Is Chad Billingsley related to Barbara Billingsley?
Jeff A replied on October 2, 2008 at 8:54:30 pm
Scoreless after one.
Jeff A replied on October 2, 2008 at 9:05:48 pm
Two singles and two errors give the Dodgers a run and the bases loaded with one out. Could we get some more salami?
Jeff A replied on October 2, 2008 at 9:08:16 pm
A bunt single makes it 2-0. The Cubs could see this one getting away from them in a very frustrating way if they don't get a couple of outs soon.
Jeff A replied on October 2, 2008 at 9:10:30 pm
Martin hits a gapper to clear the bases. 5-0 Dodgers.
Jeff A replied on October 2, 2008 at 9:45:41 pm
Three errors on the Cubs so far tonight. It's hard to win when you do that.
brianS replied on October 2, 2008 at 9:46:29 pm
Not watching the debate, Jeff?
(of course, it's over now; it was pretty good theater)
zooomx replied on October 2, 2008 at 9:47:55 pm
brianS... we were gamelogging on the other site... we missed you!!!
zooomx replied on October 2, 2008 at 9:49:03 pm
I am still over there if you want to talk debate
Jeff A replied on October 2, 2008 at 9:57:43 pm
I had a meeting most of the evening, but probably wouldn't have watched the debate even if I'd been home. There's a ball game on!
Before the first presidential debate, a local TV station was in a local convenience store looking for "man on the street" (or a guess "man in the convenience store") interviews. Their question was, "If you could ask the candidates one question, what would it be?" I said my question would be "Why are you having your debate when there's a ball game on?" They wouldn't put me on the air.
zooomx replied on October 2, 2008 at 9:59:19 pm
nice!!! however, I did watch the debate
brianS replied on October 2, 2008 at 9:47:18 pm
aaaaaaaaaaaaand so far my prediction is holding true
Jeff A replied on October 2, 2008 at 9:48:21 pm
Am I the only one who thinks the GEICO "cave man" commercials are really stupid?
zooomx replied on October 2, 2008 at 9:51:52 pm
I am zooomx and I agree with this comment
Jeff A replied on October 2, 2008 at 9:59:04 pm
There's a lot of game left, and it Wrigley Field. Strange things can happen in baseball. Having said all that, right now the Cubs are showing no signs that they are going to get back into this game.
zooomx replied on October 2, 2008 at 10:00:46 pm
brianS is looking like a genius right about now.... what is the score and inning?
cheaptoy replied on October 2, 2008 at 10:03:18 pm
Ron Darling is really starting to piss me off. Especially after Manny hit the home run and he made a comment about some players making a mockery of the game. Seemed like bad timing for that comment. Also, a player grinning before a pitch, then hitting a home run on that pitch is not mockery, its kind of awesome.
Jeff A replied on October 2, 2008 at 10:08:12 pm
As Dizzy Dean said, if you can do it, it ain't braggin'
cheaptoy replied on October 2, 2008 at 10:27:34 pm
I said it before, I'll say it again: this year's "Only one October" ads are more annoying than last year's.
DK replied on October 2, 2008 at 11:52:28 pm
Well, I was out all night at the My Morning Jacket concert, but...WTF Cubs???