Rockies at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, ROOTRM, MLBN (out-of-market only)
The Dodgers continue their playoffs’ 4th-starter auditions with LHP Scott Kazmir (10-6, 4.59 ERA), who’s been on the shelf since August 22 with thoracic spinal inflammation. He’ll face the Rockies’ RHP Jon Gray (10-8, 4.42 ERA), who threw a shutout in his last start, striking out 16 Padres in the process. Kazmir beat the Rockies on July 2, going six scoreless innings and giving up just three hits. Gray has made five starts against the Dodgers and gone 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA, but the losses have both come at Dodger Stadium, where he’ll pitch tonight.
This will be opening night of a weekend celebration of Vin Scully:
Tonight's #VIN ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. Can't make it to the game? Watch live on @SportsNetLA & @KTLA. https://t.co/OQLpwrCMLW pic.twitter.com/ykBH1g3VQK
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 23, 2016
The ceremony will also be available live at the Dodgers’ website tonight at 6:30 p.m. PT.
MLB came up with a playlist of 10 of Vinnie’s comedic remarks.
In non-Scully amusements, check out this photo of Josh Reddick with Stan Lee (yes, the Marvel comics maven).
Lineup when available.
NPUT
Cardinals doing their part to make it difficult for the Giants to make the playoffs. Lead Cubs 9-2.
That’s a tough one for me — as noted below, I think it’s a good idea if neither the Cards NOR the Giants are in the mix, because they find a way to win. But since this is an even-numbered year, I guess I’ll be satisfied with the Cards.
No matter what, they would have to survive the Wild Card game AND the Cubs, so there’s hope they won’t be a factor.
The announcers were talking about the whole wild card scenario, saying they make it too easy for the wild card team with the day off before they have to play in the division championship.
From San José Mercury News beat writer Andrew Baggarly (lightly edited for punctuation and spelling): “[I]f you are still tracking the NL West, perhaps because you are a wine merchant tracking the Dodgers’ champagne order, a Gnatloss reduced L.A.’s magic number to four, pending the result in Chavez Ravine.”
What a great win. I even watched some of the video from Vin’s ceremony. A good night all around.
In case you guys haven’t noticed, for the past three woo-HOOs, the exclamation points match the magic numbers.
I am glad you didn’t start that on Opening Day. LOL.
In the playoffs, it goes to 11?
Or just the amount needed for that round?
Woo-HOO ! !
Klayton can bring us the division crown tomorrow night.
It would particularly sweet were BadGums to be the losing pitcher at The Litter Box.
Up by 7 and down to 2.
So, you are saying…oh, nevermind.
🙂
I was going to say that if the Dodgers win tomorrow the magic number could be one and that would mean they would clinch a tie for the division. But if they lost the rest of their games and got swept by the Giants next weekend, then the Giants could tie the Dodgers and win the head to head tie breaker.
But that seemed way too complicated to get into, so I didn’t say it.
Bite your tongue.
I don’t like playoffs, particularly ones with the Giants. Let’s not do that.
Always good to keep the Cards and Giants out of postseason for a better chance.
Magic number is what, three? Yahoo!
We win!
Love the Vin signs in chalk.
Dodgers: Resign Jansen. Please and thank you.
Split the difference and give Puig a triple.
Heck of an AB by the Wild Horse.
Feels like the Dodgers are trying to run out the clock.
MLB has a highlight video of the Vin ceremony.
5-2. Every little bit helps.
Gnats lose, magic number down to three.
If Dodgers win tonight, they will have a fair shot at clinching at home.
In theory, they could do it with no more help from the Pads.
Good inning for Baez – 2 fly balls and no home runs.
— and less than 30 minutes!
Trying to imagine Joe Davis talking about/to the kids in the stands. Or reciting the Thumbsuckers poem.
A tweet from Jon, about the author of “The Boys of Summer:” https://twitter.com/jonweisman/status/779547002912636929
Wrong Roger (Kahn).
You’re right, I was sleepy. I have edited.
Whoa! Clips from 1988 look so old – more like they are from the 1960’s.
Fields having a hard time putting anyone away.
Don’t take your foot off the gas now Dodgers.
Sounding like Keystone Kops this inning.
What happened to Kazmir? Injury?
Yup. It flared up again.
Thanks for the update. Poor Kaz.
I doubt he’ll be much missed.
Might be true, but still disappointing for him.
He’s probably a leading candidate for next year’s rotation, but he’ll have to prove himself again.
Agreed.
Man, I don’t want that inflammation. It seems like one of those things you don’t easily get rid of.
Done for the year, I would expect.
Pads gnow swatting Gnats 7-2 after five.
Ha! Vin, the gesture by Joc was to you.
It always feels a little strange joining the game already in progress. Off to a nice start and back to back is timely help.
How was the tribute to Vin?
Don’t mess things up, OK?
Ha! I’ll do my best.
Just amazing.
Sad to have missed it. Another late Friday night of work for me.
I’m sure (hope!) there will be clips on YouTube.
Terrific!
Emotional!
Back to back Jack!
Woke up the crowd.
Joc! Dre!
When I saw that Andre had homered, I figured it was the icing on the cake for you!
Indeed.
‘Dre!
Joc gets all of it!
Joc did a good job of working the count, staying alive, and then hitting the pitch that was hittable. Great to see him dig in against a pitcher throwing 97 mph balls way out of the strike zone including one at Joc’s knees to hit the HR.
Ross navigates his way through again.
I am usually too traumatized when we play the Rox (Coors and all) to ponder them, but they are probably the surprise of the West this year as it seemed that many predicted them to come in last. While they obviously suffer in home/away splits on offense, they do have some solid hitters and their starting staff is not half bad.
And they’re missing Storey in the lineup. Starting pitching has some talent, but the ‘pen’s been problematic.
Way to go Josh and Ross.
O my gosh, Josh!
Surprised the runner didn’t tag.
Gnats fail to score in fourth, and still trail 2-0.
Pirates beat Washington, so Dodgers could gain ground on both Nats and Gnats tonight.
In Tacoma, after the sun went down in summertime, I could pick up the Dodger games on KFI. That’s how I listened to the last few innings of Sandy’s perfecto.
I was in the stands (but with my transistor radio on, just like many of us there that night–just not a Dodger baseball game without Vin).
Kazmir out, Stripling in. Whoa.
I don’t with ill on Kazmir, but I have more confidence in the rookies.
Hope a long off season allows him to heal.
So do the Dodgers unless he opts out of his contract 😉
Ha!
Highly doubtful he’ll opt out, and he’ll the first crack at the rotation. Anderson will undoubtedly be elsewhere.
Wow that Toles line drive foul was close.
Are you at the game?
Yes. Got to see the Vin tribute and snuffled the whole way through. Steamed up my glasses.
My wife comes from a soccer country and is only a casual baseball fans because of my attachment to the Dodgers, but she found the ceremony very emocionante.
He’s almost exactly the same age as my father, had he lived, another truly fine man and a Brooklyn Dodgers fan. Switched to the Mets when they broke his heart by moving West, but always loved Vin. I miss him. I guess I was crying for more than one reason.
Turner scoring better than having 2 tagged out at home on one play.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD0mRZ2B37Y
Goof by Murphy
That’s a 97 mph bruise for Justin.
Got him solidly as well
That looks fun standing at home plate right now
Stripling up in bullpen
Things seemed a little but rushed based upon the nature of the injury (I am not a doctor nor do I play one on the internets).
You didn’t have a part on ER?
Cadaver.
Didn’t have to worry about getting your lines cut that way.
Not the cutting I was worried about.
Toles. Arm. Out.
Grandal collects the Toles at home.
This half inning should be over soon won’t it?
Yes, thanks to Toles
SD 3 SF 0
Good work so far, Friars!
Great play followed by a clunker throw. Baseball.
Eric Stephen live tweeted the ceremony.
Which Kaz will show up tonight?
Kaz just reminded me of Anderson
Go Dodgers.
I’m going to have to listen to the beginning. I turned the TV on midway thru Costner’s speech.
I’m making an mp3 version, missing some of the broadcasters video. But I’m hoping there will be a YouTube version of the video.
I bought a 45rpm of the final inning of Sandy’s perfect game . . . not sure if I still have it, but it would be nice if the Dodgers released a tribute DVD for Vin.
Costner was pretty darned good.
I liked it but the music almost overpowered him through the streaming audio.
I bet this is a little hard on Vin. All this attention has to make him a little uncomfortable, but you soldier through.
Is he standing during all this?
I have no eyes on the ceremony either.
No, seated next to Sandy.
No eyes, but love the love for Sandy.
Very fine tribute by Gibson!
Steiner’s not so bad…at reading somebody else’s script.
RBI talked about tears being shed at the stadium tonight . . . I’m getting misty just listening to this.
Oh, yeah. Big ol’ weep fest on my part.
“Oh come on — it’s just me!”
Yes, and that’s why we’re crying!
Such a good man.
— which makes all his other attributes even more special.
Talk about appointment TV/radio . . .