Un-Doc Like

You know you are good when this is considered an off night:


Halladay
IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
7.0 8 3 3 2 5 1 2.63

Not this Again

I don't know that I can take another playoff series like this.

I thought after Game One the Lakers were in a great position. The Thuggets seemed a much better matchup for L.A. than the Rockets, and the Lakers seemed to have the intensity that was lacking against Houston. I could even live with the swiss cheese defense because of the up-and-down nature of the game.

After Game Two, my feelings are totally reversed. The Nuggets are exploiting every Laker weakness. I really am not sure Pau is tough enough to win an NBA championship, notwithstanding his fantastic skill level. Fisher is a shell of himself, and that is an insult to shells everywhere.

What concerns me most is the propensity for blowing leads. Yes this is the NBA and yes teams are always making runs, but the Lakers show no killer instinct at all. That is troubling. I foresee a tough, tough Game 3 in Denver, and then pray that L.A. can bounce back in Game 4. No matter what, though, I am going to be a wreck all series.

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!

Landing in sports purgatory couldn't have happened to a more deserving Sooner. Have fun with the worst organization in sports, Blake!

Roids or Not, the Guy Can Rake

Much to the joy of Team Stockel -- A-Rod homers in his fourth straight.

Did the Mets throw that game?

I'm not sure I've ever seen a team give away a baseball game in one inning quite like that. Let's examine.

Top 11th: NY Mets
- R. Martinez lined out to center
- R. Castro lined out to left
- R. Church singled to left
- A. Pagan singled to deep right center, R. Church out at third

The Mets appeared to take a 3-2 lead in the top of the 11th on Pagan's gapper to the wall. Church scores from first base easily - except for the fact that he clearly missed third base on the way home. I've never seen a base runner look so guilty. The Dodgers quickly picked up on it, tagged the base, and the inning was over. A horrendous mistake by an established big-league player, but shit happens, right?

Bottom 11th: LA Dodgers
- M. Loretta walked
- X. Paul safe at first on center fielder C. Beltran's fielding error, M. Loretta to third, X. Paul to second
- J. Pierre intentionally walked
- R. Furcal flied out to left
- O. Hudson reached on fielder's choice, M. Loretta scored, X. Paul to third, J. Pierre to second on first baseman J. Reed's throwing error

This is where things get crazy. After Loretta leads off with a walk, Xavier Paul hits a routine fly ball to left center field. Beltran and Pagan converge on it, both of them making it there in time to catch the ball. Beltran clearly calls off Pagan, but the ball falls innocently between them. Hmm. Beltran picks it up and rifles it into the infield. There's now runners on 2nd and 3rd with nobody out. The Dodgers then intentionally walk Ted Williams.....err....Juan Pierre to load the bases.

The Mets then bring in Beltran to play a 5th infielder spot. Furcal flies out to shallow left and Loretta decides not to test Pagan's arm. Hudson then hits a ground ball directly to Jeremy Reed, who has an easy throw home to get the force out and preserve the tie. Of course, Reed throws it five feet wide of the catcher. Loretta scores and the Dodgers win.

Sheesh. I'm only half-joking about the possibility that the Mets "black-soxed" it last night. However, the alternative for the Mets ain't all that appealing. A little league team would be embarrassed by that 11th inning. The Dodgers will certainly take it though.

1st Half Thoughts

I am watching on DVR, so this is a little late in coming, but .... damn that was quite a first half. Pau finally looked like he wasn't up all night drinking mojitos and screwing eurotrash women, Ariza is about one step away from turning this into a gang war, and Kobe is just sitting back letting everyone else take over.

Can't ask for much more as a Laker fan. Still need to play defense, but the defensive effort so far looks strong. What is it about home cooking?

And not to be lost on this day.... Clayton F'ing Kershaw!! No-hitter through 7! Dodgers win 12-5 with the scrub lineup in! Looks like it could be a glorious sports day in the Penny household. Laker Girl is giddy.

Dare to Nightmare?

There is too much potential for a loss for any Laker fan to feel comfortable on this Sunday morning. At this point, I am done with predictions, done with analysis, and done with the semblance of understanding what makes these Lakers tick (or not). In some ways, I am reverting to pure fan status, just waiting with anticipation for the game, which I will watch either with glee or outright depression. I don't know that I like this better, but a Game 7 with a clear underdog is definitely what sports is all about.

That said, looking at this game on paper it would certainly suggest that the Lakers should bounce back. But as they say...

Good thing I have the Dodgers and Fish to tide me over until Showtime!