Sunday, October 12, 2008

How do you say "Chin Music" in Japanese?

Hiroki Kuroda extended his dominance of the Phillies Sunday night, earning his 2nd MLB post season win, and the first NLCS win for the Dodgers since '88. Kuroda scattered 5 hits with 1 walk over 6 innings, surrendering 2 runs in the process.

With Sunday's performance Kuroda improved to 2-0 in 3 starts against the Phillies - all quality starts. He's allowed 4 earned runs on 9 hits over 19 innings of work (1.894 ERA), while striking out 15 and walking only 3.

The key to Kuroda's success was establishing control of the inner-half of the plate. Beginning in the 1st inning, Kuroda worked locations against Jimmy Rollins getting him to weakly ground out to 2nd, jammed Shane Victorino into an infield pop-up, and then sang chin music to Chase Utley on an 0-1 pitch. Utley wound up drawing a walk on the at-bat and then getting caught trying to steal 2nd base to end the inning.

As an aside, Utley - a So-Cal native, UCLA alum, and exemplary neo-hard-nosed ball player - appeared to barely flinch as the 94 mph projectile screamed past his nose. He turned his head, but no bailout whatsoever. More on how big of a baller I think Utley is in future posts...

...In the bottom of the 2nd, Russell Martin heard the same music as Utley on an 0-0 pitch from Philly reliever Clay Condrey. Martin's reaction to the pitch was slightly different to say the least.

Kuroda added some fireworks by throwing up and over the back of Shane Victorino's head in the top of the 3rd inning. Whether that was retaliation for Brett Myers throwing behind Manny in game 2, or retaliation for the shots taken at Martin in game 3 are moot points. The fact of the matter is Kuroda and the Dodgers set a tone: when you are at MY HOUSE, you will STAY OFF MY PLATE!

Kuroda followed his warning shot to Victorino with an intimidating confrontation and few choice words at 1st base. Kuroda is still in the process of learning English and speaks to the media and team through his interpreter, Kenji Nimura. Victorino probably doesn't know exactly what Kuroda was saying to him, but I think we're all fairly certain Kuroda wasn't extending and invitation for cocktails following the game. The result of the confrontation was both dugouts and bullpens clearing...no fisticuffs, just some frat-boy chest puffing and yelling.

Managers Joe Torre and Charlie Manuel are not the types to allow these incidents to carryover games, and both Victorino and Martin signaled during post game interviews that the incidents seemed to have resolved themselves. Whether the Dodgers are able to parlay the emotion of the win into a streak remains to be seen, but seeing as how the home team has won every game played between these two teams, the outlook is positive.

Perhaps most important of all is that Kuroda is set to pitch in game 6 back in Philly (Note this is not an "if" statement. There WILL be a game 6). Given his continued handling of the Phillies lineup, he should give the Dodgers an opportunity to win, and that's what's really important!

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