Caray, Dodgers come up way short

Some of the highs and lows of watching Dodgers-Phillies Game 5.

Say hey

“It’s do or die for the Dodgers in Game 5.” That was the opening of the final TBS NLCS telecast by lead announcer Chip Caray. Even with a day off, Caray couldn’t come up with something more creative?

Say what?

In the top of the eighth, on Matt Kemp’s line-drive single, Caray’s description: “Fly ball to center field by Matt Kemp.” It was never a fly ball. It was what it was -- a hard-hit line drive.

Replay this

There was still lots of time left, but the cameras captured a look of part anguish, part resignation on Dodgers Manager Joe Torre’s face in the bottom of the fourth when relief pitcher George Sherrill hit Shane Victorino with the bases loaded.

Replay this II

The moment when reporter Craig Sager was still telling us how Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt was counseling Vicente Padilla on getting his release point corrected when a sound louder than Sager’s voice struck. It was the crack of the baseball leaving the bat of Pedro Feliz, a baseball that soon left the field. Feliz found his release point. Padilla? Not quite.

Sharp shot

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and Tom Lasorda, sitting shoulder to shoulder, looking like two lost souls in the stands, surrounded by noisy, joyous Phillies fans. But they were dressed nicely. And there was no shot of Jamie McCourt.

Before and after

The TBS studio crew had fun. Dennis Eckersley was outspoken in his dislike of computer pitch-tracking devices in the pregame. Studio host Ernie Johnson got booed just for the heck of it when he had the microphone to begin the NLCS trophy ceremony. But Johnson handled it with a wink and a giggle. He handled what Philadelphia offered better than the Dodgers.

Not in the box score

In the bottom of the fifth when Dodgers second baseman Ronnie Belliard should have started an inning-ending double play until he lost the ball in his glove. The Dodgers barely ended up getting one out. Little Leaguers watching at home? Erase that recording.

And another thing

“No defense for a base on balls.” “Tape-measure home run.” We could go on but you’ve heard these all before. That’s why they’re cliches and Caray’s baseball dictionary seems filled with nothing but. From start to finish.

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