On the other hand, a high number of foul balls means that hitters generally aren't making good contact with his pitches, something that I think bodes well for Kershaw long term. Unless of course, hitters catch up with his pitches.

I was hoping the Dodgers would have a shot at Isaac Galloway in the 2nd round, but then forgot about the supplemental round in between; he'll be gone long before #61, easily, alas.

In the section next to me there was a lady complaining vehemantly about four drunk guys who were yelling all game long and I mean they were loud. When she complained they started yelling at her. The usher called three security guys who ammassed at the top of the asile. Instead of dealing with the problem they stood waiting to make sure it didn't escalate until the game ended. After the last pitch security left and the guys went back to yelling at the woman. I raise this because even when you call that security number on the guest relations board, security doesn't do anything. They never even checked these guys' tickets. It was the same thug mentality that we have all been complaining about. BTW, face in this section was $75. This woman presumably spent $300 for her seats and had to put up with this. Maybe you had to be there but this was such a weak effort by Dodger security, I was stunned.

http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/6szd

Of the top 40, only FOUR pitchers were 30 or older in 2006. Those four were Smoltz (#5, out with season-ending shoulder surgery), Kelvim Escobar (#10, out with season-ending shoulder surgery), Curt Schilling (#21, rehabbing from shoulder injury and not expected back soon), and Derek Lowe (#24, and 17th in innings pitched over the time period).

An argument can honestly be made that Derek Lowe, who turned 35 on Sunday, is the best over-32 starting pitcher in baseball. Perhaps Maddux, Johnson, Mussina, or Pettite are better than him, but if so it's definitely not by much. He can't quite claim to be the best pitcher over 30, as there are a few pitchers who are probably better and are younger than him but over 30, but not many: Hudson, Vazquez, Halladay, Oswalt, maybe Burnett (and Harang, Sheets, Lackey and Penny are all 30). I would say that I'm convinced there are 31-year-olds that are better (Halladay/Oswalt), there might be a better 32- or 33-year-old (Vazquez or Hudson) and there probably is not a better active starting pitcher older than Tim Hudson who is better than Derek Lowe. Wow.

Looking at the time since Lowe was signed, he is 16th in ERA+ among pitchers with 500+ IP. 52 pitchers threw 500 or more innings with an ERA better than league average, and the only ones to have signed free agent contracts were Pettite (121 ERA+, 724.2 IP), Lowe (117, 717), Rogers (114, 529), Burnett (113, 587.1), Suppan (107, 664.1), Glavine, Millwood, Garcia, Zito, Johnson, Maddux, Wakefield, Byrd, Meche, Lilly, and Washburn (all with ERA+ between 106 and 100). Lowe's deal appears to be the free agent starting pitcher of recent vintage that has yielded the most value.

Other Dodgers in the top 40 for ERA+ 2006-8 are Penny (#31) and Billingsley (#9). Also representing the NL West are Webb (#1), Peavy (#18), Haren (#20), Aaron Cook (#22), Chris Young (#27), and Cain (#37).

15. Los Angeles Dodgers: Andrew Cashner, RHP, Texas Christian. There are many players in the conversation here, with the most interesting one being Arizona State's Ike Davis ... as a pitcher. While that sounds like a possibility, look for the Dodgers to go with the power-armed TCU closer over Davis or players like Zach Collier and Ethan Martin.

Nothing in that makes sense at all.

I notice that Edwin Jackson is 104th of 116 on the list. I'm glad he is doing so well now but it sure was a hard road for him.

Other ex-Dodgers include Tomko (110); Odalis (109); Hendy (85)and Jeff Weaver (116).

Our runs scored correlates best with SLG and OPS vs BA or OBP.

What's a letter?

http://tinyurl.com/6axsdb

"The best of all out of the gate for the Dodgers, maybe the best of all-time, occurred on April 12, 1962. On that night, Peter Gerard Richert, rookie lefthander, came out of the Dodger bullpen at Chavez Ravine in relief of Stan Williams.

"He struck out Vada Pinson of the Reds to end the third inning. Whoosh. He struck out Frank Robinson to lead off the fourth. Whoosh. He then struck out Gordy Coleman, but a passed ball allowed Coleman to reach first safely. Whoosh, oops. The next two Reds went down swinging. Whoosh, whoosh. Richert then froze Tommy Harper with another fastball to open the fifth for his sixth consecutive strikeout. Whoosh. Six in a row, still a major league record for a first-time appearance. "

There were 62 runs scored total by both teams in Dodger Stadium's first six games.

Pitcher's park indeed!

12. That'd be great but the C*#ts create matchup problems. If the Lakers win I think it's going to depend on how Fish, Lamar, Sasha and Farmer play. If Fish and Lamar can bring a consistant A or B game and Sasha and Farmer can be consistant as well they'll take it. The main problem is Phil's love of Walton who has looked terrible throughout most of the PO's. His offense has been inconsistant or has just disappeared and his D is just terrible. I'd fell better if Ariza got most of Lukes minutes. Trevor's quicker, better on D and can actually jump so will actally finish a break away rather than try a a weak layup ala Walton. Win or lose the Lakers have gotten farther than I expected them to get and I'm looking forward to seeing them next year with Drew back.