Does the crowd give Joe a hard time about his incompetent lineups or does the average fan not realize he's so bad?

I would say the average Dodger fan does not even know who is in the lineup.

3 Maybe regress is the wrong word; return to expectation? Fall more under his BABIP expectations? Land back on earth?

"Matt Kemp was out of the lineup because he woke up with irritation in his right eye and was unable to immediately put a contact lens in it. Due to the irritation, he's likely unavailable tonight.

Leung at Press-Enterprise."

Oh well! Will the people who jumped off the cliff due to the line-up now kindly return to your seats? The main feature is about to start.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN200806250.shtml

Wow! He must have just added that info....it wasn't there 5 minutes ago.

Maybe it was Kemp, but I guess we'll never know. I am sure Kemp won't be losing starts to Repko though. That's not to say AE won't lose starts to him, but Kemp almost certainly won't.

Which J.D. Drew are we talking about? The 2004-07 Drew or the 2008 Drew?

Jason Repko stepping into the spotlight and playing really well would be a nice feel good story.
Repko has been hampered by injuries. He was all set to emerge as the starting center fielder until he got hurt the last time. That he gets called up and immediately starts in center tonight, it's pretty neat.

I'd like to see LaRoche get a lot more at bats, but I'd be splitting hairs considering who we do have. It's not that big a deal to me personally.

And an open question for DT: Has there ever been a Dodger manager that you felt put the best players on the field or did things the right way? I can't think of one ideal manager in our 35 year recent history.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Pierre has never been on the DL in his career and is one of those players who is never in the training room, preferring to play through his bumps and bruises instead of getting treatment."

" "For him to come out of the ball game, it's more than just a bruise, you would think," Manager Joe Torre said. "... Knowing Juan Pierre, he wants nothing to do with trainers. ... this was something very tough for him to give into." "

I can't either. Frankly, for whatever Torre's issues, he still looks better to me than Little, Tracy or pretty much anyone else. Yes, this is like saying Delwyn Young looks better than Pierre, I suppose... But even Tommy Lasorda, who won 2 world series, was often idiotic in many ways as a day to day manager, as you know. So, no, I don't think the Dodgers have had a manager I felt was perfect or ideal in any way, in my entire lifetime basically (although I was just a toddler for Walter Alston so I don't count him).

Of course, in that era, my main complaint in life was being forced to shower every day.

I will second that. The last thread got me down

I get the impression that his two predecessors, Alston and Dressen, were obsessed with small ball. Having Duke Snider and Roy Campanella bunt all the time likely would have irritated me if I had, um, been alive.

I expect to be complaining on my death bed. Or better yet, maybe I'll be complaining and that will be the death of me.

One thing I've noticed over the years is that managers are almost always enamored with the aspects of the game that they themselves couldn't do as players. Torre and Scioscia, the two slowest guys you ever met, love base stealing and taking the extra base. Frank Robinson, as a manager, was obsessed with bunting. (As is Dusty Baker.) Earl Weaver, a tiny middle infielder, wanted nothing but three-run homers.

Witness Michael Bourn.

While I believe that I (along with most observers) could take minor issues with every manager in baseball, I personal found that while Dan Evan's was GM Jim Tracy pretty much did what he could given the cards he was dealt. Now granted he was given a fool proof bullpen (yes I remember that AZ game) and I did feel that he gave Karros too much respect (possibly feared losing the locker room to him) same for Green (but no one benches the big dollar talent). One Depo took over I think Tracy sort of refused to give Depo any respect.

I still remember being upset that Alston had Drysdale warming up in the bullpen during the 1962 playoffs and chose not to bring him in. :-)

38-43

Stros Record

39-43

Cito Gaston is the modern era king of just writing down 9 names and letting the guys go at it.

I believe Chris had a stat on which managers preferred older players and Al Lopez was the king there. Surprisingly, Lopez also was ranked as the best manager in the second half of a season.

Ha!

Rats, I'm gonna have to go check it out now...

I really hate the fact that it insists on giving an introduction first.

Reminds me of a story. I was once sitting in the expensive seats behind the Dodger dugout, when an opposing pitcher lost his lens. This, of course, resulted in the always priceless spectacle of several multi-million dollar athletes crawling around in the dirt on their hands and knees. Anyway, the lens was found and play resumed. Orel Hershiser, who I believe was the Dodgers on-deck hitter, turned toward the dugout, gestured and yelled, "It was in his eye!"

1-1

Pass.

Minute Maid is even deeper to center than Tiger Stadium. I bring that up to further crush Icaros' dreams.

Both have flag poles in fair territory.

71
I'm not a big Jim Leyland guy, but something about wearing cleats during games irrationally gets high praise from me. Bobby Cox does that as well.

it was a hangin slider (coming in) from what I saw.

I don't remember whether he actually warmed up. I do remember he was sent down to the bullpen in case he was needed (I was watching the game on TV). Instead, I believe we got Stan Williams.

He's the lone PVL.

What group of business people saw this plan and said, "yep, a hill in centerfield is exactly what we are looking for"

I didn't say I didn't like it.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0582675/

"Lindsay, just say the words, it'll make him feel better."

---
RepCo is off to a nice start.

"My cat's breath smells like cat food."

/end slight snark

"So, do you like... stuff?"

Each has a large hole 7-8-9-1.

--

Deshaies was pretty funny about Kent's age vs the rest of the Dodgers' line-up. "Kentie, tell us a story."

--

Off topic, but does anyone know anyone driving down to or through Sta Barbara, from the Bay area, for 4th of July weekend? My ride may be flaking out. underdog8 at gmail dot com

http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/5BnE

I mean, it gets sort of annoying.

How was he safe? I thought he was nailed.

yup, I remember those days very very well.

Good luck, Dodgers.

http://tinyurl.com/467ybv

These are the ones I like for sitting still:

http://tinyurl.com/3ocdy7

They're both cheap, but neither of them sound bad. I keep the sitting around ones in my laptop bag, and despite that they've held up for about two years per pair. The moving around ones I've had for about eighteen months without any problems.

Always ready to assist a female in need...

Leading off.

Looked outside corner to me. When a guy swings at everything all the time, umps don't give him the close ones.

So he is going to try and make plays that he can't physicall do or be over anxious at the plate.

If anyone has the time, I would love to know what the ML avg is for runs scored if a team gets two or more baserunners in an inning. I bet the ML avg is something like 1.55 and the Dodger avg is like 0.8.

But he has always been that way, even in the minors.

It doesn't count as B&E when he leaves the front door unlocked for me.

Sometimes the window, depends on Bob's mood.

Yet.

concur & even more so he is virtually new on this team with a new manager & some new ball players, a lot of stuff going on in that dome of his, I sympathize.

Nice post BH.

Awful, awful, awful.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/5tv7kw

World record stood for two minutes.

Come on guys. Call the game.

--

Berkman likes to down a lot of sunflower seeds while playing first base.

IMO.

What about Roberto Alomar? I'd think he's a lock, but maybe he won't get in because he spit in an umpire's face.

I have only one more 11-year old to pass up.

Unfortunately, that 11-year old has Lance Berkman on his team.

That stuff if forgotten, I think he's a lock...

2 words bro, Ty Cobb.

Soon.

That is, in the eyes of HOF voters.

true story (right?)

Cobb did a lot of stuff that was worse than that.

Then how can anyone not think Kent should get in?

Kent career OPS+ 123 (.856)

Alomar career OPS+ 116 (.814)

How many points does Alomar win back for defense and two World Series?

your to much Marty... (giggles)

Bob, you want to explain, please.

I don't get credit for things that don't involve catcher's interference or the proper names of hoofed mammals.

I just wonder if any of these announcers would doubt Alomar for the HOF. He was great, but so was Kent, in a different way.

You've always been his biggest fan, but he's going to have to wait his five years like everyone else.

Oswalt felt sorry for us.

Rays lead 5-3, but Boston has 2nd and 3rd with one out against Percival with Varitek up.

Everybody told me that "Pushing Daisies" was the greatest new series of last year.

I couldn't stand it.

I could do something with that, too, but this is a family establishment.

I could do something with that, too, but this is a family establishment.

It was weird.

JP Howell in to try to get the final out.

273 His comedy FIP is quite high, but his LABIP could be better.

(No, no, this is. No... this. No... this. Sigh.)

Essentially, it is a very large city with very few interesting things to do. And the weather isn't good at any time of the year. And the food is bad. Provided you can find a place serving food after 8 pm.

Cleveland is the city that just doesn't work.

That would probably depend a lot upon what he ate today. Weird thing to win money for, though.

On September 13, I will be a very big USC fan. Perhaps even bigger than when USC plays The Most Evil University In Christendom.

That's because you thought a tribute band was the real thing.

So, does it sound like Furcal is coming back next weekend? Tonight's old pro night in Las Vegas isn't it?

But if you like the highly stylized, then you should love "Pushing Daisies" and the films of Wes Anderson.

You would hate Cleveland. Cleveland is not highly stylized.

I think if RepCo gets another at bat tonight he should just try to bunt for a hit.

I would take Burn Notice over The Wire any day.

This is a link to something Marty posted about earlier today, I only wish that people will be a quarter as kind to me as they are to this man.

http://tinyurl.com/679woe

Furcal SS
Nomar 3B
Tiffee IB
Jones DH
MitchJones RF
Griffin LF
Chavez ... oh I stopped caring at this point, sorry. Rivera, Ruan blah blah.

316 You bite your tongue, sir. Bite it hard.

And I don't even go out with a USC football fan now.

Not that she ever invited me to a game.

You'd had enough of that Capulet dating, anyway.

Or, if you prefer, a tiebreaking home run.

How's your doc lineup?

327 You lost me at "Pushing Daisies." A lot of style and I liked the first one or first two, but then it got old fast for me.

Let me know if you want a free trial promo.

--

Argh, we should have had a run out of this inning at least.

Do you have the one about WCCW and the Von Erich family?

They are absolutists. I try to set up a constructive framework of understanding.

338 Oh my god, I would totally watch that.

Dodgers, you're about to go my bad list.

inept: lacking in fitness or aptitude; not suitable to the time, place or occasion; lacking sense or reason; generally incompetent.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN199007170.shtml

The Dodgers haven't had a game where they scored just one run on 10 hits since May 26.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200805260.shtml

kind of, I actually thought it had a chance too but it was hit to the power ally. La Roche didn't get all of it.

It's supposed to be really good. Called Heroes of World Class

Actually we're upgrading our recommendations engine, right now we have people rely more on human powered recommendations from staffers and writers. We have some documentary lists (best of, best ever, etc), a primer, a lot of reviews and so on. So there's that.

This is a legit documentary, not a wrestling video.

Many Players have struck out 5 times in one game. That is the record.

The record for a nine inning game is (5), but in an extra inning game the record is (6). Cecil Cooper (Boston) Billy Cowan (California) Alex Gonzalez (Toronto) Sam Horn (Baltimore) Rick Reichardt (California) Carl Weilman (St.Louis) Don Hoak (Chicago) and Craig Monroe (Detroit)

the first truck I ever owned was baby blue. I told my friend that once & he started laughing. he was like are you serious, baby blue!?!?!?

Of course, with Berroa hitting before him, he won't be up there with much to do.

Use a smaller font, next time.

Yours in Ch-i,
Andrew Shimmin

http://tinyurl.com/42nwcj

I'm not sure what year this was, but it's from the 1970s:

http://tinyurl.com/5yb65x

That balk was "really bad umpiring" according to Jim Deshaies.

If it's TMI, that's OK.

You could have been rooting for the loser in this game.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN199509150.shtml

Did you know that "pollok" is actually a Hungarian word meaning "filler"?

Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all minute. Tip your wait staff.

ANDRUW.

Or 407 ! (weeps).

412 Be patient, my friend, just a little longer, as Doctor says...

Can't wait for Furcal and Andruw to come back!

Hope the Doc is right about the calvary, however, but that's gotta be at least 5-7 games away.

However, I hope Notre Dame never wins another game. I think Charlie Weis just signed an extension as I typed this post.

And I wish the annual USC-UCLA game still featured the cardinals and blues featured in the 2nd photo of 372 .

Raffy should be back, barring a setback, for the Giants series, I'm guessing. Nomar possibly. Jones probably another week.

Welp! I was one of those who hollered "Play the kids!" Guess we're paying for it now. On to the next game.

That sounds so sadly plaintive.

And while they're at it, they can tell me how Hollister became a clothing line instead of earthquake/Wild One central.

I still holler "Play the kids!" This is not a World Series Dodger team. But they'll bust out of this schneid at some point, and then all will be forgotten.

Bruins Welp Themselves to a Schrempf Cocktail

He got better.

Now here is an interesting question. You may have noticed SNY and YES (I believe) broadcast their local minor league team's games.

1) Are they the only team to do this?
2) Could the Dodgers do the same for the 51's with enough demand?
3) Is the only reason they do it because both NY minor league teams are inside the five bouroughs?

ok and 4) Do they usually have TV cameras in most minor league ballparks?

I must have thought that after all these years I could get away with it.

Any more questions?

FSN has more than enough programming to keep itself occupied.

Ogden Top 1st

* Devaris Gordon hit by pitch.
* Defensive Substitution: Yeldrys Molina replaces second baseman Fernando Garcia, batting 2nd, playing second base.
* Defensive Substitution: Sean McCauley replaces catcher Juan Graterol, batting 7th, playing catcher.
* Defensive Substitution: Alberto Espinosa replaces first baseman Devery Van De Keere, batting 8th, playing first base.
* Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Jessie Mier replaces Devaris Gordon.
* Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Steven Caseres replaces Travis Vetters.
* Pitcher Change: Steve Miller replaces Paul Raglione.
* Ogden Raptors Pitching Coach Craig Bjornson ejected by HP umpire Erik Hill.
* Ogden Raptors shortstop Devaris Gordon ejected by HP umpire Erik Hill.
* Ogden Raptors Lyndon Poole ejected by HP umpire Erik Hill.
* Ogden Raptors Kyle Russell ejected by HP umpire Erik Hill.
* Ogden Raptors right fielder Travis Vetters ejected by HP umpire Erik Hill.
* Ogden Raptors second baseman Brian Ruggiano ejected by HP umpire Erik Hill.
* Idaho Falls Chukars pitcher Paul Raglione ejected by HP umpire Erik Hill.
* Idaho Falls Chukars catcher Juan Graterol ejected by HP umpire Erik Hill.
* Idaho Falls Chukars second baseman Fernando Garcia ejected by HP umpire Erik Hill.
* Idaho Falls Chukars third baseman Devery Van De Keere ejected by HP umpire Erik Hill.
* Steven Caseres flies out to right fielder Nicholas Francis.
* Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Elian Herrera replaces Kyle Russell.
* Elian Herrera strikes out swinging and Jessie Mier caught stealing 2nd, catcher Sean McCauley to shortstop John Alfaro.

Yeah, that's the first time I remember hearing that too. That movie's awesome.

Btw, in that same league, did y'all realize that there is a team called the Casper Ghosts?

I don't know whether to love that or hate that.

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/info/affiliations.jsp

Vermont Lake Monsters
Cedar Rapids Kernels
Hickory Crawdads
Orem Owlz
Lansing Lugnuts

We are 14th in runs scored in the National League. There are sixteen teams. Only Washington and San Diego have scored fewer runs.

If you had bet me that after 81 games the Giants would score more runs than the Dodgers, you would've some money. Not a lot of money because I don't have a lot but you would've won some cash.

.297 / .360 / .463 for Rowand (8 HRs, 44 RBIs, 38 Rs)

The real question is: is that worth 12 mil a year?

455 - No, I don't think Rowand's worth that money. But of course you could certainly say that of a few Dodgers contracts. At least he's doing something.

Boy, I hope Furcal is back for the Giants series (but only if he's really ready!)

http://www.sportsmogul.com/content/2008_predictions.html

two recent players the dbacks have let get away one way or another...

Dan Uggla 289/375/620 23hr
Carlos Quentin 288/396/544 19hr

Quentin net them Chris Carter, which they spun for Haren. Not bad.

But I think they dealt Quentin bc they didnt want 4 starting caliber OF'ers for 3 spots---which is really dumb. There's no probably with stacking your team 1-25 with the best talent available, even if some of that talent could be starting elsewhere in the league.

Uggla is already 28. Not sure how much upside he has, albeit he may be in his prime as we speak. That, and... well the Marlins are sure to lock him up. After Hanley's extension, it makes sense to follow up.

slight correction:

I don't know if that's worth throwing 15 mil...

2006: .819
2007: .805
2008: .995

Obviously this year is a career year for him, but I think he'd be a very good player to target at 2nd base if he can OPS .830-.850. He's really the only 2nd basemen out there that could reasonably replace Kent's historic offensive production.

He'll be valued very highly due to the scarcity of hitters at 2nd base. Utley, Uggla, likely never will see free agency though.

This was from the Miami Herald:
"Will there will be a multiyear offer to MLB home run leader Dan Uggla? Beinfest said there is no decision yet: ''Probably . . . that would be something we would tackle in the offseason. . . . Danny is in line for a big raise, and he's earned that.'' With Uggla not eligible for free agency until age 31 (after 2011), the Marlins might go year to year. He makes $417,000 but could top $5 million in arbitration this winter."<<

Probably be quite nervous too.
Be interesting to see how he does.

Might be his last start in the big leagues for awhile if Kuroda comes back soon.

476 - I think Kuroda is slated to come back tomorrow night last I heard. My guess is a reliever, probably Troncoso, will be the one going down, for now at least. Kershaw may go down later but it didn't sound like they were on the verge of doing so. Unless he looks awful tonight.

Torre said Repko was nervous in his first start of the season.

''He was out front and really jumping badly,'' Torre said.

1. Martin C
2. Kemp CF
3. Loney 1B
4. Kent 2B
5. LaRoche 3B
6. Young LF
7. Ethier RF
8. Beraza SS
9. Kershaw P

Maybe we can just post that up on ITD and it will get passed on to Torre

Yea, I guess... Loney and Ethier both have better career splits VS righties, but for me they are both good enough VS lefties (James 0.307AVG, Ethier 0.276AVG) to not get too cute with it.

I have to think Maza has earned the SS gig until Furcal is ready to go. Berroa got his shot for 3 solid weeks and did nothing. Maza got a spot start and banged out two hits.

If Kemp is healthy enough to play, Repko will play in place of Ethier.

If Kemp's eye is still irritated, Repko will play in place of Kemp.

--

Hey Toy, off topic but do you think the Clippers will go after Baron Davis? I think they should...

173 PA
.148/.188/.191
5 XBH (3 2B, 2 3B)
12 runs
4 RBI
8 BB
32 K

Don Hopkins, another pinch running specialist (but he did bat), played in 86 without an RBI.

Then you get to Larry Lintz, who would later become a semi-regular but was another pinch running specialist for Oakland in 1976 played in 68 games without a RBI.

Manny Lee, who was a Rule 5 pick, appeared in 64 games for the 1985 Blue Jays (43 ABs) without an RBI.

Willie Crawford has the Dodgers high with 52 games played in 1965 without an RBI.

If you switch to plate appearances, Gene Good of the 1906 Braves had 135 plate appearances in 34 games with nary an RBI.

I just checked from 1900 on as RBI totals in the 19th Century are a little sketchy. Even 1906 is sketchy.

Was his middle name "Notvery"...?

Berroa's lack of RBIs stem from the fact that he is usually batting 8th in a lineup that has no one getting on base before him.

And he's not very good.

Kuroda activated; Troncoso optioned to Las Vegas

-This one is pretty straight forward. With Park back in the pen and Wade pitching excellent, Tron Tron isn't needed right now.

Nomar activated; Berroa DFA

-Since Ethier and Young figure to play everyday in the near future, Sweeney's LH bench job is saved. A roster spot needs to be opened up for Nomar, so Berroa's sorry play gets the axe.

Furcal activated; LaRoche optioned to Las Vegas

-Not something I would do, but knowing how the Dodgers operate, they need a "true" utility type on the bench - in this case, Maza. Nomar takes LaRoche's spot as a 3B/1B guy.

Penny activated; Stults optioned to Las Vegas

-I'm going out on a limb by saying the 6-man rotation idea will be scrapped. If not, Falkenborg will likely get DFA'd, although I think Torre is a fan of the guy.

Exactly. You almost have to try not to get RBIs to have as few as Jones has. That's in part why it's so amazing.

They were third in the NL in home runs however.

They hit 16.

The Dodgers led the NL in homers that year with 25 with powerful Tim Jordan smacking 12 to lead the league.

1921 is the season to check. Besides the Yankees (obviously), the only other teams to outhomer Ruth were the A's (82 homers) and Browns (58).

The Red Sox hit 17 homers in 1921 to Ruth's 59.

That's so ridiculous as to be beyond extremely suspicious. Greenies? Uppers? Cork?

Little known fact: In Canada, "boot" is pronounced "bout."

Nobody ever goes there.

I've never read any of their articles.

If Berroa fails to record RBI this season (including if he were cut today and played no more), he will set the record for the most PA in a season by a position player over the age of 27 with no RBI.