But I have a baby, so instead, I'm going to bed.

Merry Chadmas to all, and to all a good night!

Chad was dealing.

I know, the Giants' line-up leaves something to be desired, but hey they rocked Kuroda on Monday and I don't think many teams would've done much against him today.

Fun way to end it, too.

The Castillo hit in the 9th looked like it could've been a home run, but fortunately Mike Krukow only whined about it briefly (after about 100 references to last night's weird left field play).

But that was just fantastic. It's only too bad Chad can't face the Dbacks in this big series coming up.

Marlins get Manny Ramirez
Red Sox get Jason Bay
Pirates get Jeremy Hermida

I dont like this deal for the Pirates. They have to get something better for Bay than just Hermida.

{throw slightly sarcastic confetti}

But it is great to finally break that barrier. Seems ages ago they were last here. Now let's stay there, boys.

Stupid Pirates.

I agree. They should be getting Hermida and another player to make that a fair deal - especially given what they'd supposedly been demanding.

By the way, There's a John Mellencamp concert going on at the SB bowl a mile from me. I can hear the next song.

What's it called again? "I fought the .... something and the something... always wins"

Then he says it again.

>> Marlins get Manny Ramirez, one prospect (Red Sox), and cash (likely covering Ramirez's remaining salary)

Pirates get Jeremy Hermida and three prospects (two Marlins, one Red Sox)

Red Sox get Jason Bay and John Grabow

There is still potential for this to fall apart over the prospects, but things appear closer now than ever before. <<

--

One more time for good measure... Yay Chad!

And they're going to have two Ramirezes! Do they get to keep the same last name or add an initial like "A. Ramirez" and "M. Ramirez". Which is the best solution.

368 Think Jones gets another start?

I'm expecting Pierre back tomorrow with Jones back again Friday against Randy Johnson.

Remember, this is the guy with the 10,000:1 odds to win an oscar!

Since Brad Penny's last start, June 14 in Detroit, here are the numbers for the Dodgers starters:

39 starts
5.89 IP/start
18-10 (team is 23-16)
3.21 ERA

You send the runner if you want to optimize your chance to breakup the shutout, hold him for the best chance towin.

Brett Favre practiced this morning at his local high school.

Wow, if Manny ends u a Marlin, that team is going to have an incredible lineup, power wise.

I missed him before you did.

CC, Chad, and Clayton.

The Killer C's.

That is wicked scary.

http://tinyurl.com/693trg (post 118)

Chad Billingsley will go 17-9 with an ERA of 2.88. There, I said it. And we'll fall in love with him like a girl in a flowing white gown bounding across a springtime meadow

Current: 11-9, 3.05 ERA.

Fine by me, though.

2009 - 5 mil
2010 - 6 mil
2011 - 8 mil
2012 - 9 mil
2013 - 10 mil (option)
2014 - 11 mil (option)

4 year, $28 million guaranteed, is this a reasonable deal for either side? How about Russell Martin, would a similar contract be reasonable?

I personally don't think Loney and Ethier need to be locked up until we see more power, but maybe a contract with Kemp will make him happy enough to allow trash cans near his locker.

Isn't it because he's a two month rental? Ramirez said he doesn't want the options picked up if he's traded, I've read.

Can anyone suggest something to do with two boys between landing at Burbank airport in the afternoon and Dodger Stadium Gates opening?

Late lunch relatively close to the airport or the stadium? The park around the area? Griffith park?

I'm praying for Grabow to be part of the deal so that there's on less guy for my man Tyler Yates to compete with for saves when Pittsburgh actually wins.

signing bonus - $1m
2009 - $500k
2010 - $4m
2011 - $7m
2012 - $10m
2013 - $13m option ($1.5m buyout)

Total - 4 years, $24m (potential for 5/35.5)

Interesting how the Marlins sucked in 07 with Miggy, did nothing to change their team position players in 2008 and yet if they add Manny are scary good. Adding Josh Johnson to the rotation will probably have more of an effect then replacing Hermida with Manny.

But yeah the cupboard's pretty bare when it comes to ML ready young guys. Only Schierholtz seems to have much to offer. (Lewis can hit pretty well, but should be a DH somewhere.) Velez's main point of praise seems to be that he can run very fast. Etc.

Since the end of April (18 starts, including tonight) Chad's WHIP is much lower, at 1.161. He's also 11-5 with a 2.44 ERA during that span.

Is that the correct format for an analogy?

No way Jose

The conversations between the Dodgers and Padres about future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux have hit a roadblock, and it's unclear whether the two sides will continue talks on Thursday. The Dodgers have mild interest in Maddux, who essentially has boxed in San Diego with his insistence that he can be dealt only to a West Coast team; the rival Dodgers are the only team on the coast with a need for a starter. The two sides are far apart in agreeing what compensation is appropriate for the pitcher.

If Maddux is not dealt before the deadline, the Dodgers could try to place a waiver claim on the pitcher in August, and once again, the Padres would be left with little leverage.

Low WHIP is only part of the equation for a low (theoretical) ERA, I think its mitigated by Chad's ability to depress XBH. I'd like to know where his .350 SLG against ranks in the NL.

Salami, easy mix -- FANTASTIC.

Pierre joins rare class of base thieves

>> By taking second in the bottom of the seventh without a throw from Giants catcher Bengie Molina, the Dodgers outfielder became the fourth player in Major League Baseball history to steal at least 100 bases with three different teams. <<

http://tinyurl.com/5jrfcc

http://adage.com/songsforsoap/post?article_id=129804

http://www.philippes.com/

Saturday morning is the perfect time to get brunch (i.e. Dim Sum)

The trade deadline is like the anti-Christmas Eve. Don't want to wake up to find coal in our Dodger blue stockings.

Awesome. It's like the nickname is our baby.

Now, to work on Evie Sands and Phil Ochs (at least in today's day and age on the latter)

Also like the "List of Demands" one.

http://tinyurl.com/6jmgk7

Players are arbitration eligible after 3 full seasons, but can also qualify with 2+ years service time (a 4th year of arb) if they are in the top 17% in service time among 2-3 year players. (Super Twos)

Martin (2 yrs, 150 days after this year) & Ethier (2 yes, 153 days) are in the second boat.

In general, players need to have at least 2 years and 127 or more days service time to qualify as Super Twos.

I kinda think of Ochs like Joni Mitchell; it's hard to imagine either's music sold for advertising.

http://sportsblogs.latimes.com/sports_baseball_dodgers/2008/07/post-11.html

I think Ochs was born at the same hospital I was.

If somebody put Ochs into commercials his music might be brought back to public attention; I suspect not too many people in their 20s-30s know it at all.

{On the last play of the game:}
>>Third-base coach Tim Flannery waved Castillo around and blamed himself, confessing he thought too much about averting another shutout and not enough about winning.

"You play the game by the score," Flannery said. "Tonight, after 14 years, I became a fan instead of a third-base coa