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Also ...
A Season in Savannah (Stanford Magazine)
Five Questions: Los Angeles Dodgers (2005) (Hardball Times)
Rick Monday (Baseball Analysts)
Baseball's Odd Couple (Baseball Prospectus)
Five Questions: Los Angeles Dodgers (2006) (Hardball Times)
Five Questions: Los Angeles Dodgers (2007) (Hardball Times)
Dodger home record: 50-35 (.588)
When Jon attended: 9-5 (.643)
When Jon didn't: 41-30 (.577)
Dodgers at home: 795-635 (.556)
Jon attended: 302-238 (.559)*
Jon didn't: 498-404 (.552)
* includes road games attended
Current Roster with Estimated 2009 Salaries
(updated November 14)
Most figures are estimates (some are wild estimates) but will be updated as information comes in. Corrections welcome.
More contract details here.
Starting Pitchers (5)
$10,000,000 Hiroki Kuroda
*$475,000 Chad Billingsley
*$415,000 Clayton Kershaw
*$405,000 Eric Stults
*$400,000 James McDonald
*Total: $11,695,000
Bullpen (7)
*$2,500,000 Takashi Saito
*$1,300,000 Scott Proctor
*$1,500,000 Jonathan Broxton
*$425,000 Hong-Chih Kuo
*$420,000 Cory Wade
*$410,000 Ramon Troncoso
*$400,000 Scott Elbert
Total: $6,955,000
Also on 40-man roster
Mario Alvarez
Yhency Brazoban
Greg Miller
Justin Orenduff
Starting Lineup (8)
$17,100,000 Andruw Jones
*$3,000,000 Russell Martin
*$2,500,000 Andre Ethier
*$600,000 Matt Kemp
*$600,000 James Loney
*$500,000 Angel Berroa
*$410,000 Blake DeWitt
*$400,000 Tony Abreu
Total: $25,110,000
Bench (5)
$10,000,000 Juan Pierre
*$600,000 Jason Repko
*$410,000 Delwyn Young
*$400,000 Danny Ardoin
*$400,000 Chin-Lung Hu
Total: $11,810,000
Note: Team can buy out Ozuna's 2009 option for $200,000
Also on 40-man roster
A.J. Ellis
Lucas May
Xavier Paul
Disabled List
$12,000,000 Jason Schmidt
Also Paying ...
$2,000,000 Brad Penny (buyout of $9,000,000 option)
$50,000 Gary Bennett (buyout of $900,000 option)
Note: Kansas City is responsible for $500,000 buyout of Angel Berroa's $5,500,000 option for 2009.
Working total: *$68,020,000
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1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
9) typing "no-hitter" or "perfect game" to describe either in progress
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with
Baseball Toaster runs on some experimental software called Fairpole. It's still under development.
For more information, please visit the Fairpole blog, or read the FAQ.
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Matt Kemp, CF Andre Ethier, RF Jeff Kent, 2B Manny Ramirez, LF James Loney, 1B Russell Martin, C Nomar Garciaparra, SS Casey Blake, 3B Hiroki Kuroda, P |
Eric Stults has been called up to take Penny's spot on the roster, and his Stults' alphabetical-order buddy Tanyon Sturtze had his contract purchased to take Wade's position on the active roster - as well as the 40th spot on the 40-man roster. Those of us eager to see James McDonald will have to wait.
Stults had a 4.69 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 23 innings since returning to Las Vegas from Los Angeles. Sturtze had a combined 4.38 ERA this season with Jacksonville and Las Vegas, with 39 strikeouts in 51 1/3 innings.
Update: From Matt Hurst of the Press-Enterprise ...
Manager Joe Torre said that Penny "didn't feel right. He didn't say anything about pain, he just didn't have the freedom he'd like to have."
Wade, who was 2-1 with a 2.56 ERA in 40 games, has a shoulder, that Torre said "has been nagging him. He tried the other day to throw a curveball and it was bothering him."
* * *
Beat writer David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News had this to say about Dodger Stadium this week:
Another gorgeous day here at Chavez Ravine. Was just talking with Phils PR man Greg Casterioto, and I think we both agree that this is the best park in the majors. I still haven't been to Wrigley, but I can't imagine it touches this. The weather is perfect, the scenery - mountains rising in the background, palm trees in the goreground (sic)- is beautiful. Walk to your car and you overlook the city skyline. The field is immaculate. It's amazing this place was built in 1962. It feels a lot newer.
* * *
Because CC Sabathia pitched Wednesday, he won't be scheduled to appear during the Brewers' weekend visit to Los Angeles. Sabathia, who homered while striking out 10 Dodgers as a Cleveland Indian on June 21, has a 1.55 ERA (280 ERA+) and 60 strikeouts in 64 innings since being traded to Milwaukee.
Update: Phillies reliever Chad Durbin blogged about pitching against the Dodgers (link via Baseball Musings):
This West Coast trip hasn't treated me (personally) or the Phillies very well so far! I've blown two saves/leads in two nights and, in turn, have put us in a tie with the Mets for first place in the National League East.
Baseball will humble you and teach you. It isn't the failure that defines your character, it is the way you handle the failure. Bouncing back is something we're all seeing on a global level right now watching the Olympics. The one thing I can guarantee is that I will put everything I have out there each time I pitch — sometimes it won't be enough, but at least I can look myself in the mirror after competing. This is a performance league and getting back to performing well is a process of much importance.
That said, the addition of Manny Ramirez and Casey Blake has certainly changed the level of pressure for some of the talented young players in the Dodgers lineup.
The players hitting in the 7 and 8 holes were being asked to hit 3, 4 or 5 just a month or so ago. Confidence is high in Dodgertown. We play 162 games for a reason, the season will play itself out and weathering these storms is part of it. ...
Not at all. I expect us to pick up his option.
http://tinyurl.com/6f8n6s
Apparently, David Murphy never had to use the restrooms at Dodgers Stadium.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPt8UVU7bXs
8/23 @ Philly
8/28 @ Washington
9/2 vs SD
9/8 @ SD
9/14 @ Col
9/19 SF
9/25 SD
So 2 scary starts and 5 gimmes. I say keep it in-house.
Giants got a new owner. May he preside over many years of losing seasons.
Former UC Davis starting QB Patrick O'Sullivan becomes the starting 49ers QB.
And in Green Bay Aaron Rodgers is laughing.
I am laughing far more than Rodgers.
If they take every opportunity to keep everyone on 4 days rest between starts:
1. 8/23 @ Philadelphia
2. 8/28 @ Washington D.C.
3. 9/2 San Diego
4. 9/9 @ San Diego
5. 9/16 @ Pittsburgh
6. 9/21 San Francisco
7. 9/27 @ San Francisco
The games after 9/2 would mean that the Dodgers would move the starter who pitched the day after (for instance the 9/3 starter) to the day before that start since an off day would create the extra day of rest.
The fantasy implications here are magnificent. Well, not really. But maybe getting the love of his life back will help to rejuvenate Shaq's NBA career. But even a miracle like this probably isn't enough to get the big man to hit a few more free throws.
So, does Kobe get credit for this too? Or does Shaq just asks him how his er, that taste?
http://rotoworld.com/content/clubhouse_news.aspx?sport=NBA&majteam=PHO
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=280814104
Actually, its funny that no player ever says anything good (or bad) about Dodger fans. And I mean players from other teams.
So does the Press Enterprise! Hopefully Samson doesn't lose his power, and becomes !Samson.
Right now, he's hitting 237/340/442/782 in 224 at-bats for an OPS+ of 104. This is his best season since 2005.
For a backup second baseman, I like that power off the bench.
It's quite amusing to think about.
The similarities are kinda fun too.
Notes from Torre's pregame:
Brad got a cortisone shot.
In the next day or so they'll decide whether to skip Penny's spot.
Just because we don't face Sabathia or Sheets means we're going to win ballgames. But, personality wise it makes it less stressful, but we have to go out and play the game.
Sturtze is a competitor. He's come a long way since spring training, but still is not where he was in N.Y (velocity wise). Pitched yesterday in Vegas so may not be available.
Manny has been joking with Torre that his hits have been because of the hair. Torre says if that were true he would have snuck into his apartment in Boston and shaved it off. It's his ability. But, if he goes 0 for 5, Manny will hassle him (jokingly). After the game last night Manny came up to Torre and said, "Good double switch." He praises Manny's work ethic. Manny doesn't take the ability for granted and works very hard.
Jeff is being the hitter he is and not going out of his zone. Before he was a little impatient because they didn't have to pitch to him. With Manny behind him Kent is getting the pitches and not missing them.
Kershaw was able to work on things in the minors and is certainly not afraid to compete. He's very intelligent.
Having guys in the bullpen who can pitch the middle innings well are very valuable. He praises Johnson and Park's work last night.
This is not an alert.
2. What if we never stood up in the first place?
You have to stay in a crouched position.
The other: "Linkin Park."
If any of those in attendance has/ends up getting a spare ticket to that night's game I would love to go, but otherwise I'd be sitting by myself--and I'm not sure if the $15+ticket is worth such a lonely venture.
It's not like it's Obi-Wan Kenobi.
What a dumb play by Jenkins.
Vin toeing a dangerous line when speaking of Myers and his pugilistic prowess:)
But if a homerun kills a rally, surely an RBI-groundout does as well...
The Cubs have been on the other end of season sweeps by the Braves four years: 1897, 1898, 1997, and 2005.