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.

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.

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.

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.

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:)

The Cubs have been on the other end of season sweeps by the Braves four years: 1897, 1898, 1997, and 2005.

Your Rule One enforcement often comes across ambiguously... for me anyway. I understand you can't always be aware but some obvious euphemisms or other offensive terms slip by consistently. I ask the following with all sincerity. Is it the "Seven Words" we are not to refer to through anything less than a 2nd degree of reference? Is it some other formula? Or is it just at your whim? which is indeed your deserved right.

It's all interesting to me to be honest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D98BR1DYrkg

If I'm unable to delete something right away, don't assume that it's okay.

Sometimes when Vin makes a funny pop culture reference, I can't help myself.

Talk about impatient.

http://tinyurl.com/5s5cme

Nails.

http://nadiacomaneci.com/photos/2007.htm

(BTW, excellent YouTube debate video earlier)

Yep. I was about to type MANNY BEING MANNY before being brought back to reality.

Really, just lock it down. DT only. It's not like you're missing out on much. Maybe a lolcat or two, if you already know the url.

http://tinyurl.com/6nm4gv

If you know, I were to have had a band in college.

Willard didn't need Frankenrats. He just commanded rats, and they obeyed.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117990581.html

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117990582.html?categoryid=1237&cs=1

ESPN has your dread locks story.

WHAT?!?

P.S. Amy Acker was smoking hot.

And the Phillies are spent.

Nice going. I mean really nice going. The Dodgers knocked the Phillies out of first place.

And is there a consensus yet on whether the Cubs or Brewers would be a better match up?

Cue the Hedwig Theme...

I think Torre is beginning to show he is more intelligent than what you folks give him credit for...

Braun is OUT for tomorrow night. Could be back Saturday.

Forgive me for not being impressed that our $4 Million dollar manager just figured out what most posters here have known for months.

>> Elbert (3-1) had another strong showing since joining the Suns in early June after spending the first two months of the season in extended training. He was there to regain his form and complete his rehabilitation from shoulder surgery he had the previous season.

Elbert could be called up to the Los Angeles Dodgers when major-league rosters expand in September. <<

http://tinyurl.com/62rb9v

http://www.beerleaguer.com/beerleaguer/2008/08/game-chat-phi-4.html#comment-126506456

We don't really use money to cover our flaws...

aye....16

You would probably be outraged by my endless supply of cargo shorts and novelty t-shirts.

I also have a fedora, but I only wear it while playing cards.

Did we really just sweep the Phillies? For real?

Like, what?

I have lots of t-shirts. Two FotC shirts, even!

352 We did!

Whoomp! There it is!

Canada-Korea and Netherlands-Japan are lacking in geopolitical intrigue.

Was he trying to say something with his shoes? Are monk straps his silent protest against the occupation of Tibet?

If I get a dog, I will name him Donnie, so that when he barks too loud, I can say...

Dylan Hernandez: Asked why he took another turn in the rotation, Penny replied, "I want to pitch, you know. You get paid to pitch."

grrrrrrrrr.

Wouldn't Yankee fans say that's Torre's history? Dither around with different lineup combinations for four months, then get focused the last two months.

It's the kind of habit a manager would get into if his GM keeps restocking the roster every season and throughout the season. He manages like he doesn't know anything about the players and can't know anything until he sees them play, a lot.

So, you're right, he came to the right answer after trying all the wrong ones. At least he recognized what was right in front of his face.

Only Linkmeister gets hosed now.

Since MNF is now live out here rather than tape-delayed I no longer have to hide from news for four hours every Monday afternoon. Truth be told, though, I'll bet I haven't watched a Monday Night Football game in five years.

"I guess I'll be staying with the game, though I'm not sure what we're about to be seeing still qualifies as baseball."

But was that the year the Phillies were so bad (he told us they finished 7th) they had a 23-game losing streak?

Who lost China? I demand a Congressional hearing!

http://tinyurl.com/6rc6s7

Boy were they awful. 47-107 that year.

Maybe it's like Poltergeist.

This could be a reason why baseball in the Olympics has problems.

Enough with all of this lightning!

I like the pole vault. So much potential.

If I had a camera just now on my drive back down PCH I'd definitely be in national geographic, the lightening was out of control.

http://tinyurl.com/5uvzfj

Will Sheriff John preside at the funeral?

Let's wait about 13 hours to see if that happens.

That should cut down his chances of an inside the park home run significantly.

One is past his prime, and the other may be. But still.

I also should give Torre credit for his handlng of Kuo lately--along with other smarter personnel moves--since I've been fairly critical of him earlier.

Also, maybe good for a smile--Joe Biddle of the Tennessean, in a preview column for Titans/Raiders preseason game, talking about the Raiders' O-line===

"While the Rams' offensive line was marshmallow-like, the Raiders' line is as nasty as a bus station sirloin."

Not bad.

Of course, the Dodgers could've been on their own 8-game winning streak right now, if not for those two damn games in SF last weekend. ARGH.

I really need to get over that.

The 1955 club had HOF in the 2-3-4 spots (Reese, Snider, Campanella).

On quick glance, the closest Dodger team I can remember with 2 potential HOF in the 3-4 spots was the 1991 club, with Strawberry 3rd & Murray 4th. But of course Strawberry let his career burn and didn't make the HOF he seemed destined to join.

Maybe Don Sutton should have batted 3rd in 1972 since Frank Robinson was the cleanup hitter! :)

http://earlpomerantz.blogspot.com/2008/08/why-canadian-football-is-better-than.html

1. CFL field is longer and wider
2. CFL end zone is deeper
3. No "fair catch", no touchbacks, and you can choose to punt a received punt during the same play
4. Three downs instead of four

I'm not opposed to CFL being better than NFL, but I don't know that these reasons are very compelling. The first two suffer from the same problem, which is that there has to be some limit on the size of the field, such that bigger is not necessarily better. At some point, the field gets "too big", and it's not clear whether the CFL has passed that point or not.

The other two reasons are really just a matter of preference. I don't see a clear advantage either way.

Jayson Stark
Live chat
espn.com
10 a.m.
Let him have it

My ears are still ringing.

One of the lamest CFL rules is that if a play ends in the final seconds of a quarter and the clock is still running, the offense is guaranteed another play even if the clock expires before they get off the snap.

CFL vs NFL has been a subject of controversy in Canada in recent days, because the Buffalo Bills are playing an exhibition game in Toronto. Some people think -- or possibly just hope -- the NFL is testing the Toronto market for its suitability to have an NFL franchise. CFL fans are really getting upset about this, because they think the NFL expanding into Canada would endanger the CFL.

ps - I don't really think Arena Football is all that interesting.

464 - you mean the Baltimore franchise that use to wear a horse head on its helmets without having an official nickname/mascot?

I have to assume there is some price at which a team will take him. But that team might not be of any interest to Pierre if it won't start him.

Can we sell him to Japan?

Anything Syncho should be banned to the Circus.

Many hanger on admin/judges would need to find real work. I hate seeing the parade of nations and see more admin people then athletes. Actually I hate seeing the admin people. The parade should be for the athletes and coaches and maybe throw in some models. But that is it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Football_World_Cup

Otherwise, yeah, I don't know.

Pedro Alvarez, Buster Posey, etc. - you're on the clock.

I doubt it. See Kyle Kendrick.

If we sign Manny to a not massively backloaded contract we're looking at something like

Russell Martin: ~6,000,000
James Loney: ~500,000
Ivan DeJesus: ~400,000
Chin-Lung Hu: ~400,000
Blake DeWitt: ~420,000
Manny Ramirez: ~22,000,000
Matt Kemp: ~500,000
Andre Ethier: ~2,500,000

Chad Billingsley: ~500,000
Brad Penny: 9,250,000
Hiroki Kuroda: 10,000,000
Clayton Kershaw: ~420,000
James McDonald: ~400,000

Andruw Jones: 17,100,000
Juan Pierre: 10,000,000
Tony Abreu: ~420,000
Delwyn Young: ~420,000
Backup Catcher: ~800,000

Takashi Saito: ~5,000,000
Jonathan Broxton: ~2,000,000
Scott Proctor: ~1,500,000
Hong-Chih Kuo: ~1,500,000
Corey Wade: ~420,000
Ramon Troncoso: ~420,000
Eric Stutls: ~420,000

Other
Jason Schmidt: 16,000,000
Rafael Furcal: 4,000,000
Nomar Garciaparra: 1,250,000
Esteban Loaiza: 375,000

=114.975 million

It's possible that this can go about 15 million lower if we let go of Penny, Saito, and Proctor and I overestimated arbitration, but if we let go of those guys, it's just more holes that need to be filled.

Basically, if we want to re-sign Manny and be a competitive team, some salary has to go.

You seem to have some maximum payroll value in mind above which McCourt will not/cannot go. What is that value, and where does it come from?

You may be right about the 120m max,

But could it be that McCourt is just tired of Ned wasting his money.

Can you imagine the kind of talent we could have, had someone other than Ned spent the money he has spent since he got here.

Darnit!

Someone put me out of my misery.

Team Payrolls:

Tampa Bay: $43 million
Florida: $22 million

...by OPSing .650

The fact that the Dodgers have so many young cheap players under their control (Jacksonville 5 + Guo + Kershaw et al) is really saving Colletti's job. And he had almost nothing (Ethier) to do with those players, besides not trading them for PVL.
vr, Xei

Unfortunately (or fortunately) when you take over a business you get both the good and the bad left from the guy who had it before you. And often you get to reap the credit if things go well even if you had not a whole lot to do it.

11

Martin, Kent, Andruw, Furcal, Nomar, Manny, Lowe, Penny, Saito, Park, and Loaiza