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"Dodger Thoughts, like TiVo, is one of those things you can completely do without until you start using it."
- Fanerman
SI.com
NL West Preview
Evaluating Defense
Colletti and Depo
World Baseball Classic
Minor League Broadcasters
Slow Starts
Eric Gagne
Groundball Pitchers
Dodger Prospects
Albert Pujols
Humbled Angels
You Be the Manager
Eric Gagne II
Unreliable Relievers
Revived Angels
It's Okay To Sell
Dodger Turnaround
Andre Ethier
Padres-Dodgers Showdown
NL Final Weekend
Mets-Dodgers NLDS
Postseason ratings
NL Wish Lists
Manny vs. J.D.
McGwire Controversy
Dodger Offense
Trainers Matter
Variety
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SAG Awards
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2004-05 Rookie Dramas
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Topher Grace
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Writing on Improv Shows
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T.R. Knight
Guest Actors
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Joey Carson and Tennis
Donald Trump and Golf
2006 Emmys Nominees*
*Comedy Series
*Comedy Director
*Comedy Writer
*Comedy Actor
*Comedy Supporting Actor
Blue's Clues
Lizzy Caplan
Ann Donahue
CMT: Giants
CMA Awards
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Showrunners vs. Censors
Little Children
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Knights of Prosperity
Office Online
2007 Screenplay Noms
Friday Night Lights
Robert Benton
ABC Fridays
Rookie Actors
Global Casting
2007 Pilot Casting
Sublime Slime
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.
So, where do the Dodgers' last two victories qualify on the Heart-o-Meter? Chips are down, almost everyone has given up on them, and they beat two of the best pitchers in baseball. Do they get any spirit points for those? Or, at least, can we say that maybe the eight-game losing streak was an issue of performance and not character?
Or will this weekend be labeled the way Jonathan Broxton would be labeled - it wasn't really a pressure situation, so it doesn't count?
Me, I'm hoping that if nothing else, the two victories will put the moral judgments to rest for a while.
Is your need to have everyone's opinion on this issue so great? Or could it be you just can't resist bringing up a topic just to see if it will aggravate me?
Because, after all, what would Dodger Thoughts be without a good discussion of the politics of statutory rape?
If you feel compelled to put "Not to wade too close to Rule 5 territory" or "Without treading upon Rule 5," (which I certainly have done; the urge to share w/in a community is strong!) it's probably far better just to leave it alone.
/high horse to which I am not entitled anyways
A lot.
The Yankees lead the Tigers 11-2 in the third.
Peter Gammons claimed that the Dodgers front office and/or coaches were interested in signing Jason Varitek to play catcher and Martin to third.
I broke FOUR monocles during Sunday night's game.
Beating Webb and Haren should bring this team a load of confidence. But, it also means they have the potential to break our heart-o-meter. Beating Haren, Webb and TCY back to back to back would send the heart-o-meter into a frenzy.
However, I don't want to know which candidate any of our posters favor or why. This is going to be yet another 50-50 type of election, the fifth in a row. It's a divisive time. DT is a respite from it.
Ethier vs. Chris Young lifetime:
9 for 19 with 4 HR's, 2 doubles and 3 walks.
.474/.545/1.211/1.756
Young is coming off the DL from a strained right forearm and has not pitched in three weeks.
I can only watch Tennessee/UCLA, but I would have probably concentrated on that one anyways, but change back and forth.
Only the fourth inning.
Do you really think none of that was questionable, considering that I explicitly reminded you not to address the campaign here three days ago?
Without trying to explain myself further, I will let that be the last word on the subject.
E:60 is younger and hipper. The reporters sit around a table and talk about stories with hand held cameras documenting their spontaneous conversation. The reporters jump out of subways and start talking on their cell phones.
Outside the Lines is for old guys in their 40s.
1. Martin 2. Kemp 3. Ethier 4. Manny 5. Loney 6. Casey Blake 7. Blake DeWitt 8. Hu
Let's try this hard-hitting story, me interviewing another NFL star.
I miss a game when I'm traveling? After the box score & recap, I at scan through the DT game thread because I want to get a feel for how the game unfolded with this community. I also very much relish all the insight some of the DT regulars contribute (baseball-related or otherwise). I've become spoiled by this, and I'm reminded by this whenever Bob step away from his computer for more than an hour and a question needs an answer. If some Dodger or other sports news breaks, I can't wait to see what Enders, Bob, Molly, D4P, natepurcell, ToyCannon or Eric S. have to say about it. And when controversial general news breaks (especially political), I find myself quite curious about what this intelligent, humorous & informed group would say about it. But I know it can't be said here.
Is there anyway to have it both ways? Perhaps any potential Rule X violation discussions be moved wild lands of The Griddle?
Dodgers.com has the clip reel of Manny going 4 for 5 on Saturday. This is the first time I got to see the Dbacks Broadcasters' reaction to Manny's huge night on Saturday. With a little vintage Garagiola to boot!
"Oh yeah, you're not going to change that hit to an error?, NO MORE SHEETS FOR YOU!"
Or its just a case of protecting an injury prone player.
Will be at the Rose Bowl today. Fortunately my girlfriend has an iPhone so I can check the Dodger score at the game.
That is if the Verizon signal comes through. It tends to get jammed up with big crowds.
I would say that after the game, I will be able to sing all of "Rocky Top," but I think I already can.
If the Nats play the rest of the season at home, anything's possible.
Though I do fear unregulated comments by that group would ruin my laptop due to the frequency of spit takes it would create. Not to mention what it would cost in monocles.
No word yet if Eric McNeal is playing.
We can all agree that the NL West race is over now that the Diamondbacks have acquired David Eckstein. Eckstein is the Ringo Starr of recent years in the MLB, and I mean that as no insult to either David or Mr. Starkey. Eckstein's a fine role player, a small-ball wizard, and a way better shortstop than anyone with his arm strength ought to be. Ringo was a great drummer and by far the best actor among the Beatles. In both cases those skills have little to nothing to do with the massive successes the two had in their careers; they piggybacked on the skills of others. Nonetheless, don't be surprised if the D-Backs now go on to win it all.
And the D-Backs now have the scrappy awesomeness of both David Eckstein AND Augie Ojeda.
There just seems to be a desire for a subset of this community to comment very openly about some topics. I just want to see that if it happens, unofficially or otherwise.
Nadal isn't really losing in the 3rd set: they're on serve.
I'm thinking it might have been Chad Fonville. Although Eckstein is a lot better than Fonville.
Mike Edwards could have been that guy, but he couldn't pull it off.
>> Mired in the minor leagues for 14 long years, 51s first baseman John Lindsey has been driven by the dream that he one day would make it to the majors.
Unfortunately for the 31-year-old slugger, that day won't be today when big league rosters are expanded. <<
http://www.lvrj.com/sports/27731739.html
Plus, today is September 1. August is the cruelest month. Now we're in a sprint.
I think Roberts was taller than Eckstein, though. Is that still along the lines of what you were thinking, Bob?
>> Shortstop Ivan DeJesus Jr. extended his hitting streak to 23 games with a first-inning home run to lead the Jacksonville Suns past Montgomery 4-2 in a Southern League game Sunday night at Riverwalk Stadium. <<
## DeJesus' hitting streak is the longest of the season in the Southern League. He has 37 hits during the past 23 games, and only five have been extra-base hits (one double, four homers). ##
http://tinyurl.com/5pdwlu
Awesome, let's continue to get Bronco receivers that aren't any good.
Here will be every play with Ashley Lelie:
Run straight down the field for a long bomb.
I'm under the impression that Eddie Gaedel is taller than Eckstein.
I'm here on my couch watching the Cardinals and Dbacks game getting to choose between the very good Cardinals broadcasters and the... well "entertaining" Dbacks broadcasters.
This is much better than work.
Yeah, he seems to be injury-prone, but at least there is some real upside there.
The key part of being an Eckstein is to be a little guy whom the scouts didn't think would be any good.
I feel like I haven't been around all that much lately. Or not paying attention to what's happening.
Young is just off the DL and LeBlanc is making his Major League debut.
Dodgers come home refreshed by wins
>> Webb is scheduled to face the Dodgers again Saturday. <<
http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_10353510
Whenever I've tried to watch MLB.TV basic this season, it's always frozen and been useless. But Audio has always worked perfectly. Does anyone know what's going on? I don't particularly want to spend $29 for upgrading - if that even works.
FireFox 3.0.1 in Mac 10.5.4. It's always worked OK here.
http://griddle.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1116050.html
What a deceitful way to treat customers.
Anyway, TV isn't freezing today, but only showing the bottom half of the screen! I'll have to switch to Audio, as usual.
Ludwick still has a gruesome BB-K ratio.
Because he suddenly figured it out by playing in Las Vegas, a notorious hitter's park? I feel bad that Lindsey isn't able to make it with a team, but that doesn't mean the Dodgers should be the team that gives him that opportunity. There's about ten people ahead of Lindsey that's already on the 40 man, might as well let a player like D. Young use those precious at bats instead of a guy like Lindesy who won't help this team next year.