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2008 Season

Dodger home record: 50-35 (.588)
When Jon attended: 9-5 (.643)
When Jon didn't: 41-30 (.577)

1991-2008

Dodgers at home: 795-635 (.556)
Jon attended: 302-238 (.559)*
Jon didn't: 498-404 (.552)
* includes road games attended

2009 Payroll Worksheet

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

The 2008 Dodgers

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Selected Recent Ex-Dodgers

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Vin Scully Is Year to Year ... Aren't We All?
2008-09-06 07:10
by Jon Weisman

Vin Scully announced he would return to broadcast Dodger games for a 60th season in 2009, reports Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. Happy days for all mankind ...

* * *

Andre Ethier's 5-for-5 night compelled me to search for what I decided to call Yahtzee games: games in which a player's boxscore line read "5 5 5 5." (If you want a fifth 5, you can count plate appearances.) I knew Steve Garvey had one, on August 28, 1977 when he hit two homers and three doubles, but since 1956, according to Baseball-Reference.com, there has been only one other: Larry Parrish of Montreal, just three months before Garvey's.

Update: No, Yahtzee games don't have to be all 5s. I just thought those were pretty cool. There have been no 6 6 6 6 games, but here are some 4 4 4 4 games (none with just four plate appearances). Randy Wolf once had a 3 3 3 3 game with three plate appearances.

Comments (59)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2008-09-06 07:23:47
1.   bhsportsguy
Nice one Jon, and yes we are.

Should be a nice day at the ballpark, I'll be there, thinking of bringing some "Lee's Sandwiches" to the game.

2008-09-06 07:26:36
2.   Bob Timmermann
Why don't we all pull up a chair and join Vin for today's game?

Except Vin won't be at today's game since it's on Fox.

2008-09-06 07:31:09
3.   D4P
Why don't 1-1-1-1, 2-2-2-2, 3-3-3-3, etc. count as "Yahtzee" games too? Why just 5-5-5-5?
2008-09-06 07:31:41
4.   Gen3Blue
Now I have to find out the other Fox games and start doing rain dances. I've had a nice run of not using Gameday.
2008-09-06 07:33:16
5.   fracule
Garvey also had a 'full house'.
2008-09-06 07:38:40
6.   Jon Weisman
3 - You're right. That ruins everything, but you're right.
2008-09-06 07:43:32
7.   bhsportsguy
0-8 Opponents - 54 runs, Dodgers - 15 runs
6-0 Opponents - 13 runs, Dodgers - 40 runs

Dodger starters - 0-7 during the losing streak, 6-0 during the winning streak.

2008-09-06 08:04:23
8.   Gagne55
I am so going to be at the game today.
2008-09-06 08:04:41
9.   whodat807
You could call it the Domino's 5-5-5-5 deal!

Also, though I have mixed feelings about Simers, I highly applaud his berating of Rick Reilly. I hate that guy.

2008-09-06 08:08:47
10.   D4P
Back in the mid-90s when I still ate meat and liked Arby's a lot, I used to take advantage of their "5 for $5" deal, which included 5 sandwiches for $5.
2008-09-06 08:12:39
11.   LogikReader
Where can you even find an Arby's anymore? I've only seen the big yellow one in Ventura.
2008-09-06 08:24:18
12.   Bob Timmermann
There are lots of Arby's around Southern California and throughout the U.S.

There are 10 of them within a 20 mile radius of my home.

2008-09-06 08:33:46
13.   regfairfield
Reason my ex was insane #431

"What do you want for dinner tonight?"

"I'm feelin' Arby's."

2008-09-06 08:36:15
14.   D4P
Yeah. Wanting Arby's for dinner probably isn't a good sign in a woman.
2008-09-06 08:39:10
15.   Bob Timmermann
Marge Gunderson likes Arby's and she's close to my ideal woman.
2008-09-06 08:39:50
16.   Disabled List
Arby's used to be a traditional post-race track stop for me and my friends. After spending an afternoon at Santa Anita, we'd go there and symbolically feast on the losers we had just bet on.
2008-09-06 08:40:43
17.   Sam PHL
4. I'm not sure where you are, but Mets-Phillies has been postponed. I'm hoping FOX has enough sense to show the Dodgers game here instead of DET-MIN.
2008-09-06 08:41:40
18.   D4P
Arby's "Jamocha" shakes were a favorite of mine. I used them to wash down Ham n' Cheese Melts and Regular Roast Beefs, which I bought because they were cheap. I preferred the Cheddar Melts, but they weren't on the 99 cent value menu.
2008-09-06 08:42:31
19.   Bob Timmermann
And Game 1 of the Baltimore-Oakland twinbill is off. They are still going to try for the night game.

But not play on Sunday.

2008-09-06 08:43:38
20.   bhsportsguy
Hmmm, regfairfield quoting Seinfeld, what's next?
2008-09-06 08:45:23
21.   Bob Timmermann
20
Wasn't he around 4 years old when the show went off the air?
2008-09-06 08:45:53
22.   Marty
Aw hon, you're gettin Arbys on me.
2008-09-06 08:46:37
23.   Marty
I think I may have been at that Garvey game. I certainly remember him doing it.
2008-09-06 08:49:46
24.   whodat807
So will MLBtv get blacked out on the east coast if the game's on the Fox's west coast feed?

Btw, I'm quite tired of all this weather out here on the east coast. Give it a rest, Mother Nature.

2008-09-06 08:50:25
25.   regfairfield
20 I did?
2008-09-06 08:52:11
26.   bhsportsguy
24 I thought there was a blackout of all games on Saturday afternoon due to Fox's exclusive window.
2008-09-06 08:57:55
27.   Eric Enders
Kirk Gibson once had a fairly memorable 1 1 1 1 game.
2008-09-06 08:58:36
28.   Jon Weisman
27 - I can recall a big 1 1 1 2 that he had ...
2008-09-06 08:58:45
29.   D4P
27
And an even more memorable 1 1 1 2 game.
2008-09-06 09:00:35
30.   Eric Enders
You guys are no fun. [Slaps forehead]
2008-09-06 09:02:59
31.   bhsportsguy
25 It is not an exact quote but here is the scene Bob and I were thinking about.

"The Burning"

ELAINE: So where do you wanna eat?
PUDDY: Feels like an Arby's night.

2008-09-06 09:03:40
32.   Eric Enders
Turns out no Dodger pitcher has ever had a game with 5 IP, 5 hits, 5 runs, and 5 strikeouts, but Carlos Zambrano did have one for the Cubs last year.
2008-09-06 09:03:51
33.   Eric Enders
Or in 2006 rather.
2008-09-06 09:10:50
34.   cargill06
Ethier has raised his OPS 90 points since July 30th. From .776 to to .866
2008-09-06 09:12:46
35.   cargill06
What can you attribute to a guy in his mid 20's without an injury going from a +16 in RF last year in RF to a -14 this year? (Ethier)
2008-09-06 09:16:36
36.   popup
In that Gibson game, Vin was at least one for one. No other team has a broadcaster who has matched the highlight performances of the franchise with highlight performances of his own in describing those performances the way Vinny has. The Russ Hodges call of the Thomson homerun I suppose would be equivilant, but I can't think of too many others. Vin's call of the Gibson homerun, Sandy's perfect game and Fernando's no-hitter were has sparkling as the feats he was describing. Welcome back God willing for another year Vin.

Stan from Tacoma

2008-09-06 09:21:18
37.   Jon Weisman
30 - I already got burned myself this morning, so I was due for a rebound.
2008-09-06 09:23:18
38.   Eric Stephen
Shawn Green's big day was a 6 6 6 7 game. Ohhh so close.
2008-09-06 09:26:57
39.   Eric Stephen
344
Manny is close behind, raising his OPS 72 points since July 31.
2008-09-06 09:29:38
40.   bhsportsguy
39 Ethier and Manny are 1, 2 in OPS leaders for the last 7 days. Blake and Berroa are in the top 25.
2008-09-06 09:30:41
41.   Bradley Strong
Having just read the great article in S.I. on Vinny, it's always nice to hear that there will be one more year. As I watched the Dodgers Live post-game interview with Andre Ethier, it really felt as though Ethier was giving a little back to Vin and somewhat dissing Kent with respect to hitting in front of Manny. Maybe I was reading too much into it, but it really seemed as though all of his answers were the complete opposite language used a couple of weeks ago in the Kent vs. Scully tiff.
2008-09-06 09:33:34
42.   Eric Stephen
Matt Luke was the last of 4 Dodgers since 1956 to have a Yahtzee 3 game:

http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/VbsN

Russ Martin had a Yahtzee 2 game last September, one of 17 since 1956:

http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/KHvR

There have been numerous Yahtzee 1 games, the last being Andruw Jones' pinch HR in the St. Louis comeback (and eventual loss) game.

2008-09-06 09:33:38
43.   bhsportsguy
41 I think it was just what Ethier believes, the players really don't hear what Vin says (aside from that fateful night that Gibson had his 1112 line).

And I doubt Ethier has any idea about the ruckus stirred by Simers.

2008-09-06 09:35:12
44.   Gagne55
27 I'd imagine 1 1 1 1 games would be fairly common. Any pinch hit solo homer or rather any pinch hit RBI in which the batter later scores would do it.
2008-09-06 09:35:23
45.   bhsportsguy
42 So you will be battling Bob today in the baseball reference search war?
2008-09-06 09:37:11
46.   KingKopitar
It would be hilarious if Ethier became the best young player on the team and then left at the earliest opportunity because he felt slighted by the way he was treated.

Hilarious to everyone else but us, I guess.

2008-09-06 09:38:25
47.   Eric Stephen
45
I prefer to think of it as complementing each other.

Back to 1 , are "Lee's sandwiches" the ones you brought to the Friday Cleveland game?

2008-09-06 09:38:49
48.   bhsportsguy
46 He may leave but it will for the reason all players leave when given the chance, more money.
2008-09-06 09:39:07
49.   Eric Stephen
46
Much like a kick in the crotch, it's funny to everyone except the kickee.
2008-09-06 09:39:37
50.   old dodger fan
Ozzie Guillen yesterday after ordering up an IW to Pedroia: "I just walked a jockey"
Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2008-09-06 09:40:07
51.   bhsportsguy
47 No, that was "Marios" in Glendale.

Lee's are Bahn mi sandwiches.

2008-09-06 09:40:56
52.   Jon Weisman
43 - I don't know - Ethier seems pretty media-aware to me. He is a blogger, after all!
2008-09-06 09:43:47
53.   Jon Weisman
NPUT
2008-09-06 09:44:54
54.   bhsportsguy
52 But he didn't order the zuchinni blossoms at his last Pizza Mozza, how credible can he be.

One thing I have noticed is that Ethier is pulling the ball a little more during this recent hitting streak, it may be that teams are working him inside and also throwing more breaking stuff that he can pull or go up the middle.

2008-09-06 09:45:14
55.   surfing slug
Not sure if this has been mentioned, but I find it kind of interesting Ethier credits Manny for hitting well in front of him, while Kent is offended at the notion he's benefiting from hitting in front of Manny. I suppose it speaks to the person.
2008-09-06 09:47:16
56.   Jon Weisman
55, see 41
2008-09-06 09:47:20
57.   Marty
The Dodgers have gone on this great tear since Kent went down. Maybe there's something to this chemistry business.

/gas-on-fire

2008-09-06 09:51:49
58.   surfing slug
Thanks, John. My bad. Great post, Bradley!
2008-09-06 09:54:10
59.   GoBears
Someone in the last thread suggested that we hold a ceremony to officially bury the "3.5" nickname.

I object. The nickname was originally intended to be ironic, and Ethier's recent emergence only makes the irony sweeter.

Besides, it beats my wife's nickname for him, which is "Pretty Boy."

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