Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Jon's other site:
Screen Jam
TV and more ...
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
Though Hong-Chih Kuo took the loss Sunday, he and three other Dodger relievers are on the verge of doing something unprecedented.
Since 1901, no quartet of relievers from one team in major-league baseball has ever had each member post adjusted ERAs of at least 200, with a minimum of 40 innings pitched in a season.
In addition, not since 1968 and only once since 1916 has a team had four relievers with ERAs at 2.25 or below.
The Dodger reliever numbers:
| Name | Innings | ERA | ERA+ |
| Joe Beimel | 43 2/3 | 2.06 | 214 |
| Hong-Chih Kuo | 80 | 2.14* | 207 |
| Takashi Saito | 41 1/3 | 2.18 | 203 |
| Cory Wade | 64 | 2.25 | 196 |
| Chan Ho Park | 90 2/3 | 2.88* | 153 |
| Jonathan Broxton | 63 2/3 | 3.25 | 136 |
*Kuo has a 1.69 ERA as reliever; Park has a 3.15 ERA as a reliever.
In order to get ERAs below 2.00, Beimel needs to pitch 1 2/3 shutout innings, Saito four and Wade 8 1/3. Perhaps the most memorable bullpen in Dodger history, the 2003 unit, had three such players: Eric Gagne (1.20), Paul Quantrill (1.75) and Guillermo Mota (1.97).
Two weeks to go.
* * *
Surmising that Adrian Beltre might have played his last game for the Seattle Mariners, Dave Cameron of U.S.S. Mariner reviews Beltre's four years there and pronounces him a success.
As a Mariner, Beltre has hit .267/.320/.455, which works out to about five percent better than a league average hitter would perform playing half his games in Safeco. Five percent may not sound like much, but a sustained advantage over four years adds up, and Beltre’s been worth about a total of 1.5 wins above an average hitter while wearing a Mariner jersey.
Of course, we all know that Beltre isn’t just a hitter - he’s also one of the best defensive third baseman alive, and he’s been a tremendous asset with the glove as well. ...
The Mariners have paid Adrian Beltre about $50 million over the last four years, including annual salaries and a prorated portion of his signing bonus. $50 million for 13.5 wins works out to about $3.7 million per win - the going rate for a free agent the last few years has been between $4 and $5 million per win.
No matter how you slice it, Adrian Beltre has been a relative bargain for the Mariners - a high quality player signed to a below market contract. Often maligned for his contract by those who don’t understand how valuable he’s been, Beltre has been one of the shining lights in a stretch of dark seasons.
If we really have seen the last of Adrian Beltre, it’ll be a shame. The Mariners need more players like Beltre, not less. I’m afraid that Beltre is doomed, however, to be the next Mike Cameron - wildly underrated during his time here and highly valuable to the teams that employ him after the M’s cut him loose. The Mariners have never been able to replace Cameron in the outfield, and it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to replace Beltre at third anytime soon.
Beltre turns 30 on April 7.
* * *
El Cholo is hosting an evening with Tommy Davis. For more information, check out the ad on the right-hand sidebar.
(yeah ... I'm smokin' something)
Dodger Runs/Game
Home: 4.17
Away: 4.32
Dodger ERA
Home: 2.93
Road: 4.43
The 1.5 run difference in ERA is the 3rd largest in the league.
KINSHASA , Congo -- At least 11 people were killed in a stadium riot in eastern Congo after a soccer player tried to use witchcraft to win a local match, U.N.-backed Radio Okapi reported on Monday.
http://tinyurl.com/5oksgk
http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/vdpz
I figure he will end up with at least 367 home runs putting him between 7-10 on the all time list.
Anyone else like Beltre as a Dodger?
Dunno.
Digging into the mountain for the new concessions may have had bigger ramifications then expected.
This is funny in that for the last few years I've been wasting energy telling people who insisted that Dodger Stadium was a pitchers park that they were wrong, only to have it turn back into a pitchers park.
Dodger BP has been ACE!
At least Kemp and Kershaw have officially been removed from trade discussions.
Would you be interested in Robinson Cano or Melky Cabrera?
Wouldn't Jeter be a better CF then Cano?
I like him, but I really doubt we'll see him in a Dodger Uni.
Beltre (age 30) 25 HR/ .266/.327/.457
Blake (age 34) 20 HR/ .279/.348/.469
I'd be OK with either one of them in '09 but if I had to give one a 4 yr contract it would be Beltre. Problem is we would have to give up something else to Seattle to get Beltre.
They would have to because it would be a below average offensive quartet.
D Lowe would sure love that infield. As much as I'm a fan of Ben Sheets I'd rather take a chance on the dependability of Lowe over the next 3 years then Sheets.
If Beltre had been healthy I'd much rather have traded Santana and Meloan for him then Blake.
0
Great stuff on our bullpen. Without a doubt it is our strongest suit as we head into the playoffs provided Kuo is healthy. When BHSPORTSGUY said Wade was our rookie of the year, I sniggered but since he came back he has continued to prove how valuable he is to the team. I'll have to take back my snigger.
Yeah, the bullpen has been so impressive. It's like the great unsung hero (as a unit) of the Dodgers that gets almost zero press outside of LA, but maybe that's just as well.
Here's a link to a Pitt. Pirates notebook on how their GM still has hopes for Andy LaRoche but its curious on the things he says that Andy needs to improve over the off-season. One thing that stand outs for me, 8 errors in a little over a month.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08259/912234-63.stm
That sounds a lot like what Torre says about JP, justifying JP in the lineup earlier in the year.
Yesterday, LaRoche's three hits all went to right field, part of what he described as "finally relaxing" with the new approach Long is instilling. The coaching staff's primary focus has been addressing a timing issue between LaRoche's upper and lower body.
"We've been tinkering with just about everything, and I've been going up there all stiff trying to keep everything in place," LaRoche said. "Today, I just made up my mind to stop thinking. Just relax. Get comfortable. Go with the pitch you get."
I'll definitely check it out. Greag cuisine from what I've been told.
I would love to hear him talk about the injury and what he had to do to come back from it. A lot of people thought he was done.
Also, seems like the Dodgers have had fewer home day games this year, and the ball seems to travel better in the day (both at Dodger Stadium and Angel Stadium) than it does at night.
Just spit balling here.
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080914&content_id=3473642&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la
Garciaparra is also hurting enough that Torre said he is unsure whether the veteran is physically capable of being the team's everyday shortstop again. Torre said that physical limitations, not performance, are the reason Garciaparra is not starting regularly.
Garciaparra said he remains hindered by the problems that affected him last month, when he started 14 of the Dodgers' 17 games on Aug. 12-29.
The strained calves that sent Garciaparra to the disabled list in April continue to bother him. So does the sprained knee that landed him on the disabled list in August.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/printedition/la-sp-dodgers15-2008sep15,0,274937.story
The Koufax-Drysdale holdout inspired the owners to put in a collective bargaining rule that eliminates "package deals."
had his first child, got married (yes in that order) and bought a house with his major league salary in Daniel Z's neighborhood
If you read the underlined part out of context, it can sound like you're saying Daniel earns quite a hefty salary from BYU, rather than that Wade bought a house in Utah. :)
Does he have any investment capital that is not tied up in real estate or the Dodgers?
Maybe you're right, but spell it out for me. I don't follow at all.
It was quite a dowry.
In hindsight, the Dodgers should have signed Beltre to that same contract that Seattle did after his 2004 season. It hurt to see a home-grown talent like Adrian leave at such a young age, and the Dodgers have never managed to fill the void. But dealing with Boras can be such a nightmare.
I hope our Blake becomes a star just for the Nike "Just DeWitt" marketing campaign!
vr, Xei
I would take Mangel over Furdruw....
I like the all glove no hit infield of DeWitt, Hu, DeJesus, and Loney, with Ethier, Kemp, Manny in the OF....all the while Berroa backs up at 2nd and short, while providing Jack Haley good vibes.
Now what to give up in trade for him is a different question.
Signing a free-agent young as the Mariners did, you get the flip-side of something we talked about before. We talked about signing older free agents to multi-term deals, knowing you only get great production for the first one or two years and just considering not the marginal value of the third year at the third year price, but the expected total contribution over three years for the three year price.
In Beltre's case, they may have overpaid the first year or two, but the market has had its normal inflation and now they can reasonably say that they are paying him fairly or even underpaying him.
I didn't catch it till late last night also Eric... from the highlights, his fastball had a lot of great late movement in 'em.
Furdruw will be at Fudruckers signing burgers this coming off season.
As a group middle relief pitchers must be the Taco Bell on the salary food chain
What position is the partner, the KFC if you will? I nominate backup catcher.
In retrospect I'd rather have had Beltre over the last 4 years then Jeff Kent. It would be interesting to ponder what the team make up would be if Kent had never set foot in LA.
"I'm a little confused right now," Zambrano said. "I still can't believe it. It's a great feeling, and it's a feeling that you can't describe. To throw a no-hitter is good, man. This is one of the few things in baseball that you most enjoy."
you can FEEL his excitement
KFC is not cheap, while Taco Bell is. I was not referring to the quality of the food.
I guess they just didn't bother to pack any for the trip as they are heading out on a real road trip.
Beltre has had OPS+s of 93, 105, 112, and 109 to go with stellar defense.
Kent has had OPS+s of 133, 119, 121, and 89, to go with... well, let's call it poor-and-getting-worse defense.
I don't root for Kent other than as a member of the Dodgers -- I've never liked him as a player. But there's no doubting the man could hit. Beltre over Kent for 2005-2008? Maybe. It depends on how much you value Beltre's defense. I would think that even if you rate Beltre over Kent, it would be close.
Shea Hillenbrand was awarded an infield single on a ground ball even though he was clearly out, from our stellar vantage point on the top deck! :) Zambrano retired the next 3 hitters, so in my mind I've witnessed a no-hitter in person!
Congratulations on #2, Big Z. You can use this memory to console yourself after the NLDS Game 1 shellacking.
But are there that many stand alone Taco Bells or KFCs anymore? It seems that they're always paired up together.
Forgot to link to the game:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ARI/ARI200308220.shtml
Even for only 1 year of service, you are talking about one of the top ten third baseman in all of baseball who plays gold glove defense, is only 30, and is not currently overpaid. A guy like that will not come cheap.
I think Pierre will be a Red next season.
Production wise it would be close, but I think a clubhouse with Beltre over a clubhouse with Kent would have been better for this team over the last three years. For one thing I think Depo would still be here.
I posted the other day on what it would take to get Beltre. If you traded for Beltre, you would have to be able to sign him for more than one year. However, his agent is Boras who usually takes his players to free agency, so I am doubtful it will happen for the Dodgers. Wonder if the M's would take Jones and a prospect for Beltre, we would have to pay some of the Jones contract?
Those who have raised the potential conflict of interest question Boras being the rep for both Manny and Jones definitely brings up conflict of interest. I would love to ask an agent this exact question, especially since Ramirez seems to be such a good fit for LA, and Jones doesn't have a place here.
Okay, I'm with ya -- Beltre over Kent for the past four years. To the Wayback Machine! :-)
This is what Scareduck and others are talking about when they decry the deadline deals Ned made. I understand how the deals have hurt our future prospects, but I'd still rather be in this pennant race and worry about future pennant races then stood pat and play for next year.
Our old friend Reggie may be one of the worse offensive major league baseball players in this decade who keeps getting chances.
Beltre over Kent for 2005 to 2008? That is a tough call. I think Toy Cannon is factoring in Kent's clubhouse presence into the equation which makes things more difficult to access. Kent clearly does not mesh with the young players or Dominicans as well as Beltre does. But Kent's offense for the first three years was outstanding despite his age.
BTW, the Giants are a sweep away from being a half game out of second.
However, I'm not getting my hopes up for that. I think there's very little chance that we'll actually get that infield next year. There will be at least one free agent starting infielder signing. That's a prediction, not an endorsement.
I wonder how much that will change when they move to a new ballpark.
Beltre: 78 VORP, +70 defense
Kent: 136.3 VORP, -48 defense
It's close, but I'd give a slight edge to Beltre in overall performance. Kent's been a lot cheaper though.
The Cubs have been at home since Thursday night, they get an easy bus trip to and from Milwaukee, they'll be home in time for dinner tonight before Houston even leaves for Florida.
The Mariners will not be in a strong bargaining position until ST and may have to wait until June to see what they can get for Beltre.
If they can get some decent offense out of 1B, and get some level of performance from Washburn and Silva, they might not be terrible.
http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/hwcd
https://griddle.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1129582.html
I believe the crux of Jeter's "over-ratedness" is his defense.
And the degree of dreaminess of his eyes.
One thing's for sure: Bob won't care either way.
I would argue that even his harshest critics recognize his offensive excellence.
(much sarcasim in this comment)
You have to say that in a Tommy Lee Jones voice.
Wait: was I Gerard or Kimble...?
Arod forced himself to 3rd base. He made sure he was a Yankee, if playing SS meant something to him instead of never winning a championshsip then he'd have chosen a different team.
I'm Gerard.
I don't care that D4P didn't kill his wife.
...with the hope that he gets to hand them the ball in his 13th & 14th games as well.
But in the middle of a tough road trip. The Cubs are up next for the Brewers.
Phillies @ Cubs
Dodgers @ Mets
Yes, assuming the Cubs have the best NL record.
Someday, somewhere, you'll have a change of heart and give me one of those soothing (disposable?) implements for sore previously-handcuffed wrists.
Actually, the best record won't matter since the Phillies and Mets are in the same division. My bad.
Dodgers/Cubs if the Brewers/Astros get the WC
Dodgers/Mets if the Phils get it.
Dodgers/Phils if the Mets fall to the WC.
Here's my list;
1. Astros
2. Mets
3. Brewers
4. Phils
5. Cubs
1. Brewers
2. Mets
2. Astros (tie)
4. Phillies
5. Cubs (the pitching in a Dodgers-Cubs series could be phenomenal, however).
Edmonds just hit his 18th home run of the year, 17 have been hit as a Cub. Going into today, he had a .933 OPS as a Cub.
1) Dodgers fans attributing a great deal of success on the season to Cory Wade
2) Astros fans blaming their lack of offense on an injury to Ty Wigginton
I mean, I'm a "bring 'em on" type, but Milwaukee as your #1 matchup? Is it because they're slumping? CC and Sheets in a short series, with a pretty good lineup, could be a problem.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/sports/baseball/15girardi.html?_r=1&ref=baseball&oref=slogin
Thought this was a bit interesting since Torre basically is using the Dodgers bullpen better than I thought coming into the season. Of course it helps that the Dodgers actually has a quality pen.
2. Astros
3. Brewers
4. Phils
5. Mets
For the second straight day the Cubs/Astros game is interesting.
It didn't make much of a difference once the playoffs started.
I'd be happy being within 3 runs of the Mets with 1 out remaining and no one on base. That's probably what a WE of 30%?
I do feel the Astros have been a bit screwed by the whole hurricane/relocation thing, but they have to wake up regardless.
The Astros announcers are a bit peeved that Tampa Bay didn't offer their stadium up for the series.
The Rays are hosting the Red Sox for three games starting today so they couldn't play there today and the Rays certainly weren't going to give up a rare sellout to play a doubleheader.
Peter Gammons NL Rookie of the Year just hit the second 2-run homer of the inning.
163 I agree.
166 I don't trust Kershaw in the pen in the playoffs until he gets more consistant with his control.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=3589399
The Astros had been shut out only once (Johan Santana) in their last 44 games (33-11) prior to last night's no-hitter by Zambrano.
Maybe you have a case of the Melvins:
Yost's ex-boss was Doug Melvin. AZ's current manager is Bob Melvin.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/unfiltered/?p=693
Picture Jeff Goldblum running down a hallway at the White House, he opens the door to a darkened room and yells breathlessly, "They fired Ned Yost!"
A somewhat cynical voice replies, "We know. Sit down."
Was he difficult off the field, by all reports yes, but I think for the Red Sox to suddenly bring up Manny's attitude for dealing him after all of those years of letting it go puts the blame equally on their shoulders.
Emhpasis mine.
I imagine we'd all get a day off every time the CI alarm was sounded.
I hope Andy LaRoche goes 0 for the series and then goes on to have a fine career.
U.S.S. Mariner will cry tears of frustrations.
Blake Article.
A clip to my reference in case you haven't seen the movie. The reference comes in the first 45 seconds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbdXt2K27NU&feature=related
The clip is Mostly SFW.
Error called in Milwaukee. Still interesting.
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2008/9/11/612112/m-s-ownership-management-s
It sounds like they're going to sell soon. Whoever gets the manager's job will be likely gone anyway.
And I've actually met a descendant of Bob Groom! She reads the Griddle!
It's over, it's over now
Yes, you heard me clearly now I said
It's over, it's over now
Martin, C
Pierre, CF
Manny, LF
Loney, 1B
Nomar, 3B
Kemp, RF
DeWitt, 2B
Berroa, SS
Kuroda, P
Also, could we see a Andre PH today?
I've looked, but those records are not listed in the Sporting News Record Book.
What if the Dodgers are getting no-hit? Can we then break rule #9?
222 - 118
disculpas porfavor.
Actually, Miguel is in better shape this year than he has been since his rookie season.
I think 220 has a point. I think it's time to amend the DT constitution for Rule 9
Is that strictly park effects?
Whoa whoa whoa chotchy. I was jk a little bit.
Breathe in.....and then out......
and I'm sure Mr. Weisman doesn't need bodyguards here.
Holy crap!
I like "The Right Stuff" so much that I believe I've seen it close to 30 times. And it's over 3 hours long.
When I saw it in a theater, it had an intermission.
Tim Tebow = Tommie Frazier.
But Rule 9 is a Dodger Thoughts rule, it is not a Griddle rule. Hence there is no Rule 9 to break.
The Griddle's rules of conduct have been established by Potter Stewart.
Due more to the fact that Lilly wouldn't know a complete game if it hit him in the face.
....that's nice
That could explain why Nicolas Cage keeps sneaking in after hours.
I don't know if the event is open to the public or if they are just inviting a select group of appreciative kids. I assume the latter because it's before the library opens.
I won't be there at the time, but I will find out how the storytelling skills of Lou Johnson, Don Newcombe, or Ken Landreaux are.
I got a call Friday from somebody wanting to know which computers at the library would let him copy his 5 1/4" floppy disks.
He said he had several hundred that needed copying.
The answer is: there are no computers at the library that can handle those disks.
Matt Luke - didn't sound like he was doing anything these days.
http://www.chatsworthcouncil.org/messages.php?ID=22
That's what I thought. We do have 3 1/2" drives in our computers, but most patrons use flash drives.
"We can't love in a world where we throw the ball 45 times a game," Neuheisel said.
That should be in a movie trailer.
I wouldn't lose sleep over it.
265. ToyCannon
260
Wow do I feel (bad) for just driving home thinking the police would never let simple civilians help.
"Manny Ramirez vs. Andy LaRoche"
What a mismatch!
Sorry about that.
Are you a current student? I'm close by in Lynchburg attending Liberty University
By the way, did the Padres get their players to be named later yet for Greg Maddux? If not, when is the deadline for their decision?
I heard the wreck was possibly caused because the engineer was text messaging some kids, and missed a stop signal. Wow.
I remember learning base 5, but base 3/4...?
The Funny thing is that the Padres wanted Elbert and McDonald. Talk about chutzpah.
Deck chairs. Titanic. You do the math.
I haven't seen the text message report except on KCBS. Was it verified?
Graffiti has been part of part of Stoney Point for so long I figured the rocks came that way.
If it is true I'd hate to be the person on the receiving end of his last text message knowing the message got in the way of him doing his job.
Re Nintendo ownership tie in to M's
Safeco has nintendo ds wireless capability for free. get almost perfect video in your hands as well as all of the ordering food and pitch Fx stuff.
Do any other teams have this kind of system? I assumed Nintendo was doing it in other parks but I have been to Dodger, Shea and the Bronx this year with it obviously in none of these old parks.
I remember saying it was Adkins/Garate as a wild butt guess.
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_10466129
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_10466142
So basically a prospect is approximately worth a million dollars to the Padres and Dodgers.
http://www.whygavs.com/
The guy you're thinking about is Chris Withrow (our 2007 1st rounder).
Adkins is a 23 year old former college pitcher from Tenn. His numbers aren't great though.
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/A/james-adkins.shtml
Diamond wrote a LaRoche article.
http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/2EbU
Since losing to Todd Ritchie, Jason Schmidt, and Marc Wilkins nine years ago, the Dodgers have made ten trips to Pittsburgh. The club has won all eight 3-game series vs. the Pirates, and one of the two 4-game series. The two clubs split a 4-game series in 2006.
The Dodgers have won 24 of their last 31 games in The Steel City.
I think locals prefer "The 'Burgh."
Wouldn't Martin be a better choice to hit in front of Manny? The two slot will see more fastballs around the plate, perfect for Martin who has some sock, not so perfect for Pierre who has no sock.
But then again, could this be the game that Pierre gets his first homer by sitting on a fastball up the gut?
I recognized the last name of my vet (Villalobos)and hoped it wasn't her daughter. But if it wasn't her daughter she was still someone's daughter and losing an 18 year old daughter because someone didn't do the job they are entrusted to do would bust me.
Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.