Hi all. I'm a Dodger fan in enemy territory. Is anybody planning to go to Friday's game in San Francisco? I'll be there and it would be cool to meet up with other Bay Area Dodger fans. I'm hoping they'll have clinched by then, but if not, what better place to do it than in the Giant's crib.

On a different note, can the Dodgers expect to get anything out of Jason Schmidt next year? Anything at all?

I know it's a realitvely small sample size, but still something that may concern you.

+/-

Jeff Kent -12 in 877 innings
Blake DeWitt -5 in 176.2 innings

If DeWitt keeps up this pace by the time he gets to 877 innings he'd be a -25.

I was LAT'd at end of previous thread:

I don't know why I read some of Bill Plaschke's latest other than self-torture, but besides it being idiotic in other ways, I feel like it's also poorly edited. To wit:

>>So, well, OK, couch spectator Manny Ramirez apparently forgot which pennant race he was playing in.

And, OK, so neither did Angel Berroa, who was stressing so much he was flying a remote helicopter near his locker.<<

Neither did...? That really doesn't match with the previous paragraph, Bill, does it?

Sigh.

1 - Since I was 100 percent wrong in answering this question 12 months ago, I won't answer it now.

Kuroda's my ROY. ERA by month:

April - 3.82
May - 2.87
June - 7.71
August - 2.29
Sept - 3.63

Save for 2 bad starts in June (in between which he had a complete game shutout), he's been just terrific all season.

1 If the over/under for # of pitches Schmidt makes next year was at 200 I'd take the under.

1 Howdy Arch, I'm going Friday night with another DT-er, and know yet another DT-er will be there, as well. We talked about meeting up after the game to either celebrate or commiserate (I'm playing it safe) though I don't know where yet. Or how you'd find us... But we could try!

Question to Mac Users..

I have a Macbook and on Sunday I was using it, plugged into the adapter and everything, and it suddenly died on me. It won't turn on and everything.

Every time I hit or press the power button, there is a green blinking light by the isight camera...nothing else happens.

Any ideas or helpful advice?

8
Do you need a new battery? Or a new power supply?

I dont think Manny's played enough games for the Dodgers to consider him the team's 2008 MVP.

I'd probably pick Lowe or Billingsley.

I did not realize until today that Max Scherzer is a St. Louis native. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is quite excited.

Scherzer rounded up 55 tickets for tonight's game.

11. So you mean all this time I knew something that Bob didn't know? Of course, I only knew that because he was in one of my dad's classes, and my dad was wondering what a St. Louis kid was doing in an ag. econ. class.

9 Yeah, it sounds like it's one of those things, battery or power supply. There's a way to test the battery directly by pressing a button underneath it, see if it lights up with the right amount of 'juice.' Could be the power supply. Could take it to a Mac dealer/repair shop? (Assuming there's no Apple store near you.)

Do you need a new battery? Or a new power supply?

No, the battery is fully charged and when the adapter is connected, the light is on charge. Just nothing turns on.

12
There's a lot of stuff I don't know.

Such as the names of most of the Dodgers top prospects despite people talking about them constantly.

11

I hope he didn't shove any elderly men to do it.

Has the Rotation been set? I know Chad and Derek are in the rotation, but who is the 3rd guy?

Also I can't believe Furcal is actually coming back this season, this should be interesting.

Hi everyone, my company just built a game to celebrate the cubs clinching. Let me know what you think http://games.effinity.us/waveland/

17
I am guessing Kuroda.

19
Pretty much no other choice.

What I Hope For (IF we're) in the Playoffs
by Logikreader

I hope the Dodgers have enough to win a game on the road, or at least a game at home. I don't mind playing any of the teams, but for whatever reason I'd much prefer to see the Cubs. Has nothing to do with the chances of beating them, I just like watching games at Wrigley Field.

My expectations are not high.

17
Has to be Kuroda doesn't it?

I'm pretty sure about these:

Ned - Gone
Penny - Gone
Lowe - Gone
Kent - Gone
Nomar - Gone
Blake - Gone
Sweeney - Gone
Berroa - Gone
Ozuna - Gone
J. Johnson - Gone
Maddux - Gone
Park - Gone
Bennett - Gone

Furcal - Could stay or go
Manny - Could stay or go

Let me know if I'm missing someone.

OT but I was curious last night while watching the game and seeing the Tommy commercial where he talked about going to Cincinnati and seeing John McNamara in church. He said he saw "Mac" lighting a candle and when he left Tommy blew it out and lit one himself. Tommy says "we went on to beat em 13-2". I looked up the years McNamara managed the Reds (79-82) and couldn't find one game with that score. Is Tommy lying to us? What's the real story here???

24
Lasorda's stories are often as true as most of Bulfinch's Mythology.

Or the work of James Frey.

1,7

Just picked up my tickets which are in 126 for Friday's game in SF. Best place to actually meet is at the Willie Mays statue at a bit before 7pm, I will wear a Dodger hat with my negro league sweat shirt...21st ammendment for drinks on 2nd is a cool place to drink and their are Dodger Fans there along with Giant fans.

I will be very surprised if we see Schmidt next year, just a gut reaction. According to last reports there was no improvement in velocity, and can't see after all of the surgeries him getting it back.

24 Tommy tells that story all the time. I think when I heard it, it was 10-2!

Cy Young: Lowe or Billingsley
RoY: Kuroda
MVP: Vin Scully, but then again there's the Manny argument, as he takes road games outside of the NL west off. ;P

8 How many RAM chips do you have in it? That's what my Mac notebook did when I tried to re-boot after improperly installing a new RAM chip. It wasn't recognizing the chip, and so it figured it had no RAM. If you only had one chip installed, perhaps it failed?

23 Generally about right, though of course won't know for sure about Ned for a bit of time. Penny, I used to think picking up his option was a no brainer, but he was so useless and wounded this season they may indeed let him go. They might bring back Casey Blake, and I could see them trying to re-sign Chan Ho since he was so valuable as a long man this season, though probably not worth it if he's pricey. Otherwise, that's about right.

Kuroda will be the #3 starter if the team makes the playoffs. The #4 is unknown as of yet, Kershaw or Maddux I'd guess. If the first round is of the format 1,2,offday,3,4,offday,5 as it often is then no #4 is needed. Lowe could go on three days rest in game four. Lowe has shown to pitch perfectly fine on three days rest. Of course, there isn't even a gaurentee that there will be a game four.

29 That actually sounds like a good call to me. That happened with the last Mac desktop that I had -- I installed a RAM chip and it failed, computer wouldn't boot up. Even if you didn't install a chip yourself it could be failing and need to be replaced.

I'd like to think Kershaw will start game 3 at least for the NLDS. We picked up Maddux to limit Kershaw's innings count, but he didn't pitch well enough, and forced the issue of starting Kershaw. Kuroda can pitch game 4.

25 "Lasorda's stories are often as true as most of Bulfinch's Mythology."

I tend to think that too. But one time I checked into his claim that he was sent down in 1955 so they could call up Sandy Koufax, and it turns out that's exactly what happened.

23

While many want to see Ned gone, I doubt he will be let go. I actually do think there is a good chance that JP will be gone,and hope they might consider resigning Lowe.

Which team will take Juan Pierre off the Dodgers hands?

JP and Andruw Jones will be traded away with the Dodgers picking up roughly half of their salaries to do it. That frees up roughly $15 million to resign Manny, or make a run at C.C.

31

one game at a time.

31 If we play the Phillies, do you think there's a chance they'd get Kershaw as the 3rd starter to go up against Howard/Rowand?

36 Yankees, Nats, Mets, Braves, St. Louis, Seattle to name a few.

Is there any reason to think that Ned thinks that Pierre isn't as good as he was when he was first acquired...?

31 Of course, there isn't even a gaurentee that there will be a game four.

Yeah, we may have swept the other team by then...

One game at a time people -- let's get to the playoffs first. {bites nails} {knocks on wood} {crosses himself even though he's Jewish}

I think there is a better chance Jones will be DFA'd as some point, rather than traded.

1 - A laurel, and hardy handshake.

41 Besides him signing Andruw Jones and then acquiring Manny and seeing Pierre benched this season, you mean?

If Manny went to the Marlins instead of the Dodgers, do the Marlins win the NL East, or the wild card? Marlin fans must be wondering about that, and Marlin management must be kicking themselves as they see the Dodgers sell Manny jerseys, and dreads at outrageous prices.

39 Some interesting stuff would have to happen for Kershaw to face Rowand in the playoffs. Plus he is a righty, who I am not sure that Kershaw has any particular success against. Do you mean Utley?

23 I think the following all have a shot to be here next year:

Ned
Derek Lowe
Nomar Garciaparra
Casey Blake
Manny Ramirez
Rafael Furcal

Casey Blake will probably go back to Cleveland, Lowe's last few months and his relative good health will make him an attractive free agent pick, besides the fact that if he signs more than a 1 year deal with the Dodgers, every year after the first, puts Lowe in a 10/5 category, which means he has a no-trade clause.

Nomar will be interesting case, he is not in the position of blocking anyone but depending what happens with the rest of the team, he could be a really solid bench player.

Ramirez, there is going to be a lot of people watching this one, particular anyone thinking of buying tickets next year.

Furcal, he is a candidate for a 1-year deal with lots of incentives.

Ned, I just think that if the Dodgers make the playoffs, that will be twice in three years and that will count for something in the end.

Note that I have said for about a month now that I think either McCourt should extend Ned or fire him because his status becomes a story for as long as this is not resolved.

ESPN just reported that Furcal is ready to play...have we known this or is this actually a new development, because there's no news of this elsewhere

24 - there was one 13-2 game in the Lasorda era against the Reds, but Cincinnati won it.

50 - it's been hinted at in the Times.

23
You seem very adamant that Ned is gone. I don't see it after the success of the Manny and Blake deals. Even after all of the blown money he did get the Dodgers into the post season.
I hope you are right and I hope that Kim or Logan get the gig but only because I want to see how they do, not because I have any insight that they will be good general managers.

If a player wants to play more then make money can they be bought out like they do in the NBA and then released as a free agent? I don't recall it ever happening in baseball but it is common practice in the NBA. Sometime we just release them like Ortiz but lets say you are on the hook for 30 mill and 3 years but the player knows he's a backup on the team. Could he approach the team and say for 10Mill you can buy me out and you are off the hook for the other 20 Mill so that I can find a team who will start me. If Juan wants to get 2000 hits he really has no choice but to force the issue but the Dodgers don't have to release him because if they are going to pay him they might as well make him their 4th outfielder where he's useful.

48 lol, sorry can't keep even my ex-phillies straight!

If we clinch, we'd see Furcal try to flash the leather in San Fran, I would think.

49 - Add to that CHP. I think that we won't pick up Penny's option and instead sign Park as an option in the rotation

Besides him signing Andruw Jones and then acquiring Manny and seeing Pierre benched this season, you mean?

He signed Jones to be a "big bat" in the middle of the order and a better-throwing CF, intending for Pierre to slide over to LF. From what I understand, McCourt had more to do with acquiring Manny than Ned did.

But you are at least partially correct: for some reason, it took watching Pierre play everyday for Ned to learn that Juan throws like Gary Bennett*.

*It took watching Bennett play everyday for Ned to learn that Bennett throws like Pierre.

23 35

I agree with Louis in SF. How can you be "pretty sure" that Ned is gone after this year? Especially after the Manny trade makes him look very good, as well as the fact that they are a virtual lock for the playoffs?

I think Penny's option is more likely to be exercised than not, even though he did not finish the year healthy.

I agree that all the other guys are more likely to be gone like silverwidow stated.

I also think that Furcal is gone unless he agrees to a one year incentive based deal.

49 - Ned, I just think that if the Dodgers make the playoffs, that will be twice in three years and that will count for something in the end.

That is probably the most compelling reason I have seen yet. If there is one thing McCourt recoils from like a vampire from a cross, it's bad publicity.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2008199006_maribuild240.html

The M's are an even bigger mess than the Dodgers are at the moment.

I think its going to be much harder to deal Pierre even if the team picks up all the salary. His skill set just isnt valued at all anymore, especially given his age.

It might be much easier to deal Andruw's last year on a club willing to take a flyer on him. If not, I could see the Dodgers just releasing him next year or phantom DL'ing him the entire season.

The Dodgers could phantom DL Druw, & play Juan at 4th OF'er. Surely this season has gotten it thru to Juan that he's no longer an everyday player.

23 - I don't think the Union would allow that situation with Pierre. That said I do think his agent has a trade demand already typed out and ready to send.

Sorry I meant that for 53.

59 that success is built on having high quality people in the front office. If White and Ng are going to leave, McCourt should know where his talent actually lays and fire Ned. Especially if he wants to keep either White or Ng.

60
How are we a mess? The last I looked we are Division Champs, young players at 1st, 2nd, C, Rf, LF, a rotation that could consist of Chad/Clayton/Kuroda/McDonald/Elbert with a bullpen of Saito/Broxton/Kuo/Wade and we still have a few nuggets bubbling in Isotope land and a lot of money to fill in the holes.

65 What did you think of James and Scott in their brief appearances last night?

65
The Dodgers are a mess because someone has hidden all the trash cans.

Could someone please fill me in on the trash cans reference's? I know it has something to do with making Jeff Kent angry.

65 We are not yet division champs! {{sigh}} {knocks on wood} {crosses himself} {mumbles a few incantations}

60 Why are the Dodgers being compared to the Mariners right now? Who thinks the Dodgers are a "mess"?

50

I read (LA Times) that Torre was gonna ease him in this week. I'm thinking he'll pitch hit.

61 - I could see Pierre going to Cincy. He had a good relationship with Baker, is much better than Patterson, and they will have a need for OFers this offseason. They currently have Bruce, Freel, Hopper, and Patterson. Pierre for Arroyo with money exchanging hands to balance out the deal. I could see that happening.

68 Matt Kemp moved a trash can once. It made Jeff Kent angry. Therefore, Matt Kemp has a bad attitude. I think that's really it...

66
McDonald is long and lean, reminds me of LaTroy Hawkins when he was a top prospect for the Twins. Didn't see Scott pitch, school night for the teacher and kids.

69 Baseball Prospectus has the Dodgers chances of making the playoffs at 98.1 today%

Poor underdog will not sleep well until it is 100.0%

I think Penny's option is more likely to be exercised than not, even though he did not finish the year healthy.

He wants to keep on eating vast quantities
of deer meat, let 'em.

64 I think I went through the GM jobs that might be available after this season and now, outside of Seattle, I don't too many other openings.

Philadelphia, though it would appear that Ruben Amaro is going to get promoted, Washington is always in play, and I think Cashman will stick it out in New York.

So it could end up being Seattle and Washington and I think there is a chance that they will look at that Cleveland's Asst. GM or in DC promote the guy they brought over from Arizona.

75 Hmm. Maybe that's why I've been having trouble sleeping myself. Tossing and turning while dreaming of a few wood-knocking avatars surrounded by a lot of egg-counting ones.

Dodgers pick up Penny options, and then trade him to the Yanks or the Mets.

60
I still blame the Dodgers for starting the final Bavasi moves needed to trigger the Mariner debacle. It was clear at the time that the M's were going to acquire "Proven Veterans" for the rotation. That Kuroda went to the Dodgers meant the Mariners turned to their pursuit of Eric Bedard (and Silva) and give up five players in the process. As a Dodger and Mariner fan I considered Adam Jones close to Matt Kemp quality and thats just one of five quality players. So thank you to Dodger thoughts for allowing me to follow the Dodgers as if I still lived in SoCal. Cuz the baseball is pretty sucky up here in Seattle.

9/25/2007 from Kevin Baxter and Dylan Hernandez in the L.A. Times.

"Before a game on the last homestand, an attendant placed a trash can too close to Kemp's locker in the Dodgers' crowded clubhouse. But when the outfielder got up to move it, one veteran complained aloud -- but not to Kemp -- about how rookies today are different from those of the past."

Countless hours were spent last year trying to figure out the meaning of that paragraph. We would have been better off trying to learn to speak Esperanto.

There was no context given as to why this was a problem. It was a very poorly written and edited story.

65- Holes at 2b, SS, 3b, LF.
Below average production at 1b, RF.

Bills/Kerhaw/Martin/Kemp are a solid nucleus to build around, but I think you are allowing a division championship to over shadow the fact that the team really isnt much different than last year.

The win total will end being around the same. Most thought that the youngsters would take a step forward, & really only Ethier did.

The farm system has been a bit diluted as well.

If the goal is to have a long-term successful run like the Braves, Red Sox, Yankees, etc....I dont think this year can make people feel its that much more closer to happening.

Manny's been great. But I think counting on him to be the missing piece (in his 37-40yrs phase) is overly optimistic.

Dodgers arent a mess by any stretch. But the next GM will have a challenge on his hands if he wants to take the team to the next level of sustained long-term success.

75 I will be greatly relieved the day Bob prounces the snakes dead.

JP is a great player. He always gets 200 hits when he plays everyday. He hustles, etc. What a bargain. Now everyone tell that to all your friends and have them tell their friends.

Then on 2/17/2008 from Plaschke, l'affaire du trash got murkier:

"Remember last year when he was criticized for loudly complaining that a garbage can had been put next to his locker?

"If I see that trash can this year, I'm going to call a press conference with all the writers and say, 'See, I'm moving it without complaining,' " he said.

He pauses and smiles.

"No, no, just kidding," he said. "This year, I'll just move that trash can without saying a word."

That trash can incident was part of the reason that last year's veterans complained about youngsters such as Kemp and James Loney."

Kevin(DC): Where do you see Robinson Cano going from this horrible season? Does he still have a chance to be great or did we over-estimate his ability?

*SportsNation Jim Callis: It's funny, getting this question after getting asked for years why BA didn't "respect" Cano enough. I don't know if Cano ever was going to be great. More like very good, and he still can. He's going to have to work harder, and I never bought that he'd stay at second base in the long term. I still think
he's going to be a LF down the road. *

Left field for Cano? Ouch. http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=22592

81 Tomorrow is the one year anniversary!!!!!!!!!

I'm waiting for the drug companies to come up with something to battle my Premature Celebration problem.

80
It even goes deeper since the Dodgers were the team who let Bavasi rebuild his reputation as our as player development chief for 2002/2003. Without those two successful years I don't think he becomes your GM.

87
If your celebration lasts more than four hours, please see a doctor.

Jeff (LA, CA): Tell me this talk of trading Kemp for Cano is madness? Terrible move for LA right?

SportsNation Jim Callis: I don't see that from LA's standpoint based on the seasons those two have had and Cano's contract.

This may sound crazy, but I have a feeling Logan has been promised the job already. That is why McCourt is giving these ambivalent answers regarding Ned.

82
Agree with everything you said, was just pointing out as you did that we are far from a mess. Nothing wrong with a little challenge.

Ryan (Granada Hills, CA): Is it wrong of me to be conflicted about the Dodgers making the playoffs, since itll likely save NedCo his job, and possibly push Logan White into another GM job elsewhere?

SportsNation Jim Callis: If you're a Dodgers fan, you have to root for them to win, don't you?

85
That is true, BA was never very high on him and they took alot of ridicule from Yankee fans after his age 23 season.

That doesn't mean that Torre is not high on him but I don't see them trading their CF for Cano.

93 Yeah, but a left fielding Cano would be worth much less than a 2nd base fielding Cano. And I see Torre wanting to trade one CF for Cano. Like JP, or Andruw Jones. I could see the Yankees going for JP, because er. Okay, that's just wishful thinking.

I've seen death. And he looks Bruce Weber.

But a different Bruce Weber.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/22/business/media/22askthetimes.html

I always thought it was LuGo who got upset about Kemp moving the trash can.

95
Talk about your morbid Q&A.

96
Wasn't LuGo really the trash can? I thought it was a metaphoric statement about how Kemp moved LuGo to the bench by complaining loudly how much better he was then the smelly veteran?

How many RAM chips do you have in it? That's what my Mac notebook did when I tried to re-boot after improperly installing a new RAM chip. It wasn't recognizing the chip, and so it figured it had no RAM. If you only had one chip installed, perhaps it failed?

I haven't installed any new RAM.

Jason Stark is asking why Johan Santana isn't in the Cy Young race.

100
That's because Geovany Soto is going to win the award.

He's winning everything. He may even win Manager of the Year.

Kershaw's 468-point swing in eventual OPS is more than twice the league average because his strikeout rate doubles after throwing a strike on the first pitch. He goes on to strike out 32 percent of batters after starting 0-1, compared with 16 percent after 1-0. When Kershaw throws a first-pitch strike, the plate appearance is four times more likely to result in a strikeout than a walk. After 1-0, it's more likely to end with a walk.

OPS against Kershaw on 1-0: 1.009
OPS against Kershaw on 0-1: .541

Instead of re-signing Casey Blake, would it make sense to try and sign Beltre to a 3 year deal?

102 http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/news/story?id=3605322

103
If it is a good price I would do it. Rather him than Blake.

103
Beltre is not a free agent until the end of 2009. We would have to trade for him and it sounds like the Mariners want a bundle for him. So while I'd like to see Beltre playing 3rd base for us, the price does not seem worth it.

102
Didn't Bob report a study where all pitchers are quite effective after getting a 1st strike and if it is a swinging strike they are even more effective?

89 - that was my question.

100 He's 2nd in the NL in VORP, behind Tim. He should defintely be in the discusstion.

The Beltre talk reminds me of when players on our team would say "I will retire a Dodger."

I was wondering, who among all the batting greats on the Dodgers actually retired as a Dodger? I can remember Jackie Robinson, since he refused a trade to the Giants to extend his career.

Anyone else? Ah, maybe Bill Russell did, IIRC.

By the way,
VORP
Billingsley 50.2
Webb 50.1

107
It was a Retrosheet study by Dave Smith.

A swinging strike one is a very, very, very, very bad thing for a hitter. A foul ball or a called strike isn't as bad.

Dave hasn't posted it on Retrosheet's website yet.

Did anyone happen to catch the Aflac Question during the broadcast last night? I believe it was "Who has the highest career batting average at Yankee Stadium?" with the answer being Mariano Duncan with a .350 batting average. Can anyone verify that?

If the Dodger season is one that ebss and flows, are we currently ebbing or flowing??

8 Do you have any 14-month-olds in your household who press random buttons on your keyboard and end up turning the screen brightness down to zero so it looks like your MacBook is dead even though it's actually still on? That happens to me fairly regularly.

That's the least harmful cause I can think of. Otherwise...battery, hard drive, RAM, screen...hard to say where the problem is. I'm guessing it should be fairly uncomplicated to take out the battery and stick it back in, just to see if that does anything.

113 - Didn't the Aflac goose already verify it? It certainly wasn't Vin; I think he even said, "I just read these things." Jeff Kent probably clapped when he heard Vin admit that.

26,7

Underdog and Louise in SF: I'll be at the Java House at Pier 40 having a cheap dog and a beer before the game. I'll stop by the Mays statue right before 7. Perhaps we could arrange for a celebratory drink(knock on wood) after the game? I'll be the tall Mexican w/ the Dodger cap and the Indian fiance by my side. My seats are way up in 312, so hopefully there will be other Dodger fans around to back me up!

Jeff Kent would be the perfect color guy.

110 Pee Wee Reese, for another.

119, 110 - Billy Grabarkowitz might be another.

I want Kent as the color commentator at a Rangers' game. You know who'd be running up the stairs to set him straight...

106 Is there a website you go to which has players contract information? When there was discussion here at DT a week or so ago about signing Greinke it got me excited, but I can't imagine him being a free agent this winter considering his age.

Steve Yeager, Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Roy Campanella, John Roseborro, ...

Just my guesses

Not sure if this has already been posted. Wishful thinking...

http://tinyurl.com/4a5787

"One of the best 'tips' we got this year was that Dodgers owner Frank McCourt was looking into filing an actual lawsuit against center-fielder Andruw Jones as a way to recoup some of the $36 million he spent for two years of his "service." McCourt's frustrations made sense—Jones finished the year with a .158 average and just 3 HRs—but it was hard to envision a world where owners were allowed to sue their players basically for 'sucking.'"

122 On the sidebar, see Cot's Baseball Contracts.

http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com

I think the Greinke talk was more involving a trade since he has 2 more years until he becomes a free agent.

Jon needs to work on an accent to keep up with the AZ Snake Pit blogger.

123
Not Johnny, he was broken when we traded him to the Twins.

125 Thanks!

So we got True Dodgers, and Fake Dodgers

From the press notes:

"Last night, the Dodgers jumped on the Padres with a six-run first inning. The Dodgers have now scored 121 first-inning runs, the most by any Dodger squad since 1956."

124- I'm pretty sure that was a joke. :)

Although if the season ticket holders filed a class-action lawsuit against Andruw Jones, I'd have a good chuckle.

Hank wants a 16 playoff league.

131 If that's a true story I'd be even more worried about McCourts financial situation.

Nate,

Have you tried these basic troubleshooting steps for the macbook?

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1365

101 - Nobel Prize?

33 We picked up Maddux to limit Kershaw's innings count, but he didn't pitch well enough

Correction: We picked up Maddux (even though he's over the hill) because he is a big name PVL. He is not only not worth what we paid for him, his net is negative and players already on our roster would have performed better if given the chance.

135
I've read some of Soto's economics theory papers. His ideas are quite intriguing. Apparently he thinks a free market can be created by having the pitcher work down and in to right handers and then up and away to lefties.

135 Soto will win the Nobel Prize in Mathematics.

138
So who's going to endow that prize? Mark Cuban?

134

Yes...This is really annoying because I did all of those steps.

I took it in today...they have to send it away to get it fixed and since my warranty expired last month, its going to be 280 bucks when I pick it up again and that doesn't even guarantee that they fix it. Ugh..

136 But what if we had to face Eckstein in a clutch situation in that 3 game series in LA????? No one would be mentally tough enough to handle that, except for of course Mr. Maddux.

53 A player can always retire. The team will make some adjustment by signing a replacement or trading for one. If said player then 'unretires', the team still owns his rights but now doesn't have a need for him nor wants to pay his salary. The rights can then be traded to another team; under the circumstances they would let him go cheaply.

140

Sorry to hear that. If you were nearby, I would have loved to look at it.

139 I leave it to other people to figure out the logistics.

90 I've had that same feeling. I think it's a done deal. Notice White has said all the right things, Ned hasn't said much at all, and gets little credit in either of the trades.

Next year IMO it all starts with Manny. That will set the tone. It's my last chance to truly feel they have either brains or money or whatever. (How can they not just sign him and play all kids otherwise would be beyond me, the proof is happenning right now.)Manny is the big move in any direction.

146 If you sign Manny, you have to bite the bullet on Andruw and maybe Pierre, although Pierre as a 4th outfielder wouldn't offend me other than he is paid 9 times too much for the job. I say trade them both for parts we actually need, kick in as much money as it takes. I'd rather pay $27,000,000 a year for a couple of real players that serve a purpose, than to pay that much to people who don't play.

146 So when the Mets offer 4 yrs $100M are you prepared to match it?

Too bad the beat doesn't take me there, but the Dodgers are sending minor leaguers Alex Garabedian, Tommy Giles, Javy Guerra, David Pfeiffer and Jordan Pratt to Hawaii Winter Baseball.

http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/mlb/dodgers/

Yeah. The way I see it is that we are paying like 120 million for this years club. Pretend you figure that Manny will cost you 50 million a year (because you know years 3/4 god knows) with Kemp, Ethier, Martin, Loney and DeWitt they all make say a million for argument sake. Throw in Chad, Brox and Kershaw at 1 Million..That's 58 million for those 8. I think we can field a better team next year from there for 50 Million? And I am exagerating the Manny #'s or his possible impact in years 3 and 4. I mean nothing I see now would make me think he couldn't hit the same in 3 years, seriously. And maybe it's not for us, but as a DH and only 2 years I think you could move the contract.

Of course we have to drop dead weight and eat some contracts but still I think so.

146 Pat Burrell puts up similar numbers, will be cheaper, and is 4 years younger.

149
That is an uninspiring group. Our AFL team will be fun to visit this year.

The '09 Dodgers:
C Martin
1B Loney
2B DeWitt
SS Berroa/Hu
3B Someone off the scrap heap
LF Manny
CF Kemp
RF Ethier
Rotation: Bills, Kuroda, Kershaw, two not named Penny or Lowe
All the cash goes out in left field

148 Mets will put most of their money in K-Rod.

151 He's a .250 hitter, that K's a lot. Our GM doesn't like that.

153

I think they will trade for a 3b...either blalock or beltre...

Come on now, besides what your eyes tell you about the two players and the impact they have on others around them, Manny has a career OPS+ of 155 in 14 seasons vs 118 for Burell in 9 (which is a little lower than Ethier's OPS+ of 124 this year) but I get your point. I just think Manny is special. Seriously I can't believe how good of a hitter he is.

156 Or trade for a 2B and move DeWitt to 3rd. I'm not just talking about Cano, Brian Roberts will probably be available right?

155 Sounds like what he/some of us thought he/some of us was gonna get with Andruw...

Tonight's lineup:

Kemp. CF
Martin. C
Ramirez. LF
Ethier. RF
Garciaparra. 1B
Blake. 3B
DeWitt. 2B
Berroa. SS
Kershaw. LHP

153 Blalock's arm may be shot. Beltre I'd love, but would cost the farm. I'm not sure what they could trade anyway unless they option Penny and move him. We'll be lucky to get a decent minor leaguer for JP given the cash involved. I fear a player more along the lines of an FA like Ramon Vasquez, or Aurilia if Ned survives.

156 O's hope to keep Roberts, I belive.

151
He hits home runs and takes a walk, that doesn't make him anything like Manny. Not even taking into account what Manny has done in LA, his offensive skills are one of the very best, year in and year out.

Burrell has taken the 2nd half off this year looking very much like his age 26 season.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/bsplit.cgi?n1=burrepa01&year=2008

160 Was there ever an official announcement that we have a Loney/Garciaparra platoon?

160. Nice lineup. Hopefully Furcal is clear to play.

160

That worked before

Our cleanup hitter is doing this (.250/.329/.379/.708) vs. LH this year.

Not that it really matters: first place is essentially guaranteed.

140 - plus there is no guarantee you will get your data back. In fact, it's almost certain you won't. Good luck.

Furcal activated?

http://www.insidesocal.com/dodgers/2008/09/furcal-apparent.html

166 (knock) Yeah (on) we (wood) might (knock) as (on) well (wood) start (knock) drinking (on) the (wood) champagne (knock) now...

162 Okay, point well taken. I just get uneasy about giving Manny Yankee type money when he's going into his age 37 season and has a history of attitude problems.

166
It works when you knock out the starting pitcher early and he gets the RH relief work. Estes shouldn't last long.

Estes shouldn't last long

That's what I thought*.

*About his career.

163 No official announcement, but Nomar has an OPS over 1.000 vs. left handed pitching.

170
Yup I'm sure we will regret it at some point if it happens. The key is to get enough out of him before it turns sour. Tricky business, but maybe he's an East Coaster who has found out that the West Coast is more his style.

Ya gotta admire a guy who can rack up 1600 innings of 90 ERA+ ball.

Also in looking up Loney and Nomar's splits, what has happened to Loney this year?! The guy has been frustrating me all year and I forgot how good he was in '07. His numbers fell right off a cliff.

Brett Myers is not looking good to start the game for the Phillies.

According to the Juice, Kershaw looks to be getting the ball for game 4.

Underdog slams head against wooden table and knocks himself unconscious. He wakes up to find the Dodgers are 2008 World Champions.

170 Attitude problems? We survived Gary Sheffield ;)

176 "Fell off the cliff." That's a little much.

168 Perhaps we have seen the end of the Pablo Ozuna era or the Jason Johnson era.

I predict at least 6 IP for Estes tonight.

174 - I'm just hoping that Manny likes the laid back style here and the media and the fans aren't up in his face every moment like they were in Boston where he got no privacy or peace. That might work to the Dodgers advantage. Why would he want to go back to that level of media scrutiny in either NY market? The Cubs might be a bigger concern because they might be like us, willing to let some of his defensive lapses go for his amazing offensive skills! To have over 50 RBI in less than 50 games and hit near .400, he has been pure pleasure to watch hit!! The front office is going to be on the spot this offseason! He has brought a buzz and people to the park and a presence to the lineup that the Blue hasn't had in awhile! If and when we get in the postseason, his presence makes us a legit threat probably 2nd to the Cubs in the NL!

more like a phantom DL to a guy like Justin Orenduff, Lucas May, Greg Miller, or Xavier Paul.

167

If absolutely nothing is starting up, than I doubt it is the hard drive. Even so, you should be able to pull it out and plug it into an external case to retrieve the data. I wish I did not know this from experience.

178 - What do you think of the Lowe/Kuroda/Billz ordering he has? I think I'd prefer Lowe and Billz in Philly, and then come home with Kuroda at home (not to mention that I don't see any reason to believe Billingsley is LA's 3rd best starter).

Perhaps Carroll is assuming Billz may be pitching one of the last 2 games of the regular season?

Either way, I like the looks of that Philly rotation (as a Dodger fan, of course).

168 That first comment to the post is hilarious.

186
I think he's all wet. You can't fill out a rotation until the playoffs are set and it is still up in the air for the Mets/Phils/Brewers and some think the Dodgers.

If we clinch early does anyone who knows anything about the Dodgers think that Kuroda would start game two and not Chad?

175 - I know. It's almost like there are teams putting out Help Wanted ads on Craigslist.

180 A 32 point drop in OPS+ is a lot. :(

Well, Fausto has not shot of getting 16 outs tonight.

There is no way Edwin Jackson pitches any signifigant innings in the post-season right? He is horrible.

For comparison, Andruw Jones' last two years have seen drops of 38 and 56.

Good to see Myers struggling after being so good since his return. I wonder if that 3 day start where he was awesome was to much for his arm.

192 - Or 94 in two years. That's falling off a cliff.

Loney hasn't been a problem but he hasn't had a standout year either.

190
Matt Kemp dropped 21 points so far. The combo of Loney,Kemp,Martin drop in OPS+ from 07 to 08 is quite high and reason for concern.

But not for the rest of this season.

190 A 100+ OPS in his first full year in the majors isn't horrible. There's two things that allowed Loney's OPS to drop from 2007.

He was allowed to play everyday including Lefties.

He was allowed to play a whole season in L.A.

Its the same thing that happened to Kemp and Martin. Part of youth is regression and learning how to adjust to the big leagues. And if Loney doesn't improve, then the Dodgers have the option of trading Loney(who has value in that he's a defensive first baseman under contract until 2012), and putting in Andrew Lambo at first base. Who can play Left Field, Right Field, or 1st base.

He was allowed to play a whole season in L.A.

How does playing all year in L.A. cause somebody to play worse than splitting time between L.A. and Vegas?

195 Indeed. Those guys better come back with a vengeance next year.

I want to get this straight. Are we (not me) really complaining about Matt Kemp, James Loney and Russell Martin?

198 - And if they don't?

197 There are more games between the MLB season(162) and Triple-A(144), Las Vegas is a notorious hitters park. And frankly, there's more of a chance to get hot for two months and play well over a full season at the MLB level which is a marathon of six months. Kemp was protected against tough righties last year too, which helped inflate his numbers.

Loney's only 24, and it took a guy like Ethier two or three years to reach the level he's playing at right now to reach his current level, and Ethier's 26. And like I said before, if Loney doesn't, then the Dodgers should trade him and promote Lambo in his place.

199 Not complaining. Observing.

199
Not complaining but all three players have plenty of room for improvement, and until they make that improvement they are just good cheap young players, not some elite trio of terror.

169.
Maybe there should be a 13th rule (temporary) to not use the 'g-word' and 'playoffs' until we actually clinch.

200 But how does Las Vegas being a hitter's park affect his numbers in L.A.?

James Loney no Edwin Jackson.

regfairfield predicted that Loney and Kemp would drop off based on their BABIP's last year. Anyway, there's room for improvement and potential for improvement, so I'm not horridly concerned or anything. But this year certainly hasn't been "great" for them.

203 Except like with floors of buildings, one cannot label a rule the 13th rule.

204 It allows him to play a shorter season in L.A. while playing a extreme hitters park for most of the baseball season.

Basically two months of Loney vs. six months of Loney.

Two months of Loney allows Loney to get on a hitting streak with a less chance of an offsetting slump.

Six months of Loney allows Loney to get more into streaks and slumps throughout the season.

I'd like to see Manny/Kemp/Ethier get hot at the same time, because I like the sound of Trio of Terror.

208 So you are essentially arguing last year's numbers were too small of a sample to be meaningful?

LaRussa has thrown in the towel. He is not playing his best players tonight. This is upsetting. Felipe Lopez is the clean up hitter. Come on!

210 I'm saying that a 'slump' OPS+ from last year to this is misleading.

What the hell, Pujols isn't playing tonight?! That's bull!

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/preview?gameId=280924124

196 - it's a bit early to be declaring Lambo the answer to any Dodgers problems. He's had exactly 36 AA at-bats.

211 - the Cards threw in the towel a long time ago when they pulled the plug on Rick Ankiel and Pat Carpenter.

212
It is only misleading in that in their first season of 500 ab's they were pedestrian as compared to a season of 300 abs. The bottom line is that in full time duty, nothing special happened.

214 Hey, let me dream.

213 Nor Glaus. Nor Ludwick. This is disgraceful.

214
BA was not exactly impressed either. They gave him a nice scouting report but in the end he was only ranked as the 8th best prospect in the Midwest A- league.

215
Pat Carpenter?

213 It's okay. They're gonna win anyway.

You guys act like there is still a pennant race:) They have a game day tomorrow, he's just resting them up.

I have plenty of words for Tony LaRussa tonight.

Couldn't he have rested them on Friday when they play the Reds? It's ridiculous.

NPUT