Thanks, Jon.

WOOOO_HOOOOO!!!!

There's beer for the drinkers and trash cans for the movers.

And I love it!

Congrats to the Dodgers!

On to the playoffs!

WOO HOO!

Unfortunately, I think the powers that be feel Sweeney is so valuable that they would leave Manny off the roster in order to include him. I hope I'm proven wrong.

The things I do for you people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiizQk_3pLI

Uh, I don't see that happening. ;-)

I love LA!

http://www.linkmeister.com/blog/archives/003114.html

The last spot will go to Furcal if he's healthy. Hu if he isnt.

All he had to do was leave his despair behind!

Casey Blake's huge HR off Webb in Phoenix among other contributions should not be dismissed.

And watching Manny's performance over the last 2 months has been worth the loss of Andy LaRoche to me, even if we don't sign Manny next year.

The recent reports said he's feeling better and has resumed throwing, but his status remains unclear.

Since August 1, baseball has been a load of fun.

Martin - Loney - Kemp
Billingsley
Ethier
DeWitt
Broxton
Kershaw
Wade

The kids come through.

YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiizQk_3pLI&fmt=18

Joe Torre's Dodgers clinched the National League West Thursday in true Los Angeles style -- while on the freeway. As players headed to Dodger Stadium for Thursday night's regular-season home finale against San Diego, the Arizona Diamondbacks were defeated, and eliminated, by the St. Louis Cardinals.

Torre earlier had said if such a scenario unfolded, his club would wait until after its game to celebrate.

You mean by going backpacking? :-) Yeah, whatever works!

Hey, I was one of those who didn't give up on the season even at its bleakest hour. And now I feel vindicated for my faith. Thank you, Blue! And thanks to everyone here for being such great company. I look forward to sharing the playoffs with you, however long they last.

What a weird season, but the post trading deadline team is a terrific team. I don't know if they're better than the Cubs, but they're right up there with the rest of the playoff teams. Just for the joy of winning some games, I hope we get Philly or New York. We can win a five-game series there.

What I noticed is we dealt during that period with a lot of individual slumps, Martin, Kemp and Blake all come to mind, but we have enough offensive weapons so the slumps didn't hurt us as much as we're used to.

I say Kershaw should get a start if we get to round 2. I wouldn't put him on the roster for round 1 to pitch in the bullpen, and there's no way he'd start Game 4 of the first round. I'd give his slot to Elbert or McDonald. I do think Maddux could be effective out of the pen.

Today I started fantasizing about winning the Lotto and flying into LA to attend every home game of the post-season.

And, yes, echoing the part about great company.

Remember when Jon said on September 3rd that the Dodgers did not play that poorly in August but had lost a number of 1 run games but they should have won more games.

Did I think they would go on an 18-5 run, no, but it does not surprise me.

More to come later when I gather my thoughts but for the first time since March 31st, Dodger fans will have a stress free game.

I know there's a lot of programming talent around here...how many years away would that be?

I think we all have to agree that Torre leads a charmed life these days. It was like he made some kind of deal with the devil--the first 15 years as a losing manager in exchange for the second 15 as a winning manager.

Here's something to keep everyone interested tonight.

In 2004, it was the Steve Finley HR, in 2006, 4+1, what is the moment for 2008 at this point?

My vote, Nomar's grab of Jackson's line drive.

Despite the late date in the season, the Dodgers still have three possible opponents for the Division Series scheduled to start on Wednesday. If the Milwaukee Brewers win the Wild Card, the Dodgers will play the East winner, either New York or Philadelphia. If Milwaukee doesn't win the Wild Card, the Dodgers will play the Cubs.

{Buzz}
False.

The day Furcal went down.

(Dis)Honorable mention: the day Ned gave Andruw $36 million.

The one liner comments are awesome.

Btw, 102 followed by 103 made me laugh for some reason.

Overall, or just for the Dodgers?

Long term or just for the year it happened?

For the latter it'd have to be top 5, doncha think?

Best available as I wait are Manu, Kevin Martin (Sacramento), and Durant (which would probably be a stretch right now). Also Pierce. Durant and Pierce have extra value because they are G/F so I can play them at two different places.

He did pitch quite well for us. Wonder why I'm still ticked when I hear his name.

Furcal, SS
Kent, 2B
Manny, LF
Ethier, RF
Loney, 1B
Blake, 3B
Kemp, CF
Ardoin, C
Stults, P

No Martin!
Furcal leading off!!
Stults pitching!!
Kent playing 2B!!!

Dodgers:

Furcal, SS
Kent, 2B
Ramirez, LF
Ethier, RF
Loney, 1B
Blake, 3B
Kemp, CF
Ardoin, C
Stults, LHP

"Manny for rest of 2008 per Marcel projections:
.287/.386/.516 with 11 HR and 12 2B "

"I'm AMAZED that anyone here would want Manny... Compared to Manny Andre's 1000% better in the field has above average speed, a gun for an arm and although his bat might not be in Manny's class it's still solid and remember Manny plays 1/2 of his games in an EXTREME hitters park."

"LaRoche gets sent for a 2 month rental on a below average fielding OF?!?"

The day may come when such comments are less amusing, but today, not so much.

And, wow, Stultz!?!

Sabathia - 47.5
Manny - 47.1
Johnson - 41
Beltran - 39
Teixiera (2008) - 36.1

Beltran's defense probably puts him with Sabathia and Manny.

136 not likely, given the number of games he replaced Ethier, but he has certainly been good. Perhaps you are adding to his wins all the plus he gave to Kent and Martin and Ethier though...

His WARP for the Dodgers is 5.2. That is offense only, of course, but his +/- only has him as costing apx. 16 runs over that same time, so you are down to about 4.5 wins. That, however, is, of course, over a replacement player, but whether it was Pierre, Ethier (or occasionally Kemp) that he replaced, all are above (and Kemp and Ethier are well above) replacement.

The worst of them - Pierre - was worth 1.6 wins (offensively) over 394 PA. Manny took 222 PAs, so if you figure he replaced only Pierre (again, not true), then Manny was worth (offensively) 5.2- 222/394*1.6 = 4.3 Offensively. Factoring in defense (Manny being one of the worst, and Pierre being one of the best LF in 2008) costs you about 1.5 wins over that same period, for a total MAXIMUM value for Manny of 2.8 wins. that is, of course, still outstanding. But it is a far cry from 4 wins (and especially if you call 4 wins as an "underestimation"). Factor in the reality that for several weeks Manny replaced Pierre and Ethier at about the same rate, and his value shrinks further.

Your excitement is exceeding the facts.

Furcal leading off tonight might be the best news of the week. Four games to get ready.

Does Maddux ever get to pitch again? Why wouldn't you pitch Maddux at home and let Stults pitch in SF. Makes no sense to me.

Kent playing 2nd? Who'd a thunk it?

3 or 4 days of rest for Martin could be interesting for the playoffs.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN199309150.shtml

!!!!

What was David Justice's Yankee VORP?

And Victory Lap or not, thanks Joe. Really looking forward to this game now.

Last night Vinny said that Blake DeWitt won 27 games as a pitcher in HS when he wasn't playing SS. I never knew that about him.

I would expect a lot of the starters don't go very deep tonight.

Either way, using VORP and a +2, you are only getting him to slightly under 5 wins OVER replacement. Since, again, he was not replacing anything close to replacement, your math is still off.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-marathon26-2008sep26,0,6453500.story

Article also somewhat discusses financial issues. And there's this:

"Steinman, the long-time runner, voiced a hope that many runners have expressed as the deal was negotiated: 'McCourt should have someone design him a fast runner's course that begins in Dodger Stadium and ends at the Beach. This type of course would be so popular that they might have to cap the size of the race.'"

Thank you Jon. For about a thousand reasons. I cannot say enough how much I enjoy every one of your posts and your website.

I feel vindicated that the Dodgers made the playoffs and Manny was a success. I was one of the more optimistic people here at the time of the trade and when they were going through their rough patch, so it is rewarding watching them pull through. Let's hope we can at least win one series and dream that we can win it all.

But Ramon Martinez is starting at second!

The Astros gave up John Buck, Mark Teahan for him.

I did not know that.

151
I predict we'll have a new second baseman in the second inning. Furcal and spots 3 through 7 will last two ABs.

Wonder why they didn't gather to watch the game. Or maybe they were watching the game in the weight room. Whatever.

Anyone else?

The Mets have every advantage over the Brewers, and yet two years in a row, haven't been able to get it done. What's more, they have made some dumb moves. Ya know who woulda really helped them this year? Scott Kazmir.

The Brewers built their team the way I think teams should be built. It's easy to root for them.

That said, if the Dodgers end up facing the Brewers in the NLCS, I hope they kick some Brewer butt and take some Brewer names.

And even worse. It's in Philadelphia.

We stopped off at the library to pick up my birthday present and I'm afraid I frightened Bob... one of the few occasions I ever wear a suit, too.

It makes sense to me that as a left fielder, Juan's bat is replacement and that his defense lifts him a bit over that. Pierre, for his faults, is likely a better player than the John Lindseys of the world.

Par-tay...!!!

As of 9/25: If all breaks right, I'll be present for the first Dodgers playoff game.

http://www.azsnakepit.com/2008/9/25/621701/gameday-thread-159-9-25-vs#comments

(Oh wait, there was that sequel, wasn't there?)

;-)

(3.5 - 2.95) * C
C = Playing time adjustment
WAR = 0.36

Pre-season I had him at 0.47 WAR using ZIPS projections. I am not claiming accuracy, just what I have. :)
vr, Xei

http://www.greencine.com/central/node/842

You're right, the fans here are not 1/2 as bad as ESPN would have you think, especially since the Vet came down. Especially in baseball. Many of the drunk hooligans are priced out. I'm up in Fairmount...I listen to most of the games on the internet except when I hit Fox and the Hound where they usually put us in a tiny table in the corner watching the MLB package.

I've been told no company seats for me with a Dodgers hat on in the playoffs.

I'm in the Grad Hospital area. Good to know Fox and Hound is an option if I want to go out to catch a game next season, especially since I can stumble home from there.

The #1 pick is at stake!

Whew!

A flashback to 2007:

Matt Kemp (to Jeff Kent): You're nothing but a warped, frustrated old man...and (points to Luis Gonzalez)...the same goes for you.

One week later:

Jeff Kent (to Matt Kemp): You once called me a warped-frustrated old man...do you know what you are? You're a warped, frustrated young man!

We almost put The Ladykillers on the list and then thought.... nah.

Maybe it's not updating?

Good thing Marty has the USC game to think about instead of this.

--

I think Jim needs to Windex his computer monitor. ;-)

Proceeding to laugh at myself...

Don't forget to check out the older polls, too, including the "Worst Nicolas Cage Movie" which is a tough one, and Best Stoner Movie.

--

Man, the mets are gonna blow it again, aren't they?

Mets 3 Cubs 3 T5
Pirates 0 Brewers 0 B1

Top of the 6th.

Nice jacket too!

*Make sure you only lay foot in there when they're having sales.†

†Which is almost all the time.

He is leaning toward a 11 man pitching staff but only using 3 starters since only one would have to pitch on 3 days rest.

Kuo is out for the NLDS. He is does not know how or if Kershaw will be a part of the NLDS staff.