Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Jon's other site:
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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
| Today, the Dodgers announced the hiring of Ray Maytorena, a bilingual 24-year veteran of the U.S. Secret Service, as Vice President of Security. "Most recently, Maytorena served as the Special Agent in Charge (SES) of the Los Angeles field office, the nation's third-largest district, in which he managed more than 250 employees," a Dodger press release said. "In that capacity, he oversaw security and protection for the numerous large events, including the State Funeral of President Gerald Ford, and served as the lead advance agent for the 1996 Republic National Convention in San Diego." |
Union 76's association with the Dodgers was strong - for decades they advertised in the circle high above the Dodger Stadium scoreboards, and they also operated the gas station in the ballpark parking lot. As often as these commercials aired, extolling the virtues of gas with spirit (theirs was the David Eckstein of gas), the Union 76 gang seemed like part of the Dodger family.
Murph (played by longtime character actor Richard X. Slattery), was the avuncular gas station operator. Nick (George DiCenzo) was the goofy but well-meaning No. 2. Jill (Jean Rasey) was the girl next door, if you lived next door to an up-and-coming, Pam Beesley-like mechanic.
The fourth member of the troupe was at one point played by Larry Wilcox, until he got cast alongside Erik Estrada in a little masterpiece we like to call CHiPs. I used to think he and Jill would end up getting married (Jill had a fairly active dating life). After Wilcox left, the producers followed television tradition by bringing in a previously unmentioned relative, Murph Jr.
Murph's 76 will always be a part of my Dodger memories.
Here's a very special one ...
* * *
I'd like to wish our country's veterans a good day. I know I've been remiss in expressing such sentiments in the past, but I do truly appreciate their service for us.
Amen on Veteran's Day, too.
--
I don't understand what the Marlins are thinking in that trade with the Nats at all, but I guess time will tell.
You mean the crap that you wrote Heyman about Martin? That 'thin' evidence? Seriously, its like he doesn't even realize that he's spewing this manure.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jon_heyman/11/11/heyman.storylines/index.html?eref=writers
Of course, there was nothing like Vin doing those commercials from the gas pump.
Jill is the same age as Michelle Obama.
That had to be a styrofoam cake Jill is holding in Murph's birthday commercial.
It would be hard to write an ad now bragging that you have leaded gas.
"76 Gas! We have the gas that will help increase air pollution!"
I think you may want to redo the math there on Jean Rasey's age.
On a related note, with DHL closing delivery service to the US and closing down a town in Ohio
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/10/dhl.closing.wilmington/?iref=mpstoryview
and AIG costing taxpayers 160 Billion, any other Dodger billboard advertisers who may be hitting the economic headlines next? Was Washington Mutual an advertiser?
Bank of America has the monopoly on bank ads at Dodger Stadium.
I saw a good explanation at baseball hq.
" Willingham is a decent hitter, nothing special as an OF and has had some injury issues. Olsen, as many remember from last season, was pitching above his BPIs and, in terms of talent, wasn't one of their top 5 SP. And Jacobs is a low OBP 1B with a little power and not a great defensive 1B either.
So, all-in-all, they dump $6-10MM in salary and three players who, at best, are role players on a championship team. And it isn't as if they don't have viable (and comparable) replacements in the minors (Sanchez/McPherson for Jacobs; A. Miller for Olsen; Maybin for Willingham (actually Ross in LF))."
Purple
Motor
Oil
(also, Positive Mental Outlook)
And she could post him up too. That's an important role for a First Lady. Laura Bush was always getting beaten up down on the blocks by the other spouses of world leaders.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-tonydow12-2008nov12,0,6549231.story
At least MLB picked a fairly stable bank.
As for other big Dodgers sponsors, I think Trader Joe's is doing OK. I can't speak for Universal.
I think the Sheriff and County Registrar-Recorder are still in business.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117995614.html
I think they should have cast SB's son.
I also love the U of La Verne ads on the board behind the plate. Nice to see where my student loan payments are going to. They are doing well too, campus is about to double in size so I read.
Don't go to New Jersey, they have a reciprocal extradition agreement with Oregon for that crime.
I can imagine a final episode of Seinfeld-esque trial for violating some arcane ordinance.
A few years back there was an ad from a Japanese corporation that made trains. And not model trains. Big rolling stock things. It was baffling.
There were also 76 balls in the shape of a football and one with basketball markings.
A coworker of mine at the library worked for Unocal for years until they got out of the library business and she has all sorts of 76 memorabilia.
Among company insiders, the 76 ball is "The Meatball."
It had a corporate library. But it didn't really need a corporate library when it was no longer a corporation.
FDA regulations require that TV ads tell you EVERY side effect and warning before you can say what the drug is for.
I wonder how much Murph & Co. sold their gas for back then.
Among ads that actually tell you the side effects, I'm not fooled when they read off the side effects in a happy, cheerful, worry-free voice that doesn't deviate from how they enumerate the various benefits of the drug.
That's right! I needed it for my Yamaha 400 2-stroke.
But it felt like it all took place on the same day. I need to watch it again.
76 antenna wiffle ball game outside DS?
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/11/11/piazza.book.ap/index.html
The new hire should be able to keep Frank and family safe but I also hope he has extensive experience in crowd control with discretion. Secret Service can do anything they want, he won't have the same authority at a ball game.
I wonder if Staples metal detectors will soon be added to making Dodger entry lines unbearable.
Yeah, I read about those yesterday. So bad!
Of course, Hollywood has been trying to remake Oldboy for awhile. I guess Justin Lin is out.
Also, for all the talk about C.C. NL Cy Young bid, he finishes 5th, behind Brad Lidge.
Bobot.
It's a holiday. I have the day off and need something to keep me amused while I do my laundry.
Tatum Bell is once again a Bronco.
The 10-year-old - who's currently a martial arts practitioner - starred with his dad in 2006's The Pursuit of Happyness.
http://omg.yahoo.com/news/will-smiths-son-to-remake-karate-kid/15251
I will not be seeing that remake.
It's sort of like "Ang"
I always like to sound it out like the last syllable of Dr. J's name when announced in Philly.
Do I have to pay a fine if I return my book on holiday?
I wanted to take my children to the library on their day off from school but it was closed, why?
Just want to get Bob ready for the calls tomorrow.
I really wish he wasn't on the Giants.
Why did all of your signs have a superfluous apostrophe in "Veterans Day?"
I think we should go with Kim Ainge from now on, just to avoid confusion. :)
Except I don't megaloathe Kim Ng.
(Just kidding)
More like "mmm"
This has been my helpful contribution to the discussion.
vr, Xei
Could be an AA meeting.
Library is not open. And it is at 11 or 12 oclock at night. I am pretty sure people just go behind the library to do stuff.
The DHL ads on the bullpen always looked like a crime scene to me. I think they stood out for that reason.
We used to steal 76 antena balls and stick them in the spokes of our bike.
vr, Xei
It's French, I think.
In that case, welcome to Needle Park.
http://tinyurl.com/6ct35s
Safeway??? I can't get 100 different kinds of potato chips at Trader Joes.
Rosenthal thinks the Rockies are going to flip Gonzales and Street to other teams.
(early Pacino, gotta love it!)
She is Chinese.
Wow.
I laughed out loud in my office over that one.
So, this Thanksgiving is the first time my wife and I will not be traveling for a holiday. It will also be the first turkey I will cook, and this is what I plan to do (minus the gravy recipe, we have our own)
http://www.nakedwhiz.com/madmaxturkey.htm
That same trip, many residents of our nation's capital asked me how did I like the United States?
Seriously, if you look at their contracts, they are nearly the same in overall dollars.
I see you've mastered the language well.
Good for you!
I've used Alton Brown's turkey recipe with very successful results in the past:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/good-eats-roast-turkey-recipe/index.html
First of all, what Dodger fan wouldn't want Arroyo for Pierre? However, I just can't fathom that Cincinnati would make that deal.
We are much more likely to have to take a problem contract back in return (like an Eric Chavez or Dontrelle Willis). Arroyo has too much on-field value to be had in a Pierre trade.
In womens soccer.
USC is a 4th seed but will be at BYU for the first 2 rounds.
UCLA, North Carolina, Stanford and Notre Dame were all named No. 1 seeds, the womens soccer final four is held in North Carolina.
Also, from Cincy's perspective they have an OF of Bruce and . . .? They have some good pitchers in Harang, Volquez, Cueto, and Bailey still has some upside, so I would bet Arroyo could be had. Admittedly we would have to include an arm like Troncoso or I am pretty sure Hu would seal it since they really need a SS.
Chavez is owed $23M for 2009-10 and has a club option for 2012 for $12.5M (or a $3M buyout). Juan Pierre is making 10/10/8.5 for the next 3 years.
Here in DC, people look at Boeing or EADS ads on the Yellow Line between National and Pentagon, and they have just that thought.
What about an old ex-Pony league teammate and High School foe of mine, Chris Valaika?
[Comment From Tim Dierkes]
Hey man, it's yourself from the future. Future you already knows this answer, but which team do you think is going to have the best offseason? Worst offseason?
Tim: Best: Rays. Worst: Dodgers.
Tim: Colletti has a bad free agent track record, and he seems likely to sign a SS, 3B, SP, maybe an OF.
Well, he should promote SS, and 3B from within with Hu/DeJesus and DeWitt, and get C.C., and then figure out what to do for an OF.
My cousin is a sophomore in high school and is being recruited to play womens soccer at UCLA.
I shall do my best to make sure she picks the right school. ; )
Free tuition trumps all allegiances in my book.
I am guessing she will choose between Cal and UCLA.
As for Hu, I don't know if he can ever hit major league pitching, but I think he can hold down the fort for at least a half of a season if DeJesus needs more seasoning, or takes the 2nd base job.
Is there a link for that, or just speculation?
Carondelet and De La Salle.
He's playing in the Puerto Rican League and is off to a great start. One name who might factor in 2009 is Jerome Williams when discussing AAA pitchers who are depth insurance.
Xavier Paul is doing some damage in the Mexican Winter League. Jamie Hoffman has been our best hitter in the AFL.
Don't forget to vote for Prospect Number Nine over at True Blue. The vote for 7 was a nail biter.
http://www.truebluela.com/2008/11/10/658346/prospect-number-nine
Also I have tried the Alton Brown Brined Turkey and I approve of that recipe, good results.
When I have the time, I am partial to making the Turducken
http://tinyurl.com/prudhommeturducken
The best part is that the fat from the duck percolates through the entire creation for maximum succulency.
Maximum Succulency would be a great band name.
Can't see Durham getting much of a contract. He would be a decent plan B for a small investment. You can't count on Abreu but on the other hand you don't want to bring in someone that will block him if he proves to be healthy and productive. Durham fits that bill. He was alot more productive then Jeff Kent last year. Other then 2007 he gives you better then league average OBP.
Some of our positions are going to require PVL because those are the guys who are free agents.
- Dodgers minor league player of the year Ivan DeJesus Jr. left the Arizona Fall League early to play in the Puerto Rican Winter League. Yesterday, the Puerto Rico native homered twice while hitting leadoff for Carolina. The shortstop prospect didn't fare as well in Arizona, hitting .254 in 16 games.
Oh, there it is. The 'Carolina Giants'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rican_Professional_Baseball_League
http://blogs.pe.com/prosports/mlb/dodgers/
A little overspill and flash fire also makes for great entertainment, unless it gets out of hand. Then fun to turns to tragedy. Be careful out there.
I failed to mention that I was planning on doing the Alton brine recipe prior to the BBQ
At every point each team will sign quite a few NRI for depth. I''m only talking about Williams as depth insurance much like Jason Johnson was last year.
PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Hitters ave gm ab r h 2b 3b hr bi
Ivan De Jesus .400 3 15 5 6 1 1 2 6
Pitchers w-l era gm gs in h bb so
Andres Santiago 0-0 0.00 1 0 1 1 0 0
Jerome Williams 0-1 2.08 1 1 4 4 0 2
Maybe as a replacement for Park, who said he's not coming back to the Dodgers
I believe all Park has said is that he'd prefer to start.
Doesn't sound like Park expects to be back, and wouldn't if he's not allowed to start.
Maybe he didn't want to be there since he was planning on playing in the Puerto Rican Winter League.
I think people are making a big deal about a small sample size.
More people were probably interested in a BIOLA game recap anyways.
Do you get ESPNU?
2005- 22 starts
2006- 17 starts
2007- 24 starts
2008- 31 starts
He'd be a nice consolation prize if CC goes elsewhere. If the Dodgers miss on CC, they should go for either Sheets/Burnett on 3yr deals (since they apparently cant offer more than 3yrs this offseason).
I can't seem to remember if I graduated with him, a sibling, or just got so bored at my brother's games at Hart field that I have memorized a large portion of the wooden team signs.
I am temping now, so basically once I get hired on full-time I will.
I don't know how long the company gave them out, but it lasted at least through 1962 when we left LA.
>The newspaper reports that "coach Tom Cable presumably is in charge of the play-calling." Lane Kiffin was criticized for his play-calling prior to being fired, but the Raiders' 19.5 points per game with him at the helm looks like an offensive explosion compared to their 7.0 points per game under Cable.
Al Davis might as well coach this team personally.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqemKVTf_38
Whenever I make turkey, I use this incredibly simple recipe that makes a perfect turkey with very crispy skin (which I love):
Put oven rack in lowest position and preheat oven to 450°F. Rinse turkey inside and out, then pat dry. Sprinkle turkey cavities and skin with salt and pepper. Fold neck skin under body and secure with metal skewers, then tie drumsticks together with kitchen string and tuck wings under body.
Put turkey on rack in roasting pan. Add 1 cup water to pan and roast without basting, rotating pan halfway through roasting, until thermometer inserted into fleshy part of thighs (test both thighs; do not touch bones) registers 170°F, 2 1/4 to 2 3/4 hours.
That's it. no brining, no basting, no tenting, basically no nothing. And you get a perfect bird.
The words vegan and feast should not be in the same sentence.
And I love vegetables.
For further Union Oil memorbelia I still have two plastic 8oz cups, one is a Sandy Koufax the other is a Willie Davis!
I also don't quite understand the concept that teams that are trading within their division want "more". It seems like a good play to trade a player like Peavy to the dodgers, who, after a couple years will begin to eat up a large portion of the dodgers payroll. At the same time, the padres are taking dodgers prospects who would be useful to the dodgers in the next 2-4 years. Maybe I'm missing something. Maybe I haven't explained myself very well.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/subscriptions/
I have no idea when they come out.
I tried a bite of it a couple years back. The best way to describe it is like a hickory farms beef stick, only the "beef" is old bologna.
Pass. I could probably do a vegetarian Thanksgiving, but not vegan. I love stuffing and yams and all the sides.
I don't doubt that deep fried turkey would be good. I just don't have the means to make it.
Can't wait to go camping. By that time. it'll be baseball season again.
--
Wow, I just read that the Padres "broke up" with Trevor Hoffman via... fax. Now that's class!
The main dish is not a turkey substitute, but some kind of lentil loaf or something. Can't remember exactly.
No, neither of us are. We're both mostly-vegetarian. But for some reason she wants to try a bunch of vegan recipes, which is fine with me.
You are asking yourself?
And if you add wheels it becomes an R.V. :)
And the thinking behind trading in division is that you're going to see the player regularly, so you'll want to show that you're a better team because of the trade I guess.
Except the Padres are going to lose 95 games anyway, and they're not going to be in contention, so asking 50% more from the Dodgers instead of the Braves or Cubs is short sighted.
Especially if a reasonable offer from the Dodger would net you better prospects than the Braves or Cubs
http://www.krnv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9333033&nav=8faO
http://tinyurl.com/58ztnx
I'm generally around if Boras needs to be criticized.
As you were...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqemKVTf_38
I'm sure Red fans are utterly annoyed on Dodgers fans constantly trying to unload Juan Pierre on them. But JP does have a higher OPB over Taveras.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/nov/11/rockies-atkins-interests-reds/?partner=RSS
I turned on the Laker game and they were down 9 midway through the 3rd, and they are now up 2 early in the 4th. I'm liking this defense thing.
Lakers-Mavs, great game -- it's on NBATV so I can enjoy the game on the telly.
I didn't realize they (NBATV and NBA.com) hold fan voting on weekly games, letting fans decide which game they should cover next week.
The fan vote is a great thing. I plan to vote on any Laker road games I otherwise wouldn't get to see in SD (I get the home games).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llmi2o7sWh8
I think I'll throw it off by voting on the Heat-Wizards game. (j/k)
241 No, it's inherently evil. Evil! Eevilll!
Why Ariza isn't starting over Vlad Rad, I have no idea.
I think they like Ariza & Farmar providing energy off the bench. I think as the season goes on, the minutes for both will go up.
San Antonio 2-4
Life is good.
Tomorrow in New Orleans will be tough, but bring it on!
Not sure if this has been discussed, but the Times has a Dodgers/Manny update - assuming there's truth to it - I can't imagine 3 and 60 will get it done, and I'm not sure why they are "pulling the offer" on Thursday.
The free agency period opens Thursday at 9pm (midnight Friday on the east coast), after which any team may offer contracts. The Dodgers probably are using the pulled offer as a threat to try to get the deal done before then.
But, it's really just for show since the club knows Manny is going to test the waters anyway.
So now the offer is known:
2009: $15m
2010: $22.5m
2011: $22.5m option ($7.5m buyout)
I don't know what kind of market will materialize for Manny, but that's not a bad offer. Maybe a guaranteed 3rd year would seal it.
Meanwhile, renovations of the Dodger Stadium clubhouses, loge section, video scoreboard and sound system planned for this winter won't take place for another year.
The Dodgers had wanted the clubhouses to be finished in time for the semifinals and finals of the World Baseball Classic in March. Dennis Mannion, the team's chief operating officer, blamed the delay on the need to reconfigure the field level concession stands, as well as construction of the spring-training facility in Glendale, Ariz
Sounds like more ammo for the McCourt has no money argument.
Or he could be placed on the 60-day DL and leave the team in a pennant race.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrLCNx3hZXM
Skirting rule 5(but not really.) Meet Obama-kun, and Hillary-chan, along with Papa Bill Clinton.
The block he had against Stack tonight is one of the most athletic plays I've ever seen
It made me think of this play 22 seasons ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWAlr3RN0DE (skip to about the 1:25 mark)
While looking for this video, I found a classic 1980s NBA Swat Team video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhcYsiWv7bg
-------------
"Trevor was really upset," Thurman said. "He wanted to be a Padre for his entire career. He didn't want to leave San Diego. It's upsetting to him."
-------------
http://tinyurl.com/55gcve
Hoffman's first 28 career games and 35.2 IP were with Florida in 1993, before being brought to San Diego in the Sheffield deal.
http://tinyurl.com/68us47
I wish it was that simple, actually if it was that simple I would say 4 years, if you knew Boras would take it. The problem is now Boras is going to take Manny to market, and the real question is can he get Manny 5 years or even 6. My guess is he might be able to get 5 but not 6, and then the Dodgers have to figure out how far they want to go and if Manny really wants to stay in LA....Is anyone surprised that the Dodgers have not even made an offer to Lowe?
I guess I'm just skeptical of the interest of the other potential clubs in the Manny sweepstakes:
Yankees - seem more interested in Teixeira and starting pitchers
Mets - Minaya has publicly stated disinterest in Manny
Red Sox - no chance in Hell
Phillies - can they afford to add payroll? There are at roughly $105m already without a LF
Angels - is Manny a Scioscia-type guy?
Giants - I'll believe it when I see it
That leaves the Cubs and the Dodgers. I don't think it will take much more than 3/$60 to sign him.
...At the suggestion of the club, Ryan Spilborghs will play in Mexico next month to prepare to be the Rockies' starter in center field next season, another indication that a Taveras trade is a certainty
http://tinyurl.com/5embbk
Looks like the Rox OF will be Gonzalez-Spillborghs-Hawpe from left to right.
I was wondering about the same thing. Why else would construction in Arizona affect construction at Dodger Stadium?
as well as construction of the spring-training facility in Glendale, Ariz.
It says something that immediately after the Clippers staff heard rumors that the Clippers were shopping Kamen, that they quashed it as soon as possible.
...How are the Clippers more media savvy than the Dodgers?
McCourt has been making money hand over fist since buying the Dodgers. I don't know the state of his current finances, but I wouldn't assume that just because the Dodgers traded Carlos Santana or that they don't want to give Manny $120 million that they're broke.
Increasing the payroll has not been an issue with the Dodgers of late. Where that money has been spent - that's the main issue. But Andruw Jones was the definition of increasing the payroll.
This deal is not only insulting to Manny and Boras, it's insulting to us, the Dodger Fans. For all Manny did last year, is anyone here buying this as a legitimate offer, or just a big ruse?
I think it's a ruse. A weak offer shown just to give fans the false impression the Dodgers made a run at Manny when they really didn't.
I don't mind Manny walking and signing with another team, but I would have expected more of an offer when considering Manny's media value.
To begin, I object to your use of the term "insult." I don't believe anybody is being insulted -- not Manny, not Dodger fans. An insult is a gesture. I have a problem with the idea that contract offers should ever be considered in terms of gestures, be they positive or negative. Contract offers should be divorced from emotion, and completely about the non-public-relations aspects of an organization's interests. Neither players nor Dodger fans should be pandered to. You also refer to Manny's "media value." After I have said what I have about pandering to fans, you don't even want to know what I think about the idea of pandering to the media.
The truth is, Manny is a really bad "fit" with the Dodgers right now, and too few people seem to realize that. People say "Well, he's a big bat on a team that needs one and probably won't have one without him. So that makes him a perfect fit." But I'm sorry, that is too simplistic an analysis. Manny Ramirez is over-35 and an American League DH in all but name, and is looking for a long-term contract. That makes him far from being the kind of "package" (player plus deal sought) that any NL team should be interested in. And that is just NL teams in general. The Dodgers are a far poorer fit that most NL teams. Why? Because we already have FOUR starting outfielders, two of whom we could easily trade away but absolutely shouldn't trade, and two of whom we are stuck with even though we would like them to disappear.
Honestly, the 600 pound gorilla in the room that nobody wants to talk about, when it comes to the Dodgers and Manny, is the duo of Jones and Pierre. But as the Pushing Daisies' narrator likes to say, the facts are these: (1) Jones/Pierre won't be traded because nobody wants them or their contracts; (2) the Dodgers are not going to DFA them and eat their salaries; and (3) it will be incredibly awkward having even one of the high-paid players being a full-time bench player in 2009, let alone both of them. These are three facts that fans and media are completely in denial about. And the denial is understandable, because the difference between a line-up with Manny in it instead of either Pierre or Jones and a line-up with no Manny but Pierre or Jones is probably the difference between a line-up that is good and a line-up that is below average. What is the answer to that? A very uncomfortable one: the Dodgers made their bed, and now they have to sleep in it.
That the Dodgers offense is going to be somewhat weak in 2009 is something that we have to accept, if only because facing it will help focus our resolve to do what we really should be devoting our resources to this off-season: out-bidding the Yankees and every other potential suitor for C.C. Sabathia. Unlike our crowded outfield, we do have a vacancy open in our starting rotation, and given Billz, Kershaw, and McDonald, the slot that is open just happens to be one for a high-paid established ace. Unlike Manny, Sabathia is the perfect fit for the Dodgers right now. "Fit" is all about timing and circumstances.
Signing Sabathia would give us what I believe would be the most talented rotation in MLB, bar none. That would be the foundation for the pitching-and-defense strategy that we should pursue for 2009. Would we like to be a strong offensive team in 2009? No doubt, but as I have argued, the circumstances say we realistically can't be, so we should, for one year, till we are rid of the Jones' contract, embrace the 2003 Dodgers as a model. That team won 85 games -- more games than we won in 2008 with two months of Babe Ruth-level Manny. In an NL West that looks to be getting weaker before it gets stronger, 85 wins could put us into the playoffs, where our killer rotation would be more important than our offense anyway.
Runs Above Replacement, Position-adjusted. A statistic that compares a hitter's Equivalent Run total to that of a replacement-level player who makes the same number of outs and plays the same position. A "replacement level" player is one who has .736 times as many EqR as the average for the position; that corresponds to a .351 winning percentage. Used when fielding data is unavailable.
Last season: 4
This season: 0
Where I come from, we call such players "Persons who have been specifically authorized to hit, with no fielding responsibilities (other than maybe an occasional game at first base or left field, under dire conditions)", or "Designated hitters" for short.
As a National League team, the Dodgers don't really have much use for such a player over the next 4-6 years, unless he is willing to accept a few million bucks a year (or less) to sit on the bench and pinch-hit once in a while.
Designated hitters should not be given long-term, huge dollar contracts by National League teams, especially when they'll be almost 37 years old at the beginning of the contract and (presumably?) not using PEDs.
vr, Xei
Yup
266
The finances for a number of strong companies last spring have changed dramatically. Just because the Dodgers went into 2008 with the highest payroll in their history means nothing when trying to construe what the current Dodger financial situation is. The Dodgers themselves may have made money for the McCourts but that does not mean they didn't try to use those profits for more gain and got burned.
It is quite telling to me that they could not get the lending to go forward with the capital improvements this winter. That would not have happened in the winter of 2007. Something has changed.
Talk about insulting...
All I was saying to 264 is that you can't say the Dodgers haven't increased payroll when they've done nothing but do that under McCourt. Whether that will continue, I don't know. But you can't say that it won't. For all we know, the postponement of the Loge redo is to make more money available for payroll.
NPUT
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