Dodgers' Troncoso to start?

>> Reliever Ramon Troncoso said it was the Dodgers who requested he pitch as a starter in the Dominican Winter League, and now, the right-hander could become a candidate for a rotation spot this spring.

"I'd like to be a starter," he said. <<

## Troncoso has signed up to participate in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic, but said he would leave his status up to the Dodgers. ##

http://tinyurl.com/8kj9jt

I'm sorry that you Dodger fans didn't get to see everyday what he was at his peak---an amazing defensive machine with pop.

I'll miss him if he never gets back.

I was wondering what the other deferred bonuses Andruw Jones had.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/01/dodgers-and-ang.html

Then you missed out on some mind-blowing episodes of Kiner's Korner.

What do folks think about Trancoso vs McDonald, potential wise as starters vs relief?

Seems like we've got a lot of starting depth between Trancoso/McD/Stults.

Plenty of room for an OF (you know who) and a starter.

Troncoso's sinker is a great weapon out of the pen, but he's an intriguing starter as well.

http://tinyurl.com/7mepv5

>>Apparently club management so liked what it saw from James McDonald in relief that it might want to keep him there instead of starting, so the decision was made to try out Troncoso as a starter.<<

14 Right, hard to believe I forgot about Schmidt. The article does say we want one more from the same three, as well as another reliever. My guess is we are still after Reyes, putting Elbert at AAA (maybe being stretched back into starting?)

The cable nets are all running massive "breaking news" updates on the Hudson plane still even though (1) it happened like 10 hours ago, (2) no one was hurt, thank Choi, and (3) we pretty much seem to know exactly what happened. So exactly what's "Breaking!!"?

Food-wise, though, I am nowhere near Marty's level. He was the one guy I hoped would respond to the dining queries. Thanks, Marty.

I'm still looking for info on reasonable parking options downtown. Where's Bob when you need him?

Presuming you have nothing valuable inside the rental car.

I would be happy if we just stopped all of this searching for two more "proven" pitchers nonsense and resolved that available jobs will be filled based on what the Dodgers see from the pitchers we already have in spring training.

http://www.seriouseats.com/2009/01/eat-out-nyc-kelly-choi-new-host-of-top-chef-masters.html

Top Chef Masters is a Top Chef spin off show that will, I guess be like an Iron Chef clone.

Is it too retro to take a Wilshire bus from WLA to downtown? I actually like buses.

You don't want to go to L.A. Live BTW.

It's all about timing and location.

Also claimed that if Manny doesn't re-sign, he will personally take on that role. He also expects 600 at-bats again and is looking forward to having spring training in Ariz, and not fly to China again.

Skoobies hot dogs at the Hollywood and Highland stop

Sapp's Thai noodles at Hollywood and Western stop

El Gran Burrito at Santa Monica and Vermont stop

Casssell's Hamburgers at Santa Monica and Wilshire stop

Langer's Pastrami at McArthur Park stop

Phillipe's or East Side Market at Union Station stop.

EOL

Andruw Jones last hit as a Dodger was a home run as a pinch hitter against Ron Villone on August 9.

In his last AB as a Dodger, he struck out against Clay Hensley on September 9.

Glendon Rusch was the only other pitcher to give up two hits last year to Andruw Jones and he gave up a single on April 4 with San Diego and a double when pitching for Colorado on July 23.

And there was no Facebook group or petition to save the Andruw Jones Show. Maybe it'll be retooled with a new format next season.

Fixed.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3836941

I don't think the "RAPID" busses are retro. They make limited stops so you get there faster. Your options on Wilshire are the 20 (lots of stops), the 720 (fewer stops, faster service, and supposedly the ability to change traffic lights at will), and the 920 (fewer stops still). Metro.net is your friend. Go with Day Passes.

Also describes the L.A. Kings Hockey season. This team is rebuilding, but this is bad. Almost 2005 Dodgers bad.

The Jonathan Quick experiment has quickly ended.

(Btw, some of Kubrick leaves me cold, too, but Paths of Glory is amazing, Spartacus is fun, and Dr Strangelove is one of my all time faves, too. A lot of his other films are interesting and memorable, but I can't see watching them multiple times.

Full Metal Jacket was the first of his films that I saw in the theater, when I was in HS, and parts of it blew me away. Uneven, though.

It turns out that the 7th Street Market Mall -- Figueroa between 7th and 8th has a huge parking lot just to the west, that is between 7th and 8th west of Fig. Now this can be an expensive lot, but if you validate at Macy's, you get free parking for a couple of hours. And no, Macy's does not need you to buy something to validate your parking. Warning, this is one of those lots where you have to pay at a machine before you exit, or insert your validated ticket -- there is no one to take your money on the way out.

Anyhow, that's my downtown parking secret. Enter off of either 7th or 8th

No train from the west side? OK. But there is from 'near' the airport. You can get a free shuttle from your baggage claim to the Green Line. This takes you light rail over the freeway to the Blue Line. This takes you along the Harbor freight line rail bed through some VERY colorfully graffitied neighborhoods to the Red Line. This will take you downtown, or the other way, out to Hollywood and Universal Studios. Get the $5 Metro day pass.

Now, I once convinced my Michigan buddy that we should take out daughters to Universal by this route. The rough neighborhood along the Blue line didn't bother me, but I wasn't so sure about them. BTW, the train is very safe.

I like the idea of getting on in Hollywood, too.

Go Bruins! Good night Andruw.

Martin has changed agents and is now interested in a long term deal.

AWESOME!

--

Former Dodger farmhand Wesley Wright was honored by Astros as their rookie of the year (sigh). And James Loney was a guest at the same banquet, as winner of Houston area player of the year. Some funny anecdotes in this piece.

http://tinyurl.com/79wj9s

>>Loney, a native Houstonian and graduate of Elkins High School, provided several humorous moments, including approaching the podium to ask Berkman for an autograph just as Berkman was about to give his acceptance speech. During his speech, Loney expressed appreciation to two unlikely targets, both of which apparently helped him to curb his boredom during the long days and nights at Spring Training: "Sam Walton, for giving us those super stores, and Fox's American Idol."<<

Also mentions how Lance Berkman's wife mistook Wes Wright as a batboy after first encounter.

Shakin has more on it.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/01/dodgers-ramon-t.html

Also more news on Troncoso, and new news on Tony Aberu.

"The Dodgers are one of the most well-run franchises in all of baseball," McCourt said. "We're going to continue to run it that way."

Player / WAR
D.Lowe / 5.0
H.Kuroda / 3.6
C.Billingsley / 4.5
B.Penny / 0.2 (4.3 prev year)
H.Guo / 2.4
J.Broxton / 2.6
T.Saito / 2.1
J.Beimel / 0.8
R.Troncostco / 0.3
C.Wade / 0.4
J.Garland / 1.9
J.Peavy / 2.8 (6.2 prev year)
B.Webb / 6.0
D.Haren / 6.4
T.Lincecum / 7.5
M.Cain / 3.7
R.Johnson / 3.8
C.Sabathia / 7.7
B.Sheets / 4.6
R.Wolf / 2.0
vr, Xei

D. Reyes / 0.7
L. Ayala / 0.0

Good riddance... Good riddance.

https://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/879254.html#comments

I like "Killer's Kiss". Pretty horrible acting (not sure if those are even real professional actors) but great style and technique. "The Killing" showed what he could do with real actors and a budget.

"You won't see barriers between our fans and our players," McCourt said. "It's a tradition."

Said Martin: "Who wants to build barriers? That's why they tore down the Berlin Wall."