Back will come Penny,
Followed by Lowe,
Followed, we hope,
by two days of snow.

First place in the division has changed hands 5 times in the last 7 days.

Dodgers have started a trend. Hopefully 3rd place stops changing hands.

vr

Xei

vr

Xei

http://www.pbase.com/apsio/image/43374231

From the fouth outfielder blog.

vr

Xei

vr

Xei

vr

Xei

A.Perez 0.463
E.Alfonzo 0.414
B.Penny 0.219
JT.Snow 0.137
R.Ledee 0.111
JD.Drew 0.096
P.Bako 0.075
D.Cruz 0.074
E.Gagne 0.036
O.Vizquel 0.030
M.Herges 0.021
J.Phillips 0.000
S.Munter 0.000
J.Ellison 0.000
J.Werth -0.006
J.Kent -0.008
O.Saenz -0.012
M.Bradley -0.012
C.Izturis -0.038
M.Alou -0.041
L.Niekro -0.045
Y.Torrealba -0.059
K.Rueter -0.062
J.Christiansen -0.086
M.Tucker -0.109
P.Feliz -0.191
R.Durham -0.192
Y.Brazoban -0.381
T.Walker -0.397

Sidenote: The Dodgers are undefeated since I moved my spare TV into the family room.

vr

Xei

I'm not sure how old it is, but appears to be fairly recent.

One thing I got out of it is that Jeff Kent seems to be suffering through a huge random cluster.

We've got Lowe against Estes, we must win this game. A Perez will get another chance to terrorize a lefty.

my favorite save of all time is 5/19/99.

Reds 24, Rockies 12. Villone gets the save.

SAVES FOR RELIEF PITCHERS
10.20
Credit a pitcher with a save when he meets all three of the following conditions: (1) He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his club; and (2) He is not the winning pitcher; and (3) He qualifies under one of the following conditions: (a) He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches for at least one inning; or (b) He enters the game, regardless of the count, with the potential tying run either on base, or at bat, or on deck (that is, the potential tying run is either already on base or is one of the first two batsmen he faces); or (c) He pitches effectively for at least three innings. No more than one save may be credited in each game.

That was my comment after the game last night. :) Gagne came in with a 3 run lead gave up 2 hits and a run and gets credited with a save. Gagne did end up saving his own bacon, but it was a good example of why saves are a fairly meaningless stat. Worst part of it is, most managers manage based on the stat, and salaries are negotiated based on the stat.

vr

Xei

May 27, 1972

Over 43,000 fans came to the Astrodome to watch the second place Dodgers beat the first place Houston Astros 7-3 with a 4-run eighth inning sparked by a 2-run single from left fielder Manny Mota. The win improved the Dodgers to 22-16 and just 2 ½ games behind the Astros in a season that saw the first week of games cancelled by the game's first ever players strike.

The Dodgers had taken an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly from right fielder Frank Robinson, acquired in the offseason from Baltimore for Doyle Alexander. Mota followed with an RBI double. The Dodgers went up 3-0 on an RBI single from Wes Parker in the fourth.

After scratching out a run against Bill Singer in the fourth, the Astros tied it up in the 6th on an RBI double from Bob Watson and an RBI single from Tommy Helms.

The Dodgers broke the tie in the 8th. Shortstop Bill Russell led off with a single and two batters later, Robinson singled. Houston manager Harry Walker pulled starter Jerry Reuss in favor of reliever Jim Ray. Mota singled in Russell and he and Robinson both moved up a base when Jim Wynn bobbled the ball in center. Pinch hitter Bill Buckner was intentionally walked to load the bases, but Ray then walked Wes Parker to force in a run. Pinch hitter Duke Sims then doubled in two more runs to put the Dodgers up, 7-3 and reliever Pete Mikkelsen held on for the win.

When the season was over, Houston nosed out the Dodgers by .001 for second place, but both teams were 10 ½ games behind pennant winning Cincinnati. Games cancelled by the strike at the beginning of the year created situations where teams played a different number of games. In the AL East, Detroit edged Boston by ½ game for first because they played one extra game.

1972 was a transitional year for the Dodgers. There were some older stars on their way out who played for them, such as Robinson, who was a disappointment in his one year in L.A., batting .251 with 19 home runs. Maury Wills played his final season and batted .129 in 71 games. Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm stopped by to pitch the last 16 games of his career and retire in midseason just a few days short of turning 50.

But the help from the Dodgers abundant farm system was starting to turn up. Russell moved from the outfield to become the starting shortstop. Lee Lacy and Davey Lopes made appearances at second base. Steve Garvey played at third and scared fans with his throwing arm. Steve Yeager and Joe Ferguson were making appearances at catcher insuring that the Dodgers weren't going to have to rely on mediocrities like Sims, Chris Canizzaro and Dick Dietz behind the plate.

The pitching staff was steady. Don Sutton went 19-9 with 2.08 ERA, his career best although only the third lowest in the NL that year. (Both Steve Carlton and Gary Nolan had ERAs under 2.00) Claude Osteen went 20-11 with a 2.64 ERA. But Al Downing, who came out of nowhere to win 20 games in 1971, could only manage a 9-9 record. Singer finished 6-16. Jim Brewer had a great year in relief, saving 17 with an 8-7 record and a 1.26 ERA.

There were going to be changes in 1973. Big changes. And the American League team to the south would play a big part.

Thanks to the Washington Post, BaseballReference.com and Retrosheet

It's been a long day. Found out my cat has cancer in a couple of places. She's pretty old in cat terms, so it's not entirely unexpected.

http://www.sigalert.com/map.asp?Region=Greater+Los+Angeles

vr

Xei

ps - see you mid game.

Jim, I assume that he's seeing Revenge of the Sith. Yoda grammar, he is using.

As an aside, Bradley took engaging the fans (in this case the ones in the center field bleachers) to a whole new level. I watched him for the first few innings with my binoculars and he was turning around to face them and taunt them during warmups AND during play in the first few innings. At one point, he was he turned back to face the batter about 1/2 second before Penny released the ball. Seriously. I was beside myself. I have never seen a professional athlete in any sport do that. Doesn't he understand that engaging them just makes it worse?

I thought for sure someone would say something to him after he came back to the dugout after the inning.......not a word.

Please forward that question to:

Joe Morgan
c/o ESPN
Bristol, CT

Mr. Morgan believes that wins are the single most important number a pitcher can accumulate. Let us know what he says re: your question.

1. Izturis
2. Werth
3. Bradley
4. Kent
5. Saenz
6. Drew
7. Phillips
8. Perez
9. Lowe

Also, Perez stole a bag of Estes last time we faced him, so look for a steal attempt tonight.

As usual, I'm taking the over. Go ahead and laugh at me...I'm laughing at myself.

What gives?

Thanks, Jim.

The first basemen need to start tripping all potential baserunners. The pitchers won't hold them, and Phillips can't catch them. Gotta get creative.

I just plain forgot it's an away game.

Anyone else notice that the first "s" in Estes's name on his jersey is askew? It's at like a 45 degree angle. Just a goofy-lefthander thing? Or a portent of how he'll get rocked tonight?

(I'm channelling Vinnie).

I Saw the Saenz

Sorry

Actually, Wunsch is suprisingly good against righties in his carrer, so I do rescind some of my outrage. I still think Carrara or Brazoban is the way to go there, however.

I don't think he's enough of a threat to waste your left handed guy on, but I can see your point.

Also tonight, the Nationals lost to the Cardinals. Heard some on the radio. Apparently, that David Eckstein is "gritty," "a gamer," and "does all the little things that don't show up in the boxscore."

vr

Xei

vr

Xei

vr

Xei

vr

Xei

vr

Xei

Jeff Kent or Old Maid Signs?

vr

Xei

Two in a row. Pinch me, I must be dreaming.

vr

Xei