I wait with bated breath.

Please let X-Mas come early.

haha, a DFA is a strange sort of present to hope for. addition by subraction, i guess.

If Erickson isn't cut, it will be the first time during DePodesta's tenure that I have no clue as to what he's thinking.

Thompson pitched like a guy who was fighting for his life last night.

1 - Oscar Robles.

3
Subtracting a negative is adding a positive. It's all algebra.

#5 Jim are you speculating or is that the actual word?

Oscar Robles isn't going anywhere. The Dodgers said they wouldn't return Robles to his Mexican League team even though they could pocket $200 grand for it.

Before Scott travels off into retirement with his riches, here's everything you always wanted to know about him:

http://members.aol.com/scott724/twins/scott.html

we don't need 12 pitchers against the angels. i'd rather have robles, scary as that sounds.

9. steve, that's more than i ever wanted to know about scott erickson.

the amount that i wanted to know, of course, being zero.

Of course, I hope this means a pitcher (just for laughs let's say Erickson) is going away and it's not a position player which would be a zero net gain for the bench. I'm not sure why this bothers me so much but playing a series with a DH and not increasing your bench seems like such a fundamental mistake that it makes me a little crazy. Of course, Jim Tracy puts the mental in fundamental.

I was out last night so I missed the fun of last night's thread but I still want to play. Commence highjacking of the thread

I'm going to have a nice cold glass of urine to calm me down

Bob are you some kind of Philistine? Room temperature is the only acceptable way to enjoy your (or anyone else's) urine. That being said if there is a DT shirt Bob's quote has to be on it(small print) screw the box-score one.

Tough apprenticeship in the shaman field.

I feel better now. apologies to all.

I'd hate to be the bringer of bad news but according to that site *Favorite Park to Pitch In: Anaheim Stadium* AHHHHHHHHHHHH

14-

that comment is so "this morning"

Random Dodger game callback

June 24, 1938

In a year when the Dodgers were more sideshow than serious contender, Brooklyn prevailed over St. Louis 5-2 in a game at Ebbets Field in a battle for sixth place. The Dodgers were now 25-34 and 11 games out of first and 1 ½ games behind the Cardinals for sixth.

Dodger pitcher Fred Fitzsimmons was the star of the day, pitching 8 strong innings and driving in 3 runs to lead Brooklyn. Fitzsimmons, a 36-year old knuckleballer, was 11-8 in 1938 for the Dodgers with a 3.02 ERA.

The Dodgers got on the scoreboard in the second inning. Second baseman Cookie Lavagetto walked and went to second on a single by center fielder Ernie Koy. Cardinals manager Frankie Frisch opted to walk shortstop Leo Durocher, who would bat just .219 in 1938, to load the bases for Fitzsimmons. But Fitzsimmons spoiled the plan by hitting a fly ball deep enough to left to score Lavagetto. (Sacrifice flies were not a statistic in 1938.)

The Cardinals tied the game in the fourth. Joe Medwick led off with a single but was thrown out trying to stretch by right fielder Kiki Cuyler. Don Padgett singled and Pepper Martin doubled to score Padgett.

In the bottom of the fourth, Dolph Camilli walked and Durocher singled Camilli to third on a hit-and-run. Fitzsimmons then lined a ball down the left field line for a 2-run double.

Brooklyn scored another run in the fifth when catcher Babe Phelps hit into a double play to score a runner from third. Phelps accounted for the fifth run in the 8th inning. He led off with a single and then stole second, one of only two steals on the season for Phelps, who was listed at 6'2", 225 lbs. With two outs, Koy got an infield single sending Phelps to third. Brooklyn then tried a double steal, but St. Louis catcher Herb Bremer, who was trying to throw the ball to the pitcher, bounced it off the mound and Phelps was able to score.

Martin and Don Gutteridge hit back-to-back doubles to start the 9th and manager Burleigh Grimes brought in Luke Hamlin to close out the game.

The 1938 Dodgers would finish 69-80 and in seventh place, 18 ½ games behind Chicago. 1938 was the first year for Larry MacPhail in the Dodgers front office. MacPhail introduced night ball to Ebbets Field (a 6-0 loss to Cincinnati on June 15, which was the second of Johnny Vander Meer's consecutive no-hitters). He also brought on Babe Ruth as a coach.

Ruth hoped that he would become the Dodgers manager, but Ruth's presence in the Dodgers coaching box was mostly decorative. Burleigh Grimes would be let go at the end of the year. And the Dodgers new manager would not be the home run king. It would be the .219 hitting shortstop. It was a fateful decision for the Dodgers. And a wise one.

Thanks to the New York Times, BaseballReference.com and Retrosheet

9 - Holy Verdana, Batman! I didn't know that they had even invented font size 4,000 yet!

brendan glynn,
You must have missed earlier today, too. Plaschke is the new urine. As in,

I'm going to have a nice cold glass of Plaschke to calm me down.

Jim Tracy puts the mental in fundamental.

That one made me laugh.

There's no doubt that Ross is replacing a pitcher, not a position player.

#9 - His nickname is Dr. Death??? And this was given to him before this season???

You know, even IF (please oh please) Erickson gets DFA'd... Who's to say he won't just come right on back up down the line?

I mean, they managed to find a spot for him once before - I know, injuries and all that. But I could see the man with the "fastball that speed forgot" sneaking back in the lineup again - after all, this Dodger team has been afflicted by the injury bug all season, why believe it'll stop any time soon?

19 - Or, perhaps, the "damn" in funDAMeNtal?

Inside the visiting clubhouse at Angels Stadium:

Jim Tracy: "Come in, ...., close the door. This is the toughest part of being a manager, but .... we're ....."

23 - I think he does just fine with the "F" and the "U"

... I realize that comment sounds mean-spirited; it's directed at JT, not Oz. Sorry.

Erickson's favorite movie: Top Gun (!!)

Please, kill me now...

It's Scott Erickson's fault that Goose was killed, not Maverick's.

Let's hope nobody is going on the DL, whose initials are JDD.

You only have to worry about Drew is if he sits out a game because of "general soreness".

Then we can brand him with the Mark of Mike Marshall.

Nicknames: "The Prince of Darkness" and "Dr. Death"?

Oh my lord.

#16

Hence the apology. don't make me apologize again.

#19 I had to give preference to originality. I had heard the mental one before but laughed just the same.

#9 Steve, What kind of sick bastard built that site.

Can we get an official ruling on the previous thread - "longest non-game chat thread"?

I wonder what Erickson's pet peeve is? My guess is mean people.

Jon,

I was afraid the other possibility was Drew going on the DL. Any word on his status?

30 - Couldn't a career in radio (and a name tweak) change it to the Mic of Mark Marshall?

28 - now Bob, we all know it was Iceman's fault. Val Kilmer is the source of all evil in the universe.

7 - Strictly a guess, LAT.

35 - His pet peeves include teammates that don't give him enough run support to allow him to continue his outrageous ERA habit.

34,
If we can get longest non-game thread after a 2-game win streak, imagine how many times we'll be posting if we hear Scott Erickson and those 3 magic letters, "DFA," in the same sentence.

Pregame notes said that Cody Ross was called up and Derek Thompson was sent down.

Off topic but... after Dontrelle Willis pitched his 3rd shutout and 8th game allowing 1 or 0 runs his ERA stands at 1.76. His ERA+ of 249 is the 5th best since 1920.

On yesterday's game:

"The work of Derek Thompson in the middle three innings was a difference-maker." -- Jim Tracy

42

well, now we have "the first" something to complain about with Depo. Bad move, no way around it.

42 - That's just sad, then.

36 - I think Drew on the DL is a possibility down the road, but not in a DH series.

34 - I'm willing to let 382 be the mark we try to exceed in non-game threads. What was the game thread record - 660? I seem to recall a Willie Mays element. Suffering Bruin would know.

... Thompson sent so Erickson can remain?

Slams head into wall, reducing IQ by 80 points

Yes, I can see it now. It all makes perfect sense! How foolish of me not to have understood it before.

I think this is pretty accurate, actually.

http://www.firejimtracy.com/?p=1037

Oy. That fanzine site is awful.

Steve forgot one:

"Darren Dreifort" = ... I don't even have to finish the joke.

42 - is correct. Amazing.

Thompson was unbelievable last night. He was throwing 93 to 94 last night. I didn't know he threw that hard. It looked like he was pitching to stay up here. Too bad he might be sent down. What does Erickson HAVE TO DO to be DFA?

So I would guess that sending Thompson down has
a lot to do with his tender elbow, rather than his performance?

Me: You are really a cowboy
Erickson: What's your problem, Timmermann?
Me: You're everyone's problem. That's because every time you go on the mound, you're unsafe! I don't like you because your dangerous!
Erickson: That's right! Timmer ... mann. I am dangerous!

Thanks for getting our hopes up, Jon. If you were a girl I was attracted to, I'd call you something else.

53 - Lose that video he has of Paul DePodesta in drag, singing "It's Raining Men." Why Erickson was filming it, man was not meant to know...

Erickson is to Depo what bunting is to Tracy.

I really, really wish someone would actually ask Depo why Erickson is still with the team.

55 - "That sonuvabitch got me sent down!"

57. That was funny one. There must be something between Erickson and Depo that we don't know about.

Is Erickson's salary guaranteed. Is that why he is kept on the roster.

Today is Jason Romano's birthday.

Let's wish him well.

61 - It is guaranteed, but it is so small.

E----son   45ip, 10k, 12HR
Thompson 60ip, 56k, 3HR

Since Thompson pitched last night and will probably not be available for the weekend series I would expect him to be headed for Vegas but still hoping Mr Erickson is gone.

63. Thanks. Then why is he still on the roster. The dodgers have so many pitchers in their farm system who can do SOOOOOO MUCH BETTER.

I want to die right now.

maybe erickson pitches batting practice to the team before every game?

But they'll definately have to get rid of him when ODP comes back right? Right?

I just don't understand it. For two months, we've had to hear about how we needed twelve pitchers, blah, blah. And now we have ten (plus Mr. Day of the Dead)?

Beltre-lovers: I will bet you any amount of money that my contempt for DePodesta right now is higher than you can ever even dream of mustering. True, on the Tracy Contempt Chart, it still rates about a 7, but he's getting there like a lightning bolt.

68 - Wrong team, Vishal.

Don't be so hasty, Steve...maybe the fact that Erickson wasn't released yet is indicative of another move to be made very soon (hopefully not Drew on the DL). Look how many days Thompson went between being used. Maybe they sent him down to rest, not pitch.

I've figured it out. Paul DePodesta is getting kickbacks from every manager, owner, and player in the League - not on the LAD organization - to keep Erickson on the roster. He doesn't even have to tell Tracy to play him. They all trust in Jimbo's innate idiocy to earn them their in-game soft tacos.

Whoops, scratch the Drew on the DL whackotheorem...didn't make sense. One of our fallen heroes returning would.

Star Wars quote #2 of the day:

"NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO"

I think that Tracy has decided not to start Choi until Depo DFA's Erickson.

Fanerman, are you sure you weren't quoting that
Geek Squad commercial I hate so much?

Thompson battles his heart out against the twins in the 3 HR choi game and can actually strike someone out and he is left handed. The other guy is old, washed up and won't be let in a game again. Of course you send down the former.

I don't understand the" he is being sent down to rest theory". please expain. why can't he pitch again this weekend?

Thompson has had a sore elbow since he pitched his last start. He had a few warmups in the bullpen, but he didn't pitch again till yesterday.

Since I like playing the role of "The Guy Who Tries To Make Sense of Things That Make No Sense", I would say that Thompson is being sent down so he pitches regularly so he can get better.

Erickson can atrophy in the bullpen because he is a disposable part. If he rusts out, who cares. Thompson has a future. Erickson has a past.

The Cubs can't handle the White Sox speed. The South Siders lead 12-2.

Three homers and three stolen bases for the Sox.

No sacrifices.

Dusty Baker ran up the white flag when he took out Derek Lee and put Enrique Wilson at first base.

I don't understand the "send him down to rest" theory. The only scenario in which it makes sense is if the Erickson/Thompson pitching spot is expected to pitch a lot this weeken...

Oh God.

bob:

why must erickson atrophy in the dodger bullpen? why can't he atrophy on his own living room couch, like the rest of us?

Sounds like a lose-lose situation.

76. I agree. Who is doing worse Depo or Tracy?

Seeing as how we play the Padres again next week and seeing as how they loaded up the lineup with lefties (1-6), it would be to our advantage as it was yesterday to have Thompson available as a long man.

Strange days, indeed.

75 - your quote was shortened to save humanity (and the site layout).

#81 - 3 homers, 3 SB's, no sacrifices?

What kind of ball are they playing? Moneyball? Nope - 3 sb's. Smartball? Nope - 3 homers, no sacrifices.

Guess we'll have to come up with a new label.

86. Maybe we will bring up Thompson for SD series.

#80 thanks but I still don't understand

Thompson has a future. Now, with the big club. He is needed. Just because Tracy didn't use him before doesn't mean he won't. Tracy hates Choi not Thompson.

Pitching in the bullpen before you can break into the starting rotation is ok. It used to happen all the time. Young pitchers will not die or get worse pitching a half season or season in the bullpen. Damn I was in such a good move

I'm going to the game tonight in anaheim. I'm going to the bullpen and splash erickson with some plashke. I hope it burns his eyes. I wonder if I have enough time to get some asparagus. Argggghhh

Is there any rule for sending someone down and then bringing them back up. Like do you have to wait certain number of day to bring one back up.

#80

I'm sure Vegas will allow him to get better. works wonders for all are other pitchers there. (I know you were trying to help, Bob thanks)

are = our

We could have seen the last of Thompson in a Dodger uniform. Maybe Depo wants to move him back to the minors while his stock is still high. I can think of many teams that could use a good lefty.

87,
I noticed. I initially hoped it would wrap around by itself, but after I saw it, I was afraid it'd reek havoc on the site or something. Thanks.

I believe that on an optional assignment, you have to wait 10 days unless there are extenuating circumstances such as injury or bereavement.

It may be shorter than that now.

I'm just going from memory here.

Good time to ask... what's it mean when one is "out of options"? Is there a limit to how many times they can go back and forth?

Cody Ross has one homer in his brief major league career and it was a grand slam.

Against Cliff Lee of Cleveland.

94. derek thompson for adam dunn! hahah

95. not that it matters, but i think it's wreak havoc.

#94

I can think of many teams that could use a good lefty

I happen to be a fan of one those teams.

Options refer to whole years. You are allowed to be on the 40-man roster for three years with the ability to be optioned back and forth between the big leagues and the minors.

In the same game, Ross hit his grand slam, he tore up his knee running out a sacrifice bunt.

In the same game, Ross hit his grand slam, he tore up his knee running out a sacrifice bunt.

Sounds like he will fit right in

The sum total of Cody Ross's major league experience:
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B09020DET2003.htm

#94 Would make sense. When Depo says things like "we'll just take it day to day and see what develops" as he did yesterday its GM speak for "I'm working the phones hard." If Depo has something in the works for Thompson he can't use him and run the risk he sucks. Send him down to protect the asset. Of course, he could leave Thompson in the bullpen and not use him but that would take up a needed roster spot. The disinformation is all coming together.

"95. not that it matters, but i think it's wreak havoc."

Unless you've eaten asparagus.

Uh, you think maybe DePo's found a taker for Erickson in a trade? DFA'ing him would undercut his, uh, market value...

I'm stumped. All this time I thought Harvard was a place to get a good education. I guess that's off my kid's list now. My accountant will be happy.

I did read somewhere that someone wants Derek Thompson to pitch "regularly." Well, why not let him pitch here? Pitch regularly til he pitches himself off the team. I think we might be babying our prospects more than necessary.

106
Haha wow. I'm totally off today. That or subconsciously keeping up with the urine theme.

Anyone else suffering through a day without Defamer?

If DePo has something up his sleeve regarding Erickson or Thompson, then I take back the "NNNNNNNOOOOO....OOOOOOOO....OOOOO" comment. For now. Though, unless he can find a taker for Erickson, I don't see what benefit there is in not DFAing him.

Defamer seems to be working for me, Jon.

What's the estimate on Odalis's return date? Won't his activation mark the end of Erickson's reign of terror? While the arguments that Thompson was sent down to (a) get "regular work" or (b) because he's part of a forthcoming deal are plausible (though maddening) justifications for Erickon's continued presence on the roster, is there any possible way he's not DFAd once OP returns?

re 109
I guess you're into that show business thing, Jon. I like Defamer's nasty tone, but couldn't care less about 99 percent of what he writes about. The fact that everyone who's got a movie out now is a vapid press hound doesn't strike me as news.

But then, I've read post-game interviews on the sports pages since I learned how to read and haven't seen an interesting comment yet, so who am I to talk?

Defamer works for me.

#112: I'll follow Bob's lead and give another reason for sending Thompson down. Odalis Perez is pitching his last rehab start tomorrow and will be back on the roster by Thursday, June 30th. There is also speculation that he's going to just pitch a bullpen this weekend and be back Tuesday, June 28th. DePodesta plans on sticking with an 11-man pitching staff, so when Odalis came back, Thompson would have had to be sent down. Since Thompson just pitched 3 innings and he has a tender elbow, he probably can't pitch again until Monday, June 27th. Therefore, leave Erickson in the bullpen for now in case of a blowout this weekend. I don't like it, but it does make sense.

#114: I'm not sure why I put in response to #112.

From today's transactions

St. Louis Cardinals
Placed pitcher Randy Flores on the 15-day disabled list with an avulsed callus pad on his left foot;

Does "avulsed callus pad" mean that a big chunk of the bottom of Randy Flores foot fell off?

111, 113 - well, that just doesn't seem fair, does it?

112 - it's his take on the stuff I don't care about, as well as the stuff I do care about, that makes it work, I think.

#114: And it seems I am also slow, as fanerman91 made the same point three posts earlier.

His non stop bagging on Cruise is hilarious.

question about drew's knee injury, maybe someone can clear things up:

is the knee that's acting up his surgically repaired knee, or is it the other one? i thought the right knee was the one he had had surgery on, and the left knee was the one giving him trouble recently.

114 - that's a decent explanation. It doesn't address the anyone-but Erickson option, but it does explain sending Thompson down.

Oh yeah - I missed it on 111, also. I didn't read past his first sentence.

118,
Fearing Blue, I think you mean to say Vic said it, not me.

#114's explanation makes sense, but why not activate Fernando Valenzuela to fulfill Erickson's role? He's be at least as effective, and he'd draw a crowd.

Don't understand the fuss, LAT and Fearing Blue are stating the obvious.

I'm putting the over/under at 5 on how many bases Figgins steals this weekend.

I think Orange County is close enough that Choi can summon his home cooking juices and get us at least one dinger provided he actually plays.

# 88 it is called winning baseball no matter how they try to spin it. You can bet the Big Hurt will not be bunting.

I don't get the love for Defamer.

126 - Then you won't get the love from Defamer.

Sorry - it's Friday at 5 and I'm feeling fancy-free!

Making fun of Tom Cruise is just great no matter who's involved.

125-
re the Figgins over/under...you must be assuming he gets a couple of triples so he can't steal? or does that include a steal of home?

125-
re Choi playing...I think I heard somewhere that he doesn't do well against pitchers dressed in red or those with names ending in a consonant...Tracy may not play him...

Letterman didn't give Cruise enough s**t last night. He came close, but he pulled his punches. Talk about something I don't get: Is Tom Cruise the most mediocre actor to ever become a movie star? At least in my lifetime he is. What has he done since Risky Business that registered with anyone as a special movie moment?

131. i bet scott erickson liked him in "top gun".

Molokai,
I'm not making fun of the White Sox. I'm making fun of ESPN and their announcers mischaracterizing why the team is successful.

Why do you get so defensive when the topic of White Sox is brought up?

133
cause that is what he wears with his suits, and people make fun of him for it?

anybody besides me going to the game tonight? I live down in OC and I hate going to Angel stadium. It's one big constant beach ball.

135
no you are the only one...how did you get the ticket?

Angel Stadium ushers are under instructions to not catch beach balls and confiscate them.

how do you make words bold??

Wow, I just pulled a serious Bob T: laid down on the coutch with the laptop, posted #105 and just woke up.

(Jon good thing you put the time of each post otherwise I would have no idea how long I was sleeping for.)

Did they DFA Erickson while I was out?

138 - I prefer active verbs, myself.

Oh, you mean typographically. Use asterisks around the word.

Look to the stars.

Look to the stars

138. Practice

you guys are sick

When did taking a nap become eponymous with me?

Tommy John surgery
Lou Gehrig's disease
Bob Timmermann sleep

what is a "coutch" anyway. Is it something like a "couch"?

Just listened to Tracy on the radio. Sounds like surgery on Gagne was not as bad as expected. Cleaned up some scar tissue. They didn't have to replace the ligament. Expected recovery should be six months rather than twelve.

Tracy also said that Choi and A Perez would be in the lineup all weekend.

The Mets had three scoring sac flys in the second inning today. They got the first with bases loaded, no outs. With runners at first and third and one out Reyes hit a pop fly to Bernie Williams, who dropped it. Williams gets an error and Reyes gets credit for a sac RBI because the ball should have been caught and the run has to be accounted for. After another error putting runners at second and third Cameron hit the third scoring sac fly in the inning. They say it's never happened before. Somewhere Buster is smiling.

131 - a friend of mine has a theory about Tom Cruise. In every TC movie, there is a "Tom Cruise Moment": that point where Tom Cruise turns his head and opens his mouth with a look of stunned surprise. (Maybe the best example of this was the courtroom scene from "A Few Good Men".) This expression also works equally well if the next words to come out of his mouth are, "You gonna eat all that?"

I'm heading out of work to go to the game as well. I will admit that it's much easier getting in and out of Angel Stadium than Dodger Stadium.

An Olney trifecta!

Tracy wasn't asked about Erickson and Thompson, though.

re: 146 - Choi and Perez in the lineup all weekend? I bet he will give Kent, Izturis and Werth time off to rest too

howard are u being serious?

Honestly, my wife's work has season seats to the Angels. The seats are good. behind home plate but up 2 decks. (anything above home is cool by me.)

They all know that dodger tickets are mine. All mine. Can't go sat but goin on sunday.

I am the short white guy with blond hair and a dodger pullover. A 5'8 version of Brad Penny! Gut and all.

fanerman91- did u notice ginobli's nick name? I don't watch to much hoops but saw it last night and i thought it was funny: obi wan ginobli

146. That's very good news.

Three sac flies in an inning, earlier instance:

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B08190NYA2000.htm

August 19, 2000

Check the bottom of the third.

BTW, anybody who buys into Scientology and shills for them is an antisocial jackass who deserves to be made fun of at all costs.

153-
it was "obi one ginobli" on the sign

156-yes, but tell us how you really feel

#126 The ongoing demolition of Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe on The Defamer is so awe inspiring, it makes you tolerate the site's otherwise silly infatuation with agents, and skanky starlets/celebutantes;

#131 Lighten up, little Tom saved the world from the Libyan Air Force, raced NASCAR, and removed Jack Nicholson from his USMC wall in Gitmo, Cuba. Besides, if Letterman actually let Cruise look like a wingnut, he wouldn't come back to hype his next Mission Impossible movie, a horrible fate for us all.

#132 You think Scott wooed Lisa by crooning a version of "You've Lost that Loving Feeling? Way more info than I need to know.

Poor Thompson, first Erickson screws him out of a win, then screws him out of a roster spot.

#148 A Few Good Men is a great example. There's Jack Nicholson up there, really acting, making a totally memorable impression that goes beyond the tremendous dialogue, and all Cruise is doing is feeding him straight-man lines rather than interacting with him. William Shatner would've been just as good in that role. Even Demi Moore out-acts Cruise, and she was cast for no good reason other than to show off her figure in tight military outfits.

Sorry, I'll shut up about Cruise now.

Bob, a nap like that is a thing of beauty. Something to be valued. I call it a Bob T with the highest honor.

Now a "dirt nap" that is something altogether diffrent. A few here would give Erickson the dirt nap.

bob, how on earth did you find that so fast?

162,
I remember watching the game on TV.

I consider myself (myself, myself)
the sleepiest man (man, man, man)
online on this site (site, site, site)

While I might have been forced to work (work, work, work)
I have an awful lot of sleeping to do.

Thank you.

Even Demi Moore out-acts Cruise, and she was cast for no good reason other than to show off her figure in tight military outfits.

Ratt you say that like its a bad thing.

hah! you could've simply proclaimed yourself the fastest researcher alive, and i probably would've bought it. you remember some random, random things, man. i'm blown away.

I just love it when a Scientologist calls psychology/psychiatry a pseudo-science. That's priceless.

Gizmodo does a humerous turn on the e-meter
http://tinyurl.com/c2kb7

GREAT NEWS!!! from Rotoworld

Eric Gagne underwent surgery today and received the good news that his ligament was not actually torn, meaning his recovery time will be more like six months instead of a year.

This is great news for Gagne and the Dodgers. Manager Jim Tracy spoke about it on Xtra Sports 570 AM tonight, and he had scar tissue removed and some repair work done to the ligament in his right elbow. He should be ready to go next year and we'll have more details as we get them

I did not mean to capitalize scientologist. Sorry.

LAT, a cat would provide the same warmth during the nap, and wouldn't put your legs to sleep.

159, 160- That's it! I get it now: leaving Erickson on the roster is a team building exercise. DePo expects the other 24 to throw Erickson a "blanket party". He can't admit it, but it's clearly what he means. Bonus: DePo is Nicholson. Less of a Bonus: I'm Tom Cruise.

160 - disagree with you, both about Cruise's acting in that movie and certainly about Moore's - she by far the weak link in that movie, which is almost Shawshank-like in my ability to find me just when I have nothing else to watch on TV.

Before the movie, I saw A Few Good Men downtown, at the Ahmanson I think, with Michael O'Keefe in Tom's part. Cue Caddyshack debate.

Why six months? Any chance he could return sooner? This sounds like a lot less extensive repair work.

Goes to show what a doctor once told me is true. Medical imaging, is, at this point, a primitive technology. You might as well call an MRI a "blur-o-scope," this doc said. You have to go inside to really see what's what.

man, i post that Gagne is only out 6 months vs 15 months and people are still talking about Erickson being left on the roster.....WHO CARES? Gagne will be back for all of next year :-)

L. Ron Hubbard himself could come up with 800 reasons why Erickson is still on the roster, and I would still hate DePodesta with the blinding heat of 1,000 suns. Bring up some other pitcher. Mahomes, Rupe, Schmoll, Edwin Jackson, The Duff Man, Billingsley, the Alvarez kid who threw 95 for Ogden the other night. Anybody. You, me, Gagne throwing left-handed. Jim Bunning isn't taking steroids.

Literally. Anybody will do.

173, I'm in the radiology program at UNLV so shhhh don't tell people or my salary may drop by the time Im done lol

174- Gagne will be back for all of NEXT year. Erickson is there right now.

I can't handle the truth.

#172-Demi Moore is terrible in everything, but at least there was that tight military uniform. To me, Cruise is neither fish nor fowl. He's not an actor who can create a character (like, say, Johnny Depp or Jack Nicholson), but he's not an interesting enough personality that you'd watch him just be himself (i.e. Clint Eastwood or Al Pacino). He's like a guy who was really good in the high school play, and never got any better.

Jim, actually the dog was sleeping on the couch as well.

171 what is a "Blanket party" I thought it was a "code red" and a build up of lactic acid. I bet Erickson's away uniform is pressed nicly and still in his locker.

Tom Cruise is a creepy weirdo, but he's a good actor. I can't deny that. Magnolia comes to mind for a recent film. Eyes Wide Shut is another. That doesn't begin to get into his early roles, like in TAPS.

Born on the Fourth of July, Color of Money. There are quite a few more, I'd bet.

We've all worked through our Gagne grief. We still have to work through our Erickson anger.

We are like the mob saying "Give us Barabbas!"

Bob,

Are you suggesting that the ESPN announcers might be wrong? Actually, the mistake is mine. I think they said it had never happened in the NL. But the game is being played in Yankee Stadium so I don't know how you file that. My mind is still reeling at the concept that ESPN announcers aren't always right.

So, the Cards-Pirates game delayed due to flaming gas expulsion...

Not gonna go there.

179 - I'll admit Cruise needs the right role, but when he gets it, I believe he can really make it sing. Risky Business, Jerry Maguire, that sort of thing - those movies are not high school actor performances.

The Yankees also had 3 sac flies in one inning another time in 2000 on June 29 against Detroit.

And it happened on July 1, 1962 when the White Sox got three in one inning against Cleveland.

Okay, now I can dig this, via Defamer.

http://tinyurl.com/c2kb7

180- Maybe it's not called that, anymore. It was in Full Metal Jacket, though, I think. Anyway, the fellow soldiers (though I think prison inmates have adopted the practice, too) throw a blanket over the one who isn't pulling his weight. Then they beat him. He's out of commission, and he can't ID any of his attackers.

Dodger Thoughts, where the pregame leadup on the gameday thread is 200 posts long before the first pitch. (And I bet I'll end up conservative on that number.)

Tom Cruise has only done one movie. Man who is very good at what he does but has one fatal flaw and eventually, after much drama, has an epiphany. A couple of friends of mine who are screenwriters told me that a few years back producers were spending big bucks to attend seminars teaching "The Cruise Formula". They found this hilarious since it used to be called Greek tragedy. Of course, they were less amused when they kept being told by producers that their light comedy characters needed a fatal flaw.

#185 Gotta disagree. Cruise is a pretty boy first and an ok actor when he gets the right role second. I can't say that other than Risky Businees he has ever turned in a memorable performance. IMO Mission Impossible was nearly as bad as Wild WIld West.

187 - Okay, I can figure out where `one of those probes goes, but what about the other?

#181 you almost had me with Magnolia in your defense of Cruise. He kinda surprised me there. But Eyes Wide Shut? O. my. god. Given I was a huge fan of Stanley Kubrick, that films ranks as the most disappointing movie I've ever seen, and the catatonic performance of Cruise was one of the major flaws (among many flaws.)

I thought Cruise was good in "A Few Good Men", "Top Gun", "Magnolia", "Last Samurai", "Risky Business", "Jerry Maguire", among others.

193- I didn't mind Cruise in EWS; Kidman drove me crazy. Nobody is that stoned.

Life is good:
Had my nap.
Family left to see Herbie Fully Loaded.
Got the house to myself (almost never happens)
I'm eating a big bowl of CoCo Crispys.
Now I just need the Dodgers to win.

Maybe Cruise can finally do Top Gun II, where (now)Admiral Maverick and the Seventh Fleet mobilize to halt a seaborne shipment of dangerous psychiatrists and their prescriptions from entering US territorial waters.

Kenny Loggins soundtrack,and Katie Holmes in the Kelly McGiness role are optional. Val Kilmer can play a dual role of Iceman, and the fat version of Jim Morrison.

Drew is not in the lineup again tonight, even with the availability of the DH. Is the knee worse than previously reported, or is Drew just as wimpy as previously reported?

Lineups posted:

Us:

Izturis (SS)
Perez (3B)
Werth (LF)
Kent (2B)
Saenz (DH)
Choi (1B)
Phillips (C)
Ross (RF)
Repko (CF)

Weaver (P)

Them:

Figgins (CF)
Erstad (1B)
Guerrero (RF)
Anderson (LF)
B. Molina (C)
McPherson (3B)
DaVanon (DH)
Cabrera (SS)
Kennedy (2B)

Lackey (P)

#198: Drew's statement in the papers was that the knee has been "aggressively treated" the past couple days and it may need some time to calm down.

Cruise's big talent is just managing to avoid a big stinker over his entire career. The closest thing he has ever had to a total flop is EWS and really, who can blame someone for deciding to be in a Kubrick movie? He has an impressive resume considering his abilities.

What is up with Werth in the 3 hole? I think that Werth should move to 6th and everyone else should move down one.

Wow. I'm having one of those moments. Like when I willed Grabowski to get that RBI single the other night by the power of positive thinking. Here it is:

Cody Ross is starting? Instead of Grabowski?

Wow, we have our whole AAA OF from a month ago. If we had Grabs as our DH and it would've been complete! Not to mention Antonio Perez is in there. Can we pencil in Joe Thurston, Mike Rose, Willy Aybar, and Nori Nakamura in too?

I've got Grabowski. Icaros has Repko. Who's going to grab Cody Ross as their honorary dog to kick?

Myself, I have no use for him. If he had replaced Erickson, he would have been my hero. Now, he's just another AAA bum who doesn't belong here.

This should appease Jon.

http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050624&content_id=1102597&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la

I think Willow qualifies as Cruise's flop.

I just woke-up from a half-hour Timmermann and need to go Plaschke before the game starts.

I imagine that later I'll have to take a Tracy.

By the way, people who think Eyes Wide Shut is a bad movie are as crazy as a pack of Scientologists.

207 -- I think you mean "Legend".

Let's not forget "Far and Away" too. That was terrible.

Minority Report sucked too

207 - Give me Dr. Strangelove (or, HILTSWALTB) anyday.

207- It wasn't a bad movie, but Kidman was irksome as all get out. When she was talking, I mean; there were parts of her performance with which I had no problem at all.

Eyes Wide Shut is a bad movie.

207 - Give me Dr. Strangelove (or, HILTSWALTB) anyday.

Minority report wasn't that bad...nowhere near as good as Blade Runner, of course.

Flop=bust at the box office. Far and Away was a success and while Legend was awful and a flop, to be fair it was pre-Top Gun (which is an awful movie in its own right). "I feel the need... for speed (No Erickson then).

210- Just in case Howard Fox isn't hanging around, don't you mean (HILTSWALJDD)?

Has anybody mentioned Born On The Fourth of July?

I stand corrected, bokonon :)

That's right, Legend. Willow starred Val Kilmer.

to be fair it was pre-Top Gun (which is an awful movie in its own right)

Why does that matter? It was post Risky Business.

212 - Couldn't disagree more. Oh well, we still have the Dodgers.

215 - At the risk of beating a dead horse, EWS and F&A are basically the same beast from a box-office perspective. EWS cost $65 mil and took in $55; F&A cost $60 and took in $58.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled "we can't get a hit with a runner in scoring position".

Hear Steve Physioc.
Turn down volume.
Turn on radio.
Hear Vin Scully.
Smile.

My point with Top Gun is that he is on a streak of dodging the career ending bullet. Unlike say... John Travolta who has taken a couple (and keeps on ticking).

F&A cost 30 according to IMDB so that makes it a minor hit. Though I don't know if if IMDB considers advertising costs.

Man, I hated Eyes Wide Shut. I'm a Magnolia fan, but not because of Cruise. For some reason, I found Vanilla Sky very watchable.

Maybe because of the mask covering Cruise's face for part of the movie?

224 - I love EWS and Magnolia. Recently went to a screening of Magnolia and Hard Eight (or Sidney) at the Egyptian where John C. Reilly spoke in between.

John C. Reilly is great...as is his choice of movies.

Horrible call. May not be bright for the catcher to argue balls and strikes, but that was an awful call.

I'll watch anything P.T. Anderson directs. We'll just have to disagree on EWS Icaros :-)

Consider me jealous, Icaros.

I'm also one of the few passionate EWS defenders. The "catatonic" Cruise and Kidman performances fit perfectly within Kubrick's trancelike atmosphere -- it's a dream movie, not an "erotic thriller" like many had been expecting.

230 - It was certainly erotic, I just think that most found it not that thrilling.

231 -- the point I was making was that the film was deliberately un-erotic, despite the silly hype that had surrounded it at the time.

Anyway...nice play, Kent.

Gee whiz people, let's focus on what's important here!

The Rockies lead the Royals 6-2!

Tigers and DBacks are scoreless.

Padres are up 2-0 on the Ms.

For me, Kubrick never made a good movie after Barry Lyndon. I hated the Shining. Full Metal Jacket was borderline laughable and Eyes Wide shut was just lousy. I think he sold his soul to make Dr. Stranglove, one of the all-time greats.

Didn't Kubrick have tapes of Yankees games shipped to him in England so he could watch them?

I wonder if he got a dish before he died.

My taste in erotic thrillers runs more towards `Lifeforce' :)

Vanilla Sky made me want to pluck my eyes out.

Maybe that's it. I blame Cruise for causing good directors to make awful movies. Kubrick, Crowe...Bruckheimer? Even Magnolia was cruddy compared with Boogie Nights.

Cody Ross' picture on Gameday has a Cruise-ish smile. Throw him back.

I throw left and bat right.

237. I don't know why I can watch Vanilla Sky when everyone I know hates it. Must be a gene defect in me.

The 1961 righty batter/lefty thrower on the Dodgers was Carl Warwick.

I'm pretty surprised that Vin could remember that even was a guy like that who played a grand total of 19 games for the Dodgers 44 years ago.

235 -- I recall reading that he'd had NY Giants football games shipped to him. He was apparently a rabid technology buff, so I wouldn't be surprised if he got a dish.

Oh, and in similarly important matters, the A's are up on the Hated Ones 1-0.

3-0 Padres and Mike Maroth does not seem long for the game.

I'm also one of the few passionate EWS defenders. The "catatonic" Cruise and Kidman performances fit perfectly within Kubrick's trancelike atmosphere -- it's a dream movie, not an "erotic thriller" like many had been expecting.

We're friends now, Vic.

I, too, love all PT Anderson films, and Wes Anderson films as well. The Reilly screening was cool. My lady friend won the tickets from KCRW.

Great, Cody Ross mirrors Jason Repko in his first at-bat.

240 - You don't think Vinny has a Bob T. like researcher in the booth with him, Bob?

Confused my games. I meant Gil Meche. Since the Padres are playing the Mariners, not the Tigers.

343 - Wes Anderson, ah that's the ticket. I know that many think Steve Zissou was no Rushmore, but I love that movie.

I also thought it was more interesting that Vin would think of Carl Warwick before he would think of Rickey Henderson.

Thanks, Icaros.

I missed the Ross at-bat...would I be correct in assuming that it was scrappy as hell?

I've been told that I should love the films of Wes Anderson. So I watch them. And I always hate them. And then my friends say, "How could you dislike it?"

Can we get into Spaghetti Westerns next? Once Upon a Time in the West is the best.

Bob, I'll forgive your Anderson aversion if you obliterate that Aflac trivia question...

Call on me! I know the AFLAC answer! I know!

Hint: Jack Fimple is not one of them.

The greatest spaghetti western is, and always will be, Yojimbo.

248 - He fouled out to first, then Repko came up and did the same thing.

246 - I found Zissou much better the second time around (on DVD this time). Its only flaw to me is that so much is going on it seems a little rushed. Maybe an extra 10-15 minutes would let the emotional parts breathe more.

Geez...Tom Cruise.

"And then we discussed the theater and men's fashions...OH MY GOD!"

Frank Robinson, Eddie Murray, Don Sutton, Hoyt Wilhelm

Steve Finley?

3-1 Padres after Gil Meche singles in a run.

Yojimbo is fantastic. It's from a Dashiell Hammet novel called Red Harvest. Great read.

#182 - Comparing Erickson to Barabbas is definetly one of the funnier things I've read all day.

Why do teams insist on playing guys on their first day up from the minor leagues? And does it ever work out? Granted, I can see that in some situations someone is brought up to fill a hole at the last minute, but Ross was brought up to replace a pitcher. It's not like Grabowski is the best player ever or anything, but it's always driven me crazy that people HAVE to play on their first day in the majors.

I don't think it is that rushed. The really emotionally stuff is given plenty of time, especially the climax in the sub. Wes Anderson is definately in love with Bill Murray though, not that there's anything wrong with that.

253 - Haven't seen it. I thought that was a samurai movie from the title, and I don't usually like those.

Really, I haven't seen enough Spaghettis to make such a declaration. But if it has Ennio Morricone on music, I'm there.

Kubrick (what I've seen):

awesome - A Clockwork Orange, Dr. Strangelove
very good - The Shining
Good - Full Metal Jacket, Eyes Wide Shut
didn't care for - 2001 (blasphemy I know, it just seemed boring)

P.T. Anderson:
awesome - Boogie Nights, Punch-Drunk Love
good - Magnolia

Wes Anderson:
awesome - Royal Tenenbaums
very good - Rushmore, Bottle Rocket
okay - Life Aquatic (watched it the other day, mildly entertaining but a bit jumbled)

There, I've said my peace

Icaros, it is a Samurai movie, but westernized. It even hasa samurai carrying a gun. A not so good remake was Last Man Standing a few years ago.

I read in an bio of John Roseboro that he said the Dodgers had a tradition of starting a rookie in his first game up to the majors.

And he started in Brooklyn in 1957.

I guess the idea is to get a quick read on how good or bad the guy is right away.

7 of Weaver's 10 outs have been popouts. I thought he was a groundball guy. He sure isn't a strikeout power pitcher.

Also, Leone used Yojimbo as inspiration for one of his spaghetti westerns. Fistful of Dollars, I think.

260- Wasn't Erickson the Jesus in Bob's analogy? Which, obviously, is blasphemy, as we all know Hee Seop Choi is OUR LOVING SAVIOR.

jasonungar05,

I didn't see the sign but I saw it in an earlier game. Why do you ask me?

Well done, Bob. Oh, and disregard 257 -- I totally misread the question and forgot the Hall of Fame caveat.

Maybe Weaver is rounding into form like he did about this time last year.

263 - Think it's fair to say that veiwing 2001 is helped out with a little herbal enchancement.
Well, at least that's what they tell me.

What would you recommend? Oregano?

261 - I'm thinking more of the scene before and during Kingsley Zissou's death, where he makes the banner and earns Klaus's respect. It was really touching, but seemed to get kind of lost after all of the shooting and rescue hijinx.

I don't know. I really loved it anyway.

263 - I disagree with a lot of your rankings, but I agree on Punch Drunk Love and 2001. PDL is maybe my favorite PTA movie (sacrilege) and the ending to 2001 with the paint splashing against and running down the canvas or whatever for what seemed like forever is the closest thing to art house I have ever had to sit through. Perhaps the most overrated movie of all time?

1965 Dodgers World Series hero Lou Johnson played in one game for the 1961 Angels.

Wallach and Colborn look like the two old guys on the Muppets who criticized everyone when they talk about Choi.

I liked Bottle Rocket and Tennenbaums. I didn't like Rushmore. I haven't seen Zissou.

273- Nutmeg will work, but you need a lot of it.

17 pitches in two Choi PAs. Not too shabby.

I never understood 2001 until I read the accompanying book, then it made a lot more sense. Oregano also helps.

Clark wrote the book with Kubrick as or right before the film was being made, so they're really close.

Welcome back, plate discipline.

#268 - yeah, I messed that up. I knew what he meant but didn't exactly state it correctly. My bad. The 12 hours of studying Con Law the past couple days has disabled any logic or common sense I once had.

I'm surprised no one's mention Barry Lyndon. Really good "unknown" Kubrick film.

Richie Sexson hits a 2-run homer (with Beltre aboard) to tie it up in San Diego 3-3.

Sexson has tied it up with a VERY deep shot to right center at Petco. Beltre walked before him, and I noticed he was doing that jitterbug thing. I thought he had stopped doing that.

This AB by Ross has 50% of the RDA of Scrap.

You know, I've never read 2001. The Clarke books I've read have been great, though. Check out `The Light of Different Days'.

4-3 Mariners now.

279 - I've heard about nutmeg. How much do you actually need?

Repko's AB had only 10% of the RDA for Scrap.

I've been meaning to see Barry Lyndon for a while now, I seem to like Kubrick movies for the most part, they always have some sinister vibe to them that I like.

Any David Lynch fans out there? Mulholland Drive is one of my favorite movies and The Elephant Man was a pleasant surprise as well. Blue Velvet was fairly disappointing though.

Icaros, it doesn't sound too pleasant:

http://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=7537

292 -- Mulholland Drive is one of my favorite movies of the past decade. I'm also lukewarm on Blue Velvet, but it's been quite a while since I've seen it.

Repko's lack of scrappiness in that at-bat is truly heartbreaking...

While its rewarding to hear that Icaros has a lady friend and he heard Reed Rothschild speak, I can't believe there isn't more discussion of Eric Gagne being ready for Spring Training next year. Probably the best news we will hear for awhile...I am thrilled.

i missed the beginning of the chat, but i wanted to make a comment about the notion of not DFA-ing Erickson. someone had mentioned that DePo might be getting kickbacks from other teams to keep Erickson around.

this reminded me of the theory that used to surround UCLA basketball surrounding Steve Lavin. many times i thought mike montgomery, lute olson and others must be slipping UCLA some money to keep Lavin around and keep UCLA from assuming its rightful place atop the Pac-10 conference. anyone else ever think about that? well, it was a nice trip down memory lane for me.

can we get a pool going regarding the date of Erickson's removal from the organization?

290- I don't actually know. I've only read that it takes a lot. Plus, since it seems like half the people here are lawyers, I don't know if I'd like to be associated with hallucinogen dosing instructions.

1 1/4 teaspoons

http://tinyurl.com/a7k87

Just saw Mulholland Drive. Liked it. Lotta people won't. Really have to pay attention.

Elephant Man was great. Dune was a trip...worth watching.

*regarding steve lavin, that is

That was one high popup.

I remember a few years back Manny Ramirez hit one that high. The infielders couldn't catch it either.

That must have been up for 7 seconds.

BT does not fear the lawyers.

Adrian Beltre maybe makes that play...

Someone needs to send a message to Vin's screen that it's Jeff, not Jerry DaVanon

Any prosecutors around?

D'oh! Always follow the link first. . .

After the 90-minute surgery performed by Dr. Frank Jobe and Dr. Ralph Gambardella in Los Angeles, Jobe gave his optimistic report to Gagne.

``He was so excited,'' Jobe said during a conference call before the Dodgers played the Los Angeles Angels. ``I mean, he was still pretty much asleep, but he was awake enough to understand it. He just smiled and put his fist up in the air.''

Its good defense doesn't matter in Depodesta ball.

Kent sure doesn't seem to dive for many balls. I'm not asking for him to make that play, just knock it down.

303- I've been nostalgic for that joke too, but I was worried it's expiration date had passed.

Weaver waits for the unearned run to get on base before he gives up his first hit.

Try watching 2001 on shrooms. By the end you'll probably think you're in the spaceship.

308 -- Are you referring to the error by our banjo-hitting shortstop that is only around because of his defense who was recently handed $10 million in the off-season?

I've defended Kent all season.. (not a lot to defend him against), but you have to knock that ball down. If not to at least give off the appearance of trying to save the nono - to save the run from scoring. Bad stuff.

308 - Izturis dropped that ball. Remember, in the world where Lo Duca is king, you like Izturis?

4-4 Seattle and San Diego after a Nady home run.

I also think that just about any fielder would have a hard time catching McPherson's popup.