Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Jon's other site:
Screen Jam
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
I can be heard on AM 1540 today at either 1:05 p.m. or 1:25 p.m., talking about the Dodgers and about Dodger Thoughts, as a guest of former Dodger announcer Ross Porter. Many thanks to Porter for the invitation. Porter himself is guest-hosting in place of Petros Papadakis between 12 and 2 p.m. today and Friday.
It appears you can listen via the Internet by following this link.
Update: Porter was extremely generous in the interview in many ways. He explicitly promoted the site, even getting the URL mentioned. He praised not only me but the commenting readers as some of the most knowledgeable Dodger watchers around. And he showed how dedicated a Dodger Thoughts reader he is, which I have to think means something to the casual Dodger fan listening.
I'm feeling increasingly comfortable in these assignments, which was good today because this was my longest interview yet - about 12 minutes. I still stammer more than I'd like, but the nervousness is gone, so at least I can focus on fixing the "you knows." And enunciating. And being funnier.
The rundown was something like this:
1) Introduction, where Porter says the Internet features no better writer about the Dodgers than me. Poor, poor Internet.
2) Asking about Baseball Toaster, the host site for Dodger Thoughts.
3) How Dodger Thoughts got started - I explain the origins about my brother being my initial audience and leave out the part about me being bored at work the day I began it.
4) Discussing the comment threads - I extoll our community while trying to make it clear we're not Web weirdos. Venture that many people find it weird to watch a game now without having Dodger Thoughts alongside - perhaps my most aggrandizing comment for the site, but something I've certainly heard people say.
5) Porter read a healthy portion of my Tuesday post on Hee Seop Choi verbatim. He had done so periodically last year, but this was the first time I actually heard him myself.
6) Talk about how I write several times a week - I say I never write when I don't have anything to say, but I often find something. The polarizing topic of Choi alone seems to account for weekly appearances.
7) Asked what the top topic of late has been, I say it's the "is the season over" question, framing the discussion the way I like it: Not buyer vs. seller, but whether the Dodgers should be focused on buying for 2005, 2006 or both.
8) Porter brings up Adam Dunn as an example, and I concur that the Reds outfielder has been a hot topic among the commenters, though I myself tend to speak more philosophically and have yet to take a position on individual trade targets.
9) What's the other hot topic? Oh, there's some talk about Jim Tracy, I say. Passionate defenders as well as people who feel, uh, strongly about him the other way. Lineups and bunts are mentioned, at which point I save a ramble by getting off perhaps my best line of the day - that whether the bunt is right or wrong, the Dodgers just flat out can't seem to do it.
10) Porter asks me about the atmosphere at Dodger Stadium has been like. Restless, to say the least, though I don't know if it's only because of the losing or because of other factors.
For most of the interview, I was trying to be sure not to ramble too long, but on the last two questions I must have started thinking I could talk forever. Porter had to wrap things up quickly after that - otherwise, for sure I would have started talking about The Godfather - but we got the DodgerThoughts.com URL in one more time before the chat ended.
Among every other reason I wish the Dodgers had retained Porter is the selfish one that he has been one of the biggest champions of this site. It was really great to appear on his show today - not only a pleasure, but thanks to Porter, awareness and appreciation for the site may well increase. (Of course, we'll know this place is bigtime when I don't take the time to break down every interview I give.)
Anyway, to those who listened, thanks. And if you're a new reader arriving here after hearing about Dodger Thoughts on the radio, welcome!
vr, Xei
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Insightful comments are strange on radio.
Inciteful comments are the norm, unfortunately.
the only thing is, one could tell that you were trying hard to choose your words carefully. nothing wrong with that though :)
True that.
It was also great to hear Ross Porter's voice again. He seemed very positive about the site and complimented you and the level of discussion here. By far the most positive words I've heard about Dodger-related issues in quite some time.
When he asked what else do we talk about other than Choi, you mentioned the JT issues...but I thought you might get into the Godfather II stuff.
I can only take so much suspense.
I, too, think its time for the Dodgers to bring back Ross from his exile. It'd be a PR coup in a season that's slipping away. An olive branch to longtime fans. Whatever Lon Rosen was hoping to accomplish, (a) he's gone now, and (b) the employment of Monday, Downing et al can't be getting it done.
Anyone else catch his admitting he may have been wrong about the jerseys in Simers' article this morning?
From July 25 to July 28, Year of our Choi 2005, the Dodgers will be
playing host to the Cincinnatti Reds. I propose that we make one of those
nights a "Dodger Thoughts Adam Dunn Scouting Excursion." Actually, Icaros
proposed this but I'm stealing his idea.
Here's how this is going to work.
1) Starting today, we're going to have a vote on which of the four games
to attend. You can vote via-email at claytonl@ucla.edu. Please enter
"Dodgers vs. Reds vote" in the subject field and in the message, enter
the game you think we should all attend. Jon Weisman's vote, should he
choose to attend, will carry a lot of weight. Voting ends midnight Friday
(tomorrow).
2) Saturday morning, all who responded will get a mass e-mail from me
announcing the winning date with instructions on what you should do next.
Those instructions will read like this:
"Hi. It's me, Suffering Bruin, and by vote we've decided to make the
Dodger Thoughts Adam Dunn Scouting Excursion for (winning date). If
you want to attend this game, you must respond to this e-mail by 12pm
Sunday. That's tomorrow so don't delay! I plan on purchasing Reserved
Level seats for the game on Sunday afternoon; you can reimburse me at the
gate. You'll be responsible for getting to the game though I'll be
borrowing a mini-van and I'm happy to arrange a carpool. Thanks for your
support of the Dodger Thoughts Adam Dunn Scouting Excursion."
3) Those who decide to attend will get a confirmation e-mail from yours
truly that I have purchased a Reserved Level seat for the game.
Icaros and I will most certainly be attending but more are invited. Let
me know folks. Our team needs not just any Dodger fan but the people who
spend way, way, WAY too much time thinking about them. As if we'd have it
any other way, right?
I'll look forward to your e-mails.
Best,
Suffering Bruin
"Our father, who art in Choi, hallowed be thy name. Forgive us our
thoughts about Tracy, as we forgive Tracy who trespasses against us..."
Jon-congrats on the pub. Anyone got an mp3?
I can live with Steiner and his cliche-riddled play-by-play. He studies the game reasonably well and he knows what's going on around the rest of the league.
But Rick Monday...? Oy. I didn't think it could be possible but I actually think he's worse than ever. My ears bleed at the sound of his voice.
Rick, Gil Meche = Gil MESH. Not Gil MECH-ee.
I could go on and on but I'll just simply say that somebody MUST do something about Monday's need to draw sentences out...for...dramatic...emphasis.
I'm convinced that this is year one of the Curse of Ross Porter. Look at what's happened to this team. Can this be the result of anything but a curse?
Frank McCourt, do what's best for the franchise. Slay the curse. Re-hire Ross Porter.
Seriously though, wouldn't it be so cool if Ross Porter posted here and we knew which one of us he really was?
Jon-- major congratulations on the interview
bigcpa-- a late but hearty thanks for the Team Depo shirt!
What sizes are they? I might want one...
When he left for the Dodgers job, Bryant Gumbel took over.
Tom Snyder had a KABC talkshow at that time as well.
I gots 2 L's and 2 XL's for $10+shipping. Email at bigcpa@gmail.com.
And I'm more than a little disappointed that TEAM DEPO has not made a "lively boys" appearance in the Times as of yet.
"Kids are people too ..."
Got that beat. I remember when Clete Roberts was a reporter for KTLA.
Who, you ask? Roberts was the model for the grizzled, hard bitten reporter. He even wore a trenchcoat. Even got his autograph when he was doing a story at LAX one time.
Uh, don't read too much into those las two sentences...
It so reminded me of the professional way that Ross handled Dodger Talk that I almost expected Ross to ask Jon at the end of the interview whether he "wanted to take a shot at the trivia question?"
From Dodgers.com
"As bitter as this loss was, the news is likely to get worse. Wunsch will probably become the team's 18th disabling injury of the first half and provide a distressingly convenient roster move to allow for the activation of left-hander Wilson Alvarez.
Tracy called the injury a subluxation of the peroneal tendon, then gave a clue about the prognosis when he said, "It's the same thing [Curt] Schilling dealt with," and he hasn't pitched since April. The popping Wunsch felt is probably the tendon popping out of the supporting ligaments. He could be out a while. "
http://www.mobilebaybears.com/webcam.asp
I mean, really. I'm as philosophical as the next guy, but at some point it's just hard to know what to say.
BREWERS 9TH: HANSEN STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING 1B); CORA REPLACED
ROBERTS (PLAYING 2B); COREY REPLACED REBOULET (PITCHING);
Houston lined to first; Sanchez popped to shortstop; Young
grounded out (third to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Brewers 4,
Dodgers 8.
http://tinyurl.com/8w2fj
vr, Xei
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (AP) -- Curt Schilling's first relief appearance looked a lot like his last start: not very good.
The injured Red Sox ace pitched a sloppy ninth inning in Triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday night as he began his conversion from starter to reliever. The 38-year-old right-hander allowed two runs -- one of them earned -- on two hits, striking out two....
Many in the crowd got up to leave, including Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein and two assistants from the team's front office who came to watch Triple-A's most expensive mop-up man. Schilling threw 13 of his 14 pitches for strikes and hit 92 mph on the stadium radar gun.
Schilling volunteered to go to the bullpen when it became obvious it would be a while before he could go deep into the game as a starter. At the same time, Red Sox closer Keith Foulke was heading for knee surgery, so the team was thinking along the same lines....
Red Sox manager Terry Francona said Schilling will combine with Alan Embree and Mike Timlin to replace Foulke, who had arthroscopic surgery to repair damaged cartilage on his left knee on Thursday. He is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.
Dodgers K'd by Clemens O/U runs allowed by Houlton in the first two innings
But what's the fun in predicting that? I predict a Clemens implosion -- 6 runs in 1 2/3.
Why not?
Wilson Alvarez - 1 for 2 (I assume he's going to be activated today to replace Wunsch)
Hee-Seop Choi - 0 for 4
Jason Grabowski - 0 for 1
Jeff Kent - 1 for 7
Jason Phillips - 2 for 3
Olmedo Saenz - 0 for 3
Jayson Werth - 0 for 3
Brett Mayne was 13 for 38 in his career against Clemens!
No position player got injured yesterday. We're about due. So I bet it's Philips. He's the only "bonafide" starter we have left. Choi isn't a "starter." Saenz is sort of a tweener since Tracy's afraid of "breaking" him.
I know, she's not even playing tonight. But since when did the Dodgers let that fact get in the way of an injury?
That's a typo. Should say 4 "at-bats." Hope that makes more sense.
Re:91
4 at-bats is pretty significant. Better for Choi not to start.
The sentence doesn't make sense or the logic? Or the 4 referenced posts?
I also left out Brad Penny who is 0 for 2 against Clemens.
Aside from Houston (whom he has never faced) Clemens has pitched the least against the Dodgers of any team. One game, 7 innings, and he lost.
vr, Xei
BTW, what is the likelihood that we start seeing some of our vaunted prospects next season? Navarro at least?
When will that fantastic Fox Force Five of LaRoche, Guzman, Young, Loney, and Martin at least get to AAA? In time to get a 2006 September call-up at least for a couple of them?
they won't mention the managing job done with the Braves or anyone else...
vr, Xei
Dumb and Dumber – when the girl says, "You've got a one in a million chance of sleeping with me,'"
and Jim Carrey says, "So you're saying there's a chance."
I am going with Derek Lowe. I realize he played yesterday, but that shouldn't matter. My guess is he reaches under the dugout bench to grab sunflower seeds and is bitten on the ring finger of his pitching hand by a Southern black widow spider.
"We're hoping he'll respond well to treatment" = 15 Day DL
Rookies (9):
Yhency Brazoban
DJ Houlton
Franquelis Osoria
Mike Rose
Oscar Robles
Chin-Feng Chen
Mike Edwards
Jason Repko
Cody Ross
Second Year (3):
Duaner Sanchez
Antonio Perez
Jason Grabowski
Third Year (3):
Jason Phillips
Jayson Werth
Hee Seop Choi
It's impressive that Jayson Werth is the senior member of our outfield.
yet you're suggesting we have to wait until 2008 for any significant reinforcements from the minors. how far away are these guys?
I think the 2007 in 120 is a typo and should be a 2006. I hope.
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