http://tinyurl.com/b5gzg

I've recently moved from LA to Knoxville, TN (and I've been reading DT since before the LoDuca trade, so label me the ultimate lurker as this is my first post), but the Suns have been playing the Tennessee Smokies and the local press has been paying close attention. Below is a link to today's article on Edwin Jackson. Registration is required to view it. There's nothing much new in it -- some comments from the J-ville pitching coach I hadn't seen before -- but if anyone's interested:

http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/smokies_baseball/article/0,1406,KNS_329_3976841,00.html

Jon, I read Dodger Thoughts daily. Thanks so much for the smartest Dodger site on the internet.

He'll be no worse than Phillips which is not exactly a ringing endorsement. I think he'll be much better and the evidence backs me up.

Not to mention his supernatural powers that influence the success and failure of the boys in blue because of his mere presence...

http://www.jumptheshark.com/about.htm

Do the Dodgers have a team Psychologist? If not, i nominate Jon.

Charlie Steiner might also have some issues to deal with from his days at broadcasting school. Like getting an F in showing more interest in the play by play rather than the major league scoreboard.

Stan from Tacoma

As for Walter Alston in 1954, I think one of the New York papers ran a headline that said "Walter Who?" or something to that effect. Dressen was enormously popular and very successful. He just wasn't popular with Walter O'Malley.

Alston had managed many of the Dodgers in the minors, including Roy Campanella, and actually made Campanella the acting manager one game after Alston was ejected.

A link, for those interested. Curious if folks agree or dis- with my view.

http://tinyurl.com/d3hej

A complete hatchet job on the Dodgers, McCourt, DePo on MSNBC.com.

I've seen more enlightened writing on dodgers.com than this column.

It is odd and quite frankly sad that no one has really done anything to honor Sandy on the 50th anniversary of his debut. Earlier this year I wrote a letter to the Dodgers suggesting that something be done to commemorate Sandy this year but got no real response to my suggestion. I wrote a simliar letter to Fred Wilpon of the Mets and got no response at all. Maybe on September 9th Jon can do a Sandy tribute on this site for the 40th anniversary of his perfect game and the 50th anniversary of his mlb debut.

Stan from Tacoma

Stan from Tacoma

Bob T, this one's for you:

Russ Ortiz's rehab start was not a screaming success:

Ortiz: 2 1/3 IP, 12 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 10 ER
And that was in Lancaster which is class A. He's expected to start in Tucson on Monday.

I think what we need here on DT is a page that shows some of the most uninformed quotes that people can find about this team. That would be really entertaining.

11-Like Stan, I would be very interested in the 55/65 Dodger info. The 65 Dodgers hit 78 HRs as a team, but beat out the Giants with Mays/McCovey hitting 91 by themselves.

Can the Dodgers stay within five games of the lead AND lose 90 games this year?

20 - hard to say, lose 90 and stay within 5, certainly possible...but someone, by default, has to win during the interdivisional games in September

Today is another slow day... maybe we have nothing more to say about the usual stuff.

Dodger Manager Jim Tracy is likely to load up the line-up with left handed batters because lefties are batting .335 against Fogg

Will the Times question Jim Tracy if he doesn't start Choi today? Will Tracy continue to dig his own grave by not playing the best offensive players? Stay tuned.

You know that is what is going to happen, Howard. Just know it. And the Dodgers will be kicking themselves for the lost opportunity.

I think Bob showed that the winner of the West has to at least go 82-79 because of the schedule. I think I'm not sure if I recall correctly.

You're right.

When Choi has played on a more regular basis he has not been a savior. Just maybe, your faith in his impact is unduly optimistic.

Was 66 the result of freakishly career years by Phil Regan, Lou Johnson, Lefevbre, etc ? Was it karma from the swinging Sunset Strip 60's? The cosmic result of Lefevbre and Al Ferrara playing henchman on Gilligan's Island and Batman??

At this point it may be more interesting than following this disheartening bunch of 05 Dodgers.

He was placing most of the blame on DePo and not Tracy, hinting that we should have better players, even despite the injuries. While he said Tracy was sick of watching Choi strike out, he didn't mention that Choi was a better option at 1st base than Phillips. He didn't mention that A. Perez was batting 330 something and sitting on that last seat on the bench next to Choi.

As I've said before, this team can only stand 1 of Izzy and Repko in the line-up at the same time.

I'd use this as an opportunity to put my 2.31 cents in, but the line-up I'd say has been said already.

http://tinyurl.com/8zrzb

Perez at 3rd would represent a downgrade of only one position. I don't think Choi is worse than Phillips, Saenz, or Kent (or Edwards and Ledee) at 1st base. Plus he's worked on his defense.

Perez-3b
Choi-1b
Kent-2b
Bradley-cf
valentin-lf
Repko/ledee-rf
navarro-c
izzy-ss
pitcher

I don't have the stats handy, but others have argued that Kent's numbers are excellent for a second baseman but not as good compared to first baseman.

And, of course, with fanerman, I think that it's worth putting our most offensive-oriented lineup on the field -- it still won't be Murderer's Row, but geez....

He looks more comfortable at the plate, and he works the pitcher and the count better.

once a stiff, always a stiff

It was worth keeping Robles in the lineup while he was hot. But now, I think it's Perez' turn, occasional error or not.

51
So would I. I wouldn't mind Robles at 3B when defense is warranted either (ie, when Lowe is pitching, when Weaver is about to have a meltdown, etc). I don't mind Izzy playing as long as Repko isn't at the same time.

57 - the Dodgers have a history of first basemen with great potential who become nothing, Choi joins that crowd

It's LA, aesthetics are very important.

Now why Valentin isn't back at third base, and someone else in left field, THAT is a question to ponder?

As someone who watches a LOT of baseball each year, the more I watch Choi play, the less I want to watch Choi play. No doubt, Tracy feels the same.

secondly, I am a numbers guy, I do it for a living, and I will be the first one to tell you that there is more to sports than just numbers...

that being said, after 45 years of watching players, I can see which look like they belong and which ones don't...APerez looks like a player, as does Robles, as does Repko...at least to me they do...Werth, Choi, they don't look that way to me...that is just my opinion...

And I think Tracy is trying to get Valentin in the lineup. I'd rather have him in there then Edwards, and Repko for now, until Werth gets back.

Phillips IS a first baseman, albeit not a very good one.

As to the question to ponder... after Bradley, Valentin, and Ledee... our out fielders are Repko and Edwards.

I can understand why people don't like Choi. But I don't understand how people can see Choi in the field, see his replacements in the field, look at his numbers, and think, "this guy deserves a better chance" and not talk about how ugly his swing is, or how he's a stiff and his potential will never pan out because that's what happens to other Dodgers first basemen. Why don't we just find out? We're 10 or so games under .500. What do we have to lose?

And if you are a numbers guy, why can't you see that Choi deserves a chance to play? I assume that you at least admit he deserves it over Phillips.

Whether none of the these types of guys were available at the trading deadline -- i.e., my spare part for your spare part -- I admit to not knowing.

According to Tim Wallach, Choi has issues at the plate that will always be with him. I suspect that this is why JT lacks confidence in him.

our pitchers, for the most part are doing ok, somehow we have to get some offense going...

Then again, I never thought guys like Boggs, Gwynn, Tony Batista, etc looked like great athletes or baseball players. So curious what makes someone look right? Robles over Choi despite the numbers because of his swing, or approach, or smoothness on the field? Aren't numbers and thus runs what wins games?

81
I think that's the biggest point. Back in 2003, we didn't have better offensive options so putting out the best defensive team made some sense. That's not the case this year.

And as far as the scouts vs stats debate, isn't it the scouts who saw Choi play and recommended him as someone to be signed? What potential will Choi never live up to? I assume most scouts figured this guy could hit 25-30 HRs and get on base often.

some players have a presence and some don't...some exude confidence, some don't...some have a knack for getting to a batted ball, some don't...some make contact at the plate, some don't...

all I'm saying is you watch a player and not too long a time, and you see his tendencies and you can tell if he will amount to anything...

look at Drew, I never worried when he started 0 for 25 this season...he has a nice swing, looks comfortable at the plate, has that presence...

some guys have it, some guys don't...

81- How well do you think our pitchers will do if we dilute our defense at a position as critical as SS?

89
There are many players like that. Above average ones, to.

what I am saying is that if you hit a homer a week, and one weekend you have an out of body experience, you can't project multiple out of body experiences later in the year...

you project that he will continue to his one a week, not 3 more 7's...

Give him a chance.

Choi's numbers this year are better than every of Karros's years save two. Greg Brock never had one. Franklin Stubbs didn't ever have one. And, anyway, by this logic, doesn't that make every of the Dodgers' farm pitchers future Cy Young winners, since so many have been?