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About Jon
Thank You For Not ...

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

Choi Benched, In the Good Sense, Sort Of - The Point Is, He's Signed
2005-12-20 17:36
by Jon Weisman

It's funny to read a Hee Seop Choi press release in which something being published on Dodgers.com is actually forced to say nice things about him.

Anyway, Choi takes a spot on the Dodger bench, alongside Ricky Ledee, Olmedo Saenz, Sandy Alomar Jr., and at most two other players. One will have to be an outfielder: Jayson Werth, Jason Repko, Cody Ross or Andre Ethier. That leaves only one spot for a backup middle infielder, forcing a competition between Willy Aybar and Oscar Robles, among others (a competition that leans toward Aybar's favor, given his palpitating debut in September and the Dodgers' infield depth at AAA, except that Robles is so well-liked and has a reputation for good defense). And it would mean the Dodgers would have an 11-man pitching staff, which given the shaky status at the back end of their starting rotation, is of some concern.

Unless/until there is a trade.

But for now, I guess it's something of an effective compromise, except for those who just want to see Choi play every day. The Dodgers have their proven commodity at first base, and if he plays well and stays healthy, great. If he falters, there are backups.

At a cost of money but not prospects, the Dodgers are stacked with proven position players. A surge in the Chad Billingsley Department would be a transformative experience.

Update: Chin-Feng Chen is tentatively headed for a 2006 season in Taiwan, reports the Taiwan News. Sounds like it's a tough decision:

"Now I am at the peak of my playing career... Maybe it is time to play in Taiwan, and stay close to my family. I am more mature and have learned a lot from my stay in the U.S.," he said.

But his Major League dream may not be finished. Chen said he will make his final decision this week after consulting with his parents and family members, "My family comes first, I will respect their opinion."

Also, this chapter in the Dodger careers of Jeff Weaver, Mike Edwards, Jason Phillips and Brian Myrow are over, although MLB.com's Ken Gurnick writes that Edwards is under consideration for a minor league contract.

Correction/Update 2: Weaver can still negotiate with the Dodgers. And they have signed Kelly Wunsch to a minor league contract.

Comments (319)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2005-12-20 17:45:05
1.   D4P
I'm not sure how to feel about this. The happy tastes like sad...
2005-12-20 17:47:08
2.   Humma Kavula
Those are the tears of joy mixing with the bile.
2005-12-20 17:47:52
3.   D4P
I fear that Choi signing as a backup will only perpetuate the cries of "Choi sucks" from one side and "If only Hee could get a chance to play" from the other.
2005-12-20 17:48:28
4.   Bob Timmermann
But what about Jason Phillips?
2005-12-20 17:49:29
5.   D4P
4
Him?
2005-12-20 17:49:44
6.   Humma Kavula
jason who?
2005-12-20 17:56:22
7.   Bob Timmermann
I need closure. Phillips is the shirt tail of the Dodgers roster that isn't tucked in. I want it tucked in!

Well, unless the Dodgers are really heavy in which case they shouldn't tuck their shirts in.

2005-12-20 17:56:32
8.   KLV
We've got some terrific depth w/r/t our position players. After what happened last year, and looking at the fragility and age of certain guys on our roster, that makes me very happy as a Dodgers fan.

But I don't really understand why Choi and his agent agreed to this. The Dodgers have shown NO faith in Choi and I have to believe he would have been better off going elsewhere. I guess a trade is still possible. The Yankees look like a potential fit (Choi + Bradley for Pavano + $$$ might have been a mutually beneficial deal, but that's water under the bridge now).

2005-12-20 17:57:44
9.   KLV
Jason Phillips - my psyche tries to block out all memories of him, too much trauma to re-live.
2005-12-20 17:59:19
10.   GoBears
I see 4 possibilities:

1. Choi spot starts, but otherwise sinks or swims as a LH pinch hitter (Ledee's forte).

2. Choi goes back to Vegas (if he really isn't out of options) and tears the place up in anticipation of a callup or trade.

3. Choi platoons at 1b, with Nomar sometimes resting, other times spelling Mueller, Furcal, or Cruz Jr/Lofton.

4. Choi traded for a pitcher. How about Choi for Byun-Hyung Kim? Helps both teams. But I'd like Colletti to find a way to get Kim more cheaply.

From McCourt's POV, this has to be a no-brainer. He'll make that salary back in a month of ticket and merchandise sales to the Korean/Kor-Am community in LA. And it doesn't hurt to have one actual first baseman on the team.

2005-12-20 17:59:48
11.   Humma Kavula
Am I the only one who thinks that maybe a flier on Chad Bradford would be a good idea if he comes cheap? It wasn't that long ago that he was great. Is he healthy? Would he be cheap?

Tell me where I'm going wrong.

2005-12-20 17:59:55
12.   oswald
any thoughts on this trade:

choi and izzy for nick johnson and john patterson (happening after izzy comes back)

2005-12-20 18:00:30
13.   trainwreck
I really think Colletti sees Choi as insurance for if/when Nomar hurts his groin stretching for the ball.
2005-12-20 18:00:31
14.   King of the Hobos
Choi won't be banished from the roster, which means, along with Jason Phillips, we could be losing another player. Mike Edwards or Brian Myrow? Can we handle such heavy losses? We need to trade them all to Pittsburgh while we still can...
2005-12-20 18:01:38
15.   Marty
7 I think Phillips is the little loop on the back of an oxford shirt that needs to be ripped off.
2005-12-20 18:02:02
16.   dzzrtRatt
The trade-Choi option looms. With Kent and Saenz, and probably Navarro, Alomar or Werth in a pinch, we have enough guys to make sure we'll have a fielder standing at first base all season. Choi's third in the first base depth chart, probably the third-favored option at pinch-hitter. I don't think the Dodgers really need him.

The signing reflects that there is a market for Choi, not that Colletti wants him on the team. He might be a nice piece to throw into a trade for a starting pitcher. That's got to be the thinking.

2005-12-20 18:05:21
17.   King of the Hobos
10 Good news about BH Kim, he's a FA, and would cost us nothing but money
2005-12-20 18:06:49
18.   bigcpa
16 Couldn't you say all the same things about Saenz? Grady Little could love Choi- who knows?
2005-12-20 18:11:34
19.   Sam DC
12 even Jim Bowden would not make that trade. Johnson's a potential all-star, though oft-injured, and Patterson was staff Ace in all but name last year for the Nats.
2005-12-20 18:17:05
20.   bearlurker
Someone on the last thread mentioned Wade Miller. That seems like a good risk. He's pitched in Fenway in Enronmaid so he might thrive in Dodger Stadium.
He and Kim are my favorite non-tenders out there.
2005-12-20 18:17:08
21.   dzzrtRatt
It is a wee moral victory that Phillips is out there in the ozone while Choi has a job and a paycheck.
2005-12-20 18:19:27
22.   Bob Timmermann
"Mr. Phillips, there's a Mr. Tracy and a Mr. Littlefield calling for you."
2005-12-20 18:22:56
23.   oswald
19 -- i think you overrate their current values. johnson's oft injured and his stats are not significantly better than choi's, and choi has no injury history. as for patterson, yes he had a good year last year, but he's never been projected as anything more than a fourth starter, which happens to be something the dodgers need.

all in all, you're probably right, but i still think it would be an even trade, allowing the dodgers to fill pitching needs and get a first baseman for the future. and the nationals would get an everyday gold-glove shortstop and an everyday first baseman with loads of potential. perhaps to sweeten the deal, the dodgers could include myrow, edwards, aybar or werth (or some combination of those players).

2005-12-20 18:23:52
24.   oswald
i should've said that johnson's stats are not significantly better than choi's would be if he were start every day.
2005-12-20 18:26:15
25.   Sam DC
wade miller -- It seems like Boston wanted/expected it to work with him and they've concluded it can't, so why do we think he's ready/able to rebound at this point? Not that I wouldn't like it.
2005-12-20 18:28:21
26.   Blu2
13. Choi is really the back-up for the whole infield. If Mueller, Furcal, or Kent go down, then Nomar takes their place and Choi takes first. At least I hope that's the plan...
2005-12-20 18:29:20
27.   Uncle Miltie
Horrible news:
Dodgers non-tendered catcher Jason Phillips.
Dodgers non-tendered first baseman Brian Myrow.
Dodgers non-tendered third baseman-outfielder Mike Edwards.

10 bucks Edwards signs with the Pirates.

2005-12-20 18:29:32
28.   bigcpa
I love how the perception is that Furcal/Nomar etc. is such a talent bonanza compared to Drew/Kent/Lowe/Perez. Colletti's $60M spending spree is seen as a PR victory while DePodesta's $144M spending spree was seen as "what about Beltre"?
2005-12-20 18:29:37
29.   Bob Timmermann
25
Perhaps Ned Colletti read my post about the 1932 Dodgers having six former Red Sox on it and wants to match that total.
2005-12-20 18:31:16
30.   trainwreck
27-
Tracy just found his 4,5,6 spots in the batting order.
2005-12-20 18:31:27
31.   oswald
28 -- depo is soooooo five minutes ago.
2005-12-20 18:32:34
32.   TheDictator
Somebody mentioned Diaz of the Royals the other day. It looks like he got traded to the Braves.

Check this out (I learned how to use tinyurl!)

http://tinyurl.com/8fqnl

2005-12-20 18:32:54
33.   ecblues
I've never seen so much written about a player of such minor significance.
2005-12-20 18:34:16
34.   dzzrtRatt
33 You just had to be there, I guess.
2005-12-20 18:34:21
35.   oswald
33 -- who do you mean?
2005-12-20 18:35:41
36.   ecblues
35 - Choi.

Incoming!

2005-12-20 18:36:10
37.   TheDictator
Is it Christmas already?

Choi signed and Phillips and Edwards non-tendered?

Sucks to be a Pirates fan!

2005-12-20 18:37:18
38.   bigcpa
35 I thought for sure he meant Edwards. 4 mentions in this thread already. Sheesh- enough already.
2005-12-20 18:38:44
39.   oswald
36 -- lol. but i've never known a more devisive player in a dodger uniform. my brother hates him (and actually stopped coming to this site because he was frustrated that so many people liked him). i kinda liked him (he looks like my ex) but he is a wierd player to get so hot about.
2005-12-20 18:40:25
40.   oswald
btw, my brother yelled at me at thanksgiving for saying choi should be given the starting job for 2006. i kinda said just to make him mad. is that bad?
2005-12-20 18:44:26
41.   trainwreck
40-
No, I do that stuff to family all the time.
2005-12-20 18:47:41
42.   Blu2
To expand on #26 above, if Kent or Furcal or Mueller got hurt, who would you rather bring in, Robles or Choi?
2005-12-20 18:49:29
43.   Uncle Miltie
42- Edwards, he can play 3B and 1B, and he's a super bunter and a great team player.
2005-12-20 18:50:53
44.   Sam DC
23, 24 Well fair enough, and you're right about Johnson's injuries, but if I'm reading baseball reference right last year Nick Johnson had an OPS+ of 139 (over 547 pas) and Choi was at 110 (368 pas). And while you have a point about not overstating Patterson's value based on one great year, in this market a pitcher coming off a year like that is a pretty valuable commodity.

And I'd also say that Bowden is probably not looking too hard for a slick-fielding light-hitting shortstop, although I admit it's hard to know how to characterize Izturis as a batter at this point.

2005-12-20 18:51:52
45.   oswald
42 -- i think you replace mueller with nomar but furcal with robles. i don't think nomar can handle short without getting injured and it's too much of a defensive position. me, i'm still hoping nomar's in left and choi's given first (i should cc this to my brother -- i haven't seen him so mad since i stripped all my barbies and put them all over his room.)
2005-12-20 18:52:18
46.   rageon
I'm a big fan of Choi, a lot of which comes from wanting to see a player get a fair shot. I'm not sure I've ever wanted to see a player I liked released, but this one of those times. I really wish they would have let him go so that he could sign with a team that would presumably play him once and a while.
2005-12-20 18:52:45
47.   trainwreck
Bowden gave 4 million a year to Christian Guzman. Offer him any shortstop and I think you have a good chance of fleecing him.
2005-12-20 18:53:29
48.   oswald
43 -- now, now. tracy's gone, depo's gone. it's time to forgive and forget and start root, root, rooting for the home team instead of hate, hate, hating the plaschkes. haven't you heard -- it's moring at chavez ravine!
2005-12-20 18:54:21
49.   oswald
morning, not moring
2005-12-20 18:54:58
50.   trainwreck
45-
I hope oswald is your last name and not your first haha.
Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2005-12-20 18:56:08
51.   rageon
I think "mourning" is the word you're looking for.
2005-12-20 18:56:18
52.   oswald
oswald -- the best character on drew carey and the male version of my female name shortened (chew on that for a while)
2005-12-20 18:56:30
53.   Sam DC
Hey Steve -- Timmermann's reporting that Dan Kolb is (temporarily) available . . .
2005-12-20 18:56:56
54.   ecblues
40 - Arguing about Hee Seop Choi at the Thanksgiving table! And I thought my family was bad. I hope this signing brings a little bit of holiday Choi to the hearts of all the Hee Seop lovers out there (assuming we keep him). I don't think he's a bad player, but I don't see what there is to get so excited about. Definitely an asset coming off the bench if we keep him, as well as insurance for Nomar at 1B experiment.
2005-12-20 18:58:44
55.   D4P
52
the male version of my female name shortened (chew on that for a while)

Mulva...?

2005-12-20 18:58:44
56.   trainwreck
oswalda?
2005-12-20 18:59:15
57.   oswald
54 -- well said, and no matter what happens, i'll root for choi the way i root for all my boys. and who knows, maybe even if he's coming off the bench, he gets a couple spot starts, comes through in the clutch and plays his way off it. that sure would take a lot of heat off him, you know, if he earned his way on.
2005-12-20 19:00:10
58.   trainwreck
55-
lol someone likes Seinfeld
2005-12-20 19:01:15
59.   oswald
55 -- lol.
2005-12-20 19:06:56
60.   King of the Hobos
Dan Kolb and Jeff Bennett have been non-tendered. I've liked Jeff Bennett, he's only 26 and has been pretty good. He looked good in AAA last year, after a mediocre rookie season in Milwaukee
2005-12-20 19:07:37
61.   Screwgie
We all know why Colletti wanted Choi signed. But the question still remains to be asked of Hee Seop: why?

Did he really think that $800k was the best he could do in the open market? Perhaps it is. But then again he could probably get paid that for one year from an American league team with some headroom in the DH slot and at least get to start in a platoon role.

The only thing I can think of is that contrary to reports, the Dodgers were going to tender Choi regardless. Therefore Choi's best bet was to sign a reasonable contract before arbitration.

(That is, If I understand all this tender/ non-tender stuff correctly)

2005-12-20 19:07:50
62.   Bob Timmermann
60

He must have stopped to eat or he had to go to the bathroom.

2005-12-20 19:13:34
63.   dodgerscool
"We all know why Colletti wanted Choi signed. But the question still remains to be asked of Hee Seop: why?"

'cause Choi loves LA? I also don't understand why he agreed to the contract.

2005-12-20 19:15:54
64.   D4P
63
That Choi would choose to stay with the Dodgers (as a backup) rather than test free agency in quest of more money and a starting role only reinforces my respect for his character. Hee's a class act.
2005-12-20 19:18:25
65.   oswald
the large korean population. choi spent time in chicago and miami and knows what it is to be alone. maybe he's met a nice korean girl that he's fallen in love with. (darn it, i hate when my girliness shows when i'm talking dodgers -- quick, grab your crotch and spit before anyone notices).
2005-12-20 19:22:34
66.   D4P
65
Your "girlness" was betrayed by your barbies comment.
2005-12-20 19:22:57
67.   trainwreck
65-
Someone who REALLY loves Choi, you got all the Choi supporters beat.
2005-12-20 19:23:24
68.   TheDictator
36 - Brace for impact!
2005-12-20 19:24:26
69.   dodgerscool
64
Agree. Choi's a class act, one of the nicest guys in baseball.

65
Haha interesting; thats another posibillity. I know some female Korean fans in school that love Choi eventhough they know almost nothing about baseball haha.

2005-12-20 19:25:31
70.   trainwreck
66-
Same as my Korean professor, but he just went to NYU, so I guess Choi would have one fan if he goes to the Yankees.
2005-12-20 19:33:07
71.   dodgerscool
Choi is gonna be playing for Korea in the World Baseball Classic right?
2005-12-20 19:35:19
72.   sanchez101
if choi just wanted to be around a korean community he couldve gone to the bay area. can you imagine anything more horrifing than to have to watch choi blossom as a giant?
2005-12-20 19:36:49
73.   Bob Timmermann
71
Since Choi is advertised as one of the players for Korea, I would be surprised if he skipped the WBC. I can't imagine that the Korean team would have too many good hitters.

Seung-Yeop Lee is Korea's single season home run record holder I believe. He played for Chiba last year.

2005-12-20 19:47:14
74.   Vishal
wow. that was well above what i thought colletti was willing to pay for choi. i hope choi does so well he makes it impossible to bench him. i'm glad that my rooting for him and my rooting for the dodgers will not be mutually exclusive. but i hope it's not so gall-derned frustratin' as it was last year.
2005-12-20 19:48:12
75.   King of the Hobos
Should I believe this?

http://cbs4boston.com/topstories/local_story_354222357.html

2005-12-20 19:52:19
76.   trainwreck
75-
lol story to come...what great reporting.
2005-12-20 19:52:53
77.   Bob Timmermann
I'll run with it!
2005-12-20 19:56:24
78.   King of the Hobos
Nate seemed pretty hopeful that Gil Meche would be non-tendered...I hope he didn't set his hopes too high
2005-12-20 19:56:39
79.   Vishal
[75] hah, i can't wait to see what that contract is gonna look like. i hope steinbrenner's suit was dirty, because i bet boras took him to the cleaners.
2005-12-20 19:59:09
80.   dodgerscool
73

Thank you for the info. Its gonna be fun to see Choi in WBC.

2005-12-20 19:59:35
81.   oswald
79 -- that suit was an armani, which incidentally steinbrenner regularly wipes his butt with.
2005-12-20 19:59:39
82.   trainwreck
lol I thought the Yankees wanted a centerfielder who would be an improvement over Bernie's defense and lack of an arm.
2005-12-20 20:02:08
83.   Robert Daeley
According to:

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-yankees-damon

"The New York Yankees grabbed center fielder Johnny Damon away from the rival Boston Red Sox, reaching a preliminary agreement Tuesday night on a $52 million, four-year contract."

2005-12-20 20:02:15
84.   oswald
ever get the feeling that steinbrenner will just go nuts one of these days and sign every free agent on the market just to show he can? here's you check, now you're all designated for assignment!
2005-12-20 20:03:13
85.   King of the Hobos
Rotoworld says it's 4 years, $52 mil, but I have no idea where they got it (they're using the same source as I, and it still says "story to come")
2005-12-20 20:04:19
86.   Vishal
[83] four years is actually not so bad. he's not worth $52 million, of course, but i was imagining some 6-year, $75 million+ monstrosity.
2005-12-20 20:06:22
87.   King of the Hobos
Does Damon realize that he'll have to shave?
2005-12-20 20:08:00
88.   Jon Weisman
Did you guys cover the Chin-Feng Chen to Taiwan report yet? I don't think I saw mention of that.
2005-12-20 20:08:08
89.   trainwreck
He use to be clean shaven, short haired Johnny Damon. Then he went to that team of drunks and it all changed.
2005-12-20 20:08:20
90.   Vishal
[87] it was actually going to be a 4-year, $48 million contract, but damon insisted on a $4 million shaving premium. :)
2005-12-20 20:09:13
91.   natepurcell
soo im watching niptuck since im at my parents house and they have direct tv. its pretty freakin intense.
2005-12-20 20:09:41
92.   GoBears
Apparently, the Yankees wanted someone with recent World Series experience.

Ouch! That's GOTTA hurt. Can't wait to see Bill Simmons's take on this.

2005-12-20 20:13:05
93.   trainwreck
91-
For god's sake do not say anything that happens Nate.
2005-12-20 20:14:40
94.   oswald
there are some lines you just don't cross --i.e. sleeping with your spouse's brother (regardless of what sex you are), telling dirty jokes to a nun, telling a parapalegic how much fun it is to walk -- and damon's just gone and crossed it.

this is unnatural. didn't he see flatliners? you weren't supposed to go there, johnny!

2005-12-20 20:15:19
95.   natepurcell
i wont ruin it. but im pretty confused right now and its half way through. the carver hasnt been revealed yet.
2005-12-20 20:16:11
96.   natepurcell
have we gotten a new female regular here at DT?

what ever happened to christina the A's fan. i think she was the only other female that i can remember.

2005-12-20 20:17:34
97.   trainwreck
94-
Sleeping with your spouse's brother? How about do not sleep with your friend's spouse. That is a little more universal.
2005-12-20 20:18:12
98.   Jon Weisman
96 - It's just like high school for me.
2005-12-20 20:20:09
99.   oswald
jon, i would have gone to prom with you. we could have talked about sax all night long.
2005-12-20 20:21:32
100.   trainwreck
oh those double entendres (yes, I had to look up how to spell that word)
Show/Hide Comments 101-150
2005-12-20 20:21:50
101.   Robert Daeley
The guys over on Bronx Banter seem a little peeved. :)

https://bronxbanter.baseballtoaster.com/archives/306055.html

2005-12-20 20:26:36
102.   willhite
Damon must have really wanted to be a Yankee. I'm sure the Sox and possibly even the Orioles would have matched that deal.

So much for 7 years. The Boras mystique seems to be fading.

2005-12-20 20:26:52
103.   natepurcell
matts ex girlfriend and nazi dad are freakin pyschos.holy crap!!
2005-12-20 20:27:48
104.   trainwreck
Is anyone whos down south, following the laker game?
2005-12-20 20:28:28
105.   natepurcell
i am sort of. switching back and forth.
2005-12-20 20:29:43
106.   trainwreck
Nate your updates are not helping lol
2005-12-20 20:29:50
107.   oswald
103 -- huh?
2005-12-20 20:30:40
108.   trainwreck
107-
tv show nip/tuck season finale tonight
2005-12-20 20:32:02
109.   oswald
i see. thank you for the explanation.
2005-12-20 20:32:08
110.   natepurcell
yea, DT turns into niptuck thoughts sometimes. although this is the last new episode for a while.
2005-12-20 20:32:50
111.   willhite
lakers up 45-38. kobe has more than half their points
2005-12-20 20:32:50
112.   trainwreck
I doubt Johnny really wanted to go to the Yankees... I think Boras just took the best deal out there.
2005-12-20 20:34:09
113.   trainwreck
I am goin to watch season 2 finale right now before tonight's episode starts. I watched both seasons tonight to try to figure out who the carver could be hahaha.
2005-12-20 20:35:45
114.   King of the Hobos
110 Of course, Niptuck Thoughts usually only includes a few posters. Or more specifically, nate and trainwreck
2005-12-20 20:35:49
115.   Jon Weisman
99 - You say that now, but you probably would have canceled at the last minute because you were having your wisdom teeth pulled. On a Saturday.
2005-12-20 20:35:55
116.   willhite
112 -

I thought I heard that the Sox offered 4/48. I can't believe they wouldn't have gone to 4/52 to keep him.

Also, couldn't have been much interest from anyone else or Boras would have milked this until after New Year's

2005-12-20 20:38:54
117.   Midwest Blue
114 Even though it's mostly those two, I do have interest in watching the N/T finale sometime this week, so PLEASE don't give anything away here. Thank you.
2005-12-20 20:40:12
118.   King of the Hobos
Damon had been hoping to receive a seven-year contract. His agent Scott Boras distributed a book comparing Damon's durability to Cal Ripken Jr. and projecting that Damon would get his 3,000th hit in exactly seven years, the term they sought. -Newsday

Must not have been too convincing

2005-12-20 20:44:19
119.   natepurcell
how many hits does damon have right now?
2005-12-20 20:45:33
120.   natepurcell
kobe has 32 pts at halftime!?!?!? are u kidding me...
2005-12-20 20:45:48
121.   Robert Daeley
116

I wonder if the timing of the Lofton signing is coincidental -- maybe Boras/Damon were waiting to see what the Dodgers might offer?

2005-12-20 20:46:04
122.   trainwreck
When I looked at Ripken's stats, for three seasons it said he played 161 games...am I missing something?
2005-12-20 20:46:47
123.   trainwreck
Kobe really likes playing against the Mavs it seems this year.
2005-12-20 20:46:48
124.   King of the Hobos
119 1789

At 200 a year, 7 years would be correct. At 202 a year, it would only take 6 years

2005-12-20 20:49:48
125.   regfairfield
122 In 1990 and 1988, the Orioles only played 161 games. I have no clue what happened in 1998.

It balances out, since he somehow played 163 games in 1996.

2005-12-20 20:50:20
126.   King of the Hobos
122 Games cancelled by rain and not made up? It's fairly common for a few teams to not finish 162 games
2005-12-20 20:50:34
127.   oswald
jon, you underestimate my affections for sweet-natured nerds in dodgers caps. and i was born without wisdom teeth. that's right, i am highly evolved.

gotta go now. but it's been fun being the token female of dodger thoughts. i haven't gotten this much attention since the breast reduction (just kidding).

i'll check in from time to time. until then, remember boys, tracy's a continent away, depo's a young man with a bright future, and loduca is back where he was born. so play nice, it's gonna be a fun year!

2005-12-20 20:53:06
128.   natepurcell
i hope u will be with us on a regular basis during the season oswald.
2005-12-20 20:53:11
129.   trainwreck
126-
Yeah I realized that after I wrote it, but 163 seems wrong.
2005-12-20 20:54:58
130.   trainwreck
Women on a sportsboard get an insane amount of attention, maybe I should go look for a blog about the View or the OC or something.
2005-12-20 20:57:06
131.   molokai
Anyone interested in giving Astacio a try?
2005-12-20 20:57:17
132.   King of the Hobos
Playoff tie breaker? Can't think of any other reason for 163 games
2005-12-20 20:58:58
133.   trainwreck
132-
Yeah that makes sense. But the only one I remember seeing was the Reds vs Cubs. I guess the Orioles must have had one in 96.
2005-12-20 20:59:13
134.   Kayaker7
127 I was born without wisdom teeth too--no teeth at all, in fact. ;-) I did eventually get two. My dad has four and my mom none. I split the difference.

My wife has no wisdom teeth, so maybe our son will get one.

All true.

2005-12-20 20:59:28
135.   Bob Timmermann
If teams have a game that ends in a tie after 5 innings, it counts in the statistics and is then replayed in its entirety. So occasionally you see players with 163 games.

The MLB record is 165 by Maury Wills but that was because the Dodgers had 3 tiebreaker games.

2005-12-20 21:02:35
136.   natepurcell
wow, the ending is killer. pretty big twist.
2005-12-20 21:02:48
137.   Jon Weisman
127 - I was born without four adult teeth, including a wisdom tooth. I still have two baby teeth because nothing was there to push them out.

Anyway, welcome to the site. You brightened the day of a lot of commenters here, I can tell. It's like being a guy in a Master's in English program or in the development department of a museum.

2005-12-20 21:03:28
138.   Kayaker7
Isn't it funny that if you read the press release on Choi's signing, it makes you think that he was one of the best hitters on the team? Er...he actually was, wasn't he?
2005-12-20 21:04:06
139.   Jon Weisman
131 - In my book, Astacio can have a tryout with the Dodgers until he's 90.
2005-12-20 21:04:36
140.   Bob Timmermann
I had just two wisdom teeth. I think that was because I was missing one permanent tooth and they had to pull out the corresponding one on the other side and then use braces to pull everything together.
2005-12-20 21:05:53
141.   Brad Bogner
119,

He has 1,789 hits

2005-12-20 21:06:48
142.   Vishal
[138] irony at its finest.
2005-12-20 21:07:06
143.   trainwreck
So many highly evolved people at DT.

136-
I have forumlated my guess.

2005-12-20 21:08:45
144.   natepurcell
okay, lay it on me trainwreck!
2005-12-20 21:09:54
145.   Vishal
kobe at 37 points with 10 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.
2005-12-20 21:10:09
146.   trainwreck
144-
It's quinton and they make you think he's dead, but he's not. Do not tell me if I am right or wrong lol.
2005-12-20 21:11:36
147.   natepurcell
interesting theory... howd u come up with that?
2005-12-20 21:11:45
148.   Jon Weisman
But who here has baby teeth and color blindness? I'm quite the package, let me tell you.
2005-12-20 21:12:09
149.   natepurcell
can kobe hit 50 tonight?
2005-12-20 21:13:24
150.   Bob Timmermann
Jon sounds not unlike Francisco Scaramanga.
Show/Hide Comments 151-200
2005-12-20 21:13:28
151.   natepurcell
very unprofessional play by josh howard.
2005-12-20 21:13:52
152.   trainwreck
So as I was re-watching the past season. I notice how they say Quinten is the best face surgeon in the country (aside from Sean). He also supposedly was on a trip to Chad or something while the carvings happen, so there is his excuse or alibi. The carver when he attacks Sean is left handed and since I did not really notice anyone else being left handed in the past two seasons, I will assume Quinten was haha. Plus I know it's his voice.
2005-12-20 21:14:16
153.   natepurcell
oh look! old friend del harris!
2005-12-20 21:15:27
154.   trainwreck
They make him look dead in the commercials, so if he's the carver he has to be alive, unless that accomplice thing I spoke of before is true.
2005-12-20 21:16:11
155.   Vishal
[149] i think 50's almost a given. the question is will he hit 60?
2005-12-20 21:16:48
156.   trainwreck
I am going to be looking for left handed people on tonight's episode haha.
2005-12-20 21:19:38
157.   trainwreck
I guess that's not that big of a twist...ugghh lol
2005-12-20 21:20:37
158.   trainwreck
If only I bothered to watch the show like a proper film student, I would be able to figure it out better.
2005-12-20 21:22:06
159.   natepurcell
well i would tell u if u are right, but better to be surprised. i will tell that matt is involved in a crazy side plot with the nazi father. that was pretty intense in this epidsode.
2005-12-20 21:25:50
160.   trainwreck
Yeah I figured I am going to be surprised, which is why I have avoided finding out who it is, though I could find out pretty easily.
2005-12-20 21:27:15
161.   Vishal
kobe is now at 50 points with 3:30 remaining in the 3rd quarter. he's on pace for like, 80.
2005-12-20 21:27:43
162.   Vishal
the mavericks have scored 57 points total so far.
2005-12-20 21:27:57
163.   trainwreck
What's the score?
2005-12-20 21:28:06
164.   natepurcell
kobe is an animal tonight.
2005-12-20 21:30:17
165.   Vishal
80-57 lakers 3:26, 3rd quarter.
2005-12-20 21:30:59
166.   trainwreck
awesome, kwame playing well?
2005-12-20 21:33:10
167.   natepurcell
i have not seen kwame in the game... at all lol.
2005-12-20 21:34:29
168.   trainwreck
lol ESPN is hyping the Damon move as a huge shift in power and Damon is everything the Yankees need and they are going to beat everyone. Devastates the Red Sox and blah blah blah blah. I can't wait for the A's to kick both their butts.
2005-12-20 21:34:37
169.   Vishal
[166] nah, he's not playing much at all. it's mostly mihm tonight.

kwame: 9 minutes, 1 point 2 rebs, 2 asts, 2 blocks, 1 turnover.

2005-12-20 21:36:36
170.   trainwreck
So Ronny Turiaf could be back in two weeks, that will be huge for us as he is a tough rebounder with some good posts moves.
2005-12-20 21:37:32
171.   LAT
Nate, you are confusing the hell out of me. I just went to Bronx Banter looking for posters named "matts ex girlfriend" and "nazi dad." Then I realized its a Nip/Tuck reference.

Jon, I already knew this was the premier site but only a 150 comments or so at Bronx Banter is kind of weak. If something like the Damon deal happened here we would break a thousand.

2005-12-20 21:38:11
172.   trainwreck
Wow, I just saw the stats on ESPNews. It is Kobe versus the Mavs and he is shooting a good percentage.
2005-12-20 21:39:21
173.   Rob M
Kobe 62, Dallas 59 after 3
2005-12-20 21:39:41
174.   Rob M
Dallas 61 - sorry
2005-12-20 21:39:42
175.   Xeifrank
Kobe: 62
Mavs: 61

Can Kobe pitch? vr, Xei

2005-12-20 21:39:49
176.   Vishal
end of 3rd quarter

lakers 95, kobe 62, mavericks 61

2005-12-20 21:40:24
177.   trainwreck
Kobe, make David Robinson third on the list of most points scored in a game.
2005-12-20 21:41:15
178.   FirstMohican
Kobe shoots too much? Kobe doesn't shoot enough!
2005-12-20 21:42:31
179.   trainwreck
I can't believe I am missing this game. Stupid Bay Area.
2005-12-20 21:42:59
180.   natepurcell
phil should kobe back in. i want him to hit 80.
2005-12-20 21:45:10
181.   trainwreck
Yeah, come on. Phil doesn't want Michael's 63 to go lower on the list lol.
2005-12-20 21:48:57
182.   popup
135, Bob, I think the three extra games for Maury were the playoffs against the Giants in 1962. Not something I care to remember but it is something I can't seem to forget.

Stan from Tacoma

2005-12-20 21:48:59
183.   natepurcell
at least put him back in to give him a shot at breaking the franchise record of 71.
2005-12-20 21:51:45
184.   trainwreck
This is the first time I have ever seen the breaking news box on ESPNews have two stories on it.

J. Damon to NY;
Kobe scores 62pts

2005-12-20 21:52:06
185.   LAT
Why is he sitting? Where are the fans? they should be chantting?
2005-12-20 21:54:47
186.   natepurcell
come on mavs, get back in the game. we want kobe back in!
2005-12-20 21:58:52
187.   Vishal
he's been sitting on the bench all quarter; i don't think he's gonna get back in. that's a shame he only got 3 quarters. does phil not realize he has a shot for the record books?
2005-12-20 21:58:58
188.   jane doe
171 - "If something like the Damon deal happened here we would break a thousand."

That's because this community is often more forum than blog. I imagine someday JW'll install phpBB and we'll evolve into an expansion team.

2005-12-20 22:00:31
189.   Uncle Miltie
ok, Kobe had a great announcer, but can anyone here stand these announcers? They are talking about him like he's the best player ever. They are touting Kobe as the MVP and complementing him by saying what a team player he is. These 2 clowns make Rick Monday and Charlie Steiner sound good.

"One of the most magnificent athletes we will ever see"

Calling them Kobe worshippers is an understatement. I'm sure they are wearing Kobe jerseys under the suits, have "Kobe" tattooed on their chest, and have a picture of Kobe on their mantle.

2005-12-20 22:01:11
190.   trainwreck
Nip/Tuck starting...
2005-12-20 22:01:18
191.   Uncle Miltie
*game, not announcer lol

You can see what's on my mind

2005-12-20 22:03:13
192.   natepurcell
back to baseball. frrom the most recent rosenthal article:

White Sox right-hander Jon Garland and A's left-hander Barry Zito represent possible trade options, but many in the industry suspect that Garland will be traded to the Dodgers or Angels, while the Astros might not have the type of young impact players that A's G.M. Billy Beane would want for Zito.

Garland, a native of southern California, is a free agent after next season. His long-term preference might be to play closer to home, and both the Dodgers or Angels are deep in prospects who would appeal to the White Sox.

2005-12-20 22:03:28
193.   Vishal
[188] unnamed female or converge fan?
2005-12-20 22:04:44
194.   trainwreck
I do not like Garland. I think last year was his peak and a kind of a fluke.
2005-12-20 22:05:55
195.   natepurcell
bynum looks goood for being only 18 yrs old. i hope they give him ample time to develop.
2005-12-20 22:06:10
196.   Brendan
Wow. The Office "christmas party" episode tonight wasn't as funny as I thought(or read on DT) it was going to be. I was expecting a classic. I loved the BBC version of The Office, by the way.
2005-12-20 22:06:46
197.   jane doe
Either/or? In any event: longtime lurker. We are legion.
2005-12-20 22:07:33
198.   jane doe
@ 188
2005-12-20 22:08:38
199.   jane doe
Cx. @193
2005-12-20 22:08:52
200.   natepurcell
converge!!!!

my favorite band. vishal, what do you think of you fail me. not as good as jane doe, but i still like it. it has a really raw feel to it. really brings them back to their punk rock roots.

Show/Hide Comments 201-250
2005-12-20 22:09:05
201.   Brendan
Kobe just scored 63 in three quarters, give the announcers some slack, grumpy. (Ha!)
2005-12-20 22:09:18
202.   LAT
I find it difficult to believe Kobe doesn't want to play. But then I never understood why Sammy would pull himself out of a game where he hit 3 HRs when he still had an AB or two.

Ah, the days when Sammy mattered. It has to be one of the quickest falls from sports grace ever. At least where there haven't been any criminal charges filed.

2005-12-20 22:09:20
203.   LAT
I find it difficult to believe Kobe doesn't want to play. But then I never understood why Sammy would pull himself out of a game where he hit 3 HRs when he still had an AB or two.

Ah, the days when Sammy mattered. It has to be one of the quickest falls from sports grace ever. At least where there haven't been any criminal charges filed.

2005-12-20 22:09:30
204.   Rob M
I'm glad Phil sat Kobe. This team is getting it together. They need to keep running their offense. They aren't good or experienced enough to abandon their game just so Kobe can score 80. If the Lakers go deep in the playoffs, it will do a lot more for Kobe's rep than him scoring 75 in a meaningless December game.
2005-12-20 22:09:42
205.   LAT
Sorry for the DP
2005-12-20 22:10:29
206.   King of the Hobos
192 Of course, Rosenthal still thinks Stairs is a FA, but he signed an extension in September
2005-12-20 22:10:41
207.   Brendan
I mean 62.
2005-12-20 22:11:21
208.   Uncle Miltie
I don't want Garland either. Declining K rate, one year away from FA, and likely had a career year last year (especially in terms of wins which makes him even more overrated/overvalued).
2005-12-20 22:13:13
209.   Uncle Miltie
So does anyone like the Lakers announcers? These guys are bottom of the barrel. You would think an organization like the Lakers could do better.
2005-12-20 22:15:17
210.   trainwreck
209-
I do not have a problem with them.
2005-12-20 22:16:33
211.   Bob Timmermann
My long day is over:

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-non-tenderfreeagents&prov=ap&type=lgns

2005-12-20 22:17:05
212.   trainwreck
Garland can throw a lot of innings, that seems to be his best attribute. He is kind of like Jeff Weaver.
2005-12-20 22:21:30
213.   natepurcell
kenny williams is going to demand a lot ofr garland. im not comfortable giving up a lot for garland.
2005-12-20 22:21:34
214.   Vishal
[200] i haven't listened to you fail me more than a couple of times. but i thought it was raw sounding too; jane doe had a sort of clinical precision and sharpness to it that made it so good.

i haven't been listening to much new music at all for the past year or so. i went to like, 60 shows a couple of years ago. this year i went to maybe 5. i hope that doesn't mean i'm getting old.

2005-12-20 22:22:17
215.   trainwreck
Okay, I think I just changed who I think the carver is.
2005-12-20 22:24:16
216.   natepurcell
who do you think the carver is now?
2005-12-20 22:26:41
217.   trainwreck
Well it has to be someone who knew what surgeries Kimber got...well I guess Carver could figure it out haha.
2005-12-20 22:32:39
218.   King of the Hobos
211 They need a better fact checker. David Ross was non-tendered, not Miguel Olivo

Not much that's very interesting, maybe Wade Miller, although he's hurt

2005-12-20 22:35:02
219.   dzzrtRatt
Did we really say goodbye to Weaver? Or did we just say, "not until you do a Damon."
2005-12-20 22:35:57
220.   trainwreck
How bad is Miller's injury. I think he is the best bargain out there.
2005-12-20 22:37:25
221.   trainwreck
*?
2005-12-20 22:37:30
222.   oldbear
I remember Kobe in 2000 or 2001, scored something like 50+ in 3Q's against some team.

Mavs play no defense. But its also weird that Kobe gets 62 of 95 Laker points. Its like the other players arent even doing anything out there.

I dont think Kobe is a ball hog anymore. He just plays with lazy players like Lamar Odom whom are way too passive.

Lakers seem to get it together for a few games, then lose to the Rockets at home w/o Yao Ming.

If they can pull Artest though by the deadline, they might make the playoffs.

2005-12-20 22:39:25
223.   LAT
Beth Orsh. . ., Mrs. Stern on Spike. I don't get it. Hot body, yes. Face, not so much. Talent, none.
2005-12-20 22:39:41
224.   oldbear
209. Is it Stu Lantz/Paul Sunderland? I thought they were a good team, but then I heard Sunderland got fired.....? Stu Lantz literally carried Chick in Chick's Harry Caray years!
2005-12-20 22:40:31
225.   trainwreck
Probably because she actually loves him as opposed to every other women who throws themselves at him.
2005-12-20 22:41:21
226.   trainwreck
Joel Myers now does play by play. I like his voice, what he says sometimes can be dumb haha.
2005-12-20 22:42:06
227.   LAT
222. I think alot of them, Odom, included, are just starting to get the hand of the triangle.
2005-12-20 22:42:48
228.   LAT
227 hand =hang
2005-12-20 22:45:27
229.   LAT
225 What's love got to do got to do with it?

So do you think if he lost all his $$$ she would stick by him?

Sorry too cynical tonight.

2005-12-20 22:48:05
230.   trainwreck
I think so haha. I have heard him talk about this a lot on his show. People have said what you said to him and he gets really down. I think it's different with her, because I think he is smart enough to know when a girl just wants him for his money. Call me a sucker, but I think she has true feelings for him.
2005-12-20 22:51:05
231.   Rob M
222 That game was agains Memphis on the road. Kobe had 56 in 3 quarters and sat out the 4th.
2005-12-20 22:54:27
232.   LAT
230 You must be right cause he has had some awfully hot women throw themselves at him and he stays with Beth.

On diffrent note, has anyone seen Tom Hanks picture on cover of Newsweek. Very depressing. He is looking old. Remember the Bossom Buddies days? Donna Dixon. Now there was a good looking woman with no talent.

2005-12-20 23:45:10
233.   Steve
Today was a good #)(#&)( day. $52 million down the rat hole. We got Lofton for 4. Choi is ours. Phillips is living paycheck to paycheck. We haven't signed a single crappy middle reliever. Danny Graves even has a job. I am dangerously close to conversion.
2005-12-20 23:54:24
234.   Uncle Miltie
Steve- you seem unusually cheerful, which is why I'm posting this quote from Ned

In a significant departure from former general manager Paul DePodesta, Colletti clearly values speed. The Dodgers were next to last in the National League in stolen bases and success rate last season. Furcal, who had 46 stolen bases, and Lofton stole more bases than the entire Dodger roster (58).

"The game itself is going to be more speed-oriented, more fundamental-oriented, with fewer three-run home runs," Colletti said. "That's what I predict, anyway."

2005-12-20 23:58:06
235.   Steve
LET ME ENJOY THE MOMENT!

That's code for "I'm going to tell you what you want to hear." I have a hard time believing that this team will have "fewer three-run home runs" than last year's.

2005-12-20 23:59:11
236.   Steve
And of course, we still need to work on giving up fewer three run home runs than last year. Weaver's departure should put us on the way at least.
2005-12-21 00:01:14
237.   Steve
Can anybody direct me to any studies that might suggest that Paul LoDuca is overrated offensively?
2005-12-21 00:05:16
238.   trainwreck
Well I do not want to give anything away since Midwest Blue said he was going to watch it later in the week, but that was interesting.
2005-12-21 00:13:58
239.   Kilgore Trout
Now that the Choi suspense has ended (at least for a while), what's the deal with Giovanni Carrara?

Do the Dodgers have no plans to resign him?

2005-12-21 00:17:04
240.   Uncle Miltie
I haven't seen this anywhere else (from the Daily News)

Wunsch signs: The Dodgers re-signed left-handed reliever Kelly Wunsch to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training. If he makes the major-league club Wunsch will receive a base salary of $650,000 with bonuses of $25,000 for each of 40, 50 and 60 appearances.

2005-12-21 00:18:55
241.   LAT
Watching Dare to Dream: US Woman's Soccer on HBO. While we can debate Nomar v. Choi at 1B, it will be pretty cool for my daughter (and me) to be at a Dodger game and also see the greatest woman's soccer player ever in the stands on a regular basis. Baseball and soccer in a place my daughter loves. Can't ask for much more than that.
2005-12-21 00:21:04
242.   natepurcell
whatd u think trainwreck?
2005-12-21 00:22:28
243.   natepurcell
Baseball and soccer in a place my daughter loves. Can't ask for much more than that.

shed probably ask for shawn green back in a dodger uni :)

2005-12-21 00:27:46
244.   trainwreck
Hard to say a lot without revealing anything, but definitely leaves a lot of possible story lines for next season. The Matt thing was the highlight of the show.
2005-12-21 00:29:32
245.   LAT
243. She already asked if the new GM would consider re-signing him. I had to tell her he wouldn't becasue it would be an admission that letting him go was a mistake. She asked if I was the GM would I bring him back. . .

"I think I hear your mom calling you."

2005-12-21 00:31:28
246.   natepurcell
the matt thing was really interesting. how much of a pyscho is that nazi dad though. i just couldnt believe he actually took it that far.
2005-12-21 00:32:33
247.   LAT
244. I stopped watchingNip/Tuck when Matt tried to give himself a circumcision. That was enough for me.
2005-12-21 00:32:56
248.   Bob Timmermann
Plaschke fell off the Angels bandwagon and has jumped on the Dodgers.

I still think that this is just a station wagon with a Mr. Microphone in it.

2005-12-21 00:35:19
249.   Steve
Oh oh! Contrary indicator alert! Inflation on the horizon! Sell gold! Buy bonds!
2005-12-21 00:36:18
250.   trainwreck
If a person is described as a Nazi, frankly nothing they can do at that point would shock me.
Show/Hide Comments 251-300
2005-12-21 00:40:14
251.   LAT
248. Tommy Lasorda about to be a guest on the Jimmy Kimmel show. Does Tommy have any creditability left?
2005-12-21 00:42:51
252.   LAT
Tommy looking like he hasn't missed too many meals lately. So much for the slim fast thing or the heart hospital.

"I don't get heart attacks I give 'em"

2005-12-21 00:43:56
253.   Uncle Miltie
251- looks like Tommy has spent too much time eating pasta with Ned
2005-12-21 00:44:41
254.   Uncle Miltie
252- haha, when I posted yours wasn't up.
2005-12-21 00:44:42
255.   Slipstream
From Adande's column in tomorrow's Times:

"Although the numbers say Hee-Seop Choi was better than Garciaparra the last two seasons, I'll take what Garciaparra has proven over what Choi is capable of.
As Davis said. "I don't utilize potential, I utilize ability. You don't have the potential to do something you've never done. You have the ability to do what you've done before."
Garciaparra won't hit .372 again. Lofton won't steal 75 bases, Mueller won't bat .326 with 85 RBIs.
But somewhere inside them is the muscle memory of those accomplishments. They're the same people. And there's a feeling that the Dodgers are now about names more than numbers."

Muscle memory, that's the ticket.

2005-12-21 00:45:41
256.   jasonungar05
where did they dig up that old fossil?

Nice Eric Davis rant in the new jj article in LA Times

2005-12-21 00:48:19
257.   trainwreck
Why is Eric Davis talking about our team?
2005-12-21 00:49:20
258.   natepurcell
arghhh, plaschke hypes up the jacksonville 5 in his new article.

i dont like this. our prospects are getting too much hype. if they fail to produce right away, they will be scrutinized endlessly and run out of town.

its going to be konerko x5 all over again.

2005-12-21 00:52:35
259.   LAT
Muscle memory--that's a new one. To a degree, I might agree about the value of acomplishment over potential but he lost me with the muscle memory nonsense. Not as bad as "arm angles" but close.
2005-12-21 00:55:12
260.   natepurcell
plaschke is also trying to turn the dodgers against the angels into some sort of huge cross trown bruin/trojan rivalry.

it could work if we played each other more than 6 times a year.

2005-12-21 00:56:23
261.   Steve
258 -- Somebody really needs to go back and find that article where Plaschke went on and on about how only one or two of them would even make the major leagues. I don't have free Lexis access anymore. They have only become can't miss since Colletti was hired.
2005-12-21 00:58:23
262.   Bob Timmermann
The Dodgers and Angels face off for the ultimate prize in Southern California: Carpool Lane Stickers for your car!
2005-12-21 00:59:22
263.   natepurcell
i remember that article steve. i think it was in rebuttal to depos non big trade deadline move. or something like that.

plaschke is a tool and it will take one two week slump for him to turn on laroche or guzman or martin.

2005-12-21 01:01:20
264.   trainwreck
I heard Plaschke likes to play amateur hockey. Anyone a hockey player that could checck him into the boards a few times?
2005-12-21 01:01:28
265.   LAT
Plaschke's an idiot. Most people either like both teams or like their own team and don't care about the other, espicially becasue they are not even in the same league. Bill, look at NYC, Chi, or Bay Area. Yankess don't hate Mets they just ignore them. Same for Giants. Used to be the same for Cubs but this year a bunch wagon jumped. Bill, just stick wiith the Dodger-Giant rivalry, its a sure thing.
2005-12-21 01:03:13
266.   trainwreck
Maybe my friend said street hockey, so then it would not be into boards but into a car.
2005-12-21 01:03:18
267.   natepurcell
If you don't find much exciting about a new infield featuring Bill Mueller, Rafael Furcal and Nomar Garciaparra, ask yourself this:

Would you rather have Mike Edwards, Antonio Perez and Hee-Seop Choi?

At least this year's decorations are familiar, and, if we don't like them, their short contracts or LaRoche's long swing could quickly make them distant memories

SHUT UP TOOL!!

2005-12-21 01:04:43
268.   Steve
I hate the Angels because some idiot got himself thrown out at third by thirty feet and turned Jason Repko into some kind of folk hero.
2005-12-21 01:06:23
269.   Steve
Not to mention the guy whose team Bill Plaschke said it was back in April, before they started all the losing and stuff.
2005-12-21 01:06:37
270.   trainwreck
There are some proper A's fans who hate the Giants, but not enough.
2005-12-21 01:07:01
271.   Steve
He's never seen LaRoche swing. No way.
2005-12-21 01:07:49
272.   LAT
I don't have free Lexis access anymore.

Lexis = Attorney crack. They push it hard when you're in school, send in the rep, get you hooked and then when you need it most they make you pay for it. There oughta be a law.

2005-12-21 01:09:28
273.   Steve
"That promise of a $100-million payroll has resulted in what is currently a $70-million payroll. You think they're going to spend $30 million between now and opening day? The word is that they are not allowed to spend more than $18 million this winter."

Yes, I know what you're thinking.

A two sentence paragraph!

2005-12-21 01:09:32
274.   trainwreck
Slurp up the prospects once DePo is gone. Make it look like this was all Flanders genius plan and DePo did not care about the prospects or the future.
2005-12-21 01:11:51
275.   natepurcell
i wish plaschke visits this blog. i really really wish he does.
2005-12-21 01:12:32
276.   Steve
I have never seen LaRoche swing. nate, does he have a long swing (meaning Logan White told him that) or is Plaschke just making stuff up?
2005-12-21 01:15:09
277.   Steve
"a more comfortable Steve Finley"

Sometimes, the comedy just writes itself.

2005-12-21 01:16:47
278.   natepurcell
his stance and swing is like david wright. the way he doesnt lift up his left foot (sort of like a right handed jim edmonds) is similar to wright. but so far, he hasnt produced the same results as david wright (although his lower level minor league production has been better then wright)

but yea, laroche's swing is kind of long.

2005-12-21 01:17:51
279.   Bob Timmermann
Steve,
You can search the LA Times for free with a library card from most of the major jurisdictions around here.

Of course, if you're not here, you're doomed.

2005-12-21 01:19:19
280.   natepurcell
plaschke should go all out with his next dodger article. and really go in depth about the farm and maybe talk about BAs article about jacksonville team where they compared guzman to juan gonzalez, orenduff to adam eaton, delwyn young to ray durham, chad billingsley to matt clement, martin to michael barrett, laroche to david wright, and the best one, jackson to john smoltz.
2005-12-21 01:20:45
281.   natepurcell
and broxton to bartolo colon.

i forgot who they compared loney too.

2005-12-21 01:23:51
282.   Uncle Miltie
Need should try to trade for Joel Pineiro. His value is as low as it's ever going to be. He'll make about $5 million next year and then he's a FA in 2007. Offer Choi and a prospect for Pineiro.
2005-12-21 01:24:16
283.   Steve
And they're all ours. Every one of 'em. Number of core prospects traded = 0. And we loved 'em before Plaschke, that's for sure.
2005-12-21 01:25:14
284.   Uncle Miltie
*Ned
2005-12-21 01:27:50
285.   blue2thebone
281 - I think Loney was compared to David Justice.
2005-12-21 05:33:41
286.   T Money
Regarding the Damon to the Yankees move, I wonder if Flanders is rethinking the Milton Bradley trade. What would Boston now be willing to part with for a center fielder like Milton? David Wells?
2005-12-21 05:53:21
287.   TheDictator
I am interested in seeing how Nomar handles those throws across the diamond from Furcal this season.

Glad we made defense a priority.

Did anyone see the original press release that compared Choi's defense to J.T. Snow's? Something like they were both second in the league in fielding percentage. If that means anything.

2005-12-21 05:54:23
288.   TheDictator
The original press release on MLB.com.
2005-12-21 06:00:34
289.   rageon
272 One of the first things a professor told me when I started law school was that the Lexis and Westlaw reps were crack dealers.

I'd check Westlaw, but I don't think the Times is included in their databases.

2005-12-21 06:03:08
290.   TheDictator
OK I found it. According to dodgers.com:

The South Korea native also made just two errors in 762 total chances at first base, tying him with San Francisco's J.T. Snow for the second-highest fielding percentage (.997) among all National League first baseman with 750 or more total chances.

Probably a useless stat, but given my lack of info on defensive stats it sounds good to me.

2005-12-21 06:34:17
291.   GS Allen
Does anyone know what's become of Depodesta?
2005-12-21 06:49:12
292.   jtshoe
291 He has become an agent. Choi is his first client.
2005-12-21 08:00:40
293.   dagwich
Somebody (I think Steve) was asking for some evidence that Paul LoDuca was overhyped....and then yesterday Rich Lederer at Baseball Analysts supplied the data. Among active veteran players, as a hitter LoDuca is the #1 most over-rated catcher, based on metrics like isolated discipline and isolated power.

You can use that aroung the Xmas dinner table. Should make for great conversation.

2005-12-21 08:20:57
294.   regfairfield
Here's the Plaschle quote everyone is looking for, from 9/14.

"The club is trumpeting the Jacksonville Five such that press notes from the Suns' Southern League championship series were given to writers on Tuesday. But the truth is, the Dodgers will be fortunate if two of those five players make a big-league impact."

2005-12-21 08:28:50
295.   Michael Green
Be nicer to Plaschke. He performs a service. We wouldn't know exactly what Lasorda is saying and thinking without Plaschke to transcribe for him.
2005-12-21 09:06:57
296.   slackfarmer
Chin-Feng Chen is a sad story. The guy has a career minor league slugging over .500 and gets all of 22 ABs in the bigs. Blame Tracy et al. all you want, but why didn't Colorado give this guy a flyer? I remember he cleared waivers at least once, maybe even a few times.
2005-12-21 09:15:07
297.   Blue Thrue and Thrue
291 DePo has apparently got a baby due in January. The word is he'll rejoin Beane in Oakland after the birth.
2005-12-21 09:21:55
298.   Blue Thrue and Thrue
287 "I am interested in seeing how Nomar handles those throws across the diamond from Furcal this season.

Glad we made defense a priority."

After all those years at SS, I've gotta think he knows how to handle a ball in the dirt. I know it's not that simple, but many players have made the transition.

2005-12-21 09:24:35
299.   Jon Weisman
297 - Whose word?
2005-12-21 09:35:46
300.   Blue Thrue and Thrue
299 OK, you caught me. I read that somewhere about a month ago, and I don't remember where.
Show/Hide Comments 301-350
2005-12-21 09:37:48
301.   dzzrtRatt
So: Net-net. We're not signing J.T. Snow?
2005-12-21 09:38:53
302.   regfairfield
300 If it's any consolation, I saw that too.

Assuming that Nomar is a league average first baseman defensively, the Dodgers have improved the average rate2 on the team (minus Drew and Kent) from 99.3 to 100.8. Basically, the difference between Navarro and Phillips, everyone else sort of cancels each other out.

2005-12-21 09:41:09
303.   Blue Thrue and Thrue
Sorry, I didn't mean to be a rumormonger. I actually thought I read that DePo rumor here.
2005-12-21 09:42:51
304.   Suffering Bruin
299 The word around town, of course! Jeez, Jon, I thought you used to be a journalist. :)

And yes, I recall reading he might be join the A's and I think their source was about as good as mine and BTT's.

2005-12-21 09:44:19
305.   slackfarmer
302 Given the fuzziness of defensive stats, I'd say a 99.3 is pretty much the same as a 100.8 (or, in stat-ese, the difference between the two is statistically insignificant).
2005-12-21 09:53:11
306.   Bob Timmermann
I thought it was "the word on the street". That's unimpeachable isn't it?

Or if you prefer you could read it in "The Word" which was the name of my high school paper. I was the editor in 1982.

2005-12-21 09:57:09
307.   Eric Enders
Bob's job as editor must have been easy if each issue contained only one word.

In an interesting coincidence, I was editor of my high school's paper from 1993-95 -- called "Sabre." (My efforts to convince school administrators to drop the extraneous "E," however, were unsuccessful...)

2005-12-21 10:22:26
308.   Bob Timmermann
We did the paper almost weekly. And before it was all done with desktop publishing.

The paper got its name because I went to John F. Kennedy High and we had a line from the inaugural address on the masthead "Let the word go forth to a new generation, a torch has been passed..."

Or something like that.

2005-12-21 10:55:22
309.   underdog
I'm glad the Dodgers re-signed Wunsch. I hope it makes it back. We could use some lefty help in the bullpen. As long as he can keep his footing in the bullpen next year...
2005-12-21 11:03:19
310.   Ken Arneson
I did a weekly paper in elementary school. Turning the ditto machine is a much more satisfying experience than pressing a "print" button. And these poor youngsters these days will never know the scent of that purple ink.
2005-12-21 11:31:03
311.   Blue Thrue and Thrue
You went to Kennedy, Bob? We were rivals. I was at Granada through '80 (the joyous Elway years).

For all I know, I may have keyed your car.

2005-12-21 11:54:38
312.   bhsportsguy
Base on Tony Jackson's reporting, would you offer Weaver 3 years at 9MM a year with a team option for the 4th.
2005-12-21 11:56:18
313.   bearlurker
308, 311--Didn't Stuart Gray go to Kennedy? Is is true that UCLA took Gray over Ewing, or is that an urban legend?
2005-12-21 12:15:44
314.   Midwest Blue
312 I'd rather give Garland 4/44, backloaded, and be done with it. Trade Choi and a couple of prospects.
2005-12-21 14:44:04
315.   overkill94
Why would the white sox want Choi? They already have Thome and Konerko.

I think I'd rather have Weaver than Garland. I think last year's high home runs allowed total was a bit of a fluke so we'd be getting Weaver while his value is lower than it should be. 3 years, 27 million wouldn't scare me at all.

2005-12-21 15:04:41
316.   Blu2
Wonder if he'd go for a 4/36 with the right to opt out after two years, ala Drew?
2005-12-21 15:11:37
317.   Linkmeister
I just read the Daily News story about Choi, and one thing struck me. Whether it's true there was little interest in him or not, he just got a 100% raise from last year. So maybe that played a part in his decision to sign.

Ya think?

2005-12-21 21:01:11
318.   Andrew Shimmin
310- I'm 25, but, thanks to a luddite sixth grade teacher, I too know the joy of ditto machine ink. Mmm, good times.
2005-12-21 21:07:04
319.   Andrew Shimmin
293- That post is here: http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2005/12/oops_here_it_is.php
Lots of fun. LoDuca didn't make the 2005 OOPs (Over-rated Offensive Players) team, but he's on the All-Active Career OOPs team:

C: Paul LoDuca
1B: Darin Erstad
2B: Mark Grudzielanek
SS: Jimmy Rollins
3B: Joe Randa
OF: Mark Kotsay
OF: B.J. Surhoff
OF: Quinton McCracken

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