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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

Slumps and the Slumping Slumpers Who Slump Them
2006-04-05 10:37
by Jon Weisman

I know what you're thinking ... not another Jose Gonzalez story.

Nevertheless, here's my latest on SI.com, focusing on the morbid fascination we can have with a batting average that approaches .000:

Back in 1991, savvy supermarket shoppers were checking the expiration date on 26-year-old Jose Gonzalez, who had spent parts of six seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Thanks to 10 extra-base hits among his 99 at-bats the season before, Gonzalez passed the offseason sniff test.

But then, it got nasty. As Retrosheet.org helps us recall, it wasn't until late June that Gonzalez reached base once. Halfway through the season, Gonzalez was 0 for 28 with two walks. He was batting .000 -- not that you'd know it if you were at the games, because the scoreboard at Dodger Stadium (out of pure coincidence, no doubt) became incapable of displaying batting averages at the exact moment Gonzalez stepped to the plate.

No, it couldn't have felt good for Gonzalez. And in fact, his career in Los Angeles was about to end.

Such is the worrisome tale for every slumping baseball player who tells himself that he just needs to ride out a slow start to the year. The opening of the baseball season usually brings talk of rebirth and optimism. But for a few players every year, it becomes a nightmare played out in three digits on the scoreboard.

.050
.048
.045

Can they take it? While we're asking, can you take it?

Slighty related (but slightly dated): ".000 My Hero"

Comments (119)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2006-04-05 10:46:03
1.   Marty
I have to confess, I don't remember Jose Gonzalez.
2006-04-05 10:49:50
2.   Sam DC
Whoa -- reporting! Must've been fun.

That said, Washington, D.C. may file a formal complaint agains this article for not covering the travails of its own Cristian Guzman.

2006-04-05 10:56:10
3.   Jon Weisman
2- South Coast bias.
2006-04-05 10:56:51
4.   Jacob L
Jose Gonzalez made what was, to the day, the greatest catch I've ever seen in person. He was in center, and the ball was hit to on a line to the left center gap. He caught it on a dead-run, full extension dive, with the tip of his glove.

For years afterward, my brother and I would toss tennis balls of the 2 story wall of our house to recreate the "Jose Gonzalez."

2006-04-05 10:58:00
5.   blue22
1 - He appeared in 4 of the 5 games in the '88 WS, getting 2 at-bats. Mostly filled in as a defensive replacement for Mike Marshall.

He was a "Stuntman".

2006-04-05 11:01:07
6.   blue22
My selective memory told me that he started one of those WS games, but retrosheet proved otherwise.

I have a specific memory of the announcer (I thought it was Costas in a pregame segment) saying that this may be the single worst lineup in WS history. For me, Jose Gonzalez was always the embodiement of that comment. Oh well...yet another childhood memory eradicated by the internet.

2006-04-05 11:03:00
7.   D4P
For me, Jose Gonzalez was always the embodiement of that comment

Along with Stubbs, Griffin, Hamilton, Marshall, Hatcher, Davis, etc.

2006-04-05 11:06:47
8.   blue22
7 - Even in that company, Jose Gonzalez was in a class by himself. Well...maybe Alfredo Griffin.
2006-04-05 11:17:26
9.   trainwreck
You would think Derek Lowe could have focused better last year with all the adderall he is taking.
2006-04-05 11:18:23
10.   TheRedMenace
Did the Dodgers mysterious scoreboard virus materialize during Drew's struggles last April?
2006-04-05 11:19:40
11.   bhsportsguy
be gentle, this is one of the first jokes I recall someone telling me,

A youngster goes to his first ballgame and afterwards he tells his family all about it, he tells them how big the ballpark is and how he liked the hot dog and popcorn and then he tells them how his seats were way at the top, in the last section of seats. But he tells them how everyone was so concerned about whether or not he had a good view from where he was because just before the game started, everyone stood up and faced him and then asked him out loud..."Jose can you see...."

I know its a long way to go for that joke but since we are talking about Jose Gonzalez, I figured what other chance am I going to get.

BTW, that joke was told to me in my Cub Scout days long before the age of PC.

2006-04-05 11:25:09
12.   Marty
Rob over at 6-4-2 reports Rotoworld speculating that Gagne is serving his suspension now to possibly rest his arm/hide an injury. I kinda was thinking the same thing.

Anybody else?

2006-04-05 11:30:24
13.   Linkmeister
11 I think Bill Dana first told that joke in his "Jose Jimenez" incarnation, which would make it the mid-1960s era (Cenozoic for all you younger folk).
2006-04-05 11:31:54
14.   Jon Weisman
10 - I think they were on the road.

12 - I don't have much doubt that his health played into the timing. Whether it's a serious health issue, I don't know.

2006-04-05 11:32:54
15.   trainwreck
I would assume Gagne served his suspension because it was going to rain so he probably would not pitch anyways in these past two games. Also they might have had to play a double header and Gagne is not going to pitch in back to back games. He is not Matsuzaka.
2006-04-05 11:33:04
16.   Bob Timmermann
6
Jose Gonzalez didn't start Game 4 of the 1988 World Series however. He was a defensive replacement for Mike Davis!

Did you know Mike Davis stole TWO bases in the 1988 World Series? The first one was sort of lost in the midst of a bigger event.

2006-04-05 11:38:39
17.   D4P
Did you know Mike Davis stole TWO bases in the 1988 World Series?

The bigger surprise is that he got on base at least twice...

2006-04-05 11:51:07
18.   Sam DC
Jim Callis from espn.com chat:

Joe (Syracuse): Jim Is James Loney all of a sudden a candidate for NL ROY? Will he stay on the roster once Mr. Hamm returns?

Jim: (2:09 PM ET ) Anyone who plays regularly is going to be a candidate by default. I like Loney, but this is more of a temporary move (though Nomar probably will get hurt again, won't he?) If he stays up all year, I don't think Loney would produce as much as a Jeremy Hermida or Prince Fielder, though.

2006-04-05 11:51:20
19.   Johnson
16 I think I only remember the one that was sort of lost in the midst of the bigger event - and that only because I remember an interview with Gibson where he said the pressure was a lot less after Davis stole second, because a single would do the job - he didn't have to hit a home run. I don't remember it happening at the time. Then again, I was only 14.
2006-04-05 11:51:59
20.   TheRedMenace
18 - Mike Davis at bat in Game 1 the 1988 World Series is almost as impressive as the one that followed.
2006-04-05 11:52:35
21.   Bob Timmermann
Mike Davis's walk against Eckersley in Game 1 was the true miracle of 1988.

When I talked to Chris Kahrl about that at a SABR convention, you could hear his screams from miles around.

2006-04-05 11:56:01
22.   Sam DC
Two more from Callis, or click over to espn.com to read it all (including the Russ Martin question). The first is just a reminder of where me might've been; the second is just interesting/enjoyable to read such a frank non-pc answer.

David (Phoenix): What are the odds the Diamondbacks can actually dump Shawn Green's contract to make room for Carlos Quentin?

Jim: (2:19 PM ET ) There's $19.5 million remaining on Green's deal, so not likely. Arizona will probably have to eat most of that to move Green, which they will want to do soon because Quentin is ready.

. . .

Max (NJ): Hi Jim. When it comes to a pitchers development which is more important, his stuff or his make-up (baseball IQ)? Thanks.

Jim: (2:43 PM ET ) I'd vote for stuff over makeup. Both are important, but I'd rather have a dumb guy with a great arm than a great guy with a mediocre arm. . . .

2006-04-05 11:56:38
23.   FelixP
Didn't John Shelby have a huge slump during the 89 season? something that included him going 0 for 9 or something during that long long gave vs. the Astros?
2006-04-05 12:01:32
24.   Sam DC
Ouch -- Callis also says he'd rather have Matt Chain than Sir Chad.
2006-04-05 12:01:44
25.   Sam DC
Cain.
2006-04-05 12:07:52
26.   Uncle Miltie
Ryan Freel is treating Michael Barrett like Jason Phillips.
2006-04-05 12:09:49
27.   underdog
4 I actually remember that catch! Poor Jose, we hardly knew ye.

Or maybe we did.

"My hero, Zero, such a funny little hero,
But till you came along, we counted on our fingers and toes..."

18 "Mr. Hamm" still cracks me up.

2006-04-05 12:10:03
28.   FelixP
here's the game: http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B06030HOU1989.htm
0 for 10. poor john.
2006-04-05 12:14:55
29.   Daniel Zappala
One of my favorite moments of the '88 world series occured when Mike Davis (our starter at DH) hit a 2-run home run to put the Dodgers up 4-1 in Game 5. I had great seats, courtesy of a Stanford friend whose Dad worked for SI, right behind Orlando Cepeda. Storm Davis gave him three straight balls, and I turned to my friend and said -- "Watch, Lasorda lets him swing 3-0 and he hits a home run." Sure enough, next pitch ...

It had to be really demoralizing for the great Canseco-McGwire team to see Hatcher and Davis hitting home runs in that game. And yes, I tell this story all the time, but, hey, it is the only World Series game I have ever attended.

Jon, now that you do some writing for SI, I don't suppose you get free tickets? :-)

2006-04-05 12:15:59
30.   Sam DC
More pillaging of chats from other sites. Pity the poor Nationals; on a chat w/Post beat writer Barry Svrluga, one chatter (?) suggested the cure to the Nationals' woes would be trading Soriano for Cliff Floyd. My brain hurts thinking about the ways that is an absurd proposal.

The next chatter suggested that the WBC be made into a game for PS2.

2006-04-05 12:19:07
31.   D4P
It had to be really demoralizing for the great Canseco-McGwire team to see Hatcher and Davis hitting home runs in that game.

If I remember correctly, Orel outhit Canseco-McGwire 3-2.

2006-04-05 12:24:55
32.   ToyCannon
Jose Gonzales, Candido Maldonado, Bill Ashly, Franklin Stubbs, and Jose Offerman the names all run together for me as players I yearned to be successfull only to dissapoint. I really thought Candido was going to be a star and would be our Roberto Clemente. He did end up being a decent masher of LHP but a far cry from my hopes.
2006-04-05 12:26:47
33.   Daniel Zappala
34 Yep. Another amazing thing, the Dodgers twice had a starter go 2 innings or less and still won in 5 games.
2006-04-05 12:27:16
34.   Daniel Zappala
31
2006-04-05 12:30:38
35.   Uncle Miltie
Joe Sheehan is on ESPN News right now and he predicted that the Blue Jays poor infield defense will give up an additional 40+ runs. You see oldbear, defense is important. I'm not saying that I want a bunch slap hitters at power positions, but moving a guy like Jose Cruz to CF is not worth the offensive production at that position because his defense in CF is horrendous. While Bill Mueller is a pretty decent player, not having power at either of the infield corners is going to hurt the Dodgers. Hopefully, Laroche will be ready next year.
2006-04-05 12:32:16
36.   blue22
31 - http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B10160LAN1988.htm

Hershiser gave up 3 hits (all to Dave Parker), yet easily made up for those with the 3 hits he collected himself.

The shutout was just gravy.

2006-04-05 12:36:22
37.   blue22
I seem to remember hearing that "old friend" Jose Gonzalez is no longer with us. Can anyone confirm or deny this?
2006-04-05 12:45:50
38.   rjc41276
21. Am I the only one that noticed the transformation of "Chris" Kahrl into "Christina" Kahrl on the BP site? What is that all about?

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=4926

2006-04-05 12:48:17
39.   Marty
I'm guessing this has already been covered, but I read that Kris and Anna Benson are (figuratively) reuniting.
2006-04-05 12:50:38
40.   jasonungar05
Eck had given up 11 walks and 5hr all year.
2006-04-05 12:56:10
41.   Bob Timmermann
https://griddle.baseballtoaster.com/archives/341106.html
2006-04-05 12:56:38
42.   regfairfield
38 http://tinyurl.com/rfjon
2006-04-05 13:01:35
43.   rjc41276
42. Uh....wow. BTW, I actually found some pictures:

http://tinyurl.com/epkd4

2006-04-05 13:05:27
44.   Marty
43 One of the Wachowski brothers is on the same path.
2006-04-05 13:10:49
45.   Bob Timmermann
Whether it's Chris or Christina, she is still upset over Mike Davis's walk in 1988.
2006-04-05 13:33:27
46.   screwballin
43 Wow. I'd just assumed that she went by Chris but switched to Christine to keep people from assuming she's a guy.

She's one of my favorite baseball writers, regardless. Laugh out loud funny on a regular basis.

2006-04-05 13:36:28
47.   Daniel Zappala
Is Horacio Ramirez (Braves starter for tonight) really their "number 3" starter? If so, maybe the Dodgers' pitching doesn't look so bad. Maybe this is why the NL is considered so inferior to the AL.
2006-04-05 13:37:59
48.   regfairfield
47 Bear in mind they lost Hampton, and have something against John Thompson.
2006-04-05 13:43:50
49.   Sam DC
Old friend (hey, everyone's a friend, right?) Guillermo Mota in for Cleveland, tied 3-3 in the 8th against ChiSox. One out, runners at the corners.
2006-04-05 13:57:55
50.   Sam DC
K, 4-3 inning over.
Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2006-04-05 14:29:04
51.   Bob Timmermann
Spare frames in the Windy City between Cleveland and the White Sox.
2006-04-05 14:39:10
52.   Sam DC
May I just say that the Nationals' decision to have Vice President Dick Cheney throw out the first pitch at the April 11 home opener greatly complicates my efforts to bring both 1 and 5 year old to the game (although our seats are quite high up and I am not particularly worried about catching any birdshot). Security, security, security. Headache, headache, headache.
2006-04-05 14:40:12
53.   bigcpa
43,46 Fascinating. I noticed the name change earlier this year and actually went hunting for pictures. I just wondered what a saber-chick looked like. :) Don't we have a Christina who posts here?
2006-04-05 14:55:19
54.   Jacob L
52 - May I just say that the Nats decision to have a politician with sub 20% approval throw out the first pitch is at least as questionable as their choice of starting shortstop?

I hope that doesn't cross the line re: political posts, but what can I tell ya?

2006-04-05 15:03:14
55.   Nate Maxwell
47 Horacio is number three by virtue of being left-handed. He was also our only other pitcher besides Smoltz to throw 200 innings last year, so he gets a few points for that. No one really thinks he's our third best starter. I expect Davies to be better, and Sosa to be either a lot better or a little better than Ramirez. Thomson would probably be better, but I have a feeling he's gonna wind up getting traded.

As I said yesterday, I would probably take Chuck James over Horacio right now, but Bobby wanted a lefty starter with some major league experience, and Horacio is basically the only guy in our organization that fits that description, so he got the spot in the middle of the rotation. I don't know if that makes good sense, but that's what happened. I would have to believe that if he tanks early in the year, and James is pitching well out of the pen, then Ramirez might lose his job in the rotation, but I guess we'll see.

2006-04-05 15:08:36
56.   natepurcell
braves should go with something like this
hudson
smoltz
sosa
davies
james

thompsons had arm soreness this spring right?

2006-04-05 15:09:11
57.   dzzrtRatt
54 Don't pretty much all politicians have low approval ratings nowadays? Who could they get to throw out the first ball who wouldn't get booed by at least 75 percent of the crowd? I can't think of anyone, at least no one who's currently still alive.

P.S. this is a completely non-partisan comment.

2006-04-05 15:11:34
58.   regfairfield
56 You'd have Atlanta's version of Kaz Ishii as your third starter?
2006-04-05 15:23:44
59.   natepurcell
to be fair, he did have a sub 3 era last year. i would probably start him there.
2006-04-05 15:29:46
60.   Nate Maxwell
56 Yeah, Thomson had some sort of arm soreness the last week or so of spring. That supposedly put the trade talks that were swirling about him on hold, which is why he's now in the pen. I believe they want to show that he is healthy by throwing him out of the pen and then trade him. I'm not sure what they want for him. Craig Wilson came up a lot that last week or two before Thomson's arm trouble came out.

I'd rather keep him and use him as the third starter because I'm not sure that Sosa won't regress a decent amount this year. Even he does, I still think he'll be better than horacio, so the rotation that you just listed would work for me if thomson gets traded.

2006-04-05 15:31:22
61.   TheRedMenace
59 - Are you talking about Dick Cheney? I knew he was a keen shot, but I had no idea he had that kind of arm.
2006-04-05 15:37:25
62.   Bob Timmermann
Did Bush get booed in Cincinnati? I would doubt that.
All politicians know they run the risk of getting booed when they are at a sporting event. The only exception may be for someone who is newly elected and in a honeymoon period of sorts. Bush got cheers at the 2001 World Series.

I don't think I've ever heard booing as loud as I did at the 1994 World Cup match at the Rose Bowl when FIFA had Pete Wilson (fresh off the passage of Prop 187) make some sort of opening speech. I believe it was a Romania vs. Colombia match.

But Wilson gave his little speech and kicked a ball I believe.

At Dodger games, I've heard boos for Sam Yorty and Tom Bradley. I don't think I ever went to a game where Riordan or James Hahn were introduced.

Did Antonio Villaraigosa get cheers?

2006-04-05 15:40:11
63.   Xeifrank
Bob, how's that new scorebook of yours working out? Got it broken in yet?
vr, Xei
2006-04-05 15:42:53
64.   Bob Timmermann
It's much bigger than the old one, so I have to get used to the heft. It already got used this year at the WBC. This will be its 2006 MLB debut.
2006-04-05 15:45:03
65.   blue22
62 - Bush got cheers at the 2001 World Series.

Wasn't that a special circumstance unrelated to his newly elected status? That was a pretty emotionally patriotic time.

2006-04-05 15:45:45
66.   natepurcell
lol weaver... first two pitches.. double, bas hit.

looks like a long day for him.

2006-04-05 15:46:52
67.   D4P
62
Sounded to me as if Bush was cheered in Cincinnati.

I heard that Democrats holding tickets were not let into the game...

2006-04-05 15:48:06
68.   D4P
64
Bob is scoring at home...?
2006-04-05 15:49:44
69.   natepurcell
double off the wall by sexson... ouch weaver...
2006-04-05 15:50:42
70.   Steve
Just another day at the ballpark for Weaver.
2006-04-05 15:52:02
71.   Bob Timmermann
I haven't scored at home since the 1987 World Series.

But I did go to the March 15 WBC game at Angel Stadium between Japan and Korea.

I was debating whether to write "JB Lee" or "Lee JB" as the scoreboard indicated.

2006-04-05 15:54:52
72.   Bob Timmermann
And so tonight, should I go with "A Jones" and "C Jones" or "Jones A" and "Jones C".

Or maybe a formal "L Jones"

2006-04-05 15:56:18
73.   D4P
And if you go with "L Jones," should you also go with "D Drew"?
2006-04-05 16:06:34
74.   Bob Timmermann
I could be that L/C Jones may not play tonight. He left last night's game early.

Which I guess means he doens't get a free ticket for a game on May 10 or May 22.

2006-04-05 16:10:12
75.   jasonungar05
old friend Update: Beltre has stranded seven runners in two games as his season is starting much like last year's disaster.

Beltre struck out looking with two on Tuesday before striking out swinging with the bases loaded. He added a third strikeout later in the game.

Of course if he was in LA still he would be 7-7 with 3hr and 7 steaks..

2006-04-05 16:11:27
76.   ScoobyGoo
Does anyone have any idea if two people can be logged into a single mlb.tv account at once? My brother and I split the price over an account but we have no idea if we can both use it at the same time
2006-04-05 16:15:40
77.   Curtis Lowe
76- Sorry to be the one to tell you this but no.
2006-04-05 16:18:25
78.   natepurcell
rollins doubles... 38 game hitting streak!
2006-04-05 16:19:58
79.   fanerman
This belongs in yesterday's thread but nobody will read it so I'll just say it here. Back to the Simpsons and "Talkin' Softball", I imagine the more hardcore Simpsons fans that have all 7 seasons currently out on DVD and have seen every commentary on every episode (...ahem, like me) will know that the writers specifically said that it was a parody and they were quite happy to get Terry Cashman to sing it just like he sang the original.
2006-04-05 16:21:16
80.   ScoobyGoo
95% of Simpsons references go completely unnoticed, but are still for some reason completely funny
2006-04-05 16:25:10
81.   dzzrtRatt
71 I haven't scored at home since the 1987 World Series.

Was there supposed to be a rim shot after that?

2006-04-05 16:27:13
82.   bhsportsguy
81 - Now's that's funny.
2006-04-05 16:36:38
83.   Vishal
[77] darn, but that's good to know.

[78] i'm rooting for him to break 56.

2006-04-05 16:39:31
84.   Marty
I'd like to see him get past Rose's 44 at least.
2006-04-05 16:43:10
85.   natepurcell
todays lineup

Furcal, SS

Cruz, LF

Drew, RF

Kent, 2B

Saenz, 1B

Mueller, 3B

Alomar, C

Repko, CF

O. Perez, P

alomars the backup catcher..right? right...?

2006-04-05 16:45:46
86.   Daniel Zappala
Home run, Tim Salmon.
2006-04-05 16:46:50
87.   regfairfield
You know how much pressure there is on the third day of the season.

Besides Alomar is hitting .200, while Navarro is hitting .000.

2006-04-05 16:46:58
88.   MartinBillingsley31
85

Grady said alomar and perez work good together, and that alomar will be perez's personal catcher.

2006-04-05 16:47:05
89.   blue22
He's OP's "personal catcher". So I guess Alomar catches all of OP's starts (~20% of ab's right there) or when the pressure of the moment is too much for poor little Dionner to handle (Opening Day, first road game, when his baby daughter is in the crowd, televised games, inter-divisional games, etc.).

Mustn't rush the future backup catcher, ya know.

2006-04-05 16:47:32
90.   D4P
85
I think Alomar is supposedly going to be Odalis' personal catcher.
2006-04-05 16:48:26
91.   Steve
Why is Repko hitting eighth? Doesn't anyone know how to make up a lineup around here? :)
2006-04-05 16:48:46
92.   D4P
And even at his worst, isn't Repko a better hitter these days than Alomar? If so, why is Alomar ahead of him again in the lineup?
2006-04-05 16:49:15
93.   D4P
Ugh. I'm a little slow today...
2006-04-05 16:49:51
94.   natepurcell
ah i forgot about the personal catcher business. it makes sense now.. sort of.
2006-04-05 16:51:22
95.   regfairfield
It could be worse. The Angels have both Rob Quinlan and Dallas McPherson (in AAA), and Edgardo Alfonso is starting at third.
2006-04-05 16:52:21
96.   natepurcell
at least the angels are letting kotchman play against lefties.
2006-04-05 16:52:35
97.   Steve
The Angels are scrap-tacular.
2006-04-05 16:53:06
98.   Andrew Shimmin
Xavier Nady is the bomb.
2006-04-05 16:54:27
99.   regfairfield
98 Right now losing Wily Mo Pena and David Delluci on my fantasy team doesn't feel so bad.
2006-04-05 16:55:05
100.   Steve
Who is this Jose Lopez guy?
Show/Hide Comments 101-150
2006-04-05 16:55:11
101.   Bob Timmermann
81

My comment about scoring at home was literal, not metaphorical or euphemistic.

Sadly.

2006-04-05 16:56:58
102.   Vishal
[98] i like nady too. go bears!
2006-04-05 16:59:11
103.   Vishal
[101] it would be REALLY sad if your comment was indeed euphemistic. unless you just do your business away from home, but that seems awfully inconvenient.
2006-04-05 17:01:14
104.   Linkmeister
Did anyone else hear Orel talking about Rollins's hitting with his elbow in? He may have been right, but it sounded funny to hear a pitcher talking about the finer points of hitting.
2006-04-05 17:03:10
105.   natepurcell
homerun skippy sdhumaker!
2006-04-05 17:04:00
106.   Andrew Shimmin
Did LoDuca shave his head? If not, he's got a pretty severe fade going. He also threw out a runner at second. Jose Guillen may be planning to rob a bank after the game. It's the weirdest looking scarf I've ever seen, at any rate.
2006-04-05 17:09:24
107.   blue22
105 - I thought that was a nickname for Eckstein or something...until I looked at gamecast and saw "Homerun - Skippy Schudemaker".

Who is this now?

2006-04-05 17:10:44
108.   blue22
er...Schumaker.
2006-04-05 17:11:50
109.   natepurcell
hes a AAAA outfielder getting his shot because the cardinals outfield situation is worse then ours.
2006-04-05 17:12:09
110.   blue22
Wouldn't you know, he's from UCSB. That's 3 Gauchos in the majors now (at least when Church is recalled).

4 if you count Barry Zito.

2006-04-05 17:13:30
111.   blue22
109 - You aren't impressed with the Cards' corner OF combo of Encarnacion and Taguchi? That's got division winner written all over it.
2006-04-05 17:15:47
112.   natepurcell
im actually more impressed that larussa has the guts to keep trotting encarnacion out there in the 2 spot in the lineup.
2006-04-05 17:16:06
113.   D4P
Skippy Schumaker gets a 12 on the Scrappy Name Index (which runs from 1 to 10).
2006-04-05 17:19:27
114.   Woody
What about "Moonlight Graham"? I know he didn't play for the Dodgers, but he never even got an AB. At least he got to wear a major league uniform and sit on a major league bench and stand on the field.
2006-04-05 17:25:13
115.   natepurcell
pujols with another homerun.

the man is machine!

2006-04-05 17:34:02
116.   Uncle Miltie
"It seems to me that the Nationals no longer want Ryan Church around, ever since he suffered the toe injury last year. Why don't the Nationals just trade him?
-- Vince, A, Denver

I think the Nationals want Church to be part of the organization. In fact, Church's No. 1 fan is general manager Jim Bowden. However, many in the organization have heard enough of Church's excuses, especially when it comes to his body.

For example, Church said he was run down during Spring Training. People in the organization were stunned when they found out about that particular statement. The organization is hoping that Church will get mentally tougher in the Minor Leagues.

I also don't see the Nationals trading Church unless they get something phenomenal in return."

Sounds like JD Drew...we'll take him.

How do these trades sound
Izturis (all star, gold glover) and Tomko for Livan Hernandez and Ryan Church
Izturis for Scott Baker or Jason Kubel

Any other ideas?

2006-04-05 19:30:26
117.   gvette
The only thing worse than watching Jose Gonzales play in the late 8o's/early 90's was having to hear Lasorda try to defend him by launching into his "This guy is a FIVE TOOL player" speech.

Other "FIVE TOOL" Dodger prospects of similar fates as Gonzales--- Karim Garcia,,Mark Bradley... Not to mention perennial prospects Angel Pena and Garey Ingram.

2006-04-13 12:07:10
118.   regfairfield
115 He's about half as valuable as Chris Shelton, who hit his seventh home run today. He's out OPSing Pujols by about .600.
2006-04-13 12:08:42
119.   regfairfield
115 Wait, Pujold didn't hit a home run.

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