Tomko just lost one of his primary competitors for the HR title, Eric Milton is gone for a month with knee surgery

So how many hits will Chad Tracy get today?

Going to the game today to see this quality match-up. Ned must be peeing his pants with excitment at the prospect of two ex-SF pitchers matching up today. Its hard to figure which one is worse. Generally I would say Ortiz is good to give up five runs in three innings or foue innings but this is the Dodger offense and Ortiz's numbers in DS are pretty good.

How long until we call up Billingsley, and send Seo down?

I'm off to the game today also.

2003 I was a perfect 7-0.

2004 I was 1-12, and fully believe the game they won was due to the fact that I left early. The next game I went to, Gagne lost the game to the Marlins. Unbelievable.

2005 was half and half.

Here's to hoping that pattern continues and we go undefeated this year.

3. Wow, the spelling, sentence structure and typos in that post are worse than ususal. One too many vodkas last night.

"Hola, Darren? Estoy Antonio Osuna. I sympathize, my friend..."

For more than a decade, there have been suspicions about the initial blowout, the first Tommy John surgery after a half-season in the Dodger bullpen, and the long-term effect it had on what agent Scott Boras called "the best college pitcher I've ever seen."

Dreifort held a copy of his 1994 game log, his rookie season. Two innings one day in mid-April, three innings two days later. Nine appearances in 13 days in late April and early May. When Lasorda called, he went. Fellow relievers advised him to refuse. By late June, he was in the minor leagues. Nine months later, he had packed his pajamas and gone to see Jobe.

http://tinyurl.com/ead5o

[5] i was at that game in 2004. lenny harris, right?

Marty, the food at Wilshire was pretty good, not great. I had an unusual appetizer; a panko (Japanese bread crumbs) fried egg with lentals. It was so weird I had to give it a try. It turned out to be pretty bland. My wife had scallops as an appetizer. They were very good. Other people had the beet salad which was fairly pedestrian and the hamachi which was good.

As for entrees I had the braised boneless short-ribs with onion mashed potatoes. It was excellent. My wife had the salmon which I didn't like, she did however. Others had the halibut which was bland and the pork chop which was really good but a little over cooked.

The deserts were unremarkable but we didn't order very well. Cookie sampler and sorbet sampler.

The service was very good. The restaurant itself is beautifully designed and the people were reasonably hip, although not a young crowd: 35yrs+ (a good thing at my age). (I'm sure Nate and some of the other youngans are thinking "reasonably hip" and "35+" that's an oxymoron) They have a large back patio which is the place to be in warm weather. All in all, I would give it a 7 out of 10. It was pretty expensive so someone else might expect better.

Oh yeah, and a star sighting too. Mrs. Carole Brady at the very next table.

That was the one. I remember really starting to worry when LoDuca came up. I headed to the exit to smoke. Saw Dukie work the walk. Went outside the gate to try to reverse the jinx that was me attending that year. It was too late.

Normally I'm a rational and unsuperstitious person, but when it comes to baseball...well, you know.

So how many hits will Chad Tracy get today?

with Tomko pitching the better question would be: "how many home runs will Chad Tracy hit today?"

4 Weren't you claiming that Seo was going to be awesome just two weeks ago?

It's still a very small sample size. You really shouldn't be changing any of your evaluations this early.

No Nomar in the lineup today. It's understandable, he did play one game in a row. They're overworking the poor guy.

Today you can watch Texas and Tampa Bay on Extra Innings! I know people here are wild about those teams.

Two years ago, during the NHL playoffs, when my cable system shared the Extra Inning channels with NHL Center Ice, I would get some free hockey.

But they fixed that this year. I don't know why they made me watch all those unimportant regular season games though.

Morning people>
Where is 'inside the dodgers'?
Many thanks!

There should be a link to it on the home page of dodgers.com

[16] there's a link to it here on dodger thoughts.

11.

What's Tracy hitting against the dodgers, .500?

Bonds will be sitting out today, but no doubt the Giants will win that game in spite of themselves.

When the Giants house of cards tumbles, it won't be pretty.

In his career, Tracy is hitting .282 against the Dodgers.

20.

Really? I thought he was hitting better against us, because he always seems to kill us.

Why no Nomar? Anyone know?

This is mildly interesting:

Ortiz has ERA of 6.10
Tomko has ERA of 5.82

However, Tomko has lifetime ERA of 2.83 at Dodger Stadium.

Ortiz ERA is 2.74 in his last seven starts at Dodger Stadium.

Who would have though that today's match-up presented any prospect of a pitchers duel.

Nomar says that was the plan.

19- I am glad that I am not the only who realizes the Giants victories have been pure luck. If Alou manages the way he has been managing all season then the only way the Giants will win the west will be if the regular baseball season is a hoax rigged up in Vegas.

Lets hope repko knocks the cover off the ball today, so ned and grady think twice about starting lofton ever again.
Its getting to the point where our season hangs in the balance of repko (a little exageration but still).

Anybody watching the Colorado/SF game? The Rockies announcers are pretty sure that the second HBP was intentional, too. I'm not so sure. I just can't figure out why he would do that.

25 Something is seriously wrong if you think Repko is the answer.

I mean, I don't want Lofton, but I'd much rather see him than Repko. 47 at bats this year is not enough to convince me that he's not the same guy with a .280 on base percentage.

After 48 at bats last year, Repko's isolated stats were actually better (.110 patience, .271 slug versus .084 patience, .234 slug) so it's entirely possible that Repko is just getting lucky right now.

16/ 17
Thanks, guys!
Last dumb question (for today) -
how do I reference a contributor (like the two above) and highlight it blue?

27

Repko is not the answer, but when it comes to a choice of repko or lofton, i'll take repko.
Repko has more power, and last i checked we were ranked 14th in the NL in slg.
Plus usually repko bats 7th, not today tho.
Lofton allways bats 2nd.

Matt Morris, along with Alou and Righetti were kicked out in the first inning in Denver after Morris hit Marrero with a pitch. I'm not sure of the whole context.

Looking up Repko's BABIP and Line Drive Percentage statistics, he is definately getting lucky, He has a .389 BABIP and a 26.3 line drive percentage (26.8% lead baseball last year). Line drives percentage is almost entirely luck (this is in the Hardball Times Annual) and this and BABIP are very closesly tied. If his line drive percentage starts to drop towards the 15.8% he put up last year, he'll be the same player that we were trying to boot off the roster a month ago.

I surely hope Furcal and Kent start hitting soon. The former is at .243 and the latter at .220. I'm beginning to wonder whether the line you always see in the brochures about financial products is holding true for those two:

"Past performance is no indicator of future results."

Off to the game. . .
Going to miss the first inning but a wife and two daughters out the door on time is always a challenge.

32 Fortunately, Furcal always sucks in April (OPS is about .100 points under his career norm) so this is probably expected.

29 There comes a time when power isn't worth it. Namely when it comes attached to a sub .300 OBP. I wouldn't want Tony Batista anywhere near this team either.

28 Put the post number in brackets like this:

"[##]"

33
It's tough enough with just a wife.

Jim Thome might get one more chance to tie a record held by Kenny Lofton. Thome has scored a run in 17 straight games, but hasn't scored today (and the White Sox have seven runs too!)

Kenny Lofton and Red Rolfe hold the AL record with scoring runs in 18 straight games. The NL record is 24, by das411's enemy, Sliding Billy Hamilton.

34

There comes a time when power isn't worth it. Namely when it comes attached to a sub .300 OBP. I wouldn't want Tony Batista anywhere near this team either.

I agree.
But if the choice is lofton or repko, i'll take repko.
I think cf is a hole that needs to be fixed.
I don't like both repko and lofton.

35

YES!

Kayaker7

I needed a little help with that too thanks.

38- Why all the ill will towards Lofton? Did he burnish your cat?

Dontrelle Willis offered for David Wright. lol.

http://tinyurl.com/zzv8n

In defense of Repko (i cant believe im saying this) through his first 46 ab's last year he had a 3:11 walk to strikeout ratio. This year he has 6 walks to 9 strikeouts. This also corresponds with the fact that he looks much more patient and selective at the plate this season whereas last season hacking at everything. You dont need to look at his line drive %'s to know he's been hit lucky, he's not a .340 hitter. But the question with Repko was never about his power, it was his control of the strikezone. I want to see Repko play because he's 25 and Lofton is 38. The Dodgers have a lot more to gain from seeing if Repko can improve than to watch an overpaid, overrated veteran push his team towards 85 wins.

Why isn't Nomar playing today?

I guess just for a break. Olmedo Saenz? We're not playing Pittsburgh are we?

45

I've been asking around as well.

Chad Tracy is Arizona's version of Saenz & Pittsburgh.

According to Ted Brock:

"Dodgers manager Grady Little said Nomar Garciaparra will sit out Sunday's finale."

Even Seo has sucked so far, i still think Seo will post an ERA a little bit under 4. His career era is 3.85 before coming into this season. He knows how to pitch.

Nomar said that they had always planned on giving him the day off after his night game debut.

How long till Brett is TomKO'd ??

I give him 5 innings

Tomko will have to go at least 5 unless he is battered from pillar to post (to borrow a Vinnyism) since Seo didn't go long yesterday.

Remember that the first guy out of the pen today would likely be Lance Carter! Woo hoo!

I think its more likely that tomko or seo will be moved to the bullpen when Billingsley is called up.

Hearing/seeing Carter warm-up in the bullpen tells me the Dodgers are ready to give up a game.

54

And then Carter will be DFA and DT will hold a party.

The Dodgers have a lot more to gain from seeing if Repko can improve than to watch an overpaid, overrated veteran push his team towards 85 wins.
I think its more likely that tomko or seo will be moved to the bullpen when Billingsley is called up.

I agree with you alot sanchez101.

Navarro & Tomko lost there wollet there!

I`m beginning to think Mo Vaughn might come out of retirement to be a pinch runner for a NL West team, even he would be able to pick a base from the Dodgers.

I'd try an off speed pitch here.

Thank god Shawn Green is coming up.

get HONEYCUT OUT OF THERE!!!!!!! PLEASE!!

Would it hurt Tomko throw something other then fastballs?

This team's defense is so terrible.

Can't help but laugh.

Way to go "Ormeldo"

i hope loney was watching that

!!!!!!!

Cue "Keystone Cops"

what happened?

Olmedo Saenz happened

-J. DaVanon stole third

great, so now we're not just handing out 2nd base for free, we're giving the other team 3rd as well.

Dear James,

Don't get too comfortable down there.

Love, Olmedo

Hudson is like a 4th outfielder. He's around every ball hit to shallow center-right.

Is there really any chance that Furcal will be worth $13 million this season?

I just lost all respect for Mark Grace, he just said "Git-r-Done"...

Holy Tomato, Batman!

Repko on! let's steal a base Repko

69- On a weak grounder to 1st. Olmedo fielded it then weakly flicked it out of his glove at Tomko(it did not reach Tomko) which allowed Green to take first safely and Davanon to score from third.

It would have been the third out.

I have a FEVER! & the only prescription is ALMADO MAKING THAT PLAY!!

Repko's taken 7 walks this season in 17 games, he took 16 walks last year in 129 games.

I like watching Repko at the plate... /ducks

81- I like watching paint dry.

Drew Drew Drew

"Je" "fF" "Kent"

Let's get that run in Kent!

84 ??

86- Chant it.

Ah, Repko got hit four times in his first 48 ABs last year. That explains the patience.

78 - haha thanks

88
I think hitters should receive more credit for reaching on errors than they do for getting hit by a pitch.

000000HHHHHH! How could he take that pitch.(good eye)

Lucky Ortiz!!

You've got to be kidding me.

Why do I keep watching this team? Sigh....

Nice one, DJ.

87 Thanks for that...:)

So the "steal" costs us a run against he-who-shall-not-be-named.

94- It's this kind of stuff that will happen less and less throughout the season, which in turn will bring more wins. Through thick and thin. Sickness and health.

30 Bob Timmermann

In last nights game there was a question if something would happen when Vizquel faced J. Mesa. Apparently, Vizquel wrote a book when he was with Cleveland and said some things about Mesa. Mesa took offense and said that he would would do something about it. (do not know the details) Mesa's second pitch to Vizquel was a 95mph fastball that hit him in the back.

Woo! Go B-Unit!

37 - Thanks Bob. Was that a one-season-only streak too?

43 - Nate, who will go higher in the bidding war for Dontrelle this summer, Mets or Yankees?

75 - "Git" "r" "Done"?

99

Bad Altitude explained what happened.

Well, it ends up being wise to hold-up Kent.

You guys think Tomko will hold the lead?

The Dbax sure had a great off-season when they signed Russ Ortiz to a 4/40 and Shawn Green to 3/30.

Ortiz seems to have less than Tomko.
Ah! Disaster for someone besides us!

Git-r-done is an extremly annoying catchphrase by redneck/racist/extremely popular comedian, Larry the Cable guy. Quoting him is actually proven to lower your IQ by 3 points.

Nate, who will go higher in the bidding war for Dontrelle this summer, Mets or Yankees?

dodgers or dbacks. they have the most pieces to trade.

He-who-shall-not-be-named is shockingly horrendous.

well, at least this year we're getting the stolen bases back on offense.

Who will the second pair of starters be.
These guys are approaching their pitch limits.

I had the O/U for the game time as being 3:20. I think its safely going to be the over.

101

Thome's streak was all in one year. He didn't score in his last game of 2005.

Hamilton's streak in 1894 wasn't surprising since that was the highest scoring season ever in baseball. Hamilton scored 192 runs in 1894 and the Phillies scored 1143 in 129 games.

And they were only third best in the NL in runs scored.

another nice start by houlton, 6ip 1er 3h 2w 8k throwing 97 pitches.

113. wow, steroids must of been rampent back then

Poll: More annoying color commentator for the D'back, Mark Grace or Steve Lyons? I'm undecided.

Oh great... now Grace is sexually harrassing some actress in the audience.

Ortiz can bunt! I knew there was some reason they wanted him in their lineup.

114

good to hear, it's always better to get the pitching from the farm rather then going out & buying them.

I hope that error dons't hurt us.

alot of people down play erros but man! they've cost us a couple of games!

115

They've been cheating with that stuff however.

http://tinyurl.com/nbov9

Orlando Hudson is no Craig Counsell.

116
Is there any way to get Vin on the mlb.tv subscription, or am I stuck with Grace and this other guy? They are both absolutely terrible.

according to Karros Grace likes talking to trees!

are my eyes seeing correctly? (tracy strikes out for the second time)

Larry the Cable Guy isn't a racist. He also isn't funny.

121. i hope rocky mountain oysters are on MLB list of banned substances

Lakers are playing their heart out. I'm proud right now.

Tomko's thrown 63 pitches in 2ip.
Arizona's left 5 men on base.

126
Have you ever heard him talk about muslims??? Some of the most racist things I have heard in a while. I'm pretty sure "...just nuke 'em all" is quite racist.

You couldn't be more correct about the not funny part though.

128. ditto. lakers have outscored phoenix 35-32 since the end of the 1st quarter

4 Lakers currently have more points than Kobe. When was the last time that happened?

132. 1998?

128

what channel?

134- ABC