Brian Schneider's game ending GIDP was hit very sharply. That ball gets through Utley and Beltran Perez scores from 2nd base with only 1 out. The Nationals could easily have stolen that game. I think the Phillies will be worn out today--if not physically, emotionally.

first comment :D

I got beat by 11 seconds. :-(

Go Blue! :)

Continuing from the other thread, I think it makes sense that the Dodgers are going back to the California A league, for obvious reasons. What to do about their spring training location is a sep. discussion/decision, but this will probably be the beginning of the end for VB. But separate from that, I do like that they're coming back "home" as it were.

1 If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a merry Christmas.

1

agreed

It's Loney, and not Lugo....
Furcal, SS

Lofton, CF

Anderson, LF

Kent, 2B

Drew, RF

Martin, C

Betemit, 3B

Loney, 1B

Penny, P

1 Won't the Nationals also be exhausted?

1 It was an atom-ball, but you'll never get hits if you hit them right at 'em.

It's raining in Pittsburgh and the start will be delayed. For as long as it takes, I imagine.

Anderson hitting 3rd? Doesn't take long for somebody to prove themself, I guess.

7 I like it. I love that we can sit our arguably best hitter and still have a lineup that has danger througout. (I mean as long as Lugo sits). Our 7 hitter hit a 460 ft HR yesterday and our 8 hitter hit .380 at AAA. I'll take it.

9 The inverse rule to Willie Keeler's 'hit 'em where they ain't'

Is Bob going to update on the offensive records today?

Regarding some previous threads on possibly locking up the WC before playing Sunday:
C'mon fellow DT posters, you have been Dodger fans long enough to know Dodgers don't do things that easily. This is coming down to the last day. If the Dodgers have two paths to take to the playoffs, they choose the more treacherous, difficult path possible. I mean if they wanted to be easier on themselves, then they would have taken 2 out of 3 in the series with the Brewers, Cubs and Pirates this month instead of losing 2 of 3. Add up those 3 additional wins and we are 2 up on SD and 4 up on PHIL and would have clinched a tie for the WC at worst. It is just the Dodger way, to go right to the edge of the season and either bring us unbridled joy or painful heartbreaking agony! We just have to live with it.

4 Looks like Dodgertown is now D. Ray Town...

http://tinyurl.com/h9p7l

I hope the offensive records are updated. I gotta know who's leading the league in nose-hair.

I did at the end of yesteday's game.

The Dodgers are slugging .430. The LA record is .431, so they better get to it.

The XBH, hits, and BA records should all fall this year.

Won't the Nationals also be exhausted?

i think he's talking over the long haul.

Okay, update above links to the two minor league affiliation stories.

Personally, I think the biggest news of the day is that Bob sometimes wears more than one pair of socks on the same day.

My question: at the same time?

reds at marlins? is that really consequential?

Plaschke's column today is actually worth a read. Although I can't believe Drew gives him the time of day after being called JD Ghost for two years.

I'm in Victorville, which is adjacent to Adelanto. I'd be excited if a Dodger team came to Adelanto although I'm sure it would inflate the offensive numbers as we're at 3000 feet up here north of the Cajon pass.

22 I understand it's Ladies Night in Miami.

What if you're wearing dress socks during the day and want to go out for a long walk later?

[25] i'd be all for someone posting pictures, but the gameday doesn't really do anything for me :)

22 Thanks to the miracles of the NL, the Reds are somehow still alive with four games left.

4 & 16, On one hand, it will be sad, another passing of an era but from a practical aspect, I understand the logic. Also, it will be more convenient and less expensive to see by beloved Blue in Arizona, spend a weekend in spring training than to spend about a week in Florida, more expense for lodging, flight, ect..

[28] mathematically perhaps, but not realistically.

A fellow Victorvillian here too, (though I hate to admit it). It would be great to have them in Adelanto. 3 out of the 4 mentioned destinations are within 40 miles of us

23 - Yeah, that was a fun column.

22 - Uh, no, probably not. Forgot that they lost last night.

The sound of Adelanto makes me think of the heroine in the race from "Free to Be, You and Me," Atalanta.

Come on, you know what I'm talking about.

The Reds could lose today and not be eliminated.

i have family in Porterville, wich is really near by Visalia, i also have family in San Bernardino, it would be sweet to have them in either.

I thought the Tigers' defenders could play good defense. The defenders haven't caught a ball yet.

"I think Nomar's injuries are behind him"

OOPs!!!
Spoke a little too soon maybe.
Looks like Scareduck had it right...(injrury in the behind) :) thanks for the assist.
What a great night of Baseball last night, I showed my boys (9&10) how to get all pumped up in a Pennant Race. We were switching back and forth from Vin, to ESPN, and back again almost on every pitch. Truelly awsome.

26

Just call him Bob "Two Sock Shakur" Timmermann

(stop me before I pun (badly) again)

26

i've been guilty of wearing dress socks with shorts & walking to the corner market.

39

nowadays, you are liable to get rounded up by Homeland Security for that ...

And yet today, I'm not wearing any socks at all.

I have the day off, for the record.

On the Big Blue Wrecking Crew discussion boards, someone mentioned that Kershaw's contract requires him to play in Florida his first two years. Does this mean that he has to go to Jacksonville now? Absolutely terrible. What I really hope is that whever the Dodgers end up isn't in the high altitudes.

blue jays up 2-0 still batting top 1 against rogers in det. (2 tiger errors already)

40

atleast i'm not wearing my dress shoes with my dress socks.(sandles)

34 - However, with two teams ahead of them, the likeliness of the Reds winning the AL Central are microscopically slim. The Astros are the team most likely to take advantage of the "Collapsing Cards".

the Nats had a golden apportunity last night, oh well.

42- There's still Vero Beach. It's a jump, too, but not as bad.

45
I'd reread your comment there.

The Reds would be about 30 games out in the AL Central.

Did Pujols lock up the MVP with that (potentially) season-saving homerun last night?

-test-

47- And that's why you should always read the update to the post.

how do you get the line threw a word?? i saw Bob do it the other day.

3-0 JAYS top 2nd .... Rios RBI single ... action in Tigers pen

Albert Pujols played in the Midwest League in 2000.

I didnt know his real name is actually "Jose Albert Pujols"

52- In the comments? Or at the Griddle?

I think the Dodgers A team should play here in San Francisco so I can see them more often.

Er, wait, is there a team here already?

Er, wait, did I just jinx this weekend's series?

But seriously - I know we already had a conversation awhile back about possible locations for a Dodgers Cal league team, and there are plenty of options... maybe you can pitch your respective favorites to the team while they're deciding.

55

i saw him do that in the Griddle, he put a line in the middle of a word, pretty cool.

48 - Sorry about the typo, I of course meant the NL Central. Must be the effects of the flu I've been fighting off. In the AL, the only games that matter are games involving the Tigers, Twins and possibly the Yankees regarding overall home field. All other AL games are now inconsequential.

I do hope Tim Salmon will get enough chances to hit HR #300, it will be a nice farewell to a class gentleman and good guy. Farewell to the KingFish!

35 Considering that the Columbus team is leaving beacuse of "a bad field", I would be very surprised if the high-A team ended up in Visalia. Recreation Park there is O-L-D-Old. The sod and playing surface was redone not too long ago, and the metal and wood bleachers replace with real seats. It's a very quaint place for baseball, though.

That said, the Oaks are currently a TB club, so who knows...

Does anyone have access to park factors for a comparison of Vero to Midland, Mich.? VB, from what I remember, is something of a launching pad, and I know the player development trend is to put your teams in pitchers' parks.

57- He has full html privileges over there. That's why he can post real links, and italics. Commenters get bold and underlining, but not all the rest of the toys.

Bakersfield was a Dodgers Class A affiliate for awhile.
Maybe they'll go back there.

Its kinda strange. I think the Midwest League is a step up from the Sally, but I also think the Califorina league is a step down from the FSL.

The FSL is probably the best Class A league, when it comes to which teams send their best talent there.

The "strikeout" feature is only available if you can put in full HTML, which you can't do in comments.

59 Visalia is also at ~300 feet, and the park, IIRC, was rather big. 405' to center, deep in the alleys, with tall fences. You have to deal with the heat thinning the air, but that's about it.

Getting back to Pittsburgh and Houston, Pittsburgh hosts Cincy this weekend and Houston only has a 2 hour flight (same time zone) to Atlanta for a night game tomorrow so I think they can wait out this game for as long as it takes today.

For the Astros, the question is what they do with Oswalt, its good for them that they delayed the start only to not waste Oswalt today.

i remember seeing the Porterville high school baseball field & was amazed at how great it is, puts L.A. high schools to shame.

65
I don't think "can" is the right verb. I think they "will" play this game. Somehow. At sometime.

i thought for sure the tomato would be in the lineup today.

33: I knew.

I don't know if any other former sci fi nerds read, but Spider Robinson did an online chat at the Post today. Not a great chat, but quite sentimental for me.

Melancholy Elephants, God is an Iron -- brilliant stuff. Not quite Varley's Persistence of Vision, but still great.

http://tinyurl.com/zpoko

As I said in the previous thread, I think the issue in Vero Beach dealt with some attendance issues (65,000 for 60+ home games) and since the Dodgers operate their high A club, they could shop around for a good deal, I read San Berdoo really wants them to go there.

I also think that there may have been some issues with how the VB club was handled this year so maybe moving them closer to LA will help with the oversight.

Wait, did no one else spot this in today's Inside the Dodgers entry?
Cracked me up.

"Meanwhile, the team is on fire. Literally. Grady Little just informed us that during last night's game, while Derek Lowe was waiting to hit, his pant leg actually caught on fire from a small space heater in the dugout. You can't make this stuff up."

67 You're right, I should not only said "will," I should have said that even if they have to play tonight, they will play the game.

Don't know how much I can contribute during the game but this is a big one, it would be great to have a Dodger victory on the board for the Phillies and Padres to see before they start their games.

Will Carroll at BP today:

"A writer asked me earlier this week if I knew 'anything on or off the record, confirmed or denied, that would explain why Brad Penny looks like crap.' At the time, I didn't, but reports have come out since that Penny is dealing with either a back or an oblique problem. Dodgers sources say that Penny has had some back 'tightness,' but none of them would even go as far as calling it spasm. It's worth keeping an eye on. "

Wow, not another oblique. I think we've had enough of those this season for a lifetime.

75 - Baseball is a game with alot of twisting motions.

11. Gagne55
Anderson hitting 3rd? Doesn't take long for somebody to prove themself, I guess.

Unless you're a rookie. Ten years of mediocre stats > good minor league stats plus a good rookie year. Do you suppose the fact that almost all managers were failed or mediocre at best players influences their decisions to prefer "season (but mediocre) veterans" to higher performing rookies?

74
Even the speculation on a Penny injury is somewhat oblique.

Do greenies heal oblique muscles or something? I dont get it.

78 - Ab...solutely hilarious Bob.

76 - Thank you.
does everyone think its safe to say penny is pitching for his spot in the postseason rotation today?

77
I remember when Marlon Anderson was still an underperforming rookie on the Phillies.

81 - 76 was accompanied by a somewhat resigned shrug, for what it's worth...

81 - Absolutely.

By the way, did anyone else hear Grady Little on Jim Rome's show this morning?

Maybe they should try setting Brad Penny on fire; seemed to have helped Lowe get through it yesterday, if only obliquely.

81 - His spot is secure either way in my opinion. No way Grady yanks Penny in favor of... Kuo? Bills? I think Penny will get a start in the postseason (should that happen) and maybe even the game 2 start if Maddux and Lowe do end up pitching in San Fran.

78

I (heart) Bob ....

(in the literary sense)

86, what are you kidding me? i think grady would easily take kuo over penny right now.

If Pedro Martinez's spot in the Mets' rotation is secure, I think Penny is safe unless he is "officially" denoted as hurt.

84

Jim Rome makes my skin crawl .... I'm mad that my local ESPN radio station ditched GameNight to put his show on ...

I would have loved to see the Dodgers' A-affiliate back in Bakersfield! Plus they could just send guys on a hour-anna-bit drive over the Grapevine for rehab and stuff.

But well, having them in California at all is already nice.

86- I'd pitch Kuo against the Mets. They can't hit southpaws.

7-0 Blue Jays still batting top 4

Pedro is going to the bullpen. Or might even be left off the roster for the 1st round.

89 There is a report on ESPN.com that Pedro will not start in the first round.

84
Did Grady say anything enlightening? Did he crack any good jokes?

88 - I would, I am not sure that Grady would. I think Penny will get a start unless he gives up 6-8 runs today.

95

Theo Epstein is satisfied ...

77 I don't think Marlon Anderson is the Dodger starting LF of the future but he has been hitting and you can't really argue his being out there right now.

69 I've never read as much Spider Robinson as I should've, but I'm quite interested in his "co-authoring" of Heinlein's manuscript. And I should give some of his other novels a try -- his "Rah RAH R.A.H.!" essay is one of my faves.

I thought that Kuo was not on the postseason roster. Has something changed recently?

http://tinyurl.com/hbvkw

who ordered the minor league park factors around here?

(you're welcome) :-)

101
Kuo was called up on 8/31 so the Dodgers wouldn't even have to lie to get him on the roster.

101 - The postseason roster hasn't been set yet - wouldn't be until after the last regular season game.

99 Almost always when Nomar sits and Lugo plays, Little hits him third in Nomar's spot. Why isn't he doing that with Loney, with his .380 average (albeit AAA)? Anderson has played well, been a real surprise and big help, but in the three hole, I'd prefer someone with a higher OBP than Anderson. Lugo hitting third? That defies any attempt to explain, but for God's sakes, I'd hit Kuo there before Lugo! I'm not upset with Anderson there, just saying I'd have put Loney in that spot. Another case of Rookie Prejudice as I see it.

101 - Unless something horrific happens tomorrow I don't see how Kuo couldn't be on the postseason roster.

99-That is very true. Sometimes I wonder about levels of rookie fetishism, around here and elsewhere. I love our young players to pieces, imagine Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp to be deeply germane to the future--and variously germane to the present--yet the decision to start Marlon Anderson over both of them, considering how Anderson's played since we picked him up, doesn't seem to me to represent any failure of imagination or managerial foolishness. It just seems like common sense. The term "seasoned veteran" gets applied sarcastically, but who would you rather have coming up--now, not next year or three months ago--with a game on the line, Nomar (gimpy leg and all) or Matt Kemp, guaranteed to see nothing but outside breaking pitches he hasn't yet proven he can hit?

I'd take almost anyone off our bench in that situation--Ramon Martinez, even--before I would Kemp. Yet I'd rather keep Kemp, for the long haul, than I would 80 percent of our ballclub. Marlon's an intelligent choice, for today, is all. For today.

105 - Loney actually might be a good #8, he always makes contact so that will give anyone on base a chance before the pitcher's spot comes up.

... if we make the postseason that is. (Sorry, I'm feeling even more superstitious than usual.)

And wow, that'd be amazing if Pedro isn't even on their postseason roster - could they add him if they then made the championship round?

84 Entering The Jungle insures good karma... or so Rome says.

104. I thought he had been called up 9/1, not 8/31. I meant I thought that he was ineligble for the post-season roster, poor choice of wording on my part, sorry about that. Since Bob corrected me anyway, it's not an issue.

I just don't think you can look at September and determine that Grady has any problems playing rookies.

Generally, he played them in May and June due to injuries but once Ethier and Martin (especially Russ) established themselves, in they stayed and through the first part of September Ethier played nearly every day.

Now, I will say that had Ethier's slump happened before this time, he would have probably been allowed to play through it, it just happened that Anderson starting hitting almost from the time he got here so he replaced Ethier for the time being.

I know that I believe you said that you temdend to comment from the heart so I won't take the talk too seriously but I don't think labeling Grady as having a bias against young players is valid.

Actually according to MLB.com, Kuo was called up on 8/30. Hamulack was sent down at the time.

And you can change your roster between rounds of the playoffs.

I believe that choice to call up Kuo a day before the deadline was done with the playoffs in mind, actually. It wouldn't have made much sense otherwise.

Here are the numbers...
PENNY vs. KUO in a series against the Mets:
Mets probable starters (Wright, Lo Duca, Reyes, Beltran, Valentin, Floyd, Green and Delgado) vs. RHP: .290 BA, .792 team OPS
Mets probable starters vs. LHP: .268 BA, .739 team OPS

Penny's stats since August 18 (33 IP): 32 ER, 5 HR, 17 BB, 36 K
Kuo's stats since September 2 (27.1 IP): 8 ER, 1 HR, 9 BB, 36 K

I'd go with Kuo over Penny at this point.

107 I think most fans who populate places like DT tend to like rookies because they have taken the time to follow them from their signing and also if they are astute fans, they know they are inexpensive and also present a higher ceiling than "established" veterans.

I think the difference between Russ and Andre and guys like Kemp and Loney is that Russ and Andre have 3 to 4 times as at bats as the other guys so they should have both the confidence and some knowledge on how teams are going to pitch them whereas Kemp is going to see breaking balls and Loney is mostly a mystery.

Grady was pretty good, but he didn't let anything really good fly. He did a lot of coach-speak and talked about how great Nomar and Lowe have been recently. Nothing too big, but it's nice to get some potential Jungle Karma.

Dan Patrick is having fun with TO's publicist using the word "statue" instead of "stature" in the sentence, "When I see man of that statue (sic)"

I was thinking that we should do a "guess the playoff roster" contest, should we actually get into the playoffs.

As long as Kuo was on the 40-man roster, it's not even an issue. And even if he weren't, the Dodgers could make it work.

Given how Merlin has been hitting I think it is about time to move him up to the 3 spot. Ride the wild wave when you can, it may never happen again. Funny how such an inconsequential pickup may be the catalyst that propels the Dodgers into the postseason. I can never recall a late pickup like this having such an impact. Especially a player with such a mediocre history. Winn was acquired by the Giants at the trading deadline so he doesn't count.

400/452/855/1307 OPS
That is just sick I don't care if it is only 55 at bats.

144 Kuo was called up because the night before the Dodgers played a loooong extra innings game and they thought they would need extra bullpen help.

115
those are some great stats that get right to the point. its OBVIOUS who the choice should be.

122 Obviously anticipating more Kuo talk in the future.

120 Jon, isn't it time for you take your break away from DT until the game ends, if I am correct, it has seemed to work out the last few days.

122 How did you know what post 144 would be about in post 122? Do know what the Dodgers' final score will be today too?

Aren't the Dodgers the only West Coast team that does not have a team in Arizona? The Vero Beach history all started with Brooklyn, they should have moved to Arizona when the Giants did. For me this is about time. I love the Arizona spring training league. The stadiums are great, especially the new fields in Surprise and it will be easier for residents in LA to make the trek to ST then to fly to Florida.

Sam, Telemachos: If you're sci-fi fans you might be interested to learn that John M. "Mike" Ford died over the weekend.

http://tinyurl.com/p3k3s

The website, http://www.japanesebaseballdaily.com has a report, but without a link, that the Orix Buffaloes are interested in getting Mariano Duncan to manage their team next year.

The guy who runs that site, Gary Garland, does stop by the Toaster from time to time. Orix was 52-81-3 this year.

And we're underway with Furcal singling to right. Kim seems like a good bet to steal against.

128 I saw that, from your link a couple of days back. Very sad to hear.

"How Much for Just the Planet?" is one of the more delightful -- and certainly the most subversive -- story to come out of the official Star Trek canon. (Even if it ended up getting Ford blacklisted from the ST universe).

Ugh. I know Kenny has been good with a bat this year, but I just don't root for him at all. I never feel good when he is at bat.

Anderson as a 3 hitter, take 1

DP- Lofton.
Furcal's September might be the best month he's ever had in his career.

95ABs- close to a .400 average with an OPS over 1.000

Nice patented DP by Lofton.

I love the second by second comments when the game is going on.

If we truly had second by second comments for an entire game, we'd usually get 10,800 comments.

I noticed that only Penny and Kim have pitched in all 6 series between the teams this year.

137 You get the gist, but I did exaggerate.

aiye

leadoff double by Kaz

Great start by Penny. Good to see that he isn't wasting any time in proving that he shouldn't pitch in the postseason. If I was Little I would be one batter away from having Chad warm up.

134
This is his best September, at least

Season AB Hits BA OBA Slug%
2000 104 32 .308 .429 .462
2002 80 17 .212 .259 .350
2003 100 32 .320 .369 .440
2004 101 24 .238 .286 .337
2005 103 33 .320 .383 .437
2006 98 38 .388 .436 .663

Penny definitely seems to have a stiff or sore back.

"Definitely seems" is a great way to hedge what you say by the way.

137

Ah, a literalist ....

(I've found my home)

Two batters in Penny still hasn't gotten a single strike past anyone.

143
Wouldn't just plain "seems" be a safer way of hedging?

145 - Whew. A called strike to batter three.

Vin made a cute comment about fans seeing both sides of the Penny this year ...

nice K by Penny

A strike out? What's Penny thinking?

Wow, I am the anti jinx. My negativity is a good luck charm.

Bring on Bills.

Well trade you Pedro for Penny ...

That's it. Bring in Billz.

146
"Definitely seems" lets you both hedge and seem assured of what you're saying!

No seriously Grady, take Penny out of the game.

At least this game isn't important.

At this point the question is no longer whether Penny should make the postseason roster -- it's whether he should be allowed to pitch for the Dodgers ever again.

You guys still want Penny to make a postseason start?

The dark side of playing through pain. This is why I hate the whole: "he's a gamer" tag on some guys. Penny isn't playing the same game that everyone else is. In pitching, like golf, the lowest score wins.

wow, this is gettin gugly fast

What reliever on our roster can warm up the fastest?

really gugly

DePo should have listened to his scouts!

anyone up in the pen yet?

I smell a Plaschke column cooking.

Billz is warming.

I feel my lunch coming up.

Dodger broadcasts don't show the pitch speeds?

I have the utmost faith in Mike O'Connor.

166 In this case, for once, his righteous indignation will be justified.

I thought we traded Odalis Perez to the Royals.

158 - "ever again?"

169
I think it depends upon the production facilities available at each stadium.

167 - Thank god. This is daytime television after all. This should be TV-MA for sure.

173 I meant what I said... call it a little vindictiveness mixed with common sense.

Kim has 8 hits on the year .... uh oh

And herein lies Rich Lederer's point about K/9. Penny is doing pretty well in that stat.

If Penny finishes the pitcher off, do you let him come out next inning?

2006 ERA

Penny: 4.33
Hendrickson: 4.26

You'd have to assume Penny will at least be shopped this offseason. He's not a "Ned guy", and if he can get good value from a team that needs pitching, I wouldn't put it past him.

179 Absolutely not. The game is still winnable at this point if we get another pitcher in there.

178

Javier Vazquez is the same way this year .... 7.5 Ks per 9 / ERA around 5

Absolutely pathetic first inning, Penny.

This isnt out of character for Brad Penny.
In 2003 with the Marlins, he was struggling bad at the end of the year and McKeon actually pulled him from the rotation. i'm not sure if he started in the NLDS or NLCS.

But he did come back and pitch great in the World Series.

So is this "Penny for your 'Dodger Thoughts'"?

That was sad, man, sad. You gotta give him a shot in the 2nd, though. If a run scores and the situation is ugly, though, I'd yank 'im. Bring on Stults! Haha.

The worst of all is that Little is wiling to cook everybody's goose, to throw away the hard work by everybody all year on this team, in order to "show Penny he believes in him" or something. To be a player's manager or some such. How about the other 39 guys on the roster, though?

I hope after this Penny designates somebody else for that game ( should it be needed ).

Is Penny secretly being paid by the Padres/Phillies? I'd bring in Billingsley next inning. I can't remember the last time Penny had a good start.

You have to wonder if Penny is tipping his pitches. How's his command? Is he able to locate his pitches or is he just throwing the ball down the middle? I've read that he hasn't been able to throw a good curveball in a while. Now is not the time for Penny to experience these kind of problems and he's been like this since the all star break.

6 straight balls for Kim to start the 2nd.
Thats the way to protect a lead.

185 - he started in each of the first two rounds, but got pulled from the rotation in the NLCS (thus 2 relief appearances).

Mr. Consistency!

189 - You have to go all the way back to Sept 13, a 7-innings of shutout ball against the Cubs.

Oh, you meant against a major-league offense?

what happened i had to go run a chore?

YAHTZEE

DJ has been a beast this month.

189 He doesn't even have to tip his pitches. That's exactly the problem -- batters have figured out that a very straight fastball is coming basically every time. They can look fastball all day long and just ignore the off-speed pitch which he throws once in a blue moon, because it's never in the strike zone anyway.

well atleast we have men @ 2nd & 3rd & nobody out.

Apparently no one can remember past September 14.

Penny threw 7 shutout innings in a 6-0 Dodgers in at Wrigley Field on 9/13.

Here we go boys! It is funny, we started the year as the get out ahead team, and we are ending it as the comeback kids.

Does anybody else think of saying "JD Drew" like those old "A.D. Do!" commercials?

197 I dont understand why Penny is comfortable with using only 2 pitches and why Honeycutt doesnt seem to think this is a problem.

194- Penny's line says it all: 3 runs, 4 hits, 2 walks, 3 K, 1 inning.

Here come the Tigers.

7-6, Blue Jays after being down 7-0.

wow! pure dumb luck there.

Penny's game log for 2006:
http://tinyurl.com/hupjk

YES! Echoes of the Nats 14th inning.

what a collapse by Penny i swear.

gameday doesn't want to say

Gameday says "in-play no out recorded". It has to be a pretty special play for that to occur with 2nd and 3rd, no out...

What'd Martin do?

209- What happened, how can there be no outs or runs on contact?

204
But Sean Casey hit one of them rally-ending homers.

ok, Kim forgot how force plays work

i hope Kim throws a wild pitch here.

Wow Robles in the on-deck circle.

Cuadrangular!

thank you Loney!!!

in play, run-scoring play

OHMYLORD

would you guys send Penny back out there now!!

See, I knew Loney was back there for a reason.

Penny's in trouble. I don't think they let him bat with runners on.

On the other hand, Loney might prosper in the 8-hole.

Yah!

JAMESSSSSSSSSSSSS

The battle for first base in '07 is on!

Oh. There you go.

Loney hit a hell of a 2nd career homer!

He knows how to fill in for Nomar. :)

James Loney is a GOLDEN GOD.

Wow, that totally looked like it would be a lazy fly ball. Does the Coors effect have much more bearing during the day?

Opposite field grand slam for Loney.
Thats um. a big hit.

Screw the nickel, let Billz take over.

Loney has no power?

bluto!

Penny will be playing Blernsball next year at this rate.

Grady just answered my question.

Loney is a decent hitter...

Definitely bring in Billingsley next inning!

All hail King James!

Big Game James.

201 - http://www.all-baseball.com/dodgerthoughts/archives/016810.html

I'm suprised they are pulling Penny this early after that Loney hit.

Loney channels HSChoi

This is a team of density.

236 - I don't think Robles is going to be the starter

203 ...but his peripherals were fabulous!

I hope he's okay. I think Penny is hurt or maybe just in a slump. If the Dodgers make the post-season, I think he'll surprise everyone. In a good way.

The Baseball Hall of Fame's Spanish-English baseball dictionary says the Spanish equivalent of "grand slam" is "grand slam".

240 - except Loney already has more career triples

I can't believe that Robles is the first pinch hitter off the bench. I thought rosters expanded? I am sure he is a good guy, but seeing him on the time reminds me of evil days.

Actually, I might take Penny over Robles as a hitter.

Wow, that totally looked like it would be a lazy fly ball.

Maybe they arent using the humidor balls today.

For those watching on TV: Is Penny flipping his lid in the dugout? Or does it seem he took himself out?

246 - In the first inning with the bases empty?

Not exactly "Saenz time".

Well Penny did a good job of kicking my fantasy team in the shins. Thanks Brad.

Penny's hitting a mighty .185 to Robles' .156

Penny 2006: 9.81 hits and 7.05 Ks per 9

Here are the top 10 worst H/9 while averaging over 7 Ks per 9 in a season

HITS/9 IP YEAR H/9 IP SO/9 IP
1 Glendon Rusch 2001 10.86 7.84
2 Aaron Sele 1999 10.71 8.17
3 Doug Drabek 1996 10.68 7.03
4 Mark Leiter 1997 10.64 7.29
5 Bobby Witt 1996 10.59 7.08
6 Pedro Astacio 1998 10.53 7.31
7 Tom Gordon 1996 10.39 7.14
8 Javier Vazquez 1998 10.24 7.26
9 Javier Vazquez 2000 10.21 8.10
10 Dave Stewart 1994 10.19 7.49

After Matsui got his double, the cameras briefly switched back to Penny and he looked like he was trying to stretch out his back.

He definitely seemed that he might have possibly hurt or slightly damaged his back or possibly something akin to an oblique.

250 - True, but there are other people... Young, Ethier, Lugo, Kemp, Repko or even Martinez.

246 But that's exactly the situation in which you use your last guy off the bench. Which Robles basically is, along with Delwyn and Einar Diaz.

is it just me or are we coming back alot more these days?

Way to sack up out there today, Penny.

There's gonna be Billz to pay now!

Loney and Garciaparra's recent slams are KILLING the team's chances of breaking the LOB record. Just killing it!

And now the real game begins.

Billz's push for a slot in the playoff rotation begins... now.

Well, HR/9 and Bb/9 are pretty important peripherals, and they werent fabulous for Penny in the 1st.

Hah. Also funny to hear the juxtaposition of Vin calling Loney's grand slam vs. Steiner calling the 5th HR miracle hit from the other Monday.

FIRST PITCH STRIKES

Young Chad.

bluto!

201 There was a long , very funny discussion of that, veering into a whole poppourri of similar type commercials, around the time he was signed.

they should change the pitcher every inning, keep the Rockies from getting comfortable.

Penny was holding his head in his hands, right up until Loney's hit. He looked miserable.

I hope Honeycutt told Bills this was probably going to happen.

238 - trying to see how that ties with Loney's jack.

253 - Seeing your list, I couldn't help but check...Bobby Witt also allowed almost 4.5 BB/9 that year too. While pitching in Texas.

Anyone want to play over/under on his ERA that year?

Just throw strikes Chad!

266 - thanks. I hope they also referenced the "Stephen!!! Jack Stephen!!!" stuff that had the same actor...

I can return now.

This is strange how all of sudden in the last month and how the balls are flying out of sudden.

269 - never mind.

Looking at my schedule, this could be the day a DT comment thread goes over 1,000. Unless I sneak in a quick post after the game.

Somebody needs to tell Chad that he's facing Cory Sullivan!

268 Do you think he really needed to be told? Even my little five-year-old nephew knew it would probably happen.

how's Chad looking so far?

Jack Stefanonanovich was there.

I believe Jack LaLane made an appearance, not sure why.

The guy has a .322 OBP!

276 - Sullivan is "only" hitting .305 against LA this year.

Seems like he gets 4 hits a game against us.

You can't walk Silky Sullivan, Chad!

278 Not completely warmed up.

Hmm. This seems very similar to something, but I can't remembe what it is.

DP Bills!

279 Don't forget Jack Stefanski.

Those were great commercials.

253

same table, with ERA and bb/9 info added in

HITS/9 IP YEAR H/9 IP SO/9 IP BB/9 IP ERA
1 Glendon Rusch 2001 10.86 7.84 2.16 4.63
2 Aaron Sele 1999 10.71 8.17 3.07 4.79
3 Doug Drabek 1996 10.68 7.03 3.08 4.57
4 Mark Leiter 1997 10.64 7.29 3.15 5.67
5 Bobby Witt 1996 10.59 7.08 4.33 5.41
6 Pedro Astacio 1998 10.53 7.31 3.18 6.23
7 Tom Gordon 1996 10.39 7.14 4.38 5.59
8 Javier Vazquez 1998 10.24 7.26 3.55 6.06
9 Javier Vazquez 2000 10.21 8.10 2.52 4.05
10 Dave Stewart 1994 10.19 7.49 4.19 5.87

Since MLB.tv is a little behind, I'm trying to figure out whether 285 is an exhortation or a statement of fact.

Jack Stefanonanovich was there.

"me & spraklets water making friends"

That was a big out.
If Atkins takes, its bases loaded none out.

Jack Stepanino was my favorite.

I like the idea of different pitchers each inning. Get me Hendrickson, stat!

This is just my opinion and I have no scientific facts to back this up, but I think it is hard to go deep into games when you go to full counts against every batter.

285 - I don't want to seem like a jerk, but that's a little annoying to those of us following along online.

Wow, two big outs.

Pitch 1 - In play, out(s) recorded

It's a beautiful morning!

Holliday gift?

Pitch 1 - In play, out(s) recorded

Another Perfect Day In La!

(exhale)

Chad Billingsley just got two first pitch outs.

first pitch swinging is perfect. keep doing it rocks!

293 i am sorry

Thank you Chad, a Rocky start, but you did put down 3-4-5 no problem.

Thank you Rockies.
3 pitches 3 outs.

Maybe their impatience will mask Bills potential wildness.

Proof that Grady Little reads Dodger Thoughts: he has done exactly what was proposed here last week, namely hit for the starting pitcher the first chance possible, then use your 'real' starter for the next five. :-)

I repeat:

http://www.all-baseball.com/dodgerthoughts/archives/016810.html

301 - Like I said, not trying to be a jerk. Try prefacing with "c'mon let's get a..." or something to that effect.

299 - What? No exclamation point?

Plus Kenny can't hit into a DP if he is leading off.

you kind of can't blame Penny if he's hurt, he's just trying to be a good soldier & take the ball every 5th day.

anyone think that broxton is available today? i would guess not, but he may be needed.

293 I agree. There's got to be some sort of system that differentiates posts of "fact" and posts of "please God I hope this happens"

Provided LA gets that far, is there justification for keeping Penny in the rotation? The guy hasn't pitched well in two months, and it's getting old wondering, every fifth day, whether this is the game where he snaps out of his funk.

286. Not if you're named Steven.

If there is one thing that is universally loved by people of all ages, it is poorly thought-out nicknames.

307- I'm still trying to comprehend it.

Any word on Penny's health? I hope he hasn't pulled a Gagne.

Brad Penny DIPS ERA pre-All star break: 3.54
Brad Penny DIPS ERA post-All star break: 4.45

Like I said a couple days ago, lucky in the first half, very unlucky in the second half.

Lofton steals #30. He's only 28 homers away from a 30-30 year!

Howdy- I just got on-I forgot it was a day game! Apparently Penny didn't start, or worse sucked the first inning up.
I still say we should try Loney.(ha ha)

315 - but his pitching definitely dipped a bit. :)

I'm late....Did Penny just get knocked out? Did he get hurt? Someone fill me in.

When did Loney hit his first home run? I just noticed this was his second.

i like our chances of scoring this inning

318 Oh yes, he has been pitching worse, he just shouldn't be nearly this bad.

Anderson walks. 1st & 2nd, no one out.

Kim's got nothing today.
50 pitches, Only Marlon Anderson has swung and missed. He did it twice.

Bills has proved himself a True Dodger, getting himself in trouble and then pitching himself out of trouble against the heart of the Rockies order. Way to keep true to the nature of the Dodgers! :)

Also, thank you Loney for getting the team back in the lead so quickly! Is this Gehrig subbing in for Pipp? all over again?

Hmm Penny isn't the only pitcher struggling.

315 In Penny's case, though, I don't think it's merely that he has been hit-unlucky. Those extra hits have not been lucky dunkers that happened to fall in somewhere. They have been absolute rockets, balls that were smoked because the batter knew exactly what was coming. That's something DIPS can't really account for.

305 I was wrong, no Jack LaLane. Must've been a something different, or perhaps a follow up.

That also reminds me of the time we talked about the afterschool game "pow" where you'd call up and yell pow, pow, pow into phone.

It was interactive!

Clutch HBP by Kent!

Adee do!

oh boy, bases loaded with no outs once again

I like our chances against the Rockies' pen.

Anyone up in the Rox pen?

Drew's been on fire, gotta like the Blue's chances in this situation...

bluto

Gotta hit Olmedo here.

Dodgers may get double digit runs today.

C'mon, J.D.! This is looking great!

Ignore the first question in the above post...

Hampson?

bluto

The Dodgers next extra base hit will tie the LA team record at 504. That was the 2000 team.

The 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers had 541 XBHs.

The 2003 Red Sox had 649 XBHs. The 2003 Red Sox scored 961 runs.

And the manager of that team was Grady Little.

(Any resemblance between that comment and the work of Jayson Stark is purely coincidental.)

Its always nice to have a pitcher like Justin Hampson waiting in the wings, when you are batting that is.

334- are you kidding me? Drew has been the Dodgers best hitter this month.

322 - yeah.

I was hoping someone would acknowledge the pun, but no dice I guess.

328 - cherished memories

Anyone know wh's going on in Pittsburgh? Is that one gonna get underway any time soon?

325 What is it, whoever plays first for Nomar, hits a home run in his first at-bat (small sample size).

334- why? They already hit Kent.

327 MLB.com doesn't have groundball to flyball ratio, so I can't say if Penny is allowing more ground balls, but far more outs in the second half have come on the ground than in the air. Maybe those rockets were getting caught in the first half.

Admittedly, it does seem like he's giving up far more hard hit balls recently, but I can't say for sure.

Rain is in the forecast for Pittsburgh all day, all night, and into the morning. It may just be a matter of how hard of a rain they want to play in. It could be Game 4 1977 NLCS rain.

the opponents batting stats for this pitcher are 3 homers for 50 AB

341 Oh, I did.

338 - B