This random waiver trading deadline deal is the one that will ultimately lead the Dodgers to the postseason, without a doubt. And at the time, nobody blinked an eye. Amazing.

Yeah, I don't know what kind of a career Jhonny Nunez will ultimately have so it's hard to gauge with any finality but also hard to argue that Anderson's been anything less than a complete steal. His power has surprised me and he's been clutch. Very important acquisition if they do make the playoffs.

Sample size, shmample size. Let's lock up a multi-year extention now. Get in on the ground floor.

Charlie Steiner's "Marlon the Magnificent!" call from yesterday was a blast.

The all-lefthanded outfield is in there vs. Lowry and no Saenz!

Furcal, SS
Lofton, CF
Nomar, 1B
Kent, 2B
Drew, RF
Martin, C
Anderson, LF
Lugo, 3B
Kuo, P

Aw crap Lugo

Gotta find a place for Tomato with Kuo pitching. I guess Little figures Lowry will be gone in 5 innings so why bother using up his RHH at the beginning.

What Marlon has done as a Dodgers is what legends are made of.

6 -

Every dog has his day, and although Lugo will have to buy his ticket to get near the HOF, he's a far better player than he has shown for the Dodgers.

I'd like to be the first to announce that he will be the one responsible for our victory tonight.

I will now take up residence under my desk so as to escape the various objects which all of you will be hurling in my direction.

6 I bet that is exactly what Noah Lowry is thinking right now too. :\

Seems to happen sometimes. I think, if you want a comp that I had to become familiar with because of where I live, look at Randy Winn in a Jints uniform last year:

Randy Winn, 2005 with the Jints, pro-rated for a 162-game stint:

.391 OBP, .680 SLG, 1.071 OPS, 39 HR

Career:

.343 OBP, .421 SLG, .764 OPS, 11 HR

2006:

.322 OBP, .393 SLG, .715 OPS, 11 HR

In fact, Winn was 31 when he had his late-season flourish with the Jints, a year younger than Anderson.

Of course, Anderson is doing something even more stellar than Winn did, but I'm just saying that a small blip is a small blip is a small blip

Phils
Rollins SS
Victorino CF
Ultey 2B
Howard 1B
Burrell LF
Dellucci RF
Coste C
Nunez 3B
Moyer P

Marlins
Ramirez SS
Uggla 2B
Cabrera 3B
Willingham LF
Helms 1B
Ross RF
Amezaga CF
Treanor C
Moehler P

Oh man oh man oh man.

I actually get to see the games on TV this weekend!

The only drawback is, I'm stuck listening to
the Giants broadcasters. The only alternatie would be to sit in my car and listen to 980,
which comes in surprisingly well in Carson City.

Whatever. It's gonna be a great weekend!

If Kuo was a ground ball pitcher I could understand Little's logic with the decision to put Lugo at third. Kuo isn't however, so Saenz should be starting.

8 Is your moniker/label in honor of Nick Willhite, who pitched for the Dodgers in the mid-1960s, or are you Nick Willhite, or is there another explanation? I salute your faith in Lugo. I nearly guaranteed yesterday that Penny would pitch very well, so I won't be throwing brickbats or anything else at you.

12 Actually, I like the camaraderie of Kuiper and Krukow and the knowledge that they share. Generally, they are not homers.

12 Jim, ditto here in SF, though I don't think the Giants announcers are that bad. They're kind of amusing and Krukow isn't that much of a homer (except for his occasional annoying "Siddown meat!" and "grab some pine" catch phrases). I'd still prefer Vin of course, but at least it's not Joe Morgan.

Or.. what Scoop said.

12 Carson City eh? Never heard of a Dodger fan there. It's good to have more than one of us in No. NV

14 -
Your first guess is correct. I've been a Dodger fan since 1954 and I'm left-handed. I've seen a lot of mediocre southpaws come and go, but for some reason I took a real liking to Nick Willhite. You and I may be the only two living beings who actually remember that he pitched for the Dodgers (except, I assume, for his family members).

Actually, my son, who is also a huge Dodger fan , knows of Willhite's existence also, so now that makes 3 of us.

scoop and underdog, I agree with you. It's just that nobody can compare to Vinny.

They have been very credible in their criticism of the Giants of late. It's made watching the games rather enjoyable.

Ryan, I just moved here from L.A. in May (right after the Dodgers first winning streak). Moved first to Reno, where my cousins live. I'll be heading there tonight after the game. It's really a pretty cool little city.

20 The trouble with listening to Vinny, as I have for more than half a century, is that he spoils you. Even other good announcers fall short of the mark. As for bad announcers, what can one say? When I lived in the Midwest, and I could pick up half a dozen or more different games at night, I truly learned how bad bad announcers can be. I think Mike Shannon tops that list.

I don't see anything wrong with having Lugo in the lineup.

He plays decent defense, has some pop in his bat...and I'd much rather save Saenz for that big 7th or 8th inning pinch hit we might need.

Overall, good lineup...now let's smoke Lowry

Hanley Ramirez with a lead off triple :)

Marlins 1, Phillies 0.

Marlins jump out in front in the first inning against the Phils 1-0 on a Hanley triple and a Cabrera Sac. Fly.

21

I've said it before, but Vinny is the only announcer who talks to the listener, instead of his cohort. And with that simple method, he draws you into the game like no other announcer.

BTW, I've clean forgot how to underscore.

12 - Grrr. I live in Socal, and 980 only comes in here if I'm at least 100 yards from an electrical line. Then it's all static. How ridiculous is that?

I'm sure you can get play by play of the game here on DodgerThoughts tonight, aloofman. ;-)

19 I remember Willhite well, particularly his major league debut on June 16, 1963. My mother had shooed my father and me from L.A. to Palm Springs for a few days so we would not get in the way as she helped my older sister prepare for her wedding. For some reason, we took the Greyhound. On the Sunday afternoon that we returned, Willhite pitched the second game of a DH against the Cubs. As I listened on my transistor radio on the bus, Willhite shut them out, 2-0, on five hits. It was the only shutout of his career. He was one of those pitchers who fought valiantly to earn starts in rotations that included the likes of Koufax, Drysdale, Podres, Osteen and even Richert and later Sutton. I've been a fan of the Dodgers since 1954, one year less than one.

26- On my drive home I have to drive past a criss cross of electrical lines and it never fails that it is always during a crucial situation. Luckily it's only for about a minute or so but it's a very long minute sometimes.

26

You should take that up with your local power company and ask for better insulation on the lines. I'm sure they will get right on it!

Seriously, the Dodgers contract with KFWB was not a good one. But most radio contracts now are set up to maximize revenue for the teams, not to make it easier for people to hear the games. See the cases of St. Louis and Pittsburgh.

Correction: Since 1955, one year less than you.

13 There is no logic for putting Lugo anywhere but 6 feet under. If McCourt has a brain, he'll get huge pictures of Lugo and Hendrickson and order them hung in Colletti's office forever as a reminder to not repeat those colossal blunders ever again!!!!!

Jon's post reminds me of the beginning of the season where players are hitting .650 and are projected to hit 89 hr's.

Jim do you still have the birds? I still recall the late night comedy routines you and Icaros would perform on DT. Hope things turn out well for you in Carson City.

30 Here on the Monterey Peninsula, I used to pick up the night games on 720 out of Las Vegas, but the Dodgers dropped that station a few years ago. It's impossble to get 980 here because a local station has that spot on the dial. Bring back 790 or clear channel 640.

8 At least you got the species right.

1-1 in miami

32.

I think you're going a bit far with your first sentence there.

32, 35 - Don't you think you're being a bit harsh on Lugo?

37 Yeah. Saying Lugo should be killed is a little much. How about on the bench? Maybe he'll prove us all wrong tonight. (I'm more worried about his defense.)

"Watching" Phils-Fish on Sportsline. Anyone know how Burrell scored from second on a groundout to the pitcher?

10 Speaking of Anderson and his amazing work in a small sample size, here is a list of Marlon's career AB/HR:

1998 PHI 43 AB/HR
1999 PHI 90
2000 PHI 162
2001 PHI 47
2002 PHI 67
2003 TB 80
2004 STL 32
2005 NYM 34
2006 WAS 43
2006 LAD 8.6

Now, his career rate has clearly improved starting in about 2004, but he's hit at absolutely ridiculous levels in L.A. (Bonds 2001: 6.5; Bonds career: 13). I'm glad he's signed for another year - I'd hate for us to offer him one of those Randy Winn contracts based on this September (however much I appreciate what he's done for us down the stretch, which is a LOT). Hopefully, he'll be a nice IF/OF utility player with semi-regular starts (or even a platoon) next year, but I'd never expect to see this kind of outburst again.

15, 16 I guess everyone has their own opinion.

While perhaps the the Jints announcers are even handed in their knowledge of and criticism of the game and or teams, they certainly, without doubt, express emotion that favors the Jints and express disdain and stir up hatred for the Dodgers. I tend to think of that as being a "homer".

Ever see them show a Dodger fan in the crowd, and then take their telestrator pen and scribble their face out? I don't know if you can not call someone a "homer" who seeks to stir up the emotions of fans that way.

Thanks, Brendan. Seamus is still with me. We go camping all the time (I usually find a convenient tree to stick him in), and swimming. I slipped one time crossing the Truckee River (it ran real high high this summer), and we shot the rapids together, to the astonishment of a crowd of onlookers. He fell off my shoulder and started swimming (flapping his wings with vigor!). I turned around, he jumped back on my shoulder, and away we went (merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily...), no worse for wear.

42
The Giants actively market and sell Dodger hatred as a way to get people to come to the park.

The Dodgers really don't do that with the Giants.

I don't think one way is better than the other. The Giants marketing people know what sells.

40- He wasn't on second he was on third. He moved over when Delluci grounded out.

12 Jim, all these stations supposedly broadcast the Dodger games. Don't hesitate to try some of the more distant ones; AM signals bounce off the Ionosphere and can be picked up at great distances sometimes.

Dodgers Radio Network
Station On Dial City
KFWB 980 Los Angeles
KWKW 1330 *Los Angeles
KDEF 1150 Albuquerque
KNZR 1560 Bakersfield
KMET 1490 Banning
KBOV 1230 Bishop
KROP 1300 Brawley/El Centro
KICO 1490 *Calexico/El Centro
XESDD 920 *Enseneda, Mexico
KCBL 1340 Fresno
KYVA 1230 +Gallup, NM
KAVL 610 Lancaster/Palmdale
KSFN 1140 Las Vegas
KPSI 920 Palm Springs
KWKU 1220 *Pomona/Ontario/Redlands
KPRO 1570 +Riverside
WSTA 1340 +St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
KXTY 99.7 San Luis Obispo/Santa Maria
KHTS 1220 Santa Clarita
KUHL 1440 Santa Maria
XESS 620 *Rosarito, Baja California
KVEN 1450 Ventura/Oxnard
WTTB 1490 +Vero Beach, FL
KWRN 1550 *+Victorville
KEZL 1400 Visalia

32 Again, based on what he said in the past, I take his tone with some slack since he tends to post with his heart.

While, the Lugo deal will never get the scorn that the Penny/Choi for LoDuca/Mota deal (from the media, not DT), again I think you have to realize that it was part b to part a being the Maddux deal. That said, when the season is done, I would be happy to debate all the deals but for now lets see what happens over the next few days.

38 No. He is a travesty.

Houston-Atlanta 0-0 in the 4th.

46

Hey, I remembered how to underscore!

Thanks, 50 years. I've copied the list. Mighty nice of you!

12 I am able to listen to Dodger games in my home in Tacoma, Washington on a station from Bakersfield, KNZR 1560. I actually like the Giant radio broadcasters. Dave Flemming is supurb and Jon Miller when he puts his mind to it can describe what is taking place on the field better than any broadcaster working today.

19 I remember Nick Willhite. The ultimate soft tossing lefty. I particularly remember a great game he pitched against the Phillies in 1964.

Stan from Tacoma

42 I know what you mean Brent (and the pen scribbling thing does get old - though he doesn't just do it to Dodger fans and it doesn't seem to come from too mean spirited a place). I just think if you compare them to say, the White Sox announcers (horrible, homer to the extreme) they wouldn't look as bad. They do sell some of the anti-Dodger propaganda but at the same time they are also pretty respectful and fair - praising players on LA who deserve to be praised and never getting too caught up in it. So they're "homers" but ones that aren't as extreme as some others.

But again, no comparison with Vin.

Jim,
Don't try the Virgin Islands station. But if you can get it, tell us what the local commercials are like!

34 The good old days: using 2 or 3 different radios and antennas to pull in Vegas 720 after the sun went down. Vinny fading in and out; constantly adjusting the dials and wires. (This is in the Napa Valley.) I miss that station more than KFI.

42 You make several good points. However, they also cross out the faces of others in the crowd besides Dodger fans -- people dressed in ways they consider odd or speaking on cell phones, etc. One thing I like about the announcers for the Giants is that they get excited when an opposing player does something good. You ever hear Joe Nuxhall when someone hit a homer against the Reds? Monotone.

Nick Willhite didn't pitch against the Phillies in 1964.

4-1 Phillies.

Walk to Ryan Howard backfires, Burrell with a 3 run blast.

28

Wow, between the two of us we have 103 years worth of Dodger fanhood.

I remember Willhite's debut, but I must confess I have no idea where I was that day. I think that's what got me interested in him. I just naturally assumed that he and Koufax would be elbowing each other to see who was inducted into the HOF first. I guess Sandy won that race.

53

Bob, I kinda like the idea of being stationed in the Virgin Islands...

Brian Moehler, you're on my ____ list, buddy!

Introducing Nick Willhite:

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B06162LAN1963.htm

57 I heard last night that Burrell was something like 6-10 when Howard was IBB ahead of him, he went 0-2 last night so now he is 7-13.

JIm, hope you are enjoying Carson City. I won $2 in a nickel slot machine there when I was 17 and have been hooked ever since.

But Ramirez and Uggla lead off with singles.

Two on for Cabrera - let's go Miguel!

Jamie Moyer is close to 60 isn't he?

62 -

Thank you Bob. I'm delighted that Nick is getting all of this publicity, which is probably more than he received during his entire pitching career (which also included a stay with the Angels).

Stan 51 may be thinking of Larry Miller, whom I believe tossed far softer than Willhite.

He turns 44 next month. I guess that's close to 60.

56 Really. I remember watching him on tv from Dodger Stadium and I was sure it was the year the Phils were fighting for the pennant. I remember the Phils had all kind of problems against lefty pitchers in 64 until they picked up Frank Thomas. Of course at the end of 64 they were having all kinds of problems against all pitchers.

Stan from Tacoma

54

My dad and I used to do the exact same thing every night in Solano County.

I remember sitting in the driveway listening to Hershiser break Drysdale's record in our '87 Integra.

Sometimes we'd have to drive it down the street a bit to get better reception.

speaking of popup... that's what Cabrera just did. Feh.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the purpose of this and other blogs is to allow the responder to post what they really feel, for catharitic effects if nothing else. I have never killed anyone yet... Baseball is an emotional subject and it brings out strong feelings in people. I'd rather say what I feel and get it overwith than to suppress it. Yes, I really have no right to inflict the verbalization of my opinion on anyone else. But I read a ton of opinions here everyday that I disagree with, so I thought it was kind of OK. I don't expect what I write to influence anyone in any way. I am not a professional writer, I am not afraid to criticize Dodger officials because I don't ever hope or expect to work for them.

Time for the old friend to deliver!

67 - He's more than halfway there. So yup. He's close to 60.

Can old friend Cody Ross help us out?

Old friend Cody Ross trying to duplicate some early season magic.

Yep, it's up to our buddy Cody Ross here, with bases loaded and 2 outs. Looked like Moyer pitched around Helms. It's already 0-2. Come on Cody!

We're like a Geek Chorus here.

75 - Ack! I'm close to 60 next month???

I'm predicting a change up here.

Rats. Cody hit it fairly deep but just a lazy fly. Oh well.

I'm closer to 60 than Moyer. And I may be able to throw harder :)

72.

And speaking of clutch hitting, it's what the marlins don't have.

There are many ways to tell that pennant baseball is in the air.

Rooting for Cody Ross to get a hit for the Marlins would be one of them.

64

Thanks, Marty, I am. The food isn't as diverse as L.A., but you can get some pretty great cheap buffets. My favorite is probably at Baldinis (two can eat for $10), or, as my cousin calls it, the `Casino of low self esteem'.

Brewers take a 1-0 lead in the 1st in the Mound City.

Mound, as in Burial Mound?

73- You're allowed to post what you think; people who disagree are allowed to engage what you've said. It's all good. There's surely no shortage of DTers who think Lugo should be diced, pan fried, and served, with a nice chianti, in the press box.

88
You got it.

Crap. Another run for the Phillies. Doesn't look like any clinching is gonna happen tonight.

Its sad when you think that Nats were a better challenge to the Phillies than the Marlins.

71...listening to the car radio in a motel parking lot in Lake Tahoe during a summer vacation in 1964 until my late father, almost always a man of wonderful patience, decided there were better things to do with one's time...or was he worried about draining the car's battery?

89 Don't forget the fava beans!

92
I think the bigger problem for the Marlins today was having to start Brian Moehler.

If only Josh Johnson were pitching ...

Well, no computer at home, so goodnight all.

It's going to be a lot of fun on DT this weekend.

50 How does one underscore?

92 -

I think some people may be forgetting what expectations were for the Marlins at the beginning of the year.

If they get shut out 30-0 in all three games this weekend, they'll still have done a lot more than most of us thought they were capable of in April.

94- Fava beans are extra.

97

Put underscores in front and behind text

__like this__.

Weaver gives up a run in the first.

95

Who are the Marlins pitching tomorrow and Sunday? What about the Phils?

And this one is starting to look like a rout.

The Phillies were 11-5 going into this series against the Marlins so we shall have to see what happens.

98 Definitely true - the Marlins far exceeded anyone's expectations this year. I only wish they'd exceed them for a few more games.

Wolf vs. Olsen tomorrow.
Myers vs. Willis Sunday.

102
Tomorrow is Olson vs. Wolf
Sunday is Willis vs. Myers

To get an inkling about how unhappy they are in St. Louis, read Jeff Gordon's column in today's St. Louis Post Dispatch:

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/columnists.nsf/jeffgordon/story/1807D29ACC095EFE862571F8001872DD?OpenDocument

Well, that didn't work. Try this:

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/columnists.nsf/
jeffgordon/story/1807D29ACC095EFE862571F8001872DD?OpenDocument

Augggh,
The long URL. The goggles! They do nothing!

Man, I'm nervous. And have to miss the first part of tonight's game.

My fingers are crossed.
My eyes are crossed.

Let's just win.

Later all!

59 103 years, indeed!

Hah! That's too funny Bob - I just watched part of that Simpsons episode here at work today after my coworker discovered the dangerous (and likely temporary) procrastination tool known as ...

http://www.allsimps.com/

Streaming Simpsons!

109 - Try going to "tinyurl.com" If only for Bob's sake.

107

I'd give the Marlins a decent chance in both of those games. We just need to do our work in SF.

With D-Train on Sunday, they'll have an extra hitter in the lineup. I see grand-slam as a present to all Dodger fans.

I believe Willis is only "probable" for Sunday. The Marlins wanted to shut him down early.

Atlanta has 1st and 3rd with no outs in the 6th in a 0-0 game against Houston.

Imagine having to start Jeff Weaver in a crucial game today.

116 -

Fine with me if we've clinched by Sat.

Um... the Marlins are being smushed today. This is ugly.

Okay, here's to a better result tonight.

Jeff Weaver is a lot better than Jason Marquis. The Cardinals announcers last night were openly disdainful of Marquis.

Marlins' effort tonight falling far short of Marlon's.

man, this yankees lineup is disgusting...it's like a fantasy team. I'll be so happy when the Twinkies or Tigers spank them.

Looks like the Phils all but have this one wrapped up....let's get on the board early against Lowry.

Old friend Matt Herges is not helping the cause.

68 I found the game Nick pitched against the Phils, and Bob is right, it was not 1964. On June 19, 1965 Nick went 8.1 innings against the Phils at Dodger Stadium and he got the win in a 4-0 Dodger victory. I remember watching that game on tv. Willhite threw nothing but slow curves as I remember and the Phils could do nothing with him.

Thanks retrosheet. What a great baseball reference that site is.

Stan from Tacoma

121 They probably expected a lot more from Marquis. I don't think too many Cards' fans are expecting a great deal from Weaver.

A Berkman error lets a run score for Atlanta. 1-0 in the 6th.

The Reds are ahead 3-1.

2-0 Braves on an A. Jones single.

Noah Lowry in September -- 4 starts, 0-3, 14.36 ERA.

2-1 Cardinals after two innings.

129 Which means he'll pitch 7 shut-out innings against us, unfortunately. :(

131
Hey, he's no Tim Stauffer!

131 Bite your tongue!

Just doing my part to get us past 150 posts. So, are we going to top 1600 tonight?

gark I hate pujols ....

Final: Atlanta 4, Houston 1

Holy crap, somebody on ESPN is talking about Russell Martin during a ROY discussion. Stop the presses!

135
But the Devil Rays lose again on the road!

137 if its John Kruk ....

138

thanks for the update Bob!

2 more losses to a sub .250 road record ...

KC ties up game with Tigers with 2 outs in top of 9th .... still batting ....now 5-5 ...

The fans in Atlanta looked like they enjoyed getting some revenge on the Astros for last year.

Sculley bought a new suit?

So, with Houston losing and Cards looking like their magic number will be 2 by the end of the night, I really want to win the NL West now. I think the Dodger team would be favorite in that series against the Cards, 0-7 record notwithstanding.

sorry for mispelling his name

139 Ah, no wonder -- Eric Karros is one of the color commentators. :)

Team hitting stats records check:
ABs - The Dodgers need to average 39 ABs in the last three games to set the team record, which isn't all that likely
Runs - The Dodgers would need to average over 11 runs per game to break the team record. That is very unlikely
Hits - Each one adds to the team record
Doubles - Same as hits
Triples - The Dodgers need 10 to tie the team record. Sorry.
Home runs - Only 60 short of the record!
Total bases - See doubles
XBH - See total bases
Sacrifice hits - 55 short!
Sacrifice flies - 18 short!
Walks - 77 short!
Strikeouts - 255 short!
HBP - 21 short
RBI - 5 short! Record is 781 in 1962.
LOB - The Dodgers need 23 LOB in the series to tie the record. Pretty tough.
Batting average - .004 lead (.276 to .272)
Slugging - .002 lead (.433 to .431)
OBP - .007 lead (.349 to .342)

What about team OPS? :-)

147 Another 19 run game and we should have the ABs record too.

And if James Loney plays all three days, we may have the HRs and triples record too.

A little blurb from BaseballHQ on Broxton:

"Broxton shows impressive second half growth... Throughout the season analysts have frequently mentioned the excellent skills displayed by LA RHP Jonathan Broxton, who has been especially impressive for a 22 year-old rookie. But a close look at Broxton's numbers shows one more reason to be impressed by his performance.

Period/Level IP ERA Ctl Dom Cmd HR/9 BPV
============ === ==== === === === ==== ===
2005 AA 96 3.27 2.7 8.4 3.1 0.4 114*
1st half '06 LA 36 3.47 4.2 10.7 2.5 1.2 91
2nd half '06 LA 37 1.96 3.7 12.3 3.3 0.5 139
*MLE's

Broxton was excellent in the first half, showing improved dominance, but his walk rate and home run rate were a bit elevated in his first exposure to the majors. Look at what he accomplished in the second half. He brought his home run rate back to his minor league level, improved his control, and continued to increase his dominance"

So, in all seriousness, does anyone think that, offensively, this is the best Dodger team ever? I mean, historically it's hard to argue, right? But we don't even have anyone with more than 20 HRs or 100 RBIs. Strange!

151
It may be the best LA Dodger team in terms of offense, but the 1953 Brooklyn squad was extraordinarily good.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BRO/1953.shtml

151 1953 begins and ends the argument. All the other Dodger offenses can duke it out for second place.

How long before the cameras start showing all the "Not Here" signs that figure to be on display tonight?

Why is Nomar even playing? Shouldn't he be resting?

Omar Vizquel ... a future HOFer?

The Dodgers clinched the NL West in San Francisco in 1977.

I believe the Giants have clinched at Dodgers Stadium twice. In 1962 of course and also in 1989, although that didn't happen until the Padres lost an extra-inning game at home. The Dodgers won three straight games behind Wetteland, Ramon Martinez, and Belcher.

156

No.

156 Ask Joe Morgan :)

Arizona on the board in the 3rd with a 2 run shot by Byrnes.

Omar Vizquel suffers from the misfortune of being a shortstop in era of Ripken, Jeter, Rodriguez, and Tejada. And Vizquel doesn't have the same mystique as Ozzie Smith or even Luis Aparicio.

What an annoying shriek by the person who is announcing the batters at the Dodgers-Giants game. How very un-John Ramsey like.

163. Don't they have a female announcer up there?

162. It's a kid. What, do you hate kids? tsk tsk.

163 Yes

165 It's not a kid.

163. Since I asked myself, I might as well answer.

They have a kid announce the batters for an inning.
http://tinyurl.com/k7a73

That looked foul.

Kenny caught that ball and I am:

a) happy
b) shocked
c) relieved
d) all of the above

Pedro Feliz is an example of why not to evalute players based on how many RBI's they accumulate. He's having one of the worst seasons ever for a player with close to 100RBI's.

156
Yes.

167 They usually do it in the middle of the game after making a big deal about it.

I'm not in the mood for a nail-biter here. Let's score some runs. Lots and lots of runs.

That was a mistake by Kuo with the pitcher on deck.

Darn DirecTV Extra Innings and your promise of all the games I want to see. I want to see the Padres game and you deny me.

Vizquel can't retire soon enough.

I guess Vizquel would remind you of Willie Mays if Willie Mays had been a banjo-hitting shortstop.

My last comment about the announcer: From the Giants' web site: "At every early-afternoon game, one young Giants fan is selected to announce the first three batters of a designated inning." Now, back to the game.

I hope tonight isnt a cruel regression from yesterday's game.

173 I think we'll need to get some hits before we worry about runs. Of course, if Kuo doesn't start getting his pitches down it's not going to matter.

Just don't make fun of Vizquel's bald spot. I have one like it.

Post #131 is starting to gain traction =(

ok .... the kids need to be told their intros have to be shorter than 5 seconds ...

Vizquel shows Bob where he can put his banjo. :)

I'm surprised Kuo is pitching to Barry Bonds with two bases open.

I just checked .... Feliz has actually driven in 17.25% of runners on base this year. Not too shabby. (Leader is at 22%)

185
Why not? Durham got a hit off of last time. Bonds didn't.

185 Dare I say it, Bonds actually looked outmatched there.

In a situation like this they are going to sit Loney. This may seem like the conservative,correct thing to do at first, but I think when you dwell on it a bit, it seems utterly incompetant and ludichris.

郭泓志!

i'm grateful to have anything at all, including choppy, discolored mlb.tv, but it's annoying to have the giants broadcast instead of vinny. the trivia question: "who were the 2 giants on base when joe morgan hit a 3-run homer against the dodgers on october 2, 1982?" ugh.

191
And if you get the answer right without looking it up, I'd be very impressed.

Cardinals win 10-5. Their magic number is 2.

Vizquel may not have the gun that Furcal has, but he rarely makes throwing errors and he is 2 for 2 where Furcal is 0-2, as is Nomar. And now I'm hearing about how Nomar is hurting for this weather, but is game till the end. This while he is taking abs. from a man who had 9 rbis yesterday. Im afraid this team has peaked.

I wouldn't have guessed so, but I must know more Japanese than Google. Its guess was: "Enclosure 泓 Will." But I know it was "Failure of Will!"

so ..... randy johnson has a herniated disk in his back, but may ONLY miss the 1st round of the playoffs ....

that would be some pretty quick healing ... wouldn't it?

191 My guess is Barry Bonds and Omar Vizquel or maybe Moises Alou.

Stan from Tacoma

195. It's Chinese for Kuo's name.

Loney's probably being sat bc Lowry is left-handed, and Nomar has had success against Lowry earlier in the year.

Kuo has done well with no support.

Nomar has looked at approximately 2 pitches this game.

[192] in my head i have them cast as "villain #2" and "villain #3" of that episode. that's all the information i need.

199 That makes some sense, but may not make a win.

190 - showoff :)

198- Ah. Well, there you go. Thanks.

oh, the chinese characters! yeah, that's kuo's name. i looked it up the other day when xeifrank was talking about it :)

202
For the record, the runners were Guy Sularz and Bob Brenly.

Alright, if all the scores from right now hold this thing is still salvageable...I kinda like that Mark Kreidler article today on ESPN.com about how the entire playoff situation this year is up to...Barry Bonds and the Giants!

Ryan Klesko is up with I think his third AB of the season, w/2 outs first and third.

Ryan Klesko sighting in Arizona.

Speaking of Brenly, the Padres are threatening with runners on the corners, two outs and Klesko batting for Hensley in the 7th.

So, if Bonds is serious about not signing an incentive-centric contract, who would sign him?

... and he knocks in a run. It was not a pretty at bat.

Ryan Klesko is getting a full playoff share now.

Klesko, apparently still alive, makes it 2-1 Dbax.

Vin is handing out asterisks tonight.

Vin with big ups to Gil Hodges. No love for James Loney.

Vin really liked Gil Hodges. I would have to say that Hodges is Vin's alltime favorite Dodger.

Humidor or no, LA has been going to Denver for several 'dry ball' seasons and had not done what Loney did.

And Roberts pops up to end the inning.

Did Julio Lugo ever really hit a home run or it that just urban legend?

That was a weak AB by Lugo.

I wish Julio Lugo was an urban legend.

221

everything about Lugo has been weak.

I guess maybe we'll have to get to the Giants bullpen before we can think about scoring.

That was a really ugly nice play by Drew.

3-1 D'Backs in the 7th...

Mixing urban legends together, Julio Lugo has two home runs against Cole Hamels.

So, is Lugo on any potential playoff roster? He's been completely unproductive.

Kuo's line is good 5h 0bb 5K.
But Lowries is better due to 1 hit. This could well be the d's offenses' fault.

I mean Lugo has a 2-0 count, why make such a feeble cut on a changeup?

228
Why would Lugo be playing so much if the Dodgers had no intention of using him after Sunday/Monday?

Randy Winn is having a typical Marlon Anderson kind of year.

Is anyone else getting an annoying pop-up on the gameday window?

That drive to center sure looked catchable.

Lofton you sir are fired.

Another awful play by Lofton.

Who the hell put scrappydog out there!??

this is my rather uninformed attempt to sinicize bob's name: 拔簿提们儿门

That does look rather sinister, good job.

238- We promote books mention abuse doors.

hmm, that was supposed to be "kick doors". and where's "mention" in there? the 儿 is just for pronunciation.

Well, at least Kuo is making Barry look awful.

241. Babel fish translates that to Pulls out the book raising gate in Chinese.

223 I hereby refer everyone back to 6

73 - "Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the purpose of this and other blogs is to allow the responder to post what they really feel, for catharitic effects if nothing else. I have never killed anyone yet... Baseball is an emotional subject and it brings out strong feelings in people. I'd rather say what I feel and get it overwith than to suppress it. Yes, I really have no right to inflict the verbalization of my opinion on anyone else. But I read a ton of opinions here everyday that I disagree with, so I thought it was kind of OK. I don't expect what I write to influence anyone in any way. I am not a professional writer, I am not afraid to criticize Dodger officials because I don't ever hope or expect to work for them."

You're a little wrong. As I've said before, Dodger Thoughts is not everyone's rubber room. As the guidelines indicate, it is not the place for people just to work things out of their system without regard to the discussion as a whole. It is a place for enthusiastic discussion, sure, but civil discussion.

Though I didn't think it was enough to make a big deal out of at the time, since you're asking, I think comment 32 was plainly distasteful. There are plenty of ways to express unhappiness with Lugo's performance without sounding so flat-out mean. You can post what you feel, but like in any public forum, you should frame your words in a civil way.

This is not how I pictured the evening going, except for the Padres losing part.

I know that ball by Winn was hit hard, but I think Kuo deserved better that inning.

Rudy Seanez is pitching now.

All is well.

245 Jon: You should be a diplomat, or at least teach classes on civility.

247 - He deserved to have Lofton catch that ball. The route he took was via Concord.

What happened to Kemp...he's looked awful.

The Dodgers had better win this game or MILLIONS OF PEOPLE MAY DIE!

Kemp needs to be played consistantly, he may need a bit more MiL experience. Loney just needs to play. We will see how our vets respond to the third time around.

250
If Lofton had taken a route via Benicia, would he had to have paid a toll going from San Francisco?

At least Kemp worked the count a little. Lowry's pretty nasty tonight and his mix of speeds gives Kemp problems.

Kemp. Never take the bat off your shoulders.

252

rofl .... let's hear it for Jack Bauer!

252
The Jack Bauer School of Managing.

Despite the Dodgers paltry hit total, they should still have a comfortable lead in the BA record chase.

Big denominators are your friend this time of year.

254 - I forget where the tolls are up there. It's been years since I drove around. Maybe that's why he was late getting to it. He had to stop and change a $100 so that he could pay the toll. Get that man a EZPass or it's equivalent.

Lofton shouldn't be up there first pitch swinging. Crummy at bat for him, he needed to work the count. We've got to get to the bullpen.

[243] eh, that's not so bad. i was trying to get it to suggest a librarian revolutionary :)

Hmmm .... the Indians are 8 games under .500 despite outscoring their opps. by 80 (!) runs this year.

252
Or millions of voices may cry out in panic, only to be suddenly silenced.

its possible nomar is hurting the team by playing. olmedo is just sitting in the dugout.

Nomar will hit a HR in his fourth or fifth at bat. I hope it is enough. He would do as well if put in for Loney for his fifth at bat, but it probably wouldn't matter at that point, for we would be ahead.

Me thinks that the Dodgers really need to get Lowry out of the game.

251 - He's on the Kevin Maas career trajectory plan at this point.

That's not actually a fair or accurate statement, given Kemp's youth, but it has been sure been feeling like it lately.

260. The Giants beating us with the old Blazing Saddles gag.

Can the bullpen hold the game at 3 runs?
Just dont let it be Carrara.

I forgot that Sele hasnt been able to get anyone out since June.

270 - I think we know the answer to that.

Kuo had remarkable control tonight. What a starter.

テイフフソ is I believe what my surname is in Japanese.

Every time the Dodgers lose God kills a kitten.

Oh God. Please don't give us the Alous. I am suspicious of our management now. Only palamony could support that.

276-Everytime the Giants win he kills two.

275
No, every time the Dodgers lose, God allows an owl to capture a kitten.

It's a very specific problem.

Every third pitch is a hung breaking ball. I have a bad feeling about this.

Do owls have affinities for kittens?

I did not know that ....

(glad I read DT every day)

278 But some owls are endangered; couldn't this help them?

I really don't want to pay attention to this game.

lets go guys. we need baserunners.

Perhaps that will inspire the Dodgers.

Wow..that last inning certainly can give Larry Krueger some material.

Talk about "not being able to walk" off the island.

Yikes.

If an owl can get a kitten he deserves to eat it.

279 - I guess the Giants like to swing and miss at hung breaking balls. It's a good thing.

"Tantalizing"

Such a good word for tonight.

The word comes from the mythological figure "Tantalus": "Name of a mythical king of Phrygia, son of Zeus and the nymph Pluto, condemned, for revealing the secrets of the gods, to stand in Tartarus up to his chin in water, which constantly receded as he stooped to drink, and with branches of fruit hanging above him which ever fled his grasp; a rock is also said to have hung over him threatening to fall."

From the OED.

274 - Bob, that is incorrect. That spells "tee-foo-foon". The kana is close, it should be "tee-mah-mahn" (sorta, I'm not quite sure how to spell it how it sounds).

281
The owls are now what they seem.

270 - Personally, I have nightmares about Hamulack.

288
I was copying it from a book, but I can't match up my fonts.

Hopefully Felipe Alou sleeps through this inning. Lowry turns into batting practice after 80 pitches. He's at 85 right now.

285 - My kids love that book: "If You Give An Owl a Kitten..."

Mr. Consistency!

drew got decent wood on that ball.

JD is locked and loaded!

286 are you allowed to write "hung breaking balls" nowadays?

(Homeland Security may be knocking on your door)

NICE!!!

Just stay in your seat Felipe.
Nothing to see here....

"Jay" "Dee" "Drew"

"Jay" "Dee" "Drew"

テイママソ ?

We have a 20-homer guy.

Nice!!! That was Crushed.

Oh if we can steal this one...

20! A Dodgers has 20!

An evening of cryptography. Anybody know what the gang signal the Dodger hat wearing young woman just threw, meant?

Give an owl a kitten, feed it for a day.
Teach an owl to catch a kitten, feed it for a lifetime.

289 The owls used to not be what they seem. But, you're saying, now they are?

Agent Cooper will be relieved.

LOl..ah man he's leaving him in.

302 - We have two!

302 Two guys with 20.

Two outs in Phoenix.

Nomar has 20, too, doesn't he?

Nomar Drew we have to suffer with having only one 20-homer player.

Everybody including Vin, seems to be amazed that Lowrie is pitching a two hitter.

301 - Yes.

Techinically the second character would be smaller in size, and the last character might be wrong. The "n" character and the "soh" character are the same except for the direction of the stroke, I can't tell from the font.

Game over in Phoenix.

I don't know if we're going to get to any relievers, expecially if Lowery gets out of this inning wihtout any more runs. It's the last game he'll pitch this season.

Madres lose!

lugo, heres a perfect time for your first homerun/clutch hit as a dodger.

Here comes THE MAN

I mean "especially"

Hopefully the Dodgers get some inspiration from the scoreboard.

The owls didn't get Nomar? I thought I heard that.

Time for the impossible.

OK ... why am I not seeing any chinese characters in these posts?

I can get the Padre station in my car. It was hilarious before the game, all their idiots who could just tell the Padres would win based on their "all-business" attitude in the dugout. "Oh, they'll win tonight," they were saying with this dopey confidence. They've got the Pads slotted already for the World Series.

Listening to idiots like Tim Flannery, Randy Jones, and the hideous Ted Lightner, it makes you really appreciate not just Vin, but Charlie, Rick and "A" too. They're not such cheap dates.

thats shocking. what a waste.

ITP homer for Chone Figgins to make it 6-0 Angels over Oakland.

How can one mad do so much damage to our season?

Don't let Lugo bat!

Is this too early for Saenz?

291. テイママン　is the katakana for "Te i ma ma n"

you were using フ which is 'fu' or Tifufun :)

is lugo even going to be on the postseason roster if we get there. we need to get raffy up this inning.

[326] perhaps you don't have the fonts installed?

326
Check the coding on your web browser. It's usually under "view".

What is Grady saving Saenz for? Is he too busy doing something else? This is his moment.

Why on earth is Lugo swinging 2-0 against a pitcher that is dead tired??

Maybe LUgo should join the Giants.
They are the team to play for if you're a braindead hacker.

328 What's shocking? Julio Lugo popping up in an important situation? I believe that is the opposite of shocking.

And you are batting Betemit right handed.
I approved your trades. You don't have to prove anything--I'd rather win.

Pathetic. A bad matchup.

339 - I'm thankful he didn't GIDP

Straw poll here on the DT reaction to Lugo popping out: Surprise? Disbelief?

Sarcasm here, no need to answer.

339.
duh.

Felipe Alou just gave the Dodgers a gift, and Lugo/Betemit hack away and blow it.

yeah, why didn't saenz pinch-hit?? that makes no sense.

That was stupid. That was probably the best chance.

If I speak about Lugo I may break all 10 of Jon's rules.