Russell Martin.

Aw man, Jon is making me think about stuff instead of just making snide comments. No fair!

It's easily Russell Martin. The kid looks like he can call a game, is solid behind the dish, will develop power as he grows, and just seems like a really nice young man. Kemp is a beast, Loney is silk, and Billz can be an ace. They may all turn out to be better players than Russ...But he's my guy.

I heart Hong-Chih.

Derek Lowe. Because he's all too human. He's on medication, he likes attractive blondes (even when they're not his wife), he rags on his own hitting prowess, and he still manages to put up a pretty decent line most every start.

Then again, I've lived in Tacoma, Hartford, and Los Angeles, and he seems to follow me around (or vice versa). So I feel a certain connection.

James Loney because we share the same birthday.

Russell Martin.

After that, oh, name any youngster. Loney, Billingsley, whoever. Matt Kemp's is the only page I sponsor at BB-Ref.

They are like the shiny new toys you get for Christmas as a kid. Only I hope to still be enjoying these 12-15 years from now.

I'd have said Russ Martin, yesterday. But now that I've seen Juan Encarnacion on Matt Kemp's PECOTA comparable list, it's gotta be Kemp.

The cost of keeping your players.

Angels avoided arbitration by agreeing to one-year deals for Sheilds and K-Rod, Shields got a raise from 2.1 million to 3.4 million and K-Rod went up to 7 million from around 3.8 million last year.

Both are now going into their 5th years, which means they won't be free agents until the end of the 2008 season.

9 ... is a lot less than signing no one's players (free agents).

8 You'd think with how much money K-Rod makes and stands to make in the future combined with his violent delivery that the Angels would consider moving him for something. But I suppose that 'something' would be minor league talent which they have in spades. The rest of their bullpen isn't that hot either, but hey, I read Moneyball recently so I have Beane on the brain.

Russel Martin...he's all heart. We need that in our team.

Rafael Furcal. I like short (and SSs). I've seen him listed at 5'10" and 5'8", so I'll guess he's 5'9".

Does Vin count? (You didn't say "player", but it seemed implied.)

Shields is worth every penny he can get. Hendrickson is worth every penny I can get.

Guo, because he's very good, under the radar and his last name is butchered by every announcer I've listened to.
vr, Xei

10 At $7 million, he's still a relative bargain. They still have the option of a trade after this season, or during '08 if they aren't contending themselves.

I join the Russell Martin bandwagon group, but Nomar is on the list because he is the second best athlete in his own house.

Juan Pierre will be the heart and soul of the team through the upcoming World Series Championship run 2007 to 2015.

Takahashi Saito.

Jon Broxton gets my vote - The guy is just massive.

Well, until recently, I would have said Gagne. (sigh) I guess I don't really have a favorite; we're still trying to figure out who's going to be here more than a season or two. I'm most excited about Chad Billingsley because I love a great young pitcher, and the Dodgers haven't had a really great homegrown pitcher for an extended period of time since Hershiser, the favorite player of my life. I hope Bills is the real deal and that they keep him around for a long time.

In terms of established guys, I have to say Penny. His All-Star showing was incredible and he gets so much undeserved criticism. He's a solid young pitcher who is very exciting to watch; I'm amazed he survived the offseason (so far) and I hope he doesn't get purged like the rest of Paul's People.

And so good that he's AlmostGagne?

That would have worked better if I was quicker on the trigger.

Mike Lieberthal!

Someone has to vote for him, don't they?

Homegrown Dodger - Russell Martin

Non-homegrown Dodger - Nomar Garciaparra; I've been a big fan of his since his rookie year.

Saito would be third on my list.

This is a tough one. My two favorite players are Takashi Saito and Russell Martin. In the short-term, I'll say Saito. He came out of nowhere and was one of the most dominating relievers in baseball. I'm also a fan of BJ's beard.

My least favorite player is...well you know.

I am going to chime in with a vote for Matt Kemp. I would love to see him in the Dodger outfield for the next dozen years.

When combining personality with ability, Russell Martin gets my vote as well.

Saito is the most fun to watch because of his pin-point control.

Furcal is up there as well due to his quiet confidence and exciting play.

Nomar, Kent, and Lowe are favorites as well due to their abilities.

Ethier is up there with Martin in terms of personality, so he could turn into my second-favorite if he can build on last season.

Ah, my weekly visit.

Nomar. My mom bought me a jersey, it's got his name on it, it's her favorite player, it's my first baseball jersey ever and it is SO comfortable, I'm thinking of making it part of my formal wear.

Am I the first vote for Nomar?

I seem to root the most for Loney and until I get to know him better he is the one that I would really like to see do really well.

Martin is gaining ground with me.

Kemp could be the most fun to watch. Speed, power, potential to catch the ball.

28 See 24

Logan White

Jason Repko. I felt so bad for him with all the bashing he took here I just couldn't help but "adopt" him.

3.5 and Martin would probably tie for 2nd.

Repko on account of his goatee and his crazy diving catches that are so much fun to watch. I still hold out hope that he can develop a consistently productive bat, given opportunity.

I have rooted for Loney too ever since he was nineteen and had a stellar spring training a few years back.

23

No one else wants to get on the Lieberthal train?

How about the Luis Gonzalez Express? Or the Jason Schmidt Cannonball? Or the City of Juan Pierre?

I guess I'll pick Merlin, just for form's sake. But if for some reason he doesn't play like it's September 2006, then I'll pick James Loney. And if for some reason he doesn't play like it's 5 2 4 9, I'll pick, I'll pick, I'll stick with him goshdarnit!

Olmedo. I always love when obese men can be considered professional atheletes. Plus, he's an old school Dodger, going all the way back to 2004.

If not Olmedo, then Penny.

Chad Billingsley because I tend to favor pitchers and I always favor building a team with young players. Billingsley should be pitching for us for years to come and he has the stuff to be really good.

Is Mike Megrew too obvious...?

Olmedo Saenz - I'm a big fan of team continuity, and he's the closest thing the Dodgers have to that. Besides, as 36 notes, you gotta love a big guy with a big stick.

Nomar Garciaparra is my favorite baseball player.

He came up to the Red Sox when I was in school in Boston and it was love at first sight. I was rooting big time for the Sox to win that series, and when the Sox won it without him, he was the first guy I thought of -- before thinking that I should really call my friends.

Russ Martin by far.

He symbolizes everything you want in a baseball player.

BTW, if Nomar hadn't re-upped with the Dodgers, my answer would be the bull, Jonathan Broxton. I'm a pretty small guy, but still: you could fit three of me inside him.

I love all the young guys - Martin, Bills, Loney, Broxton, Ethier and the top two for me - Kuo and Kemp. I just love watching both of them play.

28

At least we know your mom isn't cheap when it comes to paying per letter.

Marlon Anderson

In looking at all this, I realize I have several favorites. I like this team, mostly. We don't have any obvious Gary Sheffields or Kevin Browns to hold our nose about. Ned Colletti overpays for "character guys."

Based on last year, the Dodger player I was most happy to see come up was Rafael Furcal.

Actually, he was #2. I would have said J.D. Drew (seriously), because I admired his consistency. But now with Drew gone, I am happy to embrace Furcal as my favorite Dodger.

45

Is he the fifth outfielder, or the fourth?

Furcal.

Except for the month of April, he did everything that he was expected to do for the Dodgers, and then some. He was exciting to watch, he played hard, he made great defensive plays, and he showed some pop in his bat.

More importantly, he hustled the entire season and played the game hard from start to finish.

Somehow his accomplishments were overlooked by many. He also quieted those he considered him overpaid. At times he carried the team.

He might be more qualified for seventh or eighth.

Matt Kemp. I only attended four games in 2006, but one of them was The Last Game Gagne Ever Saved For The Dodgers. That game, I told my friend during Matt Kemp's second or third AB, "If he hits a home run during this at bat, we're both getting 'Matt Kemp' tattoos on our chests after the game." The next pitch was launched into the left field pavilion. We went crazy, but did not follow through on our promises later that night.

For that reason, every time I see Matt Kemp I can't help but smile. That's good enough rationale for me.

Billingsley is my favorite pitcher, and Loney is my favorite position player. If I have to choose one over the other, I go with Billingsley.

Thank god this didnt happen: from fox sports....
The Jays, according to major-league sources, failed in attempts to move outfielder Alex Rios to the Phillies for righty Brett Myers and to the Dodgers for righty Chad Billingsley and a second piece, most likely outfielder Matt Kemp or righty Jonathan Broxton........
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6375694
seeing that my favorite player is Chad Billingsley

1.Andre Ethier 2. Nomar 3. Raffy Furcal

Now don't go asking who our all time favorite is, my head hurts from this one bad enough...Ok, Orel Hershiser..

Definitely Jeff Kent. I love how much Giant fans resent his success for the Dodgers. I also remember him fondly as the one happy thing about 2005.

I look forward to adopting Loney as my favorite in future years. I love watching him play. I hope he can stay at 1st. What most impressed me about him was his first PA, walking against Smoltz. Then, when he was sent down, he said that he learned what he had to do to get by in the bigs and that he would do it. Then he went down to the minors, dominated, and was still awesome when he came back up.

Obligitory inflammatory comment of the day: Drew would have been my pick.

Guo

Does Vin Scully count for favorite current Dodger?

Aww, man! You guys took all the good ones, and I'm left with Jeff Kent!

Seriously, the guy could use a little love. He's down home, he likes to spend his weekends washing his truck, he doesn't get along with Barry. He's a sailor, he's in New York, if we get this guy...

OK, now all kidding aside, name two current Dodger players guaranteed to be in the Hall of Fame. Jeff Kent and who? Gonzo? Schmidt? Don't think so. Sure, he'll wear orange and black when he goes in, but we've been woefully short on HOF talent in the past few decades. We had Piazza (he'll be in). We had Murray for a couple of years. And Pedro for a season out of the 'pen. Anybody else? Sheffield, if he makes it - and he wasn't a guy to root for.

So I don't mind the deteriorating defense and the 'stache, I'll take Kent and root for an all-time great for a few years.

54 Great. I start writing a comment, get up to do my dish from dinner, come back and post, and find that Jeff Kent is taken too! I tell you, I can't win! ;-)

Loney.

So he'll get traded tomorrow, of course.

So he'll get traded tomorrow

Nah. Released.

58. Zach Hammes is free :-)

60 - Better. Released hurts a lot more.

Greg Miller....never give up hope!

from that same rosenthal article..

Meanwhile, the Dodgers and Phillies — two teams with a relative surplus of starting pitching — are holding tight, knowing the demand only will rise.

sounds good. lets pull our own zambrano for kazmir deal.

64 We'll be the ones getting the Kazmir in that deal, right?

RIGHT?

I'm gonna have to go with Kent because of the 'stache, but if he were to shave for some reason, then it would immediately change to Saito.

James Loney. He was a pitcher and now is a first baseman. Plus, he's a lefty. I was all those too.

Well, I'm still a southpaw.

All time is a no brainer for me. Koufax

We don't have any obvious Gary Sheffields or Kevin Browns to hold our nose about.
There's one who immediately comes to mind.

I'd also like to add that my favorite prospect (with no appearances in the majors) is Tony Abreu.

this ok st/texas game is awesome.

Current favorite pitcher: Chad "I'm an ace with runners in scoring position" Billingsley

Current favorite position player: Andre "3.5" Ethier

All-time favorite pitcher: KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKoufax

All-time favorite position player: Jack Roosevelt Robinson; he changed the game. He was also a vicious competitor. It also helped that he had 740 career walks to 291 career strikeouts, career .409 OBP.

70
This stupid game is cutting into Australian Open coverage, and my search for tonight's Camille Pin!

Favorite pitching prospect with no ML apperances: Orenduff, because he's a CAA guy

Favorite position prospect with no ML appearances: Laroche

72

Her?

72 I hope your search for the next Camille Pin turns out better than yesterday's discovery of Camille Pin.

As for prospects I go with Elbert and LaRoche. Elbert because it was the first time I ever bothered to follow MLB's draft and he was our first pick. LaRoche because I think he is our best position prospect and because we kinda have the same name, kinda.

70
Durant is so ridiculously good.

I am just choosing to ignore the reports about James Lofton being close to be named Raiders' coach.

I do not need two Karl Dorrell's coaching the teams I like.

76 Lyndon Larouche? I had my suspicions, but I'm glad you've finally revealed yourself. Will you be running again this year?

Her?

Hey, she's funny.

I hope your search for the next Camille Pin turns out better than yesterday's discovery of Camille Pin

Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby. But I'm open to change, preferably someone who is a good enough player to actually be on TV more than once a year.

my god its not fair that a man that tall anf long can nail threes like that.

Please, no double-overtime.

so if you had the first pick in the draft...durant or oden?

tough call.

79 Dude are you not familiar with Ashley Harkleroad?

Ashley Harkleroad

If I were to caption this photo, I'd probably go with "V is for Victory"

http://tinyurl.com/2afg5w

har har har to d4p

Wow.

cameltoe

69 Who? Kent? Penny?

Rough edges on both those guys to be sure, but nothing like the paranoiac narcissism of Gary Sheffield or the soul-sucking discontent of Brown.

84
Have you thought about the deleterious effect that photo could have on Sam DC's son's lunch box?

82
Depends on the team. Durant is the better scorer and probably overall player, but Oden is extremely good and plays a position that most NBA teams lack quality at. Really cannot go wrong with either player.

I'd like to adopt "soul-sucking discontent" as my superhero power.

87 Thanks to Britney Spears, the cameltoe is now extinct. You look at the picture and, y'know, at least she's covered.

Yes, I don't know what you call a cameltoe that's exposed.

And you all wonder why Oswald bailed on us.

Or maybe you don't.

94

We can't help what D4P does.

always leave it to marty to bring to light the large elephant(toe) in the room.

Icaros wins the "Who gets to blame and make fun of D4P first challenge."

Have you thought about the deleterious effect that photo could have on Sam DC's son's lunch box?

Anything to take his mind off Maria Sharapova...

BTW: Is there anything more annoying than the televised sporting event preceding the one you're interested in taking way longer to finish than it was expected to?

I call em as I see em...

97

Finally!

I'd like to adopt "soul-sucking discontent" as my superhero power.

Wouldn't we all?

98

this game is better then any women's sporting event.

I'll admit, I set that joke up, but I didn't expect you guys to go after it that much.

And kick it
And hit it with a bat
And shoot it with a bazooka
And drop a MOAB on it

Well done, lads. I knew you had it in you!

Thanks for the terrible angle ESPN.

this game is better then any women's sporting event

Thereby ending any chance of Oswald returning.

Sadly, unless Durant misses this game most likely is not going to another overtime.

105

Don't blame him. He's just a kid.

one of the knocks on durant coming out of high school was that he needed to show more fire when playing. Well, hes pretty freakin fired up tonight. wowwzerz

That is one weird camera angle they were using in Stillwater.

I wanted to see Durant get another chance, damn that sucks.

Damn, I hate coming in late, all the good ones are taken, can't be original.

I'll just go with honesty:
Russ Martin (a winner, competitor, good guy, already one of the most reliable guys on the team)
Takashi Saito (infectious guy)
James Loney (already!)
Derek Lowe (goofball personality, can't help but love it)

Unbelievable game. Besides Lebron, Kevin Durant is the best 18 year old basketball player I've ever seen. I don't think I've ever seen anybody handle the ball like that at his height. He's also an incredible shooter. This is the 3rd time I've seen Durant play. Where Durant/Oden are picked will depend on who gets the number one pick. If Charlotte gets the number 1 pick, they'd almost certainly take Durant. A team like the Grizzlies might prefer Oden. Either way, the teams that get the first two picks in the draft will both be winners. I'm extremely excited to see how this draft turns out because there is so much talent in it. There aren't many years where a player as talented as Mustafa Shakur could drop to the 2nd round.

Problem with NBA draft is that NBA scouts pigeon hole players and never change their minds and they look at potential more than anything. Mustafa was a guy that was going to be a second round pick if he came out last year or the year before. Now that he is actually starting to play well and actually showing something, he still will probably be a second round pick. The best thing he has going for him is that this draft may lack PG depth.

That was some game. How you feeling about 25 minutes of Andre and Roger, D4P?

The lunch box incident has not been repeated. And I'm man enough to admit I've never heard the term "cameltoe" before and I think that's a good thing.

How you feeling about 25 minutes of Andre and Roger, D4P?

Well, normally I get pretty annoyed when, after a sporting event has been delayed for an hour, they finally make it on the air and then talk for a long time, instead of going directly to the action.

But, in this case, I kinda enjoyed listening to Andre and Roger.

Veronica Mars just had a preview for next week's show during this week's show. Kind of dumb.

Luxembourg's Anne Kremer may end up being tonight's Camille Pin by default.

117 Dude you are KILLING me.

Just go watch some women's rugby and be done with it.

118
I'm not saying she's attractive, I'm just saying it doesn't look like there'll be any alternatives.

For whatever reason, the networks are convinced that Maria Sharapova is the only attractive female tennis player, and that, as a result, all of her matches should be shown because they think people want to watch her.

119 In your defense, there is one saving grace for all female tennis players...

Ridiculous gams.

The Real Housewives of Orange County are back! Let Nate rejoice.

Serena looks like she's aged 20 years, and eaten her sister.

http://tinyurl.com/37psls

Cockcrofts look at prospects (elbert and laroche are 6 and 15).

121

And the Wolfsmiths are as ridiculous as ever!

Which family is the Wolfsmiths?

Serena looks like she's aged 20 years, and eaten her sister

She is packing quite a bit of junk in her trunk these days. I doubt the Williams sisters win any more Grand Slams.

Rotoworld is reporting that the Raiders have named James Lofton their new head coach. Well, we'll have to see about that. Maybe he's a sleeper. Let's hope he brings a great Offensive coordinator with him.

Serena's earrings are bigger than my head.

Juan Pierre.

Because, like most citizens of teh Intarwebs, I like having something to endlessly moan and complain about.

127
It is bogus. Len Pasquerelli said that Lofton misinterpreted how far along they were in the process. Steve Sarkisian is still the most likely candidate. I want Josh McDaniels, the Patriots OC.

Did Serena get inspired by the episode where Homer grew obese so he could work from home?

131

I say that more for the speed with which she has ballooned than I am her actual size.

I'm no you-know-who.

I always wonder how WR coaches sell themselves as head coaches? "So.. your recieving corp was ranked 22nd in dropped passes and were 15th in yards after the catch? Not bad, not bad at all.."

At least most of it went in her rear.

I know he's not technically a current dodger, but for me there's only one answer to this question - Tom Niedenfuer. On my 7th birthday in 1982 my grandfather somehow got me a magic hook-up at Dodger Stadium, which included some box seats for me and some friends, plus the opportunity to have my picture taken with two Dodgers. My first choice, of course, was Steve Sax. All my friends told me to pick Fernando with my 2nd choice, but for some reason I picked Niedenfuer. My mother still enjoys retelling the story of watching from a distance as some ballpark guy relayed my request to him - she could read his lips as he responded, "Who, me?" I think he was touched by the gesture, because from that point forward he ran off a series of good seasons until the Jack Clark debacle.

This is all to say that the players we liked as kids continue to occupy a much bigger place in our hearts than anyone playing today could.

133
Yeah. Hey I told them to you know run the route well and then catch the ball.

135 That's a very cool story.

Is the Nathan Lane/Matthew Broderick version of "The Producers" any good?

Mostel/Wilder Producers : Broderick/Lane Producers :: Randy Johnson : Mark Hendrickson

139 Let 'em all go to hell, except Zero Mostel/Gene Wilder?

Chin-feng Chen... is he still with the team?

Loney: Defensive skills that cause grown men to use the word "silky." Also not bad with the bat.

Martin: If there's one position the Dodgers do right, it's catcher. Martin fits right in with this tradition.

I have to go with Loney or Either. It is fun to watch all of the young talent.

My wife and daugther love Nomar. I like Nomar because they will watch the games with me if he's playing.

My son loves Oscar Robles because of that one time that he singled on a ball that bounced before it got to him. He also likes Juan Pierre because he just turned 9 years old and that's who will be wearing the number 9 this season. He's not very rational about these things.

Russ Martin. We have to have a Canadian in the role of favorite Dodger since Gagne, (sniff), um, can't, go, on ... (tears raining down onto Gagne 8x10)

Martin, Rusell.

I like Robles, too. I liked Furcal before he was a Dodger, but Martin's the one.

44 Maybe the jersey just says "N O M A R"

135 I'd like to see Niedenfuer and Jean Pedro in a head-to-head competition.

139 Walter is the better Johnson for that.

hong-chih kuofax, hands down.

matt kemp and el toro broxton aren't far behind, though.

[141] last i heard, CFC was playing in taiwan.

Loney. off to work.

Oh man, I missed Veronic Mars last night. Oh well, it's not like I could have watched it anyway, I think my daughter would have attempted to kill me if I switched the channel away from American Idol.

Sorry if it's already been reported, but the Denver Post sez the Dodgers are finalizing a deal with one-time uberprospect Chin-Hui Tsao.

In other news, Joe Beimel (a.k.a. Joe Shotglass) wants $1.25M? The nerve!

I think my daughter would have attempted to kill me if I switched the channel away from American Idol

Stupid kids.

149, 151 DVR, the peacemaker.

V. Mars was a rerun last night according to my TVGuide. New episodes start next week.

151. I blame almost everything wrong with our culture on girls aged 7-15. Everything that our culture has produced that is lame can be traced to tweener girls.

152. I was supposed to get one with my cable, but I don't think it ever came, instead I got 4 free months, which is good since it covers phone and internet as well.

Everything that our culture has produced that is lame can be traced to tweener girls

Can't totally disagree with you there.

155
You are omitting Frank Robinson from this lameness matrix.

156. He would never have become a manager again without the existence of the Montreal Expos, thus, I blame his lameness on Candadian culture, thus he is not part of what our culture produces that is lame. This is akin to the Power Rangers, they are very lame, but I blame them on the Japanese, not American boys aged 5 to 9.

Has to be Billingsley followed closely enough to be tied with Martin

Yhency Brazoban deserves honorable mention in my favorites, can't believe how quickly we forget.

Logan White obviously deserves some praise, but if it has to be a player I will say Kuo, because I love high risk and high reward. Sure, he is five seconds from his arm falling off at any given moment, but right now he looks like a fireballin lefty with ace potential. I hope that one day the Dodger rotation will feature him, Billz, Elbert and Kershaw, no matter how impratical that dream is in the era of TINSTAAPP.

Sorry if it's already been reported, but the Denver Post sez the Dodgers are finalizing a deal with one-time uberprospect Chin-Hui Tsao.

thats actually a pretty good low risk, high upside deal there. When the nontenders were coming out, tsao was one person who i really liked...if like kuo, his arm doesnt fall off.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/features/03top10s/rockies.html

tsaos scouting report from 2003 when he was the rockies top propsect.

hes basically like a right handed Guo.

theres lots of youtube footage on Tsao, including him against the dodgers!

how does kuo compare with, say, kazmir?

I was about to answer that I don't have one, but then I remembered the Dodgers re-signed Takashi Saito.

Nomar because I have an autographed baseball.

163. :) "G"
165. :( "K"
vr, Xei

109. Weird camera angles are one of my favorite things about watching college basketball. Cameron Indoor has some wacky angles and the old Carolina venue (pre Dean Dome) had some as well.

There was a really odd one during the Newcastle/Tottenham match that Fox Sports has been replaying this week, it was almost straight down on the touch line.

The 'favorite current Dodger' question is tough, obviously Martin has picked up where Lo Duca left off as far as fandom is concerned...but I think ive done a full 180 on Kent, I used to despise him when he was on other teams, but now I think he might be my favorite Dodger. He's a perfect example of hating a guy unless he's on your side.

154- Teenage girls have always had horrible taste. The difference, now, is that their horrible taste is catered to because their parents give them money. The girls, you can't do anything about. But if the money dried up, all of a sudden there'd stop being boy bands, and public karaoke contests. And all those horrible scented unguents and lotions that get sold in stores without smell-proof doors. So that, when I'm walking over to the post office, I have to hold my nose for half a block on pain of the seizures that inhaling any of it would surely bring.

All because people like you give children like yours, money.

[168] sorry dude, i explained why i prefer K in the other thread:

1) kuo himself apparently spells it with a k, because that's how it is on all his official dodger information, most likely including his contract and legal documents. and as i said before, it's like jayson werth spelling his name with a y. maybe it's not standard romanization, but his prerogative nonetheless.

2) K = strikeout!

3) "guofax" just doesn't have the same ring to it ;)

Kuo doesn't throw as hard as Kazmir, and his breaking pitch isn't as developed, and of course there is the much more colorful injury history.

I am not sure Tsao can amount to anything, but there is really no downside to getting him. He has been injured for the last three years, and you may say that Kuo came back from that sort of thing, but we KEPT Kuo because we thought he could come back, while the Rockies' doctors no doubt played a role in the Rockies not even bothering to tender Tsao a contract. Sometimes a pitcher's arm really is ruined for good.

I try not to have a favorite because beltre was my favorite and it hurt when he left, but i truly get excited when BIG Olmedo comes up.

171. haha, no problem. I wish Taiwan would get ride of the Wade-Giles system, it makes for some pretty bad butchering of names from the english speaking community. There is no "K" sound in his name and I wish someone would let Vinny and the boys know.
vr, Xei

Didn't the BlueJays once think Carpenters arm was ruined for good?

173. Good point. I really stopped having favorite players by the time I was in my mid teens. It just seemed like the wrong kind of people to worship. I had plenty of favorites when I was younger though. I was a big Reds fan, and my favorite was Dave Concepcion. I was also a huge Minnesota Vikings fan and my favorite was Chuck Foreman. Back then I was pretty much the anti-LA Team fan. All the teams I liked seemed to have big rivalries with their LA counterparts, and usually did pretty well.
vr, Xei

[172] if tsao's injury was a tendon thing, that doesn't exactly sound like a career-killer. but what do i know.

what exactly is kuo's repertoire, anyway? i'd love a good scouting report on him.

Pre Injury or Post Post Post injury?

[178] um, now?

Nice to see local teenager (Thousand Oaks) Sam Querrey doing so well at the Australian Open. He hasn't dropped a set in the first two rounds, and now faces #7 seed Tommy Robredo (Spain) in the third round.
vr, Xei

175 -- I think Carpenter left the Blue Jays as a free agent. Not the same thing as not being tendered a contract when a club still has the rights to a player.

Vishal, welcome back from China. Hope you had a good time and left some dumplings for me to eat on my upcoming trip there. :)
vr, Xei

174- Do you have strong thoughts on bring the metric system to the U.S., by any chance?

181
From Rotowire:
10/10/2002
Carpenter declined an outright assignment to Triple-A Syracuse and has become a free agent. Earlier reports had both sides interested in bringing Carpenter back under a minor-league contract. It's hard to imagine a team out there agreeing to give him a major-league contract given the status of his right shoulder.

Yes, he was a free agent but it was because Toronto gave up on him and took him off the 40 man roster. It was as big a mistake as the Twins and David Ortiz.

A spot just opened up in my rotisserie league: NL, keeper, mature league (over 20 years old) with some owners who know what they are doing. New owner can inherit any of the defunct team's players (up to 15). Standard rotisserie rules, pretty much. Problem: auction takes place 4/7 in San Francisco. Any interest, email deburns88@sbcglobal.net.

Xeifrank, isn't Chinese Romanization generally on non-intuitive lines phonetically? I remember learning all of the weird translations in Chinese Philosophy, but the only example that springs to mind now is that Taoism is Daoism. The guy who first started the translating apparently thought it was a good idea to use roman letters to represent completely unrelated sounds when describing Chinese words.

That being the case, Kuo seems just as appropriate a spelling as Guo, even if the pronunciation is the latter, not the former.

183. Das macht nichts.
vr, Xei

184 The Ortiz thing is kind of tough. It wasn't just the injuries. The Twins have to be very careful how they allocate their salaries, and Ortiz was going to get a huge bump in arbitration. They couldn't even find a trade partner for him.

I'm not saying it was smart (obviously, it turned out very poorly), but he was 27, hit .272, and not the David Ortiz of today (58 HRs in 6 seasons).

I wouldn't presume to tell you how to do your business, Bob, but I think there might be a growth market for your services, in India.

http://tinyurl.com/32spmw
http://tinyurl.com/34l4fy
http://tinyurl.com/2rxwtm

187- Getting up in arms about Taiwan's having a different transliteration standard than China's is the sort of thing I suspect Metric system advocates do in their spare time. I don't now if it makes perfect sense, but I'm sure it doesn't make none.

188 While he wasn't David Ortiz, he hit .272/.339/.500 in his age 26 season, and had made $950,000 in the previous year. He would have got 1.5-2 million in arbitration. Even if they hated the fact he couldn't hit lefties, he could have platooned with Matt LeCroy.

It was a mistake even if he would have never become David Ortiz.

Weird, every time I post a reply to Xei, I misspell something, or leave off the suffix. Xei, are you controlling my mind with satellite mind rays?

186. There's more than one system. The one used in mainland China is quite a bit different from the one used in Taiwan. Taiwan uses the Wade-Giles system and PRC uses Pinyin (might have a more official name?). Taiwan not only has the Wade-Giles system, but also has there own phonetic system called "bo po mo fo" or (Zhu ying fu hao (sp?)), which are a set of non Romanization and non Chinese set of characters. This system is very equivalent to the PRC's pinyin system, just with special looking characters. Taiwan also uses the traditional chinese characters, and PRC uses simplified ones. Taiwan says they want to preserve the traditional Chinese written language and the PRC obviously wants to help cut down on carpal tunnel syndrome. That all being said, Mr Kuo is from Taiwan, thus the Wade-Giles spelling. The pinyin system is "western friendly", Giles isn't, thus the name butchering. For example, how would you pronounce this last name "Hsu".
vr, Xei

191 I agree. It just seems as though some people (not ToyCannon, but others) want to turn it into Larry Andersen for Jeff Bagwell, or Zambrano for Kazmir. It wasn't.

192. I just assumed you were using some variant of the Wade-Giles system, thus all the typos. :) vr, Xei

[190] dude, i don't think it's a fringe position. we really ought to adopt the metric system. it's just... easier. and it's really stupid that we're the only ones in the world that don't use it. and besides, wouldn't you want to see joel zumaya hit 165 kph with his fastball?

196. UK. I say we blame the queen.
vr, Xei

[184] i don't blame carpenter for not wanting to come back to syracuse. it's kind of a slow town.

193- However the person whose name it was asked me to. But, barring his instruction, like shoe.

[182] thanks man, i got your email! don't worry, there are still dumplings left in beijing. i left you half ;)

196- Oh Vishal. How would you like to see a Rockies game in the 1.6 Km High City? Or, having promises to keep, have multiples of 1.6 kilometres to go before you sleep?

199. Mind rays again? No comprendo, it's a riddle.
vr, Xei

James Loney

202- Riddles have answers. Did you mean rhetorical question?

[201] hah! i don't know about those, but i wouldn't mind joining the 1.6 kilometer high club, at least. i could eat 15 centimeter sub sandwiches or 30 centimeter hot dogs. i wouldn't mind seeing 80 meter touchdown runs. i don't mind equating "freezing" with "sub-zero".

oddly enough, while i'm pro-metric, i'm anti-british spelling. they can keep their -re endings and their funny accents, just give me their measuring devices.

205 The spelling thing is a horse of a different colour.

206- Nobody swings like 1.6 Kilometers Davis, eh?

Hmm. Alright. Three strikes and I'm out; time for a Mavis Bacon refresher course.

208 Mavis Bacon? Any relation to Kevin?

Strike four.

This metric system talk is cracking me up because the Nats chatters are busy talking over this gem: http://www.freedom2measure.org/

Xeifrank, I would guess that is pronounced like who, I actually had a friend with that last name in college but I can't accurately remember how to pronounce it. Since Kuo spells it that way, it must be fine. Have you tried sending Vin a note about the pronounciation? This is the sort of thing I imagine he would very much like to get right.

[207] we don't need to be precise. we can call him "couple kilometers" davis instead.

[206] is that an attempt at "humour"? tsk, tsk.

211. Andrew was correct, Hsu is pronounced like the english word "shoe". How does one go about sending a note to Vin? Perhaps I could go through Mr Stallone?
vr, Xei

I'm surprised with all this metric conversion chat, that the SS of Cardinals hasn't been belittled. Where's Mr Brock when you need him!? vr, Xei

[210] http://www.metric4us.com/

170. I don't have money for a DVR, what makes you think I have money to give my daughter?

As for kids all of a sudden getting money and thrusting horrid culture upon us, must I remind you of David Cassidy, Leif Garret, Andy Gibb, Kids Incorporated, Elvis Movies, Gidget, or Desi Arnaz Jr.?

Aw, come on, I don't belittle Mr. Eckstein. I just point out his mediocrity and mock his intangibleocity. He seems like a decent enough fellow. And I know some of you have gotten tired of it, so I'm trying not to do it.

I didn't even respond when you baited me with the Viva El Birdos link the other day!

Oh, the Raiders are interviewing JAMES Lofton. I was hoping it was Kenny Lofton.

218. I loved James Lofton when he was on the Packers, probably because he was the only good player on the Packers at the time.

Aw, come on, I don't belittle Mr. Eckstein.

Is such a thing even possible?

217, Don't you mean mediogritty?

Furcal:

1. He gets on base, drives the ball, can steal a bag, is a switch hitter who can hit from both sides of the plate, has a gun of an arm, and seems to be a leader.
2. His after game interviews are hilarious. His broken English simply can't communicate his obvious knowledge of the game. But I love to hear every answer start with "Yeah. Well, we just..."

Garciaparra:

1. Complete player with a good attitude. Seems humble
2. Is the most gracious interviewee. I believe him when he talks about it being a team game and he talks about it being a team win. He always seems genuine and doesn't seem to seek out attention as an individual player.
3. He can flat out hit!

By the way, great topic. I was afraid of becoming Pierrenally depressed.

Russell Martin is my current favorite though both Nomar and Furcal would get some votes as well. After that, Broxton, Saito, Kuo and Billingsley among the hurlers.

Russell has not only showed the maturity, know how and skills to be a major league catcher, his back story with his father is a really cool story and reveals his true character.
BTW, our new backup Mike Lieberthal got married this offseason and was married by the minister of the church I go to. My pastor said he was a real nice guy. Corey Lidle was supposed to be his best man before his tragic death.

I don't think there's been a vote for JP

225 Jeromy's nine-year-old son is in the Juan Pierre camp (143)

We're giving him a free pass on that until he's 10.

209- Not a typo, just a Snookian slip.

216- But even then, there were alternatives. And adults didn't so much subject themselves to the cruel whims of teenager taste. Now, what options do we have? When was Taj Mahal's last appearance on the Tonight Show? Sure, we could all start listening to Adult Contemporary, the way Brock does, but that's not a reasonable solution for normal people.

217 - I would rather have players with the heart and attitude of the X factor than Mr. Steroid. Bonds just makes me want to puke, sorry if that violates any of Jon's rules, but it is my true feelings.

228

I would rather have a grandfather that wears plaid shorts over one that eats puppies and little children. Sorry if that's crazy, it's just how I feel.

227. I didn't know that buildings could make appearences on the Tonight Show. And you are talking about teenager tastes, a much different beast from that of the tween, to which I was alluding. Until you watch the Disney Channel, you have no idea what you are up against.

230- I'm not talking to you anymore until I'm satisfied that you've (a) purchased and, (b) sufficiently appreciated this: http://tinyurl.com/2rcq67

The proper response to 231, by the way, is: If you don't like my peaches, baby/You don't have to shake upon my tree.

Russell Martin

232: I'd just like to speak of the pompitous of that comment.

SMB, "The Joker"- 1973
Taj Mahal, "Done Changed My Way of Living"- 1968

You do the math.

I wonder who's winning the Favorite Dodger poll.

Considering what we get for the money, I'm tempted to say that Dessens is my favorite. Who else is named after glue?

I'm with everyone else who loves Saenz. Whenever he's up in a key situation, my wife and I have a conversation as to whether the killer tomato is feeling sexy today.

231. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Music to me is like TV to Xeifrank, don't even try to get me to discuss or buy anything I just completely tune out.

So it seems to have drifted away from the main post, but my favorite current Dodger is Takashi Saito.

I suppose that a question like that has an immediate edge to anyone who is involved in dramatic situations, and hence, any closer is. But I saw Saito pitch his way out of two very tight jams in very exciting finishes in two games last year at PhoneCoPark, and he came across as heroic for it.

Martin's easy to like, as well, but I haven't personally seen him play the hero yet. And none of the current Dodgers OPS over 1.000 for long enough to make "favorite" a contest of stats.

Wow, the Pirates get Adam LaRoche for Mike Gonzalez? Nice trade for the Bucs.

Let us never bring Steve Miller into the conversation again please.

240 - Unbelievable. If that trade goes through it is the worst trade in recent memory. A guy with a 900+ OPS last year, for a 29 year old (in April) relief pitcher? There has to be more to this deal. If that is all it takes, then not only could we have had Laroche for Broxton and they would have had to throw Andruw in too.

I don't have a particular favorite anymore. Everytime I gave a player that designation, he'd get traded.

242 There's more to the deal, but that's been unreleased. Knowing the Pirates, they probably gave up Andrew McCutchen and Brad Lincoln.

I'm no fan of Adam LaRoche, but this deal seems really weird. There are lower level prospects involved, so we'll see, but it's a head-scratcher on many levels.

245 Agreed, I went looking through LaRoche's stats for anything that would suggest that 2006 was a giant fluke, but it's not there.

He was pretty unlucky in 2005, which made his 2006 seem more out there, but it looks like this was just good development in his age 27 season.

I'd take Bay/LaRoche in the middle of my lineup.

New post up top.

A tie between Martin and Ethier. Also a huge Nomar fan.