Seriously. I could do a better job coaching third with no major league experience. It's Nomar running from second. It's a hard hit ball. There's no need to... argh, I give up.

Doesn't fact that it's 2 out in a tie game make the risk more worthwhile? Not defending the call.

Wow Jon you type really really fast, Oh an I totally agree with you on Donnelly.

Donnelly should have to drink a gallon of milk in between innings, as punishment. Some kind of aversion therapy, anyway. Maybe he could be hooked up to a car battery, while on the field, that Grady controlled with a remote. The signal for "go home" would be the same, but the signal for "stay where you are" would, now, be Donnelly falling to the ground shaking as if he had a seizure.

So are we gonna keep on posting here or was this a Vent thread?

2 - Banging my head against a wall is better with two out, yes.

one would have thought he might have been tempered a little bit by last year's playoff fiasco... but apparently not.

5 - Might as well move up here.

has the gameday thread migrated over here?

Where have you gone Glen Hoffman?

Donnelly makes Lasorda look like a piker at third base.

From Josh Rawitch:

In regards to Lowe, he was not named team captain, though we've heard that from several people. It was a joke that a couple guys were playing in the clubhouse the other day, so they put it on his uniform. To date, only five people have been Dodger captains: Pee Wee Reese (1949-58), Duke Snider (1962), Maury Wills (1963-66), Willie Davis (1973) and Davey Lopes (1978-79).

how close was that last ethier out to well..being out?

I'm just saying, if you're going to take a risk, do it with 2 out in a tie game. You probably weren't going to score him anyway with 2 out, and value of the run is greater than the opportunity cost of scoring 2 or more runs that you give up if you get thrown out. Of course, if he has no chance you don't send him though.

13 - Like a few balls this week, it was a towering 400-foot out.

Three hard-hit balls in the top of the sixth.

30 feet higher and it would've been out?

Three LOUD outs.

B-mits been hittin it hard today.

14 - I hear what you're saying, completely agree - and it's completely irrelevant to this situation. It's not as if the pitcher was on deck. It was Martin on deck, and Byrnes could have probably raced Garciaparra home with the ball and nearly beat him.

I don't know if you were watching, but it takes a lot to make me do a new post in the middle of the game about a third-base coach. It was not close.

Donnelly during postgame interview, "Well, at least it was only one out."

17 I said the same thing on the other thread. Before I noticed that I was all alone.

I've never heard players be compared to "battleships"--but Mark Grace just made that comparison the last inning.

Garciaparra would have just about have had a better chance stealing home than trying to score on that hit.

I guess this is not a tryout for Schmidt's spot for Billz.

I was going to leave a comment on the last thread that we had all moved on up, but Jon closed comments, which was a good way to do the same thing.

19 I was watching Jon. My comments are in relation to your introduction above: "with 2 out in a 4-4 game." I got the impression that you thought those conditions made the decision worse. Perhaps you were just describing the context in a neutral fasion. If so then I misinterpreted.

Note to other teams: feel free to continue trying to steal against Martin.

You cannot run on Russ Martin.
Bad decision by Melvin.

I hope Russ doesn't let his heroic god-like abilities go to his head.

I think Donnelly gave Byrnes the steal sign.

26 - Sorry if I came on too strong. Mostly I was setting the scene, but I think it's important to note that you shouldn't be throwing away baserunners in a tie game, no matter how many outs there are.

Wow, you could hear that foul ball in the booth. I think that was Monday screaming like a girl.

Betemit may not hit for average, but he's an RBI Machine, with 4 ribbies in a mere 28 ABs thus far, despite batting at the bottom of the order

Donnelly must have thought Gonzo was still playing left for the Dbacks.

Valdez hit in the hand by a pitch - trainer out to attend to him.

33 "RBI Machine"? Where have you gone, D4P?

28

It was Byrnes trying to steel 2nd base.

Hmm... That might solve our Valdez problem for a couple of weeks.

Do we know who will get the call up for Schmidt's spot?

LA Dodgers can steal...

Valdez now has more steals as a Dodger than Oscar Robles.

Coming into the night the Dodgers lead the NL in Steals and SB%.

Well, its up to Pierre to deliver.

Olney!

I'm calling for the squeeze.

12

I was wondering about that.

Steiner just called that a "Productive out" by Furcal.

I'll add that it was a good piece of hitting.

Gonzalez would have had a better than even shot at nailing Nomar, if he'd been in left. I don't know why Pierre's falling down made me laugh, and Donnelly's screw up made me (makes me; I'm not over it, yet) angry, but man. If the in house wardrobe guy isn't willing to, I'd be happy to fly out and staple Donnelly's arms to his torso. That can't keep happening. Something has to change.

Pierre = Power Hitter

24. I guess this is not a tryout for Schmidt's spot for Billz.

From Henson (LA Times):

>>> Little said right-hander Chad Billingsley has only an outside chance of replacing Schmidt because he hasn't thrown more than about 35 pitches in a game this season. <<<

http://tinyurl.com/2lo28j

Oh, looks like Pierre will finally get his headline.

I am so glad Robles in not on this team.

Atta boy

Wow. He's really fast.

was that an inside the parker or a tripe & an error?

E or inside the park? Can't tell on the radio.

At this exact moment, I heart Pierre

That was quite unprobable by Pierre.

Triple plus error.

That might actually have qualified as Havok.

Triple and E. The guys at 3rd couldnt handle the relay throw.

55, 56

Triple and an error.

Should be Triple + E1

3B E-4

62

D'oh, 10 seconds too slow.

Wow, who's this Pierre fellow playing today? He looks like a keeper!

Seriously, though, that's two really solid extra base hits for him today, a very good sign after looking like a complete weakling to start the season.

If this were RBI Baseball, Pierre would have been credited with a homerun

Well, I would have given the error to Pena, but it appears was given to Callapso instead.

Or E-6, rather.

PS: Why is Pierre's run an "earned" run, as Gameday appears to be suggesting?

Grace is ripping on the Cubs

I think Kent has a beautiful swing for a righty.

68 Pena never had the ball. It came in low and hot, glanced off Tracy's glove, off Pena and down the line.

Pierre would have scored on the single.

If Pierre can keep hitting hard line drives, he can play on my team.

74
But Gameday had already scored it as an earned run prior to the single

That's the wreaking havoc that I was hoping to see before the season started, and the first ball I've seen Pierre hit in the air all season (admittedly, I may have missed a few AB's).

Now if someone could just explain to me why it still seems that Pierre is playing center field with rollerskates on I might be a tad more optimistic about his long-term deal.

Gameday knows all.

77 - They arnt rollerskates. They are those shoes that have the single wheel in the heel. I use them while grocery shopping, Pierre for catching fly balls.

I don't think we have any reason to think Pierre will perform any different than he has the past few seasons. He is what he is, and he's not a liability in the 2 spot. I won't defend the roller disco in the outfield.

Does Bob have a Law (or even a Corollary) for "First Team to 10 Wins in the Season"...?

81
No.

They are those shoes that have the single wheel in the heel. I use them while grocery shopping, Pierre for catching fly balls.

Oh man LOL :o)

The biggest man alive!!!

Billingsley looking a bit better the last couple outings than he did earlier. I'm fine with Hendrickson getting the starts if Schmidt's only gonna miss a few starts, but if it's more of a long-term thing I would hope they let Chad take over.

Grace saw Broxton. Man-love time.

Ok, I guess I like Grace as an announcer. Couldn't be any different from Vin, but he has his charm.

84

Imagine what'll happen when Broxton actually gets in the game.

85

Same here if i remember correctly Bills had a huge last month of the season, really good ERA.

Is Brox the biggest man in the bigs? Do we have any 300 pounders?

90

C.C. Sabathia and Broxton are listed at 290.

Sabathia was the only other big guy I could really think of off the top of my head.

Sabathia's probably bigger than Broxton.

JW, is there a specific reason you closed comments in the last thread? Or is that just your way of herding the DT crowd past the world-class artist over here? ;)

And does anybody know if records are kept on inside-the-park HRs, like most in a season, career, etc?

93 - I started a new thread and didn't want people to be confused.

Penny must be up there in size, too? But anyway, as big as Broxton is, he looks that much bigger to Grace, apparently. Grace really does seem like he's eaten way too many Fruit Loops before the game.

93

from my understanding there counted like regular dingers, I could be wrong though.

Mark Grace is a same-sex chubby chaser. Who would've thunk it?

95 I think he just knows they didn't put him in the booth to intellectualize.

The Clips are really aging our good friend ToyCanon

Broxton is big
Sabathia is fat
Grace performs "slump busters"

This has probably been answered already so i apologize, but - Luis Gonzales had TJ surgery, a procedure usually performed on pitchers. These players come back with stronger arms. What's up with Luis? FYI, I will not be satisfied with the answer, "because he is old and weak" or "he is saving his arm for October." His arm should be stronger. Right?

The Dodger bullpen is becoming boring the best sense of the word.

Grace is really scaring me. I think I may need to go in the other room for this inning of the "Biggest Man Alive."

The Clippers: "I'm not dead yet."

Grace is really obsessed w/ Broxton

Can't stop on skates. He had to take it.

broxtons gameday photo is really intimidating.

101 Luis has a torn elbow ligament, but decided not to have the TJ surgery. Basically, his arm could go at any minute and in the meantime is quite weak.

His arm should be stronger. Right?

he also had shoulder labrum surgery.

Luis has a torn elbow ligament, but decided not to have the TJ surgery. Basically, his arm could go at any minute and in the meantime is quite weak.

so you're saying there is hope!??!

i kid, i kid.

Stephen Drew's Gameday photo is not quite an intimidating

Oops. Nice pick-up, bad throw. Can't win 'em all Raffy.

Thing is, he makes that play 14 times of 15.

110 I have the story right, don't I? I just remember going into last season people were afraid to draft him in my fantasy league because his elbow was kept together by duct tape.

abreu was 0-3 today but he drew another walk. this is crazy, hes driving me crazy and making me eat crow.

So, all homerism aside, who wants to lay odds on Martin winning an MVP someday?

just overpowered him

116

2%...but hes good enough to be drinking whole milk.

113 He does.

Meanwhile, Mark Grace just went downstairs to try to get Broxton's autograph.

Billingsley pitching to Carlos Quentin and Conor Jackson two nights in a row makes me think of the 2003 draft, and the months and weeks leading up to it. All three guys were first rounders, Jackson going to Arizona 19th overall, Billingsley going to the Dodgers 24th overall, and Quentin going to Arizona 29th overall (Arizona had two Top 30 picks that year). Leading up to the draft, Quentin was one of two guys I wanted the Dodgers to use their first pick on, and the fact that Quentin was a Dodger fan was only part of the reason. Jackson had some Dodger fans hoping he would be picked by the Dodgers, because he is from the L.A. area. One guy on another Dodger board used to play ball against Jackson in high school. As it ended up, I'm happy we got Billingsley instead of Quentin, but Quentin wouldn't have been bad either.

103
The Diamondback's color commentator ought to start living up to his name (Grace). His calling of Broxton "big" makes him (Broxton) sound like a low-life WWE wrestler, and his calling of women "babes" is nauseatingly insulting.

Clipper fans can't get excited because Dallas tanked it against Golden State.

118 I think it's higher. Maybe 10%. If he keeps throwing out runners like he does he'll get excessive credit for that. Shuting down the oppenents running game and all that. All he needs is a high average moderate power season and he'll rank high.

120

hey canuck, what do you think of SS John Tolisano and SS D.J. LeMahieu?

Okay thanks for the input. I've read how much the frustration permeates here as any routine ball hit towards our starting LF and CF potentially leads to a double. Maddening to watch.

Vin Scully just said "Alice in Chains"....wow

121.
Yeah, I really dislike the Diamondbacks' TV team. I watched the game last night (two Dodger games back to back that I could actually watch!) and they really got to me. They never said anything important and tried to fill time with dumb comments like "Broxton is big." Oh well, I really enjoyed being able to see a game.

Golden State just owned Dallas in the reg. season this year for some reason. I wouldn't expect that to continue in the playoffs, however. (Sorry to Clipper fans, but I've been sorta rooting for the Warriors to make it, living in the bay area and having bedraggled friends who are longtime fans and sick of their losing ways...)

114

I have the story right, don't I? I just remember going into last season people were afraid to draft him in my fantasy league because his elbow was kept together by duct tape.

He,he, I just dropped Jason S and add Gonzo in my team...

The Clippers playoff hopes rest on the shoulders of the esteemed basketball team from Portland.

Can Dan Dickau outplay Baron Davis?

126 - In what context?

meanwhile, the giants will be getting the calvary pretty soon....

lincecum tonight in AAA

6.2IP 3H 0ER 0bb 11K

boooo.

the esteemed basketball team from Portland

Er, the basketball team from esteemed Portland

125 Looks like I may be wrong as Baseball Reference said he had it. In that case, I have no idea why his arm still sucks so bad.

116. So, all homerism aside, who wants to lay odds on Martin winning an MVP someday?

The Dodgers once had a catcher win the MVP three times. So why not?

135. My fantasy teams would appreciate Martin winning the MVP, so I'll vote yes

Clipper fans can't get excited because Dallas tanked it against Golden State.
Yea, I've been watching the game. It's kind of comical to hear the Warriors announcers praising the team's defense. Dallas is playing guys who would be bench players in the D-League.

Meanwhile, Phoenix played all of their starters and the Clippers won. It's definitely frustrating to see Dallas give away a game, especially since I read that Avery Johnson is going to play all of their starters tomorrow. I'll be rooting for the Warriors to beat Dallas (even though that's unlikely to happen).

Pierre is an animal; 5 total bases today! Will that be his season high by the end of the year or will he have a 6 hit game?

Good pitch, Sammy!

131 - He was mentioning one of the Arizona pitchers (I forget who) plays guitar at local clubs and he's pretty good and mentioned that pitcher plays Alice in Chains music occasionally...

Can Dan Dickau outplay Baron Davis?
Dan Dickeau is an all star compared to Dallas' starting point guard tonight - Jose Juan Barea.

Steiner is excited.

Nice double play.

That was actually an exceptional catch.

Sheesh, that could have been a 1 UDP.

Saito showing he's a veteran with that presence of mind, most rooks wouldn't do what he did in that double play.

How did we get so lucky as to fall into Saito immediately on the heels of the loss of Gagne?

Very satisfying win. We're definitely showing our true colors early on. This is a good team.

Wha happen? Can someone describe that DP?

139 - Thanks a lot. Sounds a little surreal

Steiner is excited

I can't listen to him

I like the on-field product so much. It's just such a shame that the game-going experience at Dodger Stadium is so shoddy...the discrepancy is causing much turmoil in my mind.

124 -- Tolisano and LeMahieu seem like pretty well-rounded players, but neither of them is expected to stick at SS. They are probably first-round supplemental/second rounders. I wouldn't mind one of them, but there are probably players we could take that early that I would be more interested in. What has prompted your interest in them?

146

good scouting i guess.

153. Sure. But I don't think he was projected to be a dominant closer was he?

That was sweet, that's all I can say. A very satisfying series.

132 I assume the Giants will be calling him up to work in the pen, eh, Nate? Now all they need is for him to also hit well and they're set!

Back to work. High fives all around. Night all.

148 Big - With the runner at second, the batter hit a sinking line shot that Saito speared just before it the ground and then lobbed over to second to get the runner there. Game over.

134 So he LG did have the surgery. Maybe his throwing range was poor when he was healthy as well (?) Don't remember announcers or anaylysts mentioning this... doesn't make sense.... at least he is not feeling any pain. Our eyes are though... I'm sure he is a good guy.

152

I agree, i wasnt expecting them to stick at SS but

Tolisano- I like his toolset and his switch hitting abilities. Ive watched his batting videos at baseballwebtv and I really like his right handed batting stance and swing. reminds me of russ' swing.

Lemahieu- I love his power projectibility. He is really athletic for being so tall and he is certain to fill out. I also like his swing from what i saw. From what Ive read, he seems to have a clue up at the plate, it would be nice to add another power hitting prospect into the system.

Sorry, too many spelling errors.

156 Cool- thanks. I'm chillin in Kauai with no KCAL.

150- consider yourself fortunate.

If you meant it the other way, then I agree with you.

158

to add, i would think tolisano would be somewhere around our supp pick and Lemahieu around our 2nd round pick.

157 Is this a rule 11 violation? :)

161
I meant "I have MLB Audio, but I turned it off once the Dodgers won."

Gonzalez had elbow surgery in 2004:

http://tinyurl.com/23gybb

160. Working or vacationing there?
vr, Xei

i'm happy for valdez that he's playing well in the majors, but, omg, he's a moron

Lowe vs Rodrigo Lopez tomorrow. Gotta like our chances. vr, Xei

163Making fun of my sandals, That's a paddle'n. Paddle'n the school canoe, That's a paddle'n. Defamation with rule #11, oh, you better believe that's a paddel'n!

166 Out here for a week vacationing in Poipu Beach. 4th visit in 6 years.

i just saw the juan pierre triple highlight. I still cant believe he hit that ball that far.

The general rule is that your runner should hit the bag before the outfielder touches the ball. I say "general rule" because it's the kind of rule you use with mentally defective third base coaches. It's not dogmatic, but it keeps dumb people from making dumb decisions.

It seems as if Donnelly is said defective coach. Dude, foot on third before the outfielder touches the ball.

I'm probably violating some rule or another, but was Tomko using his old delivery tonight? He certainly didn't pitch like new delivery Brett.

167 What do ya mean? Was he interviewed on a post-game show or something?

169 Give the man credit for makin' a reference to Jasper from The Simpsons.

This may have been posted in Game Thread #1, but has everyone seen Alyssa's latest blog post? She doesn't seem to appreciate Gonzo's arm either.

http://tinyurl.com/2greqn

175 I racked my brain, but couldn't place that reference to Jasper. Thanks

One more post for overnight up top ...

Comment #170 was deleted because of guidelines 3 and 4 - it appeared specifically designed to start a conflict.

179 I thought you deleted commenter #170 too or did I miss something?

167. i'm happy for valdez that he's playing well in the majors, but, omg, he's a moron

That's nothing. This morning Gary Shefield was on Rome promoting his new book. I can't imagine anyone would buy his book after hearing this. I kid you not, I was taken aback at how stupid this guy is. He could not even understand Rome's questions never mind formulate an answer, intelligent or otherwise. Even Rome was gassing on him. Of course Rome did it after the interview because Rome is such a wuss that he never takes anyone on on-air. (Ok, maybe Chrisie Everett but that was 10+ years ago) In fact, Rome is such a wuss in this post-Imus world that after Shef's usual rant about how players are treated badly and underpaid, Rome asked if it was true for all players including Shef, another black player (who's name escapes me right now) and Payton Manning. Not once but twice, Shef said no its wasn't the same for Manning and Rome didn't have the nerve to ask him to articulate the distinction.

178. UGH!!!