I guess you could have lost a mackerel in that grass too.

I'm going through withdrawals.

... Hahaha. I actually was arguing with my fiancee about the location of those two pitches; I had to go on and prove her wrong!

Man, I'm glad they won this game; I can forget most of the details, now.

"With or without a Dotel trade at this year's trading deadline, I'm extremely optimistic about 2008. If the Royals finish worse than 3rd in the AL Central, I'll be disappointed."

Talk about your different expectations. :)

Oh, and speaking of different expectations, he wants Andy LaRoche, Scott Elbert, and a "marginal third player" for Dotel.

I will offer that with these caveats:
1) Buck and Shannon worked together
2) Shannon is not working now as his wife is gravely ill.

... I'll say that the Dodger games that stand out as my favorites, from a broadcasting standpoint, were those games done with Vin and Don Drysdale alternating three-inning periods.

Most of those games come from the 1988 season, which was memorable in its own right -- but there was an easy quality about Drysdale's voice as a broadcaster that really was enjoyable for me. I still miss Big D.

>>> Wolf originally was hoping to return to the Dodgers rotation after just one Minor League start. Reading between the lines, it might take more than two. He made 62 pitches, and considering the weary bullpen, the Dodgers really can't afford to put him back into the rotation until he's pushing 100 pitches <<<

http://tinyurl.com/28aa35

We all know the bullpen will be depleted after Colorado-it is a 4 game series not a 3 gamer! and this way we have another arm if necessary.

There was the caveat of the title best radio team.

Since Vin only had a partner during those World Series radio broadcasts in the 80's and 90's, its hard to argue Vin should be in the mix.

I enjoyed Dick Enberg and Big D (were they a team or did they just take turns?)

DT Road trip anyone?

If it was that easy for a mediocre or below-average pitcher to become good by "rediscovering" a lost pitch, changing their position on the rubber, visiting a sports psychologist, or eating chicken bones than we wouldn't have bad pitchers.

I know it isn't good PR, but bad pitchers have good stretches and good pitchers have bad stretches from time to time. I know the manager or pitching coach can't say "Brett hasn't been very good for us the last 2 years, but he's pitching well and we're going to ride it out until he performs otherwise"

It's still a heck of a lot better than the usual garbage that coaches spew out of their mouths.

/end rant

"I could've stayed in," Penny said after the Los Angeles Dodgers' 5-4 win over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday night. "I'm like, 'I'm fine.' They're like, 'No."

Like, good news, I guess.

Man, Loney's brainfart at 1st base was frustrating. C'mon James, don't leave a place on your shelf for that gold glove award until you can remember to get your foot on the bag before catching the ball.

But anyway, nice to get the W and I'll "see" y'all this weekend.

Where's our weepy documentary?

He doesn't expect to miss a start because of strained groin.

http://tinyurl.com/276stu

Meloan is not this guy. He has great stuff, great headline numbers, and great peripherals. Why in Choi's name is Colletti scouting Meloan? Hey, Mustache, he's good. Really good. Just bring him up already.

1) Distribute 5 million dollars between the ASPCA, PETA, and other animal advocacy groups.

2) Talk about how his southern upbringing and exposure to dogfighting/cockfighting made him insensitive to the plight of animals, and how he now sees the sadistic nature of using animals as play things (he doesn't even have to believe it).

3) Become an advocate for animals (he doesn't have to really believe it).

4) Beg for mercy, and claim that his new efforts will do a thousand times more good than punishing him. Say that the work he will do will save thousands of animals, and that his prior misdeeds will be exceeded by his new activism.

5) Win

I suppose this was noted in the game thread, but tonight was a really unusual game for the Dodgers in that the 26-and-under club was a collective 0-for-13, but the 29-and-over geezers were 7 for 19 and produced all the runs.

When the Dodgers wake up today, Friday July 27, 2007, the Padres have the same 54-47 record, but are now in third place, 2 games behind the Dodgers with their 57-46 record.

The Dodgers are 9 1/2 games better than they were last year but remember, they are now about to hit that period where the Dodgers rolled out a 19-3 record, so watch those comparisons to last year.

I say punish him* and fine him 5 million dollars to be distributed between the ASPCA, PETA, and other animal advocacy groups.

*Perhaps by throwing him in a pit of wild dogs

Well keep in mind he also scouted Maddux when he could have just looked at DIPS.

A 5-year old what...?

Maybe it was just a really short adult.

My best friend's nickname is Bear and for a very good reason. I'll check with him on the hair at 5 thing.

http://tinyurl.com/2khwxv

But isn't it very likely that Kent will be back next year...?

If Colletti is close to trading for Dotel he probably wants to see for himself if Meloan makes that trade unnecessary.

If Tiexiera goes to a NL team he could take the rest of the year to adjust to NL pitching.

Loney was jumping off first to get into better fielding position after holding the runner and had to keep his eye on the throw before he could get his foot on the base. He had a runner coming at him. The throw was below his knees so he had to open his stance a little to catch it. That's the excuse if not the reason.

While I like Kent saying something to Loney about hotdogging, I wonder who says something to the veterans when they get thrown out at third or watch a ball drop at their feet in the outfield while they decide who should catch it?

http://tinyurl.com/2opnaz

Is this really true anymore? I don't know the answer, but it seems that the distinction between leagues is less prevalent in the free agency era.

And if there is a difference in pitching between the AL and NL, how much of it is because of the DH?

Has Hull pitched well enough that he stays instead of obtaining the likes of Proctor?

Could Meloan be the 7th inning guy?

With Lowe and Penny and Saito and Wolf part of the mix and all off the injured list, with Tomko and Bills doing well, with Hull being effective, I don't think the Dodgers will make a trade.

NEW YORK (July 26) - A day after Barry Bonds called him a "little midget man who knows (nothing) about baseball," broadcaster Bob Costas said he wasn't upset with the San Francisco Giants slugger and responded with a jab of his own.

"As anyone can plainly see, I'm 5-6 1/2 and a strapping 150, and unlike some people, I came by all of it naturally," Costas said Thursday in a telephone interview

This was another tidbit, this from Ken Rosenthal (again, giving it the FWIW label):
"Parties interested in Zack Greinke: Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Braves, and Cubs. This gels with Dan Graziano's findings. Of course, trading a player like Greinke requires an equally talented youngster in return."

Also says the DBacks are interested in Dunn.

Grady Little is well aware of the recent power surge Andy LaRoche has had in the minors of late after recovering from a shoulder injury. "His time will come," Little said, so I think a September call-up is a strong bet.

Regarding Delwyn Young, he has made tremendous strides defensively and is having a strong year at the plate. He projects as a fifth outfielder next season, and we'll see if he heads anywhere come Tuesday. <<

http://tinyurl.com/3ydlam

(scroll to the bottom)

of the potential HOFers in the next five years is how barren the field looks -- especially in an inflated-stats era. To my thinking, Rickey is the only sure thing on the horizon.

http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/indians/

Still, two homers and a double in 43 AB's (what ESPN has) isn't knocking socks off. But he's definitely doing better. And that's good.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/belleairbeach/917284747/

At the Rogers Centre

-Will Carroll

John Perroto contradicts Carroll in the same article.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=6508

The more Nomar hits on the road the more he's screwing up his chance to have the biggest home/road splits in LA history.

And that's really no surprise.

Me: Nomar, stop getting better on the road
Nomar: Huh?
Me: You have a chance at the greatest home/road split in history.
Nomar: Yeah...What?
Me: This is