Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
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TV and more ...
1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
9) typing "no-hitter" or "perfect game" to describe either in progress
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with
Vin Scully, on the Colorado infield grass that smothered a Juan Pierre infield single:
"Holy mackerel, you could lose a poodle out there!"
* * *
Takashi Saito, pitch-by-pitch, ninth inning, Dodgers leading at Colorado, 5-4:
vs. Ryan Spilborghs
0-0 fastball, called strike
0-1 curve, fly out to left field
vs. Cory Sullivan
0-0 fastball, groundout to shortstop
vs. Kazuo Matsui
0-0 fastball, called strike
0-1 fastball, just outside
1-1 curve, fouled back
1-2 fastball, high and outside
2-2 curve, just missed outside
3-2 way outside, ball four
vs. Matt Holliday
0-0 fastball, swung on and missed
0-1 slider, grounded foul
0-2 slider, swung on and missed
12 pitches, four balls, eight strikes
* * *
Brad Penny left after six innings and 90 pitches because of a cramp.
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.
Funny, I was just reading about Bugler. Rams fan? I think it's o.k. for him to miss a few days, it's not like he's lobbing verbal bombs at the team. He's certainly worth much more in the current NFL.
Much more concerned about getting Carriker signed early.
I think in any other sport, it's distaseteful, but not in football... not when teams can cut players at any point. I mean, teams regularly tell players that unless they restructure their "contracts," they'll be cut. If teams have the ability to force you to take less money than they promised you, you should do whatever it takes to fight for your right to take more money than you promised to take.
Rams are going to be good this year, I'm still not buying on Alex Smith. I believe the Rams will overtake the Seahawks, with a chance that the Hawks take a big dive and Arizona jumps into second (qualifier.. USC guy.. big Lienart fan).
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
>>>Of being sidelined at a time when the arm-weary Dodgers need him most, Wolf said, "It's hard. At the same time, you have to realize we do have 60 games left and you don't want to burn the first 20 and then be running on blanks in the last 40. You've got to be smart with it. As hard as it is mentally and emotionally for me to be on the DL right now, you've got to do the right thing."
"Octavio Dotel is almost a lock to be traded, and Chin-Lung Hu remains a possibility. Stark adds that Dodgers GM Ned Colletti scouted reliever John Malone, which I think means Jonathan Meloan. The 23 year-old Meloan throws in the low 90s with a hard slider; he commands his fastball well but carries some health concerns."
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.
All publicity is good publicity.
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
1. Wondering if they are thinking if Wilson can play adequate at second base, would they move Tony Abreu since they might feel that they will need Betemit's power to replace what Jeff Kent brings to the lineup.
2. When they get the rotation settled, I do think that Meloan will get a shot and maybe even a tryout in that 6th/7th inning role.
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
26 mils guaranteed money.
Were you at the circus?
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.
http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/baseball/dodgers/
>>How closely is LaRoche's progress being watched by Grady & co.? 9/1 callup at the very least? D. Young also?
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
.
.
.
I listened when a scout talked to me about a Wily Mo Pena for Andy LaRoche deal, but more and more people I've talked to have flat-out laughed at that deal, but more because of what it represents. Prospects like LaRoche are so highly valued, not just for their talent but for their easy affordability that they become nearly impossible to deal.
-Will Carroll
John Perroto contradicts Carroll in the same article.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=6508
Two weeks doesn't change a season but it does give hope. Gloating material is nice but JoeyP or Eric E will always be around to remind me when I'm wrong.
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.
It seems pretty clear that the current regime values the types of things Nomar does more than the types of things Betemit does.
And that's really no surprise.
But he struck out with runners on, while Nomar hit a single.
Broken record.
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 bigger than the team. This is for history.
Nomar: Are you mentally stable?
Me: Not really. But it isn't about that. This is a big deal.
Nomar: Go away
Me: OK. Sorry. Just sayin'. Think about it.
end scene
And the Nationals are cotemplating a 2-year $10M extension to Dmitri Young to play left field.
??!?!?
Awesome, old friend Joel Hanrahan gets a shot. Hope this is the beginning to a pension, that is about all he can hope for.
1) Wake up.
2) Go to work.
3) Turn on computer.
4) Open Firefox.
5) Click "Dodger Thoughts" bookmark.
6) Click "Comments".
7) Scroll down.
8) Read.
9) Laugh quietly at various comments while eagerly awaiting a "New Post Up Top" comment.
10) Click "Refresh".
11) Repeat steps 9-10 ad nauseum.
12) Leave work and go home.
13) Sit down at computer.
14) Repeat steps 4-11 ad nauseum.
I don't remember life before DT.
Do you "laugh quietly" at home, or do you LOL...?
If he can keep that number all year, maybe he can get a sponsorship deal.
The Dodgers are also very much in the running [for Teixeira], and could likely entice the Rangers to make a deal if they would include pitching prospect Clayton Kershaw in a package with first baseman James Loney and outfielder Andre Ethier in exchange for Teixeiera and reliever Joaquin Benoit.
"When Lowe saw Penny doubled over down the first-base line, one thought instantly popped into his mind.
"'That we're not very good athletes,' Lowe said with a grin.
"Penny blamed the altitude.
"'I've never really had a cramp like that in a game,' he said."
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270726127
No -- they're ballplayers.
Seward's Folly and the Louisiana Purchase for Mark Teixeira. I'd be willing to throw in Hawaii, but Linkmeister gets his own sovereign territory.
No, I was asking about Kory Castro. He had solid AA season as a 3b but was moved to the outfield. He had a cup of tea with you this year but they didn't give him much of a chance. I already checked his numbers and it looks like he's not doing much in AAA.
I seriously think Will Carroll needs to check into Betty Ford soon.
Really? you think if we twisted enough arms, Texas might get behind 2 starters and one of the best pitching prospects in the minors for a year and a half of a first baseman and a middle reliever?
I'm about to just go into a bunker with some vienna sausages and bottled water. I'll reemerge when the calendar turns 8/1.
"PepsiCo Inc. will spell out that its Aquafina bottled water is made with tap water, a concession to the growing environmental and political opposition to the bottled water industry"
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/07/27/pepsico.aquafina.reut/index.html
I wasn't very nice.
"Pepsi and Coke do not make a lot of profit on bottled water."
I find that hard to believe since bottled water costs more than an equivalent amount of soda, which basically consists of the same water plus a bunch of other stuff.
I think the medical profession subsidizes soda producers. It's a big secret that you won't hear about anywhere else.
Insults are the key to getting a response. The title of my e-mail was "Get Off the Drugs...or Share Them," and I recommended he seek employment writing for The Onion instead of the Hick Daily.
>>> Fussell said his agent had badgered De Jon Watson, the Dodgers director of player development, to send a scout to see him, and he was signed two days later. <<<
### Delwyn Young, who went 3-for-5 with a triple and a double for the 51s on Thursday, leads the Pacific Coast League in batting with a .350 average. ###
http://www.lvrj.com/sports/8757587.html
I ceased to be a Laker fan after the 98-99 season because I disliked Phil Jackson so much. Man.
http://tinyurl.com/yshcdv
"Further, bowing to heavy pressure from the FDA, Armour Meat Co. is expected to disclose that Vienna Sausages are not actually made in Austria or from Austrians. Rather, the canned, meatlike substances are mass-produced in Grenada."
The Louisiana Purchase, Southern California Edison, and James Loney could start off the list.
128 But I insulted him. I I referred to his photo as a "shaved head/goatee combo platter" and called him insane. But you got him to e-mail back, and that's awesome.
Juan Pierre is worth 44,000,000 dollar bills.
Broken record
"The Dodgers shut down Elbert on April 16, after his third start of the season, when he complained of shoulder soreness. The initial diagnosis was tendinitis, and Los Angeles tried to rehab him for two months. When that didn't work, the club decided he should have arthroscopic surgery to remove some scar tissue detected by an initial MRI.
The Dodgers regard the surgery as minor because there was no damage to Elbert's rotator cuff or labrum. He'll miss the rest of the regular season but should be able to pitch again in instructional league. Barring any further setbacks, he should be able to regain his status as one of the game's top lefty pitching prospects next year."
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/askba/264563.html
HOME: 5/6 SBs
AWAY: 16/19 SBs
By the way, I hope we don't get Ty, for the lone reason that I absolutely HATE that name.
DYoung lf 4 1 2 1 0 0 0 .300
"The Phillies purchased the contract of infielder/outfielder Joe Thurston from Triple-A Ottawa. Thurston hit a combined .278 with three home runs and 44 RBIs in 105 games in two levels in the minor leagues this season."
Joey Ballgame!
Chandler Van Upton is my generic name for guy USC grads.
Or he followed the advice on W. C. Fields headstone.
http://www.dailybreeze.com/sports/articles/8755682.html
you gotta agree with that sentiment specially considering there was no stroctual damage in his shoulder, i'm thinking he'll come back even stronger with a good shoulder streghning program.
http://tinyurl.com/2pt7qd
Neither involved his labrum, he's never had serious shoulder surgery.
Elbert is going to be fine and it seems strange for him to say "don't write him off" when no one had done so. While our pitching prospects look depleted at the moment with Elbert and Morris joining McDonald and Kershaw I think we will be happy with what we see next year. Assuming all 4 are still with us come April 2008.
Nate, Canuck, and others (myself included) all but wrote him off in our various discussions of the Dodgers' top prospects over the past few months. Canuck ranked him 11th and I don't think any of us quibbled much with that.
This is the kind of analysis you just can't get from Nate, Canuck, or Eric.
I'm sure you guys know best but that does seem premature to me considering the type of surgery it was.
If we don't stick together, the Oil Execs will win.
Dodgers-Rockies Preview
>>> However, Colorado might have a chance to make up ground Friday against Los Angeles starter Brett Tomko (2-7, 5.42 ERA), who is 1-5 with a 7.26 ERA in nine outings - seven starts - at Coors Field. <<<
### ''It feels good to go out there and pitch well. It's definitely better than going out there and struggling out of the 'pen,'' said Tomko, who has added a cut fastball to his repertoire since returning to the rotation. ###
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores107/107208/MLB732570.htm
We have four guys in the show right now; Victorino of the Phils, Tyler Yates of the Braves, and Suzuki and Komine of the As. But UH is doing better, producing half-a-dozen guys who got drafted by the NFL last spring.
I think we can safely conclude that Humanities cannot win by itself. Social Scientists are a must. We combine science with social.
I belong in that group about as much as William Hung belongs in a group with Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel.
Daniel, you'll be happy to know I babysat my month-old niece yesterday. Feeding, rocking up and down, baby talk, the whole nine. So, you know, I don't hate kids like Shimmin does. That guy is terrible!
It's the 150th Anniversary of the Supreme Court decision. There commemorating it here in St. Louis.
Yikes.
Worst. Solo. Album. Ever.
Take it up with the National Park Service.
http://tinyurl.com/2tb7ot
Little known fact: my maternal grandfather and Dred Scott are buried in the same cemetery.
Tiexiera
Teixiera (My personal favorite)
Tiexeira
Teixeria
Tiexeria
Am I missing any?
I wanted Oswalt before, but he does have the injury, even if it's minor, I'd rather have someone who's healthy now.
"What's in a name? Lynx fans hope SS Michael Garciaparra takes after his big brother. He fills the roster spot left open by 2B Joe Thurston's call-up to Philadelphia after Chase Utley's injury.
Garciaparra, 24, is the younger brother of Dodgers 3B Nomar Garciaparra. The younger Garciaparra was hitting .247 with 3 HR and 19 RBI in 65 games at Double-A Reading. He was Seattle's first pick, 36th overall in the 2001 Amateur Draft. He has a .264 average with 15 HR and 173 RBI in his six professional seasons."
(An Ottawa Lynx Our Sports Central press release)
That's someone completely fabricating a rumor.
meet
The younger Garciaparra was hitting .247 with 3 HR and 19 RBI in 65 games
"Oh, hi Michael. Thanks for stopping by. Ooh, actually- you're going to be sitting over there at that folding table. You can chat with Chris Gwynn, Ozzie Canseco, Tim Drew, and Jesus Martinez."
210 Man, Chris Gwynn, I never expected him to be Tony, but I'd hoped he'd be better than... sucky.
Does not compute
It looks as if Cleveland is finishing up a deal. One source tells me it's done while another is saying it's "very close." I don't have details, though speculation is focused on their adding a reliever, perhaps Octavio Dotel. The Indians emerged as the leader for Dotel after the Dodgers pulled back--not just on Dotel, but it sounds as if the Dodgers have decided that they're going to tweak their roster with small trades at best, while preferring to hold on to their top prospects. Surprisingly, it seems that Chin-Lung Hu is still on the "available" list.
187 I'm definitely a Greg Brock fan.
Surprisingly, it seems that Chin-Lung Hu is still on the "available" list.
probably for Ian Snell :)
You sure it wasn't the Dread Pirate Roberts?
it was Carroll's fault for being too stupid to believe the scout that told him about that deal.
222
I'd do that straight up.
I had thought he might be like "The Old Man in the Cave" from that Twilight Zone episode.
Is Greinke worth the risk at this point? What about his emotional problems - are those in the past?
If He [Elbert] continues to have shoulder issues after this my stock on him will also go down but i'm still holding out plenty of hope for him, veremos.
Behind might have been better. That way they could kick his chair and spill stuff on him and talk in his ear the whole time.
I think all of Ned's deals with Tampa gave the impression that he will trade name prospects for marginal short-term fixes (or fools good if you ask me). Theo looks at the Lugo deal and figures maybe they'll do LaRoche for Pena or a reliever. If Ned was in my roto league I'd ask for the same deal.
By the way, I've heard the upgrade costs from wax tablets to papyrus are quite low, and the benefits are significant. Don't worry, the papyrus will last for at least a thousand years before you have to upgrade again.
http://tinyurl.com/ys9wlb
A real Garfield.
The "x" is pronounce as "SH", by the way...always funny to hear us Americans try to pronounce it with an "x" sound.
At the game Hitchcock, ddger, and I saw by way of Bob's munificence, there was a kid sitting behind me, kicking my chair. He also threw/dropped his hat at me, which I returned to him with a smile. I don't much like kids, but I'm pretty good about concealing my contempt for them, from them. It's not their fault they're repulsive.
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