Baseball Toaster Dodger Thoughts
Help
Jon Weisman's outlet
for dealing psychologically
with the Los Angeles Dodgers
and baseball.
Frozen Toast
Search
Google Search
Web
Toaster
Dodger Thoughts
Archives

2009
02  01 

2008
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2007
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2006
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2005
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2004
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2003
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2002
09  08  07 
About Jon
Thank You For Not ...

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

Gagne Goes to the Red Sox
2007-07-31 14:30
by Jon Weisman

The odds-on favorite to be the final image of the 2007 baseball season is Eric Gagne pumping his fist for the World Champion Boston Red Sox, now that Texas has traded the former Dodger reliever.

How does "Game Over" sound with a Boston accent? (Oh, and who will that final batter whom Gagne strikes out be?)

Update: I know Jonathan Papelbon's there. I'm still thinking, though ...

Comments (69)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2007-07-31 14:37:47
1.   Zak
Russell Martin.
2007-07-31 14:38:52
2.   trainwreck
I still think it is Papelbon.
2007-07-31 14:38:52
3.   D4P
I thought Gagne is going to be the setup man...?
2007-07-31 14:39:51
4.   gpellamjr
I'm pretty sure it will be Proctor. He will have pitched the last 4 innings of a 17 inning game. Having pitched 3 shut out innings, he will give up the go ahead run in the top of the 17th, and Grady will be unable to pinch hit for him, because there will be nobody left.
2007-07-31 14:40:54
5.   D4P
Anyway, the Red Sox won't be making it to the WS. The Yankees, after barely making the playoffs, thanks primarily to the contributions of newly-acquired first baseman Wilson Betemit, will knock the Red Sox out in the ALCS.
2007-07-31 14:41:42
6.   bigcpa
Let's not skip over the thrilling September battles between Gagne and Betemit!
2007-07-31 14:42:18
7.   D4P
Upon reflection, I'm glad Ned traded Betemit. Ned doesn't deserve him.
2007-07-31 14:42:25
8.   Jon Weisman
3 - We'll see.
2007-07-31 14:42:50
9.   D4P
6
Betemit won those battles in 5.
2007-07-31 14:43:24
10.   njr
Nom-ah. Game Ov-ahr!
2007-07-31 14:43:36
11.   Humma Kavula
Doug Mientkiewicz, who then takes the ball out of Varitek's glove and runs around the field, laughing, laughing.
2007-07-31 14:44:28
12.   ToyCannon
Bet he doesn't stay healthy enough to even pitch in the World Series.

Texas did a nice job this deadline. Very impressed with the haul they got for a 20 inning closer free agent and soon to be free agent 1st baseman who will scorn the team that purged it's future for him.

2007-07-31 14:45:30
13.   Robert Daeley
12 And two Scott Boras clients, I might add.
2007-07-31 14:45:58
14.   Disabled List
Former Dodger Dave Roberts was one of the heroes of the Red Sox' 2004 title team after coming over in a midseason acquisition. Now they go for Gagne.

Although I still don't think the Sox' title is secured just yet.

2007-07-31 14:47:03
15.   Humma Kavula
Really, wouldn't the proper move be to put Papelbon in the rotation now?
2007-07-31 14:48:01
16.   Humma Kavula
Agreed that Texas made out like bandits.

How much ya wanna bet they get earmarked "incomplete" or even "losers?"

2007-07-31 14:50:15
17.   trainwreck
I don't think Papelbon's arm can handle being a starter.
2007-07-31 14:52:20
18.   Greg Brock
Either way, the Red Sox will play seven inning games in the playoffs. I'd actually limit Gagne's workload until then.
2007-07-31 14:52:45
19.   D4P
I don't think Papelbon's arm can handle being a starter

That doesn't stop Juan Pierre...

2007-07-31 14:53:09
20.   Penarol1916
17. I thought that the Red Sox were planning on making him a starter this off-season because they didn't think that his arm could handle pitching on consecutive days. And then they just decided not to go through with this plan.
2007-07-31 14:55:53
21.   trainwreck
20
Papelbon said he did not want to be a starter and that it put more stress on his arm.
2007-07-31 14:56:07
22.   Eric Enders
I think we're all missing the most important aspect of this trade: With Gagne moving to a setup role, it screws the hell out of my fantasy team.
2007-07-31 14:56:23
23.   Marty
I'm picturing Ted Kennedy/Mayor Quimby saying "Game Ovah"
2007-07-31 14:56:31
24.   trainwreck
Or shoulder.
2007-07-31 14:58:44
25.   Eric Enders
What with Garnett going to the Celtics, this has got to be one of the red-letter days in recent Boston sports history.
2007-07-31 14:58:57
26.   ToyCannon
It was my understanding he went back to the bullpen this spring because of what they saw in spring training and Schilling told the kid to get back where he belongs. They didn't know at the time they had the left handed version of Saito.
2007-07-31 14:59:29
27.   Megaballs
Laroche needs to be called up NOW.
His bat is hot. He's been to the show for a taste and is likely ready to come up and stay. With LHP Lowry, sit Loney, move Nomar to 1b and play Laroche. NOW!
2007-07-31 15:00:19
28.   Woody
If the Dodgers aren't there this year, and I'm fairly sure they won't be, I'd like to see E.G. fan David Wright with bases loaded to help even the score from 1986. That's not to say it will happen, but since the Sox are my second favorite team, it would be, as Larry David would say, "pretty good, pretty, pretty, pretty, goooood".
2007-07-31 15:02:25
29.   WillieD
As if a guy can work on a day like today... I keep falling way behind here! From the previous thread:

"In the end, yes, I wish we got more for Betemit. But the bottom line for me is that the Dodgers still have Loney, Kemp, Ethier, Broxton, Bills, Hu, Kershaw, DeJesus, Young, and the rest of the farm. Sometimes the best deal a GM can make is the one he turns down. I give Ned credit for that."

This is pretty much how I feel about it. I'll miss Betemit Gum hitting his home runs for us, now and then. I'll miss him on the bench. I'm somewhat overjoyed that some of the other rumors did not come to pass, however..... On late last Friday afternoon, after a very busy few hours at work, someone mentioned off-handedly that Loney had been traded for Teixeira, thinking I'd already heard about it. Pretty much ruined the little outing I was wrapping up at the time. Then, I came here to DT, and found that was just some sports writer's imagination. We still had Loney! After that experience, this trade just doesn't upset me so much. Might help a little in relief. Just not that bad at all, considering some of our fears.

2007-07-31 15:03:21
30.   Eric Enders
27 I don't disagree with you on LaRoche, but do we really need to start a Sit Loney movement? I think not.

Best Batting Average Against LHP, MLB, 2007:
1. Ryan Braun, MIL, .500
2. James Loney, LAD, .474
3. Magglio Ordonez, DET, .435

2007-07-31 15:05:19
31.   s choir
27 You remind me of my mom.
2007-07-31 15:05:59
32.   Lexinthedena
So does Scott Proctor give up Bonds record home run?
2007-07-31 15:07:04
33.   Eric Enders
31 Or somebody I should get to train my dog.
SIT! MOVE! NOW!

I tease, but like I said, I don't disagree with the main point (LaRoche should be in the lineup).

2007-07-31 15:07:17
34.   blue22
Yeah, I'm all for letting LaRoche continue to murder the ball in AAA, while watching Nomar deteriorate at 3B. LaRoche or Loney (LaRoche more likely) will get the minimum amount of playing time in a 3-way platoon with Nomar, and that could negatively impact his performance.

Nomar hasn't really been hurt this year (to the extent that he's missed any time). I'm not, you know rooting for it, but he is about due for an oblique or quad to start flaring up. Then you bring up LaRoche.

I do like Delwyn's promotion though. He seems like the kind of guy that could "fall outta bed hitting".

2007-07-31 15:08:14
35.   Michael D
This is from the last thread that got LAT'd

On the micro level, this deal really pisses me off. It happened because of Colletti and Little's mismanagement of the roster, the committment to the Nomar death march. Betemit is the best .230 hitter in baseball. Proctor is overworked and his k/bb ratio blows. Now I don't think Betemit is ever going to set the world on fire but he's been better than Nomar since April and at the very worst they should be platooning right now. This is another classic sell low move by Colletti. Why is it we do a better job of scouting raw 18 year olds who've never played professionally before than we do of scouting "proven veterans" who are supposed to be known quantities?

On the other hand, LaRoche is the one we're looking to for the future, so Betemit was going to get traded eventually and hey we need all the pitching help we can get. Maybe the switch in leagues will help him out. Only Colorado in this division throws out a lineup to be scared of so hopefully he can mow down the Padres and the Giants. Note to Scott, your Dodger career will be insufferable if you give up 756 this week.

I'd like to have done better, but Betemit was on his way out one way or another. I just hope that when the time comes, and it will be soon, LaRoche will be able to wrestle the job away from Nomar. At some point, we have to get the balls to figure out something to do with him to get LaRoche in the lineup like we did to get Loney in. Also, if we think Meloan can't hold up to the rigors of being in a big league bullpen, we should have traded him with Betemit to get something than Proctor in return.

2007-07-31 15:08:35
36.   underdog
Sigh.
2007-07-31 15:09:07
37.   Megaballs
Just expressing my desire to start the "Laroche Era" in a goofy way.

Loney vs. LHP......hmmm.

Back to my day job.

2007-07-31 15:10:11
38.   Humma Kavula
Do we face the lefty tonight?

Dodger outfielders against LHP, 2007:

Gonzalez .329/.393/.500 (76 AB)
Ethier .329/.372/.466 (73 AB)
Kemp .350/.422/.550 (40 AB)
Pierre .241/.271/.268 (112 AB)

2007-07-31 15:11:13
39.   ToyCannon
Anybody care to rationalize on why the Pirates traded for Matt Morris?
2007-07-31 15:11:23
40.   blue22
Yikes, I did not realize Proctor had such extreme flyball tendencies (.48 this year, .61 on his career G:F). That, combined with his walk rate, does not bode well in Dodger Stadium. Perhaps they only pitch him in Petco and AT&T.
2007-07-31 15:11:24
41.   Eric Enders
34 I'm rooting for it. That'll upset Jon and some others, but there you go.

I hate to wish for something to harm a guy's career, and I certainly don't wish any sort of debilitating injury to befall him. Just something that's enough to get him out of the lineup. His multiyear contract is in place whether he plays or not, and frankly the fate of the Dodgers as a whole is much more important to me.

2007-07-31 15:12:33
42.   trainwreck
The headline on Dodgers.com is "The Proctor Is In." That is so cheesy that I already hate him.
2007-07-31 15:13:16
43.   Humma Kavula
42 I love to toot my own horn, and I've got to say that I like my latin joke better.
2007-07-31 15:13:24
44.   SG6
38 - Hmmmmm. Which one of those don't belong??
2007-07-31 15:13:27
45.   Eric Enders
How about "Proctor Faces Serious Test" ?
2007-07-31 15:13:51
46.   Daniel Zappala
Megaballs is s choir's mom and bojangles is gpellamjr's dad. Are s choir and gpellamjr siblings? Is Bob D4P's uncle?
2007-07-31 15:14:02
47.   still bevens
Wasn't Proctor the last name of the 'hilarious' sidekick of the Comendant in Police Academy?
2007-07-31 15:15:25
48.   Eric Enders
46 Which raises the question of whether Pellam's handle should be "bojanglesjr."
2007-07-31 15:15:40
49.   trainwreck
47
Yes.
2007-07-31 15:16:53
50.   Greg Brock
41 The Dodgers put us in a position to have to wish that Nomar gets hurt.

The idea of Nomar being an albatross makes me a sad panda.

Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2007-07-31 15:18:38
51.   blue22
50 - have to wish that Nomar gets hurt.

Well, if you had to pick a guy, right?

It's not like we're aiming for Cal Ripken or AC Green to get hurt. I mean, it's Nomar.

2007-07-31 15:22:05
52.   Vishal
[39] they wanted to gain on the nationals for the "worst franchise in MLB" crown?
2007-07-31 15:23:11
53.   Disabled List
The one year where we need Nomar to get injured, that's the one year he stays healthy. Just our luck.

I blame Barry Bonds' pirouette for this.

2007-07-31 15:24:06
54.   Jon Weisman
I blame Jody Reed for Barry Bonds' pirouette.
2007-07-31 15:24:09
55.   KG16
Part of me would love to see Gagne rebound and be the dominant closer that he was here in LA. But then part of me hates the Red Sox almost as much as I hate los Yanqis.

As for everything else, I'm glad Ned didn't do anything incredibly crazy (like trade Kemp and Either for a mid-level starting pitcher, or go after Texeria).

I still think the Dodgers have a decent chance to win the pennant. I don't believe that Gagne puts the BoSox over the top (I think the team to beat in the AL is the Angels).

It'll be interesting to see what happens the rest of the year and what the team does after the season (hopefully it involves moving Nomar, Gonzo, and Kent).

2007-07-31 15:24:33
56.   Wilbert Robinson
We still might be able to put a waiver deal together for Ponson right? Nomar for Ponson '07!
2007-07-31 15:24:48
57.   blue22
39 - Why not get it straight from the horse's mouth:

"He's been very productive and played for winners, and I think he will be effective in a rotation with a lot of young guys -- a veteran, experienced guy who will help us out a great deal," Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield said.

2007-07-31 15:24:59
58.   Nagman
Apparently the Padres have fired Merv Rettenmund and replaced him with Wally Joyner. So says gaslampball.com.
2007-07-31 15:25:15
59.   Jon Weisman
39 - I like AP's lead:

"The Pittsburgh Pirates got pitcher Matt Morris from San Francisco on Tuesday, an uncommon deal for an out-of-contention team at the trading deadline."

2007-07-31 15:25:40
60.   Xeifrank
39. Can I rationalize the trade for Matt Morris? No. Does it seem like an odd trade for a bad team to be a buyer? Yes. Do I think they might try to trade him in August, as he will be an easy player to clear through waivers with a $10m contract? Perhaps.
vr, Xei
2007-07-31 15:28:30
61.   jasonungar07
I can see it now. down 1 with 2 outs in the tenth. Game 1. WS. Juan Piere walks. An injured Kent takes Gagne over the green Monster.

I do not belive, what I just wrote.

2007-07-31 15:28:52
62.   Hallux Valgus
Obviously the most important player movement story of the day involves Freddy Adu officially signing with Benfica.
2007-07-31 15:30:36
63.   KG16
61, um, if the visitors are down one in the tenth, I'm pretty sure that means they've already lost... other than that, great idea.
2007-07-31 15:31:25
64.   Sammy Maudlin
Happy 71st birthday Vic Davalillo! Your bunt in the 1977 Championship Series will never be forgotten.
2007-07-31 15:33:07
65.   Megaballs
Switch hittin' Delwyn as our LH PHer....sweet.
2007-07-31 15:42:08
66.   Jon Weisman
New post up top.
2007-07-31 15:48:05
67.   underdog
I guess the Giants got a fleet CF-er who is not a top prospect in exchange for Morris, too. Smart move on their part.

--

Ya know, I like Nomar. I wish he wasn't a full time player for us, but I don't have a problem with him being on the team. I certainly don't wish for him to get injured...

2007-07-31 16:20:33
68.   Woody
67- Thank you for what you said.

It sucks that any of you would hope Nomar gets injured. Maybe if he played up to our expectations, he wouldn't be in the way. Perhaps there are other people in the way that you'd like to be rid of. Think about it!

2007-07-31 19:51:25
69.   Casilda
For the most part, Gagne's going to set-up for us, not close. Where I really hope Gagne will come in use is giving some rest to Okajima - it looks like he's going to pitch more innings this year than ever before. If we need to close out two close games in a row and Papelbon has pitched the day before, sure, we'll use Gagne as closer. But all things being equal as they mostly are, we're using our guy, Paps. We'll have "Wild Thing" playing when we're closing out the Series in Atlanta.

Regarding your trade: to be blunt, you guys got completely hosed. Scott Proctor has been ridden like a bloody mule by Torre and the Yankees this year. As in, he has an 8.30 (or so) ERA against the Sox this year. Maybe that's just against us and not indicative of the future, but....One of the reasons we won in 2004 is that Torre blew out Paul Quantrill and Tom Gordon's arms by the post-season. Proctor is well on his way to being "Quantrill-ized", as we call it. Maybe he'll do better in the NL, but I'd watch that arm.

Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.