Shouldn't we just DL Kent at this point? I blame the recent offensive skid on Ramon Martinez.

I'm sitting in RF at Petco tonight. I'll be sure to mention Dodger Thoughts in my news conference after catching a Bonds' HR.

On an unfortunate note, I'm out of view of the out of town scoreboard so I'll have to use the Treo to keep up with Ethier's 3-hit performance and the Dodger win.

Aww, it is great to get to hear Vin again.

well that's not the started we needed by Derek Lowe.

Sigh.

What was he doing with his right hand? Was he waving to it?

They're partying in San Dimas...!

yuck

I guess I shouldn't have clicked on GameDay, since as soon as I did that, it flashed "HOME RUN" and I saw that Derek Lowe was the pitcher, so I knew it was a bad thing.

The ESPN announcer dubbed Bud Black's decision to have Scott Hairston leadoff tonight a "genius move"

Why is GameDay showing the balls that Lowe is throwing to be about four feet outside?

Hairston with a leadoff HR.

I'd play D. Young at 2nd at this point, you know what (1) I wouldn't mind if he went on the DL I kind of don't want him wearing Dodger Blue next year.

10 Maybe it was.

Josh Freaking Bard is the Pads # 3 hitter.

Furcal & Pierre aren't doing what there paid to do & that is to get on base how ever means possible. sigh.

Another game, another starter pitching against us that cant break 85. I think thats 4 out of the last 5 that sit at 83-86 or under.

About 6 pitches for Livon. Could be an early late night.

Bonds homerun.

755 for Bonds.

Unfortunately for Eric, it was hit to LF.

Padre fans cheering, sounds like a positive response. Pretty minimal delay, he stopped to see his family, congratulated by teammates, but the game continued pretty quickly.

That's really some expression on Bonds' face. He just looked exhausted and very bittersweet as he watched the ball go to me. After a minute, he was all smiles and he really does seem happy. But just as he watched it go it was a very compelling look.

Can't really digest that DP. I was an old man's game for sure.

And Selig does not appear to have clapped.

Not even air clapped.

And now Kemp--ooops I mean Martinez.

Is there any evidence that putting a worse hitter ahead of a better hitter in the lineup is a good idea if the worse hitter hits from the opposite side of the plate from the better hitter...?

Nomar hits into a DP....Betimit drives in three...

:-(

Marlon Anderson were are though

in all seriousness, why is Martinez batting 7th? let alone playing . .

25
Selig looks like he has the clap

Tied in the bottom of the 12th in FL, 2 outs, no one on, the Astros IBB Cabrera to get to Mike Jacobs. Now a wild pitch puts him on second . . .

If FL loses, I think the Nationals pass them into fourth place.

Padre fans give Bonds a standing ovation as he went to his position in the bottom of the 2nd.

30
Martinez is playing because Kent is hurt, Abreu is in AAA (and hurt), and Betemit is a Yankee.

Padre fans behind Bonds in LF have * signs

ok, how bout why is our 2nd best hitter batting 8th?

32 Another WP and Cabrera scores.

So, for those score at home, that's an IBB, WP, WP.

I guess Stephen Randolph wanted to go home.

And why is our worst hitter hitting 2nd?

Broken record

Im glad batting order has a minimal effect on runs scored but, jeeze, I dont understand why Trac.... i mean Grady writes it up like this . . its still annoying

38-I have been for the most part a Coletti supporter...but as this season progresses it is becoming evident that his panicky veteran pick ups have been a disaster....

I am not writing this team off...but I really hope that we have a new CF next year.......and that Nomar takes Olmedo's place on the bench...You are correct in that this all wreakes of EGO.....

So who else thinks 25 waited until the day ARod hit #500?

What the heck is Erin Andrews wearing?

Erin Andrews could use some meat on her arm bones.

Orel Hershisher is good.

This game is going to be frustrating if we dont score a few runs . . especially facing a pitcher like this with a nearly 5.00 ERA . .
It really magnifies it too, when the same thing happens the night before against a soft tosser with nearly as many BB as K's

We are probably outhitting the competition again, but we show no inclination to score a run. I guess if the multi-million players like Furcal and Pierre can't do any thing, its going to be hard.If we ever came out of the second inning even or ahead, it would seem like a victory.

the only reason RM2 is on the team is because he's getting paid 950K Marlon Anderson is a way better hitter than RM2

It's really not necessary to show Barry Bonds in the outfield between pitches. He can't hit a homerun from out there.

Marlon Anderson is a way better hitter than RM2

and Nomar

51
There's also a good possibility that Ned feels some kind of personal obligation to keep Lucille around.

There's also a good possibility that Ned feels some kind of personal obligation to keep Lucille around.

and w/ Nomar . . . (hey, it works again)

why, cause he played in SF during his time there? it's not a good enough reason if you ask me

There's also a good possibility that Ned feels some kind of personal obligation to keep Lucille around.

why?

What was the reason for the balk? Was it a failure to come to a pause in the delivery?

I am so curious to know how ownership feels about Colletti's moves.....

Here is the situation where a speedster ruins a pitchers concentration, I doubt it has much effect on Livon.

the Cubans really know how to stretch 6 bucks.

Martin did not look good running down the line.

nice!

For the psychological well-being of the DT posters, not to mention the Dodgers, it is important that we score in this inning.

I get the impression that Ned takes his relationships with the players seriously. He cares about character, not just because it might contribute positively to winning (which is debatable), but because he wants to be around people he likes. It's why he acquires players he knows and liked from previous organizations (e.g. Mueller, Schmidt, Tomko, Lucille, etc).

Once those guys are on his team, his personal friendships and such get in the way of objective decision-making.

Good, Make that big boy hop around. But if we can't score with a free man placed at second with no outs, it shows what a hopeless slump we are in. These last two pitchers make both vets and rookies look so ridiculous.

59

on Dodger Thoughts day at Dodger Stadium one of the commenters here asked Frank McCourt what was the proudest moment during his tenure here & He said it was signing Ned Colletti, I'm a Ned supporter also by the way.

Hanrahan with the win tonight for the Nationals.

Wow, I hadn't noticed till tonight that Nomar runs like an old,old man.

Once those guys are on his team, his personal friendships and such get in the way of objective decision-making.

didn't Depo do the same thing with alot of his bench pickups?

nice!

no, he wasnt hurt

70
I never got the impression that Depo's personal connections to the players kept him from getting rid of them if they sucked.

But maybe I'm wrong.

Prove me wrong RM2!

dont u dare swing

We swing here 3-1.

72

but Colletti has gotten rid of plenty of his acquisitions that sucked.

it's pretty embarrassing but we'll take 'em how ever we can.

That Oakland thing!

76
But they weren't generally guys he knew from previous teams, were they?

76- Plenty in the sense of many. Not plenty in the sense of enough.

79

D4P were you a Home Depo supporter?

79- Whatever reason DePo didn't chase Scott Erickson across the county border was, that's the one I hated. Why should I care what made him decide to inflict Erickson on me? It's like asking a person to sympathize with the poor upbringing of the hoodlum who stole his car radio.

Chad Billingsley pitched such a great game yesterday it's such a shame we couldn't score some runs for him.

81

2004 or later?

D4P were you a Home Depo supporter?

No, but only because I was 100% ignorant when he was our GM. Now that I'm only 99% ignorant, I see the error of my former ways and support Depo with every fiber of my being.

Lisa Guerrero

ToyCannon just got another reason to like Nomar.

WOW and #25 is certainly not looking like that old broken down Willie Mays out there in LF...

(85)

I'm a "I can see the grey erea" kind of guy so I see your point.

ugh, sigh!

I hope we're not heading into one of those dreaded funks teams go trough ever now & again.

Ned has taken the use of the DFA to a new level. I do not remember a previous Dodger GM using the DFA as much as Ned has in managing the 25 man roster.

I guess the more mediocre players one acquires the more one has to use the DFA to periodically clean the riffraff out of the roster.

Of course if Ned was not so fiercely attached to Martinez & Hernandez they would have been DFAed by now.

There was a time this season when I felt we had 4 solid options at second before Ramon Martinez would be needed.

The first one is hurt
The second got traded to the yankees
The third is on the DL in AAA
and the 4th got designated for assignment

I'm sure someone asked this in the first 50 posts, but why is Ethier not up higher in the lineup?

This is frustrating. I'm off to bed.

Wow, I think a sweep and this season is over, not just b/c it would be 4 back but this team is bad now I mean really bad. Not to mention,if you cant beat a team just once with your top 3 at home, you have problems

91 I think we are already there

why is Ethier not up higher in the lineup?

See 27

man, Grady looks like he's about to explode I'm thinking closed meeting or something tomorrow if this game isn't won.

This year's roster was never going to take us to a single post season win anyway so it is as well that the team's current slump will likely put it out of contention as quickly as possible.

Betemit's trade looking dumber by the day.

Earlier in the year we've scraped by a little on pitching, but then all the fliers Ned took on pitchers with injury history shoot out from under him and we end up with Hendrickson and Tomko in the rotation.

When last did we get a run on a hit, anyway?

Bah. Hopefully the off season brings some amazingly unexpected signings for good value. I don't think I can handle another unexpected signing of the Pierre kind in my lifetime.

91 I think we are at least 1/2 way through one of those funks that even good teams go into. It is impossible to score this few runs, even at random, and though it may take a few more games, I think the recovery will be satisfying.

One of the stupid things about Grittle's insistence on alternating righties and lefties in the lineup is that an opposing starting RH pitcher (for example) never has to face two left-handed batters in a row.

100cont.
With the exception of switch-hitters

The Dodgers lost something like 14 out of 15 after the break last year and everyone gave up on them then too. They still managed to make the post season.

The message here is, it's still a long season. I'm not happy with the team, but they still have a chance. Arizona will come back to earth I think(hope).

99

As I had already said, unless the funk ends by tommorrow there is little hope it seems.

I dont see how we can catch a team with a vastly better offense only getting better, with Tomko and Hendy every 4th and 5th day and with Penny due to regress along with probably Lowe... its not very realistic

This team was likely to struggle offensively with Kent out of the lineup and Lucille in his place. The offense will likely pick up again when Kent returns.

My kingdom for a hit with a runner in scoring position.

I'm with Marty. There's plenty of room to criticize the team and management, but they have been in first or real close basically all year and one sweep right now absolutely does not mean the end of anything.

The D'backs are overachieving by leaps and bounds right now. They're 9 games ahead of their Pythagorean Record, by far the "luckiest" in the league.

ESPN is running a little graphic letting viewers know that Bonds is due up 8th in the next inning.

93 - Laroche at 3rd, Nomar at 2nd

98 105 The last time we scored a run on a hit was Garciaparra's two-run homer in the 8th inning Wednesday night. The three runs we have scored since have been on two bases-loaded walks and a ground out. Counting tonight, we are 2-for-30 with runners in scoring position during this homestand and 0-for-16 since Wednesday night.

Vinnie just said the Dodgers are 2 for 30 with runners in scoring position on this home stand.

No wonder baseball haven't been a lot of fun lately.

Bring in Proctor...!

I don't know how I managed to be a baseball fan for 50 years without knowing the Pythagorean Record.

A bit late, but I think Martinez is on the team because he can play every position and can be safely stashed away on the bench until we need him. Now that Betemit is gone, I've got no beef with him.

2-30 with RISP..during the homestand. Not giving up on the team, but trying to ignite a fire underneath their behind. In a 4 team fight for the 'Division' and 6 teams going for the WC, don't want to fall too far behind too many teams.

111 I worked that out without listening to the game.

one sweep right now absolutely does not mean the end of anything.

My problem is this team is all of a sudden pretty bad. Gonzo is coming back to where he should be. Nomar is horrid. we have Pierre. We cant expect too much from Martin from here on out. Kent is now somewhat of a "?" . along with a bad 4th and 5th starter and there is a problem. There is really no future fix what so ever

[111]

That only tells me things can only get better.

I was going to complain that I can't watch the game again, since Salt Lake is in the Phoenix market, but never mind.

103- There are very few times when one sweep could end a season. Given that our magic number entering the series was greater than six, this clearly isn't one of them.

This team is not that much worse than it was a week ago. At least Yankee fans had some good reasons for giving up a couple of months back. This team isn't perfect; it's got clear problems. But none of them are fatal. Butch up, people.

111 They were due to come back to earth.
I'm not that worried about falling behind the D-backs by three. But I am scared of the Pads pitching if they can keep it going.

I can't remember a stretch of such terrible results with the bases loaded.

Well, jeez. Is all I can say. I'm glad I tuned in to see the last inning or two of this one. :-/ Boy, Derek Lowe was having some problems but that inning where the DBacks blew it open was one of the unluckiest, or saddest, scoring innings I've seen in a long while. Awfully frustrating.

And now it appears over.

But I have to say, as frustrating as this week has been, those of you who seem ready to give up on this season based on what happens this weekend could use a little more fortitude. Last season was even more of a rollercoaster - such a streaky team in both directions - and they made the playoffs. They're gonna slump. They're slumping. They'll be back.

Or, as Bette Davis once said, "fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy ride."

If only Elbert did not get hurt. He would have probably gotten called-up sooner then expected.

115 I think that sort of thing is inevitable when you're hitting 14 points higher with RISP than you are overall.

Or, what was said above me, three times, more succinctly. ;-)

But I'm definitely gonna go out and do something else now. Thanks Dodgers, for giving me a push!

(117)

It just wouldn't be fun if we were 10 games ahead of anybody else, just sit back & enjoy the ride we'll be o.k. come crunch time.

Ramon's contract probably has a lot to do with his roster spot.

Assuming we lose this one, the Dodgers are 1-4 since trading Betemit.

Fire Ned? I think so.

Conflicted. Want to give the new Golden Boy the business. But he's my new Golden Boy.

wow, that was a great call by the Ump.

127 Do you really think Ned is reluctant to DFA Martinez because it will cost us ~250 thousand dollars.

128- We could hire Krivsky to replace him, and then he could sue the Yankees for sending us what is obviously a bad luck charm, in Proctor.

We could hire Krivsky to replace him, and then he could sue the Yankees for sending us what is obviously a bad luck charm, in Proctor.

or we could just sue Ned

I think the recent comments have most of it right, but I think Nomar and Martinez are playing, no matter how dismally, because they are making a million dollars. We would probably be better served playing the youngsters we will be relying on in the next few years.

Also, keep in mind that there are literally no healthy hitters on the 40 man roster that aren't already called up.

Kemp cannot get a break on the outside corner. All game that pitch has been a ball, but that strike changed the at bat.

The difference between hot and not..the D'backs have capitalized on every opportunity...scoring 8 runs so far and leaving 1 on base.....

135
LaRoche?

138 Hurt his back yesterday.

Awww, crap.

Is there any disincentive to putting guys who are going to be hurt for the rest of the year on the 60 day DL? Repko and Schmidt, along with others I don't expect back, are still only on the 15 day. Is there some clever reason for that that I'm not seeing?

137 Yeah, Arizona has 8 runs on 7 hits.

Kemp cannot get a break on the outside corner. All game that pitch has been a ball, but that strike changed the at bat.

It totally changed the dynamic of the AB, agreed.

Boy the 2nd base ump totally missed R. Martinez completely off the bag twice on attempted DP's...guess that is the only bright spot...we're getting the fortuitous calls.

On the bright side, Rudy Seanez has been nails ever since the trade. Proctor must have lit a fire under, um, maybe that's not the metaphor I'm looking for. . .

143

It seems to happen to Kemp almost every AB. For some reason, he gets the outside corner extended on a 1-0 or 1-1 pitch and twice recently i can remember on a 3-2 pitch. It might not seem big, but it could easily lead to him being more aggressive than need be in his PA's. The difference in each AB is huge, especially on a 1-1 pitch like the one tonight.

Actually there was some note in I think the Dodgers.com notes column about Seanez fixing a flaw in his mechanics since then and it seems to be working. So we've got that working for us at least. Honestly, right now I think bum luck and some below expectation play is part of this cruddy week and things can't get much worse. So we've got that going for us, too.

My cab's here. Hasta manana.

Unfortunately, R. Martinez is so horrible that he struggles to turn a DP - even when he cheats by being way off the bag.

Dodgers had a share of bad luck in the game, but the fact is, when your lineup is so weak that you have to be, not even perfect, but spectacular, to win a game - well, then slumpie time is well and truly upon you.

Haven't been to the Stadium in awhile...but what happened to the Organ playing up to the 'Charge!' Rally cheer??

At least they are not rushing Kent back on the field as they did with Tsao, Kuo, Wolf, Schmidt and Brazoban.

Mighty unsilky there, Next Ken Griffey Jr.

Hey, we have the bases loaded! We're gonna clear them this time!

Thank you Justin Upton, bases loaded once again with Gonzalez at the plate.

But I did stick around long enough to see Upton is human. That's nice.

Toodles!

Bases loaded again...this favors D'Backs or us??

Hey whoop, another run scored on not-a-base-hit.

Maybe we can go for a record in this department?

WOO HOO@!!!! Nomar!!

Oh hey - runs on a hit!

Dang, I wanted them to go for that record ...

;-)

It's about freaking time!

Nomaaaaaaahh!!!

Yessssss.....

156- Have to try again tomorrow, I guess.

Good job Nomar. Now three more runs to win it.

Can't comment.

I was just about to type how bad Nomar looked missing on the first 95mph fastball...then he cranks a haning curve!

I was just about to type how bad Nomar looked missing on the first 95mph fastball...then he cranks a haning curve!

my internet went down during gonzo's at bat....what happened?

Darn Nomar... rally killer.

167 Sac fly by Gonzo...Raffy scored, JP tagged to 3rd..Nomar 3 run rally killer

Juan Cruz basically came in gave us a chance to win & left

170 With an assist from Upton!

Broxtons batting spot is coming up, you know I wouldn't mind watching the big Brox bat I hear he has pretty good pop.

Wonder, if Ned and Grady would consider Brox as a SP for next year?

Great play by Furcals

Let's hope that turns out to be an important play by Raffy.

Is anyone noticing that Loney's catches are making the other infielders 10% better.

3.5!

That was a blast by Ethier.

That's the way, that's the way we do it!

OK....

Ethier is a deceptive hitter who is very noticable.

Alyssa needs to fill out the lineup card.

Let the record show that Saenz did not strike out.

The ad banner said Ethier's home run was 418 feet.

JP cooperates, now Russ can lead off the bottom of the ninth.

93. The third is on the DL in AAA

Num Name Pos Bat Thw Ht Wt Age DOB Status 40-man MLB
5 Tony Abreu 2B S R 5' 11" 200 22 11-13-1984 Reserve List (Minors) Yes

Actually, Abreu isn't on the DL. He has been placed on the Reserve List at Las Vegas. Does anyone here know what this is about? If a player says he is hurt why would he be placed on the Reserve List instead of the DL?

http://tinyurl.com/2xr3fr

Biggest Loser of 2007: LAT

I left in the middle of the 7th. Wasn't feeling great and couldn't watch any more. Oh well.

145. On the bright side, Rudy Seanez has been nails ever since the trade. Proctor must have lit a fire under, um, maybe that's not the metaphor I'm looking for. .

>> Reliever Rudy Seanez says he believes he has fixed the mechanical problems responsible for his recent struggles.

After giving up six home runs in 5 2/3 innings, Seanez has pitched 2 1/3 shutout innings over his last three appearances.

Seanez didn't want to say what he changed -- "I don't want hitters to know what to look for" -- but he said he'd made his delivery more efficient. <<

http://tinyurl.com/22scwq

Single, double, double ought to do it.

186 -- Abreu is on the reserve list? Damn. That list is for players who are doing things like REFUSING to play. The speculation that Abreu has been faking being hurt because he was ticked off over being demoted and doesn't want to play in Triple A turns out to be correct. That probably ends Abreu's future with the organization. He'll be traded this month for a bag of balls.

Bad Call!! That was Low

190 Are you certain that is what is going on?

Jake Peavy is pinch hitting with nobody on and 1 out in the bottom of the ninth in a tie game.

a buck short today, tomorrows game should be a pitchers dual.

Drats. It was a nice try at a comeback. Another game tomorrow.

You know, Tony Jackson's really getting on my nerves.

He certainly doesn't mind violating DT rule #6. Certainly doesn't mind not giving anything resembling astute commentary.

190. 186 -- Abreu is on the reserve list? Damn. That list is for players who are doing things like REFUSING to play.

As much as I hate to believe that it kind of makes sense. He claimed he was hurt as soon as he arrived at Las Vegas but was never actually placed on the DL and that was quite a while ago. Which leads me to think that someone didn't believe him.

168 Steve Lyons delivered an encore version of the HR-as-rally killer theory on the postgame. "When you're getting beat, a HR really only helps you if it ties the game, gives you the lead or [get this...] if there are two out. Otherwise you have to start a NEW RALLY!!!"

I like that new little twist. So if there are 2 out, go ahead and clear em off- we're done rallying.

Y'all could email Diamond Leung with that question about Abreu. Might know. Last report was that he had an abdominal problem. Maybe it's more of an abominal problem.

190

I believe I read the other day on the Dodgers site that they think Abreu might have something called a sports hernia, which is apparently hard to diagnose. Apparently only rest cures it. I site the source, because in many ways it would be better if he was up here now than Delwyn Young..I will try and find the url

200 Here ya go:
"nfielder Tony Abreu, sent back to Las Vegas when the club decided to go with 12 pitchers last month, missed a couple of games with the Dodgers before he was optioned because of what was believed to be a lower abdominal strain, complained the injury still bothered him and he hasn't felt healthy enough to play since. Dodgers doctors have performed a battery of tests without a specific diagnosis, and next week Abreu is scheduled to see a local specialist in the field of sports hernias. It was thought that Abreu would take over for 39-year-old second baseman Jeff Kent, who has not announced whether he will continue playing after this year. The Dodgers have a 2008 option on Kent for $7 million or a $500,000 buyout."
http://dodgers.scout.com/2/664294.html

I have gotten tested for a sports hernia. It really is not that hard to find out if you have one.

//losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.

This is the article from the offical Dodger website about Abreu, can't verify it.

201. Yeah, I read that same report at Dodgers.com two days ago. Unfortunately, I didn't check the Las Vegas roster at that point. I had checked a week earlier and he was not on the DL. So the question in my mind is when was he placed on the Reserve List. Because I believe CanuckDodger is correct in the way that list is used. So, if he was just placed on that list in the past two days that would mean the doctors finally concluded he was not injured.

Notes: Abreu in medical limbo

http://tinyurl.com/2u7z49

I certianely understand Canuck Dodger's view, especially considering the Dodger's poor medical diagnosis in the past. However, considering Abreu's age and Kent has been very unclear if he is coming back, it would seem sort of silly for Abreu to screw himself like this. He clearly would be a call up in September at worst, and if he is getting better I think the Dodgers might want to consider bringing him up sooner..anything in the Vegas papers?

204 Very possible. Again, I'd drop Diamond Leung a line if you want someone to investigate. If nothing else, it gives us something else to fret about, distracting from the team's slump.

206. Okay, I just did that. However, since it was my first comment they'll have to approve me. I might not pass. :-)

Your comment has been received and held for approval by the blog owner.

Ah, cool, though it could be days before they approve that, if past experience is any indication. However, you could also email:
dleung@PE.com

;-)

I would but I'm busy, hee.

Obviously, Arizona deserves to be #1.

I just emailled Diamond directly-so hope to get answer

208. Okay, I emailed him. All of our bases are covered. :-)

208. Okay, I emailed him. All of our bases are covered. :-)

212. No, I didn't email him twice in three seconds. :-) But I did get a system message saying I'm running low on memory. So I may as well call it a night while I shutdown and restart. We'll see what tomorrow brings. Goodnight all.

It's pretty amazing that the D'backs are in first place. Witness the NL West Pythagorean Records at this point in the season:

SD: 61-48
LA: 58-52
CO: 56-53
SF: 53-55
AZ: 52-60

That's right: Arizona "should" be in last place, not first.

Arizona is 12-4 in their last 16 games. They were outscored in the 4 losses 40-3.

Do you think Selig has a PR firm telling him that this is the way to go, or do you think being a perpetually prissy clod is his very own idea? He does seem a natural at it, so maybe he really hasn't needed any help prigging it up.

http://tinyurl.com/32slpn

216 That is one of the weirder statements I've read in some time. The first paragraph is fine and he should have kept it at that.

The second paragraph, when he gets into the innocent-until-proven-guilty stuff, is bizarre.

If I were Bonds, I would want to slug him.

Does Selig have any credibility on this issue? Isn't it generally believed that he turned a "blind eye" to roids because the game had become so popular (e.g. during the McGwire-Sosa charade)?

Betemit at 3B today, with ARod being DFH*.

*Designated for hitting

Hey, I had to post this somewhere, and here it is. According to the Boston Globe, Bill Plaschke soon will be out with a biography of .... Tommy Lasorda.

220 I wonder if it will be written entirely in one-sentence paragraphs.

[220] wow, blow hard vs. blow harder.

The update on Andy LaRoche per yesterday's 51s pregame show, he hurt is back on a check swing during his only at-bat on Friday.

This was the second time this year that he has hurt his back, right now there is no timetable for his return, he will probably get an MRI but that may not happen until the team gets back from their road trip next week.

214 - that, they say, is why they play the games.

221 - In all fairness, I did see Plaschke write a paragraph that consisted of two sentences. Once.

220
Plaschke was off most of the winter working on the book.

I think Jon has to review it, not me.

I hope D4P doesn't check the NL West Pythagorean standings for 1997.

226
Sorry to disappoint you, but I just checked...!

The Dodgers "should have" finished 12 games ahead of the Giants. Instead, they finished 2 games back.

The Giants just got lucky. Those lucky jerks.

227
Such was the devastating effect of Barry Bonds' pirouette.

Barry looks different to me now. Must be the mustache.

http://tinyurl.com/2skcy7

Betemit's OPS up to .878

Nomar's stats since ASB (71 plate appearances)

.317/.389/.508 .897 OPS

Betemit's stats since ASB (not sure about PAs, and not including his single in one PA today)

.370/.469/.667/1.136

More importantly, though, Betemit has a .173 point OPS lead over Nomar for the season.

At the bottom of Betemit's game long on BB-ref do the team names appear correctly on other people's browsers:
http://tinyurl.com/3xoymk

I just see that Betemit switched from "%s to %s"
I get the same mistake for 2006.

Rory Sabbatini likes to talk smack about Tiger. They're playing together today in the final group. Through 14 holes,

Tiger is 5 under par
Rory is 5 over par

Tiger leads the field by 8 shots.

233 I see the same. I've seen it before, e.g., 2006 and 2007 Marlon Anderson.

Laroche has a high-effort swing. Not surprising if he has twice injured his back as a result.

235
I checked the HTML source and it has "%s" in it.

I put a message on Sean Forman's blog about it. I don't wish to bug him more. I think he was getting a bit worried about me at the SABR convention with all my catcher's interference questions.

I had become the equivalent of a library patron who comes in and stands by the reference desk asking for a list of all books that start with the letter Q.

212. Here is the response I received:

Hi, it's my understanding that there is no official change to Tony Abreu's status. He has the same abdominal issue, but is not on the seven-day disabled list, and while I did notice the Web site change, I checked and he is not on any "reserve" list as of now. I'm told it's possible he's not on the DL because there's no infielder to promote to Las Vegas anyway. Thanks for the heads up, might have more after today's game.

Diamond

Same lineup as yesterday:

Furcal, SS
Pierre, CF
Martin, C
Gonzo, LF
Nomar, 3B
Loney, 1B
Martinez, 2B
Ethier, RF
Penny, P

What is the logic behind using a R-L-R-L lineup rather than either (1) Constructing the lineup based on the quality of the hitter, or (2) Stacking the RHs at the top vs. a LH or the LHs at the top vs. a RH?

I assume the logic is as follows:

1. A R-L-R-L lineup prevents a situation where the opposing manager can bring in a reliever and have him face two same-handed hitters in a row.

Is that all? Is that the only rationale?

I just checked today's Extra Innings schedule, and much to my horror, the Dodgers-DBacks tilt will not be televised. That's OK, though. Why would I want to watch Penny vs. Webb? That would be crazy!

240
The alternating R-L-R-L or vice versa is a late inning strategy I believe.

Since the arrangement doesn't matter a whole lot in the long run, I don't see why you don't try to at least get the order the way you want it for a high leverage situation.

Overall, it won't make a lot of difference.

Building on 240, a LOOGY can't come in to face Loney and Ethier, but while Webb is in there, he can pitch around Loney to get to Martinez, if need be. Webb might have to think twice about pitching around Loney vs. pitching to Ethier with more men on base.

I understand the alternating rationale when the batters are close to comparable, but LucilleII should only bat 8th, IMHO.

241
I guess neither the Dodgers nor DBacks have reached deals with EI to carry OTA coverage of games. Some teams have, namely the Yankees and Royals.

The alternating R-L-R-L or vice versa is a late inning strategy I believe

That's what I figured, which is what makes it stupid.

If facing an opposite-handed pitcher is such a huge advantage for the hitter and huge disadvantage for the pitcher that avoiding 2 RH or 2LH in your lineup in a row trumps all other lineup construction considerations, why not give yourself the maximum number of opposite-handed PAs by stacking your lineup with hitters at the top that are opposite-handed from the starting pitcher?

Course, the other issue is the assumption that all RH hitters hit better vs LH, and vice versa. Grittle doesn't appear to actually examine the validity of this assumption by looking at stats.

244 Aren't all the Yankee games on EI on the YES Network, which is considered a regional sports network? Is that even available over the air?

245 The Dodgers don't have a lefty-hitting second baseman to replace Martinez to maximize the opposite-handed PAs, unless Delwyn Young improbably moves back to 2B. They did, of course, have a lefty (at times) in Betemit.

The big problem with the lineup is that Martinez is in it. That seems to only be a short term problem, as Kent is due back soon.

I think Bert Blyleven's HOF candidacy is hurt by the creepiness of the "Circle Me Bert" phenomenon on Twins' telecasts.

In trying to look at the Betemit/Proctor trade in a different light, I realized the similarity of another trade that was made, Wigginton (plus cash, perhaps the difference between the $2.7 and $2.1 million salaries) for Wheeler.

Wigginton, age 29, 2400 PA, .268/.328/.449 101 OPS+, slightly, but not markedly better than career averages the last few seasons.

Betemit, age 25, 942 PA, .266/.340/.446 102 OPS+, possibly on an improvement curve, salary ~ $500,000

Wheeler, age 29, 384 IP, 3.96 ERA, 111 ERA+, 1.305 WHIP, 2.78 K/BB, 1.13 HR/9

Proctor, age 30, 228 IP, 4.30 ERA, 102 ERA+, 1.373 WHIP, 1.94 K/BB, 1.38 HR/9, salary ~ = Betemit.

Extra facts for Ned: Wheeler pitched 1 1/2 season for the NEW YORK Mets and has more post-season experience (with Houston) than Proctor.

Is Wheeler significantly better than Proctor? Would the Astros have preferred the cheaper, younger and more versatile Betemit vs. Wigginton? Did the Dodger scouts not like Wheeler? Would Betemit for Wheeler be a trade that was any better or worse than Betemit/Proctor? Given the monetary savings, would Houston have thrown a little something else into the deal, even if it was just minor-league roster filler? Do I have too much time on my hands? Am I about to be LATed?