Are you going to put up a countdown clock?

Did Scott Boras get the clock from the set of "Studio 60"?

But here's the catch, and here's why Scott Boras is such a brilliant negotiator

Poppycock. The guy represents (some) really good players, and holds out until some GM gives his client a lot of money.

If that counts as "brilliant", then so do such activities as "Eating when you're hungry" and "Going to the bathroom when you have to go to the bathroom." They might be the best strategies you can pursue, but that doesn't make them brilliant. They're obvious.

What is more likely, Dodgers sign Blair or Greg Brock and Bob move down to San Diego to become the next Simon and Simon?

2 - I don't know if "brilliant" is necessarily the word in this case, either, but he's certainly effective in this respect: he has established enough fear in teams' drafting his players that his players are more likely to drop down in the draft order and take advantage of this current system.

3 - Greg and Bob in San Diego, wearing Padres' hats

1 Its not from "Studio 60" but you would expect this from BA.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/

4 - if we assume that Boras' clients are the better players and they are dropping down the draft (to the better teams) doesn't that undermine the entire point of the draft?

The point, as I have always understood it, was that the teams with the worst records get to pick first, in hopes of equalizing talent. But if teams are scared of this guy, and he represents the best players, that means all his players are going to end up playing for the Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, and Mets, no?

Potential history for next year:

In just 260 at bats this season Jack Cust has struck out 105 times. I'm assuming that with his .273/.404/.550 line, Cust will be keeping his job for next year, so it's very, very likely that we'll see a man strike out 200 times in a season for the first time next year.

With that line, I'd be quite happy to have Jack Cust strike out 200+ times for the Dodgers.

7 - Well, it certainly works against financially strapped teams.

The Minotaur makes his 2nd Double-A appearance tonight. Hopefully less walks and more Ks!

Mike's new Baseball Rant takes on the Dodgers' freefall, from a historical perspective.

Sigh.

Mike Carminati puts the slide in perspective:
https://mikesrants.baseballtoaster.com/archives/765498.html

Boras is likely a spin-off of the name Boris, which is from the Turkic name Bogoris, thought to mean "short" or "wolf." Some would say both meanings describe him accurately...

Why not put into place a salary structure for the draft, much like the NFL does with its draft?

Slide, freefall, it's all good. Er, bad.

15 If you're changing the system, why not try to do something like the NBA? NFL draftees still holdout.

15, 17 - the NBA has the most structured pay for draftees, basically, it says if you get drafted #1 you get X over Y years, if you get drafted #15 you get X-Z over Y years. The NFL is wide open, leading to hold outs (see Lienart last year and Quinn this year)

15 According to those that follow this issue, the players' union does not want any type of salary structure in place as a precedent beyond the the minimum salary for the first 3 years once he is on the 25 man roster.

With only 2-3 players at most getting a MLB deal (where they get put on the 40 man roster and become members of the union), the vast majority of these guys will never be members of the union unlike the NBA and NFL.

18 But the NFL has many mechanisms where players get paid based on the average pay for that position plus the fact that their contracts are not guaranteed.

Brett Tomko is gunning for Rick Honeycutt's mark of the lowest winning percentage in Dodger history for anyone who qualified for the league title in W-L percentage.

The minimum Basbeball-Reference is uses Games in season divided by 12 rounded off to the nearest integer. So for a 162 game season, you would need 14.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/shareit/q79d

I must have been thinking of the NFL. But 19 , how does the union control the salary structure for draftees who are not union members?

I mean NBA, drats.

The problem with using the NBA or NFL models for draft pick compensation is that they are completely different systems. The minor leagues change the dynamic. The NBA and NFL have the advantage of having the NCAA serve as it's minor league system (and high profile, giving players a chance to learn what it's like in the bright lights).

Anyone know what the NHL's new CBA has in place, that might be something worth looking at.

Let me see if I get this rule correct. Let's say Tampa drafts #1 overall and they don't sign their pick. Then the next year they have the worst record again, do they then have the first two picks in the draft #1A and #1? Then what happens if they use this #1A and #1 pick and don't sign either player. Now do they get the #1A, #1B and #1 pick in the draft the following year if they once again have the worst record? Seems like it really lowers the risk of teams to sign their high first round picks. I guess a team with a #1 overall pick could keep playing games and keep drafting the same player over and over again until he finally gives in and signs.
vr, Xei

Is Lot N already on the same level as the Reserved Section?

25 - It is a little strange. Good question.

25: I believe you only get the compensation pick one time. So, if in year 2, you don't sign your guy, that's it.

A further effect is, in that year, the draftee will have the team in a much weaker bargaining position.

26
Yes. Lot N leads to a reserved level entrance.

It's interesting to see how many fans look for ways to strengthen management's hand at the negotiating table. When most folks, I'm assuming, are probably more labor-sensitive in "real life" and their own professions.

I also don't see how you can discuss this without flirting with political talk.

New post below this one. Open chat stays here.

All these years and you can still surprise us.

29
Thanks!

New post at Screen Jam.

30 I think you are right that these disparate views are held because most people don't think of ballplayers salaries as "real world".

35 Right. People view athlete's salaries in contrast to their own lives. Which is ludicrous.

Which is where we head off in a taboo subject.

New posts are popping up more than ... (too easy)

Have you noticed that ESPN has quietly rid themselves of Dan Patrick. Now 710 KSPN has some goofy local show on and ESPN Radio has had guest hosts who no longer call it the "Dan Patrick Show."

25
From the MLB.com website:
A Club generally retains the rights to sign a selected player until 11:59 PM (EDT) August 15, or until the player enters, or returns to, a four-year college on a full-time basis. A player who is drafted and does not sign with the Club that selected him may be drafted again at a future year's Draft, so long as the player is eligible for that year's Draft. A Club may not select a player again in a subsequent year, unless the player has consented to the re-selection.

38 - I think it was the other way around. Patrick quit ESPN, and I can't imagine they've found a suitable replacement for radio or TV.

Yeah, there was a big hubbub in the press when Patrick left, as I recall.

The Dan Patrick Show was the only show worth listening to on ESPN radio.

Patrick is actually on today and for the next two days.

Is Dan Patrick bigger than a breadbasket?

Just his ego.

44 Actually, no. He is four inches tall. ESPN made tiny, tiny cameras to film him on SportsCenter and microscopic microphones for his radio show.

True story: Shaquille O'Neal once placed Patrick in his lapel. Oh, did they laugh!

from the st. cloud times today, a newspaper that covers the Northwoods League...

Eight other players, including five pitchers, have left to return to school, and right-hander Kyle Blair is expected to beat Major League Baseball's signing deadline and turn pro today with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

47 Hazzah! That's cause for optimism, though I'll wait until it's official before I rest easy.

47 Nate is always looking for the positive.

Okay Nate, a gentlemen's wager, who is pitching in the big leagues first, Clayton Kershaw or Rick Porcello? The Tigers promote pretty fast but I think both could be up by the middle of next year.

Also Baumgartner reportedly got a 2 million dollar bonus, thoughts?

49 I would bet almost anything that Kershaw ends up in the majors first.

Porcello is quite raw, and a high school pitcher, whereas Kershaw is arguably already the best pitcher in the minors right now. Kershaw will be up most likely for some part of next year. I would be surprised if Porcello made it by 2010, because he just isn't very polished according to most reports. Right now Porcello has a great fastball, and not a lot else.

Porcello went to Seton Hall. And graduated.

Which is a prep school. I am retarded.

Porcello means piglet in Italian. How fast can he throw a piglet?

52 No, you are developmentally challenged.

I feel like human beings, as a species, are developmentally challenged.

54 Ain't that the truth.

If Jim Callis doesn't know about Blair, why would St. Cloud newspaper man know?

I can't stand most day time sports talk radio that is broadcast in the LA market. Dan Patrick is/was better than most imho, not that says much. What I didn't like about Patrick's shows is that he'd just take some topic, make up something contraversial about it then debate it with his callers. Not bad compared to Jim Rome with his smart alleck(sp?) show, with middle aged men calling in, talking like teenagers, reading from script. Then blowhards like Steve Mason and Collin Cowherd. Now they have that ex-USC football player that just likes to yell all the time Popadiculouis(sp?). Atleast Haxsaw use to talk about actual sports, knew his facts and there wasn't one sport he didn't know something about.
vr, Xei

56 Jim Callis isn't on the scene, his ear to the ground, talking to the people on the street.

It seems as if nearly every role in baseball -- from GM to manager to talk show host could be better filled by the denizens of Dodger Thoughts. Only Logan White's job is safe.

Maybe the Kyle Blair Caper can be the first official case for Encyclopedia Bob and Inspector Brock.

57 I think that would make a good off-day topic, local L.A. sports talk shows, good and bad.

Some of my favorites, the original Loose Cannons (Chet Forte and Steve Hartman); Mason and Ireland's morning show w/Jeannie Zelasko and A Martinez; one of Joe McDonnell's shows, pick a station; Jim Rome's local show; and Jim Lampley's show on KMPC 710 when it first went all sports.

57 Xei, don't forget Vic the Brick. He is the best thing...OK, I can't really do it. He is horrible.

I am with BH. I like Joe McDonnell, especially now that he is not quite so nasty. He is a little bit mellower, but still has enough of the "Big Nasty" in him to make the show funny.

59 As in most things, its a lot easier to make decisions with hindsight and no ramifications if you are wrong.

Okay, maybe talk show host but I have never heard ToyCannon or Greg Brock utter the immortal words, "Would you like a shot at Dodger Trivia?"

Plascke's article today is interesting, to say the least.

58 Good ole fashioned shoe-leather reportage? How quaint. Does he have a hat with "press" on it and a cigar? Does he have a cool name like Studs Terkel?

I hope so.

64 Ramifications? Like being called the best hire the owner has ever made?

I'd like to see these ramifications at some point for The Mustache.

59 You also forgot Vin, I don't hear a lot of people on here complaining that they could do Scully's job better than he does. So there's the list of people with safe jobs: Vin and Logan.

OT:

Does anyone have advice on buying an "affordable" slow-pitch softball bat that is decent? I am willing to spend 100-150, but I just can't get myself to shell out 400.

68 Vin, Tommy Lasorda and Bill Delury all have guaranteed deals.

You know, I don't think Hacksaw gets accused of knowing his facts very often -- usually it's the "not knowing" and "making things up" he gets guff for. :)

59 I'm pretty confident that if I were the GM we'd still be bad, just with different players.

71
What Hacksaw doesn't know would replace all the lost works of the Library of Alexandria, plus adding in the Library of Congress, the British Museum, and the little Library Express Unit of the St. Louis Public Library.

Wanting a better GM is not the same as wanting to be the GM.

"You think you can do better?" isn't my favorite discussion tactic. If any of us wanted to work in baseball, we'd have attempted to do it. Never did. Never cared to.

I'd like a better General Manager. This one is not my cup of tea. What does my career path or your career path have to do with the price of eggs in Chicago?

As far as sports talk goes, I really liked Patrick because of his low-key approach... he just had a mellow attitude and didn't necessarily go for "the controversy of the day". Plus he tended to be fairly moderate and not push an extreme view just to get a reaction.

On the flip side, I actually like "The P" (Petros, the Greek screamer) because I never get the sense that he takes himself or his opinions seriously; also, there's really not much sports in his sports talk. His on-air personality rivals Vic as "most insane", though.

Despite hating the Lakers, I also like Mychal Thompson a lot though. I dunno, he's a Laker homer but at least he has a sense of humor about it.

I know controversy and controversial opinions are what drives sports talk radio... with that in mind, I wish some show producer would create a baseball "Moneyball" show with a host pushing "the new stats". It'd certainly be controversial, since he'd be pushing against the grain of the established opinion, and I think it'd be way more interesting than the typical blowhards that are currently on the air. Something along the lines of a radio equivalent of Dayn Perry.

Bob's detective car could be a hybrid Bookmoblie.

72 I don't agree with that. I think a few of you guys here would be much better than Bernie.

Would you like a shot at Dodger Trivia?

61. I think that would be a terrible topic, but that's just because I live in Chicago and don't listen to any show you would probably mention. Of course, I would also hate to participate in a discussion of the Chicago Sports Talk Shows. Tom Waddle is just not that interesting, and I can't imagine they are any more interesting in LA.

Took the T-line down to Mission Bay this morning, intending to walk around and take pictures. That didn't happen. It was too big, and I didn't know what everything was. I walked back to Market St. via 4th St., which was nice. I stopped at Westfield Centre on Market St., and found (much to my delight) none other than a Jamba Juice in the food court. I just finished my second career Nike Protein Berry Workout, which was better than the first, but still not as good as the typicaly Protein Berry Pizazz.

73 Okay name two topics that Bob has a strong opinion about, one, San Francisco, two Hacksaw Hamiltion.

I guess the only thing in San Francisco's favor is that it uses its real name.

78

If you'd asked, "Would you like a shot of Dodger Trivia?" Marty would've been all over it.

I miss Ross Porter's postgame Dodger Talk....

Ross- And now it's time for the trivia question....who holds the Dodger records for outfield assists in one game? we go to Mike in Downey

Mike- Uhhh Ross, I would like to take a shot at the trivia

Ross- OK

Mike- Is it Fernando Valenzuela?

Ross- Let me check................no sorry, it wasn't Fernnie....goodguesstho'....

Oh how I miss Ross.....

69 I have a Mizuno Techfire Crush that everyone on my team likes. I got it for around $150, but it was on sale. I think retail's approaching $200. The best time to buy bats are right before the season, when you can get good deals on last year's models.

79 I'm guessing you are too young but one of the most interesting shows I recall first watching on cable was something called the Sports Reporters roundtable that featured 3-4 older sportswriters and Rick Telander. They would smoke cigars and throw out topics like Michael Jordan or Norm Van Lier (okay, I'm not sure they ever threw that one out.)

It was fun to watch especially when they would talk about the old days of Butkus, Sayers or Notre Dame football.

I played a few seasons of softball in Long Beach and Orange County, and there were very strict rules about the type of bats we could use. Pretty much anyone who had a nice bat was told it was illegal.

We were a step away from using wood.

85
The Chicago accents were the best part of that.

84 "Mizuno Techfire Crush" is a good name for some sort of cyberpunk weapon. One that requires cranial implants.

85 I loved that show. I just probably couldn't appreciate it on the same level.

83 BTW - nice little subtle reference to the old LA Times columnist.

I miss Ross too. My dodger talk impression...

"welp, mmm-hmmm, yep. um-humm, yeaaaap. all right then, thanks for the call"

69. When you find a good deal let me know too. The prices are just outrageous, so I just use someone elses bat all the time.

84. When does slow-pitch softball season begin? We have three seasons during the year, playing pretty much year round. We finally found ourselves a good thirdbaseman, we had a black-hole there for 2-3 years.
vr, Xei

88 That's the exact reason I bought it- it was fun to say. Then, for some reason I can't remember (I'm sure after several post game pints), it got renamed "Jerry the Whomper." That's not as dangerous sounding.

92

Seems like your black hole at 3rd would've at least kept any runners from reaching home.

92 The new models generally come out in the spring. I find you get the best deals at team-oriented stores that sell blank uniforms and hats and the like. Usuually there's a guy behind the counter who wears baseball sleeves all the time. People who frequent these stores are the only people who seem to care about 1 year's model to the next.

I think my favorite Dodger Talk moment occurred when some nut called in and plotted out the rest of the season in Mid-May. i.e. "We should take two out of three from the Mets, then sweep the Expos, but the Braves might give us a tough time so we'll only take one of four there".

After five minutes of this, Ross replies to this with merely "mmmm-hmmm, would you like to take a shot at the trivia".

94. Well, not sure about that, but it did a great job of sucking all the groundballs into left field. vr, Xei

88 Mizuno Techfire Crush is the name of my Talking Heads cover band.

I think the embarrassment of getting back on a diamond would preclude me from ever playing again. And I don't ever want to think about the soccer field. Growing old is tough. You guys will find out.

97

I played 3rd mostly on my teams. I stopped almost everything, but Saxed many of the throws to 1st. Damn ball was too big.

I won three sets of tickets by answering the trivia question on Dodger Talk.

Once the guy right before me got the answer and then they put me on and I had to say something else.

I sounded almost, but not quite, entirely like an idiot.

I didn't realize "to Sax" was a verb.

I mostly play SS when I play softball. But the last time I played our outfield was horrendous, so I got put at CF. I made all three putouts the first inning, so I was stuck there forever.

How'd you like it if your name was made into a verb? "He really Icaros'd that comment!"

Oooh, there's a "Mizuno Techfire Fury" too! Upgraded weaponry!

I always was amazed that Chick Hearn would do the pregame talk show before home games.

I once called in and felt like I had made it as a basketball fan when I quickly uttered how it would take some time for Magic to adjust to playing with Worthy after he replaced Wilkes in the starting lineup.

Chick said something like good point and then said something like thanks for listening.

Okay, he didn't invite to do be his sidekick (though back then, what I said pretty much equaled anything Keith Erickson or Stu Lantz would contribute) but speaking to one of your sports icons was still a thrill.

103 Like "My last comment was LAT'd"?

Hey, you guys knew what I meant, right? Saxed it is.

These aluminum bats are ridiculous. Watching high school kids swing with wood bats during wood bat tournaments is such a joy. Broken bats and stinging fingers everywhere.

Because they don't know how to square a baseball.

100 I won tickets to Lakers game when the question was name the movie that featured Lakers Abdul-Jabbar and announcer Chick Hearn.

I was like the 12th caller but was the only one who knew the answer, "The Fish that Saved Pittsburgh."

Not as many people had IMDB.com access like they do today.

http://www.mizunousa.com/diamond?openform

85 - I used to watch that show a lot.

108 I used to coach a little league team that played in a fall wood bat league. Those kids were far happier when they broke a bat than they were when they hit a home run.

102. I play SS too. The great thing about adult slow-pitch softball is that you tend to see things that you never believed were imaginable in a game. For example, about a week after the Dodgers had two runners thrown out at home plate on the same throw, we had that same thing happen in one of our games. We also had an opponent that hit a triple on a popup between the pitcher and catcher that backspinned to the back of the backstop. They thought it was a foul ball but it had glanced off of the catchers leg when he collided with the pitcher. The thirdbaseman had to go chase the ball down behind home, by then the batter had made it to 3rdbase. I'm waiting for that to happen to the Dodgers.
vr, Xei

108

I read somewhere that one high school wood bat tournament accelerates the Greenhouse Effect by approximately 25 years.

108. High Schools should mandate the return to wooden bats, just take the increased cost out of the teachers salaries, it's not like they deserve what they make anyway.

115

Yeah, pull some off the custodial fund as well. Those aren't even real people.

Cano pinch-hitting for Betemit in New York. Wilson went 0 for 3 with 3 Ks against Bedard.

115 Oh oh...Jon may have to delete the next Greg Brock post.

117. Wilson trying his best to help Bedard reach the 300 strikeout plateau.
vr, Xei

Bedard has 207 Ks on the season now, so he's going to have to go to the whip to reach 300.

114 It's science.

115 Agree completely. But I think the argument for cost/benefit was better when top of the line aluminum bats didn't cost $300 dollars. And kids weren't getting killed.

116. Like most High School students even deserve to go to a clean school. In my world, custodial staff were eliminated to fund footballs made from real pigskin instead of the synthetic stuff.

How much do bats cost? Competition in tee ball was too fierce and I had to make an unexpected early retirement, so I don't know these things.

121. Given the fact that at our board almost cut the baseball team for the local high school, so that they could keep the custodial staff, I can guarantee you, our aluminum bats were bought when top of the line cost $100.

122

Oh yeah? My school had the entire custodial staff slaughtered, so their flesh could be used to make new uniforms for the football team.

123- $200- $400 per bat.

126 Does wood cost more than aluminum or vice-versa?

From Jim Callis chat today:

Jack (Clarinda, Iowa): Let me get this straight: the MLB -- in an effort to help small-market teams -- implemented these slot prices, and instead of helping, it has actually made things worse? That is funny, really.

Jim Callis: Exactly. Except no one is laughing. MLB is angry that teams are breaking slot. Clubs are angry that the draft has become a hugely unlevel playing field. Agents are angry that the slots were arbitrarily reduced 10 percent this year.

Old friend Danys Baez going for the save in the Bronx.

125. Were the leftovers given to the cafeteria staff? If not, then you were just being wasteful.

124 Aluminum bats are getting banned in a lot of places, and eventually they'll be gone completely. Maybe not for a long time, but they will.

But hey, it's not my kid out there. Whatever. I just don't like to see kids get rewarded for being jammed by looping a duck fart over the second baseman for a base hit. Death-by-comebacker is a secondary concern to me.

127 good aluminum costs more, but they don't break. the extra costs for wood come down to having to buy a lot more bats. you can get a cheap aluminum bat for $20, but it's borderline impossible to compete with a team with the better bats.

Old friend Danys is not off to a good start.

128 When is the league just going to allow teams to trade draft picks? The tigers can trade up to draft Porcello, a small revenue club can reap the benefits of extra players, and the league doesn't get egg on its face for teams going against slot.

130

Oh yes. The leftovers were added to the usual mix of feral cat and dog chunks.

131. Oh good, that make the budget at next year's board meeting that much easier, the only question will be what to do with the extra funds generated by the loss of the baseball team.

136 Maybe administrators can stop giving each other $100,000 a year salaries. But I'm certainly open to making less. Teachers crow too much about their salaries.

85 I believe current Dodgers coach Dave Jauss' father Bill Jauss was a regular on the Chicago "Sports Reporters" show. Cigars and typewriters for everyone!

132 - I have seen aluminum bats break, but it's a lot rarer than with wood bats. And as to the "somebody's gonna get killed" argument, the aluminum bats are engineered to have performance similar to wood bats. It's really a matter of taste.

137
My girlfriend ended up not getting paid for the entire summer she worked for LAUSD.

So she has been doing some "crowing" about her salary.

140 LAUSD is not the best example. Of anything. Ever.

141
But they've promised to rectify the problem within TWO years!

139 In high school that's true, but in little league, the bats are much, much different. High school has regulated differences between weight and length (-3, I believe). In little league that's not the case.

139 That comes down to whether or not you think bat companies manipulate exit velocity tests.

Swing a woodie and swing a TPX.

And Jamie Walker blows the save in New York giving up a 2-out, 3-run homer to Shelley Duncan.

Both of those players are male.

137. Yeah, out school district doesn't really have that problem. Every part of the district is just barely hanging on, and nobody cares. The only reason I was even elected to the board was because we didn't even have enough candidates on the slate to fill all of the slots.

I just listened to Kevin Kennedy's comments after last night's game. Some of it was a thinly veiled comment that "someone" needs to be in the players faces about first ball swinging, bunting, hitting to right to move up the runners, etc,. And he's right. This slump is three times as long as it should have been because the moronic manager doesn't have the cajones to yell at veterans or take them out of the game when they refuse to take orders. Furcal and Nomar are the worst offenders but Kent and the others are guilty too. What we need most is a manager.

142 With interest, right?

TPX, a blast from the past. Remember the TPS?

My last bat was an Easton C-Core.

Note that Bob's girlfriend has never been named. I think this is because he and Brock plan to use her place as a safehouse when they get in trouble.

148
Surely you jest?

146 I'm really sorry to hear that. I really am.

Congrats on then being blamed for poor API scores.

Note that Bob's girlfriend has never been named

She's a GTBNL

153 - quick, which league has she not played in?

Mo gives one back in the Bronx. 4-3 top tenth.

145 To be fair to Shelley, his real name is David. I guess he just doesn't want to be confused with his father.

Today's Top Search item on the Yahoo front page is "Van Halen". Did they do something...?

Mr. Brock, I tried to send you an e-mail yesterday. Did you get it?

146 Also, I hope your teachers are making use of this:

http://www.donorschoose.org/

It takes forever, and you may not get funded. But it's something.

157 reunion tour

157 They announced their new tour and reunion with D.L. Roth.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/08/dodgers-to-scou.html

"Dodgers To Scout Contreras On Friday" - Via the Sun Times.

"As I mentioned before - it's either going to have to be a bad contract swap or the Sox eating half of Contreras's contract."

We don't we have any bad contracts to swap, do we?*

(* Please note sarcasm.)

158 I did now. Thanks.

143)

The Little League I umpire for has the same rule (-3), so I check all the bats before the game starts.

I play third for our softball team. I love the position, but I like outfield a lot. However, no one else likes the hot corner. We could use a better right fielder or first baseman.

162
Ok, it is one thing to believe we still have a good shot to make the playoffs, but how in the world are the Jose Contreras and Shea Hillebrands of the world going to help that?

reunion tour

I guess they must want 100s of millions of dollars or something.

162 I wouldn't mind eating Contreras' contract that much. Except I find it hard to believe that Colletti is still kidding himself that this season is salvageable.

The White Sox are the only team this year with a worse OPS in center field than the Dodgers...

159. Thanks, right now, my big concern is trying to get the people on the board and in the community to want something more than mediocrity. My sister-in-law was near the top of her class at this school and then last year she freaked out about having to right a short paper on "Civilization and its Discontents." My wife tried to make me write it since I had read it in school. Everyone seems to be perfectly happy with having the kids succeed at the JC, if you want to do well, then just your kids to Catholic schools.

162 - Nah, it'll just be money out of our Santana fund.

I believe that the contract of Jose Contreras tastes just like chicken.

166 Of course, this isn't exactly their first shot at reuniting, and there's still a month and a half until the first date, so we'll see how long it lasts. There have already been problems (Michael Anthony is not on the tour. Taking his place is Eddie's kid, Wolfgang. I guess on their website, they swapped out Michael for Wolfgang on a mock up of the Van Halen I cover. It was quite the internet fiasco).

162 At least he's only stunk for about a year, so it would easily be the best acquisition of the the season.

Speaking of rock dinosaur tours, E Street Band fans might want to check the news tomorrow around 10 a.m.

Or so I hear.

171 Trust me, I feel you. Which is why I'd rather sub this year than work in a bad school district.

Money can't buy communities that give a care.

Andrew Brackman just signed with the Yanks for $4.5 mil, but it includes 3 options which could raise it to $13 mil.

174 Was for Penarol.

Contreras still has about $20M left for 2 more years. Even if the White Sox picked up half of that, it would still be like signing Brett Tomko all over again.

So Jose is owed $20 million through 2009.

Versus, what, $35 million through 2010? As an example.

Didn't the White Sox want to get rid of Jermaine Dye too?

I suspect teacher's are pretty underpaid. I would not want to have to live on a teacher's salary.

177 Except Contreras was once one of the 10 best pitchers in the world. Tomko was not. Contreras offers a lot more upside than Tomko (admittedly with the same potential downside: complete suckiness.)

I would not want to have to live on a teacher's salary

Imagine having to load your clothes in the top of the washer like the rest of us.

179 - Except they get 3 months off per year, and get off work at 3pm every day.

[Ducks]

Kidding! The wife's a teacher. I feel it the first of every month.

173 If there's been little evolution past the dinosaur phase, then dinosaurs are state-of-the-art.

As old-hat as Bruce Springsteen or Van Halen might be, the rock fan's dilemma is being forced to choose between the originals and the hand-me-downs. Virtually all supposedly hot new bands I sample are derivatives of something of that generation. The only potential interest a new band might offer is the ability to recombine the old elements in a creative way.

Rock is becoming like jazz, blues and classical music. The older performers are still around and will continue to draw fans to their shows til they die, because they've never been topped.

180 For only half a season. Other than that, his peripherals have ranged from mediocre to bad, and he's 35.

Wells vs. Contreras: lesser of two evils?

Howdy, btw.

That didn't come across the way I wanted it too. Please ignore

174. I know what you meant. I'm just trying to get things moving in a good direction. They have a decent special ed program for my daughter, but if things haven't improved by the time my sons start elementary school, then I may have to get my wife to move away from her mom.

179 A lot of districts give full medical, dental, and vision for you and you, your spouse, and your children. How much is that worth? A lot. And you work 180 days out of the year. From 7:30-3:30 (if you care about your job at all). And you move up the salary schedule pretty quickly. It could, and should, be better, but the whole "poor me" routine is often overstated.

I am blaspheming heavily here. And I don't have to raise a family, so there's that. Just food for thought.

186

Yeah, you'd better start watching those apostrophes or Bob's going to blow a gasket.

181 - LOL

185 - Howdy.

So, if instead of doing all this, we call up James McDonald, and he gives up six runs, do we think he has the makeup not to let that destroy him?

184 "For only half a season."

For many years, actually. It's just most of us didn't get to see it. But point taken.

190 Is McDonald expected to be called up in September?

BK Kim's been DFA'd. Surprise surprise.

183 And everything from that generation was derivative of an earlier generation. The reason older performers are still around is because their fanbase has more money to spend per ticket, and because people inherently gravitate toward the music of their youth. No one buys the new material these bands put out, and hearing "this is from the new album" form a classic rock band might as well mean "you guys should go get a beer."

Unless you really believe that Styx will never be topped.

194. There are people that don't believe that Styx will never be topped?

188)

I am looking forward to teaching, and those are things I have considered to be great perks. Plus, I am horribly underpaid right now, so the teacher salary would be a bump. Sad, I know.

191 Ah, true.

193 It really wouldn't be a bad idea to pick him up, he put up decent numbers in Florida.

I'm waiting nervously for Kyle Blair news...

But at least I can sleep easy knowing D4P found my local Jamba Juice establishment! And took the T train without incident. I'll be heading to JJ tomorrow for my pre-soccer game energy boost. I wish we had Blenders in the Grass up here, too, as one commenter mentioned the other day. An SB favorite.

I'd take Contreras over Tomko in a heartbeat but only if they don't have to give up much to get him. How long's his contract for?

More importantly, can he hit?

Unless someone wants to open a coffee shop with me. I love being a Barista. I hear those things are a sure thing

193 - Who's taking his spot in the rotation?

195

Did you find yourself singing this song after his triple last night?

You know it's you, Shea
Whenever I get weary and I've had enough
Feel like giving up
You know it's you, Shea
Giving me the courage and the strength I need
Please believe that it's true
Shea, I love you.

200 Dunno for sure but they called up pitchers Dustin Nippert and Jailen Peguero.

I didn't even realize the DBacks had acquired Joe Kennedy before hearing that they've DFA'd him, like Kim.

202 Or back to Yusmeiro Petit.

And I'm sure the guys in the dugout sang to Mark Sweeney, "You're fooling yourself if you don't believe it
You're killing yourself if you don't believe it
Get up, get back on your feet
You're the one they can't beat and you know it
Come on, let's see what you've got
Just take your best shot and don't blow it."

I think we just Styx'd this thread.

Yep, I am too young to get the song references.

205 maybe everyone's trying to finish off their lyrics for "Domo arrigato, Mr. Brett Tomko..."

"Penny Looks to Get Slumping Dodgers Untracked"

Is untracked the right word for this headline on the Dodger website?

Hey, I was born in '75. It's not like Styx are from my time, but you have know the classics if you want to know music.

Yea, I just never grew up listening to them at all. Although, it is highly possible I know their songs but don't know the band.

I grew up listening to K-Earth

I'm sailing... away. Set an open course, for the virgin sea.
Something something something...
Something something...
Come sail away, come sail away, come sail away with me.

Is that how it goes? I think I'll listen to that song when I get back home.

What Icaros said, plus 5 years earlier in my case.

208 That's actually a pet peeve of mine as an editor. The misuse of the word "untracked" when they actually mean "on track." Drives me batty. Untracked is similar to "derailed," which accurately describes the Dodgers' past few weeks.

I think there were three somethings in the third line.

speaking of music, sort of-
www.bandtoband.com is a fun website. It's like six degrees of Kevin Bacon, but for music. Go from Bruce Springsteen to Cannibal Corpse in just 7 albums!

Welcome to the Grand Illusion
Come on in and see what's happenin'
Pay the price, get your ticket to the show...

Icaros's 5 favorite Styx songs:

The Grand Illusion
Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)
Babe
The Best of Times
Crystal Ball

Have to share a brief story with you all:

My fiancee's dad is a premium box seat season ticket holder and was invited to go a "lunch with Grady Little" today. He couldn't go, but invited me to go in his place. I just got back. Grady couldn't come because of a "last minute emergency" but Rick Monday, Rick Honeycutt and Dave Jauss filled in.

Rick Monday is exactly as I would have expected him (I took a picture that I can share with you all later) and all I could think was "The score or your life!"

Rick Honeycutt was also interesting, but I was mostly incredibly impressed with Dave Jauss. He seems like an unsung hero to me (as bench coaches may often be). He seemed like a SUPER smart and very classy guy. Has anyone here had any dealings with him? He was just awesome.

They all talked about their own embarrassing moments when they made a mistake or thought there were three outs instead of two and got a lot of jokes from their fellow players about it (in reference to Mark Sweeney's mistake last night). Most of the questions asked were very stupid (one woman asked when the names would go back on the jerseys to give you an idea of the caliber) but some of them were pretty good and they were answered similarly to how McCourt answered our DT day questions: candid but with PR in mind.

Incidentally I saw Josh Rawitch and Camille Johnston there and thanked them again for their courtesy on DT day. It was an interesting session. I wish Grady had been there, but I as I said, I was very impressed with Dave Jauss.

'cause I've got too much (clap clap)
Time on my hands
and it's ticking away at my sanity...

206 Kevin..Cartman did "come sail away" on South Park.

Now that was a great cover. Better than Hendrix. yep. I got to much time on my hands.

Styx was a big reason I turned to punk rock.

220

I thought it was because John Lydon used to wear a shirt that said "I Hate Pink Floyd."

217

Think I heard somewhere that Jauss has a degree in psychology. That's rare for a baseball coach.

You can't make this stuff up: the NYPD has just issued a report warning citizens to look out for homegrown terrorists in "cafes, cab driver hangouts, flop houses, prisons, student associations, non-governmental organizations, hookah bars, butcher shops and bookstores."

194 Well... I have to disagree. It goes without saying that all music is, to a large degree, derivative, but the classic rock and soul performers of the baby boomers' youth did, in fact, create something new by blending purer forms that had previously existed in cultural silos: country, folk, blues, jazz, boogie-woogie, Broadway, gospel, and others.

I don't think Styx was at the forefront of this pioneering period. Springsteen and Van Halen came in near the end, but I think they qualify as innovators whose best music has become timeless.

Every art has its peaks and valleys. Pop music has been in a valley for more than 20 years, with no end in sight. Not to say some good stuff hasn't come out since 1985. But the montly outpourings of good, durable new music in the 60s and 70s has slowed to a trickle now.

It doesn't disprove the point to say fewer people are interested in the later works of the "classic rock" artists. Although, as an aside, anyone who is skipping the late CDs of the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan or Paul McCartney is depriving themselves of some good, surprisingly fresh music.

206 I was born is '88 and I'm familiar with these references. Admittedly, my dad likes Styx (I've accompanied him to Styx concert) and I grew up listening to Arrow.

According to his bio on Dodgers.com, Jauss has a B.A. in psychology from Amherst and a master's in sports management from UMass.

222 BA in psychology and MS in Sports Management. He's definitely a smart guy.

223)

I'm on it.

I am young and I have seen Styx perform live. Well without Dennis DeYoung.

BTW, how did I miss Abreu getting back into the lineup? Was this discussed while I was at the game last night?

226 Makes sense to me. He was very sharp. The percentage of coaches in the major leagues who have a master's degree can't be too high, can it?

If Chicago ever wants to share its "Windy City" moniker with another city, I nominate San Francisco. It's ridiculous out there right now.

217 I wonder if Sweeney's ridiculous blunder might have a good effect on the team. Things have been pretty grim; maybe Grady can play this for comic relief to get his players to stop pressing.

Springsteen is derivative as hell, but I think dzzrtrat is right in that he blended all that stuff in a way that hadn't quite been done before. Basically he put Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, Phil Spector, Hank Williams, Gary U.S. Bonds, Woody Guthrie, The Clash, Miles Davis, The Beatles, and CCR into a big blender and hit the "puree" button.

Furcal, SS
Pierre, CF
Kemp, RF
Kent, 2B
Loney, 1B
Martin, C
Gonzo, LF
Hillenbrand, 3B
Penny, P

I always enjoy dzzrtRatt's music discussions.

I think modern rock music is becoming derivative in the same way that, after millions of years of cross-breeding, all humans will look like A-Rod.

237

And Beyonce.

I am way more of a mutt than A-Rod.

235)

Grrrrrrrr. No Ethier

239

But I don't know what you look like.

how does Brackman get that much money? He sucks.

224 My point is that these artists don't stay out on tour and draw fans because the music is timeless. They do it because they can collect a significant paycheck with minimal effort. The older generation is the one who will pay absorbitant sums of money and buy lots of concessions, and they will do so based simply on nostalgia. case in point- Journey, without Steve Perry, still gets $100k a show. The drawing power of all of the so called "classic rock" artists has already significantly diminished.

I believe it will prove to be no more timeless than any other era in music, especially if no new recordable medium for music comes along. For a long time, older bands still moved units because people were upgrading from LP's to 8 track to cassettes, to CDs. That's no longer the case.

Further, I believe the overall decline in financial viability for a band will lead to less durable music, not the lack of quality music itself.

And Paul McCartney's new single might be the worst song I've ever heard.

241
I was just trying to say A-Rod and Beyonce aren't that mixed.

242
He can throw really hard and he can dunk a basketball. That seemed to help Mark Hendrickson.

244

Imagine them with a third parent of Asian descent.

Everybody will look like Tiger?

Icaros beat me to it. Drat.

id definitely take Blair over Brackman for 1 mil.

246 I have trouble imagining anybody with 3 biological parents of any descent.

Today's popular music is completely derivative crap because derivative crap is what sells. The record companies, under the financial pressures created by Napster, decided that they were only interested in signing mega-selling artists, and the lesser-selling but high-quality performers they used to sign for "prestige" purposes have fallen by the wayside.

Basically, the companies found a formula that makes them a lot of money, and they've stuck with it. Acts like the Clash or Frank Zappa or Jimi Hendrix, if they were starting out today, would never get through the front door. If you don't fit with the paint-by-numbers formula, they're not interested.

The result of which is, almost all of the relevant music coming out these days is released independently. In the 1970s, artists like Josh Ritter, the Drive-By Truckers, Wilco, Sufjan Stevens, and The Hold Steady would have been household names even among soccer moms -- prestige artists on major labels. Instead they have to play towns like Peoria and sing for their supper.

247

There you go. Something like that. There will be no races. Dogs and cats will hold hands in harmony, and nobody will drive like he/she is the stupidest, most inconsiderate person alive ever again.

But the sun will probably explode before any of this comes to fruition. When is that due to happen, again?

250

It's called The Milkshake Theory.

Or we can just say when everyone looks like the Goobacks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goobacks

I actually wrote a thesis paper for an Anthro class on why we would never have one uniform race.

254
Damnit, they took our jobs! They took our jobs! Derr da derrrrr.

255

Ooh, is it posted anywhere?

252 The next time the Dodgers win more than five games in a row.

252 Darren Daulten says 12/12/2012

why we would never have one uniform race

Because uniforms are inanimate objects.

208, 213
The Dodgers need to stay on track. If they were to get untracked, they would perhaps crash. Someway somehow DT day got the train going backwards. To get the train moving forward again perhaps all DTers should root for Pierre tonight. Its just one night.

Daulton

243 Paul McCartney's new single might be the worst song I've ever heard.

I haven't heard it, but can it even be his worst song ever? He did release "Mary Had A Little Lamb" after all.

261

I always root for Pierre, just like I always root for my favorite nurse upstairs to realize that I should father her children.

261 We need to move forwards not backwards, upwards not forwards, and always twirling, twirling, twirling to freedom!

234 The Clash?

232 Should've warned you about that - it does get real windy here, especially in the Civic Ctr area. Streets around there are like a wind tunnel, with the tall buildings and all that.

David Price: six years, $8.5 million

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2976365

Also here: http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=212

257
No, but my reasons were:

-populations that are isolated will never mix
-genetic mutations
-social issues that will delay it such as religion, racial, and social class bias
-future changes to our environment that do not make it advantageous

There may have been more, but I forget now.

264 - Maybe you could father her children while she is out on a date D4P.

I will admit to Styx being a guilty pleasure despite its utter pretentiousness, but it does have nostalgic value for me since that is what we were listening to c. 1974-6 as non-discerning early teens. I lean more toward "Lady" and "Lorelei" though. I always thought someone could write a low-caliber book for a Broadway-like musical weaving together Styx songs. It would never be a critical success, but could make money.

269

Oh, so you took the realistic approach. What fun is that?

267

good deal for both teams. Price is awesome and should get to the majors relatively quickly and help the rays.

270

That sounds like a challenge. But he's out of his element now.

Just realizing that SF is windy? Boy oh boy...

It's windy because it's so flat.

The winds in San Francisco are a sign of my disapproval of the city.

Just realizing that SF is windy?

And what's with all the gay folks around here...? When did that happen...?

I think D4P should visit Golden Gate Park and buy some of the cookies and treats that are being sold.

With Kazmir, Shield, and E Jackson already up and Price, McGee, and Wade soon to follow it will be fun watching the DRay's blossom.

264 When I read that the first time it was hillarious. Then I said, did I read that right? And then I read it again and it's still hillarious.

Dodgers WILL NOT sign Kyle Blair (per Tony Jackson)

279
Plus, possibly Alex White and Niemann.

281
Ugggh, come on. Use the money we saved from screwing Delwyn and Abreu.

oh come on!

That's really stupid.

this just ruined my day.

282
Isn't Alex White not eligible until 2009? He was drafted by us in 2006 and I thought he had to spend 3 years in college.

Not a big fan of Neimann, I doubt if he'll have a healthy career.

He wants 1.5 dodgers offer 1.1 and cannot come to terms this is lame.

And Tomko and Hendrickson are worth what?

That is really stupid. Why do they waste the pick, then?

Oh come on, quit the complaining. That gives us an extra million to throw at Gonzo next year.

to be fair, 1.1 mil is a really strong offer and i thought that was what he was initially seeking. Maybe all these bloated contracts got him thinking he could get more.

But at least we've spent 4.5 million on half a season of a hitting coach.

291
You can't put a price on communication skills.

but seriously...what is an extra 400k when we constantly waste money on crappy players?

Funny how Muellers name doesn't come up much anymore when people are talking about the vaunted offense that he turned around.

If he were 10 years older and very mediocore 3 mil 1 year contract could have been had.

Not meaning to be snarky, just asking --

At what point should the Dodgers cut bait?

"We'll offer you one million."
"I want one point one."
long pause.
"Okay, one point one."
"Nope, too late. Now I want one point five."

Not saying this is what happened, but if it is -- and it's possible -- I imagine that it would rub people the wrong way.

281 - Arrrrgh.

Yeah, I'm disappointed if it's true. On the other hand, 1.1 million seems pretty fair and 1.5 million sounds like they're asking for too much. Can't they, you know, haggle a bit though?

"Now I want twenty for that ...
Brian: I gave you twenty.
Harry: Now are you telling me that's not worth twenty shekels?
Brian: No.
Harry: Feel the quality, that's none of yer goat.
Brian: Oh, I'll give you nineteen then.
Harry: No, no. Do it properly.
Brian: What?
Harry: Haggle properly! This isn't worth nineteen."

290 - Tony Jackson says Blair initially was seeking $1.5 million, but his final demand was $1.1 million, which the Dodgers refused. The Dodgers didn't offer $1.1 million.

293 A lot if your owner doesn't have it.

I think Blair just realized he is guaranteed to be the top pick of a future draft.

266 Absolutely, Springsteen was influenced by the Clash. They were a major influence on the Darkness album, and you can also hear it on songs like "Roulette" and "Seeds," and even the Nebraska album. And then there's this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1QldW82xzQ

294 - I think he might have the laryngitis.

263 Because he's so reviled by so many, I would have to say admitting I like Paul McCartney's last, oh, 3 or 4 CDs, constitutes reputational suicide. And yet, I will say it right here: Flaming Pie, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard and Memory Almost Full are great albums that would also be household words along with the indie acts Eric cited, if they had been released in the early to mid 70s. They are much better than not only Paul's own solo material from the 70s, but any Beatles' solo output.

I don't think "Dance Tonight" is so bad -- it's kind of catchy. But it is misleading. The album it comes from is far more ingenious and involving than that track.

It was very sad for Paul and his family when Linda passed away, but there's no doubt the tragedy has unleashed Paul's creativity and improved his taste-o-meter. Seriously. There are no "Mary Had A Little Lamb" or "Hi-Hi-Hi" type songs on his newer stuff.

299 Hummph. Then that's dumb. If the Dodgers are letting $100K get in the way of signing the guy, they are stoooooooopid.

299

you're right. Blair wanted 1.1 and the Dodgers wouldn't give it to him.

now THAT, is retarded.

Why does McCourt have to lick Selig's boots still? He owns the damn team.

301 Not if he hurts himself pitching for USD.

277 Funny.

dodgers are becoming really cheap when it comes to the draft.

Right, let's take the money out of Logan White's hands and put it into Ned's.

Did we get anyone really good in this draft, then?

reports out of KC has Moustakas going to USC.

So no Blair and we're scouting Contreras. Somebody tell me again how Ned's the GM and that we, the stupid little people, should just sit back and let the big boys do their thing.

312

I like Wthrow, Watt and Lambo. Blair is on par with Withrow.

Maybe Logan didn't want to sign him too much over slot.

Sounds though like Ned once again will not negotiate with potential talent he'd rather throw money at a commodity he knows to suck.

As I head out to watch Gonzo, Pierre, and the malcontent my Dodger Blue Shirt reflects my mood.

I only wish Blair the best of luck and hope this comes back to bite the Dodgers butt big time. If you weren't going to offer 1.1 why tease us you cheap little pretenders. When you draft a round one talent you need to pay round one money or don't bother.

314 If you don't have the job, you don't know!

You are therefore inherently unable to comment on anything having to do with the Dodgers!

313
Didn't they draft him because they thought he would be easy to sign? Or did I just assume that.

315 Lambo is the name I think that we will need to be knowing over the next several years. The kid has good but not great power, but excellent plate discipline. Look for him to really break out when he starts next season in Low A, and I bet he reaches High A next year.

315

I know Lambo has looked good so far. Is he the guy who was supposed to be a bit of a psychopath, though?

I'm guessing the refusal to give into Blair's demands had more to do with "principles" than with the actual money. On some level, it seems clear that giving players anything they ask for isn't the best overall strategy for teams to pursue. The problem is that the cost of losing a player may very well exceed the savings associated with not giving him what he wants.

It's almost as if the success of putting together a great young nucleus has gone to the Dodger brass' heads and made them arrogant.

Uh, guys, Loney, Billingsley and Kemp are impressive but they haven't won us anything yet.

Or maybe it's Boras Derangement Syndrome at work.

318
Remember it's easy to criticize if you're sitting in your sky box and eating free cookies.

But I never get free cookies.

Anyone recall the Styx album (remember those) with the etched ingraving? I think it was the Paradise Theater Album. That was cool.

I don't understand the point of burning off a 5th round pick if the Dodgers weren't willing to pay around $1 million for Blair to being with. If they weren't willing to pay that amount, which is what outside observers expected, they should have drafted a true 5th round player.

So, the Dodgers assumedly knew this guy would want 1.5 million to begin with, but they aren't willing to pay that. Nor or they willing to pay him when he knocks a third off his asking price.

If this is true, why draft him?

321
Bit of a stronge word for a teen ager who had a little fun. He wasn't drowning cats or anything.

Don't worry, we still got our second round LOOGY.

Not signing Blair is like rubbing salt in the wounds that we all have after watching the Dodgers "play" for the last three weeks.

321 Worst case scenario, he's the third prospect we have that gets thrown in the clink the last three years.

If this is true, why draft him?

Maybe the Great Communicator thought he could talk Blair's asking price down. He did, after all, convince Wolf to accept a mere $8 million bucks...

328

Well, I said "bit." What did he do, exactly?

333
I think he stole a car and was just an overall jerk.

For all plaudits that Logan White gets, remember he has only really gone over the average bonus once, that was for Andy LaRoche in 2003.

And folks, the Dodgers did not offer 1.1 million, that is what reportedly Blair's camp said they came down to at the end of this negotiation, there was no mention of what the Dodgers were willing to pay.

Logan White has never been someone to me who is going to "thumb his nose" to conventional way of doing business. Did he help revitalize the Dodger farm system, yes. But is he really different in terms of the way he views the baseball business, probably not.

I will naturally assume that we will get an All-Star game at some point.

I mean, we specifically draft players in order to not sign them. Bud's gotta absolutely love that.

Disgusting.

On the bright side of the draft, Jamie Pedroza the brother of Sergio who was traded by us last year is having a stellar rookie league season for a 9th round pick. The 5'10 switch hitting SS sports a line of
369 .421 .531 952
while playing for Ogden.

329 Lefties are OPSing .360 against him!

332 Ned doesn't negotiate with draft picks, that is solely Logan's deal.

Keep in mind I probably care less about personality than anyone, provided the player can avoid incarceration and actually play.

I'd even root for a team of cat drowners if I don't have to watch them lose games like they did last night.

333
Much ado about nothing unless you guys all lived perfect lives in HS.
http://www.toacorn.com/news/2006/0323/Sports/061.html

Losing Moustakas should make us feel slightly better about not signing Blair, at least in a perspective kind of thing. Still think the Dodgers cheaped out though.

Btw, speaking of names from the last draft to remember, here's another the Dodgers' drafted that you may hear more and more about:

Timothy Sexton.

What a bunch of Negative Nellies here. You'd think the Dodgers were in the midst of losing a bunch of games and freefalling out of the playoff race or something.

Oh. Well.

341

I did live a perfect life in high school, and I regret it to this day.

If Lambo got arrested for drowning Tomkos he'd be alot cooler.

I did live a perfect life in high school, and I regret it to this day

Me too, though I only regret it on some level, not all levels.

The Tigers sure aren't hesitant to call up young pitchers.

347 - The ol' swim or die.

er sink or swim.

347

they also aren't hesitant to spend money on their drafts. This is making me more mad then our current streak of suckiness.

336
The Major League All-Star Game will come to Vivendi Universal Park in Downtown L.A. in July of 2020. In 2021, Super Bowl LV will be played at the football stadium in Chavez Ravine, home of the Los Angeles Saints.

310 I don't think they are cheap in any way, outside of Hochevar (who everyone agrees got an offer that amounted to high first round money despite being picked near the end of the supplemental round), they sign who they draft in the first 10 or so rounds.

Now, have they taken a flyer at the David Prices, Joe Saverys and Alex Whites, they sure have but at that point, every other team had numerous shots to pick them and offer them big bucks, so I would have to think that they knew the likelihood of signing them was pretty low and they were not going to extend a big offer but they wanted to see what the interest was in talking with them.

Now, I have no reason why they drafted Blair when most thought one, he was strongly committed to college and two, if he did sign, it would be for middle first round money.

Maybe they didn't like what they saw during the summer, maybe they felt his projection had fallen down some. Maybe they felt he was closer to a 3rd or 4th round pick, I don't know but I don't think this is case of team getting cheap when it comes to the draft.

351
Should I bring brownies tomorrow?

339 But who sets White's budget? Who could authorize a slight increase in that budget? I imagine the answer is Ned.

346

Yes, that's probably more accurate. I'm really just ashamed that I took anybody seriously in high school, fellow students and teachers alike, because man what a cesspool of self-absorbed ignorance that place was.

Some hooligans over at Tony Jackson's blog are quite upset.

New post up top.

355

No Sad Panda sightings yet?

357 Sad Panda is about to go out and cry. He can't come to the phone right now.

354 "When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school,
It's a wonder I can think at all.
And though my lack of education hasn't hurt me none,
I can read the writing on the wall."

I broke a few rules in HS, but nothing more serious than a few of us getting caught doing doughnuts on the school lawn with beer in the car. They poured out our beer and I was a little embarrassed in front of my revered Trig/Math Analysis teacher. No big deal. I should have had more fun.