Above should've said "starting" instead of staring. Though come to think of it, 1 could still make a lot of sense.

Oh, SB. You violated Unwritten Rule 13.

Wow, I've never seen comment #1 hit the dust so fast.

A double super secret rule?

Jon, hurry up and go get an Immunity Boost from Jamba Juice.

If only the JJ near my house hadn't shut down.

I am now about to give my upset stomach enchiladas. Which helps expoain why comment 1 got deleted.

I think I got that same flu probably when I found out the Dodgers signed Pierre. Probably just correlation though.

It's kind of disappointing that (apparently) Stults will be taking Hendrickson's spot in the rotation instead of McDonald. Regardless of whether McDonald is ready for the majors to stay, he's on some kind of hot streak right now and it would've been nice to take advantage of that.

Shea Hillenbrand is the eighth player to play for the Dodgers and Angels in the same season:

Len Gabrielson and Johnny Werhas did in 1967
Jim Brewer and Dave Sells in 1975
Dick Schofield in 1995
Tim Wallach in 1996
Eddie Murray in 1997

12 - Bob, you're just amazing.

12 Gabrielson was the only worthwhile hitter for the Dodgers in the seasons cited. Murray was average in 9 PAs.

I didn't know the Len Gabrielsons were one of the father-son major league combos until just now.

12: You could always count on Brewer to win the cow milking contest.

12 The 1967 and 1975 players were traded for each other - not too surprising.

15 Sells, a pitching, was 1-1 batting for LA, not that it matters.

Bob is the resident genius here we shouldn't feed his massive ego anymore. :o)

16 Those cows really liked that screwball motion of his. In this day and age, Brewer would have pitched a few more seasons as an effective LOOGY, I think.

Unlike yesterday, it appears I'll actually have the Dodger game on FSNPT today.

Whether I can bear to watch is another question entirely.

12
Somebody at work asked me.

Few people remember Dick Schofield's Dodger career. He was only on the team because the rosters were expanded to 30 at the beginning of the 1995 season.

That also meant we had to watch Rob Murphy pitch.

I hope the cure comes soon - to both bad situations.

So I'm thinking tonight is probably the night that Dontrelle Willis's losing streak ends? And Byung-Hyun Kim isn't going to be starting again for the DBacks is he? And the DBacks pythagorean record is going to take more of a beating.

McDizzle is sailing so far.

22 Both may require a purge.

Being a Nats fan means you have to watch your relief "ace" give up pinch homers to Russell Branyan.

Rally time? Mmmm, I'm not feeling it, Jon. What I am feeling is a hunger for another top 10 draft pick, another Kershaw, so from this point forward I am hoping for a team free-fall, with the proviso that I will root for certain individual players to succeed. Billingsley, Broxton, Martin, Loney, Kemp, Ethier, and any prospect we call up from the minors all have my best wishes, but anybody else, especially the vets I already don't like, can tank it.

26 Isn't that the only thing Branyan is good for?

23 The Dodgers could use a game like Florida is having.

26 - First at-bat with the team and he already shows more power than our last #4 ever did...sorry Sam DC, we didn't know he had it in him either!

Did anybody, during Johan Thoughts a couple of threads ago, ever figure out how much $$ the Giants have coming off of the books to throw around this winter?

26 I'm ready for it. I'm getting in on the ground floor.

Washington's relief ace is pretty good, actually. (Hint: It ain't Jon Rauch.)

Wow, Ken Tremendous got a full page guest column in the print edition of SI. And it's not even about Joe Morgan.

30 Eyeballing it, they have about a 50 million dollar payroll heading into the season.

33 Bets on the first person to fisk the column?

Wade Davis, one of the drays top pitching prospects is getting torched by the Suns in his battle against McDonald.

I guess I'd forgotten it, but J.P. Shadrich just mentioned that James McDonald, Sr., was a tight end for the Rams. Here are his career stats:

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/McDoJa00.htm

52 games, 14 receptions, 3 touchdowns.

27 - How 'bout we compromise and the kids lead us to the pennant?

The Angels lost to the Blue Jays in less than two hours. How come they can have a 4-1 game that takes 1:58, but I go to a 4-1 game that takes over three hours?

36 nate, hyphenate! I got this image of carts or sleds having pitching prospects, which I then immediately took to meant wobbling from side-to-side!

;)

Dewitt with an RBI triple. Suns and McDonald cruising 6-0.

This year could turn into a repeat of the 2005 stretch drive on Dodger Thoughts, where discussion of the putrid performance of the major league team takes a backseat to Jacksonville's march toward the Southern League championship.

The Yankees are not winning one for Scooter tonight.

Up in heaven, Phil's scorecard is loaded with "WW" notations.

Ned signed Hillenbrand one day after the Phillies acquired Branyan for cash from Cleveland, which was two days after the Indians signed him.

42
And to me about the only thing duller than watching the 2005 Dodgers was following the 2005 Southern League.

40 . Or in the case of some of our fallen stars, "Bring out your dead!"

I look back on the Suns Thoughts era with fondness. It was like an online drum circle for a disappointed group of warriors.

Suns Thoughts was a fun time. Although a World Series run would have been more fun.

45 Dull?

Russell Martin! Chad Billingsley! Jonathan Broxton! James Loney! Andy LaRoche! Tony Abreu! Joel the Destroyer! Hong-Chih Kuo!

Dull?

44 I'd be sad if I had any hope that Ned would even consider signing Russell Branyan.

Tony Abreu is in the Vegas starting lineup tonight.

49
Remember, I'm no fun.

33 Under his nom de plume?

Bob just dislikes the minor leagues. He's sort of the librarian version of Ned Colletti.

So you're trying to tell me Ken Tremendous isn't his real name?

55 I don't think he works at Fremulon, either.

3 Ks and a double in the ninth for Gagne.

54
I was also unable to watch on my computer for technical reasons, so I felt left out.

Any chance McDonald could force the Dodgers' hands? Stults may be taking Hendrickson's spot on Friday, but Tomko's spot comes up Sunday. Tomko is pitching tonight; so is McDonald (and well, again).

Monday's off day can allow for the shuffling necessary to let Tomko, Hendrickson, and Stults fight it out for the final spot in the rotation.

So whatever happened to those Suns streaming videocasts, anyway? Did they get kayoed by MiLB.tv?

59 At the very moment Eric Stephen was typing that post, McDonald gave up a two-run homer.

60

last year I emailed them asking about and they said they could not get enough funding/advertisement money for it.

61 Between that, my Billingsley jersey purchase, and my 9-game in-person losing streak to the Padres, I might be bad luck for the Dodgers.

Hey, you know who is great? Juan Pierre. And Shea Hillenbrand.

Mike Lowell's game-tying homer in the 9th isn't sitting too well with Scooter up in heaven.

Linkmeister, do your hatches need battening?

37- I believe he played in the White Sox organization as well. Im positive our team faced the fastest batting practice. He was a big influence.

Rick Ankiel's story isn't playing as well in Milwaukee.

McDizzle strikes out the side though.

I hope the cure comes sooner than later.

Robert Smith can probably play third base better than Hillenbrand. I say, let's do it! Plus, he gets to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in the seventh.

Reading McDizzle makes me giggle.

69 Robert Smih struggles to walk upright. At this point, he'd have to actually be the base.

69 . I doubt we will be able to lure him to the team unless Streisand suits up for the D'Backs.

Ahhhh, Vin. Whatever the night brings I have a chance of enjoying it.

tomko wearing high-boys

If the Padres lose tonight, they fall into a tie for the wild card with the Phillies.

ugh kemp.

71 - and your point?

this isn't starting well.

We all know that was an error (I'm looking at you score keeper)

When did we (or nate) decide on McDizzle? It's not bovine-y enough.

So whatever happened to those Suns streaming videocasts, anyway? Did they get kayoed by MiLB.tv?

I miss those days also, I did a google search a while back but couldn't find it anymore.

look at Tomko getting out of that inning with a K.

Albers gameday Picture looks like he was trying to pick up on the lady taking the picture "Hey whats going on baby"

furcal leads off every game 4-3

So, the die is cast, we should make this guy continue to throw a lot of pitches!

kemp going oppo

Matt Kemp makes up for the error big time, WOO!!

I talked to BH today, told him Kemp would hit a jack.

And get benched tomorrow.

Welcome to the #3 hole, son.

I will point out that I am wearing my Billingsley jersey for the first time during a game.

The 3rd slot agrees with Matt Kemp.

Good for the confidence

Not a bad shot there for a bench player.

kemper bomb!

From the AP:
Garciaparra said the injury has plagued him for more than a week. ... "We all have injuries and you deal with them. It wasn't an easy decision," ... "I was still running hard throughout the week and it wasn't bothering me too bad, so I was able to get by with it. But it just got progressively worse," he said. "So before it gets really bad, I figured let's try to control this and put a stop to it now."

I'm reading into this that this first started a week ago or so, not earlier than, say the 5th or 6th.

Good Kemp, now why didn't Grady let you play last night?

Grady is a genius.

The Buff.

From now on, every time the Bison hits one, I'm going to yell Stampede!

I wish my favorite team had a couple of guys like Matt Kemp. Oh, wait. It does.

97 . Bison doing The Biz.

Tonight in his pregame interviews (heard via KFWB pregame), Little had this response to a question about who was starting Friday. This is almost a literal transcription, but I heard it in the car.

"I've got more questions about what the hell is going on with this team than you could ever come up with."

Then I figured out, finally, who Grady sounds like. He sounds like the more intelligent brother of Milton from Office Space.

Marty, do you realize what a good education the kids in Borneo have been getting lately?

I didn't see a NPUT when I came back to my computer so I ended up making this prediction in the last thread. There is still time for Pierre to cause some havoc. :-)

81. Dodgers49
Looking into my crystal ball for tonight's game I see Pierre creating havoc on the basepaths thus causing the pitcher to try throwing fastballs by Kemp. I see one going over the fence. :-)

Yes, Borneo is the new India courtesy of the Dodgers.

I'm not watching the game, just seeing text from the net. How shallow was Berkman's fly out to LF? Does Loretta try and score on Gonzo vs. Ethier? Or not a chance since Lee was up next?

101 - "But... but... Mr. Colletti... if you don't give me good players, I'm going to burn down the stadium."

Only the D's. With lots of fans dying to get some playing time for young ballplayers the D's trade Betemit and lose Abrue and LaRoche to injury right before Nomar gets hurt. This may not be totally luck, but it shows how are luck has been running this half.

That double play was sublime.

I don't understand how Loney can be so good. He's not even 34 years old yet.

Nice play! Loney. I'm already used to saying that.

107 - bad, malicious Luck.

Brett, this is called a lead . Throw strikes man!

So, how 'bout dem Nats. Good thing they didn't trade Rauch so they can build around him.

Those eighth inning guys are irreplaceable.

"Stampede" is pitch perfect. I'm in!

I wish Milton Waddams was the Dodgers manager.

"I just want to have home runs at a reasonable volume."

112 (typed while seeing a 2-0 count prior to the 3-6-3 DP.)

The last 10 minutes have been sublime.

Even with his big slump, Kemp is still OPSing .860.

113 Don't know if you got the memo, but I'm on board with the Nats. Going to buy the blue hat tomorrow.

I've never seen a pitch on gameday where ball 1 to Pujols is shown.

117: As Shawn Colvin would say, climb on, a back that's strong.

Signed Josh Smoker today for a cool mill.

Jake McGreary (6th rounder wanted like top 5 money) off to Stanford.

"Jack McGeary" actually.

"Jake McGreary" is waiting to be written into my novel.

Curiouser--I've noticed the umps the last several games seem intent on getting the D's batters out. I'm pretty sure its paranoia, but that ump checked with third without a request from the catcher or any Astro. And it looked strange.

I was hoping Vin was going to bring up Bill Cosby's routine about thinking his name was Jesus Christ.

Apparently Nomar just recently strained his calves on the last road trip, and the DL trip is a precaution to make sure he doesn't pull it further.

And according to Grady, Shea is our 3B until Nomar returns. Get well soon Nomar!

Jeff Francis off to a rocky start for the Rockies. 3-0 Padres.

125 That should be calf, singular.

From the I'll Believe It When I See It Department:

Grady Little tonight said, "I'm just gonna try to get Kemp a few more at bats. He hasn't had very many at bats lately and I wanted to get him more, whether it's in right field, center field." (emphasis mine)

From the LA Times' Blue Note blog.

I think of "Shea" as a female name.

I realize that may just be a quirk.

129 - I always think of "Shea" as the name of a stadium

Make this guy throw some pitches, darn it.

128 Huh. From Gurnick's notes:
"We're going to try to get Kemp some more at-bats, whether it be in right field or left field," Little said. "He hasn't had very many at-bats lately, and I want to get him more."

I prefer the LAT version.

They are trying to wear out Chris Burke with slow rollers. Interesting strategy.

The good news is, even if he loses, it'll probably come down a little on appeal. . .

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293268,00.html

Sam, should I go with the blue DC cap or the blue Senators W cap?

What do the "real fans" like me prefer?

132 So do I!

Maybe the Dodgers strategy of grounding to second thought there'd be a different Chris Burke out there.

Yes make this pitcher work and you can get into it.

136 Don't they also have a blue W cap? If so, there is your answer.

138 I see what you did there.

I found a Nats visor. Booya.

135 - when it rains, it pours.

Anyone else want that to be a ground rule double rather than a foul ball? Especially given the next pitch...

Ouch

No way, Jeff Kent is the son of a motorcycle cop. Who didn't see that coming?

Vin at the end of the inning: I know what you're thinking, another out with a runner in scoring position

Well, as far as Nats apparel goes, for the first two years, red v. blue and dubya v DC have been mostly political statements round these parts.

Our new Lerner/Kasten overlords have decreed that the W will be emphasized and the block DC pared back.

So to my mind, blue DC anything becomes the coolest.

Of course, my kid has a red curly w cap.

Wilson plays everywhere:

"Torre said INF Wilson Betemit would start at second base Wednesday and Robinson Cano would get a day off. "

Well, this certainly doesn't look good.

lucky the ump gave us the out at 2nd.

Well, Tomko's asking for it.
Nice fielding got him out of it!

Oh man, that was a close call the way things been going for the blue I thought Tomko was gonna implode there.

Did the plate umpire have to be replaced. I feel so terrible!

Astros doing their Dodger impression. Tomko having a hard time with his control and they let him off the hook first pitch swinging into double plays.

Perusing DC's crime rate, I see murder rates are going down. Which is pretty cool, I think. When it comes to the murder, I'm generally against it.

They're not doing so well with "forcible rape." No stats available on consensual rape.

150 I don't really know overall comparisons, but mostly I'd say it depends a lot on where exactly in the city you're talking about.

Like in most big towns.

baller

Stop saying Kemp doesn't hit the curve.

kent has been absolure garbage lately

wasn't Kent on a mini tear for a while? he's been pretty bad lately

Absolure would be a good name for a perfume.

Kent has been horrible at the plate, I think his hammy is still bothering him. Before he got hurt, he was hot.

157 - that's one of the funniest things I've read in a while.

162, 163 - I think Kent is 0 for his last 20 or so.

Wow, Kent is 0 for his last 24, with 3 double plays and 0 walks!

166

sit 'em then he's of no use to us hurt, D. Young could have spot started for him.

168 - he has one base hit in the month of August, granted, he's only played one week of August, but still...

I had never heard Ryne Sandberg called "Prince Valiant" before. Nice one, Vin.

Nice stroke by Ethier. I think these young ones going to be good!

I don't normally think this way but basically if Kemp wasn't in there today we'd be losing 1-0, yikes!

You'll know what to do, Brett. And you'll know exactly when to do it.

Bye Bye David Bowie!

I am not a fan of Tomko, but I wonder how he would pitch if we ever got him four or five runs in the first few innings. (Of course, we don't do that for anybody). The problem with Tomko is he will never pitch anything close to a gem. At best, he is a plodder. The Dodgers have had plodders over the years, guys who would go 9-11 and fill out the back end of the rotation. But that just isn't going to work this year, and Tomko won't come close to 9-11 anyway.

Boy, it's so quiet in here you can almost hear the Dodgers' offense.

157 - the antonym of "forcible rape" would be "statutory rape".

And the boo birds start in.

That at bat pretty much sums up Tomko. You knew he was going to get on.

175 - if you have a rotation full of number fives, you lose a lot of games.

Keep your chin up Tomko you gave us a good game

Boy, the Dodger faithful give Tomko no quarter. That's not a boo-worthy performance.

Here's hoping Tomko pitches a fit for being pulled, and goes on a Shea-inspired rage-filled outburst that gets him DFA'd and McDonald can pitch Sunday!

And yet, I'd much rather see Tomko out there than Hendrickson.

6 innings 2 runs not bad, unfortunately the Dodgers can't buy 2 or 3 runs these days.

Did someone order a comebacker 1-2-3 DP?

Tomko is like an old, unreliable car that you are forced to depend upon. Sometimes it won't start on a cold morning in the driveway. Sometimes it breaks down on the road. Sometimes it won't start in the parking lot when you are ready to come home from work. But, probably for financial reasons, you have to keep using it. Tomko is a jalopy.

163 - Kent has one hit in 20 PA/19 AB, .053/.053/.053.

http://tinyurl.com/2dqqlu

I do like the Hendy lunch box commercial though. If someone gets released, how long do their commercials keep playing?

Starting opposing pitchers to their teammates before taking the mound against the Dodgers: Get me two runs and I'll beat them.

187 You left out last night's 0-4. The hit in the 1-4 on August 7 was in the first AB.

HD gives us interesting glimpses into life at the stadium. Like the beautiful young lady behind home plate who's body language tells us she couldn't care less about the game. More interesting then on field action.

186 - it's more like being in a small town where there's exactly one really pretty girl and you are not the high school team quarterback. That is, the problem has more to do with supply than price.

191 - are you talking about the brunette in the white top just to the right of the "dodgers.com" sign?

Don't release Hendrickson -- he was doing great at long relief. And kids apparently like him.

188. The kid in that commercial is cute. But is the kid in that commercial a boy or a girl?

193. Yep. The one who is now taking pictures of the people behind her.

191 Wow, that is some quality bird-dogging on your part. I never would have caught it.

Nice catch, Branch Rickey!

That was almost a sweet play at the plate. Scioscia would have blocked it! :)

No longer a decent start for Tomko.

It's so frustrating being blacked out of Vinny and having to listen to the radio. Dammit, Rick and Charlie, there's a freaking baseball game going on here.

Or, there was.

This is like being nibbled to death by an okapi.

197. Like Vin Scully, I just let the action come to me.

Dodger Thoughts: Where Branch Rickey and Greg Brock Come To Life

Wow. This is getting annoying and relentless and is seemingly unending.

How close was the Bisonian throw?

Next step for InDemand is to add HD to the Extra Innings package like DirecTV does.

205 The throw was a strong one-hopper that was maybe a half-step too late. Martin reached to the first base side of the plate to field the throw, leaving home plate relatively unblocked.

93 It's pretty obvious by now that Tomko and Hendricksen should not be starting in the Major Leagues. But also the D's offense is not helpful, and with a few exceptions, only hitters who are developing towards their primes should be contributing so poorly. I guess I'm saying anyone over 26 years old doing as bad as the D's is toasted. The exceptions---Loney at the moment is consistant enough even if he was 30. Kent is in a terrible streak but has contributed to the offense a good part of the year.I may have missed someone, but not many.
Remember if we fall out of the race, you play all your young players. Always has been that way.

I've realized the only joy i get out of Dodger games now is watching Kemp, loney, Martin, and Ethier hit. The rest of it just pains me.

207 Thanks.

I am now going to go swallow some tortilla chips without chewing.

I get flamed for saying it, but I'm gonna keep saying it.

Grady Little is the worst manager in the history of Major League Baseball in Los Angeles. The sooner McCourt fires him, the sooner we have a chance.

210 That was a much more creative solution than the unspoken Rule 13.

Grady Little is not the problem. In fact, Grady Little deserves an extension just for that one comment Jon posted upthread.

211 What did Grady do this time to draw your ire?

Grady's not the one giving up endless singles.

Remember when the Dodgers used to have this sort of inning?

Loney has a hit, Ethier has a hit, and Kemp has two.

That's the problem with veterans. They're so inconsistent. You really need them to break the door down to get playing time. I mean, you can't just hand a job to a veteran. They have to earn it.

Wonder how much Ned has influence as far as who starts and sits? And does Grady have any say on any of the recent signings and pick-ups?

I'll answer a couple of flames pre-emptively:

Tracy had a lot of bad qualities, and was a bad manager. But he didn't stubbornly set bad lineups for months straight, and he didn't stubbornly use awful pitchers like Tomko night after night.

Davey Johnson is a good manager with a record of success. It didn't work out for him in Los Angeles, but he was here during times of turmoil, and wasn't around for long.

Can't believe no one mentions Russell when I make this claim, who was a lot worse than Tracy or Davey.

It just hit me that the LA Dodgers have not had a manager with a record under .500 while managing LA.

218 "Tracy had a lot of bad qualities, and was a bad manager. But he didn't stubbornly set bad lineups for months straight."

That's exactly what he did, actually. How soon they forget.

218. Yeah, why doesn't he play all of those good players? He should have started Santana tonight and batted A-rod third. That's what a good manager would have done.

208 Well said. I would rather be losing games with pitchers from the minor leagues with whom I am unfamilier than continuing to lose with Hendrickson and Tomko, although Beimel bears a lot of responsibility for tonight. Beimel's job in relief tonight reminds me of something I heard decades ago when the reliever was Bob Miller and the starter was Don Drysdale and neither was doing well. "Relieving Drysdale with Miller is like relieving a headache with a hammer." I fear that Little will say, after tonight's game, that, gee, Tomko did not really pitch that badly and he remains in the starting rotation.

208 Well said. I would rather be losing games with pitchers from the minor leagues with whom I am unfamilier than continuing to lose with Hendrickson and Tomko, although Beimel bears a lot of responsibility for tonight. Beimel's job in relief tonight reminds me of something I heard decades ago when the reliever was Bob Miller and the starter was Don Drysdale and neither was doing well. "Relieving Drysdale with Miller is like relieving a headache with a hammer." I fear that Little will say, after tonight's game, that, gee, Tomko did not really pitch that badly and he remains in the starting rotation.

218 Tracy started Mike Edwards a lot, and played Jason Phillips at 1B quite often. Just to name a few.

kemp PO'd at himself for not hitting that 500 feet.

Vinnie just needs to add the HEY HEY HEY when he says Matt Albers & it would be perfect. :o)

I'm surprised that names like Tomko, Hendrickson and Beimel are even being mentioned here. The team is incapable of scoring as many as three runs. Pitching is moot right now.

"You can speak far more eloquently than I can."
-- Charlie Steiner, to Rick Monday

Just like that, the son of a motorcycle cop ends the 0 for 24.

Abreu has a single, a walk and two runs in four plate appearances tonight. Las Vegas 5, Colorado Springs 4, 8th inning.

Wilson Valdez started in left field.

190 - you're right, but I didn't omit it, Baseball-Reference did. They appear to be behind a day on Kent's record.

228 The pot calling the kettle shiny?

I saw one of the games when a second baseman had 12 assists. It was my only trip to Atlanta Fulton County Stadium.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL198504140.shtml

Note the time of the game too.

229

that double would've been more useful earlier in the game for momentum purposes.

235 Might as well replace "game" with "season."

It's kind of shocking how much time you all will take to defend a guy who's taking a talented, $107 million dollar lineup to a .500 record (hopefully).

Let's see...

Setting ridiculous lineups with Pierre hitting ahead of guys like Ethier.

Doing everything possible to waste the Kemp/Loney hot streak by batting them 7-8 every day.

Using Tomko over and over, in the rotation and in close/late situations before that, because he's "got a good arm, and we need him."

Maintaining a coaching staff that has allowed plenty of baserunning errors and that is unable to figure out why the lineup goes into epic cold streaks on a frequent basis.

This is just the tip of the iceberg; I'm gonna quit posting now because an anti-Grady opinion seems fairly unwelcome here. If you think this is an untalented team that is supposed to finish with a .500 record because of a few tough pitching injuries, fine. I, on the other hand, am of the opinion that a manager can do a lot of damage to a team by making bad decisions regarding the lineup and relief pitchers.

Enjoy the game!

237 - How do you prove the cause and effect of anything you just wrote?

223 I have a feeling we would be much better off with young unknowns pitching. We couldn't be worse off at any rate.
I guess my feeling now is buy out the vets as fast as you can. If you can, bring in some all-round ballplayers with your money if you can, but its too late to trade the younger players. And don't buy any more oldies.

237
See Rule 12.

237. I know we shouldn't even bother responding but as Rickey would say to Lucy, it's just so ridiculous.
So you want Ethier leading off?
Who do you want to pitch instead of Tomko? If you want to criticize (anything) offer alternatives.
They DID fire a coach. While they were in first place no less. And then the part of the team that coach was responsible for has dive bombed. So you would hit Pierre 8th. After that, what do you want Grady to do that would make this team win?
And of course you saved your most ridiculous statement for last. Enjoy the game!
HOW?

I'll agree that Grady tends to give veterans the benefit of the doubt. However, I think that's an unfortunate tendency of all MLB managers... I'm hard-pressed to think of someone who will start a rookie without some sort of external influence (injury, low budget, etc).

I also think he tends to like having a bit of potency towards the bottom of the lineup... I don't agree, but of all the team's troubles, that's not at the top of the list (IMHO).

In terms of which players Grady has, that's Ned's problem/responsibility.

237 If I had to guess, I'd say 80% or so of the posters here don't want Pierre playing every day, nor do we want Tomko or Hendrickson starting.

But, you called Grady Little "the worst manager in the history of Major League Baseball in Los Angeles." I'd say the burden of proof is on you.

If you feel unwelcome, it's not the content of your posts; it's the tone.

237 Where does Ned play into this? When we were winning and in 1st Grady's lineups were excusable. Now, we are deep in the quagmire, and there is accountability to be shared by all, not just Grady.

If Ned, made the desicion to stick with the yongsters at the trading deadline, it's time to call them up. Why do we even bother with players like Shea? And it won't surprise me if Ned goes out and get D. Wells, unfortunately, Ned learned from Brian Sabean. So better have the equipment guys, lube up the wheel chairs.

Focusing on Grady is fine. But he has to play what is given to him, and he has to play who management wants played. Fire Grady, don't fire Grady. It's a manager. Big deal.

He doesn't destroy young pitchers. That instantly makes him better than Tom Lasorda.

Had Nomar in my injury pool. Yippie!

I smell a Abreu and other prospect for the White Sox Friday starter...eating the $10 mil for the next two years just to get another starter on the staff.

Like 2005, folks around these parts smelled the end much earlier than LAD manager.
Strangely, the "play the kids to get experience" could lead us to a pennant....if they press the McD'S, Kershaws into the rotation...at least would get the future dynasty rolling.

I've never been as down on Ned as this week...

Shea hey!

I didn't realize Hillenbrand had decent wheels.

It's not like there is a big set of managers to compare in LA Dodgers history:
Alston
Lasorda
Russell
Hoffman
Johnson
Tracy
Little

I counted 21 different Angels managers in their history, although I may have counted Gene Mauch twice.

But Mauch would have wanted it that way.

237 - Your opinion is not unwelcome. It's just disagreed with. For what it's worth, criticism of Jim Tracy at this site began as minority opinion before it became majority opinion.

People just happen to disagree with some of your points. For example, Tomko was dropped from the rotation early in the season, became the last choice out of the bullpen in the middle of the season, and is only starting now because the alternatives aren't much more enticing. Sure, I'd rather see Houlton or Stults start, but it's not as if there's a vast difference between them and Tomko - nor, it should be pointed out, are Stults or Tomko on the roster right now. Seriously, who on tonight's roster would you have started in place of Tomko?

It certainly doesn't behoove Little to trash Tomko in the press, but in the meantime, he has clearly been a pitcher of last resort.

Pierre is a problem in this lineup, but you can't honestly believe it's a problem of Little's creation, can you? It just seems like you're trying to pin all the blame on Little, and giving Colletti a free pass, not commenting at all on the roster Colletti has given Little.

And if you're trying to convince me that no manager in Los Angeles Dodger history has ever overseen cold streaks, you're going to have to do a better job.

So you're welcome to keep posting. I think the dead end we're running into may be that people disagree with your points, and instead of responding to their disagreements, you just repeat your original arguments. Especially given how you're remembering Tracy and the way he set lineups, it just doesn't feel like there's much evidence for your contention that Little is the worst manager in Los Angeles history. (Which itself isn't saying much, given how few managers there have been here.)

So I'd just suggest evolving your arguments further, or dialing back the rhetoric. But you're not being chased away and it's nothing personal - it just feels a little redundant.

That means Clint Hurdle is not the worst manager. That's just wrong.

Still no hits with RISP.

248 - after he busted his groin earlier in the year, no, but he came back pretty strong.

RBI double for Abreu in the ninth.

"Old friend" Trever Miller!

I would be prepared to say Grady was the worst Dodger manager since Burleigh Grimes but the evidence has to be a lot stronger "than he didn't move guys up in the order during their 'hot streaks'".

250 - "nor, it should be pointed out, are Stults or Houlton on the roster right now"

253 "busted his groin"..reads and sounds a bit awkward?

No no no. Is Gonzo pinch hitting for Kemp?

259
I believe that's the case. I believe Little is trying to catch nitrogen in a bottle.

Is it just my imagination, or does Pierre get a disproportionate number of his hits when the game is already out of hand?

Whew. I misread Kemp going back into the dugout before the commercial.

260
And I worked so hard on that metaphor.

260 - that's pretty clever...

261
Isn't that sort of anecdotal statement how "clutch" and "unclutch" hitters are born?

Jon and others,

I'm not really that concerned about this season, but going forward, I am extremely worried about the team possibly getting worse.

Instead of, for instance, picking up Andruw Jones, Arod, Santana, et. al., I get the sinking feeling Colletti will go with folks like Aaron Boone, Russell Branyan, Pedro Astacio, etc etc.

I can already tell you that Colletti is not going anyplace. It would be bad PR to can a guy after only 2 seasons unless there is conclusive evidence he is not fit. Anyway, this is, sadly, the same kind of assessment I make every year at this time, save '04 and '06

SD leads the Rockies 8-0 late. Barring the Dodgers pulling off a miracle finish, LA will be 60-59, 6 games back in the division, in 4th place, and tied for 5th in the wild card, 4.5 games back.

How far back is too far in mid-August? When is it publically acceptable for Grady to pull out all the stops and try even more radical things than batting Kemp third?

Point's probably been made before, but if there's anything sadder than losing, it's that losing makes us all tense and annoyed and frustrated. Which then leads to taking out that tension on other commenters. I suggest a seventh-inning stretch respite with the following: https://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/755243.html

261 Depends how you define "out of hand", but Pierre is only hitting .231/.275/.231 in 70 PAs (before tonight) when the difference is greater than 4 runs.

256. Burleigh Grimes was the worst manager since Harry Lumley!

266 - It would be bad PR to can a guy after only 2 seasons unless there is conclusive evidence he is not fit.

Conclusive evidence, in Frank McCourt's universe, being an inability to spin things properly to the press. More articles like T.J. Simers' recent piece might change that.

http://tinyurl.com/2howxb

267
If the Dodgers they won't be tied for 5th in the wild card. They will be in 6th all by themselves!

Let's throw EDSP in the rotation. Just for kicks.

267. Be careful about radical steps. To me playing Hillenbrand at all is a radical step.

I guess if it were up to me... you take a team that was in first place at the all star break and have them finish below .500; that's on the GM. Colletti sees the back door and DePo makes his triumphant return... obviously that would be my vision in a fantasy world.

no no, check that; Logan White becomes the GM, oops.

I kind of like Grady as the manager. I think he's in between a rock and a hard spot with some of the roster situations. His boss is the guy that signed a player for 44 mil who is below average in just abot every facet of the game, so who's to say that he doesn't have his hands tied with other roster moves. As I recall throughout the year, a lot of the DT wishes have come to fruition, just not as quick as some of us would like, which I think speakesa great deal to Grady. I think Ned is the guy who should be faulted for the season, but as we sit here today, we were speaking a different tune 1 month ago when Grady made all the right moves and Ned's faults could be overcome. It is just the cyclical phenomina known as ups and downs and baseball has it's share of both. I just hope the team wide slump ends and we ride our ups going into the playoffs, if we make it there.

252 Through 7 innings tonight, we have now gone 46 consecutive innings -- since the 8th inning last Thursday in Cincy -- without driving in a runner in scoring position with a hit.

sorry to post three times in a row; but there is one very positive note in this game... ok two: first Nomar on the DL, second, Kemp has a pretty good groove tonight with the HR.

I believe rock bottom will be when the Cardinals pass the Dodgers in the standings.

Looks like EDSP shortened his stride.

268

I was gonna say we have Hillenbrand to pick on now but he just scored a run, Pierre is always game though.

272 Oops, I thought the Cubs loss had not yet been reflected in the standings I was using - it had.

Mark McLemore must have that Michael Jackson skin disease thingy.

[checks watch] So, um, Blair or no Blair?

The Cardinals are 4 1/2 games out of first in the Central. I don't think Mike's Baseball Rants could survive another trip to the playoffs by the Cardinals.

284 impetigo?

268 Thank you for putting everything back in perspective, and sending me to the singing site. That was a wonderful respite. I remember taking my daughter, who was probably 5, to her first game about 15 years ago. It was at the Kingdome, and her big thrill was having a picture taken of her with the moose, the Mariners' mascot. And I bought her a baseball. Those were my favorite memories of the game, too.

284
Been there. Done that.

https://griddle.baseballtoaster.com/archives/672970.html

Why not give Houlton a start or three? As I recall, he showed some potential in 2005 starts...other than he wasn't used much this July much, then went down to Vegas last Friday without a start this season...and when Lurch's friday spot was declared open, DJ still won't start because of the 10 day rule...I bet this was inadvertent...and with DYoung, a 25 year old without options next year...busting his butt to get and stay in the bigs...hitting .500 for this dead hitting team and getting sent down for Shea...postion be damned...DFA someone else..the team needs, actually needed, new blood...ah, drats

scandle us, I tell ya!

So, um, Blair or no Blair?

I choose Blair!

289 You have a blog now?

Sweet.

Tony Jackson's blog:
The injury is believed to have happened in the fifth inning on Aug. 4, when Garciaparra ran first to third on a long fly ball by Ramon Martinez that was dropped by Arizona right fielder Justin Upton. Garciaparra hesitated to make sure the ball wasn't caught, and that was when he felt something in the calf.

Four days after trading a 3B. Four. The bad luck has not just been in the game results of late.

So I'm re-watching the first season of the office and i totally forgot how hilaripus the pilot is.

Also TJ:
Blair is believed to be seeking a bonus of $1.1 million.

Show him the money!

Hilaripus is my new favorite word.

Didn't he fight at Salamis?

Martin takes the baton from Kent in the 0fer brigade. Russ is now 0 for his last 12.

So we don't want to give him $100,000 more?

295

I agree. Give him the money just as long as it's less then Withrow's bonus. For principle purposes.

That said, they are comparable talents and both were rated right around the same area as each other.

It should be noted the deadline to sign draftees is tomorrow at 9, not tonight.

I just hope the Dodgers admit their mistakes soon, and play the youth....Ned made a lot of moves out of desperation, and fear of rushing the youngsters, and none of them worked out....Nomar was disaster, Pierre has been even worse than advertised, Kent can't stay healthy, and Gonzo wasn't supposed to anchor the middle of the order. Who knows about Shmidt, and Wolf was a bad move when Ted Lilly was on the market....None of Ned's moves have panned out....I don't know if he is a bad GM, but he has made some bad moves, I guess we will know at this time next year...

Play the youth, play the youth, play the youth.....

Then we can be excited about next year....

must be jitters by Hull but it looked like he had a decent shot at getting the runner at 3rd.

Can Kyle Blair start Friday?

296 - http://www.digamma.net/btfwiki/Hilaripus

271 The Los Angeles Choking Dogs, I love it!

Hull needs to settle down. he should be a good middle reliever.

303

he has an era under 3 in the Northwoods League this summer!

295 ,298

it doesn't sound all that bad if I were upper management I wouldn't mind dishing out the the extra 100K.

304 Ah, thanks. I don't read Primer much anymore.

Niche internet memes, the finer point of rape law....You are a fount of knowledge, Rob.

I wouldn't be mad if Abreau was moved for spare parts, and the Dodgers brought back Grudz to bring some D to the infield.....

just a random thought since all of my Dodger energy is directed at next season....

310 I'd rather have Abreu than Grudzielanek. The Dodger seamstress should have final say in these moves..."Hillenbrand: 11 letters. Denied!"

Shea just walked for the 6th time this season! Woohoo!

An RBI hit with a RISP!!!

don't look now, but this might just be the elusive... nope, not going to say it, not going to jinx it.

YADFE.

C'mon, Sweeney!

Oh wait a minute 7-4 now.... [as I was thinking to self should I turn of my t.v & call it a night]

Nice acknowledgment of The Griddle by the Dodger Stadium speakers...Michael Jackson's "Beat It" was played as McLemore was leaving the game.

One thing I will say for this team, they're great at staging ninth-inning rallies that fall just short.

Unless The Player bunts into a DP or something, at least Kemp will come to the plate as the tying run.

Savvy veterans to the rescue!

I'll go ahead and say it. If Juan Pierre hits a walkoff HR I will purchase a Juan Pierre #9 Dodger jersey.

311 I agree, as all our youngsters would be playing. Loney/Laroche v Garciaparra, Hu v Furcal, Ethier/Young v Gonzalez, Kemp v Pierre, Meloan v Hernandez, just about anyone v Hillenbrand and Hendrickson.

320
As will I!

I can't remember the last time I was this excited about the bottom of the 9th

Offer void for game-tying home runs.

I should clarify, and say that I meant tonight, just to (KFWB) cover my bases if Pierre hits one later. I will extend tonight's bid to accept a tying HR.

Great pitch by Lidge for a hurtful strikeout.

323
Last night I was excited in the bottom of the ninth because I hadn't had dinner and I was hungry.

320

I'd take a walk & have Kemp come up with the bases juiced, He's do with them full!

WOW

well, it was high enough, just not quite long enough

savvy vets!

Better than bunting into a DP I suppose.

Mark Sweeney is a friggin buffoon.

what?

Sweeney, just bury your self, wow!

Juan for Five is two for five. That's a 100% improvement!

So, Vin is on the Choking Dogs bandwagon.

Jesus F. Christ.

Worst. Ending. Ever.

I can handle losing. I cannot handle retarded baseball players.

"I have seen enough to know that I have seen too much..."

Sigh, sigh, sigh, sigh.

Oh my God.

At least now we can all be certain that Kemp would have homered to tie the game!

Sabean is a sneaky man

The old 2F-3 DP! That's always a rally killer.

Savvy veterans walk the plank!

Leave it to Pierre to hit into a double play.

Now that -- THAT -- was hilaripus. Thank you, Mr. Sweeney, for forgetting the number of outs.

For those of us in the hinterlands, what just happened?

Not sure why, but when stuff like that happens, my immediate reaction is pay a visit to this site. Guess its better than throwing my remote control.

does that count as rock bottom?

To be fair, the responses here make it worth it.

I AR MARC SWEENIE I ARE PLAI THE BASBAL. ME SICKS YEARS OLD.

In trying to access the game on-line:

Server Error
The following error occurred:
[code=CANT_CONNECT] Could not connect because of networking problems. Contact your system administrator

Does. Not. Compute.

You have to laugh, right? This is funny on some level, isn't it? Sweeney's Boner is the perfect impetus to blow it all up and bring in the youth brigade. Abreu & Meloan up tomorrow, LaRoche in a few days, McDonald by Sunday. Young whenever his 10 days are up.

Welcome to the new low.

Seriously though, Pierre popping up YET AGAIN IMO is far worse.

I'm not one for knee-jerk reactions, but i cut Mark Sweeney right now. That was the stupidest thing i've ever seen on a baseball field, and ive seen my fair share of mistakes. It was a foul ball, what in the world are you doing running to second base, anyways? Just inexcusable.

Wow.... well, that was certainly a creative way to lose. I think it's safe to say I've never seen that happen. Not even in Little League.

349

Brian Sabean sent Mark Sweeney to the Dodgers as an undercover assassin.

344 - yes, exactly. The Giants have produced a mole.

This is what Grady was talking about when he said he had bigger problems at hand than who will start Friday's game.

344 dead on!

349 Pierre popped out in foul territory about 10-15 feet behind home plate for the 2nd out. Sweeney was on 1st and apparently thought Pierre made the 3rd out, because he was running to second base on contact, and didn't get back to first in time. Doubled off. Game over. Kemp still on deck.

342 Jon: What just happened?

357. If Jimmy Johnson was managing instead of Little, Sweeney would be cut.

I liked Pierre's Charlie Brown impersonation walking back to the dugout after he popped it up.

350 I first explained to my wife why I slapped my forehead and stared at the TV. I then ran here. Keeps you sane, indeed. This whole terrible downward spiral I keep watching in horror and thinking "what on earth will they say about that on DT?"

I think Grady just got an ulcer.

I wonder what's going through McCourt's head right now.

I would be quite angry at my $110+ million dollars getting spent this way.

349 - One out, Mark Sweeney at first. Pierre pops out to catcher in foul territory behind the dish, but the umpires don't call the infield fly rule. Sweeney had advanced to second after the catch. The catcher throws to first, completing a 2-3 double play. Game over.

Well, at least we know we'll get a classic Dodger Blues post tonight.

This reminds me of that story Vinny likes to tell, where a cabbie asks his passenger how the game is going.
"The Dodgers have three men on base."
"Which base?"

363 Thanks, and good night.

Kevin Kennedy: Mark Sweeney is a personal friend of mine.
You'd think this would be the one time he WOULDN'T say that.

For those of us outside of "Dodgers Live" postgame territory, any illuminating insight on FSN after the game?

DT is my refuge. Sanctuary! Sanctuary!

356

or maybe it just shows how biased I am towards Pierre.

363 But the odd thing was that he wasn't running on contact he was just kind of jogging to second. I wonder if he thought the ball had been fouled back?

365 If Charles Finley were the owner, he would begin DFA proceedings on Sweeney, whether or not league rules permitted it.

374

"when i use to manage"..."when i was a manager"..."back in my managing days"

It looked to me like Pierre pushed his shoulder down and purposely produced that popup, then had a great fake-hang-dog expression as he slumped back to the dugout. I think Pierre was outing Sweeney on that play, and we have him to thank for identifying the mole. Thank you, Pierre!

Wow....I had just left a meeting, got into the car to hear an excited Charlie Stiener explain that there were two on, nobody out with a run in....and then a strikeout, a pop out, and Sweeney pulling a T-ball move....

Wow....

It helps to speed up the inevitable I guess....

I expect to see the youngsters soon....

C'mon Ned, give me a reason to watch...please!

If the Dodgers lose either tomorrow or thursday, will that be the 9th straight series loss?

370 Wasn't Sweeney running before the catch?

Sweeney is going to be the first player to go to Kangaroo court and be sentenced to the death penalty.

No amount of golf balls for the hitting coach is gonna get you out of this, Sweeney. Firing Squad.

I didn't see the play, but the Fabulous Moron Twins on the radio implied that Sweeney thought it was the third out and was jogging back toward the dugout.

Was Hillenbrand going? Was it a 2-1 hit-and-run with Pierre? You wouldn't think down three, but....

Anyone want two free tickets to tomorrow's game???*

After this ending, I can't bear to watch another inning.

* -- I'm totally serious.

I feel bad for Sweeney can you imagine going in the dugout/clubhouse after making that play!!

379- I like when they show him pantomiming his baseball moves while staring menacingly into your eyes....

Man is he bitter that Davey Johnson was picked instead of him....

Maybe its time to start studying up on the 2008 draft.

386
You could see Hillenbrand waving Sweeney back to first in the mole-cam. But I liked watching Berkman jumping up and down, "THROW ME THE BALL, BRAD!"

I can't wait for some Grady quotes after the game.

385 Shockingly, they got it wrong. Sweeney was almost at 2nd base when Berkman at 1st was jumping up and down to receive a throw from Ausmus. Sweeney ran back to first but was too late.

The only time Sweeney went toward the dugout was after the 3rd out.

Once JP was up 2-0 in the count, he should be taking until he had two strikes in that situation. A JP game-tying HR is such a remote possibility that he should be making every effort to coax a walk before slapping at pitches.

I saw the replay and Sweeney was jogging to second. When he realized what was happening, he turned around and ran toward first, but it wasn't even close. He didn't look like he wanted to go back to the dugout.

Just watched the replay. Sweeney is not going on the pitch and it is totally unclear why he is running to second- he's looking up right at the ball as he's jogging to 2nd. I guess he thinks there's two outs and is jogging in case the ball drifts fair?
We'll see if Grady says THIS is rock bottom tomorrow. Hope he's done guessing at this point.

394 Pierre must get a cut of jersey sales. Y'know, because $9m/year isn't cutting it.

Yeah, JP is the real winner here. Sweeney's blunder will deflect attention from his wretched at-bat.

The man did get two hits, though, so I'm not going to harp on it too much.

I have never looked forward to an offseason so much....there are so many interesting options with this team....

J'accuse Sweeney d'être un agent provacateur !

You wouldn't expect a veteran to do something like this.

Ha ha ha.

Once JP was up 2-0 in the count, he should be taking until he had two strikes in that situation.

you guys really know how to push my buttons I'm outta here for my own good. Good night peepz.

387 - I'll take the tickets...just moved to LA, would love to go

Sweeney was acting as if it was a wild pitch. But maybe I am giving him too much credit even for that.

are we going to have any type A free agents this winter? I'm assuming no...

With the margins for winning/losing so slim in baseball, a bad streak like this really magnifies the cumulative effect of poor front office decisions.

Frank McCourt cant be happy.

398 When do managers stop being intimidated by players and start hanging out take signs? I realize that for 95% of the players 2-1 is a hitter's count....

352 - I can has cheezburger?

396

there was NO reason for Sweeney to be going ANYWHERE in that situation. What good can come out of running out a clear foul ball, even if there are two outs?

405 I think LuGo would be the only possibility, but I doubt it.

404 He couldn't hear the contact?

401 I was thinking the same thing...can you imagine the uproar if Kemp, Loney, Young, or Abreu pulled that move?

The good news now is that the doors needed to be broken down by the younguns are now quite breakable. In fact, I think they are screen doors.

403
email me diamondlifebaseball@hotmail.com

It's times like this I wish we had those rooms that therapists have where you go in and swear and cry and deal with your emotions. But mainly someplace where we could swear.

Show me on the doll where the Dodgers touched you.

I don't have a problem with Pierre swinging at that pitch. He didn't make good contact, it happens. I'm more flabbergasted by Sweeny's baserunning exploits.

352 IZ IN UR DUGOUT LOSING UR GAMEZ!

409 Demonstrating to the rookies how to hustle?

Mark Sweeney, think you're a rockstar?

Mr. Keith Moon.

406 . Is McCourt going to take the Dodgers in to check the alignment?

412 They may be screen doors, but mgmt is still standing by the door with a flyswatter.

412 LaRoche's back is apparently not up to door-breaking. Even screen doors.

413 - Show me on the doll where the Dodgers touched you.

I'm still laughing!

409. Isn't that pretty much what I said?

Again, Vin Scully: M. Sweeney = real Dodger [priceless].

"It's gonna happen"--Grady Little following the blunder of the year and Adolph Hitler moments before swallowing that cyanide capsule in his bunker with the Red Army invading Berlin.

414 Oh man, Brock, that was funny. I don't have any urge to swear, oddly. Gave that up a long time ago. I'll just get back to digging out a stump from my front yard tomorrow.

414 ! !! !!!

414 If I ever get around to writing a book, regardless of its subject, I am going to entitle one of the chapters "Show me on the doll where the Dodgers touched you".

Don't worry though, Brock. You'll get royalties.

Brock's had two good ones. I don't like writing LOL but the fact is, I was.

There is comedy gold in this thread.

405 Gonzo was type A last year, and I would assume he'll be type A again this off season.

I'm seriously laughing now. Somehow the dam has broken... I've hit full acceptance. Like Vin said, "Sweeney's a true Dodger now."

I thought the Kent/Drew fiasco was the stupidest baserunning gaffe I'd ever seen in my (not too long) lifetime. This might take the cake.

It hurts a lot less than last year though.

Hilarious.

I can only think that tonight's final play is the karmic retribution I should have expected after having D4P visit my home.

Pierre's just acting depressed, because he thinks it's cool.

429 Says the man responsible for most of it. You're in fine form tonight, friend.

Tommorrow's DT headline should be the doll line....

Maybe Janet Reno can bring the Dodgers to trial....

405 Gonzalez was a type A last year- rated #20 out of 35 1b/of. So it could happen.

Does the Dodger bobblehead make you feel good about yourself?
Does the Diamondback bobblhead make you feel good about yourself?
If you wanted to pick one of these bobbleheads to play with, which one would it be?

Show me on the doll where the Dodgers touched you

I, too, laughed out loud, repeatedly.

Line of the season. No contest.

That was memorably dumb. In the early '70's Dock Ellis pitched a game for the Pirates on acid and didn't do anything that dumb.This is a streak like no other of futility, ineptitude, lameness, poverty of mind and spirit, despair, catastrophe, you name it.

432 Your home?! Where your wife sleeps? Where your children come and play with their toys?

At the end of the game, Tony Jackson went over to the press dining room and got a bunch of mustard packets and then tried to figure out how to wire them in such a way that he could fashion them into an explosive device.

The Juice needs a "Please Explain: Bobbleheads."

Don't thank me. Thank Kee MacFarlane.

Unless you're Ray Buckey. Then probably not so much.

Jon, I hope you get over your flu soon. If you need someone to write a few entries while you're sick (if it gets that bad), Brock can step in.

We are missing the more important aspect of this ending. Bob Timmermann and Eric Stephen are spared from having to waste their money on a Juan Pierre jersey.

The Dodgers "analysts" really have their claws out tonight.

Steve Lyons, "Its not a smart play, its not a heads up play."

Kevin Kennedy, "Mark's got to know better than that."

It is for insight like that that you need four different announcers in two studios.

Is this as dumb as falling off the mound?

445 I almost made the bold statement on DT day that if Pierre got 4 hits I would purchase a #9 jersey then and there, but I thought better of it.

439 Didn't he pitch a no-hitter in that game?

436

I guess games played counts for alot in the rating system.

Steve Lyons is the Dane Cook of baseball analysts....

413 - You have mail

446 To be fair, just what can the analysts say about that?

Steve Lyons: Sometimes you just space out, man, and don't realize where you are or what you're doing, like when you need to clear some dirt out of your sliding pants.

Man. I can't believe I missed it!

451
He steals comments?

449 Yep, the famed Dock Ellis pitching on acid no-hitter kool-aid test.

444 - Well, I'll be Wally Pipped!

442 - Dodger Thoughts needs a "Please Explain: Juan Pierre".

455

I thought Carlos Mencia was the big "comment stealer".

450 That's it! Ned/Grady continued to play LuGo to make him a type A free agent. Brilliant!

456- Someone should have slipped Tomko a tab in May...

The downside of the LuGo Type A thing is that you still have to offer him arbitration.

Is that a risk we're willing to take?

453. >>>To be fair, just what can the analysts say about that?

What do Lyons or Kennedy say about anything?

Maybe Kennedy as the ex-manager he keeps reminding us he is should tell us how Little should react to something like that. Does Sweeney get his a__ chewed in the clubhouse, does he get a consoling pat on the back, etc...

Lyons I've written off.

459
They both are. Robin Williams does it a lot too. I am sure a bunch of comedians do.

Jose Offerman, now playing indy ball, attacks a pitcher with his bat:

http://www.connpost.com/breakingnews/ci_6624910

132 comments in the 40 minutes since the game ended.

431 I'm imagining a new graph at Fangraphs. X-axis: dumbness. Y-axis: importance. Plot the dumbest plays in history on the graph, where those that are both dumb and cost you the most (a game, a season, a pennant) are up in the top right corner. I don't think this one edges out the Kent/Drew play at home last year. Ruth getting caught stealing to end the WS is perhaps the biggest blunder?

464- I think it is kind of a part of the buisness....Cook and Mencia are resented because they are hacks AND they steal...

461 How about March? What would the Jackie Robinson poster have looked like?

462

Colletti: "Hey Luis, we're offering you arbitration but you have to agree to not accept. If you do, well...just think of the triplets. I'm not sayin' but....I'm just sayin'."

467. Merkle

So where was Mariano Duncan and what was he doing when Sweeney started to wander away?

Since we've been dead threaded, I'd just like to say that I approve of making Brett Tomko dose before pitching.

I'll bet his art would be pretty cool.

Didn't the Padres offer arb to a few guys last year on the condition that they not accept? I'm thinking Klesko and Roberts here. They probably would have with Woody Williams except the Astros signed Woody before the arb deadline!

471 Definitely did not outdo Merkle tonight.

465 - Wow.

New post up top.

467 I don't think Ruth would rank near the top. Ruth was the tying run. He was trying to catch them by surprise and get into scoring position. He stole 123 bases in his career and 11 that year.

465 "He hit him with a cut fastball in the left calf," Bluefish manager Tommy John said of the pitch that began the melee.

The Tommy John, I presume?

Has Offerman become a complete lunatic?

Speaking of things stolen, from Dodger Blues under the thread heading, If murder was legal, which Dodger would you kill first?

First answer: Brett Tomko. 2-10 and an ERA just below 5.70, why is this person allowed to live? I just don't understand. In the classy olden days of Rome, he would be fodder for gladiators, or just feed to lions. But that was then. These days, someone that s----- gets a multiyear contract for several million dollars."

Priceless...