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$12,300,000 Hiroki Kuroda
$10,000,000 Derek Lowe
$9,500,000 Brad Penny
$7,000,000 Esteban Loaiza
*$500,000 Chad Billingsley
Total: $39,300,000

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$2,000,000 Takashi Saito
$1,925,000 Joe Beimel
$1,125,000 Scott Proctor
*$500,000 Jonathan Broxton
$500,000 Chan Ho Park
*$400,000 Hong-Chih Kuo
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$13,000,000 Rafael Furcal
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$8,500,000 Nomar Garciaparra
$8,000,000 Juan Pierre
$500,000 Russell Martin
*$400,000 James Loney
*$400,000 Matt Kemp
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$600,000 Mark Sweeney
$424,500 Andre Ethier
$391,000 Delwyn Young
$390,000 Chin-Lung Hu
$390,000 Blake DeWitt
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*$400,000 Tony Abreu
*$390,000 Andy LaRoche
Total: $12,790,000

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$750,000 Odalis Perez
$540,000 Yhency Brazoban
$500,000 Randy Wolf
$487,500 Jason Repko
$135,225 Rudy Seanez
$100,000 Mike Lieberthal
$50,000 Ramon Martinez
Total: $3,562,725

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Biding Their Time

2007-09-17 20:12

by Jon Weisman

From Al Balderas of the Register:

Most of the players who received their September promotions are spending more time trying to find ways to keep themselves busy, fresh, in shape and ready. ...

Pitchers Eric Hull and Jonathan Meloan have their own ideas about how to stay ready. Hull plays catch every day and throws regular bullpen sessions. Meloan goes out to the bullpen hours before each game and works on his windup and delivery, without throwing the ball.

"It's just something I do every day," Meloan said. "I like to get on the mound and do some reps so that if I do get the call, I feel like I can get ready faster.

"If I've already got a feel for it, I just have to get my arm loose. I'll throw a few pitches and I'm ready to go. I feel like if I don't do that, I've got to stay on the mound and find it (the feel). I don't want to be doing that when it's game time. Also I'm not pitching a lot right now so I'm just trying to stay fresh and know how it feels to throw from the mound."

Hull added, "You do need to face hitters to stay completely fresh and to get better, but you can work on stuff without hitters in there too."

The Dodgers bullpen and dugout might be at standing-room-only levels this time of year, but Little can be sure his seldom-used players will be ready to answer the call — whenever it might come.

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Comments (130)

Show/Hide Comments 1-50

2007-09-17 20:16:39

1. trainwreck

Well Hull and Meloan have the ability to make our bullpen even better next year.

2007-09-17 20:18:04

2. underdog

Must be tough, staying game ready when you're so rarely called on at this point. Yeah, presumably that won't be the case next year, when Roberto Hernandez won't have his name on a locker there.

Btw, if you ever have really bad insomnia, I highly recommend listening to a recording of a Cardinals' TV broadcast.

2007-09-17 20:18:09

3. regfairfield

Odds that we see Meloan again sometime before we're mathematically eliminated?

2007-09-17 20:18:14

4. Bob Timmermann

Straight steal of home by BJ Upton in Anaheim tonight.

2007-09-17 20:20:17

5. underdog

Ankiel watches three straight strikes and strikes out. 1 out in the 9th.

2007-09-17 20:20:26

6. Bob Timmermann

A Pirates loss makes this a four fish night!

2007-09-17 20:24:18

7. Sam DC

So, if it's three dogs when you're really cold, what kind of conditions call for four fish?

Dry and not stinky?

2007-09-17 20:25:16

8. El Lay Dave

SF 3, AZ 1, last of the sixth. Kevin Correia (6th start, 50 relief appearances), 5 IP on 85 pitches (despite 5 BB), and he's starting the 6th. This is vs. Brandon Webb - 83 pitches, 6 IP.

2007-09-17 20:25:32

9. das411

Fransisco Rosario is not doing much of a job trying to become the Phillies' 25th pitcher with a save this season...

2007-09-17 20:25:47

10. underdog

Cards have two on base now with one out.

2007-09-17 20:26:03

11. Eric Stephen

Tying runs on with 1 out for former D-Backs' farmhand and "The Show" subject Brian Barden.

2007-09-17 20:26:10

12. Bob Timmermann

I even picked an Oakland appropriate fish!

2007-09-17 20:26:25

13. underdog

9 I think the Phillies have had 25 pitchers in this game.

2007-09-17 20:26:28

14. El Lay Dave

Taguchi walked, Cairo singled, two on, one out for the Cards.

2007-09-17 20:27:46

15. Sam DC

Brian Barden is a major league baseball player?

2007-09-17 20:28:06

16. underdog

Dave's on tape delay. ;-)

2007-09-17 20:28:21

17. Sam DC

Russell Branyan hoping to put the hurt on his old team!

2007-09-17 20:28:40

18. El Lay Dave

15 And he's right on the Mendoza line as he bats.

2007-09-17 20:28:43

19. Bob Timmermann

Charlie Manuel is going for the equivalent of trying to get a save with a pitcher who wasn't even good enough to get called up by the Dodgers and not pitch.

2007-09-17 20:28:45

20. underdog

Apparently not. Barden pops up meekly. Two outs.

2007-09-17 20:29:17

21. El Lay Dave

16 Old, arthritic fingers. ;)

2007-09-17 20:29:19

22. Eric Stephen

15 No, he's a Cardinal.

[rimshot]

2007-09-17 20:29:28

23. Bob Timmermann

For the record, the Phillies have used seven pitchers.

2007-09-17 20:30:58

24. El Lay Dave

Full count on Branyan.

2007-09-17 20:31:22

25. das411

Awww Branyan, too close to take there!

13-11 Phils, final!!

2007-09-17 20:31:42

26. underdog

Another called strike three looking. Well done! Feh. Stupid Cardinals.

2007-09-17 20:31:46

27. El Lay Dave

19 And using Roberto Hernandez twice (Alfonseca, Mesa) in the middle innings.

2007-09-17 20:33:03

28. underdog

Now I remember why Branyan was let go so many times.

Well, the Monday night game stinks again, so I'm going to do some actual work for awhile. See y'all for some day-night blogging tomorrow.

2007-09-17 20:36:17

29. Eric Stephen

Hey Gen3Blue, in the last thread you asked again about the Phillies and their having a lot of .300 hitters. They had eight .300 hitters (with at least 300 PA) in 1925, and seven in 1929 & 1930.

http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/c87G

2007-09-17 20:36:27

30. trainwreck

Who wants to make a bet underdog posts again?

2007-09-17 20:38:03

31. El Lay Dave

30 And I'll essentially the same information 41 seconds later.

2007-09-17 20:38:24

32. Eric Stephen

30 So you want us to bet on the underdog?

2007-09-17 20:39:36

33. King of the Hobos

Webb is done at 83 pitches, as his spot in the order is up to bat with the bases loaded and 2 outs. Maybe Grady could learn something here?

2007-09-17 20:40:35

34. Bob Timmermann

29
Mario Mendoza would have hit .300 playing in Baker Bowl.

The 2004 version of David Ross would have hit .400 in Baker Bowl.

2007-09-17 20:42:31

35. King of the Hobos

And Miguel Montero, who PHed for Webb, walked in a run, Giants now up 3-2.

2007-09-17 20:44:04

36. Bob Timmermann

Juan Pierre would have hit 10 home runs playing in Baker Bowl.

2007-09-17 20:45:06

37. Reddog

It's hard for me to be optimistic about next season. Because of Colletti's actions, we are pretty much set. We will have Kent at 2nd, Nomar at 3rd, Pierre in center.

I actually think Little did as well as he could this year. In a way, he serves at the pleasure of the GM. He had to juggle a mixture of ready-to-play young players like Kemp and Loney, with a large group of old vets.

I blame our likely failure to even make the playoffs on Colletti, and I find it hard to imagine we'll be much better next season - unless Nomar, Kent and Pierre all get hurt.

2007-09-17 20:47:39

38. Eric Stephen

The 2006 Dodgers would have gotten 3 runners thrown out at home plate on the same play in a playoff game at the Baker Bowl.

2007-09-17 20:48:23

39. Eric Stephen

37 How would Kent getting hurt help the Dodgers?

2007-09-17 20:50:34

40. trainwreck

39
We could bring back Milton Bradley?

2007-09-17 20:54:32

41. King of the Hobos

Not the best game for Edwin Jackson. In 4 innings, he's given up 6 runs, although only 3 were earned. However, he's given up 13 hits.

2007-09-17 20:57:56

42. El Lay Dave

According to Cot's Baseball Contracts (link on the sidebar):

Jeff Kent's salary is $11.5 million this year. The option that will vest shortly is $9 million. (Apparently there are some other ways for Kent to garner income: "additional $2.35M in performance bonuses & escalators, 2007-08")

My question is: does Kent have to accept the option, with the only alternative? Can he decline the option anyway and become a free agent if the Dodgers don't exercise the option? Would he garner more on the open market, mayber from an AL team for DH and part-time defense? For example, Piazza signed for $8.5 million for this season and Kent is showing less decline at the plate, plus Kent can still play some defense (though that should be at 1st, not 2nd).

2007-09-17 21:00:10

43. El Lay Dave

Matt Kemp would have torn down the Baker Bowl and built Citizens Bank Park in three days.

2007-09-17 21:01:18

44. trainwreck

42
Who in the AL would want Kent at second or first that could afford him?

2007-09-17 21:01:30

45. Eric Stephen

37 I find it hard to imagine we'll be much better next season - unless Nomar, Kent and Pierre all get hurt

We can be better without bringing in a single free agent, just based on:

1) full season of Kemp
2) full season of Loney
3) full season of Billingsley in the rotation
4) healthy season from Furcal
5) better than .251/.328/.388 from whomever is playing 3B (even a mixture of Nomar/Abreu/LaRoche)
6) a better bench, with the Martinez & Saenz roles filled by Abreu & either Sweeney or D.Young
7) dare I say, better than .290/.328/.349 from Pierre

2007-09-17 21:03:59

46. trainwreck

The sooner Pierre loses his speed, the sooner we get rid of him. I do not see him getting much better, in fact I would guess he just gets worse.

2007-09-17 21:04:20

47. King of the Hobos

The Dbacks have tied the Giants and are still threatening.

2007-09-17 21:07:05

48. Eric Stephen

42 Kent's option automatically vests at $9m with 12 more PAs. The only way for him to get out of that would be to retire (which would probably required compensation of some sort from another team to the Dodgers if they wanted to sign Kent) or for the Dodgers to release him. If they released him, the would owe him the $9m anyway.

If he somehow doesn't get the PAs, his option is only $7m, with a $500k buyout. It is a team option, meaning Kent's only "out" (if the Dodgers picked up the option) would be to retire.

2007-09-17 21:07:56

49. overkill94

37 It's easy to be optimistic about next season because we'll get full seasons out of Loney, Kemp, and Ethier (he has lost some at-bats with the outfield rotation) along with further development of some of the other youngsters (Martin, Billingsley, Broxton). Add to that the assumption that Furcal can't play any worse and all of a sudden our offense looks pretty good.

If Ned can somehow dump Nomar's contract and sign A-Rod (major speculation, I know) we would have to be one of the favorites in the NL. Even if we can dump Nomar and let LaRoche take over I think our offense would be improved.

2007-09-17 21:08:10

50. Bob Timmermann

The NY Times dropped its pay wall. You can read Maureen Dowd and Thomas Friedman for free.

You can also access articles from the NY Times from 1851-1922 and 1987-present for free. The old set are pdfs. The new ones are HTML.

Show/Hide Comments 51-100

2007-09-17 21:08:59

51. King of the Hobos

46 Once he loses his speed, who would want him? And the Dodgers aren't benching him as long as he has some speed, and as long as he doesn't lose a leg, he'll have above average speed probably well into his 40s.

2007-09-17 21:09:36

52. El Lay Dave

50 Because nothing interesting happened from 1923 to 1986?

2007-09-17 21:09:40

53. Eric Stephen

50 I can't wait to browse old articles from the N.Y. Times

2007-09-17 21:10:08

54. overkill94

I didn't think there would be a reason to hate the Giants this year since they're so obviously on the decline, but I didn't take into account that we'd be hoping for them to take down other teams in the division in September. God their bullpen is terrible...

2007-09-17 21:10:25

55. Bob Timmermann

51
What if Pierre changes his name to McCraig and gets operated on by Dr. Nick Riviera?

2007-09-17 21:11:35

56. Bob Timmermann

52
They still will charge for articles that are under copyright and in pdf format. The old ones are public domain.

2007-09-17 21:11:42

57. King of the Hobos

Dbacks now up 5-3, man on 3rd, only one out.

2007-09-17 21:12:05

58. Eric Stephen

"Don't worry, you won't feel a thing. Till I jam this down your throat!"

2007-09-17 21:13:03

59. trainwreck

51
Well he has already lost a step by most accounts, so I am just assuming it will get worse over time. Since he is so dependent on speed his numbers would be uber-bad and I think Ned would eventually just eat the contact if he could not get rid of him.

2007-09-17 21:13:04

60. Andrew Shimmin

Chris Young is a lot like Elvis. Except he's really good at Baseball, instead of being dead. So there are differences.

2007-09-17 21:13:56

61. Daniel Zappala

I still don't get why we haven't seen more of the Dodger pitching callups this year. They're supposed to provide the team with fantastic depth in situations where we are behind or ahead by decent margins. Have they only been playing close games?

2007-09-17 21:14:13

62. Bob Timmermann

I had TimesSelect access because I got the paper delivered at home. They limited me to 100 articles viewed PER MONTH.

I would imagine that it would be the same, although I suppose you could go and set up a bunch of different registrations.

2007-09-17 21:18:00

63. Gen3Blue

Got LATed for not realizing what NPUT meant. And this right after I described whatthis meant to someone new. But the crux is the same---when you notice the last three posts are yours....

2007-09-17 21:18:09

64. King of the Hobos

59 Even if he's lost a step, he has 58 steals and could easily reach his career high (65). As long as he's stealing that many bases, I don't see Ned dealing him. And how many players with his speed lose all of their speed in their early 30s?

2007-09-17 21:18:59

65. Gen3Blue

Darn Phillies and Snakes win.

2007-09-17 21:20:11

66. Bob Timmermann

65
Have you traveled forward in time? The game in Arizona is just in the 8th.

2007-09-17 21:20:54

67. King of the Hobos

65 The Giants have 2 on and no outs in the 8th, so they could come back. But they probably won't.

2007-09-17 21:21:02

68. El Lay Dave

44 It is not comforting to think that the Dodgers' 2008 2B would not have a job in the entire American League at his salary. (He would be an improvement at 1B for the Yankees - Minky, Phillips, Phelps, etc.)

2007-09-17 21:22:42

69. Louis in SF

My Giant friends tell me that the Giants who could really help the Dodgers by playing competitively against the Padres and D-Backs are saving it all for the final 3 with the Dodgers. Based on thier choke Friday night there terrible hitting Saturday and couging it up tonight, I am begining to think he is right.

2007-09-17 21:22:55

70. El Lay Dave

63 and 29 above is directed to you.

2007-09-17 21:23:27

71. trainwreck

64
Oh, I do not mean now. I think over the next four years we have Pierre he is going to be bad enough for us to get rid of him. I have no idea when.

2007-09-17 21:25:05

72. Eric Stephen

Randy For The Winn!

2007-09-17 21:25:14

73. El Lay Dave

Whoa, Randy Winn, 3-run HR!

2007-09-17 21:25:19

74. Bob Timmermann

67
Perhaps the Giants will come back.

2007-09-17 21:25:52

75. Gen3Blue

God bless Randy Winn. Did I really say that.

2007-09-17 21:26:46

76. El Lay Dave

Winn taketh away (when Grady pitched to him, with Beimel!) and now Winn giveth.

2007-09-17 21:27:29

77. trainwreck

Go Feliz.

2007-09-17 21:27:41

78. Bob Timmermann

I don't think Tony Pena has it tonight, to say the least.
Walk, HBP, K, HR, 2B, HR.

2007-09-17 21:28:43

79. El Lay Dave

Whoa again! Feliz two-run HR!

2007-09-17 21:29:12

80. trainwreck

Wait, should I be rooting for the Giants since we will probably have to win the wild card from the Pads to make the playoffs?

2007-09-17 21:29:27

81. Gen3Blue

A Giant breakout. I'm enjoying the Snake broadcast team now. But it sure feels wrong.
Do we play the Giants--I hope not.

2007-09-17 21:29:28

82. El Lay Dave

78 Or what you said. Although Molina grounded out before the double.

2007-09-17 21:29:28

83. King of the Hobos

78 You forgot Molina's groundout!

2007-09-17 21:31:09

84. El Lay Dave

81 Closing weekend. Three games at DS.

2007-09-17 21:31:35

85. Bob Timmermann

Did I forget Molina's groundout?

2007-09-17 21:32:57

86. King of the Hobos

The Giants bullpen is more than capable of giving up 3 runs, though if Brian Wilson closes, it will be more difficult than if Tyler Walker closes.

2007-09-17 21:33:34

87. El Lay Dave

80 The D-Backs could collapse out of the playoffs. Stranger things have happened.

2007-09-17 21:34:06

88. Eric Stephen

I will give Juan Pierre credit for having one of the most eclectic lists of similar players I've ever seen. Of the 10 players most similar to Pierre (according to Baseball Reference), here are some names or nicknames:

Skeeter
Whitey
Ducky
Orator
Debs Gams (that's a Brockian name if I ever saw one)
Patsy

If you include some of his other most similar lists, you also get:

Duff (who also went by Sir Richard)
Chicken Wolf
Deerfoot
George Burns
Ginger
Hub

Those are some great baseball names.

2007-09-17 21:34:51

89. El Lay Dave

86 God only knows if Brian Wilson can close.

2007-09-17 21:39:53

90. King of the Hobos

89 But we all know Tyler Walker can't, his 34 saves notwithstanding.

2007-09-17 21:40:34

91. Sam NYC

Arizona is easier to catch right now. Allow me to channel Peter Gammons:

IF the D-backs lose tonight, and IF the Dodgers win their two games in hand, and IF the Dodgers sweep the D-Backs this weekend, then they'd be tied going into the last week of the season.

2007-09-17 21:41:59

92. Bob Timmermann

Can't there be any Sams from Missouri or Nebraska or some place that doesn't have a C at the end?

2007-09-17 21:42:05

93. Gen3Blue

84 I guess it is inevitable. At least it is at home. All we can hope is it's relevant I guess.

2007-09-17 21:44:02

94. Sam NYC

I'm starting to get the feeling that the NL playoff teams are going to be San Diego, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia. The Mets and D-Backs look like they're headed for epic collapses.

2007-09-17 21:44:20

95. Gen3Blue

92 No! Sams are DC or SC or some such as far as I can see. Do you C. I'm not sure I do.

2007-09-17 21:45:06

96. Bob Timmermann

I predict that the eight teams that occupy playoff spots now will still occupy them when the season ends.

2007-09-17 21:46:27

97. Bob Timmermann

96
However, they could change seedings before the season is over.

2007-09-17 21:47:18

98. Sam NYC

I suppose no one around here remembers me. I used to post here all the time. I left if a huff over the whole Hee Seop Choi thing (please, let's not go into it). My sister convinced me to start reading the blog again. She says you guys aren't so bad.

2007-09-17 21:47:53

99. Gen3Blue

Ohh NYC, IC or I think I C. Do you C. as are mystic chef and guru once put it Gee You Are You.

2007-09-17 21:49:14

100. Sam NYC

Gen, are you high?

Show/Hide Comments 101-150

2007-09-17 21:49:17

101. Gen3Blue

As long as we don't dredge up Choi, it good to see you back.

2007-09-17 21:51:00

102. Gen3Blue

Just up past my bed time, I think . Good night and good wishes.

2007-09-17 21:51:24

103. Bob Timmermann

101
We prefer to use "Ch-i" to avoid stirring up a ruckus.

2007-09-17 21:52:39

104. Gen3Blue

Ahh, Arizona is beat. truly a good night.

2007-09-17 21:54:33

105. King of the Hobos

Tal Smith doesn't think a second round of interviews will be required, and the new Astros GM could be named late tomorrow or Wednesday.

2007-09-17 21:59:23

106. Eric Stephen

Yahoo and Dodgers.com have Billingsley slated to start the first game tomorrow, followed by Wells in the 2nd game. With Wells tentatively scheduled to go on 3 days rest Saturday, wouldn't it be better for him to get more rest by pitching the first game tomorrow?

Is the difference that negligible?

2007-09-17 22:01:08

107. KG16

105 - So, I guess that means Steve Phillips stays on ESPN?

2007-09-17 22:09:06

108. BlueCrew Bruin

Hmm...Wells vs. Redman. I get the feeling that second game tomorrow is going to be a high scoring affair. As some were saying in a previous thread, Wells is due for a bad game and what better place to do it than Colorado. At least we have Redman and his 9 ERA to look forward to.

2007-09-17 22:19:33

109. Eric Stephen

All of Billingsley's 33 major league starts have been caught (at least started) by Martin, so I would imagine Lieberthal will start the Wells game (unless Iron Man starts both games). Maybe Lieberthal can add to his singular RBI total at Coors Field.

2007-09-17 22:22:32

110. Greg Brock

88 Debs Gams is a fantastic name.

2007-09-17 22:32:22

111. Bob Timmermann

It's Debs Garms though.

2007-09-17 22:34:47

112. Eric Stephen

Actually, looking back on their minor league careers, Billingsley & Martin are like peaches and cream...oh wait, Bob hates peaches...they are like Cagney & Lacey.

I would imagine Martin has caught something like 45-50 of Billingsley's 76 minor league starts. They were teammates in:

2004 - A ball in Vero Beach (for 18 starts until Chad got called up to Jacksonville)
2005 - teammates all year for the Southern League Champs - 26 Chad starts
2006 - teammates in Vegas in April before Martin got called up

2007-09-17 22:36:47

113. Eric Stephen

110 ,111 Damn my eyes! I write my "m"s with 3 loops though, so you could see how I got confused.

Debs Garms goes down in my book as Debs Gams though!

2007-09-17 22:38:17

114. Greg Brock

Debs Gams is still a great name. I don't care if it's made up.

2007-09-17 22:40:22

115. Bob Timmermann

Debs Garms won the NL batting title in 1940 although he only played in 103 games, while batting .355. 100 games played was the minimum requirement at the time.

2007-09-17 22:50:05

116. Bob Timmermann

And you know what Debs Garms real first name was?

Yep, Debs.

I wonder if his parents were big union people and named him after Eugene Debs. But he was born in Texas, which makes it seem unlikely.

2007-09-17 22:51:41

117. Greg Brock

I would support a baseball player named Debs Gompers. So would the American working man.

2007-09-17 22:55:15

118. Eric Stephen

Years after he retired, Marvin Miller thanked the efforts of Debs Gams, who tried to form a players union back in his playing days but abandoned his efforts after losing the election for union president five different times.

2007-09-17 22:57:17

119. Bob Timmermann

Who will history view as the more famous Pirate to win the batting title: Debs Garms or Freddie Sanchez?

2007-09-17 22:57:56

120. Lexinthedena

I love this site.....

2007-09-17 23:06:40

121. Eric Stephen

I was going through the new minor league stats feature of Baseball-Reference.com, and here are the numbers of LaRoche and Kemp, at various ages (not adjusted for league of park):

Age 20
Kemp: A+, .306/.349/.559
LaRoche: A/A+, .259/.326/.479

Age 21
Kemp: AA/AAA, .346/.414./.543 (+ .253/.289/.448 in LA)
LaRoche: A+/AA, .305/.374/.553

Age 22
Kemp: AAA, .329/.374/.540 (+ .337/.374/.528 in LA)
LaRoche: AA/AAA. .315/.410/.514

2007-09-17 23:14:46

122. Linkmeister

Hmm. Any major league players named James Hoffa? John L. Lewis? Samuel Gompers?

It's a sign of how weak the labor movement's gotten that the labor leaders' names I can think of are all from mid-20th century.</