Speaking of doing time, I want to go to the gym now, but the stupid Dodgers keep me hooked in for no good reason.

His OB average was pretty good in Jax, 325 plate appearances with a 380 OB% & his career OB% is .346

I think this was covered in the Bible.

Another deceptive fielding stat.

Though to be fair, he's been better than it appeared he'd be after the start of the season...

ps I'm starting to loath, Holliday,.

Not trying to be facetious, just trying to understand the apparent disdain for guys who get on base by getting hits. Getting a lot of hits doesn't seem to be an indication that a hitter is impatient (constantly swinging at first pitches, a la Nomar does). Nor does it mean that he is incapable of drawing walks.

Walk rate is nice because it's much more stable than batting average. If a guy is entirely batting average dependant, it's much more likely he'll be a complete drain on the lineup at one point, the walks guy is much more reliable.

Then 3 straight strikes will make him feel better.

29 I agree. For outfielders I do also like to look at assists, but even then you really do just have to watch them to know who's got fielding skills and who doesn't.

By the way, naturally I am in contact with a lot of Red Sox fans here, and I have heard several times independently that Eric Gagne was continuosly given several bad calls before his recent disaster.

frustration from yesterdays game, maybe.

I would also think that walk rate would decline over the course of a season and career. Logically, if the scouting report on a guy says he's got a good eye and won't walk much, then pitchers are more likely to throw strikes, meaning more balls put in play, no?

How is isolated patience determined?

Back in 1982 I bought a 13.2*MB* hard drive for an IBM S/34; it was the size of a small pizza. It cost my company $5,000.00.

No further comment.

I guess Vin was right, this is Bad Penny today. It's like they're stealing the signs, so telegraphed are some of his pitches. Oh well, I think the Dodgers can match some of the power today, too. Fogg doesn't scare me.

Wow, I'm talking lke these games still matter!

Then again, it's also the first time in my life I'm rooting for the Nationals. Good thing football season is here.

Yep, Julio wasn't at full speed that's for sure.

I thought he would be good if he'd stay healthy, but he's bad & healthy "who new" I remember Orel Hershiser called him & I quote "the light hitting Drew". But seriously he should be good for at least one or two years out of that contract.

I thought I had recovered a fairly equitable mood after yesterday but I'm irratable, my cat is irritable, and I definitely want to slap one of these announcers around.

"As we speak, probably the truth is, Nomar would have to be the incumbent," said Little. "He's had a tough season this year. Hopefully, he'll get it turned around."

64 Penny didn't score on that previous infield hit because it was hit right near him. He would've been dead to right.

I have no idea if Vinny's quoting or just made it up.

Conte said the latest problem could be the result of Furcal compensating for the ankle.

Also, Grady says Garciaparra is the third baseman next year, Saenz wants to play but only for a major league team, and Billingsley had this to say on his pitching:

"It's pitching," said Billingsley, charged with the 3-1 loss. "It's just something I've learned. When I want to reach back for it, I can still throw 96, 97, but my command with it isn't as good. I can throw 92 and hit the outer part of the plate. I used to be a big velocity guy. Now I see that's kind of overrated. Maybe I didn't have my best stuff, but I was really pitching. A 92 with action is more difficult to hit than 95 straight."

I've seen it work a few times. Mike Fetters was good at it.

I can't see him playing for anyone next year, but certainly hope it's not the Dodgers at least. Maybe Vegas as a player-coach.

I've pretty much forgiven the man at this point because it's really not his fault Ned traded for a guy who had just hurt his finger which can really kill you're hitting and linger for ages.

What's with the gopher balls, Brad?

thanks for the quotes Hobos, I'm digging the Billingsley quote, very much.

Holliday is swabbin t' deck with Penny.

Should we make him walk t' plank?

(talk like a pirate day)

Anyone read Plaschke's article? Or has this been discussed already? As a caller to Dodger Talk, I tend to side with Bob Harvey on this one and for once, actually, I'm in agreement with Plaschke.

http://tinyurl.com/28sw9f

http://tinyurl.com/2wjagf

(requires login unfortunately)

<sigh> I guess we're in for a repeat in '08

But isn't a hitter who works a count to 2-0, 3-1, 3-0 and then gets a hit a patient hitter? Sure, he might not get as many walks, but that's because he's getting hits in "hitter's counts".

On his way to Wyoming to visit with Grandma, Billy spotted a bowlegged cowboy. "Look at dat dare bowlegged cowboy. I ain't never seen nuttin like dat no how."

Grandma was shocked and made Billy read Shakespeare every day for a month. On the way home he saw a whole bunch of bowlegged cowboys. Says Billy, "Behold! What manner of men are these, who wear their legs in parentheses?"

Anyway, it's the most common return (in various forms) I'm getting.

I just googled an imagine of Ted Danson '86 style, to get a visual, thanks.

In New York, it's Yanks 2, Baltimore 1.

The AL East could get interesting in a hurry.

Nationals have melted down (or Mets have heated up for the night).

It's funny that $15 for Dodgers parkin