
Jon's other site:
Screen Jam
TV and more ...
Dodger Thoughts T-Shirts
On sale through February 16, 2008


Click here to order.
* * *
The Best of Dodger Thoughts
A 325-page book featuring the top selections from this website from 2002-2005.
Click here for more information.
* * *
Or, just make a donation to support the site. Many thanks.
"Dodger Thoughts, like TiVo, is one of those things you can completely do without until you start using it."
- Fanerman
SI.com
NL West Preview
Evaluating Defense
Colletti and Depo
World Baseball Classic
Minor League Broadcasters
Slow Starts
Eric Gagne
Groundball Pitchers
Dodger Prospects
Albert Pujols
Humbled Angels
You Be the Manager
Eric Gagne II
Unreliable Relievers
Revived Angels
It's Okay To Sell
Dodger Turnaround
Andre Ethier
Padres-Dodgers Showdown
NL Final Weekend
Mets-Dodgers NLDS
Postseason ratings
NL Wish Lists
Manny vs. J.D.
McGwire Controversy
Dodger Offense
Trainers Matter
Variety
Will Arnett
John C. McGinley
Laura Dern
Imelda Staunton
SAG Awards
Ellen Pompeo
Grey's Anatomy
2004-05 Rookie Dramas
Anthony Hopkins
NATPE
Scrubs
Award Shows
Topher Grace
Ashton Kutcher
Writing on Improv Shows
Rainn Wilson
T.R. Knight
Guest Actors
Animation Guests
Joey Carson and Tennis
Donald Trump and Golf
2006 Emmys Nominees*
*Comedy Series
*Comedy Director
*Comedy Writer
*Comedy Actor
*Comedy Supporting Actor
Blue's Clues
Lizzy Caplan
Ann Donahue
CMT: Giants
CMA Awards
Little Miss Sunshine
Actor-Directors
Freshman Series
Clint Eastwood
Showrunners vs. Censors
Little Children
Breaking and Entering
Tartikoff Legacy Awards
Jackie Earle Haley
Knights of Prosperity
Office Online
2007 Screenplay Noms
Friday Night Lights
Robert Benton
ABC Fridays
Rookie Actors
Global Casting
2007 Pilot Casting
Sublime Slime
Also ...
A Season in Savannah (Stanford Magazine)
Five Questions: Los Angeles Dodgers (2005) (Hardball Times)
Rick Monday (Baseball Analysts)
Baseball's Odd Couple (Baseball Prospectus)
Five Questions: Los Angeles Dodgers (2006) (Hardball Times)
Five Questions: Los Angeles Dodgers (2007) (Hardball Times)
Dodger home record: 39-30 (.565)
When Jon attended: 5-3 (.625)
When Jon didn't: 34-27 (.557)
Dodgers at home: 745-600 (.554)
Jon attended: 293-233 (.557)*
Jon didn't: 457-374 (.550)
* includes road games attended
Current Roster with Estimated 2008 Salaries
(updated March 28)
Most figures are estimates (some are wild estimates) but will be updated as information comes in. Corrections welcome.
More contract details here.
Starting Pitchers (5)
$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
Bullpen (6)
$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
Total: $6,450,000
Starting Lineup (8)
$14,100,000 Andruw Jones
$13,000,000 Rafael Furcal
$9,000,000 Jeff Kent
$8,500,000 Nomar Garciaparra
$8,000,000 Juan Pierre
$500,000 Russell Martin
*$400,000 James Loney
*$400,000 Matt Kemp
Total: $53,900,000
Bench (6)
$875,000 Gary Bennett
$600,000 Mark Sweeney
$424,500 Andre Ethier
$391,000 Delwyn Young
$390,000 Chin-Lung Hu
$390,000 Blake DeWitt
Total: $3,071,000
Disabled List
$12,000,000 Jason Schmidt
*$400,000 Tony Abreu
*$390,000 Andy LaRoche
Total: $12,790,000
Also Paying ...
$1,000,000 Brett Tomko
$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
Working total: *$113,268,725
*Rough salary estimate
ESPN BR
BP
Cube Alvarez
ESPN BR
BP
Cube Abreu
ESPN
BR
BP
Cube Beimel
ESPN
BR
BP
Cube Bennett
ESPN
BR
BP
Cube Billingsley
ESPN
BR
BP
Cube Brazoban
ESPN
BR
BP
Cube Broxton
ESPN
BR
BP
Cube DeWitt
ESPN
BR
BP
Cube Ethier
ESPN
BR
BP
Cube Furcal
ESPN BR BP Cube Garciaparra
ESPN BR BP Cube Hu
ESPN BR BP Cube Jones
ESPN BR BP Cube Kemp
ESPN BR BP Cube Kent
ESPN BR BP Cube Kuo
ESPN BR BP Cube Kuroda
ESPN BR BP Cube LaRoche
ESPN BR BP Cube Loaiza
ESPN BR BP Cube Loney
ESPN BR BP Cube Lowe
ESPN BR BP Cube Martin
ESPN BR BP Cube May
ESPN BR BP Cube McDonald
ESPN BR BP Cube Meloan
ESPN BR BP Cube Miller
ESPN BR BP Cube Orenduff
ESPN BR BP Cube Park
ESPN BR BP Cube Paul
ESPN BR BP Cube Penny
ESPN BR BP Cube Pierre
ESPN BR BP Cube Proctor
ESPN BR BP Cube Repko
ESPN BR BP Cube Saito
ESPN BR BP Cube Schmidt
ESPN BR BP Cube Stults
ESPN BR BP Cube Sweeney
ESPN BR BP Cube Troncoso
ESPN BR BP Cube Wade
ESPN BR BP Cube Young
ESPN BR BP Cube Alomar
ESPN BR BP Cube Alvarez
ESPN BR BP Cube Aybar
ESPN BR BP Cube Baez
ESPN BR BP Cube Bako
ESPN BR BP Cube Beltre
ESPN BR BP Cube Bradley
ESPN BR BP Cube Cabrera
ESPN BR BP Cube Carrara
ESPN BR BP Cube Carter
ESPN BR BP Cube Chen
ESPN BR BP Cube Choi
ESPN BR BP Cube Cora
ESPN BR BP Cube Crosby
ESPN BR BP Cube Cruz
ESPN BR BP Cube Dessens
ESPN BR BP Cube Dreifort
ESPN BR BP Cube Drew
ESPN BR BP Cube Encarnacion
ESPN BR BP Cube Edwards
ESPN BR BP Cube Erickson
ESPN BR BP Cube Falkenborg
ESPN BR BP Cube Finley
ESPN BR BP Cube Flores
ESPN BR BP Cube Gagne
ESPN BR BP Cube Grabowski
ESPN BR BP Cube Green
ESPN BR BP Cube Guzman
ESPN BR BP Cube Hanrahan
ESPN BR BP Cube Hernandez
ESPN BR BP Cube Hundley
ESPN BR BP Cube Ishii
ESPN BR BP Cube Izturis
ESPN BR BP Cube Jackson
ESPN BR BP Cube Karros
ESPN BR BP Cube Ketchner
ESPN BR BP Cube Ledee
ESPN BR BP Cube Lima
ESPN BR BP Cube Lo Duca
ESPN BR BP Cube Lofton
ESPN BR BP Cube T. Martin
ESPN BR BP Cube Mayne
ESPN BR BP Cube G. Mota
ESPN BR BP Cube Mueller
ESPN BR BP Cube Myrow
ESPN BR BP Cube Nakamura
ESPN BR BP Cube Navarro
ESPN BR BP Cube Nomo
ESPN BR BP Cube Osoria
ESPN BR BP Cube A. Perez
ESPN BR BP Cube O. Perez
ESPN BR BP Cube Phillips
ESPN BR BP Cube Proctor
ESPN BR BP Cube Roberts
ESPN BR BP Cube Robles
ESPN BR BP Cube Romano
ESPN BR BP Cube C. Ross
ESPN BR BP Cube D. Ross
ESPN BR BP Cube Sanchez
ESPN BR BP Cube Schmoll
ESPN BR BP Cube Sele
ESPN BR BP Cube Seo
ESPN BR BP Cube Shuey
ESPN BR BP Cube Stanley
ESPN BR BP Cube S. Stewart
ESPN BR BP Cube Thompson
ESPN BR BP Cube Thurston
ESPN BR BP Cube Valentin
ESPN BR BP Cube Venafro
ESPN BR BP Cube Ventura
ESPN BR BP Cube Weaver
ESPN BR BP Cube Werth
ESPN BR BP Cube Wilson
ESPN BR BP Cube Wunsch
1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
9) typing "no-hitter" or "perfect game" to describe either in progress
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with
Baseball Toaster runs on some experimental software called Fairpole. It's still under development.
For more information, please visit the Fairpole blog, or read the FAQ.
Open chat continues in the thread below this one.
You know those stories where people take turn writing one sentence at a time? How about a baseball game?
I'll write the first line, and people can take turns adding to it. The only rule: You have to wait for someone else to write before you add another sentence. If two people publish simultaneous and/or contradictory events, we'll just have to reconcile them somehow.
I'll start:
It's time for Dodger baseball, with the Los Angeles Dodgers taking on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the final game of the 2008 World Series.
SS Rafael Furcal
C Russell Martin
1B James Loney
2B Jeff Kent
RF Matt Kemp
LF Moises Alou
3B Nomar Garciaparra
CF Juan Pierre
P Clayton Kershaw
A tallish fan in a funky Rodin t-shirt appears to have fainted in the right field corner, and action on the field has paused for a moment.
Hard to thin a 2 run lead will hold up for long here . . .
McCarver: "Neifi would have had that one"
"Can we talk about the World Series?"
"I'm sorry Tim, but that's what my director is telling me to ask you."
Evans: "I told you so."
Apparently this year the Dodgers are wearing the word "Dodgers" on their road uniforms instead of "Los Angeles."
Five all going to the fifth. Both sp's still ib the game, but hanging on by two threads.
Five all going to the fifth. Both sp's still ib the game, but hanging on by two threads.
Five all going to the fifth. Both sp's still ib the game, but hanging on by two threads.
Ok - technical difficulties appear to have passed.
Vin: "Thanks, Joe. You know, it's a real thrill for me to be ---"
Joe: Don't miss the new series debuting next week on FOX, the Bundimpsons, starring Dan Castelanetta and Ed O'Neill. In a revolutionary new concept, two of the most successful shows in FOX history have been combined into one, as Al Bundy and Homer Simpson enter into a domestic partnership, Brady Bunch-style. Tune in to see what happens between Kelly and Bart!"
Vin: And as Kershaw continues to tire, Scott Proctor begins warming up in the bullpen.
McCarver: Former Yankee Scott Proctor, you mean.
Vin: Well, yes, and---
Joe: Proctor played with some of the greatest players in Yankees history, like Derek Jeter.
Tim: And Jorge Posada.
Joe: Andy Pettitte, Robinson Cano.
Vin: So here's Casey Kotchman at the plate. This year Kotchman batted--
Joe: Yes, he batted against Mariano Rivera. Four times this year. And struck out twice! Also hit a walk-off home run.
Tim: You know who else Kotchman batted against? Joba Chamberlain! And Phil Hughes.
Vin: And with everybody available in Game 7, look who's warming up in the bullpen for the Dodgers: Derek Lowe! Lowe went 14-9 this year with---
Tim: With nowhere near the success he had with the Boston Red Sox. He won 20 games there, you know. Pitched a no-hitter too.
"Mr. Scully, back up to you."
Erin Andrews had founf a guy wearing a Loney jersey in fact, but she and Mr. Purcell seem to have disappeared.
Tim: The Yankees have won 23 World Series in his lifetime.
Tim: "Who will ever forget Rainn Wilson's last episode of 'The Office' when lovers Jim and Angela tricked Dwight into having himself cryogenically frozen?"
Tim: I'm a little choked up right now, be back after a word from Jeannie.
"Now back to the game."
"Delwyn Young up to bat, a replacement for Juan Pierre who has the words 'Spalding' impressed on his face. And Young hits the first pitch high, and deep to left, a-waaay back goes the centerfielder! And he's got it on the edge of the infield. One out."
"Hey, who let Charlie Steiner in here??"
"I think that's an ambulance, Joe."
"Well, a Cardinals fan would have waited until the game was over to call 911."
"Maybe the person was unconscious."
"That's no excuse, Tim."
Orlando Cabrera - SS
Gary Matthews, Jr. - CF
Vladimir Guerrero - RF
Barry Bonds - DH
A-Rod - 3B
Garrett Anderson - LF
Casey Kotchman - 1B
Matt Kemp - 2B
Paul LoDuca - C
That this team managed to hit only .203 this season is incredible."
Vin Scully: "Well, Joe, the reason they won so many games is because they had a .472 OBP, since Guerrero, Bonds, and A-Rod got walked every time up. On top of that, the Angels hit a snappy .450 with the bases loaded, and .025 the rest of the time."
Joe: Yes, yes they have.
Vin: I'm sorry, I know I said I was done after this game, but I can't bear to leave baseball to hacks like you guys, I will keep calling games until the good Lord calls me home.
And the 7th game of the World Series is brought to you by "Farmer John" Easternmost in Quality, Westernmost in Taste" Now back to the game!
Also, a reminder that the DH was surprisingly ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court during the All Star break.
Colon into the stretch ... and what's this? Kotchman tags out Kent as he takes his lead! The Angels have pulled the hidden ball trick on Kent and it's worked! I can't believe what I'm watching! Kent rips off his jersey, and he's throwing a tantrum right there on first base! The first base umpire throws him out of the game, and Kent tackles the ump! Both benches empty, the police are out on the field now, and this is not looking pretty.
[ Scully leaves the microphone to the crowd for five minutes ]
Things have finally quieted down here ate Dodger Stadium, and there goes Kent now, the police are leading him away in handcuffs. What a way to end his career with the Dodgers!
The Major turns away to resume what appear to be his concession duties. "Larks' tongues. Wrens' livers. Wolf nipple chips. Get 'em while they're hot."
Russell Martin as dodger fans know has been the toughest guy on the squad and had fought thru a august slump to hit a cool 330 in the month of september all the while catching all the games in september and in the playoffs.
Santana comes in high and tight under Russ chin.
The chin is a sore area for Russ after he took a beaning in the Brewers series from closer Francisco Cordero before he would eventually score a game winning run on Loney double in that game.
It is amazing however, that Kent's rampage took described up above took him all the way up to Chavez ravine before the cops could get ahold of him, but we've learned never to underestimate a motorcycle man.
Global Search and Replace: "Dodger Stadium" with "The Big A."
{End continuity editing}
Craig Sager: "Kobe who are you pulling for?"
Kobe: "oh you know me Craig im just pulling for the best team to win."
Sager: "You do know you are wearing a Yankees hat right?"
Play is halted because nobody on the field remembers the score, the inning or who was batting.
A call is put out to Bob Timmerman who is the only person in the entire stadium with an accurate scorecard. Timmerman strides onto the field to confer with the umpires and both managers. Play resumes.
Runners on first and second for A-Rod.
"The home run is still not enough to give the Angels the lead. If only Rodriguez had hit that homerun on that pitchout his home run might have mattered."
Meanwhile, Tommy Lasorda is appointed acting GM and immediately engineers a trade of Jonathan Broxton for Paul Konerko.
Wholestaff pitched in the independent Northern League and had an ERA of 8.75 and had given up 145 hits in 101 innings pitched.
Vin exclaims that the Angels now have a monkey loose on the base paths.