Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Jon's other site:
Screen Jam
TV and more ...
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
A legend at the Times passes on. One of the definitive sportswriters of the 20th century, and to my knowledge, one of the most generous in spirit.
He wrote his first bylined story, for the Pasadena Post, when he was 14. By the time he was assigned the racing beat at The Times, he was 48, had already spent 34 years covering other sports -- less three years for Army service during World War II -- and was gaining renown as a golf writer.
"In 1969, I was suddenly thrust into racing," he recalled a few years ago. " I had no background in racing as such."
And yet Glick and motor racing went together like biscuits and gravy. So taken with it was he that he made sure he covered the entire spectrum.
He was as likely to be at a sprint car race in Ventura as at the Indianapolis 500. He covered short tracks and super speedways, road racing and drag racing and midget cars. He was fascinated by unlimited hydroplane racing and, once in the dead of winter, went to La Crosse, Wis., to get a story about stock cars racing on ice.
In the 37 years he covered racing -- he was 85 when he retired in 2006 -- he had won more awards than some good drivers win races. He even had one named for him, the Shav Glick Award, given annually by sponsor Eagle One for distinguished achievement in motor racing by a Californian. The winners, chosen by a panel of sportswriters and public relations directors, represent various areas of racing but have one thing in common: Glick wrote often about each of them. ...
* * *
I also want to wish Sons of Steve Garvey a happy first birthday. Well done, kids.
Next we'll see a photo of Sandy Koufax in an unidentified football stadium.
Cashman Stands Alone but in Control
>> The Yankees were eliminated by the Angels in the first round, but Cashman took until the end of the World Series to decide whether he wanted to return. With other attractive jobs open — including one with his favorite childhood team, the Los Angeles Dodgers — Cashman accepted a three-year, $5.5 million contract from the Yankees. <<
http://tinyurl.com/352gov
Now, let us talk about the football coach who will not fade away. The Steve Lavin of football. Please, A State, Oregon, and Southern Cal...Defeat this man and put me out of my misery.
This is Steve Lavin all over again.
Of course, this could change next week but Pat Cowan and Coach Walker hold Karl Dorrell's future in their hands.
Expecting a positive to necessarily from a negative outcome is very chancy.
It's also no fun.
This was similar to people here rooting for the Dodgers to lose more games so they could would have a better draft pick.
It wasn't for a better draft pick, it was to ensure not losing our pick when Ned signs Glenallen Hill to play RF.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/10/21/obit.mcgee.ap/index.html
Maybe the Dodgers could trade Colletti for Cashman.
Larussa could go to the Yankees and Torre to the Cards.
Little could follow Tracy to the Pirates.
Dodger Manager candidates: Rick Monday, Erik Karros, Oral Hershiser, ?
I realize people don't think it's smart to root against your own team in the short term to bring changes that will help the team in the long run. I understand why people don't think it's loyal. I just disagree.
I respectfully disagree with your respectful disagreement.
I don't follow UCLA football closely enough to have an opinion on Dorrell, so maybe I shouldn't even talk about this. But you'd think that the Lavin/Howland example would tell Guerrero that he shouldn't wait for a collapse by the team to have the best available coach. If it's Dorrell, he should stick by him. If there's someone out there that's better, Guerrero should go after him regardless of whether an interception gets returned for a touchdown in the final minute.
But seriously, the last three games are against Arizona State, Oregon, and Southern Cal. This situation is going to take care of itself. My rooting interests matter none. 7-5 is the probable outcome.
And even in the worst case scenario and he keeps his job, there is no way that he will have a winning record with next year's team.
My theory is that Colletti and Little are going to be gone after next season, and I think Logan White might be a logical candidate to lead the Dodgers.
As much as I came to dislike Jim Tracy in 2005, I never rooted against the Dodgers, and that was with a different GM in charge.
For example:
Lloyd McClendon --> Jim Tracy (leaving out Pete Mackanin)
Jerry Narron --> Dusty Baker (leaving out Pete Mackanin)
Buddy Teevens --> Walt Harris
John Robinson --> Paul Hackett
And most of us know that pretty much no USC fans liked Pete Carroll's hiring.
And Joe Torre was not expected to do much as Yankee manager.
And this doesn't apply to sports. It applies to all types of personnel decisions. How many times have one of us worked with someone who probably seemed great on paper and then turned out to be terrible or vice versa?
The next guy might be a poor coach. The current coach is a poor coach.
1. The incentives clauses
2. Only one year
3. The pay cut.
He called the offer "generous" and acknowledged that he won't make that much money running another team. FWIW, the NY press is, for the most part, very much on his side.
Howland and Harbaugh are arguably good examples of firing until you get the right guy. Again, I'm not arguing with firing Dorrell or not - I have no opinion. But if the issue is that Dorrell needs to lose X number of games in order to get fired, and that's the only issue at play, then the problem runs deeper than Dorrell.
The ideal situation would be a) you get the head coach you like and b) the program is attractive enough that talent is still interested in coming. At Stanford, we seem to have a) but not b). You probably shouldn't want to copy us.
I would root for the Bruins while simulatenously rooting for the pursuit of excellence at coach. Dorrell has already lost to Utah and ND. He already has the spotty track record. Either he's going to win out, in which case, you're stuck with a coach you don't like but compensated with a Rose Bowl victory, or he's going to lose even though you're rooting for UCLA, in which case you're stuck with a disappointing season but on your way to the new coach.
Long story short (too late), there's little to nothing to be gained from regretting victories.
Those who were anti-Depo in 2005 or anti-Little/Colletti in 2007 who might have rooted for the Dodgers to lose so that they would get fired ... have they been rewarded? Debatable.
I think the elephant in the room isn't that big of a deal.
Ty Willingham was fired at Notre Dame and UCLA sent Walt Hazzard and Larry Farmer packing.
That elephant didn't save Willingham.
Of course we could be thinking about different elephants.
He is the most well liked person in the athletic department, that is why he has a lot of pull. Plus, the football program is doing better academic wise.
Don't tell Bill Plaschke that. He only wants the "traditional" powers to win every year. Or else the game is no fun.
It's similar to the argument about how the World Series this year would not be worth watching since it might not have "traditional" powers.
Because:
1) we don't want fans to think that their local team has no chance to win.
2) we don't want TV viewers not to watch playoffs or bowl games that because they don't have the "traditional" powers.
I am unsure how you become a traditional power in any sport. Apparently you get this bestowed on you. Because none of the "traditional" powers ever were at point in their existence when they had no championships.
As well they should have. Notre Dame had never fired a coach in the middle of his contract (not even Gerry Faust ). They got the genius the Notre Dame Alumni Association wanted. And he only has Karl Dorrell to thank for not starting this season 0-7.
To be precise, Notre Dame has Karl Dorrell to thank for not starting the season 0-8.
If Navy can't beat Notre Dame in two weeks, they will never beat Notre Dame ever. Until the end of time.
34 game-winning streak!
my point was that as fans, you want your team to win every game (greg brock notwithstanding), no matter how good or bad the team is in general. obviously, the rest of us would find it boring if the same teams won all the time, but the fans of those teams wouldn't. i would absolutely love for cal to boringly win out every year. leave it to the other teams to have "interesting" games :)
I'm sorry that Cal is not a "traditional" power and accorded the same rights and privileges that other teams bearing that moniker get.
I of course would have loved Stanford to win every game while I was there (we at least beat Cal nearly every year), and right now I would love to have BYU win every game. But honestly, even as a fan of those two programs, I would be bored to tears if they won every game for 20 years running. At some point, my desire to see the sport flourish and remaining interesting would kick in and outweigh my desire to see my team win.
Thanks. I knew I should have checked rather than depend on the old gray cells. :-)
Obviously, the Tedford years have been unprecedented in my experience, but I still can't quite bring myself to believe it will be more than an episode in Cal history, rather than a permanent turnaround.
From latimes.com (the best they can do for small college football)
Occidental 31, at Pomona-Pitzer 15: Justin Goltz completed 25 of 38 passes for 271 yards for the Tigers (6-0, 4-0), who knocked off the Sagehens (2-4, 1-3) in a SCIAC game and extended their regular-season win streak to 32 games. Occidental used a 24-0 second half to erase a 15-7 halftime deficit, taking the lead for good on Neil Martin's 24-yard field with 2:01 left in the third quarter.
http://www.oxy.edu/x7535.xml
Cal and Stanford started earlier, but took some years off. And they also played rugby for a while instead of football.
Cal and Stanford first played in 1892, but played rugby from 1906 to 1914 and didn't playe either from 1915-1918.
If any player steals a base in the 2007 MLB World Series, Taco Bell is going to give (1) free Crunchy Seasoned Beef Taco to every person in America. Redemption details to follow.
http://clicks.on32.com/cts/click?q=2;19417;GKUM5dIzy4251RIYBIXqnSa6en7FK7cr
Poor cows. Why should they be killed just because someone steals a base?
Humans are schmucks.
You would if they put one in your WalMart.
Then I go get a cup of mixed nuts. I'm easily distracted.
My father was a dairy farmer before he moved out to California and was really big on correcting his children about the difference between steers and cows.
So you can imagine that there might be a line.
I can figure out everyone's opportunity costs. Mine are $300 per hour! Unless there's something good on TV.
Double play? Yup.
I feel better now.
1. Rockies in 4 over Red Sox
2. Rockies in 7 over Red Sox
3. Rockies in 5 over Red Sox
4. Rockies in 6 over Red Sox
I guess my preferences are not monotonic.
I think I have to root for Colorado because they have the most former Long Beach St players. Granted, they have one, and the Red Sox have none.
Plus, the Red Sox winning would only make ESPN even more intolerable because the entire off season would be about how the Yankees can improve to overtake the Red Sox.
I'm definitely rooting for the Rox.
It was a difficult afternoon here; Mom wanted the Sox, I wanted the Indians.
I know you're leavin me behind
I'm seein you darlin for the very last time
Show a little tenderness before you go
Please let me feel your embrace once more
Take me in your arms and rock me, rock me a little while
We all must feel heartache sometimes
Right now, right now I'm feelin mine
I've tried my best to be strong, but I'm not able
I'm like a helpless child left in a cradle
Before you leave me behind let me feel happy one more time
Take me in your arms and rock me, rock me a little while
I'm losin you and my happiness
My life is so dark I must confess
I'll never, never see your smiling face no more
I'll never, never hear your knock upon my door
Before you leave me, leave me behind
Let me feel happy one more time
Take me in your arms and rock me, rock me a little while...
And this plea for a 7 game series by B.B. King:
Rock me baby, rock me all night long
Rock me baby, honey, rock me all night long
I want you to rock me baby,
like my back ain't got no bone
Roll me baby, like you roll a wagon wheel
I want you to roll me baby,
like you roll a wagon wheel
Want you to roll me baby,
you don't know how it makes me feel
Rock me baby, honey, rock me slow
Yeah, rock me pretty baby, baby rock me slow
Want you to rock me baby, till I want no more
http://tinyurl.com/22t2sz
"Our young players are not at the stage of Holliday and some of their other players, but the Rockies waited a while for those guys to get there. You can't usually get that overnight."
Right, Ned. You saw the Rockies at midseason and thought they'd be special. Because you're prescient like that. And that's why you thought you'd block Loney with a couple years of Nomar. And signed Pierre through the next appearance of Halley's Comet. Because you can spot special talent.
Also, that photo of Lasorda whispering in Colletti's ear is exceptionally creepy. Wormtongue!
P.S. -- Go Rockies.
Ned also snuck in that the core of the Rockies home grown youth were not rushed out of the minors, had at least 3 years of MLB experience, and were about 27 years old.
The Dodgers core of home grown youth range from 19 to 25 years of age and have 0 to 2 years MLB experience.
The Dodgers are still missing that core of ages 27 to 32 players with 3 or more years experience.
All I want for 2008 is no stupid trades of kids, no new long-term contracts to block them, and no more foolish extension of veteran contracts. If he's willing to "wait" for the kids and be the "new" O'Dowd rather than the old one, I will be content next year. Of course I'd also like to see A-Rod :-)
I have some interest in Jason Bay but I admit that maybe I shouldn't.
Yep. Erickson has Been There Before™.
Newscorp is a dark cloud in DodgerTime line history.
88 A month later, Alexson looked into doing another promotion, this time for the White Sox, and was told that Lloyds now wanted 18 percent of total sales, since the team had played so well two years earlier.
Doesn't Lloyds know there are much better predictors than "what they did two years ago"? Some one needs to put their actuaries in touch with sabermatricians - that was easy money for the insurance company!
i'm definitely rooting for colorado, but i think boston beats them. the difference in the series will be starting pitching, with colorado not quite able to match up against beckett/schilling/dice-k.
boston in 6.
I used to read the Times sports page religiously in the early 70s. I remember always seeing the "Shav Glick" byline on the racing stories and being intrigued by the name. Am I old if I have too many memories of what others might term a bygone era?
I don't know who's gonna win but Colorado has great D & there righty lefty power arms are very formidable I'm suspecting Francis will keep the BoSox off balance, I say the Rox win.
ps I'm sorry but Dice-K doesn't impress me much.
Such betting lines are for entertainment purposes only.
Doesn't the word "betting" bely the phrase "entertainment purposes only"...?
I see your logic WireRoom (makes sense) but if there young pitchers aren't intimidated by the big stage look out, they have electric stuff when there right. Manny Ramirez is probably the worst LF'd in the game today & I'd give the nod to Tulo over Lugo VERY EASILY.
Instead, Jon, in order to make money, has hired out his children to me in order to help clean my apartment.
They really haven't been doing a good job.
Boston caught the ball far more often than Colorado this year, though a lot of that can be attributed to park factors. I'd say they're about equal defensively, with Boston having a massively superior pitching staff.
at least I got one right, I picked the Rox to make it all the way.
Detroit has a very spacious outfield. It's 420 to center there and 370 and 365 in the power allies.
Think more in terms of World War I.
Manny had played pretty good this postseason too. Shortstop is very important in a series like this, and I can for sure see Tulowitski being a deciding factor over Lugo. If the Rockies can somehow get to Schilling or Beckett, they have a real good chance.
My favorite BB teams are the Dodgers and the Nats although my support for the Nationals is lukewarm.
I think Tyrod Taylor will be an excellent QB but he will take some licks this year. Hopefully he's ready for BC.
1. Delino!
2. Gary Carter
3. Carlos Perez
A friend of mine is going to go to a Red Sox bar in West LA to watch some of the World Series this week.
Hey, Red Sox bar? Where are the DODGER bars around LA?
Tim Wallach
John Wetteland
Roberto Kelly
Suppose we should include Pedro Martinez
126 Saw three games in the O. Loved the subway and the bilingual vendors. Mais souffle! Otherwise it was a travesty.
_126_it was like playing baseball in what they thought a spaceship would look like back in the 70s.
>>"This is an interesting team, because you've got a lot of older veterans, but then you've got a lot of youth. And you fear that you lose those guys [because of injuries], if you don't have success. Because you can talk about 'Hey, we're still in this thing' all you want, but you keep piling losses up, then it's tough to keep spirits up.
"Success lets people know, and particularly the youth in this locker room, that: 'Hey, we're all right."'<<
Derrel Thomas
Manny Mota
Ted Lilly (sort of)
Okay, I'll stop now.
How are you liking everything so far?
Go Ducks! UCLA's Rose Bowl chances depend upon USC losing another game.
Of course, I'm living the pipe dream that UCLA will win the next four straight games.
I felt like that when my youth baseball team went to San Francisco for a tournament & one of the other teams coaches invited us to Candlestick park.
I got to visit Montreal this past summer. Beautiful city, friendly people, great sports town. It's a shame what happened to baseball there.
I have to go to class...
144 Montreal is a great city! Used to play in a band and we traveled up there once.
It doesn't go over 100 there often. The city was not bustling with activity.
it is a dump! & there baseball teams aren't that good either cause we creamed all of them!!
Ron Fairly
Jim Fairey
Mudcat Grant
Ron Hunt
One of my first baseball caps was an original Expos design. Gaudy was huge in 1971.
The pipe dream is that UCLA beats Wazzu, UA, ASU, and Oregon and then loses to USC.
UCLA would finish 8-1 in the Pac-10 and then should have tiebreaker edges over all the other teams as long as USC loses one more game.
Backing in to the Rose Bowl is a UCLA tradition!
Which brings us back to "Doe".
Go Rox !!!
I don't know the Cincy farm system but it sure seems like Baker is gonna have an up hill battle over there.
Homer Bailey might be headed down the Mark Prior, Matt Clement and Kerry Wood path as well. How much influence do you guys think Joe Morgan had in Baker's hiring if any?
I just read it, who would the Dodgers give up to get Miguel Cabrera?? I'm thinking we're gonna have to settle for Beltre judging from Ken Gurnik, his contract ain't all that bad now a days.
His intolerance for rookie struggles are especially disgusting (read: Andy LaRoche).
LaRoche and Loney for Beltre.
Nomar at first, Beltre at third.
Problem solved.
Give that man (Ned) a contract extension!
as for nomar, he's currently the only player we have who can back up 1b.
I hope this is sarcastic.
Servers are hiccuping all over the Centennial State.
I wonder how come it took 25 hours for someone to realize that I had a misspelled word in a headline on the Griddle.
It's been fixed.
As of late, misspelled words have been right up your ally...
Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.