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About Jon
Thank You For Not ...

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

Southern California Fires
2007-10-23 06:11
by Jon Weisman

Are any of you, or your families, in jeopardy?

(Fire updates from the Times: As of this morning, 500,000 have been told to evacuate their homes.)

* * *

I noticed this in the morning but then forgot about it ... but you can read about it at Rob McMillin's 6-4-2. Ross Newhan in the Times reported on the promotion of the Angels' 29-year-old computer analyst Tory Hernandez from player performance analyst to manager of baseball operations.

"If our scouts are irreplaceable, Tory has been invaluable," former Angels general manager Bill Stoneman told Newhan. "Nothing will ever replace the human mind, but I don't know how we would operate without the computer."

Looking outside the window ... well, it does look like the end of the world, doesn't it ...

Comments (176)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2007-10-23 06:57:31
1.   Pepperdine
I'm a senior at Pepperdine, and on Sunday I got a call from my girlfriend at about 6:45 AM telling me about the Malibu fire. The school evacuated us all to the cafeteria or the basketball gym. The fire came onto campus but mostly just burned the brush on the edges of campus up in the hills. We had to stay in the caf for about 6 hours though, which was kind of annoying, but the school really took care of us.

One thing that was cool was since it was Sunday, and since Pepperdine is a Christian college, we had a worship service in the cafeteria. During the service you could see helicopters landing at a nearby lake and then taking off again to drop the water on the flames.

Next day I get a call from my parents in San Diego who had to evacuate our home. They spent most of the day at a high school down there and then got the all clear to come back. And my brother is at UCSD, so he's been affected too. It's been a crazy weekend for our family, but luckily everyone is ok.

2007-10-23 07:01:38
2.   Eric L
I'm on an unplanned two day vacation because of the winds. I guess power lines all over the place were knocked down, so the district decided to cancel school for 2 days.
2007-10-23 07:11:04
3.   gpellamjr
My mother and stepfather who live in Crestline were forced to evacuate. Now she's staying with my sister so that they can concoct more evil together.

1 I have a friend who works at Pepperdine, I didn't realize that the fire had made it to the campus. I'll have to call her.

2007-10-23 07:27:51
4.   Disabled List
I have vivid memories of the Topanga fire in 1993, and how close my cousins came to losing their homes. My best thoughts to everyone who's affected by these wildfires, which unfortunately seem to occur with increasing regularity.
2007-10-23 07:33:45
5.   Slikk
Jon, I'd consider holding them back. The ashes and smoke travel a long way in my experience.
2007-10-23 07:39:11
6.   Jon Weisman
5 - We called. They said you can smell the smoke, but looks like its full speed ahead, for better or worse.
2007-10-23 08:16:59
7.   Xeifrank
Now that the Nightsky fire is out, we are out of danger. The smoke is terrible here as there are three or four fires sending plumes of smoke and ash this way. My softball game will likely be cancelled this evening due to smoke. Stay safe everyone, keep the kids indoors if you have smoke.
vr, Xei
2007-10-23 08:47:37
8.   Bumsrap
I wonder if Daryl Strawberry will post a comment?
2007-10-23 08:54:12
9.   wireroom
8 Why would Daryl Strawberry post a comment?
2007-10-23 08:54:42
10.   Marty
I still am amazed there are no fires in my local foothills.
2007-10-23 08:57:02
11.   Bob Timmermann
9
We all forget 1992.
2007-10-23 09:18:03
12.   paranoidandroid
Antelope Valley has been spared so far. Acton schools were closed yesterday, still twenty miles away from us. Air quality up here is decent compared to the rest of LA County. High winds are an issue though.

I coach cross country, will monitor holding practice today and tomorrow, have a meet on Thursday. Last Tue and Wed had to cancel just due to dust and gusts up to 50 mph. Now with smoke an issue, we'll have to watch for reports of air quality issues as mentioned before. Like Ned, I see what I see and don't necessarily need statistics to make decisions.

Hope everyone else is doing as well as can be expected. I have relatives in Santa Clarita and in San Diego. Also in Camarillo, not too far from Fillmore. I haven't heard from anyone yet, hope they are okay. This is some scary stuff.

2007-10-23 09:20:42
13.   Xeifrank
12. are we related. :) Just lots of smoke and ash from the Fillmore fire. vr, Xei
2007-10-23 09:26:20
14.   paranoidandroid
Related? I'm confused. Do you teach?
2007-10-23 09:28:40
15.   regfairfield
I can confirm that going running today is a really dumb idea.
2007-10-23 09:31:48
16.   JWilder
I do not post here much, but I just wanted to say I hope everyone and their families in the line of fire is safe.
2007-10-23 09:37:56
17.   paranoidandroid
13 I am guessing you live in Camarillo. I also have relatives in Ventura and near Santa Barbara, but they seem to be safe from the looks of the news reports.
2007-10-23 10:01:10
18.   Bob Timmermann
South Pasadena is always the city that the Santa Ana winds forget. Because of the shape of the canyons, the Santa Anas get blocked before they hit here.

The only time it gets windy in my neck of the woods is if the wind kicks in off of the ocean and blows northward. That happens maybe one or two days a year. It's quite a switch from where I grew up: Granada Hills.

2007-10-23 10:05:04
19.   scareduck
Mandatory evacuation in Fallbrook, so my uncle and aunt are staying at their downtown San Diego apartment. We'll see whether the house he and my father grew up in survived the fire.
2007-10-23 10:09:20
20.   kinbote
i spent the first 18 years of my life in venice, so my thoughts go out to everyone affected. i wonder what the view from the getty looks like.
2007-10-23 10:17:53
21.   dzzrtRatt
Good luck to everyone in a fire zones.
2007-10-23 10:23:20
23.   fanerman
Good luck to everybody, too. My family is in Whittier, which seems to be okay right now.
2007-10-23 10:24:47
24.   DodgerBlueBruce
3 Hope all is well in Crestline. I used to frequent the Bear Claw Saloon up there when I lived in San Bernardino. Friendly folks. Even if they did call me "flatlander" since I lived at the bottom of the mountain.
bigbearscanner.com has a live feed of firefighting efforts.
2007-10-23 10:26:13
25.   Bluebleeder87
18

S. Pasadena is beautiful (Pasadena is beautiful period) do you live near old town Bob? or are you relatively far.

2007-10-23 10:28:22
26.   Bob Timmermann
South Pasadena is not Pasadena. It's like Pasadena, but it's south of there.

Old Pasadena has lots of places to shop and dine. South Pasadena has cute antique stores and an ice cream fountain.

And a deserted movie theater.

2007-10-23 10:28:26
27.   Bluebleeder87
Good luck to everybody & be safe.
2007-10-23 10:28:31
28.   Jon Weisman
22. Marty
Please excuse the language, but I liked this quote about the Cubs from Sam Zell:

"Maybe (the Cubs) is a business, " he said. "But it's not a business I understand. So I think I'll pass it on to someone who understands it as a business or to someone who gets enough psychic income that they don't give a ...."

2007-10-23 10:34:43
29.   sporky
I'm a few miles south of the Santiago Fires, and it's just dusty/smoky. May your problems be as trivial as mine.
2007-10-23 10:42:22
30.   Xeifrank
My friend works for the National Weather Service, he sent me this sattellite imagery link of southern California and the coastal waters, which gives you a good idea of how much smoke and how many fires are out there.
http://tinyurl.com/yqnmmj
(SFW)
vr, Xei
2007-10-23 10:46:16
31.   Gagne55
I'm in San Luis Obispo right now so I'm safe. But my family lives in Newbury Park which from what I've been told is just smokey from fires in Moorpark. My prayers go out to all the people around the fires.
2007-10-23 10:52:44
32.   LogikReader
Before I visited DT today I was hoping Jon would post about the SoCal fires ravaging much of San Diego, Orange County, and Malibu.

Thank you so much Jon for your concern for all of us here. My thoughts are with everyone and their families out here in California having to deal with the smoke, ash, and fire.

As for me, I am fine and here in Santa Barbara, we are getting a fair share of ash but it's very mild, and I can even see blue in the sky.

My family is in Oxnard and I understand they are ok. My pop works in Simi Valley so I'm sure conditions are similar to Moorpark.

My concern right now is for family that lives in Palmdale. They must be getting quite the brunt of the ash, plus they must be locked in due to the Santa Clarita fires that block their passage along the 14 and 5.

Is that true, for those who live in the Antelope Valley?

2007-10-23 10:53:54
33.   jasonungar07
I work in Foothill Ranch. The fire is in Foothill Ranch. I can see it out my window. (smoke going crazy; no flames) It's a few miles away. Yeserday I was told to go home at 8:15 AM. Be safe everyone...
2007-10-23 10:54:23
34.   Greg Brock
Best wishes to everybody affected.

Was everybody's car covered in soot yesterday/today?

2007-10-23 10:54:37
35.   Howard Fox
we live in Moorpark...on Sunday we were watching flames 2 miles to the south of us, dark smoke filling the sky to the north, west and east of us...

now we just have 70 mile an hour winds, thick soot on everything, trees broken, but so far the fires are passing us by...unlike last December when they came right up to our property line...

and now they are forecasting rain over the weekend....

2007-10-23 10:55:39
36.   Bluebleeder87
30

it just looks like a big white cloud XeiFrank! What does your machine think about the BoSox versus the Colorado Rockies?

2007-10-23 10:56:26
37.   LogikReader
I just hope that none of you or your families lose your homes or any of your valuable posessions. I hope you all are safe and I hope that the fires will eventually extinguish in enough time. Baseball is just a game; fire is a reality :(
2007-10-23 10:56:49
38.   fanerman
30 Thanks for the link.
2007-10-23 11:03:53
39.   Howard Fox
the only valuable possessions are life and limb
2007-10-23 11:06:34
40.   Bluebleeder87
oops, I needed to move my curser a little to notice the fires, thanks (it's a very big imagine) I really hope everybody is safe, hopefully Enders is doing o.k. as well he lives in S.D. if I remember correctly.
2007-10-23 11:18:05
41.   Xeifrank
35. That fire was between you and me. Probably a mile or two closer to you, but all the smoke and ash was headed our way. It was like a fog bank of smoke on sunday, never seen anything like it. And with all the trees down from the wind, it was a real eery feeling.

36. Game #1 odds are posted.

vr, Xei

2007-10-23 11:31:52
42.   paranoidandroid
32 No problems here in Palmdale. We are fine right now. Wind is blowing away from us at the moment. We can see smoke and the air quality is pretty good considering. Our kids are outside for PE today if that indicates anything.
2007-10-23 11:36:16
43.   rockmrete
A trade is highly unlikely anyway with so many questions about Rolen's shoulder. The 32-year-old third baseman is owed $35.4 million over the next three years...

per Rotoworld

With LaRussa coming back, Rolen can't be too happy. Pierre's money, and Rolen's match somewhat, plus they could use a CF.

2007-10-23 11:43:22
44.   LogikReader
42

Glad everything is ok... How would you get into LA if the Santa Clarita fire creeped into the 14 and 5?

2007-10-23 11:52:29
45.   paranoidandroid
44 Angeles Crest Highway, Sierra Highway are options. However, if a fire crept up, we would go south, we'd go north and/or east to get out of it's path. I imagine your family up here is okay.
2007-10-23 12:04:50
46.   paranoidandroid
I meant to write "we wouldn't go south", not "we would". That is assuming the fire came up here from the south of course.
2007-10-23 12:09:26
47.   trainwreck
Wish you all the best and hope everyone is doing well.

I can remember when I was in Santa Barbara and there was ash everywhere. I was definitely not used to seeing anything like that.

2007-10-23 12:39:05
48.   LogikReader
Up in the SB area, firefighters fought the Zaca fire for 2 months! I hope it won't take that long for these fires.
2007-10-23 12:54:21
49.   underdog
Man, I know, Logik! My stepdad kept telling me about that one. It was like the Springfield Tire Fire (except, worse and real).

I hope I-5 Isn't affected - I'm supposed to drive down to LA on Sunday AM. (Hey, did I tell you guys I'm taking the train from LA to Texas and Nawlins for a research project I'm doing? That should be interesting.)

2007-10-23 13:00:43
50.   Jim Hitchcock
On a related subject, am I the only one who hopes Beckett gets lit up tomorrow night?
Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2007-10-23 13:02:35
51.   silverwidow
50 No.
2007-10-23 13:07:40
52.   goofus
43 Don't be too surprised S.F.B. gave Pierre a No-Trade Clause...
2007-10-23 13:08:21
53.   D4P
50
Let's hope the mountains of California aren't the only ones en fuego...
2007-10-23 13:10:48
54.   Jim Hitchcock
Beckett kinda got my goat with that Kenny Lofton nonsense.
2007-10-23 13:13:54
55.   Dodgers49
Per Diamond Leung:

Shortstop Chin-lung Hu left after one inning in an Arizona Fall League game today due to right hamstring soreness, according to Baseball America.

2007-10-23 13:14:19
56.   Xeifrank
48. There is some question as to whether or not they really "fought" that fire. They pretty much let it burn except for when it approached Rancho Osos in the first week and the Matilija area near the end of the fire. Their philosophy was to just let it burn since it wasn't threatening any structures. Meanwhile, we had terrible air quality for more than a month plus all the mudslide/runoff problems when/if we get rain this winter. vr, Xei
2007-10-23 13:27:12
57.   underdog
Mudslides or no, I hope they're right that this will be a wet winter - hopefully one with, say, a day of rain and then a few days of sunshine, give the earth a break but some moisture is critical in SoCal this winter.

Meanwhile, no one asked my opinion, and I'm rooting for the Rockies, but my prediction is RedSox in 6 games.

2007-10-23 13:38:14
58.   Howard Fox
Rockies in 5. And they beat Beckett twice.
2007-10-23 13:42:36
59.   Jim Hitchcock
There ya go, Howard.
2007-10-23 13:43:17
60.   D4P
I'm looking for a Rockies sweep.
2007-10-23 13:44:21
61.   Kevin Lewis
50

I would love to see that.

54

What remark?

2007-10-23 13:46:58
62.   Strike4
Both my mother and my brother's family were evacuated from Fallbrook (North SD County) yesterday along with the entire town. The family is camping at my nephew's place in Murrietta for now. Their fire is entering the Fallbrook village from the east, has consumed a number of homes already, and is less than two miles from theirs. Apparently it's not as windy today so there's hope. The local paper is monitoring fire personnel radio traffic and has frequent updates... http://www.thevillagenews.com/

Thanks for your concerns, and mine goes out to all affected too.

2007-10-23 13:54:43
63.   Jim Hitchcock
54 Lofton dropped his bat at the plate on what he thought was ball four. Beckett got on Lofton about it, benches emptied, home plate ump did a terrific job of restoring order.
2007-10-23 13:58:10
64.   wireroom
49 good luck on that train trip man. I have taken that route before and there are a lot of delay's, but if it one thing, itis interesting. what kind of research project is it?
2007-10-23 13:58:22
65.   scareduck
57 - wet winter? Everything I've read indicates this will be an unusually dry winter, with a La Niña condition in effect.
2007-10-23 14:02:14
66.   Howard Fox
500 homes in Fallbrook

1300 homes in San Diego

...so far

2007-10-23 14:04:27
67.   Dodgers49
After Haunting Loss, U.S. Fires Women's Coach

>> The decision by United States Coach Greg Ryan to start Briana Scurry in goal against Brazil in last month's Women's World Cup left him on a high wire with no safety net. <<

http://tinyurl.com/2rfuta

2007-10-23 14:06:45
68.   LogikReader
Is Orange County getting any of the ash from the San Diego Fires?

Actually I understand Orange County has some fires of its own. Air quality must not be at its best any place along the OC.

2007-10-23 14:11:25
69.   Howard Fox
the OC has some of the larger fires in the greater LA area
2007-10-23 14:15:13
70.   scareduck
68 - cough, cough -- yes. Why do you ask?
2007-10-23 14:26:49
71.   Xeifrank
65. It may indeed be a drier than normal winter, but carrying over our love of baseball statistics to weather statistics we see that anything indeed can happen. vr, Xei

Myth 6: El Niño means disastrous flooding for California. Occasionally, but it is just as likely that California will have significant flooding in a non-El Niño year. Of the 10 costliest flood years in California since 1950, only four happened during a time when there was an El Niño. Two others occurred during seasons with La Niña, and the final four were when the temperature of the tropical Pacific was near normal.

2007-10-23 14:38:00
72.   Kevin Lewis
63

I wish I had seen that. I mean if you are going to complain about that, than the catcher should be allowed to tackle Manny any time he treats a first inning homer like a walk off.

It seems like a the home plate umps in the last few games have been giving quite a wide strike zone...of course, that is assuming we can trust the strike zone guide on tv, which I am skeptical about.

2007-10-23 14:43:59
73.   Howard Fox
the strike zone always seems wider during the playoffs, at least to me it does
2007-10-23 15:10:39
74.   underdog
64 Thanks! For a screenplay project of my own, and another person's novel believe it or not! I actually did it once before, too, and it wasn't too bad (fingers crossed) but I'm not too impatient. It won't be the Darjeeling Ltd. either.

67 Only a few months too late. I wonder what this means for Hope Solo...

2007-10-23 15:11:31
75.   underdog
71 I thought they were predicting a La Nina year? (Or is that El Nina? My Spanish is terrible these days.)
2007-10-23 15:18:40
76.   Xeifrank
75. Yes, they are. Or it currently already is. "With the exception of the strongly positive rainfall anomaly in Southern California during strong El Niños the presence of either El Niño or La Niña is not a guarantee of either a significantly wet or dry year in California." - http://ggweather.com/enso/calenso.htm

vr, Xei

2007-10-23 15:24:05
77.   trainwreck
74
Hope Solo will probably stay.

May she please stay.

2007-10-23 15:26:57
78.   underdog
77 If not, there's always a space for her on my team!
2007-10-23 15:27:31
79.   Jon Weisman
Anyone watch "Cane"?

http://weblogs.variety.com/season_pass/2007/10/wanted-readers-.html

2007-10-23 15:30:50
80.   Hallux Valgus
77 she was on the roster for the Mexico friendly. From what I understand, some of the other players were more of a problem than Ryan with regards to accepting her back on the team.
2007-10-23 15:48:05
81.   KG16
68 - depends on where you're at. I'm in North Orange County (not too far from Angel Stadium) and we're getting more smoke from the fire in Ontario. Though I do see smoke haze in every direction but west.
2007-10-23 15:51:36
82.   Dodgers49
Boras Says He's Not Ready to Talk About Money Yet

>> Neither side accepts the other's premise. Boras does not seem to believe that the Yankees will remove themselves from negotiations if Rodriguez opts out of his contract and becomes a free agent. The Yankees are highly dubious that Boras can find a more lucrative contract than the one they plan to offer. <<

http://tinyurl.com/2v895q

2007-10-23 16:03:51
83.   dzzrtRatt
79 Does "Mondo Cane" count?

How about "The Caine Mutiny?"

"Cane" is one of those shows you just know will be bad. I've just never picked up a box and sugar and been curious about the dirty deals behind it. "Corn" maybe, but not sugar.

But your mentioning it reminds me of a famous story from the PR world. Burson-Marsteller tried to class up its name by hiring former JFK press secretary and ABC News correspondent Pierre Salinger as a kind of well-known face for its public affairs practice. The idea was Salinger would bring in clients by virtue of all his contacts and his reputation.

At the time, Bacardi Rum was a well-paying Burson client going back decades, a mainstay of the firm's revenues all over the world.

Salinger is gives a speech about foreign affairs and at the end of it, he's asked by a member of the audience if he thinks the U.S. will ever recognize Castro's Cuba and drop the embargo. Salinger says yes, he thinks that will happen.

Turns out, this is the worst thing you can say to anybody in the Bacardi family. They hate Castro. Officers in the firm worked with the CIA to have him killed. They are major funders of the Cuban exile community, and have a major lobbying presence in Washington to make sure the embargo is only expanded, not lifted.

Salinger's remarks were casual musings, not some strong stand he wanted to be associated with. But before the day was over, Bacardi fired Burson.

Tell me that "Cane" covers that kind of stuff and I might be interested.

2007-10-23 16:04:40
84.   capdodger
My aunt and uncle are guarding thier house in Fallbrook. Pump in the pool, hoses at the ready. We'll see what happens with Rice Canyon.

My grandmother and grandfather left Rancho Bernardo yesterday for downtown SD. We think the Witch fire just missed them by one exit or so.

2007-10-23 16:14:43
85.   Jon Weisman
83 - Yeah, that's it exactly!

Actually, I haven't watched since the pilot.

2007-10-23 16:18:47
86.   Howard Fox
Jon, you must have young kids. That is the only explanation for the fact that you watch so much TV. Either that, or you are paid by Nielson.
2007-10-23 16:21:50
87.   Gagne55
40 I believe that Enders lives in Cooperstown actually. So he should be safe.
2007-10-23 16:24:42
88.   Jon Weisman
86 - Well, my young kids don't watch the shows I talk about here. But a) I like many TV shows and b) I work for Variety.

87 - Enders now lives in Texas, but Bluebleeder is thinking of Eric Stephen.

2007-10-23 16:35:43
89.   Linkmeister
A blogger is reminded of Joan Didion's essay on Santa Ana winds.

http://www.talkleft.com/story/2007/10/22/214440/52

2007-10-23 16:38:58
90.   Marty
I still don't believe Eric Stephens really exists and I was talking to some imposter at the DT game.
2007-10-23 16:40:23
91.   Howard Fox
88 my meaning was not that the kids were watching, but with young kids you are home alot...alot of TV goes with the territory
2007-10-23 16:42:14
92.   dzzrtRatt
89 Joan Didion would be the richest woman on the planet if she got a dollar for every scribe that quotes her whenever there's a Santa Ana wind. Not to mention Joan Didion quoting Raymond Chandler on the same subject.
2007-10-23 16:45:23
93.   Jim Hitchcock
I've always thought the Santa Ana winds should be renamed for Santa Anna.
2007-10-23 16:48:50
94.   Linkmeister
92 Agreed, but it's still a lovely piece of writing.

We have a copy of "The Year of Magical Thinking," but I haven't read it yet.

2007-10-23 16:50:39
95.   underdog
93 Or Santana.
2007-10-23 16:51:00
96.   Marty
I can't imagine a 14-day Santa Ana like what happened in 1957 (when I was 2).
2007-10-23 17:00:42
97.   bhsportsguy
On occasion, Bill Simmons does make me laugh and today is one of those occasions. His opening words in today's Page 2 column:

Here's the thing: Unless you watched J.D. Drew for the entire 2007 season, you can't possibly comprehend how astounding this was. I write about sports for a living. When I'm watching a game, I have trained myself to look for every possible angle and every conceivable scenario. I am thinking about potential jokes, observations, column angles and everything else. I am prepared for everything. I am a trained professional at watching sports and eventually translating my feelings into words.

So believe me when I tell you this ... from the time Drew walked up to home plate to the time that ball landed in the center-field stands, I never even considered the possibility of a grand slam.

http://tinyurl.com/2pjsta

2007-10-23 17:03:43
98.   dzzrtRatt
94 Oh, no question. She's great and that book (Slouching Toward Bethlehem) is her best.

"The Year of Magical Thinking" is brilliant, actually. Probably her best book in a good long while. I'm probably biased, since I've been through this experience, but she captures it with her usual obsessive precision.

Like William Styron's book on depression, "Darkness Visible," Didion's book will be something people will give other people after their spouse dies. It will help a lot of people to know that, yes, they're going crazy, but they won't be crazy forever.

2007-10-23 17:06:45
99.   Bob Timmermann
I move that we call the winds "chinooks" or "fohns" instead.
2007-10-23 17:09:13
100.   dzzrtRatt
Or how about Schnooks?
Show/Hide Comments 101-150
2007-10-23 17:15:17
101.   Johnson
97 That's funny, because I was pondering the possibility of a Drew slam (leading, of course, to a newfound heroship with Red Sox fans) before Drew even came to bat.
2007-10-23 17:23:38
102.   bhsportsguy
While I really (really) do not want to open this up anymore, just for those who wondered about this, A Martinez just confirmed that yes, Jeff Kent knew exactly what he was doing when he spoke up that day (that is he knew he had just secured his 2009 option).

Now go on to much more important concerns.

2007-10-23 17:26:22
103.   D4P
Was JD's slam enough to earn him (Red Sox corollary of True Yankee) status...?
2007-10-23 17:29:21
104.   Marty
I just saw a sports blog named "Lord, Beer Me Strength"
2007-10-23 17:31:10
105.   still bevens
102 A fine display of leadership. Kudos to you, Jeff Kent. If we're lucky he can stay around for next season and try to fight Matt Kemp in the dugout like Barry Bonds in 02.
2007-10-23 17:43:26
106.   JJ42
I was on my way back from LA and stopped by Irvine to visit my parents on Sunday. They live off of Sand Canyon and so we had a direct line of sight of the fire. Needless to say, I decided to stay with them overnight as a safeguard. I live in SD but my work called me to say the office in downtown SD was closed on Monday. I drove down to SD this morning and the sky was like a scene out of Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome.

When I did get to downtown SD, it was like a normal day though. I even saw one of the doubledecker tour buses with tourists taking pictures.

2007-10-23 17:44:12
107.   dzzrtRatt
102 How can A Martinez confirm what Jeff Kent "knew?"

Not that I disagree with the speculation, but I'm just curious about the sourcing since I haven't heard the broadcast.

2007-10-23 17:44:15
108.   Jacob L
I not only pondered the Drew slam, I debated with my dad right before the pitch he hit, with my dad insisting Drew would take all the way, and my saying that he'd take a shot to drive a pitch if he could.

Perhaps Simmons could have seen it coming, too, if his "every possible angle" extended beyond Drew's admittedly crummy year in Boston.

2007-10-23 17:56:25
109.   El Lay Dave
30 Thanks for the cool link. There are other interesting images there too, including a more recent one acquired this morning (marked 10/23, of course):
http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/

18 Bob can rest assured that it is still very windy in the north San Fernando Valley where I live.

We are thankfully generally unaffected by the fires this time. Like so many, though, we do know people in some of the evacuated areas. Our thoughts go out to all who are affected.

2007-10-23 17:59:01
110.   bhsportsguy
105 A Martinez (who was there all year) said that the real problem was not that everyone did know that the team was going through a youth movement, they all knew that. And it was not that they didn't recognize the talent or that the kids should be playing. It was the inexplicable lineups and something else, I'll touch on in my closing thought.

There were two problems according to Martinez, management let the kids do whatever they wanted because that was the direction they were heading and that the older players felt like what the heck am I doing here if we are not going to try and win now.

I'll close with this thought, everyone in the Dodger clubhouse could learn something from what I gathered from what Tulo said a few weeks ago. Just respect each other, doesn't mean you have to be a pal or hang out after games, all you have to do is just respect each other and I think it will be a step in the right direction.

2007-10-23 18:02:16
111.   bhsportsguy
109 What if Juan Pierre was up for the Dodgers in that situation.
2007-10-23 18:14:45
112.   El Lay Dave
107 One might guess that A was there when the Kent remarks were made and that earlier in that same session he was asked something about his option becoming vested.
2007-10-23 18:18:26
113.   still bevens
I just dont know what the younger guys were doing that made everyone freak out? Are they just all jerks or something?
2007-10-23 18:20:20
114.   D4P
what the heck am I doing here if we are not going to try and win now

Yeah. If we were trying to win now, Nomar would have been starting at first, Olmedo at third, LuGo in left, Sweeney in right, and Liebs behind the plate.

2007-10-23 18:31:30
115.   El Lay Dave
114 Not quite. By trading some of the kid prospects at the deadline, the acquired PVLs would have been starting alongside, Kent, Gonzo, Nomar and the gang - say, Jermaine Dye in RF and Eric Chavez at 3B. Never forget what Derek Lowe said when the deadline passed about what the kids were for.
2007-10-23 18:47:57
116.   D4P
Our veterans appear to overestimate the "commitment" the team ought to show them. The team shows commitment to Kent, Lowe, etc. by paying them exorbitant amounts of money relative to what most of the rest of the world makes. That's it. Beyond that, the team looks out for its own best interest, which may or may not coincide with that of the players.

When it comes free agent time, I don't know many veterans who show "loyalty" to their teams. As a result, I don't see why the vets expect loyalty from their teams.

2007-10-23 18:49:43
117.   Bluebleeder87
Meanwhile, no one asked my opinion, and I'm rooting for the Rockies, but my prediction is RedSox in 6 games.

I'm recking your right underdog, but IF there young pitchers perform well/& or are not intimidated by the big stage I'm thinking they will surprised a lot of us. The first game will be very telling in my opinion.

2007-10-23 19:25:15
118.   KG16
111 - pinch hit for him
2007-10-23 19:25:39
119.   scareduck
Got a call from my uncle about an hour ago. He's burned out, probably the whole subdivision, too. If I remember right, they NEVER had brush anywhere close to their house; just goes to show what 70-90 MPH winds can do combined with fire.
2007-10-23 19:27:25
120.   Bob Timmermann
119
Nature is often very cruel.

And often unstoppable.

I'm sorry to hear about that.

2007-10-23 19:30:32
121.   scareduck
120 - they're pretty shaken up, but on the other hand, they were talking about remodeling anyway. I think this changes the scope of what they plan on doing.
2007-10-23 19:31:45
122.   dzzrtRatt
119 Oh man. That's horrible. Sorry to hear about that.
2007-10-23 19:35:02
123.   scareduck
122 - the irreplaceable stuff (i.e., my uncle and aunt) were in San Diego. He was upset because he had cords of olive wood that he got from a grove at one time owned by Frank Capra, after they cleared it to make new subdivisions. He was going to use it for the floor in the remodel. Guess that's gone.
2007-10-23 19:42:17
124.   El Lay Dave
119 et al.

Ouch. (Not a strong enough word, but it will have to do.) That is a tough blow - glad they are physically okay.

We humans can be pretty puny in face of the full force of nature.

2007-10-23 19:43:38
125.   Bluebleeder87
119

Sorry to hear that ScareDuck.

2007-10-23 19:45:53
126.   Hallux Valgus
I have a cousin and an aunt/uncle who have been evacuated. Both managed to get their valuables out, and both understand the real value of sentimental artifacts, like pictures. The cousin is staying with me. My entire family is satisfied (thus far- we have lots in fire affected areas).
2007-10-23 19:54:00
127.   bhsportsguy
123 Sorry to hear that.
2007-10-23 19:54:10
128.   scareduck
126 - glad to hear it.
2007-10-23 19:54:41
129.   bhsportsguy
{127] And that is directed by all of you who have been affected by the fires.
2007-10-23 20:10:27
130.   rockmrete
A said he hung out with the older players all year and so his information is first hand. He also sides with the Vets.

I didn't think much of A before, and now it's even less.

2007-10-23 20:14:58
131.   rockmrete
To his credit Steve Mason argued as though he was a regular here on DT, and when he asked A direct questions about the kids outplaying the Vets the best he could come up with was past expirence made them the most logical choice to start baseball games.
2007-10-23 21:14:14
132.   bhsportsguy
This is not a good comparison at all but just as an illustration.

There have been a few articles this week about Kevin Love, incoming freshman center/forward at UCLA and how he has a new friend since he came down to Los Angeles. This is an excerpt of one of them that is on ESPN.com

[Kevin] Love said he fell in love with UCLA as soon as he sat down with Wooden.

"That was one of the main reasons I came here," said Love, who played at Lake Oswego High in Oregon. "I know coach Howland knows how to win, but ... I got to sit down with coach Wooden for an hour and ... I call him every now and then and get to visit with him. The history here is a big deal to me."

How many 18- or 19-year-olds search out the elderly for advice? But Love didn't just stop with his initial recruiting talk with Wooden. He continued to call him, about once a month initially, and it has picked up ever since Love arrived in L.A. over the summer.

Love wants to hear every story. He wants to know about the work ethic of Walton and Alcindor. He has asked Wooden about his famed Pyramid of Success, too.

Steve Mason's point was that some of the veterans were having a crummy season so they lost their credibility to the younger guys who were doing better, A Martinez's point is that they should have at least recognized that these guys have been successful for a long time and that they might have something relevant to say.

Now Kevin Love (whose first game might now be the most anticipated event in Westwood for me since "Return of the Jedi" opened up at the Avco back in 1983) is saying the right things and may truly be the exception but it is refreshing to hear someone think that someone who did something before they got there might actually have something to say and that they want to listen to it.

2007-10-23 21:42:16
133.   underdog
117 Oh I wouldn't be surprised if the Rockies won, not at all. It made me laugh to hear ESPN ask the "rhetorical" question tonight, "Will it be a series sweep for the Red Sox?" Chortle. But still if I had to place a bet, which I don't...

And yes, sorry to all of you who have family or friends hit by the fires. It's awful. I really hope things die down soon.

2007-10-23 21:42:21
134.   Vishal
this fire stuff is so utterly depressing. i hope people's kith and kin are as okay as they can be. :/
2007-10-23 22:24:23
135.   Greg Brock
119 I'm terribly sorry to hear that. This entire situation is horrible.
2007-10-23 23:43:41
136.   underdog
The episode of MASH on TVLand right now - which I'd never seen before - centers around the Dodgers in 1951, and the fateful end to that season. It's fun, even if it makes no sense (takes place over the course of one year, 1951, even though all the actors look like they'd been in Korea for, well, eight years.)
2007-10-24 01:16:48
137.   trainwreck
Once again I want to wish a safe home stand for my fellow DT followers.

BTW, UCLA is going to hang banner number 12 this year,.

2007-10-24 01:39:46
138.   evenatriple
Lurker and occasional poster here, working late, and hoping everyone is safe from fire.

Questions I've had for a while that Jon's post brought up:

Do the Dodgers have a stats guy on board like the Angels apparently have, and like many other teams have?

Did Depo do his own statistical analysis, or did he bring someone in to handle that part of the job when he was GM?

If anyone knows the answer to these questions, I would be very interested. Thanks

2007-10-24 01:43:50
139.   King of the Hobos
My family was under mandatory evacuation yesterday for the Buckweed fire through northern Santa Clarita, though they're back now and everything is fine. I'm also back home for the week, after being smoked out of school in San Diego.

I wish the best of luck to all DTers, and their friends and family.

2007-10-24 06:13:56
140.   D4P
Meanwhile, the weather page for Durham is saying that the city has 65 days of water left.

It's actually raining a little bit right now, and may rain off and on for the next few days.

2007-10-24 07:01:29
141.   JoeyP
management let the kids do whatever they wanted

Except play ahead of veterans....

2007-10-24 07:22:42
142.   Ken Noe
102 I assume this means that the retirement watch is over. He'll want his money. Does the "trade me to a contender" option remain open?
2007-10-24 08:43:45
143.   Marty
Sorry to hear that Rob. I had an Aunt who lost her house in the Altadena fire of 1993. It was very tough on her, so I'm sure your uncle is going through some tough times now. My sympathies.
2007-10-24 08:48:36
144.   LogikReader
Can the Rockies win the WS (in 10,000 words or less)?

Let's break down the OPS numbers for players during this postseason, position by position.

C

Varitek: .845
Torrealba: .761

Advantage Red Sox

1B

Youkilis: 1.504
Helton: .508

Advantage Red Sox

2B

Pedroia: .958
Matsui: .513

Advantage Red Sox

3B

Lowell: .894
Atkins: .393
Carroll: .500

Advantage Red Sox

SS

Lugo: .511
Tulowitzki: .423

Advantage Red Sox

OF

Ramirez: 1.290
Holiday: 1.145
Spilborghs: 1.000
Drew: .905
Kielty: .900
Hawpe: .863
Elsbury: .583
Crisp: .333

Advantage Rockies

I don't think it will take much research to concede that the Red Sox have a superior starting rotation. Beckett alone gives the Red Sox the edge.

If the Rockies are going to win, their relief corps will have to be on their A-game and then some. The outfielders seem to be their bright spot on offense, so they will have to play out of their minds. If the Rockies are smart enough to take a lot of pitches, it could be more competitive.

-- but on paper, this looks like a Red Sox Sweep.

2007-10-24 08:56:51
145.   regfairfield
That's all based on very small sample size. While the Red Sox are pretty clearly the better team, statements like Julio Lugo is better than Troy Tulowitzki are just flat out wrong.

Though it is fairly amazing that the Rockies keep winning with only Holliday and Hawpe hitting. Just goes to show you what amazing performances from bad pitchers can do.

2007-10-24 09:14:09
146.   LogikReader
145

The "amazing performances by bad pitchers" also affirms that we have a "White Sox 2005" team on our hands. Hence, no need to worry about the Rockies dominating the West next year.

2007-10-24 09:18:08
147.   Bob Timmermann
But by what standard is Julio Lugo better than Troy Tulowitzki?

A ten game OPS that is not very good that is better than a seven game OPS?

In that case, I declare Brian Doyle to be the greatest second baseman of 1978!

2007-10-24 09:20:40
148.   regfairfield
146 I wasn't. I'm taking them a bit more seriously now but I still think they're a worse team than the Diamondbacks and the Dodgers heading into next year.
2007-10-24 09:25:53
149.   LogikReader
Right, I doubt you were, but there was talk along those lines about two weeks ago.

I don't really think Lugo is better than Tulo, but the stats simply reflect that Tulowitzki hasn't hit as well in the postseason. It's really so close you can't realistically pick one over the other, so my mistake is duly noted.

Who's Brian Doyle?

2007-10-24 09:26:21
150.   LogikReader
ok I take that back too... of course you can pick Tulo over Lugo. Second mistake duly noted.
Show/Hide Comments 151-200
2007-10-24 09:28:43
151.   Bob Timmermann
Behold, the World Series magic of Brian Doyle:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/d/doylebr01.shtml

He was a 1970s version of the immortal George Rohe of the 1906 White Sox:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/rohege01.shtml

2007-10-24 09:32:20
152.   Jon Weisman
Rob, I want to pass along my best wishes to your family. I'm sorry for what happened.
2007-10-24 09:33:00
153.   Terry A
147 - And I... declare... bankruptcy!

(See, I didn't just say it; I declared it.)

2007-10-24 09:35:37
154.   Strike4
Here's a World Series quiz to get in the mood. Some easy Dodger questions plus a few toughies in it... http://sports.aol.com/sports-quiz
2007-10-24 09:48:46
155.   D4P
The latest ruse on the "Joe Chats" over at FJM has involved devious chatters baiting Joe with his own language (e.g. "concetrate", "consistency", etc.). It makes me chuckle.
2007-10-24 10:12:36
156.   Greg Brock
155 Either nobody at ESPN reads FJM (unlikely), or nobody has the heart to tell Joe. Of course, the same people who work at ESPN and are in a position to tell Joe about the JoeBaiting might be really enjoying this.
2007-10-24 10:21:35
157.   D4P
156
I've wondered about that too. I think they're just not telling him.
2007-10-24 10:29:31
158.   Bluebleeder87
153

that was just priceless! The whole episode (The Office) was just awesome.

2007-10-24 10:42:09
159.   silverwidow
158 I think the show will get much better now that it's back to 30 mins. The first four eps were nothing too special, imo.
2007-10-24 10:47:06
160.   capdodger
Sorry to hear that, Rob.

Were they on the west or east side of town? My aunt and uncle's lot backs up to MCBCP on the south side and I've yet to hear anything from them. They've also got a rock yard in Rainbow, but I think they're slightly less concerned about the stock there.

2007-10-24 10:53:37
161.   dzzrtRatt
It took just a week for the Rockies to go from the penthouse to the outhouse. And they haven't lost any games in that period.

I actually think this will be a good series and could be close. Despite the feel-good that the Sox engendered by their last three wins, the Indians took them to seven games with a team that to my eyes was no better than, and probably weaker than, the Sox.

The Sox pitching is superb. That's their main edge. But after Beckett, the starters are all capable of having lousy games.

I'm going to defy all the conventional Plaschkeite wisdom and call this series for the Rockies in five.

2007-10-24 10:57:35
162.   D4P
call this series for the Rockies in five

Maybe the Rockies pull a 2000-1 Lakers and lose the first game after a long layoff (their only loss of the playoffs), then win the next four.

2007-10-24 10:59:58
163.   Bob Timmermann
Plaschkeite wisdom

Cue Danny Thomas spit take!

2007-10-24 11:14:05
164.   ToyCannon
For the 1st time ever I will be rooting for the Rockies in any game, and openly against the Red Sox. If my brother Chris was dead he'd be turning over in his grave. Given how many times I've rooted for the Red Sox and had them lose now that I've switched sides they should win in a cakewalk.
2007-10-24 11:14:16
165.   StolenMonkey86
144 - Honestly I don't see postseason OPSes as a good basis for comparison. For that matter, I would point out that the Rockies pitchers have a much lower ERA than the Red Sox this postseason (I think the graph showed 2.18 for COL and 3.60 for BOS or something). Let's try it this way:

2007 Warp1

catcher
Tek - 5.5
Tor - 3.3

first base
Youk - 6.2
THelt - 8.6

second base
Ped - 5.7
Kaz - 4.3

third base
Lowell - 7.1
Atkins - 3.6

shortstop
Lugo - 0.1
Tulo - 8.3

left field
Manny - 4.8
Matt - 10.1

center field
coco - 5.7
willy - 3.7

right field
drew - 2.8
hawpe - 5.4

2007-10-24 11:18:39
166.   Daniel Zappala
Brian Doyle's 1978 World Series success enabled him to stick around for three more years, and have an OPS+ of -19 for Oakland in 1981. You can have a negative OPS+?
2007-10-24 11:25:52
167.   ToyCannon
I flew in Monday night from Northern California in a prop plane and saw the fires over Santa Clarita from several thousand feet. Around 1995 I read a book called "Earth" by David Brin http://tinyurl.com/2u8yze
in which many Southern California lives are lost in a Santa Ana driven fire after everyone kept building in the paths of historical fires. Seeing those fires from the sky reminded me of that book. Luckily loss of life has been minimal.

Scareduck, sorry to hear that your relatives lost their homes. I work in Sylmar and a good many employee's here have homes in Santa Clarita. Many of them were evacuated but so far none have lost a home.

2007-10-24 11:27:06
168.   regfairfield
161 I don't think something counts as "Plaschkeite wisdom" when people are predicting a win for team with by far the best third order winning percentage in baseball (103 wins versus 95.5 for the second best team, the Rockies had 90.1 third order wins).

The Red Sox showed that they are by far the best team in baseball this year and it's really short sighted to just assume anyone who picks the Sox is comparable to Plaschke.

2007-10-24 11:29:14
169.   still bevens
165 Theres lots of ins and outs that the Sox will be using when they play in an NL park. You have to consider the following:

1B
ortiz
helton

DH
spillborghs
ortiz

CF
ellsbury (coco banged up his knee)
willy t.

2007-10-24 11:36:06
170.   Bob Timmermann
166
I believe a collision between an OPS+ and a negative number is similar to a matter/antimatter collision.

This is why Brian Doyle doesn't play in the majors anymore.

2007-10-24 11:42:52
171.   D4P
after everyone kept building in the paths of historical fires

I've been wondering about this, but was hesitant to ask. Are the homes being burnt/threatened generally in areas known to be fire-prone...?

2007-10-24 11:45:41
172.   Jon Weisman
168 - Just because he's defying the Plaschkeite wisdom doesn't mean he's trashing everyone who picked the Red Sox.

Nonetheless, NPUT.

2007-10-24 11:54:02
173.   regfairfield
172 I just assume comparing anyone to Plaschke is meant to be insulting.
2007-10-24 11:56:54
174.   capdodger
171 When you cut a development onto a hillside surrounded by scrubby chaparral, I'd say that's a fire-prone area. Hence the 100' of defensible space law.
2007-10-24 12:02:35
175.   D4P
174
Are you saying that the people whose homes have burnt are partially responsible...?
2007-10-24 12:38:52
176.   scareduck
152 etc. - thanks. Their house used to be on a 100+ acre avocado/citrus ranch, but property prices moved up and fruit prices came under pressure from Mexican imports, so they had to subdivide. To my knowledge, they never had any concerns while it was a working farm because there were acres of well-tended, green trees between them and any chaparral. They still had kept the brush away from the house, but this time with development encroaching, there wasn't much that could be done once other houses got hit.

Their house actually burned to the ground and then some: it was built into the hillside, so not only did the structure burn down, but it burned into the basement, too.

2007-10-24 13:27:50
177.   capdodger
175
I'm not blaming anyone who's lost their home. If they're responsible, they have insurance to protect themselves. I'm just saying that building on scrub-covered hills increases risk of catastrophic loss due to wildfire in the same way that building below sea level increases risk of loss due to flood. The difference here is that fire is most likely covered.

Risk is. You can either accept that fact and CYA or ignore it and pray nothing bad happens. Hopefully, most who have lost had accepted that they lived in a fire-prone area by paying higher insurance premiums than would be paid on comperable property in a less burnable area. So long as they can't find a way to weasel out of it (send the state's T-800 in if they try), the insurers will pay out and these communities will rise from the ashes.

That said, there's no insurance against sadness except hope.

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