I hope he does not tell Kemp to run through the scoreboard.

Would you accept locker room credentials if offered to you Jon?

Lot 5 Parking?

By the way, don't we have two outfielders, a 1st baseman, a catcher AND two pitchers who fit into the same category? He dissed Broxton and Billingsley!

1

McCray: Juan, you're not running hard enough
Pierre: I'm the fastest guy on the team, Coach
McCray: But you're not running hard
Pierre: what should I do?
McCray: as you're running toward the fence, don't stop until you get to the parking lot
Pierre: Ok, then what?
McCray: keep going.

re: clip,
Does this mean Rowand is on the way?

also, it's strange, seeing that clip after watching The Natural over the weekend

Washington now leads by only 3 with 16:31 to play in the game.

1 Both Kemp and Loney have already tried that.

2 - I already have them through SI.com.

1 Kemp already tried that at the home opener.

To help Kemp practice sliding into home plate, I hear McCray's going to make the catcher dress like a trash can.

So does that mean we won't go after Andruw Jones? I'm still holding out hope that NedCo is trying to move Pierre to make room for A. Jones but maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part.

6
I hate the announcers for Washington and Arizona games. Huge homers and they constantly make mistakes when it comes to other team.

10

Perhaps Pierre's nickname for this season can be The Immovable Object.

11 - I don't expect much from local announcers anymore. It could be a lot worse, like when Long Beach gets a Big West game on FSN and it's two guys who don't even know what teams are in the conference. Or Jack Haley.

We're giving them a game, but this Dentman (sp?) kid is absolutely killing us.

I already have them through SI.com.

Why haven't we seen a Juan Pierre In depth-er yet? :)

13
I don't really blame commentators for being terrible at Big West games haha.

Yeah, looks like Dentman can hit the open shot this year.

9 That's hilarious!
They'll probably just put a cardboard cut out of Kent in the trashcan and put it in front of home plate.

15 - do not mock the Big West... there are a few programs that could be tormenting the big conferences come March, in a couple of years anyway.

61-61 and then Dentman has to make a great shot with two guys in his face.

17
I am a UCSB alum so I speak from experience.

18 - ah, my bad, I was thinking you were part of the Westwood contingent.

18
Westwood fan, but I went to UCSB.

Jon, by the time I got through all the comments on the last post you had moved on. My birthday is coming up in two weeks, and while 24 might not seem like a big deal, I am about 2 years out of college and I thought I would have more (something) figured out by now. Already my dreams of screenwriting seem far fetched, and the reality of bills and money is just tedious. Meanwhile, after 4 years of having most of my favorite people grouped tightly around campus, everyone has spread to the far corners of the globe and no one is keeping in touch all that well. You would think that a post about how you are still dealing with similar feelings at 40 would be a downer pointing out that there is no guarantees that anything will change, but I just feel comforted to know I am not the only one. It can get lonely trapped in here (my brain) all by myself, thanks for the company, commiseration and voice of reason here at Dodger Thoughts.

Man, am I late to this party. I just got done reading Jon's post after a long day. I'm sure many have already commented wisely--Jon's spirits are lifted and that's very good news. I'll just add that when I went through it (call it midlife crisis, oh-crud-I'm-how-old?, what have I really done with my life, etc.) what was of absolute paramount importance was that I did not try to go through it alone, whatever it was I was going through. I tried to go it alone--I'm a tough as nails man, as are all men! And I failed miserably. Family and friends, no matter how many, make wonderous sounding boards. Besides, it's in times of trouble when you know who to count on. I'm looking forward to reading that thread.

Re: the Conlin exchange from crashburn alley.

WOW!

I cannot believe what I just read. That is all.

Am I late in reading this?

Regarding Rodney McCray: I played golf with him about fifteen years ago. After the last time I saw Logan White (a less-than-happy pitcher for AIA), I never would've guessed then that he would've been a front-office superstar. After spending a few hours with McCray at the Rancho Park 3-par, I never, ever, would've predicted then that he would be a coach. I'll leave it to you to decipher what I mean by that.

Suffering Bruin has lived an interesting life.

Almost Karate Kid and gets to hang out with all these sports figures.

23 I just got done reading it. Simers is just as bad in his e-mail responses though he doesn't bring in the Hitler stuff. Lots of writers are more than happy to lower the boom on e-mailers. Who's the guy in Colorado? Been writing for years? He'll do the same thing.

People can be insecure about what they don't understand. Such insecurity can bring about fear or anger and, sometimes with struggle, understanding. It would appear that many columnists are quite comfortable in the fear and anger state of mind when it comes to bloggers. We're seeing the same thing in the political world.

25 Me, Ralph Macchio and a younger kid. I was told I was too tall and my voice was too deep. They chose the right guy, trust me.

You want to know the funniest thing? I was so dim, I didn't know why I was being called back all the time. I kept saying, "You want me to read again? Sure..." and I didn't find out until later that I was being seriously considered. Probably a good thing I didn't know what I was doing.

Playing dumb was perfect for the role of the Karate Kid.

23
I just read it as well. It serves as a warning to all of us that, in 30 years when we are complaining about the "new thing" to not assume that the old way is best.

Amazing that a journalist with decades of experience would use a phrase like "The only positive thing I can think of about Hitler's time on earth..." in print.

Crotchety. Closed-minded. Ignorant. Entitled.

No wonder I stopped reading newspapers.

From previous thread:

203 Dolphins have a chance against the Steelers?.....this certainly throws a wrench into the "Steelers can beat New England" prognosis that the Belichik haters so desperatly cling to.

In my case I'm actually not one of those Belichick haters (although I don't particularly care for him). I just happen to be a Steelers fan. A couple of weeks ago I took a look at New England's remaining schedule and figured the only team standing between them and an undefeated regular season is Pittsburgh. As soon as I made that prediction here the Steelers lost to the darn Jets (who have beaten only one other team) and barely beat the winless Dolphins. But I'm going to stick with my prediction. Just out of stubbornness. :-)

27
Even though I have lived here for 6 years, SoCal is just a whole different world than Louisiana...

Stories like yours are fairly common out here, but where I am from the only cool stories came from knowing one of the seemingly dozens of professional athletes from the area (Karl Malone, Terry Bradshaw, Lee Smith, Vernon Wells, Bert Jones, JR Richard, Willie Roaf, etc.)

Paul Newman shot the movie "Blaze" in a town close by. The welcome sign is still there 15 years later.

But I'm going to stick with my prediction. Just out of stubbornness.

Well, of course, you can't back down now. Go down with the ship, and we'll think better of you.

[30-32]The Steelers had a great shot at breaking the Dolphins streak. A near miss.
The New England talk was all over the radio on the way home. I loved the irony during tonight's game.

It's a special kind of insanity that manifests itself in making Hitler jokes, in writing, to some guy you don't know on the internet.

34 - It sounded like a Bill Hicks reference ("Hitler had the right idea, he was just an underachiever") gone awry. As always leave comedy to the comedians, or at least stick to self-deprecation to avoid accidental self-immolation.

Longtime reader First time poster

Was not sure what topic would finally inspire a post but previous thread did it.

Also just went through the big 40 and appreciate and compliment Jon's response to it. I think the ability to appreciate what you have and still strive for more is the essential balance for getting up in the morning. (thats as emotional as I get about non-sports discussion)

But the kicker in the thread was the reference to the greatest day in my personal sports history. I watched Gibsons homerun in an Oakland bar on the same day I witnessed UCLA become #1 in football. I actually carried a Dodger hat under my UCLA band uni. Little did I know that my second and third favorite teams (after UCLA hoops) would not again reach such heights by the time I was 40.

Thanks for the hard work on the blog as I am much better Dodger fan even after being exiled in Seattle for nearly a decade. Regarding the discussion of Husky-FSN announcers. They are a local joke too.

Rox Girl over at The Purple Row has an article up listing the possible and likely holes for each of the NL West teams heading into the 2008 season (rosters as is). Amusingly, she fails to analyze the Giants as she explains they just have too many holes. She lists as likely holes for the Dodgers CF and RF and possible holes as 3B, SS and the bench. She also thinks that the Rockies have the most starting pitching depth of any team in the NL West. I guess that's debateable depending on the health of Schmidt and Guo.
vr, Xei

The part where he explains the layers of editing that keep him from being as big a fool as he's capable of being, in the paper, makes me wonder: How many Hitler jokes do you suppose his editors have had to spike?

And the "Some of my best friends are Jews," bit makes it art.

On the subject of age 40 and its discontents, there's a story told of how the stage entrepreneur Billy Rose once commissioned several short compositions from famous contemporary composers as background for one of his extravaganzas. One of these composers was Igor Stravinsky. Once Rose discovered what he had gotten himself into, he wired Stravinsky thusly: "Your composition wonderful success. Would be stupendous success if you would allow me to re-orchestrate it." Stravinsky wired back, "Am satisfied with wonderful success."

If you can manage it, this would be a useful philosophy to adopt.

38 - The idea that you can show your tolerance resume and thus explain away racism is just absurd. That said, his joke isn't racist in the slightest, just in very poor taste. If he was smart he would have just apologized for the poor choice of words and moved on. Then, if he was smart he wouldn't have gotten into an email war in the first place.

37: The trouble with that debate is that the subject would have to be "Resolved: That Jason Schmidt Will Be Healthy."

Strange night in the NBA's western conference with the Spurs, Mavericks AND Suns all taking a beating.
vr, Xei

if any team figures to get out in front on this eventually, it's Rawitch's

Not sure I follow this. Outside looking in, it seems to me that Blez at Athletics Nation is more likely to get access than anyone covering the Dodgers.

42
The Warriors play the same style as the Suns and the Suns lack of depth hurts them when they play teams like that.

38 Watch, now he's going to invite his Jewish exterminator to dinner at a restaurant where he knows his bosses will be eating just to prove a point.

LA Times said the Dodgers contacted Tony Clark's agent (presumably to pinch hit).

46
So I guess we are trying to replace Mark Sweeney? I still think we should give Delwyn the job.

BTW, it took me so long to read through everyone's responses to the last thread that I didn't even get the chance to get LATed.

First of all, you guys make me feel young :) That being said, I guess I'm lucky in the sense that I've never been all that ambitious in life so I've never put the pressure on myself to shoot for lofty goals. I never really liked school all that much, but I was smart enough to get by with the bare minimum and score myself an engineering degree. I originally wanted to be an orthodontist, but once I realized it took 10 years of schooling, I settled for the career path that would take the least schooling while still achieving a pretty comfortable life.

Nowadays, I don't work all that much, make pretty decent money, and spend the rest of my time doing stuff that makes me happy (obsessing about the Dodgers, checking out tons of new music, watching lots of movies, etc.) I could make more money and challenge myself more by pursuing a more prestigious engineering job, but I don't think I would be nearly as happy. Nowadays my only real serious goal is to eventually achieve the domestic norm (wife, kids, house, and dogs) while still making enough to stay comfortable. If I have to give up my stress-free job to support my family - so be it, but I'd rather keep my current job and use the free time to be the best dad possible.

Sorry that this post was a bit self-indulgent, but I guess what I'm trying to say is that you're already living a life that I would be proud to call my own - a perfect family, a job doing what you love, and enough money to survive (though maybe not as much as you'd like). Things could always be better, but as long as you're fulfilling the basic pleasures of life I think you shouldn't be worrying much.

45- Whoa.....true to your name on that one...

49 Someone doesn't watch enough Seinfeld ;)

Jon, just read the last thread. One of your best posts ever. Many others, especially Ratt, bhsports and Suffering Bruin, said it better than I ever could so I'll keep it short. I know it sounds trite, but just take one day at a time and try not to get too bogged down in grand expectations. When you lookup in ten years you will have accomplished more than you ever dreamed. One more thing, don't forget to tell your wife you love her.

I guess not....but as I run through the possible jokes involving the line I'm sure it was hilarious.

Byron Johnson, Byron Johnson, I have read baseball history for a long long time and I never saw him referred to as anyone but Ban Johnson.

Thanks N.Y. Times.

http://tinyurl.com/36zb8n

51 I'm sure he does, after each refresh, as he checks the net to make see that Ned has not made any trades in the last 45 minutes.

52 George comments that a co-worker of his looks exactly like Sugar Ray Leonard, at which point said co-worker accuses him of thinking all black people look the same. In true George (aka Larry David) fashion, he goes out of his way to prove that he's not racist. Unfortunately, the only black guy he even remotely knows is the exterminator who fumigated Jerry's apartment a while back. Ultimately, he convinces the guy to go out to dinner with him at a restaurant where he knows his co-worker will be to show that he's friendly to the black man.

For reference, the episode is "The Diplomat's Club" - season 6, episode 21

21-

Your goals of screenwriting aren't far fetched if you make it happen. I know that sounds so cheesy, but almost anything really is attainable, but some luck doesn't hurt ;)

So much of the problem with keeping in touch comes down to putting in the effort. I'm 26, but all of my best friends (we've been friends for anywhere from 12-20 years) still not only stay in touch, but hang out on a regular basis. I went to Cal State Long Beach, two of them went to Harvard, one went to USC, One went to Virginia, and one is now a professional juggler who spends his life travelling the globe (and he makes about 250K a year doing it...i can't stand him). But we all went out of our way during the college separation years to stay in touch as much as possible and it's worked out now that everyone has migrated back to LA.

The weirdest part is getting older. At 26, I'm by no means old and I'm not terrified of my 30's. I'm actually thinking that's the time where I'll really hit my stride as a man. But it's just so weird to think of how I made it to where I am, and how fast it is going to go from here. I'm a first year high school teacher and I'm dealing with retirement plans. How did that happen?

The key, at least for me, is to do as much in your life and be as good of a person as you possibly can. I've been lucky enough to hike with the reindeer in Sweden, see the ruins of Rome and Turkey, and sit under the Eiffel Tower with a loved one. Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to do all this, but it's so important to experience as much as possible while on this planet. I've learned very quickly that being a great teacher is tough, but being a great man is even harder. I hope to be both before I'm done...

Sorry about the off topic post, any news on trading Juan Pierre yet? ;)

"We've been talking about finding someone who could hit 20-25 home runs, but I think our first baseman (James Loney) and our right fielder (Matt Kemp) both might be able to do that right now, from what I saw from them the last month of the season."

Yeah!! (from LA Daily News)

That's Ned above.

Happy Birthday Jon. I dont write very often but I do visit your site daily. Thank you for your honesty. As many have already pointed out, many of us are in similiar boats on the same river of life. Your site here brings companionship for some many, and you have instigated that. I live in Heidelberg, Germany, so I dont have much of a chance to take part in dialogue about sports, and for sure not about the dodgers, whom I have followed since I was a child. So here, it gives me a chance to have a small taste of home. So thanks for what you have created and maintained here at Dodger Thoughts.

Jon, you got everyone of us to stop for a little while and reflect. Reflect on our lives, reflect on what we are doing to stay in touch with family and friends, reflect on our efforts to develop a few close friends, reflect on what kind of conversations we have with the people that we do have contact with, and reflect on how our goals might be changing after we reach the second half of our lives.

Most of us hide behind our masks, never sharing our condition, our dreams, our regrets and that hinders our ability to make acquaintences into close friends. In the end, the more we keep our lives simple and we take time for honest introspection we give ourselves a chance to evolve and better understand what we might be trying to accomplish in this lifetime.

Thanks for the thread.

Repko could be the best centerfield option the Dodgers have but I wouldn't want to play on the same field with him. So far he has shown an inability to not hurt his teammates or himself. Put that screen up used for the Exhibition game with the BoSox in Dodger Stadium and Pierre would benefit.

43 - Okay, any team besides Oakland.

Sean Taylor has died.

Also from Josh Rawitch's e-mail to Dodger bloggers:

I've been meaning to do this for almost a year and it only seems fitting that I'm finally getting a chance to reach out on the 40th birthday of Jon Weisman, the "Godfather" of Dodger blogs. I've cc'd him here -- I'm sure he'll find this to be a momentous occasion in the world of blogging and he certainly deserves a lot of credit for helping our organization arrive at this point. What he has started has been copied (or attempted to be copied) by fans across the country in all sports and I think we're only scratching the surface on the way organizations that have a devoted following like ours communicate with their fans.

Hey Jon don't sweat it man, I've heard 40 is the new 30 plus you look very young for being 40.

65 - Huh? Jon's only 40?

64. And Jon worries he hasn't accomplished very much by 40. I guess I missed the email from the Dodgers when I turned 40 crediting me with heling the Dodgers and calling me the Godfather of anything.

63 Awful news.
With this and Darrent Williams, makes you wonder if it's safe to live as a defensive back in the NFL...

64 Sweet of Josh.
Jon Corleone, I am honored and grateful that you have invited me to your blog on the wedding day of your daughter.

61 well, it's been suggested here before I'm sure, but having Repko and Pierre out there together might not be such a bad idea, then. ;-)

67
But Jon (presumably) doesn't make (much) money off of DodgerThoughts, and certainly not enough to make him as wealthy as he would like to be.

I find it amusing that Conlin accuses the blogger of being a Met homer. His column doesn't get written if Rollins is not a Phillie.

66

Yep, he's a MAN!! He's 40!!!

The real question I think is whether, at 40, it's time to hang up "shiftyj"?

Maybe sub in "Jon Corleone"?

68
Jon,

You will probably have to put up with me calling you one of the following two names in perpetuity: Don Jon or Jon Corleone.

Sorry, but that is just too good.

"Don't ever take sides against the family. Ever."

=40, now, if you had a pony, you could ride him on your boat. :-)

I have to say, many's the day I feel like I'm like the hamster getting on the treadmill. But overall I still like what I do and love the group of people I work with... which in my experience counts for a LOT. If not for my immediate group of co-workers I would have left my current position long ago.

If 40 is the new 30 is 6 the new 2? 'Cause my almost 6 yo has definitely been stretching out his patience testing ability!

Prior is reportedly available... is he worth the risk, assuming the Dodgers don't have to give up any top line prospects?

Jon,

Thanks for the wonderfully honest post. It was challenging and empowering at the same time to read through what you have been struggling with. I am thankful for your thoughts...they definitely make me want to be a better person.

On that note: my wife and I are expecting our first child (a little earlier than planned). I am excited and scared all at the same time. I am not necessarily worried about parenthood, but it is the whole supporting a family in Southern California that scares me. A lot of extra luxuries will be getting ditched (satellite tv might be one of them), but I am still in the process of finding a vocation that can support my family. Sadly, teaching public high school would be a step up from where I am, but it is something I look forward to. Now I just need to get past the beast known as the CSET.

Thanks to all for your great comments in this blog. I don't know what I would do without this community.

75
I say that we should invest in Hiroki Kuroda, but that is only after hearing about him and not seeing him. Lowe and Loaiza will both be gone after this year with Penny and Schmidt following shortly thereafter. I say to sign Kuroda for 4/40.

No draft picks, no youngsters to trade, just money that we are (hopefully) saving by not spending nearly $100 mil on Torii Hunter.

59
Hey, I lived in Heidelberg in 1966 where every apartment for the service families is 6 stories high and they all look the same. My 1st day of school in 2nd grade I got lost walking home and wandered from apartment to apartment because they all looked the same.
I expect I embarrassed my Dad that day since he was an officer and on his 1st day his idiot son couldn't find his way home.

75 I thought Prior signed a 1 year contract just before the '07 season. Did he sign another contract?

This is a high risk guy. If he was a FA I think there are lots of teams that would love to offer him a contract with lots of incentives. He had such potential. I wonder what is left?

78 makes me want to cry. Seriously.

I don't know your dad, but I hope his compassion and concern for his "idiot son" obliterated any embarrassment he might've felt.

78 I have a friend who was an Air Force navigator assigned to England. One night he and his wife went to the theatre and when they went back to their car it wasn't there so they reported it to the police. The police called them a few days later to report that they found it. It was exactly 2 blocks from where he thought he left it. It had never been touched. At least you had an excuse, you were a 2nd grader.

Here's a link on what the Minnesota Star Tribune thinks they can get for Johan Santan