"From a Dodger perspective, consider that Bowa is a man in authority, expecting to be listened to, telling the world that he has no intention of listening to authority."

Leaving aside for a moment whether or not Bowa's anti-helmet rant is correct, this is the major problem that I have with what he is saying. He is not just a man in authority, he is an outspoken authoritarian, and for him to openly and loudly ignore the rules, while younger players on the team are criticized for their mistakes, shows a clear double standard. What if Matt Kemp were to say,"I am going to continue to run the bases with my head down, and if the Dodgers don't like it, they can fine me?" I think we all know what the reaction would be.

Also--it is just me, or do you all just wish that Bowa would keep his mouth shut? He is not the manager, nor has he ever been a good manager when he has gotten the chance, so his opinions don't carry much weight for me. He should just stand in the coach's box, either waving his arms or putting up the stop sign, and if he has something to say to a player, he should say it privately to that player.

It's Greg Miller time today! First time ever on national TV!

Actually, if you want to leave out any other rules outside the game of baseball about protective equipment, the helmet rule for coaches is a safety rule that an employer (MLB) is making for its employees (the coaches).

It's not a matter of public policy. It's the rules of the job.

I think its apples and oranges. I have not read anything in their comments about the baserunning errors that would lead me to believe that the players are being unfairly criticized.

Larry Bowa's opinion probably reflects a majority of MLB coaches and I thought his concerns were reasoned and certainly a compromise could be reached.

Larry Bowa is an idiot.

The truth is somewhere between 4 and 5

No, I am right :)

But, I've hated Larry Bowa for many years.

Check out Clownin' Around in Dodgertown on my friend Jake's blog:

http://www.640wgst.com/pages/jakeblog.html

8, you're not alone. Good thing we didn't get Rolen. Ha!

I just had a few minutes of outrage at ESPN not having the game on until I realized 10am was Pacific Time!

2 i think kuroda might have more importantce today

Sounds like somebody has been skipping their green tea dossage.

I have to realize that spring training applies to fans and I was gradually preparing my outrage glands for Fox "no Dodgers" Saturdays.

For some reason Kuroda Time does not have the cache of Miller Time.

Perhaps if Bowa gets enough warnings, there will be a fine and then a suspension for him.

This would be a good thing.

Bowa has already surpassed Jack Clark as "Least Liked Coach in L.A. Dodger History" in my record book.

Ah the collusion scandal. Takes me back to college. My senior thesis was a game theory analysis of that scandal including how Ueberroth was able to break the prisoner's dilemna of overpaying for free-agents and why teams sharing what they plan to offer freaks out the union to this day.

I wasn't a big Larry Bowa fan before the Dodgers hired him. He has a history of, well... being a jerk. Recent events don't help my perception. Third base coaches should be seen, not heard. :)
vr, Xei

So , the Jordan Farmar show was pretty fun last night. If you guys were wondering what that uproar was at about 1 45 left in the 4th, this girl flashed the crowd! Wade got booed seemingly every time he touched the ball. We had some pretty nice seats too, 218 11 20-23. My buddies Clips tickets are 319 up top, so it was quite the experience. And we got free tacos from Jack in the Box for holding em under 100!

So , the Jordan Farmar show was pretty fun last night. If you guys were wondering what that uproar was at about 1 45 left in the 4th, this girl flashed the crowd! Wade got booed seemingly every time he touched the ball. We had some pretty nice seats too, 218 11 20-23. My buddies Clips tickets are 319 up top, so it was quite the experience. And we got free tacos from Jack in the Box for holding em under 100!

I've already adopted Larry Bowa as the "guy on the Dodgers I choose to hate" this season.

The title goes back to 1971 and was first held by Bill Singer.

5
Your are right Larry Bowa is an idiot and has been his whole career but on this issue as BH said, his view shouldn't be discounted just because he is an idiot.

I will concede to Bob that this is an OSHA issue and if they were to study it and find that it makes sense from an occupational safety issue that coaches and umpires should be better protected then by all means do so. I just wonder when the 1st line drive to the chest of a baserunner on 3rd base stops his heart what will be the cry of those who want everyone protected from all things. Since catastrophic injury is possible as a hitter, fielder, or runner on every play maybe we should just stick to video games. That is safe for everyone concerned.

Plus we really should look into the idea of either putting helmets on all the spectators who are even in greater peril then the basecoaches, or at the least put up a net or plexiglass shield. Plus let us require that every person in the dugout be protected at all times and since the pitcher is closer to the action then the base coach, shouldn't he also be wearing protective gear? Babies who can't wear helmet shouldn't even be allowed to sit between the bases on the 1st level.

This game of baseball is a dangerous business, so let us make sure that everyone is protected not just the old fogies dancing in the coaching boxes.

Doh! Nice post as well, Jon. Bowa's already rubbing people the wrong way. What a hypocrite.

20
Just curious about your hatred's. Bill Singer seemed to be a cool guy back in 1971 and you were I expect between 3-7, so what could he have done to you that you were already hating on him?

speaking of idiots,
http://tinyurl.com/ynqzv4

I fail to see how requiring helmets for coaches is some constitutional crisis. Wear them or don't participate. We already make them wear silly uniforms.

4 - I'm not saying the problems are 100 percent parallel (though I'm not sure what the second sentence of your comment has to do with anything).

But at a time where the Dodgers probably need or want to emphasize seeing the bigger picture beyond your own self-interest, this is an interesting counterpoint.

23 - I'm guessing it relates to this?
http://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/016821.html

It is currently 26 degrees in New York City. In six hours, I will be on a plane headed to Florida, where I will get to watch the Dodgers this weekend in 77-degree splendor.

My first and last trip ever to Dodgertown. So bittersweet...

I'm jealous cause I can't watch this game... hey, can I buy it on MLB?

27
I don't see the connection. He said he hated Singer in 1971, when Singer was our Chad Billingsley not after Singer turned into a drunken lout and insulted our Kim Ng.

I just don't get how players like Kemp and Repko could get to this level with "uncontrolled aggression" that leads them to make mistakes like running to an occupied base, running full out to score after the game is over or crashing into a wall on a play in which there is no chance of catching the ball. Are they really just athletic "animals" who play as if they have no brain? I may be old school, but I remember that even in Little League and Babe Ruth league, I was always thinking about what I would do if something happened before each pitch, both on offense and defense.
I really hope that Torre and Bowa come through and put an end to such incredible stupidity on the part of highly paid professional players. While I appreciate the pure athleticism of these guys, I would like to see them using their brains a little more. Fighter pilots call it "situational awareness" and that concept applies to baseball players as well.

31
Maybe, the alternative is someone like Garrett Anderson or Shawn Green who always played the game in complete control but were always being accused of never giving it their all, probably by the same people who complain about the aggressiveness of Kemp and Repko.

31 It was the first game of Spring Training. Great time to make mistakes and learn.

27 Did anyone ever reveal what Singer actually said, or at least the thrust of it?

31
Either they're "animals" with "no brains" and "stupidity" or they're young guys trying a little too hard to make the team and earn a starting spot, respectively.

Is it really time for us start insulting and criticizing our young players for playing too hard in the first game in spring training?

Maybe when they're "old school" they'll realize that spring training is for loafing.

How will Jason Repko get hurt this year
1. Running into an outfield fence
2. Running into a foul area fence or structure
3. Sliding head first into a base
4. Just running to and fro
5. High Fiving Matt Kemp
6. Hitting the breaks on 3rd when Bowa throws up a late stop sign
7. Breaking up a fight between Bowa and Kemp
8. Breaking up a fight between Kent and Kemp
9. Getting in a fight with Kent
10. Sleeping

In 1971, I was five years old. I didn't like Bill Singer because every time pitched, the Dodgers lost it seemed. That's about as sophisticated of a fan as you can be at that age. My favorite Dodger in 1971 was Richie Allen because he seemed to hit home runs.

36 - This isn't directed at you, but all the general Repko bashing makes me sad. To me, he's like a Juan Pierre in personality - completely or almost completely decent guy - except nothing gets handed to him. I'm sure no one feels worse about him hurting Furcal than he does. Repko has never moaned about his status - he just keeps plugging. He's not getting any more than he deserves, he's not blocking anyone from succeeding, he's making the minimum, so I don't know why there's such antipathy.

The only thing I find hilarious about the Bowa argument (ok, one of many) is that he thinks broken bats are more dangerous than balls coming off the bat. I will never forget the line drive down the line that went into the stands at a AAA game I was attending. It was the hardest ball I had ever seen hit that close, and I am pretty sure if it had hit any one in the head, they would be done for (especially if it was a kid).

But really, Larry, a broken bat?

38

He was one of my favorite players right before the ankle injury. I truly hope he gets a chance to make it somewhere, since it looks like there is little room here. I love the way he plays, and he had a great start to that season...who knows how it would have gone if he had stayed healthy all year, no Pierre?

36
11. At a bar with Joe Beimel!

25
Marty says what I want to say so much more clearly than I do.

39 - He must remember Steve Yeager.

I really like what Repko brings to the table. If Pierre were not on the team, I would have no problems with Young and Repko as backup OFers. Repko is pretty much the definition of 4th OFer. He plays all three positions well, has a strong throwing arm, and he can run pretty well. He is also not a liability on offense for the few games that he would get to start, but he doesn't have enough offense to warrant more playing time.

38
I understand. This was just fun at his expense. His injury history is extensive all the way back to his minor league days and I would have posted the list even if he had not been involved in the Furcal play. He ripped his hammy later, it had nothing to do with the play. I wish him well but sometimes I will go with a cheap laugh even if I'm the only one laughing.

37
I saw him pitch the lamest no-hitter in Dodger history so I had a different perception but I don't think it was 71. Mr. Allen was also my favorite player that year but for different reasons.

40 - It was the initial injury in 2006 that led to that. After all, he had just gotten a starting job right before Ethier came up, and he had a very nice April in 2006 (.328/.414/.574).

25
42
I will be happy to debate the issue with the both of you at the next DT outing. Just because you don't think it isn't important doesn't mean it isn't. It just isn't important to you.

my favorite repko moment was a few years ago i believe it was troy glaus on 3rd as an angel. someone hits a long fly ball to LF with 1 out repko catches it on the warning track and instead of it lobbing the ball in and conceding the run, he cocks back and unleashed a lazer to home. glaus was rogging home not expecting a throw and barely beat the throw.

47. Bob, these type of debates cannot be won and I recommend buying him a beer or a malt instead. Bring your own spoon though.
vr, Xei

Larry Bowa's distain for league rules will cast a dark shadow on the organization. If the McCourts intervene immediately and tell him (or better yet, have Torre tell him-chain of command) that league rules are to be followed, then this matter will be put to bed fairly quickly. I doubt that the league would fine a coach for every game. Instead, they would (should) suspend the coach until he conforms to the rules.

Simple, huh?

12 i think kuroda might have more importantce today

Yeah, this is stating the obvious. But I am more interested in seeing Miller for the first time.

I don't buy Bowa's argument that umpires are in more danger than the coaches. At worst, the risk is the same. Realistically, I think that the coaches are more at risk.

Umpires generally have to pay attention to where the ball is, while coaches may be focusing on other parts of the game.

48 must've been against arizona

52

Was it the SD coach last year that was half way down the base path and Brad Penny called him on it?

26 You have a good point there. What I should have written is that the baserunning errors are certainly something that needs to be addressed and reading Torre's and Bowa's comments about it, seems to me, a reasoned approach. I think it is because the media picks on it likes it the root cause of badness in Dodgerland is what causes in my opinion, all the frustration about it.

On the helmet issue, I heard Terry Francona talk about it on XM this morning on a program that Bowa worked on in between managing and coaching jobs. It sounded like he came down to this conclusion, his coaches will have to follow this MLB rule but he understands all their frustration with it and that it will take some time to adjust. He also said that there were further rules re where coaches can stand and that was another problem because that goes against all that those guys were taught for many years.

Bowa: "They talk about delay of game, and when the helmet falls off, you'll have to stop the game."

YEAH!!! Did you people ever ONCE think about THAT!

Seriously though, if the old dudes don't want to wear helmets they shouldn't have to. Safety is the new tyranny. We're sanitizing the colour and risk right out of life. In 10 years we're ALL be thinking like safety nerds.

On that Dos Equis commercial...it's going along all cool, then the guy releases the bear from the trap and what? "DO NOT ATTEMPT" appears in small print below it.

OK, something is wrong.

We've got beer commercials telling us to drink responsibly. If everyone did they'd be out of business. If weekend drunk driving is such a problem you'd be seeing wrecks every 30 feet!

And I'm IN the safety business. In charge of safety for over a thousand workers. Safety has to make sense, or it loses it's force, it's legitimacy...people scoff. You never want your guys to scoff.

At the very least Safety should argue from probability. The ratio of hits in major league baseball history compared to the number of serious head injuries to coaches would probably be like 3 billion to 2. This is NOT a compelling reason to mess with tradition.

And Jon, you attempt to trivialize the issue when you say people were against seat belt laws because of "comfort", no it was about freedom. (Don't mean to sound like Rambo).

55

There is money to be made here. Someone needs to design a fashionably comfortable helmet for base coaches.

Is there free live MLB streaming content this year for spring training games? I recall they had free gameday audio available in past years.

I'm with Marty and Bob on this one.

58

Sadly, no

56 - I didn't say that was the only reason people were against seat belts. I said it was "an argument."

32 And don't forget J.D. Drew. ;-)

You could have your "home" and "away" helmets. Your "warmup" helmets, and they could have stylish colors. The possibilities are endless.

3) From a Dodger perspective, consider that Bowa is a man in authority, expecting to be listened to, telling the world that he has no intention of listening to authority.

As I recall, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, et al., were in exactly the same position.

The motivation for this exercise was the death of Mike Coolbaugh, first base coach for the Rockies' AA Tulsa affiliate. The ball that struck him actually hit him in the neck, crushing his left vertebral artery. A helmet would not have made a difference.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Coolbaugh

Bowa's comments imply the penalty is merely a fine. At some point, MLB will have to disallow him from taking the field without a helmet, and have the Dodgers forfeit if he does. That is the only meaningful penalty. Fines won't achieve anything (obviously). So I wonder what MLB is really prepared to do.

64 Larry Bowa, American patriot and revolutionary.

31

from all accounts (and I admit I have not seen it), it sounds like Loney was 1/3 of the way down the line when Kemp kept going. So, he may have looked up to see Loney going home, and Kemp just went for it.

But it is pretty amazing to slide head first with Loney on the bag. You would think Kemp would have stopped half way and made a run back to second. I tend to look at my 3rd base coach in softball, because I need to know if I should slide or not. Of course, most of them do nothing, so I have to gauge it by the third baseman's actions.

56 - And I'm IN the safety business. In charge of safety for over a thousand workers. Safety has to make sense, or it loses it's force, it's legitimacy...people scoff. You never want your guys to scoff.

This is EXACTLY right. Some time ago, I discovered that the safety cover on my table saw was more of a nuisance than a help. Trust me, I have no problems with safety devices on a saw spinning at 3,000 RPM with my fingers only inches away... I've also encountered kickback when I ill-advisedly released pressure on a workpiece and the saw shot it back at me like a rocket. But the fact is -- and this is something even the saw makers will agree with -- a badly designed safety device is worse than useless.

It's not only about comfort, safety and freedom... but also about being liable and insurance costs. If Larry Bowa signs a waiver, good luck having that waiver stand up in a court of law when his spouse sues the Dodgers or MLB for allowing him to coach third without a helmet, especially when there is a rule against it. We all pay for these lawsuits in higher insurance costs. Not in this particular case, but in the car insurance industry for sure. I don't want to pay extra because some group of people don't want to wear motorcycle helmets, and I sure don't want to see any more of my friends die in motor cycle accidents where they weren't wearing a helmet.
vr, Xei

31 Larry Bowa, is that you?

Dodgers on at ten? ahh..the joys of Mr. Momhood continue...

66 - in a small way, yes.

64 - And some people thought I was stretching an analogy.

69 - I very much doubt the added safety would make much of a difference for the baseline coaches. Now, the batter? That's another thing entirely.

56
Amen

In any case, as I've said before, I'm not taking a pro- or anti-rebellion stance. I'm saying that if you're a coach or manager looking out for yourself, don't be surprised if your players start doing it too.

Even Phil Jackson gives those in-game interviews, and he probably things those are more dangerous to his health than a flying baseball to his head.

39 43 Tommy Lasorda will agree on the broken bat issue. I mean come on millions of people saw that, it was the All Star game right! I'm with Tommy and Larry we gotta do something about those bats.

How about aluminum bats, and the base coaches and infield umpires all wear catchers gear?

When you wear a helmet you lose the sense of being out in nature...that open air feel. And I'd imagine this is doubley true for being out in the great grass & breeze atmosphere that is baseball.

And some credence DOES have to be given to older guys like Bowa when they talk of 'comfort'. It's not going to be too pleasant standing out in the August sun in a plastic and foam helmet. Ever sleep on a foam pillow? Hype aside, those things are HOT.

73
Actually, I was going to compare Larry Bowa to Henry David Thoreau, with the threat of civil disobedience and all that.

Larry Bowa is what Thoreau would have been like if he violated Rule 1 every third word.

I can't wait for the bowa/kent love fest plascke article. Were old school and we love each other.

over under is May 21

Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't Vin Scully of all people railing against MLB to make base coaches where helmets LONG before Coolbaugh got hit in the neck?
vr, Xei

75 - You don't think there's hyperbole there? Writing "Do not attempt" in small print and telling people to drink responsibly are examples of tyranny?

As for this paragraph:

"We've got beer commercials telling us to drink responsibly. If everyone did they'd be out of business. If weekend drunk driving is such a problem you'd be seeing wrecks every 30 feet! "

It's nonsensical. Drinking responsibly won't put beer companies out of business. And the third sentence is particularly baffling: 1) maybe the call to limit drunk driving has curtailed the problem; 2) you don't need to see accidents every 30 feet for something to qualify as a problem, 3) are you really suggesting that life was better before we had any admonitions against drunk driving?

Better for the beer companies to be hypocritical about drunk driving than completely ignore the problem.

I understand the position against the helmets and even sympathize with it to a degree (to the extent that injuries to coaches are rare), but talk about an overreaction.

An over the top sarcastic view of the Braves after yesterday's game:

http://tinyurl.com/2qwvpj

78 I guarantee to you that the homeplate umpire is 100 hundred times hotter in August than a base coach in a helmet. The base coach even gets to sit in the shade or visit the clubhouse every half inning.

Foam helmets are hot, but they aren't the end of the world. There are other people on the field that are worse off.

82. Amen! :)
vr, Xei

Larry Bowa: "Give me Liberty or give me death."

69 Law suits and insurance are the great fall-back issues when it comes to safety fanaticism. That's why everything is so cheesy and non-sensical now days.

Sighting law suits is not the be-all end-all arguement. We can change those laws and become human again. WE are in charge. The law is not some Fact-of-Life immovable cold force outside of ourselves.

Ok I'm done, sorry.

for the suckers stuck at work will we be getting some play-by-play of todays contest?

Maybe we should get rid of base coaches altogether and put little radios in all the players helmets and they can be told to bunt or slide from the bench or press box. Safety problem solved and Bowa out of a job, two birds with one stone. I like it.
vr, Xei

89 It's the 21st century. Bluetooth headsets!

They should grandfather helmets in the way they did goalie masks in hockey. Let Bowa risk his noggin, chances are a hard blow to the head wouldn't change him much.

82 Jon it only seems like an overreaction if you see the helmet rule as an isolated event, instead of modern phenomenon.

Blah Blah Blah, we got some baseball to watch!

Has it really been 5 moths?

Lets go Dodgers!

Already the ESPN announcer shows his ignorance, " the braves came away yesterday with a 5-4 win over the Dodgers at vero." gah

88

I am still trying to figure out how to get a shared office with access to ESPN.

75
My Amen was for the parts I agreed with. Yes, most of it was nonsense but Frip hit the phrase freedom of choice and I spasmed.
In a nutshell I would like the freedom of choice to have my coconut split open by pavement, car, or horsehide without someone else imposing their own view of what life is about. My friends would understand or should. Life is full of dangers, trying to protect adults from all of them is foolhardy. For some the goal is to live the longest for others it is simply to live. Those with families should think hard before making the decision but they should still be allowed to make the decision. It is not for society to decide for them. JMO

92 - I guess our dictionaries have different definitions of "tyranny" and "overreaction."

I skied for 30 years without a helmet. Now, mostly against my will, I wear one - even though I don't really feel the need. Guess what: skiing is still fun.

Life goes on quite nicely and is full of color, I find, even with safety regulations.

According to Gary Thorne "Kemp is vying for some playing time this year."

If I could watch the game live, I'd give it the "mute" treatment and help my blood pressure.

Look at that caveman go!!

There it is, ESPN shot of Bowa in the helmet right before Kemp steals.

Well, now I will go read about Lost, since I want to watch this on TV without knowing the outcome.

No ear flaps for Larry, BTW. And Loney is sporting the short Lincoln-style beard w/o mustache as he walks.

And LaRoche crushes it to center...nice. I like that 3-4-5.

That was CRUSHED!

Fatty doubles over the CF wall.

They were talking about Bowa's helmet issues, and that Torre had a chat with Bowa after the game yesterday, and sort of chuckling about it all.

It was cool to hear Kruk and Phillips rave about Kemp's five-tool potential, even if they had to bring up the baserunning "issues" too.

I'm enjoyning this. Andy!

LaRoche just CRUSHED that one. Long deep double. That was sweet to see.

Fatty = Andy? Andruw is also a bit of a fatty, eh?

Now let's go Repko, let's squeeze Pierre off the roster altogether!

110 squeeze = injure accidentally?

103 , 108 I think it's spring training for commenters too... three minds all coming up with the same description of that LaRoche double.

1 - 5 would be a killer real lineup. Throw in Andruw, Martin, and Hu and your talking about a championship team.

Can someone settle this for me once and for all: is it "Kur-ah-dah" or "Kur-oh-dah"? I have this feeling that Phillips is mispronouncing it but am not entirely sure.

So, did LaRoche look "nervous?"

Update from Tony Jackson

http://www.insidesocal.com/dodgers/archives/2008/02/bowa_agrees_to.html

114 - a bird told me he goes by "hiro"

Well, coaching third base and riding a motorcyle are not remotely close, in terms of danger. Actually, it's probably not even as dangerous as taking a shower in your house, or even a locker room. Now, if MLB has their legal rears covered, they will be soon be issuing shower helmets for use after all games immediately. Course, then they will need shower police for enforcement. It never stops. I hereby reserve all legal and monetary rights for any future shower helmets, on this day 2-29-08. Thank you. Izzy

No, but Nomar did after the ab:)

i'm embaressed to admit this but i had a dream about todays game.

kuroda 2ip, 4er and for some reason tejeda was on the braves.

I'd like a definition of an "uncomfortable" helmet. Does it have spikes inside? We aren't asking them to wear chin straps.

We're talking helmets here man. Helmets. Just in case a ball comes screaming at his noggin, he might stand a better chance to survive it.

113 I wouldn't be surprised.

Gary Bennett. Jeez. I can't believe you people spent three hours arguing over the right to severe head injuries, while the whole time Gary Bennett was sitting there, being on the roster.

115 Nope, he looked calm, cool and collected. And even shut John Kruk up in mid-sentence in admiration.

Kruk also just called Russell Martin "a stud, man".

Gary Bennett = not quite as fast as Matt Kemp.

Well now I know about Bennets speed.

I feel bad watching this kinda game and rooting for Ramon Martinez to do what he just did, meekly ground out, but there you go.

was kuroda hit hard that inning?

I finally listened to the Purple Gold and Blue podcast from Wednesday. Molly you rock!

127 Not really, there was a solid hit from Johnson. Then a nice easy double play ball. Then a fly ball to Ethier that wasn't anything special.

Simply amazing how some lifes don't go easy.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/28/wtoilet128.xml

129 what's his velo looking like on his pitches?

112 How about, "LaRoche smackdiddleypopped that ball!" ? I knew I should've said that instead.

Andy looks balanced & focused...in a deep Zen-like state except for the slight bat wiggle prior to the pitch that showed awareness for his environment.

Seriously, couldn't really tell. I just hope he starts making pitchers nervous. He started the DP cleanly, too.

If Kemp's base-running followed the script yesterday, shouldn't we see Bowa, safely, take a liner off his helmet today?

121
I find all helmets uncomfortable, especially the shower helmets that Izzy invented.

Well, vs. Texeira just now, Hiro was:
76mph.
91.
91.
90 (on a curve).
92. (that one was well out of the zone)
90. (fouled off)
89 - sinker, ground ball to Loney.

After this inning I have to do, you know, actual work, so I'll be watching the rest of this later. But so far I like what I've seen.

114. Dodger announcers don't seem to care how they pronounce the Asian player names. Well, they may care but don't do a good enough job of it in my opinion. :) K/G
vr, Xei

This is why I love real-time game comments, take last night's UCLA game, for the first 16 minutes, the UCLA board was filled with comments like this team will lose in the first round of NCAA (okay, a little stretching here but you get the point), then after they stretch out the lead to 20, everything is all right in the world.

My theory on ST, is basically don't get hurt. Period.

After that, I'll let everything play out.

Just don't get hurt.

135 that couldn't have been a curve, probably a sinker

i know he had some arm issues last year, so doesn't look like we have schmidt part deux on our hands.

136 Where are you watching?

133
I think it would be better if he took a shot off his shin since that is now unprotected.

Andruw Jones to Mark Kotsay = pretty big drop off in center.

140 ESPN. I'm at home this morning. Kuroda looked great that inning, 1-2-3 groundballs.

4-1 groundball to flyball ratio. so far no false advertising.

138 - Is USC the second-best team in the Pac-10 now? I'm starting to get that feeling.

Kuroda is looking nice. Good command.

143 Oh okay. I thought you were at work and found a way to watch it. In which case I would have tried to watch it. Then my Giants-fan-boss would see me, and I'd probably lose my job.

Interesting how Kotsay's reputation has done a complete 180. He used to be an amazing defender who got no praise because he didn't dive all over the place. Now he's a terrible defender who's a "dirt player".

His VORP is through the roof. Vorpies everywhere are rejoicing.

Since season 2 of FOC isn't coming up right away, maybe we could all pitch in and get Bret to finish his hair-helmet.

Larry would be stylish & comfortable in that, yes?

144 I have full confidence he'll keep that up for the entire season.

He-Row-Key Koo-Row-Dah I guess. My understanding is that you can pronounce Japanese correctly by pretending it is in Spanish.

146 his bb/9ip in japan would agree with your statement

152 Heh. You mean Steve Phillips was mispronouncing it? Shocked!

Joe Torre was interviewed in the dugout. "He seemed relaxed, he found a place," said Kruk. And then something about how Torre used to carry Jeter's bat around with him all the time, and is he carrying anyone's bat around yet...? Not yet, he says.

Buddy Carlyle!

151 he was probably pretty close to that in his career

is kuroda done?

Loaiza is in there.

Didn't Nate put him at something like 2.25 to one which didn't count hits, which are primarily line drives.

Single, HR. This is why we couldn't afford Kyle Blair.

Loiaza must look even more hittable after Kuroda, but gosh, he sure looks awful to start. Maybe he'll be so awful the Dodgers will "have" to go with someone like Jason Johnson - which would be okay by me - or McDonald.

oh no loaiza, lets call up joe blant... oh wait nevermind. is kershaw ready?

loiza getting hammered already...

Am I being a bad fan if I'm rooting for Loaiza to do bad, for Schmidt to not be ready, and for Kuo to be healthy, so that Kuo gets the 5 spot for one last chance?

163 i think you'd be wrong if you think kuo is a better choice than a healthy schmidt. but kuo over loaiza sign me up

I would support Steve Phillips's not wearing a helmet.

Kemp now getting ripped for forgetting how many outs there are.

164 ToyCannon has a soft spot for Guo not Kuo.

I'm rooting the same way on Loaiza, Toy, but am rooting for Schmidt to be ready. I don't see how it helps the Dodgers to decrease their depth and options there.

Steve Phillips harping on Kemp for not knowing how many outs there are (he caught a line drive and then started running in). C'mon Bison, stop giving the old boys network fodder to criticize you with! Kruk came to his defense of course.

Are we really going to rip on Loaiza for not looking good for one inning in Feburary?

I wonder if Mariano Duncan gave the Cartier watch back to Loaiza.

John Kruk, unlikely ally.

169 those innings in sept are still in my mind

163 - I am rooting for Kuo to do great, Loaiza to be pretty good, and Schmidt to take his time. Leading to Kuo getting the 5th spot, Loaiza traded for a low-level prospect, and Schmidt continuing to strengthen his shoulder.

Unfortunately Loiaza lives up to my expectations. Hey its his first try-guess I owe him a chance

This morning I unfortunately caught the last few words of a BBC news story on Takashi Saito death after a beating. Search
at BBC and sure enough, some wrestling coaches killed a guy named Takashi Saito. Seemed really bizzare at the time.

And it looked to me like Kemp was just running out his momentum, not coming off the field.

I'm just trying to get back on Xiefranks good side.

169 - By all rights - in almost any other year - this would be March!

173
You win. I can run with that.

174
He should have been wearing a helmet.

I propose that we don't talk baseball until opening day.

179 nay

179 Can we still talk about the pros and cons of wearing Izzy Shower Helmets™?

So Buddy looked good?

No comments on Buddy Carlyle?

I can't believe Jon beat me to it.

has kemp made a weak throw or something? i just got 3 text's saying kemp has a pea-shooter

182 He looked better than Esteban Loiaza, definitely.

Btw, I don't think it fair to rip on someone for their first appearance in early February, no, just that Loiaza looked awful to start. I'm sure he'll get better. If he doesn't, he won't be on the team, yet alone the 5th starter.

I also am pretending today doesn't exist, since it's Leap Day, so I'm working at home and watching baseball and taking my time leaving the house, since today doesn't exist no one should care about my whereabouts.

185 He didn't make a very good throw home when the guy on third was tagging up. I don't know if he just didn't get his body behind it or if he hasn't built up his arm strength yet because he usually throws much harder.

176. Hey, your always on my good side. Friends can disagree once in a while, right?
:) vr, Xei

Whoa, that looked like plain bad fielding.(Jones)

186 I ran the `today doesn't really exist' theory by my boss. Didn't work.

The heck does "AL teams to watch" mean when each guy lists 6 teams? There's only 14 teams in the freakin' league.

Wow, Atlanta showing some stellar defense today. No one was even close to covering 2B on that steal.

johan 2 ip 4 hits 3 er 1 bb 1 k

he gave up the 3 runs on a 3 run-hr to... you guessed it juan gone.

Did I just hear Peter Gammons say "I did my steroids this morning" right as they came back from commercial?

Yep.

And Miller has entered the game. Starts off with 4 straight balls :(

Oh Miller...

The 5th ball in a row brings Honeycutt to the mound for a chat.

Steve Phillips, like D4P, wears flat front pants.

182 He just kept going away to the Bison with 88 mph fastballs on the corner and got him swinging. I think he threw him 3 straight. I remember him throwing up to 95 last year.

Also Loaza's cutter at 84 is not going to cut it, when his slider/change is sitting at 80.

8 straight balls

8 balls in row. Then a wild pitch advances runners.

+ wild pitch

Miller looks like woogie.

Passed ball or wild pitch? I say passed ball, but I'm biased.

Setting up the force at any base... great thinking.
vr, Xei

Miller Time is not pretty today

Greg Miller has a terrible dye job.

rick ankeil is somewhere smiling.

The first strike he throws was low and away but swung at. The first pitch actually in the zone is driven over Kemp's head.

Lets face it, this is tough spot for Miller to be in.

Again, I would not base my opinion on one appearance but the fact that he is falling into the same patterns that plagued him all last year is not good.

208 Some yahoo named God did it to him

I wonder if Miller even pitched in a major league spring training game last year.

According to Steve Phillips, Brian McCann and Jeff Francouer have it all figured out, but Matt Kemp and James Loney were rushed and don't have it figured it out yet.

What a nauseating speech by Phillips about how the Braves prospects arrive in the majors knowing how to play as opposed to guys like Loney & Kemp who "may never figure it out." John Kruk informs us that the Braves are the best team in the majors at "situational hitting" followed by the Twins.

212 There is no way that's his natural hair color.

214 i hate francouer. he's not very good (as people make him out to be)

Loney's shades look like something DeNiro wore in Brazil.

211 - I'm rooting for him, but as tough spots go ... what's tough about it, relative to other spots?

210
Did you turn white when you heard Kazmir needed an MRI and are you breathing easier now or still concerned?

219 Pitchers have fewer opportunities to show their stuff.

215 That was ignorance at it's finest.

217 Why do you hate him?

Hopefully Jon doesn't beat me to this question: How did Kuroda look when he was batting?

espn is down can i get an update of millers inning it froze at javy lopez walked.

222 i hate his game.

223
Suffice to say I don't think we will ever see a Kuroda bat flip.

217 Francouer doubled his walk total in 07 from 06. I respect that.

Ah, the traveling squad of NRIs are now showing why they are NRIs.

223 Worse than Mark Hendrickson.

This inning turned into a game of Wii Sports.

212 Sad but true, I saw him up close when I got his autograph last year. He's one of those scary pale guys with tons of freckles and albino-like hair

So at the next DT day, Marty and I will debate ToyCannon and an ally of his choosing on the mandatory helmet law. It will be "Firing Line" style in honor of the late William F. Buckley. Andrew will play the part of Jeff Greenfield.

213 I definitely saw him pitch in one spring training game last year, but again he didn't fare too well.

230 Well, now I feel like a giant jerk.

221 - Fewer than when? I mean, this is everyone-gets-to-play month.

He's not expected to make the team anyway. He's not out of options. So it's not like there's all this pressure, other than what he must put on himself. But that still doesn't make this a particularly tough spot.

230
And Logan White drafted him! Who was the last major leaguer who fit that profile? Where is the LAPD when you need them?

Javy Lopez broke my heart with a solo homerun in the first playoff game I ever saw.

:(

espn is up again nevermind.

234 Okay, poor choice of words, I meant that he has probably put a lot of pressure on himself.

236
I'm old enough that my heart was broken by Mike Torrez at the first postseason game I ever attended.

Mike Torrez!

Penny
Lowe
Billingsley
Kuroda
Kuo (when the 5th spot comes up)

Loaiza is only good for mop-up.

I can't help but blame this game on Bennett.

Loaiza will get DFA'd before the year is out.

231
I'm checking to see if Patrick Henry is available. If not my 2nd will be Steve McQueen.

238 - Ah, gotcha.

239 - Hey - me too!

My biggest memory of that day is still the pregame moment of silence for Bing Crosby. And Mike Torrez pitched. And Dusty Baker homered. In fact, those are my only memories of that day.

231 Can we do it "McGlaughlin Group" style and I can do my impression of Dana Carvey's impression of McGlaughlin.

This game will be ammunition for the "When I'm in the lineup, the Dodgers win" argument for Nomar. And Luis Gonzalez, for that matter.

close the books 0 ip, 5 er, 3 hits, 2 bb.

244
Linda Rondstadt sang the National Anthem before the game.

I think Manny Mota struck out looking to end the game.

(stops to check)

Mota was the next to last out. Lopes struck out looking to end the game.

248 Is this 1977 or 1978?

224
Jon says denounce, you say renounce.

249
I went to Game 3 of the 1977 WS. I went to Game 6 of the 1978 WS. I went to Game 4 of the 1981 WS.

I also went to Game 4 of the 1981 DS, Game 2 of the 1981 NLCS, Game 2 of the 1995 DS, and Game 1 of the 1996 DS.

The Dodgers are 2-5 in postseason play when I show up.

249 - What year is it? It's like I'm watching "Lost" again.

250 i don't get it

246
Not to brag but the latest quote by Nomar just made me gag.
http://tinyurl.com/2mvpov

251 I believe I went to Game 2 of the 1977 LCS, Game 1 of the 1981 LCS and Game 3 of the 2006 DS.

The Dodgers are 1-2 when I show up at the playoffs.

I have a better record at Angel playoff games.

Little airtime for Loney, he was interviewed about his work with inner-city baseball, baserunning, last year's young vs. old conflict & the Dodger's "new" emphasis on fundamentals. He said under Torre he's "learned a few things he never even thought about before".

Hmm.

251 - I've lost count of the losses. At best, I'm 1-6.

254 Isn't this counter to what one of the Andrews says was the problem last year.

And I am not necessarily disagreeing with you either.

250 - I think someone's been watching a presidential debate.

Hopefully all these crappy at-bats by Lucille II will help keep him off our opening day bench. Then again, Abreu will have to actually play first before we can consider that.

I went to game 5 of the 1988 WS. I am 1-0 when watching the Dodgers in postseason play. I will be more than happy to attend this year's games as a good-luck charm.

258
I made it simplistic but I know we weren't winning because Nomar was in the lineup and playing like crap.

1st playoff game for me was Lima time. 0-2 since then.

263 was at that game 4 also, after jayson werth's 1st inning HR the place was eletric i thought we were going back to st louis.

264
Which is why I've haven't been fond of OP since then.

Wear the helmets and quit complaining!

251 I am 0-3.

1995: 7-2 loss to the Reds in Game 1 of the NLDS
1996: 3-2 loss to the Braves in Game 2 of the NLDS
2006: 9-5 loss to the Mets in Game 3 of the NLDS.

My dad got us tickets to Game 6 of the '88 Series, but we all know how that turned out.

Griffin slides like a pitcher.

The slide at home was prettier, though not necessary.

The inevitable "Hu's on first' joke as X. Paul looks to continue the 9th inning rally.

Little bobble on grounder, but game over.

Prepare your December minor bowl game attendance. The Pac-10 has dropped the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth in favor of the San Diego Federal Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.

I'm 1-0. Game 3 of the 1965 series.

edwin jackson had a goot outing today 2 ip 1 hit 2 k's

bedard got touched up by the giants split squad

2 ip 4 hits, 3 er, 2 bb, 1 so

Hey Andrew. Bacon cups!

http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2008/02/27/bacon-cups/

275 That would go nicely with bacon wrapped hot dogs and ground-bacon bacon burgers.

How do you take something so pure, so... true as a bacon cup, and then fill it with salad? Deeply disappointing. The good thing about that post, though, is that it looks like you could use the same basic theory to make bacon buckets. I will report back after experimenting.

Final score?

278- 10-3 ATL.

Thanks. Ugh!

The only improvement I could envision is chicken-fried bacon cups.

Marty, I wish you owned a catering truck. I'd eat off it every day.

Hasn't been a Godwin's Law violation round these parts in some time. I guess we were due.

Am I the only one to see the irony in the fact that Marty loves his life shortening artery clogging bacon cups but those dang base coaches better be wearing helmets to protect themselves from the billion - 1 possibility of getting whacked upside the head with a baseball that has eluded them for 100 years? I'm fairly certain I'd get better odds on the helmetless coach then Marty's lifespan from an actuarial expert. I wonder how Marty would feel if he was told by the how to live your life police that he could no longer indulge in bacon because they had decided what was best for him?

No bacon for you!

The "What if there were a world with no bacon" argument is by far the best argument advanced today.

If my boss tells me that I have to wear a dopey looking hat or lose my job, I will wear the dopey hat.

The issue isn't personal freedom. It isn't civil liberties. It is MLB telling its employees to wear a helmet. The Republic will stand

Also, as someone who has been accused of being a Nazi sleeper agent (very long story), but we spell it Fuhrer (if I could type an umlaut) or Fuerher.

Danke.

Mixed signals on Kuo:

http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/2008/02/kuo_to_the_bullpen_for_now.html

Bob, I would love to hear that story sometime. I can't believe where this discussion has gone today. We need some real games to start real soon.

288
It is one thing to accept a job knowing what the rules are. It is another to have the rules change once you've been working for 30 years. Isn't that why they came up with the term "grandfathered"? I guess the other gender was out of luck as usual.

Repko looks quite a bit more chubby this year than in the past to me.

I watched through the top of the 5th at lunch. LaRoche is hitting the ball hard and looks very comfortable out there. He made some nice plays at third too. Kuorda looks good, keeping the ball down. Loiza is being hit hard, his fast ball is up.

Now that I know how the rest of the game turns out, I think I will FFWD through the bottom of the 5th.

The good - Kuroda's sharp two innings of grounder-filled pitching
The bad - Loaiza's belt-high fest
The ugly - Miller's meltdown

Also, as someone who has been accused of being a Nazi sleeper agent

Look, I said I was sorry. Aren't you ever going to let it go?

291 - I guess the word "grandfathered" was grandfathered.

For the bacon sandwich, go here

http://dragonbreath.dk/Topics.html

285 ToyCannon looks like he never had a slice of bacon in his life so maybe he could live without it.

289 Joe wants 2 lefthanded guys in the pen, Kuo is out of options and if he can't be DLed, maybe he is trying to see if he can fit there. Kuo probably would be the 5th guy out of the pen so its not like he would have do it that often, maybe he would be the second lefty and emergency starter , long man.

295 Hmmm, could I ask you if you would let some comments go that I made and I would never utter them again?

290 Did you get your tickets?

288

Thank you. And when you say something like "greatly overexaggerated" again, I'll be sure to point it out next time.

Kevin's site reminds the that the first 45 rpm I ever bought, when I was 7 years old, with soda bottle money, had the hit song `Bacon Fat'
on it.

Not sure if my tastes have really grown much since then.