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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

Rocket Fuel Malt Liquor
2008-03-02 21:49
by Jon Weisman

In 352 plate appearances against the Dodgers last season, opposing pitchers had one extra-base hit - slugging .108 - notes Chris Jaffe of The Hardball Times after perusing Baseball-Reference.com:

Opposing hurlers hit an anemic .104/.133/.108 against them for an OPS of .241, the fourth-lowest ever. (And given how pitcher hitting has steadily declined over the decades, it probably really is the fourth-lowest in all history, not just since 1957.)

The best part? Did you notice that .104 batting average and .108 slugging percentage? Why yes, that isolated average of .004 is the lowest ever. In 352 plate appearances, they allowed one stinking double. That's it.

The slugging percentage is the second-lowest ever. The 1972 Orioles held other pitchers to a .106. It's also the 14th-lowest OBP. Sure, you're supposed to get the pitcher out, but one stinking double in 162 games? Damn!

Comments (59)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2008-03-02 22:03:05
1.   Bob Timmermann
It's all Hong-Chih Kuo's fault!
2008-03-02 22:03:42
2.   Greg Brock
Oh, Phil. How we miss you so.
2008-03-02 22:07:38
3.   StolenMonkey86
Our pitchers hit .152/.196/.218. Go us!
2008-03-02 22:20:04
4.   bhsportsguy
2 First, Jon, always, always can use a "Newsradio" reference.

Second, for those who have no idea what Jon's title means,

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3JpwjnMFlJI

2008-03-02 22:35:13
5.   bhsportsguy
2 "Would you read what's up as upbeat cheery salutation or more of low whispered greeting among intimates like (low) what's up?"
2008-03-02 22:37:14
6.   El Lay Dave
1 Ah, but he made up for it in his next start. Bat flip!
2008-03-02 22:37:25
7.   scooplew
Jon's post encouraged me to do some research about Dodger pitchers as hitters in L.A. I discovered that only three times in 50 seasons has a Dodger pitcher walked at least 10 times. Messersmith has the record with 11 walks in 1974. Remarkably, because he was such a bad hitter, Koufax is next with 10 walks in 1965, tied with Sutton, who had 10 walks in 1970. Koufax also fanned 386 times in 776 career ABs. He hit two homers in his career. Do you know who the pitchers were?
2008-03-02 22:46:44
8.   68elcamino427
Wow, what if Broxton could hit like Drysdale?
2008-03-02 22:47:16
9.   Dodgers49
>> In 352 plate appearances, they allowed one stinking double. <<

Funny, but I either watched or checked the play-by-play of virtually every Dodgers game last year and I don't remember who got that double. :-)

2008-03-02 23:50:31
10.   Sammy Maudlin
8 That would be Warren Spahn in 1962, and Denny Lemaster in 1963.
2008-03-02 23:58:28
11.   Andrew Shimmin
8- It was Peavy.

Rough game.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN200706070.shtml

2008-03-02 23:59:17
12.   Andrew Shimmin
That should be a 9, there, not an 8.
2008-03-03 00:04:34
13.   Bob Timmermann
"The Wire" season finale will NOT be on HBO On Demand tomorrow, so I will have to wait a week like all the other suckers.

But I guess I'll record the East Coast feed.

2008-03-03 01:09:17
14.   jasonungar07
Steve Garvey was my hero as a kid. I didn't know about OPS or fathering other kids. I was 9 in 1980. Anyhow..

Thanks Garv..

"This is a pivotal point for the next decade or two for the Dodgers," Garvey said. "They have to understand that this kind of talent doesn't come along all the time. It's cyclical."

http://www.dailybreeze.com/sports/ci_8432645

2008-03-03 06:14:40
15.   scooplew
10 Correct. Both Koufax and Willie Mays hit their first big league home runs off Warren Spahn. Unlike Mays, Koufax hit only one more.
2008-03-03 06:43:20
16.   Gen3Blue
Also from the article cited in 14, "Torre not pleased". OK, but this is spring training and he chose the ninth inning pitchers. He didn't have an expected starter blow up like the Mets did.
2008-03-03 07:11:33
17.   Bumsrap
Torre moves his office back to where Walter Alston's used to be before Lasorda moved it. Sounds like it will be closer to the players locker room. Maybe, like Alston, Torre will make it clear who is the boss even if he has to challenge a player to fight him.
2008-03-03 07:21:36
18.   JoeyP
I've noticed two things about the first 4 games for the Dodgers:

#1. Juan Pierre is 1-11.
#2. Dodgers have yet to hit a home run.

2008-03-03 07:23:54
19.   Bumsrap
18 Pierre has only had 11 at bats, his power should show up at any time now.
2008-03-03 08:10:26
20.   cargill06
tim kurjian is reporting at very best may 1st for jason schmidt, and he is saying one dodger offical is saying june.
2008-03-03 08:36:40
21.   ToyCannon
Mo Kuo is good, no?
2008-03-03 08:39:34
22.   Bumsrap
20 - That might be what is best for the Dodgers. They might get a great pitcher in June in Schmidt, and in the mean time find out more about Kuo, Loaiza, Park, Meloan.
2008-03-03 08:44:17
23.   cargill06
22 what about jason johnson????????????
2008-03-03 08:46:15
24.   Marty
I gotta go to Chicago next weekend. I almost always catch a cold when I fly. Is there anything that works for lessening the odds of getting a bug on a plane?
2008-03-03 08:49:56
25.   ToyCannon
Snakes on a plane should do the trick.
2008-03-03 08:50:17
26.   Bob Timmermann
24
I've found the hazmat suit to be particularly effective.

Does get the TSA guys a bit worried though.

2008-03-03 08:50:58
27.   Bob Timmermann
And since ToyCannon is here, Marty, I would have to say that we both know what the best protection against a cold will be:

a batting helmet.

2008-03-03 08:51:27
28.   Marty
You guys are killing me.
2008-03-03 09:00:13
29.   dkminnick
24 Marty, that Airborne stuff really works, in my opinion. Trader Joes.
2008-03-03 09:01:04
30.   regfairfield
23 He had a 4.35 ERA in Japan last year with a 4.14 K/9. He is not a good pitcher.
2008-03-03 09:01:42
31.   wronghanded
OK guys I need some insight here, I'm entering a second year of a keeper league with 12 teams and I'm only allowed to keep 4 players. I trust the insight on this blog to help me retain the right players, who should they be?

C: Saltalamaccia TEX
1B: Loney LAD
2B: Kendrick LAA
3B: Wright NYM
SS: Hardy MIL
OF: Vlad LAA
OF: Beltran NYM
OF: Kemp LAD
DH: Pence HOU

SP: Penny LAD
SP: Billingsley LAD
SP: Cain SF
SP: Francis COL
RP: Wagner NYM

2008-03-03 09:01:59
32.   LAT
Marty,

I know the Times did a piece in the Health section a couple of weeks ago debunking certian cold remedies but I usally take Airborn for a few days before during and after I fly and it does a pretty good job. It may all be in my head but I keep doing it as long as it works. You can find Airborn at any drug store. The other thing I do is use a nasal spray so my ears and nose don't fill up quite so much. Also drink plenty of water on the flight. Short of Bob's suggestion I think that's all you can do.

2008-03-03 09:02:32
33.   Penarol1916
24. We should be up to the upper 30's or even low 40's next weekend, lucky you.
2008-03-03 09:06:47
34.   cargill06
30 i was joking.
2008-03-03 09:06:49
35.   Brent Knapp
If our pitchers batted .152/.196/.218, and opposing pitchers batted 104/.133/.108, how many runs difference does that amount to? Is a difference of ten runs worth one win?
2008-03-03 09:08:27
36.   cargill06
31 wright, vlad, bills, than the 4th probably beltran but if you go a different way choose between kemp, loney or cain
2008-03-03 09:08:32
37.   still bevens
31 Hurts me to say it but I would walk away from Penny. His ERA-W/L record last year was betrayed by his diminishing K rate. It might have been the case of him being injured but it worries me.
2008-03-03 09:11:15
38.   regfairfield
31 Wright, Vlad, Kendrick, Pence.

I really don't like keeping pitchers in fantasy that aren't Johan or Peavy.

2008-03-03 09:13:14
39.   wronghanded
38 No Loney or Kemp? What do they project to do this season?
2008-03-03 09:15:45
40.   underdog
I know I'm a biased Dodger fan and all, but y'all would keep both Pence and Kendrick over either Loney or Kemp? I know there's not enough room to take both of the latter two, but I'd take one of them over Pence or Kendrick. And Wright and Vlad. Or if you want to keep one pitcher, I'd take Cain or Bills over Penny.
2008-03-03 09:16:16
41.   regfairfield
39 I think Loney is way overrated in fantasy this year. He doesn't have enough power to be a productive first baseman. Pence seems like a safer bet than Kemp, it's more likely to me that he'll have a productive season for an outfielder.
2008-03-03 09:17:53
42.   Brent Knapp
24 32 I take 2-3 packets of emergencee every day and I haven't gotten a significant cold/flu in at least 3 years. If I ever feel a sickness coming on I take some every 4-5 hours and I seem to avoid the illness. I don't think it's my imagination, it really works for me. Try taking some the nite before you fly, while you're flying, and after the flight.
2008-03-03 09:18:20
43.   wronghanded
40 It's tough because I made the mistake of overloading my roster with young talent last season. Loney and Kemp are awesome and I'd love to keep them but do they project to have a better season than Pence?
2008-03-03 09:18:36
44.   cargill06
41 i've seen a couple projections of loney at .300+ 20 hr+ and 100 rbi+ decent walk rate score some runs and doesn't k a lot. he's worth a fantasy spot it my eyes.
2008-03-03 09:21:03
45.   wronghanded
41 Thanks for the advice, its hard for me to take my Dodger blinders off but in reality, I just want to win. I will just be heartbroken though if Kemp or Loney go bananas this year but its about keeping premium young players in this league.
2008-03-03 09:21:51
46.   Marty
Thanks DK and LAT. I'm off to Trader Joes.
2008-03-03 09:22:52
47.   underdog
Diamond Leung:
>>Tony Abreu won't be ready for game action until this weekend, according to Joe Torre. Abreu has weakness in his right leg after undergoing offseason surgery to repair a torn abdominal muscle. It's especially not good news for Abreu because that [sic] assuming he'll play by the weekend, Torre will only get a few games to watch him before heading off to China.<<

I don't think Tony's gonna make the opening day roster unless he quickly gets healthy and someone else gets hurt. That's okay, playing everyday in AAA when he's healthy and being there if LA needs him is for the best.

2008-03-03 09:23:19
48.   MC Safety
24 Go buy some Airborne. I like Pink Grapefruit.
2008-03-03 09:23:53
49.   kngoworld
24 Zicam makes these cold remedy Cotton Gel Swabs that are essentially Q-tips dunked in gooey medicine. Very easy to use, just swipe the inside of your nostrils with swabs at the onset of a cold and they usually do the trick. I would imagine that using these before getting on the plane might act as a good defense. It takes a little getting used to the wet feeling inside your nose at first.
2008-03-03 09:24:28
50.   MC Safety
And no I did not see 29 . dkminnick knows his medicine.
Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2008-03-03 09:24:55
51.   GobiasIndustries
47
It would be for the best if it means D.Young is assured of a roster spot now :)
2008-03-03 09:26:44
52.   MC Safety
Ok, I was really late. LAT knows his medicine too.
2008-03-03 09:28:33
53.   ToyCannon
31
Categories? 4 by 4 or 5 by 5 or some other unique setup. I'm going to assume 5 by 5.

Since it is a mixed league I would not keep any pitchers. Typically you would not draft a pitcher until the 7th round because it is easy to build a staff later in a mixed league with only 12 teams. Using the Average Draft Position from Mockdraftcentral.com you can see how roto drafts are going this spring.
Wright is a 1st round pick
Beltran has been going on average with the 18th pick so he would be considered a 2nd rounder.
Vlady has been going 21 so another 2nd rounder.
Final Guy should be between Pence and Kemp. Since the steals and home runs will be the scarce commodities in 2008, you want someone who can give you both and they both do that.
Hunter Pence has been going 68 which is for you a 6th-7th round pick. Kemp has been going 119th mainly because of playing time questions. Since it is a keeper league Kemp does offer the unique power/speed combination. Pence will get you steals but I think Kemp will end up with double the steals of Pence with close to the same home runs. Since your a Dodger fan I'd take Kemp, just because it will be fun to root for him.

2008-03-03 09:31:41
54.   MC Safety
Brett Knapp must be recognized as well. Next time I'll read the whole post guys. I hate Mondays.
2008-03-03 09:32:32
55.   wronghanded
53 Great info thanks!
2008-03-03 09:36:41
56.   MC Safety
Hey Regfairfield, who do you think will have the best year out of Adam Jones, Justin Upton and Matt Kemp?
2008-03-03 09:41:15
57.   regfairfield
56 Kemp. I wouldn't be surprised if Jones struggled in the first half since his strike out rate was pretty high last year, and Upton is still very raw. You can pencil in Kemp for .290/20/15 this year I think, and those would be considered very good years from the other two.
2008-03-03 09:42:54
58.   ToyCannon
As Jon alluded to yesterday, the playing of D Young in the infield this spring has been the best surprise so far. Ever since I started following D Young all I heard was that he can't play defense. Imagine my surprise when two years after he was removed from the deuce, he comes back and sparkles. Maybe it was the DP he struggles with but after watching Jeff Kent play 2nd in 2007 how could D Young be any worse? The difference between Young as a 2nd baseman and Young as corner outfielder is huge, because his bat will play plenty at 2nd compared to the corner.

I wonder who had the voice that convinced the current coaching staff to give him another shot at the infield. Was it Torre? Bowa? White? Ned? DeYoung? Kim? Whoever it was should be patting themselves on the back.

2008-03-03 09:45:39
59.   Jon Weisman
New post up top.

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