While I'm open to many other parking tips, I understand that the Dodgers are to operate a shuttle from Dodger Stadium to the Coliseum. I'll see if I can find details and post a link or something...

I asked yesterday, and nobody gave me any warnings, so I'm thinking the Metro bus from Santa Monica to the Coliseum will be safe and reliable? I might bus it there and get ride with friends to get home.

398 Hilarious. As my Dad and I were driving home from Palm Springs the other day, this comes out his non-baseball fan mouth:

"So are you pretty excited the Dodgers got the best manager in the game?"

Sigh. But then he dropped this bombshell on me.

"Juan Pierre wishes he had half the skills Rickey Henderson had, best leadoff guy of all time."

Turns out my Dad was once a 4.4 running speedy CF himself, who actually got the concept of getting on base=scoring runs. That was pretty exciting for me because I barely ever see my Dad, and he never talks about baseball.

I'm parking at Dodger Stadium and taking the shuttle. Back is all I'm worried about, but I will be in no real hurry. I'm sure there will be bacon wrapped hot dogs around to help me pass the time.

It's a shame to hear about Beltre, even when he was disappointing, he was fun to watch. Part of me still wishes he was in Dodger Blue.

Ethier, 25, has more power, a better arm and will drive in more runs, tools that would make him more valuable off the bench.

Thanks to Kevin Baxter I have realized that Andruw Jones would be more valuable off the bench than Pierre. Problem solved.

"The Dodgers also announced that beginning at 11 a.m. on the day of the game, fans can park for free at Dodger Stadium, and a shuttle service will continue between the stadium and the Coliseum until 11:30 p.m. For parking reservations, fans can call Dodgers guest services at (323) 224-1507. This will enable the organization to know how many cars will be parking at the stadium for the event."

http://tinyurl.com/3ccege

Don't bother calling to tell them you will be parking at the stadium, the "mail box is full and cannot accept messages at this time."

I would take the Dodger Stadium shuttle but I am very worried that the trip back to the stadium will be a long one as everybody who parked there clamors to get on a returning shuttle. I still have a long drive to get home and don't want to be out all night long. I will probably just arrive real early for the Fan Fest and pay whatever the outrageous rate is near the Coliseum. I am prepared for a $30 parking rate. Heck, I paid over $80 per ticket. Too bad there is no subway line. That was the great thing about going to see an A's game while in college in the Bay area. You could just hop on BART and get off right by the stadium. No parking hassle whatsoever.

vr, Xeifrank

9 There are a few things that are advantageous about living in the Bay Area... And while I do love it here, I do miss the Dodgers.... sigh.

7 Do they know that the Red Sox are playing in this game? And that leftfield will have Little League dimensions? I don't see the game ending before 11:30, much less having everybody shuttled back to Dodger Stadium.

My plan is to park a car in the vicinity of the Coliseum way ahead of time for the trip home. I'll either ride the DS shuttle to the game, or take the Blue Line from downtown to the Washington stop near Figueroa, and walk from there. Its probably little over a mile.

Wow...KCRW is playing a really old Pulp song right now.

I have a plan similar to Jacob's except my confederates are going to park on the USC campus. We'll get dropped off near the Coliseum and then drive the car back.

I knew that hanging out with USC alums would pay off in the longterm.

Public transportation is the only civilized way to get to and from sporting events. Unfortunately, this is an area in which Los Angeles is sadly lacking behind the rest of the world. What a shame they couldn't build the Blue Line within decent walking distance of USC and Expostiion Park.

Any idea on how difficult it might be to cab it back to the Stadium?

15 Hard to say, Coliseum area is not one where you find a lot of cabs cruising around for fares.

13 I have a similar plan too, park there at USC or Coliseum in the morning, take a bus home (I already checked out my route) then either get another ride or bus back later that day.

14 Absolutely agreed, but I'll reiterate - the blue line stop on Washington near Fig is a walk no doubt - but eminently doable. When I went to a UCLA game at the Rose Bowl this year, I shuttled down from the Gold Line to the Stadium, but walked back. I never would have known it was possible until I tried it.

6 - yes, let's keep a guy who is entering his prime, who could probably hit somewhere around 30 homeruns on the bench so a guy who can hit approximately zero homeruns can play every day.

The first version of this comment had a lot of Rule 1 violations. I mean a lot.

15 If you can walk over to the Bonaventure, you could probably find one. Should only take you an hour or so.

We have 8 people going in an SUV. $50 Parking divided by 8 people = not so bad.

I have an added wrinkle, which is: I must be home, in the South Bay, by 10:45. Babysitter cannot stay past 11. Yes, I realize that I will be leaving the game early. Such is one of the many sacrifices that I will make for Spawn of Kavula.

So, since I'll be leaving the game at 9:45 or so, regardless of whether it's over, will the shuttle work for me? That is, will the shuttle REALLY be constant through the evening? Or should I drop $30 for parking somewhere near the Coliseum? Or is there another option I'm not considering?

If it matters, I am planning on leaving the South Bay at about 5 p.m.

Parking will be $25 and this link shows the various lots. I'm thinking of parking at USC and plan on getting there around noon.

http://tinyurl.com/3xm6yf

21 - I bet the shuttle will be constant, but I'd be afraid to use it if I weren't leaving early - that is, unless I really didn't care when I got home.

23 - But maybe I'm paranoid.

23 Thanks.

The phone number in 7 is now accepting messages. I've left a message with my phone number and asked someone to call me back. We'll see.

22. Thanks. I just printed that out.
vr, Xei

I have faith in my USC connection since they have been going to football games there since the McKay era.

They even stuck out the reigns of John Robinson II and Paul Hackett

You're not paranoid Jon. People are out to get you.

We discussed this at the last Trilateral Commission meeting.

Walking from the Vermont/King Blvd bus stop to the Coliseum at 4pm--is it safe?

How 'bout walking back to the bus stop at Midnight after the game? And the transfer stop at Vermont/Wilshire?

It's been years since I've been there, and my impression of the area is not positive. Thinking LA Story.

24

I would be paranoid about putting that much faith in a system that has not even had a first run

27 I really miss Paul Hacket

There will be a big crowd of people at those bus stops. Steet gangs aren't going to hassle a crowd of people they don't know that large.

At 4 pm on a Saturday you should have no trouble.

Remember that 90000 or so USC fans go to games without incident.

32 Thanks for the reassurance, Bob. I'm glad I won't have to worry about a Cobras vs Panthers street fight.

Update on 21 :

As we live pretty much on the Green Line, I am considering public transportation. Going to the Metro site, I see that I can take the Green Line to something called the Harbor Freeway/I-105 station, and from there, catch Metro Bus 445 to the Coliseum.

This is probably the most convenient plan for us... but public transpo, especially in that part of L.A., has such a bad reputation as being an unsafe thing to do. I don't know if this reputation is deserved or blown out of proportion. If anyone has any insight, I'd appreciate it. Avoiding the traffic is something that seems worth doing.

Is this the lineup I will see on the 31st

Today's starting lineup in their last exhibition game in Arizona.

Pierre, LF
Furcal, SS
Kemp, RF
Loney, 1B
Jones, CF
Martin, C
Abreu, 2B
DeWitt, 3B
Penny, P

If Kent is healthy, I would expect to see Kent at 2B and Abreu at 3B, who know what the OF situation will be.

i was really encouraged watching kuroda for the first time last night, he's pretty nasty. His fastball was consistantly 92-93 touching 94-95. his sinker at times looks unhittable, and he's got pretty good command of the zone. may just be a homer opinion but i'd rather have kuroda than dice-k even if they both cost the same. when you factor in price no doubt in my mind kuroda.

34 I would expect more ridership since there will be more than a few of you from the game, I rode it on a Saturday evening a few years ago and it was fine.

35. Sulk and ye shall get what thou wants.
vr, Xei

35 Is Ethier staring off in the darkness right now?

6 If only we could have signed A-rod, we might have ourselves the greatest bench player sset of all time. Oh well, I guess Ethier will have to do.

I thought Dave Roberts was pretty valuable as a pinch runner in the 2004 World Series.

O/T book recommendation: "Praying for Gil Hodges: A Memoir of the 1955 World Series and One Family's Love of the Brooklyn Dodgers"

http://preview.tinyurl.com/26oo3k

It's by Tom Oliphant, the political columnist. He was nine or ten that year and lived or died with the Dodgers.

It's got some annoying typos, as though the copyeditor let some tears blur his/her vision while remembering that era, but it's still entertaining.

All media covering the game are being told to park at Dodger Stadium and take a shuttle. There is no media parking at the Coliseum for the game.

Does anyone know what the TV situation is with the Coliseum game on Saturday? Is it going to be televised nationally?

I see UCLA is lined up to play in the regional finals on Saturday, as well. My DVR may be pulling double duty.

39

He needs to rest from all the total bases he had this spring. You can't expect him to recover too quickly from being on base so much.

42. Good! Let them eat cake!! :)
vr, Xei

38 both guys aren't handling the situation very professionaly. i understand pierre's frestration he's been a starter basically his whole career and after a normal season for him he's being booter from his normal position and now maybe starting. i can also understand ethier's frestration he's done nothing but perform at the big league level and has yet to get a fair shake. but both guys aren't handling the situation very well, here's ethiers quote from last night.

"This is how my career has been," said Ethier, who was acquired from Oakland for Milton Bradley two years ago. "Oakland didn't think I could help them out. I came here and did it. I know I can play every day and help. They must not believe it, that's just the way I see it.

"I see plenty of teams out there giving guys a chance. I understand Los Angeles is a whole different market. There are expectations. So, the last two years I've had to open eyes enough for them to believe I'm capable. I know I had to have a big spring -- they told me I had to have a big spring -- to play every day. Sometimes you need a kick in the butt or a chip on your shoulder to bring out the best in you."

On suspect neighborhoods, ball parks and public transportation: back in 1992 I went to a night game at New Comiskey on the South Side of Chicago. Being out-of-town convention-goers we were a little concerned about it until somebody pointed out that there would be 40,000 of us leaving the game at about the same time, many of us in groups of 100 or so heading for the same EL station.

So Bob's point at 32 makes sense to me.

43 The Dodger game is being showed locally on Channel 9.

47 Last year, I took the subway from Midtown Manhattan to the Bronx to see 2 Yankee games, 1 afternoon, 1 evening. Again, basically the same situation, the subway was packed so there were not any problems.

But I also took the subway and walked around New York at all hours, I think I only took a cab once.

Ibleedbloo may be on to something...

46. Sounds like Ethier's handling it well if that's the worst thing he has said. Most importantly, he is right!
vr, Xei

33
I'd worry more about the Warriors. I hear they're headed to Coney Island for a big brawl.

51 hmm, it seems like he is sulking to me in that quote. a lot of complaining about how no one believes in him and talking more about himself than the team.

The quick and dirty of it is: Ethier is right. Pierre is not worthy of starting.

54. Yep! vr, Xei

54 While that's true, there's also such a thing as taking the high road and not complaining to newspaper reporters.

I mean, isn't that why Ethier has an agent? In private conversations with management, he and his agent can tell the Dodgers just what they think. The agent can also talk up his client in the paper -- that is his job. But for Ethier to say it... well, I wouldn't want to work alongside a guy who was quoted in the newspaper as saying he'd be better at my job than I am.

46 , 53 - I wouldn't call what Ethier is saying "sulking." He's calling it how he sees it. Lots of teams (like, say, the defending NL Champs) are giving young guys a shot and doing well. But the Dodgers have a bad paradigm and are blocking the better player for reasons we can only speculate.

And he's also just pointing out that he's done everything they told him he's had to do to get the job every day.

56 exactely, that's all i'm trying to say is both guys arent' handling the situation very well at all. it's not about who's right or wrong.

53
At his age every year he sits on the bench takes millions from his pocket. When he plays he may care about the team but when he sits he knows he's losing money. JP has his money, so when he sulks he's just being a hard working sulker. The veterans who tell him to suck it up and worry about the team also already have their millions. At this point in his career Kent only cares about winning, I doubt that is all he cared about when he was 24 and trying to win a starting job with Toronto.

56. True, but what if he was obviously right. That analogy can be easily twisted around the other direction.
vr, Xei

56 - pro sports is not like the real world. It's not like Ethier can quit his job and go play for another team. Nor can he go start his own team.

Plus, to play any sport at a high level, you have to believe that you are better than everyone else. Even if all the evidence is to the contrary. And here, it's not.

Lastly, sometimes comments like this are needed in the media, it's the only way to get through to management.

56
If Ethier is not starting he couldn't care less about whose feathers he ruffles. He needs to play and if is not in LA then somewhere else. Nothing will get him traded quicker then creating a problem as I'm sure his agent has suggested.

53 The topic of discussion is Ethier. (A reporter approaches Ethier and asks him about his place on the team.) It would be impossible for Ethier to discuss Ethier by discussing "the team."
Reporter: Do you think you should start in LF?
TeamPlayer: It doesn't matter who plays, anyone with Dodgers on their jersey will play winning baseball, via magic.

62

We can't have ETHIER traded. I don't think that will happen. It's fairly obvious that Ethier is the better player, and I think even Tommy Lasorda and Joe Torre know as much.

Now why would either of them be swayed by what some goofball one setence paragraph writer spews from his laptop?

[57} I came here and did it. I know I can play every day and help. They must not believe it, that's just the way I see it.

To me that's sulking. You're not helping anything at all by saying that you should be playing over another guy.

Of couse Ethier is frustrated. Of course Pierre is frustrated. Of course the fans are frustrated. I'm frustrated. Torre needs to make the obvious decision and soon. This "competition" has dragged on well past its obvious completion.

Now why would either of them be swayed by what some goofball one setence paragraph writer spews from his laptop?

Because their boss thinks that a lot of people in LA care about what that goofball writes. Their boss thinks that enough people agree with or are influenced by the goofball and that will affect the team's bottom line.

Now, Torre being Torre and Lasorda being Lasorda, there's probably only so much they care about what McCourt thinks, except that they might also think, "Hey, it's his team. Whatever."

67

Dang did I have a spelling error? Aw man... it's "sentence" not "setence".

65. Which "other" guy does he say he should be starting over?
vr, Xei

62 Excellent Observation!
For me, you have identified the essence of the argument.
Will push come to shove?

Don't know about sulking -- Ethier does a good job of talking about himself instead of tearing down a team mate. Saying "I want to play and think I have proven myself." might contain hubris, but I don't see the sulk. Sulking is sitting in front of your locker with your head down while your team mates are on the field.

Really, I think Ethier does a great job keeping his frustration bottled. Sure, what he says has a read-between-the-lines quality--if I were him, I sure as hell wouldn't want to play for this organization at present--but he doesn't "sulk" or mouth off openly etc.

What's really frustrating about all this is that it's unlikely to be "resolved," until JP is either traded (unlikely) or craters so completely he sits down for good. We're going to see more of him this year than we want, regardless.

What a disaster that signing was. Worse by the hour, and until or unless we're rid of the guy completely, I just don't see any resolution possible.

69 99% of people reading that would assume he's saying he should be playing every day and Pierre should be the odd man out, and it's a pretty safe assumption. Let's not our "favorites" get in the way. If I told you that Ethier is going up to Torre complaining about PT maybe you people would be saying good for Ethier making himself visable and letting people know how bad he wants it.
Like I said the fact is both guys are handling the situation very unprofessionally and this could become a major problem in the clubhouse.

73. Well, you editorialized his quote and used it against him, so I had to call you on it.
vr, Xei

What's he supposed to say if a reporter asks him this? That he doesn't care who starts and is probably not the guy for the job anyway? I'm glad he said this - this way it's crystal clear that he'll have a serious problem if he's not starting.

3 . Maybe it was due to the local influence of the Wills/Koufax era Dodgers, but growing up in Southern California during the early 1960's, my coaches always stressed the importance of just getting on, as in "just get on, kid". Another factor in my particular case might have been the knowledge that the pitchers were wild and my chances of actually connecting bat to ball were nil.

73, etc, in my book Pierre is the 5th best outfielder.

73-I beg to differ. I think Ethier is handling the situation in the most professional way imaginable: by beating the tar out of every baseball thrown anywhere nearby. Pierre, on the other hand...

Look, this is a problem. There's no point pretending that it isn't. Both of them firmly believe they should be playing every day. There's nothing wrong with that, the problem is, only one of them has the game to prove it. At this point, it's incumbent upon management to solve the problem correctly, and no longer with smokescreens about how "this is a great problem to have." We're in a tough, tough, tough division. If McCourt, NedCo and Torre want to compete within it, they're going to have to do the right thing. All the rings in a box in the world won't change that simple fact.

I'm up for a promotion at work where they would give me much more responsibility. I'm really good at what I do and I think I can help the company. Not only that, but two years from now if I show that I'm worthy, I might receive a tenfold raise that will set me and my family up for life.

The only problem is that they're afraid to give me the responsibility because just last year they hired some hotshot from out of town. He's already making the big salary and is set for life. And while his performance is OK, it's clearly not what's best for the company because my contributions would be much greater.

How can I help my company and set up my family for life without getting an opportunity?

So a guy that hangs around the office came up to me in the hallway and asked, "Hey I-I, don't you think you should get that promotion?" And I say, "Yes I do. I've done exactly what the company has asked of me, my performance is excellent and I think I deserve that promotion."

Does that make me unprofessional?

As it stands right now, I'm almost positive that the Dodgers are going to open the season with an Ethier-Pierre rotation in LF, and whichever one avoids a prolonged slump will begin getting most of the playing time. I think everyone realizes by now that Kemp is simply too good to platoon, although I worry that our knee-jerk management will use any 0-for-12 stretch as justification to include him in the rotating outfield. I have to believe that the talk of Pierre being a full-timer because Ethier is "more valuable off the bench" is pure PR-speak, to maintain Pierre's value as trade bait.

I doubt very seriously that Pierre would accept an exclusive bench role. It's not like his skills have diminished any since he signed that contract. His 2007 season was a carbon copy of his 2006 season. He did what he was supposed to do, and him being benched would be the Dodgers' tacit acknowledgement to the world that "yeah, this guy really is overrated after all." Pierre would demand a trade (and who would blame him?), and his trade value would plummet even lower than it already is. As it is, his contract makes him virtually untradeable unless the Dodgers eat a huge portion of it.

I'm tired of hearing that the OF logjam is "a good problem to have." This problem sucks. No matter what the decision ends up being, there's going to be at least one player with his nose out of joint.

I agree with what Jon has been saying all along, there is no reason to trade Juan Pierre. If he wants to sit in front of his locker and look sad, that is his problem. The Dodgers are not in the business of keeping everyone happy, they are in the business of winning ballgames.

And, realistically, no one is going to take Juan Pierre, even if the Dodgers kicked a great deal money. And finally, there given how the Dodgers lost their two top 3B in a span of 30 minutes, I don't think the Dodgers will be comfortable with the prospects of either Repko or Young being in line to replace one of the starting threesome if Pierre was dealt.

I really like what I've seen of DeWitt.
I wonder if they have considered him as a second baseman?
LaRoche and Dewitt in the same lineup next year could add some serious power potential.

67

But history shows they can trade away favorites and the people will keep on coming. I hope someone in the front office realizes they can make a move that might upset the casual fan, but the seats will keep being filled. Pierre's contract will be paid for, whether he is on the team or not.

82 He was a second baseman as recently as last year. He isn't any more because he's very bad at it. From what I saw in limited action, he's not all that good at third either.

I don't think Bill Plaschke owns/uses a laptop.

I think he scrawls his columns on used hot dog napkins, blotted with mustard, and then takes them to an intern at the Times and forces him/her to type it on "that computer doo-dad."

82 That's funny because Dewitt has never been considered a big power hitter. And as noted above 84 , the 2B experiment ended quickly.

Rob Neyer ranks the top 50 players in baseball over the next five years. Martin and Kemp make the list at 33 and 49. Neyer would rather have Melky Cabrera than Kemp.

http://tinyurl.com/3b9pla

75 I don't write the line-up card, if I'm in the line-up I'll play to the best of my ability, if not I'll prepare and always be ready and do whatever I can to help the team.

85
But he does go to Communion!

88 Ethier doing everything he can (whining) to get himself in the lineup is probably the most valuable thing he can do.

88 haven't any of you seen bull durham???

[84 86]
It will be fun to see how he progresses.
Right now, he is raking the ball.
It looks like he has taken some big steps this spring.

88

That seems much easier to say if you are not playing baseball every single day and in the situation that Ethier is in. I understand your point about being professional, but I think Ethier is just saying what everyone knows, and he is doing it without belittling Pierre. I am impressed that more frustration and anger has not come out in his comments, because if I were him, I would be pissed about this...especially since he felt the same response from the Oakland management. "Just put me on a team where I can play" is what I would be saying. Yea, he wants to play for a champion, but he also wants to earn what he is due in this league, and he won't be able to do that for his family by sitting on the bench.

91

Yes, but not enough to recognize the line...especially since it is a cliche in this sport.

I can't believe we're discussing Pierre's feelings. There's no crying in baseball. A man accepts a certain level of scrutiny when he sells himself to the highest bidder. There was an alternate path for JP to go down, but he chose this one. These are the consequences. He will just have to console himself with the big mountains of $100 bills that fill his house.
You know, I used to like Pierre. I used to watch him play for the Marlins and wish the Dodgers could have someone like that. I still wish the Dodgers could have someone like that. Too bad Pierre's not it.

I think honestly, Pierre could contribute if he felt "comfortable." But that conditional contribution is not the mark of a champion. The mark of a champion is when challenged, you come out and play like Babe Ruth for a month.

Can't help but wonder if the chip on Ethier's shoulder and the best baseball of his career are a coincidence or not.

In Pierre's mind he probably think he deserves to start just as in Ethier's mind he think he deserves to start. I'm just curious why Pierre is being viewed as whining and Ethier is being viewed as a guy who is just showing how bad he wants to play?

Like I've said they're bothing handling the situation poorly and are both wrong IMHO.

Torre's lineups are starting to resemble Grady Little's daily keno game. I want to think that Torre is just bending over backwards to prove to Pierre and the world that he gave Pierre a fair shake. The alternative is we really are heading into an April/May LF job-share. Option C is the Kevin Baxter case where Ethier's skills are better suited off the bench.

I think at some point in the not to distant future all of the gnashing about playing time will be moot as someone is bound to get hurt. Kind of reminds of the LaRoche/Nomar debate.

In all likely hood more then one will get hurt and we will go from a plethora of choices to not enough.

93 we're talking about a guy who's averaged 473 PA in his 1st 2 big league seasons it's not like he's been the occasional PH, he's played a fair share.

Jake (NY, NY): Eric, Any thoughts on Andre Ethier's monster spring?

SportsNation Eric Karabell: (3:30 PM ET ) Yeah, he's looking like a steal for those who got him a few weeks ago very late in drafts. At this point I think most people agree he's going to play quite a bit, so it hurts his sleeper status, but he's got some pop, hits for average. Juan Pierre might not pay so much.

98 I think it's fair to wait until after Torre starts making lineups without Blake Dewitt's name before we start criticizing him.

Torre is a proven winner.
Pierre will cry all the way to the bank.
Ethier, Jones, and Kemp will need a day off here and there.
Pinch hitting to lead off an inning.
This is where Pierre will see most of his time on the field, unless one of the others gets hurt.

For non-Southern Californian Dodger fans: Answering my own question in 43 , the Saturday game at the Coliseum is going to be televised by NESN. If you get that on your cable/satellite, you're in luck.

Were it not for the darned China trip, Torre might have a more confident grasp of what to do, but as it is, he's barely seen either of them play. I fully expect them to split starts through April. After that we'll see if the longer trend matches the anectdotal numbers of spring. The wild card is how JP will react to the end of the streak, which now seems to be inevitable.

"I see plenty of teams out there giving guys a chance. I understand Los Angeles is a whole different market. There are expectations. So, the last two years I've had to open eyes enough for them to believe I'm capable. I know I had to have a big spring -- they told me I had to have a big spring -- to play every day. Sometimes you need a kick in the butt or a chip on your shoulder to bring out the best in you."

I don't interpret this as a complaint, a sulk, an accusation, or a lack of team-spirit. Ethier's expressing gratitude for the management giving him "a kick in the butt" and expressing pride that he rose to the challenge. This is a competitive group of people, not a reunion of It's a Beautiful Day. They're going to talk about themselves in terms of challenges met.

If the team decides that Pierre's "old school," "intangible" playing style is what they need, I hope Ethier will be traded. He is a solid player. He ought to be starting somewhere. If he does well, it will be a costly but valuable lesson to Colletti and McCourt. (Plaschke is unteachable.)

You know who would just kill to get Andre? The Giants. I wonder if there's a good pitcher or two somewhere in their AA ranks. I know it's heresy, but if Ethier is traded, I want it to hurt.

The only thing I'd worry about with Ethier is if he pulled a Hope Solo* and was more overtly critical of his counterpart in Pierre and of the manager, rather than just pointing out how he feels he's done all he can to start. If he went down that tactless route he'd cause more upheaval and give himself a bad name. But he hasn't, so that's good. This will all sort itself out over the next couple of months, if not before.

* http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=hill/070928

Professionalism only goes so far. I'd be more worried if Ethier was saying, "Well, I guess I haven't done enough to prove that I should be playing every day."

What Ethier is doing is stating the blindingly obvious - they told him he had to have a great spring; he had a great spring. They told him he needed to contribute; he contributed. Now they aren't saying the job is his; he's rightfully frustrated.

It's not sulking, it's not whining. It's being competitive and confident.

And don't forget, as Dodger fans especially, we all know where nice guys finish.

106 You know who would just kill to get Andre? The Giants.

Prince Humperdink?

106 You had me nodding in agreement until your last paragraph. Let's not punish us in order to punish management!

106 Assuming Sabean is realistic about his teams chances, Ethier wouldn't be on the next good Giants team. Also, Henry Sosa is the only worthwhile arm they have, and you couldn't trade him for Ethier.

Maybe Ethier for Jonathan Sanchez or Noah Lowry, but even that's pushing it.

Saito is headed to the DL reports Diamond.

What does that mean for the pen?

Closer: Broxton
Set-up: Proctor
LH Situational: Beimel
Middle relief: Seanez
Middle/Long relief: Kuo
Long relief: Park

That's my guess.

105 I thought about that last night, that trip really hurt the team in that sense (also, the Padres re-assigned Headley instead of letting him play LF).

I think Joe is trying to see all the bullpen possibilities and middle infield guys, I think he has an idea of what he will do with the OF but its not like he is going to just play 3 outfielders in the remaining few exhibition games.

On a positive, non-Juan related note... from today's BP chat:

Wendy (DC): Any thoughts on Clayton Kershaw? Spring stats don't mean much, but he's looked good. Any chance he's the best pitching prospect at the end of the year?

Christina Kahrl: His spring performance has been strong enough to put him in the Dodgers' rotation picture in April, which would have seemed incredible just two months ago, but as you know, he is that talented. Add in being left-handed, and there's an argument right now that he's the best pitching prospect around right now, regardless of rookie status or eligibility or any of that. If his rookie status gets expended this year, that doesn't change, any more than it does for Joba Chamberlain or Clayton Buchholz; they're just an exceptional trio of talents any of us would wish to have on our favorite team for the next ten years.

Taking names out of it..Do you go into the season planning to platoon out your leadoff hitter and the moving your 2 hole guy to leadoff etc?? I don't think Torre will do that..

Emphasis not mine, actually.

97-It's simple. Pierre is "whining" because nothing he's done indicates he should be starting. There's no evidence he's working on the improvable weakness in his game--pitch recognition, taking a walk--nor any proof he's stepping up his performance. Ethier, on the other hand, is walking the walk. If Pierre did the same, if he was hitting .330 with an OBP of .385 or so, he'd have every right to complain.

112 I think this allows Saito the chance to rehab, pitch in some AAA/single A games to work out the kinks for a few games and then hopefully be back by the second week of the season.

I wonder if Meloan will get a call back this weekend?

118 Meloan is doubtful. I think they want him to start in the minors.

It's funny that I was pimping Troncoso yesterday and he then gets shelled.

112 Bummer. But better a healthy Sammy for the long haul this year then push him too fast. The real bummer is the idea that it gives Seanez a spot, but you may be right with that hierarchy. The others seem like locks. And Myers and Troncoso looked terrible and not ready, respectively, yesterday, and Yhency is too porky. And since they're not giving someone like Hull or Meloan a chance (yet), by default it seems Seanez.

112 i hope it's not an arm injury. his velo is reported to be way down this spring.

So, who's going to start at 3b? Abreu?

117 Whether or not people agree with this, Pierre was not the one who had to prove anything this spring, he has an established track record and short of injury, you could probably pencil in what his numbers will be at the end of the year.

Now, if you decide that you have better options than that, so be it. But I don't think JP walking more, having a power surge or developing a rocket arm was going to change the scenario this spring. Unfair as it may seem, it was all on Ethier (and to a small extent, Kemp) to come in this spring, be professional and perform.

They did that, and now Joe Torre and staff will decide those players fates for the 2008 season.

I'll be honest, I have a feeling of dread regarding Saito this year. I think he's been living on borrowed time the past couple of seasons, and this might be the year when the bottom drops out.*

*-(Pun intended. He has a buttocks injury.)

Anyone have reason to believe that there is truth in what TMR is saying below?!?

Frank (Boston): Can you elaborate on C-Bills injury? Is it just a tight groin or somethign wtih more long term implications like a shoulder or elbow??

SportsNation Matthew Berry - The Talented Mr. Roto: (3:17 PM ET ) Long term stuff - like this year. Was told off the record, so can't elaborate but there's a reason I have him listed as a bust

125 this is the worst day of my life.

126 Cheer up, I survived the day Magic Johnson announced he was HIV positive (and happily Magic has done great since then).

125 Will Carroll has hinted towards this assumption about Billingsley for the last year or two.

125 where is that chat?

125 So a fantasy guru has more inside knowledge than any reporter or scout? Gosh, I think I'll wait 'til I hear a bit more about this before deciding on the implications.

cargill, you must have had a pretty great life so far. ;-)

129 Exactly. I'm pretty sure Matt Berry is an expert because one day he started a website and said "I'm an expert".

Saito is the type of player that dose not push-it if he dose not have to I'm sure once the adrenaline of a real game hits his body it will be a different story.

My guess? His "off-the-record" source is Will Carroll.

129 , 130 - where's bills velocity been?

127
I didn't, I'm just a shell of my former self.

Someone in another thread said they had never heard Chick do the play by play of the Lakers. I can't even imagine such a scenario. The 1st time I ever heard him was when they used his call of the Jerry West 60 footer that tied a game in the championship round only to lose in overtime. If the 3 pointer had been around they would have won the game and the championship.

133 His velocity in the game before was fine at least in the inning or two that I watched. In the last game he explicitly said he was working on his change up a lot and didn't care as much about the results. Honestly, if there is something wrong with Billingsley's arm I'll be as sad as anyone, but Will Carroll and some fantasy blogger mean nothing to me - I'll save my freaking out for when it's official. :-)

If the 3 pointer had been around they would have won the game and the championship.

This presumes that neither the Knicks nor the Lakers had made any other shots in that game which were from three-point length.

136
I hate logic when it is pointed in my direction.

Ever wonder if Gail Goodrich and Jerry West would have been good 3 point shooters?

134 I don't mean to make light of that moment, truly one of the saddest days in Los Angeles Sports and back then, no one knew how long Magic was going to be with us.

Its now been 15-16 years and I don't even think about it when I see Magic but back then, people out here was as low as I can remember.

137
To be honest, I had always thought the same as ToyCannon and I just had that thought come into my head a few minutes ago.

Sort of like a Saul on the road to Damascus moment.

87 Neyer would rather have Melky Cabrera than Kemp.

He seems to blame Kemp for not being able to convince the Dodgers to play him every day. It seems to me the fault lies with Dodgers management.

135 maybe that's why 114 thinks he maybe up in april.

am i pulling a rusty shackelford by trying to put all these independant sources quotes together to add up to something greater?

140 Threepiphany?

140 What about Gar Heard's shot against Boston in the 1976 Finals.

134 Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCXSWI2nX50

144
I don't think Gar Heard has ever been to Damascus.

ok fantasy question, i want a 3rd party opinion

categories- offense-R,H,HR,RBI,SB,K,BB,TB,AVG
pitching- W,L,CG,SHO,SV,K,HR, ERA, WHIP

given those catagories would you rather have, more back-up offensive players for more PA's or more back-up pitchers to give you more IP

This seems like the most stressful Dodgers spring training I've experienced in my youngish life.

Ryan Braun's defense -- the gift that keeps on giving.

143
Brilliant

149
That's what you can expect from a Granada Hills High alum.

Good fielders go to Kennedy. Just like noted glove Garret Anderson.

148 - I haven't felt particularly stressed during this Spring Training. I've been bummed by the injuries, but stressed? Not too much. I'm not living or dying with the left field debate. I think I was more stressed in the DePo era.

As someone brought up a few days ago - March '86 when Guerrero broke his ankle - that was like the year ending before it began.

BTW, so far in today's JP grounded out while Furcal doubled. Loney has RBI singled and swiped a base.

Maryvale is supposed to be the worst stadium in the Cactus League, expect TJ to confirm this.

I'm kinda in the neighborhood today...I may pop over there for an hour seeing how I was denied a firsthand Minotaur sighting last night on Surprise. He's again rumored to appear.

penny continues to pitch well and tear the cover off the ball. pierre continues to struggle, and it sure is nice to see furcal play this well.

149 what did braun do?

134 I remember listening to that game while I was doing (for once) my homework.

107
That did not stop Hope Solo from appearing in the new Nike commercial.

149 Lost a fly ball in the sun. After which Pierre hit into a double play (the non-Timmermann approved kind).

If DodgerThoughts could have existed in 1966 (which would have been hard since its author was not born yet), the off-season would have been all about the unbelievable demand by Koufax and Drysdale for a 3-year 1.05 million contract to be split between them.

If Abreu is going to play 3rd base while Nomar is out, shouldn't he be playing 3rd base now? It is not like he's got a lot of games under his belt at the position.

140 - I had the threepiphany a few years back when some announcer type said "they're three pointers have been killing the other side" and they showed that the team had made something like six three pointers. My thought was, "well, if it wasn't for the three point line, they'd have only scored six fewer points."

147--Looks like you have more counting stats on offense vs. pitching and 2 of them on the pitching side rarely ever happen anymore anyway.

148
I only get stressed when crazy moves are actually made, not talked about. Whatever happens in April can be fixed as long as they don't do something rash.
Come July when Ned trades our starting 3rd baseman for a middle relief pitcher, that is when I get stressed.

161 that's basically what i was arguing word for word. just wanted to confirm i was right ;-)

159-- Since Abreu played 3rd last year, they're probably comfortable with what he'll do there while there's been much less time to observe Dewitt against bigleaguers.

158 I'm assuming you would have sided with O'Malley on that one. ;)

I have a question: what use, really is park effect?

By which I mean: how much of it is chicken/egg analysis? How much of it has to do with how a team is constructed? If, for example, the Red Sox had Pierre playing left field and Erstad DHing, how would it effect the number?

I'm just wondering if it's really that valuable of a stat. I mean, would Dodger stadium have been such a pitcher's park if not for Koufax, Drysdale, Sutton, Orel, and Fernando over the years, even with all the foul territory?

165 Darn straight, those guys have no right to ask for a 3-year contract, if the manager can get a one year contract, so can those guys.

Its not like they could go to the highest bidder someday. I have their rights until their arms blow out.

166 It is not affected by the composition of the team. If it was, you're right, it would be pretty useless.

166 It doesn't effect it at all. It compares how players play at the park versus how they play away from it. If Pierre and Erstad had a .700 OPS at home and .600 OPS on the road, it would be be the same as if they had a .992 OPS at home and an .850 OPS on the road.

139
November 7, 1991: I still remember hearing the news. I was a sophomore at Palm Springs High, and I went after school to the mall with friends. I stopped in at the hairstylist shop where my Mom worked (probably to ask for money), and her first words to me were, "When I tell you the news, you're going to be sick."

I was shell-shocked. At 15, my entire sporting fandom included Magic at the forefront. I walked around in a daze after that, and for some reason headed back to the school to get something. I ran into the PSHS track coach and in-school suspension cheif John Carlos -- the former Olympic sprinter -- and delivered the sobering news about Magic. What I saw in his face mirrored how I felt.

I think I wore a different Magic Johnson t-shirt every day for a week after that.

There's no way I thought Magic would still be with us five years later, let alone 16+ years later. Amazing.

144
Was Gar Heard's shot from that far out? I seem to remember it being from 18-20 feet or so. "Wont start till it's touched. Gar Heard turnaround iiiis....GOOD!"

Just from a glance at the box, Penny must be throwing a gazillion pitches.

166 Dodger Stadium was much different now than when it was first built, CF was ten feet further away and there was more foul territory.

170 - I wrote the article in the Daily News that night about the talkradio reaction. Wasn't much of a story. It was an unbelievable day.

170 It's weird to think that the man pitching for the Dodgers right now has no memory of Magic Johnson playing basketball, because he was only three years old on November 7, 1991.

(Well, there was that comeback, but our Minotaur was pretty young then too.)

Fastball, strike, outside corner
Ball high and away
Fouled back, strike two
Change-up, pop-up to LF. One out.

170
My mother called me at work to tell me the news. She didn't like to call her sons at work because she thought it would be embarrassing to them. This was a rare exception.

Two balls.
Curveball called strike one.
Pitch in the dirt. 3-1.
Fouled back. 3-2.
Fastball knocked for a double down the RF line

170
Black Power John Carlos of the Mexico City Olympics?
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/summer-olympics-mexico-city.html

Doing Suspension Duty at PSH, how sad.

Fastball high and outside. 1-0.
Fastball fouled back. 1-1.
Another foul. 1-2.
Curve just outside. 2-2.
Fastball fouled. 2-2.
Fastball, called strike three.

A few weeks before the news hit Magic pulled up across the street from a restaurant I was eating at in Hermosa Beach. An obviously surgery-enhanced woman ran out of a nail parlor to give him a big hug and long kiss. I remember thinking after I heard the news "I wonder what that woman is thinking now".

170
Back then it always seemed to be a death sentence. I'll never forgive Karl Malone.

Rickie Weeks takes a ball. 1-0.
Foul pop-up. 1-1.
Called strike. 1-2.
Curveball fouled. 1-2.
Fastball just inside. 2-2.
Low and outside. 3-2.
Foul on a 96 mph fastball. Still 3-2.
Curve, called strike three.

Another scoreless inning for the Minotaur.

Does MLB audio keep stopping for you guys?

And, along the same lines, does anyone know when Extra Innings actually starts? Seems like last year I got most pre-season games, but this year none of them are available yet.

Ethier is more valuable off the bench than Pierre for the same reason Ethier is more valuable in the starting line-up than Pierre.

He's a better player.

183 Extra Innings on my cable system has always started on Opening Day and has never included any pre-season games.

79 I find it best to stay out of other people's affairs.

I was at work and was listening to a sports radio show when they came in and said they had a special press conference from the Forum, the Laker season was just about to begin, they had picked up Sedale Threatt to go along with Scott, Worthy, Perkins, Campbell, Divac and of course Magic and everything seemed to point towards another run to the Finals.

And then, the LA Sports entered a dark time, with few bright spots for the rest of the decade.

181 There was a lot of ignorance out there, I wonder how many of our younger readers know that the reason the NBA stops play when a cut exposes blood on the court all stems from those types of comments that Malone made (stupidly and offensive) about Magic's condition.

178
Black Power John Carlos of the Mexico City Olympics?

The same! He was a really cool guy, always had good stories. He really should have won the silver medal, but the look of shock on his face when Aussie Peter Norman (the Mike Myers to Smith/Carlos's Kanye West) passed him was classic.

I should have heard more of John Carlos's stories, but I was never in detention. :)

131 like in that game were Ethier hit the go ahead HR in chicago he came in throwing bee-bee's toping out at 96MPH & throwing mean sliders as well

152 Yeah, you're probably right. I guess it's probably just because I'm hoping Billingsley and Kemp can bust out, plus with the whole Ethier thing and Laroche's injury, plus the Minotaur lurking in the background, I feel anxious. I'm sure I'll be fine once Raffy hits that steps up to the plate on Monday.

184
You speak the Gospel Truth
Sing it aloud to the congregation
Shout it aloud to the nonbelievers

I remember when dentists and hygentists starting wearing gloves and masks while they treated you.

A lot of things changed during that time.

Having John Carlos as your high school track coach would be like the equivalent of... what? George Brett as your high school baseball coach? It just seems so far out there.

184 I really like your new layout on your blog.

156 True. She must have atoned for her sins. Or, you know, it doesn't hurt that she's, well, a total babe.

194 I think Ryan Leaf is coaching high school football in the middle of nowhere.

188
I think the Warriors' announcers called a similar timeout an "infectious disease control stoppage". I couldn't tell if they were joking.

Minotaur Update

Gabe Kapler. Grounder to third. One out.

Prince Fielder. Called strike one.
Swinging strike three.

(Steiner fails to explain the superpowers which allow the Minotaur to strike out batters on only two pitches.)

Ryan Braun. First-pitch grounder to Hu. Three outs.

Pierre leads off with a bunt double.

Take THAT, Ethier!

A massive ground ball double to short RF for JP.

201 Oh it was a bunt, I just caught Steiner saying right field.

197 Thought I spotted him in the Simpsons movie so he must be working in Springfield.

194 Bret Saberhagen coached a season at Calabasas High. Not surprisingly, his son was there also.

So 2 innings, 3 Ks, 1 hit, no runs, for Kershaw? I'm following via the box score...

He's a pretty decent pitcher, this Minotaur fellow.

Pierre is thinking right now that he saw Joey Gathright put on a show yesterday that he could only dream of. Yet Joey is a 4th outfielder.

But I'm standing on 2nd base and I'm going to make 40 million over the next 4 years while Joey will be lucky to get a major league pension. Life is good

Pierre scores on Repko's hit.

Probably something we will not see a lot of in LA this year.

204 he's coaching QB's for some college in Texas and he's also their golf coach.

when is bills slated to pitch next? i'm assuming fri so he'll have normal rest for wed? i'm worried.

Thanks for the Kershaw updates.

Bill Hall takes a high inside fastball. 1-0.
Ball high. 2-0.
Called strike. 2-1.
Fouled back. 2-2.
Curve, swinging strike three.

The nice thing about having a mythical pitcher is the batters can't see his pitches either.

lets take a look at kershaws spring line
9 ip, 7 hits, 1 er, 2 BB's, 10 k's

Another K for the unnamed one (sorry Bob, don't mean to steal something from you but hey, that team is long gone for the time being).

212 oops i thought he was done
213 9.1 IP, 7 hits, 1 er, 2 BB's, 11 k's

My recollection is that the Brewers strike out a lot.

Fastball high. 1-0.
Curveball, strike. The crowd audibly says "ooooh!" in unison.
Fastball high. 2-1.
Fouled back. 2-2.
Fasatball high and inside. 3-2.
Fastball high. Ball four.

I was seven years old during the Mexico City Olympics so my memories of them are dim at best, but since my father was a faithful newspaper reader, I do remember the famous photo of John Carlos and Tommie Smith. In retrospect it can be hard to believe the furor that arose; I think it would controversial today, but the IOC wouldn't and couldn't make the demands it did then.

Peter Norman, who wore an Olympics Project for Human Rights badge on the medal dais, died in 2006; Carlos and Smith were pallbearers.
http://tinyurl.com/yvoyz4

Counsell fouls back the first pitch. 0-1.
Curve, strike. 0-2.
Strike three swinging on a fastball. Two outs.

216 He strikes out the guy that Vin reminds was a Dodger for a short period of time.

The Brewers struck out the 6th most in the NL last year after finishing 2nd most the previous 2 seasons.

Ball one to Mike Rivera.
Fastball, swing and miss. 1-1.
Changeup, swing and miss. 1-2.
Foul grounder. Still 1-2.
Kershaw picks off Corey Hart, but Lucille II drops it.

So annoying Clayton wasn't in Tucson on Sunday.

221 I guess Sweeney got the day off.

222 I read where it is believed that Kershaw will never pitch in Vegas, when he is ready to leave AA, he will go to the Dodgers.

In the dirt to Rivera. 2-2.
Fastball. Ooohs and aaahs. Fouled off. 2-2.
Curve in the dirt. 3-2.
Swing and miss on a fastball, strike three.
Minotaur strikes out the side.

3 IP, 1 H, O R, 1 BB, 5 K.

Actually make that 6K.

That guy is boring, strikes out the side twice, this time against guys who will be earning MLB salaries next week.

Isn't that 6 Ks?

224

I read that too.

168 , 169 - see, that doesn't make sense to me. If I'm reading the formula correctly ((HomeRS+HomeRA)/(HomeGs))/((AwayRS+AwayRA)/(AwayGs)), then it would seem to me that the make up of the the team would matter.

If you've got a line up that includes Pierre, Eckstein, and Erstad they're going to score less runs than a line up that includes ManRam, Tejada, and Big Papi. Similarly, if I have a rotation that includes Beckett, Penny, and Santana, they're going to give up fewer runs than a rotation that includes say, the Nationals rotation. So, a team with a powerful line up but a poor rotation would see their park effect go way up, no?

Along these same lines, I would think that the make up of the teams that would most commonly play a road game in your stadium would drastically affect the park effect (meaning teams within the division).

172 - I recognize that the stadium is much different than it use to be, if I was unclear, I apologize, but I was eluding to that.

So...when is he allowed to be real?

Anyone remember if the original Ramon Martinez was this highly anticipated as a prospect?

225 woiuldn't that put him at 6 k's?

And when he does become real, do we need a new nickname for him?

232 Ramon was highly anticipated. But nobody in my lifetime has been as anticipated as Kershaw. You'd have to go back pretty far. Koufax? Drysdale? Pete Richert?

234 Public Enemy #1

How does Gary Bennett, of all people, get picked off second base?

236-"Public Enemy #1" is pretty great, but I'm thinking the Minotaur should stick. Kinda like Bison for Kemp, it just works somehow.

And now Martin steals second standing up. This inning, in a nutshell, niftily illustrates the difference between Martin and Bennett.

ok dodgers web site is reporting that saito threw a simulated game today and was OK. has anyone confirmed on any type of level the report that saito will be on the DL?

We're pretty morbid with our nicknames here. Remember that the Minotaur (like all the Bison) dies in the end.

The California Wolverine is back:

http://tinyurl.com/3xbhrl

235 If you think about the Dodger Rookie of the Year winners in LA for the last 30 or so years, you have Sutcliffe, Howe, Fernando, Sax, Karros, Piazza, Mondesi, Nomo, and Hollandsworth, maybe Mondesi was highly anticipated by Dodger fans (or at least me), Nomo certainly had a lot publicity as a Japanese import. But I think Eris is right, Kershaw has had the biggest buildup than anyone I can think of.

240 Actually Diamond Leung's blog just posed the question, no one said anything official.

238 - When I was listening to the first Kershaw appearance I swear I heard Vin referring to any curveball as Public Enemy #1 and before Kershaw came in. He attributed it to Campy. Am I crazy here? Not that that wouldn't be a great post-myth nickname for him. That or "12:30" or some curveball reference.

Maybe because he was such a disappointment, but Greg Brock seemed to have an even bigger buildup than Kershaw.

243 Since when did he become the god of discord?

How about Grabthar's Hammer?

245 Yes, "Public Enemy #1" is a general nickname for any curveball. It's been around forever -- long enough, apparently, to fall out of use, and thus cause people to think Vin was cleverly making something up when really he was just using lingo from his childhood.

Minotaur = Clayton's nickname.
Public Enemy #1 = Clayton's curveball's nickname.

How many pitches have nicknames? That's what makes it cool.

Re: 235

I used to think the anticipation surrounding Kershaw was roughly similar to the pre-injury Greg Miller. Miller, after all, was a true stud before he got hurt. But although he had a good spring last year (which was followed by a profoundly disappointing season), he never had this sort of absurdly dominant big league spring training. Jackson was hyped after he beat Johnson, but Kershaw's a lefty, and I don't think people were as impressed by his raw stuff as they are with Kershaw.

At this age, it really is astonishing. Among recent pitching prospects as a whole, the buzz surrounding him reminds me of when King Felix stepped on the scene in Seattle.

All that being said, he should still go down to AA and work on his control. Along with his changeup, which he did throw today. But if he keeps this up, the org. will really have no choice but to call him up earlier rather than later.

WWSH

250
Roger Clemens threw "Mr. Splitty."

250 After reading 249 , nevermind.

How quickly they forget. The Vulcan Change.

251 And Felix, after two good-not-great years, is considered a disappointment by some, which is a possibility we should probably prepare ourselves for just in case.

I still give Hernandez a 50/50 shot of making the Hall of Fame, though. It's just taken him a couple of years to assimilate.