There you go. Or guo. Or kuo. Whatever.

he'd prefer "this one". What is "this one"?
vr, Xei

D4P - I really agree with your Tejada comments. How he can say that crap with a straight face. I hope the Orioles sue him and I'm irritated that I ever advocated trading for his lying butt. It is one thing to lie to get to the big leagues, but once he's proven he's belongs, he has to come clean, especially after the age gate thing.
Or at least when you do come clean don't make any side comments about manning up or doing the right thing. Just admit you pulled a con game on the Orioles and while your sad they were fleeced, your enjoying the money they sent your way.

2 I took that to mean "Kuo", but it should be clarified.

2 - The current, commonly accepted one.

i.e., as it says in the quote, "what he's always been called since coming to the States."

Sounds like he doesn't want to confuse people, who are already pronouncing it wrong. So leave it as is. I kind of figured he wouldn't want to make a big deal out of it. That's nice that Josh asked. I wonder how well Guo speaks english? I have heard Hu speak pretty fluent english, but haven't heard anything from Guo.
vr, Xei

For those Chinese speakers, I think a great title for this post would be "郭"错.

Of course, my Chinese is a bit rusty, so maybe that pun's not as good as I think.

3
I saw that in the previous thread. I also saw Eric's comment. I wasn't trying to argue at all, I was just pointing out a way in which I thought the comparison could be made more meaningful.

9
Yeah, I came off a little harsh in my comment. I'm sorry.

If I had the chance to chat with Guo, I'd ask him to pronounce his name to me. The correct way, in mandarin. If he pronounced it like Charlie Steiner does, I would be very surprised. Sounds like he doesn't really care that the name is pronounced wrong. Kind of what I figured. vr, Xei

I think Kuo/Guo should now be nicknamed "This One."

8. I loved your "Shea" Hillenbrand reference a few threads ago. That was great. :)
vr, Xei

From last thread:

Using my own math, every play a middle infielder makes saves .789 of a run

Intuitively, that doesnt make sense.
That'd be like every time a batter makes one more single, instead of making an out, it would mean he'd be .789 runs better than he was before. Would that be true too?

Take a player that has 600Abs, and that player gets two more infield singles instead of outs---that he's going to be 1.57 runs better than he was before. How can two singles as opposed to outs create 1.57 runs?

How accurate can pure judgment calls be when analyzing defensive ability on a +/- system?

Its like someone can come up with any type of defensive statistic to explain what we already know, when really there isnt an additional explanation necessary.

Preventing runs comes down to the pitcher preventing HRs, preventing XBH, and preventing walks. If you run a regression with runs allowed against HRs, XBH, BBs, and then just say singles allowed--->I think its rather obvious which are going to be significant variables and which would not be.

If preventing singles (which by most cases means better infield defense) is not as significant as the other variables, then why put so much emphasis on it?

I heard an argument on here the other day that Greg Maddux wouldnt be a good pitcher with the Dodger defense behind him. But what made Maddux a great pitcher was that he didnt allow home runs and didnt walk people, two things where defense doesnt come into play.

Sure there's a marginal value in everything surrounding baseball--> including defense. But I think's its being mis-evaluated by some in the statistics community.

Maybe my developed bias from the Beltre/Cora/Izturis year is clouding my judgment on the issue...but no one will ever convince me to put so much emphasis on defense when there are clearly other more significant variables in preventing runs---that are much easier to see and less subjectively explained and analyzed.

JoeyP,

That's almost exactly what it means when I say an out made by a middle infielder is worth .789 runs, I added in the effect of double plays which moves it up from about .7 runs.

14

Izturis hits 9th for STL.... that's no way to go through a season. ;)

16 - Last night, the #8 hitter for the Cards -- starting pitcher Adam Wainwright -- hit a home run. Clearly, there is such a thing as lineup protection.

If anyone cares, I found that Jim Gilliam scored 29 runs in June 1959, which would tie him for the LA Dodger record for runs in a month (Lopes, May 1975).

That is, until I find someone who score 30 or more!

Kuote the Kuo, nevermore.

Xeifrank, I don't remember everything you said in the pronunciation discussion, but I recall you saying the player should be able to say how he wants his name pronounced. Now Kuo is on the record saying he wants his name pronounced the way you insist is "wrong." So, out of deference to the player's expressed wishes, shouldn't you follow what he wants, even if you think it's wrong? And I assume he also wants it spelled "Kuo" instead of "Guo," if he wants the pronunciation with the K instead of G. I mean, now it's about basic courtesy to the player, and not an abstract discussion about language and transliteration.

14
I thought watching the Beltre/Izzy/Cora team would have had the opposite effect. The team had no offense and no one was real special in the pitching department except the bullpen. Yet we were in every game, you don't think the incredible defense was partly reponsible for making up for the meager offense and average pitching abilities. Sure the goal is to have the offense and defense but I'm not sure how watching the 2003 team you came away with the idea that defense isn't valuable. Frustration I understand.

Or did I misunderstand?

I vote that we drop it and let everyone call him the way he/she wants. There is no wrong way to pronounce his name.

ToyCannon, you were wondering about Dutton. 87-89 MPH fastball, occasionally reaching 90-91. Has a slider, change, and split-finger fastball. A flyball pitcher. When he signed out of high school, Logan White said he had a nice delivery and a lot of projectability.

In the words of Barry White: "I know my own name".

22 -- But why call him something he doesn't want to be called? Surely that is the only issue now, not who was right or wrong before.

21--I just have a hard time believing that singles (whether a batter hits them, or an infielder prevents them) are all that important on an aggregate level when compared to all the other factors that come with preventing runs.

Thanks loads, guys...now I've got the `You can call me Ray...' song floating around in my head, probably for the rest of the day.

26 The biggest factor in scoring is not getting out. The jump in value from out to single is very close (within hundreths of a run) of single to home run. When one of your fielders turn a ball that would have been a not out into an out, it's just as valuable as turning a home run into a bloop single for a pitcher.

28 Actually what I said was just a lie. Replace the word "home run" with "triple".

But what if I like referring to triples as home runs?

28
The thing that I don't get about your analysis is that it seems to suggest that all plays made by infielders prevent singles, when in fact some presumably prevent doubles or triples.

31 - I thought he was talking about middle infielders.

28

This is exactly why my softball team is getting destroyed. Our 3b and SS are mediocre at best, and the teams we play have a solid left side of the infield. So, on the gimme grounders where we should get an easy out, it is a 50/50 chance. You can't lose those opportunities!!

32
If so, then that would make sense.

20. I never said that.
vr, Xei

15

Ok so 70% of singles get turned into runs, that doesn't seem to be the case when I look at team averages so could you explain how this number is comes from or how it is calculated (just the general gist)?

36 Linear weights. You start each inning with no outs and no runs and you're expected to score X runs. When you get out, you're team is expected to score .25 runs less on average, after a single, you're expected to score .45 runs more on average, and so on.

It's not that 70% of singles get turned into runs, it's the difference between an extra out and the same bases runners and someone on first with advanced base runners averages out to .7 runs.

34 Yeah, the math gets a lot harder with every position aside from middle infielders.

20. All I've said is that his name is butchered. I did say it would be a good idea for the broadcaster(s) to ask him what was the proper way to pronounce his name. I believe that after 3 years (or however long it has been since he made his MLB debut) of saying his name one way (which is the wrong way), that he probably just wants them to stick with it, so it doesn't confuse people. For the most part, that is what I predicted he would do/say if asked. It's still pronounced wrong, I'm sure he knows it is being pronounced wrong. He said there are a couple of different ways of saying it (according to Josh). My guesses are those couple of ways are the "right" way and the "wrong" way. But that it's not worth the trouble to him. I'm sure he's just happy to be in the big leagues, and like I mentioned the other day, Chinese people usually don't like to draw attention to themselves. They are generally very low keyed/conservative. I'd still like to have them pronounce his name correctly, it's not that hard to do. Guo doesn't want to confuse people, so he's ok with it. I am glad that the question made it's way to him, I feel good in that respect. In hindsight though, if they had pronounced his name correctly from the beginning, it's likely he would've told him he prefers that way too. You can't change the past, so I will just have to live with the way Steiner and company pronounce it. As long as Guo stays healthy and pitches well, that's all that really matters. Right!? vr, Xei

As long as Guo stays healthy and pitches well, that's all that really matters. Right!?

RIGHT!!

RE. Kuo

He said that there are a few different ways that it can be said and/or pronounced but that he'd prefer this one

"this one"?

Jon how could you not sound out the phonetic spelling for us?

Jon: "what he's always been called since coming to the States."

Why the intransigence? Not everyone knows what he's been called.

Why can't you just admit that this was a serious, egregious, amateur, outrageously absentminded lapse on your part? And spell it out as it's meant to be spoken.

I went to Kaiser today to do the routine bloodwork after my physical Tuesday. I was also supposed to get a chest X-ray.

But they were out of film.

I feel very worried now.

I get several hundred chest X-rays year just like J. Frank Parnell.

I guess what Canuck may be being provoked by is the -still- constant spelling of "Guo" and the superior-stance tone of your posts.

From my basic understanding of linguistics (and things learned from the guest post), The phonemes necessary for a 100% correct pronunciation of Kuo's name are, while not impossible, a very unnatice combination for American speakers, and thus, even telling Charlie Steiner "say it Guo" would -not- produce the correct sound, but a sound more correct because of the primary distinction between the english K and G sound.

If that is the case, I really don't see why you're so adamant that Kuo is being weak-willed against the ignorant, lazy, stupid americans who just assume how to pronounce his name, run with it and he's too timid to ask for the correct pronouncement. This is not a problem native to immigrants to this country, and I have had many a friend move to a country where some particular sound was not a natural one to his new country (the hard J sound, particular difficulties with Y or the hard H). If this was the case, I would -much- rather be called (and I cannot be either alone or in the minority) some sort of nativization of my name--one easier for the people around me to say--than have them attempt (and often mis-say, even by the slightest degree) the 'correct' way to say my name.

I also would not like in the least people trying to re-write the way. I want my name written in an attempt to get a close-but-not-right pronunciation across.

Apologies for the somewhat random upfrontness, but I have had friends who I'm sure would be quite appaled at the idea of me writing their names "Yinz" in a hope that other people pronounce Jens correctly, even when he's perfectly happy (and not strong-armed by the English Voice) with the americanized saying of it

43
On a related note, I would bet that if bhsportsguy went to Japan and a native there addressed him by his last name (which they would) and used a Japanese accent, he wouldn't recognize it.

I only use him because he's the only person on DT that I definitively know is Japanese.

42
You will end up so worried about being sick you will end up fullfilling your own prophecy.

43. The first two paragraphs were..., but I really had to stop reading it after the first sentence of the 3rd paragraph.

Look, I am trying to let this go. Why do you have to pile on with comments like this?

vr, Xei

41 Abuse of the host does not go over very well here.

Hernan Iribarren is now batting for Milwaukee. It goes without saying that the Cardinal announcers are nowhere near the correct pronunciation of his name.

Well, I tried.

46
I'm sorry, xeifrank, my comments weren't directed at you and I do understand your point.

Competitive advantage comes from having guys that are better than the other teams' guys. Is that unclear or something? Hu is no better than the other teams' guys. Furcal is. You have to pay for that.

If you want to win a championship, you need a competitive advantage not over average teams, but over other good teams. Can Hu compete with Rollins, Reyes, H. Ramirez, Tulowitzki, etc... Will Hu ever get one MVP vote in his life? Get real here.

It is the really rare prospect that can come in and be better than the other team's guys. Kemp, Loney, Martin, Broxton, Billingsley, we've been spoiled. That does not mean everyone coming out of our minor leagues will fall in this category.

Hu has the potential to develop into an adequate player, and that's about it.

47. Was it abuse or sarcasm/trying to be funny? I agree Jon was vague, as even I was confused and had to make a few assumptions. vr, Xei

49
Marty,
Did you see the LAtimes.com article about the new and supposedly improved Gus's BBQ? Are you brave enough to try it again? It sounds like it could just be the old one except costing more.

51 I totally agree with the basic premise. I'm not sure how much I agree with the second part. Furcal is better right now, sure, and probably will be better for a couple years in the future too. Will he be better come 2011? When he is better, will there be enough of a difference that spending that money elsewhere wouldn't be a better idea? I don't know the answer to most of those questions, but it's not as clear cut as you make it seem.

Are you guys kidding me? I can't believe we aren't wrapping this discussion up.

Dodger broadcasters say Kuo's name one way: with a qu sound followed by a long o.

Outside of here, I have only seen it in print one way: Kuo.

That is clearly what Josh Rawitch was referring to.

42 Watcha got in your trunk? Hiding something?

53 That place was nasty.

56
I don't drive a Chevy Malibu.

53 The new owners are the same people who own the Tops Burger in Pasadena and Monrovia. I guess I'd be willing to give it a try.

I think we've suffciently beaten the horse on the Kuo issue. Still, as annoying as it's getting, I still enjoy it more than talking about a certain outfielder we have.

55
I assumed Frip was trying to be funny but either way it was one of those posts that should be ignored.

51
Again you are using the assumption that Furcal will be healthy during the contract and I find that to be a false assumption. Plus your using the assumption that he will continue to be a better then average player even he does remain healthy. I also find that to be a false assumption but I will do some research on players like Furcal and how they age.

21 I agree with the spirit of your remark regarding the unappreciated defensive work of Beltre-Izturis-Cora. But without doing all the homework required right now, it's my recollection that Dodger pitching that season ('03) was significantly better than average.

Okay I looked it up. 3.16 team ERA? Kevin Brown with a 2.39 ERA. Wilson Alvarez: 2.37. Nomo: 3.09. Ishii: 3.86. OP had a mediocre year and Alan Ashby a rotten year, but otherwise there was some pretty awesome pitching, augmented by great infield defense. And, of course Quantrill-Mota-Gagne was about as close to impermeable as you can get.

I'm alright with that.

But here's what I want to discuss: being fooled by small sample sizes.

Cesar Izturis, 2008: .205/.367/.256

Xei,

It was not meant to be a piling on at you, and I apologize if that's how it came out [to pile on one of my favorite commentors by a lurker is downright silly). All other rhetoric henceforth will be squashed as my points have been made by much more succinct writers, but I did want to get a more sincere apology out there.

The other rhetoric stored:
I texted my brother up north during one of the San Diego games how bad Andruw looked. I then attended the first two pittsburgh games and even on his outs I was surprised but how much better he approached the plate. Is this the result of being in person, buying into post-game talk, an actual astute observation or some combination of the three?

What's the name of the BBQ place downtown, sort of by the Walt Disney Theatre?

64. No problem. Thanks for the nice reply. vr, Xei

If you want players that have a high likelihood of performing well in the next few years, you typically have to sign them to a long expensive contract. That's just how it is in baseball. Common to most of these contracts, the teams do not expect the player to be worth their contract in the 5th year out. They hope the next 2-3 years look good, and then they deal with the rest. If the player maintains high performance, that's a bonus.

The "deal with the rest" part is an important part of a big market GM's job. Colletti hasn't had to do it yet on any large scale, so I don't know if he'll be any good at it. But on the other hand, I don't know if he'll be GM in 5 years either, so it doesn't really matter.

Is Alex Rodriguez going to be worth $30M when he's 42? That's almost irrelevant to the decision of whether the Yankees signed the contract. Who knows what the payscale will be in 10 years. $30M will probably be about right for a gimpy DH going for his 800th HR. And who's to say the Yankees will even be the ones paying that bill. But meanwhile, they have him for the next few years and nobody else does.

43 Jacob Burch, that was a great post, both technically and with regard to the human aspect of it as well. I could see inviting you over for tea and not hating your company.

For those not testing at home, I already got my urinalysis results back from Kaiser. It's perfect. My CBC was just about perfect too.

The lipid panel should be next. That won't be perfect.

61 Do that. I assume you'll use something like the list of comparable players through age 29 on B-R.
Paul Molitor
Joe Morgan
Craig Biggio
...

59 ,65 The only BBQ joint I miss in L.A. is Woody's on Slauson. Y'all better have some!

I wonder if anyone will every try to say Luc Richard Mbah a Moute's name correctly?

You know my name; look up the pronunciation.

71 Woody's is very good, but I prefer J & J on Adams just east of Fairfax. Some great ribs there.

OK, after some painstaking research, I think I have found every month in LA Dodger history in which a single player has scored 20 or more runs (March is included in April; October is included in September). There have been at least 135 such months in LA Dodger history.

Most runs, month
Gilliam, Jim, 6/59 - 29
Lopes, Davey, 5/79 - 29
Willis, Maury, 5/62 - 28
Beltre, Adrian, 8/04 - 28
Guerrero, Pedro, 6/84 - 27
Guerrero, Pedro, 6/85 - 27
Green, Shawn, 6/02 - 27
Willis, Maury, 7/62 - 26
Davis, Tommy, 7/62 - 26
Marshall, Mike, 9/85 - 26

No LA Dodger has scored more runs in two consecutive months than Pedro Guerrero, with 52 runs in June-July 1985.

Most runs, April
Lopes, Davey, 4/75 - 24
Kent, Jeff, 4/05 - 23
Wallach, Tim, 4/94 - 21
Pierre, Juan, 4/07 - 21
Lopes, Davey, 4/74 - 20
Green, Shawn, 4/00 - 20

Furcal has 15 runs in the first 15 games of 2008, with 12 games left in April to perhaps join this group. Keep in mind that the season didn't start until mid-April for most of LA Dodger history.

The LA Dodgers with the most 20-run months are:

Willie Davis - 13
Maury Wills - 10
Shawn Green - 9
Davey Lopes - 8
Gary Sheffield - 6

Bob, did the HDL & LDL come out OK?

Luke ri-SHARD umbah-a-moo-teh.

69 Bob, mind if I ask if you got your results back by accessing your kp.org account?

64
It's a result of the fact that Andruw Jones is a good hitter and always has been.

20 - I'm glad somebody brought that up. I'm also glad that it wasn't me.

78
Yes, I did.

The other tests aren't posted yet.

65 - Original Texas BBQ is the only one I can think of that I'd say is in downtown proper.

I only go to Ribs USA, which is often dismissed by BBQ experts but I'm more of a hot wings fan than anything else, and I've yet to have anything better than there. May attempt another place if I ever hit the mood for actual bbq.

UCLA has a new women's basketball coach, Tennessee assistant Nikki Caldwell.

70
So his comparables are all HOF 2nd baseman? If you don't mind I'll stick to the position he actually plays.

83
UCLA women's basketball I fear is fated to live in the same universe of unfulfilled expectations that the baseball team inhabits.

81 Glad to hear it :) (My current project is working to increase member usage of kp.org)

65 That would be BBQ King. But it's moved to South LA and I for one won't miss it. They were very hit and miss.

85
At least, she can't be worse than Olivier.

At least, the baseball team had really high expectations that they are not fulfilling this year.

65 BBQ King was on Sunset/Figueroa, but they have moved to 53rd/Vermont.

85
I was unaware the baseball team had unfulfilled expectations, I thought the Howland years filled that void. With the premature deparature of the silly young men who think they are better then they are, I expect those expectations will remain unfulfilled for a while longer.

86
Actually, I was glad that the results page for the CBC had info on it saying that minor abnormalities are expected. There were two things I was out of the normal range by a very small margin, but I don't think I'm going to worry about them.

90
You mean the preseason #1 pick that is currently 18-14?

The team that has never won a game in the College World Series and has only been to Omaha twice?

The team that has a less distinguished baseball history than Cal State LA?

Give us the ACTUAL #'s Bob...

90
If we can win a game in the tournament next year, then my expectations will be fulfilled.

But did the fans of UCLA baseball have any expectations? Based on sentence two and three I doubt it but then I don't follow UCLA baseball so maybe you did have high expectations.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/news/story?id=3351710

Kevin Love turning pro

94
Would that be the Pac 10 tournament?

75 - That's great. I may make a post out of it.

Who could ever forget Mike Marshall's September 1985?

91 My wife had her initial blood tests done when we discovered we were expecting, and it came back on the results page as positive for rubella, no explanation. We panicked for a few minutes until we found that positive is good--it means you've been vaccinated.

Yes, a good number of his offensive comparables are hall of fame second basemen. Tony Fernandez and Lou Whitaker are in there too.

That is kind of the point. It's as if the Astros decided they didn't want Biggio age 31-36 (when he came in top 5 MVP twice) because they had Adam Everett waiting.

Whether he plays SS or 2B or CF in 2011 is a relatively minor detail in this big picture. That is part of what I mean by "dealing with" the latter part of the contract.

Furcal, with a very high probability (as far as these things go), is going to be one of the best players in baseball for the next few years.

I've been paying $20 for parking and $10 for a beer, I want to see a team that has better players than the other team.

95
I'm speaking about UCLA baseball historically. There is no reason why UCLA's baseball team should not go to Omaha every few years. The team has had some great players. But they always underperform. I had thought John Savage could get rid of the decades of underachievement under Gary Adams. But it looks to be more of the same.

97
Jrue Holiday gives me hope we can win a game in the NCAAs, which would be a little better than 2005 season. 2005 team is what we will probably resemble.

85 - Stanford-UCLA at JRS this weekend!

Battle of old friends: Gagne faces Izturis with the game on the line in the Mound City!

There is no joy in the Mound City, Mighty Cesar has fouled out.

When Jason Heyward becomes a star for the Braves, I can always say that he was supposed to the missing piece to the 2007-2008 Bruins.

Of course, we knew he was never going to actually play for UCLA, but that's not going to stop me.

100 B-R's comparables are for entertainment purposes only, they don't make andy attempt to adjust for era or even use relevant stats.

His PECOTA comps are Omar Vizquel, Tony Fernandez, Harold Reynolds, Maury Wills, and U.L. Washington.

*supposed to be

Bob you needn't worry about dying. You're the kind of guy who looks like he's dying but will actually outlive everyone you know, till you're the only one left and must live out the rest of your life in lonely isolation, then you'll WISH for poor lab results as it will mean an end to all your god forsaken misery.

96. The Clippers don't need him, so he won't be in LA next year. Seattle drafts too high for him, but if NBADraft.net is correct he will be headed back to Oregon with Portland (13th overall pick). I would think he would go earlier than that though. Portland could be pretty good next year for a team that didn't make the playoffs, but can they get the 50 wins needed to make the playoffs.
vr, Xei

100
Other then 2006 you'd have a hard time proving he's been one of the top 25 players at any time in his career. Your making some broad comments that I just can't agree with. Are you his agent?

110. As a poor, poor Pacers/UCLA fan I've secretly been hoping for Love to be the next #31 UCLA export for the indiana boys. Sadly, Larry Bird probably squashed that with last year's trade with the warriors.

Not that Pacers will be worth paying attention to for a few years.

110
I heard Kevin Pritchard loves Westbrook. I would expect the Blazers to go after a guard.

I also heard Mike Dunleavy loves Westbrook, but the Clippers will be picking too high.

This is not meant to be an article about politics. Morseo, I just find it fasicnating that the price of Crude Oil can be a certain level, when the underlying supply/demand factors dont support the price.

The last time something like this occurred (when price didnt support the supply/demand), was probably around 99/00 with the dot.com boom.

It'll be interesting to see if the Crude Oil bubble bursts.

http://tinyurl.com/4nno9d

I think Love could go to Chicago. They collect forwards like beanie babies. Plus, they like tough guys.

109
Time to go stick a hose in the exhaust pipe of my car now.

Xei - everyone says that about Portland but no one says that about the Clippers even though the Clippers starting lineup could be Livingston, Maggette/Mayo, Thornton, Brand, and Kaman.

114. I'm no econ/lingustics wiz, but is the price of oil going up the same amount for every country, or are we seeing a bigger rise in price because of the falling dollar?
vr, Xei

118
I believe all the international markets for oil use the dollar as its basis.

But I'm not a commodities expert.

113
Dunleavy also loved Korolev. Someday all the Clipper bad luck has to turn around. Now would be a good time for those ping pong balls to bounce their way and bring them a Rose.

117. What's the contract status of Maggette and Brand? Will Livingston ever be the player he once was? Thornton was a great pick. For some reason I never jumped on the Mayo bandwagon. I only watched him play a few times, so I could be bias, but he didn't overly impress me. He seemed to be outplayed when he faced better competition. Didn't seem to be able to play great defense and didn't seem like a great team player, but the type of player who would be tough to beat in a game of one on one. He looks very good, don't get me wrong. But he was very hyped coming out of high school, and to me didn't leave a great impression.
vr, Xei

Has anyone here ever floated the idea of having Russell Martin shifting to second base next year to take over for Jeff Kent? I think it could make a lot of sense. Maybe more so for Martin's sake than the team's sake. Craig Biggio seems like a very comparable player to Martin, and Biggio's offense took off quite nicely when he got out from behind the dish.

82 87 89 I'm pretty sure it was BBQ King, that sounds familiar. I thought it was pretty good, I must have hit it at the right time.

Yes, oil is sold in dollars around the world. So that is one reason for the price jump I've read.

117
So you think the Clippers will re-sign Brand?

119. That would mean all countries are evenly hurt by the price. But does the dropping dollar have anything to do with the rise in the price? vr, Xei

114
I agree, when everyone starts riding our electric bikes we will rip a hole in the bubble.
www.currietech.com
www.izip.com

FYI - anyone looking for a great deal on an electric bike, and would like to meet Ed Begley he will be at our Chatsworth public warehouse sale on May 2nd.

124
Believe it or not, I was actually considered the Business Specialist at the library for a while.

Thankfully, I have been promoted to a position where I really don't have to know anything in detail. Except to do things like make sure I schedule people to come in for 40 hours a week.

127
Ed Begley is the only man to visit LAPL who was swooned over by more women than Suffering Bruin.

122. I believe he played some 3B in the minors. Martin would lose quite a bit of value by moving to 2B, or any other position other than SS. I don't see Martin moving from catcher to another position unless, 1) His body is breaking down from catching, and it effects his hitting and defense to a large degree, 2) they have another catcher who can hit well and play good defense in his place.

vr, Xei

122 - 2010?

C - May
1B - Loney
2B - Martin
SS - Hu
3B - LaRoche
LF - Ethier
CF - Furcal
RF - Kemp

The strangest thins is that you'd think with a dropping dollar, that there'd be inflation across the board. But thats not the case (at least not in comparison with oil).

Thats why I'd be getting out if I were heavily invest in commodities. Of course, others are probably just as confident that oil will go to $130, regardless of supply/demand fundamentals.

125
I think he will at least be a Clipper next season. I wrote this a couple weeks ago about my crippled team.

http://www.sportshubla.com/2008/04/07/fog-lifts-from-clipper-nation/

110 Most draft projections (including NBADraft) right now don't take into account team need, they're just an approximate rank order. DraftExpress has Love at 8. Either way, I can't imagine Love falling past the Kings at 12 if he falls that far - as a guy with skill Love is a Petrie-type player and the Kings need PF/PG. There won't be any great PG prospects available at 12 (with the possible exception of Westbrook) so Love's floor looks like 12 to me.

116 I don't know how well that would work with a hybrid. Might need to borrow your neighbors '67 Galaxie.

So, uh, how's Ben Howland's recruiting been the last couple of years? Just, you know, wondering...

126--Theoretically yes. Foreign investors can use their Euros and buy more US dollars with those Euros than ever before. Then with their dollars, they can invest in crude Oil (since crude oil is only traded in US dollars).

So foreign speculative investment could be driving up the price too...

I don't think Love's game will translate well into the NBA. He'll be going from bully to bullied IMO.

122
I started writing a column about it and gave it up after I did the Biggio/Martin comparisons. For one thing Biggio was a much smaller player then Martin and it was felt that Biggio would just wear down if he remained a catcher. Martin has proven that is not a concern with him.

There were other differences which is why I canned the column but I went into it with the same idea you had. I think Bhsportsguy and I were talking about it at a game last year.

135
Regardless, my suicide note will be filled with boring historical anecdotes.

As I was reading the Great K/Guo Controversy, I couldn't help but think, "This is why Gaslamp Ball makes fun of us."

134. Thanks, sounds good to me. The NBA draft is the only major league draft that I really have much interest in. One player can really make a big difference. In football and baseball it is easier to get impact players later in the draft. Of course the Clippers of the 1980s shoot down that theory somewhat. :)
vr, Xei

Ed Begley is the only man to visit LAPL who was swooned over by more women than Suffering Bruin

Did that sitwell with you...?

143 - Approved.

133
I definitely agree about Bayless. He would be the worst player for the Clippers to choose.

134
A Love/Hawes front court would be hilarious.

Biggio is Martin's second comparable, if it means anything.

141. All kidding aside, GasLamp has a popular fan post about one of it's members farting while on a date. Making fun of people is not a difficult thing to do, and I wouldn't worry about what they think.
vr, Xei

Better then his record in big games:) Maybe he should ask Lavin how to get over the hump.

141 - Do they make fun of us for other reasons besides we're Dodger fans?

I am going to really miss Westbrook.

Which UCLA players have/are vaulting to the NBA? Love, Westbrook and Collison? Any others leaving or likely to leave? I would think Shipp's stock dropped the last couple weeks of the season. vr, Xei

150
And they're Padre fans. Padre tradition consists of waiting for Nate Colbert to swing by the park trying to swindle you.

Love, Westbrook, and Mbah a Moute are the UCLA players with their hats in the ring. Collison hasn't said anything yet.

Collison will be gone. Shipp may test the waters. Aboya may be headed to graduate school.

127 I can ride my bike with no handle bars [stop] no handle bars [stop] no handle bars...

75- Eric Stephen, I heart you.

Shipp needs to get his degree. Crappy players like him should be slapped into wakefullness if they are still dreaming of an NBA career.

113 I agree. The Blazers almost certainly will go for a PG, which is probably their biggest need.

The Blazers should be much improved and 9 more wins is certainly doable. They will have GO back and more experience for the their young guys. Plus they will have Rudy next year which should be a very nice addition. Add in that they will have a ton of money to spend next summer I expect big, big things in 2009/2010.

Love had his chance to be in Oregon (shoulda been a Duck).

158
I hope Shipp leaves.

156 I bought that cd a week or so ago. I really like it, although I am getting tired of that song.

That Shipp has sailed. In other words, I agree with 158 . A disappointing career.

So hopefully Howland has recruited well. Losing Love stinks, though.

Maybe Howland will be so depressed he'll come back to UCSB.

161 its one of those songs you love to hate for me

162
Howland has the number 1 recruiting class coming in next year. We also have Jrue Holiday, who is the best guard to come to UCLA since Baron Davis.

The problem is that there will be no big men to speak of.

Ah, the Baron Davis era. Kicking the crap out of the Fab Five of Michigan only to have him sprain an ankle on a break a way and that was all she wrote or is my memory faulty?

165
It was a knee injury. And it was a post Fab Five Michigan team.

UCLA almost beat the Fab Five in 1993.

163 their stuff is pretty political/social commentary. They have a good sound.

157
I always knew baseball research would lead to meeting women! :)

Sweet... I can keep calling him Kuofax! Pretty awesome how Jon, Ken, Josh and everyone else got to the bottom of this.

158

Josh will graduate, either now or during the summer.

As for Russell, he could make so much more money by coming back. His decision is extremely short-sighted in my opinion. He could cost himself $2-3 million by staying in this draft, which i'm sure he will. Really sad that we're seeing this mass exodus right now with the class we have coming in next year. If Luc and alf come back 9probably unlikely), we're going to be really good next year. If they don't, we might only have 8 scholarship guys.

164 Jrue! Right, of course.

Does James Keefe count as a "big man"? Guess not quite big enough to fill the hole left by Kevin Love. Stanback could be good, too, but they need a center type.

115 Can we start a movement to have Chicago just draft beanie babies instead? It would make for some great introductions will all the lasers and fireworks.

170
He is going to cost himself a ton in his second contract. If he stayed another year, he could have learned how to play the point even better. Now, he will have to do that on the pro level, which is much harder. I am not sure he will be established enough, by the time he can be a free agent to get a big deal.

171
Keefe is a big, but Howland says he can only play PF. If Luc and Alfred leave, then Dragovic becomes backup PF (ugggggggghhhhhh) and Drew Gordon, a very raw freshman, would be our only center.

170. Staying one more year means another year of academic work. Studying, homework, attending classes, etc. Their value system and ours are not the same. Instant millions w/o schoolwork are probably more attractive than one more year of schoolwork with a reward of couple of more millions.

If somebody came up to me after my sophomore year at UCLA and offered to pay me $5 million a year for at least two years if I would leave school, I'd be gone.

176
If you got $5 million a year, it means you went to go play somewhere in Europe.

175--Plus, there's always the injury risk. If a player is a lock for the 1st round, I think they should go. 1st round in the NBA is Guaranteed Money.

Wow, that was pretty cool. Just spent 10 minutes watching a bald eagle circling overhead, not once flapping it's wings.

Never saw that in L.A.

139 ToyCannon, there are alot of questions that would need to be answered about Martin to 2B, but I think it's too early to say that Martin has proven wearing down is not a problem. It seems that just about every catcher historically has alot of trouble after about 1000 games caught, and whether it means something or not, Martin did have a poor September last year. Like I said, it might help Martin more than it helps the team, but I think it should be explored a little.

179
Are you sure it wasn't a golden eagle that lost its hair thanks to the pollution?

It's unusual but not totally bizarre these days to spot a bald eagle near LA. But still not super common. Some more common areas:
http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-eagles15jul15

(I've seen them in Cachuma and here in Northern California.)

I like how the UCLA press release for Nikki Caldwell tells us that she is single.

Not much pollution in Carson City...way too windy!

When the angle was just right to the sun, the top of its head just glowed white. A beautiful sight.

If James Keefe is the best player on UCLA next year, it's going to be that much harder for me to make fun of him.

I was just thinking that I should start a totally unsubstantiated rumor. How about Howland to Stanford? He's losing his whole team anyway.

185
Jrue Holiday will be our best player, so you and Shimmin can still make fun of Keefe.

185
Best Players at UCLA in 2008-2009
1. Jrue Holliday
2. Jermine Anderson
3. Malcolm Lee
4. James Keefe
5. Michael Roll
6. Chace Stanback
7. Drew Gordon
8. Nigola Dragovic

187
I think it will be a battle between Keefe and Anderson for second best.

Developer unveils L.A. stadium plans to lure team

http://tinyurl.com/5aayqc

100

This could explain why I disagree with the overspending. I tend to be thrifty with my Dodger experience. I park outside and walk in to the stadium. I bring my own food and drink. And I buy the 12 pack of $4 tickets for the top deck. Now I know why I want the Dodgers to spend there money well.

190 I think the people represent a wide range of Dodger consumers, there are those that are season ticket holders. mini-plan holders, just go to an occasional game. I have friend who probably goes to maybe 6-8 games a year but spends a lot when he does go.

There are others here who only watch and listen to games through MLB.TV, Gameday Audio, Extra Innings or in Southern California through Cable, Direct TV, Dish Network.

I'm not sure if the amount anyone spends or doesn't spend has any connection to how they feel the team should be operated on. Maybe it does, but for myself, I consider my spending to be probably above average on this site but that does not make me feel the team should spend more or less money.

191

My bad, that was meant to be more about making fun of myself and less about assuming how other people spend their money at the stadium.

I really wish we had a game to watch tonight

I don't necessarily care how much they spend as long as that spending doesn't cripple them. I also think the bigger the payroll the higher the expectations. My Giants friends always points out the Dodgers should be better if you compare their payroll.

Now I'm not saying that's the way it works, but the expectations will almost always be higher

192 No, no, I wasn't saying your experience isn't valid.

A lot of people who post here probably see less games in a year at Dodger Stadium than I saw this week (3).

But that doesn't mean they won't care about how the money is spent, even though they themselves don't really spend that much to see Dodger baseball themselves.

But that doesn't mean those that do spend money have care any more or less about how the team is run.

The one other quesion I had for Cody S was where is he spending $20 for parking, I know regular parking is $15 and I think preferred parking is now $30 or so.

Speaking of the Blazers. How did suit coats get to be called blazers. That's pretty silly. "It's chilly, I'm going to thrown on my blazer."

Then rocket to the stars!

195

I thought that too.

He must be buying the beer with the lights at the bottom, right?

I still can't believe I have not been to a game yet...darn that lamaze class

I am having trouble finding the link Jon gave for The Office deleted scene with Jan giving the appetizers...any idea where it is?

scratch that

New Thrice album is awesome.

Blazers got their name because they tend to be colorful and create a blazing effect.

Like the thing you get when you win the Masters.

200
Did they go back to their old roots?

Braves are up 2-0 early vs. Marlins and threatening for more. I kinda hope they win today. Don't want the Dodgers to face an even hungrier Braves team...

202

Not at all. I really like Kensrue's solo album and "Earth" has a lot of that in it. Air has a bunch of unique songs though.

I probably would like anything they put out though.

Broken Lungs, the first song, is probably the heaviest on this album.

There is something oddly settling about the fact that Kuo and his name are still a topic of conversation.

I feel less out of the loop.

206 I thought it was all done, but now that you've brought it up :)

I am the master of glucose! I scored an 85.

I will go have a cookie.

189 Lets see how long it take Mark Ridley-Thomas to raise holy hell...

My urine has a pH of 7.0 so I can't be used for any science experiments to demonstrate how litmus paper works.

210 I'll keep that in mind.

I would rather never have an NFL team than have one in the Coliseum.

I would go to the mattresses against the Coliseum Commission. The mattresses, I says!

210 How would a pre-test meal of asparagus have affected that?

212 I'll make the spaghetti and meat sauce.

Heading down your way right now to Palazzo. I hope I can get there in two hours.

212 Even if that meant being called a racist?

210 Interestingly, the pH 7 solution that I use to equilibrate the pH meter electrode is very yellow.

I'm using gloves next time.

Bob leaves dead grass spots when he lifts his leg on the lawn.

213
I once read a medical textbook at work about medical lab tests. It had a chart for what certain odors in urine meant (it normally doesn't have an odor when it first comes out of your body.)

But there were various smells. One of them listed was "asparagus smell." And at the other side of the chart was the condition "eating asparagus."

Any word on Collison? Do ucla fans even want Shipp back?

Across town, I'm still waiting on word on Taj and Davon, I think they'd both be making a big mistake if they go pro. IMO, of all the guys on SC and UCLA Davon and Westbrook have the best chance of really improving draft status if they stayed. I think Collison might as well go, I don't really see how he'd go higher other then next year being a bad draft.

214 Speaking of food, I went to Phillipe's for the first time before last night's game and was curious if their dessert dishes were worth trying? They didn't look too appetizing from under the glass, but if they're anything like the sandwiches I had, I'd order one in a hurry.

217 I think Bob lives in an apartment. Hope he's not doing that on neighbor's lawns!

Pee Thoughts.

Makes me almost miss Juan Pierre Thoughts. Almost.

(Did you know that asparagus smell thing is genetic?)

I will now reenact that scene from "Election."

222
The genetic part of the asparagus thing is being able to detect the smell, not to produce it.

215 Sure, who cares. The Coliseum Commission is the worst run, worst-intentioned civic organization in Los Angeles. It could be run by martians or tennis raquets...Matters not at all.

Mattress. We talkin mattress, man. Mattress.

219 I thought Jefferson had already announced he's coming back.

221

He definitely lives in an apartment. I may or may not be commenting from there right now.

Luis Gonzalez today: 2 ABs, 2 K's. Braves up 3-0.

222 You're right! It only affects 40-50 % of the population.

I'm heading down to the produce section.

223 Really? I was misinformed by the Asparagus Pee Commission. Who also run the LA Coliseum.

225 - that's a rumor spreading around based on that LA Times report, but it's not true. I've heard he'll declare w/o an agent, and that he's coming back - I guess we'll see soon enough.

Wisegeek has the last word on the subject:

http://tinyurl.com/4mmrot

How weird is it that the last 5 digits of the tinyurl are mmrot?

Being on east coast time makes me feel lonely and out of touch.

I may start clinging to guns and religion.

220 The banana cream pie is good. So is the tapioca. Daniel Zapalla's family had assorted cakes and pies that they all liked.

I felt lonely and out of touch on Hawai'i Time. I felt like the entire world was ahead of me and knew more stuff.

232 Are you on the east coast on some permanent basis?

"I felt like the entire world was ahead of me and knew more stuff."

Now you know how Ned Colletti feels.

230
Collison will go pro. I don't want Shipp back. Can't speak for other UCLA fans though.

237 You speak for me.

Man, a guy goes through a shooting slump and you guys start sharpening the knives. Two years ago he was the greatest thing since sliced bread.

237
Trainwreck would have made a good UCLA alum class of 1969.

Kid Charlemagne on the radio. Now we're talking.

208 - good for you. Did they give you your A1C also?

240
I wish I was a teen in the 60's.

241 One of my favorite Dan songs.

235

No, just visiting family, and on a Minotaur safari. I'll be back in a few days.

I watched John Adams part 6 in Savannah, GA. The setting fit the setting.

239
Well he red-shirted two years ago, but yes, he was really good as a freshman. Played a totally different style of ball then.

If you think I am bad, you should read what a certain scout on BRO thinks about him.

242
Since I don't know what that is, I would guess the answer is no.

I still didn't get the cholesterol test back. So I don't know if I should have my big plate of fried lard for dinner.

247
Aww, so you are going to Lee's Sandwiches for dinner.

I haven't been to Lee's Sandwiches in years.

I am southern BBQ-ed out.

But I had some awesome homemade fried chicken cooked by my very own father's mother for dinner this evening.

249
I went once in Irvine.

I shall never go again.

This rotoworld comment on everyone's favorite left handed prospect made me chuckle

"Clayton Kershaw dropped to 0-3 for Double-A Jacksonville despite allowing one run in six innings on Tuesday.
The kid just doesn't know how to win. Pairing with Matt Kemp and sending him to the Marlins for Luis Gonzalez might be the Dodgers' only option."

http://tinyurl.com/4lr7jz

Back to Back to Back homers for Atlanta.

Jones, Teixeira, and McCann.

Hope it has not been mentioned but 'The Bison' did not make an mlb.com article about major league nicknames. Surely it's a top ten nickname; maybe not yet adopted by the players.

http://tinyurl.com/64rb6a

Homer @ the bat is on Fox right now.

Watch Mike Scioscia get radiation poisoning!

A few notes on UCLA -

1) Love and Collison are almost certainly gone. Westbrook will work out for teams - how he does will have significant impact, as his PG/shooting skills are suspect at times. He may still return.

2) Aboya could indeed leave, as could Dragovic (go home to play in pro leagues). Interestingly, at the banquet on Monday, Howland made kind of a dig at Dragovic, talking about working hard to get ready for the next season.

3) Other notes from the banquet:

Kevin Love is shorter than Lorenzo Mata-Real; enough so that it's pretty easy to notice from afar. No way he's 6'10", and he might be less than 6'8" in stocking feet (I'm around Bob's height, and he wasn't that much taller than I am).

Dragovic might actually be the tallest player on the team at the moment.

Keefe is plenty tall, and in very good shape, but just doesn't have the frame to put on enough weight to play at center. His shoulders are too narrow. In contrast, Aboya might be the broadest player on the team (even more so than Love).

4) Shipp not only had a lot of success as a frosh, but also was receiving a lot of plaudits from many of the professionals who play pickup during the summer at UCLA. He was considered to be the most talented player before the 2005/2006 season by several of them, but had to shut down due to injury for almost the whole year, and really hasn't been the same since.

5) Holiday will be special. Gordon has looked surprisingly athletic in recent weeks since returning from his own injury problems (that probably cost him a shot at being UCLA's 3rd McDonald's All-American in this class). Lee and Anderson need some work.

ok, I'm convinced that the Raiders should pick Chris Long. If he's available.

I find it ironic that ESPN.com had a poll question earlier today to the effect, "Has the Red Sox - Yankee rivalry lost its luster," given that ESPN's overexposure of said rivalry is probably partly to blame.

255 - I was shocked enough to discover he was apparently aware of it. I very much doubt it gains much currency outside of DT.

247 - there are two kinds of blood sugar tests in wide currency, fasting and A1C. You had the former (the normal range IIRC is 70-100 mg/dl). You can think of A1C as a backwards-looking blood sugar level, and is a unitless test; typically 6% or below is considered a good number.

Things you learn when you (almost) have diabetes... the fact that you don't know what A1C is probably means your doctor isn't worried about you having diabetes.

260

It was the centerpiece of a commercial for Easton bats. I don't think anyone from DT was involved there.

Maybe if he got to play more than three times a week it would catch on more.

MLB.com is giving me more problems when I try to watch its video highlights from the Dodger games. I can still see some, but they are bugging me to by some kind of subscription. I pay about $150 to DTV to watch most Dodger games, and I accept this because I am on the east coast. But guess what--I doubt people will pay for the priviledge of being fans to this outfit in the long term. These MLB web sites are the most pathologically money grubbing entities I have seen in a while. Good luck.

262 - I don't know, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that a commenter here is actually Ron Stilanovich

264
I don't know, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that a commenter here is actually Ron Stilanovich

Greg Brock has been known to randomly yell "Packrat!" and "Gary C.!" at his students.

258
Or Dorsey. Or Ellis.

Hah HAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Adam Jones, the man Bill Bavasi traded for Bedard (on the DL) just singled in the Game Winning Run in the 10th Inning for the O's.

Great to see this kid succeeding, but not a good day to be at USS Mariner is it?

257
Anderson is coming in as a pretty complete recruit. He has great natural point guard feel. He is a great defender and has improved his scoring ability a ton.

261
Ahh. Thanks. Yes, I don't seem to be at risk for diabetes. Sadly, the cholesterol test, despite me taking statins, still has me above the Mendoza Line, but I'll try to work on the diet and exercise a little bit more to nudge it down.

My family has a history of high cholesterol levels, but also the absence of heart disease.

Cancer is a whole other thing though.

267

...maybe not; the guys out there seem to be enjoying their own A's/M's game so far.

holy crap, vikings in trade talks to get jared allen!?!?

do it pleaseeee!

271 no way. A team still dealing with image issues trading for a guy with 2 DUIs? I don't see it happening. And a 1st and 3rd is too much to give up.

272

I believe in second chances....and third chances..especially for a guy who had 15 sacks last year.

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

OH MY GOD.

erase that. that was not meant for this.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8043460/Chiefs'-Allen-talking-with-Vikings,-Bucs

I think it would be worth it for Vikings. They were most likely going to draft a DE anyways, so might as well get an established one now.

275

Absolutely. The Vikings have had HORRIBLE luck in 1st round DEs lately.

He's only 26 and playing next to the Williams Boys, he's going to wreck havoc.

So no one wants to watch old friend Tomko pitch in Anaheim tonight?

Does anyone consider Tomko an old friend?

266 I just love Long's versatility, his attitude and oh yeah he was born to wear silver and black. Dorsey or Ellis wouldn't be bad, but I'm really liking Long right now and I think he would be great in the Raiders 4-3 defense.

278
You won't be so flippant when Tomko starts Game 2 of the ALCS for the Royals against the Red Sox.

College pitcher takes a line drive to the head. This is scary, so click at your own risk.

http://tinyurl.com/4lotg2

Wesley Wright update:

He came into the game at Philadelphia Wednesday night in the 8th inning with the Astros up 2-1, and struck out the side, including Utley & Howard.

"He just showed me a lot of confidence," Cooper said. "He showed me he believes in himself. He attacked the hitters, and I think that's what we talked about in Spring Training -- to try and command his fastball and get ahead of the hitters. Bang, bang, bang, that's what he did."

http://tinyurl.com/4k362t

Wright's first 3 outings were only to face one batter, but his last 3 appearances were of the longer variety. He had one bad outing Saturday -- he walked 3 of his 5 hitters, throwing balls with 15 of his 22 pitches -- after which he was shut down for a few days with a sore middle finger.

Thus far on the season, Wright's stats are 6 games, 3.1 IP, 1 hit, 1 run, 3/5 BB/K. Batters hitting .091/.286/.182 against (only 1 double), 2 of 5 inherited runners have scored.

265 I can't yell at students. They are fragile little eggs. It would her their positive self images.

Today's lesson was "When you become a European despot, do not invade Russia. Just leave it alone. Not worth it."

I hope they took it to heart.

273
The lead post for the book Dodger Thoughts: The Outtakes.

More of a old friend: Tomko or Odalis?

Discuss.

283
Sorry about that. By "yell at" I meant "quietly and systematically crush their will". :)

285
Odalis clearly. Two near no-nos, including the near perfecto at Wrigley.

279 what Don Banks said today was that there is no love lost between Davis and Howie Long.

In my stupid mock, I had the Raiders taking C. Long. I don't think they take McFadden at all.

Ellis or Dorsey would be their best bet, really (I had Dorsey going to Atlanta).

286 Now you've got it!

285 I have a soft spot for Tomko, just because he got booed back to the stone age by Dodger fans. I hate it when home field is hostile territory.

I didn't see Odalis at the stadium.

283 based on my knowledge of teenagers- they didn't.

284
Nothing to see here. Move along.

Of course, Allen leaving the AFC West would make me very happy. And Jay Cutler, I'm sure.

Following up on 75 , I missed at least one 20-run month. Stretch run acquisition Bill Madlock scored 20 runs in the extended September 1985.

Four of the 136 20-run months in LA Dodger history came in September 1985. Due to a short player strike in Spring 1985, the season started late and ended on October 6. Thus, the Dodgers' "September" 1985 included 36 games.

Mike Scioscia scored 22 runs in September 1985, which bolstered his season total all the way to 47! He played in 141 games during the season.

NFC North QBs

Kitna
Grossman
Rodgers

He's going to get 18 sacks next year.

he can get 18 sack a year just from Kitna. That guy need to respell his name as "Pinata."

with a squiggle above the n

297
Alt 164 to make the ñ.

Noticed that Torre said Kuo depends on deception, which probably is true to a degree for any pitcher . But Kuo sits 93 or so and always has been a strikeout pitcher, so the deception comment is puzzling. Do his strikeouts usually come from ball movement, or what? Can anyone explain?

Saw a comment the other day that Kuo neared triple digiits BS (before surgeons). That extra 5 mph or so might have made him unhittable, since he seems to come close to it now when he's right. I once read that Koufax was unbeatable if he was right, and now no one seems to be able to do much with Kuo when he is.

That comparison might end there, but Kuo is very intriguing. When he's on, like Sept. '06, his numbers rival those of the best pitchers in baseball. So far this year he appears to be even better than in '06.

A comment a few days back referred to Kuo's holding down the power lefty spot until the mythical beast arrives to claim it. Kuo's arm would have to hold up--which history says is iffy--but where is it written there can't be two power lefties?

NPUT

Actually, two new posts up top.

Now that I've come out of the woodwork, another question==

There's talk from time to time of the howitzer attached to Furcal's shoulder.

Does anyone know if he's ever been clocked on a radar gun? If his arm's that good, you'd kind of think so, at least for kicks.

Not long ago I think there was talk of who might pitch in a blowout--maybe Loney since he's been a pitcher.

Be interesting to see Furcal show off that arm in a mopup pitcher role.

There's also been talk of Furcal eventually moving to 2B. Loney might not appreciate having those missiles fired at him from a shorter distance.