The choice to start Player X or Player Y should depend upon which player is the better starter.

Does he really take that long to get to know the players? I've never heard other new manager talk about that. Is it just that Torre is honest about it? Or is it part of his managing style, relying upon his eyes and learning personalities?

Did the guy look at the videotapes during the off season? I get the impression no. Sometimes it seems that we know the players better than he does. I suppose, though, that the video won't tell him things like, oh, how Pierre does off the bench, or how much playing time Young needs to stay sharp, or how good Ethier and Kemp are when they actually get to play every single day.

Honestly, going to the video, I think only tells you a bit of the story. I think a lot of people around here down play the psychological aspect of the game and that is what I think Torre is trying to figure out.

these are not the guys on whom we should rest out hopes, yet they monopolize the salary structure

In 2007, the Dodgers scored 10+ runs ten times. For the season, the Dodgers scored 735 runs, including 121 runs in April.

So far in April 2008, the Dodgers scored 114 runs with three games left to play. Potentially the Dodgers could be on pace to score more runs this year.

The most Dodger runs scored in a year this decade is 820. The 2006 Dodgers scored 820 on their way to the Wild Card.

And finally, the 1977 Dodgers scored 769 runs. I always regarded the '77 team as the best offense of the modern Dodger era.

How do ya' figure...?

16 and don't be surprised if Kuo, Loaiza and Morris are soon sharing the #5 starter spot...perhaps with Schmidt until Schmidt breaks down again

Wasn't he the final acquisition provided to Tracy in Tracy's swan song season?

Ditto.

I think (hope?) were safe from Morris at this point in time. I'm actually very optimistic that we see Kershaw well before the All-Star break unless one of these guys catches fire in the 5-spot.

Second time?

April 12: 11-1 vs. SD
April 15: 11-2 vs. Pittsburgh
April 26: 11-3 vs. Colorado

There were 5 other wins where the Dodgers had 7 runs or more.

"The track records that should have been established by now have not been, and the spring training that should have enabled him to evaluate the players was abbreviated for commercial reasons."

I find this comment both curious and irksome. First, Joe is throwing Ned or Grady (appears to be Ned)under the bus for keeping Nomar at 1B, and Kemo on the bench or in Vegas, or BIlls in the pen. Second I don't think anyone can claim Loney does not have a track record. He has proven at everyturn that he is a very good MLB 1B.
Second, I think this I don't know my team stuff is BS. You have been the mangager for 5-6 mos. And while a trip to China did interefere you have alibrary of tape on these guys, unlimited resources in sthe scouting dept. and dare I say,statistical analysis to get to "know" your team. I'm just not buying this last part. Come on Joe you are the leader, don't even appear to be making excuses.

RS/RA
SF - 83/116
Col - 107/132
SD - 83/119

My guess is that Kershaw is on track for 150 innings or so. The front office would probably prefer for him to get them in Jacksonville.

Umpire out of hospital after taking fastball to jaw

and

Pirates make struggling vet Morris walk the plank

In the case of Washington, whose Rangers have gotten off to a dreadful, worst-in-baseball start after finishing last in the AL West at 75-87 in his first season as manager in '07, his firing would seem inevitable although, to be fair, his boss, GM Jon Daniels, has done an abysmal job of acquiring any kind of decent pitching in his own three years on the job.

If true, this would be unfortunate. Manager taking the fall for anawful GM.

"Between Redman's pitching and this song, I feel like jumping in front of a bus."

Reminds me of an time in a local pizza parlor when a sick kid couldn't quite make it to the bathroom and, um, gave back some second-hand pizza.

It happened near a guy in a baseball uniform from an area college. He calmly said: "Huh! That kid must have seen me pitch today." :)

It seems like he's giving the young guys every chance in the world here (with the exception of Kuo, possibly).

Argh...we don't know what we're doing.

Kemp's 5 RBI first inning was the first 5 RBI inning by a Dodger hitter since Jeff Kent had one in Cincinnati on May 6, 2005. Kent had a 2-run homer and a bases clearing double.

This is a bit misleading. Stratton won 15 games two seasons in a row BEFORE he lost his leg in a hunting accident. He did come back and pitch several years later, winning 18 games, but in a Class C league, not the majors.

Four of the five players who had 8 RBIs in consecutive innings (with an RBI in each inning) played for the Dodgers at some point in their career:
Jim Gentile, Frank Robinson, Robin Ventura, Nomar Garciaparra.

But it's very weird.

Morris is aware the decision likely ends his career.

"I've accepted it," he said. "It was a great segment of my life. I really can't wait to move on and be with my family. It's a sad day, but it's also a joyful day. … I'm proud of my career. I didn't mean or want for it to end this way. I've always said the other team will let you know when you're done."

But if it doesn't... it's going to be a long, ugly season.

Does small sample size not apply to managing? Or Billy Beane's mantra that you spend the first two months of the season evaluating what you have?

Just to be clear, that was Bill Shaikin talking, not Joe Torre.

Nor is there really all that much skill.

Has there been a modern game where they lost more than one umpire in a game? and how many umps does the rule book require for a game?

Whether or not there will be a replacement for Danley depends if MLB can fly a replacement out for the game in time.

SS Furcal
LF Ethier
RF Kemp
C Martin
1B Loney
CF Jones
3B DeWitt
2B Hu
RH Loaiza

Listening to the A's pregame programing, and they are saying that many scouts are out to see Blanton's start today against Seattle. Wonder if the Dodgers have anyone there.

Should be real interesting in about 2.5 weeks when La Roche is ready to come off the DL as will Nomar and the fact that Joe for good reasons likes De Witt-says he feels comfortable with him.

"9.03 (a) If there is only one umpire, he shall have complete jurisdiction in administering the rules. He may take any position on the playing field which will enable him to discharge his duties (usually) behind the catcher, but sometimes behind the pitcher if there are runners)."

I don't know if they teach that technique in umpire school anymore.

It seems like Torre does realize this, though, as Hu's four starts before today have come behind Lowe, Lowe, Kuroda, and Lowe.

Needless to say, some calls were missed.

It also happened earlier this week against Arizona.

Now I'm thinking about the most recent South Park episode.

Kerwin Danley probably had that nightmare last night.

Retrosheet also says that Christy Mathewson and Jack Billingham are cousins. I'm won