I just saw the lineup on ItD and thought the same thing. Why not throw Tiffee out there if you're going to give Loney a rest? I liked Maza at second yesterday - at short - not so much. Would Kent have had those two popups in short right yesterday?

So maybe his low BABIP is a function of his decreasing ability to drive the ball.

Have since found the real thing and am relinking it here on Memorial Day since the subject matter ties in somewhat with that--even though it was written about Christmastime, 1945.

In my original post on this I said probably not too many DT readers had seen it. Also, it's a serious debunking of the idea that sportswriters can't write other things well. Anyone with a sense of history and appreciation of good writing, which quite a few DTers have, probably will enjoy it.

For those who may have read it the first time--or tried to--this original version is worth a reread because it's actually the whole thing, including the ending, which I think particularly appropriate today.

http://tinyurl.com/5rpjzq

The item appeared under a heading of "Wild Thing...you make everything groovy."

I think Williams went on to try the pro bowlers tour after baseball, where he wasn't totally embarrassed but also didn't win much money, IIRC.

James Loney's season to date:
.276/.332/.438
And some really bad defense.

1. Vin Scully
2. Don Drysdale
3. Jerry Doggett
4. Charley Steiner
5. Rick Monday
6. Ross Porter

No need to say more on Vin. He is slowing down some, but still the best even in his 80s. I thought Drysdale was underrated as an announcer. He added a spark and obviously knew a great deal about the game as a former player that none of the previous announcers had. I actually like his rarely played call of Gibson's home run even better than Vin's or Jack Buck's who were doing it for national audiences.

Doggett was fairly solid, and had such an easygoing and pleasant style in calling the games. I didn't like the Steiner signing much, but he has grown on me a bit. Monday knows the game as well as anyone, but his monotone broadcasting voice and style just seems to turn me off no matter how much I like the guy.

Ross Porter called the game a little more smoothly and natural than Monday does and was an overall nice guy. Not sure I can ever forgive McCourt for how poorly they treated him in getting rid of him in his 28th season. He was a class guy, but I think he really knew very little about the game despite giving off those horribly inane and meaningless stats every game about the Dodgers being 12-2 in one run games played on astroturf on Saturday games during the year.

.262 5 27 .348 .415...why are these numbers worth trading young talent for?

But signing him as a free agent is absolutely the right move. Over the next 5yrs, the only advantage Loney will have is he's cheaper.

Teixeira will likely be the better player. Loney would be a fine backup though.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/loneyja01.shtml

I will admit this much: PECOTA hates him (RR):

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/pecota/loneyja01.php

Most of his comps are on a downhill slide, but that said, PECOTA tends to get lost in the early part of careers when all you have to go on is minor league numbers. Further, I point to the career of one Paul Konerko, whom the Dodgers threw away in his age 22 season for the privilege of watching Jeff Shaw close their games for one good and two mediocre years. What fun that was! (And that's without mentioning Tommy Lasorda's screwup on Shaw's contract!)

http://www.baseball-reference.com/k/konerpa01.shtml

Pierre or Soriano?

Pierre or Soriano?

...especially with Kent batting.

Five years from now he will be 33 years old.

Derek Lee is crazy strong.

He has 9 runs scored in 18 games.

Brett Butler is a long ways away.

In another Month JP's numbers will be where they have been the last 3 years...

We'll talk then.

Just look at the drop off between him and Furcal..

The Cardinals have always been at war with the Cubs.

Part of the reason is career record was not that great was the lack of run support. But basically James concluded that Drysdale was (1) one of most famous pitchers of his time, (2) He had an impact on a number of pennant races, and (3) helped his teams win.

I also forgot he was slugging .321.

He certainly is going to be playing while Jones is out and he is going to bat leadoff until Furcal comes back.

But everyone knows that but yet they complain.

Other Dodgers with streaks of 5 straight games with hits to start their career:
The black Mike Ramsey
Don LeJohn
Doug Camilli
Don Sutton

There could have been a longer streak earlier.

LaRoche could very easily be called up and play LF.

This game is starting to look eerily reminiscent of Lowe's last start: one bad pitch for two runs, Dodgers still lose.

Better yet if he could pitch like Kershaw. As a pitcher, he makes a hell of a nice hitter.

Why is there this insistence that a player who has played nothing but 3B can now play major league level outfield.

Its also Dodger Mgmt decision that Pierre bat leadoff.

Just because "we know its going to happen" doesnt make the decison any less wrong. And this is a baseball blog that discusses both good and bad that goes on with the Dodgers.

Should power producers coming out of the ped generation be subject to careful evaluation?

Or possibly "The Nostrum."

95 - Never mind...

What is the status of the condition of LaRoche's right thumb? Has he regained full strength?
Could this be hampering his ability to throw the ball and to swing the bat?