Ned signed these guys & I gave my thumbs up too:

1)Schmidt
2)A-Jones
3)Nomar
4)Kuroda (to be fair I new nothing of him but it looked good)

Ned signed these guys & I scratched my head:

1)Pierre
2)Loaiza
3)Berroa
4)[I know there is more but can't remember, little help please]

Early Wynn broke into the majors in 1939. And you can go from there.

Satchel Paige is the Eddie Arnold of this game.

OT: Anyone see this (courtesy of rotoworld):

"Ex-NBA referee Tim Donaghy told the feds two referees fixed the outcome of one playoff series and that officials were told not to eject star players from games for fear of hurting ticket sales.

The allegations are contained in a court document filed Tuesday by Donaghy's lawyer. Donaghy said officials were told not to call technical fouls on stars, and that two officials helped extend a 2002 playoff series to a seventh game, all in the name of ticket sales and television revenue. The Kings/Lakers series was the only one to go seven games that year, with the Lakers winning games 6 and 7. If Donaghy's allegations are factual, David Stern's worst nightmares may have just come true."

Hopefully the fix is in tonight at Staples Center (much like it was in Boston on Sunday).

And by that I mean I'd like the home team to get the favorable calls.

here is a sneak peak >>>Kershaw acknowledged it's "cool" that he'll be able to one day look back and say he pitched against the legendary Maddux, but that's not what he's concerned with.

"I'm not worried about who I'm pitching against," Kershaw said. "If I do what I can do, I'm not really worried about what he does."

I love this kid. You have to have that kind of mentality to be successful.

I guess I would rather have Schmit on the DL not pitching than have him out there giving up 8 runs in the first inning. (I would prefer to have neither.)

Let me ask two questions that I don't know the answer to... would it surprise anyone if the Gasol deal was engineered by more than just the Lakers and Grizzlies? Or, is the NBA better served if Kobe is not with the Lakers?

And let's not forget the Kevin Garnett deal, in which the Celtics had to give up, um, well, uh, some guys.

Dodgers:

Pierre 7
Ethier 9
Kent 4
Martin 2
Loney 3
Kemp 8
DeWitt 5
Berroa 6
Kershaw 1

Padres:

Hairston 8
E Gonzalez 4
Giles 9
A. Gonzalez 3
Kouzmanoff 5
Greene 6
Huber 7
Barrett 2
Maddux 1

In interest of full disclosure, I am a Laker fan. I read the Lakers news after I read the Dodgers news and I used to watch a lot of Lakers games. I don't anymore. Most nights I'd rather watch a Dodger game than a Laker playoff game. Tonight is an exception to that. I missed the comeback Sunday because I didn't even check the Laker score while waiting for the Dodogers to come back against the Cubs. However, one of my most cherished possessions on DVR is the Kobe 81 point game.

It's been many a moon since I've posted. Me a teacher, me have final exams and massive grading for many a student. Me tired. But me learn something while watching this here Dodger team and Ned Colletti:

1. The signing of Jason Schmidt was not at the time regarded as a mistake. That he would produce next-to-nothing cannot be held against Colletti unless you think he should've known Schmidt was going to get hurt.

2. The signing of Andruw Jones was a decent risk, IMHO though that means I have a different opinion than Rob McMillin and that's not comfortable. But Jones was coming off his worst year, we signed him for only two seasons... I mean, did anyone think he would be this bad? Not me.

3. He has not shown me, to date, that he can judge talent well. It took way too long for the kids to come up last season and this season he's grumbling about the kids and that's not Phi Beta Kappa, people.

4. His fault or no, the Dodgers have well over $50 million dollars doing nothing at all. One would think at some point a person would have to answer for that, either to the press or to the man in charge.

That is all. Back to grading.

I understand why signing Loaiza was controversial but I liked the acquisition at the time. The Dodgers were desperate for pitching and though it cost them a lot of $,(and no players) he was worth the chance. If he pitched just average and the Dodgers didn't fold, it could have meant going to the play-offs. Who else was available?

http://tinyurl.com/4jkq2d

Apparently orders emanated directly from NBA headquarters. Very timely story, IMO.

1 - Pitcher
2 - Catcher
3 - First Base
4 - Second Base
5 - Third Base
6 - Shortstop
7 - Left Field
8 - Center Field
9 - Right Field

http://tinyurl.com/4evfb9

http://www.insidesocal.com/dodgers/2008/06/furcal-has-anot.html

On August 25, 1956, Jim Bunning started a game and was relieved by Virgil Trucks.

On April 22, 1943, Trucks faced Mel Harder.

On July 30, 1930, Harder faced Waite Hoyt.

On July 24, 1918, Hoyt relieved Slim Sallee.

On May 28, 1908, Sallee lost to Chick Fraser.

On Opening Day 1896, Fraser faced Cap Anson of the Chicago White Stockings, who had played in the second professional baseball game ever played in 1871.

And Furcal being out till the All-Star Break...wow.

What is actually wrong with his back?

Hmmm.........

But apparently he's told his guys they cant just be ready to play, but be ready to win.

---

Just a reminder: The Griddle does have an NBA Champ game chat going on right now. Come, be a part of it.

It started in Washington and then went on to Cleveland and then to Chicago and then meandered around and went back to Cleveland.

Settlers on the Early Wynn Trail often spoke of hardships.

Such as having to watch some really bad Washington Senators teams.

At least present the trade for what it actually was. The Grizzlies traded for Brown's expiring contract, not Brown. They would have taken me in the deal if I had $9 million coming off the books. They also got a first round pick and two young players in Crittenton and Marc Gasol who have real talent and potential, though they will not likely end up as stars.

For a team in total rebuild mode, it was not such a bad trade. They knew they weren't getting equal value, talent-wise.

I mean while I think Pau was a more important need to fill, and a better fit for this team, I think most agree that KG is a better player

For discussion of a game involving a ball with the stitches on the inside go here:
https://griddle.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1014183.html

The cairns and blazes were really hard to see underwater.

I'm taking 24.

That glove, however...

Estadio Rod Carew

Kershaw IV: Sudden Impact?

Petco Park?

... nearby ...

But does anyone know how the injury occurred? Apparently, with that kind of prognosis, it's more serious than a "strain."

He never went on the DL in 2004.
A broken wrist sidelined him in 2005.
He was never on the DL in 2006
He was never on the DL in 2007.
He's not been on the DL in 2008.

Yea, all-in Kent and Nomar will end up looking ok at best, but I guess the first deals were ok.
Just seems like for such a big market team we have trouble bringing in players in their prime and getting good value. Maybe that's the nature of the free agent market, but I guess that's also why we have not won a playoff series since Kershaw was 7 months old....

Pujols was helped off the field in the top of the seventh inning with a strained left calf he suffered while running out a ground ball.

http://tinyurl.com/572cvr

And the thing is, I don't trust Nomar to stay healthy.

Loney is another I really think Kemp will probably have a hard time with Sir Maddux at the mound, we'll see.

1) It is not available in real time.
2) It is, at its heart, no more sophisticated than judging ice skating and every bit as subject to prejudice.

http://www.billjamesonline.net/fieldingbible/summary.asp

That is, it does not report facts but subjective expressions of opinion, which makes it only incrementally better than the old fielding percentage/errors system already ingrained into baseball.

The new camera-based systems that record actual ball position will undoubtedly be far better at this kind of thing.

3) Because of the nature of the system, it is not available historically. But that will be a problem even with any new camera-based system.

Interesting word choice in pregame Gurnick:
Garciaparra has missed 41 games with a complicated condition that leads to calf muscle strains.
"complicated condition"?

Still languishing.
Meanwhile, Jason Schmidt seems to have hit another speed bump in his comeback. Torre said there is no timetable for the pitcher to resume his Minor League rehab assignment after he experienced discomfort in his surgically repaired shoulder.

There's the curve! Just missed.

he swang at a strike (he went the other way with it) but yea he probably should have waited at least a pitch or 2, I think he'll be o.k. against Maddux using that approach.

(Balloons drop from ceiling)

Throw me a bone, people...

hmmm...explains why they look alike.

How long have you waited to post that?

Cinco de Mayo.

"Andy LaRoche was officially recalled today and is scheduled to start tomorrow either at first base or third base while facing left-hander Randy Wolf. Torre said his plan is to get LaRoche plenty of at-bats, and he'll use LaRoche to spell left-handed hitters Blake DeWitt and James Loney depending on who's struggling more. "

what about second base!??!!?

Alternately, I could renege. Which was always a good bet.

I actually own not 1 but 2 pair of corduroy pants, yikes!

Just a few more of those Public Enemies #1, Clayton.

Just let him do his thing up here.

bah!

/Kent

it does look like it has plenty of zip to it, I base it solely on how the batters react to Kershaw's fastballs, aside from Hairston he's pretty much blowing it by the other guys.

he just needs to place it better though...

Nothing against Clay but I hate watching pitchers hit. Hey, nice bunt, I take it back.

Three walks by Maddux, two to Loney, one to Ethier.

he gets an A for affort at least... you guys see the determination in his face when he runs.

Sloney

or

Slow Knees

https://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1013835.html#200

LAKERS!!!!

Whew.

More importantly: Delwyn!

Hey, that was Proctor's first error ever. Which is shocking.

---

Pee-Wee!

Thank you, Giles.

They all like a group of washed out san diego brothers lol

And I agree, BB, "aaahhh!!"

We also would've accepted, "Arrrggh!" and "Grrrrr!"

Kent would have more likely hit a sac fly against Bell than Meredith.

look at 'em pump his fist, YEAH!!!

Golden God with another perfectly placed little nubber between 1st and second, second time today. Beautifully handled, Russ.

Martin was 0-7 vs. Bell prior to that.

He's carrying the entire team.

I've never seen a Dodger player get more infield hits than Kemp.

That's all I can say.

9 singles
1 double
5 walks.

This is a typical Dodger game.

Hey, credit to the Bison for knowing he's going to have trouble and just smashing the ball into the ground, and running like heck.

What name you been giving 'em up til now?

Kemp!

Vin: "Boy, he can do it."

Arizona beats NYM. Ah well.

Colorado beats up on the Giants at least.

LOL!!

Was he known for his defense in the minors?

Nice pick by Loney, too. Sweet -- robbed him of a double.

Loney strayed way too far off of the base and took himself out of the play on a routine grounder to 2nd. That made Beimel cover, which is hard to do on a ball you arent expectingt o cover on, especially with the angle he had.

and your GT or was it a redline or Mongoose was pretty sweet. Thanks.

I agree and would like to nominate this issue to the top of the DT agenda.

Icaros is getting upset!

A. WIN.

Or is he only pawn in game of life?

If he had thrown the ball and just parked himself in the baseline, it would have been obstruction.

According to GameDay, his fastballs are 97-101 and his slider is at 91!

Broxton ain't exactly a "who," he's more of a "what."

Aww, and Saito can't get a save tonight.

1. Chan Ho Park.
2. Blake DeWitt.
3. Cory Wade.

My but it's getting Adrian Gonzalezish in here.

--

Uh oh, Wade's not perfect after all.

I think the Gnome should be number four. The offense was good in those days.

Yowsa, for once the Dodgers and Lakers both win together.

496 What the heck happened to that gnome anyway? Either they forgot about it or its powers wore off and they should replace it. Maybe they replaced it tonight.

Dagnabit.

When it came out that the gnome was Greg Brock's illegitimate son, McCourt fired it.

Cue Michael Scott: "That's what she said."

Are we a little obsessed with connecting the past with the future. I look forward to Kershaw being Kershaw, not Nolan, Maddux, or Koufax. No doubt he will have moments of brillaince, but to say they are the next "so and so" is kinda shallow. Loney isn't the Garvey, Martin isn't the next Scioscia, Kemp isn't the next ... (Snider?).

They could be so much more.

All in all I love this site and think Jon does a terrific job and I think he should deserve more than he does, particularly from the Dodgers organization. Not that my opinion matters, but it would nice if they heeded more of his recommendations instead of Plaschke's.