It's the Dodgers version of the Price is Right Showcase Showdown. What are you gonna bid for one of these guys?

It's the Dodgers version of the Price is Right Showcase Showdown. What are you gonna bid for one of these guys?

0 I like the idea, extra rest usually sounds like a good idea. If for nothing else, it keeps Kershaw's arm more rested for next year.

oops

Sigh... Young and Pierre in the outfield... what a combination.

Crud, did Pee Wee's muff cost a run or would he have scored anyway? That was actually a nice piece of hitting there, was not a bad pitch.

I'm all for it if it means the starters can go longer into games. If not, I don't see how it helps. I'd prefer a five man rotation with a spot starter every couple of times through the rotation, if every starter is going 5 or 6 innings, more flexibility later in the games.

I can't see a six-man rotation without Penny coming back if Park is returning to pen when Kuroda comes back next week.

7 - That's kind of what I find intriguing. On the one hand, it might mess up a pitcher like Lowe, who seems to need frequent work to keep his timing. But on the other hand, could it help someone like Billingsley?

Martin with a great play.

This game has the makings of a scenario I have seen too often this season. We fall behind slightly at the beginning, we waste several scoring opportunities, and we get crushed near the end. I hope that I am wrong.

Oh and I don't think the 6 man thing is such a bad idea. Especially because I think Kershaw could use a little more rest and it seems like the other guys do better on an extra day, too. Or at any rate, it seems worth a try, gives them more flexibility.

Wow, Russell's a stud over there today.

7 Probably doesn't change anything like that, I mean they are not going allow anyone to throw 130 pitches.

8 - Yeah, you're right. Something doesn't add up?

And then there's the question of whether Kershaw stays in the rotation as well.

Oh and now we have seen the dreaded runner tagging up from first on a flyball to the left.

I guess Quentin avoided a Steve Yeager moment there.

I don't get it, who are the six starters? The current rotation is, in no particular order:

Lowe, His Royal Thighness, Stults, Kershaw, Park.

If "When Kuroda returns to the rotation, Chan Ho Park will return to long relief", that's still FIVE starters. Given the Penny comment, he isn't the sixth guy.....

Wait....could it be... Hong-Chih KUO?

18 No way, he needs to be saved for multiple tag team opportunities.

18- Looks to me like Russ Martin is going to get a chance to take the mound.

Finally.

Yeah, the math is messed up. Maybe they mean the sixth starter will also be in the bullpen...Park? Weird.

Is that right - 48 pitches for Kershaw in 3 IP despite the seven baserunners?

Perhaps if Guo was given another start, Torre could then implement a 7 man rotation.
vr, Xei

20 hahaha

20 I thought he was looking to play SS first...

18 I believe it meant those five guys plus Kuroda when he returns. I think they still want Kuo to pitch long relief.

And by gum we'll probably see him today!

16 I think he would've tagged up and gone to third no matter who was out there, that was pretty deep. Oh, well, yeah he could've just thrown to 2nd. Hrm.

18 - I've taken down my personal Penny comment. I think something got lost in the translation. Gonna see if I can find out.

22 He had a 6 pitch first inning.

Oh wait, yeah if Park goes back to relief at that point... hmm... I don't know. Does. Not. Compute.

We had best cash this one in...

Six-man rotations are the norm in Japan. Kuroda shouldn't have trouble with it.

13 - why not if they get an extra day of rest? Isn't part of the pitch count theory tied to rest for the pitcher between starts? If a guy gets 5 days (or 6 with a scheduled off day) between starts, why wouldn't that allow him to throw 20-35 more pitches per outing?

The Rabbit and Bison on the basepaths again! Let's not DP here, Dodgers.

ok no more wasting opportunities!

31. So is throwing 200+ pitches in a High School game.
vr, Xei

28 Oh, right, the GIDP helped there too.

Oh Russel, what a wasted at bat.

Russell that's two bad at bats and now you have Mr. Double Play up, Matt better being going.

And I love James Loney so I am just being a little worried in this situation.

0-4 with RISP.

Send Kemp with Loney up!

hahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhaha

Last night I watched the first couple of episodes of a show called The Wire. I think it was on HBO, or something. Anyway, don't know if you guys have heard of it, but it's pretty terrific.

Did somebody say Shawn Green? I heard Mr. Double Play and got confused...

No comment. James.. mumble... mumble...

I'm wondering if rather than having a set rotation, would having, say 7 starters on a roster and running them out based on match ups and rest be a workable idea?

Say, Lowe gets to go out every five or six days, Billingly and/or Kershaw occasionally gets pushed back a day, and so on. Would that be workable? Sort of having 7 guys as spot starters?

Wow I guess he is Mr. DP

33 As you were saying....

Maybe Russell gets distracted when he plays third and his offense suffers after all. Nah.

41 Everyone I've talked to says that. I guess I should jump on the bandwagon...

44 Pitchers are creatures of habit, especially starters, they have their workouts and throw days all based on when they will pitch.

{Sigh}

44 - As long as we're spitballing, there are some who believe that tag-teaming four pairs of pitchers is the way to go. It'd be like the Park-Kuo combo, times four.

You know things aren't going our way when twice we get the first two on and Martin makes an unproductive first out, and they get their leadoff man on every inning.

I think im gonna step away for a bit...thats just disgusting baseball all around

thanks for the sportsline recomendation BrianF it's a little better than Yahoo, like the other person said it ain't to good..(Yahoo gameday)

I think today may be a Kuoshaw day, actually.

I'm afraid it may be time to tag-team Clay.

55 you know what they say about great minds...

49 - ok, I'll give you that. But I would think that the manager/pitching coach would be able to figure out when guys would be going a week or two in advance, based on the schedule and match ups.

In fact the whole Dodger rotation could be tag teamed with:

Kuowe.
Chan Kuo Park.
Kuoshaw.
Kuoults.
Hong Chillingsley.

The problems you can run into is that a pitcher like Lowe and pitcher like Kuroda have had entirely different preparation regimes during their careers.

Lucky that single wasn't hit to Pierre.

In fact...

40 I fail to get the punchline.

Danny Ardoin: He ain't Gary Bennett!

WHOA. I thought that was gonna be a triple play for a second!

Wow, that's sound almost as impossible as the double play last Friday.

63. That was me going insane. No joke intended.

53 well I guess I'm not watching this gem. They were down 2 runs last I checked.

Kuo-time!

That was awful baserunning all around.

Bennett would've thrown it to the pitcher for the first time ever right at that moment.

Wow. GIDP on bunt!

how did the runner not go on the bunt?

Yay. Public Enemy #1!

ok that may be the change in events that gives me hope for this game...please bats come to life

As badly as this game has been played on our part, we're still only down two runs and have been getting runners on base pretty consistently.

73 Sounds like he was looked back but with Hall at first, Ardoin had time to throw to second and then still got the runner at first.

Any team that makes an effort to keep Eric Stults in their rotation deserves terrible things to happen to them.

73 It was a terrible bunt, right in front of the plate. And he thought it was foul at first so he didn't even run for the first few seconds.

54 No problem. It's definitely not as bad as Yahoo, though sometimes CBSSportsline bothers me too... I've really never had much luck with Gameday.

I think I really need to just get a freaking Slingbox, though I imagine I'd have some trouble getting it through the firewall at my work.

Gameday is confused. It went from Ramirez doubles, no out, to Cabrera strikes out, three outs. Good thing there's television today for me.

Andy!

Nice one Andy, and the streak continues.

77 79 thanks, and thats pretty amazing, hopefully that jump starts us

I could care less if we had a 10 man rotation. Pitching is not our concern. In fact the pitching is one of the only reasons I continue to punish myself by watching these "games", and I use that term loosely, the past month or so. It's these lame attempts at at bats that are driving me to drink. This lack of offense is what needs to be improved as if I'm not stating the obvious. I'm tired of hearing about how the young guys are too impatient or how as soon as blah blah blah overpriced veteran comes off the DL this and that is going to happen. Just hit. Please. I'm not asking for HR's and power displays, but just hit and for the love of all things holy give us a CHANCE to win some games.

If Martin were playing 3B for the White Sox, too, LaRoche would have been out.

Andy down the line!

Okay, lead off runner on, again.

/sweat

Let see if they cash it in.

78 - I'm going to have to disagree with you. I don't believe that Stults has a long career ahead of him, but he has shown flashes of ability for a couple of years, and has now been pitching the best ball of his life at a year you'd expect him to peak at. He has been striking out batters and keeping them off base in Las Vegas. I wouldn't sign him to a long-term contract, but what is there about him that says he isn't good enough to be in a major-league rotation in 2008?

He's good enough to be in the rotation, he's just not good enough to come up with zany strategeries for keeping him in it.

89 - Or at least until the scouting reports catch up with him, which might take a few more starts (i.e., into the All-Star Break)?

From TJ: Ivan DeJesus Jr. named to the Futures Game.

can we get a fly ball here?

DY with the productive out, but right at the edge of the black hole.

Haha, wow, we almost blew it again.

89 He might be good enough to be in one, just not in ours. If you could, you would run your best pitcher out there every day, and every pitcher you use in front of him makes your best pitcher throw less and less innings.

Then again, this is a way to limit Kershaw and Bills' innings, so there is some benifit. I just like the tag team system better.

Dodgers got lucky right there.

Huh. Okay, I thought GrampBerroa had a basehit there. Oh well.

96 It might be moot if Penny doesn't come back next week.

96 - Who do you like better as a starter, Stults or Park?

Can someone describe the Berroa play?

92 Nice!

I wish I were watching this game...grandpa wesley reaches, laroche doesn't go, and there was no error on the play?

Nice backhanded play by Danks, he threw to third, and LaRoche was safe.

Would you pinch hit for Kershaw now, or too early? since he seems not long for this world anyway...

100 Stults, but you could put almost any other name in there against the Chanitor and I'd go with them.

It's sad...we get a leadoff double, and I'll be surprised if he scores.

101

Basically, with LaRoche at third, Berroa hit a meek comebacker to the mound which Danks dropped. LaRoche leaked off third and Danks tried to throw him out, but failed. This allowed Berroa to reach.

And we blew it anyway.

Danks is also not Gary Bennett.

Oh, crap. It's just not our day.

Um. What the...? Sheesh.

The level of suck in the black hole is unprecedented. It sucks so bad, it even made it so that Kershaw will lead off the next inning.

101 - bounced into Danks' glove, he tried for an out at third while he was pointed that way, and didn't get it.

Line DP? What happened?

0-8 with RISP, 0-4 with a runner on 3B with less than 2 out.

With fewer than two outs, freeze on a line drive...One of baseball's oldest warnings...

Ooof lineout DP. Time for a meeting. I guess I'll only know later if that's a good or bad thing.

Error on Berroa.

sueeze play? something? anyone? this is pretty terrible.

Wow, just wow. Watching Dodgers games are not good for your health.

Angel! you bum.

112 Umm, Martin and Loney are 0-4 with RISP.

PLEASE get healthy soon, Furcal. Shameful.

The level of suck in the black hole is unprecedented.

By definition!

78 - Stults has his value, but not if you long-term him. This year -- heck, yesterday -- could be his high-water mark.

119- Liner, looked like it was headed up the middle; Danks leapt up to stab it, and threw to first getting Berroa.

that's the Berroa we were told we'd see. He danced around that ball as if it were screwed into the ground.

121--I think Vaudeville is referring to the entire season, not just 1 game.

Yes, Martin & Loney are 0-4 today.

That doesnt take away from the black hole of suckitude that is Ardoin/Berroa/Pitcher/Pierre.

Kershaw's not getting much help. And he's not helping himself much either.

would it really cost us more to have laroche play SS and take whatever happens on defense?

119 - Sometimes, bad things happen even with good efforts. Did the last man up not hit what should have been an RBI single? Or was it not hit that hard?

as if it was screwed into the ground. Sorry.

129- Or have Martin play SS, LaRoche and DeWitt at 3B and 2B.

Yesterday Steiner said Quentin bounces at the plate like he's riding an imaginary donkey.

Okay, it appears the answer to the six-man riddle is that Park returns to the bullpen after both Kuroda and Penny return.

132 Would Kent catch?

If I knew the theme to "Growing Pains" I'd hum it right now.

Fortunately, I don't.

133 Imaginary donkey. Awesome.

135- Ardoin would catch. I'm just talking about today. I really want to see Martin at SS.

And Pitcher.

I am listening on radio - was Kershaw mostly up and away with the fastball?

This is getting ridiculous. Poor Kersha; still in it, but I can imagine how much pressure he feels right now.

134 That works, but Stults would be gone to at that point since we'd have Penny, Lowe, Bills, Kuroda, Kershaw as our rotation. Chan Ho is the first to go, then Stults.

130 - liner to the pitcher, listening to the game on Gameday Audio, but the Steiner made it sound like it wasn't especially hard-hit, i.e. a routine play for Danks.

You know really since his first outing and perhaps that rain delayed start in Detroit, Kershaw really has been looking like a guy who should be pitching in the minors. Now he has been unlucky at times but it appears unless he gets his curve ball over, his command just isn't there yet.

Poor Clayton looks sort of like my Mii character does when I'm using the Wii Fit and don't do very well.

Falkenborg!

141 - Not quite following. If there's six, then Stults is the sixth.

Falkenborg? I haven't seen this guy before. How very fascinating.

Russ has really played a good 3rd base.

143 - I almost think the Dodgers are hoping he gets a win so they can send him to the minors feeling good. But no matter how you pitch, you can't win if the team doesn't score for you.

144 That's laugh-out-loud funny because I always end up looking the same way. :)

The Falkbenborg Equation

By Robert Ludlum

148 Doesn't DeWitt play catcher too?

146 Ah, I thought that was the solution to avoid the six man, which is my main issue with the whole thing. I'd much rather see Kershaw and Stults become a tandem than have each one take a turn.

Yeah he's had some control ups and downs no doubt, but he's pitched well enough to win most of the time, and would have to have been basically perfect with the way the team has scored runs for him.

149 I agree, and I think he is lined up to make a start in Houston next week and then close out the ASB at home, then we'll see what they will do.

Thats quite a few DPs today.

Nobody wants to score.

The old 1-2-3, nice job by Falk man.

Kind of frustrating: I believe that every hitter in the last two innings batting with a runner on third with less than two outs has taken a first pitch strike. I understand the desire to make Danks work but I am guessing that he's pretty much laying a pitch in there to get ahead of the count and it doesn't seem like the Dodgers are taking advantage

Wow what game, so many DP's.

{Applause} Falkenborg could not have done any better there. Give that man a cigar.

Both teams want to look back with regrets in this game.

This reminds me of this game:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TBA/TBA200706230.shtml

Resistance is futile, you will be eliminated.

Nice job by the Borg.

And I am guessing we will see Mr. Kuo now since he hasn't pitched since Sunday.

I'll say this, I would rather see Stults hitting now.

163 - Hah hah.

We are the Borg. Lower your shields.

That should go on his jersey.

Sweeney has no luck.

Leave it to Sweeney to ruin Vin's fascination with the leadoff batter getting on every inning.

I guess they had Sweeney hit to make sure we didn't leave the lead-off hitter on base.

Darnit, Pierre roped that one, too.

JAWFMK

The Bison has been walking alot more recently, which is a good sign. Hopefully it he keeps it up.

Kemp walks in back to back plate appearances, has he ever done that before?

166 What happens when the Angel's setup man gives up a lead? (awaiting pun)

I hate baseball.

Russ almost got a day game homer.

That was such an unnecessary jump

Wow, we are just being tantalized by the Baseball Gods. They are a cruel pantheon.

This just isn't our day.

AHHHHHHHHHHH

When the heck did we acquire/call up Brian Falkenborg?

173 Um, Great Scott! Raise Shields. Or something nerdier.

180- When Proctor went to the DL (and Bennett to the 60 day).

180 When Proctor went down and GB went on the 60-day DL.

On July 29, 1969, Manny Mota singled into a 9-2-6-5 double play.

180 Where ya been? When Proctor was put on the DL a couple of days ago, and during all that hoo-hah.

He's been very very good in Vegas this year, for what it's worth. Very good control.

i turned on my game day audio very quietly just in time for russell's AB, I was lured in by steiner's
"and iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiits..caught" call, then immediately clicked it off

Or what they said.

And now we're in Wade Country.

154-or to accurate, Not scored runs for him. When is the last time the Dodgers actually scored a run when Kershaw was in the game. I know they have scored late a couple times after he was taken out for him to avoid a couple extra losses, but when is the last time they actually scored when he was actually pitching? His debut? It sure seems like a long time ago!

Alexei. Nice Cuban name.

Ramirez looks like he weighs about 100 pounds.

If they can keep it at 2, they'll still have 4 chances to score at least that much. Given how bad their offense seems and a lack of luck their today, it's hard to imagine, but it's not over yet.

Wade did a good job of not getting his capa detated on that one.

188 3 starts ago, June 10th at San Diego, they scored once in the first inning.

180 I knew my bizzare schedule would catch up to me somehow.

This has to be the inning.

Loney/ LaRoche/ Young

The black hole comes up afterward, and no matter can exist in it. The very rules of time and space will be altered. We will hit into a quadruple play.

This six-man rotation talk intrigues me. I'd like to see teams start to one-up themselves. 7-man rotation, 8-man rotation. The possibilities are not quite endless.

Which reminds me of my favorite all-time Onion piece:
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/33930

Not particularly safe for work.

While Kershaw has been int the game, the Dodgers have scored 6 runs in 7 games.

Instead of a 6 man rotation, can't the Dodgers try to do a 12 man line-up? That would cut down on the black hole. Let's see if the league allows that.

195. Well, unless Ethier pinch hits.

Just once, I'd like to see them bring the fences in for day games.

Danks hasnt had a 1-2-3 inning yet today. Have any of the Dodgers?

181 Good one. I wasn't even thinking about Mr. Scott.

198 - Wouldn't it extend the black hole?

Berroa, please do not be a black hole here.

what a joyous game this is

Can Berroa do anything?

Why not hit Kent, Ethier, or DeWitt there? Berroa is the worst.

195 A quadruple play would require bases loaded nobody out. Batter hits a deep flyball and the runners on first and second take off. Runner on third tags up but leaves early and the outfielder catches it. The runners who were on first and second scamble back but it's too late as both of them fail to get back in time for the triple play! However, the runner who was on third was safe scoring one run for the inning. Before leaving the field, the defence appeals at third and the umpire rules the runner out for leaving early and no run scores. Therefore, all four men were put out on the play! (though it only counts for three outs)

Stults might more valuable taking Sweeney's place.

I had no idea the Dodgers turn out to provide such fine lessons in quantum and astro physics.

You have to pinch-hit for Ardoin leading off the next inning. Don't you?

There is no hope. We need Sylvester Stallone. Only he has experience defeating Wesley Snipes.

Specifically, by freezing him, swinging on a chain, and kicking his head off. Or something like that. That movie kind of sucked.

A little like this game.

I guess they could start Maza at short instead. Not sure he's any better with the bat, though.

If you had to pick one game that typifies the Dodgers' 2008 season, this wouldn't be a bad choice.

If you had to pick one game that typifies the Dodgers' 2008 season, this wouldn't be a bad choice.

211 And move Martin to catcher, and bring Maza in? I guess so. Sure.

You can say that again.

Something is going to give either Nomar or Furcal will be playing SS by July 7th or the Dodgers will make a trade. And my hunch, no one like that trade.

Just my opinion.

211--Yeah, Martin can catch the last two innings.

Dewitt/Ethier/Kent all still on the bench.

Gameday's picture of Corey Wade is amusing.

Another trade for a SS?

I wish someone would make Buster "Oh the Dodgers are definitely looking for pitching" Olney watch tape of this game.

210 Schrodinger's cat was both safe and out at the same time.

Julio Lugo's OBP is back up to .366. . .

221 I'm just saying. Or Lucille will be back.

How does someone get to 17 HRs so fast? I never see that.

If I were a GM I would

DFA Berroa
Trade Lowe and Pierre together to Toronto for some minor leaguers.
Call up DeJesus for a short stint if Furcal can't make it back by next week.
Otherwise I'd give Hu a second chance.
um...

That's it, but it's a start!

That looked like a strike, ump.

Why didn't Kuo come in to pitch the 7th? Oh, why can't I be the manager?

223 Heh. And would also hit better than Berroa.

227 Why would anyone take a trade for Pierre with 3 1/2 years on his contract even if the Dodgers kicked in his salary.

229 You don't have baseball experience. The players wouldn't respect you. Being a good manager is more than being good at game theory. You need to be able to motivate and have the respect of your players.

For the same inane reasons Ned signed Pierre in the first place.

212 But if Snipes, I mean Berroa, ever gets a game winning hit he can say "Always bet on black...hole."

212 - I thought this game moved into the Chuck Norris-meme level of ridiculosity.

Nice.

Pitchers have gotten out of jams for both teams today. Be nice if the Dodgers hitters actually capitalized on one before this is over.

/beat dead horse

231 1-877-DSTYBKR

Why would anyone take a trade for Pierre with 3 1/2 years on his contract

Notice how I said "...to Toronto" lol

[206 ] - yes, he can provide 87 Rate2 range at short, among the worst of starting shortstops. By contrast, the ridiculously old Omar Vizquel has a 117 Rate2.

Maza pinch hitting?

Honestly, I can't believe we're still only down 2-0. This game seems much, much worse.

And Maza is our pinch hitter? What in the world?

So Maza is the pinch-hitter. Man

219 Who needs them when you've got Maza available?

240 Joe may be worse than Grady. I just had to say it again.

Whatever works, I guess. Maza!

Maza gets a hit.
This is opposite day.

Do the wrong thing everytime and get rewarded.

Ethier vs righty is nice. White Sox may be smart to go to a lefty.

And he gets a hit. I knew it.

Alright, Luis, just for that, you're starting ahead of Gramps tomorrow.

Grabowksi Principle. Kreuter Phenomenon. Whatever.

Maza and Ethier pinch hitting back to back. So what's the prob?

Well, nevermind then. Carry on.

What is Ozzie arguing about? (I have no sound)

238. The Yankees have a need for both of those positions you mentioned. Melky apparently isn't cutting it anymore and theie young pitching hasn't turned out like they had planned. To bad Cashman would have to pull the trigger on such a deal.

250 Mazaethier

My kingdom for a bloop hit.

Not a great month for Ethier.

253

Mleky should have never been cutting it. I will never understand their fasciantion with that guy.

Juan almost with a double.

The Dodgers are losing the game of inches today.

Juan hits a lot of fly balls to left field it seems.

Thank goodness my Reese's peanut butter cup package was waterproof. You take what you can get today.

259 - maybe they should convert to metric, then.

Double by Kemp here..

C'mon Bison! Give us something to cheer about!

262 That would have nice flavour but then they'd just be losing in metres.

Melky is out OPS+ing Pierre. By fourteen points.

Wasn't Dotel supposed to be a Dodger at one time?

It actually does make a little more sense to use Maza first since he'll stay in the game and get to the pitcher one batter later.

C'mon, RMON.

266

Well, that's embarrassing. Scratch the Yanks off the list.

JAKFMK

Kemp's gone from swinging at everything to swinging at very little?

Kemp obviously reads DT and is concerned about the leading the team in swinging at pitches out of the zone. You guys need to stop messing with his head and just let him play.

Somebody needs to explain to the Dodgers' hitters what RBI and RISP stand for.

I feel like the art of defensive hitting is lost on some of our hitters.

nice, i thought it was the 9th inning. i was just granted 3 extra outs to work with.

Troncoso's looked so much better since coming back this time around. (Not to jinx him or anything.)

Our bullpen looks really solid right now.

And it won't matter much if we can't hit.

But still.

/Plaschke, off

Tron would make a great starter.

270. Who cares about ops? He is a proven team leader, always plays hard, can turn a single into a double and can cover a lot of ground in a hurry. That's his game like it or not, but either way, his game doesn't change much from year to year. You know what you're getting.

I just noticed the zoom/scroll/rotate feature on Gameday. It never ceased to amaze me how tone deaf MLBAM is on their Gameday "enhancements" -- they're forever adding stuff I don't need while missing the stuff I do want. Here's what I want (and what I suspect a lot of others want as well):

1) A smaller screen footprint. Smaller, even, that the 2006 Gameday would be nice. It would be great if I could leave the thing in a corner of my screen and expand it if something interesting is happening. But even down to Gameday 2007 would be better than the monolith we've got now.

2) Let me open Gameday in another browser tab. If you're only going to open a full browser window using the Javascript link, why even use the Javascript obfuscation in the first place?

3) Give me the option to use older revisions. If newer = worse, it's only fair.

Tron and Borg. Those are two nicknames I could really get behind.

Great job by the bottom of the pen, would be nice to cash it in with some runs

well here goes nothin, this may be our last hope

Maybe DeWitt or LaRoche can be Pac Man. They gobble those balls up!

Linebrink is always a pain to hit against.

Martin's done nuttin' at the plate today.

280- I still think they should figure out some way for GameDay to sell me prescription drugs, and incorporate an all Gurnick, all the time RSS reader.

280.

Ya, but they have that cool "3-D..and kinda-sorta 3-D" option though..That more than makes up for it's short comings.

Sigh.

what an utterly depressing afternoon

284 adam jones with the assist.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Can someone wake me up when the Dodgers do something with the bat?

Just know that I have to be up for something Sunday morning.

287 It's like baseball in Second Life! Except you just watch it.

It is interesting to me that our present team is basically earning the close to the major league minumum. High priced personel have been taken out by injury or have taken themselves out. As a matter of fact only Kent and Pierre have salaries, and Kent is content to sit whenever anyone suggests it.
With Wade, Stultze, and Troncoso giving solid performances, we are not beholden to any high priced middle relievers, and we pay Saito basically peanuts as closer. We can field an honest .500 type team for about the minimum. And they are young.

Are ownership and management able to see this obvious boon?

From where I sit at my computer, about 300 miles north of Los Angeles, following the game on Gameday while doing some work, the one word that comes to mine about the Dodgers today, and so often this season, is desultory. The second word is lethargic. Then there is uninspired. From those of you actually viewing the "action," what comes to mind?

It does seem as if we get into a lot of these pitching-dominated games, stay close and lose.

This too shall pass. We'll have a lineup with a smaller black hole, hitters who don't reach for outside pitches they can't do anything with and joy will reign.

Now's the time to buy the Dodgers low. This team has a much better future than the White Sox.

272 Actually Kemp swings at a higher percentage (52%) than the other players on the Dodgers, only Kent at a 50/50 ratio is close. The other players (Loney, Furcal, Pierre, Martin, DeWitt and Ethier) all swing at 41%-45% of pitches faced.

Kemp's eye when taking pitches is about the norm at 70/30 balls to strikes taken.

294- Sandwich. But, I missed lunch.

293 They see a team with a losing record, that's it.

Does Broxton have a nickname yet?

I think in going with the large roaming animal types.. a la 'Bison'.. Maybe he just needs to go by 'Ox'? Am I too late on this?

Gawd work is boring today. This game isn't helping.

On the plus side, Martin's looked great at 3rd today.

He's still the Bull right?

299. the bull

Nice work, Tron!

Well, a pinch hitter, De Witt or Kent in the next inning. At least. {getting hopes up only to have them dashed on the rocks of life}

299 Yep, Ox and Bull are both used for him.

299 hes already the blue ox

301/302.

Dang it. And I thought I was being clever with Br-Ox-ton..

Jenks K rate is way down this year and he's 16/19 on save chances.

294 Depends. On the defensive side of the ball, they play with passion. The pitching is gritty. The infielders make plays as if their lives depended on them (except Berroa and Pierre, who would be dead many times over if that was really true).

Offensively, they look lost, beaten, passive and apathetic. They act like guys who believe the deck is stacked against them. This is one of those games where if they somehow managed to get a double followed by a single, the other guys might start hitting, thinking, "hey this is pretty easy, really." Right now, they look and act overmatched.

300. I really don't see what the problem is in playing Laroche/martin/dewitt at SS. This would solve part of the black hole issue. Surely the defense can't be that different 30 feet to the left? An infield of:

c Martin/Ardoin
1st Loney
2nd Kent/Laroche/Young
ss Laroche/Martin
3rd Dewitt/Laroche
really seems like a huge upgrade than what we have now.

This game was lost when the Dodgers twice couldn't score with Pierre and Kemp on base with no one out, you can talk about black holes but those were the key at bats in today's game.

307 Nice encapsulation.

300 And Kemp has 2 walks!

Help me Maza...you're my only hope..

Its been since May 13-14-15 vs the Brewers that the Dodgers have won a Non-Cincy Reds series.

You know, black hole or not, the rest of the guys aren't doing a whole heck of a lot with consistency either. Sometimes the whole line up is a black hole, or at least a dying star.

At least in the 60s when we knew the team wasn't going to hit we still thought we could win because of Koufax, Drysdale and Osteen. Not to say this year's pitchers are bad, but they can't seem to hold the other teams down as well as that trio did.

When does Mattingly join the team full-time btw?

315 You mean, pitch shutouts every time, or pitch a negative one run game? ;-)

JALFD

But there's nothing wrong with pointing fingers at the guy with the .450 OPS. The other guys at least have only been bad for their position.

We don't win!

{sigh} Well, at least I got some work done while watching what there was of the game.

315 How much lower can you hold team than 2 runs?

The White Sox scored 2 runs in 18 IP off of 5 pitchers that no one, okay maybe dreaming about Kershaw, thought would be pitching for the Dodgers at the end of June.

Shutout and 1 run games are more frequent now. This team is so pathetic. I though last night game would at least give the offense a little boost.

This is pretty much yesterday's game with sides reversed.

Zero runs for the D's on 5 hits, only 4 batters struck out. Today, we just ain't hittin' em where they ain't.

Grades for the week: Pitching = A
Hitting = D

At least we're facing a team we usually beat up on this weeken... oh, feh.

Doesnt get any easier with Saunders, Weaver, Lackey this weekend.

Kershaw has been very meh in his big league debut. Nothing horrible, just sort of there. Bills was very similar in his debut season to, so hopefully in a couple years Kershaw will be mowing guys down.

I'm skipping ahead to express my admiration/amazement that people here can still stomach watching (and talking about) this team. I turned it off for good after Ardoin's DP liner.

Oh well, at least we have Torre's Stories ;)

325

he most likely will. CanuckDodger made a comparison to Kazmir when he was called up and i have no reason to believe it will not hold true.

319 Yeah, but I am tired of not looking at these games more closely, there are at bats that are just more important than other ones and you can't have your most consistent hitter foul out on the first pitch and then strike out with a runner on 3B.

And I know its not easy to hit a fly ball (Eric Stults withstanding) but Loney just has to not hit the ball on the ground in those situations.

For Whedon fans, this might cheer you up.

http://tinyurl.com/4shgde

318 - in English?

How bad would Martin/DeWitt/LaRoche have to be at SS for them to be worse than Snipes Senior?

328 If it makes you feel any better, there's no proof that hitting sacrifice flies are a skill.

I do agree that everyone except Martin and Loney are responsible for this offense, but Berroa and the other shortstops have been especially bad.

330 I'm guessing: "Just Another Loss For (the) Dodgers"

My point was that back then we knew we weren't gonna get a lot of runs. Now we have several guys above .300 and several others in the .280 range; we should be able to score runs, and we don't.

Oh, another distraction. Emmy finalists for series nominations were announced.

http://cdn.emmys.tv/awards/2008pte/topten.php

331 Considering that the guy is terrible defensively, it's probably impossible.

328--The offense is going to struggle if its dependent on BA w RISP every game. Its just so luck based, but thats the way this team is constructed.

If luck aint on the Dodgers side, they arent scoring. Because there's not much power/walks to depend on every game. Depending on long sequences of singles is tough every game.

I'm suffering from premature cynicism. I blame the Dodgers.

335
FOTC! FOTC! FOTC!

337 And black holes seem that much more damaging when the team needs to string together hits to score...

336 LaRoche to SS! So let it be written, so let it be done.

Well, you can't score a run every day.

335 FNL! FNL! FNL!

Feel free to resume movie chat. :)
vr, Xei

339 - That would be awesome but it would probably won't make the final 5. That thing is often mix of popularity and longevity and FOTC is probably still too underwatched by voters. Would be a great surprise, though. Murray would be stoked.

Sometimes things don't go your way. Someone above nailed it--but Martin and Loney neither came through at an oppurtune time twice or three times. Sometimes this just happens.
The black hole was bad, but someone, I think it was BH rightly said that was minor compared with the above. The black hole can be rationalized----"hey Kent deserves day games off"-----"hey we don't want to burn out Martin"-----"Maza and Barroa are the only middle guys so sometimes they have to play together"--. But you have to combine this with the pitchers spot and the fact that Juan Pierre is our lead-off guy, more certainly than last year with Grady.
I guess because I can wait a year or even two, I can accept most of this. My main fear is that Martin could be used up before the rest of the team catches up and is ready to win it all.

So what would happen to the lineup if let's say, Pierre/Maza/Berroa went on a camping trip on an off day and the car was stolen. Should they be in an isolated area where they couldn't contact anyone and wouldn't be able to be back to civilization in at least 3 days, what lineup would Torre be forced to field.

cf Kemp
rf Eithier
c Martin
1b Loney
2b Kent
3b Laroche
lf Young
3b Dewitt

Sounds good to me. Get the camping gear ready.

347. ss Laroche

341 I'd prefer DeWitt. He's more athletic.

Sorry, Zona fans.

Brandon Jennings did not qualify for Arizona and will play in Europe.

350

lol, program going down the toilet.

Ooo, NBA Draft today.

Will the Heat make a trade, will they draft OJ Mayo? I think they'd be stupid to pass on Beasley but could see it happen. Hard to predict the rest of it.

350 I was wondering if you would post that.

Nate is going to be upset, as his last point guard gets drafted today and his assumed next one heads to Europe.

Of course, the real worry for the NBA and NCAA is what happens if Jennings isn't the exception but becomes the rule?

350 thats the only good news i've heard today...well onward to the draft i guess

349 I just suggested LaRoche because I feel like DeWitt's a little over his head already and having to learn a new position might be asking a lot right now.

347 LOL, and that would be a wondrous event.

By the way I despair for Furcal. Does anyone have news.

At this point Julio Lugo looks pretty good.

356 He's supposed to (wink wink) be aiming for a return on the next homestand.

357 Maybe our current SS situation is what Ned was thinking when he made that comment to Simers, so he thought even Julio Lugo could help the team.

We just need to get our healthy productive players going mainly Furcal, Kuroda and get rid of the dead weight, Sweeney, Pierre, Proctor & Berroa so this team can take off.

DFA Sweeney ASAP please! This man like Austin Powers II has lost his mojo! Keep Stultz on the roster, on his non-pitching days, he can be our left handed pinch hitter, ;-)!! C'mon just one great stretch of baseball for three weeks going 17 out of 21 to see what this team could do with the young ones and Furcal hitting on all cylinders for a change. Give me a glimpse of what can be!! I hope Kent realizes his days are at an end, last night the Dodgers lost 3 opportinites to score a 3rd run in the first inning due to the slow footed Kent. Martin's single (Kent held up), Loney's flyball(ditto) and the ground out to first by Kemp(tagged out by A.J.) each of the first two are probably scored by a quicker, younger runner and the last play we already saw Martin beat a play like that this year.

Sweeney's BABIP (.115) is almost as low as his batting average (.102)

309 sad thing is you are right. Thats what black holes do. Should they have gotten hits yes. And they know it. Everyday they know it.

361 should be .142, not .115.

Is there any evidence to suggest a veteran like Sweeney is any better at pinch-hitting then a minor leaguer like John Lindsey?

I think Ned has been waiting for Nomar to come back to DFA Sweeney since they make each other redundant. This hasn't work because, well, you know.

sweeney's line this year. .102/.194/.136

if his .330 OPS was a BA he would still only rank 5th among qualified major leaguers.

358 Thanks. Of course, I guess I can't trust that he won't play injured, and next year say, I couldn't push off on my back foot, or I could have hit more than .235.

We are very lucky the Snakes have been slumping as well. In most other divisions, we would be close to buried right now except the weak NL west. We would be a whopping 11 1/2 games back of our AL Southern California neighbors right now as an example.

So I have just paid $55 to sit behind home plate for a Cleveland-San Francisco game in what should be bad weather?

Is this rational?

369 But that's on a librarian's salary. You could afford such excesses.

369 Sadly, yes.

Go Indians!

---

I don't know if you'll find anyone here in favor of Sweeney at this point, he's been awful this year. But it seems silly to keep bringing him up as an important move to make that will set things right. I know, incremental moves, like the team's been making, all add up, so in that sense I agree with it. But I don't think he's why they can't score any runs, since he barely plays. Anyway, I'm with Reg, I think they're waiting for Nomar to be ready (which is a bit like waiting for Godot).

And sure, Lindsay might deserve a chance, though I suspect there's a reason why scouts don't think his numbers in the minors translate to much in the majors. Granted, he could be no worse than Sweeney, and we'd at least kind of root for him...

369 If it was Sabathia against Lincecum maybe, but it's not.

371 and we'd at least kind of root for him...

... and maybe even learn to spell his name right. ;-)

Anyone else eagerly anticipating what the Pacers will do with their first round pick (or picks)?

364 Its hard to measure because primarily pinch hitting roles go to older players. Sweeney is first or second in all-time pinch hits and he hits .262 as a career pinch hitter, obviously he has not added much to that this year.

Also, I do think that most teams do not like to pigeonhole young players early on as pinch hitters. And since the DH, the main player you have been batting for is no longer there.

Think of it this way, Bob. You could be working today.

It's Lee vs Cain

377 $45 tops.

Burnin'& Lootin' by the Bob and The Wailers off the Talkin' Blues album is one of my favorite songs of all time.

Daniel has the proper perspective as usual.

I'm going tomorrow night for free.

373 Sorry, I was feeling mayoral for a moment.

And, hey, they already gave Terry Tiffee a shot (sort of).

Why Cleveland? Other business or did you just really want to see this game?

374 - Homeboy Eric Gordon, perhaps?

Indiana Jon has missed my earlier jeremiads about the Forest City.

384 I don't think he'll be there at 11. Seems like DJ Augustin right now, but he may go earlier too now. They are saying Bayless may drop to 11. Any West Coast opinions on him?

It was a nice day out at the Stadium...except for the thousands of kids yelling "You suck numba twenty!!" every time Quentin caught a fly ball.

381 then just pretend you bought a two pack of tickets for $55 total, that makes each ticket only $27.50 which is a great deal if one of those is behind homeplate.

Bob, how could you bankroll the racist Chief Wahoo?

380 Bob, I saw that the presentation on "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" was cancelled due to travel issues, that must have been a downer for the convention.

I was at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame anyway. I was prescient.

The NBA draft, the shortest in rounds (2), in time allotted, 2 1/2 hours for the first round (5 minutes/pick), 1 hour for the second (2 minutes/pick).

The NBA draft, the shortest in rounds (2), in time allotted, 2 1/2 hours for the first round (5 minutes/pick), 1 hour for the second (2 minutes/pick).

What time is this draft?

394 7:30 EST

368 - the Dodgers would be 12.5 games back in the NL Central (tied with the Astros for fifth place), and 6 games back of the Phillies in the NL East (in 5th place, ahead of the Nationals).

As far as the Angels series is concerned, the Dodgers should be grateful that Vlad was offline for most of two of the three games. (He recused himself Tuesday after flu-like symptoms prevented him from playing. No doubt it helped that the team was up 6-0 when he left the game.) Also, the Dodgers will get to face Jered Weaver, who's been very hittable this year, though he does manage to keep things under control often times.

Yeah, that's all I've got.

The Bucks acquire Richard Jefferson from New Jersey for Bobby Simmons and Yi Jianlian today, btw.

396

Look, if the Nationals can beat them... why not us?

A delay already in Cleveland? Could be a long night Bob.

386 TJ Ford and DJ Augustin on the same NBA team? Well, at least I'll know what team to root for next year.

Indiana could go with Arthur. I expect them to target bigs.

There going to wait all night. This is the last game of the year against the Giants. Think of the playoff implications.

http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/nbadraft/draftCast/index if you're not at a TV, to follow with chat.

If the Pacers go big they could take Kosta Koufos, depending on who else is available.

train, the Lakers should take Alex Harris with their late 2nd round pick. :-)

I stayed at the hotel across the street from whatever they call the place where the Giants and the Indians play.

I also saw the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in about 40 minutes.

Other than that, I don't really see the need to go back.

So are the loud rumbles of thunder and lightning bolts near the stadium a bad sign?

Rose to Chicago, I am sure its the happiest day of his life. Had he made a few free throws, he may have had another day that this day would at least be close to.

406 Do they allow umbrellas at that ball park?

The Heat played it safe and smart and took Beasley. (Assuming they don't trade him.)

Yeah, I knew all that trade talk would lead to nothing.

404
I want Lakers to trade up and get Kyle Weaver.

I was there for a rainy game. There were plenty of umbrellas.

I don't use umbrellas.

Permitted items at Progressive Field.

Umbrellas, personal sized (covers one person in the open position), may only be opened in the event of a rain delay and when the tarp is covering the playing field.

But pets are prohibited.

Bob's worst nightmare:
http://tinyurl.com/5hg886

Is it Mayo time?

416
I believe so.

That or a whole lot of Love.

401 I hope you mean at 17 and not at 11.

T Wolves took their full allotment of time to take...

OJ Mayo!

I wonder if they were trying to work a trade first...

Time to see if Westbrook makes the big jump.

Clippers are on the clock!

Do they go hometown with Westbrook or Love here?

417 I saw him play in person three times, against UCLA twice and the other time against Arizona. He just never struck me as someone who can dominate a game, he's seems a step slow for a two guard.

Page 2's DJ Gallo had a good line about Mayo:

You know he will play for a cheap salary. He only got $30,000 from USC.

I say the clippers take Lopez.

420 That would be amazing for a guy who was not projected to start in his sophomore year could be a Top 5 player, drafted much higher than Farmar and Affalo.

Uh, Clippers just traded picks with Seattle apparently...

424 ToyCannon would give up his season tix if that happened.

Actually if they took Love, he probably wouldn't be too pleased either.

424 You guys had Clippers on my mind. I meant Lopez at 4.

Russell the big climber!!!

Wow, that's probably a mistake.

And Seattle uses that pick from the Clippers to take Westbrook!

I guess the Clips didn't want him.

It is raining in Pittsburgh now. It isn't raining hard in Cleveland. But the tarp is still on the field. The pitchers haven't warmed up yet.

The Clippers never had the No. 4 pick they had talked about trading for it earlier today and someone must have switched in draft tracker, but the trade never went through and I don't think the Clippers were ever on the clock. They are still picking at 7 I think.

Congrats Russell, man, should have bought that autographed jersey.

Jrue, Jermine and Malcolm Lee are now thinking to themselves, one more year (or more likely two more years) and I am sitting in NYC.

Well the Knick fans are going to be mad now.

I think Love goes here.

Memphis has been in love with Love all along I think.

433 - Ahhhh, you're right, the draftcaster thing was confused, and then so was I. I knew they weren't picking quite that high. I wonder if Gordon will still be there for them at 7.

436 So there goes the argument that UCLA needs lottery pick talent to win a National title.

I wish his stock had dropped. I would have loved to see him in a Pacers uniform.

438 Should be Gordon or Bayless.

Kevin Love, Memphis Grizzly.

That just sounds weird.

Cleveland has been redeemed because an usher dried off my seat. Without even being asked!

The Knicks pick is always interesting. Will we get to see the Knicks fans booing once again?

The Knicks should take the Italian dude. He's good, and maybe less Knick fans would boo him.

I hope they take Gordon, that way I will be able to keep disliking him. Don't think that will happen though.

445
They booed him earlier.

Eric Enders and Bob, and others: I have watched the first five episodes of The Wire, and I'm wondering, am I supposed to be amazed yet? It's good, don't get me wrong. But that's it. Good. Certainly not great or outstanding. At least so far. So I ask, does it get a lot better after the first five episodes, or am I really going to end up thinking this show is, frankly, quite over-rated? As an HBO drama series, it is looking like it pales compared to The Sopranos, Rome, and Deadwood. And as a cop show trying hard to be "gritty," it pales beside FX's The Shield.

443 Cleveland rocks.

Boy, I just love that line.

447 - No, no, they were just chanting "Boolinari! Boolinari!"

Well this draft is going to form so far.

Are the Knicks the worst drafting team in the NBA?

448 I think you judge it like you do a Logan White prospect, high ceiling but raw, it will get better as it goes on.

450 I was saying Boolinari...

452 I thought they fired Isiah or at least took away the keys to the car.

452
Until last year it was the Sonics.

448 - It gets better, and then it gets great, and then you're hooked.

Seasons 3 and 4 are the best, though, imho.

My sister had the same reaction as you, after all my build up she kept trying to get into it after the first few episodes and gave up a few times, and then watched it again with her b/f and now they're hooked, watched the whole season 1 in 2 days, and now want to watch all the rest right away. Just sayin'.

Sounds like they cheered him, actually (at least according to the ESPN chat). He's a great player, I watched some video of him and was impressed. I actually think that's a good pick for the Knicks, for once.

456 Rashard Lewis was a good pick. Who was the last good pick in New York, Ewing?

459
David Lee.

You can ask Russell Westbrook questions via the ESPN Draft Cast chat if you want, they have him on now apparently.

Thank you Clippers.

I thought drafting players was the one thing Isaiah Thomas did okay at?

Clippers play it safe and take Eric Gordon.

452 Isiah's one decent skill as GM was evaluating draft picks. Of course, he was off-the-charts awful at everything else.

"The Wire" is not supposed to be "gritty." It is supposed to be realistic and somewhat sad. After you watch the whole season one, then the first five episodes will seem great.

My favorite episode 1 scene is where Bunk and McNulty recreate a crime scene and just say one word over and over again. And yet you can tell exactly what they have done.

Game on in Cleveland at 8:45 pm!

Augustin may not make it to the Pacers. Bobcats and Nets might take Bayless/Augustin. Bucks should take Lopez here.

464 A 6-3 shooting guard can't can't handle the ball is "safe"?

467 The Nets probably won't take a point guard, unless they plan on trading away Devin Harris.

Alexander here I bet.

Bucks sure love small forwards.

Did Lopez catch a disease or did I miss something?

468 - He's only 19, and quite talented. He was the next best player available on just about everyone's draft board. I don't love him but think he's a better bet for the Clips then some other guys they could've taken. In short, he needs to improve in some areas (defense, too) but I think he will - and the guy can score, he's a great shooter who can also go to the basket. And he's strong. Yeah, I think it was safe.

472
He should get taken here.

Gordon could handle the ball and pass well in high school. I think he can do it again in the NBA.

If Lopez goes here and the Nets don't take a PG, then who do they take?

475 He was way above everyone else athletically in high school. Not so in the NBA.

448 Well, put it this way. When "The Wire" first came on, I was so underwhelmed that I stopped watching it after four episodes. Then a year later I watched the first season from beginning to end and I was kicking myself for my earlier foolishness.

One of its most brilliant features is the way threads are tied together over many episodes or even many seasons. This is not something that becomes apparent until you've watched quite a few episodes.

It's got to be Lopez and then Bayless here, right? Charlotte has to be stoked. Unless they blow it.

Too bad Lopez doesn't fall to the Pacers. Maybe they could get both of them tonight.

Wow.

Either a trade or goodbye Felton.

Wasn't Bayless supposed to be picked already?

Please Nets, please take Bayless.

The Nets have to take Lopez here.

Whoa. Instead they take Augustin. Huh. I thought they were craving Lopez. So much for that.

Michael Jordan is a stupid GM.

Augustin will be a good player. That's not as bad of a pick as Westbrook.

Hah hah, drafting both Lopezes would be kind of awesome.

Augustin is good, but they have no need for another point guard. They need a big.

486 Among Hall of Famer player-GMs, I think Jordan ranks better than only Isiah and Elgin Baylor.

The NBA draft is cool. Between that and working for awhile, I'd forgotten the Dodgers lost already today. :-(

So how bad will Bayless be? Not what I wanted for sure.

Lopez to the Nets. Thus endeth that.

Bayless can score, but Bayless cannot play the point.

Props to Eric Gordon for at least knowing something about the Clippers and their players.

490 Tonight's draft may determine if Bird belongs in that group.

494 That's OK, Ford can play there. We need all kinds of guards.

Dumbest Stanford students ever.

Five Pac-10 lottery picks. Has that ever happened before?

At least they took the best available I guess. Now I'd like to see the other Lopez at 17.

Bayless it is! Seems like a good value at that pick. Kings are up next.

And Kevin Love is answering questions on the draftcast.

Ford and Bayless is the smallest backcourt in the NBA for sure.

Stuart Scott: "There is a gluttony of guards there."

502 It will be Ford and Dunleavy I'm sure.

Will the Kings go big or small?, because they have some good options for both right now...

I'm gonna stay thru the GS pick and then bail. I could go home and then to the grocery store in the time it'll be before the Lakers pick.

Gluttony is not a collective noun.

Bill (Florida): Kevin, are you excited to play in Memphis?

Kevin Love: I'm very excited. I feel like I can bring a lot to the team. I'm just going to try to do my best and come into Memphis and do my best. I'm going to have to be a big Elvis fan now.

It should start getting much less predictable now.

Wow, again. I heard rumors Warriors liked Thompson.

so far i think lopez is a good steal, Augustin a severely blown pick, and after the top 10 or 11 i think the talent drops a ton..
too bad the bruins will be in crappy markets, we'll see were luuuc goes, and maybe lorenzo lol?

After that pick I would like to restate 508 .

Stuart Scott is not the brightest candle on the candelabra.

And the Kings take...

Jason Thompson?! Whoa.

I think Rush for Blazers.

If they keep pick.

Thompson's a great player, actually, he just doesn't get as much press.

Why doesn't anyone like Augustin? Just because of size? I would be willing to bet he will be more successful in the NBA than Gordon.

Hey, the Clippers played it right for a change. They were trying to trade down to the 4 pick to get Gordon but Seattle was asking to much, so they stayed put and got their man anyway.

515 yea well true, I think gordon is a born loser going to a losing franchise

515
Size is kind of important in the NBA. I'll take your bet.

517
We've won more playoff games then the Dodgers this decade so watch the Loser handle.

518 Before you do, you might want to remember how small Gordon is for a SG.

Do the Warriors take Kousta? Randolph? Something insane?

Wonder if the Warriors go for the big Greek dude here. They love those Euro players. But Donte Green might be a better fit.

520
I like strong shooting guards. I'm just thrilled we didn't take Westbrook or Bayless.

519 haha sorry, I just had to take a shot at the Clips, I think with a healthy brand and if livingston comes back healthy they'll actually be pretty good...I do like al thornton

521 Hopefully the last choice there.

Nice, Warriors go with high upside.

Huh. Anthony Randolph, probably a good if boring pick for the Warriors.

They need to trade Wright now. No point in having both of them.

also I couldn't help and laugh when I remembered Jim Rome had his callers phone up elgin and remind him that the draft was that day lol

523 I knew it. :)

I wonder if Bobo can put up Randolph's line at UCLA next year?

Cleveland fans seem to genuinely like their team. No matter how banged up it us. And they love Omar Vizquel coming back.

I find such behavior strange after attending Dodgers games in recent years.

Well, with Robin gone, I hope Arthur makes it to the 17th pick.

532 Its Cleveland, they let fans bring in banners for gosh sake.

531
Bobo has better talent around him.

Really Steve, are you sure you did not think you were getting the other Lopez. Now Lopez could play on the court with Amare and clog the middle so I guess that works but I see Kerr trying to deal Boris Diaw to someone (he won't be able to though).

536 At least they have good golf courses in Phoenix/Scottsdale.

537
Like that guy plays golf.

538 His girlfriend plays a little.

Hey Indiana Jon, Chad Ford has this rumor out now - The Portland Trail Blazers have verbally agreed to a deal that will send the rights to Brandon Rush and Jarrett Jack to the Indiana Pacers for the rights to Jerryd Bayless and Ike Diogu, according to a Blazers source."

Mareese Speights is probably the top 20 player I know the least about, whatever that's worth. Hope it works out for ya, Sixers.
---

tanin (san francisco): Brook, what do you think about not playing with your brother for the 1st time in your life?

Brook Lopez: Not only that, but being on the opposite sides of hte country. I'm sure we'll use up all of our text messages! I'll just try to mimic his defensive prowess in New Jersey.

Jake (Chicago): who got the better looks in the family?

Brook Lopez: Look at his hair! What do you think?

539 Not a bad deal if it happens. I like Diogu, but he never seems to live up to his potential.

539 Do it, Pacers!

536 Okay, that's a little harsh but I don't see how this new slow down Suns team will be able to win games, is Nash going to start playing defense, Barbosa, Stoudamire.

I wonder.

496 After that pick I am now certain that Bird is in that group. Just below Jordan and just above Thomas.

Mi jente!

anybody know if any Dodgers are gonna do any rehabilitation in San Bernardino soon? I just did some research & found out I'm with in 15 minutes of the 66ers stadium, anyways I'll be working out of this off-site office for a few months & it would be cool to check out a 66ers game while I'm there.

Is Lucas May still there or is he in Jax now?

545 I would guess depending on their schedule, Schmidt, Penny, Furcal and Nomar might show up.

545 May is in Jacksonville, ToyCannon would probably recommend Gallagher as the player to watch.

I'd love to watch Penny & Furcal the most, I'll keep & eye out for them on the web.

Arthur is going to be a nice steal.

There is absolutely no way Hibbert can run with the Pacers. I don't know why they didn't take Arthur.

550
They clearly won't be running.

The Trailblazers are going to be great in a few years:

G- Bayless
SG- Roy
SF- Webster
PF- Aldridge
C- Oden

534

I still don't know why the Dodgers don't allow it.

They will probably get rid of Outlaw, but I like him better than Webster.

532

It helps that he had a hall of fame glove and played in five straight postseasons.

Are the time limits larger between each pick for the NBA draft vs the MLB draft because MLB teams cant trade picks?

So I finally get back to see that no more runs were scored in the game. Oooof.

It became academic since the Dodgers didn't manage to get this far through the batting order, but I was surprised there was no complaint here about the last 2-for-1 when Troncoso came in to pitch and bat 2nd (last) after Kemp made the last out. The last two guys on the bench are DeWitt and Kent. Your down 2 runs and you 2-for-1 with your (admittedly struggling) RBI leader who has some pop instead of Juan Pierre who was due up eighth? If you get to that part of the lineup again, do you want Jeff Kent PHing for, effectively, Pierre or Kemp? I don't understand that move.

553 Well to be fair, you can only hang them where they don't block anyone's view, personally, it has never bothered me that they don't allow it.

552 I guess they would try to model themselves after the Spurs but there are two questions I have, is anyone one of those players a sure HOF (you tend to need at least one if not more) and even though Paul Allen has done it before, will he keep them all together after he maxes out Roy and Oden.

The Dodgers don't allow banners because the fire marshal doesn't allow them.

557 It was hard to imagine them going round the lineup again and if they did, they would have a couple of pinch hitters left.

556 No, its because they need time for snazzy videos and commercials.

552 Also, my hunch is someone else gets dealt for a veteran player. Probably not this year but soon.

547 He would also recommend his guy, Carlos Santana! James Adkins is there as well. Steve Johnson was just promoted to the 66ers.

563 I knew I forgot someone.

Not surprisingly, Utah takes the BAWG.

Ryan Anderson is going to team up with Brook Lopez.

Kyle Russell hits another homerun.

560 They were going to have to go around over the next two innings if they were going to win, a minimum of eight batters to tie. As it turns out, Torre chose to use DeWitt to bat for Berroa, so I have to assume he still would have hit for one of Berroa/Maza and have just one man left (Kent) for the pitcher's spot. I would choose that spot to be Pierre's, not Kent's.

Imagine the 8th unchanged, but Young reaches in the ninth and DeWitt PHs for Berroa (as he did) and reaches. They now have the winning run coming to the plate and due up are Maza, Pierre, pitcher (PH Kent). I prefer Maza, Kent, Kemp.

568 I don't think you understand. Juan Pierre doesn't leave the game. Ever. For any reason.

563
Good for Johnson, he deserved it. I'd like to see what he does going from a pitchers league to a hitters league.

They were going to have to go around over the next two innings if they were going to win, a minimum of eight batters to tie unless they scored two or three runs in the 8th....

Lakers should purchase a last first and take Arthuer.

569 You're right. I'm tilting at a windmill.

570 Yep. Seems like the right time to find out.

573 Life is just so much more pleasant if you accept it and move on. Food taste better, air smells sweeter, etc. I recommend it.

Grady Little double switched out Pierre a few times last year.

So who is sweating it out right now, Jordan, Arthur or Green?

Thanks, Bob, I figured it was something like that.

I dunno, maybe if they allowed banners and ended the ban on tailgating, fans would be a little happier at the game. I don't want to sound flippant, but I wish LA City Officials would allow an exception.

Orange County allows tailgating at Angel Stadium, but with several restrictions.

btw, Cleveland fans tell me the stadium mustard at Progressive Field is just dynamite.

BAWG?

So Arthur has an undisclosed kidney issue.

That is not good.

Arthur. though they just said he may have an undisclosed kidney issue or something...

Surprised the Rockets didn't just take him there, since they need a backup F.

I wouldn't mind seeing the Lakers take Mbah a Moute late in the 2nd, what the heck. Kyle Weaver will be gone by then, alas. Or maybe JR Giddens.

579 Best Available White Guy.

George Hill was a reach, imho.

Bizarre pick for the Spurs with Arthur still on the board.

578 Are fans unhappy at games. I mean don't mean to sound flippant but I have gone to almost half the home games and I really have not noticed any unhappiness outside of a loss.

How is Donte Green still available for that matter?

cool stuff man thanks...

I'll definitely look out for those guys as well, I'll be throwing on my wanna be scout hat.

If I'm the Lakers, I trade up in the 2nd to get Mario Chalmers (if he's available).

Or Chris Douglas Roberts.

586
Teams doing that stash a European away routine.

583 I would say so too. Pacers thought they could get him at 41.

what movie should i go see tonight? none look any good.

I think the tailgating ban is a Dodgers decision and I bet it's to keep the neighborhood somewhat mollified. But the fans already trash the neighborhood.

The Angels, like Daniel Plainview, don't have to deal with all these .... people.

Hill was the guy the Lakers were interested in. He ran triangle in college.

I would, too. Trade Luke Walton or Radmanovic (not that anyone will take the latter but...)

George Hill may be the first player from my old school to ever get drafted.

585

Sometimes... I think it depends on the matchup. I was at the game vs the Cubs a couple of weeks ago and the crowd was very festive. That game was a lot of fun, and we were all pretty happy throughout the afternoon.

But then when you have intense battles like with SF or SD, you get the occasional bad apple, fights, the whole bit.

I always felt that community rituals like tailgating help foster a great game atmosphere. Some friends of mine were shocked to learn they LA doesn't allow it

592

These people? As in residents? :-)

593 Yeah, interested in at pick #58 though. :-)

592 Iron Man and Kung fu Panda are fun if you want something commercial but good. Or go see something at your local art house. The rest is crap right now.

Another young stud; Portland sure needs another one of those.

There's Arthur!

And sounds like he may not be going to Nawlins.

What's with these trades where teams just give away their picks basically? (If that rumor is true.)

598
Actually, I heard they were looking into trading to top of 2nd to get him.

Are teams just trying to give Portland a playoff spot?

Portland changed their team rather fast. From thuggish troublemakers, to the best young team in the league.

There was tailgating for the exhibition game at the Coliseum. That was a zoo.

It really is shocking that they don't allow tailgating. That's a pretty basic element of attending a sporting event.

Memphis should take Jordan.

Omar Vizquel is getting MULTIPLE standing ovations tonight.

Great pick for Memphis.

Darn, the Lakers could've had him! :-)

I always thought the basic element of attending a sporting event was going to watch the event.

Greene has a ton of potential.

Arthur/Chalmers may be having 2nd thoughts about comign out for the draft.

Although, Chalmers stock was at an all time high and he still may not make it into the 1st.

Arthur would have been in danger of having his eligibility revoked had he returned to Kansas. His high school transcripts were found to have been fudged.

White is a good fit for the Pistons, but I'm surprised to see him go so high.

BH, you think Luc gets drafted?

Thanks Underdog.... I saw Iron Man and liked it. Maybe I will see Panda. I just want to go get away for a few hours. I saw Indy and didn't really think it was good but I had a good time...I was hoping the same for Get Smart but I don't know it dosen't look funny and i'd want that to be funny. I loved the TV Incredible Hulk as a kid and normally like Ed Norton but I just don't think that will be any good, more like bordering on completely stupid.

Welp, the Celtics just made their pick.

Between you and me, I hope the C's don't get past the first round next year, if they even make the playoffs.

There are still quite a few good players left.

J.R. Giddens is a bum, an extraordinarily selfish player who isn't good enough to be selfish. Wasted pick by the Celtics.

617 If they wanted a player like him, they would have been better off with Walker.

Looks like the Pacers got McRoberts in that deal for Bayless. Sad part is, they are so bad that he may actually get playing time.

614

the incredible Hulk is entertaining at least for me it was I gotta go check out Iron Man everybody that has seen it gives it an enthusiastic thumbs up.

Blazers basically use draft picks as invitations to training camp.

Cleveland-SF is the last game going in the majors. Which seems odd.

11 Ks through 7 for Lee

I didn't see any comments on this post on the PE Blog, but at least today isn't a total downer for Dodger fans:

>>Rafael Furcal is psyched, as he is on track to begin a rehabilitation assignment next week. "Right now, I'm happy," he said. "I don't feel anything. I feel so good."<<

Let's stay on topic here people.

We need to get rid of Pierre. Colletti, what the hell is he doing still being GM? My God. And that Mark Sweeney, don't even get me started. Argh.

Luuuuuuuuuc

Dang Michael Jordan stole the player I wanted.

625 Thanks for the new topics! ;-)

Darnit, he went way earlier than I expected.

Will there be anyone left by the time the Lakers draft? Maybe they should just abstain.

I'm very surprised Walker and Douglas-Roberts are still undrafted. The Pacers won't take Walker because they are looking for character guys, but Douglas-Roberts would be nice.

or not.

630 - and Douglas-Roberts is off the board, going to Jersey

Calipari sounds a bit bitter about his time in the NBA

As long as its not Mike Green I will be happy.

I'm not expecting much from the guy that the Lakers draft, but who are we looking at? I just don't see any needs on the Lakers (other than the previously talked about Odom-Marion trade).

Who is Nathan Jawai?

635
Small forward. Get rid of Vlad and Luke any way you can.

Please find someone better than Colby Karl.

637 - I like Luke, I think his skill set is good for the triangle. So you're looking for a back up small forward?

624

Thanks for the news underdog I'll keep an eye out for were he will rehab.

Very happy for my UCLA guys. Russell is just a really cool guy and will be a stud in the league. He's so young in both age and experience with so much ability. With his work ethic, I expect him to be a really good NBA player. He might be the worst of the guards taken in this draft in terms of immediate production, but his upside is unlimited.

KLove will get immediate run and be a factor. Also glad Luc went. Another super nice guy. This is a great night for UCLA and the exposure that we got from it.

639
Yes, one with a defensive mindset. Another Ariza.

How about Gary Forbes of UMass, train? I like him.

Did anyone mention that Kyle Russell homered AGAIN tonight?

Or Jefferson of USC -- a project but talented!

644 - Yep 567 but yeah, he sure is mashing at the start of his pro career. I wonder how fast he'll move up to the next level.

643
Is he a good defender? I know he scores and rebounds.

647 It's not his strong suit. But he can improve there.

But if that's the #1 thing you're looking for, he's not the best.

Buuuut I still like him.

The Northwest owns the NBA draft.

Chalmers was traded to the Heat for 2 2nd rounders. Huh, a steal for the Heat.

Yeah, it's all Sonics and Blazers, sheesh.

The Lakers are on the clock!

Glad ESPN saved all its ads for when the Lakers picked.

Ugggh.

I really hop Jake New of the Gulf Coast League Dodgers makes it to the Dodgers some day. He has the same name as my mother in law's dog.

Joe Crawford? A guard? Does that mean that Sasha isn't coming back?

Joe(y) Crawford?

The best pitcher the A's got for Dan Haren (Brett Anderson, 20 yrs old) made his Double-A debut today and struck out 12 in 6 IP.

655 I strongly doubt it.

Crawford's a very solid guy. Surprised by the pick but it's actually pretty decent. He may make the team and even contribute.

653 - You don't like it, I take it?

Not a lot of pickings left here at the end of the draft.

What's with all these players-for-cash trades, anyway? There's something unseemly about that.

660
He is like a less athletic version of Farmar.

I guess he could be a backup point guard in the future. But yeah, end of second round usually has slim pickings.

Joe Crawford looks kind of like Poot from The Wire.

At least he has the same name as a ref.

Big trade going on with Mayo for Love if anyone is still here.

Mayo, Jaric, Walker and Buckner for Love, Miller, Cardinal and Collins.

Now Love and Mayo will definitely always be linked together.

Wow. That's crazy.

I think the Grizzlies are stupid to trade away Mike Miller. Really stupid.

Grizzlies are proving to be a pretty stupid franchise.

670

LOL!! That REALLY made me laugh. Meanwhile, Portland is really, really, realllllly looking good right now. If Oden can get some playing time, wow... I can only imagine how good Portland will be.

Are the Grizzlies going to go with a 5 guard rotation. Small ball! That should be fun.

Yeah, Portland will be pretty scary. I'd put them in top 5 in the West next year.

We kind of have a lot of left handed power bats in the system now...

Russell, Caseres, Orr, Lambo, Gallagher....

That trade makes no sense on any level.

I can't see any reason why Minnesota would want anyone other than Love in that group. Which begs the question: why didn't they just draft Love at 3?

I can't see why Memphis would want anyone other than Mayo, and I would think that Mayo would have been available at 5.

The NBA needs to step in and take over both of those franchises.

674 Miller is a good pickup for Minnesota and they get to ditch Jaric and his 7 mil a year.

675 - based on what I've seen of him, Miller is a marginal player, at best. And again, I can understand either team wanting to dump the other six, I just can't understand either wanting any of them in exchange.

NPUT