Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Jon's other site:
Screen Jam
TV and more ...
1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
9) typing "no-hitter" or "perfect game" to describe either in progress
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with
Quick question for anyone that knows.
If Furcal does not play anymore in 2008 and signs with another team in the offseason, do his stats qualify as a player the Dodgers would get 2 picks within the top 50 for?
Just checking.
Soreness in the back will likely prevent Furcal from gaining Type A status. Last year (using 2006-2007 stats), Furcal was the best Type B. But replace his 2006 with 2008 and he's surely not going to be a Type A. He might not even be a Type B (which would fetch a sandwich pick only).
http://tinyurl.com/elias-nl
Even more reason to be disapointed about Furcal's injury.
Per the collective bargaining agreement, the most his salary could be cut is 20%, so he would get at least $10.4m in arbitration (80% of $13m).
Assuming the doctors would give Furcal a clean bill of health, I'd be willing to gamble 10.4m for one year. We still don't have any real good SS options for next year (assuming there is no trade coming).
I absolutely would offer Furcal arbitration if he is anywhere near remotely healthy. I just have my doubts that the Dodgers would do so.
Like Eric said, Furcal most likely won't be offered arbitration. Kent is probably going to retire. Park might be a type B one...
No... "X"!
No... {mmmmph!}
Bah. Humbug.
Thus rendering the term "Type A" forever meaningless.
294 IP, 17 W, 4.02 ERA
Park's totals for 2007-8 combined thus far:
69 IP, 4 W, 3.39 ERA
Of course if you were joking, disregard this post from an idiot! :)
The problem with Lowe will be that he will likely command substantially more than the 4/$36 he signed for. It might be a 3 year deal, but I would guess Lowe's in line for at least $13m/year. If you're going to pay that, why not get Sabathia or Sheets (and I realize it's for a longer term)?
As a relief pitcher.
INTJ
It used to be ISTJ, before moving to North Carolina.
But does Park have the holds or whatever they use to measure such creatures?
He's going to be 36/37. You want to sign him until he is 40?
5-2 Phillies in the 8th.
Any psycho-analysis of Joe Torre's suden change of heart making Matt Kemp bat leadoff today, after he was hosed in the paper yesterday. The rationale for some of the lineups and player moves are getting funnier and funnier
Beware yon Sheets, he has that lean and hungry look.
It's not that I don't want xeifrank to win his bet though.
from dodgers.com
"We've got to think about getting help with the history of Nomar and injuries," Torre said. "If we do get a shortstop, we know Nomar can play there, at first and at third. If he swings the bat, we'll find a spot for him.
Huh?
925 Bay (Pirates)
897 Nady (Pirates)
875 Kuo (put him in LF :)
834 Martin
814 Ethier
795 Loney
770 Beltre (Mariners)
768 Kemp
711 Kent
704 Wilson (Pirates)
702 DeWitt
681 Garciaparra
677 Young
664 LaRoche
658 Betancourt (Mariners)
531 Maza
514 Jones
513 Ardoin
469 Berroa
Just a list ...
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=3483646
NL LVP of the half year: Andruw Jones, Dodgers
Andruw Jones
Sheez, what happened to this man? If Andruw Jones's second half resembles his first half, he's potentially heading for (ready for this?) the Worst Offensive Season in Baseball History. At this rate, he'd finish with a .172 average, .261 slugging percentage, five homers, 21 RBIs, 125 strikeouts and only 64 hits. And you shouldn't be flabbergasted to learn that the all-time list of players who have had numbers that gruesome consists of, well, nobody. Heck, only three other players in history have even had twice as many strikeouts as hits (in a season of 100 or more whiffs): Rob Deer (175-80 in 1991), Dave Nicholson (126-60 in 1964) and Mark McGwire (118-56 in 2001). But at least those fellows made a few home run trots, or finished over the Mendoza Line.
Please no more Free Agents...
Spend the $$s locking up four of the best...Billz, Kemp, Martin,Loney for eg.
My biggest beef is all the $$$ spend by Ned and none of them are Billz,Kemp,Martin..
It's not like the Dodgers will lose the young ones if they aren't signed to long-term deals. All are under club control through at least 2012. Attempts were made to sign Martin, but his agent rebuffed Ned's attempt.
...and by mercy, I am speaking of course of us, the fans who have to watch this?
Sweet, while we sit on our thumbs.
It's not like the Dodgers will lose the young ones if they aren't signed to long-term deals. All are under club control through at least 2012. Attempts were made to sign Martin, but his agent rebuffed Ned's attempt.
Then he should move to the other young Dodgers players willing to sign long term contracts, I know Loney would be willing to talk about it, Kemp might also be willing. While Rusell Martin looks like he's going to be the Ryan Howard of catchers, commanding a huge salary during his first year of Arbitration, it doesn't make much sense to not sign a young player you think can play in the major leagues to a long term contract. Just how much money you think you're going to save during Arbitration?
Because that's what we're all about.
Juan Pierre swinging bunt bat speed = 80 mph
Matt Kemp swinging bunt bat speed = 100+ mph :)
But at least you're still no fun. You've got that...
It's a two-way street with contracts. Someone like Martin is going to make a boat load of money through arbitration, and that's why he doesn't want to lock in now.
I would certainly want to sign the players you mentioned, but (a) the players have to want to as well, and (b) the club takes on almost all of the risk by locking them up. Not that free agents aren't more or a risk, but it's apples and oranges.
I say 5.
A Big Bird Sighting. (A new PBS children's program.)
Thank the Lord.
Cue sporky!
Don't forget the prospect abduction drama: "I Know My First Name is Andy."
I was way off. I didn't foresee the squeeze.
Had Gonzo and Amezaga at two strikes but couldnt put them away.
Meredith Baxter stars as Andy's mother.
Dodgers have scored 35 runs in 14 previous Sunday games (2.5/game), are are 5-9 on Sundays this season.
...Sexy.
Years of working at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant have given him a healthy green glow.
"Mom, Dad, I'm going out and am borrowing the car, unless you say otherwise..."
"...OK, so you both later"
I was thinking Mario Lopez.
Who isn't thinking Mario Lopez.
I believe so.
Too bad Ryan Anderson was never healthy enough to join the Mariners.
Yeah, he's probably not available on short notice.
Ho hum.
He's got to be on fuschia alert or something.
The Dodgers have signed seventh-round draft pick Cole St. Clair and 11-rounder Nathan Eovaldi, who the team showed around in Houston.
Go Bison!
Are you really that mad, up 6-1?
...like Jack Wilson, Pedro Feliz, etc.
Pretty soon we'll all start ovulating on the same schedule.
It's science.
I thought that was Clayton Kershaw's title.
That's just called rooting for the Dodgers. It will pass.
http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/cAD2
What happened now?
Bruce Boxleitner. Clearly.
I think Andruw should come out to either "Bicycle" or "Fat Bottom Girls" by Queen, just to mix things up.
It's impossible to see that line and not laugh.
Glorious.
Who is that?
Certainly Vin was excluding 1B umpire Bill Hohn, one of America's finest mustachioed men, from his mini-tirade.
It's weird, because he's had some better at bats over the past week or so since coming back, where he looks a little more patient, and just tries to take what he's given, and then other times he looks putrid still, like all of last night. I really don't know what the deal is with him. Maybe he and Hu can have the same laser surgery.
Beautiful choice.
How about Kool and the Gang's Hollywood Swining (and missing)?
I like Joe Torre but he seems to be another micro-manager. I'm pretty sure Grady would have a better record at this point.
Come on Andy!
Andy, you can't strike out vs. Big Bird and expect to get a lot of starts, alas.
Bad, Andy, bad.
(Next on IFC)
212 what did vin say?
A pitcher who already touches 95. He had TJ surgery junior year and the consensus was that he was going to go to college.
Also, your AN music choice works because all the cool fans wouldn't boo Andruw; they'd simply yell, "Judas!"
Andy's really been making me look bad lately.
Remember, these are kids who could have their careers ended and lose millions. What the Dodgers are doing is hedging their bets, not 100% commiting to these kids, making these guys earn and take risks...thats why you could buyout arb and free agent years...bird in the hand for the players...Ned does this while giving millions to older players X,Y and Z.
If they keep this up, they will pay at arbitration and the first chance these guys get to free agency, they'll go to the highest bidder.
As well they should. Two way street.
"I need a copy of this article."
"OK, which one."
"This one."
"The one in your hand?"
"Yes."
"But you already have a copy of the article."
"I know. I want another one."
"Why don't you just photocopy it?"
"I don't like the way this one looks."
"Why?"
"It's a photocopy. I want the original. Besides I wrote on this one."
"Why did you write on it?"
"To remind myself to get a new copy."
It's easy to remember Grady's lineups fondly, considering the guy he replaced.
I really thought that I had angered God for a while and Jason Phillips hitting cleanup was my penance.
Has an all-star level player ever fallen off the cliff THIS fast without a recognized major injury? Dale Murphy didn't decline like this...
You can't have missed that point. It's not a subtle point. It's been said.
Over and over and over.
That was a fun game.
And Andy did show he can work the count and have a high on base percentage the first time he came up -- but that wasn't good enough for Ned and Grady. If he did the same thing for Torre, though, I suspect he'd say -- a different organizational philosophy now.
245 - I dunno man, I think it could be vision, too. Mixed with pressing way too much. If you can solve it I think there would be a lot of money for you.
Sigh. Choi in the second slot.... where he belonged.
Just remember with whom you share your most special Choi-in-person memory.
are you using it on Wi-Fi, 3G, or edge?
I went to the World Baseball Classic by myself.
Another eg: nobody at Bronx Banter can stand Wilson Betemit these days (though, to be fair, his strike zone judgment has COMPLETELY vanished). And I've never seen an mlb player who looks worse than Betemit when making an out...
That wasn't when he nearly took it out of Dodger Stadium, but those powder blue unis were cool, so I won't take offense.
Over and over and over.
But Andy doesn't warrant another start if he can't produce on the days he does start. This team can't wait for Andy to get 'hot' or give so called good consistent at bats. They're in the middle of the pennant race, and this constant back and forth between LeRoach, and DeWitt is screwing around with both of their heads. Pick one or the other, not "Lets start this guy for a week over this other guy, and then switch." Its the middle of July, this isn't the time to hedge your bets.
A friend of mine changed a Betemit t-shirt to read GeteHit. Reminds me of when seattle fans changed their Galloway jerseys to Go_away.
And with Pierre, not even halfway through his contract, now coming off a knee injury, we could have quite a stiff in a year or two as well.
I will say no more.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_by_Myself
Great trivia via Wiki (and English editors): "In a 2006 poll for UK's five programme Britain's Favourite Break-up Songs, Eric Carmen's version of this song was voted seventeenth."
But Blake doesn't warrant another start if he can't produce on the days he does start.
DeWitt gets put in the lineup just about every day, and was admirably given the opportunity to play through his ineptitude. LaRoche has yet to be given that opportunity. Andy has started 2 games in a row only twice this season.
Also, LaRoche has homered twice, and was sent to the bench the next day on both occasions.
see jones, andruw.
Please, oh please, when Pierre comes back ... let him platoon with Druw. It would be really stupid to take Kemp or Ethier out of the lineup, given that they have generated some of the little power the Dodgers have.
5 consecutive Ks for Billingsley. At least he's doing his part to speed this up.
It was indeed Campy, with 8 (1949-56).
From the TV replay it was definitely Gonzo's especially with the man at 3rd with less then 2 outs.
Regarding La Roche and DeWitt it would be great to give both of them nice chunks of playing time. LaRoche's playing time could even be augmented by giving LaRoche playing time when they rest Jeff Kent.
It might help in locking him up now.
Right, while his record is "only" 9-8. :) Get while the gettin' is good, and cheap.
I've heard of a lot of dark-skinned men doing that to prevent shaving bumps.
I have the music on, what was the story?
Campy shaved with a tongue depressor rather than a blade.
Correctomundo. Especially with the leather padding of the catcher's mask rubbing against his skin. Shaving with a razor would have been terrible.
Nair, Bikini Bare, etc.
Basically use a shaving powder that chemically removes the hair from the skin.
But, really, I'm glad Brian Wilson is going to the All Star game.
:-/
(Actually I'm sure Chad doesn't mind the time off.)
I used to be the same way. Your face will toughen up after a few years of the real world beatdown.
Chan Ho in 2001!
http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/4Gtc
Kuroda vs. Davis
Billingsley vs. Haren
Lowe vs. Webb
Kuroda vs Davis, Billingsley vs Haren, Lowe and Webb. The last two at least should be fairly low scoring.
It's not gritty, but it's an outstanding at-bat.
Oh, the comedic possibilities of an Uggla-Hu middle infield!
Cool how the pitchers match up similarly.
1) Crafty Right vs. Crafty Left
2) Young Stud Battle
3) Duel of the Wormkillers
Isn't Billz younger than all of them?
IP/GS
Bills - 5.94
Kazmir - 5.92
I think Kazmir, Bills, Hamels, and Lincecum are all closely bunched, and any one of them could end up being the best.
I just wonder which weekend he's going to hit 7 homers, and then precede to be benched.
Takes over team lead in RBIs.
Why on earth did they pitch to him?
That also includes Chad's first start after Torre jerked him around for 2 weeks. Without that 2 inning perofrmance, he's over 6.
I love Chad Billingsley.
Can you be clutch when you are already up by 6?
10.1IP 0hr 1bb 16k 3.67 go/fo ratio.
He is only 20 too.
Looks like every insane thing or creature or set that Del Toro has ever imagined has been crammed into the movie, but that's okay with me.
He's OPS'ing .985
It's not like Chad was pulled because of a pitch count in that game. He was getting hammered by the D-Backs, and that's why he got pulled.
I just thought it was silly to point out Kazmir doesn't go deep when Bills doesn't go that much deeper (with or without his first start).
And I say this in 100% support of Chad, even wearing his jersey as I type this.
These young pups need to learn when they should try and not try!
Not what I implied at all.
Use it to scrape of the nair cream, or whatever it is you are using to remove the hair.
Basically, you put the cream on your face and let it sit for 10 minutes while it works it's magic. Then use a tongue depressor or flat stick to essentially scrape the removed hair.
You use it to scrape off the foam (and hair).
If they can sign Zach Cox, I like the draft a lot.
Even i they can't, the drat looks alright. We'll get a clearer picture in a couple of years since most of the draftees were college draftees.
Is he going to lose one? :)
Seriously though, it's kind of sad that our RBI leader is on pace for only 87.
378 - I prefer Blade, thanks. And he takes a hit away from someone born 50 years before him there.
Yeah, I've never tried it either, but a Google search never lies!
"Always bet on black."
Not even close to that yet. At worst, he'll get DL'ed again for something.
Correctomundo!
If he doesn't get it, he's dead to me.
You have 3 more innings chad, make good use of your 9 outs.
what up Eric. you know what, there is a foam also that chicks use to shave there leg hairs (among other stuff?) Milano came out on one of there commercials. I've heard that stuff smells nasty though.
I'll settle for 27 more pitches, a 116-pitch, 20 K complete game.
He wants it to be just like PS3/XBox
.256/.314/.378, with 76 strikeouts.
Sadly I've never been close enough to Alyssa Milano to smell her legs. I'm pretty sure I'd put up with ol' Limburger Legs though. :)
If you dare wear short-shorts, Nair for short-shorts!
Okay.
That's what the men use, too.
Hu wears short shorts?
Only because he couldn't see and thought he packed long pants.
There is some serious suck possible in the coming weeks.
Hamels: 7 IP, 11 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 8 K
Dice-K: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 7 K
...but somebody's been better!
A Hu-esque .362 OPS in 32 Abs.
For the season, Druw is OPS'ing .509 (.467 vs Righties).
This guy is the highest paid player on the team.
At this point, it may be best to just let Druw hit vs lefties, and give DY the other Abs.
13 strikeouts!!
To be honest, I thought the same thing, but it looks like Chad just needed a little time to get warmed up.
Lucky number 13!
13ks
0bbs
Best Billingsley start of his career.
He owns the Marlins.
IIRC, his best start his rookie year was vs the Marlins.
My fantasy team approves.
his NO BB's is most impressive.
http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/qaSW
Today for Vegas:
2.1 IP 5 H 5 R 4 ER 3 BB 2 SO 2 HR
Numbers don't pertain to vets. If he says he's ready, he's up here.
{sigh}
I am rooting for him, of course, would love to see him actually come back and help, but it's pretty hard to imagine.
Torn labrums are death to pitchers. I was amazed to hear that Waechter had torn his and is pitching. Though he was pretty garbage after he originally came back. Schmidt being so 35 or so doesnt help his cause either.
Maybe they should call up Jason Johnson over Schmidt!
Sabathia - 137
Lincecum - 135
Billingsley - 128
Hamels - 126
Volquez - 126
Burnett - 126
E.Santana - 122
Halladay - 121
Cain - 121
I'm sure there's more. if Andruw returns (to form) next year we should be competitive.
don't lie.
very impressive list, wow.
How about is k/9ip for SP?
I do!
It's one of the best baseball features I've read in a very long time.
If the steroid era is really over it may make sense again to moniter players over thirty because they can lose it at any time. I think Sweeney is done, and maybe some younger players, I won't mention anyone specific. Our puffy player hasn't worked, and I hope the Snakes aren't desperate enough to resort to BB to try and make the play-offs.
32 IP, 4-0 (including a win today), 6 ER, 11/42 BB/K, 1.69 ERA.
The Dodgers lost the only game he gave up more than 1 run.
Very true. Really good and interesting article, especially about how wrong people are about deliveries and injuries caused by them (i.e. Prior's "perfect" delivery that was actually extremely flawed). The one thing that was really amazing is how long his stride is and how rare that is for a pitcher. He really is a freak.
9.95
Here is the list before today:
http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/XzGK
Billingsley sits atop the list after today, at 9.90 (Volquez is at 9.64).
Victory!
Just an outstanding piece.
Btw, is there anywhere one could find the furthest negative VORP in history? Does Andruw have a chance of breaking the record?
Fitting that U2 was just playing at the stadium coming back from the commercial.
I've yet to hear much about how his defense has hurt the Dodgers, so I hope the Dodgers just leave him there the rest of the season.
I'd even re-sign him next year to play SS as a 1yr stop gap till DeJesus is ready--> if they dont want to give the job to DeJesus outright for 2009.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/leveyji01.shtml
http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/bergebi01.shtml
Frank O'Rourke put up a -11 OPS+ with 216 PA in 1912, a season after Bill Bergen (a must on any worst hitter lists) put up a -4 OPS+ in 250 PA.
http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/tdj6
I just think he's way to good to just fall off the face of the earth... his traditional #'s are very very good & then 2008 they hit a severe stop.
>> If a shortstop named Ivan DeJesus sounds familiar, it's for good reason. The son of the former speedy big leaguer is now plying his dad's trade at Double-A Jacksonville in the Dodgers organization.
DeJesus, 21, has held his own in Double-A, putting up a nice .412 on-base percentage while hitting .307, and he's considered a legitimate defensive shortstop. Like Martinez, he plays a position of need in an organization with playoff aspirations. The Dodgers have lost Rafael Furcal for an extended period of time due to a back injury, and Chin-lung Hu did not seize the job when he played in Los Angeles. The job is there for the taking.
Yet DeJesus has been available all year and hasn't gotten a look. Like D'Antona, it's worth wondering whether he'll get a chance if he hasn't already. Unlike D'Antona, he's quite young, and there's definitely something to be said for letting him continue to develop. If the Dodgers are able to swing a deal for a veteran shortstop, DeJesus will likely remain in the bus leagues. If not, DeJesus could be playing up the middle for a playoff contender before September.<<
don't lie. "
On my team I have:
Cain
Shields
Lincecum
Lowe
Lackey
Billingsley
Halladay
Sabathia
Weaver
Marcum (DL)
Torre has already announced that Pierre was doing such a great job that when he comes off the DL he will immediately return to left field and Kemp/Eithier will share right.
Of course, Torre has been known to say one thing and do the opposite so we'll see.
Are you in a 2-person league? That staff is ridiculous.
>> Marty Reed, the Los Angeles Dodgers' minor-league pitching coordinator, succinctly summed up Clayton Kershaw's performance Saturday night.
"I don't think he'll be here all that much longer," Reed said. <<
http://tinyurl.com/6r5mbb
Brewers (no money!).
Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.