If D4P doesn't pay 100% attention to what she's saying and participate in the conversation, he gets in trouble.

If D4P doesn't simultaneously pay 100% to the road, he gets in trouble.

Which is way better than those lazy athletes who only give 110%

Park will be replaced in the rotation by veteran right-hander Jason Johnson, whose contract was purchased from Las Vegas earlier today to take Takashi Saito's roster spot.

Too bad McDonald/Kerhshaw were passed over for a PVL with no upside.

Dodgers just have on interest in building anything for the future, and that they actually think Jason Johnson can help in the short-term is troubling.

Ugh.

Stop us if you have heard this one before: Jason Schmidt has been shut down, his rehab assignment put on hold. He felt discomfort in his shoulder after his last rehab start. Torre said he'll throw a couple of side sessions here, and if those go well, he'll resume his rehab...

Just retire.

Hopefully Torre will align Johnson's starts with Kuo's pitching days, so that a Johnson start equates to Kuo coming in in the fourth inning and blowing the other team away for a while.

Or do we think Kuo is the new setup man?

But the first part is dependent upon the second part...

So I leave it to them, if they feel that Johnson and Sweeney are key components to the team winning the division, so be it.

But I am just going to watch the games and keep score.

"We know he can handle the heat," Torre said of Park. "This way I can use him more than once every five or six days. He's so valuable in the bullpen. He'd rather start, but he understands. I'm more concerned with finishing the game than starting it."

The timing of the promotion of the 34-year-old Johnson is interesting. He had a July 31 escape clause in his contract if he was not promoted to the Major Leagues.

That just makes no sense at all.

Nice inning otherwise though! I only caught the tail end of this one. I'll take it. I knew we were due to score a few off Davis.

Druw seriously looks blind.

(Re: the strike 2 swing.)

More like "GameYesterDay".

Your young and inexperienced players were instrumental in the Dodgers jumping out to a three run lead to start off the first inning tonight.

Your experienced players Kent and Jones ... not so productive.

Oh wait.

No, but he makes it easily back to third if he dives. He took his jolly old time getting back and he got caught. Too bad nobody will make a big stink about it.

Sassinfrassinmassin'...

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Give it Away

Well... maybe I need to leave this game for awhile. You can blame me for this.

It's a new season. They haven't hit their mid-season stride yet.

Oh wait. Which game? I thought you meant Gin Rummy. I can play that.

So are the Dodgers.

Kuroda's gonna get charged with 4 runs, when he really should have been out of the inning with none scoring.

Not that one, the one where the ball went right under his glove.

126 - I agree. Kent's been crap this inning but that DP looked like it was turned the right way.

Well, I can say that I don't think the Dodgers are done scoring runs today. Hope I'm right about that.

You dont really hear much tabloid stuff about the Dodgers, even though they are an LA team.

Bob? Someone? Am I crazy?

I just sit back and enjoy games like this. Nothing more fun than a night of DT fulminating and bloviating and cursing the darkness.

Exactamundo.

I don't think players hate each other, obviously they all want to play but they have big enough egos to think that all they need is a chance. LaRoche can't be mad at DeWitt because he is playing because I don't think you can survive that way in pro sports.

Or, as a Bette Davis character once said, "Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy game." Or something.

Bring in Jason Johnson!

He really is pretty hit or miss. He has had some brilliant starts, but this is his third start with 6 earned in under 3 innings. Thats not so good in 18 starts.

I know this won't happen because Ned loves Jeff from his days in SF. Torre and Kent also have the same agent. This would be both a help for the club this year and give a better idea of what to do next year.

That play by Kent in the first inning (getting "picked off" by the third baseman was HUGE. It changed the dynamic of what should have been a rare and potentially momentous first inning into one that had Arizona going into the dugout thinking "that could have been worse." That play epitomized (to me) why this Dodger team is not yet a good team. At a big moment in their season, the PVLs have their heads you know where.

PHOOEY!

The game on the field is more interesting than the dugouts and the stands and the stories and the sideline reporter. Thanks.

Well, you never really know though. If Kent makes the play he is out of the inning with no runs and 16-18 pitches or so. Then he starts with 5-6-7 of Arizona and maybe he finds it then and goes 1-2-3. That play by Kent not only has an impact on that inning for Kuroda, but for the rest of the game.

Good to see Donnie Mattingly in the dugout there, btw.

3-0 green light.

Home Runs are cool.

--

Okay, Matt Williams? This isn't a funeral! Stop announcing it like it's one.

Yes.

LaRussa has used two of the reserves already and both have played second base.

All of the above.

I'm REALLY trying to be positive.

Being that Orel was one of my favorite players back then, Matt Williams became Public Enemy No. 1 in my eyes up until he got traded to Cleveland.

Don't unpack too quickly, my friend.

Remember it like it was yesterday.... to this day, Matt Williams is on my sad face list. I loathed that guy.

So is Andruw Jones.

Williams then went on to predict that the Dodgers would not beat the Giants once in 1994.

Williams was wrong.

I also remember Williams once refusing to take first base after he got hit by a pitch by Hideo Nomo. The pitch was fairly close to his head and Williams wanted to get a chance to hit again against Nomo. The umpire was not dissuaded and ordered Williams to take first.

For the most part, I've never liked Matt Williams.

Is anyone else relieved that Johnson isn't going to be in the starting rotation? I'd much rather have Chan Ho slotted in the 5 spot than this guy.

Yes, I also remember when Williams wanted to fight Roger Cedeno for stealing third when the Dodgers had a fairly large lead.

Williams was a very insecure player. I ended up hating Cedeno, though.

Bob, I remember that. Thanks for reminding me how much I despised Matt Williams. Feels, oddly enough, good.

Why should we want him here? Because you think he's a nice guy?

DeJesus is back at SS.

You know, I find it hard not to root for guys like Jason Johnson, attempting to come back to the bigs, it's just hard for me to not feel something for them.

On the other hand, it's hard to get excited about watching him pitch, or root for him over some younger pitcher who came through the system. On the other other hand, we already have a couple of rookies in the pen who have contributed and looked pretty decent, and I'm not sure Meloan is ready yet. On the other hand, I do hope to see Kershaw again soon.

On the other... arrgggh {explode!} I need to eat dinner.

Make sure that Drew doesn't bat for the fourth time.

Did not realize that. And look who started the game for LA, lasting only two innings, K-ing six but walking 5.

I have never understood rooting for players on my team to do poorly, so I don't do that.

Making an observation that Jason Johnson or a Juan Pierre arent very good at baseball is just that---making an observation.

An observation that apparently Dodger Mgmt doesnt recognize, and for that they are critiqued here and other places.

This Mgmt doesnt learn from previous mistakes, so its pointless to root for short term failure in hopes of the longer term greater good.

--

Well, it's probably not worth for discussing that long anyway, I don't expect him to be on the team very long.

Yeah, I want the Dodgers to win as badly as you do, maybe more.

I root for the correct players to play.

I'm still dreading the day Pierre returns. That's going to be so depressing.

Johnson could very well be a placeholder for a week or two.

Isnt he?

They all look the same.

(Forgive me if this has been discussed already or if it's an inappropriate subject to bring up while the ball game is going on.)

...wow what a catch.

You know...that French guy.

309 - Hah!

Because if the correct players do not play, the chances of the end result being good are very very low.

Seriously, do you blindly root for anyone wearing the uniform just because management puts them there? Would you ask for my autograph if I started at short tomorrow?

Its a long season. A really long season.

The journey, and things that may actually help the Dodgers for future end results (like developing youngsters with upside), is part of what makes baseball enjoyable, at least for me.

If its all about trying to win 80 games with a bloated payroll, crappy PVL, and mind numbing decisions....vs winning maybe 75 games and developing exciting players for the future---I'm going with the latter.

I think to almost all baseball fans, the 162 game journey is what is entertainment.

If it was all about the end results, I wouldnt even watch bc the Dodgers are going nowhere this year given the players they have, and the ones that they play.

If you can bring me one signed by the Black Mike Ramsey, I will take you to the Rare Books Room.

I will only be autographing copies of either my Masters thesis or my former band's debut album from 2000, however. Good luck finding either of those.

Nomar!

Home Runs are cool.

The best thing about Nomar doing well is that it also keeps the Dodgers from making a panic trade for another SS.

Remember breakfast for anyone there between 9:00-10:00, up to 12 (dozen eggs).

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA200207210.shtml

I'm leaning toward being there, and I'll sign anything you want for free as a gesture of friendship. :-)

Accepting the need to win right now and the unfair advantages the PVL's get, there still have been far more opportunities to play LaRoche and sit Jones to give Young a few more AB's.

Or someone else might be called up by Monday/Tuesday.

Too bad Torre cant bring Kuo in here.
Game is on the line.

He really does love the Borg.

And Qualls has gotten shelled recently.

368 I have seen him at the Stadium, I'm not sure what Logans should look like, the only two people I know named Logan is the fictional character from The Uncanny X-Men and Logan Paulson, one of a multitude of tight ends at UCLA.

Bison power. That was pretty.

7-7!

Andre power!

Two of the sweetest phrases in life.

Kemp! Ethier! Martin up!

I spent most of this week cleaning up blood stains, so I decided to spend all day today watching The Wire's second season. I got through 10 episodes. It just keeps getting better.

Guess that fits watching The Wire. And the 2nd was my least favorite of the show's seasons (though it was still excellent).

(a little late, I admit)

Mandlebaum! Mandlebaum!

Speaking of Jones, was he pulled because of an injury, or did Dodger management finally capitulate?

Welp, I'm almost done with Remembrance of Things Past and watching "Berlin Alexandplatz." Is the game over yet?

In other hitting news, disabled pinch-hitter Mark Sweeney is with the club after a brief injury rehab with Las Vegas, but he has not yet been activated.

(Kidding. I know it's spelled greated.)

Me fail typing? That's unpossible.

Man, it won't be the same if Broxton comes in here tonight and Mark Grace isn't announcing it. His mancrush on the Blue Ox is always of great amusement.

No, now two outs, as he strikes out Hudson!

Still 7-7.

LoL!

Btw, that flushing sound they play when he gets someone out is really funny -- if you're in the 5th grade.

Those were all things he said.

And once again, his request to crush a hanging breaking ball was denied.

Park needs a focus band.

Oh my god nevermind I LOVE YOu BLAKE!!!!!!

WOW.

Darnit, that was close.

Wow, AZ broadcast shows that one barely got in Drew's glove.

Yes, a DP!!! That was huge!!! Nice job Cory!

Crazy eyes!!

A legitimate power surge tonight!

Time marches on.

I loved it!

On a melancholy note, I had to restart firefox and missed the homer, which wouldn't be so frustrating had I not missed all three previous Dodgers homers. Maybe me not watching is good luck.

Only because you want to bring value to your jersey.

Isn't he?

This faux injury break doesn't help, either.

Seriously, they're awake. She's not happy, he's wondering what's so funny. I'm getting the jersey out.

Be still, my beating heart.

"That's crushed. Deep right field. 8-7 Dodgers lead."

When will I get a chance to watch the season premiere of "Monk"?

Will I be awake for the cable guy tomorrow morning?

606 - You showed too much emotion there, though. Even flatter. "that's crushed... deep right {sob} field. 8-7 dodgers... lead {bite knuckles to hold back tears}"

Do Norman and Choi get to pay the sunset rate?

Let's go Ox!

I almost finished Gone With the Wind just during that inning.

Don't make me pull out Fellowship of the Ring, game, don't.

that's the main reason I don't like 'em as a broadcaster...

I cought a bit of the Houston vs cubbies game earlier today & the Houston broadcaster & pretty darn good...

Okay, Bull, c'mon! Put this game - and all of us - to bed.

But more importantly, a ball.

get a strike zone & stick with it man...

This is our night!

635 - Good, but say it with more affectation next time.

I actually liked how Steiner called the DeWitt play.

Maybe the best win of the season thus far?

Well... anyway. I shall sleep better tonight. Cheers all!

Could be back in a tie after tomorrow's game.

Man, I need to get some sleep ....

Apologize to the wife and child for me.

Night (for reals).

we are all tangled up in blue & red evidently...

Okay, all... good night and until tomorrow.

As long as he plays SS, your jersey is sweet!

(addressing youngsters on the yay of hitting tee vs boo of live practice) "because in live batting practice, you can get away with hitting fly balls, even if they go over the fence, that's the WRONG swing...(blah blah about line drive stroke being worked on using a tee)."

We might all enjoy it, if he were at 2nd base, no?

BTW, When are the Dodgers going to officially put Saito on the DL? He's on my fantasy team and he has to be officially be designated on the DL before I can make a move. Essentially I have a dead spot in my bullpen-one man short until they make the move so I can pick up a free agent. I thought it was supposed to be Friday. Friday has come and gone and I didn't see the DL transaction occur.

1) One play doesn't change the fact that he shouldn't be starting.
2) Why are you assuming that he's now better defensively than LaRoche? We have no way of knowing, because we haven't seen LaRoche play. He looked fantastic last September.

I could point to post after post from poster after poster that said he was done.

Based on what I've seen of DeWitt, LaRoche would have to be Scott Rolen at this point to be better then him defensively.

Recognition of something happening is not the same as rooting for it to happen.

I hope down the stretch that on days Kent rests LaRoche plays second and also gets a chance to play against Lefties. It would make so much sense.

You're the man for your time and place. You fit right in there. I don't know about you, but I take comfort in that.

I'm adding it to the top 10.

That is all.

Third baseman does the same thing - of course he should be starting.

I haven't decided whether to go that route, or not. Just as technically, if he slips back over .700 at some point, I could be said to have lost, an interpretation I'd fight all the way to the supreme court.

What happens if you lose the bet? I gather it has something to do with pants...

As opposed to what...?

I couldn't have said it better my self Eric.