I hope Joe Torre signs the scorecard when the game is over.

Oh, man. The little idjit. She was dumb (a 67 today, too!), but so was her caddy. I'd assume that ensuring your client doesn't emulate Roberto de Vicenzo is part of the job description.

Here's ESPN's story about it:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/6nnrnc

1 Darnit! I was gonna make that joke. But then a nap got in my way.

I feel refreshed. And no Mark Sweeney tonight so at least we have a one day respite from comments about that.

My only prediction is that there will be less runs scored than last night's 15.

I've expected Beltre to be a Dodger for a while now. LaRoche should go on to become the next Carlos Quentin.

Even Andy Marte is getting a chance in Cleveland. Hope he does something with it.

Free baseball on MLB Extra Innings this weekend. What a catch by Coco but they still could not stop the Angel juggernaut.

1 Because this is the game that puts the Dodgers in first place until the end of the season?

Ian Capilouto, I've responded to your question, but I posted it in the last thread so as not to sully this one with LaRoche/DeWitt talk.

it seems that there is more interest in buying Wrigley Field than there is in buying the Cubs. At least according to some reports.

Not that I could afford to buy a baseball team at the moment, but I was wondering what everyone thought of this idea I had recently for a stadium design: incorporating a high rise condo into the design, similar to the hotels at Skydome and Petco. Would anyone around here consider buying a condo that had an unobstructed view of the field?

8 There's no way to do it without making the stadium look crappy, and personally I wouldn't want the parking and traffic hassles that would come with living there.

9 - you don't think you could incorporate it like at Petco? And I was definitely thinking of private parking for residents, possibly with entrances and exits separate from the general populace.

Every night I check the lineup, then my first thought is that I hope Dewitt pulls a hamstring, sprains a thumb, or twists an ankle that night. It's the only reason I watch his at bats.

10 Even then, there'd be 81 nights a year you couldn't go anywhere because of the traffic.

10 Walking out my front door to find a Dodger Dog grill would be pretty dang spiffy.

12 - i'm going to have to think about that part, conceptually.

12 , 14 Of course, if you're the type who's willing to buy a condo in a ballpark, chances are that most of those 81 nights you wouldn't want to go anywhere anyway. I mean, that view is what you paid the big bucks for.

baseball should not be played indoors. No roof and that would have been gone

15 - this is also true. i'm also thinking of the stadium in a downtown/metro area, probably with parking opposite the condos.

Joe Garagiola in the DBax TV booth tonight. Which I'll consider a rare treat, for the first couple of innings or so.

Man, yeah, 16 I really was positive Andre had a dinger there.

So over at Baseball America, Tony Jackson has a midseason review of the Dodgers' farm system.

The "Biggest Leap Forward" is a player who played at AA last year, was pressed into emergency everyday service in the majors, and couldn't hit a lick but played outstanding defense.

The "Most Disappointing Player" is also a player who played at AA last year, was pressed into emergency everyday service in the majors, and couldn't hit a lick but played outstanding defense.

11 Sorry but I find that a little on the mean side. I want LaRoche to start too, but don't wish injury on DeWitt, especially not with how much effort he's given this season. It's not his fault he shouldn't be starting.

20 - i didn't even notice that comment. i'm trying really hard to ignore posts that include the words "laroche", "dewitt", and "deroche". for example, i won't even read this comment.

that said, 11 is in poor taste.

19 - Without looking I assume it's DeWitt and Hu he's/you're talking about?

I just want to see the Dodgers hit home runs again tonight, just to hear Darren Sutton's funereal voice. Now that does give me pleasure.

18 Listening to human annoyances like Buck and McCarver really make me appreciate Garagiola. Yes, he told a lot of extraneous stories about Yogi, but I also learned a lot of baseball history, and he made watching fun rather than cringe-inducing.

Aside from D-Lowe there is nobody I'd like pitching tonight then Billz.

Let's Go Dodgers!

23 Yeah and to give him credit, despite his advancing age he's at least in tune with today's players. He's more in tune than Joe Morgan! (Okay, that's faint praise, but you know what I mean.) I find him likable, it's just that he sometimes gets a little dottering.

Speaking as a person who lived in the Solano area(A little neighborhood under Dodgers stadium that opened up to East L.A. And Chinatown) for a number of years growing up, I can say with some authority that after games were over, I could see rows of cars just blocking traffic for a hour or two. And considering that Echo Park is becoming Gentrified, might as well make Dodgers Stadium into the new hippie central.

20 I realize that, just being honest. It's what it will take for Joe to figure it out. They are only minor injuries. Just enough for Dewitt to go on the DL, do a rehab and not come back once Andy is hitting.

Snakes strike first...

22 Yes.

Grrrr. And there's Sutton's un-funereal, Dbacks homer (in more ways than one) voice.

SIGH.

As a Who fan, I really resent hearing that on Snake home runs.

DY's got no hops.

lack of playing time error there, he should have cought that.

Painful to watch that pitch going in right down the middle.

>> I realize that, just being honest. It's what it will take for Joe to figure it out. They are only minor injuries. Just enough for Dewitt to go on the DL, do a rehab and not come back once Andy is hitting. <<

Its going to take more than a DeWitt's injury to get LeRoche's on 3rd base. Its going to take injuries to DeWitt, Nomar, Berrora, and Maza. Berrora and Maza because if DeWitt's get hurt, Torre will just move Nomar to 3rd, and put Berrora or Maza at ShortSTop.

This 70s night thing at the stadium is a good idea that's already become annoying (if you're watching their broadcast).

27 Understood.

--

C'mon Chad, no more first inning blues.

That was pathetic, Pee Wee.

"tony.jackson@dailynews.com
Delivery failed
User's mailbox quota exceeded"

35 Now that I think is just patently false. Sorry.

35 I think Torre is a bad manager, but I don't think he's that stupid. Of course I could be wrong.

This is nuts.

it's STILL EARLY but Chad picked a bad day to suck!

What is happening to our normally unhittable starters so far this series? It's like they come into this park and suddenly forget what they'd been doing...

I disagree with 35 in that it would only take injuries to three of those four guys, not all four. You still need two players on the left side of the infield.

27.

Nice plan there, Jeff Gillooly.

41 - I think they opened the roof during the break.

Even the outs (and the should've-been-outs) have been fly balls, his pitches are up. Hopefully he'll correct that after this inning.

I've got some really cool 70's attire, why don't the Dodgers do a 70's night?

Our defense has cost us about 5 runs in the last 12 innings.

Juan Pierre makes that play in LF.

hopefully the Ddogers return the favor in this inning.

I don't see ANY evidence as to how Torre favors Maza or Berroa over LaRoche. None. When DeWitt has sat, LaRoche has played third. Torre seems to have little interest in playing either of those guys at this point. I think people are getting beyond irrational when talking about this DeWoche DeBate - and I'm someone who thinks LaRoche should be starting too - that I'm not even sure what to say anymore other than to ignore any post about it, so I won't get so grumpy. ;-)

This is not a good start.

Especially because this is a head-to-head matchup between a pitcher on my team and a pitcher on the team in first place in my fantasy league.

And that kid leads in ERA.

Okay, I don't mind 70s night as much when it includes incredibly beautiful women wearing snug paisley dresses. I officially approve.

52 Oh, I agree there's no evidence. We don't know whether he prefers, say, Berroa over LaRoche (or vice versa) because he's never had to choose between the two...yet. If he did, though, I would fear the result.

53

so ERA is what wins?

That was a nice pitch. If it was thrown by a Dodger pitcher, though, Darren Sutton would say, "Huh, okay, I guess that was a strike."

shot up the middle!

54 Maybe Bailey Quarters is visiting from Cincy.

Good job, Pee Wee!

54 I agree. although the wigs are annoying.

59 - Oh... Bailey... sigh... {daydream}

Andrew is watching this PA very closely.

DeWitt forces a wild pitch

63 DeWitt's OPS at 300 PA is less than .700.

Elias will send a notarized document to confirm that on Monday.

65
Sigh.

And I had the song memorized.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwMV5E_Jf-0

SFW

No confirmation yet, but Huston Street may be a Brewer.

http://tinyurl.com/6fbzez

65 - But what if Michelle Wie forgets to sign it?

This gimmicky stuff in the booth schtick on the AZ broadcast is also quite irritating.

However, in other uninteresting fantasy baseball news, I traded my nephew Roy Halladay to get David Wright. And Evan Longoria on my team hit a grand slam off of Halladay tonight.

So how do I properly taunt an 11-year old?

Ugh the Arizona broadcast is terrible. You think Vin would ever interrupt doing his job -- y'know, calling the GAME -- with this sort of garbage? I can't stand stuff like this.

Oh boy, our starter ain't going to the distance.

Chad sucks against the D'Backs.

C'mon Chad! Grrrr.

--

67 - Gonna need more to go on than that... I would also think the A's would need more in a trade for Street. Maybe a major leaguer, too, like Hall?

I traded my nephew Roy Halladay to get David Wright

I never knew Roy Halladay was your nephew

74
There were no appositives in that sentence.

69 - Your nephew is Roy Halladay?

Wait, how many kids are in this fantasy league?

Duh, a bad joke is even better when two of us make it!

Man, Haren really chased that one.

if Billz leaves those MEAT BALLS up like that, it's gonna be a LONG NIGHT.

If I had written:

"I traded my nephew, Roy Halladay, to get David Wright," then you would have the semblance of a good joke.

Short outing for Chad tonight unless he can find the knees.

67 If they got him for Ford only that's an amazing steal.

MUCH! needed DP!

well, thats one way out of the jam

80

o.k. alright, momentum shifter or what??

Well its not Tinker to Evers to Chance (though it looked liked them even though those guys have been dead for decades) but they get out of it.

Sweet! Way to get out of that one Chad.

He's really gonna need to battle it tonight, they would love to avoid dipping into the bullpen earlier than 5.

85 Saddest words ever uttered on a diamond, Nomah to Kent to Loney.

Heh! nice weak single for Bills.

Will that look like a line drive in the morning?

Re: That Street rumor, it sounds like it may have nothing to do with him. (From two online sources, including MLBTraderumors:)

WSSP 1250 AM in Milwaukee is reporting that Milwaukee Brewers and the San Francisco Giants are close to a deal that would send Milwaukee's Double A Catcher Angel Salome, Single A prospect Outfielder/speedster Darren Ford, and Triple A First Baseman Brad Nelson to the Giants for Second Baseman Ray Durham, Reliever Jack Taschner, and a PTBNL.

Back in business now. Let's get something going, guys.

Darren Ford's not that hot of a prospect. Anyone know anything about the other two guys? Seems smart for the Giants to trade Durham if they can.

Ethier! What the heck man??? AWFUL!

that may have been the ugliest swing that I have ever seen.

If the Author of the Griddle can talk fantasy I will follow his lead

My team is called "No More Nomars"

Is it worth ditching Orlando Cabrera for Nomar? Am I going against some kind of principle by adding Nomar to this team created to mock him

Not a good inning.

Ouch. Russell! Sigh.

Rats!

96 - It started off very well. I just didn't like how it ended.

I demand a rewrite!

why not just bunt with ethier, we cant come up empty right there.

hopefully Chad can relax & throw strikes.

95
Orlando Cabrera does lead the AL in outs.

100

Ethier has pop I'd personally go to Zona & give Torre a charley if he did that.

I see that Vin is in cahoots with the Baby Ruth Candy people to pass along their phony story about how the candy got its name.

103 I almost wrote that with the qualification that if Pierre was batting in that spot he would bunt, etc. etc.

92 Why would Milwaukee want Durham though?

Pretty big ball park.

From what I've read on the Dbacks blog about their TV coverage, Snakes fans (at least on that blog) are generally no more enamored with their gimmicky coverage and banal sideline reports than we are.

And just as a type that, there's another interview in the stands!

In better news, Bills looked so much better that inning (er except for that last out).

104 Cahoots, you say. I think Vin thinks Baby Ruth bars are the bees knees.

106 I don't know - I was wondering that, too. Some pop on the bench? Seems kind of odd. I guess Jack Tachsner is the centerpiece of that trade for them! ;-)

While Mark Reynolds may be one of the co-holders of the record for most consecutive plate appearances with a strikeout at 9, which pitcher holds the record with 12 straight strikeouts in 12 straight trips to the plate?

Brewer's beat writer now agrees that the deal involves the Giants, not A's.

Vin has gone to Snopes!

now Vin is talking about snopes.com - that's the best advertising you'll ever get in the LA market.

except that he didn't mention snopes by name.

112
I really wanted Street on the Brewers for entirely selfish purposes. I need more saves!

that line about "being the first person to tell you there is no you know who come december" might be the quote of the season.

104
Baby Ruth Candy allowed me to purchase 9 field level seats for 200$ for the diamond back series. I don't want anything to disparage the name of the Baby Ruth Candy company.

Keyword at Ticketmaster = candy!!!
I can't handle the truth anyway

Uh oh, Vin's taking his life in his own hands, going against Nestlé. I hope FSNWPT2 is paying for real security and not just some guys with Event Staff t-shirts.

It is a pleasure to listen to Vin.

"Wouldn't you hate it if somebody told you there was no you-know-who come December? Yeah, thanks alot."

Well, alas, I have to hit the road soon, and will miss the rest of this game live. And wouldn't be surprised to come home later to discover this was the final score.

The DBacks FSN Aflac question is: Who was the first DH?

Snakes' crew has no idea who the first DH was. Joe G is amazed.

120 Ron Bloomberg?

Yellow alert for David Wright in Cincinnati. This is a yellow alert.

122
Subtract an O.

122 That's Ron Bloom if you broadcast for the Snakes.

122 - Indeed. Or, Blomberg, actually. Of course, the announcers spoil the fun of trying to figure it out by instantly guessing the answer right after they show the question. Thanks, Joe!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Blomberg

121 So have they started lining for the first tailgate yet?

you gotta think if Bills keeps them from scoring we have a fighting chance.

126 It would have been really funny if they'd said Dave Frishberg. 'Course, that presumes they know who he is.

Kelly Stinnett was the D'backs' first DH. He went one for three with a walk, batting eighth.

128 - I feel like that's only if they can work up Haren's pitch count enough and/or scratch out a run or two. He's cruising right now though.

Alrighty, hasta luego, amigos. Buena suerte, Dodgers.

130 Usually now someone asks Bob for the records of every team's first DH.

I won't ask.

132
Not unless you get me a baseball autographed by the Black Mike Ramsey.

Billingsley is crewsin' for a bruisin

or achin for a breakin' choose your poison...

sigh.

132

Ha :o)

Billingsley was coming of a 13 K game, I'm wondering if throwing more pitches in his last start has anything to do with him having control (tired) issues.

that was a dorky slide from the Snakes runner.

Montero wisely decided not to make Russ angry by trying too hard to run him over. Very prudent.

137 "Must go fetal...go fetal...."

Garciaparra to Martin = nice play at the plate

Dodgers a little fortunate just to be down by 3.

I'm surprised Joe hasn't yanked Chad yet. He's through for tonight I think.

It would help if these guys could get some hits now.

watching these "most interesting man in the world" commercials reminds me... i need to include my beard on my organ donor card, and maybe my hair. but i think i'll keep the rest. you know, just in case i end up being a zombie.

A lot of second basemen could have reached that I believe.
Tonight I would have done every thing I could not to let Haren get into a deep start. Actually my line-up wouldn't be that different than Torre's although the best OBP guy would be up front blending into those who might hit on out like Loney,Kenp Nomar and Kent. I might have done some goofy bunting early on. The same thing could happen to us tomorrow. On the road our nervous pitchers are going to give up a few early.

On notice: Connor Jackson

He still looks shaky out there, but somebody give that man a cigar.

Mattingly's got Bison on track.
Pitch recognition and when to initiate the swing.
25 home runs for Kemp this season.

My kid is in Bob's fantasy league.

He would be in last except I am in last. After a few weeks, I benched my good players (Golden God, riding the pine) to be sure I stayed down there with him.

Then I sent him short Chris Young in what I think was a bit of clever collusion. Except short Chris Young has been killing him.

As has Ryan Zimmerman who wouldn't bench, nor cut when he got injured. What if someone else grabbed him!

"on field delay?"

149 Who's your commissioner?

I demand a special counsel opened immediately to investigate those transactions.

The umpire's mask needed maintenance.

They can't know James Brown all that well - he's been dead for about a year and a half. Gonna be tough to get him on for an interview.

Lots of bad typing/grammar/etc in 149 . I'm rusty!

Ah. I thought Morganna had shown up, or maybe the roof collapsed.

150 Umpire's mask needed adjusting.

Maybe Piazza could have been a better catcher if he didn't close his eyes when receiving the ball.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0707/gallery.mlb.all-star.memorable.moments/content.6.html

From the AP recap of Rays-Blue Jays:

"Singer MC Hammer took batting practice with Tampa Bay principal owner Stuart Sternberg and hit two balls off the left-field wall. Hammer was at Tropicana Field to perform in a postgame concert."

DeWitt, starting with June 8 through tonight (thus far):
18 for 95, 3 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 5 BB, 20 K -- time for LaRoche to play.

152 Bob is the Commissioner. He sends me emails pointing out the collusion problem, but it is getting less attention than the Yankees/As run since the colluders are in last and second to last.

Bob said it would be a low key, no one really knows that much about fantasy baseball situation, the kids would just be picking their favorite players.

I'm think we need a separate investigation of that sales pitch.

159 Can't we just get ...

142

3 runs thru 5 isn't that bad is it? but he's walked a few & thrown to many pitches i guess.

Billz with a massive pitchcount for five innings.

Where was that curve ball in the first inning?

162 It's a 5.40 era and exposes soft middle relief.

I'm expecting an even lower scoring game tomorrow, a good 'ol fashion pitchers duel if you will...

Garciaparra picks it up for Kent - love it.

I think Bills has done a remarkable job considering how shaky his stuff has been. It could be MUCH worse. And it seems like he's gotten into a groove, so maybe he'll stay in there for a bit longer.

160 So what do teams have to give up for Christian Guzman according to Nats fans?

Gameday sez it's 100 degrees outside the stadium; imagine if there were no roof. Billz' 100 pitches would have drained him entirely.

169
They have to give up the H in Guzman's first name.

if Haren keeps on pitching this well I hope the Snakes skipper wants him to pitch a complete game...

he's never pitched a complete game in his MLB career & when he did try to go 9 it wasn't pretty.

169 Guzman is probably not worth much more than one decent but not at all elite prospect. I'd urge Bowden to try and pacakge him with Rauch to the right team and get one A prospect back. It's tricky tho, and many people want to re-sign him because the Nationals have no one in their system ready to play SS. I think they are so far away they need to be aggressively working to get real pieces that can contribute in a few years.

Hey Bob, I was in your neighborhood today. Went to a couple antique shops on Mission and stopped in at Busters.

I also found the best dumplings on the planet in Monterrey Park.

174
And yet you didn't stop and say hello.

Nothing better than two single guys going antiquing together!

Not that there's anything wrong with that

Snakes announcers have no idea who Paul Richards was. Am I really that old?

Robbed of his quality start. Quel dommage.

177
Yes, he used a bamboo pole in the pole vault:)

176 I wonder how many catch phrases from "Seinfeld" litter the language nowadays.

177
I can't believe Garagiola doesn't know who Paul Richards was.

174
Where? Ocean star?

173 - An All Star 3rd baseman playing SS. Those Nats are loaded. ;)

180 So it's got that goin' for it....which is nice.

Garciaparra looks like a young man again.

yada yada yada

No soup for you.

181 I wasn't counting him, just the regulars. Joe said that he thinks Richards invented the pitch count. "Who was he, an agent?"

The Diamond backs play 3 games against the Cubbies & we play 3 against the Rox this week.

Sweet swinging Nomar.

kcal has gone out on me, so I've switched over to Wyatt Earp on A&E. I still think it's a better flick than Tombstone. I know that puts me in the minority.

187
Allan Roth was keeping track of the number of pitches thrown by Dodgers pitchers in the 1940s.

Roth never trusted anyone to keep track of the action in a game and reportedly never left his seat during a game.

in general I don't like Kevin Costner. "Dances with Wolves" was good though.

La Roche sighting!!!

Speaking of Beltre:

"La Velle E. Neal III of Twins Insider is reporting that the Twins are bowing out of the Adrian Beltre sweepstakes. The price for Beltre, rumored to be similar to what the Phillies gave up for Joe Blanton, was just too high."

http://tinyurl.com/5nunfz

192 - I thought he was better than Russell in the role. but Val Kilmer was a better Doc Holiday.

If Paul Richards "invented" the pitch count, he must not have relied on it too much. In his first year as White Sox manager (1951), Chicago was second in the league in complete games with 74.

I'm putting my vote in for Beltre and Pat the Bat.

195

there was a silent intercity in Val Kilmer's Doc Holiday that I didn't see in Russell. I agree, Val Kilmer played a way better Doc Holiday.

Amazing how high Furcal is on this VORP list considering how long he's been hurt.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/sortable/index.php?cid=310070

Margaret Mitchell based Rhett Butler on Doc Holliday, who was her cousin.

Nomahhhh!

200 Hard to see Clark Gable in any film version of the shootout at the OK Corral.

182 A tiny place called Noodle House of all things. But they specialize in dumplings and buns. Only about 8 tables. The kitchen staff is right next to you and you can watch them make the dumplings for you. They'll do them steamed, boiled or fried. We had shrimp and pumpkin dumplings steamed, Mushroom and pork steamed dumplings, a pork and onion bun and an order of scallion pancakes. Each order gets you 8 dumplings, buns, or wedges of pancake. The shrimp and pumpkin dumplings were my favorite. They are incredibly fresh. Better than anything I've had at Din Tai Fung. The scallion pancake were the lightest, freshest I've ever had. Others I've had tend to be a bit oily from the frying, but not these. so, 32 dumplings/buns/wedges was $24. The staff was very friendly. I'm tempted to eat there every day.

They also serve a beef tendon noodle soup that looked really good.

Kemp seems to be pulling the ball tonight. I haven't seen the past few games. Has he stopped trying to go the other way all the time?

A part of me doesn't want the Dodgers just to score 1 run again.

205
You have many contradictory parts.

I don't know if Wade will ever make it to the set-up role or closer but he looks like a guy who will have a nice major league career in the pen.

203
Cool. I'l give it a try some time. Not Mandarin Noodle House, right? Google says there's a NH and Mandarin NH both on Garvey.

206 I'm also upset that Marty didn't call me for dumplings.

208 Not to be confused with Noodle World or Noodle Planet.

No, just Noodle House. In a strip mall, south side of the street. 958 Garvey. Close to San Gabriel.

205 At this point, me either.

Was someone saying something about just one run?

Thanks.
Kent HR!

Tip o the cap to the Old Man.
Way to go Kent!

You mean the Noodle District?

I doubt anyone has to worry about the Dodgers only scoring one run tonight.

Check out this review of it:

http://tinyurl.com/5n5awn

Or maybe they do!

Has Jeff Kent ever homered to the right of center field...?

Kent's HR was also his 1500th career RBI.

#7 James Loney!

Dodgers showing more life this inning than they have all game

218.
The wife and kids (and I) love 'em. My 6 year old will put away 12 or more at a sitting. He's still skin and bones, his mom's genes.

According to B-R, Kent has hit 20 homers to right center and 12 to right field.

His last homer to right center was in August 2006 against Eric Milton of the Reds.

PEE WEE!!!!

Young, giving me second thoughts regarding Pat the Bat.

WHAT A BIG HIT

I fear the reaction of this next at bat. no matter what happens.

220- Think he's juicing?

No way do the Dodgers tie this up. No way. I refuse to be disappointed.

A hit here would be the Blake DeWitt Lifetime Employment Act.

225
I wonder if any player has hit so many HRs with such a dramatic field split.

Looks like most of Kent's homers to the opposite field were hit at the beginning of his career.

Is Jones on deck?

232 Haha, I had that same thought.

233 Vin's favorite player, Mel Ott perhaps?

233 - I would posit a guess that most homeruns are pulled. except for right handers at yankee stadium

235 Oh god, I sincerely hope not.

Andruw!? Man is that a automatic out. Dewitt better deliver.

These announcers will stop at nothing to compliment their guys.

Jason Giambi has 383 homers and only 49 have been to left center or left field.

Hideki Matsui has 110 homers and only 7 to the opposite field.

not the worst possible out come, but also not the best. i'll take it.

235
Nooooooo!

Well, its either Jones, Maza, Berroa or Ardoin.

237
Ott did have some big home-road splits.

Talk about irony.

Any chance Andruw could walk?

You talk about a roll of the dice...

Does DeWitt get Ballplayer points for advancing the runner to third when there's already one out...?

I can only laugh now.

Joe's sending up Andruw?! I'd rather have Wade hit.

c'mon...we need a passed ball

the absolute WORST hitter on your bench? that's who you choose?

Oh man, ball 3 looked too close to take.

I don't see any ironic situations.

steal home Pee Wee

Perhaps Jones can coax a balk out of Lyons.

Walk!

....talk about tense moments. And it's the middle of July.

grabowski principle!

Cycle alert canceled in Cincinnati. Stand down.

That's a pretty good at bat.

Wow, I thought Lyon had him there.

A walk. Best we could hope for.

If I were a DBacks fan, I would be expecting to lose this game.

Way to go, Jones! Big walk. It puts me in a rough spot, since I'd hate to see Kemp fail, but still want the Dodgers to lose. Maybe DeWitt could unsuccessfully attempt to steal home.

Wow! Andruw show discipline!

your pitch Kemp, wait for your pitch...

265 - funny, i figured a two run home run was the best we could have hoped for.

well, that sucked.

well that was quick.

Bison! nooooooo!

Well, that was rather........ungratifying.

If you are going to swing on the first pitch, well, a fly ball to right is not what you want to see.

but look at the fighting Dodgers coming back, I missed it though.

with Andrew Jones, the most likely end to the at bat was a walk or a strike out, neither of which was really that great of a thing with two outs.

Not exactly the way I hoped things would end, but can't say I'm too surprised.

Which was the bigger play, Pee Wee's adventure in the first inning or his double in the 9th?

tomorrow will be an even harder task with Webb on the mound.

280
True, that's the way it looks on paper, but you gotta play the game:)

I have a fever! & the only prescription is Sharon Tay.

282 First time in Toaster history that her name is mentioned.

283

She's smokin' BH!

You know what man, I'm glad Nomar is performing well I only hope he doesn't get hurt but so far so good.

I can't believe Joe Torre used Andruw Jones as a pinch hitter.

Andruw "More K's Than Hits" Jones, pinch hitting.

Joe Torre is such a stupid idiot.

284 hahaha!!

oh man... I swear MC Safety (I swear!!) I was just gonna type that I missed Icaros grumpiness.

As far as the Dewitt vs LaRoche controversy,and if I'm Torre, I am going with the best offensive line-up that I can conjur up because of the team's lack of offense. Bottom line is that Dewitt has played a pretty solid 3rd base and is hitting .262 to Laroche's .178. Granted LaRoche probably should be given more chances, but he needs to deliver in order to retain the 3rd base job. If LaRoche had the offensive edge over Dewitt right now, I would have him in there, and use Dewitt for late inning defensive purposes. But this is not the case!

I'm in a better place today.

285 Luis Maza, Angel Berroa, or Danny Ardoin.

There really wasn't much of choice.

289- Xei will be by to scold you for not mentioning that Kuo was available.

Watching Lyons' pitch in slow-mo shows it was inside. I don't know why Kemp didn't try to pull it, but it's clear he tried to go inside-out on the swing and punch it into right field.

It looked like an easy pitch to yank down the 3B line, but he tried to go oppo and got jammed in on the handle.

287--

LaRoche has had 46 ABs this season.
Dewitt has had 275 Abs.

I think LaRoche needs to be given the chance to see if he can beat the .258/.323/.364 line that Dewitt has.

292.

Just as soon as LeRoche shows something when he pitch hits, or hits when he starts. It cuts both ways, LeRoche needs a chance to showcase what he can do, but he won't earn that chance with posting a sub .200 BA, and a sub .300 OPB, and a sub .300 Slugging percentage.

And while certain people on the board wants LeRoche to start at 3rd now, and feel if he just gets a couple of weeks he can show what he can do, lets face it. He's got going to get that chance this year. Nothing is going to be handed to LeRoche, he's not going to start over DeWitt, and he's not going to start over Nomar. Currently LeRoche's 3rd on the depth chart at 3rd base behind DeWitt and Nomar. And again, LeRoche's hasn't shown this year that he should start over those two.

293 It's LaRoche.

Not on Saturdays!

293

You do realize how hard it is for a guy who has never pinch hit in his life to suddenly do so at the major league level? It's ridiculous to expect him to perform at a high level sitting on the bench for 7 innings a game and maybe getting one AB and a start every 2 weeks. Blake has shown he is a terrible hitting major league thrid baseman even when given consistent playing time. His minor league numbers don't show any support that this will change in the near future. Andy was never given the opportunity to succeed or fail. Andy at least has a track record and the rewards of giving him consistent playing time could be huge. The risk is minimal, because at worst he equals the crappy line blake has put up. Also, he last name is LaRoche, not Leroche.

DeWitt's line: .262/.328/.369
OPS+ = 82

And that's before today's 0-fer. He had a .472 OPS in June and has a .582 OPS in July.

We KNOW that DeWitt is struggling and needs more time in the minors. We THINK that LaRoche will be better and possibly much better in the majors right now.

Which would you take? The guy that you KNOW can't hit or the guy that MIGHT be able to hit?

Hey everyone, I've got a question. Should LaRoche be playing 3rd??? or should it be DeWitt??? I can't figure it out, myself.

Just finished the game on DVR. The ballpark beat us. We hit the ball very well tonight and the giant center field kept several runs off the board. Oh well. Back to even tomorrow.

289 285 Yeah, who would you have put up instead? My guess is whoever he brought in to pinch hit you still would call him a "stupid idiot." (Although Stults as a PH might have been fun.)

Guess my expectation that I'd come home to see the final score the same as I'd left it fell by the wayside as the Dodgers showed some spunk late in the game. My hope was/is to take two out of 3 in this series (and I definitely didn't expect them to sweep). Tomorrow will be tough but possible.

Sigh.

Hu went 0 for 3 in his return to activity tonight for Vegas.

297 To put DeWitt's June OPS (.472) into perspective, Andruw Jones has an OPS of .508 this season.

Given: third base is a black hole. DeWitt is not the answer.
So, what do you do? Give LaRoche a chance, or trade for a third baseman?

That seems to me the only options.

Marty --

Thanks so much for providing the reference and accompanying review for Noodle House. My sister and I spent a good ten minutes reading the review and drooling over the pictures. We're planning a visit as soon as possible this week.

305 My pleasure. I hope you like it. I think I'm going back tomorrow.

The answer will be a trade.

Nice comeback in the 9th. Kent really smoked his shot. Thought Nomar had done the same but that is a big centerfield. Man, the bench really looked ugly in the 9th, we can't continue to carry Maza and Berroa. Nomar has already passed the numbers of games I expected him to play before he got hurt.

Torre vs. Dave Laroche. Maybe Torre does not like his Dad.

http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/5atM

TJ Simmers has a somewhat positive view of Matt Kemp in the LA Times. Also seems that Torre continues to support him. I never take Simmers too seriously, but am beginning to wonder if Torre and Ned are on the same page.

307 He should throw a few raspberries your way, then. ;)

I didn't think he would get hurt right away. I did, however, think he would be a lot worse defensively than he's been. He's been bad, but not Offerman-on-crutches bad like I feared.

Marty, hope you caught my earlier thank you on Noodle House as well. Looks good.

310
Yes, I did not exclude myself from the raspberry. Last year I supported him as I thought his offensive skills would resurface and they did rebound somewhat in the 2nd half but no one cared. This year I wanted him to go away but luckily he didn't, and he's given us a big boost at SS. His arm has been much more accurate then I remember.

Even made me want to drive to the Noodle House.

There's going to be a lot of guys in baseball caps at the Noodle House tomorrow.

My work is done here.

For reasons I cannot determine, TJ Simers' columns will not display on my computer. Everything else on the Times website does. And I've tried different browsers.

316 It now appears that an alliance now exists between some here and TJ Simers.

316 If you can find me the computer that does that with Plaschke, I'll pay big money for it.

316 For reasons I cannot determine, TJ Simers' columns will not display on my computer.

Strangely enough, I had that problem with last night's column (but not with tonight's column). In that case I found that when I scrolled down near the bottom of the sports page to where they include the columnists pictures (and their most recent column) and clicked on it there I was able to use that link successfully even though I was never able to use the other one.

319 And, by the way, this is the first column I've liked by Simers in years.

I also found the following quite interesting:

>> ANDRE ETHIER, who sometimes gets lost in the background because he's more solid than spectacular, made an interesting observation.

"They don't like consistent players in this game unless you're older," Ethier said. "They want to see the young guys flash a lot of stuff or they get impatient." <<

http://tinyurl.com/6jsfwe

320
Preach on!

320 That's a really good point.

Dodgers' Jonathan Broxton confident in role of closer

>> Juan Pierre is ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation -- <<

## Pinch-hitting specialist Mark Sweeney will be activated in the next day or two, Torre said. ##

%% The Dodgers don't appear to be interested in Oakland closer Huston Street. . . %%

http://tinyurl.com/55e7or

Oh, Greg Miller.

0.2IP 0H 5ER 5BB 1K 0HR and 2 wild pitches for good measure. At least he didn't hit anybody.

Torre on DeWitt/LaRoche via Diamond:

"It's just a trust factor I guess," Torre said. "It probably worked against LaRoche that I've seen so much of DeWitt. It's certainly not anything against LaRoche other than the fact that for what I'm looking for Blake is filling the bill so to speak."

LaRoche has made only three starts at third base this month, with all three coming against left-handed starting pitchers.

"I'm learning my role right now," LaRoche said.

316 The one time I actually want to read what he has to say is the one time I can't access it.

Hey, comment cycle!

I feel like I won a bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics.

301 - you know, it's going to be nice, having Beltre back, if only because it means we'll be able to move beyond the present discussion about third base. As soon as I saw your comment, I knew I didn't want to read the preceding 50 comments. I should have trusted my instincts.

325
Maybe Torre is reluctant to go with LaRoche because he goes by Andy instead of Andrew.

I definitely can understand that.

When we get Beltre back, we've just got to remember to give him a good whack on the ankle.

330
Acquiring Beltre would be so bittersweet. Like watching Heath Ledger in the Dark Knight. Brilliant performance by the way.

Brilliant performance by the way

See: Fedor's 36-second dismantling of Big Tim.

Greg Norman bogeyed the first hole, and has driven into the deep stuff on the second.

Simers: *COLLETTI, THE Schmoozer when everything is going well, and you remember that week or so, has been trying to take a low profile with criticism mounting.

He emerged from hiding before Saturday night's game, but when the Dodgers' gun-shy GM was approached, he said he had a telephone call to make and took off down the right-field line. Here's hoping he's not working on another trade.*

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