Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
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1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
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4) arguing for the sake of arguing
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A quote getting a lot of play today, and deservedly so, is this one from Andre Ethier in T.J. Simers' latest for the Times:
"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."
I think it's a good quote but also obfuscates an issue. It's okay to be inconsistent as long as you get the job done in the end. I don't think Ethier is undervalued because he's "consistent." In fact, Ethier has never struck me as a consistent player. His first summer in the majors he was flashing all kinds of stuff. He's run hot and cold ever since he arrived. The sum of it all: he's a good player.
If we could do a second take, I would have Ethier rephrase thusly:
"They don't like solid 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."
"They don't like bad players in this game unless you're older."
Apparently you also carry that requisite level of fear or the other take is no one wants to bother you.
That's stretching it a bit. Teams may give bad older players more of an opportunity if they had been good at one point.
But I'd rather have the money.
How about prolific?
Not sure if they will be the Oklahoma Thunder or the Oklahoma City Thunder.
I'm against teams not using a plural noun for their nickname.
They tend to be know-it-alls.
The bigger point isn't semantics, it's the oddity of the Dodger's position on this issue. What other team actually values age and expense over youth and potential? It's bizarre. I suspect it has something with the McCourt's East Coaster perception that we Dodgers fans are baseball dolts who live too close to Hollywood, but that's just a weird theory.
Slacker.
L.A. Dodgers fans have been considered baseball dolts by the East Coast media since 1958.
"The Dodgers have thrown five hitting instructors at Kemp the last two years: Eddie Murray, Bill Mueller, Mike Easler and now Jeff Pentland and Don Mattingly. Funny thing, the Dodgers aren't big into consistency, and yet that's what they want out of their players."
I really wish Ethier wouldn't speak. I appreciate his point of view but his quote doesn't hold up for anyone but him. I like him but if a young one has to be traded I hope it is him. He's not going to get much better than average and I doubt his value will ever be higher. He'd be great in Boston with that opposite field stroke but I don't believe Ned is capable of getting fair value there.
He'll have to pull a Van De Velde not to win now.
Or a muscle.
"The Dodgers have signed utility infielder Pablo Ozuna, who was recently designated for assignment by the White Sox. Luis Maza was designated for assignment. Developing..."
At least they didn't trade John Franco to acquire Ozuna.
If you ever get the chance to read Dick Young's coverage of the L.A. Dodgers in the Sporting News in 1958, you would be appalled. Young wrote stuff about Los Angeles that was both inflammatory and patronizing.
Dick Young would go on my "Dead to Me" list except that he's already dead.
Career:
.285/.322/.358/.680, 77 OPS+
Bob I agree with that 29 ..as I read it I tried to scan my brain for another example and couldn't. Can anyone? (more famous for 2nd, or loosing)
Also, wow on The Dark Knight. Saw the late showing last night and I thought it was the best movie of the summer for me, overtaking Wall-E.
As for the dodgers I just give up. I can't listen to them talk or read what they say anymore without cringing. They are willing to roll the dice with a JJJ start and not give LaRoache a week? Please.
And this might not be fair cause I didn't watch but Norman still is a chooker! out of the top 50 players today only 3 shot a higher score.
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