Larry Bowa's chat is up.

dante892: Who do you think is the ideal starting three outfielders on this team?

Bowa: Joe's going to go with the hot hand. Obviously Kemp and Manny are starting every day with an occasional day off, but he's just going to mix and match with the rest.

http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080813&content_id=3301120&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la

I haven't seen much of Kemp or Manny sitting much lately.

Oops. That shows me not to read the topic post in advance.

This really means nothing, just playing with numners.

If we win both those games in SF we're 62-57, and 31-19 in our last 50 games (.620), meaning in our last 43 games if we could play at a .651 clip we'd sneak into 90 wins. Which would mean we finished our last 93 games at 59-34, which would be a 103 win team for a full season.

I think what Bowa said actually makes sense. He may not have done a good job of putting forth his argument in the most convincing fashion, but when you are losing, outs are more important than when you are ahead. It doesn't mean you do something dumb like send a runner home who has very little chance of scoring, but it means that you are more conservative when you are behind (especially by more than 1 run), because you can less afford to give up outs. And obviously there are more factors than just the score when deciding to send a runner home, like how close are you to the black-hole part of the lineup etc...
vr, Xei

0
Fresco didn't think enough of 22 year old Sandy Koufax to even mention him as one of the young guys.

In the deep freeze we've got Tom La Sorda

Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer > Unfrozen Tom Lasorda.

4 - I agree that outs are more important when you are behind, but I also don't think you use that as an excuse to justify a situation where you have no business sending a runner home.

He did mention those other factors in his chat - I only posted an excerpt.

4 Or whether the outfielder has the ball before the runner has touched third base....

I may not agree with sending Loney in that situation, but I see his reasoning. How many times do we see a throw off the mark and think "oh, he had that"? I am always amazed at how easily an outfielder can turn a "routine" throw to home into something way off the plate.

OT: The wife and I are sitting in Loge tonight. Any recommendations on the food down there?

I think I am ok with Bowa's reasoning as far as being more aggressive when up a few runs as opposed to being conservative when behind.

Of course, the world will end now that I agree with Larry Bowa.

By the way, and I know and understand that I am in the deep minority here, but I don't have a problem with sending Loney there. It did take a better than average throw, the Dodgers were up a few runs and you want to put the onus on the RF there. Werth made a good throw and nailed Loney, but I would have wanted him to send Loney there.

The point that the Dodgers gave away leads in the past two games should have no bearing on the decision to send him there.

Question for people attending the picnic tomorrow:

I have written up a trivia quiz? Would people want an oral quiz or a written quiz?

There will be prizes!

My current top 3:

1. James McDonald -- Best SP in the system, bar none. His flyball tendencies are worrisome since he doesn't have a plus fastball, but his secondary offerings (curve and change) will miss plenty of bats.

2. Scott Elbert -- Higher ceiling than McDonald if he returns to form as a starter. But he's looking more and more like a late inning bullpen guy.

3. Ivan DeJesus Jr. -- Lack of power and possible move to 2B hurt his value. Plate discipline is great and he's still young enough to develop extra base pop down the road.

I mean the picnic on Saturday.

11 the picnic is on a thursday??

11

Oh man, now I need to study. And, the picnic is on Thursday now?

11
An oral quiz could get confusing with so many people there.

An Orel quiz would be cool though.

11 Sorry, but you're not allowed to give a test unless you've been properly certified as a teacher. The LAUSD, Pasadena City College, and CalTech would like to speak with you.

I'll bring the scantrons and number two pencils.

18
Do you have your own personal travel scantron reader machine thingy?

From last thread:

147 "Every time I see a small, private plane flying nearby, I look up and think, "I wonder if that plane is going to crash." It seems like it happens all the time, but I've never seen one myself."

Actually, stats show private planes are safer than driving a car, tho it seems like that shouldn't be the case. There are strict requirements on maintenance, and not nearly as many idiots fly planes as drive cars.

When a small plane crashes and maybe kills someone, it's news and widely reported bc it's unusual. When car crashes kill folks, that hardly makes the news bc it's unfortunately too common.

154 "He would be looking for a baby with good plate discipline first of all."

Would that be the discipline not to break the plates by throwing them on the floor or smashing them against the highchair? ;)

Don't worry, Bob. LAUSD will file a complaint against you in the next three to six months, after they fill out the appropriate twelve page complaint form. From there, it will be routed to complaint processing, on the twenty-fifth floor.

12 -- Elbert, DeJesus, McDonald is the order in which I line them up. Elbert is relieving right now, but I don't think you can infer from that that he is going to be a reliever long term. Until I hear otherwise, I am assuming the Dodgers are just playing it conservative with Elbert. He throws harder than McDonald and has the higher ceiling.

21 Somehow I think of LAUSD as being glacially slow when figuring out how to pay people correctly, or deciding whether to change textbooks, but lighting quick when penalizing someone who does something wrong.

Besides the score, hopefully Bowa is also considering:

-the speed of the runner
-the arm of the outfielder
-who's on deck
-how many outs there are

It usually hurts me to hear Bowa speak, but I think he's done a decent job as 3B coach. Loved his helmet spike last night after Martin scored.

Farewell, 7-foot-7 Sandy Allen:

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-allen14-2008aug14,0,4344970.story

23 They're pretty good at shuffling horrible teachers from school to school or hiding them on the payroll. Let's give credit where credit is due.

0
Only 7 of those 17 names he mentioned went on to help the Dodgers in any meaningful way.

Conversely after the 2005 season if we mentioned the young players on the Dodgers and in the minors who we expected to be a major part of the teams future we would have mentioned:
From the Big Club:
Izturis(25), Werth(26), Navarro(21), Perez(25), Repko(24),Aybar(22), E Jackson(21), Cody Ross(24), Choi(26)
Minors:
D Young(23), Loney(21), Abreu(20), Guzman(20), LaRoche(21), Martin(22), Billingsley(20), Broxton(21), Orenduff(22), Miller(20), Kuo(23)

Nice return really. Werth, Navarro, Ross, Aybar, E Jackson are all starting and producing for other teams.

Izzy is still a starting Major League SS. LaRoche is now a starting Major League 3rd baseman.

Perez, Guzman, Repko, Orenduff, and Miller look like washouts.

To early to tell on Abreu.

I didn't mention Milton because Milton had burned his bridges by then and had no future with the team.

24 - Are people only reading the excerpt that I post and not clicking to read the full thing?

26 A teacher myself but sometimes question the wisdom of tenure.

21
Love LAUSD. On Aug 2nd we got a 5 minute call from the Union representative telling us hard they have worked with LAUSD to solve the payroll snafu. On Aug 5th my wife received two identical checks for her Aug Deposit. What is the pool on how long it takes for LAUSD to ask for their money back?

25
I'm guessing that her name may come up the next time the Dodgers play Arizona and Johnson or Rauch pitch.

I wonder if Torre has given any thoughts to giving Ramon Troncoso a more prominent role in the bullpen. He has put up some great numbers (9.72 K/9, 2.33 FIP, 0 HRs in 25IP). I think it's about time he was promoted up the depth chart ahead of atleast Wade and Park (Park for sure). My bullpen depth chart would be (Guo, Broxton, Troncoso, Beimel, Wade, Park/Johnson). I know Guo will never pass up Broxton, but he's been the better of the two pitchers over the past calender year.
vr, Xei

I got a glimpse of the new manny dreads last night, they look pretty funny, especially because the majority of people wearing them were white 12 year old boys

20
There is a suburb in Sacramento where everyone owns small planes and the garages and streets have been modified for them. It is quite interesting to see the level of the street signs.
From what I understand they are all commercial pilots and they fly their personal planes to the main airports for work.

30

August 15th: The district calls to set up an appointment to discuss the payroll mistake.

August 17th: The district realizes you've received two checks, and cancels both.

August 19th: The district sets up an appointment to discuss the cancellation of both checks.

August 21th: The district confuses "Tuttle" and "Buttle" and kidnaps you in your sleep.

28 Thanks for the reminder. Went and read the entire chat.

35
The beauty of direct deposit is they can't do that, but if they could, that is an excellent scenario.

35 One of my favorite MASH episodes was about where Hawkeye was collecting payroll checks for Captain Tuttle. They had to fake his death at the end which had a hilarious speech at the end by Frank and Henry.

For some reason the first thought that occurred to me when I read the above article about the 1958 Dodgers was... "Don Zimmer was young once?" I can never get past that fact. I just thought he was born looking like Popeye.

--

Rats, I forgot to send the Fathead cardboard cutout of myself to Jon in time for the picnic before I go. It was going to have some pithy pre-programmed recorded phrases and witty jokes to make at random intervals, almost like having the real thing there! Ah well.

38 Oh my God, that is my favorite MASH episode. I will watch that one anytime it's rerun. "We can all be comforted by the thought that he's not really gone, there's a little Tuttle left in all of us... in fact you might say that all of us together made up Tuttle."

I know Guo will never pass up Broxton, but he's been the better of the two pitchers over the past calender year.

I think you are very good with stats, so I hate disagreeing with you, but hasn't Kuo pitched in a lot of games where the Dodgers were either up or down by more than a couple of runs? Also, he has pitched early enough in games where he has had to face bad hitters and pitchers on the other teams, correct? Also, how do you find out what each of them has done in high leverage situations?

I love Kuo and I can see clearly his peripheral stats are great and he's had a wonderful year. It also would be very hard for me to say that he has been better than Broxton this year. I will exclude last September from my question although I know you've included Broxton's performance from then.

22 Elbert is relieving right now, but I don't think you can infer from that that he is going to be a reliever long term.

When Colletti traded Meloan, he brought up Elbert's name with Troncoso and Wade as guys that were higher on the food chain. I don't know if that classifies him as a reliever long term, but his stuff would definitely fit well there.

If, like you said, they're just being cautious, then he's a frontline starter in the making.

40 Yeah that one is one of my all time faves. I guess if I had to pick one, it would be the one where there is an unexploded bomb in the compound and Hawkeye has to diffuse it based on instructions Radar got from the Navy. Hilarious.

43 Now that I think about it, it was Henry giving the instructions on how to diffuse it.

41. Fair point(s), thanks for the non TV related reply. :) Yes, it's true that Broxton has been used in higher leverage situations than Guo this year and that Guo has made a couple of starts (earlier in the year). Starting in general, is more difficult than pitching in relief, so I think that would cancel out any benefit from facing more pitchers. While, Broxton has pitched in higher leverage situations this year, he has had his full share of trouble converting those high leverage situations into wins (WPA 0.47), while Guo has done a tremendous job of keeping the Dodgers in games they trailed in, allowing them to make comebacks (WPA 1.83). Broxton is very good and so is Guo, but I have no problem saying that Guo has been the better pitcher over the past calender year (but not by a landslide). Amazingly, Guo's walk rate has been much better than Broxton's. I am still conditioned to squirm a little bit every time Guo pitches from his bouts of wildness in the previous years, but this year he has been rock solid.
vr, Xei

Since Elbert is not on the 40 man, he won't get a September call-up, but I bet we see him with the big club sometime next year.

Who do people think the Dodgers will lose/let go via Rule 5 next year? (If anyone.)

43 I love that one, too. "And that should put you right in the heart of downtown Berlin."

45 I think we're basically in agreement. I love what Kuo has done this year, and have no problem using him any situation. Not to be dismissed lightly is that he has absolutely killed lefties this year. Something like 40% of lefties PAs have been strike outs.

Laszlo Cseh is going to be a splendid Bond villain.

I have discovered today from a patron inquiry that the tourism slogan for the greater Meridian, Mississippi area (Lauderdale County) is "A Better Longitude on Fun."

48 "A Hungarian reporter told me that Cseh had spent two months deep down in the dumps after last year's world championships when he realised how unstoppable Phelps was and that all his work was targeted towards trying to be the next best."

Poor guy. Always the bridesmaid...

http://tinyurl.com/559gt6

11 13

I don't know if you did that on purpose but it gave me a chuckle Bob. :o)

Are most of the sports writers for the LA times really snide in their writing style? I just read the article on the Chinese gymnasts by Helen Elliot, and it just seems there is a more professional way to write about the age topic

52 - I wouldn't say Helene has much of a history of being snide.

34. What? I think I would've at least heard about this beeing that I live there, and I haven't heard about this at all. What is the city?

49 The Chamber of Commerce was obviously given a wide latitude when entrusted with this important task.

I can't find a schedule for the 2008 post season; anyone know where/if one is available? I'm planning a Vegas trip for 10/17 but I can't take the chance of missing a NLCS or World Series home game. Comparing to last year, a home game for the team with home field advantage NLCS would have been played that weekend (if necessary).

What's the chance we would have home field in the second round? The Cubs, Brewers, and Phils/Marlins/Mets are all likely to have better records than us, but if we play the Wild Card in the NLCS, would we have the home field advantage?

I was just talking to my friend & he was really impressed with how many metals the host country had, I was like I'll be more impressed when they produce a star baseball player but that's just me.

57. Did you tell him that China was favored (beforehand) to win more gold "medals" than the US, and a toss up in the overall medal count? We need a good showing in the track n field events.
vr, Xei

58
"We" who...?

56. I would think the Wild Card is always on the road, until possibly the W.S., if they won the all-star game. Are you planning on attending these games, or just watching on TV, because Vegas is a great place to watch sports on TV.
vr, Xei

59. USA. I assumed most of us were US Americans.
vr, Xei

61
Thought you might have been identifying with China.

60 I don't want to miss a Dodger home game. A road game would be great to watch at one of the sports books. My trip would include a concert, which I'm sure that I could probebly ebay so I may just grab the concert tickets and wait on the hotel.

If the season ended today (except the Dodgers in front of the Dbacks), we would play the Cubs and the Phils would get the Brewers. If both the Dodgers and Brewers advanced (which is what I would put my money on) games 6 and 7 would be played on or around that weekend.

0 James McDonald threw his second straight 10-strikeout victory for Las Vegas

Actually, it wasn't a victory. :-) The Las Vegas bullpen coughed up four runs in the bottom of the 9th to give it away.

Bowa on batting behind Manny: ...but Joe right now likes to have a left-hander behind him.

I thought Torre's choice was primarily based on the handedness of the opposing starter, such that if a RHP pitches around Manny he has to face a LHB, and vice-versa.

28 24 - Are people only reading the excerpt that I post and not clicking to read the full thing?

But isn't that what most here do? :-)

57

I know there working on it & if it happens it could be pretty special.

63 Isn't the second-round home-field advantage determined solely on record? What are the odds that the Dodgers will have a better record than anyone other playoff participant AND get to the second round AND get to game 6, thus conflicting with your Vegas trip?

I was under the impression that the Wild Card never had home field (except for World Series depending on all star game results). I may be wrong, can anyone lend some knowledge?

Not sure if anyone mentioned this last night but I thought Russell Martin took one for the team. In other words, it appeared to me he made very little effort to move his foot out of the way of that pitch in the bottom of the 9th.

68 No. It's by seeding not record. (And the WC is alway the #4 seed)

0 - Recent posts on what McDonald has been doing have been exciting and in, theory, I would like to see him as well. But, what would a pre-September call up entail and how would you use him? I assume that Wade is OK, so is there space in the pen and how much work would he get? Assuming, again, that Penny is alright, how would he be used as a starter? A couple of threads ago, someone pointed out that we won't have too many days off in the coming weeks and that he could start one. Perhaps it could be called up for one game and either Berroa or Osuna are DFA'd. Then McDonald could be sent back down with Hu coming up. Would there be a cost to that in terms of him losing options? I just hate to seem him sitting around in the Bigs not getting work.

As a professor in its employ, I'm compelled to point out that the 27 member Auburn national team is doing pretty well right now in the medal count (6), which ties AU at eleventh with Germany. Thanks to Fred Bousquet, Kirsty Coventry, Margaret Hoelzer, and others, we hope to pass Britain, Japan, and North Korea tonight.

Re: Broxton - Kuo-Guo

Is the real key for both of these guys just the basic - Make the Leadoff Batter be an out - Keep the Leadoff Batter off the bases?

Playoff fomat:
1st round:
If wild card in best record in same division
{WC @ #2 seed
#3 seed @ #1seed}
else
{WC @ #1seed
#3 seed @ #2 seed}
Championship round
If wildcard is alive
{WC @ remaining divison winner
else
bette record has homefield}

72 He wouldn't lose any options. Now that Penny's here it's kind of a moot point but he was probably a better option than Jason Johnson or Eric Stults.

72 If McDonald comes up, it will be for the rest of the season. No more minor league ball after Labor Day.

72
Poor performance by Penny = the arrival of McDonald?

74 Yeah, but that's true of any pitcher. There's a much bigger difference in expected runs scored between 0 and 1 outs than other situations.

I am ready for a modest three game win streak.

75 I would change the playoff format to seed all four teams according to record and expand the Division Series to Best of 7.

73 - Mmmh...any potential conflicts, like we see around here in fantasy/real baseball? Chinese athletes attending Auburn? D4P might have to continue asking just who "we" is.

I must say that I like Larry Bowa a little better reading the chat.

The young players have been very receptive.... and listen to suggestions.

If you offer five [suggestions] and they take two, that's fine. But it's got to feel comfortable to the player.

You can't say, "Do this because I did it this way." It doesn't work that way.

7 - But Jon was talking about a pre-September call up and it wasn't clear to me how you could get space on the roster for him to either just make one start or sit around in the bullpen.

I have my eye on M. Sweeney, but that's just me.

84 - that was for 77.

80 Considering the Phillies came in 64-52, that might not be all that modest.

9 about food in the loge level, it's still pretty much old school in loge, although next year we are supposed to get the upgrade treatment. There is a frozen yogurt stand on the 3rd base side, and my 5 year old and I always stop there. For a while it was one of the few bargains in park, but the McCourts must have noticed it recently as the prices just went up to the same wallet-emptying level as the other food stands. Otherwise it's the usual Dodger dogs. Somewhere on the team's website I believe you can find a map that has all the food stands in the park.

76 The scenario proposed in 72 was up and back down in August (for one start). That doesn't use up an option? Is there a minimum stay in the majors required? Must include a Saturday night?

I was expecting Pitit and Davies to pitch the last two game for the D-Backs in Colorado. But they took advantage of Monday's off day to bypass Pitit. Too bad. :-) I figured we'd pick up two games on them over the next couple of days by sweeping the Phillies.

88 If you're on the 40 man and play in the minors, you've already burned the option.

81. I'm just glad that the baseball playoff format is nothing like the BCS.
vr, Xei

79
Are you going to the picnic?

Who is organizing this shindig? BHSPORTSGUY?

Volleyball equip, badminton equip, bongs, food breakdown, scooters, dodgeball, mallets, bluebleeder ball, radar gun for BlueBleeder, frisbee's, frisbee dog, ants, bee's. Who's bringing this stuff or is it all BWTHYG.

92

trainwreck has the bongs covered.

87
Not true. On the 3rd base entrance they have a solid barbecue area they installed last year.

83 I thought his responses were really good, too, for the most part, and for once the questions weren't all insipid. I have to admit, though, that I cracked up at this re: the helmets for base coaches rule: "I think the helmet rule, they're trying to protect that, but if you position your body in the right way and take the blow in the back, you can recover from that. It's the ones where you lose sight of the ball that they're really concerned about."

So it's just all about where you get hit with the ball then, turn and get hit on the back or behind and you're good! Who needs helmets?

81
Why should record matter with the unbalanced schedule?

The picnic seems to be gearing up to be a very competitive affair, what with the wiffle ball game (and Bleeder's vow to strike out the Murderer's Row of DT commentators), the expected bake-off, and now Bob's quiz (with prizes, no less). It's scary to think what sort of competition might be developed around the cardboard underdog.

95
Evidently Bowa has already taken a few to the back of the head. That is twisted logic for sure.

Ronald Reagan to Nancy Reagan in the emergency room:

"Honey, I forgot to position my body in the right way and take the bullet in the right place...."

I'll be bringing potato salad and curry-peanut salad.

If Bob asks questions like who pitched the most complete games from 1941 - 1946 for the Brooklyn Dodgers we should give him a DT wedgie.

79 Yeah, I'll be there for a bit at least.

96 A weak division champion shouldn't get priority over a superior wild card team.

101
There are no Brooklyn questions.

Are you guys going to wear name tags to the picnic?
vr, Xei

97
I'll be going to the wiffle ball cages to prepare myself for the BlueBleeder vow but I expect it to have little impact on the outcome.

97

I for one am not planning on any cook off. If I had the energy, I would make tip-tip, but I will probably just bring some leftovers for myself.

But, I will have energy for whiffle ball.

Lex, do you want to carpool?

103
In an unbalanced schedule I'd agree but with an unbalanced schedule how can you determine that a team with the superior record is the superior team?

tri-tip, not "tip-tip"

see: energy problem

Never had tip tip. Is that waiter talk?

If Wade needs downtime, how about Brent Leach from Jacksonville? He has been a pretty effective relief pitcher the last couple of years.

56
I haven't found an official schedule (game by game), but we won't really know which specific series the Dodgers fall into yet anyway. But here are the dates of the start of each round:

Division Series - Oct 1 (Wed)
LCS - Oct 9 (Thu)
World Series - Oct 22 (Wed)

The two LCS are staggered by one day, so the series will be:

LCS1: Thu-Fri-Sun-Mon-Wed-Fri-Sat
LCS2: Fri-Sat-Mon-Tue-Thu-Sat-Sun

October 17 is a second Friday of the LCS, and only one game (Game 6 of LCS1) is scheduled on that day. The only way you miss a home game that weekend is if it's Game 6 or 7 and the Dodgers have home field.

World Series will be Wed-Thu-Sat-Sun-Mon-Wed-Thu

108. You would have to use this...
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/standings.php

vr, Xei

111
He didn't even pitch last year and after his initial success this year has not really been dominating.
Elbert might be able to really help this team in Sept in a setup role.

113
Yea, I can see the powers that be consulting BP for how they should seed the playoffs.

108 Because baseball uses a universal format to determine its playoff teams (W-L %), might as well apply the same logic to the seeding.

I'll bring an ice chest full of soda and water, and some chips and dip.

115. haha, but you asked. :)
It's better than having bowl games.
vr, Xei

117. At first I thought you wrote "ice packs", which still might be a good idea, along with a first aid kit for the whiffle ball game. :)
vr, Xei

Okay, now I feel like I should bring something. Hmmmm.

Since Icaros isn't coming, I want to know if I'm traveling the farthest to join the shindig Saturday. Anyone coming from farther than 110 or so miles?

119 Don't joke, I got a pretty big welt from getting hit by a whiffle ball.

Of course, the guy can throw a baseball in the low 90s.

122
I would think throwing a wiffle ball for a pitcher that can throw 90, would do some damage.

122. Are you guys planning on playing fast pitch or slow pitch whiffle ball? They sell those trick whiffle balls at k-mart, that can break 10 feet.
vr, Xei

32 , 74
I hate to tread rule 5 territory, but Romanization can be a very touchy issue to the Taiwanese. If you are not telling all the Jorges out there to change their name or the English to drop the "u" in labour, please be more sensitive and respect the way Kuo spells his name. Many Taiwanese do take serious offense.

Thank you.

122 123 - Jeez, you guys are writing your own scouting report for Bleeder!

Bust these guys inside.

124
You mean Wiffle® brand balls? The kind with holes on only one side? I only recognize those when playing wiffle ball; any other ball is inferior! :)

125. This is an old subject, best not to go there. :)
vr, Xei

ice chest full of soda

You mean, pop...?

126
I meant damage to the guy's arm after throwing the ball.

Uh oh.

131. Yeah, I'm biting my lip on this one. :)
vr, Xei

123
I'll bring my Barry Bonds elbow guard.

132 - Seen any good TV shows lately?

134. Oh, you guys are killing me! :)
vr, Xei

125 - https://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/954937.html

A thread dedicated to this topic. If anyone wants to further discuss, they are free to go there with my blessing.

125 You probably have no idea how funny that is, or why.

https://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/954937.html

There have been extensive Pinyin / Wade-Gilles discussion here in the past.

Well, what do you think Xei? What're your top 5 favorite episodes of MASH?

128
It's offensive. Not funny at all. At least not to us Taiwanese. I'll just leave it at that.

Feel free to delete my posts if they violate rule 5. I'd think that every time you spell Kuo as Guo, there's a rule 5 violation, though.

Just to clarify the issue of options (which is pretty hazy to me).

The following Dodgers on the 40-man roster have used options this year.

Pitchers: Alvarez, Brazoban, McDonald, Miller, Orenduff, Stults, Troncoso, Wade and Kershaw.

Catchers: May

Infielders: Dewitt, Hu

Outfielders: Paul, Repko

Tony Abreu has not been optioned this year since he has spent the whole season on the major league disabled list. Abreu does receive service time and his major league salary.

An option is used when at any time a player who is on the 40-man roster has spent time that season in the minor leagues and not on the active 25-man roster. It does not matter how many times that player goes up and down, it only counts as one option for the year.

137
You have no idea how I have gone through the entire thread without finding it funny.

I browsed the post Jon that linked to, and I didn't see any mention of this, but didn't Kuo himself come out and say that he doesn't mind either Kuo or Guo and if people wanted to write Kuo, he was ok with it. To me, unless I imagined this, that is enough. If he does not find it offensive and I am not going out of my way to offend someone, then I don't really care how high someone's horse is.

I believe Jon asked for the discussion of a certain subject to take place on a different thread than this...
vr, Xei

143 - Yes, just seems like it would make sense to take the opportunity to move over there.

140 - Thanks.

Abreu is going to get buried on the depth chart in 2009 (most likely spend the entire year in AAA).

142 I believe Kuo was asked how he would like his last name pronounced, not how it was spelled, and he said it didn't matter.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3532089

ESPN has a Molly Knight article about Manny's first hours after the trade deadline. Scroll down to near the bottom, after the Pudge article, and before the Dunn article.

149 Your story turned out great, Molly! I was only disappointed that the was no mention/explanation of who has the job of torching the front of Manny's helmet?

149 Molly, if you're reading this, that was a very enjoyable read.

147
We will probably give him away so he can join the Werth/Ross/Victorino group that we love to bring up while lapping our spilled milk.

Wen, I'm not trying to dismiss your concerns. I just thought it would be best to discuss them as part of the larger discussion. I am no expert here, and this historically has been a very complicated conversation.

149 "When Manny spots jersey No. 99 hanging in his locker, he asks what happened to No. 28. No one is sure if he's kidding."

153
I'm going to bring some Jayson Werth brand spilled milk to the picnic.

Has anyone ever worn number "76" and then tried to get money from the oil company?

Tony Aberu has to get healthy first. And its not as if we have room for him, where exactly would you play him? 2nd? 3rd? SS? Where would you play DeWitt, DeJesus, or DeHu?

Why does Manny have a personal barber? What does he do?

A co-worker saw Manny this afternoon at Ralphs in Pasadena (Lake Ave).

156
Be careful holding that bottle. It's real brittle.

The last time I went to that Ralphs someone was stealing the tires off the car next to mine.

158
When healthy I'd expect him to compete and win the starting job as our 2nd baseman in 2009 or at worse be our utility infielder.

Hey, I'm not sure I've ever been deleted before.

I'm somebody!

{/Navin Johnson}

I have a bottle of Shane Victorino Brand Spilled Milk that someone took from me for nothing, but then gave it back, and then somebody else took it again.

Manny is probably a big fan of the Boars Head deli meats.

161
Only if it is in a blue carton. Outside of the blue carton it is very flexible.

Joel Hanrahan laughs at your milkshake. HE DRINKS IT ALL UP.

162

And that is why I walk to that Ralphs

164 - Happens to all of us. Including me.

165
A couple of years ago I was out of my regular milk so I used by David Ross Soy Milk© for a short while. It tasted nasty and rotten, so I got rid of it.

But every once in a while at Bristol Farms, I taste a sample of DRSM, and it tastes really good, almost to the point of me wishing I still had it.

Then I remember how awful it tasted.

170 - Self-deletion sounds like a cry for help. Is there anything you want to tell us, Jon? Anything you need to get off your chest?

I used to go to that Ralphs a lot when I lived on Villa and Catalina. 15 years ago, it was a pretty depressing store.

Bob might think about bringing that certain blue spray bottle to the picnic.

Anyone else for some Joel Guzman spilled milk?

Joel the Destroyer... of your gastrointestinal tract!

I've deleted my own comments.

There was one late night when Greg Brock and I argued long and hard and pointlessly into the night about the merits and demerits of Karl Dorrell.

Basically, Greg Brock wanted Dorrell shot on sight and I was willing to wait until dawn.

The animosity flowed like the Mississippi River at a flood stage.

I thought Lake Ave was all gentrified by now, sort of like Brand Blvd in Glendale.

I was going to bring some Pedro Pasta to the picnic. I the traded the pasta for some Delino Dogs, I'm pretty sure I got a pretty sweet deal.

176 The Rays are reportedly (San Jose Mercury News) interested in Rich Aurellia.

Bob will watch Extra Innings coverage to see if they tell us the story about Rich's pre-baseball work history.

There hasn't been any talk of Cory Dunlap spilled milk, mostly because he was an oval teen and wasn't quik enough.

176 It's a new day now, so are you both back on the same page?

I think that Ralphs is across the street from some Italian restaurant that always advertises itself as having the best pizza in Pasadena.

In all the years I have gone to Pasadena, I have never eaten there.

181 Well there is still that whole Whig issue.

173

Just remodeled it. I was lost for a month or so in there.

Wow, I just ate an amazing peach.

182 I think you are speaking of Avanti Restaurant on Lake and Union. It's a Spago-ish type of pizza. Not bad, but not memorable.

Manny has reached the 50 PA mark, and currently sports the highest OPS+ in Dodger history (256).

The estate of Pop Corkhill did not approve of the Manny trade.

http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/P8P3

180 Have you already started in on Saturday's 40s?

Even though I'm on Fair Oaks, I still go to the Mako Bowl (near Lake) occasionally for lunch. Good teriyaki!

Anybody on here live in Denver and planning on going to the Snakes / Rocks game tonight?

187
We're going to run sprints? What is this, the DT scouting combine? :)

Actually, I have no idea what you are talking about.

Will it be best to just bring a sub sandwich to this picnic or is a grill going to be fired up if I brought a pack of turkey dogs? I'll bring a bag of pretzels or chips for everyone to munch but probably enjoy a small fruit salad in the cooler myself along with any protein I may have. I'll bring snapple tea or fruit juice or water as I don't drink Coke or Pepsi anymore.

I may have a few unsold tickets on the reserved level for the game that night-section 27 Row J if I don't sell them off by Friday. I'll give an advisory on Friday afternoon.

Avanti Pizza

Looking at the 1st round of the 1993 draft, you gotta wonder how Manny fell to the 13th spot to the Indians.

If anyone went to the game last night, and has an extra Beimel bobblehead they'd like to sell, please contact me. My E-Mail is caseycargill06@yahoo.com

This will be my last time asking, just wanted to give it another chance to be viewed.

191

I was thinking the same thing

Lunch places in Pasadena I recommend:

~Fredo's Philly Cheese Steaks on Lake just north of Orange Grove
~Tonny's Mexican Rest. on Orange Grove just west of Lake
~Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles on Lake
~La Estrella Tacos on Fair Oaks
~Lee's Hoagie House on Colorado west of Sierra Madre
~Europane on Colorado east of Lake

160
When I worked at Borders in Boston, Manny used to come in all the time and buy hot rod pimped out car magazines.

I also saw Alex Cora there once and felt starstruck. Then I felt embarrassed.

187
Now I remember what you are talking about! Sadly I cannot bring them due to the strict non-alcohol policy of the LA Parks & Recreation Department. Plus I don't want to face the wrath of BHsportsguy.

Manny used to come in all the time and buy hot rod pimped out car magazines

And here we thought Manny and Kent wouldn't get along...

196

I would add Chaquita Bonita to that list. I have heard that I need to try Tonny's, but I have not made it up there

196 Barney's Pub on Colorado

Dang it: Chiquita

Basically, Greg Brock wanted Dorrell shot on sight and I was willing to wait until dawn.

Dark, dark days indeed.

If I'm feeling inspired friday night maybe I'll make some dodger blue cupcakes. How many people are we expecting?

My mom (LOB) can't come. She's very sad about it. But it's ok-- I'm a much better baker.

I was reading comments while watching the gymnastics last night. Greg Brock really stuck the knife in and twisted it around. Made watching that poor girl's life fall apart that much more visceral. Ouch.

Anyone else reading Andre's food blog? I'm getting a real kick out of it.

Also Carmine's in South Pas.

203 You have no idea how dark it's going to get. Norm Chow is still on the USC payroll. Bwa-ha-ha-ha.

I gotta say, I am a fan of Brits for dinner in Pasadena. Especially if you go on the Tuesday/Thursday special. Two 3 course dinners for 17.70

Carmines is the old Lasorda's restaurant space. I can't go there.

it doesn't look like I'm going to be able to make the picnic. i was kind of hoping to, but it's just not going to work out.

somewhat related, it appears that my annual pilgrimage to the Stadium will be for the Sunday game against the Giants next month.

194 there are already almost 50 on ebay now. I bet you can get for around $10 if you don't get an offer.

I wonder where my last meal in Pasadena was. Burger Continental? The Chronicle?

198 Glad you remember, because I couldn't find those comments. The latter is far more formidable and likely than the former.

Ooh, I fogot Pie N Burger. Overpriced, but very good.

If you can't get what you want at Europane, try Lovebirds Cafe across the street. I liked their Thanksgiving Dinner sandwich.

My favorite Italian place is probably Petrillo's (not to be confused with Mama Petrillo's) in San Gabriel. They have the very best bread baskets (there's even a charge if you want more than one). Their pizza is pretty good, too.

At Europane it's all about the egg salad.

195,191 - Subs or dogs? What is the going trend on the menu?

Oh BTW to BHsportsguy regarding the previous posts when you were rerring to the first high fives, Sweet Lou Johnson at the 60's luncheon was laying claim to the first high five given. he saw a photo of himself entering the dugout after homering in the 65 Series and he signed it for me, "The First One". A humorous sidenote to the High Five legend.

154
Shouldn't johnny24's post at the end of the thread be enough to alert people how sensitive this issue is and why it might be best to spell Kuo's name the way he does it?

If that's not enough, if a Taiwanese saying that it can be offensive could be considered as being "on her high horse," I don't really think any further discussion would make it less a joking matter here. It might be a fun discussion to you, but little things like this, little things like making seemingly innocent advances on others (such as the Chinese deliberately change the spelling of Taiwanese names to potentially legitimatize political claims on Taiwan) or taking such matters lightly, have very real and often times dire consequences to us. I am not laughing.

But enough of my rant. Please carry on with your other discussions. They are a lot less depressing and I'd much rather thinking about baseball now.

213 - Pie and Burger is really overpriced, but indeed good. My favorite place in Pasadena is Tops. Greasy, but good.

197 If Manny was to drop his Hot Rod pimped out car magazine,
Alex Cora would catch it.

209 "i was kind of hoping to" - What? It wasn't full-fledged desire? Too bad it doesn't work out, you'll be missed.

Wonder why manny wouldn't just order a subscription.

220 I like the Topps Jr. pastrami in Alhambra.

219 - I find nothing fun about this discussion. In fact, I'm fairly well concerned about the fact that I have two people who seem equally offended by different spellings. What exactly am I supposed to do? This has certainly gone beyond the scope of my expertise.

Is there any other option other than for us to agree to disagree?

Does this season even matter? I mean, to me, it looks like whatever NL East team makes the playoffs is toast in the 1st round. The Cubs, Brewers, and Dodgers are clearly the class of the league. Whatever East teams winds up winning the division, I can't see them making it any farther than the NLDS.

I love that somehow other team fans think the Dodgers are the class of the league. Its just... odd.

http://www.philliesnation.com/archives/2008/08/bullpen-blows-lead-phils-lose-4-3/#comment-28333

223 Just Manny being not so thrifty.

225 - To add onto that point, there is one person here who spells the name with a G. Your preferred spelling is being by the writer of this blog and 99.9 percent of the commenters. I think that may have to be sufficient.

Hey, so there's like a game tonight. It's about three hours before gametime. Do we have a lineup?

http://alyssa.mlblogs.com/archives/2008/08/the_kmilaf.html

Is it possible that Alyssa is sincerely suggesting that each Dodger fan donate $10 each time they attend a game to help the McCourts keep Manny in L.A. next season?

Or is this just her way of saying she likes him, and it's not meant to be taken literally at all?

I'm not saying she expects this to happen at all, but she seems to have put enough thought into it to leave me wondering.

last time I was in the Ralphs on Lake a young man walked out and was immediately stopped by three employees. the young man calmly handed over four energy drinks stuffed in his pants and walked away, no questions asked.

On another note, what was Aurelia's pre-baseball work history?

Dodgers oust Marty Reed as roving pitching instructor, per Tony Jackson:

...the biggest reason behind this was apparently the fact that the Dodgers' minor-league pitchers at all four of the club's full-season affiliates were walking way too many batters, and apparently Marty became the fall guy for that.

225/228. Just to set the record straight, and I have done so many other times. I am not offended by the spelling of Guo's name with a 'K'. I just wanted to point out that his name was being butchered (not only the Guo part). Please don't pigeon hole me into a group that thinks the spelling with a K is offensive. For me, it's more of a personal thing. Vishal was the only person who correctly guessed why.
vr, Xei

232 - FWIW, Gurnick had that yesterday.

226 It helps to exaggerate the quality of your current opponent if they've just beaten you twice in a row. I'll grant you that I like the Dodgers better now with Pierre and Jones sitting and Ramirez and Ethier playing, but I'd take the top 6 in Philly's lineup against anyone. Philly's biggest problem is rotation depth, but that's less important in the playoffs. The bullpen is actually pretty good, right?

I don't know what's crazier about post 230 , what she is suggesting, or that Jon is reading Alyssa's blog.

Best news of the day: the open source Artistic License has been upheld in court:

http://tinyurl.com/5vslyg

233 - Xeifrank, I'm not trying to pigeon-hole anyone. Give me a break.

Meanwhile, if you're not offended by spelling it with a K, and someone else is offended by you spelling it with a G, then why don't you switch?

236 - The latter isn't crazy at all, since it's a widely read Dodger blog (when she posts, that is).

Why is Alyssa wearing Yankees gear in her picture on a Dodger blog?

Granted, I am not complaining about the lack of skin the shirt covers.

233 If that's the case, may I suggest when you type "Guo", use the quotation around it so it won't seem like you're intentionally spelling Kuo's name with a "G". This way, you can get your point across on how the name may sound similar to while not mispelling a man's name in print.

238. You said "I'm fairly well concerned about the fact that I have two people who seem equally offended by different spellings"

And I said, I am not offended. Atleast nowhere near the level of the other person. Xei

The team puts "Kuo" on the back of his jersey with the player's consent. That settles it as far as I'm concerned.

Let's hope Mike Sheshefski can lead our boys to victory tonight.

243. What is there to be settled?
vr, Xei

Dunno if this has come up before, but Padres claim Falkenborg off waivers.

Why can't we just call him Hong? A lot of people call Billingsley by his first name. Either way, I agree with Jon that this topic has it's own post and that's where the argument should be.

233 But Xiefrank, do you see that, after all the previous discussions, the overwhelming evidence is that the correct spelling (romanization) is with a "K" (since we're reading, not listening) and now that the use of the "G" DOES offend at least one person? In my book, one's freedom to do whatever one wants ends at the point that it offends another. You have said that the "K" doesn't offend you, and I have seen no one else claim that it offends them (including the pitcher himself), so Jon really doesn't have a dilemma, and I would ask you to reconsider your crusade. You're legally free to express yourself, but if it gets in the way of the conversation in what is, after all, a community of sorts, why insist?

Wen, I gather you're relatively new to DodgerThoughts (welcome!) so you didn't know about the previous thread (not to mention a dozen other versions of this debate that have raged here). So when you brought it up again, completely earnestly, a lot of people thought "oh no, here we go again" precisely because it WAS NOT a fun conversation (although I think we all appreciated Ken Arneson's primer). Nobody meant to dismiss you. If you can find a way to accept that Xiefrank's spelling is really about trying to more closely approximate what he sees as the correct pronunciation, and be assured that he doesn't intend to offend or make a political statement with it, then perhaps we can move on.

247. I agree that replies belong in the other thread and I wish Jon enforced his own intentions and followed his own advice.
vr, Xei

248. Wrong thread!
vr, Xei

230 For every home game remaining, we should pass around a collection basket at the stadium. You know, like the collection baskets at church.

"So please, give all you can. Now, we appreciate the kind that jingles, but we'd rather get the kind that folds."

235
While Chad Durbin and Romero have been excellent. I would love to face them in the playoffs with a game on the line.

244 that's krooshawooski to you bud lite drinkers.

222 - believe me, i won't be missed that much. plus, it adds to the mystery of who i actually am, or something.

251
"That boy is good!"

It has been so hot here. When is the next ice age supposed to happen?

246 Does this set up an awesome Maddux-Falkenborg trade?

219 When I used the word "joke" it was in reference to the comically extensive linguistic (not political) discussions that would ensue in many threads; the one Jon (and I) linked to was the culmination of that activity. As someone whose direct ancestors on one side of the family tree spent many years fleeing home after home, first from the Japanese Occupation and then the Communist Revolution, before ending up in Taiwan and the U.S., I do have at least some sensitivity to the Chinese political situation, and I know that THAT is no joking matter.

And now I will dance back away from (or back over if I misjudged the distance) the Rule 5 line.

253 - is bud lite good for anything other than battering and/or frying various kinds of meat? i mean, people actually drink it?

237 - I saw that. The legal precedent for the GPL being upheld has been set. This would no doubt annoy Bill Gates if he were still running Microsoft.

259
Beer pong, because what is the point of using good or heavy beers for that.

261 - ah yes, beer pong.

246 Padres want to assimilate the Borg?

261 I wonder what today's practice will reveal?

Milton Knox did look good the day I saw him.

Unfortunately I will not be able to report on the scrimmage as I will busy with DT picnic duties and going to game.

Bud Lite is the opiate of the masses. Because you know, Opium just costs too much now.

264
Apparently, Nate Chandler is now in a boot. So another offensive linemen hurt.

How much will Tennessee crush us by?

251
I thought it was the trash.

263 So you're not worried about Falkenborg going on a 1000 scoreless inning streak.

242 - I think it is disengenuous for you to suggest that you haven't expressed offense at the notion of "Kuo," whether in one form or another.

I feel that my intent was clear that I was trying to protect your right to express yourself rather than pigeonhole you as one thing or another. However, if my literal words were wrong, I apologize.

263 - and have, if Rotoworld is to be believed. They changed his team identity to Padres.

Marty Reed started his job in 2006 and its true, at almost every advanced level (High A, Double A and Triple A) for the past 3 years, the minor league teams were at or near the top of leading their league in walks.

The rest of the story is that those teams were also among the league leaders in 2005 (when Rick Honeycutt was the coordinator) but nonetheless if the organization wants a certain philosophy taught, 3 years is enough time to see if they are showing some progress. It appears that they were not.

Don't the Dodgers collect their $10 donation every night in beer sales? I mean, come on, how many of those blue swirly light cups have I seen filled with "premium" beer.

269. Really, I have not been offended. I may have been a little more in the beginning, but I thought this had died down. I believe I am misunderstood on the issue, really only Vishal knows the whole story, and I prefer to keep it like that. I just wish you would've enforced your request to take the topic to the other thread, and after you and others responded and made mention to me, I had to defend my honour. :)
I will continue to spell it with a 'G', but it is in no way meant to offend the great people of Taiwan. That's all I have to say about this on this thread.
vr, Xei

My head hurts after reading this thread.

[275[

I need a rubric for it

Lineup out yet?

270 Diamond Leung reporting it also on his blog.

272 How many of the those blue premium light cups have you seen filled with swilly beer, as well?

disregard my botched citation of my own comment

274 It's like some form of torture. Like if little drops of water kept hitting your forehead over and over.

The name escapes me.

274
That's what happens when you bring up Karl Dorrell.

278 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_water_torture

279. haha, you guys are pretty funny.
vr, Xei

Karl Dorrell was the best thing to happen to USC. I mean UCLA. ...No, I mean USC.

280 Get your foot off my joke!

Man, this thread is making me look forward to the picnic more and more.

Can we get some sort of a cheat sheet for screen names and actual names? With headshots would be even better.

273 - The time for keeping it confined to the other topic passed, as too many comments took place here.

You seem to want to have it both ways - staying above the fray, even as you're a principal actor in it.

Yes, the topic had died down. But it came back, and it has a new aspect to it.

I will not force you at this time to spell the name with a K, but I will ask you again, if you know it is offending someone to use a G, and you don't mind seeing it with a K, why won't you adjust?

I wish I was going to the picnic. I would bust out my chicken curry.

I try for the most innocuous thing I can think of to post during all this and I get jumped on.

I have no side in this debate. I don't want to have a side in this debate. I am just confused.

Very confused.

I'm begging for a lineup.

How about a horrific video of a weightlifter dislocating his elbow to break the tension.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=33a_1218642189&p=1

Not for the faint of heart. The announcers plead with them to stop replaying it, but they just keep doing it and from multiple angles.

The Giants have DFA'd Jose Castillo. And optioned John Bowker and Steve Holm.

Say hello to Travis Ishikawa, Pablo Sandoval, and Ryan Rohlinger.

Sandoval will be the backup catcher to Bengie Molina.

289 - I feel better after watching that. Thank you.

287 - Think how I feel.

A Sweeney has been placed on the DL.

Today's injured Sweeney is Ryan.

So yeah, about Bruce Springsteen. Isn't he great?

Brian Falkenborg deja vu: This is the second time he has been let go by the Dodgers and claimed by the Padres.

Can't we can come up with a symbol that represents the pitcher, like The artist formerly known as Prince did. I suggest "+_+" which, incidentally looks like a happy face.

289

I feel sick

I think the only true solution is to trade Kuo, then we can all get along!

Oh, wait...

289 - I'm usually not very faint of heart, but i was very quick to ctrl-w on that. good gawd that's bad stuff.

This is a pretty late lineup, correct?

I blame Torre for ALL of this.

300
How about we just complain about the lineup before it actually arrives?

"Oh, what's Torre thinking? I can't believe Nomar is hitting ahead of (whoever is hitting eighth)!"

285. I will bite my lip on this one too.
vr, Xei

Why are people offended at the spelling of a name? You can spell my name wrong all day for all I care. :)

By the way, I have a bobblehead for sale for $15. If you're interested just write me @aol.com.

Now let's pray Penny can miraculously throw 95 again.

289 Oh wow. That reminded me of the Napolean McCallum knee injury years ago. The announcers kept going on about how horrific it was and how no one needed to see that ever again...all while slow motion replays were being shown over and over.

Do the olympics always have people come out to cover up an injured athelete like that? I don't think I've seen that before.

Let's just all agree to call him 郭泓志

289 When I dislocated my elbow, I cut through my main artery and lost well over a quart and a half of blood. Not to mention ruining a perfectly good shirt.

If only I had a video of that, I would have something to show the grandkids some day. Oh, wait, I'd have to have kids first...

Rangers are trying hard to spot the Red Sox another early 10 run lead.
vr, Xei

Nippert's on the Rangers? What deal am I totally forgetting?

FSN Prime is showing a rerun of last night's Kershaw's start right now.

308. Sorry BoSox, the Mets beat you to it.
vr, Xei

263 - The Padres have lowered their shields.

Tonight's lineup:

Kemp, CF
Ethier, RF
Kent, 2B
Ramirez, LF
Loney, 1B
Blake, 3B
Garciaparra, SS
Martin, C
Penny, P

309 - I had no idea either I thought he was hurt. On March 28, 2008, he was traded to the Texas Rangers for José Marté.

Wow, 302 got it.

Awesome lineup. Obviously I don't want to see Martin in the 8 hole, because he's a better hitter then that, but this is the most solid top-to-bottom lineup we've put out there in awhile!

313 - Oh thank goodness. And it's a beautiful lineup.

313 Wow.

315 Oh, and also, this lineup receives the Humma Kavula Seal of Approval.

now if Martin will stop swinging for the fences, this could be a pretty potent lineup

314
Well, I don't even know who that is.

Nomar looked like he didn't have any business swinging the bat yesterday. He should be 8th.

I don't know anyone who can complain about Martin batting 8th. Actually this would be a time to use LaRussa's crazy antics of batting the pitcher 8th, and have a high OBP guy like Martin batting 9th, and have Marting Kemp, and Ethier batting back to back to back.

Martin's last start batting 8th was Sept 30, 2006.

Martin batted 7th in the 2007 All-Star game. Chase Utley batted 8th. That's the genius of Tony LaRussa.

Game thread is open.

"I don't know anyone who can complain about Martin batting 8th."

Hi. Nice to meet you.