Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Jon's other site:
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TV and more ...
1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
9) typing "no-hitter" or "perfect game" to describe either in progress
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with
The Dodgers plan to announce today that they're shifting the location of three minor-league affiliations, according to Tony Jackson of the Daily News. They will go from Las Vegas back to their old home in Albuquerque in AAA, from Jacksonville to Chattanooga in AA, and from Vero Beach to Glendale, Arizona for their training wheels team that has been in the Gulf Coast League.
Regarding the 2009 schedule, Jackson also notes that Friday night games are switching from 7:40 p.m. to 7:10 p.m.
* * *
For your potential pregame entertainment, I'm scheduled to be a guest on Fantasy Focus with Jeff Erickson at 9:25 a.m. on XM radio 175.
* * *
Going into Wednesday's games, there was a better than 90 percent chance the Dodgers would win the National League West and a better than 90 percent chance that some would start to get angry or panic if Arizona gained a game on the Dodgers in the standings - even though that was inevitable at some point.
The lost game isn't meaningless, nor is it the end of the world. There has always been a chance that the Dodgers will slump in the final 10 days of the season. But let's not assume that the slump is coming based on one game.
One game at a time, people.
Hopefully today won't be XXL for young Clayton.
And how bout Jimmy Mack in the 9th last night. That 12 to 6 was serious. Pretty nice 73 mph change, too.
Jimmy, Jimmy, oh Jimmy Mack, when are you coming back?
Secondly, there is no secondly.
A curveball is a tool, Marian; no better or no worse than any other tool: an axe, a shovel or anything. A curveball is as good or as bad as the man using it. Remember that.
Now you just have to spend more time doing Vegasy stuff, which is also cool.
Very nice.
There's way more to do in Jacksonville than Chattanooga.
And Vegas than Albuquerque.
Little did you know how retroactively those two would be missed.
MOAR LIKE DAT PLZ, ANGEL
Some of us knew...Oh yes, some of us knew...
Today is a new day, however, and a new life. Cue Marshall Tucker Band. Cue Kershaw.
When I think of a brand new day, I get drawn back to this song they made us sing in Catholic school when I was in the second grade. Remember that this was in 1973.
It's a brand new day,
Everything is fine.
Though it may be gray,
I want you to know that the sun's gonna shine.
It goes on like that for a while.
Really? Jacksonville is one of the most boring and depressing cities I've visited.
Remember, Doumit doesn't hit lefties well.
Except for Scott Elbert.
Rookie hazing day should go the way of bear baiting.
Anyhow, Jon's cool interview is underway on XM 175, MLB Home Plate. It's cool to hear a voice defending Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp on the radio.
I'm not sure why.
Shilling won't shut up about Manny.
My mlb.tv feed is blacked out. What is the deal?
Okay, that could've been a better start for Ker-shane, but could've been a lot worse, too. At least public enemy #1 is here today.
The Gameday software requires that they enter the name of the player who picks up the ball as the person the hit was "to."
Now, is it a rule violation if I ask the Dodgers to get a hit?
Advisory ruling:
In the words of Senor Wences, "It's all right!"
Another sac bunt for Kershaw.
Manny article by Jerry Crasnick.
Interesting that Ethier is included.
Also, they have to go back to the Albuquerque Dukes name. Those unis were cool.
Of course, Maholm is pitching well, too, so he kind of has to pitch lights out, it appears.
Colletti is still a PR person at heart.
They gleefully spent the night saying Chatanooga Choo Choo over and over.
Irony Committee: activate!
Yea, LA area. The information that pops up only talks about Saturday games, so I don't know why this game would be blacked out in LA. Is it based on IP address or where I listed my address? Maybe next time I will register with a St. Louis address.
Sigh, so sad that that reminds me of the Europe song.
Well, the no hitter is gone at least.
DeWitt makes it a moot point though.
McClouth!
If you live in the LA area, every Dodger game should be blacked out on MLB.tv. This one's no different.
There you go!
For those of you who purchased tickets to the Dodgers MLB pennant race special games, i.e. a chance to get the Friday presale, did you get your pre-sale email code yet?
The Pre-Sale is tomorrow, and I still haven't received the pre-sale notification. Uh oh...
https://griddle.baseballtoaster.com/
4.32 ERA, 91 K's, 48 BB's, 11 HR's.
Not bad for a 20 year old kid. in the middle of a pennant race.
That is not the case though. I have been able to watch about 70% of the games on mlb.tv
What if he works it to a 3-2 count. I hear Nyjer Morgan does that a lot.
There you go.
Lincecum is 4 years older than Kershaw.
It's the Treaty of Versailles all over again!
He threw some good ones last outing.
I live in Pasadena, and I have had no problems the last two months. Maybe once a week I would be blacked out. It makes no sense to me. If I don't have cable, they are getting paid to show me the feed over the internet. So, why stop me from watching?
I dont have a problem pulling him there and bringing in Saito.
It is strange to see Saito in the 6th inning though.
It's just that the cities near L.A. that have PCL teams tend to be at altitude or in the desert.
I think it's been mentioned three times already today.
I understand what you are saying, but I don't understand the reasoning to black me out of something I am paying for. I mean, FSN-Prim is getting their money, right, and I am watching endless MLB.tv ads, so it's a win win for everyone.
But, now I know I will not be getting MLB.TV anymore.
But yeah, MLB.tv is only worthwhile if you're a fan who doesn't live in the home team's area, like the Dodger fan in NYC.
And now Pee Wee's up!
Steiner had a good line, "That may be a guppy but they're not gonna throw it back." Indeed.
No, but it does look like he could use a rest - but sitting vs. the lefty today probably didn't seem to make much sense.
Dangerous play right there.
Not a smart play down by 1 run.
Doug M isnt the fastest player in the league.
That was actually a pretty decent throw to 2nd by Martin, too, but had no chance.
Argh, and then the Pirates tie it anyway. Sigh.
But he didn't give up a hit.
Bring in Beimel to face McClouth.
--
c'mon Cory!
Is his arm still attached?
You just know that Harden in going to go down just as the Cub fans think they have an ace for the playoffs. He is not going to be able to handle the workload of being a number 2 in the playoffs.
You guys are messing with my emotions man.
Guess Hu gets in at short after this.
Russell pulls his pitcher for a LOOGY. FOR SWEENEY.
He'll get a hit & all of his suckiness will be forgotten.
What in the world is sweeney still doing up against a LHP?
Seriously Kemp, what are you doing?
Don't know how much of a loss it was. The real loss is that Matt's sb% is down to 75% and we have three outs in a 8th inning tie game.
Correction to Steiner, though. Sweeney is NOT the Dodgers' best pinch hitter. Seriously, a master hypnotist, Sweeney must be. Steiner just referred to Sweeney as a "bopper."
You better hope that Manny gets up this inning.
Neither, I suppose, but still...
Now, let's do this thing!
hehehe, man I missed it but that sure was funny.
We got a real pair of boppers leading off here in the 9th. Lets just say I've got a feeling this will be 2-2 in the bottom half.
That would be regression. ;)
Broxton better be coming in for the bottom of the 9th regardless.
Pitcher in at Sweeney's spot (after Sweeney made out, of course)
+
Hu in at 9th spot, playing SS
Those goofs probably aren't very good at chess.
Hu did get that hit off of Hoffman very early. That's the only hit I remember him getting.
Btw, Hu was much better at the plate in his short stint with the big club last year, there were quite a few hits from him then. I think he's still trying to find it again. I don't know what Repko's deal is, though.
Torre does not use his closer until it is a save situation, for better or for worse.
That leaves you with situations where Alex Gonzalez hits game-winning homers against Jeff Weaver while Mariano Rivera watches.
Who?
Okay, two on, one out for Loney. C'mon Crazy Eyes!
Okay, it's up to the Bison to make up for his earlier sin.
As long as Morgan wasn't standing in the strike zone, I don't see what the problem was.
Where was DeWitt -- he totally blew coverage of 2nd base -- but then they nail Morgan at home!
Yeesh. I don't need this kind of stress during the workday!
Great play by Martin to hold on to the ball and it was a good throw from DeWitt.
Kerrrraaaazzy!
DeWitt completely forgot to cover 2nd.
I can't believe how disgusted I'm becoming every time Mark Sweeney bats.
If Morgan were standing on the plate, he should have been called out for being out of the batter's box.
MEANWHILE, Nyjer Morgan decided to round third and try for home in the confusion. DeWitt got up from the ground and threw the ball home to Martin on a bounce. There was a collision, and Martin held on to tag Morgan out.
And then they brought Beimel in to face LaRoche and he hit a sleepy fly ball to Manny.
Three outs. Heading to the 11th.
What happened was it was another comebacker to Park, nice play by him, he went to 2nd but DeWitt didn't cover the base in time and the ball almost went into CF on the throw. DeWitt saved it, then they waved Morgan home and DeWitt threw to Martin who blocked the plate and held on to the ball for the out at home.
{exhale}
Thanks
{whistles}
C'mon Dodgers! I have work to do. And lunch to eat. And stuff.
Also, nice interview with the LAT bloggers yesterday.
Gameday didn't give Park an assist on the play.
Proctor up now... feeling a bit nervous.
Great play by the Beard!
For pitchers, we have Troncoso, Johnson, Broxton, and Stults, with McDonald, Elbert, Kuo, Billingsley, Lowe, Maddux, Kuroda unavailable, and Penny's status unknown.
On to the 12th!
This is providing some much needed entertainment for my long, lazy afternoon.
Matsuzaka-esque!
Nice start for Martin!
"How's that driveshaft, buddy?"
Looked like a Salchow to me, anyway. ;)
Martin doing his thing...Let score 'em in.
Woo hoo, a walk. Time for Loney to get closer to 100 RBI!
469 Heh, I meant 452 . I get dyslexic when I haven't had lunch and the Dodgers are stressing me out.
C'mon Loney! {bite nails}
That happened back on 5/2/1956.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1956/B05020CHN1956.htm
That was a 17-inning game with a combined 38 men LOB.
So he looks like...everybody? :)
BUT LONEY COMES THROUGH! opposite field hit! Huzzah!
Do you go to football games? I ask because I may have an extra ticket for some upcoming games.
Loney!
http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html
No sarcasm there, that was a great job of 2 strike hitting. I have student tickets and go to every one. Thanks for the offer though.
If this were last year, I'd be there in an instant. My girlfriend got tickets this year, so I'm sort of obligated to go with her!
You poor fool.
1 down, 2 to go.
And yes, I'm fully expecting the 49ers to have an awful season, fire Nolan, and start over with a new franchise QB.
--
Okay, let's go Broxton. This guy makes me want to make like Molly's dog on the carpet.
And a giant mistake by Broxton.
Hopefully can make it down sometime in November or December. So basketball season for sure.
That's what happens when you put metal in the microwave!
Uh oh, that comebacker shot off of Broxton. Hope he's okay. Looked like it caught his glove but it may have gotten a piece of him. Great reaction just to get the out at 1st.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/morgany01.shtml
McClouth, who is a lefty and the Pirates best hitter, was IBB'd.
I just hope Broxton is okay, separate from this game, after that liner off his glove hand.
BALLGAME OVER!
Magic Number: 7
Dodgers win! Magic number 7.
And I can eat lunch in peace now.
gameday just caught up with "in play, out" a popup! YAY!
Whew...
Outstanding.
OK, Snakes, the Dodgers won and you're facing Lincecum - no pressure.
Hasta luego, Amigos de Azul.
The 1/2 game goes away on our off day Monday. Az will be in STL that day.
Great way to come home!
BTW, the Pirates mascot really freaks out Seamus the Wonder Parrot.
ESPN ranks Lincecum first out of all Starting Pitchers for 2009, Bills ranks 14th. And the first AL pitcher comes in at 7th with Francisco Liriano,
I was thinking 1965, but they were "only" 22-8. That club did finish 15-1 though.
I have to miss Raider game because of a Christening. Don't people know there is football on.
Their baby's salvation or whatever can wait.
20-9 in 1966
20-7 in 1965
Retrosheet
Nomar Garciaparra was doing so well that his plans to see the Pittsburgh Steelers' team doctor were scrapped. "It's better than I expected," Garciaparra said of his strained left knee. "I expected it to keep me up at night. It didn't."
* The defensive metrics may contradict my naked eye, but it sure looks like Blake is a solid defensive 3rd basemen. Those two plays in succession were some of the best I've seen this season, with the second one being positively Beltre-esqe.
*No need to dwell on it past today, but Kemp's attempted steal was one of the more bone headed mistakes of the season.
*Hu just cannot seem to make a contribution this season. I keep waiting and rooting for a key base hit or phenomenal play with the glove in an important situation, but it's just not happening. I hope Hu is still with us in 2009 to get another chance to excel.
*Martin is a good baseball player.
*Even against a left-handed pitcher, wouldn't we rather have Berroa up right now over Sweeney (even disregarding the defensive adjustments that must follow using Sweeney as a pinch hitter)?
*And finally, even when DeWitt seems to mess up he finds a way contribute (re: the put out at home). He's obviously no Kent with the bat, but he does seem to have a knack for being involved in the big plays.
There was lots of stuff to complain about today, but since we finished the roadie 7-3, I'll keep quiet. For now.
Down 6-2 with two out in the ninth they come all the way back to tie the game at 6. Unbelievable.
- S. Torres relieved G. Mota
- R. Theriot lined out to shortstop
- D. Lee flied out to right
- A. Ramirez doubled to deep left
- J. Edmonds singled to center, A. Ramirez scored
- M. DeRosa singled to right center, J. Edmonds to third
- G. Soto homered to deep left center, J. Edmonds and M. DeRosa scored
- K. Fukudome grounded out to shortstop
4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors
Milwaukee 6, Chi Cubs 6
Sons of Anarchy, otoh...
Answering my question, Hunter sneaked in on a rundown between first and second.
This is a back-breaker for AZ.
If the Dodgers lost this game, the margin of error would be a little uncomfortable for me.
As of now, I am VERY comfortable.
It was the most glorious total situation I have ever experienced.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/photos?photoId=2040504&gameId=280918123
It was on the Griddle almost immediately after it happened.
I wanted to eat lunch.
All 3 teams are on the road this weekend.
685 - Agreed, I'll take on any and all qualifiers. Rooting for a supposedly lesser team to face is a good way to get punished by the baseball gods. The Cubs do look like the best team right now, though.
They look really bad next year with no CC or Sheets. It'll be even worse if LaPorta turns into something good.
I remember in 2004, the Dodgers-Cardinals game was in the afternoon.
The Mets/Dodgers were also in the day.
Game 1 was a twilight game 4 p.m. in the east.
Game 2 was a night game 8 p.m. in the east.
Game 3 was a twilight game at Dodger Stadium but 8 p.m. in the east.
So, my guess is Game 1 and 2 (in N.Y, PHI or CHI) would start at either Noon or 3:30 here regardless of where we play. And game 3 and 4 potentially would start at 3:00 or 6:30.
Just got my email with the Playoff Tix Presale information.
It pays to get reserve tickets :)
Phillies 2-0
Mets 1-0
Twins 3-0
Astros 1-0
O's, 0
Jays, 1
730 its still only 7 here, I think I'd have to of been heavily drinking since about 4 to forget how to spell dodgers lol..
Today was also the first time since July 25th that the bullpen saved a 1 run lead to close out the game.
The Dodgers last 1-run win was against the Phillies (8/13) at home when Nomar hit a home run in the bottom of the 9th of a then 6-6 tie game.
Recofd by run differential per game
1 - (1-1)
2 - (2-0)
3 - (1-0)
4 - (5-1)
5 - (3-0)
6 - (1-0)
7 - (2-1)
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=bostock
She'll be promoting her latest book, Kiss My Math: Showing Pre-Algebra Who's Boss
742 {jealous whimper}
Sounds like the Padres are going to buy out Giles for $3 million instead of picking up his 9 million dollar option. He'd make sense of the Angels if they want to go fairly cheap and short years.
52. Humma Kavula
The Dodgers went 87-75 in 2008, missing the wild card by one game (Brewers!). The positives were the increasingly great play of Kemp, Loney, and NL MVP Russell Martin.
Bonus prediction:
Clayton Kershaw was called up from AA Jacksonville on May 25 to mixed results. He struck out a batter an inning, but also allowed too many walks and threw too many pitches. He was sent back down in June and recalled in August to join the rotation when Loaiza is injured. Two words to describe August 15 through the end of the season: Fernandomania II.
https://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/929624.html
"underdog
I don't know if I want to answer the question because I'm afraid of jinxing them or whatever. But instead I'll just hopefully "misunderestimate"...
89-73, one game out of first, playoffs as wild card."
Hmm, I'll be slightly off, but not much.
Heh, glad to see kinbote was dead wrong on this. Although he had no way of knowing that Kuo, Park, and Wade would basically be the backbone of the relief corps. (Broxton and Saito obviously being the face of the relievers.)
19. GMac In The 909
The Dodgers' 85-77 record in 2008 rested on the shoulders of Ron Stilanovich, who took over as third base coach after Larry Bowa was trampled by The Bison.
"3. Andruw Jones proved to be a massive disappointment, setting a team record for strikeouts while occassionally sneaking into the RF bleachers for the all-you-can-eat spread."
Drew
Ojeda
Jackson
Dunn
Upton
Montero
Young
Eckstein
Johnson
vs.
Lincecum
No Reynolds, no Snyder and no Tracy. That game is at 6:40.
The Dodgers ended the season with one of their hottest Septembers ever, leapfrogging Arizona. Broxton filled in for Saito after Sammy got injured, and the young guys picked up the slack from Jones and Pierre. Oh, At the same time they switch their AAA and AA teams to new locations in New Mexico and Tennessee."
Er, I meant to write that there, just forgot to post it. I have my notes to prove it somewhere.
Juan Pierre was never seen again.*
That one inning that McDonald pitched counts as contributing, right?
The Dodgers went 91-71 in 2008, because of the depth of their pitching. Clayton Kershaw, James McDonald, and Scott Elbert all came up and contributed to the team. The team went into a lull in the beginning of the season because of injuries, but then a mythical beast arrived and created a media frenzy and propelled the Dodgers to the top of the NL West.
Juan Pierre was never seen again.
That one inning that McDonald pitched counts as contributing, right?
Five women on the team, 3 needed to field a full squad, 4 of the 5 can't make it tonight.
Should have done kickball.
Turn that frown upside down, because tonight, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is back!!!
(mixing up history is fun!)
I was hoping their mascot was Joseph Gordon-Levitt looking confused by a math problem.
did you see my ex?
Fans voted for it.
If only the rest of my run on paragraph had been so prophetic. The only thing I got right were injuries and a NL pennant.
On the plus side I got snipped at by Frip which has to count for something.
1-0 Giants Top 2.
Thank the baseball Gods that the Rockies picked Greg Reynolds with the 2nd pick in the 2006 draft instead of Longoria. He would have rewritten all of the Rockie record books.
Going to buy a 'Topes hat pronto.
1-0 Giants Top 3.
1-0 Giants Bot 3
1-0 Giants Top 4.
I am hoping for a nice long extra inning affair tonight with Timmy getting a no decision but the Giants pulling it out.
1-0 Giants Top 5.
---
In honor of 4+1 day, I want to share this fan tribute clip with you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HKwIipYtyI&feature=related
Look at the way he managed to track Nomar's game winner in the moment!! How cool is that? And doesn't it fit in perfectly with the "The Natrual" music?
---
By the way, do you guys remember that 4+1 had a sequel, the next year? Yep, and JD Drew was in it too!
(Partially NSFW)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7PNTtLFnWc&NR=1
Sequels are never as good as the original.
2-2 Bot 8.
D'Backs are in save situation territory.
Lincecum threw one to many changeups to Adam Dunn.
Well Done!
Not worrying, but it's just annoying.
It's a very low self-esteem fanbase.
You make it sound like he was born without limbs. He's gifted with a golden arm he doesn't even have to take care of.
Poor guy.
Yes, much worse than the likes of Seattle, Texas, Kansas City, etc.
Ah well, just gotta get the wood together for tomorrow night's game. The Blue Crew is money at home!
Magic Number: 7
If the Dodgers go 4-5 in their remaining 9 games the Diamondbacks will have to 8-2 in their remaining 10 games in order to force a divisional tiebreaker at Dodger Stadium.
Dodgers head home for 6 with the Giants and Padres. While the D'Backs go on the road for 7 with the Rockies and Cardinals.
ESPN ranks the top 50 hitters. Matt Kemp is at 23?! Manny is at 33!?!
But yes, looking for a Giants' win is just... weird.
The Park to DeWitt to Martin play that saved the game.
I feel like tomorrows game could be weird with the on and off zito and maddux...for some reason I expect the D backs to hit big in colorado, but im counting on stellar home performances from kuroda and lowe
...So Nomar's previous injuries saved him from this injury?
http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-dodfyi19-2008sep19,0,2507770.story
Ah well. Timncecum's arm is gonna fall off at this rate, but he pitched his little heart out. Anyway, I'm not too worried about the Dodgers but I do hope the Giants play as bad as they're capable of through this weekend's series so the following weekend's series becomes meaningless.
Kuroda vs. Hennessey
Lowe vs. Cain
We should be able to win two out of three. Let Arizona try to play perfect baseball. All we have to do is to win series.
Giants @ Dodgers
Barry Zito (L) v. Greg Maddux (R) 7:40 p.m.
Brad Hennessey (R) v. Hiroki Kuroda (R) 7:10 p.m.
Matt Cain (R) v. Derek Lowe (R) 1:10 p.m.
D-Backs @ Rockies
Max Scherzer (R) v. Jorge De La Rosa (L) 5:05 p.m.
Doug Davis (L) v. Aaron Cook (R) 5:05 p.m.
Dan Haren (R) v. Greg Reynolds (R) 12:05 p.m.
Yes, Low Kuroda I think will pitch real well. I think we need 5 out of 6 for the homestand. I think expecting lots out of St. Louis is a mistake. Best thing we have going in that series is Albert going for the MVP. Hope Colorado comes up big.
Magic number ... magic number ...
roll Dodgers roll ... keep on rolling guys
There is no false sense, we got a three and a half game lead!
Ethier's assist at second didn't hurt, either.
Kuo, shut down since experiencing discomfort in his left triceps tendon after pitching Sunday, played catch with no problem and plans to throw off a mound Friday.
Woo hoo!
Awesome, I didn't realize that Maddux pitches will against the Giants.
http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080918&content_id=3502060&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la
Go Dodgers, we can do this!
Is that stat relevant at all, when teams change players so much?
Plus, he's not good anymore.
Did it not?
What a shame, Plaschke... that article had such promise. Or not.
Cubs - MN 2
Rays - MN 3 (for playoffs)
Red Sox - MN 4 (for playoffs)
Dodgers - MN 7
Phillies - MN 8 (for playoffs)
White Sox - MN 9
Mets - MN 9 (for playoffs)
Rays - MN 10 (division)
Phillies - MN 10 (division)
Also, Brandon Webb will pitch the 'half' a game...game on Monday. That game will decide which way that hanging half a game will fall.
The Dodgers just need to take care of their own business and none of this matters. A Dodger win and D'Backs loss would definitely help though. The Diamondbacks are at a point where they need to win every game.
For the Dodgers to clinch at home they need the D'Backs to lose. Winning the division may have some nice odds but doing it at home could be a little difficult. To avoid a meaningful series in San Francisco we will need a little help from Colorado and St. Louis.
This can be over as soon as Monday but it can also carry over to next weekend. I'll be there tomorrow and even with a three and a half game lead I'll be on the edge of my seat.
Are you kidding me? Sure hurt Ryan Howard. this year. You know, the guy who's hitting 50 homers and got guys like Plaschke all hot and bothered with the MVP talk.
The Rockies broadcasters, meanwhile, can't even pretend to enjoy the game their covering.
~100 posts to go until we reach the 1000 mark!
I'm not sure what we're apologizing about, but I wanted to jump in just in case I needed to.
In 2004, going into their last 9 games, the Dodgers had a 2.5 game lead over the Giants and the magic number was 7. The difference that year was that the Dodgers and Giants still had 5 more games against each other.
A 10-game road trip, then a 3-game homestand to end the season.
Ouch.
Note to self: If I make the trip to SF for the Sept 27/28 games, do not borrow Icaros's laptop.
I got to invoke Evan Longoria and his contract with the Rays! I will try to work sports, and especially baseball, into any possible medium.
Since then in 13 starts he is 7-0 with a 2.40 ERA. Maddux's teams are 10-3 in those starts.
(Now I'm just going for some sort of record)
Take that Wes Parker!
Eight-year olds, Eric.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2008/09/18/SPGE130JM9.DTL
Lincecum has no chance for 20 wins, but he can win 19 after management decided to alter the rotation to get him one extra start. Instead of pitching for the final time against the Rockies on Wednesday night, Lincecum will open the final homestand on Tuesday then close the season against the Dodgers a week from Sunday.
The decision made before the game was somewhat surprising, especially after Lincecum's 138-pitch shutout at San Diego on Saturday. Bochy made the call in consult with pitching coach Dave Righetti and general manager Brian Sabean.
"He's throwing the ball great and he's feeling great," Bochy said. "Why not get him three more starts?"
The easy answer is that Lincecum already leads the National League in pitches thrown, the Giants are well out of the race and odds are the Dodgers will have the West clinched before Game 162. The risk-reward ledger tilts heavily toward treading cautiously with that franchise-changing right arm.
Billingsley vs. Lincecum. But, I can wait until 2009.
BTW, Lowe starts on September 21st. His next start after that would be on regular rest September 26th. Kershaw may have to be skipped. Which conveniently would allow him to be ready to pitch on October 1st.
There is no path I can see that has Billingsley lined up on regular rest for October 2nd. He starts on September 23rd and hopefully not again in the regular season. So, bullpen work will have to suffice. Same goes for Kuroda.
Sorry - that should read "or D'backs to lose one".
V.I. Lenin! Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov!
I got a craving for some In-N-Out burgers now.
The one on Camrose?
Forget about The Big Grabowski. We really need The Little Grabowski Urban Achievers.
Other than that good luck from France on reaching 1000. Has it ever been done before?
Two or three other times I think.
I think "The Loney" game had 1500+ comments.
https://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/522658.html#comments
They probably know something we don't but still... Again, I really liked what FJM wrote about that whole thing.
I should really figure out the proper proportions for coffee one of these days.
Has anyone still not received their Friday pre-sale ticket information?
I haven't received my info yet either. I actually called the Dodgers last night (866-DODGERS) regarding this and the helpful rep told me they wait until the day of to prevent the information being sold in advance, like on eBay or something. The pre-sale starts at 10am, so if I still don't have an email by 9:30 or so I will probably call again.
MLB sets the prices, and I haven't seen 2008 info yet, but here is the 2007 info:
http://mlb.mlb.com/ari/ticketing/postseason_2007.jsp
Division series was between $15 and $185, and the LCS was between $25 & $200.
In 2004, before the Lima game they were showing Game 4 of the 1988 NLCS (the Scioscia bomb off Gooden). Similar chills ensued.
Hey guys,
I just got my Dodgers playoff presale info today in the email box. It gives a very obscure "pass code" and a link to purchase the tickets.
If you haven't received it yet, make sure to check the email account that's registered with your Ticketmaster account. At one time I used a very old email address with TM and had to check there.
I wonder if the Friday game (a week from today) that I'm going to will mean anything. It would be neat to see the Dodgers clinch, but not so neat if it's close and the Giants are aiming to play spoiler. Yaarrrrgh. Avast!
vr, Xei
Ramming speed ahead, ye blue bilge rats, we've got booty ta plunder! Y'aarrrrgh!
http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html
If I borrow Icaros's laptop, I swear I won't look up news stories like this (I swear):
http://tinyurl.com/4jguxc
Mark&Brian(95.5 KLOS) have been all over it for the past hour. =)
Callers are calling in doing pirate voices. LOL
Mark and Brian are still on the air? :)
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First pigs, now cats. Goodness.
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I still can't believe the Giants lost all four in Az. I call conspiracy!!
What happens to our purchase if the Dodgers don't make the playoffs?
[ducks]
It's getting more difficult to reload DT with the nearly 1K posts.
vr, Xei
The Rockies and Livan won his last start 1-0! :)
Answers to a reply to my comment of mine--
"What do pitchers really have to think about? If the catcher is calling for a pitch in a certain location, all the pitcher has to do is try to throw it there. Nothing to think about."
Maybe he disagrees with the catcher. He might want a pitch that worked with this hitter and this situation in the past, or he thinks is better right then, but the catcher wants something else. Then again, nothing for either to think about if the bench calls most pitches. But I don't think the bench usually does. Or does it? (Come to think of it, a smart pitch-calling bench could name its own price. Johnny Bench's cousin, or something. ;) Sorry .)
"Unless you want to argue that the pitcher (not the catcher) should be deciding the pitches and locations."
A dodgers.com story a while back had Penny saying he let Maddux call one of his starts in '06. Supposedly Maddux tipped pitch calls by looking to different parts of the park. I wondered if this might not have been QBS (quality baloney stuff). Supposedly the catcher calls the game. But then maybe Martin was the one looking at Maddux for calls. Penny said he was pleased with the results. He won, IIRC.
This was about when Penny supposedly quit trying to strike out everyone and decided to become more of a contact pitcher, to preserve his arm, I guess. And he did seem to do all right with noticeably less K's for a good while, tho his K rate dropoff alarmed quite a few folks. However he did it, I think Penny won more games than anyone in the league over a couple years, didn't he? Seems like more than 30 wins, not many losses, 16-4 or so at one stretch, IIRC.
For a good part of this year Penny has been a contact pitcher, all right. Very much contact...contact over and over, and over a fence too often, not quite what he had in mind. Now the wear and tear on his arm may be career-threatening, IMO.
"Which raises a question: is there any generally accepted rule of thumb in baseball that a pitcher shouldn't shake a catcher off "too much," and should accept the catcher's pitch recommendation "most of the time"...?
You'd like to think the pitcher and catcher would be on the same page from pregame planning. But a pitcher might not have confidence in one of his pitches. Or a catcher might be trying to tell a pitcher one of his pitches isn't working, but the pitcher still thinks highly of it, says it will work.
Solution for catcher: go out to mound and 'splain things to dummy...unless dummy is Greg Maddux or another All-Star, in which case smart catcher might wish to give dummy pitcher a bit of latitude.
End of ramble (acknowledges cheering). Guess I'm better at adding length to the quest to get to 1000 than number of comments.
This year they have received only 71 such starts.
I'm pretty sure each account gets a specific password.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080919/ap_on_re_us/light_rail_crash
Now I'm just feeling woozy from the high comment numbers {swoon}
It seems a little crooked to me.
In one of the Broxton threads there was talk about the look in his eyes and his supposedly getting flustered at times.
Think I've read that not showing it if things bother him is one of Mariano Rivera's strengths.
From my regrettably limited viewing of Dodger pitchers, Maddux doesn't seem to show much either. Derek Lowe, however, can be a tantrum-in-waiting. Seems like when Lowe starts stomping around the mound, often it's a good idea to get the bullpen ready because usually Lowe won't be around much longer. Lately there's been none of that as Lowe's been on a tear. Penny was volatile, but he seems more even-keeled now. Kuroda, from what I've seen, is pretty calm, at least externally. (But the outfield grass might be in danger post-game if he does badly.) I don't see nearly enough Dodger pitchers on TV, period, certainly not enough to be sure of their mound temperament.
But I have seen Broxton look a bit upset when things don't go well. Not accusing him of "choking" or "doesn't have the closer mentality" (whatever that means, , anyhow). But when he's upset it does seem to show. That kind of body language or facial expression can give "aid and comfort to the enemy," as in "ordinarily, we have no chance against this guy, but today maybe we can get him."
Whatever Broxton's eyes or facial expression, he's definitely in trouble if relief pitchers "should never let 'em see you sweat." Big, big trouble. Big guy sweats just thinking about pitching.
Brox really needs to grasp that at even 80% he's still way better than all but a handful of other relievers at 100%, including other closers.
Maybe learning to take a bit off some pitches, especially the FB, would help. Or, could he learn this supposed super slider grip Honeycutt reportedly showed Kuroda, and maybe others? If Brox threw occasional sliders or splitters or something in the low 80s, or high 70s. nearly 20 MPH off his FB, hitters would have no chance. His slider usually sits high 80s now, I think. Maybe a changeup? Talk about lethal....make that even more lethal...didn't he say recently Maddux had shown him a better changeup grip, or was that Kershaw?
Supposedly speed variation was one of Pedro's great assets at his peak. A 95+ FB followed by something in the 70s was extremely difficult to deal with, I recall reading. One hitter said that combo wasn't something you see every day. Wonder if Broxton could come up with something similar?
It's only hot in the summer because our parents used aerosol deodorants in the 1970s.
Yep, hot weather would make it more noticeable.
Anyone remember what the product was that the "never let 'em see you sweat" commercial featured?
I'm on the phone with Ticketmaster right now discussing why I have not received my password yet. I didn't know about the 48-hour wait though. I bought my ticket at like 7pm Wednesday, so if I have to wait until tonight that will royally suck.
I like my leaves to stay green, thank you very much!
Roll, roll, roll-on
All soggy and wet
Spray your underarms
What a fog you'll get
Unfortunately, I forget the second half.
I am on call #2 right now, after the previous 35 minute call (mostly on hold) eventually led me to be transferred to the Baltimore Ticketmaster. When I told her I was calling regarding Dodger tickets, she asked, "What state is that, New York?"
On the flight back I had the privilege of sitting with two scouts who were at the whole series. One was with the Cubs and one with the Brewers. Both were scouting LA for a potential playoff matchup! Needless to say I picked their brains for an hour plus and learned a ton. They were actually a bit freaked out by how much I knew about the team. I tried not to give away any inside tips like "bait Torre into using Mark Sweeney." A few odds and ends that I can recall- mostly from the Cubs scout:
- They love Lambo and likened his stroke to JD Drew.
- They're believers in Kershaw but think he needs a changeup to become an elite guy. Relies too much on the fastball and was missing spots all day long. They had him topping out at 94 and think he's wearing down. They questioned whether he'd start in the postseason. Still they fear him more than Maddux who they claim has lost his command.
- Cubs guy loves Dejesus and recommended that Hendry ask for him and Meloan in the 2006 Maddux trade!
- Furcal worked out at SS in PNC and looked 100% according to onlookers! The guy had dinner with Dodger people including Steiner and they said Furcal's hammies are sore and he's taking it slow. I asked if they had a 1 game lead would he be rushed back and he said it wouldn't surprise him. Both guys laughed when I asked about Berroa's defense.
- I grilled them on LaRoche and both said he pretty much is a mess. They confirmed a lot of the suspicion around here that the club never really believed in the guy. The guy said his line drives tail back to the right which tells them he doesn't release the bat head properly. This all sounded like scouting mumbo jumbo to me.
- They think Billingsley is a beast. They argued whether he was throwing a slider or a cutter and compared that pitch to Rivera and Robb Nenn in his prime! And this during his supposed worst start since April.
I'll post more if I remember anything else of interest.
I got my tickets sorted out by calling the dodgers ticket office directly: three two three two two four 1 4 seven one
They gave me my correct password and I had no problem buying tickets just now on line.
This, plus Scherzer on the mound for the Snakes in Colorado has me concerned about the Dodgers chances to reduce our magic number tonight...
"No, what?"
"They don't."
I think a big part of Chad's continued improvement is the use of that cutter. According to fangraphs he's using that pitch 4.5% more this year and it seems like a very effective strikeout pitch against right-handed batters.
Great stuff, any comments on Martin/Loney/Kemp/Ethier?
NJR, thank you very much! I called that number and was helped very quickly (i.e. under an hour) and I just bought two tickets for each NLDS game.
I'm in field level 51 row U (gm 1) and row R (gm 2), so ToyCannon can throw stuff at me from above. :)
MN dropping by 2: 42%
MN dropping by 1: 46%
MN dropping by 0: 12%
Should be a good evening for Dodger fans.
vr, Xei
"The Giants, though, have won three straight games started by the 2002 AL Cy Young Award winner, who is 1-0 with a 4.34 ERA in that span."
Maybe I'm just a "nattering nabob of negativism" but tonight's games (AZ and us) are giving me the willies...
Any way you slice it Zito stinks. He walks a ton of guys, almost walks as many as he K's and averages less than 6 K's per 9.
1006 Great stuff indeed, big. You could've probably revealed some insider secrets about Mark Sweeney - I bet they already know he sucks. ;-)
Someone get that to Maddux, especially after his last start.
As if he needed more motivation than he already has.
He's not conceding the bet to me and sticking to the 125 IP requirment. Am I wrong to be a little peeved? I know if the situation were reversed I'd have conceded the bet to him becuase getting cheated of a full season's worth of innings would not be the reason why I lost the bet.
I hate San Francisco.
And all of its residents.
Even the Dodgers fans who live there.
Sorry, I'm a bit of a zealot in this regard. Don't take it personally. I don't hate people like Underdog and Icaros personally, just generally.
It's not personal, it's a vendetta.
You have a cat, which grants you immunity in my camp.
I don't think you have a right to be angry regarding the bet. The 125 IP requirement was agreed upon beforehand, so you should stick to it.
Except the woman was calling from Portland.
No, that is why you guys created an IP limit. Carmona was hurt and it probably effected his season.
Didn't Zito in the midst of his crappy season shut us out?
1018
I can't throw things at you because you are under the overhang, but I think I can drop things on you from the opening between the railing and the thingy attached to the railing that is fun to pound. It has many a HSC chant imprinted from my hands.
The loud people must have been Californians.
1036 Thanks, appreciate it. Don't worry about the area where I work, though, it's already trashed.
So you could spot Carmona 11.2 (or however many it would be by the end of the year) scoreless innings. Not that your buddy would go for it - sounds like he's going to hold on to his money if he's got an out.
Thought it might be a cold day in hell before I would ever hear a "Third Stone from the Sun" reference on Dodger Thoughts.
My favorite musician!
I guess we're not the only ones (re Wednesday night).
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