Baseball Toaster Dodger Thoughts
Help
Jon Weisman's outlet
for dealing psychologically
with the Los Angeles Dodgers
and baseball.
Frozen Toast
Search
Google Search
Web
Toaster
Dodger Thoughts
Archives

2009
02  01 

2008
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2007
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2006
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2005
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2004
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2003
12  11  10  09  08  07 
06  05  04  03  02  01 

2002
09  08  07 
About Jon
Thank You For Not ...

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

81
2008-09-27 20:39
by Jon Weisman

There's actually more to talk about, but I just wanted to get this up there ...

Greg Maddux: six innings, 47 pitches
Chad Billingsley: two innings, 23 pitches
Takashi Saito: one inning, 11 pitches

Dodgers had 61 strikes, 20 balls in nine innings.

Eighty-one. Good number.

* * *

355

Maddux is now eighth all-time in career victories, breaking a tie with Roger Clemens.

* * *

201

Chad Billingsley finishes his regular season with 201 strikeouts in 200 2/3 innings.

* * *

.400

Manny Ramirez entered Saturday batting .400 as a Dodger, but went 0 for 2. If he went 2 for 3 Sunday (though he probably will rest), he would be back to .400. There hasn't been a .400 hitter with as many at-bats as Ramirez in the National League since Bill Terry in 1930.

* * *

.500

Ramirez also walked once, leaving his on-base percentage at .489. He would need to reach base in five consecutive plate appearances to reach .500 as a Dodger. Even if Ramirez sits out the game, he would still have the highest non-Barry Bonds on-base percentage by a player with 225 or more plate appearances since Arky Vaughan in 1935.

* * *

$2,500,000

Bill Shaikin of the Times points out that the Dodgers might be paying their Game 2 lineup a grand total of $2.5 million in salary.

* * *

Now for the bad news. Hong-Chih Kuo warmed up tonight in the top of the eighth inning, but then headed straight for the dugout and clubhouse. Hopefully, it's nothing serious, but that would seem to eliminate his chance of being on the National League Division Series roster. In a related note, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports that Clayton Kershaw will pitch out of the bullpen in the first round.

Rafael Furcal, on the other hand, went 2 for 4 (with a caught stealing). If his body will let him out of bed Sunday morning, he's a good bet for the playoffs.

Nomar Garciaparra has been appointed manager for Sunday's finale by Joe Torre, writes Jim Alexander of the Press-Enterprise. Tommy Lasorda has been demoted to No. 3 ...

* * *

Bob Timmermann runs down the latest with the remaining playoff spots at The Griddle.

Comments (75)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2008-09-27 20:46:52
1.   Bob Timmermann
Fewest pitches for Dodgers pitchers in a game that the Play Index has complete pitch totals for since 1979.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN197908120.shtml

That was 80 pitches in 8 innings.

Burt Hooton had a complete game with 73 pitches a few days earlier.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN197908030.shtml

2008-09-27 20:46:56
2.   Woden325
47 pitches in six innings! Maddux is unbelievable -- I can't help rooting for him even though he has never played for my team.
2008-09-27 20:49:03
3.   Louis in SF
According to the Torre tradition a veteran gets to manage tomorrow. If it is Sweeney this hopefully insures he won't be on the 25 man roster. Other alternative is Maddux
2008-09-27 20:51:21
4.   68elcamino427
Congrats to Greg Maddux on passing another milestone in the record books.
Maddux reached back and delivered a classic performance.
This will be more memorable for me because Maddux did it against the Giants in a very close game.

Saito looked very good tonignt. His courage deserves respect.

2008-09-27 20:51:43
5.   Eric Stephen
I'm going to go out on a limb and say if the Dodgers score 81 runs this postseason they will be world champions (or "world's champions" as Duke Snider likes to say).
2008-09-27 20:52:06
6.   Bob Timmermann
I am skeptical as to the accuracy of the 73 pitch total for Hooton in 1979. The LA Times story of the game makes no mention of Hooton throwing so few pitches. But the game did take just 2:23 to play.
2008-09-27 20:52:44
7.   Gen3Blue
Excellent point Jon, and I didn't even get LATed!

384 or which ever. I
totally agree with anything that attempts to include management, Osuna, and Sweeney in the same conspiracy.

2008-09-27 20:53:32
8.   Bob Timmermann
However, I do believe that Aaron Cook had a 79-pitch nine inning back on July 1.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/COL/COL200807010.shtml

2008-09-27 20:56:28
9.   Gen3Blue
I certainly haven't found Torre any better than Grady at ignoring veteran's feelings to do what is best for the team. If anything, Little did better, and he didn't have Blake and Manny to bail him out.
2008-09-27 20:57:38
10.   underdog
Icaros, you still haven't seen No Country for Old Men? Yes, it's definitely worth a watch, friend-o.
2008-09-27 21:05:22
11.   Tripon
http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-newhan28-2008sep28,0,7422972.story

Ross Newhan does a special for the Times imploring the Dodgers and Angels to resign Manny, and Texiera.

2008-09-27 21:05:58
12.   Sagehen
Forgive me if any of this was said in the last thread, since I haven't read it.

I was hoping Maddux would get to stay in the game long enough to get the win to surpass Clemens. Good for him!

Hmmm. Does this game secure Maddux a spot as the #4 starter in the playoffs? My guess is yes.

Without Kuo, the Dodgers will need another lefty in the bullpen. If Kershaw isn't in the rotation, it's him. Otherwise, it's Elbert. Can we have both?

I will be seriously, er, disappointed if Young doesn't make the post season roster because Sweeney and Ozuna do.

I hope Torre goes through with Kent being used just as a pinchhitter. Having Kent batting in the middle of the lineup just has not worked all season, except for that one three week period. It wouldn't be so bad if Kent ever batted down at #7 or #8, where he belongs. Yeah, yeah, I know ... the order of the lineup makes little difference, but I find that hard to believe when one of your worst hitters bats cleanup.

Will Furcal really be ready?

Thanks for indulging me in my random thoughts tonight.

-- seldom poster

2008-09-27 21:07:31
13.   Disabled List
3 Torre lets a veteran manage the last game of the season? I never knew that. I think it's a terrific idea, though.

Sweeney or Maddux would be a logical choice, although Kent would certainly be an interesting one. I'd love to see his lineup.

2008-09-27 21:07:40
14.   Bob Hendley
M. Sweeney shouldn't be allowed to manage tomorrow unless he signs an affidavit that he will not be on the roster for the playoffs.
2008-09-27 21:11:45
15.   Jon Weisman
I've been updating this post for the past half hour, in case anyone was interested.
2008-09-27 21:15:09
16.   underdog
Jon = Numb3rs.
2008-09-27 21:15:43
17.   Disabled List
The possibility of Manny being the first .400 hitter (sort of) in the NL since 1930 is so full of awesome, I have to sit down.
2008-09-27 21:15:52
18.   Gen3Blue
15 I noticed that, and appreciate it!
2008-09-27 21:17:05
19.   Tripon
Joe Torre decided on Nomar Garciaparra as his manager for a day Sunday, keeping with his ritual of selecting a veteran to run the club on the final day when a post-season berth is secured.

http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/mlb/dodgers/

2008-09-27 21:17:21
20.   berkowit28
13 It's Nomar. Sweeney turned it down but will be bench coach. re Diamond Leung. Will Maddux be pitching coach? (I don't suppose Penny would come back for that...?)
2008-09-27 21:22:17
21.   Gen3Blue
Damn--if we could transfer Maddox's brain into Penny's body(when healthy) we would have a new episode of Star Trek, a world series, and a great book in one shot. I want a shot at playing Russ Martin in this one.
2008-09-27 21:30:18
22.   Bob Hendley
Rafi looked good out there. That would really give us a potent lineup with no black holes and allow us to have a pretty strong bench with Nomar, Kent, Pee Wee, JP, Hu and Adroin. We should surprise people.
2008-09-27 21:43:39
23.   68elcamino427
21
The good news is that Maddux is tutoring Clayton Kershaw on the bench.
We saw a glimpse of Maddux quietly making points to Kershaw standing by the rail of the dugout with Kershaw listening attentively and nodding in affirmation during a telecast the game before they clinched.
Kershaw appears to be cerebral enough to gain real lasting value from such encounters.
2008-09-27 21:44:02
24.   trainwreck
That was a sweet ending to the Mayorga/Mosley fight.
2008-09-27 21:45:52
25.   larry slimfast
I bet it shakes out like this.

kemp
martin
ethier
manny
bearded
loney
furcal
dewitt

pierre
kent
berroa
nomar
ardoin
ozuna (young would be a pleasant surprise)

lowe
bills
kuroda

maddux
park
wade
saito
proctor
beimel
broxton
kershaw

2008-09-27 21:47:33
26.   Tripon
http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/2008/09/maddux-no-355-and-no-31.html

Maddux and Torre says that Maddux is likely going to pitch in the bullpen.

"The pen is better than 'no pitch,' " Maddux said. "I'd rather pitch in the pen than go home."

2008-09-27 21:53:13
27.   FirstMohican
Ok, which one of you guys is responsible for this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmEfyYxf6E0

2008-09-27 21:56:09
28.   Eric Stephen
26
A lot will depend on where the series is at to decide a potential Game 4 starter Sunday. If Lowe can go on 3 days rest Sunday (game 4), then Billingsley is on regular rest for Game 5.
2008-09-27 21:59:08
29.   still bevens
Does Nomar get to draw up the lineup card? Will the whole team be first pitch swinging?
2008-09-27 22:04:14
30.   68elcamino427
Re: Manny Ramirez

Shortly after his arrival to the Dodgers during a game and Manny approaching the batters box.

Wife, "Who is that? What's with the hair? Don't they have a uniform to fit him? He looks like a clown out there! How can the Dodgers allow that?"

Me, "Honey that's Manny Ramirez. He's probably the best right handed hitter in baseball today!"

Manny hits a home run in the at bat.

This is fun.

Get the dreds back out for the playoffs!

Make Manny a Dodger for the remainder of his career ala Tommy.

2008-09-27 22:06:39
31.   68elcamino427
Re: Manny Ramirez

Shortly after his arrival to the Dodgers during a game and Manny approaching the batters box.

Wife, "Who is that? What's with the hair? Don't they have a uniform to fit him? He looks like a clown out there! How can the Dodgers allow that?"

Me, "Honey that's Manny Ramirez. He's probably the best right handed hitter in baseball today!"

Manny hits a home run in the at bat.

This is fun.

Get the dreds back out for the playoffs!

Make Manny a Dodger for the remainder of his career.

2008-09-27 22:06:39
32.   68elcamino427
Re: Manny Ramirez

Shortly after his arrival to the Dodgers during a game and Manny approaching the batters box.

Wife, "Who is that? What's with the hair? Don't they have a uniform to fit him? He looks like a clown out there! How can the Dodgers allow that?"

Me, "Honey that's Manny Ramirez. He's probably the best right handed hitter in baseball today!"

Manny hits a home run in the at bat.

This is fun.

Get the dreds back out for the playoffs!

Make Manny a Dodger for the remainder of his career.

2008-09-27 22:07:27
33.   Chuck Essegian
Great to see Saito back in the closer role. Also great to see Stanford about to win one tonight on the road.

I apologize if someone already answered this last night, but how does a ball that hits the top of the wall and bounces straight back into the field count as a homerun? Is there some special ground rule at AT&T regarding that right field fence?

2008-09-27 22:07:44
34.   Tripon
29 Nomar gets to decide the lineup card with the exception of Manny not playing.
2008-09-27 22:08:21
35.   68elcamino427
Wow - a rare triple
30 was sufficient.
2008-09-27 22:12:48
36.   Bob Timmermann
33
Because the ball hit a roof on top of the fence. And that's considered to be a home run.
2008-09-27 22:20:07
37.   Chuck Essegian
36
Thanks for the explanation on the HR.

Yikes - Washington just scored against Stanford - I hope I didn't speak too soon in claiming a Cardinal victory.

2008-09-27 22:23:25
38.   Tripon
Zambrano scratched from Sunday's start against the Brewers. Instead Angel Guzman starts.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3612971

http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/guzmaan01.shtml

2008-09-27 22:27:15
39.   Tripon
Joe Torre had intended to bring in Kuo for the ninth inning to test his balky left elbow, but Kuo couldn't get loose in the bullpen, so he was scratched. He then threw in the indoor batting cage and felt better, but the tests are a precaution. Should know more in the morning.

http://www.insidesocal.com/dodgers/

2008-09-27 22:28:06
40.   Bob Hendley
25 - You may be right Torrewise, but I can't see any benefit of having either Berroa or Ozuna, let alone both of them, on the bench. They are neither PHs or defensive replacements.
2008-09-27 22:37:53
41.   underdog
25 That's about how I have it, except I really do think Pee Wee's gonna make it over Ozuna. I can understand them wanting Berroa, you need one backup/utility infielder, but I hope Ozuna's showing tonight sealed how poor a player he is. We'll see. The rest seems pretty locked in at this point, especially now that it seems definite Kuo is out.
2008-09-27 22:39:12
42.   kinbote
10 If the rule you followed led you to this of what use was the rule?
2008-09-27 22:39:34
43.   Tripon
http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-simers28-2008sep28,0,200227.column

New Simers article.

2008-09-27 22:41:32
44.   Tripon
also, the simers article has Manny ripping on Boston.
2008-09-27 22:47:59
45.   Bob Hendley
Berroa only makes sense if they think that Rafi might breakdown and ohn hell would need to start, otherwise the glove off the bench should be Hu, who can play second as well. The only value that Pablo might have is to PR for Kent if he gets a pinch hit.
2008-09-27 22:50:13
46.   bhsportsguy
So who is up for a impromtu DT gathering prior to the game on Saturday?

I don't think we can do a picnic but we could meet up somewhere and then head over to the Stadium for batting practice, etc.

Any thoughts?

2008-09-27 22:52:25
47.   Bob Timmermann
Much more will be known once the game time starts. But I will probably be going to the game straight from work on Saturday.
2008-09-27 22:59:43
48.   bhsportsguy
Postseason Roster Thoughts
Pitchers (11)
Lowe
Billingsley
Kuroda
Kershaw
Maddux
Beimel
Wade
Broxton
Saito
Park
(Kuo, Proctor, Troncoso)- in preferred order

Catchers - 2
Martin
Ardoin

Infielders - 7
Loney
DeWitt
Furcal
Blake
Garciaparra
Kent
Berroa

Outfielders - 5
Ramirez
Kemp
Ethier
Pierre
Young

I still think it will be Ozuna for Young. And if Kuo can't go, it will be Proctor.

2008-09-27 23:02:17
49.   bhsportsguy
47 UCLA fans on certain message boards are upset with several coaching decisions today. Also, according to a game story I read, the players were not too happy with all the red at the Rose Bowl.
2008-09-27 23:06:54
50.   underdog
SNL is worth watching tonight at least briefly (saw a few clips from it after east coast premiere). Er, no rule 5 violation intended.

I think 46 has it right.
Hopefully tomorrow's announcement will be anti-climatic.

Okay, off to wait at the airport for my g/f to arrive and try to stay awake. Fun!

Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2008-09-27 23:09:51
51.   Eric Stephen
48
I think you have it right, there. And I agree that the club prefers Ozuna to Young.
2008-09-27 23:12:25
52.   trainwreck
49
There was a lot of it.
2008-09-27 23:13:28
53.   Bob Timmermann
49
The coaching decisions wouldn't have been bad ones if the defense made plays.

There will be a lot more red at the Rose Bowl on December 6.

2008-09-27 23:13:35
54.   underdog
Er, I meant 48 in 50, not 46.

Hike!

2008-09-27 23:14:50
55.   Bob Timmermann
The Fresno fans sitting near me were pretty nice people. They liked their team, but they weren't trash talkers. They weren't all completely drunk, unlike fans of another California public university located in northern Alameda County.
2008-09-27 23:17:24
56.   Eric Stephen
53
I hope to be among the sea of red on 12/6.
2008-09-27 23:24:25
57.   Bob Timmermann
56
And then again on 1/1?
2008-09-27 23:27:53
58.   bhsportsguy
The ones near me were alternately happy and disgusted until the final 9 minutes of the game.
2008-09-27 23:29:03
59.   Kevin Lewis
46

I might be interested in hanging out before the game

2008-09-27 23:29:19
60.   bhsportsguy
50 At least you were able to shower tonight.

The question is will you do that starting next Wednesday.

2008-09-27 23:31:13
61.   Bob Hendley
Pablo plays Manny's foil on the bench, so that is not unimportant.
2008-09-27 23:33:51
62.   Louis in SF
51

Why do you think the club prefers Ozuna over Young? Young has been the top pinch hitter coming off the bench and is a switch hitter.

As far as defense goes, with Berroa and Dewitt on the team, I don't see who Ozuna backs up.

2008-09-27 23:36:34
63.   Eric Stephen
My list of Paul Newman movies seen is embarrassingly short. Over the next month or so I will try to work many of those in.
2008-09-27 23:38:17
64.   bhsportsguy
51 Because with Pierre, Kent and Nomar, Torre and company are not as concerned with pinch-hitting. But Ozuna gives them (in their minds) more uses for double switches and he can also pinch hit.

Young is not going to subbing for anyone defensively and again with the others listed above coming off the bench, he probably would not see a lot of time.

2008-09-28 00:19:34
65.   overkill94
63 Of the ones I've seen with him in them, I would rank them:

1. The Sting
2. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
3. Hud
4. Nobody's Fool
5. Cool Hand Luke
6. The Verdict
7. The Hustler
8. Road to Perdition

All were good movies, so don't take my ranking of Road to Perdition last as a bad thing.

2008-09-28 00:21:31
66.   trainwreck
I am surprised no one has mentioned Slap Shot. That is a great movie and you get to see Paul Newman swear and kick butt.
2008-09-28 00:38:05
67.   LAT
I owe Greg Maddux both an apology and a thank you. I said he wouldn't win tonight and he did and by doing so he clinched my bet for me. Also, I am in favor of anyone who pushed Clemens down the list.

I missed Paul Newman Thoughts but my top five are

1. Luke
2. Verdict
3. Nobody's Fool
4. Hustler
5. Road to Perdition

Worst Newman Movie (This is a no brainer): Color of Money. (And anyone who knows me knows why.)

2008-09-28 00:44:03
68.   Gen3Blue
Darn, I can't sleep.

The Griddle is fantastic.
DeWitt keeps reminding me of Russell.

2008-09-28 03:31:49
69.   bhsportsguy
67 I have always loved the closing argument in "The Verdict."
2008-09-28 03:51:59
70.   The Dude Abides
The scene in The Verdict where the Melinda Dillon character collects all the newspapers is one of the most haunting, touching scenes in movies over the past thirty years or so.
2008-09-28 08:10:56
71.   D4P
USC, UCLA, WSU, and UW are a combined 0-6 in the Pac-10, and 4-12 overall.
2008-09-28 08:40:07
72.   Ken Noe
They're not the best, but Hombre and Absence of Malice also deserve mention.
2008-09-28 08:44:47
73.   LAT
If today Charlotte Rampling sold information to James Mason about Paul Newman's case as she did in The Verdict, they would both be disbarred and probably criminally charged. Just ask Terry Christensen and Anthony Pellicano.
2008-09-28 08:53:22
74.   Jon Weisman
NPUT
2008-09-28 10:19:00
75.   ToyCannon
73
Since when did any movie or tv show having to do with the courtroom have anything to do with reality? Or anything for that matter.

Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.