What's our vector, Victor?

Jon-- whatever happens tonight I cannot tell you how much joy and meaning I have gotten from reading this site every day. It has made me a better fan and most likely a better person as well. Many thanks!

(Sorry, but it has to get the response.)

There's been a little problem in the dugout.
The dugout? What is it??
Well it's a long space off the field where the players sit. But that's not important right now.

You ever been to a Turkish Prison?

Elaine (stewardess): Would you like something to read?
Old Lady: Do you have anything light?
Elaine: Uhh...how about this leaflet, Famous Jewish Sports Legends?

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/news/postseason/traces.jsp?loc=traces_scully

Darnit, I wish I didn't have to bust my own buns for the next 78 minutes to get all my work done.

http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=131756

And Leon's getting laaaaarger!

Oh, and Obama's 30 minute time buy is going to push back the start of Game 6 of the WS:

http://tinyurl.com/545f5j

http://tinyurl.com/4qlyt4

"How about Mr. Rogers?"

Is anybody else already feeling a little sick? As in, too sick to come in to work tomorrow if this one goes extras? Fortunately it only happens in one October...

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Yes, yes, I remember, I had lasagna.

http://www.amazon.com/Stewardess-Flying-Plane-American-Films/dp/082125751X

Billingsley: Yes.

Reporter: First time?

Billingsley: No, I've been nervous lots of times.

I'm wondering if he'll change polarity if we rub him against a magnet.

You people call yourselves Airplane fans.

I hear there's a separate trailer for Eric Karros' hair.

Did they really say that about Billingsley?! Sheezus, I'm glad I missed that part. I was irritated by them even missing that.

[pounds jukebox]
[I Love LA starts playing]

That's 'Clarence Oveur', over.

Yes, they did. Zelasko even accused him of blaming others for his failure. It was revolting.

He needs to act like a crybaby prick? I'd rather not see it.

(Especially with all that Billingsley negative energy clogging up the place.)

Why do you have to yell and scream all game to "go after hitters?"

Anyway, I have Vin on now and all is better with the world.

I've never broken rule one, but I guess that's one of those George Carlin profanities. I'll just go prick my finger and be quiet.

That's why you get the big bucks, I guess, Joe.

So basically you just want him to be as good a pitcher as Peavy. So do I.

Just settle down, Chad. We'll love ya no matter what. But particularly if you settle down.

So relax! And let something good happen. Like that double play! Good stuff.

Just as Chad apparently did.

Which would make him, not as good of a pitcher as Peavy.

(Hey, it's a quote from Airplane!)

(continues softly muttering)

Why can't FOX use random semi celebrities to do pointless sideline reporting instead of Rosenthal?

just make 'em throw pitches, see what he has man...(basics)

Project Runway finale, the last presidential debate, and potentially the last Dodger game of the year ALL HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME.

CURSES.

Presidential debate = open contempt. Sound bites rule the day.

* Not my idea, someone else's.

!!!!!

Won't happen again! {salutes}

I'm taking my chances.

(Did I type that before? Huh.)

or maybe he would've.

Fixed.

I was trying to be nice :).

Wow, Bills getting squeezed a little bit there.

Also, Cole Hamels has an absolutely gorgeous swing.

if they were all struck mute and forced to get honest work, would anyone fail to rejoice?

Hey DeWitt: quicker tag next time!

Also, Rollins was out.

And McCarver sounds dumb, again

In fact, I'd hit every single batter until they threw me out.

Two out rallies will get you to heaven. Unless you're the defending team.

3-11, 1 HR vs. Chan Ho.
6-25, 2 HR vs. Maddux.

Time for a Kent pinch hitting appearance? Too bad we can't activate Delwyn for one at bat.

Yo. cut it.

Soy un perdedor
I'm a loser baby, so why don't you kill me?

if this is my last comment of the season here, its been amazing, and again many thanks Mr. Weisman, this website has been a pleasure to read everyday I hope to be here for many years to come..

go blue

if anything at least I get good chuckles here...

274 Right, exactly.

Burrell's hit was actually a pretty good pitch watching the repeat.

Speaking of that, baseball can be a real heartbreaker.

Now listening to Harry Kalas, as Vin goes on break.

I wonder if Utley was creeped out that the umpire was reading about him.

Which he wasn't.

Hmm, but wine, wine goes down a bit smoother. I have a bottle right here. Hrm.

[drinks]

Maybe we can at least give Victorino a bruise to remember us by.

We bonded.

Then I killed him and ran him down the garbage disposal.

Cole Hamels sounds like the name of a voice-over guy. "I'm Cole Hamels, for Alpha-Beta." Something like that.

I think they crawl up through the pipes in the morning when it's cool and they're looking for a warmer clime.

I don't think there's an easy solution.

Just out of spite.

We had to call them back today.

There was 50 lbs. of honey in the attic.

Or with the bases empty. Or just a runner on first, or a runner on second, or a runner on third, or runners on first and second, or runners on first and third, or runners on second and third.

"Not very well" is my guess. Stupid pencil neck.

I wonder if Werth hurt Raffy and he's just hiding it. I wouldn't be surprised. That said, this isn't the time for heroics.

Tonight, dog (Koufax) hears angry braying from the house, dog comes to door expecting a leash.

Pavlov.

{open bottle of wine}

He is now Romeo, because he's such a good kisser.

Well, at least there'll be some consolation knowing the Phils will get slaughtered by whoever wins the AL, most likely the Rays.

Go Rays! (If you get there.)

Enough. We know who our big game pitcher is (only half kidding).

You serious? i remember 2 hard hit balls - the triple and yesterday with men at second and third.

If we dont make any changes and our infield is Loney/Dewitt/Hu/Blake our infield will just be an absolute disaster at the plate next year.

Next season's rotation, I hope.

...

Wait for it...

Also Maddux.

It's amazing that anything could make me laugh out loud tonight, but you've done it. Well done Mr. Brock.

I'm going to miss you, good sir.

Or at least mild!

Something positive!

Sabbathia allegedly wants to play on a National League California team, why not the only one who's winning?

Who gets the money, Sabbathia or Manny or both?

He seems like more of a Kansas City Royal to me.

Or maybe a Shelbyville idea.

It just keeps getting better and better, doesn't it?

You guys actually think that would be productive? Look, i like our players as much as anybody, but be realistic. I love James Loney and I think he will be a really good player. But he's not going to be a top tier first baseman offensively next year, which is what I was talking about. Dewitt hasnt proven anything anywhere, and its probably more likely that he's a career .750 OPS hitter than anything else. Blake is average at best and SS without Raffy will be a hole. We could resign Raffy and make a play for Hudson which would greatly improve the offense, but I dont see us adding much payroll up the middle when we have in house "Solution(s)."

Sigh.

One more error for Furcal and he joins Spike Owen who had 5 errors for the Red Sox against the Angels in 1986.

Gene Alley and Kevin Elster had been the only other shortstops with multiple errors in an inning in the NLCS.

515 Do the Right Shimming, next on IFC.

I think so. if anything he is driving his price down.

But the Phillies are a really good team. There's no huge shame in losing a series to them.

All of 'em — even that one guy.

He's not approaching Don Newcombe territory, he's approaching Jerry Ruess territory.

And a lot of Newcombe's poor performances in the World Series were the result of overwork during the season.

How whupped dog is that.

I need a ruling from the irony committee.

560 - not to be a stickler, but a BB is not an AB.

The end of high prices! Come to the new Springfield Mall!

And pillage, still other things.

Just an observation from this post-season, and some advice going forward:

When you have two strikes: SWING THE DAMN BAT.

Thanks,

KG

PS - I didn't say who the big thing would favor.

No...Not sad. What's that word that means "Not sad?"

Happy? Yes, that's it. Happy.

Bummer of a birthmark, Hal.

Casey Blake at second?

Bye.

Love,

Joe Torre.

I'll give the man his consistency. Stay Gold, Ponyboy.

Hamels is a legitimate ace. We have some possible ace material, and a lot of other good pitchers, but we don't have an ace.

I swear we had one of the best, if not the best, pitching staffs in the NL. I guess that must have been a long 162 game dream.

McDonald is gonna get a legit look though, that's for sure.

Casey Blake is Dr. Zeus.

OK, who wants to take me to the hospital.

Thom Brenneman approves of Tim McCarver.

I am blessed.

You kids & yer damn tivos--get off my lawn!

Book it.

9th inning, Game 7, Steven Pearce batting against Joakim Soria.

For

All

The

Marbles

Thomas

But next season, when we're back in the NLCS, I want a 3-man rotation of Sabathia/Billingsley/Kuroda or Kershaw.

Whoah, we get to start at the top of the order and we get a dribbler?

I missed much of this game, although I saw that game of bad Frisbee Furcal and Loney were playing in a bar/restaurant. The place went dead.

I guess they had us at Jimmy Rollins.

Considering how disappointing the season began, it ended great. </ reverse jinx

Now, if Kenley wins Project Runway tonight, the world will truly be against my household...

dodgers= ?

Hey, Al Michaels!

And yes I do believe in miracles.

The Smiths

--

Man, there are times I wonder how many more runs the Dodgers would have if this series had been played entirely in Philly. Of course the Phils would have more runs, too, most likely. But still... so many near misses.

Does not compute.

Again, that would've been out in Philly. That ball sums up this series in a nutshell.

Who's W.C. Fields?

Signed,

All fans under 35

Buuuuurns!!!

Interpret that any way you like.

It's a nice sweater REGARDS of who it is.

this off season is going to be terrifying.

Now we have to build on from this.

Thanks to Jon and everyone here for another great season.

---err, wife, I mean...

Congrats to the Phillies.

Congrats to the Dodgers for having a better season than I expected, and for giving me a lot of highs (and lows) and excitement this season.

He's right.

This doesn't feel so bad. 'Wait'll next year' feels credible. The Phils got stopped in the playoffs last season and now advance. Maybe next year will be the Dodgers turn.

Always a ball to hang out with everyone at Jon's house.

(Just kidding. Congrats.)

Thanks to all of you for being such great company during this memorable season. It was made all the more fun because of you.

Not that I'm going anywhere -- this is going to be one hell of an interesting off-season, too.

I've already written the 1915 World Series recap and if need be I can work on a piece on great moments in Phillies-Rays interleague play.

Tampa Bay leads the alltime series 10-5.

He coughs those up like nothing IJ...

Per commenter SuperBruinMan at True Blue LA:

So far in the World Series the Phillies have lost to the Yankees, the Red Sox, the Orioles, and the Blue Jays.

All they need is Tampa for the full AL East collection.

Go Dodgers '09!

Yeah I know I'm a downer.

The thought of Ed Wade beating us is the saddest thing ever.

I kind of do... he's a little guy man.

And the other two are way ahead of you.

Wait 'til next year.

Anyway, if this is true, that means the Rays can be the first team to sweep a World Series with all four games in front of the other team's fans.

Since it was essentially a contest to see which sheep goes to the slaughter I wouldn't say I was heartbroken, but it would have been nice to have stolen a pennant. If the pitching only hadn't blown up in two innings . . . well, actually, three innings, if Billingsley had only blown up for four once instead of twice . . .

Just make sure the pumpkin is disposed of properly, and see that the mice get nice homes.

First order of business is that we better resign Manny in the winter. Here is to a good offseason!

And if TB closes out Boston, I hope they show no mercy to Philly.

Right now I'm not too keen on the Phillies, either, so I don't know who I'd root for in that one. So, let's take care of bizness, Rays.

And I don't worry about ratings because it's not my problem. I could care less what sort of money loss Fox suffers. If anything that makes me feel better about that match-up.

LA-TB would have been better for me, though. :-(

Night folks. Back here sooner rather than later, I'm sure. But I think I need to watch a Wallace & Gromit cartoon now, or Jaws or something. Or Airplane!.

To wit:

Go Rays! Win Xei some green!

I'm going out there no matter what, but it would be nice to see some DT'ers.

Hopefully this is the first step and not the final destination. I like actually being invested in October baseball.

Okay, really out of here now.

Philly's a cool town. They deserve a title. I gotta root for the Phils from here on out.

Hopefully Torre learned that Martin isn't a clean-up hitter.

Hopefully we ALL learned about McDonald (seriously, I can't wait to see him in the rotation next year)

Hopefully the young guys learned that patience is a virtue.

I could go on and on...

I'm not sure why.

A tumultous offseason lies ahead. A public relations sensitive owner and a questionable GM both in a large market that carries quite an outspoken media. There will be LOTS of opinions on what to do... not signing Manny isn't neccesarily a bad thing, but the leftover money that "has to be spent in his place" could very well be another albatross in the making.

crossing my fingers...

Dodgers, October 2008:
Furcal
Ethier
Manny
Martin
Loney
Blake
Kemp
DeWitt/Kent/Nomar
Lowe/Billingsly/Penny/Kuroda/Kershaw/Kuo/Broxton/Saito/Wade/Biemel

Dodgers, March 2009:
SS(?)
Ethier
Manny(?)
Martin
Loney
3B(?)
Kemp
DeWitt
Billingsly/Kuroda/Kershaw/MacDonald/SP(?)/Broxton/Kuo/Wade

Not that different, depending on who fills the SP, SS, and 3B positions.

Thanks to Manny for the last 2 months.

But on the whole, this has been a great season, one that's refreshed my memory of how much fun it is to watch the Dodgers play meaningful baseball deep into October. I came of age as a Dodger fan in 1977 at the age of 7. From that point in my life until my freshman year in college in 1988, I took it for granted that it was in the natural order of the universe for the Dodgers to regularly go deep into the playoffs, as L.A. won 2 World Series, 4 NL pennants, and 6 division titles (narrowly missing out on 2 others in '80 and '82) during that span.

The dearth of Dodger playoff wins over the past 2 decades has reminded me that nothing is guaranteed in sports (or in life, for that matter) and that one has to savor the moments when the Dodgers are making a run deep into the playoffs, even if that run doesn't culminate in an appearance, let alone a victory, in the Fall Classic.

So THANK YOU DODGERS for a terrifically entertainment and memorable season. And let's hope for even greater success next season.

SP-Billz
SP-Kuroda
SP-Kershaw
SP-McDonald??
SP-???

I read today that Peavy wouldn't mind playing in LA.....what would be the cost? Kemp +prospects?? do we want to give up Kemp?

Thoughts?

Some random thoughts.

1) Matt Stairs is more productive than Ryan Howard.
2) Chad Billingsley must have been hurt right?
3) Kuroda should have started at least the first or 2nd game. Dodgers let his road/home splits physche them out too much.
4) Despite it going only 5 games, this wasn't a total wipeout by the Dodgers. They lost two late leads. Dodgers hold on to them, its a 3-2 series. Its baseball, and these things happen.
5) James McDonald should be the next thing to guaranteed a rotation spot next year. 11 innings in Sept, and Oct. and no runs scored on him. He's pitched just absolutely amazing.
6) If Maddux has anything in the tank, we should considering signing him for a low end deal. He's a 5th starter, and we could do worse.
7) Chad, just what happened man?
8) James Loney was the Dodgers 2nd best hitter in the post season, and should have been hitting 4th in this series. As the series progressed, I had more confidence in him than over Ethier, Furcal, Martin, Blake, and Kemp. Funny how baseball works.
9) Ryan Howard might be the MVP, but Brett Myers will have more RBIs than Howard this post season.

for the Dodgers.

No. Regressed would mean that his defense was bad when he started. It was never bad, and isn't bad now.

I'm going to bed. I'm just going to be a jerk for the rest of the night anyway.

Can you imagine saying in spring training "The Dodgers would make the World Series with most of their rising stars manning the lineup"? What a good season this has been. Awful finish, but considering the ride, a nice 2008.

Unless Ned is put out of his misery, I have some trepidation about 2009. It is very easy to panic and trade the guys who got us here.

Much of our lineup is under 26! Kemp, Martin, DeWitt, and Loney could turn out great. Whoever ends up in charge of this team, don't give up. Just don't give up.

I wouldn't even mind ditching Manny if NYC throws World Bank money at him. There is a future with the Dodgers.

And how about the rotation? Kuroda, Bills, Kershaw, and possibly McDonald and Stults? That rotation can go places! Perhaps the bullpen will be weaker, but perhaps not.

It's not easy being a Dodger fan. Most of your friends hate your fanbase (well, most of my friends), the media wants your team to crash and burn, and columnists will take every opportunity to put the organization down. But every time I see those cool blue cats go out onto the field, my fanship endures.

I love the Dodgers! I'll always love them through the ups and downs, twists, turns, you name it. It's been fun, y'all, and whatever happens, I'll always have you guys.

Thank you Dodgers, thank you Jon, and thank all of you, the people of Dodger Thoughts. It was a great ride.

I'll still check in during the off season as we work toward spring training.

---

Almost forgot... 800 that is a really good point! I hadn't thought of that.

actually, come to think of it, I wouldn't want to do that to the sick kids.

Maybe the offseason discussion can wait.

Ned should not be around to participate in that decision. We need someone who can be objective and isn't biased toward hoping his two follies will pull his chestnuts out of the fire. That's why he should be fired. For the past two seasons, his lack of objectivity and favoritism toward his acquisitions has hurt the team on the field as much as it's hurt Frank's pocketbook.

It's a business thing. Ned won't do what needs to be done because it might involve cutting his own throat. A new GM won't be worried about damaging his own reputation.

There. A calm rationale for firing Ned in spite of his good calls on Manny and Casey and the playoff wins, one that you might hear from an MBA (which I'm not.)

If the Dodgers had gone on to win the WS, you might give Ned another year as a reward, even though it still would be the wrong call. Sentiment counts for something. Short of that, the case is overwhelming that he needs to go.

Rob Neyer: (10:11 PM ET ) Right ... In all seriousness, DeWitt is one of the few real weaknesses on this team. I know he had a nice season, for him. But he's just not good enough to play every day. For a good team, anyway.

Mike (TX): You think Torre should have started Kent?

Rob Neyer: (10:19 PM ET ) I don't know why he didn't. I don't mean that as a knock. I mean that Torre presumably had some decent reason or reasons. I just haven't heard what they are. Anyway, Kent's in now. Hoping for a blast, now

I don't follow DT during the season too much because the daily grind of watching games just takes up so much time. For me, my DT interest & contributions come most during the offseason so tonight is actually Opening Day for me.

I am nervous about the offseason, I hope Ned & Co are very careful in the next few months, they could be very treacherous. He cannot afford another Pierre or Jones-like gaffe. Continuing to hold together the still-young core group should be #1 I think while plugging established talent into the gaps.

Thanks, Jon, as always for this blog. Let's hope the '09 Dodgers continue the upward trend.

The Dodgers could be without all of the following players next year:

Furcal
Manny
Kent
Lowe
Penny
Saito
Blake
Beimel

Included in that group are the three best players on the 2008 Dodgers. At best, only a couple of them are coming back. And those are key parts of the team: we don't make this playoff run in 2008 without Manny and Lowe, and to a lesser extent, Furcal, Blake and Saito.

This was an ad hoc team built to win right now. They didn't. And now Ned Colletti gets another offseason to bungle away.

^ also Hear, Hear!

NO!!!!!!!!!! Really, Bob? The world is not fair. Now you don't see it. Condolences out to the Narz family.

I think we'll be hearing from Eric Stephen about this.

Side question- who had a more satisfying 2008, Angels or Dodgers? Who will hear more cries to "blow it up"? It's hard to make sense of 84 wins and 4 playoff wins. It was a great ride. A MAJOR improvement over 2007 in on-field results and in entertainment value.

I'd say see y'all next year but I guess it's more like see you tomorrow with this crowd.

This is my first season spent aware of DT and all of you helped make this the most enjoyable Dodger season in years.

For two months we had our first high expectation in every at bat slugger in far too long.

Even if the kids didn't make enormous leaps forward, they've proven they can form a solid foundation that with an impact addition can play deep into October.

I'm not worried about Bills. Top 5 starter in the NL, and 18+ wins next year are more than reasonable. With full years from Kershaw and hopefully McDonald the starting staff will be young and strong.

I think Broxton is ready, right after the game ended tonight my daughter pulled his card from a new pack of baseball cards and I didn't cringe. I was happy for her and for this child of the scary bullpen years that says a ton.

Just wait 'til next year indeed, as I'm certain to be more optimistic next Spring than I was this Spring.

Thanks again everyone.

P.S. If you need a rooting interest in the next couple of days, throw some karmic love out to Jdub (10yo spawn of tjdub) who along with his teammates are starting a tournament tomorrow - the first in the 6 they've played together since last year that they have a real shot of winning. The kids of En Fuego have really turned the corner, making this a fantastic baseball season on so many levels.

To Chad Billingsley, I would give a short memory. Bills is our best starting pitcher, one of the best in the NL, and he just needs to forget about the two stinkers he produced in the NLCS and focus on the many, many good outings he gave us throughout the season.

I would give Jon Broxton a better secondary pitch, and a fitness guru. Brox throws nearly 100 mph, but his slider is a very inconsistent pitch with not much movement. The 300-pounder needs to get in better shape in order to improve his mechanics. That will allow him to have better command — with his fastball, he should throw nothing but strikes.

I would give Hong-Chih Kuo a healthy offseason and a healthy 2009. He's quite possibly my favorite Dodger. He's the biggest surprise of the season and one of the game's most overpowering relief pitchers, period. May his arm stay in one piece.

James Loney will receive brand-new weight equipment and supplements. Thirteen homers in 595 at-bats just ain't gonna cut it. He can hit 30, and this team needs that from him.

Matt Kemp: I'd give him a higher "Baseball IQ," and more quality at-bats. Still too many baserunning mistakes, and he struck out WAY too much for a guy with only 18 homers. His outfield play was a nice, nice surprise, though. He's gonna be a great player — let's just hope he figures it out sooner rather than later.

Andre Ethier: This is a tough one. He had the best season of any Dodger youngster, and I can't put my finger on what he needs most. Probably just a good hitter batting behind him in the lineup.

Russell Martin receives a better backup catcher. Martin should catch no more than 140 games next season.

Cory Wade/James McDonald: A fair chance to earn spots in the Dodger starting rotation. Unless Wade is absolutely needed in the bullpen.

Blake DeWitt: An everyday spot in the lineup, either at third base or second base. How can you not like this guy?

Rafael Furcal: A contract of some kind with L.A. I don't think we have a choice but to gamble that his back will be healthy.

Jeff Kent/Nomar: Happy retirements.

Juan Pierre/Casey Blake: A team that's willing to let them play every day. It CAN'T be the Dodgers.

Ned Colletti: The Dodgers GM needs to get a power bat. Maybe that's Manny. Maybe it's Andruw Jones. Maybe it's someone else. Colletti also needs a front-line starting pitcher or two. I realize that power bats and good starting pitchers don't grow on trees.