I'm OK. However, all my friends are sick. So I'm eating a TV dinner while watching the New Orleans Bowl.

Which leads me to wonder who is really the sick one.

This year has been an amazing learning experience for me with the birth of our son. It has been incredibly hard and wonderful all at the same time. I find myself being tired and irritable more often at work, which is a bummer for me because than I just get annoyed at myself for feeling that way. Really I couldn't have anything any better, but the new year brings uncertainty with my job. Our school will be making extreme budget cuts, so I am working on my resume this break.

No matter how many times I try the sporcle name the 50 greatest NBA players list, I usually get stuck at 48 names. And its not the same names that I can't remember.

I don't know if its because I don't think of Billy Cunningham that way or not but it bugs me. BTW, 12 players on that list played for the Celtics.

Well, there is a girl who was a very good friend of mine for the last year. So in August, I asked her to be my guest at my stepsister's wedding. After spending a weekend with her, I was ready to ask her to be my girlfriend. However, since she was going to be studying abroad fall quarter, I decided it would be best not to begin a relationship split 8000 miles. I sent her a few e-mails during the quarter about how I was doing, but never got direct responses, just occasional updates sent to all her friends in the States at once. This is understandable since she was pretty busy and had limited online access. However, she is back in Cali now and I left her a voicemail on friday and she hasn't called back. So I don't know if she's ignoring me or what but I'm pretty bummed about that.

Also, this quarter I got my worst grades yet including my first C ever. So any chance of getting into Cal or Stanford's math p.h.d program, which was borderline coming into the quarter is pretty much gone now.

However, in both cases, I realize that the fact that I even have something to lose is a blessing and that is just how life goes.

On the plus side, I've gotten to watch a lot of good football lately. And I'm sure Christmas with the family will be nice.

Sorry if this post is too negative, Jon. I'm just answering your question.

We are ... good. Though I do miss my dogs.

4 - wow, the PhD. program is pretty interesting. Should I ask what you propose your area of study to be? (Would you know at this point?)

2008 has been a good year in the Xeifrank family, or whatever is my real name. This year included an amazing 3 week 8 city trip to China highlighted by visits to Yunnan Province, Guilin and Shanghai. And today was a first for my 4 year old daughter, as we took her to the snow in the mountains back behind Ojai (75 minute drive). She loved it and the look of joy on her face was priceless, until her daddy tried to carry her up a steep snowbank, slipped and face planted her into the snow. Oops! Tomorrow will be the first trip to Disneyland.
vr, Xei

4-Hang in there. Among other things, it hasn't been three days since your call.

A great song .... a great hook.

I would have loved to have seen what Obama could do with the country in a little healthier state, but I still have hope he can at least pull us off the precipice.

This has been a very weird year for me. The industry I've worked in for 33 years is roiling like never before. It still provides a very good living for me, but I'm constantly on the lookout for the next big tidal wave. So far, I'm not piloting the Andrea Gale yet. My personal life is pretty much unchanged through the year, but I'll be 53 in a few weeks and that is the age my father was when he died. My brother died at 46, so unless I get hit by a bus, I'll have lasted longer than both of them. It's kinda weird to think about that too. Overall, I have it very good when you look at all the problems going on right now, so I stay positive.

6 Idk, one of: linear algebra, analysis, combinatorics, abstract algebra, topology, geometry, game theory...

10 The joy you take in good food is a thing to behold and something that often inspires me to stop and appreciate the things I like in my own life.

Just thought I ought to get that said while I can. ;)

10 - my maternal grandfather died at 40, and I'm 45. So I figure I'm doing okay no matter what!

10 - BTW that sounds like the oil bidness.

Thanks Sam, that's very nice of you.

10 actually came across more negatively than I wanted it to. I have lots to be grateful for. Rob, I still have my two dogs and they are a constant source of enjoyment. I feel for your loss. I've got great friends and family and this site gives me a lot of satisfaction too.

10 When I first read that I thought you said 'rolling' and not 'roiling' which would be the opposite. :/

15 - thanks.

I think I'll take the dogs out and walk down the street to Christmas Tree Lane and see the lights.

I'm doing well, considering I'm recently engaged and in the beginning stages of planning a wedding. I thought the proposal/ring purchase was tough...

I will feel good when I can find a job and move out.

My year was full of ups and downs. I got engaged in the summer and my fiancee has been going crazy for weddings ever since. So much so she has decided to take up wedding photography to compliment her attempts in the acting world (as well as hand modeling on the side). So that's exciting as we move into the new year, a possible new career for her.

For me, I had a horrible, horrible experience working as a "writers' assistant" (more like babysitter/dogsitter/housesitter/lunchgetter, as the office also happened to be the showrunners home...). We'll see what happens with the show thou, as it filmed all 13 eps without REALLY being picked up domestically, so in many ways it feels like those 9 months of my life didn't even really exist haha. It also made me realize, while passionate about tv and movies, I wanted to be a high school English teacher. Being a teacher always felt right to me but also felt like "the easy route". So as the new year is upon me, i will continue my journey to becoming a credentialed teacher. CSETS are coming up quickly. gulp.

Oh, and my two cats are going to be 2 years old next year. They had a pretty excellent year except for that week we accidently gave them bad cat food and they barfed.

19 Good luck! My advice is let her make all the wedding decisions ;D I don't know about you, but my fiancee lives on theknot.com.

20 Good luck -- may a healthy chunk of stimulus/bailout/rescue money fund a shiny new job for you!

Last month I started getting depressed because I realized that I was going bald. After a couple of days I remembered that my older brother was bald when he was 30 and my younger brother was bald when he was 40 and only now in my 50s am I going bald. I then thanked God for waiting so long to prove to me that I was not adopted.

For those not scoring at home, Southern Miss did not reach a Neuheisel/Carroll like agreement on timeouts before the start of the New Orleans Bowl. The Golden Eagles wore gold uniforms against Troy, who is wearing red. Southern Miss was dinged a timeout at the beginning of the game, but Troy did not take one.

When Troy and Southern Miss get together, you throw out the record books.

23
Thanks.

The best thing about the new year is more Lost and Flight of the Conchords!

it's been a good year. i got to go with my dad to visit my brother in argentina, i have been fortunate to have work during tough economic times, and even more fortunate to spend a large portion of time at work doing things related to baseball, and my family has been mostly happy and healthy. also, i found dodgerthoughts, which has unexpectedly changed my life. thanks to all and a very happy holidays.

Finished my degree, and got a job. Went to Europe (Paris) for the first time.

But apparently did further damage to my bad knee while in Paris, and don't have good health insurance.

28
Bad knee? Bad health insurance?

Why don't you just move to Canada?

29
Not a bad idea, eh?

Actually, I've been planning to have my knee looked at once I get there, but the latest development is making me unsure whether I'll last that long.

19 - I strongly recommend a small wedding, from experience.

Making mixed drinks with mixed feelings.

10 & 13

Both my grandfathers died @ 70

-got 15 to go, but I still consider myself lucky to be alive, all things considered.

-More concerned than I should be about the outcome of this winter's struggle between Boras and baseball.

29 - maybe he should have just stayed in France.

30 -- You're moving to Canada? I remember you saying you applied for a job to teach at the University of British Columbia, but that was a long time ago.

A terrible year for my retirement account, but I have a loving wife, great kids, two beautiful and bright grandchildren and for a newly 70-year-old fart, good cholesterol and other readings. On balance, not so bad. I'm getting ready to rev up my rotisserie team, hoping we sign Manny, maybe taking a trip to Glendale (AZ, for spring training) and maybe a trip to London for my wife's birthday. I'm hoping Barack can do half of what he has proposed, and that it works half as well as his team thinks.
Happy New Year to Jon and all the DT Team!

281. Eric Stephen
I don't see Nate on the field.

Thats because I am not a buffoon...although Rick the roulette dealer probably thinks otherwise.

After working at the same place for the past 28 years that uses a July-June fiscal year, I find that I don't get into the reflective mood this time of year as most do. Jeez. Now I am reflecting on that.

21

Mint, I passed the English CSET last year. I was surprised that I did it all in one try. I was convinced I had failed at least 2 of the 4 tests. Send me an email at kevblewis at gmail dot com, and I will be happy to send all of my study material.

On another note, I continue to struggle with no real love for a certain vocation. Teaching was put on hold because of the birth of my son. I feel like I could enjoy so many things in terms of a vocation (IT, coffee shop, education, etc). I constantly feel guilty/frustrated for not knowing exactly what I want to be doing with my life in terms of a vocation.

34
D4P is YOUR problem now....

Shimmin and I already got his citizenship revoked.

Got published, quit job, moved to LA, started graduate school. My family situation could be better, but otherwise I'm happy with the way 2008 turned out.

The Dodgers' postseason run was icing on a better-than-average cake.

Feeling apathetic about traveling with the wife to Oregon for Xmas. Her family is insane. But, frankly, I'm insane, so I guess I shoudn't complain too much. The law profession is disillusioning, so I have been focusing my efforts at directing more ineffable short films. I have never shared one on this site, so I'll do it now. And yes, it's bizarre. I hope everyone has a great holiday season. I also hope that the Dodgers can do some greater damage in '09. Thanks for your blog, Jon!

www.vimeo.com/2303770

Things are going great!
Professionally I'm surrounded by wonderful people while engaged in an activity that I love.

Personally I am presented with a rare opportunity of openeing a new chapter in my life.

I am happy and healthy and my three kids are now fine young adults who make me proud.

Stay positive and be in the moment :)

Free football in New Orleans!

Here's a particularly ugly rumor. Shimmin can change his handle to E4J.

http://tinyurl.com/6dff4h

a couple tough deaths in the family, but the good news is that I got married, honeymoon in Argentina and Uruguay, got to see boca juniors play, got an iPhone. Seeing boca play in person makes me take dodger stadium for granted. There must be so many dodger fans who have never been to ds around the world. Btw, still waiting to win lottery.

EB: "I just told him that there's a big difference between the two coasts when it comes to things like the intensity of the fans, the intensity of the media, and that you're much more accountable for everything. I told him when you go to New York you've got to know you can handle it. He turned to me and said, 'I think I can handle it.' And I said, 'No, that's not good enough, you've got to know you can handle it before you make a commitment like that.' That's when he turned to me and said, 'I know I can handle it.' And I believe him. He's got thick skin and he's done everything he's ever put his mind to do. He'll be very good there."

Jeez, laying it a bit thick there, eh?

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/articles/2008/12/21/its_the_offseason_of_hope/?page=4

La Bombanera! In Argie futbol, there is usually more action in the stands. Bostero.

I wish I learned more than one song before I went. It was amazing. The entire stadium sways when the crowd jumps and sings.

According to a report in the Dominican newspaper Impacto Deportivo, the Yankees are on the verge of signing Manny Ramirez to a three-year, $75MM deal. They say negotiations are advanced and an announcement would take place Monday or Tuesday. If true, this would be an incredible scoop.

Take it with a grain of salt. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

Petros was bashing Matt Leinart just now; called him a 'weirdo.'

Petros isn't close to Leinart at all. He's boys with Carson and Cassell though.

I had the fortune to see the Boca-River in the Monumental. The pageantry in the stands with the flags, streamers and singing was incredible. During the match each side would serenade the other and trade insults in the form of song.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/2008/12/21/20081221spt-dbacks.html

Sounds like the D'Backs are going to let Webb walk after '10 because they pulled the extension they had on the table with Webb. After Webb agreed with the extension too. Now they can't work on an agreement.

49 That sounds believable; Manny wants to play for the Yankees and the money is right.

2nd round pick for us. Bleh.

39 -- So did DP4 get the University of British Columbia job, or is he going elsewhere in Canada?

if that manny stuff is true, do we assume the dodgers got/get a chance to match?

56 No.

If its true, the Dodgers can just trade for Manny in the last two months of his contract with the Yankees paying for it while we trade away our best catching prospect. This time it will be Lucas May.

23 31 thanks! we're both in our 30's, with family spread out all over so keeping it small is going to be key. Plus, we're paying for it ourselves. The idea being that our families can pitch in to the house fund instead of splurging on a wedding.

23 31 thanks! we're both in our 30's, with family spread out all over so keeping it small is going to be key. Plus, we're paying for it ourselves. The idea being that our families can pitch in to the house fund instead of splurging on a wedding.

57 - Not even if they want him to play second base? ;)

Did I mention I'm getting married? Stupid iphone.

i'm just curious because i think it would be pertinent to know if mccourt were willing to match what seems like a reasonable deal.

41

NSFW or with in-laws watching

56

Perhaps this is the nice Boras plant to get a few more teams interested in Manny and the minimum floor of three years? With the Angels out of the bidding does Boston put in a more take it or leave it offer?

65 We'll find out by next wed. The article gave it some leeway saying the signing would be announced by Monday or Tues.

I had a great year. I got to go skiing with my kids all winter for the first time, saw two of them sing in a choir at an amazing level that I could never replicate, and took a great vacation to the redwoods and the Oregon coast. My wife is mobile for the first time in two years after successive back surgeries. All kinds of other things happened, but the best (or worst) things are always with your family.

Yahoo Babel Fish translates the Manny article as follows:

The Dominican Manny Ramirez is on the verge of signing a contract of three years and 75 million dollars with the Yankees of New York, according to trusted east Sunday to Impactodeportivo.com.do. The negotiations are outposts well and estre Monday and Tuesday would become the official announcement. Manny wanted to follow the Dodgers, but Los Angeles did not want to flojar the ticket. Ramirez, who batted,332, with 37 home runs and 121 towed between Boston and the Dodgers, will be an attraction in New York.

My favorite part is: "Los Angeles did not want to flojar the ticket." Amen.

0 I am of old and young, of the foolish as much as the wise,
Regardless of others, ever regardful of others,
Maternal as well as paternal, a child as well as a man,
Stuff'd with the stuff that is coarse and stuff'd with the stuff
that is fine

{more or less}

2008 was a strange year for me and I'm rather discombobulated too. I almost fell in love with a girl, but settled for her being my Muse. I've gone from loving my job to hating it and back, now I'm not sure how I feel about it. I'm pretty much ready to start the next adventure and almost ready to jump into it blind.

Not my best year, and not my worst. Of course, there's another two and a half months in my year.

Glad to hear your wife is doing well Daniel. Was that a surgery since I saw you at DS?

0 It was an okay year. My wife found a job in an industry that is new to her. She loves the work and is getting the best paycheck of her life.

My industry is undergoing tough times. I love my clients, but am perplexed by company management. They're acting like the 1980s will return next week. Ah well.

At least I saw six ML parks that were new to me, and also saw the young Dodgers take a big step forward.

71 No, those were before DS, each of the previous two summers.

Why would the Yankees first round pick be protected if they sign Manny? were they that bad last year ?

74
It is going to Milwaukee for CC.

74 They gave up their first rounder to the Brewers already for C.C., but they weren't able to sign Garrent Cole in the 2008 draft, and that pick is protected no matter what. It doesn't really help the Yankees. Cole was supposed to be one of the best highschool pitchers in the draft. The Yankees might not be able to draft a player of his talent in the 2009 draft.

38 Thank you, man! I just emailed you! DT saves the day!

"I'm super! Thanks for asking! All things considered I can't be better I must say..."

Well, definitely a good year. I graduated college, and got married 5 weeks ago. Some stuff didn't go quite according to plan. I've got a pretty good job, but I'm still looking for an actuarial job, because that's kind of what I went to school for. I retook the interest theory exam, and I won't know the results until early January. I also had a job interview where I was told that I need to work on my interview skills, and did not get the position, but getting so close drove me nuts. The most frustrating thing was that I spent too much time feeling unnecessarily dissatisfied when life has treated me well.

I also saw two games at the new Nats park (including opening night thanks to a tip from SamDC), but didn't make it to an O's game, or the Dodgers-Nats games. I still like the park more in Baltimore for some reason. Maybe because it has a parking lot.

Anyway, I think the Yanks giving Manny three years would be immensely entertaining. I hope Furcal is well, but the Yanks are really getting overaged the same way they did in the early 2000's.

2008 was a solid year for me. It's been nearly a year that I've been going out with my girlfriend Susan, who I met exactly one year ago today at the Cerritos Library... the romantic that I am, I took her there today briefly to surprise her in between two different events we went to.

On a business level, I left Waddell & Reed in March of this year to Corban Financial. Moved lots of folks out of the market into equity-indexed annuities.

Teaching-wise, it's now my 7th year and I still love teaching econ and gov. It was my last year coaching high school baseball, so I suppose coachjpark isn't quite a suitable name anymore. I am, however, still playing for the MSBL Whales 25+ National team. Mike Fyrhie is slated to be on the team.

Got a blackberry!

Thanks, Jon, for letting me post to fellow Dodger fans on this site. You rock.

It's been a tough year.. one of the toughest of my life. And as I say that, I realize how lucky I have been considering my family is in good health, we have a house over our heads and we have so many people who love us, all around us.

Still, it's been a tough year. First and foremost, our infant daughter had two open heart surgeries this year, six months apart. She just celebrated her one year birthday and is in good health and almost ready to walk. I had forgotten how good an age one is, so I am having a lot of fun with her. Still, the surgeries were the scariest moments of my wife and my lives and obviously, we're not looking forward to our daughter having another surgery in two years or so. One of the most painful side-effects through all this was our 3 year old son bottled a lot of (in my opinion, unavoidable) stress in and it manifested itself later in the year in his behavior. But, he is doing a lot better and we had his 4th birthday party this weekend.

Almost as tough emotionally was the fact that my cousin passed away after a roller-coaster eight month battle with cancer. He had a massive surgery that had a painful recovery but gave us hope. But it was to no avail and he passed away. He was pretty young and leaves behind a wife and young son. He spent the last two months living with my parents, and we spent a lot of time with him, which somehow did not make it any easier to see everything unfold.

Beyond that, the stock market sucked and on a personal level, I had my fifth knee surgery and finally, after twenty-odd years of non-stop soccer, I am not playing anymore. That is a transition I am still making and it's not easy. Also, I work with AIG, and the uncertainty relating to everything going on with that was unsettling, to say the least.

I think next year will be better... already the past couple of months have been so. I kinda wrote all this because selfishly, I am looking for a little sympathy, and also because, it feels good to unload and say that, other than a bout of alopecia, everything is going well and I am looking forward to the new year.

Merry Christmas, and Happy Hollidays to everyone here. You guys are closer friends to me that I like to acknowledge and I like everyone one of you, even Rob, who I never end up agreeing with. :)

Andruw Jones told Listin Diario that one of the reasons he's playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic is to prepare for the World Baseball Classic.

http://blogs.pe.com/prosports/mlb/dodgers/

81 Sorry to hear about your loss but happy to hear about your daughter's recovery, have a happy holiday season.

For myself, I guess I would say that for the most part, things remained the same.

But now, let me toss out some wishes for many of you that I have gotten to know here on DT, some of you only on this here e-mail machine but several of you actually face to face which has been great.

My wish to several DTers I have gotten to know in 2008:

Jon Weisman: Continued success with your family, career and the Dodgers, looking forward to the book.

Bob T: Just one more UCLA football victory and a day without someone asking you where the restroom is at the library.

Marty: To share a dumpling or a Langers' pastrami sandwich with you in 2009.

Eric Stephen: To start a new winning streak at Dodger Stadium and a reason to wear a Manny t-shirt to the games.

Sporky: That Chad Billingsley wins more games in 2009 and that you have continued success in grad school.

Nate Purcell: That during a Spring Training game, Logan White hears some intelligent conversation from an unidentified fan and says to himself, that guy should be working in baseball. Or Arizona makes the NCAA basketball tournament.

LAT: He calms down about the pending dating futures of his daughters.

Sam DC: That the Nats give reason to their fans to pay attention in the summer.

Andrew Shinmin: He gets a pony for Christmas.

D4P: His knee improves and he gets a new vegetarian cookbook for Christmas.

Greg Brock: HBO announces production of a new mini-series, "That Hamilton Man, the untold story of the man best known for being on the $20 bill."

CanuckDodger: The Dodgers have a least 2 first round picks in the 2009 draft.

scareduck: The Angels and Dodgers are involved in pennant races and good health to you and yours.

ToyCannon: The Clippers continue to play well and Andruw Jones makes some contribution to the Dodgers in 2009.

xeifrank: the dodgers taiwainese contigent plays well in 2009.

Ken Noe: that Auburn makes the right decision with their next football coach.

jacobburch: Colts make a run in the playoffs and fine meal in Los Angeles.

trainwreck: he can witness a ucla basketball game in person and that UCLA gets one more recruit to switch sides.

underdog: a bay area DT day with icaros, trainwreck, and the others who call the City (and surrounding communities) their home.

mollyknight: continued success, a never-ending supply of dog treats, and a chance to cover the Dodgers in the World Series

And to all others, I apologize to those I may not have mentioned here, thanks to you and everyone else for making DT a great place to come and talk Dodgers and other things, happy holidays to all and a great happy and healthy 2009.

83 82 To Tripon, good luck in school and perhaps a DT get together for donuts.

83 wow, that's what makes this blog very unique..

thanks bh and to all those you listed for making this community one that is fun and informative to follow along with, even by the less vocal readers such as myself

81 Peace and best wishes to you and your family.

My sons have both had some major behavior ups and downs including some big time acting out as we have gone through some family challenges of our own. It really is something what an added emotional burden that can be when piled on top of other tough situations. My guys have both moved forward in a pretty good way, and it sounds like yours has to, but I just wanted to acknowledge that part of your story which really rang true for me.

83 See, I was sure you'd be wishing me a new penthouse condo overlooking the National Mall with move in set for sometime in early January.

83 Dang, I wanted the pony.

83 I guess we'll see it Chizik was the right decision. But many thanks again for showing me around DS last summer!

2008 was generally good, perhaps a few more downs than I would have liked, but the ups were plentiful too. My mom passed away in February, so this will be the first Christmas without her. She loved the holidays, would always fill the house with decorations and listen to the Charley Pride "Happy Christmas Day" album (which is still a holiday tradition for me to this day). I'm grateful to have a large extended family with whom to celebrate this wonderful time of year. The Dodgers tried their hardest to fulfill my plan for them to win the World Series in Game 5 at home (like the Phillies did), scheduled for my Mom's birthday of October 27.

I'm so glad I have gained many new friends from this site. Dodger Thoughts is in many ways very therapeutic. Also, much thanks to Toy Cannon, who graciously let me join the crew at True Blue LA.

My plans for a great 2009:

1) Meet the future Mrs. Stephen (all applications welcome, unless your name starts with "Amy K." of course)

2) Buy a house

3) Grow an even more epic Dodger playoff beard (I realize this may hamper #1)

Happy Holidays to everyone here!

I like how in this post:

http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/12/17/kids-in-the-hall-part-i/

Posnanski argues that Joe Morgan should have won the Rookie of the Year award in 1965 instead of Jim Lefebvre because his OPS+ was much higher. And then this gem of a quote:

"I realize that people weren't looking at OPS+ in 1965 ..."

Yes, and Joe Morgan still isn't looking at it.

In L.A., the sun rose one minute later than it did yesterday, but the sun will set one minute later than it did yesterday.

I will take what I can get.

Drew Brees need 402 yards in the last game of the season to break Dan Marino's single season passing yard record. The amazing thing is the Lance Moore leads the team in recieving yards with 837 yards. He has a chance to break the record without a 900 yard reciever. Truely remarkable.

A good 2008 for me.

Economy stinks but my company is hanging in there.

Mother and mother-in-law were in remission for a 2nd year.

Daughter is doing well in school, choosing good friends and exhibiting great judgement.

New baby in the extended family.

Saw 2 Dodger games (LA and DC). Won 1 of them. Saw my first game at Wrigley.

Got to spend an afternoon with an old friend who lives 8,000 miles from where I do and had not seen in awhile.

Saw my 1st Olympic events (2 soccer games).

Learned a lot about baseball from Jon and many of you who comment here. I still have a long way to go though. Thanks for bearing with me as I learn.

My wife's great aunt finally went to her reward at the age of 107. She was ready to go and went peacefully with her family around her. Fascinating lady. Her parents were alive during the Civil War.

Looking forward to 2009.

I am fighting a losing battle with a serious weight problem; and, for the first time since I semi-retired, am spending principal as well as interest to live on. But at least I HAVE principal to live on...
All and all, things for me could be way worse.

OFF-TOPIC: (for Jon or anyone else who might know)
Yesterday I was paying at the counter of a local 7-11.
By the cash register they had several pirated copies of current releases like the new James Bond "Quantum Of Solace" for sale.
Does anyone know the name (or contact information) for the film industry's watchdog organization for pirated materials?

95
http://www.mpaa.org/ReportPiracy/ReportPiracy.aspx

96
Thanks, Bob. I appreciate it.

97
You're welcome.

You do know that the vast majority of people here will now want to know where the store is.

98
To protest, of course.

Saw Slumdog Millionaire last night, my life is good.

In April I went from a job in a company of 500 where I knew 5 people to a company of 50 where I know every single person and interact with 25% of them on any given day, while only having to commute 5 miles. The current state of the economy along with the steep drop in gas prices has all of our jobs in jeopardy which is to bad because I haven't had so much fun at work since my 1st programming job 27 years ago.

The Dodgers were the bomb in 2008 and keeping the Cubs from ending their quest was a nice cap to the season.

Mannywood, who would have thunk it? Any sequel will only end up denigrating a great memory. It would be the 75 Wynn season, the 1989 Gibson season. Leave it alone, move on.

Saw Slumdog Millionaire last night

Me too. It was good. The next movie on my list is "I've Loved You So Long", which opens at my local art theatre on Christmas day.

I've learned so many things about life in 2008. I feel like I'm just blooming. I've spoken about my family problems before, and while they still remain, I feel like I've got a pretty good grasp of what I need to do to make my life a success.

I've got a great soon to be fiancee.

A good friend and I are just starting to record some stuff that I think pushes the envelope a little.

My good friends Crystal Antlers blew up, toured the east coast and are going to be leaving to conquer Europe in a month or so. A friend and I are flying out to meet up with them in Amsterdam. It's going to be insane.

One of my best friends is back to his good old self again after a successful rehab stint.

Major bummer of 2008 was when I saw an old friend's mug shot on Fox 11 right after the World Series. Come to find out he got caught luring children into alleys so he could show them pictures of who knows what. Also come to find out that he relapsed on heroin, which I knew right when I saw his mug.

And I won Xeifrank's Fantasy Baseball and Football leagues! I'll never forget winning the DT double.

I'm hoping to see Slumdog Millionaire today.

90 Number 3 had me laughing out loud.

I forgot to add I went to the worst baseball game of my life (result wise) with Eric Stephen, Jacob Burch, and dkminnick. I'll never forget that stupid game.

102
I've got a great soon to be fiancee

Congratulations! Holiday proposal plans?

I hope she doesn't read DT. Well, at least this thread; I don't want to deprive Jon of any readers. :)

105 She knows it's coming. I just had a few things that needed to be sorted out. We're practically already married, but we wanted to do it proper with her family over in England. And that takes a bit of money.

104 At least I got to share some tacos with a few of you (Eric and dkimmick, I believe) before the game.

I will not be watching any year in review sports shows this as I need not be reminded of what happened in June and October of 2008.

88 Sorry Daniel, of course for you and your children, ponies galore. And from the only person who knows what Christmas is all about, peace and goodwill towards men,

Been a good year for me and my family. No major catastrophes. Wife and I still in love after 27 years ( a little cranky every now and then but who ain't) 4 healthy kids including one former DT commentator. Doberman has a bad hip but dogs still getting around. My carpentry work amazingly continues. The Dodgers play here in Tucson three times in the Spring. Its all pretty darn good.

Valleys and molehills or Mountains and dips, I'm never sure which, but regardless: I went through a definite 'up' period in 2008, shaded unambiguously by 2007. Despite being pounded by paperwork and bluebooks, I quite seriously can't writing 2007 in ink. I remember learning how to write dates starting with palindromic 1991, being sad the last time I ever wrote 19xx, my last high school final having a definitive 2004. But the stress, the anguish, the paranoia has pounded out anything and everything '2007.'

2008 saw the cyclical upswing: broken hearts mend with new (red-headed) faces; fierce paranoia defuses into graduating with honors; nights spent in a nervous sweat dissolves to finally leaving Westwood with honors wondering what the big worry was anyways.

All I can ask for in 2009 is the strength to remember that upswings come and go, the humility to cherish them as they come and the tenacity to pray for them as they go.

I wouldn't frown upon a World Series title, though.

108- Dude! If they get ponies, to whom am I going to rent mine? You don't want me to have to send Princess to the glue factory in the first week, right?

110
leaving Westwood with honors

I am now picturing you just outside some building at UCLA yelling "Cowards!!!" at the top of your lungs.

Also, if any of you know someone who needs their house painted (inside or out), please let me know so I can hook you up with my brother. He does an amazing job, at a good price, but getting that kind of work is really tough with the economy in the tank. He does work in OC, Riverside, and LA counties.

I would imagine touring a glue factory would be quite a letdown.

Saw "Yes Man" over the weekend.
A bit formulaic, but Jim Carrey was still able to make his character be believable enough that he could be with a much younger female co-star.

I was expecting much worse (44% on rotten tomatoes).

Still happily married after 23 years, one great kid about to graduate from college, taught some really good students this year, finished a book, some chronic health problems apparently behind me at last, enjoyed Rule 5 violation events, saw the Dodgers get no-hit and still win--gee, 2008 was better than I realized until I stopped to think about it.

Saw Slumdog Millionaire last night
I tried to see it but it was sold out! Apparently the DT community is to blame.
81 (and many others) sorry this wasn't the best of years. I suppose the bright side is there's only 9 more days of this one. 2008 was a year of change for me (no, not going to be Branchina Rickey). Blew up an old building and looking forward to building a shiny new one. May have to live in a tent for a while but I'm hoping it's worth it.

Draft question:

So the "sandwich" round order is determined by record, NOT Elias ranking of the departing FA?

SANTIAGO, Dominican Republic -- Rafael Furcal denies he reneged on a deal with the Atlanta Braves before agreeing to a contract last week with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"We never gave the nod to the Braves," he said Sunday after arriving to play winter ball for the Aguilas of Cibaenas.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3787254&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines

There have been plenty of challenges in 2008, my wife's ACL reconstruction, some widespread family health concerns, but too many good things to forget. It looks like I'll survive the first lay-offs in my company's history, a great gift indeed. And tomorrow I get to take the day off to take my daughters to indoor soccer practice and the batting cages. My boy will tag along too if he promises to be nice to the girls. No matter what, tomorrow will be a good day.

116 What's the name of your new book?

121 Hard to say at this point, as I've spent the last couple of weeks considering a new title. Then again, presses have been known to drop my titles anyway. It won't be out until spring 2010 so I have a little time.

122 Hey, that'll give me time to finish Perryville.

It's great to be able to check in with all of you this way.

2008 has been a very intense year for me, in a good way. I found out I was going to be a father in 2007, which wasn't expected, the mom and I didn't know what we were going to do. She moved in with me about a month before our daughter was born. In March 2008 she gave birth to our baby girl, and on her birthday in October, we got married at the county courthouse in East L.A, and we have been a happily married couple ever since. Something many people thought I wouldn't be capable of. We will be having a big party/reception in June, and my father will be in the country and will be able to meet his grandaughter. I haven't seen him in 5 years.

I also was brought into a really great job at a non-profit in Monrovia, the E.D of the Organization used to work in a youth program that I was a part of as a teen, and that in many ways saved my life. When a position opened she invited me on board enthusiastically, and doubled my salary from my last job, with benefits!

On the flip side, a close relative of mine is back in Prison, Corcoran no less (which is horrible, even by prison standards). I miss him, but he is very institutionalized at this point and I wonder if he will ever be able to cut it as a "free" man.

This is my first holiday season as a dad, so I am feeling the spirit in a way that I haven't since I was a kid.

Happy Holidays to all my DT friends:)

I am continually amazed at the wide variety of people and their experiences I see on this site. I honestly can't think of another site with the breadth of comments as we get here. And we keep it civil 99% of the time.

118
The sandwich round is ordered by record of team that lost a free agent.

First the Type A free agents' old teams go, followed by the Type B's. If one team has multiple of one type, all other teams' 1st picks go before their 2nd pick, and so on.

Last year, the Brewers lost Type A's Francisco Cordero and Scott Linebrink. The first part of the sandwich round went thusly:

Twins (Hunter)
Brewers (Cordero)
Mets (Glavine)
Phillies (Rowand)
Brewers (Linebrink)

Then the Type B's started, with the Royals going first for losing David Riske. The Padres had two Type B's (Cameron & Brocail) so they had to wait until all other 1st Type B's were compensated for before their next pick.

107 I wish I was able to make it in time to eat. That place looked awesome.

118 ,126
So far based on the free agent signings to date, here is the current sandwich round, starting with pick 34 (there are 3 extra 1st rounders due to 2008 draftees not signing):

34) Mariners 61-101 (lost Type A Ibañez to Phillies)
35) Blue Jays 86-76 (lost Type A Burnett to Yankees)
36) Brewers 90-72 (lost Type A CC to Yankees)
37) Angels 100-62 (lost Type A K-Rod to Mets)
------------
38) Reds 74-88 (lost Type B Affeldt to SF)

125. Just thinking the same thing. Awesome sometimes isn't it? And all built around something as seemingly trivial as a baseball team. If this site were actually called "lifethoughts", I don't think it would be nearly as deep. It's the real stuff that comes up naturally while talking baseball that makes it great. Well, that and the actual baseball stuff.

The other thing I love about this site now is the Google ads which do their best to target the market that the subject matter suggests. So we get toaster ads (because Google doesn't know a Baseball Toaster from a bread toaster) and now "The Golden Oldies Music" ads because apparently we're sounding like old people.

I'm told I should do something called "WebTherapy" and it's done by Lisa Kudrow.

131 - skin treatment for ducks?

Morning all!

I'm back from a shot stint at SF. Great times. Anyone else been to a place called "Golden Boy Pizza". Best pizza I had all weekend. Fun too!

Anyway, 2008... I'd say it was a year of hardship and rebound for our sports teams. The Lakers and Dodgers, going in, were not expected to do much in the playoffs. Then both teams landed a franchise player in a trde. Finally, both teams advanced farther in the playoffs than a lot of people expected.

Unfortunately, both teams also were defeated in the playoffs by a team with questionably legal practices (throwing at pitchers; fouls that weren't called). It was a bitter end for the Lakers and Dodgers, but a fantastic season.

On a personal level, I think 2008 was fun. It was "the year of travel". 2008 was when I got to achieve the dream and visit NY, then visit San Francisco, Anaheim, and San Diego.

I feel all right going into 2009, but I hope I can make more of an impact professionally. I also hope soon I can purchase a home.

124 I found out I was going to be a father in 2007.

This was a big surprise to me, given I thought you were a woman.

129 One of the best times I had a game this year was spent with LAT and ToyCannon, the Dodgers were in the middle of beating the Reds again but we spent most of the evening talking about things unrelated to baseball.

DT day and night was also very fun (would have been better if Gabe Kapler had not played that day). Matching up the faces with the names is something I won't soon forget.

If none of the remaining Type A/B free agents offered arbitration sign with their immediate former teams, here is how the sandwich round will look:

34) Mariners (Ibañez - A)
35) Rockies (Fuentes - A)
36) D-Backs (Hudson - A)
37) Dodgers (Manny - A)
38) Blue Jays (Burnett - A)
39) White Sox (Cabrera - A)
40) Mets (O.Perez - A)
41) Brewers (CC - A)
42) Red Sox (Varitek - A)
43) Angels (Tex - A)
---------
44) D-Backs (Cruz - A)
45) Dodgers (Lowe - A)
46) Brewers (Sheets - A)
47) Angels (K-Rod - A)
---------
48) Reds (Affeldt - B)
49) Royals (Grudzielanek - B)
50) Rangers (Bradley - B)
51) D-Backs (Lyon - B)
52) Twins (Reyes - B)
53) Brewers (Shouse - B)
54) Red Sox (Byrd - B)
55) Angels (Garland - B)

136 Belated congrats on joining True Blue, when I mentioned Dodger blogs at an event a month ago, True Blue was the first one to be mentioned (yes even before Dodger Thoughts).

135 DT day was one of the highlights of my year (again!). I had a total blast playing whiffle ball, chatting it up (in real time), and eating some mean carne asada. Wish I was able to make the game that night!

Whoever suggested a winter DT day, I agree!

138 That was me and I am all for it.

I think we should all wish peace and goodwill for Raffy Furcal and his spurned suitors, per Diamond's blog, here is what Raffy told the AP about the A's offer.

Meanwhile, Furcal once again denied to the Associated Press that he had agreed to a deal with the Braves and had this to say about the A's.

"They offered $32 million for four years and later raised it to $35 million and told us to take it or leave it."

http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/pbc/archive/2008/12/22/doumit-s-guaranteed-money-xx-million.aspx

Pirates sign Doumit to a 3 year extension, buying out his arbitration years. Relevant, if only because Martin's almost guaranteed to make more than Doumit over the same amount of years. It'll be a nice starting off point for Martin's agents at least.

Eric Stephen = magnanimous :)

123 Thanks, it does run kinda long, at least according to at least one former editor :-)

136 Are there cut off dates for Type-A/Type-B free agents before the 'rights' expire? Like if Boras decides to take it all the way to June to find a Texieria suitor, would a team still have to pick up a first or 2nd round pick?

So the Angels would not currently have the Mets #1 pick, but a sandwich pick?

144 The Angels have the Mets #1 pick, in addition to the sandwich pick.

So you get 2 picks for losing a Type A? I am confused.

146 Your first notion is correct. Two picks for type A, one for type B.

Interesting... over the weekend I heard the report that the Yankees offered Manny a 3 year, 75 million dollar deal.

That doesn't seem too far of from our offer of 2 for 50 (with an option). Wow, only a difference of one year.

Would that 3rd year make sense for the Dodgers?

148 Brian Cashman shot the report down (Tripon, go figure!, notes on it above).

I imagine 3/75 will be more than what Manny gets, but Boras isn't about to get into any advanced discussions until the market gets desperate, unless a team gives him a crazy offer (read: four years).

148 We offered 2/45 with an option that would make it 3/60.

148
If true, the Yankees' offer of 3/$75m is substantially larger than the reported Dodgers offer (which of course was by no means their last offer). The Dodgers' offer was 2/$45m guaranteed, but the maximum total value would have been 3/$60m:

2009: $15m
2010: $22.5m
2011: $22.5m option ($7.5m buyout)

2008 was the fastest year of my life.

I cannot believe my daughter is a year old. I know the cliche is "they grow up so fast," but it's really true. I remember a time in my life when she didn't exist, but it seems foreign and distant to me now.

In fact, the only thing wrong in my life is that I've become the type of person that searches for things to complain about. This makes me upset. I don't like being that kind of person.

Juan Pierre makes www.fangraphs.com:

http://tinyurl.com/8hubty

(But please don't let it interrupt all the feel-gooding.)

Crazy Contract Thoughts--This is Vernon Wells' contract (courtesy of Cot's):

7 years/$126M (2008-14)

$25.5M signing bonus (paid in 3 $8.5M installments, March 1 2008-10)

08:$0.5M, 09:$1.5M, 10:$12.5M, 11:$23M, 12:$21M, 13:$21M, 14:$21M

Full no-trade clause

(There are also some award bonuses and Wells may opt out of contract after 2011 [yeah right!])

2008 was a pretty even-keeled year, but ended on a down-note as my youngest son was diagnosed with autism. My wife is pretty broken up about it since she can't imagine anyone being happy if they are unable to deal with people.

Rosemary's Baby remake was canceled.

There is going to be a sequel to Judge Dredd for some reason.

156
The world needs more of Sly yelling "I am the law!!!"

It would be great if Stallone made sequels to all his movies. Count me in for Stop or My Mom Will Shoot 2.

157
Who is going to be his mom now?

156

The new Judge Dredd movie will be no more a sequel to the '95 movie than Batman Begins was a sequel to Batman Forever. It's an entirely different group of people looking bring their own interpretation of Judge Dredd to the big screen.

I, for one, look forward to this as Dredd was a groundbreaking comic book and the production company in charge of the new movie, DNA Films, has a good track record with films like 28 Days Later and the Last King of Scotland.

The peak of exemplary morbid curiosity will be if/when Sly's "Poe" ever makes the screen. I've been a Poe-phille for a long time, even when I don't really like half his writing, and seeing what Stallone comes up with has to be interesting, at the very least.

Man, I love DT. I feel like I know so many of you, and getting this kind of personal detail really adds to that. Thanks again, Jon, for creating such a fantastic place for Dodger fans to hang out. Since I've been enjoying (and empathizing and sympathizing) reading all of the other stories - I'll add my own.

2008 was a great year for me. I've been tremendously blessed, in spite of life's hurdles. My core business was unable to operate (long story, but we bring international nurses over to work for US hospitals and there are currently no visas available from the US Gov't), so I used the time to learn about and invest in cash flow real estate and other financial things for which I have never had time. Most of my moves have worked out okay in the face of the economic situation in the country.

Some of you may remember me bragging about my 8 year old son's baseball team making it to the Pony World Series. That was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The Dodgers last two months was a great ride. My kids got to go to their first playoff games with DS just rocking. I also enjoyed hanging out with Eric Stephen, Jacob Burch, MC Safety and bhsportsguy at that terrible Matt Stairs game (it was almost "the Casey Blake game"). I look forward to meeting more DT people in person whenever possible.

Most significantly, my wife and i decided to order one more for 'last call" and are now expecting our third child in June. I'm 52 and I sometimes wonder what the heck I was thinking. But I'm sure we will be just fine.

I also started another business venture that I would love to share with anyone who is interested. If any of you have a parent or grandparent who is a great storyteller and you would like to capture that in a professional documentary style DVD, feel free to e-mail me at: dkminnick at mac dot com. I'll send you the web site. No high pressure deal, I'm just trying to kick start things via word-of-mouth.

Thanks again to Jon and all of you who post here. DT is my first and last stop every day - with many more in between. Here's to a happy and successful 2009 for all of us - and the Dodgers, of course.

The present that I want under my tree this year:

(Mr. Ultimo) aka Manny Ramirez starting in left field for the Dodgers on opening day :)

134

That was awesome.

Other highlights include the DT picnic, and the softball team I started in connection with Lex and this blog. We won the championship in the fall, and our next season begins in February.

The year has been ok. No new serious health problems to go with the health problems we HAVE had. Lots of friends and family around. DodgerThoughts to help keep me sane. And Vinnie saying he'd be back in 2009 sure didn't hurt.

How much is King Felix going to get in arbitration? He's easily worth $10M, right now.

I also went to my first Dodger, Laker and Kings games this year. All wins!

166
The Clippers could use you.

167
She's not that powerful.

UCLA football too.

166 I tried to get Sporky to a UCLA football game but it did not work out.

170
That UCLA-Oregon State game was a real corker!

170 Durn midterms/finals.

My first and last game at Yankee Stadium was also a win.

"[W]e are currently involved in discussions regarding the MLB
Network. While we cannot guarantee that we will reach an agreement with
the relevant programmers or broadcasters, we are listing these station [sic]
on our website in the event that we are able to start carrying this
station in the future. This station will be under the HD channels. . .

"Regards, Nadia R.
Time Warner Cable"

But it's not actually listed on the website.

In contrast to the tumult of the world and national events of 2008, the theme for my life this year seems to be constancy (other than the beating my - and everyone else's - 401K took, and the passing of one of my [elderly] dogs). No job changes, no school changes (for the daughter), no upheaval, more college debt (but we knew that was coming) but in exchange for a great experience for her; I am counting my blessings and considering myself to be pretty darn fortunate to be able to write the above.

On the other hand, the DT picnic was new and wonderful; it was great to meet and see people out there.

For those of you that had struggles in 2008, I wish for you a new and improved 2009, and for those that did well, continued success and happiness.

And thanks Jon, once again, for making this a premiere blog and community.

155 My thoughts to you and your family. Some friends of ours have one son who is diagnosed with autism; they have had their struggles at times, but they have had their joyous times too. Obviously all situations with this condition can vary greatly, but I hope for the best outcome for you.

This has been a rough year with a few major highlights to offset the lows.

As I write, I'm in bed with a fractured ankle in a cast. St. Louis appears to be my bad-luck city. I was stuck there for five days after 9/11. This time, I slipped on some ice that I couldn't quite see because it was clinging to a curb cut. I had just arrived the night before, there was an ice storm over night, I was walking to my first meeting and managed to get about 50 feet from the front door of the hotel before slipping with my right foot, causing my left ankle to give way under the weight of my body and the force of my movement. Very weird feeling to try to put weight on my foot and it just didn't work.

It is strange to experience such a thing in a strange city far away from home. I will say, I met some of the kindest and most polite people, from the passers-by who helped get me off the sidewalk and out of the cold, to the ER staff at Saint Louis University Hospital, to the various hotel staff, takeout delivery folks and people from my work who I only knew casually if at all, who delivered food and water. Boo to American Airlines for charging me $350 to move my flight back by a day so I could recuperate a little before trying to get home to LA -- although I'm grateful they have one of the only nonstops from St. Louis to LAX.

Because I live up a flight of stairs, I'm basically trapped here for six or eight weeks, except for essential trips only. I might go out for Christmas. My first doctor visit since the ER is tomorrow.

Otherwise, 2008 will be remembered as the year that the financial toll from my career fiasco of 2004-5 finally started to do real damage -- at a bad time, given the economy.

However, it will also be remembered as a tremendous and almost miraculous year for my son, whose music career is getting a fortunate boost from a well-connected supporter, who recently paid for a professional demo of the best songs from his musical. He's got a chance that this thing will get produced professionally. His music is great, so in that sense he's earned it. But I hope he also realizes, he is very, very lucky -- that many others with talent languish for lack of recognition. He's only 18; there are 40-year-olds still waiting for the break he's getting now. He also got accepted into Berklee College of Music, and will start next month. Because of my leg, I won't be able to fly out there to get him settled in, but I believe my wife will do it. He's over the moon excited about it.

We're very optimistic about 2009, but we realize some tough choices will have to be made in the next couple of months about our lives. In all the static, there are some good signals and bad ones. We're on the edge of our seats! But I admit, I could use a year or two with less drama. Maybe it's just not in my makeup. Maybe I'm kind of a Raul Mondesi type and I don't realize it.

155 Penarol... I'm so sorry to hear about your child's diagnosis. I hope your wife can take it a day at a time. Autism is so mysterious, and describes such a range of conditions -- as wide a range of possibilities as all human temperaments and capabilities could produce. While it's impossible to alleviate the fear and concern with these words, I would say that your child's life will unfold as uniquely as any other child's. It is reasonable to hope for good things.

"But enough about me. How are you?"

Sort of like the Dodgers: Okay for the moment, but after April, God knows.

155- Autism is a spectrum disorder, right? Do they know where he fits this early on?

113 Attn: Daniel Zappala - I actually solicited a couple bids this fall for painting the exterior of my house, but we ended up deciding it should wait until March or so. I would be very much interested in a reference to your brother. Please e-mail me at ellaydave at yahoo dot com. Thanks!

Update on Manny (using Babelfish):

Although the general manager of the Yankees, Brian Cashman has misestimated a first report of which she will sign by three years and 75 milones of dollars to Manny Ramirez, the source of Impactodeportivo.com.do ratified east Monday in afternoon that the business goes. According to the source of Impactodeportivo.com.do, Ramirez is a necessity for the equipment. The reason. Jason Giambi and Bobby Abreu that represented near 50 towed home runs and 200 enter both, no longer return and Hideki Matsui and Put Jorge had problems of health in the 2008. In addition White Robinson comes underneath from a year. That forces the Yankees to look for another hard bat that Rodriguez helps Alex, and that is Manny Ramirez. Manny is in Brazil at this moment and to his return, immediately it will go to the press conference. The business goes.

178. When I get home, I'll see the diagnosis and see if they put him somewhere on the spectrum or are waiting until he gets a little older. He's three right now, and from my own personal observations I would have to think that he is not severe, just really shy with poor fine motor skills and a small lisp and a few other autistic tendnecies like hugging himself and flapping his arms.

In the end, I still a happy little boy and I just hope that he stays that way. Thanks for your thoughts everyone.

This year has been pretty terrific, all things considered: I am two weeks away from a year into my first real full time job (and getting that oh so important vacation time), got to see my three favorite teams face off in the past NLCS and World Series, on Friday night got to see my favorite band in concert for the second time, and on Saturday my alma mater became one of the greatest womens' volleyball teams ever. Yes, the senior ladies are all graduating, and yes the band rocked a little slower than they did three and a half years ago, and yes I'll still be paying for those World Series tickets well into next year, but all things considered it will be hard to top some of the awesome things that happened in '08.

(sorry Dodger fans, but Jon did ask!)

182 I am happy for you, everyone should have some sports joy in their lives every 25 or so years.

However, 2009 may have a bad beginning or the greatest upset in Pete Carroll's college career.

183
I believe this year's Penn State squad is a lot better than last year's Stanford team.

Last year's Stanford team lost to a Ben Olson- quarterbacked, Karl Dorrell-quarterbacked UCLA squad.

181 Good health to you and good luck to your family, there is a great program at UCLA that you should look into for your son.

http://tinyurl.com/8ev6gl

165
How much is King Felix going to get in arbitration? He's easily worth $10M, right now

Here are a few recent examples of frontline starting pitchers with 3 years service time:

Haren - $4m (2008)*
Willis - $6.45m (2007)*
Webb - $4.5m (2007)
Bedard - $3.4m (2007)
Lackey - $3m (2006)
Peavy - $2.5m (2006)
Zambrano - $3.76m (2005)
Oswalt - $3.25m (2004)

*Haren & Willis were both "Super Twos" the year prior, so not directly comparable to King Felix. I believe the $6.45m Dontrelle Willis got is a record for a pitcher with less than 4 years service time.

184 I was going to list Stanford as the exception to that statement, certainly Penn State is better than the 2006 UCLA team but that team was playing at home and USC was probably a little overconfident to say the least.

Penn State will have gone 6-7 weeks without a game and USC will have a lot of motivation to run up a big score.

183
Wasn't 13-9 a bigger upset?

155 - My brother was diagnosed with a dozen different things over the years, mainly because doctors didn't know what they were doing in those days about a lot of neurological diseases/conditions. They finally seem to have settled on Asberger's.

One of my sister-in-law's boys has autism and has made tremendous progress over the last couple years; you wouldn't know it just talking to him anymore. Don't dispair! There are a lot of things you and your wife can do now, especially if you act early.

Newsday takes the denial further up the Yankee hierarchy:

http://tinyurl.com/8r8djl

Contrary to reports out of the Dominican Republic, the Yankees are not on the verge of signing Manny Ramirez.

"If we are, I don't know about it," Yankees co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner told Newsday Monday in shooting down the report by ImpactoDeportivo.com.

(snip)

There are some in the Yankees organization that are enthusiastic about the idea of adding Ramirez, notably Steinbrenner's brother, co-chairman Hank. There seems to be fairly equal support for adding Teixeira as there is for adding Ramirez. The sentiment for adding neither slugger, and devoting more resources to pitching, though, is at least as strong.

186 I looked at that briefly too, Kazmir was the example I looked at, he got $3.78M as a 3 year player this past off-season, he then signed an extension to take him to free agency, $28.5M/3 years with a club option in 2012.

188 Probably, I don't know how to read that game, USC's offense was bottled up for most of that game and if Verner picks off that pass, its not even a game.

I just think Carroll does such a good job with these kind of games and non-conference teams are little more intimidated than conference schools against USC.

I've been completely surprised by the outcomes of some sporting events.

Villanova beating Georgetown in the Final Four was one of them.

Stanford beating USC in 2007 was another.

193 I think Bob blocks out that day because of what was happening in front of him.

I was surprised when the Patriots beat the Rams in the Super Bowl, until I found out that the Patriots had cheated.

188 ,192
I also want to point out I am in no way condoning an upset and/or jinxing USC.

Going into the 2006 UCLA game, I think USC had scored 20 points for an NCAA record 63 games in a row.

195
I was not surprised by that comment.

186 I may be in the minority on this but the main thing Hernandez has going for his age, he has not had a breakout year yet. His ERA+ is rather ordinary.

He should be in that 2.5-3.5M category the Mariners could take a shot to buy out his years, I think 3/$21M with a team option would be more than fair.

181 When I was in college, about nine years ago, I worked for a year and a half at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (now in Tarzana, used to be in Woodland Hills). There were so many new therapies (for the time) that the therapists over there were using and apaprently, they were quite effective, especially if the therapies started early enough in life. I hope you find wonderful doctors who will help your child and make things easier for him and for you guys.

The other main thing that you and your wife must remember is that when parents are patient and understand problems relating to autism, kids have shown better response to therapy as opposed to parents who don't quite understand autism and are not as patient with their children. The fact that you and yur wife have already taken steps in getting him diagnosed so early tells me that you are caring parents who will do everything to make sure that he will be properly taken care of. Good luck to you and your wife with this.

What if USC shuts out Penn State?

This defense is capable of such a feat.

Watch out!

I will be at the game.

For entertainment purposes only, USC wins by 25+

198 And the best stuff in the majors.

He's probably the most underrated player in the game - a legit 22 y.o. ace who is still getting better.

200 Ha, UCLA scored a touchdown against them.

I am not surprised by an NFL team beating any other one.

The Lions could beat the Giants and I wouldn't be surprised.

202
And UCLA didn't give up a sack in that game either. That was one of the most shocking parts of the game.

179 Hey, thank you. And if anyone else wants to get in touch with me about painting, my email is daniel.zappala [at] gmail. I'm also eminently googleable.

201 But there is no precedent for him to receive that kind of increase, his statistics don't back it up (he can't even claim he plays on a bad team since several of the examples that Eric gave played for similar or worse teams.)

Certainly the ability is there but its arguable that Chad Billingsley has had a better start in his career than Hernandez.

181 We have a boy who is very mild on the autism spectrum, what is called highly-functional autism. It's still a lot of work, especially with school, but he's doing great. I advise you to get as much speech and other therapy as possible at an early age. Early intervention makes a huge difference, and we can see the wonderful effect it has had on our son. Many kids end up being able to have fairly normal lives.

202
Yeah, that early strike ended some of the suspense that contest held for me.

In the aftermath a certain USC running back is still dealing with the shock - and not dealing with it well imho.

By the way, I just shoveled a foot and a half of snow off our driveway and sidewalks (stupid corner lot!), and since our street has still not been plowed the UPS guy had to put on chains to deliver a package.

206 Billingsley is not arb eligible, so his peformance is not relevant in this discussion.

King Felix's stats are actually AMAZING for his age. Who has put up comparable age 20-22 seasons?

205 Google makes me want to bug you nonstop on every little question that comes out of my analysis paralysis in regards to web programming. Be careful what you spread!

190 There are some in the Yankees organization that are enthusiastic about the idea of adding Ramirez, notably Steinbrenner's brother, co-chairman Hank. There seems to be fairly equal support for adding Teixeira as there is for adding Ramirez. The sentiment for adding neither slugger, and devoting more resources to pitching, though, is at least as strong.

Hmmm, "at least as strong" as from the two Steinbrenner brothers? I wonder who that would be? A third Steinbrenner co-chairman brother? Someone doesn't know who exactly is for what and is making it up as he goes along, it sounds like...

210
The arbitration process is almost completely focused on service time. Those are the comps used by both sides. King Felix's age will come into play when he is a free agent before his age 26 season, when his agent can rightly claim he has more peak years ahead of him and should get a longer deal.

211 You're welcome to email me on whatever. I may even get back to you if I'm not too busy. However, I currently have 1070 unread messages out of 2528 in my inbox. Granted, a lot of that is stuff I don't need to deal with, as I handle the important things right away, but still. Is that a record?

210. I believe Kershaw will, but I agree. King Felix is one of the most underrated players in the league. The Mariners certainly doesn´t help his cause.

214
At my last job our email server was bogged down partly because my boss had 33,000 emails in his Inbox, about 8000 of which were unread.

Wow. OK, no record for me.

Certainly Fernando Valenzuela, Dwight Gooden and Bret Saberhagan all pitched as well or better than Felix Hernandez at similar ages.

Age is a wonderful thing and it will be a consideration when his next contract comes up but in the cold light of statistics, Felix Hernandez has not done anything yet to have his contract set a new standard for pitchers entering his first arbitration-eligible contract.

210
King Felix's stats are actually AMAZING for his age. Who has put up comparable age 20-22 seasons?

CC, age 20-22: 588 IP, 107 ERA+, 43-25
CC, age 23 (2004): $2.7m salary

Felix, age 20-22: 582 IP, 109 ERA+, 35-32

217
He did only have 2 kids though, so you have him there by 15 or so (I always lose count). ;)

At various times I suspected my son had mild Asperger's or ADD. I think he was diagnosed with the latter, but maybe I'm old-fashioned -- I didn't want to put him on ADD drugs. I was concerned his oddness might not be a bug but a feature. His mind is a magical, terrible thing. It allows him to function magnificently in artistic realms, not so much in other areas. Basically, he's happy, although his drawbacks can cause chaos in his life.

All I'm saying is, I've come to believe the dualistic notions of normal/abnormal, with the associated connotations of good/bad are not adequately descriptive of a developing human mind. It's a spectrum of things in many dimensions. Who knows where any individual will come out?

Felix Hernandez will make more than Russell Martin this year. That's pretty much his floor ($5M).

222
I think $5m is just about Felix's ceiling for 2009. My guess is he has a contract in the $4.5m range, which might still be more than Russell Martin.

205 - we have a possible painting job coming up in January. We bought a new house last August, moved in in November, and haven't sold the old place yet. We moved from selling to converting it to a rental, but even if we go the other way, we still need to paint it.

223 I would think that they won't go to arbitration, Hernandez will probably sign a multi-year deal (though the new GM came from Milwaukee where they approached Fielder and Braun differently in terms of contracts).

I can't see Martin making much more than $4M, Ethier, probably around the same, Broxton, around $1.8M.

225
I emailed you a baking question.

221 - good for you for not wanting to put him on drugs. My brother-in-law used to work as a clinical psychologist for the state of North Carolina at the Broughton Hospital, a facility for the criminally insane; the variety of pharmaceutical cocktails the doctors regularly prescribed was a topic of some extensive conversations. A lot of his patients got better in a hurry once he took them off the 6-12 drugs they were taking simultaneously.

I got the Mac today. In fact, I'm posting from it now. Below is a list of things I actually know how to do on it so far. I expect this list to grow soon, but if it doesn't, I can still survive.

1) Turn it on.

2) Get to the internet.

228 - welcome to the new world.

Your membership card is in the mail.

228
Whatever you do, for the love of God, don't press CTRL + V + that funny looking symbol key by the shift key while the moon is full.

Please.

I beg you.

The last person who did that ....

I've said too much.

My girl's dad got her the 24 inch iMac. That computer is so awesome.

231. That's what I'm posting from and I agree!
228. I've had nothing but Mac's since 1985 so if you've got questions, I'd be happy to help.

As before, here if you need anything IJ. A 'class' at the Naptown Apple Store could be useful for teaching you quick tricks like quicklook, spotlight (Command+Space is your new best friend. First three letters of a document or app, down button,enter button and there it is) and exposé, but Google and DT is here for your quick questions, I'm sure ;-).

20" iMac at home, Mac Pro from work, for what it's worth. Nearly falling apart iBook when I need it--will be getting a new MacBook sometime next year I hope.

233 Actually, TUAW (a site you may begin frequenting often if you get hooked)'s latest article could be of help to you. You don't have to enter the contest by any means, but in the intro paragraph they go over the best options to learning OSX:

http://tinyurl.com/82f3t7

On the A's "mailbag" column, somebody asks the writer about a ridiculous 'rumor' he heard that would send Furcal/Kemp/Kershaw to Oakland for Holliday/Crosby. The writer is dumb enough to waste space on it.

http://tinyurl.com/84epcy

All this love for Macs. And if you only knew, the world of Linux is even better.

237
Expecting Daniel to tell us how much he loves Linux is like waiting for D4P to tell us how much Andruw Jones makes.

I'm a strong advocate of ADD medication when used properly. We've done tons of testing, know exactly what our child needs, and he is amazingly functional when he is on his meds. Since the meds wear off during the day, he gets a chance to have life both with and without it, and having it working during school and homework hours is crucial for him. Every parent of course needs to make their own choice, but for us the medication has helped our child in numerous ways.

230 Funny looking symbol key by the shift key? You mean the question mark?

238
Thanks for not ending that with "earns".

I have an emergency. How do I copy and paste?

I feel like an idiot tonight. It's kind of fun.

242 Nevermind.

Well, my 2008 started out with a new baby, and then continued along with the loss of our 2 year old son in May. So, it's been really up and really down. I think I'll remember it as being terrible but shot through with blinding light. I hope to never have such a schizophrenic year ever again.

242 I have awful sessions where Im using a Windows portal on my Mac and have to alternate using control-c and open apple-c in different windows. Its maddening and Im too indoctrinated to use the mouse.

244
Sorry for your loss.

I saw an ad for a Thrice concert for awhile.

That must be Nate's doing.

I'm expecting the Lakers to start looking into some kind of "Odom/Walton for Guard who can play defense/Big guy who can rebound on the defensive end" trade in the near future.

248
That would be great if a team was crazy enough to want Luke Walton.

BTW: Why would a given player/team be good at offensive rebounding but bad at defensive rebounding...?

250
Team could just stink at shooting so much they get a lot of opportunities for offensive rebounds.

251
I'm thinking of rebound rates. The Lakers are 5th in offensive rebound rate, but 15th in defensive.

244 Your posts about six months ago really touched and moved me in ways I do not know how to describe. I hope that your faith continues to help you through this experience.

252 Lakers only send one or two guys for defensive rebounds, while the other team swarms the basket with 3-4 guys. While the Lakers do the opposite for their own basket. Its obviously frustrating since it lets teams live on 2nd chance points.

The Spurs are #1 in defensive rebound rate, and #29 in offensive.

Feeling pretty good about the team reaching the NLCS for the first time in 20 years.
All I want for Chrismas is for the team to bring back Manny Ramirez anyway they can and maybe even bring Derek Lowe back with him.
Happy Holidays Jon, and the rest of you guys and gals, from Brooklyn N.Y., the birthplace of our Los Angeles Dodgers.

244 - Oh, my God, Kathleen, I'm so sorry.

239 - I didn't mean to come off sounding like I was some sort of Scientology-anti-medication nutter. It's just that, from some experience, the physicians reach for the prescription pad a little too quickly.

I'm for drugs.

RIP, Coy Bacon.

221 Drat, one of the hardest questions in my life involved my son and ADHD drugs. He has a wonderful mind in many ways, We chose not to use drugs, and I've wondered if he would have had it easier the other way. But he is great.

Red Barber calls Johnny Van Der Meer's second consecutive no-hitter -- 41 years later.

http://tinyurl.com/7vgek8

OK, I am bad at reflecting on the year cuz it ain't over. My job doesn't close the books until end June and my daughter is in school till then. But I am reflecting on the fact that tomorrow its off to the beach for two weeks. Of course the sun and the sea are not enough, so I am dragging along a bunch of books that I have been meaning to read. First, to finish Patrick O'Brian's "The Far Side of the World". A joy to read and visualize, after seeing the movie. Couldn't believe at the time that Russell Crowe didn't win the Oscar (heck, was he even nominated?). If I had my druthers I would from now on try to see the movie before reading a book, its so much more enriching that way for both experiences (I am sure that there are tons of exceptions). I will also bring along "A Sea of Words", its companion book of nautical terms. Because I am sure they will never make a movie of Corman MacCarthy's "Child of God", so I'll go ahead and read that. Also, Philip Roth's "Exit Ghost", which might turn into a movie. Don't read much of him, as Updike was unmatched reading when I was growing up. Other literary work would be Vargas Llosa's "In Praise of the Stepmother", cause I like the cover. Non-fiction would include a book on Civil War fighting methods and one on lessons from intervention in Central America. And now baseball: "Boys of Summer", cause I have never read it, and David Plaut's "Chasing October" just to get my bile up. Finally, the SABR Baseball List & Record Book, so I can really waste time.

The Princess Bride seems to have aged well. So I expect Hollywood to make a remake of it staring Shia LeBouf.

Achieved tenure in January, a wife in May, and a new pregnancy in December. Each experience, interestingly enough, has been informed by a variety of insightful and occasionally moving comments by virtual friends here. For that, and for so much else, I'm grateful in '08.

Worst coin toss in NFL history tonight in Chicago.

266
I'm not watching but was it worse than the Bettis heads/tails fiasco?

266 It hit Erlacker on the top of the helmet! But it was still heads so the Bears won the overtime toss.

267 It was literally just the toss that was the worst. It hit Urlacher in the head.

Took me those 6 extra seconds to spell Urlacher right.

I think the wind blew the coin away. I'm just surprised that they still counted the toss even though it bounced off an "outside agency."

http://blog.redlegstats.com/2008/12/21/marty-brennaman-on-adam-dunn.aspx?ref=rss

Marty Brennaman hates Adam Dunn.

Marty Brennaman hates a lot of people.

Sometimes I wonder what the heck I do all year compared to everyone else.

209 Daniel, we had just less than a foot of snow at our house today. Apparently the keys to efficient snow removal are as follows:
1. live next to someone who owns a snowblower and lends it out to another neighbor while in Hawaii for the holidays.
2. Start shoveling right as the other neighbor is finishing his driveway.
3. Shiver a little.

People are nice.

264 http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/unisex/popculture/9f70/zoom/

275 Nice. I got home this evening and found that a neighbor had gotten out his ATV and plowed all the sidewalks in the neighborhood. I'm trying to convince myself that the strenuous workout was good for me.

if manny is not a dodger next year, i really want adam dunn.

I was reading some old BTF threads concerning the Dodgers, and I came across this old Shakin's article about signing Juan Pierre. Something tells me that Shakin would arrive at a different conclusion if he had to write an response to this piece.

http://articles.latimes.com/2007/mar/31/sports/sp-statistics31

244 So sorry to hear that! What a wringer! Best wishes for a better year ahead.

So many great people on this site, it's been really enjoyable reading all of your news.

2008 was great for me. After six and a half years of long-distance, my wife and I are finally living together. Thing is, she decided to get a job in Jerusalem. So I moved there from Boston about a month ago. I don't know how I'm going to be able to watch Dodger games this year though. If there are any other Dodger fans in Israel I'd love to hear from them. We'll be living here for a year or two and then hopefully moving back to Canada.

Best wishes for 2009 - James

I read this on Rotoworld, and it just amused me:

Pittsburgh's front office did their best to flood the media with Wilson trade rumors for the past month, but shockingly there really aren't that many teams interested in a 31-year-old shortstop who hit .272/.312/.348 last season and will make $7.25 million in 2009.

With a little help from Jon, I think I'm finally cured of my hot stove addiction. In fact, I find this whole Teixeira situation a bit sickening.

I wonder if Rob Parker has ever asked Digger Phelps if he wished his daughter married a better pitcher.

284
Pitches don't get no better than Jamie Moyer.

Jamie Moyer!

284 Eric, its very un-holiday like for you to type that coach's name for someone like Bob to see so early in the morning.

NPUT

281 - MLB.tv should work for you.

There used to be a blogger who wrote, on-and-off, about the Dodgers who eventually moved to Israel some years ago, pretty early in my career blogging. I hadn't checked in with him in quite a LONG while, and it appears he's back in town:

http://josh.blogs.com/yikes/dodgers/

I think he's also given up writing on the Dodgers for the most part (his most recent post on the topic is two years old).