Best Hitter for Average: Blake Dewitt
Best Power Hitter: Joel Guzman
Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Cory Dunlap
Fastest Baserunner: Jason Repko
Best Athlete: Matt Kemp
Best Fastball: Edwin Jackson
Best Curveball: Chuck Tiffany
Best Slider: Chad Billingsley
Best Changeup: Alfredo Gonzalez
Best Control: Steve Schmoll
Best Defensive Catcher: Russell Martin
Best Defensive Infielder: Chin-Ling Hu
Best Infield Arm: Andy LaRoche
Best Defensive Outfielder: Jason Repko
Best Outfield Arm: Xavier Paul

Xavier Paul had the best outfield arm in 2005 too.

Of the 14 players listed in the Dodgers projected 2008 lineup, on 3 remain on the Dodgers 2009 40 man roster, Martin, Billingsley and Tony Abreu.

But, only 6 of the 14 were Dodger prospects (Martin, Abreu, LaRoche, Guzman, Billingsley and Gagne), the rest were veterans.

I called my local Barnes & Noble, and it is scheduled to be in stores February 10.

2002 -- Delwyn Young
2003 -- Xavier Paul
2004 -- Javy Guerra
2005 -- Josh Bell
2006 -- Kyle Orr
2007 -- Andrew Lambo
2008 -- Devaris Gordon

I swear, more of our fourth round picks from 2002 to 2008 are going to make the majors than our first supplemental round picks from the same time frame.

Is Varitek actually worth $5 million this year, and another $5 million (or perhaps $3 million) next year? Probably. According to FanGraphs, Varitek was worth $5.6 million last year -- again, playing about as poorly as he could play -- and $12 million the year before.

I dare say no other team has their last two 4th round picks in their top ten list. For one of them to be our top prospect after only 1 1/2 years of professional ball is astounding.

If we had only kept Santana and Watt I'm fairly certain Peavy would be wearing Dodger Blue today.

http://tinyurl.com/clmhn5

Doubt it. Padres were going to ask for elite major leaguers (Bills or Kemp or Kershaw) no matter what.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/photos/2009/jan/31/121760/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WCTn4FljUQ&e

SFW

Richard Halloran
Owns Home Computer

A few weeks ago there was discussion of a pool for a football game in which money was given out at many times, such as after each scoring took place. Does anyone have or know where these rules are? it sounds like a more interesting way to run a pool for the super bowl.

I have to thank ToyCannon for this, but here are said rules:

Charge $X per square for 100 squares.

1) Each score after the extra point pays $2.5X
2) Each score at the end of the first three quarters pays $10X
3) Whatever is left is for the winner.

Last year's Super Bowl, for example:

$20 per square = $2000 total prize money

Giants FG, 3-0. Pays $50
End of Q1, 3-0. Pays $200
Pats TD, 3-7. Pays $50
End of Q2, 3-7. Pays $200
End of Q3, 3-7. Pays $200 (this person is raking it in!)
Giants TD, 10-7. Pays $50
Pats TD, 10-14. Pays $50
Giants TD, 17-14. Pays $50

Final score, 17-14. Pays remainder, which was $1,150 (57.5% of the pot).

I've heard that some people even pull that stuff with All-Star voting...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGmjr4p34Y8&feature=related

1.60 ERA

That is absurd.

Maddux '94-'95: 411.2 IP, 266 ERA+
Pedro '99-'00: 430.1 IP, 265 ERA+

That would make his 411.2 IP run roughly a 274 ERA+, higher than that of Mr. Maddux.

411.2 IP, 1.16 ERA

That is all.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083944/

Whoops... ANOTHER wrong overrated action hero.

Unless you count Steven Segal running like a 3-year old girl.

February = Street Fighter month.

Feb. 10 - Street Fighter movie (1994) out on blu-ray
Feb. 17 - Street Fighter IV hits consoles.
Feb. 27 - Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (aka the Kristin Kreuk movie) comes out in theaters

M. Bison is just a guy in business suit and Vega is played by a guy from the Black-eyed Peas. Talk about lame.

Overall, another nice game for the Bruins but let's see if they can continue their offensive exploits against some better defense. Gordon probably has the best hops (for a big) on the team.

http://streetfighter.wikia.com/wiki/Chun-Li#Sprites

I like the American way better.

Dodgers schedule changes

http://tinyurl.com/bevrop

In one of the animes, he looks crazy, because they make his head and body so big.

Now they need 5 starters right out of the gate.

___

He appears in the 2002 Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant movie, "Two Weeks Notice".

In the 2002 movie Kung Pow! Enter the Fist, Betty hears an echo, and decides to pretend he is a PA announcer and says "Now batting, MIKE PIAZZA!"

_____________________

Can you trust Joe? Torre's tell-all raises doubts about what he holds sacred

>> Up front, I must say it's a compelling read, even if Yankee trainer Steve Donohue rubbing Roger Clemens' testicles with extra hot liniment before every start was probably more information than I needed to know. <<

http://tinyurl.com/aa29ar

2) Why in the world could he not do it himself?

I would have an issue listening to anything he told me, if I was on the Dodgers.

He showed little power, not much plate discipline & made 24 errors in 60 games as a 20yr old in rookie league..If that gets a spot in the Dodgers top 10,then the system must be really weak.

Delmonico played much better than Gordon did last year.

If Josh Bell is the best power hitter in the organization..wow. He hit 6 HRS all of last season. He looked pretty good in 2006. Not since. Had to think that pick should have went to Kyle Russell..but BA's always hates guys like him.

>> A problem for Ramirez and Boras is that the Dodgers simply won't be pushed too far because market forces completely undercut Team Manny: The Dodgers can operate with the knowledge that if they don't get Ramirez, they could conceivably sign two really good players for the price of what they have offered Ramirez -- and the corner outfield market remains loaded with attractive alternatives, from Adam Dunn to Bobby Abreu to Garret Anderson, etc., etc. The Dodgers are going to get a really good hitter, one way or another, and they'll probably get Ramirez, at their price, just as the Red Sox got Jason Varitek at their price. <<

http://tinyurl.com/cddfmp

I'd be willing to bet my last dollar (and there aren't many left :-) ) that if Ned Colletti does not sign Manny he will start the season with Juan Pierre in left field.

He started 8 games with Great Lakes & pitched 29 innings.

Maybe BA's assuming the 1 game (5 innings) he started with Jacksonville is a harbinger for things to come. Everything I've read has Lindblom as a reliever.

I'll say, if a guy that hasnt even played 1 game is already your 3rd best prospect, the organization is thin....to say the least. And Ethan Martin wasnt even a top 10 caliber pick.

He has a 96 mph fastball, hammer curve and athleticism coming out of his ears. Only thing he lacks is refinement/experience.

Gordon wowed the scouts not the stat sheet. Fast guys who are also strong tend to make them take notice. He's a guy whose played very very little organized baseball even though his dad was Flash Gordon.

http://tinyurl.com/b4epom

OPS+
2006 - 101
2007 - 113
2008 - 106

______

Educated guess based on what I've seen & read - I'm thinking he's gonna take his game to another level this year.

Hopefully nothing worse than that for Bynum

How bad is the injury?

Damn, maybe he should have been suspended! :)

It was a gift.

It never made it to the wall.

to take a quote from the movie "Swingers" "reputation seems to have presided him" (obp)

Negative X-Rays doesn't mean anything with these types of injuries, the MRI will be the main tool. Last year they said 8 weeks and it turned into over 8 months. I am afraid about this year because I am expecting something similar. No Bynum in the playoffs will result in another Finals loss at best.

Sorry for being so off-topic. I'm just upset. He was unbelievable.

--

Maybe that's why he wasn't nominated. HA HA just joking!

Yep.

Former Angels farmhand is going to release a book that chronicles(well, more like a tell-all like Torre's current book) his one year in the system. Notable current Angels likely to be mentioned is Joe Saunders, and Erick Aybar, teammates of Matt McCarthy, the author.

I wanted to see Robin kill the Joker!

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) Angels (Tex – A)
------------------
43) D-Backs (Cruz – A)
44) Dodgers (Lowe – A)
45) Brewers (Sheets – A)
46) Angels (K-Rod – A)
————-
47) Reds (Affeldt – B)
48) Royals (Grudzielanek – B)
49) Pirates -- (locked in to #49; for not signing #48 last year)
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)

Remaining free agents in bold.

There are 9 remaining Type A/B free agents.

http://tennisliveonline.blogspot.com/

Plus, rice cake jokes. Zing!

Manny will not win a title for the Dodgers if Furcal can't stay healthy and the young core doesn't do even a little more than they did last year. If Furcal, Blake, Loney, Martin, Kemp, Ethier, DeWitt have a good year the Dodgers don't need Manny to win a title.

I will take the draft pick instead of Manny. Maybe Furcal will join Kemp and Ethier in the outfield--that would be fun to watch along with the progression of one of Hu, Abreu, DeJesus.

(11). Austin Gallagher, 3B
(12). Ramon Troncoso, RHP
(13). Pedro Baez, 3B
(14). Travis Schlichting, RHP
(15). Steve Johnson, RHP
(16). Xavier Paul, OF
(17). Kyle Russell, OF
(18). Jon Michael Redding, RHP
(19). Tony Delmonico, C/2B
(20). Justin Miller, RHP
(21). Brent Leach, LHP
(22). Jamie Hoffmann, OF
(23). Daigoro Rondon, RHP
(24). Victor Garate, LHP
(25). Javy Guerra, RHP
(26). James Adkins, LHP
(27). Alfredo Silverio, OF
(28). Lucas May, C
(29). Josh Wall, RHP
(30). Jordan Pratt, RHP
(31). Justin Orenduff, RHP

Now, I have to say, I see some really indefensible choices in that list, and equally indefensible omissions. Corner OF Alfredo Silverio was not quite but close to being old for low A at 21, yet he managed to hit only .263/.279/.404, walking only 7 times in 373 AB's. C Lucas May was both an offensive and defensive disaster at Jacksonville. RHP Jordan Pratt walked 67 batters in only 69.1 innings and at age 23 he wasn't young for high A. I could name more but I will relent. Meanwhile pitchers Jesus Castillo and Geison Aguasviva, whom I ranked #14 and #15 on my own list, miss BA's list completely.

I can also recommend Groundworks coffee in Hollywood (wow, great coffee) and the Unurban Cafe in SM. Saw Conan O'Brien at the Country Mart at 26th and San Vicente in SM.

Marty or Bob -- what's the big hole in the ground going to be that's across from the Times building? Looked for Bob at the downtown library (didn't see any super tall reference librarians) but managed to enjoy the maps of LA exhibit. That rotunda in the library is beautiful.

Thanks again for the help. Sign Manny already!

Does not compute.

In other news, it looks like the torch has officially been passed from Roger Federer to Rafael Nadal.

http://tinyurl.com/bas8bw

Didn't realize he was now a college coach.

The big hole north of the Times building isn't going to be anything I believe. I think someone started construction there and then bailed out.

I think a radical change in tennis' scoring system is in order.

Isn't that the normal reaction?

http://tinyurl.com/cp8lcm

At this point, I'll be surprised if Rafa doesn't catch Pistol Pete.

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

Plus, if the guests leave their bags hanging around (or if there's a central stash somewhere), the high percentage move would be to not let the game distract from candy poaching missions. What sort of candy security precautions have you taken?

Sounds like they're going to need a whole thing of candy beans...