On baseball-reference, the pitcher most similar to Scott Erickson for his career is Tim Belcher. May Erickson be as good to the Dodgers as Tim once was...

I don't think a 2005 Scott Erickson is much like a 1989 Tim Belcher. He's more like the version that fought Chan Ho Park.

Why does Erickson not have 2003 stats? Was he injured? What was the injury?

1989, Tim Belcher led all of baseball with eight shutouts. I saw three of 'em and thought he was a future Hall of Famer. He didn't get there but your right, Mush, he did fine as a Dodger.

Unfortunatley, I think most young fans will remember him getting into it with Chan-Ho Park.

--------------------------------------------

Today's fact of Choi, SB's favorite player, 2005:

Okay, the last two sucked but this one is pretty interesting, I think...

Only eight South Koreans have ever played Major League baseball. Four of them are active and three of them-- Byung-Hyun Kim, Jae-Weong Seo and Hee-Seop Choi—came from the same high school.

All attended Kwangjui Jeil High and all played for the same coach, Sae-Hwan Heo. They were together for just one season, 1995.

"Back then, Kim and Seo were our top pitchers and Choi played first base and batted fourth even though he was a freshman. They played well, but who knew I was coaching three major leaguers-to-be!" Heo said in amazement.

Heo has said Kim was for the most part very shy with occasional outbursts of extroversion that could get him in trouble (Heo commented on this after Kim flipped the bird to Boston fans). Seo was the opposite—he had no problem expressing his feelings as evidenced by his demanding a trade from the Mets last season.

"The three players had one thing in common," said Heo. "They really worked hard. As a coach, I didn't have to motivate them. The only thing I had to do was just to watch them grow and improve."

Heo might be a little modest. He convinced Choi that he was better off with a bat in his hands instead being a pitcher, and he persuaded Kim to go from sidearm pitching to submarine. Seo was a natural pitcher from the moment he stepped on the field.

I have yet to find out how the 1995 team did. When I do find out, I'll let y'all know.

(most of the above came from this link: http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/sports/200303/kt2003032817153111620.htm)

No game for me tonight. I'm off to enjoy some fine Polish cuisine at L.A.'s leading Polish restaurant.

"...and he persuaded Kim to go from sidearm pitching to submarine."

My late LL coach is slapping Sae-Hwan Heo from high above...

Joe Morgan: I'm under the impression that the Dodgers are going to struggle to score runs, but I'm also under the impression that their pitchers won't be able to shut other teams down. I don't think they will be able to defend their NL West title -- I've picked them to finish third -- at best -- in their division. I have real doubts about the Dodgers talent this year.

I HATE THIS MAN! He should be prevented from commenting on the LADs. He doesn't even give a reason for why he thinks this. The extent of his baseball analysis is essentially "They got no hitting, they got no pitching, they stink." Thanks, Joe. Is that why they outscored the SF #$@%*s 18-8?

BTW: what a sigh of relief that Byung-Hyun Kim is not a Dodger. I couldn't afford enough Pepto.

And where, pray tell, would that be Bob? Seriously, the wife and I have an anniversary coming up.

Sam NYC: Don't get too upset with Morgan; remember he's been annointed the most intuitive baseball analyst there is by, er, uh, some moron(s)... that kinda of glorification tends to go to one's head. He says what he wants and if he's right at the end-of-the-day he'll let you know. If he's wrong, well, nobody will remember in October.

Compare Morgan's analysis to this:

Jerry Crasnick: I'm not sold on the Dodgers just yet. Gagne is a little achy, there are questions about Choi at first, questions about the infield defense and whether the lineup can score runs consistently, and Penny still has to prove he can stay healthy. But Weaver's outing certainly was a great sign. I don't see anybody running away in that division, so it might come down to which GM can make the big trade deadline move.

I think that's a fair assessment. No?

BTW Sam NYC: I used to watch games on ESPN and even tune-in to BB Tonight, but I found the pre- and post-game analysis on DT much more objective. This is my sole-source for Dodger analysis and my blood pressure is the better for it.

Yes, fair assessment by Jerry.

I remain amazed that the smartest player I ever saw, Joe Morgan, is perhaps the industry's dumbest broadcaster. And that's saying a lot.

CB,

I agree. Generally I don't go crazy if the LADs don't go far. I actually like the Sysiphean battle and so did my mom when she was a Dodger fan in Brooklyn. But sometimes I want the LADs to win the World Series SOLELY to shut them up.

RE: post #11.

Was he then sold on some other NL West team before the season began or is this considered his pre-season analysis?

It's early, anybody could win the division... who cares what any talking-head thinks at this point?

"I actually like the Sysiphean battle..."

Ok, my lack-of-culture is showing... I have no idea what that means.

No matter, I'm outta here, almost time for the game.

SB, There are two Polish restaurants that I'm aware of in L.A. One is Warszawa (sp?) in or close to Santa Monica. I've not eaten there. The other is Polka in Highland Park/Atwater. On York by the 2 freeway. I've been there and its excellent. Great food, good value, real kitschy. The pierogis are wonderful. If they have the breaded pork cutlet, get it. Its really good.

Go Kent! That's why walks are great.

I'm getting a man-crush on JK

Re: #7

Just think, he might have been the Dodgers' manager a few years back!

Thank God for that twist of fate

Sisyphus is from Greek mythology. He was condemned by the Gods to the underworld where he would eternally roll a large stone up a hill, only to have it fall down again. Homer saw him as a wise man and, like Prometheus, was punished for trying to pass on too much wisdom to his fellow mortals. More frequently he'll be referred to as a highwayman who would murder travellers, deceive the Gods and basically acted like a guy who would eventually get what he deserved.

How long can Bako last, batting like that?

Great squeeze by Erickson. Don't see that to often, going from second to third.

I am in heaven sitting here in Cincinnati, listening and watching Vinnie, on mlb.com.

I heard that Choi's pressing because of the huge Korean population in L.A. I hope that's the case because there's no other reason for him to go so far downhill. Unless, that is, I'm right about pitchers adjusting to him and his bat speed holding him back.

Vin says that last night after Valentin found out he wasn't starting he asked Mota to go with him to the cages for some extra BP. Jose told Manny that he might get a chance to win the game and he wanted to be ready. You gotta like that.

Today's Fact of Choi, Sam NYC's least favorite player:

40% of the pitchers that Choi has homered off of in his career are no longer pitching in the major leagues.

Wallach needs to set Choi aside and tell him to relax. He looks like he's really pressing right now.

I'm a big believer in Choi, but I'm also happy to know that if it doesn't work out, we can put Kent at 1B and A. Perez at 2B.

Ledee just made a nice running catch on a hard-hit ball by Glaus. Glaus looks very good so far, except for yesterday's error.

WWSH

On one channel of TiVo, the sis-in-law is watching a replay of the Charles/Camilla wedding. On the other channel of TiVo, the wife is taping 'Design on a Dime'.

I can't watch the game because of it.

Sisyphus had it good, IMHO.

erickson's sinker doesn't seem to be sinking very well

I do see from Gamecast that the ball seems to be carrying just fine in the Phoenix air.

Suffering Bruin - Who is the boss in that house?

Gamecast has Milton Bradley with an Expos cap.

We could of knocked Vazquez out of the game and opened this thing up. Frustrating. Hopefully the 3 AZ runs dont help him get his sea legs.

I hate Scott Erickson with the heat of a thousand suns. Spring training stats mean absolutely nothing, yet they are followed religiously by this team.

Borchard, today it's the guests who drove two hours from Bakersfield for my son's birthday party tomorrow.

And if you replied that that is no excuse, I'm not sure you'd be wrong. :)

SB, I once flew from Hawai'i to Pasadena for a birthday party (frequent flier miles covered it); I wasn't the boss at that one. ;)

Greenie always hit the ball well in this park.

Erickson isnt fooling anyone. Yuck

Somewhere, Bill Plaschke is smiling very, very broadly.

Ouch. This is getting ugly.

#33 Dodgerkid, exactly what are you referring to? Romano lit it up last Spring and we sent him packing.

As long as Green doesn't take our $36 million pitcher deep tomorrow...

Vazquez is getting into a rhythem. Though Ledee, Bako, and Erickson isnt exactly murderers row.

Vasquez did look good that half inning. That is what happens if you don't beat'em when they're down.

E - Izturis?

Who will be coming in to replace Erickson? It's only a matter of time.

We cant give up anymore runs. They now have a shot to blow us out of the game.

On the plus side, until walking Counsell, Erickson had not walked a batter.

(sigh)

Nice catch by Ledee. I had visions of that ball falling in between Ledee, Valentin, Izturis.

Jeez, JD has defective wood.

First post ever... So who gets a hit first, Hee Sop or Jonathon David?

Finally putting Erickson out of his misery.

Just 3 innings ago it looked like we had the chance for a laugher.

that glaus is a monster.

I think JD does. Hee sop has enough trouble making contact.

I'm guessing the Erickson experiment will be over after the next start if he stinks it up like today. Hopefully someone can take up the slack before Penny. I'm thinking mid-May for him.

Edwin Jackson?

I remember when our bullpen was the best in the game. We have a ton of injuries to the staff, but this crew has not thrown well at all.

Jackson in a perfect world, but I have no confidence in him anymore (but more than Erickson!)

bring back Fernando!

where can i buy a JD Drew jersey? i want a dodgers jersey with the number 7 on it, without his name (like the real one). i'd prefer authentic, but will settle for a replica. it's been hard to find!

Vazquez getting down on himself. Lets take advantage.

Looks like we might take advantage.

Nice stroke Ricky! We needed that. Aren't you glad we dont have Vazquez?

He lost his composure after that walk.

Something happened to Vazquez after the 2004 All-Star game and he hasn't been the same pitcher since. So odd, considering how good he was.

Thought Grabs had that one.

I agree Jerry. He really looks lost out there. I really think he's done. I know he's young, but he is really struggling.

Leadoff walk by Carlyle. Almost the worst thing he can do. Lets hope he has found an out pitch since last night.

Dodged some bullets that inning.

sigh. choi's hand flying off the bat as he swings... tim wallach, where are you?!

i dont think we can blame Wallach for Choi's struggles. I think the league has caught up w/ him. Pounding him in w/ fastballs and throwing curves early in the count.

That JD guy is going to be real good sometime this summer, I can feel it. Worth every Penny of Beltre money so far.

Depo is real lucky that Kent and Valentin are picking us up. Because Choi and Drew are killing us.

i don't think it's luck; the idea is to have above-average players at every position to avoid being dependant on one or two players. This is by design.

Well, if Erickson doesn't last, at least Hideo Nomo is available:

Today's line - 6 1 1 1 2 4 1.50

I don't believe it either!

"Depo is real lucky that Kent and Valentin are picking us up. Because Choi and Drew are killing us. "

It'll go the other way at some point during the season. It's special when everyone is hitting at the same time, but it's rare. I wouldn't consider it luck when some guys in the line-up are producing and some aren't. That's baseball.

We'll see about Choi, but barring injury, Drew will have a solid year, and if they can win when he's not giving anything, that speaks well for when he gets hot. I felt the same way about the Yankees last year when Jeter started so horribly.

I understand Jerry. But they are both very hot right now. This not typical performance. If they were struggling as well, people would be pretty irate.

How many more games does the Choi experiment last before he's benched permanently in favor of Kent / Perez?

very professional at bat for saenz. Fighting him off.

Great job Izzy.

Choi finally does something. Boy that kid Bruney lost his composure. He and Vazquez should take a class or something.

I was just going to say, Choi can stay on the roster if he gets a hit now. Alright, Hee Sop!

I like this Carlyle kid. He's got a nice looking delivery and he works quickly.

can i say i jumped for choi at his first RBI? :)

"Well, if Erickson doesn't last, at least Hideo Nomo is available:

Today's line - 6 1 1 1 2 4 1.50

I don't believe it either!"

Please sign somebody Japanese, or at least call up Nak. I'm in Tokyo and we used to get 2-3 Dodger games a week on TV with Nomo and Ishii making their starts. If Nak can become a regular, I'll be grinning ear to ear.

Hey MSarg29, looks like you were wrong: Choi got the hit before JD.

blue, I'm happy I was wrong. we needed it.

Yeah, but I bet the bookies would have given 100-1 odds on that scenario before the season started.

GO DUANER!!!

Yes!!! Amazing Catch Bradley!!!!

Defense really saved Sanchez's but.

Bradley is the cornerstone of the OF, and BTW good decsion to have him not Drew play center.

Really hoping to see a little emotion out of Bradley...

re #65:

it's true that the league has probably targeted choi's weaknesses, but i think the fact that he has them in the first place is probably due to his bad form, not due to any inherent inability. i'm no batting coach, but i think he's got some area for improvement.

by the way: how about that milton bradley. :)

I'm "watching" the game on MLB Gameday (the graphical little app they have) and it appears that Drew is hitting the ball far, just for outs. This has been the past three games or so. Can anyone confirm. If so, it seems like it's a matter of time before he explodes.

timely - if you can afford $80 US, you can watch the games on the net. I'm in the UK and that's what I do. Works great. Resolution could be better but can't complain.

The sign of a good ballplayer is that he makes great defensive plays when he strugles with the bat.

Drew has made at least two outstanding defensive plays, and typically has a "cool" April at the plate.

Be patient....

I second that Luther.

Ryan, the last flyout was pretty deep..

Does anyone know if Drew "is allowed to" make diving catches in the OF? Did anyone see him make one last year?

Off the subject: How about those Mets 0-5 start? DePo looking wise.

Green coming up....

Boy, you take Kent, Valentin and Ledee away and we could be 1-4. DePo looking wise (again).

midwest i dont understand you comment about the mets and Depo.

#91:

"Does anyone know if Drew "is allowed to" make diving catches in the OF? Did anyone see him make one last year?"

One of the reasons that Drew was going to play center was so that he would not have to play the corners fences in the OF so as to not injure his knee(s?) Well, so much for that. He's playing RF, and Bradley was the one making the diving, difficult catch.

That was the most emotion at the plate that I've ever seen Green have.

Are the umps widening the strike zone?

Those were two terrifying, amazing catches by Bradley. Wow.

To continue Sam's tour of former Dodger doings. Today, the Nationals beat the Marlins 3-2 in extra innings. Paul LoDuca had a chance to win it in the bottom of the Ninth when, with the game tied, he hit a long long shot that sure looked to everyone like a homer. PLD thought it was a homer; he started trotting and pointing to the crowd. But it dinged into the wall and, because he wasn't running it out, PLD ended up at first where he was stranded.

The oddest thing is the quote from National's intense outfielder Jose Guillen (nee LAAngels intense outfielder Jose Guillen). Here are the opening grafs of tomorrow's article about the game:

Ryan Church backed up to the left field wall in the bottom of the ninth Saturday night at Dolphins Stadium, watching the liner sail over his head. "Please don't disappear," he said to himself. At that moment, Florida Marlins catcher Paul LoDuca put his finger up, pointing toward his teammates and the crowd beyond. "I thought I got it," Lo Duca said afterward.

Instead, the ball thumped off the top of the scoreboard "maybe four inches" from going out, Church said. Instead of the game-winning home run, it was the longest single of this young season. So in the top of the 10th, when Washington Nationals right fielder Jose Guillen stepped to the plate, he had a distinction to make. "Lo Duca is Lo Duca," Guillen said. "Guillen is Guillen."

"Lo Duca is Lo Duca, Guillen is Guillen." ??

(can someone tell me how to italicize comment text . . . thx . . . s)

Mets spend big money and have nothing to show for it yet. DePo penny-piches and we're at 4-1 (cross-fingers).

I knew it, I shouldn't have said anything.

Right down the pipe! Oh man...

Uh oh. Squeeze time.

Or not/

Arrrrrggggghhhhh!!!!!!

I'm sorry to be a party pooper, but that was Milton's fault for turning that from a double into a triple. If he hadn't gotten greedy and simply played the carom off the wall instead of thinking he could jump 10 feet in the air...

Sure would be nice to have a lock-down reliever available right now.

Well that bites.

this is why Gagne is so important.

The BOB monster?

thank you Chris Snyder.

crap, just when i thought Brazoban was going to get his 2nd save. havent watched a game yet since i'm stuck in boston without tv. who are these guys in our bullpen? wunch, carlyle, houlton- i only know these guys by photo on gamecast and transactions line. anyway, i got a Robinson throwback from mitchell and ness- sweeeeeettttttt.....

So who's going to pitch the rest of the game now? Cararra maybe?

i think yhency needs a third pitch maybe.

damn.......

this would be a great time for repko's first dodger HR

Nice play by Green.

R E P K o . . . (exhale)

(and I don't have the heart to do a post-Dodger update on Jose Lime, but it wouldn't be too pretty).

We're getting into the heart of the order. I don't like it.

Why is Brazoban hitting?

FWIW, I think Steiner is doing a terrific job.

Does Yhency have to start every batter with a first-pitch ball?!?

119 - Perez is last bench player left and he is gimpy.

My bad, delay in MLB.Com. But it does seem like he's thowing way too many balls.

I wonder if there's a plan b for a closer until Gagne gets back.

I think Yhency needs to avoid the plate on a 0-2 count

Some small props to tracey for the Weaver pinch-run thing. At the time I thought it was sort of smart, maybe a little too cute, maybe a little fun for Weaver on an off day. Seems pretty valuable now.

FWIW, I think Steiner is doing a terrific job.

SF:

I prefer one man crews for baseball. Not sure what Monday adds to the broadcast.

I enjoyed Steiner on the national b'casts.

Schmoll, Carrara and Wunsch are left in the pen. Wunsch said before the game he's probably not available. Carrara is coming of the injury. Schmoll got the win last night but only after what he gave up to get it, if you know what I mean.

........ and now we got trouble.

Quite nitty, but I actually meant to have a quetion mark after the first sentence of #126.

Oh, and aaaarrrrgh. first and third with one out.

Time to pull Braz...

F..... I thought that was a double play ball off the bat.

bahhhhh, i want to disown yhency. how'd he get so hittable all of a sudden?

2005-04-09 21:57:18
# 124.  by al bundy

I wonder if there's a plan b for a closer until Gagne gets back.

Yes-his name is Mota and he plays in Florida.

Midwest, who do you want to bring in?

I like that IW to gonzo. He's won too many games in the past.

I never like the intentional walk load the bases thing. Do you really gain that much re going to any base in exchange for adding onthe walk in a run pressure?

And hurryng to get to Glaus just seems crazy.

guess who might be the last out today- green

I say Carrara. He said he was ready, injury or not.

the walk allows a DP ball at any base.....even though you might be right about the walk thing....

GReat, he's about to walk in the loss.

Now this is good... one more, Braz...

wow what a pitch

YEAHHHHHH

Oh, Midwest, I didn't get that last post... what were you saying? :)

BIG K! one more to go.....and then we can get to the 11th..

135 -- hadn't seen your post when I wrote mine and I see that point. I guess its not so much hurrying to Glaus as getting Grees instead of Gonzo, since you need two outs.

GOT HIM! (Glaus)

all they needed was a flyball......do it again Braz

Time for Green to hit a weak grounder to the right side...

Not that this is over, of course...

and it comes down to shawn green.

YES SIR!!!

whoooooooooooo

Green,

Back 2 back k's looking...hmmmm.

Big breaths now.....big breaths...

PHEW

YEAHHHH!!! Goodbye to the old Dodgers (Green) hello to the new (er, Braz?)

oh yeah!!!!! dodged a bullet... just wondering, is there a time delay with gamecast?

Yhency don't need no stinking curveball.

though that wasnt pretty.....that's why I like power arms in the pen.

This is the kind of game that sends a pitcher to new heights.

Even if that's not entirely true, it's nice to think so... Great pitching.

As the Dodger stadium stereos used to say when Green came up to bat, "woo-hoo"

Any chance JD would grace us with a homer for his first hit?

Good to know Green hasn't changed much from last year. Ok maybe a bit, this year he actually argues when he takes the call strike three.

Bet Plasche had his pen all ready.

at least we know Braz can throw strikes when he wants. when it was 3-1 to glaus, most relievers would end up walking him or throwing tentatively over the plate

Plan B is Y.B.

Gapper!!!

JD Drew gets GW hit

Steiner and Monday are having some great moments on the radio, by the by. It is by far the best I've ever heard Rick Monday.

Steiner is really terrific. Granting it's a great game but his call of the triple was wonderful.

Hail Cesar!

time for choi's first game-winning homer.

There's your starting All-Star SS for the NL.

As long as the Dodgers are paying $10 million to Green to fail to win it for the D-backs, can Choi make DePo look even smarter?

run Izzy, run

Yhency should stick to fastballs on the plate!

#163 -- I was just going to say that Plaschke had to rip up his lead.

or a sac fly works too.

Bold prediction... Choi earns his Dodger blue tonight.

C'mon Choi, make it a long fly sac out!

Suffering Bruing:

Maybe less Monday is more Monday.

and climb the ladder.

J.D. with the chance to be the hero.

Drew's time to come up big.

OK, JD...

Okay. Bold prediction... Drew earns his Dodger blue right now.

haha he walked. how fitting.

Luther: I think you've got it exactly right.

i think its time for jd's first hit.

Come on Drew!

it seems he always 0-2...

Choi didn't even get a chance to be a hero.

Better to be smart and not swing at garbage.

phew.......that was close

Was he safe??

Is that a hit or a FC?

What just happened?

Never tagged him!

Yes!! ANd it counts!!!

This is the man I want up.

Kent winning it will do as well

FC, still no hit for Drew.

Who would you rather have up?

Fielder's choice

We've got this...

Boy this game is crazy. That was close at third.

What happened with Drew? Fielder's choice? Why would they have to apply a tag?

SEE YOU LATER

clear them all Kent!

Now THAT'S what I'm talking about!!!!!!!

I love Kent!

yeah, I like Kent.. he'll soon be forgiven for being an ex-Giant

It sure has been a fun year so far.

There's your starting All-Star 2B for the NL. Anyone miss Cora?

I LOVE KENT TOO! I don't even know what happened. I'm just assuming from all the great responses than Kent just knocked in some go-ahead runs.

wait, did izzy score? i got kicked off the telvision and i'm watching it on gamechannel. it says bases loaded and nobody out. how is that a FC? did they throw home but izzy stayed?

YEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

Drew hit it up the middle, Clayton picked it up and tried to get Cesar going back to third. The ump rightly called him safe.

Man, has Kent ever had a better start?

KENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENT
KENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENTKENT

And come on home, my man. Come one home...

Thanks, Milton!

I love this team I love this team! Oh Cardiac Kids!

Fanerman91 -- Drew hit it sharply to short; clayton smothered it. He threw back to third behind Izzy -- who had broken towards home -- who was called safe at the bag, although it was really close and Melvin came out to meekly argue.

And what just happened while I was typing was a bases clearing double by JK.

There still aren't any outs.

bradley continues the party.

This pitcher for AZ is just bad......

still not clear on what happened with drew. but woo!!!!

I'll be the first to say it...

Cora woulda hit a grand slam. In a 17-pitch at-bat no less.

worth staying up until 1am staring at nothing but gamecast. i think i'm the only one celebrating in my apt building.

fanerman91:
Drew hit a grounder to short. Izzy started towards home but Clayton threw to 3rd (instead of 1st). Izzy beat the tag, and everyone was safe.

okay, i'm clear now. thanks guys!

this team is awesome.

Beltre never would've gotten doubled there. I'm gonna Bill Plashke.

I'm sure I'm the only one celebrating in my apartment building too.

Is it wrong for me to be upset that Valentin hit into a double play? I should just be happy w/ what we've seen.

Unbelievable.

The LAA have "Super -Vlad", we have Jeff "Clark" Kent

Thanks Im So Blue.

With a 4 run lead do you leave Yhency in for one more???

re 227 -- call Bill Plashke . . .

We've got a 4-run lead. We blow that to the Snakes and we deserve to lose.

Plaschke's going to write about the Angels tomorrow! I get a day off! Hooray!

Taco, Im pretty sure I'm the only one celebrating in my apt in Wash Dc.

Put Carrera in. Braz has thorwn too many pitches.

Wow. What a game. It might be worth buying a copy of this on MLB.com. This team never quits.

Dear Bill Plaschke,

Let me put this in language even you can understand.

Alex Cora is not remotely comparable to Jeff Kent.

Not. Remotely. Comparable.

Are you still with us, Bill? Are you still pining for for the days of yore? The days when the Dodgers went over a decade without winning a playoff game?

Yes, it's still early. But you wrote off this team after their first game.

Watch a few more games, Bill. You might be missing something special.

(The previous post was in 'Plaschke' style for his own comprehension).

And almost no one is up in the Midwest rooting for the Blue...and I have to be awake in 4.5 hours.

time for plashke to rewrite his article.

Let's hope Carrara doesn't tear anything here....

I'm back. Did I miss anything?

Actually, I listened to the bottom of the 10th and most of the top of the 11th on the radio.

From Polka. Man, those pierogis were good. I'd kill people to get those.

So the first round of the Scott Erickson Experiment didn't go well?

Does Buster Olney on ESPN remind anyone else of Buster on Arrested Development? Just wondering.

Two to go.

Where did all the D'back fans go?

i just moved from la to boston past winter and i want one of these parades they just had here in downtown la too. id travel back to see that.

Explain pierogis, when you get a chance...

Karros would have gotten that

How about the chemistry on this team?

# 249. by Aug C
Karros would have gotten that

HAHA! He wasn't '92 ROY for nothing.

uh-oh

Please tell me 4 runs is going to be enough.

We still have three runs to play with..

Bradley cant reach it. Carrera making it interesting. This isnt over yet.

Carrera isn't looking too good.

This is beginning to remind me of a little league game. Maybe the D-Backs WILL win 13-12. Hope not.

The string broke and the balloon is loose?

Only Vin.

pierogi is like a polish meat dumpling, if i understand it correctly...

# 257, don't jinx it like I did a while ago.

Id trade outs for runs right now.

"This is beginning to remind me of a little league game. Maybe the D-Backs WILL win 13-12. Hope not."

(or a major league game)

oh oh

Our bullpen's ERA must be something like 20.00

Okay, two runs to play with (oh boy)

Okay. Fun's fun...but enough.

Oh no, it's Schmoll!

can we bring in derek lowe to finish the inning??

Ahh, Steve Schmoll! Our savior.

Pierogis are indeed dumplings. Mine were potato and cheese.

God damnit Carrera.

maybe he should have left Yhency in.

Schmoll to the rescue!

who else do we have besides carrara, quick we need some super glue to apply to cracks before it falls apart!

Damn that 15-day DL. I swear I can see Gagne storming the field, ripping the ball from Carrara and saving the game on one leg.

That hammie can't be helping him. Jesus!!! Why did Tracy put a gimp in the game?

29 hits combined.

Hi guys!
Normally I'm on a big Tivo lag but I'm live tonight. Can we reenact that group hug right now? I'm dying here.

And if Schmoll doesn't work, we still have Wunsch!!!

If we get back to the G-men we're hosed.

The BOB is scaring me... do I put Lowe on my fantasy bench for tomorrow?

I hope you don't need to, Aug C. We need Lowe to pitch deep into the game again.

Quick! Who's more twisted?

Counsell or Schmoll?

This bullpen is filled w/ arsonists.

NOOO!!!!

This can't be happening.

Oh DEAR. Hurry and get back Wilson Alvarez and Eric Gagne. We NEEEEEED you.

This is really frustrating now. Winning run at the plate.

Don't know, bigcpa...we're all a little tense right now. Might lead to broken bones.

I don't pray, but it's time to ask real nicely for DP ball. Pretty please.

YES!!!!!!!

I guess I'm back on call. I so wanted a day off.

Double play!!!!!

Yea, we love Schmoll. His name is almost like Smoltz!

Never had a doubt!

I cant belive we held on.

I LIKE OUR DP COMBINATION

Anybody else like it?

Okay. Better now.

I was just about to say, "Time for a double play..." Whew!

Thank you, Midwest Blue. Thank you!

Someone get me to an emergency room, now.

YEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I called it. And I'll predict 9 innings for Lowe tomorrow, too. I'm going to bed. PHEW!!

im getting too old for this shit

I think I'm going to have to refill my oxygen bottle.

2/3 from the GNATS
2/2 from the DBACKS=
--------------------------------
Successful road trip

g'night gracie.

As Vinny said, "Good night everybody...and somehow the Dodgers win it."

could you imagine if we lost that one. That would of really hurt.

If only Choi and Drew could add to the firepower this team has. Kent has been a stud for five games, and I'm impressed with the middle to the bottom of the lineup. Guys like Bradley, Phillips, Ledee, and Valetin are playing very well. DePodesta is a genius! Now if someone could put out the fire in the bullpen . . .

shmoll's picture on gamecast looks like its been photoshopped. he needs a new picturet too.

Alvarez and Gagne can't come back fast enough.

Game summary:
1. Great catch(s) by Bradley
2. Is Penny ready yet?
3. Weaver can run but can't slide.
4. Izzy/Kent(.526) better than Izzy/Cora
5. Bradley a spokesperson?! Better attitude!!

Every win we steal with Gagne, Alvarez, Penny et al on the DL is huge. Especially in a bandbox like Arizona. Right now the offense, led by The Man Who Wished He Was Alex Cora, is picking up the pitching. It will be the other way around before the end of this season.

I watched this at home where I don't have broadband. It was amusing to look at all the comments and remembering the crazy ups-and-downs. I nearly had a heart attack from relief when Schmoll got the DP. Crazy, crazy, crazy. But a win's a win.

Someone else pointed out that this is already a successful road trip. Better yet, we pulled out two wins from our two weakest starters. With Lowe vs. Ortiz, I like our chances later today (I watched this on the east coast).

The pen is pitching like a gasoline-soaked rag doll held together by masking tape right now, but hopefully the kids will begin to settle in.

WWSH

"I'm under the impression that the Dodgers are going to struggle to score runs...
I've picked them to finish third -- at best -- in their division. I have real doubts about the Dodgers talent this year."

Joe Morgan, 4/8/05 chat

I'm actually paying for this as a premium service.

Does anyone know when Gagne and Alvarez are supposed to come back?

Good comments Wayne. I'm in Wash DC myself

My mother, who's only occasionally a baseball fan, was on the edge of her seat for the last two innings. I was too, but that's SOP for me. It was starting to look like that awful Phillies game about fifteen years ago when they got something like nine runs in the top of the ninth and beat the Dodgers 13-12 or thereabouts.

Get well, Gagne!

Hey Sarg, I should be going to sleep right now, but I'm still a bit too keyed up. I need a little more time to get my heart rate down. Good thing it's the weekend.

WWSH

Linkmeister, are you talking about the game where newly-minted Phillie Jose Offerman had something like six errors in the inning? Now there was a Dodger team that needed defensive help.

Got to like the big innings (from the boys in blue at least). Patience pays off.

Dodgers get 8 walks today. 5 of those guys score (actually 4, but one gets replaced in a fielder's choice) and one of the walks is an RBI.

Drew walks in the first. Comes in on Kent's home run.

Izturis walks home a run in the second.

Kent walks in the sixth, comes in on Ledee's double.

Kent walks in the seventh, stranded.

Valentin walks to start eighth...out in a fielder's choice...Ledee reaches safely. Saenz walks (Weaver pinch runs). Ledee scores on Izturis single. Weaver scores on Choi single.

11th inning, Choi walks with one on. Scores (along with Izturis and Drew) on Kent's double. Repko walks...stranded.

Arizona got more big hits than the Blue, they just didn't have as many guys on base when the hits came.

Some folks (amazingly, some professional sportwriters), continue to think too much is made out of walks and OBP. They'll have to come around sometime, but I hope the Dodgers can take advantage of that kind of ignorance in the short run.

Steve, I don't remember the details. Out here it was on at 4:00pm on ESPN and I got home from work around 6:30, turned it on to find the Dodgers up by some humongous margin, and watched in horror as they blew the whole thing. I'm sure it's on Retrosheet, but I wouldn't know how to start searching for it.

Here is the dreaded Phillies game from 8/21/90. I think it was a night game at Dodger Stadium (I know they were at home). From what I remember (I was 13 at the time), I fell asleep listening to the game. The Dodgers had a huge lead and I think I felt confident enough to give in to the sleep monster. I was quite shocked when I woke up to find out they had lost.

http://tinyurl.com/52ghn

Not to quibble in the afterglow, but can anyone explain why Tracy is not double-switching this series? He brought Wunsch into the 6th yesterday and oddly let him bat for himself to kill the 7th in a 4-2 game. Why not stick Valentin in the game for Saenz with Estes out anyway?

Today he uses 20 players and the pitcher stayed in the 9 hole the entire game notably with Yhency batting in the 10th.

So many thoughts on the game- I'll offer 3 notes...
1) How can you walk Counsell twice in the leadoff spot. Gag!
2) Yhency did not pitch Tony Clark well in the 9th. He threw him 4 fastballs at 96/97 until Clark finally timed it. At 2-2 Clark was looking fastball all the way and a slider would have fanned him easily.
3) How can anyone think that Bradley is not an amazing presence on this team? How many people misconstrued his outbursts as anti-team? Kent/Bradley are like smelling salt under the nose of this team that was sorely needed from '95-03.

I was 14 at the time of that Phillies game, and I watched the entire thing on TV.

I threw such a huge fit, I think my mother has still not forgiven me for it.

Eric, that has to be it, since I was able to see it after work (we're two-three hours behind the Coast, depending on Standard or Daylight Savings). Oh my goodness. That recap brings it all back. As Kurtz said, "The horror. The horror."

The story that may be slipping underneath everyone's radar is Bradley's play these past five games. It certainly seems like he's improved his approach and is on his way to having a better year than he did in 2004. If this happens, the 3-4-5 meat of our lineup should be very fun to watch.

I remember that Phillies game ... they were so far ahead that Lasorda took Gibson, Murray and the entire starting line-up out of the game. So when the Dodgers had their last at-bats, it was left to Sharperson, Gwynn and Dempsey to try to pull it out.

The worst part about that game was that it was one of about 7 games they absolutely blew in August and September ... and then finished just 5 games back of the Reds

I think this is the year Milt will start to fully reach his potential--an excellent defensive CF who hits around .300 along with 30 HR and 100 RBI. Maybe an ejection here and there, but I'm optimistic he can avoid any serious explosions.

WWSH

The key to Erickson's line tonight was 0 ks. His k/9 has been very low his entire career and basically holds the key to why he will not last the year (or maybe even the month) in our rotation - too many hitters put too many balls in play against him. I hope, of course, that he becomes the Lima of this year's team but there is literally nothing in his recent past to suggest that he is going to be able to contribute meaningfully.

How long til Alvares comes back? According to the Henson piece on the Times, seems like 2, 2 1/2 weeks. I couldn't really tell though. It depends on how long the 3 or 4 relief appearances take.

They say Gagne 'will not even play catch until "he is completely asymptomatic."' I'd gladly take a couple blown saves rather than see Gagne rush through things again.

Once Penny comes back, we should be in better shape. Dessens back in the bullpen will provide more relief help.

If we can last til our pitchers start coming back we should be in good shape.

We're tied with Atlanta and the ChiSox for the best record in MLB!! Yay!

I've got to tell you all, I had to go to work at about 8:30pm PDT. I got off just before 3am. I heard the final score on the radio and checked the box score when I got home. But it was great to follow the progression of the game through all your comments. Almost as much fun as listening to Vin call it. Thanks to all of you.
This is starting to feel like last year. Loose the opener and win the next four. It's like deja vu all over again. I know they say that pennants aren't won in April but seeing as all but two of our games this month are against teams in our division it would be nice to start strong. If I remember last year we finished April five games ahead of S.F. That made a huge difference. Good night and thanks again.

Oh what a beautiful morning! If there were corn growing in LA, it would be as high as an elephants eye...

Only 333 comments? We must be losing interest! :)

Good morning all... man, what a game! Stayed up for the entire thing and downed some Pepto when Schmoll took the mound.

RE: "Oh what a beautiful morning! If there were corn growing in LA, it would be as high as an elephants eye...".
Sunday morning in Denver; a spring blizzard has ensued, there is a foot of snow on the ground with no end in sight... but the corn still grows tall!

I was particularly pleased with Yhency's 10th inning... between Glaus and Green I just knew for sure the game was over for the Dodgers... YB must be feeling like a million bucks. Ok, at least $325K anyway.

335 the day after:

Even Plaschke has to give this team and DePo their due at this point.

Does anybody else think it might be a good idea to move Choi down to the 7-hole, hit Bradley second, and let Drew turn things around in the 6-spot (behind Valentin)? Seems like most of our rallies are coming from the bottom of the order; maybe flipping it around a little and getting Bradley on in front of Kent would be even better... though I'm certainly not going to argue with a 4-1 start.

Probably one of the worst game reports I've ever read in the Times today by Steve Henson.

In a game featuring lead changes, great fielding plays, and clutch hitting, Henson spends nearly a third of the the story regurgitating Erickson's last five years in the Majors.

Reads like he had the game story already written in case Erickson failed, and merely padded the story with beginning and ending facts about the actual game. Disgraceful.

Maybe GM had a point when they pulled their ads from the Times.

Gvette, you have a point but I wouldn't be too hard on Henson. I have no doubt that he did start writing during the game because when I was in the box, all of the beat guys did the same thing. They had to--they all had deadlines.

So, you start off with a theme that you think will be dominant, pray to all that is holy that the game won't end too close to deadline. You'll find as a rule that the coverage of day games is far superior to night games. You'll also find that the quotes guys get from the night games that run long were actually taken before the game.

It's a tough job. I'm sure with more time to write, Henson would've changed the theme of the game and concentrated on the play-by-play over Erickson's struggles. But I wouldn't be too critical of Henson because he and Brown seem to be the last sane voices writing about baseball at the LAT. When Brown isn't waving the red and white pom-poms, that is... :)

I had to miss the game, but TiVoed it for later watching... I started watching it at 1:30 a.m., not knowing the result, and needless to say stayed up until the wee hours of the morning. But the missed sleep was SO worth it! One of the better games in recent memory.

And reading the above 330+ posts this morning was pretty cool too.

Bruin,

Sorry I can't be as forgiving of the Times and Henson as you are. FOUR paragraphs of Erickson's stats from as far back as 2000 as filler is just lazy.

By comparison, Tony Jackson of the Star News/Daily News, working under the same time constraints wrote a coherent, complete report of the game, without relying on a preordained "agenda".

I agree that it was an extremely lazy game report by Henson. But in his (nominal) defense, the game did last four-plus hours and he was probably close to hitting deadline when it finished.

Jon T - I half-agree. I think, until Werth comes back, Bradley should be hitting #2. This would be my lineup:

Izzy
Milt
Kent
Drew
Valentin
Choi
Repko
Phillips
Pitcher

woah, this is so weird. i am pretty sure i was was actually AT that phillies game in 1990. the uncle of my dad's boss worked for the phillies, and so we were able to get first row seats. i could rest my 9-year-old legs on top of the phillies' dugout. it was awesome. the game was depressing, though. and it lasted till almost midnight, i believe, because of all the scoring.