Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
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1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
9) typing "no-hitter" or "perfect game" to describe either in progress
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with
Before people get too eager about D.J. Houlton becoming a No. 5 starter, keep in mind that opponents are batting .423 against him this season - 11 hits in 26 at-bats. In Houlton's favor, 10 of this hits have been singles, none have been homers, and he has only walked one while striking out five in 6 1/3 innings. Bad luck?
It's 10 RBI
Ledee in left field.
Derek Thompson AA
22ip, 31k, 6bb, 0hr, 4.09 ERA
Plus he wears a nifty shell necklace like Lowe.
I hate the Yankees.
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TODAY'S FACT OF CHOI, SB'S FAVORITE PLAYER, 2005:
Two comments to start off today...
a) I missed the last two editions of Fact of Choi because the kid has held the computer hostage with his Lego Star Wars game. An unusually entertaining game it is, by the by. And...
b) Saenz pinch-hitting for Choi last night made no earthly sense to me. None whatsoever. I am open to suggestions as to why it was a good move.
So here we go. I have officially made a request to the Dodgers for a press pass so I could interview our hero as I am running out of information for these things. There isn't much on the net in the way of interviews with Choi and there is apparently good reason for it. A buddy of mine has a friend in the Chicago Trib's sports department who claims that as an interview, Choi is duller than grease-pocked pans.
This the only interview I could find, from 2001, just before Choi got called up by the Cubs. Try to stay awake. I dare you. (courtesy Korea Times)
Korea Times: In the pre-season reviews you were picked as one of the top prospects in the Chicago Cubs system as well as in all of baseball. What are your goals for this season and for the next couple years?
CHOI: I want to go to Chicago this season and be the first Korean position player to reach the major leagues. It would be a great honor to be the first and I want to stay there and play well for a long time.
Times: This is just your third season in the Cubs system and you are already in triple-A ball in Iowa. What have you done to get there and what do you feel are your best attributes?
CHOI: I think the Cubs like my offense the most. I can hit for a good average and I can hit for power.
Times: Who has been the biggest influence in your baseball career and how have they helped you?
CHOI: My high school coach was very good and he told me that I should be a hitter and not a pitcher. My hitting coaches each year with the Cubs have been good too. I have learned a lot here.
Times: What are you focusing on this season with the Iowa Cubs to improve your game?
CHOI: I just need to learn to be more consistent. I'm also focusing on learning a new level of baseball. The closer you get to the major leagues, the harder it gets, so I'm just trying to learn as much as I can.
Times: Do you feel there is any chance of you making it to the big team this year with Matt Stairs and Julio Zuleta (now with Iowa) splitting duty at first base? When do you think you will make it to the MLB?
CHOI: I think I can get there this year if my hand gets better. Those other guys are good players, but I hope to get a chance to show what I can do too.
Times: The Chicago Cubs are still in first place nearly halfway through the season. Do you think they will stay there? Why or why not?
CHOI: Yes, they can stay there because they have good pitching and everyone on the team can play good so they should be a good team.
Times: This season you have struggled a bit at the plate and been injured, both pretty new things in your baseball career. What are you doing to get back on track?
CHOI: I just get treatment on it every day and try to keep the rest of my body in shape so when my hand is better I'll be ready to play.
Times: A number of Koreans are finding success in the Major Leagues and in the minors -- Park Chan-ho, Kim Byung-hyun, Kim Sun-woo and yourself to mention a few. Do you keep track of what other Koreans are doing? Do you keep in contact with any of them?
CHOI: Yes. I watch for them on TV and I keep in touch with most of them by cellular phone. They are all very nice guys.
Times: Many Korean athletes are pressured to `bring glory to Korea.' Have you faced any of this kind of pressure? What motivates you?
CHOI: I feel a little pressure just because I'm the first Korean position player to be this close to the majors, but I just want to make the people of Korea happy and proud of me.
Times: Do your teammates realize that you are Korean? What do you tell them about Korea?
CHOI: Yes, they know I'm Korean, and I tell them it is a lot like the US. I tell them they would like it there
He gets the Rolaids award for the wrong reason.
Email me- I have a stupendous fact of Choi to slip you. bigcpa@cox.net
A lot of the Choi stuff I get is from baseball.playerprofiles.com. I pick out a fact and then do some Googling to see if there's any color to add. With Choi, colorful stories are not easy. His young career so far has been blissfully free of acrimony.
With that said, what's up with Repko? I like this kid and thought he was doing a decent job filling in for Werth? Anyone have an idea?
BC
The Twins, with Johan Santana pitching (he of 16 straight victories without a loss) is tied 1-1 in the 7th at KC against Jose Lima.
On the day gagne's streak got broke last year by lenny freakin' harris, a scowling Choi was the first man out of the tunnel by about 15 minutes and could not have gotten out of the Stadium faster if he'd been fired from a cannon. Can't say I blame him. Lima, on the other hand, shook hands with all the fans, then went down to get some leftovers from the dugout club buffet. That clown will be missed.
BC
Ha! Good one. And more to the point, how much extra did they pay for those advancements?
Erickson looks good so far. He made Gonzo and Glaus look bad.
Score 1 for Green.
BC
(Yes, I looked this up Sunday)
Why is that?
I think with using new stats, he would only want to use things he knows enough about. He knows about sample sizes.
Luis Terrero? You have to be kidding me. Dan Kolb could get Luis Terrero out. Thanks for the memories Scott, but there's a new DJ on the dial.
He did.
Check out Fourth Outfieder for another take on the Saenz PH decision last night. I agree with it completely, but didn't realize that Saenz's platoon split was SO huge. He was, arguably, not just a bad choice to replace Choi there, but the worst possible choice off the bench against a RHP.
Wow - Ortiz isn't fooling anyone. That's a lot of booming outs we've made so far.
By the way, Choi is terrific over there at 1st. Helps to be 6' 5". Right Bob?
It is bad enough to still be at work but it is worse to see LA fall behind in a game again. That's ok, though, we will just get single runs in the next five innings and win 7-3.
Before today
Choi 200/294/311 (45 ABs)
Saenz 409/500/682 (22 ABs)
Grabowski 143/240/286 (21 ABs)
Nakamura 174/208/217 (23 ABs)
I don't know what Choi's OBP and SLG are after tonight, but Hee Seop gets to eat meat tonight!
If Werth is healthy, would Leedee be the first lefty off the bench?
Hee-Seop is 3 for 3. Think he'll finish the game?
As for the Izturis CS, Vin keeps saying there was a missed hit-and-run sign with Choi. I don't think it was missed. The pitch bounced 2 feet in front of the plate. Of course Choi didn't swing at it.
Choi is lefthanded and doesn't wear glasses.
btw, izturis looked safe to me on the replay.
I think I need to see a therapist about it.
vr
Xeifrank
vr
Xei
What a dumb walk. The baseball Gods have been tempted.
But that choice wasn't available to anyone. To get Green in a contract year would have cost LA more, the full $14M OR $16M or whatever. For Zona to get him this year for $4M (if that's right) cost them more in the long run.
Wouldn't the view from those seats be just as bad as the new ones down the lines are?
I have always thought that regardless of whether you like Green or not, the new Dodgers handled the whole off season with him pretty poorly.
The Dodgers are really ripping a lot of line drives tonight.
Unfortunately not in the right places.
http://tinyurl.com/8f3rr
$2 million signing bonus
2005 - $16 million
2006 - $8 million
2007 - $9.5 million
2008 - $10 million w/ $2 million buyout
The Diamondbacks received $10 million from the Dodgers. Thus, the Diamondbacks are on the hook for $27.5 million over 3 years assuming they purchase the buyout. Still seems pretty high for a slugger of Green's caliber and age.
According to my dad, the dugout seats were pretty unremarkable.
But he went to Notre Dame, so he is besmirched forever in my view.
That being said, I don't think he got punked. He didn't fit into the Dodgers plans and was traded. It isn't like this is the first time a player, with or without class, has been traded when he starts declining.
Besides, he got the sweet contract extension from AZ.
Tracy wouldn't do that til Valentin is below the Mendoza line.
DVD, VHS, and Laserdisc.
2. It's nice to see a lot of action on the board tonight.
3. It's rally time. I hope.
bunt Repko over or let Ceasar swing it.
And I don't know how many of those trade rumors were unfounded. Perhaps some of you do. But Green KNEW he wasn't going anywhere unless he wanted to, and that's part of the game. ESPECIALLY when you sign a monster contract. You're financially secure, but might have to put up with the team trying to trade your albatross contract.
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Perhaps I have a distaste for guys who went to Montclair Prep.
I will be polite and reserve my comments that I usually have about Notre Dame. They would create a sense of comity.
LA might've underestimated Arizona pitching a little. And the D-backs were good defensively. They won due to some great plays by Counsell and Green.
Should be able to hit tomorrow. DBacks starter has only walked 2 in 23 innings. Lots of strikes coming to a team hitting the ball well.
Early in the season, but playing for 1st place tomorrow =)
GoBears - We could have had Green for 4 million. Sunk Costs my friend. His contact was already written. We gave up green for 4 million and Navarro. I'll take Green in a contract year. Navarro isnt that good. Hope I am wrong.
Adrian Beltre: .597 OPS
Steve Finley: .558 OP
saw that at http://depounderthescope.blogspot.com/
Beltre may have not gotten the proper amount of respect, but I'm not sure that we are ever going to know the true story on that one. I am of the opinion that Beltre was going to the highest bidder whether it be the Dodgers or another team.
As far as Cora goes, he was going to probably get a nice raise in arbitration to be a back-up infielder. IIRC, his raise was going to be more than the 1.3 million he is getting this year from Cleveland.
How amazing would a Choi 5-for-5 game winner have been to the Hee-Seop chants?! Dang dang dang!!
Aside from Werth being injured, where were the Dodgers going to play Green if he stayed?
If it was only the Dodgers who were acting "classless", I would be worried about what you are saying. I assume that most of the Dodgers (since quite a few aren't homegrown) were unwanted at some other point in their careers.
Good news: Dodger Thoughts posts back above 200--must be that Time mag. article!!!
In 6 days of 8-20 his avg is up 93 points.
Schmoll has started a grand total of 1 game in his professional career, at Ogden (Rookie level) in 2003.
He has pitched in a total of 72 games in his career.
http://tinyurl.com/8ojxt
well that aswers that..
still like the guy.
He started fooling around with the sidearm delivery and did a lot better his senior year (this is all from memory, so I'm sorry if I'm incorrect on this).
I don't want to step on Mr. Enders' Schmoll fact of the day, but I thought I would throw this little factoid out there..
In 84.2 innings (Vero and J-ville), he didn't allow at homerun.
http://tinyurl.com/2ldan
Also says that Antonio Perez could be back in about three weeks. Will the Dodger's really go with 12 pitchers all season? Wasn't that just a stop gap till Gagne and Alverez recovered? If they go back to 11, which three pitchers get the boot?
Bummer about last nights game. If we get 11 hits again tonight, we'll win. All praise for Choi.
Vinny does all home games, and road games in the NL West. He usually doesn't go on the road trips to the Midwest or East Coast. Last year he made an exception for the Dodgers' first trip to Boston.
The other radio announcers are Charley Steiner, Rick Monday, Al Downing and Steve Lyons.
More info at: https://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/17148.html
By the way, Green isn't getting paid $16 M this year; it's $10.5 M -- he renegotiated that part, too.
We're not keen on that Green extension, given the D-Back-ian logjam at RF and 1B, but I think it's safe to say that we'll get our money's worth out of the $500,000 we'll pay out of our own pocket for Green in 2005.
Simple. A certain percentage of attendees at sporting events are classless boobs. They think it's neat to boo.
Green, OTOH, always had class to spare. I doubt it bothers him that much. One would have to learn to expect that kind of thing.
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