Jon opting for a minimalist approach to let us all caterwaul on our own.

The Grabowski Flight of the Over/Under Challenge has tightened up after two days. Still taking entries, email me if you want to join. Need three more to open up another flight (xeifrank@yahoo.com)

Grabowski Flight Standings.
Colorado Blue 1-1-0
Howard 1-1-0
Xeifrank 1-1-0 (Tonight 5 2/3)
CT Bum 1-1-0

The Grabowski Flight of the Over/Under Challenge has tightened up after two days. Still taking entries, email me if you want to join. Need three more to open up another flight (xeifrank@yahoo.com)

Grabowski Flight Standings.
Colorado Blue 1-1-0
Howard 1-1-0
Xeifrank 1-1-0 (Tonight 5 2/3)
CT Bum 1-1-0

Just to avoid the Fox broadcasters' tut-tutting about our injuries, Barry Bonds, who'd'a'thunk it these two teams would be playing for fourth place, I'm attending today's game.

If Jeff Kent likes Tracy so much, he should hold a team meeting and tell him if the Dodgers lose the next two games, JT will be fired.

Random Dodger game callback

July 16. 1983

Sparked by a first inning home run by maligned first baseman Greg Brock and five RBI from stone-glove third baseman Pedro Guerrero, the Dodgers cruised to a 7-4 win over the Chicago Cubs before a crowd of over 48,000 at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers improved to 52-35, but were still 2 ½ games behind defending NL West champion Atlanta.

Dodger starter Fernando Valenzuela gave up a run in the first on an RBI single to Leon Durham, but the Dodgers came back to score four times in the bottom half of the innings.
Cubs starter Ferguson Jenkins walked Ken Landreaux and Dusty Baker and Guerrero tripled to left to score both men. Brock followed with his 12th homer of the season to make it 4-1 Dodgers.

The Dodgers added two more in the second. Valenzuela singled to lead off and Steve Sax reached on an error by Cub third baseman Ron Cey. Cubs manager Lee Elia had Baker intentionally walked to load the bases with one out for Guerrero, who foiled the strategy by singling in two runs to make it 6-1 and knock out Jenkins.

The Cubs cut the lead to 6-2 on a home run from Ryne Sandberg in the 7th. In the 8th, Keith Moreland and Jody Davis had back-to-back doubles to make it 6-3. Larry Bowa singled in Davis and it was 6-4. But Valenzuela hung in and got out of the inning, retiring pinch hitter Jerry Morales, striking out Mel Hall and getting Sandberg to ground out to end the threat.

The Dodgers got another run in the bottom of the 8th when Guerrero picked up RBI #5 with a single that scored Sax.

In the 9th, manager Tommy Lasorda sent Valenzuela out for more. He gave up an infield hit to Bill Buckner. Cey flied out to center, but Durham doubled to center to send Buckner to third. Finally, Lasorda brought in Tom Niedenfuer to relieve. Valenzuela gave up 13 hits in his 8 1/3 innings pitched. Niedenfuer retired Moreland and Davis to pick up the save.

After losing to the Braves on the final day in 1982, the Dodgers won the NL West in 1983 by 3 games over Atlanta with a 91-71 record. The Dodgers were able to use a 20-10 August to pull ahead and then survive a 14-14 September as the Braves slumped down the stretch.

The Dodgers would then lose the NLCS to the Philadelphia Phillies in four games. After losing 1-0 in Game 1, the Dodgers bounced back to take Game 2 behind a strong performance from Valenzuela, but the Phillies pounded the Dodgers twice in Philadelphia to close out the series and avenge their defeats in 1977 and 1978 to the Dodgers.

The 1983 squad was one of the more flawed division winners in Dodgers history. Guerrero led the team with 32 home runs and 103 RBI while batting .298, but he made 30 errors at third base. Sax followed up his Rookie of the Year season with a .281 average and 56 steals, but was caught 30 times and also made 30 errors at his position.

Mike Scioscia got injured early and missed most of the year. Steve Yeager got moved into the starting job and batted .203, but did hit 15 home runs. When Yeager got injured, Jack Fimple was called up from Albuquerque to fill in and did a credible job.

Brock had the misfortune for taking over for the immensely popular Steve Garvey and it was a given that unless he walked on water while curing cancer he would never succeed in the eyes of Dodgers fans. Brock batted .224 with 20 home runs. His 83 walks were pretty much ignored. Bill Russell, the last remaining player of the Dodgers famous infield, played his last year as a starter and batted .246 with one home run, which turned out to be a game-winner in the 9th against Cincinnati on June 11.

The Dodgers pitchers were good, but not great. Valenzuela was not as dominant as 1981 and 1982. He went 15-10 with a 3.75 ERA. Jerry Ruess was 12-11 and 2.95 and Bob Welch was 15-12 and 2.65.

Steve Howe saved 18 games, but his drug problems surfaced and he was suspended toward the end of the season and would miss all of the 1984 season. Niedenfuer took over and saved 11 games and Dave Stewart saved 8. Rick Honeycutt was acquired from Texas for the stretch drive, but went just 2-3 in 9 games with a 5.77 ERA.

The Dodgers and Padres played a tie game on September 28. A 4-4 game that was called because of rain after 14 innings. The Dodgers have not played a tie game since then.

1983 was an unusual championship for the Dodgers and one that is often forgotten. Much like the whole season for all of baseball. 1983 was the year that the Cy Young Award winners were John Denny and LaMarr Hoyt. The only Dodgers to win postseason awards were Tommy Lasorda as Manager of the Year (he would win it twice in his career) and Valenzuela getting a Sliver Slugger award as the best hitting pitcher (he batted just .187 with one home run.)

Thanks to the NY Times, BaseballReference.com and Retrosheet

Jack Fimple!

Let's see

1)A team makes massive offseason moves met with optimism by management and the fans but skepticism by the press;

2)A team has early season success, followed by significant injuries which exposes a thin roster and not ready for primetime players;

3)Some of the key offseason acquisitions fail to produce as expected and the front office doesn't shore up the roster at the trading deadline;

4)The team falters, and phones in the rest of the season amid a staggering number of losses and fan discontent.

2005 Dodgers, meet the 2004-05 Lakers!

Bob, at least your RDGC isn't focused on the 92 squad.

Coming up next week will be RDGCs on Dodger teams that make the 1992 squad look the 1953 Dodgers.

I didn't even know Bowa played for the Cubs! Not that I'm bragging on the holes in my baseball knowledge, which are indeed many, and voluminous.

As a hopeless Dodger fan I'm singing
.."so hoist up the John B Sails" alot lately...

It will take a lot of stories about Frenchy Bordagaray to remove the stench of the likes of Strawberry/Davis/Offerman and Todd Benzinger.

aieeeeee... are we going back to 1905 just so we can feel better about this year?

1905,
In the words of Comic Book Guy

Worst ... Dodgers ... Team ... Ever

But how many wins do people think the Dodgers will end up with this year?

I'm guessing 68.

Oh, and Larry Bowa was traded to the Cubs from the Phillies for Ivan DeJesus. The Phillies tossed in Ryne Sandberg to even out the trade.

It was not one of the Phillies better trades. But they went to the World Series with Ivan DeJesus

So "Mr. Zero" Shingo Takatsu is rumored to be traded to the Dodgers soon, any thoughts on him?

Re: #7
It's not that the Dodgers' roster was thin (actually I kept commenting on the quality of the depth earlier in the year), it's just that the Dodgers don't have any major-league ready alternatives in the minors to step in like - for instance - the Braves. Hopefully our increasingly improving farm system will help with this in the future.

14 -- Oh good. Another reason to hate DePodesta.

Right now, after the last few games, I'd say anything above 40 is optimistic. But we're all optimists here, aren't we? (sarcasm meter alert)

I'm guessing 73.

Bob I don't want to doubt your veracity on your RDGC account of that game,but one statement there just can't ring true...."Niedenfuer got the save..."I don't remember it that way.All I see is Jack Clark stepping to the plate...

overkill, where did you read that?

#7,
Yeah, I was sensing the Laker-Dodger parallel as well. Man...

There may be some Dodgers-Lakers parallel, but if anyone thinks Beltre = Shaq, you're nuts.

No way. Not that specific.

I'm also trying to picture Jim Tracy acting like Phil Jackson. Or dressing like Phil Jackson. Or dating Jeanie Buss.

According to this story
http://www.suntimes.com/output/sox/cst-spt-ssep16.html

Takatsu would be more likely headed for Oakland or San Francisco.

Going to the game today. Should be hot as #$*!. Lots of H2o and sunscreen. I'm expecting a Dodger win. Even a broken clock is right twice a day. As for any trades, I am prepared to stand pat. We can lament the season and when everyone is back in a month we can lament what might have been. It will give us humility next year when we run away with the division.

Sorry, it will be a Giants win. I'm going to be at the game.

The Curse of Jason Ellison is some pretty heavy mojo.

Is there any manager in baseball that is the equivalent of the Zen master?

Both the Lakers under Kupchack and the Dodgers under Malone have had terrible young development players. I like this Kwame trade though, maybe because i despise how Jordan ruined him.

Bob,
You mean dating Jamie McCourt?

well, I suppose not the owners daughter. Does McCourt have a daughter?

The McCourts, like my parents, have four sons and no daughters.

But Bob, I'm sure your father isn't a weenie.

Off to the game. Good luck to us.

14: wake me when the farm produces a useful spare part. We have been waiting until next year for a long time now. If nothing comes out next year, Logan White's stock is going to plummet.

Have fun LAT.

The only similarities either of my late parents had with the McCourts was religion and a penchant for producing male children.

I've realized that since the 1950s, the Dodgers have been in the hands of Catholic ownership.
The O'Malleys, then Rupert Murdoch (who converted to Catholicism, but I think got booted out or left when he married his third wife) and now the McCourts. Bob Daly was Catholic too I believe.

I think there's a "Da Vinci Code" story brewing here.

Per Vin's advice, I have bathed myself in sunscreen. I have a hat on (a Springfield Isotopes one). And a bottle of water. I'm ready for some exciting Dodger baseball.

I actually think the heat will be better than watching whatever pair that FOX sends out for you folks to listen to: Brennaman and Lyons?

go dodgers go.

yea.

exciting baseball?? I thought u were going to see the Dodgers lol

There must be a misprint. Hee Seop Choi is in the lineup batting 5th!

Anyone else read the Shingo Takatsu rumor floating out of Chicago? Rotoworld has him coming to us (possibly today) for an upper level prospect. I pray that it's Hanrahan at the most!!

12 -

over/under on wins this year?

vegas said 82 before the season and all the injuries...

at this point, I'll go with a record of 63-99, last in the division

this gets tracy fired, cause even tho losing half his team to injury made them bad, 99 losses will be too hard to take by the brass

Choi plays, but Phillips is still hitting 4th. So does that mean that I should care about this game half-ways?

From the More Good News department, Kuo pitched 2 scoreless innings yesterday. That's actually some of the best news we've had in a long time.

Minor League Update
Statistical summary format is AVG/OBP/SLG for hitters and ERA/IP/K/BB for pitchers.

Las Vegas 51s (AAA):
The 51s got crushed 10 - 1 by Tucson.

In true Dodgers fashion, the 51s only managed 1 run with 12 baserunners. Three baserunners were eliminated by double-plays and 8 were left on base. Milton Bradley started his rehab assignment as the 51s center fielder. Bradley went 0 for 2 before leaving the game after the 5th (.000/.000/.000). Third baseman Willy Aybar went 1 for 2 with a double and 2 walks (.303/.367/.447). First baseman Norihiro Nakamura went 0 for 4 with a strikeout (.285/.345/.565). Right fielder Cody Ross went 1 for 2 with a double and 2 walks (.271/.368/.507).

Starting pitcher Pat Mahomes took the loss, allowing 6 runs (earned) over 5 innings. Mahomes gave up 8 hits (1 homerun) and 5 walks while only striking out 1 (5.27/99.0/69/50). Right-hander Thomas Nall pitched two innings of relief, allowing 1 run (earned) on 2 hits and 2 walks with 1 strikeout (6.75/61.1/49/32). Mike Venafro, the archetypal LOOGy, pitched a scoreless 8th inning, allowing 1 walk with 1 strikeout (7.62/26.0/19/24). Twenty-five year old right-hander Beau Dannemiller finished the game, allowing 3 runs in the top of the 9th on 3 hits (1 homerun) and a walk (7.71/9.1/10/7). Dannemiller was promoted to Las Vegas on June 19th, though it likely wasn't due to performance as Dannemiller had a 4.81 ERA with 37 Ks, 28 BBs, and 4 HRs in 43.0 innings with Jacksonville.

Jacksonville Suns (AA):
The Suns beat Montgomery 8 - 3.

Shortstop Joel Guzman and second baseman Delwyn Young powered the Suns offense. Guzman (.287/.353/.500) and Young (.290/.338/.468) each went 1 for 4 with a 3-run homerun and a strikeout. Guzman added another run scored after reaching on an error. Catcher Russell Martin went 1 for 4 with a run scored and a strikeout (.317/.442/.424). Third baseman Andy LaRoche went 1 for 4 with a strikeout (.333/.409/.603). First baseman James Loney went 0 for 2 with 2 walks and a run scored (.274/.356/.393). Right fielder Justin Ruggiano went 1 for 4 with an RBI and 2 strikeouts (.409/.458/.545).

Starting pitcher Chad Billingsley got his first win of the season against the Biscuits, though his overall outing wasn't impressive. Billingsley pitched 5 innings, allowing 3 runs (all earned) on 7 hits and 3 walks while striking out 4 (4.28/90.1/105/32). Billingsley has had trouble against Montgomery, while dominating every other team he has faced in the Southern Leage. Yesterday, Billingsley was named the 7th best prospect (2nd best pitching prospect) in Baseball America's Midseason Report (http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/minors/050715midseason.html). Eric Hull pitched a scoreless inning of relief to get some work in between starts. Hull, a 25 year old right-hander, allowed 1 hit and struck out 2 (3.71/85.0/90/35). Hull's performance for the Suns has been an extremely pleasant surprise. Last year with Jacksonville, Hull had a 4.18 ERA with 39 strikeouts and 26 walks in 60.1 innings. Since last year, Hull has increased his K/9 from 5.84 to 9.53 and his K/BB from 1.50 to 2.57. Hong-Chih Kuo followed Hull with 2 dominant innings of scoreless relief. Kuo allowed 1 hit while striking out 3 (2.84/6.1/13/3). Kuo was only reaching 92 - 94 mph on his fastball, but he was fooling hitters with a devastating changeup. Right-hander William Juarez finished the game pitching a scoreless 9th inning, allowing 1 hit while striking out 1 (3.98/61.0/45/31).

Vero Beach Dodgers (High-A):
The Dodgers lost 5 - 0 to Dunedin.

The Dodgers only managed 4 baserunners (3 hits and 1 error) against Dunedin pitching. The Dodgers three hits (all singles) were by shortstop Chin-lung Hu (.278/.322/.399), designated hitter Cory Dunlap (.278/.375/.372), and center fielder Jamie Hoffman (.235/.250/.235). Second baseman Tony Abreu (.320/.345/.438) and right fielder Matt Kemp (.286/.323/.583) were each held hitless with Kemp striking out twice.

Starting pitcher Julio Pimentel pitched 7 quality innings, allowing 3 runs (all earned) on 6 hits and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts (4.24/87.0/83/33). Beltran Perez pitched the last 2 innings of the game, allowing 2 runs (both earned) on 2 hits (1 homerun) and 3 walks while striking out 3 (3.78/33.1/33/15).

Columbus Catfish (Low-A):
The Catfish lost 7 - 3 to Greenville in an 8 inning rain-shortened game.

Designated-hitter Travis Denker had a great night at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a double, a homerun, and a sacrifice fly (.289/.401/.527). Denker's 19th homerun moved him into a tie for third place in the Sally League homerun race. The current leader, 22 year old Hunter Pence, has 24 homeruns on the season. Denker, a 19 year old middle-infielder with tremendous plate discipline and power has gotten little recognition from Baseball America. Third baseman Blake Dewitt went 0 for 4 with a strikeout (.267/.316/.417). Right fielder Sergio Pedroza went 1 for 3 with a double, a run scored and 2 strikeouts (.364/.417/.455).

Starting pitcher Jarod Plummer did not have a good game in his second start for Columbus. Plummer took the loss, allowing 6 runs (4 earned) on 7 hits (1 homerun) and no walks with 3 strikeouts over 6 innings (3.10/17.1/15/0). Reliever Steve Nelson pitched 1 inning, allowing 1 run (earned) on 2 hits and a walk (4.20/15.0/6/3).

Ogden Raptors (Rookie):
The Raptors lost 13 - 11 in a slugfest with Missoula.

Catcher Juan Apodaca had the most exciting game at the plate, going 2 for 5 with 2 homeruns and 4 RBIs (.338/.365/.690). At 18 years old, Apodaca has the highest slugging percentage (.690) and ISOp (.352) on the Ogden team. Unfortunately, Apodaca only has 2 walks in 71 at-bats. Center fielder Adam Godwin went 2 for 6 with a run scored (.297/.366/.351). Godwin was the Dodgers 11th round pick out of Troy University in Alabama. After getting off to a rough start, Godwin has picked up the pace offensively. Godwin has raised his average from .091 on July 1st to .297. Here is what Baseball America had to say about Godwin prior to the draft:

"Outfielder Adam Godwin made headlines all spring as he ran away with the Division I stolen base lead (he had 81 in 89 attempts at the end of the regular season, 27 more than his closest rival). Godwin had improved his draft stock significantly as a senior after collecting just six extra-base hits as a junior. Godwin hit five homers as he improved his swing mechanics and got stronger, but speed is still by far his best tool, a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He also has fearlessness and great instincts on the bases and should be a basestealer at every level. None of his other tools grades above-average, and his swing still doesn't convince scouts he can even be a big league starter and profile more as an extra outfielder in the mold of Kerry Robinson."

First baseman Donald Sutherland went 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored (.452/.527/.527). After getting only 13 extra-base hits in his first 122 professional games, Sutherland has hit 3 doubles in the last 3 games. Third baseman Russell Mitchell went 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored (.324/.346/.647). Second baseman Jesus Soto and shorstop Juan Rivera both sat for the game.

Three Ogden pitchers combined for a horrendous performance. Starting pitcher Alvin Hayes wasn't able to make it out of the first inning. Hayes allowed 6 runs (all earned) on 4 hits and 3 walks with 1 strikeout (7.15/11.1/17/9). Kristopher Krise relieved and pitched 6.1 innings, allowing another 5 runs (all earned). Krise gave up 8 hits (1 homerun) and 1 walk with 3 strikeouts (9.97/21.2/14/9). Matthew Gomez de Segura finished the game, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits and 1 walk with 1 strikeout (7.94/11.1/8/12).

GCL Dodgers (Rookie):
The Dodgers swept a double-header against the GCL Mets.

The Dodgers won the first game 2 - 1 in 7 innings.

The Dodgers scored 2 runs on just 2 hits and 1 walk aided by 2 errors and an unearned run. Center fielder Jeremy Brown led off and went 0 for 3 with a strikeout (.258/.395/.258). Shorstop Ivan DeJesus went 0 for 2 with a walk, a strikeout and a run scored (.310/.344/.379). Third baseman Eduardo Perez went 0 for 3 with a strikeout (.314/.407/.431). Designated hitter Josh Bell went 0 for 3 (.297/.338/.422). Left fielder Carlos Santana went 0 for 2 (.343/.290/.514). Second baseman Adolfo Gonzalez went 0 for 1 with a walk and a run scored (.306/.333/.429). Catcher Kenley Jansen went 1 for 2 with a strikeout (.343/.343/.543).

Dimas Reina started the game, pitching 2 perfect innings and striking out 2 (0.00/2.0/2/0). Reina is a 23 year old right-hander signed by the Dodgers in 2003. Howar Zuleta came on to pitch 2 scoreless innings in relief for the win. Zuleta allowed 2 hits and 1 walk while striking out 1 (0.00/2.0/1/1). Zuleta, an 18 year old right-hander, was signed by the Dodgers in 2002 as a 16 year old amateur free agent. Last year was Zuleta's first professional season, compiling a 2.14 ERA with 51 strikeouts, 19 walks, and 1 homerun in 42.0 innings pitched with the GCL Dodgers. Arismendy Castillo came on to relieve Castillo and gave up 1 run (earned) in 2.1 innings (6.10/10.1/10/8). Castillo was pulled in the top of the 7th after allowing a single. Miguel Ramirez came on in relief and allowed the inherited runner to score on a wild pitch and a single while striking out two batters for the save (1.93/9.1/9/1).

The Dodgers won the second game 5 - 4 in 7 innings.

The most exciting news for the GCL Dodgers came prior to the game, when it was learned that the Dodgers' 14th round draft pick, Scott Van Slyke, had signed and would be joining the GCL team. Van Slyke made a brief pinch hitting appearance in the Dodgers second game, going 0 for 1 (.000/.000/.000). Prior to the draft, Van Slyke had suggested he would only sign if drafted in the first 5 rounds. Due to concerns about his committment to Mississippi and his raw physical tools, other teams shied away, allowing the Dodgers to pick him up in the 14th round. The Dodgers convinced Van Slyke to sign by giving him a signing bonus commensurate with a much higher draft pick. Here is what Baseball America had to say about Van Slyke prior to the draft:

"Outfielder Scott Van Slyke, the son of Andy, likely will head to Mississippi rather than sign. He could be an early pick in three years, once he strengthens his 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame and shortens his swing. He has good actions and all-around athleticism. His older brother Scott, a University of Kansas outfielder, should be drafted this year as well."

Center fielder Eloy Gutierrez, shortstop Ivan DeJesus, and designated hitter Eduardo Perez combined for 8 of the Dodgers 11 hits. Gutierrez, a 20 year old switch-hitting outfielder, went 2 for 4 with a double, 2 runs scored and a strikeout (.262/.380/.357). DeJesus went 4 for 4 with 2 doubles, 2 runs scored and 1 RBI (.310/.344/.379). DeJesus' numbers are starting to look like what the Dodgers should have expected from their 2nd round draft pick. Perez went 2 for 3 with a double and 3 RBIs (.314/.407/.431). Third baseman Josh Bell drove in the winning run on a single in the bottom of the 7th. Bell was 1 for 4 overall (.297/.338/.422).

There weren't any spectacular pitching performances for the Dodgers. Starting pitcher Guiseppe Norito went 2 innings, allowing 1 run (earned) on 3 hits and no walks with 2 strikeouts (4.50/2.0/2/0). Guiseppe was drafted in the 48th round in 2004 and this is his second year with the GCL Dodgers. Ramon Paredes pitched 4.2 innings in relief, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 7 hits and 1 walk with 4 strikeouts (2.50/18.0/18/4). Twenty year old left-hander Paredes has been one of the Dodgers better pitchers this inning. Eduardo Quintana came on in the 7th with 2 outs and a man on. Quintana, a 20 year old right-hander, vultured the win by inducing the only batter he faced to flyout (2.13/12.2/13/10).

Thanks for the minor league update, as always.

I'll be honest, I'm starting to looking forward to checking the Jacksonville results more than I do for the actual big league club.

H. Nomo has been DFA by the D-Rays.

Choi is starting! Oh Boy! Looks like Buntermaker is finally throwing in the towel.
vr, Xei

Hey Odalis

It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you place the blame.

Philadelphia has rumoredly put Thome on the trading block. Not sure who'd go after the damaged goods, and what kind of contract does he have remaining? I guess the Phils thank the rook is ready.
vr, Xei

At this pace Odalis is going to be lucky to make it 5 2/3rds innings. :)
vr, Xei

44- Well, I'm sorry to hear that. I always, always cringed when I watched him pitch, but the guy was something.

Odalis sure is struggling here in the 2nd inning. Get ready to say "hello" to 4th place. I don't think there is any chance we can catch the Rockies.
vr, Xei

I know that DePodesta had little choice but to sign Odalis Perez in the offseason, but wouldn't this be a good time to find a "buyer" who's willing to give us something valuable for a whining pitcher who never comes through at money time?

From the OC Register:

"Kent was playing first base when he was hit by a ball thrown by pitcher D.J. Houlton in Thursday night's loss to the San Francisco Giants."

It makes it sound like Houlton fired a ball at his wrist while Kent was standing around innocently. None of the papers seem to blame Kent for the wrist injury even though he was the one to miss the ball.

Hee Seop Choi!

The Curse is now in effect.

Nice lineup JT. Can anyone explain Phillips hitting cleanup over Choi?

Maybe our luck is changing.

With that double, Hee Seop Choi now has a .250 batting average and .775 OPS in July.

Scrapko is hella clutch.

Hey guys, I'm up at 4:50 AM now.

This is the turning point. If we lose today, Jints are 3rd, Dodgers are 4th, and I will cease to wake up at this time in the morning to watch a Dodger game the rest of this season.

A run!

HEE SEOP CHOI!

CHOI HEE SEOP!

Odalis is looking awful. With the promise of Milton Bradley coming back I guess it was about time for a serious pitching funk.

Well we got out of that one by the hair on our chinny chin chins. I have to admit, I like Repko more than the other Jasons, especially Grabbo who might be might least favorite player of all the time. The prototype zero tool player.

the dodgers just need to let choi be and stop jerking his chain.

Choi is a hit-by-pitch machine.

Tracy likes to play those trends right?

Choi's last 7 starts:
.364/.481/.545 (8-22, 3 XBH)

Whoo hoo, the law of averages decides to allows us to take the lead for a brief moment in time.

Hey come on, I'm on a Tivo delay.

i like robles, he knows how to work the count.

Steiner reported that the Dodgers have used 67 different starting lineups in 91 games this year including today.

I feel like this is a boxing match between two old champs who are way past their primes. It would be like Ali-Fraser if they fought today. It is just so ugly and all you can do is wait for it to be over. Aside from last night's shallacking neither team has shown anything on the field. No hitting, bad bullpens, bad starting, bad defense.

Man! Cool shirt.

69. Thanks for that info. We must have the highest number of different starting lineups this season.

Izturis should be batting 8th starting next game.

#68: I like Robles as well. It's too bad he doesn't have any power (.047 ISOp). With very little power and slightly below average defense, Robles would be a below average starter at either SS or 2B. But, he will be a very useful utility infielder for the Dodgers until he gets too expensive. With Antonio Perez, Oscar Robles, and Willy Aybar, it seems like the Dodgers may have too many utility infielder types for next season. Though, after the injury parade this season, I would keep all of them with Aybar getting another year of seasoning in Las Vegas. Next year our depth should be much better than this year, assuming we sign another outfielder (Giles?). Werth could move back into a 4th outfielder / platoon type role. Ricky Ledee would be an excellent 5th outfielder and Jason Repko would be insurance in Las Vegas.

i think colby likes to hang out with weaver... he seems like someone that would.

Anyone else notice how Tucker keeps pointing to the ball when it's a ball in the dirt when he's at-bat? I hate Tucker for his ill-advised charge of Gagne last year and this seems like another jerk move on his part. If we're up or down by a lot tomorrow I'd like to see one in his ear.

Perez is a 5 inning pitcher. He should have been paid like a 5 inning pitcher too. It was unfortunate that Depo had to give him a 3 year contract. I don't think Perez is going to be here thru the end of his contract.

ha, this is a good comparison. robles is a mexican david eckstein.

well, perez used to be a 7+ inning pitcher but he doesn't seem himself, I think his shoulder is still bothering him. His fastball is topping out at 88 so subsequently he's throwing too many off-speed pitches, it'd be nice for him to gain some strength to put a few MPH on his fastball.

Or should you say, Mexstein?

#77: Eckstein has a little more power, but otherwise very similar, even about the same age. I think Oscar Robles and Antonio Perez should platoon at 3B until Valentin is ready.

74 - Whats wrong with the Weave?

.239 BA hitting Clean up for us!!!!!

Sad state of our offense.

3 quality starts by SF, 0 for us.

Sad state of our pitching.

Is there anyone in the Major Leagues with a wider gap right now between perceived and real value than Cesar Izturis? I can't even imagine anyone close. Scott Podsednik, maybe?

#82: Even more depressing is the .662 OPS. I'd be fine with a .239 AVG if it was backed by a .380 OBP and .500 SLG (i.e. Adam Dunn).

tracy paid the ump to call strikes 3inches off the outside corner to K choi.

#84: Wow. That's a tough one. I don't follow enough teams, but Scott Podsednik's delta is probably higher. Remember, he's the sole reason the White Sox are winning :).

The called third strike to Choi was probably 6 inches outside.

#86: I couldn't see it. With 2 strikes and less than 3 balls, Choi should probably expand his zone a bit. He gets a lot of called 3rd strikes that are outside the zone.

Bob, your prediction is getting closer and closer. We only have 4 more outs.

#88: Ignore what I just said then. Of course, my frustration was mostly due to having Al Downing preach about how coaches want you to swing the bat.

#12: Bob, 68 wins seems a little low, but close. Since going 12 - 2, the Dodgers are 28 - 48, a .368 winning percentage. If they keep up that pace, they would win another 26 - 27 games. I'm guessing they'll get a little better once Bradley comes back, so maybe a .425 winning percentage the rest of the way for 70 wins total.

wow. schmoll is awesomeeee.

Today's loss should put the final nails in our coffin.

All those innings Schmoll could have been here instead of Erickson. It just kills me. DePo, Tracy. All of them can eat it.

It's too bad that SD doesn't really want to put us away so that we will continue to hang on to a hopeless cause.

95. Schmoll isn't married to Lisa.

Someone with the club has been reading Dodgerthoughts. Dodgers.com notes reports that Antonio Perez is taking a crash course in how to play the outfield...

We should start planning for next season and find out who can play and who can't. Time to start selling and bring up our prospects.

#95: Schmoll did improve while in Las Vegas. When he was sent down he was getting spanked in Los Angeles and then proceeded to get knocked around for a while in Las Vegas. Over the past month, he's really figured things out and he attributed it to a mechanical change. I still think we should have dumped Erickson, but I don't think Schmoll was ready when he broke camp with the Dodgers.

then proceeded to get knocked around for a while in Las Vegas.

There are things I don't care about, and results in Vegas are one of them.

FB, Can we send Lowe down to AAA to work out his problems?

Izturis or Grabowski? Tough call. Grabowski has been better over the last six weeks.

#101: Overall results in Las Vegas should be discounted, but relative results should not. That is, he significantly improved his numbers in Las Vegas going from about an 8.50 ERA to about a 4.50 ERA in a month.

#103: Mike Rose?

#102: Unfortunately, it's probably not as helpful for the 32 year olds.

Did that just happen?

!!!!!!

Wow. Good timing for his first hit in 10,000 at-bats.

I like Isturis.

we would have won if the ball didnt hit the bag.

Big surprise walking Kent with the fearsome Phillips on deck.

Man, with Izturis up I thought the game was surely over. What are the odds we would have said something like that in May?

On an 0-2 pitch no less. How incompetent.

Izzy finally gets a hit. Hmmm, maybe he shoulda stopped at first...

That entire rally came after two outs!!!

hahaha

wow. we win!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bob! I love ya, big guy!

Don't read too much into that.

Oh man, Phillips really went around on that pitch. I didn't think he had until they showed that replay. Whatever, i'll take what i can get at this point.

DOUBLE WHAMMY!

Not only do we win, but Sabean may go running after more bad middle relievers with decent prospects. No downside to that.

The umpire mistake seems more forgiveable when it is against the Giants.

119 -- We've taken so, so, so many bad calls, it's nice to get one back.

hahahahahahahah

and of course felipe and moises are livid. that was so awesome.

it was a tough call, but i think we definitely got a break. we needed it though.

...and the giants retain their proper spot in fourth place behind the dodgers.

I just reconnected and see Phillips up with the bases loaded, game tied, 3-2 pitch, and lines a grounder to right. What happened before that made the Alous angry?

Good point Steve.

Am I dreaming? Did we just come back in the bottom of the 9th off of base hits by O-fer-Izturis and one of the Ja(y)sons?

Yay we won! And who else saves the day but our questionable #2 and 4 hitters, Iz and Phillips!

124 - Phillips struck out, only he didn't.

with two outs!

#124: It sounds like Phillips stopped his swing right around the third base line and the first base umpire called it a Ball. I didn't see it though, just listening to Steiner.

Bad call by 1st base ump? What a great way to win a game against the Jints by not winning it!

#127: I'm still happy, but you made me think of the one downside. Izturis and Phillips have now earned at least another week filling lineup positions they have no right to be in.

130 - No, that's not it. Phillips went around on an outside pitched...first base ump ruled it a check swing.

#131: Or rather, called it No Swing. The home plate umpire called it a Ball.

#133: That's what I meant but my post was not intelligible.

So should we consider that a win?

I'd say it was more of an even-steven.

132 -- You're looking at it wrong. Who cares where these guys bat in the order? He sucks at 2 or 8 or wherever. Izturis just drove his trade value up. That's the key point.

By the way, somebody may want to check my work, but since JD Drew was hit by the pitch two weeks ago, the Dodgers have hit four home runs, and Phillips has three of them.

At least we stay ahead of SF for few more days.

yeah. walker threw an outside slider on... i believe it was a 1-2 count, and phillips tried to hold back his swing. he stopped the bat pretty much perpendicular to the pitch, about the same angle he'd have it if he was sacrificing. he didn't go around completely, but his hands went into the zone, for sure. moises and felipe were especially pissed because moses had been struck out earlier on a similar check swing.

#132

Yeah, listening to the Fox announcers try to justify Phillips' cleanup hitting ability was quit painful.

Something about how he isn't afraid to hit a fastball?

1 homerun by the Dodgers (Phillips) in the last 7 days...

The fact that we scored 5 runs and won is pretty amazing.

The fact that our bullpen didn't give up anything is pretty amazing.

Schmoll gets a well deserved win.

140 - They were saying that by having Phillips batting fourth at least you have a veteran coming up if they walk Kent instead of a rookie.

nosillE nasoJ

I'm confused. Was this a curse breaker, or does it make it a double secret probation curse?

146- I'm with the double secret probation curse, but hopefully for the Giants.

The Curse has been reversed.

Bob, that must have felt good.

Jim has it right.

I will now enjoy my concert at the Hollywood Bowl a lot more tonight.

Even though East Cost Fox affiliates don't show games from the west coast, they're still blacked out on Extra Innings, so I only checked the score on Gameday now and then. I was a bit surprised at scoring first, but when I saw the 4-3 total, I thought, "typical." And then I go to the site and lo and behold, we won.

What an odd feeling--haven't had it in a while.

And Choi also played. And lo and behold, the coaching staff is finally doing something that makes sense--trying out AP in the OF. Hopefully this means that Choi will get more playing time.

WWSH

WWSH

Hideo Nomo was DFA'd.

Very sad.

If A Perez moves into the OF rotation, that would probably end Chin-Feng Chen's stay on the 40-man roster. Wasn't Valentin placed on the 60-day DL? So when Valentin comes back someone has to go off the roster.

Not to mention that someone will have to go when Alvarez comes back.

#152: Gagne and Wunsch are still on the 15-day DL so we have a little more flexibility.

Tomorrow will be a mystery for most of the Dodgers hitters. Only Izturis and Werth have batted against Brad Hennessey.

The Giants hitters have seen Weaver a lot. Durham has 67 ABs against Weaver. With a whopping .239 average too.

From my perspective, it seemed that the Giants middle infielders today, Cruz and Durham have incredibly little range.

It also looked from my view, way up in the blue, that Snow seemed befuddled by Izturis double down the line. He didn't seem to make a play on it.

Looked at the video highlights online and I see that Izturis's double hit first base which is why Snow looked confused.

I think the entire Giants team lacks range, not just the middle infielders. They are OLD! You can only go so fast when steadying onself with a walker.

On the other hand, our Dodgers are young, and have plenty of range. They just can't hit worth a lick.

I have to get my props where I can. My post from last night: even though I had the line-up wrong, I just need Odalis to complain to fulfill my prophecy.

2005-07-15 23:00:26517. LAT
499 ddger, I tried, I really did. Then I started getting a headache and couldn't feel my limbs anymore. Its just so taxing to go through the entire line up but here goes:

Izturis SS
A. Perez 3B
Kent 2B
Saenz 1B
Phillips C
Edwards LF
Werth RF
Repko CF
O. Perez P

Final score Giants 4, Dodgers 5. Perez does not get W, pouts and tells media he was told to keep his mouth shut in violation of his First Amendment right.

157. Too bad I went to the Dodger game instead of Hollywood Park.

157. Congrats! You are the winner of today's Lineup Match Game. Matter of fact, I think you were the only one who submitted a lineup today.

LAT, any lineup predictions for tomorrow?

that was utterly ridiculous, suns load the bases with no outs then:
meadows Ks swinging
guzman Ks swinging
ruggiano Ks swinging.

blah.

Hey #32 you say you want to see spare parts.How about my boy Steve Freakin' Schmoll,Sidearmer Extraordinaire or Jason Repko,clutch hitter.
(Hey I'll get my thrills where I can these days)

nate, do you catch the suns games on internet only?

Re: 152

Also very sad to hear that Nomo was DFA'd. I was hoping he would make another comeback. Knowing him, he'll probably try to pitch more, although at this point, it'd probably be better for him to just retire.

WWSH

yea just online.

165. I tried it but it was like watching on a 2" TV.

tiffany pitched an awesome game today

7IP 2H 1ER 0BB 6K 1HR 3.36 era

hes still having a problem with homeruns. thats his 10th given up on the year. other than that, all the other peripherals look very good.

walk rate this yr: 3.15/9IP
walk rate last yr: 3.63/9IP

very good improvement from last year.

ddger, you can expand it to full screen for the homegames.

168. Can you tell me the link?

http://www.southernguide.tv/

they are away today though

170. thanks I'll try next home game.

i shall do likewise

What do you think of Hanrahan, Nate? He hasn't had a very good year. I would think he would be a candidate to be dropped from the 40-man roster as a 23 year old in AA.

im kinda torn with hanrahan. two years ago, he was awesome in AA as a 21 yr old. but he has regressed significantly since then. hes a control sinker slider guy and i guess his stuff isnt sinking anymore due to his large homerun rate.

i might leave him off the 40 man roster.

Nate, are any of our prospects ready for promotions to higher level. If so, who?

Do you get John Sickel's newsletter? I was wondering which Dodgers he put in his Top 50.

nah i dont.

broxton isnt having a very good outing.

put him back in the rotation!! :(

#175: Here's my rough take:

Las Vegas 51s
Derek Thompson is probably far enough along to fill a long reliever / spot starter role with the Dodgers. But, he's got the menacing Scott Erickson blocking his path. I expect Thompson to contribute significantly next year.

The only other two prospects in Las Vegas are Willy Aybar and Dioner Navarro. I wouldn't be surprised to see Navarro promoted when rosters expand, but he could still use time in AAA. Aybar has had a decent year, but it would be nice to let him transform his doubles into HRs in the minors instead of the majors.

Jacksonville Suns
There are a couple pitchers in Jacksonville that could be promoted, Chad Billingsley and Jonathan Broxton. But, with our AAA combination of Las Vegas and the PCL, I don't think there is any need to rush them. If Hong-chih Kuo proves he is completely healthy, I think he could be promoted straight to the big league club as a situational lefty.

As far as position players go, most of the players in Jacksonville still have things to work on, cutting down on strikeouts (Guzman and LaRoche), developing power (Loney), or defense (Guzman and Young). All of these players could be in AAA to start next year. Russell Martin is probably the most ready for a promotion, but he has Dioner Navarro blocking his path in Las Vegas. One player I'd like to see promoted is Tydus Meadows, who's been the Suns best hitter on the season. He might be good enough to help the major league club as a slight upgrade to our rotating AAAA outfield, but he's 27 years old and not a prospect.

Vero Beach
With Vero Beach, Mark Alexander, a 24 year old reliever should definitely be promoted. He's been absolutely dominating FSL batters. The Suns just promoted reliever Luis Gonzalez, and I'm hopeful it was to make a spot for Alexander. Matt Kemp might be ready for a promotion, but he still needs to work on his contact ability and plate discipline. Kemp strikes out way too often and walks too little and might be overmatched in AA.

Columbus
None of the Catfish pitchers have really demonstrated dominance of the Sally League. Thus, I wouldn't be surprised to see them all finish out the season with Columbus.

Second baseman Travis Denker desparately needs to be promoted. He's tearing the Sally League apart. Unfortunately, the second baseman in Vero Beach, Tony Abreu, was just named the Dodgers Minor League Player of the Month. With Aybar in Las Vegas, Young in Jacksonville, and Abreu in Vero Beach, barring a trade, Denker is likely stuck in Columbus until next year.

Ogden / GCL Dodgers
It's a shortened season to begin with, so there's not a lot of time for evaluation. Most of these players would be fine to finish the season where they are. The only two exceptions are Jumbo Diaz and Greg Miller who are both essentially rehabbing with the GCL Dodgers. Both of these pitchers could be promoted to Jacksonville once they prove they are completely healthy.

#178: I concur. No good for Broxton tonight. Once the Dodgers officially declare the season kaput, they should move him back to the rotation. The only reason for the move to the bullpen was to see if he could contribute this year. It looks like Schmoll may fill in admirably anyhow as a middle reliever / setup man.

Re: 180

Long term, Broxton is obviously more valuable as a starter, but might there be a middle ground of letting him contribute to the big-league club in the pen, if he shows the ability to succeed at both? It wouldn't be unprecedented to then move him back to the rotation at our leisure. With Gagne's health status, I'd like another power arm in the pen.

WWSH

broxton was our best starting pitching prospect this year. he was doing better than billingsley.

FearingBlue, the vacancy on the Jacksonville roster created by the promotion of Luis Gonzalez was filled with the promotion of lefty reliever Orlando Rodriguez from Vero Beach. He is 24, like Alexander, and unlike Alexander he is eligible for the next Rule 5 draft, so the Dodgers might as well see if he is worthy of being considered for protection.

Matt Kemp has not been striking out nearly as much as he was just a month ago, so he made excellent progress in that area. His total whiffs to AB's ratio is not even looking that bad now. It would be nice to see him draw more walks, but one step at a time. I think he should finish the year in Vero Beach.

#183: Thanks for the heads up on Orlando Rodriguez. What is Rodriguez's story? He only pitched 17.1 innings in Vero Beach, but had good peripherals. I'd still like to see the Dodgers make a spot for Mark Alexander in Jacksonville as he seems to be just toying with FSL hitters at this point.

As far as Kemp goes, I had also noticed that his K-rate was going down, but his K/AB may not be the best measure since he so rarely walks. I think the better measure is K/PA, which at roughly 24% is still pretty high, even for a power hitter. I expect it to continue to go down as his skills are still raw and this is just his third full season of playing baseball. I hope with additional experience Kemp can make some progress on the walks as well. If he does, he would be a tremendous major league baseball player.

#182: It's been a while, but my recollection was that Billingsley had better K/9 and K/BB ratios, but Broxton had a better ERA and HR/9. I think I would have still considered Billingsley the better prospect, though a lot closer than most people realized.

Why did Arizona want Bill Murphy so badly in the Steve Finley trade? He's shutting down the 51s tonight, but otherwise his stats this year are not very impressive (4.52 ERA with 46 Ks, 44 BBs, and 10 HRs in 71.2 IP).

According to an article on the Las Vegas 51s site, Bradley's rehab is expected to last at least 10 days.

http://www.lv51.com/news/?cat=1&id=711

181 - you can never have enough starting pitching, but you can never have enough quality arms in the bullpen, either. It all depends on the context of what next year's roster looks like.

Re: 186

Wasn't Murphy part of the heralded Moneyball class of draftees? Whatever else one might think of DePo, getting Finley in perhaps the last productive season of his career for next-to-nothing was definitely a coup.

WWSH

#189: Koyie Hill and Bill Murphy certainly aren't making us look bad for that one.

Murphy was drafted in 2002 by Oakland, so yes it seems that he was.

Re: 187

With all the other injuries, could Bradley's injury be a blessing in disguise, because his arbitration figures should be reduced by all the time off? It may give DePo a few million more to play with for next season.

WWSH

Milton Bradley played 6 innings in tonight's game, getting a single, a stolen base, and a run scored in 3 at-bats.

#191: It's somewhat sad, but yes, Bradley's injury will likely save the Dodgers at least a couple million next season.

Re: 193

I of course was looking at this from the team's perspective. It must be a bitter disappointment to him to see how the season turned out after such a great start for both him and the team.

I can see DePo trying to long term him this winter, though. I like Bradley a lot and I see him as one of the few players in baseball who really would give a home-team discount.

For all of Tracy's faults, and there are obviously many, I still think he deserves tremendous credit for helping Bradley with his problems. Not to say that Bradley wouldn't have reformed himself under a different manager, but Trace deserves some credit on this point.

WWSH

Over/Under results from the Grabowski Flight

Howard wins by default over Colorado Blue today. Xeifrank (5 2/3) and CT Bum (6 1/3) tie. Standings are now...

Howard 2-1-0
CT Bum 1-1-1
Xeifrank 1-1-1
Colorado Blue 1-2-0

Weaver on the mound tomorrow... Still looking for three more to fill out another flight. If interested email me at xeifrank@yahoo.com

#191: After refining the salary and arbitration numbers, it looks like the Dodgers will have closer to $20 million to spend in the offseason if they keep the payroll the same as this season. The three holes will be left field, third base, and a starting pitcher. Other than Brian Giles and AJ Burnett, there aren't really obvious free agents to target. My numbers are getting to the point where we could afford both of them if we can backload the contracts a little bit.

FYI, it looks like the Takatsu Defcon One Red Alert can be reduced to Defcon Four. It's Arizona. Maybe they'll trade Billy Murphy for him.

It's not a good sign that I don't quite trust DePodesta to stay away from this type of nonsense, by the way.

BJ ryan will also be a FA. but i doubt we are going to spend that much for bullpen help.

hey steve, JtD had a good game 2-4 and laced a double to right center. he made some good plays at SS and again, some not so good ones lol.

#197: Where did you get the news from? I thought it was extremely unlikely that DePodesta would trade for bullpen help. For one, middle relievers are always overpriced and seem to have roughly the same chance of performing poorly as they do of performing well. Additionally, the bullpen is the only area where we have some good prospects that can help out in the near future. I'm really excited about the following potential bullpen for next year:

Eric Gagne
Yhency Brazoban
Steve Schmoll
Duaner Sanchez
Hong-chih Kuo
Wilson Alvarez

Let's just hope that Kuo can stay healthy and Gagne and Alvarez can get healthy.

#199: I'd rather not spend anything on bullpen depth consider we need to conserve roster spaces and I can't imagine getting anyone who we could expect to perform better than the guys we have. The only role I might consider signing a free agent for is LOOGy if Kuo can't stay healthy.

Would it be reasonable for the Dodgers to ask Antonio Perez to play outfield and third base in winter ball to prepare for next season?

Good news from the GCL. Greg Miller pitched 3 perfect innings and struck out 6!

Fearing Blue a question even if Meadows is no longer a top flight prospect but can possiblly contribute more this year than say a Repko who it seems to me needs 1 more good year of seasoning, wouldn't we be better off trying a seasoned 27 year old and if he takes off perhaps he can get traded and is actually worth more to the organization than becoming a career minor leaguer. Although I know little about him, will do some quick research after the post, what about the fact that there are some late bloomers Maury Wills came up I think he was 26, clearly Edwards probably also falls close to a carrer minor leaguer and in this ugly season he has definitely contributed..I often wonder with better conditioning, better food, and what most say on all sides of the money ball debate say regarding the overall decline in pitching, I wonder if the age or service time for minor leaguers should not be recalibrated in terms of deciding who is washed up.....Regarding the release by Nomo, if nobody picks him up and the Dodgers are out of it early in September, I would love to see the guy finish his career in a Dodger uniform. I know he has struggled this year, actually I think he has improved over last year, but after last year I think many forgot too quickly how much he gave to the Dodgers, his 03 season and his games at San Francisco and San Diego at the end of the season that kept the Dodgers in were special-the no hitter in Coors, and his amazing first stint with the Dodgers when he almost no-hit the Giants in July and struck out a ton of Giants-Timmerman help me out on the number.Don't know if this can happen or if someone will pick him up. Final comment on Nomo while his last year with the Dodgers was ugly, I will always wonder, proof being impossible to find, whether the medical staff or Nomo himself did not let people know that he needed more time to heal after the 2003 season.

FearingBlue, I don't know about you, but I would like to see Franquelis Osoria become a fixture in the Dodger bullpen in 2006. I don't think Kuo could be a LOOGY. You have probably noticed this year that he gets a lot or rest between relief appearances, almost maintaining a starter's schedule. A LOOGY's arm has to be ready to go for multiple days in succession.

I'm thinking that with the lousy hitting by our outfield and the excellent job that Robles is doing in the lead off role that when Bradley and Valentin come back that we might see a lineup like this against RHP
1st-Choi
2nd - Kent
SS - Izzy
3b - Robles
C - Philips
OF - Jose Valentin/M Bradley/Werth

Against LHP
1st - Saenz
2nd - kent
SS - Izzy
3b - A Perez
OF - Repko/Bradley/Werth

While with the Sox, Valentin played outfield and while I don't have his rating I think he did a good job. Robles has been excellent as our lead off hitter and I'd hate to see him just get sent to the pine as a utility guy.

#205: Baseball Prospectus really liked Tydus Meadows in their PECOTA projections, projecting a .260/.342/.457 (.799 OPS) major league batting line for him. With Jacksonville, Meadows is putting up a .283/.432/.511 (.943 OPS) line so far. Meadows is second in the league in walks, but his big problem this year has been strikeouts. Meadows has struck out in about 23.7% of his plate appearances, which is higher than previous years and is usually a bad sign for readiness against advanced pitching. If the Dodgers were really in the race and forced to run out Grabowski, Chen, etc. on a daily basis, it might be worth giving him a shot. But, at this point it makes more sense to give at-bats to Jason Repko who seems likely to be our future 4th outfielder. The big problem for Meadows is that he bats right-handed. If he was a left-handed batter, he'd have a much better shot of displacing Grabowski.

#206: I really like Osoria as well and I think his initial struggles are just due to the need to make adjustments against major league hitters. When I put together my list of 6 relievers, I thought of Osoria as the 7th man. It's extremely likely that one reliever will be injured at any given time, so I'd expect Osoria to be on the major league staff pretty much the whole year. I included Kuo because I can't see an old school manager (i.e. Tracy) being happy without a LOOGy in the bullpen. You make a good point about Kuo's warmup routine, but I'm hoping that the Dodgers will gradually ramp up the pace as the year goes on. Otherwise, what role would the Dodgers be able to use him in?

kuo should go back to starting :)

FB & nate, thanks for all the info. You guys got me so hooked that I'm checking this site every chance I get.

I wish we could speed up one year to 2006 so that we don't have to keep watching these current dodgers but instead look forward to our prospects.

194> Wayne, I like Milton Bradley tons too. A lot. I couldn't agree more. He has been missed tremendously.