and i don't get the poker-watching craze either. seeing rounders is pretty much as far as i'm willing to go in that direction.

Anyway, for this Dodger team to overcome the odds... it needs a team better than the opening day team. As others have said, we have to play over .600 ball or so to get a shot at the playoffs, and the team we had on opening day was more of a .570 team. Or maybe they can get insanely lucky.

I suppose DePo could pull off a miracle, but that's asking a lot of anyone.

1979 is the only season that all three California NL teams had losing records.

I see a barrel of David Sunflower seeds and a Gatorade jug looking at me.

Fortunately, that's the only number that matters, the 7-8 games back (which is still a lot). 40-48 is terrible, but, well, you know.

I find that I always follow the team with hope, sometimes unrealistically, but that's my nature. Part of it is probably an unconscious response to my dad, who is the consummate pessimist. He gleefully recounts all the ways the Dodgers are bad and hopeless (yes, he's a Dodger fan). I find it frustrating.

that being said, all things considered, with all due respect, given that things even out...it could happen...who knows...

if we ever get healthy enough to resemble the lineup those first 2 weeks

As for the the rest of the season, I have changed my view of the season and it is working. I'm no longer worried about the Dodgers winning or losing, but rather how the youngsters are faring; who is performing well, who may perform well, who is being the most consistent... I'm finding it rather enjoyable.

I have really enjoyed watching Robles lately. I'm wondering if he is just a fluke or really has major league talent. We'll never know though... Tracy would never go with Robles over Izzy even if Robles OBP is .407. Tracy would come up with one of those indecipherable reasons why it's better to have Izzy and his .322 OBP and horrific slump in the leadoff spot.

In summary, I say get as much for Izzy as you can while his perceived value is high... don't wait until he finishes the season with a .300 OBP.

To compare, Jeff Kent's BABIP is .317 and his line drive percentage is 24.5.

Choi (who as someone here said is the unluckiest man in baseball) has a BABIP of .250 with a line drive percentage of 27.6.

As a backup to Edwards the Dodgers can use Olmedo Saenz--not really convincing as a third baseman but passable in an emergency--and Oscar Robles. Robles is an interesting example of the advantages of scouting international teams in places like the Mexican League. A Tijuana native who prepped in San Diego, Robles was drafted as a shortstop by Houston in 1994 and made it all the way to Triple-A for three games in 1997. He was intractably stuck in the depth chart behind Carlos Guillen and Julio Lugo, and when a badly dislocated ankle caused him to miss all of 1999 he was released by the Astros. Robles hooked up with the Mexican League in 2000, where he posted a cumulative line of .334/.429/.380 in his five years there. He joined the Dodgers in spring training this year and hit a robust .438/.514/.563 in 32 at-bats. Again, as with Edwards, the lack of power is concerning and could be exposed by the tougher pitchers in the major leagues, but for a backup shortstop/third baseman, a reasonable batting average with some plate discipline should be useful.

I think the lack of power is not at all a problem for a leadoff guy with an above average OBP.

Unless you are expecting a plague of locusts to descend on PETCO park, I don't think the Padres are going to get worse.

Las Vegas 51s (AAA):
The International League beat the Pacific Coast League 11 - 5 in the AAA All-Star game.

The 51s second baseman Joe Thurston went 0 for 1 as a pinch-hitter.

Jacksonville Suns (AA):
The North division beat the South division 12 - 5 in the Southern League All-Star game.

The Suns did not have a good showing in the game. Catcher Russell Martin, second baseman Delwyn Young, shorstop Joel Guzman, and center fielder Jon Weber went a combined 0 for 12. Joel Guzman made a couple of bad plays in the field. In the 5th, with teammate Luis Gonzalez pitching, Guzman let a potential double-play grounder roll through his legs into left field for an error. Gonzalez proceeded to give up 4 runs (3 earned) on 3 hits and a walk while only recording two outs in the innings (both strikeouts). In the 6th, Guzman aired the relaw throw on a potential double-play about 5 feet over the first baseman's head. Since they got the lead runner, no error was charged.

Vero Beach Dodgers (High-A):
The Dodgers lost 3 - 2 to Clearwater.

Center fielder Matt Kemp again led the Dodgers offense, going 2 for 3 with a solo homerun and a walk (.284/.323/.588). Shorstop Tony Abreu (.320/.346/.433) and designated hitter Jamie Hoffman (.259/.250/.259) each went 1 for 4. First baseman Cory Dunlap (.275/.375/.364) and right fielder Anthony Raglani (.287/.389/.441) were held hitless in the game.

Starting pitcher Danny Muegge received a no-decision after allowing 2 runs (both earned) in 6 innings pitched. Muegge allowed 5 hits (1 homerun) and no walks while striking out 2 (3.39/69.0/47/23). Reliever Matt Merricks was tagged with the loss, allowing 1 run (earned) in 2 innings pitched. Merricks had trouble with his control, allowing 1 hit and 4 walks while striking out 1 (4.50/9.2/12/6). Twenty-one year old right-hander Alvis Ojeda pitched a scoreless 9th to finish the game. Ojeda only allowed 1 walk while striking out 2 (3.57/35.1/19/13).

Columbus Catfish (Low-A):
The Catfish won 5 - 4 over Greenville.

In his first game with the Raptors, right fielder Sergio Pedroza went 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored (.333/.500/.333). First baseman Daniel Batz paced the offense falling a triple short of the cycle (3 for 4) with 2 RBIs (.288/.355/.377). Designated hitter Blake Dewitt went 1 for 4 with a double (.271/.318/.424). Second baseman Travis Denker was held hitless for the second game in a row, going 0 for 4 (.287/.403/.508).

Starting pitcher Christopher Malone had a little Grabowski going through the first 4 innings of the games (1 walk). But, over his final two innings he allowed 3 runs (all earned) on 3 hits and 2 walks. In his 6 innings pitched, Malone struck out 9 (4.11/92.0/83/38). Malone, a 22 year old righty, was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2004 out of San Joaquin Delta Junior College in California. Wesley Wright, a 20 year old lefty, followed up with 2.2 quality innings of relief. Wright allowed 1 run (unearned) on a hit and a hit-by-pitch with 6 strikeouts (2.11/47.0/49/23). Wright was selected by the Dodgers in the 7th round of the 2003 draft. Albenis Castillo came on in relief with 2 men on and 2 out. Castillo struck out the only batter he faced for the save (2.45/36.2/31/14).

Ogden Raptors (Rookie):
The Raptors were crushed by Helena 13 - 5.

Right fielder BJ Richmond had the best night at the plate, going 2 for 2 with a solo homerun and 2 walks (.297/.392/.438). Twenty-one year old Richmond struggled with Columbus before joining the Raptors to start the short season. Shorstop Juan Rivera went 1 for 5 with an RBI (.306/.390/.375). Designated hitter Jesus Soto went 1 for 5 with a run scored (.309/.350/.500). "Gawky" first baseman David Sutherland went 1 for 3 with a double (.440/.520/.500). The double is just Sutherland's 3rd extra-base hit on the season (84 ABs). Third baseman Russell Mitchell went 0 for 3 with a run scored (.319/.330/.649). Catcher Juan Apodaca went 0 for 3 (.333/.362/.621).

Starter Cody White got spanked for 6 runs (all earned) over 4 innings (7.29/21/18/14) to take the loss. Reliever Nathan Hochgesang pitched 1.2 innings of relief, allowing 4 runs (none earned) on 4 hits and 2 walks with no strikeouts (4.60/15.2/11/7). Hochgesang, a 23 year old right-hander, was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2004 and pitched well for the GCL Dodgers last year. Right-hander Matthew Gomez de Segura allowed 3 runs (all earned) over the last 2.1 innings to finish the game (7.84/10.1/7/11).

GCL Dodgers (Rookie):
The Dodgers got beat 11 - 5 by the GCL Marlins.

Third baseman Eduardo Perez and catcher Carlos Medero-Stultz rejoined the team after filling in for Andy LaRoche and Russell Martin in Jacksonville. Perez started at designated hitter and went 0 for 4 with a walk and strikeout (.341/.449/.463). Medero-Stultz started the game at catcher and went 0 for 2 (.300/.333/.533) before being pulled for Kenley Janson. Janson finished the game at catcher and went 1 for 2 with a strikeout (.310/.310/.414). Jansen is a 17-year old switch-hitting catcher. Third baseman Josh Bell went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI (.302/.351/.396). Carlos Santana did not play in the game. The GCL Dodgers have a logjam at third base with Santana, Perez, and Bell all capable of playing the position. Santana has been primarily playing in left field to relieve the crunch. Center fielder Jeremy Brown went 1 for 4 with a walk, 2 strikeouts, and an RBI (.280/.419/.280).

Starting pitcher Gary Paris was hammered for 5 runs (all earned) in 1.2 innings. Paris allowed 7 hits and 3 walks while not striking out any batters (6.75/10.2/11/10). Prior to this game, Paris had only allowed 3 earned runs in 9 innings of relief. Twenty year old Kelvin Dominguez and nineteen year old Chale Dasni pitched the final 6.1 innings of the game. Dominguez allowed 2 runs (both earned) over 2.1 innings of relief (4.50/4/4/2). Dasni allowed 4 runs (all earned) over 4 innings of relief (7.02/16.2/13/7).

The GCL Dodgers have had few bright spots on the short season so far. Tonight's game dropped the team's overall record to 5 - 11, worst in the Gulf Coast League. Even though the team boasts the Dodgers two 2nd round picks and one 3rd round pick, most of the Dodgers Rookie level talent is bunched up at Ogden.

The Dodgers are in a different situation, I recognize. They weren't trying to hoard payroll like Beane had to do. They were obviously expecting to compete through the first half with the Drew-Bradley-Gagne-Valentin-Odalis team, not the Edwards-Robles-Repko team.

We're probably toast. But I don't think you can say for sure until the trading deadline. With the pitching we've got, this current team could play much better if:

-- Milton Bradley returns soon
-- Izturis' slump turns out to be injury related and he resumes the hitting we saw the first couple months
-- Robles holds down the fort at 3B until Valentin returns to a platoon role with him
-- DePo swings a trade for a hitter to replace Drew's production without having to give up Weaver

It also might be advisable to switch Kent to first base and let Perez have the majority of the starts at second.

An infield of Kent-Perez-healthy Izzy-Robles + healthy Valentin, with an outfield of Bradley-Werth/Ledee-Adam Dunn, is capable of playing .600 ball assuming Weaver and Penny continue as they have, and Lowe and Perez snap out of their funks.

In San Diego, Peavey seems to be returning to earth, Roberts is suffering from his predictable injuries, and their 3-4-5 hitters are who they are--streaky. The Padres should win the division. But we're still in it if we don't utterly screw up the next 10 games or so.

How can OBP be lower than AVG? Does this mean that OBP is calculated using plate appearances rather than official ABs? If that's true, a sacrifice does nothing to your average, yet it hurts your OBP?

I expect a barrage of condescending remarks after this question...

DENIAL --- This can't be happening to us. Gagne is probably just on vacation, and Drew he's just kidding he's alright.

ANGER --- "%$@^##& Tracy/Depodesta!" How could he do this to us. He screwed up the team, bunt, bunt, bunt. Fire the bastard!

BARGAINING --- "Ok, if all the Padres players get hurt and we trade for Dunn and AROD we are right back in the hunt. We can play .621 ball if everything goes our way! I know we can."

DEPRESSION --- "Oh God, what are we going to do!? We are 7.5 games out and are about to be passed by the Giants of all teams."

ACCEPTANCE --- "Oh well, there's always next year. Let's give some of the young kids a chance to play!"

vr, Xei

So which game will be win #10,000 for the Giants?

I would think tonight's game would be the Giants best chance as the Dodgers seem to have trouble hitting Jason Schmidt even when he's at half-speed.

I should be going Saturday afternoon. Perez vs. Tomko.

That could be pretty ugly for both teams.

The emergence of Robles has been the highlight of this season for me. I hope Tracy keeps him in the lineup.

Our bullpen is too weak to do anything in the post season anyways.

Hopefully DePo is more objective about the situation and can trade Izzy for pitching help or another big bat. Tracy then would have little choice but to keep Robles in the lineup at short.

Comment #16 is on to it ... Robles is likable but he will fade.

#47,
I still don't know about Kwame. I hope he can put it together. All the news I've heard has been encouraging though. I'm a little skeptical, but also excited and curious. I remember last offseason when everyone was saying, "it'll be an interesting season." I think the "interesting season" we expected last year will be here this season.

Of course, I base all this on the act that I think DePo should trade Izzy.

But Cristian Guzman is still starting for Washington. He has a season OPS of .525. Did Weaver give up a home run to him?

Tony Jackson article in the Daily News this morning was interesting. Doesn't seem to like Drew (the run producer factor, 212 with RISP etc), called Weaver our ace, very harsh on Jason Phillips. Also noted that Lowe has been terrible on the road.

Great article on Nippon Pro Yakyu Bob. Glad you enjoyed your stay. By the way, one of the stars on the first place Softbank Hawks is "old friend" Jolby Cabrera.

FWIW, Yu Darvish's father is Iranian. His professional debut was delayed by a few weeks because he was photographed smoking a cigarette during spring training by a sports tabloid here. The legal age is 20, and he is only 18. He was returned home for two weeks during spring training to reflect on what he had done.

Two points

2. Am I the only one disturbed by the fact that Homeland Security resources were used to bust alleged counterfeit t-shirt sellers? I guess all the ports must be secured.

#59,
Lowe's been about the same on the road or away. What's his beef with Philips?

Saying all of this I would like to see an intelligent look at who are players are for the future and who needs more seasoning. In the old days players were sometimes brought up early to give them a taste of the majors in the hops it would hasten their development. I realize that is a subjective decision, but those are some of the things that I see. I also think that if Kent doesn't play first, we need to see Choi, accept that he will look bad against many left handers but see if he improves..On the Choi, Tracy DePodesta issue, my theroy is that Tracy wants to find away to get Choi 20 homers with the least amount of at bats to satisfy a DePodesta spring comment, something to the effect, if Choi hits 20 homers and drives in 65, will be happy. He may indeed get close to that, but if it is not a part of the offense are we really developing him.

Easier than quoting.

Why?

Funny how that you can't smoke in Japan legally until you're 20. Then everybody starts smoking it seems.

Yeah, his D might not be upto to Izzy's level, but my guess is that is not far off.

It comes down to this. Izturis is not untouchable. He could go in the right deal and we bridge the gap to JtD with Robles and/or Darth Offerman, or if the price isn't right, we watch Izturis fail at leadoff hitting for another couple of years. Which will frustrate me, but we could be paying Jimmy Rollins.

Don't get me wrong... if DePo can get someone to overpay for Izzy, than by all means, he should do it.

On the other hand, Izzy is signed for the rest of this season and 2 more seasons for a little over $3 million a year. I'm guessing because he is a fixed cost and Guzman (or whomever else) is still a couple of years away, Steve is gonna have to see Izzy in a Dodger uniform past this season.

Can I borrow your bananas?

Cristian Guzman just ground into an inning ending DP with 2 on in Milwaukee. He's 0-2 and batting .199. And people in DC are worried about the Preston Wilson trade?

That trade has not been well received in DC, by the way, although today's home run will earn Wilson some grace. To me, getting Wilson without giving up any currently contributing pieces of the ML team strikes as a reasonable (though no huge upside) move, especially since the team is very much in a "this could be our year" mode. Day may be a great pitcher for someone someday, but he had chances with the Nationals and did not do well. Folks here who are blasting the deal are very quick to see the potentil upside being given away, but slow to recognize the million ways a pitching prospect/rookie might bust.

Which means, of course, that Izturis for Buster Olney might not even be a bad trade.

I guess that puts us way back in "Denial."

Kubler-Ross was probably a Cub fan. I think you can be in both Denial and Acceptance. My optimistic scenario is based on a few variables, which could each wash out. It's clearly labeled "optimistic scenario." It's not probable nor likely. But it is within the reasonable realm of possibility.

I don't disagree with Fearing Blue that my revamped/recovered version of the Dodgers isn't as good as the Cardinals, but to play .600 we don't need to be as good, since most of our games are played against a weaker division than the NL Central. (Chisox I still wonder about. They play a lot of games against KC and Detroit, plus Cleveland started the season horribly, and the Twins aren't what they were. Would you trade the Chisox starting pitching for ours? Dustin Hermanson is their closer! Their third baseman is Joe Crede. There's been a spot of luck that team has been riding.)

Their series against Cleveland starting today will be telling.

As for Washington, don't many people in DC think that the team has been very, very fortunate?

Of course, if Jim Bowden is allowed to make any more moves, I'm sure the team will be dismantaled in no time.

For, um, others, the team has (i) gotten a lot of breaks in close games (ii) had very good timing of folks getting hot sort of one after another rather than all at once, so that their modest production has been spread out over a lot of games, and (iii) has had tons of great starting pitching, with John Patterson and Esteban Loaiza in particular exceeding rational expectations.

Choi's stats as a 1B: .250/.330/.490 (.820 OPS) with 13 HRs, 22 BBs, and 42 Ks in 200 ABs.
Choi's stats as a PH: .063/.167/.063 (.229 OPS) with 0 HRs, 0 BBs, and 9 Ks in 16 ABs.

I'd really rather see the Braves win the NL East, which I think they will end up doing.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/chat/chat.php?id=2005071301

Gonzalo from Riverside, California asks:
How do you feel about being drafted by the Dodgers and do you think you will measure up to the other highly touted pitching prospects in the Dodgers farm system? They also compare you to Kevin Brown do you think thats a fair comparison and do you see youreself as a power or finesse type of pitcher? Thanks for the time and hope to see you in Dodger Blue.

A: Luke Hochevar: I'm ecstatic to be drafted to an organization of that caliber. I'm sure I'll work really hard to measure up. I'm a power pitcher that has similar pitches to Kevin Brown. I look foward to seeing you in the stands.

#1 CF: 0.303 / 0.38 / 0.547 (0.927 OPS)
#2 1B: 0.28 / 0.358 / 0.525 (0.883 OPS)
#3 2B: 0.302 / 0.373 / 0.5 (0.873 OPS)
#4 RF: 0.233 / 0.345 / 0.394 (0.739 OPS)
#5 3B: 0.258 / 0.34 / 0.366 (0.706 OPS)
#6 SS: 0.293 / 0.342 / 0.351 (0.693 OPS)
#7 C: 0.241 / 0.302 / 0.367 (0.669 OPS)
#8 LF: 0.232 / 0.287 / 0.367 (0.654 OPS)
#9 PH: 0.244 / 0.303 / 0.321 (0.624 OPS)
#10 DH: 0.242 / 0.306 / 0.303 (0.609 OPS)
#11 P: 0.159 / 0.18 / 0.197 (0.378 OPS)

Bob I agree. Chisox will be in the playoffs and probably win their division. I was only quarrelling with FB putting them on the same level with St. Louis as far as quality goes. I'm no Ryne Sandberg, but my 'power rankings' would be: 1. Boston 2. St. Louis 3. Anaheim of LA 4. Chisox 5. Atlanta 6. Yankees 7. Astros (now) 8. Nats 9. A's (now) 10. Twinkies.

It's cool to get some insight from an unsigned player represented by Scott Boras on his own ability. Especially so since he's basically saying, "I like the Dodgers. I hope they sign me for $5M because I'm as good as Kevin Brown was at his peak."

Even then, we only catch San Diego on their way down. They're in control of the race.

In my scenario, may Choi forgive me, Choi rides the pine. If Choi's getting a lot of playing time at first base, that means we've given up and are trying to get him the on the job training he still needs. I love the guy, but he's been a black hole in the lineup almost all season.

.918 Kent
.810 Ledee
.787 Choi
.771 Perez
.758 Saenz
.723 Robles
.712 Edwards
.707 Werth
.643 Repko
.638 Phillips
.624 Izturis
.524 Grabowski

If there were no trades to be done, I'd do something like an infield of Choi, Kent, Izzy/Robles, Valentin/Saenz and an outfield of Bradley (whenever he comes back), Ledee, and Perez/Werth.

If Tracy wants to win, he needs to get rid of the arm angle crap and put the best players on the field.

and at third base, where Jose Valentin was hitting just .194 before going down two months ago with a knee injury and where Antonio Perez has hit for average but shown little pop and is shaky defensively.

Then later on he praises him for the same things:

Perez, a converted second baseman, has provided some pop (.319, three HRs in 49 games) and has been superb defensively

Which is it? Plus he doesn't address the problems in left field and says the biggest needs are first and third. I found the whole article strange, especially since Jackson is not a bad beat writer.

Me too. Bullpen got a B while first base, which had about 20 HR, got a D, right?

Amtrak wants $60 plus bucks round trip DC to Philly for each person (including a 4 year old). That seems grotesquely expensive to me. But then, I suppose, it's just not. Or is it?

Saw the game in Veteran's Stadium that night after nearly passing out from the heatidity, during a day of sightseeing and reading Portnoy's Complaint in the park. The next day, I drove from Philadelphia to Montreal and was at Olympic Stadium that night.

Philly to Montreal, that's a drive.

Would drive ourselves (and probably will, do have a lovely corolla), but the 4 month old does lung exercises on long drives (or short drives, or drives) and the 4 year old just likes trains.

NO, I'M SPAGETICUS!

I'M SPAGETICUS!

(echoes)

Plus, at best, you're suggesting a Choi platoon role. We already need a platoon at third, it's probably asking too much to have a fulltime platoon at first, too.

He doesn't play very often, and even when he has the last month, he's been playing with the Grabowskis and Repkos and Edwardses. Choi remains an enigma, like everything else.

Except, of course, for the status of His Holy Avenger of Evil, Joel the Destroyer, who shall slay his enemies and pretenders to the throne, and take his shortstoppity goodness straight to Cooperstown, where Joe Morgan will declaim "WHERE HAVE ALL THE REAL SHORTSTOPS GONE!" and rant for hours about how "those bastards" are keeping Davey Concepcion out.

150 - I have to say, I really don't see the problem with the scrolling. It's so easy to skim.

Nobody Loves Raymond!

With that assumption, Choi's batting line as a starting 1B against RHP would be the following:

Choi 1B vs. RHP: .257/.343/.503 (.846 OPS)

it was a trade that we needed though. we need the size in the frontcourt desparately. I seriously think next year kwames going to explode foe 15 and 9.

look at the size up front:
mihm 7'0- 25yrs old
bynum 7'0- 17yrs old
brown 7'0- 23 yrs old
turiaf 6'10- 22 yrs old
odom 6'10- 25 yrs old

i think mitch gets it. you need young athletic depth in the front court and hes trying to do that.

actually when i went there, the store was staffed almost exclusively by young ladies from various locales in eastern europe. i tried to ask one girl what it was that could possibly bring all of them to the middle of nowhere, south dakota... some sort of crazy worker exchange program? a citizenship scam? something more sinister? she stonewalled though, so one can only imagine.

and rob, i agree that zion & bryce canyon are amazing. i went hiking there on spring break a few years ago. zion is second only to yosemite in beauty, i think. i was thinking if i went via I-15 i would also check out arches and rocky mountain NP this time. i've never been to colorado.

Maybe it doesn't. It seems like the downsides are players having a less firm understanding of their roles. It means "regulars" are put in the role of pinch hitters, which might not fit with their skills or makeup. Earlier this season, we talked about Tracy having lineups on certain days that would have Kent, Saenz or Choi at first, and either Saenz, Valentin or Nakamura/Perez at third. Maybe I just don't have confidence in Tracy to keep it all straight in his mind, nor to communicate it to his players so they understand their roles.

How's that?

I guess I went out on a limb where the branch was a little flimsy because I think Kent playing first helps the team tangibly and intangibly. I'm surprised, frankly, that Choi's OPS is still as high as Jon reported. What did he do to get it that high? Since the Minnesota series, it seems like Choi has taken a massive collar.

Maybe Choi is becoming the next Eric Karros, the stealth slugger. Jesus H. Choi I hope not.

And yes, the pronunciation is correct.

Um, Go Dodgers!

If you toss in Brock and Stubbs (weren't they a bluegrass band?), you'll see it's a long and distinguished line :)

Derek Lee is slugging .737 against RHP, but Tony Clark is slightly higher in far fewer ABs at .750.

If you limit it to Choi's starts at home against RHP, he is at 267/319/562

Choi is 23 for 108 on the road when he starts against RHP.

ps. indian blood, indeed. unintentional humor is the best :)

Is Jon any good or what?