September 6, 1897

Two teams muddling along in the middle of the 12-team National League played a doubleheader at Eastern Park. When the day was over, Brooklyn and Chicago had combined to score 41 runs and make 58 hits and 18 errors. Brooklyn won the morning game 14-7 and Chicago won the afternoon game by a 12-8 score. The split kept Brooklyn in seventh place with a 50-63 record, 28 ½ games behind Baltimore and Boston. Chicago was 51-63.

Brooklyn had 20 hits in the morning game. All nine starters had at least one hit. Center fielder Mike Griffin had four. Right fielder Fielder Jones and third baseman Billy Shindle had three each. Jack Dunn went the distance on the mound, "scattering" 12 Chicago hits. Dunn, who batted .221 on the season, batted eighth during the game. Shortstop Germany Smith batted ninth and hit .201 on the season.

In the afternoon game, Brooklyn starter Brickyard Kennedy was driven from the game when Chicago hit a pair of home runs off of him in the fourth. Jimmy Ryan and Bill Dahlen both connected for solo shots. Brooklyn manager Billy Barnie brought in Chauncey Fisher to finish up. Griffin left the second game after getting hit by a pitch.

Brooklyn finished the season with a 61-71 record, which was good for a tie for sixth place with the Washington Senators. But Brooklyn was 32 games behind pennant winner Boston. Most teams got a boost in their record because last place St. Louis went 29-102.

The Brooklyn outfield led the offense. Jones batted .314 with a .392 OBP in the leadoff spot. Griffin, who usually batted second, hit .316 with a .416 OBP. Left fielder John Anderson batted .325 and slugged .455.

The pitching staff was mediocre. Kennedy led the team with an 18-20 record and a 3.91 ERA. Dunn was 14-9 with a 4.57 ERA. Harley Payne was 14-17 with a 4.63 ERA.

An 18-year old rookie, Jimmy Sheckard, made his major league debut on September 14. Sheckard would play in the majors for 17 seasons, 8 of them in Brooklyn and would be the only Brooklyn player ever to lead the NL in both home runs and stolen bases in the same season.

Thanks to the New York Times, BaseballReference.com and Retrosheet

Was he on the 60-day DL this whole time? Would he be eligible for the post season if the Giants (Choi forbid) were to make it?

In the battle for third place in the NL West, this score in: Arizona 1, Pittsburgh, Top of the 4th

http://www.all-baseball.com/mikesbballrants/archives/007202.html

This would really only apply if Bonds was on the 60-day DL (in which case he would not be currently on the 40-man). Otherwise, I don't see why he wouldn't be eligible.

So, one of the current Giants outfielder who would need to come up lame for Bonds to make a playoff roster I believe. So I think Jason Ellison and Todd Linden better check their hamstrings.

LF Werth
SS Robles
2B Kent
1B Phillips
RF Cruz
3B Edwards
C Navarro
CF Repko
P Penny

With Tomko pitching, one would think we'd try to win...

CF Winn
SS Vizquel
1B Snow
LF Alou
3B Feliz
RF Linden
C Matheny
2B Castro
P Tomko

Oh wait - I promised not to comment any more on JT's lineup choices.

OK, never mind.

Actually, I don't think it's asking too much to abide by this part.

At this point, isn't kind of like beating a dead horse?

Well, that should keep the comments light tonight.

Seriously, I want Myrow to hit a deep one tonight. I love stories like his; a guy crying his eyes out because he gets to play major league ball and fulfill a dream. Never mind the team is struggling and there's acrimony all over the place; he's happy.

Go Brian!

I'm frankly rather envious...

Apparently a day at Locke High and he's still alive.

The Pirates have 13 hits to score their 2 runs. And both runs came on solo home runs.

Too funny. Actually, because of a paperwork snafu (shocking in this district, I know), I won't be starting until next Monday. But I've been visiting. Here's some impressions...

1. Every teacher, each and every one, has been involved in some kind of physical altercation. 99% of the time it's because the teacher is breaking up a fight. All of the teachers have a story about being hit, again, usually from breaking up a fight.

2. Locke is known as the worst school in the country. It's not because of the violence though that is certainly a problem; it's the academics.

3. All-time Locke academic story happened last year. Some students were taking an AP English class and the teacher kept talking about the need for "biology". She kept stressing this and the students didn't know what she was talking about. She started to describe the biology. It took awhile, but the students figured out what she meant was "bibliography." Ouch.

4. Most dangerous time to be at Locke: immediately after school and at night, both because of drive-by's. It's ten times worse at night, FWIW.

I'm sure I'll be fine. Thanks for remembering...

Good luck there, looks like you'll need it...

Second Locke High trivia question:

What WNBA star attended Locke High? Also a former Olympian.

There aren't that many who have been there a while...

When I was in tenth grade, the girls basketball team at my school (Kennedy) was pretty good and we played Locke in the final. They ran into Cynthia Cooper. Kennedy lost.

The Pirates got another hit but couldn't score.

Arizona has five hits, but three of them are double.

Pittsburgh has fourteen hits, two home runs and fourteen singles.

Have no fear. Jose Mesa is in the game!

I'll bet. Good luck, SB

Would today's stadiums pipe in the song "Brickhouse" when Brickyard Kennedy pitched?

He's 8-11 in relief.

That would put him third on the Dodgers in victories and second in losses.

Why was he in a hurry? He still got Phillips by 20 ft...

Arizona and Pittsburgh are in the 11th.

If Tony La Russa were managing this team, he'd play all of them.

How did Wilson get an assist with no out? I'll admit I don't know all the specifics

Nice double for Penny. Looks like he decided to make it good hitters at 1-3-5-7-9

The Dodgers are trying to tank games in order to get a higher draft pick.

Mike Edwards, Robles, Repko, Phillips, lol...

WOW!

Wow our offence is looking great,eh

You can also be considered caught stealing if the fielder drops the ball tagging you out.

Bench:
1b- Hee Seop Choi- .799 OPS
CF- Ricky Ledee- .805 OPS
SS- Antonio Perez- .801 OPS
3rd- Olmedo Saenz- .880 OPS

Indeed.

Additionally, given Ledee's injury, I would also say the case can be made for leaving Repko in.

But starting all four of those guys, and batting Phillips fourth is inexplicable.

Except that Tracy's been doing it ALL YEAR LONG

http://tinyurl.com/dlpo7

would suggest that Orel Hershiser is not afraid to play young players (actual young players, not Jim Tracy pretend young players)

"Pitching coach Orel Hershiser does not believe the 22-year-old Volquez is overwhelmed by being in the majors.

"You can see it in his face," Hershiser said. "He's relaxed. He knows what he needs to do. If anything, he is underwhelmed. He'll be fine.""

http://tinyurl.com/b6knu

"Hershiser, intelligent, passionate and ambitious, has made it clear that he does not want to be stereotyped as just a pitching coach and would be interested in eventually either becoming a manager or a general manager."

Vegas 51's?
Another team.
Another AAA team?

I cant see Repko on next year teams.

89 Raiders fan here too, and feeling optimistic about this season so long as Collins doesn't get injured. I've seen enough of Marques to last me a lifetime.

So anyone follow college baseball last year and know of some solid shortstops or OFers that might interest the Dodgers?

Maybe he's just a .250 hitter with some pop and running ability who can't play OF that well.

99 - It was properly scored. Werth never touched the ball, hence no error.

And yes, it looks like a potentially fantastic football season in Oakland. Hope you get to see them live. Alex, what's the spread?

As far as Werth tonight goes, it could be worse. The Mariners just took a 3-2 lead because--Curse of Steve alert!--Mark Kotsay made two errors in the same inning. Perhaps he should go back to the DL.

http://tinyurl.com/csq5j

suggests that Jim Tracy is better than most (and that Bobby Valentine is by far the best manager in the last 25 years)

Probably about 10 feet short of the track.

Why isn't Penny pitching?

Call up Billingsley and let him pitch the rest of the way for Penny.

at least its not the nerve flaring up or anything to do with his arm/shoulder.

But, I have good news! I got my new scorebook in the mail today! I can christen it on Saturday!

If you want to give Billingsley more innings, let him do it with the big club in September.

There's no reason to pitch Billingsley in late October/November.

http://tinyurl.com/csfdk

Will there be a ceremony?

If I had a computer, I'm sure I could refute this.

Also, when 2005 is figured in, Tracy will drop like a stone. Nobody who puts JP in the cleanup spot can be called a "good" anything.

in the end of 2003, miller, jackson and hanrahan were all assigned to the AFL and none of them went.

but if he does go, i think its because they are seriously looking at him for next years rotation. the AFL favors hitters notoriously. so the thought process maybe that if he can do well there, he might be ready for primetime.

The two charts agree on one thing-- don't hire Jimy Williams!

The Giants coming back to take this thing qualifies as crazy.

Let's play 15 Saturday!

The slumping Navarro draws a walk.

Bring in Ledee or Choi

Chris Oxspring and Franquelis Osoria dueling in a 0-0 tie. The Dodgers will win on a walkoff home run by Bryan Myrow.

Apparently there were rumors in the industry that Hockevar was close to signing, and seeking a new advisor (ie agent, they're advisors because you can't have agents, someone else can explain it better). White would not comment whether it was true

Ledee could not start today

Crew is taking BP with soreness. Whether he will return will be determined soon

Another weird-looking guy on the roster, I see.

Confusing Archie "Moonlight" Graham with Dick "Night Train" Lane aren't we?

I would have liked to have seen Night Train Lane in "Field of Dreams". I suppose he would have had a lot of interceptions and leveled a lot of ends.

The first one was simply, I believe, the number of wins above or below Pythagorean wins.

Hardball Times called this insane, because all you would have to do is put bad pitchers in during a blowout and it could affect the results.

Tracy played in a lot of close games the last few years, and had a good record, so that explains some of that also.

Also, according to Pythagorean, Jim Tracy has slightly exceeded expected wins by...almost 1 win!

Is the analogy correct, though?

BTW: the Gameday pitch count says it all about this game: Foul, foul, foul.

The Braves won 5-4 in 11 innings. Mike Remlinger getting the win and Jamie Arnold taking the loss. John Rocker got the save.
Brian Jordan hit two homers for the Braves. Jose Hernandez drove in the winning run in the 11th.

The Dodgers are 20-23 in games I've seen them play in this time. This includes 1 exhibition game loss to the Angels. All but 3 games were at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers were 1-2 on the road. One win in St. Louis, a 2-hit shutout by Darren Dreifort and back-to-back losses in Colorado in 2003.

FSL all star roster:
http://tinyurl.com/agv7q

I would say no one.

It's a long, long, long story with many possible meanings.

I'll tell you Saturday.

I should get them all done by the sixth inning.

But yes, Denker is on the SAL all star team.
http://www.southatlanticleague.com/allstarnews.html

Good thing we have this awesome bench.

Innings 1-6: Bob gives theories about the meaning of "Celery stalks at midnight".
Innings 7-9: Bob talks about his TWO trips to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, MI.

If your cleanup hitter isn't good enough to face a lefty reliever in a pressure situation, why is he your cleanup hitter?

isnt cruz stronger from the right side?

I like to see 4 and 7 on the board.

"Negotiations between the club and its unsigned top draft pick, Tennessee pitcher Luke Hochevar, are on hold. Dodgers scouting director Logan White would not comment on industry speculation that Hochevar nearly reached a contract agreement last week and had considered a change in advisors."

I would love to see him drop Boras.

Ridiculous how Edwards gets 4AB's, and AP gets none.

Phillips get 3 AB's. Choi gets none.

Indeed.

how about guome over?

It'd be something if Valentin and Rose are the next too come to the plate.

Tracy is just about giving the Front Office direct insubordination. This is ridiculous.

Ahh, baseball in September!

and it might work

INT: DODGER'S DUGOUT BOTTOM OF THE 10TH

Tracy: Choi!! Get up to the plate!

CHOI GRABS A BAT, HEADS TO PLATE

Tracy: Hey! Where are you going with that bat? I think you're forgetting your dimsum cart. These extra inning games make the umps hungry.

Choi, Perez, Aybar- 0-0.

Tracy- 4 Justice- 2

Moddy - adj. As cold, unpersonable, and calculating as a mod file.

As crappy as this season has been, nothing is better than a walk off HR to beat the Giants.

Jason Schmidt starts tomorrow

[/cold slap of reality]

Just kidding. We're still toast =)

All I wanted was for us to beat the Gnats tonight. I got that. I can go to bed happy now.

I believe that Kent missed the positive team chemistry hug minimum by 5. He needed to get to the majority of the roster and not pick favorites.

/sarcasm.

I will be attending the game.

[/second cold slap of reality]

I know he's been doing badly lately but man, talk about overreaction.

Perez is 5-7 against Schmidt, but he can't play with Weaver pitching apparently, according to Tracy. After him, there's not much. The only homer belongs to Izzy and his first AB this year. It's amazing how far Izzy has fallen. Weaver is hitting 1.000 against Schmidt, 1-1 with a RBI. Choi is 0-13

We just need Francis to beat Eaton...

I mean, "bring back Erickson?!" Puhleeze.

Oh, and for those who like to comment on every pitch, we get it: no one should ever swing at the first pitch, on 2-0, 3-1, or 3-0. Unless it works, in which case we don't talk about it.

Still and all, however it happens, winning is more fun than losing.

If I showed up at Dodger Stadium and saw a lineup full of Jacksonville Suns players taking on the San Diego Padres, I would be irritated.

Meanwhile, it's Viva Robles as it looks increasingly like Izturis is going to miss the rest of the season.

http://tinyurl.com/cn3oz

453 I actually like Robles more than Izturis. Izturis has been very painful to watch, with the bat. His slightly better defense does not make up for his hitting woes.

Last year La Russa wouldn't let his team celebrate a playoff spot until they were more games ahead of the Cubs than games left (they were in second at the time, the Astros had a late rally). Even after people explained to him that there was no way for the other teams to overcome the deficit because of games remaining against each other and even if the Cardinals finished in a tie, they would have gotten a playoff spot (and NL Central title) because they won the season series against the Cubs and Astros.

Tony La Russa is an odd man.

At that point they were 97-50 and the Cubs were in second at 81-65. The worst St. Louis could have finished would have been 97-65. The best the Cubs could have been was 97-65. But the Cardinals had won the season series against the Cubs. QED.

I think the Cardinals went on to lose three straight games much to the annoyance of the clubhouse manager who had to wait to break out champagne and souvenir caps.

In case of a tie, I thought there is a one-game play-off. Isn't this the case?

There is only a playoff for division champs without the best record or for wild card ties.

Now it makes sense...thank you.

However, Braz is having BIG problems right now and I wouldn't bring him in in a tight game until he fixes his problems. I don't have confidence in him right now and I think he is lacking confidence too.