Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
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1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
9) typing "no-hitter" or "perfect game" to describe either in progress
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with
Are you familiar with the hardships of 25-year-old tennis player James Blake?
"In April 2004, the onetime Davis Cup member slid headfirst into a metal net post while chasing a drop shot in practice in Rome," wrote Douglas Robson for USA Today. "The impact broke a vertebra in his neck, and Blake missed the French Open and Wimbledon. Had he not moved his head at the last moment, doctors said he could have been paralyzed."
Blake's father died three months later.
And a week after that ...
"Blake landed in the emergency room with tubes coming out of his body after coming down with shingles, a viral infection often caused by extreme stress," Robson wrote. "His head swelled and the left side of his face was paralyzed."
Cesar Izturis is also 25, and he can feel fortunate, as far as I know, that his struggles aren't as bad as Blake's. He can feel fortunate, as far as I know, that his throwing arm should be as good as it once was, if not better, after the Tommy John surgery that was announced tonight.
But right now, he has to be shellshocked at the way his year has gone from nearly starting an All-Star game to complete inability to perform. Izturis has always struck me as a solid guy - another good character who seems to get overlooked as potshot after potshot is taken at the Dodger chemistry, a guy whose biggest sin was somehow looking like a leadoff hitter to Jim Tracy - and I wish him the best over the next 10 months.
As I write this, James Blake leads Andre Agassi in the U.S. Open quarterfinals, two sets to one. The match is being shown live on USA Network.
Update: Agassi rallies to win in a fifth-set tiebreaker, 3-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6). And DirecTV loses USA's coverage of the match in the middle of the fifth set. Amazing and amazing.
Update 2: In happier news, Eric Gagne's rehabilitation is going nicely, and he will start playing catch in about 10 days, according to Ken Gurnick at MLB.com.
Odalis Perez is playing long-toss and is about 10 days away from throwing pitches in the bullpen, Gurnick adds.
Update 3: And oh yeah - this!
April 12, 2005
SF 500 300 000-8
LA 210 002 004-9
September 7, 2005
SF 200 000 420-8
LA 400 010 013-9
The Dodgers win their 63rd and clinch a non-100-loss season.
vr, Xei
well put, as usual. i know steve hates him and i know he's overrated by a lot of the mainstream guys, but if he's healthy (and therefore playing to his usual level defensively) and batting 8th, i would love to have him remain on the dodgers, and he would be worth his contract.
Look, this is a 25-year-old who is the best defensive shortstop in the league and has also improved offensively every year as a Dodger, until two months ago. He's still young -- he might turn into Omar Vizquel, or he might turn into Rafael Ramirez. But in neither case does he deserve to get dumped on to the degree that he has been lately.
I would also point out that those who have advocated benching Izturis are guilty of exactly the same thing they criticize Jim Tracy for in regard to Choi: Giving up on a promising young player because of a single, extended midseason slump.
On the list of things wrong with the 2005 Dodgers, Cesar Izturis is very, very far down the list.
The comment about Cesar is dead on. He has done amazing considering his talent, and in my mind last year he overachieved. In many ways as an 8th pace hitter or a second place he is not bad guy at all. Given this team the injuries, so many other things he is a great guy to have around....Dodgers win and listening to the pain in Jon Miller's voice for the Giants is wonderful
So we can't say anything about Tracy and we can't say anything about Izzy. what can we say? (I'm half joking with that sentence). No one should wish injury on anyone though. A nice chest cold maybe.
What a game.
vr, Xei
I don't think Robles is our future SS. He will be a great utility player but I hope Mr Depodesta does a better job of finding us a SS in 2006 then he did in finding us a 3b in 2005. Maybe he'll just resign Jose to be our 2006 SS since they seem so impressed by his performance to date that he still somehow finds himself in the lineup. If we have to I can live with Izzy or Robles when were starting a quality major league outfield and a real 1st baseman.
Hee Sop Choi may very well to prove to be nothing more then a great chant but we won't know until he is allowed to play like Izzy was.
I dont think people just look at this year as a slump for Izturis. I've looked at his entire CAREER as a slump. He's NEVER been a good hitter. He never will be.
Does it matter if he's "improving"? At best case scenario Izturis improves into a .680 OPS player? Pardon me for not getting excited about a player improving from a bad one into an AVERAGE one.
I'd rather take an already average one, and hope he becomes good.
I dont think Izturis fielding compensates for being a terrible hitter. Which he has been for 9 years of his career.
There are better options out there. Robles, Perez, and Guzman to name 3.
Izturis is Juan Castro but luckily got enough playing time to win a GG once.
Trade him before the mainstream realize how useless he is too. They are beginning to realize that about Jimmy Rollins, Christian Guzman, and the like.
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You're welcome to that opinion. However, I, the Gold Glove voters, most defensive metrics, and the vast majority of people who have watched him play, all disagree with you.
Steiner said on the postgame show that Peavy was 50/50 for his next start and I think with the lead that the Padres have, I think Bochy should rest him. The Padres are in a good position to run out the clock.
I'll post my recap here as well:
I have returned. The first thing I can say is: I really should have gone to the bathroom earlier.
But now my recap:
I must say that I was seated in front of some very nice people who really weren't too up on baseball, but liked to act like it.
Here were a sample of their comments today:
"J.T. Snow's father was a quarterback for the Rams. Now he's a Senator."
"Why doesn't Jason Grabowski play more?"
"Good thing Grabowski is running here. He's really fast."
(Man returns to seat to find J.T. Snow on second with none out in the 8th) "No one out and runner on 2nd. This guy should be bunting." (Moises Alou was batting)
"Four straight walks? Who would keep a stat like that."
"The Giants are bringing their closer in too early" (upon the entrance of Tyler Walker)
I think my experience at Dodger games this year has been like something out of Greek mythology. I have been cursed by someone. The only three games I have seen the Dodgers win in person this year were 9th inning, come from behind wins. Two of them by 9-8 scores! The other 7 games were just miserable affairs.
Or maybe this is more like Faust.
I'm not sure.
Go Rams! Looking forward to a thrashing of the 49'ers this weekend.
19 - Well, you could act as chauffer for DDger and bokonon, but I really want to see your new scorebook...
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Well, all due respect, that statement is the very definition of hyperbole. Middle infielders who currently have a worse OPS than Cesar Izturis, minimum 200 at bats:
Willie Bloomquist
Alex Cora
Cristian Guzman
Miguel Cairo
Jamey Carroll
Tony Womack
If you add park factors into the equation, then Jack Wilson, Angel Berroa, Aaron Miles, and Desi Relaford are also worse hitters than Izturis.
And since it's kind of silly to base these things on one partial season, here are the middle infielders who were worse hitters than Izturis in 2004, minimum 200 at bats:
Adam Everett
Cristian Guzman
Royca Clayton
Angel Berroa
Marco Scutaro
Felipe Lopez
Orlando Cabrera
Alex Gonzalez
David Eckstein
Rich Aurilia
Alex Cintron
Ramon Martinez
Juan Castro
Bill Hall
Jose Reyes
Neifi Perez
Mark DeRosa
Willie Bloomquist
Desi Relaford
Enrique Wilson
Pokey Reese
Nick Green
Aaron Miles
Jose Castillo
Willie Harris
Marlon Anderson
Craig Counsell
Jose Lopez
Rey Sanchez
Oscar Robles
Walker had nothing. Eyre has been tremendous against the Dodgers all year (Cruz's homer notwithstanding.)
I knew the lefty coming in had to be Eyre and I knew the Dodgers were doomed that inning.
Benitez had absolutely nothing. If the gun was right, Weaver's fastball was being clocked at 92 and the fastest it appeared Benitez was clocked was 91.
The Giants bullpen was quiet once Accardo came in. I don't know who they had left. If Hawkins was unavailable, there were slim pickings. I think they could have used Scott Munter.
I have no problem with robles, im suprise the LA media doesnt adore him considering how similar he is to Alex Cora. Like Cora I think he could be best used in a platoon. Im not sure if robles has a platoon split, but if their is, why not bring back Jose Hernandez? Robles has been fine at short defensively; BP rates him as average defensively(rate: 100).
Tonight, "Brhency Yazoban!"
I was surprised nobody mentioned the other one, two nights ago. Cute kid shot of a 5-year-old girl in the stands with two Toy Story dolls, both male. She's got them doing some passionate French kissing. Vinny: "Oh, I see. They're veeeeeery good friends."
But I was sitting in the blue on the third base side so I couldn't tell just how bad the throw was. I saw the highlight of Robles' homer. I guess the ball bounced off the fans in the RF corner? Nobody seemed to argue.
Did anyone else notice Kent laughing as he strolled into third on that play?
(It's on the last thread)
Bob, Glad to see you have accepted reality. Now lets get Weaver and Cruz signed for next year before we make the same blunder as last.
I hate the Giants. I also hate the Yankees.
I detest them both.
Security hauled those people out.
It's a foul ball! Keep it!
But I was sitting in comfortable environs. And only one apparent fight -- and I didn't see it. But when half the left field line stands and starts looking toward the bullpen, they're not watching Elmer Dessens warmup.
The LA Times has cultivated my venom for the squad in red.
Mickey Hatcher was my favorite Dodger.
http://www4.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3221666
'Twas already mentioned on the other thread, but they were one strike away from their season being over when Blake DeWitt pulled a Kirk Gibson.
http://www2.dailynews.com/sports/ci_3009536
I blame my hatred of the Angels on the Times as well. I never really liked the Angels, but I used to enjoy watching them. I was even happy for them in '02 (then again, one of my good friends is an Angel fan so I was probably more happy for him).
As far as the Yankees, I'm young enough to not really care about them too much. I was all of 6 months old when they beat the Dodgers in '77.
As for tonights game, I'm glad I was there. The left field pavilion was even somewhat behaved. I should report that the guy who "threw" back Matheny's home run ball didn't really throw back the ball that Matheny hit. He threw back another ball.
The only guy I saw get ejected from the pavilion tonight was a Giants fan. I guess he thought that he could throw stuff at people and get away with it.
My beef is not with them, more with those Brown, Plaschke, and McDonnell fellows.
And I'm sure "cultivated my venom" didn't make a lot of sense, but it's late.
Some excerpts:
"The winning streak had to end at some point, but it didn't have to end in Los Angeles. It certainly didn't have to end with Jeff Kent flipping his bat and flashing his patented 'Mona Lisa, if Mona Lisa were an Orange County-raised asswrench who thought she was a Texan'-smirk. Oh, the humanity."
"I did some research, and there's no specific law against ripping a man's moustache off with your bare hands. There is also no law against forcing the man to eat his own moustache after you've ripped it off. They're both just your average case of assault and battery.
Just throwing that out there."
1) "To bestow attention, care, and labor upon, with a view to valuable returns"
2 "to impart culture to; to civilize; to refine."
Mike Scioscia is one of my favorite Dodgers ever. Even though I don't like the Angels that much these days, I can't really root against Mike.
In retrospect, there was no way I was rooting against the Angels in 2002. I wanted Mike to win and I wanted the Giants to lose.
He's one of my favorite players ever... however, since Scioscia was a computer science major in college, I had hoped he would turn out to be a more sabr-friendly manager.
What do you call it?
Jeff Kent!
that's great stuff, eric. I love their misery.
66 It is the fans, isn't it Eric? All along it has really been about the fans, and the LAT.
And I was as happy as anyone in October 2002, but I feel I've been paying for it ever since.
Good thing your not in So Cal Eric.
Growing up here, the Angels fans made me dislike the team more than anything else. They don't bug me so much anymore, but they used to talk alot of mess when they were not a very good team.
I do thank the Angels for giving one of my favorite phrases to use against obnoxious Giants fans. When they start talking their mess, I just like to say "Game 6". It's even better than "1954".
Er, I stalled on a hernia operation for about six years, but 12?
The Angels beat BOTH the Yankees and the Giants in the playoffs in the same year.
Anybody who does that is owed an eternal debt of gratitude by me.
Here are your winnings, Mr. Plaschke.
I love Bob's witty use of understatement.
I don't think there's a law...
...against forcing him to eat the mustache a second time after he craps it out, either...in case anyone was wondering.
I'm also not aware
of any law that would prevent you from feeding it to his dog after Kent craps it out, waiting for the dog to crap it out, then forcing Kent to eat it again
The 2003 Florida Marlins are still waiting for your Christmas card.
There was a woman in my section who wore a t-shirt with 16 on the back and "I Miss Paul" printed on it.
The only reason I miss Paul is because people won't shaddup about it.
I sort of got attached to the Marlins because the t-ball team I coached for a couple of seasons was the Marlins. It made it easy for me to root for them in '03. Besides, as any good coach, I had a bunch of Marlins gear.
That'll teach Steve Henson about the dangers of taking a few days off.
Anybody know who Weaver was flipping off in the dugout? I'm laying 3:2 odds right now it was Moustache Man.
I don't know what Cubs fans will be like when the team finally wins a World Series (it will happen sometime....), but are their fans more annoying than Red Sox fans were?
Everybody loves Jose Valentin!
Was Kevin Kennedy doing some field reporting? Man, they just need to get over it and let Carolyn Hughes do her job again.
My best friend's dad is a Cubs fan.. I certainly hope they won't be as irritating as Sox fans.
With all the grief the Cubs have given him over the years, I certainly hope that he gets to see them win the big one.
http://www.ocweekly.com/images/ink/04/09/sm9lede24.jpg
Thank you,
The Management
Didn't work.
All reporters write their stories before the game is over, but most of them do a better job of hiding that fact.
And when I was at the Tokyo Dome with some friends for a game, I didn't stand up for the Japanese National Anthem. Mainly because my friends didn't stand up.
I do take off my cap.
High school football season starts for me Friday and I have to be ready to stand at attention for the National Anthem because I'll be down on the field.
Didn't help that the game ended so late either.
Wait a minute, I'm up at 1 am and I need to go to bed? Just when do you sleep Eric?
cruz as a dodger is 329 ave 424 obp 548 slg 971 ops with an rc27 of 850, all those numbers are best for a dodger, but a small 73 at bat sample size.
next year outfield of drew, cruz, giles with werth and ledee as backups.
giles is a no brainer.
bill mueller for a 2 year contract at 3b, if laroche is ready before mueller's 2 years are up, mueller becomes a bench/backup.
cruz as a dodger is 329 ave 424 obp 548 slg 971 ops with an rc27 of 8.50, all those numbers are best for a dodger, but a small 73 at bat sample size.
next year outfield of drew, cruz, giles with werth and ledee as backups.
giles is a no brainer.
bill mueller for a 2 year contract at 3b, if laroche is ready before mueller's 2 years are up, mueller becomes a bench/backup.
1. Robles SS
2. Choi 1B
3. Drew RF
4. Kent 2B
5. Giles LF
6. Bradley CF
7. Mueller 3B
8. Navarro C
Now that, my friends, is a major league lineup.
BENCH
Cruz
Ledee
Saenz
APerez
Aybar (goes down when Izturis returns)
Martin/Phillips
SP Penny
SP Lowe
SP OPerez
SP Jackson (or Weaver if he accepts arb)
SP Houlton/Billingsley/random scrapheap starter
RP Sanchez
RP Brazoban
RP Dessens
RP Kuo
RP Schmoll/Broxton
RP Gagne
(Actually, I just forgot about him.)
Hilarious!!!
Morning, Eric. No, not the only one. I checked in about 2:00 AM and read the thread. Figured the site would go on it's nightly hiatus after that...
Nobody's fans are more annoying than Red Sox fans. Their annoyingness has always been sort of biblically operatic, but since they beat the Yanks (and really, for them winning the Series was just a nice cherry on top of defeating the great Satan), they've dialed the annoyingness level up to eleven.
Signed,
Lives in the middle of Red Sox Nation
78Totally agree but besides the gratitude of 2002 I actually like the Angels. Not sure what everyone has against Angel fans. Having been around the country they have by far the best looking female fans of any stadium. That has to count for something.
I like everyone's lineup projections... somehow I just can't imagine the Dodger's getting a really good outfielder to sign... I'm thinking it will endup being Corey Patterson or someone like that. :-) That's supposed to be funny. Funny in a sad sort of way. Like I remember when I thought Corey was going to be it, the next superstar, and then he fell to the curse of the Dodgers and he was actually a Cub. I am almost sure he will be a Dodger next year. aaaaaaAieeeeee.............
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I remember that, too... blond haired dude, could neither hit nor field but had a hell of a throwing arm!
Did anyone notice/comment on the fact the Dodgers are nominating Bradley for the Clemente Award?
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050905&content_id=1198546&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la
Who'll give me odds on his candidacy? Anyone think they should have thought twice? If not, does this mean they're trying to make nice? They're kind of stuck here. Strangely, his recent behavior may not have much to do with the criteria of the award, but bad pub is bad pub.
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