I like the gamble. He's certainly worth the contract. I'll take him even if he only demonstrates half of Washburn's ability. At the very least he can pitch out the pen.

Ainsworth MLB career:

126.2 IP
5.19 ERA
1.14 HR/9
4.33 W/9
6.39 K/9
1.56 WHIP

The best positive I can find on Ainsworth was his stellar AAA season in 2002.

I guess nowadays if you get the tools label and have 1 good year at some point in your career, it gets you an invite to spring training.

There's no risk involved here. But I wouldnt expect too much. It is more imaginative than Meadows or Sele though.

"[Ainsworth] needs someone that will tweak his mechanics and not push him."

Paging Mike Marshall...

I remember when Edwin Jackson was told to tweak his mechanics.

Was that profound success attributed to Jim Colburn or Rick Honeycutt? I'm hoping the former.

Woo Hoo -- a few years ago I bought some Phillies tickets over the internet and so this weekend I got an email from them that individual game tickets were on "presale" today. So I just bought 6 great seats to the Phils Dodgers game on April 9 -- an afternoon game on the first Sunday of the season. Great seats too -- 20 rows or so off the field above the Dodgers dugout.

I love buying baseball tickets in the middle of winter.

Sorry if this was posted earlier, but Baseball Prospectus issued its Top 50 prospects.

The Dodgers who made it:

14 -- Guzman
22 -- LaRoche
24th -- Billingsley.

Hononorable mentions, in order, are Broxton, Kemp and Martin.

Sorry, the honorable mentions were alphabetical.

The nationals.com roundup has some interesting comments by Bowden on Soriano and the salary arbitration process:

"Anybody that has gone through an arbitration case knows that it is a horrible process for a player and the team," Bowden said. "Nobody wins in arbitration. We may have won the case but you really don't win."

In that arbitration case, the Nationals mentioned Soriano's shortcomings on defense, as well as the fact that he has low on-base percentage and his batting average was inconsistent.

"It's not that simple to ask Soriano to change positions," Bowden said. "This is a player that has been an All-Star for several years. He has had as many All-Star votes as any player in baseball the last few years. He has pride and he is a sensitive guy."

Of course, he might have thought about those things before trading three players for the guy . . .

If you click over, btw, you can also read Frank Robinson's thoughts on Lindsay Jacobellis. Who knew?

http://tinyurl.com/rkt3h

Lindsey.

8
Must

Resist

Making

Sarcastic

Remarks

About Frank Robinson

[slaps face]

Why does Frank Robinson always sound like he's the most miserable person on the earth and everyone else around him is beyond his contempt?

3 beat me to the punch this fine morning.

I don't know how Marshall will ever get a chance. The guy seems to requires complete control over, well, everything and he doesn't appear to have the "proven ability to work with others" on his resume.

While "chemistry" may not be all that important with players, I think it's crucial with managers and coaches. Who wants to learn from a jerk? I've had some great teachers in my life. I've also had some really bad ones. To me, the bad teachers were the ones who discouraged me from learning about what they were teaching.

They tended to be tenured college professors.

10 Gather you didn't read the profile on his 50 years in baseball in which he says he was not too moved when he made the Reds roster at age 20 in 1956, and also opines that he'd like to be part owner of the Nationals.

Be afraid, be very afraid.

13
I did read that...

Much to my chagrin...

In high school, I had a crush on a Michelle Ainsworth, but those were the days when I had a Kansas City Royals chance of scoring.

Does anyone know what the street date is on Baseball Prospectus 2006?

You all of you non-book sellers or distributers, "street date" means when it actually hits the shelf for sale.

Thanks

I just buy mine from a street pusher on Main Street.

Since this is my first year buying Baseball Prospectus I am not aware of when it usually hits the shelf. Does anyone know that?

Thanks

February 28 I believe. But I don't see it all that often in stores.

Rough news cycle for Austrians. Hundreds of syringes, the crazy ex-coach ramming a police baricade, and David Irving?

Also, seems like the Jon Ronson Them profilees are dropping like flies. The British Muslim activist (for want of a better title without violating the no-politics rule, with which I flirted too much, last night) got deported; Irving's in jail. If I were the goofy talk radio guy, or the friednly Klan guy, I'd watch my back.

15 LOL! I've now spewed tea all over my desktop for the second time today... the internet is going to cause my house to short out.

More Repko inanity from scout.com. Devining Repko's value by his locker location:

It is a mark of how far Jason Repko has moved up in the pecking order of things that his locker, which was tucked in that far space a year ago, is now halfway across the room.

23 - Some on this site might hope he's now that much closer to the exit...

This is exactly what I'm talking about. The relationship of "Jason Repko Rhetoric" to "Reality" is reaching LoDucian proportions, if it hasn't already blown far past them.

.220/.297/.382

.221/.281/.384

those were the days when I had a Kansas City Royals chance of scoring.

AKA "The good old days"

Just finished reading the article on the Dodgers' catchers at their website. Still seems rediculous to me to keep Sandy Alomar as a mentor.

Since we have no takers, Player B is, of course, the most promising center field prospect this side of Willie Mays.

Player A is Jason Grabowski circa October 2004, marking an offseason conspicuously lacking in the kind of absurd hyperbole that now surrounds the namesake he most resembles.

This Repko stuff is entertaining. But not quite as entertaining as this lineup in say mid July if the Dodgers are around 5-6 games out

SS- Furcal--scrappy
CF- Lofton--ultra scrappy
3b- Mueller- (professional hitter)
1b- Saenz- (another professional hitter)
LF- Cruz-
Rf- Repko-(fan favorite)
C- Navarro-
2b- Izturis-(fan favorite)

Scraptacular I tell you.

Drew/Nomar on the DL.
Izturis comes back and the Dodgers trade Kent.

Good times in 2006.

Watching Jason Phillips play 1st base, Izturis leadoff, and Oscar Robles bat 3rd will be tough to surpass.

But the masochist in me is still interested. Puzzling indeed.

This Repko stuff is decidedly not entertaining, unless you're into Freddy Kruger and Saw.

I actually liked Saw. Watching The Dread Pirate Robert saw his foot off was something you don't see every day.

Its entertaining if you're at a point of calm resignation. Rarely does one reach that level before the season, but somehow I'm at that point. I'm really apathetic about this team. Still interested in seeing what happens, but in more of a "what types of decisions can they mess up" sort of way.

If somehow Little was as idiotic as Tracy, I dont think I'll react the same as last year. Simply bc Tracy was messing up a program that could be great, whereas Little may mess up, but whats he really messing up?

This Dodger crew is Fred Claire meets Kevin Malone. I totally see late 1990's-2000's. Even though I followed the team then, for whatever reason I dont remember how good/bad Davey Johnson was, or if any season really disappointed me.

Thats how I feel about this year.
Perhaps the Repko controversy can rekindle my interest, but I doubt it. When the thoughts of Repko starting or Choi being cut nary raise an eye brow, resignation has set in. Indeed.

Holistically, I'm as optimistic as one can reasonably be about the season. We have as good a chance as anybody in the West, which would put us in the season ending crapshoot. But Repko making the team would be one of those signs, that were so prevalent in 2005, that the process is corrupt. As such, it raises fears that though the names are different, the dysfunction will be the same, and lost opportunities will follow.

First sentence of Ken Gurnick's Grady Little article up at Dodgers.com: "Grady Little joined an organization that also has a history with controversial Pedro Martinez decisions."

Ouch.

Three guys have yet to appear in camp: Drew, Saenz, and Kent. Drew is awaiting the birth of his child. Saenz has been in Panama after the death of his mother, but is expected soon. Kent is..."expected on time"

37 I don't really have a problem with people not showing up early. Kent knows what he needs to do.

The only reason Repko is part of the mix -- kind of like sand in the cement -- is that every other outfielder is a decent or better bet to break down.

Viewed through the Repko reality, this team has the potential to really stink, even in a division that reeks.

On the bright side, a youth movement could be hastened by another collapse. Usually you need an extreme situation for a big-market club to indulge a bona fide youth movement. This could be the one.

I'll say it again: We shall see Repko flanked by Ethier and Joel Guzman during one fine day in the 2006 season while Drew collects fat checks, Cruz gets his third epidural, Werth gets another cast, Lofton succumbs to age and Ledee's hamstrings rupture.

And if the collapse means more time for Aybar and Choi (and I'm not a Choi fan) so much the better. Heck, toss Delwyn Young out there too come August.

The key is Kent. He needs to keep it going so they can get a pretty good young pitcher for him in July.

Overall another step backward, but perhaps a long-term half-step forward.

I'm overstating my pessimism here because the fragility of this team is absurd.

After seeing the post of Angel anagrams, I thought I'd make some Dodger ones...

1. Go We See Joan
2. Choe, I see pho
3. Car, Rag: A Roman Pair
4. Okay to Fly Nenn
5. Carla, Fur Leaf
6. Lil Beer Mull
7. Rave, Nod or Rain?
8. My Jar Ran Loads
9. Try Wean Josh
10. Terrace Clan

Did anyone see the stuff about Hochevar in various wire reports today?

Apparently Colletti hasn't once spoken to Boras since becoming GM. The articles also indicated that 1) McCourt personally pulled the $2.98 mil offer that caused all the turmoil, 2) Colletti was already planning on rolling the money they had set aside for Hochevar into this year's draft budget.

Not sure what to think of all this. One of three things is possible: 1) McCourt has shut the whole thing down permanently, 2) Colletti is a fool, 3) Colletti thinks the money is better spent on the talent (Ian Kennedy?) in the upcoming draft.

I was excited about Hochevar and have been frustrated about the way this all went. It seems silly that, if this is indeed the problem, neither side can get over the events of last Labor Day weekend. On the other hand, part of the allure of drafting a college pitcher is getting someone who can contribute very soon a la Huston Street. Hochevar's sitting on the bench for the last 9 months diminishes that to some extent.

You know how else Colletti could have saved four million? Not signing Brett Tomko.

34. oldbear
I'm really apathetic about this team.

Really? I never would have guessed that. lol

38. regfairfield
Kent knows what he needs to do.

a classic. Also, He's been there before.

3) Colletti thinks the money is better spent on the talent (Ian Kennedy?) in the upcoming draft.

unlikely on kennedy. kennedy is being advised by boras.

41 -

Could also be that Ned is a good poker player. There's no way anyone will give Hochevar 2.98 mil in this year's draft so Colletti may just wait to see if Boras blinks first. The Dodgers will offer him something like 2.0 mil just before the draft and if he doesn't take it, they have the money to use for this year's draftees.

"Advice" being a loose term for what Boras gives

"Boras gives" being a loose term for "Boras takes"

Not to mention four million for a middle reliever.

If you're ever feeling down about the Dodgers, you can pop over to the Pirates website and read about Jim Tracy instilling his own style of play on the young Pirates.

[gouges eyes out with spoons]

51
That works best with grapefuit spoons.

Let's test that.

Juan Encarnacion is a proven run producer.

....

Yep, they work pretty good.

I ran the test last year.

Oscar Robles is an ideal 3rd place hitter.

....

It burns!

Batting fourth and playing first base, Jason Phillips!

....

AIIYYEEE!!

"When gouging out one's own eyes, the preferred implimant is the spork." --Emily Post

Who's to say a good table spoon won't do it? Huh?

Who's to say a good table spoon won't do it?

Are we talking spoon end or handle end?

It really depends on the fork and knife and which order they sit on the table.

I can't believe I tried to spell implement, implimant. It hurts to just look at it.

Quick, somebody post fifty comments.

Quick, somebody post fifty comments.

Either that or we can just gouge our eyes out.

It's been awhile since Xeifrank updated us on his season simulating.

Somebody (somebodies) try to convince me to watch Arrested Development.

I was thinking, Dusty Baker isn't all that bad. He could probably work out really well handling the young pitchers we're expecting over the next couple of years.

I hear Hee Seop Choi's bat speed is even slower. Maybe he's just not meant to be a big leaguer. The league's pitchers have found the hole in his swing, I bet.

C'mon people. We need comments here. Lots of them.

It hurts to just look at it.

That it does. That it does.

Is there really a coup going down in the Philippines? Drudge doesn't have it yet, and the only news sites that have any mention of it are sticking pretty hard to the, "Mutineer recaptured, nothing more to see here, move along," line.

Remember when Hugo Chavez was ousted for, like, thirty hours? That was pretty sweet. Vin Scully was the only man on television talking about it, so far as I could tell.

"Is there really a coup going down in the Philippines?"

I certainly hope not. That mudslide is bad enough; how much can that poor country take?

I wonder if there have ever been any Filipino major leaguers.

66 Baseball-Reference.com shows one player born in the Philippines

Bobby Chouinard-
http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/chouibo01.shtml

And TheBaseballCube.com shows one more, although he didn't make it to the majors

Bobby Andrews-
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/A/bobby-andrews.shtml

The Philippines used to have a fairly big baseball program, but the combination of resentment against the U.S. and having its Little League championship stripped so little Sean Burroughs could "win" two straight soured the country on the sport.

I believe Bobby Balcena was the first Filipino to make it to the majors, although he was born in San Pedro.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/balcebo01.shtml

Player A
.221/.281/.384 8 HR 16 walks 5 SB
Player B
.236/.326/.409 4 HR 16 walks 4 SB

Player A is Repko
Player B is Willie Mays in his 2nd year.

While Repko may not post high OBPs like Mays, I see a lot of similarities.

But Willie Mays only played 34 games in his second year before he had to go serve in the Army. And Mays was 21. Repko is 25.

Also in 1952, men were men. Men were not Repkos.

If Repko had been on deck for the Finley GS in 2004 just like a certain #24 got to see a certain HR in a certain October 3rd 1951 game however...then it would just be spooky.

--steps off of those eggshells--

Mays had about a hundred ABs that year. Repko had about three hundred last year. There's also the small matter of Mays putting up this line (over 464 ABs)--.274/.356/.472 20 HR-- his first year. Oh, and Mays did not have a sub .500 SLG minor league year, Repko hasn't had a .500 SLG minor league stop (of more than 31 ABs) since Rookie ball, six years ago. Also, Mays was four years younger when he made the big team (only three years younger during that crummy second year).

But, other than that, they're like twins.

When he was 42, Mays was about as good as Repko was last year.

Hank Aaron was a little better, at 42, than Repko was last year. Carl Yastrzemski was much better, at 43. Dave Winfield was significantly better at 42, but a little worse at 43. Reggie Jackson, at 41, was only a little better.

Repko has old player's skills. Really old player's skills.

Jason Repko was a sandwich pick; Willie Mays liked sandwiches.

I wonder if Uncle Miltie was trying to help me out, pushing this thread up to 111. If so, thanks.

Bernie Williams: .238/.336/.350 his rookie year. Similar to Repko. Though he isn't Mays, he's had a solid career.

Rookie Years

Dee Brown: 245/.286/.350
George Lombard: 241/.300/.373
Ramon Santiago: .243/.306/.365
Geronimo Gil: .232/.270/.363
Chris Magruder: .217/.261/.353

Mike Matheny: .226/.293/.340. We could play this game all day.

Bernie Williams at least showed decent strike zone judgement with a .098 isolated patience.

Mighty Ron Calloway: .238/.282/.374

Neifi Perez age 25: .274/.313/.382

We could play this game all day.

I only ask that we play it 30 more comments worth.

Steve Finley: .249/.298/.318

Joe Carter, age 30: .232/.290/.391

Luis Gonzalez, age 25: .243/.289/.385

I can't tell if the Repkoholics are being serious. Is this is like when Choi fans got accused of thinking he was an Albert Pujols in waiting, even when they didn't think that? Or is this something new, where Repkoholics actually think he's Willy Mays? Or even Bernie Williams.

The issue is not whether Player A and Player B are similar at any one time. Out of x number of outfielders, x-y are going to have lousy career starts, and some percentage of them are going to have good careers. I would guess that a loosely termed "vast majority" of baseball players in general have lousy first years. The issue is why there is a Cult of Jason Repko and not a Cult of Jason Grabowski, despite the fact that they have similar (lousy) skills and similar (lousy) careers. Were JR and JG called Player A and Player B, they would both receive an equal and appropriate amount of opprobrium (or conversely, undeserved delight in their ability to produce "beyond the numbers") from the masses. And yet one is blindly accepted as something he is not, and the other is recognized for what he is. Why this bias? It would not be so harmful if limited to post-game Dodgertalk, where it always festers, but when it infests the decision-making process, it causes 2005.

Again, why is the worst centerfielder in the major leagues referred to as having a "gold glove" caliber ability to play the outfield?

87 -- Samuel Beckett is writing a sequel called "Waiting for Repko." The characters stand at first base, and he never gets there.

I'm just tired of all the Repko-bashing because just like many others, he can still be a productive player if he can master the strike zone. Repko is not Mays, & Choi is not Pujols, but they both have potential, IMO.

88 The last part at least is easy to answer. A player who gets a terrible jump on the ball, takes a Byrnesian route and makes a spectualar dive to catch the ball is far better than the player who jogs forward six steps to catch the same ball.

In his infamous dive into the scoreboard, if Repko were a good outfielder, he could have easily just ran to the track, stopped, turned around and caught the ball.

Instead, he got a terrible jump, and ended up damn near killing himself, but was heralded as a hero.

Anyone can be a productive player if they master the strike zone.

Caught the tail end of the Weaver brothers being interview at Angel camp on FSW. The interviewer threw out a couple of dandies to our recently departed such as how excited he must be to get deeper into games in the DH friendly AL and coupled with the Angel's potent offense behind him he should be able to win twenty games with ease. Deeper into games? Potent offense?

To Weaver's credit he downplayed attempts to slack off the Dodgers mentioning while he hoped he could stay with LA a little longer things just didn't work out. A line which he probably borrowed from his agent.

I came across an unpleasant reminder of the bad old days recently. And by "old days," I mean seven months ago.

A company I work for has a sky box at Dodger Stadium and, a few days back, the Dodgers sent over a framed, game-used lineup card as a corporate thank you. The card in question was actually from a Dodgers/Rockies game at Coors Field on July 6. And here's the Dodger lineup from that day:

1. Robles
2. Edwards
3. Werth
4. Choi
5. A. Perez
6. Phillips
7. Grabowski
8. Repko
9. Penny

A regular Murderer's Row, huh? Man, I hated the '05 season...

I would like to point out that Repko batted 8th in the worst Dodger lineup of all time so he can't be that good.

56 Andrew, even those of us gone the holiday weekend read all the comments when we return. You can't hide, no matter how many gag-worthy '05 lineups are posted. Your community service shall be correcting spelling in a week's worth of 1st grade essays in the public school of your choice.

95- Really, the best I could hope for was that, through my inane and usually wrong commenting in the past, I've conditioned the DT comment readers to skip each post under my name. Small comfort, but, there you go.

94,95 To be fair, that worst Dodger lineup of all time scored 9 runs to win the game. Perez and Phillips each hit three-run home runs and Repko went 2-3 with a double. The only Dodgers starters without a hit were Penny and...Grabowski. Perez had a nice game, with three hits (including the homer) and both times he was retired were RBI ground outs to bring him to 5 RBIs.

To be fair, that worst Dodger lineup of all time scored 9 runs to win the game.

See what happens when you let Choi bat cleanup?

To help us all feel a little better, here is an article on the worst lineup of all time, featuring Garry Pettis batting leadoff:

http://tinyurl.com/ewfr8

To be fair, this was written prior to the 2005 season. On the other hand, this blog entry:

http://tinyurl.com/kqsqs

constructs the worst lineup of 2005 and it has no Dodgers on the list.

Comment #100