http://www.weather.com/outlook/events/sports/tenday/37550:20

I'll take the over.

"The older you get, people lean on you more," he said. "It comes with the territory. You become more team-oriented. The focus becomes less on you and more about chemistry and picking each other up. I see myself growing into that type of player."

-LATimes

Oh well, if it is that late, I can watch(?) live when I get home from work. conflicting with the NCAA game of course!

Meanwhile, I'm going to the Yankees-A's game tomorrow night and might run into the same problem: rain.

Building an ark,
C

How do I get tickets to the make-up game?

To everyone going to the game, have a great Opening Day. I think today's game is going to happen. Tomorrow -- iffyer.

Hey Sam DC, what's this Bowden is saying about the Nats will have a "special guest" at their home opener?

Basically, I think that the Braves success has been the result of a very stable organization that has allowed talented people, from Schuerholz to Bobby to Leo to the minor league instructors and coaches, to do what they are good at for a long period of time without drama or chaos. Braves prospects are able to grow in that enviroment, and for some reason, outside players are able to flourish in it when they get here, probably partially because Schuerholz and his people seem to be very good judges of talent.

That's why I'm not too worried about Leo's departure, because I think a lot of his success has been aided by the health of the Braves organization, and if Roger McDowell buys into the organizational philosophy, he should be able to be successful here as well. Leo is a great coach, but the strength of the Braves organization has been the fact that it has not been dependent upon any one specific asset to be succesful. I think that keeping a stable organization is an aspect of a team's success that many teams miss the boat on because they don't have immediate gratification.

Good times.

I have just been informed that the flyover will be something in a little higher price range than a Jet Blue airliner.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-baseball2apr02,1,4390105.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-mlb-dodger

and how it can involve loss of confidence as well as strength/power/endurance. What really bugs me about steroid use in baseball is that it's really hard for a fan to know who's a kid who's been mishandled and lost his confidence, and who's suffering from a withdrawal of juice. Brown's article also quoted Colletti as saying that the GM or the scouts rely on "eyes, intellect and intuition". Again, as a fan, you just don't know what factors a GM has taken into account when he decides to make a trade.

The same is true of players who did really well 2 or more years ago, got injured last season and are coming back this year. Are they a shadow of their former selves because of the injuries, or because they can't rely on a chemistry set any more? Sorry if I'm revisiting old ground here, but it really p*sses me off not knowing whether I should have sympathy or contempt for these guys.

34 Yes it's true -- love those runnin' hard Nationals. Soriano stealing second in the second inning of an 0-0 game, with the Count 3-1 to the batter, no less.

Meanwhile, Livan gets a single in his first AB (love me them pitchers who can hit), and leadoff man not-Ryan-Church is promptly asked to bunt, at which point David Wright throws out the less-than-nimble at second. Gonna be fun year for DC fans.

ESPN has changed the look of their Gamecast. I'm not sure if it like it or not -- there's a cute animation for pitches and for balls hit into play.

They seem to have lost their fascination of overdone flash, praise be.

Was it the mole or the Mormon?

Something tells me that does not bode well for Reds' fans.

LA Times says Dodger game is safe from the Weater: "It's now official: the gathering storm that should snarl rush hour commutes Tuesday morning is not expected to delay the opening of the baseball season this afternoon. 'The Dodger game will be safe,' said Stuart Seto, a specialist with the National Weather Service."

By the by, greatest possible title for this thread.

''Do I use VORP?" Colletti said, referring to one such sabermetric tool, Value Over Replacement Player. ''I may be using it and not even know it, and if I am, it's nobody's business. There are a lot of different criteria in judging players. I think I use, um, esoteric qualitative mathematical review times five. That's one of them.

http://tinyurl.com/pjbqr

oh wait....

http://tinyurl.com/ezwvd

In the 80s, if someone suddenly lost weight, many people whispered they had AIDS. Today, they whisper "he used to be on steroids."

Wow, this is bizarro-MLB.

Am I missing something, I must be, because he's supposed to be somesort of "legend" but I see him as more of a curse.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

While watching a football game a couple weeks back, my wife
and
I were discussing life and death. I told her, "Just so you know, I
never
want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and
fluids
from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug."
She promptly got up, unplugged the TV and threw out all my
beer.
Some days I hate being married to a smartass.

This message has been brought to you by NBC.

Nationals down 3-2, open up the 8th with a single from Soriano and a double from Zimmerman. Third base coach (Beasely or something) sends Fonzy, who promptly gets thrown out by the relayman at the plate. To make the first out, in a one-run game. Gonna be a long year of "aggressive" baserunning for DC fans, allright.

I am not going to anymore classes today, including my sports appreciation class hahahah. I love MLB package!

Wagner's debut

nomar is out of the lineup because he [ ] a [ ] muscle.

Having to suffer with Charlie and Rick fills me with yucky yukky where's choi?

strained a rib muscle!

its the braves brainwashing!

also, does anyone think the jimmy rollins hit streak is sustainable?

And remember how Vinnie counted Kent's errorless chances to start last season? Not this year.

Is this a sign that this season will be the opposite of last? :)

thursday, billingsley on the mound for the 51s. i cant wait!

I'd say this game is over. Its going to be hard scoring more than 3 runs a game this year with no power.

But it doesnt really matter when your pitcher gives up homers.

Derek Lowe must give up the most inordinate amount of HR's for being a GB pitcher.

With his ace Oliver Perez nursing a 2-1 lead in the 6th with 1 out and 1 on, Tracy pulls Perez. 5ip, 9k, 3h, 1er, 93 pitches. He brings in the RHP Salomon Torres to face RH Carlos Lee and LH Fielder. Torres gets out of it, but has now walked the first 2 batters in the 7th with no out.
Here we see two classic Tracy traits at work:
1) Protecting the fragile psyche of his starters by seeing to it that they can get the WIN. If the game is 1-1 I honestly think Perez stays in.
2) Overthinking the lefty/righty matchup by replacing an effective pitcher with an inferior one. Lee had an infield single and a walk in his first two ab's vs. Perez.

ERA: 27.00
Batting Avg: .000

Assuming Lowe doesn't give up 5 runs this inning, there's only one way to go.

It's going to be a great year.

Instead he goes with the guy with a career .685 OPS because of his "amazing defense."

"Cirillo singled to left center, Weeks and Hall scored."

3-2 Milwaukee. Torres will take the loss.

They lost 95 games last year. They will almost certainly be better this year.

I guess this is what Tracy is talking about when being put in "positions to succeed".

http://tinyurl.com/pec8h

It seems in his case to be a remarkably suitable last name.

thats the beauty of an ersty :)

No peeking.

I've never even heard of this Capps guy (and I know almost every player in the majors), yet he's trying to keep a game close on opening day?

Then again, their pen might just be that bad.

It takes experience* to hit the ball softly enough for the runner to advance. Repko made a common mistake among younger players by lining that ball hard.

*See: Alomar Jr., Sandy

Sutcliffe totally buried Nomar in that last inning.

However, they both seem to think what Ned did this off-season was "unbelievable"...?

What exactly was "unbelievable"?

And with Hudson's single I realized Brazoban is likely our best hitting pitcher now that Weaver and Jackson are gone. And he is probably our best righty PH tonight (Ross gives him a run for his money)

Small ball rules.
Indeed.

Vlad with a 2-run homer in the top of the 1st.
Colon strikes out the side in the bottom half.

A Korean word of lament, like "Woe is me..."

Did David O'Brien just call the Braves manager the singular form of his last name? LOL

At least Jeff Kent's alright. Jeff Kent's always alright. Right, D4P?

"Baseball and Writing," by Marianne Moore

http://tinyurl.com/zeb6r

It probably helps if you're in your late forties or early fifties; that way you'll recognize the names.

we still have a shot

$11.5 million for a 40 year old first baseman? Is that a good deal?

Vs having anyone else at 2b, i would say yes.
Tell me any 2b that we could get that can produce the same production as kent, or anyone we allready have.

hong chih kuo

24 yr old stud lefty who has had two TJ surgeries.

364- it is Joe West

Kuo's still only hitting 88 on the gun today, what gives?

92 according to espn.

It's on Dodgers.com. It says that Nomar is likely to be place on the DL and that Guzman could also be called up. I think I'd call up Loney, he's a little bit more polished.

just not the kind we wanted.

2007 is now!

"[" Nbr "]"

So sample some of this expert commentary. This is not made up...

- Kennedy is at bat, but he is grounded out by the time he makes it to first base.

- Molina makes a sweet hit that goes deep right field. He easily runs to second base for a great double.

- Erstad gets another shot at bat. He makes the most of it with a nice double to get on second base.

We debate Repko constantly, but there's really no one who doesn't believe this. We have to take Grittle as we find him.

Maybe Drew will speak up about playing CF. Little goes with his vets, and that should take priority over the scrub.

Also, it is the first game, so maybe we should let Little get his sea legs. Brazoban was once Ghame Over, and he may have just thought that MLB experience was worth more than Kuo or Osoria. If Little keeps on trotting out Brazoban to get torched, that's one thing, but it's the home opener. And it sounds like Repko should have caught that ball, anyhow.

WWSH

It's amazing that we suddenly have NO depth at first.

actually no one can fault this game for any of top-of-the order hitters today.

Well, if the conspiracy theorists have it right, it might be more accurate to call Colletti a Kent signing.

Also, send Repko to AAA and call up Guzman to play LF. Drew in CF. Cruz in RF.

I'd rather not see anymore of Repko nor Loney.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B04050LAN2004.htm

I'd prefer to keep Repko, but shuffle Ross off someplace else.

Up the middle defense is more important than corner defense.

at least you know loneys going to be play really good defense.

Thanks for clarifying.

Loney gets his chance. I hope he makes us forget Choi---sigh....

WWSH

aybar and loney would probably hit the same.

I think thats what the Dodgers will do. Unfortunately, neither Robles or Martinez has the upside that Willy Aybar has. I'd rather go with the younger player if they are going to play everyday at the MLB level.

Play Aybar and Guzman both everyday for LA, with Lofton, Nomar on the DL.

Aybar would probably walk alot more and hit for the same amount of power. You guys forget that Loney repeated AA last year, and that Aybar actually hit well in about 100 at bats at the MLB level.

taking into contest park and league factors, and that scouts still project loney to fill out, gain more strength and hit for more power, I would probably callup loney because he has the chance to hit for more power then aybar.

That gives me the heebie-jeebies. Put him out on waivers.

"We swing here (1,2,3) and O"

It didn't hurt Ernie Banks's chances of getting into the HOF when he moved from short to first.

Yeah, I think it's a dumb argument for predicting that Kent won't move to first. A better one might be that he's a better defensive 2bman than 1bman. Something I didn't think possible. And that, if Colletti weren't insane, it'd be a lot easier to find a backup 1bman with value than a backup at 2b.

But Kent at 1b means more ABs for Ramon II. With the Lofton plan on hiatus, that's gotta be Colletti's ex-Jint priority.

Grits, please take out Alomar now!

[New Dodger Player] will probably go on the DL [day of week] with a [type of injury] [body part] that first bothered him on [day of week].
[New Dodger Player] said he felt [adjective] in his [body part] during [an activity] yesterday. "I kept [action verb] and kept feeling it," he said. "I was hoping it would feel better today, but it's still pretty [adjective]." [New Dodger Player] added that it was an injury he's experienced [a number] time(s) before. It looks like he'll miss [a number] weeks, putting [Cartoon Character #1] and [Cartoon Character #2] at [baseball position]. No word yet on when the Dodgers are planning to fire [job title] Ned Colletti.

Is Navarro dead? Should we notify his next of kin?

No it isn't. That error took place with one out, as did LaRoche's HR. The error cost one run, not 4. Unless you're going to make the case that HR was also Kent's fault because he unnerved Lowe.

514- the golden sombrero is 4 Ks. Platinum (which I've never heard of) is probably 5 Ks.

In the end, though, if we lose, as we probably will, barring a pretty miraculous rally, the blame lies squarely with Lowe, who had a horrible day. Yeah, Grady might have done this or that, or Repko might have made that catch, or Kent not make taht error, but really, it's the starter that lost this game.

But hope lives at Chavez Ravine!

WWSH

we probably all agree with that. but its just so much more fun to poke fun at everyone else as well.

Hope Lives.

I don't think Navarro got the memo about hitting singles this inning.

Colon's 1st 3 IPs: 9 batters, 9 outs, 0 hits, 0 walks, 4 K's
Next 2 IPs: 8 hits, a walk, a HBP, a HR

3-3 in the 7th.

Nomar on a bum rib.

I'm just sayin'...

off to class.

I'm increasingly alarmed at Lowe's inability to not give up HRs. That was DePo's rationale for bringing him to DS after all--that his extreme groundball tendencies would fit perfectly in this park. But the guy seems to be a total headcase or something.

WWSH

only pitch him in night games. i am dead serious. look at his night and day splits.

day- 4.37 era 1.43hr/9ip
night- 3.16era .96hr/9ip

I'm not sure when the last time the Dodgers scored 10 runs without hitting a home run.

I have a personal safety update for any future RF Pavilion dwellers: wearing the hat of any MLB team other than the Dodgers will get things thrown at you. Used to be this was only true of the Giants, but now the Braves (understandable, if not impressive), Cubs, Blue Jays, and Angels are no good either. Oh well. Lots of profantity, loads of failed The Waves, four trips by the LAPD (or the County Sherifs, I couldn't tell which) in to the seats, but no arrests or medical attention rendered. Most beachballs in play at an one time: aprox. 17!

I'm increasingly alarmed at Lowe's inability to not give up HRs. That was DePo's rationale for bringing him to DS after all--that his extreme groundball tendencies would fit perfectly in this park. But the guy seems to be a total headcase or something.

An article on Dodger thoughts about Lowe's ongoing divorce would seem to verify this headcase theory. The Red Sox did not want to sign him because of his drinking problem. He is being given amphetimines too. This is a perscription for failure if you ask me.