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
I know what you're thinking ... not another Jose Gonzalez story.
Nevertheless, here's my latest on SI.com, focusing on the morbid fascination we can have with a batting average that approaches .000:
Back in 1991, savvy supermarket shoppers were checking the expiration date on 26-year-old Jose Gonzalez, who had spent parts of six seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Thanks to 10 extra-base hits among his 99 at-bats the season before, Gonzalez passed the offseason sniff test.Slighty related (but slightly dated): ".000 My Hero"But then, it got nasty. As Retrosheet.org helps us recall, it wasn't until late June that Gonzalez reached base once. Halfway through the season, Gonzalez was 0 for 28 with two walks. He was batting .000 -- not that you'd know it if you were at the games, because the scoreboard at Dodger Stadium (out of pure coincidence, no doubt) became incapable of displaying batting averages at the exact moment Gonzalez stepped to the plate.
No, it couldn't have felt good for Gonzalez. And in fact, his career in Los Angeles was about to end.
Such is the worrisome tale for every slumping baseball player who tells himself that he just needs to ride out a slow start to the year. The opening of the baseball season usually brings talk of rebirth and optimism. But for a few players every year, it becomes a nightmare played out in three digits on the scoreboard.
.050
.048
.045Can they take it? While we're asking, can you take it?
That said, Washington, D.C. may file a formal complaint agains this article for not covering the travails of its own Cristian Guzman.
For years afterward, my brother and I would toss tennis balls of the 2 story wall of our house to recreate the "Jose Gonzalez."
He was a "Stuntman".
I have a specific memory of the announcer (I thought it was Costas in a pregame segment) saying that this may be the single worst lineup in WS history. For me, Jose Gonzalez was always the embodiement of that comment. Oh well...yet another childhood memory eradicated by the internet.
Along with Stubbs, Griffin, Hamilton, Marshall, Hatcher, Davis, etc.
A youngster goes to his first ballgame and afterwards he tells his family all about it, he tells them how big the ballpark is and how he liked the hot dog and popcorn and then he tells them how his seats were way at the top, in the last section of seats. But he tells them how everyone was so concerned about whether or not he had a good view from where he was because just before the game started, everyone stood up and faced him and then asked him out loud..."Jose can you see...."
I know its a long way to go for that joke but since we are talking about Jose Gonzalez, I figured what other chance am I going to get.
BTW, that joke was told to me in my Cub Scout days long before the age of PC.
Anybody else?
12 - I don't have much doubt that his health played into the timing. Whether it's a serious health issue, I don't know.
Jose Gonzalez didn't start Game 4 of the 1988 World Series however. He was a defensive replacement for Mike Davis!
Did you know Mike Davis stole TWO bases in the 1988 World Series? The first one was sort of lost in the midst of a bigger event.
The bigger surprise is that he got on base at least twice...
Joe (Syracuse): Jim Is James Loney all of a sudden a candidate for NL ROY? Will he stay on the roster once Mr. Hamm returns?
Jim: (2:09 PM ET ) Anyone who plays regularly is going to be a candidate by default. I like Loney, but this is more of a temporary move (though Nomar probably will get hurt again, won't he?) If he stays up all year, I don't think Loney would produce as much as a Jeremy Hermida or Prince Fielder, though.
When I talked to Chris Kahrl about that at a SABR convention, you could hear his screams from miles around.
David (Phoenix): What are the odds the Diamondbacks can actually dump Shawn Green's contract to make room for Carlos Quentin?
Jim: (2:19 PM ET ) There's $19.5 million remaining on Green's deal, so not likely. Arizona will probably have to eat most of that to move Green, which they will want to do soon because Quentin is ready.
. . .
Max (NJ): Hi Jim. When it comes to a pitchers development which is more important, his stuff or his make-up (baseball IQ)? Thanks.
Jim: (2:43 PM ET ) I'd vote for stuff over makeup. Both are important, but I'd rather have a dumb guy with a great arm than a great guy with a mediocre arm. . . .
Or maybe we did.
"My hero, Zero, such a funny little hero,
But till you came along, we counted on our fingers and toes..."
18 "Mr. Hamm" still cracks me up.
0 for 10. poor john.
It had to be really demoralizing for the great Canseco-McGwire team to see Hatcher and Davis hitting home runs in that game. And yes, I tell this story all the time, but, hey, it is the only World Series game I have ever attended.
Jon, now that you do some writing for SI, I don't suppose you get free tickets? :-)
The next chatter suggested that the WBC be made into a game for PS2.
If I remember correctly, Orel outhit Canseco-McGwire 3-2.
Hershiser gave up 3 hits (all to Dave Parker), yet easily made up for those with the 3 hits he collected himself.
The shutout was just gravy.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=4926
http://tinyurl.com/epkd4
She's one of my favorite baseball writers, regardless. Laugh out loud funny on a regular basis.
I hope that doesn't cross the line re: political posts, but what can I tell ya?
As I said yesterday, I would probably take Chuck James over Horacio right now, but Bobby wanted a lefty starter with some major league experience, and Horacio is basically the only guy in our organization that fits that description, so he got the spot in the middle of the rotation. I don't know if that makes good sense, but that's what happened. I would have to believe that if he tanks early in the year, and James is pitching well out of the pen, then Ramirez might lose his job in the rotation, but I guess we'll see.
hudson
smoltz
sosa
davies
james
thompsons had arm soreness this spring right?
P.S. this is a completely non-partisan comment.
I'd rather keep him and use him as the third starter because I'm not sure that Sosa won't regress a decent amount this year. Even he does, I still think he'll be better than horacio, so the rotation that you just listed would work for me if thomson gets traded.
All politicians know they run the risk of getting booed when they are at a sporting event. The only exception may be for someone who is newly elected and in a honeymoon period of sorts. Bush got cheers at the 2001 World Series.
I don't think I've ever heard booing as loud as I did at the 1994 World Cup match at the Rose Bowl when FIFA had Pete Wilson (fresh off the passage of Prop 187) make some sort of opening speech. I believe it was a Romania vs. Colombia match.
But Wilson gave his little speech and kicked a ball I believe.
At Dodger games, I've heard boos for Sam Yorty and Tom Bradley. I don't think I ever went to a game where Riordan or James Hahn were introduced.
Did Antonio Villaraigosa get cheers?
vr, Xei
Wasn't that a special circumstance unrelated to his newly elected status? That was a pretty emotionally patriotic time.
looks like a long day for him.
Sounded to me as if Bush was cheered in Cincinnati.
I heard that Democrats holding tickets were not let into the game...
Bob is scoring at home...?
But I did go to the March 15 WBC game at Angel Stadium between Japan and Korea.
I was debating whether to write "JB Lee" or "Lee JB" as the scoreboard indicated.
Or maybe a formal "L Jones"
Which I guess means he doens't get a free ticket for a game on May 10 or May 22.
Beltre struck out looking with two on Tuesday before striking out swinging with the bases loaded. He added a third strikeout later in the game.
Of course if he was in LA still he would be 7-7 with 3hr and 7 steaks..
Was there supposed to be a rim shot after that?
[78] i'm rooting for him to break 56.
Furcal, SS
Cruz, LF
Drew, RF
Kent, 2B
Saenz, 1B
Mueller, 3B
Alomar, C
Repko, CF
O. Perez, P
alomars the backup catcher..right? right...?
Besides Alomar is hitting .200, while Navarro is hitting .000.
Grady said alomar and perez work good together, and that alomar will be perez's personal catcher.
Mustn't rush the future backup catcher, ya know.
I think Alomar is supposedly going to be Odalis' personal catcher.
My comment about scoring at home was literal, not metaphorical or euphemistic.
Sadly.
Who is this now?
4 if you count Barry Zito.
the man is machine!
-- Vince, A, Denver
I think the Nationals want Church to be part of the organization. In fact, Church's No. 1 fan is general manager Jim Bowden. However, many in the organization have heard enough of Church's excuses, especially when it comes to his body.
For example, Church said he was run down during Spring Training. People in the organization were stunned when they found out about that particular statement. The organization is hoping that Church will get mentally tougher in the Minor Leagues.
I also don't see the Nationals trading Church unless they get something phenomenal in return."
Sounds like JD Drew...we'll take him.
How do these trades sound
Izturis (all star, gold glover) and Tomko for Livan Hernandez and Ryan Church
Izturis for Scott Baker or Jason Kubel
Any other ideas?
Other "FIVE TOOL" Dodger prospects of similar fates as Gonzales--- Karim Garcia,,Mark Bradley... Not to mention perennial prospects Angel Pena and Garey Ingram.
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