Scene: Visiting clubhouse
Nomar Garciaparra walks in carrying a bat. He walks up to Miguel Batista.

NG: Hey, Miguel
MB: Hey, Nomar, what are you doing here?
NG: Just stopping by to say hello?
MB: You're not supposed to be here.
NG: Oh? Really?
MB: Yeah man, get out of here.
NG: I'm just checking to see that you were feeling OK.
MB: Get out of here.
NG: I wouldn't want you to meet with an unfortunate clubhouse accident. Like a chair collapsing underneath you.
[NG smashes chair with his bat.]
MB: Why did you do that?
NG: Just sending a message.
MB: What message.
NG: My message is, just throw Kent fastballs. No offspeed stuff.
MB: Why?
NG: Because, I can come back. And I could steal your shower shoes.

O'Malley Ownership --- Bourbon Dynasty

Kevin Malone --- Maximilien Robespierre and the "Reign of Terror"

Dan Evans --- The Directory/ Constitution of 1795

Depodesta --- Napoleon

Ned Colletti --- Restoration of the Monarchy

I like this because it equates Mike Piazza with Marie Antionette, "Let them eat Pizza"

Well, he tore up the ball in his rehab stint, so maybe he can give us a jolt.

... if anyone cares (i know trainwreck does!)

Furcal, SS

Lofton, CF

Drew, RF

Kent, 2B

Garciaparra, 1B

Mueller, 3B

Cruz, LF

Navarro, C

Seo, P

I cant imagine Edwin Jackson having much success against Texas. They really need to leave him in Durham all season, can you imagine BJ Upton and Delmon Young sitting back in AAA watching Jackson of all people get the promotion they desire.

That wasn't a guess. I just didn't quote my source.

My powers of clairvoyance have been very rusty lately.

But I think they will be improving soon.

Something is wrong with this picture.

We need to get cruz back in the 2 spot and that means sitting lofton.
I'd rather have cruz 2nd and repko 7th, then lofton 2nd and cruz 7th.
Not that it means much but cruz has been cooling off since being moved out of the 2 spot.
Thanks alot lofton.

Dan Evans --- The Directory/ Constitution of 1795

Lofton's game is speed, so there is no point in hitting him 6th or 7th.

And MB, do you really want to sit Lofton after yesterday's performance?

Wouldn't Mueller make a better 6th hitter than Lofton?

enjoy!

http://tinyurl.com/7sd8t

oldbear I think this is the first time I ever agree with you! That is if you're the same old bear from Dodgers.com.

But again, what's the point in having your speed guy hitting 6th or 7th?

so he wont waste outs in front of drew?

This would be more impressive if the record wasn't 102 and that pitcher is Wilson Alvarez.

Definately, we rank 14th in slg in the NL.
And lofton does nothing for slg.
I'd rather have repko in their over lofton.
What i'd prefer is promoting ethier and letting him start for awhile, and if he struggles vs lefties, platoon him with repko.

Lofton could take advantage of his speed batting 7th moreso than 2nd. If you bat 2nd, there's no need to steal bases once you get on base because Drew/Kent have enough power to drive you in with double,triples, or HR's. Also, Lofton doenst have complete freedom to steal bases batting in the two spot bc if he does, the pitcher may IBB Drew. No one wants the bat taken out of your best hitters hand (besides Jim Tracy). Thirdly, you never want a CS'ing attempt in front of your best hitters. It totally kills the inning.

However, think of Lofton batting 7th. Down in the order, you need to steal bases in order to manufacture a run. Navarro isnt going to hit for much power. So Lofton gets on base, then steals 2nd. Navarro has a chance to hit him in. If the pitcher walks Navarro, no harm no foul bc Navarro really isnt that big of threat. They take the bat out of his hands, who cares? Sure the pitcher would come up next, but at least it gets him out of the way. Also, if Lofton gets CS'ing down in the bottom of the order, it doesnt really affect much.

Don't they realize just how big the TB game is?

Who's with me? We can shake up the world.

In one of the ways described in 9!

He actually has seven home runs this season.

Sorry, Sam, about the rain and what I assume would be too long a drive to see your second favorite team....

Chief Teakwood, aka Sushirabbit, aka David Kitchel

If I ever feel the need to logon under a fake name to give myself props, I think Chief Teakwood will be what I use. :-)

(Collie named Chief and 585 Teakwood Drive, Satellite Beach, FL)

Tonight my wife and I are invited with a group of close friends to dinner at Wilshire Resturant. My wife, who if I may say so, is pretty good looking, looks especially good tonight. The resturant is supposed to be very chi-chi and great food. The folks we are going with are very close friends and a lot of fun. Our favorite baby-sitter is sitting tonight ensuring that the kids will be asleep and the house clean. So why is it I want to stay home and watch baseball?

(I better find my game face in the next couple of hours)

I think the check is going to be divided by the number of couples. That is unless someone in our group hit the pick-six today or the Lottery.

You'd have to corner the market on grey hairspray first. Although we are about the same height.

normally I'd agree, but while I don't like Lofton if he can get on base in front of Drew and Kent then I'm happy. If not, yank him.

As far as slugging. Yeah we're not too hot there right now but that'll change. Kent has been stinking up the joint, we've had blackholes in Loney and Navarro in the lineup so Nomar should help a bit there.

I'd still like to nab a corner OF power hitter and just move Drew to CF....

three innings and one HR and he's a bust?

Please.

when hes 26.

you do know that not every young player comes in and immediately performs well right?

ESPECIALLY when it comes to pitchers.

So if Bills comes up, gives up 6 runs in four innings will he be a bust?

the dodgers gave up on him because we needed another all star on the team.

if you keep ragging on jackson, i am going to start talking about all the bad moves Midas has made. And I know you dont want that.

what are you talking about? The guy is young, hasn't even been pitching that long....jeez, give him a break.

What about every start he had with the dodgers except for his debut?

It looks like I'll be flying into rain tomorrow.

We've been waiting 2 or 3 years for him to come together, and he still hasn't done anything, how many more breaks does he need?

The guy is young, well he's been in and out of the leauge for 3 years, and has shown nothing except for his debut.

"What's wrong, honey. You had a girls night out last Monday." "OK, right, you stayed within the Washington metro region and made it out and back in under four hours. That's true. But still . . ."

87. Might even go until he's 27.

Watching SF-Co. game, Fox reporter Charissa Thompson is pretty good looking. We used to have our own good looking Fox reported but then she had to start sleeping with our married, alcholic, not too smart, 4.5 ERA starting pitcher and lose her job.

BBonds up.

BBonds up.

the guy is 22. REPEAT: 22. if he were 26 or 27 then fine, but jeez...give him some time. You mentioned we've been waiting three years...think about that. Three years ago the kid was 19.

Give the kid some time to get it together. Not only is he only 22, he hasn't even been pitching all that long. Asking some kid who is in his VERY early 20's who hasn't even pitched his whole life to come in and dominate is just absurd.

Bonds grounds out. He pretty much just walks srtaight to the dugout. He doesn't even pretend to jog it out.

What kinda outfielder did Jax profile as?

What the heck is going on with Haslem?

BTW, was she married when she started shacking up with Lowe. I seem to recall that she was but its an aspect of the story you don't hear much about.

since when is pitching against texas IN texas a non pressure environment?

would you consider james loney a bust as well? If we follow your philosophy of Jackson then the answer should be "yes".

134- that's what I've been saying. Trade for Bossman Jr. and play him in CF. Who wouldn't want a .300/.400/.500 CF who could steal 40 bases. New lineup:
1. Cruz LF
2. Bossman Jr. CF
3. Drew RF
4. Nomar 1B
5. Vidro 2B
6. Mueller 3B
7. Furcal SS
8. Navarro C

Much better lineup

exactly. It's not as if he's getting hammered out there. He's getting himself into trouble by walking guys. That's nothing that can't be fixed over time.

now you're just dodging it. Loney has had a good number of AB's in the minors and hasn't shown power potential, he hasn't shown ANYTHING at the major league level either...so how is that much different from Jackson?

(I'm not ragging on Loney everyone, playing devil's advocate.)

Ouch but funny.

Uh, no it would no be. Makes no sense to have Furcal hit 7th.

The first 3 hits have been a double triple, and home run.

I fear that all their talent will go to waste and we'll see guys flame out instead of be given a chance to thrive with another team. Gomes has to thank his lucky stars that enough guys got hurt last year that he was given a chance. The team basically gave up on him after 2004.

Time to get in the shower. Night all.

It's a perfectly rational and reasonable response to the inefficiencies of the MLB "free" market. A league in which Jeromy Burnitz is being paid 6 million to play for Pittsburgh is an unhealthy league.

6IP 4H 1ER 1bb 8k 1hr

his era is still high at 4.66 though

it seems we have a pitcher separating himself from the pack down in Columbus. 6'3 210lb lefty, Marlon Arias.

his line today:
6ip 4h 1er 3bb 10k

for the season:
16IP 15h 4er 5bb 20k 2.25 era

Hes only 21, so not that old considering hes a lefty. Just someone to watch in the lower levels.

178- I think you are underestimating Bossman Jr.'s potential. While Guzman has the potential to be a big power hitter, he's still very raw and not very close to being able to provide the production of a league average center fielder. Bossman Jr. is very polished and ready to contribute now. Bossman Jr. is basically a young star. There are very few players that are worth trading multiple prospects for.

wow, he needs to eat.

They are now 3-13.

Shaq is old, wont shut up, seriously overpaid, and has already won.

Also, he could add velocity if he ever fills out.

Jackson's not a bonus baby. he was drafted in the 6th round.

He's about as good as good as Tomko now and much cheaper. Damn you Ned!

Mihm, plus resigned george and first round pick for boozer!

223
Tyson Chandler might have gone to UCLA, that adds to the comparison.

Oh, great. Kent hit again. Who is he, Biggio?

i mean..... argh.

Jay Seo must be feeling the WBC hangover. That, or he was insanely lucky last year. He doenst seem very good.

I still thought he'd be better than this. At least Houlton can strikeout people.

So much for the Nomar Gold Glove

Kent is either hurt, slumping, or he got really old during 1 off-season.

What more can you ask for?

It's not like the bullpen is Stalingrad.

His medal of honor pleased and thrilled
his proud little family group.
While pinning it on some blood was spilled
And so it was planned he'd command F Troop.

Where Indian fights are colorful sights
and nobody takes a lickin'
Where pale face and redskin
Both turn chicken.

When killing and fighting get them down,
They know their morale can't droop.
As long as they all relax in town
Before they resume with a bang and a boom
F Troop.

Was it Bobby Hull-like?

You think you've seen the sun but you ain't seen it shine...

Nomar's actually looked pretty good at the plate.

Which has been done 48 times, the last time by Adam Laroche in 2004.

"Go" works better than "Kwo" anyway.

Connor Jackson is still sitting on the bench, I assume.

http://tinyurl.com/jmrka

http://tinyurl.com/h6phy

I like the transitional sentiment, but the history of prospects evaporating(especially pitchers) is hard to block from the mind. This comes from perhaps too many years of Dodgereurosis.

I hope this isn't the year Kent fades.

Then again, Kent looks about 100 times worse than he did last year. Was he that far away from the plate before? Seems like he can barely reach anything on the outside corner.

Now for something that's puzzled me for 35 years (I wasn't puzzled from ages 0 to 5)

Why does a fidgety person make coffee nervous? Isn't coffee inherently fidgety?

Just in time for a Cruz strikeout.

On list of favorite players as a kid, Joe Morgan and Dusty Baker were very high up there.

I like this team less now.

Repko!!!?!!?!!?!

Oh no! Jose Valverde!

It's an NBA game. It happens.

The 110 Freeway will be crowded.

""They're trying to walk me, bottom line," Jones said. "They're throwing everything in off the plate, trying to walk me. They're just not throwing strikes, and I'm not letting them walk me… It'd be good to take some walks."

Whatever helps him sleep at night

Reminds me of one of my students. "I don't need to do homework, I don't do homework... but I like doing homework."

"Tomko has the stuff to go out there and put up a lot of zeros."

He also said this: "Walks help. They do help. But you aren't going to walk across the plate, you're going to hit across the plate. That's the school I come from."

AZ should hit 2-3 HR's.
Dodgers should walk 6-8 times.

Game Time O/U: 3:20

Maybe he's from Coronado Island.

2005 Retrosheet numbers are now up. No link on the front page, but if you go to 2004, you can click next year, at the top. Anyway, hooray!

(no permalinks so you need to scroll down past the bill james thing).

Click on "Boxscores+++" and you can see the link for 2005.

"4.5 seconds left at Staples. Clippers up by 2. Denver ball.

The 110 Freeway will be crowded."

I hope you don't get MOONED on the 110fwy like I did.