Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Jon's other site:
Screen Jam
TV and more ...
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
Jason Repko, Bill Mueller, J.D. Drew and Danys Baez got off to fine-to-outstanding starts for the Dodgers this month, as did Cody Ross, Sandy Alomar, Jr. and Takashi Saito in their own, context-required ways. But the best numbers for the young season belong to Brad Penny.
Penny, who is scheduled to make his fifth start Tuesday, has thrown 24 innings this season and has more strikeouts (25) than baserunners allowed (20 hits, two walks, one hit batter). His ERA is 1.88, and the OPS against him is a mere .562. He has faced 93 batters and allowed four extra-base hits. In his last start against Chicago, Penny looked as uncomfortable as a pitcher can look throwing his warmup tosses, and I got worried. He proceeded to allow a first-inning run but was otherwise effective, leaving after six innings with a 4-2 lead, seven strikeouts and 10 baserunners allowed (a double, a walk and eight singles).
Penny has been more of a sprinter than a marathoner this season, lasting no more than seven innings or 105 pitches in any game - not that that's a criticism, rather a place for skeptics to find purchase. He also hasn't pitched against the offensive powers of the National League: Atlanta (ranked seventh in NL team OPS) is the best of his opponents to date, with Philadelphia, Chicago and San Francisco ranked 10th or worse. But after Derek Lowe opens the Dodgers' series in Houston tonight, Penny will face an Astros team with a .365 on-base percentage and .481 slugging percentage. Third baseman Morgan Ensberg has an OPS of 1.477, tops in baseball, and the remaining two Killer Bees, second baseman Craig Biggio and first baseman Lance Berkman, are over 1.000. What an infield.
At age 40, Biggio could start dropping off at any minute, and the rest of the Houston lineup has been much less impressive. Nevertheless, making his final scheduled start of April, Penny has a chance to assert himself as the staff ace the Dodgers have been looking for since they traded for him, the first staff ace since Odalis Perez had a 3.25 ERA in 2004, or if you're not that generous, since Kevin Brown had a 2.39 ERA in 2003.
Penny's walk and strikeout rates are far out of proportion with his career rates, so don't expect miracles. Just know that if he does make it through Houston with his head held high, the Dodgers might be looking at an All-Star in the starting rotation.
Continuing the last conversation of the previous thread, I just got back from Chicago, where I had to settle for a game at US Cellular, since the Cubbies were out of town. It was nicer than I remembered, helped along by beautiful weather, a large crowd (winning the WS helps, I guess) and a pitcher's duel between Johan Santana and Mark Buerhle - until Santana racked up 123 pitches and his bullpen blew up.
Boy, the Twins' offense is horrible. Other than Joe Mauer, we're talking 2003 Dodgers horrible. Yuck. Granted, Morneau sat against the lefty, and Stewart is likely hurt, but even those two are merely mediocre.
Also, I think Olmedo Saenz is worth at least an honorable mention in best Dodger starts to this season.
I will say, if there is one thing I have learned as I've become an old married guy, saying that you are sorry "if" you've offended/insulted anyone, is not a real apology. Hernandez really couldn't just admit that he had indeed offended some people and apologize for that?
At other times, the age is mentioned if it is part of the story.
If the writer is trying to compare Hernandez's age to the trainer's age, then it would be mentioned. At least I think so.
But, my other question is: Is Jon's email working or did he blacklist me?
I've been using a new CD trading website called lala.com. Basically you list all the CDs you want to get rid of, and also all that you want to receive. You get CDs on your wish list for $1, mailed from other users. It's pretty cool, but right now it's invite only. I have 3 invites that I'd be happy to send to DT readers; check it out and post here if it seems like something you'll use.
Thanks...
Like the guy on BTF who said he was sorry that he said I was better with my father being dead, but he apologized only because I was obviously too sensitive.
7 - I'd like to have a fourth language. Right now, I have 1 1/2: English, and what I remember of six years of French. Spanish has always been my intended No. 3. But No. 4 is wide open. I wouldn't mind Japanese, but that's a tall order.
I was in the front of that upper deck, and I actually thought they were good seats. Not as high as the DS top deck, where I usually sit (or maybe I should say "sat," since I'm boycotting McCourt for at least this season).
It was vertiginous.
OK, maybe that sounds a little unlikely. But I read somewhere that they're still willing to entertain offers for Kearns, so something like that could be a possibility.
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i went to the twinks/angels last tuesday. a nice sarcastic standing o for dh rondell white when he singled to raise his avg to .098.
the local media here has been really forgiving regarding the tony batista signing, and they already seem to have torii hunter playing in the bronx next year. to their credit, the "loss" of jacque jones was not greatly lamented.
It was a good experience. A bit costly for my seats in the Terrace level (club). But my sightline was great. Piazza homered so it was worth it.
It was a very clean park, easy to get to. Kinda tough to get out, though.
http://tinyurl.com/zls78
Apparently he deserves one more homer because Candiotti gave up a homer that was ruled a double by the umpires when it bounced back onto the field.
that looks pretty cool, although my cd's probably aren't in trading condition as they are primarily in sleeves without all of the insert material.
i would be interested, though, if it helps me find a copy of the rave-ups "town + country" on cd...
And I believe Berkman is considered a "Killer B" because when I see games from Houston, if he gets a hit, the PA system plays a buzzing sound.
i think it is partly because there were yankee rumors regarding hunter before damon was signed, partly because his condo is for sale, and partly because johnny damon addressed the possibility:
http://tinyurl.com/lutt5
I need your email address to send you the invite. Or you can email me at dave@accubar.com.
i'll be at us cell next thursday for the mariners matinee, and our tix are in the upper deck. i am now sufficiently dreading the game.
Who else among DT frequenters/devotees has a blog? I only have about 100 on my blogroll; obviously it needs expanding.
I always thought that the upper level behind home plate at Dodger stadium was the steepest possible seats.
Check out the latest link over at LA Observed. A guy writes about his $322 four-seat experience, then calls for a new stadium.
www.laobserved.com
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I certainly hope those comments were tongue-in-cheek, because they were certainly almost useless.
New Cody Ross post up top.
As a Dodger fan who feels that he has a passing understanding of how baseball games are won and lost, this is going to be a very difficult relationship for me. As if the 'sacrifice your #5 guy and take the bat out of your most productive hitter's hands' isn't enough, we now have to contend with his unwillingness to give Brad Penny as many starts as possible on normal rest.
Sorry. Mr. Stone's comments.
Everything that Marty writes is solid. It's the word. It's on tablets, like the Ten Commandments.
What I'm saying is that you spot start him to maximize the front of your rotation.
For example:
APRIL
24 - Lowe
25 - Penny
26 - Perez
27 - OFF
28 - Tomko
29 - Lowe
30 - Penny
MAY 1 - Perez
2 - Seo
3 - Tomko
4 - Lowe
5 - Penny
6 - Perez
etc, etc, etc
It's a trope I haven't researched, but my understanding from my Boston pals is that Lowe isn't so effective on longer rest anyway.
Do your Boston pals all want Lowe back? I've been amazed at the number of Boston fans who tell me they'd take Lowe back in a heartbeat. I guess it was his postseason performance.
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