I think they should get Carter a bus ticket only as far as Barstow.

Thanks to PennyJavy for the alert, by the way.

Thanks to PennyJavy for the alert, by the way.

So Lance Carter is a middling AAA reliever now. I feel so much better having him there than Edwin Jackson.

That double post was my cellphone's fault, not mine. Infernal machines!

5
No worries. I blame cellphones for most of the problems in the world.

The poor workman always blames his tools.

Just like Jim Tracy.

I hope they let Broxton work in low pressure situations at first.

That does make me feel better:

Posting from a cellphone? Pfftt... Showoff...

your posting from a cellphone? or did it ring and startle you into double posting?

I did the post from my desk. But then I realized I had forgotten to give credit, so I did the comment while I was walking from LACMA East to LACMA West. I think the double post happened when I was putting the phone back in my pocket.

I have done posts from my cellphone - some will recall the famous Blogging While Chairlifting moment - but they take a long time even to write something short. And linking is truly treacherous.

8 Like 5-0 leads with 3 outs to go? :)

L.A., L.A. it's a wonderful town
Broxton's up
And Carter is down
The people won't ride through a hole in the ground.

The weakarm pitchers to demote are so many,
So the guys would say,
I know my grandpa could hate em all in just one day
Gotta send them all down.

12 - Ah, yes. The day where Becker, Bruce and the Cardinal became targets of opportunity for many posters barbs.

I've never taken my cell phone skiing with me, but that might be because the coverage a Mammoth stinks.

If they purchased Beimel's contract, is someone getting DFA'ed? Or did I miss that?

Kuo was sent down.

16 - I think that there were only 39 players on the 40 man roster, as Jayson Werth was placed on the 60-day DL.

18 - That would make sense. Thx.

It's nice to see reason triumph. I also think comparing how Ned/Little handled this compared to how DePo/Tracy handled Erickson shows how much better shape we're in, because we now have quality prospects at AAA. I actually think management deserves some credit for seeing the obvious in this case, but, really, Ned had an obvious alternative in Broxton, while things weren't so clear as to an alternative for Erickson last season.

WWSH

I'm very glad Ned made the move, but I don't understand how Carter still had an option left. I would've thought he already had too many seasons in the majors for that. Does he have to go through waivers first?

21
Which is easier:

1. Carter going through waivers
2. Sharp knife through warm butter?

22
Oh, I agree, but still. It's been mentioned a couple of times that he had an option left, and I'm trying to figure out how that can be.

I've never heard that options are age-dependent. If they weren't used, they don't expire.

Dave Winfield may still have all his options left.

4 I'm sure you know this Steve, but it wasn' Tiffany for Baez and Jackson for Carter. It was Tiffany and Jackson for Baez and Carter. If Baez continues to be as good as he's been, then Tiffany and Jackson for Baez, with Carter as a throw-in, may not be too bad. A lot still depends on how Tiffany and Jackson turn out.

The Kobe heroics got me reading an NBA chat for once. This exchange was with ESPN's John Hollinger.

Stu (Philly): How can you continuously be the only NBA writer in the world that dismisses the idea of someone making their teammates better? With Nash's impact last year and SamIAm's this year haven't they proven that adding a winner to the team makes everyone else better?

John Hollinger: (3:51 PM ET ) "Making teammates better' is, with the possible exception of "never give up the baseline", basketball's greatest sacred cow. Doesn't make it true. In fact, if you try to come up with any evidence to support the idea -- not the anecdotal "player X looks better this year", but really looking at all of a player's current and former teammates and seeing how their production changed -- you'll have a hard time proving anybody, even Nash, has this effect.

23 Option years are only used when a player on the 40-man roster is sent down to the minors. I think that's only happened twice for Carter, before this year (2000, 2005).

27
What does an All-Star have to do to get respect these days?

26. Well, Nash is no Kenny Lofton.

26 Being a "proven winner" or providing "veteran leadership" is probably just as much hooey in basketball as in baseball.

BUT, without knowing the statistical argument at all, I find the argument that certain individual basketball players don't enhance teammates' games hard to buy. Hakeem Olajuwon (sp?) comes to mind. When he had his inside game going, all everybody else on that team had to do was hit wide open jump shots.

According to the copy of CBA I was reading on http://www.businessofbaseball.com
a player can refuse an outright assignment to the minor leagues and become a free agent if he has 3 or more years of major league service.

However, Carter was optioned and they don't seem to have any expiry dates on them.

27
Okay, that makes sense.

Aaron Sele was an All-Star too. And he's in the minors.

33 - Not for long. Isn't today decision day for him?

If Baez continues to be as good as he's been, then Tiffany and Jackson for Baez, with Carter as a throw-in, may not be too bad. A lot still depends on how Tiffany and Jackson turn out.

Yes, it is (If Baez continues to be as "good" as he's been?) and no, it doesn't.

28 Carter seems to be getting the Mike Sharperson treatment if I've ever seen it.

33,36
It's shameful.

36 - Careful how far that comparison gets taken. We're all very frustrated with Carter, but there are limits...

26 "Making teammates better" is usually code for "he passes and gets assists." Kobe is getting some nice assists this series, and is passing more than usual, though I certainly haven't quantified my observations. Then again, Luke Walton has always been known as a great passer, but just because he passes doesn't make him great. Kobe gets way too much criticism sometimes.

Carter should be sent to Alcatraz, then maybe Sabean would rescue him.

30- I think Kobe can make his teammates better when he wants to. Since he's always being double teamed (and sometimes triple teamed), that leaves a lot of open shots for his teammates when he actually does decide to pass the ball.

Boy -- huge photo and spread for Jon's piece at SI.com (after you click the "mlb" button). Congrats.

I think the notion that a player makes his teammates better has much more validity in basketball and football than baseball. Baseball is an odd "team sport" in which each player seems to perform in a vacuum, like an individual sport. Of course, there are some exceptions, where teammates read each others' minds on an assisted double play, but most of the time, it's like an individual sport.

39 - "Making teammates better" is usually code for "he passes and gets assists."

Whither Stephon Marbury then? He's averaged over 8 assists (a very impressive number in this era) per game over his entire career. He's also a 20 points per game scorer, with solid %'s.

Yet when you look at the teams he's left and arrived on, the results are quite staggering.

How is "creating opportunities for others" the same as "making others better." I understand a big man or a good passer being able to get the ball to people in good spots, but it seems to me those people will themselves be better or worse at getting to those spots and better or worse at hitting the shots.

And is it really that different than baseball -- a good hitter will protect the hitter before, a good obp guy will create rbi opportunities for the hitters behind. But neither affects the ability of that person in front or behind to actually get the job done.

44 I'll go along with your line of thinking Sam. The passer (for example, Hakeem) may draw a double team and leave someone open for the jump shot. An open jumper is easier to make than a shot in traffic, but it's still up to the shooter to make the shot.

In other words, Hakeem may have created the opportunity, but it doesn't mean anything if you don't have guys on your team that can convert the opportunity into points.

45 Right -- A good passer might help teammates get open shots, but he doesn't make those teammates any better at hitting open shots. So, it seems wrong to say the passer is making his teammates "better."

Ouch -- from Bad Altitude preview of the Rockies/Braves series: "They're the Braves. They'll be good again fairly soon the way they draft, and for this franchise the term "lean years" is entirely relative. In fact, they could still win the division this year if a few of the old guys on the Mets go the way of all the old guys on the Dodgers."

48 To conclude your line of reasoning, would be correct to say, "A good passes gives his teammates a chance to be better"?

Making former teammates better:

Both Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant's wives gave birth Monday.

I wish they would have optioned Carter for Billingsly, and moved Seo to the bullpen.

And that Shaq and Kobe thing is just weird.

Can we assume the names are not Shaq Bryant and Kobe O'Neal?

Those 2 really made each other better, and, at the same time, made me not like pro hoops anymore.

Mearah Sanaa O'Neal

Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant

53 Are you serious?

54

That's what the wire services report.

Those names don't seem all that strange.

Those aren't names.

56

By whose standards?

What's the matter with Maria-Onore?

26 - At what point did Joe Morgan burst upon the scene, snarling and brandishing a baseball bat held backwards?

56 - I rather like Mearah. Not a huge fan of Gianna, but Kobe was brought up in Italy, so go fig. What do you find wrong with them?

The Bryant's names are fine. The O'neals seem a tad obscure.

Today's Dodger Sim is in. Brad Penny pitched a great game, going 7-2/3rds innings... scattering 6 hits with the only blemish being a solo HR by Chad Tracy in the 4th inning. Hamulack relieved Penny with two outs in the bottom of the 8th inning after a Chad Tracy double and struck out Luis Gonzalez looking. Baez came in for an easy 1-2-3 to close things out in the 9th. The Dodgers managed 8 hits, the biggest blow a solo HR by Jeff Kent in the 4th inning. The Dodgers scored the go ahead runs in the 6th inning when K.Lofton led off with a single and J.Drew promptly doubled in home. Bill Mueller knocked Drew in with a 2 out single. Good luck to the Dodgers tonight. So far the sim program is 2-0 in predicting the winner (both Dodgers victories).
Dodgers: 3
DBacks: 1
WP - B.Penny
LP - C.Vargas
SV - D.Baez
HR: Kent, Tracy.
Notes: Craig Counsell was kicked out of the game in the 4th inning when he unvieled a phishing scam to steal the Dodgers signals.
vr, Xei

Those aren't strange. You haven't seen my real name. ;-) Now, Dweezel and Moon Unit are strange.

60 - ... The father is named Shaquille. The mother is named Shaunie. Mearah Sanaa has melodic quality. Or would you have rather preferred Alice? :)

There's nothing wrong with the names, per se. In combination, they seem like an extension of the respective dads' long running pee-ing match. I'll see your Meara and raise you a Maria-Onore.

We named my daughter Maxine, but I guess I don't make that much money.

Quick google search reveals that Sanaa is a Swahili word for a "work of art," or "beauty." Meanwhile, all I can find for Mearah (Me'arah, actually), is "cave".

Huh.

The film "Love & Basketball" featured actress Sanaa Lathan.

Maybe if I were African American I would feel allegances to the Swahili name. Therefore it would not seem obscure to me. And cave, What is more beautiful than a cave? :)

63. And yes, I would prefer Alice :)

66 How was that movie. The title always struck me as incongruent, like, "Apple Pie and Mustard." Maybe because I played basketball in high school, and don't recall getting much love.

I still think its crazy that they both had girls and 6 minutes apart!

If you think Apple Pie and Mustard are incongruent you are really missing out.

71 I prefer Tabasco with my apple pie.

61
I like the sim except that I don't think Baez will pitch unless all the other relievers develop plague.

Damon got a better reception then I thought he would.

69 - Wanted to see it but never did.

(When Dodger reliever Joe Beimel debuts his #97 for the club, he will have the honor of donning the highest uniform number ever worn by a Dodger player during a regular season game.) Isn't 'Old 97"\' a reference in an old railroad song? I vaguely remember it. Wonder if there's something on Google?

69- Bad.

I finally got around to State and Main over the weekend and can endorse it, heartily.

75 Amazing that you knew the name of one of the stars, yet haven't seen the movie. But, then again, I knew who starred in "Casablanca," years before I actually saw it...but "Love and Basketball" is no "Casablanca."

Google delivered! It was a train which became famous for wrecking in 1903. Several songs were written about it and one of them has the distinction of being the first million selling record. I imagine Vin Scully will get a lot of mileage out of this when the player has a lumpy day...

Didn't we just cure the plague?

"Old 97" is the number of the train referenced in the song "Blood on the Tracks", but that is by the Folksmen.

I think the song is written by Michael McKean.

80 - You speak of the deadly "Carter-itis," I presume? Known to kill both man and beast, all whilst giving up 5-run leads in the 9th.

82 -- Introduced into an unnatural environment, by colonizers intent on pillaging natural resources for export.

I was watching Forrest Gump last night and all I could think of was Grady Little.

While Joe Beimel wears 97, I just read that Reggie Bush and the Saints are petitioning the NFL to let him wear 5.

I'm betting that he's not wearing that number once the season starts. The NFL is decidedly inflexible in this area.

Anybody want to speculate on the likely net gain of swapping Carter for Beimel? Is it even five runs, this year? Carter is bad and I'll be happy not to watch him again. But this move is of little value on the field, and degrades and already near-worthless "asset" (Carter), which is something of a specialty of Ned's. I don't know that keeping him on the roster is any better, but I don't see this move as being of much value at all.

Carter is not as bad as he's been (I'm not as bad as Carter has been). This isn't like Erickson, where there was every reason to believe he was completely finished. Carter isn't good, but he didn't collapse over the summer, he's just about as not good as he was last year.

77. I heartily endorse your hearty endorsement.

83. "Well, everyone needs a hobby."

Dontrelle Willis is pitching a no-hitter. Still early in the game, just wanted to be the first one to say it. For that matter, Brad Penny has faced the minimum so far. :)
vr, Xei

Oh, Xei, Xei, Xei.

Right underneath the no-cursing and be civil rules of Dodger Thoughts is the rule not to announce no-hitters. People must discover them organically. Radio and TV announcers are the only ones allowed to mention no-nos.

86 -- Other than the increased likelihood that Monday will mispronounce Beimel's name, there is not much difference.

86 I know next to nothing about Beimel, but its reasonable to assume that of Broxton, Beimel, Kuo, and Carter that Broxton is the best pitcher. Therefore, today's moves figure to be a net positive.

Carter's only an asset in so far as we gave up something to get him. That, however, is in the past. That Ned is not keeping him around (for now) out of stubbornness or to prove that he was right, that's all for the better. The ability to cut your losses and make decisions based on what is best from the present forward is the best advantage we have as a supposed "big market" team.

So my outlook on Ned is all bright and sunny until he botches the Izturis situation.

So, it's a busy night for the Southern California sports fan.

6:30 - Dodgers vs. Dbacks on KCAL
7:00 - Angels vs Athletics on KCOP
7:00 - Ducks vs Flames on FSN West
7:30 - Clippers vs Nuggest on FSN Prime

Lots o' traffic tonight on Katella I think.

[88] [89] Moot now.

92 - I'll be sure to take Wilshire to Staples.

92

And I left out that I have to squeeze in time to watch "24". I think Jack Bauer is hijacking an airplane tonight.

Presumably someone will be shot in the thigh.

79
Yup, "The Wreck of the Old 97" is an old folk song. Later, the same tune was used for the old Kingston Trio song "MTA."

There's also a pretty good band caled the Old 97's.

There is also a Johnny Cash song called "the wreck of ol' 97".

92. Did anyone wee the flagrant foul put on Chris Kaman in the last game?

96
"MTA" was actually written by an unnamed Boston folk group as a campaign song for a Socialist candidate for mayor in Boston.

The Kingston Trio "de-Commied" the song.

I still want to know why, in the song, Harry's wife, who threw him a sandwich every day as the train went past her, didn't also toss in the extra money to allow him to get off the train.

90. I don't ever believe I'd heard Beimel's name uttered aloud...

I would guess "Buy Mel", but I tend to be a Teutonic thinker.

99 Have you ever tried to throw a dime in the window of a passing train?

101

Just wrap it inside the sandwich.

94. Last I saw, Wilshire was closed down at La Brea. Information purposes only, I really have no idea which way you're coming in.

102 Jeez, then he'll likely swallow the dime.

If Brad Penny does not get a win tonight he should demand a trade. He ought to be going for his sixth win.

I found this, through google, on a Pirates blog from years ago...

Numbers game: Reliever Joe Beimel has switched from 53 to 97, the year his first child was born. No other Pirates player has worn a number higher than 75 in the regular season.

Some of us Downtown workers are going to avail themselves of the best system of public transportation in the world.

At least that's what Eddie Valiant told me.

104

Maybe that's the real reason why he never returned. No, he never returned.

And his fate is still unlearned.

Or if Jim Tracy wrote the song...

Do we know why Harry never returned? Well, that's a difficult question. There were issues with getting money for the fare, but I think that, from a financial standpoint, he could have done better. Will I ever know? Maybe.

91- Kuo will likely get better in AAA (or else blow out his arm), so I don't have a big problem with his demotion. Sending Carter to AAA is warehousing him in favor of the previously warehoused Beimel.

That Broxton is likely the best of the four doesn't really address why Beimel had to come up too. I'm happy enough to see Carter warehoused, but only if that means the team gets better--he's not likely to get better with AAA seasoning, so the only value is in getting somebody better in to that spot. It doesn't look to me like that happened. Additionally, it decreases his value, which, while not bloody much, must be anything. He's got a tiny contract, and he's probably not a whole standard deviation worse than any other garbage time reliever. MLB GM's will buy anything. Their beleif in their own magic touch could power a 50,000 watt radio station (which, if KFWB ever wants to build a market in the IE, they should look in to).

100- I was hoping for BAY-muhl. But, looking at his ESPN page, you look to be right.

107 Step outta line, Valiant, and we'll hang you -- AND your laundry -- out to dry!

Just read the story on Shaq and Kobe's babies. That is Shaq's sixth child. Yikes...as a dad myself, I can't imagine having that many kids...

Their beleif in their own magic touch could power a 50,000 watt radio station

Really, the key point underlying the entire Tampa Bay Massacre.

I am unhappy that Kuo was demoted, but not unhappy that Kuo was demoted, if that makes sense. He is of no use to anybody walking more than one guy an inning.

111

I can't imagine the fact that Shaq has had sex just six times.

109 I guess it totally depends on who is replacing whom. I'm just saying if Ned pulled a Choi on Carter I wouldn't see it as squandering an asset, and I don't necessarily see anything wrong with stockpiling (or warehousing for that matter) marginal pitchers at AAA.

I think we'd all agree that if Kuo can take back Beimel's spot at some point that would be the best outcome.

103 - I was joking. I'm within walking distance of Wilshire /La Brea - helicopter central.

113 And I thought the who's made it first thread had moved this site into the red!

Speaking of goofy old sort-of-folk songs, anyone remember who sang the big anthemy "one tin soldier" song in the seventies. Two big armies, and they're fighting for ever, and the big treasure or whatever they all wanted just says peace on earth. Or something like that . . .

115. Jon, please disregard my westside-ethnocentrism.

113 I will never forget when Jordan retired. It was, coincidentally, about the same time as a spate of NBA paternity scandals.

On sports center or something, they asked a bunch of NBA stars about their thoughts on Jordan. Shaq, totally deadpan (as if Shaq can be any other way) said, "Michael was definitely the greatest. I'm just proud that I'll be able to tell me 1,000 kids by 900 different women that I played against him."

Wow Boston just had Loretta sac bunt 1st/2nd 0 out trailing 3-1 to NY in the 5th. Wang turned the 1-5 FC. I guess Francona hasn't read THE BOOK.

99
Heh, I knew that. Jacqueline Steiner and Bess Hawes wrote it. But I figured more people would recognize the tune if I mentioned the Kingston Trio version.

The song is no longer relevant, because except way out on the Red Line in Quincy, you only pay when you get ON the T these days.

Star Wars Transformers are an abomination.

109 The switch (essentially Carter for Beimel) is pretty moot at this point, it probably means they'd rather have Carter work out his problems in AAA, thinking that he still may have value. Beimel should be quite harmless as the last pitcher out of the pen I would think.

To be honest, I was hoping Sele would get the call only because we don't really have a true long-reliever in the pen. Instead of wasting four bullpen arms in either an extra inning or large lead/deficit game, it would be nice to throw Sele out there and have him eat 4 or 5 innings.

121
What are Star Wars Transformers?

And speaking of abominations, I read today that some bonehead is remaking Revenge of the Nerds. That's like re-composing Beethoven's 5th Symphony.

99 "Charlie," surely? I'll have to go rummage through my Kingston Trio vinyl (don't laugh!) to be sure, but I'm pretty convinced that is was Charlie on the MTA.

And meanwhile, the Nationals have it all working in Flushing. Five (5!) shutout innings from Ramon Ortiz. A silky caught stealing by Damian Jackson w/no outs and the pitcher up (the one time, Frank, the sacrafice would make your fans smile, but no, you just can't do it . . .). Brian Schneider thrown out trying to sneak to second on a single that scoreda runner from second. Alas for Nats Nation, Carlos Beltran hit the cutoff man. Meanhile fully half of Ortiz' 90 pitches have been balls (including a HBP of Victor Zambrano) so pretty hard to believe he's going to keep the Mets scoreless much longer.

And while I was typing 125, Carlos Delgado hit a solo homerun, so Mets/Nationas are tied 1-1. Loop closed.

123 -- Darth Vader transforms into something or other. This goes far beyond trading for middle relievers in its perfidy.

One Tin Soldier. The theme song to one of the worst movies ever made, Billy Jack.

BILLY JACK can't possibly have anything on SATURN 3, which for some incomprehensible reason I watched over the weekend.

Thanks Marty, just found that myself. Sung by . . . wait for it . . . Coven, written by Lambert and Potter, info available, lord knows why, at the kids page at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (everything is part of your environment, even music!) -- "This song has a lesson to it -- violence is not the way." http://tinyurl.com/mttvr.

Also on the NIEHS web page, under Patriotic Songs, "O Canada". Works for me, but is Tom Tancredo OK with that?

What I remember about Billy Jack:

1. It was horrible
2. It was filmed in Prescott Arizona
3. Howard Hesseman had a small role as a hippie.
4. It was horrible.

I'll admit to a soft spot for Billy Jack, though I don't remember it well. Also, Bless the Beasts and Children. But then, I don't much remember either . . .

From the first review of Billy Jack on imdb: "For anyone interested in knowing what the world was really like in 1971, this film will take you there." Not written by Marty.

Livan pinch hitting at Shea!

(since it's just me . . .) Livan grounds out to end the inning.

Of course, "Bless the Beasts and the Children," the movie I was only half-paying attention to while I had a radio and earphone to listen to the Dodgers' Friday night victory over Houston in 1980 - first of the three-game sweep before Game 163.

Sam, I meant to tell you, when I was out in D.C. I got taken to a pretty good restaurant in Falls Church by the name of 2941. There was 175 of us and they did a very nice job of wining and dining us. 4 courses with wine pairings.

Do you know this one?

Alomar and Repko starting, Navarro and Cruz sitting.

(131) 5. It had an incredibly actress in it.

137 The only number restaurant I know is 1789, in Georgetown. Will keep my tastebuds peeled, though.

Old friend Duaner in to pitch to the top of the Nationals order in the eighth inning of a tied Nationals/Mets game.

(139) Left out a word: incredibly ugly actress

One Tin Soldier was a camp staple.

Anyone remember a song with lyrics that went something like, "Little Willy really won't go home?"

143 Is that the Bill Clinton theme song?

143 I don't, but all-seeing Google says it's by Sweet, singers also of Love is Like Oxygen. Bio and link to Little Willy lyrics: http://tinyurl.com/z63b4

The guitarist from Sweet lives in LA and is a friend. Nice guy...

Way to go Greenie

Yes, it was Charlie on the MTA.

We sang "One Tin Soldier" in church at Mass when I was in elementary school.

In the 1970s, there was a period when Catholicism was briefly into a "hip and relevant" time.

In retrospect, I would have preferred the random beatings.

Travis Hafner w/a Grand Slam to bring the Indians back to 7-5 White Sox, bottom of the seventh inning.

Poor Shawn...

143

Jon, you can't be that young. Sweet is one of the most underrated bands of all time. They also did Ballroom Blitz and Fox on the Run. Little Willy is one of the best rollerskating songs of all time. At least it was when I was 12.

147 Yep. William Sloane Coffin was hip enough to be permanently fixed in Trudeau's zeitgeist.

Wow -- with his .183 batting average sitting just midway between Brad Penny (.167) and Rafael Furcal (.196), I'm sure Jeff Kent is a big fan of the more sophisticated stats used to measure offense these days . . .

Prime Ticket is not showing the Dodgers; it's showing me "Clippers Insider." This is an outrage.

Vin has it as Bi - mill

Old Friend Paul LoDuca with a chance to win it in NY -- 1 out, tie game, runners at 1st and 2nd.

Green's error is an example of why I think of giving out two errors to a player on one play (fielding and throwing) seems dopey to me when a player can drop one ball and give a team three bases.

I'm seated by the way.

For what it's worth, that makes perfect sense to me Bob.

Good thing the Nats got their six pitches out of Gigantor tonight.

Well, the gameday desription is not totally clear, but it looks like LoDuca did win the game, when he grounded back to the pitcher who threw the ball away. Good fun for the whole family.

So when does Tracy move Green....er I mean Little move Kent out of the clean up spot?

153

I laid out the schedule of what was being shown in L.A. earlier today.

I'm seated by the way.

Then just shut up. :)

Yeah, but according to my morning paper it's Dodgers on Prime Ticket at 1540 and Clippers on TNT at 1630. So who's lying?

I remember Sweet. Just wondered if anyone else remembered the song.

I think Bob's crusade against the double error is very unlike Bob. An error is a mistake - not something measured in degrees. I feel it's unlike you to want to redefine a word.

158 You know, I was going to comment on the whole "using your long reliever for two batters in a tie game" thing, but obviously I've been a bit comment happy tonight so I held off.

The vitriol on the Nationals' sites is pretty extreme right now. The fact that Nat castoff Endy Chavez scored the winning run is a source of particular angst.

Hey Xei, Mike C and I say thanks for that jinx you put on Dontrelle today. Got anything that will work for the Buffalo Sabres, or will I have to go to Bob for that one?

165 - Endy Chavez is a one-man angst machine on par with Tomas Perez and David Bell. How we survived half a season with all three of those jokers, I'll never know...

Rather than focusing on the fact that they lost on an error, they're focusing on the pinch-runner who only coincidentally scored the winning run? And Jim Bowden is getting fired why?

167 Well, in fairness, there's a good deal of concern about losing on an infield throwing error by the [insert words not appropropriate to Jon's site here] pitcher as well.

164 An error is not recorded unless someone advances, right? So it is already measured in degrees. And I suddenly understand exactly how Bob feels :)

I believe that if I don't hold a pointless, meaningless grudge against something, life isn't worth living.

Speaking of that, Jim Tracy just had a heck of a top of the eighth.

I was distracted earlier, but meant to put in a plug for another movie I watched this weekend: Return to Me. I was thoroughly opposed to watching it, but my objections were overcome in the underhanded way that puts the lie to the term, "fairer sex." Keeping in mind that the premise is ridiculous, I've never liked a romantic comedy nearly as much as I liked this one. It was actually funny! Carol O'Connor and Robert Loggia and David Allen Greir. I didn't love Mr. X-files, but he didn't bother me, either. Anyway, a really fun movie, which could be worth bonus points (or, at least, make a good trade for making her watch The Dirty Dozen, again).

I think they better drag the warning track after the third inning.

Can I hold a pointless grudge against triple doubles against our ace pitcher (not to mention no out, base-loading walks to number 8 hitters)?

152-

He gets a lot of sacrifice flies.

Irrationally I am going to assume Penny's undoing rests on Alomar's shoulders.

Is Penny hurt or just getting clobbered? He has only 1 K in his last 8+ IP.

177

Clobbered.

177- I'll go with the latter.

The old 6-4-3 trick. Gets 'em every time.

177- His fastball looks stagnant tonight.

Wow, Arizona had 8 total bases AND a walk in one inning and just got 3 runs.

Good thing Counsell swung 2-0 with the bases juiced. Helped AZ stay out of a big inning.

I love Vin, but it's a little early to be talking about the Dodgers's success (or lack of) in one run games isn't it? We have plenty of innings left for Penny to give up a three-run home run to Craig Counsell.

Back at ya!

Will someone remind Furcal it is not April anymore.

So Penny's BA now bests Kent and Furcal's...

In Penny's last start, although he did OK he was not looking good. As a matter of fact the only decriptive words that came to me at the time were wounded or injured.
I hope I'm wrong.

187 Also exactly half of Alomar Jr.'s.

Comments on the closing punctuation of 189 welcome.

Poor J.D. ...

Green robs Drew of a two-run home run. Ah, the Dodgers lead a charmed existence.

Shawn Green should be horsewhipped.

You got to be kidding me!

Hmm, I bet the finger in the burger story is really true this time.

For fairness' sake, I need to remember to mention that Furcal hit a ball 400 feet tonight - thus proving, well, that he can.

189

If you're just using a surname, you don't need to use a suffix like "Jr." Unless his father was on the team.

That's just my opinion though.

However, the original idea of "Sr." and "Jr." and "III" were to distinguish among living relatives with the same name. But sometime in the 19th Century, Americans started using the suffixes like they were monarchs or popes and people are now "IV" and "V".

Is it now okay to Boo Shawn Green?

[196] Let us hope Gagne doesn't take that same approach to his most recent rehab.

That's one of those errors that make the category less than helpful.

choi would've had that.

The lesson for today: Don't get Shawn Green mad.

OK, Brett. What did you do with Brad Penny?

199-

What, give up 400 foot fly balls, just to prove that he can?

Penny seems to be trying that particular strategy.

I'm concerned with Penny's lack of K's. Last 10IP, he's K'd only 1, while walking 4.

[204] More along the lines of throwing 96+ just to prove he can.

Thank goodness for Jeff Kent's leadership, otherwise I might have considered him an overpaid underachiever.

I was just going to point out to LAT what a great comeback Shawn Green was having, then realized his OPS was still 710.

206- It's BOB (not really, but I like BOB better than Chase whatever); the gun is juiced.

Not Dodger-related, but about that question Vinny just asked: I think the answer is Cincinatti. I had no idea Edwin Encarnacion was this good. Maybe I just haven't been paying attention.

Another random thought about Cincinatti: They seem to have a lot of farm position players that come up and succeed. Dunn, Kearns, Pena before he was traded, Lopez, and now Encarnacion. I wonder why they don't have the same success with pitching?

208
But it's 2.50 in May.

RIP, the Detroit Red Wings.

211 -- If Jim Tracy were still his manager, he would bench him until June 1.

The Pirates and Royals are a combined 1-23 on the road.

[209] Either we're playing grapevine or I'm as clear as the LA sky.

I was suggesting that Furcal trying to clear the centerfield wall just to prove he can, would be akin to Gange trying to throw heat while rehabbing his arm. The overall success of both is limited at best.

215- Ah-ha! I had a feeling I didn't get it, but it'd been so long since I'd last posted. . .

How is Jim Tracy going to put his players in a position to succeed if they have to play all those nasty road games?

so when is Flanders going to go out and get the power hitting corner outfielder that we need so badly?

Our offense is abysmal right now. And doesn't EVERYONE agree that carter and hamulack need to go?

217-

I guess he could tell them to stay home. They wouldn't be in a position to succeed, but they wouldn't really be in a position to fail either.

[217] How are you supposed to put a player in a position to succeed when they play for the Pirates?

Tracyball!

The decision to let Jim Tracy go was a tough one, but we thought it the best way to put our players in a position to succeed.

Mark Bellhorn is batting cleanup for San Diego tonight.

Shawn Green doesn't do the Oakland thing.

SC guys claiming Arroyo's an ace. "After playing all those tough AL East teams this must feel like a holiday."

Carter should fire his travel agent.

223
Jeff Kent is batting cleanup for LA tonight.

Does anyone know what happened to Eric Hull? Along with Carter and Kuo, Vegas has a third new pitcher, TJ Nall. Hull is on the disabled list, but I have no idea why. At least he can hang out with Wunsch in the broadcast booth (Wunsch, who is also disabled, has been in the booth with Langer lately, at least when I listened)

223-

the sad part is that he's better than our cleanup hitter at the moment.

Drew's OPS has dropped under .900

The Padres have another 5-run inning. They have solved the riddle of Jamey "Cy Young" Wright.

Now it's a 6-run inning.

The Padres are on fire!

7-run inning!

"N" "O" "Mar"

"N" "O" "Mar"

230-2
Old Friend Dave Roberts with a 2-run double.

"Mis" "Ter" "Hamm"

"Mis" "Ter" "Hamm"

The heart of the order coming up, Alomar and Penny. Lets go Dodgers...

Nuts!

"Al" "O" "Mar"
"Doub" "Le" "Play"

Sandy Alomar, Jr. in the hall?

I think I may be done watching Dodger baseball for like a week or so...it's almost like we try to lose.

Boy, it's fun to watch Alomar run down to first. Long-lasting fun too.

[235] If Nomar wins a World Series, will he take off his shirt?

I wonder if Repko feels the awesome responsibility of being The Last Jason Standing

242
Werth can stand, he just can't use his arm.

[232] facing lance carter must be like the elixer of confidence for a major league hitter.

241

Nomar has already posed in SI with his shirt off.

And I think you know the difference between Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain.

If you ever watch an MLS game on ESPN and Brandi Chastain is doing interviews, you would cringe. She just seems like she would be good at it. She's not at. Mia Hamm would be worse and she knows it.

Carter should fire his travel agent.

We should fire his travel agent.

FireCartersTravelAgent.blogspot.com

The home plate ump sounds not unlike a barking seal when he calls a strike.

Penny currently has a "quality start."

Ned Colletti: "Carter has big-league experience. He could get straightened out in days. Kuo could take a little longer. Most of his pitching has been rehabbing [from two Tommy John elbow reconstructions]."

That's from Ken Gurnick, by the way. And it's not a very lucid quote, in my mind.

That's from Ken Gurnick, by the way. And it's not a very lucid quote, in my mind.

Now, does the Church of Repko do potlucks, because I have some good chili recipes.

Dang it - that wasn't my cellphone's fault.

nice at-bat from repko.

253

If the Church of Repko were Catholic, it would serve pancakes for dinner. Or have fish fries.

And now see 109, and that clears it up.

Carter's Vegas debut: single, DP, K

Kuo's Vegas debut: BB, force out, BB, force out, pick off that resulted in a run scoring while getting the out

Beimel was signed to a minor league contract, right? Does that mean he can be sent back, or is he going to end up waived, next week, when Colletti recalls Carter?

I just got an uneasy vision of Delwyn Young in a Dodger uniform. . .

251-

can't we just flat out release Carter?

260 -- We don't release guys with options left! What are you thinking?

Does Furcal have any options left? Like ballet, or bowling?

257- I didn't check Dodger Math till this evening, and I see that I was cribbing regfairfield's arguments (and, much more embarrassing, even some of his language). Although he seems to be happier about the move, so it's not a complete copy and paste job.

260
Not only 261, but you can't release a guy after just trading a (reasonably) highly-rated prospect for him. It looks bad.

Beimel!

I forgot that Kent was batting .556 (5 for 9) after the Atlanta series. Since then, he's 11 for 76. Kent's slump was 4 for his last 40 entering this game.

Beimel or Ezequiel Astacio: who's uglier?

When it's Beimel turn to go back to the minors, I believe he would have to be outrighted. Beimel could turn down the assignment and become a free agent if he thinks someone else wants him.

Does Beimel like bechamel?

If Beimel can grow out his beard a little more, he should immediately earn a permanent spot in the bullpen

Izzy's coming
and the cards say

Felipe Alou figured that 8 runs surrendered were enough for Jamey Wright.

If the wheels starting come off the Jamey Wright Wagon, the house of cards that is the San Francisco Giants will collapse faster than an old levee in New Orleans.

How many metaphors in that sentence?

[245] Many an England commentator have driven me to listening to soccer with the sound off. Vin Scully for 45 minutes each way would be a dream.

Beimel sure looked good at LV.

A newly discovered problem with the Beimel/Broxton for Kuo/Carter move is that Grittle doesn't understand Beimel shouldn't be in this game.

That's funny Miltie, I'm watching Grady Little, and Forrest Gump is coming to mind.

Kuo's Vegas debut: BB, force out, BB, force out, pick off

And who says Kuo cant hold baserunners? I just find it a pretty absurd coincidence that Colletti mentioned Kuo having trouble holding runners, and in his first game he picks one off.

275
Beimel is a situational lefty. This is a situation.

273
Hey, this is America and England takes a singular verb! Don't make your collective nouns plural when you're coming over to this side of the pond.

We might have to rumble over this.

Soooo...we meet again.

The sounds of Barbra Streisand waft over the Green at-bat. "of...the...way...we...werrre"

Carter opened the Padres' floodgate.

[279] Don't make me sing your national anthem in Español.

Seth McClung, Jesus Colome, Travis Harper, Trever Miller. Who are all these people? They were members of the Tampa Bay bullpen chosen over the likes of Lance Carter and Joe Beimel in 2005. Now, the Rays pen wasn't exactly confused with the Nasty Boys of the 90 Reds. So what exactly are those two doing occupying space on the Dodger 40-man roster, much less the L.A. bullpen?

Trever Miller was briefly a Dodger.

I tried to forget him, but I actually saw him pitch.

Ugh.

Trever Miller was briefly a Dodger.

I tried to forget him, but I actually saw him pitch.

Ugh.

I wanted to make sure everyone remembered Trever Miller.

Drew's not OPSing down at .871. Nate's not around to report on his E(PA).

[279] the noun is commentator, which is singular.

Is it too early to extend Kent's contract?

And that his first name is spelled TrevEr.

Hey, guys, the plane doesn't leave until tomorrow night.

286-See, that should be the natural order of things. Once they stink it up as a Dodger, teams like the Rays should be grabbing them in a desperate attempt to fill slots in their horrific bullpen, not the other way around.

289

The subject and verb still don't agree in that sentence.

264-

it looks worse when he's on the mound.

Trever is the verb. Ex: "Lance and Danys trevered yesterday's game"

Trevor is the noun.

I think Broxton is a svelte 288.

He's got a point there D4P

273

I remember watching a documentary on the 1982 World Cup narrated by Sean Connery and during the whole thing he kept using plural verbs with country names. I was irritated. Irritated like giving a player two errors on one play.

and el toro guns him down...

DA' Bull!

298
Yes, but "releasing him" and "playing him" are not the only options.

(see: Lucille II)

Is there a reason to double-switch Kent out of the game in the middle of the eighth - considering that the pitcher's spot isn't due up for five batters, that Broxton isn't likely to pitch more than two innings, and that you don't want Oscar Robles to bat in the ninth - other than Kent having a physical problem?

If Kent were okay, I'd have left him in and chosen my pinch-hitter in the ninth, if needed, according to the situation.

Nomar, my friend, that looked like it caught plenty of the plate.

[299] Just count yourself lucky to have so much to live for. :)

That was a nice belly flop into second by Saenz.

that wasn't a slide; it was a belly-flop.

I thought Saenz might need a pinch-runner just for the trip back to the dugout.

craig counsell is the bane of my existence.

tsk, tsk. sliding to first never works.

if we don't get someone who can drive in some runs, this is going to be a very looooooooooong year.

The hot-hitters from the early part of the season (Drew, Mueller, Repko) are all cooling off.

Some people say Craig Counsell reminds them of a young Jon Weisman playing kickball.

Repko's groundout was just like Odalis' pinch-hit groundout last week. For a moment, I thought it was going through.

313 - Fielding in kickball is overrated, though.

311
We have a Proven 100-RBI guy hitting 4th and a guy who has been ordained to drive in 100 runs this year hitting 5th.

If Repko is gonna play everyday and bat 8th, one wonders if he'll keep showing the patience he had shown, or revert back to last year. I doubt he gets much to hit batting 8th. Either he'll take his walks or he'll OBP sub .300.

going to be?

316-

And we don't have a single guy on our roster who is going to hit 30HR. You really need that pop somewhere in the lineup.

And there isn't a chance Nomar drives in 100 runs this year. I'd be just about anything on that...

Now that I've switched to Anaheim, I am puzzled as to why an African-American came to have the name Howie Kendrick.

Howie Kendrick should be running a deli.

[310] Scrappy is as scrappy does.

And we don't have a single guy on our roster who is going to hit 30HR.

But this is a team effort. Together, the boys will combine for well over 30 HRs. It doesn't matter if one guy hits 30 or multiple guys combine to hit 30.

320 Howie is Swahili for "Deli Owner."

322-

are you kidding? or are you serious?

I'm sorry, but you NEED a legit power threat in your lineup. Otherwise you have what's happening right now. The only way we score is when we string two or three hits together...that's all fun and games until your guys get cold. You need one legit power threat in your lineup or you're not going to win anything.....

324 - Poor thinkblue0 ... this week has really scarred you.

I'm pretty sure D4P isn't going to be satisfied with a team total of 30 homers.

You need one legit power threat in your lineup or you're not going to win anything

That sounds like putting all our eggs in one basket. What if that power threat gets hurt, then what? Much better to have a team full of proven mediocre players each of whom does not make a disproportionately large contribution to the team's offense. That way, if they get hurt, you don't really miss them all that much and they can be replaced. But if you rely on a superstar, and he goes down to injury, you're in big trouble.

So is that 2-9 in 1-run games?

Much better to have a team full of proven mediocre players

LOL...Lofton can only light one fire at a time.

That way, if they get hurt, you don't really miss them all that much and they can be replaced. But if you rely on a superstar, and he goes down to injury, you're in big trouble.

uh, since when did I say we'd rely on one guy? All I'm saying is we need a power hitting corner OF'er to put in the middle of our lineup. That's not relying on one guy, it's ADDING to what we already have.

In other words...are you telling me you'd rather have like Cruz/Repko than Cabrera, Dunn, Carlos Lee etc etc?

325-

it's not just necessarily this week. I don't hate this team by any means, but let's face it, we need another bat there in the middle of the lineup. We've got LF open, so it stands to reason that we should be able to go out and get someone that can drive in some runs, hit a few homers, and just basically make our lineup more dangerous.

He might be saying that since the rest of the cast is all proven and mediocre, that getting 1 more hitter really wont make much of a difference.

329- D4P: still kidding, after all these tears.

332-

yeah, the difference is I'm used to the official Dodger board where people write stuff like that...but they're actually serious.

In the last three years I've seen:

1) the Red Sox win the World Series.
2) the White Sox win the World Series.
3) the Clippers win an NBA playoff series that was best of seven.

And Lawler's Law applies in Game 5!

In the last two seasons, I've seen:

[T]he best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical
naked. . .

Tough loss tonight. I pretty much missed the whole game, but that's probably a good thing. Sim program drops to 2-1. Can't believe they couldn't score with bases loaded and one out (actually I can). Did everyone enjoy the "Gringo Boycott" today? Can't say I was directly affected but the celery fields were empty and the local car wash was closed. Felt like donating my services to any business that wanted to stay open. Time for bed. vr, Xei

matt kemp has been a beast lately.

went 3-5 with a 2b, 3b and hr tonight.

hes numbers so far this season:

101AB 11doubles 2triples 4hr 9bb 17k 4SB 1CS
.337/403/604

disgusting numbers.

also miller pitched 3 innings today 1 hit 0runs 1bb 3k, first time all season. it seems they are gradually increasing his pitch count to get him back into the rotation eventually.

335 Ok, my early-season award for "Most Erudition Displayed After Another One-Run Loss" goes to...the guy who quotes "Howl."

Didn't see the game tonight but I know at least one person who is happy.

I am willing to leave Kent right where he is. There is just no way this slump is going to last much longer. Not Kent. Long slumps are for mere mortals. Furcal, I'm not so sure.

Just when I thought I was done with the NBA it lloks like it will be Lakers and Clips. Here's hoping the Clips take them in 6 or less.

Just saw the clip of Green's catch (ESPN Top Ten). Man, does he look like a white guy when he jumps.

I've put up with a lot of implausibilities in "24", but tonight, I'm just too angry.

They're showing a bar serving drinks in a hotel in California AFTER 2 AM!!

That's against the law!

Doug Mirabelli, a back-up catcher, throws out his first runner his first game back in Boston. Sheesh. Why can't we throw anyone out.

Beimel's kid was born in 1997; hence, he wears 97. Simple and straightforward, I guess.

This is random speculation, but if DePo was still at the helm, we'd probably have gone with Broxton at closer, don't you think? And couldn't one argue that spending $400,000 on Broxton at closer is better than $4,000,000 for Baez? Pure speculation, obviously, but one wonders what kind of team we could have had with logical, reasonable sabermetric analysis rather than Coletti's non-sabermetric decision-making process...

Wonder if Seo would still be on the team in DePo World??? I think so, no?

Saw "friends with Money" tonight. Nothing special. Its really a television show, if anything. Fairly self-indulgent--everyone unhappy with their own life choices and wallowing in it. Jennifer Aniston is completly unbeliveable as a housekeeper. To the extent there really is a 30 yr old white woman cleaning houses in West LA, she doesn't look like Aniston. Its a rental at best.

342

Maybe Duaner Sanchez would have been our closer?

Friends With Money?

340 I think I laughed harder at Chloe becoming charming, then tazering the guy than anything I've ever seen on television.

342 I think if DePo were offered that same trade, he'd do it in a heart beat. Sanchez, while nice, was a guy we pulled off waivers. Seo can be a league average starter while making nothing. Worst case scenario, he can do as well as Duaner did coming out of the pen.

345. Its a small Sony Pictures release. I think its destined to stay small.

It's destined to become one of those movies that men will only attend if they can make a loud sigh before it starts.

347, 348 - And comment on DT from their cellphones while seeing it? :)

Tony Jackson of the Daily News reports that Ricky Ledee went on the DL after the game and Andre Ethier was called up to replace him.

And Ethier is supposed to start in left field Tuesday.

Sounds about right. It wasn't a full Nomar, but when Ledee went down, it looked like he'd be done for a while. I was hoping for Young, so, foiled again.

it has begun.......

...

.....

.......

............mortal kombaattt!!!

dah dun dah dun, dah dun dun dun..!

In other words...are you telling me you'd rather have like Cruz/Repko than Cabrera, Dunn, Carlos Lee etc etc
Are you telling me that you want a team full of rally killers? We need guys who can play small ball and get in the pitchers head. Scott Podsednik and Juan Pierre bring a different dimension to the game. Speed and small ball wins games. Just look at the Angels. Do you really think they would have won the World Series without Darrin Erstad, Alex Ochoa, and pinch runner Chone Figgins?

Tony Jackson of the Daily News reports that Ricky Ledee went on the DL after the game and Andre Ethier was called up to replace him.
Ethier should platoon in LF with Repko

Jon, you better include something about the Clippers series win in your post tomorrow. I know there are at least 2 Clippers fans who post here (me and ToyCannon). And yes, that was an ultimatum :)

We need guys who can play small ball and get in the pitchers head. Scott Podsednik and Juan Pierre bring a different dimension to the game. Speed and small ball wins games.

yeah, if you have a dominant pitching staff. We certainly don't have that. We already HAVE the speed in Furcal and Lofton, but wouldn't it be nice to have a legit hitter to plug into the middle of the order than Repko/Cruz/whoever else.

Comments always get twisted and turned. I'm not advocating a lineup of all Adam Dunn type players...what I'm saying is that with the lineup we have now, it'd be nice to be able to plug in one legit HR threat to go along with what we already have.

How soon people forget that guys like Podsednik and Pierre also had guys like Cabrera and Konerko. Everyone loves to talk about the fact that the White Sox played small ball to win...true, but they also had the best staff in the majors AND they had guys with some pop.

That's all Im saying...keep things where they're at, just add another bat. We've got a hole in LF to plug someone, so it's not a personnel issue as far as someone losing playing time is concerned. If Bob was right, I'm looking forward to seeing Eithier tomorrow...I think the kid can be a solid major leaguer....

Thinkblue, turn on your sarcasm detector. Pretty much everyone that posts here thinks the team would be better with more power hitters, and players in their primes, rather than old guys with little power.

Miltie was just messin around.

Did anyone else notice the Choi sighting on latimes.com tonight?

http://tinyurl.com/m32lq

After some nutty "only in dc" manuevering by the Night Owl, and others, mlb officials now confirm to the Post that the Nationals will be sold to the Lerners.

http://tinyurl.com/r3zyp

Did anyone see this coming?

http://tinyurl.com/s6tte

(look at the washingtonpost.com chat list)

Is half a McCourt really an authority on anything?

Wow -- I missed that completely.

[354] hey, i am too! (a clipper fan, that is)

Well, the time difference does allow us east coasters to fill up the bottoms of these threads.

If you feel like grimacing at Frank Robinson being a jerk, this post at Capitol Punishment covers his reaction to last night's miserable throw by Majewski. http://tinyurl.com/fwv5n.

Earlier post by the same writer has an interesting observation: After an infield miscommunicaiton, both Vidro and Clayton covered second, which Majewski says startled him. Not much of an excuse or anything, but still an intersting part of the actual story of the play.