Let's hear it for Nomar, Furcal, and the bench.

What's the meaning behind 4/17?

That's the last date I checked the positional OPS stats.

https://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/351651.html

Well, good for Nomar at least. All Furcal has done is go from horrendous to merely poor.

Also, Jon's right that this is a bit deceiving. It looks like Kent has been very steady.

What's the overall team OPS for the two time periods? About the same?

Furcal in May:
.296/.367/.444 .811

He's been solid this month. He's even driven in 13 runs.

I don't get to see it, for some reason. Prime Ticket doesn't have it; instead we get Angels/Rangers in about ten minutes, with a replay of that game six hours later. Snarl.

tonight's game is on kcal, not prime ticket.

6 Right. And KCAL is a Southern California station, while I'm 2,200 miles west of there. ;)

What you need is 2,200 miles of wiring and somebody on the inside at KCAL.

I have no way of knowing this for sure but these early season weeknight games on KCAL may have more to do with the Lakers not being in the playoffs although I think at some point, the national cable network gets exclusive rights.

The one thing I like about this season's games on Fox is that you get a replay for those of us who like to stay up and watch Ethier hit it out again.

8 Well, there is a trans-pacific phone cable, I think. I don't think I know anyone at KCAL, although what with the turnover of news/sports departments out here it's not impossible. ;)

Yeah, but you probably don't want to mess around with the trans-pacific phone cable. I don't know the definiton of "wire fraud," but I'll bet that the gummint could find something to charge you with. Better to get your own cable. How much could 2,200 miles of copper wire POSSIBLY cost?

Local stations lose their rights to show NBA playoff games after the first round.

That's why you can't find the Clippers on their over-the-air station now, which is KTLA. Not that they admitted that until the playoffs. ;-)

The Ducks over-the-air station was KDOC.

I also believe KCAL WANTED to show more Dodger games than KCOP. KCOP had commitments to that sweet, sweet UPN programming. KCAL doesn't have anything that it has to show. It's really just KCBS-light now. Channels 2 and 9 share their news departments.

Anyone watching the Angels? Gameday would seem to imply that Figgins scored from first on a single.

14

That doesn't seem hard to believe when you realize that there were two outs and Garret Anderson was batting.

Any chance you could compare it to the OPS by position last year? Could be the final OPS at each position if that makes it any easier. Would be interesting to see the comparisons. vr, Xei

I predict that both the Clippers and Dodgers win by the same amount tonight. Well... I can dream can't I????? vr, Xei

15 - Sad.

16 - I could do so as easily as subbing 2005 for 2006 in each link when you open it up. But no time for that now. I've been distracted enough as it is...

I missed the earlier thread so I'll put it on this one. I hope Sam reads this. Horse racing was a very big deal for me for many years. I grew just a couple miles from Santa Anita and my dad used to take me a lot in the 1960's. It seemed like such a glorious, yet exotic place. I loved the excitement of standing at the betting lines, wondering if we would get our bets (my dad would put $2 down for me on any horse I wanted) down in time. The last two minutes before post time were an exciting race against the clock for me. This was my first experience with my life-long love of gambling.

We'd usually be in the general admission, but occasionally dad would spring for the club house. That made me feel very priveledged. The corn beef sandwiches just seemed to taste better. But the thing with the clubhouse was, you couldn't see the race that well if you wanted to actually see the horses. You were past the finish line. If you wanted to see the finish, it had to be general admission and fighting the crowds. Another fun thing would be to line up on the tunnel entrance to the track and watch the horses come out as the bugler played the traditional song. What was the name of that song?

Willie Shoemaker and Walter Blum were my my favorite Jockies then. It used to really disappoint me when people along the tunnel would boo them. Most likely because they'd lost money on them the previous race. Race track patrons will boo anyone.

After my father died I still went to the track semi-regularly all through the eighties. The last time I was really hooked was when I saw this 2-year-old filly named Landaluce run an unbelievable time in her first race, then do it again her second race. She then destroyed every horse she ran against for about 4 more races. Just when the racing world was really getting on her bandwagon, she came down with an inbfection and died a day or so later. Like that it was over. This weekend's story about Barbero reminded me of Landaluce. The only other horse that I really got excited about since then was Sunday Silence.

Then, sometime in the 90's I just lost interest in the horses. I'd watch the triple crown races and pay attention to who the best horse from the west coast was, but never cared about going out to the track. I'm not sure why. I just seemed to have moved on. Maybe because none of my friend's cares about racing and one very good friend thinks it's cruel to the horses. I don't know. I'm sure Santa Anita is still a fun place to visit. Maybe I should check it out during the Oak Tree meet.

The song the bugler plays is entitled "Call to the Post."

Hey Marty I don't know if you saw my post in the other thread, but at the risk of annoying others I will re-post. Its similiar to yours, except I was not a Shoe fan I was a Laffit fan.

Sam, I am a big racing fan although I have been on a very cold streak my last few trips to the track. Perhaps the best evidence of this was my post on DT a few hours before the Preakness:

*162. LAT
I will be very suprised if Barbaro doesn't win the Preakness easily. Only a bad trip can stop him but with such a small field that is unlikly. Brother Derrick will have a better trip then the Derby and they will finish 1-2. I would use those two on top with everyone else on the bottom of the trifecta.*

I got into horse racing because I had a 5 foot nothing, 250 lbs, cigar chomping grandfather who loved the races. Took me to Hollywood Park as a kid. I remember seeing Laffit and thought he was the greatest jock ever. I didn't care about the Shoe only Laffit. I was there when he broke the record and still have the program and a half dozen winning tickets I won't cash.

Up until last year when Hollywood Park was sold, I used to do some of their regulatory work. Compliance with the CHRB and such. In fact, the last thing I did was write an opinion letter as to whether they could bar P. Val from riding after the CHRB had reinstated him (this was before he shaved his entire body to avoid a drug test). Nakatani had convinced some of the other jocks to boycott if Hollywood Park (Churchill Downs) let him ride because P.Val was reckless and a danger to the other jocks. Yeah they were in danger alright, in danger that he was going to take their prize money. P.Val is the Steve Howe of horse racing. If he could have stayed away from the drugs he would have been one of the best to ever. I digress. Yes, I am big fan of horseracing and yes to answer your question from another thread I rely heavily on Byer figures. Any baseball fan who likes stats would have died and gone to heaven reading the past performances.

Re: 20

Is there a military origin to that bugle call, Bob? I don't see it in a list of the army's current bugle calls.

All the talk about horses reminds me of the fact that at Traveler's tomb (Robert E. Lee's horse during the Civil War) at Washington & Lee, one can find gifts of sugar, oats, and, even, on occasion, a bale of hay.

Our preoccupation with horses has much of its origins in military usages, so it's curious to see that transformed in the context of racing.

WWSH

Re: 22

Did another google search and answered my own question. Call to the Post is the same as the first call of the day to assembly the buglers for Reveille.

WWSH

BTW, not that anyone cares but they could not keep P.Val from racing. As a recovering addict is considered to have a disablity and therefore protected by the ADA. Of course, he was later suspended again for failing a drug test.

Thanks LAT, I should have mentioned that I did read your post. I liked Pincay too as well as Eddie Delahoussey (sp?). He was a specialist at coming from way off the pace.

One of my old girlfriend's had a dad who kept a small book on the side. When he died she took it over for awhile. It was great fun placing bets with your girlfriend.

"It was great fun placing bets with your girlfriend."

Man, if there were ever a greater threat to a relationship than betting on something with her holding the stakes, I can't imagine it (well, I can, but still...

25. Man no one could bring them home from off the pace like Eddie D. As Trevor Denman would say, ". . . and here comes [Delahoussey's mount] comes like an express train."

26. Depends on how Marty had to pay her back.

I'd like to see what our positional OPS was when we were at our lowest point when many posters wanted to trade all the veterans and play for next year as compared to what they are now.

26 As I said, she's an old girlfriend...

Old Friend Alert (w/SSS warning):

Dave Ross is currently OPSing 1.030.

Re: 30

Cora also had a nice bunt single tonight for the BoSox, although his OPS for the season is 606.

WWSH

31
The biggest problem with OPS is that it treats "nice bunt singles" as if they are just like any other single.

32 - That's neither the biggest problem with OPS nor a big problem.

There's a nice story on Cora on the Red Sox site that, if you can completely put aside his on-field performance, is a good read.

That's neither the biggest problem with OPS nor a big problem.

I sit corrected. The biggest problem with OPS is that it only considers on-field performance.

"a nice story on Cora on the Red Sox site"

Er, link? There's only about a thousand Red Sox sites. ;)

Frank Thomas is enjoying his visit back to Comiskey. 3-3 with 2HR's.

Er..US Cellular Field.
Think Kenny Williams likes it?

My only good horse racing story involved my future wife and Bill Shoemaker. Before she was my wife we went to Hollywood park with a bunch of my friends and bet on Bill to win the Kentucky Derby when he was racing Ferdinand. It was an exciting race and as Bill bobbed and weaved his way to victory I picked up her up in celebration. I then accidently dropped her and she landed on her back against the seats. She never let my friends know how much pain she was in and didn't cry or whine or deride me for being such a clutz. Later she whispered to me that we needed to leave and so we did. She really hurt her back and it was all my fault and she ended needing some physical therapy to solve some issues. I proposed shortly after, thinking that this was a women who I could live with. 16 years later I can only say it was a good decision.

when many posters wanted to trade all the veterans

I wouldnt mind still seeing Kent,Cruz, Bill Mueller, Brett Tomko, Kenny Lofton, and Danyz Baez dealt. Its not about this year. Its about the future.

39 Why can't it be both?

Found the Cora story.

http://tinyurl.com/ql6a7

It is good.

Anyone know why Nomar is out of the lineup tonight? Routine rest or something more heinous?

38 Nice story Toy.

39
I'm way more interested in the here and now then the future. This team can do some damage. As 40 says, we should be able to do both.

My wife is from San Antonio and is screaming at the top of her lungs as they make a comeback. She is also the biggest Clipper fan in the family. I don't think she will be able to keep it together mentally if the Clips end up playing the Spurs.

Not a good start thus far.

Rockies announcers just said a scout told them that Russel Martin has the best lateral movement that he's ever seen. Pretty nice compliment.

Boy, Hawpe and Holiday are impressive looking players. It'd be nice if we could counter with Guzman and Kemp soon.

Only 1 run. Could of been worse I guess.

If that scout saw Bench and Yeager than that is really a nice compliment.

I can't believe the Rockies announcers would say anything good about a non Rockies player.

In fairness to the Rockies announcers, they are in a position where they have to be somewhat boosterish. The Rockies have not been a very good team for much of their history and people aren't turning out to go see games in Denver as they mindlessly did in the past.

52 I can understand that, but I lived in Denver from 93-2003 and I have listened to a ton of games, and they always seemed as thought any call that wasn't in the Rockies' favor was a horrible call. It was as if the Rockies were getting hosed on a daily basis for them.

32-

The biggest problem with OPS is that it assumes that On-Base and Slugging are equally important.

Can we declare a moratorium on lame stolen base attempts?

The biggest problem with OPS is that it assumes that On-Base and Slugging are equally important.

In all seriousness, I've commented on that before too. If (in fact) OBP is (for example) 2-3 times as important than SLG, why not use a weighted OPS where more weight is placed on OBP?

55 Because it took how many decades for people to accept OPS?

53

Don't discount the factor that George Frazier is an idiot also.

57 Good point

55-

I had a feeling that topic had been beaten to death before, but I wasn't sure so I posted it up anyway.

I was under the impression there was already a weighted OPS, no? Maybe I'm imagining things.

This submariner looks pretty tough.
These damn Rocky announcers may have reason, but their homer babble is depressing, and a ball game should be festive.

Overtime in San Antonio! Dallas is going to run out of players soon.

Gallego-ed!

I'm glad I'm getting Vin today. I am starting to think, since so many times I've gotten the other team's broadcast when their announcer are simply fools, that they have the impression that fans prefer the two-man broadcast-booth. One of my students once told me that he didn't like Vin because he didn't have a partner. My problem is that invariably, with two men in the booth, they talk a lot about anything but baseball.

I'm getting very impatient with Seo.

Its tough being a third base coach with the Rockies.
You also seem to be irrelevant.
Hope Seo finds something--he hasn't had much so far.

Pinch-hit for Seo!

Comment--Boy, are the D's lucky. But little credit for the play!

It's not a good sign when your outfield defense is playing well.

I do not like the woman depicted in the Charles Schwab commercial who says she's too busy to do her 401(K) rollover.

Some people would love to have that much stress in their life.

I almost wish she would end up destitute in her fictional retirement.

69 I'm irritated when she says "I know, I know, I'm a terrible person..." It says something about society, I think, when one can feel judged morally for not taking care of one's financial well being.

How about the error by Helton--- speed creating bad defense?

Actually, these guys need at least two guys to figure out whats going on.

70 The link between speed and errors is minor at best.

speed creating bad defense?

I didn't see the play, but this lends support to my belief that hitters should get more credit for reaching via error than they do for reaching via HBP.

And, I wouldn't mind seeing the WHIP stat revised so as to include HBPs.

As long as the rule is that you get a base for HBP, it should be just as important as a walk or single, IMO.

73 Should a reach on error count in OBP, you think?

I've been reading the posts at Dodgers.com and insidethedodgers, and I've learned on thing: we need lofton in the lineup! THAT GUY IS A WINNER!!!!!!!!

74
But getting hit by a pitch is not a skill or a talent on the part of the hitter. In fact, if I understand correctly, the rulebook states that the player should try to get out of the way of the pitch if possible, and the player is called out if he intentionally leans into a pitch.

In general, if you are called out by doing something intentionally, you probably shouldn't get credit for it if it happens accidentally.

Doing a 401k rollover is about the easiest thing you can do. Anybody who's changed jobs has had to do it.

Anybody else watching on mlb.tv getting the Pink Floyd effect in the audio?

Batters are not called out if they intentionally lean in to pitch. Instead, the pitch is just called by wherever it was in relation to the strike zone. If you get hit by a pitch in the strike zone, it's a strike even if you are trying to get out of the way. Most of the time a ball is called if your Dick Dietizing it

77

Marty is not a horrible person.

79
Thanks, Bob. It has been so long since I've seen that happen that I couldn't remember what the ruling was.

Either way, the fact that you don't get credit for leaning into a pitch seems to cast serious doubt on getting credit for being hit accidentally.

I hope Mueller has a soft pillow because the bench is pretty hard.

The HBP rule is relatively new by baseball standards. It didn't come in to play until 1884. From 1872 through 1883, batters were called out if they deliberately got hit by the pitch, but they were doing that to increase the chances of a wild pitch or passsed ball.

But early batters didn't have to worry about getting by a pitch too often because they were able to ask for pitches to be delivered in a particular area for them to hit. So it wasn't like the pitcher had any reason to try to work inside to intimidate a batter.

"...they were able to ask for pitches to be delivered in a particular area for them to hit."

Can you explain the procedure and the logic?

81-

Some players do get HBP more than others though, correct? It's not entirely an accidental stat. Anyway, whether it is accidental or not, it should count toward OBP, as long as it gives the same results the other things do. Walking is not independent, either. Sure, some hitters are more patient, but that doesn't control whether or not pitchers want to throw you strikes.

As long as baseball rewards you for being hit, it should positively effect your OBP stat. I suppose I don't see any reason why reaching on errors shouldn't count to that stat either, though.

Craig Biggio is probably a HOFer, and one of the reasons he's such a great player is that he gets on-base, and HBPs have been a big part of that for his career.

84 Baseball was originally envisioned as a show down between the hitter and the defense. The pitcher was just a convienient way to get the ball to the hitter.

If they bring in Odalis Perez to pitch to Helton I'm going to scream. He can not get Helton out.

85
Yeah, it seems like your logic for including HBPs also supports the inclusion of reaching by error. Or, even striking out and reaching on a passed ball.

Raffy should have let that hit him... to improve his OBP.

Seems to me that in a typical season, the league-leading batter in HBP has been plunked more than the No. 1 headhunter pitcher has plunked batters.
What this means, I dunno.

86

The batter would come up and say that he wanted a high or low pitch. And he would just wait for one to not only be in that hitting area, but he would also wait for the pitch to be inside or outside too.

Pitchers would be tossing the ball up 20-30 times to some guys before they got pitches they liked. And with foul balls not being counted as strikes, you could see a Matt Clement vs. Alex Cora at bat every day!

88-

I might be being too literal. I guess, what I'm trying to say, is if you're going to call your statistic on-base percentage, it should show improve every time you reach base, however that might be. Including striking out and running to first, I guess.

Hayden Penn was called up over the weekend by the Orioles to make his first major league start of the year on Tuesday. With the worst timing possible, he had an emergency appendectomy today

70 For about a month now, its been driving me crazy who the voice of that woman is. I recognize it but can't figure out how I know it. Anyone know?

92- Argh, "show improve"?

In 2004, Bronson Arroyo led the AL with 20 batters hit, while Travis Hafner and Kevin Millar led in times hit with 17.

I think a batter might lead more often, but I don't think it's by a large margin.

Randy Winn drives in go ahead run in SF. I hate that guy. I don't even have a good reason I just do.

97

You hate Randy Winn because he was a mediocre player for his entire career until he joined the Giants and then started to hit really well.

It's very irritating when that happens.

I walk in, turn on the Dodger game, first pitch, Kent rbi double, nice

93 - Aw, that's a shame.

97. Bob, I believe you hit the nail on the head.

For those of you caring about the race for first, the third team in our story tonight, Arizona, is tied with Pittsburgh 1-1 in the 8th.

A Jason Bay homer and a Luis Gonzalez RBI bunt single with 2 outs account for the scoring.

101

Take solace that there have been a few mediocre pitchers who saw their careers turned around once they joined the Dodgers, mainly because they benefited from pitching in a much friendlier environment for moundsmen.

93 - History's quadruple-A superstars all have stories like that.

Broxton is warming up in the pen.

102 - I can't help but be surprised that Jamey Wright and the Giants are leading the Cardinals, 3-1 after 5 1/2 innings.

Is something wrong with Lofton?
I'm trying to be serious, and I know Loftons not a great option, but if we are just resting a hot Garc and a hot Lofton,it says something. Specifically, two hot players can make a difference in a game, so this game is not important, but we want people rested for later in the season.
Interesting, and I can''t judge it either way.

102 - Almost all the fans at that game wish they were watching the other game, the one going on two blocks to the west.

104

That should be a lesson to all of you budding baseball stars. Go ask your doctor for a prophylactic appendectomy.

I'm sure your insurance will cover it.

Seo is batting with two on, two out in the bottom of the sixth. He has thrown 74 pitches - but I only like this move if he can go at least two more innings.

106 - Lofton could play in an emergency but isn't 100 percent.

110 Thanx. That makes more sense.

dodgers.com has a hochevar article up.

hochevar is asking for 4 million is what i am getting from the article.

they havent talked since spring training. COME ON GUYS!

Showing I'm:
1. Old
2. Geeky
The word "prophylactic" can't help but remind me of an early-80s SNL sketch - the galactic prophylactic - "It can stop bullets!"
http://snltranscripts.jt.org/82/82apopeil.phtml

Good lord, Peavy has 16 strikeouts through 7 innings.

114 - Holy moley. That has to be the ML high for the year.

And he's losing!

Seo seems to have found some of whatever "command" is. When he recovered from his weak beginning I wondered if it was just good luck. We may get that two good innings.

"Prophylactic" was a brand name for tooth brushes in the past.

http://tinyurl.com/jztw4

I remember my mom telling me to go pick one up at a drug store and I gave her a very odd look as I was wondering just what she meant.

And I was also in the middle of that part of health class in high school that you needed a permission slip for.

If I'm not mistaken (watching on Gameday), Jeromy Burnitz just dropped a fly ball to allow the go-ahead run to score in beautiful downtown Phoenix.

The DBacks have gone ahead 2-1 on a sac fly by Orlando Hudson.

Unfortunately, "old friend" Jeromy Burnitz dropped the fly ball, so the bases are loaded with one out.

Sorry, it's first and third.

And 2 outs now.

Az goes ahead of Pitt on Bernitz error

Another E makes it 4-2

Sorry 4-1

I suspect you guys are scoreboard watching for a different reason than I am.

In Phoenix, that's an E1 for another two runs.

"It's an error." (slap)
"It's a sacrifice fly." (slap)
"It's an error." (slap)
"It's a sacrifice fly." (slap)

"Don't you understand, Jake, it's an error and a sacrifice fly!"

Say what you want about Tracy but he really has a bad team. The greatest manager in the world couldn't help these guys

Bun Yun has good sneaky stuff. definitely "underhanded.

128 - (snort)
"Forget it, Jake. It's Chase Field."

Whenever I think the Rockies might compete, I think of Scott Dohmann, and I feel better.

The Pirates are 4-19 on the road.

And the Royals are even worse at 2-20.

129. I think the general consensus around here is that Tracy's only as good as the talent available to him, no better, and possibly worse. But ya, Pittsburgh is a mess, kind of a NL version of KC.

"Doh!"mann is really falling apart here control-wise.

133
To be fair, every one of those road games was played on the opponents' home turf, which gave the opponents a distinct advantage.

Joe Starkey of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review has given Tracy the nickname, "Don't Blame Him Jim."

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/pirates/s_454991.html

129 - He has a bad team, but 1) it's partly of his own design and 2) the greatest manager in the world certainly could help these guys. Maybe not to a title, but more than this, I suspect.

Sonny and Cher. Bert and Ernie. Tracy and the Pirates.

The rare E-SF makes for a knotty problem of OBP figuring.

Some formulas (most of them in fact) add sac flies in to the denominator. Some don't.

Then we have the camp that wants to give credit for reaching on an error.

I feel like watching a big, crazy inning right now.

136. I think thats smarter than anything Plascke or Simers has ever written.

He did take Craig Wilson out with the game on the line so Jose Hernandez could bunt.

Martin walks Drew, you heard it here first.

Ah heck, give him two errors on the play, Bob.

Hernandez was brought back because Tracy wanted him. Criticism of Hernandez would imply that Tracy messed up, and we all know that Don't Blame Him Jim never messes up.

That's basically it in a nutshell.

Meanwhile, Scott Doughman makes me chuckle. Good memories of George Frazier extolling the virtues of the Rocky bullpen come back to me.

Bases loaded, no outs for Pitt in the ninth.

The 1916 Philadelphia A's were 13-64 on the road, which is .169. That's the AL's worst single season road record.

The 1935 Boston Braves were 13-65 (.167). That's the worst in the NL since the adoption of at least a 154-game schedule.

The 1899 Cleveland Spiders were 11-101 (.098) for the alltime worst. But they were so bad that they had to play most of the second half of their season on the road.

Now 1st and 2nd, 1 out, Pirates down 4-3

Cota, de Caster, Edwards, or Hernandez. What do you do?! What do you do!?

Shoot the hostage.

143

BOOOOO

136 - Ooh, that's beautiful.

Not that I wish the Padres weren't losing, but it's a shame they had to picth hit for Peavy in the 7th when he already had 16 Ks.

Wow, nice play.

146. if any one in the record books deserves an asterisk, its the cleveland spiders. they werent even trying to compete.

Jon, thanks for linking the Dodgers v. Hartford complaint. Bob, thanks for offering to send it. I have had a number of cases with Andy Lundberg. Good lawyer, nice guy. I will be following this one.

IBB, to pitch to Aybar? Ohhh-kay.

I guess everyone here is Tivo-ing 24?

146 - Did Cleveland have any players named Boris?

156 - Or Clippers-Suns.

156

Don't tell me what happened in "24" or else MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WILL DIE!!!!

Does Kaman have body stripes on his right shoulder?

157 - Did the Toronto Blue Jays have Pictures of Ted Lilly?

Clint Hurdle has always been underrated as a crappy manager.

Sweet!

Pujlos coming up with man on first and 2 outs. I wouldn't pitch to him

160 - It's residue from the tape that holds on the ice packs between games.

Just another walk for Aybar...with the bases loaded.

162- LOL

156 -

Don't worry Bob. I'm taping it now and will watch it later tonight.

156 -

Don't worry Bob. I'm taping it now and will watch it later tonight.

Looks like the Suns got their legs back after those four days of rest. It's been two months since PHX had that much time between games.

And the Great Albert Pujols grounds out.

Jamey Wright going right at Pujlos and got him to ground out. BB leads off bottom of the 8th.

While Robinson and Tracy and Baker win their hard-earned opprobrium, Clint Hurdle plods along in the obscurity of his mile-high job, bunting at stupid times, running himself out of countless innings, leaving middle relievers in to self-combust, letting Aaron Miles on to a baseball diamond. The man really deserves his due.

I think Mark over at Bad Altitude gives Hurdle his due.

BB draws a BB

Piazza goes deep and it's now 2-1 ATL.

It's time for that rock solid Atlanta bullpen to nail it down!

did Broxton just throw a 91 mph breaking ball?

Chris Reitsma is an eighth inning pitcher, not a ninth inning pitcher.

Eleven 3-pointers for the Suns.

177

broxton just threw a 91 mph slider.

wow.

179 - That's the Phoenix Suns, not the Jacksonville Suns.

So now, Little has done what I feared. Let Seo hit in the bottom of the sixth with two on - then take him out after one more inning. 84 pitches, facing the minimum (12 batters) over his final four innings. I love Broxton, but that doesn't make any sense to me. Either put Broxton in in the seventh, or let Seo run with it.

Gameday is frozen.

Top relief pitchers in the majors from Canada.

1. Eric Gagne (even if he's injured)
2. Ryan Dempster
3. There's got to be somebody else
4. See 3
5. See 5
6. Chris Reitsma

Perhaps proving closers are overrated if ATL can win 14 straight divisions without really every having a dominant closer for an extended period of time?

184

Sorry for the endless loop there.

172. Hurdle blames the altitude, Tracy blames everyone else, Baker blames his pitchers, and Robinson hasnt really had an owner or fan base to answer to. But they all know how to put players in a position to succeed, thankfully.

184
10 RUN
20 GOTO 10

Is Charlie Steiner drunk, or did Nomar actually come in to play defense that inning?

Steiner also ended the last inning by saying, "No runs, on four walks, the Dodgers leave three and score a run" or something like that - no runs and one run. I think he's nipping at Monday's whiskey flask.

Especially considering Broxton went two in a blowout yesterday.

184

After reading #5, I feel like I'm stuck in an infinite loop.

185 Wasn't Smoltz a dominant closer for a period of time, before going back to starting?

Maybe tonight they should have had Smoltz come in and relieve himself.

Wait, that came out wrong. Uhm...

I apologize for the infinite loop.

Cortes the Killer pitching for the Rockies.

Re 193, see 186

192

LOL

I forgot all about Smoltz; I was stuck on the glory years of Wohlers and Rocker.

182. He needed to make a double switch after pinch running for Saenz, he couldnt help himself.

190 - He only threw 24 pitches Sunday.

Broxtons going to make a good closer next year.

188
I think that was the first program I wrote on my Apple IIc in 1984

So is it more of a reflection of the great strides Nomar has made at 1B or an indictment of Saenz's defense that Nomar comes in as a defensive replacement?

In 1991, when the Braves began their run, their closer was... ex-Dodger Alejandro Pena. Which still irks me.

184 Past and present? If so, Paul Quantrill should be up there.

200

I think that is the only program I was ever able to write.

184 He's not pitching any longer, but recently retired Paul Quantrill (born in Ontario) would be up high on that canadian relievers list...

Is it me or do they never show Mia Hamm at the games. Anyone know why?

Nomar came in to play first primarily because Robles ran for Saenz and they needed someone to play first or else all the throws from the infielders would end up in the dugout.

Chipper goes deep. 3-1 ATL. Somehow I suspect ATL will need that insurance run.

206 - Maybe she never goes?

206

She may not go to the games. Or she may sit in a suite. Or she may not want to be on camera.

For all the endorsements Mia Hamm does, she is very shy.

205 Heh, beat you by 20 seconds...

Nomar - early, early season favorite for NL Comeback Player of the Year?

Btw, if Jamey Wright can be a "dominant" starter this year, then I don't see why Aaron Sele can't be successful now either. Since we've obviously entered a weird sort of parallel universe, or they've both sipped from the same magic water fountain...

212 - Good a candidate as any. Plus, he has ECB (East Coast bias) working in his favor!

211 D'oh, curse these slow fingers!

212 Easily. By far. Followed by the Giants J. Wright. Heh.

213

From what I saw watching Wright earlier this evening and watching Sele this year, Wright's stuff looks much better than Sele.

loneys hitting for extra bases, double and triple today.

And Guzman with two walks!

213 - Ponce de Leon has nothing on those two.
Anyone seen Ponce's statue in St. Augustine, Fla.? With his gut, he cuts quite a, uh, figure.
"I claim this land for God, King and Queen... Hey, is the buffet up yet?"

Drew comes out to Iron Man?

drew just came out to IRON MAN.

how ironic.

213. If Jose Lima can win 13 games in Dodger stadium, Sele might be okay. Im still skeptical, though, .235 BABIP and all.

We've gone from Satio City to Beimelville. Hamuland is right up ahead, and Carter Country is not out of sight.

His stuff does look pretty good. Sele's had good control, though, for the most part. Both of them have been surprisingly solid (so far).

Meanwhile, the Rockies' bullpen tonight looks like ours did a few weeks ago.

219 220 - Haw!

The Dodgers won two World Series with Peña on the roster (1981 and 1988). He didn't exactly have a happy ending in the 1991 World Series, but he did rejoin the Braves in time to play in the 1995 World Series.

And look who the Dodgers got in exchange for Peña: Juan Samuel!

I'm going to Boston tomorrow and I checked on tickets for NY vs BOS, but I didn't feel like spending $300 for standing room only seats.

My brother: "People are waiting outside of the Yankees hotel waiting to heckle Damon."

Me: "Don't they have to work or have anything better to do?"

My brother: "Did you forget this is Boston?"

Is anyone surprised Bochy took Jake Peavy out of the game? He had 16ks in 7ip. Thats really close to making baseball history. He had thrown 114 pitches.

225 - In the 1988 World Series, Peña was the forgotten winner of Game 1.

Speaking of early season award speculation, I was pondering this weekend who the Dodger All Star will be. (I doubt if there will be two Dodgers). Nomar comes to mind, but Pujols will beat him in the fan's vote. Who else is there?

Sweeney just misses a Grand Slam in SF and ends up with a single?????

Guzman seems to take walks in bunches, he'll walk 4 times in 3 games and then not take another walk for a week.

I hear you need a trail rated vehicle once you leave Saito City.

How close was Kent's F8 to going out?

Marty will like this.

Yesterday i was driving in an unknown part of Tucson I have never been through before and I came across a resturant named Furris'.

all i could think about was little furries with knee high socks and chipmunk complexion faces slapping baseballs.

229

Penny possible; Nomar could be a reserve.

Suns up by 19 with 9:04 remaining.

227 - They were losing and had a man on base when they pinch hit for him. So, I wasn't surprised.

Holy crap, Chris Reitsma got the save and Atlanta wins!

Oh doctor! Holy Toledo! Etc.

233 - caught at the wall

236 - Billy Crystal is bummed.

ATL 3 - 1. FINAL.

Clips can't rebound tonight.

Yeah, I agree, right now I think it will be Nomar as a reserve and Penny (if they were choosing today, of course).

Omar goes deep for SF. Yes Omar Vizquel! 9-1 SF in the 8th. Not even the Great Albert Pujols can hit a 9 run homer.

The best left handed relief pitcher in baseball gives up single.

242 - If the Clips can't rebound against the Suns, they can't beat the Suns.

The Rox with 3 GIDP, and 2 men thrown out at the plate. Safe to say its not their nite.

242

No, the Clippers have a Plaschkean "heart" deficit.

That is the only reason why they are losing.

Didn't you get the memo?

245

He only said best left-handed setup man in the NL I believe.

Fourteen 3s for the Suns - a Game 7 record.

Yikes, what I said above about Colorado's bp tonight, ditto the Cardinals'.

247
Unless we see Lance Carter warming up

BLH (best left hander) gives up double

We win!

253 Not a good game for BLH's WHIP.

1/2 game out of first. Without getting at all cocky about it: nice.

Dodgers Win! Dodgers Win!

Now it's time to see how Jack Bauer saves the world.

I wish TV shows did cross-over cameos like they used to do in the 70s. If it wasn't on two diff. networks, it would be great if Jack Bauer could show up on "Lost" island.

Aybar's career OPS is now .956 in 114AB's.
Broxton has a 0.82 ERA.
Cruz is hitting .238 with minimal power, and yet pitchers still wont throw him strikes.

256

And on the flip side; only 2 games from last!

On May 18, the Padres were in first by themselves.

On May 22, the Padres are in fifth by themselves.

While the announcers hardly mentioned his name once, I assumed the lefty was Biemel, who can be effective.
Another win. However, everything is going our way, and a hope we can continue winning when it isn't.

How about our "best left-specialist in the league" Beimel? Two lefties get hits, two righties get out.

Heavyweight champeens of MLB!

260 Oh sure, be a "standings are half empty" kind of person. I prefer the Pollyanna-ish outlook.

The NL West really is a carousel this season. Whoever's in position when the music stops wins.

Night all!

Giants fans are restless as Benitez gives up three straight hits. Not even Benitez can blow an eight run lead.

If Broxton can't go three innings in two days, he's not very useful to anyone anyway.

265 LOL

And Benitz preserves the lead and the Giants win, 9-2.

264 - Please explain to me the "heavyweight championship." At work today, I wasted at least 10 minutes looking for an explanation.

265 - Musical chairs, perhaps?

The Suns layup pracitce and the Clippers season is almost over. I can safely say I won't be watching much of the Western Conference finals with Mark Cuban, Steve Nash, Raja Bell and Amara Stoudamire's teams in them. I can't stand looking at the mugs of those people. I'm sure I'll get over it one day soon. :) vr, Xei

271. For the second season in a row, I find myself without a team I dont hate in either conference finals.

Wasn't Cassell supposed to own Game 7s? Sam I Am has 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting.

Explanation for heavyweight championship: Go to https://catfishstew.baseballtoaster.com/ and look at his sidebar.

If the Clippers were pure of heart like Phoenix, they would have won.

Sam did nothing. Only Brand showed up and Livingston put on a little show when the game was out of reach. The Clippers will be back in the playoffs next year. I'd consider this a successful season.

259.

Cruz should not be allowed at the ball park with a right hander on the mound, in fact, I'd take Kenny at "Saenz speed" over Cruz at "Cruz speed" vr. a righty.

An inglorious run to a glorious season. It may never get any better then this for the Clippers but it was a nice ride.

Broxton is the best relief pitcher in baseball whose 1st name starts with a "B" and ends with an "E" and who weighs over 250 pounds. Hopefully GoBears will not force me conjure up any statistical analysis to prove my point.

278 I don't think Broxton qualifies in that category.

Ah, a generally good evening of TV viewing. Dodgers win, Mavs win, and even ALIAS managed a surprisingly effective series finale.

280Glad that goof was at the end of a thread:)

Checked out the Vero Beach box score tonight and noticed several things. The good news is that 20 year old Carlos Santana hit his 3rd home run in 2 games. The bad news is that Dewitt played 3b and Denker played 2nd so I'm wondering if the switch has been called off. Denker continues to struggle at High A and the luster from his Low A 2005 season is fading fast. Dewitt has seen his average plummet 50 points in the last couple of weeks.

A good weekend of killer offense and the Dodgers lead the NL in runs scored and OBP as you all know. But more important for my financial well-being and ego, two straight games with no earned runs puts the Dodgers in 2nd in era in the NL. I took a boastful leap of faith when a friend of mine was putting down the pitching staff of the Dodgers a couple of days before the season started. I bet him $10 that the Dodgers would win the NL ERA title. Probably stupid, but so far it looks good. While it makes me sick to see the Giants ever win a single game, their 9 runs against the Cards last night also moved us that much closer to first.

Go ahead and ask ESPN's Rob Neyer a question - he's doing a live chat over there right now (9am-10am pst)

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=11775

I would but... I really don't have anything to ask him.

282 - I hope you got odds on that bet.

Andy LaRoche tops the position players in BA hot prospect sheet.
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/features/261352.html

4. Andy LaRoche, 3b, Dodgers (Double-A Jacksonville)
It was only a matter of time before LaRoche started to heat up, like the weather. After hitting just .226 with five extra-base hits through April, LaRoche turned it up last week, hitting .400 (10-for-25) with three bombs.

woo - russ martin projection by john sickels...opinions?

http://www.minorleagueball.com/

Speaking of opinions, and ESPN, they're having a fun little poll on each baseball franchise's worst blunder. Vote here:
http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/polling?event_id=2185
And here's the Dodgers finalists:

7) What's the biggest blunder in Dodgers franchise history?

- 1982-1991: Lasorda overworking Valenzuela, Hershiser, and R. Martinez
All of them had Hall of Fame talent (or close) and all struggled after years of Lasorda's innings.

- 1990: Signing free agent Darryl Strawberry to five-year deal
Strawberry lasted only three seasons before being released.

- 1991: Trading John Wetteland and Tim Belcher to Reds for Eric Davis and Kip Gross
Both Wetteland and Belcher were better, alone, than Davis and Gross together.

- 1993: Trading Pedro Martinez for Delino DeShields
Everybody in Montreal considered the deal a salary dump. . .

- 2000: Signing Darren Dreifort for five years and $55 million
In the five seasons of the deal, Dreifort went 9-15.

The '93 trade is the most famously stupid personnel move but that '91 trade seems pretty atrocious, too. Not as ultimately damaging, perhaps, but having Wetteland in those years would have been nice.

287

Just reading those gives me a headache, backache, earache, runny nose, and I think my pancreas and gall bladder are acting up too.

286 Waaah, the thought of Russ playing for the Devil Rays later in his career made me depressed for some reason. But the projected numbers look pretty fair to me overall.

286 I really don't know how he projected his numbers, but I suppose they seem fair. I think he'll bat closer to .300 several times and have a good OBP.

286 towerofpower

I think those Martin projections make as much sense as signing Dreifort for five years and $55 million. 287

Dodger rumors

article database on all mlb teams, pretty nifty. From the articles, looks like a hovechar signing is becoming less of a possibility.

http://www.prosportsdaily.com/mlb/dodgers/rumors.html

per the rumors of a trade with the marlins:

do you really think we would give up a guzman kemp or martin for a shot at cabrera or willis or both? we would have to give alot up. i think with billz in the chamber i would rather hold onto either aybar guzman kemp laroch?? what is the concensus here

294 Nothing's impossible I suppose but I wouldn't give much credence to anything a NY Post columnist has to say on the matter. Rumors are just that.

I particularly don't see Russ Martin going anywhere, even for Cabrera.

I would think that Martin and probably Billingsley are untouchable.

294-

yeah, now that I see how well Martin is doing I'm hesitant to give him up. We gotta remember though that we're talking about Miguel Cabrera here. A top ten hitter in the league.

If we could figure out a way to make Guzman the center piece and not have to give up Bills or Kemp I'd give up just about anyone to get Cabrera. Imagine maybe even next year an OF of Cabrera, Kemp, Drew....wow.

294 Whatever the Marlins want for Miguel Cabrera, within reason, we need to give them. I would gladly give them any two players in the minors. This is a guy who is 23 and is one of the best players in baseball. He should be completely untradeable and if he is obtainable we need to do whatever it takes.

Saw and enjoyed the racetrack reminiscences. Man, haven't thought about those hot corned beef sandwiches in a long time. I gotta make sure I properly corrupt my kids while there's still time!

Went to the Nationals game last night. Man they are bad. Zach Day could not find the strike zone and boom now he's on the DL. I just gotta wonder how much the Robinson/Bowden "real men" shtick compelled Day to try and pitch w/o telling folks he was hurt. And the outfielder they brought up when they sent Church down to AA last weekend is already on the DL.

I sat in front of a fellow who was in for business from San Fran and snuck out to the game by himself. He said it was a joy to go to a ballgame and just watch the action with no Bonds-related discussions/distractions.

298 has it right. We're talking about Miguel Cabrera here.

I know there's a lot of vitriol to be worked out, and I know that there's supposed to be no such thing as a pitching prospect, but I am amazed the finances don't dictate signing Hochevar, even at $4 million. We are paying Odalis Perez $9.5 million and more to come. We are paying Danys Baez $4.0 million and likely more. With the market what it is, pitching comes at an ungodly price in dollars/draft picks or prospects. When you strike young pitcher gold, it pays off for years of really cheap service until the latter years of arbitration. Hochevar's not a sure thing, but he's been pitching a long time and still seems to be impressing. How can it be reasonable to walk away from that?

Hmmm . . . do we know anyone in Topeka?

Topeka, Kan.: A few chats ago you commented on the coincidence that the only 2 MLB players named Marlon both play for the Nats. Here are a couple more: The only two MLB players ever named Mariano, Ducan and Rivera, both played for the Yankees at one time. And the only two managers with double zz's in their names (Mazzilli, Perlozzo) managed consecutively in Baltimore.

Dave Sheinin: Wow, Topeka. That's... um... fascinating. Keep up the good work.

www.washingtonpost.com, look for the baseball chat at the bottom of the screen.

298.300. I totally agree. Cabrera's comparable players reads like a list of the greatest righthanded hitters of all time. Navarro should mean Martin doesnt have to be traded and LaRoche is an obvious choice since he's an elite 3B prospect and the Marlins will need one with Cabrera gone.

What, no one's preparing their questions for the Penguin? Ron Cey will be on Dodgers.com chat in a matter of minutes...

Ask him what player today most resembles or reminds him of himself... I can't think of one, though I guess Kent has a similar 'stache.

301 - That's a very good question, Sam. I think Colletti's answer would be that the other guys paid their dues and earned their money and Hochevar has not. I'm not sure that's the most sophisticated way to look at it.

It'll be interesting to see, for example, whether money turns out to be better spent on Jeff Kent for 2007 than it would have been on Hochevar.

302

Washington, D.C.: Here's an oddball question for you. Where does the term "rubber game" or "rubber match" come from? I told someone I was going to the rubber match between the Nat's and O's on Sunday, and he asked me what that meant and the origin. I know the meaning, but I don't know the origin.

Dave Sheinin: I honestly don't know. Anybody? (And keep it clean, if you know what I'm saying.)

Really? I know Bridge has gone out of style, but does no one know that term?

303-

Guzman, Laroche, Navarro and maybe another lower level prospect for Cabrera? Could something like that get it done?

I should have read to the end of the chat. You learn something new every day!

Keep reading Huma, they pull out reference books and come up with a big whopping "no one knows" later in the chat. Some funny cracks at Robinson, Bowden too, for your trouble.

Coletti's playing poker. Boras will fold! /end optimism.

310 Crazy, possibly dumb, question:

How far down does Hochevar have to fall before it's in the Dodgers' interest to draft him again? Wouldn't that play into the Dodgers' hand just a little -- "Hey, we made a fair offer. It stands. Accept it or sit out ANOTHER year."

I warned you it was a dumb question.

311 - I don't have the answer, but I don't think it's a dumb question.

Hope you all were productive during the quiet DT morning. New post up top.

298
Completely agree. Top 10 hitter now at the age of 23, if he is available you do whatever it takes to get him and keep him from some other franchise.

301
Ned was quoted in the Daily news today saying that he's only interested in players who want to play baseball and not players where money is number one or something to that extent. Sounded like he was directing this at Hochevar. If we don't sign Luke I'll be rooting for a blown out arm. I'm not normally vindictive and the last time I actually rooted for a pitcher to blow out his arm or completely suck was Ben Christianson. Obviously Luke's karma won't be as bad as his since his only crime was to diss the Dodgers as oppossed to ruining a young mans life.

Matt Kemp has some baggage of his own that I've never seen discussed here. I would expect that other then Nate and Sanchez no one knows about this story but it probably should be discussed. It came up on John Sickels site after BA did a chat and mentioned his makeup and referred everyone to an old basketball teammate. We thought he'd gotten into a fight with said roommate but the reality was much worse.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/news/2002/01/25/duke_recruit/

He was never convicted of doing anything but just the same this was disturbing to me and maybe only me.

310
I think Boras would fold like last year if he didn't think Luke was in a good position in the current draft but it looks like he'll go top ten because of the pathetic daft this year and get more then the Dodgers have been offering.

314 - Comparing Hochevar on any level to a guy who beaned an on-deck hitter seems like a remarkably hostile reaction. The worst Hochevar has done is 1) ask for a lot of money and 2) have second thoughts about settling for less.

I won't necesarily root for him in another uniform, but those things don't come close to being crimes. They may ultimately self-defeating acts, but they're otherwise victimless.

The Kemp thing could be more disturbing, but considering this is a four-year-old story and I assume that no arrests were ever made, it doesn't seem fair to hold it against him. Obviously, if I were personally acquainted with the events, I might feel differently.

are guzman and laroche really expendible? it seems we have so much invested in them