Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
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1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
9) typing "no-hitter" or "perfect game" to describe either in progress
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with
Since the year 2000, Scott Erickson has pitched for five major league teams and compiled the following record: 79 games (58 starts), 347 innings, 247 earned runs, 620 baserunners, 51 home runs, 141 strikeouts, 6.41 ERA.
In his best season of the century, Erickson had a 5.55 ERA compared to a league average of 4.38, for a park-adjusted ERA+ of 79.
Talk about the guest who wouldn't leave. You may know me as something of a bleeding heart, but it's hard to feel too bad for someone who has had such a long, sloppy goodbye.
The New York Yankees designated Erickson for assignment Sunday. Maybe, just maybe, this is it.
* * *
Members of the Big Blue Wrecking Crew, another place to chat about the Dodgers, have kindly invited Dodger Thoughts readers to join them for a get-together at the Dodgers-Nationals game July 28. Click here for details. Since I've proven incapable of planning such an activity - though someday, I hope to do it - it might be a nice place for all of you to meet up.
Wished that I had thought of it.
https://griddle.baseballtoaster.com/archives/364416.html
i think if erickson stops pitching, the world will end.
Arguably on topic as pre-read for the meetup game on July 28th, Tom Boswell has a really nice column out today on the Nationals' two out-of-nowhere rookie pitchers this season. Except for the line about Frank Robinson, it is a very good piece.
http://tinyurl.com/jda7g
You folks don't want to see me at a Nats game anyway. I'd be swearing too much.
----------
MATT KEMP FACTS
1. Matt Kemp is 101 feet tall.
2. Matt Kemp ate Jonathan Broxton for breakfast and still lapped Carl Lewis in a footrace.
3. Matt Kemp invented Flubber.
4. Matt Kemp has been toying around with a slider in the bullpen that is almost game-ready.
5. Matt Kemp goes to 11.
6. New York's second-largest city was named Buffalo in honor of Matt Kemp.
7. Matt Kemp knows how to hit types of pitches that don't yet exist.
8. Matt Kemp is so popular that Bob Dole tabbed him as running mate to get more electoral votes in the South.
9. Matt Kemp guided Lewis and Clark to the Pacific while carrying a toddler on his back.
10. Matt Kemp is such a good outfielder that the infield fly rule applies to him.
11. Matt Kemp's the guy who got the building inspector to finally greenlight Carmela's house.
12. Even Todd Jones wants to sleep with Matt Kemp.
13. Matt Kemp gets 43 mpg/highway, 39/city.
14. When Matt Kemp was born, wise men brought gifts of frankincense and myrrh.
15. Matt Kemp knows what Bill Murray whispered at the end of "Lost in Translation."
16. Matt Kemp broke all of Wilt Chamberlain's records, both on and off the court.
17. Matt Kemp dragged Edmund Hillary's lazy butt all the way up Everest. Without oxygen.
18. Matt Kemp doesn't need to punch the opposing manager. He can just Jedi Mind Trick him.
19. Matt Kemp provides free housing for the descendants of all the people who were kicked out of Chavez Ravine in the 1950s.
20. Matt Kemp doesn't quote the Bible. The Bible quotes Matt Kemp.
21. Matt Kemp is not a 5-tool player. He's a 5,953-tool player.
22. Bruce Springsteen's next album, to be released on August 3, is called "The Matt Kemp Sessions."
23. Roberto Clemente wishes he could throw like Matt Kemp.
24. Matt Kemp's wallet says "Bad Mother F**r."
25. Matt Kemp is the first baseball player to win two Gold Gloves in one year.
26. Matt Kemp wrote "Visions of Johanna."
27. You know that radar gun Mike Brito's got? It's for measuring Matt Kemp's footspeed.
28. Matt Kemp taught Tom Emanski the fundamentals of baseball.
29. Matt Kemp was asked to play Woodstock during the summer of '69, but he had to decline because he was busy landing on the moon.
30. Baseball America rates Matt Kemp as the best farm system in baseball. The Dodgers are second and the Angels are third.
31. When Ally Sheedy broke up with Johnny Number 5, she started dating Matt Kemp.
32. Matt Kemp is now wearing #24 because #27 had to be retired for him.
33. Matt Kemp made Billy Beane realize we ARE selling jeans here.
34. Matt Kemp is so fast he once caught a home run that he hit.
35. If you follow the two pointer stars in the Big Dipper, they will point you to the constellation Matt Kemp.
36. The new phone number for Dodger season tickets is 866-MATT-KEMP.
37. Matt Kemp invented the "Jump to Conclusions" mat.
38. Matt Kemp saved Dr. Frank Jobe's career by performing Tommy John surgery on him.
39. Canada created a National Park as a memorial to all the catchers who died in home plate collisions with Matt Kemp. ( http://tinyurl.com/b3nhd )
40. Matt Kemp knows what Thomas Pynchon looks like.
41. Matt Kemp doesn't need to be on the All-Star ballot because, well, some things are just understood.
42. Matt Kemp knows all the lyrics to "We Didn't Start the Fire."
43. In fact, he's in the song now.
44. Matt Kemp lives in a cornfield.
45. Matt Kemp is the only person allowed to call Ian McShane "**sucker."
46. Matt Kemp's last home run was so dramatic that Bobby Thomson's homer is now known as "The Shot Heard Round the Area Just North of 182nd Street."
47. Matt Kemp's voice was dubbed in for Audrey Hepburn's singing parts in "My Fair Lady."
48. Everyone Matt Kemp looks at turns to stone. You ever see that Willie Mays statue outside SBC Park? Matt Kemp did that.
49. Matt Kemp didn't win the National Spelling Bee. But he's the one who picked all the words.
50. Matt Kemp was sent up to pinch hit for Ted Williams. Every day.
51. All Southern California carpool lanes are now "Matt Kemp Lanes," in which only he is allowed to drive.
52. Matt Kemp has two aunts. Their names are Babe and Ruth.
53. Matt Kemp has been cast as the new James Bond.
54. Therefore, Matt Kemp wakes up every morning with Eva Green.
But 28 is somehow my favorite. Understated. Perfect.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=rotowire-hadillingsleyettoake&prov=rotowire&type=lgns
A suggestion for 18, the Vulcan Nerve Pinch.
http://tinyurl.com/js4n6
https://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/400180.html
Just watching your back.
http://tinyurl.com/msnbd
Roughly $20 million on the DL right now.
http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3326435
But when your comments like Ersty providing intangibles that you can't measure on the field or in the clubhouse, I wonder if his loyalty to his veterans is clouding his judgment in what is best for his team.
And now by all accounts they are going to send their best pitcher for the last 2 weeks back down to AAA because their injured ace is ready to come back.
Now compare that to Grittle and Neddy. Now, its true that the Dodger's pitching situation is different but there is no question that if Chad comes up and does anything like Jered Weaver, not only will he stay, the Dodgers are more likely to stash Perez/Seo in the pen or off the team.
Also, there have no pronouncements that injured players who return are guaranteed their job back (aside from Gagne). I'm torn on this but there is no question Martin is here to stay and Kemp is certainly making a case to stay. Aybar and Ethier are certainly performing when called on.
Last night, I listened to the 51s game and it sounded like Izzy is making all the plays at SS, I think he may stay until the last possible day and then return to LA during the next homestand.
Some interesting times to be a Dodger fan, for the first time in a while, I can't wait for gametime.
After reading the Penny quote from the DT post of a few days ago, I wonder if it really is an issue of rest and treatment and that Gagne won't really be ready until later this season or even next year.
For all the concern about Penny, he has been fairly consistent since his return and his velocity has been fine. As I recall he was operated in the fall of 2004 and after a limited spring training came back in late April 2005.
Now the question is which surgery was the one that did the trick for Gagne, if it is the one that was done this spring, he might not fully recover until after the season.
good list this was my favorite:
36. The new phone number for Dodger season tickets is 866-MATT-KEMP.
I'll be at the Saturday and Sunday games. I'll be way up high in a luxury box on Mount Davis on Saturday. Normal seats (1st deck) on Sunday.
I am not implying that it won't be a consideration but it won't be a detriment if the end result is improving the club without losing sight of the future.
He is only 21 (I believe), but really, I think the hype might be too much.
I was already disappointed by Joel Guzman, after a bunch of hype (he looks like a Dominican Mike Marshall, with more athletic ability to me), so I am keeping my hopes low.
My first post here! Love the site and enjoy reading the posts, thought I would jump in.
Does your handle mean we should avoid critcizing Danys Baez too much?
24
What do you expect Scoscia to say to the media, that Erstad is all washed up and his tangibles don't add anything to the team? A manager is supposed to motivate not tell the truth, otherwise these manchilds would be whimpering in the corners unable to stand up to thier shortcomings as ballplayers.
Does that make him a prospect:)
Good to hear from you, JtD will deliver it just won't be this year and it may never be for the Dodgers.
Don't be too hard on Guzman. Not everyone can come up to the big leagues the first time and tear it up. Actually, it very rarely happens. Guzman just had the misfortune of looking bad next to the Greatest Player Who Ever Played The Game (see above). He'll get better. Maybe next year, maybe 2007, but he'll be a regular and maybe a star someday.
Maybe as a courtesy to new viewers we should have a glossary of our shorthand, corrections encouraged:
Grittle - Grady Little
Neddy - Ned Colletti
Bison - Matt Kemp
JtD - Joel Guzman
No you can diss Danys all you want. Even though he is from my mom's hometown...
Also some interesting discussion of an article he wrote over the weekend assessing the costs and benefits of attempting to steal basis. The article had a detailed chart tracking run expectatncies in the different resulting situations and was pretty good stuff for a plain old newspaper.
Joel will be an average player, there is nothing wrong with that, but I doubt he will develop into the star we were led to believe.
I understand that but that doesn't mean I have to like it. And there is manager in Chicago who just won a championship by calling out his players in the media.
Not saying its the best way but it is refreshing.
thank you for not including "peanut"
Erstad has gone from a very good ballplayer to below average because injuries have chipped away at his body causing the decline. At 32 a player s/b still in their prime if they can avoid major injuries.
With JD Drew's injury history, it makes me wonder when he will show a decline. So far because of his many days off he has stayed glued together.
Guillen called out his players because they weren't playing baseball the way he wants it played. Erstadt gives his all, he just isn't very good. What good would it do to diss him in the papers?
good point, but you have to agree that pitchers always have the upper edge when they come up (simple logic)
I beg to differ on the fact that Erstadt was ever an above average hitter other then one flukish year. The Angels have handed out terrible contracts to each and everyone of their outfielders. They have all cratered in production from the moment they signed their deals compared to their previous production. Luckily they signed Vlady to cover up the errors of their ways or the Salmon/Anderson/Erstadt contracts would have been an anchor they could not have survived.
Hummmm....Common sense would point to pitchers having the upper hand, when they come up, but I might need some SARB member to conduct a study to agree with you. ;)
Actually, the would be an interesting study to conduct...wish I had the time.
Why would anyone want to think about matadors and bullfights?
Billz
Billzebub
?
- the "Canadian Mountee of Walks" (an homage to Kevin Youkilis, the Greek God of Walks). I think this one was premature, as it was given to him last year, and I think we can do better.
- "Russ Almighty" was given to him by someone here shortly after his debut. It's my personal favorite, as it rolls of the tongue nicely and is quite accurate in its description.
- Earlier this week, "Blue Trane" was suggested, apparently having to do with a story about his middle name (Nathan). I'd like to hear the story about this one though.
Some will say "Love Supreme" is Trane's best work but my first exposure was "So What" and I just love that title.
Any DMB players out there?
R.
You can't discount what JtD did as a 19 year old in AA, plus I'm his sponser for the baseball cube and plus he was born on my birthday so the boy had better be a star and not just some Dave Kingman hacker. Jose Lopez is already living up to my expectations and in 2007 JtD will follow. It is his destiny.
i've heard aybar referred to as "aybie" and "walkin' willy". the latter might just be me though.
we need a good nickname for kuo.
Although very sweet, "Blue Trane" does not hold up to "Russ Almighty" in my book, FWIW.
Anybody here want to own up to creating "Russ Almighty"? The google tool is not finding it.
I agree with you concerning his contract. Moving him to first made it worse. But, he was a very good center fielder at one time in my opinion.
The Bison, the bull, and the beaver.
Martin nickname should be Russ, just Russ. Like a brazilian soccer player he should be known by one name and everybody would know who you are talking about,.....RUSS!
Martiiiiiiin
Martiiiin
http://tinyurl.com/eh8bf
oh man! "kuofax" is AWESOME. i love love love it.
That one is pretty cool.
Russeldinho is a great name!
He was a great defensive CF and a great defensive 1st baseman. I just don't think he was ever much of a hitter even for a CF. I'm an Erstadt fan and love watching him play. I just wish he had fullfilled his promise of 2000 when his OPS was 950. He hasn't put up an OPS over 750 since with 3 years below 700. That is very bad for any starting player no matter how good the defense.
76
I think you mean "vetted."
I'm not in favor of "the Baby Bull" for Broxton, because there's already been a guy nicknamed that, and he was a Giant (Orlando Cepeda).
90. Martin seems to come to the plate with Kanye West's "Touch the Sky", which is a pretty cool song.
I got to talk to Cepeda a few years back at a Burbank Cuban Bakery, cool guy, for being a Giant.
Brasilians are good with their feet.
Go Kaka!
BTW, the Hu-Abreu DP combo can be everything defensively that Izturis-Cora was, except they might be able to hit.
I'm not an expert by eny means, but you'd think thay have the upper hand no? the best hitters on the league fail more then they succeed (was it a dumb comment?) :o)
A Nay Sayer, I am, but always a Dodger fan, lets hope Bils brings the heat. I need a TRUE #1 at Dodger Stadium. Penny ain't doing it for me!
Billz sounds pretty cool (Billz it is?)
coultrane (sp?) is his middle name I believe.
kind of blue would be a good nick considering his Dads jazz roots.
how about K.ofblue? thoughts?
I am pretty sure his name is pronounced the way crows speak.
http://www.johncoltrane.com/
We'll allow it this one time though. And maybe when Loney comes up. J-Lo may stick, especially if he continues to hit like a girl :)
113 - "Kind of Blue" is a nice tribute, but I don't think its the message one wants to convey in a nickname ("I'm kinda on this team").
we could have a james-bondian brad "money"penny...
aaron "posturepedic" sele?
but nomar is just nomar. maybe we can give him a nice exclamation point though, a la ichiro. nomar!
Yeah, we tried to nickname Kuo a while ago and that definitely came up.
43A – Matt Kemp, in fact, started the fire.
I will always seen Andre as the Assasin after he almost killed that Padre with his splintered bat.
Chocolate milk...what are you celebrating?
("I'm kinda on this team").
I hear ya.
I like to have a nice tall chocolate milk every morning. Gets the juices flowing....
......then I top it off with 5 shots of jim beam because well, that's what Matt Kemp would do.
he's been MONEY all year so it fits him well.
[128] chocolate milk is good for all ages and occasions. i drink ovaltine regularly, and i'm 25.
Aww the Keifer Sutherland wake up special.
It's 1:30 in the afternoon, just in case you haven't looked outside or anything yet.
Ah...the college life.
Ned
Flanders
Mr. Ned
Midas (to one particular poster)
I'm partial to Marty for Martin's nickname for some reason
that's a good one.
Could be problematic. Better to go with Russ Almighty.
Rob Neyer: Gee, I don't know. I'm still trying to adjust to Cole Hamels, Francisco Liriano, and Bobby Keppel (just kidding about Bobby Keppel). It's been a great year for young pitching. I do think Billingsley's ready, though his control in AAA is a slight concern.
My concerns exactly! Billingsley walks a lot of batters. He is not the next Daniel Cabrera, but I would guess he will walk 3 to 4 batters per 9 IP in the bigs.
which IMO, is fine for a 21 yr old. He will improve in that area as he matures.
http://baseballprospectus.com/minors/
Bottom line, if they call him down, I hope it is for good!
63 - Blue Trane (or Blues Trane) was mine. That'd be cool if one of mine stuck.
78 - I'd like to try that.
126 - Yeah, that sounds better.
The beauty of it is that it makes no sense.
I am pretty sure Sanchez was just watching the World Cup.
The question is, if Martin is Russeldhino - who is the original Russell? Bill?
http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3326432
I'm assuming this is news for everyone but Nate and a couple others.
We could call him Martin Brodeur.
news to me too. Denker completely tanked at Vero after being like the best hitter in the league in Columbus. I really dont understand it.
The Canadian Terror
Backstop Bacon (naw)
The Canadian Clubber
Canadian reference kind of leaves the door on that one.
I have no clue. But I am with you on that. It is rather annoying having to shuffle between the two.
Why does Vero Beach suck so bad? I blame the coaching.
175 Jon, I think there is still some doubt about the need for that type of information, that is why teams still rely on media guides, game notes.
I saw that movie Summer Catch, maybe they are distracted by women that look like Jessica Biel.
You know, like "Kenny Speed"
I think "Russeldinho" is genius, Jon's objection notwithstanding. The original Ronaldinho only happens to be one of the most famous athletes in the world, even if a few DT readers have never heard of him.
Not in a thousand lifetimes.
- Russell Martin Sr.?
I think it a great nickname: appropriately esoteric, vaguely ironic, and nicely alliterative.
But hey, that's just MHO.
This is not much of a standard to work with.
Russ Almighty.
Newsday reported that the Tigers might take a run at acquiring outfielder Jeromy Burnitz from the Pirates, citing two reasons: because the Tigers are looking for a left-handed hitter with power and because Burnitz "usually gets traded this time of year."
And I also think the nickname of a rookie catcher evoking one of the best athletes on the planet just drips with irony, don't you?
great point.
Furcal, SS
Lofton, CF
Garciaparra, 1B
Drew, RF
Kent, 2B
Aybar, 3B
Kemp, LF
Martin, C
Sele, P
Just posted on dodgers.com site, they did not have the corresponding move yet.
come on, "russeldinho" sounds exciting. say it with a rising voice :)
Quebecois
Martin Canada
Russell Quebec
(not to leave anyone out)
I don't know about nicknames, I'm with the gotta earn it/come natural crowd, although the bison, the bull and the beaver is good on so many levels.
I've taken to calling Kemp "Ta-Tonka" now.
it dependes what person says it too
I have. I am hoping for James White or somehow Rajon Rondo falls to the Lakers.
have you heard the Odom to the bulls rumor? something like odom and mihm to the bulls for gordon and #2 pick or somthing.
and theres the mihm+26th pick to the hawks for #5 and we guarenteed sheldon williams at the 5th pick.
That's like saying a great and ironic nickname for me would be John Barrymore, because he's a great actor, and I'm a little guy in the creative arts that you like (although you're probably liking me less today).
It evokes zero about the actual person being nicknamed. It's just a transparent homage to the person you're naming after.
223 The blog on Dodgers.com usually lists the lineup 2-3 hours before gametime, on the road it could be even earlier like today.
I cannot see either of those happening, but I do know the Lakers want to move up to get Brandon Roy if they can.
PG Gordon
SG Kobe
SF Who knows
PF Aldridge
C Brown
Tyrus Thomas has been shooting NBA 3's at his workouts...
He will be a monster in time.
My offseason for the Lakers would include trading up for Roy and signing Marcus Banks to play PG.
Banks should already be a Laker, lousy Kupchak (stupid Payton deal).
how in the heck would they pull that one off?
I blame the naming of "bison" "buffalo" a turning point in the demise of American culture.
That, and, the name of the network exec who greenlighted "My Mother, The Car."
I have no problem giving them Odom and Bynum.
ohhh okay, that makes sense :)
Ive seen roy play a lot, he always kills my wildcats.
Aybar 3B
Drew CF
Nomar 1B
Kemp RF
Kent 2B (assuming he's healthy and can hit)
Ethier LF
Martin C
Furcal SS
vr, Xei
so what if they're different sports.
dioner "pudgito" navarro is also a transparent homage.
If anyone is interested: http://www.browster.com/
255. I came up with this list for the draft, with help from Bryan Smith:
Evan Longoria : Brandon Roy
Drew Stubbs : Tyrus Thomas
Matt Antonelli : JJ Redick
Andrew Miller : Andrea Bargnani
Daniel Bard : Rudy Gay
Jim Negrych : Gerry McNamara
Brandon Morrow: LaMarcus Aldridge
A concession to DJ, who has long expressed his preference for CF. Less wear and tear on the knees is a good thing. Plus, doesn't Kemp have a great arm? Might as well put him in RF.
Afflalo will stay... he's overrated imvho.
vr, Xei
And I still think 3 rookies is just about the limit this team should use on a daily basis. The only constant should Martin and the other ones should play based on matchups and resting other players.
At least that follows a pattern of insanity.
266
I am not sure. He was luke warm at the Orlando pre-draft camp and it made him drop a bit. Rumors if he does not get a commit in the middle of first round he will go back to school. Afflalo has to comeback unless he wants to go undrafted.
Besides being an homage to Pudge, calling Navarro "Little Pudge" tells me something about Navarro. Calling Martin "whatever the translation is" tells me nothing about Martin.
It's not about me taking things to literally. I know that Matt Kemp isn't literally a bison and that Joe DiMaggio isn't literally a clipper. It's merely about the nickname being the least bit relevant to the player.
I think Gmac gets signed after the draft.
262
I would love to know why Aldridge is Brandon Morrow haha.
Aldridge- Bosh
Thomas- A motivated Stromile Swift
Roy- Ben Gordon
Gay- Tim Thomas
Morrison- A lesser Paul Pierce
Shelden Williams- Briant Grant (when he had knees)
but you're not taking "kuofax" away from me. you'll have to pry that one out of my cold, dead hands.
Correct me if im wrong, but there has been a great history of Brazil soccer players that are great scorers. Everytime one of those comes around that are truly great they are given a one name nickname of endearment. If Im not mistaken it is ONLY reserved for the scorers and these scorers are considered prodigies and once in a blue moon type of players that bring something different to the game.
There was Pele, Juninho, Ronaldo, Romario, Ronaldinho, etc.
The dodgers have had a great history of backstops, Piazza, Campy, Sciosia....Russelldinho. Its so perfect.
Lakers need to get the first pick for the 2008 draft. OJ Mayo is perfect for the PG position in the triangle.
The pick was protected for this year but it is my understanding it is not protected next year.
New here. Love what you've done with the place! Coming in late to the conversation, I know, but I would suggest if JtD ever performs to his promise, then we dub him "Jor-El" Guzman...
As far as the Laker trade rumors mentioned in this thread, they're all laughable. Nobody wants to trade anything of significant value for either Chris Mihm or Lamar Odom. They could net mid level talent, but certainly not a star player or a top 5 draft pick.
vr, Xei
If Kuo is not the proper spelling, is he too shy to tell anyone?
Who's beaver though?
I hate it when someone wakes me up from a good dream.
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