Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Jon's other site:
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TV and more ...
1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
9) typing "no-hitter" or "perfect game" to describe either in progress
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with
The notion that Adrian Beltre only performs well when he is motivated is absurd.
The idea that he wasn't motivated during the times in his career that he has slumped is absurd.
The idea that he can turn it on and suddenly excel at the theoretical moment he becomes motivated is absurd.
Beltre struggles to maintain his best level of performance, for whatever reason. He falls into bad habits. For all the theories about Tyler Houston, bone spurs, drugs, Dodger Stadium and ennui, we don't really know why this is.
It's more than plausible - it's realistic - that Beltre has moments of high focus and motivation when he can't hit a lick, and moments when without even thinking about it, the game comes easy like Sunday morning.
If you care to, show me how you know that Beltre didn't care about his performance in 2005 with Seattle. Because everyone with the Mariners that I know of says the guy was working his butt off.
Too many times, we assign pop psychology or knee-jerk explanations without merit. We should aspire to do better than that - whether or not we're motivated to.
* * *
Jon's of course right, but if we were as judicious as him with our evidence, we'd have a lot less to talk about, eh? =)
Anyhow, though, I do think blaming Beltre for not being focused enough ignores the fact that he could be TOO focused. That's the implication of the term "pressing," no, that a player can sometimes be trying too hard? It may actually be that he just needs to relax.
Regardless, it's clear that none of us really know. What is clear IMO is that Beltre's production is so consistently erratic that I thank the stars we didn't hold on to him.
WWSH
The problem I have with not being judicious about how we discuss it is that when it comes time for Beltre's story to be summed up, I'd hate for it to rest on ill-serving myth. I'm not trying to keep people from having fun, of course, but I don't see what's fun about dubious assertions.
Feel free to prove me wrong, of course.
Of course, part of the enjoyment of baseball is we attach subjective, even ethical, factors to it. That's certainly partly true for me. I take a genuine glee in the defeat of the Giants. I have a real feeling of contempt for the smugness of the Yankee franchise. After all, we all probably spend too much time on baseball, when measured by any rational cost-benefit analysis.
How that goes with the first paragraph of my comment--I have absolutely no idea...
WWSH
Pop-psych is hard to avoid, but combining what I know about Beltre with what Hargrove said, I think Beltre has always been sort of the ingenue, the young guy who blew away more experienced players, and got approval from that. When he reached the major league level, where a lot of players were at his level, he think that to win approval, he has to be way better than the best. When, in fact, all Seattle's paying for is for him to be a little better than the best. Ergo, he's been pressing, nonstop, and we know that doesn't work.
I'll further speculate that returning to Dodger Stadium gave him a sense-memory of when the game was fun, like in 2004, and his neural pathways allowed the good vibes to flow again.
If this is true, Seattle might see a big turnaround and date it to this series. I have to admit I'm rooting for Adrian.
They take their cues from the media, which has a deal with the players they cover not to criticize their talent. This leads to the code words we are all familiar with. People then appear to take this dance seriously.
if furcal, lofton AND izzy all play we're in trouble.
This oversimplicification of analysis has been shoved down our throats by the ESPNs of the world, who realize their audience doesn't want an intricate explanation for things, but a canned 10 second notion from an ex-ballplayer who we can point at and say, "Hey, he reminds me of me!"
Watching most of his plate appearances, I think that is the best theory. When he relaxes and just hits, he does well. Thankfully he seems to be reaching that point.
I think Jon said it yesterday, but is the throw from 3rd really any less than the throw from the hole @ SS?
My totally unsubstantiated and unresearched feeling is that he either has an injury or he went off steroids. Beltre was never the type to hit no doubters, so either malady could hurt his bat speed and take 15-20 feet off of balls that went over the fence for him in 04.
Not that Kuo's any great shakes, but dropping him to place Izzy would've weakened an already enfeebled pitching staff. They don't have much quality, so they're pretty much forced to go with extra quantity. Probably better to go with 12 pithers, because the starters check out so early night after night.
A position player was the best choice to free the spot for Izzy.
Fair enough, but do you remember what sports coverage was like before ESPN? Local junk and a few national hagiographers. ESPN has now been surpassed by the internet, but it was a quantum leap forward in sophisticated sports coverage 25 years ago.
As for Beltre, Amen to Jon's post. But I always liked the bone spurs theory. I remember coming up with it (probably at the same time as 1,000 other observers) early in that 2004 season. I saw him lunge, as usual, for a slider low and away, fall to the ground in pain, and then lay off that pitch thereafter. Lo and behold, good hitter's counts and better results followed. He'd forget after a while, lunge, crumple, and re-learn the lesson.
Of course, that might explain the start of his great season, but it can't explain why he'd keep forgetting the lesson, and eventually fail to re-learn in once his ankle was again healthy. That speaks to the power of ingrained bad habits, lack of focus, pressing, whatever.
"Not motivated." Yeah, I agree, that's often thrown around when it's not warranted. It's cynical and often a product of envy.
"Pressing." Actually I've heard many players themselves provide that explanation, so my using it doesn't constitute "oversimplification."
I agree, on his worst day, Adrian Beltre performs at a level that most of us will never reach in any endeavor. But he is a human being, not a robot, and I think it's fair to say we're all passingly familiar with the complex psychology of human beings. Often the explanations for mysterious changes in behavior or performance are just that simple.
Even if I'm right, I refuse to infer anything about the next 15 years of his career from this odd turn of events. I wonder if he really was tipping his pitches.
he struck out sexson on a swing and miss curveball.
Richie Sexons struck out swinging in the third inning. That was the only time somebody swung and missed.
Incidentally, I dropped tonight's starter, Felix Hernandez, because he doesn't quite have it all down yet. He strikes people out, but gives up the long ball a lot, including 3 to the Giants on June 16. The crazy thing, though, is that he's just a couple months over 20.
Makeup? His remarkable durability suggests toughness and desire. You simply cannot play that much baseball Beltre had from age 16 onward unless you have those qualities.
I buy that PEDs can increase batspeed, or at least prevent it from waning by fostering quicker recovery. In turn, that could better allow a hitter to wait on pitches. But I don't think he was a PED guy, and if the LA media didn't indulge that speculation, whereas others do, bully for the LA media.
Tony Gwynn even said in the 2004 season that it was evident that Beltre was staying back on pitches better and attributed it to the foot/ankle spurs. Said his body was in a more balanced hitting position at the right time.
As for the subsequent reversion, that seems fairly logical, given the amount of muscle memory that preceded 2004. My hope is Beltre can tune into his '04 mechanics on a more consistent basis.
I can buy Beltre's suggestion that he would've fared better for the Dodgers in '05 than he did for Seattle. But I doubt he would'be approached his '04 numbers. I also believe he pushed through a leg injury last year and that it reduced his overall performance.
Exactly. Pap. A complete abdication of any responsibility to truth. It's merely corruption masquerading as analysis.
If you (hypothetically) had Aybar in instead of Kent and Kemp instead of Lofton, the average age of the lineup would drop to 26.7, leaving Izturis still in the younger half.
Is that why Grady keeps referring to Cesar as a "kid"?
Pure journalistic gold in the context of that article.
Why is A Martinez speaking on behalf of Baez?
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0553436/
Beltre's going to hit in to 2 DP's, strike out ounce & hit a scramer to old friend Izzy but Izzy will make an easy play on it.
Thats all for now.
The most notable exception would have been Pedro Martinez.
No disrespect to BP, but ESPN sold out a long time ago.
That's kind of sad. Going into the season, I could have sworn pitching would be one of our strengths.
Given what was in the rotation, I would have said that was a mistake.
BTW, Jon, just for my own curiosity, today's column isn't aimed at moi, is it?
"Awesome! FLA/BAL, Top 10, runner on second with Miguel Cabrera at the plate. They tried IBBing him, but the pitche was just into the opposite hitter's box, so Cabrera stepped forward, lunged at the high 'fastball' and smacked it into centerfield for the go-ahead RBI!
— Chris, 19 minutes ago"
Wow
Wow. I didn't know you could have a walk off home run in the third inning.
This sarcasm detector is off the charts!
My sarcasm detector is set to stun... I'm not sure what that means.
Think harder.
For example, I think it is highly unlikely that Kenny Lofton will turn an unassisted triple play.
I find it unlikely that Kenjie Johjima will hit four triples.
Lowe was having a good at-bat fouling off pitches & so forth, to top it off he hita bullet that almost took Hernandez head off, it was sweet
Not a bad idea consedering our pitching situation
I've looked into this already. Almost possible. They have secret service with him 24/7
Meanwhile kemp is waisting away on the bench opsing 1046.
Lowe had gone a long time without giving up the long balls, even for him. He's due for some sort of regression.
http://dodgermath.com/?p=397
this is how you know you spend too much time on baseball blogs. i read that as "DT can always get another black-OPS guy," and I'm wondering, "we have a black guy who specializes in OPS?"
well, he goes by M Bison but basically, yea.
lol.. now when you say M bison, i think of this guy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._Bison
If Izzy plays 3rd, you have to have Kemp in there for KLoft. At least some threat needs to be in the lineup, especially with the way Drew is going.
And it might be a bit too early for Nomar to use up his last HR...
5ip only 67 pitches so far.
good to know, know I'm questioning todays line up??
Woo hoo!
that'll do, pig. that'll do.
Uh oh. My cousin drives his prius into the ground. Is it serious?
Maybe furc and Iz willjerk each other into playing.
prius?
What are the implications of a recall?
Something about some problem with the steering column where it might develop a crack if I drive the car hard into curbs.
no faith man!
I have to go to my dealer and they fix it. It's supposed to take an hour. I'll go to the one near a mall on a day off.
My doctor has diagnosed with me with a case of inadvertant woo-hoo-itis.
http://tinyurl.com/hnd5n
He's probably got a nice future ahead of him.
I get scared when the guy caught off base is running TOWARD home.
First pitch.
Apparently, it's working!
He's losing control and has thrown 90 pitches.
Yeah, but the moral superiority ultimately stems from the gas-saving, doesn't it?
But Hargrove may play Hargrove-ball.
WWSH
good point
The gas savings are secondary to the moral superiority. They really need a moral superiority meter on the dashboard.
I can also drive in carpool lanes by myself, a function that serves no real benefit to anyone.
I swear I laughed out loud!!
So you expect these sorts of things.
And his contribution to global smarming...?
Thats a bad thing.
Lowe's going for the complete game tonite. He's at 81 pitches, the Mariners never take walks.
Its possible he can get 9 outs.
Lowe's going for the complete game tonite. He's at 81 pitches, the Mariners never take walks.
Its possible he can get 9 outs.
Here we go!
Here we go!
A truer thought has rarely been expressed.
Even if Lowe gives up 2 solo's we are still tied.
Here we go!
http://www.lapinator.com/
No longer do I roast my chestnuts, if you take my meaning.
91 through 7. Lowe's got this.
Izzy has looked good in the field and at the plate
Project BROtheR?
Though I was too young to remember it, my family went to Magic Mountain the day it opened. The No. 1 major ride then was the Gold Rush, my brother says.
214. Keep him in, is there another option?
215. Really? Interesting. Went there with brother in law, his girlfriend, and my wife. Many of the rides were closed down, but good 'ol Gold Rush was open.
Well that call makes up for Evs
Dodgers beat the Reds, 13-5
22 hits by the Dodgers. All singles!
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B06030LAN1988.htm
http://tinyurl.com/nqkln
Not too surprising. Roller-coaster-centric parks require tons of capital and have a hard time drawing return traffic.
5 more to go.
I went about 2-3 years ago, it still looked cool
But Kudos to Lowe, no walks so far, may I not jinx him.
I'm pretty sure 22 hits without an extra base hit among them is a major league record. It's hard enough to get 22 hits period. But basically, the Dodgers just rolled the ball through holes in the infield a lot that game. I don't recall much of anything being hit hard.
The Dodgers BABIP in that game was .579.
They had a sac fly so how do I account for that?
I'd let DLowe finish it off.
I'd have Saito warmed up just in case.
http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200606/139/
But you know what you they say about Valencia. If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.
By the way, I'll be in Valencia on Sunday for this:
http://www.gatheringofthegargoyles.com/g2006/
I'll be on the W.I.T.C.H. panel:
http://www.gatheringofthegargoyles.com/g2006/guests.html
I dont think it was a coincidence that Tomko was pushed back following a long losing streak.
http://tinyurl.com/myvfc
Part owned by our own Eddie Murray. (Ignore that it's part owned by Kevin Malone)
14 hits..14 singles
And they set the team record for hits in a home game when they batted just 8 times also.
Good job Lowe. Good pitchers should shut down bad offenses, and he did the job tonite.
WWSH
Translation: "I'm outta here!"
But our big guys Drew,Kent,Garc, and the seated Kemp zip. No RBI's. This slump is strange. Most of these guys have lots of experience. What gives. And thank god for Martin.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B09120LAN2005.htm
He sure fooled Nomar OK. He must not count.
Considering Lowe has a Cy Young award, I doubt he needs any validation for being classified an 'ace'.
I have no idea who they are, and neither does Vin, but he's been pushing this for a while.
Is anyone here young enough (or cool enough) to have any idea who the Pink Spiders are? Certainly not me.
I don't mean this the wrong way, But I'm gonna miss Izzy alot, Sorry man, I love the guy. (isert man crush here)
chick band most likely no?
And that's why the dodgers should get the best available free agent starting pitcher this offseason (in my opinion zito).
Keep the prospects pickup zito and if there is another free agent starting pitcher available that is worth it, get him too.
If orenduff knocks down the door, so what put him in the pen, its called depth.
You get what you pay for (tomko 3.6 million).
Please don't kill me.
I'm cool and young enough and Pink Spiders does not ring a bell. But of course, they probably suck and I only listen to good music.
Would you trade Izzy for a Jon Garland or Brandon McCarthy
Garland, no. McCarthy, hell yes.
I can't kill you Greg. You make me laugh too much.
http://tinyurl.com/fgu8c
I smiled.
Pretty hilarious how inept the Orioles are.
Actually, not sure if it was a walk-off. Cool, anyway.
why did i say topic?
good point Greg. hahaha :o)
is there an outside chance Furcal gets traded for a SP? what dose his contract look like? (I doubt it hu?)
they'd have to package him with some other guys no?
I'd start Cruz, Kemp, and Drew tho. I wouldnt bench Drew against a tough lefty, but if they do I hope Ethier's in there.
Izturis, Ethier, and Blake Johnson for Jeff Francis
Izturis for Scott Baker and Juan Rincon (they can have Baez if they want him)
Izturis, Guzman, and Navarro for Carl Crawford :)
Izturis for Patterson would be absolutely ideal. I dont think Bowden is that much of a dumbass though. Maybe Izturis Guzman and Orenduff could get Patterson.
I like the Izturis for Scott Baker idea though.
Yea, members of NOFX. I don't really listen to that type of music but I know the bands.
what kind of music do you like nate?
Bad Religion? Awesome! They are one of my favorite punk bands. Love them. Against the Grain, Generator, Recipe for Hate, Stranger than Fiction, etc, etc. All are great.
Not really into N'sync.... Backstreet Boys are better.
1) Lower stock because of a rough start this season
2) Veteran guy without too much time on his contract left
3) He's incredibly durable, having lead the league in innings pitched the last 3 years in a row.
4) He pitched poorly in the 2002 WS while on the Giants.
5) Patterson is just now getting off the DL.
6) He has experience putting up with Jeff Kent.
7) He's still only 30, supposedly.
I like all of the CDs you mentioned, especially Generator, but my favorite is Against the Grain. My favorite Bad Religion song is probably Anesthesia. It never gets old.
I like NOFX a lot, but I don't agree with their political views. Still they are a funny band, just not nearly as talented or as witty as Bad Religion.
I'm impressed, sign 'um
What about his 5.64 era and 1.63 whip?
I think she's married or something no? I've seen here grab here ear & smile like she's sending a message to her man.
I know indie stands for Indipendent rock, but postrock I have no clue
Hard to describe, but it's just amazing to me.
some bands to check out if you're interested (older people can like it too)
Mogwai
Explosions in the Sky
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Pelican
Mono
Sounds like classical music.
There must be at least 60% news and commercials and only 40% actual dodger talk.
It basically is, but in a rock band setting.
Bands like Silver Mountain Zion and Godspeed You Black Emperor are basically mini orchestras, with up to 12 or so members (violines, cellos, extra percussion, etc).
Oh, and Meryl Streep: 13 nominations/2 wins (should be five)
Best female actress ever. Of course, I hate Hepburn, so I'm biased. Emma Thompson is great as well. Ooooh Ooooh, and Bette Davis.
have you heard the begining of that song? pretty cool
gotta hear it (never heard)
that's a cool name for a band "Dead Kennedys" there kind of an old band arent they
Yes, my personal religion is based on classic rock. It works for me.
.... Darn, I forgot that's already taken. Okay back to the drawing board.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
387- they're from the 80s. Their most popular song is Holiday in Cambodia.
Did not stay for the Pink Spiders who according to some fans are a recently signed act Geffen Records is promoting. Judging by their rendition of Take Me Out to the Ball Game, I don't think I missed much.
Wishing everyone meeting up tomorrow a great game as well.
Me First and The Gimme Gimmes are responsible for some of the worst music I have heard in a long time :)
My guess is their songs would have contained several mentions of the words "eyes", "love", and "bleeding".
Its crappy goregrind. There is a bunch better goregrind out there, although none of it would be appealing to the Dodger Thoughts community.
N'sync? Backstreet(door) boys? Well, I've been to those concerts too. As well as Madonna, 98degrees, AND Aaron Carter. I have nothing against those people.
Sincerely, Ozzie.
Rock and roll, especially Led Zeppelin.
Indeed.
of course you know that was a reference to Ozzie's latest episode. there's always something Ozzie does to get himself in the news, and it usually involves AJ Perzinski (bad spelling), hitting someone, or calling out people at random. sorry if you took it the wrong wayl
Like anyone wants a 13 million dollar short stop hitting about .260, and with 15 errors.
Little isn't as dumb as he looks so it seems.
I actually agree. Grady has been far better then I thought he would be. He's also pretty funny and seems like the Anti-Tracy.
I like the guy.
Tomko - boo
Baez - Bay of Pigs
Grits=deceptively brilliant
I actually found a video of Jimbo on who wants to be a millionaire
http://tinyurl.com/fuqdt
4th Round Kyle Orr 1B (High School)
8th Round Tommy Giles OF (Sr Miami U.)
10th Round Andy D'Alessio 1B (Jr. Clemson)
13th Round Nicholas Akins SS (High School)
14th Round Alex White RHP (High School)
15th Round Gorman Erickson (High School)
The Dodgers have already signed two lower drafted catchers so they might not be in that big a hurry to sign Erickson. Giles and D'Alessio both played in the College World Series and D'Alessio will want more than slot to sign.
Orr is being "advised" by Matt Sosnick who was Hochevar's agent for about an hour.
My hunch is that Orr, Giles and maybe one of the other three will sign but it will take a big money to sign them.
"But the Dodgers elected to take White — a decision that could result in a late-summer push by the team to sign the 6-foot-3, 185-pound right-hander who is now playing American Legion baseball with Pitt County Post 39.
"We've talked with them and we know they're going to kind of follow me throughout the summer to see how I play and how I'm throwing the ball," Alex White said of the Dodgers organization. "If they feel like I'm right for them at the end of the summer, they'll offer me. They know the price and they're very open about that. I think that's why they want to watch me over the summer and be sure I'm worth it to them from a business standpoint."
White began drawing major interest from pro scouts after his fastball jumped from an average of high 80s in 2005 to the mid 90s in his latest campaign. He did nothing to disappoint them in his final year, compiling a 10-0 record with 136 strikeouts and a 0.59 earned run average in 76 2/3 innings pitched. White also finished with a team-high .488 batting average, 13 home runs and 28 runs batted in for the Vikings, giving him even more reason to possibly choose to play at UNC where he can potentially find a spot in the batting order when he's not pitching."
Ouch.
http://tinyurl.com/s5woo
And Nationals Nation is salivating over this (Moreno says "trade the farm"): http://tinyurl.com/fqm2g
How odd. I think the same regarding the baseless Tracy criticism.
http://tinyurl.com/o623e
Is tonight the DT meeting? I think I speak on behalf of all who cannot attend when I say WE WANT PICTURES!
http://tinyurl.com/gxcwl
Too bad he ended up being Robin Ventura.
Without the pinch-hit grand slams.
Great line
Tom Boswell: I doubt it.
I'm SURE I'm wrong, but I have a hard time "recognizing" the Expos history properly. It's odd. The '05 Nationals, like the expansion Senators in the '60s, seem to have fallen out of the sky and dropped in Washington. One reason an existing team (Expos) and a made-from-scratch team (expansion Nats) can feel similar is because the Expos who arrived here were so UTTERLY unknown to American fans. After Jose Vodro, Livan Hernandez and, perhaps, Brad Wilkerson, who could even face five Montreal players from '04.
However, as an ex-Senators follower I sympathize with how the Expos former fans in Montreal must feel __all 173 of them.
----------
Ouch ouch and ouch.
Vegas-In a battle of future stars between Vegas and Tuscon the baby Dodgers won 9-8 knocking around the Arizona number one pitching prospect Dustin Nippert while at the same time holding the big 3 of Drew/Quentin/Young 0-12. Loney picks up 3 more hits, Houlton got whacked himself and the Lance picked up the save.
Jacksonville-loses 4-2 as Brazel hits his 10th HR. The big news was the 1st game for 21 year old Wesley Wright as he struck out all 4 batters he faced in his 1st performance since being promoted from Vero Beach where he k'd 37 in 33 innings with a 1.08 ERA. A very promising debut for the lefty throwing Wright.
VeroBeach-continues to struggle, losing again with no note worthy performances.
Columbus-did not play
Short Season Leagues just started this week:
GCL Dodgers-lose 1st game 3-2 and are now 2-1. Preston Mattingly is playing SS.
Odgen- lost 16-2 and are 1-2 on the season. Players of note show Van Slyke playing RF and Eduardo Perez playing 1st. Perez started the year on Columbus but struggled. Headed into this year Perez was a player to keep an eye on.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/other/directorscup-standings.htm
UCLA is second.
For tonights DT meeting, as someone already
said PICTURES. All identifications with pics. should be voluntary.(or pre-approved?)
Does that make sense.
I can see why Unc.M likes Carl Crawford. Afraid we need an arm more, Patterson looks good--but he must be injured now. Whats his story?
A sample:
And now, as the 2006 summer swiftly turns dark in Anaheim, as hopes fade for an offense that wasn't repaired after last season's struggle and the promise of a youthful restructuring hasn't been realized, as a collapsing defense suggests an inexplicable absence of focus and the calendar marches inexorably toward the July 31 trade deadline that Stoneman has largely ignored in the past and may again, public exposure seems certain to call on the GM whether he wants it or not.
Another:
Are the Angels already beyond the benefit of a deadline deal and does Stoneman see the value in at least negotiating a trade that would send his players a supportive message when, in fact, there have been only three largely anonymous deals in his six Julys and only one that bore second-half fruit, the 2002 acquisition of Alex Ochoa?
Bill Plaschke must be turning over in his grave. Or would be.
hey nate, do you like red sparowes?
actually, they are "eh" to me. I like bands like Pelican, Tides, This will Destroy you, Sparrows Swarm and Sing, and Isis and stuff more.
Red Sparrows is kind of boring too me. I do have their full length. Maybe I should listen to it again because they do have good pedigree with members of Isis and Neurosis. I think Tides is a better version of Red Sparrows if you haven't checked them out yet.
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