1. Chocolate souffle
2. Blueberry cobbler
3. Baseball Musings
4. Catfish Stew
5. Baseball Analysts

I left off the Griddle because if I'm stranded somewhere I don't want to do any extra work.

I'm not a dessert person but here goes:

~Carrot Cake
~Banana Cream Pie

~Defamer
~L.A. Observed
~Fire Joe Morgan

This also reminds me of a great sign that used to exist on a wall in Pasadena:
"My people are people of the dessert said T.E. Lawrence picking up his fork"

German Chocolate Cake (can I have vanilla ice cream with that?

Making Light:
http://www.nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/

Lance Mannion:
http://lancemannion.typepad.com/lance_mannion/

Digby:
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/

I've sworn off desserts, but...

Lime Sherbet
Athletics Nation
The Griddle
Almond Joy
Dodger Blues

Blueberry Pie
Chocolate Chip Cookies (must be homemade)
6-4-2

I eat more dessert than I read blogs.

haagen daz ice cream (Vanilla)
rite-aid (butter pecan)
_______________________________

Blogs:I only know three:DT
insidethedodgers
Kamemetzky brothers

Dodger Math fulfills both my dessert and blogging needs.

In all seriousness:

Those fruit tart things they sell at Bristol Farms
Black Forest Cherry Cake

6-4-2
The Griddle
Where Have You Gone Andy Van Slyke

i'll limit myself to a hot pair in each category.

1. frozen cheesecake
2. hot brownies a la mode

1. slate? i think that counts. slate is awesome.
2. baseball analysts

i'm excluding 6-4-2 and catfish stew because they kind of go without saying. but there, i guess i'm saying it anyway :)

Jon, what are your choices?

donuts
Medialoper
chocolate milk
Powerline
Brainblog

Dulce de Leche
Apple Pie with Ice Cream

hoyatalk.com
La Web Deportiva Uruguaya
The Has Been on Slate

This is good, just what I need more blogs to check out.

1. Cool-a-Coo ice cream sandwich at a Dodger game.(please bring it back)
2. Druid Circle Trader Joe Cookies
3. My own VitaMix Ice Cream concoctions

1. DT
2. The Griddle
3. InsideTheDodgers
4. Aaron Gleeman for all the links

I'm just not very well rounded but I'm looking forward to checking out the other blogs that are being mentioned here.

Desserts:

1) Neapolitan-flavored Breyers ice cream

2) tie between candy cigarettes and Smarties

Blogs:

1) The Griddle (only as a means of continuing to stalk Bob from a remote location)

2) Archives of Tom Meagher's original Fourth Outfielder (nice to see Tom commenting here recently--glad he isn't dead)

3) Fire Grady Little (not a ton going on there right now, but when another movement comes along [bowel or otherwise], it'll be the epicenter)

Desert Island definitely qualifies the deserts:

Lemon Ice Box Pie (my grandmother's recipe)
Chocolate Chip Cookies from Meeting Street Cafe in Providence, RI (never hurt to be specific).

Defamer
Chowhound (although this would be torture)
LA Observed (lots of content to fight the boredom and see what's going on back home)

As per above I'm only leaving off Catfish and Griddle and 6-4-2 because I would only pick one baseball blog and it would be DT.

CC Browns Hot Fudge Sundae
Warm Pecan Pie

Crooked Timber
LA Observed
Tie (so, I'm a cheater who stole one of Vishal's blogs): Capitol Punishment (to keep Nats current)/Catfish Stew (to keep sane and happy)

Wow, I forgot Chowhound. I may need to ask for a rules change.

Cold apple pie
Hot fudge sundae
L.A. Observed
Defamer
6-4-2, especially because DT will be pretty barren with me stranded, and Bob doesn't want to work.

Since I don't read many blogs, I'm gonna switch the number of each that I'm allowed

1. Strawberry cheescake
2. Peanut butter and chocolate ice cream
3. Creme brule (no clue how to spell that one)

4. John Sickels' site (www.minorleagueball.com)
5. Buster Olney's ESPN blog

...just kidding, I'll go with FJM

The only ice cream sandwich worth eating is Its It.

Kudos Jon for a fun question.

Apple Crisp
Cherry Pie
Dodgerblues
The Griddle
Stewert Mandel's College Football blog.

Strandad on a remote island with a computer that only had access to blogs, how would one go about redeeming the dessert coupons?

The stranded island will have one hell of a wireless setup. Perhaps it's the island from LOST.

Waaaaaallllllttttttt!!!!!

21 - The Dharma Initiative will handle it.

White chocolate cheesecake
Gooey chocolate brownie and vanilla ice cream

FJM
queryletters.blogspot.com (before it's owner was tragically killed in a car accident)
FJT under its previous management

I don't eat dessert.

So...
A chocolate protein shake

Blogs
Dodger Thoughts
The Griddle
Inside the Dodgers

No takers for "junglesurvivor.blogspot.com" or "buildingaboatintherough.com" I see. "foodfrombugs.org" also not popular?

Also, since I figure we're all stranded on the same island I can substitute "actually hanging out with Bob" for "reading the Griddle".

Minorleagueball too. Forgot about that one.

Hot fudge sundae
Dutch apple pie

The Griddle
Tenderblog (http://blog.tenderbutton.com/)
Techdirt (http://www.techdirt.com/)

Lineups.

LA

Furcal SS
KLofton CF
Garciaparra 1B
Drew RF
Ethier LF
Aybar 3B
Martinez 2B
Martin C
Lowe P

AZ

Brynes CF
Tracy 3B
Gonzalez LF
Jackson (!) 1B
Estrada C
Green RF
Hudson 2B
Drew SS
Batista P

Conor Jackson back from injury, Ramon Martinez hits ahead of Russel Martin, but aside from that, prett standard.

Dessert/Blogging

Cheesecake
Apple Pie

6-4-2
Yard Work
Dodger Math

I eat dessert. A lot.

1. Specialty of the day from Clementine's Bakery, delivered daily.

2. Mixed Berry Pie with whipped cream.

3. Griddle

4. Altercation

5. 6-4-2

Then, I'll bitch about how I can only get three blogs and two desserts. I'm afraid I wouldn't be very good company.

5.

Hall is catching.

The extra five in 31? That's because I didn't preview!

Let that be a lesson to you sloppy spellers and fact-checkers! Always preview.

The Dodgers have to win tonight as I can sum up my week with two cryptic words:

thin envelope.

Wait! I forgot Forum Blue and Gold.

As the site's first commenter ever, it's my duty to pay respect.

34 If that means what I think it does, those people are fools.

36

Thanks Sam. I didn't think I would care much.

Surprisingly, I do. Well, it's not that bad.

Batista only has one strikeout in each of his last two starts. He pitched terrible in june with an ERA above seven, but it has been 3.60 in July.

That's my thorough scouting report for this game. That's all you need to know.

34 - That will send me on a profanity-laced tirade.

34 36 37 Que?

I always thought "stranded on a desert island" was a misused expression with the correct term being "deserted island." Alas Wikipedia has the final word...

"A desert island is simply any uninhabited island: the word "desert" is a reference to the island's deserted status, and does not necessarily imply arid desert weather."

In any event I'll take Godiva Dark Chocolate Ice Cream, Ghiradelli brownies (Costco mix), Boston Dirt Dogs, Movie City News and Drudge Report none of which are blogs but hey.

39 I can be dim but if I'm getting the gist of this, I'll join you.

Lowe should pitch better today (he's been working on command of his sinker all week) I'm wondering if he'll use the "slerve" today.

Specialty of the day from Clementine's Bakery, delivered daily

You DO like your desserts. That's about as good a place to get them in L.A.

39

On the other hand, my goofing off time will remain steady.

Here's a question, what player in the majors are you most built like? I'm going to have to think a while to come up with that answer.

I'm hoping that someone says Sal Fasano. Bob is Brandon McCarthy right?

45 OK, I have no idea what you guys are talking about.

41 - reading the Drudge Report makes me wish I were on a desert island, but hey, different strokes for different folks.

34 - You must've gotten Odalis' by mistake. That would return the universe to a state of balance.

46 That's a tough one for guys with middle-aged bodies. I'm probably closest to John Kruk.

mmmmm.... dessert.

At the moment, I'll say:
- pomegranate/dark chocolate chip ice cream
- carrot cake
for the blogs.... hmmmm
- The Hot Blog (David Poland's blog on MovieCityNews)
- Daily Dish (Andrew Sullivan)
#3 would be "I Find Your Lack of Faith Disturbing" except Josh Friedman hasn't updated in an age (to be fair, he is recovering from cancer)
so.... #3 - What Would Tyler Durden Do? (just to keep me laughing)

I'm not built like Brandon McCarthy. I think I'm built more like Derek Lowe except a little shorter.

And not as stupid.

Jebus, Toby Hall looks like he's drooling tobacco. What a horrible "beard"

As much as this is a bit unfair to Ramon, is an inning of Martinez,Hall, and Lowe a good way to keep shaking an awful streak?

49 - I'm thinking Bengie Molina.

46

I wish I was built like Jose Conseco, But I'll settle with the build of Eric Davis.

I used to be built like Kent Tekulve.

As Lowe gets tired in the second half, his sinker usually gets better.

{56}

chuckles at the thought.

46 What ballplayer can barely touch his toes, talks too much and wouldn't dive to avoid a runaway car?

In my prime, Ron Cey may have been the closest for me. Decent build, no speed or range.

I think Jon is built like Orel Hershiser but that's just me.

What Lofton just did is for me physically impossible. I think I would break in half.

61 Not bad!

Furcal's bad throw makes an apperance.

A taller first baseman... no, I won't say it.

Jon is built like Orel Hershiser if you can ignore the sizeable height disrepancy.

66

how tall? (difference)

I'm built like...David Eckstein? Or maybe Adam Everett? Something like that, except I'm no where near as scrappy.

65

true (Choi?) no I won't say that :o)

"Thin envelope" is too cryptic for me.

Wow I see we made Batista throw 7 pitches in the first.

Where I come from, thin envelopes are for people that did not get accepted to school. I don't know if that's it, but it would be something similar.

I chose Eric Davis (frame wise) height I'd like to say I'm an Eckstain clone. althought as I get older my body is starting to look like Eckstains.

By the way OZ, thanks for the vote of confidence, though FJT is technically still under the same management.

I think I'm built more like Derek Lowe except a little shorter.

And not as stupid.
LOL

I really can't think of anyone in the majors with a similar build. Maybe Ichiro when he came over from Japan (before he bulked up), but I'm taller than him. 5'10/11 150 pounds. I don't think any majors leaguers are built like that. I don't think I'd have much trouble beating up Juan Cruz though :)

I am built like David Eckstein.

OK, someone already took that. I'm built like Uncle Miltie.

5'10/11 150 pounds

Sounds like someone needs to start drinking more chocolate protein shakes...

Bob, my condolences.

did you guys here that?? Hoffman blew another save? wow, good for us.

I was just left an island which had been deserted for years until some dude named Arnarson moved in a little over 1,000 years ago. In a grocery store on this island (which the natives call Island), I happened to find my favorite dessert as a kid: the Marathon Bar. They stopped making it around 1980 in the US, but apparently its still made in the UK (and sold on Iceland), under the name "Curly Wurly".

I bought one, and I still liked it, but it wouldn't make my top two.

Anyhoo, back to the issue at hand:
Desserts:
1. My mom's cinnamon rolls
2. Ice cream

It's hard to leave off a genuine Swiss chocolate, but if it really is a desert, I'm gonna need ice cream. As for blogs, since I'd already have DT, I'd pick an AL blog to get the other league covered. Then I'd get me some variety to keep me abreast of the current culture. So:

Blogs:
1. Kottke
2. Two Blowhards
3. Bronx Banter

The other question:
I'm pretty much the same height and weight as Tim Hudson, so I guess he's my closest body-type comp.

79
Thanks, but nobody died!

I did get my Team Croatia jersey in the mail today.

The checkerboard pattern is only on the front. the back is white. I'm going to see if my girlfriend will let me wear it to Dodger Stadium Friday night. If so, I should be able to be spotted on TV despite me having Uecker seats.

If you folks don't know what a Team Croatia jersey looks like well you don't know what you're missing.

Come on Ramon. Get a hit or at least take some pitches!

81 - They stopped making it around 1980

I heard around the time they stopped making those that they would rewrap them as "Curly" something and ship them overseas to sell off the inventory.

82 These? http://tinyurl.com/qumpj

To the original question -
Desserts:
1) Apple pie from the Apple Pan.
2) A chocolate-chip cookie/mint-chip ice cream sandwhich from Diddy Riese.

Blogs:
1) Marginal Revolution, an excellent economics weblog (www.marginalrevolution.com)
2) The Superficial, "Because You're Ugly" (www.thesuperficial.com)
3) 6-4-2, though the Griddle is a VERY tough omission (6-4-2.blogspot.com, as if you didn't know)

As to the question about major-league body types, I'm pretty close to Hee-Seop Choi without the whole Asian thing. About 5-10 pounds lighter, that's about it.

Vin has a very liberal definition of what constitutes keeping the "Dodgers rolling."

Woo hoo, let's go for two!

Looks like Lowe is on his game today, I don't think he's allowed a fly ball?

85

EXACTLY!

Except mine doesn't have a number on it. And it's short sleeved.

{82}

wana play tik tak toe?

90

Actually, if I go to a picnic, people will put an ice chest on top of me and a bag of chips.

If I go to an Italian restaurant, someone will take an old Chianti bottle, stick a candle in it and then place it on top of me.

Let me just put it this way: Craig Counsell out weighs me by 40 pounds. I don't think I have a good major league equivalent.

Greetings Dr. Falken. Would you like to play a game?

86 - I'll take that as high praise for the lowbrow job I do...

My list would be something like (assuming I get a bye as author of my own):

1) David Pinto, who pretty unerringly has his finger on the pulse of baseball.
2) Halo's Heaven, because otherwise I'd never know what goes on with that other LA team.
3) ... well, this is a toughie. I'm torn between Lookout Landing and Idiots Write About Sports, not necessarily because of the teams they cover but because they're so consistently well-written and funny.

I'm sorry if I've offended anyone by leaving their blog off the list.

desserts:

Tea Cakes from Martino's
Pizzokie from BJ's

Blogs:
Pitchforkmedia
Tributetotroy
6-4-2

cr

81 - waitaminnit. Ken, you -- inherited an island? In the arctic north? Care to give us lat/lon coordinates or a name?

underbruine

you're shoulders look like that of a pitcher, did you ever pitch in college or something? I'm trying to think of a pitcher with your body type.

I'm sorry if I've offended anyone by leaving their blog off the list.

This was a given, right?

91

I swear I LOL'ED good one Bob.

Oh, and I guess I missed my desserts.

1) Raspberry cheesecake.
2) Pumpkin pie.

My favorite desserts are cheesecake and my momma's brownies (i'm a simple guy). Blog-wise, I like Minorleagueball, Dodgerthoughts, Pitchfork, Juan cole, andrew sullivan, my ex girlfriend's livejournal (just kidding). My baseball equivalent is Edwin Jackson (aside from birthplace and skin color).

Anyway, I have a Gameday audio question. Does anyone know how to make it work with an Intel Mac? I used to have a trick that i don't feel like explaining that allowed it to work but my computer has since downloaded a security update and now it doesn't seem to work anymore. : (

Considering I didn't list a single sports blog, I should apologize. I figured I could ask somebody on one of the ones I did mention to tell me how the Dodgers are doing every year.

101 - as a matter of fact, yes. You need to get mplayer for the Intel Mac.

If I were trapped with scareduck, I would change my blogs to:

Pol Pot's Ponderings
Marx's Meanderings
Fidel's Foibles

I feel that creating a sense of conflict would heighten the desert island experience.

103 And that works for you? I will try it immediately.

Underbruin

you're the guy sitting next to Jon rith? on our DT get together.

Drew has become a worning track power guy.

Once again, Prime Ticket isn't carrying this game out here in the tropics.

106 - Unfortunately, no, I didn't make it to the DT meeting. I'm about 6'5", 230 lbs or so. Never played baseball beyond high school, though I did throw for Track & Field, so I'm fairly Choi-sized. =P

46 Ray King

108 But at least you are in the tropics :)

I hate to say it, but if your lineup can't touch guys like Batista, your pitchers are going to lose. But our current line-up at Vegas looks damn potent,at least in the middle, so don't trade prospects.
Only 12 days to go before we are safe from a stupid trade.

it was probably suferingbruin? I'm comfused?

94 - Well, I've given your blog praise in the past in other forms - if you'll recall BlogDay?

104 - it's a holiday in Cambodia!

94 - is that like Bloomsday?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomsday

115 It's tough kid, but it's life!

gonzalez tied with williams in doubles?

Suprised Lofton couldn't bring that down.

I hate that they scored, We are facing Batista for crying out loud! let's score a run come on blue crew!

113 - Not sure. Could have been?

Great play by Wilber

94 - as an example of what I'm talking about, consider this:

http://www.lookoutlanding.com/story/2006/7/17/13030/5945

"According to folklore I just made up, the Angel of Death is accompanied by a smokin' hot bimbo whose sole purpose is to ease the pain that comes with the realization that you're dead and going to Hell. She appears rather suddenly just prior to quietus and sticks around until the deed is done and the soul is released from its body, at which point she returns to her otherworldly necromantic abode for cocktails and casual sex with men who are better looking than you. Sure enough, she was in attendance at the Rogers Centre today, showing up to stand behind home plate and bear witness to the bottom of the eleventh:

Mysterious accomplice to Death whose face is constantly hidden by the FSN header graphic, you can find my email address in the right-hand menu bar. I understand the necessary side-effect of making your acquaintance, but while it's not ideal, I'm not sure a life of watching Mike Hargrove manage your favorite baseball team is a life worth living anyway."

Everybodies given up or gone to sleep. If anyone was still watching or cared, do you know how much abuse Lofton would have got?

Anyone ever see the movie National Treasure. I didn't expect it to be good, but I'm just stunned that it is this stupidly bad.

It does have a stunning archivist heroine. Might cheer you up a bit Bob.

That is sad, only 125 posts at this point!

113 121 Yeah, it was me.

116 - Hah, no (believe me, I'm not one to celebrate Bloomsday =P). No, BlogDay. Does www.thedailybj.com ring a bell? (And it doesn't mean what you think it does, sickos...)

I don't write for it anymore, but I did before.

104
If I was stuck with Scareduck it wouldn't be for long. Ever since I read Stranger in a Strange Land by Heinlein I've always felt cannibalism should be a part of our society. No need for anyone to starve when food is plentifull.

123 That's good stuff.

Did y'all catch the Yard Work post by Jim Leyland? That's one of the funniest things I've ever read.

It's hear for the curious: http://www.yard-work.org/

Second one down.

was that a "slerve" Lowe just threw to Green.

Pol Pot's Ponderings

For which I'm an occasional guest columnist.

125

I've met archivists. They don't like that actress. If they look like me, they are doing well.

Time to drown my sorrows in a pizza. Tough to find things to drown your sorrows in if you can't go on a drinking binge.

129 - wow, glad to know I inspire such strong feelings. On the other hand, homicidal rage wasn't what I was quite aiming for...

125 I didnt see National Treasure, but the guy who came up with the idea for it and produced it was just named head of movie production for Disney. So there will be more where that came from.

I still believe, come one blew crew.

it's the top of the 5th, it's till early

136. National Treasure 2 is already in the works.....

cr

After two at bats I'm struck with amazement that JD Drew has gounded out to 1st and struck out. Next we should get the weak fly ball and a walk. I believe that JD and Shawn Green have now combined for over 200 at bats without a home run.

Since the end of the Len Gabrielson era does anyone know what the record is for the longest number of at bats between home runs for a Dodger right fielder?

I guess Lucille II came back to earth.

When Ethier and Aybar look special, what does it say about the Major Leque players?

That commercial explains it all! I need to get rid of the Prius and buy a Hummer! That will show 'em!

Or in the future, I may have to arrange the horse head in the bed.

Ahh. No wife. No kids. Just me, the TV and a chicken salad sandwich after a few very long workdays. (Thank goodness because daughter would be screaming right now).

This is easy for me:

This is the only blog I read.

Coldstone Bannana Ice Cream with Choclate Chips.

Apple Pan Bannana Cream Pie.

Jon, I too must have my apple pie cold. I hate when they warm it up. And what's up with the cheese? Pie and cheese don't belong together.

The woman in National Treasure was beautiful.

NJR, are you from Providence?

Bob, don't know what the thin envelope is but sorry whatever it is.

Marty, I'm sure you have posted an update but I have been off-line, how is the dog.

Chicken salad sndwich is gone.

I'd have to go with Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey ice cream, and pound cake. If I get a drink as a freebie, then I'd go with IBC Cream Soda, packaging it with the pound cake.

My blogs (in addition to the given "Dodger Thoughts") would be

* Marginal Revolution
* Drudge Report (which isn't really a blog, just like Troy Glaus isn't really a shortstop. Yet he's played short enough that he's eligible there for my fantasy team)
* Jorge Cantu's blog. I can trade this to Ned Colletti for oven-fresh chocolate chip cookies and cold, fresh milk.

get Lowe out of there

Those everyday bullpen sessions don't seem to have helped Lowe very much.

he's still keeping his pitches up, I really hope Honeycutt didn't screw him up.

condolence: sympathy with a person who has experienced pain, grief, or misfortune

Based loaded, Shawn Green coming up.

The situation screams out for Odalis.

I can't believe DT has "E-Online" LOL

Well atleast that maid my day. :o)

I think it is this situation which sent Odalis to the pen. He was never right after giving up the HR to Green. The only way to reverse the hex for OP to get Green out. Then all will be restored to normal.

Defensive substitution for AAAybar. Back to Vegas for Willy.

I swear this team can break your heart.

Lowe must be feeling the pressure of committing adultery again.

151 -
Well atleast that maid my day

I wouldn't mind something to maid my house.

154 - Yep, resulting in blood loss. And the frustration forces all the oxygen to your head to compensate.

Thus, one "bleeds Dodger blue."

I know Jon has to be conservative with his comments, but I believe we are seeing something extraordinary in terms of performance for salary. It compares or tops the late 90's D's and Mets teams which must hold records due to salary inflation alone.
The best stategy would be to use the prospects and flush everyone else.In a few years the cost would be almost nothing. And we would be better! Could we be worse?

153 - Aybar moved to 2nd. Martinez is out for grounding into a double play?

Aybar's play in the 4th made Web Gems. It was pretty sweet.

158 Since we have the 14th best record in baseball, I'll say yes.

It compares or tops the late 90's D's and Mets teams which must hold records due to salary inflation alone.

I think the worst performance vs salary team for the Dodgers was 2000.

159 Just a double switch with Beimel, I think, though I've mostly been watching swashbuckling historians and supermodel archivists while the game's been wandering on.

Down 5 runs, Furcal steals 2nd (but fortunately makes it)
Then Nomar swings at the first pitch (which was a breaking ball out of the strike zone) after Lofton's great at bat

161 But it would take some work, which I don't think we are capable of.

162 I think that was it. I was close!

This is the kind of game made for the initial question Jon asked, and I vote for a second round:

Lemon Merengue Pie
Creme Brulee

Primer
Analysts
Griddle

Hardball Times might sneak in there if it is a blog, but it probably isn't

I stand corrected.
The 1999 Dodgers finished 77-85, and I'm pretty sure that might have been the worst team alot of money can buy. The highlights from that team were Kevin Brown's ERA+148, and suprisingly Eric Young's 63-26 BB/K ratio.

If your three favorite blogs have hyperlinks, on the dessert island can you click on them?

As for dessert, there's a place in SF called Park Chow that serves apple pie with cinnamon ice cream and caramel sauce.

Also, Ben & Jerry's Caramel Heath Bar Crunch

And finally, pineapple upside down cake.

ScienceBlog.com
Althouse.blogspot.com
LA Observed

(I'm assuming present company excepted. I actually look at DT before any of these.)

Derek Lowe has a 4.96 career ERA in July.

Our scouting and farm depts. give us reason for some hope and as a loyal D's fan I guess that is enough. The fact that when a mid-level prospect comes up, he almost always shines and causes a commotion says quite a bit though.

Toby Hall rubs my the wrong way!

Key Lime Pie
"Special" Brownies or Cookies

Minorleagueball
Bruinsnation
Tucker Max

170

that makes me feel a little better, Ride the wave lowe.

How about the 2002 Rangers?

72-92 for $105,726,122

Biemal about to come up gimpy (and stupid after the bawk)

Nomar's having his first slump of the year I think.
59Abs in July, BA-.254 and .794 OPS.

177 That's a slump?

177
That's the problem with "clutch" hitters: if there's no one on base ahead of them, they're just not the same hitter...

Let's score some runs blew crew.

I think anything over 50abs, that significantly deviates from the player's seasonal averages before hand or career averags, is a slump.

So yes, Nomar is slumping. But he sets a high standard for himself.

175. The 2006 Cubs may come close to equaling similar futility.

Nomar puede batear solamente con patos en la charca.

I wonder if the Dodgers will trade for Shea Hillenbrand now that he is on his way out in Toronto.

IF ANYTHING THE PADRES LOST TODAY I had to put that in bold to bring the happy in the mind.

Derek Lowe - July, Aug, Sept career splits

July
ERA:4.96, RA:5.66 WHIP:1.43 HR/9: 1.18

August
ERA: 3.25 RA: 4.05 WHIP: 1.19 HR/9: 0.54

September
ERA: 3.16 RA: 3.62 WHIP: 1.23 HR/9: 0.55

184

Shea never thanked me for the crib.

184

According to the AZ announcers, Toronto just cut Hillenbrand tonight because he refused to sit with his team in the dugout.

183

"en la charca?" that dosn't sound native to me pilgrime? :o)

Lord, I'm afraid I see those panic lines on Grady's face each time he comes out to pull a pitcher. But by the time he speaks after the game or the next day, he sounds calm and almost promises not to trade prospects.
I hope the second take is true!
I'm not positive yet, but I have felt before that old vets, or long guaranteed contracts are a bad bargain. This leaves home developed players as about the only option. But I bet another path to success is lucky trades for young players. And this may be all luck. As you can see by the Yanks, even limitless money has its limits.

LOl...thats some NBA type stuff there. Wouldnt they suspend a player for something like that instead of just cut him?

186 - sorry, I forgot the rest of the commas so it's not as nice to read.

I'm assuming charca = pond, si?

Nevertheless, the happy tastes like sad.

Hillenbrand would have been DFAed and they'll have ten days to trade him.

He's been DFA'd.

http://tinyurl.com/hy35b

189

What word would you use for "pond?" It's not a word I have to use very often in conversation.

193

Pond is correct for the term (just not in my native "slang" Mexican tongue)

Desserts:

Frozen bananas
Ice cream bars
Cornballs

Blogs:

ImOscar.com

Lowe does get better towards the end of the season. He always sucks in July.
But I refuse to see anything but the D's starters know they will get no runs and have no hope. This kills starters. It has only been bad since just before the all-star break, so maybe it will improve. But it is a huge impediment.

I never thought I'd say this, but let's get Shea Hillenbrand.

183

"Nomar puede batear solamente con patos en la charca." you can use "en la agua"= "in the wather"

You know who pitches really well with no run support?

Odalis Perez. His two best starts (he only had 3 good ones) were in games where the Dodgers scored 2 runs or less while he pitched.

at least this year. Maybe he misses the anemic offense he loved to criticize?

Orlando Hudson smoked it!

198

But the joke wouldn't have been as funny if I used a Spanglish word.

Not that it was particularly funny to begin with.

But what the heck do I know? I'm an underachieving loser sitting around his one bedroom apartment wearing a shirt that make him look like a reject from Clowns Without Borders.

I'm going to go check on my oven ...

206

That's not a cheap attempt to garner sympathy.

That's a blatant attempt to garner pity!

201 -- my thoughts exactly

203. Funny, Odalis said the same thing in 2003.

My girlfriend just asked me, "is the game over" I told her, the game was over in the 4th inning sweet heart.

206 - What's cookin, doc?

Darn, we have yet another 'wrong brother'.

Sometimes you eat the bar and sometimes the bar eats you.

Man, another embarrassment. Please don't panic--Grits or GM.
All we have to do is take tomorrows game and its a split.
Please keep our prospects or you condemn us to this for years.

I bet every pitcher in baseball is licking his chops wishing they were playing the anemic Dodgers.

!!!Play the Dogers and be Roger Clemans for a night!!!

The Blue Jays could use some AL East tested middle relief!

To be Roger Clemens, your team can't score any runs either.

I guess tonight is really

!!!Play the Dodgers and be Babe Ruth for a night!!!

This is off topic, but hopefully somebody can help me. I live in SF and have Direct TV. I just ordered thier Sports Package, which includes all of the Foxes. I do not have the MLB package. It was my understanding that with this package I could watch most of the games on the other Fox channels subject to any special blackout rules. I watched the debacle on Monday and some of yesterday's game and was set to watch tonight-perhaps I am fortunate. But tonight can't get anything-the Direct TV customer service people don't seem to have a great answer. Any body have a similiar problem

Thanks

214

very very very very very very true!

211- Razors pain you;
Rivers are damp;
Acids stain you;
And drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren't lawful;
Nooses give;
Gas smells awful;
You might as well live.

219- The game isn't on Fox, tonight. It's on L.A. local KCAL9.

219 -- ESPN may have a Wednesday night blackout window.

There is no other way to say it: Drew stinks. I put him in the dumpster with Cruz and Ledee. If he didn't have that ridiculous reputation, he'd be considered a very average outfielder in danger of being traded. Potential doesn't mean anything, performance is what counts. Project Kemp's stat's to equal Drew's at bats and record. Who is better?

219
On KCAL 9.

It looks like the Dodgers took a vacation during the all-star game & don't wanna come back!

Never mind, Andrew's answer is not only the right one, it's hip and edgy

What's cookin for me is I've got a bunch of heirloom tomatos ripening. Cherokee Purple, Mr. Stripey, Black Brandywine. Tonight I'm going to just make BLT's with them. This weekend will be Tomatos, mozzorella and fresh basil. Yum.

219 - I believe you were misinformed if you were told that you could watch live MLB baseball with the DirecTV sports package without Extra Innings. You only get to watch The Best Damn Sports Show at just about any time of day.

Nor do you get to watch live college football. All that is blacked out. That's my understanding anyway.

You may have been watching the past couple nights because of the free preview of EI?

219 - It is on Fox Arizona tonight, so you might want to check...

This weekend will be Tomatos, mozzorella and fresh basil

My wife makes that (i.e. "caprese") quite a bit. She adds olive oil and chopped garlic to the mix. Yum!

230 Yep, I add good olive oil and a balsamic vineger. It's great. There's nothing like home-grown tomatos.

I'm broken between watching the movie Cocktail (one of my favorite movies) or the Dodgers losing another game? I swear it's a hard disicion (yes I love my dodgers that much)

Bob hasn't come back from his oven yet. Icaros, would you please pop your head out of the closet and tell Bob that everything's ok?

If you guys are serious about acquiring Shea Hillenbrand, what exactly would you give up? I dont think he's going to make a difference, other than simply another guy to play in front of Aybar.

Yeah but I have Dish. Their Channel L:ine0up on the Internet says I get FSW and FSW2. FSW2 is the PrimeTime station that carries Dodger games. But they only give me FSW which has the Angel games. I don't watch them. They only say it was an atrbitrary decision that people in my zip code only get FSW; people in some other zip codes get FSW2. Telling them their advertising says otherwise and threatening to sue doesn't move them at all. If they're going to keep on losing it won't matter much anyway.

223 - Ok

By OBP rank, not counting today's game:

1) Nomar - .414
2) Martinez - .396
3) Ethier - .392
4) Repko - .392
5) Drew - .379
...
20) Kemp - .316

By SLG rank
1) Olmedo - .579
2) Nomar - .571
3) Repko - .522
4) Ethier - .516
5) Kemp - .500
6) Aybar - .464
7) Drew - .461

Incidentally, Jeff Kent's .267/.369/.449 puts him at #7 and #9, respectively.

219 Louis- I can't give you clear info. because I haven't searched that far, but I have some insight. I have MLB Extra Innings package, or what ever they call it now. If there is not a Fox pay station carrying a game for one of the participants, I usually can't get it. One year(within the past 2 or 3), I had the sports package with all the Fox regional stations( as youseemed to have ordered). I could never figure out all the rules, and sometimes I got games I never expected; sometimes I got blacked out for noi reason I could figure. It didn't seem to cost 1/2 as much as Extra innings but it drove me crazy. I think that now you get the most possible from Extra Innings, but I miss every Sat. afternoon because Fox blacks that out for everyone. Wish I knew more. Good Luck.

Suffering Bruin, e-mail me - I still want to get you your replacement TBODT.

watching the movie Cocktail

Its so bad, its good.
My friend used to always joke that when's he upset, he just pops in the movie Cocktail and it makes him feel better. Apparently, when life gets you down, just board a plane to Jamaica, become a bartender, and have intimate relations with Elizabeth Shue. All your problems are then solved.

Tom Cruise makes many entertaining, yet unrealistic flicks. Top Gun is my favortie of this genre.

When's the last time the Dodgers got a good ol' fashioned nine in the ninth?

232. I would watch teh Dodgers. Cocktail is an awful movie. Any movie with TC is an awful movie.

The only good things that can be said for that movie are Elizabeth Shue and Brain Brown, and only becasue was married to Rachel Ward who most of us decided we really like.

Canada needs to have a Cuban Missile Crisis of its own.

The goal is to replace Izturis. That may not actually result from the acquisition, but one thing at a time.

I think just about everyone will be going after Hillenbrand now.

Top 5 Elisabeth Shue moments

5) Sweet girl in The Karate Kid
4) Suffering in Cocktail
3) Feisty ingenue in Soapdish
2) Nursing Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas
1) Tour de force in the opening credits of Adventures in Babysitting

240 - the 51's got 8 in the 8th to get Gagne a save situation. Are the Dodgers that good?

Only two more games until we catch Col

A new Lowe, shoutout by Miguel Batista.

Batista with the rare CGSH.

247 I'm hoping that headline is printed somewhere.

Marty yeah I'm watching a few heritage tomatos too, but back east there way behind.
We got to stick to baseball, because this is not a normal phenomenom, and we need to try to understand it. This could kill a franchise.

And they can have him, quite frankly.

239 (I was a midget when the movie came out)

theres some little things that don't make sense in that movie, can you name some?

247 Of course had I written shutout it would have been much more likely. Apologies.

I was doing the NYT Crossword puzzle. It took me a disappointing 15:34 to complete.

What a pathetic offense, we make Bautista, whose periphials are awful, look like a cy young winner.

oh well, looking foward to the youngesters I guess.

And JD Drew, he'll bid his brother adu(spelled it wrong probably)

singing "one day I'll be as good as you".

Do any of you guys watch Rescue Me?
I think its a very good show, but its obvious that Denis Leary is writing it. I've never witnessed an actor/writer so vain, that he would write into an episode his own character getting drugged, and then raped by a woman? If you saw last nite's episode, Leary was raped by one woman, and got with a couple other women too. Watching an episode of Rescue Me, is like seeing Leary's own fantasies (a tough talking firefighter that scores with attractive chics constantly) come to life on the big screen.

Now I like Denis Leary as an actor, comedian, etc. I just think his ego is out of control when he writes himself into these situations.

241

give me a break guys, I was a young impressionable sole back then.

244

2) Nursing Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas

love it!

wow our hitting needs to improve.

someone's surely mentioned by now that Florida beat DC 1-0 on a home run by old friend Cody Ross.

On the Yahoo! game recap there's a photo of Cody, the offensive star of the day. He's wearing a Dodger cap.

We need to not panic. We got players coming.
We will get another good draft position this year, and we are presently good at that. Go with it. I know at some point we will have to convert, but not yet. I hope we get people who know how.

257 - You were a fish, dude? That's awesome.

what's a fish dude?

A sole is a type of fish.

alma = soul

Stupid English homophones!

264

doh!!!

264 - It's truly an awful language. I apologize if that was a little snarky. Sadly, that's the most amusing thing that has happened today.

223
Come on, it is obvious he is hurt. These are the same at bats we watched Shawn Green give us in 2003 when he wouldn't tell anyone he had destroyed his shoulder. They have evidently decided that rest won't cure whatever ails him and he has to play through it. And of course the Dodger medical will be wrong as usual and it won't be long before he's shut down for the season because they misdiagnosed the real problem. Anyone heard from Werth lately?

JD Drew playing hurt is a perverse sort of justice, but the lesson will have to get through somehow.

" The NL West is a combined 11-21 since the All-Star break."

Remember when the season started and the NL West was the toughest division in baseball. That time is awfully far back in the rear view mirror!

Drew's AB/HR this year is 32.8
In 2004/2005 it was 16.4

I think the power slump might also be caused by Drew's placement in the order. He doesnt have protection that he'd had in prior seasons. Therefore, he's not getting the same types of pitches. I think pitchers are pitching around him.

His poor performance vs LHP is my biggest concern. But I'm not sure if its bc he's hurt. He may simply be having a down season.

I'd flip flop Nomar/Drew in the batting order, to see if that has an effect. If it doesnt, then maybe Drew is hurt. But it seemed like he hit most of his HRs batting 3rd, and then he's hit cleanup and hasnt hit many. Kent's had the same issue. He's getting pitched around also I think.

237, thanks that is probably the most accurate answer the only good thing about trying to watch the Dodger game tonight on Fox Arizona was I missed the game-looks like we really stunk it up...Here is a baseball thoguht regarding everyone's favorite JD Drew. Since Drew has an opt out at the end of this year, would it not make some sense to trade him with perhaps one prospect and try and get some power somewhere. He is then able after the season is over to be a free agent? I don't know if he has any veto rights. But if we have anything right now it is too many outfielders

NL West is still the best division in the league.

The Big Kahuna is starting on IFC, right now. If you've never seen it, it's great!

The top four teams in the NL West are much better than the bottom of the NL Central.

I'm going to see a quakes game tomorrow for no particular reason, Nate, are there any prospects I should watch for on that team?

275

I still hate the NL WEST.

256 Sounds like the Drew Carey syndrome

I'm glad I missed the game tonight, too, though it was painful enough just to see the results. Was Lowe that bad? Do you think Toby Hall calling the game instead of Martin had any affect? (Not that Lowe hasn't basically been struggling for a month anyway.)

Apparently the work he's done this past week in the bullpen didn't do much.

I don't know what to say about the offense over the past week, either, except there's nowhere to go but up! (Says Pollyanna.)

Don't see how the bats are going to suddenly wake up against Webb tomorrow, either, but you never know and here's to a better homestand.

I'm gonna curl up with a copy of Daniel Clowes' Ice Haven and forget the score tonight.

276 The Quakes? I thought that was a soccer team (once).

Whatever happened to J.D. Drew scares me.

Will future generations understand the joke on Seinfeld about George not rewinding Rochelle, Rochelle?

"Rewind? What is this rewind you speak of?"

Funny line from the juicebox:

"These being the Cubs, Hendry was rewarded for assembling this juggernaut with a two year contract extension five days into the season. Because apparently the Cubs' goal for this year was to win three games."

281

His little brother showed up unexpectedly, scary indeed

Ruggiano has been sent to the Devil Rays as the player to be named later in the Hendrickson trade.

Put JoeyP on suicide watch: the PTBNL in the Hendrickson/Hall/Navarro/Seo trade has finally been named: Justin Ruggiano.

DRays need another outfielder in the system.

287 -- They really do. Delmon Young and Elijah Dukes could be in the penal system before long, the way they are going.

Good for Ruggiano.
I'm not upset, Logan White has shown he treats his college players as merely draft filler. Hopefully Ruggiano gets a legit change with the D-Rays.

I always mix up Ruggiano and Raglani. I know Ruggiano is having a better year, but I think Raglani has more upside. Ruggiano looks like he could be a late bloomer though. It seems kind of pointless to throw him in what was already a pretty one sided trade.

Ruggiano could be another Victorino (and not just because of their Italian ancestry) - solid outfielders who could shine somewhere else. Still, i wasn't all that sold on him (from the little I saw) as a great ML prospect, but he could be solid. On the other hand, I still can't believe the Dodgers had to throw in another play for that trade.

I'm actually glad it's him over Delwyn Young, for what that's worth.

Was Ruggiano assigned to the D-Rays AAA team? I hope so. He was languishing in AA.

Btw, speaking of that "one sided trade" (I'm in the minority I suppose who thinks it was pretty even), Jae Seo tonight:
Gave up two homers to Minnesota's Rondell White and allowed seven earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.

289 -- Once the draftees are in the system, White doesn't have any role in what is done with them, unless his opinion is sought, and even then he has no final say in a decision about a player. That is Terry Collins' job, and of course where trades are concerned, Colletti has the final say.

Seo had pitched pretty well his previous two starts. I think the problem with the trade is that Seo and Hendrickson are interchangeable, but Navarro/Ruggiano are discarded for nothing.

"I'm caught in the middle of when to throw what pitch," Lowe said. "The goal is to pitch deep into a game and I haven't done that in a month." - Thursday's LA Times

294. If thats the case, like I echo'ed before a couple nites ago: Terry Collins needs to be replaced. Maybe he'd make a better field manager, but the promotion/demotion and valuing of the prospects has been very very suspect IMO.

295 - I think you could make a sample size argument with Hendrickson. It's hard to judge after 3 starts, especially after he took 4 unearned runs in one of them. I think he'll be a plus part in the end, but I don't think he'll quite make up for Navarro and Ruggiano for Hall.

297 - Maybe he'd make a better field manager

Well, I guess we may never know.

Maybe Lowe should go back to just throwing sinkers and then just throw in a few cutters.

He was languishing in AA.

Yea... explain how he is languising in AA again? I must have missed that.

If Terry Collins was the guy that told Blake Dewitt to hit the ball on the ground more, maybe that can get him fired.

303. BC he should have been in AAA. Did the Dbax not promote Stephen Drew last year? No, they kept promoting him.

Ruggiano should have been at Vegas. He wasnt.
This new D-Rays GM I like. He thinks exactly like I do. Of course, he's an ex Wall Street broker that understands value.

296.

Maybe he should focus on preventing runs first. Does he know what batters are hitting on the first pitch against him?

If Terry Collins was the guy that told Blake Dewitt to hit the ball on the ground more, maybe that can get him fired.

He was the one to tell him to change it back

BC he should have been in AAA. Did the Dbax not promote Stephen Drew last year? No, they kept promoting him.

His numbers don't warrant a AAA promotion. Last year, he only spent less then 150ABs in AA, with his high K rate, his average might have been a fluke. so far this year, his average is significantly down which shows his avg last year was flukey. And Stephen Drew is a totally different case. Drew was a totally different case.

You still havent given any reasonable evidence to show that he should be in Vegas. His numbers this year did not warrant any type of promotion.

This new D-Rays GM I like. He thinks exactly like I do. Of course, he's an ex Wall Street broker that understands value.

I'm sure there is plenty of room on the devil rays bandwagon.

I am pleased that the player sent away isn't somebody from the tentative Top 30 Dodgers Prospects list I wrote up a couple days ago. Batting .263/.368/.443 in Double A at age 24 wasn't going to put Ruggiano in the Dodgers' plans, and he would have been eligible for the Rule 5 draft after this season. I saw no chance that the Dodgers would protect him given the other players that will need to be protected on the 40 man roster. Somebody mentioned Shane Victorino's name above. Interesting, because like Ruggiano Victorino played at Jacksonville at age 24. Victorino's batting line was .328/.375/.584, and DePodesta didn't even bother to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, instead wasting a roster spot on 28-year-old AAAA player Brian Myrow. I was furious about that at the time.

www.draysbay.com

www.raysbaseball.com

There you go.

Also, JoeyP should know that Ruggiano was never a "moneyball" draftee that had great college stats. Actually quite the opposite. he was a scouting pick because one of White's scouts like Ruggiano. I think Canuck can elaborate more on that.

What's so great about Ruggiano? He was batting .263/.368/.443, with 9 homers and 45 RBIs, that's worse than what Drew has put up so far.

Ruggiano has been assigned to AA Montgomery.

307

I would have put Ruggiano in my top 30. I think including him in that Dray deal was too much. But whatever, what done is done.

Is Arizona becoming our new Temple of Doom, we have won just one of our last 9 games there. What a disaster of a road trip. Talking about coming home with our tail between our legs. I don't know if we should give up the farm for a run this season. This year, even if we sneak into the playoffs, we will make just as quick an exit. I would maybe make a deal with the White Sox in the off season to try and get McCarthy, a young arm to pair with Billingsley and Penny. I wouldn't dispense with Nomar and hopefully he'll agree to try third next year. We just don't have the pitching to compete deep into the postseason this year.

I just enjoy seeing competance.
Baseball in general drives me crazy. So when a couple teams appear to have "gotten it", its interesting. I havent followed all of this new D-Rays GM's moves, but his drafting of Evan Longoria was sound. And his moves with the Dodgers have been good.

I enjoy sound logic.

What's so great about Ruggiano? He was batting .263/.368/.443, with 9 homers and 45 RBIs, that's worse than what Drew has put up so far.

He beat up on A+ pitching last year as a 23 yr old and had a flukey AA year. He has good patience though and has some sock in his bat. But the strikeouts might prohibit him from hitting for a decent average if he gets into the bigs. Ive seen projections of a 5th outfielder all the way to Jason Bay type sleeper. Although his numbers this year have tempered the Jason Bay type sleeper enthusiasm.

309 That's not entirely true, his Junior year he was fairly studly (.322/.403/.555) and he was hurt senior year.

Nevertheless, I really don't think the Dodgers are losing much. I liked having him around on the hopes that he might develop into a fifth outfielder in a system that didn't have much outfield depth, but Ethier made him obsolete.

296 - That was the second game that Toby Hall has caught Derek Lowe. The quote makes it sound like Lowe didn't think he could trust Hall.

Hopefully Pedroza can move on soon so he can get his career untracked. Felt sorry for that kid.

Hopefully Pedroza can move on soon so he can get his career untracked. Felt sorry for that kid.

When he sucks for the rest of the year in Vero, can you stop with his perpetually college bias whining?

perpetual!!!!

I know many names and possible trade rumors are just that so let us not jump the gun and pound Coletti into submission at a rumor of a deal, i.e. Boone, Soriano, ect...
The Blue needs pitching more right now, but the supply is scarce and demand is high and if the price is the "prize plums" of our bumper crop of youngsters, I'm not sure a 2 month rental is worth giving up a foundation for long term success in the future.

Its whining based on guys that produce, but get looked over.

When Anthony Reyes/Jason Windsor types are producing at the MLB level and Elbert/Johnson/Wall are bussing it in the minors, will you change your tune that perhaps Terry Collins isnt as smart as you think he is?

Now you think Reyes is going to be better than Elbert? Are you ok?

If thats the case, like I echo'ed before a couple nites ago: Terry Collins needs to be replaced. Maybe he'd make a better field manager, but the promotion/demotion and valuing of the prospects has been very very suspect IMO.
Terry Collins is doing an excellent job. Look at all of these prospects succeeding at the big league level. Without them, we'd be in last place. Demoting Aybar was questionable, but I'd rather see him starting in AAA, than coming off the bench in the majors. Young players need at bats to develop. That's why Kemp is down in the minors right now. He has some things to work on and it won't hurt him to spend a month in AAA (a level he had never played at until a few days ago).

Windsor has pitched one game. He was very hittable in the minors and I know you like to translate minor stats to the majors.

316 Doesn't it seem like Ned is trimming the fat from the farm system? He may not be getting enough for these guys (in our eyes), but his philosophy may be that it's better to get something right now than nothing down the road.

I might not agree with that philosophy, but whatever.

Hittable? Not really.

Windsor doesnt give up HRs, k rate higher than 9, and a decent bb rate.

The fact he keeps the ball on the ground, has a pretty good K rate is definitely something to be excited about. I never look at hits allowed anyway.

Windsor reminds me of another guy that gets overlooked- Josh Johnson. Windsor is just older and has better control. Johnson will probably end up being better though.

will you change your tune that perhaps Terry Collins isnt as smart as you think he is?

I have never given my opinion on Terry Collins level of intelligence.

Its whining based on guys that produce, but get looked over.

No its not. Because he hasn't really produced. He was sent to Columbus because he stunk in Columbus last year after a quick promotion from Odgen. And he spent half the year in Columbus this year before a promotion to A+; where in all honesty, he will probably stink there as well. Your battle cry to save the college players in our system is all honestly, a pointless, and losing proposition. The players who play well in a large enough number of at bats, with good compenent ratios to show that it was not a fluke, will get promoted. Skipping entire levels just does not work, and hinders a players development.

When Anthony Reyes/Jason Windsor types are producing at the MLB level and Elbert/Johnson/Wall are bussing it in the minors

Reyes and Windsow are what? 23-25 years old? Elbert is 20, Johnson is 21, and Wall is 19. Seriously, your lack of patience breeds ignorance. really it has.

328 Nate, I've never seen you this angry here.. even after Ned traded Edwin!

I think Pedroza will get promoted soon, actually, and the Ruggiano trade being another impetus for that.

I seem to recall that Ruggiano was a below average fielder, too, for what that's worth.

Elbert - the top lefthanded pitching prospect in the majors? That Elbert? He'll be in the majors next year, I'm betting.

I enjoy ruffling Nate's feathers.
I get bored when I cant argue something. And this Dodger season has sapped alot of excitement and interest away.

If arguing minor leaguers is all we have to talk about, then I guess thats just what we are left with.

322 -- Are you saying you want to see Elbert, Wall, and one of the Johnsons (Blake? Steve?) in the majors now? Reyes and Windsor are 23. Blake Johnson is 21, Elbert is 20, Wall is 19, and Steve Johnson is 18. Are you going to say age doesn't matter again?

Nate, is there any prospect that I should keep an eye on in Rancho Cogomunga (spelling)? Only asking because I'm supposed to go to one of their games tomorrow.

Nate, I've never seen you this angry here.. even after Ned traded Edwin!

I just got home from crappy day at work, bare with me.

One thing you have to consider is the 40 man roster, Ruggiano was someone that was probably on the bubble, now it is certainly possible that no one would want to do a major league draft on him but he could have gone in the minor league draft. Now, to me this does seem to be a bit much but since he would have to be added to the D-Rays 40 man roster too, maybe they will take him back.

Windsor gave up 75 hits in 66.1 innings and that is with a good Sacramento defense behind him.

333

is that the Angels Affiliate? If so then yes, if Nick Adenhart is pitching, then he is the one you should watch. He is a big time stud.

Stephen Marek RHP- top draft and follow from 2004 draft.

sean rodriguez-21 yr old SS that hits for average and power

eh, thats about it.

Whip of 1.42.

Far too early to call Windsor a success.

331

So you are only acting like this to get under my skin? If Jon didn't have a no cussing policy, you would probably be drowning in language right now.

333 Enjoy the cheap beer and hot dogs night and let the rest follow.

By the way, will Clayton Kershaw be promoted to Odgen this season?

Yesss, drown me in the sweet waters of your envy.

God, I love that line.

I think Pedroza will get promoted soon, actually, and the Ruggiano trade being another impetus for that.

Pedroza just got promoted to A+. He needs to show he can hit there before they promote him to AA.

There's alot to like about Windsor's AAA PCL performance:

66 IP
3 HR's allowed
75 K's.
20 BB's.

Everything is good except for the BB's.

In his debut he had a 10-2 GB/FB ratio IIRC.
There's plenty to be excited about concerning Jason Windsor. Even more satisfying to me, is that Windsor wasnt even on the A's BA top 10.

332- Joey believes that all prospects should make it to the majors in 2 years or less. Otherwise, he considers them busts. I guess Edwin Jackson set the bar high for Joey.

341

Most likely yes. Maybe by the end of this month. His fastball command has been a lot better then I expected.

339. No Nate. I just respect someone that is so energetic about defending their position.

Foxsports is reporting the Mets are now more willing to deal Milledge and Heilman for Zito. DO IT BILLY!!!!! DO IT!!

http://tinyurl.com/zcbfd

344

Since you rely heavily on statistics to form your opinion, Windsor's numbers last year were not very good. They were really average actually when he faced the AA test for soft tossing college righties. He didn't fail, but he didn't pass with flying colors. So it seems that his statistics last year didn't really warrant any type of really high placing on any list. He did well repeating AA this year though and pitched pretty decently in the PCL.

343 Although I don't think they will do this because he has not conquered A+, Xavier Paul is also due for his 40 man roster check and some non-pressure (Suns clinched playoff spot) might be something they might want to consider.

348

You are hear the heartbeat of the entire Mets Nation. I can sense there will be a lot of angry Mets fans on Primer if this is done.

350

I'm not a big Xavier Paul fan. He is stuck to a corner OF position and I don't think he will hit for enough power to be a starting caliber player. He could make a nice throw in for some trade though.

Nate:

I saw this in an earlier thread, don't know if you saw it, just some information on Alex White.

The visiting Post 39 had well-rested ace Alex White ready to roll, and he was all business as White and his team struck early and steadfastly held on for a 9-4 win, eliminating neighboring Post 160 to advance in the playoffs.

White almost perfectly hit his target number of 110 pitches, and most of those pitches were hitting their targets as well. White dealt out 12 strikeouts and threw almost exclusively fastballs in the latter stages of his seven-inning outing, in which he issued just one walk.

"Alex was Alex," said Post 39 assistant coach Rodney Harris, who has filled in for coach Mike Mullis this week after Mullis left to be with his ailing mother in Atlanta. "He went out and did his thing, threw the ball hard and stayed around the strike zone all night. That's doing the job."

353

Yea I saw it. I don't knwo how much is in Logan White's budget, but I have heard something like 800k to 1 million to sign Alex White. I personally, since I don't really care about McCourts money and want the best possible players in our system, would do that in a heartbeat.

343 I'm sure you knew this, but that's all I meant was that Pedroza would get bumped up a level, not to AAA or the majors or something. (Though I thought outside possibility he may get a bump to AA before the season started but now it seems only A+, like you said, is more likely.)

348 That'd be okay by me if we could sign Zito in the offseason, assuming the Mets can't resign him, because then they'd lose their top two prospects and we'd get Zito. (in my fantasy world.)

Okay, I'm really going to bed y'all. Here's to a better day tomorrow.

I can sense there will be a lot of angry Mets fans on Primer if this is done.

The Mets are in 1st place and haven't made any "bad" trades yet and there are already alot of angry Mets fans on Primer. They are an interesting lot.

I think Bob really enjoys the attitude that most of the Mets fans have at Primer (which has been down all day it seems).

354 I think that it will be more of a question of does he want to go follow Miller and Bard at NC or go pro. Since he pitched a full high school season and American Legion for another week or so, I don't see him pitching this year except maybe in the Instructional League.

Nate, do you think he would go to extended spring training like Josh Wall or would he go to Columbus as his first stop.

356

I dont post much on Primer, but I do read it alot. Mets fans are a funny bunch on there. Every thread turns into Mets related some how. And then Leveski makes some sort of Omar/Hispanic joke and Mets fans call him out on being a racist.

rinse and repeat every thread.

357 I don't think you draft a White in that round if you don't plan to spend out of slot money, just keep repeating Andy LaRoche, Andy LaRoche.

356 C'mon the Mets are the classic win now ballclub, they may need a Zito to get out of the NL but they will need something like that, I suspect the Tommy Glavine fountain of youth well to dry up before then.

357

Really depends on how sharp he looks in instructionals in September and how much he developed over winter. I think what the Dodgers want with their prep pitchers before they get into Aball is definately fastball command and at least an average form of any secondary pitch. The old regime with Bavasi and Evans, they were really aggressive with prospect promotion. It seems now since depo that we have been alot less aggressive.

For example, Wall and Steven Johnson were held out of Long season ball this year. If this was 3-5 years ago, I think they would have started the year in Columbus.

Nate, my guess on that list of other choices for that players to be named later list:

Xavier Paul, Cory Dunlap

359

Well in the 13th and 14th last year, we plucked Steven Johnson and Andy Van Slyke and we paid above slot to sign them. But I think Akins and White this year will want significantly more above slot then Johnson and Van Slyke.

2004, we drafed David Price AND Joey Savery in the 19th and 15 :(

Next year, both are probably going top 15.

361 Couldn't this all be a reaction to Edwin Jackson and Greg Miller, though I am never too sure how you can plan against arm injuries.

Jason Windsor was still on the board when we took Cory Dunlap with our 3rd Round pick in 2004 (Windsor was Oakland's 3rd Round pick). I would rather have Windsor than Dunlap, but Dunlap was very much a Moneyball/Depodesta pick (bad body but walked a lot as a junior college player). Has anybody else heard what Dontrelle Willis said about the portly Dunlap after the Dodgers drafted him (they had been in high school together)? "He used to hang out at my house and eat my scraps!" God, I love that. LOL

That trade proposal is awful for the Mets, but Omar Minaya seems intent on winning this year. I can see him pulling a trade like this.

Although it's arguable whether Milledge and Heilman together don't help you more right than Zito.

Just read about Ruggiano. I agree that he's no big loss, but I really liked him, and he just makes an already lopsided trade a lot more lopsided. Our PTBNL was a true roster filler, as there's no real hope for Ryder Mathias, other than Eric Langill's successor as organizational back up catcher. However, the DRays get a guy with an actual shot at the majors. I realize he wouldn't have been added to the roster, but I'm bummed.

And I'd have to agree with Nate about Xavier Paul, I'm not really impressed by him at all. I'd be more than willing to leave him unprotected this winter.

Well, the Dodgers already took a Windsor type of player in Justin Orenduff early that day. But yeah, I'd rather have two of those guys than just one.

368

I think Orenduff has a higher ceiling then Windsor. Well had, who knows now after the surgery.

I would trade for Soriano only if I could trade Drew for Yankee prospects. Then it would cost them and maybe a Dodger prospect for Soriano. Without Drew, Soriano could be re-signed for a few years. Ethier moves to right (I think he said he played more right and center in AAA), and Repko takes over at center, with Lofton as pinch runner and leadoff pinch hitter, and Kemp coming up as soon as he can hit a breaking ball, immediately replacing Repko if he hits it 400 ft. If you're not gonna trade Drew, I'd swap Repko and Lofton, use a 5 man infield rotation, and see what happens.

Repko is the X factor.

363 Didn't we draft Scott Van Slyke? Andy Jr plays for the Cardinal organization.

366 I understand that may not want to get nothing but draft picks if they keep Zito but the team has started off their 10 game trip 5-2, if they can keep this up for another 10 days or so, they will have gone through one of their tough stretches while the Angels after their trip to Tampa, start a really tough stretch.

What I am saying is that I think Billy will play for this season and keep Zito.

And I'd have to agree with Nate about Xavier Paul, I'm not really impressed by him at all. I'd be more than willing to leave him unprotected this winter.

Leaving him unprotected is a no brainer. No team is going to stash im on their 25 man roster. He isnt that strong defensively except for a plus arm, and no way he can hit major league pitching next year.

371

To many Van Slykes. :)

Before the season I thought the A's were going to be the best team in baseball...
I was wrong. They aren't going to win the title, so they should get something for Zito, while they can if it is as good a deal as that.

Who would need to be protected this year? Hu? Abreu? Orenduff? I'm not really good with the specifics of who needs to be protected.

372

I don't think Billy will trade Zito either. Hes in first place right now and if Harden comes back, they can make some noise in the playoffs.

Yep, they should deal Zito if they know Harden isnt coming back this year. Now if Harden would be coming back, then they should be trying to upgrade their team with a bat. Nate already accepted my Street, Duch, Buck for JD Drew trade.

376

Eh I don't remember either.

I highly recommend Man Bites Dog tonight, which is on comedy central right now. Great episode!

Actually I added Mark Alexander to that propsed deal. Is it still a go?

Nate already accepted my Street, Duch, Buck for JD Drew trade.

Bucks going to be an Ethier clone and now we dont have to waste money for bullpen pitchers.

Sorry JoeyP, I forgot to tell you, Drew's shoulder is shot. No refunds!

381

Only if you add Herrera and Mark Sulentic as PTBNL.

380. I saw one episode and thought the entire show was saved by Zach Galifinakis. He's hilarious in it.

Mark, Matt, Patty, Irene. Same difference.

384
He has a great segment in tonight's episode.

375-

The A's have been very disappointing. Some of the players I thought were going to be good, (Dan Johnson, Milton Bradley, Antonio Perez) this year have been ineffective for a variety of reasons. (Injury, underperforming, whatever.) Marco Scutaro has received a rediculous amount of playing time for a team that needs offense. I can't stand the Angels, but unless the A's get healthy, the guys who add -y to the end of everyone's name will go to the postseason. (Hudler called Bob Wickman "Wicky" today.)

As for us, I fear this season has placed us in a terrifying abyss between good and bad, and a decent stretch when the rookies were up fooled everyone into thinking this team was a contending team in the National League. This team is not significantly upgraded on paper from last year's team, and look how that ended up. It is time to stop emulating the Pittsburgh Pirates and doing the block prospects thing and sell whatever we can that isn't a part of the future in this organization.

I'm very happy to see Aybar back up by the way, even if he went 0 for whatever today.

On a random note, Marcus Thames is having a Paul LoDuca-esque breakout in Detroit. Guy's been a AAAA player for years, and suddenly he's one of Detroit's only worthwhile offensive players. Which, if he follows LoDuca's career arc will be the only great year of his career, followed by slightly above average ones punctuated by frustratingly awful second halves.

387 I wouldn't call Detroit's offense weak, he's one of 6 starters with an OPS over .800. I agree though, he pretty much came out of nowhere this year, especially with how poorly he played last year.

Hey everybody.. old friend, Milton Bradley, had a home run yesterday and it is now less than 200 hours away from Steve Garvey BobbleHair night.

331 - Arguing for the sake of arguing. The enjoyment of ruffling someone's feathers. Both of these are violations of the rules of this site, and it won't be allowed to continue.

Further, open solicitation is also forbidden. So, Nate, we will NOT bare with you as you asked in 334. :)

But seriously... does anyone know how to undo just one remembered password in Firefox? I don't want to reset all my remembered passwords, just a password for one particular site. (Actually, it's this one.)

Nate, if you can help me, I'll reconsider baring with you...

Click on "Preferences" in Firefox. Then the "Privacy" tab. Highlight the one you want and click "Remove".

With 28 career leadoff homeruns, Alfonso Soriano is now tied for 10th All-Time with Dodger-related greats. Any early morning (for you lot) guesses?

It's not hard, really.

Am I to interpret that as saying he's tied with TWO Dodger-related greats?

I guess it's not as obvious to me as it should be. I'll guess Lopes and... um...

Jackie wasn't a leadoff man...

I'll guess Lofton for the other one.

394 right, sorry -- two players.

In fact, the two players you name, one of whom is his first base coach.

392 - Bob, what can I say? You have solved a nagging problem for me. You have healed my self-inflicted wound.

You... complete me.

(Seriously: Problem solved. Your help was on-the-nose and greatly appreciated.)

[blows the smoke from his gun barrel]

So tomorrow night I'm going to the big "RFK Grand Reopening" v. the Cubs. Apparently, they've painted the place, added some concessions, retrained the staff, and put in a funzone or somesuch. We'll see. mlb.com tells me it's Livan v. Prior. Fun! The Post tells me it's Astacio v. Hill. Who? Any guesses who it'll be.

For my part, I trust the Post more than nationals.com. The web site is (i) probably understaffed, and (ii) might be perfectly happy to leave Livan/Prior up there even when that news is a little stale for ticket sales purposes.

And with those two, missing a start just seems more likely than making it anyhow.

396

You're welcome.

398 The most durable SP in baseball vs. the least durable. Interesting.

How does Livan warrant first-name treatment? I thought that was reserved for special players like Ichiro! and Neifi!

If this is going to stick, shouldn't Livan get his own exclamation point as well? It seems like something he deserves, based on girth alone.

The Indy Star had a stunningly familar line in a column about the Kearns trade:

Reds general manager Wayne "Midas'' Krivsky saw need and opportunity and didn't stammer.

I installed Firefox 2 Beta last night. It has a spell-check-as-you-go feature in text boxes, underlining misspellings, just like a word processor. So, now if I misspell something, it can only be taken as an intentional display of disrespect. Most of the extensions aren't yet compatible, and I don't think any of the themes are, so it's not a great idea to upgrade yet. But fun.

http://tinyurl.com/qs726

Hey Andrew. I don't know if you've started up with the not-smoking thing, but I hope you have, and I hope it goes well and you stick with it.

It's very important.

404- This is Day 4 and while I'm still not super happy about it, I'm no longer monomaniacal about it, either. I've kept myself occupied. With beta web browsers, mostly.

So apparently after giving up 8 minutes yesterday, Floyd Landis had an Armstrongian run up the mountains today and has claimed almost all of it back.

405 Wow, that's really great.

You think Bob has something against Cycling. How come no Tour on The Griddle?

I was trying the think of the word that would mean "prejudiced against cycling" but I kept getting stuck at "cyclist" and that doesn't quite work.

405 Keep up the good work. Another thing to focus on is how much money you are going to save. Smoking is very expensive. When I quit, a pack was 55 cents and I thought that was really expensive. What are they now, 2.50 a pack?

"So, now if I misspell something, it can only be taken as an intentional display of disrespect."

You're just edgy enough to do that.

It looks like they are playing the British Open in the Sahara desert. I've never seen a browner course. Apparently England is going through a heat wave just like we are.

407. What's the matter with not liking cycling?

411 Well, nothing, and to each his own, etc. But Bob's our resident internationalist.

412. Cycling is kind of the hockey of international sports. A decent sized cult following, but it requires too much specialized knowledge to be accepted by most people in the world.

408- I was paying $3.50 a pack for a not particularly popular brand, and I'm pretty sure that was a bargain. When I'd have to go hit a gas station for an off-peak hours pack (my dealer closed shop at seven), it was more like $4+. I tried buying them over the internet, once, but ended up having to cancel the card I used, because it was being fraudulently used in Moldova. Which is pretty exciting. I wouldn't be surprised if Interpol is monitoring this site, right now. So, there you go.

Does it "hurt the economy" when people quit purchasing cigarettes?

415- It changes the direction of a very, very tiny part of the economy. It doesn't hurt it or help it, necessarily. Until you start thinking about how much of the price of a pack is tax, and then think about how much of that money gets wasted or stolen versus how much of it would if it weren't going to politicians. So, it's possible it helps the economy, assuming the quitter ends up spending his money in less taxable ways. Like on hookers and blow, for example. Hypothetically.

Speaking of taxes, if Barry Bonds doesn't get indicted pretty soon, I'm going to delete my Drudge Report bookmark.

There's no Tour de France chat on The Griddle because my family has a long standing feud against Phil Liggett.

Hey LAT -- here's a good article with the current flavor of the relations between the Lerners and DC. http://tinyurl.com/f4ghh

Money quote: "There has been a certain level of frustration," incoming Nationals President Stan Kasten said this morning. "We're doing all we can to build this team and to excite the fans again about life at RFK. And we're having trouble getting the simplest things done. We keep getting foot-dragging. . . . It does weight us down as we try to move forward. And we keep getting silly roadblocks that stop us."

it was more like $4+

If I still smoked, that would be costing me over $12 per day. Around $336 per month. That's more than my last car payment.

My brother thinks that the teams leading each division in baseball should have to wear yellow jerseys.

"And so, the first pedal has been turned in ANGER!"

http://tinyurl.com/hr9hv

419 I should say, the article is good on flavor but not too good at actually identifying the legal problems that mlb/lerner/kasten are complaining about.

421
Should the defending World Champions wear green jackets...?

The Minneapolis paper says that the Dodgers are one of the teams scouting the Twins, and assume it's for reliever Kyle Lohse. His ERA's bad this year but I've seen him pitch, he has good stuff and a lot of potential. Thoughts?

Also, who do we think is gone when Repko returns - Cruz or Alomar?

Keith Law lists the Giants, Dodgers, Angels, Brewers, and Padres as entrants in the Shea Hillenbrand Derby.

424

But of course!

423 Just to close the loop, sorry for the littering up the thread with this, but here's the key issue re the DC stadium article I linked, I think: "In more than one letter to the city, MLB's lawyers have charged that the city has been delinquent in turning over documents, including the lease of the grounds on which the stadium will be built, proof that the city has title of the land, soil boring reports, fund balance reports for the project and monthly project schedules."

426 - Possibly Steve.

410 That's the way golf is supposed to look. So much more fun than the lush, green dart boards they play on the regular tour.

Good job Andrew! I think you've hit on a new geek-style stop smoking program. Play around with new browsers, install Linux, try getting mplayer to work on Gameday, etc. Anything geek to keep you preoccupied.

427 Hillenbrand would be interesting and presumably wouldn't require the Dodgers giving up much to get him since he was just DFA'd by Toronto. He was having a decent year when he played, but was disguntled with the Toronto coaching. Maybe he'd be more gruntled with LA.

432
Not only geek, but edgy and fresh as well.

So Toby Hall for Shea Hillenbrand, then.

I'm sure Toby Hall will enjoy playing on a team that already has two front-line catchers in Bengie Molina and Gregg Zaun.

Or maybe they aren't first string, but 1.5 string.

How does the headline to this story show up in people's browsers?

http://tinyurl.com/h4edl

When I awake each morning, my first thought is always, What would make Toby Hall happy today?

Speaking of perpetually disgruntled Dodger backstops, is Jason Phillips still in the Toronto organization?

Bertman named to Baseball America's 󈬉 for 25

439

That's what I saw, too.

I've always wanted to be ? in a group.

Maybe Bertman is like me and has poor posture.

Someone who is as bad at what he does as Toby Hall has no right to be disgruntled when someone is paying him $2.25 million a year to do it.

On the headline, I get two sides of a right angle, not a box, and after the 25 is "

407 How about 'cyclophobe'?

Another player that the Dodgers could acquire because their team hates them: Edwin Encarnacion. He's been benched so that the Reds can have Aurilla and Clayton in the lineup

442
On Google News, that article shows up with a Japanese kanji character in the headline.

444 - Vin couldn't get "Encarnacion" quite right in '04, don't think it'll sound much better in '06.

New post up top, you busy beavers.

You know if Babe Ruth hadn't retired, and died, some big league club would still have him in the line up because he was a proven veteran. Some GMs and Managers would insist he still had something left...

438

last I heard he was, somebody gave me a link to a HRun he hit, the thing that came to mind is that he still looks like he has weights on his legs when he's running.

444-

Really? The Reds are going insane before our very eyes. Edwin Encarnacion has been a really nice player this year.

Encarnacion: .284/ .380/ .482 OPS- .862

Aurilia: .283/ .335/ .506 OPS- .841

Clayton (Was Numbers): .269/ .315/ .348/ OPS- .663 (!)

I guess that's one less team we have to worry about.