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About Jon
Thank You For Not ...

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

Hey, Look - Pregame Quotes
2006-08-11 19:03
by Jon Weisman

I mean, why not, right?

Wilson Betemit will play against "certain lefties," Grady Little said.

"We're in a situation where we've got so much talent in the infield, everybody needs to play."

So, Betemit's relative struggles against lefties in general provide an opportunity for Julio Lugo, like him or not, to start at third.

Little said the Dodgers would not skip a starting pitcher despite next week's off day, but hinted that there could be a skip after that.

"I certainly didn't see (his best) last night," Little said of Chad Billingsley, who walked six in five innings Thursday, "but we certainly don't expect he'll be on a constant decrease in pitch count."

When asked about whether the outing served as a learning experience for Billingsley, Little said with a dry laugh, "He's had a lot of opportunities to get that point across, to tell you the truth."

Little clearly likes Billingsley, but it's possible that Aaron Sele could start again (in place of Billingsley or Mark Hendrickson) before the season's over. Little seems a little concerned about Billingsley's workload relative to his age. Brett Tomko, however, will remain a reliever, Little said.

Little will also watch the workloads of rookies Andre Ethier and Russell Martin, but there's no question about their everyday roles. A day off for Ethier will only be for rest.

That's it. Great night for a game - let's play one.

Comments
2006-08-11 19:27:42
1.   Todd
Oooh, ooh, first?
2006-08-11 19:31:23
2.   Greg Brock
I mean, why not, right?

I don't know. Whaddya asking me for? You're the benevolent dictator around here.

2006-08-11 19:41:13
3.   trainwreck
All that booze talk yesterday inspired me to drink my Seagrams and 7 up tonight.
2006-08-11 19:58:41
4.   DXMachina
Wow. One inning in, and not a single comment yet. Until now.
2006-08-11 20:06:19
5.   Gen3Blue
Like the news about Martin and Ethier playing.
Expected remarks about "so much talent" in the infield.
Would love to skip a pitcher or
two.
It is amazing how often Furcal leads of with an extra-base hit recently. I was kind of tough on him before the Izturis matter was settled, but he is growing on me.
2006-08-11 20:26:59
6.   King of the Hobos
The Reds have used 22 players so far in their game, and Aaron Harang was their last pitcher. Cormier has yet to pitch, and I'm not sure why Harang is being used ahead of him (injury?). Ramirez and Arroyo are the others who have yet to play.
2006-08-11 20:45:24
7.   Steve
Just so there is no confusion, tonight's enemy of the board is bamboo flooring.
2006-08-11 20:47:55
8.   NPB
Regarding Our Owner's little visit to Scullyland tonight:

MCcourt was saying the same crap in 2004. At least he gets the details right. But really, Frank, my baseball "lifestyle" would be a lot better with tastier concessions and cheaper parking.

2006-08-11 21:19:16
9.   Mr Customer
7. Your's, or someone else's?
2006-08-11 21:30:57
10.   Mr Customer
8. I'd be a happier man if Frank would leave PR to the PR department. He might not have taken as much heat if he would've kept a little more even keel from the beginning. He tends to come across as desperately jumping from crisis to crisis, without ever standing back to evaluate the problem. Whether that is true or not, it's hard to tell from the cheap seats.
2006-08-11 21:34:25
11.   Greg Brock
10 I've heard Frank and the wife flap their gums twenty times more than I heard Peter O'Malley speak....ever. I don't dislike the owners, I just wish they would stop talking. It's not helping their cause, nor is it making them more popular among the fan base.
2006-08-11 22:26:41
12.   Mr Customer
11 That's where I'm coming from. It reeks of desperation, even if it's not.
2006-08-11 23:05:56
13.   dzzrtRatt
Broxton was great tonight: He was Gagnificent.
2006-08-11 23:28:59
14.   thinkblue0
great game tonight. It's nice to be 1.5 up now. If only we had played around .500 before this streak....

oh well, not much to complain about. It looks like Grady is going to creatively shuffle players to get everyone in. This lineup looks so much better on paper and on the field with Kent and Nomar in there.

2006-08-11 23:40:36
15.   Brent is a Dodger Fan
So, with Barry Bonds being relatively punchless these days, and Ray Durham being a hot hitter behind him, I was rather disturbed by the times Hendrickson walked Bonds (and when he didn't).

3rd Inning, 1st and 2nd with 2 out. Hendrickson gets ahead in the count, 0-2 to Bonds. He walks him. Man, if you can't trust at least one strike-worthy pitch with all those balls to give, what the heck are you doing out there? Bonds is a .250 hitter! Durham follows with a single, run scores.

5th Inning, runner on 3rd with 1 out. Why the heck wouldn't you walk Bonds now? You set up a force play/DP opportunity with a slow runner, but if you pitch to him, he can hit a SF without even mashing the ball. Bonds singles home the runner.

Anyway, I'm sure glad they pulled it out. The Jint bullpen doesn't seem that impressive at all.

2006-08-11 23:49:01
16.   Jon Weisman
15 - Several pitches Hendrickson made to Bonds just missed, plus, there was every reason to be careful with him given that the guy behind him was much more relatively punchless. So I wouldn't get worked up over that. Walking Vizquel before Bonds in the seventh was more heinous. Of course, nothing was worse tonight than the Giants' baserunning in the seventh.
2006-08-12 00:13:45
17.   popup
Actually Jon I liked the Giants' baserunning in the 7th. I was listening to the Giants radio broadcast at the time. I have no idea how Ray Durham could risk going to second with two out in the inning if there was even the possibility of a play being made on him.

Stan from Tacoma

2006-08-12 00:59:21
18.   Eric Stephen
Back to Thursday's game for a second, Kenny Lofton had another reason to celebrate his game-winning single.

If my math is correct, that was Lofton's 350th plate appearance of the season, triggering a $50,000 bonus for K-Lo.

His 2006 contract calls for $3.85m base salary and $50k for each of 350, 400, & 450 PA.

Also, Nomar is about 36 plate apps from earning an even bigger bonus: $500k for 400 PA! Plus, he gets $500k for each of 425, 450, 475, 500, 525, 550, & 575 PA. Not bad, $20,000 per plate appearance as a bonus.

2006-08-12 09:42:00
19.   Howard Fox
my problem with Lugo is that, despite his numbers, he appears to me to have been a big fish in a small pond...

he has some flashes of brilliance, at least afield, but he never played on the big stage before now...

2006-08-12 09:44:39
20.   Howard Fox
as far as Billingsley goes, someone needs to drill it into his head that a .300 hitter makes out 70% of the time, at least if he hits the ball...and that a fielder can't make a play on a walk...

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