with Maddux pitching today, i'm pretty confident he'll give us a quality outing, Let's hope our bats can deliver today. coming off a 16 inning game of course

Furcal, SS

Lofton, CF

Lugo, 2B

Drew, RF

Nomar, 1B

Ethier, LF

Betemit, 3B

Martin, C

Maddux, P

in case anybody missed today's line up on Jons previous thread. I think Lugo has magical powers over grady :o)

so i'm wondering if the rumor if Kuo pitching against the Rockies is true?

In the "just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you" mode, I see that Prime Ticket is once again refusing to show me a Dodgers game when Maddux is pitching.

Who the heck did I offend, and how?

Who the heck did I offend, and how?

Rupert Murdoch, when you cut off his limo in traffic, back on September 17, 1998.

He copied down your license plate.

Padres up 4-1 on the DBacks in the 9th.

those darn Padres!

Sorry, if it was in the other thread, but Buster Olney is reporting that a David Wells to San Diego deal is almost done.

Catcher George Kattaras appears to be the player headed to Boston.

7 If they're willing to give up Kottaras, they're either very desperate, or trust Bard to keep up his 2006 level of play rather than his pre-2006 play. Kottaras was BA's #2 prospect in a system that's not very good. Plus he was on the 40 man roster, so the Padres had to get him past the other teams somehow.

"think blue t.v." is at the stadium today (KCAL9)

5 Well, it is the same car, although through some screwy mistake the DMV had the plate numbers mixed up...hey! That's it! It was whoever had the original plates that offended Murdoch back in September '98!

It wasn't me, Mistah Fox, it wasn't me!

Time of Game yesterday:4:54 that's actually not that bad for a 16 inning game no?

11
The Yankees and Red Sox played a 9-inning game in 4:45 recently.

Did anybody catch the Q&A of Tommy Lasorda on Jacksonville.com?

12

so i'm guessing it was a good 16 inning game, wow 9 innings at 4:45 that's a bad 9 inning game.

If the Padres are truly giving up Kottaras for a month of David Wells, then they're even more dumb than I thought they were. It's not like Kottaras is a super-stud, but Bard is having what seems to be a flukish year and you don't want to deplete an already barren system to get a non-impact player.

I'm not saying the Hendrickson trade was any better, but at least we truly have the minor league depth to make a trade like that and have a truly dependable replacement.

11 12 That was my first thought when I read the time.
Oh, so it was just as long as a yankee-red sox game.

Hey Das, saw your note from the last thread. Boy the wild card contenders are just lining up to play the Nationals now. They have just listlessly, aimlessly, sloppily cratered. Must be not fun in that clubhouse right now.

7.

Yes! No stupid trade from Ned.

17

I say unto to you Mr. Robinson:

BWA HAH HAH HAH!

The headbutting epidemic continues in soccer:

http://tinyurl.com/oxynr

17 I love the thought of Soriano swiping bags in blowouts in order to reach 50/50.

I must be driving Mr. Baseball Manager crazy. Good times.

Some folks have expressed to me that they think it will be hard for the team to fire (or promote to an Ambassador of the Game position) Robinson because he's such a legend and the race politics are so complicated in DC, but after this season, which looks to end up closer to 100 losses than 90, that task would seem to have gotten a mite easier.

Especially if they replace him with Dusty Baker!

22

I repeat my comment from 19 in regard to Dusty Baker coming to DC.

I didn't realize Adam LaRoche is having such a monster season.

What's the status on with two of our best draft picks from this year, Alex White and Nick Akins?

We have The Lone Harang(uer) v. The Hall-of-Famer tonight.

[20] One of the things I noticed coming over to the land of purple mountain majesties is the blatant disregard for the head butt in physical confrontations. To Europeans it is a trusty and time honoured technique used to settle many an unpleasant situation.

Three run bomb of Proctor in the Bronx.

5-3 Tigers.

well the players are heading towards the field, let's see what the baseball gods have in store for us.

Wow.

Scott Proctor hung a slider to Craig Monroe for a 3 run homer with two outs and the score 3-2 Yankees. Joe Torre is really overworking Proctor. Torre is doing to Proctor what Jimbo did to Mota.

It's now 5-3 Tigers.

25

alex white attended first day of classes at UNC so we lose his rights.

However, Akins decided to attend riverside CC so he will be a draft and follow for us and we control his rights up until one week before the 2007 draft.

so theres a good chance we can snag akins.

According to Blue Notes, the Dodgers optioned Hamulack down to Vero Beach and brought up Hong-Chih Kuo.

http://dodgerblog.typepad.com/sports_baseball_dodgers/2006/08/tk_title_1.html

The Padres gave up their second best prospect (in a thin farm system) for David Wells?

And I was worried about what Ned was going to do.

i heard on think blue t.v. that he was in the Dodger club house.

33

IMO the Padres know they don't have anything for the future, so they wanna win now.

Apparently, having a day off on monday and tuesday and throwing 14 pitches in the yankees first game today has Rivera taxed. They pretty much lost because he was unavailable.

With Travis Hafner up to bat with the chance to hit a record 6th grand slam to end the game in Cleveland...he struck out looking on a 3-2 pitch that Gameday said was quite low.

Furcal get's a leg double, nice start.

37 - they're like 8.5 games over Boston, and pitching twice in the same day could probably mess with you

32 Gameday agrees with you, Kuo is listed on the roster, Hamulack isn't. If Maddux is hurt at all, there's a very good chance Kuo pitches as long as he can.

Does calling up Kuo mean he's replacing BJ in the rotation...?

Furcal @ 2nd & Lofton @ 1 & Lugo batting at the bat.

Its the first inning!

nice bunt by Lugo, what ever you do Drew just pull the ball.

17 - Welcome to Phillies fandom, 1994-99 Sam. Might I suggest bandwagon jumping and/or becoming a hockey fan?

21 - I was at an O's/Yanks game at the end of '02 when Soriano was sitting on 39 HRs and iirc 41 steals at the time.

He put up a nice big clutch 0-5 with two whiffs. Good times.

43

yes sir.

why bunt!!?!

Bunting in the first inning with two men on.

Good Lord.

what ever you do Drew just pull the ball

Yeah, no opposite-field HR here, DJ...

45 I was at that game too. That game was my big intro to the Yankee-Fans-At-Camden phenomenon.

I've been getting more into hockey since Alex Ovechkin showed up here. He's something else.

You need to get those early runs against the Reds because their pitching is lights out.

41 It probably means the bullpen has pitched a lot over the last week and needs a fresh arm, especially if Maddux doesn't pitch a complete game.

Why do you bunt when the guy behind Lugo strikes out and walks a ton?

Drew strikes out, but in all honesty it was a big league curve.

bah

52
But wasn't Hamulack a "fresh" arm? He has actually pitched reasonably well in his most recent stint. I don't understand calling him up for a few days and then sending him down when he pitched OK.

Drew does not like being Haranged.

But 20 pitches for Harang, good pace

I try like the devil to stay away from definitively critical statements...

But that was just stupid. Really, really stupid.

56 He'll be back in two days, don't sweat it

apparently Maddux is o.k.

56 - the thought of him on the postseason roster?

It must be annoying for the Reds to keep getting all these moral victories, and yet no actual ones.

56 I guess that means that kuo will pitch tonight, and they'll activate Hamulack on friday. If that's not what they're doing then I'm with you in wondering what they're doing.

56 I guess that means that kuo will pitch tonight, and they'll activate Hamulack on friday. If that's not what they're doing then I'm with you in wondering what they're doing.

Steve Phillips alert.

"Tad Iguchi makes all the plays, especially the productive outs. He's Ozzie Guillen's MVP."

Do with that what you will.

a Maddux induced DP.

Steve Phillips is so bad John Kruk makes fun of him.

I never realized how good Maddux is with the glove until he came to LA

Players get sent to minor leagues whose seasons are about to end or are over so they can be called back up right away without having to wait 10 days.

we had a golden chance to score last inning, let's see if we get a chance this inning, like Bob said You need to get those early runs against the Reds because their pitching is lights out.

71 Bob was being sarcastic.

32 Hamulack optioned to Vero Beach? Why not LV? Or is this just procedural and it doesn't matter where he's optioned, since he'll be right back?

72

BELIEVE ME I KNOW! :o)

72 i have a feeling bluebleeder knows that and is keeping the joke alive.

Should have bunted him over right there.

71 Bob? Sarcastic?

I guess that's not against the rules when it can be misinterpreted positively.

whoop there it is!

73 Vero Beach's season ends a day sooner than Vegas, maybe that's the reason? Vero isn't really playing much anyways, as they've only played 7 games in the last 15 days. No matter where Hamulack was optioned, he probably won't even leave LA.

Maddux can hit & also run, who new??

Ohio State now has its own cereal.

Perhaps we should get a sarcasm detector on the board.

Like that would be a useful thing to have!

That's a great idea, Bob. Just great.

Bob & me are DT soul brothers i knew he was being sarcastic.

Jason Grilli threw one pitch for his win tonight for the Tigers in New York.

The anti-Ryan Franklin.

I hear the Osama Bin Laden/Aaron Harang joke all the time.

If Lugo is bunting and Maddux is swinging, then all is as it should be.

86

anything Bin Laden is not fun nor funny.imo.

Dodgers 1 Reds 0

so david wells tradebait is 3-3 so far tonight and batting .367 in AAA.

He also has struck out only 14.4% of his ABs.

Maddux takes Dunn to school & strikes him out.

There are people who think Ken Griffey doesn't belong in the Hall of Fame?

Give somebody a cellphone with text message service and they can express any opinion they so choose.

As long as its one of the three options listed.

Nice pitch there by Maddux.

just kidding... 4-4 and batting .370

Maddux pitches well at Dodger Stadium so i'm expecting him to hold the lead, i'm just hoping we score more runs, our BP isn't in great shape.

31- do you know how much White was asking for? Wasn't part of the point of trading Odalis so that Ned would have a little more flexibility at the deadline or to be used on the draft? They better sign Akins.

Ken Griffey, in his prime, was the best baseball player I've ever seen.

I wasn't alive to see Ruth or Mays. I guess that goes without saying.

and who has stolen 30 out of 35 bases this year.

88
Vin said the old joke used to be will we catch Osama Bin Laden first or will Aaron Harang get a hit first.

So, have any of the BBWA folks come out and said they won't vote for Ripken on the first ballot because no one should be unanimous?

I still don't understand this. Lugo is (1) playing, (2) batting third, and you guys (rightly of course) are worried about him (3) bunting?

97 Clearly, you forgot about your namesake.

Please tell me this thing about no compensation is just a rumor. Please. Someone tell me that.

102
I'll give this to Greg Brock...He was the best Greg Brock I've ever seen play baseball.

103

I dont think it could go in effect this offseason. it is just way too soon.

103
Its just a rumor and it should not effect this year so Lugo should still net us some picks.

my coach always told me if you hit the ball right back up the middle to the pitcher your seeing the ball very very well, so i guess Ethier saw that ball very very well (that was a shot!!)

Someone acting knowledgeable today said it was a rumor.

92 No, there are phone executives who know that "inflammatory" questions (as Vin put it) will be sure to generate a lot of calls, i.e. $$$.

99 I think Vin said the joke was in the Cincinnati locker room last year.

107 - That means the Reds are also seeing the ball very, very well.

Freel makes a great throw but Larue can't handle it, maybe it's because he dons't play that much.

I guess we could chop him up and use him for firewood.

so i'm guessing the Padres won today right?

I guess we could chop him up and use him for firewood

STOG does rhyme with log...

He's really calling that inside strike. The Furcal and Betamit need to stand a little further from the plate.

RIP Glenn Ford

Bob Davidson is seeing pink elephants again. Unfortunate.

Furcal strkes out, it's all good we're winning, so is Jon at the game (Maddux) or is he busting a Kent today?

I checked Maury Brown's site and he had no followup posted to his initial story about free agent compensation, but then again he also has mentioned that he is out for a few days after surgery.

113

Yes, the Padres beat Arizona 4-1

A long standing joke is Betemit and Lugo batting before Martin in the order. And don't think Russell can't run the bases.
The Reds gave us that run, and it is a bit troubling that two innings we've had first and second and about 0 outs, and can barely get any runs in.

What does "busting a Kent" mean?

112- People make for an inefficient fuel source. Which isn't to say there's no reason to set people on fire; it's just that the benefits are intangible.

Someone posted this in the last thread:

58. katysdad
Regarding an earlier thread discussing draft picks and the new CBA, this just in from Baseball Digest Daily:

"Many rumors are circulating stating clubs have been notified that, as a result of the new CBA, they may not get draft pick compensation for departing free agents. This is completely false. There has been no formal or informal communication on this subject. I have confirmation from two very high level sources indicating that absolutely no memo has been circulated among the teams. There may come a time when compensation is removed, but we still appear to be far from that day."

It would be nice to finally unlock some of those "intangibles"

Nommarrrrrrr!

116 Takin' the 3:10 to Heaven.

It seems like you would have to change compensation over time, since teams "relied" on the compensation when they made their deals. I mean, we were just glad to get rid of garbage like Guzman, but some teams care about compensation.

122

it's weird to explain because of my spelling skills, but he dose hold a regular job & i'm guessing he did watch & moderate last nights game, maybe he's just a little tired & needs some R&R?.JMO.

129

I can only picture Jon with a beard. :o)

130 - Pervert.

130

i can only picture jon as brian cashman.

What exactly were we thinking there?

our 3rd base coach is a stupid windmill.

Yikes.

I thought that a more fitting tribute for Mr. Brock, who purports to be a teacher, would be to teach his next class as if his class was like the one in "Blackboard Jungle." Go find a kid who looks Vic Morrow and beat him up. Then befriend Sidney Poitier and get him on the straight and narrow. Then tell the Jamie Farr kid to change his name.

Funny, I tend to picture Jon as Louis XIV.

that was a horrible send. the ball with in the shortstop's glove when he hit 3rd.

I was thinking today about how Jon may be like Ray Barone. Raymond!

On the plus side, J.D. just gained 3 fire points.

137

I thought it was more like Plato's description of a philosophy king.

133-

B A, Bay
B E, Bee
B I, Bicky By
B O, Bo
Bicky By Bo Be Bo Bay
Bicky By Bo Boo

Jon is more of a cross between Peter the Great and Oliver Cromwell in appearance.

or philosopher king. same difference.

I like that kind of play and I like seeing some enthusiasm out of Drew, who was flying.
The way they are playing there's a good chance they'd blow it.

Can anyone show me where the statistics are for percentages in different scenarios? I'm trying to argue my case on another web site on the pointlessness of bunting.

I picture Jon like this: http://tinyurl.com/jzp58
I'm not very imaginative.

We had plenty of runs and it was just Nomar coming up next.

146- http://www.walkoffbalk.com/

Have you ever seen a picture of Jon and Oliver Cromwell together?

Case closed.

Sorry Bob, I have a hard enough time convincing students that Martin Luther has nothing to do with Martin Luther King Jr., and that Thomas Hobbes's Leviathan has nothing to do with Levi's Jeans.

No, I'm not kidding.

147

so Brian Cashman?

What grade do you teach Greg?

Calvin's tiger's first name is Thomas?

Cool. I learn something new here every day.

144 Sun King, Philosopher King, Benevolent Dictator.

Jon Weisman is many things to me.

100, meet https://griddle.baseballtoaster.com/archives/491175.html#12

122 - Did you see that motorcyclist on Letterman the other day?

And whoever asked about INVINCIBLE last night, from what I could tell Papale saw the lineman was leaning by looking at his fingers and audible'd to change the coverage. That's about all I can say without spoiling the best part of the movie for everybody.

153 Sophmore World History.

Re: 154

I read somewhere that Watterson said that he named Calvin and Hobbes after the two early-modern figures--John Calvin and Thomas Hobbes. I assume it must be a sort of ironic thing--both chaps have to count as some of the more grim and dour in western history. I usually mention this to my own mids in western civ.

WWSH

157

So nobody looks like Paul Mazursky either? You're not married to Anne Francis?

maddux really wanted that call.

[147 & 152

agreed but with Orel Hershiser's body. Robo Weisman!

159 Now that you mention it, there is a kid with a striking resemblence to Jaime Farr in second period.

Life is cruel sometimes.

Jon's going to enjoy this thread when he shows.

Or be quite troubled by it.

My sophmore world history class was in the cafeteria.

2 HRs for Jose Valentin tonight.

that was a great hit by Russel Martin.

While Jon's resting and recreating, I think it would be fun if we phrased all questions in the form of accusations.

164 The unit on the Irish potato famine must have dripped with irony.

167 Why would you say something like that?!?

Maddux can do no wrong!!

Maddux, how good art thee?
Let me count the ways.

146

149 mentions a calculator showing the win expectancy in each possible situation; so you can go (same inning and run differential) from, say, man on first no outs, to man on second and one out, and see the change.

I copied this table once, which is a little easier, or at least quicker to use. Unfortunately, I don't remember from where. Use a monospaced font and put tabs between columns to see it correctly:

Outs Runners Expected Prob > 0
0 --- 0.49 0.275
0 1-- 0.88 0.435
0 -2- 1.13 0.633
0 12- 1.50 0.636
0 --3 1.37 0.837
0 1-3 1.75 0.870
0 -23 1.98 0.860
0 123 2.37 0.882
1 --- 0.26 0.159
1 1-- 0.52 0.276
1 -2- 0.69 0.414
1 12- 0.92 0.425
1 --3 0.96 0.667
1 1-3 1.17 0.653
1 -23 1.40 0.686
1 123 1.57 0.678
2 --- 0.10 0.067
2 1-- 0.23 0.128
2 -2- 0.33 0.224
2 12- 0.44 0.231
2 --3 0.38 0.275
2 1-3 0.50 0.286
2 -23 0.61 0.277
2 123 0.76 0.321

It clearly shows the negative value of a sac bunt, in average terms; it doesn't adjust, say, for a pitcher up with the score tied in the bottom of the ninth.

Just now checking in... The game is about 90 minutes old and we're in the bottom of the sixth?

Nice play. A runs scores, the runner advances, and Maddux will come out for the 7th inning. A complete game would be really nice here, considering what the bullpen has been through recently.

Off day tomorrow, too.

Is that the kind of emnity you want to foster? IS IT!?

Are you gonna answer me, Mr. Big Man?

169 because humans tend to do that, explaining for 167

Mmmmm... potatoes dripping with irony... (drools)

I think breaking ALL Jon's rules would make this the best comments thread in the history of the internet! (Rule 6)

173 Maddux is pitching. Only 65 pitches though 6 innings.

If Maddux can spare the pen (i.e. go into the 8th) He'll truly have done everything possible...

On a different note, any minor league afficianados here? How is Van Slyke the younger doing and projecting out?

bluto

Nomination, fly on the wall all-time Top 10 list, theoretical category===

Setting: clubhouse, Dodger Stadium, on an off day or at another suitable time.

HOF Sandy Koufax drops by. He starts talking pitching with future HOF Greg Maddux.

The ultimate power pitcher and the master craftsman pitcher would not seem to have a lot in common. But they begin to talk.

A silence falls over the clubhouse.

Fortunately, someone thinks to turn on a tape recorder.

Hey....it could happen....

Van Slyke the Younger doesn't have the same kind of minesterial skill as Pitt the Elder.

By the way, Pitt the Elder was Britain's greatest prime minister.

180 When does Odalis Perez walk in?

176 Ummm, I was trying to play along

180 - Sounds like three-way conversatin between Ted Williams, Boggs and Mattingly, recorded for posterity by Gammons in the '86 SI baseball preview issue.

180 - Before you turn on that tape recorder, didn't a former Cub teammate of Maddux recently say something about the two "farting on each other"?

177

it's kind of like the teacher not being hear!! Jon!!! you're so cruel! & tempting at the same time.

181

Lord Palmerston!

It's gonna be tough to gin up a Rule 9 violation I'm afraid.

If Maddux can spare the pen (i.e. go into the 8th) He'll truly have done everything possible...

pitching the 9th is the true test, but i'll be happy with 7 or 8.

179 He's been disappointing this year, hitting .255/.323/.362 in 141 ABs. He has however shown some improvement the longer he's played:
June- .188/.212/.375, 32 ABs
July- .268/.349/.339, 56 ABs
August- .283/.356/.377, 53 ABs

Disreali?

Pitt the Younger

MP at age 20
Prime Minister at 24
Dead at 36

Govern fast
Drink a lot
Leave a bloated corpse

[150] We have a statue of our dutiful host at a park in my home town. We were DT fans long before it was hip.

http://www.olivercromwell.org/exhibition/ex14.htm

For those scoring at home, I consider 188 a Rule 2 violation.

194 Rule 4 violation.

Maddux shows of his glove skills.

I believe Maddux is excused from PFP for the rest of the year.

Are you kidding me with that, Nomar!?!

Web gem nominee.

Where are these rules posted?

Every part of that play was great but Nomar's toss was perfect.

Great feed to the bag, letting Maddux run to it. Nice instincts all around.

200 Bottom of the sidebar.

I love that Carl's jr. pastrami commercial. Really, really love it. And I am violating the heck out of rule 7.

200 - Bottom of the page.

200 - Bottom of the page.

200 - Bottom of the page.

200 - Bottom of the page.

(Rule 8. We're almost there!)

That was a great #!@$%$# play, Nomar. Rules 8 and 1.

172.

so the first column is outs, then runners, then chances of scoring, or is it expected runs scored? And what's the last column?

172.

so the first column is outs, then runners, then chances of scoring, or is it expected runs scored? And what's the last column?

172.

so the first column is outs, then runners, then chances of scoring, or is it expected runs scored? And what's the last column?

Every part of that play was great but Nomar's toss was perfect.

only because he trusted Maddux to be near the bag.

To be honest, Jon's list really annoys me.

I'll nominate 204 for a Rule 1 violation as well. Nicely done.

208
Outs
Runners on base
Expected runs to score
Chances of scoring more than one run

213
Sorry, the last column is the chance of scoring at least one run not more than one run.

Should Maddux bat, given that the bullpen had to pitch 15 innings yesterday?

211 - Beautiful!

207

First column is outs, then runners, then expected runs scored. The last column is the probability that at least one run will be scored; yes, the label is a little cryptic.

Typical sac bunt (man on first, no outs) drops run expectancy in an inning from .88 to .69!

To be honest, Jon's list really annoys me.

to be honest i'm still trying to understand some of the terminolagy of it.

Vote Screaming Monster Raving Loony Party!

213, 214

As well as knowing more about baseball, Bob also types faster than I do!

216

nah! i kind of like it because i know some people can go over boared (including my self)

Should Tomko come in he has room for 1 big fly. He may not have a walk or put someone on base, or he must leave immediately.

219 See, I thought Oliver Cromwell and Pitt the Younger took care of that.

So are these more what you'd call "guidelines" than actual rules.

With Steve taking out Rule 5, I think we're left with 3, 4 & 9.

So it looks our candidates for best British MP are:
1) Pitt the Elder
2) Lord Palmerston
3) Benjamin Disraeli

You can email me your essay on your picks and I will decide the winner. The winner gets a Ministry of All the Talents t-shirt.

Very little love for William Gladstone or Wintson Churchill.

225 -- Oh yeah? Want to make something of it?

226 Is it too late to put in Churchill?

Both Eugene and Everett are throwing no hitters.

225 No we're not!

(that should take care of #4)

I'm so sick of discussing Lord Palmerston here. It's like him and Lugo are the only people on the planet worth talking about!

211 - Me too. I can see why he wants it, but it is such an inelegant solution. I think that it cramps style by being vague and essentially allows everyone to point out imagined violations, like the kid in grade school with his hand up and a finger pointed. One of the best things about DT is how flip and clever the commenters are and having to worry if you need to post a winking emoticon to make sure you don't violate rule 7 ruins much of the experience.

Indeed I do. I am quite the pugilist, but I've heard that you, Steve, are no hitter.

(No? Dang it.)

226

Sorry, the nominations are closed.

228 Oh right, read the whole comment, sure, fine.

Lord Palmerston was a blueblooded old toff

Uh, I hate to ask this, but where exactly are the rules? It seemsm I missed them on my hiatus.

211
I believe it to be the most misunderstood post of the evening.

232

Unfortunately, people started asking where there was a posted code of conduct and that forced Jon to take action.

[226] Pitt the Elder.

You just like Pitt the Elder because he fought to repeal the Stamp Act on the colonies.

229 Everett gave up a hit, so now only Eugene is throwing a no hitter.

Lugo who?

220.

Thanks. And man, with all those fly balls Tomko gives up, who else fears the ineveitable blow up of Brett?

232 may give it a run for its money.

This is a freakishly talented group of people.

238 You were just trying to break the rules, i get it. My opinion is the same though.

Doh!

Boom goes the Betemit.

244 refers to 238, of course.

Betemit is feast or famine at the plate, seemingly.

I like to see that opposite field homer from him on the righthander side.

Then again, I am enjoying it now that we've adopted the "let's hit it over that wall out there more" strategy.

Not to break rule 5 all over again, but this thread has descended into anarchy

crap.

greg beat me to the punchline.

241 -- You jinx. Next you're going to tell me that Betemit has seven homeruns as a Dodger and Lugo got lost on the way to the stadium and headed about 300 miles east on the 15.

245
It wasn't my post.

Sorry, Nate.

It's what I do.

240
In 5th grade, I was in a play and portrayed Ben Franklin. Pitt the Elder was one of the characters, but I had to call him "The Earl of Chatham".

[252] Why not 3,000 miles east on the 10?

Lord Palmerston was quite the ladies man. Let's not forget that.

256 -- Because Wilson Valdez just doesn't cut it.

257 Pitt. The. Elder!

I think somebody in Vegas that the Dodgers should add to the 40-man roster and call up -- but probably won't -- is Eric Stults. He struck 10 and walked one batter in 7.0 innings tonight, and in his last game he struck out 10 and walked one in 6.1 innings. He's a lefty starter who throws an 88-92 MPH fastball, a plus change-up, and a cutter. He is another Logan White guy, taken in the 15th round in 2002 (two rounds before Russell Martin). In his last nine starts for Vegas, his record is as follows:

60.1 IP, 49 H's, 19 BB's, 54 K's, 2.98 ERA

If he is not put on the 40-man roster before the next Rule 5 draft, he is definitely getting taken away by another team, and he is good enough that we won't be getting him back. We should call him up now and see if we have something in him. The fact that we are talking to the Red Sox about a fat 43-year-old southpaw and are willing to give up God knbows what to get him when Stults is wasting away unnoticed makes me sick.

Olmedo is mighty good at what he does.

See? And we get to hear the nice music again. :)

Old Maid!!

I would like to congratulate the St. Louis Cardinals on their NL Central title.

Saenz get's a fastball & guess what....

255
In my 5th grade play, I played Oceanus and I had to scold Prometheus and tell him that "you must become humble if Zeus is to forgive you. Remember, a vain tongue is subject to correction".

If the Cards make it to the World Series, what share will they vote for the Dodgers, whom they swept, and who are about to sweep the Reds?

That may be the longest HR I've seen hit by a Dodger this summer.

Apparently we've decided to make up for lost time.

HR happy = the Dodgers!! :o)

Wow. This homer trend is pleasing.

Quick Wayne, Giovanni Carrara is still avialable.

Home run derby!

I get the feeling we arent going to go back to back to back.

226

Subscribing to the maxim that "He who governs least, governs best," the greatest British PM is easily The Duke of Wellington, who led the government for one month (11/1834-12/1834).

There are too many people to thank so I'll close by saying I prefer my t-shirts to be sized XL.

Krivsky will get that bullpen worked out any day now.

Jeez Louise, break out the L screen. This has turned into BP.

232 I really don't think you or anyone needs to be that careful. Jon is really just talking about pretty extreme obnoxiousness; it's not something anyone would inadvertently do. The occasional comments fussing about the rules (leaving this particular debauched thread aside) are virtually all jokes.

Unfortunately for the Dodgers, the Reds move on to San Diego this weekend.

That sweet sound of the home run.
I almost forgot what those were like!

back to back to back!

Which Dodger minor league affiliates are playing, or are going to be playing, post season games? When do those games end?

i love it how the Pads are looking at the score board & say "how in the world can we beat this team!!"

That was a Tomato: and Furcals and Betemits weren't bad either.

You know who was debauched? Pitt the Elder. That dirty old man.

Well it was back to out to back to back.

280

Time for them to regroup--after all, that is the team they are chasing for the wild card!

282 Considering how we've done against them this year, I'm going to say quite easily.

How have the Reds fared against the rest of the NL West?

"The occasional comments fussing about the rules (leaving this particular debauched thread aside) are virtually all jokes."

That is quite possibly the worst interpretation of any set of interpersonal dialogue in the entire history of human communication--nay, the entirety of entity-to-entity data transfer in the Milky Way Galaxy.

pssh thats a funny looking HR.

Wilson Betemit is our power hitter now apparently.

255 - Did you get to utter this, the most famous of Franklin quotes?

"My Prize Question therefore should be, To discover some Drug wholesome & not disagreable, to be mix'd with our common Food, or Sauces, that shall render the natural Discharges of Wind from our Bodies, not only inoffensive, but agreable as Perfumes."

286

Oops, I meant 279.

Betemit is like a clone of what Jose Valentin was supposed to be for the Dodgers last year. Low AVG, Low OBP, but lots of HR power, at least this month. 7 in 93 ABs aint exactly Matt Kemp, but its close enough.

267 Isn't that, by analogy, a rule 9 violation?

In sixth grade I was the narrator for the Christmas play. It was the exact same speech that Charlie Brown gave in "Its a Charlie Brown Christmas". I hate speaking in front of people so I was very nervous. But at 12 I was already an athiest so I also resented the fact that I was in a religious operation.

289 -- covering several dimensions, including the Evil Spock dimension

Betemit reminds me of Bill Hall. Can play multiple infield positions, power has developed late into 30 homerun power, not a big walking machine.

Unless the Reds rally, they will be 8-14 against the NL West.

Pliny the younger!
Just another fellow I have demanded satisfaction of.

Washington is 8-14 against the West and the Cubs are 6-16 against the West.

The Cardinals are 19-6 against the West and the Mets are 20-7.

the Padres win but are still 3 games back, TAKE THAT PADS!!

I have a funny feeling the Philospher King won't find this thread quite as humorous.

284 not as bad as Pliny the younger.

I hope Betemit and LaRoche can play at the same time next year.

I'd pass on resigning Nomar, and play Betemit, Furcal, LaRoche, Kent in the infield.

281 Jacksonville and the GCL Dodgers. The GCL playoffs have already ended (the Dodgers lost), and Jacksonville will be playing a best of 5 series Sept 7-11. The Southern League Championship series should occur the week after that. Ogden also has a chance at the playoffs, but they still have 8 games to squander thier 2 game lead for second.

But the Padres are still leading the wild card, although the Phillies can tie them tomorrow if they beat the Nats.

Betemit, Furcal, LaRoche, Kent...mainly bc with Kent's contract he's untradeable.

Why are we wasting Broxton?

305 I'm assuming that's the plan.

Let Derek Lowe get some more work in.

309 -- Don't think of it like its wasting Broxton. Think of it like it's one less exposure to Hamulack. See, feels better already.

295

Yes, but I thought rule #9 was only meant to be taken literally. After all, there is no traditional taboo in baseball about talking about a sweep; in fact, usually half the fans show up with brooms if it is a possibility that day. Where is the list's Hermeneutics and Exegesis department?

308

that infield looks pretty good. Although I do would like Loney to play somewhere on the Dodgers.

314 I was operating under the assumption that Loney at 1st was a given.

Betemit fills the Lugo utility spot.

I'd pass on resigning Nomar
It's a cruel trick of the English language that resigning and "re-signing" mean basically the opposite.
Has made me do a double take more than once in the papers.

316 -- Maybe if he cuts his hands off.

I find bringing brooms to a stadium in anticipation of a series sweep to be one of America's dopiest sporting "traditions". I don't believe the Dodgers let people bring brooms in.

Some stadiums just let people bring in little whisk brooms.

Who, before going to a baseball game says, "Hey honey, pack up the kids and a broom, we're going to a ballgame!"

The only reason for having a broom around is if the police declare shenanigans.

317 So would you sanction resigning Nomar?

I think Jon Weisman was waving his arms behind home plate for about 10 minutes..

I think Betemit needs to play everyday. Give him 500+ ABs next year and you are going to get 25-30 homeruns.

I also think we need to take it slow with Laroche because of his labrum. Don't push him too hard. I would maybe start him at Vegas at the beginning of 2007 and go from there.

320
Usually the problem comes in a sentence like "Nomar is thinking of resigning".

I think the Dodgers would have more faith in giving Betemit an everyday job than Loney. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out.

I dont think there's much chance Nomar comes back at all. There was at one time quite a bit of pressure to resign him early in the year bc he was on fire and carrying the team, but he's really slowed down since then.

321 -- that was Brian Cashman. He was scouting the Reds bullpen.

Oh no not Clayton and Hollandsworth.

Bringing household cleaning paraphernalia to a sporting contest is simply malfeasance for malfeasance's sake.

322. I plan on LaRoche being the Dodgers' Youkilis next year. They'll find some place to play him.

There was at one time quite a bit of pressure to resign him early in the year bc he was on fire and carrying the team, but he's really slowed down since then.

and theres that .380+ hitting 22 yr old 1b down at AAA

The principal person who will want Nomar Garciaparra back is Bill Plaschke.

But Colletti and Ng can do the math and know they can get a better deal. Nomar would have to get very hot or lead the Dodgers to the World Series to get any consideration.

328

not if his health doesnt permit it.

323 I'm worried that you missed my clever ambiguity with sanction meaning both to permit/approve something and to penalize something.

I like the "Big Bad John" after Broxton records another K.

Eric Byrnes would have dived for that one.

I fear Betemit may wind up a Bill Hall.
I looked him up having never heard of him.
Its not a bad fate but our farm should do better.

332 Your worry was justified. I blame my head cold. Well played.

330 Wouldn't Camille Johnston like to have him back?

Auf Wiedersehen! Gesundheit! Farewell...

335

Bill Hall has a 907 OPS this year. Why do you "fear" that?

I can't see any situation where Nomar is signed to a deal. It was fun having him here, he got healthy and increased his value, and can move on.

Thanks, beautiful.

We win!

So there has to be a stat for streakiness. Something like "most games that were preceeded by a game with the same outcome". I say we are high in that stat.

I'd be very happy if Betemit wound up like Bill Hall. I'd like having Billy Hall on the Dodgers.

As an aside, Howie Kendrick can flat out rake, and seems like a very nice kid.

Dodgers Magic Number: 27
vr, Xei

I concur with 343. A Bill Hall player provides something that this currently constructed dodger team lacks: homerun power.

We won! this could be addictive.
329,330 I think you are right. And as appealing as Nomar can be there is that AAA guy. If he was 25, I would be sure his average would dip a bit in the Majors. At 22 its possible he may get a bit better!

Next year's the team will be similar powerwise except Kemp in CF should give the team about 25+HRs (which is significant). Betemit replacing Nomar's power should be able to happen.

So I expect a little more power next season, which will make the team that much better.

I agree with not re-signing (I'm adding the hyphen) Nomar.
But I think if we replace him with Loney, we do need to build some more power into the lineup. So where would that power go? Seems like it would have to be Kemp and if so, is he going to play Center? If not Kemp, who? And more to the point for now, where?

if you ever go to Titos Tacos in Culver City be sure to get a bigger size of their fantabulously delicious salsa..

I forgot to do that and i'm going to have to score myself an error on that play..

Tacos and a Dodger win though, I can't be mad

Dodgers now have the same winning percentage as the Cardinals.

If Loney plays next year, where do you think Cornpone will bat him, eighth? Naw, that's reserved for Martin... Personally I'd like to see Loney and Ethier hitting second and third, then Kent, Drew, Betemitt, Kemp, and Martin. Furcal leading off, of course.

If Loney plays next year, where do you think Cornpone will bat him, eighth?

That's kind of mean, dontcha think? Grady's a likeable enough fellow.

351. How many decimal places are you taking into consideration? vr, Xei

350- Amen to the large salsa at Tito's!

349 I have seen real teams win with speed and defense and not much power. But I have to agree it is much easier to win with balance that includes a good dose of power.
I'm not sure where to get it but Kemp, and maybe later Laroche. One good thing is that players often develop a bit more power as they mature and even age. I think Furcal, Martin and Ethier will add more power as they get older, and even Loney.(Betemit of course) Maybe this is one place we add a
Free Agent, though I think it will come.

354 I'm a historythlete, not a mathlete. .534 is good enough for me!

352 I like your order, esp. 2 and 3.

Cardinals .5343
Dodgers .5338

349 -- Obviously Kemp will be in center. Loney will be at first. Betemit and LaRoche will get looked at very closely in spring training and either LaRoche spends another half season in Triple A or he beats out Betemit in spring and Betemit becomes the Chone Figgins-type "super sub" that the reporters who cover the Dodgers are always saying the Dodger brass wants.

A line-up that looks like this is formidable:

Furcal
Kemp
Drew
Kent
Ethier
LaRoche/Betemit
Loney
Martin

We lose Garciaparra and Lofton and neither of those guys were real power hitters anyway. We would have a net gain of power and still do well in the batting average/OBA department that has been the real driving force of our offense this year. Meanwhile the money we save from not paying Lofton/Garciaparra buys a good starting pitcher.

That is a name signifying country ways and certainly isn't an insult to those of us raised in the South. No slur intended if anyone interprets that differently. I disagree with him a lot but no more than any other Dodger manager in history. Or other team managers either. For the most part I think he has done well, and a large part of that is for what he hasn't done. He governs best who governs least. I couldn't stand LSordid's showboating and Tracy's hard-bitten martyr act. Davy Johnson was a phony, Glenn Hoffman was the man who wasn't there... Walt Alston managed a lot like Little does and I disagreed with him at times. But he had the job, I didn't and he was right more times than I was. It is a fan's right to disagree.

I'm pretty sure I didn't say a single word about your right to disagree, so I don't know what that has to do with anything.

Some people tend to use the term as a pejorative. You didn't. Fair enough.

360 - The line up isn't too bad, but if I were in the front office, I'd seriously consider moving Kent - given his age, it's only a matter of time before his production drops off. I'd also take offers for Drew, as much as I like him, if we could get a more traditional power hitting corner outfielder that would improve the line up.

And of course, if I was GM, I'd put in a call to Cashman about A-Rod. But that's just me.

362 No, you didn't, and I didn't say you did. And 'right'? None of us have any right to say anything except that which Jon chooses to allow. This Blog is his personal property and he has the right to set rules as he chooses. We're here as guests; if they offend us, we have only the right to leave; if we stay and misbehave, he can and should ban us. I personally find some of the rules silly or over-restrictive but nothing I can't live with. Actually I'd like to see him add another: No 11: Posting with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher. Just as it can impair your judgement while driving, it can also impair your judgement while posting. Alcohol tends to increase the belligerancy levels in some people.

what do you guys think the odds are of maddux staying next year?

363 Drew for A-Rod.

367 - too bad the Yankees have 40 outfielders as it is.

Well I'm stone cold sober, and I don't know how I got drawn into this conversation with you, so let's just say that you're right and I'm wrong, and that you're a fine fellow. That works for me.

I'm going to pick more arguments with Greg Brock. He's downright pleasant.

Cornpone. That word makes me giggle. I don't know why. Well I do know why, but it's dirty.

FYI, I deleted 364 for trollfeeding. Not because of the question asked, but because what the answer would be.

371 -- Lord Palmerston used to have that word on a plaque on the wall behind his desk.

I can handle a lot, I will shy away from many a confrontation, but I will not have Lord Palmerston's name besmirched. Not here, not now, not ever.

I just saw that Nomar to Maddux play on Sportscenter. That toss by Garciaparra was incredible.

366 - I say at least 50/50 especially so that he has done well and Ned likes him.
Another vintage performance tonight and some good solid defense behind and including Maddux and some good situational hitting. I still don't know about sending Drew all the way with one out when a triple would have set up a possible run and Nomar did hit a medium deep fly to right that would have plated an extra run, but that is quibbling on an otherwise great night. I can sleep well tonight, great August folks 21-7! They need a reasonable September 16-13 or 17-12 should take us home!!

Why so much talk of next year's lineup? Isn't there enough time for that kind of speculation in the off season? Personally, I want to relish the current winning streak, the domination over the Reds this year, Maddux's 330th win in a Dodger uniform, and the possibility of going to the playoffs with Maddux, Lowe, and Penny in short series vs. either the Mets or the Cardinals. Sometimes it seems like there is so much speculation about next year, there is a loss of enjoyment for this one.

377 - Yes. Let's enjoy the ride, the rollercoaster of emotions that a September pennant chase brings out in obsessed fans of the Blue. We need to make all the hay we can at home since we have a tough 10 game road trip starting Monday. Let's have a 6-0 or 5-1 homestand. Settle for no less than 2 of 3 from the Rockies depending on if Francis pitches against us, he is pretty tough!
Good night! Off day tomorrow!!

Good God, MLB needs to tell the Twins and Royals to stop wearing those blue jerseys at the same time.

379 At the risk of talking politics, my political party (the Whigs) are poised to introduce legislation banning the alternate uniform.

It's in our platform.

RIP, Naguib Mahfouz

The Egyptian guy?

I just remember he attacked Salman Rushdie, which I don't like.

Tonight's performance by Maddux is one of the most complete (pitching, defense, hitting) games that I have seen from a Dodger pitcher in recent memory. I think Valenzuela probably had some similar games.

Getting Maddux at the deadline has saved our season along with Billingsley's strong performance. Disappointed with Penny's 2nd half but he still has time to finish up with his best season.

[380] i think i've said this before, but in case i haven't:

alternates are usually better looking than the regular uniforms.

385 Elaborate, if you will.

Alternate uniforms: bad

Other agree

Check the last comment
https://griddle.baseballtoaster.com/archives/317999.html

Forgive me if someone else has noted this, but did you see that the Red Sox are purportedly asking for Kemp for a 5-6 week rental of Wells? I can't believe that anyone actually got that out of his mouth.

they're usually more interesting, brighter and more colorful. take the astros, for example: their main home uniform has those ungodly pinstripes, but their alternate is a nice, elegant solid reddish/burnt orange color. the A's and dodgers' alternates allow the team colors to show very nicely; beautiful green field and gold letters for the A's, and a canvas of dodger blue for LA. the A's normal road uniforms only have a hint of gold, but in the alternates the lighters are almost glowing, just like on the cap. the diamondbacks' road unis also have ugly pinstripes, and the alternates are a nice solid black. the angels and indians' home alternates both have neat-looking sleeves... pretty much, what i'm trying to say is that as a rule the alternates do a better job of showcasing the team colors and as a side benefit they also tend to do away with hideous pinstripes.

i will say, though, that the worst alternates in history are the padres' camo uniforms. [puke]

hahah, lighters should be "letters" in [389]. where is my mind.

Greg Brock, that was in no way an attack directed against you. As far as I know, you are a fine fellow as the other poster said. What I posted, if there was any reason at all to post it, should not have been mixed into the same post responding to you. That made it seem as if it were directed at you which was not the case.

So, what is the record (being chased by Alfonso Soriano) for most home runs in team/franchise/city history: Vlad Guerrero's 45, or Frank Howard's 48?

These and similar questions explored in today's Post (on A1, no less!).

http://tinyurl.com/pvg3w

And Bob, I want my RGC! What happened?

393 Er, Guerrero's record is 44.

Was kind of the authorr not to frame his article around whether the team can match the Senator's 113 losses from 1904 or the Expos 110 from 1969, but I guess those both appear out of reach.

395 - Pity the D'backs. I'll bet there's nothing more pleasant than wearing a black uniform top for an August day game in St. Louis or Houston.

I didn't know the Dodgers still used an alternate uni. I thought it was exclusively white at home and grey on the road.

oh yeah, i'm pretty sure you're right. the one i'm thinking about is probably just for spring training. it's nice, though.

Oops. Above post should reference 389, not 395. Coffee has not kicked in yet this A.M.

A day late and a dollar short on cornpone. I think some people associate it with conformity. (Google: Twain, Mark w/ cornpone). I'm not sure Twain meant any more by his statements than that we are all human. That said, I still know (and converse with) folks that use it lovingly and teasingly.