This game chat thread shows up in the sidebar, but not on the main DT page. Anyway, here's a story that makes Edgy Andrew's latest efforts even more impressive.

http://tinyurl.com/og9n3

A Martinez said that Bilingsley is going to miss a start with a strained oblique. That is really bad news if true.

Hmmm....the second "l" in Billingsley must have gone where the period in Martinez' initial is hiding.

does anyone know the name of the song that they play at dodger stadium when they are announcing the dodgers lineup, its a long song, funky, maybe 70's or 80's. Its a famous song i know that, can anyone help me out?

Not Billingsley!

2 I doubt it's serious. Little know he needs to sit Billingsley occasionally this month, and if Billingsley says he's a little sore, call it a strained oblique and sit him. Plus it gives an excuse to start Kuo for a game.

Well, it being Septmeber 1, I now get Nationals games on cable.

Although with the Hurricane rolling through they happen to be showing a game v. the Phillies from last year.

In a way, that might be better.

Haven't seen it said but Marlon Anderson gives us a LH PH that's had the most PHs the last two years, i.e. he's used to riding the pine w/out complaining. Do you really want Loney doing this job in October?
Ned is just window dressing...

1- The reporting on that story is no good, actually. They changed research methodology in between, so comparing the two sets is no good. The real story is that their earlier numbers were wrong, that cigarette smoking always introduced more nicotine into the system than was assumed. But that's not very interesting. It's possible cigarette companies have increased nicotine (I don't know, and, even if they did, that's morally ambiguous--like super-sizing the happy meal for free), but that MDPH study isn't evidence of that. Anyway. . .

The sidebars and main pages cache at different times, so some times you get the feeling that you've found the Malkovich portal.

Billingsley is not allowed to get hurt. hes the golden boy.

nope. ear muffs. nothing happened.

Didn't we want to limit Billingsley's starts in September anyway because his innings pitched is at a career high? Maybe the timing isn't great (I haven't looked at the schedule), but resting his arm isn't a bad idea anyway.

Wow, did anyone else mention that John Sickels predicts the Dodgers to win the world series? He has us beating the Tigers in 7 games. Maybe since he's such a prospect-oriented guy, he'd like to see a team with a bunch of rookies go all the way :)

So, Boston winning, Minn & CWS losing big.

But Boston has likely lost Papelbon to a shoulder injury.

I believe this would be a Pyrhhic victory at best for Boston. And Toronto has the tying runs in scoring position with two outs.

The Bronx Banterers are very happy about Papelbon's injury, but they use different syllables in his name.

And Papelbon gets yanked with one out in the 9th after grabbing his neck and right shoulder...

The Incredible Shrinking Man is on TCM. I'm watching a scene with a giant cat. It looks like the cat is trying to burnish the man.

Cardinals win and drop their magic number to 24.

Oy vey.

I'm seeing the Red Sox in a couple of weeks. Or should I say "The Team Formerly Known As The Red Sox."

The Blue Jays got an RBI on an infield hit from Rios. Then Molina came up and hit a grounder to Cora, who picked the ball up, looked at the ball, built himself a chair to sit on, went out and robbed a liquor store, got arrested, spent 2 years in the state pen for it, and still threw out Molina by three steps.

Sox win.

Reds get a run in the first on an Encarnacion double to score Freel.

With the Angels loss, Oakland's magic number drops to 21.

What's our magic number?

The Dodgers magic number is 27.

Marlon Anderson's number is 21.

The Tigers magic number is 24.

The Yankees magic number is 21.

What's Frank Robinson's magic number?

Reds lead the Padres 2-0.

The Nationals number for elimination from playoff contention is 18 I believe.

FWIW, Vin just said that Sele will be taking Billingsley's turn in the rotation on Sunday.

Hmmm, I thought Frank's might be 666

Plus it gives an excuse to start Kuo for a game.

Oh, but you know they won't do that, they'll torture us by starting Sele.

29.

UH, I knew it. Why, why do washed up, bad veterans get a preferance over good rookies?

I'm sure that Sele will be on a leash that would not meet SPCA specifications.

32 Maybe because Sele's got an ERA of under 3 at home and Kuo has never started a game in the major leagues? We are in a pennant race you know.

Good morning America. That is the kind of first half I like. What effeciency.

Get that man out of the booth with Vin! We demand a single man booth!

Reds up 4-0 in San Diego.

17 thanks Marty,although I only saw the last 40 seconds. I didn't know TCM ever showed that. I may have never seen it. Steve King is a huge fan of Matheson, and especially this story.

DT must be a swingin' crowd as evidenced by the lack of posts today. Personally, my head still hurts from last night.

The other guy in the booth just said "statistics" - somewhere Plaskhe has begun writing his condemnation

What's with all the tight strike zones lately?

36 Your so right. Who is this, McCourt?

Lowe really looks sharp, a couple of infield hits but no sharply hit balls.

I wrote this comment to T.J. Simers in response to his column featuring Coach Wooden this week and it applys right now, if you are judged by the company you keep, Frank McCourt should never let Vin out of sight.

I don't have a problem with McCourt in this game because it's against the Rockies.

White Sox have loaded the bases in the ninth inning -- down by 3, 1 out, v. KC.

White Sox, down 7-4 with one out in the 9th at KC, have the bases loaded with Konerko up.

Royals closer Joe Nelson on the mound.

I really don't know if he's the closer or just the guy who happens to be pitching.

Konerko up.

43 - I think this is at least the third time he's been interviewed by Vinny. And I have absolutely no doubt but that figures into Frank's thinking.

Sorry Sam, but outside of the kid who drew Martin Luther black, and the kid who keeps trying to convince me the earth is 6,000 years old, it was a slow day in the teenager quotability department.

I'm sure three days off will lead to some good ones on Tuesday.

"Red Sox manager Terry Francona said Curt Schilling has a strained lat muscle and will miss his next start.

Yeah, that's pretty much everyone now..." Sep. 1 - 10:37 pm et Rotoworld.com

I've heard Vin make more mistakes tonight than collectively in a long time:
Helton is three RBIs from 1,000, not hits.
Helton is not making $90MM next season.
and Vin just acknowledged his Dioner Navarro/Duaner Sanchez goof.

Vin dutifully pumps McCourt, but it feels like Vin's feeling is somewhere between boredom and 36. The questions are getting difficult, which shoud help clear the box.

Hoo boy, here we go again with the "what it means to be a Dodger" garbage. At least they're winning.

Ask him why they traded Guzman? He was a member of that Jacksonville 5.

49 Well, I just appreciate the effort.

You made your kids draw pictures of Martin Luther?

im going out soon. either kappa sig bid night or a semi formal theme party. cant decide.

Sad to say, I'll probably go to the one with the most hot girls. im shallow :(

im going out soon. either kappa sig bid night or a semi formal theme party. cant decide.

Sad to say, I'll probably go to the one with the most hot girls. im shallow :(

55 It's the end of a big section, and the unit goes from Ancient Greece to the Reformation, so I had the kids do a timeline in order to place the vast time periods into context. I wanted a few of the major historical events illustrated.

Plus, trying to pump kids full of notes the Friday before a three day weekend is NOT happening.

Is it against the "suggestions" to jinx an opposing pitcher's "interesting game"...?

Are there Xs and Os in baseball?

I feel sorry for those listening on radio.

56 Good man.

56 Well, just don't tell them what you were doing before you went out tonight . . .

Mccourt: "dodgers, large market, we are going to have a huge payroll all the time."

56

Talking Dodgers always get the chicks Sam.

Question for Bob Timmermann -- did I hallucinate this? I remember seeing recently that you said there were two teams who wouldn't meet this year or something like this.

{Imaginary Vin Scully dialogue}

Well, thanks for joining us, Frank. Get out.

64 Well, sure. It was the middle aged guys and the Star Wars jokes that I was more worried about.

49 Hat off to you. You have to hold the line. We are the only developed nation that barely believes in evolution. But I sure hope they get Frank out of the Box soon
Lord he is still there!

I hate talking about class.

63 - I thought his comments about how the team is so embraceable were pretty hilarious. Nomar and Maddux will be gone at the end of the year, Furcal, Drew, and Lowe are woefully overpaid, you've got nonentities at third... Andre Ethier and Russ Martin are the only players who are truly interesting. This team reminds me an awful lot of the Fox-era Dodgers, except that it has some promising rookies and the GM isn't likely to trade them.

I keep flipping back to the Dodger game waiting for McCourt to leave. Is this a nine-inning blab-a-thon? Hey Frank, love being in first place, but this is too much. Camille, remember: Always leave them wanting more.

Meanwhile, back to the 49er/Charger preseason game...

Woot!

I hadn't noticed this from Inside The Dodgers last night: "David Wells has gone to San Diego, so you can all calm down with the crack pipe references."

Andre Ethier and Russ Martin are the only players who are truly interesting.

what do you mean by "truly interesting"?

Brad Hawpe dives and misses for balls more than any outfielder I've ever seen.

Hey Ratt -- welcome back. Hope you had a good vacaation.

Geez, Furcal must have had to hold up in case it got caught,or he would have scored.

70 I feel like this is the most embraceable team in a long time, personally. Not in the sense that they're a bunch of wacky characters, but more that they'll be together for a long time and are generally nice guys.

73 - LOL!

nate- are you in a fraternity?

I think I'm going to take it easy tonight because for the next two nights I'm going to partying hard. 3 nights in a row is a little too much ;)

75 Have you ever watched Eric Byrnes?

80

Nah. my housemate is though and its their bid night tonight. its kind of funny. all and any girls are invited and if you arent in the frat, you have to be on "the list" to get it.

its kind of stupid.

78 - I'll give you this: it's more embraceable than any team featuring Kevin Brown in its starting rotation.

All those averting their ears because of Frank McCourt's presence in the booth can now return to the telecast.

82 - "Get it"? Are they running a bordello?

82- fraternities at my school don't even let in friends of members unless it's really early in the year and they are recruiting. Fortunately, two of my roommates are 21+

84

I meant "get in"

I wonder what my subconscious is thinking tonight.

65

Washington and Arizona haven't played each other yet.

81 Eric Byrnes dives needlessly, but Hawpe dives and misses all the time, including twice three days ago against the Mets. Holliday, the other corner OF, just takes horrible routes.

Ugly inning.

I'm afraid its Betemit's inning.

AFLAC: Eric Young and...

91 What was the question?

Reds 5-2

Oh, those bases on balls. Betemit is back almost even.

82 That's how we used to do it too (am I the only ex-frat boy?).

It makes sense to let in as many girls as possible to ensure a proper ratio. Plus, the guys in the fraternity are paying for the alcohol through their dues, so letting other guys in for free doesn't make a lot of sense. It would be fine if you charged everyone $5 at the door, but we weren't allowed to charge unless it was for charity.

We did allow each guy to put one male friend on the list; any more than that would make the party too crowded.

I'm an ex-Frat boy. But I must admit, it always surprises me how young some of the regulars here are. You sound too intelligent.

Viva los errors!

Sweet!

I don't think I've ever seen anything quite as absurd as that pair of plays. Woot!

Dang.

So you get to carry the ball out of play now?

Mularkey!

Oh Bob, what is the rule on balls going into the dugout?

96 Too intelligent to be a frat boy?

I'm 25 by the way.

95- what fraternity were you in? I might actually join one if I transfer schools. I'd prefer a business fraternity. At my school most of the frat boys are morons (mostly Tau Kappa Epsilon)

What is the provenance of the term "woot"?

That may be proper, but it is a crock! So if he threw sombody out, that wouldn't have counted. Unlikely!

So, what's to prevent the first baseman from running into the dugout to prevent a run from scoring?

103 That too.

105It's an abbreviation of "I win, gimme loot" from Dungeons and Dragons.

I looked it up one day.

More umpire craziness. The replay shows that only the catcher entered the dugout. The ball, though in the catcher's hand, was still on the field.

Sam, what are the prospects of the day/night doubleheader tomorrow?

107 - Exactly. Just pick up any ball and run to the stands. Play over.

104

the business frats are different then the greek ones.

111 Prospects -- expect the Nationals to lose two.

Oh, you mean prospects of playing . . . medium likely. National Weather Service forecast:

Saturday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 77. South wind 5 to 13 mph becoming west. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. North wind between 3 and 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

111

It's not a day/night "doubleheader." It's just two games that happen to be played on the same day according.

The quixotic battle continues to be fought.

109 C'mon . . .

113- yea I know, but how so? We don't have any business fraternities at my school.

105 109 Sources disagree. Probably most people (the non-geek set) first heard the term the 1993 song "Woot, There It Is" by 95 South (not to be confused with the similar song of the same time, "Whoomp! (There It Is) by Tag Team).

I wish I was 25. I must admit to looking forward to this road trip and its earlier starting times. This time of year I spend weeks on end stayin up till 2:00am and I'm beginning to exceed my grog ration.

We could use an 8 pitch inning.

104 I was in Sig Ep (Sigma Phi Epsilon) at UCLA. I think there are one or two business fraternities at UCLA, but they don't have houses or anything and are mostly Asian.

There were a lot of different types of frats at UCLA: the meatheads (Pike), the pretty boys with homosexual tendencies (SAE), the druggies (Theta Xi), the sleazeballs (Sigma Nu and ZBT), the Jewish one (AEPi), the more socially inept one (Theta Chi), the "back row" houses that were less known (Delta Sig and Pi Kappa Phi, and Sigma Pi), the nerds (Triangle, the engineering fraternity), and the players (Phi Psi).

Then there was mine, which would probably be considered the crazy one that drinks a lot. Sigma Chi was a lot like us as well.

Most of you really don't care about this stuff though.

Why does the NWS continue to use the ALLCAPS, WIERD

SPACING FORMAT THAT is probably a carryover from when the reports were teletyped out?

Perhaps I will claim this as a quixotic battle of my own.

Although it's not quixotic; warnings of weather hazards should be as clear and simple to read as possible. Could there be a contrary view?

115 Where and when did the term "day night doubleheader" originate?

116 The odds of me ever playing a game of Dungeons and Dragons are about a brazilian to one.

Wiffle Ball, Tecmo Bowl, over the line, running into stuff. That's my youth.

There were also some doorbell ringing and running daliances. I'm not proud of it.

122 - BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY THE FORECASTS COME OFF THE TELEX MACHINE STOP

125 Still? Because telex is survivable and the tubes of the internet are not?

123 Run, duck, batten down the women and children!

Sig EP is pretty big at my school. so is SAE. I think Pike got kicked off campus a couple years ago because of extreme hazing stuff.

121 Though its not fashionable now, I was next door to a Sigma Chi chapter. I was in ADPhi, but not the chapter Animal House was modelled after.

Lawrence Taylor was "the man" on Tecmo Bowl

Lambda Chi used to be big, but they got kicked off a few years ago. Mostly for starting a huge brawl in our back yard (that I slept through) where the riot police finally had to come after a female cop fell off our balcony and hurt her back.

117

business frats are co-ed. they dont have their own house.

just different environment and they do different functions and stuff.

123 The earliest reference to a "day-night doubleheader" in the New York Times is from July 22, 1948, about the Red Sox-White Sox games of the previous day.

hottest girls at my school: pi phis, thetas, and alpha pis. heh.

133
How bout the Omega Mus...?

129- If you don't count Bo Jackson. Or Ronnie Lott.

The Thetas and Kappas at UCLA are pretty amazing, especially the Kappas. After that, the Alpha Phis, Pi Phis, Delta Gammas and Chi O's aren't too bad.

the DGs have the reptutation as the "loose" girls.

the Chi Os are fat here. although the small sample size that ive met maybe do not represent the whole chi o population. then again, it probably does.

Reds 6-2 bottom of the 7th

My dad participated in getting Sigma Chi's charter revoked from the University of Arizona in the late '60s.
Transgressions included using a flaming couch as a battering ram upon another fratermity house, and firing rifles at the lights of other houses. On that last point, Dad said, "Not the lights on the inside, though."

We could use a few runs here. This Jason is humbling us, excepting his wild pitch.

135
Bo was virtually untackleable.

139

sigma chi are back recently. like maybe 2 years ago? they are pretty small right now though.

The story Vin related between innings referred to the "courtesy runner" rule that was in place before 1950.

You can't do that anymore.

142 - You in Tucson?

115

This quixotic battle will be fought on the Griddle tomorrow.

Wouldn't you want to wait till the door was down before you started setting things on fire?

I just saw this, how on earth is furcals rate2 106? didnt he bottom out in the low 80s this year!?!?

137 Chi O's weren't too good when I started college, but I swear that one girl turned that house around. For whatever reason, a girl who got 2nd place in the Miss LA pageant decided to bypass the supposed top houses to join one of the lesser ones, and since then their new girls have been much more attractive.

I guess there's something to be said for having an excellent "face of the organization (sorority)".

144 yes.

This may seem too radical for y'all, but I'm toying with the idea of adding "3rd strike foul ball = strikeout" to my Quixotic Battle list. Why should the order of swinging strikes, called strikes, and foul balls have anything to do with the outcome of the AB? Any combination and order of 3 swinging strikes, called strikes, and foul balls should be a strikeout.

Rudy Seanez pitching in San Diego!

150

thats too radical for me. i dont think i could be part of that revolution.

146 - You have a point.
But a battering ram that's already on fire? Now, that's just wicked.

150

Apparently you want to see a lot of games that end up 1-0 and take an hour to play.

137 - when I was in college, the canonical joke was, "Tri Deltas - everyone else has!"

150 Because that would pretty much mean that Basball would have as much scoring as soccer. Maybe less.

149 - Wow. My parents - including trigger-happy, battering ram-wielding Dad - live in Oro Valley. And I went to UofA for three unhappy years until transferring to ASU. But my sister enjoyed her time in Tucson, and got her degree there.

150 Alex Cora would be the commanding general in the army to fight you in your battle.

155 - "Delta Delta Delta - Can I help ya, help ya, help ya?"

147 Because time has passed and his range and arm have overcome his long streak of errors. The guy creates outs when balls are hit to his area. (As opposed to Izturis, who finds ways to score runs with his glove).

If there are less than 2 strikes, the hitter is penalized for a foul ball, suggesting that he did something bad. All of sudden, though, if there are 2 strikes, the hitter is no longer penalized for a foul ball. In fact, the pitcher is essentially penalized because he had to endure the marginal strain of an additional pitch but gets nothing out of it.

It's kind of like the whole "sacrifice fly" sham. If there's no runner on the third, a hitter is penalized for a fly out. But put a runner on third and all of a sudden the hitter is longer penalized for that same fly out, provided the runner runs home safely.

153- You'd start having major structural integrity issues, unless you got the door down very quickly. Plus it would limit the number of battering ram operators, unless your frat brothers were Byrnescore (86% harder than hardcore). Wait, was this a fold away sofa bed? It'd still be dicey, but I think a sofa bed might work.

161

Those aren't good parallels.

The sacrifice fly rule is an official scorer's decision and just affects statistics.

Changing the foul strike rule would materially affect the nature of the entire game. When the foul strike rule as we know it now was adopted in 1901 by the NL (and in 1903 by the AL), batting averages dropped sharply. To a point to where they are sort of like they are now.

Who the heck is this. Maybe Lugo?

Byrnescore...awesome

Ahhh, Anderson.

Good start for Anderson.

This trade today wouldn't be nearly as bad if Anderson just never played.

Marlon! Marlon! Marlon! Marlon!

The best hitting Dodger!

Welcome to LA, Marlon.

162 I think the likely drunken state of the battering ram operators would make them more Byrnescore.

Yay! Another singles hitter!

Vin congratulated Anderson on his first Major League hit. Close enough.

Anderson proves he belongs in L.A.

I'm not sure if Martin would have scored if they hadn't cut that throw off.

Actually, that throw was pretty far offline, he definitely would have made it

162 - Sofa bed? Them's some strong frat boys.

175 He would have scored, the throw appeared to be going up the line and Russ was almost at home plate anyway, it was nice cutoff to avoid second and third.

Little shouold have had Seanz run for Marlon.

Is a sofa bed the same thing as a sofa with a pull-out bed?

I think that if you think there is going to be a play at the plate, the other runner is supposed to try and draw a throw if he can.

A sofa bed has been described someone as something that functions neither as a sofa nor a bed.

180 - I believe so.

177- Right, well, the heavier the better when battering, I've always found. Plus, if you take out the mattress, you've got that steel frame as a buffer against the fire on top of the cushions. It'd be especially good if the fraternity were composed of midgets (or if the door they were battering was very big), so they could hoist the thing on their shoulders; less smoke inhalation.

Unrelated: People say peyote is bad for you, but what do they know?

Oakland wins and drops its magic number to 20.

182 - "The Progressive Era was neither progressive nor an era. Discuss."
I liked SNL's "Coffee Talk, with Linda Richmond."

131- so are the business frats not as fun? My school doesn't have frat houses, but my friend in SAE seems to have a pretty good time.

The Chi Deltas at my school are pretty beastly.

186
It was like buttah.

187 - Business frats don't usually get charters revoked through mayhem.

We need more runs here.

I would imagine at least one frat at West Virginia (Morgantown), home of the burning couch, has used them as battering rams.

188 - "Like two sticks of buttah, lashed together in a rough-hewn mannah."
(Rosanne Barr as Linda Richmond's mother, just before Babs showed up.)

Better Coffee Talk host:

1. Linda Richmond
2. Paul Baldwin

Wikipedia knows all:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Richman

I joined a Greek fraternity in my senior year at college.

ΦΒΚ

They even taught me how to type the letters on my Mac.

I'm still not convinced burning couches are worth the trouble, but lots of fun can be had with a fifty gallon plastic trashcan full of water. Especially if there's a staircase nearby.

Padres lose 6-2.

The magic number for the Dodgers is 26.

We may not have to worry much about driving over the holiday. The edge of the Hurricane is arriving in New England just in time to douse the whole week-end.

187 I can't speak for other schools, but the business frats at UCLA seemed to mostly just have weekly one-hour meetings and put together a job fair once in a while or something. Consider it more of a club than a fraternity.

Big bad John!

Is the engineering fraternity called "Triangle" more of a social frat or academic one.

I remember playing against one of their teams in IM basketball. And my team beat them handily. And we were six guys who were sorely lacking in any basketball skills.

Jon, in the previous thread, in post #124, you said that you have seen one of Ken Finkleman's T.V. series, The Newsroom. I did hear that it aired on some P.B.S. stations in America. Did you see only the first season, which ended with idiot anchorman Jim Walcott running for public office, getting shot in the head in an assassination attempt, and then getting elected as both the metaphorically and literally "brain-dead" candidate? That season aired in Canada in 1996-97. In 2002, a T.V. movie based on the series called Escape From the Newsroom aired in Canada, then in 2004 a 13-episode second season of the series aired, followed in 2005 by a 6-episode third season, which is supposed to be the final season. All three seasons plus the T.V. movie Escape From the Newsroom are available on DVD from Amazon.com. For anybody who has the cash and likes comedy in the vein of The Larry Sanders Show, Curb Your Enthusiasm, or Arrested Development, I'd highly recommend purchasing those DVD's. I promise you won't regret it.

202 More academic, although they do throw a pretty good Halloween party apparently.

It has not been confirmed, however, whether or not their hazing consists of trying to solve string theory proofs.

The IM teams that killed us at UCLA were groups like the Chinese-American Christian Student Association (or something like that). They had a distinct advantage over my friends in that they practiced, ran an offense, and had played in competitive basketball leagues for many years.

We were mainly just tall.

Bob, your talk of this league reminds me, for some reason, that CalTech competes at the D-III level. Not well, but they do suit up.
I mean, this is fantastic.
"The blend of experienced players and capable newcomers encourages a guarded optimism as the Techers seek an NCAA Division III win for the first time since the 1994-95 season and a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) victory since 1984-85."
http://www.athletics.caltech.edu/sports/mbb/mbb.html

Dodger Thoughts contributor coachjpark hit a home run at Caltech in his only NCAA at bat.

Boom goes the Betemit.

Heck of an at-bat by Wilson there

Bet!

Betemit even for this game.

Nice to see Wilson breaking out of his slump.

From tonight's Dodger notes:

"I started hitting the ball the other way, working on staying back and seeing the ball longer," said Kemp. "I just got back to doing what I'm supposed to be doing, being more patient. I think at the end [of his first Dodgers stint], I was trying to do too much."

Little said he expects Kemp and Loney to get some starts.

"They're not going to be bench guys," Little said. "They'll get their share of starts from here on out. It's a luxury to have quality players like that to give guys a break."

The notes also mentioned that Chad tweaked his side during the 3rd inning in Arizona. Chad thought he did it on a curve ball. He said that he threw and it felt okay but the Dodgers will wait and see to avoid what happened with Kent and Garciaparra.

The reason they kept it quiet was due to possible trade for Wells.

Found the rule that applied to the weird wild pitch:

Rule 7.04(c) Comment: If a fielder, after having made a legal catch, should fall into a stand or among spectators or into the dugout or any other out-of-play area while in possession of the ball after making a legal catch, or fall while in the dugout after making a legal catch, the ball is dead and each runner shall advance one base, without liability to be put out, from his last legally touched base at the time the fielder fell into, or in, such out-of-play area.

This was in John Donovan's look ahead to the final month of the season, under "Virtual Locks":

• DODGERS (71-62, 1st in NL West, +3 games)
Without the knock-it-out lineup that other contenders have (last in the league in homers), the Dodgers have to win the old-fashioned way. Derek Lowe, Brad Penny, Greg Maddux and Chad Billingsley give L.A. maybe the most stacked rotation in the league, and the bullpen, backed by slick Takashi Saito (85 strikeouts in 65 innings, 16 saves in 18 tries, 2.08 ERA), is very good. They'll give the Mets a run for the title of best team in the NL.
Coming up: 16/13; Sept. 15-18 vs. SD; 3 at COL, 3 at SF
Odds: 74 percent to win the NL West, 86 percent to make the postseason

215 Thanks Bob.

It's not really pertinent to tonight's game, but who do you think hits an MLB home run first between James Loney and Andy LaRoche?

I say LaRoche.

Since James Loney is in the majors right now and Andy LaRoche isn't, I think Loney has the edge.

We win!

216 Actually, Donovan has the Dodgers filed under "Really Close", not quite a virtual lock just yet.

We win!

Saito--- what a craftsman.

James Loney grew a beard for Nate.

Ho hum, just another win.

Let's hope good Brad Penny shows up tomorrow instead of angry ball-throwing Brad Penny.

Magic number is now a perfect square!

25!

The D's show that chasing a lot of HR's is only one way to win. And when I think of Loney, Kemp and Laroche gradually hitting more home runs over the years, it makes me want to cry--perhaps with joy.

226 I could wish for a perfect cube--but that would be 27--- too high.

Wow, that last out was questionable, but it wouldn't have mattered with Saito.

If the Dodgers get to the next perfect cube, 8, I will be very happy.

230 I'll be happy only if they get it to 0 at some point. Finishing with an 8 would be finishing 4 games out.

230
I look at it as a journey along the magic number path, not a final stop.

Bob, what day is Psychic Sundays on the radio?

I'm sensing an S.

203 - No, I only saw that first season. That's good to know - thanks.

So, I see Anderson got a PH single and then a rally stunting thrown out at third.

I guess, You can take the player away from Frank Robinson, but you can't take the Frank Robinson out of the player.

204 An engineering frat wouldn't haze you by doing theoretical proofs. That would be the mathematicians. Engineers might instead have you build a bridge out of styrofoam cups that can hold the weight of a motorcycle.

agreed

Was the Chicago Trib article featuring Maddux brought up yesterday? If not, he is quite complimentary of the Dodgers defense, which the Cubs see as a bit of a knock on his former club.

http://tinyurl.com/khzfl

So, how many hours til Nate wakes up?

I didn't get up until 10. But I went to sleep around 2. I doubt Nate was staying up late to do the Saturday LA Times crossword online.

Casey lets you sleep 'til ten?

Uh oh, according to the Times, Billingsley might miss a couple of weeks, or at least 1-2 starts, with that ol' bugaboo, the strained oblique. Doesn't sound too serious, but they'll be cautious with him. So Sele will pitch this weekend, and then Hendrickson and/or Kuo, alternating in CBills place. Cross yer fingers!

Casey does not bother when I sleep. He did when I first got him, but I got him to stop.

My g/f's cats sleep together - it's so cute it's nauseating - on her bed, after an hour or so of late night caterwauling and running in circles. My own cats go to bed when I do, waking up only to attack my feet or have a late night nosh.

Meanwhile, I'm very excited about the potential Dodgers debut soon of catcher Einar Diaz. I'm sure Toby Hall is even more excited.

I don't think Einar Diaz would start unless the pennant were decided or Martin got hurt.

But Hall could be used as a pinch hitter. I think Hall and Lugo have accepted their fates for the rest of the year.

Oh I don't expect Diaz to start. Or come in as a sub, unless it's another 16 inning marathon. Probably won't see him as a pinch hitter, given his lack of... hitting. But I'm sure he'll be there in the dugout, rooting the guys on, doing the Einar thing. That will be exciting enough.

Um... yeah, anyway. More seriously, looking forward to seeing Kemp back.

247

i can't wait to see Kuo start

244

i've never owned any pets, but a friend of mine once "droped off" his dog because he was to measy/barked alot at night, i swear i'll never forget the look on the dogs face (i felt so bad for the little one) i promised my self i'd never get a pet unless i new for sure he was a keeper.

Diaz ain't gonna do jack squat. Remember when Alomar was the third string catcher. Well, he'll get less time than even that because the rosters are expanded allowing more pinch hitters. He basically allows Hall to be taken out for a pinch runner and still allow Martin a day off or pinch hit in a marathon game, etc.

The first pitcher from the Green trade made his major league debut today. Beltran Perez pitched 2 innings for the Nats, allowing a hit but nothing else. He was a 6 year minor league free agent at the end of last year and left the organization.

dumb question but is it true that Andre Ethier is have Mexican?

251
And you told me Kevin Jarvis wasn't going to pitch in the majors!

252

That's what Ethier said once in a pregame interview with Lyons.

254

wow that's pretty cool to know, i'm an even bigger fan of his now. :o)

Ethier apparently has a father who is French via Canada and a mother who is Mexican.

And they met in Arizona.

Perhaps we should just nickname Ethier "NAFTA"

Might be a long season for Stanford.

Brandon Lyon just walked four in the eleventh inning in D.C. Nats win.

256

they have a before the bigs on Ethier right Bob? i wanna see it so badly now.

236 - The criticism of Anderson really isn't warranted based on what occured on the play: It's a situation where you need to keep the runner heading to third to keep the defense from automatically trying for the out at the plate. Helton cut the throw off and Anderson sufficiently slowed up to ensure the run scored. Heads-up play, I thought.

259
I haven't seen one of those yet, but I'm sure there will be.

i thought i saw a commercial of him having a "before the bigs"

ps Jon is lagging it with the new thread, love ya Jon don't mean it in a bad way.

Hey look! There's new content on Dodgers OnDemand. Seven minutes with Aaron Sele. Hmm. The Cal game is starting isn't it? So, maybe later.

I really do not like the Volunteers.

Tonight's lineup:

Furcal, SS
Kemp, CF
Drew, RF
Kent, 2B
Nomar, 1B
Ethier, LF
Betemit, 3B
Martin, C
Penny, P

265- nice lineup by Grits. It would have been nice to see Loney in there. Still, it's nice to see Kemp and Wilber II playing. No Lugo combined with 10+ hours of sleep, makes me a very happy boy.

266 - Wilber II?

I also really like Kemp in the 2 hole.

Frank Thomas is a monster

Kemp homered twice off of Cook in pitcher friendly Coors Field on June 11.

batting 2nd just made my day!!! :o)

Kemp playing gets me extra juiced for the game.

UCLA game coming up.

262 Using "Search" on Yahoo TV Listings, I did not see Andre Ethier listed on Before the Bigs.

Here are the subjects for Before the Bigs for the next 2 weeks:
Bartolo Colon
Russell Martin
Vladimir Guerrero
Eric Gagne
John Lackey
Adam Kennedy
Grady Little
Chone Figgins

I'd argue that today's lineup is the best possible lineup that the Dodgers could put out there. That is nice lineup!

I'm a little surprised the Dodgers dont start resting Nomar, or putting him on the DL.

268ABs-.358/.426/.578
117ABs-.205/.280/.316

Nomar isnt right.

273

Rook of the year candidate (with a super great batting Avg.) dons't get any love!!!???

"268ABs-.358/.426/.578
117ABs-.205/.280/.316

Nomar isnt right."

Nate Nomar is never right after the all-star break.

woo, go bears

Olson looks real good for UCLA.

Wow, California is getting mauled.

I didn't even know that UCLA game was on up here! I'm pretty excited. Odalis is also pitching on WGN right now.

9-5 Dodgers on a walk to Kent.

we are stating to kill the west! (exept the Padres/nuns)

Garciaparra is a nother eastlos/folk hero the other is Oscar DeLahoya.

Ethier is half Mexican. woo!! paisano!

Ethier rocks!

13-5 Dodgers in the 7th inning.

Hamulak were's # '97 because of his son.

287

oops, Beimel (excuse me for being human)

Vinnie makes a great point about the route, Kemp took to get that ball.

Kemps himps, please don't make an apperance.

fast hips = well anything fast is good, i stil have a ton of hope for Kemp.

alone in DT?? what? i'll be the soldier that could for Jon.

so i guess Sele will start for the Dodgers, instead of Hendy.

i guess i'll ride solo!

i will say that Kou hides the ball really well (see batters swing)

Loney left center field bomb

Loney's hands at first impress me more than he's bat.

i wish i had #'s, but the rockies are playing like rookies.

wow great DP by the Rox.

Look at the batters (they can't see Kou's fastball)

i can't believe Kous great arm don't make much of a fuss!!

i hope i was a good boy Jon. :o)

stay tuned for Jon's great thread, later on today or Tomorrow.

ps my brain/head knows my boy Jon will deliver. be a kid Jon.