Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
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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
Pure, glorious torture.
One of the wonderful things about Tuesday was to see the entire community share in the wonder of the Fourmer game. (No, I know that doesn't really work, but you know what I'm talking about.) You might not have even known there was a community until Nomar Garciaparra's exclamation point flew into the left-field bleachers. So many people were talking about it, and man, so many people were writing about it.
And it killed me not to be able to join in. Monday night was a blessing, but my Tuesday work schedule was a curse.
It was humbling to see everyone else do everything I wanted to do: recount their tales of attending or not attending, transcribe Vin Scully's call, round up reactions, pull together video montages, interview participants, write open letters to their sleeping children. I wanted to do it all. Instead, I was just left with being an ordinary fan blessed with having experienced the event live. It's okay, but I'm jealous.
The genius of Scully is that he doesn't need any extra time to put his stamp on history, not one extra moment. He speaks directly into history. And I was locked inside my own head, nothing more, a shadow of my fourmer self. (Hey, that time it works.) The frustration confirmed both my passion and my limitations.
Fortunately, Monday wasn't about me. Monday was about all of us who, no matter how cynical we get, can continue to be amazed. I reveled in sharing everyone else's joy.
* * *
Now, it's Wednesday, and like Festivus, real life intrudes on the celebration. The Dodgers lost the game after, allowing 10 runs or more for the third time in four games. The hitters have come alive, Marlon Anderson has turned into Superman - not only blasting the ball but also nearly making a catch that would have been about as incredible as Monday's comeback - but the bullpen is getting hammered, reeling from another spin of the Wheel of Inconsistency.
Have you noticed yet that the team never looks the same from week to week? I long ago stopped guaranteeing future results on past performance for the 2006 Dodgers. I just wait for them to peel the fruit and find out what lies beneath, sweet or sour.
I'm particularly curious about why Little has stuck with Tomko. Dessens' flyball homerun was forgiveable. He inherited a mess, and it was sandwiched in between a couple of well-pitched K's. And if Tomko could have held it close, Anderson's homerun may have tied the game, and we would have been right in the middle of the magic once again . . . Would have, could have, should have . . . I know, I know. I just feel like Tomko has some glaring problems and he shouldn't be used until they can figure them out.
Btw, I really think the Dodgers top rookie of the year candidate should be Russell Martin. Not only has he been for the most part pretty consistent with the bat (with some power when needed), but has had the toughest job of all - calling pitches/receiving for a really erratic group of pitchers.
Ugh! The back and forth between brilliance and failure is killing me! (Of course, this could not have been more obvious when they dropped 13 of 14 and then won 17 of 18...)
Regairfield counts more accurately and quickly!
any comments on the Times' more detailed recount of what happened between Duncan and Peavy the other night? Sounds like both of them were being jerks, basically, with Duncan also probably trying to distract the tempermental pitcher, while also possibly mishearing something Peavy said, who knows... Peavy was obviously fairly pissy that night.
those days seem far off and long ago now...
But Marlon still gets no help from the fans ...
http://diamondsareforhumor.mlblogs.com/diamonds_are_for_humor/2006/09/a_little_help_h.html
But it's a nice photo.
It would have been more fun if the fans had started batting Marlon around like a beachball.
gak ... sorry Bob ... I'm usually good about the Tinyurl inclusion ....
my bad
Drysdale does get an asterisk, since he had two years with the Brooklyn Dodgers before hand.
It may be closer and all, but isn't Savannah a sexier destination? And how could the DC Nats do better for an A-league affiliate name than "Sand Gnats."
Saito
Broxton
Beimel
Carrara
Dessens
Sele
Hendrickson
Tomko
....
1) Eric Gagne
2) Yhency Brazoban
3) Edwin Jackson
4) Kelly Wunsch
5) Jonathan Broxton
I think we all agree it would have been nice to still have Duaner Sanchez (who's now injured anyway), though I did understand the trade at the time, since we needed a 5th starter. Mets fans were upset when it was made.
Oh what might have been...
One thing is abundantly clear, though -- our pitching needs to shape up, and quickly. It doesn't necessarily need to be lights-out (our hitting seems to be on the upswing), but 6 runs really should be enough to beat a team.
Section 408, Row 1: Barry, What's this I hear that a change in Baseball's CBA could rob the Nats of the compensatory draft picks they were hoping to get if (when) Soriano signs elsewhere? How can baseball change a rule like that after teams have relied on it at the trade deadline? Seems very unfair.
Barry Svrluga: This issue is, apparently, on the table in negotiations for the next CBA, and I wrote about it briefly last week. However, most people believe that even if the rules are changed -- a team such as the Nationals would currently receive two draft picks for losing a free agent of Soriano's caliber -- they won't include this year's free agent class.
That makes the most sense to me. I'll tell you this, though: Both sides are very jumpy about talking about the CBA negotiations. They want to keep them as quiet as possible.
--- chat running now at washingtonpost.com
I'll be taking an Ottawan to Dodger Stadium for his first visit there ever this Saturday. He is looking forward to the chance to urinate in a trough since he says it will remind him of Maple Leaf Gardens.
In some ways, you had to think that there would be a little letdown and hopefully Maddux can put the team back on his shoulders and the bullpen can recover.
Tomko has not been the same since he did not get that call in New York against Wright. He needs to sit for a while and figure out that his job is just throw hard and take the consequences.
Right now, the team is kind of in a sleepwalk, they have not won two straight games in almost three weeks. So while the steakiness has ended, their ability to have all parts of their game going at the same time has gone away temporarily.
But again, hope springs eternal and I will hope that in October, I get charged for my playoff tickets instead of getting a refund.
Washington, D.C: Dodgers and/or Padres in the playoffs?
Barry Svrluga: I'll take both.
"We've always known that the Dodgers had the pitching to make the postseason, but the question was power and the ability to score runs."
Um, yeah. Pitching? Not so much. Power? True enough. Ability to score? Look again.
This is what happens from following the Cubs all year every year. Disorientation.
https://screenjam.baseballtoaster.com/archives/514115.html
"In all seriousness, just seven home games to go, including tonight. If you want the opportunity to cha[n]t 'Mel-vin Dor-ta!' until your vocal chords ache, get your tickets now."
Second, Both Kuo and Snell pitched well through 5 (Snell through 6) and Kuo was dominating 8k/1BB until Sanchez and Bay got some broken bat hits.
From the point of the bullpen blowing up, no difference, Raffy, Kent and Anderson being hot, no difference.
I do think that the Pirates are much looser than the Padres but still it was the middle of the lineup that did the team in and if they are able to get another hit in the 1st or 2nd, maybe we squeeze a win.
But as far as the end result, yep, we could have used the 4 HRs again.
I was very upset when Little removed Kuo after giving up one of the most flukish hits of the season. He was still pitching a solid game and his end stats only look like crap because Dessens allowed all of Kuo's baserunners to score and one of those was of course the intentional pass he made Kuo give before taking him out. I had great seats last night and was in the 1st row of the Loge behind the dugout and Kuo was still throwing well. No need to remove him in that spot other then the fact he's a rookie and Little has no faith in his ability to work out of a jam. Like Dessens and company have proven capapble of doing such. Tomko should not be used the rest of the year without a backup pitcher getting ready. It might hurt his feelings but who cares. Little is quickly using up all the good will I felt about him until Sept.
I think I saw that in a Bugs Bunny cartoon once; those are very realistic.
vr, Xei
it tells you that baseball is a crazy, unpredictable game.
I'm sure someone will actually read the rule book and straighten this out, however.
vr, Xei
I've seen homers to the Fenway bullpen that the right fielder easily could have done just that.
Rule 6.05
A batter is out when --
(a) His fair or foul fly ball (other than a foul tip) is legally caught by a fielder;
Rule 6.05(a) Comment: A fielder may reach into, but not step into, a dugout to make a catch, and if he holds the ball, the catch shall be allowed. A fielder, in order to make a catch on a foul ball nearing a dugout or other out-of-play area (such as the stands), must have one or both feet on or over the playing surface (including the lip of the dugout) and neither foot on the ground inside the dugout or in any other out-of-play area. Ball is in play, unless the fielder, after making a legal catch, falls into a dugout or other out-of-play area, in which case the ball is dead. Status of runners shall be as described in Rule 7.04(c) Comment.
Rule 2.00 (Catch) Comment: A catch is legal if the ball is finally held by any fielder, even though juggled, or held by another fielder before it touches the ground. Runners may leave their bases the instant the first fielder touches the ball. A fielder may reach over a fence, railing, rope or other line of demarcation to make a catch. He may jump on top of a railing, or canvas that may be in foul ground. No interference should be allowed when a fielder reaches over a fence, railing, rope or into a stand to catch a ball. He does so at his own risk.
It's one thing if we don't make the playoffs because players don't produce in key situations. It's another if we get managed out.
My salad tonight will feature arugula!
But I can't use my powers to pursue dirty, filthy lucre.
Remember when the Giants were relevant to the pennant race? I remember it like it was just last week.
Some criticism could be leveled at Ricky Honeycutt, too, for the way he's worked or not worked with various guys, but I don't understand the nuances of coaching well enough to make a fair analysis of that.
Kuo had 96 pitches at the time of being pulled last night. Probably a pitch count thing. If he was injured again, that would not be good.
vr, Xei
And then what happens after the second inning? Do you put in a starting pitcher in for five innings (and thus allow him to bat, negating your early pinch-hitter advantage)? Or do you expect to use your entire staff in two-inning stints?
I don't know how serious I'm supposed to take it, but it doesn't make sense to me.
That's the day the Padres play and the Dodgers are off and as Vin would say "That little shirt tail gets tucked in."
That was La Russa who tried a set series of pitchers for a few games when the A's were in a bad stretch.
It was a dismal failure because none of the pitchers were any good.
Anyway, I don't know how one would assume a sweep of any team. It's baseball.
I might not do it with the starters who are more likely to go deeper into a game. At this point I am not sure who that would be. Probably Lowe and Penny? Billingsley, Guo and Maddux don't pitch too many innings. I would try it with them. Of the last 10 games 9 of them had an appearance by a pitcher other than The Starter, Broxton or Saito. Only 7 out of 10 if you include Biemel. This shows that Grady is using our garbage pitchers 70%-90% of the games. I would in starts made by Billingsley and Guo (at the minimum) start either Sele, Tomko or Biemel have them pitch until it is their turn to bat, pinch hit for them then bring in Billingsley/Guo let them pitch their 5+ innings (into the higher leverage innings), possibly pinch hitting for them if their turn in the lineup comes up at the right time (if not, then double switch them out) for Broxton and Saito. vr, Xei
Now don't make me go all Ralph Waldo Emerson on you....
The pitcher listed in the opening lineup has to pitch to one batter however.
Lunchtime was over.
3.05
(a) The pitcher named in the batting order handed the umpire-inchief, as provided in Rules 4.01 (a) and 4.01 (b), shall pitch to the first batter or any substitute batter until such batter is put out or reaches first base, unless the pitcher sustains injury or illness which, in the judgment of the umpire-in-chief, incapacitates him from pitching.
It did not go well.
ugh!
http://tinyurl.com/kucm3
I know my Bugs trivia!
If you are going to use a Tomko, Sele or Biemel why not use them in a lower leverage situation? I understand your answer, and it makes sense. If your bullpen sucks and your starters don't pitch or aren't allowed to pitch deep into a game I'd rather have the better pitcher pitch the higher leverage innings and get the one extra non pitcher at-bat. vr, Xei
Please stop me.
The Statue of Liberty is in that same cartoon and makes some sort of inside 1940s joke that I never understood until I read the "Cahiers du Cinema" analysis of the cartoon.
I just don't buy into a philosophy that assumes failure. Every Dodger starting pitcher averages about six innings. There is no game in which the use of a bad reliever is guaranteed. I don't know why you would want to ever guarantee their use.
Stan from Tacoma
Bibliography:
(1) Tuesday nights game Elmer Dessens relieves Guo.
112. New strategy for the Dodgers;
Starting at First Base "Marlon Anderson"
Second Base "Marlon Anderson"
Third Base "Marlon Anderson"
...
[GUO] please don't do that again.
At the end one of the Gashouse Gorillas says "I'm out?" The Statue of Liberty turns around and says "That's what the man said, you heard what he said, he said that!"
THe thing this philosophy may not be taking into account is that a starting pitcher has a lot more leeway and time to warm up and get in the rhythm of a game, whereas if that same starter actually comes in mid-game (even if 2nd or 3rd) they wouldn't have the same opp. to get warm and in the flow. This is one reason why we've sometimes seen Sele struggle in relief when he hadn't as a starter.
On the other hand, Hendrickson sure did look better in relief this past weekend than he did as a starter, but that was not in a pressure situation.
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