As for the post season roster, why no love for Kemp?

He had Carpenter as his runner up.

I'm torn, though, on whether I want LaRussa to lose it before the playoffs, or by our hand during them.

62 innings?

I don't get it. Even when Gagne threw more (although not a lot more) when he won his Cy Young Award. And Gagne was insanely good that year.

If Hoffman is the best pitcher in the NL why:
1) was he NEVER used in a tie game on the road?
2) not brought in the Four Homer Game right away?
3) did no one pay attention to the way Hoffman pitched in the All-Star Game and right after the break?

The San Diego Union-Tribune also had an article stating that the key acquisition for the Padres in winning the division was David Wells, who didn't win a game for the Padres until yesterday. What about the acquisitions of Meredith, Bard, Gonzalez, and Young?

Mind is very confused this morning. Very confused. And deeply troubled.

I'm getting all this on Tivo, Bob, so you know. Even the tribute video.

He's actually breaking down, may not be able to finish.

What a guy.

It didn't work.

Adam Eaton for Gonzalez/Young might be one of the best trades in years.

Texas Rangers, 2007 World Champions.

I really should talk to the Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons who come to the door now.

I hope Little plays Lugo today!!! Also:
Lugo
Martinez
Ethier
Kemp
Loney
Betemit
Young
Hall

Isn't it great to watch a game where you're more interested in how the kids do than who wins. At least that's how I feel today.

Nothing like a feel good steroids story to open up October baseball.

From Inside the Dodgers

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15012086/

Repko, CF

Ethier, LF

Lugo, SS

Loney, 1B

Betemit, 3B

Kemp, CF

Hall, C

Martinez, 2B

Stults, P

But the Astros are down 3-0 in the 5th.

If they made the championship series, they could make a change or two again at that point depending on the health of everyone...

Be curious to see how the line up of backups does today vs. Schmidt. Odds aren't great.

Of course, he's probably leaving, so there you go.

Looks like the Cards will stumble into the playoffs. I really would rather face them over the Mets in the playoffs, despite what the Dodgers did (or couldn't do) vs. them earlier this year.

I am so hoping for a Houston win so that the Card's have to use Carpenter on Monday. Really I am so unafraid of them it would not surprise me if we swept them even with Carpenter going Tuesday cause I think Schmidt has checked out and Webb is going to win and were staying home.

I didn't see yesterday if you knew the holder for the Western Michigan guy or the Nebraska guy.

And did Maddux really get another 15-win season with that win??

The Astros have left 9 men on base.

Mauer .3455
Jeter .3445
Cano .3430

If they finish first and Cleveland wins are the Indians the leader in the clubhouse?

Mauer .3455
Jeter .3440

Houston has left 11 men on base.

Going to the bottom of the 7th

Mauer .3468
Jeter .3440

Neither guy should be able to get any women with those batting averages.

Also, Steve Lyons thinks the Cards will be a good playoff team because they couldn't be worse than they have been. Or something in Lyonsonian Logic.

The esteemed Mr. Brock is correct.

Taveras strikes out. 1 out.

Gimme somethin'

After all, in the 100+ years of baseball, very rare that the best players in the game would be 40+ years old.

it appears they pulled a Dodger.....not of late although

I have long suspected Clemens. Grimsley's allegations only add fuel to the fire.

BTW: Do players like Grimsley have more to gain than to lose by falsely accusing other players?

I'm just wondering why the Astros seemed to throw Morgan Ensberg under the bus. He's one of the few guys they have that could hit, and he was more/less benched. Meanwhile, Taveras, Everett, Lane, and Ausmus were out machines all year.

If I was an Astros fan, I'd be upset with management. When you have Clemens/Pettite/Oswalt (thats called a "window of opportunity"), and to not go out and supply enough offense is really bad GM'ing. Or just being cheap?

It's 7-7 in the 8th!

I suppose its possible--Nolan Ryan was really old and still threw hard. But he didnt dominate like Clemens has in his 40's.

Maybe Nolan roid'ed too? Who knows..

And I dont think Grimsley has anything to gain by lying, unless they are offering him immunity for spilling the beans. But even if thats the case, you still have to tell the truth.

In my book, that's known as a Yankee Complaint.

I wouldnt call them a "mid-market" team, but maybe their local TV contract is bad.

Any insight on the starting times? All 7pm?

I don't think so either. Why make people angry with you for no reason? Doesn't make sense.

They will not have another 100 million dollar payroll again in the foreseeable future.

Roberts
Giles
Gonzalez
Piazza
Branyan
Sledge
Blum
Barfield

Only regular they are sitting is Cameron.

I would look within for that answer if I were you.

the only regular who isnt a risk is Roberts though, and if they didnt have Bard, Piazza I doubt wouldnt be in there.

They've released more tickets for game 1 and 2. I was able to get 4 in reserved aisle 5.

They've released more tickets for game 1 and 2. I was able to get 4 in reserved aisle 5.

how much did you have to dish out for the ticks?

You're a harsh judge. The Astros were pretty fortunate to put together a string of wins at just the right time to make it interesting.

Don't the Cardinals get any credit for winning a game against the Padres in dramatic fashion and then another against the Brewers in a similar style?

the only regular who is a risk IS Roberts

It's a six-month season, not a three-day season.

1981 split season playoff
New version division series
LCS
WS

Also, most people would rather, if they had to be a jerk, not be the only jerk.

(Took me a while 'cause I had to check gameday several times before I was willing to type it.)

That just seems so ... so .. Washington like.

The Padres game gets out of control. It's Arizona 10-0 in the fifth.

The Dodger game is tied going into, say, the sixth. We've got a clear shot at the NL West title. Does Grady bring in the A team? Obviously not Lowe, but Furcal, Kent, Drew, Lofton, Martin? Does he pitch Broxton and Saito if we get a small lead?

Personally, I think it's hard to win a game 24-4 too.

And he would have made a legion of fans happy.

---
Okay, Kuiper still thinks it's JD Drew playing RF.

Now he finally corrected himself.

Meanwhile, another bizarre play - Schmidt bunts, the runner at 3rd stays at first, they throw to first, the runner goes home, they don't touch first before throwing home, just getting Feliz at the plate, then toss back to first where Schmidt had run past the bag? Weird. We'll take it.

Bonds just robbed Stults.

Bonds just robbed Stults.

Eliminated from the job. Not the planet. That would be cruel.

Thanks for the heads up, I just got mine. I hope that they re-release some for any additional playoff series' assuming that there is an additional payoff series.

I have a feeling that an older pitcher on the Giants probably set him straight on that.

[K'd before I could submit]

Kid in the Hall time?

Cain did not much like Maddux's stolen base, saying, "I felt that was kind of a rub in my face." Cain then made a statement of his own, striking out Rafael Furcal with a 94-mph fastball to strand Maddux at second base.

As an added bonus, it makes my 87 win prediction look good.

reminds me of Beltre

Thank you Al Gore.

And yeah, re: Cain's reaction, he completely didn't pay attention to a base runner at first. Maddux took advantage of it, Cain looked stupid . He should have taken the blame himself. If it was 10-0 Dodgers I could more understand that reaction.

Meh.

I believe Reggie Bush is still looking for his first TD.

make that 3 pitches.

Help me, Obi Wan Santana. You're my only hope.

It's probably happened before, but not very often, I'd guess.

Speaking of which...could someone give a brief recap of Maddux's steal (no Dodger TV broadcast in TN)... A bunt or clean single, then Cain ignored him, or?

No doubt done on his own, not signaled by Grady...?

(And if I knew how to do more than BF and underline, I'd probably have done that, too.)

Thx==

Wow, that was a great play by Betemit to almost get the runner on a long throw. Too bad.

I'm sensing a Trevor Hoffman Pity Award.

SNL Barbara Streisand flashback (chuckling)

SNL Barbara Streisand flashback (chuckling)

Start spreadin' the news...

For what it's worth, which may be nothing at this point if the Padres score remains as it is.

That's really hard to do.

Since then, they blew the game on Friday, got behind 7-0 in the first inning yesterday and now could get swept by a team with 100 losses and lose the division in extra innings today.

Now they face a flight to New York and all that hoopla while the Twins get to stay at home and have Santana pitch game one in the dome against the A's.

Lucille should probably make the postseason roster over Lugo.

Ramon comes through.

Kemp almost passed Saenz on the basepaths.

Tigers lose.

you say Eric Stults Eric Stults in spanish, but with a mean accent.

Example my Dad would say Mike Sciocia *Mike cho cha.

i'm gonna miss hating the guy, i have to admit.

it's peaking at 95 mph, with great bite on his curve.

If i where a pitching teacher i'd grade Stults start a B Great outing considering everything.

He is also a Reggie Cleveland All Star.

Trade the kid while you can get something good for him.

you're looking way ahead, let's just concentrate on the Mets for now.

333- Beltre has been very solid in the 2nd half of the season
.285/.341/.556 18 hr

@ there home turf is what i meant

I'm not saying I would not look at a deal with him in it, I'm just saying 4 months vs. 1 month means to me you have to give him a little slack.

My comment has to do with the playoff roster. Why do you, Jon, and the rest feel it is necessary to have 11 pitchers? Especially in a 5 game series when we can use our big guns more often, we can get by w/ 10 pitcher, drop Hendrickson and add Kemp, or whoever.

Do we use Broxton or Saito today to save this game?

I also believe he can land us some good pitching in a move (with another piece or two).

Beltre is having one of the best 2nd halves of his career. I remember that he had a very good 2nd half in 2000 too.

A few thoughts from the Mets fans' perspective. We wish Penny were healthy as we own him. Disappointed to hear it'll be Lowe, Maddux, Kuo. Especially Kuo. As you all know, the Mets have had issues with lefties, especially in the 2nd half of the yr.

Just FYI - Vin Scully (who is a pleasure to hear call a game after listening to the Nats horrid announcers call my Mets game vs the Nationals today on MLB extra Innings package) is wrong about the Mets playoff rotation. He keeps saying it'll be Glavine, Trachsel, Maine. It is El Duque, Glavine, Trax (tentatively) and then Maine if we use 4 pitchers.

That means a Maddux - Glavine matchup in Game 2! :-)

Trachsel didn't start today because of an unspecified personal issue that necessitated a trip out west - some family issue. Dunno if that will distract him when he starts in the NLDS. I do know it means like a 10-day rest for a guy that hates disruptions to his routine!

You should know the Mets have had lots of tummult since clinching - playing poorly (granted in meaningless games) until sweeping the Nats this weekend. Then the news about Pedro (not unexpected). Then Trax now disappearing for unkown reasons. Also, Delgado missed today and yesterday with "general soreness". Beltran is at about 80% - leg issues.

That said, we'll still crush ya. :-)

Have fun! See ya in Queens on Wednesday!

--Gipper13 - a Mets fan exiled to the Left Coast!

353 Tell Milledge to grow up & be quiet.

The Mets PR guy for the last century, Jay Horwitz, has resuscitated the phraseology.

Thanks for the ingsight. If you have the team signs, please fell free to share.

His teammates keep trying. I wish Omar had unloaded him for a front line starter. He tried.

Still...better than Mr. Mia Hamm :-)

Obviously he would pitch better if he had an appendix. He just doesn't have enough guts to be a big league pitcher.

LOL. After we beat you in 4 games, I'll be sure to share those.

The Dodgers have left 1221 runners.
The 1982 teams left 1223.

The Dodgers are second in the NL in LOB. The Phillies were the champs.

Here's hoping for a freeway series in '07 (and one in the NLCS this year, for that matter).

Do it for Mr. Timmermann.

It would have to be the 5 to 57 to 210 to California Ave off ramp over to Fair Oaks to 110 Series.

But I cede the point.

What about the I-15 Series?

Fortunately, you have to play the games.

Let's make it happen, people.

So as long as Loney doesn't do something stupid, like double in two runs or hit a homer, the record should be tied!

C'mon James!

What Bob needs now is a wild pitch to force them to walk Loney intentionally.

Take a bow, James!

That's a lot of baserunners.

The Los Angeles Dodgers tied the franchise record with 1223 men left on base, matching the 1982 squad in offensive strandation. The Honorable James Loney presided over the coronation.

Yup, Bob is much better at it than I am. I won't try it again.

And a lot of unclutchitude

I love it.

Fünke...?

Hey, German has lots of those made-up-looking words, so leave me alone.

An umlaut on your Funke...That kinda sounds bad.

Yeah, it has to be removed by an analrapist...

http://www.ramsch.org/martin/uni/fmi-hp/iso8859-1.html

I can have a lòt of fün with thïs. I'll stop now.

Just one more...

This is crazy... I'd just given up awhile ago and then tuned in again while doing laundry.

It's Trevor time...

Ted Leitner must be sweating beads right now

New post up top.