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
"Clem Labine was one of the main reasons the Dodgers won it all in 1955. He had the heart of a lion and the intelligence of a wily fox…and he was a nice guy, too. He will be truly missed by all who knew him."
- Vin Scully
The Dodgers public relations department passed along the news that Labine died this morning. Labine had been hospitalized since Feb. 13 and had brain surgery earlier this week, according to Steve Henson of the Times.
Labine had a 2.20 ERA in his rookie season - that wild 1951 ride for the Dodgers. All but 38 of his 513 career games were in relief, and he finished his career with a 111 ERA+. In World Series play for the Dodgers, Labine had a 1.65 ERA in 27 1/3 innings over 10 games, including 12 shutout innings in 1956 (keyed by his 10-inning, 1-0 win in Game 6, the day after Don Larsen's perfect game).
On back-to-back days during the Dodgers' first World Series triumph in 1955, October 1 and 2, Labine pitched 4 1/3 innings in relief to get the Game 4 victory, retiring 11 of the final 12 batters (that game tied the series, 2-2), then came back to get a three-inning save in which he allowed a Yogi Berra solo homer but induced two double-plays to preserve a 4-3 Dodger win.
Update: According to Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, Labine once retired future Hall of Famer Stan Musial 49 consecutive times. Henson also has more.
Update 2; When Labine shut out the Yankees in Game 6 of the 1956 World Series, he batted for himself leading off the bottom of the 10th inning. He popped out, but later in the inning Jackie Robinson drove in the game-winning run - the Dodgers' first run in 19 innings.
xeifrank@yahoo.com
dan reines went to Cal, not USC. My apologies. There is a hardcore Trojans hoops fan among us who has nice seats at the Galen Center.
Also, Washington State did not clinch second. USC would finish second in a tie against WSU because they beat Oregon twice, while WSU lost to the Ducks twice.
I will root for the Sun Devils Wednesday night!
Someone has to.
That's all well and good, but I pity the poor fool who actually get duped by such a transparent gambit.
Those commercials in particular are interesting because the message of the commercial ("Gieco.com is easy to use") is hidden behind a weird look at political correctness. Sure it is a straw man to use cavemen as the offended party, but imagine if the commercial was "So easy black people can use it." Further, the caveman is the hero of the commercial (if slightly clownish also) while Gieco itself is the offender, and society at large is patronizing. I find all of that a pretty interesting way to sell car insurance.
10
My new co-worker is a ASU grad and a huge Dodger fan. First time in 25 years where I walked into an office and actually met a devoted and intelligent Dodger fan.
Felipe Lopez - ground out to 1B (Garciaparra) 1 out.
D'Angelo Jimenez - BB
Ryan Zimmerman - Pop out to SS (Valdez) 1 out.
Austin Kearns - K looking.
Middle 1st, Nats 0 Dodgers 0
Stop me if I am cluttering things..
Other interesting tidbits:
Nicolai Bonds playing at Crespi along with Matt Scoscia.
Gavin McCourt at Harvard-Westlake. Just a sophmore. Have no idea if he's starting but if he is that would be impressive.
The updates are appreciated. For the life of me, I can't find a way to follow the action for free.
Wilson Valdez - chopper to short, high throw by Jimenez, E6. (steals second, high throw by Schneider)
Pierre - line drive base hit to center, Valdez scores. (advances to second on WP)
Nomar - ground out to second. Pierre to 3rd. 1 out.
Kent - ground out to short. Pierre scores. 2 out.
Gonzales - ground out to first.
End of 1, Nats 0 Dodgers 2
Alex Escobar - blooper drops in front of a diving Pierre, Ethier catches Escobar trying to take second. 1 out. Church to third.
Brian Schneider - BB
Larry Broadway - 1-4-6-3 DP (tipped off Schmidt's glove)
Middle 2, Nationals 0 Dodgers 2
Betemit, Penny, Hindrickson, Tomko, Zimmerman, all interesting thoughts.
Is Pierre ok?
Betemit - ground out to second. 1 out.
Lieberthal (DH) - ground out back to the box. 2 out.
Ethier - ground ball base hit to right.
Ken Huckaby - bloop fly back to the box.
End 2, nationals 0 Dodgers 2
On the implications of Furcal and Pierre at the top of the line-up.
-----
While Rosenthal gently refers to the folly of the Pierre signing,
he tries to look at the (potential)upside of the situation.
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Shouldn't Dodger fans…
( DTer's are essentially Dodger fans(?) )
(or are they all transplanted boobirds from Philadelphia ?)
…be taking that attitude in the month of March, rather than spreading negativity like a contagious disease(?).
If the month of June comes along and Juan's dragging the team down, then that would be the time to insist that he and his 44 million take a seat on the bench.
I hope that you all go and cheer him on for the entire month of April…
And who knows maybe Rosenthal's rosy scenario might come to pass…
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It's funny but the 3 most maligned Dodgers on this site happen to be the only 3 who have been players on World Series winning teams.
(Nomar, of course doesn't count even though he got a share in 2004…)
And I agree with most of the very logically argued DT critiques of these 3 players, but isn't it now time to cheer them on : they're "our bums"!
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If "our teammate Juan"
(and he is "our teammate" on "our team")
read this blog
(I sure hope he is not even aware of DT's existence)
he'd probably have to see a psychologist specializing in "A-Rod type dysfunction" and this even before the season starts.
(at least Yankee fans gave ARod a few months on the field…)
And then the accusations on this site would just become a self fulfilling prophecy.
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Just my 2 cents…
Top 3
Nook Logan - high chopper to short, tough play, scored E6.
Lopez - BB. Logan to second.
Jimenez - line drive base hit to CF. Logan scores, Lopez to second.
Zimmerman - sharp grounder past a diving Kent, single. Lopez scores, Jimenez to second.
Kearns - base hit to RF. Jimenez to third, Zimmerman to second. Mound visit (Honeycutt).
Church - broken bat grounder to first, throw from Nomar off the glove of Valdez (E6). Jimenez scores, Zimmerman scores. Kearns to third.
Escobar - 4-6. 1 out. Escobar safe at first. Kearns scores.
Schneider - Deep fly to CF. 2 out.
Broadway - ground out to second
Middle 3, Nationals 5 Dodgers 2
However, 0 for 49 is tough to do. I have referred the claim on to Dave Smith.
Bottom 3
Valdez - slow roller to short, infield hit.
Pierre - sac bunt up the first base line. 1 out. Valdez to second.
Nomar - hard grounder to short, E6. Valdez stays at second. Damian Jackson PR for Nomar.
Kent - BB. Valdez to third, Jackson to second. Loney PR for Kent.
Gonzales - Sacy fly to CF. 2 out. Valdez scores, Jackson to third.
Betemit - popped up to second.
End of 3, Nationals 5 Dodgers 3
It does sound impossible. Has any hitter in history with a 300 avg gone 0 for 27 against any pitcher. Seems very unlikely.
I blame all of this on someone making fun of the Nat's pitching stuff. The BG does not take kindly to mocking.
Top 4
Logan - Fly out to RF. 1 out.
Lopez - K. 2 out.
Jimenez - grounder to second, backhanded by Jackson, throws late. Infield single.
Zimmerman - HR to left-center. Jimenez scores, Zimmerman scores.
Hendrickson hooked. 'The Billionaire' in to pitch.
Kearns - ground out to short.
Middle 4, Nationals 7 Dodgers 3
Bottom 4
Lieberthal - ground out to short. 1 out.
Ethier - K. 2 out.
Huckaby - ground out to second.
End 4, Nationals 7 Dodgers 3
Top 5
Church - pop out to second base. 1 out.
Escobar - deep fly ball to RF. 2 out.
(Greg Miller warming)
Schneider - K.
Middle 5, Nationals 7 Dodgers 3
IP, ER, K, Hits, BB??? thanks. vr, Xei
Bottom 5
Valdez - blooper base hit into short right. (advances to second on WP)
Freeman - K looking. 1 out.
Jackson - fly out to center. 2 out. Valdez to third.
Loney - BB
Bigbie - Big Fly over the RF wall. Valdez scores, Loney scores, Bigbie scores.
Tatis - Fly out to CF.
End 5, Nationals 7 Dodgers 6
http://eddieonfilmspecial.blogspot.com/2007/03/norma-knew-what-she-was-doing.html
Wasn't Bigbie a real prospect at one time, though, unlike Romano?
And that a sub-4.00 ERA through half a season does not (in and of itself) indicate value.
What about the He's From the Great AL East corollary?
Oh, okay. I just thought he was a guy people liked for his speed and scrap. Thanks for the info.
Top 6
Broadway - ground ball basehit up the middle.
Logan - bunt attempt, 3-6 force out. 1 out.
Womack - HBP. Logan to second.
Wilson - slow roller to third, out at first. Loney turns and fires a seed to home catching Logan trying to score. 5-3-2 DP.
Middle 6, Nationals 7 Dodgers 6
Got it. I'm just especially prone to liking outfielders who might actually SLG above .450.
Bottom 6
Lieberthal - Fly out to 2B. 1 out.
Repko - BB
Stinnett - liner off the glove of the shortstop, score a base hit. Repko to second.
Hu - popped up to short RF. 2 out.
Freeman - grounder to the hole, diving stop by the shortstop, infield hit. Repko to third, Stinnett to second.
Jackson - line drive base hit to LF. Repko scores, Stinnett to third, Freeman to second.
Loney - ground out back to the box.
End 6, Nationals 7 Dodgers 7
Well, Ethier actually did pretty well against lefties. LHP .351/.378/.468 RHP 298/.362/.480
No, he has career slug % of 417 and his high water mark was 4 years ago. I don't consider him anything other then spring training fodder or a 5th outfielder on a good team.
I'd rather have Chris Snelling so we could watch and see how he can get hurt again.
"When I came to L.A. with the Dodgers, my wife and I lived in an apartment in Brentwood," Scully said. "A few days after we moved in, I went grocery shopping. After returning to our apartment building, with two bags of groceries under my arms, I was trying open the gate into the building when a man walking by asked if he could help.
"He said he lived in the neighborhood, so we began talking. He introduced himself by saying, 'My name is John Wooden. I coach basketball at UCLA.' And I told him my name and what I did."
BTW - I knew it was spring when I heard Vinny do a Farmer John commercial, Easternmost in qualtiy, westernmost in flavor.
Kory Casco (PH for Zimmerman) - Sharp grounder to third, Tatis diving stop, throw in time. 1 out.
Michael Restovich (PH for Kearns) - Fly ball to RF. 2 out.
Snelling - sharp grounder past a diving Loney, base hit.
Joe Thurston (!)(PH for Escobar) - ground out to second.
Middle 7, Nationals 7 Dodgers 7
I would love to add some color about Miller's pitching, but Steiner is busy yapping away.
Bottom 7
Bigbie - Drilled to RF, ground rule double.
Tatis - K. 1 out.
LaRoche (PH for Lieberthal) - line drive into the glove of a leaping Casco at third. 2 out.
Repko - Drilled to left center, short hops the wall. Double. Bigbie scores.
Stinnett - Fly out to CF.
End of 7, Nationals 7 Dodgers 8
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_5340491
The Broncos should get more for him than a 4th rounder anyway, imho.
Top 8
Ardoin - Caught at the wall in CF by Choo. 1 out.
Toca - Blooper to second. 2 out.
Wayne Lydon (PH for Logan) - K
Middle 8, Nationals 7 Dodgers 8
Okay, so is there a wet bar in the booth there at Holman? Because Steiner sounds tipsy.
http://tinyurl.com/29pd6h
117 Unfortunately, Steiner's already killed that joke with his Hu intro just a few mins ago.
He just crushed a two run homer. Again.
Bottom 8
Hu - Double off the base of the RF wall.
Freeman - K. 1 out.
Jackson - BB
Loney - Double down the RF line. Hu scores, Jackson scores.
Bigbie - Another HR (5 RBI today). Loney scores, Bigbie scores.
Tatis - K looking. 2 out.
LaRoche - sharp single back up the middle.
Repko - BB
Fruto hooked... TBC
Stinnett - line drive base hit to LF, LaRoche gunned at home.
End 8, Nationals 7 Dodgers 12
http://GuoMania.blogspot.com/
vr, Xei
Top 9
Flores (PH for Womack) - ground ball basehit into LF.
Wilson - slashed in to short center for a hit. Flores to second.
Casco - 4-6-3 DP. 2 out. Flores to third.
Restovich - Fouled out to second.
FINAL Nationals 7, Dodgers 12
Well, it's supposed to be crisp and clear on Friday... so...
Oh, I'd been told hell was going to freeze over... I must've been misinformed... count me out... unless of course, the forecast changes...
Both in hitting and fielding abilities, eh?
And another note, the Geico Cavemen getting their own sitcom is the best news I've heard all day! I can't wait for it.................those commercials kill me.
Reading "Boys of Summer" was a joy, and Labine features prominently. My thoughts and condolences go out to his family, and I am sure no one is offended that we paid attention to a baseball game today.
Oh, sorry Mr. Chass, I remember how impressive his gumption was.
PS I would guess that watching reruns of "Will and Grace" on lifetime is a replacement level life experience.
Get it just for one month, ST, then cancel the subscription before the next month if you live in SoCal, since all the regular season Dodger games will be blacklisted. (Unless you want to watch non-Dodger games, of course.)
Only if you also consider incontinence a replacement level life experience too.
But, more importantly, did the game commentators give any clue as Greg Miller's performance? We know his game stats. But did they give a radar reading?
Maddux? For a guy with a CPA's demeanor, he has a sense of humor that a 12-year-old would envy. Maddux is a master of strategically timed nose picking, sidling up to an unsuspecting rookie in the shower and urinating on the kid's leg, and inventing just the right nickname for a teammate with big ears, a prominent schnozz or some other pronounced physical qualities.
"I call him 'The Silent Scumbag,'" Wells said. "You would perceive him to be Einstein because he's quiet and he's always sitting there at his locker with a crossword puzzle. But he's got a silent sickness to him, sort of like David Cone. Those quiet guys are the ones you have to watch out for."
http://tinyurl.com/3y33o6
Ned & Stacey was a great show.
Is it illegal to be a long-toss devotee?
I just keep wondering what we are going to spend the money on. No pitching is needed with Lowe, Schmidt, Billingsley, Kuo, Penny, Elbert, and Wolf (with a team option) all controlled through the end of next year.
There are NO big bats who are FAs next year except Adam Dunn and Andruw Jones. All of the others (Hunter, Ichiro) are covered by current minor leaguers or Juan Pierre (@#&%!). Where will this big bat come from next year?
I see some big trades coming...
How do you think he hit the home run?
or Tim Hardaway's leg ... ?
I wonder if he ever invented nicknames while in the shower...
Ye Gods
He needs to just be sold as firewood. Or maybe he could be planted in some little boy's backyard and renamed The Giving Tree.
"Andrew"...?
{mists up}
I know. I was just looking it up on wikipedia, and it made me sad.
Most people in my class laughed at that film. I think they were just really surprised or are just evil.
http://tinyurl.com/yqutms
Watching Barry Bonds field this year will be a joy for any Dodgers' fan.
"Of course, the Dodgers will get light years better the moment they jettison Hendrickson."
I think I'm safe on that one
Penny and _uo. Not sure who else.
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