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The more worrisome kernel of news in the Hong-Chih Kuo saga is that his Chinese Taipei Baseball Association manager said he held Kuo out of the Asian Games final because Kuo had a sore arm (according to the Times and the Press-Enterprise).
Kevin Baxter of the Times writes that U.S. Olympians Derrick Turnbow and Termel Sledge were not penalized for failing banned-substance tests in 2003, and indicates that Kuo's test at the Asian Games shouldn't cause him any trouble unless it leads to him taking and failing a "probable-cause" MLB test.
However, even as Kuo emerges as a slight favorite in the fifth-starter race for the Dodgers (if only because the Dodgers still fear using him as a reliever, according to Tony Jackson of the Daily News), we are reminded of Kuo's physical vulnerability.
When it comes to the competition for the open spot in the starting rotation, the Dodgers do seem to be giving the kids (Kuo and Chad Billingsley) every due consideration against the veterans (Brett Tomko, Mark Hendrickson and Joe Mays). They seem to understand that the kids' potential to be above-average is real.
With more than one pitcher sporting low ERAs as they face March's combination of major and minor leaguers, the choice could come down to efficiency. And so when Tomko zipped through three innings in 37 pitches Monday, leaving the game with so much strength that he threw another inning on the side, according to Al Balderas of the Register, that's the kind of thing that could tip the scales.
Keep in mind, however, that the battle right now is just to make the roster, since Opening Week won't see the Dodgers use a fifth starter. That virtually eliminates Joe Mays from the competition, since his making the team would require the Dodgers not only to cut loose Hendrickson but also knock two pitchers or a pitcher and a position player into the minors. Short of injuries or trades, that just won't happen.
Where Tomko and Hendrickson have an advantage is that the Dodgers can't sent either to the minors. Three of the remaining four leading candidates should make it to Milwaukee for Opening Day: Hendrickson (though he has been the least impressive of the pitchers we're discussing here) and Tomko would be on that list for sure.
That leaves Kuo and Billingsley battling to make the 25-man roster if there are no further transactions, and these two scenarios:
1) Among the three that make the roster - Hendrickson, Tomko and Billingsley/Kuo, the one who pitches best out of the bullpen once the regular season begins becomes the fifth starter.
2) Kuo is designated the fifth starter by the end of Spring Training, is sent down to Las Vegas to stay on a starting pitcher's schedule during the first week, then is called up by the Dodgers just in time to make the No. 5 starter's first start.
Whatever the outcome, let's just hope Kuo stays healthy.
Update: Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports checks in on Eric Gagne's Spring Training debut:
He threw 11 pitches to the bottom of the Brewers' numerical roster and then said, "It's the best I've felt in the last two years." It's the kind of thing he's said for a while now, usually in the hours before something really terrible happens.
Knees, elbows and backs generally weren't built for Gagne's chosen pursuit or high-exertion delivery, and Gagne got big and good at a time when a lot of ballplayers were getting unusually big and good. He has denied those sorts of insinuations and worked diligently to push through all of his various aches and scars, often citing his responsibility to teammates and organization as sources of deep frustration.
Indeed, Gagne's terminal flaw in L.A. was his unwillingness to divulge even the minor irritations before they became major and Jobe actually began sharpening his scalpel. ...
He would start over as a Ranger with a fastball that brought no one to his feet. Gagne threw it with some effort, a muffled "grrch" carrying through the first rows of the ballpark. Gillespie took it for a strike.
Through three Brewers batters – the third one announced by Rangers manager Ron Washington as the "last hitter," no matter how it turned out – Gagne topped out at 90. He threw a couple changeups, three curveballs and none of the sliders he's been toying with early in camp.
Gagne walked the third batter, received the ball back and stood on the mound as his teammates headed to the dugout.
"That's it?" he asked.
When Washington nodded, Gagne joined them, flexing his fingers as if recreating the curveballs that had missed the strike zone.
In the stands, a scout also nodded.
"You can tell he's healthy," he said. "How much is going to come out of his arm, I don't know." ...
Update 2: Will Carroll writes at Baseball Prospectus:
(Gagne's) command and control were both notably absent, he threw more balls than strikes, and according to one observer, "he didn't really know where the ball was going." The same source said that despite this, the difference between the fastball and changeup was very good, so there's your positive.
I live in Chicago, and here we have the Cubs, who had three number one starters (talent wise anyway) turn into one ace and two injury wild cards. Hopefully by being conservative the Dodgers can avoid a similar fate.
Or he wont.
Can he get hot for a while? Heck yea.
But.... stuff has never been the issue.
http://tinyurl.com/3co89x
I just wonder, in Kuo's case, if there's much point in being extra cautious. The likelihood of future injury trouble is high, so perhaps its a smoke em while you got em situation.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/13/television.law.reut/index.html
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117961034.html?categoryid=14&cs=1
"A guy hitting 50-60 homers ... that's great, but that still leaves him with 500-some at-bats when he isn't hitting them," reasons Juan Pierre, now with the Dodgers and one of the best contemporary setup hitters. "So the home run is great, but just the chances of it happening aren't that great.
Fake quote:
"A guy stealing 50-60 bases ... that's great, but that still leaves him with 500-some at-bats when he isn't stealing them," reasons Fill in the Blank, now with the Blanks and one of the best contemporary home run hitters. "So the stolen base is great, but just the chances of it happening aren't that great.
Strange though, last ST he was doing just great, showing great k/9 and good control... then he completely went wild in the pen, this year he isn't actually as dominant stats wise (sample size alert...) and is wilder, wonder what that translate into in season. maybe it's a case where he's more into slowly building up this time instead of pressing?
vr, Xei
I am on my to the store to spend $5.25 on a pack of Camels to give to Grady and Ned. I wonder if the $5.25 includes tax or due to production and growing technology improvements cigaretts still cost $0.25 and there is now $5 tax on each pack?
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5ip 5h 1R 0Bb 2ks.
Betemit is now 4-27 this spring. If LaRochce was playing better, I think he'd have a shot at starting at 3rd base.
The more Gagne talks the less I miss him. I am grateful for his years here and hold no grudge. But credibility is an issue. I've moved on, at least most of the way, now.
25. 150-170 IPs is what I'd like to see. If Guo is not capable of that, then he has little value as a starter imho.
vr, Xei
Send LaRoche to AAA, give Betemit 2-4 weeks in the 7-hole to prove he can at least catch a ball and hit .250. If not, I think that Grady will have him on a very short leash.
30 I agree.
I also think Betemit appears to be playing better the last few games (got a double today; fielded well) and think he could turn it around before the season even starts. I'd be a little patient with him - but only a little.
A Grady Little. (Sorry, I'm losing it... need coffee...)
1. Ned will trade them for bad players
2. When one of the remaining starters get hurt, Ned will trade good players for another Tomko/Hendrickson clone
Net result of keeping Tomko/Hendrickson:
1. We're stuck with Tomko/Hendrickson
2. We don't gain bad players
3. We don't lose good players
Net result of trading Tomko/Hendrickson:
1. We get rid of Tomko/Hendrickson
2. We gain bad players
3. We lose good players
Maybe they can get some good A or AA players to have for later. But yeah, the Dodgers won't get a top line power hitter for Tomkrickson.
He may be typing something as I submit this.
2006
Lowe
Penny
Tomko
Perez
Seo
Carter
Brazaoban
Kuo
Osoria
Baez
Hamulack
Gagne
2007
Schmidt
Lowe
Penny
Wolf
Billingsley
Kuo
Tomko
Hendrickson
Dessens
Beimel
Broxton
Saito
Certainly, the 2007 starters on paper should be better than the 2006 version. We all know that the entire 2006 bullpen was reworked during the year but I think we would be better served with guys like Tsao and Seanez than Tomko and Hendrickson because of their ability to pitch consecutive days.
Other possibility:
Ned trades one of Hendrickson or Tomko:
If someone gets hurt there is still a surplus of pitching (Billingsley, Kuo, Tomko and Hendrickson are starters 5-8 in whatever order right now).
The player he gets back is not someone who has to be on the 25 man roster (if this is a trade to free up space, then why would it be?) and so there is addition by subtraction.
Minor Leaguers who have impressed (at least from where I sit and hear and read)
James Loney (still 20 AB short)
Tony Abreau
Jon Meloan
Ahem.
--
Boy, La Roche isn't helping his cause much today. GIDP after the error.
(I haven't watched, but TV-loving Nats chatters are agog.)
"You know you want it"
And she was in one of the Bond movies, which is how Steve Mason always introduces her as a favorite Bond Girl.
This kid's been impressive this spring.
The family and I will be in DC the first week of April. We plan on going to a game on that Tuesday...Any suggestions? We plan on just going to the walk up window for tickets.
I know you love A! I mean, who else can host the Coke trivia challenge in the third inning? Jim Gott obviously couldn't hang. A trained monkey would be too easy.
Any questions about who Jim and Dearie, please refer those to Bob. Not saying he knows but he might.
Long before Chase Carey's mustache wreaked havoc on the Dodgers.
Again, favorite Geico radio commercial is with Burt Bacharach, on TV, I like the one with Peter Graves.
"Do you like gladiator movies?"
As for who cares about ERA, well isn't that ultimately all that matters? ERA is an outcome stat, so it doesn't predict the future particularly well, but it does show you how effective a pitcher was as keeping runs off the board... which is the job description.
No.
Thanks again
In practice that isn't usually how it works out, but that is what happened with Baez for 4 years before he stunk it up for us.
wasn't He(e)Seop-pose to be playing in the minor leagues for Red Sox?
Scrubs-
love that show. I like the explanation and viewpoint shared at the end of the episodes.....that is..what they are, right??
Personal opinion of why the Nurse did this, why Dr. Cox did that, why the Janitor is the way he is...
He's signed to a split major/minor league contract.
Speaking of Bigbie, what are the odds he makes the team with his productive spring so far? Still pretty slim I'd wager barring an injury. Does he have minor league options? I'd assume not...
Sam, here's update on "Nats" Park, my question is that in the brutal summer humidity, what will the cherry trees look like.
http://tinyurl.com/ynpozt
Okay, never mind - what are the odds that Niagara goes all the way this year? I have my money on those Greyhounds!
Ahem. Cough.
In 2004 with Florida in 340 Plate Appearances he had a .883 OPS which would have put him in the Delgado-Konerko range for the year (his superior OBP might have put him above them), unfortunately he OPS'ed a mere .531 in 72 Dodger PA to close out the year. In 2005, he OPS'ed .821 as a 1B, with improved power from 2004, but his OBP fell and he only hit .581 as a pinch hitter (Jason Phillips hit .176/292/.245/.537 in 102 1B AB in 2004). He played poorly in 2006 in the minors and we will have to see for 2007. Still, in 2004 and 2005 he at least demonstrated that he had potential and I wonder if he will get a full season to tryout.
P.S. Jim Tracy is a terrible baseball manager.
If Choi never makes it back to the majors, his MLB career will have ended at age 26 with a career OPS+ of 107. That would be unusual.
Feel free to move on.
However, it's the Loyola of Maryland Greyhounds.
And it's the Albany Great Danes.
UCLA fan and I dislike Noah greatly.
Career EQA of .275
Career Rate2 of 102
If only the Padres needed a first baseman...
Now I'm nervous about the two NCAA pools I just filled out.
Of all the Pac-10 teams (and I root for UCLA), Oregon is the only one I feel has a shot to go deep. UCLA could go to the final four, or get knocked out in the first round.
Back to baseball...
"Tsao gave up a run in his first appearance of the spring, but he's pitched scoreless innings his last four times out and he's struck out a total of six batters in five innings. The Dodger pen is too crowded for him to have a chance of winning a spot, but he's showing that he could be a factor later on. The Rockies may regret non-tendering him."
The 2007 Dodgers are trying to remind me of the 1966 UCLA varsity basketball team, the one that lost to their froshmen when froshmen (Jabar/Alcindor) were not eligible to play on the varsity
To continue to be picky, "Abdul-Jabbar", although he was Alcindor then.
Gagne would prefer that everything stay in his arm; however, the other scenario would be a # 1 youtube video.
That would imply that the Dodgers have someone akin to Babe Ruth or Ted Williams in the minors.
http://tinyurl.com/yrtuan
Worth a chuckle or two. (Genuine chuckles, not counting the unintentional chuckle when they talk up Todd Linden.)
I wonder if he insisted on picking WSU in the Dodgers NCAA tournament contest.
Is it possible to determine which ones will be among the best ever when they're still in the farms?
Froshmen was spelled that way to annoy, Jabar was just lazy. Sorry.
Of course, Collins later would refuse to show up for a public tryout for Jackie Robinson for the Red Sox.
Maybe heading to Las Vegas are the following:
Billingsley, Kuo, Miller, Tsao, Meloan, Loney, Abreu, Hu, LaRoche, Kemp, Young, Dewitt, Bigbie, White,
Scouting was a much, much, much different thing back then. Ted was discovered by Eddie Collins, the Red Sox general manager when Ted was 17 and was living in San Diego.
"How could I miss?" Collins said later. "Williams stood out like a white cow in a pasture of brown cows."
Should make Tanya Roberts happy, too.
He never put up a Ted Williams like line, even in his best year at Albuquerque. He hit 44 homers in his best season and he was 25 at the time.
Williams was 19, playing at sea level and against some fairly good (albeit segregated) competition.
Williams batted .271 as a 17-year old in the PCL and .291 with 23 homers as an 18-year old and his San Diego team won the PCL.
Put it this way, Pujols would have to do what he is doing at least for 10 more years to get put in the conversation with these greats.
I ignored age and went with your first sentence about last year in minors concerning Brock and Marshal. I was also making fun of myself in my ongoing interest in making Loney the starting first baseman even though he has only something like 107 MLB at bats.
The point was the Bruin Freshmen team was better than the varsity in 1966 or there abouts much like the Dodgers Vegas' team might be better than the LA version if Ned keeps the more veteran and less optionable players in LA.
And with Oscar Robles protecting him no less. But, of course, no major league manager would be dumb enough to bat Choi second AND Robles third.
Bigbie played winter ball so I've been trying not to get too excited about his early spring heroics while he was ahead of the pitchers. But if he's still crushing the ball during the freeway series then I'll get excited.
He can op out if the Dodgers decide to send him down and he feels he can hook on with another major league team.
It's hard to pick the best five NBA players of all time especially if you just want to pick one from each position.
The battle among partisans of Kareem, Russell, and Chamberlain for the top center would be fierce.
And what position do you put Oscar Robertson at?
Jordan had the advantage of not only being a great individual player, he successfully married his success on the court with great popularity and marketing. Only Babe Ruth had that kind of impact in American popular culture in his time.
But after Jordan, it gets real subjective. Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are among the 10-15 greatest players but as centers, someone had to pass Wilt and Kareem the ball to be effective scorers.
Magic, Bird, Dr. J, West, Oscar Robertson, Baylor, would all fit in their somewhere.
But when Kareem was Lew Alcindor at UCLA, no one had done what he accomplished, 3 consectutice NCAA Championships, 3 Outstanding Players in NCAA Tournament, if Wooden had allowed Lew to shoot like Maravich, he might have set records that stand today.
And in his second year, he and Oscar led the Bucks to the NBA title.
I think you can make a lot of comps to the talent that may be in Vegas this year, comparing them as the UCLA freshman team with Alcindor is a bit of a stretch.
Also, basketball, while more stat based than football, is not like baseball in that regard so the fact that Kareem is the all-time scoring leader doesn't have a lot of significance as compared to Aaron's record.
Billz to pen, out of running for 5th starter:
http://tinyurl.com/3xnd2f
We are so stupid. Utterly stupid.
Former 17 game winner and all, but??
The Celtics, '85 I think, at one time had Bill Walton, Pete Maravich, and Bird.
I've wondered several times about the passing wizardry and all-round interplay that would have happened among those three if they'd all been healthy and at or near their peaks. Not to ignore the rest of that team, one of the best ever IMO; just a what could have been type thought.
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