Now just control what your GM does...

That is, it would mean that if it weren't actually completely irrelevant to me, as I continue my quixotic 1-man boycott of Dodger Stadium for reasons having nothing to do with the ballgame experience. I've just decided not to give McCourt any of my money. I'll watch on TV and listen on the radio, but no money for McCourt until I'm over last off-season's embarrassing display.

McCourt could fire Colletti and pull Plaschke's press pass - that would do it.

On the other hand, he also didn't issue an "I told you so" about the head-first slide - just mentioned that it's "always a risky play." We know it's one of his pet peeves, and it showed good restraint not to pile on.

If firing DePodesta is the sole reason for the anger, I think it is a little underserved.

Plus he's a little irritating, personally.

Now I'm over it, and while I have no love for McCourt, I won't hold any animosity as long as he's willing to sign the checks with the necessary number of zeros (and won't blink when a certain speedy centerfielder who will apparently haunt me until he retires gets benched for Andruw Jones).

That said, as a Coors Field season ticket holder for a decade, the Chavez improvements are welcomed.

I haven't been able to get to a game in several years and have debated whether, given McCourt's earlier lack of class, I wanted to go ever again. This season, the Dodgers may be home when I am in town and I might just go. It will help--to the point of this thread--that getting in and out of Dodger Stadium might not require me to swallow a lot of antacid and bring a sleeping bag.

And, more importantly, why am I using the royal we?

We just put the kids to bed, caught up on the end of the UCLA game, and now have to clean up the play area. I hope to be in front of the TV by 9:15 and back with a report by 10:15.

Here I go!

Restoring names to the backs of the jerseys takes some of the edge off my McCourt-o-Phobia, but nothing short of ending the lowest common denominator ballpark sound effects will cure it. In building and running the team on the field the watchword is mediocrity. To me the McCourts are like a case of the flu: Make you feel lousy and seem as though they're going to hang on forever, but you know they'll go away eventually.

http://www.drinknation.com/urinaltest.php

Wait a minute, are you telling me there's no troughs in the women's restrooms at Dodger Stadium???

This is an outrage.

Nice work, Andrew.

It's "Puddy", not "Putty"

Good stuff.

http://tinyurl.com/2ksxbr

1. Betemit doubling right-handed
2. Pierre doubling left-handed

Andrew is Paul Giamatti (with beard)
D4P is Woody Allen
trainwreck is Brian Pohsehn
Marty is Christopher Lloyd
bhsportsguy is JT Walsh

I know what ToyCannon, Jon, Bob, Vishal, and Rob look like, so it kills the drill.

For the record, I picture myself as Michael Clarke Duncan.

Such a good movie. And the end is absolutely chilling.

I am not drinking any ------- merlot!"

Better?

Moulin Rouge, anyone?

I may take my offer of a ticket to a game.

But then again, that might be only chance for recasting my part.

Casting you as JT Walsh was a compliment. Steve, Jon, and Bob will attest that being cast as JT Walsh is a monster compliment. The guy was a brilliant actor.

Despite that, I cast you as Woody. Make of that what you will.

When JT Walsh passed away, we all lost.

I'm not touching that with a ten-foot pole...

I think Greg Brock should be played by a young Robert Duvall.

Instead, I have decide that Steve will be played by James Caan.

What am I, chopped liver? I think I should be played by Ron Livingston. Or Patton Oswalt, can't decide. No...

underdog: Richard Benjamin
Icaros: Antonio Banderas

I have everybody cast. From Fanerman to regfairfield to Sam DC. Trust me, I've put a lot of though into this.

P.S. SamDC is David Strathairn.

I thank thee for the compliment and be ready for some Dodger baseball on your trip out here during the summer.

And at least you have until Thursday to relax.

Though watching Steve Lavin on ESPN may get you riled up.

JoeyP is Bradley Whitford.

How about Ed Begley for my part?

Or possibly Tracey Walter?

I picked Bill Murray because he conveys comedy and genius. It was mean to be a monster compliment. I don't throw Bill Murray around lightly

You can also be Bob Newhart. It doesn't get any more complimentary than that, unless you want to be played by Jesus H. Christ.

I can't get in touch with his agent.

If Bill Murray and Bob Newhart don't get a job done, I need to hear your recommendations. But they better be smart as all get out and hilarious.

The role of Bob Timmermann will now be played by Mort Sahl?

One would say "obviously," but this is the Dodger organization.

The role of Bob Timmermann will be played by Tom Lehrer.

When Greg Brock casts you as Tom Lehrer, that's all there is. It's the best I can do. Woody Allen and Tom Lehrer are my best shots.

Bruises are often caused by falls, sports injuries, car accidents, or blows received by other people or objects. Bruises can last from days to months, with the bone bruise being the most severe and painful.

who am i! who am i!

we can make a documentary on a documentary of the loch ness monster. yes, thats unique and never been done before.

oh wait...

GPellamJr to be played by Adrien Brody

There how's that.

Hey at least I cast guys who are alive, I'm being played by someone who past away years ago.

I guess Greg Brock thinks we are funny, but complete dorks at the same time.

At least, I would get to be close to Sarah Silverman.

Hopefully, its no more serious than that.

The roll of Jon Weisman will be played by John Cusack.

gpellamjr will be played by Russell Crowe.

I didn't cast Nate because I can't get a handle on his character motivation. The prospect thing is there, so maybe I should go with teacher type guy. But Nate is young.

Would Nate like to be played by Casey Affleck? He's better looking and a better actor than his chin-laden older brother.

If I purchased the Bosox I would find a few Dodgers to decorate my organization and team and I would want my sons involved with the organization if they so desired. Sometimes what we dislike in others is merely a reflection of ourselves that hasn't yet appeared to our conscious minds.

And if anybody wants to sit in an old Dodger seat just bring some beer and peanuts to my home, have a seat, close your eyes, and you can feel the sounds of history.

Okay, for Bums' sake, back to baseball... What Dodger player in history would each of us be cast as? No, I'm kidding. Really.

I'm glad Abreu's injury isn't more serious (so far as we can tell) - a bone bruise vs. a tear or break. He was going to Vegas anyway, but I hope he's gotten the attention of Dodgers brass now.

Dodgers.com and today's broadcast.

So the Dodgers have officially gone with "La Roche" as the spelling of Andy's surname?

It's spelled that way on his uniform, I noticed.

I also like Adam's birthplace. That's what bbref uses to.

So just where was he born? Did Mom just wander out to some unincorporated area like the Cleveland Forest to give birth?

I'm starting to sense a potential Emilio Estevez - Charlie Sheen situation between the La(?)Roche boys.

I guess that's what he needs to work on at Vegas.

Oh well, so much for being able to see the ball better. :-)

Or maybe he should have gotten bifocal contacts - as Stephen Wright once joked - "flip ups."

Dead dog lying in a ditch
cigarette smoker has an itch
secret whores with ancient vices
Lucky's got the lowest prices

Excerpts:

"To analysts, a clutch hitter is simply a good hitter who has performed well in magnified situations. The appellation is all about history, what you have done. It tells you nothing about what you're going to do."

"In-depth examinations have revealed that a player's past performance in key situations holds very little predictive value. Just because a player has come up short in the World Series before, it doesn't mean he'll do it again."

"At the very least, though, in a given postseason game, or at a pivotal moment in the pennant race, a hitter will succeed or not. And talent alone will not determine the outcome of the at-bat."

"Ortiz has become known for one specific kind of highlight -- the late-inning home run. It's not a myth. He does it again and again. Over the past three years, Ortiz has 27 home runs in 235 "close and late" situations, defined as at-bats in the seventh inning or later with the hitter's team either ahead by one run, tied, or with the potential tying run at least on deck. Then again, Albert Pujols has gone deep 24 times in 231 close-and-late at-bats in that same span.

"Those numbers are real, and they're impressive. But they're not necessarily predictive."

http://tinyurl.com/2o4gxa

Tony Abreu said he had never tried a head-first dive until his train-wreck of an attempt Saturday that left him sidelined for 2-4 weeks with a bone bruise. Coach Mariano Duncan said he remembers Abreu sliding head-first in Rookie ball in 2003.

Regardless, Abreu said Sunday he was much improved the day after the injury, suffered when Abreu began his dive too late. His arms were not extended and he hit the ground elbow first, which jammed his left arm into the shoulder socket.

His arm was out of a sling and he demonstrated nearly full range of motion with pain greatly reduced.

"I thought it was dislocated when it happened, it hurt so bad," Abreu said, explaining why he lay motionless. "I didn't know how serious it was, and I didn't want to move. It's much better today."

And you can't do it properly?

And you don't extend your ARMS!

Hose...Plastic tarp...Booya. Head first slide training for life.

I always cringe when I see runners trying to beat out a close play at 1st by dive-sliding head first into first base. Never seems worth it.

http://www.all-baseball.com/dodgerthoughts/archives/012945.html

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Eric Gagne threw a simulated inning on Sunday and looked a lot like how Gagne was supposed to look.

In his simulated inning on Sunday, Gagne threw 20 pitches, 10 of them for strikes. If that strike ratio seemed a bit low, it can be at least partly explained by the fact that he was getting exceptional movement on his pitches.

He threw all of his pitches, and, alternating against veteran infielder Desi Relaford and catcher Chris Stewart, he gave up a ground-ball single, got a lineout to second, a swinging strikeout, gave up a walk and got another strikeout. The walk and the strikeout occurred in the same at-bat, but that's why it's a simulated game.

Without a radar gun, Gagne's velocity could not be precisely measured, but he obviously threw hard.

http://tinyurl.com/2zbf55

120 I picture tall, contrarian, smart dude. It seemed good at the time. Canadian...Hmm...Rick Moranis?

"Now let's go to the victorious Trojans about their victorious victory today."

This makes me wonder if headfirst sliding is even allowed in the Vintage Baseball league I play in. If you're curious what that is, and most importantly, if you're in the DC/Baltimore area and might want to join the team, go to the following:

http://chesapeakeandpotomac.org/

WWSH

Nah, he's just using alliteration to be poetic. =)

WWSH

Sliding head first into first base is stupid. However, although I rarely disagree with Vin, I believe sliding head first into second or third can be a good thing when done properly. You provide a lower target and are more difficult to tag than with a pop up slide. Think Rickey Henderson. I agree with Brock. I find it surprising that Abreu is so poorly trained at it.

Could there be an organizational reluctance to teach it? Off the top of my head, the only Dodger on the current squad who does the head-first slide a lot is Kent, who of course didn't come up in the Dodger system.

WWSH

Could be. I know Maury Wills used the hook slide. Maybe if Rickey had come up in the Dodgers system there would be more Dodgers using the head first. :-)

On a recent Juan Pierre thread on dodgers.com. This is the response I got when I pointed out Juan is really mediocre and it's only spring training:

Me: "Gets 200 hits? Again, who cares?"

Ahh yes,because 200 hit seasons are such a common thing in the NL...After all,theres been all of 10 of them in the last FIVE years,and Pierre has had 3 of them!..So having 2 guys at the top of the order,who will probably collect 400 hits,and score over 200 runs,is offset by "all thier outs" they will make??Now,ole D.L. had 20 homers and 100 ribbies last year.Other than the homer and rbi in the 4 homer ninth inning game against San Diego,can you remember even ONE of his homers last year????...Didn`t think so..Wanna place a friendly wager this team scores more runs this year with Pierre and Furcal at the top,than they scored with ole D.L. last year?...Wanna place another one that ole D.L. doesn`t play in 120 games with the BoSox this year?

"Oh WOW,he played in ALL 162 games"

Wanna ask ANY baseball exec,the importance of having a guy who plays in ALL 162 games is?

"All I`m saying is that we are a better offensive team w/Drew.period"

Your opinion.Mine is different.Quess we`ll see in about 6 months huh?

http://tinyurl.com/2hguqt

That article also sheds some light on why I am worried about Billinglsey getting loose for bullpen relief.