I can only speak for myself, but listening to this game I felt like I imagine Plaschke must have felt watching JD Drew walk with two out and guys on second and third: this one game epitomizes all the fears and concerns I have for the season (forget anything else that these guys can/will do during this season and never mind the fact that Sheets was dealing bullets). It isn't rational; it just feeds into the prejudices I have toward the season.

It was a very difficult game to follow for me. Nobody likes to be right like that, never mind the fact that this game didn't really prove anything.

But I would like to reinforce again that I know I'm not being rational.

Thanks.

It is not as if they are just writing out a lineup of their 2006 AAA team to start the 2007 season.

Now are they making more room for their prospects than the Dodgers are, for right now, yes.

So that was my point and again I am sure their plans for today did not include a short outing by Webb but they won the game and least for a few hours are one of two NL West teams that can go wire to wire.

Last year, the Cardinals got a couple breaks which allowed them to set up their rotation so Carpenter could pitch twice against the Padres thus eliminating their starting pitching depth weakness that they had against San Diego. In the other 3 playoff series, St. Louis would not have been able to do that the way those series was scheduled.

Postseason baseball is so different than the regular season, things like pitching depth are overshadowed by that 4th or 5th outfielder who may come in for defense or that backup catcher who may be forced to pinch hit in a game. Your 4th and 5th starters are asked to be long men or maybe even pitch unknown innings in an extra inning game.

There is no remedy for this and it is certainly more relevant given the wild card and smaller divisions where as we have seen a team just barely over .500 can not only qualify but win the division and maybe the World Series.

I am biased on this so take it or leave it, because while I think Tony and Brian Dohn do a good job with their blogs (being responsible and not too much idle gossip.), should you have alumni cover their school?

speaking of the As, they bowed down to king felix today.

Personal story: I learned baseball math when I was 11 reading Tommy Lasorda's "auto"-biography. Tommy said (and I'm paraphrasing) 'every team wins a third, every team loses a third. it's what your team does with the other third that matters.' I remind myself of that when the Dodgers are .500 through May. They're just getting those losses out of the way early. Apologies for the long winded comment.

catchable as if...he misplayed it or because of his speed and lack of age, he couldnt catch up to it?

Tony did go for the easy (and cheap) Corey Hart joke, though.

it seems like the young mr. daniels hasnt been a positive net gain for the rangers.

http://www.firejoemorgan.com/2005/04/glossary-of-terms.html

Does anyone know who's starting for the LAAoA tonight?

A new law passed by Congress limits every baseball game to just four omens.

Or maybe it was Exorcist II: The Heretic.

At any rate, let's hope it's not a horror film tomorrow.

Actually, Al was much worse but I wonder if they'll share the same fate.

Hint: they were part of all-around bad performances.

D'Oh!

But I remember Al Oliver!

Awesome

And if I was talking to Smush, Id tell him to stop airballing three pointers.

Guzman, who missed all of 2006 after right shoulder surgery, was replaced in the game by Josh Wilson. Acta said that if Guzman is out for "a long period of time," then Felipe Lopez would shift back from second base to shortstop - his position until this season - and Ronnie Belliard would play second.

Maybe a future home for Valdez, Anderson, or Martinez.

Sounds like the Giants won't let go of Aurilia.

As much as I dislike the Gonzo and Pierre signings, ripping on them for not playing well today reminds of Plaschke's article that he wrote 2 years ago. He jumped to conclusions based on one play by Jose Valentin and many of us jumped on ol' Bill for it.

They played poorly today, very poorly. When someone plays poorly, we're allowed to say so, right?

I still think the signings of JP and Pierre were unnecessary, but I don't want to pile on them either. I still think that Kemp in CF and Ethier and Loney at the corner OF spots would be better than what we have right now.

I personally don't want to say that since Pea Shooter Pierre and Old Man Gonzalez made a couple of bad plays that I was right all along. It would make me feel dirty.

J.D. Drew could field. J.D. Drew could hit. J.D. Drew was a man of low character, I suppose, but he was a consistent offensive force.

But the best reason to miss J.D. Drew is that if J.D. Drew were playing in the Dodgers' outfield, there would have been no reason for Colletti to sign either Pierre or Gonzalez. The other two outfield positions would have gone to Ethier and Repko, and when Repko came up lame, it would have been Kemp.

Who knows, maybe High Character Man Garciaparra would have decided he didn't want to slum it with Drew and signed somewhere else, leaving first base for Loney.

Wouldn't you rather have Drew-Loney-Kemp, over Garciaparra-Pierre-Gonzalez?

This is what happens when your staff gets their research from pulling up recent Dodger press releases.

Seriously, nice job and now Dodger Thoughts has two major media plugs in less than a week. And when we get those t-shirts, watch out.

1. I'd rather lose 7 to 1 than 2 to 1. Sheets was nasty and the breaks went to Mil on squibbers and potential hits that found gloves.
2. It was good to see number 38 throwing in the 90s and shutting them out for one inning late in the game. Gagne must have been hungry sitting on the bench for two years, he looked a bit chubby.
3. Brady Clark is hitting .500!

"Nobody has talked to me about anything," (Ethier) said. "I have no idea what the plan is."

(Quoted from Henson's notebook at the Times.)

Also, it sounds like Loney unloaded a bit on Little/Colletti after getting news of his demotion. Does this raise character issues that will allow Ned to deal him with a clean conscience?

64 - He doesn't yearn for Drew. He admits that Drew is better, than still takes a puerile shot at him.

I just hope some of what Loney said stuck all over Colletti and no matter how often Colletti's tries to scrub it off he can't.

Here is to Nomar to third, Loney to first, Gonzo to left side pinch hitter, Kemp to right, Ethier to left and by June, Bigbie in and Pierre out.

Here is to Nomar to third, Loney to first, Gonzo to left side pinch hitter, Kemp to right, Ethier to left and by June, Bigbie in and Pierre out.

From your lips to Colletti's veteran-lovin' ears, my friend.

{insert joke about aim here}

Here's hoping for the former...

74 - Yes, you reminded me I wanted to point over there. New post up top.

I like Loney having some "attitude." I think you need a little of that. But, now he needs to take what he's been handed and MAKE them bring him back up by playing even better. Taking some extra outfield at LV might go along way, but he has a LONG way to go.