The team has won seven of its past eight games

What is it that allows a team to rebound like this after an 0-2 start? Some will say "Pitching", some will say "Defense", some will say "Hitting". But they would be wrong.

The answer is "Character".

For some reason, despite the team playing really well right now, I am worried. After all, the dodgers started out 12-2 in 2005, and ended up 71-91. I mean, certainly at least the main stream media certainly expected this from us more this year while the 2005 start was a complete surprise to them. I don't know though, I mean Luis Gonzales is hitting like it's still 2001 and we haven't exactly ripped the cover off the ball in all out wins. Then again, Schmidt hasn't made it to the 6th yet, Ethier is struggling, Pierre is batting about .100 points below where he'll be by the end of the year, and Betemit has done absolutely nothing.

Am I worring too much, or are the dodgers really going to be a good 90-92 win team?

Everytime GonZo Homers the Dodgers win and score 9+ runs!

That means the dodgers will win at least 15-17 games this year and score an extra 150-170 runs all thanks to GonZo.

Nope, moxie is the culprit here, D4P. He may hit less than .200, but when Juan Pierre is up there at the top of the lineup, I think we all know the other guys are inspired to do much, much better.

Baseball Prospectus says we're the second luckiest (or whatever you call it) team in the league according to third order wins. As before, I call it moxie. Can't measure it.

Rats. I always get Character and Moxie confused.

Moxie is what you have in your guts.
Character is what you have in your soul.

I don't know where apprehension is stored.

We knew going into the year that pitching would be our strength, so it shouldn't be surprising that it's the way we're winning games so far. I wouldn't expect the offense to carry us when the pitching goes in a little slump though.

Heart is stored in your chest.
Grit is stored in your teeth.

Determination is stored in the Central Nervous System.

Just like meningitis!

I thought character was contagious, but I guess determination is as well.

D4P, you've got mail.

11
Hey, you're right!

I couldn't help but watch Eric pitch last night. He was hitting 93s' and 94s' on the gun consistently. If he can keep throwing without blowing his arm up, the high 90s' seem very likely soon. hmmmmmm

12 - Even a broken clock and all that jazz.

2. Yes. You're worrying too much. This season is going to be a cakewalk for the blue. Come mid August-September, we're going to know how the fans of the 2006 Mets felt. No anxiety. Just getting revved for Game 1 of the NLDS in Dodger Stadium.

tiresome.

6. "I don't know where apprehension is stored."

Probably in the lower intestine, waiting to be unleashed if Ned trades the young studs...

2- For some reason, despite the team playing really well right now, I am worried. After all, the dodgers started out 12-2 in 2005, and ended up 71-91.

I think the biggest difference between 2005 & 2007 is the depth of this team. When our guys got injured in '05 we couldn't adequately replace them. This team is loaded with prospects who are ready to step in and produce: Kemp, Loney, Abreu, Billingsley, Miller, Meloan, etc.. Plus we have a solid bench, and for the most part, Grady manages pretty well.

I can't wait for Kemp to get back in the lineup!

More in a long line of very safe predictions:

The Dodgers will have better than a .686 team OPS this year.

They will have worse than a 2.86 team ERA.

Comparing the fodder of the '05 squad to the talent we have on '07 squad is like comparing peaches to pears. There is no way in the high heavens this team finishes below .500. Let alone 20 games under.

18. Good point about prospects who are now ready. OF course, if the vets decline without actually going on the DL, that won't help much.

For me, the biggest reason to postpone the champagne order is the quality of the opponents the Dodgers have faced so far. The offense has struggled against the better pitchers, and while Dodger pitching has been pretty darn good so far, the offenses of teh Padres, Giants, and even Brewers are not real scary. I was impressed with the job done against the Rockies after the first game, but the Rox have always been much worse away from home.

I'm not saying that this is a bad team - just that it's not going to win 70% of its games this season.

As for individual players, I think 2 had it about right. Gonzales will decline, some combo of Ethier/Betemit/Pierre will improve. I'm most concerned about Nomar - maybe he'll be better on the road, away from those 3am feedings.

I don't think we're losing 90 games this year. We aren't turning to Grabowski or Edwards when the fogies get injured. Some of our replacements might end up better than the guys they replace, which didn't happen in 2005.

is like comparing peaches to pears

In the sense that with both, you can't tell how good they're going to be just by looking at them?

What's the name of Chevy's big truck again? What color is the sky? Sad more than anything.

Clearly, we won't end up winning 70% of our games. Something's gotta give. While the offense will probably get better, the pitching will probably get worse. Overall, the decrease in pitching will likely outweigh the increase in hitting.

2, 18, others..

I don't know who originated this, but some folks who've been around a long time say every ML team will win 1/3 of its games and lose 1/3.

The other 1/3 determines who goes to the playoffs.

It can be hard not to get caught up in the euphoria of winning or not get too down when losing, but staying on an even keel works better...if it can be managed.

26 I don't know who originated this, but some folks who've been around a long time say every ML team will win 1/3 of its games and lose 1/3.

So there is hope for the Nats?

Maybe. A target to shoot for, anyhow....

What's the record for fewest wins over a 162 game season?

First person I heard say it was Lasorda.

Not exactly Aristotle. Or Yogi Berra.

It was sure exciting to have Furcal back in the lineup. He really does make our offense go.

I know Grady likes having 2 rabbits on top of the lineup, but I wish he'd try batting Martin 2nd, and drop Pierre to the 8th spot in the lineup.

1-Furcal
2-Martin
3-Nomar
4-Kent
5-Gonzalez
6-Kemp/Ethier/Clark
7-Betemit
8-Pierre

...nothing wrong with speed at the bottom of the lineup to play little-ball with the pitcher coming up, then Furcal & Martin to drive him in. Plus, Martin's obp is too good to stash low in the lineup.

Fewest wins in a 162 game season is 40 by the 1962 Mets.

My question is answered. :-)

>>> No. 42 was one of chance.
Robinson received number from clubhouse manager as rookie <<<

http://tinyurl.com/2psmep

Thanks. Thought the '62 Mets were it but wasn't sure of the number.

Was that the year Casey Stengel looked around in the dugout after the team had fouled up something for the umpeenth time and said, "Can anybody here play this game?"

31. Hard to believe just a few short years ago there was talk about the Tigers challenging that record and then last year making it to the WS. I still tend to think of them as a bad team even thought they are not.

Nats are leading the Mets 3-1 in the 6th!! There is hope.

Posted too soon. 3 run homer. Nats up 6-1.

30. I know Grady likes having 2 rabbits on top of the lineup, but I wish he'd try batting Martin 2nd, and drop Pierre to the 8th spot in the lineup.

This is a possibility for later if Pierre's struggles continue. But Grady isn't going to drop his $44 million player to 8th in April.

37 Do you think he might be trying to minimze wear and tear on his young catcher?

38- By not batting him 2nd? Or not playing him in center on his days off?

What's the deal with Juan Pierre ?

Is he one of those guys that gets hot late in the season or what? He's at what .211 or something right now, and heading lower. Maybe someone who followed him with the Cubs can enlighten me, but right now he's just not getting the job done.

I did notice that JP's been trying real hard to hit specific "positions" more than just going out there and whacking. Game two of the Rockies series he seemed to be trying to hit the corner of Right field, last night he appeared to attempting to pull for short left field. I wonder how much of this is coaching and how much is what he thinks is the right play, almost as if he's over thinking.

As I am looking at a replica of it right now, what was Jackie Robinson's number on his football jersey at UCLA?

No fair looking it up online.

39-Great comment. You made me laugh. I know it is not a big difference and that probably is not why he has him 8th. I think Grady wants to keep JP in the 2 slot to show confidence in him and help him work through the slump.

41- 42?

41- I think I saw a replica of that jersey hanging when I watched the swallows and buffaloes play back in 95 when I watched the great _________ play 1st.

44- by 95 I mean 2005 of course.

What hurts is that even after Juan Pierre breaks out of his slump he is still Juan Pierre.

I think Pierre's groundballs travel faster when the weather heats up, thus enabling more of them to get past the second baseman and dribble into shallow right-centerfield.

40 It's 10 games, anyone can be terrible for 10 games.

Yet Pierre plays on while Betemit and Ethier sit.

38. old dodger fan
37 Do you think he might be trying to minimze wear and tear on his young catcher?

Nope. Before they signed Pierre Grady had indicated that he planned to bat Martin 2nd this season. Frankly, I'm guessing Grady prefers Martin in the 2nd spot now. But it may not a good idea to drop a guy your GM just handed a $44 million contract to 8th without giving the Furcal/Pierre combo adequate opportunity to work itself out (although Jim Tracy might :-) ).

38 I may have posted before about seeing where Sparky Anderson said a few years ago that he might have cut short Johnny Bench's career by playing him every day.

Said it was just too easy to write in the name of the best catcher in baseball day in and day out.

Following that line of thought, I think it'd be better if Grady rested Martin a bit more. He's young and a stud and all that, but 162 games is a long grind.

Times like last night, where the game is one-sided by the middle innings, would be good to take him out.

And while I'm managing, I'd like to see a way found to get Saenz more ABs this year--spot starts or whatever. That bat is lethal, and the Dodgers could use his power. He can't play a lot without wearing down. But still...

Jackie Robinson did not wear 42 as UCLA football player.

51 There aren't many young catchers that had Martin's workload, but of those that did, only one took a huge tumble early in their career.

As callous as this may be, we really should only care about what Martin is going to do until 2011, and if history holds true, running him out there early and often won't hurt him while he's on the Dodgers.

51. Times like last night, where the game is one-sided by the middle innings, would be good to take him out.

And Little did take him out. Although he waited until the 9th inning to do so.

51. And while I'm managing, I'd like to see a way found to get Saenz more ABs this year--spot starts or whatever. That bat is lethal, and the Dodgers could use his power. He can't play a lot without wearing down. But still...

I also thought he would have given Nomar a day off by now and since Loney isn't on the team I expected to see Saenz get a start.

51 There aren't many young catchers that had Martin's workload, but of those that did, only one took a huge tumble early in their career.

Yeah but do we really care about Dave Ross anymore?

I follow the Las Vegas boxscores and noticed that they finally had LaRoche at third base last night. LaRoche looked terrible on defense this spring. I hope it was an aberration. But I see no future for him as an outfielder. He didn't hit in spring training and still hasn't. Could he be injured? This concerns me as Betemit is just not making at for us at third base. Martinez is not a serious replacement at third. So far Grady is not giving Garciaparra any playing time at third. That would open a slot for Loney. Can Nomar still play third? I would gladly replace Betemit's bat with Loney's. Or, for that matter, LaRoche's. I am beginning to believe that Betemit will never be the solid hitter Ned imagined. If that is true and neither Nomar nor LaRoche can play third, then Ned needs to make another trade.

57 I'm not ready to give up on Betemit yet. Although he has an .050 Avg, his OBP is .269. He's taken a lot of walks already, and he has a lot of power potential. Nomar's not hitting terribly well, either. Unless they're going to throw Saenz out there at 3rd(is this really such an awful idea?), I think Betemit is the best option at 3B.

58
I attribute Betemit's walks this year more to batting in front of the pitcher than to patience at the plate.

59

hes had 3 walks in 7PAs batting 6th

0 walks in 8PAs batting 7th

3 walks in 10PAs batting 8th.

so basically, that comment doesnt really have any merit considering hes walked more in the 6th hole then in the 8th hole.

My comments never have merit

57

start worrying by July. Its only April 14th.

61

thats true, i dont even know why i bother.

what was bill james' gonzalez projections for 2007?

57 - I don't think Nomar wants to play 3rd base. He may feel it's too risky for his career if he moves to 3rd, and messes up, while Loney thrives at 1st base and takes his old job.

Betemit & LaRoche both have good upside. I think they'll both start getting a little hotter soon. If the team was in a losing streak there would be more urgency for concern, but for now I think they can be given a chance to get going. Betemit's got to know that Andy's in line to take his job, but he won't get promoted until he can show the necessary ability & confidence in AAA. If Betemit continues to sputter, and LaRoche gets hot in Vegas, Wilson could be traded in July.

60 I trust D4P's guts over your girly stats.

I could see Saenz starting a few games at 3B along about now. This would let the Betemit sit and take several deep breaths, which might be all he needs. Most of his ABs aren't terrible, going by the walks he has taken. But nothing's going his way.

Tomato is no great shakes with the glove. But his bat probably would carry any defensive lapses.

Supposedly Grady has said 3B was being opened up to Betemit, Martinez, or Valdez for the taking. If that's Plan A, and if Betemit can't get going, it soon might be time to trot out Plan B--whatever Plan B is.

Rapper Lil Romeo, (son of Master P) is going to play for the USC basketball team in 08. Romeo is not even a Pac-10 level player at the moment, but he brings notoriety and his best friend Demar Derozan, who has a ton of potential.

64

Inj: HIGH 2B: 32 HR: 18 OBP: .372 SLG: .461

Basically, the same as Laroche with a high injury risk.

68

thats what happens when you have the best PG in 08 (brandon jennings)decommit!

65 - But Nomar said he would play anywhere and like Drew, just wanted to be a Dodger.

71 - That was then, this is now.
I know he said it, but was he sincere?

41 52 Any of you West Coast/UCLA folks going to answer Bob's question about Jackie Robinson's football jersey #?

Rapper Lil Romeo plays for Beverly Hills High School. I think, Dad, Master P had an NBA tryout.

Does anyone know when the Jackie Robinson pre-game activities begin tomorrow and what time the gates open. I'm going to be so very pissed off if it takes two hours to get out of the parking lot. Monday being a school day for the kids and all.

some draft talk..
http://story.scout.com/a.z?s=283&p=2&c=635519

first round projection..

28

from the 1st round projection..

20. Los Angeles Dodgers - Jack McGeary, LHP, L-L, 6'3, 200, Roxbury Latin HS, MA
The Dodgers are all over McGeary and this may be the first pre-draft deal completed this year.

really interesting.

Apparently, Master P is going to try to use his "resources" to get USC the top player in 08 (Greg Monroe from Louisiana) and 09 (Renardo Sidney from Los Angeles).

Wow, I didn't know Canham is projected that highly. Definitely a good hitting catcher, but not much power.

Why not take LaPorta at 20?

80- Because Mcgeary is a much stronger name than laporta.

I was hoping we could get a more polished outfielder, just because we do not have one. But a big, power lefty is always nice. We have the depth and resources to draft like this.

If there's a Max Powers available, we should draft him then.

82

Mcgeary is actually someone i really like but its because hes not just a power lefty. He can bring it up to around 94ish right now but he is really polished and just know how to pitch. He has alot of pitches and command of all of them.

Mcgeary has a really strong commit to stanford though so thats one reason why i didnt think the dodgers would take him.

Why not take LaPorta at 20?

Laporta is a glorified DH. He wont fit on an NL team. his agent is also boras.

After reading up on McGeary, he is not a power pitcher yet, but they expect him to be.

From BA at the East Coast Showcase:

McGeary's feel for pitching could be the best in the class. His fastball sits in the mid-80s, but because of his smooth delivery and athleticism, his upside is apparent.

The class refers to Matt Harvey, etc...

I was too slow.

Oh, I thought LaPorta's glove was passable. He mashes, though.

Nate, what do you think of Michael Main? Has a lot of upside as pitcher or hitter, but may end up a closer.

68 My understanding is that Derozan is a near lock for UCLA if they offer.

Go here for an interview:

http://tinyurl.com/yrn8n2

Main is more a thrower right now and i would want someone with more polish in the first round.

From what I've read, I like Greg Peavey out of Washington State. I think he is committed to Oregon State, though.

How did Gagne come onto the field? Did he actually keep the Guns N Roses and flying heads on the scoreboard? The entrance always seemed very tied to LA, if not exactly the Dodgers. It will certainly be weird to watch him come into close in a different city and for a different team.

91
True. I really wanted UCLA to offer him too, because he is the kind of athlete we lack and Howland could turn into a monster. Oh well, UCLA is not going to touch a player that Master P basically pays off.

I like Corey Brown the most. He played CF at Oklahoma State. He has very good on-base skills (he likes to see a lot of pitches) and has power.

53
Yes that is callous. I'd rather not ruin his career and our Aug/Sept because Grady gets greedy and wants him in the lineup all the time. You don't sign a quality backup like Lieberthal and let him rot on the bench. Were not talking Toby Hall or Sandy Alomar here.

UCLA is going to wait out Jrue Holiday. Derozan is good, but he isn't at Holiday's level. If Holiday decides to go to UNC then Derozan will likely get an offer-- if he waits that long.

Poor Beltre is hitting .125. I'm not sure why, but he is one guy I wanted to see succeed even though he left. Of course, he still has to fall 75 points to catch our current third baseman.

98 or Jason Phillips. Oops he was our starting catcher not a back up. How hard is that to believe? Some very dark times.

Speaking of power lefties, junior David Price set the all-time SO record for Vandy yesterday, fanning 9 in 6+ innings to wind up with 355.

Link to good piece on Price follows. Writer Will Matthews, note at bottom says, "spent 3 years as an investigative reporter with the Los Angeles Newspaper Group. He is currently third year at Vanderbilt Divinity School."

http://tinyurl.com/2jjqpp

I'm happy for Eric Gagne and hope he has a successful year. Somehow, it's not quite such a bitter pill for us Dodger fans since we have Broxton and Saito, who seem to be more than reliable replacements.

Still wish they'd try Nomar at third for at least a few games, and bring up Loney to play first.

95 I suspect the flying head is a Dodger copyright even though it's Gagne's image. I think he ditched the GnR too, since the local paper had an article which noted that he used to come out to "Welcome to the Jungle." It didn't say what the new song is though, or whether there even is one.

53 Because teams never sign hugely popular, franchise players to long term deals that buy out their first years of free agency?

98 or Jason Phillips. Oops he was our starting catcher not a back up. How hard is that to believe? Some very dark times.

My mind has a way of deleting those thoughts from my head but thanks for the reminder :o)

So, a college-bound, finesse pitcher with a mid-80s fastball sounds more like a DePo pick than a Logan White selection.

99
Derozan committed to USC, so that ship has sailed. Hopefully we can land either Jrue or Drew. Breshers is another player we may end up offering.

Apparently getting me to feel sorry for you works wonders. Beltre goes yard.

Could you start feeling sorry for, you know, some of the guys who still play for us?

I'm trying to feel sorry for JP but I just keep feeling bad for the rest of us when I think about him.

I can't feel sorry for a guy that gets paid $9 million/year to do what Pierre does. If anything, he should feel sorry for me.

Its "has been" day in Seattle as Sammy goes yard as well.

Only 10 more to 600. I'm not sure he can get there. I wonder if he's remembered how to speak english yet.

Apparently Gulf Oil still exists near Boston? I thought it was gone, period.

But TV shots from Fenway show a Gulf Oil billboard near the LF wall.

Far be it from me to ask an off the wall question.

{ducks}

Y'all probably caught this already but just in case: Jackie Robinson playing for today's Dodgers.

http://tinyurl.com/29yge2

Hint: He would've been pretty good.

Should be tough to pull out a win against the almighty Peavy tonight, hopefully Schmidt can make it a pitcher's duel and we can squeak out a close win.

71. 65 - But Nomar said he would play anywhere and like Drew, just wanted to be a Dodger.

True. I suspect the reluctance to move Nomar to 3rd is on Ned/Grady.

For those looking to make their head expolde, on Channel 9 KCAL, right now, there is something called the "Tim McCarver Show" with, well, guess who, taking baseball.

Ugh. Not only is the "Tim McCarver Show" on KCAL he is announcing the Angel-Red Sox game on Fox. Here a Tim there a Tim everywhere a Tim Tim.

Hey they just said the home plate umpire is Tim Timmons.

I gotta go find something productive to do.

116 Man, that's a lot of wins added by one player.

Pierre Not starting

So, a college-bound, finesse pitcher with a mid-80s fastball sounds more like a DePo pick than a Logan White selection.

his fb is more 88-92 with room for growth. He has plus secondary stuff and command of all his pitches. He also has done well in top showcases against top competition.

And Clark is starting in place of Juan Pierre.

Still no word on the Monorail.

Barry won't get any closer to Hank tonight. Bucs and Giants postponed.

here is a nice summary of why Mcgeary is so wanted.

http://riveraveblues.com/2007/03/26/looking-ahead-to-the-draft-high-school-edition/

Martin batting second is almost enough to get me over Pierre not starting.

Am I an evil person because I want to see Barry Bonds have a career ending injury before he breaks Hank Aaron's record?

Wouldn't it be better if Bonds goes homerless tonight and then just has a life full of Groundhog Days? That's even more evil, but less guilt-ridden.

I thought Pierre was going to play 162?

No, Pierre's going to bat 162.

I suppose Pierre IS due for a little regression.

135. I thought Pierre was going to play 162?

He can PLAY 162 without STARTING 162. Actually, I'm hoping Little doesn't put him in the game at all so we won't have to hear about his "streak" for the rest of the season.

You're going to hear about that streak for the rest of the contract.

Edwin Jackson is pitching in the Min/TB game. Dioner Navarro just ground rule doubled in a run.

Sounds like the Rangers didn't get quite all of Gagne.

"Surgery last July 8 _removed 85 percent of his L-4 and L-5 vertebrae in his lower
back_. That followed surgery in April to remove a nerve in his right elbow."

Story talks about Gagne adjusting to using more finesse. Who ever would have thought the words Gagne and finesse would appear in the same sentence?

http://tinyurl.com/34ke7s

I wish Edwin Jackson luck. I really do. He was a victim of a little success and a lot of expectations in L.A. I hope he salvages a nice career.

Poor Edwin Jackson victimized by two errors in the first inning leading to two runs. This kid just can't catch a break.

Woops the 2 BB and the wild pitch he uncorked didn't help.

Pierre being benched this early is probably the best news of the season. But, its probably not a benching. Pierre is 2-18 vs Peavy lifetime. Grady's probably just giving him a day off.

Tonight's lineup is probably the best the Dodgers can put out there at this point of the year.

78 -- Nate, did you send an e-mail to the guy who did that first round draft projection, asking him to expand on what he knows about the Dodgers and McGeary? I'm sure Dodger scouts are "all over" a lot of guys, and while McGeary could be a guy we are checking out, the rumor of a pre-draft deal doesn't exactly ring true. McGeary sounds like a more athletic version of Brian Anderson from last year's draft, more "finesse" than "stuff." That just doesn't sound like a Logan White pick. Elbert and Kershaw both had tremendous stuff. However, McGeary does sound a bit like Greg Miller when we drafted Miller, but Miller was incredibly projectable at 6'5" and 190 lbs. McGeary may be projectable, but not THAT projectable. I wonder if naming McGeary as a Dodger pick in a mock draft is just the intuitive thing to do, because he ranks around #20 as a talent and Logan White has a track record of taking high school lefties at the top of his drafts.

Also, about McGeary, he really reminds me of Mike Megrew. From the Northeast, southpaw, mostly a high-80's fastball, advanced change-up for a HS pitcher. We got Megrew with a 5th round pick in 2002. With a first round pick, I want more fire and brimstone.

90 -- Trainwreck, Michael Main is a guy I am kind of interested in, because he has reached the high-90's with his fastball, but I am not sold on him because he has a maximum-effort delivery and is a lot more likely to end up a closer than a starter. I'm not a fan of using first round picks on future closers.

By the way, the first episode of the new season of Trailer Park Boys was really bad. A huge disappointment.

There was a time that an Edwin Jackson pitch, hit by Jason Kubel, and caught by Elijah Dukes would be the monster prospect trifecta.

Today, well, not as big a deal.

115 - Apparently Gulf Oil still exists near Boston?

Yup, the brand still exists, mostly at convenience store gas stations, although the gas is from Chevron.

Jackson just got pulled after 3+ innings.

141 "Who ever would have thought the words Gagne and finesse would appear in the same sentence?"

Me, for one. The reason Gagne was so great for those few years is because he had both power and finesse in equally stunning portions. How can a guy be solely a power pitcher when his best pitch is his changeup? The great thing about Gagne was always his ability to get guys out with his secondary pitches, and the command he had over those pitches. Remember, we saw a preview of Gagne the finesse pitcher over the last couple of years, and even with a shredded arm and a mere shell of his fastball, he was still able to get people out.

The finesse element was always what separated Gagne from the crowd. Without it, he'd be just another Kyle Farnsworth.

And in other news, Don Ho is dead.

Linkmeister may see many flags at half-mast next time he drives around.

Tony Jackson: "Grady said there is "no doubt in my mind" that he will play sometime during the game. Pierre has played in 507 consecutive games dating to 2002, the second-longest streak in the majors. Brady Clark, who went 2 for 3 with a double and a walk in his first start of the season last night, will start in place of Pierre in center field. Grady said Pierre tried to talk him out of not starting him, but Grady added, "It's one of those deals where you might hate me right now, but you will love me tomorrow.""

No, trust me, Grady, we love you now.

155
And Don Imus is unavailable for comment on that matter.

157 - Drat, Bob beat me to it.

Randomly:

Poor EJ.

I really like tonight's Dodgers lineup. Betemit and Ethier and Clark, no Pierre. Let's see if they give Grady some reasons to put them back in there again soon.

Re: the Draft - will the Dodgers really want to draft another LHP (not that you can have too many) first? McGeary just doesn't sound right to me for some reason... getting an OF early wouldn't be too bad.

So the Giants have 3 picks in the first round? Well, if they don't blow them, get somewhere close to what that Scout.com mock draft predicts, then that'll quickly help shore up the sorry state of their farm system right there.

The Giants will probably just waste those three picks on underachieving pitchers like they usually do. As an organization, they don't really believe in developing hitters in their farm system. Every year they pick pitchers with their early picks. So far it has netted them Cain and Lincecum and not much else.

It's pretty crazy that Pierre is benched today. Grady Little probably just wanted him to rest or something.

Also, Grindhouse freaking rocks. Find 3 hours of time soon and go see if it you haven't already. RR's half is bloodier and schlockier but great fun, and QT's half is the better written, violent but well done. The coming attractions are unforgettable, too.

"Don't!"

-----
Meanwhile, damn Julio Lugo's batting .316 and already has 3 sb's. Whatever.

Were'nt Liriano and Joe Nathen Giant prospects. The Giants developed them and traded them away. That's even worse.

160 You're probably right. Lincecum was a stroke of luck who fell to them. They desperately need position players but we'll see if they actually do their homework and change philosophies a little. Doubtful.

Does anyone else find it amazing that the Sabean couldn't make a trade worse than the Liriano trade right now, even if he wanted too?

162- Planet of Terror was way better, Im sick of women empowerment.

163 And Boof Bonser

Wow these Twins announcers may be the most biased I have ever heard. They don't even pretend to be objective.

168 Worse than the White Sox', Padres', Mets', and Rockies'? That's horrible. I've never watched a Twins broadcast.

164. Wasn't that this year's plan. I think Sabean has done one of the worst GM jobs in the bigs.

162- After listening to the dialogue of the annoying women protagonists made me root my heart out for Stuntman Mike.

I really liked Death Proof. I thought Tarantino did another outstanding job building up the characters and switching directions. Planet Terror is definitely more on the cheesy side, but it is really good at what it is.

The first half of DeathProof was really enjoyable but the 2nd half uhhh not soo much.

Planet Of Terror was just awesome all around, I saw 6 couple wlk out with the girl completely confused ats to what she just saw

Were'nt Liriano and Joe Nathen Giant prospects. The Giants developed them and traded them away. That's even worse.

Sabean (sp?) should give us the scoop on how to keep you're job if you're horrible at it.

I didn't walk out on Planet of Terror, but if it hadn't been a double bill, I probably would have. There were parts of it that weren't bad (the lost reel bit was funny) but it didn't do much for me. I liked the Tarantino one.

I liked both halves for different reasons but thought QT's was much more sharply made. I didn't mind seeing girls kick butt either, they were refreshingly tough characters. Most horror films even these days treat female characters like stupid eye candy so I didn't think it was pandering as much as a nice change of pace, or even hearkening back to the B films of the 70s like Coffey. Except they were more interesting. But Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russell) was a fantastic character, I did feel a little sorry for him at points. But I still liked the coming attractions best.

I didn't like Sin City much, either. Or From Dusk till Dawn. I see (or, I think I can) what people like about his movies, but they're not for me.

thread is open. Game