LoDuca held up well for one year (when he hit 25 home runs), but after that he faded badly in the 2nd half every year. Lets hope Martin doesn't get to that point. Nevertheless he needs a day off here and there to stay fresh for the Sept. pennant race.

I think the amount of catching is the important factor, not the number of days not catching.

I think the concern (at least my own concern) is not so much that Martin has been used unwisely so far this year, but that he was used unwisely last year and there is a chance that may be repeated.

Yankee fans don't deserve ARod.

I caught a game at Chase Field last week and they still had the World Series trophy and a LuGo jersey prominently displayed in the entryway I took to get into the park. I'm beginning to think Gonzo's sour grapes at DBack management is starting to wear thin....

In case you wondered, but were afraid to ask, you're not the only one.

Me too. But also because I enjoy watching greatness.

If you haven't already, check out FJM's demolition of the latest "not true Yankees" handwringing. 3rd article down at last look, entitled "Where's My Ladies At?" Classic.

http://diarydiehard.com/2006/09/afternoon_delight.html

This is the same injury that caused Greg Miller to miss the 2005 season. (Not that I'm necessarily implying it's of the same seriousness.)

"We are going to give it a few days to let it calm down. Hopefully it's just a short term thing," Dodgers manager Grady Little said.

The Dodgers have not made a corresponding roster move and Little did not name a starter for Thursday at Colorado.

It's also the same thing Carpenter had last year and he missed, what, three starts?

Sounds like this is something that comes up and both Ned and Stan Conte are very familiar with it.

Finally, the Dodgers and Miller found the problem during an MRI exam. The tip of his shoulder blade was shaped in such a way that it was causing the inflammation by rubbing up against tissue in the shoulder.

Surgery was performed to shave down the bone, hopefully precluding further inflammation and giving Miller a chance to get back on the mound pain-free. The procedure technically is known as acromioplasty, the surgical reshaping of the acromion (the tip of the shoulder blade).

I'm no doctor, but it doesn't seem likely that this is something that is suddenly discovered in a guy who has pitched as much as Schmidt has.

So who is coming up in Schmidt's stead? Tsao again? Assume Kuo isn't ready yet.

The next Spring Training he underwent surgery to remove a bursa and scar tissue from the acromio-clavicular joint at the top of his left shoulder, but he continued to experience discomfort and never pitched in a game that season.

Problems continued in 2005, and he had a second procedure to shave the tip of the clavicle to resolve an impingement that sidelined him until midseason. "

The key regarding this injury is that all it is just bursitis and that there was no tearing.

Now, the treatment is usually rest and anti-inflamatories but the question will be how soon will he be able to start throwing again.

Again, as Jon has noted, the most important acquisition that Ned made this year, could be Stan Conte, it looks like the guy has done a pretty good job of getting guys back when they are rehabbing so I would just wait and see about how soon Schmidt comes back, the fact they retroactived his DL to Sunday means they must think he might be ready sooner rather than later so hope is alive.

The only justification I can think of is IF they want to limit Billingsley's innings over the course of the season, they might as well ride Tomko and Hendrickson until they pitch there way into oblivion or pitch well enough to be traded.

Again, privacy laws and clubhouse decorum will probably keep this secret but I wonder after his last start, did Conte just suggest to Jason that they do an MRI just to rule out a physical reason for his starts (that was the publicized version) or did Schmidt tell Conte that he felt something like last time (2005), perhaps mulling it over for a day, and then they acted on it.

In even older days, teams that played night games wouldn't start until 9 in some parts of the country because the leagues didn't want to start games in the twilight.

But I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now.

That's very, very important. Very.

As am I?

What's going on.

2006: Mets
2005: Dodgers
2004: Marlins/Dodgers
2003: Giants
2002: Indians

The first team to 10 wins will have more losses than any other team to reach that mark since 2002. Parity at it's finest.

And it's really hard to get a tie game now anyway.

good sign

Hint, one of the categories is negative, and two might be considered dubious honors by some statheads.

Boy, Tomko sure isn't fooling anyone this inning.

I'm skeptical that there is even a game being played.

Walks could be another one I suppose

1-2-3-4-5-6

:)

The guy had an outstanding career.

Ethier prevented the Dodgers from knocking out Owings that inning. If he works a walk--all the sudden its bases loaded/0 out with Betemit at the plate. Owings on the ropes, Betemit being selective--thats not a bad situation to be in.

Ethier doesnt have enough power to warrant swinging 3-0 IMO.

I'm only listening and I could tell.

I completely agree. The most disappointing thing about Pierre is that he apparently can't even do the "little things" as advertised. Is he really better defensively than Lofton?

Tomko, tonight, has reminded of some pitcher... Let's see, who is it.. Oh yeah, Tomko.

Very small sample, etc. But how do they project? Decent power?

i always thought ned had a general idea of how to construct a ball club but then he went on to sign juan pierre and well...all bets are off!

Now!

Maybe he should give the others lessons.

our 3rd base coach has made questionable calls since last year & I'm not talking about the playoffs debacle it goes even further than that.

Nomar made a last minute leg reach to try and slap the plate but got nipped first. Yeah, Donnelly is... well, he's Donnelly. Over aggressive third base coach but a fun guy to have at parties.