Now that is a big if but those two are not showing signs of big declines and they rate among the best in the game over the past 5-6 years of driving in runs.

I am pleased that Betemit has seemed to be getting better at his plate discipline, but I am very surprised that it has not translated to getting more hits.

But at least LA ditched Baez in the process.

ItD reports Betemit is hitting in the 7 spot tonight with 3.5 in the 8.

He's had quite a number of seasons to prove himself, and he's really never been "good" in any league he's played at.
Seems to have some Ruben Mateo like qualities. Scouts love him, but no production to back up the "tools".

should it?

Nice quote from Maury Wills on Russell Martin from Jon's link.

Hopelessly uninformed analysis: seems to me that the Yanks might not have the deepest farm system, but they have been aces at picking which prospects to keep/promote to the bigs.

They've also drafted, signed, and acquired some great talent in the last 2-3 years.

The Yankees could be downright scary if they combined a good scouting program (domestic and international) with that massive payroll. It looks like they're on the right track.

If not, we go to Plan B: The Shift. (Nomar-->3rd, Loney-->1st). Plan C: La Roche. Plan D: Trade everyone for A-Rod. (Also known as Def-Con 5 - which is also a bad movie.)

And doesn't watch or listen to the game either.

The only exception would be postseason games or last year's playoff clincher in San Francisco.

KFWB will stop its ten-second delay on Dodger broadcasts soon. Just wait for Steiner's first f-bomb now!

I really think that's a good idea i'd rather here the game via radio at the stadium then people saying "Barry Sucks, Barry Sucks"

(Its hard to get good analysis of minor league talent in Australia!)

Apparently he's not a good enough 2B for the show and not enough of a bat to be a starting corner OF.

Were Elbert and Dewitt signed by the same scout? They are both from Missouri right?

As a bonus: I predict Betemit's first 2007 homer will come tonight.

I remember Mitch when he was playing for the Dodgers. I assume that since Elbert and Dewitt were both first rounders that Mitch didn't necessarily have to "discover" them. Is it really just a formality that credit is given to the area scout and it is more of a team effort?

All in all, the night got better as it went along.

However, he seems to drop his back shoulder and take such an exaggerated uppercut that I'm not optimistic.

Please make me look bad, Wilson.

What?

Except to TJ Simers.

i agree with most DT'ers in that he's gotten unlucky at times, meaning that he's hit the ball hard right at people. IMO this upcoming month is "make or break" for him. veremos.

Self-discipline commences.

http://www.yardbarker.com/users/John_Lackey

(via the Press-Enterprise baseball blog)

I've never spoken to Christina to compare. Kahrl was very upset over Game 1 of the 1988 World Series and still is bothered greatly that Dennis Eckersley walked Mike Davis.

.351 .467 .432 .899 and no GIDP.

(13-37 with 7 BB)

:o)

skim past this post if you are joining us after the game

If you're speaking literally...

Example: "She was figuratively the hottest girl I have ever seen."

If there's anyone who knows no tools, it's FP.

But I'm still going to have to disagree with him.

That's what, four outs on the bases in the last two days?

"Who goofed? I've got to know!"

Wha' happened?

Vinny seems to have swallowed a sock watching Pierre botch that suicide squeeze.

I don't think you can blame Grady for that one. You supposedly have your best bunter up, who also has a hard time hitting the ball out of the infield. Seemed like a good idea.

4IP 0H 0ER 2BB 4K

5-2 GO/FO ratio

(Details: Pierre apparently missed the sign on a squeeze bunt and offered a failed half swing. Ethier out easily on the play.)

Nice job, JP...

Now, back to the game.

Hmmm...

Overall, it just wasn't a brilliant tactical maneuver since Ortiz is not a pitcher you need to peck away against and get one run at a time.

Is that 10 straight innings?

I have played in games when we have decided the other team has got the steal sign, and so we will run it a few times to confirm, and then when its a big play you change it up. So it can actually work against them if you know they know, but if they know, you know, they know, then...

UCLA fans breath a sigh of relief.

The Giants didn't have the sign for the squeeze. Nor did Juan Pierre.

In Japan, they are paranoid about sign stealing and most players have their set of signs changed 2-3 times per game.

Oh happy day.

I forgot he had that short outing. Either way, the bid is now over.

I am surprised the hitter does not have to sign back so that the coach knows he has the sign :)

yes, you said something to the effect that your wife is a Cubbie fan & that you saw Pierre play & didn't like the angles he took on fly balls & his arm was weak & so on so on

ps i'm exaggerating but you did mention that you didn't like his play.

Jon Miller almost had a heart attack when Betemit struck out.

Bust goes the Betemit.

The Japanese navy couldn't do it in WWII... making up for lost time?

If you can't convert a bases-loaded, one-out opportunity into at least one run, it's bad, right?

Pierre is gonna buy Betemit a beer.

I must have missed 'em.

Just asking, for no particular reason.

Juan Pierre, among others, should take note.

They might end differently, but they probably begin the same.

"Dude then I passed out/Dude, then I came to"

http://tinyurl.com/2jlp45

So did Jon Miller.

A Winner with a .357 batting average? Intriguing...

I guess all the people in the Top Deck are now going to heaven.

yeah that at bat wasn't encouraging, I'm still rooting for you Betemit to turn it around.

i'm a huge fan of Bob that's all i'm gonna say.

Okay, I'll take Enhanced Gameday's word for it. On Prime Ticket they BOTH looked fat to me. :-)

For some reason., I thought the word "more" said "home."

Well, maybe I can't.

good point but i like this Brad Penny better.

http://tinyurl.com/3dsenr

a) He met his friend on Sunset and Montana in the bottom of the 2nd inning so he's a little late. It took them an hour to get to the ballpark. According to him, plenty of people are frustrated with the parking.

b) $6.75 for Garlic Fries. Ouch.

c) He was in the food line when he called; said it was seven deep and no one was moving.

d) He has seen a half an inning of baseball tonight, live.

This does not sound like a great experience. The game's a sellout so maybe my experience (5/12, bless all the air that surrounds Toy Cannon) will be better.

my bestfriend Ernie is 5'9 & he can dunk also, so i feel you D4P.

http://tinyurl.com/32dvfc

in the wrist it looked scary at first glance but he seems to be o.k.

They did that last year in a game against Arizona with Nomar getting hit 3 times and Martin the other. Broxton hit one DBack, but I'm sure it was an accident.

The Dodgers also got 4 HBP in 2005 at Coors Field with Messrs. Francis, Fuentes, and Kim doing the chores with Repko getting hit twice, Drew once, and Kent once.

I'll take "Things you won't hear in the mainstream media" for 1,000, please, Alex

I was going to comment the other day on how much I hate it when Steiner says "Messrs", but I stopped myself.

there more cushion on Seanz wrist so i'm pretty sure he's o.k.

God, Furcal is good.

1) Did the # of Jon's rules change and if so where can I find any mention of why? (I am about to read through all comments but am somewhat confused that this did not get its own post...that is, if it actually happened.)

2) Is it generally agreed that Bob's "suicide by cop" comment from the last incident needs to become a new DT catchphrase along the lines of praying to Ch-i?

Thanks, and back to finishing up my honors thesis...if all goes well there will be yet another history major out in the workforce in just a few more days...

You would not want to listen to that voice for three hours.

I'll bet they make you read US magazine.

And he's a legend.

The announcers should be Weisman doing the play by play, with Timmerman playing the Ross Porter stat man role. (I see this as a two-person booth.)

Except the Celtics.

Unfortunately, most of the comments would violate numerous FCC regulations.

End of 3rd Q.

at home

He tries way too hard to be hip.

"Barry Bonds be stuntin like his daddy."

An easy target

Kemp went 2 for 4 with a home run and a triple.

Abreu went 2 for 4 and is hitting .414.

sigh...

It has been quite a while since I wore a fitted cap, but I think my hat size was 7 and 3/4.

But what more can you say?

There's not a lot of quality control in the sizing of baseball caps.

I mean, any center fielder, if he can get to the ball, catches it.

5 i think... year 1 of 5...

However, it's very true that Pierre should have prevented the double.

I know Ned Colletti heard the screams when Pierre was signed. I wonder what goes through his head right about now. I hope he feels stupid, because he should. But I doubt it.

Pierre has been a disaster in almost every facet of the game. Or at least it seems that way.

And I think that was because the official scorers (they use more than in the playoffs) considered Pettis such a good fielder that anything he could get to, he could catch, which he usually did.

Not that Gary Pettis was good for much of anything else.

Trading him for a middle reliever and paying for the remainder of his contract

It's just the two years of Dodgerdom that make me a Sad Panda.

Save us Sabean!

CHP: Is there a reason you're driving in the car pool lane by yourself?
Me: Uh, I drive a Prius and I have stickers?
CHP: License, registration, insurance please.

[time passes - he returns]

CHP: When did you buy the car?
Me: February 2006
CHP: Sorry for the inconvenience. (as he taps his hands on my window sill twice and walks away)

I have ALL FOUR of those BUTT-UGLY stickers on my car, each in its exact and proper place, and I lose most of my carpool lane time savings for that???? Is there some sticker black-market problem I don't know about? Has this happened to you?

But they are being stolen I hear.

Using last year's statistics, there's a .04 % chance that Pierre will hit a home run.

Scenarios start with photographs containing Pierre with a naked, underaged goat.

356 - Gary Pettis = no bat, all legs. Probably about as close an equivalent to Pierre as I can think of, but this is based on reputation, not any serious consideration of their actual careers.