Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Jon's other site:
Screen Jam
TV and more ...
1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
9) typing "no-hitter" or "perfect game" to describe either in progress
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with
The Dodgers learned the following from Dave Smith of Retrosheet:
In the last 50 years (since 1958), only five teams have accomplished what the Dodgers pulled off yesterday. In the game, the relief corps allowed just three base runners in more than 10 scoreless innings of work. The last time a team did that was the Red Sox on Aug. 20, 1997, in a game in which Nomar Garciaparra played. Coaching first base that day for the Red Sox and yesterday for the Dodgers was Dave Jauss, while Grady Little was Boston's bench coach. Prior to that, the only other teams to accomplish that feat were the Indians (4/27/84), Tigers (8/24/63) and the Dodgers (7/9/59). In that July 9, 1959 game for Los Angeles, Roger Craig pitched 11 innings of relief and allowed just three hits.
I'd also note that Norm Larker pinch-hit for Dodger starter Danny McDevitt in the top of the third inning in that game and hit a three-run homer. Those were the Dodgers' only runs until the 13th inning.
* * *
Tonight's game:
Update: Mike Lieberthal replaces Russell Martin in the starting lineup, batting eighth, and Wilson Betemit returns - batting sixth.
you just wont see that anymore.
-----------------------------
I'll be at the game tonight --- leaving soon in fact.
I'll have notes about the game tomorrow on dodgerama.blogspot.com, for now I put together a preview of the Snakes team the Dodgers will face.
The young players on the Snakes are all sort of struggling right now.
That's good know.
Today's subject header would have been "hysteric relief performance by the Dodgers" this time last year...
Ethier had five starts batting cleanup and one start batting eighth, but separated by about a month and a half.
James Loney misses on a mere technicality, starting in the 8-hole on Sept. 28 and in the cleanup spot on Oct. 1.
To me, the much more important point is that Lieberthal is in the lineup at all, not where he's batting. In this case, I think it's a good thing, because Martin needs some time off. If ever a lineup decision underscored how unimportant batting order is (relatively to lineup presence), this one does.
http://www.midmichigannews.com/aplay/audioplay2.html
Start time is 4:30 PT.
No mention of any return date in either place.
Is Mike Ramsey somewhere in the system too?
Lincecum (who was still available when LA took Clayton in last year's draft) struck out 14 in 6 innings yesterday, including 10 in a row. He'll be in the Giants rotation by the end of May.
Wow.
Its hard to believe he only went 11th or so in the draft. Scouts must have not liked his size (He's small for a pitcher).
Why not bring up now?
it wasnt just his size, he also has an unorthodox delivery although it didnt bother me much.
Strikeout on called 3rd strike
Walk after a full count
Wild pitch runner to second
Swinging third strike for out number 2
Walk number two on a full count
Swinging third strike for out number 3
BTW Kevin Mench did his best imitation of Juan Pierre, reaching first on an error by the pitcher and then going to second. He stole third and then scored on a balk.
After listening to Logan White over the weekend on BP radio, while not saying that Kershaw would be up tomorrow, it certainly sounds like Kershaw could be here faster than the 3+ year path that Chad and Scott Elbert are taking.
http://tinyurl.com/265ss7
Hudson is small right hander, out of college, throws hard but not super hard.
nah. Lincecum throws harder then hudson and has different stuff.
lincecum is more roy oswalt with a nasty 12-6 yacker.
lincecum doesnt have pedros all word change up. His fastball does move like pedros either.
I guess words like short and unorthodox delivery scared some teams.
People sometimes express wonder how 16 teams passed on drafting Roger Clemens in 1983, allowing the Red Sox to take him 17th overall, but Clemens made a big leap in terms of his stuff in the small window between his college and pro career. In Lincecum's case, his stuff was just as electric in college as it is now, yet 9 teams passed on him, including the Dodgers, whose scouting director (before his promotion to a higher-ranking job) I considered the best in the game. I think Lincecum -- with his pitching frame strikingly similar to that of a pre-pubescent girl, will either end up a Pedro Martinez or Roy Oswalt (scrawny men with weird deliveries who have avoided arm problems against all expectations) -- or will bust.
You need to upgrade to a Commodore Amiga :)
-----
Pretty satifying weekend, overall...though following a 17 inning game on th ESPN bottom line can be a bit exasperating.
I think this calls for a...
Tim Lincecum doesn't ice after complete games not because he doesn't need it, but because ice instantly evaporates upon contact with his arm.
That said, I don't think the Dodgers made the wrong call in picking Kershaw. He was the better bet and Lincecum supposedly put on a ton of muscle after the draft. The Tigers (Andrew Miller), Devil Rays (Evan Longoria) or even the Royals (Luke Hochevar) made the right picks, but everyone else probably wishes they had a do over (though at least it is better than the year that Matt Bush went number one).
However outside of Kershaw, he did not really speak about any prospects, it was more what does he do, what kind of prospects do you look for, etc. So it may not be anymore enlightening than his other interviews.
Both are highly regarded prospects in the system giving the Dodgers three SS prospects playing at their "A" level affiliates.
Yeah, I don't think too many days go by where the Padres' brass wakes up in a cold sweat mumbling, "Drew... we could've had Stephen Drew..."
http://tinyurl.com/ytex2u
But why would the move need to be permanent. If someone else plays 3rd base this year couldn't Betemit by a utility infielder? After all, that's what he was in Atlanta. Or are Martinez and Valdez so valuable that they must be retained at all cost?
A nice link: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/baseball/mlb/06/05/mlb.mockdraft/index.html .Bryan Smith believed that the Tigers would draft Kershaw and the Dodgers, Drew Stubbs:
"7. Los Angeles Dodgers: Drew Stubbs, CF, Texas
The Dodgers have made it known that they love Kershaw, and if he drops to this spot, it might be the quickest decision of the draft."
The Mets also placed Valentin on the disabled list with a partial tear of the ACL ligament of his right knee. The injury occurred in Saturday's game against the Nationals, and Minaya said he expects it to sideline his second baseman for two to four weeks....
Valentin was walking around without pain Monday, showing off the soft knee brace that he will wear for the remainder of the season once he returns.
It's an added precaution for Valentin, who suffered an identical injury in 2005 with the Dodgers. The second baseman wore a more restricting brace after that injury, finally shedding it at the beginning of last season.
Russ Ortiz, you're officially on notice
I thought he was on Bob's "Dead to Me" list
Or at least I am.
Since my ticket was free, I guess don't count in the attendance tonight. It was from a voucher last year for going on some alleged record breaking attendance night. But I remembered to turn it in.
Keep me alerted to anyone in baseball reaching first on catcher's interference.
You most likely do count in attendance. Most teams announce the "Paid Attendance" figure as tickets distributed.
6IP 6H (1XHB) 0ER 3bb 7k
too many walks but that seems to be the story with every one of our lefty pitching prospects.
You can't make this stuff up.
Did he have knowledge to impart upon others about the historical visitors to the Great Lakes region?
Red caps and gray unis today for AZ.
How does the view compare to your HDTV?
"Because his manager's an idiot."
--Bobby Valentine, on Mariners manager Mike Hargrove's platooning of catcher Kenji Johjima.
Hmmm...Come to think of it, there's no rule against jinxing perfect games...
Except maybe for the one girl who looks to be two. The baby seemed perturbed by Young's homer however.
at least he didn't give up 3 in the first like last time.
That's why Pierre had to swing at the first strike he saw. He might not have seen another one.
Courage.
Bob's missing out
I mean, on the list of D4P transgressions, it's not in the top 1%, but sheesh...
you'd still think Furcal & Pierre would see more pitches, there the table setters find away to get on base.
I only see proscriptions against the phrase "no-hitter"
"On the subject of Ethier and first pitches... he had four ABs yesterday and on every one of them he took first pitch fastball down the middle. He then went 0-4 while flailing at various other pitchers while behind in the count. That has got to stop."
He did it again making it 5 ABs in a row. At least a better result.
But I have operatives.
And to be fair, Vishal started it...
Or maybe it's implicit. I don't know. The PK will surely clarify.
Ahh, the "He started it" defense. Made famous by Clarence Darrow, employed by six-year-olds everywhere.
A genius gambit. Bravo, sir. Bravo.
That makes two of us.
you made me curious so i just tuned in & it seems like he is. He's gotten better threw the years i don't mind him at all.
Gagne
Hershiser
Valenzuela
M. Marshall
Drysdale
Koufax
Newcombe
According to Wikipedia, he is also the coach who "during the 2002 World Series with the Giants wore a mic for FOX and when Barry Bonds hit his first career World Series home run he screamed, "OH MY GOD!"
You have one day.
Ortiz
Kinsler
Tejada
Rodriguez, A
Rodriguez, I
Guerrero
Sizemore
Abreu
you make a valid point frip.
That was your best apology post ever
he's yet to fill out the NL ballot i assume.
The player makes a great play...almost.
dbacks announcer: "a rare miscue by juan pierre"
i honestly believe everyone in baseball is in on the juan pierre is good defensively conspiracy.
he got a horrible jump. it should have never came down to an all or nothing dive.
It was a blooper that Pierre dove all out for, had it in his glove, and came out.
I'm surprised Steiner thought it'd be a routine play. It looked like a tough play from the start.
::hangs head in shame::
I don't believe that to be a true assesment. I have no idea about Brandon Webb.
2007 Rate2
Juan Pierre: 106
Give me FRAA/RAA, or give me death.
Bad bad Wolf.
I dont know Lowe either.
But based on things I've read and heard, he is not a high character individual.
I did not expect much from tonight's game, but was hoping for at least that. We'll get 'em tomorrow.
Kinsler-.298/.375/.667, 9 homers
Hill-.313/.356/.563, 5 homers
Kinsler has more walks and fewer strikeouts. I'm nt sure about defense, but if all stars were determined by April play, then it should be Kinsler.
I keep hoping the team can improve on this stat, but I'm not encouraged by the first month. Perhaps its selective memory or just Juan Pierre's at bats that taint my perceptions.
Does Mitch Jones have a shot of being called up if there is an injury? He looks like a possible power source.
-- David S., Altadena, Calif.
Jones has power (171 home runs in seven-plus Minor League seasons, including six this month), but he's 30 years old without a day of Major League service and he has a .245 lifetime Minor League average, both red flags. The Yankees let him leave their organization as a free agent after he hit 21 home runs at Triple-A last year.
Could be true, just seems unfair to assume to know.
Gotta go watch an SFIFF film (screener on DVD) now anyway, so at least I know I won't be missing anything in the baseball game. (And at least the Padres are losing... to the Nats?? It appears there may be some residue for both participants in yesterday's 17 inning affair.)
Anyway... night all!
So I'll take that as a yes, should Pierre get injured, Mitch Jones will be called up. My tilt continues full steam. Thanks D4P!
Yikes.
I don't know Derek Lowe, but to say that we "Know nothing" is wrong. He may be a nice guy, but facts are facts. His reputation as a partier may be wildly overstated, but the other aspects can't really be disputed.
I'm not trying to attack Derek Lowe. I like that he's on the team, and I think he's a fine pitcher. But we are not completely ignorant of his behavior.
Wait, wasn't I leaving? I'm really leaving now. This game's like a car wreck that I can't stop staring at.
Brought to you by the what's been on during commercials committee.
On a related note to address a comment of a few days ago:
Jon, yes, fantasy may be all that you said it is, but tonight's consolation is that the O Dog starts at 2nd on half my teams, well, that and I have Webb starting on 3/4 of my teams as well; I was hoping for a 2 for 4 for the O Dog with no runs and no RBIs and I was hoping for a no decision re Webb with an eventual Dodgers win, but we know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men].
I can't respect the ballplayer who wears the double-flap batting helmet at the Major League level. Dude, you've made it! Single flap!
They've also managed to leave 13 men on base in 7 ip.
My wife and I just started watching The Wonder Years the other day. She has never seen it, while it's one of my all-time favorites. I haven't watched it since it was canceled. It brings back a lot of memories.
On a related note, I looked up Crystal McKellar (Danica's real-life sister, who also played Becky Slater on the show) on The Google the other day out of curiosity. Turns out she graduated from Yale, and then Harvard law school, and now works at some prestigious law firm.
Hmmm...Joan Fontaine...Yum. Yum Yum Yum.
You might as well dispute the wetness of water. It's what happened. For whatever reason, it's what happened. But let's forget about it. We agree to disagree.
the little kid in me thinks so also but first we have to get Brandon Webb out of the mound.
i'd like to think Bob is to cool for that.
*see post 263.
Wait...What? Wilson Valdez? Nevermind.
Interesting.
Um...I choose to violate some DT rule here. Probably a couple of them.
What the hey?
http://tinyurl.com/2hlkxg
Maybe Furcal was like 0-100 against Webb in his career.
I'd say that's just about the hardest way to get an RBI actually.
Anyone see someone warming up?
I love you, Monkey face.
You may disagree with that decision, but I don't understand all the mystery about what happened.
He did leave his wife but he didn't leave his kids. They are around all the park often and in fact, seem to get along great with Hughes. So to assume that he "skipped out on his kids" is factually incorrect.
Monkey Face, Doll, Queen of Sheba, Your Royal Hotness, Walter, Super Deluxe Goddess...
i'd feel the same way but switch it to Eva Gardner, i liked her so much i read her Biography.
he looks fresh Jon but he does have a little lip you have to admit.
Bravo, cute chick.
She was also kind of a nut. But so it goes.
http://data1.blog.de/blog/b/biografien-news/img/AvaGardner_small.jpg
vr, Xei
If Grady was going to rest Furcal, then why did he play him on defense in the top of the 7th?
Its much more worrisome to believe that Grady honestly believes Valdez is a better hitter than Furcal in that situation, based on small sample sizes.
Brilliant.
Important: Eisenhower, Aristophanes, Oppenheimer, Churchill, Eva.
It's a gripping tale. I hope to do it justice.
I've never seen a starting player be pinch hit for in that situation.
Comparing it to Jeff Kent isnt the same, since Kent was leading off the inning.
7-0, ok game is probably over.
7-1, bases loaded--seems more of a chance to do something.
http://tinyurl.com/29z3cx
Unclutch.
At the risk of being a kiss up, I think we can all remind ourselves occasionally that this is Jon's beautiful house and we're all guests. As guests we can make polite suggestions about the decor but we really have no right to tell the host what he should do with his house.
This year, he's played other lesser caliber players in place of Betemit.
Last year, he benched Ethier bc Marlon Anderson 'got hot'.
I'd hope that Furcal's established enough that he wouldnt ever get pinch hit for, but considering the situation and the bizarre circumstances (Furcal plays SS top of the 7th, Bases Loaded in the bottom PH for), I dont know.
If he's going to concede, why is Furcal in the game during the top of the 7th? Did the score going from 6-0, to 7-0 push Little over the edge that he'd clear the bench no matter what transpired in the bottom half?
And therefore we went to the postseason.
Why was Furcal in the game in the top of the seventh? Well, why was Kent in the game in the top of the seventh? That's how long Grady let it go, and then he just decided enough was enough. He may have already sent Furcal to the showers by the time his spot came up.
I'm not saying it wasn't unusual or wrong. But I absolutely don't know how you could think this was a trend.
I'm exhausted. I'm going to sleep.
don't let the bed bugs bite.
http://tinyurl.com/3cy9xf
Rrrowwwr, rrowwwr!
Btw, The Wonder Years was mentioned earlier and it reminded me that this morning I got a flyer for a straight to video movie that poor Fred Savage starred in. I can't even remember the name but he played a guy who becomes a stripper for some reason, and Amy Adams is in it, and some other babe, and it looks awfully depressing. I need a shower just from having looked at the ad for it.
Patricia Neal and Joan Fontaine are classic. Beautiful, talented, spunky, and elegant. But not too hot.
Was Andy Warhol important? I don't know. Some would say he was a poser who painted soup cans while other would call him a cultural icon who altered the course of the American art movement.
Is Derick Lowe or [enter name of favorite Dodger] important? Not really but maybe they to unbelievable good deeds with thier money. Does that make them important?
Is a sixth grade teacher in Watts important? I think so but we only pay her $32K a year.
I'm not trying to be smug, I just know I am not the arbiter of importance and I'm not sure how someone else can suggest they are.
We talkin' "One Million Years BC" or "Kansas City Bomber"?
I think I gotta go with KC Carr
>>> Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully missed the game to be with his wife, who had dental surgery. <<<
http://tinyurl.com/ytytuz
That voice, the attitude. Bacall is on a whole other level.
The final insult came after the game when the showers in the Dodgers clubhouse malfunctioned.
Said Gonzalez: "It was just a dirty night all around."
I should just stay in bed til noon.
Even on youtube, she's enough to straighten out the love that dare not speak its name.
There seems to be fewer and fewer options for third base and more and more reasons to risk optioning players to AAA.
With Kemp playing CF and Loney in RF again last night maybe Ned is preparing for an outfield of Ethier, Kemp, and Loney in June and trading for a third baseman.
In the mean time I hope Kemp at least platoons with Pierre and Ethier before the end of this week.
374. Well you would be dead to me except I meant to say Mozart not Chopin. So you are correct, most discussions of great composers do not include Chopin. And I very much agree with you about Grace Kelly but that's like saying Michael Jordan was the greatest basketball player of all time. Its an easy call. Although there are those who would detract from her because she was a ho'. But then again recent reports suggest Jordan was a ho' too. All that being said, I never saw the beauty in Liz Taylor. Completly lost on me.
Why does everyone think k-6 teachers only make 32K a year? How many professions that only require a BS pay more then the starting salary for a teacher? Most of the teachers I know are pulling in around 70K with 12 weeks of vacation time and one of the best pensions in the country, pay ZERO social security, and have the ability to save via mechanisms that the normal person does not, and after a few years can just about never be fired unless they decide to sleep with a student. It is a good gig and while you won't get rich no one who is a teacher has the right to claim poverty.
dude, it's so not a jinx if it's just the first inning. i bet close to half of all baseball games are "no-hitters" after the first inning. come on. the rule should only apply after like, the fifth inning or so, when it starts to become "interesting".
The circumstances would have to be pretty extreme for me to knock a woman for her personal life (see: Britney Spears, though the fact that she is no longer attractive means that I am not in that compromising position), but I think we already had this discussion (I did anyway).
Who travelled in and out my door
I'm glad they came along
I dedicate this song
To all the girls I've loved before
To all the girls I once caressed
And may I say I've held the best
For helping me to grow
I owe a lot I know
To all the girls I've loved before
The winds of change are always blowing
And every time I try to stay
The winds of change continue blowing
And they just carry me away
To all the girls who shared my life
Who now are someone else's wives
I'm glad they came along
I dedicate this song
To all the girls I've loved before
To all the girls who cared for me
Who filled my nights with ecstasy
They live within my heart
I'll always be a part
Of all the girls I've loved before
The winds of change are always blowing
And every time I try to stay
The winds of change continue blowing
And they just carry me away
To all the girls we've loved before
Who travelled in and out our doors
We're glad they came along
We dedicate this song
To all the girls we've loved before
To all the girls we've loved before
Who travelled in and out our doors
We're glad they came along
We dedicate this song
To all the girls we've loved before
Huh. I didn't know that. Why? And teachers only have to work 9 mos of the year. OK I'm re-thinking whether teachers are important. ;-) (sorry Greg)
it's before my time, so i'm no aficionado, but what about audrey hepburn, or sophia loren?
Would love to go to a 51s game but not sure Mrs. LAT is up for it. This is supposed to be the post-bat mitzvah weekend recovery trip. (Daughters bat mitzvah was last Sat.) "Oh so when you said get tickets to a show, you didn't meant he 51s?" Plus I need time to do my Derby picks. Anyone here feel strongly about the years field?
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