Push the darned button already!! : )

I live in Chicago, where no one uses cross walks or pushes the buttons. Sometimes I find myself casually darting out in to oncoming traffic, under the assumption that the cars will stop. I guess the roads are less wide here.

So you're the one person that watched Cheap Seats

Cheap Seats was hil-arious. I still haven't watched the Cheap Seats Finale-athon, which aired in November. I've got it on tape, but can't get myself to watch it.

From my experience, San Diego, L.A., and Seattle are bastions of obedient pedestrians.

The rest of the country just goes for it whenever they can cross the street.

They're all Philistines.

Did Ralph Garr fly out a lot?

I thought we had a deal with the pigeons.

As George Constanza once said, "Squirrel? Well, we have no deal with THEM!"

4 - People look at you weird in Chicago if you wait for the "Walk" sign. I felt like a loser but I guess I would really feel foolish if I got hit.

5 - I thought "4" was singles.

4 Do they give jaywalking tickets in other cities?

Dodging cars in traffic? Sounds like a vacation I just had. vr, Xei

I once got a ticket in downtown LA for starting to cross the street once the red hand had already started flashing. I made it across in time, and was then astounded to have a cop give me a ticket. Stupidest ticket I've ever gotten.

I'm a little surprised that Wilson Betemit is starting against a LHP. Maybe Grady thinks that's the different look that Betemit needs.

* 1 Home Run
* 2 Ground out
* 3 Fly out
* 4 Fly out
* 5 Triple
* 6 Ground out
* 7 Single
* 8 Fly out
* 9 Walk (Base on balls)
* 10 Strikeout
* 11 Double
* 12 Ground out
* 13 Single
* 14 Fly out

3
Isn't one of the Sklar's on Entourage?

I have faithfully read through some past threads (brownie points, please), and I have just one salient comment: can all of you who sit in dugout seats, meet celebrities, and go with cool people like Jon and Rich, please arrange something special for me next time I'm in LA? You guys seem to have much better connections than I do.

A tour guide in Boston told us that back east the traffic signals are merely suggestions. I think he meant for the pedestrians.

11
My brother got pulled over in L.A. for crossing against the red "DONT WALK" by a policeman on horseback!

13 - Ralph Garr's "7" is etched in my mind.

17

Bob's pretty excited about that.

At least the signals in LA are quiet. I still have nightmares about the beeping signals everywhere you go in Hong Kong. What a racket!

I was once with my dad when he got a jaywalking ticket. He asked the officer if he could go to Walking School. The officer didn't seem to find it as amusing as I did.

Here in New York the streets exist to be crossed, not driven on.

I have darted across a street in traffic in full view of a cop who simply ignored me. I think most cops have bigger fish to fry.

Isn't one of the Sklar's on Entourage?

I've never seen Entourage.

Juan Pierre career vs. Doug Davis (20 PAs):

.421 .429 .684 1.113

(4 2B, 1 3B)

The best thing to hear in all the world: "It's time for Dodger Baseball!"

21
So did his insurance go up with the ticket on his record? :)

27
Pedestrian tickets go on your DMV record in California.

So, Juan Pierre is presumably in the #2 spot (rather than, say, the #8 spot) because of the old school belief that you should have speed at the top of the lineup in front of the power hitters.

But when you think about it, aren't power hitters the ones who need speed on the bases the least? Aren't the power hitters the ones who are most likely to get extra base hits, where speed in front of them probably doesn't matter much? Wouldn't speed on the bases be more important for weaker hitters?

When I was in China last month. We were leaving Tiananmen Square, heading back to our car, parked down one of the side streets. The uniformed police (I am told there are plain clothed officers everywhere) had the cross-walk barricaded off/closed to pedestrians. Two guys jay-walked across and the police yelled at them opened up the barricade and made the two guys walk back. No tickets or anything, just walk back. As they opened up the barricade, not knowing what was going on, I led our contingent through the barricade and across the street. Seeing I was a foriegner the police didn't say anything, and I had no idea that they had the cross-walk closed. I figured they had opened it up for people to cross, not for those two jay-walkers to come back. The two jay-walkers looked a little confused/bewildered that we were allowed to cross and they weren't. Sometimes, stupidity trumps the law. I am sure there is an old Confucius saying about this somewhere. vr, Xei

Excellent post. I'm always a bit perplexed when someone just a step or two behind me, who sees me push the button, feel compelled to repeat the process. This is even more amusing for elevators, where the buttons light up to acknowledge the initial call.

Some, of course, are just unclear on the technology, thinking that pushing the button over and over again will somehow speed up the process. I guess I can't fault their sense of trust - their hearts are in the right place.

28
I subtract my :)

Hey, are any other MLBTV subscribers having trouble getting the non-700k stream to open up? I click on each of the Watch links and get a message saying I can't access it because I don't have the 700k subscription. Weird.

29. Really, Pierre's been unlucky since dropping to the #2 slot, in one way: Furcal is slumping. See, for JP to score 120-130 runs, he needs to hit into a lot of force plays, and then "vulture" the runs from the guy who earned his way on base. Furcal is letting Pierre down. Very selfish of him.

Btw, I had this exact thing happen to me today - live near an intersection, near a BART station, where there's a crosswalk you have to push the button to get the walk signal. If you don't, the light only changes to green for ten seconds and doesn't give you a walk signal. I am always amazed at the people who stand there, too lazy to push the button, as I walk towards them, behind, too late to get there to push the button. Then they learn their lesson for next time, after I emphatically push the button.

And don't even get me started on turn signals - and the # of lazy drivers who won't use them. That's far worse.

27 - It was just another moment of him being a dubious role model, like the time I was with him when he received a warning for trying to sell an extra ticket to a Rams game at Anaheim Stadium at face value...it's amazing I haven't turned to a life of crime.

35 - Turn signal apathy frustrates me greatly.

Jon,

This has happened to me so much that I have just said "screw it" with the assumed intelligence of the person who was there first. I just push the button and don't even care any more.

Okay, never mind - you just have to go here to access the 400k stream:
http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp#20070502

Don't know why it's not giving you the option directly from the other links today, though.

35 The one that gets me is drivers who are so far behind the limit line (or so far beyond it) that the sensor doesn't recognize their presence, e.g., in a left-turn arrow lane, or a metered on-ramp.

What is the etiquette to politely suggest that the person in front of you needs to creep up a bit?

I have a newly self imposed ban on talking about Pierre. I am not gonna be the one who pushes the button again.

So I am moving on to GONZO. j/k...

Go Blue, let's take this series.

Another Dodger double play.

And thank you O-Dog, for that tailor-made double play.

37 Seriously. It just kills me. (And it almost literally killed me recently, when I was biking in a bike lane, someone turned in front of me, no signal.)

40
You install push bars on your car and hit their car in the rear bumper.

Works all the time for me.

40 - I think ramming them repeatedly communicates the necessary information and is polite enough given the circumstances.

If that drooping inside curve is a strike this is gonna be a long day.

44, 45 Have you no fear of road-rage?? (of others, that is - I don't fear my own.)

There was some discussion of impressionists in the previous thread. One dubious highlight of last night's ballpark excursion was Suffering Bruin's eerie impersonation of Rick Monday. SB has the same basso profundo radio voice, and enough experience in the broadcast booth and as a fellow "suffering" radio listener to (as Eric put it) place the periods in the middle of sentences, and thus create a truly perfect facsimile.

The reason I call it a dubious highlight, of course, is that the end result is that you're sitting next to Rick Monday, listening to stories about dugout hijinx in the 1970s while missing the action right in front of you. Which is one of the things you came to the ballpark to avoid.

As I told SB, it's a shame he can't use his powers for good instead of evil.

The hard man to strike out in baseball goes down swinging.

49 I hope 25 wasn't/isn't a jinx.

47 - All things being equal your rage must be greater than or equal to their rage in which case everything ends amicably. Otherwise it is best to have powerlocks.

Pierre is striking out in 9.5% of his at bats this year, which would be 66 strike outs in as many at bats as he had last year.

This Davis seems to have them confounded so far. May be a good day to rest the lefties.

There have been 10 or 12 pedestrian deaths already this year, and the City Council has enacted new laws which say the cops can ticket pedestrians @ $70 per infraction for jaywalking. This isn't going to do a bit of good for either those who've already died or for those who were actually in a crosswalk when a driver hit them.

I suppose it's a start, but legislatures seem to be like generals; they fight the last war.

Speaking of pedestrian light stupidity...You're in the left-turn lane regulated with a left-turn green-arrow light. There are several cars ahead of you. You believe you have enough time to make the left turn. Wrong!!! One of the turds ahead of you has his/her head down doing something else in the car, wasting your precious seconds. He/she finally realizes the light is green and proceeds to make the turn before it turns red. But you are left behind to wait for the next light.

52
Not only is Pierre striking out more, but it's not even a result of taking more pitches.

P/PA
2005: 3.69
2006: 3.48
2007: 3.32

Speaking about walking, to go full circle, according to Baseball America, Greg Miller's 22 walks leads all AAA pitchers.

54 I'm surprised this hasn't increased the drive for prohibition of cellphone use in automobiles.

That was a close play.

That was a - the fielder is there before the runner and the runner should be out, therefore he's out, call. Nice pickoff move there, though.

I don't see Barden on AZ's roster. Did they call him up and DL Tracy? Can't find any news on it.

58
I think I've read somewhere that researchers are finding "driving while talking on a cellphone" to be of equal or greater danger than drunk driving.

13 As a kid I had the All Star Baseball game and loved math, so I made up some of my own discs for the Dodgers, correlating the 360 degrees in a circle to their individual stats with the help of long-division math, percentages, a protractor and cardboards from my father's laundered shirts. The Dodger Yearbook listed all needed stats except for groundouts and flyouts, so I divided all non-strikeouts in half and split them evenly between groundouts and flyouts. In this way, I could incorporate the Dodgers into any games. About a dozen years ago, I bought a new version and played again with a boyhood friend. There were far fewer arguments.

61 From MLB.com

5/2/07 Arizona Diamondbacks
Recalled 3B Brian Barden from Triple-A Tucson; optioned LHP Dana Eveland to Tucson.

The Meat remembers what it's like to be a righty.

Yay! A hit for Betemit!

64 Thanks. I don't think that was there a little while ago, like around game time.

Meat!

60 That concept is right on. One problem was that the fielder(Furcal) almost wasn't there ahead of the runner.

Freakin' "Kookie" Byrnes strikes again.

62 - But nothing tops accidents caused by motorists falling asleep. It's impossible to track as very few ever admit to dozing off behind the wheel.

Good job Betemit! A single to left might not save his job, but it is a good start.

From STATS writer on Yahoo: Doug Davis has won both of his career starts against the Dodgers, allowing eight hits and three walks while striking out 11 in 15 scoreless innings. The last time Davis opposed Los Angeles, the left-hander threw a four-hitter with a walk and eight strikeouts in a Milwaukee Brewers 9-0 home win last Sept. 5.

I never push the button because there is no point to pushing the button. It doesn't do anything. It doesn't make the Walk light come on sooner. It has no effect whatsoever, at least not in any city I've ever been a pedestrian in. It's just notifies the little men secretly watching from the bowels of the streets department that there's another sucker for them to point and laugh at.

That was Betemit's first hit right-handed this season.

The button has a lot of germs on it.

74 - I'm not following. The button doesn't make the walk light come on sooner, but it needs to be pushed at least once to make the walk light come on, period.

How about drivers who fall asleep while talking on the cell phone (perhaps to a soothing voice on the other end) while also not using their turn signals? I bet that ranks highly.

74 That's generally true. But this one intersection it literally needs the button pushed to turn green - and is a pedestrian only crosswalk (cars cross it) so it wouldn't hurt pedestrians in a place like that to push the button. But I can understand people generally not bothering.

Or, as Dr. Forrester used to say on MST3K, "push the button, Frank."

77 (I think it does depend on the intersection. Some walk signals come on no matter what. Some don't.)

In Downtown LA, there are several crosswalks that are in the middle of long blocks and the light turns red for cross traffic only if someone pushes the button.

Actually, the light FLASHES red, so it's a stop sign. Cross against that light at your own peril!

79 - I know what you're saying, but generally these days, at least in Los Angeles, they don't have the button there if you don't need to press it.

79. In Chicago, they only have the button at intersections where the walk sign won't come on unless the button is pushed. I only have one intersection where that matters, and it is also the only intersection where I never jaywalk because I am always pulling my boys in a wagon and it is a busy street. I'll risk my life to save a few seconds, but never theirs.

Is Olmeda time like peanutbutter jelly time?

Post from previous thread: Doug Davis was 1 for 64 in 2004 with 43 Ks. But in 2005, he had 10 hits including 3 doubles and a triple. Then he slipped back to 3 for 65 last year.

Shades of Bob Buhl, who went 0-for-70 in 1962 -- 0-for-1 for Braves, and 0-for-69 for the Cubs.

81 Ah. In SF, they like to make people guess. It's sort of like a trivia(l) contest.

Looks like another high scoring affair at Chavez Ravine.

Where are the runs? 3 runs so far this series, I know that Arizona has a pretty nice rotation but come on.

In LA, if there's a push button that means that there's not enough time to cross that street at 4 feet/second under one or more of the timing plans at that intersection.

Hendricksons BABIP is back below .200.

87
Traffic engineering nerd alert!

82 When a good father risks his life, he risks his child's life also.

At least this is what my wife told me after our kid was born, when she imposed my lifetime ban on motorcycle riding.

Yay! An actual base hit for Slappy McBunt!

89 - After previewing my post, I decided to remove the "Well actually..." from the beginning. So, you know, give me a break.

There's very little difference between most of Pierre's outs and most of his hits

The rabbit is loose.

92
There's nothing to be ashamed about being a traffic engineering nerd.

90 - My own self imposed ban on motorcycle riding has been in effect my entire life. I prefer subtle methods of self-suicide* to the thrilling ones.

*my lunch today was onion rings, an italian sausage and a hotdog with the works for dessert.

The rabbit is fricasseed.

95 More chicanes! Less humps, bumps and tables!

96 Really good onion rings are so much better than fries.

96 "self-suicide" - as opposed to?

99 - Really good fries have chili and cheese on them and have to be eaten with a fork- which is better than any onion ring. The average onion ring is better than the average fry, though.

Four innings complete in under one hour.

100 - Ha. I guess there is the Dr. Death approach.

101 Belgians eat fries (or pomme frites) with mayonnaise.

Hendy's really been pitching well this year, I have to say. (And now I shall attempt to jinx-proof this comment.) Would be nice if the D's could actually score some runs for him, or anyone, this week.

103 Or death-by-cop, I suppose.

Rats, did I jinx Hendrickson?

Fantasy league question... totally off topic but figured someone must know this.

If an away pitcher pitches eight innings, but his team loses (the home team does not bat in the bottom of the ninth), does he get a Complete Game on his record?

Also, if the scores are tied after nine innings, and the SP goes nine innings before getting replaced in the tenth, does he get a CG?

It seems strange to have a line up with our 2 corner outfielders batting 7th and 8th.

Hanrahan Report (from Post beat writer):

"Another is Joel Hanrahan, who is much more likely to appear in Washington uniform this summer. "We think he's a major league pitcher," Boone said. Hanrahan is pitching for Class AAA Columbus, where he is 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA. But there are some more impressive numbers over his first four starts: in 21-1/3 innings, he has 22 strikeouts, with just 20 base runners (13 hits, seven walks) allowed in that time. Opposing hitters are hitting .171 against him.

"He's commanding his fastball, a power guy," Boone said. The problem: He's battling something of a groin problem, which has kept him from pitching deep into games. He has pitched more than five innings just once. But he's worth watching. The safe bet is you'll see him at RFK Stadium this summer."

104
I've seen a few girls dip fries in a shake. Never did venture to try it. To be honest it kinda grossed me out.

108 - Yes to the first, no to the second.

You get credit for a complete game if you are the only pitcher for your team in a regulation game.

Or not. Nicely done. Really nicely pitched. Who the heck is this Hendrickson guy?

Those shoulder high floaters from Hendrickson must look oh so hittable.

Hendy now has 22K/5BB ratio.

107 No. Hendrickson says, "Error, Schmerror" and strikes out the side. 69 pitches through 5.

Maybe there's something to this sports psychologist thing, or whoever Hendrickson saw.

Another pitchers duel. One could argue that it's a game between two lackluster offenses or between two stalwart pitchers. Or niether of the two. vr, Xei

At what point does the trade for Hendrickson stop being one we make fun of? His performance so far from the bullpen and rotation has been eye opening and I can't imagine Kuo or Chad doing any better.

Four innings complete in under one hour.
--
yah, why cant the night games be this quick. I was looking forward to hardly working this afternoon.

The theme song of this thread:

http://tinyurl.com/2wkwnf

119 End of July for me.

Argh. How can someone swing that hard and completely miss a straight 84 mph pitch? Wilson, Wilson, Wilson...

119 Again, thinking the same thing, also his salary does make very attractive if he can pitch this effectively. (Not really this effectively but 80% of this would be very useful).

With the number of punchouts you'd think Koufax and Carlton are pitching today.

Did anyone else think Pierre could have done a better job breaking up that double play? Seemed to me he just did a normal slide, when something above and beyond might have made a difference.

Navarro's failure and Martin's success makes it hard to be too upset with that trade. Hendy's cheap and decent.

While looking up the complete game definition at wikipedia, I came across this.
vr, Xei
--------------------------------
The last pitcher in the major leagues to throw as many as 10 complete games in a single season was Randy Johnson, who threw 12 complete games in 1999 for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The last pitcher to throw as many as 15 complete games in a single season was Curt Schilling, who accomplished that feat for the Phillies in 1998. The last pitcher to throw 20 complete games in a single season was Fernando Valenzuela, who did so for the Dodgers in 1986. The last pitcher to throw 25 complete games in a season was Rick Langford, who had 28 for the A's in 1980. The last pitcher to throw 30 complete games in a season was Catfish Hunter, who did so for the Yankees in 1975.

Let's wait until Hendrickson's BABIP creeps above the Mendoza line before we start calling him decent.

However, Hendrickson's sudden surge in strikeouts does make me feel better about Brad Penny's inability to strike people out.

Career for Davis (including today): 490 BB / 1123 IP. No walks today. 61 pitches through 5 IP today. The Dodgers are not exactly making him work.

From the last thread, wouldn't LOOGY be a good nickname for Pierre?

129 Explain pleae.

Even if you judge him by last year you have to say he's decent.

132 Please

132 If Mark Hendrickson can fluke into obscenely high strikeout rates, it means that someone could just as easily bounce back.

132. I don't want to speak for regfairfield, but I would imagine that a higher BABIP, but still pitching at the same level would mean it is less of the defense helping him out. At least that's what I thought it meant.

131 made me laugh

133 He got kicked out of the rotation due to uselessness last year. I don't see how that makes him decent.

Well Randy Johnson got better with age. Maybe it's a tall guy thing.

This violates my principles, but I don't think I could make myself hit for Hendrickson here.

It seems to me that the 17 inning game Sunday put the Dodgers in a bad batting funk especially when it comes to getting a timely hit. Last night was extremely frustrating getting 7 or 8 walks with 8 hits through 8 innings and only 1 run to show for it. They got only 1 run off Webb & Co on Monday and did not score from the 4th until the 17th inning on Sunday. They've hit one of those scoring dry spells. Now they are locked into a scoreless duel through 5 innings today last time I checked. They need tomorrow off before a tough series against the Braves on Friday.

133 Hendrickson's ERA+:

2002 182 (only 36 2/3 IP)\
2003 85
2004 93
2005 73
2006 110
2007 246 (before today)
Career: 92

Depends on what is meant by decent. He is generally below average, at least by this stat.

Hendy is probably at his pitch count number and if you believe in giving your pitcher positive thoughts, you would probably take him out especially since he has not gone past the 100 pitch count yet this year.

140 But you know he only has one inning left at best.

138 He had the lowest run support in baseball. He also had a 98 ERA+, the very definition of decent. He was more than decent the first part of the year.

He always worried me last year, too, until he improved in the bullpen, but I also don't see how you can ignore his turnaround this year - which has been given a legitimate, real reason. Maybe he will completely fall apart and revert to his old self at some point this year, but so far he does look a lot different to me. Certainly gives me more confidence than Tomko. I wouldn't dismiss it so easily.

Vin really seems to be losing it a bit on his announcing/detail skills. I have just been noticing it a lot lately. Maybe three or four comments a game that are just off.

144 - Hence, the first part of my statement. It's purely emotional.

Temporary nickname suggestion: Gemdrickson.

142 You have to weight the recent stats higher. That averages to decent, at least.

Yay! Young Pierre'd that one.

147 For Vin that's bad, for everyone else, its above average.

140 The one more inning rule? I'm with you though; besides, the pen needs some rest. This will be Hendrickson's third time through the order though.

148 Jon, Grady read your thoughts.

We have been in a bad batting funk since Saturday in San Diego. After the third inning on Saturday - 0 runs; 3 runs in the first 3 innings on Sunday, then scoreless form the 4th through the 16th, though they had numerous chances leaving like 13 men on base. Monday 1 run against Webb & Co., 2 runs last night despite another 16+ baserunners and now scoreless through 5 innings today. Thank God the pitching with the exception of Monday has been good as well or we would be seeing another long losing streak.

145 His time in Tampa Bay was fueled by a league low line drive percentage. With the Dodgers, he had below average strikeout and walk rates. I suppose he got a little bit better since his home run rate wasn't laughable, but he's still far from being an average pitcher.

Gameday says Pierre got screwed on that strike.

It's very rare for a pitcher to figure it all out at age 32 and 33.

Bullpen check>

Beimel, probably okay.
Tsao, if he had to.
Bills, I think they would love to wait until the weekend.
Broxton - out until the weekend.
Seanez - Not today.
Saito - He's okay.

112, 113 Thank you.

And... good thing he did.

Did I just hear line drive base hit and Pierre in the same sentence.

Now, you can start the bullpen in earnest.

Slappy McBunt strikes again. Another real hit. And an RBI!

Pierre got "clutchy"!

Temporary ban lifted.

You the MAN Pierre!!!

Pierre took advantage of the outfield shift for once. The last time he did that was his RBI triple against the D'Backs a couple weeks ago.

Now Pierre needs to man up and steal a base.

I kind of like Clutchy McBunt as a moniker.

Go Juan Go, Go Juan Go.

Is it me or does Juan seem hesitant against lefties to take a chance.

167 Don't get Cocky kid.

170 Sorry about the rule violation there.

I'm not saying Hendrickson is any good or that all the sudden he's going to become Jamie Moyer, I'm saying that given what he's given us for one month and the fact we only traded away a backup catcher I find the deal much more palatable then it was at the end of last year. As long as we don't ruin what he has contributed by continuing to run him out there after the pixie dust has worn off I'm now at peace with the deal. The only real question is how long will the pixie dust last.

172 Is it just me, or did a rule get deleted?

173 He's kinda reminding me of how Sele pitched for us in a pinch last season. Without his contributions we don't make the playoffs.

Mark Hendrickson really is Bearded Jesus.

175

Absolutely agree.

174 You're right, Jon must have changed the sidebar.

I agree that what he's doing right now is a huge boost, I just don't think we should call him decent.

Hendy does strike me as a pretty indecent fellow.

179

Regairfield has a high standard of decency. Very high. Victorian England high.

179

how about this...

Mark Hendrickson is not decent, but his performance has been decent.. eh eh eh?

kinda like the hes not a middle reliever but hes stuck in a middle reliever's role conundrum.

174 There's been some editing in the DT-ROEs. You can now comment under the influence so long as you're not obvious about it.

~hic~

If anyone could be resurrected in their 30s, it's BJ

He got to face one batter. This seems to be a pattern for Grady, he'll let the guy go for the matchup and then take him out.

At least Grady is ready for the move.

181 It's just very hard to change my mind about guys who stunk for four straight years.

guys who stunk for four straight years

Get a loada this. All of a sudden, being the 8th best lefthander in the AL "stinks"...

Failing to get Hudson out left Hendrickson one out away from leading the NL in ERA.

He has thrown 27 2/3 innings this season - he needs to be at 28.

Why bat Hendrickson and then pull him? That is bizarre beyond belief.

Thank you Ethier for taking charge of that.

Byrnes vs. Hendrickson:

.389 .476 .722 1.198

189 Apparently Grady was willing to go with Hendrickson unless someone reached?

189 - Surprising. Little just decided he was going to let Hendrickson pitch until someone got on, no matter what. He just didn't care about losing the out on offense.

191 I think he wanted the lefty matchup on Hudson, once Tsao was warming up, I thought he was coming in to pitch this inning at some point.

189 Forget it Benaiah, it's Little Logic.

187
Wilson Betemit is the 2nd best switch hitter on the Dodgers

192 Sure the chances are better that anyone else would get on base aside from Hendy but leading off an inning, it wasn't the worse play to just let him bat.

196 - Like I said before, I would have given in and left Hendrickson in too. And Little having done so, I don't disagree with the pitching change.

3 batters, 3 outs. Tsao, wow!

Meanwhile, how now, Tsao?

Lets also not forget Vin's blurb the other night about how Hudson is a better hitter from the left side.

Andrew, lets say that we regress Hendrickson's HR rate to 1, which is about his career average, that would make FIP ERA 3.357* for the year. It may be a fluke, but it isn't just BABIP that likes Hendrickson this year. He has been a very good pitcher this year, I don't think he can keep it up, but stranger things have happened.

*I figured it out myself, so it might not be right.

197 I agree, it's not a horrible decision. Maybe Hendrickson gets by with a 1-2-3 inning, but if anyone reaches, don't risk giving up the lead with him tiring against the right-handed middle of the order.

The Rockies are going to be annoyed if Tsao keeps this up.

I can only hint at Tsao's streak for fear of a rule 9 violation. How rare is it for a reliever to pitch the equivalent of a no hitter?

I know Nate pointed it out when the deal was made that this might work out well for the Dodgers but Tsao just might be our Cla Meridith.

And again it proves that middle relievers are out there for the taking during every off-season.

200 Stats back that up. Hudson career:

vs. LHP .250 .307 .379 .686
vs. RHP .287 .349 .449 .798

That takes guts.

Tsao= Smok'em if you got'em ?

201 I agree that this isn't entirely fluky, his strikeout rate is great, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if he suddenly struck out no one for 20 innings.

33 year olds don't suddenly see their K/9 jump by three and a half.

204 - That was hinting?

[199} Snakes kow tow to Tsao.

204 I'm going to guess it's not all that rare. Relievers have it a little easier than starters, and it's easier to do it any 9 inning stretch than to it from specific starting points. Then again, you have to pitch to a wider variety of hitters.

210 It was hinting in a very Pythonesque sort of way.

I don't know if this is still the record, but Jim Barr "retired 41 consecutive batters over 2 straight starts in 1972, the last 21 of the first start and the first 20 of the second start."

204 Ernie Shore once did it famously in a single game, in relief of some guy named G. Ruth.

214 - At one point, at least, that was the record for any pitcher, starter or reliever.

210 - I agonized for a 30 seconds on how to hint at it, but figured at least I wasn't expressly pointing out his performance, only obliquely referencing it by asking if other had done it.

205

he was one of favorites when the non-offered arbitration free agents came out and im just happy Colletti took a flyer on him.

I also think due to his lack of service time, hes controlled by the dodgers for 3 more years after this year.

Seems like Ethier should have scored.

218 Have you heard if anything is up with Meloan, he hasn't pitched in a couple of days. Also, anything on Elbert?

Saenz!

219
I don't know. Tomato ripped it and it bounced right to Byrnes. He didn't have much of a shot.

Furcal!

Pitch around Raffy and go for Pierre

220

nothing on Meloan. Elbert has been throwing bullpen sessions on the side, a report in the BA blog had watson saying we should see him in a game pretty soon.

come on Pierre, bases clearing triple, PLEASE!

Was that an unintentional intentional walk for Furcal?

they left the lefty in to face Olmedo?

Wow, Pierre seems to have a knack for being in this situation.

222 But that hit clearly would have scored a runner from 1st against us. Seems only fair that the Dbacks return the favor.

kill the rally juan! do it now!

Grrr.

Just checked - Barr still holds the record. David Wells holds the AL record.

225 I am assuming Meloan is okay just no oppurtunity to pitch.

Jim Callis of Baseball America said today that next year, Kershaw will be among the top 3 pitchers in their top 100 prospects.

229. and for producing this outcome

I think perhaps we should move Furcal down a slot for a few games to light his fire again. The same thing happened last May 2nd, 3rd & 4th where Grady batted Furcal behind Lofton for the three days and it appeared to get Raffy started up again. Maybe it's not such a bad idea for a few days...

234

see, i dont like that. All this hype surrounding Kershaw is really pushing my hopes to the Sun. Id rather not they say stuff like that in fear of disappointing me!

Coming into this game with runners in scoring position and 2 out Pierre had an OPS of .000 in 17 AB.

To be fair, let us remind ourselves that Pierre drove in the only run today.

I hope that Seanez does not make an appearance. It seems like we might need to win 1960's style and I don't trust him to keep runs off the board.

However, in close and late situations Pierre had a 1.306 OPS in 16 AB.

Weird wacky numbers, Pierre's lifetime numbers with the bases loaded (141 PA)

.403/.412/.548

Crazy.

Broxton is bringing the heat

242 This year, he is already 0 for 11.

242 That makes sense actually. He should do well in situations where a pitcher has to throw strikes.

Nate, just push your hopes up to the Suns - seeing him in Jacksonville within the year shouldn't be too much to ask.

238 1-2 today.

did anyone figure out what PFX means on gameday?

On gameday, what does "PFX" mean? It is the stat complimenting speed and break in the game summary.

Anyone know offhand the Dodgers current 2007 ERA and the 2003 ERA?

weird nate!

great minds...

Hey, I wonder what PFX means.

Wicked, wicked pitches there from the the Blue Ox, after all the high heat.

"Q: What is the PFX value?

A: The "Pitch-f/x" value is currently defined as the measurement of the distance between the location of the actual pitch thrown over the plate, and the calculated location of a ball thrown by the pitcher in the same way, with no spin; this is the value we provided in Enhanced Gameday last season as "Break". The new Break value, which we feel is more appropriate for the common understanding of the term, is defined as the measurement of the greatest distance between the trajectory of the pitch at any point between the release point and the front of home plate, and the straight line path from the release point and the front of home plate. By this definition, a Barry Zito curveball will have a much greater Break value than a Brad Penny fastball."

250 Comparable as to what, total or at the same point of the season?

2003 - 3.16
2007 - 3.23

I'm sorry I missed all the traffic talk.

I always push the button.

And my theory on why nobody uses turn signals anymore? It's not laziness (I mean, how lazy can you be? The switch is an inch from your hand). They don't want you to know what they're planning. It's like a general not wanting to disclose his battle plan. If they signal, they figure, I'll just speed up. Better to cut me off using the element of surprise.

Man, the pitching today...

From Bob:

The "Pitch-f/x" value is currently defined as the measurement of the distance between the location of the actual pitch thrown over the plate, and the calculated location of a ball thrown by the pitcher in the same way, with no spin;

256 - Those the ERAs up to and including Broxton's nasty 8th inning.

250
2003: 3.16
2007: 3.34 (before today)

254

So, what does PFX mean again?

2007: 3.34 ERA, 122 ERA+
2003: 3.16 ERA, 128 ERA+

256, 259 You rule.

I see what they're getting at with PFX, but a ball with no spin is a knuckleball, and you can't predict where it would have been.

259 - 126 ERA+ in 2007, but not really since I am using last night's league ERA number not todays since that would be a lot of math.

258 wouldn't a pitch with no spin be a knuckleball, which would move very unpredictably?

261- The way I read it, it's the difference between where a pitch would be located were it perfectly straight vs. where the pitch actually crosses the plate

Kent was just robbed at third - a double that instead was a double-play.

267 maybe perfectly straight except for normal drop due to gravity perhaps?

Man, that's twice today the D's have gone single, DP, single, although Kent ripped it.

Watching Betemit not deliver must be killing Loney.

269- I assume that's involved somewhere tin the normal trajectory of a pitch, coming from a grip up high on top of a mound, et cetera. Given the distance and the relative speed, it's safe to assume that "gravity" is fairly negligible.

It will be kinda crazy if we get outscored 10-4 in the series, yet win 2 of the 3 games

271 - Why? So Loney can play third base?

I'm a bit color blind, but weren't the behind home plate seats yellow last year? And now I think they are not so yellow.

272 Poor assumtion I think. While watching a game hold an object in one hand and drop into the other hand when the pitcher releases the pitch. Bet it will drop a couple of feet by the time it reaches the plate.

Is it just me or is this ump really calling some low strikes?? That first pitch to Ethier...

271 Yesterday, Betemit walked to load the bases, after which Furcal also walked. The final was 2-1. (I also doubt Loney pays particular attention to Betemit's performance, unless they became good friends.)

Andre!!!

Nice!

That's the ol' pepper boy!

I honestly think that's the first ball all year that Ethier has hit hard to left that wasn't a fly ball. He did a lot more of that last year. Nice to see it!

274 No, so Nomar can move to third, and he can play 1st.

It's State Farm time!

You gotta love Wilson's plate discipline, the hits just have to fall at some point, I think he needs to bat 7th just to get some better pitches.

I'd rather see Loney getting the ABs.

283 - Grady/Ned don't have the balls to pull such an intelligent move.

282

i specifically remember a line drive double he hit to left field during this homestand. but i get your point.

287

baseballs?

285 - Yeah... Betemit's discipline is among the best on the team. He's just looping his bat under the ball and not even coming close to making contact this year.

289 - huevos grandes...

Another bases-loaded out. Sigh.

So what's it now with bases loaded, 2 for 32? I mean we can't always figure Saito going to save our bacon.

276- an object dropped is not being propelled forward travelling 90 mph, so I don't think that's a terribly apt comparison

Its not that they don't want to, but he will get hurt if he throws the ball from 3b.

Martinez is a terrible choice to PH there. Luis Gonzales, the Tomato or Anderson should have gotten a look. Martinez is a utility player, sometimes I wonder what Grady is thinking.

Sorry to be a pest, but can I get any help with the color question in 275?

Come on Sammy, don't make us sweat this one out here.

Er, too late.

287- I'm confused. Are you calling both Ned and Grady stupid, ummm "gutless" or both? Does it take intelligence or guts to put Nomar at thrid? Isn't it just a judgement call on his ability to do it and to stay healthy doing it?

I hope we don't get Byrned.

Difference between yesterday and today: Ethier did the right thing to let the ball drop in front of him and not allowing the runner get to third...

Thank you Orlando for bunting.

296 I am sure Tomato would have PHed if he hadn't already been used. Gonzo and Anderson are both left handed.

But it doesn't matter because it's now 2 to 1...

{{sweat}}

294 - Basic Physics says there is no difference. Gravity acts on both objects equally and the ball will move much the same way towards the ground as the other object, the only difference being it's horizontal motion.

They are swinging at the first pitch thus far.

A sacrifice in the ninth down 2? Interesting.

294 Actually it's being propelled at 1000mph if you count the rotation of the Earth. I don't think gravity knows the difference.

303 - Good points all. Ha. Left handed or right handed, I still don't let Martinez off the bench there.

299 - Yeah... read between the lines. I think they don't have the guts to make that move. Did I allude to any other answer?

I dislike Eric Brynes immensely. He's been a thorn in our side ever since he joined the D-bags last year.

SammmmmY!!!

IIRC, when Ned signed Tsao there were reports he'd been hitting 94 in workouts, and 9 teams had expressed interest.

I've wondered if Kuo being a Dodger may have helped, since both are natives of Taiwan. Kuo may have lobbied Tsao some. Who knows?

There was at least one picture from spring training on Dodgers.com of the two of them working out together.

Maybe they'll be back together before long.
If so, it'll involve a tough roster move...

Valdez shoudln't be on the roster anyway.

This Saito guy is pretty good.

Saito is so happy. How can one not love him?

Saito likes to scare us sometimes, doesn't he! Whew! Good win!

312 - You gotta love the way the kid plays the game though. I'd have him on my team any day...

Once again, Saito has just one the 7th game of the world series. Gotta love the enthusiasm.

Hah wow. Charley Steiner has some poor depth perception, but he can make a game come alive on the radio. Got me all anxious here at work. Way to go Sammy!

306- so you're saying that a ball dropped and a ball projected horizontally with force will fall the same distance? Doesn't the projected force mitigate that fall?

(honest question- I hate science)

294 I think 276 is right. Gravity acts equally on an object no matter what speed it is traveling. A bullet shot say 500 yards that takes 0.3 seconds to reach the target is going to drop due to gravity the same amount as an object dropped with no forward velocity for for 0.3 seconds.

Mr Mcgehee, my AP Physics teacher would be smiling if he were reading this. I wonder if he is still alive?

5 runs in 3 games and we win 2 of them. Nice.

Now, bring me my time machine.

322 Atmospheric effects aside, yes.

294 A 90 MPH fastball would drop about 3 feet, except that the pitcher imparts an upward force when he throws the ball.

4-2 against the Padres, 4-1 against the D-Backs, 3-2 against the Rockies and 3-3 against the Giants, not a bad way to start the season.

Thankfully we got that insurance run! That sacrifice was a gift out, good thinking Arizona. Sammy's ERA is now 1.8, after allowing runs in 2 out of his last 4 appearances.

Dodger Dog, chill, dude. Woof, bark, etc.

Nicely done, Sammy. I love that guy. Good to see our pitching get so much sharper after the first game nadir.

Nice to see Ethier come through, but the Dodgers still can't buy a hit with the bases loaded. Three singles, a walk, an error, and only one run scored? Wow.

I'm also amazed the Dbacks gave up an out to advance the runner to second when they were down by two.

319
Agreed. He seemed to be a bit of a mediocrity in Oakland but since he went to the desert, it's like he's been reborn.

As it turns out, 326 addresses 322, also.

I seem to remember Gagne doing that same thing-- he'd only allow runs when he could afford to and never when he couldn't.

Woof back at ya! : )

So long NL West Until June 5th in San Diego.

I've got some experiments to do. I've got to go find my lucky lab coat!

actually, I guess 326 makes it a little clearer in my head (assuming "upward force" is the result of the spin, since a pitcher's release point is higher than the intended target)

276 Assuming an average velocity of 85 MPH (124 ft/s), a pitch travels from the slab to the plate in .48 seconds. When the ball reaches the plate, it will be five inches below the release point.

y=(.5)gt^2
y=(.5)(32)(.48*.48)
y=.42 ft

Didn't see it, was the 9th inning bunt a clear sacrifice or an attempt at a bunt single? I don't think even Jim Tracy would sacrifice in that situation! vr, Xei

Was it a true sacrifice in the ninth, or bunting for a hit?

Hard to believe the manager would call for a bunt there, was Hudson bunting on his own there? For a hit maybe?

337. Be careful or Bob will call you a nerd! :)
vr, Xei

338-340. wow, three in a row! You guys need to read the posts before copying my question!!! :) j/k of course.
vr, Xei

337 You mean 4.2 ft. (.48 almost = 1/2, 1/2 * 1/2 is 1/4, 1/4 of 16 is 4.

My parents went to the Dodger blog and all I got was this lousy algebraic equation.

337 Something very wrong with your calculations. .48 seconds sounds about right, but try droping an object and see how far it travels in that time. It isnt' 5 inches.

342 In 18 seconds! I am keeping extremely august company there.

336 My numbers in 337 might be (are) wrong, but the equation is right. Note that there's no value for X velocity.

Off to Atlanta and Florida for 7 games. The Diamondbacks have 7 at home vs the Mets and Phillies. Nice to have a 1-1/2 game cushion.
vr, Xei

336 The pitcher is literally throwing a little bit up. Stretch out the distance - if you throw from the OF to home, say about 300 feet, you know you have to arc your throw upward some. That's because gravity is pulling the ball down at 32 feet per second-squared as soon as you let go.

345- that's what's getting me confused again.

This is quite a pitching-rich division. Whose pitching will last the longest among LA, SD, SF and AZ? That's who'll win the division. The Dodgers seem to be working under a guardian angel, elevating Hendrickson just when Schmidt goes down. Billingsley's the next to enter the rotation, based on his last relief job. Let Schmidt recuperate at a leisurely pace. If we can get him going again in July, what an advantage to have a guy like that with a fresh arm.

343 I meant about 3.6 ft.
FWIW, I calcd that twice becuase it didn't make sense but ended up the same until I calcd it again just now.

326 - Even with the upward force the ball drops three feet, only it is parabolic because at first it is rising and falling at the same time (position rising, velocity vector falling). Newton invented calculus for this subject (the derivative of the position is the velocity, the derivative of velocity is acceleration, gravity is an acceleration approximately equal to 9.8 meters per second). Physics is the only science I like, but it is pretty excellent.

338-340 I just went back and watched it. Hudson was clearly bunting for a hit. Almost got it too.

351 + Kuo.

okay that makes sense now. I'm going to take a nap. whew!

Hallux Valgus -

There's is a small upward force on some pitches (four seam fasball) due to spin. The seams build up air pressure under the ball, causing a pressure diff between the top and bottom. Because of this the ball doesn't sink as fast as it should.

353 100% correct. Fizzicks is Fun.

337
Physics nerd!

357 That will alter the trajectory of the ball, but not offset the effect of gravity. The pitcher still has to apply an upward force.

354 Thanks. Still a bit of an odd play for a #3 hitter currently carrying a .351 BA. The Dodgers gratefully accept that the bunt was less than perfect.

As usual, Dodger Thoughts digressing into physics talk, while Deadspin is making endless gay jokes. I like the main blog on "Deadspin" but the comments feel like hanging out in a frat house.

363 - As usual doesn't mean that DT is always turning into physics talk, only that the conversation is usually better here.

361. Smoltz, Davies and Hudson if they don't change their rotation for some reason.
vr, Xei

361 Tomko v. Smoltz
Lowe v. Hudson
Wolf v. Davies

Hudson is scheduled on Saturday and Davies on Sunday.

364. Physics related to baseball isn't so bad is it?
vr, Xei

363- if Deadspin had "Thank You For Nots" there'd pretty much be no need for a comment section.

Ok, they are pushing Davies back one day with the off day. Probably a good idea.
vr, Xei

366
Looks very Supreme Court decision like there.

That was basically the same game as yesterday, with modest variations. Are the Dodgers part of some weird science experiment this season?

With that bullpen, we won't have a losing team. But come on. Get a hit with the bases loaded already!

367 Platoon situation. Right now 6 righties and only 1 lefty (Willis, who has a losing record and over 6 ERA lifetime against the Dodgers) on this road trip.

13 games in a row after tomorrow's off day, 19 out of 20 days. How many days will Russell have off?

A. 1
B. 2

I can't see more than that but who knows.

361 My guess is Smoltz, Davies, Hudson, if they are following their rotation despite the off day. But I'm no physics nerd.

364 - My attempt to fix my poor choice of words, only compounded my error.

As usual doesn't mean that DT is always turning into physics talk, only that the conversation is usually better here.

Should be, the conversation is usually better here than at Deadspin. I very much enjoy physics talk, movie and television talk and "cognitive neuro-science vs the soft science of sports psychology (as it relates to Mark Hendrickson version 2.0)talk."

I'm too slow today.

359 A true physics nerd would have gotten that right.

360 Only forces can alter the trajectory of the ball in flight. A spinning four seam fastball has two forces on it: gravity, and an aerodynamic force caused by its spin. Gravity pulls it down, and the aerodynamic force pulls it up. For the forces to be equal, the ball would have to spin at about twice what's humanly possible, so the net force is down.

If a pitcher is tall, he may throw the ball level or down. Take Hendrickson: He probably releases the ball at least 7'6" above the field. If his fastball drops three and a half feet, what does he care? It's still four feet off the ground.

At one point I investagated ball trajectories (both thrown and hit) and almost every ball seeming to rise is merely the negation of some of the tendency to surrender to gravity and fall.I understood it fairly well then. Remember most mathematicians and chess masters peak before 25.

"If a pitcher is tall, he may throw the ball level or down. Take Hendrickson: He probably releases the ball at least 7'6" above the field." I believe pitchers release the ball considerably below their maximum vertical reach. Seem to be about head level. But I'm no pitching nerd.

I've heard a few different reports about the whereabouts and health of Scott Elbert recently.

Does anyone know if he has truly been sent to the Inland Empire club for closer surveillance, and if so, whether or not he will be starting anytime soon?

With the early games this weekend, it would be a great opportunity to head out to San Berdoo and catch Elbert.

Tomko vs. Smoltz... for some reason that's the one I'm feeling underconfident about.

379 Also, they are not usually all that close to standing straight up. But they also are on a mound.

378 chess masters peak before 25
...because they can still withstand the chain smoking.

What if psychics start describing the physics of a spinning ball? Since everything is energy does anything matter?

Today, Sorianno joined Wright and finally hit a homerun this year. Can Betemit be too far behind?

Why do I keep waiting for Professor Frink to log in here?

I actually think that is back to back games for Soriano now

383 A good point!

I don't know about the physics, but I saw Nolan Ryan strike out 19 at the Big A once.
His fastball seemed to rise 2 feet.

389. You wanna see the ball rise, try hitting off of one of the top collegiate women's fastpitch softball pitchers. I would like to see some of the MLB players step into the batters box against these girls. vr, Xei

Xeifrank, is there a reason why the first letter of "hui" in the name Chin-hui Tsao is not capitalized, while the first letter of "Chih" in the name Hong-Chih Kuo IS capitalized?

I think this is our 4th 2-1 victory this year (I am keeping count).

391. don't know, but I will look into it for you. vr, Xei

392 thinkingblue

The pitching on this team has been amazing. The depth is too. Time to give some up for a third baseman?

392 You are correct, last year the Dodgers were 1-3 with the score 2-1, this year, currently 4-0.

I think I have said that all these bases loaded busts and amazing strings by Broxton and Saito will turn around and perhaps hurt us some day. That said, I have never felt this way about a team that gets to the later innings leading or tied. Any game that is 0-0 or 1-0 going into the seventh inning, we have an incredably good chance of winning. It is rare to have this kind of confidence in a bull-pen, but in this org. I can foresee depth enough to keep this going this year and beyond. Very unusual!

51s pitching coach Ken Howell thinks Eric Stults is ready for the bigs--somewhere. (If he's ready, Houlton probably is more than ready, IMO.)

From LV Review-Journal--

His (Stults') work on the mound has improved dramatically over the past year, even if that was not apparent Saturday night as he was rocked for seven runs in 2 1/3 innings in Las Vegas' 15-1 loss to Tacoma at Cashman Field.

Stults was 2-0 with a 2.91 ERA in his first four starts, prompting 51s pitching coach Ken Howell to say Stults might be too good for Triple A.

"For me, he's at that point where he needs to be in the big leagues with somebody," Howell said. "He's just in a holding pattern right now. This guy can pitch in the big leagues."

http://www.lvrj.com/sports/7244256.html

Re: 391

I think it's simply an error in the way media outlets publish the romanization of Kuo. The compound "first name" in the Wade-Giles system only capitalizes the first name, so it should be Hong-chih Kuo.

You have to remember that I can see a lot of the players being rather blaise about these sorts of errors, or not even know there is an error. In Taiwan, a totally different phonetic script is used for expressing and teaching the sounds in Chinese that is not a system of romanization. My own name is an example of this; it should be Wayne Wei-hsiang Hsieh; and the error came not from the US Immigration official end, but from the Taiwanese officials who mis-spelled my name. My own parents didn't realize this, until I figured it out and told them. But since they don't rely on correct romanization, they didn't realize it, even though when they learned English, they learned the basics of Wade-Giles.

WWSH

The trio of Tsao, Broxton and Saito is better than anything other than maybe Anaheim (Spier, Sheilds and K-Rod). Beimel, Meloan and Billingsley would really fill out the pen.

379 Don't forget the ten inches of the pitchers mound. Even if Hendrickson throws the ball from 6'6" above where he's standing, that's still 7'6" above where the batter is standing.

Wonder if Grady has thought what might have been if this Dodger pitching could be put together with the offense of the Red Sox clubs he managed?

Think there might be a WS or two in there?

GD math... Ugh...

379 Don't forget the ten inches of the pitchers mound. Even if Hendrickson throws the ball from 6'8" above where he's standing, that's still 7'6" above where the batter is standing.

275. I'm a bit color blind, but weren't the behind home plate seats yellow last year? And now I think they are not so yellow.

I think they were still yellow last year after the McCourts had changed them the year before (although I haven't actually been inside the stadium since the Piazza trade). What I found odd was that although I've watched almost every home game this year on TV I didn't really notice the change in color until this series.

398 -- But capitalizing the first letter of the second part of a compound Chinese first name seems to be more common than not capitalizing. It is not just Kuo. Chin-Lung Hu, Chin-Feng Chen, Chien-Ming Wang. Not capitalizing the first letter of the second part of the compound name looks aesthetically displeasing, but in addition to that, for someone like me who has a little bit of Adrian Monk in him, the incongruity of the non-capitalized "hui" when Tsao's full name is either represented in print or just visually imagined amongst the names of other Chinese baseball players who DO have capitalized first letters of the second parts of their compound first names causes distress. Ergo, Tsao should be referred to as Chin-Hui Tsao, here and everywhere. It should be the next new rule on Jon's list, in fact. And if Tsao doesn't like it, he has to be told to get with the program.

403 They changed the padding on the seats to a light brown since infielders had problems spotting the ball. Allegedly it still doesnt help much.

So, as soon as Bob gets his promotion, all LAPL libraries go wireless. That Bob's a man of action I tell you.

400 I've looked at Hendrickson's delivery, and his stride towards the plate is so long that by the time he releases the ball his foot has left the rubber and he's almost off the mound.

158. It's very rare for a pitcher to figure it all out at age 32 and 33.

But what is the age of his "shrink." :-)

It seems to me the difference is he is not afraid to throw strikes this year which is what made him so excruciating for me to watch pitch last year. Now when his turn come up in the rotation I actually EXPECT us to win. I haven't reached that point with Tomko even though he has changed his delivery whereby he hides the ball longer. :-)

402 Thats kind of technical for us guys way beyond our twenty-five year prime. But I guess a foot does have 12 inches. and I refuse to think of this in metric.

409 I thought about doing all the conversions before entering into this discussion. I probably would have been better off.

Maybe better off, but I would only be confused. In the morning I may be fit to discuss why photons exhibit mass, but tonight I give--and maybe retire,

It's very rare for a pitcher to figure it all out at age 32 and 33.

Randy Johnson was mediocre until his 30-year-old season, when he first started to dominate. That was his fifth full year in the big leagues. This is Mark Hendrickson's fifth full year in the big leagues.

412 Yes! Hendrickson is the next Big Unit! I like this... at least as a selling point to potential trade partners.

Who is Tomko the next of?

414 Norman Rockwell?

Re All Star Baseball
1=Home run
2=Ground out, runners advance one base. However, with runner on first, double play, runner on first and batter are out.
3=Error. All runners advance one base.
4=Fly out, all runner advance one base.
5=Triple
6=Ground out, all runners advance one base
7=Single, runners advance one base.
8=Fly out. Runner on third advances. Others don't.
9=Walk
10=Strike out. (Bob Feller had a huge 10)
11=Double. Runners advance two bases.
12=Ground out. Runners advance only if forced.
13=Single. Runners advance two bases.
14=Pop up. Runners hold.

There were also two other disks, to be used for stolen bases, sacrifices, and hit and runs. All players were equally proficient at bunting, stealing, and hit and runs.

I also made my own players. My favorite "legitimate" pitcher was Don Newcombe. I'd bat him sixth.

A very desirable "illegimate" pitcher was the 1953 or 1954 Joe Nuxhall, who had one home run in seven at bats (or something like that.)

In the early to mid 50's, it was really hard to find stats which included walks. Most year books had AB BA 1B 2B 3B HR RBI Errors. One year I tried extrapolating walks, like I did type of outs, but it wasn't very satisfying.

It was a lot easier to create the players after my dad showed me how to use a slide rule.

406
Yeah, that's me. Man of action. Just don't bug me if your computer can't connect to the wifi.

413 I'm afraid you are right, though I won't take away from Hendricksen's magnificent show tonight, and a really good start for the year. Maybe he has really "got it". How can we tell?
Enough of my blah,blah,blah.--goodnite all!

417- You won't be willing to lend out your Pringles can antenna? Selfish.

According to Crasnick on ESPN.com, Ethier ranks as the third best right fielder in the NL (fifth in OPS). One point I thought was interesting:

he's a sound player who has value because of his ability to play all three outfield spots

You connect the dots.

I dare anyone to spell the name of the new Brave catcher without looking it up.

Not to belabor an old point but Victorino has an arm.

Saltamacchia?

Dang, it is Saltalamacchia. Everyone refers to him as Salty.

I could have gotten that. The Italian heritage and all.

421 -- Jarrod Saltalamacchia. And I didn't look it up.

Looking close at Tsao's impressive start, he's been economical -- 119 pitches in one out short of 11 innings.

interestingly, per the brad penny discussion in the last thread, the post over at cub town seems to suggest that jason marquis is using the same trick. the cub people don't seem so pessimistic as we do, though.

I actually like Seanez for this bullpen. The guy has been through so much, seems like he would have some insights that would benefit the young relievers. Check out his injury and usage history. It's amazing he's still able to throw as well as he does. And how about the changeups he threw the other day? Three of them up and in to left-handed hitters. Truly bizarre, but it was effective. He'd come in handy during a brawl, too. From what I gather, he is accomplished at ju-jitsu and extreme fighting.

I doubt Rudy makes it to the All-Star break, but I hope he can earn his keep.

In his first inning of work tonight in Vegas, Kuo struck out three, gave up a single, hit a batter, and a man got aboard on a LaRoche error.

Your TB Devil Rays --- in third place!

430 And a similar second for Kuo, struck out the side (plus a walk and a single).

432 46 pitches is way too many for 2 innings.

Strikeouts are great but you usually need 4-5 pitches per strikeout if you are lucky.

Kuo is done for the night. He made 51 pitches in 2.1 innings, exceeding what was said to be a 40-pitch limit the Dodgers wanted observed. He gave up two singles, a walk, hit a batter, and recorded all his outs by K.

Yep, you're right - that's way too many pitches. I'd rather just see some two pitch at bats for contact outs, see him go 3-4 innings now. Doesn't seem like he's ready for prime time just yet. (But velocity seems real good.)

You connect the dots

I'd rather do the math

Matt Kemp just tripled. That's nice to see.

Okay, I'm gonna go suffer through the Lakers game now. Ciao.

Wow, I know that 50 pitches in two innings of work isn't good, but 7 K's in 2.1 innings shows you how electric his stuff is. Two groundball singles, a HBP, a walk, an error and 7 K's in 2.1 innings. Crazy. I can't wait to see Kuofax in blue again.

421Who ended up marrying his high school teacher. Sly dog.

431 In case you missed the last inning of the Devil Rays-Twins game, make sure to watch Sportscenter tonight because there was a truly Hendricksonesque baserunning moment.

391/404. I'm not a big fan of wade-giles system, but it is the predominant system in Taiwan. In mainland China, where most of the Chinese population lives, people tend to combine the two names together, instead of hyphenating it. Guo's name would and should (in my opinion) be written as Guo Hongzhi, but I'd live with Guo Hong Zhi. Chinese people say their last name first, then their first name. Think Hu Jintao. Or as they say in China, Hu's the president? Hu is.
vr, Xei

tsao would be cao jin hui. i like pinyin better, myself.

[440] with whom?

442. Yeah, it is the better system in my opinion too. But when it comes to baseball, I just want the announcers to know how to correctly pronounce the name, or atleast come reasonably close. There is no "K" sound in the name of the Dodger pitcher from Taiwan currently on a rehab stint in Las Vegas. Hu among us likes to have their last name butchered? vr, Xei

Chinese people say their last name first

That use to really confuse me as a kid. I would see a reference to Chairman Mao and I'd think, Why do they call the leader of China by his first name? They don't do that with anyone else.

Looks like Iverson and Carmelo have gone fishin. Next up at the fishin hole will be Kobe and Lamar. vr, Xei

I could never understand why Vin could never pronounce "Grudzielanek" correctly. Although I imagine the name would sound different in Polish than the way most Americans say it.

There's also a whole political debate on how to properly pronounce Spanish surnames. The current Dodger reliever who wears #38 doesn't seem to go by "Rudy Seáñez" although that is how his name is spelled and pronounced in the Spanish language media.

When I'm speaking Spanish on the phone at the library, I have to get ready for different pronunciations of places in L.A. The library in "El Sereno" is one that is always tricky.

445
It wasn't until I was in college and I studied the Vietnam War did I realize that nearly all the leaders in that country were called by their first names since so many people in Vietnam had the last name of Nguyen.

You speak Spanish Bob? Mazeltov!

New post up top.

447. How hard can it be to pronounce a three letter name?
vr, Xei

[447] the LA place name that i always found interesting was los feliz. LA natives seem call it "loss FEEL-es".