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
Namesakes of the world unite!
"Former Deadly Snake Andre Ethier has been invited to sing 'Oh Canada' at an upcoming Los Angeles Dodgers game," reports the Canadian website Exclaim!
The site goes on to say that the Dodgers invited the singing Andre through a message on his MySpace page - and that the answer was yes. (Dodger Stadium organist Nancy Bea Hefley plays with both hands, eliminating the need to platoon the singer.)
Ethier's publicist Amanda Newman of Little Sister Management & Publicity was nice enough to pass on the message for your reading pleasure.
"Hi Andre,
My name is Signe and I work in Public Relations with the Los Angeles Dodgers. We have come across your profile because you share a name with one of our players! We have checked out your music and would love to see if you would be available to perform O Canada here on June 9th at our game vs. the Toronto Blue Jays. Please send me an email at if this interests you at all and we can discuss all the further details. Just wanted to put it out there...thanks!"
The timing couldn't be better for the singer-songwriter as Ethier will release his third solo album this summer on Toronto-based indie label Blue Fog. The album, oddly enough, will be called On Blue Fog.
This only increases the urgency for me to cover a Wayne State baseball game.
Update: A quick quote from the aformentioned Dodger broadcasting and media services coordinator Signe Hilton:
"Our director of PR, Josh (Rawitch), had heard of this Andre Ethier and thought it would be great to have him come out and sing," Hilton said. "I got in touch with Andre (the singer) over MySpace (the only form of contact we could find for him!), inquiring whether or not he would be interested in performing 'Oh Canada' before our game, seeing as we are playing the Toronto Blue Jays, and he is from Canada himself.
"He seemed super excited about the prospect. He mentioned his friends thought it was hilarious, and I can only imagine getting an e-mail out of the blue, inviting you to sing at a major sporting event. It happened very quickly once I got a hold of him, and within a few days we were making his travel arrangements. I think it will be a lot of fun when he performs here on June 9th."
Update 2: Tom Candiotti - the actual former Dodger pitcher, not some facsimile - next month will be inducted into the Celebrities Bowling Hall of Fame, according to Bowl.com.
"Bowling remains the largest participatory sport in America, enjoyed by more than 66 million people of all ages every year. Tom embodies all that is great about bowling and his commitment and love of the game makes him an ideal ambassador and a perfect addition to the Hall of Fame," said Joe Schumacker, president of BPAA.
In Candiotti's honor, the BPAA has established the Tom Candiotti Youth Bowling Initiative to support youth bowling. The program will award grants to bowling centers and youth-focused organizations to encourage bowling among today's youth and provide them with the necessary skills to enhance the fun and competitiveness of bowling.
"Bowling has always been an important part of my life. I spent much of my youth at bowling centers, and even as my career took me to cities across the country, I always made time to bowl. I hope that through the Tom Candiotti Youth Bowling Initiative, more children will have the opportunity to fall in love with bowling like I did," said Candiotti. "Being inducted into the Hall is an incredible honor - it is surreal that I will be enshrined along with so many of my bowling idols."
"Tom's deep enthusiasm for bowling mirrors the passion shared by millions of Americans," said Gerald W. Baltz, IBMHF executive director. "His induction as a celebrity bowler recognizes his efforts to advance awareness of bowling among younger generations and it is gratifying that he is also such a skilled bowler. He has averaged above 200 for many years and just last month rolled a 729 series that included a 300 game.
Candiotti joins former National Football League great Jerome Bettis in the Celebrity Hall of Fame.
I was all, "Wait! Ethier used to be in the A's organization, not the Dbacks."
I'd settle for a Nomar Garciaparra who can hit.
That wasn't me but what did he ask and what was the response?
I am now really hoping for Terrence Jennings.
Betemit played third in the ninth.
No info on Dodgers.com on LaRoche.
I noticed he still had the space between the A and the R on the back of his uniform.
http://tinyurl.com/23g9hd
Russell Martin, it seems, will be unavailable unless he can post bail.
http://tinyurl.com/yv8ye5
And who knew Matt Kemp had such talents?
http://tinyurl.com/29vlja
For the record, I do actually find this hilarious.
I'll bet Ms. Hefley plays with both feet also. Quadrilaterodextrous?
I'm mildly surprised that Russell Martin didn't make the top 50. (No Dodgers did).
I hope that isn't defamatory?
http://tinyurl.com/34ckto
what he thinks of this guy's performance:
http://tinyurl.com/3dnrag
Russell Martin, C, Dodgers, Age 24 (NR)
Martin may have the misfortune to play most of his career in the shadow of Joe Mauer and Brian McCann, but he brings his own special skill set to the table, combining excellent defense with a phenomenal ability to get on base. The upside could resemble what might have happened if Craig Biggio had stayed at the catcher position.
The thing that slightly worries me about Martin is that a lot of his value is based on above-average speed, which can fade quickly in a catcher. Soon enough his triples will become doubles, his leg doubles will become singles, and his infield singles will become outs. Hopefully he always keeps that quickness behind the plate, and continues to develop his power.
I would assume that nearly all organists can play with both their feet since organs have foot pedals.
248. I read this morning's paper and had to get on to post that Betemit has used the word "lamentably". Lamentably I was beaten to it.
The Los Angeles Times began updating its website in real time weeks ago. So if you wait until you actually get the print edition you will always be beaten to the punch here. :-)
Dodgers, Rockies, Reds, Rangers, A's
Teams that got 3 or more on the list:
Devil Rays, Phillies (4), Twins(4), Angels, Indians (4), Yankees (4) and Mets
Including Honorable mentions:
Devil Rays (5)
Diamond Backs (4)
Tigers (4)
Red Sox (3)
Marlins (3)
Cubs (3)
The Reds were the only team not to even have an honorable mention.
Big Papi on steroids...I'm shocked.
Or not.
What do you think of Papi's Hall of Fame chances? In his favor: decent shot at 500 HR (he has 239 and he is 31 and a DH) and his rate stats .375 OBP and .551 SLG are good enough. On the other hand, he started late and he's a DH.
Manny Ramirez has a better chance IMO.
Konerko was traded WITH Reyes for Shaw.
Konerko finished the year with the Reds who traded him in the offseason for Mike Cameron, straight-up. (Cameron part of the Griffey Jr. trade a year later.)
Konerko has 120+ OPS+ for his first, third and fourth seasons with the Sox, so he was good for them from the get-go.
Shaw had 150+ ERA+ after the trade and the next season. Gave up too many HRs as a Dodger though.
His best years were still as a DH. He could never stay healthy playing defense.
Furcal, SS
Pierre, CF
Nomar, 1B
Kent, 2B
Gonzo, LF
Martin, C
Ethier, RF
LaRoche, 3B
Hendrickson, P
We must be sure not to say the "d word" about Hendrickson today or else we will incur regairfield's ire.
Urgh.....
I'm betting there's more than one but they are in sports less visible than the answer sought.
Eventually Mark Hendrickson will have a plaque in Cooperstown AND a stained glass thingee in Springfield!
56. Nope.
That was the last time (and only when Aaron played Mays did it happen) when two players with over 600 career home runs played in the same game and their total home runs (Aaron hit is 698th home run that day) and Mays, who would only hit two more home runs in his career, had 658 career home runs. Their total of 1354 home runs is the most by two players in who played in the same game.
In 1976, Both Aaron and Frank Robinson playing in their final season, played against each other that August, though they did not know it, they had already hit their last home runs but their total of 1341 homers is the second highest for two players in the same game.
This July, if both Bonds and Griffey are healthy and play in one of their scheduled games, they will become the third pair two have over 1300 home runs in one game. Right now, Bonds with 744 and Griffey with 567, have 1311 home runs between them. And with a series scheduled in September at Pac Bell, it is possible that they will have more home runs than when Aaron and Mays played their last game together.
Anyhow, this is totally off topic, but I noticed something today that I thought was somewhat interesting. I do not mean this to be a political comment at all, although it involves President Bush. In the paper today, they printed the guest list for the state dinner with Queen Elizabeth. Along with the usual statespersons, politicians, business leaders, and entertainers, there was the jockey who won the Kentucky Derby, Arnold Palmer, Peyton Manning, Gene Washington (director of football operations for the NFL and apparently Condi's date), and another football player, Tim Hasselbeck (who is married to The View's Elisabeth Hasselbeck). Putting aside the question of why they invited professional athletes to meet the Queen of England, how come no baseball legends? Can you imagine Yogi Berra meeting the Queen? Pete Rose? Tommy?
http://tinyurl.com/2vrn36 (youtube)
I thought this was a knowledgable group.
"At NBC's "upfront" presentation to advertisers on May 14, Zucker says he expects NBC to unveil five new programs - three dramas, one comedy, and one reality show - for its fall schedule. Zucker and Reilly are considering stretching The Office to an hour and canceling the original Law & Order."
That would be awesome.
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/05/14/100008738/index2.htm
The Office may move to Thursday's at 9 (against the juggernaut of "CSI" and "Grey's Anatomy").
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117964159.html?categoryId=14&cs=1
I have a seriuos non-sexual man crush on Sam Waterston as Jack McCoy.
That show has really gone down hill since Jerry Orbach died.
Am I the only one who likes 30 Rock, and what will happen to it in NBC's Thursday shuffle (Variety article wouldn't load for some reason)? Anyways, 30 Rock is funny enough to justify much of Alec Baldwin's earlier career.
Since Jon probably won't like the way you phrased that question, I'll answer on his behalf. He likes it, though he also likes Becker, so take that for what it's worth...
There are momments in that show (and I have no idea when they are coming, just like in baseball) where I laugh out loud, cover my eyes, squirm in my seat and have my jaw dropped cause I don't know how else to react. Sometime all from the same line.
Since the old Rule 13 is gone, the new Rule 13 can be don't tell fibs about Jon liking Becker.
Ah, the Juan Pierre Fallacy...
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/S/Jeff-Samardzija.shtml
I'm surprised Babe Didrikson Zaharias isn't in two Halls of Fame. I was sure she was.
Anyway, if L&O is to go on, it needs a breath of fresh air. They should get rid of Fred Thompson whether or not he runs for president, and try to bring back Richard Brooks (who played Paul Robinette) as the new DA. Also, the female ADAs since Carey Lowell left have been mediocre.
They should also fire their writing staff, which depends too much on "ripped from the headlines" storylines and doesn't delve into the legal intricacies, twists, and turns as much as the show did in its golden years, 1995-1999.
Jesse L. Martin is great and should be kept, but I'm not sold on his new partner. McCoy's current assistant is, to borrow a phrase, a rosebush.
If the show gets cancelled, it will leave a huge void in legal dramas, but with how tired the show has gotten, a cancellation may be warranted. Maybe I'll write a pilot and try to fill the void.
I'll leave the Freaks and Geeks rants to the +40 crowd. They seem to appreciate it on a much deeper level.
Am I the only one who thinks someone is crazy if they think they are the only one who likes 30 Rock?
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=485
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countdown_(game_show)
You think they should get rid of Thompson? I think him, Waterston, Markerson, and Martin carry the show.
The show is really suffering from the rapid turnover in recent years. Orbach died, Farina was on only a few years. They fired/killed off two ADAs in 3 seasons. I thought Elizibeth Rohm's character was interesting. She was on the complete opposite of the political spectrum from Thompson's character.
They should bring Chris Noth back to partner with Martin, and find an assisstant to Waterston with some personality.
L&O reruns on TNT are great, but they don't show enough of the older episodes, and newer shoes such as The Closer are getting air time.
Greg, why does one have to be over 40 to appreciate Freaks and Geeks? I'm under 40 (okay, only 3 yrs under, but still...) But I'd already ranted about its departure for like 2 years straight so I'm burned out on the topic. (I do want to see Jake Kasdan's movie "The TV Set" though..)
Also, what Jason said: Fishing has a Hall of Fame?
Back to baseball, glad to see LaRoche back in there, meaning he wasn't too badly harmed by the stinger yesterday.
Back to... work. Sigh.
The sooner Law & Order dies, the better. It's done. Like the Simpsons.
I loved Freaks and Geeks and also happen to be firmly planted in the -40 crowd
Ha Ha. That goes back to an exchange the esteemed Mr. Timmermann and I had a few months ago about F&G, when I watched it for the first time. I was told something to that effect.
I always give the "deeper level" caveat with F&G out of deference to the geezers around here.
And I can't watch the Office since I got behind on Season 3. I'm waiting for Season 3 to start over so they'll be "new to me".
It seems the rest of the people I know either dont watch TV or dont watch good TV.
Where I live (Santa Barbara) only the 2 or 3 FSN Prime Ticket games come in HD. We do get regular KCAL 9 on cable (Cox Cable) but not ("yet") KCAL HD. (And DirectTV doesn't carry KCAL at all here, so I'd miss 50 Dodger games if I switched to it - not an option.)
I'm quite distressed. The Cable TV guy said "that's just how it is: the DVR box/receiver gets bad compression (or something) for Standard Def on LCD and Plasma TVs."
I've tried fiddling with all the settings (brightness, contrast, etc.) and both "Component" and HDMI connections. Nothing helps.
Does anyone have any experience with anything that can help here? I'm really put out by the fact that the 95% of TV-watching I do, including Dodgers, that is non-HD is so much worse than on my old cheapo CRT box.
D'Onofrio is great on "Law and Order: The Other One" but I don't catch it very often.
With Anderson's injury, the Dodgers are down to Betemit if he sits out as the sole LH bat on the bench and while I still think he could be better served to play everyday, James Loney should come up for that spot.
Larry Bigbie is probably better suited for the role but then the Dodgers would have 4 LH outfielders who cannot play any other positions. With Loney, while he still would get very few at bats, I think he would at least get some at bats at 1B since Grady seems to consider Olmedo (and rightfully so in some respect) as a high leverage situational pinch hitter.
He also could get some ABs in OF but not that many and of course some PH at bats.
A simple way to prove this is to set up a progressive scan DVD player on your new TV and play a DVD, if the DVD looks as bad as the SD signal then its your TV if not then its your box.
Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.