I remember belatedly learning to appreciate Jerry when Ross Porter was hired.

Of course, no one compares favorably with Vin…

I liked Ross and he had a heck of voice for announcing and calling games.

What was the true deal with his departure?

Stark takes some very bold stands in the book, calling attention to underrated, overlooked no-name players like Hank Greenberg, Yogi Berra, Rogers Hornsby and Babe Ruth. It's quite the work of baseball scholarship.

Four tix, first game with the wife. Full report tonight. Thank you Bob T, thank you Toy Cannon and no, I'm not going to thank the Florida Gators.

Given that, he seemed like a real class guy and you could tell when he handled Dodger Talk. When McCourt hung him out to dry it really turned me against McCourt. He was a loyal guy for 25 years or so and even if he wasn't the greatest announcer not letting him know that you are dumping him until after the year was in poor taste. The whole thing was so poorly handled, I've never fully forgiven McCourt. The O'Malley's would never have botched something like so badly.

He really called Babe Ruth overlooked????

E-Mail me at barkin.daniel37@gmail.com if interested.

5 If one more--one more--person talks about Koufax being overrated, I'm not going to be responsible for my actions. The only reason why people think Sandy is overrated is because he was virtually unhittable at Dodger Stadium and a little bit hittable on the road. Therefore, Dodger Stadium made Sandy Koufax.

Everyone who played against him said he was the best. Everyone who saw him said the same thing. Koufax overrated? Compared to what? Walter Johnson? I mean... I don't get it, I really don't.

Many a summer evening were spent sitting in the backyard listening to them.

They were great memories and a big part of why I am still a Dodger fan.

I had wondered what happened to Jerry. Thanks for the report.

or not hire one Vlad Guerrero.

Look for my review of Dave Winfield's book soon. It's a quick read and mostly devoid of substance. Tim Kurkjian's book is ready as is Eig's book on Jackie Robinson and Posnanski's book on Buck O'Neil.

Braden Looper vs. Chris Young in the STL-SD matchup.

10
Say hi to Manny who will be sitting in front of you. He and his girlfriend are also HS teachers. He's an assistant Varsity baseball coach and played in the KC Low minors. He played with Lance Carter and disliked him so we know he has good taste.

10 His argument against Koufax was based on the six crummy seasons he turned in before Sandy flipped the switch in 1961.

>>> "We're supposed to move (Abreu) around," Bundy said. "He's very comfortable at second and short, and he's getting a lot better at third. He's a natural middle infielder." <<<

http://www.lvrj.com/sports/7476012.html

True. However, those people are dead wrong. Koufax's five-year run pales in comparison to what Pedro Martinez or even Randy Johnson did. There's not really a legitimate way to argue that Koufax was the most dominating pitcher ever.

at bats 24
hits 9
home runs 3
on base %917
slugging 444
batting average .375

Of all the Dodger announcers, I would place only Don Drysdale (and Vin of course) above Doggett. Drysdale's call of the Gibson home run is still my favorite, although it is rarely played.

There used to be a Dodger site that you could download old radio clips including Gibson's home run and Monday's homer in 81 against the Expos that Jerry Doggett called. They brought back a lot of good memories. Not sure if there is anywhere now that you could possibly get them from though.

Who is Lon Simmons?

True. However, those people are dead wrong. Koufax's five-year run pales in comparison to what Pedro Martinez or the Johnson brothers (Walter and Randy) did, to name just three. There's not really a legitimate way to argue that Koufax had the most dominating five-year run ever.

I love Koufax and am grateful for the championships he brought us, but his actual record leaves little doubt that he is one of the most overrated pitchers of all time. What's funny about that is that his so-called "lousy" years are actually *under*rated by most people. It's not like he was terrible before 1961; he was average or slightly better.

(By the way, I'm grateful for the posting of the Doggett article, but there's just no way I can make these eyes read that teeny print.)

abreu isnt a long term player at 3b.

and frankly, i dont really think his numbers warrant a callup right now. His XBHs have regressed lately and he still needs to work on that k/bb ratio.

usually if heights are going to be embellished, players are going to be listed taller then they really are. In abreu's case, his height is pretty accurate. although he is short, he has alot of muscle on him with pretty decent batspeed. So hes going to be a doubles/gap to gap hitter.

Which is why I don't really understand why he is playing there. Let him play 2nd or SS. I don't think this experiment of putting prospects in positions they are totally unsuited for when they play a more important position just fine is very smart long term. I think it only takes away from their development after a while.

I am okay with Loney trying out the outfield once in a while to see if he has some natural talent there (it appears he doesn't), but forget it with LaRoche and Abreu at 3rd.

the most simple explanation relates all the way back to Colletti and his paranoia of limited depth. He wants a backup plan for plan A, a back up plan for that back up plan, and so on and so on.

He's just trying to hedge his bets in the situation where Laroche suffers a Kouzmanoff type beginning to his major league career.

nice post. 54 i like the way you think.

May need Abreu to take over at 2nd next year first. That seems more natural and necessary to me.

I know Colletti is doing this for depth reasons. I still don't like it. It just shows you, he is not into developing players long term as much as he should be.

Now Kuo is going back to the bullpen in the minors and Bills is already there. It all seems wrong to me. How about Kuo starting and Tomko going back to the bullpen?

1). Sandy Koufax
2). Pedro Martinez
3). Randy Johnson

My choice would be Sandy Koufax.

Well, the way Kent has been getting ABs, his 2008 option is going to automatically vest. If it doesnt or he wants to retire or something, Wilson Betemit could be an option at 2b.

Me too, although statistically Johnson and Martinez are right there, especially considering they pitched in a more hitter friendly era. Koufax was on 4 world champs, compared to 1 each for Martinez and Johnson, although that is a very unfair stat to say the least. I'd still go with Koufax, although I'd admit I am biased.

I wonder why Betemit never gets any time at 2nd now to rest Kent. I'd rather see him there than Martinez, especially since he is replacing Kent, probably our biggest power threat. If LaRoche keeps working out, hopefully we see Wilson at 2nd on a spot start basis.

If I knew more about the internet/baseball I would start up www.firenedcolletti.com.

The intriguing guy was the starting pitcher, James McDonald. He seemed to be throwing fairly hard (92 or so) and had a pretty wicked slurve (more slider than curve). All I've found on him is that he's a semi-prospect and was originally drafted as a 1B. Nate, Canuck, any info on this guy?

In LA Times

66

You are right it is not the end of the world, but I am sure he still has things to work on at 2nd. He'll probably never be a major league 3B other than a fill-in or emergency guy, besides don't we need power at that spot. If not there, then where are we ever going to get some power?

you're right that he is a semi prospect. the only thing holding him back in the eyes of most prospect watchers is that hes been a tad old for his league. If he continues his success in the CAL league and if the dodgers promote him midseason to AA and his continues his success there, then we can start talking about him becoming a legit major league pitcher. He has transitioned really well to the mound though and the Ks are outstanding to see.

>>> Hong-Chih Kuo will make his first relief appearance at Las Vegas today. The left-hander has made three starts there since recovering from a shoulder injury, but the Dodgers want him to move to the bullpen temporarily to become an option when they go to 12 pitchers <<<

http://tinyurl.com/2v64xh

My body feels a lot better.

Ah, yes...another Timmermann nap update.

Bob getting his beauty sleep & feels allot better now.

Cards lead 5-0.

My typing hasn't woken up.

Hehehehehe.

But it was a really, really good pop-up.

That was nice.

1B: Poor
2B: Good
SS: Terrible
3B: Terrible
LF: Mediocre
CF: Terrible
RF: Mediocre
C: Very good

We have one good hitter and one very good hitter, and that's it. I just don't get it.

http://tinyurl.com/272ksy

Is your home visible?

Besides, hitting the opposition with a shotgun blast lacks the grace and subtlety of the Dodger Death of a Thousand Cuts.

ps the bases would have to be empty though.

"Nationals' history" being a term of some controversy, of course.

Plus, he has a good downward plane on the ball, which negates some of the straightness as far as the batter's concerned.

Don't forget his nap updates.

I'm waving, but it's overcast this morning so I don't think you can see me. You can see my apartment though. If you triangulate points "C" and "D" to the west, you'll end up at a dog-leg in the road. My apartment is next to the dog-leg, to the east. (It's a 1/4 inch east of the light brown snake like image on the map.)

I'll streak across Dodger Stadium if that happens.

Although Juan Pierre is tied with Omar Vizquel and Corey Patterson for most sacrifices by non-pitchers with 5!

I gather our 6 runs were not a power explosion.

I'm waving. The sky is overcast, however, so I don't think you can see me. You can see my apartment, though. If you triangulate points "c" and "d" to the west, you'll find a dog-leg in the road. My apartment is above the dog-leg, to the east. (It's about 1/4 inch away from the head of the light brown snake-like image on the map.)

You should put up a big Sandy Koufax picture on your roof for the next time the satellite passes by.

I'm in a deva-vu warp.

1) No Odalis Perez
2) JD Drew will not go 0-5 for either team

A list of the top 25 NLers in AB's (not PA's) in 2006 reveals that JP has the 2nd lowest OBP among them. Jeff Franceour was lowest although he has rebounded this year.

How was that?

But I disagree. If you walk the pitcher with the bases loaded and two outs, that's Grabowski principle territory.

A Dodger-blue poster would stand out better. Now that's a thought.

Box score says zero extra base hits. We had one yesterday, and that was Nomar's Texas Leaguer off Phillips's glove down the first base line.

Zero XBH's. Jeebus.

A real walk!
- L. Gonzalez singled to left, J. Kent to second

A decent hit

- R. Martin struck out swinging
D'oh!

- A. Ethier grounded out to first, J. Kent to third, L. Gonzalez to second
D'oh!

- A. LaRoche intentionally walked
URGH!

- B. Penny walked, J. Kent scored, L. Gonzalez to third, A. LaRoche to second

Woo hoo!

- R. Furcal singled to shortstop, L. Gonzalez scored, A. LaRoche to third, B. Penny to second

OK, that went about 80 feet

- J. Pierre singled to center, B. Penny and A. LaRoche scored, R. Furcal to third

That went about 140 feet

- N. Garciaparra singled to right, R. Furcal scored, J. Pierre to third

A real hit!

- J. Kent struck out looking

D'oh!

i think you took a record nap during the 17 inning marathon didn't you Bob? it's like you were there & then you were not.

Phoenix is a good park for triples.

Those are some pretty demonic numbers.

I find that reading the internet and driving at the same time are bad ideas.

Davis didn't play until the seventh game of the year. Ken Phelps was the Opening Day first baseman for the Mariners that year.

Jennifer Marie Nordin was married to Srinivasan Soundararajan yesterday in Minneapolis. The Rev. Daniel C. Nordin, an uncle of the bride and a Lutheran minister, performed the ceremony at Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church.

Ms. Nordin, who is 38 and will keep her name...

I'm sure the groom is a nice guy, but the bride has justification.

He was a "can't miss" before he went insane.

I am glad to see him back on track, even if that play in center wasn't the most graceful or intelligent thing I have ever seen.

It does seem kind of ridiculous to even make those three bat.

Or maybe we'll get Nook Logan to pinch hit.

Does anyone know the record for most consecutive innings pitched without allowing a homer?

Controversy abounds.

angel hernandez has been behind the plate all night, and nothing totally insane has happened.

Just saying.

I really don't want Saito getting in this game. Or Broxton either. Let them rest.

184 I want to get into this contest. I'm not great at naps, but I need to be--Itry to nap after dinner and wake up for the D's game on the west coast.

Oh no. Job may be too clever. I thought Biemel could handle it but Grady is going out. I bet he knows the bible. And I hope Rudy does.

Or his ERA caught up to his peripherals. Whatever. The bullpen did its job, though.

The longest streak without giving up a homer since then is 269 innings over 178 games by Greg Minton from 6/1/79 to 5/1/82.

Penny's ERA is 1.39 after 50ip of work.
The way he's doing it--limited K's but no home runs--is perplexing. Will it continue? Its like he's throwing every game as if its the 2006 All Star Game. Straight hard fastballs that no one can seem to get around on.

Knock on wood--but his arm problems appear behind him. This is a pretty long stretch of sustained high velocity for him. With RJ's career winding down, Penny could be considered the hardest throwing starter in the major leagues.

251 I think Penny, Martin and Saito are going. It was a topic of discussion in the stands.

1) It was beachball night at Dodger Stadium.

2) We scored five runs in an inning and the Cincinnatti outfield didn't have to turn around, not once.

3) I don't mean to harp, but Juan Pierre would swing at his own shadow.

4) I'm sure you all caught Josh Hamilton stepping on his own glove. I've never seen that before.

5) Line of the night by Mrs. SB: "Honey? Wouldn't the team be better off with people who can hit the ball a little farther?"

A fun night. It always is when the Dodgers win.

I guess the other teams assume he uses some sort of strategery. I think it's like the idea that to be effective with monetary policy the Fed has to confuse people occasionally so that inflation isn't anticipated.

At the same time, though, it's strange to compare Penny to Ben Bernanke.

Fernando Valenzuela started the 1981 season with 63 homerless innings.

No.

Valenzuela's streak was ended by, who else? Chris Speier!

I took the Golden State, the 5 for those who use numbers, Stadium exit, which meant a nice bumper to bumper drive and eventually parking in the last row in the lot.

But I was fortunate that there was a fireworks show that I did not stay to watch so I was able to see Sammy strike out Castro and still exit and get home just as the post game show was ending.

Zimmerman hits a walk-off grand slam in the 9th off of Jorge Julio.

The game was 2:59 with 3:38 in delays.

I saw Gonzo's triple which made me chuckle for some reason, but good to see a solid hit.

Then I just caught this observation from Rotoworld, for what it's worth:
"Luis Gonzalez went 3-for-3 with a triple and three runs scored Saturday versus the Reds.
Gonzalez had been in an 0-for-13 slump. In truth, he hadn't done much of anything since the first couple of weeks of the season, and we're still wondering if the Dodgers would be better off with Matt Kemp or James Loney in left field. May. 13 - 1:21 am et"

Nice size crowd tonight. Not too crowded and the in and out was relativily painless.

I even liked the hats--distressed and all. Plus unlike years past, this hat fits my big mellon head.

One of Doggett's quirks--and it was probably because of being a baseball fanatic--was he would be so excited to get the words out so quick that he would erringly say something like, "That ball is out of here....Check that, it's caught in short center field by Davis..." He used, "Check that" a lot!

Still he was a Dodger just as much as the rest of them were. At least to me he was.

In retirement, I'm told he shied away from baseball in public, but never stopped being a fan, more specifically a Dodger fan. He lived about two miles from me in Fairway Village, just above Fullerton Golf Course, and when news came that he had passed-away, it was like losing a friend even though I never had the good opportunity to meet him in person. But when you grow-up listening to these voices on the radio every night, they almost become family. You know, just like Woody Allen in Radio Days.