I really wanted Gonzo to go for the IPHR. He would have been our from me to you but it would have been fun to watch and what the hell the Dodgers were up by 5 at that point.

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.

Honestly, I hope it doesn't go bad. I'm already afraid to write anything about him, but if I can't post anything on Juan Pierre without people going off in Pavlovian fashion, that would be worse than anything he does on the field.

We won tonight. Let's all enjoy it.

I always sleep well when I've seen Seanez's cheery smile at the end of a game. Oh wait, no, that's usually Saito. Well, whatever - we won, I got to watch it on satellite TV at a bar near Kezar Stadium and see Giants fans looking morose about it (before they switched the TV to ESPN's strongest man car-pulling competition). Anyway, I'll take the win, happily. A sweep would be even nicer.

I was really hoping Gonzo would try for an inside the park home run. I love watching the Dodgers win handedly, when I am surrounded by Giant fans at the bar.

when the relay throw got away in the infield, I was also a little disappointed that he didn't try for the inside the park home run.

but I fear his transmission would have fallen out before he got to the plate.

As for a player not using a pink bat, it could be that the guy just didn't like the bat. Players are picky about such things.

If the Cardinal win, I will be most displeased and put up a piece on the Griddle slagging Mike Mussina while glorifying Mike Gallego.

1. Women's soccer lost their national semi-final game.
2. Men's soccer was defeated in the championship game.
3. Women's volleyball lost their semi-final game.
4. Men's basketball lost their semi-final game.
5. Women's gymnastics came in 4th in the "Super Six" final.

While the men's and women's golf and tennis teams will be competing in their NCAA title tournaments and at least the baseball or softball team will be in their tournaments, this water polo championship will probably be the last good chance for UCLA to win #100 during the 2006-2007 season.

Not that we still have antennas but DT would finally have Pierre's head and rule 13 could be that it is only displayed on cars leaving town.

http://techdirt.com/articles/20070511/102354.shtml

Haha. I always thought the one guy looked like Antonio Banderas.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Didn't the gay bullies steal a dresser or something in another episode, right off the street?

Those guys were really mean.

We're making a record? Cool.

You can try to bluff your way down with some story about wanting to go to something on the club level. A lot depends upon your ability to lie.

Within a section, they won't care unless you're in someone's seat or you're moving into a very expensive seat like the Diamond Club or the picnic benches.

You can try to go to the elevator, wait in a really long line and then insist you want to go eat at some place that's only open on a lower level, but I think they've gotten wise to that.

The ushers don't react well to cash inducements.

I hate it when I go to a game in a park in another part of the country where an usher takes you to your seat, wipes it off with a towel that is incredibly filthy and then demands a tip.

Yes, I'm looking at you New York City.

But I've never done that. I like the top deck. The walk up is invigorating. Actually, won't they let people who might have trouble with the climb come in at field level to take the elevator? Maybe you could affect a heart condition. . .

But I wouldn't recommend it. Have fun at the game!

Fade, then trade
The Dodgers have had a good start, but if they could, they'd probably trade for a third baseman. Dodger scouts were watching the Red Sox and Blue Jays last week. There doesn't appear to be any chance the Sox would move Mike Lowell after the hot start he's had, but the Blue Jays, given their demise, might consider parting with Troy Glaus. If the Jays fade fast, there could be a fire sale in Toronto. Glaus, who hurt his heel in Friday's game and didn't play yesterday, would appear to be a candidate for trade.

http://tinyurl.com/39vb24

Time for me to restart my love/hate relationship with Cardinal fans.

If so, you've hit the trifecta!

Of course, the Brewers announcers also asked, "How did they come up with the number six? Did they pick it out of a hat?"

I can't imagine that players today have much variation in the weight of their bats now. I wonder if the high and low differ by more than 5 oz.

Ichiro uses a twig. Bonds uses a twig.

http://tinyurl.com/35vj2x

The post isn't creepy, but coming across this thing in the park is...

On the subject of Betemit, its funny listening to the announcers praise LaRoche's ability to get on base when Betemit was doing the exact same thing, just not on such a fast clip (but without all those IBB's). I just hope LaRoche's BA stays above the Mendoza line. I'd hate to make a silly trade for a Glaus, Boone, etc and hope those are just lame rumors like trading Penny just because we have extra pitching.

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/G/Carlos-Gomez-1.shtml

"He IS A GOOD PLAYER, for Pete's sake."

He was hitting .286/.363/.414 over 140 ABs at New Orleans.

Dick Allen used a 36 oz. bat and may have been the last player to use one that heavy.

With Bonds' bat speed, if he could generate that with an even heavier bat, I'd be standing on the Oakland Pier to catch the home runs.

Schupp: Alfonso Soriano (Washington Nationals) who uses our product, he's up to a 35, very unusual. Jeff Bagwell used a 33 ounce, but it was a 33-inch bat. Most of the weights are 31 ½ or 32 ounces.

http://www.johnstrubel.com/news.asp?ItemID=333&rcid=112&pcid=78&cid=112

Furcal, SS
Pierre, CF
Nomar, 1B
Kent, 2B
Gonzo, LF
Martin, C
Betemit, 3B
Ethier, RF
Hendrickson, P

You can't smoke in the dugout in any case.

Is the issue that MLB needs to protect the public from potential drunk drivers coming out of the players' lot? Because if that's the issue, then the league should worry more about the potential 40,000 drunks in the stands than the 25 in the clubhouse and ban alcohol altogether at the venue, profits be damned. Is the issue protecting players from themselves? Because I'm always suspicious of a policy that punishes the vast, responsible majority because of a solitary fool who abuses the privilege.

Teams don't have money riding on whether Joe Sixpack (who has consumed a sixpack) in the Upper Deck has gotten tanked up and runs over a family of five in a crosswalk.

It's the moral disingenuousness of the discussion that's annoying.

But he just made an out. They'll turn on him any second now.

What kind of a thing is this, and how can it be? Or is there someone else who sounds virtually identical to Al?

Jae Seo has given up two hits, but no runs.

The word was too big and hard to spell so I couldn't get my mind around it.

Len Kasper channels Al Michael with uncanniness.

So did anyone breathalyze Plashke before he wrote this piece of moralistic dreck, maybe his editor should have. Or better yet have the piece published in the Watch Tower or some other inspirational tract as that is where we look for moral guidance, not in the LA Times.

Let's count the moralistic judgments:

1) "Yet, a couple of months ago in spring training, this same La Russa was accused of being drunk and asleep at the wheel of his car at a Jupiter, Fla., intersection."

Well Bill, La Russa stood up after the crime and admitted his mistake, took full responsibility and accepted the punishment, what else would you want? Maybe he had to wear a special funny hat for the rest of the season to remind people that he screwed up? I know, let's go Yakuza on him and cut off one of his fingers as punishment...yea that's the ticket.

2) "Hancock died after driving his car into a stationary tow truck several hours after drinking in the Cardinals' clubhouse and in a nearby bar."

Bill, ever heard of "Begging the Question", it's a debaters trick, you used it here. Hancock got 'faced at the restaurant, not in the club house, let's not even talk about the pipe and the dope, nor the fact that he was heading for a meet-up with a bunch of other players for some late night party fun and was taking on the cell phone with a young lady right as the crash happened. You want to imply that the Cardinals supplied the dope too and arranged the late night party and provided the phone number of the young lady? Bill did you go to a convent school or something or were in the priesthood back when you were a young guy, must have been.

Adults make choices all the time, Hancock and quite a few others in the past in the sport have made some bad choices, and no amount of moralizing by the likes of you will change the behavior of adults.

I have an old version of the Constitution.

Also, an inning or so back outfielder Pat Burrell gunned down a runner at the plate.

The catcher had time to pitch a tent and grill steaks before the runner arrived.

I wasn't sure such things could happen...

Yeah, that must be it. Mange must be affecting the arms of Dodger outfielders...

2. I better apologize ahead of time in case UCSB knocks UCLA out in women's softball.

It's funny how things change. A number of Dodger fans did not want to trade for Josh Beckett because they would be forced to take Lowell too. At that time I said I'd be willing to take anything to get an exceptional pitcher like Beckett. Besides it's not like we already have a third baseman...

A Troy Glaus would really improve this line-up.

However that works out--or not--something else rare is 3 straight televised Dodger games here in TN.

FSN South has picked up the Reds' feed for the entire series, since they have some fans in this area.

Unless the Dodgers play Atlanta or the Cubs they're not on very much here.

The bottom five hitters for the Padres today are batting .236, .205, .115, .208, and .000 (pitcher Justin Germano.)

http://tinyurl.com/3dauaq

109
Thanks.

he easily makes my "top 10 annoying players" list.

The only time you have to get a broom is if someone declares shenanigans.

But what was the target in the SCTV film "Maudlin's Eleven?"

I saw "Maudlin's Eleven" before I saw either version of "Ocean's Eleven."

The SCTV one is so much better than either of the theatrical ones.

I think I was about 12 or 13 when that SCTV sketch was aired.

(probably unfair and overly critical, but I have been expecting the wheels to come off his wagon since the first week of the season)

(probably unfair and overly critical, but I have been expecting the wheels to come off his wagon since the first week of the season)

Red alert.

This is no drill.

the cycle shouldn't count if he hits the single. nothing that happens at coors field should count.

they should rename it "asterisk ballpark"

i cant even figure out what you're trying to say.

dont respond, hes a troll.

are you gunna let us know what you're talking about?

It wasn't meant to be ambiguous. I was just suggesting that maybe LaRoche's presence has ignited a fire under Betemit, just as Lofton supposedly lit fires under Drew.

oh, i get it. that makes more sense now.

If the Giants keep up their pace, Lewis should get two cracks at the cycle and end the Giants cycle drought that dates all the way back to 2005.

We don't do that Oakland thing

Fernando Valenzuela?

Oh, I get it. Just like Kent lit a fire under Milton Bradley.

Maybe he read this book:

http://tinyurl.com/33e6nb

Also might help keep a former All-Star catcher in game form, sort of, since he's not used to a backup role.

Ah, what's the point?

well, really, yes he is.

Furcal's mean will likely be progressive.

He batted .287 and had an OPS of .630.

The Red Sox got six runs on three hits, three walks, and two errors.

The other four were definitely earned.

comeback in progress.

Second D4P jinx avoided. (I read the broom comment a while back.)

A Dodger home run...Huzzah!

236 My nap hand has been very strong this weekend. Watch out.

Hooray outcome!

The throw was offline.

bluto

Dr. Seuss never hung out with the Beatles and James Taylor.

De La Hoya's Ray Leonard-like ability to steal rounds in the final 10 seconds was the only thing that made it even that close.

The score would be irrelevant with a knockout. And there would be only one of those per fight.

Sheesh.

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news/trellert0707.php

[/Skinner voice]

Clean punching
Effective Aggressiveness
Ring Generalship

But like Paulie, he don't come around here no more.

I like it.

ASU won the first two games of the series 16-14 and 5-4.

*mancrush*

Its really worked out for them.

I think there will be more runs by both sides. Nothing like the last game of a Pac-10 weekend series to watch the back end of the bullpens slog it out.

A Sam that probably should have picked a different handle, as it turns out.

And then you go back to scoring two runs a game for awhile. But I'll take it right now.

I guess if someone found the dodgers Median runs scored, and compared it to their mean runs scored, that would tell you for sure.

wholesome goodness.

We did it last year, but I think it will be hard to replicate over the long term. It's not a certainty, but It's my opinion.

The Sun Devils now have a 2-game lead in the Pac 10-1 with six games left.

I've seen a lot of people compare this season to 2003. While a lot of individual games this year will remind us of 2003, there is one major difference, and that is that there aren't any .250 hitters with no power in it (see A. Cora, C. Izturis and P. Lo Duca after July). This year, everyone in the order is someone who can cause problems for the pitcher. All together, that creates a lineup that is imposing not because there is one hitter in it that dominates (a la Bonds or Pujols), but because it just keeps coming at you.

I think the Dodgers have a very solid lineup, top to bottom. They just need more power to be an elite offensive team. With the pitching depth they have, a couple of 30 homer guys, or one real masher could really make this team a World Championship team.

That's all I'm saying. I don't think it's an outlandish observation.

My point is that there's more than one way to win a championship. Whether the Dodgers' combination of elite pitching with average offense will work in this era is an open question.

But if Kemp were to play center, and you grabbed one more power hitter, the problem would be solved.

Of course, playing Kemp, benching Gonzalez, playing Loney, and packaging Nomar and Ethier for a right-fielder would solve the problem. But you and I know that isn't going to happen.

Nomar sells shirts and whatnot.

I don't think they do.

I really hope Ned Colletti doesn't think so either, because the Dodgers are really in an enviable position right now. They can deal from a position of strength. Instead of going out and getting a power hitter, we can choose to let a power hitter come to us. If Colletti comes off as desperate for a power hitter, he's going to get the short end of a bad trade.

I don't think the Dodgers should pursue a power hitter just for the sake of having a power hitter. I'd rather it be the "right" power hitter.

In addition to you in S.C., there's Terry A. in Arkansas, Cajun Dodger (Louisiana or near it), Sushirabbit and I in Middle TN, someone whose handle I think started with "I" who said he was in Memphis, and maybe some more I've left out.

D4P's in grad school in North Carolina, but I'm not sure he should count since he's a carpetbagger from out west, Oregon or someplace. ;)

It can work.
Its just I'm more sold on the Dodgers being an average offense, but not having elite pitching (at least starting pitching--with Schmidt out).

Average pitching, and average offense--thats what I fear the Dodgers will have.

Whether or not the Dodgers' pitching staff falters to above-average (with their bullpen I don't think it will be just average), it's just as likely that the Dodgers' offense will improve to above-average.

Bullpen should be great all year tho.

agreed. :)

I definitely don't count as "southern".

UCLA 4
Stanford 1

I spent this weekend in Alabama, I don't think I will be back for a long, long time.

Why won't it end? I'll tell you: MAGIC. That's right, magic is responsible. Magic is that which occurs when you assemble a team full of Veterans, Character Guys, Heart and Souls, Guys Who Know How To Win, etc. This is exactly what Ned had in mind when he put the roster together, and while some of us may have scoffed, he apparently knew what he was doing.

So to Ned, I offer my apologizes. You were right, and I was wrong.

Yea!

IN YOUR FACE...SOMEBODY!

First, the issue of when Schmidt is coming back, and how effective he will be when he does. Then there's the question of how LaRoche will do at third. Also, there's the Tomdrickson situation, I'm sure the majority opinion, as is mine, is that they (especially Hendrickson) will regress to their normal mediocrity. So if and when it does happen, will Chad Billingsley or Kuo be back in the rotation, and how will they do? Also, I have a major concern to Russell Martin. He needs to stay healthy. If not, the dodgers are done. Period. All we have from that point is Liberthal, who is barely even fit to be a back up in the big leagues at this point, and there's no one to speak of at the position in the minors. I don't know that that directly relates to trades, it might if Colleti wants to pick up some more insurance behind the plate. I wouldn't exactly like it though, because we all know how generous he can be with trades for back up catchers.

So those are just some of the issues that the dodgers have to think about in a trade. Plus, do the dodgers really want to give up anything that will probably be requested over anything but a major impact player (A-rod, Cabrera)? I don't think it would be wise to trade good value for a Glaus like player who would probably only marginally improve the team, and not offer much in the future. In any case, the dodgers are in a good position, but I think it's definitley a good idea to wait for some questions to be answered before considering any trades.

So I'm glad while I was sitting Oakland (pre-Warriors) traffic today to pick my g/f up at the airport, the Dodgers were finishing the Reds off in fine style. A perfect way of celebrating Mother's Day, with one mother of an inning and most importantly, Furcal's (pink) bat awakening, which separate from hoping for Kemp and the like to join them, is the most crucial element that's been missing lately. Great to see.

But I'm sure that you mean that their relative values at the time were not quite equal. Personally, at the time I thought it wasn't a good trade for the Reds. But looking at the past 2 years of performance (at the time of the trade), you could say that it was a worthy gamble for the Reds. They picked up a league average starter for a league average outfielder.

Arroyo ERA+ 121 98 (2004 2005)
Pena OPS+ 121 100

Granted, Wily Mo is 5 years younger so that skews his value a bit. I also think that starting pitcher is more valuable than an outfielder. So the thought process there was much better than terrible.

The only thing he gave up to acquire the above 7 players was Wily Mo.

It is not his fault that his young 3b decided that defense and hustling didn't need to be a part of his game. I've talked to Red fans who go to games and everyone has said that Encarnacion was dogging it and they had no choice to send him down to get his act together.

Wasn't he on a Futurama, too.
Nichelle Nichols: "It's about that rip in space-time that you saw!"
Stephen Hawking: "I call it a Hawking Hole."
Fry: "No fair! I saw it first!"
Stephen Hawking: "Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?"

I still think it's just an electronic impersonator.

Wow, for a game I don't care much about, the Warriors game is making me nervous.

If it's not Stephen Hawking, they couldn't use his name in the credits.

Doesn't look for the Warriors all of a sudden.

http://tinyurl.com/create.php

http://tinyurl.com/2kl2ql

"We had been searching, along with him, for anything that might get him going," Manager Grady Little said of the decision to bring Betemit off the bench. "He found something on that trip that might be just what we needed, so we'll see.... He's earned the right to play." <<<

I'm confused. Have we benched LaRoche in favor of Betemit after only six games? I guess we'll find out prior to tomorrow night's game.

http://tinyurl.com/2fzhpf

Don't be. It's called "Completely making it up as you go along, and pretending to have a concrete plan."

The Dodgers are not scheduled to face a lefthanded pitcher until Wednesday May 23rd when they finish their series with the Brewers against Chris Capuano. This means that they will face 8 righthanded starters in a row in their next three series against the Cardinals, Angels and Brewers.

In fact, the Dodgers will face, though in different order, the same three starters that they saw back in Milwaukee, Suppan, Sheets and Capuano. If the Dodgers stay with their current rotation, the Brewers will see Lowe and Wolf again, followed by Penny (instead of Jason Schmidt).

With the next two Thursdays off and also having Memorial Day off for travel, the Dodgers could adjust their rotation if they want to have some additional bullpen depth.

I see we have moved up to 9th in the NL in runs scored per game but we are 2nd in the NL West. We are also 11th in OPS and 3rd in the NL West. I am not a statistician but I think, based on only 38 games, that makes us "average" offensively.

Pitching wise all our numbers are excellent.

If our pitching holds and we get a bit of improvement at 3B and SS I like our chances of winning the West.

I also think we have the ability to withstand key injuries at least as well as most of our West opponents.

I am very optimistic about 2007.

The Dodgers have nearly identical ERAs at home (3.20) and the road (3.19).

To put that into some context, the Padres have the best ERA at home by almost an entire run at 2.18 but their road ERA is 4.24. The Mets are the opposite, home ERA is 4.44 but on the road, they are lights out at 1.92.

Arizona has the third best ERA on the road at 3.35 but it rises to 4.15 at home.

I would like to see Matt Kemp in CF but barring injury I am not optimistic.

JP's OBP (.318) has been a disappointment. His power (4XBH's) is no surprise. His SB's are about as advertised (75% success). His defense has been disappointing. He is not killing us. Sometimes he tries to ignite us. When the Marlins shut us out last week he got on base 3 times. One of those times he singled, stole 2nd and then stole 3rd. Other than stealing home I don't know what else he could have done. Other games he is silent. On average thought his OBP is below average and a #2 hitter should do better. I think Kemp could do better and play a better CF. The most depressing thing about JP though is the 5 year contract.

Penny 7-1 (5-0)
Hendrickson 4-1 (2-0)
Lowe 4-4 (3-4)
Wolf 4-4 (4-3)
Tomko 3-3 (1-3)
Schmidt 1-2 (1-2)