Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
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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
While so many people cursed Saturday night's left-on-base extravaganza, I felt energized. Of course, I wanted that one more hit that would have put the Dodgers to victory, but all the garment-rending after the game missed the point.
Clutch hitting comes and goes like good fortune. The real significance of Saturday's game was the Dodgers were pounding out baserunner after baserunner. Starting five players called up from the minors since May 2006, the Dodgers got 21 men on base against a worthy opponent, Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir. The Devil Rays needed to throw 173 pitches to get their win.
James Loney, in what could be called an emergency start, reached base three times and hit line-drive outs in his other two at-bats. For the second time this season, he had a huge extra-base hit against a name lefthander. After getting a single, a double and a walk, Andre Ethier is now OPSing .891 for the month.
If Dodger fans are fortunate enough to actually be in the position to complain about .435-hitting Matt Kemp swinging at a 2-0 pitch and hitting the ball hard, but right at the third baseman, for a double play, that's a great place to be. As Kemp showed with his eight-pitch, ninth-inning walk, it's not as if he's lacking for discipline.
Last year, the Dodgers made the playoffs despite tying a Los Angeles record for runners left on base: 1,223, or 7.5 per game. The LOB weren't a sign of some organizational failing - they were a sign that the Dodgers were getting opportunities to score. That's what matters. Of course you want to cash in every opportunity, but that's not possible. Sometimes, you're going to have games like Saturday's. But the point is for the Dodgers to get as many chances as you can - especially when they don't have much home-run power. Saturday was a good sign.
When the Dodger bullpen collapsed against the Padres in April 2006 and blew a huge lead, that was a moment of true despair. Eric Gagne was hurt; Takashi Saito hadn't emerged yet. Key members of the bullpen included Danys Baez, Lance Carter and Tim Hamulack. It was truly hard to know how the Dodgers were going to get through the season. Lucklily for the Dodgers, Saito was a gift from the gods - I still can't quite wrap my head around our good fortune when it comes to him.
So this year, when the Dodgers blew a big ninth-inning lead to San Diego, it was a different story. Saito couldn't pitch that night, but it was only temporary, and we knew he would come back soon to help. Jonathan Broxton had a bad outing, but by this time you could be confident it was an aberration. If anything, the loss raised concerns about the Dodger defense, which allowed three Padres to reach base on infield grounders, but we also knew that better defense was coming up through the minors.
Some bad losses are truly ominous. The collapse against San Diego was not. And the loss to Tampa Bay was not.
I have no trouble pointing out when the Dodgers look in bad shape. If the Dodgers weren't getting people on base and yet were stubborn about making changes that could help, that's the sign of a train going off the tracks. But Saturday night was more a case of the little engine that could - but just didn't quite happen to do so. Of course, Loney and Kemp aren't going to keep hitting .400, and when they each go 0 for 4, we can rue not getting the win Saturday. (On the other hand, we might just steal a victory that day. That's baseball.)
The offensive potential that the new blood represents remains exhilarating. I find it impossible to feel anything but excited about the Dodgers this morning.
* * *
Today's game:
Noteworthy from today's lineup: You can all exult: Russell Martin is the DH. Watch him steal five bases today. Jeff Kent is resting, which puts Wilson Betemit and Tony Abreu in the lineup. Nomar Garciaparra is still sick, according to Josh Rawitch, so Loney is back at first base, with Kemp in right field. But Ethier will shuttle out for Luis Gonzalez, because the Juan Pierre Rubicon still intimidates.
It's going to be hard for me to root against ex-Dodger Edwin Jackson, who starts for Tampa Bay today. My allegiance to the Dodgers comes first and I'll be rooting for them to get on base with each plate appearance, but it'll hurt if Jackson struggles. But you can't assume that he'll struggle, because, after all, doesn't it seem like the Dodgers would be the one team he would do well against?
Meanwhile, Hong-Chih Kuo will hopefully get back on the winning path.
4 - Nomar can barely field first base at this point, it appears.
hit the nail right on the head on how it will feel, if anything he'll leave the game tide up & we'll get to the D-Rays bullpen.
Ex-Dodgers have always been a thorn in the side of this team. Oh, and Matt Stairs. Nghh...
It may be up to Nomar to ask to play third otherwise hs has been beat out of his position at first, just as Pierre is the fourth best outfielder now playing for the Dodgers.
Pierre, CF
Martin, DH
Gonzo, LF
Loney, 1B
Kemp, RF
Betemit, 3B
Lieberthal, C
Abreu, 2B
Kuo, P
Nomar's expected BABIP fx(LD%): .309
Sadly, that's no longer true. Nomar used to be a better hitter than Betemit is now. But not any more. When a slump is this deep, and lasts for a full year (as it has, since last year's ASB), and is not obviously a result of bad luck, it's time to update our assessment of Nomar's hitting ability.
Just as it's fair to say that the silver lining was that the Dodgers put all those guys on base, that they put themselves in a position to win over and over, it's also fair to point out that the team's inability to hit home runs really showed up yesterday. TB scored two runs on two swings. The Dodgers NEED clutch hitting to win, because long sequences are their only realistic chance. So yes, it comes and goes, but the team's reliance on it is a weakness.
Go Dodgers
vr, Xei
xeifrank@yahoo.com
http://eteamz.active.com/cpba/
I can only watch the games on Gameday so I may be overlooking some things. However, when Furcal led off the top of the 8th with a bunt hit, how come he couldn't steal second? I think Pierre even made a bunt attempt before he lined into a double play. Martin then came up, singled and stole second on the first pitch to Kent. If he can do it, how come the lead off hitter can't?
We needed to have Furcal on second with no outs and Pierre at the plate. Then, maybe his lineout at first is down the line (no one holding Furcal on base). At the very least, Pierre can move him to third where he can score on a sac fly. If Furcal can't steal becasue of his ankle, maybe he shouldn't be hitting lead off.
Why do we set a place for Pierre at the table?
I believe the correct answer has to do with bitter herbs.
If a long term contract for too much money makes someone a "gamer" who deserves to play, then we should cart Jason Schmidt's shoulder out there.
In Brando voice: "The maror... the maror..."
(Okay, I know they're not pronounced exactly the same, just go with it.)
Drat, I have to play soccer at 11. Good luck Dodgers! I may wait til it's archived on MLBTV later to watch it...
I bet the shoulder would have a higher OPS than Nomar. :-)
It could probably cover first better on a ground ball too!
I am currently ignorant of Antonio Perez's current doings in MLB, but based on Milton Bradley's current DFA I would say the Dodgers got the better end of the trade.
I went on record here stating that Beane stole one from LA, I am currently under the persuasion that I was wrong.
That could change however. :-)
You mean the Orioles would want BOTH Corey Patterson AND Juan Pierre?
Hey, supermanager Jim Tracy is still in Pittsburgh. And you know how much he likes those "underrated" players that Pierre.
You might be on to something. Maybe we could get Jason Bay, who is obviously too defensively challenged for Tracy to stand.
:-)
today, so i'll be watching the full game today.
On the other hand...why didn't Ned just sign Dave Roberts!....made so much more sense....
or Kenny Lofton as a one year bridge to a free agent or one of the kids.
And Roberts gets hurt.
And throws about as well.
Yet, Roberts seems to bank more goodwill for the 2004 Red Sox than Pierre gets for the 2003 Marlins.
Raise your hand if you'd take EJack back right now for Hendrickson?
I'm glad Lofton is gone...his D was just too horrible...
I swear to god, if Pierre forces Furcal at second here....
Nah, if Nomar had hit it he would have rolled weakly to SS. The 1B grabbed it.
Coincidentally, Abreu swung and missed at it.
As a displaced Dodger fan in Florida, I went to last night's game. Some observations:
- The pre-game Zimmer festivities were interesting. There were taped interviews from Vin Scully and Tom Lasorda about their time with Zimmer. Vinny was his usual self, telling an old story about Zimmer from his days as a minor leaguer trying to make the team in Vero. Tommy told an odd, and probably inappropriate, story about a joke involving Zimmer's sex life. Duke Snider, Carl Erskine, Johnny Podres, and Zimmer threw out the first pitches to Zimmer's son and grandsons.
- Lots of Dodger fans in attendance, and a lot of them wearing Brooklyn stuff. It seemed like they promoted this night for quite a while - I just went because I had the night free and I don't get a chance to see the Dodgers much.
- The Turn Back the Clock theme involved everything at the stadium - the music, the announcers, the scoreboards. I don't know how much you guys got to see on TV, but the scoreboards said Brooklyn and St. Petersburg, and the announcer would say things like "now batting for Brooklyn, right fielder Matt Kemp." They had graphics for the Devil Rays players when they would come up where their faces were photoshopped into old 50's stars, like Carl Crawford as Little Richie and Carlos Pena as Ricci Riccardo. All in all it was pretty entertaining.
- I noticed a few people comment in yesterday's game thread that Tropicana seemed quiet. The Rays fans actually made a lot of noise, especially in the 9th. There were plenty of fans there that seemed genuinely passionate about the Rays.
- The Rays fans HATE their bullpen. As soon as Kazmir was taken out, the crowd let out a collective groan when Witasick came in. Lots of fans I was sitting around were saying how the game was over now that the bullpen was in.
Just want to say that this is an awesome site for a Dodger fan outside of California. I don't always have the time to read the comments, but when I do, they are always entertaining.
It's the Touch Tank.
I almost did!
Apparently they sent the Ray Whisperer in to get the ball.
I got nothing.
79 someone apparently couldn't resist!:0)
http://tinyurl.com/388wlg
Here again, he looked terrible - trying to pull a pitch that he shouldn't even swing at.
Can anyone tell me how he has been handling that pitch during his hot streak this week?
Sorry.....
Precisely.
some colletti quotes on the Minotaur's performance from last night.
(insert Pierre jokes here)
just read the article, really encouraging but you really gotta think he's around 93-96 you think they'll promote him Nate?
i'd take my chances with our 3rd basemen, i haven't seen much of the Wigginton guy but that's just the way i feel.
It's Tomkoish.
And yet no Ball 4 counts.
Actually, I have to box the ears by proxy. Or I will have my ears boxed.
But I will never make say Mitch Jones is a bad fielder again.
Giving up outs left and right.
He probably got a little spooked. Bisons spook easily.
Tell your old man to try and drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 40 minutes.
i saw him go up the middle & to right field quit a few times in the dominican, he (imo) only needs to lay of the breaking stuff away.
Thats at least 14 straight innings of having a runner on every inning.
dont give away anymore outs, please!
Thats 17 straight innings of a runner reaching base. I wonder what the record is?
Gonzo swinging 3-0 was a killer that inning.
RIP
38
wow, my heart sank reading your post, i can't believe there hasn't been anything about his death.
RIP.
two hands!!!
Gotta hang onto that ball.
The one good throw Gonzo makes all year, and still cant get him.
Nice block Lieberthal.
He [Nomar] wasn't in the starting lineup, but Little didn't rule out using him as an offensive weapon should the situation arise.
My question: Is there a situation in which Nomar would be considered an "offensive weapon"? Just wondering . . .
then despair...
Sheesh.
This is one tough crowd.
Garciaparra isn't the only one affected by the illness, his teammates may unknowingly be suffering as well.
That ranks right up there with the stat I once read about 2,000,000 people being affected with a certain disease but unaware of it. If they are unaware then how do we know there are two million of them?
I love getting a good laugh.
I missed the best quote of all:
"I prefer to try to win the game," Little said. "If he [Nomar] feels like doing something to help us win the game, then we can use him."
Gophers Beware!!!!
Sometimes the only way to cope is to find the humor in things.
nice call dena.
all we can hope for is a BoSox victory so we can be o.k. in the standings.
Gophers beware!!
What happened. Never mind, I can see Biemel really poured the gas for one thing.
At least it wasn't that bad a start for Kuo.
Loney's home run is good news for the gophers.
The guy just said Scott has a 50% chance of getting a call right.
So glad they didn't job him on that.
Kemp is just trying to show he can play like Juan Pierre if needed.
i hope he doesn't "run base like juan pierre" cause that might put him in dukes territory.
That approach should score him points with Flanders and Little. :-)
After all, Pierre is a "gamer" . . .
Why should the GM be ashamed?
Littlle to shout about besides Gonzo's homer
Not only does it demonstrate poor spelling, it tells us that Gonzo's homers are worth shouting about but not Loney's.
I think there is a deeper message here. :-)
Bad news for the gophers. 237
LaRoache is on Las Vegas' 7-day disabled list. It was reported last week that he has a sore shoulder.
http://tinyurl.com/2xr3fr
Old friend Joel Guzman was the DH and went 1 for 3 with a sac fly, though he also struck out with the bases loaded.
The Bulls' position players all wear high socks.
"Don't put it on your glove; that's the first thing the umpires are going to want," he said. "And don't put it on your hat, because that's the next thing. And by the time they look at your glove and your hat, you should have it wiped off."
http://tinyurl.com/2vs2hq
http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/shareit/g8JV
His high was 5 (1960) and he lost 3 straight in 1965 at the end of August and beginning of September.
For Troy Glaus ...
>>> The Jays could ask the Padres for Chase Headley, the Dodgers for Andy LaRoche, the Angels for Brandon Wood. <<<
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6955650
As for your delight on LOB. Yes and no.
Some guys (and some very good teams with very good runs have been blessed with a few at a time) have the gift (the steely guys)
to stay calm, increase focus and maintain or increase production when more is on the line. Dodgers have some nice work by Luis (unfortunate Saturday rest may have cost a game) a limited-by-singles Nomar, and an occasional late-game good stroke by Juan; otherwise, for things to change, the mantra remains the same for me: the young guys (minus Wilson, who still has not earned everyday play) will have to get the at-bats, and perform at a surprisingly consistent and productive level for this team to be a playoff contender (unless both Pads and D-backs implode - not impossible).
Thought this org at least a year away this time 'round, so the best time to learn what y'may have for years to come.
Parallel universe witness: some guy here the other day wrote: "..and like to see Lieberthal get more time; he's still a good hitter." I've had dubious pleasure of watching him for years, and short of occasional burst for three or four games
(nice run last September a while - must be when Dodger [oxymoron] scouts saw him), he's been a shadow of his pre-injury self.
Not generally well-thought of where he played!
'Nother guy, 'nother site, says, "..if only Nomar and Jeff and Juan were producing at the levels WE ALL EXPECTED." Don't know about the magic spectacles' "WE" - but their production is exactly what dozens of us spoke of in the dead of winter. And under-the-radar Jeff continues to underperform (Dodger fans have been without decent, consistent offensive clubs so long their standards have taken a beating) at key times in key part of order, while marching relentlessly toward necessary at-bats for huge contract renewal. Good initial work by Paulie almost entirely undone now by too-nervous (or too much pressure to perform the tightrope task of rebuilding-while-contending from meddlesome owners), bridge-building Ned.
I agree. The Dodgers need another good pitcher more than they need another good pitcher. Even a pretty good pitcher. The Padres got five wins and a sub-3.00 ERA from Germano, a waiver claim. Rather than paying through the nose in a sellers market, Ned needs to find someone who can plug a hole. Houlton?
should have said the Dodgers need another good pitcher more than they need another good hitter.
I have learned to rarely or never try to blame a loss on bad calls. But I think this is seperate. I personally like the running game, perhaps growing up with M. Wills did it to me. But if as I have noticed in this game and on other occasions in the past two years, the tendency continues that if a good defensive play is made, the actual tag is not the decider, running could die out. Stealing or taking the extra base is such a close 50/50 thing that any slant either way makes a huge difference. And one of the only advantages the runner has is that the defender often has to actually tag him, which a good runner can make difficult. But I have noticed the beginning of a tendency toward a play where the ball arrives before the runner, no matter how close, if the ump has no view ---its an out. This could be enough to kill this intricate and fascinating game.
I dont think any of the 5 starters are coming out of the rotation. That leaves getting rid of Tomko/Hendrickson and replacing them with Meloan or Tsao as the next move to make.
Acquiring another starter seems redundant, unless the Dodgers would seriously consider replacing Randy Wolf.
(now 7-1 Giants...er, the 2007 Giants)
I am not sold on Kuo's ability to stay healthy or throw enough strikes. Tomko and Hendrickson are liabilities. Will Penny hold up in the second half? I'd feel better if the Dodgers added a pretty good starting pitcher. I don't want them to overpay. Look what San Diego is getting out of Germano.
I think the young hitters can help this offense. As Jon notes, the Dodgers are getting guys on base.
I also think it's kind of scary stretch here, because Ned might panic and do something rash. He needs to bear in mind that this a brutal stretch of schedule, something like 20 games in 20 days. Arizona and SD will be fresher when the Dodgers face them. I figure if the Dodgers can win 3 of the 7 games, that's a pretty good result.
I just think it is time for caution.If we can find another starter in the minors or off the wires OK. But it is not something to throw resources in the form of large money or prospects at. The horrible drain of resourses in contracts like Schmidts should be instructive here.
The team really needs only 1 of them to be the garbage time long reliever. The other one should be gone and replaced by a real relief pitcher---hopefully Meloan or Tsao.
Wow. Much more exciting than the Dodger game, apparently - of which I only watched about 5 minutes and saw Loney's home run.
Sigh. I knew Jackson would beat us, just knew it. Oh well. On to Arizona.
And no one reading it chortled.
espn ticker just said something about "trade Mark Buehrle."
Today I went 5-5 in our 26-19 victory.
HR, 3B, 2B, 1B, 1B in that order.
I'm glad I ate my Total today.
You could get like a million times the fiber of Total in one bowl of Colon Blow.
Andrew Miller looks like a guy who could go 500 at bats without making contact with the ball.
And I'd like to point out that I wrote my comment when Miller was on deck!
Ned announced a few days ago that the Dodgers policy is not to comment about contract insurance.
Howard Cosell is working the game.
That guy's been tearing it up lately.
The secret is that I don't just play 1B. I am also the only player in my league who can throw 3 strikes in a row.
But tonight's 5-5 was my first good game since last summer. I was mired in a season long slump until then.
There were ten 3B, before the season, that PECOTA predicted would out VORP LaRoche. If 1B and CF were taken care of and the offense still stunk, it'd be easier to worry about 3B.
In part because of Beck's workhorse performance, inning limits were put into effect for pitchers in high school baseball in L.A. and it was dubbed "the Rodney Rule."
Beck already had the Fu Manchu mustache in college. He was skinnier, but still very imposing on the mound and he threw very hard.
---
Hm, I didn't realize Ben Davis was now catching for the 51s.
Thanks
James McDonald strikes out 13 and walks only one, but he also allowed a whopping .800 BABIP due to 8 hits in the 10 at bats where San Jose actually hit a fair ball.
Nate will have alot to say I'm sure but McDonald went 5.1 innings tonight allowed 4 earned runs on 2 two-run homers along with 6 other hits but only had two other putouts via balls put in play (2 fly outs). He struck out 13 and walked only 1.
When he left the game, Inland Empire was trailing 4-0.
5.1 IP, 8 H's, 4 ER's, 1 BB, 13 K's, 2 HR's
McDonald didn't induce a single ground ball -- not one -- in five and a third innings. All of the opposing team's hits were in the air, and McDonald got 13 K's, one fly out, one pop out, and one guy was called out for interference. That is pretty amazing.
McDonald's line for the season is now as follows:
74 IP, 66 H's, 6 HR's, 18 BB's, 97 K's, 3.77 ERA
Obviously I haven't been paying attention, Kenny Lofton has five homeruns? Oh, of course if Nomar played in Texas he'd have at least that many. Maybe.
Now, despite what Matthews said about McDonald's stuff, I had read at scout.com that McDonald's stuff was pretty good in 2006: low 90's fastball that reached 95 and a curve that could be slurvy or sharp. If Matthews heard something different than that, I can't account for it. As for McDonald having a "slow" arm, well, scouts prefer a pitcher to have a quick arm, but really, there are certainly successful major league pitchers with arms that are slow. And as for below-average command, this could be right. Keep in mind that command and control are different things entirely. Control is about throwing strikes, and McDonald's walk rate suggests he does that, but command is about placing the ball well WITHIN the strike zone, to keep hitters from getting good wood on the ball. McDonald's not getting many grounders, so that could mean he is working high in the strike zone, which means he gets a lot of K's, but also means that when contract is made, it is going to be really hard contact.
As for where I put McDonald right now among all our prospects, I put him in the Top 10 somewhere. Given that Elbert and Morris are injured, McDonald is probably our second best active starting pitching prospect, behind Kershaw. If Colletti is hell bent on making a trade this season, I think McDonald might just be a guy he throws to the wolves, as I have no doubt Kershaw is untouchable.
The movie featured Earl Hindman (of Home Improvement) as one of the bad guys.
349 All classics. Ever see The Laughing Policeman? Not a classic but underrated; I finally saw it on DVD recently. Gotta love any 70s Walter Matthau cop flick.
"Mark Buehrle is poised to be the first out the door (the Mets, Braves, Dodgers and Red Sox appear very interested) but if Williams wants to really move forward he'll find a way to deal Javier Vazquez and sign Buehrle for the long haul."
vr, Xei
extremely lanky, if he gains weight, fb velocity will increase. arm slot between 3 quarters and over the top. quick, short arm action, allows him to hide the ball to hitters and have sneaky fast velocity. fb was 60-65, 89-92mph 65 on the high end because of deception. curveball was inconsistent but when he dropped it in, it buckled knees and got swings and misses. CU was his best pitch actually. a really nice plus pitch that had good change of velocity (around 78) and excellent dive and fade. He got about 5 or so swing and miss Ks on those. Command and control was 65, well above average. there were about 3 really hard hit balls; two homeruns and a double. the homeruns were off of fastballs up in the zone that he left up. last homerun was on a below average fb with minimal life on the inner half of the plate to a lefty hitter, he was clearly tiring. heard some scouts behind me throw out a Lucille I comp, so take it for what its worth.
bottom line, fb velocity a little above average, short arm action and hiding the ball well allows it to be sneaky fast and gets up on hitters quicker then they think. solid 3 pitch mix. if he gets stronger and gains more mass, he could definitely gain velocity.
vr, Xei
xeifrank@yahoo.com
Miller - "So what do you think about Miller's hitting Joe?"
Morgan --minute or so of silence--
~Andrew Miller strikes out~
Morgan - "That's what I think about his hitting Jon!"
I'm a little surprised by the fb speed since it seemed like he was throwing more like 90-94 when I saw him. I wasn't going off any gun readings, that was just my perception.
Davis could add depth at catcher
>>> The Dodgers have addressed their lack of catching depth by signing free agent Ben Davis to a minor-league contract and assigning him to triple-A Las Vegas, where he will share time behind the plate with Ken Huckaby and compete for the right to become the major-league backup if either Russell Martin or Mike Lieberthal gets hurt.
Davis, whom San Diego made the second overall pick in the 1995 amateur draft, last played in the majors in 2004. <<<
http://www.dailybreeze.com/sports/articles/8152337.html
IIRC, the last player the Dodgers signed from that league was Rickey Henderson in 2003.
James McDonald, Houlton, Tomko.....
>>But at least two Dodgers aren't so sure. After listening to teammates talk endlessly about the haunted hotel, young pitchers Chad Billingsley and Jonathan Broxton said they experienced weird occurrences in their rooms that couldn't be explained. However, neither would discuss the episodes Sunday.
"It's stupid," said Billingsley, who reportedly heard his toilet flush numerous times while he was in another room. "It's not worth talking about." <<
http://thesoulofbaseball.blogspot.com/
If he did, it'd probably take LaRoche, McDonald,Denker as a starting point.
There's no team that would want Brett Tomko or DJ Houlton. Certainly not the A's---whose pitching staff is about as good as can be as is.
I still think, if we're worried about the Dodgers bullpen depth right now, that they have some more in-house options, like Meloan and Houlton, et al.
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