I knew we were in trouble as soon as Vin pointed out that this would be the 100th straight win at home when Dodgers carried a lead after 8 innings - an MLB best. Had foreshadow written all over it.

Don't the Dodgers get four days off? I thought they didn't start up again until Friday in SF?

2 - You're right.

I only know because Vin was talking about whether Bonds would get the record during that series. Does anyone else remember Vin last year saying he really did not want to have to make that home run call?

4 - Yes.

San Diego lost 2 in a row we could have won 2 in a row i know things happen but still...

Like Jon mentioned we need Derek Lowe to give us 7 possibly 8 innings tonight.

Anyone going to the All-Star Fanfest at Moscone Center today? I have a couple friends working the booths, so I may have to show up wearing one of my underground Dodgers shirts purchased through DT or DT-related channels.

7
I will be too busy hiding from people wanting to see all the Harry Potter stuff at work today.

I'm waiting for a clothes washer to be delivered. Yes, I live the good life.

9

What country is she coming from?

they should stop with the non sense & bring up Meloan already. I sincerely feel bad for Tomko but we really need to let him go, he's a million so don't feel too bad.

9
FOLKS!

Well said Jon. I said essentially the same thing in last night's thread. There are a couple of things the Dodgers could do to at least temporarily give them a reprieve, or at least their pitchers, but the best thing they can do is enjoy the all-star break which comes at a perfect time.

Not only would DFAing Tomko get rid of him, but it would also bring in another fresh arm, which will mean a lot tomorrow at least if no other day.

I wish I could go to the All Star Fanfest today but I've gotta teach a bunch of squirmy 12 year olds. Maybe tomorrow, except I can't then, either. (Wanted to go to the Futures Game but that's looking iffy now. Will tape it from ESPN though!)

It's really foggy here today, hopefully it'll be clear on Tuesday at least.

Fingers crossed for Lowe tonight. Have a day!

13

hopefully you'll have a nice day underdog, i'm heading out to my local public swimming pool & swim away my frustrations. Hopefully when i come back Tomko will be DFA'ed & Meloan will be on a plane ride to "the show"

The Dodgers are doomed tonight. The giveaway is a free ticket to the circus for kids 14 and younger.

If I went to a baseball game as a kid and been given a free ticket to the circus, I would have cried. Including when I was 14.

There is a trend on the Toaster recently:

Over at the Juice blog:

"Tina Fey and Amy Poehler- Fey has that sexy librarian charm that makes all the boys who like Suicidegirls go crazy."

Jon's first sentence:

"Dodger Stadium was library quiet for the first few innings Friday"

I refuse to play along.

Thankfully I stopped watching the game after the 7th so I didn't have to live the pain and instead got to read about it here this morning. It's always frustrating when a game is winnable but lost.

Jon, I admire your level headed demeanor after such frustrating losses. It seems that every one of our losses since the Tampa Bay series has been a very winnable game for us, and we continue frittering them away. I am usually a very level headed guy myself, but there are definitely times watching the Dodgers that I need to use my punching bag (literally, not a euphamism for a family member) to let out some steam. I imagine that Jon is like that too, but gets it together to write his posts.

I agree with Jon that Tomko isn't worthless. The Dodgers have too little pitching to discard him. Invent an injury, send him to the minors to regain some confidence, bring him back in August.

Jon, I admire your level headed demeanor after such frustrating losses

This is where Jon usually reminds us that we're only one game out of first place, and two games ahead in the wild card race.

Sometimes pitchers improve:

http://tinyurl.com/yvqz9l

I wonder if Scott Long got the reference right. Maybe Google led me to the wrong set of Suicide girls, but the top result Suicidegirls don't look like librarians.

An attempt at a rational, potentially constructive take on Pierre:

Mechanically, Pierre is defensive, tardy in loading his swing, makes a belated, defensive "swing" that reminds me of an uncertain tennis player trying to return the best serves of Roscoe Tanner.

Tactically, Pierre is overly aggressive, terrified of allowing the count to reach two strikes, not trusting of his skills to even allow Rafael Furcal to attempt to steal second base against the Padres in a tie game, opposite a catcher who is poor at throwing out runners. (Rather than making the smart play, Pierre bunted Furcal to second off the first or second pitch, "earning" Pierre cheers when he had made the wrong play -- Furcal, of course, got stranded. Pierre should have allowed him to steal second, then bunted him over or slapped the ball to the right side).

Summation: Defensive mechanically, overly aggressive tactically ensures constant failure.

The Dodgers need to take action. Pierre needs to get ready to take a real swing -- load the swing before the ball is on the way.

And someone -- Mueller, Pierre's former mentor Bill Robinson, Little -- needs to insist that Pierre allow the count to reach two strikes unless he gets a specific pitch that he can drive. Maybe he's too old of a dog to learn new tricks, but Pierre simply must change his approach -- mechanically and tactically -- or he will continue to underachieve. Working ceaselesslyy is laudable on the surface but it is counterproductive when one is reinforcing awful habits.

23
Pierre is afraid of striking out. In fact, I get the impression that his primary goal as a hitter is to avoid striking out.

needs to insist that Pierre allow the count to reach two strikes unless he gets a specific pitch that he can drive

Does such a pitch exist...?

24

I wish the media would delve into this angle. It's impossible to "play the little man's game" if one is terrified of allowing the count to reach two strikes.

The media doesn't really seem to delve into any angles with Pierre. From what I can tell, he gets a free ride.

i'm still bitter, because we HAD the insurance run in the 4th when chuck meriwether cruelly and unjustly denied it to us.

[24] perhaps. if pierre actually took a full swing instead of slapping at the ball every time, he might actually knock a ball over someone's head from time to time.

[16] i think tina fey is incredibly attractive; i dig the sexy librarian look. and i also like the punk/suicidegirl look as well. i must be the target demographic there.

Fey has that sexy librarian charm that makes all the boys who like Suicidegirls go crazy."

I'm not a big fan of Suicidegirls although their seeing them live was an interesting experience.

I don't know how that "their" got in the middle of a sentence. There is a ghost in my house.

29
Time for Vishal to do some scouting I guess.

http://tinyurl.com/2qqs4k

[32] when i was at cal, the student staff at the doe library main stacks was pretty much entirely populated by an almost fraternal order of hipsters. i'm not surprised.

Oh hipsters...

33 I can reassure you that the library staff at cal is still the place to be for hipsters.

I worked in the library for one semester as a freshman at a small liberal arts college in the northwest.

I will always remember my supervisor (a sophomore at the time) going out to lunch once with her boyfriend, and returning drunk off her (bottom). She said she had had some large number (i.e. 5 or 6) of "Long Island Iced Teas", which is probably a lot in the span of an hour or so. To this day, I don't think I've ever seen anyone as drunk as she was.

On an unrelated note, working in the library was great. I spent some of my time at the circulation desk, from where I could see everyone enter and leave. This was conducive to chatting with members of the fairer sex.

It's good to be librarian
And have your own world
It helps to make friends
It's good to meet girls

5 or 6 Long Islands is a lot for the span of a entire night.

That's what I figured, though I've never tried one myself. But in general, 5-6 drinks in an hour is a ton.

She dressed somewhat plain, but was nevertheless pretty attractive. I could tell that drinking made her, shall we say, quite "randy".

[35] hah, by the time i graduated, the hipsters of my era were handing the jobs off to the next generation. i wouldn't be surprised if by now they've simply devised some sort of points system to determine if someone is cool enough to qualify to work at the library :) from what i understand, the jobs are hard to get. you have to know someone.

39
Academic librarian jobs are fairly scarce, in high demand, and require that you publish. Library professional journals are loaded with articles that are real snoozers.

I actually fell asleep once proofreading a friend's. She understood.

Academic librarians will usually be required to teach a class of some kind on library use, or, in the trade, BI (bibliographic instruction). The interviews for the jobs are usually all-day affairs.

Public libraries just make you go through regular old civil service hiring.

Special libraries (aka ones not in colleges or for schools) hire like any private industry job. They also fire like any private industry job.

I was at the 51's game here in Tucson last night and had a great time. Unfortunately some pitcher named Fussell gave up 5 runs (including a 3-run homerun) in only .2 innings. Therefore, we lost by one run, 7-6. I really like LaRoche, but the Sidewinders didn't give him very many pitches to hit. He also batted 4th behind Delwyn Young and before the 2nd baseman McDougal.

Had fun, hadn't been to a triple-A game since I lived in DesMoines, IA.

Academic librarian jobs are fairly scarce, in high demand, and require that you publish

That sentence reads just as well without "librarian"

oh, i'm not talking about the actual certified librarians at berkeley. i'm talking about the undergrads who worked at the library, like for work-study jobs. anybody could do those. i wouldn't be surprised if many of them did eventually decide to pursue library science degrees however.

You can earn a degree to be a librarian?

[44] from what i understand, you pretty much have to.

44
That's what I thought I was doing back in 1987 and 1988.

I have at least two friends who are entering graduate programs information-library science, with the intention of becoming librarians.

I actually think being a librarian would be fun, though I'd defer to Bob on that...

That's what I thought I was doing back in 1987 and 1988

As it turned out, what were you actually doing...?

The City of L.A. has just four jobs listed which are listed as having a critical need to fill:
Electric Distribution Mechanic
Veterinarian
Veterinarian Techinican
Librarian

http://www.lacity.org/per/EXAMS/jobnow.htm

You can click on the link for "librarian" to see the qualifications.

Eric Karros picked Joe Borowski as his Hero because he is 25 for 27 in saves.

48
I'm still not sure.

i actually just applied for a city of LA job, but it wasn't one of those.

Yeah, I have a friend who is going to grad school for programs information-library science. Boy do the titles of his classes sound fun.

52
So you're not applying to be a veterinary technician and getting the chance to euthanize puppies and kittens?

51 So has the hordes of witches and warlocks arrived with the bus?

Anybody know a good batch rename utility that can read ID3 tags? Back when I ripped my CD collection, I didn't think to put the track numbers in the titles; it wasn't a problem till I bought an MP3 player. I'm sick of listening to albums with the songs in alphabetical order.

54- Vishal doesn't like to get his hobbies mixed up with his profession.

49 So one job deals with a substance that you can't see but can measure, two deal with patients you can't communicate with in order to find out what is wrong with them and the last one conjures up memories of paying fines with spare change.

This is the third week in a row I'm watching the Fox Sports en Español game of the week, instead of the Fox 11 one. If this keeps up, my Spanish could move from nonexistent all the way to very poor!

Bradley's in left. Is this his first start as a Padre?

55
I can't tell you if the bus has arrived. It was out in the Valley until noon.

Oh, looky there. Bob's on it.

27. i'm still bitter, because we HAD the insurance run in the 4th when chuck meriwether cruelly and unjustly denied it to us.

I always hate to see a run taken off the board also. On the other hand, we got a gift run when an outfielder dropped a ball that you'd expect a Little Leaguer to catch. So it kind of evened out.

Joey Joe-Joe Junior Shabadoo is pitching for the Braves. The Griddle is silent on the subject.

60
Probably why I put up a post that's titled "Padres activate Bradley"

59

Why's that?

btw, I have the Padres game on here via an antenna pointed at the San Diego Fox station 300 miles from me (over the pacific ocean)

200 miles, not 300

[57] hahah, that's right. can't mix business and pleasure.

66- They're showing the Padres game, instead of the Angels/Yankees. I don't remember the last two scheduling choices, but it seems like Fox 11 has been going AL heavy, and FSE has been showing NL games.

65- I thought you meant Foghorn Bradley.

69

I checked FSE myself. Wow I didn't even know they had this! if you hit the "sap" button on your remote, do you get the regular broadcasters?

Fox (LA) 11 has to do the Angels/yankees game due to the Angels playing.

Out here in the central coast, our local station is Fox 11 also... it can get very confusing!

[63] the other team giving and taking by playing well or poorly is just the nature of competitive sport. the umpires, on the other hand, should be expected to get the calls right. naturally, they're human and they'll make mistakes, but that doesn't make the mistakes any better. especially when they cost the dodgers a run that could've changed the outcome.

grr, i hate saturday mlb.tv blackouts.

mueve la pelota! Holy cow, only in Petco park can you hit a ball 400 ft and it not be home run.

71- No SAP, but that's okay with me; the English announcers probably aren't worth listening to.

[74] coors too, i'm pretty sure.

75

Turns out, it's Buck and McCarver on the English side; you probably aren't missing much.

18yr old Jaime Ortiz is having a good start to his season so far up in Odgen.

45AB 289/360/578 4hr 5bb 6k

Greene ripped that.

Khalil Greene? Are you kidding?

79, 80

I mean I saw it... but I mean I can't believe he hit that thing upper tank like he did

That was one of those HRs that look really good off the bat. Almost perfect, really.

what channel is the padres game on?

I've got the Padres game on Fox, but I think that's because the Braves are considered a "local" team around here.

That was a crazy catch.

What we had there was a failure to communicate.

diamond leung has his piece up on the dodgers dominican and international front..

http://tinyurl.com/2uvzpx

Even before signing pitchers Jose Dominguez and Rubbie De La Rosa on Monday, the Dodgers had made a statement during the previous international signing period in giving 17-year-old power-hitting third baseman Pedro Baez a $200,000 bonus and sending him straight to the Gulf Coast League.

thats pretty good money for Baez...right around a 4th rounder.

Im pretty confused though. If Baez is 17 then why is he listed as 19yrs old on milb.com

and if he was 17 during the previous signing period (which is in the winter), how did he age 2 yrs?

83- I've got it on FSE.

Hit the showers, Fat Boy.

wow, 2 hrs already at Petco... go figure

Braves 3
Pads 1

Wells ejected

::intense::

David Wells gets chased after giving up a homerun to French Heart.

So nobody's doing a scouting report on Mark Buehrle in the White Sox-Twins game?

I can't see the Padres winning the division this year.

I must say, I don't like the emotional emphasis umps usually put into they're ejection arm motion.

93

I don't think my antenna can pick up anything from Chicago ;)

93 Buehrle is shutting out the Twins but they might just be tired from all that scoring yesterday. No real threat yet from the Twins. The White Sox have 2 on, no outs in the 4th.

Why did Wells get thrown out?

97

He was complaining about a couple of borderline pitches to the Home Plate Umpire. After the Braves hit the home run, he went right up to him and started to argue. Then the umpire walked away but Wells came after him and might have said "the magic words." But I have to think the ump was being too sensitive... and if I remember he might have a reputation for kicking guys out too quickly, the Steve Javie of baseball if you will

But I have to think the ump was being too sensitive...

That was my impression too. Wells's behavior didn't look out of line, though I don't know what he said.

Kent would have been proud of Milton there.

Cameron Homers to Left Center! wow... I have to do some research; what is the record for the most home runs hit during a game at Petco Park?

Pads 4
Braves 3

*
Jose Reyes never stops moving. He makes everyone on the Mets better because of his daily energy, and is the poster person for what high energy players do for their teams.

Ichiro Suzuki is the same way. So is Grady Sizemore and Russell Martin. "The Dodgers completely changed," says one executive, "the day [Martin] took over as their catcher last year. He's the best catcher in the game, and he's the most energetic." *

http://tinyurl.com/2nmp4e

I live in the Bay Area, is Fox SE available if you have direct TV. We have the angel Yankee game on.

Regarding the Tomko situation, I agree with some of the earlier posts that he does have value. However, having watched him in the Bay Area for a few years and hearing my Giant friends tell me how much promise he had and then seeing the results, it seems right now his value to the Dodgers is very low. We all know that the Dodgers need more pitching help given that Billengsly is on such a short leash and Hendrickson seems to have a five inning celiing. If that is the reality it strikes me we need to do something sooner rather than later and by moving Tomko now and bringing up someone would help in the short term and give us a better idea if that person can help down the stretch or if we will have to do something more major. Remember if we want Burhle it doesn't necessarily mean we get him.

101 The Petco record for HR in a game is five.

July 14, 2006 - Braves 15, Padres 12
http://tinyurl.com/yp3z92

July 2, 2004 - Padres 7, Royals 5
http://tinyurl.com/2c7bqx

July appears to be the month for HRs at Petco.

Buehrle easily through 7.

Mark Grace and Brennaman trying to decide if Grace would have a chance with Jennifer Anniston.

John Lackey's slurve is defying physics right now.

k-rod also has a wicked slurve. maybe they compared notes?

Derek Lowe has three complete game losses this season. The only LA Dodgers to have more in a season are:

Don Drysdale - 5 (1965)
Fernando Valenzuela - 4 (1986)
Fernando Valenzuela - 4 (1987)
Bill Singer - 4 (1969)
Don Drysdale - 4 (1964)

http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/5wd9

Ooh, The Spanish Prisoner is on. I must watch it at all times.

110
But what if you miss?

from ITD:

Furcal, SS
Pierre, CF
Martin, C
Gonzalez, LF
Loney, 1B
Nomar, 3B
Ethier, RF
Abreu, 2B
Lowe, P

No pitcher has lost two complete games of 9 innings or more AT HOME since 2005 when Bartolo Colon did.

110
Totally random idea: David Mamet screenplay on the life story of Gil Gamesh. Would Jack Nicholson be available? Who would play Bob Yamm? Mike the Mouth?

113 Bob, Greg Maddux also lost two CG of 9+ IP at home in 2005, with his last loss coming on September 27, three months after Colon's second loss of 2005.

http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/NHr4

It scares me when Kemp isn't in the lineup. Colletti has his finger on the button.

115
But Colon had the decency to have his appear right next to each other to make it easier to read.

116
I believe Kemp's absence from the lineup is nothing more than getting Ethier some ABs and also because Mr. Mitre throws with his right arm.

Regarding Jon's post, is there another Dodger fan out there who would like Dodger Stadium to be library quiet at times? I watched some of the Braves series on TBS and I was appalled at the noise from the p.a. system and the constant flashing lights on the facade of the stands. It is an atmosphere that is anthetical to the charm of baseball.

Stan from Tacoma

94.
"I can't see the Padres winning the division this year."

FWIW, Scott Boras begs to differ. He was quoted not too long ago as being sure they would.

Of course, he also said the Cards wouldn't win theirs because they let Jeff Weaver get away.

Then it's back to the range for me.

I can see the Padres winning the NL West this year. For starters, they're in first place. They are really no more flawed than any other NL West contender.

106 - Mark Grace dated Janine Turner, which at the time (or maybe still) was way cooler than dating Jennifer Aniston. Maggie O'Connell forever, man.

123
I believe Jennifer Aniston has more staying power than Janine Turner. She's weird looking now. I think she bought Botox at Costco.

It was a weird conversation during the Twins/White Sox game. They saw Vince Vaughn in the stands and wanted to invite him up to the booth to help Grace figure out how to become Aniston's type. This was the half inning after they had spent time discussing the winner of the Taco Bell virtual proposal contest and how they wanted the woman to answer yes immediately.

Another reason to dislike children: untrustworthy intestines (grizzly story, but with as happy an ending as was possible).

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/13626279/detail.html

The Angels wreaked some havoc on the basepaths and pushed one across in the top of the 13th. After a leadoff double by Kendrick, Molina failed twice to get a bunt down. Then Kendrick scores from second on a Cairo throwing error. For good measure Willits dropped one down to move Molina over but Molina didn't go. Gotta love Scioscia-ball.

Jennifer Aniston has a great body face, not so much.

Interesting thoughts from Tony Jackson today on whether Tomko will be released. I'm sure they'd interest you all. Also, someone has created a petition to get rid of Tomko, which you can find in the comments on Tony's latest post.

brett tomko doing an interview live on fox right now

I am hoping something goes right as I prepare to stay up till one or two a.m. for the fourth night in a row back east.
Watching the Earth day concert I've seen some wierd stuff. For instance on Dave Matthews first or second song, one would swear that the camera-man had bonuses written into his contract thusly---If you pan in on the violin often you will get a nice bonus; however if you show the Sax player you will be fined a few thousand for each instance. This didn't apply the next song, so it was probably a coicidence.

116. It scares me when Kemp comes up with the bases loaded and no outs.

I can perhaps see the Pads winning the division. However the grim reaper hasn't gone through their pitching staff yet. Some years it doesn't happen, but its far more likely to happen than not. It is the organizations that respond fairly well to this that do well.

121
Your tax dollars at work.

Marty,
Didn't you used to have a dog named Patty?

130. Different Tomko interview, this one with Clint Eastwood==

"So, Tomko...want to pitch again, do ya?

"Well, let me ask ya somethin....

"Do you feel lucky, punk?.....Well, do ya??"

Nobody looks at Japanese tourists

135
I'm pretty sure Jimmy Dell actually spelled it "Paddy", which surprised me.

Yes, it's Paddy

BTW: If you're bored and have time, this website has a bunch of interesting thoughts on the movie to which we're referring.

http://members.aol.com/noesis/viewings.htm

Among other things, people discuss some of the "cheating" that I had noticed in the movie. One of the things that seemed like cheating was when Joe signed the membership form for the "club". We could clearly see that the form said something about a club membership. But later, the (presumably) same piece of paper said something about extradition in Venezuela. Are we supposed to think they forged his signature or something?

But the even bigger cheat has to do with how the fake FBI agents switched "Process" notebooks in the park restroom. They put the original notebook on the window ledge, and we never see it get switched with a phony. Then Joe leaves, to find he has a phony notebook instead. What gives?

Anyway, the website has some really interesting thoughts about the movie that had never occurred to me. It's worth checking out, if you're so inclined.

Oh, another cheat: at the end, when Joe is on the boat talking to Susan, you can see a man sitting in front of them. If you look closely, you'll see that it is pretty clearly NOT Jimmy Dell. But then, it turns out to be Jimmy Dell.

You're saying the Steve Martin character was some kind of shape-shifting alien? Intriguing.

In today's Jacksonville Suns' game, the Suns are leading 11-0 in the mid-6th inning. Mike Megrew has 10 K's to 2 BB's and one hit after 5 innings. Xavier Paul is 3/4. Non-prospect catcher Alberto Concepcion has hit for the cycle.

142
Finally: someone who understands me...

144- Reading that link, I find that all along there was a style of writing that's even more irritating than ALL CAPS; one I hadn't even considered: Capitalizing The First Letter Of Every Word. All Of Them. Like Every Verb And Adjective Gets To Be An Honorary Proper Noun For The Day.

132-That's pretty humorous. Kemp is one of the best hitters on the team.

According to Tony Jackson, Abreu is out of the lineup and Kent back in.

Entonces ...

SS Furcal
CF Pierre
C Martin
2B Kent
LF Gonzo
3B Nomar
1B Loney
RF Ethier
RH Lowe

Wow -- Ryan Langerhans can seriously cover ground in center. He's really good (and made a sure webgem just now to save two runs in the Nationals game).

Don Sutton -- good color guy. On the awesometacular Langerhans catch, Sutton rightly pointed out that a right handed centerfielder couldn't have made the pay (which was a diving catch in to the left/center gap). Added something to my appreciation of the moment, which is really all you can ask for of a baseball announcer.

148

just picturing Bob saying Entonces is a treat in it's self.

made the "play".

Comment 152 was deleted for violating rules 6 and 7.

This is the game chat thread.

I thought it was for sullying the truly awesome Maggie O'Connell.

Yeah, this Ramirez kid is good, but he's not J.J. Hardy.

He's probably better.

Russ Martin is so good, the umpire takes his word for it that the runner is out on any play at the plate.

"Across his back, Sam DC has tattoed the numbers 2-0-2 so he can always tell people where he lives."

shaky start by Lowe but no runs scored, so no harm no foul.

Marquez is trying to even up his ledger calling that first pitch a strike.

Is this LiveEarth thing a success or a nonevent.

I am self aware enough, I hope, to know I wouldn't know.

But you folks would know.

161

I don't know.

The only thing I know about it is that Chris Rock got cut off for swearing. Oh, and Mr. Gore appeared at the event in Japan as a hologram. So, it's at least partly successful. I hope I get to be a hologram, someday.

But do you know that you don't know?

I guess you know what you know and don't know.

And we all know that Pink Floyd is too old to be Pink Floyd.

I didn't know there were Live Earth concerts until earlier in the week. I can tell you that I have my AC on, but I drove a Prius.

There were 250 people who got to go on board the Harry Potter Night Bus today at the Central Library.

I think the PinkFloydExperienceEttes are playing in front of a giant wall of tires.

It's on Bravo.

Nomar seems to jump on every throw he makes.

And CNBC. If they want me to stop wasting energy, they should have booked Solomon Burke. Though, to be fair, Bon Jovi would make me want to turn my television off, at least.

165

i just tuned in & i think i wanna "tune out" there doing the senior citizen thing like the Rollong Stones.

Nobody ever rings the catcher's interference alarm. Good thing I pay attention to what happens in Kansas City-Tampa Bay games.

#285 for Biggio. 2 shy of the record.

great throw by Russell Martin

Is Lowe one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball?...I would say yes...

Russ Martin is so good, the umpire takes his word for it that the runner is out on any play at the plate.

I'm reminded of the most interesting man in the world commercials with your comment.

Greg Brock says "See... See... What did I tell you?"

Of course.....of course....I already knew as I was posting that, that bob's big boy was going deep...

173
unfortunately you spoke to soon Lex.

But what if Willingham had been batting out of order?

I don't know how much more of this I can take....

Who knew Madonna could play guitar?!

In the words of the Bearded Man, Rick Honeycutt is telling Lowe, "Find out what you're throwing now, and don't throw that."

I can't think of much else to say other than "Aaarrrrrggggggh."

I don't care whatever the score gets to be, they should leave Lowe in there for another complete game loss if need be. No more bullpen! No more wire hangers!

Gack, this team needs a break.

I wonder what pitcher will be traded here....

Btw, I did watch a bit of the LiveEarth concert earlier and have to say the Foo Fighters performance rocked. (I think they were playing in London?) Excellent stuff. But then I got bored. On the other hand, after watching this game for a bit, maybe I should turn it back.

we just gotta ride the wave i relly hope Ned understands the bigger picture here.

Actually, something potentially worse is about to happen (or perhaps not): My g/f is making me watch The Fountain on DVD. I shall pause the game for awhile. Maybe that'll help. If they come back, you can thank me and Darren Aronofsky.

38th game in 40 days, its been a tough stretch and after the 4 day ASB, they play 17 straight, 36 out of 38 days, and finally 55 games out of 59 days.

I would think that if they don't think that Chad, Wolf, Hendy or whoever else they have in the system can get deep into games consistently during this stretch, they will look to make a deal for another starter.

185 What bigger picture, right now you are in the playoffs, playoffs mean bigger money this year and next year.

I know folks like to think that GMs think big picture but they don't unless they are really forced to do so. And in LA, generally you are not allowed to think beyond the current season.

I'm not saying he will deal any of the prospects for a rent a player but I am saying that the big picture is not who will be in the starting lineup in 2009. The big picture is can this team make to October.

188
Did you go see the Knight Bus?

189 nope, did I miss a once in a lifetime experience?

186- You'll be back in forty mintues. Book it. I say that not knowing anything about your girlfriend, but I'm still confident in the projection.

190
From my perspective, no, but the kids who were there seemed to like it a lot.

Bases juiced for one of our young studs

i could definitely see a double play here.

Imagine that, if you have good arms in the outfield, three consecutive base hits can mean nothing!

There's a Red Sock named Jeff Bailey?

Erik Bedard threw a 2-hit shutout in Texas and struck out 15 and walked none. He struck out the side to end the game.

196
He took the roster spot formerly occupied by Jacoby Ellsbury, the greatest Navajo ever to play in the majors.

197

maybe we should trade for him.

186

i'm going back & forth (apocalypto & Dodgers) also underdog your not alone.

OH MY GOD COME ON YOU WINDMILL!

Windmill why!!!???

What was that Donnely?

The Windmill™ strikes again!

Remember that Amezaga is a converted shortstop, so he's got a hose.

C'mon Donnelly. Again? What happened to not being insane?

our young stud response, YES!

Sting is definitely entering that "so fit he looks unhealthy" zone.

Don't get me wrong -- that's certainly better and healthier than "doughy cranky guy" which applies to me.

But his buffness and leanness is startling.

199
I don't think even the Orioles are dumb enough to trade Bedard unless they got about five players in return.

At least they didn't throw out Gonzalez AND Kent.

Sting is definitely entering that "so fit he looks unhealthy" zone.

Don't get me wrong -- that's certainly better and healthier than "doughy cranky guy" which applies to me.

But his buffness and leanness is startling.

I realize there are many worse teams in baseball, but do any of them suffer from as much institutional obstinance as the Dodgers? Donnelly should NOT be out there.

Andy Summers does not face that issue at ill.

208
Don't forget Sting's ability to ... um ... (looks for euphemism) ... for a long time.

200- I thought that movie took itself way too seriously...

Is there any reason Mueller couldn't be the third base coach and the hitting coach? He's making three million bucks this year; I don't think they're getting all they could out of him.

C'mon Vin, don't paper over this. "It took a good throw to get him"??? The throw got him by 30 feet, so call it what it is Vinnie.

This centerfielder with an arm business is an interesting concept. We'll have to try that sometime.

I can see getting a guy thrown out by a few feet, but Olivo had the ball at the plate and had the time to watch all the Catcher's Interference calls of 2007 on You Tube before Gonzo entered the picture.

To quote Gob, "C'mon!"

Yellow alert!

Sorry, false alarm.

The HanRam is a monster...

208

does he look a bit like iggy pop? that ain't cool.

216 Even worse. Mueller is making $4.5m this year. I would imagine he's getting paid a little something extra ($200k or so) to be hitting coach, since it is above and beyond his previous role as consultant or superscout.

Did anyone actually see Donnelly wave Gonzo in?

220 - Bob, was that because Nomar dove? Or because of the hit?

226
I was conflating memories of last night's game with tonight.

My comment was so interesting it seems to have posted itself itself twice.

Kanye West wit The Police now.

nice walk it could equal a DP.

Heading to the bottom of the 15th in Houston. Mets 3, Astros 3.

"Thank You for coming tonight to Live Earth.

Put all this energy in your heart, and help us solve the Climate Crisis."

-- Sum total of Al Gore's televised comments after the Police Finale at Live Earth NJ

(just felt obligated to pass on -- sam)

{215}

Knowing Mel Gibsons religious leanings i'll take the movie for what it's worth, entertainment.

230 - Shades of 1986?

233
Billy Hatcher is in the ondeck circle.

225- No, it was off screen. What do you think the chances are LuGo ran through a stop sign? I give Donnelly zero benefit of the doubt generally, but I can't see any reason to do, on that play.

232- Exactly....a Mayan "Die hard"....

Lowe's at 97 pitches through 5.
Mitre's at 48 pitches through 4.

A la décimosexta entrada en Houston!

that inning was a close call, bases juiced & the Marlins hitter grounded out to Kent, hopefully we can chip away.

Pero los Tigers estan victorioso 3-2 en trece entradas sobre las Media Rojas!

That Shmendrick!

Bedard's 15 Ks were an Orioles record. And presumably a Browns record too since they didn't have many good pitchers.

Mussina struck out 15 and with Bedard now is the co-holder for the highest game score in a 9-inning game for the O's at 98.

240- My Spanish is very malo, but are you saying the Tigers won because of the communist media?

According to the Dodger notes tonight, Little still doesnt know which hurler will start tomorrow.

The Mets have used six former Dodgers tonight and still have Sandy Alomar on the bench:
Lo Duca, Green, Ledee, Valentin, Mota, and Sele.

Should have been "Medias Rojas"

Lo siento.

The Astros have used only one former Dodger tonight. But if you remember him, you're good.

247- Trevor Miller?

Why is Vin noting player's tattoos so much lately? It seems to be resembling a rapsheet (identifying marks, etc.) more than a lineup.

246
half reds? =pinkos?

248
That's close enough. He's actually Trever Miller. I saw him pitch for the Dodgers in person once. He was terrible.

i really want hanley ramirez.

"Knocked the whey out of it"????

Bob nearly got his wish, but LuGo mostly hit the pads.

I'm getting pretty tired of Hanley Ramirez.

Very veteran move by Gonzo in hitting the padding and not the scoreboard there.

The X-Mo camera really makes you realize that the refresh rate of those scoreboards is a lot different than a TV.

If Colletti would just deal Martin, Billingsley, Kemp, Loney, and LaRoche to the Marlins, I could change team allegiances and be happy about it.

It's 5-3 Mets in the 17th. I think Jeff Calhoun is warming up.

Third play at the plate tonight. Second that wasn't even close.

Thanks for the out...

257

But they don't have LoDuca or Mota anymore.

Miggy looks fun when he runs.

That was Joe Jacobs, Vin.

if the dodgers and marlins combined teams i bet they could form a really good super team.

That stadium sure is quiet, I don't blame them.

262

He looks like the Michelin Man.

Horrible decision to send the runner.

265
Library quiet?

Ethier got pulled right after throwing out Uggla?

268 - Church library quiet.

269 Ethier hit the cut-off man (Furcal) who threw out the runner.

At the All-Star Fanfest today, they had a booth where you could get a free shave administered by either a perfect-bodied Latina or a blonde whale.

Tom Emansky weeps at the sight of the baserunning in this inning.

Loney looked like he was holding back tears....

Reminded me of Darryl Strawberry in the Simpsons...

That was a clinic in poor baserunning by the Marlins.

272
You can tell the sex of a whale that easily? And I didn't know whales had hair?

272- ???...was it some sort of pepsi challenge?

And I didn't know whales had hair?

They're mammals like you and me.

274 I thought the same thing and I feared Kent had scolded him.

278
But how can a whale stand up and hold a razor? They don't have legs. Or opposable digits.

277

I think it was merely a marketing tool for Gillette.

274--I dont think that was Loney's fault though. Russ has tried to pull that Yadier Molina crap seemingly more and more--and the risk/reward just isnt worth it.

Man on 1st/2nd, and the catchers is trying to throw behind the guy at 1st?

Retarded.

I like Martin's skill set, but some of his decision making is just wreckless.

Can someone describe the Loney error etc?

we need to get Sergio Mitre out & get into there bullpen.

One of my friends worked the booth where you pitch to a video screen of a Major Leaguer last night.

She said that about 75% of the participants chose to pitch to Bonds so they could intentionally throw at him.

Cabrera can eat as much as he wants if he continues to hit and make those types of plays.

and the 504th pitch of the game lands in Ledee's glove to end it, 5-3 Mets in 17.

Wow.

283- Martin tried to gun down the runner at first, after the pitch. The throw beat the runner, hit Loney in the glove, and squirted out into right field. That was the error. After the error, both Loney and Kent went after the ball, and Loney very nearly earned a red card for slide-tackling Kent.

And the Mets win 5-3 in 17 innings with Old Friend Aaron Sele getting the win.

Other old friends:
Lo Duca 0 for 8
Green 3 for 7
Ledee 1 for 6
Valentin 0 for 1

Sele pitched 2 shutout innings giving up a hit and a walk. Mota pitched 2 shutout innings.

285- Sometimes I get a little down, dispirited, disenchanted with my fellow man. It's stories like that one that keep me going. Thank you Icaros. You've renewed my faith in the species, at least for tonight.

Of course, he couldn't get that hit last night when it mattered.

I admit I am watching less and less of the games as we lose, but I think I can see clearly what is a psychological team slump.
I'm not sure how I survived last years >=10 game losing streak, but this team is just as able to follow w/a 10 game winning streak, as it is all in the mind.
Just please don't trade away the future!

290

The best part is that the Fanfest is loaded with about 90% of the crowd wearing Giants gear.

285
That's actually quite disturbing. People would pay money to get the vicarious thrill of attempting to kill someone.

Yeah. That's all-American fun!

294- I don't want to kill him, just maim him.

Dodgers have 10 hits tonight.
All singles.

And 1 run.

294

She said that not everyone threw at his head.

In the future it attempting to kill video game Barry Bonds will be outlawed. Only the outlaws will attempt to kill video game Barry Bonds.

11 singles
2 runs.

This two-out Dodger rally brought to you by the clutch hitting of...

This two-out Dodger rally brought to you by the clutch hitting of...

hanley ramirez is everywhere.

we're running out of innings but we got 1 more run at least.

297
Would you like it if you found out that people wanted to pay money to throw baseballs anywhere at your person just because they don't like you? Wouldn't that disturb you somewhat?

There was a section where you could purchase nearly every minor league cap. The Great Lakes Loons have a cool one. And the 51s caps look better up close. That alien head has seams on his skull, so he's part baseball. Pretty clever.

The Lake Elsinore Storm have the most awesome caps in baseball history, however:

http://www.stormbaseball.com/

Well, it was kind of neck and neck for awhile in this household as to which was more depressing to watch, The Fountain or the Dodgers game. But at least the game still has possibilities, however remote. Andrew was about right in his prediction - we turned it off about an hour in. It's not bad, in a sense, but it is obtuse, bleak, beautifully filmed, kind of hard to get involved in and sad. Other than that, we loved it.

Saw the Dodgers make another futile attempt at a comeback (a run here and there is nice but not enough).

We put in a DVD I just got of the Film Crew: Hollywood After Dark (the FC are the Rifftrax and MST3K guys doing commentary on bad old movies). This one features a young Rue McLanahan stripping. Don't say you weren't warned. It's cheered us up immensely though, something neither the game nor The Fountain could do.

As you were. Or weren't.

Would you like it if you found out that people wanted to pay money to throw baseballs anywhere at your person just because they don't like you? Wouldn't that disturb you somewhat?

I guess I'd figure that meant I was really good at whatever I did.

307
I will come to the hospital and throw syringes at you.

305- I've seen folks wearing those hats...just thought it some sort of No Fear-ish company....

It would be cool if Mike Davis had pitched for the Storm...

307 Glad you didn't get that flight attendant gig back in the day, that's for sure.

304- If the price was right, I'd let people come and throw baseballs at the real me, not a video game. But when I achieve my now hours old life's ambition of becoming a hologram, they can throw all the baseballs they want at holographic me. I'm a giver.

308

I have some in my office.

310

I manage product for a major hospital chain now. Feel better?

Vin is hinting that the team may be in major trouble. He certainly isn't happy with Nomar. This team is being terribly mismanaged...

For some reason, this game feels, to me, like the moment the season goes south. It's been building this whole homestand.

I'm sure Kevin Malone is ready to make a triumphant return to the front office.

He's been lying in the reeds.

313 I must have missed that, I don't think Vin is not happy (or for that sake really cares) about Nomar's swinging at the first pitch, I think he is reporting what he sees.

Vin appreciates good play and for the last week, the starters have struggled and guys have not hit in key spots.

Also, Vin loves Grady.

that was a good PA from Kemp. he didnt swing at anything out of the strike zone.

Seems like every year the Dodgers get hot right before and go roaring into the All-Star break, only to come out flat and lousy to start the 2nd half.

I'm hoping for the reverse this time.

I've always felt Colletti was a mesh of Malone/Claire.

He has the free spending ways of Malone, and the trade low approach of Claire.

Good AB by Kemp.

This is a good opportunity right here, 2 on with Furcal coming up.

You can find Malone here:
http://www.mbzvalencia.com/about.htm

James Loney 4-4 and no one seems to notice.

322--Does Eddie Murray work there too?

306- It was Sweet November meets 2001: A Space Odyssey.

323- We are already spoiled by the future batting champ....

Once in a while, though, Vin will deliver this team a spanking. I'm always listening for it because I think it's funny and usually deserved.

I think a spanking is coming.

Omnipresant is right...

Now I will leave you all alone. Sorry for the usual insane intrusion.

Jason Repko's grit and all out play not only cost him this season, it may have cost Raffy's 2007 season as well as he cannot get any drive from the left side of the plate.

329 So, maybe you can grab another Costco hotdog before game time tomorrow. There is one nearby in Glendale.

Furcal certianly deserves every bit of a spanking (he can transfer a few of the slaps to Repko if he wants). Furcal has been just slightly better (mostly due to defense) than Pierre. What a weird team this has been.

So DJ Houlton just got lucky in his 1st appearance.

It must be Hendrickson or Stults starting tomorrow.

Throwing a lefty against all these Marlins seems crazy, but who knows maybe he'll shut them down.

Meloan/Orenduff need to be on line 1.

314- The season is far from over....geez....If we go into the break 3 games back even....that is nothing...

Should the 5th run be charged to Lowe as EARNED? Would it have scored without Loney's error?
- H. Ramirez doubled to deep left
- D. Uggla singled to center, H. Ramirez scored
- M. Cabrera singled to deep right center, D. Uggla out at home
- J. Beimel relieved D. Lowe
- M. Kemp in right field
- M. Jacobs singled to right, M. Cabrera to second
- M. Cabrera scored, M. Jacobs to second on J. Loney's fielding error
- J. Willingham grounded into fielder's choice, M. Jacobs out at third
- J. Willingham picked off at first, pitcher to first

Without the error, you have runners on 1st and 2nd with one out. The force play erases Jacobs and then Willingham is picked off.

Furcal has been significantly better, offensively, than Pierre. His sOPS+ for a SS is 92. Bellow average, but not very close to Pierre's loathsome 73 for a CF.

338

Not a lot of people would use loathsome to describe a player's lousy statistics, but I like your passion.

I think the only way the fifth run could be considered unearned is if the official scorer assumed that Martin's throw would have picked off Jacobs. But in that case, Martin would have been given an assist on the play. It would have been a 2-E3.

Does NPB stand for Not a Positive Baseball fan?

Yep, I guess the one game I assume the Dodgers would lose this series is now the one I have to pin my hopes on. Honestly though, this is a tired team that clearly needs a break. I have worries about them, but not enough to panic about much right now. They need a rest and they need to figure out their pitching situation, but I wouldn't get to the point on giving up on the season or something.

Bob -- right -- so the run is unearned? Just wondering since ESPN/Yahoo box scores had 5 runs charged as earned to Lowe. Wouln't the lead runner (Cabrera) have been forced out rather than Jacobs if there had been no error?

Hanley could have made it.

we got Pierre, Martin & Kent coming up hopefully we can at least go down fighting. Can moves be made during the all-star brake?

If Josh Johnson and Anibal Sanchez had been healthy this year, the Marlins might have been near the top of the NL East.

They have some very good offensive players, especially when you consider the numbers they've put up playing in a pitchers park in Miami.

All that said, I'm definitely turning this one off. Night all!

that florida team seems to have no trouble scoring runs. how come we can't be like that?

Last year, the Dodgers continued their winning ways by beating the Marlins 6 straight until losing their last game of a 4 game series.

Some may recall that third game of that first series, it was that game where afterwards the owner had a meltdown that ultimately led to Girardi's firing.

Ramrirez went 5-23 last year against the Dodgers with 9 strikeouts and really looked bad most of the time.

Vishal,
We aren't like that because we don't have enough power. 12 singles doesn't cut it.

The MLB.com boxscore has Lowe's last run he gave up as unearned.

348- I remember a much less bulky Ramirez looking really bad that series....

345 And if Jason Schmidt and Rafael were healthy, the Dodgers might have a nice lead in the west.

I get the arguements sometimes but right now the Dodgers have a much better shot to get to the post-season than the Marlins.

Sure it makes for a nice story and for those who would like baseball execs to run teams with younger and less expensive talent, the existence of such a team gives them hope that their teams will be run that way if only they could their heads on right.

But baseball is played on the field and when teams without many resources loses a few players, that is when it begins to show up.

Dodgers have lost 4 in a row three times this year (if you count tonight), but they havent lost 5 yet.

Bob,
I still don't understand why the 5th run's being unearned depends on whether Martin makes the pickoff. Seems to me that Willingham's ground ball results in the lead runner's being out, but without Loney's error on the pickoff throw, this would be Cabrera. Now, with Willingham's pickoff, the inning is over with only 1 run (the 4th) being scored.

When the Marlins have to dip into the minors to bring up a hitter, they get a guy like Eric Reed with a negative OPS+. The Dodgers were able to go into the minors and bring up Loney and Kemp and experiment with LaRoche and Abreu.

Pierre's groundouts really never look any closer than the groundouts of any other player who isn't paid millions for speed alone.

When poor teams lose a couple of pitchers to injury, they have to resort to using guys like Tomko and Hendrickson.

I get the arguements sometimes but right now the Dodgers have a much better shot to get to the post-season than the Marlins.

I'd hope so.
The Dodgers payroll is 120 mils.

You'd have to be really bad at allocating 120mils in resources, in order to be worse than the Marlins.

No, no, no. Now MLB needs to make a rule against t.v. crews broadcasting pictures of half naked pitchers' tattoos. And what was with the creepy strobe light?

354
It didn't. I was wrong the first time.

After spending a couple of days in Yankee land, they are generally much more hopeful and less pessimistic about their situation than Dodger fan.

Not sure if it is because of so many consectutive years of playoff appearances or just being a Yankee fan but they still have an expectation of winning everytime they play a game.

Maybe if Pierre took a day off, his legs would be a little more fresh...

Grady needs to man up on that one....

361 Maybe true, but I don't always get that sense when hanging out on Bronx Banter. Though even then I guess you can see that with some glimmer of hope they can see the light. But... I dunno.

Bob,
OK, thanks. I was going with ESPN/Yahoo box scores that had 5 earned runs charged to Lowe. Now that's been corrected to 4.

The people who comment on blogs are probably different than the fan base at large. Read the comments on BTF about any Mets game. Those fans are suicidal every night.

If Sting can't sing Roxanne properly anymore, why don't they get a singer who can? I know it's high; so what? What's the point of the song if it's being sung in a register I can hit?

319 I think last year is just too fresh in your mind:

2006: 6-2 before the AS break, 1-13 afterward (followed by the memorable 11-gm win steak and 17-1 stretch)
2005: 2-7 before, 6-6 after
2004: 8-1 before, 9-1 after
2003: 4-5 before, 4-6 after

Sure it makes for a nice story and for those who would like baseball execs to run teams with younger and less expensive talent,

Well, the Marlins did win a world series on in 2003 on a $50,000,000 payroll.

Juan Pierre made $1,000,000 that year according to Baseball Reference.

365 The guys I sat around at Yankee Stadium probably don't spend a lot of time on blogs.

Look they still look at the scoreboard and worry about the Red Sox.

366

He shouldn't have lost the ability to sing falsetto. Maybe he just likes how it sounds in Shimmin-range better.

368 And even then, they dumped salary to what 15 million dollars.

And the Angels won a title the year before probably on a payroll that is 70% what is today.

After the Cards won last year, I have no idea what winning the World Series means in terms of being the best team. Seriously, they were a Scott Spiezio pinch hit away from not winning the division.

Apocalypto was entertaining, Nelson de la Rosa made a cameo on it, he's the little person that accompanied Pedro Martinez during the BoSox '03 run.

367

I'd be interested in seeing years further back than 2003. But I guess that's why people who make baseball arguments based on what they see should shut their stupid pieholes.

it will be interesting to see what happens these next couple of days, i'm patient by virtue so i'm leaning towards letting the kids develop instead of making a big move for a run this year, we shall see.

371--I dont think anyone is arguing for just having cheap players. What they want are youngsters with upside, rather than the multi-million dollar veteran mediocrities.

If Orenduff comes up and gets bombed, at least I can still say two things positive: #1. At least he's cheap, and doesnt hinder the Dodgers from making other roster moves. #2. He might get betters, since he's young.

With Tomko/Hendrickson/Nomar etc...I got nothin when they inevitably suck.

Ned's probably saying---"Well Frank, at least those players are recognizable, and bc of that the stadium is full"---as a baseball fan of the team though, its not a positive.

373 I looked back a bit further...

2002: 8-5 before break, 1-8 after
2001: 10-3 before, 10-3 after
2000: 3-5 before, 9-4 after

Hard to sense a pattern; they are kind of all over the place.

376

Thanks. I think that 2002 season is the one that colored my memory.

Psycho maybe should have been the White Sox representative in 1988, Ozzie Guillen was the rep but he was the 3rd SS on the reserves, though Psycho would have joined other AL reserve 2B like Johnny Ray and Harold Reynolds.

Getting in the way back machine, we definitely choked it up coming out of the all star break in 1991. That was the year we had a pretty big lead at the break. We went on to lose our first 7 after the break while the Braves went on an ungodly run. After that it was neck and neck the rest of the way, and the Braves edged us out in the final weekend. I will never forget that post all star break swoon (maybe it included Dennis Martinez perfect game too?)

The $120 mil is a reminder of the relatively mediocre work done by various collectives since '88.
I actually think these guys are a little better than I projected in April, and since, lo these many seasons, there still isn't a "standard-bearer" kind of team in the NL West, it's hard to get "relatively" pessimistic, even while recognizing the franchise has a ways to go to compete
year after year for the Trophy (apologies to Andrew for Upper Case....)
Interestingly, I think the lack of that standard-bearer has hurt each team in the division for quite a while now. Nothing to shoot for, like the Red Sox and Jays had in the East, the Mets and Phils on their side.
Nothing to define, a dozen and a half times or so each year, where you have to go. So y'get Malone and Evans (excuse: handcuffed more than others) and a too-young Depo and a too-traditional and untested Ned, 'cause new ownership hasn't a clue how to define the peculiar and rarely-joined skills that make a champ GM. The collective work of the last couple years is so unimpressive, and the need to fill certain deepening holes in the roster so great, I've lost some of the guarded optimism I had two years ago that the direction was sound and hopeful. The big thrills are likely to continue to come from the amazingly even races with the Padres, and occasional marginal and quickly-done appearances in the first round. A lot better, in some ways, than fans from most orgs get, but not very satisfying when some kind of excellence is understood and valued from previous versions, Brooklyn and LA.
A caution, though: Penny, Lowe, Broxton, Saito, Gonzo and Martin have had gretifyingly strong first halves. I'm more than a little skeptical they'll be that good in August and September, which brings me back to limited expectations at season's onset, with only hope unexpectedly large amounts of playing time for kids, and their ability to show talent upon arrival, and overcome the league's testing adjustments as a group.
But just getting the kids that exposure and trial is a big plus, IMHO, so season will be worthwhile, playoffs or no...

I'm not easily offended by capitalization. But when it's the first letter of every word for a good five hundred words, it makes me sea sick.

Maybe the All-Star break is just what the Dodgers need, but what if they do go after a starting pitcher? I don't want to speculate on possible trades; I just want to see who is available. Here's a list of possible available starters:

These Guys Would Help; Probably Expensive
Mark Buehrle, CWS (FA after '07; $9.5m salary)
Jason Jennings, Hou (FA-'07; $5.5m)
Carlos Zambrano, ChC (FA-'07; $12.4m)*

Don't See The Point, But Wouldn't Be Surprised
Steve Tracshel, Bal ($3m '07, $4.75m '08 option with $100k buyout)
Shawn Chacon, Pit (FA-'07; $3.825m)
Kyle Lohse, Cin (FA-'07; $4.2m)

*I'm not sure the Cubs would deal Zambrano since they are still within shouting distance in the Central.

Please explain:

More on Tomko: Tomko has undoubtedly hit his roughest stretch as a Dodger, but Little said he still feels confident that his pitcher will snap out of this funk.

Tomko is 1-7 with a 6.18 ERA in 26 games (eight starts) and he has allowed at least one run in seven of his last nine appearances. In addition, Tomko has lost two games on the current homestand and has allowed a run in each of his last five appearances.

"I think you can still see the ball coming out of his hand. He just has to go through a spell where he's getting better results," Little said. "He's in a bad spell right now, but we look forward to him coming out it anytime now."

It's gotten so bad for Tomko that the Dodgers faithful has booed him in each of his five appearances on the homestand. In Friday's game, the reliever was booed before he made his first pitch and after he got the last out. He took the loss in the 6-5 Marlins win in 10 innings.

"coming out of it" vs. losing games. What do you prefer, Grady?

Hey trainwreck, from the last thread you asked: "Does Jose Mesa have a job?"

I present without further comment: http://tinyurl.com/32juzz

(but thanks for leaving that one for me guys. No, really. Thanks soooooo much.)

222 - "Han-Ram" has been vetoed. I propose instead "Hanley!", which has the same ring to it as Hillary! or Oprah! or Eckstein!

336 - COOL! Another Pennsylvanian, sweetness! Have you planted your flag yet? If not, kindly see the sidebar right above the "Thank You For Not"s...

and thanks to 372 I think I may have to watch that movie again!

I'm puzzled by Grady's "I think you can still see the ball coming out of his hand" quote. What does that mean?

On "Baseball Simulator 1.000" for the original Nintendo, one of the special pitches was a disappearing ball.

Did Grady just drop an old-school NES reference for all of his Generation X peeps in the house?

I just noticed that the Dodgers #1 pick saw some action in the GCL today. Gave up 2 hits and struck out one in one inning of work. I got a little freaked out when I saw his DOB was in 1989. Kid is young to say the least.

Bill Shaikin brings comfort to DT readers worldwide:

http://tinyurl.com/282k7j

This match between Federer and Nadal is fantastic.

387

I read that this morning i'm hoping it's not just tongue & chick & really hope he stays the course.

Open is the thread of game.