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
Delwyn went 2-4 with a double.
Pierre, CF
Kemp, RF
Kent, 2B
Ethier, LF
Hillenbrand, 3B
Loney, 1B
Lieberthal, C
Wells, P
underdog did the announcers give you any update on his condition? are they gonna ease him back in the lineup, one wonders if he's 100% I'm still looking at it with a raised eyebrow.
http://www.amazon.com/Historical-Conquests-Josh-Ritter-Bonus/dp/B000TD9LE4
http://tinyurl.com/2glegh
Isn't Edwin Jackson the (perhaps potentially) cautionary tale regarding service time and running young pitchers up to the majors? I realize that at age 19, Jackson is the extreme example, but I can understand reluctance on the part of Dodger front-office folks to rush their pitchers into the 40- or 25- man rosters earlier than might be prudent. As Eric Enders touches on in 46 of the last thread, if the Dodgers had kept Jackson, they would have had difficult roster decisions to make. Under a more normal development curve, he'd still have options left, less time on the 40-man roster, and could have finished his learning in AAA, not the majors.
I hope this doesn't turn out to be more prescient than we could have known.
1) They really needed him to make those starts. And his performance in those starts showed that it probably wasn't too soon.
2) At the time, we all thought he was coming up to the majors for good. Remember, he was the favorite to win the 5th starter's job the next spring but pitched his way out of the role. Nobody thought we'd need to use even ONE of his options, much less all of them.
It's easy to say in retrospect that the Dodgers should have done differently, but nobody knew that he was going to both get hurt AND forget how to pitch. It's just one of those things that happens sometimes. It could have happened with Fernando or Ramon Martinez also, but it didn't. I don't think the Jackson case should make us particularly wary of calling up young pitchers when their minor league performance dictates they're ready.
Don't mind it. I just hate when they say he is good, because they never bother to look at stats. People just say it because they like how he plays.
According to Joe Morgan, that pitch got a lot of the strike zone.
Riiiiiight.
that pitch was too close to take with 2 strikes.
Kemp needs to concentrate on getting a good pitch to hit, not worrying about striking out. The called strike could have gone either way.
aside from some really mediocre pitching, he could never seem to buy a break.
My poorly-made point is that that should be the lesson learned. (I'm not really trying to damn the Dodgers for the past judgment; it did make some sense, perhaps, at the time.) If you move a young kid up, even if you think he's ready, you are limiting some of your longer-term choices, and the Dodgers had few options once Jackson suffered a setback. I'm just saying that management has more to considered than if some 20-year old minor league pitcher would be better than, say, Tomko or Wells today.
6 IP, 7 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
get your point but Kemp at this point in time (hate to admit this) is NOT a good situational/thinking mans hitter, I really feel he had a bad at bat.
Do you want to see David Wells in a tight jersey?
I did not think so.
He ran the count to 2-2 and got two called strikes that were questionable. How is that a bad at-bat?
The longer he makes better starts, the worse the front office looks for having him throw those pitches in the minor league level when the mlb level is calling. But then again, at 7 games out in the division, 4 in the WC--it might not matter.
Of course, people may die of alcohol poisoning.
Seriously, this guy is our future. He is one of the ones that give me hope.
Fat Tub of Goo
it's one of those things were we know how good he can be so we get kind of frustrated when he doesn't produce, sprinkle in some bad playing from the Dodgers are you got moody DTer's
He's got a hu?? what going on?? type face in the mug.
Two words: Wilson Betemit
My guess is 50.
Just the numbers, Wilson's line in NY. .209/.277/.442, key numbers 3 HRs, 4 BB, 17 K in 47 plate appearances.
Jayson Werth (153 abs with Phillies)
.294/.391/.458
Milton Bradley (101 abs with Padres)
.356/.454/.653
Cody Ross (106 abs with Marlins)
.302/.405/.594
I'm sorry that Werth got hurt but he was out almost 2 years, Milton has been in and out of the lineup for 3 years and Cody Ross is also not immune to the DL.
That seems like it could easily add up to an extra run every third game played.
thanks i wasnt watching.
we're inventing ways of not scoring it seems.
actually it would be
F4, K, K
lol
still, pretty awesome.
:)
Oh, I think Morgans going to cry and I don't want to hear it.
Good call!
Wish I'd have called "If Wells leads off this inning with a bunt single, I predict good things."
Terrible base running, but if you have no faith in your coaching, its going to happen.
I would guess that was the game; but I am really for McCourt learning that this game is over and he could lead a glorious new one.
I would like to go, but I have no car and none of my friends care.
That could be taken in at least two different ways ;-)
I was basically pleading someone to go with me to see the Emerald Bowl last year and I could not get anyone.
Oh, don't talk about Kershaw in our rotation next year Peter. You are scaring people.
We're playing with them.
He's sinking fast.
Nice to have some speed when the IF is playing back expecting a line drive.
I will take this one, too.
Maybe LAT was right, just in the opposite way he meant.
Loney, Kemp, and Ethier were in the lineup together for Wednesday's game against the Phils plus they were in there for Friday's game.
Please keep this lineup permanently! This is nice :)
Say, Anyez, did you see where I left my keys?
Older and Balder, for sure.
Fatter, hard to tell, his shirt is so loose, I can't say. They did show a clip of his perfect game and he's more "svelte" compared to now.
Dang! I forgot about that. Yes, obviously we need Martin back.
I assume you mean personally never seen them win in HD yes?
They have quite a few games in HD this year, on KCAL and FSNPT, so obviously they had to win at least one.
How can any baseball analyst not peruse statistics, especially the guy who is on the big ESPN game of the week?
Underdog mentioned on the last thread that La Roche is back, I'm hoping he gets a call up. I don't know how healthy he is though cause he came in for PH duties only.
PDH5204, did you really say in the last thread that you have seen every Devil Rays game this year?
Did you mean it?
That discussion about Springsteen brought back a memory I can't believe I haven't accessed in all these years, especially since I remember it so clearly now. I was about 15 and my dad was griping about how music had gone to heck and no one wrote lyrics like Bob Dylan used to (little did he know that Dylan was only halfway through his career at that point). I was 15, so I disagreed with everything he said of course, but I really disagreed with that. And so I went up and got my River double album (you kids can find out what that is from wikipedia I expect) and put on the title track. And he really was moved by it, and we ended up sitting and just listening to the whole album. Oh, and he opened a bottle of wine and I had a glass of that (me n' Rusty!).
So glad to have that memory back.
I am so glad he pointed that out.
It looks very simple to me. If you can develop a player in your system that is an average or above average major league player, you can put him on the field and build a good team. If you fill a couple of slots on your team with way above average free agents, you can build a great team.
IMO Martin and Ethier are major leaguers.
with 500-1000 mlb at bats Kemp, Loney, Abrue, Hu, and LaRoche(given health) are MLB ball players.
The organization can dick around as long as McCourt will allow it to spread money through the old boy network of execs, coaches and over the hill players. But the sooner they face the future, the better off the will be.
I hate to be a pessimist, but I feel the die was cast in this game by the managing of the 4th and 5th inning and I hope I am wrong.
Hoo, what a pitch!
whatd he say!!!??!
Hope they win so Kemp's mistakes can be swept under the carpet. You know, like they would have been had it been Nomar or LuGo.
I'd rather he not....
i understand being upset, as i was too, but he has been steady this year, and has been an asset to the team.
2.0 WHIP
0.66 K/BB
3.6 K/9
Joe takes every opportunity to say this. You know what? The Dodgers were "struggling" a week ago, but they won two series before coming to NY and are on the verge of having a decent road trip.
So is that "struggling"?
The reason is, for the Mets, this is actually the first time they've won a home series in quite some time. They were due.
At this point I'm not overly concerned about the WC race... GO SAMMY!! sweet!
Question: If the Dodgers used Tomko in this game, would they have still won tonight?
10 base runners in 5 innings.
The only good thing was he didnt give up any homers.
Dodgers must sweep the Nationals: Bills/Lowe/Penny--gotta win all those considering the following series is against the Padres.
You are correct that the Dodgers need to sweep Nats going against our three best arms. If we sweep Nats I'm hoping for Pods to sweep D'Backs. We all climb back into the race. In additon, I think we have more head to head games against the Pods.
No segueway here, but what a huge win!
Wells' game score: 44
I don't have a Segway either, but they don't work so well in the snow.
Dodgers are only 3.5 back of the WC. Crazier things have happened. I haven't given up on the team yet. Things would be much nicer if Schmidt hadn't been hurt and Wolf had regained his pre-injury form -- I had been counting on starting pitching being a strength of this team. But I'm happy with how they're in the picture, given the injuries, and still hoping for a comeback.
"I'm just passing this on from the DT comments. The author of this comment, Eric Enders, is a smart guy, with good taste, along the Al Green/Springsteen/Ramones/Wilco axis, if there is such an axis. He's a baseball writer too; in fact, he wrote an article that appeared in the program on Opening Day 2005 at RFK. (If you have that program, check out the photo of a 14-year-old-looking rookie Catfish Hunter that ran.)"
Ror the record, underdog was anxious to hear what Gammons had to say.
Anyway, Sam, you may be interested in reading this blog post:
http://tinyurl.com/24w3lo
http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/f1/609093
password: loney
vr, Xei
I swear sometimes no one even watches the game, all they want to do is dump on Pierre.
bh, Dohn has got me really paranoid about Price and I must say I am also surprised what he said about Bateman.
Ok, he changed it. Not so paranoid.
No it isn't a masterpiece, but I was surprised in a good way that Wells was effective enough to make it through 5 innings tonight.
That doesn't mean he won't eventually get two bad back to back starts, but tonight was a good night for the blue.
I see where you're coming from, but that's a little much.
The Mets scored a run tonight which would not have scored with virtually any other arm playing center field. This is a fact and also a legitimate thing to discuss, I think.
Are you disputing the notion that the run would not have scored on another center fielder? Or are you stipulating that's true, and just annoyed that people are actually discussing it?
Wells allowed 10 baserunners in five innings, striking out two. Stults allowed 10 baserunners in 4 2/3 innings, striking out four. Doesn't seem like there was much difference in the two performances - was there if you watched?
1) Could an organization put together a better ceremony for a retired player than the Astros did for Jeff Bagwell today? (video, gallery, etc available at www.astros.mlb.com)
2) Have we discussed/enjoyed Mr. Kurkjian's take on the Rangers explosion the other day? http://tinyurl.com/34h42o
Also, Lastings looks like Dwight Gooden.
I actually watched the game on Tivo tonight after coming back late, and have to say that was actually one of the most enjoyable Dodgers games I've watched all season - for what that's saying - outside of the times they beat the Giants up here in SF.
My take on the game?
- Seeing Wells' bunt hit was a kick and a hoot. He jumped started that inning and it was just a riot seeing him rumbling to first base.
- That and beaning Jeff Kent really seemed to rattle John Maine. He didn't pitch badly and that error by Conine didn't help but he really seemed to labor.
- On that point, this is one of the few games where the Dodgers did what many of us harp on them for not doing, which is work the count, up the pitcher's pitch count. For once!
- The game also reminded me of another reason the Dodgers have often struggled on offense this season - it's simple and we all know it, not rocket science, but Rafael Furcal. Despite Joe Morgan going on and on about how he and Pierre have done their job this season but no one's driven them home, it's not true if you look at the season overall (more true lately) and when Furcal is right and hitting well the offense has a better chance to click.
- Yeah, Gammons actually mentioned Kershaw. I don't know how true it is that he'll be in the rotation next year, but it was cool to at least hear them talk about him. Er, I mean, about the Minotaur.
- Lastings Milledge still has some things to learn about playing the outfield and running the bases.
Matt Kemp came through; I only want to see him learn to be more defensive in his at bats, when two strikes are on him, he gets caught looking on close or borderline pitches.
And Wells? Well, 48 strikes and 25 balls is pretty decent. He definitely threw them a few hittable pitches that they ripped but overall his control - as it has been in his career - was solid and I can't imagine anything near that from Brett Tomko tonight.
I wouldn't have even watched if Tomko pitched. So if nothing else, they won and he helped and that's about all I could ask for.
Oh, and in my Milledge comment above I meant to add, so does Matt Kemp (re running the bases).
And Juan Pierre really is hitting the ball and playing better. It may fall under the Too Little Too Late Dept., but I don't see him as much as The Problem as I used to. (They have other problems, still.)
Honestly, it won't be as easy it once would have been, but I have to hope for a sweep of the Nationals at home for their playoff chances to feel more legit.
night!
You people and your completely fabricated pitching prospects are infecting the MSM. Stop that.
But Rosenthal mentioned him as well. So I'm not crazy. In fact, it was a simple error and I'm insulted that you think otherwise.
If James McDonald's arm is healthy enough to be throwing a Double A game, then it's healthy enough to be throwing a major league one.
If Andy LaRoche is healthy enough to be throwing a Triple A game, then he's healthy enough to be playing a major league one.
321 I'm not sure how healthy LaRoche is yet though - seems like they're easing him back into it. I really wish that Abreu was healthy, given Kent's status right now, that would be the best solution.
Not understanding the NL is great. It's like people who don't like baseball in general or, dare I say it, soccer. Good. Don't like it.
I prefer to quietly judge from my imaginary ivory tower. You're doing a better job of explaining it than I ever would.
That guy is wonderful!
{High fives and various intricate clubhouse celebration rituals.}
One time my wife, who hates baseball, was sitting with me watching a Dodger game broadcast by Mr. Morgan. In the middle of the game, she said to me, "He really hates the Dodgers, doesn't he?"
My guess is that they plan on shutting down a tiring McDonald once the Jacksonville season ends so they didn't want to mess with the 40 man for just one start.
This might be a case of them protecting his future rather then a bad baseball decision.
We'll find out if they add him when they expand and use him, or if they shut him down.
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