Question: is Kuo also out of options? If so, would the Dodgers put him on the 25-man if he is healthy? Does the DL count if heis not healthy (and: is he expected to be healthy on opening day, and if not, when is his expected return)? What is it expected that the Dodgers will do with him when he is ready to pitch?

In other words, would someone who knows more than I do please elaborate on Kuo's status?

1. Signining Andruw Jones. Yes the same guy who ops'ed lower than Gonzo last season is the same guy who has hit 125+ homeruns and 350rbi in the last three years. That SCREAMS middle of the order bat for Ned.
2. Moving Pierre to LF. Even he can't watch what he had to watch again in 08
3. Trading Either and another prospect for a starter. Of course he will try and trade Pierre first but no takers.
4. sign a bullpen guy. just for fun.
5. Bring back Sweeney, Lieberthal and Wolf.
6. Nomar starts at 3b. LaRoche has to earn the job.
7. Kent comes back/Abreau is back up.

4 Kuo's out of options, since he's terrible out of the pen and has no spot in the rotation right now, he might get Jayson Werthed.

Such a significant move would almost get Coletti off the hook for having to do anything else in the offseason.

Adding A-Rod's bat would certainly buy the team all the time they would need to assess areas of pitching weakness and fix them with minor trades by July.

Tantalizing. I hope Coletti doesn't botch it.

13 Because Jones was absurdly unlucky last year and can now be had for below market value. Pierre moving to left is fine because if he's going to play, he should be in the place where he'll do the least damage and there's no good replacement corner outfielders out there. If we can ever get rid of him, he'll be easier to replace than if we didn't have a center fielder. Plus, Pierre/Jones/Kemp gives us the vaunted three center fielders defense.

Boras is confused.

I would be very surprised if Colletti signed a CF, Jones or Hunter. He isn't looking for a CF. He will be looking for a LF and a 3B and a SP. He is looking at both free agents and trades and any player he has is expendible for what he perceives as the right move.

I don't think he would contemplate moving Pierre to LF. I hope I'm right.

http://tinyurl.com/3cx98y

17 I believe A.Jones is a Boras client which never translates to a bargain. I hope Colleti passes on him; he's a player on the decline offensively and defensively.

Regarding Delwyn Young, he belongs on the 25 man roster. What are the thoughts on his defensive merit? On the offensive front, he flat out smokes the ball.

26 Not unless they waive him and no one else claims him, which seems unlikely.

You can platoon him with Ethier, he's put up good-great numbers the last 4 years, he wont kill the budget. He wont complain about playing time.

The only downside is he's 42.

As regfairfield pointed out, Young's K/BB ratio doesn't bode well. Career AAA 2.77:1 (2.6:1 career minors), with no improvement one year to the next. (But he did tattoo that Zito curve that stayed high halfway up the pavilion seats like he was the next Toy Cannon.)

I'd be shocked if Colletti were to go after Dunn or Burrell. Both guys are 3TO hitters, exactly the type that Colletti disdains (think Betemit, only more so).

Alou sounds more likely, though a horrible idea. He'd be much better off just playing Kemp and Ethier every day, with Repko/Young as backups. Of course, that won't happen. Can't happen. Must trade for has-beens the fans have heard of.....

I'll be honest though, I'm watching this off season like I watch one of the Nightmare on Elm Street sequels - I have a pretty good idea of what is going to happen, I know it's likely to be ugly, but I'm just not sure how, exactly, it happens.

In terms of 3rd base, I am sorry I am NOT a believer of Andy LaRoche. While I agree with Jon that it is too early to give up on him, I also believe that just because he is a product of Logan White, and just because we have had a lot of success recently with our kids, this does NOT mean everyone will be successful. In fact I would argue that because of the recent success we have had, we are probally due for some kids that probally wont pan out. That is just the way the game is.

If we can get a productive outfilder and a productive 3rd baseman ( no not nomar) I think we will be fine. But if we do nothing for sure we are looking at another 81 and 81 year.

A. Jones led the majors in THT's Revised Zone Rating for CF's and was 3rd in out-of-zone plays. Doesn't appear to be declining defensively.

I'm with reg 17 that he was unlucky this year offensively. His HR/FB dropped from 22% to 13% which would put him right back at 42 HR. This is what happened to Beltran in 2005 and he bounced right back to career norms. Jones is a year younger than Soriano and the better player. $15M/yr looks like a steal for Jones.

Logan White is the least of it. It's too soon to give up on LaRoche because ... it just is. Giving up on a player at his age, with his stats and the way he looks on the field, would be crazy. Doesn't mean A-Rod wouldn't be better, but LaRoche's potential is nothing to sneeze at.

Ethier finished with an .802 OPS, which would've ranked him just above Gonzo (.793 OPS) and -surprise- Jason Bay (.746 OPS) among regular NL OFers. I think they can do better here.

You might also provide a forum for us to jam about what we saw on the screen over the weekend.

Loaiza is a back of the rotation starter.

Way back.

If the Dodgers have X amount of dollars to spend -- or X number of prospects to trade this off-season -- then I prefer they try to land a true #1 starter in his prime or perhaps two legitimate #2/#3 types. Who is available?

A-rod is the best player in the game, and would be a huge help to the Dodgers, but he is coming off a career year. He is not likely to produce at this level again, but he will be paid based on this year. Would you pay 30mm/year for his 2006 or 2004 performances?

Again, he'd be a huge upgrade, but he will be extremely overpriced. I think we'd be better off going with Andruw Jones and trying to get rid of Pierre.

Schilling
Chacon
Rodrigo Lopez
Lohse
Byrd
Silva
Kenny Rogers

and then way down the list...

Livan Hernandez
Fogg
Piniero
Lieber
Jason Jennings

Which starters look like good options? Which ones look like a joke?

I like Ethier. He's a good solid outfielder who's a couple of years away from his prime.

LaRoche looked exceptional on defense and could improve quite a bit on offense, seems to me.

Being commited to one more year each of Nomas, and Furcal, with potential replacements in the wings, and no one that the FO seems to think can handle CF in the system.
Of course it still leaves us with the Pierre issue.

Did you give up on Loney after his first call-up in April 2006?

And honestly, with the young stable of studs this team has, I think the 2004/2006 A-Rod numbers would fit it quite nicely.

Pierre isn't going anywhere and Ethier and Kemp with full years under their belts will produce nicely.

I go (for broke) for A-Rod.

Beware the DMV, Sammy!

Unless the Yanks bowl Boras over with an extension offer, you have to think he'll opt ARod out. There's probably 5 teams that could realistically have a shot at him.

And then release Zito.

I wonder if the Dodgers could trade Furcal to the Cubs for Mark Prior?

Instead of it being a straight salary dump, the Dodgers could get back something useful. The Cubs management might have given up on Prior as it is.

.270/.373/.423
.796 OPS

Replacing Drew's numbers with Pierre's hurt the Dodgers offense immensely this past off-season.

Hunter will be very expensive, is fading defensively and has always been pretty overrated offensively. Luckily, I think him going to Texas is a match made in heaven.

He'd be the perfect upside purchase though, given his age and previous ability. I was just throwing out a name if the Dodgers wanted to find a taker for Furcal, and the Cubs would be one IMO since they wanted him so badly earlier.

I'd only deal Furcal if it meant getting A-Rod anyways. If not, why not let Furcal play his final season in LA and then re-evaluate what he's worth after the 2008 year.

90 Prior looks like he's completely finished. I love giving damaged good a try but even I wouldn't waste my time with him.

90 Well, perhaps - as I said, it's also possible he could be had cheaply or the Cubs could release him after giving up, in which case he'd be worth a flyer. But not at the cost of a great player.

KL 2006: .301/.360/.403/.763 (SB 32, CS 5)
JP 2007: .293/.331/.353/.684 (SB 64, CS 15)

And for comparison:
KL 2007: .296/.367/.414/.781 (SB 23, CS 7)

JD Drew 2006 was replaced by a rotating platoon of people who didn't match up collectively.

JD 2006: .283/.393/.498/.891

Heck JD Drew didn't replace JD Drew's number.

JD 2007: .270/.373/.423/.796

So maybe we should have kept Kenny Lofton. ;)

Joey, forget the offense, the defense between the two would have saved half the runs Pierre scored.

I like the idea of having Furcal and Lowe both in contract years.

http://tinyurl.com/2y5vsu

And Santana isn't represented by Boras. I don't think an extension is out of the question.

Adding Santana for the 2008 season likely will not ensure a playoff appearance (the offense is still the main problem), so why not just play out the 2008 season, keep the kids, and add Santana for 2009.

Because then we could play LaRoche or A-Rod at 3rd and when Nomar gets hurt, Abreu at 2nd. After watching Kent this year, I have much lower standards defensively for 2nd base.

Andy La Roche turned 24 in Aug. Other then his health I don't understand "I'm not sold on Andy La Roche".

The number of hitters who hit 30 or more home runs in 2006 and how they declined in 2007 is staggering. I'll be updating the list that HQ presented last week, but when they published the list, there had been a 29% decline in production in home runs from those hitters. That will drop a little when whatever home runs hit this week are added, but it will still be a sharp decline. What Arod did while everyone else was declining is even more amazing.

That was quite a bomb D Young hit last night. It went about as deep into the pavilion as you'll ever see.

For '08, sign a FA hitter, A-Rod or Jones, and if you can't do that, do nothing. I'm ready to have a year like Arizona and Colorado have just had. I'd rather have a fumbling first half and an intense, promising second half than have a year like the last few, where we hang around the margins of the pennant race, but clearly can't compete beyond the last week or the first round of the playoffs.

If Kent and Lowe don't like that scenario, they've got value in the trade market. We should only keep them if we get a difference-making offensive FA.

Not sure what the Dodgers could use that the Cardinals have, but it could be a start.

All the quotes as of late seem like mixed messages. They want a power hitter, they want to build around the kids, they think a couple of the kids could be power hitters in a year or two, they'll move anyone if it's the right deal.

Maybe he won't shop Pierre, but I could see him looking at offers for him. And while he's not well liked around here, there are a lot of old schoolers who will like some of Pierre's numbers - of course, any scouting report should say the same thing, "Run away, run away, run away!"

"You're the best (CRASH!) Arooound! Nothing's gonna ever keep you down!
You're the best (CRASH!) Arooound!"

I'd much rather trade LaRoche than Kemp at this point because of the injury thing. I don't know how much I'd trade either, but if we can pull off signing A-Rod as well, it could work. With a really high payroll.

I don't know if I'd trade for Santana without definitely signing A-Rod this year.

I love the offseason. I just do. It's awesome.

The other option is to trade Furcal and play A-Rod at short. Then Nomar is only holding Abreu's place, assuming, of course, that Kent has already gone to the AL somewhere.

In a month, it'll be 31.

Who was the last Dodger captain? I can't even think of one after Pee Wee Reese. There has to have been one, right?

Not to mention his lack of work ethic, but to be honest I'm still holding back judgment on that, Diamod Lung did make you raise your eye brows after reading what he said about La Roche though.

I've heard it was Davey Lopes, I'm pretty sure it was him.

I'm the biggest LaRoche fanboy in the world and I'd take Kemp over him too. Even so, both of those guys should still be considered untouchable.

Even if we assumed that Colletti had an epiphany from watching Pierre all season long and finally realized that the guy just isn't that good, and even if there were still other GMs out there who still think Pierre has a lot to offer, his contract makes him all but untradeable.

Not only is he still owed $36 million over the next four years, but as a player traded in the middle of a multi-year contract, he would be able to demand a trade at the end of the following season. With leverage like that, Pierre is an immobile object in our outfield for the foreseeable future.

I think we might make a run at Andruw Jones and that would put Pierre in left. I don't think we really want to move Pierre off the team even if we could, he did what was expected of him and while I truly don't love the guy, you have to give credit where it is due and he got on base and changed a few games with him presence. He played a solid outfield the second half as far as getting to balls, but he'll never have a big league arm.

I think Pierre's style of play can fit in when we are generating more power from other sources. I also like Furcal when he's healthy and would be interested in locking him up for three more years if we could.

That is why you see players asking for opt-outs when they sign deals or straight no-trade clauses.

Over how many games...?

No.

But yeah, it doesn't really change anything. Pierre's not going anywhere.

Good point, but the guy has NEVER pitched a COMPLETE YEAR, I really hope he's 100% for us in '08.

You won't catch me advocating a million bucks for Seanez anytime soon.

Tomko (with Dodgers): 78
Hendrickson: 87
Odalis: 86
Edwin Jackson: 80 (with the worst defense in baseball)
Seo: 57

Starting rotation beset with injuries, the Dodger bullpen was probably better for most of the year but offensively, Reyes slumped big time, the old guys played old, and it took until game 160, to have their best player, David Wright speak up about taking pride, etc.

And I think while David Wright was correct to speak up, it again points up a flaw in roster construction when your best players have only played in the majors for a few years. Wright isn't going to get in the face of the older guys, he isn't going to Billy Wagner and find out what the deal is, etc.

I guess, fortunately for Grady, the streak that did in the Dodgers was back in August, though as close as September 16th, the Dodgers were still only 1.5 games out but then they lost 6 in a row and ultimatley 9 of ten to barely finish above .500

The best three players on the Mets, Wright, Reyes and Beltran are today better than the any player on the Dodgers but they have real issues at their other spots and I still like the Dodgers prospects for 2008 better than the Mets.

Since the Furcal $4m bonus is not due until January 2009, I've always considered that a part of the 2009 payroll, but I can see an argument for counting in in 2008.

Which is probably why no GM will offer much of anything for K/Guo.

Pierre has a clause in his contract that, as he demanded, requires that he start 162 games per year. Sad but true. Go Neddie!

He was just stating that he plays everyday because he has a contract that pays him to play for 162 games. It is the same logic that Cal used. I admire Cal but I think all streaks come with a cost and that managers should break steaks before they become distractions and secondary to winning baseball games.

As long as he is healthy (which apparently, if you look at his career, he does do that as well as anyone), if he is wearing a Dodger uniform next year, he will be out there somewhere in the outfield.

The Mets, meanwhile, were considered the Class of the NL in March and played like it for the first two months. Finally, blowing a 7 game lead (which the Dodgers never had) with only two weeks to go is u n b e l i e v a b l e.

What affect does that have on his numbers? Obviously, it hurts his OBP, but what about the rest?

OBP = (H + BB + HBP) / (AB + BB + HBP + SF)

Except in the case of the 12 hour fielder's choice that was called a sacrifice by Rafael Furcal. But Bob made sure that was changed.

...managers should break steaks...

So, let me rephrase, if he was swinging away instead of dropping sacrifice bunts, what impact does that have on his numbers and the Dodger's offense?

I know he has the streak and all but that seems strange.

Love the discussion and I always learn a lot reading Jon's posts and this board. I think all of us and every like-minded fan should email the Dodgers to generally support the youth movement, so McCourt and Colletti won't think the city is behind Plaschke, Simers, et al.

I was upset at McCourt's recent remarks that we have enough talent to win but didn't come through, and that he learned more about individuals in their response to losing. These comments show that he thinks Colletti built a winner but the players' attitudes (read Loney, Kemp, etc.) were to blame. So it wasn't wasting $30m on Pierre, Schmidt and Nomar, it was the guys who had OPS over 1.000 in September. Okay, clearly he's wrong, but we need to let the Dodgers know that many fans don't think the way the LA Times does. McCourt needs to learn that we didn't have enough talent - it was clear in spring training that we had talent to win 80-88 games. I doubt he'll listen to us more than Tommy but we must try.

Please please please join me in emailing some sense into our team.

Thanks

Martin-C
Furcal-SS
Loney-1B
Kemp-CF
Young-LF
Kent-2B
Ethier-LF
LaRoche-3B

With a little more pitching, I'd happily go to war with that. Pierre and Repko offer depth in the outfield, Garciaparra and Abreu in the infield. Obviously, any sort of move to bench Pierre for any length of time requires a manager who has enough stones to be worthy of the title of "manager"; if Grady doesn't, that's his problem. That lineup will win the National League.

Well, you should be able to. Think of the hijinx that would ensue.

The biggest problem was all this stuff coming outside the clubhouse, both Kent's comments and then what followed. It caused unnecessary articles, both local and national, about really nothing more than frustration about the a disappointing finish.

Do players gripe about playing time on every team, I would think so.

Are there generational splits, ethnic splits, religous splits, music splits, anything splits in a room filled with 25-30 guys from different backgrounds in every big league city? I again, not having been there, still would say yes. Now these are probably not talked about and probably not amount to much in the end when it comes to winning and losing, you just hear about more when you lose.

Its been almost two years since the Jacksonville 5 won their league championship, I think come spring of 2008, outside of Joel Guzman and Edwin Jackson who both were there, the rest of that team plus James McDonald, Jon Meloan and Matt Kemp will be helping the Dodgers start a new tradition in their 50th anniversary season.

Will there be some vets along way, probably but the main guys will be the players who played the last week of the 2007 season.

... I made an error in my lineup; it should read Ethier-RF.

201

... If both Kent and Nomar walk, then I wouldn't have a problem wading into the free agent pool for insurance, in case Abreu can't cut it offensively.

So anybody that won't be on the team in 2009 should not be on the team in 2008.

Goodby Kent, Nomar, Saenz, Saenez, Leiberthal, Hernandez, Loaiza, Wells, Hendrickson. Lieberthal could be the exception.

Trade Pierre, Abreu, LaRoche, Kuo to SF for Cain. Trade Kent and Lowe to Texas for Ian Kinsler.

Trade Nomar to the Angels for Shields.

Sign AROD.

I think that if we did have a manager who had the onions to bench Pierre for a while, we might get lucky and have Pierre demand to be traded. Knowing that would decrease his market value though, I'd prefer to trade him proactively. As for Kent, I think he's a permanent cancer in the clubhouse now and needs to be moved. He is LaRussa's kinda guy, so let's start there. Plus we need to create a spot for Hu.

I know he appreciates it and really, everyone here probably spends more on their other vices. So a few bucks can be spared as DT enters year 6.

Why is Texas taking on over 20 million dollars of salary for anyone?

The Angels are not trading Scot Shields.

... Trading Pierre would amount to another Goodwin/Odalis situation; paying a guy NOT to play for the Dodgers. I'm not a big fan of that. Look, I actually think Pierre can be a useful player, if used as a reserve. He's a very expensive reserve, but the team's paying him the money anyway -- it's too late for that to be a factor now.

We should have learned not to trade anything of value for middle relief.

That is where my money is.

https://badaltitude.baseballtoaster.com/archives/827181.html

Ray Durham is not wanted in SF and has a year at 7 million left. We have an unhappy Nomar and Kent at about the same amount, 9 million each.

I don't want Durham, but can you picture a scenario like the Giants and Angels had with Edgardo Alfonzo and Steve Finley?

I hope Kent can fit into our 2008 team with a winning attitude. I don't think there will be much of a market for Nomar unless there is an equal salary dump or if we pick up most of the guaranteed contract.

I think that if you trade Lowe you'll have to do something to fill in for him in the rotation. Even assuming a healthy Schmidt, I see him as being a drop off from D-Lowe, who has been rather consistent the last 3 years. I also think Penny will be more injury prone next year, though both are valuable enough that I think trading one of them would almost necessitate getting Santana. If I were to propose something, I'd just try something like Kent and Pierre to NYY for Melky Cabrera or Johnny Damon.

Trade Nomar to the Angels for Shields.
Nomar has a no trade clause, and I don't know if he'll waive it.

Sign AROD.
I'll offer $250 million over 7 for starters.

1. House of Cards
2. Nude (Big Ideas) or whatever they end up calling it
3. Down is the New Up
4. All I Need
5. 15 Step
6. Videotape

Woah.

I think he'd waive it to go to Anaheim, if the potential for playing time was greater there. But I think he'd be behind even more young players at third there (Figgins, Aybar, Izturis, MacPherson).

You can pre-order the "Discbox" which has a copy of the download on CD, plus a vinyl copy, plus a second CD of additional material plus the download access for 40 pounds, or about $80. It will ship in December and you can also download the material on Oct 10th. The download alone doesn't have the additional material. Looks like 'Down is the New Up' didn't make the cut

Whatever it is, it's worth it to me. I hope they tour and I can get tix again. It was a a challenge at the Greek, got a single for each night, had to pay scalper price for one. SD was an easier ticket to get.

LaRoche doesn't even exist to him.

How?

Gee, thanks Esteban.

Forecast: ... third base is a black hole

A middle-of-the-order third baseman is the biggest need.

I do not think we should trust him with a spot in the rotation.

"Look at how the young players have progressed. They're all better than they were," said Colletti. "A lot of credit I give to [Grady Little]. Part of the interviewing process last year was working with young players and his willingness to play young players. A lot of managers would shy away from playing young players because they're not a finished product. We're seeing the results of it. That's a key component when you're trying to do what we're doing, staying the course. The opposite component is not a good fit. We're going to continue playing young players."

At the end of the video, said leader says "We've never been 'stay the course'".

That's how.

What did he do differently in the 2nd half?

Sometimes I would be really suprised!

Honestly the at bats I saw him take after Murray was scapegoated seemed to show a little more patience and waiting for his pitch, but I am sure there are stats that prove thats not true.

So, luck I guess, which is what you are thinking? lol

I think tonight we get the game on TBS at 7:30 ET, on TBS. I'll be flipping with the Patriots later.

He was first on the team in GB% too, about in line with his career.

Was he just unlucky with respect to slugging percentage?

The Toaster is trying to steer discussions of postseason games to the other blogs.

So feel free to visit Bad Altitude, Cubs Town, Mike's Baseball Rants (Phillies), Cardboard Gods (Red Sox), and Bronx Banter.

The Griddle will host any game threads that end up not involving those teams.

I'm waiting for that Angels-DBacks World Series.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, could be...

Yemen?

I can't find the "breaking story" Sam, I looked on FoxNews & CNN to no avail.

I think "ixnay" is probably used more than "nix" these days. It's rare to see "nix" used outside of the porcine-latin context anymore!

There seem to be a fair number of volcanoes in that part of the world though.

Go figure!

http://tinyurl.com/2a6ko3

http://www.volcanolive.com/usa.html

Jeff Kent plays 2B like a monolith.

Beimel, Repko and Proctor are ARB eligible and will probably get more than they are worth.

Stults is also out of options like Houlton, Kuo and Young.

Kent is $9M + $2M in performance bonuses.

Tomko is owed the $1m in 08 along with $750K for O. Perez and $750K for Mueller.

I do not think Ned will let his long lost son Martinez leave the team.

I have the teams payroll at $98M for 2008. This does not include Saenz, Seanz, Wells, Hendrickson, Hernandez, Hillenbrand, Repko, Gonzalez or Valdez.

That game would have torn my guts out if I were a fan of either team.

http://www.linkmeister.com/blog/archives/002568.html

Then again, there was a lot on the line and I want the Dodgers to be in those situations.

http://tinyurl.com/247jfz

Kyle Lohse is a free agent this year.

The Yankees must be licking their chops.

At post 794. Amateurs.

Mere child's play.

Kent, Garciapara, Lowe, Penny, Furcal, Loaiza off Dodger payroll at end of 2008.

Kershaw, McDonald, Billingsley in the rotation in 2008.

Hello Dodgers

There is a whole range of things between "not angry" and "murderous rage", but it would take me too long to categorize them all.

Oh well.

Here's Normandin's conclusion from the last 2 paras of his lengthy article:

http://tinyurl.com/3aoeom

"Unless it's down the middle, Bay can't do much with it when it's inside. He's still hitting the ball in the center and outside parts of the plate though, which you can see reflected in the directional chart and hit charts above.

Bay's pull power is what made him such a great run producer; without that, he's just like those players he has been compared to throughout his career. The league needs its Rusty Greers, Jeff Conines, and Bobby Higginsons, but the Pirates need the 2005 of Jason Bay, and it's very likely that's something that has already been lost to history."

See? Murderous rage/indifference is more efficient.

Well said LAT. on another not you really gotta hand it to Matt Herges I really feel he & Josh Bell deserve WAY more credit then what radio sports guys are giving them they both pitched absolutely brilliantly in a MUST WIN game, really gutsy performances by both of them.

For now, he is a Beaver.

I also get a kick out of posters picking apart my proposed trades or youthful pitching dreams. I just find it more friendly to suggest trades or scenarios that won't happen than venting my dislike for a player on the Dodgers and post that I want them to go or that I would be happy to just get a PTBNL for them.

It's interesting to me that two close calls affected the Rockies last night--the one at the plate (positively) and the one on Atkins' double in the seventh (negatively).

That is how it looked to me, but I would love to see a good angle. I think no matter what the problem was the throw (short hop to a catcher) and Barrett not catching the ball. Those two things would have taken care of it completely and there would be no room for argument. I sort of feel bad for the Padres fans, kind of like I feel bad for Britney.

Oh, Trevor Hoffman does not seem to handle these high pressure situations too well.

The Padres only have themselves to blame for not winning one of their last three games. The human element of umpiring is part of what makes baseball a great game.

Well said, and I agree. The Padres really only have themselves to blame for this epic meltdown. Hoffman was only one strike away this weekend, and he couldn't get it done. That has to hurt. To see this and the Mets collapse has put things in perspective for me. At least I was able to give up on the Dodgers two weeks ago. The scene at Shea stadium this weekend just looked so painful. As a fan, I can empathize with that kind of heartache.