Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Jon's other site:
Screen Jam
TV and more ...
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
Let's weigh the importance of the Dodgers playing exhibition games in China next season against the importance of them playing a full schedule of exhibition games in their 60th and final season in Vero Beach, giving longtime and first-time visitors the biggest chance possible to see them there. No brainer, right? China can wait.
Bill Shaikin has more about the Dodgers' simmering controversy with their Vero Beach partners at the Times.
* * *
Bernie Williams? Nice guy, but help me Rhonda, only as a bench player, please - and probably not even worth the dough for that.
In this article appearing at ESPN.com, Williams seems to agree.
"I don't think I have any plans to do something like that," Williams said.
* * *
Dodger Thoughts commenter CanuckDodger offered this take on the team's preparations for the Rule 5 draft (to help explain why Chin-hui Tsao was ejected from the 40-man roster):
We need all of the roster spots that have been cleared for a good reason: we need to protect six minor leaguers from the Rule 5 draft. People have already mentioned (James) McDonald, (Justin) Orenduff and (Xavier) Paul as no-brainers. Somebody mentioned Cory Wade as a possible, but I think he is definitely in. The other two guys are Ramon Troncoso and Wesley Wright. If Wade, Troncoso and Wright are not protected, I guarantee they will be lost in the Rule 5 draft, and they are the kinds of arms that a non-competitive club would have no problem hiding on the 25-man roster, doing bullpen mop-up work if nothing else.
* * *
Don't forget to check out Ross Porter's Real Sports Heroes, either online or at 12:24 p.m. weekdays at KLAC AM 570.
And just in case anyone is wondering about other Joe Faves...Scott Brosius is currently the head coach at Linfield College. Luis Sojo is a manager in the Yankees system. Miguel Cairo is still active, however, playing last year for StL.
"I've been listening to all the things that have been said, and all the news and everything," Williams said. "I've been kind of an outsider looking into the whole situation. It's kind of bizarre to look at it from outside. But no, I don't think I have any plans to do anything like that at this point."
http://tinyurl.com/377xhn
Joe: "You know who would really help this team: Bernie Williams."
Everyone else in the entire world, including Bernie himself: "Wait, huh?"
I think Repko might be getting the Jayson Werth treatment, in that they might just non-tender him. I honestly don't know if that's a decision they need to make on him just yet, given his service time.
(From Herald Tribune) "Dodgers' Minor Leaguer Delwyn Young hit a three-run homer in the first inning to lead the U.S. to a 5-1 victory over Japan on Saturday in a Group A clash in the 37th Baseball World Cup in Taiwan."
recover quic
Really? I mean, sure, it's a long trip, and they'll be jet-lagged for a couple days, but these are kids, not old farts like us (well, 'cept for Kent). They'll recover quickly.
And they're not rowing a Viking ship over there - they'll be traveling in style. As long they get a couple days off at some point, they'll be fine. I can't imagine any lingering effects.
I don't know Go Bears I kind of agree with LAT big time.
Also I gave this a shot twice yesterday to no avail. not sure if I am being given the cold shoulder or what but can anyone shed any light on Jon Meloan possibly starting for us? An answer from say Nate Purcell or any of the other prospect guys would be great.
*Denotes team option in 2009
Mark Texeira
Chipper Jones
Carl Crawford
Adam Dunn
Vladimir Guerrero
Manny Ramirez*
Rich Harden*
Jake Peavy
C.C. Sabathia
Johan Santana
Ben Sheets
Dodgers coming off the payroll in 2009
Furcal, Nomar, Lowe, Penny*, Kent
That said, I don't know any reason the Dodgers need to go instead of some other team.
Why go to China in 2008? The future, Mr. Arneson. The future.
The Yankees are already in China in essence. They have agreements to develop players in China in place. They've signed two players from China.
Peavy's 2009 option is for $8M (with an escalator clause that can bring it up to $11M.
And I think Andrew knows that Kuo and Tsao are not from China.
Eventually we will find out that Andrew's real name is Owen Lattimore.
Saito's from China, isn't he?
John Huston spooks me to this day!
Have the Padres committed to China yet?
I thought we did that to appease Bud Selig.
Meloan's fastball would take a significant hit if he would become a starter (I'm thinking 88-90MPH) his fastball is also pretty straight so I think the coaches who switched him to a reliever did him a favor. I'd be more than happy if he proves us all wrong but as it stands I like him as a reliever plenty more.
We do a lot of things to appease Selig. Maybe the culmination is that Selig won't get pissed when we give Arod 250mil dollars.
Doing my quick math, it looks as if the Dodgers have about $40 million coming off of the payroll after this season. If we do not trade any of the good young 'uns this offseason, that will mean that Ethier, Bills, Broxton, and Martin will be eligible for arbitration for the first time (I believe).
Assuming some sort of long term deal (especially for Martin) I will subtract about $12 million from that total. That is some serious dough coming off at the right time with all of those guys except Lowe having ready replacements waiting in the wings.
Our fiscal situation looks good enough to go after ARod this year or wait and get a world beater rotation next year.
I wish I could be a fly on the wall during the Ng/White/Watson/Colletti meetings to see what they think...
I actually have seen Meloan quite a bit. He went to my college and I use to watch his starts during his junior year.
When he starts or pitches for a long length, his stuff diminishes a bit and his fb doesn't have the same velocity and his breaking pitches do not have the same bite. I also think the recoil action in his delivery will give his elbow significant problems if he logs a lot of innings.
I mean, he could definitely start. He has grown up starting and has done it to start his professional career. But to maximize his stuff, he is better off going in 1-2 inning stints.
Marty, did you know that Gus's Bar-B-Q, home of South Pasadena's worst food is now closed for remodeling and will reopen under new management?
On Nov. 6, it was written that my office was "concerned about the McCourts' scorecard." In just four years of Frank and Jamie McCourt's stewardship, the Dodgers have increased their fan base by more than 600,000, have invested nearly $120 million into renovating Dodger Stadium, donated millions of dollars to the community and Major League Baseball initiatives such as the Compton Youth Academy and the Jackie Robinson Scholarship Foundation, and invested heavily in improving their minor league system.
If he wanted to say "increased attendance," why didn't he?
P.S. I wonder if middle relief is the plan for Chan Ho? Does he have that kind of ability?
Definitely, but I would rather toss in Meloan if we had to decide between the two.
Bills has to wait until after 2009.
62 If they can play let's sign em.
Say it with me. Matt Kemp and James Loney.
Young splits time with slappy
2009 - Abreu in for Kent
Kershaw in for Lowe
Hu in for Furcal
Extend Penny
Have a field day on legit FA's
It just seems so much more efficient than giving up anything for Cabrera. I know hes amazing and 8 years younger but I don't feel ARods drop off being too dramatic over the next 5 years baring injuries considering his work-ethic
Kemp is exciting, I agree, but the Dodgers still need power this offseason.
If we need to trade a fourth outfielder on a good team (that's you, Andre Ethier) to get star-quality talent, it needs to be done.
how do you figure to trade a fourth outfielder on a good team to get star quality talent?
I am in the sign A-rod camp, I would rather the dodgers trade an obscene amount of money for a top tier player than and obscene amount of talent.
If they do trade for MC I wouldn't give up more than LaRoche,Ethier and MacDonald with maybe some cash incentives or a throw in second/third rate prospect.
I aggree with that offer, I don't know that Florida will bite, but I would prefer to keep our talent and see what it can do. And save our bullets for 2009's FA.
I can see him with an OB% of 340, hitting between 15 and 20 hr's and driving a fair amount of runs...he is not a player who you build around, but he is not a bench player...
And, are the games usually day games?
Loney has a career OPS of .915. 05 and 06 combined give him a full season of plate appearances. .900 OPS is a big bat, regardless of how many HRs were hit in the process.
Plus A-Rod isn't on the Chris Farley diet.
Who do you think is realistically going to be available? Young all-star talent almost always get resigned because GMs cannot let that talent walk and expect to keep their jobs.
This is why I advocate making a run at A-Rod, Cabrera, Johan, et al. this offseason.
79 As far as I am concerned you have defined a fourth outfielder: a guy capable of hitting 16 HR with an OB% of 340.
Look, I do not want to trade the kids. However, why keep mediocre young talent? Keep Kemp, yes, because he has massive upside. Does Ethier? Really?
85 I could quibble about whether 400 OPS is really a big bat, but suffice to say I basically agree with you that Loney is a quality player (and a guy with "upside").
However, how many players in the Dodger lineup strike fear in an opposing pitcher? How many players would you want to pitch around with runners on base?
SOLUTION: Sign A-Rod, trade for Jason Bay. Bay is coming off a down year but is still relatively young and would not require as much premium talent (read: Andre Ethier, not Matt Kemp).
I'm hoping that Nomar takes one for the team and waives his no trade clause if the Dodgers sign A-rod. I also support the idea of giving LaRoche a try at 2nd and left.
If Ned insists on trading for MC than I hope he tells the Marlins either Kerhsaw and Abreu or LaRoche and Macdonald.
Good point RockMrete but NedCo doesn't work that way.
I think a lot of us are underrating the talent we have. Why assume that Ethier will OBP .340, when he's OBPed better than that each of his first two years in the majors? Why assume that Loney is not a power bat, when he's shown in the majors that he has power, and he's OPSed over .900 in a season's worth of PAs?
http://www.phdcomics.com/comics.php
Jason Bay is more of a meh (so-so slugger) than an awesome slugger. ARONS!
Matt Garza
Ian Snell
Tom Gorzelanny
Ian Kennedy
Andrew Miller
The only one I've seen pitch is Ian Snell so I'll go with him, the others must be AL'rs
Whats the point of Sanchez?
By Year:
Spent first full season in the major leagues with Pittsburgh...Led club in victories and strikeouts...Recorded the most wins by a Pittsburgh pitcher since Todd Ritchie won 15 games in 1999...His 169 strikeouts were the most by a Pirates righthander since Kris Benson recorded 184 in 2000...Ranked 10th among National League pitchers with an 8.2 strikeouts/9.0ip ratio. ...Tied for fifth among National League pitchers in home runs allowed...Ranked 10th in the National League with a 3.94 road ERA. ...Went 13-8 with a 4.63 ERA (159.1ip/82er) in 27 starts against National League opponents...Worked at least 7.0 innings in nine of his 32 starts (posted an 8-1 record in those games)...
_______________________________________
From his player profile. Pretty nice Résume if you ask me.
Just being greedy
105 Sanchez is probably worse than Abreu.
a) making serious holes at other positions and
b) completely obliterating our farm system and going right back to the Pre-Dan Evans route that ruined us for the previous 15 years.
I was thinking the same thing. Both the Pirates and Twins are desperate for young, talented positional players.
One of the reasons I said Garza is because he had a little tiff with Twins management earlier in the year and that might have rubbed them the wrong way.
Garza and Laroche are comparable talents, both were ranked within 5 spots of each other by BA coming into this season.
I really have this feeling that the Dodgers are going to rue the day they trade Andre Ethier. I just have this feeling that he's going to be a guy that puts up a line like this: .310/.400/.450, 20 HR, 85 RBI. This talk that he's a forth outfielder is absolutely absurd. He might not be an All-Star (at least not every year) but he's going to be very good. My take is that his numbers were down this year because he got yanked around on playing time.
The strategy for next year should be to tell Kemp, Ethier, and LaRoche that they all have starting jobs and let them see what they can do without the constant threat of a 0-4 day sending them to the bench for a week. The core of those three guys plus Loney and Martin will be formidable what will be an incredibly tough NL West next year.
I should use my resources (internet) before I throw out a name like that. While Sanchez was good for the Pirates, Abreu going forward seems the better play.
To answer the first, I'm fairly certain that I've shown myself to be one of the biggest marks here for Ethier.
To answer the second, I think experience will get him there. He's put up OBP of .365 and .350 with BAs of .308 and .284, so I think the potential is there. I don't have stats to back it up, but my guess is that younger players (especially hitting in the 8 hole) are challenged a bit more than vets and therefore get more pitches to hit, so I would expect their "isolated patience" to be a bit smaller earlier in their career.
I also think it's interesting that the Baseball Reference list of guys that he's most similar to at 25 includes Jacque Jones, Kirk Gibson, Jason Giambi, and Aubrey Huff. Not necessarily Hall of Famers, but good guys to have in the line up.
A Rod is coming to Anaheim. O.C. Boras's backyard. Where the owner collects Latinos. Talks of fiscal discipline and respect for Vlad publicly. Then calls Vladdy. "You want ARod on your team? OK. A contract extension. Ok, I'll see what I can do.
You think ARod wants to change leagues?
Moreno's coveted his neighbors 3b for a couple of years.
Dodgers need nothing but that Japanese starter for 3yrs, 24 mil.
Let LaRoche duke it out at 3b w/Nomar. OF Young,Kemp, Ethier, Pierre maybe as pinch runner for Torre. Martin, Loney, Kent/Abreu@2b, Furcal/Hu@SS...pen solid adding Meloan, etc to Brox,Proctor, Saito et al.
We need solid starting pitching...injury prone guys mean need depth. Lowe's hip? Schmidt's arm? Loaiza?
The real story is extending guys and building a stable studly team for the next 5 years. Extend Penny. Get ready to buyout 2 years of free agency over the next couple of years for Billz, Broxton, Martin, Loney, Kemp, Ethier. We're fine. As was said a couple of months back, marry the future of this team. You will lock these kids up. Guys will sign up in arb years if only to protect them against injuries. And it doesn't even cost draft picks if you grow with this team. The unspoken truth is that most any successful organization needs talented and affordable players to offset the inevitable high costs of the 27-28 +year olds with 6 years MLB experience. They all know it. Heck, even Cashman gets it.
Hu or Furcal in 2009? Decide now.
It seems like a rare thing when a player takes a big jump in isolated patience, and expecting Ethier to go up by 35 to 40 points seems way too enthusiastic.
And Ethier seems to have a good eye, so I wouldn't be surprised to see his patience numbers jump. Maybe I'm being too optimistic, but someone's got to stand up to all the flack he takes around here.
I thought the computers control their destiny.
I worry about our national defense.
If the Dodgers trade LaRoche now in a deal that does not bring back Miggy or some other stud 3b, then they will end up paying more then they would have otherwise if they later sign Arod. If they try to trade him after they sign Arod, teams will expect to get him cheaper then they would otherwise.
I see LaRoche in a deal for Miggy, especially after the Dodgers realize that Boras is going to expect 30 mil a year for 10 yrs for Arod or he is back in AAA next year unless he is given the 3b job because the Dodgers didnt make a trade for a 3b or sign Arod.
Timing is bad for the Dodgers to trade LaRoche for any of those desired pitchers even if you could get the other team to do it.
Why? Have you seen the ZIPs projections for that offense?
Because one player does not make a team and before the end of the game when he went on a roll, he was shooting terribly.
Kind of odd, but USC has never won an opener with Floyd as coach.
I don't mind A. Jones at all I think if he gets a FRESH START with a new club couple that with the bad year he had I'm sure he's aching to prove he is still an elite player, again I wouldn't mind him at all.
I'd be scared off of Jones for the 'duh' reason that his offense declined so much. A Boras-type contract would be a risk.
But if Ned can figure out a way to slip Pierre to another team, then I wouldn't mind Jones. As with ARod, I don't worry about the money because it isn't mine.
That's a top tier defensive outfield.
Age 28 - 4.7
Age 29 - 4.0
Age 30 - 6.4
career: .282/.327/.517
Jones WARP
Age 28 - 8.5
Age 29 - 7.1
Age 30 - 4.6
career: .263/.342/.497
If Soriano is worth 8/$136M then Jones should be a bargain for someone. I found it hard to believe he's washed up at 30.
The grass is always greener if you let it, I guess...but that usually means the problem is you. (Ned and McCourt.)
What would be brilliant would be to focus on the one stealth FA and land 'em while Boras and Florida yank everyone's chain.
He calls me back at 10:30 pm and tells me he is out of town so would I put it in a manelia envelope with his name, drive it back to his office today and leave it with the guard. Is that some new language for "Thank you so much. Let me know where and when I can pick it up." I'm a reasonable guy but I told him he could pick it up from my office downtown.
Now I know its a little thing but I was annoyed by how presumptious this guy was. I should have known better. He works for a law firm.
Oh man, that stinks. I have a quick story kind of like that.
The other night in Silver Lake I walk into Subway and there's a homeless guy outside. I go in and buy him a footlong turkey sandwich. When I come out and hand it to him, he takes it, looks at me and my friend and goes "do you guys by chance have a cigarette?"
I don't wish that I didn't buy him the sandwich...he looked hungry and I hope he really did enjoy it...but jeez....
Was his name "Steve" by any chance...?
He was not reimbursed.
That wasn't clear. It wasn't a coworker who lost the phone. It was a library patron who asked a coworker.
What's wrong with these people?
I need you to swing by my ex-gf's place and pick up some books of mine she still has. If you could deliver them personally to my office in Oakland by 4:00 Monday afternoon I'd appreciate it.
I guess it would be less secret if I hadn't written the address down on the package.
ESPN2 is blacked out here.
166 - don't by the hype of Boston Legal, real life is more like the Practice. I mean, it depends on how big of a firm and the type of law he practices.
The Fresno State broadcasters are doing ESPN's broadcast. They use Randy Rosenbloom as an analyst.
I'm not sure why. I guess there are no famous former Fresno State players who want to come back.
Rosenbloom is not a familiar name.
Randy Rosenbloom has been in the L.A. market for years and almost always has called whatever the least glamorous event would be.
He's done a lot of high school sports. He's the sort of guy you would hear calling things like minor league hockey. Or UC Irvine basketball.
He's sort of like a utility infielder who is at AAA most of the time.
So say we all.
166. Ratt, I always enjoy your perspective.
170. He works for Mitchell Silberberg Knupp. Not like Boston Legal or the Practice.
Two men inextricably linked.
vr, Xei
vr, Xei
"Bruce offered... a hard-strummed take on the Rivieras' 'California Sun,' with modified lyrics in honor of Torre: "I'm goin' to where the palm trees are swayin'/Nobody gonna second-guess just who I'm playin'!"
http://www.backstreets.com/news.html
That, and that fact that he's still around.
I guess I should get some sleep instead of watching the DVDs of BSG then.
"Among his wives were seven hundred princesses and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart."
-1 Kings 11:3
In the final three games of Bob Toledo's final three seasons, he was 2-9, and look what happened to him.
Is the LA Times no longer using base 10?
I can be
Center field
http://www.baseballmusings.com/archives/023939.php
Less than 1%
tOSU will drop too far down in the coaches and Harris polls. They already weren't ranked very high by the computers.
The correct figure is 2-7.
From the standpoint of killing germs, are you better off washing your hands
1. in cold water with soap, or
2. in hot water without soap?
I'm no public health expert, but I'm going for #1.
The most important thing is actually to dry your hands completely.
What are the risks associated with wet hands?
The little critters are still hanging around in the water on your hand.
Yuck! Does blow-drying get rid of the little critters, or do you need to actually wipe them off?
vr, Xei
I assume you've called and harassed them about your wayward xbox?
>> Andy LaRoche hit two two-run homers, powering the U.S. team to a 12-2 win Sunday over Spain at the Baseball World Cup. <<
http://tinyurl.com/2c7cea
LSU will stay #1 unless they lose the SEC final as everyone seems to love them.
Miami 3, Buffalo 2
Please, please, let the game end with this score. It would make me so happy.
Although I would like to see a season where the Dolphins went 0-16 while the Patriots went 16-0.
There isn't video available for every game in the tournament.
I guess that's only fair, given that Kansas would be undefeated. But leave it to Oregon to be #2 in the BCS, win all their remaining games, and then not finish in the top 2.
Boo!!!
If only Oregon's next two opponents were any good. And one of them hadn't lost to Notre Dame.
But this year could be one of the most eagerly awaited Civil Wars ever.
You might have to go all the way back to 1861 to find this kind of anticipation.
And it will even be televised on ESPN.
ESPN2 to be precise.
I'm sure other game before it will run long and make you miss the first half.
The game against Arizona will be on ESPN. The other game is going to be harder to find.
The game against the team that lost to Our Lady...?
ABC hasn't decided if it wants to pick up that game. If not I assume it would go to FSN.
The schedule says it would be a late afternoon game on FSN, so that wouldn't be Barry Tompkins. He tends to do the late night games that end around 11:30 pm.
Come to think of it, I'll be in Manhattan on that day anyway, and I won't be watching football.
221 Not to mention they also play Missouri before then. It's really a shame though. The Pac-10 is superior to the SEC, but LSU would prolly get the spot due to their preseason ranking advantage.
LaRoche is the hole now but if he becomes the starting third baseman, doesn't he become the plug.
Do not think it means anything in terms of being more likely to make trades.
Unless the Yankees want to unload Derek Jeter at some point.
I posted this question over at Screen Jams, but think it might get seen here first.
Does ABC purposefully program Desperate Housewives to end at 9:01pm CT to force people with DVR's not smart enough to crop that overage into making tough decision about either recording DH for their wives from 8-9, or recording something else in the 9-10p slot?
It is a really frustrating practice, and I'd be even more upset if it was to intentionally put me in the predicament.
Why in journalism school, do they teach sports writers who are covering the happenings in a game to write the article in reverse order, starting with the outcome, then moving on the the end of the game, then to the middle and beginning.
You see it all the time, but I was noticing it when reading Gary Klein of the LAT times cover the USC v. Cal game in his piece titled, "Washington Helps USC Drive Safely."
I personaly don't mind getting the outcome first, but reading about the 4th and 3rd quarter, final stats for players, then the 2nd and 1st quarter and first half stats in that order doesn't jibe with how I think.
The articles are written that way so the parts at the end can be dropped more easily as the space available for the story in the paper changes.
Granted with an online story, you don't need to do this, but it's hard for a writer to come up with two completely different drafts.
The important key to hand cleanliness is in the soap & water scrubbing (CDC recommends 15-20 seconds) to loosen the soil from your hands. Then you rinse it off.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_pyramid
and here:
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/journalism/resource/6042.html
And on a baseball note, has there been any report of Schmidt's condition?
I was hoping the football gods would have a sense of humor and let Miami go an 0-16 season so they'd have a winless to go along with their undefeated season.
I hate peaches.
Daniel hates the inverted pyramid style of writing.
We all have our foibles.
Surely you like peaches in smoothie form...
No, I don't.
>> To A-Rod or Miggy? That is the question. <<
http://tinyurl.com/3529qc
I guess I understand. I hate pineapple and cantaloupe.
Or that multi-lateral game from a couple of weeks ago ... should the game story have begun in the first quarter? Or should the story get right into talking about the play and getting reaction and so on, before going back?
Rejecting the inverted pyramid style is that last thing online sites should be doing now. They have an audience that is surfing a ton of things at once, that isn't going to be patient enough to hunt for the key info.
Exceptions to this audience noted.
Meanwhile, Bob is right. Until print media is completely abandoned, you can't expect newspapers to put the most important information at the bottom of a story.
As a matter of fact, I think I"m going to call LAT and order up some.
I don't think they're actively trying to alienate the viewer, but certainly, they're not going to be worried about the consequences of
what you're trying to record in the next hour on another network.
You on that, LAT?
We're tide for 1st place with them now, playoffs are gonna be interesting, very interesting.
Good to know. Although I'm the kind of guy that washes my hands 2 or 3 times depending on what I just touched.
I like to turn DT into a game of Mad Libs sometime.
Which seems like a particularly good way to deal with Bob. ;^)
275 beat you to it.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=260918119
Heads were shaking in Chavez Ravine -- nobody could believe what they had just seen. The Los Angeles Dodgers hit an amazing four consecutive homers in the bottom of the ninth Monday night to tie their game against the San Diego Padres, the last two coming off Padre closer Trevor Hoffman. Down again by a run in the tenth, Nomar Garciaparra blasted a two-run homer to lift the Dodgers to a stunning 11-10 victory over the Padres. The win vaulted the dodgers back into first place in the NL West.
"That was the greatest game I've ever seen. I've never seen anything like that," Dodgers reliever Brett Tomko said.
The game looked like an easy win for San Diego when they scored four runs in the first off Brad Penny...
Except I don't believe Ducks have heels or that Jayhawks have the ability to nip.
UH is #16 and probably rooting hard for Michigan to beat Ohio State. UH (or Boise State which is #18) can get an automatic BCS spot if they are at least #16 and higher than a conference champ. And Michigan probably wouldn't get higher than #16 with a win over OSU.
Tennessee winning the SEC or UConn winning the Big East would also make things interesting.
Personally, I wash my hands with plain soap & dry them about 90%. I've heard if you use antibacterial soap it's actually bad for you, I don't know the details of it but I've heard it's bad.
BTW, Mother, Jugs and Speed is on TV, maybe one of the worst movies ever but Raquel Welch is seriously good looking.
Answers? Anyone?
I assume Ms. Locklear's reasons involve checks with a couple of commas on it.
Dynasty
Melrose Place
Spin City
Tommy Lee
Richie Sambora
She should have enough $$$ to avoid Hannah Montana
The Florida Marlins are just a very strange organization. And they play in a really bad stadium that's hard to get to.
And yet they've never lost a postseason series.
At least they develop talent. You could be a Pirates fan and get a bad team with little hope of getting better.
I fully support Daniel's quixotic battle, although it will be ultimately futile and I don't agree with him.
But more people need to have quixotic battles. They build character.
I get the futility of the Pirates and Royals, as bad management, but the Marlins are entirely different.
http://tinyurl.com/23n9vl
I'm thinking fake. Apologies if this is ground already covered.
A talent like Juan Pierre can only be harnessed once a decade.
Being a Marlin fan is probably pretty painful at times, but at least they have reason for hope.
I still think it's fake but I'm less sure than I was.
(pause)
Yeah, I'm a little short on work right now.
The Marlins wouldn't be drawing marginally more people than they do any other year.
In 2003, the Marlins were 15th in the NL in attendance.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/FLA/attend.shtml
The 1998 fire sale left a pretty sour taste in the mouths of Marlins fans.
But as a consolation prize, I do have a re-edited, chronological copy of The Godfather trilogy to offer :)
Such are the perceptions of the area though.
Andruw Jones to Dodgers (3 yrs/$54 million)
I would love that deal, as I'm sure many here would.
If we got rid of Pierre then I could live with it. But that is not going to happen.
Bowa: You're out of your element, Donnie.
>> The price is so prohibitive and includes multiple top-tier prospects -- the kind of young players that are hardly ever traded anymore -- that executives believe the Marlins will have to drop their price significantly to deal Cabrera. Because the requests have been jaw-dropping, teams say they don't see anything happening until the winter meetings next month. <<
http://tinyurl.com/yr2bvh
molokia at yahoo dot com.
Clippers gave LeBron a tough game. We tied them at 80 but then fell apart. Really missed Cutino in this game but Kamen is starting to make me a believer. His offensive game tonight was extraordinary.
Whom I already assumed was dead.
So I am watching the show when Larry David appears with 2 girls who I later find out are his 2 daughters. They were there to illustrate how Mr. "Seinfeld" cannot get a table at a "hot" restaurant while Hannah Montana just waltzes in and has one put together like that.
My hunch is he did the show so his daughters could meet Hannah Montana.
lol
I cant picture Larry David on that show. I now must see that episode.
It is Luc that I am really worried about. I still think we should be fine though for the next two days. Wish we had full squad though, since these are ESPN games.
How do you think Lavin is going to be received?
I don't expect the students to give him a shout out though.
I'll be there Tuesday so they better win tomorrow night.
Aboya and Lorenzo seem to have really improved their offensive games, but too bad Aboya still plays out of control at times.
oy vey..
If Albert had been taught how to play football instead of basketball he would be an absolute beast and probably a first round NFL pick.
Which means he would not be playing for UCLA :(
So I am happy he learned how to play basketball.
Kent is just a bad teammate pure and simple. He just criticizes the young guys instead of trying to offer them some support or guidance.
Just produce next year and retire. I am tired of his act.
Is it strange to anyone else that Jeff Kent will be our second baseman for four years now?
I heard the same.
It really does fit how he acted as a coach.
Again, I would not expect a big reaction but I won't be there until Tuesday.
Anyway, the crowd was not as vocal in their displeasure, I think they are just resigned to what is going to happen.
Kent felt like the Lone Ranger down the stretch. He recalled a game in which he had two doubles among four hits and zero RBIs. There also was the Dodgers' final game in San Francisco, when his two solo homers off Matt Cain created a lead before the Giants rallied for a 4-2 victory.
I'm sure there were no games the Dodgers won when Kent had 0 hits or committed an error. Sheesh.
Oh yeah, and that game Kent had 4 hits, 2 doubles, and no RBI? The Dodgers won that game!!!
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN200708290.shtml
I guess Gonzo was talking about Kent when he mentioned players worried about stats and not wins.
LaPlug
Alternative interpretation:
Kent couldn't hit in the clutch, and only hit meaningless doubles and HRs.
...to pad his own stats, rather than to help the team.
37
38
39
for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Very good bet he'll have the most for 40. If he does he'll be the 1st to be on the list 4 times. Piazza and Sheffield are on the list 3 times.
http://www.truebluela.com/story/2007/11/8/131816/132
Furcal: 0-6
Pierre: 1-6, single
Kemp: 1-6, HR
Sure, veterans Furcal and Pierre went a combined 1-12, but the real problem was Kemp's selfish 1-6 with a HR. Nothing more selfish than a solo HR, which gives you the RBI and doesn't let the guy who hits after you get one.
Batting ahead of Kent on his 2 solo HR game:
Abreu: 0-4
Pierre: 0-4
Kemp: 1-4, single
Once again, Kemp is the schmuck. And never mind that Kent left Kemp on base after his single: Kemp should have singled before one of Kent's HRs. Again, he selfishly didn't want Kent to get an RBI.
And check out Kent's clutch numbers:
None on: .302/.369/.580/.949
Runners On: .301/.381/.422/.803
Scoring Position: .293/.391/.400/.791
three of them involve dodgers; two signings (both pitchers, and shouldn't be too hard to figure out) and another pitcher that left, and has now boomeranged. and I think they are all borasians.
http://tinyurl.com/ywmhmr
No worries, I haven't either. But I'm really looking forward to it. People seem to think it's the best episode yet. I've read a few spoilers, but haven't let myself indulge completely.
Might as well start the asking price really high. You can always come down later. Plus, you never know when some Sabean or Sabean-protege is gonna give you a bunch of great young players for an AJ Pierzynski.
It seems to me, with a bit of luck,Kent could be 3rd-5th instead of leading the team, and this would mean a good D's season.
Miguel Cabrera, on the open market, likely gets 20+ million a year. In arbitration, he's likely only going to get 10 mils or so. I can see the Marlins holding out for 3 premium players.
That should tighten the Boras muscle.
I love the inherent contradiction in Boras position. If he and A-rod believe Arod will be good for so long, they should consider something like 40mil per for two or three years. I would like that.
I'm not a Brown fan but I agree, he has no business being on that list. Not only did he give us 3 good years, two of those years were excellent and then he was flipped so it is not like the Dodgers were on the hook during his huge decline years. Shouldn't take much digging to find lousier deals then the Kevin Brown deal.
I play Xbox live quite a bit with Team Fortress 2.
I have heard nothing but great things about COD4 and nothing but so so reviews for Halo. I would go with COD4.
I'm hazy on this but I think some of the earliest were named Goltz and maybe Stanhouse? Coming after guys like Sandy, Drysdale and Sutton the contrast was a shock.
1) He continues to produce.
2) His return carries with it a power bat that we need.
3) The last four years he's been here we've reached the playoffs two times.
4) Why does everyone have to be the "perfect teammate"? I've heard plenty of people talking about how they didn't care how many suspensions or disturbances Milton Bradley had as long as he continued to produce. Jeff Kent actually goes out and does it, and every year people clamor for his release/trade.
I don't understand it. Even for the sabermetrically-inclined, Kent has been in the Top 3 2Bs in the league forever and he's 40!
What are we complaining about again?
Yeah, that's assuming they can commit to a Soriano/Pie/Murton OF, and not sign whoever this year's version of Jacque Jones is.
I have the ability to "live" with Pierre, but certainly not in LF.
The reason I pointed out the article was only for the specific section of the article where Kent brought up a game where he produced but had no RBI. The Dodgers won that game.
I'm probably guilty of lumping Gonzo with Kent, but Kent's selfishness in that section was a direct example of going for stats instead of wins that Gonzo mentioned a few times throughout 2007.
In summation, I'm not a Kent fan, but I want him on the team in 2008, and I'll be glad when he's gone.
Who you kidding? We've had 385 posts and very very very few were negative about Kent's ability to play baseball. I'm just tired of him opening his mouth. If he had kept his mouth shut during the summer of 2005 we might have a real CF instead of the albatross. This summer his rants were ill timed. If he comes to camp, shuts his mouth and plays baseball I'm all for letting him bat 6th and play the worse defensive 2nd base I've ever seen, outside of the few games that Scott Hairston did a terrible impersonation as a 2nd baseman. His only asset is his strong arm, his range blows and he cheats like crazy when a DP is in order so that he can get to 2nd base which is why single after single can be seen dribbling between 1st and 2nd. But he still hits enough that he can make up for it. At 40 will he continue to hit enough and be healthy enough to deserve his extension? We have no choice but to find out.
http://www.billjamesonline.net/fieldingbible/2007-plus-minus-leaders.asp
Exactly
Actually I am ragging.
2005 - had a great year while wrecking the clubhouse and helped move Depo on while bringing in the Ned Era.
2006 - he had an injury plagued year and the worse year of his career once he started playing fulltime. We still made the playoffs only to have him make the Dodgers look like buffons with the baserunning savy of a rookie instead of a 15 year vet. If Kemp had run into 2 outs at home in a playoff game the stupid rookie story would never end.
2007 - he had a decent year and was hurt again but still managed to pull in enough at bats to vest his contract. Once he vested he opened his big mouth.
So yeah I guess I'm ragging. I could easily live without him. He's 40 years old and plays 2nd base. The odds of him finishing the year healthy are very very slim. Check out the numbers of 40 year 2nd baseman, if you can even find any. Of course since he's really a statue and not a 2nd baseman the comp's don't count.
Usually when I suggest trading somebody it is because I would rather watch someone else play in their spot. Nomar and Piere for instance vs. Loney and Kemp. I lost interest in Butler because of his actions and words during the strike. Kent annoys me and I would rather watch Ian Kinsler play second for the Dodgers than Kent or Abreu.
Meep meep!
I watched five episodes of "The Wire" last night, so I think an "Omar deal" is a much different thing.
Maybe not. Maybe the longer you wait, the less likely it is that Martin agrees to such a deal. Others know more than I do about this.
Check out the numbers of 40 year 2nd baseman, if you can even find any
You said it. There have only been 6 players 40 or older that have played a combined 9 seasons with at least 50 games at 2B since 1901.
http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/xxvM
The best OPS+ of that group is Eddie Collins' 124 in 1927.
With the new TV deal just into effect, the contracts haven't accelerated into ludicrous mode yet (but they probably will within the next month) so it would probably be good for the Dodgers to sign Martin ASAP.
Congratulations to James Loney for his single third place vote.
I play under "Lyle Hutz"
McCann signed his contract extension with 1 year, 117 days of service time, and it buys out one year of FA plus an option year
Martinez signed his contract extension with 1 year, 114 days of service time, and the club has an option year on his first FA year.
Russell Martin has 1 year, 150 days of service time.
Joe Mauer didn't sign his extension until he had 3 years of service, and his bought out his first year of FA, but was more expensive than the other two (but Mauer is also better than them).
It would be horrible lapse of judgement if Russ was on a one year contract in 2009.
I have revised my opinion accordingly.
He'll be under team control in 2008, then have 4 years of arbitration (similar to Dontrelle Willis, and for that matter, Andre Ethier). For that reason alone (the extra arb year vs. team control), the contract will be more then Brian McCann.
I really hope he doesn't go to arbitration next offseason. I suspect he will be renewed in February, then they will work on a new deal in March and hopefully get it done soon thereafter.
Against Youngstown State?
My mom grew up real near Youngstown. She describes it as, well, "crooked, in a general sort of way."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMbsZU83ajc
(safe for work I suppose, but it's youtube of course).
In keeping with my pledge, I can neither confirm nor deny that information.
The one commercial that I actually enjoyed while I was in Berkeley. I guess I spent too much time watching tv and not studying. Oops.
https://cubtown.baseballtoaster.com/archives/864958.html
He's scratching his head about it. So am I, frankly. Another light hitting middle infielder?
It will be a good omen if none of our good young prospects ever win ROY.
See also: Pierre, Juan.
I will add your name today.
That commercial is awesome. Is she trying to do the robot with the snake?
Did anyone watch those two fishermen in San Luis Obispo? The show was mimicking the style of Wayne's World. I love public tv.
And I still think he could have at least filled a need a bit more than at that crowded position. But yes, at least they rid themselves of a cumbersome contract and cleared the way (presumably) for Felix Pie.
--
Off subject, but, wow, Josh Brolin sure is busy this year, isn't he?
Thanks.
P.S. Blackberry guy called this morning and is sending a messenger to pick it up. Alas, we will have to find another purpose for JP.
Or warm them up in the microwave.
Two times.
A messenger? I am having trouble relating to this man and his income bracket.
442 I guarantee you he is charging it to his firm.
The bike messengers of Downtown are an interesting subculture.
They are not nearly as glamorous as Kevin Bacon was in "Quicksilver."
How do they compare to Puck in "The Real World"?
They make Puck seem normal.
Hire one sometime to take a piece of paper from your office to LAT's.
Pretty much. Sometimes they come to the library and check out books for a law firm on the company library card. Because guys like LAT and wireroom are too important to come to the library themselves.
LAT hires a messenger and bills a client so he can get a bunch of John Grisham and Scott Turow novels to find out what it is REALLY like to be a lawyer.
Are there any authors who specialize in the adventures and exploits of university professors...?
I tend to forget that Indy was a prof, though the girl with the "I ♥ U" on her eyelids was a memorable scene.
It's obvious that he's a one-of-a-kind player and I have no doubt he will have a comparable season at 40.
I really sound like a Kent apologist at this point, but I'll also point out that as far as anything he's ever said, stats don't matter to him. And why would they? He claims he doesn't even like baseball. So I really think that's way far-fetched. He was just bringing up an example where he thought he was trying and others had given up.
I remember a similar accusation of Kent caring about his stats when he chastised Bradley for stopping at 3B instead of scoring. I call BS on that. Kent just wants to win games.
I think Jeff Kent is on such a different playing field mentally (and heck, physically) than a lot of players, we try to compare him to others and it's just not plausible. He's really his own guy.
He's made his point that the kids don't "get it." Enough already. Now he needs to show me that he "gets it."
http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/
This is my favorite one:
http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/warriorshtm/garble.htm
Which one am I...?
That would scare me if I was the Tigers. If he cant hit for any power in Wrigley, he sure wont in Detroit.
He does have a career .825 OPS vs RHP, but the loss of power would really be a concern, especially for a player that doesnt walk much.
As for Blackberry guy, you can be sure he charged the cost of picking up the Blackberry to his Firm. Also, I don't think he is an attorney (that is a good thing for him) he is not listed on the firm website.
Having said that, Lexis and Westlaw are like crack dealers. During law school they hang around and give you free online access all the while eroding your traditional research skills. Once you get a job in a firm, wham, they turn off your free acces number and start charging you through the nose. Eventaully your strung out on law review articles and appelate briefs that can only be accessed on line. Next thing you know you don't even know how to Sheperdize any more and you wonder how it came to this. All because you took a little hit off the on-line research pipe.
Maybe he was re-signed and it'll be announced soon?
That said, I wouldn't mind Sweeney coming back. He'll probably sign in the $800k - $1m range.
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