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
The tentative 2008 Dodger Spring Training schedule:
Thu Feb. 28 vs. Atlanta Braves, Vero Beach 1:05 p.m.
Fri Feb. 29 @ Atlanta Braves, Orlando 1:05 p.m.
Sat March 1 @ New York Mets, Port St. Lucie 1:10 p.m.
Sun March 2 vs. New York Mets, Vero Beach 1:05 p.m.
Mon March 3 vs. Baltimore Orioles, Vero Beach 1:05 p.m.
Tue March 4 @ Washington Nationals, Viera 1:05 p.m.
Wed March 5 @ New York Mets, Port St. Lucie 1:10 p.m.
Thu March 6 @ Boston Red Sox, Fort Myers 1:05 p.m.
Fri March 7 St. Louis Cardinals, Vero Beach 1:05 p.m.
Sat March 8 @ St. Louis Cardinals, Jupiter 1:05 p.m.
Sun March 9 vs. Boston Red Sox, Vero Beach 1:05 p.m.
Mon March 10 @ Baltimore Orioles, Ft. Lauderdale 1:05 p.m.
Tue March 11 vs. Florida Marlins, Vero Beach 1:05 p.m.
Wed March 12 vs. Washington Nationals (ss), Vero Beach 1:05 p.m.
Thu March 13 @ Houston Astros (ss), Kissimmee 1:05 p.m.
Fri March 14 vs. St. Louis Cardinals (ss), Vero Beach 1:05 p.m.
Sat March 15 @ Washington Nationals (ss), Viera 1:05 p.m.
Sun March 16 vs. Florida Marlins (ss), Vero Beach 1:05 p.m.
Mon March 17 vs. Houston Astros (ss), Vero Beach TBA
Tue March 18 @ Florida Marlins (ss), Jupiter 1:05 p.m.
Wed March 19 OFF DAY
Thu March 20 vs. Chicago White Sox, Phoenix, AZ 1:05 p.m.
Fri March 21 @ Arizona Diamondbacks, Tucson, AZ 1:05 p.m.
Sat March 22 vs. LA Angels of Anaheim, Phoenix, AZ 1:05 p.m.
Sun March 23 @ Colorado Rockies, Tucson, AZ 1:05 p.m.
Mon March 24 @ Kansas City Royals, Surprise, AZ 6:05 p.m.
Tue March 25 @ Milwaukee Brewers, Phoenix, AZ 1:05 p.m.
Wed March 26 OFF DAY
Thu March 27 @ LA Angels of Anaheim, Anaheim 7:05 p.m.
Fri March 28 vs. Boston Red Sox, Dodger Stadium 7:40 p.m.
Sat March 29 vs. Boston Red Sox, L.A. Coliseum TBA
Sun March 30 vs. Boston Red Sox, Dodger Stadium 1:10 p.m.
(Schedule subject to change; (ss) Denotes split squad game; all times listed are local)
Still under consideration by Major League Baseball is a two-game series between the Dodgers and Padres on March 15-16 in Beijing, China.
Dodger pitchers, catchers and players rehabilitating from injuries are scheduled to report on Feb. 14 and have their first workout on Feb. 15. Position players will report on Feb. 19, with the first full-squad workout on Feb. 20.
* * *
Have the Dodgers played an exhibition game in February before?
I believe those are split squad games; part of the team will be in FLA, part in China.
フライ = furai = flyball
They also played an exhibition on February 7, 1981 against UCLA to dedicate Jackie Robinson Stadium.
Hmm, wait a minute, we don't have a PVL "half" any more. What a great offseason this is...
Send me an email address you want me to send you the article to.
In 1976, USC beat the Dodgers 11-1 at Dedeaux Field and the next day they played five innings at Dodger Stadium and the teams tied 3-3.
"Still under consideration by Major League Baseball is a two-game series between the Dodgers and Padres on March 15-16 in Beijing, China."
they also expect that there will be alot of existing season ticket holders moving around for various reasons...50th anniversary, not wanting to pay the increase and moving to a lower priced section, not happy about the steroid reports, whatever...
And usually, they have sent us the season ticket holder X-mas gift before sending next season's bill. Someone dropped the ball there. Not getting the gift, as silly and inexpensive as it may be, made the price hike even worse.
Thankfully, we signed Kuroda the next day so I can at least feel that my moeny isn't only going to a fancy lounge in a section that I can't attend.
1) Does the plan still exist?
2) How much?
I graduated from UCSB in 2005 and moved to Charlotte, NC (to work @ Wachovia...a once unheard of bank invading a western state near you) It's made watching the Dodgers difficult but your collective comments have filled in the gaps between box score numbers each day during the season so thanks.
Anyways, I plan to make the pilgrimage to Vero this year so was wondering if:
a) Anyone's seen when tickets will go on sale? The ticketmaster operator I just spoke with had no clue what I was talking about.
b) Any advice on what to expect in Vero? I'll be going with mostly grad students so the budget will be limited. We were thinking about roughing it at a campground. Does anyone know of one? Or any other tricks like cheap hotels in other nearby cities.
Thanks.
Unless... are the reserved-level tickets less than the loge-level? We sit in the loge...
The 42% increase is really making it tough for me to do it this year. It is literally twice what I was paying for the 2005 season.
$3425 / 81 = $42 + $15 = $57, unless I'm screwing something up.
So I have to wait and see what the increase is for Loge.
This is not going to be good.
I've never been to Vero so I can't answer your travel questions but from what I've heard one of the coolest features of Vero Beach is that you can pretty much walk up to a player & get his autograph cause they walk freely thru the fields.
but I did get my gift, so at least I know where $0.49 of my money went...
Wait, did parking increase again? Is it going to be more than $15?
I need to go offline before I violate rule one.
Then, when no one can hear me, I will violate it with extreme prejudice.
I went to Vero in 2006 and stayed in a Best Western about 5-6 miles from Dodgertown. I think it was under $100 a night for the room.
That's a 71% increase over the 2004 season.
Total playoff games: seven.
Total playoff games won: one.
Total number of outs at home plate on a double by Russell Martin: two.
I know this isn't a terribly fair way of looking at things, but my wallet, my rules.
I hear TC has a nice spot.
This past year, my wife was pregnant during the season. The pass was a necessity. Long walks were not an option.
This coming year, we'll have a stroller. I don't see my position changing... the parking pass will be a great help. But: man.
I've heard long walks in the last month of pregnancy or good for her body. Walking long distance in general is good for the body for ANYBODY.
"How about some exercise? Or you can relax and take a load off?"
Yes, I said that in month nine. No, I'm not a very smart man.
1. Never, ever argue with a pregnant wife.
2. Never, ever argue with the wife when she's a nursing mother.
3. Never, ever argue with the wife when she's the mother of a toddler.
4. Never, ever argue with the wife when she's the mother of a school-age child.
5. Never, ever argue with the wife when she's the mother of a teenager.
6. Never, ever argue with the wife when she's an empty-nester.
http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/7Xmk
Bennett's high OPS+ during the past 7 years is 66 (2001 & 2002)!
On the positive side, he is tied for the highest batting average in New York Mets history. Bennett's 1 for 1, tied with a a recently hired Dodger roving instructor, more famous for crashing into something rather than Bennett's having someone crash into him.
0. Never, ever argue with the wife when you have no kids.
Fixed.
Make sure to put her real present in the trunk and say, "Here's your gift! I think you will be excited, it's a book."
Make it a book on weight loss. She'll love it.
Thanks.
The Dodgers need to stop signing Japanese players so that I can resist the temptation to translate everything and get back to whining about Juan. Southerners call it "Juaning."
60. Gary Bennett wore number 28 the last two seasons with St. Louis. Shea Hillenbrand wore that number with LA last year.
IIRC, Shea grabbed that number while LaRoche was at Las Vegas thereby forcing LaRoche to have to pick another number when he was called up. So the question is, will LaRoche have to yield to PVL again come spring training?
I went in 1989. I got a "1988 World Series Champions" tee shirt, which I still have and is the sexiest thing my g/f can ever wear (because I was ten, and it doesn't fit me, but it looks amazing on her), There was also a home run derby, and Bret Boone was the only player on either team to hit one out.
Were you really that bad. :-)
The LA Times didn't run a boxscore for the 1976 USC-Dodgers exhibition at Dodger Stadium, just a line score and batteries.
The starting pitcher for the Dodgers was Rick Nitz. He was followed by Charlie Hough and Ron Bryant. Steve Yeager was the catcher. Davey Lopes, Leron Lee, Joe Ferguson, Cleo Smith, and Leron Lee are mentioned as playing.
The USC starting pitcher was Charlie Phillips who was relieved by a guy named Hayes. The catchers were Wiencek and Hicks. Also playing were Doug Stokke, Rob Hertel (better known as a quarterback), and Tom Ricks.
Ricks could be Hicks and it was just a typo.
I kind of like LaRoche wearing Cey's old #10 now.
Someday we'll look back quizzically at photos of Loney wearing #29 and LaRoche wearing #28 much like Yankee fans look at early pictures of Mickey Mantle wearing #6.
Wil Nieves resents that!
Except, Bennett apparently stinks at that too.
Eric Enders pointed out earlier that Bennett has only thrown out 21.8% of attempted stealers (71 of 326), and his CERA is 4.64 career.
Also, in the last 3 years, Bennett has only thrown out 16 of 91 runners (17.6%).
i was prepared to resoundingly agree that the bennett signing is a big, fat, stubbed toe for ned's otherwise very decent offseason....but i looked at the other ml-veteran backup catchers... oi! bennett's hitting stats are shockingly strong when compared with the rest of the veteran options. even lieberthal's one (1) rbi last year isn't totally out of line with what's available.
From Humma Kavula, previous thread:
Jorge Posada, games caught:
2007 - 138
2006 - 134
2005 - 133
2004 - 134
2003 - 137
2002 - 138
2001 - 131
2000 - 142
If you have to hire him, at least pay him the ML minimum plus $1. At least it should be made clear that he is on the team only because we wanted the cheapest possible option.
Signing this guy reminds me of George Costanza picking up wedding invitations.
So, if Juan Pierre licks Gary Bennett, he will be off the roster? :)
'07 Padres - Josh Bard - 118 games
'06 Padres - Some guy named Piazza - 126 games
'05 Padres - Ramon Hernandez - 99 games
'07 DBacks - Chris Snyder - 110 games
'06 DBacks - Johnny Estrada - 115 games
'05 DBacks - Snyder - 115 games
'07 Giants - Bengie Molina - 134 games
'06 Giants - Eliezer Alfonza - 87 games and Mike Matheny 47 games
'05 Giants - Matheny, 134 games
'07 Rockies - Yorvit Torrealba - 113 games
'06 Rockies - Torrealba - 65 games and Danny Ardoin 35 games and J.D. Closser 29 games
'05 Rockies - Ardoin, 80; Closser, 35
You may draw your own conclusions.
Catcher (Innings Caught)
Kendall 2400.0
Johjima 2279.3
Martin 2269.0
Pierzynski 2183.0
Posada 2162.0
McCann 2155.3
Martinez 2152.7
Paulino 2135.0
Pudge 2107.0
Schneider 2041.7
Ausmus 2031.3
LoDuca 2001.0
Keep in mind, Martin did not play until the Dodgers' 30th game of 2006! Martin has more innings per possible game (7.69) than the leader Kendall (7.40).
I just don't want Martin to be broken down physically like Kendall is by the time he's 30.
Martin is the modern day Yogi Berra.
Joe was a catcher, he will take care of Russ. Look at Posada, he just had one of his best years in 2007.
I parked outside of the stadium every game last year, except for when Barry was in town. I think that came to about 18 games, and I was happy to not give McCourt the $15 bucks every game. We would normally show up an hour early with our own hot dogs or a burrito from Chipotle. That's right. I like it cheap and simple.
Even more quizzical:
http://tinyurl.com/2zrp5w
http://tinyurl.com/ynvocz
http://tinyurl.com/2aojqs
http://tinyurl.com/ypw9vb
http://tinyurl.com/22tl8f
Lenny Harris never slugged higher than .414 in 17 years in MLB and never even above .400 in the minors.
Young has never slugged BELOW .457, and has slugged over .492 at each of 5 levels and in his September stint. Does anyone have a 2008 PECOTA prediction for him?
It's pretty clear that Young will hit for a lot more power than Lenny Harris, so I think the comparison works mostly on a superficial level, i.e., short, stocky, black guys who could hit but couldn't stick at second base.
You can get to the Coliseum via a DASH bus from Downtown, so you can take the Red Line.
The buses may be a bit crowded on the way back.
Neither will Torre be. (I think Martin will get a few more days off.)
108 Joe was a catcher, he will take care of Russ.
Grady was a (minor-league) catcher too. (I think Martin will get a few more days off.)
http://tinyurl.com/2wu3gq
*Having a really good team probably also helped.
CHONE's Kuroda projections:
Kuroda: 181 IP, 174H, 49bb 137k 21hr 3.78 ERA
Gary Bennett will appear in 47 games in the 2008 season.
Yes, all for the Dodgers, if he stays healthy. Otherwise, Gary will probably be replaced by a .167 hitter.
The Chone for Kuroda compares evenly with ZIPS except for a very generous K/9.
vr, Xei
Tickets have gone up 100% in 2 years, not to mention parking increasing 50%! If I do end up getting the tickets most of them will end up ebay. I went to over 60 games last season and at times the time, effort, and cost of driving from Riverside wasn't worth it. With an additional 40% on tickets and the ever rising gas prices, I doubt I will attend more than a handful of games this year. All of this after a 4th place finish. I shutter to think how much it will cost to go to a ball game if we ever win a playoff series.
What we really need are Kuroda's gb rates in Japan. Although Bob has been saying those are pretty hard to find.
Lowe: 199 IP, 194H, 49bb 147k 20hr 3.88 ERA
I've got my top people working on it.
Top!
I assure you!
Top!
March 21st: Arizona (Tucson)
March 23rd: Colorado (Tucson)
Definitely going.
http://www.japanesebaseball.com/boxscores.jsp
and then check each box score and see which plays are coded as "G". The problem is that hits won't be listed as being line drives or ground balls through the infield.
So we are only going to get GO/FO ratio with that method?
11 batters were retired on grounders (including one DP that scored a run).
5 batters flied out.
3 struck out.
1 fouled out to the catcher.
4 singled.
1 walked
1 reached on an error by the second baseman.
http://www.japanesebaseball.com/boxscore.jsp?BoxID=2007033003
Happy calculating!
Probably.
Good start!
so what if he can't throw anybody out. he'll make up for those bases as a pinch runner. heck, maybe having to throw it only to second might help.
The Japanese season starts in March. The CL starts on 3/28 in 2008 and I believe the PL starts on 3/22 in 2008.
To a point, it doesn't have OOPS, just OBA.
RH hit .224 against Kuroda in 2006. LH hit .304.
6 homers given up to RH, 14 to LH. 28 walks to LH, 14 to RH.
Just thought I would throw that out there.
What I have (I probably messed up a bit so its not exact)
25GS 170.2IP 701BF 117K
GO/FO ratio: 2.25
I would take almost anyone over Rick Neuheisel. I guess I will have to root for Chow/Walker combo.
from that article, closer to 3.
My favorite new rumor: Saban to West Virginia
http://wbgv.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/nick-sabans-agent-contacts-wvu/
I have the same 2+2 loge plan. If you do decide to give up your tickets but would still like to have 4 games in the same area I'll sell you 4 ticket game packages for 40.00 a game or 2 ticket packages for $25 a game. I don't have parking passes. If interested you can email me at molokai at yahoo dot com. Opening day, bobblehead nights, fleece nights, fireworks nights are excluded from the this special offer. Must be over 18, must never do the blah blah "sucks chant", and if you happen to catch a home run hit into the loge by the oppossing team you must have the balls to keep the home run and tell the idiots around you that your not from Chicago and to get their own tradition.
My tickets are in the 3rd row, next to the Dodger bullpen fence.
Hopefully he has been practicing with runners on base, so he can see if his warriorness translates.
Translation(?): I lost Gauge's phone number.
I don't know: Kuroda's getting a bit of a late start to be breaking any records.
Never a home run. Jose Lima used to throw balls upto us and I got one of those.
Todd Linden hit a home run that the guy in front of me caught but that was the season just before I got my plan. I think it was Lindens 1st major league home run.
Kemp hit one last year but I wasn't at the game. Home runs in the loge only happen about once a year if that often. It is hard to pull it that deep and keep it fair.
Have any other Japanese players gotten so much of a raise crossing the Pacific?
Has the season ever opened in March before? Seems strange.
Did part of your post in 181 disappear? That has happened to a few of us lately.
Seriously, always a pleasure to check out a game with TC.
http://tinyurl.com/2aaul4
In the past four years, the Dodgers have treated Vero Beach like a baby treats its diaper.
Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.