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About Jon
Thank You For Not ...

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

Matt Kemp at the Natural History Museum
2008-03-04 12:59
by Jon Weisman

Kemp is on the left.

Cellphonetograph by Jon Weisman. Some rights reserved.

Comments (240)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2008-03-04 13:03:17
1.   bhsportsguy
But do they run with their heads down or up?
2008-03-04 13:03:49
2.   Eric Enders
I would have expected to see Luis Gonzalez at the Natural History Museum. Matt Kemp's a little more surprising.
2008-03-04 13:04:33
3.   ToyCannon
Was Luis Natural?
2008-03-04 13:04:49
4.   fanerman
What an accurate rendition!

Hey ibleedbloo and others at Vero, did you get to tell Kemp how awesome of a nickname he has? Is he even aware of it?

2008-03-04 13:09:42
5.   fawnkyj
In an interview last week on Joe Mcdonell show(ugh) Kemp was told of his nickname. He knew and he was amused by it.
2008-03-04 13:10:56
6.   Jon Weisman
5 - Really? That's cool.
2008-03-04 13:12:32
7.   GMac In The 909
5 Do you think Old Yeller would be amused by his new nicknames?
2008-03-04 13:12:42
8.   68elcamino427
1 They run any way they like. Just don't get in the way.
2008-03-04 13:14:16
9.   Bob Timmermann
Bill Plaschke has already posted a mash note to Brett Favre.

Favre, of course, is one of the most important sports figures in Southern California history.

There are 23 one-sentence paragraphs in the column.

I need 19 more to catch up.

Some have more than one sentence. They are similar to this one.

2008-03-04 13:14:37
10.   natepurcell
haha, i just laughed out loud in lecture.
2008-03-04 13:14:52
11.   underdog
7 I wonder, if that nickname sticks, if Larry Bowa will meet the same fate as the dog in that film.
2008-03-04 13:16:33
12.   MC Safety
Penarol have you have you seen Milan's form this season? They are 16 points behind Inter! Arsenal is playing some superb football injuries and all. They are one of the most dangerous clubs in Europe.
2008-03-04 13:18:33
13.   fawnkyj
6- Yeah they podcast there interviews on their site. Im sure you can find it.
2008-03-04 13:19:06
14.   underdog
From Tony Jax:
>>James Adkins, the Dodgers' first-round sandwich pick in last year's draft who was borrowed from minor-league camp for today's game, was four batters into his first career Grapefruit League game when he was hit in the left leg by a line drive comebacker. He limped to the ball and threw to first, too late to get the batter, then collapsed onto the turf, writhing in pain. He eventually was able to walk off under his own power, which was a good sign. Adkins, whom the Dodgers drafted out of the University of Tennessee, went straight to low Single-A Great Lakes last summer, bypassing Rookie level Ogden, and held opposing hitters to a .181 average in 11 starts.<<

Sounds like he'll be okay.

2008-03-04 13:20:33
15.   GMac In The 909
11 First, we should test him for rabies.
2008-03-04 13:24:57
16.   68elcamino427
15 That is hilarious. I'm still laughing. There's a picture of him in the gallery on the Dodger website sitting in the dugout holding his new helmet. He really does look scruffy.
2008-03-04 13:25:48
17.   Disabled List
For a while, I was thinking about putting up a website with a Plaschke "sentence vs. paragraph" meter, to see how far over 1:1 it could get.

Then I realized that to do so would require me to read every Bill Plaschke column. I quickly shelved the idea.

2008-03-04 13:26:37
18.   bhsportsguy
5 I don't recall this but Joe McDonnell asked Matt Kemp (at the end of the interview) if he was aware of a nickname that Don Sutton came up for him a few years ago, "The Bison?"

Kemp laughed about it, said whatever you want to call him is fine with him.

Kemp also said all those things that about learing from guys who have played the game for a long time, says the team has moved on and also seems to indicate that Torre is all business.

2008-03-04 13:27:43
19.   bhsportsguy
7 I think its a disservice to one of the great dogs in movie and literature history.
2008-03-04 13:29:20
20.   MC Safety
Arsenal scored 84th minute in the San Siro!!!!! Cesc Fabregas!!! Milan need two goals in 5 minutes!
2008-03-04 13:30:14
21.   Jon Weisman
17 - Since he has said he seeks to write that way, I'm not sure what the point would be.
2008-03-04 13:31:15
22.   Jacob L
Great shot, Jon. I love the Natural History Museum, even though my wife works for their arch-rivals.

Re- the discussion in the last thread on Torre's inclinations for LF (briefly restated, that JP will start the year, but won't keep the job), I agree, and have said so a couple of times. It just gets frustrating when we have to go through this somewhere on the diamond every year. If it takes until June, that's still roughly 60 regulation games - games that count - in which we don't play our best lineup. It'd be nice if some year we didn't spot the competition 2 months.

2008-03-04 13:31:21
23.   Penarol1916
12. What does that have to do with a so-called corrupt ref not giving Arsenal a free-kick and giving a card for diving?
2008-03-04 13:31:52
24.   Disabled List
18 Aaargh! Didn't Sutton call him a buffalo or something? We've been robbed!

The DT Subcommittee on Nomenclature has just been called into an emergency session.

2008-03-04 13:33:00
25.   Xeifrank
22. it's because we are a big-market team. SSN (So Says Ned).
vr, Xei
2008-03-04 13:33:39
26.   Andrew Shimmin
Brian Myrow is in came with the Padres. And he just took a Jonathon Sanchez fastball off the bicep.
2008-03-04 13:33:45
27.   bhsportsguy
22 What would be their arch-rival?

Is it the zoo? Or is it their neighbor, the Science and Tech museum?

Just wondering, not that we have give the work locations for our families on DT.

2008-03-04 13:34:20
28.   regfairfield
25 The Twins do it too, so that doesn't work.
2008-03-04 13:34:48
29.   GMac In The 909
16 That photo of Old Yeller is awesome. He looks like he's guarding the yard, doesn't he?
2008-03-04 13:35:26
30.   Andrew Shimmin
24- The conference room is yours. I was over-ruled on my shunning bhsportsguy plan, but I reserve the right to attach that to some later bill.
2008-03-04 13:40:08
31.   Jacob L
27 The California Sciencenter (formerly California Museum of Science and Industry for you old-timers).

24 30 - Are there going to be any snacks at this meeting? My lunch was a bit unsatisfactory.

2008-03-04 13:40:27
32.   MC Safety
23 Come on now, this is a crumbling and fading Milan team grasping desperately to a Champions League spot. As I'm typing another Arsenal goal in the 92nd minute! Adebayor!

What a monumental day for Arsenal and English football. This one was for Eduardo. Final score Arsenal 2 AC Milan 0.

2008-03-04 13:43:03
33.   Daniel Zappala
Jon, I call your bison:

http://ilab.cs.byu.edu/zappala/photos/antelope-island-bison.jpg

and raise you a herd:

http://ilab.cs.byu.edu/zappala/photos/yellowstone-bison.jpg

2008-03-04 13:43:56
34.   Brent is a Dodger Fan
Matt Kemp is being watched in San Francisco, too: http://www.bwfly.com/watchbison/

I take note when I run by him on Saturday mornings, weekly group run through the park.

2008-03-04 13:44:54
35.   Bob Timmermann
31
We couldn't agree on a contractor for the snacks, so everyone is brown bagging it.
2008-03-04 13:45:49
36.   Penarol1916
32. Again, what does that have to do with ESPN calling a ref corrupt for not giving Arsenal a free kick and booking the Arsenal player for diving and being disgusted by the American futball media's overt anglophilia.
2008-03-04 13:46:06
37.   Brent is a Dodger Fan
33 , 34 What timing!
2008-03-04 13:46:18
38.   Jon Weisman
33 - Everyone knows it's much easier to get a photo of living bison walking down a street than non-ambulatory bison in a museum setting.
2008-03-04 13:48:05
39.   ssjames
22 Jacob does that mean your wife works for the artificial history museum?
2008-03-04 13:48:27
40.   silverwidow
Is Matt Kemp a Buffalo Bills fan?
2008-03-04 13:51:05
41.   Jacob L
39 Pretty much.
2008-03-04 13:53:52
42.   Daniel Zappala
38 That may be true, but the bison from the top of Frary Peak on Antelope Island required a 6 mile hike, and 2000 feet in elevation.
2008-03-04 13:54:19
43.   Eric Enders
At the risk of violating Rule 5, I think this t-shirt could become a DT favorite:
http://tinyurl.com/32awhn
2008-03-04 14:05:21
44.   bhsportsguy
41 Last time I was there was before an USC football game, good location for setting up a small barbeque.
2008-03-04 14:07:53
45.   ImprobableImpossible
The trash can at the Natural History Museum is just out of frame to the left.
2008-03-04 14:09:22
46.   MC Safety
36 Hah, that's hilarious. I called the ref corrupt. From all accounts it was a pretty obvious foul. You are pretty stubborn to dismiss Milan being favored by the refs at home. Eleven English clubs have gone there and all lost. Hleb is pure class, and will make many men look silly dribbling. It was just a ridiculous booking bottom line. The Italians and specifically a few Milan players are well known actors, and they excel at diving. The refs tried to make a statement very early, and it didn't work. Arsenal are hard to stop, as evidenced by all the chances and ridiculous possesion. The only way they have been stopped lately is by an injury or a whistle.
2008-03-04 14:10:06
47.   bhsportsguy
Pistol Pete checks in at No. 5 on ESPN's 25 Greatest College Players list.

So in some order, it will come down to Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Bill Walton, Oscar Robertson and Bill Russell.

At least I think Bill Russell will be there, certainly the other 3 will be for sure.

2008-03-04 14:18:34
48.   Penarol1916
46. Yes, teams tend to do better at home, shocker, I guess that means that anyone undefeated at home versus clubs of a certain nationality has the refs in the bag. Honestly, unless your accounts are not principally English or American, I trust them about as much as you trust a ref in San Siro. Funny, since Milan is my least favorite team in Italy, that I'm defending them.
2008-03-04 14:20:16
49.   bhsportsguy
47 Russell's credentials, back to back NCAA championships, 55 game winning streak, average 20 pts/20 rebounds a game in college. NCAA changed lane size and made goaltending illegal (hitting the shot on its downward flight)

Robertson won 3 straight national scoring titles, 3-time All-American, 2-time National Player of the Year (now named the "Oscar Robertson Award")

Walton and Alcindor's accomplishments are well known, my hunch is that the No. 1 guy will be Alcindor.

2008-03-04 14:20:53
50.   Penarol1916
47. The fact that Patrick Ewing is #16 on that list makes it the stupidest thing every created in the history of time. Oh, are my biases showing?
Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2008-03-04 14:22:11
51.   fiddlestick
Andre Ethier continued his impressive run of form today with a brace of hits including a very well taken home run. Ethier also threw out a runner at the plate with a simply sublime toss that exuded class.
2008-03-04 14:24:39
52.   Jon Weisman
Tony Jackson: "Ethier wound up 2 for 4with a home run and also gunned down a runner trying to score from second on a single in the fifth inning. This RF battle is starting to heat up."
2008-03-04 14:25:32
53.   Marty
52 Kill me now.
2008-03-04 14:26:13
54.   Jon Weisman
I thought this was amusing. SFW:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z25t-PQDn5A

2008-03-04 14:27:07
55.   Xeifrank
From the previous thread I like the "Old Yeller" nickname for Bowa too. For fun I entered his name into the Automated Brazilian Athelete Name Generator and it spat out "Boweca". For Matt Kemp it came up with "Kinho Santos". Juan Pierre was "Juildo". Ok I better stop, this can get addicting.
vr, Xei
2008-03-04 14:27:16
56.   bhsportsguy
52 RF???????????????????
2008-03-04 14:30:02
57.   Jon Weisman
56 - Wow, getting an alarmed reaction from bhsportsguy is pretty ... well, alarming.
2008-03-04 14:31:52
58.   scareduck
54 - LOL!
2008-03-04 14:33:43
59.   ibleedbloo
From the last thread, yes I did get a picture with the Home run ball, I also think I will soon have a bruise as proof as well. Unfortunately I had to go and did not get a chance to have big John sign his handy work. Perhaps he and I will meet in AZ and I can get his John "lindsy" hancock then.

Also, I was sittng behind torre (except for the inning when I was checking out the bull pen; good timing for me) and he heard from me often on the awesomeness off andre.

p.s. I left the game early so I wouldn't miss my flight and, you guessed it, 30 minute delay.

2008-03-04 14:34:08
60.   bhsportsguy
57 Now, I know Tony J. just wrote a few hunderd words on why Juan Pierre is going to be the LF but really, I just can't see anyway that Ethier and Kemp split time in RF.
2008-03-04 14:34:09
61.   Eric Enders
Ethier wasn't 2 for 4. He had at least 3 hits while I was watching.
2008-03-04 14:34:20
62.   Jon Weisman
59 - So now we know we can blame you when the Bison is benched :)
2008-03-04 14:34:36
63.   Jon Weisman
61 - Tony said one hit got changed to an error.
2008-03-04 14:34:44
64.   Xeifrank
52. If Joe Torre said "RF" then I'd be in the "shoot me now" camp. But it's just Tony Jackson. Nonetheless, it's still a troubling comment.
vr, Xei
2008-03-04 14:34:47
65.   ToyCannon
57
When he pops we don't want to be around. You know what they say when you get the mild mannered ones dander up.
2008-03-04 14:35:38
66.   MC Safety
48 It was your choice to defend them. They were being bossed around from the first minute. To dismiss my opinion as anglophilia is ridiculous. If you haven't noticed Arsenal has one English player btw. I'm not really connecting your dots so I will not go into this discussion any further. It is a monumental day for Arsenal, I can't be bothered by such nonsense. Celebration resumed.
2008-03-04 14:36:09
67.   Eric Enders
54 That was outstanding.
2008-03-04 14:37:15
68.   MC Safety
53 I'm picturing Arnold in Predator.
2008-03-04 14:39:24
69.   Eric Enders
63 In that case, I think today's scorer got an early start on the mint juleps. He called a routine fly ball that was flubbed a hit, and Ethier's smoking liner that the second baseman had to lunge for an error.

Good thing these games don't matter. Except for Ethier and LaRoche, I guess, whose spring training stats may end up mattering a great deal.

2008-03-04 14:39:44
70.   Linkmeister
54 Oh wow. How did you come across that? It's wonderful!
2008-03-04 14:42:48
71.   JoeyP
52--I thought that was a joke. Turns out, Tony Jackson did in fact write that. RF???

Oh my.

2008-03-04 14:43:18
72.   trainwreck
Maybe we are playing recreational softball rules and we can have 4 outfielders.
2008-03-04 14:44:12
73.   Jon Weisman
http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-dodrep5mar05,1,1194933.story

Esteban Loaiza isn't buying what Rick Honeycutt is selling. (That's not explicit in the article; that's my interpretation.)

2008-03-04 14:44:34
74.   Jon Weisman
70 - A colleague forwarded it.
2008-03-04 14:45:14
75.   Penarol1916
66. Frankly, I didn't even realize Arsenal had even one English player on the club. It's more about the American media's pushing the EPL as the best of European futball that bothers me, plus, it seemed in your first post that you were posing ESPN's gamecast opinion of what was happening, not your own, and that is what bothered me.
2008-03-04 14:45:47
76.   Sam DC
This is the wrong thread for this Ethier to Right Field business.

Grazing rights for that grass are taken!

2008-03-04 14:46:19
77.   Andrew Shimmin
Justin Upton will be playing RF for my Diamondbacks. Chris Young in center, and Eric Byrnes in LF. There'll be a couple outfielders on the bench, I'm sure, but you'll be able to figure out who they are by picking which two of the five are not as good at baseball.
2008-03-04 14:46:39
78.   Jon Weisman
66, 75 - I have absolutely no idea what you guys are debating, but you don't need me to step in and mediate, do you?
2008-03-04 14:47:44
79.   fanerman
52 But Pierre plays... LF? Does... not... compute... unless... unspeakable... Kemp... lose... at-bats... Pi.. erre... plays... eve... ry... da... y... (head explodes)
2008-03-04 14:48:08
80.   Penarol1916
78. No, I don't think there is anything personal going on, just some confusion over what was MC's opinion on what he saw versus what E(PL)SPN was reporting.
2008-03-04 14:50:56
81.   silverwidow
It would be cool if Kershaw pitched in a cloak tonight.
2008-03-04 14:51:04
82.   kinbote
If we're really thinking of playing Pierre everyday, why did we sign Andruw Jones? I tell you, Colletti's habit of chasing his own tail is getting real old. Roster construction--which should be his entire job pretty much--seems to be a concept beyond his grasp. I know this is just another tired rant, but it seems clear that he hired Torre to clean up the mess that he made. I'm almost rooting for the team to tank so Colletti can get canned.
2008-03-04 14:51:13
83.   Humma Kavula
I have officially put Tony Jackson on my ignore list.

The ignore list so far:

Bill Plaschke
Tony Jackson
Several Rule Five violators

2008-03-04 14:51:27
84.   oklahomadodger
The funny thing is that in downtown Oklahoma City (which is about 10 minutes away from where Kemp grew up), there are decorated bison everywhere. Corporations, restaraunts, children's orgainzations (boy & girl scouts), etc. sponsor them and the money goes to the city. Earlier in the year I wrote a letter to the Daily Oklahoman saying that considering the circumstances, we needed a Matt Kemp "bison" in downtown OKC, I'm still waiting on the response.
2008-03-04 14:53:19
85.   ImprobableImpossible
You think Tony Jackson actually thinks the team is better off with Pierre playing everyday?

Or is he just wise enough to know it's going to happen regardless?

2008-03-04 14:55:06
86.   Andrew Shimmin
85- Jackson's a stone cold Pierre lover, so, there's an element of wishcasting to what he's saying (just like with Gurnick and Nomar). Doesn't necessarily mean he's wrong, but it's important to note.
2008-03-04 14:55:13
87.   Eric Enders
It could be a typo. And since it's in his blog and not an actual article, it could also be a little attempt to needle those crazy internet fans.
2008-03-04 14:56:01
88.   Eric Enders
86 I don't think you could call Jackson a Pierre lover. He's expressed exasperation with his play in the past.
2008-03-04 15:00:45
89.   natepurcell
52

We will never win this war.

2008-03-04 15:01:21
90.   natepurcell
89

Unless the enemy is eliminated.

I nominate Andrew for the operation. I don't need to know details.

2008-03-04 15:03:09
91.   ImprobableImpossible
87
It's not a typo. He references Kemp right after that statement.
2008-03-04 15:03:56
92.   MC Safety
78 80 No problem at all, just a little disagreement. I am not a EPL fanboy by any means. I support Karlsruhe in the Bundesliga as well.
2008-03-04 15:04:12
93.   Andrew Shimmin
88- It's like anybody to the left of me is a communist, to the right of me a fascist. Relative to me (the only person in the history of the world who's ever been right about anything), Jackson is a Pierre lover. Period.

Also, I heard a rumor that Tony Jackson asked Pierre to marry him, last year on a late night flight.

2008-03-04 15:04:37
94.   Gen3Blue
re 53 Kill me after Marty. They don't get it!
Now I better read the intervening 40 or so comments.
2008-03-04 15:05:43
95.   TheBigGrabowski
BISON
2008-03-04 15:06:42
96.   ToyCannon
For every JP you eliminate a Nook Logan will replace him. To win the war the head must be removed not the limbs.
2008-03-04 15:10:01
97.   ToyCannon
Isn't it time for Canuck to go off on TJ? I haven't seen a good Canuck rant for a while. Should I mention that Greg Miller looks cooked or is that a number 3 violation?
2008-03-04 15:11:24
98.   natepurcell
97

Miller's stuff looked fine, in terms of velocity and movement on his pitches.

everything else was hard to watch.

2008-03-04 15:17:14
99.   scareduck
93 - everybody has a little Captain in him.
2008-03-04 15:17:17
100.   Eric Enders
Miller's problem was location, like always. He looked like a guy who could be really good if he ever figures out where the ball's going. They didn't hit him hard at all -- a groundball single here, a well-placed fly ball there.
Show/Hide Comments 101-150
2008-03-04 15:18:12
101.   Jacob L
How about we put Kemp in RF, Ethier in the other RF, and Pierre on the bench.
2008-03-04 15:19:54
102.   ToyCannon
JP looks great in terms of speed and effort.

everything else is hard to watch.

2008-03-04 15:20:16
103.   Daniel Zappala
During the regular season, every week that JP plays more than one game in LF, I will sacrifice one of my kids.
2008-03-04 15:20:50
104.   paranoidandroid
Delwyn's zero for five is concerning. He played the whole game.

Perhaps Tony Jackson was somehow mentioning that Andre played RF today and it got mixed up in the context of saying that he is making his case to be playing? Regardless, it's too soon to tell what Torre will do in four weeks.

Nomar had a couple hits. Now it's turn Andy!

2008-03-04 15:22:18
105.   natepurcell
102

I think there's a difference between Miller and JP....Miller use to be really good and still has the physical tools to be good if he can ever get the mental aspect right.

JP was never good nor has the tools/skillset to be any good.

2008-03-04 15:22:34
106.   bhsportsguy
103 So you have 30 or so kids now? I just figure you want to end up with a few at season's end.
2008-03-04 15:22:55
107.   Daniel Zappala
73 When I originally saw that Honeycutt was trying to get Loaiza to change his delivery, I wondered to myself (a) why he would think Loaiza could suddenly be successful by changing how he's always pitched, (b) why he would think Loaiza could suddenly be successful.
2008-03-04 15:24:10
108.   Daniel Zappala
106 Oh, I can always make more! But I would hope the foolishness would end before I ran out.
2008-03-04 15:25:04
109.   fanerman
103 Wasn't there an idea put forth somewhere (by a reporter or something), within the last month or so, that the competition for an outfield spot was actually between Kemp and Ethier?
2008-03-04 15:25:07
110.   bhsportsguy
104 I think Delwyn just needs to show enthusiam, bring 3 or 4 gloves to park, do those little things well, take 500 groundballs a day followed by 300 fly balls.

And finally, volunteer to try on the catcher's gear to be the emergency catcher.

In all seriousness, I think they are least concerned about his hitting and more concerned if he can play multiple positions at the MLB level.

2008-03-04 15:26:17
111.   bhsportsguy
109 Its been mentioned before but there is group denial of that ever being the actual contest.
2008-03-04 15:26:18
112.   ToyCannon
105
Really, thanks for the inside info. I'm kind of new to this baseball stuff.
2008-03-04 15:27:24
113.   Eric Enders
"And finally, volunteer to try on the catcher's gear to be the emergency catcher."

You know, that's actually not the worst idea I've ever heard. We know he's got a gun, and he has the reputation of having good hands but poor range. He's also got the build for it.

2008-03-04 15:30:36
114.   underdog
It was hard not to think of Greg Miller when reading this piece today on Noah Lowry, who has suddenly become Nook LaLoosh and no breathing through his eyelids can save him. (Though now it's been revealed that he also has tendinitis.)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/04/SP9KVCRET.DTL

Here's to hoping Greg M can put it together.

2008-03-04 15:32:50
115.   bhsportsguy
At least we know that the Yankees are getting some good cardio work with their new Joe.

http://tinyurl.com/32rfy7

Posted only to highlight the differences between Torre's last spring with the Yankees and Joe G.'s first one with Bronx Bombers.

2008-03-04 15:33:42
116.   Jon Weisman
113 - We've floated this idea before.
2008-03-04 15:34:18
117.   Eric Enders
I guess I'd forgotten.
2008-03-04 15:34:35
118.   trainwreck
Everyone kept saying that the Giants should sell high on Lowry.. Now they are really going to regret not doing it.
2008-03-04 15:36:06
119.   Jon Weisman
October 3, 2007:

https://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/829000.html#60

2008-03-04 15:37:48
120.   ToyCannon
118
They tried but no one wanted him, everyone knows he's toast. Sanchez can easily replace him but they needed to try to get some hitting for him.

Andrew is right, they need to blow the whole team up and trade Cain and Lincecum for a farm team and then build around Angel Villalona and the multitude of pitching they drafted last year.

2008-03-04 15:37:48
121.   Jacob L
114 Here's to hoping Greg M can put it together. Your silence on Lowry is deafening.
2008-03-04 15:38:07
122.   bhsportsguy
116 I don't recall but I'll take your word for it. Its true that I have forgotten many more threads on DT as compared to the minute number of misremebrances Roger Clemens has had about any steroids or HGH conversations with Andy Pettite.
2008-03-04 15:38:43
123.   fanerman
120 Wow. You sure know a lot for someone who's new to baseball.
2008-03-04 15:39:32
124.   still bevens
118 I bet dollars to donuts Sabean tried this off-season and nobody wanted Lowry for this very reason. Hes damaged goods.
2008-03-04 15:40:33
125.   Jacob L
Is there an official DT commenters emergency catcher - someone who'll be expected to take on a wildly unfamiliar role should it become necessary.
2008-03-04 15:42:14
126.   silverwidow
LINEUP:

Pierre, LF
Martin, C
Loney, 1B
Kent, 2B
Kemp, RF
LaRoche, 3B
Repko, CF
Lombard, DH
Hu, SS

2008-03-04 15:42:14
127.   underdog
121 Exactly. Not hoping nor expecting (although I do feel a little sorry for him). I don't think the Giants should trade both Cain and Lincecum, but they might want to trade one of them to get a blue chip position player and another good player in return and, yes, hit reboot.
2008-03-04 15:43:08
128.   bhsportsguy
119 Some guy named Jon Weisman threw it out there but he buried it under is first thought that he wanted Mike Piazza to be the Dodger backup catcher.
2008-03-04 15:43:10
129.   El Lay Dave
0 Hilarious, but if that's Kemp, who are the three enormous dudes dwarfing him?
2008-03-04 15:44:29
130.   underdog
126 George Lombard and His Orchestra will be playing the lovely strains of the "DH Suite" tonight in the Tiki Lounge.
2008-03-04 15:44:43
131.   bhsportsguy
126 Thanks to our Bay area friends, poor Mr. Lombard will conjure up images of Sam Spade, the Fat Man and the stuff that dreams are made of.
2008-03-04 15:46:22
132.   Kevin Lewis
Peavey is gutsy. It took me six games of slow pitch softball to wear a cup. I play third, and I wasn't willing to risk it any more. The first game I took one right in the cup...I laughed about that.
2008-03-04 15:47:14
133.   underdog
Since Brian K of Blue Notes shouts out Jon in his latest blog entry, might as well give them a shout back:
http://dodgerblog.typepad.com/sports_baseball_dodgers/
Check out his newest post about the Hardball Times' list of the worst leadoff hitters in baseball, and read through it all.
2008-03-04 15:47:21
134.   Jon Weisman
128 - I stand by both suggestions.
2008-03-04 15:48:39
135.   ToyCannon
132
Is that gutsy? In my neck of the woods we call that stupid as all get out.

Just hoping the Minotaur still has his arm and skill after tonight. I'll be saying this after every game he pitches. Forever.

2008-03-04 15:50:24
136.   Xeifrank
135. Wait a second. Against the helmet law, and for the cup law? What about freedom!! :)
vr, Xei
2008-03-04 15:52:15
137.   Jon Weisman
Here's the Met lineup:

http://tinyurl.com/2h5k29

2008-03-04 15:54:02
138.   bhsportsguy
Is MLBTV.com worth it? In all seriousness explain to me is worth the money to see baseball games on my computer that don't involve the Dodgers.
2008-03-04 15:54:22
139.   El Lay Dave
132 I always wore a cup for softball. I wasn't taking any chances on those crummy infields.
2008-03-04 15:55:21
140.   El Lay Dave
73 Also from that article:
The pain is in the area from where Kuo had bone chips removed last season, but Conte again said there was no reason to be alarmed.

Somehow, I'm not finding myself any more comforted.

2008-03-04 15:55:57
141.   silverwidow
Penny vs Johan tomorrow
2008-03-04 15:57:43
142.   underdog
138 It's worth it for those of us not in the LA area who can't otherwise see many Dodger games. That's the only reason I have it, though I will occasionally check out other games of interest. Otherwise, yeah, you have to be a real baseball junkie - or be involved in fantasy bball, to make it worthwhile.
2008-03-04 16:01:13
143.   ssjames
126 Is it wrong that the first thing I thought when I saw the lineup was that Repko was in center and Pierre in left and that there was a non-zero percentage chance that Repko being overly-aggressive would prevent months of stress and excrutiating debates if a ball was hit in the left feild gap?
2008-03-04 16:01:27
144.   Xeifrank
139. I never wear one and never have. I played 2B/SS/P up until I was 18 then SS in softball as an adult. Never gotten hit there with a ball, but with our first game of the spring league tonight, I am suddenly worried I've jinxed myself. I think a lot can be said for fielding technique and eye hand coordination. The only sport I got hit there was in soccer, but only glancing blows.
vr, Xei
2008-03-04 16:01:32
145.   fiddlestick
I've been a MLBTV subscriber for a couple of years. I can count the number of games I've watched that haven't involved the Dodgers on two hands. But for someone that lives out of market, it's a great value in my opinion.
2008-03-04 16:03:35
146.   Xeifrank
140. Is it that abnormal to have pain/discomfort in an area that you had a recent surgery in? I won't get too worried until an MRI is ordered.
vr, Xei
2008-03-04 16:04:47
147.   Jacob L
I've never worn a cup for softball, and I've mostly been a pitcher. The truth is, though, that it never really occurred to me. I was always concerned about getting my glasses broken, but the fact is, I think I faced about the hardest comebackers possible in slow pitch and I've always been able to react in time. Nevertheless, if I was still playing, I think I'd invest in some protection.
2008-03-04 16:07:46
148.   Jacob L
146 Rationally and medically speaking, you're probably right, but in Kuo's case, anything about discomfort in his arm sounds like "here we go again." Plus in any event, as El Lay points out, there's a credibility gap with Dodger training staff.
2008-03-04 16:09:07
149.   bhsportsguy
147 You should have never read "The Chosen."

First time I read the baseball game chapter was in a Fireside Books anthology of baseball writing.

2008-03-04 16:14:19
150.   El Lay Dave
I've never taken a grounder off the cup (bad hop off the neck once though), but I did slapped-tagged right on it sliding into a bag. It helped.
Show/Hide Comments 151-200
2008-03-04 16:14:56
151.   Eric Enders
Pierre with a 390-foot double off the wall.
2008-03-04 16:18:03
152.   bhsportsguy
151 Wind-aided according Mr. Monday.
2008-03-04 16:20:04
153.   Eric Enders
I thought that went without saying, given the inherent contradictions in the sentence "Pierre with a 390-foot double."
2008-03-04 16:20:50
154.   bhsportsguy
153 Yeah, just trying to give the fans the facts.
2008-03-04 16:23:13
155.   trainwreck
Bill Russell is number 4 on ESPN's Top College Basketball Players.
2008-03-04 16:24:40
156.   Jacob L
149 I've seen the movie more times than can be rationally explained. Um, it was Robbie Benson's finest hour, I guess. And yes, the reference did occur to me when I was typing my post, but I figured it would be lost on everyone.
2008-03-04 16:25:48
157.   bhsportsguy
156 Better than when he played the basketball recruit in "One on One?"
2008-03-04 16:26:42
158.   Jon Weisman
157 - I was gonna say!
2008-03-04 16:28:38
159.   underdog
Better than when Benson was killed by a desk in "City Limits"? (Only saw it because it was MST3K'd.)

How'd the Bison do with two men on? The box score is stuck at two on and two out.

2008-03-04 16:28:40
160.   bhsportsguy
156 Didn't he also do the voice of the "Beast" in Disney's Beauty and the Beast?
2008-03-04 16:29:01
161.   bhsportsguy
159 Fouled out on a 3-2 count.
2008-03-04 16:30:18
162.   Kevin Lewis
The reason I opted for the cup in slow pitch is because the diamond I play on is all dirt, and I when I say all dirt, I mean concrete with a sprinkle of sand. The best purchase I made was the slide guard.
2008-03-04 16:31:12
163.   underdog
161 Bench him!
2008-03-04 16:31:22
164.   El Lay Dave
156 Better than his voice-over as the Beast?
2008-03-04 16:32:11
165.   Jim Hitchcock
{159] Man, I miss MST3K...
2008-03-04 16:36:46
166.   Jacob L
I don't know any of these Robbie Benson performances. Just The Chosen and that Billy Mills thing.
2008-03-04 16:38:26
167.   underdog
165 http://youtube.com/watch?v=1C1o6HBgye4
(SFW) (Robbie Benson's demise is about halfway into that clip.)
2008-03-04 16:38:50
168.   El Lay Dave
166 My daughter was born in 1989; I saw a lot of "Beauty and the Beast". But she always giggled when I barked out a gruff "that's not a request", so it's all good.
2008-03-04 16:39:48
169.   Humma Kavula
I would note "Ice Castles," but I would like to keep what's left of my masculinity.
2008-03-04 16:40:16
170.   bhsportsguy
Another nicely started DP by Mr. LaRoche.

Speaking about double plays, I'll post it later but as Eric S. has noted before, Joe Beimel is really a remarkable pitcher in terms of getting balls hit to him.

More later.

2008-03-04 16:40:38
171.   underdog
167 Is literally the most absurd death ever seen on film.

---

So is Kuroda going 3 today, or just 2 again? Sounds like he did okay if a bit wilder than last time?

2008-03-04 16:40:47
172.   Andrew Shimmin
This is the first year I've paid for MLB.tv, but I love it, so far. That my tv is hooked up to a computer makes it nearly as good as the EI package (the video quality is marginally worse), and, since I have to start rooting for the Diamondbacks soon, it'll be nice to watch them play.

But it's good for other things, too. I watched the 4+1 game, all the way through the other night. And Russ Martin's grand slam to beat the Pirates. It's nice to have Vin's voice on demand, whenever I like, where ever I go.

LaRoche hit a home run. Because he's good at baseball.

2008-03-04 16:40:58
173.   Eric Enders
"a MONSTROUS home run by Andy LaRoche, well over the berm!"
2008-03-04 16:41:46
174.   bhsportsguy
WooHoo....WooHoo....

Nice one Andy.

2008-03-04 16:41:51
175.   underdog
Sweeeeeeeeeeeet! Andy!
2008-03-04 16:42:10
176.   Xeifrank
162. We play on an all dirt infield too, most softball fields seem to be that way.

Sounds like movie chat is starting up. Gotta run, have fun with your movies. We saw Dumbo this weekend if that adds to the chat. :)

vr, Xei

2008-03-04 16:42:32
177.   Marty
The latest version of Firefox (2.0.0.12) seems to have killed my linkification add-on. I miss it.
2008-03-04 16:43:02
178.   El Lay Dave
169 Spawn of Kavula is female so, from my experience, there's little chance - other than that being a good daddy is ultra-masculine.
2008-03-04 16:43:42
179.   bhsportsguy
The Streets of San Francisco comes through.
2008-03-04 16:43:42
180.   Eric Enders
The bandleader follows with a homer of his own.
2008-03-04 16:44:26
181.   Greg Brock
Robbie Benson was quite good in Running Brave. I probably saw that movie a dozen times as a kid.
2008-03-04 16:44:44
182.   bhsportsguy
175 Or is it more accurate to refer to it as an Avenue of San Francisco.

Maybe I'll ask Bob.

2008-03-04 16:44:56
183.   Andrew Shimmin
177- If you get the MR Tech Local Install extension, you can make it automatically override extension version compatibilities. That's one irritation about Firefox--the extent of the extensions incompatibility is usually the line of code that states its maximum version compatibility, not any actual problem.
2008-03-04 16:45:18
184.   MC Safety
Go Andy!
2008-03-04 16:45:27
185.   El Lay Dave
Top of the second:
Kuroda Pitching:
Kory Casto walks
Humberto Cota 3-2 walk
Ryan Langerhans forces Cota (Loney to Hu), Casto to third
Justin Maxwell GIDP 5-4-3

Guess Kuroda does bear down with runners on. ;)

2008-03-04 16:46:38
186.   underdog
George Lombard and His Orchestra all go deep!
2008-03-04 16:47:05
187.   underdog
Damn this slow server! {mumble}
2008-03-04 16:48:02
188.   Eric Enders
Some mysterious unnamed figure is on the mound for the first time ever in an L.A. uniform.
2008-03-04 16:48:23
189.   underdog
182 Street.

So I'm sorry if this was answered already but do we know what inning The Minotaur comes in? Just wonder if I should hang around here...

2008-03-04 16:48:31
190.   El Lay Dave
182 It's a Street. I was standing at the top of the famous curves one night and a dude riding in a convertible like he was in a parade fell out on the first curve. Too drunk to get seriously hurt.
2008-03-04 16:48:55
191.   Andrew Shimmin
Kershaw gives up a 2-0 home run to Louis Jimenez.
2008-03-04 16:48:58
192.   underdog
Damn these slow fingers!

And damn my computer's broken audio!

2008-03-04 16:49:02
193.   Eric Enders
Fastball, low and outside.
Fastball, low and outside.
Homer to center.

Darn.

2008-03-04 16:50:03
194.   bhsportsguy
190 That's right since I rode down that street a year ago.
2008-03-04 16:50:43
195.   underdog
That's impossible! Minotaurs are invincible and incapable of being defeated in any way. Y'all must have heard that wrong.
2008-03-04 16:51:13
196.   Eric Enders
Next batter strikes out looking on a curveball.

"Kershaw looks like a seasoned veteran," says Steiner.

2008-03-04 16:51:22
197.   Gen3Blue
Yes Andy. I looked around the usual blogs for the lineup(ItD, Diamond Leung etc.) and they seem to hang it up after lunch, but I can't complain, because I'm worse. Good move for Andy, because he is always good in the middle of the season. If he can only impress Torre in the two weeks alloted. I can make do with ML super Box.
2008-03-04 16:51:54
198.   Eric Enders
Single off Kent's glove.
(We might be saying that a lot this year.)
2008-03-04 16:52:29
199.   El Lay Dave
191 Did you get that name wrong? Was it Louis Theseus?
2008-03-04 16:52:30
200.   Eric Enders
Double off LaRoche's glove. Second and third, one out.
Show/Hide Comments 201-250
2008-03-04 16:53:03
201.   bhsportsguy
[198} Apparently not a good play by LaRoche.
2008-03-04 16:53:54
202.   underdog
The person manning the MLB.com box score is clearly taking an early dinner today; game's like 10 mins behind now.
2008-03-04 16:53:56
203.   Eric Enders
Walk. Bases loaded.
2008-03-04 16:54:00
204.   Andrew Shimmin
199- Luis Antonio Jimenez (I did get it wrong, but not that far wrong):

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/J/Luis-Jimenez.shtml

2008-03-04 16:55:14
205.   underdog
First game jitters, eh?
2008-03-04 16:55:15
206.   bhsportsguy
203 Walk or HBP?

Nice K Mr. Kershaw.

2008-03-04 16:55:15
207.   Eric Enders
Swinging strikeout on a fastball. 2 outs, bases loaded.
2008-03-04 16:56:08
208.   El Lay Dave
204 Well, good, then the Minotaur still lives!
2008-03-04 16:56:35
209.   Humma Kavula
Steiner wowed by Kershaw's curve -- "That was one of those nose-to-toes jobs!"
2008-03-04 16:56:47
210.   bhsportsguy
He also has 12-6 curveball that is pretty nasty.

Knowing a little bit about Russell, I bet he goes curveball again.

2008-03-04 16:56:58
211.   Eric Enders
Steinday are sounding inordinately excited about how Kershaw's stuff looks. I gather they haven't seen him pitch before.
2008-03-04 16:56:59
212.   Humma Kavula
CALLED STRIKE THREE!
2008-03-04 16:57:31
213.   Eric Enders
Called strike 3 on a curve. Minotaur strikes out the side. Steiner is going bonkers.
2008-03-04 16:58:11
214.   bhsportsguy
211 Unless they were in Midland or Jacksonville (and in Monday's case, why not. Joking, joking), they probably have not.
2008-03-04 16:58:14
215.   underdog
Heh. So he struck out the side. While also giving up a homer and putting 3 on? That's about what I'd expect in his first game.
2008-03-04 16:59:20
216.   bhsportsguy
213 Russell has his pattern, Fastball, curve, fastball, curve.

If he gets a changeup working at all, lots of knees buckling to look forward to.

2008-03-04 16:59:51
217.   Humma Kavula
Here's the important question: what number is he wearing?
2008-03-04 17:01:37
218.   Humma Kavula
Loney has a... double and error, or a triple?
2008-03-04 17:01:54
219.   bigcpa
217 32
2008-03-04 17:02:13
220.   Greg Brock
Walked 18. New league record.

Struck out 18...Also a new league record. In addition he hit the sportswriter, the public address announcer, the bull mascot twice...

Maybe The Minotaur is actually LaLoosh.

2008-03-04 17:02:22
221.   Dodgers49
Frank McCourt:

>> "We could have acquired any player that was available, but it would have cost us. We have to balance that with keeping the nucleus in play and it would have been disrupted. In [Hiroki] Kuroda and [Andruw] Jones, we got what we needed in the offseason and kept all the kids. They are growing up before our eyes. It seems this year the kids understand better what it takes to win. I don't think our fans want us to trade the kids to win. They want us to stay the course." <<

http://tinyurl.com/yoz444

2008-03-04 17:02:42
222.   bhsportsguy
219 Come on, we have enough trouble keeping Canuck and Nate's enthusiam calmed down.
2008-03-04 17:04:13
223.   bhsportsguy
It will be interesting to hear what Torre and Martin say about the Minotaur.
2008-03-04 17:04:24
224.   Gen3Blue
This is getting interesting, keeping up with the game, Idol, and the Primaries.
2008-03-04 17:05:54
225.   Humma Kavula
223 "It was weird," said Martin. "I would call for a curve, and in would come this amazing 12-6 job, but when I looked up, there was nobody on the mound."
2008-03-04 17:06:44
226.   Humma Kavula
Steiner reports that Kershaw wore #96, "probably reflective of his MPH on the fastball."
2008-03-04 17:06:50
227.   Andrew Shimmin
Broxton in to relieve Kershaw.

If Kershaw doesn't get into at least one televised game this Spring, there's going to be trouble. I KNOW YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, BUD SELIG!

2008-03-04 17:07:25
228.   Humma Kavula
Of course, 96 is a multiple of 32. Just saying.
2008-03-04 17:08:02
229.   bhsportsguy
227 I think this Broxton's first appearance this spring.
2008-03-04 17:11:23
230.   Bob Timmermann
228
Factors of 96:
1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, 96
2008-03-04 17:12:27
231.   El Lay Dave
215 Yes, although the single and double were on the ground and off gloves. Not bad for a 19-year old mythological figure.
2008-03-04 17:17:02
232.   Gen3Blue
That ain't very prime.
2008-03-04 17:17:26
233.   Jon Weisman
"The Office" comes to life:

http://defamer.com/363815/

2008-03-04 17:18:44
234.   Jon Weisman
Some noteworthy names leaving the Times:

http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2008/03/initial_lat_buyout_list_1.php

2008-03-04 17:19:03
235.   Jon Weisman
Oh, and by the way, I'm excited about the Kershaw appearance - but you all have that covered.
2008-03-04 17:20:13
236.   bigcpa
Felipe Lopez homers on first pitch from Proctor.
2008-03-04 17:29:08
237.   Gen3Blue
You can't mean our Procter--things have been going to well.
2008-03-04 17:31:14
238.   Jon Weisman
NPUT
2008-03-04 17:31:32
239.   underdog
Lopez and Jimenez hit homers? Ah well, it must be spring. Is it 2-2 then? The box score is once again stuck in neutral.
2008-03-04 19:46:40
240.   scareduck
234 - wow, what a bloodletting.

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