Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Jon's other site:
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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
Do the sounds of those cars going around make you think of being in Dodger Stadium between innings? It does for me. And the winner is ... The blue Silverado!
By the way, I'm looking at Hu's listings at
Baseball-reference (5"9", 152lb) during his minor league career and on the D's 40 man roster(5'11", 190lb.) I know these nos. are pretty flexible, and can make someone like Hu over 180, and someone like Andruw under 250. I also know that its rare, but someone in my family grew more than an inch after the age of twenty. I understand also that Hu worked to bulk up a bit in the last two winters.
So, does anyone who went to games in LA in September, or perhaps Vero Beach this year, have an opinion about what Hu's size really is?
http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2008/03/weekend_media_shorts_1.php
http://tinyurl.com/2tzq48
You do the math.
That belt looks like something out of Mad Max.
In a few hours... I may have the new DT record =)
I think expand too quickly.
For me, my business practices and my manual dexterity are perfect. But my computer messes up.
As I read this I said "gee, I'm surprised to hear this from Bob." I thought the game would be ok, but it was overhyped.
in the eyes of ESPN.
Ah, now it makes sense!
--
Even so, I decided to check in, and UNC closed Duke out. Duke is so overrated it's not even funny.
Back to business. I've got cars to wash and tires to change!
As for LaRoche being injury prone, I'm willing to be swayed, but it sure looks like he is. A couple of years before he signed witht he Dodgers, he had a really bad knee injury. He's also had recurring back problems, two significant shoulder injuries, one of which led to surgery, and now the thumb.
I am not saying he can't stay healthy, but it is a pretty gruesome run of injuries for a guy who's 23.
The Rockets won their 18th straight tonight, tying them for the 4th (I say 5th) longest streak in NBA history. Of the 6 (I say 7) teams that have won 18 straight or more, only the 1982 Celtics didn't win the title (losing in 7 games to the 76ers in the "Birth of 'Beat LA'" conference finals).
1972 Lakers - 33 straight
1971 Bucks - 20
2000 Lakers - 19
2001 Lakers - 19*
2008 Rockets - 18
1996 Bulls - 18
1982 Celtics - 18
1970 Knicks - 18
*I got the above list from SportsCenter, which didn't include the 2001 Lakers. That team won their final 8 games of the regular season then won their first 11 playoff games (losing to the 76ers in Game 1 of the Finals).
The 2000 Lakers had winning streaks of 19 and 16 games!
And I don't think he was referring to virginity.
Darn it.
But who knows, one errant sneeze could have changed me from being the office Cal Ripken into the office Mike Hampton.
I hate UCLA and I hate LaRoche getting hurt.
There was a wonderful article by John Hollinger on ESPN the other day about the Shaq trade and its aftermath.
http://tinyurl.com/2zxxr8
To me, it was a risky trade to be sure, but I didn't think the Suns were going to win in the playoffs (they didn't match up well with the Spurs or Lakers) the way they are previously constructed. It sounds crazy since they had the best record in the conference at the time of the trade, but as Hollinger points out a lot of the gaudy record was built on a favorable schedule in their first 48 games.
On a Laker note, I think the division is already won (there, I've jinxed it). The only worry now is Bynum's health and how long it takes him and the team to adjust each other once he returns. Specifically, Pau Gasol won't play down low as much, where he has been effective thus far in the purple & gold.
So you're saying that Gasol doesn't play well on the days when the Lakers wear white?
I don't recognize those uniforms. They might as well stitch the names in white too!
What about these white ones?
http://tinyurl.com/2fcd94
Those, or the powder blues, are outstanding. I stand partially corrected.
On one hand, Arizona will be 8-10 in conference, but is highly ranked by RPI (27 heading into today). They might have to beat Stanford on Thursday (assuming AZ gets past 0-18 OSU) to clinch a tourney spot.
Oregon will be 9-9 in conference (18-12 overall), and have a RPI of 57 heading into today. On Thursday, they play WSU, a team that has beaten them by nine twice this year.
ASU is 9-9 in conference (19-11 overall), and were 71st by RPI heading into today. They were listed as one of ESPN's Joe Lunardi's "last four in" in his recent bracket projection. They play USC Thursday, and might also need to win to get in. USC and ASU each had 14-point home court wins against one another.
The Pac-10 Tournament: a test to see if bhsportsguy and I will still be friends or if there will be a headline in the Times "Man kills friend, self at Staples Center."
Great game, almost too fun to watch. I know it is only Spring Training, but why did we get Jones in the off season? I fully accept it is too early to tell, but he seems so flat on his swings. At this point I would be happy with an outfield of Ethier, Repko, Kemp.
I do not want to go anywhere near the hot wheels game again, but I probably will.
Jon, my computer messed up a lot too when I was playing. If I had too much going on, I couldn't select cars for 5 seconds at a time, and in this business that is 5 seconds too long.
Cookies heal all wounds.
>> Also listed to pitch for the Dodgers are James McDonald, Brian Falkenborg and Matt Riley. McDonald is making his spring debut after missing a week with a tired arm. <<
Advice to everybody: DO NOT open the repair shop. arrrrrrgh!
Another awful Plaschke column which ensures we'll be hearing much more about the already overblown "divided clubhouse" meme. He just can't resist the urge to define a negative narrative, rather than interpret the facts of what's happening with the club.
There are so many interesting angles that you could take to cover the Dodgers. This blog is a fine example.
A better columnist would help us get to know the Loneys and the Martins and give us a better view of the beginnings of their promising careers.
Instead, the L.A. Times gives us Bill Plaschke, who disdains this franchise, and who regards its fans with contempt.
Usually, I lament the dark future for the newspaper business. But when I log onto latimes.com to read about the Dodgers, I feel like it isn't dying fast enough.
That question might be answered by A. Jones combined with Repko's ability to stay healthy. Repko would be a very good centerfielder, base stealer, and maybe even an offensive force. But, everybody has probably played with someone that loses contact with their surroundings when going after a fly ball making a fun game dangerous.
He was a ss to start.
So i hurt my wrist playing a game on the wii yesterday and switched to hot wheels soon after. Then i thought of andy.
Btw, the Wii game I was playing was Raving Rabbids, which is hysterical, but between that and Hot Wheels makes me wonder if I'm regressing. But it really loosens me up. I think Bill Plashcke needs to play some Raving Rabbids, and then he won't be such a...
Anyway! Off to play in the world's sleepiest soccer game, post DST.
Okay, yawn, here I go. I'm just going to visualize the ball as Plaschke's head.
A few things, that is the most attractive Aunt May has ever looked (Stan Lee once said that they would never "kill off" Aunt May because she was easiest one to draw), that's the nerdiest Gwen Stacy has ever looked (I guess go-go boots and mini-skirts are no longer in style).
But the stories were good and again it is in the spirit of the original book, so I enjoyed it.
I'm not a guy that believes in omens but it all started after Nomar was hit. One of the bloggers on ITD posted "LaRoche is our third baseman YES!!!" I had a feeling something bad was going to happen...
Why not just begin by saying "I am a guy that believes in omens..."
Ignorance (of his latest drool) really is bliss.
Follow me to Freedom!
-GoBears, plaschke-free for years.
As you can imagine, this can create acrimony, especially with very talented young players. Recently, young stars such as Prince Fielder, Cole Hamels, Nick Markakis and Jonathan Papelbon have expressed dissatisfaction with the salary system during their contract negotiations. A lot of this is due to the Ryan Howard arbitration decision, awarding a $10m salary to a player with just under 3 years service time, far outpacing previous standards.
Imagine my surprise when I saw a blurb about a player not angry with his contract being renewed:
Agent Jeff Berry, who represents outfielder Chris Young, on Young's 2008 contract being renewed, not agreed to: "It's simply a difference of opinion on the player's current value. There are absolutely no hard feelings and we fully respect the club's collectively bargained right to unilaterally renew the contract. The renewal is a complete non-issue and non-story."
Chris Young had a superficially good season last year (32 HR, 27 SB, reputation as a good defensive CF), so it wouldn't be out of line for him to wonder why he wouldn't get paid more than the $406,000 he's due in 2008. It's nice to see the flip side of the norm.
http://tinyurl.com/24jmtb
Incidentally, this was in an article by Nick Piecroro of the Arizona Republic. He's a really good beat writer who writes without an agenda. Must be nice (actually, Diamond Leung and Dylan Hernandez are OK).
I generally avoid Plaschke like the plaque, but every once in a while I like to fuel the hatred.
I only hate a few people here, and one-by-one they've been dropping off.
When it comes to PR, defining the narrative is the most important thing you can do because it sets the terms for the debate/discussion. Plashcke's constant yammering defines too much of the discussion when it comes to the Dodgers. I'm just glad he doesn't have that kind of control when it comes to the Lakers (the support is too great for him to control).
Must...calm...down. Must...calm...down...
but seriously, hearing Jaime reminds me so much of my child hood.
Only one of the 12 were of the inside the park variety, off Craig Dingman at Comerica Park 6/13/04.
http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/7Yes
If you ever see something on TV where they need to talk to a Brooklyn resident about 1951, Larry King is the "go to" guy.
Well, you haven't been to the LA Central Library recently.
oh yeah, he & his wife were wearing matching Dodger shirts last year on opening day from what I remember.
I liked trying to listen to Jaime Jarrin call Dodger games because he is very easy to listen to. He has very good enunciation. It helps my Gringo ears.
http://www-cs-faculty.stanford.edu/~knuth/diamondsigns/C19.html
You didn't tell me Falkenborg is pitching? Now, my day is complete!
Man, this hot wheels game is very time consuming.
That sign can be used in Vero today!
"Every day in every way, Matt Kemp impresses."
-Vin Scully
Is there someone else in your house who will take out the trash?
80 - I have to admit that is many fewer than I'd have figured
Also nice steal by Hu
World Series Preview.....?
He topped a .270 EqA in both of those seasons, which were the only two times in his career that he even reached the .260 mark.
Ethier's career EqA is .274.
garciapierra.blogspot.com
I think the secret is to try to get the music shop going and AVOID opening the repair shop at all costs. There's other secrets, but I cannot reveal them.
On another uniform not- the Dodgers seem to have a mesh panel in the underarm are. I noticed that the Cards had the same thing yesterday. Is this going to be part of the new jerseys? or is it just for Spring?
C'mon! Be nice to Ben Affleck!
You don't think you could keep track of 800 prospects?
I think CanuckDodger knows 800 prospects off the top of his head throughout baseball.
And he has them ranked.
"OK, Barrack #10"
The South Pas Gold Line protesters always try to operate silently.
Fortunately, the no swearing ban in South Pasadena is over.
Man, my soccer team lost 6-5 today and was bounced from playoff contention with one game remaining. 2 of our women flaked because of the time change. Sigh. And not even a Dodger exhibition victory would make up for it.
A nice long nap would, however.
Wow, that curveball was WICKED
What a great day...Martin, Loney and Kemp get the offense going and Kershaw makes Casey look silly.
Oh, I did like Loiza's outing...hopefully a sign of things to come.
What inning does McDonald come in? Don't want to forget about him either.
How do you know that you haven't gone back in time? Check to see if there's a small injection mark on your neck.
And there's the first hit against him.
Visiting family in South Carolina, so we're going to take a trip down to Jax and stay a night in Savannah, GA on the way.
He makes runners do stupid things.
Well, at least Pierre can still catch popups. That's about it, though- here he goes again with his own popup.
183 - some time around the point when Jones is hitting .285 with no home runs and ten extra base hits.
When they have to start sending out three cutoff men to get a ball in from CF.
I'm torn on who to root for. I love watching Phoenix lose. I also don't want to face Golden State in the first round, especially minus Trevor Ariza.
I was thinking more along the lines of when he does his first interview from the "All you can eat" seats at Dodger Stadium.
>> Teenage sensation Clayton Kershaw will come out of the bullpen again today, but Manager Joe Torre wanted to make clear that he is not under consideration to make the team out of spring training. <<
## Also, Torre reiterated that Hong-Chih Kuo at this time is not a candidate to be the fifth starter and is looked upon as a possible second left-hander out of the bullpen. Those who will push Esteban Loaiza are Jason Johnson, Chan Ho Park and Eric Stults. ##
http://tinyurl.com/39s5sz
Is Trevor Ariza out for the season? I thought he was due back in the next few weeks.
191 ,193
I'm rooting for the Suns today because the Spurs pose the biggest threat to the Lakers in the playoffs, and I'd like the Lakers to have home court should they match up. I love watching the Suns play as well, or at least there pre-Shaq philosophy. Actually, I still like Shaq a great deal, so their still the non-Laker team I like to watch the most.
This is a tough one! I guess I'll root for the Suns today. By the way, what Suns trade is KG referring to as "the best in Lakers history?" I am guessing not the Shaq trade...
I wonder if it has to do more with Kuo's fragility. He might be more likely to make the club as a reliever (the long man in the pen), so they are preparing him for the role now.
I assumed he meant Club Ced for towel thrower Robert Horry in January 1997. :)
Ariza is still in a boot. He'll be lucky to make it back mid-playoffs, according to recent reports.
I hate the Suns and O'Neal. Also, Mike D'Antoni is an insecure, whiny little man.
That makes sense. I thought the Gasol trade was pretty good too.
I agree with you. I'd like to see Kuo as a starter as well. I was just trying to speculate as to what Torre/Ned are thinking. Since Kuo is out of options, come March 31 he will:
a) be in the starting rotation (option just ruled out)
b) be in the bullpen
c) be on the DL
d) be waived and claimed by another team
e) clear waivers and be sent to Vegas (highly unlikely he will clear waivers)
Ok, that was sappy.
I wish I were in SoCal so I could have seen the mythical one.
A, B, or E.
When you functionally eliminate A, and E seems extremely unlikely, it just looks like you're backing yourself in a corner. Hell- even just to build him up for a potential trade (note: I'm no big Kuo fan, either).
Game over, Mike Koplove with a called 3rd strike.
The Gasol trade is way, way down the list of great Laker trades. Off the top of my head:
1) Bridgeman, Meyers, et al for Kareem
2) Imhoff, etc for Wilt
3) Don Ford, etc for #1 (Worthy)
4) Magic (technically compensation for Gail Goodrich signing with New Orleans)
5) Vlade for Kobe
6) Norm Nixon for Byron Scott
Probably due to the formal names. I still think it would be cool my way!
Otherwise, your list is pretty solid.
However, La Opinion changes around baseball team names a lot.
Por ejemplo, las Medias Rojas o las Medias Blancas or los Cachorros or los Azulejos o los Gigantes.
I hope that wasn't a ranking because without number 4, number 1 and 3 don't mean squat.
Dodgers look for a 3rd choice
http://www.presstelegram.com/sports/ci_8509088
It wasn't a ranking. I should have used bullets! :)
Jon Weisman = Steve Wiebe
Bob Timmermann = Walter Day
Dodger Thoughts = Funspot Arcade
Just back from the game in Vero and sorry if this is retreading over stuff above but just wanted to say a couple things...
- Kemp's shot was very impressive as there was a pretty stiff breeze knocking everything else down that was hit to left. It completely cleared the berm!
- Kershaw does look very free and easy while throwing heavy heavy fastballs. I was giddy with excitement.
- Red Sox nation is growing and growing. I was surrounded by an entire section of them behind the first base dugout. Unfortunate, as they are also increasing in their level of annoyance.
Hope you all enjoyed the shutout win - it was a beautiful, though windy, day in Vero.
Will he get a jersey with his name on it?
That was a disgusting deuce to Casey.
That's exciting.
Then again, I always thought Xavier Paul was white.
I missed the reference... I'd better go check google.
Doesn't take much to see a scenario where Kershaw gets his starts in AA, and then comes up in July/August and does a Joba/FROD imitation out of the bullpen. It gets his nasty stuff up where it will do us good, and keeps the innings down in his age 20 season.
I want Kershaw/Laroche to do a Dontrelle/Miggy impersonation and lead us to a WS championship.
not too much to ask for right?
Just wait. You'll see soon enough.
Traded for someone's backup 3b.
Wish I could be sure it won't happen. But Ned may think Kuo's too injury-prone, not needed as a starter, and hasn't done well as a reliever. However he justifies starting Loiza ahead of a clearly better pitcher.
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