Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
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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
Twenty years? Yeah, that sounds about right.
Or maybe even 21.
Twenty-one years is the drought the Brooklyn Dodgers endured between their last National League pennant under Wilbert Robinson in 1920 and their first under Leo Durocher in 1941.
Between 1921 and 1929, the Bums finished once in second place, once in fifth place and seven times in sixth place. Between '21 and '38, the team finished above fifth place four times.
Over a two-decade period, the team finished at least 10 games out of first place every year but three. The collective record: 1,494-1,565 (.488), or in an average year, 75-78.
Brooklyn did this in an eight-team league. Five teams won pennants in that time. You know who won the most? Seven times in the 20 years, the Dodgers had to watch their New York rivals, the Giants, hoist the flag.
The team that a generation of fans in Brooklyn fell in love with - or eventually fell in love with - was dreadful. And you can go back even further to emphasize the point. From 1890 to 1940, Brooklyn won the National League five times and finished second just three others.
Since the fall of 1988, competing with as many as 15 other teams in the NL, the Dodgers have not won a pennant, it's true. But, thanks to a more liberal playoff system, there has been plenty of joyous moments. Four playoff spots. Three other finishes within five games of first place in the NL West. Countless thrills.
I won't suggest that there isn't frustration over being left out of the World Series, nor that there hasn't been embarrassment or anger over some of the events that have taken place since 1988.
It hasn't been a lost 20 years, however. We've got plenty to cherish from the past two decades. And even if we haven't had the ultimate prize in a long time, well, if Brooklyn could make a go of it, so can we.
I'll take that.
It's a well-worth-watching Letterman night, as she beams with pride at having become a US citizen, and then describes the Hasty Pudding guys were trying to get her drunk.
Also one of those times that the guest is so beautiful that Dave gets a little flustered.
Yes we can!
http://friarforecast.com/
Friar Forecast is a very good blog, even though it is from a rival team. The author is 100 times better than the blowhard at GaslampBall.
vr, Xei
vr, Xei
C - Russell Martin (hockey -- I know he wasn't any good, but we do need a catcher)
1B - Steve Garvey (football)
2B - Delino DeShields (basketball)
3B - Jackie Robinson (football, basketball, track, ping pong, poker)
SS - Pee Wee Reese (marbles)
LF - Kirk Gibson (football)
CF - Kenny Lofton (basketball)
RF - Brian Jordan (football)
BENCH - Matt Kemp (basketball), Mickey Hatcher (football), Mike Devereaux (track and field), Dolph Camilli (boxing), Chuck Connors (basketball)
SP - Orel Hershiser (hockey, poker)
SP - Sandy Koufax (basketball)
SP - Scott Elbert (football)
RP - Mark Hendrickson (basketball)
Wonderful interview. Thanks, Xeifrank! I haven't seen Friar Forecast before, but it's now bookmarked.
Actually, you definitely need Rick Rhoden (golf).
Also for the bench, Chuck Connors (shooting)
http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2008/03/sunshine-boys-of-summer.html
http://dirtywatah.com/
Hershiser was actually drafted by the NHL, wasn't he? Or am I making that up?
The Dodgers championship futility hasn't ever stifled that.
Rockets 44-20, ---
Spurs 44-20, ---
Hornets 43-20, 0.5 GB
Mavs 42-23, 2.5 GB
Lakers play the Hornets, Rockets, and Mavs in their next 3 games. Then they end their road trip with a relative breather...in Utah, with the best home record in the league. Tough stretch.
Man, I wish I could own a baseball franchise. I would love to hear the advancement in statistics he is talking about.
Now you can add your appreciation for Ben Howland.
Spring has sprung (almost). And only 8 days till Purim!
Probably not.
28
Plus, new South Park.
If UCLA wins it all, I predict Jim Nantz will utter, "All you need is Love" as the game ends.
I hope he brings Billy Packer.
"This time, you can't hold the Mayo!"
I was thinking of something along those lines. I'm guessing he won't say, "He's the D.J. [Augustin], I'm the rapper" if Texas wins it all.
*For "nothing", read "work on my paper".
Is Hades in Virginia or Maryland?
Don't forget to see all of the areas noted Civil War sites, starting with the Drum Barracks and ending with ... the Drum Barracks.
And the Drum Barracks are pretty dull.
You can skip the Drum Barracks.
http://tinyurl.com/2wb482
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7D8aDp3RUs
57. Yeah. Oddly un-funny. But not as bad as the new Lewis Black show. I was thinking that might be canceled before the last commercial break.
Maybe Parker and Stone are working on a meta-level. Several years ago, they had an episode in which exactly enough time had passed for AIDS to be funny (or, you know, safe to joke about). Apparently now, we've reached the point where it's safe to be NOT funny when lampooning AIDS.
Either that, or this was a comment about the writers' strike.
http://mlbfleecefactor.com/2008/03/13/the-2008-los-angeles-dodgers-torres-team/
He leads by example, he doesn't make excuses, he plays the game the right way, he's not afraid to get in someone's face, and the cherry on top is...he wants to win. Unlike some of these other guys who are just collectin a paycheck.
http://www.insidesocal.com/tomhoffarth/archives/2008/03/according_to_bi.html
I like the term "vultured runs". I have always associated the term "vulture" with relief pitching --I'm looking at you, Matt Herges-- but never thought to apply it to offense.
-with apologies to Lennon
*
Imagine there's no Veteran
It's easy if you try
No Plaschke bellows
No weird blogs burning eyes
Imagine all the Outfield
Throwing to the plate
Imagine there's no ellipses
It isn't hard to do
No one sentence 'graphs to die for
And no run-ons too
Imagine all the whitespace
For writing a real piece
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And LA will be more fun
Imagine no moved trash-cans
I wonder if you can
No need for speed or workers
with their epic ethic yawn
Imagine all us fans
Caring all the season
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And LA will be more fun
http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/2008/03/dodgers_abreu_doing_fine.html
tejeda already has 4 errors this spring
Kemp woulda caught it! Okay, maybe not. Repko can play the outfield.
That last one he should've had though. But it looks like the winds are swirling like mad out there so hard to judge.
Are MLB.TV spring training games free or do they require the subscription as the regular season games do?
88 Yeah I chuckled a bit at that. Although something about Astros announcers dissing the Dodgers on that count - and the one playoff win in 20 years - that seemed a little pot-kettle black.
Man, 2 more runs of Hiro. Now 4-zip. Lots of hard hit balls. Not looking good today. But... it's only spring. (repeat three times.)
And Bourn beats out a throw, close play that Young throws for an error and another run scores. Can't blame Hiro for that one as much.
Nice! If I remember correctly, the 'Stros TV crew (I know this is radio, but still) is generally pretty good about integrating new stats. They display OPS quite a bit, and even take the time to explain it. Jim Deshaies is a good analyst.
Yeah, he can't be happy with his defense this inning. Still, he's been hit hard. Anyway, hopefully this is his bad outing.
http://www.goenglish.com/ThePotCallingTheKettleBlack.asp
And yeah, it's a great song.
Pence's throw was pretty good. Not good enough -- Ethier scored -- but pretty good.
"Atta boy, Russ!" says Lasorda in the dugout, caught on the mike.
5-3 Astros, one out, Dodgers on second and third.
DeJesus eventually works the walk.
Is it Minotaur time?!
http://insidethedodgers.mlblogs.com/my_weblog/2008/03/china_arrivalfi.html
Inning ends on a liner to Delwyn.
http://www.lollyphile.com/maple-bacon.php
I think he may not have gotten Tejada, actually. It would have been close, and Martin was playing up out of the way (which is good; I wouldn't want to watch him block the plate in an exhibition game).
vr, Xei
I'm here in L.A. as I type this. I am not now, nor have I ever been in Kissimmee, Florida.
http://www.britishdelights.com/detail.asp?product_id=cw4
Then, on a strikeout, stolen base/E-2, runner on third. Would score on a Berkman SF.
What are the categories? You probably have to take Hanley due to the large gap in SB.
kershawed- v. (kur-shaw-ed)- 1. walk back to dugout shaking head 2. jelly legged.
The trademark is in the wrong place. It only protects "World Series" not "Geoff Blum."
I thought Blummer had his named legally changed to WSHGB.
Astros' announcers compared that curve to Oswalt's.
Kershaw's spring training ERA will probably take an unfair hit.
DeWitt says no!
Pretty unimpressive inning for Kershaw. Couldn't find the plate. Neither the fastball nor the curveball were generating swings and misses.
And that reminds me... I need to make plans for Passover.
Live Box is worse than useless, as usual.
Only guy I could find was Luis Maza, who was in Vegas last year at 27.
seems like from his minor league #'s, good pop, avg avg, but below avg ability to draw walks. looks bad defensively just from numbers.
Inning over.
last soccer reference you'll ever hear from me.
Download my fantasy baseball draft software, enter in your league configuration and the software will use replacement level algorithms to determine who the best players are for your league at each position.
http://MLBMockDraftSoftware.blogspot.com/
vr, Xei
240 :-)
But wow. I may do a fantasy team this year just to use that.
I'm supposed to be working.
Later all.
Kuroda 3, Proctor 1, Kershaw 2, Seanez 1, and we're in the top of the 8th now.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3291777
I was off eating lunch. Stop taking my name in vain!
http://houston.astros.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=455927
Career minor leaguer with Toronto, but on the Astros 40-man.
Blake Dewitt! YOU MY BOY!
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