>> The result for Zito was four runs - three earned - and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings, which lowered the left-hander's spring ERA to 8.64. He struck out four and walked two in his 87-pitch outing.

Afterward, Zito and Manager Bruce Bochy deemed the left-hander ready for his opening-day assignment Monday at Dodger Stadium. <<

## Brian Bocock, expected to fill in for Vizquel and be the opening-day shortstop despite never playing above Class A, doubled in the second inning. It was his first extra-base hit in 62 exhibition at-bats. ##

http://tinyurl.com/36949w

Check out fan fest but my main goal is to watch batting practice and enjoy the Coliseum. I'm going to use the Dodger Shuttle and plan on leaving the game around the 5th inning unless I find out Kershaw is going to pitch. That would change everything.

and who said that comment about Matt Kemp being a basketball player playing baseball?

Luis Gonzalez, starting right fielder?

Not only that, but it looks like Mark Hendrickson will be the Marlins opening day starter.

http://tinyurl.com/388372

No you'll be 50 feet from the Boston hitters, and you can hide behind the Gatorade jugs. (New visitors from latimes.com: sorry for the snark.)

We hope to watch 6-7 innings of the game depending on how long the game is taking. I don't relish waiting till the 9th when the shuttle situation becomes a zoo. At the latest, we'll stay through the 7th inning stretch. I heard it might be drizzly and cold now-that might play into our plans also as to time spent at the game. I hope Kershaw would pitch before the 7th if he does pitch.

http://www.presstelegram.com/sports/ci_8711094

Oops, sorry for the snark in return.

This is like an episode of CPO Snarky.

"Nobody goes there no more, it's too crowded!"

Probably sometime in the afternoon but my car will be there around 8:00 a.m.

"Are we there yet?"
"What time will we get there?"
"No, no, for the last time no, I do not want a peach."

Actually, I have a fantasy baseball draft Saturday morning at 9am in LA. I would like to get to the Coliseum by 4pm or so, but I'm not sure if that's feasible.

I will be taking the Dodger Stadium shuttle. I'll be wearing a Billingsley road jersey.

Xei, if I see anyone in a Dodger Sims t-shirt, I will buy them a beer.

>> Rudy Seanez, who was released by the Dodgers on Tuesday night, said that he will retire if he doesn't have an enticing offer in hand by Sunday. <<

http://tinyurl.com/2epx6g

And I shall be wearing my brand spanking new specially-for-the-ladies Dodger Thoughts T-shirt, in a smoky blue. V. nice!!!!

Sounds like we will have DT people all over the place.

>> TBS had aired an Atlanta Braves TV package since 1977. But with its parent company having sold the team, TBS this season replaces the Braves — and announcers such as Skip Caray — with a 26-week package of Sunday afternoon games which can include any teams. TBS, kicking off its new package with the Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays on April 6, can show any single team as many as 13 times.

In scheduling so far —surprise!— the Red Sox and New York Yankees will make the most appearances. <<

http://tinyurl.com/2vvroc

"Sectino? Didn't he get shot on the Causeway?"

http://tinyurl.com/36egpv

Fox's Saturday deal all but eliminates my Dodger games on that day. Hope it won't be like that on Sunday's too.

It shouldn't be a problem here. Everybody gets TBS across the country with a normal cable subscription.

I am driving down solo, so I can go at my own pace. I am thinking about showing up around 2ish.

I mean you don't see him at USC or actively support the school but I don't think USC underplays its relationship with the Juice.

I'm planning on leaving the Long Beach area around 2, then taking the shuttle from the Chavez Ravine.

If I get it tomorrow (shipped to work), I'll be wearing it Saturday. I went for the Grey one. DT ftw.

I've never been to a USC football game so I feel bad that my first Coliseum experience will not be a USC game.

Worlds colliding!

Besides, a guy's walk rate is over rated if he's being thrown strikes.

Still vacillating between driving down or taking the Red Line from NoHo to downtown and then a bus. I'd do the Dodger shuttle but I'm afraid I have no faith in their ability to move tens of thousands of people at game's end.

"The Dodgers and Diamondbacks will be the Senior Circuit's two best teams, and the Rockies will challenge for the playoffs as well. Los Angeles will win the West thanks to the game's best catcher (Russell Martin), a homegrown infield (James Loney, Tony Abreu, Andy LaRoche, Chin-Lung Hu), a do-it-all outfielder (Matt Kemp) and a pair of Cy Young Award candidates (Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley).

The Dodgers will reach their fourth consecutive World Series, though they'll come up short for the second straight year. Los Angeles loved Buchholz in the 2005 draft, but will further regret not pulling the trigger on him when he strikes out 12 in a Game Seven."

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/column/2008/265732.html

I think the issue on the shuttle buses to me is will they have set up special lanes just for the buses, my hunch is that you will take Flower (or Figueroa which ever is one way towards Downtown, and then go to 1st/Beverly to Sunset and then to DS.

With special lanes assigned for the buses, that trip may only take 15 minutes.

http://tinyurl.com/2nnb9r

http://blogs.tampabay.com/rays/

"The Rays are also continuing to seek another outfielder, and those trade talks should intensity in the next couple days.
The Mariners, Dodgers and Angels are among teams with extra outfielders and might be in the market for pitching help. The Rays - in the right situation - could deal one of their young starters, Edwin Jackson or Jason Hammel, who are out of options anyway and could be surplus when Scott Kazmir returns, and then bring back Jeff Niemann to start now."

Of course, this is just speculating about what teams might be a fit, and with the Dodgers they're probably assuming or hoping for Andre Ethier. I guess they wouldn't have a need for a speedy guy like, say, Juan Pierre? Pierre for Edwin Jackson, done.

SportsNation Jonah Keri: They're the chic pick among the intellegentsia, that's for sure. Really smart people working for them too, from the combination of Silverman and Friedman at the top through their entire front office, including James Click and Chaim Bloom, two Baseball Prospectus alums who are frighteningly good.

They'll make the playoffs within the next 3 years. Even in the AL East.
===========================================

I had no idea that James Click and Chaim Bloom had gone to work for the Ray's. I love it when the guys who were ridiculed for years are now helping turn around moribund franchises.

84 I just want them to have their own radio show. Click and Bloom. I'd listen.

(and I'll admit now to being old school when it comes to strike outs, I don't like them, especially when they are called third strikes)

To be honest, I haven't seen enough of Kemp this spring to make much of a determination and was just quickly glancing at his spring numbers.

Who wouldn't rather have E Jackson backing up Loaiza for the 5th role instead of Chan Ho Park?

You will never see Juan Pierre in Tampa based upon 84

Now if we are talking Ethier because Baldelli is done then we have to escalate the asking price. Ethier would look very good as the Ray right fielder. If he was to bring in a Mr Wade Davis my heart would flip twice.

Plausible deniablity for shirking!

86 Would you trade Kershaw for Travis Buck?

The gap between Kershaw and Travis Buck is FAR bigger than the gap between McGee/Davis and Ethier.

Granted, Buck's was in a smaller sample size but he was younger and massively outhit Ethier last year. McGee and Kershaw are both A prospects according to John Sickles. Kershaw is better, but so is Buck.

http://tinyurl.com/2t9xz5

Thanks for the great link. I am a sap when it comes to those stories. Very sad indeed, especially when everyone else moves on with life, and the widow is left hurting...but I am glad to hear she has great friends surrounding her at this time.

I'm getting the sense that there are a lot more Bruins then Trojans on this board. That said, I'm surprised even Bruin fans haven't been to games at the Coliseum, I've gone to games at the Rose Bowl (and not just SC/UCLA games or the RB Game itself). If UCLA had a big game that day and SC was off, I'd usually go.

[frip]

I think Torre hit the nail on the head with D Young. They can't send him down because they will lose him but he will hurt the team if the stays because he needs at bats to stay sharp and he will get precious few of them being the 5th outfielder here.

[frip]

If he had been able to handle the infield then the dynamic changes but since he would only be a pinch hitter here, I think a trade is best for everyone.

There's an old "Far Side" cartoon that shows a lecture hall filled with seated dinosaurs. Diagrams fill the blackboard, and a huge reptile is speaking into the microphone at the podium. "The picture's pretty bleak, gentlemen," he says. "The world's climates are changing, the mammals are taking over, and we all have a brain about the size of a walnut."

I pray that Ned is not our reptile.

"Helf": http://tinyurl.com/33q8z5

"Crisis Clinic": http://tinyurl.com/357m7j

"Midvale School For The Gifted": http://tinyurl.com/2q7v5o

our party of 16 is arriving by limo around 5 pm...why not go in style?

Woody looks at a newspaper depressed. When the regulars ask why he's down he says its because he doesn't get the Far Side. After they explain it to him, he tells them he was just disappointed his newspaper doesn't carry it, and now they made him feel stupid.

(They want snark, I can give them snark.)

http://www.wsmv.com/news/15723848/detail.html

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=45228690

for those familar with myspace.com

Signed,

70,000 Ticket Holders

It seems they are pretty close.

I think he moves Pierre if he can convince another team to take Pierre for nothing but the majority of the contract (Pierre plus ~$10M for anonymous middle relief), or package Pierre with another player for something decent (Pierre + LaRoche for Blalock).

Wow, thanks for the Cape Fear feeling

Would Coletti even necessarily need McCourt's permission to move Pierre and eat part of his contract? If McCourt believes in him that much and theoretically he's given him some sort of salary budget, Coletti could feasibly do whatever he wanted provided the players he's bringing back plus the payments on Pierre's contract don't put him above his number.

I don't agree with "massive." If Ethier hadn't been jerked around last year in the lineup, he probably would've produced better numbers.

Buck also had the benefit of facing those Texas Ranger clowns more often than anyone else.

http://tinyurl.com/36o8ca

Good to know I am not alone. I think it is just one of those things my wife does not understand, and she would just chalk it up to me being too competitive. But it isn't even that...it's just the nature of the game and the joy of being out on the field, wanting to do the best I can. I distinctly remember the drive to the little league field with my dad. It was always the longest drive because of the butterflies in my stomach.

http://tinyurl.com/3bptah

I apply that quote to all facets of my life when I get nervous about anything.

Now the next GM that comes in, I could see having that sort of "frank" conversation with McCourt.

http://tinyurl.com/26ww8f

Are you asking yourself the question?

barry zito
juan pierre
alfonso soriano
ichiro
j damon

One of fatherhood's proudest moments.

I'd put Pudge on that list.

vr, Xei

I feel for the other teams...ouch

Of course, having 9pm games, like I have tonight, are thus tough because I can't eat before a game, and by the time I get home it's too late to eat but I'm too "up" to go to bed.

185 25th in VORP with defense. He's still a productive player.

Reading that was like going to graduate school to "master" something, only to realize how little I know

http://tinyurl.com/ytqcbg

197 Gotcha.

I thought this would be right up the alley for many of you DT followers. I know, I know, movies and tv shows are the specialty of DT, but music probably comes in a close third right up there with food chat. :)
vr, Xei

http://tinyurl.com/msg6k (slightly NSFW ads and images)

209 Been wondering that myself...

"Grubb's Tax Service"

I don't think I'd be to scared of that team, Xeifrank.

Ohhh.

Here's a little food-for-thought>>[http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-adrenaline.htm] Adrenaline is a hormone produced by the adrenal gland in the body of many animals. When it is produced in the body it stimulates the heart-rate, dilates blood vessels and air passages, and has a number of more minor effects. Adrenaline is naturally produced in high-stress or physically exhilarating situations.

The term "fight or flight" is often used to characterize the circumstances under which adrenaline is released into the body. It is an early evolutionary adaptation to allow better coping with dangerous and unexpected situations. With dilated blood vessels and air passages, the body is able to pass more blood to the muscles and get more oxygen into the lungs in a timely manner, increasing physical performance for short bursts of time.

don't want to be doom and gloom, but it just seems odd.

I've even thought maybe he has reinvented himself and posting under a different alias, but I really doubt that.

somebody here must have an email address or a name or something.

>>Los Angeles Dodgers - Disco Stu - Overconfident and forever predicting the return of their glory days. Brought up by devoted fans more often than is probably reasonable, considering their sporadic appearances. Haven't been relevant since the '80s.<<

The Royals as Gil the salesman is also spot on.

http://laist.com/2008/03/27/beautiful_place.php

Also, when I called I could hear organ music in the back ground. Nancy Bee was getting some practice in; I guess everyone has spring training.

http://tinyurl.com/2bjxs3

Left field is going to be whacky out there. I just get a bad feeling about it...Pierre will have to stand at the fence before each pitch

From the Dodgers Press Release re the new concession stands and other improvements on the field level.

A personal touch added are new crank dispensers for onions and relish that stemmed from a conversation McCourt had with a fan during his inaugural season with the team in 2004.

San Francisco Giants are The Grateful Dead: Defined for years by the presence of a bloated, drug-addled figurehead who all the fans paid to see, at the expense of developing or addressing the needs of the rest of the group. Owners/management gladly raked in the cash. His abrupt departure left his former comrades and bosses with a purposeless existence. Greatest accomplishments as a group were years in the past, but that didn't stop people from paying ridiculous sums to watch them.

and i just enjoy the memory of the old crank dispensers.

226 ouch

So I wonder who that elusive final reliever will be - or maybe they're gonna start the year with 11 pitchers and an extra position player, given all the injuries to infield.

WWSH

Several weeks ago I emailed him and he is okay but for whatever reason is on hiatus from us.

Pierre, LF
Furcal, SS
Loney, 1B
Kemp, DH
Jones, A, CF
Martin, R, C
Ethier, RF
Hu, 2B
Dewitt, 3B

I like serifs. I want my serifs back. I will not live in a world without serifs. Give me serifs or give me death!

I am sooooo... skeptical of him being ready for MLB play. And, as Jackson points out, putting him on the roster would burn an option and cause 40-man issues.

WWSH

Hu, Kemp & Martin

for the Halos:

Vlad.