Now I head to a meeting. Carry on!

380 I look forward to reading it tonight.

For those who would rather not wait:

Hollywood Beginning

>> When the Dodgers are in the field, Torre and Bowa sit next to each other on the bench. If a player makes a mistake, Torre asks Bowa, "You want to talk to him, or should I?" Bowa usually responds, "I got it." While Torre is preternaturally calm, Bowa is his fiery alter ego, the enforcer of his boss's beliefs. <<

http://tinyurl.com/yukxgs

10 - That was my first thought.

Branch Rickey's scouting report on Drysdale:

http://tinyurl.com/2shzo6

http://tinyurl.com/33ll69

Speaking of not having legs, what happened to the "Worlds Greatest Offense?"

Royals 4
Worlds Greatest Offense 0, and only 2 hits!

9th inning

Updates to this post above.

Steve Guttenberg?

>> Additional eligibility requirements were set forth in 1971 with a rookie formally defined as a player with less than 130 at-bats, a pitcher with less than 50 innings pitched, or anyone with less than 45 days on any Major League roster. <<

http://tinyurl.com/2dp2sp

---

snarky comment on SFGate after article on the Giants-Dodgers game last night:

"This year the Marlins have a $22 million payroll, the lowest of any major league team. The Giants have a $77 million payroll, which must be the highest of any minor league team."

b. Giants - could start and even stay with the team all year in some capacity

C. Marlins - had his best year with them. Only Cantu would be blocking his path

I'd be very shocked if he chose the Dodgers.

It is why Giles retired, why bother when at best you would only be in the bigs for several weeks before being released. What would be the point of that?

Wes Helms is sometimes adequate offensively, but more often catastrophic. In the field, he is terrible. That is not an upgrade, even if it comes at league minimum.

That's a big if, its likely that none will be available until the end of April and in a situation like last night, do you want an extra inning at-bat to go to Chavez or Helms as the last bat on the bench.

A couple of interesting points, the Dodger scout that first saw him was there to scout Jordan Walden, a Texas HS righthander (who was one of the last draft and follows, signed by the Angels last year). Kershaw was somewhat known (BA had him as the 34th ranked pre-season high school pitcher.) but he did not vault up the rankings until his senior year.

White came down and saw him strike out 14 out of 15 and then he tried to keep it low key knowing the Dodgers had the 7th pick.

The article closes with the idea that Kershaw will never see Vegas unless he goes there after he turns 21 but that he will jump from AA to the Dodgers sometime later this year.

Career he's got a .100 OPS better vs LHP, and I think it's safe to say he's a platoon player and bench guy. He'll become a lot less useful once Nomar is back, and if we wanted to sign him, that's something he'd take into consideration.

Dodgers third-base coach Larry Bowa was suspended for three games and fined by the commissioner's office Wednesday following a wild argument.

---

Good!

I recall Frank Robinson trying to appeal a suspension he got after his altercation with Mike Scioscia. Robinson's defense was "He started it!"

no Withrow, Watt, or Gallagher.

but yes on Baez, Lambo and Justin Miller.

interesting.

So will Nomar.

That segment with Dylan flipping the cards has been parodied many times... my favorite might be in Nuke LaLoosh's movie Bob Roberts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2af69xt0VKE

SFW

@Arsenal 1 - Liverpool 1

@Fenerbache 2 - Chelsea 1

My gardener back in Turkey is a Fenerbache fan, he must be elated with the result. I visited Istanbul over New Year's but unfortunately didn't get to see their stadium (although I saw the stadiums of the other two major Istanbul clubs--Galatasaray and Besiktas). Do we have a lot of footy fans at Dodger Thoughts? The only thing I've read is re: Henry in the Gillette commercial the other day.

I don't know why Angel Chavez is on our team, and replacing him with almost anybody else would be fine, EXCEPT that if we get somebody that rises to the level of mediocre, like Wes Helms, we may feel guilty (seriously) and give him playing time beyond when he is needed (these next few weeks). If the Dodgers had the fortitude to release him after the guys come back from the DL, that'd be one thing. But I don't think they do. After all, he is a veteran!

1. Kuo mowing down the Giants at the end
2. Ethier & Kemp in the lineup
3. Martin getting a big hit

So far, I'm happy with the patience we're showing at the plate. Even though we haven't always come through, our approach has been good.

My faith did waver slightly during the fateful sixth. I was so hoping Kemp would come through there. But it all worked out OK.

http://tinyurl.com/ph9hr

90 - ah, thanks

Phillies release infielder Helms

>> In making the addition of reliever Rudy Seanez official on Wednesday, the Phillies said goodbye to infielder Wes Helms.
The team designated Helms for assignment and has 10 days to shed his contract. The 31-year-old, who batted .246 in 112 games last season, is owed $2.9 million this season -- $2.15 million in salary and another $750,000 in a buyout.

In 10 days, any team can sign Helms for the Major League minimum of $390,000. Helms became expendable after the Phillies signed third baseman Pedro Feliz in the offseason, and the team tried all Spring Training to find him a new home. <<

http://tinyurl.com/2jznfz

Surprisingly, they don't have Monday saving the flag.

84. Good chance that Guo pitches tonight. Any chance that Martin sets tonight? Torre doesn't like his players to get stale on the bench. :)

89. NOAA says the storm is breaking up, but rain is still likely in LA County after sun down now. The rush hour commute might be spared. Still sticking with .25 inches near the coast. I suggest anyone going to the game to bring a rain pancho. Remember, I am not a weather man, I just pretend to be one.
Doppler Radar (SFW): http://tinyurl.com/2rfg6t
vr, Xei

From the press notes:

"Last night, former Dodger Pedro Guerrero was in attendance at the game, visiting Los Angeles from Miami, FL. Guerrero was shown on DodgerVision in the fourth inning to a loud ovation and before the game, visited with his former manger, Joe Torre. Torre managed Guerrero in St. Louis from 1990-92. Tomorrow marks the 34-year anniversary of one of former Dodger General Manager Al Campanis' finest deals. On April 3, 1974, Campanis shipped left-hander Bruce Ellingsen to the Cleveland Indians for Guerrero. Elllingsen appeared in 16 big league games, all in 1974. Guerrero went on to become a four-time All-Star with the Dodgers from 1978-88, while finishing in the Top-5 of the NL MVP vote on three separate occasions. The native of the Dominican Republic also won the 1981 World Series Tri-MVP, along with Ron Cey and Steve Garvey."

stay tuned...

96 I've never played, I just enjoy watching. I almost chose my next military assignment strictly on my ability to watch Arsenal in person. I'll have to settle for getting Fox Soccer Channel or GolTV when I get back to the US. I'm totally jealous of my sister who lives in Kaiserslautern Germany, a short drive from Fritz Walter Stadion. I actually got lucky today and managed to catch the last 13 minutes of the Arsenal-Liverpool match. There is this program called StreamPlayer that allows us to watch the AFN channels on our computers, and they also have one UK channel (Sky Sports 2) loaded on there, presumably for the RAF troops deployed here. Sky Sports 2 usually gets cricket/rugby/golf while Sky Sports 1 gets the football; well tonight 2 got the Champions League match.

Ranking Dodger Snarls
1. Kevin Brown
2. Jeff Kent
3. Mike Marshall

Over/Under on K's tonight is 15 according to the TC Line

I'm not a big Man U fan, but they are probably playing some of the best soccer I've ever seen anyone play. They are red hot favorites for the ECL and it should be a Man U - Liverpool final unless a certain Lionel Messi gets fit in a hurry and pulls out a miracle.

Are you from Turkey? I had some turkish friends when I used to play soccer up in Valencia some years ago.

If not, whose to say whose right?

http://www.truebluela.com/2007/9/4/201518/6293

Sigh, should have gone with Valencia, Italy.

"I understand this ruling has angered you, tell me how it makes you feel"

My question is will Jon come out from his zone defense at Weisman Family Court if the Dodgers have a 1981 World Series Champions Day and Pedro is scheduled to be among those honored?

114 You could have gone with Valencia, Spain as well. David Villa is a hell of a striker.