Even if Tommy's story is...um...embellished, it's still cute.

LAT'd from previous thread:
301
That said, I live in San Diego and am having Dodger withdrawals. I have Time Warner and am thinking about purchasing the MLB package, then read this on their website. "San Diego Division (including Barstow and DC) is considered inside the Los Angeles market, and MLB requires TWC to black out all Padres, Dodgers and Angel broadcasts. Padres, however are available in SD on Channel 4. This blackout includes the MLB Season Package."

I was away for a few hours, so sorry I didn't get to this sooner (I just saw the Dodger signal in the sky).

I can't speak for MLB.tv, but I have been an Extra Innings subscriber for the last seven years, all in San Diego. Even though the blackout wording is as you describe above, Dodger games do not get blacked out in San Diego.

All Dodger games on EI, home or away, are available in San Diego, except when they play the Padres (and they are on Channel 4).

EJM, are you going to any Dodgers-Padres games at Petco in June?

Continuing the mini-thread with Xei...

Why do you break up your bet into four $5 bets at 150:1? I know nothing about betting. Why is it better to do that than to make one $20 bet?

Also:

I'm serious. Can one bet on future seasons at this point? Would a casino let you lay down $20 on 2010?

Nate asked about Yu Darvish in the last thread. Here is what I saw:

The report goes on to say that the Dodgers, Mets and Cubs have also made "love calls" to Darvish and that the floor of negotiations is something along the lines of what Daisuke Matsuzaka was able to command during his posting extravaganza in 2006.

http://tinyurl.com/43g3pd

Wouldn't it be great if a similar scenario played out in September where Pierre, having assumed the role as late inning left handed pinch hitter, connected for a game-winning home run? I would bet that someone in the dugout or on DT would be buying (happily) many steak dinners after the game.

During my all-too-brief tenure as a minor league owner, I provided accommodations to Manny Mota, Jr., also known as Gary, for about a month. He was a very pleasant young man, who could have stayed much longer. (If he had stayed a week longer, he promised to cook a Caribbean meal for my wife and me.) I had a chance to chat with Lasorda during a book signing in December, and used my moment to ask about Gary, who is doing well in Florida.

3 If the bet is made in a legal sportsbook in Las Vegas, any transaction that pays more than $600 is tagged for tax purposes. Now, at 150-1, its probably doesn't matter since you are going to get taxed anyway but maybe its better for record keeping.

I don't know if Futures bet are set more than 1 year in advance.

5 Great, that'll be all we need. Juan Pierre, folk hero.

The mind boggles. Or: the mind will boggle, should such a thing come to pass.

Wow, I just saw the lineup and I am really excited about the game tonight.

I figured he made 4 separate bets, and one of them was the 150:1 odds.

2 That makes sense.

I believe any winnings over $1200 the casino has you fill out a tax form and they send it to the IRS. I am not a tax expert, I only play one in the movies. So I don't know if that is correct. Nonetheless, I did it so that I would have four $750 winnings, instead of one $3000 winning. Either way, I win $3K. Not sure on the taxes. vr, Xei

12 OK, that makes sense.

It's also very optimistic, which I admire. Having the forethought and going through the trouble to lay down four different bets instead of just one when it's suuuuuch a longshot... that's optimism.

12. and there were no "futures" for the 2010 season. I don't believe you will find bets that far ahead in Vegas. vr, Xei

I miss Vegas.

I wanted to put it out there one last time seeing how there is a new thread. I have tickets that I can't seem to give away for tonight. They are Reserved 31, Rows L&M, and they are free! You can contact me at Amurvine at hotmail dot com.

We now return to our regularly scheduled outfield ranting.

13. I've only made three "futures" bets in my life and two of them connected and the other lost in the W.S. Those three bets were.
1) Cowboys (Aikman's 1st super bowl win)
2) Phillies (lost to Joe Carter & Jays)
3) Ravens ($40 @ 21:1)

vr, Xei

12 So that's how you're supposed to report your gambling winnings on TurboTax!

James Loney's double in the 9th off Trevor Hoffman Sunday extended his season opening hitting streak to 12 games. That streak is tied for the 3rd longest hitting streak to begin a LA Dodger season.

Only Steve Garvey (21 games to start 1978) and Ron Cey (17 games during his amazing 9 HR, 29 RBI April 1977) have longer streaks than Line Drive, Orbison, Crazy Eyes, Money, Big Game James, or whatever his nickname has settled on.

http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/ZY3X

First time I went to Vegas I went with friends. We stayed in a bungalow in the back of the Dunes. It was a huge place. I was 17 and had brought like $70 total with me. Even though I was so young, the Casino never looked twice at me as I sat at the blackjack tables. I immediately got up about $40 at a $2 table and thought Vegas was the best place ever invented. A half hour later I had lost my entire $70. So I was broke and had two more days in town.

I was a smoker back then and one of the coolest things was that every blackjack table had a little acrylic box filled with free cigarettes. I thought Vegas knows how to do it.

I know nothing about betting and even less about football, but earlier this year, I thought I had hit on the perfect strategy for betting on football: betting the underdog on all games in which the spread is 5.5 pts or less.

The key to the system was my knowing nothing. I wasn't tempted to bet on Team X because they were playing at Stadium Y when the wind was blowing Direction Z. Is a team supposed to lose by 4? Bet on that team.

The crazy thing is that it turns out that most years, this works. I went back a few years and reconstructed it. (This was before the baby came. After the baby, no time for such foolishness.) In fact, if memory serves, in 2006, betting $110/game would have netted the bettor $2,500 by the end of the season.

But it doesn't always work. In 2007, I would have lost money.

21 A friend of mine told me his betting strategy on football last season was to always bet on the Patriots and count on them running up the score. I don't know if he was kidding or not.

5 That's as ridiculous as Ozzie Smith hitting a game-winning HR in the playoffs. Well technically, not even. Ozzie had never hit a major-league HR left-handed before, ever.

16

I am not ignoring you, but I have lamas class tonight.

And I am pretty sure I spelled that wrong.

Here's more of a follow up of Dodger blogger night Friday, with pictures (sorry if this was posted before):

http://tinyurl.com/5mbr6p

Lamaze. With a capital L.

Unless your class is to teach you quien es mas macho. Then it's Lamas. Also with a capital L.

22

I am pretty sure I lost a bet in the middle of the season because the Patriots did not cover the spread against the Giants, so that wouldn't have worked there.

Llamas class would be pretty sweet though.

24 Classes come and go, but Kuroda making his first start at Dodger Stadium is a once in a life time event.

There will be more oppertunities to hang out with me as the year goes on. But you are missing out.

Andruw needs to review "Major League" tonight before the game and remember the role of Jobu plays in hitting.

"Bats, they are sick. I cannot hit curveball. Straightball I hit it (not so) much. Curveball, bats are afraid. I ask Jobu to come, take fear from bats. I offer him cigar, rum. He will come."

Couldn't hurt.

Perhaps if I went to more classes and less Dodger games, I would be able to spell a little better. At least I would have learned how to use spell check.

Submitted completely without comment. I mean it.

http://tinyurl.com/67p34j

Joe Torre interview.

Q: The, or at least a, criticism of James Loney is that he doesn't have enough power to be a classic first baseman. When you can hit like him, though, does it matter? (By the way, how's that for a loaded question?)

A: "No. To me, it's all about production. It's probably sometimes tougher to get a single with a man at second as it is to hit a home run with nobody on. The type of approach he has and the coverage he has at the plate, if we get men on base, we have people who know what to do. I'm just very impressed with these youngsters. And then the opposite field home run from Matt Kemp was certainly nice to see."

The game that Jon describes in the main post was the second big league game I ever attended. I was 6 at the time. I remember Baker getting his 30th, but don't really recall it coming as part of a 3 homer outburst against the great Richard.

What I remember most about that game was something entirely different. You'll note in the linked box score that Steve Yeager started but did not make a plate appearance. He was then, as now, my all-time favorite Dodger (tm). We arrived in the top of the first, a couple of batters into the game, to find my all-time favorite Dodger (tm) sprawled out behind the plate, unconscious. He'd taken a swing to the back of the head. Very disturbing at the time, but eventually it just added to the lore of the Boomer, magnet for bizarre and unfortunate injuries.

24 -- Right, s/b "llamas".

Perhaps Andruw has mistaken Major League for an All State commercial.

34 - That bit about Yeager is also in the game story. Impressed that you remember that.

36
Or the opening to Season Five of 24.

37 Believe me, it made quite an impression.

24 25 When you arrive at the hospital for the actual event, and ready to assume your coaching duties, there will be a spelling quiz.

36

Or an episode of "The Unit", or "Mr. Baseball"...

Many offerings will be made by the collective Dodger fan base to Jobu to "take fear away from bats" tonight.

39 The spelling quiz isn't even the toughest part. The toughest part is when your wife grabs you by the chest hair and screams, "Quien es mas macho -- Fernando Lamas o Ricardo Montalban?!?!"

I just saw the Dodger signal in the sky

I bet that doesn't go over well in San Diego

Sunday's game was so frustrating it drove me to blog. Just a small satellite to orbit the great mothership sites like this one. A place for venting and quixotic crusades like trying to make X's "Blue Spark" the new team theme song. http://dodgerrage.blogspot.com/

37 , 39 You know, the bummer about baseball reference (or retrosheet) is that it turns out that most of my first-hand memories from long-ago baseball games are just wrong.

This is the best lineup of the year. I will be rooting hard for a dodger blowout with Kemp in the center of it. Tonight 3 opposite field shots for and the other ab a single up the middle followed by a steal of second and third. Is that to much?

Ok..solid game. Go Blue.

I have given Jon the fishing ability to not have to write an original post for the next 20 years.

19 James Loney's double in the 9th off Trevor Hoffman Sunday extended his season opening hitting streak to 12 games. That streak is tied for the 3rd longest hitting streak to begin a LA Dodger season.

Only Steve Garvey (21 games to start 1978) and Ron Cey (17 games during his amazing 9 HR, 29 RBI April 1977) have longer streaks

But are you certain that the 1977 and 1978 seasons began on April 7th? The reason I ask is because as I was looking down the list I immediately noticed that it includes Matt Kemp's 7-game streak to start his career (which wasn't Opening Day).

trying to make X's "Blue Spark" the new team theme song

Why didn't I think of that?

I don't think that would go over well with the pregnant wife.

33 Gotta love the Kemp quote from the same interview:

"Matt Kemp, on all those guys having similar approaches:

"It's just something that good hitters try to focus on in Spring Training and in BP. Going the other way is pretty important in this game, and once you show a pitcher you can do it, the inside pitch, you don't have to worry too much about it because you can just react to that. Playing with these guys, it's relaxing, and we just go out and do what we have to do to help the team win."

If he's happy, {sniff}, I'm happy.

47 Hitting streaks are not considered broken if the player doesn't play in the game. They simply pick up again during the next game.

Matt Kemp's streak, then, counts as a season-opening streak because he simply didn't play in the first X number of games that year.

47
Both the 1977 and 1978 seasons began on April 7. However, your point about Kemp is correct. There is no way (that I know of) to search for hitting streaks in the first number of team games, only individual games to start the (player's) season.

51 No James McDonald game threads tonight?

Pitching duel in Jacksonville between Chris Volstad (No.1 Florida pitching prospect, No. 58 BA prospect) against James McDonald.

Through 3 1/2 innings, McDonald, 1 hit, 1 groundball out, 3 flyballs, 8 strikeouts and 0 walks. Volstad has also not allowed any runs yet.

I didn't tune in because I thought last night we'd decided that McDonald and Kershaw were going on Tuesday-Wednesday.

For those of you guys talking about Darvish, I think it is pretty certain that he is either going to play for the Yankees or us. The only question is when. From what I have read about him, he, or his handlers, seem to want him to be a crossover star. The Dodgers should have an advantage considering he is half-Iranian. Maybe the reason we are not paying our picks overslot money is because we are going to need Selig's help to keep him away from the Yankees money. If the McCourts open up the wallet on this, (which I think they would) then we should be the favorites to land him. He is going to cost a fortune but Darvish/Kershaw, ages 21-27, wow, unfair.

Instead, I'm listening to Edwin Jackson regress to the mean.

56 Or, I thought I was going to, but it turns out he's not pitching. Did he get scratched, or did I get the schedule wrong?

54 Yeah, I just happened to check. McDonald has retired 10 straight and 12 out of 13, struck out the side in the first, struck 2 in the second and third and in the fourth.

Jacksonville has scored 2 in the bottom of the 4th, bases loaded and no outs, McDonald is batting.

57
Jackson pitched on Thursday

Unfortunately, Jacksonville games have very little to recommend them unless Kershaw or McD is pitching. DeJesus and that's about it.

57 They show Sonneshine pitching tonight, Pettite vs. Jackson tomorrow.

Minor league radio, the special guest on this inning is a local tire store owner who is offering a free inspection to all customers.

54 I didn't tune in because I thought last night we'd decided that McDonald and Kershaw were going on Tuesday-Wednesday.

No. I thought it was Tuesday-Wednesday. :-) But Bill Crain correctly calculated it to be Monday-Tuesday.

Hey, they rotate your tires for free in Jacksonville, which reminds me I need to schedule my next oil change.

Wow, 9 K's for McDonald through 5 shutout innings. Perhaps he's moving back ahead of Kershaw in the who'll-get-called-up-first sweepstakes.

Gurnick: "Instead, Kershaw will have his innings monitored, while Hong-Chih Kuo, Chan Ho Park and Esteban Loaiza fill the fifth-starter job for a few months. A callup before the All-Star break is expected."

Before the All-Star break? Was that clear before now?

64 183 strikeouts since last year in 146.2 IP. Only 40 walks issued during that time.

McDonald now trying to strike out Cameron Maybin for the third time tonight.

And walks him instead.

McDonald could be losing it, soft single on a 3-2 pitch and now a walk to Maybin.

And he is gone, 5.1 innings 2 ER, 3 hits, 2 walks and 9 strikeouts, still responsible for a runner at second.

65 It was rumored, but that sounds like the clearest statement yet.

Of course, how they're expecting to call up someone who does not exist is beyond me, but will be fun to see them try.

McDonald is done after 5 2/3 and two runs.

I guess that's one thing we should try to remember, is that whoever ends up the fifth starter -- Kuo, Loiaza, McDonald, Kershaw -- will almost certainly be no more than a five-inning pitcher on average.

72 Make that 5 1/3....

65 Hasn't he been known to... um... I should be kind here... report some assumptions as fact?

I recall some confusion about "Pierre's no-trade clause," which, at last check, does not exist. Wasn't that Gurnick? Or am I completely mistaken? If it's the latter, I pre-emptively apologize for my assaults on his character and skills.

72 - Some would argue that applies to most of our rotation.

McDonald has increased his workload by 1 inning in each of his first 3 starts.

But I am guessing that 6 IP/pitch count will be his limit during this time of the season.

"A callup before the All-Star break is expected by me."

I'm guessing that's the true gist.

Not that he's wrong.

I switched over to the Loons game. Justin Miller, who was the topic of some discussion here last week, has allowed one hit in three innings so far to lower his season ERA to 0.69.

77 78 If that's right -- and it probably is -- then Gurnick should be congratulated. He has found a way to be both accurate and wildly misleading.

Has anyone got the patience or ability to figure out who will pitch for the Suns next week in Huntsville on Thursday the 24th or Friday the 25th?

Lucas May completes a strike'em out/throw'em double play so the top of the 6th ends tied 2-2.

I think we might have to seriously watch Mr. May this year, he is hitting in AA and if he can continue to improve defensively, he might not be a bad guy to back up Russ.

81 If there are no rainouts and if the Dodgers don't decide to call one them up to pitch before then, McDonald is lined up to pitch on the 24th and Kershaw on the 25th.

"I think we might have to seriously watch Mr. May this year,"

Dave Winfield is catching for Jacksonville?

82 That is the Silver God, Lucas May!

I swear, I will keep repeating that nickname until it kills me.

i really hope tonights game isn't blacked out where i live, i really want to see the perfect lineup in action.

83 Thats the way I had it figured, but I wanted a second opinion because I really didn't believe I could get that lucky. On top of that, the 24th is both my birthday and dollar beer night.

86 mlb.tv is free for everyone today with no blackouts.

That is good, because for some reason I'm blacked out of Pittsburgh games.

84 The elder Steinbrenner was so much funnier that the son.

89 The only funny thing about the Lesser Steinbrenners is that they go by diminutives of the same name.

89 Sorry George, did not mean to use the past tense with you.

I'll pick up your cazone tomorrow.

Sorry if this was posted before... but this is an interesting tidbit from Diamond Leung's blog today:

"And finally, Torre spoke on Matt Kemp returning to the lineup, recounting a conversation he had with the young slugger in San Diego. "I told him just be patient," Torre said. "I know that's not part of any young man's vocabulary. I told him you'll be playing most of it the rest of the way." I have a sense he's going to get a good amount of time."

Miller has now collapsed too. That's the second time in the last half-hour a Dodger pitching prospect has crumbled as soon as I turned on the audio.

Inland Empire, you're next.

They just showed Mark Shapiro's big board of information and he has Furcal listed as the top SS free agent after the season.

2 Thanks for the info, I went ahead with the purchase.

I went to at least one game at Petco every series the Dodgers were here last year. I missed the recent one, but will make it for every other series, if possible. In my opinion, it's a great park to watch a game at and Dodger fans usually make a good showing.

How about you, Eric? Do you have tix yet?

The Humma Kavula Has Given This Five Minutes' Thought Official Opinion:

IF Kent retires...

...and IF you can get Furcal on a three-year, high-dollar deal (just like you did this time)...

...then stick Hu at 2B next year and resign Furcal.

If not, Hu's the man.

93 I think pitching prospects in Midwest League have to be given some consideration for the fielding abilities of their teammates and the brutal weather in the early months.

One wonders whether Hu at SS and Furcal at 2B might be the better option. Hu has been hailed as a Gold Glove-caliber shortstop, and Furcal, while good, isn't winning Gold Gloves. We know he can play second; he did it in winter ball this year. On the other hand, you kind of waste the cannon at 2B.

I told him you'll be playing most of it the rest of the way

What, are we done facing Tough Righties™...?

97 Agreed on the teammates. But the brutal weather actually helps them quite a bit.

96 What do you think Furcal will get in terms of years and money on the open market?

Is there any chance he gives the Dodgers a discount?

Geez, I can't imagine Kent playing for the Dodgers next year.

99 Maybe he meant most of this game tonight.

98 Bold prediction: NedCo for the 3rd straight year signs another free-agent CF... Rafael Furcal. Chaos at Dodger Thoughts ensues.

100 That's true, I just thought with all the rainouts and such.

The other note in Diamond's blog on how fast LaRoche is healing, he too could be ready for a rehab or extended spring training.

What is the most likely scenario on May 14th?

1. Nomar playing, LaRoche and Dewitt in minors.
2. Nomar and Dewitt splitting time, LaRoche in minors.
3. LaRoche playing, Dewitt in minors, Nomar on the DL.
4. Dewitt starting, Nomar on DL, LaRoche in minors.

Nothing against Lucas May but I think Carlos Santana is the guy to watch. He is the better catcher, younger, better plate discipline, great arm, switch hitter, and decent power. The only thing May is better at is raw power.

For all the talk that we don't have any catching depth in the minors I don't see a problem with Ellis(AAA), May(AA), or Santana(A) and we even have a defensive prodigy in Kenlsey Jansen.

44 You know, the bummer about baseball reference (or retrosheet) is that it turns out that most of my first-hand memories from long-ago baseball games are just wrong.

Just another example of statistics destroying our enjoyment of the game.

Diamond Leung reporting that LaRoche may be ready for a rehab assignment by the end of the week. He was throwing from third to first and impressing Conte. Conte credited Guitar Hero as a great rehab tool.

or what BHSportstguy said.

106
It's funny: until I discovered Retrosheet, I remembered Greg Brock (the baseball player) hitting a walk-off grand slam to beat the Pirates in the second of my first two games at Dodger Stadium back in 1985.

Turns out he hit it in the 6th inning.

105 I knew there TC was getting ready to support the real Guitar Hero.

101 You ask some interesting questions. So interesting that I will speculate wildly with a sixth minute of thought on the subject.

Furcal is 30 now, so I think he'll think he can get a contract of many many years. Call it six. Why not?

He's now making $13/year, right? Since then the market's gone up and he's performed well, maybe even better than expected, except when he was injured. I doubt that the market will hold last year against him if he keeps this up.

So if I'm Furcal, I'm asking for 6/$92 or something like that. Purely wild guessing. Just speculation. No basis in facts.

So if I'm Colletti and I'm saying I only want you for three years, I'm offering 3/ummm... $50.

Wow, that's a lot of money.

Whoa, I've spent two and a half minutes on this. Time's up!

109 I can pretty much verify that Greg Brock the poster did not hit that home run. For one thing I don't think he was allowed to stay up that late back then.

103 I've been advocating that move for like three years now! I hope it happens.

It would be pretty funny if LaRoche took playing time away from Nomar in Las Vegas.

113 Didn't hurt this guy.

http://tinyurl.com/fdhzv

103 If that happens, Furcal will suddenly and mysteriously be unable to hit.

Center Field at Chavez Ravine: Can't Anybody Play This Game?

Without looking, I'm going to guess bh linked to Robin Yount.

Yeah!

{118] Well done. I thought about Biggio too but then he isn't in the HOF yet.

No matter what Bill James thinks.

118
"Guessed right without looking" five!

http://tinyurl.com/5l3esp

107. I remember the Dusty-Mota homer game. I was 10 yrs old, walking my dog and listening to Vinnie on an old transistor radio my grandfather had given me. I remember Baker's HR to clinch the 4x30 accomplishment, and then Mota's. Don't remember Glenn Burke's however. In fact, I don't even remember him as a Dodger.

I also don't remember Davey Lopes buying me a steak. Cheapskate.

It turns out Yount is the only player ever to play 500 games at both shortstop and center field. If you lower it to 200 games, you get Derrel Thomas, Whitey Witt, and Tom Tresh thrown in.

I wonder why there have been only two players of consequence (Tresh and Yount) ever to make that move?

107 Joel Zumaya disagrees. He thinks it's just a great tool to get into rehab.

110 Carlos Santana already has a nickname?

122 I'd guess it's because, if they were "of consequence," they were too entrenched at short to move to center. I feel like Jeter might be an example of that when ARod came over. Pure speculation, of course (both on my theory, and on the idea of Jeter ever being considered for a move.

123
Yeah, I have barely played that game, but I can definitely see how it puts a lot of strain on your wrists.

um, end parenthesis.

124 It was too easy to call him that but I doubt he has that nickname.

Here is the reference.

http://tinyurl.com/6aj72k

126 I thought Joel and I were the only guys to think that. kudos! Of course, I'm the only one I know who hates that game (and Rock Band), which is a big part of why I thought I was on my own.

126 I could not drag myself to the basketball dinner tonight, to see another video highlight award and to watch Kevin, Darren and Russell get all these awards tonight.

But I will get out to a couple of scrimmages to see Norm Chow's offense.

Don't worry, I'll still have B-ball tickets for next year.

If you want, I think we can do a football game too if come down during those times.

129 I'm not really a fan either. Call me an elitist but I like playing a real guitar better. It works as a social device, though--fun at parties and get-togethers.

129
I just want to get Rock Band to try out those drums. I guess the singing would come in handy for nights when you have had a lot of the sauce.

130
Yeah, I am going to try to come down to see a football game.

That dinner would just be depressing. Thanks for the year, Kevin. It was nice to kind of know you. Goodbye! Oh Russell, you are going to? Well then, I am going to have to hit the bar after this is done.

131 I just sucked at it. And I didn't get to shoot anyone. I feel like, if I'm shelling out cash for a video game, I'd better get to shoot zombies or Nazis or something. Count me as a big fan of the Wii Zapper, not so much the fake guitars.

132 Drums are the hardest part of that game. And, as far as I can tell, the whole shebang is only good when everyone is a little sloshy.

Rays make it 6-7 on 2-run homers by Crawford and Upton.

133 Wait, Westbrook left too? What are the chances he can play the point? Because I would love to add Westbrook to the Nuggets.

Lonoria ties it up!

134
Kind of like the Wii as a whole.

Sorry, Longoria ties it up!

136
Sources are saying he is likely to leave, even though Ben is pressing him hard to stay. There are a lot of good reasons for him to stay, but getting a million dollars next season will win out. He would make more money if he stayed, but hard to think about the future over the now.

It really is kind of a signal of the end of civilization that the most popular games nowadays simulate the physical actions of playing tennis, the guitar, or whatever, instead of kids learning to actually play tennis or the guitar.

133 I didn't go to the football dinner because I was busy but that would have been strange for another reason.

I can't blame Love, you knew he was going and he did everything you could ask him to do. Don't know if I'll ever buy a No. 42 jersey.

I heard Maurice Jones-Drew on the radio today and he always says something that makes me smile. Today when they were talking about Ohio State and the Herd asks him he likes Ohio State and he said no, when asked why, he said, UCLA, I'm a Pac-10 guy. Then Jones-Drew goes on about how Pac-10 schools have gone on the road to win non-conference games (ignoring UCLA's recent history but that's besides the point) and he mentions USC being successful in those games. He then quickly adds, thats the only nice thing you will hear me say about those guys.

136
He can barely play the point, which is one of the reasons why he needs to stay.

134
What about zombie Nazis?

143 I think he wil put his name out there but Howland will try hard to convince him not to hire an agent.

144 I'd love to play a game that lets me play as McBain from the Simpsons and shoot Commie-Nazis.

142
MJD is the best spokesperson for the program. I have seen him on TV a couple times this week, and he kept talking up UCLA. Sadly, he lost a bet and had to sing the Memphis fight song on NFL Network.

143 sigh, that's what I figured. I would love to have Collison, since Camby is my favorite player and he needs at least one other guy who knows the meaning of defense (outside of a court room), but Collison next to Iverson? Phil Jackson would eat that alive

144 Sold! Where can I purchase your zombie Nazi shooting game?

Frankly, I'm amazed this hasn't come about (assuming it hasn't).

131
It worked great for Stephen Bishop in Animal House.

141 Actually, I think there's a lot of value to the new systems. I bought my 86 yo. grandmother a Wii when she broke her shoulder and wasn't allowed to bowl any more. She plays all the time now, and I play with her twice a month. My 55 yo. mother is looking forward to Wii Fit in May, and she likes to play Wii sports with my 14 yo. brother. Without Wii, she wouldn't be able to socially interact with my brother nearly as much (she doesn't like shooting zombies).

147 I've said it before but his game against Cal in 2005 at the Rose Bowl was one of the best individual peformances I ever personally seen in my lifetime.

wow. David Ortiz looks terrible. Even worse than Jones. He looks like a big fat Pierre who can't make contact.

151
I stopped being into video games, but I want a Wii.

152
That was such a crazy game.

148
Westbrook could work in Nuggets system, since they do not exactly run a complicated offense.

Matt Kemp starts and bats third. That's much better.

Wonders will never cease. I think I will get Vin again tonight. Several years ago DTV missed at least two Dodger games a week, and had no choice of announcers. Now I get most every game except Fox Saturdays, and often have a choice of announcers. I'm still not going to commend EI as a bargain, because even if I buy this package for $150 and upwards, they still won't throw in the superfan channels for free (Multi-games on one screen, and highlights 3 days a week).
BIG deal! Now if only the team would play to win I might be in near ecstasy!

153 Woo hoo! We're not the worst! We're not the worst!

I finally get to see Kuroda pitch, yes!

Kuroda is looking great early. Nice fast inning.

155 Yeah, and that's the problem. A bunch of parts, not a team, so it doesn't matter who gets thrown out there. I hate rooting for this team.

Nice inning by Kuroda.

double whammy, Matt Kemp is also inked in there, cool.

Turiaf promised hat he would be throwing heat (on the radio). I am disappointed with Turiaf.

Rony Turiaf at the game, very nice.

He's what I wish Alfred Aboya could become. But then Alfred will probably be president of his home country some day so that's more important than playing basketball.

I always get suckered into thinking B-Ball players have good arms, I saw Koby Bryant throw out the first pitch once & I wasn't too impressed I must admit, & this guy forget about it.

is kemp only going to play against leftys??

What the heck?! Is there like a free MLB.TV day today?

We benched Pierre for that?

167 - You got me, but I'm enjoying it.

some interesting stuff on Kuroda via Wikipedia>>Kuroda was born and lived in Osaka (Osaka-shi, Osaka-fu). He attended Uenomiya High School in Osaka and Senshu University in Tokyo before joining the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in 1996 as a second-round draft pick. His father, Kazuhiro Kuroda, was also a professional baseball player who played for the Nankai Hawks. During his early career, he was overshadowed by the 1996 first-round draft pick, Toshikazu Sawazaki, who was the same age as Kuroda and won the Japanese Rookie of the Year award in 1997. However, Kuroda gradually built up his status to become a consistent part of the starting rotation while Sawazaki began to fade away. In 1999 he pitched in the International Cup held in Sydney, and marked a win against Korea and a complete-game shutout against Taiwan.

Extra Innings has about 14 channels at its disposal. Yet I had to wait to watch tonight's Dodger game because it is on the same channel as the Tigers/Twins game, which ran long.

There are at least 5 open channels that EI could have put the beginning of the Dodger broadcast on. There's no excuse for that. It's just stupid that I have to wait to watch a game while other channels are available on which to watch.

I believe the AZ-SF game is being offered free.

I warn you that MLB.tv is nothing more than a Siren that will cause you dash your computer against some rocks.

And there will be beatings with door knobs.

ahh..for some reason i can only get the 800k feed. Oh well, at least i get to hear Vin. =)

168 that's not funny at all. okay, maybe a... no! not funny

Kuroda reminds me of the good Andy Ashby.

172. LOL

Yeah, i had problems the first time around, but it works just fine now....It didnt even ask for login information, it just took me straight to the game.

That last pitch (curve ball I think) was up to the left handed batter, that's one thing I've noticed (I'm sure you guys have as well) when I've watched video of Kuroda he tends to leave his off-speed stuff up which can equal long balls I would imagine.

171 That was my same problem with NFL Sunday Ticket for 2 years. It changed this year, so I would suggest that you call and bitch.

D'oh

177 I blame you.

pretty sure mlb.tv isn't working for me. any suggestions? i run xp and have the newest version of flash.

172 - Well, I'm getting the voice of Vin Scully describing Dodgers-Pirates. No complaints here, unless MLB.com says "surprise, you owe us money!"

BB87 with the scouting report....hanging slider it looked like.

183

It was a hanging split.

180

Hey man, I just call 'em like I see 'em...

MLB.com has had a lot of website issues today. Sometimes it gives stuff away that people shouldn't get and sometimes people who pay can't get stuff they should get.

The default answer for the MLB.com tech support is "download Silverlight." Or send them a DXDIAG report.

Ramirez takes Borowski deep in Cleveland

Vin talking about long names reminds of the time when I really fell in love with his broadcasting. It was a game in '96 when Montreal was visiting LA and Grudzialanek (quite the young stud, if I remember rightly) was batting. He said, "It's spelled like 'x', but it comes out like 'y'. I'm surprised it comes out at all." I've been enamored ever since.

Productive out for Jones.

I had to download Autobahn for MLB.TV1.2mb to work

http://mlb.getautobahn.com/install

the way our offense is these days, we'll take them any which way.

Gameday freezes way too often.

Man, that run was special ordered, fully gift-wrapped from Amazon, but I guess we'll accept it.

192
It's freezing because of another balk.

192. There should be a link at the bottom of Dodgerthoughts Gameday that reads "In-Game Highlight:4-14-2008......" It's showing the dodgers game live.

That was a gift.
The MLB.tv feed is really choppy.
Lots of buffering action going on.

Good offensive consciousness that inning.

Every time the Pirates catcher bats, I break in to a J.D. Cannon voice.

Sadly, hardly anyone gets the joke.

198 We get it. We just don't think it's funny.

Commenting late on a few discussions...
I live in San Diego and only the Padres get blacked out (and national telecasts) on EI or MLB.TV.

I have MLB.TV and it's worked well until tonight. They've had issues all night, and Mosaic is still down. I think it's very fickle depending on your hardware.

Did I miss the reaction to Tony Jackson's blog entry today referring to "Varsity Blues" as a Top 100 of All Time film? (I've never seen it, so if it's that good, please let me know)

199
That actually makes me feel better.

So, let me tell you about a Dodgers-Pirates game I went to back in 1972 ...

201 I was, of course, kidding. I didn't get it, but I thought it was funny anyway.

200 - I reacted with quiet disbelief.

I love when I get stuff for free.

And I get the pleasure of listening to Vin for the first time this year.

200 No, it's not. Although I would add that it's probably in the top 100 all-time films about football.

C'mon Hiro! Get it together.

Freddy Sanchez is a Pirate batting champion in the tradition of Debs Garms.

That was a gorgeous play by Raffy, and nice tag move by DeWitt.

Just step on the base Blake.

we need Kuroda to settle down man he just doesn't look good in the early going.

207
I still think it should be "Debs Gams". That's a much cooler name.

202
Actually, I meant the Pirates center fielder, not the catcher. The catcher's name needs to be said in a Homer Simpson voice.

Taiwan, eh?

Bay is 1 for 5 with a walk against Kuo.

209 Not fighting crime tonight?

This could be scary. I never thought Kuroda would have problems. Duke is one of those guys who can be great, every now and then, and our best power hitter is stone cold, having been on the bench for 2 or 3 games.

209 Wasn't that a line in that Paul Simon song?

I was thinking that, too, though I enjoyed his dance move there.

Debs Garms struck out just six times the season he led the NL in batting, 1940.

212 Doaahhht

214

The criminals don't come out until later.

219
You have to stop playing basketball with Doug Gottlieb types.

What a way to celebrate an anniversary; leave your wife at home and go watch baseball. What a man, that Tommy is.

NBA update:
Atlanta clinches a trip to Boston and no lottery party this year.

Utah is on its way to give Houston their second bad road loss in a row, Houston can only finish as 5th, while Utah is still trying to move up. Oh, and if Houston loses, Lakers clinch no worse than No. 2 seed.

Phoenix trying to eliminate Golden State tonight and set up Wednesday as who wants to play the Lakers and either New Orleans/San Antonio.

Hah Hah, I was thinking that, too. "Sorry you're not feeling up to it, Jo, but baseball duty calls. Have to get some applause. See you later!" {slam!}

204

I just checked it out & it looks way better on my t.v. but it doesn't look bad on my computer, also, mlb.tv has a delay of some kind (10 to 20 seconds it looks like)

223 After 58 years, she could use the break.

221
Since Lasorda's anniversary is in April, he's spent a lot of anniversaries apart from his wife.

I think Jo Lasorda appreciates the quiet time. She has a fulltime job running Tommy's life. Lasorda does not use credit cards or ATMs. His wife gets a bunch of cash and lays it out every day and Tommy picks out whatever he thinks he will need.

Of course, Tommy gets a lot of meals comped so he doesn't need to spend much.

Andre Ethier is loving life now. What's his OBP, .600?

But Matt Kemp is...undisciplined? I wanted to enjoy that at-bat a little longer.

222 can I say that I have really been rooting for Denver to lose? We need a lottery pick. C'est la vie

two line drives, two outs.

what are the odds!

Kemp has hit the ball hard tonight.

Well, making pretty outs bought JP some starts. Lets hope it does the same for Kemp.

I wonder if the guy in the Dodger commercial reminiscing about going to the Dodger Stadium construction site has fond memories of the evictions too.

"I helped my dad fire up the bulldozer to knock over the squatters' house while they had gone out to buy food."

I wonder if Torre will use the "He hit the ball hard, but at people" line for Kemp that he used for Pierre.

I like how Kemp stayed with that off-speed pitch.

If anyone had any brains they would bat Ethier, Martin, Loney and Kemp together for 30 games or so. They might go through some tough times, but they will relate and help each other and eventually do well.

171 Just for comparison, DirecTV EI gives you 28 channels + 28 HD channels + a mix channel + a highlights channel. We never miss the start of a game, because every game is on a different channel each night.

we must beat up on teams like the Pirates.

A simple question I asked about the availability of certain Extra Innings games in HD (such as the AZ/SF game tonight, according to the EI guide) has thrown Time Warner's customer service and technical support departments into a downward spiral of suckitude.

a few years younger & Kent beats that...

My Time-Warner system is showing the AZ/SF game.

Or to take a page from MLB.com's tech support, "It works for me."

Giants tried hard not to score against Randy Johnson but they did anyway.

- J. Castillo safe at first on third baseman M. Reynolds' fielding error
- D. Ortmeier walked, J. Castillo to second
- B. Bocock struck out looking
- J. Sanchez sacrificed to third, J. Castillo to third, D. Ortmeier to second
- R. Winn singled to shallow left, J. Castillo and D. Ortmeier scored
- R. Winn stole second
- A. Rowand doubled to left, R. Winn scored

Giants lead 3-2 in the bottom of the second.

Wow, a wooley bear caterpiller, could get down to first ahead of Jeff Kent.

240
Do you have the AZ/SF game in HD?

Whole team is trying to hit 5-run homers.

Unfortunately this game feels like Sunday's to me. It could be froze4n at this score.

None of our young players sees anyone winning this kind of game.

Except maybe Martin.

Of his 20 hits on the season he's allowed (including tonight), Duke has given up 18 singles and 2 doubles, and Ethier was his third walk.

Kuroda won't be winning a pitchers gold glove anytime soon, one thinks... :o)

oh Martin how I love thee...

Nice one for Russell!

Assuming Kuroda can't field or hit (I'm not actually assuming that, at least about the fielding) how much does that hurt his value?

It's all tide-up up in Frisco 3-3.

When do the Dodgers get to play again somewhere where offense happens frequently? (Last Friday's game notwithstanding.)

250

Personally I wouldn't know but it doesn't hurt if he can field his position I would think, anybody have stats on his fielding?

well I'll be damned...

Jones did something!!

Andruw!

MLBTV must be broken. It just showed Andruw Jones almost hitting the ball out and getting a triple out of it.

Again Charley Steiner calls the worst deep fly balls. But really, a standup triple in Dodger Stadium to the gap for RH hitter is tough to do. Maybe Matt Kemp but Jones.

Why did Nady jump?

druuuuuuuuuuuuuuuwwww

Hot Diggity!

from what I've read our batting coach preaches apposite field hits so I'm sure he's happy with Andruw Jones right about now.

That was hit pretty deep, was certainly towering, and Nady didn't appear to know what he was doing, either, which didn't hurt.

We'll take it. I think 'druw burned off at least 50 calories running to third there.

Nady almost got hit on the elbow by that ball.

255 That made me laugh.

Not a productive out, based on what we saw in the first game, I can't see Kuroda bunting here.

I just hope Hiro doesn't break any knuckles trying to bunt here. That's all I care about.

That was awesome.

Vinnie always says don't change speeds on a pitcher.

There's something you really don't expect to see.

Is Gameday broken now?

Tee hee. Hiro with the seeing eye, bouncy double.

We'll take it any way it comes, compadres.

Who said anything about bunting?

Nice!

The Kuroda can hit!

Did I just type "tee hee"? It's been a long day.

Kuroda now has just 1 fewer RBI than Jones this season.

Pretty cool first MLB hit for Kuroda.

258 - and yet, his XM radio show is a pleasant listen.

Kuroda had one double in 324 ABs in Japan. He also had one triple. His lifetime OPS in Japan was 210.

276
I knew Andruw was hitting .100 entering tonight, but for some reason I had no idea he only had 1 RBI.

I feel a HR coming from Kemp

watching Kuroda's cut it doesn't look all that bad.

C'mon, Bison! Let's do this thing.

Or not.

Kemp you need to take some pitches or you are going to be seeing the bench even more.

278 I like his show and I like Charley Steiner but his deep fly ball calls are an adventure.

Are there many platoon players that bat 3rd?

I love Kemp, but he's really too impatient at the plate. That might have been a strike, but it wasnt a pitch he could do anything with.

Or not.

So what'd I miss?

Ken Gurnik has a new mail bag (Dodgers Dot Com) with an update on hard throwing lefty Scott Elbert.

288 I think Kemp deserves to get some games under his belt before coming down on the patience part but even if successful hitting the first or second pitch, he is going to have to have faith that he will see pitches to hit as he gets deeper in the count.

What in the world happened to Jason Bay?

Randy Johnson sure looks silly when he bats.

I have to admit (& I think most of us will agree) with this from Gurnik>>Can you please explain why the Dodgers would start Kershaw at Double-A Jacksonville when he looked like the best pitcher in Spring Training?

-- Shawn H., Van Nuys, Calif.

The way the ball flies out of the Pacific Coast League in general and Triple-A Las Vegas in particular, management seemed to prefer to keep the best pitching prospects in Jacksonville.

As for having Kershaw begin the season in the Minor Leagues and not the Majors, it's not because the club doesn't think he can pitch successfully in the bigs right now. Nearly anybody who saw him this spring believes he can. But at what cost? He's only 20 and he has never pitched more than 121 innings in a season. So if you put him in a Major League starting rotation on March 31 and expect him to jump his workload by 65 percent in one season, what are the chances that he has anything left for the stretch run or, even worse, breaks down and is never the same? Not a chance that management would take.

Instead, Kershaw will have his innings monitored, while Hong-Chih Kuo, Chan Ho Park and Esteban Loaiza fill the fifth-starter job for a few months. A callup before the All-Star break is expected.

That's about as far as Mientkiweiz is capable of hitting the ball.

Maybe time to go to the pen.

yes, kemp deserves some at bats before coming down on him, i just hope torre understands that. if they are gonna platoon the two, then torre is just plain stupid. the guy needs to play everyday, period.

That could have been a really bad inning for Hiro. They just missed on a couple of balls. Still a QS for him.

The Pirate batters are not getting very fooled right now.

The font on Gameday is odd because it doesn't seem to have correct kerning. Aaron Rowand's name appears as "Row and"

nice job by the old man

Don't worry. It looks like whatever the Pirates do, the Dodgers can catch up in 2 innings.

Jeff Kent almost got thrown out at second on a triple. At least he can still hit.

The ball must be carrying well tonight.

Before you get too hard on Kuroda, I'll take 6+ innings every time, the Dodgers need to score some runs to give the pitchers some cushion but for a 4th starter, that's a lot better than what we have been seeing in the last few years.

That man is a machine

304
Company man....

Figures.

13 straight for Crazy Eyes. Sweet time for it too.

306 Nice usage for me and Kuroda.

Holy cow---Kent scored from second!

If we can get the lead, maybe we will see Chin-Lung Hu.

The Snakes take the lead 4-3, ugh I can't stand them already...

I like that Bob knows the term "kerning". Geek.

attaboy Lonestar

MONEY!

306

oh man, that was a good one for personal reasons, hehehe!!

312 Did you get my email?

312
I also can drop in the word "leading" where it's pronounced with a short "e".

311 Already? I couldn't stand them last year, either.

Golden State trying to hang on, doubled up on the Suns in the 3rd quarter 38-19 to take a 5 point lead into the 4th.

Nice stroke. Big, big hit.

solution

Yay, DeRook!

I'm encouraged by both Kemp (more so with Kemp) Jones going the other way tonight, hey man, We gotta look at the positives... The Solution™ showing what he can do.

Nice job, Mr. Solution.

Almost a great play by Mint Cabbage.

Hu is getting ready.

Atta boy, DY!

BTW Laker fans, Ron Artest did not play tonight, I have to believe that he will play tomorrow against the Lakers.

We've gotten a bit more luck today.

I'm glad Delwyn makes the most of his chances. This atbat, anyways.

Way to go, Pee Wee!

316 Just replied to it. Can you make it there as early as 5:15?

I just barely turned on the game and I can't believe i missed Young's hit. Drats.

Does anyone else think of Mystery Science Theater's running in-joke referencing that old Dennis Weaver show "McCloud" - when they'd end something with, "McCloud!" whenever you hear Vin say "McClouth"? Or is that just geeky me?

332 Don't think so but will get back to you.

Furcal seems like he wants to KILL the ball, just stick to your game Furcal.

Man-ca-vitch? I always thought it was Man-cay-vitch.

I usually just say Minky.

335 How early can you make it? The kids want to be sure to be on time and want to be sure to get a shirt.

334
I guess it's just the two of us. And I've been using that joke here and on the Griddle since McClouth came up.

I now know my demographic. It's underdog!

339
They'll get a shirt unless you get there at 8.

This Blake DeWitt is a keeper I think. He's almost as good as Blake Edwards. By the way, I'm anticipating our bull-pen and I have to set-up the set-up man.
I've always been a fan of collective nouns. For instance, there is a flock of birds, a school of fish, a pod of whales, and even a gaggle of geese (really).

334
I remember never understand that reference.

*understanding

I like a murder of crows.

The Torre signing continues to pay dividends for PR-conscious McCourt: Al Pacino is name-checking Torre and the Dodgers on Letterman right now.

328 - playing tomorrow instead of Wed works against us. Otherwise, Dallas would need to play hard at home v. NO on Wed to avoid the 8 seed. But, if we were to lose tomorrow, then on Wed. Dallas would likely lose to actually get the 8 and avoid us.

The best scenario for LA is that Sacramento wins tonight. That way NO locks up the 2, and would therefore not try on Wed, allowing Dallas to win and get the 7, in which case we'd get Denver.

Proctor hurt himself slightly on that last one? That's weird. Looks like he's okay though.

Al Pacino needs to stop making movies.

340 I wasn't sure about the joke either, the first few times I heard them make it, so I had to look it up. It then always made me chuckle.

From Wikipedia: "McCloud became the basis for a recurring joke on the movie-mocking TV series Mystery Science Theater 3000: whenever one character in the featured movie would call out to someone else, host characters Joel Robinson, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot would chime in by calling out to other unrelated fictional characters such as Mr. Drysdale and "Mr. Eddie's father". "

McCloud!

349 - the movie with DeNiro looks pretty good.

There's actually a section in a MST3K book devoted to explaining many of their more obscure references. Some of them were funny without even getting the reference.

343
A little too young for the NBC Sunday Night Mystery Movie are we?

I am Connor McCloud, of the clan McCloud.

349
How can a film with 50 Cent, not be good?

There you go!

McCouth looks like the Golf player that was craying the other day, I forget his name.

353
I guess so, since I have no idea that existed.

McClouth! strikes out.

338
"menky"
-Peter Sellers is simpering somewhere.

it looks like the Pirates want to throw us all of there lefties.

I was just a baby when the original NBC Mystery Movie aired, but loved watching Columbo reruns in the later 70s and 80s. And remember seeing a few McClouds, which didn't age as well as Columbo.

I just hope Al can reclaim some of his old magic when he plays Salvador Dali.

the way Vinnie says the Pirates last name reminds me of DT poster "MankatoDodgers"

Martin's bat has not heated up yet but he had an excellent game behind the plate tonight.

I liked Vin's remark about crowds never cheering for a good block by catchers...truly an under appreciated part of the game.

Anyone here ever been to the Austin City Limits Music Festival? The line-up is supposed to be released in about 45 minutes.

I guess it is too late to get Kent a leg transplant.

I just hope Kent doesn't talk smack to the youngsters the way he runs these days... I'm sorry but it just brings back bad flashbacks man.

What happened to everyone?

?

GO Broxton!

wow, that's weird, a quiet 10 minutes

The Bull Express™ takes care of business.

369 I was busy trying to wrest my burrito back from my assertive cat.

Everyone was too mesmerized by Broxton.

367 - Kent v. any Molina brother in a charity 40 yd dash.

Trainwreck will not gloat about the Warriors having the best record for a team not making the playoffs.

Will you?

And playing Scrabulous against my g/f.
And checking work email. And writing something. And eating, And watching Broxton pitch.

In short, your typical modern multitasker.

Good question. (From my iPhone, slow typing.)

You can't surf Barking Sands Beach unless the Navy gives you prior permission.

Not that I know how to surf. I just read my tour book for Kauai.

I think that last Broxton fastball was faster than 95. I'm thinking 98.

Juan Cruz vs. Brian Bocock, unfair.

Az still up 4-3.

375
I will never gloat about anything to do with the Warriors. Especially, since everyone in the Bay Area has become a huge Warriors fan over the last two years.

D'oh! Mitt.

I like watching the super slow dropping the ball.

In tennis you're not supposed to cheer when a guy double-faults. It would be nice if baseball fans kept a sypathetic hush when a player drops a ball.

Druw just missed a corner home run. Foul, but this is all heartening to see, compared to what he was doing.

Jones does not seem to be trying to pull everything, which is a positive sign.

The new Indiana Jones looks like a big CGI filled bag of junk. Like it is part of the Mummy franchise.

And then a deep fly out to centerfield. An out, but again, some positive at bats today for Druw. One step at a time I guess.

373 - Agreed.

I don't know why Vin's making a big deal about Hu batting in Kent's spot, when assuredly Torre wants to pinch-hit for Broxton this inning and have Saito pitch the ninth.

373 Why wouldn't one be? He's the largest man in the world. (Or whatever it is that Mark Grace says.)

So Joe Torre blew the double switch?

Because he's bored talking about the Bucs' ineptitude today.

390 Agreed. I assumed he expected to bat Sweeney there, for Broxton.

I guess now we know Hu's not batting here.

Those well hit balls in AJ's last at-bat were against a guy throwing 94 mph too, contrary to the theory that he can't catch up to a good fastball.

There are some really slow people on this team.

Welcome back to the NL Joe.

Ooh, Hm. Sweeney looked safe there. But, okay.

C'mon Sammy!

387
I hear the new Indiana Jones movie involves a scene with a Hideo Nomo like character throwing a perfect game.

390
Agreed, but it would seem to make more sense to plug Hu into the pitchers spot in the order in case Pitt tied it in the 8th and Broxton was needed for a 2nd inning.

Not an issue in this case.

If Torre had made the double-switch when he started the eight by putting Broxton on the mound and Hu at 2nd, Hu would have hit there instead of Sweeney. I assumed he consciously chose to do it this way so that he would have the PH opportunity in the 8th if anyone reached. Broxton wasn't going more than one inning anyway.

400
I hope he rips out Brett Tomko's heart afterwards.

401 - If Pitt tied it, Broxton certainly wouldn't have pitched a second inning.

I could be wrong, but I actually think this is the kind of thing Grady would occasionally trip up on. He'd double-switch in rote manner without realizing that it made no sense if he wanted to make a pitching change before the pitcher's spot came up.

Martin, Kemp and Jones now seem half way back to form. When they get it together this will be some team. Come May.

Where on earth was that pitch?

366 I live in Austin and went last year. Its a big park with a lot of stages, so you will not see everything. And it will be hot, and there will be a lot of college kids. It is also, for Austin, suprisingly difficult to scalp the one day passess. If you are going to go, I recommend buying the three day pass pre-sale.

401 + 402 : And the difference lies in our different assumptions about Broxton.

I'm heartened by Jones' ABs tonight. Working the count, going the other way, not flailing wildly... hopefully this is the start of him coming out of his mega-slump.

(I can't wait for the new Indy movie... heh.)

404 I have similar recollections, but my aging memory and all....

the bucks stops here, let's get a DP.

After Vinny gave us a Nomar update, I pulled up Nomar's minor league stats on lv51.com. According to the site, Nomar was an all-star in 1954.

dbacks and giants tied in the 7th

The Dodgers have ten hits tonight, but only Martin had two. No Dodger scored or drove in more than one run. That's a lot of 1s in the box score.

C'mon Saito I don't want these guys even TOUCHING the ball.

I'd come inside right here on this guy, he's thinking out side you can tell.

414 Binary solo!

412 I'm not looking forward to his glove. DeWitt has spoiled me. Haven't had anything like it since Beltre.

Aye!

the was a beautiful thing to watch...

Cue J.D. Cannon.

Well, that bites.

sad

Aw jeez

Oh dear.

Breaking my curveballs!

Ouch-ch-ch

punched in the mid-section...

some days you just wish they left the dominating Broxton out there, but save opportunity and all... :(

all those opportunities we didn't cash in on...

Uggh. I'm calling it a night.

Actually, I'm gonna call it a season.

OUCH.

McClouth!

Sigh.

That hurts.

do it Bob

Crumbs.

I can't second guess putting Sammy in there, but man.

431 That's the spirit!

I blame this whole thing on Bob. He shouldn't have been joking on his name all night.

Well, now Kemp gets his chance to be a hero.

Sammy is leaving everything over the plate. This really bites.

There ya go.

And herein lies the problem with the missed double switch. If the Dodgers tie it up, then that wasted reserve may become important later.

Man, Sammy just did not look like the usual Sammy tonight. Dunno what you can do about that .

wow. We really needed a win tonight, and at no point did I think we'd blow this. Saito needed to come in and nail this down tonight, but couldn't get it done. When it rains it pours I guess. Long season, and we've still got the bottom of the 9th.

440 The baseball gods have spoken.

Well, Saito has a couple of these a year, so I guess it's better to get one out of the way now.

Sigh.

431

... Yeah, I can see how one would hang it up on a season where only 149 games remain. It's hopeless.

Two thoughts, first, these things happen, second, still marvel at Gagne's streak.

In other news: Wilson Betemit is on the DL with conjunctivitis.

you just don't see that that often from Mr. Takashi Saito, oh well even the Pirates get lucky sometimes, but you know what, we scored some of those runs on Pirate errors so I guess turn about is fair play as Vinnie says it, it's o.k. man it's still very early guys.

... Well, it's up the the offense. They can continue to work counts, make the pitcher work, and build a rally. The top of the order is up; let's get it done.

447
Did Derek Jeter do something to his pillowcase?

446
That whole steroids flap and Gagne's current hapless state makes the memory of his incredible streak less remarkable, to me at least.

not at all to second guess putting Saito in, because it's a no brainer move. Yet it seems putting in the closer in the 9th regardless is one of the few moves in baseball where you substitute someone for someone else no matter how well the "someone else" was doing.

Maybe it's more throught-provoking as a Dodgers fan because of the tiny if at all difference in talent between the set-up guy and the closer.

somehow I'm not surprised Capps was a catcher in his earlier playing years...

that's a weird bat Kemp has.

454 - shhhhh, it's an aluminum bat

Should we tell Vin that Torres isn't on the Pirates anymore?

man, that sucked

If somehow Broxton blows the game, people will call for Torre's head for not bringing in Saito.

It's early in the season and this stuff happens.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk0GNybCRjw&feature=related

... Well, that's a heartbreaking defeat.

456 - if Vin says Torres is on the Pirates, Torres is on the Pirates, everyone else is wrong.

What a terrible loss. This one just leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

wow, we're gonna fall behind the Giants in the standings. Time to go watch "Bizarre Foods" I love that show.

I had no idea Chris Gomez is still around.

Who is Nate McClouth?

452 With as many appearances as relievers are making, there seems to be a concerted effort to limit the length of those appearances.

Well, however many runs the Dodgers scored tonight, they just can't give up 6 runs to the Pirates at home. Sammy and Hiro just didn't have their best stuff tonight.

I hope we just stick with this line-up for a little while, though, and get a good pitching performance tomorrow.

This one stings a little.

Night folks.

Oh well. We'll get 'em tomorrow. Positives to take from this game:

- Martin with 2 hits
- Jones with a triple and consistently worked the count and went the other way
- Kemp playing the entire game (and hitting the ball hard)
- Loney hitting in 13 straight
- DeWitt continuing to impress with solid ABs and defense

I was just gonna say I hope the Dodges don't make it a habit to lose like that & they won't this, Saito rarely if ever does what he did today, we'll be o.k.

zak, like I said, it's a no brainer call :) I just hadn't thought much about how it's not done in any other phase/substitution of the game.

"hey, this guy's 3 for 4 today"
"yeah, but this bench guy is our designated 'need a hit' guy so he will pinch hit."

McClouth keeps up his season-long hitting streak in a big way. Loney and Billy Butler took care of theirs early.

Bizzare Foods just ended. Bourdain is now on...

This loss doesn't upset nearly as much as the last few. These games happen sometimes. If Saito continues to blow them, then I it will suck.

The only solace I get is that the Dodgers once started out 12-0, so yes, it's early.

BTW, I know these games count just as much, but I'm coping here!

re: 465 I remember reading in "The Book" that relievers are being underutilized as a whole these last few decades and have shown they can easily take on a much bigger workload than they average. They show no ill-effect of being 'overworked' by today's standards.

Aside from the fact that Broxton pitched yesterday in the heat, there is no way that Broxton stays in the game.

All managers manage the way Torre did tonight because you win 90+% when you have a lead going into the 9th inning.

Sure that means you lose a few but in reality, if you have an average year, that still is probably equal to the number of times you win when you trail going into the 9th.

463

Just being tied with them now (they still might lose) is sickening. Just comparing the personnel of the two teams, being this close tohem in the standings after any amount of games is unnaceptable.

Jon & Kate + 8 is also on.

Well since I've gotten mlbtv (I live deep in Giants territory) to follow the Dodgers, they've lost 5 out of 6. And if that's not bad enough, they've lost several of them in the most heartbreaking fashion.

469 - the specialization of pitchers ties the hands of a lot of managers; the football parallel that I think of is the chart that tells coaches "when to go for 2".

If your manager isn't there to have the bigger picture of the flow of the game, really, what good is he?

474 What about the fact that they have the only winning record against the D-Backs in the division.

474 The Tigers and the Dodgers(if you know who sits) are both better than the Royals and Giants. It's early.

477
The chart telling football coaches about when to go for two was designed by Tommy Prothro and Dick Vermiel at UCLA and its purpose wasn't to bind coaches into a particular decision, but rather to make it easier for them to decide what to do in a chaotic situation and avoid mistakes.

479 - honest question... if (and that's a big if) the Royals, Giants, and Marlins continue to out perform the Dodgers and Tigers, at what point to we admit that those teams are better than we thought and the Dodgers and Tigers are not as good as we thought?

at least the "go for 2" chart is based on math. Bringing in the closer is just done because it's what you do.

Again, just the only substitution of this kind I can think of in a game, not advocating keeping Broxton in today.

The fact that the Pirates' CF won it with a homer got me to thinking that it's been awhile since I've experienced a Dodger CF hit a homer. Sure enough the last time a Dodger homered while in the game as a CF was 9/28/2006 - Kenny Lofton.

(One time last season Kemp homered and played CF in the same game, but the HR was early and the CF was late.)

I'd say after about 40 games

467

"Kemp playing the entire game (and hitting the ball hard)"

But he struck out in the ninth (when it counted), maybe he should sit for a while.

.... kidding

480 - it's the rule of unintended consequences. They may not have intended to bind coaches, but that's what it has done.

The designation of a "closer" tends to do the same thing to managers, at least that's my opinion.

481 There is a of the subjective goin' on there.

478
I just read the UCLA banquet report. Reminded me of my first year of basketball when the coaches made up all these dumb awards in order for everyone on the team to receive one.

Congratulations, you won the "Tries Hard But Has No Ability" award.

Dodgers were 71-4 when leading after 8 last year. They were 3-72 when they trailed after 8.

And that is pretty much their average winning pct. in both situations for a number of years.

I know the Angels just lost a long streak like 162 games where they did not lose after leading after 8 and of course the Dodgerw went a long way during the Gagne streak.

488 Alfred Aboya deserves his award.

Even with that, Dragovic can't win anything. They should have given him an award for having the hottest girlfriend. That will always be his claim to fame at UCLA.

Mark Reynolds just had a nasty fall over a fence in San Francisco.

487 - when I say "out perform" I mean it in the sense that "the only stat that matters is the final score"

491 Is he still with the one of the woman on the rowing team?

I wasn't directing my comment at you as much as just making a blanket statement. It sucks, but it's nothing more than just one of those "he's due" or "it sucks but it happens" moments.

494
It's a crew, not a team.

I don't even want to get'em tomorrow. I just want to hide my face and forget this STUPID team.

494
That is what I hear.

Before tonight, as a team:

Dodgers: .251 .328 .389
Pirates: .254 .329 .391

I note that the Pirates scored five of their six runs tonight by hitting the ball over the fence.

Since MLB.TV is having all sorts of problems, have they just decided to give away games for free?

I'm getting all the games tonight for free apparently.

And the Diamondbacks lose to the Giants.

Now is he is sorry.

Coach Howland said tonight that he will take to his grave his decision not to play Westbrook on Rose and Luc on CDR from the start of the game.

I think since MLB.tv was just going to give away the SF/AZ game, they ended up making all the late games free because they couldn't figure out how to stream just the one for free.

And then there were numerous door knob beatings.

502
I am sure that made DC feel great. Hope you liked your last banquet free throw champ, because I am throwing you under the bus.

504 I thought Rose obviously used his height/size advantage against DC, while Westbrook is a bigger defender.

If DC can't see that, then....

501 I just saw that too, gotta like that.

505
I am sure DC knows it. But an awards banquet may not be greatest place to say that.

491

Sorry to break it to you guys, but Drago's girl isnt that hot. I've seen them in person a bunch, and she's not anything to write home about, especially compared to other UCLA girls.

I know its a small sample size but I am pretty sure Kuroda has a higher batting average and they would have had the same amount of RBIs but Jones grounded out and brought in Martin on the weirdest single/balk(steal attempt)/pass ball/sacrifice sequence I have seen in a while. I was there tonight and it was great to see Kuroda get two solid contacts.

But it did suck to lose.

Just for the record, I am once again boycotting Tony Jackson's blog due to the Variety Blues comment and his general "the sky is falling" tone. Maybe I'll try again next week. At least the choice of shirt is better.

Whats with this DC bashing here?

---

http://www.UsDiscuss.com - Message Boards where you can talk about everything Los Angeles!

The flip side of losing is winning and vice versa. Right? So consider last year when the Dodgers led the division for most of the year and ended up in fourth place. Is there any reason reason they can't spend most of the season in fourth place but end up winning the divison.

Ironically, on Wednesday, my wife returns from a trip with my mother on that river that I am apparently living on. (No, really that's not a joke-she has been in there for two weeks. BTW, being a single father to two teenage girls is so much harder than I ever imagined.)

Right now on ESPN classic: Dodgers v. Houston, 1981...Nolan Ryan's no-hitter. There's Garvey... There's Roenicke...

I'm probably just talking to myself here, but...is anyone else having problems with Firefox today?

A lot of reasons to be concerned this "early" into the season, particularly since this month is so disproportionately against the West.
The spring training fiasco is definitely a factor at this point, in my opinion. Add to that the log-jam in the outfield and the Colletti effect and a perfect storm seems to be brewing.
I wonder what Torre is thinking. We could be in an untenable position by the end of April alone. It really makes me wonder what McCourt was thinking to put this team through a spring training like that.
Still a long way to go before this ship has righted. And we are about to lose Dewitt, which has been one of THE bright spots.
Very troublesome and irksome folks.
Tough to keep keeping the faith, if you know what I mean.
I have a friend who has been a Crankie fan for years and switched over when Joe came here. He has been calling me and sounding like he has PTSD. Welcome to the Blue!

It really makes me wonder what McCourt was thinking to put this team through a spring training like that.

Evidently, he thinks spring training is a period where he can use his player for PR gambits to enhance his image as a global leader. Perhaps he will cadge an invite to Davos out of this.

I will grant this concession, though. When the Dodgers agreed to go to China, did they know they'd have a new manager trying to familiarize himself not just with rookies, free agents and acquisitions, but core players who've been with the Dodgers for years? Probably not.

The damage of the trip was magnified immensely by its distracting effect when Torre needed to be focused on his players. I realize some around here think he could've just looked at PECOTA projections and assemble the lineup accordingly, but Torre is part of the 100 percent of managers who think their observations count for something. The chaotic spring training means the first six weeks of the season will be a series of experiments from Torre's perspective.

It's probably to our advantage that the new manager is Torre. The Yankee brass shipped him a bunch of new players every winter that he had to figure out, so he's developed that skill.

For me, being a Dodger fan is non-negotiable, however. This season so far is just part of life's great pagaent for Dodger fans. I'm not going to start rooting for a team because they've got a smarter GM. You don't pick your team like you pick your mutual funds.

http://www.dailynews.com/dodgers/ci_8926929

Loney credits exercise class.

And among the things Loney credits for his success is an offseason Pilates regimen, that has strengthened his core muscles. "It's not only good for flexibility, it's a good workout too," Loney said. "It's kind of like a two-in-one deal."

http://tinyurl.com/4245tk

Infielders continue to drop in the Dodger organization:

Utility infielder Ramon Martinez, who was on a minor league assignment in Las Vegas, hurt his right thumb on a diving play Saturday and was in Los Angeles for an MRI exam to determine whether he has a torn ligament.

as reported by Dylan Hernandez in the LAT. The main part of the article is about the Dodgers seeing more pitches.

Entering their series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night, the Dodgers' lineup was seeing an average of 4.00 pitches per plate appearance, the most in the majors, according to Stats LLC. The Dodgers ranked 29th among 30 big league teams in that category last season at 3.63.

The new Indiana Jones looks like a big CGI filled bag of junk. Like it is part of the Mummy franchise

Or the Star Wars franchise.

ATTENTION: Movie-making powers that be -

CGI is no longer cool, innovative, or interesting. I don't know if it ever was, but regardless, it's not now. It's a lame cop-out. Please cease and desist its usage posthaste.

Career BA vs. Matt Morris:

Pierre: .292
Kemp: .000

Given that Morris once won 20 games and is right-handed, he might very well possess TR™ status.

The worst: "10,000 B.C." The sabre-toothed tiger. It looks like a highly detailed balloon animal. It's realistic, I suppose, but the dramatic intent is for it to be frightening, and it is not. It's a video game character.

The monsters in Ray Harryhausen's movies from the late 50's and early 60's were cool. This was stupid.

However, I did find the monsters in "Cloverfield" persuasive. Something about the hand-held camera illusion, where the monsters naturally appear in the shaky frame -- that transcended CGI.

I saw 10,000 BC about a month ago (recomended by a friend) I had not been to the theater in years, I simply picked the wrong movie to see, horrible movie, I want my
money back...

this morning I got that feeling (for the first time this year) of waking up & feeling ok but then my mind went straight to the Saito thing &...

519 - It was good in Jurassic Park, in 1993.

I don't mind the all-CGI animated stuff either.

But this does beg one question: Why does Michael Bay get to keep on making movies?

The best relievers will blow a save once in awhile. Such is baseball. Hated the score but there actually still was a lot to be encouraged about last night (the lineup, Loney's streak, Jones, Martin, the pen other than Sammy), and oddly I'm feeling a bit better.

524. If I had to chose one person who I can't believe is still making movies its Ben Stiller. Meet the Parents, nearly 10 years ago was marginally funny but mostly becasue of DeNiro, not Stiller. In the meantime, he has given us such "hits" as Zoolander, Dodgeball, Along Came Polly, Starsk & Hutch and Hearbreak Kid. Each movie less funny than the last. How can people still hire this guy or invest in his movies?

I don't think Will Farell is especially funny but I see why other think so. But does anyone think Ben Stiller is funny. Of course no one compares to Tom Cruise on my spector of Hollywood discust. As the old joke goes, if I had two bullets and I could shoot Ben Stiller, Will Farell or Tom Cruise. I would shoot Tom Cruise twice.

NPUT