Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
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1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
9) typing "no-hitter" or "perfect game" to describe either in progress
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with
It's amazing, isn't it? Last year, the Dodgers lose seven in a row to Colorado. They get pounded; they get edged. This year, a reversal: a three-game sweep for Los Angeles. This year, when an error and walks load the bases, Jonathan Broxton gets a double-play ball. This year, Todd Helton's ninth-inning fly ball off Takashi Saito stays in the park.
Was there extra determination on Saito's part to not let Helton beat him again, and was that determination greater than Saito's last September to keep the Dodgers in the pennant race? The math doesn't seem likely, but who knows? Was it something conscious or mindless that influenced the synapses that caused Saito and Russell Martin to choose a certain pitch to throw and Helton a certain pitch to prepare for, that caused the microscopic differences between how Saito gripped and released that baseball then and now, and the infinitesimal variances between the timing and path of Helton's swing one time and the next?
So often, wins and losses are reduced to an aphoristic "Who wanted it more?" Did Helton want it more in September? Did Saito want it more on Sunday? I initially dismiss this idea as after-the-fact rationalization, but maybe there's something there. It can be a factor - one factor. There can be atmospheric pressure in the air above right field and in the minds of the ballplayers.
We break down every ballplayer's ability for analysis and expectation, we grow boyishly hopeful or tiredly cynical, but baseball remains a mystery that would stymie the combined efforts of Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes, of Sam Spade and Eddie Fitzgerald. We can know more than anyone would want to about a batter and a pitcher — until that ball rips into its pneumatic journey toward the bat. Then, it's a case of William Goldman's "Nobody knows anything," adapted from the silver screen to the green diamond.
No matter what we learn, baseball remains America's greatest unsolved mystery.
* * *
I truly believe that Nomo deserves something from the Dodgers. He was our ace...twice.
So great to finally see the boys string something together over the weekend.
Nomo was a pioneer for Japanese baseball and holds a little more significance in that sense.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN200307170.shtml
The 7th inning stretch when the place is at peak capacity makes more sense to me. A nice collage of his greatest Dodgers moments, a walk to the mound, an ovation and then back to the game. He gets a real send off instead of tepid acknowledgement by the pre-game crowd.
John Philip Gurnee
I had a very proud moment this weekend when my wife and I were watching the highlights of Friday night. After the passed ball, she asked me, "What happened to Lieberthal?" I mean, my wife likes to watch the games with me, but to know our backup from last year, I was impressed. Sadly, I couldn't explain to her why we didn't resign Lieberthal.
Do you think Piazza would still be in shape after taking that much time off? I would like to see Piazza end his career in a nice way and not leave us with the memory of Eddie Murray from 1997.
That was a really cool story. How fun would that be?
Big lead late in a game, Nomo throwing to Pizza....what a way to close the book on both of them.
That would be class.
This issue needs to be dealt with and resolved before any further discussion about Piazza's return to the Dodgers can take place.
Ball, Ball, Strike looking, Strike looking, Jones struck out swinging.
Overall his selectivity is a good sign. But during this AB with Dewitt/Pierre due up, the Steve Lyons voice in my head was calling for some "situational hitting."
Not to mention he was the only bright spot in 2002-2003
I have to disagree here. Nomo was great, but the entire pitching staff was outstanding in 2003. Some highlights:
Brown - 211 IP, 169 ERA+
Nomo - 218 IP, 130 ERA+
Alvarez - 95 IP, 170 ERA+ (totally unexpected from a minor league FA)
The bullpen:
Gagne - 82 IP, 335 ERA+ (Cy Young; 55 for 55 in saves)
Mota - 105 IP, 204 ERA+
Quantrill - 77 IP, 231 ERA+
Shuey - 69 IP, 134 ERA+
Martin - 51 IP, 114 ERA+ (best inherited runner strander in LAD history - http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/PcYa)
The entire pitching staff had a 128 ERA+ in 2003. Nomo wasn't the only thing memorable.
One of the more memorable moments of 2003 was when Brian Jordan obliterated future Dodger and then Padre Gary Bennett at home plate, introducing him to the world of NFL-caliber hitting. (http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN200304160.shtml)
Oh yeah, also in 2002, Odalis had the two near no-nos.
Found this note in a SD Union column about Jake Peavy's game on Sunday.
Friday, Peavy was moved to lobby for the 40-year-old Kenny Lofton as a means of infusing the Padres' lineup with some of the speed it so plainly lacks.
Before anyone gets any ideas, I don't think they are willing to take the Dodgers' number 4 outfielder.
Computer geek!
Then we'd have 2 more HOFers to add to the current group of Kent, Martin, Loney, Kemp, Billingsley, Kershaw, and Broxton! :)
(These are just the no doubters, by the way. I'm not including the fringe candidates.)
I don't know if it's especially prevalent here in SD, or if it's a trend in most MLB cities, but I've heard a lot of complaints about the Padres lack of speed from their fans. It's like the first thing they bring up, followed by the strikeouts.
Ha! Is T-Bone the only 31 to win a world championship with the Dodgers?
This sounds like a Baseball Almanac question. To the bat cave!
But I'm certainly past waiting for it to happen.
So you're saying that Padres fans are all slow? Do they make them race at the end of the game or something like that?
That said, I've always believed in letting legends finish their careers on their terms. So, whatever Piazza wants to do, I'm fine with it, I just hope it's playing in a Dodger uniform.
26 - I was always surprised that the Dodgers let Penny wear 31, I always figured it'd be an unofficially retired number until Induction Day, when it would be formally retired. But then I remember that was the old Dodger way.
One of the things I've loved about the Dodgers so far is the fact that they're willing to run a bit more (except Loney needs to stop) and are constantly trying to stretch singles into doubles.
vr, Xei
So you're saying that Padres fans are all slow?
Put it this way: I beat a few of them in a 5k.
Haven't all (or all but one) of Loney's CS been busted hit & runs?
Piazza is just not a viable player to have on NL team anymore because you can't use him as a PH because you can't burn the backup catcher, so you have a player that might play 5 games a month.
I think the Dodgers have 9 games where they can use a DH, so ultimately the most games he probably plays is around 30-35 games.
Would Piazza settle for that type of season?
Can Bennett throw the ball to the pitcher's mound...?
Dodger champs to wear #31
1965: 3B Don LeJohn
1988: CF John Shelby
Might be faulty memory on my part.
I really do want to know what the odds of two specific players getting hurt on the same day is. I imagine it's quite low.
Doesn't one of the coaches call the game anyway?
(Worst GM contest)
#1 Sabean vs #4 Bavasi
#2 Wade vs #3 Colletti
Bavasi currently leads Sabean. Colletti's match hasn't started yet. vr, Xei
http://www.pepperdine.edu/pr/speeches/commencement/default.htm
I sent CSPAN an email, a month or so ago, begging them to record Vin, and show his speech when they do their big weekend of commencement addresses, but never heard back. They were in town for the LA Times Festival of Books, anyway, though. So, fingers crossed.
A quick search of Wade's minor league numbers shows very good control there as well: 2.03 BB/9 and a 4.11 K/BB ratio over 386 minor league innings. Granted, he does seem to have been old for his leagues (this is his age 25 season, and he only spent a partial season as high as AA), but control is definitely a part of his game.
Speaking of bad pitching contracts, there was a story in Dodgers magazine about Chan Ho Park and Greg Miller, and the circle of baseball life or something like that. Miller was drafted with the compensation pick received by the Dodgers when Park signed with Texas.
The Dodgers propensity to hit ground balls (1.4 ration of ground balls over fly balls), hurts them as they are among the league leaders in GDP.
Headley is doing a 2007 Loney AAA act after being sent down even though he was probably the best offensive outfielder they had. Antonelli isn't doing any better.
Andrew don't get all supplicant with C-SPAN. It's beneath you. You can't let Brian Lamb boss you around.
" perhaps in a match-up role, but he doesn't have enough fastball or quality complementary stuff to hold-down a more responsible role."
78 I thought he left C-SPAN.
The two local sports radio stations have abandoned their usual blind support of the team this season and have been openly critical of the Padres. The city is awash in a sea of panic right now, and it's quite refreshing for me.
The problem with C-Span is that there's no leverage--they not only don't care about ratings, they refuse to submit to having their audience measured. So, the only tools left are self-abasement or threatening physical violence. And you have to do those in the right order. . .
From Rotowire:
"Jayson Werth (OF) PHI 4/28/2008
Shane Victorino, whom Werth has replaced in centerfield, is expected to return back from the DL on Tuesday, the Philadelphia Daily News reports. Manager Charlie Manuel has been impressed with the way Werth has stepped up in Victorino's absence and has said he will find a way to keep Werth in the Phillies' lineup. Though Werth likely won't play everyday, Geoff Jenkins struggles present Philadelphia with the option of keeping him in center and moving Victorino to rightfield, where he played last season."
You know what's funny? I'd completely blocked out that he ever played with the Padres until now. It's like it never happened.
It also sounds like the team is beginning its annual blast at Petco Park's effect on their offense.
http://tinyurl.com/53ku7f
It's up there with Orel pitching for the Giants. Every time someone tells me that happened I stare at them like someone with dementia being told what their name is, as if hearing it for the first time.
New security measures for future interviews will be implemented.
This might be the strangest turn yet. 15 year old girls are used to boys with acne on their backs so maybe that was the draw.
I'm pretty nicked up from Coachella, and I'm only about 70 percent, but I made it, and I'm able to post. It was definitely one for the ages.
And 10 runs in the first with 2 out?!?
What?
I think a good nickname for James Loney might be `The Breeze', as in `They Call me the Breeze', by JJ Cale.
I give it 4 1/2 stars.
http://tinyurl.com/5g7fod
Oh, and Mario Alvarez is big waste of a 40-man roster spot. He should be outrighted/DFA'd.
I give it 4 1/2 stars
Out of 5, or 10?
That's a cool name. This may be shocking, but he is the only Dequam in MLB history.
Yet, he goes by Wesley instead of Dequam or LaWesley. Go figure
I think Wright wanted a chance to make an MLB roster so he asked the Dodgers to leave him unprotected, and Colletti replied, "As you Lawish".
I hope the brass feel the same way.
I like Tron Tron's stuff better. But Wade might be more mlb ready at this moment. I think over the long haul though, Tron Tron's going to perform better.
And by we, I mean I.
111,112 -- Troncoso's stuff is more eye-catching, and he is a groundball guy, while Wade is a flyball pitcher who just pounds the strike zone. Wade is really atypical of pitchers in the Dodgers' farm system. He's the kind of guy you expect to see in the A's, Padres, Red Sox, or Blue Jay' organization.
Wade, Troncoso, & Brazoban all look like future bullpen stalwarts. Assuming the Minotaur & McDonald will continue to be groomed as starters, the interesting case will be Meloan. I'm guessing he'll go wherever the need is greatest.
Dodger Pitching: We have a lot!
1. The answers to the rebus puzzles one day ahead of time.
2. A boring historical anecdote that will include you in it every month
3. The right to give James Loney a nickname of your choosing
4. A link to the secret Dodger Thoughts threads that don't mention Juan Pierre.
5. A special beach ball to take to baseball games. It has "irony" printed on it
6. Danica McKellar will record a greeting for your answering machine or help you or your children solve hard math problems.
I'm moreso talking about his K/bb rates.
His strikeouts are down and his walk rates are up. That bodes well that he is finally starting to get it.
Number 6.
I dunno... it's kinda hard to opt into this when Carl Kasell will do it for free.
I think not.
Toss in Jenna Fischer and we have a deal!! I would enjoy having her solve my math problems.
At least until Torre gets to know Proctor a little better.
I like "Popeye", that one of the Dodgers (Beimel?) used on FOX a couple weeks back.
I don't know why it hasn't caught on.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067116/
But then Jenna was just a girl growing up in the St. Louis suburbs back when The Wonder Years premiered.
Jenna Fischers' first credit on IMDB.com was in 1998 and her "big break" was in 2005, 17 years after Winnie Cooper came into popular culture.
IIRC, Piazza wore #25 his first year with the Dodgers. He then switched to #31 his second year. So maybe we could just give him Andruw's number. It doesn't appear to be doing anything for Jones.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=txphillieslieberthal&prov=st&type=lgns
http://tinyurl.com/6g3nxx
If anyone finds out any further publishing details, please share.
Over in Chicago, it's presently 37 degrees with a light rain for the White Sox-Orioles game.
New post up top.
This is a good reminder to destroy things you don't want your children to make public. Never leave till tomorrow what you can burn today!
I went and saw him in Candlestick at the height of Nomomania. You could see signs with Japanese lettering held up all over the stadium. For that one day, yes, you could safely root for the Dodgers in Candlestick park. That's how much Nomo transformed people's perceptions.
When Nomo pitched his no-hitter in Colorado, I was living in North Carolina and heard about it on ESPN during the 7th inning. I called my brother and told him to turn on the t.v. For the next hour, we stayed on the phone, as he gave me the play-by-play.
Forgive me for going on here, but Nomo is responsible for several of my greatest baseball memories. He deserves his day.
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