http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtA1jqIJJDw

Not bad for such a horrible communicator.

I'm worried about that film because in the trailer, Indiana Jones describes a "crystal skull, made out of solid gold."

How can something crystal be also made of gold?

With two exceptions every starter is half my age or younger.

Has anybody seen the new David Mamet movie? Do you have to care about these newfangled fighting games to like it?

I will go back to working on the NY Times crossword puzzle.

Anyway I'll be back around 1ish gonna focus on the lakers for about half an hour first.

I'm so glad they brought back Karen Allen, and didn't bring back Kate Capshaw.

One of my colleagues said he used to be called "Short Round" as a kid, which he took in a positive way though it seems like it might be insulting.

Stupid naps. Never long enough.

I knew a Short Round also. I think every school district had one when we were growing up.

Take that Bissinger!

Is Young so bad that Joe couldn't figure a way to play him at second until today?

Somewhere in the Times or Dodger web site it states that Dodgers continue to be at least open to a trade for a third baseman.

They'll probably lose every game in Utah, but they should pull out the series in 7 games.

C Martin (backup Navarro)
1B Loney
2B Kent
SS Hu
3B LaRoche
OF Kemp
OF Werth
OF Bradley? Repko? D Young?
P Penny/Lowe/Bills/Jackson/McDonald or Kershaw

Of course with the dead guy we would have never had Furcal, Saito, and Ethier. But on the other hand, we would have never had Tomko, Hendrickson, Lugo, Jones, Schmidt, Pierre, Baez, Gonzo, or Bennett either.

To C.C., or not to C.C.?

Thoughts?

No doubt that's the explanation the writers of the film had in mind. ;)

He's clearly on top of his game when he can pick up Gerald Laird like he did the other day without injuring something.

And another thing! Why are they still called the Jazz? Is there a big bebop tradition in Salt Lake? Did Coltrane play there once? (Yeah, I know, really old rant, I'm pulling them out from my anti-Jazz files today.) Can't they just trade nicknames with the current New Orleans team?

The jazz fans are the most classless, and un knowledgable group of buffoons out there..

Snakes losing again.

Yeah, I really don't mind them incessantly booing Kobe, I mean, whatever, but booing Fisher everytime he comes in, every time he has the ball? Just classless.

That ejection of Turiaf was a joke. Was it because he said something afterwards? If it was for the foul itself, that's ludicrous.

Things are looking up!

Did I miss something? When did the Dodgers get "4" outfielders?

(Sorry, a bit delayed, was watching the Lakers game. Another attention deficit disorder sports day.)

(Just felt like saying that.)

Lousy GIDP there, buddy.

Provided you don't have a Scientific Atlanta set-top box.

http://tinyurl.com/58htjq

84 - I have to switch back and forth between the TV and my computer, so it's a little more challenging, but still fun.

I'm not quite sure what the thought process was behind that decision.

I still predict he's up before Nomar. Or at least, Nomar won't remain healthy for long when he does come back.

Kuroda's great start couldn't have come at a better time, desperately needed and great to see. Keep it up, Hiro!

Headed into todays game the Cubs and Astro's were looking to sweep the two best teams in the West. I never would have thought that was possible on March 15th .

Not that I would blame him in that situation.

I have abandonment issues you know.

and its good to see the dodgers are winning.

111 I'm a bit embarrassed cuz I always thought of myself as a hip hop aficionado but the name of the song escapes me. Maybe the next time up it'll trigger my memory.

Hooray!

Go baseball, indeed!

Kazuo Matsui did indeed play in a lot of games consecutively in Japan.

http://www.japanesebaseball.com/players/player.jsp?PlayerID=18

Nice come back, Hiro!

I'm going to go to a bookstore and get Glenn Stout's history of the Cubs.

This afternoon has involved too much sports-related stress. I think I need to meditate.

And that rare RBI bunt with a runner at 2nd. Er, okay it's not an RBI, but still.

Ah- that fell our way.
What an odd era this feels like to me--when a guy takes a no-no deep into the seventh, it used to be his to lose. Of course in American ball those days are long gone, as I remember Maddox gladly pully himself after six or so no-hit innings.

Excuse while i throw my computer out the window in anger, I hate the Utah Jazz..

And then there's Pierre, doing the same.

Yes, I believe Jones is faster than Kent, though right now probably not much. They're also probably trying to give Kent as much of a day off as he can get.

okay, let's go Blue Ox!

No, I guess not.

I should've just kept on napping.

I'm thinking of giving up sports, becoming a monk or something. Or a eunuch. I hear that pays pretty well.

So, you know, get comfortable.

Well, if this score holds up and it looks like it will, the Dodgers will have been swept on 3 different occasions (D-backs, Braves, and Astros) and also have won 8 in a row!

That almost is Webster's text book definition of streaky, and isn't streaky the opposite of consistent?

Just checking.

Can LaRoche play several positions at the same time?

Man, just a couple less hits that last half inning and I'd still be excited and hopeful.

Er, excuse me, I'll be right back.

What difference would it make if the Dodgers won and lost every other game, or won and lost in bunches, if the end result is the same?

Oh right, good stuff happened as recently as this past week. The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat. Today just feels more like not only the latter, but the guy wiping out tragically on the ski jump.

Well, I guess they could be considered consistently streaky!

Ouch! That hurt to write that!

>>Jason Schmidt threw 12 pitches and pitched a 1-2-3 inning in his first rehab start for Class A Inland Empire, topping out at 88 mph on the radar gun.

Schmidt allowed a flyout and two groundout. He was slated to throw just one inning. It was his first outing since shoulder surgery on June 20 last year.

Schmidt threw 10 fastballs and two changeups.<<

What do you want them to be? Would you be happier if they had the same record they have now by winning every other game as opposed to winning and losing streaks? How come?

Eventually, the Billikens won two straight games.

I'd like them to be a consistent team winning around 100-105 games with 5 consistent starters a solid bullpen and a great offense!

The fact they are none of these is not my fault. Nor do I have anything to do with it.

I'm confused, but okay.

Considering Dewitt is putting up an OPS+ greater than 115...it might not matter what Laroche is doing.

No wait, strike that, reverse it.

C Martin
1b Loney
2b Dewitt
SS Furcal
3b Laroche
LF Ethier
CF Someone besides Juan
RF Kemp

I'm saying, if they were consistent or maybe I should say capable of being consistent, they would not get swept so often and would not lose all these games they are losing and thus would be better.

The very fact that they are so inconsistent at least partially explains why they are not a very good team.

In my opinion good consistent teams are not prone to these types of streaks. I believe I heard in the playoffs last year (though I never bothered to look it up) that the Red Sox never lost 3 in a row until the playoffs. See consistent. Good team.

Does that help?

Eric Enders has posted some good stuff about the fallacy of thinking teams need to be "consistent" to be successful. I'd link to them in the archives, but I'm not sure that's something I can do. A. Shimmin is really good at it, though.

Or maybe it's more focused on individual players being consistent or not. Same thing, ultimately.

Thus endeth an icky sports weekend for LA teams.

Have an afternoon, all!

Peaks and valleys stink.

I have misused consistent for the word good. Boston did not win it all last year because they were consistent. They won it all because they were good.

The fact they never lost more then 2 in a row is not because they were consistent. It was simply because they were good!

When I say that I want the Dodgers to be more consistent, what I am really wanting is for them to win more often. That is all.

294 - He seemed fine to me today. Though I didn't see every play. No errors though.

I basically like it. I was feeling bad from staying up to watch the D's get blasted in the first two innings. This game reminded me why I love this team, and no team in the west has this potential.

The Dodgers flat out choked hard by doing nothing in the midst of an unlikely sweep of the D'backs.

sorry I'm just still really upset, we need raffy back in the lineup, ethier needs to stay in the lineup...and quick question who plays 2b base better, laroche or Dewitt?

I realize it's just another game and that tomorrow's another day and each dark cloud has a silver lining and all that, but oy, I really wanted this one.

You have to go through a few screens to get to the Dodgers totals.

The D-backs are:

14-1 when scoring 6 runs or more (Dodgers 12-0)

8-8 when scoring 4 or 5 runs (Dodgers 4-5)

1-6 when scoring 3 or less runs (Dodgers 3-13)

Morale of the story? Dodgers need to score 6 or more! And by all means, stay away from those 0-3 runs scored games!

I almost wrote an entry wondering why we didn't bring Broxton in during the 7th with men on base and then either Proctor or Beimel in the 8th. I still think it was the right call.

Maybe it's because their offense is better?

Now I'm confused. Is it the pitching or the hitting that is the Dodgers undoing?

Do you think it could actually be both?

Or maybe Orlando, but they'll disappear soon enough.

Whether its manu or umberto acting like a couple of diving argie football players. duncan extending his arms in complaint on every play(both sides of the ball), or bowen up to his filthy unsportmanlike tricks...the spurs are cemented as the most hatable team in the NBA in my mind

The most hated team in the playoffs, for me, is Detroit. Don't know why. I just don't like them. Don't like their players. Don't like their uniform. Don't like their coach.

http://tinyurl.com/6nw8z9

(There's one curse word in that link, just in case anyone is offended by that sort of thing.)

Don't worry, if people dislike the Spurs it usually isn't because of Duncan, it's because of Manu and Eva Longoria.

UCLA Women's Water Polo team defeats USC for the 4th time this season to finish underfeated and win their 4th NCAA championship in a row.

The sport that claimed title no. 100, now wins no. 101.

I really love Duncan's game, but he might be one of the top 5 complainers in the game today. I don't listen to press conferences or care about them at all because they don't have anything to do with the game, but Timmeh is pretty much known as the king of complainers in the NBA in terms of in-game complaining. And considering every single player in the league has never committed a foul and is hit on every shot attempt, that's saying a lot.

Not that sports is entirely rational.

Btw, I thought Kobe was pretty classy in his quotes today, didn't make any excuses for losing, didn't blame his back, praised the Jazz defense and so on.

But yea, what I do hate mostly is Manu's infectious theatrics thst threaten to turn this league into Argentinian Soccer..

UCLA has always had an incredible program on the men's side (along with USC, Stanford, and Cal) and it translated well to the women's side. I know at least four women on the national team that are former Bruins.

As for the Dodgers... today's line up wasn't all that bad and it did manage to score five runs, so the future looks bright. Looks like it was just one bad inning (I didn't catch it, was busy doing the Mother's Day brunch thing). Some combination of Young/LaRoche/DeWitt handling LF/2B/3B would be pretty nice, too.

UCLA Women's Atletics still has 3 teams involved in NCAA playoffs, Tennis, Golf and Softball. I know USC Women's teams are also competing in Tennis and Golf playoffs. USC does not have softball team.

As far as Nomar goes does anyone know if he is able/willing to play SS anymore. If he can he could spell Furcal, who it sounds like is going to need more time to heal his back. I know early in their careers, both LaRoche and DeWitt played some short, but think that doesn't count at this level. LaRoche did play 1 game last year in Left field. So what about the line-up of DeWitt at 3rd, LaRoche in Left Kemp in Center Ethier in right, Jones and Pierre on the bench? And have Young spell Kent has needed, let Hu get more seasoning at Vegas. This of course will not happen, but do think the offense would be lots better and it would give both LaRoche and DeWitt AB's at the major league level and would allow Nomar to get more AB's, which his contract and star status require, even if his play at this point doesn't merit it.

Besides, I think he will have to do explaining how the Padres have gotten to where they sit as opposed to any concerns about the Dodgers and their transaction history.

Broxton got unlucky, I think. His fastball looked live from IR section 3 and he threw a couple nice breaking balls, but the Astros good some good wood on some balls, then some breaks. Carlos Lee cracked his bat on that dunker, and Ausmus' grounder was seeing-eye and only gets through on the pulled-in infield.

Loney's HR was smoked, a line shot that I thought was going to go to the wall, not over it. Ethier's hits were solid. I thought Loney strayed too far to his left on the play where DYoung received a throwing error trying to hit the pitcher covering, but his pick on Berkman was sweet.

Kemp initially took a step in on Bourn's ball before running it down on that backhand play - JP would have been crucified on the blogs for his bad route. Bourn's play on Jones' ball was unbelievable - it must have been on Sportscenter tonight; great catch with immediate, face-first, full body impression into the padding.

All in all, a frustrating end to a great beginning, but it was a nice day at DS anyway, and my wife like the rose she received at the entrance gate.

"He's disappointed as he tries to maintain (his swing)," Torre said. "I think that is more of a disappointment to him than the fact that he's playing or not playing. Certainly he understands that we all know it's important to get him going and that's not changing. It's a matter of trying to get him a day here and a day there."

http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_9228506

A day here and a day there?? Ethier is now:
.306/.385/.463/.848.

http://www.lvrj.com/sports/18841584.html

Additionally, I promise to always read all of the comments, both supportive and critical. However, I have chosen not to publish some that, quite frankly, have been very nice regarding my career. The reason I have chosen not to publish those is that this blog really isn't supposed to be about me, it's about the Padres and baseball in general (and I may mix in a few tidbits about my kids - a father can't resist). For those of you wrote those posts, though, my sincere thanks. I hope you understand why I've chosen not to publish them. I wish there were a way I could write you back directly but I haven't figured out that functionality yet (anyone familiar with blogger, feel free to point me in the right direction). I guess I've been exposed - I'm not that computer savvy after all. :-)

This is not the last you'll hear of Greg Pellam's cuteness.

381 - If it's any consolation, I've always felt you were more like a beautiful woman than is Shimmin.

From what you've said, I bet you're fatter than I am. So, you've got that. Some people find that cute, at least in babies...

"I try to talk to Andre; Andre has some issues," Torre said. "He's practicing and looking at video. He's doing a lot of things. A little time away from that certainly can't be all bad. I came in here early from batting practice (Saturday) and he was looking at video. I sat and talked to him.

"It's tough sometimes to think that all of a sudden you can get it done out there at an advanced speed.

http://www.dailynews.com/dodgers/ci_9229120

If Torre thinks this of Ethier, whose cold spell looks to me like two collars and two 1-5s in the six games before the benching, what in the heck does he think about Jones?

Torre still thinks Andruw Jones is the 1999 Andruw Jones.

Ethier and LaRoche for Huston Street. Book it.

I'd laugh, since that should be nonsensical. But it bums me out knowing that I couldn't put that past Ned. Every time the bullpen falters, I'm thinking Ethier and or LaRoche could be on the next flight out of here for (insert middle reliever's name here).

I doubt even Ned would be that dumb.

Besides, the upside to Jones over those moves will happen sometime around 2011.

I thought this was kind of interesting: the Dodgers leaders in PrOPS, or OPS based on batted ball types: Martin, Furcal, Ethier, Pierre, Loney, Kemp, Third Baseman, Kent, Jones.

Pierre is actually one of the unluckiest hitters in baseball right now. Color me surprised.

At some point Torre is going to have to sit Kent and Jones and Nomar in favor of LaRoche, Ethier, and DeWitt even if turning a double play gets dicey.

---

Interesting little aside in LA Times today about the Lakers game in Utah yesterday.
>>
Sunday games are a rarity in Utah because of religious reasons, but the crowd wasn't any less pro-Jazz despite a pregame theory that speculated otherwise.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints encourages members to avoid nonreligious activities on Sundays, leading to speculation that Lakers fans would be able to snap up tickets for the game.

The crowd was still overwhelmingly in favor of Utah.

Jackson, however, was irritated by some disparaging anti-Lakers signs held up by Jazz fans as the Lakers' bus approached the arena before the game.

"I would be very concerned if I was living in the Mormon community and the Salt Lake community at the quality of those sings that were out there," he said. "They were rather immoral and probably a little raucous."

The Jazz hadn't played a Sunday game in Utah since January 2001.<<

I wonder what was on those signs! And I also have a feeling Jackson was half-upset and half-teasing in his comments.

Rowand was a boom/bust pick, but given the Dodgers payroll that can take chances on long-term deals if the player is capable of putting up good numbers.

If it was a question of just for 2008, I'd want Rowand, Jones, then Hunter. But I wouldn't give any of them more than 3 years.

With the Dodgers payroll, this shouldnt have been a concern. And if you're only going to sign guys that will only agree to 3yrs and under, most likely you'll end up with some bad free agents that no one else wants.

Druw's an unmitigated disaster. His agent should be commended for getting him 18mils a year.

Druw/Kuroda make more than A-Rod makes this year. If that doesnt cause make you sick, nothing will.

I dont really get this type of thinking from you because you've said in the past that money wasnt a big deal in signing a guy like Loaiza--->that it was only money.

So why is it that 15 mils of sunk cost in 2011 (for a Rowand or Hunter), is any different than having a Nomar/Loaiza for 2008?

The mistake is in the reporter letting him off the hook by asking the wrong question (not at all surprising, since a player asking for more playing time is the sort of crass "human interest" angle that gets that type of reporter's juices going.)

What the reporter should be asking Torre is "How long can you keep playing Andruw Jones when the team loses game after game, while Ethier's batting is so much better and might win the team games? Are you committed to winning, or to justifying your GM's off-season's transactions?" Torre would then have to trot out his "A manager has to consider the whole season, not just one day's game. We need Jones to start hitting again, so we have to play him." That line should hold up for about two more weeks. But someone has to keep asking him, every day, day after day, until even he gets tired of that line, and losing. It only works when the rest of team can cover for Jones. Kind of hard at the moment, especially without Furcal in the line-up.

I disagree. It's mitigated by the fact that the season is only a month and a half old. I still maintain that he may come out of his slump and play well this year.

409 - Sigh.

Byrnes extension was signed August 7 last year. From August 8 forward (I thought it was the 8th; he drew a collar on the 7th, FWIW) Byrnes has played half a season - 81 games - to this tune:

BA OBP SLG OPS
.238 .309 .377 .686
PA.. AB.. R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO HBP SH SF GDP SB CS
360 324 57 77 20 2 7 34 27 1 41 7 1 1 13 26 3

I've said this before, but I don't think I've ever written it: Had the Dodgers sent Colletti on a six-month cruise starting Nov. 1, 2006, they would have won the NL West in 2007.

It's a good read.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/05/08/bp.dodgers/index.html

2001
From July 3 - August 31 (53 games): .195/.267/.361
Season stats: .251/.312/.461, 94 OPS+

2002
From July 3 - August 30 (48 games): .200/.322/.376
Season stats: .264/.366/.513, 127 OPS+

As bad as he looks right now through 37 team games, he could equal last year's (bad) numbers (which, including defense, is an upgrade over Pierre) by hitting .235/.319/.448 the rest of the way.

This is great.

2007: .247 / .325 / .376 / .701
2008: .226 / .289 / .377 / .666

1) Make sure Kemp & Ethier play every day
2) Give Jones every opportunity to break out of his slump
3) If Pierre has to play at all, it should only be at the expense of Jones, but even then I wouldn't play JP more than two times a week

OBP last seven days:

.294 Andruw Jones
.250 Juan Pierre

Jones was robbed of an extra-base hit in the ninth Sunday thanks to a spectacular catch by Bourn, on the kind of drive Pierre couldn't dream of hitting.

Sorry- we folks here in north-central Pa. run on a slower clock than most others....but we're fun at parties.

On May 1, Pierre expressed frustration over his reduced role. Since that day, the Dodgers have played 10 games and Pierre has started all 10, appearing in all but two innings.

"That's why they call me the Bison"

In comes Michaels!
In comes LaRoche!
In comes Bixler!

And Kemp's fast, if that's what you're into.

where would you play him?

But, more to your point, Torre has to play 3 of the 4 "cards he's been dealt" in the OF every day, and in the minds of almost everyone here there are two automatic choices to play every day. Yet Torre hasn't made the choices we agree with. Say that, rather than just calling him or anyone an idiot or stupid.

Given his track record, it would be more likely that the Dodgers would select another high school pitcher.

It depends. I really like his bat but I haven't really seen him play that much in the field. This draft is loaded with 1b type impact bats though.

Unlike in past years, the best overall bat is probably going to be a college bat at the 15 spot.

I guess the ones that got away don't all turn into David Price.

http://www.pepperdine.edu/pr/releases/2008/may/scullyspeech.htm

Cory Van Allen is a LHP who was our 3rd round pick in 2003. We couldn't sign him and he went to Baylor instead.

http://www.dugoutcentral.com/blog/?p=1363

Sign him now Ned!

Is anyone here going?

We could take Howie Long's other kid, Kyle. Another James Loney -- first baseman-slash-pitcher.

Young could have been quicker trying to turn a double play - that's the only thing I really noticed.

469 - what type of free agent will Furcal be? Will the Bums get draft picks if he signs elsewhere? As much as I like Furcal, I'm leaning against resigning him right now. I'd rather give Hu the chance at short. Even losing Kent, but I'm also leaning towards the DeWitt/LaRoche/Young strategy for 2B/3B/LF issues.

This all assumes Furcal will be a Type A free agent (again, based on Furcal's relative status in the Elias rankings)

476 Those grounders up the middle were going through on any middle infield combo.

484 - I still blame you for the Blue's lost weekend. Major jinx board by posing the Dodgers would look to have an easy winnable series based on the pitching matchups. Eric, You put the famous Godfather "Kiss of Death" on the Dodgers weekend ;-)!! Please avoid these prognostications in the future. The Dodgers never seem to follow "what should be" anyway!! They make the worst struggling pitchers look like the second coming of Bob Gibson - (See Brian Moehler and Chris Sampson this weekend).

493 I think it would be foolish to count on a healthy Schmidt next year unless he has a great 2nd half (which I hope he does).

Also, revisiting what I said about Torre and Ned, Torre's job would be so much easier if Ned hadn't signed Jones. Now, with the largest yearly contract ever in Dodgers history, he has to play Jones even if he is washed up. Maybe by August, if Jones is still hitting the way he has been, Torre can then keep him on the bench.

http://tinyurl.com/6n74hf

Kuroda has bequeathed 6 runners, only 1 of which scored.

When you already have Loaiza in the pen, Kuo in the pen, McDonald/Kershaw in the minors---seems almost redundant to pay Kuroda 3/36.

With the A's getting mileage out of Greg Smith/Eveland, the Cards out of journeymen like Looper/Pinerio---seems that Kuroda really isnt that much more valuable than regular PVL, and without the upside of some of the kids.

Why are we so certain that Hu will be so valuable?

Before last year, his rep -- and again, I know nothing, and I haven't looked at the stats -- was as a slick-fielding but weak-batting SS. Then, last year, his rep took a big step forward as he hit and hit for power.

My questions are:

1) How do prospect hounds determine if a player is making a step forward in his development or just having a fluke season?

2) Why are several respected people guessing that Hu's 2007 was for real?

The contract plays a part, but I think a bigger factor is that Jones also has the 2nd largest career HR ever acquired in Dodgers history*.

*I couldn't come up with anyone else besides Frank Robinson's 503 HR before becoming a Dodger in 1972. Eddie Murray had 333 before 1989, 35 HR behind Andruw.

Very bad memory.

I know some have voiced a thought that Nomar could be a utility infielder when he comes back but he hasn't play SS in what 5 seasons since 2004 before he was traded by the Red Sox. It would be hard to imagine him playing there short of some type situation like when Martin had to play 3B.

Anyway, the only way to tell if 2007 was a fluke is to see what happens in 2008. And of course, so far nothing's happened yet. But generally speaking, the reason 2007 gets so much attention is because the most recent season is always by far the best indicator of a guy's ability. And Hu was at an age where players often have "great leaps forward."

Records for both when they play on the same day during the playoffs.

Lakers 5-2, Dodgers 2-5.

Thing is, until this past week, with Furcal the only other shortstop you needed was an emergency one.

I'm old enough to remember the Kings in the playoffs.

534 - Who are the Kings? Some sort of winter sports team?

Brad Penny – 3.86
Derek Lowe – 3.72
Chad Billingsley – 3.30
Hiroki Kuroda – 4.18
Esteban Loaiza – 4.59

Things are fine.

Speaking of which, I think people are just afraid to correct Vin even tho he keeps making that same mistake re: Hu. No one wants to embarrass the hall of fame broadcaster, even though he would likely want them to.

Is it safe to assume that Kent is done after this year? At least with the Dodgers?

If the answers to the above are all yes, and we figure that Furcal is going to get a monster deal somewhere else that the Dodgers are not going to want to match, that creates some interesting dynamics for next year. It solves, at least in theory, the outfield problem (ok, not really, but at least in the eyes of management), and opens holes at second and short.

http://insidethedodgers.mlblogs.com/

I think 557 is right on regarding Kent.

I would not assume that we won't offer Furcal a monster deal (assuming he comes back soon healthy). Not that many teams can offer a huge long term contract and we should have some money freed up at the end of the season.

Tue - Penny (3.86 FIP) vs. Carlos Villanueva (6.17)
Wed - Lowe (3.72) vs. Manny Parra (5.02)
Thu - Billingsley (3.30) vs. Ben Sheets (3.35)

The Brew Crew have scored only 16 runs in their last 6 games (for sake of fairness, the Dodgers have scored only 12 in their last 5, without Furcal), and their non-Prince infield is really struggling thus far:

Weeks - .193/.320/.352, 76 OPS+
Hall - .197/.276/.394, 74 OPS+
Hardy - .260/.338/.325, 76 OPS+

Milwaukee has been outscored 158-179 this season, and their pythag record is 16-21.

Might be time to see what Kuo can do in a high pressure 8th/9th inning situation. Assuming we can get another lead.

http://tinyurl.com/6m4233

Far-fetched? Nah.

http://www.physorg.com/news129793047.html

I'm sure there are probably small discrepencies like this for most players.

"This is the first time he's left the nest," the manager said. "He's been with an organization his whole life. He ventures out; he doesn't do very well."

What explains his 2007, when he was still in the nest...?

His ISOd was .90 and his ISOp was .191 so he had some semblance of productivity.

I didn't think his power would drop this much.

What I'm trying to say is that I really thought Jone was a lock for 25 homeruns. I don't think anyone could have predicted this much drop in power. But of course its still only May, so who knows.

599
But even if he did hit 25 HRs, would that really be so exciting if he hit .222/.311/.413/.724 again...?

Andruw is killing our offense. Some believe it is not politically correct to point out that he is some 30 lbs. over his optimal playing weight. Hooey. Tell it like it is. He's an overweight multi-millionaire who now has a catcher's speed running to first. There must be some clause in his contract that management can invoke to force him out of the lineup and into AAA "rehab" until he loses the weight and regains his stroke. It is just a crying shame that either Kemp or Ethier should have to sit to accommodate Andruw. Even Pierre is a huge upgrade on Andruw. $36M for a .225 hitter was a career-ending decision for Ned. Let's not compound that bad judgment with another.

"This may just be an early peak year," says Joe Sheehan of Baseball Prospectus. "It's highly unlikely that he can do better than this without upping his strikeout rate or getting extremely lucky on balls in play, but a 4.25 ERA guy who provides innings won't have trouble making his mortgage payments."

And they can't explain Warren Spahn either [what with his lifetime K/9 at 4.433].

I would suggest that they simply recall what the one pitching coach once told our pitchers, to wit, pitch to contact, your contact and not their contact.