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About Jon
Thank You For Not ...

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
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11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with

Foulups, Bleeps & Blunders
2008-05-12 14:49
by Jon Weisman

With two out in the top of the sixth inning Sunday, while working on his no-no and protecting a 2-0 lead, Hiroki Kuroda faced Kazuo Matsui and his 18 career homers and 83 career OPS+. On deck were two major names, Miguel Tejada and the hottest hitter in baseball, Lance Berkman.

Kuroda walked Matsui on four pitches. Kuroda knew who was on deck, knew what was at stake. There's no doubt he wanted to throw strikes; he just suddenly couldn't. He missed low, outside, further outside and then back to low.

I don't think Kuroda lost concentration. If anything, it was the opposite. I suspect one of two things were happening: He was tiring, and/or he became so preoccupied with the notion that the situation demanded he throw a strike that he knocked him off his game.

In any case, it just fascinates me that even at the highest level of the game, performing the easiest tasks, baseball players are inherently unreliable. There is absolutely no guarantee that a pitcher trying to throw a strike will succeed.

How many situations are there in everyday life that require you to do the equivalent of "just throw strikes?" Maybe one is "don't convince yourself you already bought your wife a Mother's Day card without double-checking." I tell you, there are some at-bats you'd really, really just like to have back.

* * *

Say hypothetically the Dodgers' fortunes did depend on Rafael Furcal, as so many have more than hypothesized recently. Does the team's performance while his back injury sidelines him underscore the need to resign him at all costs, or does the injury itself indicate how much the Dodgers need to learn not to rely on him?

I think that it's a mistake to make too direct a connection between Furcal and the recent losing streak. But in my mind, this week on the sidelines has to knock some millions off Furcal's reasonable asking price.

* * *

Clayton Kershaw is the scheduled starter for Jacksonville today at 5:05 p.m. If he were to start for the Dodgers this Saturday, it would be on four days' rest.

Comments (135)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2008-05-12 15:02:00
1.   D4P
TB Andrew - Jones's BABIP was really low in 2005 and 2006 too, so it's not like his 2007 was an anomaly in that respect.
2008-05-12 15:02:03
2.   Xeifrank
If he were to start for the Dodgers this Saturday, it would be on five days' rest.

xmas is coming early (I hope).
vr, Xei

2008-05-12 15:05:09
3.   regfairfield
1 True, but it was low, even for him.

There was also hope he would have realized he lost a lot of power and tried to change his approach.

2008-05-12 15:06:55
4.   D4P
There was also hope he would have realized he lost a lot of power and tried to change his approach

I guess one could hope for that, but I didn't see any reason to expect him to change. He swings for the downs: that's what he does.

2008-05-12 15:09:02
5.   Xeifrank
Seems like last year and into this year Jones' HR/FB ratio has dropped dramatically. It's like he has lost power/strength and balls that use to be home runs are now outs. Possible reasons could be a change of swing (more of an upper cut), change of ballpark (2007 was the same park as 2006...), change in strength/conditioning or just some anomaly that I can't think of.
vr, Xei
2008-05-12 15:09:59
6.   D4P
Possible reasons could be a change of swing (more of an upper cut), change of ballpark (2007 was the same park as 2006...), change in strength/conditioning or just some anomaly that I can't think of

Or the discontinuation of PED use. There's no proof that he used, but I see no reason to exclude it as a possibility.

2008-05-12 15:10:40
7.   silverwidow
If he were to start for the Dodgers this Saturday, it would be on five days' rest.

Actually, it would be regular four days' rest.

2008-05-12 15:11:41
8.   Xeifrank
6. I might put that under the "change in strength/conditioning" category. I was trying not to use the PED card. :)
vr, Xei
2008-05-12 15:12:23
9.   Jon Weisman
7 - sorry, that's what I meant.
2008-05-12 15:15:07
10.   al bundy
"How many situations are there in everyday life that require you to do the equivalent of 'just throw strikes?'"

Wonderful story Jon. You have an amazing knack for that style of writing.

2008-05-12 15:16:00
11.   regfairfield
5 It seems like Jones noticed he was losing power and responded by adding more uppercut to his swing, which just added a lot more flyouts.
2008-05-12 15:17:34
12.   adrian beltre
do we think that colletti is trying to trade any of the 3rd basemen or outfielders (jp)?
2008-05-12 15:19:31
13.   Eric Enders
So are we to infer that Jon's weekend included a last-minute dash to Hallmark?
2008-05-12 15:20:50
14.   Gilberto Reyes
Furcal's back injury not only knocks millions off his price. It also knocks years off his potential contract. These things only get worse with age. A five year deal for a shortstop at his age with back issues does not make much sense. He may have to settle for three years which is more toward the Dodgers way of thinking.
2008-05-12 15:21:59
15.   regfairfield
14 I just can't see arguably a top five shortstop getting less years than Carlos Silva.
2008-05-12 15:22:33
16.   bigcpa
If he were to start for the Dodgers this Saturday, it would be on four days' rest.

Great way to ease him in under the radar... on the Fox Game of the Week.

2008-05-12 15:22:36
17.   Brent is a Dodger Fan
7 I just saw John Perratto on his "Any Given Sunday" column list Kershaw as the probable started on Saturday. I wonder where he got that from...
2008-05-12 15:23:56
18.   Eric Enders
I think Furcal's back injury will knock his price down if it's a consistent problem until September. For all we know, he could still come back to win the NL MVP and then his back injury will be forgotten as quickly as a Robert James Waller novel.
2008-05-12 15:24:54
19.   Jon Weisman
13 - Sadly, not even that. My wife's birthday comes two days after Mother's Day this year. I thought I had bought the MD card already, but it turns out I only had the birthday card. I compounded the mistake by trying to finesse a solution. Basically, I went from Kuroda's sixth inning to Broxton's eighth. Not my finest hour.
2008-05-12 15:26:35
20.   silverwidow
If the Dodgers purchase Kershaw's contract and they choose not to put Schmidt on the 60-day DL, someone must be DFA'd. Here are the top candidates, IMO:

Mario Alvarez
Eric Stults
Mark Sweeney
Jason Repko
Greg Miller (unlikely, but possible)

2008-05-12 15:28:11
21.   Eric Enders
16 I know you're being facetious, but look at it this way: Of all 100 (or however many) games played in MLB this week, that Dodgers-Angels FOX Saturday game will likely be the one available to the smallest geographic area.
2008-05-12 15:30:35
22.   Bob Timmermann
18
So Kershaw had a brief romance with an Italian woman who was in an unhappy marriage and living in Jacksonville?

That happens a lot I hear.

2008-05-12 15:31:01
23.   bhsportsguy
"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas"
Dewitt's line before he was optioned for his overnight stay in Vegas.
59 PA .255/.356/.333, 0 HRs, 5 RBI (BABIP .295)

Dewitt's line since his return
47 PA .400/.430/.644. 2 HRs, 11 RBI (BABIP .436)

I'm sure Dewitt is somewhere between these two periods of about 50 plate appearances but to suddenly award someone the job on a 14 game period is to me a bit premature.

2008-05-12 15:31:15
24.   Eric Enders
20 The loser in the 50-day-long Delwyn-Sweeney battle will have to be DFAed as soon as Nomar comes back anyway, so that's probably who it will be.
2008-05-12 15:35:42
25.   bhsportsguy
24 The other night, Sweeney pinch hit in the 5th, which normally would be Delwyn's spot, with Young playing 2B yesterday and being 3rd catcher plus age and salary, I would lean towards Sweeney being the one let go especially since Nomar has a first basemen's glove already.

It would make Young the top lefty pinch hitter but I think that is fine.

2008-05-12 15:37:24
26.   D4P
Has Ned kept Sweeney long enough for him to be eligible for his pension or whatever...?
2008-05-12 15:38:25
27.   underdog
Do you think the Dodgers could trade Sweeney to anyone, since he has some value to teams looking to strengthen their bench? Or would they have no choice but to DFA him?
2008-05-12 15:38:36
28.   Eric Enders
25 Thirty days ago, I would have guaranteed you that it would be Young who got cut loose. Now I tend to agree with you that it will be Sweeney. However, I'm still nervous about it because I have limitless confidence in Colletti's ability to do the wrong thing.
2008-05-12 15:39:02
29.   bigcpa
21 I was hoping the national audience would get to see Scooter demonstrate Kershaw's curve.
2008-05-12 15:40:57
30.   regfairfield
I can't see Delwyn losing the job and having us go down to four outfielders.
2008-05-12 15:57:46
31.   Eric Enders
Young might actually get more PT as an emergency catcher than a fifth outfielder, though. He's logged exactly three innings in the outfield so far despite being arguably our third-best outfielder.
2008-05-12 15:57:59
32.   D4P
having us go down to four outfielders

Kemp...Ethier...I only count two...

2008-05-12 16:06:23
33.   BlueMamma
"don't convince yourself you already bought your wife a Mother's Day card without double-checking."

Hmmm, words to live by.

2008-05-12 16:11:16
34.   PDH5204
But, Jon, he K'd Tejada following. And then Berkman and then Carlos Lee flew out. So likely not tiring, and if he lost it, it was only in memory of the Kaz Matsui who hit .300+ for a number of years there while with the Seibu Lions.
2008-05-12 16:13:31
35.   Jon Weisman
34 - I'm not sure why your comment starts with a "but." What are you rebutting?
2008-05-12 16:13:33
36.   PDH5204
23 Award the job? He has the job and is doing well. As I said during the Great Debate, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
2008-05-12 16:13:56
37.   Jacob L
In regard to Jon's up-top post, what immediately came to mind was Rich Aurilia and the rest of the cast of characters that used to hit in front of Barry with the Giants.

How many times did the Dodgers walk Aurilia (on four pitches) while I screamed at the t.v., "You can't walk this guy! Bonds is on deck!"?

In truth, it probably only happened once or twice.

2008-05-12 16:19:30
38.   Bob Timmermann
37
It happened last year:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN200704250.shtml

And on 9/20/2003:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN200309200.shtml

And on 4/19/2003:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN200304190.shtml

And on 4/13/2003:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN200304130.shtml

Each time, Bonds made an out after Aurilia was walked by a Dodgers pitcher.

2008-05-12 16:22:15
39.   PDH5204
35 The premise that he was either tiring or lost it. Tiring doesn't explain the K's of Tejada and Berkman and the Carlos Lee flyout following. Lost it might simply mean here, I have a no-hitter and I remember Kaz from Japan. Kaz remembers me. Tejada and Berkman don't know me. So Kaz sees nothing good to hit his third time round.
2008-05-12 16:22:45
40.   Jon Weisman
By the way, it's interesting that Kuroda went 3-0 to Tejada. Seven straight balls in all. Then with Tejada taking, Kuroda finally got the gimme strike across the plate. Tejada fouled off two pitches before striking out.

And, of course, Kuroda got Berkman as well in the seventh.

2008-05-12 16:27:56
41.   Jon Weisman
39 - That's not my premise. I never posited that he lost it for good. In fact, I wrote "I don't think he lost concentration." My theory was that if he wasn't tiring, he became too preoccupied with the imperative to throw strikes - i.e., he started aiming instead of pitching.

In any case, just because he got Tejada out and then Berkman the next inning doesn't mean he wasn't tiring.

Now, your premise about his history with Matsui is interesting and plausible enough. But it doesn't rule out mine.

2008-05-12 16:30:06
42.   PDH5204
40 Oh, and Jon, yes, there is some frustration on my end. The game was Kuroda's to win or lose. We might have expected the not-all-there walk of Wiggy following the Pence single, but give the man a chance to settle back in and record the inning-ending third out. Even if the next batter singles, we're still up 1, and presumably, Beimel can be expected to get him out. Then Broxton closes it out. Just when the news media were reporting Torre showing confidence in Kuroda, he showed none.
2008-05-12 16:32:52
43.   Jon Weisman
42 - Well, as I wrote on Sunday morning, part of the reason Dodger starters have pitched so few innings this year is that Torre has been taking some out even when they were doing well. Not that Torre is unique among managers in doing this.

It was my own observation, however, that Kuroda was shaky in the sixth and shaky again in the seventh, and I wasn't surprised at all that he came out.

2008-05-12 16:36:49
44.   LAT
19. Hopefully you did not reach for the nearby but fatal "You're not my mother" defense.
2008-05-12 16:37:34
45.   PDH5204
43 I wasn't exactly surprised either, but I am still trying to discern just how the hook squares with the notion that Joe's SPs get to allow 5 runs [which I believe was Joe's excuse for leaving in someone who clearly didn't have it and was probably not going to find it that day, and I understand the Brad that has the rocky 1st and then settles down, except that he didn't settle down...].
2008-05-12 16:37:56
46.   Jon Weisman
As long as we're talking about it, Kuroda had 10 flyouts vs. 5 groundouts Sunday, and one could argue there was an accident waiting to happen.
2008-05-12 16:38:19
47.   Bob Timmermann
Back-to-back homers in the first for the Fish and they are leading in Cincinnati.

Best record in baseball!

So will the Marlins having a good record be celebrated or considered proof that baseball is inferior, a la the Cardinals winning the World Series in 2006.

2008-05-12 16:38:27
48.   Jon Weisman
44 - In the end, I fell on my sword.
2008-05-12 16:39:07
49.   Jon Weisman
47 - Joe Sheehan of BP is not celebrating the Marlins today, but he took no shots at baseball in the process.

Yea, baseball!

2008-05-12 16:41:30
50.   D4P
will the Marlins having a good record be celebrated or considered proof that baseball is inferior

Baseball is inferior to what...?

Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2008-05-12 16:44:43
51.   PalmdaleSteve1
So how do you count TJ's interview cum "Don't care" session with Tubby that appeared in the LAT today?

A Foulup, a Bleep or a Blunder...or a Triple Crown...A Three in one, a Three Bagger, a Triple Burger with extra cheese, a Manny Moe and Shep ?

Oh my!

2008-05-12 16:45:54
52.   Bob Timmermann
50
The NBA I believe is considered to be the sport where the best are always rewarded.

At least some people here view it that way.

2008-05-12 16:46:14
53.   PDH5204
46 The "accident" can happen at any time. Just ask Akinori Iwamura and Clay Buckholz [or Josh Beckett and Evan Longoria]. I didn't otherwise get the sense that he was more vulnerable to the HR owing to the ratio. Now, if he had been allowed to say in and gone to 3-0, then what with having to throw a strike and all...
2008-05-12 16:46:14
54.   Travis08
Griddle alert: Travis Hafner just reached on catcher's interference.
2008-05-12 16:48:13
55.   Jacob L
38 It was probably those three in one season (and two in a week) that made it seem like such a commonplace occurrence.

I was shocked to see that Terry Adams was not involved in any of those, since he was the culprit in my mind's eye.

2008-05-12 16:48:27
56.   Louis in SF
Alvarez is the starter for Jacksonville, they are up 1-0 in the bottom of the 2nd.
2008-05-12 16:48:33
57.   Bob Timmermann
54

Woo hoo!!!

2008-05-12 16:48:53
58.   D4P
52
Well, I can understand that to some degree. It's much easier for bad baseball teams to beat good baseball teams than for bad basketball teams to beat good basketball teams.

For one thing, basketall players have a lot more control over outcomes than baseball players. If you shoot the ball correctly, it will probably go in. But if you swing the bat correctly, you have much less control over what happens to the ball once you've hit it.

2008-05-12 16:51:15
59.   Jon Weisman
56 - Where are you seeing that? Or are you listening? The MILB box still has Kershaw as a probable starter for a game that hasn't started yet.

http://tinyurl.com/4oktsv

2008-05-12 16:55:21
60.   silverwidow
56 The game doesn't start until 8:05 ET. You must be reading something else.
2008-05-12 16:56:52
61.   madmac
Re. Furcal and his contract. I could see the Dodgers saying that due to health concerns he is only worth this much. I could see his agent saying that Furcal is so important to the Dodgers that they can't win without him and is worth 2x this much.
2008-05-12 16:58:25
62.   CanuckDodger
And Alvarez pitched five innings for Jacksonville on Saturday.
2008-05-12 17:02:39
63.   D4P
I could see his agent saying that Furcal is so important to the Dodgers that they can't win without him and is worth 2x this much

I could see myself responding, "Since when does Furcal OPS over 1.000...?"

2008-05-12 17:10:01
64.   Daniel Zappala
0 Jon, you might want to use my solution: buy a stash of pretty, blank cards. This way you have a card ready for any occasion you might have forgotten.
2008-05-12 17:11:30
65.   MollyKnight
One of my best friends (who lives in Alabama and loves baseball) is at the game tonight watching Kershaw pitch. He is going to text me with frequent updates.
2008-05-12 17:11:34
66.   Jon Weisman
63 - It'd be more interesting to see you become a player agent and then sabotage their salary negotiations from within.
2008-05-12 17:15:44
67.   D4P
66
But then my commission would take a hit. As a "fan", I feel better off when "my" teams don't give out bad contracts. But as an agent, I'd have a big incentive to be all about bad contracts.
2008-05-12 17:16:25
68.   Jim Hitchcock
Wow. The walk at El Camino Del Ray:

http://tinyurl.com/3e62lz

2008-05-12 17:16:50
69.   Jon Weisman
64 - Yeah, I actually have such a stash, but none seemed quite right.
2008-05-12 17:17:51
70.   Eric Stephen
66
It'd be more interesting to see you become a player agent and then sabotage their salary negotiations from within

Speaking of brilliant SNL sketch ideas, I laughed out loud, hard, at the Match Game parody this weekend.

The skit was "That's a Match", with characters all based on Match Game characters. Only, the host got murdered before the taping and a detective came out instead of the host. He asked detective-y questions like "Where were you at 2:30 today?" and each panelist answered as if they were on match game. Funny stuff.

2008-05-12 17:18:21
71.   MollyKnight
64-I reached into my stash of pretty, blank cards to produce mother's day cards for two friends who didn't have them. I highly recommend. Go for cards with flowers.
2008-05-12 17:18:33
72.   Jon Weisman
67 - But that's what would make you so interesting. You'd be like a Jerry Maguire for the 21st century.
2008-05-12 17:19:25
73.   Jon Weisman
64/71 - Also, it helps if you remember where you stash your stash.
2008-05-12 17:20:48
74.   MollyKnight
Dan Uggla is on a tear right now. 4 HR in the last three games. With 12 overall, he's now 1 behind Chase Utley for the MLB lead.

Who woulda thunk two 2Bs would be duking it out like this?

2008-05-12 17:21:20
75.   Bob Timmermann
I think Jon failed to take into account that he married someone who would have a birthday that would always be within a week of Mother's Day.
2008-05-12 17:24:43
76.   Andrew Shimmin
I used to get irritated when D4P went "scare quote" crazy, but now I just picture him doing the bunny ears thing, fifteen times a sentence, and it makes me feel better.
2008-05-12 17:24:45
77.   Jon Weisman
75 - You mean this is going to happen every year??
2008-05-12 17:25:08
78.   Daniel Zappala
68 Saw that at 6-4-2. Pretty amazing. Since I have both a fear of heights and occasional bouts of vertigo, you won't catch me going there.

Here is another pretty amazing "trail": http://www.ssqq.com/ARCHIVE/vinlin27d.htm

2008-05-12 17:26:18
79.   Jon Weisman
And, my dad's birthday is the day after my wife's.
2008-05-12 17:26:52
80.   Bob Timmermann
On the other hand, dating a woman who has a birthday on New Year's Day makes gift buying really easy.
2008-05-12 17:27:14
81.   Travis08
Asdrubal Cabrera (Indians 2B) just turned an unassisted triple play. Typical (if such a thing can be said) - the Blue Jays had the runners going with 1st and 2nd and no outs, and Overbay lined to 2nd.
2008-05-12 17:27:29
82.   MollyKnight
Update. Kershaw is in. And he has yet to throw a curveball.
2008-05-12 17:30:05
83.   D4P
My ellipses bug nate...my "scare quotes" bug Andrew.

Anyone else have any punctuation pet peeves they wanna get off their chests?

2008-05-12 17:34:38
85.   MollyKnight
1st inning over for Kershaw. 2 groundouts and a K.
2008-05-12 17:35:54
86.   Eric Enders
Well, now we know who to blame when Mobile hits the ball and doesn't make an out.
2008-05-12 17:36:20
87.   Bob Timmermann
81
I was way ahead of you that time, Mr. Hafner.
2008-05-12 17:38:14
88.   D4P
I see that the NL has a higher BA, OBP, SLG, and Runs/Game than the AL.

When was the last time any of those happened for an entire season...?

2008-05-12 17:40:25
89.   Bob Timmermann
88
I would start looking in 1972 and work your way back.
2008-05-12 17:43:29
90.   D4P
89
I take it the DH started in '73. How surprising is it that the NL is ahead of the AL at this point in the season?
2008-05-12 17:46:42
91.   Eric Enders
88 1974 for Runs Scored.

The two leagues were tied in slugging last year and OBP in 2005. I'm too lazy to do the math and see which one was really ahead.

2008-05-12 17:50:44
92.   underdog
Sounds like Kershaw threw Public Enemy #1 to get a K to end the inning after giving up a run.
2008-05-12 17:51:00
93.   MollyKnight
86-Rule #9 doesn't count here because I'm talking about a perfect game and using hyperbole.
2008-05-12 17:51:31
94.   MollyKnight
Text from Dan: "Curveball sighting. Batter dove out of the way for a called third strike."
2008-05-12 17:51:57
95.   Jacob L
I've always complained about all the gift/card giving I have to do in August. I've got my wife's birthday, our anniversary, our younger daughter's birthday, my parents' anniversary, and my brother's birthday within about 2 weeks of each other.

I've now realized that May is no picnic either between Mothers' Day, our older daughter's birthday, a good friend's birthday and a niece's birthday.

I try to plan ahead, and treat both months like extra Decembers, but its pretty likely I'm going to bungle something.

2008-05-12 17:52:48
96.   MollyKnight
Bad news, guys:

The Dodgers will place Rafael Furcal (back) on the disabled list retroactive to May 6 and call up 27-year-old utility infielder Luis Maza, who is hitting .402 to make his major league debut. Furcal did not make the road trip and instead underwent an MRI this morning, which confirmed that he has a back strain. He will receive a cortisone shot tomorrow and begin rehabilitation with physical therapist Sue Falsone on Wednesday.

2008-05-12 17:54:39
97.   Jacob L
96 Yikes. So much for random ruminations about Mothers Day cards. Honestly, though, better he go on the DL than rack up DNPs while still on the active roster.

Luis Maza?

2008-05-12 17:55:58
98.   LoneStar7
totally random question, has anyone ever achieved a titanium sombrero in 9 or more innings?
2008-05-12 17:56:23
99.   CanuckDodger
Who loses his 40-man roster spot to make room for Luis Maza of all people?
2008-05-12 17:57:32
100.   Jon Weisman
93 - Nope, that's incorrect.

And I'm blaming Furcal on you too :)

Show/Hide Comments 101-150
2008-05-12 17:58:05
101.   Andrew Shimmin
Maza wasn't on the 40 man, right?
2008-05-12 17:58:10
102.   D4P
Maza looks like Ned's kinda player:

Career Minor League:
.281/.330/.416/.746

2008-05-12 17:58:40
103.   MollyKnight
96- That was from Diamond's blog, btw.
2008-05-12 17:59:05
104.   underdog
I was kind of worried about Furcal making the trip, knowing how hard a long plane flight is on a back that is flaring up.

So he's eligible to come off the DL on May 21? Which is only 8 days from tomorrow. So it could be worse.

Welp, Maza was hot -- in the PCL, for whatever that's worth. I assume this means we'll see more Young at 2nd for Kent, Maza getting spot starts?

2008-05-12 17:59:22
105.   Eric Enders
Luis Maza? Really? I guess we should have signed Juan Castro after all. Although Maza does appear to currently be on the Wilson Valdez Hot Streak of a Lifetime™.

I suppose this means that either Schmidt or Abreu has been moved to the 60-day DL to make room on the roster.

2008-05-12 17:59:51
106.   MollyKnight
100-What if I was quoting a text message from someone else?
2008-05-12 17:59:55
107.   Bob Timmermann
If titanium means 6 Ks in a game, the answer is , no it has not been done in 9 innings.

Alex Gonzalez of Toronto did it in 13 innings, which is the shortest amount of time anyone needed.

2008-05-12 18:00:04
108.   underdog
Well Kershaw gave up a run on a double, a groundout and a wild pitch. 2 Ks so far. So no one has to worry about jinxing his perfect game-shutout now.
2008-05-12 18:00:36
109.   underdog
Stupid Tony Abreu... grumble... this is all your fault!
2008-05-12 18:01:35
110.   underdog
Tony Jax confirms same:

>>Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal, whose stiff back has been slow to heal, will be placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 6. Furcal has had an MRI, which shows he has a strained lower back.

Furcal is expected to get a cortisone shot Tuesday.

Utility infielder Luis Maza is expected to be called up from Triple-A Las Vegas to replace Furcal. Maza, who has never played in the majors, is hitting .402 with a home run and 15 RBIs in 33 games. He is 6 for 11 in his past two games for the 51s.<<

2008-05-12 18:02:09
111.   regfairfield
Sadly, Luis Maza was the right move.
2008-05-12 18:04:12
112.   LoneStar7
107 thanks for that, came to mind after watching craig monroe hit and seeing something about his platinum sombrero.

Bad news about raffy, will Maza get the next start over Hu? as long as were letting young guys play I'd like to get a look at some other talent.

2008-05-12 18:04:14
113.   MollyKnight
So do this mean Maza will start?

Don't these people know I'm a free agent and will sign for the major league minimum + a dog sitter? I can play SS!!

2008-05-12 18:04:48
114.   Eric Enders
1-2-3 for Kershaw in the third with an inning-ending K on a high fastball.
2008-05-12 18:05:06
115.   underdog
"An explosive fastball" according to the Suns' announcer and Kershaw gets his 3rd strikeout in a 1-2-3 3rd inning.
2008-05-12 18:06:14
116.   underdog
The worst things about this are:
No Furcal for longer, which clearly hurts the Dodgers.
More Pierre, ditto. Hopefully Ethier will get some starts for Jones at least.
2008-05-12 18:06:23
117.   Eric Enders
A dog sitter? Who do you think you are with all these demands, Kevin Brown?
2008-05-12 18:06:38
118.   regfairfield
If Maza actually touches a bat, I take back everything I said about this being the right move. Hopefully all he is a ninth inning replacement for Kent and an insurance policy.
2008-05-12 18:06:47
119.   Marty
114 115 This what happens when we have too many people in the booth.
2008-05-12 18:07:31
120.   Marty
If she were Kevin Brown, the dog would have it's own private jet.
2008-05-12 18:09:37
121.   MollyKnight
One of these days I'm going to come in here with good news. Like: "Andruw Jones traded for free ice cream for everyone at Dodger stadium forever."

Can't we set up a $36M ice cream endowment?

2008-05-12 18:12:36
122.   underdog
Luis Maza doesn't have a dog, so he gets the call Molly, sorry.
2008-05-12 18:18:54
123.   Branch Rickey
What if I told you you could sign Furcal to a 3-year extension for $50M. Is that something you might be interested in?
2008-05-12 18:19:47
124.   underdog
Sounds like Kershaw's run into a little trouble here in the 4th, Mobile just scored a run off him. "But his ability to get out of trouble is one of the things that has impressed the Dodgers," says the announcer.

---

You know, come to think of it, I just realized I had Maza over at Passover. I thought he sounded familiar.

Okay, I'm outta here!

2008-05-12 18:19:52
125.   Travis08
Toronto hasn't scored in 35 straight innings. I know the Dodgers went 38 straight without scoring last year - what's the record?
2008-05-12 18:22:25
126.   MollyKnight
123-LOL.

Another text from Dan: "Anytime someone runs on him he gets flustered and throws the ball in the dirt."

2008-05-12 18:24:31
127.   El Lay Dave
http://tinyurl.com/4bcqg3
Gurnick's article on Furcal. He adds that Furcal received "a cortisone injection in his sprained sacro-iliac (sic) joint" and that he "suffered an almost identical injury last September ... missing the final 12 games of the season".

Gurnick also writes, "Management has attempted to acquire an emergency replacement for Furcal" and that Maza is plan B.

2008-05-12 18:24:56
128.   LoneStar7
how legitimate is terry tiffee? Would he have high trade value considering we're so deep at 3B, or will we hold on to him.

I know hes a pretty big boy, but whos our biggest prospect to become a power hitter in your opinions..

2008-05-12 18:26:14
129.   D4P
Management has attempted to acquire an emergency replacement for Furcal

Yikes.

2008-05-12 18:26:50
130.   El Lay Dave
27 Do you think the Dodgers could trade Sweeney to anyone, since he has some value to teams looking to strengthen their bench? Or would they have no choice but to DFA him?

You mean like the way the Dodgers acquired him last season? Has Ned ever traded a PVL for a low-prospect?

2008-05-12 18:26:54
131.   regfairfield
128 He's a 29 year old with a .763 OPS in the minors and a .624 OPS in the bigs. He's not worth a thing.
2008-05-12 18:27:44
132.   regfairfield
130 Cody Ross for Ben Kozlowski?

Tomas Perez for future considerations?

2008-05-12 18:28:46
133.   dzzrtRatt
I'm frustrated with Torre on how he has managed with Furcal sidelined.

Furcal's speed is nice, but it's the least important part of his game. Giving Pierre a golden ticket to the lineup as if the absence of Furcal requires Pierre be in the lineup is a category error. What Torre ought to recognize is the surpassing importance of having the highest OPB/OPS hitters in the lineup; that's the only way to make up for what Furcal was giving us. Ethier and Kemp should start every game, with Torre going with his gut as to the third OF. And his leadoff hitter for the duration ought to be either Martin or Ethier, with Pierre/Jones batting seventh or eighth.

2008-05-12 18:29:39
134.   Jon Weisman
Obligatory NPUT
2008-05-12 18:31:16
135.   LoneStar7
131 ah i see, I'm trying to get to know the players in the minor league system a bit more...it seems like now our top prospects and guys on the bubble are kind of contact hitting utility infield sorts..Who would you see has the best chance of developing into more of a true power hitter, if anyone at the moment.
2008-05-12 18:40:41
136.   underdog
130 Er, I was thinking if Colletti was, er, laid off in the next month or so. Yeah, that's the ticket.

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