Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
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Screen Jam
TV and more ...
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
Bottom of the ninth, one out, 2-1 Cardinals, 3-2 to Matt Kemp ... and the old man is snoring.
* * *
Clayton Kershaw's promotion hadn't been inked as of Friday night, but the world's eyes remained peeled. Saturday was ruled out for a debut, but Sunday emerged as a strong possibility, according to Kevin Baxter of the Times and Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.
With Derek Lowe rebounding to a seven-inning, two-run performance tonight, a Kershaw promotion for Sunday would reflect an eagerness to get the 20-year-old lefty to Los Angeles regardless of need, because that's Chad Billinglsey's scheduled day (he would be given an extra day of rest). Further, there is almost no way the Dodgers would run through their bullpen Saturday, even if Brad Penny has another tough outing. And so, if Eli's coming to break opponents' hearts, it makes sense to uncoil him in front of a home crowd.
By the way, if Kershaw were pitching Sunday, wouldn't you want him already on a plane today? (So, is he?)
Meanwhile, Gurnick notes that two other pitchers are making progress:
In other pitching news, Jason Schmidt is scheduled for his third Minor League rehab start Monday night for Inland Empire. And disabled pitcher Esteban Loaiza said he felt fine after a Friday bullpen session and is scheduled to pitch for Las Vegas on Monday in a Minor League rehab start.
* * *
Rafael Furcal had a setback after a strenuous workout in the cold Wednesday, and doesn't have a return date set. While the idea of a workout in the cold seems to make no sense, I guess you need to find out what your body can do, right? Right?
Anyway, I don't think I'm overstating the case to say Furcal's going to have injury questions following him the rest of his career.
There's news about Andruw Jones as well, though it perplexes me. From Gurnick:
Torre indicated that if Jones' knee flares up again, immediate surgery is likely. The concern is that the knee will be like a time bomb that could go off with the slightest wrong movement.
"We've had players in the past ... who have had a problem like this and done OK throughout the whole season," said Conte. "Hopefully, he's going to fall into that category, but there's no doubt he has a small tear in the cartilage, and that can be problematic at any time."
I mean, come on. Isn't this silly? The best case scenario for Jones not having his inevitable surgery now is that he might not have his knee go thermite on him? I've got news for you: Sometimes things don't have to get worse before they get better.
Gurnick also has a Nomar Garciaparra update. Sometimes things do have to get worse before they get better.
* * *
Tough one (so far) for the Dodgers tonight, but Adam Wainwright of St. Louis earned it with some great pitching. At least Lowe was back to form.
The showers have been scattered all day.
To the remote!
More Looney Tunes references?
Perhaps we can play a game of canasta.
Plus the draft picks.
Still, for this year, while we have him, I really hope Furcal gets well soon.
Don't discount the possibility of receiving draft picks from the Giants when they sign Jeff Kent for 2009!
https://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/15240.html
14 Man, you were harsh back then. Comments closed, just like that! >snap!<
What year did you make the switch to the Toaster?
Can someone wake me when the game resumes? Thanks.
Wow, I thought it was much longer ago. It seems like the toaster has been around forever.
Sob! My incredibly astute commentary is lost forever...
Is it 2005? There are some comments starting in March 2005.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/shareit/6NAu
https://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/156430.html
Okay, my Weather.com Doppler radar map shows that it's cleared over Dodger Stadium. What's the deal?
vr, Xei
St. Louis fans will blame it all on Tony La Russa if the Dodgers win.
Or possibly Jason Isringhausen.
Check that, it will probably happen by Memorial Day or a day or so afterward.
Meanwhile, Cadfael solved the mystery, the Karate Kid is over, and the game is still rain delayed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_lvDLeTae8&feature=related
Much like Mitch Hedberg's thoughts on frilly toothpicks, I'm for 'em!
>>
165. Suffering Bruin
Just checking in while planning...
Did someone say "Karate Kid?"
Ralph Macchio got the part over two other actors. I was one of the other two.
Yes, they most definitely made the right choice.
<<
Underdog in May of '08: Ahhh. Now I get it.
Just watching In Their Own Words on FSN.
http://tinyurl.com/5fevmy
Welcome to the Top 10!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuGaqLT-gO4
vr, Xei
I feel sorry for this guy:
http://la.metblogs.com/2008/05/23/biking-to-dodger-stadium/
I think it happened last year.
Kemp walks. Frankling still in there. That seems kind of ludicrous.
I mean, thanks!
Pee Wee Alert!
Pee Wee Alert!
Stand up.
Wait... what??
And to think, there's almost not enough people left to boo him properly.
Well, that was anticlimatic.
Blech.
Ah well. Night all!
vr, Xei
vr, Xei
vr, Xei
At any rate, time to DL him. Kershaw comes up. Furcal activated, Maza goes down. Problems solved. Er, except Kershaw's not on the 40 man, so who gets cut?
Anyway, night all. And have a good weekend! I'll watch the Minotaur's debut, if it happens, in the archives on Monday.
I might have sent Maza up in that situation, I guess.
On the Jones-as-a-PH note: Torre should've called his own number. He's gotta be a better hitter at this point.
After that, given even a below market contract for him, I feel the money would be better used to bring in guys (if you were to go FA route again) who can hit for power.
But yeah nothing is absolute you are right..Who knows as a nice guy he may want to reprove himself on a one year deal and that's a different thing altogether...
let me edit myself quickly. I realize we have alot of kids playing. I still feel don't feel management is all in. But I get that maybe I am to hopeful and un-realistic (LaRaoche and Young should be playing, right now for Kent and Pierre as example in my world and then let it roll)
So my edit is that instead of FA SS. Go with HU or SS with power via trade..(lol)
vr, Xei
"Injured pitcher Esteban Loiaza is a possibility for the Tuesday start, Torre said."
http://www.pe.com/sports/baseball/dodgers/stories/PE_Sports_Local_D_dodgers_notes_24.3c7c9d6.html
I'm assuming Kuroda starts Tuesday if Kershaw starts Sunday, so maybe he means Loaiza for Wednesday. But that's Lowe's next turn. Maybe everyone's going to get an extra day of rest. I don't know. I just know it would be kind of strange to add Kershaw and Loaiza to the roster at the same time. (This is all putting aside whether Loaiza should be on the roster.)
Wade, Brazoban, Kuo and Park have combined to pitch three innings this entire week.
I take it that you actually mean three swings of the bat. Which raises the question, how much does the WPA change after each pitch when a batter gets in a hole with the count? Have you ever figured it out on a pitch-by-pitch basis?
Yhency to Vegas
Sweeney to waivers
Kershaw to L.A.
LaRoche to L.A.
Problem solved.
vr, Xei
vr, Xei
I've always meant to re-connect them to the old posts. But the problem is (a) it would require some programming I've never prioritized, and (b) that they're so full of spam that I've never had the time to go through them and clean it all up.
New post up top.
I'm not sure why Torre won't move Kent lower in the order. I didn't think he was a cleanup hitter last year. Wasn't this one the reasons for getting Andruw - to have a legitimate 4th in the order hitter? Just because Jones has not worked out so far, does not seem like a reason to continue to bat Kent 4th.
Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.