Off Day Thread

http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/07/14/jon-lester-doesnt-care-to-share-pizza-with-hanley-ramirez/

http://www.baseball-reference.com/friv/birthdays.cgi

I found two Dodgers, one is fairly obscure. Are there more?

MLBTR is taking a look at the 1996 deadline deal trades.

The Pirates horribly mis-timed a pair of pitchers in an August 28 deal. Pittsburgh traded Denny Neagle to the Braves for Ron Wright, Corey Pointer and Jason Schmidt. One year after the Pirates traded him, Neagle went 20-5 with a 2.97 ERA for Atlanta. Schmidt pitched to a 4.39 ERA over six seasons with the Pirates, but he posted a 3.36 ERA with the Giants after Pittsburgh traded him during the 2001 season.

You have to love this. The Pirates traded Neagle to the Braves where he went onto have a great season in 1997. They got Jason Schmidt in the deal but then traded him just before he hit his stride as one of the better NL pitchers before blowing out his arm with the Dodgers. To their credit they did give Schmidt plenty of time to become a good pitcher but simply ran out of patience one year to soon.

No thanks. Hate his defense, like his bat but not enough to trade for him and try to cram him somewhere…

5th starter? I say give McDonald the next shot. Or Roy Oswalt. :-)

Main competition? Same team I’ve said since before the season started, the Rockies. All teams in division are flawed, but the Rox the least so. Especially when they get healthier. Think standings will be Co., LA, SD in that order but still tight, in August. With SF still within shouting distance.

Unless Ely starts dominating in AAA, I don’t see him up again until September.

McDonald deserves another chance to start. But it’s fish or cut bait time.

Especially if Strasburg is pitching, that’d be awesome! Er, I mean, it’ll be awesome when the Dodgers inflate that kid’s ERA for the first time. :)

Yunel Escobar has been traded by the Braves to the Blue Jays for Alex Gonzalez

over on the fan posts

a worthy heir to the “great manager” legacy of torre… 34 man roster and he manages to leave a-rod on the bench and a crippled big papi on base in the 9th -

tying run or no, I would have seriously considered having a pitcher run there and worrying about it later…

perhaps joe was still distracted by the mccarver interview:

“did you know whose house cliff lee rented in seattle?”

(waits to see if joe is actually going to answer or take a guess)

“ummmmn no.”

“jamie moyer” (said as though this is fascinating information)

“hmmmn lefty to lefty” (look on face says “somebody shoot me in the ear”

does someone from mlb watch these games and listen to these two insufferable fuckheads (don’t get me started on buck’s patented “lean back in booth in late innings” booth shot) and think it is good television? really?

/preaches to choir

(thank you mccann on behalf of hong-chih kuo)

Wow, I saw the Uggla thing and for a moment thought it was a real rumor.

Other random thoughts for a random day:

1. I was wrong about FOX turning the game into a “Yankeefest,” and humbly admit my error.
2. Maybe it’s my blue bias, or just the way the FOX home plate camera kept showing the I-5 traffic beyond center field, but I didn’t think the Big A looked all that great on TV.
3. Did last night’s save really change the Dodger world, as the Times implies? I’ve seen the Blue Ox get plenty of big saves, although I’m sure the statement from Manuel was appreciated.
4. If the Jays are dealing, look for one of their pitchers in LA soon.

Forensics show Frank owns all of the Dodgers.

That catch by Ryan Braun. What great range!!!

anyone else thinking it would be prudent to trade Uggla and move him to 3b? Next year is Blake’s last year of a 3 year deal and he’s falling off a cliff right now. Also with the lack of any mlb ready 3b prospects, Uggla buys us time until a long term solution. Meanwhile, Blake can be super utility next year playing sporadically at 1b (with loney), lf (with X paul), and sometimes 3b.

I think this would work out well.

August 7th would be fine for me for a TBLA game most likely. A friend is visiting from Florida, but she will likely be busy that Saturday night. So I think I would likely be down to go.

Dan Uggla would be a nice addition to this team on offense, but his defense would be lacking I’m sure. Even so, I’ll take the offense over the defense, as long as it doesn’t cost any top prospects.

Mcdonald deserves another shot at the 5th starter job, let’s see what he can do.

I’m most worried about the Rockies, and with Tulo coming back in the 2nd half at some point, the Dodgers have a lot to worry about with them.

Put me down for the 7th, that sounds fun.

If McDonald is doing well in AAA, then he should get a shot at the 5th spot. I’d rather have Oswalt, but who knows if that’s going to happen.

I’m thinking that the Rockies, like always, will have a super impressive march up the standings in a few weeks.

on the surface that looks like a great trade for the BlueJays. I’ve yet to see how a sub .300 OBP helps a team but I’m glad the Braves think it does. Escobar must have been a bigger head then anyone thought to have been traded so cheaply.

A left side of Escobar and Encarnacion could be interesting.

Since there’s no realistic way to get/afford Roy Oswalt, how about an unrealistic one:

Dodgers get: Roy Oswalt, Andy Sonnastine, a lot of money
Astros get: Jeremy Hellickson, Dee Gordon, Alexander Torres
Rays get: Matt Kemp, Matt Lindstrom

By 2012 one of our core guys will be gone if we don’t improve our finances, so a trade will have to happen eventually, if we do it now, we can get top value. Losing Kemp hurts short term, but right now he’s the least productive part of our core players, and his role can be filled by a Johnson/Paul platoon.

Oswalt gives us the arm we need now and covers us for next year. Meanwhile Sonnanstine can fill the Vicente Padilla unexciting pitcher role for the next couple years for cheaper than it would cost on the free agent market. With the money freed up from Kemp and Padilla, we can make a serious run at Werth, or anyone else we want on the free agent market.

With Kemp, the Rays can move Ben Zobrist back to second, and not face the offensive drop off they’ll have in 2011 when they lose Pena and Crawford. There’s a great chance Kemp will come back to haunt us, and if we can’t get Werth our offense looks bad in the next couple years, but these things happen when your core gets expensive and you have no money.

The Astros get possibly the best player in the minors and two high upside guys. Can’t ask for much more for Roy Oswalt.

A move is imminent, just… when?

1. I’ll think about the plusses and minusses of the first half. Maybe later.

2. Uggla. There are several machinations above in which an Uggla trade might make sense, but let’s not kid ourselves: if he comes here, he’s playing second base. In fact, DeWitt might even be one of the pieces traded for him. Dunno if I can get on board.

3. McDonald, I guess. No option is perfect.

4. I am already attending the August 7 game in my regular seats in the loge, near left field. If you guys are there, I’ll stop by with Spawn for a chat.

5. I want to say Rockies, but I will say Padres until the Padres prove otherwise.

Here I am. Doubt I will post much here, but this is an awesome site:)

I’ll do minuses first. The bullpen besides Broxton and Kuo. I seriously thought the pen was our biggest strength going into the season. The 5th starter. I thought Ely saved us, now he has to save himself. Padilla, Andre, Furcal, Manny, Billingsley, Kuo, Belisario, Blake, and Im sure Ive missed a few, all lost time to injury or missed to time due to various reasons. Blake hasnt really missed time, but the beard, did. I guess you could put Haeger in there too, with his broken knuckleball. Matt Kemp, and his rapid fall to mediocrity. Million dollar talent.. nickel thought process. He is better than this.

Positives.. Broxton and Kuo. For obvious reasons. If we have the lead after 7, weve won. John Ely. Hes struggled lately, but hes been alot of fun to watch when he is pitching well. Andre, where would this team be without him before he broke his pinky? Furcal, the man is playing like he is posessed. Kershaw.. yes his time has arrived, and yes he is one of the better pitchers in the league. Bills, solid though unspectacular. hes my team fave, so its great to see him going good again. Blake DeWitt, for taking 2nd by the balls and getting it done. Jamey Carroll, who always gets on base when its needed, and terrorizing pitchers when he is on. I think the biggest plus this year goes to the Human Vaccum at first, Mr. James Loney. He is the first half MVP for this team. I know, he dosent hit for power, but he is the biggest clutch hitter on the team. Dre gets the rec for his walk offs, James does it almost everyday it seems. And when did he learn to steal bases?

Positives.. Broxton and Kuo. For obvious reasons. If we have the lead after 7, weve won. John Ely. Hes struggled lately, but hes been alot of fun to watch when he is pitching well. Andre, where would this team be without him before he broke his pinky? Furcal, the man is playing like he is posessed. Kershaw.. yes his time has arrived, and yes he is one of the better pitchers in the league. Bills, solid though unspectacular. hes my team fave, so its great to see him going good again. Blake DeWitt, for taking 2nd by the balls and getting it done. Jamey Carroll, who always gets on base when its needed, and terrorizing pitchers when he is on. I think the biggest plus this year goes to the Human Vaccum at first, Mr. James Loney. He is the first half MVP for this team. I know, he dosent hit for power, but he is the biggest clutch hitter on the team. Dre gets the rec for his walk offs, James does it almost everyday it seems. And when did he learn to steal bases?Its going to be a tough 2nd half. The Padres are for real, but need a bat, and a veteran arm. Tracys Rockies are heating up, and the Giants still need a bat. If we are to take this to the next level, we need to stay healthy, and get another FOTR arm. I think we could use a bat in the infield. We need more production from either 2nd or 3rd. The Blakes need to turn it up offensively. The pen is cool, we need Sherrill to be Sherrill, and not waste yet more talent on bullpen arms. Maybe Kenley Jansen needs to get here and prove he get MLers out.

I totally agree with you about Carroll and Billz. I wasn’t wildly enthused about Carroll’s signing but he’s totally made a fan out of me. Which is why I’d be sad to let him go.

Tony Jackson says the Dodgers still don’t have an “unquestioned ace.” Fuck that noise. Kershaw’s 10+ K/9 and sub-3 BB/9 over his last 10 starts say otherwise.

ESPN, The Decision 2

ESPN guy: so, Derek, what’s the decision?

Derek Jeter: This summer, I’ll be taking my talents to Chavez Ravine, to play for Mr. Torre again.

What will the Dodgers starting rotation order look like for the next five games? I see that Kershaw pitches the first game. What will the order be for the four games after that?
Thanks.
vr, Xei

has apparently forgiven broxton for ‘failing’ in pressure situations by saving a meaningless exhibition

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-0714-plaschke-20100714,0,4148076.column

A trade for Edwin Jackson.

He probably only has a couple mill due the rest of the year, and makes 8 next year.

On Nov. 3, 1979, Jamie Luskin married Frank McCourt in a quiet ceremony in their apartment on East 52nd Street in Manhattan, where a rabbi played piano to entertain guests. Frank showed up late, without the ring.

Link if you haven’t read the thing about the divorce on ESPN yet.

Since we are talking about anything today, is anybody curious how they are going to change up Concacaf qualifying for 2014 Brasil? I heard they are going to 3 group stages.

“It was Frank’s plan all along to run a team with a payroll of about $80 million,” says a former high-ranking club official speaking on condition of anonymity. "His thinking since he bought the team was: ‘This isn’t the AL East. Why would I spend $150 million to win 98 games when I can spend half that to win 90, if that’s all it takes to make the playoffs in our division?’ "