Death Match - Padre Preview
by Phil Gurnee on Aug 2, 2010 9:25 AM PDT
in Team Previews
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Season Series: Dodgers lead 5-3
61-42, 1st place in NL West (Schedule and Results)
View League Standings and Leaders
Manager: Buddy Black (61-42)
Scored 448 runs, Allowed 357 runs. Pythagorean W-L: 62-41
The Dodgers won last Tuesday 2-0 and seemed ready to make a serious push against the Padres/Giants. Instead they lost every game, and now find themselves facing the Padres again, but this time they have no margin for error. They simply have to start winning or the season is over.
Dodgers are right back where they started last week facing the Padres whose 61 - 42 is the best record in the National League. The Padres record given their lineup is something to behold, but now the Padres have added some legitimate thunder to the outfield. Ryan Ludwick is not the guy who slugged 37 home runs in 2008 but even the scaled down Ludwick offers more power then anything the Padres have had to protect AGON. Luckily the Dodgers countered with PodMan.
Have to say I have nothing but the greatest respect for what the Padres have accomplished this year. If the Dodgers cannot make a run, then my heart will be all in on the Padres shocking the baseball world. This is a collection of misfits I can get behind.
For the Dodgers nothing brings the bats back like home cooking so expect lots of runs this week making the offensive futility of the past month a thing of the past. We may have to wait until the Nationals show up for those bats to awaken but I'd wager that Eric's review next week will have a fistful of plus .800 OPS.
Position Breakdown:
1st Base- Adrian Gonzalez remains the Padres premier hitter. Since the last time the Dodgers have seen the Padres, Gonzalez has gotten his numbers back up close to career norms. He enters the series with a wOBA of .382 and is slugging .516 on the year.
2nd Base- The 35 year old David Eckstein was placed on the 15-day disabled list on July 21st. Getting the 2nd base duties in his absence is Jerry Hairston who had a .365 OB filling in for Eckstein during July.
Shortstop- Big change here, as the Padres traded for B Vitamin Slugger Miguel Tejada. They have decided to go with offense over defense. Cabrera cannot hit but Tejada is not exactly swinging a big stick himself these days. Miguel had a .670 OPS in Baltimore, you would think that would not translate well to Petco but in this season, Miguel will probably go on a binge.
3rd Base- Chase Headley had a resurgence in July, putting up a wOBA of .387 with an OPS of .871. Basically for one month he has looked like the top prospect the Padres thought they had.
Catcher- Nick Hundley and Yorvit Torrealba split the time catching for the Padres. Torrealba was on fire in July posting a 1.042 OPS. I can't even remember the last time Martin posted a plus 900 OPS for a month.
Right Field - Now belongs to Ryan Ludwick. Ludwick has an .828 OPS in 2010 and we will have to wait and see how that translates to Petco.
Left Field- Scott Hairston is still the lefty masher who should never be allowed to face Sherrill. With Ludwick in town, he might become more of a platoon with Venerable who has been displaced by Ludwick.
Center Field- Tony GwynnJr. might also start losing time in a platoon with Denorfia. Denorfia was the 2nd best hitter on the Padres in July lighting up the numbers with a .402 wOBA.
Starting Pitching for our Series:
Game 1: Clayton Richard has struggled in July putting up a 6.00 ERA but his FIP/xFIP suggest he's been unlucky (3.98 / 4.18). He's been their second best pitcher all year and will probably have a better career then all the pitchers the Diamondbacks and Astro's got back for Oswalt and Haren, and he was only part of the Peavy deal. This was the baseball hq roto analysis of him at the all-star break:
He's maintained a strong GB%. That coupled with making 10 of his 18 starts at Petco have helped him avoid big innings and short outings. Sunday was the first time since May 5 that he failed to last 6 innings; Richard's Dom rate continues to rise - like we hope it would at this stage of his career; He's walking fewer batters than he did a year ago. A 0.6 improvement in Ctl doesn't sound like much, but it bumps his Cmd rate over the 2.0 threshold we like to see; Richard hasn't been quite as good as his surface stats indicate - a 76% strand rate has helped keep his ERA below where it should be;
Game 2: Mat Latos is a young stud, the kind you build a rotation around. He only threw 56 innings in 2008, ramped that up to 122 in 2009 and currently on Aug 2nd has 117. If he can pitch big into Oct I'll be one surprised analyst.
Game 3: Matt LeBlanc is the opposite of Clayton Richard. He's put up a 4.11 ERA but his FIP/xFIP (6.34/5.04) suggest he's been lucky.
Game 4: Kevin Correia gets the call
Bullpen:
The Padre bullpen is fantastic. .
Series Prediction:
Dodgers have to win every series from here on out. Now would be a good time to start.
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Comments
Humma, re: "Superstition"
I saw Stevie play “Superstition” on the back porch if the U of Illinois Union in the late 80s, just for the heck of it while he was in town. It was decidedly awesome.
by Little Blue Bicycle on Aug 2, 2010 9:31 AM PDT reply actions
On YouTube
you can find a video of him playing a six- or seven-minute Superstition on Sesame Street. The kids of the Street are decidedly into it. It’s amazing.
The Omar Moreno of this blog
if the world series ended up being Padres Vs. Rangers
does that series do poorly because none of the big name teams are there? Or does the allure of Underdog vs. Underdog help out the ratings?
Prediction
1. Ratings are terrible
2. It goes down as the best/most memorable WS since ’97 Indians-Marlins
The Omar Moreno of this blog
I guess
’01 Yankees/Diamondbacks was pretty memorable. So was ’02 Giants/Angels.
‘03 I remember Pudge holding the ball, but I think that was the NLCS, wasn’t it?
‘04 I was rooting for the Sox at the time but it was a poor WS. The ALCS was the show.
’05 White Sozzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
’06 It was nice to see Pujols get a ring, but that was not the best Cards team.
’07 By this time I wanted to see the Rockies shock the world. To see them knuckle under for the Red Sox was disappointing.
’08 Fuck you, Phillies, especially you, Ruiz.
’09 Fuck you, Phillies, especially you, Ruiz, but even more, fuck you, Yankees. Couldn’t they both have lost?
So I guess it would be the most memorable WS since ’02.
The Omar Moreno of this blog
Personally, the only real thing to watch is if the pitching and defense-first Padres can beat the Texas offense. I don’t think I would watch that series, and I’m sure people in the Northeast wouldn’t either.
I’m sure it would be a great series, and I’m sure I won’t be all that upset that I missed it.
I like Cetera.
well I watch every WS so it don't think I count.
though I had a vested interest in hoping the Phillies lost last year. Whipe the smug smirks off there faces.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 9:37 AM PDT up reply actions
Ya, I tend to watch too, but instead of being involved in the storylines and putting off plans so I can watch the game, I’ll mostly watch if I’m not busy with something else.
I like Cetera.
yeah
i’m never busy with something else, that’s why, hahahaha.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions
I love how some huge baseball fans that even take so much time out of their day to comment on blogs can say “oh, i’m not going to watch the world series anyways.” stop frontin’
@soyboquense
I'll watch no matter what, unless it's Yankees/Redsox vs Phillies/Giants
I couldn’t stand any combination of those teams.
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
Do we really care if the series does "well" ?
People always ask those questions as though any day now MLB is going to get cancelled.
by Michael White on Aug 2, 2010 10:01 AM PDT up reply actions
i'm just asking
they always talk about it. Like if the Yankees aren’t in the WS, the ratings…..THEY WILL SUFFAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 10:02 AM PDT up reply actions
“They” do always talk about it, seemingly as a means to complain that a large city isn’t in a championship game. I really don’t see why people woudl give a shit.
by Michael White on Aug 2, 2010 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions
Cancelled? No.
Could it wind up on TBS if the ratings decline? Absolutely.
The Omar Moreno of this blog
by Humma Kavula on Aug 2, 2010 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions
speaking of that
Last night had to be the most insufferable I’ve ever heard Joe Morgan. Dude’s a fucking know-it-all, and he basically admitted he hates the Dodgers. Love that Orel called him on it.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions
maybe i just tune him out more than I thought I did.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions
It will be a sucky year of sucky proportion
if the Dodgers and Padres don’t make the playoffs but the Giants / Braves/ Phillies/Cardinals do. Then I will have to hope the Rays roll to their first ever World Championship. But I think they need Manny and they really should make it happen.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
The Dodgers likely are out of the playoffs, but I would consider it a moral victory if the Giants, Phillies, Cardinals all miss the playoffs.
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
if we sweep this series
we’re right back in the hunt. It’s highly unlikely, but then again, the Padres are in first place.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions
Any new news on bellisario? how much longer can he be on the RL? I realize pitching has not been an issue, but you’d like to be pushing for the playoffs with a full roster.
Course, with our bullpen as it is, Bellisario back would have to mean a bench player down/DFA to carry 13 pitchers again or the DFA of George Sherrill.
I like Cetera.
Do you think Sherrill will be the one who gets das boot or do you think they’d send Paul down first?
I like Cetera.
Paul likely gets the axe earlier in the week when Johnson returns.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 10:01 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
and GA
survives. He’s more of a cockroach then Kuo
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions
Hey
remember when we could beat NL West teams a lot? Yeah, that was good times.
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
i remember that
and we could score runs and support this great pitching.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions
Remember when the Dodgers could ONLY hit? Not really good times, but for the offense it must have been nice, lol.
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
I long for the day
this team fires on all cylinders. We would be the best.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions
What does everyone think of Ryan Doumit? I am trying to think of a way to replace Martin once he gets non-tendered and I was thinking a Doumit/Ellis platoon would be fairly productive, though I think Doumit’s defense is sub-par.
when he gets non-tendered
isn’t it very possible they sign him to a two-year deal at a much lower rate then he would’ve gotten in arbitration? Or is that against the rules?
Still possible
Once he is non-tendered Martin will just be a free agent.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 9:50 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I think that's more likely
than he gets non-tendered. Everyone keeps saying it will happen, but since when have the Dodgers done what we said they would?
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions
Unless the Dodgers overpay, they’re going to have to non-tender him I would think. He would probably test the free agent market rather then just signing a deal with the Dodgers.
Agreed
Also, if the Dodgers sign him before non-tendering him, the lowest they could pay him is $4,040,000, since the maximum cut is 20%.
If they waited until he was a free agent, that rule wouldn’t apply.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 9:59 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
If I was going to have a platoon catcher with no offense, I’d rather have someone with no offense who could at least call a good game and throw guys out. maybe Gerald Laird? Local boy comes home?
I like Cetera.
What do you mean? Doumit has a career .800 OPS batting LH. I have heard his defense is not good but, it seems like he can hit a little bit.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?n1=doumiry01&year=Career&t=b
Dude has had some good Aprils then been below average for the next five months. His home/road splits are kind of interesting, with a .821 OPS at PNC and a .743 everywhere else. I’m worried what his OPS would become if he went from playing there to playing in DS 81 times.
I like Cetera.
Yeah, the guy doesn’t seem to be great, but I think he might be adequate as the LH part of the platoon with Ellis. Plus, I think the Pirates would be willing to part with him rather cheaply.
About him being the lefty side of the split, sure, why not. As far as them giving him up cheaply…I have no idea what the going rate on that guy will be.
I like Cetera.
If you had a time machine and went back to 2007 and said, “After the 2010 season, there will be calls from more than one reasonable, calm, thinking Dodger fan to non-tender Russell Martin,” the next thing you’d hear would be “Stone him! Stone the witch! HE SPEAKS LIES!!”
The Omar Moreno of this blog
I know right? It makes me sad to ask the question, but I just don’t know how much longer I can watch Martin bounce out to 3B.
He really looked like the face of the franchise, a guy you sign up long-term and call captain.
LIke I was saying last night… the most disappointing thing about this season is the idea that it suggests that none of the crop of young Dodger hitters is a special player. I’m really hoping that it’s just a down year for Kemp and he’ll improve next year, but I have to believe that the Loney, Ethier, and Martin we’re seeing are what we can expect going forward.
The Omar Moreno of this blog
by Humma Kavula on Aug 2, 2010 10:01 AM PDT up reply actions
I don't think you can say that definitively about Ethier
Who knows how his season would be looking if it wasn’t for the pinky.
indeed
I’d still give Loney one more year. If he concentrated more on pulling the ball, he’d probably have more HRs. though he’d probably be hitting in the .260 range.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 10:04 AM PDT up reply actions
Loney = Mark Grace
Might as well commit to him and sign him if thats the kind of player you’re comfortable with at 1B or stop going through the arb process and look elsewhere.
I thought about that about Loney and Ethier
But with Ethier, that’s an awful lot to put on the pinky. He’s been absolutely useless since he came back.
In the end, there are all kinds of things we can point to, but their stat lines are gonna look remarkably consistent. Ethier will finish in the mid-800 OPS, Loney in the mid-700.
At this point, I wish Loney=Mark Grace. Mark Grace was a doubles and walking machine. He didn’t hit a lot of home runs but he was a very useful player for a very long time.
The Omar Moreno of this blog
by Humma Kavula on Aug 2, 2010 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions
Ethier is about to go on a tear, starting today, to celebrate the birth of his new baby.
I like Cetera.
As a father...
I do not understand why he did not make it to last nights game if the baby was indeed born on Saturday.
@soyboquense
Is it a boy or a girl?
Just wondering if his/her name is Dresdaughter or Dresotherson. :)
by LA Taco on Aug 2, 2010 10:13 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
A broken finger on your lead hand
can easily ruin a season.
I’m not saying that Ethier should be replaced or anything like that. I am saying that, broken pinkie or no, the evidence is pointing to the fact that Ethier is a guy who hits righties well enough, doesn’t hit lefties well enough, plays poor defense in RF, and is awfully streaky, and all of that adds up to a nice player if you control him, but not what I’d call a superstar who you must lock up long term.
The Omar Moreno of this blog
by Humma Kavula on Aug 2, 2010 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions
Players you lock up long term
I think my list is down to Kershaw (the star) and Kemp (buy low.)
That’s it for me.
by Michael White on Aug 2, 2010 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions
Chad Billingsley, perspective is that he’s as good as Joe Blanton right now.
That’s easily worth signing him to a joe Blanton type of deal.
Agreed
I’d sign Billingsley, as well as Kershaw and Kemp.
The Omar Moreno of this blog
by Humma Kavula on Aug 2, 2010 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions
Crazy, based on SSS, I know
but what about trying to sign Jansen to some ultra-team friendly deal in return for front loading his contract, something like 6/20 with payments of 1, 1, 3, 5, 5, 5. I mean, if you expect him to be the closer soon.
I like Cetera.
I love Billingsley, but I take a wait and see approach because it makes no sense to lock him up if he will be gone by the time the turnaround kicks in.
If LAD has to sweat out some really shitty years, it only makes sense to lock up the youngest players.
by Michael White on Aug 2, 2010 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions
Billingsley is as good as Blanton? You're kidding, right?
Blanton has a 5.86 ERA 4.66 FIP and 4.47 xFIP.
Billingsley has a 3.78 ERA 3.41 FIP and 3.94 xFIP.
Blanton has had 1 really good year, then all the rest just barely above average years or bad years. Billingsley has only been above average as a starter to good. I don’t think they are at all comparable.
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
No, the perception in the main stream media is that he’s as good as Blanton.
Of course he’s a lot better.
that's not what he said, don't start
he said public perception of Billz is that he’s a Blanton type, so signing him to a simliar deal rather than what he might actually be worth would be a good deal for the team.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 10:47 AM PDT up reply actions
sorry
gotta nip these thigns in the bud.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions
What do you think I'll fight about any little thing all the time...
Ok, good job :P
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
What about Billingsley?
He’s proved how good he is this year, and he’s done it without striking out a ton of people.
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
I wish they had done it last season as a great “buy low” oppurtunity.
by Michael White on Aug 2, 2010 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions
They could have done it…
pre-2008 and had a Ubaldo deal
pre-2009 and had an Ervin Santana deal
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions
Isn’t this a Colletti failing? He never shown that he is able to negotiate long term deals with his own pre-arb players.
Yes
Then again, I would have also signed Martin to a long-term deal too :)
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 10:47 AM PDT up reply actions
Eric, if LAD wanted to lock up Billingsley, what sort of deal would you think gets it done?
by Michael White on Aug 2, 2010 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions
He’ll make at least $5.5m in arb this winter, so…
$1m signing bonus
$5m 2nd arb
$7.5m 3rd arb
$10m 1st FA
$12.5m 2nd FA
something like 4/$41m?
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 10:54 AM PDT up reply actions
Easy for me to say (since it isn’t my money) but I would definitely do that.
by Michael White on Aug 2, 2010 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions
You are correct
I was thinking something different before I went year by year.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 10:56 AM PDT up reply actions
4 yrs/$36mm seems reasonable.
What would be your Kershaw estimate for 4 – 5 years?
use the Verlander deal...
in Verlander’s 1st arb year, he got $3.675m (Kershaw will get higher than that, as did Bills). Then he signed a giagntor contract. In the next two arb years, he got $6.75m and $12.75m, with a whopping $20m in the first FA year.
If you do that now with Kershaw, you get one pre-arb year in 2011, so…
$1 million signing bonus
2011: $500k
2012: $3.75m
2013: $6.5m
2014: $10.5m
2015: $17.5m
5/$39.75m, or something like that. Kershaw takes a discount for long term security.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 11:14 AM PDT up reply actions
Please make this deal happen!
You’re the blogger here you need to use your power and make this happen!
The question isn't whether Eric has the power or not
because he does. The question is will he use that power ;)
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
Kershaw keeps this up he’s gonna make closer to Lincecum money instead of Bills money.
by regfairfield on Aug 2, 2010 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions
True
but Lincecum still stands alone with the not one, but two awards, plus the fact that he was a super two.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, he’s not gonna get 12 or whatever Lincecum got, but 7 or 8 isn’t out of the question.
by regfairfield on Aug 2, 2010 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions
If you are Kershaw
do you sign that deal? 5/40?
The Omar Moreno of this blog
by Humma Kavula on Aug 2, 2010 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions
He really seems like a very humble guy
And I think he’d be willing to take less money to stay here longer. He really seems like a big team player, and very loyal to the team that drafted him.
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
Plus he’s a professional athlete, so it’s safe to assume he’s kinda dumb and would take way less money than he’s worth.
by regfairfield on Aug 2, 2010 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions
I would
Long term security, and you’d only be 28 when the deal expires. If you’re healthy, you get a massive contract for your prime years.
Then again I’m not a very greedy/needy person. $40mm guaranteed when I’m 22 years old sounds pretty good.
I would buy a mini-giraffe like the Russian dude.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions
i love that commercial
but is he eating solid gold grapes?
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions
Pitchers are always a pitch away from being done
I would do it.
by Michael White on Aug 2, 2010 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions
And the one he allegedly tried and failed on was Martin.
At least we got lucky with that one.
by Michael White on Aug 2, 2010 10:47 AM PDT up reply actions
Perhaps. I could definitely be talked into locking up Billingsley (especially considering he is my favorite player anyway.)
by Michael White on Aug 2, 2010 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions
Their stats are very, very similar at the same points in their careers. You are thinking of 30 year old Mark Grace. Loney has a few more years to get there.
You're right
I hadn’t thought about it that way, but Grace didn’t break out until he was 28.
The Omar Moreno of this blog
by Humma Kavula on Aug 2, 2010 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions
The problem is that the Dodgers won’t ever control 30 year old Mark Grace. He’s be in his 2 or 3rd FA by then, and if you’re the Dodgers, do you really want to control that?
Thats what I wrote way above
They should decide now. If they don’t want a Mark Grace type they should not go through the entire arb process until he hits FA.
I'm torn
I have a hard time looking at good 2007 Martin and seeing how he’s dropped off since Torre/Mattingly have been “helping” him, but then I see the big strides of Andre and Kemp and have a hard time calling Mattingly anything short of a good hitting coach. At this point, I assume it’s more about the player and less about the advice. I mean, Don Mattingly isn’t the one who is rolling over on pitches he used to drive to the RCF gap.
I like Cetera.
Ya know, I hate to bring him up, but TJ Simers had a weird bit in his column on Friday or Saturday. He characterized Mattingly as saying that he always has a plan for Martin’s at-bats, but then he goes and does something else. Since I never know (or care) whether or not Simers is being serious, I’m not sure if Mattingly really said that … Just a thought, though. I do see that Russell likes to swing at the first pitch sometimes. Almost like he’s trying to throw the pitcher off, trying to get a rep for being a first-pitch swinger so he gets fewer first strikes or something. But, yeah, i’ts painful to watch.
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Aug 2, 2010 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions
If you’re talking about a Buck involved platoon, you aren’t going to save any money on Martin. He’s making two million this year and will get a raise.
That and he has a career .300 OBP.
by regfairfield on Aug 2, 2010 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions
Nicely said.
Have to say I have nothing but the greatest respect for what the Padres have accomplished this year. If the Dodgers cannot make a run, then my heart will be all in on the Padres shocking the baseball world. This is a collection of misfits I can get behind.
I’m not giving up yet (and I’m not implying you are, either), but yeah, if the current trends keeps continuing for the Dodgers I’ll be on this boat, too. There really is no one on the Padres that I dislike and want to see fail. At this point, as long as the Giants/Phillies don’t make the playoffs (or at least don’t make it past the 1st round) I’ll be happy. Misery loves company I guess.
There really is no one on the Padres that I dislike and want to see fail.
The Pest.
But generally, you’re right.
The Omar Moreno of this blog
Even him I don't mind too much.
But that might be just because I haven’t seen him play against us in a while.
Really?
I mean I could get annoyed with the coverage he gets, but he has always seemed like a nice enough dude.
“Want to see fail” is too strong. I’ll cop to that.
But I find it annoying when he succeeds and he gets WS MVP awards.
The Omar Moreno of this blog
by Humma Kavula on Aug 2, 2010 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions
David Eckstein winning the WS MVP is kinda like giving Sarah Morris a job writing for your professional sports website. Performing above expectations is a lot easier when the expectations are so low.
I like Cetera.
Simply BS
The pest had a great world series.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Ima let you finish, I’ma let you finish. But in 2006, Scott Rolen had one of the best 5 game stretches of all time. OF ALL TIME!
I don’t know if that’s true about the of all time thing, but Eckstein was 2-13 with two singles in games 1-3 with a great game 4 (4-5 3 doubles 1 single) and an ok game 5 (2-4 2 singles) to finsih with a .891 OPS.
Scott Rolen on the other hand had a 1.213 OPS and Sean casey had a crazy 1.556 in a losing effort.
No doubt he was good, but he was not the best.
I like Cetera.
misleading statistics are misleading
he was 0fer the first 2 games, then had the two hits in the 3rd game.
his 2 hits in game 3 were in his last two at bats. Dude had a 0-11 stretch, did not hit a home run, had 4 RBIs only on singles (to me meaning someone else did the hard work of getting into scoring position), and won an MVP award.
I like Cetera.
Did you watch the games
or read the box scores? Honest question?
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Fine but when you use such BS hyperbole to denounce his MVP selection
your going to get comments.
And sure Sara’s take is not something most of us agree with, but considering what I do with my life with what I have, dumping on her just seems like the worst of bad taste.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Watched the whole series, but all I really remember is Detroit pitchers throwing the World Series down the first base line.
Used the box scores to refresh, so I could be wrong, and it is nothing earth shattering that the player who had the best series did not win something as trivial as a (any playoff) series MVP award.
My whole comment was in regards to it being annoying how he succeeds and wins WS MVP awards. I was simply stating that I felt he won the award despite not having the best series because no one expects him to do anything but be a spark plug and let others do the heavy lifting. It’s endearing to watch that little runt have to crow-hop to get a routine throw across the diamond.
I like Cetera.
Yes
but many feel the way of G Scott. Never quite understood the rational myself.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
If he played for our team
they would feel differently. I loved Eckstein back when he played for the Angels, so I never have developed that animosity “scrappy” players on opposing teams like Eckstein seem to engender.
It just pisses them off to no end
that Eckstein has two rings as a starting SS on two different teams.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I always found it funny
the guys who are bench players and get rings. I’m pretty sure Aikman had the same backup QB for all their super bowl wins, and the guy never threw a pass in any of them, yet got 3 fat shiny rings.
totally agree. He’ll be a fan favorite (myself included) wherever he plays. I have no basis for this, but I assume he got passed over many times for playing time/contracts/schools because of his size, and the hard work he had to put in to overcome all that jazz.
What’s more frustrating for me is watching guys with outrageously more talent getting outplayed on a daily basis. Avoiding the WS MVP thing, I’m more frustrated that more players (specifically Dodgers who have come along) aren’t able to look at a guy like this and gain something from him.
I like Cetera.
My favorite part of his story
is that he was a career minor league 2nd baseman and the Angels nabbed him from the Red Sox system. Then out of the blue air, Scoscia decides the guy with the least arm strength on the team can play SS. So he does, then becomes the starting SS, had a solid OB year, provides key hits up the wazoo all the while doing the crow hop to get enough zing to barely throw out every single ball hit to him. It was one of darndest years I’d ever seen and they capped it off with a WS.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I love the Pest, and most guys like him – mainly because I’m just like them. Little guys who’ll never amount to much, but put a lot of heart and soul into it, and get good results sometimes.
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Aug 2, 2010 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions
I'm a little guy
but my heart is a cold, black stone; my soul is a little wisp of a thing that might not actually exist, and I never get good results, so I’m bitter.
The Omar Moreno of this blog
by Humma Kavula on Aug 2, 2010 11:28 AM PDT up reply actions
But, hey, would you take him at 2B instead of The Riot? I would.
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Aug 2, 2010 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions
Something I wanted to say about Mattingly
is I hope he’s in the video lab, dissecting everyone’s swing and finding what’s wrong. I don’t know if he is or not, I’m just saying I hope that’s what he’s doing. This offensive slump has gone on too long, and as hitting coach, it’s time he does the job he has rather than worry about a job he may have next year.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 10:03 AM PDT reply actions
I’m sure he’ll have Ethier slapping singles in no time.
by Michael White on Aug 2, 2010 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions
better than striking out
maybe he should tell Dre to pretend the ball is a bat rack
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions
Sands
is his future at 1B or outfield? I only ask as two outfield spots are Kemp and Ethier’s going forward, and they also have Trayvon out there. If the Dodgers did want more power at 1B, could they decide they want Sands there?
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 10:15 AM PDT reply actions
he's played a bit of 1B before
is he just a butcher there?
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions
I think he breaks in next season as a LFer. I would think that Trayvon would have to put up some pretty good numbers and Loney would have to tank next season for a move to 1B to happen.
I like Loney at 1B
just want to make that clear.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions
The two major colleges that people in SoCal want to go to is USC, and UCLA. Don’t think its a reach.
I can be talked out of leaving out UCLA.
But the way people speak of the basketball program, how they deserve to be ranked better in Football, How they’re UCLA, etc. I think adds us.
So would you put in another school, or just leave UCLA out entirely?
From a sports perspective, UW is up there.
They still think they are the dominant program of the 90s. They haven’t realized they are the 3rd best program in the northwest (and 4th if you include Boise State.)
by Michael White on Aug 2, 2010 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions
Agree on the basketball part, but I would just leave UCLA off the list.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions
speaking academically
I could see Cal and Stanford up there…USC, too, though I tend to think of them as a bit weaker academically than the other three schools.
Leading the league in OMGs.
Brandon has an update on minor league hitting leaders through July
http://www.truebluela.com/2010/8/2/1600077/dodgers-minor-league-hitting
Pitching leaders to come later today as well.
Is Kyle Russell
basically a Mark Reynolds type? K’s waaaayyy too much, but murders the ball when he makes contact?
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions
Best part of the Top 5
over on SBN LA is that the first comment was by SPC7, still oblivious to the dash/strike
Complete with a Rule 5 violation!
Priceless.
by Michael White on Aug 2, 2010 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions
Can you post a link to SB nation LA please
I tried just going to sbnation.com but it’s not loading for some reason
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
You mean you don't have it bookmarked?
We were so close yesterday!
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions
Awesome feature from dallasnews.com on how the Super bowl rings have evolved.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/graphics/0211/superbowl/rings/
Any chance Weaver gets DFA instead of Sherrill (when Belisario returns)? Torre might have a LOOGY fetish.
Doubtful
I would think a DL trip is more likely
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions
that’d leave you with only Monk as the long and middle guy. everyone else in the pen would be a 1 IP guy with Bellisario as the only one you’d be willing to go 2 with.
I like Cetera.
For 3+ weeks
until rosters expand.
Plus, with this starting staff, that would be fine.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions
Love the confidence, but every once and a while a starter will get bombed in 2.2 innings.
by Michael White on Aug 2, 2010 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions
any chance
one of the AA guys gets a cup o’coffee?
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions
Like Miller or Withrow?
They haven’t pitched well enough to earn that.
by Michael White on Aug 2, 2010 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions
i was talking more
of Sands or Robinson. Though Eric answered me below on that I think.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions
Robinson is on the 40-man, so he’s definitely a candidate
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions
so we could see
the hitting tandem of Tray and Dre?
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 10:56 AM PDT up reply actions
I wouldn’t call it a hitting tandem.
/Bitter this morning
by Michael White on Aug 2, 2010 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions
I don’t think I’m always bitter really.
Just since the loss in San Diego last Thursday.
by Michael White on Aug 2, 2010 11:05 AM PDT up reply actions
I was able to shake off the Pods trade. I didn’t want him, but you get to the point where you accept it is going to happen and you are just pleased you didn’t give up too much value. After I had called the season over last Thursday, in my mind all trades involving the Dodgers as buyers would be incredibly stupid. And they were.
by Michael White on Aug 2, 2010 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions
None
except for Leach and maybe Guerra, the two guys on the 40-man
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions
Since the Dodgers have kept Monk around
I really hope he turns into a good player.
The Omar Moreno of this blog
by Humma Kavula on Aug 2, 2010 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions
Considering he’ll be in the starting rotation next year.
by Michael White on Aug 2, 2010 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions
ohh that’s depressing. good lord where are they going to get three starting pitchers?
The Omar Moreno of this blog
by Humma Kavula on Aug 2, 2010 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions
PVL = Padilla
on a two-year deal?
Can Padilla be an “average 3rd starter” in the second year of that deal?
The Omar Moreno of this blog
by Humma Kavula on Aug 2, 2010 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions
Seems hypocritical of you to call him evil when you’ve got that goatee.
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
and yet you
drink Dr. Pepper
Yin Yang man, Yin Yang.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions
i am a fan
of Lemon lime sodas. Sprite is my favorite though.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions
They should sign
Padilla
De La Rosa
One of Webb/TCY/Duchsherer/Harden/Bedard
i was just thinking
Webb would probably be a good buy low candidate.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions
They should really try to develop WAR for managers.
Just so we can show how much Torre costs us wins over this season. :)
Probably higher than this year.
Being serious, obviously it would be a flawed stat since how much can you really measure coming from the manager impacting the field?
But things the manager can control, such as lineup card, bullpen, when a pitcher issues an IBB, etc. can be added up using WPA or another stat to give us a approximate number.
It would be a joke stat more than anything, but it would still be useful in the sense that it’ll be the one stat the mainstream will embrace as fooder to hire or fire a guy.
I do think coaches and managers count
But it is hard to say how much and where their impact is on that team.
Hellickson
making his major league debut for the Rays tonight (vs Twins). I will be watching closely.
vr, Xei
Jon signed a long-term deal with MLB Network? Very gamer-like :)
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 11:15 AM PDT up reply actions
i know nothing of Ukraine
only that that joke is popular here.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions
I think it would be like if someone picked up GA and he went on a tear. Yeah he’s doing great now, but it was so bad that you just never wanna see the guy again.
by regfairfield on Aug 2, 2010 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions
Oh I know
but that is the great thing about the game, all it takes is a little success somewhere and you are back to being wanted by someone.
He looks like a sibling of Willy Wonka’s
by Julio Nievas on Aug 2, 2010 11:29 AM PDT up reply actions
Kensai had a link to that.
Fuck, I would love to come to work like that. Just play it up like I owned a chocolate factory.
Andre Ethier is dressed like Willy Wonka, therefore he is gay.
Well done, NBC.
by regfairfield on Aug 2, 2010 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions
my guess
he has the same suit his action figure does under that.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions
is that
an ascot?
The Omar Moreno of this blog
by Humma Kavula on Aug 2, 2010 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions
better link
http://www.vinscullyismyhomeboy.com/2010/08/dres-anatomy.html
less blog spam, more andre pictures
he must be getting sooooo much crap in the locker room.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions
Oh my God!
*Swoon : )
How would you define your approach to management, apart from being brilliant?
by Josie Becker on Aug 2, 2010 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions
That didn't last long
Wasn’t it just yesterday that you said you would refrain from swooning comments out of respect for Dresotherkid?
I like Cetera.
I said I was gonna scale back the
love of my life significant other comments. I’m not blind though : )
How would you define your approach to management, apart from being brilliant?
by Josie Becker on Aug 2, 2010 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions
haha that’s what my mom says when my dad sees her checking out other guys at restaurants. “I’m not dead, just married!”
I like Cetera.
sad thing is
my dad taught me that one, as he whistled at some hussy’s legs
How would you define your approach to management, apart from being brilliant?
by Josie Becker on Aug 2, 2010 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Normally
I tend to root for teams in my own division or league if my team is out of it. The Giants are exempt from this of course and, having lived in San Diego for 14 years, I have no desire to see them score a single run in the playoffs.
So, since there is no way I would root for the Giants or the Padres in the playoffs, I guess there’s just one thing left for the Dodgers to do.
Win the whole fucking thing.
I would root for Cincinnati. I’ve been calling it their year every season for the past 10.
by Michael White on Aug 2, 2010 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions
Tampa
is rootable.
The Omar Moreno of this blog
by Humma Kavula on Aug 2, 2010 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions
Been there, done that.
I’d rather root for Texas in the AL
by Michael White on Aug 2, 2010 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, those people have never won squat. I usually root for the White Sox in the AL but I’d feel so dirty rooting for Jones.
by Little Blue Bicycle on Aug 2, 2010 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions
A Texas / Tampa show down
would be tough for me to decide. The important thing is that one of those teams ends up representing the AL.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Deep down inside
I’m still a bit of an Angel’s fan, so it would have to be the Rays. God the Angel’s made a huge mistake letting Guerrerro walk in favor of Matsui.
Heh
honestly they seemed like the exact same player(bad knees and all) in the offseason, which is why going after Matsui instead of just bringing back Vlad made no sense to me.
As it stands now
the Braves and the Reds have to make it in the NL.
Don’t like the Phillies, Giants, Padres, or Cardinals. Man, I have a lot of sports hatred.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions
I hate all those teams too
and I dont like the rangers or braves because of all the Dallas and ESPECIALLY annoying braves fans at SMU…thank God I wasnt alive in the 70s to see the big red machine, because I think they’ll have to be my pick : /
William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.
living in Dallas, I cant
too many annoying bandwagoners
William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.
My brother asked me about the Rangers
He actually knew who Cliff Lee was. And that he came from Seattle. I was shocked.
Leading the league in OMGs.
do you have a Bohdi pic
to show how shocked you were?
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions
yes
you have to understand, my brother never played baseball beyond T-ball…and really has no interest (I thought, anyway) in the sport beyond sitting down once every two months with me to watch half an inning of baseball.
Leading the league in OMGs.
What
a douche (no offense, but come on).
He probably plays soccer or something, lol.
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
He does
we all did. I was the only kid who stuck out with all four sports (soccer, basketball, softball, swim team) through high school.
Also, not sure how that makes him a douche…he just didn’t take to baseball growing up because we spent a majority of our time on the soccer fields. I’m shocked but pleased because I think he’s using it as a way to connect with me.
By the way, you’re a douche for not liking soccer. :)
Leading the league in OMGs.
I’m just kidding of course :)
That’s cool that you’ve got a bond with him with soccer…but soccer is still soccer :P
I am a douche, though
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
No no
the bond is through baseball. He’s much more interested in soccer than I am.
Leading the league in OMGs.
Oh oh, i see, I read that a little too quickly
I swear I feel like I should be dead asleep right now, I don’t know why I am so tired :/
That’s even better actually, he isn’t really into baseball all that much but he tries to make conversation with you about the stuff he does know. Very cool.
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
How can you even compare a soccer player to great MLB atheletes such as
Bartolo Colon, David Wells, CC Sabathia, etc…
These men are kings among men in terms of athleticism.
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
You hate the Padres because you lived in San Diego?
Does not compute, please don’t tell me you hate the Padres because you hate the Padre fans?
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Some of my friends are Padres fans. No, I am not a fan of the franchise itself.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions
I root against the teams my friends like. I’m a hater like that.
Exhibit A: Portland Trailblazers
by Michael White on Aug 2, 2010 11:37 AM PDT up reply actions
to be fair
the Trailblazers eat babies.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions
This could be why you consider none of us your friends
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
If the Padres win
does a postscript get added to the end of the Moneyball film?
“In 2010, Paul DePodesta and the Padres won the World Series”
/fade to black with inspirational music
I'm trying to read that book right now
I’ve fallen asleep three times. It’s like being back in college!
Leading the league in OMGs.
Someone with photoshop
Should create a racy picture of Jamie McCourt, where one piece of clothing gets peeled off every time we win,
Who would watch that horror show
but really, she is the closest thing to that owner baseball has ever had.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Even as a horror show
I would still eagerly come to TBLA and look on the sidebar for that picture (if it existed) each time we won.
I can’t root for them either. I’m rooting for Texas and Tampa in the playoffs.
by Julio Nievas on Aug 2, 2010 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions
I'm actually kind of rooting for the Giants
Since Bonds left, there isn’t anything really worth hating about them And they have a few players I’d love to have on the Dodgers.
so there you go.
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man
I'm way past
hating them for hating sake.
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man
I root for the Dodgers
I was annoyed with the Angels more so from things off the field than the players.
After that, I just watch games but I can’t say I actually care one way or the other who wins.
by bhsportsguy on Aug 2, 2010 11:36 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I cannot watch any sporting event with out creating
something within me about who wins. Doesn’t matter what it is, I have to have something to root for.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
okay
If I am watching it, sure you get into the game and build a bias one way or the other. But I cannot sit here today and say if the Dodgers don’t make it, I am going to root for the Rangers to play the Braves in the World Series (Texas and Georgia playing baseball in the fall, it might get page 2 coverage in their local sports pages).
Really, even now you don't have favorites to win the different divisions?
I started out:
dodgers, reds, marlins, angels, twins, rays
Now
Padres, Reds, Braves, Rangers, Twins, Rays
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
If the Dodgers miss the playoffs, I’ll be rooting for Bobby Cox’s second ring. I’ll especially be rooting for a 1995 rematch where, with luck, Mark Wholers will throw out the ceremonial pitch.
I like Cetera.
I gotta say
I was thinking the Braves would be a legit contender in the East.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 11:51 AM PDT up reply actions
For laughs
Reds – Dusty taking a third team to the playoffs
Nationals – so they won’t make it this year
Rangers – For Vlad
White Sox – Ozzie is a trip
Blue Jays – for some international flair.
I don’t dislike the Rays, I just don’t find myself rooting for them except in the case of when they played the Phillies. I actually don’t care if the Yankees win, I really don’t.
In a WS where I don’t really care about who’s in it, I usually wait until something happens – first hit, HR, questionable play, etc. then I check my gut reaction, and go from there. First Texas HR against Cincinnati, I might get really happy, and root for them. Or unhappy, and root for the Reds. I never really know until it starts, and sometimes it surprises me who I end up pulling for. I won’t be that torn up either way, but that’s how I roll.
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Aug 2, 2010 11:48 AM PDT up reply actions
a definite must. to me, all sports are boring without a rooting interest. Basketball is a boring game of 10 grown men bouncing a synthetic sphere filled with air and throwing it up into a circular iron ring. But, when the Lakers are playing those bastards in Boston, it’s a must-win Battle Royale for Global Supremacy.
I like Cetera.
I cant stand betting on sports sorry guys, at least when money is on the line
in my fraternity, half of the guys were doing the sportsbook online thing, and it really ruined march madness for me. For instance, half of the guys were pulling their hair out during the KU Northern Iowa game, and had their days ruined because KU lost. Thats disgusting to me, if someone cant appreciate the beauty in an upset like that in college sports just because it got in the way of a few bucks, then they really have got it all wrong
William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.
Ha
are these guys heavy hitters, or simply getting whack over a few dollars?I’ll take one for the team if it means the heavy favorite is going down unless UCLA or Gonzaga are involved.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
haha not heavy hitters, pretty much playing for extra beer money
which isnt a terrible thing, but shouldnt blind you from enjoying a memorable upset, its unamerican to root against the underdog
William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.
More from that Andre article
You’re in a homestand right now. Is there any particular routine you follow on a game day?
I try to be up by 10, and that’s kind of an early wakeup call. Most guys on our team aren’t up until 11, 12, so that only gives them an hour of free time before they have to get to the field. I guess that’s an unfortunate part about playing here in L.A. You usually have to give yourself 30 minutes to an hour for commute time. I try to get lunch in by 12:30, and by 1:30 I’m heading over to the ball field. Then before every game—ever since I was in the minors—I eat a peanut butter and honey sandwich on wheat bread and two spoonfuls of tuna.
Together in the same sandwich?
No, no. I don’t put the tuna on the bread. I put it on the side. I try to balance the protein and the carbs and everything. Tuna is one of the few meat proteins that’s still lean, and it leaves me with a satisfied feeling, not one where I eat something and I’m not going to feel right during the game. I’m not going to lie to you. Some of the food in the clubhouse that the guys like isn’t great. I mean, you’re talking curly fries, pizza, hot dogs—all kinds of crazy things that they put out there. Tuna and peanut butter and honey is probably one of the more health-conscious choices you can make in there.
that
reminds me of Angels in the Outfield.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions
So thats why fielder was bum rushing the clubhouse
by nolander on Aug 2, 2010 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions 5 recs
10 a.m. is an early wake up call?! Nice work if you can get it. Man, their schedules must be so messed up.
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Aug 2, 2010 11:51 AM PDT up reply actions
Makes sense
When do they get out of the ballpark? Games end around 10ish then they have to talk to media etc, and get home and to sleep.
I’m more shocked that he shows up to the game four and a half hours early.
by regfairfield on Aug 2, 2010 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions
Waking up at 11 or 12 in the morning? Sounds like me back in college. I suppose they get back home fairly late after games, but I still can’t imagine them getting home late enough where they need to wake up at noon. 8 hours of sleep would put them to bed at 4AM-ish.
They usually don’t even leave the ballpark until at least 10:30 or so, if not 11 or later, and that’s on a normal night. Then they will likely go get something to eat. And it’s probably difficult to fall asleep so closely removed from physical acitivity. So 2-3 am seems a normal sleep time for them.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions
I could see them getting more then 8 hours of sleep
and are they going to want to go straight to sleep?
I guess this is what struck me, too, but, reading the rest of the comments, I guess it makes sense. I just never thought about the logistics of it. Must be nice to live in KC or something, and be home every night in 15 minutes. Here, some fucker drops a mattress on the 110, next thing you know, the whole team’s in a slump.
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Aug 2, 2010 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
whoops i just looked down and saw you posted the same thing I wrote above haha
William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.
So I wasn’t paying a ton of attention to the trade deadline and I just found out the Padres got Ryan Ludwick for nothing. That makes getting stuck with Ryan Theriot an even bigger kick in the dick.
Choosing the right euphemism for penis is the most important part of a good post.
by regfairfield on Aug 2, 2010 11:48 AM PDT up reply actions
There was an SNL sketch
going back several years that use every euphemism you could say on broadcast TV for penis for about 4 minutes.
Heard this
So I wasn’t paying a ton of attention to the trade deadline and I just found out the Padres got Ryan Ludwick for nothing. That makes getting stuck with Ryan Theriot an even bigger kick in the dick
Hey, we got Pods, you guys act like Ned was out foxed or something.
You know the guy with the high OBP many were all a flutter about.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Trade deadline summary: Getting Scott Podsednik was our best move.
by regfairfield on Aug 2, 2010 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions
that line
makes me want prozac. or beer.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions
Since the All-Star break
The Dodgers have had 12 players amass 10 or more PA.
10 of them have an OPS of .653 or lower (Kemp is .653).
Furcal is at .792, and DeWitt was .686
nonono
that’s THE riot.
The Omar Moreno of this blog
by Humma Kavula on Aug 2, 2010 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions
Next year Kemp needs to do what Corey Hart did this year
Hart was a big bag of suck in 2009. And in 2008. By this spring many had thought his 2007 was a fluke.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Really, if we just made the same trades, but without Theriot then I would be okay with.
Ryan Theriot is just hateable.
I don't understand the hate on this guy.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
a 660 ops
will not make you many fans. Especially when the guy leaving was younger cheaper and had a good beard.
Theriot is essentially Blake DeWitt, only older and less likely to improve. Oh yeah, and he makes more money, which on a budget, for 2011 and 2012 is not good.
Even if they non-tender him this offseason (I think they will offer him arb), I still don’t like the trade because DeWitt would have been league minimum next year, which for a league average player is perfect for the construction of next year’s team.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions
i find it highly unlikely, but if they non-tender Theriot, does it mean they’re going to give DeJesus a shot?
I like Cetera.
Doubt it
I think they would just sign someone else rather than play DeJesus.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions
no way
trade for Uggla, Marlins will get cold feet
or
Trade Manny to the Rays for Sean-Rod
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Here's the rub
They’d need to then sign someone for less than Theriot was going to make for it to make sense. If they end up using Dejesus or some other arbitrary league minimum player, they will be compared to whatever DeWitt does for the entirety of next year.
So, they either need to keep Theriot for at least a year to justify losing DeWitt (since there’s no chance we get picks from Lilly) or they need to sign someone who is cheaper than Theriot is to justify the non-tender of Theriot. Crazy perception cycles.
I like Cetera.
which is why I think Theriot will be the 2B next season (and likely will move to SS when Furcal gets hurt).
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Or
they could acquire someone who makes more than Theriot but doesn’t SUCK.
True, but then how do you justify giving up DeWitt for two months of Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot.
I think you’re right, Eric. We will have Carroll for another year so they may leave Theriot at 2B for consistency, but that’s all semantics.
I like Cetera.
I couldn't justify it, but ask Ned
obviously he wanted Lilly. The Cubs wanted DeWitt. So Ned said ok, we need a 2B so we also want Theriot, and the Cubs said, “Gladly.”
Sure he's not a good player right now
but he’s not Juan Castro, he does have a recent history of having some offensive success. At only 30 to say he will never revisit what he did at age 28 seems interesting. He’s not expensive, he can be a very effective utility player in 2011 if we get a different 2nd baseman. He can actually play SS.
I mean if Will Jamey Carroll is loved, why is Theriot hated? If you follow the numbers Will Carroll is having the same year, only his numbers are propped up by luck.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Right
but I don’t want Carroll, or Theriot starting every day.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions
same here
I read somewhere that Colletti said he could have gotten Lilly without giving up Dewitt.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions
It was likely something like Lilly for [prospects more highly ranked than Wallach & Smit] instead of DeWitt, but Colletti didn’t want to part with them, then probably added the “OK, if you take DeWitt we need Theriot to fill his spot.”
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions
See, I don’t have negative feelings about the Dotel trade. McDonald had clearly lost the confidence of the GM and coaching staff and Lambo has a “problem” that seems like it might be hard for him to kick.
The Dotel trade was pointless
and we moved two chips we might have been able to use next year for something better then a guy who throws nine innings a month.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Yeah, gotta agree. Of course, I thought Sherrill was kind of pointless last year, too, so, what do I know?
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Aug 2, 2010 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions
More then Ned
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Aug 2, 2010 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
But its cool cause he makes 10 times what JMac would make next year. All while providing at best .5 more wins than JMac if they were both used out of the bullpen. And we just gave them Lambo for shits and giggles.
by UCLADodger32 on Aug 2, 2010 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions
I agree that it is not a great trade, but I also don’t believe that McDonald or Lambo would’ve done anything for us next season. I think management had soured on McDonald and he was not going to get another opportunity to start, similarly they probably viewed Lambo as a pothead and figured he was unlikely to stop any time soon. It doesn’t justify trading to decent prospects for a reliever, since I hate trading for relievers, however I can’t say that McDonald and Lambo are going to be missed.
We shall see, the Pirates will give him
15 – 20 starts and see how he does. I’m willing to bet you won’t believe what you just typed next August.
however I can’t say that McDonald and Lambo are going to be missed
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Yeah, the Pirates will give him those starts, but he was never going to get them with us. We essentially traded our middle reliever (that is what he was to us) and an OF prospect with an affinity for weed for a pretty good reliever. Again, I hate trading for relievers but those two players were unlikely to increase their value with us.
Oh, and I have yet to see one of our prospects that we traded to Pitt do anything of note.
I keep hearing that JMac is going to blow my mind
I’m still waiting for this to happen consistently
Leading the league in OMGs.
Then your expecations were to high
we (I) simply viewed him as somone who could be a strong middle relief pitcher and maybe if everything broke right handle the back end of the rotation. If you read TBLA I don’t think your expectations should have been higher then that.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Well, you know I read TBLA
cos here I am. But I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that the expectations of several people here that JMac should have been a fixture in the starting rotation, that he deserved to be there, if only he had the chance to do it!
Leading the league in OMGs.
Yeah, when the guy broke into prospectdom in 2007 he had a mid of the rotation starter ceiling.
Problem is that he’s never really progressed. I know the guy can at least succeed as a middle reliever but I’m sick of watching him groove fastballs then look like his grandma just died.
Okay
but “blow my mind” is something I akin to Kershaw not to a mid rotation starter which would have been the height of his ceiling.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Mcdonald in the bullpen is fine. Even if he will ever be a league average starter, he is fine out of the pen. Sure, dotel is better, but the amount of difference between the two would be minimal, and we paid millions of dollars plus Lambo (he still has some talent) for that difference. It just doesnt make sense on any level.
by UCLADodger32 on Aug 2, 2010 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions
It would only make sense to me
if we did not already have a bullpen of Broxton, Kuo, Jansen, and Belisario. Seemed to me Jansen already filled the need that Dotel will provide.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I’m just completely against trading any type of asset for relievers in any situation. Unless they are the best of the best, you just dont get a ton of value from relievers, especially the middle guys, and their work can usually be replaced from inside the organization. Add to that how flukey they are from year to year, and it is just an awful maneuver.
by UCLADodger32 on Aug 2, 2010 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions
This, I agree with. However, what kind of production did you reasonably expect from McDonald and Lambo next season? Torre was very close to giving J-Mac the Stults treatment and I think there are some in the org that believe that Lambo probably has another suspension in the not-too-distant future. The big mistake, IMO, was not making the trade Maholm/Dotel for a package of prospects and just scrapping the Lilly/Theriot trade all together.
Lambo, who knows, but he was a decent prospect as recent as a year or two ago. If you keep him, you arent guaranteed anything, but then again, you never know when the light will turn on. As for JMac, I would expect him to be an average to above average middle reliever, which is exactly what Dotel is. Dotel is a .5-.7 win a year type player now, and i dont see why James cannot come close to that or duplicate that out of the pen. He had a 2.5-1 K-BB rate out of the pen, k/9 of around 9, ERA under 3 last year as a reliever, and if they just use him in that role and stop trying to make him a starter, I think he could be pretty darn good.
by UCLADodger32 on Aug 2, 2010 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions
I agree McDonald could be a good reliever and maybe even decent starter. However, SSS noted, he completely wet himself this season when given an opportunity. He wasn’t getting anymore.
He really just had 1 bad outing. I dont disagree that he probably wasnt in the future plans of the dodgers, but thats another fundamental difference i have with how the organization is run. He was pretty damn good out of the pen last year, and there is no reason why he couldnt duplicate that success next year. Even with this crappy year for him, he still has stuff that translates well to the pen.
It was after that 1 bad outing that whenever Torre looked at McDonald, he saw Eric Stults. It was over for him at that point.
How can you say that?
Torre pulled Padilla in a close game on the road against the first place team. That game was huge and the score was tied and McDonald was given two innings of work.
How was that burying him and how do you think that translates into Torre having no faith in him?
by Michael White on Aug 2, 2010 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions
Even if the Dodgers were done with him
You don’t trade him for a reliever when we’re 7 games back. Trade him as part of a package for a more important piece or don’t do deal. Even if you have to wait until the off-season.
Kensai agrees with me! Or I agree with him
Complain, complain, complain.
That’s all fans hear from the coaching staff of the Dodgers.
The players don’t do this. The players don’t do that. The players don’t think. The players don’t hustle. The players don’t play the game the right way. The players don’t focus. Blah, blah, blah.
Most fans lap it up, and it’s not all that surprising when you consider that watching this team play right now is borderline humiliating.
When you think about it though, whose job is it to prepare the players, and whose job is it to get the most out of players? There’s a reason these guys collectively get paid well into the seven figures, right?
But players get paid collectively
into 8 or 9 figures.
Coaches coach, players play. Only one has actual control of what happens on the field.
I think there is a middle ground here.
But I tend to go with the coaches have gone over this now for the last 3 years with some of these guys and they do make some of the same mistakes over and over again.
I think there's a tuning out factor here, especailly with Larry Bowa.
You can’t just scream and bitch and moan and expect something different. In the end, just how good of a coach and teacher is Larry Bowa? If you job is to coach and the results aren’t working, why should a team stick with you?
Also, if you read the Times Article, there was a “Blame the best player on a bad team” vibe going on. It wasn’t a coincidence that the main targets were Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp.
But Phil and others here
have said the same things, this team doesn’t win if those two don’t play well.
So it kind of goes hand in hand with getting the blame.
but like I said further down the thread, I don't think its a maturity issue.
They’re just not playing as well as they did in 2009. It happens.
Players did not grow up
I get why Kensai and others continue to support the players in this argument but damn it, those guys are fucking earning big money now and frankly need to be playing better or move aside.
That's such an odd arguement since its not as if the players slumps can be attributed to
immaturity issues. They’re in slumps because they’re in slumps, and the front office won’t get rid of other players who has stunk it up such as Sherrill and GA.
They just got rid of Blake DeWitt who was productive. If the team really wanted to blame the young ‘stars’, they’re sending mix messages.
I think Kemp’s behavior on the basepaths can be attributed to immaturity issues. He reminds me of Jamie Foxx’s character (before he figures shit out) in Any Given Sunday.
Kemp is one of the best little things on the basepaths guys in baseball this year.
by regfairfield on Aug 2, 2010 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions
True, but Larry Bowa is supposed to bring fire to the team which is why you put up with a guy that would be completely unemployable in any other profession.
If the one thing Bowa brings is fire, and we don’t have it, who’s fault is it?
by regfairfield on Aug 2, 2010 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions
The Front Office
If Bowa is doing his best to fire up the team, and they are not receptive, there needs to be a change. Otherwise you have to blame Bowa for not being fired up enough (not likely) or the players for being lackadaisical.
how much firing up can you do from the third base coaching box? It would seem our Rah-rah fire-em-up guy is Bob Shaeffer.
I like Cetera.
I think he kind of tried that in SF the other day …
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Aug 2, 2010 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Also I think Kensai was really
not complaining about Bowa ragging on the players so much as pointing out that the Organization keeps hammering about giving maximum effort, but the organization doesn’t give maximum effort in dealing with the roster. The evidence he cites is the seemingly constant need to have marginal veterans on the team.
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man
I agree
I’m wondering if the only advice they’re giving is, “give 110%” because that’s not fucking helpful.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't normally watch the show
But I enjoyed the Sasha Grey “storyline” on Entourage. BTW, if you don’t know who she is, don’t google her.
I will be watching tonight
I still want to see The Girlfriend Experience, but have not gotten around to it.
have we made fun of this yet?
The Rally Monkey doesn’t have the bounce to beat it. The Don’t-Stop-Believin’ Guy doesn’t know the words to fix it.
-Bill Plaschke
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-0801-plaschke-20100801,0,346982.column
How would you define your approach to management, apart from being brilliant?
I read that too, but Plashke’s words these days just kind of get a sigh and a click on the beautiful [X] from me these days.
I like Cetera.
I just wish
he’d read his words to himself before he published something. That’s just sad.
How would you define your approach to management, apart from being brilliant?
by Josie Becker on Aug 2, 2010 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Jokes on us, we have a Don’t Stop Believin’ Guy.
by regfairfield on Aug 2, 2010 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions
but he doesn’t know the words to fix it
How would you define your approach to management, apart from being brilliant?
by Josie Becker on Aug 2, 2010 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions
I believe Bill Plaschke to be a robot, serving his now dead master with uttering inane pig latin phrases.
by Tripon on Aug 2, 2010 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I have seen the cyborg in person! Reading Deadspin
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions
If Eric wrote that you'd think he was clever.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
you have
a poor opinion of what I think is clever. That’s pseudo poetry.
The Angels lost because they loved each other too much. The Dodgers lost because their owners disliked each other too much
I mean, come on
How would you define your approach to management, apart from being brilliant?
by Josie Becker on Aug 2, 2010 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions
That is nice
maybe you should skip the soccer gig and write about the Dodgers.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I can't tell
are you defending(?) Bill Plaschke?
How would you define your approach to management, apart from being brilliant?
by Josie Becker on Aug 2, 2010 12:39 PM PDT up reply actions
She didn’t write that, the bit about loving each other too much. Plaschke did.
Leading the league in OMGs.
i still don't get
how that helps them lose. They’re losing because a few guys got hurt, and more underperformed.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Well you know
if it can’t be grossly oversimplified, it’s not worth writing about…?
Leading the league in OMGs.
Bill Plaschke
Fuck journalism, I got chicken wings to eat.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Hello, my name is Don Draper
Phsyke! It’s Andre Ethier!
How would you define your approach to management, apart from being brilliant?
Does that mean his daughter is Satan too?
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Draper's daughter isn't Satan!
Her mom is though
How would you define your approach to management, apart from being brilliant?
by Josie Becker on Aug 2, 2010 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Both are Ted Moseby x20 in terms of unlikability.
But I think if you looked into Sally Draper’s eyes, you would be dead.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions
oh come on
last season, when she still had her lisp, she was adorable!
How would you define your approach to management, apart from being brilliant?
by Josie Becker on Aug 2, 2010 12:40 PM PDT up reply actions
I’m guessing in the ensuing year she ate several babies to give her more strength, and lost the lisp as a result.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 2, 2010 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Okay you
without [spoiler] being all creepy on the phone, I don’t think you can really call her satan
How would you define your approach to management, apart from being brilliant?
by Josie Becker on Aug 2, 2010 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions
He looks
nothing like Simon in that photo
How would you define your approach to management, apart from being brilliant?
by Josie Becker on Aug 2, 2010 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh geez
This isn’t Whedonesque : p
How would you define your approach to management, apart from being brilliant?
My favorite Firefly quote re: this topic
is “Going on a year now ain’t been nothing twixt my nethers weren’t run on batteries.”
But I’m afraid people might take that out of context
How would you define your approach to management, apart from being brilliant?
an homage to Willy Wonka, a Shirt that had more buttons undone than a guido's from South Beach, and now the metro houndstooth jacket
I’ll admit though, this look isnt nearly as bad as the other two that have been posted today, but I think Andre needs to fire his stylist
William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.
Ryan Theriot, A Cub Again?
If only this was true
http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2010/8/2/1600862/ryan-theriot-a-cub-again
A bonus in that post is the comment with the picture of a 2010 Chicago Cubs Ryan Theriot Fishing Bobblehead
Best part of that is the second and third comments
Comment 2 – “DeWitt better than Theriot?”
Comment 3 – “Obvi duh”
I enjoyed this one:
“Must have been TOOTBLAN
right before that was taken. He’s still standing at 2nd or 3rd with the other team running into the dugout."
(even if I don’t know what a TOOTBLAN is)
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Aug 2, 2010 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Acronym for Thrown Out On The Basepaths Like A Nincompoop. Baseball statistic invented for Ryan Theriot of the Chicago Cubs
by regfairfield on Aug 2, 2010 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh, my, sorry I asked:
From the Urban Dictionary:
“Acronym for Thrown Out On The Basepaths Like A Nincompoop. Baseball statistic invented for Ryan Theriot of the Chicago Cubs, for his penchant for ill-advised steal attempts and general lack of skill running bases.”
blink
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Aug 2, 2010 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions
[Jim Tracy]
Will Humma be employing the use of the word TOOTBLAN? You bet.
[/Jim Tracy]
The Omar Moreno of this blog
by Humma Kavula on Aug 2, 2010 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions
How long will it take
Theriot to get on base so that you can actually use it?
I am more mad about yesterday
because I missed this fact…
On August 1, 1890, my personal favorite Oyster Burns became the first Dodger ever to hit for the cycle, in a 20-1 win over the Pirates.
The end result
of the Death Match will be a Dodgers Death March
Dodgers regroup and take San Diego Down …
All the way … Downtown …
by 68elcamino427 on Aug 2, 2010 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Ahahahahahaha
3. Bill Plaschke. Do you enjoy the smug self-righteousness of old white guys? Do you like your prose delivered in cutesy and tortured one-sentence paragraphs? Do admire the mile-wide, inch-deep analysis of the 800-word sports-column generalist? The Times sure thinks you do. The paper has apparently granted Plaschke, now in his 18th (!) year of Page C1 hackery, the type of job security unknown to anyone not employed as a U.S. Supreme Court justice. Until the day comes when the Times exhales its dying breath in a Chapter 7 proceeding, Plaschke and his enraging smirk will be on your doorstep every few days, just waiting to scold you for not caring enough about steroids. His column yesterday was representative of the fine work routinely produced by this top-notch wordsmith: “I’m not saying the Dodgers and Angels are done. I’m just saying they’re, well, done.” Thanks, Bill. Glad you’re here.
GO READ IT HERE
Leading the league in OMGs.
Heh. I blame it on Jim Murray. Everybody at the LAT, it seems, is trying to be witty and full of one-liners like he was. But, he was a different generation, a different breed. I can’t stand it when Plaschke tries.
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Aug 2, 2010 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Jim Murray
didn’t really do “one-liners”. He was definitely humorous and could turn a phrase like very few sportswriters, but they weren’t hacky jokes…
That's nice for this, too
Frank McCourt. During his tenure as owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, McCourt has reenacted in miniature all the recent sins of the U.S. financial industry. In 2004, in the early stages of the credit boom, he purchased the Dodgers from NewsCorp in a massively leveraged transaction. To help service his debt burden, he proceeded to raise ticket and concession prices annually, all the while ramping up a cartoonishly lavish lifestyle that includes four houses within 10 miles with each other.
Not impressed
picking on DTS using old arguments that don’t apply anymore, and someone who has yet to coach one game. I’d add that Jamie is more disliked then Frank as it seems this was more her lifestyle game then his. Frank is not the one who put together a program to become President. Visions of granduer seem to apply to the dame, not the man.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I hear ya.
I actually always liked seeing him at ballgames, at least he took something of an interest in the team, from what I could tell. Jut thought it was kind of funny.
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Aug 2, 2010 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Ya know I don't think Frank staying on as owner would be the worst think in the world
if he get get enough capital to run the team. Jaime would be my worst nightmares come true.
the only way payroll increases is if Frank reaches out to investors
save the complication and sell the team
William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.
DeWitt
I gotta believe
1/ If we said no way on DeWitt for Lilly, we’d have to add a better prospect to the deal. They get younger, cost controlled longer DeWitt and make Theriot expendable.
2/ Is Ted Lilly one of the 10-20 best LHP SPs today?
3/ With Carroll, Belliard, Theriot, DeJesus, Dee Gordon manning the middle infield with Raffy, why do we care so much about losing DeWitt. He has no speed, limited power and seems to be highly replacable. Are we just offended by some Moneyball-like payroll discipline cost.?Yeah we pay more for an older Theriot. We won’t miss Wallach or Smits. Or DeWitt.
Good luck in Chicago. Old friend indeed but no tears here.
Not sure if you noticed, but there is a ceiling on payroll and, considering the team will likely acquire three pitchers this offseason and are already approaching $90 million, every little bit of savings helps.
I’m sure I would feel differently if getting Ted Lilly would have made an actual difference in getting to the playoffs. But he didn’t.
Eric, this is what has turned me off by the venting here lately.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m rarely right and not thrilled with Ned. I loathe McCourt and wish he’d sell.
1/The difference between Theriot and Dewitt the next year or two is maybe $1.5 mil? Negligible.
2/Payroll “ceiling”? We don’t know that and we don’t know next year’s “ceiling”. heck, we don’t know who the owner will be next year. Strikes me a speculation. Could be true, but what do we really know.
3/ “I’m sure I would feel differently if getting Ted Lilly would have made an actual difference in getting to the playoffs. But he didn’t.” We have 57 games left. And we’ve quit on 2010 before its even been played out.
Theriot is making $2.6 million this year, and is eligible for arbitration the next two seasons. I think he makes $8m minimum over the next two years, and more likely closer to $9 or $10 million.
DeWitt will make ~$425,0000 next year, and be arb eligible in 2011, probably at or around Theriot’s $2.6m from this year. So the difference between the two, over two years, is at least $5 million, if not $6 or $7m.
What more evidence do you need that we are operating on a budget? Even if the divorce trial goes quickly like clockwork, the odds are overwhelmingly stacked that there will be no ownership change before next season.
No way Terry-O makes that much
Not because he won’t be awarded the $, but because surely he would be non-tendered before getting paid more than $3mm.
I know you are probably right
but it sickens me.
can’t disagree with this.A $3mil difference for a punch and judy 2b in 2011 will hurt most everybody’s payroll.
Theriot can’t be non-tendered for PR reasons. We will lose Lilly too. I don’t see that. So there’s your bridge to the Dejesus’ of the world.
To me, money aside, Blake DeWitt has power potential in the baseballcube way…he’s young and could develop power still…at 2b, thats a big asset.
I mean, I was angry when the trade went down. I have since cooled off a bit, but I guess I am just more disappointed more than anything.
We aren’t talking about huge differences one way or another, but I believe we are working on the margins.
It just occurred to me that Dodgers fans might be more acutely aware and sensitive to payroll concerns than say, national pundits. So while some people can go “Theriot and DeWitt are comparable”, many Dodgers fans are looking to the future and wringing their hands.
If that makes sense. This is my one day off and I’m a bit groggy. Tomorrow I start hitting grad school stuff in a very serious way. :(
Leading the league in OMGs.
Yeah, like that’s not gonna make you groggy? I spent a good 6 years in a stupor.
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Aug 2, 2010 1:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Haha
it’ll be a nice change from what I’ve been doing. Or so I like to tell myself. :)
Leading the league in OMGs.
Oh, definitely (and i don’t even really know what you’ve been doing … modeling, maybe?!) But, yeah, grad school may have been the best few years of my life.
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Aug 2, 2010 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Right
A team with an $88 million committed against a payroll that will be right around $100 million and still needs three SP and maybe a LF can’t do that.
The Omar Moreno of this blog
According to Kevin Goldstein
in an Insider article, Chris Withrow (along with Tim Beckham, Aaron Hicks, Jordan Walden and others) are on his 10 most disappointing prospects list.
Certainly he's number one
of my Dodger list. I thought he was going to do a Billingsley route to the majors, not a a Joel Hanrahan.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Thats fine
Not every 21 year old fireballer can burst right through the minors, and be dominating in the MLB by age 22. He’s young. He’ll either figure out his command or he won’t, but I’m not so worried about this season that I would give up on him having success.
It seems that these days, prospects start to get discounted if they aren’t dominating by age 22, when in fact that is a rarity. A lot of the “aces” like Halladay and Cliff Lee that the media love so much didn’t figure things out until their late 20’s.
Jon Heyman thinks Carlos Beltran may be put on waivers and would clear. We wouldn’t put in a claim because we can’t pay his contract, but a) would he be worth pursuing for the next couple of years and b) should we decide to put feelers out there on him what would it take?
It’s a slow work day.
I like Cetera.
That's true
you just don’t ask superstars to do that. Fortunately, neither of them are superstars and should do what they are told until they learn how to take a slider off the plate.
Ethier 7, Beltran 8, Kemp 9 would look like a smexy outfield.
I like Cetera.
i feel
i’m missing something with that comment.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Not sure, but he hasn’t hit at all. Its possible the combo of the injury and father time are catching up with him. The jury will be out until next season.
In half a season last year he had 3.1WAR and a wOBA of .398. That’s good, right? I know nothing of wOBA. I know what it’s supposed to do, but I don’t know what a good one is.
He did, however, have a UZR of -6.0, though 81 games is far from a good enough sample size.
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=589&position=OF#fielding
I like Cetera.
You write in the lineup card
Furcal – SS
Terry-O – 2B
Ethier- LF
Beltran – CF
Loney – 1B
Kemp – RF
Blake – 3B
Martin – C
Heh, or the same way that Joe got his attention recently. Or, maybe just do a Raffy on him, talk to him, and let that whole “maturity/clubhouse leadership” thing sink in.
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Aug 2, 2010 1:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Put Manny on Waivers and take a B prospect for him
Grab Beltran if we can and trade whoever for him minus the MLB players, Jansen and Sands.
I like this result.
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
I feel like Beltran is one of the few players who you don’t save prospects for. Especially if the Mets are playing any of his salary.
If they truly do end up putting him on waivers, I’d claim him and give the Mets a test with 3 short answer questions and a multiple choice.
Which of our minor leaguers do you want?
___________________
___________________
___________________
Which of these prospects would you also like:
a)
b)
c)
I like Cetera.
Would anybody take on Manny’s contract.
What I heard of the White Sox offer was, they would pay $1 million toward the rest of Manny’s salary this year, and the Dodgers had to pay the rest?
(But maybe the most important thing about Manny’s status is the fact that when Ned was asked about the offers, he said they came too late to get anything done. Not that Manny was off the table.)
People don't think it be like this, but it do.
she's making chicken wings
I think…I currently have it muted, I’m trying to make sense of the new Linkin Park single.
Leading the league in OMGs.
I'm not happy that Eric called the season already
now I have to defend the “we can still win this mentality”.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I have gathered up seven of them, they wait for their photo opp.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I am all for
brooming the crap out of the Padres.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions
i'm hoping
they make you eat it in 2011. Though this year works too.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 2, 2010 2:16 PM PDT up reply actions
For the record
the Padres should show all of us who are hand wringing about 2011 that anything can happen. We may not have a LF, 2nd baseman, 3rd baseman, catcher, or 3 starting pitchers who are worth a shit as we head into winter but the Padres started the year with a lineup of:
Agon, Eckstein, Cabrera, Headley, Venable, Gywnn, and Blanks along with a rotation of Corria, LeBlanc, Richard, Latos, and company, and are kicking NL ass.
Even the skeleton remains of
Loney, Carroll, Furcal, Blake, Martin, Andre, Kemp, Paul/Pod/Johnson should be able to get wash that Padre pixie dust off next year now that the curse of the three year divisional title is no longer in play.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I'd be much less worried about 2011
if there wasn’t so much incompetence being displayed at the top.
Damn
Cardinals signed Nate Robertson. My dream of seeing if someone could be worse at baseball than GA is dashed.
I like Cetera.
Sorry, but I was getting used to playoff baseball. I will miss it if we don’t sweep someone in the NLDS this year.
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Aug 2, 2010 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Maybe i should specify: " I was getting used to going to see playoff baseball.
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Aug 2, 2010 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions
I haven't read this yet, but I already love it
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/garret-andersons-gotta-go/
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
2000: Todd Dunwoody (Royals), 29 OPS+ in 195 PA
2001: Donnie Sadler (Red/Royals), 18 OPS+ in 211 PA
2001: Brandon Inge (Tigers), 24 OPS+ in 202 PA
2002: Jorge Fabregas (Angels/Brewers), 27 OPS+ in 169 PA
2003: Ryan Christenson (Rangers), 30 OPS+ in 186 PA
2004: Doug Glanville (Phillies), 30 OPS+ in 175 PA
2006: Paul Bako (Royals), 28 OPS+ in 167 PA
2006: Tomas Perez (Devil Rays), 32 OPS+ 254 PA
2008: Tony Pena Jr. (Royals), 7 OPS+ in 235 PA
2009: Aaron Miles (Cubs), 20 OPS+ in 170 PA
2010: Brandon Wood (Angels), 10 OPS+ in 184 PA
2010: Garret Anderson (Dodgers), 32 OPS+ in 160 PA
Brandon Wood has "bested" Anderson. He’s got the 13th-worst OPS+ among players with 160+ PA since Theodore Roosevelt took over as U.S. president following William McKinley’s assassination. Anderson places in a tie for 141st. So, he’s got that going for him.
I can't believe GA is having a worse season than Andruw
Pretty remarkable really.
I’m glad it’s almost fantasy football season. This will be my 4th year as Commish.
Everyone here can call me that if you want. :)
Nope
but from here out I’m calling you Gov.
How would you define your approach to management, apart from being brilliant?
I hope we can at least knock the other teams in our division out of the wild card
I’ll root for that for now.
in years where there is nothing to play for
at least we always have a chance to fuck over the Giants.
Yesterday
I went to a bar to meet a couple friends. My buddy who is from NY and is a Yankees fan had recently gone to SF for work and went to a Giants game with some people from his company.
When I walked into the bar, this friend was sitting at the bar wearing a brand new Giants hat. I immediately grabbed the hat of his head, threw it on the ground and stomped on it.
He wasn’t even mad. I guess he understood.
same
for whatever reason, he couldn’t translate his skill into success consistently in LA. I hope he can do it elsewhere.
Yup, ditto.
Maybe he just needed to get away from the hometown crowd, ya know?
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Aug 2, 2010 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions
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