Bowa Speaks. Kemp's Rare Feat. Podsednik A Curse?
by David Young on Aug 3, 2010 11:30 AM PDT
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PrintI have no interest in what T.J. Simers, occasional observer of the Dodgers, has to say about the team, but suffice it to say that like a vulture circling the desert, he's right there to write a column while the Dodgers are in the midst of a gut-wrenching losing streak. Not surprisingly, Simers headed right to Larry Bowa, and I am interested in what he has to say.*** However, it turns out that it isn't really anything that he hasn't said before.
"The majority of our guys are tremendous people, but there's a few, definitely a minority, but I would say the coaches want to win more than they do," Bowa said. "We've got some people giving away at-bats..."
"I wish I had Matt Kemp's tools because I would be in Cooperstown," Bowa said. "He has so much athleticism. I don't know if he knows what it's like to go full bore for nine innings. He's so talented, I don't think his mind lets him ask, 'Is there more here?'
"I have one question I'd like to ask him, 'Are you dead tired when the game is over?' My dad told me early on I should be exhausted after every game if I've done my batting practice, taken ground balls, backed up every play and gone all out. I wonder if he's ever felt like that?"
Simers later approached Kemp with Bowa's comments and to the young centerfielder's credit, he took it like a man.
"There's more there," Kemp said. "I agree. It's something I need to sit here and think about and then change."
Why doesn't Kemp go all out? Why doesn't he break from the batter's box with all he has?
"That's a good question," Kemp said.
Ordinarily Kemp is quick to brush aside any talk about potential not realized. But this time he sat there, listened to everything Bowa had to say, and there was no argument.
"I need to help this team out and I'm not doing it," he said. "I've wasted a lot of at-bats this year. Pitchers have gotten me 70% of the time, but it's not them getting me out, it's me."
So why doesn't he lay off that outside pitch as he did in April, when he might have been the best hitter in the game — seven home runs to start the season?
"I feel it, trust me," he said. "Everything being said, I've said to myself. I have no excuses. I've never hit below .290 in my life."
A five-for-five performance last night notwithstanding, even though Matt Kemp is struggling on the field this year, it seems like he has at least learned what are the right things to say to the press, perhaps better than certain Dodger officials who publicly mused whether or not Kemp's new contract was affecting his play, and certain Dodger coaches who publicly complain how their players perform, when it is their job to prepare those players to perform at their peak.
*** The date on this article is August 1, so presumably Simers got his quotes Saturday. At first I was surprised they went uncommented on until late Sunday night and not until midday yesterday in more depth, but then I realized that we collectively have learned not to react to T.J. anymore.
***
- Matt Kemp was the first Dodger to collect five hits in a losing effort since Mark Grudzielanek did in on July 22, 1999. Only fifteen Dodgers have been unable to celebrate a five-hit night in the clubhouse, eight for Los Angeles.
- Since Scott Podsednik debuted as a Dodger, Los Angeles has lost five straight games, and given up three games in the division standings. As a semi-random point of comparision, after Steve Finley was acquired at the 2004 deadline, the Dodgers won five of six and added four games to their division lead.
- This is the third time this season the Dodgers have endured a six-game losing streak. Last year the longest losing streak was five games, which occurred once, and was snapped at TBLA night. Let's hope this streak ends long before the next TBLA night.
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motorcycle
The Omar Moreno of this blog
by Humma Kavula on Aug 3, 2010 11:37 AM PDT up reply actions
Re: Pods curse
There’s clearly a lack of inspiration. Maybe the current Dodgers are as fed up with Colletti’s moves as we are. Its probably pretty hard to get fired up and yell, “YES, we got Scotty PODS!!!”
They probably sit there just like we do and mutter, “fuck, the Phillies got Oswalt”
I'm going to cry
if DeWitt was the dude that held the clubhouse together.
Leading the league in OMGs.
Why do you think that? Is that something you are projecting on him or do you really know that? It is so cliche to think something like that.
If you believe something like that, take heart as Scott Podsednik is a grindy positive clubhouse presence for all his teams. He also sucks at baseball.
Maybe you should lament that the Dodgers got worse at second base.
by squirrelmasterz on Aug 3, 2010 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions
maybe you
should realize Maddz was joking. Chill.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 3, 2010 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions
So cliche? I must not know what cliche means.
I’m not sure why you took my comment to be serious. No, there is no evidence that DeWitt was a big presence in the clubhouse. Not like Blake seems to be, and certainly not like GA is claimed to be. I did, however, take that point above that no one seems to be galvanized, add it with the first person I could think of who is now missing from the clubhouse (because hey, maybe it was JMac), and make a comment regarding possible morale boosters or busters.
Oh, and yes, I’m really not pleased with the trade for Theriot. I’ve been whining about it on Twitter.
Apropos of nothing, I do find Ned’s comments regarding DeWitt to be slightly bizarre.
Leading the league in OMGs.
Apropos of nothing, I do find Ned’s comments regarding DeWitt to be slightly bizarre.
Just because it sounds like he had to shoot his favorite dog?
EXACTLY. “It was hard to trade him because of who he is.” Saying things like watching Theriot playing will be just like watching DeWitt. …what?
Leading the league in OMGs.
Well, thats what you do when after you have to shoot your dog – you go get another one that looks the exact same.
I'm still waiting for the Ole Yeller sequel.
If you didn’t tear up over Ole Yeller then you need take a tornado to Oz and find a heart.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Ole Yeller 2
Back from the DEAD!!!!!!
“Now it’s your turn to be a’sufferin!!!!”
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 3, 2010 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Squirel be new here
doesn’t know the naunces of the posters yet. If I came in brand new and read a few threads, I’d have some strange opinions of many you without knowing your posting history.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Well, sure, but I would also say that if you’re new you should be careful about tone. :P
Leading the league in OMGs.
Which is hard to believe for someone so Universe B'ed like yourself.
You are evil…and shallowwwww.
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
We could use some tone here
Eric needs something to redirect his inner anger besides punching kittens and babies. The dude has issues.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
We should just pay Eric to go around and tell people to go fuck themselves.
Leading the league in OMGs.
"If your good at something, never do it for free."
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 3, 2010 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Good stuff Dave
I always appreciate a good Grudzielanek reference.
For instance, Gruzielanek is one of seven Dodgers to hit .300 in a season while playing at least 80 games at SS. Grudz stands atop the list at .326 in 1999.
Rafael Furcal made the list with his .300 in 2006, although he really hit .29969. He has a chance to make it for real this time, as he is currently hitting .316. If he does it, Furcal would be the only Dodger SS to hit .300 twice.
Rafael Furcal has a very good case to already be the best SS in LAD history, and second only to Pee Wee Reese if you include Brooklyn.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 3, 2010 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions
The L.A. Dodgers have a long history of crappy shortstops. Furcal is easily the best one we’ve ever had.
by regfairfield on Aug 3, 2010 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions
Matt Kemp sucks because Larry Bowa is jealous. Makes sense.
“The majority of our guys are tremendous people, but there’s a few, definitely a minority, but I would say the coaches want to win more than they do,” Bowa said. “We’ve got some people giving away at-bats…”
I would like to know who exactly is Bowa talking about here. He could pick a out of character answer here and say GA, but he probably does mean Kemp.
More on the trade deadline
Even if you accept Tom Verducci’s premise that Colletti hasn’t really given up anything outside of Santana in his trades, I believe the main point is that there usually isn’t much of a return.
For instance, the Dodgers didn’t give up much to get Scott Podsednik, and on its face the deal wasn’t bad at all. However, as Reg pointed out yesterday, the Padres gave up less than we did to get an outfielder, and they got Ryan Ludwick. That, to me, is the most frustrating.
Also
I just wanted to reiterate…
“kicked in the dick”
by Eric Stephen on Aug 3, 2010 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions
Hes a good right fielder and would be an upgrade over Ethier in right. The Padres just stole him.
by UCLADodger32 on Aug 3, 2010 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Sweeney, Viscaino,Sele...
That’s who’s judging the merits of our prospects for trade purposes? God help us. Sweeney is hoping some other crappy vet will replace him as the worst pinch hitter in Dodger history. It’s like guys that couldn’t hit getting hired as hitting coaches. What’s with that?
So if Kemp is admitting that he is not
putting out his full effort. WTF? Just the sign of the times?
I worry
that he’s starting to think that he doesn’t go all out when he does go all out. Like, when you are told over and over again that you are incapable of a certain thing, you start to believe it after a while.
But this also makes me thing that they’ve completely given up on Martin. I mean, talk about a guy who has fallen off the face of the Earth.
Leading the league in OMGs.
I doubt it
Kemp is probably my favorite/or second favorite player, but it is getting troublesome that he seems to always have the ’I’m too cool for this" swagger.
by BFDC on Aug 3, 2010 11:48 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Thats a really good point. It also doesnt help that he is usually the only one singled out and that no real attention (in terms of the media and coaches talking to the media) is paid to the huge flaws of the other “young” players on the team.
Hopefully yesterday is the spark of something, because even if the Dodgers continue to suck, it really is fun to watch Kemp when he is on.
by UCLADodger32 on Aug 3, 2010 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions
I think part of the reason that Kemp gets singled out the most is because he appears to have the most pure talent. Its tough to see a five tool guy not completely excel at all times.
I agree, but we never hear about Ethier’s shit defense (although I do think that those in charge think Ethier plays good defense), Loney’s new lack of patience at the plate, russell’s complete collapse, etc. Everything always centers on Kemp, but there are a lot of problems with this squad.
by UCLADodger32 on Aug 3, 2010 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Lets face it Simers and Plaschke are rutards
and have picked on Kemp since 2006 for whatever reason. We always heard (and still hear) how the Dodgers should trade Kemp.
Who really knows who Bowa is talking about or how management feels about these guys. I’m sure Kemp is included in this group, but its probably all of the above.
I wonder if it’s a lack of caring from Martin, lack of skill, or lack of practice. Bowa needs to personally train Martin and give him 20 pushups for every weak ground ball pulled to the left side in batting practice, and 50 for each one in a game.
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
I believe Russ cares, but he just isnt good anymore. I think there are a few things that led to this, including him being run into the ground his first few years, and possibly the effects of not using some recently outlawed substances.
by UCLADodger32 on Aug 3, 2010 11:54 AM PDT up reply actions
Either that
Or he has some sort of hitting version of Steve Blass disease.
They’ve completely given up on Russ, but dammed if they’ll actually give him a normal workload.
by regfairfield on Aug 3, 2010 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions
Dude is warn out
before he gets to the park. He’s already put in a days work – have you seen her back. Baby got back!.
DEMON!
Since Scott Podsednik debuted as a Dodger, Los Angeles has lost five straight games, and given up three games in the division standings.
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
Buster Olney “heard” Adam Dunn was placed on waivers.
So what; everyone is placed on waivers this time of year.
Im still pissed at Ned for not claiming Dunn off of waivers 2 years ago when he went to Arizona.
by UCLADodger32 on Aug 3, 2010 11:51 AM PDT up reply actions
I’m not. He played horrible defense, and just walked all the time when the team needed actual hits.
He only had a 0.4 WAR for the D’Backs that year.
Right, but thats looking back on things. All Ned needed to do was claim him and not make a deal with the Reds and he wouldnt have gone to the team we were completing with. The DBacks tried to play him in the outfield, which was just dumb, but things could have turned out completely differently if he went on an offensive tear, which is something he was completely capable of doing.
by UCLADodger32 on Aug 3, 2010 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions
I felt like Dunn was just another K waiting to happen in that lineup of free swingers which is why he didnt help.
by hee came hee seop'd he choi'd on Aug 3, 2010 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions
Adam Dunn is a really, really good hitter. The Dodgers were fortunate he didnt get hot and carry that team to the playoffs.
by UCLADodger32 on Aug 3, 2010 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions
Heard this: Dodgers have placed Clayton Kershaw on waivers. The Pirates will definitely claim him, right?
Good god,
That means since the Podsednik trade, Juan Pierre has provided more value than Juan Pierre Lite.
The Omar Moreno of this blog
by Humma Kavula on Aug 3, 2010 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions
"He's NEVER hit a home run?"
“I thought you knew”
He was due
Who would have thought a guy could not have a home run in 7 years in the majors.
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
Oh.
I’m kind of an idiot then. Move along. Move along.
I remember
when Pierre hit his one home run as a Dodger, the players gave him the silent treatment when he got back to the dugout, like he was some minor leaguer.
The Sox had the taste to give him high fives.
The Omar Moreno of this blog
by Humma Kavula on Aug 3, 2010 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions
That's similar to what the Braves' did this year
after a walk off homerun this year. They all left the dugout before the guy crossed home plate. No celebration at the plate, nothing. The guy looked around as if to say, WFT
by Greg Stephen on Aug 3, 2010 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions
I remember that
They showed a shot of Tim Hudson (I think) with a shit-eating grin on his face as he ushered everybody into the clubhouse.
The Omar Moreno of this blog
by Humma Kavula on Aug 3, 2010 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions
better than a pie
says Chris Coglahn
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 3, 2010 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions
i liked the one
they pulled on Chipper Jones
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 3, 2010 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions
That was terrific
I forgot what milestone Chipper hit, but all his teammates fakes running out on the field at the top of an inning, leaving a stunned Chipper standing at 3B all by himself. He got a huge ovation. That was really cool.
by Eric Stephen on Aug 3, 2010 12:44 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
i don't know if it was a milestone
I think it was more, “This may be his last season” type thing.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 3, 2010 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions
That was hysterical
Dude comes around 3rd and is holding his hands up and the only guys that share his uniform are the 1st and 3rd base coaches.
Funny shit.
as a joke
they all got up and congradulated him like 10 seconds afterwards.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 3, 2010 12:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Heard this:
If Bowa is the manager, Keith will fuck up kittens and babies not directly related to him for years to come
If we get
a cool ass manager that has talent and nuts and bravado and all the other cool shit dudes like, then I may eat strawberries.
Until then…….Fuck strawberries
cool ass manager that has … nuts … and all the other cool shit dudes like
Dudes like nuts?
The Omar Moreno of this blog
by Humma Kavula on Aug 3, 2010 12:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Game management speaking only
Poor choice of words here…..
You read what I do in the other thread! I didn’t say I was a scholar anywhere!
I mean, some dudes like nuts
….not that there’s anything wrong with that….
…but all dudes? all of us?
The Omar Moreno of this blog
by Humma Kavula on Aug 3, 2010 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions
some times you feel like a nut
some times you don’t
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 3, 2010 12:26 PM PDT up reply actions
I figured that trading Wallach meant that Tim would not get the call from AAA.
by StolenMonkey86 on Aug 3, 2010 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions
I am aware Brett is Tim’s son. I am saying his trade has nothing to do with his dad’s managerial future.
Ha Ha
I knew that but I was wondering who would fall for the way you worded it.
Anyway when we release Preston this fall, Donny is not going to care. In fact we could end up releasing both Preston and the other Wallach boy.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
But when Tim and Donny are sipping beers somewhere after that happens, only one of them will be able to say, “Yeah, but my kid was good.”
Could be none of them are any good
the best is only in A ball, he could quickly flame out.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I think he means
he doesn’t think the trading of Wallach has anything to do with Tim not getting a look as the manager. Not that they’re not biologically related.
When you consider people who make rational business decisions, sure
but this is a guy who traded away a player that’s a useful relief pitcher now that would make the league minimum this year and next year for Octavio Dotel. And threw in Lambo. And signed Andruw Jones when nobody wanted him. And outbid the Giants for Juan Pierre. And signed Jason Schmidt when he knew that he had a bum shoulder. And who said that Juan Pierre gets on base an awful lot. And I don’t really want to go on.
by StolenMonkey86 on Aug 3, 2010 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions
I blame Paul Depodesta
For signing that contract with JD Drew that allowed him to opt out after 2 years.
it was basically a three year contract. Nothing stupid about it. Who knows, without the option Drew might not sign at all. Stupid is not preparing for him to opt out.
vr, Xei
What was stupid
was Depo believing he would only use it if they didn’t end up liking LA. Of course that may all have been horseshit too.
It was a good way to get JD Drew for 2/22 when he was coming off an eight win season.
If Ned didn’t think a Boras client would be all about the money, I hope he learned a good lesson.
by regfairfield on Aug 3, 2010 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Why does the opt out hurt?
If Ned wanted to resign Drew after he opted out, he could have.
And if Drew puts up great numbers on a 2/22 deal…all the better.
Why lock in a guy that might end up sucking?
And replaced Juan Pierre
with a different version of Juan Pierre, that required better prospects than he got for Juan Pierre to acquire, and this new version isn’t as good as Juan Pierre.
The Omar Moreno of this blog
Actually my point is this
We’ll never know if the Dodgers sign Pierre if Drew will still on the team. But likely, with Drew there for a few years, they might have gone the Kenny Lofton route and signed just one player (like Gonzalez) for one year and worked in both Ethier and Kemp that year.
But Drew leaving set up a series of events that begot Pierre, Andruw Jones and Manny.
No
But it seems like a Ned kind of signal.
by StolenMonkey86 on Aug 3, 2010 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions
I understand what point you're making.
Although I don’t personally agree with your opinion.
The point I was trying to make is that it seemed you were trying to prove to Eric that Brett and Tim Wallach are related. Eric, however, was saying “they’re not related” as in “the moves of Brett getting traded and Tim getting promoted are not related.”
Our coaches are crotchety old assholes
Whining about how the youth of today doesn’t know how good they have it.
Its just getting ridiculous
I see nothing inspiring about our coaches, and I really don’t think our players do either.
What if we just made Manny some kind of morale guy? They all seemed to really be inspired when he showed up in 2008.
That tends to happen
when you trade for a future hall of famer and he has one of the most amazing months evar
Kemp is a raw athlete
I mean, how much baseball did he play before he got into the minors? I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a ridiculous breakout year in the next two years.
Leading the league in OMGs.
B-Ref has it 5.8 WAR, Fangraphs has it 5.1.
I went with the higher number because fangraphs offense component in WAR doesn’t include park factors.
BRef also has him at 2.3 this year, on pace for a 3 win season or even more if he gets hot. Not what we expected, but still quite valuable. Fangraphs has killed him this year on his defense and has him under a win.
by UCLADodger32 on Aug 3, 2010 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions
I must further explore these differences. Is it all because fangraphs uses UZR as their defensive metric? That seems like a huge disparity.
Fangraphs also uses wOBA as the offensive component in WAR, which doesn’t try to include park factors. It rates offense in Coors Field the same in Petco Park.
Which reminds me, whatever happened to EqA? I loved that stat. It was a great way to get people into advanced stuff because it was scaled just like batting average.
I'd have used it more
but the BP database was so non-user friendly compared to what BR put together. I got tired of hand typing in the EQA numbers.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Ya, thats the huge difference here. Thats why, even though i like defensive stats, they just cant be trusted all that much. When the disparity of systems is almost 2 wins (both +/- and UZR have Kemp -16, BRef has him +3), thats just too much to ignore.
by UCLADodger32 on Aug 3, 2010 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions
My brother is seriously chanting
Shark Week at me. I’m watching Guy Fieri make a shepherd’s pie. :(
Leading the league in OMGs.
I see your Shark Week
and I raise you dumbass
by SeanMillerSavior on Aug 3, 2010 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions
You remind me of my boss
He has the food network on all day at work with the sound off in his office, lol.
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
Food porn
All those things you would really love to do but probably never will.
My favorite cable channel
Alton Brown is my guru
+1
and I haven’t even seen the show for two years, but loved the show. Is he still on?
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
“What are you doing?”
“I’m watching the food network.”
“Why are your pants off?”
“I like food…a lot.”
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
My wife loves him
saw him for the first time on that show “My Boys” or something like that. Loved the sportswriter who had an apartment and nothing in it. Only watched the first season.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Bowa just remembers
that one time Kemp left a footprint on his lawn as a kid
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 3, 2010 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions
The only explanation
Kemp did something with Bowa’s trashcan
He must have
taken Larry the Boa and put it in Larry Bowa’s locker.
The real reason Justin Miller was DFA’d.
Leading the league in OMGs.
I hate Padre and Giant fans
Just having to read there gleeful messages about the Dodgers right now when both their teams haven’t made the playoffs in a while is disgusting.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 3, 2010 12:27 PM PDT reply actions
Padres fans so exist
When they are in first place past the All-Star game, they are suddenly visible.
when they saw they were in first place
they put their dodger jersey’s back in the closet and dusted off the Padre ones.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 3, 2010 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions
They don't call him the Pod for nothing
always beware of what is inside a Pod, didn’t we learn that from the body snatchers?
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
"I see dead people."
That’s also the wrong movie, but unfortunately, maybe the most accurate quote.
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Aug 3, 2010 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions
Pod people got nothing
on Crab People
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 3, 2010 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Outside of Harold Reynolds calling him out, I’ve heard nothing but praise from the mainstream media.
"amazing how ned gets other teams to pay to take their players"
translated : “he sends a simple, small, tasty loaf of bread in exchange for a fancy shit sandwich with all the trimmings. the other guy has to take two bites of the shit sandwich before he sends it over.”
the other guy would have had to eat the whole shit sandwich if we didn’t give him the bread. now we don’t have the bread anymore and we have to eat most of the shit sandwich, which isn’t even fresh any more.
by lchristmas on Aug 3, 2010 1:21 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
to be fair in the ted lilly trade
we also got a small bowl of ice cream, but we have to eat it with the shit sandwich… and when the ice cream is long gone, there will still be plenty of sandwich
by lchristmas on Aug 3, 2010 1:24 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I dont' find anything Bowa is saying out of line
other then he shouldn’t be talking to TJ Simers. I’d like to think he has talked to Kemp but I’m beginning to doubt if anyone talks to anyone on that coaching staff.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
This is the only part that bothered me. Basic leadership 101: Do not bash your employee/coworker/subordinate publicly.
couch this by saying I have no way of knowing
But Bowa doesn’t strike me as a guy who holds things in. I would guess he’s aired it out with Kemp before, perhaps multiple times? Did anyone who read Torre’s book know if he spends any time on Bowa?
That would be awkward, Torre is a big man compared to Bowa
Think Shaq and his poor wife.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I know Diamond Leung felt this way
Larry Bowa was his favorite person to speak to because he did not hold anything back.
At least that was my memory of what he told me, Eric and Marty when we had lunch early in 2008 season (of which Bowa had only been there a few months).
Correcting Kemp via the media did not produce positive results in April
Rather, the results look to be counter productive.
These actions Bowa has undertaken with Simers are more in the realm of character assasination imho.
‘a few guys’ – just name the names, not doing so is chicken shit.
Kemp has already done the round robin with Schaffer, and has learned his lesson. Basically, whatever he said man.
The net result, Kemp is under the microscope. Any mistake he makes is magnified. Kemp is not the only guy on the team making errors.
Got something to say, keep it in the clubhouse.
by 68elcamino427 on Aug 3, 2010 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Delias man has
the chips commanded him!!!
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 3, 2010 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions
I went before i was old enough to go to Vegas. No reason to go there if you are over 21.
by UCLADodger32 on Aug 3, 2010 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Except for the time they brought out the huge loser in me
It was lame!
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
The most amazing/horrifying thing about the CA Indian Casinos
is the way they do craps. With cards! They basically completely change the odds but play the game the same way. It’s insane. Well, some would say normal craps is insane too, but you know.
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man
It absolutely kills the excitement normally associated with craps. Its not like the players even get to draw the card or anything either. You are essentially paying 4% of whatever you brought with to the table to watch a guy turn over cards.
The really stupefying thing is
with dice you can (at least in theory) throw the same number an infinite amount of times. With cards, they’ve introduced a finite amount of numbers that can come up. It’s like playing blackjack with Yahtzee dice.
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man
Strange thing to say
but i was looking at post Lasorda Managers… And given a lot of different factors, Tracy is going to end up having a better run with this team than Torre. If Tracy had the rosters that Torre had would he have done better? But JT’s 2005 ship sinking loses him 100 points in my rankings. Just thinking out loud.
@soyboquense
before 2005 I like Tracy
then 2005 came and I heard him talk and then watched him manage. Like became hate fairly quickly.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Would Jim Tracy have done better? Maybe. Would Jim Tracy lead this team to the World Series? Jim Tracy might have. Is Jim Tracy the greatest Dodger manager in the past 20 years? Jim Tracy would think so. Does Jim Tracy like Matt Kemp? Oh yes, Jimmy likes Matt. Jimmy likes Matt big time.
by Xeifrank on Aug 3, 2010 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
OT so I'm wondering if anyone has done this before
So i left to my car at lunch to go to subway to pick something up. My car’s parked on the 4th floor. I get to my car, click the wireless key thing to unlock it, get inside..put the key in the ignition, and the car won’t start. I start freaking out and then it hit me…“my car doesn’t have leather seats..this car has leather seats”. so i look around and to my horror, I’m in the wrong car. I made sure no one was on the 4th floor, got out of the car and quickly walked about 60 feet to my correct car.
my car is a scion tc..the car i got into is a acura tsx…the only similarity is both are a black cherry color.
wow, i swear i haven’t smoked weed in almost 2 years.
so wait
your key unlocked a car that wasn’t yours? or that car was unlocked?
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 3, 2010 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions
car was already unlocked apparently.
i guess the owner didn’t feel like it was needed to lock his car.
little does he know there’s an imbecile in his company.
not locking his Acura TSX?
that’s not too bright either
by StolenMonkey86 on Aug 3, 2010 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions
I was still trying to get into the car when the owner walked up. I had to find my car and show him that my key fit in my car’s lock before he’d agree not to call the police.
by Little Blue Bicycle on Aug 3, 2010 1:42 PM PDT up reply actions
Wait, just a minute here while we examine the facts:
1) The subject was hungry – frequently happens when stoned.
2) The subject entered a vehicle that wasn’t his – looking more probable.
3) The subject panicked – getting warmer.
4) The subject doesn’t remember recently smoking weed – case closed.
by prosellis on Aug 3, 2010 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
my roommates think
I have a THC gland in the back of my brain. I’m starting to believe in that theory.
That's hilarious
I once tried to get in a car the same make and color of mine, and was flummoxed when the door wouldn’t unlock. Then I noticed my car was next to it. But I didn’t get inside the other car.
I had an uncle who took it even further.
He was at the beach and so he hid his key in the wheel well of his car. When he got back and looked for his key, it was gone. He also noticed that all of his personal belongs that were in his car before — clothes, CDs, etc. — was missing.
He immediately assumed that someone had seen him hiding his key, then took it when he went in the water and stole all of his stuff. He then called the cops and a locksmith and filed a police report.
You can imagine how embarrased he was (and upset over the money he put out) when the owner of that car walked up and asked what was going on. My uncle’s car was parked several cars over.
Remember that Southwest commercial at the supermarket
The guy is trying all these things to get into the car, then he throws a rock at the window just as the owner of the car walks up, lol.
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
lmao
This story is awesome. I have never gone that far, but I had the same exact model 1989 Chevy Blazer as a guy I worked with at Home Depot 2 years ago, same exact rust spots and everything. On more than 1 occasion I was like “wtf, why can’t I get in…oh…this is his car.”
"Stop exploding you cowards!!!"
Does anyone know
do the Dodgers sell vastly more tickets when the team is, say, within 4 games of a playoff spot versus 8 games out? I wonder how much of NedFrank’s moves were to keep attendance strong for the next 50 games? What are the differences in revenue when you draw 40k as opposed to 30k?
There are two things to keep in mind
For fans who go to a few games a year, it really doesn’t matter how competitive the team is doing, yes they like a winner but they are not vested into it.
The other thing, the only time I saw a visible change in ticket sales was when the team got Manny two years ago.
Also, my hunch is that
they will average around 40-42K per game of tickets sold for the rest of the year and maybe have their total off around 5-7% of last year.
But there are a lot of teams in worst shape, like the Mets.
The Mets are getting what they deserve. The stadium is not that great, the team is not that great, and the tickets are way overpriced.
Citi Field's ok
I like it better than new Yankee Mausoleum, and it’s way nicer than Shea.
I found it posh, overwhelming, surprisingly friendly, and oddly claustrophobic, like one of the old cookie-cutter stadiums. Haven’t been to Citi.
by Little Blue Bicycle on Aug 3, 2010 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions
The difference is that the season ticket holders
stay home in droves in Sept if there is no pennant race. On the plus side grey market sales get cheaper get cheaper the worse they do.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I wonder how much that ends up affecting the sales of merch, food, alcohol, etc. at the Stadium on game days.
One indicator, for me, is whether or not my favorite beer stand on the top deck is closed
Lately, it’s been closed more often than not (the latest was on a SUNDAY!), suggesting that they don’t think that sales will be that high, so why pay folks to work it?
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Aug 3, 2010 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions
You know who else's tickets are overpriced
The Nationals. You know why 40,000 booed Miguel Batista last week? Because at least 20,000 would have just gone home after work if they thought Batista would be pitching.
i was in DC and wanted to go to a game
but even the crappy seats were $20+. I guess since I had a metropass, I didn’t need to worry about $15 parking but still….
Can you imagine would attendance would be like
if the los angeles had efficient public transportation, and it was convenient for people to not drive to the stadium, i dream
William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.
Hey
I have the patent on Bull Durham references for this board, k? You’ll be hearing from my imaginary lawyer
How would you define your approach to management, apart from being brilliant?
well you were too busy oggling Landon Donavan
someone had to pick up the slack……lollygagger
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 3, 2010 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions
interesting
so for example. Dunn will have cleared waivers by thursday?
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 3, 2010 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Then again, if you can't afford to ship him all the way
he will walk quite a bit for you.
depends
on who’s being shipped behind him.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 3, 2010 2:08 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Random useless fact
If you’re shipping to rural Japan, USPS is both cheaper and faster than FedEx.
by Little Blue Bicycle on Aug 3, 2010 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions
and because it's required on this site
in Soviet Russia, package ships you!
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 3, 2010 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions
Angels moving Hunter to right to make room for Bourjos.
No wonder the Angels are considered a better run franchise than the Dodgers. :P
interesting, because they moved Bourjos to LF the past two weeks in the minors. One would think he would sub in for Rivera. I guess Rivera defense > Abreu defense. Unless I am missing something here.
This is the same team
that basically repeated the Juan Pierre error with GMJ, though their replacement Hunter won’t really begin to cost them for another season or two.
Whether Arte wants it or not
Given their guaranteed contract status and arbitration players, the Angels will be a $110-120+ million dollar team next year.
With flat attendance and locked in TV contracts, I wonder how much longer he will be able to keep his prices down.
The Angels
have better attendance because you can get Panda Express and only miss one batter. Duh.
How would you define your approach to management, apart from being brilliant?
We do know
Moreno has lots and lots of money
He is a self made, very successful businessman
He knows the game of baseball
Ever wish the Dodgers had an owner with all of these qualities?
by 68elcamino427 on Aug 3, 2010 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions
what about that guy
Greenburg? the former agent?
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 3, 2010 2:42 PM PDT up reply actions
If rich people did things that benefited others
they wouldn’t be rich.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 3, 2010 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Hopefully he would be as selfish with championships as steinbrenner
by Chad Moriyama on Aug 3, 2010 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Or he could run it
like Donald Sterling and the other multi-billionaire owner in this town, Phil Anshultz.
Dude is doing great for the MLS. They’d be fucked without Phil. :o
All better than McCourt.
Funny how people were defending him up until about September of last year. lol
by Chad Moriyama on Aug 3, 2010 2:55 PM PDT up reply actions
I am just saying
A new owner doesn’t guarantee any change of business practices, McCourt ultimately is running the team like the O’Malleys did before him and to some extent better since he was able to do it while raising prices.
If I was looking at this a potential business opportunity, why would I change the basic model?
This isn’t the basic model. This is slash payroll and defer everything model. If it got back to basic at this point, I would be happy. Anything more would be a bonus.
The Steinbrenner comment was tongue in cheek, I don’ t expect any owner to spend in the red like that.
by Chad Moriyama on Aug 3, 2010 3:02 PM PDT up reply actions
and
by avoiding rather than hoarding drat picks, the organization is being whittled away internally, like a house infested with termites.
by 68elcamino427 on Aug 3, 2010 3:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Because a new owner wouldn’t be so highly leveraged like the McCourts are? Isn’t this the real issue, that the McCourts shouldn’t have been able to buy the Dodgers in the first place if they didn’t legitimately have the money? That the McCourts bid included the majority of a loan from FOX Corp itself shown that the McCourts did not have enough interdependent financing to support the team.
Again, if the Brewers can support a 90 million payroll without asking for salary in trades, why can’t the Dodgers?
Anyone who thinks Eli Broad would ever be the Dodger owner
is fooling themselves. Broad never spends his own money. On anything.
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man
From everything I remember reading at the time Fox was selling the Dodgers, Broad was standing there with a checkbook saying, “How much?” while Frank was running around trying to figure out how the hell he was going to make the deal work with a parking lot and the change from his couch cushions.
Except he always pulls out
He did that with the Dodgers. He did that with buying the Times. He did that with pro football. He’s managed to get the museum that will hold his art collection financed with zero of his money.
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man
Can’t really blame him for pulling out of the Times. I’m not aware of the pro football situation, but did he actually pull out of the Dodgers, or was the gripe that he wasn’t actually serious to begin with?
ah right (duh)
the headline of the article I linked below is Eli Broad Offers To Buy Dodgers If McCourt’s Deal Falters
The Times
is very profitable. Not like it was, when it was a license to print money, but still better margins than a lot of industries
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man
Are the Times ever going to lower the Daily newstand price to 50 cents?
I find 75 cents on the newstand just not worth it.
well except on art, homes, and philanthropy.
I was googling to jog my memory of his supposed bid for the Dodgers and found this great article
http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/82106
Some awesome pull quotes there such as:
Also in L.A., Rich Hammond cited a source as saying of McCourt, “I’d give him three years before he has to sell the team. He will either realize he can’t do it, or he just won’t be able to make payroll.” Sports Business Group Principal David Carter, on McCourt: “It’s like a high school kid who convinces his dad to buy him a car. He gets the car, but then he realizes he can’t afford to buy the gas. I think Dodger fans should be concerned that, in this case, they’re going to be the ones buying the gas.” Hammond cited sources as saying that McCourt “has been rejected by several potential partners because of concerns about his finances and because investing in the Dodgers is considered risky business” (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 1/18).
by LA Taco on Aug 3, 2010 2:51 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
it's like reading Revelations
only about the Dodgers.
by Tommy Blackjack on Aug 3, 2010 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Throw in a little, “And lo, Jamie did ride in on her chauffeur as the end drew near.” and its almost spot on.
by prosellis on Aug 3, 2010 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions 4 recs
I wonder though
at some point, yes the team has gained value but if they are still not making money, does he change.
And Moreno, for all of that, has not re-signed a significant player who became a free agent as an Angel (Glaus, K-Rod, Lackey, Vlad, Teixiera).
Yeah
I was looking at their guaranteed deals once they got Haren, and 2011 could be quite expensive for them. They could easily get into the $130 million range.
I’m guessing Brian Fuentes’ $9 million option won’t be picked up, but then again, they have surprised me before.
Are
the Angels the early favorite in the AL West next year? A full season of Haren, Morales and w/e OF/DH they pick up. Texas likely does not retain Cliff Lee, no Smoak, but maybe a full season of Harden fwiw. Oakland will have a shot, #6org probably won’t.
Fortunately is option isn't guaranteed unless he finishes 55 games
And that isn’t happening barring some unforeseen hot streak.
On attendance, since 2006.
2006 – 42,059
2007 – 41,551
2008 – 41,194
2009 – 40,004
2010 – 39,985
The last time the Angels averaged less than 40K in tickets sold per game was in 2003,
To give both sides
Dodgers
2005 – 44,481
2006 – 46,401
2007 – 47,617
2008 – 46,056
2009 – 46,440
2010 – 44,753
By the way, not trying to praise the Angels
It’s more of me refering back to the Ethier to left idea.
This is a hoot (NSFW)
Teaching Koreans how to swear in English:
http://www.boingboing.net/2010/08/02/koreans-how-to-swear.html
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man
you fucking son a bitch, you fucking son a bitch!
the end was pretty priceless there
William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.
at first glance that looked like cockroaches
shows where my mind-set is regarding management
by 68elcamino427 on Aug 3, 2010 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions
My sister
wants to know why we don’t plan “raids” for the other message boards. Ha.
Leading the league in OMGs.
by Maddz on Aug 3, 2010 3:04 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Kemp and Bowa Comments
An argument could be made that the Kemp and Bowa comments are actually good because they seem to be truthful. Now the question is you need to find someone who can help Kemp cut down on his base running mistakes and help him improve his leads. I love Maurry Wills, but maybe they need to find someone else.
As far as the coaches go, I am begining to think that with a young nucleas of players they need a coach who is a bit closer to their age and world views, Not sure who. Finally, no question in my mind that the comments of Ned, true or not really seemed to hurt Matty. Torre’s benching helped, but Kemp has never been the same since.
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