2011 Dodgers Player Profile: James Loney, RBI's without Big Flies
by Brandon Lennox on Mar 22, 2011 7:00 AM PDT
in Community Projections
Email
PrintJames Loney is not your typical major league 1st baseman. Since Loney took over as the Dodgers main first baseman in 2007, here are the Dodgers ranking in home runs for the position of 1st base:
2010: 30th with 11 homers
2009: 30th with 13 homers
2008: 24th with 18 homers
2007: 23rd with 18 homers
However, in terms of RBI's for Dodger 1st baseman, the rankings are much more favorable for the same time period:
2010: 15th with 89 RBI's
2009: 13th with 100 RBI's
2008: 14th with 100 RBI's
2007: 5th with 108 RBI's
So obviously Loney has been been doing his job of driving runs home, just not via the traditional home run. That being said, most of us don't remember James as a productive player since our most recent memory of him was his terrible 2nd half in 2010. After hitting .309 with a .803 OPS and with 63 RBI's prior to the 2010 All Star Break, James slumped to a .211 average over the final 73 games with just 25 RBI's. Despite his solid track record over the previous few seasons, he was so bad at the end of last season that many felt that he should be non-tendered in December. The Dodgers decided to keep him around for at least another season, however, mostly because there weren't many other cost effective options out there at 1st base. I for one am pleased with this decision because Loney has always been one of my favorite Dodgers, and I'm sure most casual Dodger fans were also happy because they'd already lost one fan favorite in Martin, so losing another in Loney would be too much to handle (I'm guessing this also played into management's decision to keep him).
Loney has yet to record an extra base hit this spring, but there is no reason to panic. In a well timed article by Ken Gurnick (he must have read the draft of this post that had been sitting in the queue for two weeks), Loney says:
"I've been looking at old tapes from '07, when I hit nine homers in one month and I was driving the ball real well. I know what it feels like, that's why I'm excited about this year, because I slowly got away from it. I'm getting that feeling back and trusting it. I'm thinking that if I can drive in 90 and hit .270 with bad mechanics, imagine if I was doing all the right things? I showed early on that I could drive the ball with a no-fear attitude. Maybe I got caught up on trying to be too perfect with every pitch. You can't hit every pitch perfect."
While it might be a bit of an overstatement to say that 2011 is a make it or break it year for Loney, the truth is that a lot hinges on how James performs next season. The Dodgers will again face the decision of tendering Loney a contact next December, so if 2nd-half Loney re-emerges in 2011 for an extended period of time, his tenure with the Dodgers could be over. If he is able to revert back to the consistent player that we've seen for most of his career, however, I'm sure the Dodgers will gladly take him back for another year even if he doesn't hit a lot of homers. Looking even further into the future Loney has his first free agent contract to worry about after the 2012 season, so if he wants to get paid the big money he is going to have to really perform over the next few years.
Trivia
When Loney hit a grand slam against the Cubs in the 2008 NLDS, he became just the 3rd Dodger to hit a grand slam in post season play. The other two Dodger postseason grand slams came on back to back days in 1977 against the Phillies in the NLCS when Ron Cey and Dusty Baker accomplished the feat on October 4th and October 5th.
Contract Status
Loney, in his 2nd year of salary arbitration, will make $4.875M in 2011. He had submitted a salary figure of $5.25M, while the Dodgers filed at $4.7M, so he ended up signing below the midpoint. 2012 will be Loney's final arbitration year, so unless he signs an extension with the club he will be a free agent after the 2012 season (if not sooner).
Stats
| Year | Age | PA | HR | Runs | RBI | BA | OBP | SLG | wOBA |
| 2008 | 24 | 651 | 13 | 66 | 90 | .289 | .338 | .434 | .333 |
| 2009 | 25 | 651 | 13 | 73 | 90 | .281 | .357 | .399 | .332 |
| 2010 | 26 | 648 | 10 | 67 | 88 | .267 | .329 | .395 | .315 |
| 2011 Projections - Age 27 Season | |||||||||
| Year | PA | HR | Runs | RBI | BA | OBP | SLG | wOBA | |
| Bill James | 626 | 12 | 68 | 85 | .280 | .346 | .417 | .337 | |
| Marcel | 589 | 11 | 63 | 78 | .275 | .340 | .406 | .326 | |
| ZiPS | 626 | 12 | 68 | 93 | .279 | .338 | .416 | ||
2011 Outlook
Loney had a sore knee earlier in spring training, but everything seems to be fine now so I expect another injury free season. If history is any indication of what Loney will do in 2011, it appears that he'll hit around .280 with 10 homers and 90 RBI's. The projections seems to suggest that Loney will get his slugging % up above .400, so hopefully that will be the case. I'm going to be optimistic in my prediction and say that Loney will have a line of .295/.360/.445 in 2011 with 16 homers.
What is your guess for James Loney in 2011? Be sure to guess BA/OBP/SLG, HR's, and any other stats that you feel are relevant.
430 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Loney is one of my fav to watch. ESP after that cub crushing grand slam.
.289/.330/.440 21 hrs 115 RBI
The Dodgers have found thier stroke. Yes even though I questioned the power on Sunday. Suck it pandadouche.
by Skunkburner on Mar 22, 2011 7:14 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
That was one on the hardest hits balls I can ever remember seeing. Not the longest home run, but he absolutely crushed it!
by wonderphenom on Mar 22, 2011 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions
I'm done making Loney predictions
but am certainly rooting and hoping for the best!
(But OBs above is about what I’d predict, too.)
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
I agree with your projection – this will be his breakout season. He’s been my favorite Dodger since he arrived. Such a beautiful swing!
by wonderphenom on Mar 22, 2011 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions
Did not know this
Eric is this true, that attendance is down 42% this year at Camelback?
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Dilbeck had that last week. I didn’t read it.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 22, 2011 8:04 AM PDT up reply actions
This was written by Ian Casselbury for Yahoo Sports
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
Right, but the whole 42% figure came from Dilbeck last week, which is also linked in the Yahoo piece.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 22, 2011 8:37 AM PDT up reply actions
That is a big number. You would expect the first year to be big as many made the trek to spring training for the first time, but you also expect them to come back again year after year. Maybe the Dodgers have miscalculated, they can count on many Dodger fans to make the trek but they might need a more solid base of local fans, and only a small % of Arizonians are Dodger fans, as Dodger fans simply don’t retire to Arizona.
Anyway a 42% drop is a story.
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
Upon further review, Dilbeck's numbers are garbage
The Dodgers played 17 home games last spring, yes. But three of those included a game in Vegas and two games at Dodger Stadium.
I looked back at last year’s attendance numbers at Camelback, and the Dodgers had 14 home games. In those 14 games, they averaged 8,623 per game.
This year, through 11 home games at Camelback Ranch, they are averaging 7,144 per game. A drop, yes, but a 17.2% decrease. And there are still five home games left at a time when a lot of people are on spring break.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 22, 2011 8:48 AM PDT up reply actions
Can I post those numbers in Ian’s column?
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
Thanks for the quick work, didn’t even occur to me that Dilbeck would be fudging numbers by not comparing apples to apples.
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
He probably didn’t intentionally do it, but just looked at the totals.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 22, 2011 9:09 AM PDT up reply actions
He is one of many journalists these days who remind me of
the David Cross character on this Mr Show Sketch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cku497rURF8
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
all these new media journalists, that didn’t go to J-School and don’t fact check, are killing the integrity of journalism
by Josie Becker on Mar 22, 2011 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions
yes josie
you may not be a bad person, but you are something worse… a blogger!
These hands will always be rough
I would expect some pretty severe drops after the first few years. The switch from Vero to CBR probably had a nice short term effect of LA area fans going to see the club train in Arizona, but as the novelty of it wears off, people will only go if it’s particularly convenient or they are clearly interested in making a vacation out of it. Especially since if you miss them in CBR, you still have 6 months of baseball (with games that count) in the area to see them play.
by Michael White on Mar 22, 2011 8:16 AM PDT up reply actions
Most of the blame seems to be headed toward the new Rockie complex, but that only explains the locals wanting to go to the nicest stadium, not the lack of Dodger fans headed to Camelback as was expected by moving to Arizona.
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
and of course the laws of Arizona that make latin Dodger fans feel welcomed
by Hollywood Joe on Mar 22, 2011 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions
It is the reason I did not go this year.
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
by meercatjohn on Mar 22, 2011 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions
They still have five home games left, including two this weekend, plus a Friday game and a game against the Cubs which always seem to draw well. Just looking at those numbers, if they average 10,000 over those last 5 (they averaged 9,407 over the last 5, for instance), their average will be 8,107. That’s still a 30% drop, but it seems like with so few games, plus spring break needing to be accounted for, the best time for that Dilbeck article would have been after the spring.
Or at least he should have compared through the same date or games last year.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 22, 2011 8:15 AM PDT up reply actions
Terrible Loney homer bias in this article. RBIs are dumb. No mention of his struggles vs left handers. Attempts to pass off Loney’s awfulness as a 2011 second half blip when in fact it has been a career long reality magnified by his arbitration status. There were many reasonable Loney replacements this offseason, and I don’t think Dodger fans would miss him for long. Perhaps Sands could help rectify the problem playing against lefties.
Then you are probably not long for this blog.
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
on the contrary, I fit right in
The trend is not mine u see
the future is ours you see
whatever will be will be
by Josie Becker on Mar 22, 2011 10:02 AM PDT up reply actions
I flipped the lines, that should be Eddie Money not Beatles
by Josie Becker on Mar 22, 2011 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions
Loney is one of my fav to watch. ESP after that cub crushing grand slam.
.289/.330/.440 21 hrs 115 RBI
The Dodgers have found thier stroke. Yes even though I questioned the power on Sunday. Suck it pandadouche.
by Skunkburner on Mar 22, 2011 8:13 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Can't say I agree with this
So obviously Loney has been been doing his job of driving runs home
When Loney is consistently near the top of the league in runners on base when he bats.
That said, I expect a bit of a bounceback from Loney, but nothing huge.
.293/.351/.429
I know this is like saying the sun came up today, but gah, TJ Simers is such a hack.
His piece on Thames today is just so obnoxious.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
I haven’t decided whether or not to read it. I knew it was coming, and want to write a rebuttal, but I might wait.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 22, 2011 8:36 AM PDT up reply actions
I’m a little disappointed, because I have that HR thing in the trivia section of my Thames profile.
by Michael White on Mar 22, 2011 9:02 AM PDT up reply actions
I read it, and it is totally uncalled for. But I wish Thames had some personality and played along too.
The thing is, he's another player who is rightly wary of playing along with Simers because
he has a deserved reputation of being a dick, of throwing stuff back in players faces, so why should they reveal anything to him? I mean basically he sets it up as an unwinnable thing, whatever you say, Simers will write some hacky piece mocking you. So we don’t exactly know what kind of personality Thames has…
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
We do know his momma didn't raise no fool.
He handled the situation pretty well.
These hands will always be rough
As usual
it always helps when commenting on someone else’s story to provide the link so those of us who want to see if the comment is valid can do so without exerting much effort.
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
Simers
provides the needle Dodger management so richly deserves, he’s right at least half of the time, and he’s entertaining to read. Yeah, he can be bit mean, but sometimes it’s just that the truth hurts..
The next thing I want to read from Simers is a suicide note.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 22, 2011 9:10 AM PDT up reply actions 7 recs
Hey it’s Gilbert Gottfried
I will toss you in slow-rec softball
by robotmadeofnails on Mar 22, 2011 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions
Have you been reading his columns for very long? If you have, you’ll notice that he doesn’t have anything nice to say about anybody. Hell, I think he was aching to rip John Wooden during the Interview with him.
Baseball is a game, and games are supposed to be fun.
Those interviews with him hosting were so awkward whenever he opened his mouth. He seemed to think that people actually cared what he had to say over those he was interviewing
Both times he got in the way of the event, but since it was his event he had to host. Without TJ we never would have had those great events so he gets lots of credit for that, but it doesn’t change the fact he’s a lazy writer who goes for very cheap laughs.
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
Yeah Im glad he put that together. Just the way he asked some of his questions in a disrespectful manner were so crunchy. Though Sandy put him in his place a couple of times which was sweet
Sorry, I had some internal debate about linking it because I wondered if anyone else should be tortured as I was ;-)
but thanks BH
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Just seems to me that whenever we reference a story we should link it even if it is terrible. Otherwise we are just relying on the commentators opinion.
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
Of course! I also got distracted by work for a few minutes (how dare I!)
and at the brief thought of firing off a letter to Simers before I came to my senses.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
but is it Tims or Tems? did our TBLA correspondents find out?
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
It’s Timms, and the Dodgers have sent this out to everyone, including Simers.
Simers was using his “Timms or Thames” shtick during the Q&A too. It’s intentional dickery on his part.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 22, 2011 9:11 AM PDT up reply actions
Did Bob T request the extra T put in that pronunciation? ;-)
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Wouldn't it be fun
to ask Simers questions about his shortcomings and see how he responds?
The arrogance
of him writing, “he has some explaining to do”
The guy is signed for a one year deal worth $1MM. The Dodgers seem aware of his shortcomings and Thames is being compensated accordingly. Where is this fake outrage coming from?
by Michael White on Mar 22, 2011 9:01 AM PDT up reply actions
That he’s the guy the Dodgers are touting as the answer in LF, when the last two springs they had one of the best hitting left fielders in the history of the game?
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
The Dodgers are touting him as the answer?
I must have missed the busses advertising Marcus Thames on them.
by Michael White on Mar 22, 2011 9:04 AM PDT up reply actions
The Dodgers are the one’s putting out the press releases with that home run %. It is not like TJ figured that out himself.
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
It’s in the media guide. There are quirky facts about everybody on the roster. Doesn’t mean they are pimping Jamie Carroll.
by Michael White on Mar 22, 2011 9:06 AM PDT up reply actions
I said answer in LF, don’t misconstrue my words by leaving off the last two.
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
They aren’t even really doing that. They acquired Gwynn and re-signed Gibbons and haven’t run off Paul yet. They also got Gimenez and Sands reps in spring training. They signed a platoon player in Thames and they know it.
by Michael White on Mar 22, 2011 9:08 AM PDT up reply actions
The Dodgers, and Mattingly, are clearly saying Thames is part of a platoon in LF, and have not said otherwise.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 22, 2011 9:12 AM PDT up reply actions
Once they realize that Thames can hit RHP better then his LH hitting options that might change. I have heard with my own ears Don say that Thames might get some at bats against RHP.
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
He definitely will, but that’s just natural anyway.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 22, 2011 9:34 AM PDT up reply actions
If thames only hits against lefties we’ll have our best offensive LF get 140 at bats.
No Rafael Furcals were hurt in the making of this video.
Exactly which is why I don’t think he will be a platoon left fielder.
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
by meercatjohn on Mar 22, 2011 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions
Doesn’t explain why Thames is expected to defend himself to Simers. They Dodgers signed and are paying him as a platoon outfielder. If they never got around to filling out the other half of the platoon, that’s not on him.
by Michael White on Mar 22, 2011 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions
doesn't seem like outrage to me
more like a good old fashioned roast
Don't bother......
Whatever you say to him, he will turn it around on you. That’s his M.O.. He doesn’t give answers, he makes attacks. He will find the lowest angle of attack and start firing accusations and innuendo. He’s a dick.
Baseball is a game, and games are supposed to be fun.
I'm starting to wonder, though...
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
indeed, and reminds me of one of the best DVD bargains out there!
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
My friends use this film to make fun of me
Because I’m Vegan.
josie, you definitely need to see this movie if you haven't already
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
I’ve seen the infamous clip, with the fly in the shot and “Oh my god!” That’s all I really care to see
by Josie Becker on Mar 22, 2011 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions
the doc is both hilarious and surprisingly touching...
no need to see Troll 2 itself though.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
they are “vegetarian Goblins” but they still want to eat humans. So they use magic to turn them into vegetables. Then they eat them.
How that relates to my vegetarianism is any ones guess
I would love to have been in on that pitch meeting, I woulda laughed the writer out of the room
by Josie Becker on Mar 22, 2011 10:14 AM PDT up reply actions
not the kinda movie that even had a pitch meeting
was funded independently i believe, and made by an Italian director. it was pitched the same way Manos the Hands of Fate was pitched.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
I liked the piece
But I also have a sense of humor
I’d consider that an insult by those of us who didn’t. Maybe you have a dickish sense of humor?
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
maybe u should stop acting like everyone associated with the Dodgers are too high and mighty to be made fun of by the media. Sports are far less important than we make thme out to be, and it does some good to tear them down every so often.
Sure, and you can be clever and entertaining or you can be TJ Simers. Saying you enjoyed TJ Simers because you have a sense of humor seems to be making the point that you might have a sense of humor but it is not very well tuned.
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
yeah – you play baseball for a living so you give up all rights and are subject to ridicule for no good reason other than a hack writer needs a column for the paper
yeah – that’s what I want to support
I am the last man with a LAT subscription and they are begging me to cancel it
by Hollywood Joe on Mar 22, 2011 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions
I did in fact cancel my LAT subscription a few years ago. I wish I could say that it was entirely due to the increasingly lousy coverage, but honestly, it was only mostly due to the increasingly lousy coverage. The fact that I had an infant and wasn’t reading the paper anymore put it over the top.
But it’s really quite amazing how the LAT has moved from a good paper (which it was when I moved here 15 years ago) to irrelevant.
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
by Humma Kavula on Mar 22, 2011 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions
the only reason I subscribe is because I think it is important to have a newspaper in your city – so if I want one, I better buy the one we have. I realize this doesn’t make them want to get better
the drop in quality and quantity is staggering – the sports section is now my least read section – Simmers and Plackass are dead to my eye. I like the beats just fine and Sam Farmer too…the rest of them can rot
by Hollywood Joe on Mar 22, 2011 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions
LA Times is still second to only the NY Times in foreign and political coverage.
by Josie Becker on Mar 22, 2011 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions
You can call me a latte-drinking Volvo-driving effeminate and effete liberal elitist if you want, but I get most of my news from NPR, and generally speaking, they do a good job. I have issues with their coverage now and again but mostly, they’re good.
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
by Humma Kavula on Mar 22, 2011 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions
Does getting most of my current foreign news from Al Jazeera as of late
make me a terrorist?
These hands will always be rough
Nah – just says your open to a wide world view
I like NPR, but find I go to the BBC for most of my global news
The accent makes me feel safe
by Hollywood Joe on Mar 22, 2011 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions
BBC for victory! There was chap from the BBC covering the Galaxy game this weekend, I befriended him, he was dreamy
by Josie Becker on Mar 22, 2011 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions
bbc has been my go to for the last couple years
I’m still adapting to seeing so much soccer news on the front page
These hands will always be rough
um hell no
It means you are getting your information closer to the source.
less filters
Having lived in a vegetarian themed Berkeley cooperative house, I listened to enough NPR to say that, um, I don’t, er, like dead air
by Josie Becker on Mar 22, 2011 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions
The Washington Post and Wall Street Journal might factor in there too.
I hate the L.A. Times’ political coverage. But then again, I’m a teacher, I kind of have to.
The Post is still great, the Journal is still good
I can feel the effects of the Murdoch factor on the Journal which is sad
by Hollywood Joe on Mar 22, 2011 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions
I do read the main pages whenever I come across the Times, but I stopped my subscription when they ran Depo out of town. Now I’m left with the Daily news which is great for local coverage but not much else.
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
by meercatjohn on Mar 22, 2011 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions
But a shadow of what it used to be. Still better than podunk news papers of corporate ownership that plague most mid-tier cities but a shadow of the political coverage…
We of a certain age were lucky – the LA Times of my youth was rich and glorious. Might have been the best collection of sportswriters at any paper at any time. We were a 3 newspaper house when I was growing up and I read all of them – heck I wanted to be a sportswriter for about 7 minutes when I was 10 years old
by Hollywood Joe on Mar 22, 2011 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions
What is it now? About 30 pages total? My local paper is twice the size ot the L.A. Times, and has just about as much coverage, world and local.
I agree that newspapers are vital to the local economy, but the time of the big newspaper is rapidly coming to an end, unfortunately.
Baseball is a game, and games are supposed to be fun.
I got T.J. to cancel my subscription. All I had to do was write him an e-mail. He replied that I was going to miss all the world news coverage, great entertainment news, and local coverage. He didn’t mention great sports writing, and now I know why.
Baseball is a game, and games are supposed to be fun.
I don’t – I think if TJ covered me at work I would, to my own detriment, bloody his mouth
Dare to dream
by Hollywood Joe on Mar 22, 2011 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions
If Simers wanted to write an article saying that Thames and Gibbons, or whomever we send out there aren’t very good, that’s a completely reasonable article, and frankly the same things that have been discussed here in the comments.
But the way Simers approached this article, and all his articles, is disgusting, and all about Simers. He sets up strawmen and draws conclusions where there are none.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 22, 2011 9:17 AM PDT up reply actions
Craig Calcaterra at Hardball Talk wrote this
T.J. Simers of the Los Angeles Times has a shtick. He’s used it over and over again. It’s this: insult, bait and pester a given Dodgers or Angels player and hope against hope that they’ll spout off in anger so that he can print a juicy quote and follow it up with his "man, what’s his problem?" rebop. Even better, they say nothing, so he can call the guy standoffish or aloof or whatever. I think Simers has his charms at times, but this bit is tired and offensive and has been for years.
by BFDC on Mar 22, 2011 9:26 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Exactly, it charms snakes and that is about it.
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
Why don't they just kick the snake out of the clubhouse?
Why does he keep getting access if he is that big a dick to the players? I’m all for asking hard questions when it matters, but being a dick all the time just to get a reaction is different.
These hands will always be rough
I guess we'll just have to wait for the LA times to finally die that slow death
These hands will always be rough
I definitley agree
The thing is, almost all writers repeat the same thing over and over throughout their careers. Most film directors constantly remake the same movie, or at least the same concepts, always looking for more refinement.
Simers is like a bad comedian
A bad comedian who has access to the players
and uses it to be a dick to them. Oh goody.
These hands will always be rough
yep
but if i have any beef, it sure ain’t because I feel bad for the players.
This is Hollywood baby
Dear Table,
I apologize that I cannot appeal to your previously-established sense of humor. Because your reply was so short, I can only assume that you are surly. Perhaps I should point out that your post count is currently 332. I think we all know what that means. And even though you can’t spell and refuse to use proper punctuation or grammar, we all have to look forward to your continued posting on TBLA. Is everyone as excited as I am about that prospect?
And even though you can’t spell and refuse to use proper punctuation or grammar,
This was not necessary.
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
I hope he tells us when he decides where he wants to go to college!
:-p
These hands will always be rough
In college
Perfect score on Spelling and Grammar on SAT pushed me forward
Not sure why I'm on trial though
The effort being levied against me would lead me to believe I am unliked
For someone who likes TJ Simers, I’m shocked you are that observant.
No Rafael Furcals were hurt in the making of this video.
Stop
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
by meercatjohn on Mar 22, 2011 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions
someone hasn’t met the apostrophe, but has perfect grammar
by Josie Becker on Mar 22, 2011 10:04 AM PDT up reply actions
forgive my insolence
I respect the internet not
This needs to end now.
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
by meercatjohn on Mar 22, 2011 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions
is that a problem?
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
by meercatjohn on Mar 22, 2011 10:04 AM PDT up reply actions
sorry if I neglected u
Der r many wolves about
Page 2 is not for journalism in the way u see it
Simers exists to mess with people and say the things you aren’t supposed to say because they are generally rude, but often true. I find his form of journalism on par with most others in the sports world. Though his stick may be overdone, it is not more so than the fluff, demonizing, dull drums of elsewhere, and certainly not less worthwhile.
I don't know about worthwhile
I get nothing out of reading an article like that.
Probably why I don’t read Plashcke either.
Throw aside what you think is “funny” about Simers. What else does he contribute? Certainly not much.
I just dont think he is so bad once u accept him for what he is
Seems like y’all are expecting serious journalism from him, which I don’t get
I don't expect serious journalism. I expect him to not be hack writer
who baits athletes, then writes a column that is supposedly funny — and its biggest failing is that it is not at all funny. If you’re going to have a shtick, make it a funny one. And by t he way, there’s a way to do that and still play fair. He does neither.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
I'm a little late on this convo but....
Simers is great. I really can’t believe so many people take him serious. His tongue is placed firmly in his cheek. He’s just a poker. He pokes at you and pokes at you until you give him something good. I fucking love when he rips the shit out of McCourt, because he deserves it. Others, may not deserve it… but thats where the joking comes into play.
by chrisdodgers on Mar 22, 2011 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions
My three-year-old daughter sometimes pokes at me and pokes at me and doesn’t stop, and when she does, she gets a time out, because that’s not how human beings treat each other.
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
by Humma Kavula on Mar 22, 2011 11:48 AM PDT up reply actions
…………yes. I do. Why?
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
by Humma Kavula on Mar 22, 2011 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions
3 yr olds can do no wrong!
anyway, all I’m saying is that while some of the people may not deserve the crap Simers gives them, he still gets good responses. And, isn’t that his job?
by chrisdodgers on Mar 22, 2011 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions
I do too. It’s a fair parenting practice. Whether or not it was a good parenting practice, I (and presumably Humma) am loath to take parenting advice in a blog comment from anyone, much less someone who thinks Simers is a responsible journalist.
I don’t think you get my point lol not trying to give any advice at all. I’m not a father, so not trying to give advice or criticize.
it’s satire. it’s not serious. take it with a grain of salt.
by chrisdodgers on Mar 22, 2011 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions
They’ve been playing a phony phone call on Howard Stern where Lasorda loses his shit at Simers. They call some tire shop that’s owned by somebody named TJ and start playing Lasorda’s lines. It’s really funny.
by Tim Crews' Dastardly Mustache on Mar 22, 2011 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions
Cubs lineup today
Fukudome RF
Colvin LF
Byrd CF
Pena 1B
Soto C
Baker 3B
DeWitt 2B
Barney SS
Dempster P
It doesnt help that his first name is Darwin.
by UCLADodger32 on Mar 22, 2011 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions
As long as he doesn’t win any awards, he should be fine.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 22, 2011 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions
Am I missing a joke or is that guy’s name really Darwin Barney?
That might be the least-basebally weird name I’ve ever heard. Darwin Barney should be playing cricket.
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
by Humma Kavula on Mar 22, 2011 9:58 AM PDT up reply actions
Indeed, that man should be standing in front of a wicket
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
by meercatjohn on Mar 22, 2011 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions
Dodgers lineup
Furcal SS
Paul CF
Ethier RF
Uribe 3B
Gibbons 1B
Gimenez LF
Barajas C
Velez 2B
Billingsley P
ha ha, that kills me
Tomorrow Gimenez will be playing 3rd
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
Maybe he's just there to make us appreciate Thames' defense more?
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Mattingly said be knows Thames and Gibbons can play 1B, and just wants them to get an occasional game in. During the season, he said they won’t play 1B very often.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 22, 2011 9:36 AM PDT up reply actions
This was the response to Humma's concern
about the 4/1 game TV schedule:
Hi Phil –
The asterisk means that the game is also available on TWC, not only on TWC. The game will also be broadcast on PRIME TICKET.
Amy
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
by meercatjohn on Mar 22, 2011 9:38 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
Cool — thanks. I also saw Delias comment above. Thanks for the clarification.
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
by Humma Kavula on Mar 22, 2011 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions
I read everyone’s comments. I read all 100+ comments on TJ Simers above, god help me.
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
by Humma Kavula on Mar 22, 2011 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Anyhow, Fangraphs pointed out that Willy Aybar is still a free agent
Perhaps he would be a good AAA addition. Blake on the DL and all.
We wondering long before fangraphs why no one signed Willy Aybar. If you are going to look at Gimenez as a backup 1st baseman and Willy Aybar is available and no one is touching him you have to wonder if some word is out on him.
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
He has had drug and alchohol problems in the past
and dissapeared from the braves at one point didn’t he?
These hands will always be rough
He disappeared from everywhere
I recall an Angels game where the announcers were mentioning that Erick was concerned that nobody had heard from his brother for a few days (weeks maybe?)
Years ago, he had some very solid years with the Rays. As the fangraphs article noted he has slipped but when you consider the flotsam that is on many teams rosters, you have to wonder what his rep is since he is not in spring training.
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
LT, 6 years probation
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=6246274
The whole thing had smelled bad from the start, not a surprise to me he didn’t get jail time.
These hands will always be rough
.270/.340/.440
23HR
We’ll call it a breakout year and still find some way to be disappointed because he’s blocking Jerry Sands.
No Rafael Furcals were hurt in the making of this video.
What Gary is predicting, basically, is that Loney does what he’s been doing for the last three years with one change: 10 of his doubles turn into HRs.
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
by Humma Kavula on Mar 22, 2011 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions
.280/.340/.410
12HR, 34 2B
These (roughly, rounded off) are his three-year averages, and that’s what I think he’ll do this year.
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
hah hah, at first I read that as "34 SB" and thought that was awesome.
I think he’ll have more doubles than that but HRs will be about right, alas.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Changing the subject... Jay Jaffe piece on BP
is much more worthy of a read than Simers:
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=13295
on tradition vs sabremetrics
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
(thanks to MSTI for the link earlier)
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
2012 NFL draft order
Schefter doesn’t know how this will work if there’s no season. It would be crazy if it remains the same and Carolina gets Luck, then trades Newton/Gabbert for picks.
That...
would be wrong. I don’t know how else they could do it though. NBA lottery style?
These hands will always be rough
Lottery style, everyone has equal shot at #1. That would be amazing.
by silverwidow on Mar 22, 2011 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions
How would, say, the Colts justify their shot?
“No, seriously, guys. We would have sucked balls this year. Peyton would have gotten hurt and we would have had to sign Ryan Leaf and we would have been just terrible. I guess we just got lucky.”
It would be another Aaron Rodgers/Brett Favre deal.
by silverwidow on Mar 22, 2011 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions
The only one to blame for that
is the 16 teams that passed on Rodgers. FOOLS!
These hands will always be rough
49ers fans cry into their glass of wine
by Josie Becker on Mar 22, 2011 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions
The Colts where actually not that great last year
outside of having the best QB in the universe their O line is crumbling, they don’t have a star RB, and their defense is not good.
These hands will always be rough
How did the NHL do it?
I think they had a true lottery.
by Michael White on Mar 22, 2011 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions
The loss of the 2004–05 season meant that there were no results on which to base the order of the 2005 entry draft. The league settled on a lottery system in which all teams had a weighted chance at the first pick, expected to be Sidney Crosby. The lottery was tilted so teams with fewer playoff appearances over the last three seasons and fewer number one overall picks over the last four seasons had a better chance of landing higher picks. The complete order was determined by the lottery, and the 2005 draft was conducted in a “snake” style, meaning in even rounds, the draft order was reversed.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 22, 2011 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions
In other NFL news, they’re moving kickoffs back to the 35 yard line. Get ready for a touchback bonanza.
by silverwidow on Mar 22, 2011 10:33 AM PDT up reply actions
I did not know they had moved them to the 30 from the 35 in 94
Kickoffs are damn scary affairs sometimes
These hands will always be rough
I hate kickoffs, punts, field goals, and special teams in general
Field goals seem cheap and the other plays have too much chance for luck or flukes
by Hollywood Joe on Mar 22, 2011 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions
remember when XFL began its games with a scrum.
Look at me, expecting people to remember the XFL
by Josie Becker on Mar 22, 2011 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions
I remember it. People called it the stupidest concept in the history of television.
by silverwidow on Mar 22, 2011 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions
makes you realize how immediately NBC regretted letting the NFL rights go
by Josie Becker on Mar 22, 2011 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions
That and Vince McMahon nearly blowing a gasket yelling “This….is….the XFLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!”
by Eric Stephen on Mar 22, 2011 10:47 AM PDT up reply actions
At a certain point in steroid use, you just lose all control
by Josie Becker on Mar 22, 2011 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions
XFL deserves credit
for introducing the roving overhead cam just above the field.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 22, 2011 10:47 AM PDT up reply actions
the camera is like Jolly Ranchers to me. I would never actively hope it shows up, but when it does I’m like, oh, that was neat, moving on.
by Josie Becker on Mar 22, 2011 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions
If it’s good enough for Vin Scully, it’s good enough for you, too, Josie.
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
by Humma Kavula on Mar 22, 2011 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions
I’m sorry. I’ll say five Hail Vinnies.
by Josie Becker on Mar 22, 2011 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions
The Chicago bench was actually trying to fight with the fans in the Coliseum. LAPD had to get involved and beat on some people. at least 60k in there, rowdy, girls flashing, so much fun. Never went again.
so basically it was like a WWE match, but outdoors
by Josie Becker on Mar 22, 2011 10:58 AM PDT up reply actions
yeah – with a hot tub in the end zone. i always wondered how much they paid the LAPD officers to get involved.
probably time and a half, isn’t that standard for event duty?
by Josie Becker on Mar 22, 2011 11:01 AM PDT up reply actions
I disagree strongly with this
field goals add an important strategic decision to the game. 4 and goal, go for it or kick it? 4 and 8 from the 38, kick the FG that has a good chance of misssing, or punt it and hope your kicker and gunners can pin the ball inside the 5, and then let your defense do work.
These hands will always be rough
I hate the whole idea of kicking in the NFL game.
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
by meercatjohn on Mar 22, 2011 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions
You mean any play that involves using the feet to play the game? You know, the game is called FOOTBALL. Rmove all those plays, and it becomes Handball.
end of rant.
Baseball is a game, and games are supposed to be fun.
It also becomes more and more homogenized and boring
hey, lets just eliminate walks from baseball! They are so boring to me.
These hands will always be rough
right?
Either the ball goes in play, or the guy stays up there. I want action dammit!
These hands will always be rough
Strike five! Get in there and hit, Jack!
Baseball is a game, and games are supposed to be fun.
by iiidown on Mar 22, 2011 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
and fascist!
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
by Humma Kavula on Mar 22, 2011 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions
damn it Humma, I was gonna post that but my coffee was ready : p
by Josie Becker on Mar 22, 2011 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions
Field goal in baseball terms
with two outs and runners on base you could elect to have the batter toss the ball up in the air, unpitched by the defense, and hit it, if the balls lands safely the play continues and any runs that score on that play are worth a .4 of a run.
at the end of the play the inning ends. Strategic – you bet! Exciting – sure! In line with the rest of the game of baseball – barely….
That is the baseball field goal
by Hollywood Joe on Mar 22, 2011 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions
You act like field goals where added to football only recently
they have been an integral part of the game for decades.
And I’m sorry your analogy is just silly and makes no sense to me.
These hands will always be rough
but American football has never been just touchdowns. In fact the current 6+1 format is an evolution from the original 4+3 format. Field goals without the touch are still worth 3. It’s a holdover from the rugby rules.
A more accurate baseball analogy would be, well I don’t know any of the rules of Rounders, but I’m sure there’s something there.
by Josie Becker on Mar 22, 2011 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions
A more accurate baseball analogy would be, well I don’t know any of the rules of Rounders, but I’m sure there’s something there.
I don’t think there is one. They are very different sports.
These hands will always be rough
well then there you go, there is no baseball analogy.
by Josie Becker on Mar 22, 2011 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions
To me it just seems like a situation where
if you really don’t like special teams play that much, you don’t like football. Its part of the game, always has been, and in my opinion always should be.
These hands will always be rough
The whole point in American football, and rugby for that matter, having touchdowns worth multiple points, is that there are other ways of scoring worth fewer points. This isn’t some newfangled convention. There is no analogy whatsoever to baseball – or soccer, or hockey – where there is only one way to score, worth 1 point. Too complicated for you? Ah well. Don’t even look at cricket, then.
I think what I don't like
is the insinuation that they are “cheap” and “random”. As if teams don’t put as much time and effort into preparing and running special teams as they do the rest of the game, and just do it because, well its part of the rules so why not.
These hands will always be rough
I played cricket a few times, really fun game. Can’t remember any of the cool names for getting 25 or 100 runs (they are runs right, when you make it back and forth with your wicket still up?)
by Josie Becker on Mar 22, 2011 11:08 AM PDT up reply actions
I think Handball (elementary school style, not “team handball”) would be fun to watch pros play. You’d have grownups arguing about Bounce-pops and No Watermelons.
didn’t Hakeem Olajuwan grow up on handball?
by Josie Becker on Mar 22, 2011 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions
I know he was a goalie as a kid. Not sure about handball. I think that’s more of an Eastern European thing.
Hakeem Olajuwon Biography – From Handball To Basketball
Read more: Hakeem Olajuwon Biography – From Handball To Basketball, Two Trips To The Final Four, Chronology, Hakeem “the Dream” – SELECTED WRITINGS BY OLAJUWON: http://sports.jrank.org/pages/3508/Olajuwon-Hakeem.html#ixzz1HLxVY7Jr
by Josie Becker on Mar 22, 2011 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions
Man, I haven’t thought about the rule “no watermelons” in probably 20 years.
by Michael White on Mar 22, 2011 11:08 AM PDT up reply actions
also a big deal
The other major change involved instant replay. The booth replay official will now have to confirm all scoring plays, saving coaches from using challenges on plays in the end zone. To pass that proposal, the committee altered its suggestion by not changing the number of challenges for coaches. Now, coaches can make two challenges a game, but if they are correct on both, they would have access to a third challenge. The committee wanted to eliminate the third challenge.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6247029
These hands will always be rough
Another change
At the end of a tie game, they now go to a Family Feud style question-off hosted by Joe Rogan.
In a surprising move, the NFL tabled the expanded language changes in the rule involving penalties against defenseless players. Last year, the NFL cracked down with heavy fines and possible suspension for hits on defenseless players. The competition committee wanted to spell out those rules with eight explanations of what would be considered finable hits on defenseless players.
These hands will always be rough
The biggest loser… Toronto.
Toronto showed that there is absolutely no reason to hold on to your “star” (a term I use very loosely in this example) rather than trading them in the last year of their contract.
Cleveland had to keep Lebron, they had another shot at a title. The Raptors were completely stupid for holding onto Bosh.
by Michael White on Mar 22, 2011 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions
I remember the high profile deal of Bosh for Bynum. I don’t think they ever actively shopped him though.
by Michael White on Mar 22, 2011 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions
That Bynum elbow was nasty, saw it for the first time last night.
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
by meercatjohn on Mar 22, 2011 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions
Yup. That warranted a supsension. He didn’t even pretend to make a play on the ball.
by Michael White on Mar 22, 2011 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions
would the Lakers have been able to afford resigning him?
that would be relevant when considering Dwight Howard for a future Bynum trade
I think having pau and Bosh would have been redundant and caused problems on the defensive end.
No Rafael Furcals were hurt in the making of this video.
The Lakers’ most pressing need going forward is at point guard. I’d much rather see a play for Chris Paul or Deron Williams than Howard.
Well, neither of those teams (NOH or NJN) will trade Bynum for the PG and the Lakers don’t have much else to offer. You need one of those players to get Carmelo-mouthy and say they will only play for the Lakers and those teams figure it’s better to get Bynum than nothing. Of course, everybody knows theirs no way the Lakers can sign either as a free agent, so there’s not a whole lot to bluff with.
by Michael White on Mar 22, 2011 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions
Agreed 100%
That doesn’t mean I can’t want it. The Lakers really don’t have anything attractive to offer besides Bynum. Shannon Brown and late first-rounders probably don’t get the deal done. You’d probably need a third and/or fourth team that has someone desperate for a big with a sexy swingman to trade. I really don’t see it happening, but I’d be more than happy to trade Bynum for a top-30 or so player who is less injury prone.
Yes.
I hate Bosh and that trade would have been terrible for the Lakers. But at the time, Bynum was barely playing, so it made some sense.
by Michael White on Mar 22, 2011 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions
Ya, but there are a lot of people more likely to stay healthy than Bynum, so that can’t be the only criterion.
G. Scott is right, Pau >>>> Bosh and they are certainly redundant.
by Michael White on Mar 22, 2011 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions
Marbury action taking place?
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
by meercatjohn on Mar 22, 2011 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions
Interestingly, Woj brought up the Marbury name today. He didn’t exactly say the comp works, but he brought it up.
by Michael White on Mar 22, 2011 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions
To do better than expected, or to win the West?
by Michael White on Mar 22, 2011 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions
They are competitive, no doubt. But they stand 0 chance against LAL, SA, DAL, or even OKC….even though they are only like 2 games behind the Thunder
You are reaching putting OKC in that statement. Heck, against SA, with Duncan hobbled. ….
I’d say only the Lakers seem like a no-doubter that they don’t match up.
by Michael White on Mar 22, 2011 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions
that's where I differ
I would call them a darkhorse because I think they do have a shot at one or two of those teams. Definitely OKC.
Though it it true the advantages of their excellent depth are limited in the post season.
Fair assesment. They are extremely deep. In the NBA playoffs, for the most part, I usually like talent to win out. I just like the talent on the 4 I mentioned earlier.
Durant will shoot OKC out of the playoffs.
/hater
by Michael White on Mar 22, 2011 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions
VCU talent:)
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
by meercatjohn on Mar 22, 2011 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions
I had them really crazy – like an OPS of over 1000
but even joking I just couldn’t pull the trigger
by Hollywood Joe on Mar 22, 2011 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions
Back to the original article
While it might be a bit of an overstatement to say that 2011 is a make it or break it year for Loney
I disagree with this. Far from overstatement, I think we have already seen the make-or-break year for Loney — that was 2010 — and the needle ended up on break. He is back because he is still cheap enough, I guess, and the Dodgers didn’t really have a better option for a price they were willing to pay. So, OK, he’s back.
I certainly hope he breaks out and makes a fool out of me — wouldn’t be the first time! — but I think we have seen enough of the James Loney show to know, reasonably well enough, what he is going to do.
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
Maybe he is back
because they think Sands and Tray are the future and they didn’t want to block them in 2012 by signing a 1b long term. Yes, I know I’m crazy.
These hands will always be rough
I have to believe that even if the Dodgers were planning on having some combination of Sands/Robinson/Kemp/Ethier in the OF and at 1B on opening day next year — which I do not think is a given — then there have got to be better options than Loney who were available on a one-year contract….
…but not at the price that Colletti was willing to pay. For the price that he wanted to pay, he stuck with Loney.
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
by Humma Kavula on Mar 22, 2011 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions
The difference between Pena and Loney
was greater then Barajas. So, yeah, pretty much seems that way.
These hands will always be rough
i dunno i think the paragraph as a whole makes perfect sense
i was referring to his career as whole, not just his tenure with the Dodgers. i said that if he performs poorly he’ll be non-tenured by the dodgers. but i guarentee even if he has a another poor year and gets cut by the Dodgers he’ll be able to find another job out there for a decent amount of money, therefore that’s why i’m saying this year isn’t completely make or break for his career
by Brandon Lennox on Mar 22, 2011 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions
On second thought, you’re probably right. The fact that he’s back — even with his terrible campaign last year — could make everything that’s come before moot. If he performs, somebody will give him another shot at 1B.
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
by Humma Kavula on Mar 22, 2011 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions
I thought you meant make or break with the Dodgers
If Loney repeats his 2010 production in 2011, I doubt the Dodgers will make the playoffs, In which case I don’t think the Dodgers would be able to justify keeping him. I definitely wouldn’t say it’s make or break for his career though.
After going .175/.195/.280 for about three weeks, Mattingly straps him in a chair and makes him watch replays of his series in Colorado a few years ago, Clockwork Orange style, for a week straight. Gimenez fills in and goes .000/.043/.000. Loney comes back rejuvenated, albeit less goofy, and crushes at a .310/.360/.525 clip for the rest of the reason with 24 jacks.
If you are Orlando
Do you prefer to trade Dwight Howard for Andrew Bynum, or Brook Lopez?
I don’t suppose it matters though, Brooklyn could add more to the package after that than the LA could.
I am more than happy to keep Bynum.
Kind of a lose/lose.
Bynum is the better answer I guess, but going from the ironman Howard to injury-plagued Bynum is a downer. You probably want to try the Denver approach and try to blow up the team and get as much as you can out of the trade (never mind specifically targeting a center to replace Howard.) It’s not like by replacing Howard with a lesser center will maintain Orlando’s position in the East, it will need to be a full rebuild.
by Michael White on Mar 22, 2011 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions
Jim Loney
.294/.355/.461
14 HR’s
16 SB’s
2 IBB’s
by keithc13 on Mar 22, 2011 10:55 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
OK, here's my real prediction for Loney
After another two months of hitting like he did in the 2nd half of 2010, the Dodger brass decides they’ve had enough. Loney is called into Colletti’s office. “What are we gonna do about this, James?” Colletti asks. Loney replies, “Well, I used to pitch. I figure if the Dutch Rudder can become a pitcher in a year, so can I.”
Colletti is so shocked that his fake eyebrows pop right off his head. “Would you go down to the instructional league to work that out?” Loney shrugs. Sure. Charlie Hough is specifcially reassigned to work with him one-on-one.
Two months later, Hough, drunk, throws him into a game. “One inning,” he says. “Show me what you got.” Loney strikes out the side on nine pitches. TBLA dismisses the event because Loney is 27 and facing 20-year-olds.
But time goes on and Loney just keeps getting guys out. Nobody can figure out how, either, because he only throws a straight 93 mph fastball. The only hint is from a Diamondback farmhand: “Whenever I’m up against him, I look in those crazy eyes and it’s like I go into a hypnotic state,” he says. “I literally forget to swing.” This gives the ever-nicknameless Loney a nickname, finally: Rasputin.
With a miserable major league season griding to a halt, the Dodgers call Loney back up to see what he can do in the majors. On Thursday, September 22, he faces Brandon Belt with the game on the line and Rasputin strikes him out on three pitches. While this game does not knock them out (there are still six to play) it will be a memorable loss when the Giants miss the playoffs by one game.
TBLA spends the winter discussing whether James Loney really could be the fifth starter in 2012.
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
by Humma Kavula on Mar 22, 2011 11:14 AM PDT reply actions 3 recs
J.J. Hardy just blasted a hung slider from Chaimberlain over the left field wall, with the wind in Florida
by Josie Becker on Mar 22, 2011 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions
Time for ivdown to ditch work later today
minor leaguers suiting up, Barney Stinson style today:
Corey Smith (wearing number 96)
Jaime Pedroza (87)
Kyle Russell (90)
Blake Smith (94)
Orlando Mercado (93)
Justin Sellers (72)
Wilberto Ortiz (89)
Josh Walter (97)
Will Savage (95)
While it is pretty cool that the minor leaguers get to occasionally suit up for the game, it is telling that after the game they don’t get to change in the major league clubhouse. They grab their bag and head back to the minor league facility once to their locker room once the game is over.
Kyle Russell prediction for today:
2AB 1K 1HR
Really going out on a limb here. (On the other hand, predicting that he gets 2 chances today just might qualify as out on a limb.)
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
by Humma Kavula on Mar 22, 2011 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions
I’d put the O/U on plate appearances for Russell at 0.5
by Michael White on Mar 22, 2011 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions
This is the kind of game that BCG blasted a home run last year.
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
by meercatjohn on Mar 22, 2011 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions
WILL SAVAGE
hope he gets to pitch an inning, local boy with a great great name just waiting for Eric to give him the caption he so richly deserves.
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
by meercatjohn on Mar 22, 2011 11:41 AM PDT up reply actions
Don Newcombe
Is throwing out the first pitch today. I am out at the minor league fields now, Newk is out here with Sweet Lou.
They are doing PIP now and Tommy is out here doing some instruction. He yelled out "Hey lefty (to Adkins) on where to throw the ball. I believe he had no idea who he was talking to.
by bhsportsguy on Mar 22, 2011 11:30 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Walk in the entrance.
Take path to minor league fields.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 22, 2011 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions
What dates were you there? I believe that was before minor league camp opened. Free and clear access now.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 22, 2011 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions
Ah right. I hadn’t even thought of that. I was there in the first week of March. When did minor league camp open?
First full workout was March 11. First workout for pitchers was March 5.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 22, 2011 11:41 AM PDT up reply actions
follow the yellow brick road
Whenever fortune smiles on you, someone else got the frown
by meercatjohn on Mar 22, 2011 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions
Tommy probably had a flashback to when he yelled at Dennys Reyes to tell him he’s been traded with Konerko for Jeff Shaw. Imagine our present day equivalent: Elbert and Sands for Jose Valverde.
No Rafael Furcals were hurt in the making of this video.
Konerko had already flopped in a couple of shots with the big club (and was considered major-league ready) by the time he was traded, even though the Dodgers clearly hadn’t given up on him. I don’t think we really have an equivalent right now, unless you want to count Elbert. Dennys Reyes was more of an intriguing prospect than a good one. I’d say his comp would be more like Belisario.
Ha what a thread this has been.
Usually I am the guy taking on half of this community and pissing people off. In general TJ Simers schtick can get old at times but he also has immediate access to the Dodgers clubhouse, so that makes him worthwhile reading to me. And sometimes he does call out a douche bag Dodger when they need to lighten up realize they play baseball for a living.
Loney is my favorite player, so I hope he rebounds and kicks it into gear. I think he will.
And to just comment on the article itself, Brandon does a really all around great job and his writing style appeals to both the sabremetric types and the average fan where I feel I am at. His article(s) reads almost like an old school LA Times editorial.
i am not an obnoxious asshole in person. i think.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on True Blue LA
Related FanShots on True Blue LA
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Eric Hosmer redefines the Baltimore chop with infield double (Video)
- College player makes impossible over the fence catch to save tournament game (Video)
- Security!: Camden Yards guard collides with Royals’ Mike Moustakas
- The Juice: Nelson Cruz matches career high eight RBIs, Pujols stays hot in Seattle
- Benches clear at Fenway as Red Sox-Rays rivalry heats up
