Is Tonight Hiroki Kuroda's Final Start As A Dodger?
by Eric Stephen on Sep 27, 2011 2:42 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Previews
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Tuesday night's battle of the Dodgers and Diamondbacks at Chase Field is a contest between a pitcher pitching his first major league game, Jarrod Parker, and a pitcher who might be pitching in his last major league game. Hiroki Kuroda makes his final start of the season tonight. He has said it is 50/50 between staying a Dodger or returning to his native Japan, per MLB.com:
"Every offseason I think the coming season will be my last," he said. "I thought that last year. You never know what happens. I think every start could be my last start. I don't know when my last year will be, I don't know when my last start will be."
When Kuroda signed a three-year, $35.3 million contract with the Dodgers in December 2007, I had no idea what to expect. The soon-to-be 33-year old was 13-6 with a 1.85 ERA with the Hiroshima Carp in 2006, but followed that up with a 12-8 season with a 3.56 ERA that was more in line with the 3.69 ERA he posted in his 1,700 innings in 11 seasons in the Japanese Central League.
Kuroda was slated to be the fourth starter behind Brad Penny, Derek Lowe, and Chad Billingsley in 2008, and it spawned my first guest post on Dodger Thoughts, a precursor of sorts to my writing here at True Blue LA. I sought an answer to the question, "What is a fourth starter?" and came to this conclusion:
What does this mean for Kuroda? If they can get more than 124 IP with an ERA+ of 96 or more out of their newest Japanese import, they will be above average in the National League, and I'd call his season a success.
Kuroda was 9-10 with a 3.73 ERA (a 112 ERA+) in 183 1/3 innings in 2008, then closed out the Chicago Cubs in the NLDS to secure the first playoff series win for the Dodgers in 20 years. Kuroda also got the only win for the Dodgers in the NLCS against the Phillies.
In 2009, Kuroda started, and won, on opening day in San Diego but then missed two months with a strained oblique. That wasn't the last of his injury concerns that season, as he also was hit in the head by a line drive off the bat of Rusty Ryal on August 15. Kuroda missed three weeks with a concussion, though getting hit in the head is not something easily forgotten.
You won't find a Dodger teammate that doesn't respect and admire Kuroda, especially for his warrior mentality. Though he still occasionally thinks about the line drive, he doesn't let it affect his work on the mound. "If I had run away from that problem, I might not be able to play baseball at all," Kuroda told Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times last season.
Kuroda came back in September 2009 but missed the NLDS with a neck injury. He was inserted back into the rotation for the NLCS, but perhaps a bit too early as Kuroda got bombed in Game 3, allowing six runs while recording four outs.
In his four seasons with the Dodgers, Kuroda has been remarkably consistent:
| Year | BB/9 | K/9 | HR/9 | ERA | ERA+ | FIP | xFIP |
| 2008 | 2.06 | 5.69 | 0.64 | 3.73 | 112 | 3.59 | 3.89 |
| 2009 | 1.84 | 6.67 | 0.92 | 3.76 | 106 | 3.58 | 3.61 |
| 2010 | 2.20 | 7.29 | 0.69 | 3.39 | 114 | 3.26 | 3.43 |
| 2011 | 2.25 | 7.16 | 1.10 | 3.17 | 117 | 3.85 | 3.58 |
He hasn't received much run support this year, or in any of his four years, as evidenced by a 41-46 career record despite being a well above average starting pitcher. At 13-16 this season, Kuroda has set career highs in both wins and losses. It's almost as if individual wins and losses aren't the best barometer of pitcher performance.
Kuroda could have been traded in July, which made sense given that the Dodgers were out of the pennant chase by then and Kuroda was one of the best starters available on the market. He could have brought some prospects for the farm system in return, but Kuroda decided to exercise his no-trade clause and remain with the Dodgers.
It was not an easy decision for Kuroda, who said on July 30, "I, like any player here, would like to win and I know how it feels to pitch in the playoffs. I know how exciting that can be, so I had to really fight to come to this conclusion." In the end, it was about loyalty for Kuroda, who wanted to remain with the team he chose nearly four years ago.
Kuroda hasn't yet made his decision whether to come back to the Dodgers or return to Japan. He has been a very good pitcher in his four years in Los Angeles, and is a player who not only wants to win but wants to win as a Dodger. It would be great to have Kuroda back for another season, but if tonight is it, thanks for everything Hiroki.
*****
Game Time: 6:40 p.m.
TV: KCAL
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2012
starting lineup getting an early start
It's not what you look like, when you're doin' what you're doin'
It's what you're doin' when you're doin' what you look like you're doin'!
except, we have Wright at 3rd, after the Ethier challenge trade
by Hollywood Joe on Sep 27, 2011 2:57 PM PDT up reply actions
through in a developing 4th starter too
EO – see yo
by Hollywood Joe on Sep 27, 2011 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions
I hope that we can get Wright this offseason.
Prince would be great but I don’t know if we can afford him. Wright makes more sense because he is a 3B which we need more than a 1B. If we could add Wright while keeping Ethier we will be a playoff team next year. I believe that we are only a bat away from being serious contenders next year. I’d rather have Wright and Loney than Prince and Sellers.
by dodgers4life on Sep 27, 2011 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions
how valid is this?
Shame on me for not keeping up with the TBLA comments during work, but how much of a possibility is this? Or is this the wishful thinking of fans of bankrupt teams? Is Wright even on the table?
We won’t have Esmerling Vasquez to kick around anymore. The pitcher was claimed from the D-Backs by the Twins.
Dontcha just hate it when used up Has-Beens finally leave a show?
Andy Rooney to sign off ‘60 Minutes’ on Sunday
It's not what you look like, when you're doin' what you're doin'
It's what you're doin' when you're doin' what you look like you're doin'!
His eyebrows could provide shade for a large village.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 27, 2011 2:55 PM PDT up reply actions
to be fair, Ali G was preemptively mocking him
hard to judge anyone too badly when the who intent of the show is to provoke
by Hollywood Joe on Sep 27, 2011 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Dan Rooney is the shit
Art is ok
Rooney Mara is kinda cute
Andy Rooney’s 60 minutes are over
by Hollywood Joe on Sep 27, 2011 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Mickey Rooney was married a lot.
Follow @DavidYoungTBLA
- The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
_is_ married a lot
He’s still kicking (91 years old, married to a young thang of 71.
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Sep 27, 2011 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions
The line drive
Besides how brutal it looked, I remember this from it:
“One of the first things he asked out there was if anybody caught the ball out there, if it was an out,” [Dodgers trainer Stan] Conte said. “Amazingly, things look really pretty good. The fact that he didn’t lose consciousness is a very good sign.”
Yeah
I remember that, and also the fact that the ball had a fairly big bounce off Kuroda’s head being a good thing, because his if his head/brain had absorbed most of the blow the ball would have just dropped.
That was illuminating and scary.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 27, 2011 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Didn't that come up again
when that one guy broke a vertebrae in his neck?
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
heads like castle towers deflect blows
by Hollywood Joe on Sep 27, 2011 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Hiroki came with doubts, but not sure I’ve enjoyed any Free Agent time more than his. Class act from day one, I’m going to miss him if he indeed is making his last start. Good Job Ned
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
The hype around Matsuzaka made me wary
Yu Darvish suitors, take notice
The more you drink, the less gruesome I look.
Barca Blaugranes
@shadowking011
Agreed, a class act, who wanted to be on this team, and was a solid yeoman throughout.
I hope he comes back for one more year.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Me, too. He’s been one my favorites since he got here.
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Sep 27, 2011 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions
How much would Kuroda cost to bring back?
by dodgers4life on Sep 27, 2011 4:10 PM PDT up reply actions
“it spawned my first guest post on Dodger Thoughts, a precursor of sorts to my writing here at True Blue LA.”
It’s alive! It’s alive!
oh grant
That was just a few short months ago. Hypothetical question: would you go with Wakefield on Wednesday, or an out-of-shape Pedro Martinez who hasn’t thrown a ball in four months if you had to start one of them? Yeah, I’d probably pick Pedro too. That the question isn’t completely absurd tells you just how disheveled the Boston rotation is at the worst possible time.
http://mlb.sbnation.com/2011/9/27/2453054/boston-red-sox-wednesday-starting-pitcher-jon-lester
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
Kuroda's 14th win will come against...
Bloomquist SS
Parra LF
Upton RF
Montero C
Young CF
Overbay 1B
Blum 3B
Roberts 2B
Parker P
Keith Law will be in the house to watch Parker's debut
(Not that anyone cares, but I admit to being curious as to his thoughts on how Parker looks as he gets shelled.)
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Are the MMA fans here?
What did everyone think of Jones vs Rampage?
Went about how I thought it would, except I thought Jones would take down Rampage more.
Jones was impressive, but not unstoppable. He couldn’t get Rampage down in a clinch and he managed to avoid most of his crazy strikes. A more mobile guy like Rashad has a chance.
Jones was smart to duck him by breaking all him limbs.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Sep 27, 2011 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions
More(ass). I mean, more updates...
EricFisherSBJ Eric Fisher
MLB objects to emergency hearing tomorrow on #Dodgers motion fighting league motion to force club sale. MLB wants at least 2 more days.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Kuroda has a lot of wins and losses this year
@DavidYoungTBLA Hiroki Kuroda with win or loss today will have 2 No-decisions, lowest for LA #Dodgers starter, tied with Fernando 1986 and Osteen 1972.
@DavidYoungTBLA A 30th decision for #Dodgers Hiroki Kuroda today would be the most for LA since 1991 when Ramon Martinez went 17-13 in 33 starts.
@DavidYoungTBLA LA #Dodgers 30 or more decision seasons: Koufax, Drysdale, Osteen, Sutton, Messersmith, Orel, Fernando, Singer, Martinez. Kuroda could join.
Fernando has the highest % of decisions to starts in LA Dodger history, going 21-11 in 1986 in 34 starts, 94.12%. If Kuroda gets a decision tonight, he will have won or lost 93.75 of his starts this year. Osteen in ’72 was 20-11 in 33 starts, 93.94%
Follow @DavidYoungTBLA
- The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Awesome
Oh, Kuroda’s getting a decision. Nothing inverted about it.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 27, 2011 4:10 PM PDT up reply actions
love kuroda
is he arguably the best japanese starter of the last decade?
by hee came hee seop'd he choi'd on Sep 27, 2011 4:01 PM PDT reply actions
There’s no arguably about it.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Sep 27, 2011 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions
He’s arguable the best Japanese-born starter in MLB ever. Nomo did it longer of course, and had higher peaks, but overall he was like a 10-year average starter.
Follow @DavidYoungTBLA
- The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
yeah my hunch was he was second to nomo only but y’all have proven me wrong so many times I get gun shy
by hee came hee seop'd he choi'd on Sep 27, 2011 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Either way the best years belong to the Dodgers. Every Japanese pitcher should note this and only want to pitch for us. Provided their name does not have an Ishii.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
LA’s track record with Japanese pitchers >> Boston’s or New York’s.
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- The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Considering the best non Dodger is either Tomo Ohka or Dice-K…
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Sep 27, 2011 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Non Dodger starter.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Sep 27, 2011 4:18 PM PDT up reply actions
In b-r, DiceK 9.6 WAR, Ohka 10.7, Shiggy 10.5.
Follow @DavidYoungTBLA
- The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Fangraphs WAR
Nomo – 24.9
DiceK – 10.4
Kuroda – 12.2
Ohka – 11.6
Shiggy – 4.8 (!)
Saito – 8.6 (in B-R: 11.1)
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- The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
new yorks team includes
Kei Igawa, Hideki Irabu. Woof.
by hee came hee seop'd he choi'd on Sep 27, 2011 4:18 PM PDT up reply actions
From the previous thread, speaking of electric vehicles, my company made MSNBC today
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Cool stuff.
“Yours” as in, you own it?
by TopDeckTrueBlue on Sep 27, 2011 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions
In the last two days the Dodgers have sent out press releases touting Kershaw (Monday) and Kemp (today) for their respective awards.
Don’t see that often. Or maybe we just haven’t had a legit candidate in the three years that I’ve been getting press releases.
I’m surprised y’all haven’t been invited to a party in their honor : )
by Josie Becker on Sep 27, 2011 4:10 PM PDT up reply actions
The titles (and subtitles) of the releases
CLAYTON KERSHAW COMPLETES HISTORIC 2011 SEASON
Left-hander finishes season positioned to win National League Triple Crown and Cy Young Award
KEMP CONTINUES SEASON FOR THE AGES
MVP Candidate Needs Two Homers to Become the Fifth 40/40 Player in MLB History
by Eric Stephen on Sep 27, 2011 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions
I am irritated that Marmol exists
They should also start pimping Kenley for ROY, he’s been that awesome
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
If Kimbrel didn’t exist I’m sure they would.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Sep 27, 2011 4:14 PM PDT up reply actions
They should anyway, a top 5 finish would be cool even if he’s not expected to win.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Jed Lowrie at cleanup?
I say they’ve pressed the panic button
The more you drink, the less gruesome I look.
Barca Blaugranes
@shadowking011
It would be great to have Kuroda back for another season, but if tonight is it, thanks for everything Hiroki.
Amen.
"It takes a special fan to root for a last place moribund bankrupt franchise."
by Little Blue Bicycle on Sep 27, 2011 4:15 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I am a terrible person. I read this and nearly spat water all over my monitor.
BREAKING: D Lowe scratched tonight for “family emergency” in Florida. RT @ajc: $500,000 worth of bundled cocaine washes ashore in Florida.
I pitched to Matt Kemp, and all I got was this stupid earned run.
@maddzgoesrawr @arenafitness
Orioles take 1-0 lead
/ESPN groans
The more you drink, the less gruesome I look.
Barca Blaugranes
@shadowking011
BillShaikin
Fox sues #Dodgers in bankruptcy court, seeking unspecified damages and order that any sale TV rights sale comply with current contract.
I find it perversely fascinating.
Follow @DavidYoungTBLA
- The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
If BOS loses tonight
They’re bringing Lester tomorrow on three days’ rest
The more you drink, the less gruesome I look.
Barca Blaugranes
@shadowking011
They pay for your bread and butter sister.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
do you like aliens
bright colors, and richard dreyfous?
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
I’d be very curious if it held up for an open minded first time viewer. I’m sure I would not like it now, but I was captivated by it when it came out.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Heh
My reply was without seeing yours. Kinda the same.
Follow @DavidYoungTBLA
- The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
I started to watch “Last Starfighter” last night, when that came out, I loved it, what a POS, I was at a loss to explain to Verdell how I ever thought it was a “fun” movie.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I barely remember that coming out and thinking at the time that it looked terrible. Never saw it.
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- The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
I wonder how it holds up. It was a gas to see on a big screen in it’s initial release. Probably still worth it. Plus Terri Garr is in it.
Follow @DavidYoungTBLA
- The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Yes, it is still a classic.
A few parts now seem dated to me, a bit slow in middle but still amazes. the climax moved me again when I saw it recently.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Enemy Mine
For whatever reason one of my all time favorite B movies
by jim hitchcock (railway) on Sep 27, 2011 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions
I read the novelization as a kid
never did see the movie.
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
I really like that movie as well! A real sleeper
now that’s one I should revisit, haven’t seen in awhile, wonder if it holds up.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
Lou Gossett said
The technique he used for Drac speak was having a mouth full of saliva.
by jim hitchcock (railway) on Sep 27, 2011 5:11 PM PDT up reply actions
The same technique has been used by Tommy Lasorda for years.
Follow @DavidYoungTBLA
- The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
Jon Weisman has a look at Kuroda possibly costing the Red Sox the Wild Card
Also per Jon, Chris Jaffe took a look via hardball times on the 75th anniversary of Walter Alston’s only at bat.
In the minors Alston showed promise, hitting over .300 with power in the St. Louis farm system, but there was a big problem. He played first base for a team that already had Johnny Mize. Four times Alston would lead his league in homers, but there was no place for him in the majors. And the more the years went by, the less the aging Alston seemed like a prospect. ..
.
So much good stuff
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I didn’t get around to doing a links column today, then I forgot to link to the Chris Jaffe piece. So many Dodger things in that link, those are always amazing.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 27, 2011 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions
And we wondered if we’d ever have something to write about on a daily basis
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
2,000 days since James Loney made his big league debut.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
10,000 days since Joe Morgan fanned with the bases loaded to end a game for the only time in his career. Baltimore beats Morgan’s Athletics, 4-3.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
1938 On the 15th anniversary of his first home run, Lou Gehrig belts his 493rd and final one.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
1961 Sandy Koufax sets a new NL record (since 1900 anyway) with 269 strikeouts in a season. The old record was 267 by Christy Mathewson. That said, Koufax loses the game despite a Game Score of 76, the second highest mark for someone stuck for the loss all season. LA loses 2-1 on a pair of unearned runs.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
1969 Jerry Reuss makes his big league debut. Of all the four-decade players, he’s the one who most barely makes it. He has this one game in the 1960s, and one in the 1990.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
He knew then it was time to retire.
Well, not really, since he played out the season, his last. Was still a league-average hitter (103 OPS+) that year, age-40 season.
Follow @DavidYoungTBLA
- The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.
And Chris Davis out at first
On a pitch that hit him… And he swung at it…
The more you drink, the less gruesome I look.
Barca Blaugranes
@shadowking011
Ben Zobrist (MVUP) 2-run shot
Rays take a 2-0 lead
The more you drink, the less gruesome I look.
Barca Blaugranes
@shadowking011
And Ellsbury ruins everything
Sawx lead 2-1
The more you drink, the less gruesome I look.
Barca Blaugranes
@shadowking011
braves are such chokers
Already down 2-0.
They were up 10.5 games on the Cardinals on August 30th or somethin
What is with
the sparse crowd in Atlanta watching their team try to make the playoffs? Dodger fans get this unfair rap but if they were trying to make the playoffs you can bet they’d have a much bigger crowd vociferous crowd on hand to root them on than the one in Atlanta tonight.
Picture of stadium tweeted out a little while ago was pretty quiet and sparse. maybe filled up more since then. have they already given up since it’s the phillies? Tomahawk chop THIS, mofos!
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
and so is miami and tampa
so maybe its just a SE USA thing…i’m sure the weather plays a part but that cant be all of it.
That's football country
The more you drink, the less gruesome I look.
Barca Blaugranes
@shadowking011
Tampa does seem to be
(except on rare occasions when Bucs are a SB contender) but Miami has supported Dolphins in past very well and certainly that area loves its college sports. But the Marlins’ stadium was so awful, with new one they will draw much better. Still it does seem to be full of bandwagoners and such. Especially for baseball. The weather can be awful, too, yeah.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
NASCAR is well attended, as is college football. Can’t just set up franchises and expect them to be awesome. Why the NHL had to try twice in Atlanta, and MLB is on its third time in Washington is beyond me
by Josie Becker on Sep 27, 2011 5:07 PM PDT up reply actions
NASCAR only comes maybe once or twice a year to those cities though.
Supporting a continued product is not something the SE does.
The Miami Heat – look at their bandwagon and that stadium is still quiet and half full at the start of the game.
Miami Hurricanes – many many empty seats..even when they were good.
Atlanta Hawks – empty seats.
oh, but do they tour. and oh, but do they go to road football games.
by Josie Becker on Sep 27, 2011 5:12 PM PDT up reply actions
I mentioned that but I didn’t fit Joey’s hypothesis
by Josie Becker on Sep 27, 2011 5:19 PM PDT up reply actions
I wonder if they regret leaving Wisconsin
by Josie Becker on Sep 27, 2011 5:20 PM PDT up reply actions
Atlanta Population – 420,000
Los Angeles – 3,792,000
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Wow
Austin up to 790,000 from 1990 465,000
Big time growth
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Um...
the Atlanta Metro area, which is what we should count when talking about fanbase, is 5.2 million.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
No
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0763098.html
I can show my work. Was just using cities.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Yeah I’m just counting the city. Apple to Apple for LA and Atlanta
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I’m not even sure why you brought it up, Bobby Brady
by Josie Becker on Sep 27, 2011 5:31 PM PDT up reply actions
but the more apt comparison
is LA County to Atlanta “metro”. Which is a bit less dramatic.
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
Well your larger point is still true in that LA itself is much bigger
being the 2nd largest city and alll…
but the Metro area for Atlanta is huge and their fans (supposedly) come from all over that area. So they should still have enough peeps to support their team.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
small stadium(55k)
and they play less then 15 games a year
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
Yeah i dont get the college football comparison…college football is usually well attended everywhere bc there’s only 6-7 home games per team each year..
Supporting 81 MLB games…or 41 NBA home games…is a much different story
and poo on those Atlantans for not wanting to commit to 81 games
by Josie Becker on Sep 27, 2011 5:39 PM PDT up reply actions
but 81 games is tough
its a lot of games. I got burned out going to less then 15 baseball games this year.
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
THIS IS MY ONLY POINT! Not trying to compare, or apples, or oranges, just saying, you can’t point to baseball attendance in any city and say, well people in that city just don’t like sports
by Josie Becker on Sep 27, 2011 5:42 PM PDT up reply actions
they were but playoff contender last 2 years
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
did anyone say they don't like sports?
or just that they don’t ‘support’ them?
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
they don’t support the sports that require a large commitment, and in the case of NHL, was just thrust upon them. I want that distinction made.
by Josie Becker on Sep 27, 2011 5:46 PM PDT up reply actions
ok
though if they average 24 k a game they are probably putting 1920ish K tickets sold, which is still a lot more then georgia techs max season capacity. Then again I don’t know how many big college football programs they have in atlanta. Georgia is bigger isn’t it?
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
Georgia is bigger than GTech, sure, but they’re both well supported
by Josie Becker on Sep 27, 2011 5:50 PM PDT up reply actions
the Braves should be contracted and moved to Mexico City
by Josie Becker on Sep 27, 2011 5:47 PM PDT up reply actions
2 years ago
I would have loved a team in Mexico. Nowdays not so much.
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
I wonder about Nashville. Nashville might be able to support a MLB team. They are kind of a dead area as far as MLB fandom is concerned.
I pitched to Matt Kemp, and all I got was this stupid earned run.
@maddzgoesrawr @arenafitness
I dunno, when I think Nashville, I think live music scene
by Josie Becker on Sep 27, 2011 5:58 PM PDT up reply actions
I said think. Like when I think about Alaska, I think about polar bears
by Josie Becker on Sep 27, 2011 6:05 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I was mostly just asking. When I think of Los Angeles I think of movie stars, but the Dodgers manage to (normally) support nearly 4million fans.
I think of cars. Lots and lots and lots of cars.
I pitched to Matt Kemp, and all I got was this stupid earned run.
@maddzgoesrawr @arenafitness
too many damn cars
everyone else needs to stop driving so I can drive in peace
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
Victory Blvd?
I pitched to Matt Kemp, and all I got was this stupid earned run.
@maddzgoesrawr @arenafitness
Easy to attend a Saturday Day/Night game, traffic is a huge problem for those not living in the city trying to get home and back to the game during the week.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
It is bad, you're right
in quite a few ways it is LA like actually. Which brings me back to my original point that I wish people wouldn’t give LA fans so much shit. Either give Atlanta fans shit, too, fair or not, or shut up. (National media, not TBLA peeps.)
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 point is that I wish our fans did not dump on other teams fans for not going to games. Especially the ones who don’t spend a dime on going to Dodger games.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
My point is that football season tickets are an easier sell, and baseball is a really huge commitment to follow. It’s entirely possible most people don’t want to go to more than ten live sporting events a year
by Josie Becker on Sep 27, 2011 5:38 PM PDT up reply actions
except to sell out the season
georgia tech has to sell 10 times fewer tickets then the braves
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
I’m not arguing, baseball is a much harder sell. They average 29,000 tickets a game.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I don’t feel like I’m arguing with you, though nolander keeps trying to convince me…..possibly that football should be sad it has it so easy?
by Josie Becker on Sep 27, 2011 5:41 PM PDT up reply actions
no just that comparing selling 350k tickets
isn’t a good comparison to selling 4000k tickets
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
Did the Dodgers sell out the TBLA clincher game in 2009? I think not. They had played like shit the week before and the Rockies were closing fast.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
so you're saying glass house, stones, etc
and underdog is saying hey, how come only LA gets flack?
arguing past each other, friends
I pitched to Matt Kemp, and all I got was this stupid earned run.
@maddzgoesrawr @arenafitness
Because LA is not the only one who gets flack. You’d think the way people respond to LA criticism that every pundit points their fingers at us and solely makes fun of us. This tired victim act gets bloody old.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
I’m unaware of any other baseball team that gets the “attendance” trope thrown at them
I pitched to Matt Kemp, and all I got was this stupid earned run.
@maddzgoesrawr @arenafitness
Now I'm confused
That is why they get shit for not coming to games.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 27, 2011 5:50 PM PDT up reply actions
but LA in the past HAS supported
their non pro football teams yet still gets tons of flack.
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
I don’t think anyone says LA fans don’t support. The Dodgers are record breakers in attendance. The trope is arrive in the third and leave in the seventh
by Josie Becker on Sep 27, 2011 5:51 PM PDT up reply actions
The myth (at least before it became true this year) was that Dodger fans don’t come to the games.
The crappy teams get rightfully dumped on for having no one show up. But well, why the hell would anyone show up to those games?
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Sep 27, 2011 5:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Nobody gave LA crap for not coming to games at Dodger Stadium before this year. The rap for decades has been of the arrive-late, leave-early variety.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 27, 2011 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions
LA has never had a pro football stadium.
by Josie Becker on Sep 27, 2011 5:48 PM PDT up reply actions
A’s fans took a drubbing when only 700 were showing up
by Josie Becker on Sep 27, 2011 5:48 PM PDT up reply actions
I suspect that everyone in every city thinks their teams are always being shat on.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
that'd I'd agree with
except Cardinals fans. They know they are “The Best Fans.” :-)
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
No one's being a "victim"
I’m really tired of people dumping on LA fans, period. No one takes as much shit for being “indifferent, come late, leave early, don’t give a crap” fans than LA fans. I’m sorry you’re tired of people harping on it but I’m more tired of hearing it. Then again if I lived in LA itself nowadays I wouldn’t hear it as much. I don’t just hear it from the media but hear it from fans, citizens, etc.
On the other hand I guarantee you that I don’t care nearly as much as it seems from all the jibber jabber words I just typed on this subject. ;-)
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
people in LA are also called latte drinking Prius drivers, sometimes you gotta ignore the chatter
by Josie Becker on Sep 27, 2011 5:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Is it bad that I don’t see anything wrong with that?
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Sep 27, 2011 5:50 PM PDT up reply actions
well lets see
a) I see a billion prius’s every day
b) People around here drink a lot of starbucks
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
The Prius runs so quietly, it’s easier to hear all the barbs hurled one’s way.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 27, 2011 5:51 PM PDT up reply actions
We’re soft, this is reflected in our teams despite the fact that the players may or may not be for the West Coast.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Sep 27, 2011 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions
soft like delicious cheese, which is all San Franciscans eat with their wine
by Josie Becker on Sep 27, 2011 5:54 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh Wait We're
a bunch of Porsche-driving, starlet-chasing, cocaine-sniffing, surfboard-waxing, Armani-wearing, spritzer-drinking, sunshine-soaking, tofu-eating, leg-hair-waxing, sunglasses-wearing weinies.
Which all seems pretty awesome to me.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Sep 27, 2011 5:58 PM PDT up reply actions
well I’m pretty sure Texans are proud of being Rodeo Loving, Country music listening, cow patty stepping, yokels
by Josie Becker on Sep 27, 2011 6:00 PM PDT up reply actions
Real men are
Chevy-driving, ball-shagging, cheesesteak-chomping, beer-drinking, Phanatic-hugging, face-unshaving, charity-supporting, hard-playing, easy-laughing good guys you’d love to have for neighbors
So basically being a man being disgusting and fat.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Sep 27, 2011 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions
disgusting, fat, AND philanthropic!
I pitched to Matt Kemp, and all I got was this stupid earned run.
@maddzgoesrawr @arenafitness
I said that supercross article was the worst one of all time, but that didn’t have the huge amount of casual racism and horrible analogies that this one does.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Sep 27, 2011 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions
That’s why we don’t mess with them.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Sep 27, 2011 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions
The Houston Texans are soft
I think its because they don’t sign criminals, but I’m not sure.
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
it’s because Houston is a terrible city, too hot and nothing but smog
by Josie Becker on Sep 27, 2011 5:56 PM PDT up reply actions
And really this is not a game I would want to go to.
Minor League Central @mlcentral @andrewngrant
by regfairfield on Sep 27, 2011 5:41 PM PDT up reply actions
well its easy to bag on dodger fans too
If you have the population base LA does…averaging 36K a game is pathetic.
I guess the McCourt issue will suffice for this year though.
Honestly, in today’s world I wouldn’t be bagging on anyone of they decided not to spend a few hundred dollars to take their family to a sporting event.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
the fact that Yankee Stadium is occasionally not sold out is a travesty to humanity
by Josie Becker on Sep 27, 2011 5:43 PM PDT up reply actions
I gotcha. I guess I wasn't clear, I was more surprised at Braves fans
given the playoff atmosphere and think Dodger fans would turn out better than that but also just think I’d rather neither our fans nor their fans get dumped on. Just don’t think that is a choice I will realistically be given.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
which could return us to the aforementioned point that football is > baseball there in the ol south
but who knows.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
The Yalie coming through. One of my friends ins school grew up playing ball with Lavarnaway. He said they were talking on the phone last month when Boston was in Texas and Lavernaway said, “I gotta go, Beckett is on the other line and he wants to take me to a strip club.”
by UCLADodger32 on Sep 27, 2011 5:19 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Close to mathematically over
Jose Reyes homered in the 3rd, 1 for 2 tonight, now hitting .3346.
Would need Reyes to go 0-6 and Kemp to go 7 for 8 for Kemp to win
the worst part
will be trying to land on the aircraft hanger on ps3. Murderous rage inducing are the only words that can appropriately describe it.
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
MAG was bigger!
but no one played it, so does it really count? Beta/Demo out in 2 days…
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
Braun Sez Happy New Year, Bitch.
"I was a little scared he was into that Oakland thing. We swing here on 3-0." Grady Little on Andre
In case anyone was keeping track
Kemp can still win the batting title if…
Kemp goes 7 for 8
Braun goes 0 for 7
Reyes goes 0 for 6
by Eric Stephen on Sep 27, 2011 5:31 PM PDT up reply actions
I can see why the Red Sox are high on that Lavarnway kid.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers/Lakers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants/Warriors country, and damned proud of it.
yonked in the 4th
that bullpen has to be beat up by now doesn’t it?
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
Updated Kemp batting title scenario
Reyes .3358
Braun .3351
Kemp .3238
Kemp needs to go 8 for 9
Reyes 0 for 6
Braun 0 for 5
2-2 at the Trop
Dammit Yanks just tank already
The more you drink, the less gruesome I look.
Barca Blaugranes
@shadowking011
bahahaha
I pitched to Matt Kemp, and all I got was this stupid earned run.
@maddzgoesrawr @arenafitness
sliding into first
dumbest thing ever?
It only works if you know the fielder is unleashing a wild throw and you might need to avoid a high tag.. other than that it makes you slower to the bag.. hahaha Russell
so, every Diamondback runner tonight on a grounder to short if they catch Dee dropping sidearm :)
by Eric Stephen on Sep 27, 2011 6:03 PM PDT up reply actions
I wonder if I couldn’t log in at work because of the ad or what. not one link on the page worked, and every one of them took me back to the top of the page. Weird.
happened to me too
at work, couldn’t comment all day there
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 27, 2011 6:00 PM PDT up reply actions
like me
your firewall was aesthetically offended by the wrap around ad
I pitched to Matt Kemp, and all I got was this stupid earned run.
@maddzgoesrawr @arenafitness
looks like it
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 27, 2011 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions
watching Catching Hell
really sad for Bartman.
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 27, 2011 6:02 PM PDT reply actions
thats brutal.
Thing is..it wasnt a guarantee that Alou makes that catch..and there were a bunch of other plays later in that inning that could have been changed.
Alex Gonzalez should be the goat that Bartman is. Hell, both Alex Gonzalezes just to be safe.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 27, 2011 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions
yup
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 27, 2011 6:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Also Cubs fan Bernie Mac for yelling “Champs!” during the 7th inning stretch during Take Me Out To The Ballgame, though I see his bill already came due.
by Eric Stephen on Sep 27, 2011 6:08 PM PDT up reply actions
hey tommy, reg, nolander
here is a warmup for you before you SQUAT MOAR so you can SQUAT MOAR
also, who wants to like my gym on facebook? ehh? eh?!
I pitched to Matt Kemp, and all I got was this stupid earned run.
@maddzgoesrawr @arenafitness
my bosses, while adorably awkward at the beginning, are super swole and awesome
I pitched to Matt Kemp, and all I got was this stupid earned run.
@maddzgoesrawr @arenafitness
it got awkward at 6:50
but since I work out with my wife…
Watch me all in flames, on a butterfly I ride
Hiroki has been one of my favorite pitchers to watch all these years.
If this is the end of him in Dodger Blue, thanks for everything Hiroki. I’ll never forget being there when you shut the Cubs down in 2008.
"Heroes get remembered, but Legends never die."
by Tommy Blackjack on Sep 27, 2011 6:16 PM PDT reply actions
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