BlackBerry and Cell Phone Equal More Flexibilty
The latest post from Team Travel Manager Scott Akasaki…
I am in amazement at the volume of e-mails, text messages, and cell phone calls I make throughout the course of a typical work day. Like other professions, the advent of the BlackBerry has transformed the speed at which the Major League Baseball traveling secretary can conduct business. Flights, hotel reservations, rental cars, ticket requests, and any other special handling can now be managed with one’s wireless device. I happen to use the BlackBerry Pearl and I pray that it always has battery life and the keys do not malfunction.
Last night at a postgame dinner, I wondered out loud how the traveling secretary’s job was done without a cell phone or e-mail as recent as 15 years ago. Joe Torre said that with the improvements in communication (cell phone, e-mail, text messages, fax machines, etc.) player moves (promotions, send downs, rehab assignments) occur with more frequency and rapidity than ever before. Research would probably support the theory that player movement is more prevalent now than in the decades before.
The other night when we called up Clayton Kershaw from Jacksonville, his travel arrangements (and the communication to get him the proper information) were all made through e-mail and text messages. His travel was booked and the information was given to him in less than 30 minutes — all this while I was in Denver and he was on a bus headed toward Jacksonville. A grasp of technology has certainly given those in professional baseball the freedom to move at a much more rapid pace.
Inside the Dodgers 
this is ugly…can we leave Colorado now?
Too bad Clayton was treated so roughly upon his return to the Bigs . . .
Curious, though, does it seem that Vinny is being a bit more honest in some of his commetary – such as when he queried about why Johnson was asked to hit, and put the “blame” on Torre’s shoulders.
WAY TO GO MATT – now we’re not shut out!!!
Can’t wait to get some home cooking vs. the Nats and G’Nats.
it must be so cool being the Dodgers Team Travel Manager. To be anyone in the Dodger family must be the coolest job, even washing the uniforms 🙂 I miss being a competitive athlete (I did division one sports all the way through college) and all that goes along with the traveling and the team atmosphere! The good old days. haha- I am retired at 24!!!
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Anyway- goonight my friends. Thank you Jhall for your comments on Kemp’s HR. it was the only highlight of the game.
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Beimel’s (sp?) commentary on the bobbleheads was very funny. I love that guy. He is the same in person as he is on TV!
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Dnel- look at our boys comtinuing to hit those HR. I like how they represent for the “power” on this team 🙂
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One day closer to the trade deadline being over. Coss our fingers.
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and, it’s cool. These next two games will catch us back up to .500. Though I am sad that the we lost one to the Rockies- i like that we usually shut them out. That’s how baseball works, one landslide win one night, the other teams basically shuts you out the next. crazy stuff.
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like those Dos xx commericals ‘Stay thirsty my Friends’ i am going to say to you all “Stay Poistive my Friends”!! We gottem tomrrow!!
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jhall – Are you still watching the Indian’s game?
I’ve read a lot in the previous thread about the possibility of trading LaRoche for Beltre. We all loved Beltre in 2004 when he hit .388/.629/1.017, but he hasn’t approached those numbers since. Was he juiced? Idk, it could be another case of “get the big paycheck…go through the motions.” His current numbers are .335/.441/.776 with a salary of $13,400,000. I would be surprised if LaRoche doesn’t match those numbers…for $13,000,000 less!
Chevrolet coupe mow de lawn…….
jboydstun – too much of a risk knowing Ned’s behind it too. Any player at this point is suspect when Ned is involved. We are ethier (either) going to get crap or we are going to give up gold. Ned doesn’t need to do anything. Just sit back and watch this time around.
Yep Nelly. Middle of 8th, 3-2 Angels. Indians have one more shot.
LOL Eric!!
I tend to agree with you Jboy.
Wee!
LOL!! You’ve got it Eric. Oui?
I am watching, too:) Got kicked off computer for some reason. Hello Ward, How was your day, dear?
Oh, fine. The Sheriff was looking over my shoulder all day long. Little 2-ing 6er.
Then the mimeograph machine went on the fritz. And I ran out of carbon paper. I went to fill up the Studebaker only to find out that they raised the price to 17.9!
LOL!!! I thought that might have happened.
Gosh, I hate when that happens!!
Who was it, lee I think. Starting Kersh in Colo was a mistake. Not that we had much of a chance tonight anyway…..I’d like to see how many runs we’ve averaged over the years after we score 10 or more. It seems to me that it’s not unusual for this to happen.
Sure seems to happen more often than not. Their starter was dealing tonight. Just wasn’t our night.
all the way up to 17.9 – Wow!!! That’s expensive!! Let’s hope the price starts coming down just a tad. Also, very familiar with the mimeograph machine going down 🙂
Grady kept the indians alive for now
Did the hubby get his butter and peanut butter and jam and bacon sandwich today?
Grady stole 2nd. Need a base hit.
eric – It was just one of those Colorado nights. It’s hard to tell with any of the starting pitching if it would have been any different with somebody else up there. None of our starters have had good starts in this rotation. Maybe Kuroda can get the starting pitchers back on track.
No, I will have to do that when I get home from Vegas on Saturday. We didn’t want to mess up the kitchen before leaving. Just had Maria’s mexican food instead. I am going to try that at least once though. Sounds fascinating!!!
Ratiere!!®
C’est La Vie….
Getting good pitching is contagious. I just hope that someone can get some outs tomorrow.
Well that sucked jhall!! strikeout to end the game.
Oui Nelly!!
Ratatouille!
si, jhall 🙂
à la carte!
à la mode!
LMKO!!! It’s good to have you home Ward. Like I was telling Wally, it will be good to see you, Wally and Beav back at it again when the Beav gets home. He sure has been with that Lumpy for quite some time now. Let’s hope he didn’t get into any mischief with that boy. You know how the Beav can get sometimes. LOL!!
crème de menthe!
I don’t think I was alone in saying starting Kershaw here was not a good idea. But you just have to accept the Coors Field issue and move on. No excuse for the offense, but as long as we come back and win tomorrow, all is well.
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Just a note–I disagree with the sentiment that Kershaw is not big league ready. He’s not yet the ace he will likely become, but as a fifth starter, you have to like him. He could learn to refine the straight change, but other than that, what does he really have to learn in AA or AAA? I don’t quite understand why he went down. I just wish we had waited and brought back after we got home and out of Denver.
***-de-sac, eau de Cologne, eh, esprit de corps…..
HAR HAR HAR!!! Can’t say dead-end street!!!
lee, nail on the head, nail on the head, nail on the head. I keep waiting for you to say something I disagree with, but not yet!
Rire un bon coup!!!
Totally agree leefink!! Not a good idea to bring him back up in Colorado, and it’s not like any of our pitchers have done much this week anyway. The only reason we won yesterday was because of the 8 run first inning. Even you said you weren’t comfortable with the lead we had. He’s like many of our young players right now – just needs time.
Agreed Leek!!
Wonder why you can’t say *** on here?
Rire beau coup!!!
jhall – you’ve decided to give us lessons in french, I see. Let me check my dictionary – LOL!!!
déjà vu
double entendre, soup du jour!
Laughing very much, oui?
I was watching the Dodger post game show. They put Sweeney’s pic on the screen and put his batting average underneath. His PINCH HITTING average: 6 for 50, a raging .120.
wee!
The Dodgers, who would prefer to acquire a true shortstop and move Nomar Garciaparra to third base, are in on Blake and McPherson, the former Angels prospect who is healthy again and has hit 32 home runs in Triple-A for the Florida Marlins. The Dodgers also need help in the bullpen but are not believed to be interested in Street
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has this been posted? Tim Brown Yahoo Sports.
weewee, mama!
Bon fille Nelly!!
Oui..
So, when he comes back, he and Andruw will have a combined average of .283 – They can both bat at the same time for Andre who is batting .280 right now.
jungar – you really know how to spoil fun, don’t you? (jk) No, we haven’t heard that yet. Thank you, once again, for keeping us informed. My A’s/Braves buddy told me tonight that Street will be gone, and they are not renewing Ellis’ contract for next year ethier (either). They are truly cleaning house of all vets.
McPherson, a true shortstop? He’s never played short! That would be a typical Ned move. After all, he dominated with the Los Angeles California Anaheim Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Should be able to get him for, say $12 million per.
Haven’t heard that one Jungar. Hope they don’t let Ned do anything.
Who would have thought that ITD could teach a foreign language – lol!!
Non echanges!!
Good girl Nelly – oui?
RBC!! (Rire beau coup)
Oui..
femme fatale
film noir, fleur-de-lis (that’s a Boy Scout thing!)
yes, jhall – No trades!!! No trades!!! No trades!!!
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RBC!!! eric
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This is going to freak enchanted out!!! RBC!!!!!!
He might think it is Red Blood Cells. RBC!!!
Kind of fun brushing up on some French. You realize you have forgotten more than you remember of it after many years.
All in all I know we need a little help, just so afraid of the man playing the cards.
hors d’oeuvre, nouveau riche!
jungar – you are absolutely correct! It really is a Ned issue and not the issue of trade itself. The Dodgers have gotten burned so many times, and right now one of them is taking up space in centerfield, and the other one is set to return to leftfield any day now. What more do we have to put with?
Yep Jungar, Ned is not the one you want playing the hand.
jhall – I am very, very impressed. Eric, it’s okay – I don’t know french ethier (either). I am sitting here with my son’s dictionary. He was helping for a while, but now he is in bed. He left me with the dictionary and said “Good Luck” LOL!!
Merci Nelly. I had to pull out some of my old books and notes as well. RBC!!!
I just typed “French words in the English language” into Google……..cut and paste……..
I decided about a week ago to get back into it.
We should learn Klingon!!!
Bable fish works well for that too, eric ,when you want more than just a few words. We use it all the time to translate things into spanish for parents. Look at all the stuff we learn on here – just fabulous!!
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jhall – that’s good to know.
jhall – keep it up and us beginners might pick up some for ourselves.
jIboghDI’ SIbI’
Datvo’ ghompu’ ghojmoq.
‘ej yay’taHvIS mInDu’
DunwI’ Doj lughoq.
pay’ jatlh ghojmoqpIn:
*ghuvam vID yIHaj!*
DotlhwIj tlhojchu’mo’:
jInaSchu’ vaj.
I have no idea what that is – LOL!!! asian or european, perhaps? or is it klingon, like jhall suggested? Are you a trekky,eric?
C’mon, c’mon…………
On the day I was born
the nurses all gathered round
and they gazed in wild wonder
at the joy they had found.
The head nurse spoke up,
said “leave this one alone.”
She could tell right away
that I was bad to the bone.
In Klingon.
I swear.
http://www.khemorex-klinzhai.de/e/Hol/songs/songs.html#badbone
It’s Klingon but I don’t know what it means/says.
I’m old enough to have watched Star Trek on its original run. I liked The Next Generation run. I saw all the movies.
But I don’t own a shirt or Spock Ears.
Whatever that makes me.
Thank heavens that was Klingon!! Oh my gosh!! I was worried!! It really exists? I guess so – LOL!!!
Holy Cow. That’s wild Eric.
A mild trekky, maybe, but that sounds in the normal range. I really only watched the old ones. Wasn’t really into the new ones.
I guess it’s like the language JRR Tolkien came up with for Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
enchanted’s going to have fun with this, you know 🙂
Yes, I guess you are right about that.
Yeah, jhall. There’s a Queen song on that site, Gershwin, Duke Ellington, a few Aesop Fables. When someone tells me I don’t have a life, I’ll direct them to that site………..
nelly, I don’t think The Beaver is even going to know where to start.
You know, I’ve looked around the room and all the adults have left.
That is amazing eric!!! All the stuff on there. Wow!!
So, are you saying the three of us are children?
Too cool Eric!!
LOL!!!
A new TJ Simers quote at the end of an Angel story today:
ANDRUW JONES has gone seven for 45 with no home runs and four RBIs while striking out 20 times since July 4. In hitter-friendly Coors Field, he’s one for seven with four strikeouts.
What are the odds of GM Ned Colletti finding someone better? Unfortunately, the odds of him finding someone worse are probably better.
We should probably make him an honorary…..what the heck were we? Enchanted’s groundhog whatchacallit…..
I am personally very proud to say that I’m still 16 between the ears, always and forever.
I totally agree with that!! I live it every day in the classroom, and it is so much fun. It is fun being a kid, isn’t it?
Grambo?
The team that intrigues me the most are the Los Angeles Dodgers. Over the weekend, Dodgers GM, Ned Colletti stated that he was still looking for a shortstop, and now a third baseman. With all the focus being on a possible Jhonny Peralta deal to the Dodgers (at least here), Colletti has opened the door to possibly signing Blake, and/or Peralta. I could see a case that would have the Indians dealing both Peralta and Blake to the Dodgers, but their asking price is likely to be high. It’s believed that Colletti is willing to part with Andy LaRoche for a player of Blake’s ability. What Colletti isn’t willing to give up is the player that Shapiro likely covets most: Matt Kemp. The question then becomes how valuable does Mark Shapiro believe that LaRoche is?
For those that don’t know LaRoche, he’s the son of former major leaguer Dave LaRoche, and the brother of Pirates’ first baseman Adam LaRoche. He also happens to be one of the brightest third base prospects in baseball. In the minors, LaRoche is a career .294 hitter, with 96 homers, and 331 RBI. He has struggled in the majors, which may give Shapiro some pause, but he’s only played in 55 games total. Still, his .212 average, and lack of power (only three homers) could give Shapiro visions of Andy Marte. That also isn’t taking into account Wes Hodges, who is flying up the Tribe prospect charts at third base, and could be a factor as soon as next season.
Who is the best fit for the Indians? It’s hard to say.
It beats getting old………… 🙂
Yeah! Grambo! Thanks! I’ve been trying to remember that for a couple of days!
That is a pretty good comment from him. Maybe the media is at least taking the concerns with Andruw to heart, and letting Ned know it too.
Did that come off the Tribe site, jungar?
Isn’t it interesting that Colletti is looking at 3B, when we have need for a ‘true shortstop’ and we have three 3Bs already?
eric – so very true my friend 🙂
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jungar – Wow!! I personally want Andy to stay. I have no reason why. I just do. I think there is room for him and DeWitt (2nd base next year), and I would really like it to stay that. Only an opinion with no real facts to back that one up. I have Jhonny Peralta on my fantasy, and he is doing very well this year, but still, with Ned with holding the strings, I just don’t trust it.
Peralta for whatever reason did not play today. jhall might know something, too (about a trade) since he lives there.
I share your feelings on LaRoche. I’d like to see him grow.
Well June, I’d like to stay up and chat some more, but I’m having trouble keeping the eyes open.
Make sure that Wally gets to bed, and when Theodore comes home, make sure he takes a bath. Oh, and we need more toothpowder.
Dos Vedanya!
Angels plan to stand pat
It appears the Angels might be standing pat once again this season as Angels manager Mike Scioscia put it bluntly that he does not think the Angels need to trade for a player to help his offense, which ranks 10th in the American League in runs scored and ninth in home runs.
“I do not think we need to go out of the organization to get a big bat,” Scioscia said. “I think we have some bats that are emerging that would take care of that. I think Juan Rivera didn’t have the opportunity in the first half, but if he emerges in the second half, I don’t think anyone would argue that that’s not a big bat.”
Rivera is batting .375 with three homers and eight RBIs in 10 starts this month and put up big numbers with the Angels in 2006 when he hit .310 with 23 homers and 85 RBIs.
Scioscia said his opinion on the Angels’ current situation is just that – an opinion – and general manager Tony Reagins has the final say on the situation.
“I don’t veto, I just give opinions,” Scioscia said. “Right now anything proposed would have to make us better now and in the future. Tony has not brought anything to me that is credible and is going to make us better in the future right now.”
Reagins laughed off a trade rumor in the St. Paul Pioneer Press that said the Angels and Braves were discussing a trade in which the Angels would send utility player Robb Quinlan and Minor League third baseman Brandon Wood for first baseman Mark Teixeira.
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I like what Mike has to say. Why can’t Ned/Joe think this way.
Good night, dear!! When you get up, I will be on my way to Vegas. I am spending a few days there with my other family to visit friends, and I will be back on Saturday. However, I will check in to see how everyone is doing. Please take care of Wally and Theodore while I am away. I will write, I promise. Three boys all alone in the house. What will become of it? Take care, and yes, I bought the tooth powder. It’s in the cabinet near that song you have ready to go.
Good (early) morning ITD writers! I am heading off to Vegas in a couple of hours and wanted to post this song before leaving. Eight more days until trade the deadline is over, and holding on hoping that Ned stays away from trading the young gun dynasty so they can shine in a Dodger Blue uniform for many years to come. Have a fabulous day!!! I will check in throughout my trip 🙂
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Song: Young Guns
Original Song: Young Hearts
By: Rod Stewart
(only first two verses)
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Neddy left for trades with money in his pockets
And a head full of dreams
He said some how, some way
It’s got to get better than this
Neddy packed his bags, left a note for Joe Torre
He was ready to scheme
There was fear in ITDers
As Ned waved to the Dodger fans goodbye
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Fans hold on really tight as we
Hope our way through each night
We are so frightened
We now have a sign of life
Ned stop it while we’re still all afraid
Young Dodger life is so brief
And time is a thief
When you’re undecided
And like a fistful of sand
It can slip right through your hands.
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Young guns we see tonight,
Time is on their side
Don’t let them get put down
Don’t let them get pushed around
Don’t ever let them change from Dodger Blue
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Young guns we see tonight,
Time is on their side
Don’t let them get put down
Don’t let them get pushed around
Don’t ever let them change from Dodger Blue
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Young guns we see tonight, time is on their side
Young guns we see tonight, time is on their side
Young guns we see tonight, time is on their side
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Young guns gotta run blue, be blue, live blue
Time is on, time is on their side
Time, time, time, time is on their side
Is on their side
Is on their side
Is on their side
Young guns we see tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight, yeah!
Scott..I agree with you about how awesome it is to always be in touch. Between my Blackberry and my new Iphone, I can keep track of all my emails, all the baseball scores and still carry on with my life. Who would have thought 10 years ago that today everyone would even have a cellphone. Progress!!
I can’t wait for our Dodgers to return to Dodger Stadium. Friday!!! I miss them when they are out of town. I’ll be going to the games on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday…have to work Tuesday and Wednesday so gave my tickets away. Let’s all give them our support. Right, Amy!! No booing for any of our guys. Leave Andruw alone. And please welcome JP back. We can save our jeers for the enemy. That’s the Dodger way!! I also am anxious about that July 31 deadline…was a little puzzled about our youngster Clayton returning to the Bigs. I hope he doesn’t get discouraged. Combination Chan Ho and Kuo seemed to be working out. I suppose Joe is worried about the depth of the bullpen if he uses them that way. I’m not sure about Falkenborg or Johnson. I’m not convinced. Without a strong pitcher, our offense has to be exceptional. Anyway…hurry back guys. 🙂
The biggest thing on our side against adding a Beltre or Crosby and some other “established” veterans is Frank’s wallet. Since we have to assume that Ned can’t or doesn’t intend to move either Pierre’s or Andruw’s contract, adding anybody with a big salary would not be what Frank called payroll neutral. I personally think that we have room to trim the payroll by moving Lowe, and I would do that in a heartbeat, for a couple of decent prospects. People might say that doing so would lessen our chances for the playoffs. Making the playoffs is probably critical to Ned for keeping his job, but my own interest is preserving and building the best team for the future. Lowe won’t be around to advance that prospect, and Pierre and Andruw aren’t going to help in that direction either. Losing a couple of good prospects like LaRoche could affect our future, especially since Ned can’t be trusted to get fair value for anybody.
.256 /.294 /.290 /.583 (a legitimate leadoff batter)
.307 /.381 /.533 /.914 (an illegitamite leadoff batter)
give me a break. Josh as PR guy you shouldnt allow people to write such foolishness. But then I guess you can’t censor the GM.
Good Morning Everyone,
I thought I’d start participating in the music parodies.
Song: Mama Mia!!!
Original Song: Mama Mia!
By: Abba
I’ve been cheated by you since 2006
So I made up my mind, this mess needs to get fixed
Look at me now, will I ever learn?
I don’t know how but I suddenly lose control
There’s a fire within my soul
Just one look and I can hear the fans boo
One more look at the payroll and I can tell you don’t have a clue , o-o-o-oh
Mamma mia, here I go again
My my, why haven’t I fired you?
Mamma mia, another PVL again?
My my, just how much I want to kill you
Yes, the fans have been brokenhearted
Blue since the day you started
Why, why haven’t I let you go?
Mamma mia, now I really know,
My my, I really need to let you go.
I’ve been angry and pi$$ed about the things that you do
I can’t count all the times all that payroll you blew
And when you go, all the fans will be happy
Please don’t foget that noddle arm guy they call slappy
You know that he’s not that strong.
Just one look and I can hear the fans boo
One more look at the payroll and I can tell you don’t have a clue , o-o-o-oh
Mamma mia, here I go again
My my, why haven’t I fired you?
Mamma mia, another PVL again?
My my, just how much I want to kill you
Yes, the fans have been brokenhearted
Blue since the day you started
Why, why haven’t I let you go?
Mamma mia, now I really know,
My my, I really need to let you go.
Mamma mia, even if I say
Bye bye, leave us now you’re not that clever
mamma mia, it’s a game we play
Bye bye yes this means forever
Mamma mia, here I go again
My my, why haven’t I fired you?
Mamma mia, another PVL again?
My my, just how much I want to kill you
Yes, the fans have been brokenhearted
Blue since the day you started
Why, why haven’t I let you go?
Morning All. Just a quickie I wrote while I was driving to L.A. a couple days ago, maybe even more appropriate with JP’s pending comeback ahead of schedule. A little song from Joe to Juan.
Turtles, Eleanor:
JUAN PIERRE
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I’ve got a thing about you
I just can’t win without you
There’s no one like you, Juan Pierre really.
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Your speed intoxicates me
Even though bloggers hate thee
I really miss you, Juan Pierre dearly.
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Juan Pierre gee I think you’re swell
Even though you play like hell
You’re my speed up top the line-up.
Juan Pierre can I take the time
To get you off the pine?
Tell me that your knee is better.
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I really think you’re groovy
Let’s block another newbie
Slappy McPop-up you da man clearly
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You’re OBPs way down low
We won’t be seein’ the runs flow
I think I love you, Juan Pierre really
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Juan Pierre gee I think you’re swell
Even though you play like hell
You’re my speed up top the line-up.
Juan Pierre can I take the time
To get you off the pine
Tell me that your knee is better.
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Three more years…
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Juan Pierre gee I think you’re swell
Even though you play like hell
You’re my speed up top the line-up.
Juan Pierre can I take the time
To get you off the pine
Tell me that your knee is better.
Sorry, gotta hit ‘n’ run – catching up on 2 missed days of work. Later people!
FABULOUS JOB!! Thunderbolt – Welcome to the deep end 🙂
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Messagebear – fantastic post!
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Brandon – it’s hot out here in the desert – lol!!!
Hey good morning everyone…. I was going to repeat myself from last night… I seriously felt like Johnson would have been a better choice for Coors last night. He’s a veteran, and do we honestly care about his confidence? Low and behold, when he came in, he pitched great. Yeah, I agree that our offense was held down last night, but I really thought we should have held off On Kershaw until the Washington series… He could have started at home, against a not very good hitting team… I just did not think it was the best of scenarios to throw him into last night…. turned out I was right…. Oh well, lesson learned about Colorado by the young kid.
Fire Joe
Fire the guy who hired Joe
Fire the guy who hired the guy who hired Joe
Goooooood morning, ITD!!!!!
Right on bear & jungar!
Great song t-bolt! In case you don’t know, the songs are also at http://dodgereric.mlblogs.com/
Welcome back Beav!!! I see you’ve hit the ground running!! Nice one! Wally made a mess of your side of the room while you were gone.
June, I hope you packed enough fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches for the trip. (Here’s a link to some of those Elvis receipes: http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/2007/08/14/elvis-favourite-dishes-89520-19622517/)
Don’t forget to fill the water bag and hang it on the front of the car. You’re driving through the desert in July, for Pete’s sake. Drive safely and happy trails! Hmmmm……….
Nelly are you here now~!?!!?
The Tampa Bay Rays are looking at a possible trade for Dodgers 2B Jeff Kent, according to American League sources. The Dodgers have had scouts in Tampa the past few days checking out SS Ben Zobrist who is expendable for the Rays. Kent had 10 HR’s and 43 RBI’s for the Dodgers, entering play last night. — Fox Sports Radio
Ben Zobrist? lol
Somehow, I don’t see the Dodgers trading Jeff Kent… They don’t really have anyone who could come in and play a regular 2nd base right now, other than DY…. I don’t know that he’d be ready for that.
Who do you think rests today?
Im pretty sure they said Martin is. Anyone else you think? Kent? Ethier after falling 2 balls off his shin and leg? I would think Dre is fine and will play.
Hey Shad…. The deal about Victorino just goes to show that you have to try and give everyone a chance before trading them for a “proven” veteran. We’ve shown throughout our history that we don’t have a very good handle on who will become a superstar…. Pedro, Konerko, Piazza, Victorino, this list could get very long really…
Never mind, Russ is at 3rd today. Just a day of rest from catching.
I’m with you Shad… I think it’d be a big mistake to trade Kent… Most people on here don’t like him… But honestly, I like the guy, his intensity is great, and he can still hit a few out here and there.
Brandon – on the road. Just left Baker,CA – 97 at 9:30 am – yuck! I’m blogging from my phone 🙂
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enchanted/son – it is nice to see you back and incredible song, BTW 🙂
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eric/dear – thank you for the recipes, and yes, we are always prepared for this trip. We’ve been doing this trip since 1986 – thanks for thinking about it 🙂 Tell Wally I miss him too – he must be out with Eddie again !
This is the line from a former big league pitcher who made his debut when he was 20… This line is from his 2nd year in the league, and he was 21…. He had 2 really good seasons, the rest were just ehhh…. but thought it would be interesting to compare to Kershaw… this pitcher is also a lefty. Can you guys guess who he is?
35 0 18 8 .692 3.38 3 1 0 210.1 868 189 79 89 21 65 0 137 4 3 1
Nope…. Shad, that would be Steve Avery of the Atlanta Braves… Interesting career that guy had wheny ou look at his numbers. He was really only good for 2 seasons… other than that, he was just an ok pitcher.
nelly, what was the temp on the World’s Largest Thermometer?
Bonjour Dodger faithful!!!
Super songs Nelly, Beav, and T-Bolt!! LOL!!
Good posts everyone. Agree with you Bear.
Jungar, the stats on Phew and Kemp made me shake my head. Legitimate leadoff hitter. What a load!!!
Shad, we blew it when we let those guys get away, no doubt. Now, Ned has a chance to continue the trend. Giving up on young talent too soon. No trades!!!!!
As for Peralta, he sucks on defense. Indians want to try him at 3rd but really don’t expect him to do well there either. Ironicallly, the Indians want to move Blake and Peralta to bring up their young talents and get them in the lineup to build for their future.
Nelly, stay cool mom!!! LOL!!!
jungar, that “legitimate leadoff hitter” crap is enough to make me vomit! It’s bad enough that senile Joe and Crazy Ned think JP is a “legitimate leadoff hitter”, but then these stupid writers have to chime in! I’m half way to Anaheim as it is…
Koufax couldn’t get the ball over the plate for the first few years when he came up. Came up in 1955 and didn’t really become a great pitcher till 1960-61. Wow, but what a 5 years from 61-66.
Sean Avery played baseball too? Hell of a hockey player too! lol
xoxrussell@gmail.com on July 23, 2008 3:59 AM
Good post xoxxrussel. I like the staying positive and not booing ANY of our boys. They do better if we don’t boo them. I also miss the boys and I am so happy when they are back. I love that Nancy Bea plays “The boys are back in town”
Dnell,
Are catching a Las Vegas 51 game? Not sure if they are in town. When I get invited to Vegas, I check if there is a home game first and then if the 51’s are in town. Is nice getting away from all the noise in Vegas and catching a game there. They are a few blocks away from downtown Las Vegas across from a library.
well, time for a meeting now.
fox sports……….
The State Farm ad, a cute one, leads you to believe Joe Torre has officially retired in his job as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He drinks wheat grass between innings, writes screenplays between pitching changes, and spends off days riding his surfboard from one welcoming wave to the next.
Extra BP? A few more pregame hours in the video room surveying a wayward pitcher’s arm slot?
Who needs any of that when you’re living a life of green fields, blue skies, and late-arriving crowds, and when you’re working a comfortable 3,000 miles away from the angry House of Steinbrenner?
One hundred games into his fifth big-league term, Torre has settled into the Dodger way like an old man settles into his favorite spot on a park bench. He says he is happy the stories about his baseball team are confined to the sports page. Whenever the cartoon character known as Alex Rodriguez is linked to the blonde of the month, Torre gets to be a disengaged observer rather than the interrogated boss charged to clean his third baseman’s mess.
Only this portrait of Joe Cool, cruising on Sunset Boulevard, ignores one undeniable truth: Torre needs to win his division this year, if only because there isn’t a single valid reason he shouldn’t.
Sure, the Dodgers have had a ton of injuries, closing in on 600 man games’ worth. But Torre’s been around the sport long enough to understand two things about injuries:
1.) Everybody’s got ’em.
2.) Nobody wants to hear about ’em.
The Dodgers should take the National League West, wretched as it is, and Torre will have some explaining to do if they don’t. Start with the reason he was hired on the rebound after his bitter divorce from the Yanks.
Grady Little wasn’t just an 82-80 manager last year; he was an 82-80 manager done in by the clubhouse division between players old and young, and by the sudden availability of Torre, a candidate who’d won four World Series titles and earned a dozen consecutive trips to the postseason before the Steinbrenners and team president Randy Levine ran him out with an offer designed to be refused.
It was unbecoming of Torre to negotiate with the Dodgers while Little still held the job, but hey, that’s how big-boy business is done. Frank McCourt, Dodgers owner, had every right to want someone who could do better than 82-80. His common sense told him that someone was Joe Torre.
As it turns out, 82-80 might just win this year’s West. But even as the Dodgers swear their clubhouse has become a more harmonious place, Torre’s still on track to finish south of .500.
Little was 56-44 at this point in ’07. You don’t need an advanced degree in math to know that a divided 56-44 team beats a united 49-51 team eight days a week.
“We’re going to make everybody proud of the product we put on the field,” Torre said on arrival in Los Angeles.
His Dodgers haven’t inspired much in the way of pride, at least not yet. Fans in the market looking for a team worthy of their time, attention and disposable income would have to turn to Mike Scioscia’s Angels, the club that forever haunted Torre in the Bronx. The Angels are 12 games better than the Dodgers in a tougher division of a tougher league.
Now turn to the page in your scorebook that covers team payrolls. At $118 million, the Dodgers are spending $52 million more on wages than the Diamondbacks, and $50 million more on wages than the Rockies. No, it isn’t quite the absurd advantage over the competition that Torre enjoyed with the Yankees, who took a Bob Beamon leap over the $200 million barrier. But still, McCourt has laid out enough cash (not to mention the $13 million he paid Torre) to expect better than what his manager has delivered.
For the foreseeable future, Torre won’t be fleeing the kind of lava that came pouring out of Mount Steinbrenner once the parades stopped and the procession of Division Series flameouts started. Ned Colletti, general manager, is the easiest of targets; he’ll be gone long before anyone has a second thought about Torre.
McCourt is under fire for reportedly killing a deal for CC Sabathia that would’ve added $7.5 million to the payroll, a charge the owner denies. And when the owner and GM aren’t absorbing major hits, Andruw Jones, who somehow managed to strike out five times in one game, rightfully assumes the role of helpless punching bag.
Torre is also protected by the disabled list and his players’ fabulous talent for landing on it. Rafael Furcal, Brad Penny, Nomar Garciaparra, Takashi Saito, Juan Pierre, and on and on and on. The pitching staff has covered for the human frailty, allowing the Dodgers to stay in the race.
If you can call this a race.
The Dodgers are due to win it, long overdue in fact. They haven’t won a playoff series, never mind a championship, since Kirk Gibson did his thing against Dennis Eckersley in 1988. They’ve played 13 postseason games since that magical run, and lost 12 of them.
Torre embraced this challenge after the Yankees all but told him they no longer required his services. On his return to New York, a road trip to Shea at the end of May, Torre confirmed that he’d had it with his hometown’s intensity and pace.
“I’m glad my time has come and gone as far as the high-wire act all the time,” he said. “New York is great for the good times and memorable for the bad times.
“I obviously have a lot of friends here and it was a special time for 12 years. But it was time to move on and I’m glad I made the decision, not for any other reason than I’m more comfortable where I am.”
Comfortable? Torre shouldn’t get too comfortable.
He’s not a ceremonial Dodger in the Tommy Lasorda mold. Joe Torre is the active and accountable leader of a team that has no good reason to lose a division its manager was hired to win.
Steve Avery Shad… Steve…. Sean was the badass hockey player who used to play for the kings… Did you guys see who is doing the closing for the Nats now? It’s Joel Hanrahan.. he used to be in our system, obviously we never brought him up.
did someone post this? foxsports article about thes “contenders” need to make..
Dodgers
Here we have an exercise in triage. This season, the Dodgers are receiving sub-optimal production from second base, third base and center field. Oh, and their closer and struggling ace are also on the disabled list. The ideal addition would be Baltimore’s Brian Roberts, who would provide a mammoth upgrade, both offensively and defensively, over Jeff Kent. As for Kent, at this stage of his career he could be vaguely useful as James Loney’s platoon partner at first, but he merits no bigger role than that.
seriously idiotic.. WHY would you ever think loney losing playing time would be a good thing.. here’s the link: http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8367052?MSNHPHMA
wow. i posted it and then read it. nice. all true.
great songs DNelly and Thunderbolt. Anyone else feel that Ned feels he HAS to make a trade move in order to try and save his neck? I urge McCourt to tread lightly and not make a decision we will all regret for years to come.
Nelly, are you in Vegas now? I’m literally at work as we speak.
Funny, its Ned’s trades and signings that put his neck in the noose. LOL!! Another of his trade endeavors and he most certainly will get his butt canned. They need to save him from himself and don’t let him make any deals.
Thanks for the link Sara, good read.
Right on Jungar!!! Well said.
Man, I had forgotten that Sutton was ever on that 88 team. It must have been early in the year and then he retired or something. Never a favorite of mine really. I wasn’t drwan to him as a player. I was a Burt Hooten fan!
and a healthy penny
This is an article that was written in the local paper here in Las Vegas…. Check it out guys 😉
Wasting company money usually turns an employee into an ex-employee. So Ned Colletti, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ general mismanager of funds, is in trouble with his boss.
Dodgers owner Frank McCourt is upset that his team’s payroll is about $118 million and its winning percentage is about .500. He’s not blaming new manager Joe Torre, either.
“That leaves Colletti and any underachieving players as candidates for his disappointment,” Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke wrote. “And don’t be surprised about anything that happens to Colletti.”
McCourt might be planning changes. And what is taking so long?
A review of Colletti’s biggest front-office blunders reveals how lucky he is to still hold his job.
In November 2006, Colletti signed light-hitting outfielder Juan Pierre to a five-year, $44 million contract. One month later, he handed free-agent pitcher Jason Schmidt a three-year, $47 million deal.
Pierre is not an everyday player. Schmidt went 1-4 with a 6.31 ERA in six starts in 2007, had shoulder surgery and is getting lit up in his rehabilitation with the 51s.
Colletti made another reckless decision last offseason by giving a two-year, $36.2 million contract to out-of-shape outfielder Andruw Jones.
The Dodgers’ young stars — catcher Russell Martin, first baseman James Loney, outfielders Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp and pitchers Chad Billingsley and Jonathan Broxton — were prospects inherited by Colletti. Now, he’s talking about trading one or two of them.
McCourt should cut his losses and can Colletti before he tries to deal for Barry Zito.
Should get interesting when they bring back Phew, Sweeney, and Proctko. Talk about sending in the F-Troop cavalry to save the day. Geez!!! Might as well throw in Bennett to really make it a total farce.
Thanks for the article Brandon. It is truely a joke that Ned still has his job.
Claimed old Bloaiza off waivers and wasted another few million dollars to boot.
Plus the Bombko debacle. Unbelievable that he is still here.
IMO, Sutton wasn’t good enough for the HOF. It’s only due to his longevity and health that he won 300 and the ‘automatic’ ticket. He won 20 in only one season, despite playing on a lot of very good teams and mostly in the 4-man rotation era.
He’s the poster child for the Hall of Pretty Good.
Just my opinion.
Eric, I have to agree with you on Sutton. He was never a really dominate pitcher. Just lasted a long time on some good teams.
Lineup:
Russ gets day off and no 3b
Kemp rf
Dre lf
Nomar ss
Kent 2b
Loney 1b
Druw Cf
LaRoche 3b
Ardoin C
HK p
Man, I don’t understand the *massive* love for Adrian Beltre. He’s not bad, good leather, but…. He had one huge year, his free-agent walk year, and has been a little above or a little below average all the rest. He’s still owed about $17M through the end of next season.
.
Here’s what he’s hit since leaving the Dodgers:
.265 .319 .450 .769
And since he’s 29 (or is he? 31 mayber?), it isn’t likely to get much better. Plus, he might be losing power since his HR pace this year is about the same as the last few seasons, but his extra-base hit pace is down.
.
Yes, there’s some pop there, but we kill Slappy McPutout for having about a .330 OBP over the same time period. Given that he has had 639 or more PAs every full season for the Ms and has played nearly every inning this year, his HR and RBI totals aren’t impressive. (1 HR every 25.5 PAs as a Mariner).
.
And some of you will love this: his agent is still Scott Boras.
Yeah…. I think we should keep giving Laroche a look…. Our problem that we’ve got is that a lot of our guys might be at peak value right now… If we let them play and they don’t pan out, or turn out to just be ok players, then we’re stuck with them…. It’s a fine line…. I just wish we could have an MVP caliber player and keep him without trading him before he reaches him prime with another team…. ALA Konerko, Piazza, Pedro… and, so so many more!!
Sutton to me was always kind of a hard pitcher to like. Gave up a ton of HRs, but its hard to ignore 324 wins (counting playoff and WS 330), 58 shutouts and 5 1-hitters. Plus he also holds the distinction of holding the modern era record for the most at-bats without a home run (1,354 – Pierre should be able to appreciate that, he’ll surpass that as a Dodger anyway.) I’d have to give him a nod to the HOF, but its hard to believe that in the era when they gave as good as they got to the Big Red Machine, that the Reds had 3 HOF (4 – Rose should be) and we only had Sutton.
I have it on good authority that Ned is on the phone with Green Bay trying to make a trade for Brett Favre.