Whatever it takes…

Obviously losing seven in a row in the middle of the pennant race isn’t really what we needed to do going back East. But, at least there’s still time to recover. With a month left in the season and six games against Arizona, all hope is not lost. At least I don’t think it is…

That said, Joe is mixing it up tonight in the desert. For the first time in his career, Russ is atop the order. Hope to see some of you at the sleepover tonight.

Martin, C

Ethier, RF

Manny, LF

Kent, 2B

Kemp, CF

Loney, 1B

Nomar, SS

Blake, 3B

Kuroda, P

789 comments

  1. selltheteam

    How about, in addition to the Martin/Kemp switch in the lineup, Bowa and Torre switch places? Let Bowa lean on the rail, while Torre dodges foul balls on the third base line.

  2. imthedude

    I liked the idea Martin leading off – back when he was on a good streak. Too bad Torre waited for Martin’s worst month to do it.

    OB%
    April: .455
    May: .425
    June: .347
    July: .355
    August: .330

  3. bluecrewgirl

    Should be interesting to see Martin leading off, not that Matt hasn’t done a great job overall. The whole team is in a rut at the moment, not just one person. I just hope we win tonight. I’m sick of being bummed out after every game. It’s too much stress!

  4. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Good Afternoon/evening ITD faithfuls!!
    Well, I like the fact that Andre is in the lineup once again against a lefty. Joe finally learned his lesson there – good (for now). I remember thinking that Russell way back wasn’t such a bad idea as lead off, but why wait until now. But, hey it’s worth a try, and at this point all the mainplayers are still in there, so let’s just hope this combination can get it going tonight. Even though they are home, Arizona was also swept by one of the worst teams in the league. So, anything is possible at this point.
    .
    GO DODGER BLUE ~ WE LOVE YOU!!!

  5. tradejuanpypaperbag

    With this lineup, it kind of makes you wonder what JP is thinking. I bet the thought bubbles are going wild tonight. He can’t even get into the lineup with Matt slumping. I think it’s more the fact that Andre is doing well, but still, you know he has got to be even more ticked now.

  6. northstateblues

    I’m just glad they got away from Philly and DC. It feels like it’s another day full of possibilities, and as manager Joe Schultz of the Seattle Pilots used to say:

    ____ ’em! They’re just like anyone else! Let’s go get ’em, and get back and pound the ol’ Budweiser!”

  7. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Okay ~ these are the things I notice, but you went from nsblues to northstateblues between the two posts you just did. How does that happen?

  8. tradejuanpypaperbag

    This could be old news, but Clayton was optioned to AAA Las Vegas and purchased the contract for LHP Scott Elbert from AA Jacksonville.

  9. Saul@hkm.com

    reeks of desperation. remember when the biggest concern was whether Dre was gonna start? These next three games are our season if we get swept. Love that I got my postseason ticket package in the mail this week, it’s like they are taunting me.

  10. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Was supposed to be “the Dodgers purchased”. The sentence sounds like Clayton was the purchaser – sorry!! It’s Brain Fried Friday, but TGIF too.

  11. northstateblues

    dnelly, I decided to not be lazy, and after the first post, I logged into my blog account and changed the nickname back. It won’t save the longer one after it logs me out, it goes back to nsblues, so if I want it to be northstate, I have to log into my blog account and change the display name, which can be longer than 10 letters/numbers.

  12. oldbrooklynfan

    The only thing that I’m thinking about are the 3 starters, namely, DOUG DAVIS, DAN HAREN & BRANDON WEBB.
    .
    GOOD LUCK YA BUMS!!!!!!!

  13. kpookiemon

    Martin leading off may help his slump. He’ll be more accepting of a walk and might actually wait for HIS pitch. If Kent gets hot, remember, it has nothing to do with Matt Kemp. Actually, nothing ANYONE does on this team has anything to do with Kent’s performance, right Jeff. You are an individual in a team sport. And the only thing that matters is your ring…certainly not any other teammate’s ring. You know, hanging out with Barree in NoCal all those seasons DID teach you a thing or two about priorities.

  14. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Gotcha!!
    .
    I have heard good things about Elbert. I am sad, but understanding, of why Kersh went down, but I am looking forward to seeing Elbert pitch – could be a good thing, hopefully.

  15. kpookiemon

    dnelly, when rosters expand Monday Kershaw comes back to pitch Tuesday night vs. Pods. It’s just a way to manipulate the rosters.

  16. ladyinblu

    Excellent version of “You’re So Vain” yesterday, by the way!! Loved it. I think that song could apply to a number of people these days.

    Today is a new day. Let’s go, Blue!

  17. amyw27

    good evening you guys.
    .
    nsb. norhstateblues- it’s all good 🙂
    .
    I am looking forward to watching this game tonight. I agree that anything can happen. Maybe a shake up will light that fire that we oh so need. I am a little nervous about facing Webb on sunday. He owns us, but then again, nothing has been predictable these days!

  18. sparkleplenty_1

    My roommate suggests that someone tie Torre to a chair and putting him either in right-center or left-center field during batting practice and letting the guys take aim.

  19. northstateblues

    Glad to have your approval, amy! I guess it’s like the opposite of when New Kids turned into NKOTB. My sister had New Kids dolls, lunchboxes, and watched the cartoon every Saturday. I hated those guys, messing up my Ninja Turtles schedule, heh.

    Just found out my Dodger fan Aunt and Cousin made it to the BOB (or whatever they call it now) for the game. Hopefully they’ll bring some luck to the game, our guys might need it.

  20. tradejuanpypaperbag

    PierreEW ~ I definitely hear you on those starters. Why do we always pull those three? Well, last time we had Randy Johnson, and not Brandon, but still.
    .
    Kahli ~ I think this will be good for Kemp.

  21. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Thanks Kahli for the explanation. I forget that’s only a few days away.
    .
    northstateblues ~ It is BOB – Bank One Building. I didn’t know that until I did my geography unit on Phoenix, Arizona dna the Diamondbacks the other day. That’s what it was named in the information – lol!!!

  22. acardona16

    hi everyone! i was on earlier but this place was dead! i guess its understandable considering the fact that there hasn’t been much to talk about besides losing… 😦 WOW Russy leading off!? and Matty batting 5th? hmm… i guess we’ll see how that works out…

    .
    Hi Dnelly and Amy! how are you ladies doing?

  23. tradejuanpypaperbag

    nsblues – “Bank One Ballpark” not “Building” – There is a Bank One Building in Phoenix as well.

  24. acardona16

    even with the switch of matty and russy i’m still very happy to see Andre is still in the line-up!!

    .
    Acardona = Ethieraholic

  25. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Hi acardona~ I did see you on here earlier with CP, but during the school day, it’s more about making short check-ins, and by the time I got a break enough to post, you two had already gotten off. I think enchanted was doing his movie trailers at the time I was able to post.

  26. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Acardona~ I am sooo happy to see that Andre has been in the lineup. That is a lesson it seems Joe has learned. He struggled a little through Philly, but he had a good individual run in Washington, and did you read that he got to go the White House also. He is not just becoming Everyday ‘Dre, but he’s becoming Mr. Ethier Everywhere too.

  27. acardona16

    Amy- “Maybe a shake up will light that fire that we oh so need”
    .
    ladyinblu- “Today is a new day. Let’s go, Blue!”

    .
    I completely agree with both!!

  28. tradejuanpypaperbag

    acardona ~ I just mixed you and Amyw27 mixed up. That must be dodgereric rubbing off on me some how – sorry!!

  29. northstateblues

    It’d be great if this lit a fire under the team, they need to mow down the West, and de-claw SD and SF if they’re gonna make it. The DBags have been doing their part for most of the year.

  30. tradejuanpypaperbag

    I think I need a nap – This is the third mistake I have made in the last half hour. I put mixed up in there twice. I am typing faster than my brain is thinking.

  31. acardona16

    dnelly- the white house huh? wow!! man i guess we should start calling him Mr. Ethier now huh? haha!! just kidding 🙂 yes he did struggle a bit but he wasn’t the only one.. i hope Joe sticks with having Andre in the line-up! even against lefties!

  32. amyw27

    well thank you. It’s funny cause it’s hard to talk about this situation because we’ve said it all already- but most importantly, we all feel it 😦
    .
    to stay positive, we know the talent is there. He just have to use our faith and keep believing.
    .
    the news is on- they are talking about the Dodgers, saying how we are still in ‘striking distance’. So true. We can do it!!

  33. acardona16

    Amy27- great to hear everything is well! you moved recently didn’t you? or am i getting you mixed up with someone else?

  34. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Amy ~ so true, so true. It’s all good, I called Eric Wally the other day, and I am sure he doesn’t mind being thought of as being jhall ethier (either) – both great guys!!

  35. j-murray

    you really got to hand it to the dbacks for putting together such a sick pitching staff. i get the feeling we’re gonna dread facing webb, haren, and scherzer for years to come. go dodgers.

  36. vl4ecc

    Good evening all. So strange to see Russ leading off. My question is why is Nomar even in the lineup? I can’t remember whether or not he’s had any success against Dirtball Davis. Maybe that’s it.
    Here’s hoping Kuroda breaks this funk. I sure hope he gets some decent run support, and Kemp shows some patience at the plate to work the counts.
    GO DODGERS!!!

  37. tradejuanpypaperbag

    northstateblues ~ You already know I love the drawing, but I like the blog too. Great Stuff!!!! To repeat acardona ~ absolutely ETHIERIFFIC!!!

  38. northstateblues

    Dnelly and arcadona (sorry I missed you): Thanks. I’m thinking about doing some more, but of course, it’s the school year now, so I’ll see how that goes

  39. amyw27

    acordona- are you seeing the Matt interview on ThinkBlue TV?
    he is so beautiful. Matt is soo my favorite. Good Luck Matty!!!

  40. trublu4ever

    Good evening everyone ~ I agree with jj about Nomar. Especially batting ahead of Blake. All he does lately is pop-up. If he does luck out and get a hit, it’s when nobody’s on base. Hey, does Juan play shorstop? LOL

  41. amyw27

    nsb= great pic!!
    .
    on a sad note= does anyone know what happened to Matt’s brother’s Tyler? It’s a sad thing to ask (I know) but I’m just wondering.
    .
    thanks.

  42. trublu4ever

    Amy ~ I didn’t realize Matt was a good looking as he is — his picture when he’s up to bat doesn’t do him justice. When I saw him on “Rome Is Burning” I said “Wow”! A great sense of humor, too!

  43. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Well I guess all the laughing the gnats did on the plane yesterday at the Dodgers expense came back to bite them in the *ss tonight because they are getting stomped on by the Reds 10-4 right now.

  44. amyw27

    Acardona- I know you already left. But yes, I did move only 2 weeks ago. It was stressful, but went smoothly for the most part. It took all my money though! I’m happy and moving forward, and the best part is I am literally 5mins from work. It’s awesome.
    .
    Almost game time. This pre-game show is showing the facts and they are terrible. The only good part was the Matt interview. I hate when we are 6/67 with RISP. so sad.
    .
    Tonight is a new night. I hope the boys feel it too. I also hope Andre is happy to be in his home town and that his family will get to visit. I am happy for him.
    .
    Let’s Go DODGERS!!!!!

  45. amyw27

    Tru- you really think it’s a bad pic??? It’s cute I think. He’s way cuter in person and in the pictures I have of him. But, I guess that it doesn’t help that that pic is 20 feet tall on the screen lol.
    .
    OMG- Vinny’s voice. WOW. I haven’t heard his phrases is such a long time. “It’s Time For Dodger Baseball” . Vinny really needs to comb down that tupe (sp?) It’s a little too high right now.
    .

  46. trublu4ever

    Amy ~ The games I get are on CBS sports and they only show a picture when they are up. So, that particular one is not very good. Maybe I should contact CBS. LOL

  47. amyw27

    here is my theory. Maybe we’ve been losing because we’ve been wearing our gray uniforms. Maybe it makes the White uniforms to give up a win.
    .
    Come on RUSSY!!!

  48. northstateblues

    If I had known I had family going to tonight’s game, I’dve found a way to get them my lucky Brooklyn Dodgers hat. Bought in NYC by my girlfriend’s mom, I’ve only had the chance to wear it to three Dodgers games:

    July 25, 2005
    CIN 0R 1H 1E
    LA 4R 9H 0E
    Lowe takes No-No into 5th
    http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN200507250.shtml

    September 15, 2006
    SD 1R 2H 1E
    LA 3R 9H 1E
    Maddux takes No-No into 7th
    http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN200609150.shtml

    July 30, 2008
    SF 0R 5H 0E
    LA 4R 8H 0E
    Billingsley takes No-No into 5th
    http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN200807300.shtml

    Not bad for a blue piece of fabric, eh?

  49. tradejuanpypaperbag

    I know we didn’t score runs, but Davis did have to throw a lot of pitches, so there is some hope in that.

  50. mccheap

    it’s a good start if we continue to make Davis work..but judging on what we do in later innings wouldn’t be surprise if davis breezes through the next 6

  51. acardona16

    ok so i don’t have to leave as soon as i thought… i’m back for a little bit.. GREAT DOUBLE ANDRE!!! too bad our boys couldn’t bring anybody in!!! it would have been nice to start off with a nice 2 run cushion!!

    .
    Amy- YES i did see Matt’s interview!! i have a very funny story to go with it! lol my sister comes walking out of her room with a big smile on her face and says… “ok amy… i agree matt kemp is HOT!!” lol i’ve been telling her forever that hes a hottie and she always says “not really” but she’s never seen him up close! so i started laughing and i said with great pleasure “I TOLD YOU!!!” then i watched the interview! haha! and its great to hear your move went well! i know what its like to move (i’ve moved A LOT myself) very stressful and tiring!

    .
    LETS GO DODGERS!!!!

  52. bluesplash09

    Honestly, how long can this RISP and no hits crap continue, it’s sad cause i wasnt even surprised when they didnt score, like it’s expected now. The only reason I havent started playing in traffic yet is that my team is pre-season ranked #1 in college football, cause baseball season is getting worse by the inning

  53. trublu4ever

    dnelly ~ forgot to tell you they changed the name of the ballpark. It’s now Chase Field — the BOB is gone lol

  54. amyw27

    acardona- that is a great story!!!! Matt isn’t the obvious heart throb on the team. Automatically it’s Andre and Russy. but you definetly have to give Matty another look cause he is quite beautiful 🙂 I recorded the interview. I am pleased.
    .
    can we score please ??
    .
    Now lets go out and beat down those Snakes and make them eat those “Beat LA” signs!!

  55. trublu4ever

    Thanks, acardona, you tell him for us. After all, he’s got to make his fans happy, right! lol By the way if the Ethier fans are ethieraholics, what are Matt’s fans called?

  56. amyw27

    Nomar and Blake don’t suck- they are just in the same funk that everyone else is!
    .
    Dnel- isn’t it super strange how ‘funk’ is NOT a censored word on the blog? strange!

  57. acardona16

    amy- haha ok i didn’t want to sound like a goober but i recorded it too! lol!! (not saying your a goober!!) its actually funny that a lot of girls (including myself) think Andre is the “heart throb” of the bunch cause we actually have some pretty good looking YOUNG guys on our team!

  58. northstateblues

    grizzly, the last hit he got was a grounder to LF through the 3Bman in the 6th on Wednesday, before that, it was a ground ball single towards 3B in the 6th as well.

    Both games he failed to make it home (or the team failed to get him there. either way).

  59. acardona16

    tru- if i ever meet him i’ll be sure to let him know! 🙂 that is if i can talk! lol i got pretty star struck when i saw Andre! haha as for the Matt Kemp fans… hmm… i guess we’ll have to think of a good name! 🙂

  60. aeversw

    Amy, Nomar SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Blake has been playing over his head this season. If you look at his career numbers this year could be considered a fluke. He played about as good as he could the first couple of weeks he was with us.

  61. amyw27

    acardona- it’s cool. I’m trying to keep a low profile here. I am ok with just being a Dodger fan, with Matthew as my favorite 🙂
    .
    I think we need to stop leaving me on base and get on the board 1st. We need to take the lead and command the game until the end. Strategize boys!

  62. acardona16

    fine by me amy! i don’t know if you were on here earlier but i was saying “when are they gunna have Matt Kemp’s ‘before the bigs’? I loved Russy’s James’ and Andre’s! I’m ready for Matt’s!” BTW i completely agree with you! WE NEED SOME RUNS BOYS!!

  63. acardona16

    I have to leave in about half an hour so do me a favor boys and get some runs before i leave so i don’t miss anything!! LOL i hope they have the game playing at the sushi place!!

  64. amyw27

    Yes- I’d love to see Matt’s story along with his family. It’s always good to see them in their element at home and with the ones they love. I think Russy has an incredible story. Don’t you notice the correlation between strong family bonds, and these boys making the bigs? It’s such a great thing. That’s why they are good boys, because they have good hearts 🙂
    .
    Let’s Go Dodgers, Let’s go!!

  65. bluecrewgirl

    I’m glad the D-Backs have to play the Cardinals. Hopefully, they’ll give them as much grief as they always give us. Kuroda looks great so far, we just need to score some freaking runs!

  66. acardona16

    Dnelly- if your still here i was just wondering if that singed Ethier jersey you got is a jersey he actually wore in some great game? or just an authentic Ethier jersey he signed? (when i say “just” i don’t mean that its any less important!!)

  67. aeversw

    This Casey Blake deal is really gonna come back and bite us. Not only will he probably be resigned next year (i’ll complain about that when it happens) but the lose of Jon Meloan and Carlos Santana could be very very very costly. Short term this deal hurts us in the bullpen. When it’s two days until September and you’ve got guys like Jason Johnson in your bullpen Jon Meloan comes in handy. Sure he was a starter this year but it didn’t work. It’s incredible how quickly Ned forgot how dominate Meloan was as a reliever last season. Who knows maybe even Edwin Jackson could be in our Pen this season if Ned didn’t trade him for lord remembers who.

    We all know Russell Martin doesn’t want to commit long term to this team and you really can’t blame him. Who knows maybe when he becomes a free agent he goes to a good team that knows what its doing. Who’s gonna catch then? Bejini Molina? Since being trade Santana has gotten better.

  68. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Good Evening Ward Dear ~ busy day today? It was a very busy, but fun Friday for me indeed.
    .
    Good evening to you too bluecrewgirl 🙂

  69. acardona16

    absolutely amy!! A lot of them have parents that separated when they were young or had a family member/friend that died and yet they stayed strong and still had a VERY strong bond with their family’s and accomplished their biggest dream! I love hearing there stories of success!!

  70. amyw27

    hey blue- I’m just watching this game and we better come out on top!!!! It’s kinda quite around here. I’m looking forward to a restful weekend.
    .
    i do hope we win.

  71. acardona16

    ok i’m going to have to get going… i’m really hungry! i might be on later.. but if not, good night amyw27, Dnelly, dodgereric (hi and bye) bluecrewgirl (hi and bye to u too) and have a good night to everyone i missed!!!

    .
    GO HIROKI!!! GO ANDRE!!! GO MATTY!!! GO RUSSY!!! GO JAMES!!! LETS WIN THIS GAME BOYS!!! GO DODGERS!!!!!

    .
    (p.s. man i hope the game is on at the restaurant!! lol)

  72. dodgereric

    Well shoot howdy amy, June Darlin’, bluecrewGIRL, acardona and all the rest of you sufferin’ characters!

    amy, I just shot scott’s “Fire Joe” thingamajig into the air and then retreated back a day or so to make sure I captured all the songs we’ve written in my absence. I didn’t catch the Mr Edwards thing.

    Yep Junie, busy day. The sheriff made an unannounced arrival this morning and I just spent the last few hours saying goodbye to a pal who retired today. A busy, but nice day!

  73. aeversw

    Well you can thank Ned for that run! If he would have just claimed Dunn off waivers and offered the Reds Andruw Jones Dunn would still be a Red. THanks Ned

  74. amyw27

    Eric- going back to our Little House on The Prairie comments. our friend Scott said that he always loved Mr. Edwards.
    So he came up with:
    .
    Fire Joe
    Fire the guy who hired Joe
    Fire the guy who hired the guy who hired Joe
    Hire Mr. Edwards as GM
    .
    lol. It still makes me laugh!

  75. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Ward Dear ~ It’s always hard to see good people retire. We had a very good teacher retire last year. She was at the school when I was a student there.
    .
    My Loney has a first name,
    It’s J-A-M-E-S
    My Loney has a second name,
    It’s L-O-N-E-Y
    I love to watch him every day
    And if you ask me why I’ll say
    ‘Cause James Loney has a way
    With H-I-T-T-I-N-G!

    By leefink and martinloneykemp

  76. amyw27

    we are going to the bank and cashing in. Way to go Babies!!!
    .
    but on yesterday’s ‘Prairie’ little James got shot in the tummy by bank robbers. So I’m a little ‘bank shy’ today!

  77. northstateblues

    I always felt sorry for Mr. Olson. Maybe if he spent more time at the saloon with Edwards, he’d at least have a smile on his face

  78. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Well, this definitely feels better for the moment. Hitting the ball, good at-bats, runners moving over (eventhough Andre should’ve been out, but shhhh!! we won’t tell), and scoring for a change. Let’s hope this keeps up.
    GO DODGER BLUE ~ WE LOVE YOU!!!!!

  79. trublu4ever

    Max ~ don’t you think Blake should play short and DeWitt can play third? A little more pop in the lineup, right?

  80. northstateblues

    bluecrewgirl, Casey Blake? He played only one game at SS in his career, earlier this year in Cleveland

  81. kpookiemon

    To paraphrase someone from yesterday, “They shoot PVLs, don’t they?” Except for Manny, which veteran is exactly helping this team? It’s all kids!!!!!

  82. aeversw

    TruBlue…Ching-Lung Hu needs to get another chance. He wasn’t himself when he was up here and once he got his eye problems fixed in Vegas he has hit well. Plus he plays a billion times better defense. He wouldn’t have just cost us this game like Nomar just did. As for Blake as mediocre has he is he is our best option for 3rd base this season. Dewitt’s bat is more suited for second base.

  83. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Kahli ~ I think that was enchanted that said that, so maybe he’s there ready to shoot away – LOL!!!

  84. amyw27

    NSB: I always felt sorry for Mr. Olson. Maybe if he spent more time at the saloon with Edwards, he’d at least have a smile on his face…..
    .
    Agreed. Mr. Olson was such a nice man, but he was married to Harriet who was a witch and he had bratty kids. Alcohol would have ruined Olson- he was a straight shooter. Except that one time he considered cheating on his wife with that red head!

  85. northstateblues

    I never caught that episode, Amy. I’m sure if Harriet caught her, there’d be strands of red hair blowing through the streets of Walnut Grove

  86. oldbrooklynfan

    It looks it’s getting rougher & rougher and this team is going to be tough to beat.
    Got to get tough back.

  87. bluecrewgirl

    Vinny is pissed about that fan interfering. Did anyone see that news clip they just showed of a kid that fell out of the stands in the outfield trying to catch a fly ball? I’m not sure what stadium it was at.

  88. amyw27

    nsb- we never did anything. he has a good heart. he really really wanted to. he would sneak off to visit her. so i guess it was mental cheating. but then he realized that he loved his wife and he went home and spoiled her..and they ‘kissed’ and that was that.
    .
    Come on my little Pierre. Amy loves you 🙂

  89. angelnodal@gmail.com

    I will say, as pissed, sad, distraught, etc etc I am as I watch the Dodgers performance the last 7+ games, at least Vinny makes it tolerable.

  90. amyw27

    bluecrew- yes! that boy falling was terrible. Was he ok? did you hear what happened?
    .
    yes Vinny was pissed about that. At least the guy is gone so he no longer has to comment on it!!
    .
    Come on Russy!!

  91. bluecrewgirl

    He was sayiing that if the D-Back’s manager got kicked out the least they could do was kick him out and was annoyed that he was sitting there smiling about it. They did just kick him out I guess.

  92. northstateblues

    Amy, yeah, now I remember that one, your description jarred my memory. the sneaking around, and spoiling Harriet. I remember a funny look on her face after he kissed her.

    My mom would watch that show everyday, had the whole book series, everything, so I guess I have a lot of that show floating around in my subconscious.

  93. kpookiemon

    Who kidnapped our All-Star catcher? That guy wearing #55 all month looks nothing like the player I remember.

  94. northstateblues

    thanks bluecrewgirl. I wish I had MLB.TV, I could hear a lot more Vin. I always feel like I’m missing something. Because I am.

  95. trublu4ever

    I want to thank you all for setting my straight on Blake’s fielding prowess. I appreciate the help and I agree with you Max about Hu.

  96. amyw27

    Nsb. No one in my family would watch it. I’ve seen almost everyone on repeat tv. Never read the books either. but I would LOVE to own the entire series on DVD. that could be amazing.
    All Little House, all the time 🙂
    .
    gosh, I gotta fill my time somehow when baseball season ends. This little girl does not follow football!
    .

  97. amyw27

    Tru- i know..and I think it’s funny. You seem like a woman of good family values., this show is perfect for you 🙂
    .
    it’s funny cause now that I’m reconnecting with the Little House roots, I am finding all these ‘in the closet” fans of the shows. It’s great how everyone can recall all the episodes. It’s addicting stuff.

  98. bluecrewgirl

    He could have at least let him pitch to one more batter. It’s not like Park has been setting the world on fire lately.

  99. oldbrooklynfan

    I think that’s the first time I saw Scott Elbert pitch.
    He sure throws hard.
    But I wonder how long he can throw like that?

  100. amyw27

    I’m gonna go finish this up away from the computer.
    .
    Park better come through..then we need to hit like crazy. get runner home. Make it happen. WE can do this!!!!!
    .
    Let’s Go Dodgers.
    .
    night yall
    .

  101. tradejuanpypaperbag

    I liked what I saw in Elbert even though it was only 3 batters – not sure why he couldn’t finish it off. Max, you are soooo right. This is why we don’t trade away our farm.

  102. angelnodal@gmail.com

    20 pitch limit for his first time out isn’t bad. For the first time in the past few games I agree with Torre. For his debut no need to stretch him out too much and/or mess up his confidence by having him give up a run.

  103. trublu4ever

    Amy ~ I just couldn’t stand Michael Landon. Here’s a guy who did a wholesome family show and left his wife and 8 kids for a younger woman.

  104. aeversw

    Angel, I doubt the Dodgers had him on a pinch count. If they did they woulnd’t have brought him up. Joe just got nervous cuz he’s a Kid and wanted to go to his safety blanket…someone thats over 30

  105. northstateblues

    This game feels like it’s taking forever. My girlfriend is reminding me of that, as I’ve “commandeered” the computer, heh. I bet she wishes I was more of a diehard football fan than diehard baseball fan, there’s only 16 games a year in that.

  106. bluecrewgirl

    Man if only Andre had hit that ball to a different spot. He hit it hard. Then we would have 2 on and no outs. We have to find a way to break out of this. C’mon Dewitt!

  107. tradejuanpypaperbag

    I am for Blake playing 2nd for Jeff – how about you?
    Great Job Blake DeWitt – Welcome Back!!!!

  108. herher

    This is just too annoying. This team f-king sucks. They have no fight. Stephen drew manages to hit a perfect rbi single and loney can only gdp. We need to get more than one run when we get 3 hits in one innings. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

  109. aeversw

    Chan Ho was a good story but he’s been getting light up. So let me get this straight…Elbert domintates, gives up one hit and then gets pulled. Park has given up 3 straight hits and allowed a run before getting an out and he’s still in there. That makes perfect sense Joe.

  110. herher

    Well, this game is over. Thanks to Nomar for his stellar defense, and CHP for his stellar pitching once again. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Dodgers. Let’s go for 9 tomorrow night.

  111. bluecrewgirl

    Nomar needs to go back on the dl. He looked good the first time he came off it, but he has not looked good since he came back the second time, both defensively and offensively.

  112. messagebear@msn.com

    Nomar really sucks tonight. He sucks most of the time anymore, but tonight is some special sucking.

  113. northstateblues

    can’t do this again….. might be back later, but I figure I’ll give my gf a crack at the computer, heh.

  114. mccheap

    stick a fork in this one..what else is new.im not even going to stress out anymore, just a game..guess you have to fool with your mind sometimes..as much as we bark things arent going to change until management decides to cowboy up and give us a true leader..someone that is not a giant(Colletti)..someone who didn’t grow up rooting for the giants and being a yankee for who knows how long(Torre)..and the list can go on..$#$^$&%*&^(^&*%^..ill just go blow a hole through the wall excuse me

  115. herher

    Why do other teams middle infielders seem to get to every g-damn ball we hit, but our middle infielders seem to play in a pit of quicksand and every groundball is a base hit?

  116. jungar@wsgcorp.com

    Like Oh no I hope Kent isn’t hurt. Whatever will the Dodgers offense do without a .736 OPS hitter in the center of the order.

  117. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Max ~ Chin Lun Hu at shortstop and Blake DeWitt at 2nd. It certainly can’t be any worse than the PVLs we are dealing with in those positions right now.

  118. mccheap

    i tired of watching joe torre lie agaisnt that rail with no emotion what so ever…go off on somebody, break some chairs..curse someone out..*ucking do somethingg u piece of sh*t

  119. bluecrewgirl

    Agree, DNelly. Please no more Nomar or Kent in 2009. I appreciate what they’ve accomplished in their careers, but it’s time to move on.

  120. herher

    No Furcal managed to get to ground balls. You cannot win if youre weak up the middle. Everyone knows that except Colletti and Torre it seems….

  121. aeversw

    Look at Joe! He looks like he just wants to go back to his hotel room drink some bigalow green tea and take his geritol. Wouldn’t it be nice if Gibby led us to a 4 run out burst and NOT the dfags? Old Dodgers beating new Dodgers is sacrilegious. I really can’t believe the short hook Elbert go and Chan Ho was allowed to completely blow the game for us. I like Chan Ho and always will but come on Joe that’s pathetic! Your blind faith in anyone over 30 has cost us this season.

  122. aeversw

    A lot of baseball people will tell you that if are solid at catcher, short stop, second and center you will more then likely have a pretty good team. We’ve got 2 out of 4 covered.

  123. enchantedbeaver

    Here’s tonight’s edition. Can’t see any use waiting a few more outs. The Go-Gos, We Got The Beat:

    Kuroda san’s getting all the hitters
    Got a knock or two and it looked like we’d be winners
    But Nomore just can’t field or throw it anymore,
    Park came and ran amok and…
    .
    We just got beat
    We just got beat
    We just got beat
    Yeah
    We just got beat
    .
    C’mon McCourt an get off your seat
    We want wins now instead of defeat
    Fire Joe and fire Ned too
    Now, now, now, now, NOW!!!

    Artist: JoJo on the Railing
    CD: We Just Got Beat LXX
    © NedCo Broken Records 2008

  124. herher

    Exactly. But its compounded by the fact that were weak at 2nd and short, so the entire infield is weak. It’s way worse than having a bad 2nd baseman or bad SS.

  125. tradejuanpypaperbag

    bluecrewgirl ~ You are right, I mean no disrespect to their careers, but it’s time to let the kids play. They are the future, and right now, they were (and are) doing far better. The same problem in the outfield has made it’s way into the infield (PVLs over the young guns). Joe doesn’t see that the kids as the better choice. It took him 3/4 of the season to figure out the outfield, and If it took him that long for that, they infield is toast.

  126. trublu4ever

    I don’t want to hear bad things about our young players….it’s the old timers who are costing us plenty….they are the ones who are screwing things up big time!

  127. bluecrewgirl

    His failure to figure out that Matt and Andre should start every day since day one is one of the biggest mistakes he made. Cost us quite a few games. I would like to see them resign Manny and have and outfield of Manny, Kemp and Ethier set from day one next year. If they get rid of Penny, Lowe, Kent, Nomar and hopefully Pierre and dare we hope Jones, that would free us some serious cash to resign Manny.

  128. aeversw

    Next time they pan the dugout keep your eyes open for the white flag Joe is holding up! Oh wait, its out there on the mound never mind.

  129. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Ward Dear ~ Do we get movie night tonight? – yeah!! I am a Gene Wilder girl myself, but I will take ethier (either) one of those.

  130. enchantedbeaver

    The reason there’s no strong defense in the infield is that you’ve got a 40 year old 2B with no range, a cracked crystal vase at short with no range, and a 35 year old third baseman. Now let’s put that together with a .130 hitting PH who gets most all of the ABs off the bench in clutch situations, a back-up SS named Berroa that even KC didn’t want, a guy named Park who was starting to thrive as a starter, and who had told Torre he doesn’t like short relief because he can’t prepare properly, a journeyman middle reliever, two youngsters trying to close, an over worked catcher, no stopper in the rotation, a fistful of PVLs that can’t hit, and a manager that I’m not sure is even alive.

    I think 3rd place is a certainty, but 4th is certainly within reach.

  131. bluesplash09

    I like to think i’m not a baby, i’m 23 and in the Air Force, but right now i just feel like crying my eyes out into my pillow, this is just sad. Last year it was a 7 game losing streak that buried us, now it’s 8 and counting. I think it’s time for those magical words…”maybe next year”

  132. bluecrewgirl

    Bluesplash, pass the tissue box, we feel your pain.

    Enchanted, if all the fans and media can see what the problems are with this team, why can’t the powers that be? I was so excited for Torre to come to the team and he is so different that I thought he would be. I am very disappointed. I thought he was so much more intense than he has shown himself to be. Is it to much to ask for a manager that isn’t in need of CPR?

  133. trublu4ever

    Thanks Max, but you are the one who’s on fire tonight! I wish you’d pass some of the vigor to our pal Joe!

  134. enchantedbeaver

    I see that we have 3 runs on 11 hits and the Snakes have 9 runs on 10 hits. What’s wrong with that picture? Its obvious Mattingly can go back to Indiana, his work is done here.

  135. vl4ecc

    All too common lately enchanted with the Dodgers getting more hits than their opponents, and coming up on the short end of the stick on runs scored. It’s a horrible pattern.

  136. enchantedbeaver

    blue I think the problem with Torre isn’t that he’s any different than he was in New York per se, but with a loaded line-up of $200 million in players, and an owner that had the outbursts for him, it masked the fact that he’s a very mediocre manager.

  137. trublu4ever

    If Nomar and Jeff were hitting, jj & enchanted, we would be winning these games. They have failed miserably with RISP.
    Gosh RISP almost looks the same as REST IN PEACE!!!

  138. dodgereric

    Are you saying that I put an abnormal brain into a six foot tall, fifty-four inch wide DODGER MANAGER? IS THAT WHAT YOU’RE TELLING ME????????

  139. vl4ecc

    Tru The defensive blunders haven’t helped much either. Notice how everything went down the drain in a hurry after Nomar’s boo boo.

  140. enchantedbeaver

    I’d just like to see them end this charade and go with the kids entirely in September. Would also do a world of good to fire Ned immediately and let Logan get his feet wet during what’s left of the season.

    The last three years is exactly hat you get with PVLs – deceptively competative, then it all falls apart in the end. This has been Ned’s “philosophy” and each year under his “guidance” this team has gotten worse (not uncoincidentally with the quality of the PVLs Ned’s gotten.)

    Hiring JoJo was the icing on the cake – a PR stunt that backfired and left egg all over everyone’s face. A veteran’s manager for what should’ve been a young team was probably the worst choice ever made, even worse than Andruw, Pierre and Schmidt put together.

    Now we’re left with rebuilding AGAIN next year. If we’re lucky, enough of the young guns will come together and make a real run at things in 2010.

  141. Saul@hkm.com

    How can anyone be complaining that it took Joe this long to start Kemp & Ethier in the outfield everyday? Since he “got it” we are playing our worst ball of the season. I’m not disagreeing with them being out there everyday, i’m just saying it is a non-issue at this point. Don’t blame Joe or Ned, blame the players.

  142. oldbrooklynfan

    It’s amazing how we keep out hitting our opponents, without being able to score much.
    This isn’t anything new.
    Our offense has always been our weakest link.
    Tomorrow night we take on Dan Haren.
    .
    Actually I don’t thing either one of these teams could go too far in the post season.
    I’d hate to see the Rockies take 2nd away from us though.

  143. tradejuanpypaperbag

    “What the hell are you doing on the rail all day and night? Why don’t you get out of there and give someone else a chance?”

  144. vl4ecc

    I bet the attendance on the next homestand will be terrible. The way things are going, no one will want to invest any time, or money to see this implosion.

  145. tradejuanpypaperbag

    I love Silver Streak!! Anything with Gene Wilder, frankly.
    .
    Saul – it’s been management since spring training.

  146. aeversw

    Thats what im saying Nelly! We can win these games and get swept in the playoffs AGAIN and Ned will be back and screw this team up even more. Or we can tank, get Ned fired and hope to god Joe gets sick of it and retires. As far as im concerned a lose is a win at this point.

  147. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Ward Dear ~ Now I’m confused – “Young Frankenstein” or “Silver Streak”? Son of a B*tch is from Silver Streak 🙂

  148. trublu4ever

    Saul ~ Ned got all the useless washed up ball players. How can you not blame him! And Joe kept changing his lineup every other day. Nobody knew who was going to play….it was all on Joe’s whim.

  149. aeversw

    Haha me too enchanted. I would have probably been led out by security and never welcomed back to Dodger Stadium ever again.

  150. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Max ~ I have thought that since day one. I really thought of this year as being a development year for the young guns, win or lose, and then when Joe started messing with the young players and the lineups, I figured we were just one step closer to no more Ned. This doesn’t mean I don’t want the Dodgers to win games. It’s just I am seeing it from a positive on both ends, I guess. If we can win and get to the playoffs, then fine, but if we can’t, then so be it, and let’s move on with a new GM.

  151. dodgereric

    I know, June Darlin’. I was just showing Tru that I knew Silver Streak.

    Saul, what Joe finally “got” was that Ethier is better than Pierre. And playing Ethier is not what has sent this team into a tailspin.

    It could be worse.

    It could be raining.

  152. kpookiemon

    TJ Simers implies the clubhouse is old guys on one side of the room, kids on the other. Now maybe TJ is full of s**t…or maybe he’s not. But if this is true, it’s the same old song and dance. Torre was supposed to be a panacea but unless there’s a rail in the clubhouse, I doubt he ever goes in there. Flush away all the moody, selfish PVLs, and for the sake of sanity, flush Ned and Joe with them. I know GMs and managers don’t pop up with the bases loaded or throw hanging curve balls, but this team is an absolute mess confidence-wise. Psychologically, they’re a wreck. I can’t wait to hear Manny’s take when the season concludes. He’ll speak his mind because I doubt he’d re-sign if Joe is here in 2009.

  153. bluecrewgirl

    Saul, the outfield situation may be a moot point now, but it wasn’t most of the season when it would have made a huge difference if Joe had made the right choice.

  154. bkt42bkt42@yahoo.com

    Order of business tomorrow:

    Fire GM Ned Colletti

    Place 2B Jeff Kent and SS Nomar Garciaparra on the DL (and they don’t return)

    Make up an injury for RHP Greg Maddux and put him on the DL too..

    Release SS Angel Berroa, RHP Jason Johnson and PH Mark Sweeney

    Buy out the contracts of OF Andruw Jones and RHP Jason Schmidt and tell RHP Brad Penny his option will not be picked up and he isnt being activated

    Leave SS Raffy Furcal, Takashi Saito, Scott Proctor and every other curent freakin’ Dodger on the DL for rest of year

    Bring up P’s Clayton Kerhsaw and James McDonald as well as SS Ivan DeJesus (skips AAA) ,OF Delwyn Young, 3B Terry Tiffee and SS Chin Lung Hu

    Lineup:

    C Russell Martin
    CF Matt Kemp
    RF Andre Ethier
    LF Manny Ramirez
    1B James Loney
    3B Casey Blake
    2B Blake DeWitt
    SS Ivan DeJesus

    IF Chin Lung Hu
    PH Delwyn Young
    OF Juan Pierre
    IF Terry Tiffee
    C Danny Adroin (eventually Ellis or May)

    SP Chad Billingely
    SP Derek Lowe
    SP Hiroki Kuroda
    SP Clayton Kershaw
    SP James McDonald

    RP Scott Elbert
    RP Joe Biemel
    RP Chan Ho Park
    RP Cory Wade
    RP Ramon Troncoso
    RP Hong Chih Kuo

    RP Jonathan Broxton

    UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

  155. enchantedbeaver

    Oh crap, somebody go get Joe off the railing and tell him its time to go back to the hotel, I forgot again.

  156. acardona16

    ok so i just got back from dinner and besides the fact that i got to hang out with my brother that i HARDLY ever get to hang out with, the food was great, and a friend that joined the marines surprised us and showed up after he said he wasn’t gunna come home for a few months…………….. the game was on at the sushi place and i was wishing it wasn’t!!! it was spoiling the good time i was having!!! i was trying NOT to watch it!! man this is just bad!!!

  157. dodgereric

    LMAO e! I had “What’s the matter with you? Take one for the team” as the last line in that post, but I deleted it to see if you’d say it!

  158. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Then again, I could also imagine old fogey in a room with Joe, with his 13,699 different name combinations and all of his statisical data that I am sure he has accumulated. I could see many from this board in that room with the very distinct personalities and name titles they have from this board. Eric, Max, Jungar, Leekfink, mlk, etc wit their non- sugar coated approach.

  159. dodgereric

    But you have to remember that Torre… . with very few exceptions… . is not a human being.

    But wasn’t that the whole basis of your grandfather’s work? The reanimation of dead tissue?

    My grandfather was a very sick man.

  160. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Why, the worm, sir.
    .
    Yes, I did read something of that incident when I was a student, but you have to remember that a worm… . with very few exceptions… . is not a human being.
    .
    .
    .

    So could Joe Torre be a worm – LMAO!!!!!!

  161. dodgereric

    Bowa: Mr. Honeycutt, Mr. Mattingly. The manager wants a meeting with all coaches, right away.

    Mattingly: Now? At one o’clock in the morning?

    Bowa: Yes, sir.

    Mattingly: Do you know what it’s about?

    Bowa: Yes, sir – strawberries.

  162. kpookiemon

    Because I’m angry and depressed, what do y’all think are the REAL chances Joe will “step down” after the season? I mean, Ned has to be a sure thing, but can I reasonably hope about Joe leaving????

  163. crzblue2

    And we are driving to Arizona in a few hours for this?? Feel like having a sign saying that…We will be in the 5th row from the visitor’s dugout.
    .
    I was surprised to find that our Loney is leading the team in GIDP with 21. Next is Russ and Kent with 13, Nomah with 12 and Kemp with 11. Well, better get a few hours of sleep.
    .
    Is good to hear Vin again. I thought he would bring us luck. Glad that bozo fan got kicked out of the game.
    .
    E, you want me to get Joe off the railing after the game tomorrow?

  164. bluecrewgirl

    Lol, maybe they can have a promotion were some lucky fans can spend the night in the dugout under the stars with Joe.

  165. tradejuanpypaperbag

    LMAO!!!! LMAO!!!
    .
    enchanted – I’m not sure if you are asking about the worm comment of the idiot comment, but all three stooges apply to ethier (either) case, don’t you think?

  166. enchantedbeaver

    Joe: Aboard my club, excellent performance is non existant, standard performance is the exception, and sub-standard performance is the norm – that, I warn you.

  167. dodgereric

    OK, The Caine Mutiny was a great movie but it’s not making me laugh.

    HE’S GOT A ROTTEN BRAIN! IT’S ROTTEN, I TELL YA! ROTTEN!

  168. enchantedbeaver

    Frank to Ned: The first thing you’ve got to learn about this club is that it was designed by geniuses to be run by idiots.

  169. dodgereric

    Let me out. Let me out of here. Get me the hell out of here. What’s the matter with you people? I was joking! Don’t you know a joke when you hear one? HA-HA-HA-HA.

  170. tradejuanpypaperbag

    They did!!? That’s great!! I will read it right now – that’s great eric!!! I will be back- fabulous!!!

  171. tradejuanpypaperbag

    That is great!!! It’s funny how all the commentaries about the Dodgers had the same tone – management. The commentary about instant replay was pretty funny – to overturn the acquisitions of Schmidt and Jones.

  172. tradejuanpypaperbag

    We’ve kind of known we weren’t alone, but it wasn’t publicized in the beginning, and now it’s a little too late. However, if it gets at least Ned fired, then maybe it’s not too late.

  173. kpookiemon

    Great job, dodgereric! It’s always fun to get a letter published!!!!!!! If things keep up like they have been, next Saturday’s letters should be even more disturbing.

  174. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Tonight’s game started out pretty good, and when we went ahead and Kuroda was pitching well, I really thought the Dodgers had really turned it around. That missed play by Nomar was the turning point and a costly part of the game. I expected kind of a pitchers dual tonight, so I kind of figured a possible low scoring game, but it really goes back to that play and a 0 out situation instead of a 1 or 2 out situation.

  175. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Once again, pain in the knee for a month, and why are we just now saying something? How many times have we heard that this year. “I/he have/has had this pain for……” How can you possibly be helping the team by hiding things like that?

  176. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Wow!! Elbert was fantastic – I thought. I know it’s early, but he was as impressive as Kersh was when we first saw him. (I was a tad more impressed with Elbert). Even the dbacks announcers were impressed.

  177. tradejuanpypaperbag

    eric ~ emma said you are able to go back and find the previous commentaries the Times published of yours. She said you could find them on-line. Did you ever find those? Or do you care now?

  178. kpookiemon

    “…the 40-year-old second baseman who has endured a wide range of physical problems this season had to be replaced by pinch-hitter Blake DeWitt.”

    I’ll tell you–and I may get crusified for this–Kent going on the DL wouldn’t be the worst thing that could happen. Not because of his baseball skills, but because of his veteran presence. I’ve got to believe that if there’s still tension in the Dodger clubhouse, Kent hasn’t exactly helped. If he was truely “gone,” if even for a couple weeks, it would be the kids..and Manny. Garciapara, Casey Blake, Pierre, Sweeney…these guys can’t lead because they aren’t that good anymore. But Kid DeWitt got that beautiful rbi shot.

  179. aeversw

    Elbert was great wasn’t he? If only Greg Miller could have kept it together the Dodgers could have easily had 3 of the best Left Handed pitching prospects in the game! Coupled with Billz and J Mac how can you not help but be amazed at the quality of talent Logan White has assembled. Not to mention Edwin Jackson even though he didn’t pan out like we all thought (even though the Dodgers TOTALLY botched him). The Dodgers have had some of the best pitching prospects in the game the last 3 or 4 years.

  180. tradejuanpypaperbag

    I agree with you 100% Kahli – I still think it’s a chemistry thing, and it goes back to the vets vs. the kids. Aside from the opening week with Manny, their best baseball was played when JP and Andruw were on the DL at the same time (Houston series on). It was just the kids and Jeff on the field, and it was great!! Once Manny came, it became like that once again because he behaved just like one of the kids (out there having a good time), and then Joe made him cut his hair. I think in one decision to be mister “All about the rules” changed the chemistry of the team once again. The losing streak coincides with that one event, and I hate to admit it, but it makes sense. Joe interferred with a superstition or whatever Manny figures his hair to be, and the team hasn’t been the same since.

  181. aeversw

    Carlos Santana won the Cal League MVP. Thanks Ned and McCheap! I hope the extra two million you saved is freaking worth it A-Hole!

  182. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Then again maybe the losing streak has to do with how the moons are aligned with Uranus. LMAO!!!!!!!!

  183. sl7180@hotmail.com

    I would still give Edwin Jackson a couple more years to see if he improved but I still think we rush Jackson up to fast when he was making his major league debut on his 20th bday,

  184. tradejuanpypaperbag

    It’s okay Max ~ I think we all have that numb feeling whether we have been drinking or not – LOL!!!

  185. dodgereric

    I think I hear my mother calling me. Oberon appears on the horizon, the street lights come on……time for bed. Good night Max, kahli and June Darlin’!

  186. sl7180@hotmail.com

    Dang Max that trade look bad everyday someone mention it. I’m waiting for MeLoan to turn into an all stars some day.

  187. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Good Night Ward Dear! Have a fabulous Saturday. There’s always hope for a win tomorrow, and if not, another game closer to other things on the horizon.

  188. aeversw

    oh man meloan is gonna be the closer in cleveland next year and for years to come. The blake deal won’t be Pedro for Delino but It will probably be as close as Ned is gonna get. tWo goo d players that will be good major leaguers for 3 months of mini mark hendrickson. I cant think about this team anymore right now or im gonna drink myself to detah tonight.

  189. sl7180@hotmail.com

    I can’t believe Chad Johnson really change his name to Chad Javon Ocho Cinco. That’s going to look weird in fantasy league.

  190. sl7180@hotmail.com

    Oh why didn’t we give the job to Hatcher or another former Dodgers in Dino Ebel?

    Dino Ebel (born March 20, 1966 in Barstow, California) is a former minor league baseball player and manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers who is currently the third base coach for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

    Ebel attended San Bernadino Valley College. He was drafted in the 27th round (365th overall) of the 1986 amateur draft by the Philadelphia Phillies, but elected to attend Florida Southern College, where he was a member of the 1988 NCAA Division II championship squad.

    Ebel signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization as a free agent, and was named the Gulf Coast League Player of the Year in his 1988 season with the rookie-level GCL Dodgers. He was promoted to single-A Vero Beach in 1989, and was a member of the 1990 Florida State League champion squad. In 1991, Ebel was promoted to Triple-A Albuquerque where he served as a utility player.

    In 1991 he served as a player-coach for the single-A Bakersfield Dodgers, a position he held until 1994. He served as a player-coach for the high-A San Bernardino Spirit in 1995, before coaching full-time with double-A San Antonio in 1996. He began his managing career in 1997 with San Bernardino, taking the reins of the club late in the season. He managed the rookie-level Great Falls Dodgers in 1998, compiling a 40-35 record. In 1999, he managed the single-A Yakima Bears. He returned to San Bernardino in 2000, and led the club to the California League title. He moved to single-A Wilmington the following year, where he posted a 75-63 record. In 2002, he led the double-A Jacksonville Suns to the Southern League East Division Championship and served as the club’s manager until 2004.

    After serving for seventeen years in the Dodgers organization in some capacity, Ebel joined the Los Angeles Angels organization in 2005 as the coach of triple-A Salt Lake, which posted a 79-65 record under his guidance. After long-time bench coach Joe Maddon left the Angels organization to manage the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Ebel was appointed to the major league team’s coaching staff as Mike Scioscia’s third base coach. As the third base coach, Ebel is known to lean to a more aggressive style of baserunning.

    Ebel has compiled a career managing record of 531-496 in eight seasons.

  191. sl7180@hotmail.com

    Maybe Dino Ebel should be our manager since he’s been in our organization for 17 years. Gosh I’m hating the Angels coaching staff and the only 2 players that hasn’t played for us is Butcher and there bullpen coach.

  192. boblee14@yahoo.com

    Well, all I can say is 12 hits with 3 walks and 14 men left on base along with 2 errors and sloppy play is not ever going to get the job done unless we are playing against the Pee Wee league and I’m not sure we could win there the way we play. We call ourselves a Major League team. That is a joke. We have no concept of how to drive in runs. Just making contact with the ball and swinging for the opposite field or a dinger placed over the infielder’s head doesn’t seem to be an option for this team.
    .
    When we leave Arizona 6 1/2 games behind, (with losses to Haren and Webb) this season is over for the Dodgers and we might as well play every kid and all players from the minors to give them all the experience that we are going to need in the future. Obviously, we don’t have the consistent hitters in our youth we thought we had as they have been given every opportunity to start to become major leaguers. They have been playing everyday and at this point, I don’t see the spark this team needs to be winners. I hope I’m wrong, but we need to shake this team up starting with the firing of Joe Torre and Ned Colletti make Logan White the General Manager, and get rid of Honeycutt and Start looking for a new manager immediately.
    .
    I’m tired of watching this team play like a college team day after day. No where is this team in it’s current state headed anywhere. The season is over, capoot, finished, ended. They might just as well sit all the veterans except Manny and let nothing but the kids play.

  193. messagebear@msn.com

    With the Dodgers sinking, can Ned possibly keep his head above the water much longer? His quick demise would be a measure of comfort this season. If the Rockies pass us, I’d like to see Ned fired immediately, if not sooner. Worthless Giant crap! Get rid of him now and everybody that he has brought on with the Dodgers front office organization.

    I’d like to be more explicit about all the things I’d like to do to him personally, but I want to stay on this forum a while longer without having to disguise my identity.

  194. trublu4ever

    messagebear ~ Well said. I think you have expressed all of our sentiments exactly. I just wish that McCourt had the guts to do it. We will see what kind of an owner Frank really is.

  195. knouffbrock@frontiernet.net

    You can see that it is not going to be this year either. Still… you cannot throw in the towel yet. That is not an option. But all things considered, this is the most disappointing season I’ve had since I started following the Dodgers.

  196. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Good Morning ITD Faithfuls!
    .
    After I signed off here last night, I was watching late, late night tv only to find myself watching an episode of none other than “Leave it to Beaver.” It was the episode where Beav got into a fight with a paperboy in which the paperboy ended up being a girl. I laughed through the entire episode not because it was necessarily funny, but just thinking about how that show has weaved itself onto this board. I haven’t watched an episode in ages, but boy, we certainly play those roles pretty well. I was hoping for an appearance of Eddie in the show just to hear him call Beav Squirt, but Eddie didn’t show up. After that show, I went on channel surfing to come across an old movie that has recently showed it’s face around here lately – “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (the original), but we know it as “Invasion of the Name Snatchers.” After that, I was expecting to find “Caddyshack”, “Young Frankenstein”, etc, but no such luck – I finally fell asleep. My husband is at a USC prospect baseball camp with my son so it’s even harder to fall asleep.
    .
    As far as Dodger baseball, I only wish for these losses to lead to at least Ned getting fired and sent away to some far away place where he can’t harm this Dodger franchise any more. I would wish for something for Joe, too, but I think if I can only have one wish – I want to see Ned gone first since he hired these PVLs in the first place.

  197. messagebear@msn.com

    Yes, Nelly, I think we can expect the management departures only one at a time; otherwise it would disrupt Frank’s sense of organizational stability. It’s funny, because last year many of us were calling for Grady’s and Ned’s heads, and Grady, of course, is gone. How much better would we be if it had been Ned, especially since Grady was replaced by someone of the same age set and demeanor. This year I’ll settle for enduring Torre for another year or two, but Ned is way overdue for departure. Frank should consider how how much more exciting it will be to wait for the start of the 2009 season without Ned in the organization to throw away many more millions. I won’t bother to add them up, but a Pierre here and and Andruw there, not to mention Schmidt, and it can add up to some real money, eh, Frank?

  198. iheartaethier16@yahoo.com

    problems lie deeper than just firing ned, joe, and whoeever else (not saying i like the way they’ve been handling lately) … i still say the young players are the core of the team whether we’re losing or winning… just because we fall behind like this doesnt mean we should stop sticking with the rooks… everytime theres a win everyone takes the blame off joe, the vets, or whoever else a bit and evverytime theres a loss everyone goes offf and blames the same peope they were rooting for or thought was an asset…

    chill out people.. we all love baseball for the love of baseball… these players have a life outside of bp and the stadium and games too… u dont think they want to win? who likes to lose… they put in their best effort each night hoping to win.. but its a game… u lose some u win some… so we been in a slump.. who really knows the real reason why.. there could be millions.. but that’s between each player, the team, the management, the whole dodger franchise… sometimes theres sunshine sometimes theres rain but either way each player shows up everyday with passion doing what they love…. they have good days & bad days just like we do and when ur in a slump theres nothing worse than hearing more negativity…its not like we’ve been horrible forever we’ve been on fire lately so common show some true dodger pride and give some encouragement… we’re fans because we LOVE and BLEED BLUE… i’m not taking sides or saying anyones right or wrong on this board AT ALL.. so pls dont take offense.. i jst dont want the players who read these comments ( and u know they probably do every so often ) to feel even more worse after losing a game…

    =)

  199. enchantedbeaver

    Stick a fork in this turkey cuz’ its done!!!

    Good morning all!!

    Well, well, well. So Jeffy’s been playing hurt? Glad he sucked. I mean glad he sucked it up for the team just like Nomore and Puny, and the Curacao Cow, and all the other worthless PVLs. If the kids have not progressed as much as perhaps some people think they should’ve, look no further than their mentors: Andruw, Kent, Sweeney, Trigger, Nomore, Berroa, Blake, Penny, Lowe, Johnson, Schmidt, Bennett, Loaiza, Ozuna…

    Tremendous acquisitions all Ned, and my hearty congratulations. But its not only the quantity of PVLs, its the quality. We’ve gone from Lofton and Nomore I, to Pierre and Gonzo, to Andruw and Sweeney II – a linear line going straight downhill. Bravo!!

    And now from the architect of the Titanic to the captain, none other than Grandpa Joe. The real captain went down with the ship, but our Joe is going to resurface two more times before paddling off into the sunset. Joe’s baseball acumen seems to be either stuck in a time warp, or lay at the feet of his former GM Brian Cashman who provided $200 million dollars worth of players. JoJo’s youth was served 50 years ago, and now appears to be like a crotchety old fart watching kids play and yelling, “Get off my lawn!” For God’s sake Joe, try letting them have a little fun out there. I think one of the reason’s the kids falter is because Joe has them OVERthinking out there. The veterans however don’t have to think at all because Joe ASSUMES they always have “a plan.” Clueless Joe. Fitting.

    And of course we have Frank. Frank, who lets Ned spend millions on crap, then has to become a miser so he can buy the L.A. Marathon. What can you say about Frank that isn’t covered by the sound of a whoopie cushion?

    In the words of a great American:

    Fire Joe.
    .
    Fire the guy that hired Joe.
    .
    Fire the guy that hired the guy that hired Joe.

  200. trublu4ever

    iheartethier ~ We all bleed Dodger blue. Problem is, I don’t think we would have been in this mess right now if Joe would have stuck with the right players from the beginning. That’s why, I for one blame him. I know the players play hard everyday, I suffer with them….. through each and every out……each and every time we leave runners in scoring position….and wonder why all of a sudden our pitchers can’t get the job done. So, a lot of us just vent our frustrations, which has been quite often lately. But, most of us feel that it’s not over until the last day of the season. We give the team words of encouragement before every game.

  201. j-murray

    this team needs what the lion, the scarecrow, and the tin man in the wizard of oz need. only problem is they swing the bats like dorothy, are as intimidating as toto, and are owned by the wicked witch of the west. God save us all.

  202. amyw27

    8 straight?? so so sad. When it went 9-2 I turned it off with disgust.
    .
    blah. what a night for the boy in blue.
    .

  203. lny4loney

    Long post. Sorry.
    .
    Don’t give up on the season just yet my beloved ITDers. We MUST find a way to beat either Webb or Haren. If we don’t do that I won’t give up just yet, but I’m an ultra-diehard.
    .
    More optimistically (naively some might say), if we somehow manage to salvage the last two games of this disastrous road trip, we come home to face three weak Padres pitchers (no Peavy) and then get another crack at the D-Backs.
    .
    GRADING THE DODGERS OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT – 2008 PERFORMANCE.
    .
    Frank McCourt – Mixed. He’s done good things with the stadium and plans many more upgrades. I think the one thing that most concerned Dodgers fans when McCourt took over was that he would tear down Dodger Stadium, make Chavez Ravine a community for the very rich, and move build a new stadium who knows where. He has done and continues to do pretty much the opposite of that. Also the Parking Lot millionaire has used that knowledge to make egress from the stadium much better, this year adding shuttle buses. While there will be some commercial development of the land immediately adjacent to the stadium, it is of the kind that will enhance rather than detract from the ball game experience. He has provided sufficient money to pay for a World Series caliber team (more about what happened to that money below). It is rumored that he put the kaybosh on a trade that would have sent some of our most promising kids away. As to the effect of his other business activities on the Dodgers (such as buying the L.A. marathon), I frankly don’t have enough information nor enough business knowledge to make a judgment call. On the negative side, as owner he is ultimately at least partially responsible for the success or failure of the team on the field. Right now that’s not looking very good. Also one could argue that had he loosened up the purse strings a little more, the Blake, Manny, and Maddux trades could have been done without giving up as much talent. GRADE: C+
    .
    Ned Colletti – Resisted the temptation to trade away any of the kids throughout the winter. Signed Andruw Jones (about which I must admit I was a strongly in favor) for $36 million/2years. Failed to unload Juan Pierre (but that might have been impossible and goes on his 2007 report card moreso than this one). HIRED JOE TORRE. Resisted (perhaps with the intervention of others) the temptation to trade away any of the most important kids during the season. Made trades for Casey Blake, Manny Ramirez, and Greg Maddux. Although it may eventually cost us, I have no qualms with the Blake trade. LaRoche and DeWitt were just not getting it done and we were (are?) in a playoff race. The Manny acquisition was a no-brainer. Maddux was a calculated risk and although thus far it has not panned out, it is too early to say. I won’t fault Colletti for this one; I would have done it. Ned also brought in some nice pieces in Kuroda and Chan Ho Park. Inexplicably kept Mark Sweeney on the roster all year. The continuing contracts of Schmidt, Nomar, and Pierre must also count against Colletti’s 2008 grade although they were inked in years past. Because he held on to the core kids (except LaRoche who had to go in the Manny trade) and even with the poor signings of Jones et al., I might give Colletti a “C”. However the Torre hiring merits an “F”. GRADE: D
    .
    Joe Torre: I’m not even going to explain it. I’ve put in applications for him at both the Herbert G. Birch School for Exceptional Children and Hearthstone Alzheimer Care. I’m not sure which he needs. Both are located in New York City. GRADE: F-

  204. amyw27

    lny4loney- we are with you on your thoughts.
    .
    I’m going to enjoy time with my family and friends. I wish everyone a pleasant and safe holiday weekend.
    .
    We are all diehard Dodger fans through and through. We’ve been let down this week. but We will gather round our TV’s and computers tonight and hope for the best.
    .
    Let’s go boys. Let’s go Dodgers. Let’s do it for our dignity!
    .
    Take care,
    Amy
    .

  205. trublu4ever

    lny4loney ~ Your post was right on the money. I only have one thing to add:
    Fire Joe
    Fire the guy who hired Joe
    Fire the guy who hired the guy who hired Joe!

  206. oldbrooklynfan

    Why are so many of you blaming Torre?
    And Colletti has nothing to do with this latest fiasco.
    Believe me I think Mattingly and management are trying very hard to win.
    I think the players are trying their best.
    Maybe they’re trying too hard.*****
    Who’s at fault?
    I don’t know- but I don’t think that’s important.
    Let’s stop looking for who to blame.
    You have to pray or think of some magic potion.
    Someone once told me, don’t talk about a streak, because you might jinx it.
    Well let’s see:
    THE DODGERS ARE ON AN 8 GAME LOSING STREAK.
    There I said it.
    Try to think of something that will BREAK THE SPELL.

  207. tradejuanpypaperbag

    messagebear, enchanted, and lny4loney (mlk) – SPECTACULAR COMMENTS THIS MORNING BY ALL THREE OF YOU!! Just keep on saying it over and over again, and hopefully somebody takes notice and actually does something about it.

  208. kpookiemon

    If anyone really thinks this club is a contender, just look at the Wild Card standings, which I feel is a more acurate measure of this team’s talent level. Answer: 13 1/2 games out of a wild card spot. Joe is a frozen Stepford manager (just try removing the dugout rail and see if he remains upright), and Ned has crafted a dynamic roster of who exactly??? Age has REALLY caught up with this team. Suddenly (or not so suddenly), Kent, Nomar, Johnson, Chan Ho, Pierre, Blake, and Maddux don’t play so well, and the DL is a who’s who of the same: Penny, Andruw, Saito, Schmidt, Proctor. lny4loney, your “D” grade for Ned must have come after a call from his parents. Regardless of the Manny bonanza, Ned is, for me, a solid F, right with Grandpa.

  209. kpookiemon

    Oh, go away, Ned and Joe
    Go away, Ned and Joe
    It’s hurtin’ me more each minute that you delay
    When you are near me like this
    Dodger baseball is piss
    So, go away, Ned and Joe, and please take Frank on the way

  210. tradejuanpypaperbag

    PierreEW ~ I always love your optimism, and I have that too, for the players. I know they are trying their best, and my heart hurts to see them go through this considering what some of them have went through to get into this starting lineup to begin with. We dealt with Andruw and JP in the lineup much too long in the beginning of the season, and now we are having the same issues with Nomar and Jeff. Also, with the exception of JP( who went on the DL for an on the field injury), they all have said that they were hurt long before actually being put on the DL. We have had the same thing happen to pitchers. Doesn’t this all go back to management?
    .
    BTW – nice comments on Joe’s blog, and I like how you pop in and out of Andre’s blog as well ~ very cool!!
    .
    THE DODGERS ARE ON AN 8 GAME LOSING STREAK!!
    .
    hey, I will help anyway I can to break the streak 🙂
    .
    ETHIERaholic and very proud that Andre is batting .302 with a SLG % of .476 (2nd behind Manny), 6 HRs and 17 runs scored for the month of August. WAY TO GO ‘DRE!

  211. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Good Afternoon mjd5368!! Are you new to this site? I have not seen that name before. The reason why I ask is we have had many name changes in the last several weeks. If you are new, then Welcome to ITD!!!!

  212. tradejuanpypaperbag

    nsblues – lazy day today? lol!! I think the Dodgers can use all the help they can get.

    .

    mjd ~ I believe you have to go back to mlb.com and change nickname, but things have been so screwy with names lately, I’m not sure it will help. However, nsblues (above) goes back and forth between that name and northstateblues all day long so maybe he can help – LOL!!!!

  213. babyblu33

    dnelly and tru … Now that I finally got it. I have to get ready for work. You all have a great day. 🙂

  214. lbirken@aol.com

    Without passing judgement on any of the comments made here lately or from the beginning of the season, I also feel this most current losing streak has to fall somewhat on the players be they vets, almost vets (i.e. Martin) or younger players. We are late in the season, the so called “dog days” and whether it is fatigue, bad luck or something else, this time of year seperates the leaders of the pack to the also rans. We saw a similar thing happen last year towards the end of the season. You hope the decisions made by management will put the team in a position to win but the players have to produce. I understand many feel the right players have not been in the right place but for the most part, they have been the past few weeks.

    That being said, I certainly am not ready to give up on any of the younger players. We all seem to believe they can do the job. The sad thing is that so many of us have little confidence that the management of the Dodgers on or off the field can make the changes necessary to bring the fans a winning team. Frank McCourt is not going anywhere so this falls on him to figure it out and I am hopeful he can.

  215. tradejuanpypaperbag

    lbirken ~ I agree with the fact that some of losing streak should fall on the players. I just don’t like the blanket statement that some people make that it’s the team giving up. I don’t think the “team” is giving up. There may be certain players not giving 100% everyday, whether due to fatigue, motivation (whatever the case may be), or now injury we are finding out. My position on management versus players goes back to day one. I know it’s hindsight, but if the right players were playing from day one, maybe we wouldn’t have this do or die situation now, and the dbacks and rox would be looking at ways to catch up to the Dodgers instead. Like you said, it does go back to Frank, and he needs to figure this mess out, and hopefully sooner than later. (IMO) I think most of us feel his first step is firing Ned.

  216. northstateblues

    Dnelly, sorry I was away from the computer for a while, glad she found how to do it. I’m lazy to start the day today, heh.

    Welcome to the blog babyblue33. You’re not in trouble yet, heh.

  217. tradejuanpypaperbag

    enchanted/Beav ~ babyblu has been warned and has seen what has happened to nells and trublue. The warning didn’t work 🙂

  218. northstateblues

    TruBlue:

    City Slickers
    City Slickers 2: The legend of Curly’s Gold
    Mr. Saturday Night
    The Princess Bride
    My Giant (blech)
    Analyze This
    Analyze That
    and Running Scared (w/Gregory Hines, who were both in the music video “Sweet Freedom” by Michael MacDonald)

    Just off the top of my head… hope that helps.

  219. tradejuanpypaperbag

    nsblues ~ I don’t remember “My Giant” but then by your comment – I guess I didn’t need to remember it – LOL!!!

  220. lbirken@aol.com

    Nelly, I also usually take offense to statements that players give up mostly because I just don’t want to believe it. We are fans; we want to believe that players give 100% on every play, every game. The reality is that just like the rest of us, sometimes a player just doesn’t feel right that day and things just don’t go well. But since most of us just suck it up and do our jobs, so do players. The problem is they do it in front of a bunch of people not only at games but on highlight shows and so on. When one of us messes up at work or at home, no one else knows about it. When Nomar makes an error, everyone knows about it. But, as a wise person once said, that is why they get the big bucks.

    I also refuse to believe Dodger management does not want to win. Sure, ownership is interested in making money and it is a business. But winning has to be the goal. I also will never root for the Dodgers or any other team I support to lose and I have no problem rooting for my rival in situations that can benefit my team.

  221. northstateblues

    heheheh, yeah, that was a stinker.

    The only reason I remembered Running Scared is ’cause of that music video. Growing up, I watched a LOT of MTV in the 80’s, and I always remembered that video because of all the Hawaiian shirts and Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines dancing together. Very silly, very funny, like Chevy in Paul Simon’s “Call Me Al” and Robin Williams in Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”

    I want my MTV… BACK!!!!!!

  222. tradejuanpypaperbag

    nsblues ~ I remember those videos too. I was in high school in the 80’s and mtv was the new thing back when they actually played videos all day long.

  223. northstateblues

    lbirken… your post reminded me of something I caught during Obama’s acceptance speech. (Don’t worry, I don’t intend to bring politics in here… I like having this as a politics-free zone. If we all spar back and forth this much over, say, Juan Pierre, I don’t want to imagine what would happen if we let Washington join the party.). I’ll just rephrase his words:

    It’s not because McCourt and Ned don’t care. It’s that they don’t get it.

  224. northstateblues

    Dnelly, I miss all the old VeeJays, especially Martha Quinn (I had such a crush on her, even though I was like 7 or something). I liked when they first came out with MTV2, because it was supposed to be “All Videos, All the Time”. And in that first year, you could catch Fleetwood Mac, the Beatles, Dr. Dre, Van Halen, Yarlborough and Peoples, Nirvana, Poison and Tevin Campbell all in the same hour. It was like 80’s MTV all over again (minus JJ, Nina, Alan and Martha)

    Of course, they had to screw that up, too.

  225. tradejuanpypaperbag

    lbirken ~ points well taken. The only people that know what’s going on are the players, coaches and manager in that clubhouse. All we can do, as fans, is speculate. There is no doubt everyone on this board wants the Dodgers to do well, and I guess some just express it differently, but that is what makes this ITD board great!!

  226. tradejuanpypaperbag

    nsblues~ OMG!! I was a HUGE Duran Duran fan (Duranny), and boy! Did they have videos. My dorm room at Sac State was covered with Duran Duran posters (along with the Brat Pack because of all the 80’s movies as well)

  227. northstateblues

    My favorites back then were Van Halen, Poison and Michael Jackson. I also remember watching Remote Control, the GREATEST. Little did anyone know the Pizza Boy/Old lady (Adam Sandler) and Colin Quinn’s brother/Old Yeller (Dennis Leary) would go on to bigger and better things. But I loved that show. I remember being a kid, and Steve Sax was on the sports episode. My little sister cried when he lost and was swallowed into the back wall, heh.

  228. tradejuanpypaperbag

    nsblues ~ I loved Van Halen and Poison also. I even saw Poison and Tesla in concert when Arco Arena was fairly new. And yes, I remember Remote Control, too – lol!!! Alot of Weird Al Yankovic, which is very similar to our song writing escapades on here. I couldn’t wait to see the top 10 video countdown each week. Let’s see….. I can go on for days with the amount of music I listened to through mtv – AC/DC, Billy Squier, The Tubes, Quiet Riot, Ratt, Twisted Sister, The Cars, J. Giles Band, Cinderella, White Snake, Great White, REM, Tears for Fears, YES, The Cure, Depeche Mode, and on and on and on…… Wow!! crazy stuff!!!

  229. babyblu33

    dnelly- I remember all that stuff thanks mostly to you and especially arco and poison and tesla.. I will never forget the girl and the man with the nachos lmao good times

  230. enchantedbeaver

    I have no doubt everyone’s trying to win, every competator does. There’s a difference though between the desire to win and doing your job poorly. Ned has done his job poorly since day one. I don’t think he tried to do poorly, he just doesn’t know how to do it. Look at the body count since he took over. Look a the money wasted. Same with Grandpa Joe. He wants to win, but his managerial style is completely wrong for this team, and he’s done his job poorly from the outset – JP over ‘Dre, PH Sweeney, playing Andruw long after it was apparent he was incapable of even rudimentary baseball skills. Poor job performance over a period of time usually leads to being discharged, which both of these gentlemen should be.

    As far as the players, the kids get more slack at least from me because they are still learning the major league game. 2-3 years from now if they aren’t doing well, it won’t be lack of trying, it’ll be lack of ability, and then its time to make some harsh decisions. That said, we all wanted Hu sent down. Hell I even wanted Kersh sent down because I didn’t feel he was ready and could use somemore time in the minors.

    As for the PVLs, its their lack of ability that has led to the lion’s share of the situation we’re in as a club. Sweeney should’ve been DFA’d before June. Nomore’s had it, as has Kent and neither should be resigned. Blake hasn’t impressed me enought to warrant a contract offer. Lowe is a #3 starter at best on a decent club, not a #1 or #2 on a mediocre one. Andruw Jones was an embarrassment to himself and the team, JP just isn’t that good to begin with, Bennett was a joke… I needn’t go on.

    IMO, of the current 25 man roster, 7 don’t deserve to be on it, and 2 are iffy. OK, that’s 28% of the team. But one man put those players on the team and another man played them when he had other [better] options throughout the course of the season. Slumps are only skin deep, but stupidity goes clean to the bone.

  231. lbirken@aol.com

    nblues, your comment about Ned & Frank not getting it intrigues me. We hear the same thing about many who are in positions of authority be it in business, politics, education and so on. These people have access to information most likely beyond what those of us on the outside have and yet they make decisions that just don’t make sense, like picking an obsure local politician for a running mate. (Sorry, I know no politics on this board but I couldn’t resist).

    I suppose in the Dodger’s case one could argue it is an issue of philosophy. Ned seems to prefer a known quantity, whatever limitations that quantity might have, over unknown or unproven. Why else would he have signed both Gonzo and JP to play the outfield knowing both those players had limited defensive capability? Did anyone in the organization question these moves at least for discussion purposes? We will never know. And why else would he be willing to take a chance on Jason Schmidt or Andruw Jones? Most of us would have said we don’t need another center fielder, we had one in Matt Kemp. Why was Ned not willing to take that chance? Yet in spite of what appears to be a preference for experience, Ned refused or resisted trading the core of the younger players now playing every day. I think there is something more to just not getting it but I am not sure what it is but as I said earlier I hope Frank does something about it.

  232. kpookiemon

    Dear Frank McCourt,

    You’ve tried to win without Dodgers in management since you bought the team; now try it the other way. Please hire Kirk Gibson and Orel Hershiser in the off season, and promote Logan White from within. I mean, what in the world have you got to lose?

  233. tradejuanpypaperbag

    enchanted ~ you, messagebear,Kahli, and lny4loney should send your stuff into the LA Times. Eric got his in, so you should try too ~ you are writing some really good stuff – seriously 🙂

  234. trublu4ever

    babyblu ~ this name sounds much better. Glad you were able to figure out how to get it done. enchanted is one of our regulars and he is very insightful. nsblues is also a regular. Can’t wait for you to meet our celestial (we call him Oberon) dodgereric; obi, 57dodger; Amy and bluecrewgirl are a few more. This will be a lot of fun for you even if you don’t like baseball. Right now, none of us do very much.

  235. trublu4ever

    babyblu ~ I know, I was teasing you! Pretty soon they’ll be talking football….a lot of them are in fantasy leagues. In fact, the way this baseball season is ending up I feel like I’m in Fantasyland!

  236. jungar@wsgcorp.com

    Ned refused or resisted trading the core of the younger players now playing every day.

    Right and three others play for the first place Devil Rays. The jury is still out on the other 15 he has traded. The jury is not out on Ned though, trading 15 or so prospects and spending twice as much as the avg payroll for most NL teams and that return has gotten us 0 playoff wins.

  237. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Kahli ~ See, your letter can be sent in too – Go for it!!!
    .
    .
    .
    trublue ~ I love baseball right now, so even if the Dodgers aren’t doing well, I will change the channel and watch Sizemore and Peralta play if they are on at the same time. I also like watching Joe Mauer (Twins) play also. Also, the A’s are playing a little better these days as well.
    .
    .
    babyblu – The nacho incident I remember like it was yesterday – LOL!!!

  238. messagebear@msn.com

    Ned’s failing grade is definitely an F, not only for this season, but for his entire tenure. Therefore, F Ned!!!
    That can stand for Fire Ned, or whatever else you want to come up with for that epithet.

  239. northstateblues

    lbirken, yeah, something’s gotta change, but this time the philosphical shift has to have a permanance, not exactly Frank’s strong suit.

    I’m not going to pretend that I “get it” any more than the guys in the front office, management, or even the other commentors on this blog (off the top of my head, you, jungar, Max_Power, dodgereric, leekfink, lny4loney and many others go into statistical intricacies and baseball insights that I couldn’t begin to know where to look and how to do the math myself). I’m just some 27 year old college student (CHICO STATE!) who has been smitten by this team for almost as long as I can remember.

    But even some 27 year old college student from Chico State knows that something is amiss in the house of Dodger.

    Especially if the owner is pinching pennies to buy a $^#@&^$ marathon while letting his Cal League MVP and future bullpen get away.

  240. northstateblues

    alright, I’m gone for a few, working on a new blog entry, since I got the drawing bug last night. Oklahoma and Texas will be well represented (I hope).

    GO DODGERS

  241. lbirken@aol.com

    ns, thanks for your comments. I leave the stats to others as well but you don’t have to be a stats freak to know a losing streak from a winning streak. Looking forward to your drawings.

  242. trublu4ever

    ibiekrn ~ I’m not up on stats very much myselft but, I like you, know who’s playing well and who’s not….who I think should play and who does. Maybe, we should apply for manager! We are just as qualified by using common sense.

  243. lbirken@aol.com

    TruBlue, it has to be more than just common sense. Joe just makes it look easy because he never reacts to anything and no one in the organization will ever admit a mistake was made by signing this or that player. It just does not work that way. That is what this forum is for.

    By the way, it is not “i” or “I”, it is a lower case “L”. Sorry about that.

  244. aeversw

    I hope all the Kids go 5-5 tonight, all the vets go 0fer and that we lose! That will help this team more then winning and continuing the agony of Ned!

  245. lbirken@aol.com

    Come on Max, you can’t be serious about wanting the Dodgers to lose. I can accept most anything else but not that.

  246. bluecrewgirl

    the lineup posted on Dodger Thoughts:

    Martin, C
    Ethier, RF
    Manny, LF
    Loney, 1B
    Kemp, CF
    Casey Blake, 3B
    Blake DeWitt, 2B
    Berroa, SS
    Billingsley, P

    I just want to remember what it feels like to win. Good to see Dewitt in there.

  247. trublu4ever

    lbirken ~ So sorry about the name. I promise I’ll do it right from now on LOL I understand what you are saying about Joe and the organization. It would be nice to have an owner who understood the ins and outs of baseball. I miss the good old days when Dodger Stadium didn’t have advertising on the walls and Tommy Lasorda would huff and puff. I still have the belief one day we will have people in charge who love the Dodgers as much as we do.

  248. obi_wen

    What If We Give It Away? —REM

    In Chavez Ravine
    Underneath the wall
    All the money couldn’t buy
    You’re mistaken
    Scosia’s not standing there
    For the record no one tried
    Oh I try to

    What if we give it away?

    Overlooking with a hollow eye
    What’s pretending is it right
    Eye for order a hand for what’s in line
    Couldn’t follow couldn’t write

    And our life is fine here
    Stitch it on your tie here

    Here’s the trailer Frank
    A year has come and gone
    We’re not moving was it right
    Take the order sew it on your tie
    We couldn’t follow couldn’t try

  249. aeversw

    Ibirken, what good does winning do? Yeah we could make the playoffs and get swept and Ned will be back next year. So he can sign more vets and dumb more kids for even more crappy vets. A loss is a win as far as im concerned. We need change in this organization and we are just going to get more of the same with Joe and Ned next season (kinda sounds like the election this year, more of the same no matter who we elect).

    Ned and Joe need to go. If that means we have to lose every game for the rest of the season then bring on the losses! Joe will only go under his own power but Ned will get canned if we don’t make the playoffs this season. That is the best thing that can happen to this team. Now winning, making hte playoffs and getting swept again.

  250. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Okay ~ I caught a glimpse of this movie today, and couldn’t resist making these songs fit our management team.
    .
    To Frank,
    All the songs the Oompa Loompas sing are about lessons, and Frank, we are hoping you are learning your lessons.
    .
    Oompa, Loompa, doom-pa-dee-do
    We have a perfect puzzle for you
    Oompa, Loompa, doom-pa-dee-dee
    If you’re wise, you will listen to E
    .
    What do you get when you got Mr. Ned
    Spending money on tired old vets
    What are you at losing terribly bad
    What did you think would come of that?
    .
    We didn’t like the look of it.
    .
    Oompa, Loompa, doom-pa-dee-da
    If you fire Ned, you will go far
    We will live in happiness too
    Bleed blue like Dodger fans should do
    .
    #2
    .
    Oompa, Loompa, doom-pa-dee-do
    We have a perfect puzzle for you
    Oompa, Loompa, doom-pa-dee-dee
    If Frank’s wise, he will listen to E
    .
    Oompa, Loompa, doom-pa-dee-do
    We have a perfect puzzle for you
    Oompa, Loompa, doom-pa-dee-dee
    If you’re wise, you will listen to E
    .
    What do you get when you got Mr. Joe
    Leaning on the rail with nothing to show
    What are you at losing terribly bad
    What did you think would come of it?
    .
    We didn’t like the look of it.
    .
    Oompa, Loompa, doom-pa-dee-da
    If you fire Joe, you will go far
    We will live in happiness too
    Bleed blue like Dodger fans should do

  251. aeversw

    NO NOMAR! THank god! Fianlly Torre gets that piece of caca out of there. Maybe Joe wants to win now! Make up your mind old man!

  252. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Thanks for the lineup Bluecrewgirl – Nice to see Blake DeWitt in there tonight, not to mention Andre again – very nice!! I am also glad he is sticking with Russell at lead off for the time being.
    .
    Obi ~ Fantastic song, and I love REM

  253. aeversw

    If we were in a different situation I wouldn’t be hoping for a loss. I just hate the direction this team in going in and If it takes losing to change it then so be it.

  254. bluecrewgirl

    I know what you mean DNelly, I still get paranoid that Andre’s name won’t be in there from the way it’s gone most of the season.

  255. obi_wen

    Thanks Dnelly… as a fellow REM and Dodger fan you may enjoy this little diddy as well:

    That’s Joe on the railing

    That’s Joe in the spotlight,

    Neva changing his position

    Less he shows he’s human too

    And I don’t know if Joe can do it

    Oh no, I’ve said too much

    Joe hasn’t said enough

    I thought that I heard fans laughing

    I thought that I heard fans say

    I think I thought I saw Joe move

    Every inning

    Of every losing game now

    You stand still on the railing

    Trying not to make a muscle move

    Like a old, opened tube of glue ,you…

    Oh no, I’ve said too much
    I set it up

  256. oldbrooklynfan

    We got to break this string of defeats and the best way to do that is to start scoring more runs than our opponent.
    We can try all kinds of hocus pocus stuff to change the luck.
    Remember what Yogi says, “IT’S NOT OVER UNTIL IT’S OVER.
    I remember Russ Hodges, New York Giant announcer, while the Giants were in last place and in a losing streak in 1951, spit twice into his microphone and changed their luck and they went on to beat us for the pennant.
    That team was no better than ours is today but somehow could not be stopped until they got to the world series.
    BEAT THE SNAKES!!!!!!!!!!!

  257. oldbrooklynfan

    It’s tough to score after 2 out and nobody on.
    We needed a third consecutive hit from Matty right there.

  258. aeversw

    Bills’ mechanics looked bad in those first two pitches. This could be a long game if he doesn’t figure it out.

  259. ewydock@comcast.net

    I’ve been a Dodger fan for years and fact is, this team is NOT THAT GOOD. Can’t imagine where the offense would be without Manny. Ned has got crazy work to do in the offseason. Corner infielders with little power (not counting Blake, he ‘s gone to free agency), weak offensive bench. No real power guys coming in from the farm. Open the vault for Ramirez! Pitching? Penny, free agent. Lowe, free agent. Schmidt, done for his Dodger career. Bring Lowe back; he can eventually be a swingman. But word is Ned’s not interested. Maddux? Ned should have signed him two years ago. If he wants to come back, he’ll be a better deal than Jason Schmidt. Torre’s been a magician, but he doesn’t have the horses. Ned needs to be smarter with the Dodger dollars, keep Manny (GREAT deal, Ned) and add offense and healthy arms. It’s a shame to lead the league in pitching and finish in third place in a weak West.

  260. aeversw

    “Torre’s been a magician,”

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
    HAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHHAHAHA

  261. ewydock@comcast.net

    Hey Max, guess you could do a better job. Send the Dodgers your resume. You must have preferred Grady Little. Ok, genius.

  262. aeversw

    A monkey could do a better job then Joe has this year. Seriously a magician? Joe’s only trick is making his eyes disappear but no one has the heart to tell him they only disappear cuz he keeps falling asleep!

  263. sl7180@hotmail.com

    He try to signed Maddux 2 years ago but decline a 1 yrs deal 6 millions deal to go to SD for 2 years 10 millions I think.

  264. ewydock@comcast.net

    It’s a young team that isn’t that good…..yet. Needs a few more pieces and some smart offseason moves by Ned (or whomever).

  265. jungar@wsgcorp.com

    i didnt even realize the game was on. Haren vs Bills end of August and forgot it was even on. thats pretty sad.

  266. ewydock@comcast.net

    Seriously, Max. Are you saying that this team is good? Are you saying Torre is the reason they’re 5 games below .500? Say some thing intelligent, Max.

  267. bluecrewgirl

    Yes, we are a young team with a lot of talent and we need to get rid of some of the veteran dead wood in the offseason, but it would also be nice to have a manager that showed passion during the game instead of leaning on the railing looking like he could care less, and Joe has been no different in that regard than Grady. I thought he would be, but he hasn’t.

  268. sl7180@hotmail.com

    oops that k’s. Damn if Manny keep this up he might break Green record soon of getting on base without making an out.

  269. aeversw

    BISON!! That’s what he hasn’t been doing lately. Staying back and going the other way. He’s talented enough and strong enough to dominate this league he just needs to stay back.

  270. sl7180@hotmail.com

    You have to love good defense. i can’t wait until Hu is called up. What a 57 min games? lol a 51 min games. What kind of games are those?

  271. bluecrewgirl

    I think Dewitt has proven he can play second. If Young didn’t have the speed he does, that would have been an out.

  272. sl7180@hotmail.com

    Bills is a good hitter on MLB 2008 the show too bad it not the real one. I have Schmidt hitting 17 homeruns this year. but it suck I was having fun edit the stats. Too bad I didn’t even think about it with Sweeney and Pierre and traded those 2 bum for Wright and Reyes lol. Of course I edit that option to accept all trade.

  273. kpookiemon

    In a must-win series, Manny is showing why he is one of the premium players of his generation. Guys like MartinLoneyKempEtheirDeWitt must shakes their heads in amazement at how Manny simplifies the game.

  274. bluecrewgirl

    Tonight’s game has been a clinic on how important good defense is. Poor infield defense has killed us lately and has been a big part of putting us in a good position for victory tonight.

  275. northstateblues

    I’ve been finishing up my drawing of Kemp and Loney (up on my blog right now, http://northstateblues.mlblogs.com ), and have been listening to the game the whole time. Now THIS is Dodger Baseball. The clouds are lifting, and for one night, we just might see the shining stars.

    What a feeling!

  276. bluecrewgirl

    kpookiemon, I was just talking to my dad, who is a Red Sox fan and still likes Manny a lot, and we were talking about how easy and fluid his swing is. I would really love to see an entire season of Manny, Kemp and Ethier in the outfield next year. If they can pull that off, with Loney at first, Dewitt at second and Hu hopefully being able to add hitting to his stellar defense and Bills as our ace and Kershaw and Elbert maturing, it could be a really bright future if Ned doesn’t mess it up with more ill-advised signings of veterans past their prime.

  277. messagebear@msn.com

    Does anybody think that things go better without Nomore and Kent? At least it’s got to be a defensive improvement.

  278. bluecrewgirl

    Yes, messagebear, the defensive improvement is huge. Kent has had a great career, but defense has never been his strong point and Nomar used to be a great defensive player, but he doesn’t have it anymore.

  279. messagebear@msn.com

    Northstate, that’s a wonderful sketch. Since we’re finally winning, you’ll now have to keep it up, you know.

  280. oldbrooklynfan

    A very good piece of work by Billingsley.
    Let’s hope we can hold them right there, because 8 is enough.

  281. kpookiemon

    Though a line-up of Loney, DeWitt, Hu, Kemp, Ethier, Martin…AND Manny would be great, Grandpa just won’t go for it. Therein lies the real problem. His PVL insistence wrecked this year and it will wreck next year–if he’s here. Don’t know why he’s so against youth, but Logan White ought to slap him upside the head a few times…or else show Grandpa the door.

  282. aeversw

    I thought Billz would be done after throwing 107 pitches in 7 innings. I guess you can’t blame Joe because the bullpen has been crappy lately but still 107 pitches in 7 great innings was all we should have asked of Bills.

  283. northstateblues

    thanks bluecrewgirl and messagebear. messagebear, I was thinking just that, heh. Already getting ideas for my next project…

  284. trublu4ever

    bluecrewgirl ~ I know we didn’t have Manny from the start but, if Andre would have played ever game and, DeWitt would have been here the whole time, I’ll bet we would have been in first place right now. We should have kept Hu here too.

  285. kpookiemon

    If Frank McCourt canned Joe, canned Honeycutt, canned Ned, hired Kirk Gibson, hired Orel Hershiser, promoted Logan White and re-signed Manny, he have this town eating out of his hands. THINK OF SEASON TICKET REVENUE AND SOUVENIR SALES, FRANK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  286. bluecrewgirl

    I bummed that Andre’s had a rough night, he was definitely pressing tonight, but I look for him to rebound against Webb tomorrow since he always hits him very well.

  287. trublu4ever

    bluecrewgirl ~ I feel bad for Andre too…just hope Joe doesn’t bench him. Torre’s such a jerk, he might and I’d be furious. However, it wouldn’t be the first time. lol

  288. bluecrewgirl

    It would be unfair if he did, eveyone has a bad game or 2 and Andre doesn’t deserve to be held to a different standard than anyone else. Russ was 0-5 tonight too and Matt was 0-5 the the other night.

  289. trublu4ever

    That’s true, bluecrewgirl, but I don’t trust Joe to do the right thing. I’ll bet if Andre had played all season he would have had 30 homers.

  290. aeversw

    Wow Kuo was freaking dominate. He probably hates Joe for sitting him for a week and wanted to show his stuff.

  291. northstateblues

    Well SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SUUURRPRISE!!!!!!!! WAY TO GO DODGERS!!!!

    I’d forgotten what winning felt like

  292. aeversw

    Well Blake and Maria are pretty crappy but still! No where near the suck fest that has been Nomar and Kent lately.

  293. thebatflip

    the Las Vegas 51s radio announcers got excited when Delwyn Young made a great throw to Chin-Lung Hu to throw out a hitter trying to stretch a single into a double. Someone please post a video of that play!

  294. bluecrewgirl

    Agree with you Max. Even with Russ and Andre having tough nights they were still able to win with the defensive upgrade.

  295. aeversw

    Haha i dont know trublue, He told me I needed to say something intelligent and I did. Then i said it was his turn and he’s been MIA ever since!

  296. acardona16

    HEY EVERYONE!! just stopping buy to say GREAT GAME TONIGHT!!!! Manny and Billz were GREAT!!! IT’S ABOUT TIME!!!! Russy and Andre had it tough tonight but it’s all good boys!! oh and BEAUTIFUL HOME RUN MATTY!!!!

    GO DODGERS!!!!
    .
    Acardona = Ethieraholic and a Dodger addict!!! haha

  297. trublu4ever

    I forgot, Max, but how could anyone who has been watching the Dodgers all season think Joe’s done a superb job? I wish eric and jhall would have seen it.

  298. amyw27

    nsb= great pics. I wish I could draw myself. I think you captured Loney very nicely.
    .
    good evening.
    .
    glad we pulled that one off!! Happy we played fun baseball!

  299. sparkleplenty_1

    What a great game! DeWitt looked darned good at second. Manny put on a wonderful hitting clinic. Billz was awesome. And even Old Joe woke up. Amazing!!

  300. aeversw

    I dont know TRu, I can’t believe how hard i laughed when i saw magician. Oh man I had to run to the bathroom cuz I was afraid I’d pee my pants!

  301. northstateblues

    Thanks TruBlue and Amy. This really was a bit of a rush job, but with my reading schedule they’d have to be.

    Wow, it’s a great night tonight!

  302. northstateblues

    Thanks TruBlue and Amy. This really was a bit of a rush job, but with my reading schedule they’d have to be.

    Wow, it’s a great night tonight!

  303. trublu4ever

    northstateblues ~ just went to check out your site. It’s awesome….I now have it listed under my favorites!

  304. amyw27

    it was awesome. finally a game that I didn’t have to turn off because I was embarassed. I know we face Mr. Webb tomorrow- but hopefully he got the taste of winning and we will take off on that emotion tomorrow. Maybe the Dodgers “got their groove back”
    .
    let’s only hope.

  305. northstateblues

    Thanks again, TruBlue! I’ve neglected it for a while, but I’m getting more in the habit of posting there again. Just as long as I have something valid to say, instead of posting just to post, ya know.

  306. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Northstateblues~~ FABULOUS PICTURE!!!
    .
    DODGERS WIN!! PierreEW’s suggestion must have worked to get rid of the losing streak – yeah!!

  307. northstateblues

    Dnelly, thanks. I guess I have to do more of ’em since we won, heh.

    TruBlue, I hear that, I’m in the same boat here, heh.

    Realistically, this guarantees nothing but a beginning, a cold turkey, wake-up call of a win. We may have a WAY better shot at getting to October than, say, the Yankees, but to play in October, we’d have to have tonight’s Dodgers show up every day til it’s over. And Torre would have to leave well-enough alone.

    I’ll be back later, gonna call my sis, haven’t talked to her in a while. Enjoy the win, and I hope we see more of this in the near future, and that Frank is smart enough not to count an October showing as repentance for the sin of his empty, lint-filled pockets and how they got that way, should that come.

  308. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Yes, I am home.
    .
    Bluecrewgirl ~ LOL!!! Poor Andre and Russell – any good defense to offset the 0 for 5’s?

  309. bluecrewgirl

    They didn’t make any defensive mistakes, nothing out of the ordinary as far as the plays they made tonight. I think they’ll both rebound against Webb tomorrow.

  310. bluecrewgirl

    sl7180, I think this is the first game in a long time he would be able to put a positive spin on, lol.

    DNelly, I don’t know how often he gets to look at it, but I figured I’d put some positive vibes on there for tomorrow’s game. He was really pressing on his last few at bats, which he hasn’t done in a long time. He’s been really patient lately. I think he felt left out of the hit parade.

  311. trublu4ever

    I’m still having trouble posting on Dre’s blog. It keeps telling me I’m not allowed. Mr. Torre’s blog, too. However, on Joe’s blog, they may know what I’m going to say!

  312. tradejuanpypaperbag

    trublue ~ That happened to me the first time too. Try clicking on sign out, and then sign back in -see if that works.

  313. kpookiemon

    Watching Marley on PBS with his flying dreadlocks…and I wondered if Grandpa had ever listened to Marley. And I wondered if personal freedom means anything to Grandpa…or if it’s all about discipline? And haircuts. And shaven faces. Question: Who would the young Dodgers play their guts out for, Manny or Joe? Who would they lay out for, crash into a wall for, Manny or Joe? Joe may not have been the problem, but he certainly wasn’t the answer. Too paraphrase an L.A. Times letter: What do Joe Torre and railroad trains have in common? They no longer move players.

  314. bluecrewgirl

    Trueblue, I had that happen to me before awhile ago and then I hit sign out and then the prompt came up that says thanks for signing in and then I could comment. Not sure why, but it worked.

  315. ndeschenes@securenet.net

    Super Super Extra! Right off The Press Off The Daily Planet!Seemingly recharged green kryptonite seemingly having The Dodgers at their Death, turned a little yellow as the Great Super Hero Manny Ramirez injects Super Life into the Now Alive Again Los Angeles Dodgers with His Amazing 4 for 5 at the plate, with His 2 Cannon Home Runs, a double, 3 runs scored and 2 RBI’s! Manny Ramirez you Single- Handedly took all the pressure upon yourself and because of your Humble Greatness you displayed Awesome Super Powers and led Our Beloved and Your Beloved Los Angeles Dodgers To a 6 to 2 Victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks snapping our never to be seen again 8 game losing streak! Super Hero Championship Gutsy Courageous Chad Billingsley shows World Series Championship Victory Stuff pitching Seven Great Innings with Six Strikeouts! Chad, you are Mr. Come Through Dependable! Don’t Forget Chad’s Number 58 is the same year our Dodgers moved to Los Angeles! I just saw kryptonite turn white!The Amazing One, Super Hero Matt Kemp called on all his Super Powers as the kryptonite turned a little more White With his Rocket Blast Home Run going 2 for 5 at the plate with 2 Runs Scored and 2 RBI’s! When the chips are down, Matt Kemp always comes through. It is in His Nature! Super Hero Casey Blake played Super with his 2 for 4 the plate and run scored always chips in! What can you say about Super Hero, The Great Angel Berroa going 2 for 3 at the plate with a Clutch RBI and his Head First Slide at First Base! You taught us many things tonight, Angel! Super Hero,The Tower of Power James Loney played Super Great tonight going 2 for 5 at the plate and always brings his Towering Los Angeles Dodger Presence With Him! Super Hero Hong-Chih Kuo Displayed World Series Championship Victory Form in the Manner He Closed out the game! Super Heros Frank McCourt,Ned Colletti and Joe Torre are rewarded for their Super Faith in adversity as they persevere Undaunted in Belief! And of course the Invincible,Indestructable, Inpenetrable Man of Steel, Our Very Own, Superman Jeff Kent, although being attacked viciously by the kryptonite, it cannot destroy His World Series Championship Victory Prescence which Always Leaves His Teammates & Fans! All the Hosts of Heaven, Your Teammates and Fans are with you All The Way,Superman Jeff Kent! All Of Our Los Angeles Dodgers were Super Heros Tonight! Keeping True To Our Dodger Roots, Our All Powerful Great Dodger In The Sky, Who Nevers Fails, has sent the Spirits of the Legendary Super Heros, Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, Johnny Podres and Walt Alston To Guide Us In This Last Month, and Had annointed Duke Snyder and Don Newcombe, As These Super Great Dodgers Won Our First World Series Championship in 1955, to join in unison All Of Us Dodger Fans in Unshakeable Faith That These Never Say Die, kryptonite Busting, Comeback Kids Of Ours Are A Truly World Series Championsip Team and that this last thrust by kyptonite was it’s last hope and now These Super Charged Dodgers Of Ours Has Gained Its’ Super Momentum To Overcome All, And Be Crowned World Series Champions For The Seventh Time In This 50th Anniversary Of Our Beloved Los Angeles Dodgers In Los Angeles ,This Year Of Super Great Jubilee Being 2008 A.D.!

  316. tradejuanpypaperbag

    ndeschenes ~ Wow!! Has it been a long time since we have heard from you!! PierreEW is right ~ Eight is enough!! It’s about time, I say. When we hear from you we know it wasn’t a dream. The Dodgers actually won a game. Thank goodness!! Let’s make it two in a row so we can hear from you tomorrow. Have a fabulous evening and a spectacular tomorrow 🙂

  317. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Bluecrewgirl ~ Andre will be in the lineup tomorrow. In the article I read from the homepage, he is batting .475 against Webb, James is batting .400, and Russell is batting .375. Let’s hope they hold true to those numbers and the Dodgers can leave Arizona by taking the series.

  318. bluecrewgirl

    I knew he and Russ hit Webb well, so let’s hope it’s the case tomorrow for them, James and the entire team. I have a good feeling it will be.

    I am watching the Home and Garden Show and I wish one of their design teams would come into my condo and redo a room. Some of those designers do an amazing job on a small budget.

  319. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Oh how I wish they could come into mine!!! LOL!!! I live along a creek witch is beautiful, but the house is really old, and needs alot of updating.

  320. tradejuanpypaperbag

    I was post 666 so I had to post again to get rid of the number – yikes!! plus, I used the wrong “witch”. It should have been “which”. I have been just horrible with those lately.

  321. northstateblues

    awful quiet ’round here. Everyone must be out celebrating. I’m not much for words myself right now, heh. Probably a bit too much celebrating

  322. tradejuanpypaperbag

    nsblues~ I am not quite sure how to react to a win I guess. It’s been a long time – LOL!!
    .
    My husband, son and his pitching coach are in a hotel room in So-Cal watcing “Blazing Saddles”. I told him we did that movie the others day – LOL!! It’s one of my husband’s favorites.

  323. bluecrewgirl

    I gotta get to bed earlier than my usual 2 or 3 in the morning on Sat. since I’m going to visit my family for the holiday. I’ll catch you all later. Have a great rest of the night.

  324. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Good Evening Ward Dear!! How are you this evening. I am assuming pretty good, especially since the Dodgers finally got a win. 🙂
    .
    nsblues ~ He is a 14 year old lefty with a nasty curve ball – pretty amazing even if he is my son. He is at a USC prospect camp this weekend.

  325. northstateblues

    have a good night bluecrewgirl.

    Hi Eric! You know, I read a letter in the LA Times Sports section that had the same three lines. He seemed like a smart feller.

  326. northstateblues

    Wow, that’s awesome! I’m sure he’ll impress the guys at USC. So you must catch a LOT of baseball games over a year, huh?

  327. tradejuanpypaperbag

    max ~ That is an awesome article!! I definitely want to the Rays in the post season. It will be a great story when it happens.

  328. kpookiemon

    “He’s pretty remarkable,” Dodgers manager Joe Torre said of his slugger (Ramirez). “But again, I’ve watched this for a number of years. He’s one of the best right-hand hitters that ever played the game, in my lifetime. He doesn’t give an at-bat away, he just keeps going after it. It doesn’t matter what the score is, what the situation is. These young kids could learn a lot from watching him.”

    Ya think? Come on, Frank, pony up!

  329. tradejuanpypaperbag

    nsblues ~ Between Fall ball, MLB and highschool regular season, baseball is year round around here. He played football his freshman year, and is giving it up to focus on baseball. He has figured out that Left-handed pitchers are commodities and doesn’t want to risk injury. Plus, his football position was middle linebacker, and he was told he would not be able to bulk up and be able to stay limber enough to pitch.

  330. dodgereric

    Hiya June Darlin’! Yeah, busy day. I got to see some of the first few innings. I heard Kemp’s knock in the car. We went up the freeway 60 miles to Lucille’s BBQ. Man, is that good eatin’!

  331. northstateblues

    Smart decision. I still believe if Bo Jackson had concentrated on Baseball, he would have been an HOF bound beast. He wasn’t half bad for the Raiders either, but it seems he was better in the MLB than the NFL.

  332. northstateblues

    Those “Fire Joe” lines are poetry, they’re like the ITD version of “Hi Honey, I’m Home!!”

    Thanks for the link to the Navarro article, Max. that was a feel-good story, and I wouldn’t mind seeing our ex-prospects proving themselves this October.

  333. dodgereric

    It’s about a 4-hour expedition – an hour drive, an hour to wait for a table, an hour inside and another hour home. Oh yeah, it’s yummy. 😮 (that’s me, gasping for air ’cause I’m full!)

    Bo Jackson. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone that good in both sports. If he’d stayed healthy he would have been in Cooperstown and Canton.

  334. northstateblues

    I love some good BBQ! There’s this place in Chico called “Smokin’ Mo’s BBQ”. The owners, before opening the place, took a trip through the south along the “Barbecue Belt”, stopping at every big BBQ house along the way, talking with the cooks and owners, and sometimes convincing them to take a chair to use in their place. The result is that they’ve won the blue ribbon in San Luis Obispo many times over the last 10 years. Expensive for my starving-student budget, but when I can afford it, I never leave hungry.

    They have one in Huntington Beach too. Now I’m hungry, heh.

  335. tradejuanpypaperbag

    I was reading two different things – two different races – the one finishes from today, and the lineup for tomorrow – sorry 🙂

  336. dodgereric

    I’m betting you’re on the NASCAR site. It can be a little confusing, what with the trucks, the Nationwide circuit and the Cup series, all with their qualifying and practice speeds.

  337. dodgereric

    north, Lucille’s is a chain also. It’s mostly in SoCal, but there’s one in Rocklin. That’s up in NoCal, ain’t it?

    BTW, I ran over to your blog. Man, I wish I could draw like that!

  338. dodgereric

    nelly, the trick I learned was – look for the word “cup”. There’s so many drivers that run both series that it’ll get you.

  339. dodgereric

    Well, welcome to one of the most doggone addictive things I’ve run across. You’ll like it here, it’s nearly never boring. (is that a double-negative?)

  340. tradejuanpypaperbag

    addictive ? LMAO!!!!!! I was watching an episode of “Leave It to Beaver” last night just laughing for the pure fact that we have those parts pretty nailed down. Then, after that – I watched “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” – the original 🙂

  341. northstateblues

    Eric, thanks. This was the first drawing I’ve done where they really looked like the player (I don’t think I got ‘Dre’s face right, but I’m gonna give it another go at some point). I’m too lazy to do backgrounds too, heh.

    Rocklin’s about 45 minutes from me by Sacramento. I’ll have to try Lucille’s if I’m by that area, a bit closer than Chico.

  342. dodgereric

    You’re kidding! They had both of those on last night? I saw up top a little that hubby and son were watching Blazing Saddles tonight. Makes me want to scroll aroung the dial to see if Young Frankenstein or Caddyshack might be on! I’m watching Slingblade right now. To say it’s different is an understatement!

  343. tradejuanpypaperbag

    My friend that is here has been to the one in Rocklin. nsblues ~ She said it is off of 165 (Pleasant Grove).

  344. tradejuanpypaperbag

    I have seen “Slingblade” a few times – it is different!! I looked for “Young Frankenstein” and “Caddyshack” last night, but no such luck.

  345. babyblu33

    nsblues- How weird.. I work in a restaurant and one of my tables was talking about that place Lucille’s…small world lol

  346. dodgereric

    In another year or two we’ll have a Lucille’s right down here in Temecula, so I’ll have to get a second job to pay for it all. 🙂

    I wouldn’t apologize too much for your drawings, north! My drawing skills pretty much begin and end with stick figures. My sister got all the family art genes.

  347. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Ward Dear ~ They were on after you went to bed last night. I couldn’t sleep so I stayed up and watched them. Empty house and all, you know 🙂 Well, Mariya was here, but no necessarily the same thing…..

  348. northstateblues

    Dnelly, cool, I’m excited, heh. Mo’s is the only place I knew about in the area, but I’m always open to other options. I could always buy Lloyd’s premade shredded beef, but while it’s good, it’s not the same. Thanks for the recommendation Eric

  349. dodgereric

    It is late night, June Darlin’! No tell where the conversation is going to……….Dwight Yoakum????????????LMAO!!!! I LOVE that guy!!!!

  350. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Yes, you are right Ward Dear – late night ITD ends up anywhere it wants to go – LOL!!!! Dwight Yoakum is a pretty swell dude 🙂

  351. kpookiemon

    I said the Dodgers would win two of three, mainly because McCourt needes this club to be in contention so he can sell more hot dogs. It seems to be the script this year in a crummy division. That said, I’ll take Lowe to outpitch Webb. It would make sense in this non-sensical year.

  352. northstateblues

    Yeah, I love getting their shredded beef sandwich with coleslaw on top. I never cared much for coleslaw before eating at that place.

    John Ritter? Did I miss something?

  353. northstateblues

    I hope so, Kahli. If we get an ump that calls high strikes, though, we’re in trouble. But it seems that Manny’s hungry to get back to October. I’d think that Joe would be too… maybe that’s what he’s dreaming about while leaning against the rail. Who knows?

  354. tradejuanpypaperbag

    nsblues ~ Eric is watching “Slingblade” and he is trying to figure out the characters. John Ritter and Dwight Yoakum are both in the film 🙂

  355. dodgereric

    north, when you get to Lucille’s, get the pork ribs and have your companion get the pulled pork sandwich. Then split ’em so you can have both! Man! With some roasted garlic mashed potatos and the roasted peanut cole slaw!!!

  356. northstateblues

    I think my girlfriend isn’t happy I like the slaw now. Before, I’d have them put it on the side, and I’d give her the slaw and trade for the baked beans. and I could go for those corn muffins with the cinnamon butter too.

    Now I’m REALLY hungry

  357. tradejuanpypaperbag

    All this food talk is making me hungry – Memphis barbeque – yum, yum – coleslaw always on top!!! I agree with Eric – order two things and share – best of both worlds 🙂

  358. northstateblues

    aww… I am SO going to Lucille’s sometime soon! My stomach went to TILT after reading Ribs, Pulled Pork, roasted garlic mashed potatos and roasted peanut cole slaw!

  359. babyblu33

    dnelly- at work tonight we ran out of Prime rib again.. and I had a party of 13 pg&e guys all wanting the 24oz cut.. they were not happy.. lol

  360. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Yes, I probably could, but I believe Eric is a pretty good cook too – at least at making chocolate chip cookies – 🙂

  361. dodgereric

    Matt wants to eat half the stuff on the menu, but he can’t pass up the BBQ bacon burger with the shoestring onion rings piled on top!

  362. kpookiemon

    Torre needs to EXHALE…and accept the fact that the kids are here to stay and just chill out while DeWitt and Hu anchor the middle infield. Accept the fact that the PVLs gave it their gosh darn best shot but they broke down…that younger and faster can sometimes be a pretty bitchen thing.

  363. dodgereric

    June Darlin’, you play your cards right and I may just have to send you a Boy Scout popcorn tin stuffed with some of my cookies and fudge come Christmas time!

  364. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Ward Dear ~ Honey butter and biscuits, too!! Wow!!
    .
    you do notice that Kahli is trying to keep us focused on the Dodgers – lol!!

  365. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Ward Dear ~ I will do the same. I am known as the Christmas cookie queen around here, you know 🙂

  366. kpookiemon

    I did eat like a pig tonight, if that means anything. PBS has a double dip tonight with Marley and then Hendrix. Bon soir.

  367. northstateblues

    It’s been fun, but I think I’m gonna grab a bite to eat now. Then I’ll start on my next drawing. Have a good night.

  368. tradejuanpypaperbag

    She is sleeping now. She went to bed after I asked her about Lucilles in Rocklin ~ She lives in Sacramento, but goes to Rocklin all the time. She was on MY Space while I was on here. I haven’t seen her in 20 years, since my Wedding – looks and acts exactly the same, which is not all good. However, I am being the hostess with the mostess – lol!! No, we went to Sweetriver and watched a movie back here – August, with Josh Hartnett(sp?)

  369. tradejuanpypaperbag

    The movie was boring ~ I would have rather been watching Blazing Saddles with my husband – LOL!!!

  370. sl7180@hotmail.com

    I got some good news and some bad news and Ned better not even think about traded for a 2nd bases this is a must read brb.

  371. sl7180@hotmail.com

    Dodgers Notebook: Kent’s career likely over

    Download story podcast

    11:31 PM PDT on Saturday, August 30, 2008

    By DIAMOND LEUNG
    The Press-Enterprise

    PHOENIX – The final game of Jeff Kent’s Hall of Fame-caliber career might have been Friday when he exited with such severe pain in his left knee that he returned to Los Angeles on Saturday to undergo an MRI exam.

    The exam revealing torn cartilage in the knee would explain the pain that has bothered the second baseman for the past month, and if it sidelines him for the remainder of the season, Kent, 40, could decide to hang up his cleats since he is in the final year of his Dodgers contract.

    Torre wouldn’t rule out Kent’s return, but said he expected that the results of the exam were “not going to be pretty” and has gotten indications that Kent’s 17th big league season would be his last.

    “All the hints were this was probably going to be it for him,” Torre said. “I really respect what he’s done here. There’s some people who may have made something of the person he is or what he’s said, but when you cut to it, he went out and played baseball.”

    Kent played through wear and tear in the knee and back pain for the past month after speaking with Torre about taking less days off for the stretch run.

    Rookie Blake DeWitt, who pinch hit for Kent in the seventh inning of Friday’s game, made his first major league start at second base after spending the past month at Class AAA Las Vegas learning the position in case of this very situation.

    “You never know what to expect,” said DeWitt, who for the second time this season saw an injury thrust him into a starting role.

    If the Dodgers don’t trade for a second baseman in the next 24 hours, they also have internal options with Delwyn Young scheduled to come off the disabled list Monday, Chin-lung Hu expected to be recalled in September and Pablo Ozuna if he were to clear waivers.

    “Knowing him, I can’t say for sure (Kent is out for the season),” Torre said. “I think he was just trying to help us win a pennant.”

    More Dodgers Notes

    Andruw Jones concluded his rehabilitation assignment and returned to Los Angeles to have his irritated right knee examined, as he is expected to be activated from the disabled list Monday.

    Jason Schmidt was clocked in the upper-80s in his return to action, and while he has another outing scheduled for Monday in Las Vegas, Torre reiterated that he is expected to be lost for the season.

    Rafael Furcal is scheduled to return to Arizona for rehabilitation on Monday, and the Dodgers will wait until late next week to reevaluate his chances of helping the team this year.

    Las Vegas right-hander James McDonald is expected to be called up in September to make his major league debut out of the bullpen.

    Reach Diamond Leung

  372. sl7180@hotmail.com

    I hope everyone read that before leaving and I’m so happy to see McDonald going to get a chance to pitch here with Young and Hu back.

  373. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Ward Dear ~ I am going to call it a night seeing how I can’t see anymore with all the light from the moon. Talk to you later Dear!! Now that you have made us all hungry 🙂 It was great!!!

  374. dodgereric

    June Darlin’, I was playing the trivia game on Facebook and got tired of it. Cripes, does it have an ending?

    I’m headed off to bed as well. Good night and God Bless!

  375. sl7180@hotmail.com

    I think Nelly calling me Ward because Ward been gone an hours ago but did you take the time to read that?

  376. tradejuanpypaperbag

    Eric ~ the trivia game has levels just like a video game would. I don’t know if there is an end,but there doesn’t appear to be. It showed on my facebook that you reached a new level – too cool!!

  377. messagebear@msn.com

    Manny is certainly putting up a strong argument for signing him to a multi-year contract – hopefully no more than three years. If two of those years proved to be nearly as productive as his time with us so far, that would probably be a satisfactory signing. The question then becomes what do we do with Andruw and Pierre, because at least one of them if not both become redundant. Great conundrum orchestrated as usual by Ned, the most ineffective GM I can think of. As a GM, I don’t have any confidence that he can resolve that situation, and I hate the thought of Torre having both guys around to screw with the lineups for another season.

  378. trublu4ever

    Good Morning ITDland ~ I’m really happy about our win yesterday and hope for a good game today.
    messgebear, If I were GM I’d just let Andruw and Juan go. I know it would cost us some money but, what the heck. They are not an asset to the team. Juan may be tradeable, perhaps for an average utility player who could pinch hit. Our bench leaves much to be desired. I would sign Manny because he adds something to the morale of the clubhouse, not to mention a great hitter. With Kent, Nomar and some of the pitchers gone I think by using our fine young players on as full time basis, we will be a winning team for a long time to come. Whether, Ned and Frank have the brains to do the right thing remains to be seen.

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