A hot day in Dallas…

We don’t come here very often, so we’re jamming a lot into a short amount of time. We hit up the book depository in Dealey Plaza this morning and the JFK museum that is there. Then an old Dodger colleague took several of us, including Clayton Kershaw, on a tour of the new Cowboys Stadium. Wow – it seems to be worth every bit of the $1.2 billion they spent on building it.

Over at Psychollingy, Eric Collins posted his latest and man, you talk about dedication…his computer got a virus and went down completely, but he typed it out at the business center at our hotel and emailed it to me late last night.

Here’s tonight’s lineup in Texas…

Pierre, LF

Furcal, SS

Hudson, 2B

Ethier, RF

Blake, 3B

Loney, 1B

Loretta, DH

Martin, C

Kemp, CF

Wolf, P

0 comments

  1. messagebear@msn.com

    F Loretta as DH! If that’s the best we can do against the AL, we’ll deserve what we got last night. Torre is a F’ing idiot. Retire, you MF’ing bast***!

  2. dodgerbuddy

    Offense needs to do a little more homework. I hope the guys get out of the slump soon and starting hitting the ball again. BTW messagebear opinion is one thing foul language is another. Go somewhere else if you want to use that language. The guys need our support NOT people like you.

  3. trublu4ever

    Gee, I was just going to agree with Messagebear word for word but, I might be asked to leave too! Seriously, Loretta is NOT a DH! We should have Hoffmann in there. At least, if he connects with one it could go out of the park! And, Matt deserves more respect than 8th place in the batting order.

  4. trublu4ever

    By the way, Dodgerbuddy ~ I’ve been a Dodger fan for over 50 years and supported them every year through thick and thin. Just because a few of us spout off here now and then doesn’t mean we don’t support our team. We want them to do win more than anything and in order to do that, you have to put your best players out there everyday.

  5. dodgerbuddy

    Support the team. Have an opinion yes. Foul lanuage no. You have to remember their are all type of people that come read this and that includes children. All I am asking is not to use the foul language.

  6. messagebear@msn.com

    I do apologize for the foul language, and frustration is not a good excuse for it. Won’t do it again, at least not soon.

  7. bluesplash09

    Well i’m about to put on my Dodger Blue battle gear and head to the game, we have only been shutout 3 times this year and i’ve been at 2 of them, philly last thursday and texas last night, if this continues then I wont go anymore cause it’s obvious I am a curse! But we’ll break out soon. GO DODGERS!!

  8. aeversw

    This lineup is more offensive then any foul lanuage you can think of…I agree 100% with the first post. Don’t be afraid to speak the truth. Joe is a FREAKING MORON!

  9. boblee4014

    You guys need to check again. Kemp is batting ninth. What a moron Joe is. A guy with kemp’s power batting ninth. Unbelievable.

  10. messagebear@msn.com

    With all our complaining the ironic thing would be for our team to win tonight, and nothing would make me happier. I just want the Dodgers to win. I sometimes have to think that Joe just wants to make his point, which is that he can make the lineup any way he wants, and that’s the most important thing – win or lose.

  11. nellyjune

    Good Afternoon ITD readers and writers!!!!!

    messagebear – I am assuming if enchanted were around, he would be using the same sentiments as you. I am becoming more and more irritated with Kemp not being moved in the lineup. As for Russell, something needs to be done. I am not sure what, but something is definitely up………..whether it’s complacency in his position or he’s already given his best two years. I hope he snaps out of it soon because we were jumping all over other players for their slumps, but this seems to be more than a slump. Andre came and went out of his major slump. James came and went out of his minor slump. Even Matt had a brief slump and came out of it. However, Russell has something going on, and the coaching staff needs to figure it out fast. He was marked as our Captain last year, and now some are even wondering if he is worthy of even being on the team. I haven’t given up on any player on this team, but at minimum he needs to be batting 8th until he gets things figured out.

    From the previous thread…………………..

    Dodgereric – It’s always a surprise to see you around early in the morning. I just happened to be waiting for Michael’s game to start when I read your post. It was fabulous as always, and I hadn’t read the article, but it’s appalling to say the least. Andruw needs to be drilled. I am hoping Billz is up to the task :))) Andruw did the damage himself, but don’t you wonder what the players think of McCourt sometimes though? …..just wondering.

    messagebear – having a son who is becoming a high-profile high school pitcher (with two years still to go before he has to make that decision), the reason why the major league organizations want them out of highschool is so they can train the pitchers their way (or any position really), and they learn whichever way that particular club sees it. So far Michael determined on going the college route. He really wants to play somewhere down in So-Cal (Fullerton would be his first choice). However, his personal pitching coach is also a bullpen coach for the Modesto Nuts (Rox Affiliate), and Michael has done bullpens with their pitchers. So, I can tell it’s going to be hard for him to sit back and be told you are better off playing for Fullerton, and at the same time he knows he can pitch as well as these guys pitching for Modesto right now. Alot can happen in two seasons of baseball for Michael, but just from what I have been exposed to so far, these 17 and 18 year old kids that are going through these decisions now and have the talent to do either (college or majors) are being told to make a choice. They will never know if the choice they didn’t make was the right one because once you sign with a college, mlb can’t touch you until you are a junior, and if you sign with an mlb club, then you can’t play college ball at all. I love this topic, and it will be even more vital to my personal life in 2010-2011 when Michael is a senior and, barring injury, will have to make that choice perhaps.

  12. redfox@q.com

    All of us want the Dodgers to win, and that is why the actions of management are so frustrating to us. Certainly there is room for disagreement, and each of us are bound to see things differently from time to time. Still, there is ABSOLUTELY no way that Kemp should be batting 9th, especially with people like Furcal, Lorretta, and Martin batting higher. Joe is stubborn, and sometimes it just seems like he enjoys showing that he’s the boss and will do what he wants. It is very hard to respect him as a manager under those circumstances.

  13. aeversw

    The Managers job is to put his team in the best position to win the game that day. Batting our best all around threat 9th with guys like Lorretta who hasn’t had a hit in 20 ABs or Russ who has been completely pathetic this year in front of him doesn’t give us the best chance to win. Joe has failed at his job in my opinion. He can be a calming influence in the clubhouse but that is meaningless I think. We had ******* veterans who didn’t accept their dimished skills and their lose of playing time that ruined our clubhouse. We got rid of the bad apples and signed character guys and Joe gets all the credit. I think our team deserves more credit then they deserve. We somehow have the best record in baseball even with Joe and hit horrible lineups and bad bullpen management.

  14. messagebear@msn.com

    Very interesting perspective about high school baseball and the choices at very young age from nelly. I’m, of course, only viewing it as an outsider and from a very different generation. I’m sure that yours and your husband’s influence will have a great deal of bearing on how things turn for Michael, and from what little I know about you from the forum, Michael is certainly advantaged in that respect. I wish him well and look forward to hearing about his future whatever turn it takes.

    Those decisions must be tough ones, especially if there’s a lot of money riding on it, even if it is just in the way of a signing bonus. I kind of have mixed feelings about the high school pitcher that we got in the earlier rounds. The chances of signing him seem remote, because he’s expressed a clear preference for going to college, but we’ll no doubt apply all the pressure we can to change his mind.

  15. oldbrooklynfan

    Howzit Going Everybody?
    In case you haven’t checked the box for tonight’s game our old friend ANDRUW is the DH for the Rangers.
    This should be interesting.
    GO DODGERS

  16. shad80

    Wow Phillies made 3 errors and they suppose to be one of the top defense team in the league. Stop worry about Loretta 0/19 and he does have the 5th best average in interleague game and a career .327 hitting against the Rangers and also hitting .324 on the road even though it’s a sample size with 34 AB’s with 11 hits and blah I guess it didn’t last for Kemp.

  17. messagebear@msn.com

    Very interesting, oldbrooklynfan. He probably looks at it as payback time to Frank. Hope he shows about 3 K’s for the night, but then you can never tell what a little sense of revenge will enable one to do.

  18. oldbrooklynfan

    I really don’t think he has anything to pay back since he was let go for not being able to produce for us.
    I’ll bet he still hasn’t spend all of Frank’s money yet either.

  19. messagebear@msn.com

    Andruw does raise an interesting point. Did anybody actually meet with him and ask him to do some workout before he was signed. I read about the elaborate checking and workouts that we held for Orlando before we signed him. Why was it such a surprise to find porky Andruw show up at Spring Training? Sounds like our own fault, or a case of Boras pulling one over on Ned.

  20. oldbrooklynfan

    Regardless, Bear, that’s all water under the bridge and now the big thing is how he does against us in this series IMO.

  21. enchantedbeaver

    If I was a pitcher I deck that pathetic loser Jones everytime he came up. Only reason he’s doing better this year is because he has to be back on the juice. NO ONE can go from that terrible last year and just as terrible in winter ball to all of a sudden he’s better.

  22. messagebear@msn.com

    I agree. I was only mentioning that about Andruw, because he brought up the subject of “disrespect”, etc. with the media when talking about his Dodger experience.

  23. enchantedbeaver

    And speaking of pathetic losers, why’s JP still leading off and Loretta and Martin even playing? Martin needs to be optioned back to Chattanooga and let’s give Ellis and/or May a shot. Can’t be any worse.

  24. enchantedbeaver

    And Uncle Joe IS a moron if he can’t figure out a better line-up than he keeps trotting out there.

  25. trublu4ever

    Enchanted ~ Charlie was just saying on the radio that Joe loves the speed at the top of his lineup. Speed doesn’t do much if they don’t get on base. Charlie also says Joe has speed at the bottom of the lineup with Russell and Matt there. Go figure!!!!!

  26. enchantedbeaver

    Well, must be something on Food Network that’s more entertaining than this team right now. Later everyone.

  27. kpookiemon

    I think that glorious window of opportunity to trade a .400-hitting lead-off man has, umm, passed. Juan is coming back to earth faster than a falling piano.

  28. boblee4014

    Mitch Jones is 32 and has 20 HR’s and can hit them out of any park. Why don’t the Dodgers give him a shot.

  29. oldbrooklynfan

    I hate to bring this up but maybe it might jinx the spell, the Dodgers haven’t scored in 20 consecutive innings.

  30. kpookiemon

    oldbrooklyn, I might add the Dodgers have exactly one sacrifice bunt and one stolen base in that same time frame. Someone please nudge Joe from his little cat-napping.

  31. enchantedbeaver

    Really making Scott Feldman work I see.

    Right now Marty Feldman could toss a shutout against this team.

  32. kpookiemon

    I am SHOCKED Uncle Joe and Bowa didn’t have Hudson going on contact. This club is dead in the water. Why play it safe? I can’t think of many two-out hits lately. WOW……..

  33. kpookiemon

    I am SHOCKED Uncle Joe and Bowa didn’t have Hudson going on contact. This club is dead in the water. Why play it safe? I can’t think of many two-out hits lately. WOW……..

  34. boblee4014

    In the last 10 games which were all home but 1 the Dodgers have had 327 at bats with 76 hits batting a 232 clip with 8 home runs or less than 1 a game and we had 1 game where we hit 4 and 1 game where we hit 3. Not very impressive, is it.

  35. nellyjune

    Hey enchanted!!! – It’s good to see you back and rare form as always. You must have been one busy guy these last few days. You are right though…….we are playing pretty pathetically right now. No doubt about it!!!

    Good evening Oldbrooklynfan – How is your daughter doing with her Mets and the series against the Yankees?

    Good evening to you too Dodgerzona!!!

  36. boblee4014

    Geez Joe, pick up the phone to New Mexico and get some power up here till Manny is back. Boops and loopers is all we’re doing. IT SUCKS

  37. knouffbrock@frontiernet.net

    I think one reason Kemp is batting last is Joe looks at him as a second clean up hitter for the bottom part of the line up. Same as Blake earlier in the season. I have no idea what Joe thinks, but that might be a possibility. Maybe he thinks the guys batting 6-7-8 will get better pitches with Kemp waiting down there.

  38. nellyjune

    Kahli – any of those first three guys (JP, Furcal and O-Dog) why would you hold them on third like that? O-Dog was halfway home before the ball was hit.

  39. boblee4014

    Hey nelly, this game pretty rotten. I would have liked to been with the team to see the new Dallas stadium today. I understand that is something else. Can’t wait for the season to begin.

  40. shad80

    Look like the next time we have a runner on 3rd with no out or 1 out suicide bunt that run in since we can’t buy a hit with risp.

  41. oldbrooklynfan

    Nelly I haven’t heard from her since yesterday, that error by Castillo must of really got her goat.

  42. messagebear@msn.com

    At least Wolf is doing all that one could expect. Wish some of the offense would wake up like they’re in a ballgame.

  43. nellyjune

    Boblee – I am sure you would have wanted to be there. You and your Cowboys. My husband found an ex-college roommate who was once the equipment manager for the 49ers (Superbowl ring and everything). Well, now he is working with the San Diego Chargers. The Chargers and the Redskins are playing each other in San Diego the last game of the season on Jan 3rd (?). I am hoping to be there. My two favorite teams playing each other would be fun, depending on where each team is in the standings at that point.

  44. shad80

    Actually I need Ned need to pick up the phone to New Mexico. You think Mitch Jones could save our offense? Jones is playing in a hitter park.

  45. oldbrooklynfan

    By the time their local lighting company gets there, we’ll probably be on regular time. With the bottom of the 5th starting in about an hour and a half.

  46. seeskybout2rain@comcast.net

    Good evening, all. The bigger obscenity than bear’s words earlier is Kemp batting ninth and this sorry offense. Add to that mlb.com’s feed. Would be a shame to waste Wolf’s (so far) solid pitching performance. And now not all the lights are on in Rangers Stadium. Not unlike our offense. GO DODGERZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!

  47. boblee4014

    Hey shad, Mitch Jones has a lot of power. He can hit the ball out anywhere. I can’t understand why they don’t give him a shot. At least till Manny is back

  48. nellyjune

    jhall is in the ITD house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How are you Wally?………………… I know………..you would be better if the Dodgers would get their stuff together and get their bats going again.

  49. shad80

    Yeah I know that but he never had a chance with the Yankees in 2000 but still I don’t think if he could save this offense until Manny come back.

  50. messagebear@msn.com

    Jones, Repko, Hoffmann, whoever else while we need to use a DH – at least let’s see somebody who can pop it out of the infield. Loretta has already gotten in his extra swings, and all he’s got for them is to be looking like ol’ Sweeney.

  51. jhallwally

    Hi’Ya Nelly!! Doing well, how about you?
    Hey Bear!! F**k’em if they can’t handle the truth!!!!

  52. shad80

    Hoffmann LF, Kemp CF, Ethier RF, Jones DH/Verduchi I know I got his name wrong but I like him in Spring Training.

  53. enchantedbeaver

    Mitch Jones isn’t on the 40-man roster. Can’t see a reason to boot somebody for a career minor leaguer. Mitch does that every year – hits a ton of HR against minor league pitching, but he’s reached the apex of his career at AAA.

    For the life of me though, I can’t figure out that even if you still want JP as the leadoff man you don’t start a better fielder in his place in left.

    Then you have Loretta turning into Sweeney, and Martin just needs to be gone. Trade him. Option him. Bench him. I don’t really care at this point.

  54. messagebear@msn.com

    Is the delay because of a power outage? I mean in the stadium – I know there’s a power outage on our team.

  55. messagebear@msn.com

    Thanks guys. I appreciate the support, but I did go overboard a bit. Have to remember there are ladies present.

  56. oldbrooklynfan

    I have to correct myself I meant the top of the 6th not the bottom of the fifth, my MLB.TV seems to be up to date tonight.
    .
    Nelly, my daughter just called, she’s happy the Mets won today and yesterday’s game isn’t bothering her.

  57. seeskybout2rain@comcast.net

    Hey, Nelly!!! My 2-cents worth on Michael’s situation: get the education. If he’s got the goods, the money and career will be there after college. We all know the incredible odds of any player, regardless of ability, ever seeing a MLB stadium. Education is something no one can take away.

  58. messagebear@msn.com

    enchanted, they’re not going to let you in the Martinistas with that attitude. I know I’m hopeless in that regard, but there are ITD members who think he’s cute. I guess when you can’t hit a lick, it counts for something.

  59. enchantedbeaver

    Well bear, its just time for the young guns to start progressing. The only next step I’m seeing them take is backwards.

  60. Dodger4life

    jhall – doing very well, and glad to hear you are as well.

    seesky – so far that’s Michael’s desire too.

    oldbrooklyfan – I just saw the score on that Met’s game. Let’s hope the Dodgers can pick up this win and be the same.

  61. nellyjune

    Okay – that was me up there, nellyjune. Dodger4life is here with me, and I didn’t realize I was commenting on his thread. So, let me try this again……………

    jhall – doing very well, and glad to hear you are as well.

    seesky – so far that’s Michael’s desire too.

    oldbrooklyfan – I just saw the score on that Met’s game. Let’s hope the Dodgers can pick up this win and be the same.

    By Dodger4life on June 13, 2009 6:54 PM

  62. messagebear@msn.com

    Come to think of it, we did bring DeWitt back up. Now I’m not as enthused about him as I was early in last season, but why doesn’t he deserve to get some extra at bats as the DH instead of Loretta. He even gives us an extra lefthanded batter in the lineup. What is he being saved for?

  63. enchantedbeaver

    I think if you go back too you’ll find that our offensive woes pretty much coincided to when JP nose dived back into being Slappy McPopup. Nice to have him back making 4-5 nonproductive outs per game leading off.

    Which also proves the JoJo hasn’t learned a thing about his personnel. He’s making the same mistakes as he did last year.

  64. boblee4014

    As my grandson said a few years back when we left St. louis headed for Philadelphia and hadn’t went 50 miles, How much longer? before this game starts.

  65. messagebear@msn.com

    By this time we’ll probably have to warm up a new pitcher – Weaver? A very good showing by Wolf. Wish he had more to show for it. I suppose we would have to score in the next inning for that to happen.

  66. shad80

    I see everyday Eddie is in just like we have everyday Andre and I can smell some run so Pierre run Pierre run.

  67. seeskybout2rain@comcast.net

    Well, I don’t know what happened during that last 1 hour and 40 minutes, but the offense woke up.

  68. trublu4ever

    Sorry, I just became a little miffed on the last thread when somebody attacked our beloved Messagebear!

  69. nellyjune

    Then again maybe the people that signed him without making sure he would clear a medical clearance (or pretended they didn’t notice anything) need the drilling.

  70. oldbrooklynfan

    My MLB.TV failed again, I came back to see Jones hit the HR but how did the Dodgers score.
    My MLB.TV fail to come back after a while. I had to restart it.

  71. trublu4ever

    Would you believe, right after Andruw hit his homerun my computer froze and kicked me off?!! I had to restart. Damn Andruw Jones!

  72. 32and53fan

    That was a horrible pitch to Kemp – right down the middle, perfect height for driving the ball.
    I’ll take the other pitcher’s mistakes any day.

  73. oldbrooklynfan

    I see Furcal knock in JP in the 6th according to the box score, ending the drought.
    GOOD GOING RAFFY.

  74. shad80

    I would have thought Troncoso would be in a sophomore slump like the rest of the players would be like Wade and is having so far but he’s been a huge surprise so far.

  75. shad80

    Troncoso numbers on the road is plain sick.

    Away (this year) 9 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 18.0 13 1 1 0 6 12 0.50 1.06 .200
    Grass (this year) 26 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 0 39.1 36 7 7 0 13 25 1.60 1.25 .250

  76. crzblue2

    Thanks everyone for the welcome! I am happy to be back home even with the June gloom and go back to Dodger Stadium on Tuesday. Hey is Digthedodgers back? I just sent him the two pictures I took of he & his wife whiile he was visiting D.S. Balls are flying now.
    .
    OOoh that turkey leg looks good. Stop talking a bout those turkey legs.

  77. shad80

    Pierre single leading off, stole 2nd, took 3rd on the catcher 2nd errors pf the game and Furcal drove him in.

  78. shad80

    If Loretta didn’t get that hit yesterday he would be 0/19 and what stinks is Loretta failed with risp with less than 1 out.

  79. shad80

    Holy Damn did I see the Rockies winning again that’s 10 in a rows. I’d rather have the Rockies in 2nd places than the Giants lol.

  80. enchantedbeaver

    Hey, they won.

    Sorry, I’ve been watching a show on the earth’s crust and mantle. Seemed more entertaining than the offense.

  81. nellyjune

    I am listening to the gnat game and they are talking about the A’s coming to Dodger Stadium, and how they will need a major pep talk before coming to Los Angeles.

  82. nellyjune

    LMAO!!!!!! Oh enchanted!!! You don’t really know how much you are missed when you are not around.

  83. enchantedbeaver

    Russell’s average went south. That’s where he should be playing right now too – in the South – Chattanooga.

  84. enchantedbeaver

    As far as I’m concerned, Neddy boy’s got his work cutout for him at the trade deadline.

    I’m also looking forward to Manny coming back. Not because I think he should be playing, but I’m for anything that gets JP out of the line-up again.

  85. shad80

    I just want to say congratulation to Tejada for getting to 2,000 hits and Berkman for 300th and getting 300 homeruns with one team is a great accomplishment to get since he did get to 1,500 last night and look like Berkman is 4 rbi’s away from 1000.

  86. nellyjune

    LOL!!!! I was a little shocked when I came on here at first and messagebear was getting a talking to. That usually only happens to you, enchanted.

  87. nellyjune

    enchanted – I am with you on that. I am so tired of JP this and JP that. How he comes to work early to batting practice. You know maybe he should come to work early work on throwing the frickin’ ball instead!!!

  88. enchantedbeaver

    Doesn’t make any sense to me Nells when you’ve got the use of the DH and you still start that weak arm in left.

    Of course it doesn’t make any sense to me to be using Loretta as the DH either. You’ve got DeWitt and Hoffmann, why a totally slumping Loretta? And a lot of Loretta’s hits early in the year were little flares.

    I feel a song coming on for Mark as well.

  89. nellyjune

    You know…………I like it when messagebear gets mad. I know it’s superstisious, but it works, and they seem to do better when he gets after the players for playing lousy. So, I don’t want messagebear to change how he reacts to things. I consider this an adult blog, and if kids are reading it, then it’s up to the parents to monitor it. I have sat with a roomful of students and they have never been shown any parts that I have not wanted them to see.

  90. nellyjune

    I really thought this would be a great opportunity to see Jamie get some playing time, and not in replace of Andre. I would even take Andre as DH and let Hoffmann play the field because I have pretty much got it stuck in my head that we are stuck with JP batting lead off until Manny returns. However, it really should be Hoffmann in left field IMO. You could even have DeWitt play 3rd, Casey Blake DH and Hoffmann play left.

  91. nellyjune

    Well, even this one is not so bad compared to some of the other posts that he has done, and like you have done, and countless others.

  92. nellyjune

    Good!!! I was worried about you becoming a Juanpian. Did you hear them talking about him tonight. He now qualifies for the batting stats for the mlb because he has played enough games now, and he has the 2nd best average in the NL behind Wright.

  93. nellyjune

    I am really hoping Andruw gets nailed by one of our guys tomorrow. That article Eric posted this morning was dispicable. Even Steve and Eric (okay that’s weird)………….Steve Lyons and Eric Collins were saying how Andruw had no business saying the things he said of his former team. That the Dodgers gave him every opportunity to turn it around, and what do they get in return……………a big fat bill to Andruw Jones to pay.

  94. enchantedbeaver

    No – I just follow along gameday – I don’t get the broadcasts, but it doesn’t sound like I’ve been missing anything.

  95. enchantedbeaver

    I’d drill him for sure. He’s probably the only player I really truely hate.

    Think I’ll hit it Nells. Was up late last night, then got hooked watching an old Marlon Brando movie that started at 1:30 and ended at 4:20. Take care and I’ll see if I can stop by tomorrow for a visit.

  96. nellyjune

    Well, Steve and Eric (Lyons and Collins that is) also let Andruw have it too, about that article. Steve Lyons especially was not too happy about the things Andruw said in the article. Andruw really should be ashamed for treated this team that way. Even the players did nothing but help him try to get back to his old form and to say things like that was just stupid and idiotic to say the least.

  97. shad80

    Dang is just you 2 here and damn I just seen how Jones got that stolen base without a freaking throw from Martin.

  98. nellyjune

    That’s the same article Shad. Eric had posted it this morning (I think the actualy LA Times article though). Steve Lyons talked about it in depth during the game tonight. At least it was more than just the fans upset about it.

  99. 32and53fan

    Don’t blame Martin for Jones’ stolen base. Troncoso ignored him and Andruw got a great jump. No catcher could have thrown him out.

  100. nellyjune

    This came from the Sons of Steve Garvey posted by Orel Hershiser.

    http://www.sonsofstevegarvey.com/2009/06/post-game-63-thread-zapped.html

    The Dodgers and Rangers had to endure a one hour and forty-one minute electrical delay, which interrupted five scoreless innings by both Randy Wolf and Scott Feldman. When play resumed, Juan Pierre and Rafael Furcal manufactured a run in the top of the sixth, but some fat tub of goo tied it up with a solo homer in the bottom of the inning.
    ……………………………………………….
    They aren’t being so nice to Andruw ethier.

  101. nellyjune

    Well, Shad, when you say “without a freaking throw from Martin” it certainly sounds like you are blaming him. I am guessing you are talking to 32and53, but I thought you were upset with him too.

  102. northstateblues

    Someone oughta stuff that fat tub of goo’s trapdoor with a turducken.

    In between two giant buttered slices of Texas Toast.

    I’d rather have Manny riding pine for 50 games than that ungrateful ex-hefalump back on our team.

    [“He wasn’t standing behind me, I think,” Jones said, adding that if McCourt had shown him more respect, “I almost definitely would be part of the L.A. Dodgers right now.”]

    Earth to Baby Huey: YOU DO NOT GET TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT YOU’RE A LOS ANGELES DODGER. Especially when you hit like Jim Abbot while looking like Lou Costello for a year.

    At least Jim Abbot had an excuse for his batting stats: He had one arm, and played in the AL for virtually his whole career.

    Maybe Andruw only had one arm too, because the other one was stuck in the &%#*&@$# refrigerator

  103. shad80

    I just said he should be bench but when I seen the replay than is ok. If I blame Martin I would cuss him out.

  104. bluesplash09

    Just got back from the game (and waffle house, yummmmm!) awesome win tonite, that delay was brutal but maybe it’s what we needed cause we ended our 22 scoreless innings streak. The humidity out here is brutal! And I thought I was gonna be sick when fatty andruw hit that homer, but Matt came to the rescue. And I totally got Broxton’s autograph on my glove! There have been quite a few Dodger fans at both games so far, so we are well represented here. I’ll be goin to the finale tommorrow and hopefully Billz can show texas how good he is. GO DODGERS!!

  105. bluesplash09

    Btw, i got a hot dog at the park today and it was a mistake I wont make again, after you have had the deliciousness that is a Dodger Dog, nothing else will do

  106. enchantedbeaver

    Yeah – Andruw’s a real piece of work. Dis the guy who paid you $36 million for ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

    You’d still be a Dodger??? Here’s a newsflash for you Andruw – I don’t think there one Dodgerfan that isn’t glad to see your fat *** off the team.

    It’s a damn good thing I’m not a pitcher because I would’ve drilled him everytime he came up yesterday until I got kicked out of the game.

    Next item up – Martin’s worthless butt.

  107. messagebear@msn.com

    Couple of thoughts concerning Martin, and I’ve had more than my share of these. I’m glad that at least a few others are concerned as well.

    One who does not seem concerned is Torre, and his denial is alarming. Martin cannot be said to be in a slump, but has rather been in a deteriorating pattern of performance. Unless Torre deals with it up front, how can you expect Martin to get concerned enough to do something about it. I would like to know what Mattingly has been doing about it, if anything. I would like to see management’s answer and assessment of what Martin is doing in response to Mattingly’s instruction. For instance, is Mattingly coaching Martin to hit the other way, especially on outside pitches. What is Martin doing wrong that he’s unable to do that. It seems to me that instead of talking about regaining Martin’s power, we first have to get him to hit using the entire field and hard enough to get the ball over the infield.

    If the power won’t be there, and Martin really isn’t benefitting from instruction at the major league level, let’s do send him down to where someone can address his shortcomings on a more concentrated basis. Ellis doesn’t hit for power, but he’s putting up decent batting average numbers to suggest that he wouldn’t be any worse than what Martin has become. But it all has to start with Torre accepting some reality instead of just letting Martin coast on with no improvement in sight.

  108. trublu4ever

    Good Morning Enchanted ~ it looks as though you had a good night’s sleep! LOL I have never booed a player until I saw Andruw play in a game! His cocky smirk after he had struck out for the 3rd time in 3 at bats made me BOO with the rest of the 50,000 people at the game. As for Russell I just can’t figure out what is his problem. I think it was NellyJune who suggested that perhaps he isn’t the player we all thought he was. I’m hoping that he gets his swing straigtened out for the last half of the season. However, if what we see is really what we get, I think he might be the first one out of Dodger Blue when the trading begins.

  109. nellyjune

    Good Morning ITD readers and writers!!!!!

    My comments last night about Russell were more towards somebody on this management team needs to figure out what is going wrong, whether it be complacency (which if Torre doesn’t seem concerned, why should Russell, right), mechanics, or maybe he just had his two years of stardome early. I don’t know the answers. That’s what the coaches and our Manager is for, but how does a player go from being called the Captain on our team to somebody who needs to spend some time in AAA to figure out what is going on. Like messagebear and I am sure many have said, this is more than a slump. Andre was in a major slump, and even though he hasn’t gotten a hit in this series, you can tell he is still driving the ball in the right places and did manage to get himself on base twice on Friday. Also, I can almost guarantee Andre will never be complacent about his position.

  110. messagebear@msn.com

    Good morning everyone!
    Andre can’t get into that comfortable complacent position, because for some reason Torre picked him out to use his what I would call his “tough love” approach. I don’t doubt that Torre likes Andre as well as any other player, but I think he played with his head last year, and he’s not reluctant to let Andre know when he’s unhappy with his performance or just picks on him to give someone else the occasional chance to play in his position. Andre, of course, seems to handle all with grace and in a most professional way.
    What disturbs me with Torre and Martin is that there never seems to be a suggestion on Torre’s part that Martin isn’t pulling his weight, and that isn’t fair either.

  111. enchantedbeaver

    Now let’s look at our terrific leadoff hitter the last 14 games. We know he’s a leadoff hitter because JoJo say he is, that’s why he never has to sit on the bench either:

    14 for 60 (.233)
    5 runs scored
    1 RBI
    1 Double (.250 slug pct.)
    2 BB (.258 OBP)

    That’s quality enough to give 5 AB’s per game for Joe.

    Correct me if I’m wrong, but the offense has been in the tank for about 14 games. Coincidence? I think not.

    JPs no longer doing his job. Martin hasn’t done anything all year, yet usually hits 4-5-6. Your best hitter lately, with power I might add, is batting 9th. Geez, do you think its time for a change?

    Why not try Kemp, Hudson, Dre, Blake, Loney, Hoffmann, DeWitt, Furcal, Ausmus? Could that line-up score any less? Why not try giving 5 ABs to someone who’s actually swinging the stick?

  112. trublu4ever

    I’m in total agreement with your assessment and your lineup Enchanted. Joe’s obsession with speed is killing our team. Joe obsession with Juan is killing our team. And, Joe’s obsession thinking Russell will come out of his slump is killing our team!

  113. lbirken@aol.com

    As others have brought up what former Dodger players are doing for other teams I have pretty much said I don’t really care. These players don’t play for the Dodgers anymore and anything they do accomplish with other teams has no bearing on the current team and nothing should be implied that they would be doing the same thing for the Dodgers. I think it is great for a fan to follow a favorite player to another team and hope he does well as long as that player does not hurt his former team. For instance, I am happy for Jayson Werth. He played hard for the Dodgers and without all the injuries he might still be here. But circumstances took him to another team where he overcame the injury bug and has established himself. So no hard feelings.

    However, I cannot let comments by a certain A. Jones go unchallenged. If in fact he did say the things reported in the article and if in fact Frank McCourt said the things Jones claims, good for Frank. In my view the Dodgers did nothing to disrespect Jones, paying him a lot of money hoping he could regain his form from a down year when he was signed. In fact, had Jones equaled that down year the Dodgers probably would have been happy with that and Jones might still be here. But that is not what happened. In our view, Jones did not come to spring training in shape and never got into shape, possibly hiding an injury. Jones seriously underperformed and put the Dodgers into a tough situation but rather than just sit his *** down management continued to play him in hopes something positive would happen. I don’t call that disrespect at all.

    So if Frank did call you on your performance, he did what many fans would have liked to do. We were all wondering if the Dodgers could void Jones contract and perhaps there was a way they could have tried. However, the Dodgers took the high ground and with help from your agent a way was found to let you continue your career somewhere else, which as I understand things is going better than your time with the Dodgers. So just shut up, play baseball and collect your money.

  114. bluesplash09

    Gonna be leaving for the game in about an hour, high of 97 today in arlington…ouch, but at least it’s a day game so there wont be any light delays! GO DODGERS!!

  115. trublu4ever

    Enchanted ~ I think the song should come after today’s game! I’ve got my printer ready to go! lol
    .
    Hello lbirken. Great post!

  116. thinkingblue

    Wow can not believe the new…but two legendary people have died today. Prayers go out to the Jackson & Fawcett family.

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