Plenty going on…
Lots of headlines yesterday and today from Manny’s visit here to Albuquerque. There’s no doubt, it’s been a bit of a circus atmosphere as this town is simply not used to having someone of his stature here. And the state’s biggest sports star, Brian Urlacher, happens to be hosting a football clinic for kids across the street from the baseball stadium, so it’s been interesting.
But, everyone is trying to remember that the point of this visit is for Manny to get himself into playing shape and that’s what we’re here to try and help him do.
Out in Chi-city, as Kanye likes to call it, the Dodgers grabbed another win last night and man, did Kuroda look good (on TV, that is). What a huge boost to have him back and healthy.
Over at Psychollingy (can’t seem to get the link working here), we got two posts, one from Eric about the minors and one from Steve about his weekend at the Hall of Fame, so be sure to check it out and let them know what you think. Maybe it’s just me, but I think it’s pretty cool that fans can interact with the broadcasters and perhaps even get their topics or questions discussed on air. That’s a very cool benefit of modern technology and it certainly seems like the way of the future.
UPDATE
Raining here in Albuquerque…tarp’s on the field so not sure what will become of tonight’s game. Far less media here than yesterday…
In Chicago, here’s the lineup:
Pierre, LF
Furcal, SS
Hudson, 2B
Blake, 3B
Ethier, RF
Loretta, DH
Loney, 1B
Martin, C
Kemp, CF
Wolf, P
Inside the Dodgers 
Thanks for the update Josh!!
Randy is going to have a great game tonight. The team is going to score lots of runs and we ar going to win our second game against the White Sox. I LOVE L.A. !!!!!!!!!!!
*are
Hello ITD members…I hope everyone is having a good lunch (well for those west coast peeps)
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I did not see Manny 1st at bat….but did see all the news headlines. Was it just me or did he give a smile after hearing all the fans cheer him on? Keep working hard Manny! GOOOOO MANNY!
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Well I saw the beginning and ending of yesterdays game. (Kids had Little League closing ceremony) Kuroda is back and yes glad to see him feeling better. GOOOO KURODA!
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JOSH – Thanks for the updates and see ya Saturday (almost there!)
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GOOOOO DODGERS! GET THOSE WHITE SOX DIRTY!
Yeah, Manny, the fans really love you. Thanks also for reducing some of us in stature to Giant fans, like in the tradition of Barry Bonds and some of the earlier miscreants.
Go, Mr. Asterisk, or Manny’roid, whichever you prefer.
LOL!!!! Messagebear~ I am just not understanding all the hoopla over him being in Alburquerque. They are analyzing every at-bat like it is supposed to mean something. The at-bats didn’t mean anything in spring training so why should they mean anything now. It’s not like if he has a bad rehab assignment he will sit over JP. Plus, the media should be focusing on the team in Chicago…………you know the “real” Dodger team right now. When he is back on July 3rd, great, but right now the focus needs to be on the team playing in Chicago right now.
Josh – thanks for the updates and good luck down there. It sounds like you got your hands full.
In case any of you wondered what Ned did before going to work for the Cubs, checkout the accordion player:
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHlgGVdCM6w&NR=1
I can answer your question from last night. No, I have not seen that show before, and now I understand why Eric brought up Martin Mull and Fred Willard in the same sentence. It was an “Ah Ha” moment I must say – LMAO!!!!!
…..and that accordian player – Wow!!!………what a resemblence!!!
Martin Mull (Barth Gimble) and Fred Willard (Jerry Hubbard) were brilliant on that show. Frank De Vol was Happy Kyne, so that makes the accordion player just one of the Mirthmakers (who looks suspiciously like Ned.) Maybe if you meet up with Ned on the tour you can see if he secretly keeps an accordion in his office.
Thank you for the television history lesson, and I am sure it’s not too late to come and ask Ned that yourself 🙂
From Ungar ~ Breaking News on ESPN Sportscenter!!!! — Manny Ramirez just had Huevos Rancheros in Albuquerque and loved them!!! LMAO!!!!!
But he hasn’t REALLY had huevos rancheros until he’s had them from Las Cruces!!!
Is it true they are going to make a TV show called “Everyone Love’s Manny”?
LOL!!!!!
LMTO!!!!!!
ESPN later reported that about mid-morning Manny had a healthy crap, and said “Aaaahhh, I feel good” right after. EXPN had it well covered, as they made sure they were occupying stalls on either side of Manny. One of the reporters said it definitely felt to him like huevos rancheros was in the air in that next stall.
After Manny came out, he said he had nothing to say that he hasn’t already said, and that was that.
Some of you wanted the Dodgers to get some media attention although I am sure this is not what you had in mind.
I know Dodger fans will take some heat for cheering on Manny after the treatment Barry Bonds got at Dodger Stadium but let’s get something straight. Even if there had never been an issue with PED’s in major league baseball Bonds would have received pretty much the same treatment by Dodger fans. He was such a good figure to “hate” and it had everything to do with him being the jerk we all thought he was and the team for which he played. He could have been the cleanest player in all of major league baseball and it would not have meant a thing.
Did the reporters say anything about Manny putting his pants on one leg at a time? If not, they really missed a story!
Messagebear ~ YOU ARE A RIOT!!!!!! LMAO!!!!!
messagebear – It sure does seem like that’s how crazy it is out there.
…and lbirken – THAT is very true.
Looks like we are going to have a crappy time tonight!
I heard he was a bit flushed when he came out of the stall…
I am dying to know if he flushed.
The Dodgers probably got someone to do it for him birk.
Pierre is staying put. Juan Pierre has been rumored to be on the trading block but the Dodgers’ Ned Colletti doesn’t want to sen his speedster packing. “For everybody that said we shoud have traded Juan Pierre last winter or at the start of the season” Colletti told the Los Angeles Times, “where would we be without Juan Pierre now?”
*send
In a happier state???
LMAO birk!! You too Bear!!
No doubt. Probably part of his contract. V.P in charge of flushing. I am sure Manny just wiped his hands of the whole thing.
You knowTru, there is probably a bit of truth to Coletti’s comment . I am willing to give JP credit for what he has done, especially right after Manny left for vacation. Of course, Ned failed to mention the fact there were no takers for JP at the time but why quibble over details.
I guess the wonderful speedster isn’t worth the $10M to anybody but us!
We might have been better off? We may have seen X.Paul (or Hoffmann) have a break out debut in left? We may have seen Casey Blake playing left and DeWitt at 3rd? ………and we may not being dealing with this issue at all if Manny wasn’t suspended?
And, poor Andre almost had to go to arbitrarion for a mere $3.1M and our one and only Matty is making a paltry $467,000!
JP had a great MONTH. June has been below even his normal standards.
You know sara made one of the best comments yesterday. I was busy getting ready for a party when I read it, so I didn’t comment then. When the media talks about JP and how can we bench him after what he has done? Well, they are only comparing him to what JP has done in the past. They are not comparing him to Andre and Matt and what they have done all season so far, slumps or not. ………and it’s not like JP is tearing through June like he did May. They are forgetting that without Matt, Andre and Manny in the first month of the season, we wouldn’t have had the lead then either.
In case you’re intersted, here is tomight’s lineup:
Pierre
Furcal
Hudson
Blake
Ethier
Loretta (DH)
Loney
Martin
Kemp
Wow tonights lineup is just horrible…I wonder if joe has noticed that our runs per game average has dropped since he started batting loney, dre and bison in the bottom 3rd of the lineup.
It seems odd to me that a person with a 314 batting average is hitting 9th. You’d think he’d be allowed more at bats than a 244 DH.
aecersw ~ I’m totally confused by Joe’s thinking. I’m wondering if he has it in for Matty!
I think he hates Matt. There is no other reason I could think of why he bats him so low in the lineup….Mark Loretta may be a veteran but he hasn’t done anything this year to deserve being the DH let alone batting 6th. It’s pathetic. I’m really starting to loathe Joe Torre. Bad lineups and bad bullpen management. It’s starting to look more and more like the players won those world series in New York and Joe just got lucky.
Joe would probably say he likes the speed….9, 1 and 2. But, I think Matt should get more at bats, not less!
Let him bat Juan 9th! I’ll bet if the opportunity arises they will walk Matt to pitch to Juan!
Why in the crap does Joe have Loretta batting above Loney and Kemp. Where is his head???????
I don’t know if anyone see my post on the other thread. I just notice Castro hasn’t played since July 6 is he ok? He should at least have some AB’s when we played Oakland and SD at home and why in heck hasn’t Ellis been in a game yet? Do we really need to bring him up to have a 3rd catcher on this team? I thought the idea was for Martin to take a rest. I bet Ellis won’t even have a chance after this series when we come back home.
Thank you top of the order…is it July 3rd yet?!
I don’t think Joe give a **** as long we keep on winning.
Fire Joe
Fire the guy who hired Joe.
Fire the guy who hired the guy who hired joe.
P*** poor managementis all I gotta say. I could do a better job and not even be in the stadium. His decisions make no sense.
I think he’s trying to give Loretta over 250 ab’s or how else can you explain it?
1 year/$1.25M (2009)
signed by LA Dodgers as a free agent 12/10/08
performance bonuses: $25,000 each for 250, 300 PAs; $50,000 for 400 PAs; $0.1M for 450 PAs
crap!!!
This is not a very auspicious start for Wolf. C’mon DODGERS – get it together!
Pierre for Buehrle? I wish.
Is this Wolf’s bad inning? Time to get it together Randy.
Wow we can 2nd guess Torre but he seem to get lucky.
Come on get a single Kemp that should be 2 more runs.
Ouch maybe that why Kemp is batting low because of his k’s but still no excuse for him to bat that low.
Oh my another Chicago errors come on we only have 1 hit in this inning.
Loretta with another hit.
Crap
Hi YA Everybody
I’m watching the game and preparing for my trip.
I’m trying to make sure I got everything I need.
And nothing that I can’t take.
I’m traveling as lightly as possible.
GO DODGERS!!!
So much for the lead.
How can you have a 4 pitches walk?
Dang Wolf 2 batters to late.
Urgh all these 1 pitch swinging nice work Furcal and Kemp can’t blame Martin since he got a hit.
Oh god another lead off walk need a dp now.
How many HR’s is Wolf going to give up tonight
Wolf sucks
When Randy doesn’t have it, he just doesn’t have it. Would be a good opportunity to see if McDonald has got his control back. Wolf is finished here.
Well, guess I’ll go watch the Isotopes gameday and check how Manny is doing.
Tonight will be all bullpen.
Manny 2x at bat Walk and grounded to short
Andre’s surge was kind of short lived. Ever since those couple of walk-offs, he’s back to being plain lousy again. Hate to see it and hate to say it.
Mamma told me there’ll be games like this.
It’s a little hard to defend walks and Homeruns.
messagebear – I agree about Andre, but it’s not like JP is tearing it up out there, and he is still being giving praise every at bat regardless of outcome. What gives?
Let’s Go JMac!!!!!!
Just not our night it seems! If this game is out of reach, let’s just move on and concentrate on tomorrow.
NellyJune ~ nobody is tearing it up right now. We are winning but not with much authority. It’s like we are playing in slo-mo!
I know you don’t want to hear this Messagebear and NellyJune but we do need Manny to liven things up! You watch, as soon as he comes back, of course considering that Matt and Andre will be playing, we will score at least 3 more runs per game!
Let’s go Angels and A’s.
Well, this just wasn’t our game – nobody really stepped up, and it’s hard to do any scoring if your top three guys are 1 for 9. I don’t expect JP to go anywhere but down, and Raffy still isn’t hitting with any authority. Glad to see Martin having a good game. Let’s just not use up too much of our bullpen on this one. See you all tomorrow, ITD fans.
About time Castro is in and wonder why he hasn’t played since the 6th?
Amazing there Wolf run support but to bad we’re losing and Wolf didn’t pitch well tonight.
and the bullpen also.
Damn Furcal why oh why did you have to k’s?
Damn not Mota hope he would well.
I meant I hope he pitch well.
Based on expectations, Cory Wade has been a disappointment this season…but Randy Wolf has been a bigger one. 16 starts for the best team in baseball (record wise) and Wolf has a grand total of three victories, one more than the aforementioned Mr. Wade. Mediocrity at its finest.
How come? If it was for the lack of bullpen and run support he should’ve had around 9 to 10 wins by now.
oops wasn’t
Boy………………….what a slow night on ITD.
Joe Pierre ~ It is going to be great to meet you. Get lots of rest. You are going to need it!!!
Shoulda, coulda, woulda…Wolf will always be one of those pitchers just good enough to lose a lot of games…good enough to keep trotting him out there, bad enough not to win. Good pitchers find a way to win.
Seems the Dodgers are weighing the idea of taking on a big contract, pitching-wise. Who would it be? The rumor’s out there…………………….so who? I’m all for a hired gun. What’s not to like? Jarrod Washburn shall not be considered a hired gun. He is more Randy Wolf.
7 homeruns in that game and 6 coming from the White Sox…………….just incredible.
…………and, of course, the A’s are no hep what so ever with the Giants.
“help”
Hey Nelly July 3 just couldn’t get here fast but at least the Angels are helping us.
I just can’t believe we scored 7 runs tonight and Wolf still can’t give him a win.
And now, back to the movie:
John Hall
Lucille Ball
Arlene Dahl
Lauren Bacall
and Spurt, the Sperm whale
in Journey to the Center of Gidget.
LOL!!!! Kahli
Kali,
But there some of those games that it was not Wolf’s fault. He had what? 10 or 11 no decisions. Just bad luck. Today, well, like he said it “he stunk”.
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Shad,
I am kitty-sitting three beautiful flat faced cats.
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Oldbrook,
Yes, The Dodgers are playing the Yankees next year at Yankee Stadium. God willing, I will go.
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let’s see what else was I going to say? Can’t remember…I am tired. goood night zzzzz.
Emma
http://crzblue.mlblogs.com/
Emma, I don’t even care if that reply was late and do you have a picture of those 3 kitty?
I have an orange kitty-cat and both his parents were flat-faced…Persian and Himalayan.
I thought Dodgers Stadium was bad. Off-duty officer shoots 2 in lot after Angels game.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-angelsstadiumshooting&prov=ap&type=lgns
Bad game last night. Ir’s obvious that without the Home Runs, the Sox don’t sccore any runs. They haven’t in 2 days.. They have no idea how to play hit and run or steal bases or sacrifice or bunt which is all part of baseball.
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Oh well, just needed to gripe. We’ll get them today for sure.
Ned’s assessment of players always depends on their reputation – years ago. So it seems with Washburn, another PVL to be on our staff in exchange for probably too many good prospects. If he was still any good, why would the Mariners have him on the market being only 2 1/2 games out themselves? This is bound to be another Loaiza move, and because that’s so much a Colletti trademark, I’m expecting it to happen. Desperation thy name is Colletti.
I also got a chuckle from the game notes in ABQ last night, where Manny was removed from the game after four innings instead of the planned five innings. Josh said it was because the grass was wet. WOW!
LOL, Messagebear!
Wow really? That would explain why he didn’t really husty to 1st in his 2nd ab’s lol.
husty=hustle
What piss me off that someone name Fields was 0 for 16 before he’s game last night?
he’s=his
Good Morning…
OK so I wake up to read that Mr. Ramirez didn’t play 5 innings because the grass was wet…..sssshshhhh BRAT!
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JOSH you know what don’t spoiled Manny (he needs to re-earned his spoile-ness)….now for not going 5 innings he should play FRIDAY with the 66rs (no days off) and be at Dodgers Stadium hanging out with ITD this Saturday. Remember it is time to SPOIL US…LOL! But now for reals….Manny should play Friday with the 66rs…he is not getting enough at bat time. C-YA Friday!
Perfectly understandable with Manny leaving after 4 – it’s hard to keep the blunt lit when the grass is wet.
LOL!!!!
LMAO!!!!
An early game today and then home! Let’s give Chad some run support. LET’S GO DODGERS……I LOVE L.A. !!!!!!!!!!!!
Let’s go boys! Make it a happy flight home!!!
Wet grass equals pulled groin or hammy, something Manny fought in Spring Training and just what the Dodgers need at this hour of the season. Come on, folks, you’ll have to come up with something a bit more outrageous for your collective ire than that…