On the ocean...

Someone was criticizing Penny's status as a #1 pitcher because he'd never won more than sixteen games. Last season was one of those, but he also lost only four games! He made 33 starts, with thirteen no-decisions. Not that W-L is the most insightful thing, but doesn't that mean he put the Dodgers in a position to win in 29 of his 33 starts? Along with his 3.03 ERA, he put up a #1-type season last year.

Particularly for Joe Pierre:
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Dodgers in day games:
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2008: 4-7, 3.98 ERA, batting: .210 / .285 / .316
2007: 25-22, 4.33, .272 / .335 / .409 [82-80 overall, other overall numbers very similar to day]
2006: 27-22, 4.42, .280 / .354 / .439 [88-74 overall, other overall number slightly lower at night]
2005: 20-25, 4.34, .246 / .319 / .382 [71-91 overall, overall ERA about the same, batting slightly higher at night]
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So for the previous three seasons, the day/night performance is about the same - or at least not drastically different - than the overall season's work.
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Maybe that means we're due to see a good run of day games for the boys in blue.

My guess at Friday's starting lineup/batting order. After a day off, Torre should be starting his most preferred lineup. (Houston starts a journeyman righthander.)
.
Furcal - SS
Ethier - LF
Kemp - RF
Kent - 2B
Loney - 1B
Martin - C
Jones - CF
DeWitt - 3B
Lowe - P

old fogey;;;;
I guess we remember the loses better.
My daughter and I go out on Sunday afternoons and if we don't go to the ballgame it's somewhere else.
It seems when ever I come home to check on the game or the score they're losing or they lost, most of the time.
I really hate to be a pest but how's the Sunday record?

I hope your guess is right with Ethier starting over Pierre.
I don't care too much for the big salary players getting all the playing time recently.
Granted Pierre is playing well and it's Jones that should be feeling the pine, but regardless Ethier is too good a player for a fourth outfielder.
Most people don't like to read it but it looks like to me that Jones especially and Pierre have their spots nailed down.
I think Torre and Colletti feel that they are the regular starting CF & LF, no matter how anyone else feels.

"For a young kid, the way he adjusts in at-bats is pretty impressive," Torre on Kemp

I have Ethier starting tomorrow he's 3 for 3 against Brian Moehler. Kemp is a must start. The rest...whatever.

I know I am jumping ahead, but I get to go to the Friday Dodgers/Angels game the following weekend. There has been discussion about pitching because of the 5th spot, but any ideas who might DH? (Kemp, Kent, Ethier, Sweeney, Young) I can see Torre having some fun with this - back in the days of being an AL manager :)

Good point dnelson. I guess during Interleague play we don't have a 4 OF'er problem.

I hope you are right Alex. I saw those stats last night. Torre did play Ethier against Young (SD), knowing that he hits well against him so you would hope he has the same thinking this time against Moehler.

This interleague play coming up will definitely get Jones his ABs (to work out hose kinks) and allow for some others to get some quality ABs as well.

Derek Lowe vs. the current Astros:
.
**PA** AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
Jose Cruz 39 36 15 4 2 4 11 3 6 .417 .462 .972 1.434
Darin Erstad 32 29 9 4 0 0 3 2 3 .310 .375 .448 .823
Miguel Tejada 32 30 9 0 0 2 5 2 6 .300 .344 .500 .844
Carlos Lee 28 28 10 2 0 2 4 0 2 .357 .357 .643 1.000
Geoff Blum 25 23 7 1 0 1 1 2 2 .304 .360 .478 .838
Mark Loretta 24 22 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 .182 .250 .182 .432
Brad Ausmus 20 20 4 3 0 0 2 0 2 .200 .200 .350 .550
Lance Berkman 20 18 4 1 0 0 1 2 3 .222 .300 .278 .578
Kazuo Matsui 9 8 4 1 0 0 1 1 0 .500 .556 .625 1.181
Ty Wigginton 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000 .000 .000 .000
Shawn Chacon 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 .000
=================================================
Total 236 221 66 16 2 9 28 14 27 .299 .343 .511 .854
.
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Jose Cruz Jr.? Really?
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I wouldn't draw too much from 3 PAs of Ethier's against Moehler. Plus one of those hits was an infield dribbler.

"I guess during Interleague play we don't have a 4 OF'er problem."
By northstateblues on May 8, 2008 11:20 PM
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My friend, are you really suggesting Juan Pierre DH????? (He actually has never DHed in the majors.).
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I'll lay money that Russell Martin DHs at least once in Anaheim.
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(Chris Young is the pitcher Andre Ethier has faced second-most in his career - 22 times. Peavy is the most with 27.)

Joe Pierre - I'm not sure how to find the Sunday record easily, but when I do, I'll let you know.

Need Lowe and Penny to pick it up and start pitching like #1 and 2 guys or it is going to be a long summer.

Like I've said before; We'll go as far as our starting pitching.

http://www.dailynews.com/ci_9200717?source=rss

Good read.

While McCourt is unlikely to be reading this blog, I hope he reads THE article in Sports Illustrated about his boy Ned's team decisions. What a screw-up Ned has been for this team.

LOGAN WHITE , or anybody but Colletti in 2009 or sooner!!!

Yep Bear, that was a good article. Really shows what we have all been saying for the past year or so. We've got the box of hollow points right there but Ned and Joe keep loading the gun with blanks.

The "transaction" Josh was talking about is Brazoban coming up.

Here is the current bullpen:

Saito
Broxton
Beimel
Proctor
Brazoban
Park*
Wade

*I expect him to start on May 17 vs. the Angels. It is too soon for Kershaw.

I wonder if you can put somebody on the DL with a "messed up head" and see what 15 days with a sports psychologist would do for Andruw. At least he'd be out of the lineup for a while, and we can see how far we can go in two weeks with our best players in the OF.

Martin DHing means Bennett is on the field - BAD.

We should use the DH to get an extra bat in the lineup, not an extra stiff. There's plenty of days off. I would use days that we have big leads (or big deficits like Wed.) to rest Martin a few innings.

Don't forget Kuo. I would rather see Kuo start on the 17th than Park. If Park gets lit up I imagine Kuo will be the one to come in and right the ship.

Brad Penny is a good pitcher, but he's no number 1 that's for sure. Brandon Webb, Jake Peavey , Johan Santana, they are number 1s. A number 1 starter doesn't give up 10 runs in 5 innings. I doubt the above mentioned along with Koufax in his prime has ever given up 10 runs in 5 innings. Those are number 1 starters. Bills and Kershaw maybe number 1s , but that has yet to be seen.

When I brought the topic of DHing up last night, it made me realize how many good bats we have (Furcal, Kemp, Martin, Loney, Ethier, DeWitt, Young, Kent). It will be a matter of who we need out there for defense for that particular night I would guess. Has anybody heard how Furcal is doing? It might even be a good spot for him if he needs to get a couple of days rest on the field without losing his bat.

Penny and Lowe are at best 2's in my opinion. They have streaks of 1-ness but are not consistant or dominate enough to be called true aces.

Billz, Kershaw, and even Kuo have the stuff to become true aces. All we need is one and it makes everyone else better.

messagebear,
Up here they kind of did that for Zito (it was called the bullpen, and he did have a much better outing even though he still lost). We don't have places like that for struggling hitters - maybe DHing could be a spot for him so he could just work on batting and he would get extra rest in between innings. Just thinking outside the box, I suppose. I am an Ethier, Jones, Kemp supporter so I want Andruw to come out of this. Close games are going to come down to defense/pitching, and I want Ethier, Jones and Kemp out there when we need them.

That was an awesome article in SI. It spelled it out analytically and there is no refuting that Ned is incompetent as a manager. Ned could not see that Andruw Jones strikes out too much and his OBP is dreadful while playing for Atlanta before he signed him to 18 million per year. If Scott Boras (the antichrist) could fool him so badly he has no business to be a big league manger. As the SI article states “Colletti seems more and more like someone promoted past his level, the Peter Bavasi Principle in action.”

Dodger fans are not doing themselves any good by booing Druw, not that he doesn't deserve it. Andruw might hit, and he might not, nobody knows for sure, but he's only played in 1 place his whole career and LA is a big change for him. He might do better if he's more comfortable and booing him is not the way to make him feel at home.

Ned is definately in way over his head.

I believe Mr. Winston Churchill must have been speaking of our beloved Andruw when he said, “A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” If not, maybe he was speaking of Frank's hiring of Ned...

Thanks for the link to the dailynews,com article you posted at 6:48 a.m., jhail.

It talks about Joe Torre's managing style of patient and selective hitting.
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I have been very frustrated with Torre's benching of Kemp and Ethier, and for those reasons have compared him to Grady Little. But this article shows that Torre has redeeming qualities as well, whereas Grittle had no redeeming qualities as a major league manager that I ever noticed.
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You're still in my doghouse, Joe. But as long as Matt Kemp continues to play virtually every day and you don't make any other inexplicable moves I might just let you out. (As if you care about my opinion.)

kahli,
To parapharase somebody, I thing Andruw is more like a riddle wrapped in a doughnut.

Make that a Twinkie wrapped in a doughnut.

LOL

jhall, thanks for that link. It explains a lot. I also agree about our lack of a true #1 starter. There are times when Penny looks like one, but when you've seen a Koufax or Hershiser or Valenzuela - there is a feeling of anticipation that a #1 gives you as he walks to the mound in the 1st inning. We don't have that yet. I do think Billz is getting there.

fliegel, I agree with you about booing Andruw. I've said before that I yell and scream at the TV all the time, but when at the ballpark I won't boo our own. I certainly understand everyone's frustration. I'm right there with them. I was very excited when we signed him. I'll let the umps have it when they deserve it and the other team is fair game, but I just don't feel it's right to boo a Dodger on the field. They're trying their best and could use our support. Perhaps if I could do better myself I would feel different, but never on my best day could I ever do what they do. I wouldn't deny anyone else their right to do as they wish - this is America, after all. That's just the way I feel.

A true #1 is worth his salt come playoff time when a short series demands excellence. That said, Jose Lima is our true #1 over the past 20 years. Kudos to ALL the Dodger GMs and scouts over that time period. Job NOT well done. But like Hersheiser, Koufax and Fernando, you have to grow your own. Billingsley?????? Ummmm, hurry up, Clayton!!!!!!!!!

Look for the 500,000th error in major league history this weekend. According to baseball-reference.com, there have been 499,921 to date.
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My wild guess is a throwing error by the National's Lastings Milledge in the fourth inning against the Marlins Sunday afternoon.

Mine is Pierre making a throw to the infield and the official scorer mistaking such a lame effort as an error...

Can't argue with that, kahli.

I know everyone is not pleased with the way Druw is swinging the bat right now, but maybe if he feels more comfortable and accepted, it will help him find his way back to what he was. It's true he's fat and out of shape, but as the season progresses he might lose some of the weight, either way it's not helping him, or the Dodgers by the way the fans are reacting. Druw's here for 2 years, so as fans we should do everything in our power to help him be productive, which is not booing him. He knows he's not getting the job done now , and booing him is just added pressure that he doesn't need. Just think how good this team will be if Andruw becomes himself again.

I'm sorry, but if you don't want to get booed making 18 mil/yr, why don't you get your *****. in shape in the offseason instead of coming to spring training looking like you've been spending all your millions at Krispy Kreme.

He's only 30!!!! He's too young to be so fat and out of shape.

Show us some will power and fight and slim down!!

Boos deserved I'm afraid.

Unfortunately fliegel, this may be Andruw being himself. No one can be that maladjusted to a change of scenery. I moved from CA to NM - there's a culture shock. I do think Druw will make it back to at least .200 to .225, but it does seem like another bad Ned move at this point in time.

I also have to defend peoples right to express their displeasure with their own. You get something bad at a restaurant, you send it back. Since you can't send Druw back, the only outlet is booing. Yes it probably puts added pressure on him mentally, but he can find solace in the $18 million ($30K per PA based upon 600 PAs) he's getting. As a big leaguer he's paid to perform, and as a paying customer you have the right to express displeasure when they don't. Seemed to me Bombko got booed rather lustily last year (I wasn't blogging last year - did anyone care?)

BTW all, not trying to pick on fliegel as a person or his opinions (he's one of the best posters on here), all above just my opinions.

Right, fliegel is just trying to be nice, no problems with that.

I think the problem with these high priced under producing players is GM's (Colletti mainly) handing over huge contracts without any bidding taking place. Was anyone else going to offer Jones anything near 18 mil/yr? Pierre 45 mil/5yrs?

Nomar 9 mil/2 yrs?

Patience, Ned, patience.

I still might be willing to risk Andruw (over Pierre) becoming himself at a mere .220 average if the glove doesn't deteriorate with the batting -then I would be having problems. I am not one to boo at Dodgers either (man everytime I try to spell that word, I spell ethier instead - lol!), but is it possible most are booing at the signing of the player vs. the player himself?
I sat in left field on a night Pierre was out there. They aren't so nice to him either (ethier - lol).

I actually prefer Ethier, Jones, Kemp and just bat Jones 8th until he picks it up. His defense is better than Pierre's no matter how much he weighs or doesn't hit.

I don't like Pierre's game. He'll have a good game here and there and help a little, but in the long haul, we need someone with a more all around game.

I agree E. I think he will at least get it turned around to his performance last year. Never thought I would wish for a .220 season with 20 bombs but right now I would take it from Jones. I just hope Joe ditches this batting him in the 2 hole crap. If he is still batting a buck and a half with no power in June, well, Dodger fans, we've got a problem!!

Aces have a whips below 1.10

Good point Jungar. That just about says it.

I believe Druw's contract has a huge part in the fact people boo him - here he makes more money in 2-3 plate appearances than most of the fans do in a year, and he's overwieght, out of shape, and can't hit the broadside of a barn. Disappointment + fat contract = booing. I do think that anyone that "performs" as Druw is right now gets booed no matter what the contract, but someone with a lesser contract would either be cut or optioned to the minors by now.

well said enchanted!

Sure wish there was a way that Dodger fans could publicly boo Ned the Furter.

Let's shade the Druw booing somewhat differently. Could it be that fans are expressing their displeasure with Ned for signing him to such a huge contract that is not paying off - as usual. The other thought related to Druw's age, supposedly 30, is that this would not be the first time that players' ages from the Carib islands have been misstated. He could just as easily be 32 and closing in on being on the backslide of his career.

BOO BOO BOO BOO BOO BOO BOO

That was for Frank and Furter. Frank for hiring him, and Ned for, well you know, everything.

Could be Bear. He looks around 40 right now.

Age and waist. LOL

Beanie and weinie.

The name game...

Let's do Ned.

Ned Ned dope head
Frank''s fun money's been bled
Free Agents always play dead
Yet nothing ever get's said
NED

Sorry for leaving Kuo out (I'm used to 7 names only).

LOL

YIKES! messagebear,

I have overlooked that possibility. Man, if he is really older, than we are screwed. Makes you wonder how plausible it was for a 19 year old kid to come out of nowhere and hit 2 bombs in his first 2 WS ab's....

enchanted, once again!! lol!

messagebear might be on to something

We kid because we love...

Dang, my nose just grew.

We're about due for one of the people who don't routinely chat here to drop in and tell us we are haters and whiners in a arrogant, snide manner.

I was just thinking the same exact thing, jhall - lol!
This group definitely thinks alike. We are just using our own versions of saying the same thing.
Play the best team!

As much as I hate seeing Druw flailing away, its time for JP to disapear again for awhile. He's much better as a spot starter. Play him too many games in a row and he reverts back to being Slappy.

Did anyone see that Mariners-Rangers fight, and Milton Bradley was the peacemaker? I think hell is about to freeze over!

Right on E!!

Hopefully Melton has grown up some. Talk about self-destructive behavior.

I demand equal time for Parker Bros.!!

LOL E. Sure wish this was like surviver and we could vote Ned off the island.

They were having fun with that on ESPN this morning - MB being the peacemaker.

have you guys seen this? it's a pretty funny analogy about the andruw jones situation =)

http://www.sonsofstevegarvey.com/2008/05/requiem-for-1977-ford-mustang.html

lol sara

http://mlntherawfeed.squarespace.com/minor-league-baseball/2008/5/9/los-angeles-dodgers-minor-league-report-mlbmilb.html

LMAO!! Thanks Sara.

sara,
read it the other night - lol!!

Of course we're going to leave the 69 Chevelle SS parked in the garage while we drive the Mustang and beater.

Thanks Sara - funny stuff !!

Since we're on the subject (kinda), its time to vote for Ned's all-time worst acquisitions:

Outfielders:
A) Gonzo
B) JP
C) Jones
D) Clark
E) Other

Infielders:
A) Nomore (redux)
B) Hillenbrand
C) Mueller
D) Martinez
E) Lugo
F) Other

Catcher:
A) Hill
B) Lieberthal
C) Diaz
D) Moeller
E) Other

Relief Pitcher:
A) Baez
B) Carter
C) Proctor
D) Hamulak
E) Other

Starting Pitcher:

A) Lurch
B) Sao
C) Bombko
D) Schidt
E) Erikson
F) Bloaiza
G) Wells
H) Other

Like the all-star ballot, vote early and vote often.

Gee, I had already forgotten most of those listed. Can we get McCourt's vote on the above, enchanted?

1. B
2. C
3. A
4. B
5. C

Jones , so far is the worst acquisition followed closely by Proctor & Bombko. However, jones does have a chance to right the ship before it completely rolls over. Any more weight and even it can't be saved.

E-All the above.

Ned gets my vote for all time worst acquisition by the Dodger organization.

What's really frightening is that the list of bad acquisitions could actually be longer...

B - what hasn't been covered here in the last year and a half?

E - just the sheer stupidity of that one makes it my choice

A - the others never got a significant chance to whine and underachieve

A - but Proctor's making a real run for it this year

C - even his own mother would've booed him.

Bombko and Schidt are a toss up. At least Schidt is on the DL not blocking someone better from getting a shot.

If you believe in the theory that the first two months you identify your needs, the next two months you address them, and the last two months you attempt to win a championship...then we are close to completing phase 1. Personally, I think the bench is a mess...not so much in talent but in make-up. It's like a little conglomerate of odds and ends with no real focus...you know, a guy out of options here, an salary-killing vet there...and the real horror is that the man who assembled this mess will be charged with rectifying it. Fasten your seat belts.

Or bend over...

Can I say that???

I'm with Jhall.

It's interesting, if the Dodgers were a publicly traded company with Ned as the CEO. The shareholders and board of directors would have fired him long ago. He also might face indictment for gross negligence and misappropriation of funds.

Outfielder - A B and C, but if I have to pick the best answer - my answer would be B - it's been said over and over and over

Starting Pitcher - F - I saw what he did in Oakland and I didn't like him then. Oakland didn't lose anything on that one.

The more I think about it the more I think they are all awful!

That's a darn long list of bad acquisitions for a 10 year career much less 2.

Enchanted's ballot:
Gonzo (blocked Ethier and was a crybaby)
Lugo (complete flop...I'll always remember him as the guy who finally made out after 4 consecutive home runs)
Bennett (E:Other...just the way he throws the ball back to the pitcher...Mackey Sasser 2)
Carter (he get anybody out in the few days he spent here before being demoted?)
Sao (no track record and crummy to boot)

Yep, Lugo was a total waste and even had the audacity to b*tch and whine about everything. "I'm a shortstop". Whah!! "I should play everyday". Whah!!! I still detest that t*rd.

Haven't Gonzo, Pierre and Jones all blocked Ethier in some way. As we are finding out now, Kemp could be playing CF.

I went with Mueller because Ned signed him for alot of money knowing his knees were toast and he played about 3 games. What a waste. And that kept us from getting a legitimate 3B.

Nelson, Yes!! And add Nomore to that list.

B Tomko
KC 1 3 4.98 7 6 0 0 0 1 34.1 39 20 19 2 0 11 21
Much to my surprise, only 2HR allowed.

M Hendrickson
FLA 5 1 3.56 8 8 0 0 0 0 48.0 46 24 19 3 3 14 20

BTW, did anyone in management think of having Hendy's eyes checked at any point in time? Lasik surgery seems to be doing the trick for him. Might've come in handy as a 5th starter this year - better than Esteban and Chan Ho.

Oh sorry, I forgot. We have Stan Conte.

Shea Hillenbrand is the epitome of Ned's signings. What a total piece of garbage and everyone in the world knew he was worthless - except Ned somehow. He's not even on a roster this season.

The fact that Ned was eyeballing Juan Castro, Wes Helms, and Brandon Inge are testimonies that he hasn't changed a bit this year.

Best Ned acquisitions:

Infield:
A) Furcal
B) Other

Outfield:
A) Ethier
B) Lofton
C) Other

Catcher: Anyone?

Relief Pitcher:
A) Saito
B) Other

Starting Pitcher:
A) Kuroda
B) Maddux
C) Other

Not a very long list eh?

Check Hendy's stats at the end of the season...he's had decent runs before early in the year - that's why Ned was suckered in to trading for him.

Yep, I can't figure Hendry. He did alright out of our bullpen but when he started it was almost Bombkoesque. Perhaps it goes back to something we have all thought about before. Rick Honeycutt. I'm not impressed with him.

Good point Scott. It will be interesting to see where Lurch finishes.
LOL. That is a short list.
Ferk
Ethier
None
Saito
Maddux so far, but most likely Kuroda by mid season. Wells also worked out well.

JP, AJ, Schidt, Bloaiza, Nomore, Mueller, Gonzo...

Ned misunderstood Frank's mandate to "Go for broke."

A
A
E
A
D

My comment on enchanted's list is that even when Ned made a decent pick with Lofton and Maddux, he didn't follow through and sign them for another season (in Lofton's case) or two in Maddux'. Had he done so, we wouldn't have had to sign Pierre nor probably Bloaiza. Ned just doesn't know which end is up even when he stumbles into a decent pick.

Wow, going thru that list and really thinking about it, it is amazing how inept Ned has been. My god. If he had just decided to do a deal or not by flipping a coin, he would have come out better.

You're right Bear. He had the answers right in front of his face and he just didn't see it. Basically he just needed some players to keep us competitive for a couple of years until the kids were ready from the start of his tenure. Lofton and Maddux would have done the trick and saved tons of dough and this current mess.

Enchanted's lists are very sad. Maybe those that drop their once-in-a-while two cents will see that list and realize there is reason for the whining/b*tching that goes on here.

Trying to play catch-up here. Just bought a '72 Chevelle.

That list is something to behold. I cannot vote anything bad for Hamulak. Anyone who drilled Barry Bonds is OK in my book.

Yep, the more you ponder it, the more unbelievable it becomes. Right now I am not sad or angry about it. I am just kind of numb and absolutely dumbstruck at his shear incompetence.

Did you really just get a 72 Chevelle Eric? Great car. My first car was a 69 Chevelle Malibu. I am contemplating getting another one.

2-1 Cubs, bottom 7. Let's go Cubs!!!

Pierre is the worse easily. A year after 50 million (first off, 50 million for JP) you don't even think he can play CF anymore. God forbid if Kemp and Jones were out, would Ethier be next, how about Repko, heck how about Furcal.

question, has any arm Ned has ever traded for last in the rotation or the season? and gosh those PVL infilders are all a toss up.

Yeah, jhall. I bought a '68 Chevelle back in '76. I think we all have at least one car that we wish we still had. That one was mine. I just fixed that regret.

I just had it looked at by a really good shop and they like it. I have the check in hand (it's still shaking, by the way) and I'm picking it up in about 5 hours. The body is straight and clean, cherry red with the wide white stripes, 350, Edelbrock manifold and carb, Hookers, dynaflow. I'm 21 again.

Totally Awesome!!!

Is it an SS?

Way to go Dodge!!!

Hey I saw I guy with a tricycle motorcycle this morning of which the two seat back end was made from the back half of an old Mustang. Its the desert, what can I say.

My favorite car was my '93 3000GT. I missed that car so I bought another one a few years ago but it wasn't the same. Somewhere along the line I got too old for getting in and out of a sportscar.

nice...eric!

I'll trade you my Hyundai Accent straight up.

BTW 3 to 1 Cubs now, bottom 8.

3000 GT's are fun.

Dated a girl with one.

Bases loaded, 2 out, bottom 8. Go Cubbies.

Man that stock engine could fly. Had it up to 115 once, but kinda chickened out after that.

We need pictures Dodge!!!

Thanks guys. No, it's not an SS. I can't afford those.

Yea, I know what you mean. I had the Chevelle up to 125 once and it scared me. I don't believe I ever went over 100 again. Now I don't even care about going fast. Just rapid acceleration. I also had a 89 Mazda MX-6 GT Turbo. That care would fly and handled great. Much better than the old muscle cars.