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About Jon
Thank You For Not ...

1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence

Betemit a Solution in Search of a Problem
2007-06-13 18:18
by Jon Weisman

Wilson Betemit now has the highest OPS+ and EQA among Dodger infielders except Olmedo Saenz. He has the highest on-base percentage among Dodger infielders except for Andy LaRoche. His slugging percentage is third among Dodger infielders behind Jeff Kent and Saenz.

He still does have a massive platoon split, I will admit.

* * *

Tonight's game:


Retro Gameday

Comments (460)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2007-06-13 18:30:30
1.   Eric Enders
That was the LAT of all LATs!

Anyway, what I was saying was...
I know you can't throw out one game, but still... more than half of Kershaw's earned runs this year were given up in one game. If you toss out the May 13 outing, his numbers for the year are 7-1 with a 0.77 ERA.

That's Lincecumesque. Or rather, you could say Lincecum is Kershawesque.

2007-06-13 18:32:29
2.   Hallux Valgus
from the previous:
302 That means there are now four regular players in MLB without a home run this year. Two of them are playing for the Dodgers tonight. Perhaps Ned is on the phone trying to acquire Sean Casey and Luis Castillo as we speak.

Funny, I was trying to come up with the baseball team I would find hardest to watch. Casey and Castillo both made my team, along with AJ Pierzynski, Ryan Freel, Chone Figgins, David Eckstein, Wily Taveras, and Pierre. Steve Trachsel was my starter.

What I'm saying is: don't joke like that.

2007-06-13 18:33:04
3.   Hallux Valgus
1 Hopefully not Lincecum today, though.
2007-06-13 18:34:10
4.   Eric Enders
3 Or he could be like Lincecum today, in that he causes the Giants to lose.
2007-06-13 18:45:49
5.   Hallux Valgus
re: interviews
Mike Moustakas > Matt Dominguez.

And Kevin Kennedy only wants to talk about Kevin Kennedy. No one cares when you were drafted, Kevin Kennedy.

2007-06-13 18:46:17
6.   Bob Timmermann
If Betemit isn't part of the solution, then he's part of the problem isn't he? So if he is part of a solution, then isn't he not a problem?
2007-06-13 18:48:27
7.   Bob Timmermann
Is Kevin Kennedy insisting that he's the greatest Taft High player ever?

Better than Robin Yount or Larry Dierker?

He isn't even better than Kelly Paris!

2007-06-13 18:48:48
8.   Curtis Lowe
The only way to fix Betemit is by getting Betemit!
2007-06-13 18:49:56
9.   Hallux Valgus
7 No, but he did make sure everyone knew he played with Yount. I still haven't figured out why he slipped that in.
2007-06-13 18:52:30
10.   PHilldodger
Thanks to Jon and all the posters here. I've been stuck in airports a good portion of the day trying to get back to Kansas City. Reading through the posts and comments caught me up rather quickly from the action with the Mets.
Although if I don't happen to be able to fly out of Vegas tonight, it won't be as disappointing as, say, San Bernardino.
2007-06-13 18:54:05
11.   Bob Timmermann
Going to Kansas City
Kansas City, here I come
There's some pretty little women there
And I'm gonna get me some
2007-06-13 18:56:22
12.   Lexinthedena
Is Steve Lyons as bad or worse than Steve Phillips?
2007-06-13 18:57:30
13.   Bob Timmermann
Steve Phillips is worse than Steve Lyons. I don't think it's close.

Lyons is a goofball. Phillips is a contemptible person and a goofball.

2007-06-13 18:59:27
14.   Hallux Valgus
Steve Phillips is an idiot. Steve Lyons is just a dork.
2007-06-13 19:00:17
15.   Lexinthedena
I agree....

Lyons doesn't take himself seriously....Phillips is slimey and talks out of his angus....

2007-06-13 19:00:58
16.   Curtis Lowe
Steve Lyons is an Idiot. Steve Phillips is a Moron and Joe Morgan is NSFW.
2007-06-13 19:02:34
17.   spacebrother
Judging by his picture on Gameday, Reyes needs a smaller hat size.
2007-06-13 19:03:09
18.   Lexinthedena
17-That's the style homes!
2007-06-13 19:03:50
19.   Bob Timmermann
I know this was more the fault of ESPN than Phllips, but the one year during the Winter Meetings when they had Phillips hold faux press conferences for each team telling what they needed to do, forever cemented Phillips in my brain as a guy who did not know what he was talking about. I don't know if he knew what any team needed help with.
2007-06-13 19:04:37
20.   trainwreck
I don't have a problem with Lyons. Yeah, he is too much of a goof sometimes, but at least he does not take himself too seriously.
2007-06-13 19:04:40
21.   CanuckDodger
As quite a few people are aware, the Yankees' Phil Hughes came into this year as the consensus best pitching prospect in baseball. After tonight, Kershaw has pitched as many low A games, 12, as Hughes had pitched at the time Hughes received a promotion to the next level, high A. After 12 games, here is Hughes' line, from 2005:

69.0 IP, 46 H's, 1 HR, 16 BB's, 72 K's, 1.92 ERA

Here are Kershaw's totals after the same number of games:

62.0 IP, 38 H's, 1 HR, 33 BB's, 82 K's, 1.89 ERA

Kershaw has given up slightly fewer hits per nine innings, he has been nearly equally hard to get a home run off of, as difficult to get a run off of period, and he strikes out more batters. The one area where Hughes has a big edge is in the walks department. I think the superior control Hughes demonstated may have played the biggest role in getting him promoted to the next level so quickly. I would keep Kershaw in low A till late July or August and make sure he has been throwing all his pitches for strikes over a good number of games before bumping him up.

2007-06-13 19:05:13
22.   trainwreck
lol that is exactly what I was thinking. Those were so incredibly stupid.
2007-06-13 19:05:26
23.   Jon Weisman
SOSG had an interesting duel on its site today. Rated PG-13.
2007-06-13 19:05:45
24.   Lexinthedena
19- That was pathetic....what a bad idea....I loved Jeremy Shapp "in character" asking the tough questions....
2007-06-13 19:06:13
25.   spacebrother
If that's the case, he needs to keep the stickers on it and wear it sidewayz like tha D-Train.
2007-06-13 19:06:56
26.   Eric Stephen
Who are the nominees for worst MLB announcer? Here's a list off the top of my noggin:

Steve Phillips
Hawk Harrelson
Rex Hudler
Steve Lyons
John Sterling
Tim McCarver
Rick Monday
Mark Grace
Thom Brennaman

2007-06-13 19:08:34
27.   trainwreck
Matt Vasgersian should be added.
2007-06-13 19:09:08
28.   Bob Timmermann
I always wondered how reporters like Olney and Kurkjian felt having to play act their own jobs.
2007-06-13 19:09:17
29.   Eric Stephen
Speaking of Phillips, this is another fault of ESPN, but did anyone see the other night (Monday?) on Baseball Tonight when Steve Phillips in a pink shirt debated Steve Phillips in a blue shirt?

It was truly awful TV.

2007-06-13 19:09:49
30.   trainwreck
Olney is lucky to have that job. Honestly, I have no idea what that guy brings to the table.
2007-06-13 19:10:11
31.   Hallux Valgus
Penny got a haircut
2007-06-13 19:11:36
32.   Bob Timmermann
He wrote for the New York Times when the Yankees won a lot of World Series so people saw his byline.

And he's named Buster.

2007-06-13 19:12:15
33.   scareduck
Bob, why do you think Phillips is a contemptible person?
2007-06-13 19:14:12
34.   Bob Timmermann
He does not strike me as a man with a lot of integrity and he's still trying to take credit for the Mets success now.
2007-06-13 19:15:04
35.   Hallux Valgus
26 I really really hate Jack Corrigan of the Rockies.
2007-06-13 19:15:51
36.   Bluebleeder87

Bob Uecker is on your good list then?

I've never heard him so i wouldn't know if he's good or bad.

2007-06-13 19:15:53
37.   Bob Timmermann
Niche hatred.
2007-06-13 19:16:45
38.   El Lay Dave
21 Excellent observation. Also note that Kershaw is only a few months older than Hughes was at the time of his performance.
2007-06-13 19:16:54
39.   Bob Timmermann
Bob Uecker as an announcer, as opposed to Bob Uecker doing comedy, is actually not bad.
2007-06-13 19:17:08
40.   Eric Stephen
I forgot to add George Frazier of the Rockies. He might be my least favorite color guy in baseball. At least he contributed to the 1981 World Series.
2007-06-13 19:19:19
41.   Hallux Valgus
39 Agreed. I enjoy Uecker's radio broadcasts.
2007-06-13 19:20:19
42.   MMSMikey
the mets always seem to score 1st against the dodgers. sosa is bound to slip up, im feeling good about this game.
2007-06-13 19:21:15
43.   Gen3Blue
Not too bad a start. I remember a few days ago some pitcher(maybe Lowe?) got through the first without trouble, and I thought I was watching the wrong game!
2007-06-13 19:21:35
44.   overkill94
26 In my book, that list begins and ends with Joe Morgan
2007-06-13 19:21:58
45.   El Lay Dave
As a former GM, Steve Phillips awful analyses are far more egregious than any ex-players. How shameless he must be to display at a daily frequency his utter incompetance for the relatively high-profile job he once held.
2007-06-13 19:22:48
46.   Gen3Blue
Come on ,take some pitches.At least Furcal got 4, not bad for him lately.
2007-06-13 19:24:29
47.   Hallux Valgus
45 I can't stand former GM's or coaches who offer insight like beginning, "what I used to do..."

If you were good at what you used to do, you wouldn't be a TV commentator now.

2007-06-13 19:24:47
48.   Gen3Blue
Well are top three got at least 10 pitches,
which is about what we can hope for.
2007-06-13 19:25:31
49.   overkill94
While I know I'm a bit late on this one, I didn't think this quote should be omitted from some of the discussion of the last thread:

- So then I said to Woody Allen, "Well, Camus can do, but Sartre is smartre!"
- Yeah, well, "Scooby Doo can doo-doo, but Jimmy Carter is smarter."

2007-06-13 19:25:35
50.   MMSMikey
did nomar break his bat on that grounder, or is that how everything sounds coming off his bat?
Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2007-06-13 19:26:29
51.   trainwreck
It works better in some sports. Such as basketball with Hubie Brown and Rick Carlisle.
2007-06-13 19:27:10
52.   trainwreck
"The most rewarding part was when he gave me my money."
2007-06-13 19:34:07
53.   Bluebleeder87

i don't know if your joking or not but the balls he hits don't seem to have the same pop they had last year.

2007-06-13 19:35:07
54.   Gen3Blue
This Sosa seems to have found some extremely nasty stuff.
2007-06-13 19:36:43
55.   overkill94
Are the balls wet tonight or something? Did someone subsitute a leather baseball for a rock? Sheez
2007-06-13 19:36:43
56.   El Lay Dave
54 I would love it if Honeycutt asked for Sosa to be frisked.
2007-06-13 19:40:46
57.   MMSMikey

yep. i think that ball kuo hit last night was hit harder than any ball nomar has struck this year.

2007-06-13 19:42:35
58.   Bluebleeder87

pasiensia amigo, in do time. one hopes.

2007-06-13 19:45:08
59.   Hallux Valgus
I was just about to type "Reyes on base with Penny's deliberate motion displeases me."

Penny looked like he was speeding up even from the stretch because he was worried about Reyes. That's why he chucked one in the dirt.

2007-06-13 19:46:06
60.   Bluebleeder87
what was that all about??
2007-06-13 19:46:19
61.   Hallux Valgus
Okay now I really want to know what Penny had to say to Green.
2007-06-13 19:46:49
62.   Curtis Lowe
60 - Long story.
2007-06-13 19:47:23
63.   Bluebleeder87
Looks like Penny went up to Green & they had some words, i don't think it unfriendly though. i don't know.
2007-06-13 19:47:44
64.   MMSMikey
da heck.
2007-06-13 19:49:21
57- The best analogy I can come up with is, Nomar seems to be using a paddle tennis racquet while everyone else is using a real racquet. Even when he hits the ball on the nose, the ball doesn't seem to be hit all that hard.
2007-06-13 19:49:23
66.   Hallux Valgus
Vin is offering more questions than answers. Someone send in A Martinez! He's the intrepid reporter we need right now.
2007-06-13 19:49:53
67.   MMSMikey
lay off those spin balls matt.
2007-06-13 19:49:59
68.   Gen3Blue
Well, at least it about the first time a D's Pitcher handled Green while I was watching. It was ticking me off because most of the times I watched Green as Dodger, the opposing pitchers seemed to handle him fine.
2007-06-13 19:50:38
69.   overkill94
Abreu's a pitch-taking machine
2007-06-13 19:51:31
70.   Curtis Lowe
Nice at bat by abreu
2007-06-13 19:51:40
71.   overkill94
There goes the no-no!
2007-06-13 19:51:52
72.   Bob Timmermann
I think Vin should be alerted that the Angels beat the Reds tonight and haven't lost two straight to the Redlegs.
2007-06-13 19:52:07
73.   Bluebleeder87
lay off those spin balls matt.

that's what i was afraid of, he's gonna swing at 'em & there gonna keep on throwing them. Hopefully he'll lay of of them next at bat.

2007-06-13 19:53:06
74.   MMSMikey
they will keep throwing them till he proves he can hit them. we know he can crush fastballs
2007-06-13 19:54:25
75.   Bluebleeder87

that's the thing though, they weren't even strikes i think.

2007-06-13 19:55:18
76.   MMSMikey
yeah they were down and away out of the strike zone.
2007-06-13 19:55:40
77.   Curtis Lowe
75 - He took three of em then swung at the 6th pitch which was really close to being a strike.
2007-06-13 19:56:01
78.   Frip
As a lip reader the best I can make of the Penny thing was "Sean you're insane for not using sunscreen, you gotta protect the skin." Green: "What are you talking about, I use it."
2007-06-13 19:56:39
79.   MMSMikey
of course. pierre has to be up right now.
2007-06-13 19:57:12
80.   Gen3Blue
Guess who's up
2007-06-13 19:57:43
81.   MMSMikey
takes 2 strikes.
2007-06-13 19:57:46
82.   Bluebleeder87

he also has to swing at the first pitch of course.

2007-06-13 19:58:10
83.   Gagne55
77 Gameday made the pitch that Kemp grounded out on look about a foot outside. Not that gameday is necessarily trustworthy.
2007-06-13 19:59:10
84.   Curtis Lowe
Stupid Wright.
2007-06-13 19:59:11
85.   Gagne55
btw, Sosa's odd/even year splits are amazing
2007-06-13 19:59:13
86.   MMSMikey
and we cant complain cause he actually hit a line drive.
2007-06-13 19:59:16
87.   natepurcell

not really, it was boderline.

2007-06-13 19:59:23
88.   JoeyP
The Pierre batting 8th experiment apparently didnt last very long.

83- It was.

2007-06-13 19:59:36
89.   Bob Timmermann
I hate it when one of Pierre's line drives gets wasted. Those are precious, nonrenewable resources!
2007-06-13 20:00:24
90.   Hallux Valgus
amazingly, advertising HD broadcasts by showing HD images on my no HD TV is less than ffective.
2007-06-13 20:00:26
91.   El Lay Dave
87 88 This is what we call a difference of opinion.
2007-06-13 20:01:18
92.   Bluebleeder87

he took 2? that's news he usessly swings at the first or 2nd pitch. nice line drive but caught by Wright.

2007-06-13 20:01:35
93.   Uncle Miltie
That was a nice at bat by Pierre. He hit the ball on the button, but right at Wright.
2007-06-13 20:01:48
94.   El Lay Dave
90 Tried and true formula though, remember color TV commercials when most everyone had B&W? Oh, you don't.....
2007-06-13 20:01:50
95.   MMSMikey
and pierre makes a rountine play difficult.
2007-06-13 20:02:15
96.   Gagne55
I'm confused. I don't know how 87 and 88 can both be true.
2007-06-13 20:03:37
97.   El Lay Dave
96 Now I understand why eyewitness testimony can be considered unreliable!
2007-06-13 20:03:51
98.   Bluebleeder87
yeah David Wright is pretty annoying with those base hits.
2007-06-13 20:05:28
99.   bhsportsguy
I'm surprised Wright didn't try to steal, thanks.
2007-06-13 20:05:58
100.   Bluebleeder87

matter of opinion Gagne55, that & gameday isn't very reliable.

Show/Hide Comments 101-150
2007-06-13 20:08:03
101.   MMSMikey
god nomar.
2007-06-13 20:08:14
102.   natepurcell

well theres always replay.

2007-06-13 20:11:24
103.   MMSMikey
russell has been fowuling off a lot of pitches the last 2 nights he normally will crush.
2007-06-13 20:12:04
104.   MMSMikey
2007-06-13 20:12:41
105.   Gen3Blue
I'm afraid you have to keep a bat like Abreu or someone near the top of the order because the terrible threesom is going to most surely kill us.
2007-06-13 20:13:47
106.   JoeyP
I got a feeling Martin's going to catch all 3 games of the Angels series, bc the Dodgers would rather have one of Ethier/Kemp/Saenz/Betemit/Loney bat in the DH spot instead of Lieberthal's.
2007-06-13 20:14:40
107.   Bluebleeder87

he seems to be pulling a lot of balls on the outside corner, he should just go with the pitch. Plus he's been striking out on outside breaking balls.

2007-06-13 20:15:58
108.   Hallux Valgus
106 Isn't the series in LA? No DH there.
2007-06-13 20:18:19
109.   JoeyP
Nvm 106--The Angels series at DS---I guess the following week in Tampa/Toronto the Dodgers might go with that. I hope Martin gets one of this weekend's games off though.
2007-06-13 20:19:13
110.   regfairfield
105 Coming into the game, Abreu was hitting worse than Furcal and had the lowest on base percentage on the team.

Small sample size, but it's pretty much the line I would expect out of him this year.

2007-06-13 20:22:05
111.   Hallux Valgus
To my eyes, Penny is working harder today than in starts past. His motion seems forced. Maybe a short game for him (although he doesn't really go late in general).
2007-06-13 20:24:22
112.   Greg Brock
My ISP went down, and now my PayPal account won't update properly. Enjoy DT Night everybody.


2007-06-13 20:24:55
113.   natepurcell
boom baby!
2007-06-13 20:25:00
114.   kadycee
He's at it again.
2007-06-13 20:25:05
115.   Greg Brock
Boom goes the Betemit.
2007-06-13 20:25:06
116.   Bluebleeder87
Betemit strikes again, YES!
2007-06-13 20:25:18
117.   Hallux Valgus
2007-06-13 20:25:38
118.   Uncle Miltie
Wilber is a beast. Wildebeest?
2007-06-13 20:25:48
119.   trainwreck
Boom goes the Betemit.
2007-06-13 20:25:58
120.   kadycee
The lights just dimmed in my house. I guess there's a power surge in LA...
2007-06-13 20:26:25
121.   bhsportsguy
114 There's my baking pal.
2007-06-13 20:26:31
122.   The Rabbits Rarely Loose
lets hope this is the begining of the end to Sosa's .200 BABIP
2007-06-13 20:26:40
123.   Hallux Valgus
2007-06-13 20:27:11
124.   Bluebleeder87
I wish i would have seen that Matt Kemp infield single live, the boy can flat out fly!
2007-06-13 20:27:14
125.   Gen3Blue
Man that Kemp is fast!! It was at least a tie.
2007-06-13 20:27:27
126.   Eric Stephen
Nice closing speed by Kemp
2007-06-13 20:27:33
127.   Hallux Valgus
I'm developing an unnatural love for Matt Kemp.
2007-06-13 20:27:36
128.   natepurcell
Betemits OPS+ is probably around 102 now.
2007-06-13 20:27:42
129.   bhsportsguy
He got to be the fastest guy on the team.
2007-06-13 20:27:42
130.   kadycee
121. I'm still eating those cookies, too. Apparently they haven't lost their magic.
2007-06-13 20:29:34
131.   Eric Stephen
128 It was already 112 before the game.
2007-06-13 20:29:50
132.   bhsportsguy
They are going to tire Matty out.
2007-06-13 20:30:28
133.   Eric Stephen
Do a lot of hit & runs get called with Abreu batting, or does Abreu just seem to swing on his own every time a Dodger attempts to steal?
2007-06-13 20:30:31
134.   bhsportsguy
131 Can someone send me an explanation of that stat.
2007-06-13 20:30:42
135.   Bluebleeder87
would it kill you to take a pitch Etanislao!!
2007-06-13 20:30:45
136.   natepurcell


2007-06-13 20:31:04
137.   Gen3Blue
110 Someone then--maybe Loney? The top three have been gruesome.
2007-06-13 20:31:22
138.   Greg Brock
Sosa's like the Latin Kevin Appier with that herky-jerky nonsense.
2007-06-13 20:32:31
139.   Bob Timmermann
From BR-bullpen:

An important modification of OPS is "Adjusted OPS" or "OPS+", which adjusts the OPS to account for the ballpark and the league that the player played in. In addition, the number is "normalized", so that the median is 100, with better-than-average scores above 100. A single-season OPS+ performance of 140 or higher could be considered a Hall of Fame level performance for that season. As an example, the 2006 American League leader in OPS+ was Travis Hafner, with a 183. In terms of career performance, the top 100 players have a career OPS+ of 136 or higher. includes "OPS+" among the stats that can be viewed for each batter, and some serious fans consider it the best quick way to get a sense of a batter's quality.

2007-06-13 20:32:59
140.   kadycee
2007-06-13 20:33:06
141.   MJW101
Betemit, Kemp and Gonzo are the only position players generating ANYTHING in June.

In June Betemit is slugging .636, exceeded only by Kemp's .700 (both admittedly a small sample). Gonzo is next at .600.

This would not be that important except the #1 Furcal, #2 JP, #3 Nomar and #4 Kent are ALL slugging under .333 and OPSing under .650 for June. It is amazing we are winning any games at all.

2007-06-13 20:33:26
142.   Bob Timmermann
I think someone here could spot you the cash for the ticket and trust you to pay them back.
2007-06-13 20:33:50
143.   JoeyP
Sosa made a mistake there with 1st base open and Pierre on deck.
2007-06-13 20:34:42
144.   Hallux Valgus
Deep fly by Pierre's standards! And then he screws it up.
2007-06-13 20:35:05
145.   Greg Brock
142 Nah. I procrastinated, the procrastination gods stopped procrastinating and punished me.

It's my fault. I'll buy a ticket and come over and say hi to everybody. It's okay.

2007-06-13 20:35:08
146.   MMSMikey
cant blame juan for that. knowing that nomar is only capable of hitting singles. he had to get into scoring position.
2007-06-13 20:35:51
147.   bhsportsguy
Kemp might have been there.

But another three run inning started by Wilson "I'm back in the lineup" Betemit.

2007-06-13 20:36:07
148.   The Rabbits Rarely Loose
Doesnt Pierre know my Grandmother could swipe a base off Loduca? in that case a single was as good as a double
2007-06-13 20:36:52
149.   Bob Timmermann
But you won't be sitting with the cool kids. Instead you will be sitting with the nerds and stoners. And possibly the emo kids.
2007-06-13 20:36:59
150.   Eric Stephen
128,136 Betemit is currently at .218/.359/.475.

If the adjusted league SLG and OBP are the same after today as after yesterday, Betemit currently sports a 120 *OPS+

Show/Hide Comments 151-200
2007-06-13 20:37:06
151.   bhsportsguy
145 If you are talking about the DT game, I have not bought the tickets yet, so unless Jon has done something without my knowing it, go ahead and buy one or let me know and I will spot you.
2007-06-13 20:38:23
152.   The Rabbits Rarely Loose
I miss those swings from Green which translate into groundballs to 2nd base
2007-06-13 20:38:39
153.   kadycee
What was that Penny-Green thing about?
2007-06-13 20:40:08
154.   bhsportsguy
153 We're not sure but I am sure Kevin Kennedy will recall a story when he was the Skipper and explain that he never liked his players to fraternize with the enemy.
2007-06-13 20:40:48
155.   underdog
I still have no idea what that Green-Penny chat was all about, even after that replay. Neither does Vin. Anyone else have a theory?

Belatedly, but does Betemit have an easy home run swing or what? He's got so much power from so little effort (Seemingly). And hey, Pierre with an RBI. And then a nice running grab (for once properly judging it).

2007-06-13 20:41:22
156.   Eric Stephen
And were you aware Kevin Kennedy was a former big league manager?
2007-06-13 20:41:35
157.   MMSMikey
the mets hit 2 hardballs last inning 1 deflected off penny to abreu, beltran hits a liner to pierre. and nomar comes up and rolls a 27 hopper up the middle.
2007-06-13 20:41:51
158.   JoeyP
If the Dodgers hold on to win tonight, they'll be 12-2 in Brad Penny's 14 starts this year.
2007-06-13 20:41:53
159.   Vishal
[153] the mets guys speculated that penny was talking to him about peeking at signs.
2007-06-13 20:42:02
160.   Bob Timmermann
So this Saturday, should I post a CONCACAF Gold Cup open chat thread on the Griddle?

Canada vs Guatemala is always heated.

2007-06-13 20:42:17
161.   underdog
I'm sure Ron Darling has a conspiracy theory to cover it though. And probably suggested a brushback pitch at Penny in that last inning (I wasn't listening, I'm just guessing).
2007-06-13 20:42:32
162.   bhsportsguy
156 I think he also was in the Dodger organization for many many years.
2007-06-13 20:43:11
163.   Gen3Blue
My grumbling about the top of the line-up surprisingly seemed to help. I know I get a bit raspy at times.
2007-06-13 20:45:21
164.   Eric Stephen
One of the few Dodger-related benefits of living in San Diego is my relative lack of exposure to Kevin Kennedy.
2007-06-13 20:45:26
165.   imperabo
That was a Juan Pierre floater.
2007-06-13 20:45:34
166.   underdog
Something's wrong with my MLBTV. It showed Garciaparra stealing a base.
2007-06-13 20:45:37
167.   MMSMikey
wow never seen russell swing and miss like this, on what seem to be very hittable pitches.
2007-06-13 20:46:41
168.   Greg Brock
Throw me away, Sosa.

Stupid running inside the baseline.

2007-06-13 20:47:07
169.   The Rabbits Rarely Loose
Bad call, he would have been safe!
2007-06-13 20:47:18
170.   overkill94
Is he out for getting in the pitcher's way while he was fielding it or because the ball hit him?
2007-06-13 20:47:19
171.   JoeyP
That was a savvy move by Martin had it worked.
2007-06-13 20:47:33
172.   Gen3Blue
I still find that rule hard to comprhend.
2007-06-13 20:47:54
173.   StolenMonkey86
172 - so does gameday
2007-06-13 20:48:06
174.   overkill94
Because there's no way he should be called out for the throw hitting him since he was, you know, just about to step on first base.
2007-06-13 20:48:13
175.   bhsportsguy
Do you walk Wilson?
2007-06-13 20:48:15
176.   Bluebleeder87
want a dummy!!! i would have kept Russell Martins helmet. Did you guys see that??
2007-06-13 20:48:23
177.   MMSMikey
i think russell is just a little frusterated he hasnt been swinging the bat all too well of late.
2007-06-13 20:48:28
178.   Hallux Valgus
160 You cannot stop DeMarcus Beasley.

Actually, Guatemala vs. anyone gets heated. Those guys play cheap. Mostly because they can't hit the back of the net at all.

2007-06-13 20:48:30
179.   underdog
Martin just lost his helmet when he tossed it up, that's hilarious. It never came down, landed on the dugout roof.

Russ has no real argument there.

2007-06-13 20:48:40
180.   JoeyP
Guess it always against the rules to run inside the baseline--although I'm sure other players do it and dont get called for it.
2007-06-13 20:48:44
181.   The Rabbits Rarely Loose
He got hit as he hit first base
2007-06-13 20:49:05
182.   Eric Stephen
According to Vin, Betemit is "full of ginger"

GEICO Caveman, do you have a response?

"Yeah...uh, what?"

2007-06-13 20:49:20
183.   kadycee
154. I can't wait.
2007-06-13 20:50:04
184.   neuroboy002
Someone please explain what's going on. No cable and my gameday stalled.
2007-06-13 20:50:28
185.   kadycee
156. who has apparently managed everyone playing in MLB today.
2007-06-13 20:50:43
186.   overkill94
It took a few different players, but I think Betemit finally got a fire lit under him
2007-06-13 20:50:52
187.   KAYVMON
Jon, how do you know Betemit was going to have a big night?
2007-06-13 20:50:53
188.   imperabo
There's our third baseman.
2007-06-13 20:51:06
189.   underdog
I think we may have found our third baseman, after an in-house search.
2007-06-13 20:51:13
190.   kadycee
well done!
2007-06-13 20:51:15
191.   Bluebleeder87

can you keep the helmet or do you do an exchange thing like when a bat gets tossed to the fans?

2007-06-13 20:51:20
192.   The Rabbits Rarely Loose
take that BABIP!
2007-06-13 20:51:24
193.   Hallux Valgus
I really hope this is more indicative of Betemit's ability. I really want to believe.
2007-06-13 20:51:25
194.   Eric Stephen
Instant Betemit update: .225/.364/.480, *OPS+ of around 123
2007-06-13 20:51:28
195.   Bob Timmermann
We need to get you an Old-Timey Dictionary of Phrases. I think I have one that my grandmother was given back in Nineteen Aught Eight.
2007-06-13 20:51:28
196.   JoeyP
175--Sosa's probably thinking he should have.

Thats 3 2-out RBI hits tonight.

2007-06-13 20:51:45
197.   Rob M
I think betemit will get another start on Friday.
2007-06-13 20:52:03
198.   underdog
Neuro, Nomar singled, stole second(!) on a busted hit and run, Martin dribbled out, and Betemit just lashed a hit up the middle to drive in Nomar, then made it to 2nd on the throw. 4-1.
2007-06-13 20:52:05
199.   Greg Brock
184 Martin got called out for running to first inside the baseline. Betemit got an RBI single, goes to second on the throw home.

4-1 Good Guys.

2007-06-13 20:52:39
200.   MMSMikey
kemp SMOKED that ball
Show/Hide Comments 201-250
2007-06-13 20:53:02
201.   overkill94
It's such a breath of fresh air to see guys hit the ball hard
2007-06-13 20:53:22
202.   Bob Timmermann
It's only illegal to run outside the 3-foot lane between home and first IF you interfere with a throw by doing so.

If you hit a ball in the gap, you can run up the line just about any way you like.

2007-06-13 20:53:38
203.   imperabo
Whoever instucted the Dodger hitters to try hitting the ball hard is a genius.
2007-06-13 20:53:39
204.   KAYVMON
How long before Vin starts doing the thing with Kemp that he does with The Killer Tomato? "I just can't understand why they keep throwing him fastballs."
2007-06-13 20:53:41
205.   JoeyP
Should be an error on Reyes.
Sosa's regression to the mean happened tonight.
2007-06-13 20:54:04
206.   underdog
And Kemp just lashed a single up the middle too. I love these kids, confarnit.

195 I like to read that after I get back from my weekly ether frolics or while having a phosphate at the 5 and dime.

2007-06-13 20:54:29
207.   bhsportsguy
184 Nomar singled.
Gonzo flied deep to right.
Nomar stole second on a busted hit and run play.
Martin out because he ran out of the baseline.
Betemit, after being down 0-2, singled in Nomar and took second on the throw.
Betemit scored on a generous hit call (good for Kemp) because he hit a hard ground ball off Reyes glove.

Sosa going out.

2007-06-13 20:54:31
208.   Eric Stephen
195 "My story begins in nineteen-dickitty-two! We had to say 'dickitty' because the Kaiser had stolen our word 'twenty'!"

-Abraham Simpson

2007-06-13 20:54:38
209.   overkill94
194 IsoBetemit doesn't really roll off the tongue, how about IsoMeat? Sounds like something you could find at Whole Foods.
2007-06-13 20:54:55
210.   Greg Brock
200 At the game on Sunday, kemp was butt out fooled on a fastball away and roped a one hopper into the 5/6 hole. Almost any other guy tries to pull that and rolls a 36 hopper to the shortsop.

That kid is strong.

2007-06-13 20:55:38
211.   trainwreck
Everybody dance now!!
2007-06-13 20:56:28
212.   Rob M
I think betemit will get another start on Friday.
2007-06-13 20:56:34
213.   underdog
Even the umpires are catching balls better than the Mets tonight.
2007-06-13 20:56:51
214.   natepurcell
yes, we're probably going to win!
2007-06-13 20:57:00
215.   Hallux Valgus
this= awesome
2007-06-13 20:57:06
216.   Gen3Blue
Bisons running free
2007-06-13 20:57:21
217.   Greg Brock
Hit parade.

210 was an offspeed pitch, not a fastball.

2007-06-13 20:57:21
218.   Eric Stephen
The Dodgers should just do this every night. It's so much cooler.
2007-06-13 20:57:28
219.   imperabo
Kemp runs like he's falling down a cliff.
2007-06-13 20:58:04
220.   underdog
HA! As they say on Bronx Banter. Beltran's play in CF is almost making me not so down on Pierre. (ALMOST.)
2007-06-13 20:58:08
221.   Johnny Nucleo
Abreu is a doubles machine.
2007-06-13 20:58:31
222.   Eric Stephen
Penny with 69 pitches through 6. I smell complete game.
2007-06-13 20:59:21
223.   underdog
Ahem. Who's turn is it to bake cookies for us tonight?
2007-06-13 20:59:21
224.   bhsportsguy
Kemp hit a ball 470 feet last night, since then he has three hits on three ground balls that have been fielded or at least touched by an infielder.
2007-06-13 21:00:11
225.   Gen3Blue
I've been tough on Penny, but he is good this year. He has 69 pitches though 6. Not bad.
2007-06-13 21:00:16
226.   bhsportsguy
223 I think Kady is overcome with 6 runs in 2 innings.
2007-06-13 21:00:31
227.   underdog
Whose, rather. Sigh. I need cookies.

224 Just like a bison - power and, when needed, speed.

2007-06-13 21:01:16
228.   bhsportsguy
You are a good team, you are a good team.

Personally I think he gave them all rides on his motorcycle after the game.

2007-06-13 21:01:28
229.   LeeLacy
On Monday, Betemit finally surpassed .200 for the first time this season.

Now that that barrier has been obliterated, the sky's the limit!

2007-06-13 21:02:15
230.   bhsportsguy
227 Are they ready to bring back Russ Ortiz since the kid has gotten beat up a couple of times.
2007-06-13 21:02:21
231.   Greg Brock
277 You were right the first time. Roger Daltry is over here making some monster double fudge chip cookies.
2007-06-13 21:03:37
232.   KAYVMON
You know guys, tonight might be one of those so-called "tipping points". I'm getting text messages from friends saying things like, "Cavemon, you're right, these kids are ready to play" AND "It just wouldn't be right to trade Nomar, BUT..."
2007-06-13 21:03:53
233.   trainwreck
Brock can see into the future.
2007-06-13 21:04:44
234.   Eric Stephen
277? Greg Brock can tell the future!

No ticket to DT Day, huh? What do you know that we don't???!!!

2007-06-13 21:05:32
235.   Frip
154 - What was the Penny-Green thing about?


Funny, so true.

2007-06-13 21:06:22
236.   Greg Brock
233 Grrrr...

Remember that Spring Training picture of Penny, lookin' all twiggy and whatnot? Did he gain it back or is the camera adding many, many pounds?

2007-06-13 21:06:22
237.   neuroboy002
I quietly at dinner in the dark only to comeback and see that the younger generation make an impact in the 6th frame. Is it wrong to say I'm part of the "sit Garciaparra down" march and chowder society? Now let's see more of Loney!
2007-06-13 21:06:39
238.   trainwreck
He's one of those Heroes.

Kill him!

2007-06-13 21:06:47
239.   Hallux Valgus
my paypal account continues to refuse my attempts to log in.
2007-06-13 21:08:00
240.   StolenMonkey86
236 - dunno. How many cameras did he swallow?
2007-06-13 21:08:38
241.   Gagne55
If Ledee reaches, it's hook time.
2007-06-13 21:09:23
242.   Bob Timmermann
I'm afraid that's not the correct usage of "marching and chowder society."

They aren't advocacy groups. You could form a James Loney Marching and Chowder Society, but the Supreme Court ruled in the case of Barry Sucks Marching And Chowder Society v Selig, 720 US 312, that a "Marching and Chowder Society" must be used in a positive, not negative tone.

2007-06-13 21:10:19
243.   underdog
Those pitches sure aren't missing by much. If at all.
2007-06-13 21:10:21
244.   Bluebleeder87
i'm still trying to figure out why in the world would you throw Valentin off speed stuff.
2007-06-13 21:11:11
245.   bhsportsguy
242 But if Wilson is going to keep getting basehits, its fine by me if he is filled with ginger.
2007-06-13 21:11:18
246.   Gagne55
Whew, Penny got out of it. But he is at 91 pitches so that is probably it for him. A solid 7 innings though.
2007-06-13 21:12:16
247.   kadycee
226. yeah that, and I just had an ice cream sandwich. The faded memory of a cool-a-coo fluttered through my mind...
2007-06-13 21:12:56
248.   Greg Brock
240 Nice. Very nice.

Furcal is stealing all of Jose Reyes triples.

2007-06-13 21:13:22
249.   kadycee
2007-06-13 21:13:22
250.   Eric Stephen
My head is full of images of Mary Ann

Furcal is the inverse Magic Johnson.

Show/Hide Comments 251-300
2007-06-13 21:13:45
251.   kadycee
I wish I was there tonight
2007-06-13 21:14:10
252.   underdog
That whole Grady Little telling the team, "You're a good team, you're a good team" - especially as Vin told it - reminded me of Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein, telling the monster, "This is a good boy, this a GOOD boy, such a good boy..."

Another triple for Raffy, wow! So much for worrying about him.

2007-06-13 21:14:42
253.   kadycee
231. beware of what's in them
2007-06-13 21:14:58
254.   bhsportsguy
So what our the Mets guys saying now?
2007-06-13 21:15:54
255.   Gen3Blue
They are walking Nomar!! allright.
2007-06-13 21:16:12
256.   Bob Timmermann
4th time a Dodger has had two triples in a game at Dodger Stadium.
The other three:
2007-06-13 21:16:14
257.   StolenMonkey86
Feliciano intentionally K's Nomar. Take it.
2007-06-13 21:16:48
258.   scareduck
252 - weirdly streaky, though.
2007-06-13 21:16:50
259.   Gen3Blue
What a bonehead play.
2007-06-13 21:16:56
260.   Bluebleeder87
Met's blog must be going bananas right about now. wow.
2007-06-13 21:17:26
261.   kadycee
the baseball gods are on our side tonight
2007-06-13 21:17:39
262.   StolenMonkey86
260 - Now I'm gonna grab a banana
2007-06-13 21:17:41
263.   underdog
He looked like Jose Feliciano on that play.
2007-06-13 21:18:06
264.   bhsportsguy
252 The other night I caught the blind man scene in Young Frankenstein and Gene Hackman is so good in that scene. For years I never knew what he meant when he said he was going make espresso. (Now my 7 year old niece knows what a nonfat vanilla iced latte is but I was a deprived kid)
2007-06-13 21:18:09
265.   Bob Timmermann
Only the 10th time in Dodger Stadium's history someone hit two triples in a game:

2007-06-13 21:18:26
266.   Gen3Blue
Repko!! Sax +Rusell
2007-06-13 21:18:46
267.   scareduck
Mets got (arguably) jobbed on that call, if you believe in area code plays. Reyes had control of the ball but blew it pulling the ball out of his glove. Ump wasn't going to give him the area code play at second with a sloppy transfer.
2007-06-13 21:19:27
268.   scareduck
265 - Bob, you are my hero.
2007-06-13 21:19:31
269.   neuroboy002
242 But I thought sitting Nomar down was a positive? Perhaps the thought falls along the lines of when Homer was trying to spread religion to some natives:

Bart: Dad, are you licking toads?
Homer: I'm not not licking toads. Well, it's time to get to work.

2007-06-13 21:20:12
270.   spacebrother
Does the stadium "security" confiscate brooms?
2007-06-13 21:20:30
271.   underdog
264 Hah. I love that scene and that movie.

"Some varm milk? Ovaltine perhaps?"

2007-06-13 21:21:30
272.   Gold Star for Robot Boy
265 - Bob, isn't BB-Ref's P-I fun?
So far, I've researched Jim Rice's game-ending GIDPs, which players have had seasons of at least 100 BB, K, R and RBI (Jim Thome leads the list), and how many times the '07 Dodgers have left the bases loaded.
2007-06-13 21:22:13
273.   Marty
264 Cigars!

Don't inhale until the tip glows.

2007-06-13 21:22:26
274.   Bob Timmermann
There have been 10 2-triple games in Anaheim and all but one of them have been by players who were not particularly famous.
2007-06-13 21:22:48
275.   Gen3Blue
I can feel for the Mets. We have had days like these. Last year in fact. And nothing can prepare you for its persistance. It will pass.
But the way everything was falling for the Mets and the way their fans take it for granted make it almost satisfying.
2007-06-13 21:23:12
276.   Gold Star for Robot Boy
Martin's cooled off as of late.
2007-06-13 21:23:17
277.   bhsportsguy
I'd quote from Blazing Saddles but this is a family site.

Oh, okay.

Hello boys.

2007-06-13 21:23:31
278.   Bob Timmermann
Brooms are specifically listed among prohibited items at Dodger Stadium.
2007-06-13 21:23:39
279.   Robert Fiore
What an awful night to be a Mets fan. You gotta feel for them.
2007-06-13 21:24:22
280.   scareduck
277 - now, do you feww wefweshed?
2007-06-13 21:24:22
281.   MMSMikey
we have suffered long enough. i can feel for cubs fans. thats about it.
2007-06-13 21:24:38
282.   Gen3Blue
Penny for the eighth. Why not?
2007-06-13 21:24:42
283.   spacebrother
A whisk perhaps?
2007-06-13 21:25:05
284.   Gold Star for Robot Boy
274 - Luis Polonia is famous... among law-enforcement types, anyway.
2007-06-13 21:25:19
285.   spacebrother
I meant 278.
2007-06-13 21:25:22
286.   spacebrother
I meant 278.
2007-06-13 21:25:23
287.   spacebrother
I meant 278.
2007-06-13 21:25:49
288.   Bluebleeder87


2007-06-13 21:27:33
289.   kadycee
2007-06-13 21:28:05
290.   kadycee
Speaking of Young Frankenstein - couldn't they do a remake with Beimel as the monster?
2007-06-13 21:28:46
291.   Bob Timmermann
Jimmy Sheckard is the last Dodger to have three triples in a game.

But that was 106 years ago.

2007-06-13 21:29:28
292.   bhsportsguy
290 Is that a comment on his appearance or his past late night activities?
2007-06-13 21:29:43
293.   Bluebleeder87
It's pretty nice that the Dodgers rest tomorrow so Russell can get a well deserve day off. From what i understand he caught more innings then any catcher in the NL(?)
2007-06-13 21:29:52
294.   kadycee
It's so cool the Dodgers were around 106 years ago.
2007-06-13 21:30:40
295.   kadycee
292. well, appearance. I'm not sure how good Peter Boyle could pitch.
2007-06-13 21:30:43
296.   scareduck
260 - nah, the Mets bloggers have all gone to bed. It's 12:30 and the Metropolitans are getting creamed.
2007-06-13 21:31:13
297.   Greg Brock
291 Were they the Superbas or the Bridegrooms or the Robins then?

I still like Superbas. Bridegrooms, not so much.

2007-06-13 21:31:42
298.   kadycee
293. The Dodgers have not yet won a game when Lieberthal plays - or did I miss one? That can't be good for one's self esteem.
2007-06-13 21:32:14
299.   Jon Weisman
if you still want to go to DT Night, no problem. Just e-mail me and I'll hold a spot.
2007-06-13 21:33:19
300.   bhsportsguy
Stay tuned if you have Prime Ticket because I am sure we will get this interview:

Reporter: Brad, nice game, what happened between you and Green after you struck him out?
Penny: Nothing.
Reporter: Well you said something didn't you?
Penny: No.
Reporter: I am sure I saw you speak to him.
Penny: I'm done.

Show/Hide Comments 301-350
2007-06-13 21:33:41
301.   Bob Timmermann
The Dodgers were around 123 years ago, but the team will just say they've been around 117 years.

This perturbs me and likely no one else.

2007-06-13 21:33:56
302.   underdog
I'm not sure how well Peter Boyle could do anything right now. Alas.

Beimel would be better cast in Lord of the Rings or something.

2007-06-13 21:34:50
303.   bhsportsguy
The future is now.
2007-06-13 21:34:52
304.   Daniel Zappala
I was curious about this, and it turns out there is quite a long list of umpires who were formerly players:

There are even 300 cases when an active player substituted as an ump, the last occurring in 1978.

2007-06-13 21:35:39
305.   underdog
I used to mispronounce that as "Super-bas" - like they were named after some sort of powerful sheep.

Billy Wagner obviously needed some work...

2007-06-13 21:36:49
306.   underdog
Can this Kemp kid play or what?
2007-06-13 21:38:54
307.   scareduck
305 - whose principal rivals were the Super Humbugs.
2007-06-13 21:39:06
308.   Bluebleeder87
Can you imagine if Kemp squares off a Wagner fastball. Whoa!!
2007-06-13 21:39:15
309.   Bob Timmermann
The Dodgers have won 3 games in which Lieberthal has appeared.

The last one was on April 29, the 14 inning win over the Padres.

2007-06-13 21:39:39
310.   kadycee
301. But why - do they say that I mean? I find it perturbing as well.
2007-06-13 21:40:24
311.   MMSMikey
making his case!
2007-06-13 21:40:34
312.   kadycee
302. He'd make a good orc I guess.
2007-06-13 21:40:38
313.   scareduck
This Loney kid -- I think I like him.
2007-06-13 21:40:41
314.   Gen3Blue
No power Loney!
2007-06-13 21:40:48
315.   Greg Brock
I love these kids.

Tears. Tears of joy. Can't speak...Should have sent a poet...

2007-06-13 21:40:48
316.   Bob Timmermann
The Dodgers as a team only count team records from when they joined the National League and don't recognize their six seasons in the American Association.
2007-06-13 21:40:48
317.   bhsportsguy
An L Bomb for Loney.
2007-06-13 21:40:49
318.   Eric Stephen
Loney HRs = Nomar HRs
2007-06-13 21:40:57
319.   trainwreck
Loney Booomb!!!!!
2007-06-13 21:40:59
320.   Bluebleeder87
Loeny, i'm knocking at the door Nomar can you hear me.
2007-06-13 21:41:18
321.   kadycee
2007-06-13 21:41:22
322.   JoeyP

Off Billy Wagner no less!

2007-06-13 21:41:27
323.   dkminnick
With a bench of Kent, Pierre, and Garciaparra this team cannot be stopped!
2007-06-13 21:41:29
324.   Michael D
Trade Nomar.
2007-06-13 21:41:38
325.   neuroboy002
James Loney March and Chowder Society. Please join.
2007-06-13 21:41:44
326.   underdog
Oooooohhhhh... my. That was truly sweet. Just to see Loney power up like that, wowsa.
2007-06-13 21:42:02
327.   kadycee
I would feel sorry for the Mets if the Dodgers hadn't had games like this. Also, I enjoy schadenfreude.
2007-06-13 21:42:07
328.   bhsportsguy
I actually do feel for any fantsy owner that has Wagner, I would be very upset at Willie for bringing him in.
2007-06-13 21:42:25
329.   Bob Timmermann
The only way Furcal could have gotten a triple on that play is if Wright threw his glove at the ball.
2007-06-13 21:42:38
330.   kadycee
Nomar must be starting to feel kind of sad right now...
2007-06-13 21:42:55
331.   the OZ
I would be so happy to read "James Loney homers on a fly ball to right field. Matt Kemp scores." on Gameday for the next ten years.
2007-06-13 21:43:13
332.   bhsportsguy
Derek Lowe is saying please save some of this for me on Friday. Please.
2007-06-13 21:43:14
333.   Bob Timmermann
Thank you. When will you be serving the chowder?
2007-06-13 21:43:25
334.   kadycee
307. I'm going to call the Giants that from now on.
2007-06-13 21:44:40
335.   JoeyP

New lineup!

2007-06-13 21:44:45
336.   Gen3Blue
A lot of players hit better when they move from triple A to the Bigs, and I hope Kemp and Loney are some. I remember the year Lynn and Rice came up to Boston and both had better stats than they had in AAA.
2007-06-13 21:45:04
337.   kadycee
316. Oh. That's dumb.
2007-06-13 21:45:12
338.   neuroboy002
333 As soon as you start pronouncing right. Say it Frenchy - "showdeeuuuuurrrr."
2007-06-13 21:45:16
339.   scareduck
If you're happy and you know it
Read the score
2007-06-13 21:45:58
340.   LeeLacy
Other Dodgers with as many home runs as Nomar:
Hong Chih Kuo and Jason Schmidt.
2007-06-13 21:46:08
341.   underdog
Well someone told me yesterday
That when you hit the ball away
You act as if you don't care
You look as if you're going somewhere

But I just can't convince myself
I couldn't start no one else
And I can only play that part
And sit Nomar on the bench

So loney
So loney
So loney
So loney

(Apologies to Sting and everyone)

2007-06-13 21:46:38
342.   kadycee
335. Excellent.
2007-06-13 21:46:57
343.   scareduck
316 - perhaps that "Beer and Whiskey League" thing would put them at odds with their catering service people.
2007-06-13 21:47:48
344.   Gen3Blue
290 Can he sing "putting on the Ritz in falsetto?
2007-06-13 21:48:27
345.   underdog
Now they can bring Tomdrickson in and I won't worry. As much.
2007-06-13 21:49:14
346.   Daniel Zappala
304 To make that relevant, maybe Pierre and Nomar can become substitute umpires.
2007-06-13 21:49:17
347.   kadycee

This is for all the Loney people
Thinking that life has passed them by...
Don't give up until you
drink from the silver cup
and ride that highway in the sky...

My apologies to America (that old group from the 70s that was on the radio all the time when I was little. In case you didn't know).

2007-06-13 21:49:37
348.   Greg Brock
Get your gloves ready in the pavilions, kids.
2007-06-13 21:49:58
349.   underdog
Now they bring Lieberthal in.
2007-06-13 21:50:39
350.   Gen3Blue
Tomk-O instead of Sait-O. I hope it works.
Show/Hide Comments 351-400
2007-06-13 21:50:42
351.   underdog
347 Nice. We could probably do a lot of these.
2007-06-13 21:50:46
352.   Hallux Valgus
348 you shut your dirty mouth
2007-06-13 21:51:11
353.   kadycee
344. ha ha. I'd like to see that, actually.
2007-06-13 21:51:25
354.   Gold Star for Robot Boy
347 - Ah yes, the band that sang "Ventura Highway." Not "Ventura *Free*way."
2007-06-13 21:51:26
355.   scareduck
347 -

It's Ned Colletti's Loney Heart Club Fans
We hope that you will like the Show
Ned Colletti's Loney Heart Club Fans
Sit back and let the homers go

2007-06-13 21:51:32
356.   JoeyP
One of Tomko/Hendrickson will be gone when Marlon Anderson is activated I hope.
2007-06-13 21:51:35
357.   LeeLacy
Very nice.
He's really been a Demolition Man.
2007-06-13 21:51:44
358.   Hallux Valgus
Abreu is far better at second than the mustachioed one.
2007-06-13 21:51:54
359.   kadycee
WHY is Tomko still a Dodger? Why doesn't he just go away. Somewhere. Anywhere. Maybe the Mets can take him with them.
2007-06-13 21:53:16
360.   Hallux Valgus
2007-06-13 21:53:17
361.   Lexinthedena
Wow....just got in....see that Betimit homered to center....last night was an Oppo.....good signs.....

Man, exciting stuff.....

2007-06-13 21:53:44
362.   Gen3Blue
We Win--and to think I was pessimistic about this series.
2007-06-13 21:54:27
363.   kadycee
swept by the dodgers for the first time since 1996? wow.
2007-06-13 21:54:41
364.   Greg Brock
We win.


2007-06-13 21:54:50
365.   JoeyP
Youngsters played great tonight and the Dodgers rarely lose when Brad Penny starts.

3-1 since Kemp/Loney have been on the roster.

2007-06-13 21:55:07
366.   MMSMikey
i love furcal interviews.
2007-06-13 21:55:39
367.   kadycee
Kent and Nomar - there's probably a place for them at the La Brea tar pits. I'd go see them THERE.
2007-06-13 21:55:45
368.   MMSMikey
hahaha "no, i dont know what they talking about"
2007-06-13 21:55:54
369.   JoeyP
Is their a reason that Marlen Garcia says the question in spanish, then repeats in english?
2007-06-13 21:56:15
370.   underdog
359 Actually, I think Tomko can serve as a decent mop-up and long reliever. I don't know why exactly, but I trust him more there than Hendrickson at this point. But definitely not as a starter and, yeah, we're not gonna need both.
2007-06-13 21:56:35
371.   kadycee
362. Hey, I was told only Greg Brock said that...

We win! There, I did it too.

2007-06-13 21:57:15
372.   kadycee
369. To annoy us
2007-06-13 21:58:03
373.   kadycee
370. Actually, I think he'd just make a decent mop.
2007-06-13 21:58:13
374.   Xeifrank
after tonight's game, Wally Pipp might be out of a job. vr, Xei
2007-06-13 21:58:23
375.   Bluebleeder87
Nice sweep. The Angel series is gonna be tuff though.
2007-06-13 21:59:25
376.   Xeifrank
The Dodgers helped regress Sosa's BABIP against back towards the mean a bit this evening. vr, Xei
2007-06-13 21:59:50
377.   Bob Timmermann
Because not everyone is bilingual.

Why are Spanish speaking players expected to speak English while guys like Saito and Kuo use interpreters?

Lamentably, this is the double standard.

2007-06-13 21:59:55
378.   underdog
Well, we just got the broom out, might as well get the mop out too. And Kent's mustache grooming comb. And other cleaning supplies.
2007-06-13 22:01:43
380.   Bluebleeder87
Steve Lyon just gave an explanation on what when down with Green & Penny, apparently Green & David Wright were stealing signs.
2007-06-13 22:03:15
381.   bhsportsguy
380 I wonder if that was why on that strikeout pitch to Green he threw a high fastball though Russell was setting up down and in.
2007-06-13 22:03:29
382.   kadycee
377. It would be nice if Saito spoke some English. I'd like to hear from him directly instead of through and interpreter (and I don't think I'll be attempting to learn Japanese anytime soon, unfortunately).
2007-06-13 22:04:01
383.   JoeyP
379--Thats pretty funny. It'll be great if the Mets get swept by the red-hot Yankees this weekend.
2007-06-13 22:04:46
384.   Bob Timmermann
When Jimmy Sheckard had his 3 triples game for the Dodgers it was on Opening Day, 4/18/1901. But the New York Times boxscore didn't list Sheckard with any triples.

But the boxscore was wrong. The Brooklyn Eagle gave Sheckard three triples. Sheckard, who normally played the outfield, was tried out at third base to start the season.

He fielded .721 in 12 games and was sent back to the outfield.

The Dodgers even tried Willie Keeler at third base in 1901. And he was left-handed.

2007-06-13 22:05:04
385.   Bluebleeder87
ah how cute! Steve Lyons is wearing a vote for Russell button.
2007-06-13 22:05:40
386.   bhsportsguy
It took only two segments before he mentioned managing and Nolan Ryan too.
2007-06-13 22:06:08
387.   JoeyP
382--Didnt Nomo pitch in the US for like 12 years and never once bothered to learn english and give an interview?

Although, its possible he just didnt like giving interviews so he used the 'dont speak english' thing as an excuse. In fact, I think I read a few times where Nomo's teammates would say he knew english fine, but just didnt want to be interviewed.

2007-06-13 22:06:47
388.   kadycee
385. Where can we get those?

386. That's showing some restraint for him

2007-06-13 22:07:53
389.   kadycee
387. Actually, didn't Fernando neglect the use of English (though some thought he could understand and just chose not to)?
2007-06-13 22:09:03
390.   Bob Timmermann
Saito likely speaks English about as well as Furcal speaks English. But the Japanese are just very shy about speaking with an accent or saying the wrong words.

I have two friends from Japan, a husband and wife who met at Penn, and both have written books in English and they are constantly apologizing for their "poor" English.

When I get Spanish callers at work, I just push on through with my Spanish, which is far from fluent, but no one complains.

A bilingual beat writer for a paper should have a big advantage over other reporters.

2007-06-13 22:09:14
391.   Some Guy in San Diego
If I remember correctly, Nomo knew quite a bit of english, but preferred to be interviewed with a translator. Not necessarily because he didn't like interviews, more because he was self-conscious of his accent and because he wanted to make sure he didn't mess up an answer.
2007-06-13 22:09:16
392.   Jon Weisman
379 - Quoting a Rule 1 violation from another site doesn't prevent it from being a Rule 1 violation.
2007-06-13 22:09:50
393.   Bluebleeder87

my sisters use to say that a lot, i was just joking.

2007-06-13 22:10:05
394.   Lexinthedena
387-John Ireland was on the radio once saying that Nomo spoke better english than his interpreter....

Mets fans are going nuts....Hope Kuo becomes extra hated in Queens...the more they hate guys, the greater they become....

2007-06-13 22:11:29
395.   kadycee
390. Interesting. I don't blame them. I feel very self-conscious when I attempt one of the 3 languages I've started to learn but never finished...
2007-06-13 22:12:45
396.   Bob Timmermann
Remember that Sammy Sosa got a lot of grief from people for using an interpreter when Congress called him in to testify under oath. But it made sense to me. Why mess up what you're going to say when Congress can go and slap a perjury charge on you? It's one thing to joke around with the press, but you don't want to mess with Congress. They have much less of a sense of humor.
2007-06-13 22:14:01
397.   kadycee
394. Seriously, the interpreters are far more annoying than an accent or awkward English. Too bad.
2007-06-13 22:14:16
398.   Lexinthedena
Am I alone in seeing some Manny in Matt Kemp?
2007-06-13 22:15:10
399.   MMSMikey

i see a little more derek lee in kemp than man-ram.

2007-06-13 22:15:52
400.   JoeyP
I see Jermaine Dye, but Manny would be great also!
Show/Hide Comments 401-450
2007-06-13 22:16:29
401.   scareduck
375 - I dunno. I think it'll be pretty evenly matched. The Dodgers are finally figuring out that Nomar can't play every day, they have better options than Kent at second, and the pitching staff has been shorn of its two least-productive members. The matchups look good on paper for the Dodgers:

Friday: Santana vs. Lowe: Lowe was a tough-luck loser in his last start but he hasn't been truly bad elsewhere; the Angels got to him in his last start with a fusillade of seeing-eye singles. Santana's road problems are well-documented, but he's never been able to string together consistent road starts, so this one ought to be an automatic Dodger win barring another meltdown.

Saturday: Weaver vs. Schmidt: Two pitchers battling injury and trying to avoid the DL. Jered Weaver claims to be fine after seeing the chiropractor following back stiffness experienced last Sunday; he got yanked in a game marked by a drizzly afternoon rain that exacerbated his pre-existing problem. Jason Schmidt's decline in velocity might prove equally problematic, and so we have the possibility of both starters getting the hook early.

Sunday: Escobar vs. Wolf: I give the Angels a slight edge here in that Wolf has started to resemble his old inconsistent self, but Escobar often tries too hard to strike out everybody and in the process leaves a few up. He looked good in his last three starts, but Wolf hasn't, giving up three or more earned runs in his last three.

2007-06-13 22:17:15
402.   Lexinthedena
399-really? DLee's swing seems a lot more under control than Kemp...I see similarities in the swing, and the fact that(at least right now) Kemp sprays to all fields, but happens to have exceptional power....just like Manny...
2007-06-13 22:17:34
403.   overkill94
It's not that these guys don't know the language, they just don't want to look dumb by using a limited vocabulary and occasionally using the wrong tense or something. We've all seen Furcal's interviews and they're not pretty, but from my experience with Asians who know limited English it can be very ugly.
2007-06-13 22:18:40
404.   overkill94
403 Wow, my response looks so redundant now
2007-06-13 22:18:54
405.   scareduck
401 - and one more thing: the Angels have to fly back after tomorrow's rubber match with the Reds on no days rest.
2007-06-13 22:19:31
406.   Lexinthedena
403- I lived in Venezuela for a time, and it was hard for me to swallow my pride and speak broken spanish to folks because it made me feel like a child....
2007-06-13 22:20:28
407.   bhsportsguy
Who else is going on Friday?
2007-06-13 22:22:26
408.   kadycee
403. No, it made me chuckle. thanks
2007-06-13 22:24:31
409.   kadycee
I'm sick of the Angels. I hate interleague play because of them. The Red Sox, the White Sox, the Yankees -- they're the only teams I care about seeing in interleague play. So of course, we never do.
2007-06-13 22:24:53
410.   bhsportsguy
In each game, the Mets scored first but they never scored after the Dodgers took the lead. And after they took a 3-0 lead on Monday, the Mets scored only 2 runs in the next 23 innings while the Dodgers scored 18 runs.
2007-06-13 22:25:24
411.   Eric Enders
301 Make that you and one other person.
2007-06-13 22:25:57
412.   Some Guy in San Diego
The sudden, beautiful influx of young talent to this roster gives me more hope for the Dodgers now, and in the future, than I've had since Mondesi was a rookie. The biggest difference, I guess, is that it seems there is much more quality pitching, both on the Major League Club, and in the minors, than I have seen in years. This is exciting.
2007-06-13 22:32:33
413.   underdog
I'm sure Mitch Jones doing interviews in Japan won't be pretty either.
2007-06-13 22:33:53
414.   bhsportsguy
Brad did answer the question and it was what both Lyons and Kennedy thought though Penny added the part about Green having a history of giving location from second base.
2007-06-13 22:34:32
415.   Eric Enders
Most of the players mentioned in this thread, including Fernando and Nomo, spoke English passably (or in Fernando's case, extremely well). Those two in particular just didn't like talking to the press, so they used the no-English thing as an excuse to keep people off their back.

Anyway, it's one of the real oddities of modern journalism that newspapers nowadays don't require their baseball beat writers to speak Spanish.

2007-06-13 22:36:00
416.   Jon Weisman
415 - Like I've always said.

Anyway, Kevin Baxter speaks Spanish.

2007-06-13 22:37:10
417.   kadycee
Is anyone watching Sammy Samurai? He's great.
2007-06-13 22:37:39
418.   Eric Enders
413 I always wondered how many American players learn to speak Japanese when they go over there. Not many, I would guess.

It's always kind of interesting, and probably rare, when an American player learns a foreign language to communicate with his teammates. Mike Scioscia famously learned Spanish so he could talk to Fernando. Ethier told me last year that he was trying to learn Japanese so he could talk to Saito. Pedro Martinez spoke some French when he was playing in Montreal.

2007-06-13 22:39:38
419.   scareduck
409 - huh? One of the most exciting games of the last four years was when the Yanks played the Dodgers over the weekend of June 18-20, 2004; the final game had an inside-the-park home run (not really; it was a single and an error by Hideki Matsui, but still immensely entertaining) by Dave Roberts, and a controversial called strike three against Matsui, who was having hell's own week of it.
2007-06-13 22:39:48
420.   Bob Timmermann
We'll get a petition going!
2007-06-13 22:41:07
421.   kadycee
419. I know. I was there. But that was 3 years ago.
2007-06-13 22:41:42
422.   Xeifrank
If you travel to Guo's home country of Taiwan, and you look like a westerner, you will be swarmed by what look to be teenagers wanting to practice their limited english with you. Alot of the older (25+) people will pretend they don't speak english, because they are afraid of sounding foolish. It's unfortunate, but that's the way it is. I don't feel that way with my Mandarin, because I know it's not that good. One Taipei tv news station wanted to interview me at one of the tourist sites, but when they said they wanted to conduct the interview in Mandarin, I said "no thanks", or "bu yao, xiexie."
vr, Xei
2007-06-13 22:41:58
423.   kadycee
419. Gagne was also great in that series
2007-06-13 22:44:07
424.   Bob Timmermann
The American players get interpreters who follow them around all the time. But some Americans do try to learn Japanese. Bobby Valentine has tried very hard.

But most of the players are just there for a year or two.

Some of the guys who have been there for a while will pick up some Japanese. I think Tuffy Rhodes can speak a bit. Rhodes has played so long in Japan that he's not even classified as a foreigner.

2007-06-13 22:44:34
425.   Eric L
Rob Neyer was on with Colin Cowherd this morning and they got around to talking about GMs. Somehow Ned was brought into the conversation and Cowherd called him "gutsy".

I can think of more than a few words to describe Ned, but gutsy isn't one of them. Maybe my definition of gutsy is different than Cowherd's, but has Ned made any moves that one would consider gutsy?

2007-06-13 22:47:16
426.   Eric Enders
Gagne had a very memorable strikeout of A-Rod in that Yankee series. But kadycee is right, that's the only time we've ever played them in interleague play. And I think we've only played two series against the Red Sox. I don't remember any series against the White Sox, but there might have been one.

For the most part, this is because MLB and the Dodgers (understandably) insist on playing the Angels for more than the normal allotment of interleague games. MLB tries to create a lot of Mets-Yankees and Dodgers-Angels games, which results in fewer interleague games for those teams against other opponents.

2007-06-13 22:48:14
427.   JoeyP

Good story on former Dodger farmhand Ryan Ketchner.

Ketchner's currently on the Padres 40-man roster and is pitching in the PCL.
4.86 ERA so far. Very average peripheral numbers so far, but it is his first year back from TJ surgery. It'll probably be a big story if he starts a major league game down the road.

2007-06-13 22:50:04
428.   Eric Enders
I hope Ketchner makes it. For a while there it looked like he was not too far away from becoming a Dodger. At the time, that seemed like one of DePo's better trades.
2007-06-13 22:50:27
429.   CanuckDodger
422 -- Xeifrank, I could probably find out by digging around the internet, but what is the story with the Mandarin/Cantonese divide? I imagine each is prevalent in different parts of China, but which parts? And I am surprised that in the thousands of years that Chinese culture has existed, and with autocratic government, that there was never any attempt to by the ruling class to stamp out the dialect of the non-elite.
2007-06-13 22:51:23
430.   Bob Timmermann
The Dodgers played in Chicago and 2005 and got swept by the White Sox in very dispiriting fashion.

The Sox won one game on a walkoff homer by Pierzynski against Brazoban and the sweep was finished on a Sunday night ESPN game when Morgan pretty much spent the entire broadcast lauding Ozzie Guillen's "Smartball" as the dawn of a new era in baseball.

That was a really depressing weekend.

2007-06-13 22:54:45
431.   scareduck
430 - Man, I remember that broadcast. I think I just now got the stains off my TV from throwing things at it.
2007-06-13 22:55:08
432.   kadycee
430. I seem to recall seeing the White Sox at Dodger Stadium, too. But perhaps I imagined that...
2007-06-13 22:59:03
433.   Xeifrank
429. Great question. Unfortunately, I don't know all the answers. Cantonese is prevalant in southern China (Guanzhou, HK, Shenzhen etc...). Much more people speak Mandarin. The interesting thing is that Cantonese and Mandarin both have the same written language, but they pronounce the characters totally different. I don't know any Cantonese, but know enough Mandarin to be dangerous, order food, find a bathroom etc... Mandarin is the official language of China, though Cantonese is spoken in the south, and many provinces have their own dialect which I am told is much different than standard mandarin (only the locals know it). It's quite interesting and confusing, but great that they have such a diverse culture when it comes to language.
vr, Xei
2007-06-13 23:03:25
434.   kadycee
In 2003 - White Sox were at the Dodgers and I went to one of the games. I think Ishii was pitching. Still, too long ago...
2007-06-13 23:05:52
435.   Bob Timmermann
I reread the gamechat from the Dodgers-White Sox game back in June 2005.

I was quite upset. And I sounded like a jerk.

And I kept saying the White Sox would lose in the first round of the playoffs.

2007-06-13 23:08:03
436.   Bob Timmermann
In 2003, the Dodgers lost 2 of 3 at home to the White Sox. They beat Buehrle, but lost to Colon and Loaiza.

Lo Duca hit an ITP homer in a losing cause in the Sunday game of the series.

2007-06-13 23:30:07
437.   Dodgers49
I have a cousin who lives in New York and is a Mets fan. On Tuesday I informed him that since we called up our kids we are an entirely different team and that I expected a sweep. He laughed. But he isn't laughing now. :-) I love this team. Bring on those Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
2007-06-13 23:36:25
438.   Robert Fiore
I can't right offhand find the specific reference, but one of the ballplayers interviewed in The Glory of Their Times talks about a deaf-and-dumb teammate (whose name I also don't recall except that it wasn't Dummy Hoy) who inspired the rest of the team to learn sign language. The interviewee said that while riding the train he would still catch himself translating the signs with his hands as they went by.
2007-06-13 23:46:40
439.   Eric Enders
438 That interviewee was Wahoo Sam Crawford, one of the great characters in baseball history (and also one of USC's earliest baseball coaches).
2007-06-13 23:48:41
440.   Eric Enders
And the player Crawford talks about was Dummy Hoy, who was his teammate on the Reds. The other prominent deaf player in those days was Luther "Dummy" Taylor, a Giants pitcher.

Actually, there were a lot of Giants players interviewed for that book too, so maybe one of them discussed Taylor as well.

2007-06-13 23:51:28
441.   gibsonhobbs88
Truly enjoyed being at the game and savoring a blowout for a change, instead of biting what's left of my fingernails. Youth must be served. Kemp, Betemit, Abreu and Loney all contributed along with Rafy's two triples. Even Pierre got a clutch two out single to drive in a run. Everybody in my fantasy league is now making trade offers for Penny.:)Good night everyone!!
2007-06-14 00:20:42
442.   Greg Brock
My DSL service, which is run by the devil, has allowed me back on to say that I would always use an interpreter. Furcal is probably a smart dude...But speaking in a second tongue often makes you look bad. My Spanish is...uh...Not good. I'm sure I appear to be an ignoramus.

Of course, English doesn't make me look too great either. I believe it was Herodotus who said>>>>>DSL SERVICE FAILS...>>>DISCONNECTED>>>NETWORK CONNECTION UNAVAILABLE>>>

2007-06-14 00:44:52
443.   natepurcell
Two sign: The Dodgers signed third-round draft pick Austin Gallagher, a high school third baseman, to a $250,000 bonus, and fourth-rounder Andrew Lambo (Newbury Park), a prep outfielder, to a $160,000 bonus.

my intial thought is that those numbers seem to be low.

2007-06-14 00:47:30
444.   overkill94
430 Ugh, I was at a wedding the night of the Brazoban Massacre and decided to call a friend to see how the Dodgers had done, to which he responded "are you joking?" He then proceeded to recount the whole debacle which really put a damper on the rest of the evening. My recollection is that we were still pretty heavy in the NL West race at the time (but soon to fall hard) and that it was a pretty crushing loss.
2007-06-14 00:50:56
445.   natepurcell
hey grady, try this lineup for fun against santana...


2007-06-14 01:34:40
446.   Dodgers49
Life may begin at 40, but baseball will end for Kent

Second baseman says he won't play beyond next season, and even that's not guaranteed.

WARNING: The Surgeon General has determined that reading an article by T.J. Simers may be hazardous to your health.

2007-06-14 01:44:12
447.   Dodgers49
>>> After the game, Kuo said he had not hit a home run since high school. Turns out he hit one last year — a grand slam, in fact — at triple-A Las Vegas. <<<

2007-06-14 01:50:27
448.   Greg Brock
So, are the kids "beating the door down" this year, as they were told to do?

Because Ch-i knows that Loney's .900 OPS last year was too piss-poor to merit a starting job this year. And he hit a monster bomb off of Billy Wags, which happens all the time for lefties.

Maybe Kemp and Loney will drop .310 EqA's, and they'll be allowed to stick around.

2007-06-14 02:22:32
449.   Greg Brock
Just for Shimmin:

After many, many hours of deliberation...Kanye's "Touch the Sky" beat is really better than "Move On." I know, I'm a huge Mayfield fan myself...It's blasphemous. But it's an improvement over the original. I don't like Kanye West at all, and I really hate samples, but the arrangement is awesome.

I have a feeling you won't agree.

2007-06-14 02:40:17
450.   natepurcell
i was doing some digging and found that Orr, the 113th pick in 2006 draft signed for 435k.

Gallagher, the 116th pick in this years draft signed for 250k. I wonder how much over slot did they go for Orr.

Show/Hide Comments 451-500
2007-06-14 02:42:03
451.   Eric Enders
Brock, what are you smoking and where can I get some?

Kanye West is great. But Curtis Mayfield is Curtis Mayfield. #449 is a rule 11 violation if ever there was one.

2007-06-14 02:46:39
452.   Eric Enders
450 Signing bonuses for the 116th pick:
2006 $280,000
2005 $162,500 (this was well below slot... Toronto pick)
2004: $280,000
2003: $300,000
2007-06-14 03:55:17
453.   Charenton
In these immigrant bashing/"English First" times, I'm pleased to see the relative support on this list for foreign ballplayers who don't feel at ease giving live interviews in English.
I've done both graduate level orals and radio interviews in French and even though I've been living in France for 20 years, it's still a nerve racking experience to speak in public. And even though I can write and spell French better than many natives, hardly a day goes by where sometime doesn't listen to me speak and say "So, where are you from?"
France is elated with Loney and Kemp on the team ! ! !
If they bring up shortstop Hu at the end of the season,(I think that's his name) then we might see a complete Dodger farm system infield. Would this be the first time since Garvey, Lopes, Russell , Cey ?
2007-06-14 06:12:17
454.   Wayne Wei-siang Hsieh
Re: 429

Canuck, to answer part of your question, a common spoken vernacular in China is a modern innovation. Before the twentieth century, educated Chinese (a very small minority of the population) learned to read and write literary Chinese, but this was something altogether different from different regional dialects. The comp in the west would be Latin in the Middle Ages--the language of state and learning, but at home on a day-to-day basis, even the educated would use whatever vernacular language they grew up with. Or, to use another example, the Romans made sure Latin was the language of state, but they didn't really care if lower-class provincials spoke Aramaic or Greek or whatnot. The Chinese government declaration of what was essentially the dialect spoken around Beijing as the common vernacular, and then ALSO making that the primary WRITTEN language, was a reform measure of the twentieth century designed to help "modernize" China.


2007-06-14 06:26:22
455.   D4P
James Loney Marching and Chowder Society

I prefer "Los Loney Boys"

2007-06-14 07:31:29
456.   Disabled List
All the Loney people
Where do they all come from?
2007-06-14 07:54:49
457.   bluegold
Kemp and Loney are beginning to erode my sense of urgency that the Dodgers need to acquire a proven slugger. I hope they are hitting a lot of curve balls in batting practice.
2007-06-14 08:48:23
458.   ToyCannon
Sure is amazing how many have jumped back on the Boom Boom train. Six weeks ago it was about as light as Nomar's bandwagon is now. I think I'm the only one left on Nomar's.
2007-06-14 08:52:07
459.   Bob Timmermann
You, Mia Hamm, and the woman with the ugly van.
2007-06-14 08:53:14
460.   Jon Weisman
New post up top.
2007-06-14 08:54:06
461.   Wayne Wei-siang Hsieh
Re: 458

I still think Nomar will eventually come around, but I also don't mind if Loney encroaches more and more on the former's playing time. Nomar may also just need the rest.

