en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/546164 Comments by Voldomer http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/06/june-16th-2009-dodgers-win-on-walk-off-by-kemp/#IDComment24622053 Greetings from Italy, hence the lack of posts recently. Keep those wins coming! Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:47:05 +0000 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/06/june-16th-2009-dodgers-win-on-walk-off-by-kemp/#IDComment24622053 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/06/a-hero-here-a-hero-there-everywhere-a-hero/#IDComment23597311 I think both sides have good points here--Martin clearly is struggling at the plate, but defensively he is doing the job. Nobody expected the pitching to be anywhere near this good, and Martin has to get some credit for that, as does Ausmus. So must Honeycutt. I'm not sure the sample size of Ausmus' games is enough to base much on his CERA, but Martin's is. I think it would do a world of good, though, for Martin to get even more time off. Also, why not slide him to 3B occasionally with Blake hurting (unless, of course, the powers that be think that contributed to throwing problems last year)? That said, Martin CANNOT be traded during the season. His defense and stability for the pitchers are too important. This isn't 2006--with the current team, his offense is just a bonus. Mark makes a good point about the wildness of the pitchers. Also, I suspect the team ERA would be much, much worse without the defensive gems Hudson and Kemp seem to pull off nightly. With Furcal batting lower in the lineup today, why not just put him 9th like Torre did for a while with Pierre? Sun, 7 Jun 2009 22:06:09 +0000 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/06/a-hero-here-a-hero-there-everywhere-a-hero/#IDComment23597311 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/06/a-hero-here-a-hero-there-everywhere-a-hero/#IDComment23533708 Soft? Yes, I seem to remember someone using that label for Ethier. Now, who was it . . .? ;-) Sun, 7 Jun 2009 01:04:46 +0000 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/06/a-hero-here-a-hero-there-everywhere-a-hero/#IDComment23533708 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/06/june-4-2009-kershaw-vs-phillies-an-important-announcement/#IDComment23410764 I would subscribe, but I would also wonder what impact this model would have on the long-term viability of a blog like this? Tony is a known entity and clearly has attracted a number of new people to this website, but if the place changes to a subscription-based model, how many subsequent new people will join in the discussion? Would you then have member and non-member venues on the board? Would there be restrictions on discussing "paid" info in "free" threads? Not trying to be a hater--I'm just curious. Fri, 5 Jun 2009 01:55:45 +0000 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/06/june-4-2009-kershaw-vs-phillies-an-important-announcement/#IDComment23410764 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/06/the-two-faces-of-chad-billingsley/#IDComment23380201 We can lament not having Jackson now, but being traded was probably the best thing for him. He had some rough years in Tampa Bay, and LA would not have been as patient with him. He was probably rushed to the big leagues, and it is good to see him finally get things going despite that. We'll always have that glorious night in 2003 when he beat the Big Unit. Maybe he'll end up in Blue again some day. Tony, do you hear of any Dodger interest in Glavine? I see several national writers suggesting it, but the LA Times says no. I could see him as a good mentor, but I don't think LA has roster room for that this year. Thu, 4 Jun 2009 18:41:48 +0000 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/06/the-two-faces-of-chad-billingsley/#IDComment23380201 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/06/never-leave-a-dodgers-game-early/#IDComment23217220 Vtadave, I think part of the issue with the Extra Innings package is that they normally use Fox regional broadcasts, and last night I guess a local LA station had the game instead of Fox Prime Ticket. I have the package through DirecTV and also have the package of regional sports channels. Occasionally Prime Ticket has the game but Extra Innings is using the other team's broadcas instead; in those cases I guess they lift the out-of-market blackout on the regional channels package (I live in Illinois), as I sometimes can watch the LA broadcast on Prime Ticket rather than the opponent's broadcast on Extra Innings. That is not common, though, and usually if Extra Innings lacks the LA feed, that means Prime Ticket is not carrying the game. I was distracted the first few innings last night, then Tivoed the rest of the game and later watched the 8th-9th innings; as such, I didn't notice Grace being a problem. Generally I'm OK with the D-backs broadcasts, and I rather like the Rockies' announcers. The Giants games seem a bit less annoying this year, but I prefer to avoid them and the Padres if possible. The Angels' broadcasters--especially Hudler--are almost unlistenable, and the Astros games are not much better. We are truly spoiled by Scully. Wed, 3 Jun 2009 19:18:32 +0000 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/06/never-leave-a-dodgers-game-early/#IDComment23217220 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/dodgers-head-home-with-a-series-split-and-a-5-2-trip/#IDComment23020494 Tony, here's two more reasons to dislike ESPN games: 1. One of the commentators (Steve Phillips?) was going on and on about how the Dodgers must find a veteran starter to slide in between Bills and Kershaw for the playoffs. I can understand him overlooking Kuroda due to his injury, but I didn't know that Randy Wolf was such an unknown. I know these guys have a challenging situation in that they are calling games for teams they do not cover regularly, but I am repeatedly amazed at things "national" broadcasters say that clearly are incorrect or uninformed. Do beat reporters have much contact with these guys? Surely they get the same game notes, rosters, etc., from the teams that y'all do. Tons of information can just be taken from the team website anyway. Am I expecting too much, or do some of these folks just not work very hard at preparing for these broadcasts? 2. Someone above referenced the great Joe Morgan, who must have used the word "suspended" 100 times in his rant about Manny's rehab assignment. Of all the excellent announcers out there, how does Morgan keep this gig? Jon Miller is fine. Steve Phillips (except for above) is fine. Morgan just rants about things; finally Phillips called him out on the suspension thing last night. If you don't like the policy, fine. But it is what it is, agreed upon by the union and the league, and it is not an exclusion for Manny. I watch this network as little as possible. I have to think that the MLB and NFL networks are (or will be) taking a serious bite out of ESPN's audience. Tue, 2 Jun 2009 00:09:23 +0000 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/dodgers-head-home-with-a-series-split-and-a-5-2-trip/#IDComment23020494 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/may-29-2009-troncoso-fans-a-fox-to-save-a-wolf/#IDComment22583329 Great game tonight. Is that a new press box at Wrigley? I don't remember it looking so modern. Torre rolled the dice by letting Troncoso hit in the 9th. Cubs fans in my section were dumbfounded, but given the depletion of the pen in Denver (and against the Angels), it was the right call. Fri, 29 May 2009 06:22:13 +0000 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/may-29-2009-troncoso-fans-a-fox-to-save-a-wolf/#IDComment22583329 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/get-out-those-brooms-again/#IDComment22457735 Nice hitting by Ethier today. Maybe he is getting over the hump. Wed, 27 May 2009 22:54:11 +0000 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/get-out-those-brooms-again/#IDComment22457735 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/a-long-days-journey-into-early-evening/#IDComment22333338 Tony, you may be the only person who still checks that other blog. Tue, 26 May 2009 16:06:02 +0000 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/a-long-days-journey-into-early-evening/#IDComment22333338 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/the-trip-continues-but-not-at-the-expense-of-dodgers-commentary/#IDComment22215944 The pen indeed killed the Dodgers today. It has to be demoralizing to cut the lead and then see it expand again. Wade is not right, and Leach and Mota have little to offer. The pitchers seemed tired, and the long stretch of games is just now beginning. Someone needs to go seven or eight strong innings soon and give this pen a break. It is not too early to bring in another arm. I like Hudson's hustle, but something has to give with these collisions (and near-misses) with outfielders. Now we know why they call him the "Oh!" Dog! Casey Blake is doing everything he can to carry this team in his beard. With Torre as an assistant coach for the All-Star team, I think Blake will get picked (assuming he keeps this pace up for a few more weeks). Mon, 25 May 2009 02:34:30 +0000 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/the-trip-continues-but-not-at-the-expense-of-dodgers-commentary/#IDComment22215944 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/wasted-opportunities-intentional-and-otherwise/#IDComment22144753 OK, I'll be the odd man out. I liked the bunt move, and it should have resulted in a run and thus the lead. Players kept chocking with RISP, so Torre rolled the dice. It didn't work, of course, but it should have, and at least he tried something. It was late in the game, and one run would have been huge at that point. Also, it was nice to see the Dodgers execute a bunt play after all the Angels' failures in that regard. Sat, 23 May 2009 23:13:44 +0000 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/wasted-opportunities-intentional-and-otherwise/#IDComment22144753 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/another-yawn-dodgers-angels-series-is-upon-us/#IDComment22076008 I don't live in the LA area, so Dodgers-Angels games mean nothing to me. I do (unfortunately) live in the Chicago area, and folks here love the Cubs-ChiSox games. I don't necessarily mind the interleague games, but I'd rather see more variety in them as opposed to the supposed "natural rivalry" system that locks in six of those games each year. I suspect those local games would mean more if they weren't so common too. Something sounds fishy on this Xavier Paul DL move. Tony, do you have the dirt? Fri, 22 May 2009 22:41:36 +0000 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/another-yawn-dodgers-angels-series-is-upon-us/#IDComment22076008 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/may-21-2009-this-team-just-has-that-feel/#IDComment21984661 Can anyone remember a second baseman who goes to his left better than Hudson? Thu, 21 May 2009 16:52:44 +0000 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/may-21-2009-this-team-just-has-that-feel/#IDComment21984661 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/may-20-2009-how-many-better-third-basemen-are-there/#IDComment21932220 Blue Haze, both of my posts in this thread have a "delete" button on the right, and that one that has not had a response (the longer one) has an "edit" button beside the "delete." (Perhaps the other one no longer does because it has a reply?) I guess this is another perk of having to reregister. Wed, 20 May 2009 22:12:07 +0000 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/may-20-2009-how-many-better-third-basemen-are-there/#IDComment21932220 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/may-20-2009-how-many-better-third-basemen-are-there/#IDComment21918738 I just noticed that we now have an edit button! There will be great joy in LADodgerTalkWood. Lawdog, now we need a campaign for smileys. Mark, where's my props for the topic of this thread? :-) Wed, 20 May 2009 18:38:23 +0000 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/may-20-2009-how-many-better-third-basemen-are-there/#IDComment21918738 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/may-20-2009-how-many-better-third-basemen-are-there/#IDComment21918471 BRussell, I tried to post last night as usual, but my post was rejected because it said I was not logged in. Then it would not accept my log-in, so I re-registered. That is where I found the place to add a photo. After I signed in that way, my missing post returned. On Blake, I agree with those who say leave him where he is. He's doing great there, and it is nice to have some thunder in that part of the lineup. Can Manny still play RF? (He's got plenty of time to be working on it!) I'm not giving up on Ethier yet, and he likely will perk back up when Manny returns, but it looks like Pierre has to have a place to play too. I'd rather stick Manny in RF than put Pierre in CF and move Kemp over. Wed, 20 May 2009 18:31:57 +0000 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/may-20-2009-how-many-better-third-basemen-are-there/#IDComment21918471 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/game-time-may-19th-vs-new-york-mets/#IDComment21874501 The unthinkable is happening--Casey Blake could be an All-Star this year! How many push-ups is that worth? ;-) Seriously, check his stats--there's Zimmerman, then Wright, then Blake when one looks at the offensive numbers--and Wright gets the edge only on OBP and BA. How would Zimmerman and Wright do in the #8 slot? Wed, 20 May 2009 05:16:10 +0000 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/game-time-may-19th-vs-new-york-mets/#IDComment21874501 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/may-19-jeff-weaver-starts-tomorrow/#IDComment21872178 testing Wed, 20 May 2009 05:05:11 +0000 http://www.ladodgertalk.com/2009/05/may-19-jeff-weaver-starts-tomorrow/#IDComment21872178